Islamic Finder - Lectures Khutbas

Family Life In Islam by Shaykh Hasan Ali

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Whether it be your wife, husband, parent, child or future prospective, these lectures will provide the basic, necessary tools from the Quran and the Sunnah to enhance your inter-personal relationships. Discover your own rights and the rights of others, as well as other people’s personality types, which provides to a greater understanding of how to deal with the person in the best possible way to achieve your goal.<br />
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“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.” (The Noble Quran 30:21)<br />
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Family Life In Islam by Shaykh Hasan Ali

Whether it be your wife, husband, parent, child or future prospective, these lectures will provide the basic, necessary tools from the ...

Friday, May 12, 2017

Al Mayadeen Arabic TV Live Stream - قناة الميادين - البث الحي

Al Mayadeen Arabic TV Live Stream - قناة الميادين - البث الحي

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Friday, May 12, 2017

Ramadan Super Foods

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The modern world has swept us off our feet in so many ways… our dressing, our lifestyles and most noticeably our eating habits. We have so casually adapted the western culture of unhealthy eating, moving further and further away from the Noble teachings of the Quraan and Sunnah of The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him).<br />
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Yet, the newest nutritional research continues to discover the benefits of certain foods, labelled as “Super Foods”. They have also unravelled the great benefits of certain eating habits, such as washing the hands before and after meals, eating with the hands, not drinking with meals…just to mention a few. However, all of this has already been outlined in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah more than 1400 years ago.<br />
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We are certainly the losers if we do not make an effort to practice upon the Sunnah in our homes and kitchens. What better time to bring about these changes than now? Our beautiful Deen offers us the opportunity during the beautiful month of Ramadhaan, to bring about positive changes in our lives- changes that benefit us mentally, physically and spiritually which Insha Allah (Allah Willing) can be sustained for the future.<br />
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Physically, fasting gives the digestive system a much needed rest. Energy normally used for digestion is now directed to body detoxification, tissue repair and system healing.<br />
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With that in mind I have chosen to highlight just a few of the favourite foods of our The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). With the special month of Ramadhaan fast approaching, we can all ensure we have these foods on our shopping lists. InshaAllah, by us adopting the lifestyle of The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) we will be rewarded enormously… Ameen.<br />
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DATES<br />
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Dates are the most mentioned fruit in the Quraan. They are high in energy, fibre, iron, vitamins and minerals. The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)said: ” The home with no dates is like the home with no food”.(Hadith- Sahih Muslim)<br />
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The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)used to break his fast with fresh dates and a few sips of water. If he did not find fresh dates, he would use dried dates. He (pbuh) said: “When one of you breaks the fast let him do so with dates, for they are a blessing and if he cannot find dates then with water for it is a purification” (Hadith-Tirmidhi)<br />
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He often consumed dates with cucumber, butter, cream or bread. A dessert called “Haisa” made with ghee (butter), dates, cheese and yoghurt was also prepared.<br />
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Tips: At iftaar (breaking fast) time, dates can also be used to prepare date milkshakes, date chutney, date desserts as well as sprinkled over salads. For sehri (pre-dawn meal), dates can be used as a softened spread over bread or added into muffins, rusks etc.<br />
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OLIVE OIL<br />
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Dieticians and nutritionist the world over have been advocating the use of olive oil for its excellent cardio-protective, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Ongoing research is revealing more and more great benefits on the consumption and application of olive oil.<br />
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The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)said: “Eat the olive and use it as an ointment as it comes from a blessed tree”.(Hadith-Tirmidhi)<br />
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Tips: During Ramadhaan, olive oil is best used raw as a dip for breads or as a salad dressing. The lighter olive oils are well suited for cooking and baking purposes. Whole olives can be added to salads as well as de-pitted and added to breads, muffins, pies and pizzas.<br />
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BARLEY<br />
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A recent Readers Digest article highlighted barley as one of the five healthiest foods we tend not to eat. Yet it was barley that was one of the staple foods in the diet of our The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). Modern research is discovering that barley has a very high soluble- fibre content. This helps to keep the arteries clear and healthy. It has an extremely low glycaemic index (GI), which means it takes a longer time to digest, keeping one fuller for longer.<br />
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It is mentioned that The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) consumed barley in the following ways:<br />
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SAWIQ – a coarse broth prepared from ground wheat and barley – very much like a haleem (soup)<br />
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THARID – Barley bread covered in gravy cooked with meat<br />
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TALBEENAH – A porridge prepared using barley and milk<br />
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A Hadith in Mishkaat narrates that The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)never used sifted flour in his lifetime. We should take lesson from this, as we are all moving to consuming more refined and processed foods where all the beneficial nutrients have been stripped off. Allah SWT mentions in the Holy Quraan grains with their husks, amongst His many gifts to us. Un-sifted flour as used by The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)contains all the valuable nutrients found in the bran and germ layers and has a lower GI.<br />
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Tips: During Ramadhaan, barley can be added to soups and broths or prepared as a drink by boiling and straining mixture. A hadith in Bukhari mentions that The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) consumed “Sawiq” at iftaar. Barley flour can be used for preparing breads and rotis. Substitute 1.5 cups barley flour for every 3 cups regular flour. Cereals containing barley flakes like muesli can be purchased, or barley flakes can be added to biscuits, muffins, breads and other cereals.<br />
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Barley can be prepared as a filling porridge for sehri -Talbeenah. Soak 1-2 tablespoons whole barley overnight in a flask filled with rapidly boiling water. At sehri time, strain water out and prepare porridge with honey and milk. (Store bought “pearled barley” has been polished with some of the bran layer removed).<br />
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HONEY<br />
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Modern research has been abuzz with the myriad of health benefits associated with honey- anti-inflammatory, immune boosting, energising tonic….to name a few.Our beautiful Deen has encouraged the use of honey 1400 years ago. The Holy Quraan mentions”there comes forth from the bee’s belly, a drink of varying colours, wherin is a healing for men”.(Qur’an 16:68-69)<br />
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The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) further said ” Make use of two cures- honey and the Quraan”(Hadith-Ibn Majah)<br />
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The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) loved drinks that were sweet and cold and often consumed honey water.<br />
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Tips: Honey can be used to sweeten items like tea, fresh juices, milk drinks and cereals etc. Raw honey which is thicker and creamier has a lower GI, and can be mixed with cinnamon and used as a spread on toast for sehri.<br />
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GRAPES AND RAISINS<br />
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Grapes have been found to contain resveratrol- a powerful antioxidant that protects the body on a cellular level from damage. The seeds are rich in flavonoids which lower the risk of fatty plaque accumulation on the lining of blood vessels to the heart.<br />
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The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) loved eating grapes. Hadith in Abu Dawood mentions The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him )often consumed a drink “Nabeez”- prepared from soaked raisins. Nabeez can be prepared by soaking raisins after Esha (evening) prayer in clean water covered with a plate. The following morning the water can be drunk and the soaked fruit eaten or just use the blender to obtain a beautiful cloudy Nabeez. And, if you soak in the morning, drink in the evening. Nabeez should be consumed within twelve hours of soaking to prevent fermentation.<br />
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Tips: Nabeez or fresh grape juice can be prepared as a drink after Taraweeh (evening prayer in Ramadaan). Grapes can be served as part of salad or dessert. Raisins eaten with nuts can be enjoyed as a healthy munch after taraweeh salaat.<br />
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The Sunnah way of eating is the healthy way of eating. InshaAllah, let us all strive to revive and bring alive the Sunnahs of The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) in our homes this Ramadhaan. I have highlighted just a few. Make an intention to eat on the floor, share eating utensils and to fill a third of your stomach with water, a third with food and a third left for air.<br />
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Besides the immense health benefits outlined above our greatest rewards really lie in following the Sunnah, as it comes in Hadith mentioned by The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him):<br />
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” The person who follows my Sunnah is the one who truly loves me, and will be with me in Jannah” (Hadith-Tirmidhi)<br />
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Allah Ta’ala said to His Messenger (pbuh)”Say (to mankind), if you love Allah, follow me – Allah will love you and forgive your sins.” (Qur’an:3: 31)<br />
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Wishing you all healthy eating, the Sunnah way<br />
.Ramadhaan Mubarak!<br />
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By Umme Faatimah (B.Dietetics Univ. of Pretoria)<br />
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<a href="http://haqislam.org/category/articles/ramadan/fasting-ramadan-articles/" target="_blank">http://haqislam.org/category/articles/ramadan/fasting-ramadan-articles/</a><br />
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Ramadan Super Foods

The modern world has swept us off our feet in so many ways… our dressing, our lifestyles and most noticeably our eating habits. We have s...

Friday, May 12, 2017

Purification Of The Heart by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

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If we examine the trials and tribulations all over earth, we'll find they are rooted in human hearts. Covetousness, the desire to aggress and exploit, the longing to pilfer natural resources, the inordinate love of wealth, and other maladies are manifestations of diseases found nowhere but in the heart.<br />
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Every criminal, miser, abuser, scoffer, embezzler, and hateful person does what he or she does because of a diseased heart. So if you want to change our world, do not begin by rectifying the outward. Instead, change the condition of the inward.<br />
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Purification Of The Heart by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

If we examine the trials and tribulations all over earth, we'll find they are rooted in human hearts. Covetousness, the desire to a...

Thursday, May 11, 2017

French 24 Arabic TV Live Stream فرانس 24 البث المباشر – الأخبار الدولية على مدار الساعة

French 24 Arabic TV Live Stream فرانس 24 البث المباشر – الأخبار الدولية على مدار الساعة

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Thursday, May 11, 2017

The Hereafter (Al Akhira) Series by Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki

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In this series, the Imam vividly portrays the different phases the human soul passes through during its lifetime up to its death as well as the process of judgment of souls and the resulting eternal life in Heaven or Hell in the Hereafter.<br />
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In breathtaking style the listener hears of the events that occur just before death and the events that come after it. The Imam gives a clear description about life in the grave, the horrors of the last day, the major and minor signs leading to the last hour and the day of resurrection.<br />
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The Imam crowns this eloquently narrated lecture with the process of accountability and recompense. On the Day of Judgment those who pass the test will be rewarded with Paradise and those who fail will be rewarded with Hellfire.<br />
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The Hereafter (Al Akhira) Series by Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki

In this series, the Imam vividly portrays the different phases the human soul passes through during its lifetime up to its death as wel...

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

البث الحي لقناة RT TV2 Arabic Live Stream

البث الحي لقناة RT TV2 Arabic Live Stream

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Wednesday, May 10, 2017

BBC TV Arabic Live Stream - البث المباشر لتلفزيون بي بي سي عربي

BBC TV Arabic Live Stream - البث المباشر لتلفزيون بي بي سي عربي

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Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Wasting Time by Nouman Ali Khan

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Everything we have in this life is from God’s kindness and mercy and just as we have to return to God, so does the gift of time. A lack of correct allocation of time leads us to fall short in various areas of our lives – academically, professionally and in our personal relationships. Most importantly however, as the workload piles, the first thing we begin to neglect is the most important relationship we have: with God, the most Glorious.<br />
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Prophet Muhammad (SAW), reiterated this for us. Time will not slow down and we cannot go back to fix the mistakes we make therefore he advised us to take advantage of five things,<br />
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<li>Your youth, before you become old</li>
<li>Your health, before you fall sick</li>
<li>Your richness, before you become poor</li>
<li>Your free time before you become busy</li>
<li>and Your life, before your death</li>
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Wasting Time by Nouman Ali Khan

Everything we have in this life is from God’s kindness and mercy and just as we have to return to God, so does the gift of time. A lack...

Tuesday, May 09, 2017

U.S. Senators Held A Hearing About Religious Hate Crimes, And Not One Muslim Was Included

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We can’t tackle Islamophobia without Muslims.</h2>
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The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Tuesday to address the rise in hate crimes against minorities, but they left out a critical group.<br />
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There was no Muslim on the panel, titled “Responses to the Increase in Religious Hate Crimes,” to address the rise in Islamophobia against the Muslim community.<br />
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The panel included Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, to discuss increasing anti-Semitism, and Dr. Prabhjot Singh, a medical doctor, to describe the rise of hate and violence against the Sikh community. Other panelists included Vanita Gupta, the incoming president and CEO of the Leadership Conference For Civil And Human Rights, and Will D. Johnson, the chief of police of Arlington, Texas.<br />
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Although the panelists did touch upon the rise of hate against Muslims, the panel lacked any Muslim leader or Muslim organization.<br />
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The Muslim Public Affairs Council, a public service agency working for the civil rights of American Muslims, submitted written testimony to be read by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), but expressed disappointment “that no Muslim was invited to speak, despite the clear data of anti-Muslim hate crimes.”<br />
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In a written statement, MPAC applauded the inclusion of the other panelists before adding, “Nevertheless, we must express profound disappointment in the lack of direct inclusion of Muslim-American voices on this panel.”<br />
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“MPAC regularly partners with communities of different faiths or identities, but who often face the same challenges of xenophobia and bigotry. We are always grateful for the opportunity to learn from one another and only grow stronger by joining together. It is our hope that this committee, and all members, will carry on that same spirit of inclusion in future hearings and individual meetings,” the organization wrote.<br />
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Anti-Muslim rhetoric has skyrocketed over the last year. HuffPost has partnered with ProPublica and other news outlets to create a database of reported hate and bias incidents.<br />
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The FBI documented a 67 percent increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes in 2015. HuffPost tracked almost 400 instances of anti-Muslim rhetoric and Islamophobic acts across the country in 2016. These included vandalism, hate speech, Islamophobic policies and many acts of physical aggression.<br />
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The office of Sen. Chuck Grassly (R-Iowa.) did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment about why no Muslims were part of the panel.<br />
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America does not do a good job of tracking incidents of hate and bias. We need your help to create a database of such incidents, so we all know what’s going on. Tell us your story.<br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/religious-hate-crimes-panel-muslims_us_5908b5ede4b0bb2d08724cb8?jh&section=us_world" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/religious-hate-crimes-panel-muslims_us_5908b5ede4b0bb2d08724cb8?jh&section=us_world</a><br />
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U.S. Senators Held A Hearing About Religious Hate Crimes, And Not One Muslim Was Included

We can’t tackle Islamophobia without Muslims. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Tuesday to address the rise in hate c...

Tuesday, May 09, 2017

Al Arabiya TV Live Stream قناة العربية

Al Arabiya TV Live Stream قناة العربية

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Tuesday, May 09, 2017

In the Footsteps of the Prophet (pbuh) by Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

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This is one of the most comprehensive and thought provoking lecture by Hamza Yusuf. In this lecture, he implores the audience to consider the major crisis of our time: the disillusion of the human soul itself. He then presents a program based on a hadith in which the Prophet (PBUH) said, “I was sent to perfect noble character.” In this context, he outlines the two primary concerns of the Muslim, the heart and the limbs, and the need to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet (PBUH) by utilizing his divinely-inspired methodology to guard them.<br />
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In the Footsteps of the Prophet (pbuh) by Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

This is one of the most comprehensive and thought provoking lecture by Hamza Yusuf. In this lecture, he implores the audience to consid...

Monday, May 08, 2017

Making the Quran the Spring of Our Hearts

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As the world turns and seasons change, our lives move inex-orably toward their fated ends. Our minutes become hours, our hours days, our days weeks, our weeks years, and our years make up the totality of our lives. In these days of great imbalance, we are in greater need of connecting to the natural order that surrounds us.<br />
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Each planet knows its course and each tree its cycle: “And the stars and the trees submit in prostration.” The stars ornament the sky, and the trees the earth, and between the two realms resides man who is made up of both terrestrial and celestial elements, spiritual and bodi-ly, willful and appetitive, angelic and bestial, light and dark. Each resides in us, at times compelling us to wrongs, and at others to rights.<br />
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In these latter days, it appears as if the bestial aspect of our natures is waxing, and the spiritual is waning. Wordsworth reminded us of this when he wrote:<br />
The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;<br />
Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!<br />
<br />
In spite of the insanity of this country’s recent attacks on Iraq that began on March 20th, 2003, the next day the sun crossed the equa-tor on its apparent path North to initiate a new Spring. That evening, I went out and gazed up at old Orion, known to the Iraqis as al-Jabbar, and sure enough, there he was in all his glory, right where I expected him to be. The trees outside my home were blooming, and nature’s order was so palpable, I realized that no matter how disor-derly man becomes, God’s order in His Divine creation is there to constantly remind us: “Come back, come back, a thousand times come back.”<br />
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Birth, growth, maturity, decay, and death: these are the cycles we see around us, and these are our own reality. We too are part of nature, and it is our task to comply with the laws of nature and nature’s God. This is submission, what we call Islam. It is not a socio-Seasons | spring | summer logical category of creedal belief that deter-mines how we are to be classified nor a culture or civilization – although those elements are invariably there. It is a state of being. We were in that state so perfectly when we were children. We knew just what to do at each stage.<br />
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We knew just what to do in our mothers’ wombs: as each stage progressed, our cells fulfilled their destinies becoming the organs and structures they were meant to be. We knew when to leave the womb, and we came into the world effortlessly, latching onto our mothers’ breast. We never overate but knew when we were satiated. We knew when to take our first steps, to walk, to run, to imagine, to play. We were following the natural order of childhood.<br />
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Then, a strange event occurs – not so sud-denly but over time. We begin to learn how not to be ourselves but to be what our socie-ty expects of us. We lose that state of submission to our true nature, which is servitude to our Lord, Cherisher, and Sustainer; we begin to transgress. We learn to lie; we learn to say the opposite of what we think, feel, or believe. This new state is not arrived at effortlessly but with much pain and sorrow. Our thoughts are troubled, our actions are heavy, and our states laden with cares that are not our own.<br />
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“If you truly believed,” said our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “you would go out in the morning likes birds, hungry and return in the evening filled.”<br />
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Effortless is the bird’s movement towards its predetermined sustenance, and without anxiety it seeks it. The bird is in submission. The trees that provide the bird’s home are in submission. The worm that becomes its dinner is in submission – each fulfilling its function, its purpose; each taking its place<br />
in the grand scheme of things. Only man is the odd one out, and we are the ones who suffer as we squander our energies on pur-suits not suited to our souls, on desires not healthful for our natures, on thoughts not conducive to our salvation.<br />
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Spring is here gently reminding those willing to listen: “Come back, come back, a thousand times come back.” Our Prophet, peace be upon him said, “O Allah make the Quran the Spring of my heart.” What a glori-ous request! If indeed the Quran was the Spring of our hearts, our hearts would be in bloom always with the freshness of nature’s newness and nature’s order: the green that cools our eyes, the fragrances that perfume our scent, the fruits that delight our taste and nurture our bodies, and the flowers that remind us of life’s bounty and delicacy.<br />
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The Quran should be the Spring of our hearts, and our Lord can make it so. Let the Spring of this season renew you once again.<br />
Let your return be to your Lord once again.<br />
Just as Spring has returned, let us return.<br />
Just as Spring has brought life to countless fields and innumerable flowers, let our hearts come back to life.<br />
<br />
May this Spring renew our hearts and our commitment to grace the world with states of submission and gratitude, peace and prosperity. May this Spring bring forth in us<br />
a desire to dedicate our lives to working toward the changes in ourselves that we demand of our leaders and our societies.<br />
<br />
May we be people of charity and concern for others. May God grant us victory over our real enemies: pride, envy, covetousness, spiritual sloth, wrath, gluttony, and lust. In conquering those, we are prepared to con-quer the forces in the world that threaten humanity’s well-being. In submitting to our real enemies, we become easy prey to the forces that result in our own submission to their means of occupation. Please pray for our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, who have so long suffered, that light may come soon to that region. We, like our beloved Prophet, peace be upon him, before us pray: “God forgive our people, for they know not what they do.”<br />
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<b>Written by Hamza Yusuf</b><br />
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Making the Quran the Spring of Our Hearts

As the world turns and seasons change, our lives move inex-orably toward their fated ends. Our minutes become hours, our hours days, our...

Monday, May 08, 2017

Al Jazeera TV Arabic Live Stream - البث الحي لقناة الجزيرة الإخبارية بجودة عالية

Al Jazeera TV Arabic Live Stream - البث الحي لقناة الجزيرة الإخبارية بجودة عالية

Monday, May 08, 2017

‘All women’ could be asked to wear headscarves in ‘solidarity’ with Muslims – Austrian president

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The president of Austria has raised quite a few eyebrows after stating that there may come a day when all women are asked to wear headscarves out of solidarity, citing discrimination faced by Muslims in the country.<br />
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Alexander Van der Bellen, who made the statements while speaking to students on Monday, began by stating that he believes it is "every woman's right to wear whatever she likes."<br />
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However, referring to discrimination against Muslims in Austria, the leader went on to state that "if this continues... with the widely spreading Islamophobia, the day will come when we have to ask all women to wear a headscarf – all – out of solidarity to those who do it for religious reasons."<br />
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Van der Bellen's statements, which were broadcast by ORF, did not sit well with some people on social media.<br />
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The backlash prompted the president to defend his words in a Wednesday Facebook post, in which he stressed that women who wear headscarves are often subjected to "public hostility" in Austria.<br />
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Meanwhile, other politicians across Austria have been outspoken about their views on headscarves – which don't at all align with Van der Bellen's opinions.<br />
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Last month, several government officials sharply criticized a recommendation by the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGO) that Muslim women start wearing a headscarf from the onset of puberty, with the country's secretary of state, Muna Duzdar, saying she "deeply" rejects headscarves.<br />
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Van der Bellen's comments come less than three months after the Austrian government announced plans to ban full-face veils in public, a move which prompted a demonstration in the capital, Vienna.<br />
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Islamic garb has long been a topic of debate in Europe, with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling last month that employers can ban such attire under general rules which prohibit visible religious symbols in the workplace.<br />
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<a href="https://www.rt.com/news/386378-austrian-president-women-headscarves/" target="_blank">https://www.rt.com/news/386378-austrian-president-women-headscarves/</a></div>
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‘All women’ could be asked to wear headscarves in ‘solidarity’ with Muslims – Austrian president

The president of Austria has raised quite a few eyebrows after stating that there may come a day when all women are asked to wear hea...

Sunday, May 07, 2017

The Vision of Islam by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (audio)

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This work is one of the most successful introductions to Islam for a Western audience. A comprehensive study, which beginning from within the precinct of the revealed truths of the faith expands in ever widening circles to embrace the whole vision of Islam<br />
<br />
Hamza Yusuf's commentary on Murata's and Chittick's The Vision of Islam makes crystal clear the meanings of a Muslim's beliefs, actions, and spiritual journey through life. Wonderful for Muslims interested in a more thorough understanding of their religion, this set is also an excellent introduction to Islam for people of other faiths who wish to gain a clear understanding of Islam's basic principles and practices. Remembered by students for its liveliness and clarity, this set is filled with fascinating insights into Islam.<br />
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The Vision of Islam by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (audio)

This work is one of the most successful introductions to Islam for a Western audience. A comprehensive study, which beginning from with...

Friday, May 05, 2017

Signs Of A Hypocrite by Nouman Ali Khan

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Nifaq (Hypocrisy): in the Arabic language means the general category of deception, scheming and presenting an outward appearance of good while concealing its opposite.<br />
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Hypocrisy is a serious sickness and a great crime. It means making an outward display of Islam whilst inwardly concealing kufr. Hypocrisy is more dangerous than kufr (disbelief) and the punishment for it is more severe, because it is kufr mixed with Islam and its harmful effects are greater. Hence Allaah will put the hypocrites in the lowest level of Hell, as He says:<br />
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“Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them.” (The Noble Quran 4:145)<br />
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Signs Of A Hypocrite by Nouman Ali Khan

Nifaq (Hypocrisy): in the Arabic language means the general category of deception, scheming and presenting an outward appearance of goo...

Wednesday, May 03, 2017

Suu Kyi Rejects UN's Decision to Investigate Crime Against Rohingya Muslims

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Brussels: Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday rejected a decision by the UN's rights council to investigate allegations of crimes by Myanmar's security forces against minority Rohingya Muslims.<br />
The UN body agreed in March to dispatch a fact-finding mission to the Southeast Asian country over claims of murder, rape and torture in Rakhine state.<br />
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"We do not agree with it," Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader, told a press conference with EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini during a visit to Brussels, when asked about the probe.<br />
"We have disassociated ourselves from the resolution because we do not think that the resolution is in keeping with what is actually happening on the ground."<br />
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Nobel laureate Suu Kyi said that the country would be "happy to accept" recommendations that were "in keeping with the real needs of the region.<br />
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"But those recommendations which will divide further the two communities in Rakhine we will not accept, because it will not help to resolve the problems that are arising all the time."<br />
Suu Kyi has seen her international star as a rights defender wane over failing to speak out about the treatment of the Rohingya or to condemn the crackdown.<br />
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Rights groups say hundreds of the stateless group were killed in a months-long army crackdown following deadly attacks on Myanmar border police posts. Almost 75,000 Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh where they have related grisly accounts of army abuse. But Suu Kyi rejected suggestions that she or Myanmar authorities were deliberately overlooking atrocities.<br />
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"I am not sure quite what you mean by saying that we have not been concerned at all with regards to the allegations of atrocities that have taken place in the Rakhine," she said. "We have been investigating them and have been taking action." Mogherini called on Myanmar to support the UN inquiry. "The establishment of the fact-finding mission is one of the very few issues of disagreement between us," she said alongside Suu Kyi. "This can contribute in establishing the facts for the past, provided that we fully agree on the need to work together on the way forward," she said.<br />
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UN investigators say the crackdown likely amounts to crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.<br />
But Suu Kyi told the BBC earlier this month: "I don't think there is ethnic cleansing going on."<br />
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<b>Question to you about Nobel laureate Suu Kyi </b><br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Is the Nobel Peace Prize winner a war criminal?</li>
<li>WHo gave her the Peace Prize (why?)</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://www.news18.com/news/world/suu-kyi-rejects-uns-decision-to-investigate-crime-against-rohingya-muslims-1390017.html" target="_blank">http://www.news18.com/news/world/suu-kyi-rejects-uns-decision-to-investigate-crime-against-rohingya-muslims-1390017.html</a><br />
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Suu Kyi Rejects UN's Decision to Investigate Crime Against Rohingya Muslims

Brussels: Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday rejected a decision by the UN's rights council to investigate allegations of crimes by Myanmar...

Tuesday, May 02, 2017

Curiosity compels sighted woman to learn, memorize Quran in Braille

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TEMERLOH: Moved by the sight of visually-impaired people reading and memorising the Quran from copies in Braille, a 39-year-old housewife with perfect eyesight decided to sign-up for Braille Quran classes at the Malaysian Blind Muslim Association (Pertis)’s Mentakab branch near here, last year.</div>
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So touched was Siti Noor Mohamed in witnessing sight-impaired Quran readers during her visit to Pertis last Sept, that she felt compelled to experience their method of learning the Holy book. The mother-of-four now diligently detects and interprets the dots and bumps of Braille characters alongside her sight-impaired classmates, in an effort to memorise the Quran.</div>
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Beyond her initial curiosity, Siti, from Kampung Kelubi near here, now aspires to one day teach blind children to read the Braille Quran. She said she always feels humbled when she observes how determined her visually-impaired classmates are in attempting to memorise the Quran.</div>
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"Despite being born with a disability, they don’t use it as an excuse not to learn the Quran. Instead, they work hard to be just like other people. I see now that there is no reason for able-bodied Muslims not to read the Quran.</div>
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"When I first joined the visually-impaired classes, I started to have a high regard for them. Even blessed with proper eyesight, I found it tough to use my fingers to identify the characters in Braille.</div>
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"Before I could start with the Braille Quran, I had to familiarise myself with the characters which form the scripts of the Quran, and took almost a month to learn them. Nothing came easy, but all the hard work allowed me to complete my first juzuk (chapter), and now I am memorising my second juzuk," she said.</div>
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Siti said her friends at Pertis often help her during classes, and in return, she would regularly assist them with their reading, to ensure that they do not get the characters wrong.</div>
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"Although I have completed reading the Quran (khatam) several times, I discovered that reading the Braille Quran helped improve my reading. I hope to complete the remaining juzuks soon, and use my experience to help these special people here, especially the children, recite the Braille Quran," she said, adding that she goes for classes at Pertis twice a week.</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/04/231444/curiosity-compels-sighted-woman-learn-memorise-quran-braille" target="_blank">http://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/04/231444/curiosity-compels-sighted-woman-learn-memorise-quran-braille</a> </span></span></div>
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Curiosity compels sighted woman to learn, memorize Quran in Braille

TEMERLOH: Moved by the sight of visually-impaired people reading and memorising the Quran from copies in Braille, a 39-year-old housew...

Tuesday, May 02, 2017

Five values to remember in the fight against Islamophobia

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Islamophobia is here and it is real. There is a deep-seated current of anti-Muslim prejudice in American society today. Survey after survey has quantified this. Meanwhile, many Muslims remain conflicted about challenging this intolerance. Some shrug off incidents of discrimination against them personally, thinking either they don’t matter or that nothing will change if they report them. Others dispute the use of the word “Islamophobia” in the first place, arguing there is no need for this description of the only acceptable racism left in our nation.<br />
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While it is important to discuss how to fight this prejudice, it is also critical to keep in mind the underlying values necessary to challenge it.<br />
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Here are five key values to keep in mind while fighting Islamophobia.<br />
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<b>1. Don’t ignore Islamophobia, challenge it</b><br />
God has commanded Muslims to be firm in responding to injustice (Quran 42:39). Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, never advocated an approach that sought to hide or ignore problems. He was clear and forthright in challenging all kinds of injustice, be it racism, domestic violence, or killing innocent civilians in war. He discussed these issues in Khutbas, but also directly counseled and taught the Muslim community how to eradicate these ills from within.<br />
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This is the same approach we need to take when it comes to Islamophobia. We cannot and should not ignore instances of prejudice and discrimination. Ignoring Islamophobia is like tolerating it. It is real. It kills. It hurts. It cannot be wished away.<br />
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We also need to stop shying away from using the word “Islamophobia”. Amongst many Muslims, it has become the “problem with no name”, and it should not be. Like a disease, it is by naming the problem that we can isolate it and start seeking solutions, similar to how the words “racism” and “anti-Semitism” are today associated with specific types of prejudice.<br />
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<b>2. Dialogue with the Champions</b><br />
Racism, prejudice, and intolerance in America are not new. Other communities, from Native Americans and African-Americans, to Jews and Catholics, have all tasted its bitterness. As Muslims, we need to start building connections with these communities if we already haven’t. We need to learn from their historical experience and struggle. Coalition building was a primary strategy of the Prophet in fighting torture, discrimination, and hostility to repel it with goodness and a common agenda.<br />
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<b>3. Rebuild those neighborly relations</b><br />
Instead of a term of distance like “Non-Muslims” use a term of relationship like “neighbors” when referring to our neighbors. The Prophet said, "Jibril kept recommending treating neighbors with kindness until I thought he would assign a share of inheritance to the neighbors." (Bukhari and Muslim). Given this level of familiarity and closeness we should have with our neighbors, it is amazing the way we keep ignoring them, especially in neighborhoods with large, vibrant mosques and Islamic centers.<br />
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But a Masjid in Joplin, Missouri is one of the few that seems to have taken this neighborly duty to heart. And this is in a state that has passed an anti-Sharia bill. When a deadly tornado struck in May 2011, it became a center of relief for the community. A year later, a suspicious fire burned the masjid down, and in response, the city’s non-Muslim residents banded together in support, offering space to pray, as well as helping to collect more than enough funds needed to rebuild the only mosque in Joplin.<br />
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This is an excellent example of building neighborly relations from the Islamic perspective, and it is one more of us, individuals, families, communities, and institutions, need to take to heart.<br />
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“Good and evil deeds are not alike. Requite evil with good, and he who is your enemy will become your dearest friend. But none will attain this save those who endure with fortitude and are greatly favored by God” (Quran 41: 34-35).<br />
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<b>4. Be open to all people and avoid generalizing</b><br />
Our neighbors are fair-minded people. That is the reason 59% of them said immediately after 9/11 that they had a positive opinion of Islam and Muslims. It is the multi-million dollar public relations hate machine that keeps them confused. There are still 75 million Americans who, despite all of the Islamophobia in the media, think positively about Islam and Muslims.<br />
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Also note that not all media or all non-Muslims support this type of insulting behavior. Many of our neighbors have been at the forefront of condemning torture, bombing, and occupation.<br />
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It’s hard not to generalize when we’ve had repeated bad experiences with individuals from a particular ethnic, racial, political, or religious background. We often feel justified in these prejudices, even as we hate the Islamophobia we are targets of. However, this runs directly contrary to Islamic principles of fairness and respect for every individual. No, we can’t generalize, ever.<br />
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Case in point: one of my son’s former co-workers, a Republican in his 50s, took the time out a few years ago to write a letter to the mayor of his Chicago suburb to support a Masjid that was in the process of being built, much to the chagrin of a number of loud, angry residents.  Nowadays, as many Republicans spout Islamophobia in the run-up to this year’s presidential elections, it’s easy to forget that not all members of this political party are racist and intolerant. We need to keep this in mind as we challenge Islamophobia.<br />
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<b>5. Stay positive, full of positive Dua and hope</b><br />
Optimism is the way of the believer. It is the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet. It is understandable to feel the burden that Islamophobia places on victims, and even on those of us who are not. We may not have been discriminated against at work, but we routinely see or hear Islam and Muslims being used as cannon fodder for insulting jokes, intolerant laws, and other forms of prejudice. But this world is temporary, and things do change, often for the better more than for the worse. Compare the treatment of African-Americans and Jews 50 years ago today. The change is remarkable, even as challenges remain.<br />
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Also, remember this example from the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him: it was a man born to the abusers of the city of Taif who, within 80 years, brought Islam to South Asia, which is now home to almost one-third of all Muslims in the world. The 17-year-old Muhammad bin Qasim was the son of the Thaqafi tribe of Taif, the same city where the Prophet was tortured, but was hopeful that if not they, then their children would find their way to God. These people sent their children to throw rocks at him when he came to invite them to Islam. Battered and bleeding, he prayed for them, and didn’t curse them, hoping for the best. Little did he know what an impact this act of optimism and positivity would have for the future of Islam and Muslims.<br />
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Source: <b>by Abdul Malik Mujahid</b><br />
<a href="https://www.soundvision.com/article/five-values-to-remember-in-the-fight-against-islamophobia" target="_blank">https://www.soundvision.com/article/five-values-to-remember-in-the-fight-against-islamophobia</a><br />
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Five values to remember in the fight against Islamophobia

Islamophobia is here and it is real. There is a deep-seated current of anti-Muslim prejudice in American society today. Survey after sur...

Monday, May 01, 2017