Speech of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui - 1991 in Houston

ALLAH HU AKBAR !!! TabarakAllah she is indeed an Ideal Muslimah, the one who truly understood the concept of Dawah being an Obligation for both Men and Women... Just like how our beloved Sahabiyaat and our Ummul Mu'mineen carried their Deen and Dawah openly, publicly... learned and preached whoever and whomever they came across... Masha'Allah our beloved Sister, the honor of our Muslim Ummah stood and spoke al-Haqq right in the lands of the enemies of Allah, the disbelievers and SubhanAllah imagine the impact, the fear amongst the kuffaar for merely words coming out of a harmless Muslim Woman BUT even they, the disbelievers, knew that these mere words of Haqq are so strong that they can shake Empires and bring forth millions of Muslimahs like her !!! Bi'idnillah Millions of such Muslimahs will indeed wake up and will stand firm in their Deen and Dawah and will shake Empires to bend down under the Banner of LA ILAHA ILLILLAH MUHAMMADUR RASULULLAH !!!

Indeed Allah's test on our beloved Sister is tough and why wouldn't it be, after all the Stronger the Faith, the Harder the Test and the Greater the Reward Insha'Allah !!! May Allah hasten the release of our beloved Sister Aafia Siddiqui, Roshana Choudry and many more such Muslimahs behind bars and may Allah grant them nothing less than Jannatul Firdous - AMEEN YA RAB.

 Narrated Sa'd (ra), when the Prophet (pbuh) was asked which people suffered the greatest affliction, he (pbuh) replied, "The Prophets, then those who come next to them, then those who come next to them. A man is afflicted in keeping his religion. If he is firm in his religion his trial is severe, but if there is weakness in his religion it is made light for him, and it continues like that till he walks on the earth having no sin."
[Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it and Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih Hadith]

Al Sabr (Patience)...

(Excerpt from “Patience and Gratitude” – By Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah)

Allah has given a general ruling that whoever does not have faith and does not belong to the people of truth and patience, is in state of loss. This means that the only true winners are people of patience: “By (the Token of) Time (through the Ages), verily Man is in loss, except such as have Faith, and do right actions, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of the Truth, and of Patience and Constancy” (al-‘Asr 103:1-3) Commenting on this sûrah, Imâm ash-Shâfi‘î said: “If people thought deeply on this sûrah, it would provide enough guidance, as man cannot attain perfection without perfecting these two things, his knowledge and his actions, i.e. his faith and right actions. As he is required to perfect himself, so he is required to perfect others, which is joining together in mutual teaching of the truth. The foundation of all this is patience.”

Allah has mentioned patience alongside the pillars of Islam and îmân, as He has mentioned it alongside sâlah: “Nay, seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and prayer…” (al-Baqarah 2:45); alongside right actions: “Not so those who show patience and constancy, and do right actions; for them is forgiveness (of wrong actions) and a great reward” (Hûd 11:11); alongside gratitude (shukr): “…Verily in this are Signs for everyone who patiently perseveres and is grateful” (ash-Shûra 42:32-33); alongside truth: “…and (join together) in the mutual teaching of truth, and of patience and constancy” (al-‘Asr 103:1-3); alongside compassion: “…those who believe and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion…” (al-Balad 90:17); alongside faith: “…so long as they persevered with patience and continued to have faith in Our Signs” (as-Sajdah 32:24); alongside truth: “…for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant…” (al-Ahzâb 33:35).

A Letter from the “Toronto18″

Nineteen million, two-hundred eighty-four thousand, four-thousand eight hundred and three. The number of times we inhaled injustice, the breaths that our lungs set free… On the second of June, two-thousand and six, we were coerced out of lightness into dark… Where cruelty was hired, where mercy was fired, where prejudice was the crowned monarch

Our deeply missed family, our dearly beloved friends, our honorable community of belief,
Allow us to share some words of honesty…some facts that may come to your relief.
While we have been pushed to the edge of the cliff, to the capacity that a human could bear…
We invite you to witness some blessings we were given, and we dare you to even compare.

When the hour glass of life started pouring down sand, seven hundred fifty-five days ago
Each one of us darted towards a goal to achieve, like arrows projected from a bow:
We extend our glad tidings, we hereby announce, that one of us has memorized the Quran.
In the span of this time, how high did you climb? By Allah, what deeds have you drawn?

Arms raised to the sky, never daring to ask why, we would stand before Allah for days,
Running empty on tears, losing all of our fears, praying desperately that it’s just a phase…
A pill you can not swallow, a well so dark and hollow; we long for our families, we long…
Our siblings, our parents, our wives and our children, hold on to His mercy, be strong.

When you saw us behind bars, you stared hard at our scars, and temporarily took a sneeze of our flu,
You felt our restrains; turned your watches into chains, and attempted to live through it too.
We thank you for your empathy, and your feelings of sympathy, even though we need not your awe:
Because a cell is not a cell, a cell is not a cell, when you sell your soul to Allah.

The Life of this World is Fleeting Enjoyment...

Tafsir Ibn Katheer (Abridged) Volume 9

“Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children.  (It is) like a rain (Ghayth), thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw.  But in the Hereafter (there is) a severe torment, and (there is) forgiveness from Allah and (His) pleasure. And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.” [57:20]

Allah the Exalted degrades the significance of this life and belittles it by saying, “that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children.”

Meaning, this is the significance of this life to its people, just as He said in another Ayah, “Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but Allah has the excellent return with Him.” (3:14)

Allah the Exalted also sets a parable for this life, declaring that its joys are fading and its delights are perishable, saying that life is, “Like a rain (Ghayth),” which is the rain that comes down to mankind, after they had felt despair. Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah, “And He is it Who sends down the Ghayth (rain) after they have despaired.” (42:28)

100 Ahadith about being the Best!

Bismillah wal Hamdulillah was Salaat was Salaam Alaa Rasulillah

As to their authenticity, ALLAH HU A'LAAM...

Nabi Muhammad (saws) told us:

1. “The best of the Muslims is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe.” (Muslim)

2. “The best of people are those with the most excellent character.” (Tabarani, Sahih)
3. “The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind.” (Daraqutni, Hasan)

4. “The best of people are those who are best in fulfilling (rights).” (Ibn Majah, Sahih)

5. “The best of people during fitnah is a man who takes up the reins of his horse pursuing the enemies of Allah, causing them fear yet they make him fearful too, or a man who secludes himself in the desert fulfilling the rights of Allah upon him.” (Hakim, Sahih)

6. “The best of mankind is my generation, then those that follow them and then those that follow them. Then there shall come a people after them who will become avaricious, who will love gluttony, and who will give witness before they are asked for it.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)

Advice on Dealing with Family

By: Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi (may Allah hasten his release-Ameen)

“…And I want to remind you of the saying of the Prophet (pbuh): “The believer who mixes with the people and is patient with the harm they inflict is better than the believer who doesn’t mix with the people and isn’t patient with the harm they inflict,” (Ahmad and others from Ibn ‘Umar).

Based on this, what I advise you to do is to be patient with your family and to withstand their harm and to strive to give them da’wah and try to save them from the Fire, as in the verse: {“O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones. It has stern, severe Angels watching over it who don’t disobey Allah in what He orders them with, and they do all that they are ordered.”} [at-Tahrim; 6]

And I hope you don’t think of leaving the house and abandoning them. Exhaust all means of da’wah with them, especially if staying with them will have some effect on even a few of them.

Beware of starting off in a harsh and extreme way that will turn them off. Rather, talk to them according to what they understand with wisdom and kindness, as Allah Said: {“Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and kind way of speaking, and discuss with them in the best way.”} [an-Nahl; 125]

And remember the saying of the Prophet (pbuh): “Give glad tidings, and do not turn people away,” and: “Indeed, gentleness isn’t found in something except that it beautifies it, and it isn’t removed from something except that it ruins it.”

And start with the most important issues, and go in order. Don’t get into arguments with them over secondary matters while their principles are messed up. Instead, begin by addressing the principles, and if you happen to come across problems in secondary issues, tie it to the main principles and don’t make your enmity with them except when it comes to the basic principle of the Religion, Tawhid, its nullifiers, and what breaks its firm handhold…”

Beautiful Letter from a Prisoner

By a Prisoner in the General Intelligence Prison Facility, Jordan – Cell No. 63 
‘Eid Al-Adh’hâ 1414 H

Dear Brother, who dwells in these prisons
To you I write with distresses,

If to Allâh you hold fast
Then what harm will a misfortune of time do to you?

Beware dear Brother, of making your corrupting your thoughts
Regarding the Promise of Allah, Mighty and Strong,

Verily, He has promised the Believers with Salvation
As He saved Yûnus from the dark depths of the belly of the Fish,

Dear Brother, before you, passed the ancient ones
These prisons are but like those prisons,

Did not Yûsuf dwelled in them for a phase
And Mûsâ, the tyrants threatened him with it,

And such was the Messenger of the Generous, Allah

The Death of a Muslim Legend - Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA)

Fasting six days in Shawwaal

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it is as if he fasted a lifetime (whole year).”

[Sahih Muslim]

Note: Shawwaal is the month after Ramadan, and it is the month we are currently in.

Commentary:

Fasting six days of Shawwaal after the obligatory fast of Ramadan is Sunnah (recommended). It is recommended for the Muslim to fast six days of Shawwaal, and in this there is great virtue and an immense reward. Whoever fasts these six days will have recorded for him a reward as if he had fasted a whole year as the above Hadith indicates.

The Prophet (pbuh) explained this when he said: “Whoever fasts for six days after (Eid) al-Fitr has completed the year: (whoever does a good deed (hasanah) will have ten hasanah like it).” According to another report: “Allah has made for each hasanah ten like it, so a month is like fasting ten months, and fasting six days completes the year.”

[Sunan al-Nisaa’i and Sunan Ibn Maajah. See also Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb, 1/421].

It was also narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah with the wording: “Fasting for the month of Ramadan brings the reward of ten like it, and fasting for six days brings the reward of two months, and that is the fasting of the whole year.”

 

Worship is for life, not just Ramadaan

What a blessing Ramadan truly is. In which other month do you see the mosques overflowing every night? In which other month are people so eager to read the Qur'an and learn its meaning? In which other month do you ever see people greeting strangers on the street? And in which other month are the majority of Muslims extra cautious of what they say and do? Surely, there is no month quite like the month of Ramadan.

There is certainly divine wisdom behind the obligation of fasting. Allah tells us in the Qur'an that He prescribed fasting in order that we become God-fearing; and we all become more conscious of God during hardship - while we are hungry and thirsty - and when we are united in our worship of Him.

However, now that Ramadan has gone, it's time to reflect and ask yourself some questions:

 

· What have I gained from Ramadan?

· Has my taqwaa (fear of Allah) increased, and am I more conscious of the fact that Allah is always watching me?

· Am I going to continue praying and strive to learn about Islam and what it means to be a Muslim?

· Have I stopped doing forbidden things, such as smoking, swearing, lying, listening to music, socializing and free-mixing with the opposite gender?

· Has my love towards the Muslims increased?

· Am I more aware of the situation of the Muslim Ummah today?

· Muslim land is under occupation, innocent Muslims, including women and children, are behind bars, our leaders are ruling by non-Islamic law and have thereby turned their backs on Islam - am I doing enough to change this situation and am I working collectively with a group of Muslims to work to establish the law of Allah?

 

Ten Signs that the Ibaadah in the Month of Ramadhan are accepted by Allah.

After doing all acts of obedience and worships, whether it be the umrah, hajj, fasting, sadaqah, or any good deeds, we repeat the whisper of Ali (RA) when he said: “If I knew, that my deeds belong to those that are accepted, then I say congratulations to them, or those that are rejected, then I say condolences to them.”
 
After performing every act of obedience we also repeat the words of Ibnu Mas’ud (RA): “O accepted ones, congratulations to you, O rejected ones may Allah change your misfortune.”
 
Indeed, Ali (RA) had said: “Don't you mind about the little deeds, but mind about whether the deeds are accepted”, haven't we heard the verses of Allah Azza wa Jalla which says:
“Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].” [Al-Maidah : 27].

Do not be like some Muslims who do not care whether their acts of obedience would be accepted or not, because indeed the conferment of tawfeeq and convenience to do righteous deeds is a great gift, but it will not be actualized except with an even greater gift, namely the gift of the acceptance of the deeds.

If a slave knows that most of the deeds could be rejected from the doers due to many reasons, then the important thing is to know the reasons for the acceptance of the deeds, if he finds it in himself then let him praise Allah Ta’ala, and keep upon it by doing good deeds firmly and consistently, but if he does not find it then let the first thing he pays attention to from now on is : to practice them wholeheartedly, and for Allah alone.

So what are the reasons and signs for the acceptance of the deeds?
 

“I Will Take Him By The Hand And Lead Him Into Paradise.”

Abu Dharr (ra) said:

I said, “O Messenger of Allah (saws), what will save a person from Hellfire?”

He said, “Belief in Allah.”

I said, “O Messenger of Allah (saws), are there are any deeds that should accompany that belief?”

He said, ‘He should give from that provision which Allah has granted him.”

I said, “O Messenger of Allah (saws), what if he is poor and does not have anything to give?”

He said, “He should enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil.”

I said, “O Messenger of Allah (saws), what if he cannot enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil?”

He said, “He should help the one who is helpless (i.e., has no skills and cannot earn a living).”

I said, “What if he himself is helpless and cannot do anything?”

He said, “He should help one who has been wronged.”

I said, “What if he is weak and cannot help one who has been wronged?”

He said, “You do not want to think of your companion as having any good in him. Let him refrain from harming people.”

I said, “O Messenger of Allah (saws), if he does that, will he enter Paradise?”

He said, “There is no believer who does not strive to acquire one of these characteristics, but I will take him by the hand and lead him into Paradise.”

[Al-Bayhaqi. Classed as sahih by al-Albani in at-Targhib, 876]

What is a Successful Ramadan?

1. The piety and humility of the Salaf

When Ramadaan came to a close, the rightly guided predecessors (As-Salaf As-Saalih) used to frequently seek forgiveness, repent to Allaah – The Mighty and Majestic – and fear that their (deeds) would not be accepted. They used to exert themselves (in worship) in Ramadaan and outside of Ramadaan, afterwards they would be fearful that none of this will be accepted.

2. How the Salaf behaved when Ramadaan was approaching and when it left

They used to seek the forgiveness of Allaah and repent. So much so that it was reported that they would supplicate to Allaah for six months that He would allow them to reach Ramadaan. If He allowed them to reach Ramadaan, they would fast, pray at night and supplicate for the next six months that He accepts the month of Ramadaan from them.

3. Signs that Ramadaan has been accepted

Following good deeds with good is a sign that (an act) has been accepted, whether it is pertaining to Ramadaan or other than it. If the Muslim is in a good state after Ramadaan, performing many good deeds and righteous actions, then this is a proof of acceptance.

4. Signs that Ramadaan hasn’t been accepted

If the opposite is true, and he follows good with evil, and as soon as Ramadaan is over he follows on from this with sins, heedlessness and turning away from the obedience of Allaah, then this is a proof that it hasn’t been accepted.

Every person knows their true situation after Ramadaan. So let them look, if they are in a better state, then let them thank Allaah, as this shows (that it has been) accepted.

If their state is worse, then let them repent to Allaah and seek the forgiveness of Allaah, as this is a proof that it hasn’t been accepted and it is a proof of negligence and carelessness.

5. Do not despair of the Mercy of Allaah

But the slave should not lose hope of the mercy of Allaah. He should not close the door that is between him and Allaah and despair of the mercy of Allaah.

“Say: O my slaves who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins). Do not despair of the Mercy of Allaah: verily Allaah forgives all sins. He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Az-Zumar: 53)
 

It is upon him to repent, seek the forgiveness of Allaah and return to Allaah – The Mighty and Majestic.

Allaah – The Mighty and Majestic – accepts repentance from those that repent.

“And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins, and He knows what you do.” (Ash-Shura:25)

Are We Truly Believers?

Article by: Babar Ahmad (May Allah hasten his release-Ameen)

“So do not weaken and do not grieve, for you will indeed be superior if you are truly believers.” [Al-Quran 3:139]
 

This verse was revealed to the Messenger (SAS) by Allah The Almighty from above the Seven Heavens, soon after the Muslims suffered a defeat in the Battle of Uhud and returned to Al-Madinah dejected and downtrodden. It was revealed as an encouragement to the believers after a victory that was in their grasp, was snatched away from them and turned into a defeat. And why should the Companions (RA) not have felt devastated at this defeat? Seventy of the best human beings on Earth at the time were killed and countless others were injured. Even the Messenger (SAS) himself was seriously wounded until blood flowed from his face and he said in great anguish whilst wiping the blood from his noble cheeks: “Allah’s Wrath is Great upon the people who besmeared His Messenger’s face with blood.”
 

However, this defeat was only a temporary setback so that the believers could reflect upon the reasons for the defeat, described in successive verses of Surah Ale-Imran. The mistakes and sins of a few believers had deprived the whole army of victory.

When Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA) despatched the army of Saad bin Abi Waqqas (RA) to the Battle of Al-Qadisiyyah, he advised him: “Fear your sins more than you fear the enemy as your sins are more dangerous to you than your enemy. We Muslims are only victorious over our enemy because their sins outnumber ours, not for any other reason. If our sins were equal to those of our enemy, then they would defeat us due to their superior numbers and resources.”
 

Where are the Muslims? Burma Myanmar wiping out the Rohingya Muslims!!

Please Insha'Allah make Dua, Donations and raise the awareness, these are our brothers and sisters in Islam, if we as Muslims don't support them, then who will???
This shows how the Muslims are treated and oppressed when there is no Muslim leader (Khalifah), these Muslims do not want to fight, all they want is to live their lives in peace, are they asking for too much?

16 Things You Can Do on The Night of Power

Laylatul Qadr (the Night of Power) is described in the Quran as, “better than a thousand months” (97:3). Any action done on this night such as reciting the Quran, remembering Allah, etc. is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the night of Qadr.

Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time (Muslim).

Aisha (ra) related that the Prophet (pbuh) said: Look for Laylatul Qadr on an odd-numbered night during the last ten nights of Ramadan (Bukhari).

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven” (Bukhari and Muslim recorded from Abu Huraira).

Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it:

1. Take a vacation for Allah

We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator.

If this is not possible at least take a few days off if you can. This can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra Ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day.

It will also facilitate doing Itikaf.

Most Unlucky Person in the World - Ramadaan

The most unlucky person in the world is the one who did not make it to have all his past sins forgiven in the month of Ramadhan.

How many people are lying in the graves, who had thought that they could make it to Ramadhan this year. They never made it !!

We are lucky to get a chance this year !!

The Prophet (SAW) said: "Whosoever reaches the month of Ramadhan and does not have his sins forgiven, and so enters the Fire, then may ALLAH distance him." [Ahmad (2/246) and Bayhaqi (4/204)]

Its not too late, we have the 'Night of Power' (Lailat-ul-Qadr) in hand.

The Messenger (SAW) said: "Whoever prays the Night of Qadr with Iman (faith) and hoping for its reward, ALLAH will forgive him all his previous sins." [Bukhari and Muslim]

'Lailat-ul-Qadr' or 'Night of Power' a very important occasion in the history of Islam and in our personnel lives.


The Night Of Power is better for us than one thousand months of our personal lives in this world. Even if we were to live one thousand months (83.3 years) with sincerity, dedication, and sacrifices and with good intentions and deeds, the Night Of Power is still far better for us.
 

Some Manifestations of Allah’s Kindness

Allah is kind to us in ways that we cannot even imagine. His kindness is manifested to us from before we are born into our infancy and adulthood, in every aspect of our lives.

It is from Allah’s kindness that He creates the fetus in its mother’s womb, and that the womb does not reject it even though it is a foreign body. Allah makes the womb ready to welcome it. Allah thus enfolds the fetus in three protective coverings, that of the placenta, that of the womb, and that of the mother’s body where it develops in safety and receives nourishment from its mother.

It is from Allah’s kindness that the newborn knows to take its mother’s breast and knows to cry whenever it is hungry or needs something so that its needs can be tended to.

It is from Allah’s kindness that He blesses us with patience and fortitude in the face of pain and hardship. When we bear patiently what befalls us reconcile ourselves to His will, it is good for us. We see this in the story of Joseph (peace be upon him). First, he suffered at the hands of his brothers who abandoned him at the bottom of a well. Then he suffered years of imprisonment in Egypt as a result of sexual allegations he was innocent of. Finally, Allah blessed him to enjoy power and influence in Egypt. After everything that happened, Joseph declared: “Lo! My Lord is Most Kind to whom He pleases.” [Sūrah Yūsuf: 100]
 

Something to think about...

Humor me! Get ten pieces of Lego or any stackable items and build a simple tower by stacking one piece on top of the other.

Now take the tower apart and start over again, except this time I would like you to start in the middle. Take the fifth piece and suspend it in the air using absolutely nothing at all and then start adding pieces below it and on top of it. What? You can’t do that? Oh, that’s right, gravity, laws of physics and every ounce of common sense says that you can’t start a simple building of Legos from the middle. Dilemma!

Well, it might be because I am not an engineer and hence obviously not an expert on how to build stuff, so why don’t you Google engineers in your area and call them for advice? Maybe they have a way of starting a building from the middle.

No luck here either? Puzzling!

OK, you know what, now I am intrigued by the concept of starting in the middle. If we can’t do it in the rigid physical realm, as we’ve learned from the above example, then maybe we should look into the less “structured” intellectual realm. Do you have a child or a relative that is of school starting age? I would like you to take that child to a middle school and insist on him/her starting there. If you don’t have a child I would still like you to call a middle school and ask if a 5 year old child can start there. Out of luck here too? Astounding!

Alright fine, I’ll stop being silly. But let me ask you, would you consider the above two examples as signs or ayat from Allah?  

What more Proofs do We Need on Hijab !?!

One day a sheikh with his wife in Hijab and a non Muslim were traveling together in the train.
The non Muslim asked the sheikh: "Why do you people cover your wife from head to toe?"
The sheikh started thinking... suddenly he took a fruit from his pocket cut it half with knife.
The sheikh asked the non Muslim: "Do you know what this is?"
The non Muslim responded: "hmmm...yum yum...Yes I know, this is a delicious fruit.
The sheikh then replied: "No....this is my fruit, while it was in my pocket your mouth didn't water but as soon as I took it out and cut it, you wanted to taste it, similarly when a woman is covered from head to toe, no one will think about her but if she removes her Hijab then every one will desire her.
 
What is the correct Hijab of a Muslim woman? Why should we wear it and how should we wear it? 
"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (Jilbab) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful" [Noble Quran 33:59]

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts from sin and not show of their adornment except only that which is apparent, and draw their head covers over their necks and bosoms and not reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women (i.e., their sisters in Islam), or their female slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants free of physical desires, or small children who have no sense of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah altogether, O you Believers, in order that you may attain success." [Noble Quran 24:31]

Definition and Description of the Jilbab (Over Garment):

Lying

THE EVIL CONSEQUENCES OF LYING

O Muslims! Fear Allah and be among those who are truthful in their worship to Allah and in their treatment of His servants. Be sincere to Allah in your worship, with no showing off or seeking of reputation. Abide by the commands of Allah in order to attain nearness to Him and obtain His good rewards; shun His prohibitions in order to avoid being far from His mercy and being liable to His punishment. Do not seek anyone’s praise for your worship of Allah, for He is the One Who does not stand in need of a partner. If anyone does anything in which he associates anyone else with Him, He shall abandon him to the one whom he associates with Allah.

Be truthful to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) without failing to follow his Sunnah and without introducing innovation to it. Be truthful to people when you deal with them, telling them the truth and explaining to them the reality. Allah the Almighty orders you to be truthful when he says that which means: “O you who have believed! Fear Allah and be with those who are true [in word and deed].” (At-Tawbah:119).

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Stick to truthfulness, as it leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise; and a person will keep on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person.” In this Hadeeth the Prophet (pbuh) explained that there is an end for truthfulness, which is righteousness that leads to Paradise and a rank within it for the truthful, which is Siddeeqiyyah, or trustworthiness, that is next only to the rank of the prophets.

Allah the Almighty says that which means: “And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favour of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions.” (An-Nisaa’: 69).

Muslim Champions - Real Men Shine under Hardship

SubhanAllah just 5 minutes of your time on this video will help you realize how its indeed Allah who Alone provides and Tests us on our Imaan... Yet there are those Muslims who search for Jobs or Work in places that can give them 'Name', 'Fame', 'Honor' and 'Good Money', even if its what Allah and His Nabi (saws) forbade... Even if its haraam, even if its not-allowed!!! Astaghfirullah how low can ones Imaan drop that he loses his faith, his trust on the One that provides, the Only One that can give... Our own Rab! Do we forget that He is Al-Wahhab, Ar-Razzaq... Depend on Him Alone ya Muslimeen, ask Halaal rizq from Him Alone... Be patient in the times of hardship, for indeed He will Test you... Will you then still chose the path of shaytaan and fail your Test or will you go through the hardship of hunger, thirst and lose of wealth and succeed... The choice is yours!!!!

And remember:

Umar bin Khattab (ra) said,"We were a people who lived in humiliation before, and Allah gave us honor through Islam. So if we seek honor through anything else other than what Allah has honored us with, then Allah will humiliate us". (Mustadrak Al Hakim 207, Sahih by Ad Dhahabi in Talkhees and Sahih by Albani in Silsilah Sahiha 51)

Do you know Taif's most remarkable story?

Taken from: Saudi Life

WHILE most of you would have visited Taif, sat in the Cable Car in Al-Hada, touched the peaks of Al-Shafa, and toured its valleys, I’m sure not many of you know that this beautiful little town has millennia of history to tell. Just one story – the most remarkable in its history – is shared below.

It was 1434 years ago, when a man in Makkah – ridiculed and persecuted by his people – left on a mission to Taif.

The man had declared to the Makkan people that he was a messenger of God who receives, through an angel, revelation from the Creator of the Universe. (Why would anyone believe that, you may wonder?)

So what was the messenger’s message? Your God is One. Worship Him alone, and no other being besides Him.

He hailed from the noblest of families and was well-known to his people. He never lied, never prostrated to an idol, and never did anything that would blemish his character. His word was respected, his judgment final, because he would never be unjust. Yes, he grew up among them. They witnessed him as a child, a youth, and as an adult. Al-Amin (The Trustworthy) they titled him for his truthfulness and honesty.

Yet after 40 years of his age, they called him a liar, a madman, a magician, and a sorcerer. They character assassinated him, but could not prove his message wrong. How could they? They had no reply, no answer, and no explanation to the words coming out of his mouth. The finest and proudest literary geniuses they were, they had never heard a speech more supreme, sublime, intellectual, and thought-provoking than the Qur’an. And it was being recited by one who could neither read nor write.
 

The Abandonment of the Qur’an

It is known as “al-Kitab” (the Book). It is so well known and highly revered that when any Muslim refers to “the Book,” it is understood to mean the Holy Qur’an. It is the book above all books because it is the complete and final revelation of Allah (swt) to mankind. It is the best of speech, the way of guidance, the book of wisdom, and it will remain unchanged and protected until the Day of Judgement. Muslims usually decorate its pages and outside cover and always place it on the highest shelf in their homes to signify its elevated status. Most Muslims begin the most important ceremonies of their lives with the recitation of its blessed words. Yet when it is recited, few are those who listen to it carefully and even fewer are those who understand it. Yet still fewer are those who ponder its meanings and dedicate their life to its study. A human would never abstain from the elements that are necessary for nourishing his body, yet so many humans go for extended periods of time depriving themselves from that which nourishes the hearts and the minds—the Holy Qur’an.

Ibn Masood (ra), a famous companion of the Prophet (pbuh) said: “None of you needs to ask himself [about anything] except for the Qur’an: If he loves the Qur’an, he loves Allah, and if he detests the Qur’an, he detests Allah and His Messenger (pbuh)" [Ibn Taymiyah, al-Furqan, p. 74]. Hence, there is a direct correlation between one’s relationship with Allah and his relationship with the Qur’an. This is the case because the Qur’an is our source of knowledge about the truth of all matters, what Allah (swt) likes and dislikes, and the nature of His essence and actions. It is our connection to Allah (swt) and that is why He ordered us to recite it in each of our daily prayers. Therefore, he who abandons the Qur’an has, in fact, abandoned his connection and relationship with Allah (swt).

If a Muslim continues abandoning the Qur’an in his life, the faith in his heart begins to weaken, he becomes accustomed to disregarding Allah’s commands, and he begins to forget about Allah’s promise in the Hereafter and, instead, desires the pleasures of this temporal life. The connection with Allah (swt), that gives true life to the hearts of humans, becomes severed and the heart becomes a dark dungeon; the filth of sins veils it and no light of guidance penetrates it. This is why `Uthmaan ibn `Affan (ra) said: “If our hearts were really clean, we would never become satiated with the words of Allah.” [Ibn Taymiyah, al-Furqan, p. 74]

Should Muslims boycott the Olympics?

Should Muslims boycott the London 2012 Olympics?

To most people, the Olympics is seen as a celebration of sport, diversity and world culture. However, from an Islamic perspective, the Olympics is seen as an ancient pagan tradition that was held to honour the gods of ancient Greece. It is also considered evil (munkar) for the following reasons:

• The Olympics is not from Islam, and the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Whoever imitates a people, he is one of them.”
• The majority of athletes are inappropriately covered (dressed), during events such as athletics, boxing, diving, gymnastics, swimming, synchronised swimming, weightlifting and so forth. Islam strictly commands us to lower our gaze and not to mix with the opposite sex, except due to necessity while observing segregation, such as for medical treatment, in business transactions and while studying Islam.
• The Olympics encourages nationalism, which is clearly forbidden in Islam and is the cause of disunity, oppression and corruption. For example, thousands of displaced refugees die every year because they are turned away, denied aid and medical treatment by neighbouring countries for one reason only: their nationality. It is reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “He is not one of us who calls for nationalism, fights for nationalism and dies for nationalism,” and, “Allah has cursed the one who creates borders.”
• A number of participating countries are presently at war with Islam and are engaged in killing Muslims abroad, such as Great Britain, Israel, Myanmar (Burma), the United States, and their allies. It is forbidden for Muslims to be playing games with such nations.
• The Olympics also involves a number of other forbidden types of entertainment, such as live music, dancing and free-mixing — throughout the tournament and especially during the opening and closing ceremonies.
• A Muslim is obliged, as a condition of faith, to love and hate for the sake of Allah. Enjoying the games and participating in the Olympics are indications that one is pleased with the way of life of the unbelievers.

For the above reasons, the Olympics must undoubtedly be boycotted by Muslims.

Slaughter of Burmese Muslims

After reading and watching helplessly the recent massacre of minority Burmese Muslims by the Buddhist majority, let not another hypocrite sing that phoney and repugnant ‘song’ about Buddhists being “peaceful.”
 

In June 2012, hundreds Burmese Muslims have been butchered, and many more injured and made homeless in Burma as a result religious intolerance by the Buddhist majority. The Burmese military government, far from trying to resolve the problem and protect the minority, has been silently conniving with the rioters by creating greater hardships for the Muslim minority.

The reason of this June 2012 riot is unknown except for the periodical outbursts of the Burmese Buddhists to show their might and vent their anger on the helpless minority. It is commonly accepted that the June 2012 massacre of Burmese Muslims was intentionally orchestrated by the rioters in collaboration with the government. Yet the world, including the UN, is conveniently silent. The brazenly hypocritical and unscrupulous woman, Aung San Suu Kyi, is very prompt at accusing the Burmese military of human rights violations when she is under house arrest. But she finds nothing wrong when the military helps the Buddhist mobs to murder the innocent Muslim minority of her country.

As in India, anti-Muslim riots are nothing unusual in Burma. Violence in Burma against Muslims have been erupting periodically since the 1920s based simply on religious intolerance by the Buddhist majority.
 

Participation of the Inner Self When Reading the Qur’an

Reading the Qur’an, the tilawah, must involve your whole ‘person’. Only thus will you be able to elevate your encounter with the Qur’an to the level where you can be called a ‘true’ believer in the Qur’an (al-Baqarah 2: 121).

What is the Heart?

The more important part of your ‘person’ is your inner self. This inner self the Qur’an calls the qalb or the ‘heart’. The heart of the Prophet (pbuh) was the first recipient of the Qur’anic message:

Truly it has been sent down by the Lord of all the worlds, the Trustworthy Spirit has alighted with it upon your heart [O Prophet], that you may be one of the warners …(al-Shu’ara’ 26: 1924).

You will therefore reap the full joys and blessings of reading the Qur’an when you are able to involve your heart fully in your task.

The ‘heart’, in Qur’anic vocabulary, is not the piece of flesh in your body, but the centre of all your feelings, emotions, motives, drives, aspirations, remembrance and attention. It is the hearts which soften (al-Zumar 39: 23), or harden and become stony (al-Baqarah 2: 74). It is they which go blind and refuse to recognize the truth (al-Hajj 22: 46) for it is their function to reason and understand (al-A’raf 7: 179; al-Hajj 22: 46; Qaf 50: 37). In hearts, lie the roots of all outward diseases (al-Ma’idah 5: 52); they are the seat of all inner ills (al-Baqarah 2: 10); hearts are the abode of Iman (al-Ma’idah 5: 41) and hypocrisy (al-Tawbah 9: 77). It is the hearts, again, which are the centre of every good and bad thing, whether it be contentment and peace (al-Ra’d 13: 28), the strength to face afflictions (al-Taghabun 64: 11), mercy (al-Hadid 57: 27), brotherly love (al-Anfal 8: 63), taqwd (al-Hujurat 49: 3; al-Hajj 22: 32); or, doubt and hesitation (al-Tawbah 9: 45), regrets (Al ‘Imran 3: 156), and anger (al-Tawbah 9: 15).

A complete Ramadaan advice...

Ramadaan is the month in which the rewards of our good deeds are multiplied, the doors of Hell are closed, the gates of Paradise are open and the shayaateen 'devils' are locked up. These factors undoubtedly encourage us to increase our good deeds, worship, taqwaa (fear of God) and eemaan (belief and actions); and these are the reasons why Allah (SWT) ordered the believers to fast in this blessed month. The Almighty says in His Book:
Oh you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those [nations] before you, so that you may attain piety. (Al-Baqarah, 2:183)

Those who fast in order to "experience what the poor people are going through" or "imagine what it is like to have no food and water" are fasting for the wrong reasons. Fasting is not only about abstaining from food and drink between daylight hours; it also entails giving up your desires, customs, traditions, habits and disobedience in order to become completely subservient to Almighty Allah (SWT) – the way a believer should always be.

Bearing this in mind, it is essential for us to understand that we must utilise this blessed month as much as possible, by changing our old ways and doing many good deeds (that are based upon the Qur'aan and Sunnah). Every year the Sahaabah (Companions) would shed tears and beg Allah to give them the opportunity to reach Ramadaan (without passing away). This was because they had the right 'aqeedah (belief) and were well aware of the rewards and blessings the month carried with it.

If you find that every year you change during Ramadaan, but then return back to your old ways, know that you may have not achieved the main purpose of fasting – to attain taqwaa. The Messenger Muhammad (SAW) said:
A person may fast, but he will gain nothing from his fasting except hunger. And a person may perform qiyaam [stay awake at night whilst praying, reciting the Qur'aan, studying Islam etc.] but gain nothing but sahar [i.e. staying awake and not getting any reward]. (Sunan Ibn Maajah, hadeeth no.1690)

Hence, make sure you do not waste this month, for you do not know if you will live to see another. If you are from those who listen to music, free-mix, vote for the Kuffaar 'non-Muslims', smoke cigarettes, watch haraam 'forbidden' movies, eat stunned (haraam) meat, follow ration over divine Text or are busy with dunyaa 'worldly life' (such as by over working or studying the non-Muslims' way of life in college or university etc.) and are negligent of your duties, such as supporting jihaad and working to establish Allah's Deen; this is the perfect opportunity for you to repent and start doing your obligations.