am moving!!!

asSalaamu 3laykum wa ra7matuAllaahi wa barakaatuh,
so.. i moved my blog to muslimpad! you guys should too, so we can have our own little muslim network haha jay kay..yeh so here is the link dont comment or come back here its moved for good and i probably wont check it, i kind of like this backround/theme better though, oh well, and yeh its not quite fixed yet, i have to fix it up a bit when i get time insha'Allaah but yeh basically yehh otay!
link : my new blog enjoy

why dont you ALL make hijrah to MUSLIMPAD!!!

wasSalaamu 3laykum wa ra7matuAllaah

for those upon the creed

My brothers -- the minority, the destitude, the eccentric, the scattered...

I swear by Allah, one of you is worth more than hundreds of the so-called Islamists, the laymen, and the majority... both in Allah's scale, then that of the Believers.

Why? You carry the faith of Tawheed and Walaa' & Baraa'... These deeds of the heart, are worth much more than all obligatory and voluntary deeds. These deeds of the heart manifest themselves upon the tongue and limbs, unless a real obstacle prevents such manifestation. These deeds are the most important obligations, since they are the manifested meaning of "Laa Ilaaha Illallaah", which most of the Muslims have abandoned implementing truthfuly.

You see most of Ahlul-Bida' excited about the "best" deeds they do, most of which being innovations... So you see the modernists excited about compromising Islam for the desires of the Crusaders... You see the Ikhwan excited about gaining seats in parliaments...

Then my brother sits confused and doubtful... What are my good deeds?

My brother, you carry the greatest, good deed that the Jews and Christians all envy and hate you for... "Laa Ilaaha Illallaah" -- as it should be declared and practiced. You carry this declaration in your heart and upon your tongue, holding to its meaning, rejecting all attempts of compromise and dilution. You carry it in your actions by the pinnacle of Islam, when such is granted to you.

Is this not a good deed? Should you not feel thankful to your Lord that He blessed you, mercifully, with this deed?

If the whole universe were placed upon one palm of a scale, and this declaration upon the other, this declaration would outweight it! Your deeds are direct and explicit manifestations of this declaration... and thus heavier and loftier. So do not look to those around you from the compromising Muslims and their lusty self-assurance... Their deeds will be dispersed by the wind like dust.

As for your heavy deed, remain firm upon it, relying upon your Lord and supplicating Him, making this declaration -- its meaning and implications -- sincerely to Him.

By Allah, some of the younger brothers upon this Da'wah, be they 19 or younger, although having never manifested Tawheed via the pinnacle of Islam, they still have outdone their competitors in good deeds... by the actions of their hearts and tongues.

By Allah, I love one of you more than mountains upon mountains of your competitors from Ahul-Bida'. Your faith! Your faith! It is the decisive factor... It is why the Crusaders hate you. They do not hate so much your competitors, since they are willing to compromise even the fundamentals of Islam. But you! You are a "fundamentalist." You will never say Islam teaches "freedom of religion" or "freedom of expression" or "democracy" or "pacifism" or "legal apostasy."

But that is your honor -- firmness upon fundamentals, never abandoning principles, and relying upon your Lord.

So be firm, holding on to fiery coals... Keep your intention firm... and stay firm until your Lord grants you certainty and death.

"If he became distressed, he placed his determination in front of his eyes.
And put aside the mention of any results.
He only consulted himself in his matter
And he only accepted his sword for a companion.
I will wash myself of shame, with the sword
Winning only what Allah has decreed for me to win.
My possessions look humble to me.
If my right hand bends back while achieving my request. "

The Virtue of Ramadan and the Qur'an

Imam Ibn Kathir

THE OBLIGATION OF FASTING
Allah says in the Quran:
"O uou who have faith! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you - so that hopefully you will have taqwa." - Al Baqarah(2):183
Meaning that hopefuly you can safeguard yourselves from the Fire through Fasting; fasting is a means to the forgiveness of sins, and sins lead one to the fire.
The two sahihs record the hadith in which the prophet (pbuh) said:
"Islam is built upon five: that you worship Allah and reject the worship of anything else, to establish the prayer, the giving of Zakat, performing pilgrimage to the house and Fasting the month of Ramadan." [This is the wording of Muslim, Bukhari has the first sentence as 'that you testify none has the right to be worshipped save Allah'].
THE VIRTUES OF FASTING
Fasting carries with it a number of benefits, amongst which are: the elevation to ones rank, the expiation of sins, the breaking of ones desire and lusts, the increase of charity, the multiplication of actions of obedience to Allah, giving thanks to the one who knows the hidden matters, and preventing oneself from even contemplating the commiting of sin.
THE ELEVATION OF RANK
With regards to the elevation of rank, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
"When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paardise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are locked and devils are chained." [Bukhari]
He (pbuh) also said, relating from his lord Mighty and Magnificient,
"All of the actions of the son of Adam are for him except the fast for that is for me and I will reward it. Fasting is protecting sheild, so when it is the day when one of you are fasting, let him not behave or speak indecently; if someone tries to abuse him or fight him, let him say, 'I am fasting'. By the one in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the smell emanating from the mouth of the one fasting is better with Allah then the smell of musk. The one fasting has tewo time of joy, when he breaks his fast he is happy and when he meets his lord he will rejoice at his fasting." [Bukhari and Muslim]
The prophet (pbuh) also said:
"Every action that the son of Adam does, [its reward] will be multiplied, a good deed will be increased tenfold. Allah Mighty and Magnificient says, 'except for the fast, for that is for Me and I will reward it for he left his desires and food for My sake'" [Muslim]
The prophet (pbuh) also said:
"In paradise there is a gate which is called ar-Rayyan through which the people who fasted will enter on the day of Judgement, and no one else shall enter along-side them. It will be asked, 'where are those who fasted?' and they will walk through it, and upon the entry of the last of them, it will be locked, and no one else will walk through it." [Bukhari and Muslim]
With regards the 'opening of the gates of paradise', this is a phrase that points to the increase of actions of obedience that in turn lead to the opening of the gates of Paradise. 'Locking the gates of Fire' is a phrase that points to the decrease, and lack of therewith, of sins which in turn leads to the locking of the gates of the Fire. 'The chaining of the devils' is a phrase that points to the termination of their whisperings, and temptations, to those who are fasting because they give up hope of receiving a favorable response.
His saying, "All of the actions of the son of Adam are for him except the fast for that is for me, and I will reward it," fasting has been specifically adjoined to him in the order of Honour it because the hidden nature of fasting prevents ostentation entering it, and moreover, hunger and thirst are not used as means to draew closer to any king of this world nor any idol

Ramadhân: Have You Got What It Takes?

Ramadhân: Have You Got What It Takes?

By Abu Eesa Niamatullah
From Prophetic Guidance (with slight changes)

There are things in life which are not very important, those which are quite important and then those things which are absolutely vital for our collective well-being.

Let this be a reminder to me and anyone else who wishes to read on – there is simply nothing more vital for us in our very short and limited lives than to take absolute maximum benefit from the blessed month of Ramadhân.

The really interesting thing about the statement of Allah, the Most High:

"So remind (them), for indeed the reminder benefits those who have faith," [Al-Qur'ân 51:55]

is that those who have the pure characteristics of faith do indeed benefit, even though human nature by itself would seem to oppose that. Isn't that sadly true? When someone believes they know what to do, they don't necessarily appreciate being told again how to do it. If someone believes that they've heard everything they need to hear, it takes a seriously patient and magnanimous person to sit there and hear it again.

By now we've certainly heard all the Prophetic narrations on the blessings of this very special time; a time in which our righteous ones delight as the gates of Paradise are flung open, and in which our sinful ones breathe a sigh of relief and take time to reflect as the gates of Hell are locked up.

So at this moment of clarity, where the stomachs, hearts, eyes, ears, tongue and mind are all enjoying their greatest moment of purity, let us all try and make sure that we profit from the following points gleaned from the advice of our Pious Predecessors ...

1. Make sure that this blessed month becomes a period of accounting for your actions, a revision of your daily routine, an opportunity for the betterment of your life for all your years to come. To enter Ramadhân not believing it to be so will be a total loss. You've actually made it all the way here now, so let's reap the harvest! Think about all those who were aiming for this month but found a dark grave instead. Reflect on all those who woke in the morning but found that their evenings never materialised.

Consider for just a second as our scholars said: if you can't change your ways and gain at such a blessed time then at what time will you change?!

2. Try to make sure you perform all of the tarâwîh prayers in congregation for the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

"Whoever prays with the Imam until he leaves, it is written for him that he prayed the entire night."

3. Do not be wasteful or extravagant with your wealth, for not only is that impermissible, but you reduce the opportunities of giving more in charity for which you could be rewarded for. They said about the Prophet, peace be upon him, that he gave in charity especially during Ramadhân like the one who didn't fear or even recognise poverty.

4. Commit yourself to continue after Ramadhân that which you have prepared yourself to do during Ramadhân. The salaf would say:

"The sign of one's fasting being accepted from him in Ramadhân is the continuation of his good actions and character after Ramadhân."

5. Remember: this is a month of worship and hence action, not lethargy and sleeping. This is even more relevant here in the West considering winter is so close with its short days and long nights. It is well known from the Companions, in emulation of the Prophet, upon whom be peace, that they used to say:

"Reap the benefit of winter by fasting its days and standing (in prayer) during the nights."

6. Make your tongue habitual in the dhikr of Allah so that you don't become from those:

" ... who do not remember Allah except little."

7. When you feel the pangs of hunger, just remember how weak you actually are, how dependent you are upon food and other such necessities from the immense blessings of Allah, may He be glorified.

8. Make a concerted effort to permanently leave that which doesn't benefit you, but rather causes you harm. This is even more so when you are fasting. Maymûn used to say:

"The weakest of fasts is that in which only food and drink is left out."

9. Remember: your actions are a trust from Allah so audit yourself like any successful company does; have you performed and fulfilled your deeds as is deserving of them? This obviously applies to all our actions such as prayer, dhikr, manners but particularly fasting. Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

"Our fasts need istighfâr to make up for their deficiencies, and good deeds to intercede for them."

10. Hasten to seek forgiveness from those whom you have oppressed in any way, before they take from your (very few) good deeds. Don't forget, the greatest oppressive tool is the tongue so tether it as strongly as possible. Sha'bi narrated that 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

"Fasting is not just refraining from food and drink, but refraining from lying, falsehood, backbiting and swearing (by Allah)."

Abu al-'Âliyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, used to say:

"The fasting one is in a continual state of worship until he says about another person that which they would not like to hear."

11. Strive to feed the fasting one so that you can obtain a reward equal to his. Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, used to always break his fast sharing with the poor; if any of his family tried to prevent him from that, he would refuse to spend the night with them. It was also reported from him that whenever someone would come to him asking for food, he would give them his share and then return home to find his family had eaten what was left of food in his house. He would not let on and would end his fasting day without eating anything.

12. Know that Allah is the Most Generous and that He is the Most Merciful. He accepts the repentance of the penitent, more so than ever at such a special time.

13. If you have committed a sin or done something wrong which Allah, may He be glorified, has concealed for you from the people, know that this is an opportunity for you to seek repentance for those mistakes. Hasten to seek forgiveness and make sure that you do not return back to that sin.

14. Try to increase your knowledge of the explanation of the Qur'ân (tafsîr), the narrations of the Messenger, his biography (sîrah), and the principles of our religion – to seek such sacred knowledge is one of the highest forms of worship.

15. Stay away from such company and people which don't benefit you; try to accompany righteous good folk as much as you can. Good people always spread their blessings to others.

16. Going significantly early to the Mosques is a sign of great love and desire to please Allah; a sign that you are in need of him at all times, not just those times in which all the congregation are together. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

"The Companions would often spend much of their fast in the Mosque so as to purify it (i.e. purify the fast itself from useless talk, gossip, backbiting etc)."

17. Pay attention to those who are under your authority such as your family, guiding them to that which will benefit them in their dîn, for they will far more willingly take their example from you than from other people.

18. Do not go to extremes by preparing many different dishes for the iftâr meal. This leaves the women of the house no opportunity to benefit during the daytime of Ramadhân such as reciting the Qur'ân etc., especially if they are just busy cooking all day.

19. Reduce the amount of time you spend shopping in the night-time during Ramadhân, especially the last ten nights. This will prevent you wasting your time at such a precious and blessed period of your life.

20. Strive to spend these last ten special nights of Ramadhân standing in prayer. Remember: there is one particular night amongst these ten, known as laylat al-qadr which is in fact greater than a thousand months of worship. Surely to hit the jackpot on such a night is beyond our wildest dreams yet it is a jackpot available to everyone with no need to purchase a ticket and no need to take any risk – that's gambling dîn style.

21. Don't forget that 'Eid is a special day of thanksgiving to our Lord, so don't make it a day where you lose control of yourself, wasting all the good works of your heart and soul as it kept your desires in check for the entire month.

22. Set aside for yourself, even but for a small time, a period of isolation in the mosque known as i'tikâf – you will probably never enjoy such an intensely beneficial period for your soul to reflect upon how it is so cultured by day-to-day life in the 21st Century. This period of respite for the heart, mind and soul will allow you to replenish your vital organs with what they really need – the elixir of life which is nothing other than to be immersed in the worship of Allah, the Most Exalted.

23. On the festive day of 'Eid as you enjoy yourself with your family, take a brief moment to remember all those brothers and sisters of ours who are orphans, stricken by poverty, famine and war. Know that if you have the ability to make a difference, hasten to such an excellent deed; if you are unable, do not forget to thank Allah for His unlimited favours He bestows upon us.

24. Set aside for yourself regular days of fasting throughout the year – don't just make your relationship with fasting limited to Ramadhân only. Now that you have seen the rewards on offer for the fasting one, his special entrance of ar-rayyân in Paradise, his supplication which is not rejected, his closeness to his Lord during his fast, his moment of joy as he breaks it, his increased ability to refrain from the bad and embrace the good – now that you've actualised these benefits, carry them over to the six days of Shawwâl just after Ramadhân which is equivalent to fasting the entire year! Don't forget also the middle three 'bright' days of every month, Mondays and Thursdays when our actions are presented to our Lord, as well as a host of other special occasions to double up from such as the Days of 'Arafah, Tâsû'ah, 'Âshûrâ' etc.

25. Finally, reflect upon your overall condition; make an audit of all your daily affairs so that you can identify areas for improvement and rectification. These will include: sticking to the congregational prayers, paying zakât fully and on time, maintaining your family ties, being honourable with the parents, being mindful of your neighbours, rectifying old feuds and problems between previous friends and colleagues, cutting out extravagance and the wasting of wealth, culturing and educating those under your guardianship, being concerned with the affairs of your fellow Muslim brothers and sisters around the world, delighting in and then acting upon sincere advice, protecting oneself for riyâ' (showing off), loving for your brother that which you love for yourself, not allowing yourself to fall into the trap of backbiting others. Carry on reciting the Qur'ân and reflecting deeply upon its meanings and last but certainly not least, humble yourself as you listen to His Words being recited.

The list could simply go on and on – surely there are enough points here to make even the most heedless one reflect upon their state and consider changing their actions for the better.

O Allah, give us the ability and strength to make this Ramadhân our Ramadhân, a time for change and maturity, a time for quality and success, amîn.

May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon His Beloved Messenger, his family and all those who follow in his footsteps until the Final Day.

RAMADHAAAAN MUBARAAK!!!

RAAAAAAAAMMMAAADHHAAAAANNNN MUBARAAAAAAAAKKKKK

RAAAAAAAAMMMAAADHHAAAAANNNN MUBARAAAAAAAAKKKKK

RAAAAAAAAMMMAAADHHAAAAANNNN MUBARAAAAAAAAKKKKK

Have you ever heard of a weekend warrior? They are employees who sit in cubicles or relax at a coffee station, weighed down with donuts and muffins all week long. Then, during weekends they rip off their suits bearing their Reebok gear underneath and spend the entire weekend playing basketball, hang gliding, or mountain climbing. What happens? They break their knees, pull a dozen muscles, and are hospitalized on Monday.

This is in relation to the physical body. But there are people that should be known as Ramadan warriors. They are those who haven't fasted all year long and then suddenly shock their bodies for a whole month. Or haven't prayed in the Masjid or haven't woken up to pray during the night all year long. What happens to them? As one Muslim physician said, "On normal days, we have about 5 - 7 patients a day, but on the first day of Ramadan, patients increase to over 50!"

Ramadan warriors were rare in our Islamic history. To illustrate, let's all remember where we were at the beginning of the month of Safar - corresponding this year to the second week of May. We were probably praying for work to end, or just finished up with exams, or looking through brochures for a holiday getaway.

Interestingly, if we were sitting beside a taabi'ee over a thousand years ago in a simple Masjid, we would have heard him raising his hands asking Allah to grant him the blessing of being around when a guest comes, a guest called Ramadan!

Ramadan Warriors

By Muhammad Alshareef

Sahl ibn Sa'd - radi Allahu 'anhu - narrates that An-Nabee - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - said, "In Jannah there is a gate called Ar-Rayyan, a door which the Saa'imoon will enter from, no one else except them. It will be announced, 'Where are the Saa'imoon?' and the Saa'imoon will stand. No one except them will enter from the Rayyan gate."
Have you ever heard of a weekend warrior? They are employees who sit in cubicles and relax at a coffee station weighed down with donuts all week long. Then on the weekend they rip off their suits bearing their Reebok gear underneath and spend the entire weekend playing basketball, hang gliding, and mountain climbing. What happens? They break their knees, pull a dozen muscles, and are hospitalized on Monday.

This is in relation to the physical body. But there are people that should be known as Ramadan warriors. They are those that haven't fasted all year long and then shock their bodies with a whole month. Or haven't prayed in the Masjid or haven't woken up to pray in the night all year long. What happens to them? As one Muslim doctor said, "In normal days, we have about 5 - 7 patients a day. On the first day of Ramadan,the patients increase to over 50!"

Ramadan warriors were rare in our Islamic history. To illustrate, let's all remember where we were at the beginning of Safar - corresponding this year to the second week of May. We were probably praying for work to end, or just finished up with exams, or looking through brochures for a holiday getaway.

Interestingly, if we were sitting beside a taabi'ee over a thousand years ago in a simple Masjid, we would have heard him raising his hands asking Allah to grant him the blessing of being around when a guest comes, a guest called Ramadan!

There are different ways that we can 'warm up' for Ramadan. One of those ways is by increasing the frequency of our Du'a:

Allah ta'ala says in the Qur'an ... the verse before it is talking about Ramadan and the verse after it is speaking about Ramadan, and right in the middle we read: [And when My servants ask you, (O Muhammad), concerning Me - Indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me (by obedience) and believe in Me that they may be guided.]

- Surah Al Baqarah 2/186

Every goodness on earth is from Allah. And one of the most exclusive blessings is Ramadan. So let us ask the Lord of Ramadan to help us find His Mercy in the coming days.

Last year, we gave a khutbah here on Hajj entitled 'The Call of Ibraheem'. A brother just a few weeks ago told me that during that Khutbah he raised his hands to Allah and asked Allah to find him a way to make Hajj. He said that he had no money to make the trip, but that night more then one brother approached him with the offer, "Brother we have a Hajj program for new Muslims, would you like to come!"

Alhamdulillah, that brother made Hajj last year from a Du'a that came straight from the heart - in sha' Allah.

The early generations of the Ummah used to make Du'a 6 months after Ramadan that Allah accept their deeds in Ramadan. And for the next 6 months, they would make du'a to Allah to grant them the blessing of being alive in the coming Ramadan.

Cleanliness - Whenever a guest comes, we prepare in advance for his arrival by vacuuming the carpet, dusting the shelves, and scrubbing the sinks. We should do this for our guest called Ramadan. But the scrubbing should not just be of our physical surroundings, it should include the scrubbing of our sins.

Listen to the words of an-Nabee - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - speaking about those people that don't want to clean up for Ramadan, "Whoever doesn't desist from speaking falsehood and acting upon it, Allah has no need that he desist from his food and drink." - Bukhari

Fasting in Sha'baan (this Month that we are now in) - The biggest downfall of the weekend warriors was that they were not properly warmed up for the exercise which caused the injuries. Similarily, when Fasting, some people only do it once a year making their bodies very foreign to going without food and drink.

From here we see the following Sunnah: Umm Al-Mu'mineen Aisha - radiAllahu 'anha - observes, "Allah's Messenger never fasted an entire month other than Ramadan and I haven't seen him fast more than he did in Sha'baan."

A poet said: Oh ye who isn't satisfied with his sins in Rajab / so much so that you continued disobedience in Sha'baan / The month of fasting has now come upon you / so do not convert it also to a month of disobedience.

When we look at the celebrations, 'the holy days' of this country, we see that they put all their time and effort and spirit in preparation. I tell you, go to any store outside this Masjid and you will see preparations of Candy Canes, red and green bouquets, even Eggnog all in the wait for the annual celebration of the birth - as they falsely claim- of Prophet 'Esa (alayhis salam.) They are preparing for their falsehood almost 2 months in advance! One of the ways to prepare for Ramadan is to educate ourselves in the Fiqh of Ramadan. Alhamdulillah - sitting in this Masjid today are many brothers and sisters for whom this will be their first Ramadan. Allahu Akbar! May Allah accept it from them and allow them and us to share in the blessing of Ramadan for many years to come. Let us briefly review what fasting is:

Fasting Ramadan is not optional - it is a must. The evidence for this is found in the Qur'aan and Sunnah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"O you who believe! Observing al-sawn (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become al-muttaqoon (the pious)." [al-Baqarah 2:183]

The Prophet said: "Islam is built on five [pillars]..." among which he mentioned fasting in Ramadaan. - Bukhari

The Arabic word for fasting is Sawm. In Arabic it literally means to abstain from something. And in Islamic Law it is to abstain from those things that break the fast starting from dawn (Fajr Prayer) and ending with sunset (Maghrib prayer) having first made the intention to do so.

The things which break ones Fast, the things which he or she must abstain from from dawn to sunset are as follows:

(a) Eating and Drinking

(b) Marital Relations

These apply if 3 conditions are met (1) That the person is not ignorant that this thing breaks ones fast (2) That he is aware that he is doing something that breaks his fast (meaning he did not do so in forgetfulness) (3) He does so out of his free will and no one forced him to break his fast.

In conclusion, as the month of Ramadan draws nearer, we should prepare for this special guest by preparing a Ramadan program *Operation: Valuable Time* in our homes and at our Masjids. The program should in sha' Allah include:

1. Locked times of the day when we will consistently recite Qur'an, learning it's meanings and memorizing new Sur'ahs.

2. Something useful for the time before Taraweeh prayers and the time after Taraweeh. And how to increase our worship in the last ten nights - i.e. what will we do extra.

3. We should make sure that there are days of this month when we feed people. Bring dates or milk to the Masjid for Maghrib. Invite people over to have dinner with your family. Organize a dinner in the Masjid and invite people that don't normally get invited because they are new. Take care of the New Muslims in your community and for the sake of Allah ta'ala make their Ramadan special.

4. Make the intention to double and triple the amount of Sadaqah we give, the worship we normally do, the Dhikr we do, and the deeds that'll help us purify our souls, etc.

And finally, for those that can afford it plan a Umrah to the Ka'bah in Ramadan!

After returning from the farewell Hajj, Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - saw an Ansari women who had not made the Hajj. He asked her, "What kept you back from joining in the Hajj?" She said, "We had a camel that we used to ride which Abu Fulan and his son went on, and another we used for farming." So Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - said, "Verily, Umrah in Ramadan is the same (reward) as performing Hajj with me!" - Bukhari and Muslim

The Sahabah to be jealous! Allaahu akbar!

The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 3layhi wasSalaam) said:
"Some people will come on the Day of Judgement and their Imaan will be outstanding, its light will shine from their chests and from their right hands. So it will be said to them, 'glad tidings for you today, asSalaamu 3laykum and goodness for you, enter into it (Jannah) forever!'
So the Angels and the Prophets will be jealous of the Love of Allah for them."
So the Sahabah asked, "Who are they, Ya Rasoolullah?"
He (sallAllaahu 3layhi wa sallam) replied,
"They are not from us and they are not from you.
You are my companions but they are my beloved.
They will come after you and will find the Book (the Qur'aan) made redundant by the people, and a Sunnah which has been killed by them.
So they will grab hold of the Book and the Sunnah and revive them.
So they read them and teach them (the Qur'aan and the Sunnah) to the people and they will experience in that path a punishment more severe and more ugly than what you (O Sahabah) have experienced.
Indeed the Imaan of one of them is equivalent to the Imaan of forty of you.
The Shaheed of one of them is equivalent to forty of your Shuhadaa'.
Because you found a helper towards the truth (the Prophet - sallAllaahu 3layhi wa sallam) and they will find no helper towards the truth.
So they will be surrounded by tyrant rulers in every place, and they will be in the surroundings of Bait-ul-Maqdis (Al-Quds, Masjid al-Aqsa).
The Nussrah (Help and Victory) of Allah will come to them, and they will have the honour of it on their hands."
Then he (sallAllaahu 3layhi wasSalaam) said, "O Allaah, give then the Nussrah and make them my close friends in Jannah." -Reported in Ahmad

Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari (RadhiAllaahu anh)

As the Muslims marched forward to the battle of Tabuk in order to fight the Romans, many weak souls remained behind. These consisted mainly of hypocrites who scoffed at the Prophet (sallAllahu 3layhi wasSalaam) and his Companions (RadhiAllaahu anh) for marching forth in the heat. During their march, the Muslims noticed that Abu Dharr (RA) was not among them, and so they said, “O Messenger of Allaah, Abu Dharr has remained behind; his riding camel has slowed him down.”

The Prophet (sallAllahu 3layhi wasSalaam) said: “Leave him, for if he has goodness in him, Allaah will make him catch up with you. And if he is otherwise, then Allaah has disburdened you of him.”

The Muslim army thus continued its march without pause; meanwhile, Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari (RadhiAllaahu anh) was trying to prod his riding camel to move faster, but his attempts in vain. And so he took his things, carried them on his back, and followed the tracks of the Prophet (sallAllahu 3layhi wasSalaam) and his Companions (RadhiAllaahu anh). When from a distance the Muslims saw the rising of dust, a sign that a man was approaching, they said,

“O Messenger of Allaah, this indeed is a man who is walking all by himself on the road.” The Prophet (sallAllahu 3layhi wasSalaam) said expectantly, “Be Abu Dharr!” When the man came nearer and the people were able to discern his features, they said, “By Allaah, he is Abu Dharr, O Messenger of Allaah.”

The Prophet (sallAllahu 3layhi wasSalaam) said: “May Allaah have mercy un Abu Dharr: he walks alone, he will die alone, and he will be resurrected alone.”

Al-Baihaqi in Dala'il 221, Ibn Asakir 70/157 and Ahmad 5/166

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Woman was made from the rib of man, She was not created from his head to top him, Nor form his feet to be stepped upon, She was made from his side to be close to him, From beneath his arm to be protected by him, Near his heart to be loved by him.
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Taking the plunge

The Importance, Instructions, and Wisdom of Salaatul Istikhaarah

Ever been faced with indecision? Not sure which way to go in life? The Companions mentioned that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam taught them to make “istikhaarah” (which is related to the word “khair”, which means “good” - so in essence you are seeking what is “good” for you) just like he taught them any other du’aa. They would seek Allah’s guidance on even the seemingly smallest issues in their lives. It is one of the most concrete ways of displaying your tawakkul, or trust, in Allah.

To make Salaatul Istikhaarah, all you do is make 2 non-obligatory (extra) prayers. Then afterwards, recite the following prayer:

Allaahumma innee astakhiruka bi’ilmika was astaqdiruka bi qudratika wa as’alu min fadhlikal ‘adheem. Fa inna taqdiru wa laa aqdiru, wa ta’lamu wa laa a’lamu wa anta ‘allaamul ghuyoob.

O Allah, truly I seek guidance from you due to Your knowledge and I seek Your decree due to Your power and I ask of Your great bounty. For You are able and I am powerless, and You are knowledgable and I do not know, and You are the knower of the Unseen.

See how Allah teaches us how to pray to Him! He knows us the best and what we need- and in teaching us these prayers, He shows us the reality of our situations. So we come and seek Allah’s guidance admitting that all the power and knowledge belong to Allah, that He holds everything good in His Hands, and that we do not know the future while He does.

Allaahumma in kunta ta’lamu anna haadhal amru (mention it here) khayrul-lee fee deeni wa ma’aashee wa ‘aaqibati amri, wa ‘aajilihi wa aajilihi, faqdurhu lee wa yassirhu lee, thumma baarik lee feeh.

O Allah, if You know that this affair (mention it here) is good for me in my religion, my life, my affairs, in the short term and in the long run, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it.

See how perfectly Allah teaches us to ask! We don’t just ask for what we “want”. We ask first for our religion (the most important thing) and for our lives (because we can and should live “good” lives) and affairs (we live in the world and want the best in this life and Hereafter), we ask not only for what’s best now but for later, when we don’t know if what we choose will end up good or not. We ask for it to come to us easily and smoothly and for us to be blessed in it.

Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna haadhal amru sharrul-lee fee deeni wa ma’aashee wa ‘aaqibati amri, wa ‘aajilihi wa aajilihi, fasrifhu ‘annee wasrifnee ‘anhu, thummaqdur leelkhayra haythu kaana thumma radh-dheeni bih.

And if You know this affair is bad for me in my religion, my life, my affairs, in the short term and in the long run, then turn it away from me and make me repulsed by it, then decree for me the good wherever it is, then content me with it.

As for the opposite, if it’s bad for us, we are taught by the Most Merciful to not only turn it away from (deny it to us) but that we ourselves should not even want it! Sometimes we want something so badly but it’s not good for us. So see how Allah soothes our hearts and wants good for us. We ask if this is not good for us, then even further to go ahead and grant the good thing- the alternative- to us from wherever and whatever it is, and to content us with it- since we might not think we want it although it is good for us. Could there be a more perfect du’aa, which encompasses every single aspect of what we need? Subhanallah!

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After you recite the prayer, you should consult with people (make an informed decision) and come to the best conclusion you are able to, and just do it. The key here is not how perfectly you pronounce the words, but that you utterly trust Allah in the final judgement. In other words, once you are set upon a course of action, you no longer worry about it. Think if you were worried about some ailment and you went to the doctor’s and he said, “This is not a problem, it’s normal, don’t worry about it” - you’d probably feel relieved and not think twice about it. The same feeling of relief (how much greater since we are not talking about a mere mortal but the Almighty) should accompany you if you really trust Allah with the final outcome of your decision. It’s in His Hands now.

Now, a lot of people have a lot of superstition and baseless practices when it comes to Salaatul Istikhaarah.

Myth: You can’t make up your mind before you make Istikhaarah, you have to be “neutral”.

Reality:

It’s OK if you have feelings or inclinations one way or the other, but of course you are open to changing them. Why are you asking Allah anyway if you are totally sure? The point is you have uncertainty and to settle it you are asking Allah to guide you to what is best.

Myth: Istikhaarah is a mystical experience, best done at night before sleep, and the answer will
come to you in a dream or sign.

Reality:

Istikhaarah is “miraculous” not due to any weird or unusual experiences, but the beauty of a believer trusting his/her Lord completely. I can tell you that EVERY SINGLE TIME I have made Istikhaarah “amazing” things happened- meaning the absolute best thing (even if it was unexpected or the opposite of what I wanted) happened. IT WORKS. Sometimes people do see dreams or experience something out of the ordinary or have a great story to tell, but if you just have “normal” experiences that is fine. Why else are we instructed to take “shura” (consultation with people) and make a decision (with our rational minds) and try to carry it out? It is a practical act in the end and Istikhaarah can (and should) be made at any time of the day or night- whenever you need it.

Myth: If I decided on something and I saw a small deterrent, it wasn’t meant to be. Or if things
weren’t “miraculously” beautiful and fast, it wasn’t meant to be.

Reality:

Sometimes people are “oversensitive” or try to read too much into normal events. Yes, it’s true that sometimes after Istikhaarah, things happen very quickly or smoothly or miraculously. But it’s not always like that. After making your decision, carry on as normal with confidence and assurance. You might still encounter the normal stumbling blocks of life, but that’s not a problem. Keep going. If it’s not meant for you, it just won’t happen.

A final word- trusting Allah is like jumping out of an airplane WITH NO PARACHUTE and KNOWING He will catch you. If you have doubts, it might not work. It might be scary, but you need to trust Allah completely. In an age where people are continually “stressed” and “worried”, it’s wonderful that Allah helps us with our burdens. Your utter trust and Allah’s helping you in your life- that’s the “miracle”. So take a deep breath ask for guidance, and take the plunge!

upon your death

Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, radhiallaahu `anhu, narrated that Abu-d-Dardaa’, radhiallaahu `anhu, once said: "If only you knew what you will certainly see upon your death, you would never again eat a single bite out of a craving appetite, and you would never again drink an extra sip of water for the pleasure of unquenchable and insatiable thirst. Hence, you will remain outdoor in perpetuity, bewildered and awaiting the unexpected, and you will never again seek comfort in a shelter or seek a shade. You will wander aimlessly and climb the hilltops of every mountain, you will look up towards the heavens and beseech your Lord for mercy, and you will beat on your chest and cry endlessly, and you will wish that you were a little vegetable - a plant which is protected to grow, and then plucked to be eaten by a hungry person passing along."

a glass of milk...

A GLASS OF MILK..

One day, a poor boy was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water.The young lady and thought he looked hungry; so she brought him a large glass of milk.He drank it slowly, and then asked,How much do I owe you. You don't owe me anything, she replied. " Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."He said.....Then I thank you from my heart."A little Umar left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God Almighty became stronger. He had been ready to give up and quit; but continued...Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the city; where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr.Umar Al Shaibi was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life within his capacity. From that day he gave special attention to the case.After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr.Umar requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all.Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill.She read these words......PAID IN FULL WITH ONE GLASS OF MILK" signed Dr. Umar Al Shaibi.Tears of Joy filled her eyes; as her happy heart prayed: Ya Allah , As Sami, Al Baseer, O Almighty, Most Merciful of those who show Mercy, that You spread Your Kindness and Mercy through Human Hearts and Minds."

Abu Hurairah(R.A.) reports that Rasulullah(sallAllaahu 3layhi wassallam) said, that whosoever gives in charity, even such a small thing as a date, Allah Ta'ala takes this charity, provided that it is from legitimate income; then Allah Ta'ala fosters this charity and increases it, even a date becomes equal to a mountain.Aqaba bin Amir(R.A.) reports that Rasulullah(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said that if there is nothing to give in charity ,say something good to the people and if this is also not possible ,do not cause injury or harm to anyone.It will amount to charity

Hal Turana Naltaqi--هل ترنا نلتقي

هل ترنا نلتقي
Hal Turana Naltaqi
nasheed-mp3
3rabi lyrics

Do you envision us meeting, or has it already,
Taken place in the land of the mirage;

Then it withdrew and its shadow vanished,
And turned into torturous memories;

Thus asks my heart whenever,
The days grow long, after your absence;

When your shadow stares, smiling,
It is as if I am listening to the response;

Did we not walk upon Truth together,
So that Good can return to barren land;

So we walked along a thorny path,
Abandoning all our ambitions;

We buried our desires deep within ourselves,
And we strove on in contentment, expecting reward from Allah;

We had made a pact to walk together,
And then you hurried in responding and departing;

When a Benevolent Lord called me,
To a life amidst gardens and vast lands;

And towards a sublime meeting amidst divine favours,
With the Soldiers of Allah, joyful in companionship;

Presenting their souls and lives, a sacrifice,
Responding without slightest doubts;

So to renew your heart from its slumber,
An ever-lasting meeting in such a land;

Oh traveler, Forgiveness from my complaints,
Unto me is your ghost, to him a patient reproach;

I abandoned my heart to bleed heavily,
Lost in the night, in the depths of fog;

And if I traverse, confused and alone,
I'll interrupt the path, long it is in depression;

And if in the night, I find a gloomy sea,
Encountering in it waves of pain;

Ceasing in my nights, is the radiance of lightening,
And the brightness of stars have disappeared;

Despite this, I shall continue just as,
You used to find me, in the face of adversity;

I shall continue keeping my head raised, And won't,
Consent to weakness in speech, nor reply;

I shall be guided by the sweet-scented blood,
And light has illuminated the horizons of escape;

Do you envision us meeting, or has it already,
Taken place in the land of the mirage;

Then it withdrew and its shadow vanished,
And turned into torturous memories;

Thus asks my heart whenever,
The days grow long, after your absence;

When your shadow stares, smiling,
It is as if I am listening to the response;

Muslim Inventions :D

How Islamic inventors changed the world

From coffee to cheques and the three-course meal, the Muslim world has given us many innovations that we take for granted in daily life. As a new exhibition opens, Paul Vallely nominates 20 of the most influential- and identifies the men of genius behind them

14 March 2006
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1 The story goes that an Arab named Khalid was tending his goats in the Kaffa region of southern Ethiopia, when he noticed his animals became livelier after eating a certain berry. He boiled the berries to make the first coffee. Certainly the first record of the drink is of beans exported from Ethiopia to Yemen where Sufis drank it to stay awake all night to pray on special occasions. By the late 15th century it had arrived in Mecca and Turkey from where it made its way to Venice in 1645. It was brought to England in 1650 by a Turk named Pasqua Rosee who opened the first coffee house in Lombard Street in the City of London. The Arabic qahwa became the Turkish kahve then the Italian caffé and then English coffee.

2 The ancient Greeks thought our eyes emitted rays, like a laser, which enabled us to see. The first person to realise that light enters the eye, rather than leaving it, was the 10th-century Muslim mathematician, astronomer and physicist Ibn al-Haitham. He invented the first pin-hole camera after noticing the way light came through a hole in window shutters. The smaller the hole, the better the picture, he worked out, and set up the first Camera Obscura (from the Arab word qamara for a dark or private room). He is also credited with being the first man to shift physics from a philosophical activity to an experimental one.

3 A form of chess was played in ancient India but the game was developed into the form we know it today in Persia. From there it spread westward to Europe - where it was introduced by the Moors in Spain in the 10th century - and eastward as far as Japan. The word rook comes from the Persian rukh, which means chariot.

4 A thousand years before the Wright brothers a Muslim poet, astronomer, musician and engineer named Abbas ibn Firnas made several attempts to construct a flying machine. In 852 he jumped from the minaret of the Grand Mosque in Cordoba using a loose cloak stiffened with wooden struts. He hoped to glide like a bird. He didn't. But the cloak slowed his fall, creating what is thought to be the first parachute, and leaving him with only minor injuries. In 875, aged 70, having perfected a machine of silk and eagles' feathers he tried again, jumping from a mountain. He flew to a significant height and stayed aloft for ten minutes but crashed on landing - concluding, correctly, that it was because he had not given his device a tail so it would stall on landing. Baghdad international airport and a crater on the Moon are named after him.

5 Washing and bathing are religious requirements for Muslims, which is perhaps why they perfected the recipe for soap which we still use today. The ancient Egyptians had soap of a kind, as did the Romans who used it more as a pomade. But it was the Arabs who combined vegetable oils with sodium hydroxide and aromatics such as thyme oil. One of the Crusaders' most striking characteristics, to Arab nostrils, was that they did not wash. Shampoo was introduced to England by a Muslim who opened Mahomed's Indian Vapour Baths on Brighton seafront in 1759 and was appointed Shampooing Surgeon to Kings George IV and William IV.

6 Distillation, the means of separating liquids through differences in their boiling points, was invented around the year 800 by Islam's foremost scientist, Jabir ibn Hayyan, who transformed alchemy into chemistry, inventing many of the basic processes and apparatus still in use today - liquefaction, crystallisation, distillation, purification, oxidisation, evaporation and filtration. As well as discovering sulphuric and nitric acid, he invented the alembic still, giving the world intense rosewater and other perfumes and alcoholic spirits (although drinking them is haram, or forbidden, in Islam). Ibn Hayyan emphasised systematic experimentation and was the founder of modern chemistry.

7 The crank-shaft is a device which translates rotary into linear motion and is central to much of the machinery in the modern world, not least the internal combustion engine. One of the most important mechanical inventions in the history of humankind, it was created by an ingenious Muslim engineer called al-Jazari to raise water for irrigation. His 1206 Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices shows he also invented or refined the use of valves and pistons, devised some of the first mechanical clocks driven by water and weights, and was the father of robotics. Among his 50 other inventions was the combination lock.

8 Quilting is a method of sewing or tying two layers of cloth with a layer of insulating material in between. It is not clear whether it was invented in the Muslim world or whether it was imported there from India or China. But it certainly came to the West via the Crusaders. They saw it used by Saracen warriors, who wore straw-filled quilted canvas shirts instead of armour. As well as a form of protection, it proved an effective guard against the chafing of the Crusaders' metal armour and was an effective form of insulation - so much so that it became a cottage industry back home in colder climates such as Britain and Holland.

9 The pointed arch so characteristic of Europe's Gothic cathedrals was an invention borrowed from Islamic architecture. It was much stronger than the rounded arch used by the Romans and Normans, thus allowing the building of bigger, higher, more complex and grander buildings. Other borrowings from Muslim genius included ribbed vaulting, rose windows and dome-building techniques. Europe's castles were also adapted to copy the Islamic world's - with arrow slits, battlements, a barbican and parapets. Square towers and keeps gave way to more easily defended round ones. Henry V's castle architect was a Muslim.

10 Many modern surgical instruments are of exactly the same design as those devised in the 10th century by a Muslim surgeon called al-Zahrawi. His scalpels, bone saws, forceps, fine scissors for eye surgery and many of the 200 instruments he devised are recognisable to a modern surgeon. It was he who discovered that catgut used for internal stitches dissolves away naturally (a discovery he made when his monkey ate his lute strings) and that it can be also used to make medicine capsules. In the 13th century, another Muslim medic named Ibn Nafis described the circulation of the blood, 300 years before William Harvey discovered it. Muslims doctors also invented anaesthetics of opium and alcohol mixes and developed hollow needles to suck cataracts from eyes in a technique still used today.

11 The windmill was invented in 634 for a Persian caliph and was used to grind corn and draw up water for irrigation. In the vast deserts of Arabia, when the seasonal streams ran dry, the only source of power was the wind which blew steadily from one direction for months. Mills had six or 12 sails covered in fabric or palm leaves. It was 500 years before the first windmill was seen in Europe.

12 The technique of inoculation was not invented by Jenner and Pasteur but was devised in the Muslim world and brought to Europe from Turkey by the wife of the English ambassador to Istanbul in 1724. Children in Turkey were vaccinated with cowpox to fight the deadly smallpox at least 50 years before the West discovered it.

13 The fountain pen was invented for the Sultan of Egypt in 953 after he demanded a pen which would not stain his hands or clothes. It held ink in a reservoir and, as with modern pens, fed ink to the nib by a combination of gravity and capillary action.

14 The system of numbering in use all round the world is probably Indian in origin but the style of the numerals is Arabic and first appears in print in the work of the Muslim mathematicians al-Khwarizmi and al-Kindi around 825. Algebra was named after al-Khwarizmi's book, Al-Jabr wa-al-Muqabilah, much of whose contents are still in use. The work of Muslim maths scholars was imported into Europe 300 years later by the Italian mathematician Fibonacci. Algorithms and much of the theory of trigonometry came from the Muslim world. And Al-Kindi's discovery of frequency analysis rendered all the codes of the ancient world soluble and created the basis of modern cryptology.

15 Ali ibn Nafi, known by his nickname of Ziryab (Blackbird) came from Iraq to Cordoba in the 9th century and brought with him the concept of the three-course meal - soup, followed by fish or meat, then fruit and nuts. He also introduced crystal glasses (which had been invented after experiments with rock crystal by Abbas ibn Firnas - see No 4).

16 Carpets were regarded as part of Paradise by medieval Muslims, thanks to their advanced weaving techniques, new tinctures from Islamic chemistry and highly developed sense of pattern and arabesque which were the basis of Islam's non-representational art. In contrast, Europe's floors were distinctly earthly, not to say earthy, until Arabian and Persian carpets were introduced. In England, as Erasmus recorded, floors were "covered in rushes, occasionally renewed, but so imperfectly that the bottom layer is left undisturbed, sometimes for 20 years, harbouring expectoration, vomiting, the leakage of dogs and men, ale droppings, scraps of fish, and other abominations not fit to be mentioned". Carpets, unsurprisingly, caught on quickly.

17 The modern cheque comes from the Arabic saqq, a written vow to pay for goods when they were delivered, to avoid money having to be transported across dangerous terrain. In the 9th century, a Muslim businessman could cash a cheque in China drawn on his bank in Baghdad.

18 By the 9th century, many Muslim scholars took it for granted that the Earth was a sphere. The proof, said astronomer Ibn Hazm, "is that the Sun is always vertical to a particular spot on Earth". It was 500 years before that realisation dawned on Galileo. The calculations of Muslim astronomers were so accurate that in the 9th century they reckoned the Earth's circumference to be 40,253.4km - less than 200km out. The scholar al-Idrisi took a globe depicting the world to the court of King Roger of Sicily in 1139.

19 Though the Chinese invented saltpetre gunpowder, and used it in their fireworks, it was the Arabs who worked out that it could be purified using potassium nitrate for military use. Muslim incendiary devices terrified the Crusaders. By the 15th century they had invented both a rocket, which they called a "self-moving and combusting egg", and a torpedo - a self-propelled pear-shaped bomb with a spear at the front which impaled itself in enemy ships and then blew up.

20 Medieval Europe had kitchen and herb gardens, but it was the Arabs who developed the idea of the garden as a place of beauty and meditation. The first royal pleasure gardens in Europe were opened in 11th-century Muslim Spain. Flowers which originated in Muslim gardens include the carnation and the tulip.

People Are of Various Types- Azzam

[From a khutbah by Abdullah Azzam entitled 'an-Nas Asnaf' (People Are of Various Types), given on September 26, 1986]

"And the labels fill your pockets. Every pocket is labelled with a characteristic or title; this pocket is filled with labels that say 'Disbeliever,' and everytime you see someone that you don't like, you hand him a label. Another pocket is filled with labels that say 'Innovator,' and a third pocket is filled the labels that say 'Poor,' and another says 'Ignorant,' etc. This way, you have given everyone a label from one of your labels...

There are families in Peshawar who cannot find enough Clorox bleach in the marketplaces, so, they send off to Islamabad to purchase this bleach, so that they can use it to clean their clothing and the clothing of their families. So, you are also in need of searching for bleach; you are in need of success in finding that which will clean your heart and purify your insides. If you are part of a particular Islamic group, then beware of assuming that all of the truth rests with that group, and that all falsehood rests with everyone else, as some of the earlier zealous people said: "All of our statements are correct, with a possibility of a mistake, while all the statements of others are mistaken, with a possibility of being correct." This is the destructive type of allegiance! How many groups have been torn apart, and how many people who were close to each other became divided because of such a mindset?!

Pay attention to your heart, beware of raising yourself above others, and beware of belittling others. How many of these people have given for the sake of this Religion - but have kept it secret between them and the Lord of the Worlds - from he whose statement is belittled and his appearance mocked, and he might even have given more for this Religion than an Earthful of people like you ever would? So, pay attention to yourself, and may Allah have Mercy on a man who knows his limits and stays inside those limits. The virtuous people are those who acknowledge the virtue of the people of virtue, especially the scholars, and especially those who are old in age, and especially the parents...

So, my brother, it is enough for your good deeds to be annulled that you look to your actions as if they are great, as Allah Said:

{"Woe to al-Mutaffifin! Those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, demand full measure, and when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than their due."} [al-Mutaffifin; 1-3]

So, if he mentions himself, he only mentions his good deeds, and if he mentions the others, he only mentions their mistakes, as the Prophet said: "One of you sees a small speck of dirt in the eye of his brother, but fails to see the large piece of dirt in his own eye." ['at-Targhib wat-Tarhib'; 3/236]...

Just because you are part of a particular group doesn't mean that you are better than the people. Just because you read a particular book doesn't mean that you are better than the people. There is some good with the Ikhwan, and there is some good with the Tabligh, and there is some good with the Salafiyyah; every one of them has a portion of the good, so, try - if you are able - to collect all of the good from these groups. They used to study from a large group of the scholars, so, his Hadith instructor is different from his Tafsir instructor , and his instructor in spiritual nurturing is different from his Arabic language instructor. Take from the Tabligh their manners...and imagine if we were to follow their path in respecting the people, and their manners with the scholars... The Tabligh have very good speech, as they convey what they say and work magic on the hearts with their manners, and cause any envy one might have against them to vanish. Take from the Ikhwan their historical movements and revolutionary ideas, and take from the Salafiyyah their beliefs. Collect within yourself all that is good, become a student, and do not restrict the truth to your own shaykh... Take from this person, and take from that person; respect the people, and give them the credit they are due, and put them in their proper categories..."

- Sheikh Abdullah Azzam

Paving the Way: Syed Qutb :D

Paving the Way
Ustadh Sheikh Syed Qutb as-Shaheed (Rahimahullah)

Before a Muslim steps into the battlefield, he has already fought a great battle within himself against Satan- against his own desires and ambitions, his personal interests and inclinations, the interests of his own family and of his nation; against anything which is not from Islaam; against every obstacle which comes into the way of worshipping Allah and the implementation of the Divine authority on earth, returning this authority to Allah and taking it away from the rebellious usurpers.

Those who say that Islamic Jihaad was merely for the defence of the 'home land of Islaam' diminish the greatness of the Islaamic way of life and consider it less important than their 'homeland'. This is not the Islamic point of view, and their view is a creation of modern age and is completely alien to Islaamic consciousness. What is acceptable to Islaamic consciousness is its belief, the way of life which this belief prescribes, and the society which lives according to this way of life. The soil of the homeland has, in itself, no value or weight. From the Islaamic point of view, the only value which the soil can achieve is because on that soil Allah's authority is established and Allah's guidance is followed; and thus it becomes a fortress for the belief, a place for its way of life to be entitled the 'homeland of Islaam', a centre for the movement for the total freedom of man.

Ofcourse, in that case the defence of the 'homeland of Islaam' is the defence of the Islaamic beliefs, the Islaamic way of life, and the Islaamic community. However, it's defence is not the ultimate objective of the Islamic movement of Jihaad but it is a mean of establishing the Divine authority within it so that it becomes the headquarters for the movement of Islaam, which is then to be carried throughout the earth to the whole of mankind, as the object of this religion is all humanity and its sphere of action is the whole earth.

As we have described earlier, there are many practical obstacles in the establishing Allah's rule on earth, such as the power of state, the social system and traditions and, in general, the whole human environment. Islaam uses force only to remove these obstacles so that there may not remain any wall between Islaam and individual human beings, and so that it may address their hearts and minds after releasing them from these material obstacles and then leave them free to choose to accept or reject it.

We ought not to be deceived or embarrassed by the attacks of the orientalists on the origin of Jihaad, nor lose self-confidence under the pressure of present conditions and the weight of the great powers of the world to such an extent that we try to find reasons for Islaamic Jihad outside the nature of this religion, and try to show that it was a defensive measure under temporary conditions. The need for Jihaad remains, and will continue to remain, whether these conditions exist or not!

frend*

Ibrahim felt hurt inside, but without anything to say, he wrote in the sand: "Today, my best friend slapped me in the face."

They kept on walking, until eventually they came across an oasis, where they decided to stop and bathe. Ibrahim jumped in and began to wash, while Ismail sat back and relaxed. Suddenly Ibrahim began to scream and shout, he had developed a cramp and was having difficulty keeping his head above water, he was drowning.

Ismail dived in after him, and brought him gently to shore. When Ibrahim recovered from the shock, he scratched a message on a nearby stone:
"Today, my best friend saved my life"

Ismail who had saved and slapped his best friend Ibrahim, asked him, "Why, after I hurt you, you wrote in the sand, and now you write on a stone?"

Ibrahim, smiled and replied:
"When a friend hurts us, we should write his deeds in the sand, where the winds of forgiveness can blow it away, and when a friend does something good, we should engrave it in stone, where it shall remain for eternity."

"Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the ignorant (i.e. don't punish them). If a suggestion from Satan assails your mind, seek refuge with Allah; for He heareth and knoweth (all things)" [Surah al-A'raf 7:199-200]

silence is golden

asSalaamu 3laykum wa ra7matuAllaahi wa barakaatuh,

silence is golden and as the well known saying goes " khairul kalaam ma qaala wa daal" (the best of speech that which is short and leads to meaning)

idle talk it is wut usually gets most of us in trouble, and beyond that it will gradually harden your heart and become a distasteful habit, and unfortunately, habits do die hard. be wise and guard ur tounge..use it to bring joy to ur family, ur neighbors, and ur brothers and sisters...use it proudly to spread the message of Islaam and to elevate the cause. dont let it misguide u, overwhelm u and later haunt u...

"May your mother be berieved of you, 0 Mu3aadh ! Is there anything which topples people on their faces - or he said : On their noses - Into Hell-Fire other than the harvests of their tongues"
[Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi]

take the initiative today! and think carefully before you speak and before everything, ask Allaah for help, before u know it, you'll be bringing smiles to people's faces if not already! :)
wasSalaamu 3laykum wa ra7matuAllaah

ISLAAM CRACKS THE CODE!! yeh thats right!!

ISLAAM CRACKS THE CODE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(click)

eat

asSalaamu 3laykum wa ra7matuAllaahi wa barakaatuh

i would like to eat the following insha'Allaah....

the hot dog

the diva sleep over cake

JELL-O dive on in cake


the giddy up horse cake

for more information go to : http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf
wasSalaamu 3laykum wa ra7matuAllaah