Islamic Finder - Lectures Khutbas

Islamic Online University (IOU)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">In 2010 Islamic Online University (IOU) launched the world’s first tuition-free, online Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies. This path-breaking initiative utilizes the worldwide presence of the Internet and advanced open source online learning technology to bring low-cost, university level Islamic education within reach of anyone on the planet who has access to a computer and the Internet.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRdXCp00T82oOAx9qhOVLXKaD7Z5Sy1KNR-YZOwtt7WKJoWcs0RUlYiMCZEJrVe59JbkGVspeTbuWCtjb2nPEFCcJeH2pMTnEgMPXBESILFUkUqqI77Fhht2H9faoVuOYq5RqO2slUNUO/s1600/knowledge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRdXCp00T82oOAx9qhOVLXKaD7Z5Sy1KNR-YZOwtt7WKJoWcs0RUlYiMCZEJrVe59JbkGVspeTbuWCtjb2nPEFCcJeH2pMTnEgMPXBESILFUkUqqI77Fhht2H9faoVuOYq5RqO2slUNUO/s640/knowledge.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Sign up for a online program today, visit IOU website: <a href="http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/" style="color: #0066ff; outline: none;" target="_blank">Islamic Online University</a></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Thus IOU now has two separate virtual campuses: the degree campus and the diploma campus. Each campus is hosted on its own dedicated server.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">"Making authentic Islamic knowledge readily available to the world through the Internet solely for God's pleasure is a noble life-goal and a mission well worth sacrificing all of one's energies and means for."  Dr. Bilal Philips, Founder and Chancelor, Islamic Online University</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">The Islamic Online University aims to grant global access to quality undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level Islamic education programs for students at virtually no cost. Its mission is “to change the Muslim nation and the world situation through appropriate education.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<u style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><b>The principles upon which the IOU is based are:</b></u><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Knowledge:</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> Quran and Sunnah</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">God said:</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> “Indeed it is only the knowledgeable among His servants who truly fear Allah.” (35:28)</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">The Last Prophet said:</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> “Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<u style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Accessibility</u><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">The Islamic Online University already provides a golden opportunity to access Islamic courses wherever people may be and whenever they wish, without having to travel overseas or even leave the confines of their homes. Its goal is to be for anyone, any place at any time.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">The Last Prophet said: “If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads to Paradise.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<u style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Affordability</u><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">The IOU demonstrates its continued commitment to spreading authentic Islamic knowledge by progressing from an absolutely free certificate and diploma level courses to a tuition free BA, thereby making higher Islamic education easily affordable worldwide. Free tuition for all students provides equal access to an education that few could afford if they attended traditional institutions of higher learning around the world.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">God said:</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> “Say: Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” (39:9)</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<u style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Community</u><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">No student will be prevented from studying at Islamic Online University, regardless of their religious, ethnic or social background. The IOU affirms that its doors will remain open for all, irrespective of the borders existing in the real world. It has already spawned a global community of over 18,000 students who seek Islamic knowledge from over 160 countries and share their knowledge and concerns in supervised student forums.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">God said:</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"> “Cooperate with each other in righteousness and piety... ” (5:2)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMsSRYXi5djL1lQc880XMMmtU_58UaBdqasX0xS4Rntu93Dov1fmdIP9NB7D9nrsvu8rafsKsdf1mVKf5NEBfyCcZaeLkJZ4h96BSwFzhC2jnPhAIF5P2s_2C5ayB_yb_h_g8A1lX1aaX/s1600/knowledge111.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMsSRYXi5djL1lQc880XMMmtU_58UaBdqasX0xS4Rntu93Dov1fmdIP9NB7D9nrsvu8rafsKsdf1mVKf5NEBfyCcZaeLkJZ4h96BSwFzhC2jnPhAIF5P2s_2C5ayB_yb_h_g8A1lX1aaX/s640/knowledge111.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<u style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Islamic ethics</u><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">It is the fundamental belief of the Islamic Online University that the Muslim teacher is essentially different from a teacher who merely happens to be a Muslim. Likewise, the Muslim student should be distinctly different from a student who so happens to be a Muslim. The IOU expects all its students, faculty, staff, administrators and volunteers to function as Muslims first and foremost in their respective positions and fields. Doing so will naturally entail maintaining the highest standards of personal integrity, honesty and responsibility.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">The Last Prophet said: “Indeed, Allah loves from each of you that whenever he or she does work, that is done according to the best of his or her ability.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<u style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Quality and Application</u><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Islamic Online University is committed to providing a top quality online academic experience, suitable in its scope and depth to convey authentic and practical Islamic knowledge, while at the same time enabling its students to face the contemporary challenges of the 21st century. IOU will assess and re-evaluate every aspect of its academic model on an ongoing basis and will not only encourage its students to study diligently, but also emphasize that they must strive their utmost to put the knowledge gained into practice.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">The Last Prophet said, “The best of you is one who learns the Qur'aan and teaches it to others.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">He also said, “The best of you is the one most beneficial to people.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">The Last Prophet's disciple, Ibn Mas'ood said, “We used to learn knowledge and its application together.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Imaam Sufyaan ath-Thawree related that as a youth, when he first began to attend classes, his mother advised him, “If you write down 10 words and your faith hasn't improved, check yourself.”</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;" />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Sign up for a online program today, visit IOU website: <a href="http://www.islamiconlineuniversity.com/" style="color: #0066ff; outline: none;" target="_blank">Islamic Online University</a></b><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; max-width: 100%;">[post_ads]</strong></div>

Islamic Online University (IOU)

In 2010 Islamic Online University (IOU) launched the world’s first tuition-free, online Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies. This path-brea...

Sunday, February 07, 2016

I have only been sent to perfect good moral character.

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Abū Hurayrah relates that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “I have only been sent to perfect good moral character.” [Musnad Ahmad (8595)]<br />
<br />
The purpose of all the revealed books has always been inner purification. Abraham prayed to his Lord to send to his descendants a Messenger who would recite His signs to them, teach them the scripture, and purify them. Allah answered his prayer by sending Muhammad . Allah says: “It is He who has sent amongst the unlettered people a messenger from among themselves, to rehearse to them His Signs, to purify them, and to instruct them in the scripture and wisdom,- although they had been, before, in manifest error.” [Sūrah al-Jumu`ah: 2]<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNePz8j-WIo3uQQzaprDpv1TOCF0LpfzpZ0K07s8pI-7sfcEF7TEgNncwTgXRQFdJc0Lemd83C2aojX5OHHvptap1dMIKOd14i3NyEthfOvHK5lEPn6LLVnBvGNVdm-3kE9mut0TErsg3/s1600/manners-113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNePz8j-WIo3uQQzaprDpv1TOCF0LpfzpZ0K07s8pI-7sfcEF7TEgNncwTgXRQFdJc0Lemd83C2aojX5OHHvptap1dMIKOd14i3NyEthfOvHK5lEPn6LLVnBvGNVdm-3kE9mut0TErsg3/s640/manners-113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
He also says: “Likewise, We have sent unto you a messenger from among yourselves, who recites unto you Our revelations and purifies you, and teaches you the scripture and wisdom, and teaches you that which you did not know.” [Sūrah al-Baqarah: 151]<br />
<br />
This great purpose is what Prophet Muhammad declared when he said: “I have only been sent to perfect good moral character.” [Musnad Ahmad (8595)]<br />
<br />
The “good moral character” referred to here is comprehensive. It includes how we conduct ourselves with our Lord, how each of us relates to his or her self, and how we treat other people.<br />
<br />
The Prophet’s statement implies there are two types of good moral conduct. The first is common knowledge. People know it instinctively. The other type is that which completes and perfects it. This cannot be known without Allah’s guidance through revelation. The Prophet was sent to teach it to the people as part of the message he brought.<br />
<br />
The Prophet’s guidance in this matter is vast. Many books have been written about it. One of the most famous hadith in this regard is where the Prophet said: “Nothing weighs heavier in the balance on the Day of Judgement than good character. Allah hates that which is wanton and base.” [Sunan al-Trimidhī (2002) and Sunan Abī Dāwūd (4799)]<br />
<br />
The Prophet was asked what causes the most people to enter paradise. He said: “Fear of Allah and good character.” He was then asked what brought the most people to the Hellfire. He said: “The tongue and the private parts.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī (2004)]<br />
<br />
The Prophet’s servant Anas observed: “Allah’s Messenger had the best character of all people.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī (6203) and Sahīh Muslim (2150)]<br />
<br />
He also said: “I have never touched silk of any quality that was softer than the hand of Allah’s Messenger. I never smelled a scent that was sweeter than his.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī (1973, 3561) and Sahīh Muslim (2330)]<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsQr-N_Du2JLG0itZlLFDd0QWG0U0VxFP9u15PJN8Ut7IIlYr1c1rK9-9WJ5_khEAcokO8xVXlgGVRsghyphenhyphenHNdW2-UpdNZlDYeG43q3cwdxINcKtNZVPPFPamAWyGVmgqooBKtOCPsZCQW/s1600/manners-111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsQr-N_Du2JLG0itZlLFDd0QWG0U0VxFP9u15PJN8Ut7IIlYr1c1rK9-9WJ5_khEAcokO8xVXlgGVRsghyphenhyphenHNdW2-UpdNZlDYeG43q3cwdxINcKtNZVPPFPamAWyGVmgqooBKtOCPsZCQW/s640/manners-111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
He said: “I served the Prophet for ten years and he never once rebuked me. He never once said about something I did: ‘Why did you do that?’ and he never said about something I didn’t do: ‘Why didn’t you do that?’” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī (6038) and Sahīh Muslim (2309)]<br />
<br />
Al-Nawwās b. Sam`ān asked the Prophet about righteousness and sin. He replied: “Righteousness is to exhibit good character. Sin is what disturbs your heart and you hate for others know about it.” [Sahīh Muslim (2553)]<br />
<br />
`Abd Allah b. `Amr b. al-`Ās said: “Allah’s messenger was not a crude man and he did not behave crudely. He used to say: ‘Among the best of you are those with the best character.’” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī (3559) and Sahīh Muslim (2321)]<br />
<br />
The Prophet also said: “The believers who have the most perfect faith are those who have the best character, and the best of them are those who are best to their womenfolk.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī (1162) and Sunan Abī Dāwūd (4682)]<br />
<br />
He also said: “A believer can attain though good character the blessings and rewards of fasting and prayer.” [Sunan Abī Dāwūd (4798)]<br />
<br />
He said: “The most beloved and nearest of you in proximity to me on the Day of Judgement will be those of you with the best character. The most detestable and remote form me on the Day of Judgement will be those who are babblers, ranters, and vainglorious.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī (2018)]<br />
<br />
It is enough for us to look at the Prophet’s life and observe how he treated people of all walks of life, how he behaved with his household, his relatives, his Companions, and his enemies.<br />
<br />
Once the Prophet borrowed money from a man, and the man came demanding payment, speaking very harshly. The Companions wanted to respond to the man’s harshness, but the Prophet said: “leave him alone. The one who has a right to something is allowed to speak.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī (2306) and Sahīh Muslim (1601)]<br />
<br />
Whenever the Prophet borrowed something from someone, he would always return it with more and pray for that person. He used to say: “The only reward for a loan is complete repayment and praise.” [Musnad Ahmad (16410)]<br />
<br />
A Jewish rabbi, Zayd b. Sa`nah, came to the Prophet demanding repayment. He grabbed the Prophet by the front of his shirt, scowled in his face, and said: “Muhammad, aren’t you going to pay me my due? By Allah! I did not know the family of `Abd al-Muttalib to be late in paying their debts. I have dealt with them before and know them.”<br />
<br />
`Umar grabbed the man and said: “Enemy of Allah! Do you speak these words I hear to Allah’s Messenger and behave towards him like this! I swear by the One who sent him in truth, if I did not fear the consequences, I would strike your neck with my sword.”<br />
<br />
The Prophet watched `Umar quietly and deliberately. Then he said: “I we need something entirely different from you, `Umar. You should be telling me to repay the debt well, and telling him to ask nicely. `Umar, go with him and pay him what is due to him and increase it by twenty sa` measures, for your upsetting him.” [Sahīh Ibn Hibbān (288)]<br />
<br />
`Abd Allah b. Salām was one of the leading Jewish scholars in Madinah. He was just-minded and a seeker of the truth. When he heard about Prophet Muhammad’s arrival, he went to have a look at him. When he saw the Prophet’s face , he knew that it was not the face of a liar. The first thing he heart the Prophet say was: “O people! If you spread the greeting of peace among you, feed those who need food, uphold kinship ties, and pray at night while people are sleeping, you will enter Paradise with ease.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī (2485)]<br />
<br />
`Abd Allah b. Salām was able to read from the Prophet’s countenance the signs that he was honest, trustworthy, and pure-hearted. Such a countenance is only for people whose hearts are truly pure, whose conduct is righteous, and who devote themselves to Allah.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qXXKUzUZNCl_P9ZVVz_n0Rdt68dSRLdMT__KwALgSzOl4H9L9yvZZl9XO8C2MPJ92ZhhVn2QGV9Ty1vyLNkbUf3IP9RjrK0dIdS1jC58aPqjsChdnpUCUcmFEyA5IZkZvxTnzNMYdnBh/s1600/manners-112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qXXKUzUZNCl_P9ZVVz_n0Rdt68dSRLdMT__KwALgSzOl4H9L9yvZZl9XO8C2MPJ92ZhhVn2QGV9Ty1vyLNkbUf3IP9RjrK0dIdS1jC58aPqjsChdnpUCUcmFEyA5IZkZvxTnzNMYdnBh/s640/manners-112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>The Four Foundations of Good Character </b><br />
<br />
There are many ways to exhibit good character. However, it all goes back to four essentials.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Patience:</b> It takes patience to be gentle and kind under trying circumstances. It takes patience to swallow back anger and exercise self-restraint. It is necessary for the qualities of forgiveness, pardon, and self-restraint.<br />
<br />
Fasting is the companion of patience. The month of Ramadan is an invitation to forgive, forget, and renew our relationships with family, co-workers, and neighbours with whom our affections have become strained Allah says: “Let them pardon and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” [Sūrah al-Nūr:22]<br />
<br />
<b>2. Decency: </b>This is the quality that helps people abstain from base and ignoble behaviour and turns their hearts to that which is noble and high-minded.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Courage:</b> This is the quality that inspires people to greatness and generosity and prevents them from succumbing to anger and rash behaviour.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Justice:</b> This quality applies to dealing with oneself as well as others. This includes being moderate in behaviour. Every noble character trait stands between two ignoble traits at opposite extremes. If people becomes neglectful of the noble trait, they fall into one of the bad ones. If they go to excess in it, it brings them to the other bad quality.<br />
<br />
For instance, gentleness is a good character trait, akin to kindness. However, taking it to an excess leads to indignity and humiliation, while being neglectful of it leads to harshness, cruelty, and severity. Generosity is another good and desirable character trait. Taking it too far leads to reckless spending and wastefulness, while neglecting it makes one a greedy, envious miser.<br />
<br />
People naturally possess many good qualities and character traits, some of which they learned from their parents or picked up from their social environment. These qualities become part of their personalities. Prophet Muhammad said to Ashajj `Abd al-Qays: “You possess two qualities that Allah loves: gentleness and forbearance.” [Sahīh Muslim (170]<br />
<br />
In some narrations of this event, Prophet Muhammad goes on to tell Ashajj that Allah made these traits part of his natural disposition, to which Ashajj replied: “Praise be to Allah who placed within me two qualities that Allah and His Messenger love.” [Sunan Abī Dāwūd (5225)]<br />
<br />
<b>How to Develop Good Character </b><br />
<br />
<b>1. Striving within yourself </b>to exhibit good character traits and refrain from bad ones. Allah says: “Those who strive for Our sake, We will guide them to Our paths.” [Sūrah al-`Ankabūt: 69] Good character is part of Allah’s guidance.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Self-assessment. </b>This means to look back on one’s behaviour. Those who call themselves to account benefit from it in all aspects of their lives. This is why Allah swears by the “self-reproaching spirit” in the Qur’an. Al-Hasan al-Basrī explains that the self-reproaching spirit describes the spirit of the believer.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Aspiring for the best. </b>We should aspire to be the best we can be , and this includes our behaviour. We should seek out and even create opportunities to exhibit good behaviour.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Substitution. </b>We should find alternatives to the bad behaviour that we exhibit, alternatives that allow us to express and develop our good traits.<br />
<br />
We are influenced by the people around us, by our families, classmates, colleagues, and friends. However, the greatest influence over us is the influence we have upon our own individual selves, in how we approach and understand ourselves , train ourselves and censure ourselves. This means we need to recognise our faults and our weaknesses as well as our virtues and strengths.<br />
<br />
O Allah! Help us to see the weaknesses within ourselves and help us to overcome them. Do not leave us without Your assistance for a moment.<br />
<br />
Source: http://en.islamtoday.net/artshow-427-4838.htm</div>

I have only been sent to perfect good moral character.

Abū Hurayrah relates that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “I have only been sent to perfect good moral character.” [Musnad Ahmad...

Sunday, February 07, 2016

USA - Your Legal Rights with Law Enforcement in the US (4 Muslims and Non Muslims)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZHmOerQLRbXTwEV02H7osjXhIHRnJP22Iu5duimkGNuN90VKETXz_5BjpiC7qA8gCvr1hRcMMW1448oJjpjYKERMGF0ffwHP6F5RyYjz3x-Z60AR-eFvBq74q3l3Z1AHnY5T8-cz1yA2/s1600/tree+1111+Lonely+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZHmOerQLRbXTwEV02H7osjXhIHRnJP22Iu5duimkGNuN90VKETXz_5BjpiC7qA8gCvr1hRcMMW1448oJjpjYKERMGF0ffwHP6F5RyYjz3x-Z60AR-eFvBq74q3l3Z1AHnY5T8-cz1yA2/s640/tree+1111+Lonely+Tree.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b><b>USA - Your Legal Rights with Law Enforcement (Muslims and Non Muslims):</b><br />
American Muslims strongly support law enforcement and the protection of our national security. As Americans, we also value civil rights. All Americans have the constitutional right to due process and to be politically active. If you know of any criminal activity taking place in your community, it is both your religious and civic duty to immediately report such activity to local and federal law enforcement agencies.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>If you are visited by federal law enforcement agents, remember:</b><br />
You have the legal right to have a lawyer present when speaking with federal law enforcement agencies. This is true even if you are not a citizen or have been arrested or detained. This is your legal right. Refusing to answer questions cannot be held against you and does not imply that you have something to hide. Answering a question incorrectly can hurt you more than not answering at all. An attorney is best able to protect your rights.<br />
<br />
You do not have to permit any law enforcement officer to enter your home or office if they do not have warrant. Law enforcement agents must have a search warrant, except in emergency situations, in order to enter your house. If they say they have a warrant, politely ask to see it before allowing them to enter. If they have a warrant, be courteous and polite, but remember that you are under no obligation to answer questions without a lawyer present. You should tell the agents that you do not consent to the search so that they cannot go beyond what the warrant authorizes.<br />
<br />
You should never lie or provide false information to any law enforcement agency. Lying to law enforcement agents under any circumstance is a federal crime.<br />
<br />
Remember to ask any investigator who visits you for a business card so you can give it to your lawyer. At least get the name, contact information and agency of the officer.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhWrjQK3I8euPkPa1X1TWqB2vJqMlnA8adDD7eg93sl2ZM5Zu0sS94E3cGGWQH5fkM950OXxTTg0nZoGxrReawWPRpDU52HgcugrIdFp6r7UFbSkvAULBBEM802UH9xmp_O2ZASInQ65r/s1600/Malcom_x_the_future.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhWrjQK3I8euPkPa1X1TWqB2vJqMlnA8adDD7eg93sl2ZM5Zu0sS94E3cGGWQH5fkM950OXxTTg0nZoGxrReawWPRpDU52HgcugrIdFp6r7UFbSkvAULBBEM802UH9xmp_O2ZASInQ65r/s640/Malcom_x_the_future.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><u>If stopped by police:</u></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>On the street: </b>The police must have a specific reason to approach and question you. If you are approached and questioned, the police can pat you down over the outside of your clothing if they have reason to suspect that you are armed and dangerous. You do not have to answer any questions besides identifying who you are and showing a government-issued ID. After the interaction, you will be either free to leave or under arrest. Ask the officer clearly if you are free to leave or if you are under arrest. If you are free to leave, consider just walking away.<br />
<br />
<b>In your car:</b> Keep your hands where they can be seen. If you are driving a vehicle, you must show your license, registration and proof of insurance. You do not have to consent to a search, but police may have legal grounds to search your car anyway. Clearly say that you do not consent to the search. Officers may separate passengers and drivers from each other to question them, but no one has to answer any questions.<br />
<br />
<b>If arrested or taken to a police station: </b>Remember you do not have to talk to any police officer even if you have been arrested or detained. Clearly ask for a lawyer and one phone call until they are provided. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the government has to provide one.<br />
 If mistreated: Do not resist arrest or fight with any police officers. Write down the officer’s name, badge number and any other identifying information. Try to find witnesses and write down their contact information. File a complaint with CAIR as soon after the event as possible.<br />
<br />
<b>Your rights if contacted by DHS:</b><br />
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) includes the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).<br />
<br />
<b>If you are not a U.S. citizen and are contacted by a DHS official, remember:</b><br />
You have the right to an attorney. It is a good idea to carry the contact information of an immigration attorney who can help you.<br />
<br />
Never sign anything without reading, understanding and knowing the consequences of signing it. You have the right to have an attorney visit you if you are in detention and represent you at any immigration hearings.<br />
<br />
Federal law requires you to carry your registration documents with you at all times. Once your immigration status has been shown to an officer, you do not have to answer any other questions without having a lawyer present.<br />
<br />
You should not be asked improper questions. No DHS officer may ask you anything about your religious or political beliefs, groups that you belong to or contribute to, things that you have done or said in the past, or where you have traveled.<br />
<br />
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px;">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">
<u>Read more (source <a href="http://www.cair.com/know-your-rights.html" style="color: #0066ff; outline: none; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">CAIR</a>)</u></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 20px 20px 0px; padding-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<li style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.cair.com/know-your-rights.html" style="color: #0066ff; outline: none; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Know your rights - click here</a></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 20px 20px 0px; padding-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<li><u><a href="http://www.cair.com/know-your-rights/your-legal-rights-as-an-employee.html" style="color: #0066ff; outline: none; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Your Rights as an Employee - click here</a></u></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 20px 20px 0px; padding-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<li><u><a href="http://www.cair.com/know-your-rights/your-legal-rights-as-a-student.html" style="color: #0066ff; outline: none; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Your Rights as a Student - click here</a></u></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 20px 20px 0px; padding-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<li><u><a href="http://www.cair.com/know-your-rights/your-legal-rights-as-an-airline-passenger.html" style="color: #0066ff; outline: none; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Your Rights as an Airline Passenger - click here</a></u></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 20px 20px 0px; padding-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<li><u><a href="http://www.cair.com/know-your-rights/if-federal-law-enforcement-contacts-you.html" style="color: #0066ff; outline: none; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Your Rights with Law Enforcement - click here</a></u></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">
<b style="background-color: white;">CAIR National Contact USA</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Phone: (202) 488-8787</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Fax: (202) 488-0833</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Email: info@cair.com</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.cair.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #0066ff; outline: none;" target="_blank">www.cair.com</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Address: 453 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003</span></div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>

USA - Your Legal Rights with Law Enforcement in the US (4 Muslims and Non Muslims)

USA - Your Legal Rights with Law Enforcement (Muslims and Non Muslims): American Muslims strongly support law enforcement and the protec...

Saturday, February 06, 2016

Golden Mean Point of the Earth 1.618

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/cXuNQSf6V2E?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
The scientists, artists, aestheticians, architects, mathematicians, financial analysts agree that application of this Golden Mena ratio 1.618 creates perfection, proportion, beauty and balance to their works.<br />
<br />
The Holy Qur’an also reveals that Mecca is the first house founded for the mankind.<br />
<br />
“Surely, the first House founded for mankind is that at Becca, abounding in blessings and guidance for all peoples. (Al Qur’an 3:97)<br />
<br />
Allah placed Mecca at the Golden Mean of our earth.<br />
<br />
The other names used for the Golden Mean are the Golden Ratio, extreme and mean ratio, medial section, divine proportion, divine section (Latin: sectio divina), golden proportion, golden cut, golden number, and mean of Phidias.<br />
<br />
The Holy Qur’an reveals that God has raised heavens and has set up a measure for them.<br />
<br />
“And the heaven He has raised high and set up a measure”( Al Qur’an 55:8)<br />
<br />
The Golden Ratio is one such measure which is extensively applied in nature. It is represented with Greek letter phi in the mathematical calculations and its value is always 1.6180339887…..<br />
<br />
Two quantities are said to be in the golden ratio when the ratio of the sum of the quantities to the larger quantity is equal the ratio of the larger quantity to the smaller one. Diagrammatically it can be represented as follows: (DiagramONE)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfexL6tOlFHOAAxWEc5nvwCUsTX8CDhCvFadeHwdoEsgmLvCTj3FWWMhG4_MehhqXjMJc_yRNv-3DQt9G4oYjX4FFM8urZ3F4tNbTIl7XfWfuiujp7b5cuHcfLMe8Lpdw7ZwQBzdgio_2c/s1600/gmp-112.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfexL6tOlFHOAAxWEc5nvwCUsTX8CDhCvFadeHwdoEsgmLvCTj3FWWMhG4_MehhqXjMJc_yRNv-3DQt9G4oYjX4FFM8urZ3F4tNbTIl7XfWfuiujp7b5cuHcfLMe8Lpdw7ZwQBzdgio_2c/s400/gmp-112.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>

Golden Mean Point of the Earth 1.618

The scientists, artists, aestheticians, architects, mathematicians, financial analysts agree that application of this Golden Mena ratio 1...

Friday, February 05, 2016

“He was born. He grew up. Got married. Then he died.” Do More than Just Exist

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1XH9cwugGjg1D2R0bq-SVJR4uS_pwhKNgP4JQcy1zXujQAz1n_siNvyP0QbbEYWZEpIHQqYWDVQeh7qlOl-y1Ur-vLv0Fy-rnjhL8f9QFbJnkGEdyskRZaHaBKwUlHjJ36Jn4XulLT6C/s1600/dubai-blue-mosque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1XH9cwugGjg1D2R0bq-SVJR4uS_pwhKNgP4JQcy1zXujQAz1n_siNvyP0QbbEYWZEpIHQqYWDVQeh7qlOl-y1Ur-vLv0Fy-rnjhL8f9QFbJnkGEdyskRZaHaBKwUlHjJ36Jn4XulLT6C/s640/dubai-blue-mosque.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We wake up each day and begin anew, with better ideas to make money, get married or simply have more fun: Family, food, work, entertainment, sleep. Then, we wake up again the next day to dive into the same routine, the same ambition. We are in the same boat as it seems like we have exactly the same goals and aspirations: how to make ourselves more happy and comfortable. That’s okay, right?<br />
<br />
That’s exactly why we are here: to work tirelessly and make money, or follow some career, or get married. Each day we hit the internet to have fun and feel we are living the purpose of our existence. And most of us don’t even bother to think about having a purpose!<br />
<br />
I mean, we are educated, civilized people. And extremely busy. So that, by default, means we are fulfilling the purpose (if there is any). But we forget that it is not enough to be busy because so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy doing? Sometimes, does it not feel like we are existing but not living? It does.<br />
<br />
And that’s why a famous Hollywood comedian actor, Jim Carrey, said, despite having “it all”: “I hope everybody could get rich and famous and will have everything they ever dreamed of, so they will know that it’s not the answer.”<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSgiaaozr9xnJU4q2aaKCp2zX9Rx31KbCMwavbqra7YnJZJ9AWS83tpHwNMkiwzB81fDndq1i1vhhGysQq6WcmVg3eSshMiRjaPUCTuEj0M2m_bk5XCNzvHwMK3A5-RS2B1CywfBF34WB/s1600/Al-aqsa+Mosque+HD+Wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSgiaaozr9xnJU4q2aaKCp2zX9Rx31KbCMwavbqra7YnJZJ9AWS83tpHwNMkiwzB81fDndq1i1vhhGysQq6WcmVg3eSshMiRjaPUCTuEj0M2m_bk5XCNzvHwMK3A5-RS2B1CywfBF34WB/s640/Al-aqsa+Mosque+HD+Wallpaper.jpg" width="640" /></a><b>Do More than Just Exist</b><br />
<br />
Let’s see what our Creator said about our purpose of existence: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Adh Dhariyat, 51:56)<br />
<br />
Now take a deep look into your daily life and see how much you remember AllahSWT, your Creator? Where and when do you try to please Him? Is your life all about me, myself and I? Or is it about ‘AllahSWT‘?!<br />
<br />
We have a responsibility. Life is not just about finishing a video game or keeping up with the latest fashion or updating the Facebook profile. Life has more to it.<br />
<br />
We have been created for a higher purpose. And that is: living and actualizing this kalimah: <b>None has the right to be worshiped but AllahSWT (la ilaha illaAllah).</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
We all believe in la ilaha illaAllah but belief in it is more than just saying ‘No’ to bowing down to idols – it has a much deeper meaning which we have to live up to.<br />
Living this kalima requires us to obey no one but AllahSWT, to love AllahSWT alone and to have other love in our hearts as an offshoot of that love, to never love the creation more than AllahSWT, to fear AllahSWT the most, to put all hopes in/with Him alone and not the creation, to rely on AllahSWT and not to depend on the creation, to fear AllahSWT the most, to love what Allah loves and to hate what AllahSWT hates…<br />
<br />
Honestly, are we living up to it? Are we making sure we love our family, children, etc., in the right amount or is that love becoming a hazard for us because we keep disobeying AllahSWT in order to please them?<br />
<br />
Only when you worship AllahSWT alone, obey Him alone and do not disobey Him by obeying man made laws, trust Him and His decree over you completely, love Him intensely more than anyone else, fear His punishment and pin all hopes on Him, you submit to Him…and that is when you live la ilaha illaAllah!<br />
<br />
Part of belief in Tawheed is devoting all acts of worship, both inward and outward, in word and deed, to AllahSWT alone and not worshiping anything or anyone other than AllahSWT, no matter who He is.<br />
<br />
<i><b>“And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him” (Al-Isra,17:23)</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wbF2Sq6q38vSvK6KjrsdC6JcOADkjTo9gEjgyXz_sF5Pbs_kXa_vDRQO-G8C7eMcYSL12_LePvAMbsJGgDxhWY6wSfKOcOO6_mGgxE2uhir3N_aD6WzlRIKKMd6VRSrc6IT-QaNZX58m/s1600/Fields_Hilly_landscape_042589_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wbF2Sq6q38vSvK6KjrsdC6JcOADkjTo9gEjgyXz_sF5Pbs_kXa_vDRQO-G8C7eMcYSL12_LePvAMbsJGgDxhWY6wSfKOcOO6_mGgxE2uhir3N_aD6WzlRIKKMd6VRSrc6IT-QaNZX58m/s640/Fields_Hilly_landscape_042589_.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>The meaning of La ilaaha ill Allah,</b> that there is none worthy of worship except AllahSWT – this necessitates that the servant makes AllahSWT the sole object of worship, not directing any worship to other than him, whether that worship be khawf, or khas’yah, or tawakkul (which means putting ones trust solely in Allah), and the other meanings of ‘ibaadah. It is binding upon a servant to realize the greatness of this word and to make it a reality in his life, and that he does not say the statement emptily without meaning it.<br />
<br />
And the opposite of this Tawheed is shirk. And AllahSWT has decreed that the mushrikeen will abide forever in Hell and has told us that He will not forgive them and He has forbidden Paradise to them, as He says:<br />
<br />
<i><b>“Indeed, AllahSWT does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin” (An-Nisa 4:48)</b></i><br />
<br />
Understand the danger. RELIGIOUS IGNORANCE IS ABUNDANT AND HOLDING ONTO ISLAM IS LIKE HOLDING ONTO A BURNING COAL. You pick up a novel and what you get to read is some garbage about magic being a good thing, people who can never die and have divine powers, overwhelming obsession with some created being (Twilight?), you turn on the TV and find shows where Islam is being mocked, belittled and maligned, you pick up your cell phone where you are being bombarded with messages about fortune telling and people claiming to know the unseen! While living in such a dangerous world, make sure you are still a Muslim!<br />
<br />
I mean, we are here in this world to please our Creator; it would be the MOST shameful thing if we NEVER make it! Because we are created by AllahSWT and for AllahSWT and unless we understand that, life will NEVER make sense!<br />
<br />
<b>“He was born. He grew up. Got married. Then he died.”</b> – Let not just this be the story of your life. Do something worth mentioning. Something big. Do Islam. Because bearing witness to this kalimah is not just an action of the tongue; let the heart bear witness.<br />
<br />
http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/do-more-than-just-exist/</div>

“He was born. He grew up. Got married. Then he died.” Do More than Just Exist

We wake up each day and begin anew, with better ideas to make money, get married or simply have more fun: Family, food, work, entertai...

Friday, February 05, 2016

Dawah Training - Beyond the Shahadah

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px;">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Beyond the Shahadah</b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Brief online training session called “Beyond the Shahadah” to assist you in real life situations when someone becomes Muslim with you and takes their shahadah in a street dawah environment. The common question that every da’ee would ask at this stage is: ok, so now that he/she has taken shahadah, what should I do next ? This course will teach you how to help them to build a solid foundation of Islam in their lives from the very beginning of their journey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsUDMt8dk7sRH_Kvl_wYCeS8Ri_tTjn_tDuEiZ5bHODfvkTMNr8cRl7llOa6YKPhoawueilTYY2zAv4tF2i_qWWul_VPSF5H1_JstY8ZI2ihK7gL2Ie157KyTq_L9SicKqoCFQuEDUTre/s1600/q+heart+111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsUDMt8dk7sRH_Kvl_wYCeS8Ri_tTjn_tDuEiZ5bHODfvkTMNr8cRl7llOa6YKPhoawueilTYY2zAv4tF2i_qWWul_VPSF5H1_JstY8ZI2ihK7gL2Ie157KyTq_L9SicKqoCFQuEDUTre/s640/q+heart+111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>It will answer the following important questions that arise around the Shahada:</b><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 20px 20px 0px; padding-left: 40px; text-align: left;">
<li>How can I get quality shahadahs?</li>
<li>What should I do next?</li>
<li>How to effectively keep in touch with a new Muslim?</li>
<li>What are the most important points I need to teach him from the very beginning of his journey?</li>
<li>Online training session at: <a href="http://www.missiondawah.com/training/beyond-the-shahadah/" style="color: #0066ff; outline: none; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.missiondawah.com/training/beyond-the-shahadah/</a></li>
</ul>
<b>Training</b><br />
FREE Online video and audio dawah training - <a href="http://www.missiondawah.com/training/dawah-training/" style="color: #0066ff; outline: none;" target="_blank">click here</a><br />
<br />
<b>New Muslims</b><br />
Muslim Now is the new Muslim department of iERA dedicated to welcome, empower and provide education for New Muslims - <a href="http://www.muslimnow.com/" style="color: #0066ff; outline: none; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">click here for more information www.muslimnow.com</a>. Existing Muslims should also take note of this course material so that they may better communicate Islamic practices to new Muslims and non Muslims.</div>
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; max-width: 100%;">[post_ads]</strong><br />
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
</div>

Dawah Training - Beyond the Shahadah

Beyond the Shahadah Brief online training session called “Beyond the Shahadah” to assist you in real life situations when someone becom...

Friday, February 05, 2016

Allah invites you to Paradise and to Forgiveness, by His permission

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Allah invites you to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission<br />
<br />
Allah swt says in Surah an-Nisa 4 v28: “Allah wishes to lighten (the burden) for you; and man was created weak”.<br />
<br />
Brothers in Islam: To find perfection in the human being is impossible and infallibility is limited to Allah’s Prophets and His Messengers. Allah swt says that man has been created weak. Therefore no matter how strong his body becomes, he is weak when he faces the desires of his own soul, we see him crumble with no strength or ability to resist temptations.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLYdfyVDuKFFUtrZSYO97z9_68oqtjcV5WtYm-HFbjfkSmZDqhmpa5kTjnK68gEZ4BqepUglWiWa63aHA3r92m0W7rn_FrCxh8ZX8HjWTc5da9FQxaF-4ZXUQma0QgvaLHmtgznOcDYCl/s1600/paradise-111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLYdfyVDuKFFUtrZSYO97z9_68oqtjcV5WtYm-HFbjfkSmZDqhmpa5kTjnK68gEZ4BqepUglWiWa63aHA3r92m0W7rn_FrCxh8ZX8HjWTc5da9FQxaF-4ZXUQma0QgvaLHmtgznOcDYCl/s640/paradise-111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Our Lord, the Most Compassionate, is most knowledgeable regarding His creation; He is fully aware of their inabilities, weaknesses, deficiencies and their short comings. Consequently, He warns them of His disobedience and His punishment but despite all of this, they still sin and transgress. As a result, He has opened to them the door of hope for His pardon, mercy, pleasure and forgiveness and invited them to the spaciousness of His generosity and compassion, saying,<br />
<br />
Allah swt says in Surah al-Baqarah 2, verse 221: “Allah invites to Paradise and forgiveness with His permission.”<br />
<br />
Imam Muslim has recorded in a hadith that the messenger of Allah (pbuh) said ‘Allah says “O my slaves indeed you commit sins by day and by night but I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness from Me and I will forgive you’.”<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-WaSI64O7WrUV1eJOs_bGqQ1-Im7TsZy1YxxvjP6ZTHQqxmoyvXFrcqsW1AIkMehlBu9NT0qZIzFTMx1w7eVRCjsn1S3BbJmTP07-VFs7RaDnyU6iYpt87s9u6ATEPwmlcYN24nJzgko/s1600/paradise-113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-WaSI64O7WrUV1eJOs_bGqQ1-Im7TsZy1YxxvjP6ZTHQqxmoyvXFrcqsW1AIkMehlBu9NT0qZIzFTMx1w7eVRCjsn1S3BbJmTP07-VFs7RaDnyU6iYpt87s9u6ATEPwmlcYN24nJzgko/s640/paradise-113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Thus deficiency and heedlessness is part of our nature and we commit sins and disobedience and all the while Shaitan is on our right and on our left, in front of us and behind us, enticing us and inviting us to commit sins. Therefore we become weak and succumb to his invitation and thus become disobedient. After which the ‘accursed one’ says to us, “I had no power over you except to entice you and you succumbed to me, so do not blame me and blame no one but yourselves.” (Surah Ibrahim 14, verse 22)<br />
<br />
أيها المؤمنون: It is from the greatest gifts of Allah and from His good grace that He invites His slaves to His pardon and forgiveness; not only this but He also follows it with another great bounty: He grants them respite to critically examine their own souls, help amend their mistakes and correct their state. As He, the Exalted says in the Surah Ibrahim 14, verse 10: “He invites you so that He may forgive you your transgressions and He delays [your death] until an appointed time.”<br />
<br />
Thus, give glad tidings to those who know that they have a merciful Lord, Who is generous, Who pardons, Who accepts the repentance of those who are regretful, Who overlooks the mistakes of those who stumble when they turn to Him truthfully and sincerely and without losing hope. Indeed, this is what He has ordered His Prophet and those with him when He the Exalted says in Surah Muhammad, verse 19: “And know [O Muhammad] that there is no deity except Allah so seek forgiveness for your sins and for those of the believers.”<br />
<br />
And our Prophet Muhammad, (pbuh), said to us, “If you did not transgress, Allah would remove you and bring a people who do sin and seek forgiveness from Allah the Exalted and he would forgive them.” (Related by Muslim)<br />
<br />
So whoever’s hand committed sins, and whoever spoke that which enrages his Lord and Master by swearing and slander, and whoever walked the path of disobedience, and whoever spent the night worried, anxious, in discomfort, miserable, in despair, the world seemingly constricting him despite its spaciousness, his eyes not enjoying sleep and his mouth not enjoying the taste of food and drink, as if darkness surrounds him because he has disobeyed his Lord and committed a prohibited act, then let his heart be opened, his burden lightened, his worry and anxiety removed and his happiness returned to him by the statement of his Lord the Most High: “Say [O Muhammad]: O my slaves who have sinned against their own souls, do not despair from the mercy of Allah – indeed Allah forgives all sins and indeed it is He who is the All Forgiving, the All Merciful.” (Surah az-Zumar 39, verse53) And are you not overjoyed by the statement of Allah the Most High,<br />
<br />
“They are those who if they commit an immorality or transgress against their own souls they remember Allah and ask His forgiveness for their sins – and who can forgive sins except Allah? [In addition] they do not persist in doing (evil) whilst they are aware of it.” (Surah al-e-Imran 3, verse135)<br />
<br />
And by His statement, “And indeed I am the Forgiver of he who repents and believes and performs righteous actions and then was guided.” (Surah Ta-Ha 20, verse 82) and in Surah an-Noor, verse 22: “Would you not like it that Allah would forgive you.”<br />
<br />
And by His statement in a hadith Qudsi, “O son of Adam, as long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done and I will not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, if you were to come to me with sins as great as the volume of the earth and were you then to face Me, associating no partners with Me, I would bring you forgiveness of an equal amount to it.” (Related by al-Tirmidhi)<br />
<br />
Brothers in Islam: Therefore shouldn’t those who have committed sins repent? And shouldn’t those who were saddened by their disobedience be happy? Don’t they see the extent of Allah’s mercy and His forgiveness? So raise your hands in supplication and raise your voice in remembrance of your Lord, open your heart and allow your tongue to say, “O my Lord I have repented to You so accept it from me and have mercy upon me.” And say, “I seek the forgiveness of Allah the Exalted and I have repented unto Him.”<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYO2eIdJnp8bRV0n-rX_HruuxWmUwP_zE7Vgz7MRhyeNNjfZDDa-qUPljMozI_qhLjEnqNr_kpDMEZegrA2vmAnjiyX9r6oRarBui5BFuyqlTpO_OVExRe-GwqE2YfoYcy8OOZoziqc4W/s1600/paradise-112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYO2eIdJnp8bRV0n-rX_HruuxWmUwP_zE7Vgz7MRhyeNNjfZDDa-qUPljMozI_qhLjEnqNr_kpDMEZegrA2vmAnjiyX9r6oRarBui5BFuyqlTpO_OVExRe-GwqE2YfoYcy8OOZoziqc4W/s640/paradise-112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Say it with a truthful tongue and with a sincere and pure heart and make a firm intention to leave all sins and to return to Allah absolutely, as the person who sought forgiveness but did not correct his repentance, then he is a liar and the person who seeks forgiveness for sins while he is still committing them, is as if he is ridiculing his Lord. So be wary that you do not become such a person. Try to become of those whom Allah describes as follows, “O you who believe, fear Allah and be with those who are truthful.” (9:119) and also Allah swt says in Surah at-Tahreem: “O you who believe, repent to Allah with a true and sincere repentance.”<br />
<br />
In Conclusion: seeking forgiveness and repentance and being consistent is not just the task of sinners and the disobedient. It is also for the people of faith, remembrance and sincerity. Seek forgiveness from Allah a great deal, even after performing the greatest acts of worship. For example, our Prophet (pbuh), said, “By Allah, I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him more than 100 times a day.” (Related by al-Bukhari)<br />
<br />
Ibn Umar, (ra) said, “We would count the Prophet, (pbuh) saying, ‘O my Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance, indeed you are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful’ one hundred times in our gatherings.” (Related by Abu Dawood)<br />
<br />
And al-Muzani (ra) related that the Prophet (pbuh), said, “Indeed I find heedlessness prevailing upon my heart and indeed, I seek Allah’s forgiveness a 100 times a day.” (Related by Muslim)<br />
<br />
So remain firm upon this and follow the practice of the best of mankind, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and repent and seek Allah’s forgiveness much, so that your sins may be forgiven and your repentance be accepted.<br />
<br />
Our beloved Prophet, (pbuh) has taught us the best way in which to seek Allah’s forgiveness by informing us of a supplication to make, as we find on the authority of Shaddad b. Aws (ra) who related that the Prophet (pbuh), said, “The superior prayer for forgiveness is that the slave should say,<br />
<br />
‘O Allah, You are my Lord; there is no deity except you. You created me and I am Your slave. I am keeping my pledge and promise to you as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from the evil I have done. I acknowledge the blessings You have bestowed upon me and I confess my sins to you, so forgive me as indeed, no one can forgive sins except You.’<br />
<br />
Whoever said this during the day, with surety of faith in it and died before they reached the evening then they will be of the people of Paradise. And whoever said this during the night, with surety of faith in it and died before they reached the morning then they will be of the people of Paradise.”(Related by al-Bukhari)<br />
<br />
So my dear brothers seize this great opportunity, learn it and teach it, say it with a truthful heart and a mindful tongue. O Allah, please forgive our sins and ignore our shortcomings and enter us into Your Paradise, Ameen. Farooq Khan</div>

Allah invites you to Paradise and to Forgiveness, by His permission

Allah invites you to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission Allah swt says in Surah an-Nisa 4 v28: “Allah wishes to lighten (the ...

Thursday, February 04, 2016

Do you Know The Prophet?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vgeU0U8T-tg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="366" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vgeU0U8T-tg?feature=player_embedded" width="620"></iframe></div>
<br />
Muhammad, Rasoolullah<br />
<br />
Prophets in Islam (Arabic: الأنبياء في الإسلام‎) include "messengers" (rasul, pl. rusul), bringers of a divine revelation via an angel;12 and "prophets" (nabī, pl. anbiyāʼ), lawbringers that Muslims believe were sent by God to every people, bringing God's message in a language they can understand.13 Belief in prophets is one of the six articles of the Islamic faith, and specifically mentioned in the Quran.4<br />
In Islamic belief the first prophet was the first human being, Adam (Adem). Many Jewish and Christian prophets and revelations they delivered are mentioned in the Quran as prophets and revelations but usually with different names, (the Jewish Elisha is called Alyasa, Job is Ayyub, Jesus is Isa, etc.; The Torah given to Moses (Musa) is called Tawrat, the Psalms given to David (Dawud) is the Zabur, the Gospel given to Jesus is Injil).<br />
<br />
Unique to Islam is Muhammad (Muḥammad ibn ʿAbdullāh), who Muslims believe is the "Seal of the Prophets" (Khatam an-Nabiyyin, i.e. the last prophet); and the text revealed to him (the Quran), which Muslims believe is unique among divine revelations as the only one protected by God from distortion or corruption,5 destined to remain in its true form until the Last Day.<br />
<br />
In Muslim belief, every prophet preached the same main Islamic beliefs, the Oneness of God, worshipping of that one God, avoidance of idolatry and sin, and the belief in the Day of Resurrection or the Day of Judgement and life after death. Each came to preach Islam at different times in history and some told of the coming of the final prophet and messenger of God, who would be named "Ahmed" commonly known as Muhammad. Each prophet directed a message to a different group of people, and thus would preach Islam in accordance with the times.<br />
<br />
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophets_and_messengers_in_Islam<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>

Do you Know The Prophet?

Muhammad, Rasoolullah Prophets in Islam (Arabic: الأنبياء في الإسلام‎) include "messengers" (rasul, pl. rusul), bringers of ...

Wednesday, February 03, 2016

Islam and the Environment

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2635WJLCu6yvEvhRo2Wwso4mdBfxFD4terNx9IHSgNs7pDG4TCYqU5jyJoFA0YWBymA_xUSPhLF1kO_RyIIT2yOpoi07z5E_fze0oPpHoud7eN7i8NEzNI7Gd6XiuAViRfhbbJWSYyYer/s1600/environment-112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2635WJLCu6yvEvhRo2Wwso4mdBfxFD4terNx9IHSgNs7pDG4TCYqU5jyJoFA0YWBymA_xUSPhLF1kO_RyIIT2yOpoi07z5E_fze0oPpHoud7eN7i8NEzNI7Gd6XiuAViRfhbbJWSYyYer/s640/environment-112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Almighty Allah Exhorts Us In The Holy Quran: “Eat And Drink From The Provisions Which We – Allah Have Provided For You, And Do Not Commit Abuse On The Earth, And Spread Corruption.” (Qur’an, 2:60)<br />
<br />
The Messenger Of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) Said:  Many People Are Using The Property Of Allah In A Wrongful And Unjust Manner. For Them Is The Hellfire On The Day Of Judgment.   (Reported By Al-Bukhari)<br />
<br />
World Environment Day Was Celebrated On June 5th 2014 — And It Is A Day That Should Stimulate Awareness Of The Environment And Should Enhance Political Attention And Public Action Among All People.<br />
<br />
The First World Environment Day Was Celebrated In 1973. And It Is Hosted Every Year In A Different City Around The World With A Different Theme — And Is Commemorated With An International Exposition In The Week Commencing — 5th June.<br />
<br />
In South Africa We Have An Organisation Called- “Green Deen South Africa“ Which Is An Initiative Of The Union Of Muslim Students’ Associations Of South Africa And They Aim To Raise Awareness And Mobilise Action In The South African Muslim Community About Current Environmental Issues And To Provide Proactive Tools For Caring For Their Environment.<br />
<br />
Green Deen South Africa’, Has Issued An Annual Call-Out For South African Muslim Leaders To Raise The Islamic-Environmental Banner From Their Mimbars.<br />
<br />
All Religious Leaders Are Challenged To Look Into Their Traditions For Any Inspiration That Could Guide Us Towards Averting This Global Disaster.<br />
<br />
This New Demand On Old Traditions –Forces Us To Look Creatively At The World’s Religious Heritage And Reinterpret Or Reapply Sacred Texts And Principles To Our Present Problem.<br />
<br />
It Is Surprising, However, That The Texts Of The Islamic Religious Traditions Speak Directly On Many Issues That Are Pertinent To Our Problem. Hence The Task For The Muslims Here Is Not So Much A Reinterpretation Of The Traditions, But Mainly A Reapplication Of Old Texts To New Problems.<br />
<br />
To Begin With, The Quran Calls On Us To Recognise Our Own Contribution To The Crisis: The Emphasis Is To Educate Muslims And To Make Them Aware Of Their Responsibility To The Environment.<br />
<br />
Now If We Look At The Term “Environment” And Related Concepts Like — “Ecology”, “Environmental Awareness” Environmental Degradation” “Sustainability”, Sustainable Development/ Biodiversity And Global Warming – They Are All Are Modern-Day Invented Terms That Were Formulated In The Face Of Growing Concerns About The Contemporary State Of The Natural World Around Us.<br />
<br />
The Environment Was Always There And Humanity Always Lived In Harmony With It. It Is Since The Last Two Centuries That There Was A Dramatic Change Globally In The World Around Us<br />
<br />
The Relationship Between Human Beings And The Earth Is Increasingly Complicated And Urgent. -Every Day There Are Stories About Pollution, Global Warming And Animal Species Facing Extinction?  All Religions Are Responding With Views On The Environment And Our Responsibility For It.<br />
<br />
 In The Hq  (Qur’an 6:165)    “And It Is He (Allah) Who Made You Vicegerents (Khalaa’ifa) On The Earth  – And Has Raised Some Of You Above Others In Degrees Of Rank/ Intellect  / Awareness / Influence/ Wealth -So That He May Try You Through What He Has Given You –   Indeed, Your Lord Is Swift In Penalty; But Indeed, He Is Forgiving And Merciful.” (Qur’an 6:165).<br />
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; max-width: 100%;">[post_ads]</strong><br />
 In The Classical Arabic The Word For Earthling Is Khalifa. This Is A Magnificent Word With Multiple Meanings Like Deputy, Guardian, ‘Friend Of The Earth’ Viceroy, Vicegerent /Custodian – Or Caretaker– And It All Boils Down To Stewardship.<br />
<br />
Human Beings Are The Most Intelligent Beings On Earth So It Makes Sense That We Should Have The Responsibility To Care For Our Planet = But Human Beings Are Also Responsible For Almost All The Damage Done To The Planet.* We Are A Species That Would Sacrifice Our Health For Money, And Then We Reach A Point Where We Become Ill – We Are Compelled To Spend That Money To Make Ourselves Healthy Again. We Do The Same To The Environment. We Rape The Land Seeking Its Value, And Then We Have To Use Our Profits To Fix Our Errors. Allah Has Set Severe Punishments For Those Who Damage And Abuse The Natural Resources.<br />
<br />
 Islam’s Regard For Environmental Ethics Is Very Clear In The Organization Of Its Sacred Scriptures. The Titles Of The Quranic Súrahs, Refer Both To The Attributes Of Almighty Allah And A Series Of Natural Phenomena, Including Animals,(Al Baqarah / Al An Aam/ Fil) Plants,(Masad/ Teen) Insects, (Al Nahl / Al Naml/ Ankabut) Mountains (Tur And Weather. (Ar Raad/ Dhaariyaat)<br />
<br />
 This Holistic Vision Of Man’s Relation To Allah And The Environment Is Likewise Evident In Multiple Passages Of The Quran, Which Indicates That People Will Be Accountable For How They Treat All Of The Earth’s Natural Resources. Allah Also Exhort Us In The [Quran 2:60]” “Eat And Drink From The Provisions Which Allah Has Provided For You, And Do Not Commit Abuse On The Earth, Spreading Corruption.”<br />
<br />
 If I Destroy A Person’s Property That Is Called Vandalism And I Could Be Taken To Task, But When Global Corporations Clear Hundreds Of Acres Of Land, Destroying The Lives Of Millions Of Creatures We Call It Progress. This Land Is Not Inherited From Our Ancestors It Is Borrowed From Our Children And Is A Trust Left To Us By Almighty Allah.<br />
<br />
 About The Islamic Belief And The Environment  —  The Qur’an Says That Allah (God) Is The Creator Of The World. Human Beings Are On The World As Trustees Or ‘Vicegerents’ – They Are Instructed To Look After The Earth For Allah And For The Future:  The Whole Earth Has Been Created A Place Of Worship, Pure And Clean.<br />
<br />
In The Qur’an, Muslims Are Instructed To Look After The Environment And Not To Damage It:  In Surah 30:30 Almighty Allah Says — Devote Yourselves Single-Mindedly To Thisway Of Life, And Follow The Nature Designed By Allah, And Which He (Allah) Has Fashioned For Mankind. There Is No Altering The Creation Of Allah.<br />
<br />
Muslims Have To Look After The Earth Because It Is All Allah’s Creation And It Is Part Of A Human’s Duty To Allah: Surah 13: 4 Almighty Allah Says: It Is Allah Who Spread Out The Earth And Made Therein Firmly Fixed Mountains And Rivers, And Of Fruits Of Every Kind He Has Made Pairs. ( Zawjain Ithnain) He Causes The Night To Cover The Day. Verily In All This, Are Aayah / Signs /Proofs / Evidences / Lessons For  People Who Can Reflect.  (Yatta Faqqaroon)<br />
<br />
Because Of This Instruction, – People Should See Themselves As Being Responsible For The World Which Allah Created And They Have To Make Their Own Decisions About How To Do This. – We Have A Duty To Protect And Take Responsibility For The Well-Being Of Allah’s Creation. The World And Everything In It Provides For The Needs Of Mankind And All Other Creatures.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIDVSJlPd3w89TG9DmysboEG9ujjSFkc8XEaf1moYVNIVs8urmQQ_NxUvzFNp1EdT4hZ0sjxbtS6j8MzIG__NSKoscRhe0FLOGnGaaOsyIhMSvdwVNtNA5R_hcmvMZx8cO1h_SvwHCtA3/s1600/environment-111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIDVSJlPd3w89TG9DmysboEG9ujjSFkc8XEaf1moYVNIVs8urmQQ_NxUvzFNp1EdT4hZ0sjxbtS6j8MzIG__NSKoscRhe0FLOGnGaaOsyIhMSvdwVNtNA5R_hcmvMZx8cO1h_SvwHCtA3/s640/environment-111.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
 However, The Utilization Of This Creation Should Be Done In A Respectful And Responsible Manner, All The While Recognizing The Generosity Of Almighty Allah. -Muslims Believe In Accountability, And Cruelty To Allah’s Creation And Lack Of Respect Of The Natural World Will Be One Of The Bases For Judgment. In Shariah, There Are Regulations And Guidelines On How We Are Supposed To Treat The Natural World. This Ranges From The Prohibition Of Cruelty To Animals, To The Allocation Of Water Resources, As Well As The Process Behind Land Designation.<br />
<br />
Cruelty To Living Creatures Is Absolutely Forbidden. A Variety Of Stories And Anecdotes Exist In Islamic Teachings Regarding The Evil Of Those Who Mistreated Animals, And The Virtue Of Those Who Went Out Of Their Way To Demonstrate Kindness To Animals.<br />
<br />
 It Is Also Prohibited To Cut Down Trees Without Just Cause. Damage To The Natural Environment And All Living Things Is A Criminal Offence And Laws Do Exist For Protection, Assigning Punishments To Those Who Oppose The Law.<br />
<br />
 The Punishment Of Crimes Against Nature, As Well As The Duty To Protect And Conserve Allah’s Creation, Makes Islam Very Much In Tune With The Needs Of The Environment.<br />
<br />
  Let Us Look At The Wisdom Of Some Of The Teachings Of Prophet Muhammad (Saw) And See How Many Solutions There Are For These Modern Terms.<br />
<br />
About The Role Of Plants And Trees: The Prophet Muhammad (Saw) Encouraged The Planting Of Trees And The Cultivation Of Agriculture Which Are Considered As Good Acts. This Is Illustrated In The Following Tradition: Narrated By Anas Bin Malik (Ra) That Allah’s Apostle (Saw) Said: “There Is None Amongst The Muslims Who Plants A Tree Or Sows Seeds, And Then A Bird, Or A Person Or An Animal Eats From It, But Is Regarded As A Charitable Gift For Him.”‏(Bukhari).<br />
<br />
The Prophet (Saw) Knew The Value Of Planting And Cultivation. Planting Of Trees Results In More Nutritious Food For Man And Beast, It Serves As A Shade From The Burning Sun Especially In Hot Areas, It Supplements The Oxygen In The Atmosphere. In Certain Areas It Prevents Soil Erosion And Prevents Mudslides. It Is Also Home To Several Species Of Insects And Animals.<br />
<br />
Islam Is Against The Cutting Or Destruction Of Plants And Trees Unnecessarily As Is Evident In The Following Hadith: Abdullah Ibn Habashi Reported That Nabi Muhammad (Saw) Said: “He Who Cuts A Lote-Tree [Without Justification], For Him Await A Severe  Chastisement In The Hereafter.” (Abu Dawud)<br />
<br />
Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi Explains Many Ahadith In Terms Of Protecting The Natural Resources And Preserving The Balance That Exists Between The Creatures In The Environment –He Says –Islam Teaches That Allah Created All Things In Perfect Balance And Measurement. There Is A Purpose Behind All Living And Non-Living Things, And Each Species Has An Important Role To Play In The Balance —  In This Regard Almighty Allah States In The Hq: 55  -7-13<br />
<br />
7-And The Heaven – He (Allah) Raised High And He Set A Balance-<br />
<br />
8 In Order That You May Not Transgress The Due Balance<br />
<br />
9. And Observe The Weight With Equity And Do Not Make The Balance Deficient.<br />
<br />
10.And The Earth Has Been Created For All The Creatures.<br />
<br />
 11.Therein Are Fruits And Species Of Dates<br />
<br />
12. And Also Corn With Its Leaves And Stalk For Fodder (Feed For Animals) And Sweet Scented Plants.<br />
<br />
13. Then Which Of The Favours And Blessings Of Your Lord Do You Deny.<br />
<br />
 The Devastation Caused By Deforestation In Many Countries Causes Soil Erosion And Kills Many Of The Biodiversity Of The Earth. Planting Of More Trees Will Restore The Earth’s Health –Reduce Soil Erosion And Flooding, There Will Be A Recycling Of Rainfall Inland And There Will Be A Restoration Of Aquifer Recharge. (Aquiferrecharge Or Deep Drainage Is A Process Where Water Moves Downward From Surface Water To Groundwater)<br />
<br />
Sustainable Use Of Land: The Prophet (Saw) Was A Strong Proponent Of The Sustainable Use And Cultivation Of Land. The Prophet (S.A.W.) Thus Encouraged The Cultivation Of Land. Abu Hurairah (Ra) Said That Nabi (S.A.W) Said: “Whoever Owns Land Should Cultivate It Himself Or Give It To His (Muslim) Brother For Cultivation” ‏(Bukhari)<br />
<br />
 Unsustainable Use Of Land Affects The Physical Space, The Natural Resources Of Soil, The Mineral Deposits, Water, As Well As Plant And Animal Life. The Expansion Of Human Activities Has Affected The Quality Of The Land. It Causes Instability Of The Earth’s Ecosystems. It Leads To The Disruption Of The Global Nitrogen Cycle.<br />
<br />
Conservation  And Saving Of Water And Using It Sparingly Were Pointed Out By The Prophet (Saw) To His Companions. When The Prophet (Saw) Saw Sa’d Performing Wudhu He Said : “What Is This? You Are Wasting Water.” Sa’d Replied: Can There Be Wastefulness While Performing Ablution? The Prophet (Saw) Replied: “Yes Even If You Perform It In A Flowing River.” (Ibn Maja)<br />
<br />
In Addition To Encouraging Water Conservation, The Prophet Saw) Himself Set The Example; It Is Narrated By Anas (Ra): The Prophet (Saw) Used To Take A Bath And Ablution With Very Little Water ( Bukhari)<br />
<br />
In The Qur’an, 6:65 “Almighty Allah Says –-And Allah Sent Down Rain From The Sky And Give Life Thereby To The Earth After Its Lifelessness. Indeed In That Is A Sign (Clear Proof) For People Who Listen. (And Obey)”) This Verse Leaves One With No Doubt That The Preservation Of Water Is Paramount To The Natural Order Found On Earth.<br />
<br />
Wastage Of Water Causes Deficiency  In Nature And It Affects The Ecological Balance. It Violates The Rights Of Forthcoming Generations To Live In A Healthy Environment. All Living Beings Are Affected By Water Wastage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnd7Uxdx08pe5nokbOd6UYxbJZ7nR8iHpcrZz7wOpu9EXJfa-Z5X-RumDZeqFYjtK2MF0_Vv8mNdYsWyMlOvQYaQwytvTEGahkLbyTc5XXvroxmFXAsRRf0_8bLMFg53b1FSsgAqe5b9vB/s1600/environment-113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnd7Uxdx08pe5nokbOd6UYxbJZ7nR8iHpcrZz7wOpu9EXJfa-Z5X-RumDZeqFYjtK2MF0_Vv8mNdYsWyMlOvQYaQwytvTEGahkLbyTc5XXvroxmFXAsRRf0_8bLMFg53b1FSsgAqe5b9vB/s640/environment-113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The Prophet (Saw) Was Also Concerned About The Purity Of Water. The Prophet Warned Against Water Pollution By Forbidding Relieving Yourself In Stagnant Water.<br />
<br />
 The Prophet (Saw) Said: “Be On Your Guard Against Three Things Which Provoke Cursing: Relieving Yourself In The Watering Places, And On The Thoroughfares, And In The Shade (Of The Trees)”( Abu-Dawud ).<br />
<br />
This Hadith Prohibits Humans From Defecating At Places Frequented By Others And Also Teaches Them That Human Waste Has Its Specific Place. If It Is Dropped At Unguarded Areas It Can Cause A Health Hazard And Can Lead To Many Illnesses.<br />
<br />
The World Is Moving Into A Water Stress Era. Water Tables Are Falling In Almost Every Country That Irrigates Under –Ground Water. Farmers Are Losing Water To The Ever Growing Cities. Glaziers Are Melting Faster Than Expected Due To Global Warming Which Results In Mountain Peoples’ Reduction In Their Water Supply. Underground Water Becomes Contaminated Due To Mining Activities In Many Areas. Every Citizen Of The World Has To Adopt A Water Conservation Attitude.<br />
<br />
The Treatment Of Animals And Insects: Play A Vital Role In The Ecosystem Of The Earth. The Species Should Be Respected, Protected And Not To Be Destroyed. If A Species Become Extinct It Can Never, Ever Be Replaced And A Whole Ecosystem With Many Lives Can Be Affected.<br />
<br />
 The Prophet (Saw) Preached That Animals Should Be Treated With Dignity. He Promised A Reward For Those Who Care For Animals.<br />
<br />
The Prophet (Saw) Showed Great Gentleness Towards Animals And He Was Also Extremely Sensitive To The Suffering Of Animals. Any Killing Of Animals Without Justification In Islam Is Not Allowed Even If The Victim Is A Very Small Animal Or Bird.<br />
<br />
Global Warming Has A Significant Impact On The Biodiversity Of The Earth Which Contain Much Of Animal Life. We Are Still Presently Discovering Many New Species Of Animal Life And Many Species Of The Fauna Are Already Extinct Or On The Brink Of Extinction. Destruction Of Habitat And Over-Harvesting Are Destroying Animal Life On Great Scale.<br />
<br />
Conclusion:   I Have Mentioned Only A Few Of The Narrations In This Khutbah – But Much Of The Prophet’s (Saw) Advice Can Be Appreciated And Applied. Today One Finds That Everyone Is Concerned About The Effects Of Global Warming And Climate Change Mainly Brought About By The Hands Of Humanity. The Nabi (Saw) Told Us: There Should Be No Harming (Daraar) Or Reciprocating Harm (Diraar). { Imaam Malik.}<br />
<br />
The World Is Suffering Due To Deforestation And Prophet (Saw) Showed Us The Importance Of Trees And Plants. Land Degradation And Desertification Is Practiced By Many Countries Worldwide And Sustainable Use Of Land Is In Our Islamic Teachings.<br />
<br />
 Developed As Well As Developing Countries Are Suffering From Water Stress And How To Overcome This Was Given To Us 14 Centuries Ago. Biodiversity Of The World Is Suffering And This Includes Over-Fishing And Over-Hunting Due To Human Activities And Human Greed, But The Prophet (Saw) Taught Us The Value Of Animal Life.<br />
<br />
 Islam Is Characterized By An All-Encompassing Spirituality Which Is Found In All Acts Of A Muslim’s Life And His Way Of Consuming The Gifts Of Nature Is Part Of Worship.<br />
<br />
 What Is Distinctive About The Prophet’s Approach To Environmental Issues Is The Connection He Established Between Green Practices And Rewards In The Hereafter, Which, Represents, An Incentive Greater Than Any Worldly Gain Or Reward. Thus, His Lessons Prompt A Greater Care For The Earth And More Effort To Conserve Its Resources.<br />
<br />
This Planet And Body Is A Trust From Allah And We Should Make Dua That Allah Allows Us To Continue Taking Care Of That Trust.<br />
<br />
Environmental Stewardship Is A Qur’anic Mandate And Commission From Almighty Allah. All Of Allah’s Creation Is Important, Down To The Last Sparrow And Blade Of Grass. — We Have Wrongfully Assumed That Creation Exists For Our Own Consumption. It Is The Responsibility Of Every True Believer To Take Stewardship Seriously, And That Includes Environmental Stewardship. We Need To Embrace The Task To Start “Tending The Garden.”1<br />
<br />
 I Believe — There Is Most Certainly A Message From Islam And Our Beloved Prophet (Saw) For Many Future World Conferences And Meetings On Environmental Justice.<br />
<br />
 Let Us Pray –  O Allah!! , Creator Of The Heaven And Earth, We Thank You For The Wonder And Beauty Of Nature. May We Be Ever Vigilant And Responsible With The World That You Have Given Us, Keeping Mindful Not Only That We Are Your Stewards, But Also That Your Creation Is A Gift For All Generations.<br />
<br />
 O Allah!! Breathe Into Us Solidarity  With All Those Who Suffer Now And The Future Generations Who Will Suffer Because Of Our Environmental Irresponsibility. —  Move Us Into Action To Save Our Earth And To Build Your Sustainable Kingdom. —-<br />
<br />
O Allah!! We Have Caused Corruption On Land And Sea, And It Is Up To Us To Mend Our Ways. Our Present Crisis Calls On Religious Leaders To Find Faith-Based Messages That Will Inspire The Faithful Towards A Heightened Environmental Awareness.<br />
<br />
Imam Nur Salie</div>

Islam and the Environment

Almighty Allah Exhorts Us In The Holy Quran: “Eat And Drink From The Provisions Which We – Allah Have Provided For You, And Do Not Commit...

Wednesday, February 03, 2016

Holding to the Sunnah in the 21st Century

Holding to the Sunnah in the 21st Century

Holding to the Sunnah in the 21st Century by Abdur Raheem McCarthy, Ismail Bullock and Gabriel Al Romaani (icraa.org) http://icraa.org...

Wednesday, February 03, 2016

Dawah, Inviting people to Islam must be done with respect

Dawah, Inviting people to Islam must be done with respect

In Islamic theology, the purpose of da'wah is to invite people, both Muslims and non-Muslims, to understand the worship of Allah as ...

Wednesday, February 03, 2016

Objectives of Shariah: A Quranic Perspective by Nouman Ali Khan

Objectives of Shariah: A Quranic Perspective by Nouman Ali Khan

Islamic Sharia: A Divine Legal Framework for a Prosperous Society at the ICNA 2011 Convention - Objectives of Sharia: A Quranic Perspect...

Tuesday, February 02, 2016

Non-Muslim Women Push ‘World Hijab Day - Feb 1’ To Undermine Western Opposition

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Some non-Muslim women in the <b>United States</b> and other countries voluntarily donned the “hijab” on Monday (Feb 01) to show “solidarity” with Muslim women.<br />
<br />
World Hijab Day is part of a major effort supported by Muslim Student Association (MSA) to foster empathy toward Muslims and Islam in America.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufonZ3s9Yrau43IH_Gxalv7IC2AML9s2IP4AjVo4QZocsY-_OVwzFddub_sK9nhHgo5xT692HWTQl7CTsIGnf7YVa_EAt4tb2UvwBvRa0wfMy_-ibWxmbRDpyPv7-uEJMe7E2H65q5zl7/s1600/world-hijab-day.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufonZ3s9Yrau43IH_Gxalv7IC2AML9s2IP4AjVo4QZocsY-_OVwzFddub_sK9nhHgo5xT692HWTQl7CTsIGnf7YVa_EAt4tb2UvwBvRa0wfMy_-ibWxmbRDpyPv7-uEJMe7E2H65q5zl7/s640/world-hijab-day.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
“People see a veil, the hijab, but people don’t understand why we wear it,” said Doha Medani, a sophomore at North Carolina State University (NCSU), reports The Technician, the school’s newspaper. “My hijab is how I represent myself to the world: as a Muslim, first and foremost,” Medani said.<br />
<br />
“The first thing people see … is my hijab. It makes it clear to the world, or whoever else, that I’m Muslim… it tells people a lot about who you are,” she added.<br />
<br />
The campaign, however, is spurring protests from Americans. For example, two Muslim women penned a December op-ed at the Washington Post in which they say the hijab campaign is intended to hide Islam’s sexist political agenda, and urged Americans to stand against Islam’s ideological oppression of women.<br />
<br />
“Journalists and media outlets must stop making the mistake of defining hijab as ‘headscarf,’ furthering a sexist propaganda campaign to equate the two,” wrote Asra Q. Nomani and Hala Arafa.<br />
<br />
In the name of ‘interfaith,’ well-intentioned Americans are getting duped by the agenda of Muslims who argue that a woman’s honor lies in her ‘chastity,’ pushing a platform to put a headscarf on every woman,” the Muslim women added. “Please do this instead: Do not wear a headscarf in ‘solidarity’ with the ideology that most silences us, equating our bodies with ‘honor.’ Stand with us instead with moral courage against the ideology of Islamism that demands we cover our hair.<br />
<br />
Hijabs are tight or loose headcloths that leave the face uncovered. They’re a less restrictive version of the face-hiding burkas imposed on Afghans women, or the eye-revealing niqabs forced on Saudi women, including Saudi journalists.<br />
<br />
Advocates of the Hijab campaign downplay their Islamic political goals, and instead portray their campaign as a women’s solidarity event.<br />
<br />
“It’s like a ‘Walk a day in their shoes’ type of thing, for women to wear the hijab and see what happens, how things around them change when they are viewed as a Muslim woman — to step into that and get that perspective,” said NCSU senior Hoda Abrahim. “So you can empathize in a way, or just better understand it.”<br />
<br />
At NCSU, the school’s MSA and Women’s Center jointly allowed non-Muslim women the opportunity to wear the hijab and share their stories about their experience.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkG_zj1nyNNnXA0EMFyNWoDaj32kd8wZQPM9gsuIEXUaYY5VzLAjYKWS4v2y8JJAzJg3wQbcD2mouuzXfE9BN25qH_541gX4qIjgX1KtNFydZFrpZuQdW8_CXyxqyUMsJ_B7qcmtKmxlVq/s1600/world-hijab-day-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkG_zj1nyNNnXA0EMFyNWoDaj32kd8wZQPM9gsuIEXUaYY5VzLAjYKWS4v2y8JJAzJg3wQbcD2mouuzXfE9BN25qH_541gX4qIjgX1KtNFydZFrpZuQdW8_CXyxqyUMsJ_B7qcmtKmxlVq/s640/world-hijab-day-2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
World Hijab Day was billed as “an open invitation to Muslims and non-Muslims to experience the hijab for a day.” Ads for the event were clearly aimed at attacking negativity toward Muslims and proposals to limit their immigration due to concerns about terrorism from Islamic jihadists.<br />
<br />
“Before you judge, cover up for a day,” read one ad. “Covered by choice, not force,” another read, tying to countering the widespread view that Islam oppresses women. Yet another featured a woman in a hijab with the message, saying “Beautiful, confident, empowered.”<br />
<br />
The Penn State Berks MSA hosted “World Hijab Day” and advertised a “free scarf for female attendees, a tutorial on how to wear the hijab, and a free lunch for all who attend.” Participants were asked to wear the hijab for the entire day and send their stories about their experiences to the school’s MSA president, reports Penn State News. A prize was awarded to the woman who submitted the most “engaging submission.”<br />
<br />
At Texas A & M, biology junior Salam Yamak told The Battalion, “Anytime you sit down with someone and you have a conversation and you show them what your religion is all about should be casual like this,” she said about marking the day. “It creates a better environment and so we can better show the true nature of Islam.”<br />
<br />
“Whenever you have Islamophobia or any other group that is seen as different it’s because of people not having enough knowledge or having enough experiences with Muslim people,” Yamak added.<br />
<br />
Similarly, chemical engineering senior Danielle Gore said Islamophobia must be fought through dialogue that shows how peaceful Islam is as a religion.<br />
<br />
“Especially for people who have only seen negative portrayals of Islam in the media and that’s what this holiday [sic] is for, to create a dialogue and to ask questions and to humanize a group of people who have been dehumanized,” he said. “Even if we do get some crazy people who yell things at us when we’re walking around campus we have definitely seen the goodness come out from our fellow Aggies by showing us support, despite the rhetoric that’s been created.”<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVWm78rdTmlMUR6RxH6ULIf8ljH3rFGfGFZTS4dvLIccoe0Q6aIS00Z6vAw1JwOIcS0QlisARBo4CdsQ6jxZLLlX7KT52fGz3Wc-4RUf1Je0lbG_nI79YX1uyaCo0K0Qhw5KtToWJsxjh/s1600/world-hijab-day-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVWm78rdTmlMUR6RxH6ULIf8ljH3rFGfGFZTS4dvLIccoe0Q6aIS00Z6vAw1JwOIcS0QlisARBo4CdsQ6jxZLLlX7KT52fGz3Wc-4RUf1Je0lbG_nI79YX1uyaCo0K0Qhw5KtToWJsxjh/s640/world-hijab-day-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
World Hijab Day was launched in 2013 by Nazma Khan, a New York resident who hoped to change the image of the hijab as a sign of oppression of women of Islam. The day has been especially marked on college and university campuses.<br />
<br />
Among World Hijab Day’s “endorsers” is Felixia Yeap, an ex-Playboy bunny and ex-Playboy model, who writes in support:<br />
<br />
I support world hijab day because I have heard enough stories of why hijabi women are being bullied and mocked just because they wear a hijab. I have been and still am being sarcastically mocked and insulted just because I chose to be a full time “hijabster” despite the fact that I have not reverted yet. Thanks for coming up with this 1st Feb!<br />
<br />
“Revert” is the Islam term for “convert,” and illustrates the orthodox Islamic claim that everybody is born a Muslim, but many are led away from the Islamic lifestyle, or “deen,” by their parents and non-Islamic societies.<br />
<br />
Source:  <a href="http://worldhijabday.com/" target="_blank">http://WorldHijabDay.com/</a><br />
<div>
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/02/muslim-student-associations-celebrate-world-hijab-day-to-foster-empathy-toward-muslim-women/</div>
</div>

Non-Muslim Women Push ‘World Hijab Day - Feb 1’ To Undermine Western Opposition

Some non-Muslim women in the United States and other countries voluntarily donned the “hijab” on Monday (Feb 01) to show “solidarity” with...

Tuesday, February 02, 2016

Halal goes global: tourism, food, lifestyle products are driving explosive growth worth US $3.7 trillion

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Worldwide spending on global Halal food and lifestyle products could rise 10.8 percent a year until 2019 to create an international industry worth US $3.7 trillion, according to the latest Global Islamic Economy Report.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFebur_nyC_AsaybGAgcRrPDIZeTQqkpUkNe_KG8jFRuuCEAKVzB0Kdk_ekXmqkWsS4jLLSnIQ6Daz-PQNBEHVUb2uUevhAehimT-YZ2pf-uMVofTx7daG5ldw9GyZCL2-Hj-jxf6z3O6G/s1600/hallal-food-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Islamic Finder Halal Food" border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFebur_nyC_AsaybGAgcRrPDIZeTQqkpUkNe_KG8jFRuuCEAKVzB0Kdk_ekXmqkWsS4jLLSnIQ6Daz-PQNBEHVUb2uUevhAehimT-YZ2pf-uMVofTx7daG5ldw9GyZCL2-Hj-jxf6z3O6G/s400/hallal-food-sign.jpg" title="Halal Food explosive growth to $3.7T" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Commissioned by the Government of Dubai and produced by ThomsonReuters in collaboration with strategy and research advisory firm DinarStandard, the report says that the past year has seen major advancements in the global Halal food and lifestyle sectors. These include investments by a Brazilian Halal food provider in a UAE production plant, new Halal testing technologies from France, Malaysia and the UAE, and international marketing of Dubai as a new Halal and Islamic Economy hub.<br />
<br />
At the same time, the Halal tourism sector, a huge driver of food, beverage and hospitality sales, has also advanced following product investments in the UAE, the Maldives, Spain, Japan, the Philippines and Russia, amongst others. The lucrative Halal tourism market now represents 11.6 percent of global tourism expenditure, excluding the busy Hajj and Umrah seasons, and is expected to be worth US$238 billion by 2019.<br />
<br />
According to the report, the Halal food sector alone will grow to a valuation of US$2.537 trillion by 2019, up from US$795 billion in 2014, equating to 21.2 percent of global food expenditure. The top countries with Muslim consumer food consumption are Indonesia, with a market worth US$190 billion, Turkey, where the market is valued at US$168 billion, Pakistan at US$108 billion and Iran, where the market equates to US$97 billion based on 2013 data.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Malaysia, the UAE and Australia lead the report’s Halal Food Indicator, a gauge that focusses on the health of the country’s Halal Food ecosystem in relation to its size.<br />
<br />
The UAE’s advancing status as an international centre for Halal food trading is evidenced by Halal World Food, the world’s biggest annual Halal food sourcing trade event, featuring more than 800 certified suppliers in only its third year. The segmented show-within-a-show concept at Gulfood 2016 returns to Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from February 21st-25th.<br />
<br />
"Adding more than 100 new Halal food companies highlights a leap in demand as major local, regional and international Halal food producers explore new areas of business opportunity and investment," said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions and Events Management, DWTC. "The increase in our Halal exhibitors and companies is being driven by investment opportunities across the Halal food value chain, Halal food SMEs seeking Islamic financing for working capital, trade financing and expansion needs, M&A opportunities, organic, pure and wholesome new products, Halal ingredients and co-operation on building global or regional brands that deliver on Halal integrity."<br />
<br />
Becoming a trusted name and solutions provider in the global Halal food sector and a destination of choice for Islamic families are among the seven strategic objectives of the ‘Dubai - the Capital of Islamic Economy’ initiative launched in early 2013 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.<br />
<br />
"Halal World Food’s growth is helping the initiative attain some of these overarching objectives," added LohMirmand. "With an anticipated visitor turnout of over 85,000 from more than 170 countries including international heads of state, ministers, government officials and national trade associations from five continents, I think we can confidently predict an increase in the emirate’s share of year-round trading in Halal foods."<br />
<br />
Following successful editions of Halal World Food in 2014 and 2015, scores of major international retail buyers are already using the specialised Gulfood event as their preferred Halal food sourcing platform. With Muslim populations rising across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, major food retailers in Europe and the Americas are also exploring new avenues to augment stocks of Halal certified products on supermarket shelves. The growing international appetite for increasingly diverse, certified Halal food products is expected to see Halal World Food serve as an enabler in Dubai’s strategy to cement its credentials as a Halal food re-export hub, another strategic objective in the emirate’s Islamic Economy capital vision.<br />
<br />
The global Halal food sector also underpins this year’s two-day Gulfood Conference programme at the five-star Conrad Dubai Hotel from February 22nd-23rd. The Gulfood Halal Forum, a dedicated summit on February 23rd, will examine the potential of and opportunities across the global Halal economy, the regulations and trade procedures behind exporting Halal products to the GCC, Halal food and Dubai’s economic ambitions, growing Halal demand and the ratification of new GCC standards and the global call for unified Halal practices.<br />
<br />
Confirmed speakers include Asad Sajjad, CEO, Gulf Halal Centre, Dr. Ashraf Ali Mahate, Head of Export Market Intelligence, Dubai Exports, Sarah Ahli and Yousef Almarzooqi of ESMA, Mazen Al Saleh, Manager of Strategic Execution, Islamic Finance, Sunjeh Raja, CEO of the Islamic Community Center Of Anchorage, Alaska, and Y. Bhg. Dato Seri Jamil Bin Bidin, CEO of the Halal Industry Development Corporation.<br />
<br />
Halal World Food and the Gulfood Halal Forum are integral components of Gulfood 2016, the 21st edition of the world’s biggest annual food and hospitality trading platform. This year’s show will feature more than 5,000 international companies from 120 countries and 117 national and trade association pavilions, five more than last year, with first-time group participation from Russia, Costa Rica, Belarus, Mauritius and New Zealand returning after a six-year break.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: http://www.albawaba.com/business/halal-goes-global-tourism-food-lifestyle-products-are-driving-explosive-growth-800688</span></div>
</div>

Halal goes global: tourism, food, lifestyle products are driving explosive growth worth US $3.7 trillion

Worldwide spending on global Halal food and lifestyle products could rise 10.8 percent a year until 2019 to create an international industr...

Tuesday, February 02, 2016

Australian Halal food appreciation group goes viral

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A group of non-Muslim men have unwittingly made a stand against anti-halal critics thanks to a Facebook group. In under a month 25-year-old Sydney-sider Luke Eagles' Facebook group the Halal Snack Pack Appreciation Society has garnered almost 16,500 members.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oK-wlm-ehusE8xtAeLdd3DZJSzi__1fRQM0A9y4l0cKr2f-SO9_Vf3QQfADuD4bi6Ho1m3VRZOht97IWSEnEbmoVktqyuIri2aFJ7IzoPpem2MqCPQxheXXuCA7FhpMom4L61B2r5-S4/s1600/hallal-australia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oK-wlm-ehusE8xtAeLdd3DZJSzi__1fRQM0A9y4l0cKr2f-SO9_Vf3QQfADuD4bi6Ho1m3VRZOht97IWSEnEbmoVktqyuIri2aFJ7IzoPpem2MqCPQxheXXuCA7FhpMom4L61B2r5-S4/s640/hallal-australia.png" width="640" /></a></div>
Often the result of a night on the town, a halal snack pack is a bed of chips and kebab meat with a choice of sauces and cheese. Mr Eagles told Sky News that the group was started by him and friends for people who 'genuinely love Halal food' but it has quickly added a new purpose.<br />
<br />
'It's good to see everyone come together and accept a different culture and realise that there is nothing to be afraid of and wake up to reality,' he said. Despite daily 'racist, offensive and unnecessary' comments on the page, Mr Eagles says that the response to the group has been overwhelmingly positive.<br />
<br />
According to the group's founder the members of the page are from all walks of life with roughly 60 per cent of them identifying as Muslim. Although not religious himself, Mr Eagles credits growing up in mulitcultural Regents Park in Sydney's west for giving him an 'appreciation of culture and tradition.'<br />
<br />
The page administrators 'all day, every day' receive gratitude from the Australian Muslim community who 'appreciate the culture clash and finally seeing everyone get along,' Luke said. Although the Facebook page taken on a much bigger role than initially intended Mr Eagles claims 'at the end of the day it's about the quality of the food.'<br />
<br />
- See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/culture/offbeat/2016/01/22/halal-food-appreciation-group-goes-viral.html#sthash.UcqWGWEw.dpuf<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=Halal+food+appreciation+group+goes+viral&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 </span></div>
</div>

Australian Halal food appreciation group goes viral

A group of non-Muslim men have unwittingly made a stand against anti-halal critics thanks to a Facebook group. In under a month 25-year-old...

Tuesday, February 02, 2016

How do people perceive Bible verses if they think they're coming from the Quran?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>So they disguised a copy of the Bible as the Qur’an and read sections of it to people.
"According to this Entire Bible the woman has to be submissive"
</i><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/zEnWw_lH4tQ?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>

<br />
<br />
Dutch YouTube duo Dit Is Normaal decided to conducted a social experiment following the attacks in Paris to dispel misconceptions about Islam. They disguised a Bible as a Quran, and then went out onto the streets of the Netherlands to ask people about certain verses from it.<br />
<br />
The pair chose specific Biblical passages that are far out of touch with modern Western culture, and they read them out loud to passerby, pretending they were reading from the Quran. People said the readings were "aggressive," while they described the Bible as "more peaceful" and "positive." The shock was palpable when they found out the verses they had just heard were actually part of the Christian holy text.<br />
<br />
"Our experiment was a way to highlight our prejudice as a society about Islam, one that has been fed to us through mass media over the past couple of years," Alexander Spoor of Dit Is Normaal wrote to The Huffington Post in an email Monday. "The responses we got from the people on the streets were interesting, but not surprising. The outcome of this experiment pretty much proved our hypothesis to be correct. The responses we've been getting from people online are slightly surprising, though. We've received so many messages of thankfulness from Muslims from all over the world for making this video. It's been quite incredible."<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Summary:</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscBwKX2cAfpA11586EIbD__9y7lswgKQS-av_LEhfcoWbAOPWdf1IB_X7-nZModqtZY60sQuUFjdEk03Owu1BSIa-Z_9EizixwtHewbL1P8zn5R4yzjzpYHs5nNUAbNmu-l5xMquBB9CE/s1600/bib-111.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscBwKX2cAfpA11586EIbD__9y7lswgKQS-av_LEhfcoWbAOPWdf1IB_X7-nZModqtZY60sQuUFjdEk03Owu1BSIa-Z_9EizixwtHewbL1P8zn5R4yzjzpYHs5nNUAbNmu-l5xMquBB9CE/s400/bib-111.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So they disguised a copy of the Bible as the Qur’an and read sections of it to people.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>"According to this Entire Bible the woman has to be submissive"</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZvjNfcMIoDP_cgIfWM1Nyg2ctrHFTobrtdIO8RkXvhQJcZGWoYvvL6OGNzx1_8MEGCe9zgIn1lkGw5CVYpqaZftSsuTOFwZF-ftr8IxhMa-70pzH5-tlvaq7wOt-VUVe79iCg_t0wHp8/s1600/bib-112.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZvjNfcMIoDP_cgIfWM1Nyg2ctrHFTobrtdIO8RkXvhQJcZGWoYvvL6OGNzx1_8MEGCe9zgIn1lkGw5CVYpqaZftSsuTOFwZF-ftr8IxhMa-70pzH5-tlvaq7wOt-VUVe79iCg_t0wHp8/s400/bib-112.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Bible verses are read (they think its from the Quran)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRFPpiJVkwSi6i9LwFrjZ1smTTRYivYvgQ90dpk1q593d_OvopHmiCKHwDeo-FIQK2zghGo4z4ORsaC_018ZHUxfCyhthu5Izn402JqcvA0fvspGiRJLeotVa2svPSlc6aVGCOT9d9s04/s1600/bib-113.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRFPpiJVkwSi6i9LwFrjZ1smTTRYivYvgQ90dpk1q593d_OvopHmiCKHwDeo-FIQK2zghGo4z4ORsaC_018ZHUxfCyhthu5Izn402JqcvA0fvspGiRJLeotVa2svPSlc6aVGCOT9d9s04/s400/bib-113.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Bible verses are read (they think its from the Quran)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFvlHb69YLg1nbNJbtV1dhtJUjYoB2VCzjlaQpjB76OG_wnBrejhC22YENDLlJr3e4BU7R7PfmvcIe8tAkHVedM7RxbD1AC8_uumEDbT3MwEMe5nrKC4yMXCeApRAMtJOE_HT_6p4uWWQ/s1600/bib-114.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFvlHb69YLg1nbNJbtV1dhtJUjYoB2VCzjlaQpjB76OG_wnBrejhC22YENDLlJr3e4BU7R7PfmvcIe8tAkHVedM7RxbD1AC8_uumEDbT3MwEMe5nrKC4yMXCeApRAMtJOE_HT_6p4uWWQ/s400/bib-114.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Bible verses are read (they think its from the Quran)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CARaZ_a12Ts_EqpUZzTAQHbrKV1TChButIiJ7mFScTKCTQ0VV-73cPurinLjmD1p_zhEgFEnddU-nSqgrU9AHXoNNvaenszg3Tae5ulGMP416msHlBUVnJwVdabktn93NAdUQG_IFe5u/s1600/bib-115.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CARaZ_a12Ts_EqpUZzTAQHbrKV1TChButIiJ7mFScTKCTQ0VV-73cPurinLjmD1p_zhEgFEnddU-nSqgrU9AHXoNNvaenszg3Tae5ulGMP416msHlBUVnJwVdabktn93NAdUQG_IFe5u/s400/bib-115.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Bible verses are read (they think its from the Quran)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4IPaLzPrL3SQ0-c3QEH8_vR5EJc-Cb-rufApZIW7edAFbVMsOvNG4uygFl774AKRA0JMBG87rHjO5r1rvlittxYyu3rh234-lUkXXUtmWdFrFODXa9eVqFEhqNmF-79YMWma80XASgFr/s1600/bib-116.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4IPaLzPrL3SQ0-c3QEH8_vR5EJc-Cb-rufApZIW7edAFbVMsOvNG4uygFl774AKRA0JMBG87rHjO5r1rvlittxYyu3rh234-lUkXXUtmWdFrFODXa9eVqFEhqNmF-79YMWma80XASgFr/s400/bib-116.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Bible verses are read (they think its from the Quran)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEG3pH5mqadPX3SRAIiwpfLNjGbFCIEyRSvUZH6l93UpcGVie9PDmMBtDFcQZSRIsU7LRTnu6yoHDsBGsmhIyvwePyZmZYL7U9T_m6YA7VAESbkbg4qjIr2dQygexiZDhrfo_dSMWHuGu/s1600/bib-117.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEG3pH5mqadPX3SRAIiwpfLNjGbFCIEyRSvUZH6l93UpcGVie9PDmMBtDFcQZSRIsU7LRTnu6yoHDsBGsmhIyvwePyZmZYL7U9T_m6YA7VAESbkbg4qjIr2dQygexiZDhrfo_dSMWHuGu/s400/bib-117.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Bible verses are read (they think its from the Quran)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
 <span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrE53RZNlz3tpro_C0mBDjsmu0IaCjY-VhVoN1YrkbxNWaaHvQIrBPIgyZqXhazsmag_NxPJe7sGw8249vsTw7QvxOtXjzr4vJzB_1dG3h5PNfEmA3HqU0thqkXzTIlXUiVEuJdwmsEc39/s1600/bib-119.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrE53RZNlz3tpro_C0mBDjsmu0IaCjY-VhVoN1YrkbxNWaaHvQIrBPIgyZqXhazsmag_NxPJe7sGw8249vsTw7QvxOtXjzr4vJzB_1dG3h5PNfEmA3HqU0thqkXzTIlXUiVEuJdwmsEc39/s400/bib-119.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
AND they are told it is the Bible!</div>
<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/these-guys-read-people-passages-from-the-bible-but-made-them#.bwR0pvd3G" target="_blank">Buzzfeed</a><br />
<div>
+<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEnWw_lH4tQ" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEnWw_lH4tQ</a></div>
</div>

How do people perceive Bible verses if they think they're coming from the Quran?

So they disguised a copy of the Bible as the Qur’an and read sections of it to people. "According to this Entire Bible the woman has t...

Monday, February 01, 2016