This is my religion

Eid al-Fitr

2014-07-28T00:35:00.001-07:00

Eid al-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر‎ ʻĪd al-Fiṭr, IPA: [ʕiːd al fitˤr], "festival of breaking of the fast"), also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, the Sugar Feast, Bayram (Bajram), the Sweet Festival^[3] and the Lesser Eid, is an important religious holiday celebrated byMuslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). The religious Eid is a single day during which Muslims are not permitted to fast. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal. This is a day when Muslims around the world show a common goal of unity. The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the observation of new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality. However, in most countries, it is generally celebrated on the same day as Saudi Arabia.^[2]

Eid al-Fitr has a particular Salat (Islamic prayer) consisting of two Rakats (units) and generally offered in an open field or large hall.^[4]It may be performed only in congregation (Jama’at) and, has an additional extra six Takbirs (raising of the hands to the ears while saying "Allāhu Akbar", literally "God is greatest"), three of them in the beginning of the first raka'ah and three of them just beforeRuku' in the second raka'ah in the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam.^[5] Other Sunni schools usually have twelve Takbirs, seven in the first, and five at the beginning of the second raka'ah. This Eid al-Fitr salat is, depending on which juristic opinion is followed, Fard(obligatory), Mustahabb (strongly recommended, just short of obligatory) or mandoob (preferable).

Muslims believe that they are commanded by Allah, as mentioned in the Quran, to continue their fast until the last day of Ramadan^[6]and pay the Zakat and fitra before offering the Eid prayers.

Germans converted to Islam cling to their faith despite the new anti-propaganda

2014-07-19T13:18:00.001-07:00

Germans converted to Islam cling to their faith despite the new anti-propaganda

Since the events of atheist th of September 2001 and the debate about Islam and Muslims in Europe continuously does not stop, and become Muslims since then prone to doubt them and question their religion, and accused of informing the West as well as non-stop days fo

r trial and to monitor their movements and ridicule in some cases of religious symbols, does impact so in some Europeans who converted to Islam and became Muslims practicing their societies Christianity?

In Germany, bringing the number of Muslims to four million Muslims, most came from Turkey, they exercise their religious rituals in mosques and places of prayer estimated at around 2200 mosque and chapel, mostly belonging to religious institutions Turkish, of this total, the number of mosques with minarets and domes to more than 140 mosques and one of the largest of these mosques is absolutely Fath Mosque which was built in 1995 in the city of Mannheim.

Mixes with Muslims in Germany German citizens in their daily lives, and transporting them to the image of Islam in the light of these transactions required by the exigencies of living in this country, and the image transmitted this to be negative or positive, according to the quality of deal, especially since there are good Muslims and Muslims is, in this context, we find Germans tend to from this debt and possibly convert to the Islamic faith at the same time as the others Anesb hostility to religion then it is depends on personal conviction and the conviction of the new religion.

Is mixing we also find that there are things that many other plays a role in determining Islam Germans, so that the Muslim German can be divided also into types, there turned preacher and delved on the study of Islam and the inexperience of it, and there practiced his regular with culture in which they live, but chose Islam as a religion after deep thinking and this kind permanent guest on the media to express his experience, such as Christiana Baker or Murad Hofmann, and there is the pairing between Islamic culture and Western mixing religious beliefs matters mundane an image that confuses and bewilders the human tickles her.

Assure Muslims impresses Germans

But in all cases there is a question arises - what is the primary motivation that attracts Germans to embrace Islam as a religion? .. So that some of them turn into advocacy and compose books and lectures cast and gain fame in this area?

Answer to that researcher Maria Aliesbet - which have a study on the causes of religious and personal and social about Islam, some Germans say - the one most important of these factors is the desire to adopt the identity of the new religious order that the Germans traveled and multiple trips in order to search for the truth, has attracted reassurance spiritual and psychological Germans when he sees Muslims embrace the new religion, they often fall under the pressures of life, which may lead some of them to commit suicide, for example, fear of unemployment, work is second to fear when a Muslim who is considered to be "a living from God."

In the opinion of the researcher Monica Fogab visited - interested in this matter also that some of the Germans, because of social marginalization resort to search for ways of reassuring and integration within their community of origin, Vikhdhun Muslim model to follow him, and the others have the desire to change their lifestyle by building a new moral.

Indicates Archive Central Institute for Islamic Affairs is located in Germany to about 12,400 German Muslims of ethnic German entered Islam voluntarily and conviction self or as a result of the link to marry a Muslim, and most of these regularly within the associations mosques and practiced religious activities in German and most of them degree-level qualifications.

Studies indicate that the Germans Muslim speakers are adept at expressing the fact that the Islamic religion and helped them in the occupation centers and positions in some organizations, the Supreme Islamic Council, such as the Islamic Society of German-speaking in Berlin, which offers every Friday classes at the mosque about topical subjects attended by many young Germans.

It is noteworthy that the first occurrence of the Muslim population in Germany in 1739 due to the reign of King (Frederick Wilhalm) the first King of Prussia, and was preceded by the establishment of the first mosque in the city of Potsdam in 1731 and was dedicated to the soldiers in the Turkish city.

Muslim doctor

German physician Kay lor one of the pictures in this area is the image of German physician Kay Lore - aged 46 years, is a successful doctor practiced his daily work through his clinic in the German city of Cologne, has converted to Islam two years ago he and his wife, and in spite of the difficulty expressed by a struggling to read the Fatiha and verses from the Koran during the five prayers in his clinic, but this

picture looks more convincing visible from some of the elders who Aterbon on satellite channels not only preaching themselves as some believe.

In the recent period Kay was a guest always German media and always speak confidently and eloquently high-level about the reason for his conversion to the Muslim religion and says that what he saw in the essence of Islam was a logical mind, people in the Islamic religion to worship one God and not the confusion or interpretation and "is that you look for it and see Kay said mixing with Muslims living in Germany, is the beginning of closer towards Islam who felt serenely great psychological enabled him to take the decision he and his wife to turn to him. says Kay was so difficult at first, especially for parents, friends, and after a period became everything so well and us my wife and I a number of Christian friends equal to our Muslim friends, and tries to Kay denied privacy with him, saying I was not the only years in this last few years have seen the entry of about four thousand German to Islam, while the charges of Islam with terrorism and says it is, unfortunately, subject to the look and political interests of politicians, the terrorist is also condemned in Islam and is not logical nor sensible to be branded as terrorism divine religion of Islam are trying to stigmatize it.

Kay goes regularly to perform Friday prayers at a mosque in Cologne Abubakar, who cast the imam of the mosque Friday sermon in German and Arabic, and says that it is important because some of those attending are from the Muslim Turks or other nationalities that do not know Arabic.

On the other hand sees Kay that Islam is not just prayer in the mosque, but it is a commitment to Islam identified with other things of everyday life such as not eating pork and wearing gold for men and drinking alcohol, which he found some difficulty in it even took off with him completely. ..

Murad Hofmann perfect picture

Ambassador Murad Hofmann image Other exemplary in this successful transformation is the experience of Murad Hofmann - who was born in 1913, one of the famous figures in Germany and the Islamic world due to its culture wide and his writings on Islam, which dealt with the future of Islam in the context of Western civilization and Europe as well as senior positions Held in his work German diplomat, and most recently was ambassador to Germany in Morocco from 1990 to 1994 and is married to a Turkish woman.

Hoffman mentioned - that one of the main reasons for his conversion to Islam is what he saw in the Algerian war of independence, and his passion for Islamic art in addition to the contradictions that confronted him in the Christian faith.

The collection Hoffman over the years-old a lot of perceptions that took place in his mind and put it in several books collected between philosophy and the law and religious analysis and, among them Islamic philosophy and Diary German Muslims and the road to Mecca and other He holds membership in many organizations, led by the Supreme Council of Muslims headed by Ayub Excel aged 67 years and it was the other had converted to Islam in 1963 and is the first Muslim to Germany up to a central Muslim organization.

Radio Aladdin Islamic

Aladdin uses the call through the Internet from young people who strive in the field of Islamic Dawa users to the world of the Internet and advanced technologies to communicate via the World Wide Web is Aladdin, who at the age of 37 years and converted to Islam in 1995 after he listened to a lecture on Islam to a Muslim Germans who studied Islam in Mecca and called "Pera Vogel," and since that time, which is even closer to Islam married to a Moroccan and changed his name from Matthias to Aladdin and his online radio is radio Aladdin answer the questions on the Germans and Muslims about Islam.

And who listens to him he finds a brilliant example answer to a question one of those who doubted the existence of God .. multiplying like by in his hand .. He

says he can control in the pen .. and puts it on paper right situation and charting its lines .. and thrown a pen on the ground and say this put another pen and there is no difference between them, this pen and this pen .. and so is the planet in the hands of God and controlled by us, and without God there can be a movement in this life. like pen placed on the ground.

Blurred image

The last of these images is the picture looks shaky and unsure of her conversion to Islam, a Muslim this time is Hans Lehrer - German who lives in the state of Bavaria and at the age of 65 years old, turning 44 years ago to Islam and married a Turkish woman called compassionate and sired four children and worked as a translator for the Turkish language in the state of Bavaria for a long time, and visited Mecca and Medina, and read the Koran and ten years ago he returned to shift again, but not to another religion, but to the European style free from religious beliefs Fanfsal for his wife and opened a bar for homosexuals and became himself one of them, which in this age late, despite his knowledge that this is contrary to the teachings of Islam.

Indian Rahul: converted to Islam for love in the fast

2014-07-19T13:04:00.002-07:00

Indian Rahul: converted to Islam for love in the fast

Raises the holy month of Ramadan and the subsequent celebrations of Eid al-Fitr, curiosity and amazement of many non-Muslims, and Istoagafhm to think and question what the Muslims in this month of fasting and praying Taraweeh in the mosque, and Tahajjud until the late hours of the night, losing to the conditions of the poor and the needy, and extending a helping hand them more than any other time in the year and then what followed from the joy and humiliation and the exchange of visits at the Eid al-Fitr, which generates have a positive image of this month and fasting specifically, pay them this picture to a desire to fast with Muslims even though they did not convert to Islam yet, but want to try this fast and get to know the secret of power curiosities owned by Muslims in long hours during the day without food or drink or lust.

Mahmoud curiosity

Young Indian Rahul one of those who are incensed fasting Muslim month of Ramadan, so this was fasting cause of his conversion to Islam, his story with Islam, saying Rahul (26 years), and who converted to Islam since 9 months, «I grew up in the arms of the family follow Hinduism Like most the people of India who have multiple gods even though they follow the same religion, some of them considered idols god to him, and some of them worship the cow and other animals and some of them worshiped the sun, and I grew up without that draws my attention to this religion and the gods Ogrguetna in the Sea of polytheism and disbelief and misguidance, so she wants the will of God Almighty to have the opportunity to work in an Arab Muslim country where Islam has seen for the first time in my life where I worked in Oman for a period of 3 years have had the greatest impact in changing my thinking and visuospatial to light ».

He adds «The story began when mixed with my friends at work, and when they started fasting in the holy month of Ramadan last year, drew my attention I asked them why when you fast? What does it mean fasting? Giebonni they took seriously, and they explain to me that they are Muslims, and they are fast in the holy month of Ramadan, where fasting is that the cult of worship to God. Astrsilwa and they talk about in the month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, so must a lot of reading the Koran, and to do good deeds with good deeds multiply, and forgive sins ». Rahul impressed by the words of his friends, who hears for the first time in his life and the severity of the debt they are talking about and became willing to listen to more until he decided to fast with them in order to try fasting and knows what it feels when Muslim fasts.

Completes the picture

Refers Rahul that remained fast throughout the three years that he lived in Oman whenever he came holy month of Ramadan, and was admiring the atmosphere of the feast, and did not stop search and question-and-see behavior of Muslims and the nature of their lives Vojb of ties in the mosque at one time 5 times each day standing description one is no difference between an Arab or non-Arab or poor or rich, but they all go one pray the Lord to him and ask him for forgiveness and paradise.

As impressed voice software that explains the heart and is pleased the moment and in the same context goes «complete picture I have increased my convictions to Islam after reading the Koran, and I got through on the right, and answered all the questions that have long revolved in my mind who is the Lord who must be worshiped and how they worshiped ? And why we created? What is the life that awaits us after death? It also contributed to the recorded lectures to a Alujtop Indian preachers who left the former religion, and converted to Islam in the Islamic religion increased my conviction, and that the true religion, especially because it was held in disguise compared between the Islamic religion and all other religions ».

It is noteworthy Rahul that he had traveled then to India to visit his family, are bringing with him a Koran in their own language and asked them to noticed the read closer and asked his friend, the Indian Muslim has to teach him how to pronounce testimonies where explain God's heart to Islam, then had the opportunity to work in Dubai to bless God again to the country Muslim to learn the things his new religion, which went to the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai, accompanied by one of his friends, and received a certificate of conversion to Islam, and wrote educational and attended a lot of lectures, which taught him ablution and purity, prayer and save some fence-Kassar, which will help him to prayer and still learn more.

Bab Al Rayyan

Contained Rahul to his question about fasting after Islam, and whether different from his fast before he answered «certainly different when you fast before Aslam was just fasting from food and drink, but after Islam became fasting followed by a prayer, prayer and charity and a sense of the poor and the needy, and left to sleep at night in order to vigils in the mosque and feeling the pleasure of submission and humiliation that the Lord is great in the Far fetish or creature ». It is the intensity of love for Rahul Siam chose for himself the name of Ryan called him after Islam on the grounds that it reminded him of the door, prepared by God Almighty in heaven for slaves fasters

What did they find in them embracing Islam??

2014-07-19T12:56:00.001-07:00

What did they find in them embracing Islam??

He feels emptiness spiritual not filled anything in his life, not Joe the family nor the church from which not a hobby that made her famous was a musician known and has a reputation in his

home country, one thing has had a great impact on himself and give him peace of mind and the happiest soul and reached what he aspires to and McCann while he needs to know Islam and embraced, then stood McCann sought ..

In contrast, some Arabs, since they inherited from their ancestors, unfortunately, have lost their sense of Btamh nor informed of meditates tongue words of uniformity in all the time and while but without the awareness of the value and missed its true essence and meaning of the High and the like came to us on a platter of gold and Tanasena enormous sacrifices that have been made without him, and did not deny it contracts are aware of when to tell him, said one of the preachers, I always echo the certificates, but I feel more and Bazmthma Kdarhama while Olguenhma a new Muslim, says: shrug physical and felt their weight and responsibility and worth big ..

Amounted to Islam endocarditis heart of Mr. Rolf Vries, giving him what was missing, it was the Muslims first, Fathallah heart of Islam and imbued with the spirit of its meaning pure net, it's true The West remained puzzled for decades could not Christianity that meet their needs spiritual rituals complex but increased the puzzlement whenever they want depth in which to understand them, or when ask questions to bizarre rituals Vezadhm this dimension to it, but once reached the port of faith even restless spirit and go away mists, Islam is the natural religion, meets the needs of the human and does not restrict the idea does not stand a bridge in front of Sciences, gives you happiness desired, while Christian West emptied of content and has become rituals are held on special occasions, do not provide for man West what pleased his soul and everyone knows that the church has frozen its role in period has taken the debt cap for dominance and won the scientists, after a fierce war Olquha and Ibaduha and lost movement and remained Christian sitting between the walls of the church, while Islam is the message Khaleda calls for exploring science find a comprehensive integrated system in which each nation what it wants, religion and state systems of all relationships have not overlooked any big order was Sgaroessn or laws that protect the human rights and achieve happiness ..

Muslim Vries began his relationship with Islam while he was on a trip to South Africa, and is defined as a band of Muslims in South Africa to send messages to the world informing them about Mnadhh racism here was the beginning, I feel the taste of the meanings of the words they seek Vgmrth happiness, a kind word and content-Tayeb, art message that directed in the correct way to serve the objectives of the nation and making it the tributaries of sophistication and the Renaissance, which as we mentioned was the world of music, he felt deeply their words, continued Mr. Ferris, his words about what Habbh of Islam and the impact of which is left in the same good feeling is: good treatment, this was in the sixties in any country in Islam had felt ointment create people and good treatment of him, this has increased the passion and love to learn about Islam, which demonstrated its mark on his family treated very good, Vshawwa him their hearts and treated him well treated, inevitably when manifested Islam in reality informs us approach correct flooding His justice, and benevolence, we are embodied values and principles in the brotherhood beyond the border creates a body together coherent, while Ti_rabh our souls and erase that ignorance and removes any impurity suspended Bnfosna becomes Riqrach net, the hearts of the good a non-goodness of each while creating bridges of dialogue between us and while living up by the Ola embodied compassion and mercy among us then we will be Bakhlaguena and realities of Islam advocates tell him the best face ..

West governed by the laws of his country, and that no longer even stand on the worst Astamaruahtlal and looting of wealth, but Islam, its values Supreme organize our lives in our home and in any home we analyze it, we carry the latest high moral character and good treatment, the return of the Muslim Vries, did not stop when you say the certificates, but continued to march caravan between institutes and universities in the Islamic world delve deeper into the understanding of the meaning of Islam venerable CONSIDERED Jesper Oguarh to reach its content until the NHL Sciences much, he returned to the Netherlands holds the aqueduct heart precious jewels of science and good manners defines the communities of Arabs and Muslims have solved the workers in the Netherlands and it was in the late seventies to open them and easy way for them and pamper them with odds and contributed to the building of mosques in-depth and latest bodies representing them ..

Although the young man from the Arab world and the failure of all Tguetqr smear campaigns waged by the media here and there and stick shortcomings of Islam through the behavior of some of his sons, and image distortion, but the spread of Islam in their ranks will remain strong and it derives its strength from the right Almighty ..

Mr. Ferris for great optimism for the future of Islam in the West and the latter will accept it despite Arrows media poisoned by directing them to him haphazardly, inevitably it is an eternal message carrying under it the greater good of all, came to the delight of all mankind and Mazlk but that Westerners living Juaoua spiritually after receded role of the Church in matters of formality, which made many people are leaving, as well as the church moved away from their lives in contrast observed increase in the number of Muslims and their association with the mosques, and what irks Vries is the Western media, who received from Islam through Nile associate him, tied some of the actions of sons of Islam haphazardly and Islam is innocent of any imperfections were , the media distorts the image of Islam by the actions of some Almtantspin him, so the solution to the tension in the ranks of the Westerners but once attained the truth of Islam and even Aqubloaalah Iatnicoh, so the task of Muslims in the West until they correct picture message best ..

Mr. Ferris, today is the imam of the mosque in the Netherlands and has other tasks effectively enabled him to correct the image of Islam and convey his message to the fullest extent of the minds of Westerners and highlight Islam with his face bright and its light, which reached our nation's pride and Summit and dignity, then upstream Net, Mr. Ferris some of the practices of the adherents of Islam and the errors fall into the lead to distort the image, and that some of the behaviors performed by some Muslims of the wrong message to the west, turning this distortion of the image, and added: Unfortunately some Muslims clung Paljziat and left the original message ..

So Tahoua and created a gap and the gap between the two worlds, some monopolized Islam and forgetting that message to the worlds and forgetting their responsibilities in the notification of the world in the best form, and when reflected Islam in ethics and in our dealings and embodied its mark good on our reality and regulates our discourse, this in itself is an invitation and Report of Islam from where we do not know. .

Mr. Ferris changed his name from Rolf Vries for: Sheikh Rafiq Ahmad Vries

The spread of Islam in the world

2014-07-19T12:34:00.001-07:00

The spread of Islam in the world

The rapid spread of Islam in the world

In a report published site (CNN) entitled (the rapid growth of Islam in the Western world) admit that the numbers who Iatniconalasalam each year in the Western world is too big and is in constant acceleration.

In the 12 years have been built more than 1,200 mosques in the United States at a rate of a hundred a mosque annually, and the strange thing that most of those wh

o convert to Islam of Americans are turning to the advocates of Islam after abide stunningly teachings of Islam, and confirms most of the researchers, in spite of the lack of accurate statistics that more than twenty thousand American convert to Islam every year, and that after the events of September atheist September.

On the contrary to what is expected that the number of new Muslims will fall, but the result was in contrast to the accounts, the statistics showed that the number of new people entering in Islam increased dramatically after the events of September

What is the reason?

According to my point of view, any human being, and once you read about Islam, he will realize from the first moment that this is the right religion, therefore, God told us about the people of Pharaoh how they realized that Islam is right, but they belied him, although they Astiguenoa him (when he came to them Our signs photoreceptor They said this charm shown * and belied by the Astiguentha themselves unjustly louder and see what was the end of spoilers) (ant: 13-14).

Therefore, experts say Americans that the highest proportion of conversion to Islam in America came after the events of September did not experience the country has ever seen before and the reason for that is overwhelming to buy Islamic books after these events, thus opening space for people to learn about Islam from its sources, and this is what drives them to correct their idea of converting to Islam and easily.

The strangest thing is that the thing that baffles researchers today that these new Muslims are turning to the advocates of Islam Vtgda calls his wife and children and his parents, and then begins to friends and neighbors, and thus Islam overall difference in the character of its adherents .. Vtjd someone leaves drinking wine - after dating him for many years The leaves of adultery after it was usually him - leaving anything to upset God - and find his main concern satisfy God .. here reflected the greatness of Islam.

What are the motives?

If we look at the stories of the convert to Islam, we find that most of them safest not because of a miracle or scientific miracle or numerical, but because he read about Islam and found our convincing meets the desires and insatiable ambitions motive true, then, is the need for this debt because they could grasp it .. and here, my dears, I would say that if we do our duty as Muslims in the deployment of the miracles of the Quran, the numbers who will enter in this religion would be great for an incredible degree and the reason is that the miracle of a very powerful weapon, a weapon of the prophets in the face of atheists and skeptics, therefore, we should interest in this science any knowledge of the miracle, and find ways to make it within reach of the non-Muslims.

What did they find in Islam?

This is a question I often get asked for new Muslims: What do you find in Islam?

And the answer is often that they found the truth that they're looking for in Islam, and assert that they have found that Islam is the natural religion which does not contain any costs or difficulties or contradiction (Adding to your face upright for religion bestowed by God that mankind does not change God's creation is religion, but most people do not know) (Roman: 30).

Islam is a religion of common sense, and this was confirmed by the greatest prophet when he said every child is born on instinct, this is what is felt by all of converts to Islam because Islam is a religion of simplicity and natural religion, and religion who feel it close to you, so if you ask anyone who converted to Islam newly his new religion tells you immediately that he did not feel that he turned from religion to another religion, but returned to normal for the people which is Islam.

The largest percentage among women!

Statistics show that modern proportion of women converts to Islam in Europe and America is a large percentage, and this is confirmed by the researcher Karin van Nieuwkerk in her new book, "Women converts to Islam," and says that women find in Islam justice and find the dignity and respect for her man .. The Western women suffer today contempt men have and use it as a means to implement their interests ... they are a means of propaganda and advertising ... and a means to achieve the gains ... and a vehicle just for fun ... but Islam has elevated women to a higher degree and make them the mother and the nanny and make it the greatest prophet peace be upon him within his commandments (Treat women kindly) .. The Quran has treated her as a good many may not offend them no matter how hated a man so he says (interpretation of the meaning the Ltamohen may be that you dislike a thing and Allah makes it much good) (women: 19).

Where do we find God's commandment of such laws in the world today? Every woman heard this verse has to be respected Islam and the acceleration of the entry.

The story caught my attention!

As long fascinated me the stories of those who Allah has guided to Islam, so I always follow these stories and I'm blown away by and I was impressed by the striking impact of Islam on these .. but there is a nice story happened to one of the university students in Britain, and who read anything about Islam and decided to embrace the true religion. ., but a friend of his told him that Islam is a religion of murder, terrorism, injustice and repression .. replied that he read about Islam, which is about to be convinced by this message .. owner said to him: Omhlna one month and I will prove to you that Alaslamho religion myths and legends.

Went the latter looking and looking for between Islamic books and read in the Koran in order to find things contradiction of modern science, but he was stunned when he saw that the Koran mentions a lot of scientific facts with amazing accuracy was not imagined, came to its owner has converted to Islam before .. marveled owner of this matter and said to him: I expected you to come to get me Analasalam If you embrace Islam before me ... and said to him: I have found that Islam is the true religion, but Western media is that distorted the image of Islam, so I advise you to rush to embrace this religion because the Koran is the only book that is consistent with modern science.

So lovers of God all of studying the Koran immediately realize that where there is no any contradiction or difference, therefore God ordered us to reflect on the Qur'an said: (Will they not ponder the Qur'an Had it been from other than Allah they would have found therein much discrepancy) (women: 82).

Facts of the Quran and Sunnah

Before more than a thousand and four hundred years began the Islamic call one man is Muhammad peace be upon him, and now amount to more than a thousand and four hundred million Muslims .. but in the beginning of the call, the number of the faithful are preparing on the fingers, and under this weakness occur greatest prophet peace be upon him for the spread of Islam in this way would be great and that Muslims everywhere in the land.

After having suffered Muslims at the beginning of their call to God a lot of annoyance and oppression of the infidels and the lack of what's said to them, Rauf Rahim Mohamed peace be upon him? How Bcarham something will happen in the future and how to lift their spirits to the highest degree? It's statements can not be preached to tell her in circumstances such as those that were in the beginning of the call, but no one can predict the future of Islam at the time, but if a prophet is revealed to him .. says Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings to his companions (will this total night and day) means that Islam will spread all over the place he used night and day, ie, in all the earth, and indeed statistics say West that Islam exists everywhere in the world today, and this was confirmed by the Koran when he referred in a great verse that this religion will spread and there will be lower and will override all other religions, God says: (it is who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to proclaim it over all religion, and enough is Allah) (Open: 28).

Is not what we see today from the rapid spread of Islam and Western confessions that Islam is the religion most, wider and fastest growing .. Alice in this verse is a miracle that attest to the veracity of this religion?

Facts digital reveal the secrets of the greatest Sura in the Koran

2014-07-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

Facts digital reveal the secrets of the greatest Sura in the Koran

The Messenger of Allah for Al-Fatihah

And my hand, what was revealed in the Torah is not in the Bible nor in the Psalms, nor in the Criterion like her, are the seven vescico Quran and the great Ootih

[Narrated by Imam Ahmad].

This is the Holy Prophet (PBUH) used to tell us about the greatest sura in the Koran: it or the book, which is seven vescico, an Al-Fatihah, even if God gave mention to mention the Koran with his speech to Habib greatest, he said: (I have Atinak seven of vescico and the Holy Qur'an) [stone 15/87].

It sura that prayer is not valid only them, please pray for those who did not read the Opening of the Book, a Sura developed by the Lord of Glory in his introduction to the bone will, and chose a number of verses (7), making them seven verses.

Fssorh Fatiha is a tight construction of words and characters, and we have to study this construction digitally, So it is clear beyond any doubt that the basis of this stunning building is based on the number (7). This is self-evident, because God is the one who called this sura Basba vescico, something we did not come from us, but all we did was the discovery of digital relationships that already exist in this Sura!

The reference to this research is the Koran (Uthmanic and Hafs from Asim), and as the words and letters in this Qur'an fixed came truths digital fixed Also, these startling facts is very strong evidence in this day and age the trunks of the Koran, and that God had saved every letter to the day of Resurrection, he says: (I mentioned we went to him and I privates) [stone: 15/9].

Also, these facts digital still considered proof material on the impossibility bring even Surat such as the Koran, and here remember to tell the truth the Almighty: (though you are in doubt, which went on Abdna they came surah of the like and claimed your martyrs of Allah if ye are truthful * if they do not and will not do Obey fire that fuel is men and stones, prepared for the unbelievers) [Baqarah: 2/2324].

Were it not for the extreme importance of this figure did not find it repeated many of us, since the beginning of the creation of the universe chose Almighty number (7) makes a number of the heavens seven, until the corn is the basic unit of the building cosmic consists of seven layers of electronic, days of the week seven, prostrate on seven bones , circumambulation (7) runs, as well as seek between Safa and Marwa ... and things incalculable ... hell even prepared by God for all those who do not believe in this Qur'an has seven gates. Today, when we discover the amazing system based on this figure in the greatest book of the Koran not suggesting this is a clear indication that the Creator of the seven heavens is the same as the Qur'an? Revealed knowledge and ability in which he said, addressing all human beings: (Will they not ponder the Qur'an Had it been from other than Allah they would have found therein much discrepancy) [women: 4/82].

The systems will see how God Almighty every letter and every word and every verse in Surat Al-Fatiha and tightly integrated system. God, the Almighty who is making this sura seven verses, who called it Basba vescico, who judge letters of his name which is commensurate with the call, came as the number of letters of the word Allah (God) any ground and L and distraction in this sura equal to exactly and complete (49 ) characters, any seven in seven!!

Even the lettering (pain) Alpha and the harvest and Meem came in this stunning Sura system is based on the number seven, as well as letters (Waller). Had we discussed in this Sura characters, aggravating, we find the number (14) characters, any seven in two, if we count the number of dots in this sura we see exactly (56) points, seven in eight, if we studied the installation of Al-Fatiha, we find it fitting basis of (21) alphabetical characters, any seven in three, and there are seven characters not mentioned in this Sura, and so relationships are hardly ends are connected with the number seven and its complications.

We can say: not for the critical importance of the number seven was not God Almighty for this so-called Sura Basba vescico! The word refers (vescico) to Deuteronomy and repetition, repeaters or any multiple of seven. This is what will actually see it in this research, all the figures contained therein are multiples or multiples of the number seven.

Finally Bari ask the Almighty to make us who benefit from including hears and reads and makes the Qur'an the spring of our hearts and the light of our eyes and the evacuation of our concern, Oh God, make the Qur'an an intercessor for us day to meet you.

It's the miracle of digital sun shines on the twenty-first century to address all human beings language era figures. Facts digital amazing we find today in the book of God Almighty ... Is subject our hearts in front of the greatness of God's Book? Is it becoming increasingly certainty and faith and trust in God Almighty?

The future of Islam in Germany

2014-07-12T13:31:00.002-07:00

The future of Islam in Germany

A study conducted by the Foundation "Bertelsmann" German Studies and Research in September 2008, that the majority of Muslims in Germany more tolerant than is common for them in spite of their religiosity, pointing out that 90% of Muslims in Germany are religious, of whom 41% are described as "ultra religiosity."

The events experienced by Muslims in various countries of the world may affect some of us despair and frustration; multitude of conspiracies being hatched against the Muslims here and there, and the fortune of the large number of Muslims from persecution and abuse, and much of what Islam promotes lies and fabrications.

However, this situation quickly disappear if we know the size of the demand for Islam in the West dulling the east, as well as if we know that with every attack on Islam in the West increasingly longing Europeans and Westerners in general to learn about this religion, and know the truth about what is being said about it, and then growing demand to enter into this noble religion.

Although signs of the prophecy of the Prophet peace be upon him what we see today from the large turnout on Islam Westerners, which is not without it the city of the cities of the West, and the sincerity of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him, as he said, "they reach this total night and day, God does not leave the house except diuretic or dander insert the religion of God, noble glory or make servile, attributed cherishes God humiliate Islam and humiliation of God by the infidels. "

This is also true of what happened in Germany, a country that did not know Islam only two or three centuries at the most, although this has become Muslims, Germany's second-largest religious denominations by post-Christian, and I've jumped the proportion of Muslims than 56 thousand Muslims to nearly five million Muslims in a period of not more than thirty years.

In these pages we will try to Islam in Germany, to determine the factors that led to this boom, and also to shed light on the Federal Republic of Germany Christian before they turn into Germany Family, as indicated by many studies and estimates.

Geographic Location

Germany is located west of Central Europe, bordered to the north and the North Sea, Denmark and the Baltic Sea and on the east Poland and the Czech Republic, to the south by Austria and Switzerland to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands

How Islam was introduced to Germany

Muslims did not arrive in their conquests to the ground German, also did not get to in the past in order to stabilize, but the history books tell us about the existence of links between the German Abbasseya fifth Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid and between Charlemagne, and at the end of the second century AH.

Then goes - after that - the masses of Germans with the crusader armies to Muslim countries, and pitched the Levant, and lived groups of them there even failed Crusades and the expulsion of followers of the Europeans finally, there has been influenced by a clear Islam; because they had come out led by hatred, and in them visualize Bad prior hater of Islam.

He then returned Germans then Althmoua and Islamic peoples, during the First World War when the Germans alliance with the Ottoman Turks and the Germans changed the idea of Islam.

Also launched expressly number of Muslim prisoners, some of them preferred to stay in Germany, and then flocked to Germany a number of traders and Muslim workers from Turkey and the Maghreb countries and Yugoslavia, which led to the entry of a number of indigenous Germans in Islam.

Vraadd as Muslims of ethnic German from Communist Russia to Germany, followed by some Tatars after that and buried alive the idea of independence.

It also flocked to Germany a number of traders Afghans and Iranians, and settled by, in addition to the number of refugees fleeing from areas controlled by Russia during World War II, and were followed by a number of Russian soldiers fleeing their religion of communism and the Russians.

At the beginning of the fourth century AH moved to a number of African Germans to establish colonies in Cameroon, Tanzania, Togo and came into contact with Muslims there, and gave some of them, some of them stayed, and some of them returned to his new calling to his faith.

Add to this the influx of thousands of Muslim students from all Muslim countries to study and work in Germany, and then capped it all with some advocacy centers, mosques scattered in all the cities of Germany.

The proportion of Muslims in Germany

The Christianity the official religion of Germany, the largest religion found out only estimates in 2007, the number of Christians in Germany 52.116 million Rastafarian (63%) is a Protestant proportion of 32.3% of them, while Catholics make up 31%, and then come Islam is the second religion in Germany, where the German Muslims number about 4.3 million Rastafarian (5%) of the German people, and it is important to note here that the number of German Muslims at the beginning of the eighties did not exceed 56 thousand.

It seems that the proportion of German Muslims far outweigh this issue, because the official statistics from the neglect of the Germans converted to Islam, which does not work for them, as well as overlook the boys who were born from parents of Muslim origin and married Germans.

It is estimated that the largest percentage of German Muslims of the year as estimated at about 2.5 million people, and there are about 500 thousand of Alawites, mostly from Turkey, as well as 200 thousand, most of them Shiites from Lebanon, and there are a few thousand of the Sufis and the Ismailis.

Qadianis and Bahais, Jews, and Muslims of their danger to Germany

The Bahais and Qadianis of the most difference a threat to Islam and Muslims, for postings of teachings contrary to Islam, is no secret to a extent of correlation strong between both communities and Jews, and it seemed menace in several positions including trying to enter and thrown themselves in some Islamic societies German, was Abthm severe, and a great menace, as well Unfortunately, they have translated the Holy Quran into German by beliefs that are contrary to principles of Islam, which is promoted by the markets.

It also named some of the Jews of Islam and works on his war inside and claiming false allegations, and maligned lying and he knows.

Mosques and Islamic centers in Germany

Germany has about 400 staff and an Islamic institution and dozens of Islamic centers, in addition to more than 300 mosques in large German cities, and join Bgalb mosques and Islamic centers to schools to teach Muslims and operates this school holidays language community constructed the mosque or center.

The most important of these societies, the cultural center in Columbia, and the Federation of Islamic Associations in Munich.

The date of the construction of the first mosque in Germany July 13, 1915, specifically during the First World War; where the Mosque was built especially for Muslims detainees during the First World War, who were working in the army of the Axis powers, where she was detained by German forces, among those arrested, soldiers Muslims origins of Moroccan, Algerian, Indian and others.

Proliferation and places of assembly

One study indicated that 98% of Muslims live in the western states and Berlin, while only 2% live in the eastern states.

She pointed out that the majority of Muslims are concentrated in the state of North Rhine, which accounts for more than a third of them, where they established communities are full of Turkish and Islamic dye; to the extent that Berlin is described as the second Istanbul.

Reasons Germans embrace Islam

Monica Freitag emphasizes specialized in cultural sociology, the reasons for the Germans to embrace Islam are many and varied summarize in the following:

1 - Marriage of mainly Muslim.

2 - There are many other factors in the words of the researcher, the motives are embodied in the desire of the Germans to change their lifestyle through the construction of a new moral order.

3 - Add this to the Immigration Avatar practiced by many of them in search of a different affiliation they find in Islam away from home and the German race.

4 - There are also many Germans entered putting in Islam Muslims living in Germany as a model to follow.

5 - There is another category of the Germans decided to travel and live in Muslim countries, allowing them to discover the religion of Islam on the one hand and helped her to adopt the culture of these countries on the other hand.

Islam and Christianity in Germany

Revealed comparative study between the Islamic movement and mainstream Christianity in Germany published by the newspaper "Die Welt" German that the Islamic religion is compelling, and that the Muslims is on the rise, and confirms a little known fact is that Christians in Europe are living in a complete separation from the Church in most cases.

According to the study conducted by the Central Institute for archive Islamic Germany to that in spite of the difficulties faced by Muslims in the building of mosques, but their numbers are increasing, at the same time shrinking the number of churches in Germany, which condemns Christianity, nor hinder the building of churches, as is the case with mosques according to published newspaper Gulf Times.

According to the study, which indicate that the future may be in Germany for Islam and especially in light of the low numbers of births Germans, the building of mosques in Germany has seen a jump since 2004, rising from 141 to about 159 mosques, while the 128 is still a mosque under construction.

The study stated that the apparent increase in the building of mosques in Germany offset contraction evident in the role of Christian worship, which he considered the President of the Central Institute of Islamic Archives, Germany, Salem Abdullah is normal and a remarkable time ago, blaming the church leaders

The study revealed an important fact, which is that Muslims are an integral part of the fabric of German society after that number increased to nearly one million people compared to 56 thousand only since the beginning of the eighties (this is an old study, and the number is now much higher than this).

Tolerance among Muslims in Germany

In commenting on the results of this study, said Rita Zausmot former President of the German Parliament Bundestag: "This study could contribute to the removal of some Alklashihat," while considered benign Mohagega head of the Islamic Academy in Germany: "The Muslims who belong to extremist groups are more than draw the attention of public opinion, "asserting that religious Muslims also belong to this community.

Why Muslims in Germany, said the new Islam:

Someone said: A German asked me: How did you become a Muslim? I responded that I had not defected from the religious, but I went back to the true religion.

Another said: I read in the Bible, then read the Koran for the first time and is satisfied with it.

And a third said: I read about Hinduism and Buddhism, and brought books about Judaism, I wanted to make sure that Islam is the right way, and came out with conviction, that each person looking for the truth and wants will arrive in Islam, and Zvi fact, when one reads the Koran carefully finds that there is no book like the Koran Description of Allah Almighty the same, and God gave it everything wisdom and meaning, and spoke about the reason for the existence of good and evil, and this is what does not find his answer in Christianity, ... then he said I had interacted once with a priest, and he told me very frankly that the Gospel may symbols.

And the importance of inviting a German Unification said: Islam is the only religion that focuses on monotheism, a debt consolidation only.

The challenges of Islam in Germany

1 - tightening by the Baha'is, Ahmadis and Jews, as well as the trend in Germany, the Nazi racial anti-Islamic presence in Germany.

2 - to restrict the building of mosques in Germany.

3 - the large number of Islamic organizations and non-Andoaúha under one banner, so to intensify efforts and unite the word, and this is the reason why there is a diversity of religious people a year, and there are Shiites, and Alawites, .. in addition to the entities and the Baha'i Qadiani.

4 - Lack of financial support for advocacy support, and the building of mosques and advocacy centers.

5 - bad publicity promoted by the enemies of Islam abroad, there is almost no article or news about the suggestion of linking Islam with terrorism and this religion.

The media strive to devote threatened the image of Islam to the West in general and Europe in particular.

6 - The need to revitalize the Islamic call as he was called East Germany.

Peace, mercy and blessings of God

2014-07-12T13:16:00.001-07:00

Peace, mercy and blessings of God

In this subject, God willing, I will explain the difference between the consolidated and Atheist

You and you get to choose from Noble and who will win

SUBJECT start ... In the name of God

Consolidated says that the creation of human rights

Atheist says that the origin monkey

Consolidated say that there is of habitus

Atheist says that the chance created by

Someone who says that the car itself has created

Consolidated forbids adultery and sodomy and homosexuality

Atheist solves adultery, sodomy and homosexuality

Consolidated inferred scientific miraculous nature of the Qur'an miracle stages of fetal development and the miracle of iron and other ...

Atheist inferred rigging as a human being and the Piltdown man, Nebraska (age pig) and other ...

Science says Per workmanship is necessary to Maker

Consolidated says that God created the eye, hearing, heart and brain ... etc.

Atheist says it evolved!!!

Science says that harmful genetic mutations

Consolidated believe so

Atheist says that genetic mutations could serve as the creature and pass on to the rest of the generation and harmful waived!!! Her mind

Science and Consolidated say that God created the objects and put them in the ground and the object is the same old talk

Like a cat who lived a million years ago is the same who now lives

Consolidated says that the origin of living cell came from the shell was divided and distributed to becoming what it is now

And the whale was hunted fish a lot, instead of exhausting itself, a swim and hunt due developed himself into a whale!!!

The giraffe was Ghazal, where she had to eat grass instead of high fatigue lengthened her neck!!!

Islam preserves the rights of women and gives them the right to tell her veil and protected from the temptation to men

Atheist believes that a woman's right is the shamelessness and immorality, adultery and sex

Consolidated maintains the display

Atheist to Robert A. Iger to his family and sometimes agnostic analyzes, God forbid homosexuality

Consolidated forbids pork

Atheist to Aaahram and hurt himself comes Aldeattp himself and not jealousy

Consolidated orders circumcision

Atheist to Aaomr

Consolidated orders morality, tolerance and forgiveness and love,,,

Atheist sometimes

Consolidated follow the example of the Prophet in all his actions

Atheist follow the example of Darwin and Dawkins

Islam match with a lot of science and scientists Adkhoun Islam

Because of its ethics and scientific miracle ..

Atheism is incompatible with science and reason, logic and morality

Islam Halal order to enjoy and live the good life and good manners and the abode of happiness in this life and the afterlife and the satisfaction of God

Atheism order to enjoy haraam and violation of instinct and the pleasures of the Grand Illusion and abode of insanity or madness and wretchedness or abode of torment and everlasting wrath of God

Consolidated gain in both cases

If Islam is right, if I'm doing Vamamn and bypassing the Sacred

Vsadkhal paradise God's mercy

If atheism is right, if he does I'm also a believer

Nothing to lose, but he lived in the world to follow the ethics and tolerance ... etc!!!

If Islam is right, the atheist does Sacred

Vsadkhal Fire

If atheism is right you will not lose anything but probably committed suicide or lived unhappily

The difference between the consolidated and Atheist

Consolidated eat and drink = Atheist eat and drink

Consolidated enjoy women and has 4 less an end to the marriage = Atheist commits adultery

Consolidated believe in God Fatmon = atheist does not believe in God, so live in fear

Consolidated watching TV, watching movies and serials also watched Atheist =

Consolidated organize his day by praying = Atheist not

Consolidated plays and Atheny and playing well = Atheist

Consolidated lives on his faith in God so that Matt will be ready for the expense of his work

Though atheism is true you will not lose anything because he did not feel would be dead

Atheist live on and that his main concern is to hear and be guided Darwin was right not ready to account Vsevaji and eat on his face

Though atheism is right Voadha will not lose anything

Consolidated display saves and saves female kin of adultery = Atheist not Viajer his or her relatives and viewing and lose his honor

Consolidated Aaokl only good and slaughtered in the Islamic manner = Atheist eats everything, whether slaughtered Thunderstruck dead unclean

Such as pork, which eats dung Faoklh The Atheist is not uniform

Consolidated ordering him to Islam cleanliness and washing janaabah when panning and ordering him after the event

And ordering him ablutions before each prayer

Atheist to Aagtzl not washed after the event live Kalphimh Akram and beast from it

Consolidated ordering him to Islam moral universe while rarely Atheist

Atheism particular terrorism, as happened in the massacres of communism ... Let the Shia and Sunni terrorism, we

And other and other

If O you Atheist Is this the life you want to experienced

In all cases, you are losers ... God gave you a mind to think about it!!!

In conclusion, I ask God to guide you and prove your faith Aamlhaddan Aamouhdin

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings be upon you,,, my greetings to all

Advice For You

2014-07-12T12:59:00.001-07:00

Advice For You

I know you Homo sapiens that God gave you a mind, a body established in human love distinguishes between Hasan and the ugly and what will benef

it him and harm him should not be that big of sane mind that this is blessed by it.

Although a healthy mind requires that this world is changing from event to event if we look at the Earth, the same in the summer is unchanged in the winter in terms of dryness, humidity and so on, as well as the human condition at a young age is the same in the case of youth and old age, it is transmitted from weakness to strength and power to weakness and then dies, the mind requires that the variable he must changer because the thing does not change himself because if it were told this thing is the same it would mean that it was present before there is any was present as being a changer for himself and this is impossible and led to the assignee is shops and affirmed that this required a world where everything has a creator created out of nowhere to exist and that the Creator does not like him in any way.

And God was present in all eternity any connection not starting him was not in time immemorial something does not light nor darkness nor man, nor king nor vacuum nor is it and this is something not envisioned by the human mind, but recognized by the mind requires that the variables were not present in eternity and then, most notably God out of nowhere to exist, then God created water any highlighted out of nowhere to exist and make it originally Per creatures, then the first man created by God is Adam, God ordered King Azrael took all the dust of the ground and then batch water paradise and then leave it until he became Salsala Kalfajar then the king ordered that infuses this mud dry spirit of Adam peace be upon him Fjolh God that created the human sixty cubits tall in the sky and presented seven arms and that was in heaven, then God created from the rib Adam left his wife Eve and inspired of God Adam faith was known as faith in God, then that God sent to Adam and Eve king told them that God Anhahma eating of certain tree in Paradise was the devil creation before Adam and Eve and was a Muslim worship God mixed with the Angels but he was not one of the angels, and then when he ordered the angels to prostrate to Adam prostration of greeting do not worship and commanded the devil thus rejected the devil this and objected to God and Kafr then stayed briefly in Paradise and mite where Adam and Eve even eat from this tree Vocla them were those sin small is not the meanness nor the lowliness and not sin big as some people claim, after it drove Adam and Eve and Satan of Paradise it was not Adam and Eve naked while Ohbta of paradise, but they had clothes of light from heaven clothes. Then that Adam was born his Wife Eve forty Batna in each litter, male and female, and that Adam knew his children languages and Sanai Kaharath seeding, grinding and kneading bread and hit the cash and other, and then he did not die until he saw from his offspring and descendants of his descendants forty thousand they were all on the belief that God is one not partner does not look like something from his creation exists not in size at all, neither is the size of a small nor is the size of a large existing without hand and no place and that is not something imagined in the mind because the unthinkable is not only something a creature and then after the death of Adam came the revelation of prophecy to his son, Seth, who followed the call to Islam, such as his father Adam in the law Sheth Allaah has forbidden marriage brother of his sister from the abdomen the other and this was permissible in the law of Adam, because this was it needs and is thus required wisdom and this is called something legislatively and that when the difference between a prophet and Eakhar in some of the things the law assets related to the branches do not believe the origins of belief is not a difference between a prophet and Eakhar.

Then after the death of Seth Nbye Idris peace be upon him, who continued to call for the religion of Islam Kachit and Adam, in the time Idris peace be upon him, there were five men good: d, and Yaghuth, and Se, and an eagle, and impedes was permissible in that law work imagery for humans any statues of human beings they kept them five statues and then after the death of Idris, peace be upon him came the devil to some people and said to them, these statues Aabduha with God until you closer to God Fbdha some people picking polytheism and disbelief in God the first time in the ground and went on a thousand years between Mission Idris and mission of the Prophet, which came after a Noah who was the first messenger was sent to the heathens worshiped but Allah and that the meaning of the verse: (the people of one nation) Any Islam (Then Allah sent the Prophets missionaries and warners) any picking disbelief after Idris Then Allah sent the Prophets after the missionaries and warners and the first of them Noah and the meaning of the words peace and blessings : is the first messengers of God to the people of the land, ie after the first of the apostles for the trap. Then successively the prophets and apostles after Noah called to unify the God of any faith in him is engaging and calling people to their faith because God sent them.

Then came Moses, peace be upon him the religion of Islam like all other prophets believed by some people and Kafr Ouakhron wrought upon the Torah in Hebrew.

Then God sent Jesus who is called Christ who was Achrist in any Earth spins in the ground to reach the religion of Islam as well as some people Ouamn and Kafr Ouakhron.

The Jews are infidels and then they wanted to kill Jesus said to him, after that you enchanting after seeing the miracles that God gave him a miracle to revive the dead, God willing, and discharge any blind, who was born blind and the leper. He came for the Jews killed Jesus, and was met with a dozen of his students and said to them: Which of you deliver it likeness and be my companion in Paradise? So the youngest and said: I said to him, Jesus Christ: Sit, repeat Christ's essay stood the same student said to him, Christ incapacitated Vkrrha a third time so the same student said to him, Christ is you threw God semi-Issa on this pupil smaller and raise Jesus from the energy in the room to the second heaven it is staying there that comes when coming to the ground before the time to kill the pigs and break the cross and calls to the religion of Islam as he did during his stay in the ground, and his Jews and found similar Issa Feznoh Jesus peace be upon him, killing him, God said: (and killed him and crucified him, but the semi-them).

He then went on about five hundred years between the lifting of Jesus to heaven, and the revelation to the Prophet Muhammad, who is Eakhar prophets and apostles, and Islam was lost among the people in the ground before the mission of the Prophet Mohammed five years, and was a messenger of God faces in his work by calling the infidels idolaters and Christians who worship Christ The Jews who claim to be the Son of God Azira is believed by some of those who left all corrupt beliefs are contrary to Islam and Ntqgua Shahaadatayn believing that all the prophets came one religion is Islam.

The Muslim is a person who will enter Paradise and immortalize them endlessly, but the infidel who heard the invitation prophet Eakhar time Mohammed did not believe in him and what he brought the dead on that it's going to spend eternity in hell rather than leaving it where he lives in purgatory permanent, which does not relieve him to forever the Father .

O you sapiens who did not deliver after catch yourself and enter in Islam before you die on infidelity does not benefit you regret, then do not neglect the value of proof of mental Okrmk it shall be one of the losers, the man living in the world once the was the conclusion on Islam were winners Bjnat bliss where eternal bliss immortal and that was the conclusion of disbelief it going to spend eternity in hell.

And enter into this religion, which is Islam, which Allah approved each slaves and ordered them to follow him, and sent all the prophets, it is a belief the doctrine that came out of the prophets and abandon all opposers and say prayers saying testify that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, even non-Arabic language but the word Mohammed does not translate is valid to say I bear witness that the Messenger of Allah Abu al-Qasim instead that Muhammad is His Messenger.

This advice must be made to all holders who heard the invitation of Islam did not enter it until they enter after it so that is the reason for their deliverance from eternal immortality in the fire that died on Islam.

What distinguishes it from other month of Ramadan

2014-07-12T12:45:00.001-07:00

What distinguishes it from other month of Ramadan

The characteristics of the month of Ramadan

1 - of the properties of the month of Ramadan: that the Almighty God revealed the Koran, he says: {month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs of the guidance and the Criterion} [Al-Baqarah: 185], which is the constitution of this nation, a book described, and the straight path, the promise and intimidation, intimidation and threat, a guidance for those who stick with it and sit, a light set, light to those who work it, those who permitted Halaleh, and campus Hramh, which is the separation between right and wrong, which is seriously not Bahazzl, we are all O Muslims care of the book of God read, and preserved, and an explanation, and studying them, and in accordance with the application.

2 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: open the gates of paradise, and closing fire doors, and chained devils are chained and Asathm, do not pray not to be saved to what they are loyal to him before, he said peace be upon him: «If income Ramadan opened the gates of heaven, and closed the gates of hell , and the devils are chained », in the novel:« If the Ramadan opened the doors of paradise »[Bukhari].

3 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: Favors doubled.

4 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: that of a mushroom which fasting is like one who is fasting is not to detract from the fast pay nothing, he said, peace be upon him: «of mushroom fasting is like wages without detracting from the fast pay nothing» [Hassan true Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and others].

5 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan is that in which much of the night which is better than a thousand months, a blessed night in which he writes of God where it will be during the year, it is denied the reward he was denied good many, he said, peace be upon him: «the night is better than a month from deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived »[Ahmad and Women which is true. It Qamha faith and hope of reward, Allah will forgive his sins, he said, peace be upon him: «of Qadr out of faith and hope of reward will be forgiven his previous sins» [agreed], and said of Qamha Aptghaeha, then signed him, forgive him progress of the past and future sins. [Ahmad]. Fayala of work and little reward and a great many of his hand when the treasures of the heavens and the earth, thanks be to God.

6 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: large landing angels, he says: {descend the angels and the Spirit by} [Destiny: 4].

7 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: the eaters suhoor, which is a feature of fasting for fasting the previous nations, and which is very good also told that Mustafa peace be upon him, where he said: «separation between our fasting and the fasting people of the Book Eaters magic» [Muslim], and said it prayer and peace: «Eat sahoor the pond in suhoor» [agreed].

8 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: occurred when the Great Battle of Badr, the conquest by the evil ones where angels to fight with the faithful, was the victory, the faithful ally, and thus defeated the infidels, there is no god but Allah is the strong force.

9 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: was the conquest of Mecca honor of God, which is opening from which emerged the light of Islam, east and west, and Nasrallah messenger where people entered the religion of Allah in crowds, and spent the Messenger of Allah on paganism and polytheism object in Mecca became the House of Islam, It was after the Islamic conquests everywhere.

10 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: Umrah that it is equivalent to Hajj with the Prophet peace be upon him, in the correct said peace be upon him: «Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj» or said «excuse me».

11 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: it is one of the reasons atone sins, he said, peace be upon him: «the five daily prayers, and Friday to Friday, and Ramadan to Ramadan thinker what you avoid major sins» [Muslim].

12 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: the tarawih prayers, where he will meet the Muslims, men and women in the houses of God to perform this prayer, and do not meet in the month of Ramadan for non-performance.

13 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan is that in which the business has doubled from the other, and when he was asked peace be upon him any better charity said: «charity in Ramadan» [Tirmidhi and al].

14 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: that people are most generous are in Ramadan, and this reality to be found now, in the correct Bin Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: "The Prophet, peace be upon him the finest people, and was generous in Ramadan .." .

15 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: that of the pillars of Islam, it is not Islam, one without it, it denies that it is obligatory is an infidel, he says: {O you who believe fasting as prescribed for those before you, that ye may be} [Al-Baqarah: 183 , said peace be upon him: «Islam is built on five testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, paying the zakat, fasting Ramadan, pilgrimage to the Sacred House» [agreed].

16 - It is characteristic of the month of Ramadan: the large number of goodness and good people, and people wanting to mosques groups and individual, which is not found in the present month, the Great Mosque, and what a sorrow and sadness and regret that we find the high demand on the houses of Allah in Ramadan but in other Ramadan Until God the defendant. Evil people who do not know God only in Ramadan.

He drew these characteristics and this his gifts and his gifts, we should use the opportunity of Socialized Muslims and the investment of his time back with us great benefit from Halim Knowing the Lord, we must and duties towards this month.

What you should do in the holy month of Ramadan, and meals in the month of Ramadan

Duties in the month of Ramadan

1 - to realize that God wants our faith to be tested by the Almighty, to teach sincere fasting is sincere, God is the one who is familiar with the harb

or pronouns.

2 - Nsovernm structure that it does not reward those who fasted without intention.

3 - that does not cut off the day in the long sleep.

4 - to increase our reading of the Koran.

5 - to renew our repentance with the Almighty Creator.

6 - can not reconstruct his nights staying up late and hills, which does not benefit from it.

7 - to increase our prayer and of the forgiveness and supplication to God Almighty.

8 - to maintain the five Muslim prayers in the houses of God.

9 - to fast and stuck all prey for deprivation of God Almighty.

This - the slaves of God - the month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, the month of the proximity of the heavens and the distance from the fire, VIA scruffy old in non-obedience, O of hyperthyroidism in the famous, but in Dahrh wasting, oh of his goods procrastination and neglect, and Bist goods, O making his opponent Quran and the month of Ramadan, tell me Lord how requests deliverance who made him opponent and against you, FRP fasting moment of fasting hunger and thirst, and Lord based his luck from his iPod and fatigue, all do not end the mockery and a joke no more than the owner only after, and all fasting is not preserved Sacred is not inherited from the owner only abomination response.

O my people .. Where we have heard from people if need God answered the call, and if they read the verses of Allah Geloh their hearts, and if they fasted them silent tongues and ears and eyes, for do not we like them? Vencqua our affairs to God, our Lord Vrakhmok our business, there is no god but God, how much of our lives we lose, the more improved than words worsened business, we calculated and you Mlazna.

God is God, O Muslims, sincere repentance and return the right to Allah, Ramadan is an opportunity for the people of (smoke) to prove to them beyond doubt that they can leave, but they followed the devil, but how about one who endures smoke more than fifteen hours straight, not this could give up this it is religiously prohibited, and the wear and tear of God, but of passion and desires, Repent to Allah all, O believers, that ye may prosper.

This is what God is pleased with me writing on this subject, and ask Lord Almighty that makes these words purely to face the Almighty, and that the utilitarian day supply it, and that makes everyone in the balance of advantages, he listens and nearby Mujibur pray. And Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may Allah bless him and bless our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and companions.

Ramadan

2014-07-12T12:31:00.003-07:00

Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. The month of Ramadan is a special month for Muslims, where it differs from the rest of the months of the Islamic year. What distinguishes this month is fasting in which Muslims from dawn until sunset. For the month of Ramadan a special place in the eyes of Muslims; because they believe that the Qur'an descended upon the Messenger of Allah, Mohammad is in much of the night this month in the year 610 AD, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him in the cave of Hira when it came to him the angel Gabriel (), and told him, "Read the name of your Lord who created "this was the first verse of the Quran that was revealed. Quran was revealed from the board saved much of the night one sentence, he put in the house of pride in the skies of the world, then it was Jibril inflicts a star a star in the do's and don'ts and the reasons, and that in twenty years.

Origin of the word Ramadan

Differed in the derivation of the word Ramadan was told: It's a Alramad extreme heat said: Aramad Ramada: intensified free. And Eramad free folk: they intensified Ibn Duraid: As the names of the months were taken from the ancient language Highness about the times in which he agreed that the days of Ramadan Ramad free and was called by the intensity. Fur: It is said that the month of Ramadan, the two-month spring, does not mention the names of the month with other migratory months. Said: This August may accept. The month of Ramadan fasting is taken from Ramad Aramad if his stomach is free of severe thirst, God Almighty said: The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran

Fasting

(Islam) | fasting]] of the pillars of Islam, which refrains Muslims from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse, for a certain period of Fajr to the ears of Morocco, and in September of sponsorship for the same and near to God Almighty, which also closes the gates of Hell and Tsaft demons and open the doors of mercy. Time fasting in Ramadan from dawn till sunset, said the Koran ".. and eat and drink until it is clear to you the white thread from the black thread of the dawn, then complete the fast until night ..." says the apostle of the virtue of the month of Ramadan, "Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and anticipation forgiven his past sins "and most fasters Asahon before dawn and eat a small meal and drink water (called this meal suhoor) in preparation for a day of fasting, has stated about the virtues of suhoor that the Prophet said," eat sahoor the sahoor pond "(Agreed). In fasting should also refrain from profanity Muslim and act bad, because the Prophet "If any of you on the fast; do not Arfet not Ackb, the Sabh a killer or let him say Oh God, I am fasting

Ramadan and the Qur'an

Revealed the Quran to Muhammad - peace be upon him - in the month of Ramadan, specifically in much of the night, a night most likely by some to be the night of the twenty-seventh of Ramadan and that the revelation of the first verse in the Quran as stated in an interview with the Prophet peace be upon him when he took him Gabriel - peace be upon him - saying: read! Said the Prophet, peace be upon him: ((I can not read said he took Vgtunai even hit effort from me and then he sent me read you said that I am a reader took me Vgtunai second until he reached effort from me and then he sent me read I said that I am a reader took me Vgtunai third and then he sent me {Read the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clot read and Noble Lord} returned by the Messenger of Allah O Allah upon him shivering his heart)) [Bukhari 3] and by that witnessed this holy month, down another, it's revelation of the Qur'an inter saved plate to the house of pride in the lowest heaven, and that was in much of the night to say the Qur'an {We sent down in the Night of Power} {We sent down on a blessed night}, Ibn Abbas said: revealed the Koran one sentence to the first heaven for much of the night and then revealed then in twenty years [Women and the Governor] , and Ibn Jarir said: Quran was revealed from the board saved to heaven on much of the night of the month of Ramadan and then sent down to Muhammad, peace be upon him what God wanted him lowered

Do Ramadan

Taraweeh prayers are prayers Needless to pray, Muslims (Sunnis) in Ramadan, and then after evening prayers to the dawn prayer, described by two by two and then freaking CAPTCHA any two by two and then pray one rak'ah call Vihabma wills from the world and the Hereafter, was not offered the Prophet peace be upon him (group) only three nights so as not to impose on Muslims pray, but it was the length of his life did not let the night traveling or not they attended, and the age of Omar ibn al-Khattab links with the group so as not to multiple groups in one mosque, where it said "good innovation

Eid al-Fitr

Muslims celebrate the first day of the month of Shawwal (the month of Ramadan the pro-Islamic Calendar) Eid al-Fitr (also called the Feast of Ramadan and Eid younger) for three days. Enact the Eid prayer on the first day of the feast

Zakat al-Fitr

Zakat al-Fitr is obligatory for all Muslims, men and women, senior and junior, provided that owns the individual food day and night of Eid, and must remove them before the Eid prayer Flo took it out person after the prayer are not considered zakat mushroom, but a kind of charity may be taken out by a day or two of the feast by legislation Islamic

جيشُ مُحمّد سوف يعُود (غزّة- لطفي دوبل كانو)

2014-07-11T13:13:00.001-07:00

How I Came to Love the Veil

2013-11-24T15:55:00.001-08:00

I used to look at veiled women as quiet, oppressed creatures -- until I was captured by the Taliban. In September 2001, just 15 days after the terrorist attacks on the United States, I snuck into Afghanistan, clad in a head-to-toe blue burqa, intending to write a newspaper account of life under the repressive regime. Instead, I was discovered, arrested and detained for 10 days. I spat and swore at my captors; they called me a “bad” woman but let me go after I promised to read the Quran and study Islam. (Frankly, I’m not sure who was happier when I was freed -- they or I.) Back home in London, I kept my word about studying Islam -- and was amazed by what I discovered. I’d been expecting Quran chapters on how to beat your wife and oppress your daughters; instead, I found passages promoting the liberation of women. Two-and-a-half years after my capture, I converted to Islam, provoking a mixture of astonishment, disappointment and encouragement among friends and relatives.

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Now, it is with disgust and dismay that I watch here in Britain

as former foreign secretary Jack Straw1 describes the Muslim

nikab -- a face veil that reveals only the eyes -- as an unwelcome

barrier to integration, with Prime Minister Tony Blair, writer

Salman Rushdie and even Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi

leaping to his defense. Having been on both sides of the veil, I can

tell you that most Western male politicians and journalists who

lament the oppression of women in the Islamic world have no idea

what they are talking about. They go on about veils, child brides,

female circumcision, honor killings and forced marriages, and they

wrongly blame Islam for all this -- their arrogance surpassed only

by their ignorance. These cultural issues and customs have

nothing to do with Islam. A careful reading of the Quran shows

that just about everything that Western feminists fought for in the

1970s were available to Muslim women 1,400 years ago. Women

in Islam are considered equal to men in spirituality, education and

worth, and a woman’s gift for childbirth and child-rearing is

regarded as a positive attribute. When Islam offers women so

much, why are Western men so obsessed with Muslim women’s

attire? Even British government ministers Gordon Brown and

John Reid have made disparaging remarks about the nikab -- and

they hail from across the Scottish border, where men wear skirts.

When I converted to Islam and began wearing a headscarf, the

repercussions were enormous. All I did was cover my head and

hair -- but I instantly became a second-class citizen. I knew I’d

hear from the odd Islamophobe, but I didn’t expect so much open

hostility from strangers. Cabs passed me by at night, their “for

hire” lights glowing. One cabbie, after dropping off a white

passenger right in front of me, glared at me when I rapped on his

window, then drove off. Another said, “Don’t leave a bomb in the

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1 For his statements, please see :

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5410472.s

tm and

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5411954.stm).

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back seat” and asked, “Where’s bin Laden hiding?” Yes, it is a

religious obligation for Muslim women to dress modestly, but the

majority of Muslim women I know like wearing the hijab, which

leaves the face uncovered, though a few prefer the nikab. It is a

personal statement: My dress tells you that I am a Muslim and that

I expect to be treated respectfully, much as a Wall Street banker

would say that a business suit defines him as an executive to be

taken seriously. And, especially among converts to the faith like

me, the attention of men who confront women with inappropriate,

leering behavior is not tolerable.

I was a Western feminist for many years, but I’ve discovered

that Muslim feminists are more radical than their secular

counterparts. We hate those ghastly beauty pageants, and tried to

stop laughing in 2003 when judges of the Miss Earth competition

hailed the emergence of a bikini-clad Miss Afghanistan, Vida

Samadzai, as a giant leap for women’s liberation. They even gave

Samadzai a special award for “representing the victory of women’s

rights.” Some young Muslim feminists consider the hijab and the

nikab political symbols, too, a way of rejecting Western excesses

such as binge drinking, casual sex and drug use. What is more

liberating: being judged on the length of your skirt and the size of

your surgically enhanced breasts, or being judged on your

character and intelligence? In Islam, superiority is achieved

through piety -- not beauty, wealth, power, position or sex.

I didn’t know whether to scream or laugh when Italy’s Prodi

joined the debate last week by declaring that it is “common sense”

not to wear the nikab because it makes social relations “more

difficult.” Nonsense. If this is the case, then why are cell phones,

landlines, e-mail, text messaging and fax machines in daily use?

And no one switches off the radio because they can’t see the

presenter’s face. Under Islam, I am respected. It tells me that I

have a right to an education and that it is my duty to seek out

knowledge, regardless of whether I am single or married.

Nowhere in the framework of Islam are we told that women must

wash, clean or cook for men. As for how Muslim men are allowed

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to beat their wives -- it’s simply not true. Critics of Islam will quote random Quranic verses or Hadith, but usually out of context. If a man does raise a finger against his wife, he is not allowed to leave a mark on her body, which is the Quran’s way of saying, “Don’t beat your wife, stupid.” It is not just Muslim men who must reevaluate the place and treatment of women. According to a recent National Domestic Violence Hotline survey, 4 million American women experience a serious assault by a partner during an average 12-month period. More than three women are killed by their husbands and boyfriends every day -- that is nearly 5,500 since 9/11. Violent men don’t come from any particular religious or cultural category; one in three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime, according to the hotline survey. This is a global problem that transcends religion, wealth, class, race and culture. But it is also true that in the West, men still believe that they are superior to women, despite protests to the contrary. They still receive better pay for equal work -- whether in the mailroom or the boardroom -- and women are still treated as sexualized commodities whose power and influence flow directly from their appearance. And for those who are still trying to claim that Islam oppresses women, recall this 1992 statement from the Rev. Pat Robertson, offering his views on empowered women: Feminism is a “socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.” Now you tell me who is civilized and who is not. (Yvonne Ridley is political editor of Islam Channel TV in London and co-author of “In the Hands of the Taliban: Her Extraordinary Story.”)

Source: islamhouse.com/

An Introduction to the Quran

2013-11-24T15:43:00.001-08:00

The Quran is the Muslim scripture, that is to say the scripture of the followers of Islam. Islam is the religion established among the Arabs - a people until then largely confined to the Arabian Peninsula - by the Prophet Muhammad in the early seventh century. The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad by God through the agency of the angel Gabriel; this took place partly in Mecca, his hometown, and partly in Medina, where he succeeded in creating a state in an otherwise stateless tribal society. The message was revealed in Arabic, the language of the people it was initially addressed to, even though the message was ultimately for the whole of humanity. The Quran specifically mentions that Muhammad was the messenger to the whole of mankind, and that he is the last messenger to be sent. Thus, the Quran is the final message that supersedes and reiterates the basic religion God ordained for the Jews and the Christians, as well as the Muslims. Today, the total number of Muslims in the world is over a billion, making up almost a fifth of the world’s population. For all

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Muslim communities, whatever their language and wherever they live, the Quran is their scripture.

The Basics

The first thing to understand about the Quran is its form. The Arabic word, ‘Quran,’ literally means both ‘recitation’ and ‘reading’. Similarly, the Quran was both recited orally and written down in book form. The true power of the Quran remains in the oral recitation, as it is meant to be read aloud and melodiously, but still the verses were written down on available materials as an aid to memorizing and guarding it, and these were collected and ordered in book form both privately and, at a later stage, institutionally. The Quran was not meant to tell a chronological story, and thus, the Quran should not be viewed as a sequential narrative like the book of Genesis. The Arabic book that goes by the name Quran is about as long as the New Testament. In most editions it is about 600 pages in length. In contrast to the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, the Quran issued from the mouth of a single person, who recited what he heard from the angel Gabriel. On the other hand, both the Jewish and the Christian scriptures are collections of many books that were written down by a large number of human beings, and opinions differ as to their status as revelation.

How Is The Quran Organized?

The Quran is composed of 114 parts or chapters of unequal length. Each chapter is called a surah in Arabic and each sentence or phrase of the Quran is called an aaya, literally ‘a sign.’ Like the Bible, the Quran is divided into discrete units, referred to as verses in English. These verses are not standard in length or meter, and where each begins and ends was not decided by human beings, but dictated by God. Each one is a discrete act of locution of closed signification, or ‘sign’, denoted by the word aayah in Arabic. The shortest of the surahs has ten words, and the longest surah, which

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is placed second in the text, has 6,100 words. The first surah, the Fatihah (“The Opening”), is relatively short (twenty-five words). From the second surah onward, the surahs gradually decrease in length, although this is not a hard and fast rule. The last sixty surahs take up about as much space as the second. Some of the longer aayahs are much longer than the shortest surahs. All surahs, except one, begin with Bimillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim, ‘In the Name of God, the Most-Merciful, the Compassionate.’ Each surah has a name that usually mentions a key motto within it. For example, the longest surah, Surah al-Baqara, or “The Cow”, is named after the story of Moses commanding the Jews to offer a sacrifice of a cow, which begins by God saying: “And remember when Moses said to his people: ‘God commands that you sacrifice a cow…’” (Quran 2:67) Since the various chapters are of various lengths, the Quran was divided by scholars of the first century after the death of the Prophet into thirty roughly equal parts, each part is called a juz’ in Arabic. This division of the Quran was done in order for people to memorize or read it in a more organized fashion, and it has no influence on the original structure, as they are mere marks on the sides of the pages denoting the part. In the Muslim month of fasting, Ramadan, one juz’ is usually recited every night, and the entire Quran is completed in the thirty days of the month.

Translations of Quran

A beginner should know a few points about Quran translations. First, there is a distinction between the Quran and its translation. In Christian view, the Bible is the Bible, no matter what language it may be in. But a translation of the Quran is not the word of God, for the Quran is the exact Arabic words spoken by God, revealed to Prophet Muhammad by Gabriel. The word of God is only the Arabic Quran as God says:

“Indeed, I revealed it as an Arabic Quran.” (Quran 12:2)

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A translation is simply an explanation of the meanings of the Quran. That is why one modern English translation has been titled “The Meaning of the Glorious Quran”: it strives only to give the meaning, but falls short, as any translation must, of reproducing the form of the Holy Book. The translated text loses the inimitable quality of the original, so be aware of the degree to which a translation reflects the original message at every level of meaning, and that it will probably not match it.. For this reason, all which is regarded as ‘recitation’ of the Quran is to be done in Arabic, such as the recitation of the Quran in the five daily prayers of the Muslims, Second, there is no perfect translation of the Quran, and, being human works, each almost always has errors. Some translations are better in their linguistic quality, while others are noted for their exactness in portraying the meaning. Many inaccurate, and sometimes misleading, translations that are generally not accepted as reliable renditions of the Quran by mainstream Muslims are sold in the market. Third, while a review of all the English translations is out of the scope of this article, some translations are recommended over others. The most widely read English translation is by Abdullah Yusuf ‘Ali, followed by that of Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall, the first translation by an English Muslim. Yusuf ‘Ali’s translation is generally acceptable, but his footnote commentary, useful at times, can be odd and unacceptable. Another widespread translation is done by Dr. Hilali and Muhsin Khan called ‘Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Quran.’ Although it is the most accurate, the many transliterated Arabic terms and endless parentheses makes it hard to follow and confusing for a beginner. A newer version with more flowing text has been published by Saheeh International, and this is probably a better translation, as it combines both exactness in translation and readability.

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Exegesis (Tafseer in Arabic)

Although the meanings of the Quran are easy and clear to understand, one must be careful to make assertions about the religion without relying on an authentic commentary. Not only did Prophet Muhammad bring the Quran, he also explained it to his companions, and these sayings have been collected and preserved till this day. God says: “And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the message that you may explain clearly to men what is sent for them…” (Quran 16:44) In order to understand some of the deeper meanings of the Quran, one should rely upon commentaries which mention these statements of the Prophet as well as his companions, and not upon what they understand from the text, as their understanding of it is limited to their prior knowledge. A specific methodology exists for exegesis of the Quran in order to extract the proper meaning. The Quranic sciences, as they are called, are an extremely specialized field of Islamic scholarship which requires mastery in multiple disciplines, like exegesis, recitations, script, inimitability, circumstances behind revelation, abrogation, Quranic grammar, unusual terms, religious rulings, and Arabic language and literature. According to scholars of Quranic exegesis, the proper method of explaining the verses of Quran are: (i) Tafseer of the Quran by Quran. (ii) Tafseer of the Quran by the Sunna of the Prophet. (iii) Tafseer of the Quran by the Companions. (iv) Tafseer of the Quran by Arabic language. (v) Tafseer of the Quran by ‘opinion’, if it does not contradict the above four sources.

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Muslims are absolutely convinced of the greatness and importance of the Quran, which is usually mentioned with epithets like “noble,” “glorious,” and “pure.” What is it that so deeply moves the Muslim when reciting from the Quran, when seeing its verses, or when barely touching it? The style of the Quran is inimitable and of divine beauty and power. Try as he may, no man can write a paragraph that is comparable to a verse of the revealed Book. This has to do partly with the literary merit of the text and the efficacy of the words - their transforming and saving power - that is inimitable. It moves an illiterate shepherd to tears when recited to him, and it has shaped the lives of millions of simple people over the course of almost fourteen centuries; it has nourished some of the most powerful intellects known to human records; it has stopped sophisticates in their tracks and made pious believers of them, and it has been the source of the most subtle philosophy and of an art which expresses its deepest meaning in visual terms; it has brought the wandering tribes of humanity together in communities and civilizations upon which its imprint is apparent even to the most casual observer. To recite the Quran is the most sublime and edifying occupation for the Muslim, even when he or she does not intellectually understand its words, as is the case with most non-Arab believers. The Muslims’ desire to recite the Quran as beautifully as possible, and the art of tilāwat, the proper recitation, has developed into a science. Even when reciting the Book without embellishment, one has to observe certain rules of recitation. The hafiz, who “preserves” the Quran, i.e., knows it by heart, is highly respected, and boys and girls are sent at an early age to the mosque to memorize the ‘Book.’

In order not to besmirch the sacred character of the Quran, care should be taken that it is not left in a place where someone may accidentally stand, sit on or otherwise disrespect it; it is extremely disliked to use any book, let alone the Quran, as a prop for holding

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anything up. When not being read, the Muslim will replace it in the shelf of the bookcase, or on the lectern. Some people wrap it carefully in cloth in order to preserve it and also to be able handle it when not in a state of purity if needed. They also like to ensure that it is placed above other books, and they avoid just letting the Quran lie around. It is absolutely forbidden to take it into the place one urinates or defecates or that is a place of major impurity (toilets, middens, sheepcotes, city sewers, etc.). Even reciting it in such places is a thing not done.

Language of the Quran

The Quranic world view is closely tied to the Arabic language, which, like Hebrew and Aramaic (the language spoken by Jesus), belongs to the Semitic family. The Quran defines itself specifically as an ‘Arabic scripture’, and the message is shaped to the complex structure of the chosen language, a structure fundamentally different to that of any European tongue. The internal logic of Semitic languages is very different from that of Indo-European languages such as English, Latin, Sanskrit, and Persian. Every Arabic word may be traced back to a verbal root consisting of three, four or five consonants from which are derived up to twelve different verbal modes, together with a number of nouns and adjectives. This is referred to as the triliteral root, and specific words are formed from it by the insertion of long or short vowels and by the addition of suffixes and prefixes. The root as such is ‘dead’ - unpronounceable - until brought to life, that is to say vocalized, by the vowels, and it is according to their placing that the basic meaning is developed in a number of different directions. The root has som

etimes been described as the ‘body’ while the vowelling is the ‘soul’; or again, it is from the root that a great tree grows. Without understanding the meanings and the related concepts of the Arabic words, it is impossible to appreciate the richness of the associated meanings, the difficulty of translating words into English, and the interrelationships among Arabic words that are obvious in the original.

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The Muslims’ preoccupation with the sublime language of the Quran grew into the study of grammar and rhetoric, especially when non-Arabs entered the fold of Islam in increasing numbers and had to be taught about the peculiarities of the language of revelation. The belief that the Book was untranslatable forced those who embraced Islam to learn Arabic or at least to become acquainted with the Arabic alphabet. Many times, this led nations to actually adopt Arabic as their native languages, as is the case with all Arab nations save the Arabian Peninsula. This had immense consequences for other languages, such as Persian, Turkish, Malay and many others, who adopted the Arabic script. Quranic sayings and expressions are used as much in high literature as in daily conversations, even among non-Arabs, and Arab non-Muslims.

Source: islamhouse.com/

Does Islam Oppress Women?

2013-11-24T15:29:00.004-08:00

Fourteen hundred years ago Islam gave women rights; rights

that could not have been imagined by European counterparts.

Bold words! Words that have been spoken repeatedly, especially

in the last two or three decades by Muslim converts, and Islamic

writers, academics and educators across the globe. Women’s

rights, responsibilities, and choices have been the subject of books,

articles, essays, and lectures. Sadly however, convincing the

world that Muslim women are not oppressed by Islam is a message that is just not getting through. Media headlines scream

oppression and the words Muslim, women, and oppression seem to

have become inextricably linked.

No matter what Muslim women do or say to try to convince the

world otherwise, words like hijab, burka, polygamy, and Sharia

seem to do little but convince people that Islam oppresses women.

Even educated, articulate women fulfilling the modest conditions

of hijab can do little to dispel the myths. Women who conduct

themselves with decorum and grace and function effortlessly in the

modern world have their achievements and successes celebrated.

However, if a woman wears a scarf, covers her hair or puts her

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religion above worldly pursuits she is immediately labelled

oppressed. One wonders if this is the case for women of other

religious persuasions. Are modest religious women of all faiths

labelled oppressed? Alternatively, is it just Islam?

The most visible sign of a Muslim woman’s faith is the

headscarf or hijab; it is also the garment that leads people to

believe that Islam oppresses women. Although Islamic scholars

unanimously agree that modest dress and head coverings are

obligatory in Islam, for the majority of Muslim women around the

world, to cover, or not to cover, is a freely made choice. The

women who chose to wear hijab view it as a right, not a burden

and many describe wearing hijab as liberation from the need to

conform to unrealistic stereotypes and images dictated by the

media.

What exactly do Muslim women say about themselves in

relation to the issue of oppression? In 2005, a World Gallup Poll1

entitled, What women Want: Listening to the voices of Muslim

Woman, revealed that the majority of women polled, in

predominantly Muslim countries resented lack of unity among

Muslim nations, violent extremism, and political and economic

corruption. The headscarf or hijab, or any garment covering the

face and body, often depicted as a tool of oppression was not even

mentioned.

The report concluded that “...most women in the Muslim world

are well aware that they have the same capabilities and deserve the

same fundamental rights as men. Majorities of females in each of

the eight countries surveyed said they believe women are able to

make their own voting decisions, to work at any job for which they

are qualified, and even to serve in the highest levels of

government.”

1 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, USA. The Gallup World Poll is the largest

available source of global public opinion data, providing access to the voices of

citizens in more than 130 countries and areas.

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Islam raised the level of women, they were no longer chattels being passed from father to husband. They became equal to men, with rights and responsibilities that take into account the nature of humankind. Unfortunately across the globe, Muslim women are victims of cultural aberrations that have no place in Islam. Powerful individuals and groups claim to be Muslim yet fail to practice the true principles of Islam. Whenever the media reveals unconscionable stories about honour killings, genital mutilation, forced marriage, the punishment of rape victims, women being confined to their homes or women being denied education they are revealing a tale of men and women who are ignorant about the status of women in Islam. “O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the bridal money you have given them. And live with them honourably. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and God brings a great deal of good through it.” (Quran 4:19) The religion of Islam demands that women be treated with respect, honour, and justice. It condemns oppression of any kind. In Islam women, like men, are commanded to believe in God and to worship Him. Women are equal to men in terms of reward in the Hereafter. “And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or female, and is a true believer in the Oneness of God, such will enter paradise; and not the least injustice, even to the size of a speck on the back of a date stone, will be done to them.” (Quran 4:124)

Women in Islam have the right to own property, to control their own money to buy and sell, and to give gifts and charity. It is not permissible for anyone to take a woman’s wealth without her consent. Islam gave women formal rights of inheritance. Women

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in Islam have the right to an education; seeking and acquiring knowledge is an obligation on all Muslims, male or female. Muslim women have the right to accept or refuse marriage proposals as they see fit, and married women are completely free from the obligation of supporting and maintaining the family. Working married women are free to contribute to the household expenses, or not, as they see fit. Women have the right to seek divorce if it becomes necessary.

Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, said, “A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission.” The people asked, “O God’s messenger! How can we know her permission?” He said, “Her silence (indicates her permission).” 2

A women was given by her father gave her in marriage when she was a matron and she disliked that marriage. So she went to God’s Messenger and he declared that marriage invalid. 3 The religion of Islam declares that women are worthy human beings deserving of respect, and the right to be free from oppression. Women have the right to a decent life, without facing aggression or abuse of any kind. They have the right to pursue a life that is pleasing to them within Islamic boundaries. Nobody has the right to force women to be less then they want to be. The true teachings of Islam, declare that women should be held in a position of high regard.

Sadly, it is true that some Muslim women are oppressed, but across the globe, some women are treated badly by some men, of all religious persuasions and ethnicities. It is possible to say that such and such a government oppresses women, or that Muslim men in such and such a country think it is acceptable to beat

2 Saheeh Bukhari 3 Saheeh Bukhari

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women, however, it is not correct to say that Islam oppresses women. If women were given their God given rights, as set out in the religion of Islam, the global oppression of women could be trampled into oblivion.

Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, said, “None but a noble man treats women in an honourable manner. And none but an ignoble treats women disgracefully.” 4

Source: islamhouse.com/

End of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr Islamic Holiday

2013-08-07T17:10:00.001-07:00

The end of Ramadan is marked by all Muslims going to Morning Prayer services and then the Islamic Holiday Eid Al-Fitr begins.
The Night Preceding Eid Al-Fitr
The night before Eid al-Fitr is regarded as a very blessed night and Muslims believe that it should be spent in nafl (voluntary) salat (prayers) and worship. There will be no taraweeh prayers on this last night of Ramadan, but a devout Muslim will spend the night in prayer, remembrance of Allah and reading the Quran.

Before the Eid al-Fitr salat, Mulsims will be sure to pay the “Sadakah Al-Fitr.” This is money due to the poor and the needy. Every Muslim must pay this, even the poor. Sadakah al-Fitr is a fairly small amount of money equal to 1.75 kilograms of wheat for every person in the family.
On this topic, Ibn 'Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, made zakat al-Fitr obligatory for the Muslims - slave and free, male and female, young and old, being a sa' of dates or a sa' of barley. He commanded that it be paid before people went out to the prayer." (Muwatta, Book 17, 52)

Preparing to go to Eid Al Fitr Salat
The morning of Eid al-Fitr, it is considered sunnah (consistent with the ways of the prophet) to perform certain acts in preparation of thanking Allah for a blessed Ramadan. These acts include:
•Wake up early in the morning and take a bath.
•Brush the teeth with a Miswak or a toothbrush.
•Wear the best available clothes.
•Wear perfume (men only.)
•Eat a few dates before the Eid prayer.
•Recite the following Takbir in the low voice while going to the 'Eid prayer: "Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Ila Allah Wa Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Wa Lillahi Alhamd."

Eid Al-Fitr Salat (Prayers)
In Islam, the Eid prayers should be performed in an open field or area if possible. It is not recommended to conduct Eid prayers in every single mosque. It is said to be a time for Muslims to celebrate Eid together in large gatherings. If a large field or park is not available, then a large mosque will suffice.
The Eid prayer is mandatory for every male Muslim. Muslim women must attend Eid prayers if there are no emergency situations in the home, such as issues involving small children or sick and elderly parents that require assistance or tending. The Eid prayer should be attended and prior to the prayer takbir should be recited:"Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Ila Allah Wa Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Wa Lillahi Alhamd."
When not reciting the takbir (above), saying zikr (remembrance of Allah) is recommended. No nafl salat (voluntary prayers) are recited in the home prior to or after the salat; Muslims may recite nafl salat in the home after returning from the Eid prayers.

The Eid prayer is distinct from other Muslim prayers. The Imam will lead the salat (prayers) and there will be six sets of takbirs (Allah Akbar). Three of the takbirs will be in the beginning of the salat. After each takbir, the hands are raised to the ears. At the beginning of the second rakat, after the Imam or sheik recites the Fatiha and something from the Quran, an additional three takbirs are recited. Some mosques will do all six takbirs at once at the beginning of the salat and then proceed with the prayer.

The Eid Prayer Khutbah (Sermon)
The Khutbah itself is regarded as an inspirational event and it involves praising Allah. Muslims should listen intensely and reverently to what the Imam has to say. It is regarded as a time to remember Allah’s blessings and to be thankful to be present in such an assembly. Muslims should not leave the Eid prayer early hoping to avoid the crowds; they should stay until after the final dua is said; then, it's customary to greet everyone in the room with a congratulations or “Ramadan Mubarak.”
Eid Al-Fitr Celebrations Begin at the End of Ramadan
Islamic holidays and celebrations are unlike Christian or Jew celebrations. In a non-Islamic situation, there may be partying, dancing, music and singing – this is not so in a Muslim community. Muslims will visit friends and relatives, drink Arabic coffee, chat, hug each other, and then praise Allah for His bounty at the end of Ramadan. It is normal for Muslim families to make the rounds, visiting each home for a brief period of time. It is considered inappropriate to refuse Arabic coffee when offered.
Wishing a blessed Eid Ul Fitr to the whole Islamic Ummah.

Source: huda.tv

Eid Etiquette and Rulings for Muslims

2013-08-07T17:08:00.001-07:00

Praise be to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.
"Eid' ' is an Arabic word referring to something habitual, that returns and is repeated. Eids or festivals are symbols to be found in every nation, including those that are based on revealed scriptures and those that are idolatrous, as well as others, because celebrating festivals is something that is an instinctive part of human nature. All people like to have special occasions to celebrate, where they can come together and express theirjoy and happiness.
The festivals of the kaafir nations may be connected to worldly matters, such as the beginning of the year, the start of an agricultural season, the changing of the weather, the establishment of a state, the accession of a ruler, and so on. They may also be connected to religious occasions, like many of the festivals belonging exclusively to the Jews and Christians, such as the Thursday on which they claim the table was sent down to Jesus, Christmas, New Year's, Thanksgiving, and holidays on which gifts are exchanged. These are celebrated in all European and North American countries nowadays, and in other countries where Christian influence is prevalent, even if the country is not originally Christian. Some so-called Muslims may also join in these holidays, out of ignorance or hypocrisy.
The Magians (Zoroastrians) also have their own festivals, such as Mahrajaan, Nowruz and so on.
The Baatinis have their own festivals too, such as "Eid al-Ghadeer" , when they claim that the Prophet (i) gave the khilaafah to ' Ali      and to the twelve imaams after him.
The Muslims are Distinguished by their Festivals

The Prophet's words,
"Every nation has its festival , and this is your festival."
.. .indicate that these two Eids are exclusively for the Muslims, and that it is not permissible for Muslims to imitate the kuffaar and mushrikeen in anything that is a distinctive part of their celebrations, whether it be food, dress, bonfires or acts of worship. Muslim children should not be allowed to play on those kaafir festivals, or to put up decorations, or tojoin in with the kuffaar on those occasions. All kaafir or innovated festivals are haraam, such as Independence Day celebrations, anniversaries of revolutions, holidays celebrating trees or accessions to the throne, birthdays, Labour Day, the Nile festival, Shimm al-Naseem (Egyptian spring holiday), teachers' day, and al-Mawlood al-Nabawi (Prophet's Birthday).
The Muslims have no festivals apart from Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adhaa, because of the hadeeth narrated from Anas who said:
"The Messenger of Allaah (££) came to Madeenah and the people had two days when they would play and have fun. He said , 'What are these two days?' They said , 'We used to play and have fun on these days during the Jaahiliyyah. The Messenger of Allaah (££) said, 'Allaah has given you something better than them , the day of Adhaa and the day of Fitr.'" (Sunan Abi Dawood, 1134)
These two Eids are among the signs or symbols of Allaah which we must celebrate and understand the aims and meanings behind them.
There follows a discussion of some of the rulings and manners of the two Eids according to Islamic sharee'ah
1 - Ahkaam al-Eid (Rulings on Eid)

Fasting

It is haraam to fast on the days of Eid because of the hadeeth of Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri who said that the Messenger of Allaah (i) forbade fasting on the day of Fitr and the day of Sacrifice (Adhaa). (Reported by Muslim, 827)
Ruling on the Eid Prayers

Some of the scholars say that Eid prayers are waajib (obligatory) - this is the view of the Hanafi scholars and of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him). They say that the Prophet (i) always prayed the Eid prayer and never omitted to do it, not even once. They take as evidence the aayah (interpretation of the meaning),
"Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only)."
[al-Kawthar 108:2]
6i.e. the Eid prayer and the sacrifice after it, which is an instruction, and the fact that the Prophet (i) ordered that the women should be brought out to attend the Eid prayers, and that a woman who did not have a jilbaab should borrow one from her sister. Some scholars say that Eid prayer is fard kifaaya. This is the view of the Hanbalis. A third group say that Eid prayer is sunnah mu'akkadah. This is the view of the Maalikis and Shaafa'is. They take as evidence the hadeeth of the Bedouin which says that Allaah has not imposed any prayers on His slaves other than the five daily prayers. So the Muslim should be keen to attend Eid prayers, especially since the opinion that it is waajib is based on strong evidence. The goodness, blessings and great reward one gets from attending Eid prayers, and the fact that one is following the example of the Prophet (i) by doing so, should be sufficient motivation.
Essentialsand Timing of Eid Prayer

Some scholars (the Hanafis and Hanbalis) say that the conditions of Eid prayer are that the iqaamah should be recited and the prayer should be offered in jamaa'ah (congregation). Some of them said that the conditions of Eid prayer are the same as the conditions for Friday prayer, with the exception of the khutbah, attendance at which is not obligatory. The majority of scholars say that the time for the Eid prayer starts when the sun has risen above the height of a spear, as seen by the naked eye, and continues until the sun is approaching its zenith.
Description of the Eid Prayer

'Umar      said:
"The prayer of Eid and al-Adhaa is two complete rak'ahs, not shortened. This is according to the words of your Prophet, and the liar is doomed."
Abu Sa'eed said:
"The Messenger of Allaah (££) used to come out to the prayer-place on the day of Fitr and al-Adhaa , and the first thing he would do was the prayer."
The Takbeer is repeated seven times in the first rak'ah and five times in the second, the Qur'aan is to be recited after each.
It was reported from 'Aa'ishah: the Takbeer of al-Fitr and al-Adhaa is seven in the first rak'ah and five in the second, apart from the takbeer of rukoo'. (Reported by Abu Dawood; saheeh by the sum of its isnaads)
If a personjoining the prayer catches up with the imaam during these extra takbeeraat, he should say "Allaahu akbar' ' with the imaam, and he does not have to make up any takbeeraat he may have missed, because they are sunnah, not waajib. With regard to what should be said between the takbeeraat, Hammaad ibn Salamah reported from Ibraaheem that Waleed ibn 'Uqbah entered the mosque when Ibn Mas'ood, Hudhayfah and Abu Moosa were there, and said, "Eid is here, what should I do?' ' Ibn Mas'ood said:
"Say 'Allaahu akbar', praise and thank Allaah, send blessings on the Prophet (££) and make du'aa', then say Say 'Allaahu akbar', praise and thank Allaah, send blessings on the Prophet (££)...etc." (Reported by al-
Tabaraani. It is a saheeh hadeeth that is quoted in al-Irwaa' and elsewhere)
Recitation of Qur'aan in Eid Prayers

It is recommended (mustahabb) that in the Eid prayers the imaam should recite Qaaf [soorah 50] and Aqtarabat al-saa'ah [al-Qamar, soorah 54], as it is reported in Saheeh Muslim that 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab asked Abu Waaqid al-Laythi,
"What did the Messenger of Allaah (££) used to recite at [Eid] al-Adhaa and al-Fitr?" He said , "He used to recite Qaaf. Wa'l-Qur'aan al-majeed [Qaaf 50:1] and Aqtarabat al-saa'ah wa anshaqq al-qamar [al-Qamar 54:1]."
Most of the reports indicate that the Prophet (H) used to recite Soorat al-A'laa [87] and Soorat al-Ghaashiyah [88], as he used to recite them in the Friday prayer. Al-Nu'maan ibn Bishr said:
"The Messenger of Allaah (££) used to recite on the two Eids and on Fridays, Sabbih isma rabbika'l-a'laa [al-A'laa 87:1] and Hal ataaka hadeeth al-ghaashiyah [al-Ghaashiyah 88:1]." (SaheehMuslim, 878)
Samurah      said:
"The Prophet (££) used to recite on the two Eids , Sabbih isma rabbika'l-a'laa [al-A'laa 87:1] and Hal ataaka hadeeth al-ghaashiyah [al-Ghaashiyah 88:1]." (Reported by Ahmad and others; it is saheeh. Al-Irwaa', 3/116)
The Prayer Comes before the Khutbah

One of the rulings of Eid is that the prayer should come before the khutbah, as is reported in Musnad Ahmad from the hadeeth of Ibn ' Abbaas, who testified that the Messenger of Allaah (i) prayed before the khutbah on Eid, then he gave the khutbah. (Musnad Ahmad, 1905. The hadeeth is also in al-Saheehayn).
Another indication that the khutbah should be after the prayer is the hadeeth of Abu Sa'eed
"The Prophet (i) used to go out to the prayer-place on the day of al-Fitr and al-Adhaa, and the first thing he would do was to pray, then he would stand up facing the people, whilst they were still sitting in their rows, and would advise and instruct them. If he wanted to send out a military expedition, he would decide about the matter then, or if he wanted to issue a command, he would do it then."
Abu Sa'eed said:
"This is what the people continued to do until I came out [to the Eid prayers] with Marwaan, when he was governor of Madeenah, on either Adhaa or Fitr. When we reached the prayer-place, we saw the minbar, which had been built by Katheer ibn al-Salt. Marwaan wanted to get on the minbar before the prayer. I pulled on his cloak, and he pulled on mine in return, then he got on the minbar and gave the khutbah before the prayer. I said, 'You have changed it, by Allaah!' He said, 'O Abu Sa'eed, what you know is gone.' I said, 'What I know, by Allaah, is better than what I do not know.' He said, 'The people will not remain sitting after the prayer, so we made it [the khutbah] before the prayer.' " (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 956)
Anyone who wants to leave during the khutbah is allowed to do so
' Abd-Allaah ibn al-Saa'ib said:
"I attended Eid with the Prophet and when he finished the prayer, he said: "We will give the khutbah , so whoever wants to sit (and listen to) the khutbah , let him sit, and whoever wants to leave, let him go.' "
(Irwaa' al-Ghaleel, 3/96)
Not Delaying the Prayer for Too Long

' Abd-Allaah ibn Bishr, the companion of the Prophet (i), went out with the people on the day of Fitr or al-Adhaa, and objected to the fact that the imaam came very late. He said, "At the time of the Prophet (i) we would have finished by now," and that was at the time of al-Tasbeeh. (Reported by al-Bukhaari)
Naafil Prayers in the Prayer-Place

There are no naafil prayers to be done either before or after the Eid prayer, as Ibn 'Abbaas reported that the Prophet (i) used to come out on the day of Eid and pray two rak'ahs, with nothing before or after them.
This is the case if the prayer is offered in a prayer place or public place. If, however, the people pray the Eid prayer in a mosque, then they should pray two rak'ahs for Tahiyat al-Masjid ("Greeting the mosque' ' ) before sitting down.
If People did not know about Eid until the Next Day

Abu 'Umayr ibn Anas reported from his paternal uncles among the Ansaar who said:
"It was cloudy and we could not see the new moon of Shawwaal, so we started the day fasting, then a caravan came at the end of the day and told the Messenger of Allaah (i) that they had seen the new moon of Shawwaal the day before, so he told the people to stop fasting, and they went out to pray the Eid prayer the next day." (Reported by the five. It is saheeh; al-Irwaa', 3/102)
If someone misses the Eid prayer, the most correct view is that he may make it up by praying two rak'ahs.
Women's Attendance at Eid Prayers

Hafsah said:
"We used to prevent prepubescent girls from attending Eid prayers. Then a woman came and stayed at the fort of Banu Khalaf, and told us about her sister. Her sister's husband had taken part in twelve campaigns with the Prophet (i) and [she said], 'My sister was with him on six of them.' She said, 'We used to treat the wounded and take care of the sick. My sister asked the Prophet (i) whether there was anything wrong with her not going out [on Eid] if she did not have a jilbaab. He said, 'Let her friend give her one of her jilbaabs so that she may witness the blessings of Eid and see the Muslims gathering.' When Um 'Atiyah came, I asked her, 'Did you hear the Prophet (i) [say this]?' She said, 'May my father be sacrificed for him' - and she never mentioned him without saying 'may my father be sacrificed for him' - 'I heard him saying that we should bring out the young girls and those who were secluded, or the young girls who were secluded, and the menstruating women, so that they could witness the blessings of Eid and see the gathering of the believers, but those who were menstruating were to keep away from the prayer-place itself." (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, 324)
The 'young girls' ('awaatiq, sing. 'aatiq) are girls who have reached adolescence or are close to it, or have reached the age of marriage, or are very precious to their families, or who are spared from having to do humiliating work. It appears that they used to prevent these young girls from going out because of the corruption that arose after the first generation of Islam; but the Sahaabah did not approve of that and they thought that the ruling should remain in their time as it had been during the time of the Prophet (H).
Where it says "My sister was with him , " it seems that there is something omitted, probably, "...the woman said." [This is reflected in the translation above. Translator]
"Her jilbaabs," - she should lend her some of her clothes that she does not need.
"Secluded , " - they would have a curtain in the corner of the house behind which virgins would stay.
"Menstruating women," - huyyad, sing. haa'id - this may refer either to girls who have reached the age of puberty, or women who are having their period and are not taahir (pure).
"Menstruating women should avoid the prayer-place itself, " - Ibn al-Munayyir said: "The reason why they should avoid the prayer-place is that if they stand with the women who are praying even though they are not praying, it may appear that they have no respect for the prayer or are careless, so it better for them to avoid that.' '
It was said that the reason why menstruating women should avoid the prayer-place is as a precaution, so that women will not come near men for no reason if they are not praying, or so that they will not offend others with their blood or their odour.
The hadeeth urges everyone to attend Eid prayer, and to co¬operate with one another in righteousness and piety. The menstruating woman should not forsake the remembrance of Allaah or places of goodness such as gatherings for the purpose of seeking knowledge and remembering Allaah - apart from mosques. The hadeeth also indicates that women should not go out without ajilbaab.
This hadeeth tells us that it is not proper for young women and women in seclusion to go out except for a valid reason. It states that it is preferable (mustahabb) for a woman to wear a jilbaab, and that it is permissible to lend and borrow clothes. It also indicates that Eid prayer is obligatory (waajib).
Ibn Abi Shaybah also narrated that Ibn 'Umar used to take whoever he could of his household out to the Eid prayers.
The hadeeth of Umm 'Atiyah also states the reason for the ruling, which is so that women may witness the blessings of Eid, see the gathering of the Muslims, and share the blessings and purification of this day.
Al-Tirmidhi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his Sunan, after quoting the hadeeth of Umm 'Atiyah:
"Some of the scholars referred to this hadeeth and allowed women to go out to the Eid prayers, and some of them disliked this. It was reported that 'Abd-Allaah ibn al-Mubaarak said: 'I do not like for women to go out to Eid prayers nowadays. If a woman insists on going out, her husband should let her, if she goes out wearing her shabbiest clothes and not adorning herself. If she insists on adorning herself, then she should not go out. In this case the husband has the right to stop her from going out. It was reported that 'Aa'ishah said: 'If the Prophet (i) had seen what has happened to women, he would have stopped them from going to the mosquesjust as the women of Bani Israa'eel were stopped.' It was reported that Sufyaan al-Thawri did not like women to go to the Eid prayers in his day.' ' (Al-Tirmidhi, 495)
Umm 'Atiyah gave her fatwa in the hadeeth mentioned above a while after the Prophet (i) had died, and it is not reported that any of the Sahaabah disagreed with this. The words of 'Aa'ishah,
"If the Prophet (££) had seen what has happened to women , he would have stopped them from going to the mosques."
6 do not contradict this (provided that women are meeting the Islamic conditions attached to their going out)... It is better if permission is given only to those women who are not who are not going to look at men or be looked at, whose attendence will not lead to anything undesirable and who are not going to rub shoulders with men on the street or in the mosque. (i.e., women whose going out will not cause fitnah or temptation to her or to men).
Men should check on their womenfolk when they going out for the prayer to make sure that their hijaab is complete, because they are the "shepherds' ' who are responsible for their "flocks' Women should go out in shabby clothes, not adorned or wearing perfume. Menstruating women should not enter the mosque or prayer-place; they can wait in the car, for example, where they can hear the khutbah.
2-Aadaab al-Eid (Etiquette of Eid)

Ghusl (Taking a Bath)

One of the manners of Eid is to take a bathe before going out to the prayer. It is reported in a saheeh report in al-Muwatta' and elsewhere that 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar used to take a bath on the day of al-Fitr before coming to the prayer-place. (al-Muwatta' 428)
It was reported that Sa'eed ibn Jubayr said:
"Three things are sunnah on Eid: to walk (to the prayer-place), to take a bath and to eat before coming out."
This is what Sa'eed ibn Jubayr said, and he may have learned this from some of the Sahaabah.
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) mentioned that the scholars were agreed that it is mustahabb to take a bath before the Eid prayer.
The reason why it is mustahabb to take a bath before Friday prayer and other public gatherings also applies in the case of Eid, only more so.
Eating before Coming Out

One should not come out to the prayer-place on Eid al-Fitr before eating some dates, because of the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari from Anas ibn Maalik who said:
"The Messenger of Allaah (i) would not go out on the morning of Eid al-Fitr until he had eaten some dates... and he would eat an odd number." (al-Bukhaari, 953)
It is mustahabb to eat before coming out because this confirms that we are not allowed to fast on this day, and demonstrates that the fast is now over. Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) explained that this is to prevent people extending the fast and it also means obeying the commandment of Allaah. (Fath, 2/446). If a person does not have any dates, he can eat anything permissible for breakfast. On Eid al-Adhaa, on the other hand, it is mustahabb not to eat until after the prayer, when one should eat from the meat of one's sacrifice.
Takbeer on the Day of Eid

This is one of the greatest sunnahs of this day, because of the words of Allaah:
"... (He [Allaah] wants that you) must complete the same number (of days) , and that you must magnify Allaah (say Takbeer - 'Allaahu akbar') for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him."
[al-Baqarah2:185]
Al-Waleed ibn Muslim said:
"I asked al-Awzaa'i and Maalik ibn Anas about saying Takbeer aloud on Eid. They said, 'Yes, 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar used to say it aloud on the day of Fitr until the imaam came out.' ' '
Abu 'Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sulami said: "On Eid al-Fitr they would say it louder than on Eid al-Adhaa.' ' Wakee' said, "i.e., the takbeer.' ' (Irwaa', 3/122).
Al-Daaraqutni and others reported that when Ibn 'Umar came out on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adhaa, he would strive hard in making Takbeer until he reached the prayer-place, then he would continue making Takbeer until the imaam came.
Ibn Abi Shaybah reported with a saheeh isnaad that al-Zuhri said:
"The people used to make Takbeer on Eid when they came out of their houses until they reached the prayer-place and until the imaam came out. When the imaam came out, they fell silent, until the imaam said Takbeer, then they said Takbeer." (Irwaa', 2/121)
The practice of making Takbeer from home to the prayer-place, and until the imaam comes in, was well-known among the salaf and was reported by a number of authors such as Ibn Abi Shaybah, ' Abd al-Razzaaq and al-Firyaabi in his book Ahkaam al-'Eidayn from a group of the salaf. An example of this is the report that Naafi' ibn Jubayr used to make Takbeer and wondered why people did not do so. He would say to people, "Why do you not make Takbeer?' ' Ibn Shihaab al-Zuhri said, "The people used to make Takbeer from the time they left their homes until the imaam came in.' '
The time for making Takbeer on Eid al-Fitr starts from the night of Eid until the time when the imaam comes in to lead the prayer.
The Wording of the Takbeer

Ibn Abi Shaybah reported in al-Musannaf that Ibn Mas'ood used to say Takbeer on the days of Tashreeq as follows:
"Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah , wa Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar wa Lillaahi'l-hamd (Allaah is Most Great... there is no god but Allaah , Allaah is Most Great, and to Allaah be praise)."
Ibn Abi Shaybah reported it elsewhere with the same isnaad, but with the phrase "Allaahu akbar' ' repeated three times.
Al-Muhaamili also reported that Ibn Mas'ood used to say:
"Allaahu akbaru kabeeran , Allaahu akbaru kabeeran , Allaahu akbar wa ajall , Allaahu akbar wa Lillaahi'l-hamd (Allaah is Most Great of All , Allaah is Most Great of all , Allaah is most Great and Most Glorious , and to Allaah be praise)." (al-Irwaa', 3/126)
Congratulating One Another

People may exchange congratulations and good greetings on Eid, no matter what form the words take. For example they may say to one another,
"Taqabbal Allaahu minnaa wa minkum (May Allaah accept [the fast and worship] from us and from you"
6 or "Eid mubarak' ' and other similar permissible greetings.
Jubayr ibn Nufayr said:
"At the time of the Prophet (££), when people met one another on the day of Eid , they would say, 'Taqabbal Allaahu minnaa wa minka (May Allaah accept from us and from you).' " (Ibn Hajar. Its isnaad is hasan. Fath, 2/446)
The practice of exchanging greetings was well-known at the time of the Sahaabah and scholars such as Imaam Ahmad and others allowed it. There are reports which indicate that it is permissible to congratulate people on special occasions. The Sahaabah used to congratulate one another when something good happened, such as when Allaah accepted a person's repentance and so on.
There is no doubt that congratulating others in this way is one of the noblest kinds of good manners and one of the highest social qualities among Muslims.
At the very least, one can return Eid greetings when they are given to you, and remain silent if nothing is said, as Imaam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "If someone congratulates me, I return the greeting, but I do not initiate it.' '
Looking One's Best for Eid

' Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar (4e>) said:
'"Umar picked up a jubbah (long outer garment) made of silk that was for sale in the market, brought it to the Messenger of Allaah (i) and said, "O Messenger of Allaah, buy this and wear it for Eid and when the delegations come." The Messenger of Allaah (i) said, "This is the clothing of the one who has no share of the Hereafter..." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 948)
The Prophet (i) approved of 'Umar's idea of looking one's best, but he rejected and denounced the idea of buying this jubbah because it was made of silk.
Jaabir      said:
"The Prophet (i) had a jubbah that he would wear on Eid and on Fridays." (Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah, 1765)
Al-Bayhaqi reported that Ibn Umar used to wear his best clothes on Eid, so men should wear the best clothes they have when they go out for Eid.
Women, on the other hand, should avoid adornment when they go out for Eid, because they are prohibited from showing their adornment in front of non-mahrem men. A woman who wants to go out is forbidden to wear perfume or to show off in a tempting way in front of men, because she is only going out for the purpose of worship. Do you think that it is right for a believing woman to disobey the One Whom she is going out to worship and go against His commands by wearing attention-grabbing tight and brightly coloured clothes or by putting on perfume and so on?

Ruling on Listening to the Eid Khutbah

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his book al-Kaafi (p. 234):
"When the imaam has said the salaam (at the end of the prayer), he should give a khutbah in two parts, like the two Friday khutbahs, because the Prophet (H) did this. (The Eid khutbah) differs from the Friday khutbahs in four ways 6 the fourth of which is: that it is sunnah and it is not obligatory to listen to it, because it was reported that 'Abd-Allaah ibn al-Saa'ib said: "I attended Eid with the Messenger of Allaah (H), and when he had finished the prayer, he said:
"We are going to give a khutbah , so whoever wishes to sit (and listen) to the khutbah , let him sit down , and whoever wants to leave, let him go.'' '
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his book al-Majmoo' Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, p. 23:
"It is mustahabb for people to listen to the khutbah, although the khutbah and listening to it are not essential conditions of the Eid prayer. But al-Shaafa'i said: 'If someone does not listen to the khutbah of Eid, at the time of an eclipse, when prayers for rain are offered, or during Hajj, or he speaks during one of these khutbahs, or leaves, I would not like this, but he does not have to repeat the prayer.
In al-Sharh al-Mumti' 'ala Zaad al-Mustanfi' by Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 5/192, it says:
"[Ibn Qudaamah's] words, 'like the two Friday khutbahs' means that he should give two khutbahs, even though there is a dispute in this matter, as we have referred to above. The
27
Eid khutbah is subject to the same rulings as the Friday khutbah, even to the point that speaking during it is haraam, but it is not obligatory to attend, whereas attendance at the Friday khutbah is obligatory, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe! When the call for prayer on the day of Jumu'ah (Friday) is given, come to the remembrance of Allaah [Jumu'ah khutbah and prayer], and leave off business ..."
[al-Jumu'ah 62:9]
Attendance at the Eid khutbahs is not obligatory, and a person is allowed to leave, but if he stays he must not talk to anyone. This is what the author is referring to when he says 'like the two Friday khutbahs'.' '
One of the scholars said: "It is not obligatory to listen to the Eid khutbahs, because if it was obligatory to attend and listen to them it would be haraam to leave. But as it is permissible to leave, it is not obligatory to listen.' '
Nevertheless, if talking disturbs those who are listening, it is haraam to talk because of this disturbance, not because of not listening. On this basis, if a person has a book with him during the imam's Eid khutbah, it is permissible for him to read it, because this does not disturb anyone. But according to the madhhab followed by this author, it is obligatory to listen to the khutbah if one is present.
To Go Out Oneb y One Route and Come Back by Another

Jaabir ibn 'Abd-Allaah reported that the Prophet (H) used to vary his routes on the day of Eid. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 986)
It was also reported that the Prophet (H) used to go out walking, and he prayed without any adhaan or iqaamah, then he would come back walking by a different route. It was said that this was so that the two different routes would testify in his favour on the Day of Resurrection, because on that Day the earth will speak about everything that was done on it, good and evil. It was also said that this was done in order to demonstrate the symbols and rituals of Islam along both routes; to pronounce the remembrance of Allaah; to annoy the hypocrites and Jews and to scare them by the number of people who were with him; to meet the people's needs by giving fatwas, teaching them and setting an example for them to follow; to give charity to those in need; or to visit his relatives and uphold the ties of kinship.
Warning Against Wrongdoing

Some people think that Islam tells us to stay up and pray on the night of Eid, quoting an unsound hadeeth which says that, "Whoever stays up and prays on the night of Eid, his heart will not die on the day when hearts die.' ' This hadeeth was reported with two isnaads, one of which is da'eef (weak), and the other is very da'eef. Islam does not tell us to single out the night of Eid for staying up and praying; if, however, a person habitually stays up and prays at night (qiyaam), there is nothing wrong with him doing so on the night of Eid as well.
Mixing of men and women in some prayer-places, streets, etc. It is a pity that this happens not only in mosques but even in the most sacred of places, al-Masjid al-Haraam [in Makkah]. Many women - may Allaah guide them - go out uncovered ,wearing make-up and perfume, flaunting their adornment, when there is such serious overcrowding in the mosques - the dangers of this situation are quite obvious. So those who are in charge must organize the Eid prayers properly, by allocating separate doors and routes for women and delaying the men's departure until the women have left.
Some people get together on Eid for the purpose of singing and other forms of idle entertainment, and this is not permitted.
Some people celebrate on Eid because Ramadaan is over and they no longer have to fast. This is a mistake, the believers celebrate at Eid because Allaah has helped them to complete the month of fasting, not because the fasting, which some people regard as a heavy burden, is over.
We ask Allaah to accept our worship and our repentance. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

(*) Note: All verses are interpretations of the Meanings.

Source: huda.tv

Life After Ramadan

2013-08-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

All praise is due to Allaah. We thank Him, we seek for His help and forgiveness. We also seek His refuge against the evils of our souls

and that our deeds. Whoever Allaah guides , nobody can mislead him, and whoever He misleads will never have no guide. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. May He bestow Peace and blessing upon this noble Prophet, his family and companions.
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah as He should be feared for, the fear of Allaah is the best treasure for you.

Dear Muslims! Months, days and years are made to determine lifespan and to afford people the oppurtunity to perform good deeds. Further, death do patrol day and night to take the souls of those whose time is due and you shall be addressed on the Day of Ressurection on account of your deeds. It is then that your Lord will say:
“These are only your deeds that has been recorded for you and for which I am going to reward you. So, whoever gets a good reward should be thankful to Allaah and whoever gets otherwise should only blame himself.”
Dear brothers! Your month of Ramadan has now gone with your deeds. Let those who have committed wrong among you quickly repent and mend their ways before Door of Repentance is closed and let those who have done good continue on the same for, the best of all acts of obedience are the the ones followed up with its like. Be concerned more over the acceptance of your deeds than over the deeds itself for, Allaah does not accept deeds except from the pious ones. Also, beware of following up good deeds with bad ones because, if we say that good deeds eradicate bad ones, it is also not impossible that bad deeds destroy good ones.
Brothers in faith! You were - during the just concluded month of righteous - fasting in the day, praying in the night and doing different kinds of sacrificial acts in oder to get reward and to be saved from the Fire. With the depature of this month, a stage of our live has passed. Such is how we pass days of this life in stages on our way to the everlasting abode. Indeed, continuation of good deeds at all time is character of righteous people for, acts of obedience do not have a specific time; it is rather Allaah’s unconditional right upon His servants as long as they are alive. Though, month of Ramadaan is an opportunity for the faithfuls to race with one another towards good deeds and an opportunity to direct one’s soul towards meritorious acts and keep it from vices; yet, it is quite incumbent on Muslims to remain on the path of righteousness even after Ramadaan. Worshipping Allaah should not be restricted to Ramadaan alone for, there is no end to Muslim’s worship except when he dies. What evil people those who worship only time and do not know Allaah except in Ramadaan!

Dear Muslims! Certainly, the acceptance and rejection of deeds in this month have signs. Among the signs of acceptance of good deed is when it is followed up by good deeds and it is among the signs of rejection to follow up one’s good deeds with evil ones. Therefore, follow up the good deeds with its like, it will be a sign of acceptance of that good deed and follow up your evil deeds with good ones, that will indicate that those evil deeds have been overlooked. Allaah says:
“Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice)." (Hood 11:114)
The Prophet saws also said:
“Fear Allaah wherever you are, follow up the evil deed with good one it will remove it and relate with people with good conduct.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhee)
Let those who are determined to go back to sins after Ramadaan know that Allaah is always pleased with those who obey Him regardless of the month the obedience takes place and is angry with those who disobey Him irrespective of the month the disobedience takes place. The essence of posperity lies in long life and good deeds and a person’s continuation of good deeds without restricting it to a certain period, particular month or special place is a sign of one’s righteousness and acceptance of his good deeds.

Fellow Muslims! Though Ramadaan season is now gone, yet, fasting is still recommended in other months. The Messenger of Allaah saws has recommended fasting on Mondays and Thursdays. He said:
“Deeds are presented to Allaah on Mondays and Thursdays and I would like that my deeds be presented while I am fasting."
It is also reported that he admonished Aboo Hurayrah ra thus:
"Fasting for three days in every month is (equal to) fasting forever." (Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).
He also said:
Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadaan and then follows it with six days fasting in Shawwaal has done as if he has fast for live." (Reported by Muslim)
Though, night prayer during Ramadaan might have gone; yet, the night prayers throughout the year is also recommended. It has been authentically reported from the Prophet saws that
"Allaah use to descend to the nearest heaven to this world when it is the last third of the night and say: 'Who is going to call Me that I may answer him? Who is going to ask from Me that I may give to him? Who is going to seek for my Forgiveness that I may forgive him?"
Therefore, the most pleasing to Allaah of all acts are the ones that are continuously done.
Fellow Muslims! While there are a set of youths who during the noble month of Ramadan were busy passing their time in lustful things, sins and acts of obedience, there are others who were busy doing deeds of righteousness such as I‘tikaaf in the Houses of Allaah severing all ties with fellow creatures and meditating with the Creator. They gave obedience of their Lord preference over their own desires. You would see them bowing, prostrating and reciting the Glorious Qur’aan. Such youths are the hope and pride of this Ummah.
Dear Muslims! Fear Alllaah for fear of Allaah is the head of all matters. Obey Allaah and keep away from His restrictions, you will achieve His pleasure and be saved from His torment. Do not go back to sins and disobedience so as not to be entitled to His punishment.
Dear brothers, thank your Lord for making you complete the fasting of this month. Enjoy your Eid by remaining consistent on the those good deeds and keep away from undesirable things that are capable of removing Allaah’s favors from you. One of our righteous predecessors said:
“Each day in which no act of disobedience to Allaah is committed is Eid and each day a believer spent in acts of obedience to his Lord is Eid”

Source: huda.tv

The Islamic Dress Code

2013-08-07T17:01:00.003-07:00

Que penseriez-vous d'une maison qui n'a fourni aucun abri et aucune intimité? Que penseriez-vous d'un repas qui a fourni aucune nourriture et aucune énergie? Il ne faut pas beaucoup pour se rendre compte que si l'on était dans la vente de l'une de ces il ferait faillite très rapidement. Pourtant, étonnamment les règles semblent être différent quand il s'agit de l'autre besoin fondamental: vêtements, notamment des vêtements de femmes. Tous les centres de la mode l'année en Europe et en Amérique viennent avec les dernières créations. Et qu'ont-ils conçus? Une autre façon de ne pas couvrir le corps;. La robe équivalent de la maison qui n'offre aucune protection et aucune intimité On pourrait se demander si une personne n'a pas voulu se couvrir pourquoi seraient-ils acheter quoi que ce soit, et encore moins de l'ensemble des modes coûteux, pour atteindre cet ? Si nous y réfléchissons, nous pouvons voir la tension entre les deux forces. Tous les êtres humains (sauf pour la poignée de déviants qui se naturalistes appellent) ont un sens inné de la honte. Les gens de toutes les religions s'accordent sur la nécessité de se couvrir en public.Pourtant, nous trouvons aussi une force qui favorise la nudité. De larges segments de l'humanité sont pris entre deux impulsions: pour couvrir ou ne pas couvrir. Nos modèles de vêtements reflètent différents niveaux de compromis entre ces forces opposées. Pourquoi? Que se passe-t-il? La science ne peut répondre à la question. Il ne peut retracer les origines de forces qui ont lieu au fond de notre esprit. En outre, plus de la création scientifique est toujours dominé par les partisans de M. Darwin et le darwinisme est un système de croyance n'est pas la science. Leurs croyances les empêchent de traiter honnêtement avec un simple fait: alors que tous les autres animaux ont une peau qui leur offre une protection contre les éléments, les êtres humains n'ont pas. Les singes peuvent vivre sans vêtements, les êtres humains ne peuvent pas. Le Coran répond à la question. Nos corps n'ont pas développé notre peau --- si mince et sans fourrure dont elle a besoin revêtement extérieur de protection --- à cause de certains accidents évolution inexpliquée. Notre Créateur a conçu de cette façon nous aurons toujours besoin de vêtements. Il a également mis en nous le sentiment de honte qui nous oblige à nous couvrons. D'autre part, le premier acte de Satan était de provoquer Adam et Eve à s'exposer: «Alors, par la tromperie, il a provoqué leur chute, lorsqu'ils eurent goûté de l'arbre, leurs parties honteuses devenu manifeste pour eux, et ils ont commencé à coudre ainsi que les feuilles du jardin de leur corps ". [Al-Araf, 07:22]. C'est la source de la tension que nous voyons. Deux forces opposées. Bien et le mal. Grâce à cette toile de fond que nous pouvons comprendre l'importance de vêtements. "Oh fils d'Adam! Nous leur avons attribué vêtement sur vous pour couvrir votre honte ainsi que d'être un ornement pour vous. Mais le vêtement de la piété --- qui est le meilleur." [Al-Araf, 07:26]. L'adresse est ici de toute l'humanité, soulignant ainsi le besoin humain universel à nous couvrir correctement. Le Coran met en garde alors que Satan n'a pas été terminé après sa première tentative: «Oh fils d'Adam Laissez-vous séduire par Satan pas de la même manière qu'il a obtenu vos parents sur le jardin, les dépouillant de leurs vêtements, afin d'exposer leur! honte. " [Al-Araf, 07:27]. Une fois que nous nous rendons compte de la nature de la question de la robe, il est naturel que nous devrions tourner vers notre Créateur de demander des conseils pour la tenue vestimentaire appropriée. Coran et la Sunna ont fourni de nombreux conseils sur le sujet qui peut se résumer en quatre principes essentiels. 1. Notre robe doit couvrir notre corps de manière adéquate. Encore une fois, nous ne pouvons pas déterminer ce qui est une couverture adéquate sur notre propre, comme un témoin de la misère de ceux qui l'ont essayé qui peut aisément constater. Charia, comme toujours, nous fait sortir de cette misère en définissant pour nous. Pour les hommes, c'est la partie médiane du corps du nombril aux genoux. Pour les femmes, c'est l'ensemble du corps sauf les mains et le visage. Ces pièces ne doivent jamais être exposés à une autre personne (sauf en cas de réel besoin de traitement médical par exemple).En outre, le tissu doit être ni voir-à travers, ni moulant.

2. Notre robe doit fournir parure. Il devrait prévoir apparence décente. Notre apparence ne doit pas être une horreur pour les êtres humains décents. Pour les hommes, cela s'étend aux exigences de couverture pour inclure la plupart des corps. Pour les femmes, la condition essentielle est que leur robe doit les identifier comme des dames respectables qui devait être honoré, pas harcelés. En outre, les règles hijab visent à les protéger du regard des autres hommes. 3.Notre robe doit établir notre identité islamique. Au moins, il ne devrait pas nous identifier en tant que disciples d'une autre religion. Mais, en outre, il doit identifier positivement nous en tant que musulmans. 4.La conception de notre robe doit éviter trois péchés capitaux: montrer, l'arrogance et l'indulgence de soi.Ce sont des maladies très graves du cœur dans leur propre droit que nous devons éviter à tout moment.Nos vêtements sont une occasion facile de les nourrir. D'où la nécessité d'être très prudent. Un hadith stipule que «manger ce que vous avez envie, et porter ce que vous avez envie mais il faut éviter deux choses:. Extravagance et l'arrogance." [Bukhari]. Au risque d'énoncer convient de rappeler la plus évidente que ce hadith établit une préoccupation majeure qui limite nos choix dans le domaine de ce qui est considéré halal. Il ne fait pas disparaître la distinction entre halal et haram. Comme une conséquence de cette règle générale, les hommes sont également tenus de ne pas porter leurs vêtements baisse en dessous de la cheville. (Beaucoup de bonnes intentions musulmans d'aujourd'hui ont été persuadé qu'il s'agit d'une question mesquin. Cette appréhension peut être mis au repos à la hâte si on se réfère simplement à l'Hadith de Jabir bin Sulaym, Radi-Allahou anhou, à Abu Dawood. Il a demandé . du Prophète, sall-Allahou 'alayhi wa sallam pour des conseils lorsque le laissant après sa première réunion des six morceaux de conseils qu'on lui donne une était: «Ne laissez jamais votre vêtement inférieur descendre en dessous des chevilles, parce que c'est l'arrogance et Allah fait. pas comme arrogance. "Un autre était« Jamais dénigrer une bonne action. ") Islam n'a pas prescrit un style vestimentaire particulier, nous donnant amplement d'espace pour répondre à nos besoins, des circonstances et des goûts.Cependant, ces principes sont pour tous et pour toujours. Tout vêtement qui s'adapte à ces principes sera vestimentaire islamique. C'est la formule islamique de s'habiller pour le succès ... succès éternel.

Source: huda.tv

The Great Virtue of Ramadan

2013-07-14T17:56:00.001-07:00

All praise is due to Allah Who made the succession of day and night a lesson for those who reflect. I thank him for his bountiful blessings and I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah. I equally testify that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him, his household and companions who are the people of righteousness and piety.

Dear brothers, fear Allaah as He should be feared, for whoever fears Him earns his protection and he who follows his desires is doomed. It should be known that physical and spiritual felicity can only be attained by subjecting ones heart and body to the worship of Allaah and that it is through worshipping Allaah in complete sincerity that this mundane world can be of no importance.
Dear brothers, it is a manifestation of Allaah’s mercy on His slaves that He ordained fasting for them in order to purify them from excessive tastes and to cleanse their hearts from lustful things. These days, Muslims all over the world are receiving the month of Ramadaan; leader of all months; the month of forgiveness, merits and gifts; the month that gladdens the hearts of righteous people. No wonder that a pious man said in his death bed giving a reason for his weeping:

“I am only weeping for the fact that people will continue to be fasting and performing prayers after my death while I will no longer be in a position to do likewise.”

Ramadaan is the month that contains the leader of all nights; a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever spends the night in prayers with faith and hoping for Allaah’s reward will have all his past sins forgiven. The Prophet sallallahu 'alaihi wassalam said:

“When the month of Ramadaan enters, gates of Paradise are opened, gates of Hell are closed and devils are chained.”

(Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).

Dear brothers, whoever wants eternal prosperity should endeavor to worship Allaah and do good deeds sincerely. For, good deeds without sincere intention is of no use. Also, it is a glory for a believer to wake up in the night and perform prayers for, the best prayer after the obligatory ones are the prayers performed in the night. In fact, righteous people do compete with each other to make use of its darkness for doing acts of Ibaadah that bring them closer to Allaah and they loved this world only because of its nights. Aboo Sulaymaan Ad-Daaraanee said:

“By Allaah! If not because of waking up in the night and performing prayers, I would not have loved this world; for, the night is precious because of its darkness and performing the prayers during the night is one of the characteristics of righteous people.”

Al-Hasan Al-Basree said:

“Nobody abandons night prayers except that it is regarded as a punishment for a sin he has committed.”

You should also endeavor to supplicate to Allaah during the nights of this noble month because, supplication is the link between man and his Lord; it is an effortlessly clear profit and easy booty; it prevents calamities and brings forth Allaah’s treasures and bounties. By supplicating to Allaah during the night, He answers by granting the request generously for, His Hands never get tired of giving.

Dear Muslims, the Qur’aan is Allaah’s message to His servants and a light for the mankind.There is no way to Allaah’s pleasure except through it. It is revealed in the best of all months. The best way you can spend your time during this month is to recite the Qur’aan as frequently as possible. Read it, reflect on its meaning and work by its injunctions. This is because the Qur’aan contains admonitions and lessons that increase one’s humility and humbleness.

As regards charity, the Prophet was the most generous of all people and his generosity manifested most during the month of Ramadaan. Whenever he gave, he gave in plenty as if he had no fear of poverty. He would never be asked of anything except that he gave it unless if he did not have it.

Charity, dear brothers, has its positive effects on the giver. It causes blessings to his wealth and children, prevents calamities and brings forth bliss. Ramadaan is a month of charity. Spend out of your wealth for the poor and needy and be aware that avarice and stinginess does not keep the wealth for eternal just as charity does not decrease it. Ibnul-Qayyim said:

“Nothing brings Allaah’s blessings and prevents His punishment than obeying Him, moving closer to Him through acts of Ibaadah and being kind to His creatures.”

Therefore, spend in charity for, charity elevates one’s rank in front of Allaah and know that, man is going to stay under the shade of his charity on the Day of Resurrection.

Dear brothers, make good preparation for this honorable month because it is a transient visitor. Receive it with a sincere repentance and spend your time during the month is acts of obedience to your Lord.

Further, try to perform ‘Umrah during Ramadaan for, a ‘Umrah during Ramadaan is equivalent in reward to a Hajj performed with the Messenger of Allaah. Also, provide food for fasting Muslims for whoever does that gets an equivalent of their reward without causing any deduction to the reward of the fasting Muslims.

I‘tikaaf (seclusion in a mosque for the purpose of worshipping Allaah alone) is also a Sunnah that should be kept during the last ten days of Ramadaan. Ibn Shihaab said:

“It is a strange thing that Muslims should abandon I‘tikaaf while the Messenger of Allaah e never skipped it right from the time he entered Madeenah until his death.”

Use the period of this noble month to join the cord of kinship (by keeping good relations with your kith and kin). Also repent sincerely to Allaah as long as the door of repentance is still open. Be cautious of undesirable end because leaving this world is actually painful

source : huda.tv

Educating your children in Ramadan

2013-07-14T17:48:00.000-07:00

Children (who did not reach puberty) are not commanded to fast. However, their parents or guardians are strongly recommended to encourage them to fast few days so that they get used to it and they grow up knowing to fast few days to fastto fast few days so that they get used to it and they grow up knowing of the worship of fasting as they would know that of praying. In fact this was the practise of the first women of Islam who were living around the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam. An example of that is ar-Rubayya' bint Mu'awiyyah who reported that: "The Messenger of Allah,salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam, sent a man on the morning of the day of 'Ashurah, to the residences of the Ansar, saying: 'Whoever has spent the morning fasting is to complete his fast. Whoever has not spent this morning fasting should voluntary fast for the remainder of the day.' We fasted after that announcement, as did our young children. We would go to the mosque and make toys stuffed with cotton for them to play with. If one of them started crying due to hunger, we would give them a toy to play with until it was time to eat." [al-Bukhari and Muslim.]

Dear sister remember that among the seven that Allah will shade under His shade onthe Day of Judgement is a young man who grew up in the worship of Allah. Therefore let your children be one of these.
There are many ways to educate your children about Ramadan, the best and most important of which is to set the good example by fasting properly and behaving according to the Prophetic teachings. This is what your children will take from you first. When you are fulfilling this you can very easily [and they will accept it and practise it easilly as well] teach them what you want. Here are few tips that you can use with your children [you can think of others as well]:

•Depending on their age encourage them to fast a number of days upto every other day or more for those who are almost at the age of puberty. For those who are still young let them fast a day or two and praise them in front of friends and relatives for their achivement.
•Let your children go with their father to the Masjid for Maghrib prayer and break the fast with the larger Muslim community to make them feel the gretness of fasting and the unity of Muslims in worshipping Allah.
•If your children cannot fast let them eat with you at the time of Maghrib and teach them that you are breaking the fast even if they ate before.

•Teach your children the supplication of breaking the fast
•Take your children to the Taraweeh prayer so that they get used it and know about it from their early age. They may sit or stay in the back of the prayer room if they get tired.
•Teach them to give charity. Do it in front of them and tell them you are doing it because the reward increases in Ramadan.

•Teach them to recite Qur'an regularily and inform them that the Prophet (S) used to do that in Ramadan.
•Correct them if they behave wrongly or say unaccaptable words and remind them that they are fasting ot they are in Ramadan and this may alter their reward.
•Wake them up for Suhoor [even if they don't fast] and Fajr prayer.
•Teach them to feed the people fasting and tell them about the reward for that.
•Dress them in the best clothes, give them a bath and take them with you to the Eid Prayer. Teach them that this is our feast and celebration and that christmas, easter, thanksgiving and other holidays are not ours. Stress the distinction.

and remember that the Prophet salla allahu alaihi wa sallam said:
"One who is given the responsibility of the bringing up of daughters and treats them well will be a shield for him from Hell. [Bukhari and Muslim]

Source : tuba.tv

Reaping the Benefits of Ramadan

2013-07-14T17:41:00.004-07:00

In the month of Ramadan it is very important that we spent a few moments to understand some of the wisdoms and lessons that we can learn from this month of fasting.
Unfortunately, many Muslims come in to this month and they are as a companion of the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Let it not be that the day that you fast and the day that you breakfast be equal." Meaning, one's behavior, attitude and outlook are the same whether one fasts or not, i.e. fasting has no effect upon that person. This is why we need to reflect on some of these lessons.

LESSON 1: Gaining Taqwaa

Allaah legislated fasting for gaining taqwaa,

"O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it has been prescribed upon those before you, so that you may attain taqwaa." [Al-Baqarah 2:183]

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ}

البقرة: 183

Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo kutiba AAalaykumu alssiyamu kama kutiba AAala allatheena min qablikum laAAallakum tattaqoona

Taqwaa in this case means to make a shield between oneself and Allah’s anger and Hellfire. So we should ask ourselves, when we break our fasts, ‘Has this fasting day made us fear Allaah more? Has it resulted that we want to protect ourselves from the hellfire or not?

LESSON 2: Drawing closer to Allaah

This is achieved by reciting and reflecting on Al-Qur’an during night and day, attending the taraweeh prayers, remembering Allaah, sitting in circles of knowledge and, for those who can, making `umrah. Also for those who can, making I`tikaaf (seclusion) in the last ten nights of Ramadan, so as to leave all worldly pursuits and seclude oneself in a masjid just thinking of Allaah, so as to bring oneself closer to Allaah (SWT). When one sins, one feels distant from Allaah. That is why one might find it hard to read the Qur’an and come to the masjid. However, the obedient worshipper feels closer to Allaah and wants to worship Allaah more, because he is not shy from his sins.

LESSON 3: Acquiring patience and strong will

Allaah has mentioned patience more than seventy times in the Qur’an and has commanded patience in more than sixteen ways in His Book. So when one fasts, and gives up one’s food and drink, and one’s marital sexual relations for those hours, one learns restraint and patience. This Ummah needs men and women that are strong willed, who can stand upon the Sunnah and the Book of Allah and not waver in front of the enemies of Allaah. We do not need emotional people, who just raise slogans and shout, but when the time comes to stand upon something firm, they cannot do so, they waver.

LESSON 4: Striving for Ihsaan (righteousness and sincerity) and staying away from riyaa’ (showing off)

Ihsaan means to worship Allaah as if one sees Him, and even though one does not see Him, He sees all. Hasan al-Basree said, "By Allaah, in the last twenty years, I have not said a word or taken something with my hand or refrained to take something with my hand or stepped forth or stepped back, except that I have thought before I have done any action, ‘Does Allaah love this action? Is Allaah pleased with this action?' So when one is fasting, one should gain this quality of watching oneself and also staying away from riyaa’ (showing off). That is why Allah said in a hadeeth qudsee, "Fasting is for Me and I reward it." [Al-Bukhari]

«إلا الصوم ، فإنه لي وأنا أجزي به »

رواه البخاري

Allaah singles out fasting from all other types of worship saying, "Fasting is for Me", because no one knows whether you are fasting or not, except Allaah. For example, when one is praying or giving charity or making tawaaaf, one can be seen by the people, so one might do the action seeking the praise of the people. Sufyaan ath-Thawree used to spend the nights and the days crying and the people used to ask him, "Why do you cry, is it due to the fear of Allaah? He said, ‘No.’ They said, "Is it due to the fear of the Hellfire?" He said, ‘No. It is not the fear of Hellfire that makes me cry, what makes me cry is that I have been worshipping Allaah all these years and doing scholarly teaching, and I am not certain that my intentions are purely for Allaah.’"

LESSON 5: Refinement of manners, especially those related to truthfulness and discharging trusts.

The Prophet (may Allaah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, "Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action, then Allaah (SWT) has no need that he should heave his food and drink." [Al-Bukhari]

«من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به ، فليس لله حاجة في أن يدع طعامه وشرابه »

رواه البخاري

What we learn from this, is that we must pay attention to the purification of our manners. The Prophet (may Allaah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, "was sent to perfect good manners." [Malik]

«إنما بعثت لأتمم مكارم الأخلاق»

رواه الإمام مالك

So we must check ourselves, are we following the behavior of the Prophet (may Allaah send His blessing and peace upon him)? For example: Do we give salaam to those we don’t know and those we do know? Do we follow the manners of Islam, by telling the truth and only telling the truth? Are we sincere? Are we merciful to the creation?

LESSON 6: Recognizing that one can change for the better

The Prophet (may Allaah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, "Every son of Adam sins and the best of the sinners are those who repent." [Ibn Maajah]

« كل بني آدم خطاء وخير الخطائين التوابون »

رواه ابن ماجه

Allaah provides many opportunities to repent to Him and seek His forgiveness. If one was disobedient they can become obedient.

LESSON 7: Being more charitable

Ibn `Abbaas said, "The Prophet (may Allaah send His blessing and peace upon him) was the most charitable amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadaan when Jibreel used to meet him on every night of Ramadaan till the end of the month…" [Al-Bukhari]

« كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أجود الناس ، وكان أجود ما يكون في رمضان حين يلقاه جبريل ، وكان يلقاه في كل ليلة من رمضان فيدارسه القرآن... »

رواه البخاري

The Prophet (may Allaah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, "He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, without nothing being reduced from the fasting person’s reward." [At-Tirmizi]

«من فطر صائما كان له مثل أجره ، غير أنه لا ينقص من أجر الصائم شيئا »

رواه الترمذي

LESSON 8: Sensing the unity of the Muslims

The Prophet (may Allaah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, "… Those of you who will live after me will see many differences. Then you must cling to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided khaleefahs. Hold fast to it and stick to it." [Abu Dawud]

«فإنه من يعش منكم بعدي فسيرى اختلافا كثيرا ، فعليكم بسنتي وسنة الخلفاء المهديين الراشدين تمسكوا بها ، وعضوا عليها بالنواجذ »

رواه أبو داود

In this month we sense that there is a possibility for unity, because we all fast together, we breakfast together, we all worship Allah together, and we pray Salaatul-`Eid together. Therefore we sense that the unity of Muslims is possible. It is possible for Muslims to be a single body, but this will only be achieved when obedience is only to Allaah and His Messenger.

LESSON 9: Learning discipline

The Prophet (may Allaah send His blessing and peace upon him) made us adhere to discipline and strictness, strictness that does not lead to fanaticism or going outside the bounds that Allaah has laid down. One cannot knowingly break the fast before the sunset, as this will not be accepted by Allaah. Muslims should learn to be very strict in their lives, because they are people of an important message, which they mold their lives around.

LESSON 10: Teaching the young to worship Allaah

It was the practice of the people of Madeenah, that during the fast of `Aashooraa (which is now a recommended fast of one day) to get their children to fast with them. When the children would cry of hunger and thirst, their parents would distract their attention by giving them some sort of toy to play with. The children would break their fast with their parents. [As mentioned in al-Bukhari]

«فكنا نصومه بعد ، ونصوم صبياننا ، ونجعل لهم اللعبة من العهن ، فإذا بكى أحدهم على الطعام أعطيناه ذاك حتى يكون عند الإفطار »

رواه البخاري

So the young should be brought to the masjid and they should pray with their parents, so that they are able to get into the habit of becoming worshippers of Allaah. If one does not encourage children to fast when they are young, they will find it very difficult to fast for thirty days at the age of puberty. This is why the Prophet (may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, "Command your children to pray at the age of seven and beat them at the age of ten (if they do not pray." [Abu Dawud]

«مروا الصبيان بالصلاة لسبع سنين، واضربوهم عليها فى عشر سنين»

رواه أبو داود

LESSON 11: Caring for one’s health

Fasting has many medical benefits and it teaches Muslims to take care of their health and too build strong bodies. The Prophet (may Allaah send His blessing and peace upon him) said, "A strong believer is better and is more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone." [Muslim]

«المؤمن القوي خير وأحب إلى الله من المؤمن الضعيف. وفي كل خير »

رواه مسلم

Source:.huda.tv/

Where is the “Christ” in “Christianity?”

2013-06-10T18:21:00.001-07:00

Religious scholars have long attributed the tenets of Christian faith more to Paul’s teachings than to those of Jesus. But as much as I would like to jump into that subject, I think it best to back up and take a quick, speculative look at the Old Testament.

The Old Testament teaches that Jacob wrestled with God. In fact, the Old Testament records that Jacob not only wrestled with God, but that Jacob prevailed (Genesis 32:24-30). Now, bear in mind, we’re talking about a tiny blob of protoplasm wrestling the Creator of a universe 240,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 miles in diameter, containing over a billion galaxies of which ours—the Milky Way Galaxy—is just one (and a small one, at that), and prevailing? I’m sorry, but someone was a couple pages short of a codex when they scribed that passage. The point is, however, that this passage leaves us in a quandary. We either have to question the Jewish concept of God or accept their explanation that “God” does not mean “God” in the above verses, but rather it means either an angel or a man (which, in essence, means the Old Testament is not to be trusted). In fact, this textual difficulty has become so problematic that more recent Bibles have tried to cover it up by changing the translation from “God” to “man.” What they cannot change, however, is the foundational scripture from which the Jewish Bible is translated, and this continues to read “God.”

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Unreliability is a recurring problem in the Old Testament, the most prominent example being the confusion between God and Satan! II Samuel 24:1 reads: “Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah.’” However, I Chronicles 21:1 states: “Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.” Uhhh, which was it? The Lord, or Satan? Both verses describe the same event in history, but one speaks of God and the other of Satan. There is a slight (like, total) difference. Christians would like to believe that the New Testament is free of such difficulties, but they are sadly deceived. In fact, there are so many contradictions that authors have devoted books to this subject. For example, Matthew 2:14 and Luke 2:39 differ over whether Jesus’ family fled to Egypt or Nazareth. Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 differ over the wording of the “Lord’s Prayer.” Matthew 11:13-14, 17:11-13 and John 1:21 disagree over whether or not John the Baptist was Elijah. Things get worse when we enter the arena of the alleged crucifixion: Who carried the cross—Simon (Luke 23:26, Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21) or Jesus (John 19:17)? Was Jesus dressed in a scarlet robe (Matthew 27:28) or a purple robe (John 19:2)? Did the Roman soldiers put gall (Matthew 27:34) or myrrh (Mark 15:23) in his wine? Was Jesus crucified before the third hour (Mark 15:25) or after the sixth hour (John 19:14-15)? Did Jesus ascend the first day (Luke 23:43) or not (John 20:17)? Were Jesus’ last words, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit my spirit’” (Luke 23:46), or were they “It is finished” (John 19:30)?

These are only a few of a long list of scriptural inconsistencies, and they underscore the difficulty in trusting the New Testament as scripture. Nonetheless, there are those who do trust their

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salvation to the New Testament, and it is these Christians who need to answer the question, “Where is the ‘Christ’ in ‘Christianity?’ “This, in fact, is a supremely fair question. On one hand we have a religion named after Jesus Christ, but on the other hand the tenets of orthodox Christianity, which is to say Trinitarian Christianity, contradict virtually everything he taught. I know, I know—those of you who aren’t screaming “Heretic!” are gathering firewood and planting a stake. But wait. Put down the high-powered rifle and listen. Trinitarian Christianity claims to base its doctrines on a combination of Jesus’ and Paul’s teachings. The problem is, these teachings are anything but complementary. In fact, they contradict one another.

Take some examples: Jesus taught Old Testament Law; Paul negated it. Jesus preached orthodox Jewish creed; Paul preached mysteries of faith. Jesus spoke of accountability; Paul proposed justification by faith. Jesus described himself as an ethnic prophet; Paul defined him as a universal prophet. 1 Jesus taught prayer to God, Paul set Jesus up as intercessor. Jesus taught divine unity, Pauline theologians constructed the Trinity.

For these reasons, many scholars consider Paul the main corrupter of Apostolic Christianity and Jesus’ teachings. Many early Christian sects held this view as well, including the second-century Christian sects known as “adoptionists”– “In particular,

1 Jesus Christ was one more prophet in the long line of prophets sent to the astray Israelites. As he so clearly affirmed, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24) When Jesus sent the disciples out in the path of God, he instructed them, “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:5-6) Throughout his ministry, Jesus was never recorded as having converted a Gentile, and in fact is recorded as having initially rebuked a Gentile for seeking his favors, likening her to a dog (Matthew 15:22-28 and Mark 7:25-30). Jesus was himself a Jew, his disciples were Jews, and both he and they directed their ministries to the Jews. One wonders what this means to us now, for most of those who have taken Jesus as their ‘personal savior’ are Gentiles, and not of the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” to whom he was sent.

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they considered Paul, one of the most prominent authors of our New Testament, to be an arch-heretic rather than an apostle.” 2 Lehmann contributes:

“What Paul proclaimed as ‘Christianity’ was sheer heresy which could not be based on the Jewish or Essene faith, or on the teaching of Rabbi Jesus. But, as Schonfield says, ‘The Pauline heresy became the foundation of Christian orthodoxy and the legitimate church was disowned as heretical.’ … Paul did something that Rabbi Jesus never did and refused to do. He extended God’s promise of salvation to the Gentiles; he abolished the law of Moses, and he prevented direct access to God by introducing an intermediary.” 3 Bart D. Ehrman, perhaps the most authoritative living scholar of textual criticism, comments:

“Paul’s view was not universally accepted or, one might argue, even widely accepted …. Even more striking, Paul’s own letters indicate that there were outspoken, sincere, and active Christian leaders who vehemently disagreed with him on this score and considered Paul’s views to be a corruption of the true message of Christ …. One should always bear in mind that in this very letter of Galatians Paul indicates that he confronted Peter over just such issues (Gal. 2:11-14). He disagreed, that is, even with Jesus’ closest disciple on the matter.” 4 Commenting on the views of some early Christians in the Pseudo-Clementine literature, Ehrman wrote:

“Paul has corrupted the true faith based on a brief vision, which he has doubtless misconstrued. Paul is thus the enemy of the

2 Ehrman, Bart D. The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings. 2004. Oxford University Press. P. 3. 3 Lehmann, Johannes. 1972. The Jesus Report. Translated by Michael Heron. London: Souvenir Press. pp. 128, 134. 4 Ehrman, Bart D. 2003. Lost Christianities. Oxford University Press. Pp. 97-98.

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apostles, not the chief of them. He is outside the true faith, a heretic to be banned, not an apostle to be followed.” 5 Others elevate Paul to sainthood. Joel Carmichael very clearly is not one of them:

“We are a universe away from Jesus. If Jesus came “only to fulfill” the Law and the Prophets; If he thought that “not an iota, not a dot” would “pass from the Law,” that the cardinal commandment was “Hear, O Israel, the Lord Our God, the Lord is one,” and that “no one was good but God”….What would he have thought of Paul’s handiwork! Paul’s triumph meant the final obliteration of the historic Jesus; he comes to us embalmed in Christianity like a fly in amber.” 6 Dr. Johannes Weiss contributes:

“Hence the faith in Christ as held by the primitive churches and by Paul was something new in comparison with the preaching of Jesus; it was a new type of religion.” 7 A new type of religion, indeed. And hence the question, “Where is the ‘Christ’ in ‘Christianity?’ “If Christianity is the religion of Jesus Christ, where are the Old Testament laws and strict monotheism of the Rabbi Jesus’ Orthodox Judaism? Why does Christianity teach that Jesus is the son of God when Jesus called himself the “son of Man” eighty-eight times, and not once the “son of God?” Why does Christianity endorse confession to priests and prayers to saints, Mary and Jesus when Jesus taught his followers: “In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father …’” (Matthew 6:9)?

5 Ehrman, Bart D. 2003. Lost Christianities. Oxford University Press. P. 184. 6 Carmichael, Joel, M.A. 1962. The Death of Jesus. New York: The Macmillan Company. p. 270. 7 Weiss, Johannes. 1909. Paul and Jesus. (Translated by Rev. H. J. Chaytor). London and New York: Harper and Brothers. p. 130.

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And who appointed a pope? Certainly not Jesus. True, he may have called Peter the rock upon which he would build his church (Matthew 16:18-19). However, a scant five verses later, he called Peter “Satan” and “an offense.” And let us not forget that this “rock” thrice denied Jesus after Jesus’ arrest—poor testimony of Peter’s commitment to the new church. Is it possible that Christians have been denying Jesus ever since? Transforming Jesus’ strict monotheism to the Pauline theologians’ Trinity, replacing Rabbi Jesus’ Old Testament law with Paul’s “justification by faith,” substituting the concept of Jesus having atoned for the sins of mankind for the direct accountability Jesus taught, discarding Jesus’ claim to humanity for Paul’s concept of Jesus having been divine, we have to question in exactly what manner Christianity respects the teachings of its prophet. A parallel issue is to define which religion does respect Jesus’ teachings. So let’s see: Which religion honors Jesus Christ as a prophet but a man? Which religion adheres to strict monotheism, God’s laws, and the concept of direct accountability to God? Which religion denies intermediaries between man and God? If you answered, “Islam,” you would be right. And in this manner, we find the teachings of Jesus Christ better exemplified in the religion of Islam than in Christianity. This suggestion, however, is not meant to be a conclusion, but rather an introduction. Those who find their interest peaked by the above discussion need to take the issue seriously, open their minds and then … read on!

Source: islamhouse.com/

The Journey into the Hereafter

2013-06-10T18:16:00.002-07:00

The Journey into the Hereafter (part 1 of 8): An Introduction

Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam who passed away in 632, related:

“Gabriel came to me and said, ‘O Muhammad, live as you wish, for you shall eventually die. Love whom you desire, for you shall eventually depart. Do what you please, for you shall pay.

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Know that the night-prayer1 is the honor of a believer, and his pride is being independant on others.’” (Silsilah al-Saheehah) If there is only one thing certain about life, it is that it ends. This truism instinctively raises a question which preoccupies most people at least once in their life: What lies beyond death?

At the physiological level, the journey that the deceased takes is plain for all to witness. If left alone to natural causes, 2 the heart will stop beating, the lungs will stop breathing, and the body’s cells will be starved of blood and oxygen. The termination of blood flow to the outer extremities will soon turn them pale. With the oxygen cut off, cells will respire anaerobically for a time, producing the lactic acid which causes rigor mortis – the stiffening of the corpse’s muscles. Then, as the cells begin to decompose, the stiffness wanes, the tongue protrudes, the temperature drops, the skin discolors, the flesh rots, and the parasites have their feast - until all that is left is dried-out tooth and bone. As for the journey of the soul after death, then this is not something that can be witnessed, nor can it be gauged through scientific enquiry. Even in a living body, the conscious, or soul, of a person cannot be subjected to empirical experimentation. It is simply beyond human control. In this regard, the concept of a Hereafter - a life beyond death, resurrection, and a Day of Reckoning; not to mention the existence of a Divine, Omnipotent Creator, His angels, destiny, and so on - comes under the subject of belief in the unseen. The only way in which man can come to know anything of the unseen world is through divine revelation.

“And with God are the keys of the unseen, none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and

1 Formal prayers (salat) prayed voluntarily at night after the last (isha) and before the first (fajr) of the five daily prayers. The best time to pray them is in the final third of the night. 2 Although a heart can be kept artificially beating, and blood artificially pumping, if the brain is dead, so too is the being as a whole.

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in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.” (Quran 6:59) While what has come down to us of the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel - the scriptures revealed to early prophets - all speak of a Hereafter, it is only through God’s Final Revelation to humanity, the Holy Quran, as revealed to His Final Prophet, Muhammad, that we learn most about the afterlife. And as the Quran is, and will forever remain, preserved and uncorrupted by human hands, the insight it gives us into the world of the unseen is, for the believer, as factual, real and true as anything that can be learnt through any scientific endeavor (and with a zero margin of error!). “…We have neglected nothing in the Book; then unto their Lord they shall all be gathered.” (Quran 6:38) Coupled with the question of what happens after we die, is the question: Why are we here? For if there is indeed no greater purpose to life (that is, greater than simply living life itself), the question of what happens after death becomes academic, if not pointless. It is only if one first accepts that our intelligent design, our creation, necessitates an intelligence and designer behind it, a Creator who will judge us for what we do, that life on earth carries any significant meaning. “Then did you think that We created you in vain and that to Us you would not be returned? Therefore exalted be God, the Sovereign, the Truth; no deity is there save Him, Lord of the Supreme Throne.” (Quran 23:115-116)

If aught else, a discerning person would be forced to conclude that life on earth is full of injustice, cruelty and oppression; that the law of the jungle, survival of the fittest, is what is paramount; that if one cannot find happiness in this life, whether due to an absence of material comforts, physical love, or other joyous experiences, then life is simply not worth living. In fact, it is precisely because

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a person despairs of this worldly life while having little, no, or imperfect faith in an afterlife, that they may commit suicide. After all, what else do the unhappy, unloved and unwanted; the dejected, (desperately) depressed and despairing have to lose?! 3 “And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?” (Quran 15:56) So can we accept that our death is limited to mere physiological termination, or that life is merely a product of blind, selfish evolution? Surely, there is more to death, and so to life, than this.

3 According to a United Nations report marking ‘World Suicide Prevention Day’, “More people kill themselves each year than die from wars and murders combined ... Some 20 million to 60 million try to kill themselves each year, but only about a million of them succeed.” (Reuters, September 8, 2006)

The Journey into the Hereafter (part 2 of 8):The Believer in the Grave

A Grave World

We will now take a brief look at the journey of the soul after death. This is truly an amazing story, all the more so because it is true and one which we all must take. The sheer depth of knowledge we have concerning this journey, its precision and detail, is a manifest sign that Muhammad was truly God’s Last Messenger to humanity. The revelation he received and then communicated to us from His Lord is as unambiguous in its description of the afterlife as it comprehensive. Our glimpse into this knowledge will begin with a brief exploration of the journey of the believing soul from the moment of death to its final resting place in Paradise. When a believer is about to depart this world, angels with white faces come down from the heavens and say: “O peaceful soul, come out to forgiveness from God and His pleasure.” (Hakim and others) The believer will look forward to meeting his Creator, as the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, explained:

“…when the time of the death of a believer approaches, he receives the good news of God’s pleasure with him and His blessings upon him, and so at that time nothing is dearer to him

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than what lies ahead of him. He therefore loves meeting God, and God loves meeting him.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari) The soul peacefully passes out of the body like a drop of water which emerges from a water-skin, and the angels take hold of it: The angels gently extract it, saying: “…Do not fear and do not grieve, but receive good tidings of the Paradise which you were promised. We were your allies in this worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter, and you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish], as a hospitality from the Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran 41:30-32) Once extracted from the body, the angels wrap the soul in a shroud smelling of musk and ascend up to the heavens. As the Gates of Heaven open for the soul, the angels greet it: “A good soul has come from the earth, may God bless you and the body you used to dwell in.” …introducing it with the best names it was called with in this life. God commands his “book” to be recorded, and the soul is returned back to earth.

The soul then remains in a place of limbo in its grave, called the Barzakh, awaiting the Day of Judgment. Two fearsome, dread-inspiring angels called Munkar and Nakeer visit the soul to ask it about its religion, God, and prophet. The believing soul sits upright in its grave as God grants it the strength to answer the angels with full faith and certainty. 4 Munkar and Nakeer: “What is your religion?” Believing soul: “Islam.” Munkar and Nakeer: “Who is your Lord?”

4 Musnah Ahmad

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Believing soul: “Allah.” Munkar and Nakeer: “Who is your Prophet?” (or “What do you say about this man?”) Believing soul: “Muhammad.” Munkar and Nakeer: “How did you come to know these things?” Believing soul: “I read the Book of Allah (i.e. the Quran) and I believed.” Then, when the soul passes the test, a voice from the heavens will call out: “My slave has spoken the truth, supply him with furnishings from Paradise, clothe him from Paradise, and open a gate for him to Paradise.”

The believer’s grave is made roomy and spacious and filled with light. He is shown what would have been his abode in Hell - had he been a wicked sinner - before a portal is opened for him every morning and evening showing him his actual home in Paradise. Excited and full of joyful anticipation, the believer will keep asking: ‘When will the Hour (of Resurrection) come?! When will the Hour come?!’ until he is told to calm down. 5

5 Al-Tirmidhi

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The Journey into the Hereafter (part 3 of 8): The Believer on Judgment Day

The Day of Judgment

“That Day, a man shall flee from his brother; from his mother and his father; from his wife and his children. For on that Day, every man will have enough to make him indifferent to others.” (Quran 80:34-37) The Hour of Resurrection will be a terrifying, overwhelming event. Yet, despite its trauma, the believer will be ecstatic, just as Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, related from his Lord:

God says, “By My Glory and Majesty, I will not give My slave two securities and two terrors. If he feels secure from Me in the world6, I will instill fear in him on the Day when I gather My

6 In the sense that he does not fear God’s punishment and thus commits sins.

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slaves together; and if he fears Me in the world, I will make him feel safe on the Day when I gather My slaves together.” 7 “Unquestionably, for the allies of God there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve: those who believed and used to fear God (in this life); for them are good tidings in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. No change is there in the words of God. Indeed in that is the great success.” (Quran 10:62-64)

When all humans ever created are gathered to stand naked and uncircumcised on a great plain under the ferocious scorching heat of the Sun, an elite group of pious men and women will be shaded under the Throne of God. The Prophet Muhammad foretold just who these fortunate souls will be, on that Day when no other shade will avail: 8 • a just ruler who did not abuse his power, but established divinely revealed justice among people • a young man who grew up worshipping his Lord and controlled his desires in order to remain chaste • those who hearts were attached to the Mosques, longing to return every time they left them • those who loved one another for God’s sake • those who were tempted by seductively beautiful women, but their fear of God stopped them from sinning • the one who spent in charity sincerely for God’s sake, keeping their charity secret • the one who wept out of God’s fear in solitude Specific acts of worship will also keep people safe on that day, namely:

7 Silsila Al-Saheehah. 8 Saheeh Al-Bukhari.

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• efforts in this world to relieve the woes of the distressed, to help the needy, and to overlook the mistakes of others will relieve people’s own distress on Judgment Day9

• leniency shown to the indebted10

• the just who are fair to their families and matters entrusted to them11

• controlling anger12

• whoever calls to prayer13

• growing old while in a state of Islam14

• performing ritual ablution (wudu’) regularly and properly15

• those who fight alongside Jesus son of Mary against the Anti-Christ and his army16 • martyrdom God will bring the believer close to Him, shelter him, cover him, and ask him about his sins. After acknowledging his sins he will believe he is doomed, but God will say: “I concealed it for you in the world, and I forgive it for you this Day.”

He will be rebuked for his shortcomings, 17 but will then be handed his record of good deeds in his right hand. 18

9 Saheeh Al-Bukhari. 10 Mishkat. 11Saheeh Muslim.. 12 Musnad. 13 Saheeh Muslim. 14 Jami al-Sagheer. 15 Saheeh Al-Bukhari. 16 Ibn Majah.

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“Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will be judged with an easy account and return to his people in happiness.” (Quran 84:7-8) Happy to look at his record, he will announce his joy: “So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, ‘Here, read my record! Indeed, I was certain that I would be meeting my account.’ So he will be in a pleasant life – in an elevated Garden, its [fruit] to be picked hanging near. [He will be told], ‘Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you put forth in the days past.’” (Quran 69:19-24) The record of good deeds will then be weighed, literally, to determine whether it outweighs the person’s record of bad deeds, and so that reward or punishment be meted out accordingly. “And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [any deed even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We to take account.” (Quran 21:47) “So whoever worked even an atom’s weight of good will see (the good fruits of his labor).” (Quran 99:7) “The heaviest thing that will be placed in a person’s Balance on the Day of Resurrection [after the testimony of Faith] is good manners, and God hates the obscene, immoral person.” (Al-Tirmidhi) The believers will quench their thirst from a special reservoir dedicated to the Prophet Muhammad. Whoever drinks from it shall never experience thirst again. Its beauty, immenseness, and sweet, fine taste have been described in detail by the Prophet.

17.Mishkat. 18 Saheeh Al-Bukhari. A sign that they are from the inhabitants of Paradise, as opposed to those who will be given their record of deeds in their left hands or behind their backs.

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The believers in Islam – both the sinful amongst them and the pious – as well as the hypocrites will be left in the great plain after the unbelievers are driven to Hell. A long bridge traversing the Hellfire and engulfed in darkness will separate them from Paradise. 19 The faithful will take strength and comfort in their swift crossing over the roaring fires of Hell and in the ‘light’ that God will place in front of them, guiding them to their eternal home: “On the Day you see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on their right, [it will be said], ‘Your good tidings today are of gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will abide eternally.’ Indeed in that is the great success.” (Quran 57:12)

Finally, after crossing the bridge, the faithful will be purified before they are entered into Paradise. All scores between believers will be settled so that no one man nurses a grudge against another. 20

19 Saheeh Muslim. 20.Saheeh Al-Bukhari

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The Journey into the Hereafter (part 4 of 8): The Believer and Paradise

Paradise

The believers will be ushered on towards the grand eight gates of Paradise. There, they will receive a joyous angelic reception and be congratulated on account of their safe arrival and salvation from Hell. “But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, ‘Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein.” (Quran 39:73)

(It will be said to the pious): “O (you) the one in (complete) rest and satisfaction! Come back to your Lord, Well-pleased and well-pleasing unto Him! Enter you then among My honored slaves. Enter you My Paradise!” (Quran 89:27-30)

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The best of the Muslims will enter Paradise first. The most righteous of them will ascend to the highest levels. 21 “But whoever comes to God as a believer (in His Oneness, etc.) and has done righteous good deeds; for such are the high ranks (in the Hereafter).” (Quran 20:75) “And the foremost (in faith) will be foremost (in the Hereafter); those are the ones brought near to God in the Gardens of Pleasure; they will enter in one rank with bright faces.” (Quran 56:10-2)

The Quranic description of Paradise gives us a vision of just what a fantastic place it is. An eternal home that will fulfill all our wholesome desires, seduce all our senses, grant us everything we could possibly want and much more besides. God describes His Paradise as having earth made of is fine musk powder, 22 soil of saffron, 23 bricks of gold and silver, and pebbles of pearls and rubies. Beneath the gardens of Paradise are flowing rivers of sparkling water, sweet milk, clear honey, and non-intoxicating wine. The tents on their banks are domes of hollow pearls. 24 The whole space is filled with sparkling light, sweet-smelling plants and fragrances that can be savored from afar. 25 There are lofty palaces, huge mansions, grapevines, date palms, pomegranate trees, 26 lotus and acacia trees whose trunks of made of gold. 27 Ripe, abundant fruit of all kinds: berries, citrus, drupes, grapes, melons, pomes; all kinds of fruit, tropical and exotic; anything the faithful could possibly desire! “…And therein is whatever each soul desires and delights the eyes...” (Quran 43:71)

21Sahih al-Jami.. 22 Saheeh Muslim 23 Mishkat 24 Saheeh Al-Bukhari 25 Sahih al-Jami 26 Quran 56:27-32 27 Sahih al-Jami

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Each believer will have a most beautiful, pious and pure spouse, wearing exquisite clothing; And there will be so much more in a new world of eternal, radiant joy. “And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes [i.e. satisfaction] as reward for what they used to do.” (Quran 32:17) As well as physical delights, Paradise will also give its residents a state of emotional and psychological bliss, as the Prophet said: “Whoever enters Paradise is blessed with a life of joy; he will never feel miserable, his clothes will never wear out, and his youth shall never fade away. The people will hear a divine call: ‘I grant you that you will be healthy and never fall sick, you will live and never die, you will be young and never age, you will be joyful and never feel miserable.’” (Saheeh Muslim) Ultimately, the thing that will most delight the eyes will be the Countenance of God Himself. For the true believer, to see this blessed vision of God is to have won the ultimate prize. “[Some] faces, that Day, will be radiant, looking at their Lord.” (Quran 75:22-23) This is the Paradise, the eternal home and final destination of the righteous believer. May God, Most High, make us worthy of it.

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The Journey into the Hereafter (part 5 of 8): The Unbeliever in the Grave

As death approaches the wicked disbeliever, he is made to feel something of the heat of the Hellfire. This taste of what is to come causes him to plead for a second chance on earth to do the good he knew he should have done. Alas! His pleading will be in vain. “Until, when death comes to one of them, he says: ‘O my Lord. Send me back to life (on earth) in order that I may do good deeds in the things that I neglected.’ By no means! It is only an utterance that he says. And before them is a barrier (preventing them from returning: the life of the grave) until the Day (of Resurrection) they are ressurected.” (Quran 23:99-100) Divine wrath and punishment is conveyed to the wicked soul by hideously ugly, dark angels who sit far away from it: “Receive glad tidings of boiling water, wound discharge, and multiple, similar torments.” (Ibn Majah, Ibn Katheer) The disbelieving soul will not look forward to meeting its Lord God, as the Prophet explained:

“When the time of the death of a disbeliever approaches, he receives the evil news of God’s torment and His Requital, whereupon nothing is more hateful to him than what is before

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him. Therefore, he hates the meeting with God, and God too, hates the meeting with him.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari) The Prophet also said: “Whoever loves to meet God, God loves to meet him, and whoever hates to meet God, God hates to meet him.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari) The Angel of Death sits at the head of the disbeliever in his grave and says: “Wicked soul, come out to the displeasure of Allah” as he snatches the soul out of the body. “And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, saying, ‘Save yourselves! Today you will be awarded the punishment of extreme humiliation for what you used to say against God other than the truth, and that you were, toward His verses, being arrogant.” (Quran 6:93) “And if you could not see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieved… striking their faces and their backs and saying, ‘Taste the punishment of the Blazing Fire.’” (Quran 8:50)

The evil soul leaves the body with great difficulty, drawn out by the angels as a thronged skewer is dragged through wet wool. 28 The Angel of Death then seizes the soul and puts it in a sack woven from hair which gives off a putrid stench, as foul and offensive as the most foul-smelling rotting corpse found on earth. The angels then take the soul up past another company of angels who inquire: “Who is this wicked soul?” to which they reply: “So and so, the son of so and so?” - using the very worst of names that he was ever called during his time on earth. Then, when he is brought to the lowest heaven, a request is made that its gate be opened for him, but the request is denied. Whilst the

28 Al-Hakim, Abu Dawood, and others.

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Prophet was describing these events, when he reached this point, he recited: “The gates of heaven will not be opened for them and they will not enter paradise until a camel can pass through the eye of a needle.” (Quran 7:40) God will say: “Record his book in Sijjeen in the lowest earth.” …and his soul is cast down. At this juncture, the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, recited: “He who assigns partners to Allah is as if he had fallen down from heaven and been snatched up by the birds, or made to fall by the wind in a place far distant.” (Quran 22:31) The wicked soul is then restored to its body and the two fearsome, dread-inspiring angels, Munkar and Nakeer, come to it for its interrogation. After making him sit up, they ask: Munkar and Nakeer: “Who is your Lord?” Disbelieving soul: “Alas, alas, I do not know.” Munkar and Nakeer: “What is your religion?” Disbelieving soul: “Alas, alas, I do not know.” Munkar and Nakeer: “What do you say about this man (Muhammad) sent to you?” Disbelieving soul: “Alas, alas I do not know.”

Having failed his test, the disbeliever’s head will be struck with an iron hammer with a force so violent that it would crumble a mountain. The cry will be heard from heaven: “He has lied, so spread out carpets of Hell for him, and open for him a portal into Hell.” 29 The floor of his grave is thus set alight with some

29 Musnad Ahmad.

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of Hell’s fierce fire, and his grave is made narrow and constricted to the extent that his ribs become intertwined as his body is crushed. 30 Then, an incredibly ugly being, wearing ugly garments and giving off a foul and offensive odor comes to the disbelieving soul and says: “Be grieved with what displeases you, for this is your day which you have been promised.” The disbeliever will ask: “Who are you, with your face so ugly and bringing evil?” The ugly one will reply: “l am your wicked deeds!” The disbeliever is then made to taste bitter remorse as he is shown what would have been his abode in Paradise - had he lived a righteous life - before a portal is opened for him every morning and evening showing him his actual home in Hell. 31 Allah mentions in His Book how the wicked people of Pharaoh are, at this very moment, suffering from such an exposure to Hell from within their graves: “The Fire: they are exposed to it, morning and afternoon, and on the Day when the Hour will be established (it will be said to the angels): ‘(Now) cause Pharaoh’s people to enter the severest torment!’” (Quran 40:46) Overcome with fear and loathing, anxiety and despair, the disbeliever in his grave will keep asking: “My Lord, do not bring the last hour. Do not bring the last hour.” The Companion, Zaid b. Thabit, narrated how, when the Prophet Muhammad and his Companions were once passing some graves of polytheists, the Prophet’s horse bolted and almost unseated him. The Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, then said:

“These people are being tortured in their graves, and were it not that you would stop burying your dead, I would ask God to let

30 Musnad Ahmad. 31 Ibn Hibban.

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you hear the punishment in the grave which I (and this horse) can hear.” (Saheeh Muslim)

The Journey into the Hereafter (part 6 of 8): The Unbeliever on Judgment Day

A great terror will befall the resurrected on the mighty Day of Resurrection: “…He only delays them until a Day when eyes will stare (in horror).” (Quran 14:42) The unbeliever is resurrected from his ‘grave’ as described by God: “The Day they will emerge from the graves rapidly as if they were, toward an erected idol, hastening. Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. That is the Day which they had been promised.” (Quran 70:43) The heart will be trembling, confused about what evil retribution lies in store for it: “And (other) faces, that Day, will have upon them dust. Blackness will cover them. Those are the unbelievers, the wicked ones.” (Quran 80:40-42)

“And never think that God is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them (i.e., their account) until a Day when eyes will stare (in horror). Racing ahead, their heads raised up, their glance does not come back to them, and their hearts are void.” (Quran 14:42)

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The disbelievers will be gathered as they were born - naked and uncircumcised – upon a great plain, driven on his faces, blind, deaf, and mute: “We will gather them on the Day of Resurrection (fallen) on their faces – blind, dumb, and deaf. Their refuge is Hell; every time it subsides We increase them in blazing fire.” (Quran 17:97) “And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressing life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.” (Quran 20:124) Three times they will “meet” God. The first time they will attempt to defend themselves in futile argument against God Almighty, saying things such as: “The prophets did not come to us!” Even though Allah revealed in His Book: “…And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.” (Quran 17:15) “…Lest you say: ‘There came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner….’” (Quran 5:19) The second time, they will present their excuses while acknowledging their guilt. Even the devils will try to excuse themselves from their crimes of leading men astray: “His (man’s) personal demon will say: ‘Our Lord! I did not push him to transgress. Rather, he was himself in error, far astray.’” (Quran 50:27) But God, Most High and Just, will not be fooled. He will say: “Dispute not in front of me. I have already advanced before you the threat. The sentence that comes from Me cannot be changed. And I am not unjust (in the least) to the slaves.” (Quran 50:28-29)

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The third time the wicked soul will meet its Maker to receive its Book of Deeds32, a record omitting nothing. “And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say: ‘Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?’ And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does not do injustice to anyone.” (Quran 18:49) Upon receiving their records, the wicked ones will be rebuked in front of the whole of mankind. “And they will be presented before your Lord in rows, (and He will say), ‘You have certainly come to Us, just as We created you the first time.’ But you claimed that We would never have an appointment!” (Quran 18:48)

The Prophet Muhammad said: “These are the ones who did not believe in God!” 33 And it is these whom God will question regarding the blessings they took for granted. Each one will be asked: ‘Did you think We would meet?’ And as each one will answer: ‘No!’ God will tell him: ‘I will forget about you as you forgot Me!’ 34 Then, as the disbeliever will attempt to lie his way out, God will seal his mouth, and his body parts instead will testify against him. “That Day, We will seal over their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify about what they used to earn.” (Quran 36:65) Besides his own sins, the disbeliever will also bear the sins of those he misled.

32 Ibn Majah, Musnad, and Al-Tirmidhi. 33 Saheeh Muslim. 34 Saheeh Muslim.

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“And when it is said to them: ‘What has your Lord sent down?’ They say: ‘Legends of the former peoples,’ that they may bear their own burdens (i.e., sins) in full on the Day of Resurrection and some of the burdens of those whom they misguide without knowledge. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear.” (Quran 16:24-25) The psychological pain of deprivation, loneliness and abandonment will all to the physical torture. “…and God will not speak to them or look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them; and they will have a painful punishment.” (Quran 3:77)

While the Prophet Muhammad will intercede on behalf of all believers, no intercessor will the disbeliever find; he who worshipped false deities besides the One, True God. 35 “…And the wrongdoers will not have any protector or helper.” (Quran 42:8) Their saints and spiritual advisors will dissociate themselves, and the disbeliever would wish he could come back to this life and do the same to those who now disown them: “(And they should consider that) when those who have been followed disassociate themselves from those who followed (them), and they [all] see the punishment, and cut off from them are the ties [of relationship]. Those who followed will say, ‘If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disassociate ourselves from them as they have disassociated themselves from us.’ Thus will God show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they are never to emerge from the Fire.” (Quran 2:167)

The sorrow of the sin-ridden soul will be so intense that he will actually pray: ‘O God, have mercy on me and put me in the

35 Saheeh Al-Bukhari.

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Fire.’ 36 He will be asked: ‘Do you wish you had a whole earth-full of gold so you could pay it to set yourself free?’ To which he will answer: ‘Yes.’ Whereupon he will be told: ‘You were asked for something much easier than that - worship God alone.’ 37 “And they were not commanded except that they should worship Allah (alone), being sincere to the upright religion (of Islam)….” (Quran 98:5) “But the disbelievers – their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing, but he finds God before Him, Who will pay him in full his due; and God is swift in account.” (Quran 24:39) “And We shall turn to what deeds they have done, and We shall make them as dust dispersed.” (Quran 25:23) The disbelieving soul will then be handed in his left hand and from behind his back, his written record which was kept by angels who noted his every deed in his earthly life. “But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say: ‘Oh, I wish I had not been given my record, and had not known what is my account.’” (Quran 69:25-26) “But as for he who is given his record behind his back, he will cry out for his destruction.” (Quran 84:10-11) Finally, he will be made to enter Hell:

“And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are opened and its keepers will say: ‘Did there not come to you messengers from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?’ They will say: ‘Yes, but the word

36 Tabarani. 37 Saheeh Al-Bukhari.

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(i.e., decree) of punishment has come into effect upon the disbelievers.’” (Quran 39:71)

The first to enter Hell will be the pagans, followed by those Jews and Christians who corrupted the true religion of their prophets. 38 Some will be driven to Hell, others will fall in it, snatched by hooks. 39 At that point, the disbeliever will wish that he had could have been turned into dust, rather than reap the bitter fruits of his evil works. “Indeed, We have warned you of a near punishment on the Day when a man will observe what his hands have put forth and the disbeliever will say: ‘Oh, I wish that I were dust!’” (Quran 78:40)

38 Saheeh Al-Bukhari. 39 Al-Tirmidhi.

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The Journey into the Hereafter (part 7 of 8): The Unbeliever and Hell

Hell will receive the faithless with its fury and roar: “…and We have prepared for those who deny the Hour, a Blaze. When it [Hellfire] sees them from a distant place, they will hear its fury and roaring.” (Quran 25:11-12) When they near it, they will anticipate their shackles and their destiny as fuel: “Indeed, We have prepared for the disbelievers chains and shackles and a blaze.” (Quran 76:4) “Indeed, with Us are shackles and burning fire.” (Quran 73:12) Angels will rush at God’s command to seize and shackle him: “Seize him and shackle him.” (Quran 69:30) “…and We will put shackles on the necks of those who disbelieved.” (Quran 34:33) Bound in chains… “…a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits.” (Quran 69:32) …he will be dragged along:

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“When iron collars will be rounded over their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along.” (Quran 40:71) While they are being tied down, chained, and dragged to be thrown into Hell, they will hear its rage: “And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination. When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up. It almost bursts with rage....” (Quran 67:6-8) Since they will be driven from the great plain of gathering, naked and hungry, they will beg the inhabitants of Paradise for water: “And the companions of the Fire will call to the companions of Paradise: ‘Pour upon us some water, or from whatever God has provided you.’ They will say: ‘Indeed God has forbidden them both to the disbelievers.’” (Quran 7:50) At the same time the faithful in Paradise will be received with honor, made comfortable, and served with delicious banquets, the disbeliever will dine in Hell: “Then indeed, you, the stray, the deniers, will be eating from trees of zaqqoom and filling your bellies with it.” (Quran 56:51-53) Zaqqoom: a tree whose roots are in the bottom of Hell and which branches into its other levels; its fruit resembles the heads of the devils: “Is that (Paradise) better as hospitality or the tree of zaqqoom? Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers. Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire, its emerging fruits as if it was heads of the devils. And indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies.” (Quran 37:62-66)

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The wicked will have other food to eat as well, some that chokes, 40 and some like dry, thorny bushes. 41 “Nor any food except from the (foul) discharge of wounds; none will eat it except the sinners.” (Quran 69:36-37)

And to wash down their melancholy meals, an extremely cold mix of their own pus, blood, sweat and wound discharge42 as well as boiling, scolding water which dissolves their intestines: “…and are given to drink scalding water that will sever their intestines.” (Quran 47:15) The clothing of the denizens of Hell will be made of fire and pitch: “...but those who disbelieved will have cut out for them garments of fire.” (Quran 22:19) “Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered by the Fire.” (Quran 14:50)

Their sandals, 43 bed, and canopies will likewise be made of fire; 44 a punishment encapsulating the entire body, from heedless head to transgressing toe: “Then pour over his head from the torment of scalding water.” (Quran 44:48) “On the Day the punishment will cover them from above them and from below their feet and it is said: ‘Taste what you used to do.’” (Quran 29:55) Their punishment in Hell will vary according to their disbelief and other sins.

40 Quran 72:13. 41 Quran 88:6-7. 42 Quran 78:24-25. 43 Saheeh Muslim. 44 Quran 7:41.

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“By no means! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what can make you know what is the Crusher? It is the fire of God, [eternally] fueled, which mounts directed at the hearts. Indeed, it [Hellfire] will be closed down upon them. In extended columns.” (Quran 104:5-9) Every time the skin will burn through, it will be replenished with new skin: “Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through, We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, God is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Quran 4:56) Worst of all, the punishment will keep increasing: “So taste [the penalty], and never will We increase you except in torment.” (Quran 78:30) The psychological effect of this punishing chastisement will be tremendous. A chastisement so severe that its sufferers will cry out for it to be multiplied on those who led them astray: “They will say: ‘Our Lord, whoever brought this upon us – increase for him double punishment in the Fire.’” (Quran 38:61) The daring will make their first attempt to break out, but: “And for them are maces of iron. Every time they want to get out of it from anguish, they will be returned to it, and [it will be said]: ‘Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire!’” (Quran 22:21-22) After failing several times, they will seek assistance from Iblees, the Great Satan himself.

“And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded: ‘Indeed, God had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you

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except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. Indeed, I deny your association of me [with God] before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment.’” (Quran 14:22) Giving up on Satan, they will turn to the angels guarding Hell to get their torment reduced, even if just for a day: “And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell: ‘Supplicate your Lord to lighten for us [even] one day from the punishment.’” (Quran 40:49) Awaiting the response for as long as God wills, the guards will come back and ask: “‘Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?’ They will say, ‘Yes.’ They (Hell’s keepers) will reply: ‘Then supplicate yourselves, but the supplication of the disbelievers is nothing but (an exercise in) futility.’” (Quran 40:50) Losing hope in the reduction of punishment, they will seek death. This time they will turn to the Hell’s Chief Keeper, the angel, Malik, pleading to him for forty years: “And they will call: ‘O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!...’” (Quran 43:77) His curt rebuttal after a thousand years will be: “…Indeed, you will remain.” (Quran 43:77) Eventually, they will return to He Whom they refused to turn to in this world, asking for one last chance: “They will say, ‘Our Lord, our wretchedness overcame us, and we were a people astray. Our Lord, remove us from it, and if we were to return [to evil], we would indeed be wrongdoers.’” (Quran 23:106-107)

God’s respond will be thus: “Remain despised therein and do not speak to Me.” (Quran 23:108) The pain from this response will be worse than their fiery torment. For the disbeliever will know his stay in Hell will be for an eternity, his omission from Paradise absolute and final: “Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit wrong – never will God forgive them, nor will He guide them to a path except the path of Hell; they will abide therein forever. And that, for God, is easy.” (Quran 4:168-169) The greatest deprivation and sorrow for an unbeliever will be spiritual: he will be veiled from God and will be deprived of seeing Him: “No! Indeed, from their Lord, that Day, they will be partitioned.” (Quran 83:15) Just like they refused to “see” Him in this life, they will be separated from God in the next life. The faithful will jeer at them. “So Today, those who believed are laughing at the disbelievers, on adorned couches, observing. Have the disbelievers [not] been rewarded [this Day] for what they used to do?” (Quran 83:34-36) Their total despair and grief will culminate when death is brought in the form of a ram and slaughtered in front of them, so they know no refuge will ever be found in a final dissolution. “And warn them, (O Muhammad), of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and yet they are heedless, and they do not believe!” (Quran 19:39)

The Journey into the Hereafter (part 8 of 8): Conclusion

Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, who passed away in 632, related: “This world is a prison for the believer, but for the disbeliever it is a Paradise. While for the disbeliever, the Hereafter will be a prison, but for the believer, it will be his Paradise.” Once, in the early period of Islam, a poor Christian happened upon one of the great scholars of Islam, who was at the time mounted upon a fine horse and clad in fine garments. The Christian recited to the well-to-do Muslim the hadeeth quoted above, before remarking: “Yet I stand before you a non-Muslim, poor and destitute in this world, while you are a Muslim, rich and prosperous.” The scholar of Islam replied: “Indeed so. But if you knew the reality of what might await you (of eternal punishment) in the Hereafter, you would consider yourself now to be in Paradise by comparison. And if you knew the reality of what might await me (of eternal bliss) in the Hereafter, you would consider me now to be in prison by comparison.”

Thus, it is from the great mercy and justice of God that he created Heaven and Hell. Knowledge of the Hellfire serves to dissuade man from wrong-doing while a glimpse into the treasures

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of Paradise incites him towards good deeds and righteousness. Those who deny their Lord, work evil and are unrepentant will enter Hell: a place of real pain and suffering. While the reward for righteousness is the place of unimaginable physical beauty and perfection that is His Paradise. Often, people testify to the goodness of their own souls by claiming that any good they do is purely and solely out of a genuine love of God or to live by a universal moral and virtuous code, and for that, they do not need any sticks or carrots. But when God speaks to man in the Quran, He does so knowing the fickleness of his soul. The delights of Paradise are real, physical, tangible delights. Man can begin to appreciate just how desirable the perfect, abundant and unending food, clothing and homes of Paradise can be precisely because he is aware of how satisfying and sweet those things can be in this present reality. “Beautified for men is the love of things they covet: women, children, hoards of gold and silver, branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. Such is the pleasure of the present life; but with Allah is the excellent return (to Paradise).” (Quran 3:14) Likewise, man can begin to appreciate just how tortuous and terrifying Hellfire and its furnishings could be precisely because he is aware of how awful a burning by fire can be in this world. So, the journey of the soul after death, as described to us in vivid detail by God and His Prophet, Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, should and must serve as nothing but an incentive to what all of humanity surely and truly recognizes as its noble purpose: the worship and service of its Creator in selfless love, awe and gratitude. After all, “…they were not commanded except that they should worship Allah (alone), being sincere to the upright religion (of Islam).” (Quran 98:5)

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But, as for those many multitudes amongst mankind who, throughout the ages, neglect their moral duty to their Lord God and their fellow man, let then not forget that: “Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So whoever is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, it is indeed he who has succeeded. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.” (Quran 3:185)

Source: islamhouse.com/

Conversations in Paradise and Hell

2013-06-10T18:05:00.003-07:00

Conversations in Paradise and Hell (part 1 of 3): Talking to Angels

We begin with a new series of articles about the conversations that take place in Paradise and Hell. It is hoped, that by reminding ourselves of what has been described to us of Paradise/the Heavenly Gardens and Hell, we will be able to experience and imagine the events that will take place when we come face to face with our abode in the Hereafter. Why does God give us insight into these conversations? The Quran is filled with not just descriptions of the Heavenly Gardens and Hell, but conversations, dialogues, discourses and intellectual discussions. When similar scenarios are repeated over and over it is an indication that God is saying, “pay attention!” It is therefore incumbent upon us to do just that - pay careful attention, with either hope for the blissful abode known as the Heavenly Gardens or seek to protect ourselves from the fires of Hell. Information is repeated over and over in order to make us think long and hard.

In the following articles we will look at several different categories of conversations. The conversations of the angels with the people of the Heavenly Gardens and with the people of the

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Hellfire, the conversations that take place between the people of the Heavenly Gardens and Hell with their family members, and the conversations God has with the people of both the Heavenly Gardens and Hell. In addition to this we will look at what the people of both the Heavenly Gardens and Hell say between themselves, to each other and their internal dialogues. Let us begin with the conversations between the angels and the people of the Hereafter.

Conversing with Angels

Angels dwell amongst human beings from our beginning until the very end. They are responsible for breathing the souls into the foetuses, they record our good and bad deeds and they extract the souls from our bodies at the point of death. As we enter our eternal abode, our afterlife, they are with us and we will be able to converse with them.

The People of the Heavenly Gardens

The eternal abode of those who have lived their lives with patience in the face of adversity, and strived to be righteous through times of difficulty and ease, is the eternal, Heavenly Gardens known as Jannah. When the people who will spend eternity in the Heavenly Gardens enter into their new home the angels will greet them. These are the gatekeepers of the Heavenly Gardens and they will say, “enter here in peace, because of your patience!” The Heavenly Gardens is a place of eternal serenity and total satisfaction. And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to the Heavenly Gardens in groups, till, when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salamun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein.” (Quran 39:73)

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All sense of injury or pain will be removed from their hearts. They will reply to the angels by praising God, and the conversation continues. “…All the praises and thanks be to God, Who has guided us to this, and never could we have found guidance, were it not that God had guided us! Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth.” And it will be cried out to them: “This is the the Heavenly Gardens which you have inherited for what you used to do.” (Quran 7:43)

The people of the Hell fire

The conversations that will take place between the people of the Hellfire and the angels will be entirely different. The dwellers of the Hellfire will be having an entirely different experience. Instead of waiting eagerly to be entered into their eternal abode the people destined for Hell will have to be herded and dragged by the angels in charge of the fire. As the bereft people are cast into it the angels will say, “Didn’t a warner come to you?” It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keeper will ask: “Did no warner come to you?” They will say: “Yes, indeed a warner did come to us, but we belied him and said: ‘Allah never sent down anything (of revelation); you are only in great error.’“ And they will say: “Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!” (Quran 67:8-10) This however was not the first time these dwellers of the fire carried on a conversation with the angels. When the angel of death and his assistants gather to remove the souls of such people they ask pointedly, where are those you worshipped besides God? Because at this stage of a person’s life his idols are conspicuously absent.

…when Our Messengers (the angel of death and his assistants) come to them to take their souls, they (the angels) will say:

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“Where are those whom you used to invoke and worship besides God,” they will reply, “They have vanished and deserted us.” And they will bear witness against themselves, that they were disbelievers. (Quran 7:37) After some period of time the dwellers of the Hellfire begin to lose all hope. They have been calling out to God but receive no response, so they begin to beg the angels, the gatekeepers. Call on your Lord they say, ask Him to lighten our punishment. The angels respond with words that increase their disappointment. And those in the Fire will say to the keepers (angels) of Hell: “Call upon your Lord to lighten for us the torment for a day!”They will say: “Did there not come to you, your Messengers with (clear) evidence (and signs)?” They will say: “Yes.” They will reply: “Then call (as you like)! … (Quran 40:49-50)

Conversations in Paradise and Hell (part 2 of 3): Dialogues and Discussions

Conversations between the people of Paradise and the people of Hell

The dialogue that takes place between the people of Paradise and the people whose abode is the Hellfire is mentioned in several places in the Quran. When we read and ponder over these verses it is incumbent upon us to reflect and try to learn something from the despair of those who face the horrors of hell. We should taste their fear and learn from their mistakes. Reading about them in the Quran allows us to experience something of their pain but it also allows us to see how easily we can avoid this destination. In Paradise they will ask one another about the guilty (polytheists, criminals, and disbelievers), (and they will ask them), “What has caused you to enter Hell?” They will say: “We were not of those who used to offer the prayer, nor did we feed the poor; and we used to talk falsehood (all that which God hated) with vain talkers and we used to belie the Day of Recompense, until there came to us (the death) that is certain.” (Quran 74:40-47)

The dwellers of Paradise will call out to the dwellers of Hell: “We have found that what our Lord promised us is true. Have you

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found that what your Lord promised you is true?” They will say: “Yes, we have!”... (Quran 7:44) The dwellers of Hell will call out to the dwellers of Paradise: “Throw down some water to us, or some of what Allah has provided you with.” They will say: “God has forbidden them to the disbelievers.” (Quran 7: 50) It is clear that the suffering of those in Hell is increased by them being able to see and hear the blessings bestowed upon the dwellers of Paradise.

Conversations the dwellers of Paradise have between themselves

The Words of God, in the Quran, tell us that the dwellers of Paradise will ask each other about their past lives. “And they will approach one another, inquiring of each other. They will say, “Aforetime we were afraid with our families [of the punishment of God], but God has been gracious to us, and has saved us from the torment of the Fire.” (Quran 52:25-27) The majority of verses describing the conversations amongst the people of Paradise confirm that they will continue their righteous behaviour by praising and thanking God for the blessings He has bestowed upon them. Although they had believed the promise of God to be true and thus behaved accordingly, the supreme magnificence of Paradise overwhelms them with gratitude. And they will say: “All the praises and thanks be to God Who has removed from us (all) grief. Verily, our Lord is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (good deeds and to recompense). Who, out of His Grace, has lodged us in a home that will last forever, where toil will touch us not nor weariness will touch us.” (Quran 35:34-35)

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And they will say: “All the praises and thanks be to God Who has fulfilled His Promise to us and has made us inherit (this) land. We can dwell in Paradise where we will; how excellent is the reward of those who labour!” (Quran 39:74)

Conversations the People of the Hellfire have amongst themselves

When the people destined to spend eternity in the Hellfire have been herded into the fire, they will be shocked that the people or idols they had trusted and followed are not able to help them. The leaders, who are called the arrogant in the Quran, admit to their weaker followers that they were themselves astray. Thus anyone who followed them, followed them into a life bereft of mercy. And they will turn on one another accusingly. They will say: “You came to us from a position of power [i.e. ordered us with polytheism, and stopped us from the truth].” They will reply: “No! It was you who would not believe - we had no authority over you - and you were already exceeding all limits. Our Lord’s sentence on us is just and we must all taste the punishment. We led you astray as we ourselves were astray.” (Quran 37:27-32) And they all shall appear before Allah (on the Day of Resurrection); then the weak will say to those who were arrogant, “Verily, we were following you; can you avail us anything against God’s Torment?” They will say: “Had God guided us, we would have guided you. It makes no difference to us (now) whether we rage, or bear (these torments) with patience; there is no place of refuge for us.” (Quran 14:21)

And when the matter is decided, that is the matter of who is destined for Paradise and who is destined for Hell, the Hellfire’s most infamous, notorious occupant, Satan himself will reveal a great truth. It is a truth and scenario that God revealed to us in the Quran, but one that many people did not take seriously. That he,

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Satan, was a liar. Satan’s promises were never going to be fulfilled, his promises were empty and he himself believed in God. And Satan will say when the matter has been decided: “Verily, God promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except to call you, and you responded to my call. So do not blame me but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with God (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the wrong-doers.” (Quran 14:22)

Conversations in Paradise and Hell (part 3 of 3): And I shall never hereafter be angry with you

Internal dialogues

When the matter has been decided, and the people of the Hellfire have been lead away, and the people of Paradise have entered the garden, each group of people will talk amongst themselves. Their lives in the world are not forgotten and for both groups there is an eternity in which to look back and analyse why - why am I suffering, or why am I entitled to this luxury? The matter has been decided, the short time that was spent in the life of this world is over and life everlasting has begun.

He (God) will say: “What number of years did you stay on earth. They will say: “We stayed a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep account.” He (God) will say: “You stayed not but a little, if you had only known! (Quran 23:113)

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We know that the dwellers of both Paradise and Hell will turn to each other questioning, however what will they say to themselves, how will they feel, bereft, alone and forsaken? God tells us that they will sigh, in fear, in frustration. It is hard for us to imagine but we do know that they appear to give up hope. “As for those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, sighing in a high and low tone.” (Quran 11:106) “…and has prepared for them a flaming Fire (Hell). Wherein they will abide forever, and they will find neither a protector, nor a helper. On the Day when their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say: “Oh, would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger “. (Quran 33:64-66) When the people of the Hellfire ponder about why those whom they followed in this world are not able to help them in their suffering, in it is a lesson for us to learn. In the Quran and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad we are able to read and see with our mind’s eye just what our own situation could potentially be. What a contrast and a delight it will be for those who are entered into Paradise. They will have the extreme pleasure of seeing God, this is something that will be denied to the people of the Hellfire. “Surely they will be veiled from seeing their lord that day”. (Quran 83:15)

The People of Paradise and the Dwellers of the Hellfire Conversing with Family Members

There are not many verses of Quran or traditions from Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, that show us conversations taking place between people in their eternal abodes with their family members. There is however evidence to show that they will indeed remember their lives in this world and think about their family members.

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“And they will approach one another, inquiring of each other. They will say, “Aforetime we were afraid with our families [of the punishment of God], but God has been gracious to us, and has saved us from the torment of the Fire. Verily, we used to invoke Him (Alone) before. Verily, He is the Most Kind, the Most Merciful.” (Quran 52:25-28)

Conversations between God and the Dwellers of the Hellfire

The conversations that we find between God and the people of the Hellfire are not numerous. We more easily find verses from Quran where they, the dwellers of the Hellfire converse amongst themselves or with the angels who guard the gates of Hell. However there is one conversation that is striking and it should be clear in our minds, so that we protect ourselves from ever hearing these awful words. The dwellers of Hell will say: “Our Lord! Bring us out of this. If ever we return (to evil), then we would indeed be wrongdoers.” He (God) will say: “Remain you in it, in a state of humiliation! And do not speak to Me!” (Quran 23:107-108)

Conversations between God and the People of Paradise

In the traditions of Prophet Muhammad we find a very touching and delightful conversation between God, and the last person to exit from the torment of Hellfire by the mercy of God. The man is invited to enter Paradise and so he will go to it and think that Paradise is full. The man returns to God and says “My Lord, I found Paradise full,” and God will reply, “Go and enter Paradise for there you have something ten times better than the world and everything in it”. Prophet Muhammad said, “That is the one who is lowest in status of the people of Paradise”. 1

1 Saheeh Al-Bukhari

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Another man will be asked by God if he has everything he wants and he will reply to his Lord saying “Yes, but I like to grow things.” So he will go and plant his seeds, and within the blinking of an eye they will grow, ripen, be harvested and piled up like mountains. 2We will finish our three part series with a very beautiful saying in the hope that each and every one who reads or hears this beautiful conversation will, at the end of their lives and the beginning of their Hereafter, be a part of this conversation.

God will say to the people of Paradise: “O People of Paradise! They will respond: “Here we are, Our Lord, and all the good is in Your Hands.” God will say: “Are you satisfied? They will answer: “Why shouldn’t we be satisfied when You have bestowed on us what You have not bestowed on any of Your other creation.” He will say “Shall I not bestow upon you something even better than that? They will say: “O Our Lord! What could be better than that? God will say: “I bestow upon you My pleasure and I shall never hereafter be angry with you.” 3

2 Saheeh Al-Bukhari 3 Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim

Source: islamhouse.com/