Take Time to Appreciate Islam!

بسم الله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

While teaching a lesson on ‘Appreciating the Gifts of Allah’ to Grade 5 students, I asked them:

Tell me some gifts that Allah has given you in your life.

Many students said: Parents, water, money, friends, family, knowledge, eyes, brain etc. etc.

One boy simply said, ‘ISLAM, Sir! Islam is a Gift from Allah’. 

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3 Attitudes that Distinguish man from a donkey!

In different languages and educational systems, there are common approaches to drive home a point and make one understand the significance of something. One such approach is the usage of idioms and proverbs.

Allah, Who created man and gave him cognizance and the power of speech, uses superior similes and examples to put sense in his mind so that he reflects, applies his mind and develops some reasonable attitudes in life.

Qur’an Appreciates Christians

While mentioning people’s attitude towards the believers and followers of Islam, the Qur’an singles out the Christians highlighting their good nature and appreciable qualities.

Forgiveness and The Fast of ‘Aashura

In UAE, Saudi Arabia and some adjoining countries, Tomorrow (3rd Nov 2014) is the 10th of Muharram, popularly known as ”Aashura”. Please check out the date as to when ‘Aashura falls in your locality, and do the needful accordingly, Inshaa’Allah.

This is in response to the question, “I heard that fasting the day of ‘Aashoora’ expiates for the past year, is this true?  Does it expiate for everything, even major sins? What is the reason for venerating this day?” taken from IslamQA. It is given here owing to its importance and relevance. Baarakallahu feekum.

Israeli intrusion into Al Aqsa mosque ‘barbaric’!

Israeli aggression, brutality and barbarism continues unchecked and unabated.

While the world is shamelessly silent over the latest Israeli intrusion, the UAE Foreign Minister condemns the move. Read on….

When the Call is Proclaimed on Friday……

Dear brothers & sisters, Assalamu Alaikum.

Presenting the Tafseer of verses 9 to 11 of Surah al Jumu’ah by Allamah Ibn Kathir. 

Fast of Aashura, and when?

The 10th of Muharram is popularly known as Aashura. 

Fasting on this day is highly encouraged.

There seems to surround some confusion with regard to the dates.

As per the Saudi announcement, Aashura falls on Thursday, the 14th November. As per the dates given in UAE Awqaf Ministry’s website, 10th Muharam falls on Wednesday, 13th Nov.

While it is true that we must always go by the local announcement about the sighting of the moon and the commencement of the month, in this case I feel it is better to fast on both days, i.e. 13th and 14th November, Inshaa’Allah.

Some of the merits of the fast of Aashura are mentioned below: 

Beware of following the disbelievers!!

The next ayah in the series Yaaa Ayyuhal Lazeena Aamanu is ayah No. 149 of Surah Aali Imran.

You may recall that in Ayah No. 100 Allah warned Muslims against imitating and obeying the People of the Book, that is Ahlul Kitaab, the Jews and Christians. 

This obedience will strip you of your emaan!

The next ayah with the lovely address Yaaa Ayyuhal Lazeena Aamanu is Ayah No. 100 of Surah Aali Imran.

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’aala instructs His true believers not to obey the people who were given the Scripture, namely the Jews and Christians. 

This is for the men of understanding!

We live in a paradoxically ridden world. Consider these two cases:

1. If you talk about Shariah, you are considered as a terrorist. You loot a country, you are not a terrorist!

You annihilate a whole nation, you are not a terrorist. You talk of Islam and Shariah Law, you are a terrorist!!

Shariah has become a dreaded word today. It is made-to-appear as a dreaded entity.

2. You can carry on attacks on a foreign soil and kill hundreds of civilians. It is okay for you! The world must not question.

If one Palestinian kills a Jew, you will launch rocket attacks on the civilians killing scores of Palestinians and the Muslim world must not question!  A whole illegal “nation” is sitting upon the land of Palestinians after killings thousands of Palestinians and Muslims must not talk about the killings. About invasion. About the expansion. About bulldozing of colonies!! 

Do not emulate the Jews!!

Note: This is the second post on the series Yaaa Ayyuhal Lazeena Aamanu, alhamdulillah.

In the first post I discussed the last verse first. That is, the ayah of Surah At-Tahreem discussed in the first post  is the last verse in the Qur’an as far as the verses commencing with Yaaa Ayyuhal Lazeena Aamanu is concerned.

Today I would like to discuss on Ayah No. 104 of Surah al Baqarah which is the first ayah in the Qur’an to commence with the phrase, “Yaaa Ayyuhal Lazeena Aamanu”.

In this ayah, Allah addresses the Believers asking them NOT TO emulate the Jews in their play on certain Arabic words when speaking to the Prophet Sal-lal-laahu-alaihi-wa-sallam.

Allah, therefore, forbade His believing servants from imitating the behavior and deeds of the disbelievers either in tongue or deed.  

Is it right to use the word ‘Samaritan’ for a good person?

While teaching/reading the story of Prophet Musa, this question always crosses my mind: Is it right for Muslims to use the word ‘Samaritan’ to mean or refer to a good-natured person? The Oxford Dictionary mentions that ‘a good samaritan’ is an idiom which means ‘a person who gives sympathy and help to people’.

Language is built up upon culture and values. The people who use this word have taken it from their culture and religion. How can a Muslim use this word to refer to someone doing a good act? There are two versions to the story. 

The world must follow Prophet Muhammad to achieve success and salvation!

Ever since the release of the latest dirty video on our Prophet (peace be upon him), I was thinking to write on the historical reason behind mockery and the hate campaign. The question why Islam and its Prophet is always under attack by some groups of people has just one word answer: Jealousy! Read on…..

The Jews and Christians were already informed by their respective Prophets – Prophet Moosa and Prophet Eesa (Moses and Jesus, Peace be upon them) – about the coming of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the need to obey and follow him.

The Old Testament is old and outdated and the New Testament is no more new. Now, the world has to follow the Last and Final Testament, that is the Qur’an. This is the only way and there can’t be any other alternative to success. Arrogance and prejudice have be to shed and things must be seen clearly. 

Freedom of expression or Freedom to Blaspheme?

Note: An excellent write up to share with you all!

FREEDOM of expression must not be confused with freedom from the consequences of expression. Exercising freedom and abusing it are not the same. The latter forfeits the former. Just because we are free to express ourselves, it doesn’t free us from the responsibility for what we express. We are responsible for what we say and do and for the consequences thereof and so must consider carefully what we want to express. This is the basis of what we call civilized socially responsible behavior. 

The People of Sabt

By Muhammad Abdul Hai

It seems the fishes were also determined in their course of action.  Every Saturday they would come in thousands over surface of the sea.  Anyone could capture them without the help of a net. On other days of the week they would not be seen anywhere.  One would feel as if this portion of sea had no fishes.  Of  course, a strange phenomenon.