Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Human Rights in Islam

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful





Since God is the absolute and the sole master of men and the universe, He is the sovereign Lord, the sustainer and Nourisher, the Merciful, Whose mercy enshrines all beings; and since He has given each man human dignity and honour, and breathed into him of His own spirit, it follows that, united in Him and through Him, and apart from their other human attributes, men are substantially the same and no tangible and actual distinction can be made among them, on account of their accidental differences such as nationality, colour or race.

Every human-being is thereby related to all others and all become one community of brotherhood in their honourable and pleasant servitude to the most compassionate Lord of the Universe. In such a heavenly atmosphere the Islamic confession of the oneness of God stands dominant and central, and necessarily entails the concept of the oneness of humanity and the brotherhood of mankind.

Although an Islamic state may be set up in any part of the earth, Islam does not seek to restrict human rights or privileges to the geographical limits of its own state. Islam has laid down some universal fundamental rights for humanity as a whole, which are to be observed and respected under all circumstances whether such a person is resident within the territory of the Islamic state or outside it, whether he is at peace with the state or at war.

The Qur'an very clearly states: { O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not there be hatred of others to make you swerve to wrong and depart from Justice. Be just: that is next to Piety: and Fear Allah. For Allah is well -aquainted with all that you do } (Quran 5:80)

Human blood is sacred in any case and cannot be spilled without justification. And if anyone violates this sanctity of human blood by killing a soul without justification, the Qur'an equates it to the killing of entire mankind: { ..... Whoso slays a soul not to retaliate for a soul slain, nor for corruption done in the land, should be as if he had slain mankind altogether }

It is not permissible to oppress women, children, old people, the sick or the wounded. Women's honour and chastity are to be respected under all circumstances. The hungry person must be fed, the naked clothed and the wounded or diseased treated medically irrespective of whether they belong to the Islamic community or are from amongst its enemies.

When we speak of human rights in Islam we really mean that these rights have been granted by God; they have not been granted by any king or by any legislative assembly. The rights granted by the kings or the legislative assemblies, can also be withdrawn in the same manner in which they are conferred. The same is the case with the rights accepted and recognised by the dictators. They can confer them when they please and withdraw them when they wish; and they can openly violate them when they like. But since in Islam human rights have been conferred by God, no legislative assembly in the world or any government on earth has the right or authority to make any amendment or change in the rights conferred by God. No one has the right to abrogate them or withdraw them. Nor are they basic human rights which are conferred on paper for the sake of show and exhibition and denied in actual life when the show is over. Nor are they like philosophical concepts which have no sanctions behind them.

The charter and the proclamations and the resolutions of the United Nations cannot be compared with the rights sanctioned by God; because the former is not applicable on anybody while the latter is applicable on every believer. They are a part and parcel of the Islamic Faith. Every Muslim or administrator who claim themselves to be Muslims, will have to accept, recognise and enforce them. If they fail to enforce them, and start denying the rights that have been guaranteed by God or make amendments and changes in them, or practically violate them while paying lip service to them, the verdict of the Holy Qur'an for such government is clear and unequivocal: { Those who do not judge by what God has sent down are the disbelievers } (5:44).

Human Rights in an Islamic State :

  • 1. The Security of Life and Property: In the address which the Prophet delivered on the occasion of the Farewell Hajj, he said: "Your lives and properties are forbidden to one another till you meet your Lord on the Day of Resurrection". The Prophet has also said about the dhimmis (the non-Muslim citizens of the Muslim state): "One who kills a man under covenant (i.e., Dhimmi) will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise".

  • 2. The Protection of Honour: The Holy Qur'an lays down-
    1) {You who believe, do not let one (set of) people make fun of another set}
    2) {Do not defame one another}
    3) {Do not insult by using nickname}
    4) {Do not backbite or speak ill of one another}

  • 3. Sanctity and Security of Private Life: The Qur'an has laid down the injunction-
    1) {Do not spy on one another}
    2) {Do not enter any houses unless you are sure of their occupant's consent}

  • 4. The Security of Personal Freedom: Islam has laid down the principle that no citizen can be imprisoned unless his guilt has been proved in an open court. To arrest a man only on the basis of suspicion and to throw him into a prison without proper court proceedings and without providing him a reasonable opportunity to produce his defence is not permissible in Islam.

  • 5. The Right to Protest Against Tyranny: Amongst the rights that Islam has conferred on human beings is the right to protest against government's tyranny. Referring to it the Qur'an says. "God does not love evil talk in public unless it is by some one who has been injured thereby". In Islam, as has been argued earlier, all power and authority belongs to God, and with man there is only delegated power which becomes a trust; everyone who becomes a recipient or a donee of such a power has to stand in awful reverence before his people towards whom and for whose sake he will be called upon to use these powers. This was acknowledged by Abu Bakr who said in his very first address: "Cooperate with me when I am right but correct me when I commit error; obey me so long as I follow the commandments of Allah and His prophet; but turn away from me when I deviate".

  • 6. Freedom of Expression: Islam gives the right of freedom of thought and expression to all citizens of the Islamic state on the condition that it should be used for the propagation of virtue and truth and not for spreading evil and wickedness.
    The Islamic concept of freedom of expression is much superior to the concept prevalent in the West. Under no circumstances would Islam allow evil and wickedness to be propagated. It also does not give anybody the right to use abusive or offensive language in the name of criticism. It was the practice of the Muslims to enquire from the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) whether on a certain matter a divine injunction had been revealed to him. If he said that he had received no divine injunction, the Muslims freely expressed their opinion on the matter.

  • 7. Freedom of Association: Islam has also given people the right to freedom of association and formation of parties or organisations. This right is also subject to certain general rules.

  • 8. Freedom of Conscience and Conviction: Islam has laid down the injunction: There should be no coercion in the matter of faith.
    On the contrary totalitarian societies totally deprive the individuals of their freedom. Indeed this undue exaltation of the state authority curiously enough postulates a sort of servitude, of slavishness on the part of man. At one time slavery meant total control of man over man - now that type of slavery has been legally abolished but in its place totalitarian societies impose a similar sort of control over individuals.

  • 9. Protection of Religious Sentiments: Along with freedom of conviction and freedom of conscience Islam has given the right to the individual that his religious sentiments will be given due respect and nothing will be said or done which may encroach upon his right.

  • 10. Protection from Arbitrary Imprisonment: Islam also recognises the right of the individual that he will not be arrested or imprisoned for the offences of others. The Holy Qur'an has laid down this principle clearly: {No bearer of burdens shall be made to bear the burden of another}

  • 11. The Right to Basic Necessities of Life: Islam has recognised the right of the needy people that help and assistance will be provided to them: And in their wealth there is acknowledged right for the needy and the destitute.

  • 12. Equality Before Law: Islam gives its citizens the right to absolute and complete equality in the eyes of the law.
  • 13. Rulers Not Above the Law: A woman belonging to a high and noble family was arrested in connection with theft. The case was brought to the Prophet, and it was recommended that she might be spared the punishment of theft. The Prophet replied, "The nations that lived before you were destroyed by God because they punished the common-man for their offences and let their dignitaries go unpunished
    for their crimes; I swear by Him Who holds my life in His hand that even if Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad, had committed this crime, I would have amputated her
    hand".

  • 14. The Right to Participate in the Affairs of State: {And their business is (conducted) through consultation among themselves} (42:38).
    The shura or the legislative assembly has no other meaning except that: The executive head of the government and the members of the assembly should be elected by free and independent choice of the people.

Lastly, it is to be made clear that Islam tries to achieve the above-mentioned human rights and many others not only by providing certain legal safeguards but mainly by inviting mankind to transcend the lower level of animal life to be able to go beyond the mere ties fostered by the kinship of blood, racial superiority, linguistic arrogance, and economic privileges. It invites mankind to move on to a plane of existence where, by reason of his inner excellence, man can realise the ideal of the Brotherhood of man.

http://english.islamway.com/bindex.php?section=article&id=127

5 ghaneema



PROPHET MUHAMMAD (pbuh) IN THE BIBLE

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful




by Dr. Zakir Naik
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the Old Testament:


The Qur’an mentions in Surah Al-Araf chapter 7 verse 157:

"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures) in the law and the Gospel".


1.

MUHAMMAD (PBUH) PROPHESISED IN THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY:


Almighty God speaks to Moses in Book of Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 18:

"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and I will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."

The Christians say that this prophecy refers to Jesus (pbuh) because Jesus (pbuh) was like Moses (pbuh). Moses (pbuh) was a Jew, as well as Jesus (pbuh) was a Jew. Moses (pbuh) was a Prophet and Jesus (pbuh) was also a Prophet.

If these two are the only criteria for this prophecy to be fulfilled, then all the Prophets of the Bible who came after
Moses (pbuh) such as Solomon, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Malachi, John the Baptist, etc. (pbut) will
fulfill this prophecy since all were Jews as well as prophets.

However, it is Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who is like Moses (pbuh):


i)


Both had a father and a mother, while Jesus (pbuh) was born miraculously without any male intervention.

[Mathew 1:18 and Luke 1:35 and also Al-Qur'an 3:42-47]


ii)

Both were married and had children. Jesus (pbuh) according to the Bible did not marry nor had children.

iii)

Both died natural deaths. Jesus (pbuh) has been raised up alive. (4:157-158)


Muhammad (pbuh) is from among the brethren of Moses (pbuh). Arabs are brethren of Jews. Abraham (pbuh) had two sons: Ishmail and Isaac (pbut). The Arabs are the descendants of Ishmail (pbuh) and the Jews are the descendants of Isaac (pbuh).

Words in the mouth:

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was unlettered and whatever revelations he received from Almighty God he repeated them verbatim.

"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."

[Deuteronomy 18:18]


iv)

Both besides being Prophets were also kings i.e. they could inflict capital punishment. Jesus (pbuh) said, "My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36).

v)

Both were accepted as Prophets by their people in their lifetime but Jesus (pbuh) was rejected by his
people. John chapter 1 verse 11 states, "He came unto his own, but his own received him not."

iv)

Both brought new laws and new regulations for their people. Jesus (pbuh) according to the Bible did not bring any new laws. (Mathew 5:17-18)
.

2.

It is Mentioned in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 18:19


"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not harken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him."


3.

Muhammad (pbuh) is prophesised in the book of Isaiah:


It is mentioned in the book of Isaiah chapter 29 verse 12:

"And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned."

When Archangel Gabrail commanded Muhammad (pbuh) by saying Iqra - "Read", he replied, "I am not learned".


4.

prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mentioned by name in the old testament:


Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned by name in the Song of Solomon chapter 5 verse 16:

"Hikko Mamittakim we kullo Muhammadim Zehdoodeh wa Zehraee Bayna Jerusalem."

"His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters
of Jerusalem."

In the Hebrew language im is added for respect. Similarely im is added after the name of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) to make it Muhammadim. In English translation they have even translated the name of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as "altogether lovely", but in the Old Testament in Hebrew, the name of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is yet present.


Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the New Testament:

Al-Qur'an Chapter 61 Verse 6:

"And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said, 'O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me and giving glad tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed.' But when he came to them with clear signs, they said, 'This is evident sorcery!' "

All the prophecies mentioned in the Old Testament regarding Muhammad (pbuh) besides applying to the Jews also hold good for the Christians.


1.

John chapter 14 verse 16:

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever."

2.

Gospel of John chapter 15 verse 26:


"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which
proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."

3.

Gospel of John chapter 16 verse 7:


"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not
come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you".

"Ahmed" or "Muhammad" meaning "the one who praises" or "the praised one" is almost the translation of the
Greek word Periclytos. In the Gospel of John 14:16, 15:26, and 16:7. The word 'Comforter' is used in the English translation for the Greek word Paracletos which means advocate or a kind friend rather than a comforter.
Paracletos
is the warped reading for Periclytos. Jesus (pbuh) actually prophesised Ahmed by name. Even the
Greek word Paraclete refers to the Prophet (pbuh) who is a mercy for all creatures.

Some Christians say that the Comforter mentioned in these prophecies refers to the Holy Sprit. They fail to realise
that the prophecy clearly says that only if Jesus (pbuh) departs will the Comforter come. The Bible states that the
Holy Spirit was already present on earth before and during the time of Jesus (pbuh), in the womb of Elizabeth, and again when Jesus (pbuh) was being baptised, etc. Hence this prophecy refers to none other than Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh).


4.

Gospel of John chapter 16 verse 12-14:


"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is
come, he will guide you unto all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me".

The Sprit of Truth, spoken about in this prophecy referes to none other than Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

NOTE: All quotations of the Bible are taken from the King James Version.

http://www.irf.net/irf/comparativereligion/index.htm

Monday, June 25, 2007

Khalid Yasin - The Purpose of Life

What Is The Purpose of Life? Why are we here and where are we going? Through the verses of the Holy Qur’an, Shaykh Khalid Yasin expounds upon the creation of the universe and this amazing world we live in - and how it came to be. With his logical style of argument, the Shaykh answers these questions with much wisdom.

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CD 1



CD 2

From the Shadows

From the Shadows : Exposing the New World Order


Join Halaqah Media's production "From the Shadows" on an audio adventure unlike any other, enhanced with brilliant effects mastered digitally in Dolby Surround. Experience a gripping and compelling adventure through the realms of time. Explore the cloaked hand that has been responsible for some of history's most important turning points. The same hand that now controls every medium, exploiting it for their sole ambition of total global domination with a one World government. Be there when we uncover the gripping truth surrounding Masonry, past and present that is exposed in this exclusive insight never before revealed.

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Shadows 2 : Money


Some say money is the root of all evil: a tool used by the wicked and the greedy to manipulate and control.Others see it as the key to all life’s puzzles. But whatever you believe one thing is for sure it affects everyone of us.

Halaqah Media explores the dark history of money and how it has influenced the world we live in.

You will never see money the same again!

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Shadows 3: Covert Operations (The CIA Exposed)


Enhanced CD. Digitally recorded and reproduced - DDD. "Man, independent of time, independent of place, independent of religion seems to be inherently blood thirsty with an enthusiastic restlessness for war. In the dawn of a new century, it seems our ability to change is forever escaping us; ultimately, wars will always know sequels."

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Allah

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ

He is Allah, than Whom there is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen (open). He is the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ

الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

He is Allah than Whom there is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him.

هُوَ اللَّهُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِئُ الْمُصَوِّرُ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاء الْحُسْنَى يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَا فِي

السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names . All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

Al-Hashr 22-24

Sheikh Feiz - The Forbidden Gaze

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful


What exactly is the forbidden gaze? What is permitted in regards to looking, interacting and speaking with the opposite sex? In society today there is much confusion clouting this topic, and many are heedless to the affects and consequences of these acts, adopting a very western secular position to what is actually disallowed in Islam. In this series Sheikh Feiz explores and clarifies what is allowed pertaining to the interaction of men and women and what is disallowed.

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Intermixing Between the Sexes

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful


All perfect praise is due to Allaah; I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger; may Allaah exalt his mention, as well as that of his family and all his companions.

Intermixing between the sexes, in the specific sense, applies to when marriageable men and women sit together, it may or may not include them looking at each other and conversing. What is the Islaamic ruling regarding such intermixing?

Is intermixing, as defined above, prohibited or permissible? In order to answer this question, let us ask the following question: Is intermixing between a woman and a man the same as that between a man and another man?

The answer is certainly no; nobody ever said that the two are the same, as intermixing between men is permissible, in principle, while it is prohibited, in principle, between people of the opposite sex.

The following are real life stories of incidents that resulted from this prohibited intermixing:

· A woman began to develop feelings for her husband’s friend and started hating her husband, which eventually led her to divorcing him.

· A man began telephoning his friend's wife in an attempt to convince her to have an illicit sexual relationship with him. When she reacted furiously, his reply was to say: “Why do you not talk in the same manner to your husband? He is having exactly this type of relationship with the wife of so and so.”

· A married woman worked for a married man. He fell in love with her and exerted all efforts in order to have an illicit sexual relationship with her; he also hoped that the woman's husband would divorce her so that she could be his.

Before intermixing became prevalent, a western man asked a Muslim: “Why don’t your women mix with (marriageable) men?” The Muslim replied: “Because they do not wish to become pregnant from other than their husbands.”

Words from the west regarding intermixing:

A female British writer wrote: “It is a disgrace that our country makes its girls an example of immorality and indecency by allowing them to intermix with men.”

Another female British writer wrote: “The more intermixing occurs, the more illegitimate children we will have. Statistics in our country have consistently proved that the rate of pregnancies out of wedlock is increasing as a result of men intermixing with women. Teaching women to stay away from men and enlightening them of the evil consequences of this intermixing will have a very positive effect in reducing the numbers of such pregnancies.”

H. Stanberry, who was a western reporter who spent a few weeks in an Arab capital said of her experience there: "The Arab community is healthy and perfect; it adheres to its traditions and restricts the intermixing of its young men and women, within reasonable limits. This community is quite different from the European and American communities; it has manners that it has inherited that sets limits for young women, and it also necessitates respect of parents. Moreover, it forbids the licentiousness that has destroyed American and European communities and families. They (i.e., the Arabs) forbid intermixing between men and women, limit the freedom of their young women, and go back to the age of Hijaab, and this is far superior to the licentiousness and shamelessness of the American and European communities."

Scandals of intermixing

The following are shocking facts and statistics that were the case twenty-five years ago in the United States. If that was the case then, how would it be now?

· 70-90% of working women committed adultery with colleagues or managers.

· Half of those who were asked in a survey stated that they have had sexual relationships with their bosses, whether willingly or otherwise.

· Many male university professors had sexual relationships with their female students, and likewise, many female professors had such relationships with their male students; this is in addition to such relationships that took place between the students themselves.

· 50-70% of married men and 32% of married women had extra marital affairs.

· 90% of married women were not virgins at the time of their marriage.

· More than half a million husbands practiced wife-swapping on a regular basis.

· 50% of youths had sex before the age of fifteen.

· One in every eight women was raped at least once after the age of puberty, which made a total of almost a million women.

· One and a half million babies are aborted every year.

Evil consequences of intermixing:

Intermixing between the sexes in the west has done nothing except enflame people’s lusts and desires, which has resulted in indecency becoming prevalent; this is a refutation and a rebuttal of those who claim that intermixing reduces people’s lusts, helps them to better manage their desires, releases the sexual tension and suppression that they undergo, and guards them against suppression and psychological complexes.

Contrary to this claim, the similitude of intermixing is like that of a thirsty person who drinks sea water to quench his thirst, which does nothing except to add to his craving. It is evident in those countries that have set no limits regarding intermixing or how exposed their women can dress that none of what was claimed has materialised, in fact, it has only added to people’s lusts rather than controlling or regulating them. People in those lands have become wild, just like the thirsty man who drinks sea water only to become progressively thirstier.

The psychological complexes and diseases that they claimed were a result of depriving people from intermixing or by veiling women were actually fuelled by intermixing; moreover, homosexuality has also become prevalent in their lands. These two matters are a direct result of intermixing.

No sane person would suggest that it is possible to throw a person in the middle of the sea and demand from him not to get his clothes wet, nor would he request a person who was thrown in the middle of a huge fire to avoid being burnt; likewise, no sane person can believe that allowing women and men to intermix can preserve people’s chastity.

Therefore, the Muslims who call for such intermixing are, in reality, holding in their hands a lethal instrument by which they will destroy their families and the Muslim community at large, under the pretext of being 'modern' and 'civilised.'

The Islaamic ruling on intermixing:

This is a forbidden matter in Islaam because it arouses lusts and desires and leads to immorality and sin. There are many texts from the Qur’aan and the Sunnah proving this. The following are some of them:

Allaah says:

وَإِذَا سَأَلتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعاً فَاسأَلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ذَلِكُم أَطهَرُ لِقُلُوبِهكُم وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ

which means: “…And when you ask [the wives of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts…” [Al-Ahzaab: 53]

Additionally, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam prohibited intermixing, even in the mosque, by separating the rows of the men from those of the women.

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam would remain sitting in the same position that he prayed in, with his back to the congregation, in order to give enough time for the women to leave the mosque, according to a narration of Umm Salamah, may Allaah be pleased with her [Al-Bukhaari]

Ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Let this door (i.e., one of the doors of his mosque) be exclusively for women.” Naafi’, may Allaah have mercy upon him, who was the servant of Ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, said that Ibn ‘Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, never again entered the mosque from that door after hearing this statement. [Abu Daawood]

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, according to the narration of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him: “The best rows (in prayer) for men are those furthest to the front, and the worst of them are those furthest to the back; and the best rows (in prayer) for women are those furthest to the back, and the worst of them are those closest to the men’s (rows).” [Muslim] This encouragement is to prevent intermixing in a location where ill-thoughts are unlikely to cross the minds of people. If this is the preventive measure used in the mosque, then it is surely much more applicable outside the mosque.

Abu Usayd, may Allaah be pleased with him, was once coming from the mosque when he heard the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam addressing women due to him seeing that the men and women were walking very close to each other after having exited from the mosque: “Stay back! You should not walk in the middle of the street, rather, walk to one of its sides.” Abu Usayd, may Allaah be pleased with him, added: “Thereafter, the women would walk so close to the walls on the side of that street that their garments would scrape against it.” [Abu Daawood]

We know that this sin has become prevalent nowadays but the following should be noted:

· We do not approve of it, nor willingly do it, especially during Islaamic lectures and gatherings.

· We must try to avoid it as much as possible and take all measures to reduce it, like designating separate entrances for men and women.

· We must fear Allaah and lower our gaze.

-----------------------------------

The following is an advice from Imaam ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy upon him, to all Muslims, may Allaah enable them to perform acts of obedience and refrain from sin and religious innovations.

A Warning Against Intermixing:

As-Salaamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh.

It is an obligation upon me to extend advice to my fellow Muslims and remind them of a matter that nobody should remain silent about, and one which we should indeed warn sternly against, namely the intermixing between men and women. This is something that is practiced by certain ignorant people who see no problem in doing so, with the excuse that it is something that their fathers and forefathers would do, and that they do not intend anything evil by doing it.

We, therefore, witness Muslim women sitting with marriageable men like their brothers-in-law, cousins, and so forth without even adhering to the Hijaab.

It is a well known fact that a woman is obliged to cover herself, including her face, in the presence of (marriageable) men, as there are evidences from the Qur’aan, the Sunnah and the consensus of the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, which proves this to be an obligation. Allaah says:

وَقُل لِّلمُؤمِنَاتِ يَغضُضنَ مِن أَبصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحفَظنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلا يُبدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنهَا وَليضَرِبنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ

which means: “And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not display their adornment except that which [ordinarily] appears thereof and to draw their head covers over their chests…” [An-Noor: 31]

Allaah also says:

وَإِذَا سَأَلتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعاً فَاسأَلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ذَلِكُم أَطهَرُ لِقُلُوبِهكُم وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ

which means: “…And when you ask [the wives of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts…”” [Al-Ahzaab: 53]

And also:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لأَزوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ المُؤمِنِينَ يُدنِينَ عَلَيهِنَّ مِن جَلابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدنَى أَن يُعرَفنَ فَلا يُؤذَينَ وَكَانَ اللهُ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً

which means: “O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their Jilbaab [i.e. the outer garment that is defined as a cloak covering the head and reaching to the ground, thereby covering the woman's entire body] That is more suitable that they will be known [as chaste believing women] and not be abused. And ever is Allaah Forgiving and Merciful.” [Al-Ahzaab: 59] Umm Salamah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: “When this verse was revealed the women of the Ansaar (i.e. residents of Madeenah) came out wearing black garments.”

The above verses form clear evidence that the woman’s head, hair, neck, breast and face are part of what she must cover in front of all marriageable men. When the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam commanded that women attend the ‘Eed Khutbah, some of them said: “O Messenger of Allaah! Some of us do not have a Jilbaab.” He sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Let them borrow (one) from their sisters (in faith).” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim] This proves that a woman may not come out of her home except when wearing a Jilbaab. This also proves that chastity and adhering to Hijaab was the common practice of the female Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, who were the best generation ever and the most honourable with Allaah; they possessed the finest manners, were the most perfect in faith, and the best in performing righteous deeds. Indeed, they set a righteous example for others to follow.

‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: “When men would pass us by whilst we were in the state of Ihraam (i.e. during Hajj) we would draw down our veils over our faces.” This is evidence that covering the face is mandatory, despite the woman being commanded to uncover her face whilst in the state of Ihraam.

Failing to adhere to the Hijaab and uncovering the face leads to many evil consequences, such as instigating desires, causing bashfulness to vanish, and the seduction of men.

Additionally, a woman may not sit in seclusion with a marriageable man or intermix with him.

When the woman considers that she is equal to a man in the way he dresses and what he uncovers of his body, then this will certainly lead to great corruption and trials.

Once, the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam came out from the mosque after prayer and saw that the men and women had begun to intermix on the street, so he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said to the women: “Stay back! You should not walk in the middle of the street, rather, walk to one of its sides.” Thereafter, the women would walk so close to the wall on the side of that street that their garments would scrape against it.

Thus, a woman may not be in seclusion with men, shake hands with them or even look at them. Allaah says:

وَقُل لِلمُؤمِناتِ يَغضُضنَ مِن أَبصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحفَظنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلا يُبدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنهَا وَليَضرِبنَ بِخُمرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلا يُبدِينَّ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَو آبَائِهِنَّ أَو آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَو أَبنَائِهِنَّ أَو أَبنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَو إِخوَانِهِنَّ أَو بَنيِ إخوَانِهِنَّ أَو بنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَو نِسَائِهِنَّ أَو مَا مَلَكَت أَيمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيرِ أُولِي الإِربَةِ مِنَ الرِجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفلِ الَّذينَ لَم يَظهَرُواْ عَلَى عَورَاتِ النِّسَاءِ وَلا يَضرِبنَ بِأَرجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعلَمَ مَا يُخفِينّ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُواْ إِلى اللهِ جَمِيعاً أَيُهَ المُؤمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُم تُفلِحُونَ

which means: “And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not display their adornment except that which [ordinarily] appears thereof and to draw their head covers over their chests and not display their adornment [i.e. beauty] except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, that which their right hands possess [i.e. slaves], or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allaah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.” [An-Noor: 31]

As regards to the brothers and cousins of the husband, they are marriageable men with whom the woman may not be in seclusion. `Uqbah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Never (enter a place) in which women are (uncovered, simply to mix with them in seclusion).” A man from the Ansaar said: ‘What about the in-laws from the husband's side (i.e., his brothers and cousins)?’ He sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, replied: “The brother of a woman's husband is death (for her).” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim] Such in-laws can usually enter the man’s house without arousing suspicion, but they are not included in the Mahram (non-marriageable) category, and thus temptation is more likely to happen when they are in seclusion. The woman may not come out adorned in front of such men, even if they happen to be the most pious and trustworthy of people, because Allaah has limited and restricted the permissibility of her exposing her beauty to the people mentioned in the above verse, and such in-laws are not included in it.

The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: “Never should a man be with a woman, except in the presence of a Mahram (i.e., her non-marriageable man).” A Mahram is a man whom she may never marry under any condition, either due to a blood-relationship (such as her brother, father and so on) or due to her breastfeeding from the same woman as that man, or due to marriage (like her father in-law).

This prohibition is to prevent Satan spreading immorality and arousing lusts and thus instigating fornication and adultery. `Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “It is never that a man sits in seclusion with a (marriageable) woman except that Satan is the third (who is) present.” [Ahmad]

Those who have such practices as part of their culture and traditions must struggle and exert all efforts to eradicate these evils in order to preserve people’s chastity and honour. This must be a collective effort and people must therefore join hands to forbid this evil, as an implication of the command of Allaah. People must repent to Allaah from this practice and should strive to support the truth, regardless of what others say or how they mock them, because a Muslim is commanded to adhere to the commandments of Allaah and willingly fulfil them in hope of the reward that Allaah has prepared for those who adhere to them, and in fear of His severe punishment which He will give to anyone who fails to do so, regardless of who he is.

Finally, one may not shun the Islaamic commandments for the sake of customs, traditions, or his desires, because it is only Islaam that commands people to that which is best, and to the noblest of morals.

Taken From Islam Audio Video . Com

Sunday, June 24, 2007

For the Pleasure of My Lord, The Prisons Come Perfumed

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful




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

If to Allah 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 the Deity, Mighty and Strong,

Verily, He has promised the Believers with Salvation As He saved Yunus 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 Yusuf dwelled in them for a phase And Musa, the tyrants threatened him with it,

And such was the Messenger of the Generous Deity To imprison him, the pagans plotted,

So my Lord saved him through his Hijrah In the company of that trustworthy friend,

And in their footsteps, the Believers traversed Like Ahmad, that firm Imam,

And likewise Ibn Taymiyyah was blessed with it In the fortress of Sham, as a prisoner he dwelled,

Hundreds of thousands of the True Faithful Dwelled for a time in these prisons,

Be not weak, dear Brother, nor lose hope When your time comes, nor submit,

Strengthen yourself by remembering the Deity, Most Supreme And hasten in memorizing the Manifest Book,

That is for your heart a secure stronghold And this is for your spirit an assisting provision,

These are hardships, soon they will all cease And remaining from it will be various fruits and benefits,

So if they intimidate you, and they threaten you Never weaken, or soften to them,

And even if they insult you, and they torture you And if they beat you, submit not,

You are not the first to be tortured For a Mighty Religion and a Manifest Legislation,

Nor are you alone on this Path For there are countless caravans throughout the years,

And if an ‘Eid passes by, and a son is born And months rotate, while you are imprisoned,

Do not grieve O Brother of the Righteous Ones Of departing from family and losing children,

And if they forbid you from their visits And likewise their letters never appear,

So if this is for a Lord and Religion Then where is the patience, where is the certainty!?

And where are your past speeches Regarding the (weight of the) Millah of that Trustworthy Messenger?!

That Intimate Friend went willingly To slaughter his son, a clear trial,

On a magnificent, noble day like today Without any anxiety, he put him down upon his forehead,

So my Lord saved him through His Good Will And ransomed him with a fat sheep,

But you, your sons are in a carefree life And diversion and amusement, and a secured home,

Yet you have not been asked to slaughter them Rather, merely for patience of a temporary separation,

For verily, they are in the care of a Merciful Lord And you are in solitude with Him and Faith,

For the Pleasure of a Lord and assisting a Religion Life and all children become insignificant,

For the Pleasure of a Lord, Mighty and Generous The prisons come perfumed, and the bitter come sweet…


http://www.kalamullah.com/gardens.html

Death: More Than Just an Individual's Life Being Taken Away

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful


All praise is due to Allah, who reminds his slaves that their lives have an appointed time and that the successful ones are those who are saved from the fire and entered into paradise, when He says:

"Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception." (3:185)

And reminds them that death will reach them no matter where they are when he says:

""Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in fortresses built up strong and high!" (4:78)

And reminds them that regardless of what their status in this world, they will face death. Even if they are from the greatest of warriors, or the most powerful of rulers, or even a Prophet. when He addressed His messenger (Salla Allahu 'alaihi wa sallam) saying:

"Verily, you will die and indeed they shall die as well" (39:30)

And reminds them that they should take heed, because a time will come where they will ask for respite to do more deeds yet shall not be granted this request when He says:

"And spend of that with which We have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says: "My Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e. return to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah (i.e. Zakât) of my wealth , and be among the righteous. And Allâh grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allâh is All-Aware of what you do." (63:10-11)

And I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but He and may His Salaah and Salaam be upon the Prophet Mohammad, his companions and those who follow their way in righteousness until the last day.

Death is indeed a reality that we all have to face one day. For most of us we will have to go through mourned times over our lost loved ones before we actually face our own destiny. And at that time, even though we may not realize it, Allah is bestowing a great favor upon us by reminding us that we to will one day face such a fate, so it is indeed time to be reminded.

Tonight Allah -the most exalted- bestowed such reminder upon me by taking away the life of my grandfather (may Allah encompass him with His infinite mercy and blessing and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the hellfire. Aameen). As my mother (may Allah protect her and increase her in righteousness. Aameen) broke the news to me I could feel the ground being taken from under me, just as it had recently been taken from under her, and it was at that very moment that a sad reality hit me quite hard. Death is not just an individual's life being taken away but rather it is so much more. It is a wife losing her husband, a child losing his father, a sister losing her brother, a grandchild losing his grandfather, one who was in need losing someone they would resort to, and the list goes on.

The only sadder reality than losing my grandfather (raheemahullah), was the fact that it took a close family member of mine to pass away before I realized the actual pain and anxiety that death causes. May Allah forgive us for our heedlessness in not sympathizing and empathizing with our brothers and sisters who die and lose loved ones everyday. Aameen.

Even though it has just roughly been over two hours since I was informed of this great loss a lot of thoughts and reminders have crossed my mind which I feel are incumbent upon me to share with you today, in accordance to the statement of Allah -the most high- :

"And remind, for indeed the reminder benefits the believer" (51:55)

Firstly: Never take your Islaam for granted by not sharing it with your family and friends. When Allah blessed you with Islaam, He placed upon you a responsibility to convey its message to all of mankind. And from the crux of the message of Islaam is worshipping Allah alone. Fore it is indeed this very crucial element that is the criterion between entering paradise or not. As Allah -the most high- says:

"Verily, Allâh does not forgive that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives all except that to whom He pleases, and who so ever sets up rivals with Allâh in worship, has indeed committed a tremendous sin." (4:48)

So which one of us, with the slightest bit of faith and true love, would want to see one of our beloved prevented from paradise?

Secondly: Know, that by having come into this world Allah created a bond between you and your parents that no one can ever take away. And has placed upon you a responsibility that should not be taken lightly at the very least.

After having spoken to my mother (hafidhahaa Allah), I longed from the bottom of my heart and the depths of my soul to be there with her, comfort her, and take care of her every want and need. But due to my currently being overseas, I must live with the guilt of not being able to have been there for her in her time of need. May Allah forgive all of us for our shortcomings. Aameen.

As for those of you who have your parents alive and close by, I advise you as a well wisher to be as righteous towards them as possible, lest that you are ever away from them in a time of need, you will not be burdened with the guilt that you did not do your best while you were able to.

"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: 'My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.' " (17:23-24)

Lastly: Do not be insensitive or inconsiderate of people. I know that the statement is very vague and ambiguous, but I believe it is its ambiguity and vagueness that makes it all the more powerful.

Approximately two minutes after I felt the ground was being taken from under me a close friend of mine (Ghafara Allahu lahu) called and jokingly said: "Do you have a disease that prevents you from answering text messages!?" At that very moment I was just awestruck and at an absolute loss of words to say the very least. Even though I do not blame him for not knowing of my particular situation, I do feel it is very sad that we often fail to realize that someone may be going through hardship and not even attempt to give them the benefit of the doubt. What I find even sadder in this situation is how having lost a grandfather to many illnesses and diseases, that we as conscious individuals, can joke, jest, and belittle any sickness or disease. May Allah forgive us for what our surroundings have made of us. Aameen.

On a more pertinent note, when people lose loved ones they need the love and support of people around them to get over it. One of the best ways to do this is to just be there to talk to them in the initial stages of the shock, and as time goes on try to get them to re-adjust to their regular routines and daily lives. One of the biggest mistakes that people, who want to do good, can make is to bring up the topic of a lost one when the family of the deceased have just begun to get over them. A loss of a loved one is like an open wound, it needs time and care to heal, so do be careful not to pour salt where it will only harm.

Indeed, the reminders found in death are many and thus some of our predecessors would suffice by just saying the word "death" in their Friday sermons. So I hope the few reminders I extracted were beneficial, fore mostly to myself. As like all other reminders if there is no physical implementation in regards to what is said, then its presence is just as good as its absence, and I pray to Allah that this is not the case.

May Allah have mercy upon all of the deceased of the Muslims.May He grant them firmness in answering. May He widen their graves and fill them with light and many pleasures. May he protect them from any punishment and harm in the grave or in the hellfire. May He enter them into the highest of paradise in the companionship of the prophets, martyrs, truthful ones, and the righteous. May He make the deaths of deceased a lesson for those they have left behind. May He grant comfort, solace, and firmness to those they have left behind, and may He replace all of their sorrows and dismays with unlimited pleasure and joy in this life and the next. Aameen. Aameen. Aameen.

"Their call therein will be, 'Exalted are You, O Allah' and their greeting therein will be, 'Peace.' And the last of their call will be, 'Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds!' " (10:10)

Was salaam 'alaikum wa rahamatullahi wa barakaatuhu
Abu 'Abdir-Rahman Navaid Aziz
Al- Madeenah An-Nabaweyyah
The night of the 17th of Safar 1428


http://www.kalamullah.com/death.html

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Islamic Schools: Who's Responsible?

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

by Muhammad Alshareef

What do you give to your son on his wedding night as a gift? A Mitsubishi Lancer, a Honda Accord, or do you give him the ever useful toaster?

When Ibn Al-Qayyim’s son was getting married, he found himself in this gift dilemma. He thought and thought and decided upon a gift that would not only benefit his son, but all the Muslims. He lit a candle, dipped his pen in the ink, and began writing. The gift, you ask? A book dedicated to his son and daughter-in-law about marriage and the rights of children. He named the book, Tuhfatul Wadood, bi Ahkaam al-Mowlood. The value of the gift? Priceless.

Many times we hear about the respect due to parents – because it is often the parents who are speaking. Yet, how often do we hear about the rights of children? Indeed, they have many rights that go farther back than 9 months before their creation. For example, they have the God given right that their future mother or father choose a spouse that will teach them about Allah and be an excellent example for them In his book, in Chapter 25, Ibn Al-Qayyim discusses the obligation of teaching the children, disciplining them, and being just between them. Additionally, one of the rights of children is the right to an Islamic education.

Allah ta'aala commands us:

O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is people and stones …(At-Tahreem 66/6)

We are commanded by Allah ta'aala to save ourselves from Hellfire. But it does not end there. The commandment extends to our family; we must save them also. Using all our resources we must save them from Hellfire, and the biggest weapon we have to protect them is knowledge of what Allah and His Messenger require from them. For verily, a human is enemy to that which he does not understand.

In another verse, we see the example of Luqman with his son:

But if they endeavor to make you worship others with Me – that of which you have no knowledge, then do not obey, yet accompany them in (this) world with appropriate kindness (Luqmaan 31/15).

Notice how Allah ta'aala mentions the shirk that the child is being called to as something which he has no knowledge of. Meaning, no knowledge of its divinity, for there can be no knowledge about something which is non-existent and untrue.

And yet in another situation, Allah ta'aala describes the exchange between Nuh and his son:

…And Nuh called to his son who was apart (from them), "O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers." / (But) He said, "I shall take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water." (Nuh) said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allah except for whom He gives mercy." And the waves came between them, and he was among the drowned (Hud 11/42-43).

It has been said that about 90% of everything a child learns, he learns it within the first 5 years of his or her life. If that is not enough cause for concern, the children at that fragile age are ever so keen to please the adults in their lives, especially the ones they see day after day. Subhan Allah, it is a survival skill that Allah ta'aala created in humans. For had they not had this desire to please the 'teacher', they most likely would not develop intellectually.

If you went to public school, imagine back to your public school kindergarten class or grade 1 class and how you used to act with the teacher. Did you try to please him or her every chance you got? Would you do things just to win her pleasure? I know for me, when our school play for the Christmas Concert was coming up, the teacher chose me to play one of the lead roles because of how good an actor I was. Mind you, I disliked the part and when a boy offered me a handful of corn puffs to switch parts with me, I readily accepted. I took him to Mrs. Mitchell and proudly announced that Jason would be taking my part. She was disappointed and said how much she wanted me to do the part. I could not bear to see her disappointment, so I continued with the part. At the time, I was in kindergarten.

The horror story begins when the child is entrusted to a non-Muslim – to someone who knows nothing about our obligation to Allah and His Messenger sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam, someone who our Muslim children are so eager to please.

There once was a little girl in a public school in a Muslim country whose teacher was not practicing Islam. The little girl, following the blessed example of her mother, would go to school with her hijab on. The hijab, however, was something displeasing to her teacher, so she told the girl to take it off and not dare come back to school with it on the next day or she would suffer the consequences.

Home this girl went and told her mother of how the teacher did not want her to wear hijab in school and how she did not want to upset her teacher. Her mother calmly said, "Who do you want to please then, your teacher or Allah?" The little girl looked her mother in the eye and said, "Allah!"

The next day, the little girl returned with her hijab on, defiant. When the teacher saw her, she exploded in chastisement, "How dare you disobey me?"

The painful words kept coming and coming until the little girl lowered her head, sobbing. Then she shouted back, "I don’t understand who I am supposed to please – you or Him?"

"Who’s Him?" asked the teacher.

"Allah!"

Her eyes widened and a chill ran through her. The teacher stopped talking. From behind her tears, the little girl said, "No, I shall please Allah and Allah alone."

That day the teacher sent a letter home to the little girl’s mother with the words, "Today your child taught me who I was and truly who is Allah. Thank you for raising such a blessed daughter."

Television sets and public schools are spreading a subtle devastating poison through the bloodstream of our youth. Take a random class of Muslim high school students from public school and reflect on their habits and their knowledge of Islam. If a parent has chosen public school for his son, in the final year when he looks over the school yearbook and sees a picture of his son standing hand in hand dancing with a kafir woman, at that time it will be too late to question his upbringing. Now is the time to question it, now, before it’s too late.

Al-Hasan ibn Ali radi Allahu anhu used to say, "Educate yourselves today, for today you are the youth of the community but tomorrow you shall be the seniors."

Alhamdulillah, there are many exceptionally smart adults out there. When you are in their company, you cannot help marvelling at their intellect. However, a question comes to mind: "What could this person have done for Islam and the Muslim community if his parents had educated him about the deen?"

There is a child, in grade 3, who has memorized almost 7 juz of the Qur’an . He is 8 years old. This child, more than likely, knows more Qur’an than most adults. There are other children just as smart as him thrown to public school, their intelligence squandered on the Incas and the pyramids, while they cannot recite the very letters of their mother tongue.

Yahya ibn Humayd said, "We went to Imam Hammad ibn Salamah once and found him sitting with children narrating hadith to them. When he completed and the children left, we approached him and said, 'O Abu Salamah, we are the seniors of your tribe. We have come to you to learn. Why do you leave us and turn instead to these children?'"

"He replied, 'I once saw in a dream that I was sitting on the banks of a river, bending over with a bucket to get water to drink. After drinking, I turned around and saw these children standing there, and so I gave them the bucket of water after me'" (Ibn Abee Ad-Dunya, Kitaab al-Ayaal).

A poet once said:

Young trees, if you raise them firm, they will grow straight,
They will not slouch if kept firm with a stick.
Perhaps discipline for young ones brings benefit
But that same discipline will no longer bring results in a senior.

PART II
Sa’eed ibn Rahmah Al-Asbahee used to tell his students:

"I used to camp out in the masjid in the hopes of getting the best seat in the halaqah of Abdullaah ibn Al-Mubaarak. I had friends my age, but none of them would do as I did. When the time for the halaqah would arrive, Ibn Al-Mubaarak would come and with him would be the seniors. They would complain to him, 'These children have overcome us at the halaqah, there is no place near you for us.'

"Ibn al-Mubaarak would reply, 'These children are dearer to me than you. You – how long shall you live? These children, however, perhaps Allah shall carry them far.'"

Sa’eed would then say to his students, "Today there is no one alive from that halaqah of Ibn al-Mubaarak except me."

When children work on a science experiment, an instrument that they might use is a thermometer. This is a device that reflects the heat coming from an object or area. At home we all have this thing called a thermostat. When we are too hot, it cools us down. And if we get cold it warms us up. Not only does it reflect the heat, it does something about it.

When we look at the Muslim ummah, we will see that many of our communities are nothing more than thermometers. When there is heat coming from Bosnia, it registers a reaction in our salah, our du’aas, and our checkbooks. And when there is heat in Chechnya, it registers a reaction in our salah, our du’aas, and our checkbooks. This is the action of a thermometer. What we must become is thermostats; cooling things down when they get too hot and warming things up when they get too cool.

Today everyone is looking to our brothers and sisters in Palestine and pulling their hair because they cannot seemingly do anything. We must not let the things we cannot do stop us from doing what we can do.

By Allah, the long-term goal is the children. If we do not stand up to the challenge of educating them in Islam and raising them as best we can, we – with our own hands – are paralyzing the future of Islam in this country.

All of you are shepherds and all of you shall be questioned regarding your flock.

Never think that the work you do for the betterment of our children’s Islamic education goes in vain. There is an English word called sacrifice. Some Muslims when translating the idea of sadaqah may incorrectly use this concept of sacrifice. A more correct word is 'to deposit'. We are not spending these dimes hoping for nothing in return. Nay, we are investing it for an enormous return; we are depositing it in the Hereafter.

"What’s in it for me?" we always ask. Of the many blessings…

Firstly: Allah ta'aala will protect your children because of your piety.

The example given to us in the Qur’an is that of Khidr. When he built the wall without any compensation, he told Musa why:

And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord… (Al-Kahf 18/82)

Secondly: By educating and protecting the Muslim children, you would be fulfilling the amaanah (trust) that Allah has placed upon you. And in the fulfillment of ones trust lies success and a 401k plan in Paradise.

Allah ta'aala says:

Certainly successful are the believers …they who to their trusts and their promises are attentive / And they who carefully maintain their payers – those are the inheritors / Who will inherit al-Firdaus wherein they will abide eternally.

In conclusion, I would like to pose the question, who is responsible for these Islamic schools? We are all responsible – every one of us. This school and everything in it is our ra'eyyah and we shall be questioned for it.

As I was speaking to a good brother recently, he asked me about the situation of our Islamic school. We spoke about the upcoming fundraiser, and then he said to me, "A’aanak Allah (May Allah help you)."

I said, "No. You said it wrong. It’s a'aanan Allah (may Allah help us), because brother, you’re just as responsible for these Islamic schools as I am."

Courtesy Of: Khutbah.com

Plotting of the Kuffaar Against Islam and the Muslims

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

By Dr. Nasir al-`Aql

This has occurred since the beginning of Islam until now, the kuffaar with their different religions and beliefs have always plotted against Islam. Some of these plots have caused the Muslims to fall into their present state, concerning their beliefs, behaviors, habits, celebrations and customs. That is why the majority of the causes which divide the Muslims are in actuality plots of the kuffaar. So any group which separates itself from the ummah does so because of the existence/efforts of the kuffaar. That is, either the kuffaar took part in spreading the cause and propagating it among the weak Muslims, or they were either its leaders or its followers. So the plotting of the kuffaar who harbor religions and beliefs, are among the original reasons for which the Muslims become imitators. And Allah subhanahu wa ta`aala said, "And never will the Jews and Christians be pleased with you until you follow their religions." (2:120) And similarly, He subhanahu wa ta`aala said, "…they do not fall short of inflicting loss upon you; they love what distresses you; vehement hatred has already appeared from their mouths; and what is in their hearts is worse…" (3:118) And He subhanahu wa ta`aala said, "Those who disbelieve from among the people of the Book and the idolaters do not like that you should have [revelation] sent to you from your Lord." (3:105) And, "…if you obey those who disbelieve, they will turn you back upon your heels…" (3:139) And, "…if you obey a group of those who were given the Book, you would turn back to disbelievers after you had believed." (3:100) So there is no doubt that the kuffaar have always been aspiring to separate the Muslims from their beliefs and that they are making more of an effort now than in the past. Every Muslim who considers the situation of the Muslim world today will realize that the kuffaar are struggling to establish their beliefs, customs, behaviors, habits, systems, politics, morals etc. in the Muslim world. They have succeeded in causing the Muslim nation to fall into imitation more now than in any time during the past.

Courtesy Of: Islaam.com
Source: Causes which lead to Muslims' imitation of the Kuffaar