reflections: linking it all back to the Qur'an & Sunnah

...

2010-10-21T17:45:00.000-04:00

Emotionally drained because i have stepped further from it.
I have not trained well to reach for it.
It would have shielded me but I let go very easily.
I must have not been grabbing on too firmly as I thought I did.

Eman is all you have when you leave this world. Therefore, its all that counts. Everything else is fleeting.

The trouble is when you don't feel you have it under control- When you feel its easier to just give up.

But the truth is, it really isn't.

The truth is, striving is all you have control over in this world.

poverty!

2010-02-15T12:50:00.003-05:00

{الشيطان يعدكم الفقر ويأمركم بالفحشاء}

I cannot begin to explain the relevance of this verse in our lives... from where do I start?
For some, its the story of their lives...
He tells us that if we don't do this or that we're going to be poor for the rest of our lives, and sometimes it includes extremes... think of the extreme haram jobs and how they are justified...

Can you imagine the magnitude of subliminal messages the shaytan sends every minute.... many of our action's roots are results of unconscious decisions and whispers from the shaytan.
Stealing, gambling and transgression... education and working in haram settings and fields... and the list continues...

Look at people who love the dunya, examine their excitement level when they're engaged in something so dunya-filled as opposed to their expressions when learning about the akhirah... because their goal is materialistic and financial... the excitement level is so explicit.

Its overwhelming sometimes, when you're out in the world... people fighting and pushing to attain something of the dunya...

this verse comes to life.. {يعلمون ظاهرا من الحياة الدنيا وهم عن الآخرة هم غافلون}

the fight to get to school, physically and over time... to attain knowledge... 'knowledge is power' they think and say.... but its 'knowledge of the akhirah that is power'.

the shaytan tells us if you don't do these things, if you don't compete for the dunya you are in loss, and if you make hijrah you will be poor.

but Musa said {رب اهدني سواء السبيل} .. he had no idea where he was heading... and he came back with work, a family and wahiy.

think.

(my) words...

2010-01-19T07:51:00.004-05:00

...becase days end without justice prevailing... the final day will come.

Between the Capital and the period I lay truth not dirt.

I'm a fan of your worst enemies: those who convey truth.

،،walking asleep amongst the dead,,

choose Qur'an over intoxication and hours of sleep!

...~...~..... ,, ... ,, ....

tall.. Amidst ruins

2010-01-13T03:09:00.001-05:00

its height amazes me
amidts ruins, it rises
peacefully
maintains truth
extending to day one
everlasting

its my hearts ink
that writes
that clings to you
every day
a sign
shines brightly
to remind me
that you're truth

amidst pain
i manage to find happiness
a reason to go on
real patience is found
in my 'deen'
no myths, lies and claimed power
no heirarchies
just plain goodness
in the hearts of its preachers

amidst chaos
to one God
we call
with no so-called mediators
leave us be
let me cry
in secret
for he's my Lord
just as much

from the east
to the farthest west
for everyone
in every newborn
its seeds lie
but is destroyed
with corrupt beliefs
of surroundings
like a storm
it sweeps away
a beautiful bud...

only to, sometimes, start life
elsewhere
<>

food.. to worms

2009-12-13T05:49:00.002-05:00

One Day...

We will all be food to worms.
I looked at pictures today, pictures of dead people. I realized one day that will be me. I will be food to worms too. Will I leave behind a legacy? {واجعل لي لسان صدق في الآخر}
If you listen closely, the pictures talk to you, they tell you.. do the right thing before you die.

I don't get it. I don't understand how people can live for the near tomorrow. I don't understand how people have the motivation to excel in life, or even just to live, when they know we're all going to die.

What I do understand fully though, is that this is the inspiration for da'wah. Da'wah will have an effect on people because it is bringing truth to them, that they are lacking something... lacking a knowledge of what will happen after life, what the end of the matter of life is.

If we step out from the world, for just a minute though, we will look at it differently.. we will see people scattered every where rather than a group of a united nation. We should not be intimidated by masses, and resist conformity.

A muslim should realize that they have the most precious gifts of all, the understanding of life and the chance to live a good one... but if we don't share that with the world who will?

As you walk out everyday, to school, to work, to the supermarket .. you will see people whom to you will seem like they have the same goals and aspirations... they want to live... and they see what others do and do it.... its sad. Its sad that they don't look beyond materialism and beyond this life.

You might think, but there are religious people out there from different religions who do have goals and beliefs in life. But... {إن الدين عند الله الإسلام} and our job after reading the qur'an is realizing the secrets that happen behind closed doors and who rules those religions and how their books evolve(!!) based on what people want!

Our deen will remain the same because it is the truth walhamdulilah. The Qur'an will not change because it is the ultimate truth.

May Allah keep us steadfast.

a realization... :

2009-12-09T20:50:00.003-05:00

the ultimate fruit of (beneficial) knowledge is to constantly prepare for its departure, and for that matter, your departure.

how i view islamic knowledge:
i used to think that you had to climb the tree, quickly! i still think you need to reach the highest fruits...
but there are those who remain in the bottom... but have a more clear view of the fruit than the climbing ones...
they are closer to life, but they could build something more sustainable to reach that fruit...
because, they are afraid...
afraid that they could get lost or scattered like you... or like the fruits you found on your way up and munched on them for too long... forgetting your ultimate goal...
the one fact remains: no one knows which one of the two will reach first... only Allah does... and only your heart condition is the determiner....
{يوم لا ينفع مال ولا بنون * إلا من أتى الله بقلب سليم}
how many people were pricked in their journeys and were counter-attacked for being mislead.
{فإنها لا تعمى الأبصار ولكن تعمى القلوب التي في الصدور}

journey of a stone...

2009-12-06T15:21:00.007-05:00

(new life...)

the qur'an gives life to things that seem dead to us, and takes away life from living beings who have no eiman in them; hence changes our view and understanding of the world!
everything around us makes tasbeeh and i wonder what the extent of 'nonliving' things feelings? do they feel when they are surrounded or used by a kafir rather than a muslim?
or do they merely do tasbeeh of allah without consciousness outside that realm?

strange thoughts i guess..

anyway, verse 74 surat albaqarah is very interesting:

وإن من الحجارة لما يتفجر منه الأنهار

(interesting: Geysers and hot springs are common expressions of a hydrothermal (hot water) system, but sometimes changes in “plumbing” result in large volumes of water suddenly flashing into steam, causing violent hydrothermal explosions. A large hydrothermal explosion can hurl water and rock thousands of feet and create new landscapes of hills and craters. In Yellowstone’s geologic past, hydrothermal explosions have occurred countless times.

وإنها منها لما يشقق فيخرج منه الماء

(interesting: life can spring again, also, from cracks!

وإن منها لما يهبط من خشية الله

(notice the graduation in the verse...)

likewise..... Allah can bring life to a hardened heart!

al'anaam 122 { أَوَ مَن كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَاهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ }

~if Allah can give life to stones, boulders... then he surely can give life to a disbelieving heart; don't hesistate in da'wah!~

where is death?

2009-11-25T17:19:00.002-05:00

everytime you feel you're in a situation where you're close to death, 'update' your parcel of good deeds. make sure you do something before that to carry with you...

the challenge is to feel that death is inevitable... and that is time & place are unpredictable.

{أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُواْ يُدْرِككُّمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِي بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ} annissaa' 78

اللهم لا تتوفنا إلا وأنت راضٍ عنّا!

why islam is the best life 'system'

2009-11-24T21:43:00.002-05:00

out of all the ways people decide to live their lives islam is the best.
why?
picture this
you are in a world full of different people, different cultures, dress, talk and styles.
the way a kafir look at it is 'why be restricted?'!
let me dress the way i want, and do everything the way 'i' want.

the way islam looks at it is 'worshipping of people'..
meaning, you really had those aspects ready for you by others, and you choose which to 'follow'.

so, instead of being so worried all the time about those out issues, islam sets them for you so that you're ahead of the game: you work on bettering your innerself.

the term in arabic is تخبط

you're mentally torn between society's expectations of you, and so you're in this constant struggle and change. even if you don't change, you're still don't have that inner peace.

islam chooses the best, and most balanced of all aspects.

here's confusion for you:
'ok, which jacket should i buy'
'oh i like that one, but everyone's wearing it'
'i'll buy this one because its different'
(meanwhile ten people think the same way)
'why're everyone wearing the same jacket!!?'
'oh, its fashion, and everyone's wearing it so i guess it's cool'

some people need to work on redefining freedom!

'ok, this jacket's getting old'

who decides that? fashion?

i insist, freedom has been wrongly defined by society.

'oh, i need a smaller jacket, so shape my figure'

who pushes for women to share their figure with the world? people. fashion.

this might seem like a miniature example... but think of the ayah

{وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللهِ أَندَاداً}
if you accept people to dictate how should manage your life... i question your definition of freedom.

{ وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاء مَرْضَاتِ اللهِ وَاللهُ رَؤُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ {207}}

as muslims we follow one book. one sunnah. one integrated lifestyle. One God, who knows us best!

{يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَلاَ يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ اللهِ }
don't fear people, they are not worthy to be afraid of, and they're not even united! why fear people when they are so divided, so weak?!

{ يُرَآؤُونَ النَّاسَ وَلاَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللهَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً {142}}
still! worried about what people say, and pretending to worship allah!

that is why i prefer to live my life revolving around allah's expectation, the One God who had blessed me with life and all its blessings!

here's the conclusion
{ وَإِن تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَن فِي الأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللهِ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلاَّ يَخْرُصُونَ {116}

because they follow 'ظن'...they're not even sure nor confident themselves... why follow them?

looking at the example of 'clothes' (in this case, versus proper hijab)... look at the designers themselves...! they don't usually wear what they make, just look at them! sometimes, they make stuff that people would never wear anyway. i wonder how long it takes them to make a dress when 80-90% of the look is based on skin shown off!

والله المستعان وهو حسبنا ونعم الوكيل

throughout time, modesty has been going down the drain gradually. back in the day, way back in the day i doubt even nonmuslims wore what they wore today.

please, redefine your definition of freedom before you come talk to me about oppression!

make-up, jewelery: a declaration of flaw!

2009-11-22T09:05:00.003-05:00

surat azzukhruf talks about ornaments and the love people have for it...
some verses to reflect on

1.
[أَوَمَن يُنَشَّأُ فِى الْحِلْيَةِ وَهُوَ فِى الْخِصَامِ غَيْرُ مُبِينٍ ]
(A creature who is brought up in adornments, and who in dispute cannot make itself clear)
referring to women! and kuffar attribute daughters to Allah!!! (think of greek mythology for that matter! plain rubbish!)

in there is a msg to feminism .. it is in a woman's nature to want to look nicer .. why would you want to possess male qualities.. you physically can't.. just live with what you have!

these adornments are not for everyone to see, and that is why hijab is prescribed as He knows it will be a source of fitnah subhan allah, but in itself, adornment - with certain exceptions, entailing changing's one's creation- is not haram!

2-
وَجَعَلُواْ الْمَلَـئِكَةَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عِبَادُ الرَّحْمَـنِ إِنَـثاً أَشَهِدُواْ خَلْقَهُمْ سَتُكْتَبُ شَهَـدَتُهُمْ وَيُسْـَلُونَ 19
And they make females the angels who themselves are servants of the Most Gracious. Did they witness their creation Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned!

Think of all those angel ornaments non muslims use ...
just type 'angel ornaments' in google images and see what you get!!!try finding a 'male' form.. you won't. the point is that they are neither! but the kuffar attributed the female.. do you wonder why!?

heart greetings...

2009-11-16T23:07:00.003-05:00

many people don't understand and appreciate the relationship between muslim guys and girls...

we don't have to stop and say hi to each other, chat and have a laugh just to show that there IS actually a bond between us...

what!?!

sounds strange? but its true... a sister or a brother can walk by, lowering his gaze.. maybe say salam, maybe not... but neither would think that was rude!

if anything, lowering your gaze and showing this respect is in itself a greeting and an acknowledgement of agreeing with the qur'an and sunnah...

i am not saying its forbidden to talk, i am saying that it is unnecessary if its unecessary!

its actually cool!

one remembers that the prophet peace be upon him described muslims relationship with each other as a building, and the muslims are the different parts holding each other!

in this case, both bro and sister very well understand that, and so as not to stir any fitnah, and to keep supporting this building rather than ruining it by allowing shaytan to fill gaps... they exchange heart greetings. .. greetings of tawheed.

'yes, akhi/ukhti... لا إله إلا الله'... we're on the same boat.. may allah keep you steadfast.

this was the relationship the sahabah had with the mothers' of believers... they treated them with utmost, and i mean utmost respect, and only spoke with them when they needed to! which sometimes meant being taught by aisha radiyallahu anha.. but من وراء حجاب

some verses that come to mind
{وقل للمؤمنين يغضوا من أبصارهم}
{قال ما خطبكما قالتا لا نسقي حتى يصدر الرعاء وأبونا شيخ كبير* فسقا لهما ثم تول إلى الظل فقال رب إني لما أنزلت إلي من خير فقير}
{فجاءته إحداهما تمشي على استحياء قالت إن أبي يدعوك ليجزيك أجر ما سقيت لنا}!!

a brother not feeling comfortable speaking with a certain sister is actually a sign of honour and respect... he understands she's off-limits in times of unnecessity, and possesses self dignity!

worldly knowledge does not suffice..........

2009-11-08T22:34:00.006-05:00

subhan Allah,

something instilled in the minds of children is that to be completely educated and rich you must go to university.

to some extent... i won't declare this is true... but to some extent it has happened to people.

but we have to remember that rizq is from Allah ta'ala... and not utterly wordly means.

and we have to remember that rizq does not always mean money, and vice verse... it could be a burden and fitnah.

anyway, what i'm trying to say is that absolute, real, beneficial knowledge is only in the Qur'aan, and sunnah period.

i have seen many who have been through university, and climbed up the social ladder, and careers yet still haven't reached that 'dream' in life or happiness.

i have seen people fall really hard after extensive studying and working in a so called prestigous job..

and when such people give up...

and when such people get moved... by the Qur'an...

and little by little, life starts rattling again within ...

you can only say لا إله إلا الله

surat alan'aam أَوَ مَن كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَاهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَن مَّثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِّنْهَا كَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ {122}

This qur'an truly brings life to souls...

infact...

it is the only life, to dead souls....

اللهم اجعل القرآن ربيع قلوبنا

** To further prove that all beauty and truth lies in islam, recall when Abu Sufyaan entered islam, and Omar may Allah be pleased with him, ... the prophet peace be upon him became the most beloved to them after he was the most hated... shows us that there is no strength nor truth to disbelief....

really ill...?

2009-11-08T22:11:00.004-05:00

when people are diagnosed with certain 'mental' illnesses, regardless of the 'degree', what are the decisions based on?
who decides what is illness and what's not?
in these people, doctors may find patterns in the individual and maybe across a group of individual and long behold a new term is added to the world of diseases/illnesses.

but... couldn't it be, sometimes, just a lack of islam?

Surat Taha: قَالَ اهْبِطَا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلا يَضِلُّ وَلا يَشْقَى {123} وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَى {124}

couldn't islam help with the most part, by providing people this great sense of understanding of life, and its goals?? wouldn't that instill some positivity to people diagnosed with for example, depression and other illnesses?
wouldn't that at least add some meaning to life, or even prevent it in the first place... maybe reduce the severity? i have reason to believe so.

Allah created us for a reason, and it seems like some people either want to escape the responsibilities in life, or deem almost half our population of illnesses that will, 'legally' opt them out of such responsibilites

فَمَن يُرِدِ اللهُ أَن يَهْدِيَهُ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلإِسْلاَمِ وَمَن يُرِدْ أَن يُضِلَّهُ يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجًا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِي السَّمَاء كَذَلِكَ يَجْعَلُ اللهُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ {125} Surat alAn'aam.

to nonmuslims doctors, think of this ayah in surat ali Imraan
{إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللهِ الإِسْلاَمُ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوْتُواْ الْكِتَابَ إِلاَّ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِآيَاتِ اللهِ فَإِنَّ اللهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ {19}
This knowledge of the dunya that you possess, of the human body, and all the conflicts across medicinal aspects... why does it exist!?

surat alMaa'idah وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ فِي مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لإِثْمٍ فَإِنَّ اللهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ {3}
So Allah has outlined for us even what will cause us physical damage, and people still don't accept this truth... and still fall ill because of going against the 'solutions' in this deen!

surat azZumar أَفَمَن شَرَحَ اللهُ صَدْرَهُ لِلإِسْلامِ فَهُوَ عَلَى نُورٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مِّن ذِكْرِ اللهِ أُوْلَئِكَ فِي ضَلالٍ مُبِينٍ {22}
...and we wonder why there are so many heart diseases..!

flu FEAR

2009-11-08T16:29:00.002-05:00

as people are dying from this 'flu'... others are saying 'if they had just taken that vaccine.. they would not have died...'!
Ayah 96 Surat alBaqarah "وَلَتَجِدَنَّهُمْ أَحْرَصَ النَّاسِ عَلَى حَيَاةٍ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ يَوَدُّ أَحَدُهُمْ لَوْ يُعَمَّرُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمُزَحْزِحِهِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ أَن يُعَمَّرَ وَاللهُ بَصِيرٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ {96} "

If its not the vaccine that will kill you, something else will... if not today, then tomorrow...
The problem disbelievers have with resurrection is being questioned... why? Because they know they haven't prepared for it, and some know they transgressed in their lives.
And so they say هَيْهَاتَ هَيْهَاتَ لِمَا تُوعَدُونَ {36} Surat alMu'minoon.

Muslims should be ever so thankful for this gift of Islam, and knowledge of the hereafter.
Why is it that we look up to the disbelievers not realizing they are in deficit in every aspect, whether it be wealth, knowledge, wisdom, happiness..... !

2009-10-27T10:16:00.002-04:00

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

As I struggle to 'enjoy' this one class, signs of hope shine when a few ayahs came to mind after reading this:

"When all the people who speak a language die, the language dies with them...Many disappeared as a direct result of the massacre of the Aboriginal people, or their death from diseases introduced by Eurpeans [me: shocked!]..." Janet Holmes.

You can probably predict what ayahs are relevant here...
Here's one and inshallah I'll post more...
Surat Maryam, 98 "وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْنٍ هَلْ تُحِسُّ مِنْهُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَوْ تَسْمَعُ لَهُمْ رِكْزًا "

maybe we don't 'celebrate' it, but...

2009-10-10T20:02:00.002-04:00

....thanksgiving?

more like constant hamd and shukr!

1- We thank Allah during and after fasting {شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْـزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ }

2-During and after salah {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُوا وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَرْضَى أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ مِنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ مِنْهُ مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَكِنْ يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ }

3-When we wake up, reflect: {وَاللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُمْ مِنْ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالأَبْصَارَ وَالأَفْئِدَةَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ }

4- When sacrificing, and real thanks is when it is purely intended for the sake of Allah, only!
{وَالْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَاهَا لَكُمْ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ فَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَافَّ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْقَانِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ كَذَلِكَ سَخَّرْنَاهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ }

5- At sunrise and sunset {وَمِنْ رَحْمَتِهِ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لِتَسْكُنُوا فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ }

6- When travelling {وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ يُرْسِلَ الرِّيَاحَ مُبَشِّرَاتٍ وَلِيُذِيقَكُمْ مِنْ رَحْمَتِهِ وَلِتَجْرِيَ الْفُلْكُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ }

7- When counting the blessings of Allah, eating, drinking etc {وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الْبَحْرَانِ هَذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَائِغٌ شَرَابُهُ وَهَذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ وَمِنْ كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى الْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ }

but unfortunately: {قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالأَبْصَارَ وَالأَفْئِدَةَ قَلِيلا مَا تَشْكُرُونَ }

What's this? One day to 'thank' our fathers, one for our mothers, our 'partners'...although these people might have dedicated their whole lives for us, yet, we thank people very little, and appreciate Allah's favours very little.

اللهم ما أمسى بي من نعمة أو بأحد من خلقك فمنك وحدك لا شريك لك فلك الحمد ولك الشكر

humungous MYTH: Qur'an is difficult to learn!

2009-09-21T23:53:00.004-04:00

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The Qur'an is our guide in life, and the road map which leads straight to Jannah. Allah sent it to mankind as a whole, so why would He make it difficult?!?!

{وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآَنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ}

Allah repeatedly reminds us that the Qur'an has been made easy and straightforward to learn. Subhan Allah, if you think about it, that is SUCH a true fact, and afterall, the Qur'an is all based on true facts, that, if you ponder in life and the verses in the Qur'an you will be amazed as to how accurate the verses are.

Compare the language of the Qur'an to english for example...! English is one of those languages that, I feel, are sort of a mean conspiracy. All the ambiguity in spelling, inconsistencies, and 'exceptions' make it more difficult to learn. For example: though, tough, trough, through....! Come on now! Think of all the time 'wasted' in teaching people English, just because of all these nuisances, and this proves the verse {ولو كان من عند غير الله لوجدوا فيه اختلافا كثيرا} as there is alot of 'ikhtilaf' in these languaes.

Alhamdulilah that words in Arabic sound exactly how they are written. If you want to relieve your students just remind them of that! There are no tricks... وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآَنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ

Moreso, those early muslim generations made it even easier for us, by adding dots and 'harakat', and signals as to when to stop in verses and such helpful hints, alhamdulilah.

This all proves that the Qur'an is truly divine, and that Allah is truly merciful towards us, and we praise Him for making the Qur'an easy for all ages and tongues!

ــــــــــبوت the spider parable كمثل العنكبـــــــــــ

2009-09-14T01:31:00.010-04:00

have you ever wondered...
how and why some people resemble a spider?!
this creature, that many tend to find 'creepy'.. some to the extent of fear!
but in reality... its very weak.

my window - a couple of weeks ago

{مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْلِيَاء كَمَثَلِ الْعَنكَبُوتِ اتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ الْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ الْعَنكَبُوتِ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ } surat al-ankaboot.

*Meanings/translations of "أولياء" : Guardians, patrons, or protectors. (source)

There are many ways that mushriks resemble spiders:

1- Just as a spider has many 'legs', a mushrik, or polytheist, does not call on one Lord, rather, he's lost and holds on to too many things at once. However, all he is reaching out are worldy affairs and desires!

2- No matter how 'big' a spider is, their webs are all the same and are all weak. The ayah makes you sense the spider's hard work or careful 'effort' in building its web, and allows you to compare it to the end result: frailty.

3- Looking at its web, the main focus of the verse, it is very weak, just like shirk. It is not a shield from anything nor shelter.

4- As artistic and precise as the web is when you look at it, its neither intact nor stable in reality.

5- Even though its material is silk(as I was told), again, it doesn't serve any good, nor does it provide any shelter or preservation.

6- Any kind of climate can ruin it: strong winds, rain etc. The sun light (light of eiman/faith) overcomes it as well.

7- The only things that get caught in the web are other insects, resembling the attraction of other kuffaar to shirk.

8- The spider then weaves a 'sack' around the insect, and sometimes, it could even be a bee! A bee resembles someone a little better than a mushrik, since it actually produces good stuff, but it shows that one can fall for shirk if they're not careful.

9- When the spider's house is ruined, guess what...it just rebuilds it!! Like a kafir who never learns from their mistake.

10. As time passes, and as the spider keeps rebuilding or mending its web, it starts looking more and more distorted, eventually... its d e s t ro y e d.

and Allah knows best.

what made them cry? (1)

2009-09-03T08:21:00.004-04:00

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Crying while reciting the Qur'an is a sign that there is some kind of understanding going on! People usually shed tears when reciting something about the mercy of Allah or punishment of disbelievers.
When the imam cries, the follower's hearts are touched, and its usually clear to them, and easy to figure out, what made them cry.
..but it's different when it's a verse that seems 'normal' to many of us. Two incidents recalled are when the imam cried while reciting the last two verses of surat al-fatihah...!
What made him cry?
اهدنا الصراط المستقيم
What did he realize at this point? Why didn't he cry before? What incident or occasion did he link it with?
صراط الذين أنعمت عليهم غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالين

It was the first time for this imam to live in a non-muslim country- to see those who disobey Allah day in and day out... and to ponder on those who are astray!
It was probably the first time he saw arrogance in its clearest forms, and to appreciate the sweetness of 'tawheed' he was surrounded with.
Maybe he thought of the verse {رب فلا تجعلني في القوم الظالمين}almu'minoon...
He might've also recalled the hadith :

روى البخاري ومسلم عن زينب بنت جحش رضي الله عنها: أنَّ النبيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم استيقظَ يومًا من نومه فزِعًا وهو يقول: "لا إله إلا الله، ويلٌ للعرب من شرٍّ قد اقترب، فُتحَ اليوم من ردم يأجوج ومأجوج مثل هذا (وحلَّق بين أصبعيه السبابة والإبهام)" . فقالت له زينب رضي الله عنها: يا رسول الله! أنهلك وفينا الصالحون؟ قال: "نعم؛ إذا كَثُرَ الخَبَث".

One narration from Zainab bint Jahsh may Allah be pleased with her: That the Prophet came to her in a state of fear saying, "None has the right to be worshiped but Allah! Woe to the Arabs because of evil that has come near. Today a hole has been made in the wall of Gog and Magog as large as this." pointing with two of his fingers making a circle. zainab said, "I said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Shall we be destroyed though amongst us there are pious people? ' He said, 'Yes, if evil increases."

اللهم ربنا لا تجعلنا في القوم الظالمين

ربنا لا تجعلنا فتنة للذين كفروا

Oo Oo فجْــــــــــــرُ الفـَرَجْ oO oO

2009-08-26T07:39:00.003-04:00

{ألا إن نصر الله قريـــــــــــــــــــــب}

..قريـــــــــــــــــــــــــبًا..

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
"..و اعلم أن النصر مع الصبر , و أن الفرج مع الكرب , و أن مع العسر يسرا.. "

Allah is the sustainer of the world...

2009-08-25T22:26:00.005-04:00

Economy in its bad times... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8221207.stm

The qur'an talks a lot about the result of not thanking Allah's blessings, and going against His rulings. You can imagine what that means, financially, right? Lets backtrack a little:

Example 1:
a. {وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آَمِنَةً مُطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِنْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ (112)} annahl
b. {فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرِحُوا بِمَا أُوتُوا أَخَذْنَاهُمْ بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ مُبْلِسُونَ (44) } al an'aam

And so, Allah is the sustainer of the world, everything happens to His will and His wisdom:
-{وَمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ (6)} hud
-{ وَإِذِ اسْتَسْقَى مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبْ بِعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ فَانْفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَشْرَبَهُمْ كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا مِنْ رِزْقِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ (60)} albaqarah
-advice given to bani israel {كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ وَلَا تَطْغَوْا فِيهِ فَيَحِلَّ عَلَيْكُمْ غَضَبِي وَمَنْ يَحْلِلْ عَلَيْهِ غَضَبِي فَقَدْ هَوَى (81)} taha.

So Allah is the most wise. If we look holistically, it seems like the economy is a chaos, and we'd think everyone is losing money now, but { وَاللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِي الرِّزْقِ} annahl. There are patterns in life which only Allah knows, nothing is chaotic in the site of Allah, infact, everything is in order to what He decreed.
Think about it, while some people are suffering from this recession, some might have gained from it. While some people withdraw from certain companies, products, other spendings, it could mean 'khair' to others. The examples are too many, but, for one (theoretically speaking): colleges. Many people are returning to school, specifically to colleges, so some might actually be getting rich at this point!

And Allah knows best. Just remember to keep that hope you have in Allah, the sustainer of the worlds, not any of His creation, and your heart will be at peace in sha Allah, while those who breath money are living a disaster, choking within.
And remember, seeking forgiveness is a means of blessings {فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا (10) يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا (11) وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ أَنْهَارًا (12) مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُونَ لِلَّهِ وَقَارًا (13)} nuh.
That is because you are declaring and admitting to Allah that you're faulty, instead of being arrogant and forgetful, subhan Allah.

A hadith to ponder on:

- أتدرون ما المفلس ؟ قالوا : المفلس فينا من لا درهم له ولا متاع . فقال : إن المفلس من أمتي ، يأتي يوم القيامة بصلاة وصيام وزكاة ، ويأتي قد شتم هذا ، وقذف هذا ، وأكل مال هذا ، وسفك دم هذا ، وضرب هذا . فيعطى هذا من حسناته وهذا من حسناته . فإن فنيت حسناته ، قبل أن يقضى ما عليه ، أخذ من خطاياهم فطرحت عليه . ثم طرح في النار
الراوي: أبو هريرة المحدث: مسلم - المصدر: المسند الصحيح - الصفحة أو الرقم: 2581خلاصة الدرجة: صحيح

narration of sahih muslim:
Abu Huraira. reported Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) as saying: Do you know who is poor? They (the Companions of the Prophet) said: A poor man amongst us is one who has neither dirham with him nor wealth. He (the Prophet) said: The poor of my Umma would be he who would come on the Day of Resurrecton with prayers and fasts and Zakat but (he would find himself bankrupt on that day as he would have exhausted his funds of virtues) since he hurled abuses upon others, brought calumny against others and unlawfully consumed the wealth of others and shed the blood of others and beat others, and his virtues would be credited to the account of one (who suffered at his hand). And if his good deeds fall short to clear the account, then his sins would be entered in (his account) and he would be thrown in the Hell-Fire.

..killing the greed..

2009-08-22T03:06:00.003-04:00

!ponder..!

1- {وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآَتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِنْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ مُعْرِضُونَ (83) albaqarah

*since they didn't keep true to their oaths, its our time to prove our faith....!

2- {لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آَمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآَخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآَتَى الْمَالَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآَتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ (177)} al-baqarah

*ok its great we pray, but what have we really strived towards & done besides that, to prove our 'birr'?!

3-{ يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنْفِقُونَ قُلْ مَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ (215) } al-baqarah

4- {وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْيَتَامَى قُلْ إِصْلَاحٌ لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ وَإِنْ تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ } al-baqarah

5- {وَآَتُوا الْيَتَامَى أَمْوَالَهُمْ } annisaa'

6- *an example of Allah's special mercy towards orphans {وَأَمَّا الْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَامَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُ كَنْزٌ لَهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَالِحًا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَنْ يَبْلُغَا أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنْزَهُمَا رَحْمَةً مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَمْرِي ذَلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِعْ عَلَيْهِ صَبْرًا (82)} al-kahf

7- *and finally, 2 invitations to jannah.... {إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِنْ كَأْسٍ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا (5) عَيْنًا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ اللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفْجِيرًا (6) يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًا (7) وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا (8) إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنْكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا (9) إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِنْ رَبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًا قَمْطَرِيرًا (10) فَوَقَاهُمُ اللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّاهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُورًا (11)} al-insan

أنا وكافل اليتيم في الجنة هكذا . وأشار بالسبابة والوسطى ، وفرج بينهما شيئا .
الراوي: سهل بن سعد الساعدي المحدث: البخاري - المصدر: الجامع الصحيح - الصفحة أو الرقم: 5304خلاصة الدرجة: [صحيح]

'Hundreds ill' near China smelter

2009-08-20T21:12:00.002-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8211081.stm

metal was mentioned a couple of times in the qur'an:
1- {قُلْ كُونُوا حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيدًا (50) أَوْ خَلْقًا مِمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِي صُدُورِكُمْ فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَنْ يُعِيدُنَا قُلِ الَّذِي فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَسَيُنْغِضُونَ إِلَيْكَ رُءُوسَهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هُوَ قُلْ عَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا (51)} al-israa

2- آَتُونِي زُبَرَ الْحَدِيدِ حَتَّى إِذَا سَاوَى بَيْنَ الصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ انْفُخُوا حَتَّى إِذَا جَعَلَهُ نَارًا قَالَ آَتُونِي أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًا (96) فَمَا اسْطَاعُوا أَنْ يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا لَهُ نَقْبًا (97)} al-kahf

3- {وَلَهُمْ مَقَامِعُ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ (21) كُلَّمَا أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا مِنْ غَمٍّ أُعِيدُوا فِيهَا وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ (22)} al-hajj

4- {وَلَقَدْ آَتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ مِنَّا فَضْلًا يَا جِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيْرَ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدَ (10) أَنِ اعْمَلْ سَابِغَاتٍ وَقَدِّرْ فِي السَّرْدِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ (11)} saba'

5- {لَقَدْ كُنْتَ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مِنْ هَذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنْكَ غِطَاءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌ (22)} Qaf

6- and the relevant verse for this report in surat alhadeed {لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنْزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ وَأَنْزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ وَرُسُلَهُ بِالْغَيْبِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ (25)} al-hadeed

7- this might be a reference or sign {وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ صَنْعَةَ لَبُوسٍ لَكُمْ لِتُحْصِنَكُمْ مِنْ بَأْسِكُمْ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ شَاكِرُونَ (80) } al-anbiyaa'

and from hadith

- مثل البخيل والمتصدق مثل رجلين عليهما جبتان من حديد ، قد اضطرت أيديهما إلى تراقيهما ، فكلما هم المتصدق بصدقته اتسعت عليه حتى تعفي أثره ، وكلما هم البخيل بالصدقة انقبضت كل حلقة إلى صاحبتها وتقلصت عليه ، وانضمت يداه إلى تراقيه - فسمع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول - فيجتهد أن يوسعها فلا تتسع
الراوي: أبو هريرة المحدث: البخاري - المصدر: الجامع الصحيح - الصفحة أو الرقم: 2917خلاصة الدرجة: [صحيح]

شكونا إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، وهو متوسد بردة له في ظل الكعبة ، فقلنا : ألا تستنصر لنا ، ألا تدعو لنا ؟ فقال : ( قد كان من قبلكم ، يؤخذ الرجل فيحفر له في الأرض ، فيجعل فيها ، فيجاء بالمنشار فيوضع على رأسه فيجعل نصفين ، ويمشط بأمشاط الحديد ما دون لحمه وعظمه ، فما يصده ذلك عن دينه ، والله ليتمن هذا الأمر ، حتى يسير الراكب من صنعاء إلى حضرموت ، لا يخاف إلا الله ، والذئب على غنمه ، ولكنكم تستعجلون ) .
الراوي: خباب بن الأرت المحدث: البخاري - المصدر: الجامع الصحيح - الصفحة أو الرقم: 6943خلاصة الدرجة: [صحيح]

and Allah knows best.

Asian wasps attacking France..

2009-08-20T00:44:00.001-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8209934.stm

the report sounds like a battle between countries.

{وَقَالُوا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ آَيَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَادِرٌ عَلَى أَنْ يُنَزِّلَ آَيَةً وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (37) وَمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُمْ مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتَابِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ (38)} al-an'aam.

the qur'an answers...

2009-08-17T13:52:00.003-04:00

i read this a while ago in those yahoo q& a
"I have been thinking about life. You live it and thats it. You have one birthday each year and your whole life is literally you just getting through each year with out dyeing. But once you die your nothing. Its so short! What do you think?"

the answers were even sadder..
turn to the qur'an if you want real answers.
{الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ (2)}almulk.

Dozens die in Kuwait wedding fire

2009-08-15T20:52:00.002-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8203733.stm

إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون

if it was done on purpose definitely from the works of shaytan, who clearly and bluntly declared his opposition and hatred to bani adam: hence: عدو مبين!!

... empty plates___ !

2009-08-15T14:38:00.005-04:00

for a change, think : no food for thought...!
i'm sure we've all commented or atleast secretly thought about restaurants that serve empty plates!
for no price at all you can see this in a commercial

but for $20 + you will get this...

go figure.
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَنفِقُواْ مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَمِمَّا أَخْرَجْنَا لَكُم مِّنَ الأَرْضِ وَلاَ تَيَمَّمُواْ الْخَبِيثَ مِنْهُ تُنفِقُونَ وَلَسْتُم بِآخِذِيهِ إِلاَّ أَن تُغْمِضُواْ فِيهِ وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ} albaqarah.

Seriously now, the more expensive a restaurant, the less food you receive. Its one of those things that society/media molded to make it seem normal and accepted.
Now, you can get a lot of food for a couple of dollars in fast food restaurants... but its not quality food.

The first is an example of greed, and the second is lack of 'ihsaan' (excellence).

اتق الله ولو بشق تمرة!
من غشنا فليس منا!

"رئيس كوستاريكا".. أول رئيس دولة يصاب بـ"أنفلونزا الخنازير"

2009-08-13T00:38:00.002-04:00

http://islammemo.cc/akhbar/Oloom-we-seha/2009/08/12/86424.html

in this is a clear sign that Allah over powers everything.. no status stops fate.
{وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَالٍ} arra'd
{إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ (82) فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ (83) } yaseen

'declared dead' baby wakes before funeral!

2009-08-09T04:38:00.003-04:00

listen to verse 65-68 and ponder...
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...because only Allah knows al-ghayb (unknown/uneen),
because humans are not the ultimate care-givers,
and because knowledge is knowing that Allah is the all-Knower, the most Wise,
and ignorance is ignoring this fact while attributing greatness to falty humans.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8191023.stm

in this is a clear need for humans to surrender to their creator, in Whose hands lie the life, heart and fate of creatures. can you imagine the trust people, including these parents, have towards doctors? then imagine the insecurity and mistrust that took over after this incident, does that mean we can't trust anyone, when humans fail us? rather, it means there is One creator, who manages all our affairs in a perfect manner. and if these affairs get tough, instead of getting angry and upset, know that Allah wants us to learn, to excel above all tribulations, as i really do believe that some of the smartest people in the world are those withstood the toughest experiences of life.

cool Qur'an game for gatherings..reward + fun!

2009-08-09T04:15:00.005-04:00

assalamu aleikum,
just thought of a game hope you try it, enjoy it, and comment with results or suggestions.

1- make up a bunch of interesting questions about the qur'an. too easy won't work, and won't be fun.**
2- write them up in cards
3- in your circle, start by asking the person on your right the first question
4- if they answer it, hand them the card bunch, after taking out the question already asked, and they ask the next person on their right the following question.
5- if the person does not answer, the following person is given a chance to answer, and so on.
6- last person left wins the prize.

**if you make up the questions, you will have to moderate the game without participating, obviously. but if you have time, then you can give out the cards, and get everyone to write a question or two, with their name on it (so that they're not asked their question).
** or the cards can be placed in the middle of the circle, with the person's name on the back.

hope this makes sense.

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنت أستغفرك وأتوب إليك

Cancer gene complexity revealed...

2009-08-07T17:04:00.003-04:00

interesting: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8184950.stm

{يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِرًا مِنَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ الْآَخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَ (7)}arroom.

i've never researched this but the ayah about Ayyoub aleihissalam's illness is interesting - (linking the shaytan to illness)..
{ وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا أَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَى رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الشَّيْطَانُ بِنُصْبٍ وَعَذَابٍ (41) ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ هَذَا مُغْتَسَلٌ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ (42) وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُمْ مَعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِنَّا وَذِكْرَى لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ (43)} saad.

illnesses were also mentioned in the story of Eesa aleihi ssalam, {إِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ اذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلى وَالِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدْتُكَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَالتَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِي فَتَنْفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِي وَتُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ الْمَوْتَى بِإِذْنِي وَإِذْ كَفَفْتُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَنْكَ إِذْ جِئْتَهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْهُمْ إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ (110)}almaaidah

no candles of hope...

2009-08-07T16:57:00.002-04:00

http://islammemo.cc/akhbar/arab/2009/08/07/86162.html

{هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَائِفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الْكَافِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا مَقْتًا وَلَا يَزِيدُ الْكَافِرِينَ كُفْرُهُمْ إِلَّا خَسَارًا (39)}faatir.

Snake twists tail, giving illusion of having 2 heads!

2009-08-06T06:09:00.002-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8184364.stm

subhan Allah, {سنريهم آياتنا في الآفاق}

the snake was mentioned in the qur'an and hadith
{فَأَلْقَاهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَى (20)} taha
{قَالَ بَلْ أَلْقُوا فَإِذَا حِبَالُهُمْ وَعِصِيُّهُمْ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ سِحْرِهِمْ أَنَّهَا تَسْعَى (66} taha
{وَأَلْقِ عَصَاكَ فَلَمَّا رَآَهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ وَلَّى مُدْبِرًا وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ يَا مُوسَى لَا تَخَفْ إِنِّي لَا يَخَافُ لَدَيَّ الْمُرْسَلُونَ (10)} annaml

- عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما : أنه سمع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يخطب على المنبر يقول : اقتلوا الحيات ، واقتلوا ذا الطفيتين والأبتر ، فإنهما يطمسان البصر ، ويستسقطان الحبل . قال عبد الله : فبينا أنا أطارد حية لأقتلها ، فناداني أبو لبابة : لا تقتلها ، فقلت : إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قد أمر بقتل الحيات . قال : إنه نهى بعد ذلك عن ذوات البيوت ، وهي العوامر . وقال عبد الرزاق : عن معمر : فرآني أبو لبابة ، أو زيد بن الخطاب .
الراوي: عبدالله بن عمر المحدث: البخاري - المصدر: الجامع الصحيح - الصفحة أو الرقم: 3297خلاصة الدرجة: [صحيح]

- بينما نحن مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في غار بمنى ، إذ نزل عليه : { والمرسلات } وإنه ليتلوها ، وإني لأتلقاها من فيه ، وإن فاه لرطب بها ، إذ وثبت علينا حية ، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : اقتلوها . فابتدرناها فذهبت ، فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : وقيت شركم ، كما وقيتم شرها .
الراوي: عبدالله بن مسعود المحدث: البخاري - المصدر: الجامع الصحيح - الصفحة أو الرقم: 1830خلاصة الدرجة: [صحيح]

أمريكا: مازال السود يُمنعون من استخدام مراحيض ومياه وشاحنات البيض

2009-08-03T02:06:00.003-04:00

big traces of ignorance will always remain....

http://islammemo.cc/akhbar/American/2009/08/02/85961.html

{ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ (13)} alhujurat

{ وَمِنْ آَيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَانِكُمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآَيَاتٍ لِلْعَالِمِينَ (22) } arroom

{أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ ثَمَرَاتٍ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهَا وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ (27) وَمِنَ النَّاسِ وَالدَّوَابِّ وَالْأَنْعَامِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ كَذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ (28)}fatir

Fire risk 'super' ants discovered

2009-08-02T04:55:00.000-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/8179872.stm

وَمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُمْ مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتَابِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ (38) al'an'aam

these were their dwellings!

2009-08-01T11:27:00.005-04:00

فَتِلْكَ مَسَاكِنُهُمْ لَمْ تُسْكَنْ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا وَكُنَّا نَحْنُ الْوَارِثِينَ (58)al-qasas

*first video has music.. second video same as pic below. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8177529.stm

{وَاتَّقُوا فِتْنَةً لَا تُصِيبَنَّ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْكُمْ خَاصَّةً}

2009-08-01T06:14:00.003-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8178333.stm

{هُوَ الَّذِي يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ حَتَّى إِذَا كُنْتُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِمْ بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُوا بِهَا جَاءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَجَاءَهُمُ الْمَوْجُ مِنْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ أُحِيطَ بِهِمْ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ لَئِنْ أَنْجَيْتَنَا مِنْ هَذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ (22)} yunus

{وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آَمِنَةً مُطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِنْ كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ (112)}annahl

{فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الطُّوفَانَ وَالْجَرَادَ وَالْقُمَّلَ وَالضَّفَادِعَ وَالدَّمَ آَيَاتٍ مُفَصَّلَاتٍ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا مُجْرِمِينَ (133) وَلَمَّا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِمُ الرِّجْزُ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى ادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِنْدَكَ لَئِنْ كَشَفْتَ عَنَّا الرِّجْزَ لَنُؤْمِنَنَّ لَكَ وَلَنُرْسِلَنَّ مَعَكَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ (134)} al-a'raaf

get un.attached

2009-07-31T07:26:00.002-04:00

Make today, Friday, a day to renew your connection -uboodiyyah- with your Creator, Allah.
Do you feel like you're getting attached to something or someone too deep?

The remedy is in this verse:
{ وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ أَفَإِنْ مَاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِكُمْ وَمَنْ يَنْقَلِبْ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَنْ يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ (144) وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَنْ تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ كِتَابًا مُؤَجَّلًا وَمَنْ يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا وَمَنْ يُرِدْ ثَوَابَ الْآَخِرَةِ نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا وَسَنَجْزِي الشَّاكِرِينَ (145) ali imran.

Ponder on these verses, and focus on the first part. If the best man on earth, Mohammed peace be upon him has died, and Allah is directing us to attach ourselves to the deen not to people, then what good is being attached to something even less than this status!?

اللهم خذ بأيدينا إليك

الداخلية الفرنسية تلفق تقريرًا لإخفاء العدد الحقيقي للمنتقبات

2009-07-31T06:55:00.003-04:00

http://islammemo.cc/akhbar/arab/2009/07/31/85823.html

لمسة بيانية
الفرق بين " أن يطفئوا " و " ليطفئوا ".

قال الله سبحانه وتعالى: ﴿ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطْفِؤُواْ ﴾.

يقصد الكفار إطفاء نور الله تعالى مباشرة، وإرادتهم متوجهة إلى الغاية (الهدف) بشكل مباشر، بعد إعداد الوسائل واتباع الطرق التي من خلالها يمكن الوصول إلى غايتهم بحسب تصورهم، فطلبهم هنا الغاية.

أما في قول الله عزَّ وجل: ﴿ يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِؤُوا ﴾.

يقصدون أمراً يتوصلون به إلى إطفاء نور الله، فهم يريدون إعداد الوسائل التمهيدية والطرق المناسبة التي تضمن الوصول لغايتهم، والمعنى هنا طلب الوسيلة. [3].

المصدر
http://www.ahlalquraan.com/vb/showthread.php?t=705

Songbird.. Or 'tasbeeh' bird?

2009-07-31T04:46:00.003-04:00

فَفَهَّمْنَاهَا سُلَيْمَانَ وَكُلًّا آَتَيْنَا حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَسَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوُودَ الْجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحْنَ وَالطَّيْرَ وَكُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ (79)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8174975.stm

no jobs?

2009-07-31T03:43:00.002-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8177646.stm

{ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآَيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ (37) فَآَتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَى حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ لِلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ (38) وَمَا آَتَيْتُمْ مِنْ رِبًا لِيَرْبُوَ فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَلَا يَرْبُو عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَمَا آَتَيْتُمْ مِنْ زَكَاةٍ تُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُضْعِفُونَ (39) arroom.

"عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ" لَوْ أَنَّكُمْْ تَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ لَرَزَقَكُمْ كَمَا يَرْزُقُ الطَّيْرَ تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا .
رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ، وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ، وَالنَّسَائِيُّ فِي "الْكُبْرَى" كَمَا فِي "التُّحْفَةِ، وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ، وَصَحَّحَهُ ابْنُ حِبَّانَ، وَالْحَاكِمُ، وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ.

From Umar ibn Al-Khattab from the Prophet (sas) who said:"If only you relied on Allah a true reliance, He would provide sustenance for you just as He does the birds: They fly out in the morning empty and return in the afternoon with full stomachs."
Ahmad, An-Nasaa’I, Ibn Majah, Al-Hakim and At-Tirmidhi who said: "Hassan sahih"

Let us combine this reliance on Allah with deep faith in Him, and certainty. Many people say they trust in Allah and rely on Him, but Allah knows whose seeking this wordly life and whose intentions reach to the hereafter.

Palestinian children in kite record bid

2009-07-30T15:34:00.001-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8177271.stm

touching.

{بَلِ اللَّهُ مَوْلَاكُمْ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ النَّاصِرِينَ}

Obesity in U.S. causes $147 bln per year in medical costs - study & Obese more at risk to swine flu

2009-07-30T00:44:00.001-04:00

http://www.inteldaily.com/news/139/ARTICLE/11386/2009-07-29.html

روى الترمذي في صحيحه(1) عَنْ المِقْدَامِ بْنِ مَعْدِي كَرِبَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ـ يَقُولُ: مَا مَلأ آدَمِيٌّ وِعَاءً شَرٌّا مِن بَطْنٍ، بِحَسْبِ ابْنِ آدَمَ أُكُلاتٌ يُقِمْنَ صُلْبَهُفَإِنْ كَانَ لا مَحَالَةَ فَثُلُثٌ لِطَعَامِهِ وَثُلُثٌ لِشَرَابِهِ وَثُلُثٌ لِنَفَسِهِ قَالَ أَبو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ *

"The son of Adam will never fill a container with something worse and evil than his stomach. It will suffice him some morsels (food) that will keep him on his feet, otherwise, he should divide his stomach into three parts: one third for his food, the other for his drink and the other third for his breath." (Ibn Hibban's narration)

total black out...!

2009-07-30T00:08:00.002-04:00

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Allah mentions three things in the beginning of surat albaqarah that are means of happiness and sustenance to people: Business, fire and water...!

Train your mind and ponder...
- can you identify those verses?
- why did Allah conclude those verses stating that He surrounds the disbelievers, and that He is capable of all things?
- How is this linked with recessions, bankruptcy, drought and such major tribulations?

the REAL pain...

2009-07-29T21:47:00.004-04:00

Assalamu aleikum,

Reflecting on the illnesses and diseases that are bombarding humans, one can easily differentiate between the types we see, according to Islam:
1- there are issues that are obvious, and they are focused on more in terms of studying and finding cures, hence the verse {يعلمون ظاهرا من الحياة الدنيا}. It makes sense that people care about these illnesses more because of the love people have for long living {يود أحدهم لو يعمر ألف سنة}!

2- then there are those diseases that are hidden, and because they are hidden, not everyone cares for it. Allah says in the early verses of the qur'an {في قلوبهم مرض فزادهم الله مرضا}. Yet, the heart, as the prophet peace be upon him described, is a flesh that if is well maintained so is the rest of the body (ألا إن في الجسد مضغة إذا صلحت صلح الجسد كله وإذا فسدت فسد الجسد كله).

The chief of all diseases is the disease found in the heart. What we don't realize right away from this verse is that when we don't admit we have a problem, the problem increases...
Think of how long people were warned about impermissable meats and drinks... but only chaos occurs after long silences.

And from here the scholars established the principle "الجزاء من جنس العمل".

And Allah knows best.

Of pixels and paintbrushes!

2009-07-28T18:06:00.006-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8083467.stm

Subhan Allah, {ويخلق ما لا تعلمون} .. but even though people can be so innovative, Allah is the best of creators and the First, hence His name .. البديع

{بديع السماوات والأرض}

*** Got this picture in my email... microscopic picture of the sky:

Insect defence

2009-07-28T17:41:00.001-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8172000/8172168.stm

subhan Allah.. beautiful colours too!

{وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَابَّةٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَمْشِي عَلَى بَطْنِهِ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَمْشِي عَلَى رِجْلَيْنِ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَمْشِي عَلَى أَرْبَعٍ يَخْلُقُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (45) لَقَدْ أَنْزَلْنَا آَيَاتٍ مُبَيِّنَاتٍ وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ (46)} annoor

منظمة المؤتمر الإسلامي تدعو لوقف سريع لشلال الدماء شمال نيجيريا

2009-07-28T16:44:00.001-04:00

http://islammemo.cc/akhbar/Africa-we-Europe/2009/07/28/85714.html

{وَإِنْ طَائِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا فَإِنْ بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الْأُخْرَى فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِي تَبْغِي حَتَّى تَفِيءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ فَاءَتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا بِالْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ (9) إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (10)} alhujurat

"Sri Lanka bans mobile telephones "

2009-07-28T14:21:00.002-04:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8173155.stm

... besides the suicide part I find this kind of funny.

There is a serious problem if people will commit suicide even for such reasons.. alhamdulilah for Islam.
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا لَا تَأْكُلُوا أَمْوَالَكُمْ بَيْنَكُمْ بِالْبَاطِلِ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ تِجَارَةً عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِنْكُمْ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا (29)} annisaa'.

Divorce: you'll only find its bright side in the qur'an

2009-07-28T01:19:00.002-04:00

"Divorce 'health scars permanent' :

Stressful relationships can be bad for your health
Divorce has a lingering, detrimental impact on health that even remarriage cannot fully repair, a study suggests."

**to brothers: link requires lowering of gaze
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8170234.stm

In islam, one's ultimate and most precious goal is to elevate his heart above all wordly matters so that its filled with love for Allah. Depression is not a term muslims should be used to! Allah did not create us to take revenge or so we could be depressed!

Divorce could be a positive thing which could lead to better things. Its not easy, but since it is a matter of worship, one might actually gain reward even through this tough time by following the right steps outlined by the sharee'ah. Just take a look at these beautiful verses:

{فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَشْهِدُوا ذَوَيْ عَدْلٍ مِنْكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا الشَّهَادَةَ لِلَّهِ ذَلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِ مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآَخِرِ وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا (2) وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا (3)} attalaaq.

All the verses tha talk about divorce (e.g surat albaqarah/surat attalaq/al-ahzab) fills one's heart with faith; just knowing Allah is your aid and manages your affairs in the best manner {اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَوَاتٍ وَمِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا (12) } attalaq.

But those whose hearts are not filled with the love of Allah, the slightest waves of turmoil will sweep them away from peace.

عشرات المغتصبين والمتطرفين الصهاينة يدنسون المسجد الأقصى

2009-07-28T01:13:00.002-04:00

http://islammemo.cc/akhbar/arab/2009/07/27/85653.html

{وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ مَنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ أَنْ يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ وَسَعَى فِي خَرَابِهَا أُولَئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا إِلَّا خَائِفِينَ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآَخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ (114) وَلِلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ (115)} al-baqarah

لكمُ الله!ا

words of encouragement
{أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ (39) الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّا أَنْ يَقُولُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَهُدِّمَتْ صَوَامِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَاتٌ وَمَسَاجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسْمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَلَيَنْصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ يَنْصُرُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ (40)} alhaj

يا لهُ من دينٍ .. لو أنّ له رِجال!!ا

تقرير: "إسرائيل" أكبر راعية للدعارة فى العالم

2009-07-27T14:59:00.003-04:00

http://islammemo.cc/akhbar/Asia-we-Australia/2009/07/27/85652.html

{وَاللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الشَّهَوَاتِ أَنْ تَمِيلُوا مَيْلًا عَظِيمًا (27)} annisaa'.

{وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا حَتَّى يُغْنِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَالَّذِينَ يَبْتَغُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ فَكَاتِبُوهُمْ إِنْ عَلِمْتُمْ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًا وَآَتُوهُمْ مِنْ مَالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آَتَاكُمْ وَلَا تُكْرِهُوا فَتَيَاتِكُمْ عَلَى الْبِغَاءِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَ تَحَصُّنًا لِتَبْتَغُوا عَرَضَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَنْ يُكْرِهُّنَّ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِكْرَاهِهِنَّ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ (33)} annoor

هيئة علماء المسلمين: الانسحاب الأمريكي من المدن العراقية لعبة دعائية

2009-07-26T20:30:00.002-04:00

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
assalamu aleikum,

http://islammemo.cc/akhbar/arab/2009/07/25/85533.html

{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآَخِرَةِ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا مُهِينًا (57) وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ بِغَيْرِ مَا اكْتَسَبُوا فَقَدِ احْتَمَلُوا بُهْتَانًا وَإِثْمًا مُبِينًا (58)} al-ahzaab

{لَأَنْتُمْ أَشَدُّ رَهْبَةً فِي صُدُورِهِمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ (13) لَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ جَمِيعًا إِلَّا فِي قُرًى مُحَصَّنَةٍ أَوْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ جُدُرٍ بَأْسُهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ شَدِيدٌ تَحْسَبُهُمْ جَمِيعًا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ شَتَّى ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ (14)} al-hashr.

Remember what thamud did to salih {قَالُوا تَقَاسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ لَنُبَيِّتَنَّهُ وَأَهْلَهُ ثُمَّ لَنَقُولَنَّ لِوَلِيِّهِ مَا شَهِدْنَا مَهْلِكَ أَهْلِهِ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ (49) وَمَكَرُوا مَكْرًا وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْرًا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ (50) } annaml

in both surat alhashr and annaml Allah confirms that transgressors of today will be punished just like past nations have been punished. {فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَاهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ (51} annaml

{كَمَثَلِ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ قَرِيبًا ذَاقُوا وَبَالَ أَمْرِهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (15) } alhashr.

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنت أستغفرك وأتوب إليك

5 year old's with big hearts! how BIG are you?

2009-07-26T18:58:00.001-04:00

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh,

It really is amazing to see these two five year olds engage in charity. The ayah that comes to mind:
{مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً وَاللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْسُطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ (245) } albaqarah.

Its like the boy explained it in his own simple understanding, in the first video. Allah does not specify groups; anybody who does these acts will be judged according to their deeds!

We shouldn't underestimate what kids are capable of, afterall, they are a creation of Allah, the best of creators! {الذي أحسن كل شيء خلقه وبدأ خلق الإنسان من طين} assajdah.

Now imagine raising your kids around the quran, spending their precious time memorizing it... they will indeed be affected by the goodness that's promoted in its verses.

Another verse that comes to mind { وَلَا تُؤْتُوا السُّفَهَاءَ أَمْوَالَكُمُ الَّتِي جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَامًا وَارْزُقُوهُمْ فِيهَا وَاكْسُوهُمْ وَقُولُوا لَهُمْ قَوْلًا مَعْرُوفًا (5) وَابْتَلُوا الْيَتَامَى حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغُوا النِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ آَنَسْتُمْ مِنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَادْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَا إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا أَنْ يَكْبَرُوا وَمَنْ كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ وَمَنْ كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُوا عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ حَسِيبًا (6)} almaaidah.

Here Allah orders us to take means in preserving money, but imagine having kids like these.. what a great blessing, and you won't have to worry about them wasting money!

**To the brothers, these links require lowering gaze.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ir3vNUyUUg

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toan-lam/5-year-old-girl-feeds-nea_b_244854.html

may Allah guide their souls to the truth.

may He reward you for stopping by.

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنت، أستغفرك وأتوب إليك