Saturday, April 9, 2011

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born on Rabiul Awwal 12 of the Hijrah calendar.

His birth, on a Monday, came 570 years after that of the Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). The Prophet was born in the city of Makkah to Abdullah, the son of Abdul Muttalib, the venerable sheikh of the Quraish, the ruling clan of Makkah.

The Prophet Muhammad, called Al-Ameen (The Trustworthy) even by his enemies, was the last of the prophets sent by Allah. There is no other prophet on whose life so much light has been shed. Born after the age of myth, living in the full glare of history, his sayings and actions were documented as no other prophet's were. Recorded in minute detail, their authenticity has been questioned by no fair scholar.

The Prophet's life is a shining example for all to follow. He was the kindest of persons — a sense of compassion that was directed at Muslims and non-Muslims alike. His care for those around him and even for those who caused him harm provides shining examples of true nobility. His love for orphans was deep, and the kindness that he exhibited to the needy, the humble and the poor knew no bounds.

It is extremely difficult for the Muslims of today to imagine and much less to endure the hardships that the Prophet and his companions underwent. In the ninth year of his mission, the Prophet — having been persecuted and terrorized by his people in Makkah — headed for Taif, home to the Banu Thaqif tribe. There he went to preach his message but was treated rudely by the tribal elders, who told him to clear off and even sent street urchins after him to beat him and pelt him with stones. He bled profusely causing his entire body to be covered with blood and his sandals to become clogged to his feet.

He headed away from the town and took respite near a rock and made a heart-rending invocation to God Almighty beseeching mercy for the people who had persecuted him a few moments earlier.

It is said that the heavens were moved by the Prophet's prayer and the Archangel Gabriel came and said that God Almighty is aware of what has passed and that he has deputed an angel in charge of the mountains. The angel in charge of the mountains then came forward and offered to bring the mountains overlooking Taif to collide with each other to destroy the inhabitants. However, being a mountain of mercy himself and the mercy of the worlds, the Prophet refused. Note the conduct of our noble Prophet. Irritated by a little trouble or abuse from someone, we spend years scheming and devising ways to take revenge. How far removed are the Muslims of today from the Prophet who they consider their exemplar.

In spite of suffering so much at the hands of the Taif mob, the Prophet did not curse or seek revenge, even when the opportunity arose. Instead, he pleaded for mercy.

When there was a stop in a Makkan woman who would repeatedly throw garbage on him as he walked in the streets, the Prophet — being an icon of compassion — asked people about her and even humbly visited her after hearing she had fallen ill.

Over 14 centuries have gone by since he, the Last of the Messengers, left us, but his message — one that was earmarked by mercy for the entire creation — lives on. His examples live on to lead us from darkness to light. His life was one of mercy, compassion, care, consideration, kindness and tolerance for all. His sayings, known as Hadiths, bear testimony to this. One particular theme found in his sayings relate to the rights of women. It is without a doubt that Islam afforded women an honorable and respected position. However, it is sad to see people, many Muslims included, ignorant of this.

On one occasion, he said, "Fear Allah in respect of women." He also said, "The best of you are they who behave best to their wives."
In another he said, "A Muslim must not hate his wife, and if he be displeased with one bad quality in her, let him be pleased with one that is good."

In one more Hadith, he said, "The more civil and kind a Muslim is to his wife, the more perfect in faith he is."

It is no wonder then that the Prophet Muhammad's employer was none other than a woman, Sayyidatuna Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her).

So impressed was she by his kindness, compassion, manners and trustworthiness that they married, a model marriage that is often cited by scholars as a perfect example for Muslims to follow.

Unlike those jihadists who preach hatred and dislike for non-Muslims and even to those Muslims who don't subscribe to their views, the Prophet's own behavior stands contrary to the way they call to.

Let them take heed to the fact that it was the Prophet who accepted Safiyyah and Mariya in his home as his wives — one being of Jewish and the second being of Christian heritage.

In an attitude that was revolutionary at that time, the Prophet taught his companions to remain in their mothers' service, saying that Paradise lies beneath their feet.

Today, as we stumble through a confused and turbulent world, as we grope in darkness and as we suffer from uncertainty and depression, we must look for — and grasp at — the teachings of the Holy Prophet so that they will act as a cure for many of the social ills that have befallen our world.

The world faces a host of seemingly insoluble problems. In the West, people speak of depression and decay in society. In the East, industrial and technological progress has created a vacuum in society. Many people are floundering in darkness. They cling to values that have nothing to do with life. They join cults. For role models they look to unworthy individuals who are moral vacuums.

For us the perfect role model is the Last Messenger of God. His life, his dealings with young and old and both friend and foe are an inspiration to all of us.

Let us teach ourselves and our children about the life of the Holy Prophet and use it in our daily lives so that we may improve our conduct and become better human beings.

Let us be more tolerant, more forgiving and show compassion to all our brothers and sisters in humanity, irrespective of their race or religion.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Islamic money management:is there a limit on how much you can keep?


Can a person be insanely rich and a good Muslim at the same time? The Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) didn't think so.

Ali bin Abi Talib (ra) says: "4,000 dinars is necessary for life. Anything above this is hoarded goods."* By 'hoarded goods' he meant the term mentioned in the following verse:

وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنْفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُمْ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

"Announce painful torment to those who hoard gold and silver and do not spend them for God's sake." [Holy Quran, 9:34]

We can use Salman Al-Farsi's (ra) way of life to translate the 4,000 dinars into today's currency. Salman was a close friend of Ali and they shared similar religious views. He used to store in his house enough provisions to last his family a year. He would give away everything else he made.*

It is your right to have a comfortable life. And saving money is allowed in Islam. But there is a limit as Ali bin Abi Talib said.

If you have everything you need, and your budget for a year is $20,000, you can keep the 20,000. But anything above this will go into the category of 'hoarded goods'. You should give it away, or start a charity organization with it.

*As mentioned in Wi3adh As-Salateen (وعاظ السلاطين) by Dr. Ali Al-Wardi.

***

The beautiful allah's creation : Australia's morning glory

Some of these clouds can be as long as 1000 kilometers.

Quran statment

                                                      

 Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta'aalaa) states in the Glorious Qur'aan:
وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلاً يَا وَيْلَتَى لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَاناً خَلِيلاً لَقَدْ                             أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ الذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَاءنِي وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِلْإِنسَانِ خَذُولاً

"And (remember) the Day when the wrong-doer will bite on his hands, saying: "Oh! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger. Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so as a friend! He indeed led me astray from the Reminder [the Qur'aan] after it had come to me. And satan is ever a deserter to man in the hour of need."(1)

Keeping righteous practicing Muslim friends is essential for maintaining a healthy spiritual environment in our daily life. Friends affect our Eemaan level. If they are righteous, they will inspire us to increase our knowledge and Eemaan. Conversely, an effective way to downgrade our Eemaan is keeping friends who smoke, drink alcohol, or never go near religion (maybe except when making a religious 'joke').

"It doesn't matter if my friends drink alcohol. That is not going to affect me," some might say. But first, these Muslims are sharing in their friends' evil by simply "tolerating" their drinking habit. And second, their unique power of staying clean of alcohol while their friends drink can only hold weight in their heads. In weeks, or months, they will get used to the behavior of their friends. They will start considering it normal, maybe even cool. And when that happens, during a moment of depression or excitement, they will be pushed into drinking by the encouragement of their great friends.

The Prophet (salla Allaahu 'alayhy wa sallam) best described the similitude of the good and bad companions when he said:

مَثَلُ الْجَلِيسِ الصَّالِحِ وَالْجَلِيسِ السَّوْءِ كَمَثَلِ صَاحِبِ الْمِسْكِ وَكِيرِ الْحَدَّادِ لَا يَعْدَمُكَ مِنْ صَاحِبِ الْمِسْكِ إِمَّا تَشْتَرِيهِ أَوْ تَجِدُ رِيحَهُ وَكِيرُ الْحَدَّادِ يُحْرِقُ بَدَنَكَ أَوْ ثَوْبَكَ أَوْ تَجِدُ مِنْهُ رِيحًا خَبِيثَةً
"The example of a good companion and a bad companion is that of the bearer of Musk and the worker on the bellows. The bearer of Musk would give you some of the perfume, you either buy it or you smell its fragrance. The worker on the bellows, on the other hand, either burns your body or your clothes, or you smell a bad odor from him."(2)

Look at your friends; are they bearers of Musk or workers on the bellows?
***
(1) Surah al-Furqaan, 27-29
(2) Reported by al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh (1959 and 5108) and Muslim in his Saheeh (4762)

Best Desktop wallpaper (islamic)















Quran statment






Translation of the verse:
186.
"Whenever My servants ask you about Me,
[it means] I am Near.
I answer the appeal of the prayerful one
whenever he appeals to Me.
Let them respond to Me,
and believe in Me
so they may be directed!" [Holy Quran, 2:186]

Arabic Numerals

Arabic numbers

The English translation of holy quran


Download link [Ebook - .mobi - 856 Kilobytes]

The file linked above is Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan and Dr. Muhammad Taqiyuddeen al-Hilali's translation of the Quran, the Noble Quran, for the Kindle.

It has a working table of contents which helps greatly with browsing chapters.

Thanks to Abdullah Hashim of SayfSolutions.com for providing the file.

This file should also work on any device supported by the Mobipocket reader or one of the Kindle applications.

Forgiveness and repentance

How often is our patience tested through daily trials? How often do we lose sight of our goal as Muslims? How often do we forgive those who hurt us?

I have been pondering upon the importance of repentance and forgiveness. We are all weak humans, when we give into the whispers of shaytan sadness takes over our souls. If such feelings are persistent, then one has not repented to Allah (swt), for Allah (swt) never turns away a repentant slave, He is Most-Forgiving.

وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرِ ٱللَّهَ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورً۬ا رَّحِيمً۬ا
But seek the forgiveness of Allah; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
سُوۡرَةُ النِّسَاء: 106

I recall getting very frustrated with some family members, the worries of life had its toll on me. My father saw that I was suffering deep inside. He sat me down and asked me why I could not let my worries go and forgive the individual who had hurt me very much, I replied "I can't forgive her, dad". My father then said something to me that has never left my mind to this day, he said:
if Allah (swt) forgives all our hideous sins, then who are we not to forgive one another?
It is of utmost importance for us to remember that no matter how hurt we feel, no matter what an individual has done to us, we must put our trust and reliance in Allah (swt), Is he not the Most-Forgiving?

For every sin we have committed, repentance and reliance on Allah alone is the key to a happy heart, a happy heart is consistently in the remembrance of Allah (swt).

Live every minute as if it is your last, seek forgiveness from Allah (swt).


Narrated Mujahid:
Abdullah bin 'Umar said, "Allah's Apostle took hold of my shoulder and said, 'Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.'" The sub-narrator added: Ibn 'Umar used to say, "If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death."
(Bukhari :: Book 8 :: Volume 76 :: Hadith 425)

HOLY QURAN statments


وَيُضِلُّ اللَّهُ الظَّالِمِينَ
And Allah misguides those who knowingly do evil. [Quran, 14:27]

This was somewhat of a surprise to me. Doesn't Allah always push humans toward what's good, right, and just? Apparently not.

To understand this verse better, let's look at what comes before it:
يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآَخِرَةِ
God will make the believers firm (on their beliefs) in this life and the next by the help of God's enduring words. [Quran, 14:27]

In other words, depending on a person's choices, God may either choose to guide the person toward a better future, or toward a worse future.

God reserves the right to be a bad influence on people who God deems deserving of it.

THE HOLY QURAN








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