tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18022028600233874442024-03-04T21:31:06.718-08:00Tahanan at Kababaihan sa IslamImpormasyon at Kaalamang Pang-Islamiko Para sa Kababaihan...Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-54013727377480419382008-09-23T09:44:00.000-07:002008-09-23T09:46:00.742-07:00Pulling up the blind<div align="justify">Every day, as we go through the same old routine of life, getting up, praying, going to work, dealing with people, going home, sleeping, etc, how easy is it for us to walk with blinders on our eyes?<br /><br />I thought of this the other day when I was scolded by someone about a thing that I see him or her doing all the time. I thought that I should make them aware of their actions and how it wasn't in line with their speech. Allah says in the Qur'an,<br /><br />"Oh you who believe, why do you say that which you do not do? Most hated is it in the Sight of Allah that you say that which you do not do!"<br />[61: 2-3]<br /><br />People every day talk about practicing what you preach, but how many of us that say this actually do it? Think about it. Of all the people that you have ever tried to remind of Allah or of some aspect of Islam, how much of the advice that you give out do you actually practice yourself? This reflection made me think about what the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) has said in a hadith, "Those who believe, let them speak good or keep silent."<br /><br />SubhanAllah, Allah's Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) was truly as-Sadiq al-Ameen.<br /><br />Today, people in the West always talk about "keeping it real." This psychology is to be real with people. To not front or put up some kind of false personality of who you really are. Yet, how many of us are living in a shell?.<br /><br />The worst thing about it is that it is so obvious for people to see right through our fakeness. Children are the best at this. If you want to know if a person is sincere or not, just have them interact with children for a period of time. You will be able to tell if the kids like that person or not if they are "true" so to speak.<br /><br />As a Muslim, we are supposed to be "real" all the time. It is part of our deen to be that way. This blessed month is one where we have the opportunity to find out who we really are. The Shayateen are locked up, so any foul behavior or actions on our parts can be attributed only to our inner state.<br /><br />This gives us the opportunity to sharpen our states to one that is pleasing to Allah. It gives us the ability to solidify consistency in our worship and recitation of the Qur'an. It enables us the opportunity to correct any of our actions, including speech, overeating, bad thoughts, places that we go, things we are inclined to do.<br /><br />This reminds me of a saying that is attributed to Hasan Al-Basri, the great illuminary from the third generation after the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasallam). He was quoted as saying that for twenty years he did not say a word or retract from saying a word except that he first thought if it was pleasing to Allah.<br /><br />As the saying continues, he repeats this statement for using all of the senses. Whenever I am reminded of that, I reflect on how much certainty in the unseen Hasan (radiAllahu anhu) had.<br /><br />We must take benefit from this blessed month of Ramadan. If we do not, then we should cease from all the empty promises and speeches. It is said that Allah will not change a people until they first change what is in their own selves. I ask Allah to forgive us for our sins and to purify our hearts from all the disease and filth that we have accumulated on them.<br /><br />I ask Allah to give us an opening and victory over our reproachful selves and in this dunya as well as the hereafter. I ask Allah to guide our families to Islam and to preserve us. May the Peace, Blessings and Mercy of Allah be upon His final Messenger Muhammad. All Praise is to Allah, Lord of all the Worlds.<br />Ameen. </div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-39490428880978556442008-09-23T09:38:00.000-07:002008-09-23T09:43:24.293-07:00Zakat - the most neglected duty?<div align="justify"><strong>We all know that Islam is built on five pillars:</strong><br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Shahadah – Declaration of Faith<br /><br />Salah – Performing Prayers regularly<br /><br />Zakah – Paying Charity<br /><br />Sawm – Fasting during the month of Ramadan<br /><br />Hajj – Pilgrimage to the House of Allah (Ka’bah)<br /><br /><strong>But did you know that it is most likely that the most neglected duty is Zakah?.<br /></strong><br />"And perform the Salat and give Zakat, and whatever of good (deeds that Allah loves) you send forth for yourselves before you, you shall find it with Allah. Certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what you do."<br />[Surah Baqarah; 2:110]<br /><br />Zakat is mentioned many times in the Glorious Qur'an along with Salah. It is a compulsory obligation on every Muslim who owns the Nisab (an amount set by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and His Messenger (Sallallahu 'Alayhi waSalam)) in their wealth which was in his possession for one full year.<br /><br />Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (radiAllahu anhu) fought against those who made a difference between Salah and Zakah during the early days of his Caliphate.<br /><br /><strong>Lets look at the importance of Zakah.</strong><br /><br />"Take Sadaqah (charity) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them and Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing"<br />[Surah At-Tawbah; 9:103]<br /><br />The Arabic word Zakah means, purity, cleanness and growth. In Islamic terminology it means giving a certain amount of ones wealth to deserving Muslims. But Zakah has an even greater significance. It has humanitarian, social and political value.<br /><br />Zakah purifies the heart of the giver from selfishness and greed and the heart of the recipient from envy, jealousy and hatred. Mutual love and respect and good feeling is created between both parties. If implemented as instructed by The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) it plays a dynamic role in economics, social welfare and fair distribution of wealth.<br /><br /><strong>So what is the Nisab for Zakah?<br /></strong><br />Nisab is the limit above which it is compulsory to pay Zakah. The Nisab for different type of property is different. The Nisab on Gold, Silver and Currencies is the value 85 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver valued at the current rate (the day of paying Zakah).<br /><br />2.5 percent Zakah is to be paid on any amount over this Nisab. For merchandise and livestock, agricultural products etc. there are different rulings, which are detailed in books on Zakah.<br /><br /><strong>Who gets our Zakah?</strong><br /><br />Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tells us in Surah At Tawbah 9: 60 the eight classes of people to whom Zakah should be paid. There are the Poor (Faqir), the needy (Miskin), collectors of Zakah, to attract the heart of those who are inclined towards Islam, to free slaves (captive), those in debt, for the cause of Allah (Jihad, etc) and the traveler.<br /><br />Now lets ask ourselves what happens when we defraud the government in our taxes? The answer is obvious. We go to prison or pay a heavy fine. But what happens when we defraud Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala? The Merciful answers this question in the following verse of the Glorious Qur'an:<br /><br />"They who hoard up gold and sliver and spend it not in the way of Allah, announce to them (O Muhammad) a painful torment. On the day when it all will be heated in the Fire of Hell, and their foreheads and their flanks and their backs will be branded with it, (and it will said to them) This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourself, now taste of what you used to hoard."<br />[Surah At-Tawbah; 9: 34-35]<br /><br /><em>I pray to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala to save us from this punishment.<br />Ameen! </em></div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-73158329812556981762008-09-23T09:33:00.000-07:002008-09-23T09:37:40.341-07:00Style over Substance: How cool is that?<div align="justify">by Umm Rashid</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">If one does a Google search on “how to be smart”, it yields 254,000,000 results in 0.34 seconds, with thousands of tips on how to exercise smart choices in every aspect of life -- from genomes to cars to clothes to kids to votes to money to FTP servers.<br /><br />If one runs the same search on “how to be sincere”, the top links the search engine comes up with, are software consultants and watches that go by the brand name Sincere, and a definition of the word in Merriam Webster’s online dictionary.<br /><br />It’s a clear sign of the times – the world values smart people more than sincere ones. Well-dressed, well-heeled, well-spoken individuals score more brownie points socially, are more popular and more likely to be successful in whatever they set out to do -- regardless of what they may be like within. People in the public eye hire image consultants to make them ‘look good’, who monitor everything about the individual’s public persona – the way they speak, the clothes they wear, the food they endorse, the places they are seen at, the causes they espouse.<br /><br />Not just public personalities, even ordinary people are within the purview of image experts. Jo Anna Nicholson, author of five self-help books, including Dressing Smart for Men and Dressing Smart for Women has made a fortune out of telling others how to dress and act so that they make an “instant impression” on prospective employers and spouses. Her books include chapters on “Looking As If You Don't Have a Clue”, “How to Look Accidentally Good” and “Looking Promotable.”<br /><br />Popular magazines and websites abound with pseudo-psychoanalytical articles on what one’s clothes, hair, jewellery or accessories are saying about a person, and how people can carefully tailor their appearance to create maximum impact.<br /><br />Contrast this with the attitude of the early Muslims. When the Muslims opened Jerusalem, the Christians refused to give the city's keys to anyone except the Caliph. So hadrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiAllahu anhu) set off from Madinah to Jerusalem. His entourage? One attendant and a mule, which they took turns to ride. It happened to be the attendant's turn to ride on the day they were to reach Jerusalem. The attendant volunteered to give up his turn because it would look “awkward in the eyes of the people” if he rode and the Chief of the Believers walked. hadrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiAllahu anhu) refused, saying: “yakfeena sharaful Islam – the honour of Islam is enough for us.”<br /><br />On the way, while walking across a muddy area, hadrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiAllahu anhu) took off his footwear, put it under his arm and raised his clothes so they wouldn’t get muddy. When hadrat Abu Ubaydah (radiAllahu anhu) who was one of the commanders waiting for him saw this, he ran to hadrat Umar asking him to ride his horse while entering the city. He said they were in a land where the quality of clothes reflected the rank of people.<br /><br />Hadrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiAllahu anhu) replied: “I wish someone other than you had said that. Have you forgotten that we were a lowly people and it was Islam that made us honourable? If we seek honour from anything other than Islam, Allah will return us to that state of lowliness.”<br /><br />For proof regarding the fulfilment of this prophecy, one only has to look around: Muslims are being humiliated, subjugated and oppressed by the very system and people whose ways they seek to emulate, in preference to the Sunnah of their Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) and the example of those whom Allah was pleased with.<br /><br />It’s true, cultivating “coolness” has more immediate pay-offs than cultivating sincerity. Wearing the latest brands and hanging out at the most-happening places is the ticket to gaining entry into the ‘with-it’ crowd – the people with the wittiest repartees, trendiest hairstyles and clothes, fanciest cars and gizmos -- who spend a considerable amount of time and energy trying to stay abreast of the latest trends. As opposed to this ‘magic circle’, seen from the outside, the company of sincere people seems unglamorous, even boring.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />But scratch deeper, and the truth surfaces<br /><br /><br />People who try to fit in with a superficial world that subscribes to ever-changing fads, soon discover that the hollowness of their world finds an echo deep within. A deep-seated dissatisfaction with oneself takes a person to stylists and therapists, but make-up and makeovers can’t change one’s personality. They merely reinforce the belief that a person is incapable of being appreciated for themselves, they must use other people’s advice instead of their own judgment to be successful, they must adopt someone else’s idea of beauty to be acceptable in the eyes of others.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />How cool is that?<br /><br /><br />On the other hand, people who set out on the straight and narrow, choosing substance over style, seeking to please Allah as opposed to pleasing people, may not find their popularity ratings soar -- quite the opposite, in fact. Yet, they get strength in the certainty of their belief, that their reward is with Allah in the Hereafter.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />What are the signs that a person is seeking to build an ‘image’ instead of developing true faith by their deeds?<br /><br /><br />“Linguistically riyaa comes from the root “ra’aa” which means to see, to behold, to view. The derived word 'riya' means "eye-service, hypocrisy, dissimulation; dissemblance." From a shariah point of view, it means “to perform acts which are pleasing to Allah, with the intention of pleasing other than Allah.”<br />['Riya: The Hidden Shirk', Yasir Qadhi]<br /><br />The primary cause of riyaa is a weakness in faith (iman). When a person does not have strong faith in Allah, he will prefer the admiration of people over the pleasure of Allah.<br /><br />There are three symptoms that are indicative of riya, and it is essential that a believer avoid all of them.<br /><br /><br /><br />The Love of Praise<br /><br />A hadith mentions the first three people being thrown into hellfire -- the scholar (who taught for fame), the martyr (who fought for fame), and the person who gave his money in charity (so people would say he is generous). All three of these people desired the pleasure of people over the pleasure of Allah. The person who desires the praise of people must feel some pride in himself, for he feels himself worthy of being praised. There is a danger, therefore, of him becoming arrogant and boastful.<br /><br /><br /><br />Fear of Criticism: No-one Likes to be Criticised<br /><br />The dislike of criticism regarding religious practices may be divided into two categories:<br /><br />The first category is that of a person who neglects a commandment of Allah in order to avoid the criticism of his peers. However, the true believers are described in the Qur’an as follows: "...They do not fear the criticism of those who criticise. And this is the blessing of Allah; He gives it to whomsoever He wishes. Verily, Allah is Self-Sufficient, all Knowing. "<br />[surah al-Ma`idah :54]<br /><br />The second category is that of a person who obeys certain commandments of Islam, not for the sake of Allah, but because he fears people will look down upon him and criticise him if he does not do it. For example, a man may make his formal prayers in the mosque because he does not want people to criticise him for praying at home, or to think that he is not praying at all.<br /><br /><br /><br />Greed for People’s Possessions<br /><br />If a person covets what other people possess -- whether it is rank, money or power, then he will wish them to envy him similarly. For example, if he is jealous of a certain person’s position in society, he will try by every possible means to attain the same position. Such desires lead people to spend their lives putting on a show for other people so that they will admire their rank, money, or power.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />How Does one go About Seeking Sincerity?<br /><br /><br />Ibn-al Qayyim al Jawziyyah (rahimullah) says: “If your soul informs you to quest for Ikhlas, turn first towards your yearning and slaughter it with a knife [in a state] of desperation. Then turn [in a state of] asceticism upon praise and commendation… If your quest in slaughtering the yearning, and [the acquisition of] asceticism [against] praise and commendation is successful, your [journey] shall be facilitated in your [quest] for Ikhlas.”<br /><br />Tameem ad-Dari (radiAllahu anhu) said: the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said thrice (to lay stress): The Deen is naseehah (sincerity and sincere advice)." We said: To whom? He said: "To Allah, His Book, His Messenger and to the leaders of the Muslims and the general people."<br />[sahih Muslim]<br /><br />Imam an-Nawawi (rahimullah) has a lengthy commentary on this hadith in Sharh Sahih Muslim, in which he says:<br />“Sincerity to Allah means having faith in Him… avoiding disobedience to Him, to love for His sake and to hate for His sake, to keep good relations with those that obey Him and to have enmity with those that disobey Him. To fight jihad with those who disbelieve in Him. To recognise His favours and to give thanks to Him for them. To have sincerity in all affairs. To call to everything that we have mentioned, and to encourage it. To show kindness to all the people, all those whom you are able to, in this call.”<br />“..sincerity to the general Muslims … is to guide them to what is beneficial for them, both in the Hereafter and this life. To keep harm away from them, to teach them that which they are ignorant of regarding the Deen... to help them by words and actions, to hide their faults and to fulfill their needs and wants; to remove that which is harmful for them and to bring that which is of benefit to them; enjoin them with good and forbid them from evil, with gentleness, sincerity and compassion for them.<br /><br />Having respect for their elderly and mercy for their young. To give them good admonition, not acting deceitfully towards them. To love the good things for them, which he would love for himself. To hate the bad things for them, which he would hate for himself. To protect their wealth and reputation and encourage and advise them to take on the character of all that we have mentioned, form all the types of sincerity...”<br /><br /><br />If you skipped the last three paragraphs, I urge you to scroll up and read them slowly and carefully – they contain the prescription to our problems as an Ummah.<br /><br />As Muslims, our main concern is not to score points over each other -- it is to help each other gain Allah’s pleasure.<br /><br />As Muslims, our job in this world is to establish the Truth -- how can we presume to do that when we fail to be honest in our innermost motives?<br /><br />How can we assume vicegerency over the Earth when we fail to be sincere slaves to our Lord; when we are concerned with outward appearances more than the state of our soul?<br /><br />Allahumma ij'al batinana khayran min dhahirina; wa-ija'al dhahirana khayran. Ameen.<br /><br />O Allah! Make the hidden aspects of our personality better than our outer persona; and make our appearance good. Ameen. </div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-71878263679145535842008-09-23T09:29:00.000-07:002008-09-23T09:33:18.236-07:00The Obsession with Materialism<div align="justify">Humans are good at dreaming, encapsulating themselves in a different world, dreaming of different times. Hence, consider the following dream: you're a top professional earning zillions of pounds, own a fully detached home in the most affluent part of town. With a beautiful wife (or husband if you are the opposite gender), and a top of the range Golf Convertible for your good self and your wife. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Maybe we're just being too modest. No, no, you're a tycoon, owning a massive global conglomerate, with a beautiful partner and equally beautiful children. As the years go by, whatever your snazzy occupation maybe, life is looking up for you. That interest based bank balance is getting bigger, those shares you invested in are paying off handsomely. You and your children are just fine. Hang on, you and your children? Your children, maybe, but your good self? </div><div align="justify"><br /><br />Now consider the second part of your dream. You and your children grow older. Your children take up the professions you hoped they would. Yet as you grow older, you are a burden to them, They send you off to the top of the range old peoples' home. As years go by you get even lonelier, have only nurses to look after you and the occasional visit from your offspring. Then you've had it, you die; but the insult to your good self does not end there. </div><div align="justify"><br />The robbery of your lifelong efforts carries on. Your expensive Swiss watch is taken from you, your Armani suits are replaced with white sheets. You are finally 'laid to rest' and eventually forgotten. End of dream - back to reality, or is it? Today's society is reminiscent of the hypothetical dream mentioned. We don't mean to sound pessimistic, like the high and mighty speaker in Hyde Park or Madison Square Gardens, having a dreary outlook on life. Yet, the fact of the matter is that it's happening and it gets worse. Those who are not so well off equally bump off their parents and consequently get bumped off by their children: all this for the obsession for materialism. </div><div align="justify"><br />Materialism, according to the dictionary definition is "Interest in and desire for money, possessions etc, rather than spiritual or ethical value". As Muslims, our object, as you might have guessed, is not the desire for money or worldly possessions. Nor is it merely interest in spiritual or ethical values. Do we find a sudden furore of gasps and raised eyebrows? Patience pal and all will be revealed. As Muslims, we submit to Islam in totality. As Allah (subhanahu wa Ta'ala) states: "O Believers, enter into Islam completely…" [Surah Al-Baqarah].</div><div align="justify"><br />Again Allah, in all his mercy, guided us to our role in life by saying "I have only created man and jinn but to worship me", [Surah Adh-Dhariya]. Consider, the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the Earth orbits the Sun and not the other way round. Even within ourselves, our hearts beat in rhythm: all of which are following a law and rule, without any chaos.</div><div align="justify"><br />Hence it is only natural for us to submit to his laws, to his rule, for his pleasure. Hence, we would live by the kalimah, the decleration of faith said often by 'Muslims' but rarely acted upon. By stating - La ilaha illallah - 'there is no God but Allah' we would negate all authority, all forces that negates the authority of Allah, and affirm his lordship. We would say no to any obstacle to the total worship of Allah (subhanahu wa Ta'ala). This, my friend, includes what we all love and should now hate: the obsession with materialism, and affirm Allah's lordship. </div><div align="justify"><br />Obsession with materialism, dear reader, is a form of oppression to man and his nature. Oppression because nothing else matters apart from acquiring worldly possession and esteem. The Kalimah liberates man from the oppression and tyranny of other men and the worship of other Gods, which includes obsession with materialism. Again, Allah states in the Qur'an: </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">"Whoever rejects false deities and believes in Allah, has grasped a firm branch that will never break".</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Consequently, we can see that the obsession with materialism is incompatible with Islam. Our life and our possessions are for Allah alone: "Your Lord has purchased, in return for…" Nor is the case dear reader that we aspire for poverty, the last prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) advised "Be of good cheer. Set your hopes on what will bring upon happiness. It is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that you will become engrossed with world as those before you did and that you will pursue it as those before you pursued it and that it will destroy you as it destroyed them". This middle path requires us to utilise our resources and talents, of which Allah has so mercifully bestowed upon us, but not to fall prey to obsession with materialism:</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">"Leave me alone (to deal with him) whom I have created alone and to whom I have granted resources vast…and to whose life I gave so wide a scope and yet, greediliy desires that I give more" [74: 11-15]. </div><div align="justify"><br />It is time maybe to assess our own situation. Do we really only aspire to be that proud owner of a BMW 520 series or that yacht off the Mediterranean. Are we really greedy and desire to be slave to the obsession of materialism? </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Possibly, we instead accept the sovereignty of Allah, and proclaim that he is the most supreme. Do we prohibit all that negates His authority, make sure that we totally submit to Him and no other false God, no other false force and no other false obsession? If we really do aspire for the latter option, the option to submit to Allah, then know dear reader that there is hope. Hope because there is Allah's book, the Qur'an, for guidance. Hope also because there is His messenger, Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), and hope because there is a group out there, a common brotherhood striving to seek His pleasure. </div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-71396505992596545922008-09-16T10:51:00.000-07:002008-09-16T11:02:06.848-07:00Tagalog Islamic Books<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000000;"><strong>Get your copy now!!!</strong></span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong></div><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://islamisip.webs.com/kitab%20ramadan.pdf">Paano Sasalubungin ang Ramadhan?</a></span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://islamisip.webs.com/pagdatal.pdf">Sa Pagdatal ng Katotohanan</a></span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://islamisip.webs.com/fadilah.pdf">Ang Mga Mabubuting Araw</a></span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://islamisip.webs.com/usul.pdf">Usul Aththalatah</a></span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://islamisip.webs.com/Al-ayam%20al-mubarak.pdf">Al-Ayyam Al-Mubarakah</a></span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://islamisip.webs.com/Nawawiyah.pdf">40 Hadith An-Nawawiyah</a></span></strong></p>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-47064018683127800742008-09-16T09:52:00.000-07:002008-09-16T10:46:40.371-07:00<div style="width:800px; text-align: center;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://w362.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http://w362.photobucket.com/albums/oo70/muslimah-islamisip/24547475.pbw" height="240" width="800"><a href="http://photobucket.com/slideshows" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn.gif" style="float:left;border-width: 0;" ></a><a href="http://s362.photobucket.com/albums/oo70/muslimah-islamisip/?action=view¤t=24547475.pbw" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn_viewallimages.gif" style="float:left;border-width: 0;" ></a></div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-23353287638216095492008-09-16T09:31:00.000-07:002008-09-16T09:51:54.898-07:00Pag-aalay sa Iba pa Kay Allah<div align="justify">Isang malaking Shirk ang pag-aalay ng iba pa kay Allah. Si Allah ay nagsabi (108:2):</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>"Kaya magdasal ka sa Panginoon mo at mag-alay,"</strong>. Ibig sabihin: Mag-alay ka ng hayop kay Allah at sa pangalan ni Allah.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Nagsabi ang Propeta (sas): <strong>"IsinuAmpa ni Allah ang sinumang nag-alay para sa iba pa sa Kanya." </strong></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Maaari pang magsabay sa pag-aalay ang dalawang ipinagbabawal: ang pagkakatay para sa iba pa maliban kay Allah at ang pagkakatay sa iba pa sa pangalan ni Allah; kapwa ito nakapipigil para maaaring kumain mula sa kinatay na iyon.</div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Kabilang sa pagkakatay sa panahon ng kamangmangan, na palasak sa panahon natin, ay ang mga pagkakatay para sa mga jinni (mga nilalang na hindi nakikita ng mata).</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Kapag nakabili sila ng bahay o nagpagawa nito o humukay ng isang balon ay nagkakatay sila roon o sa bungad nito ng isang hayop dahil sa pangamba sa pamiminsala ng mga jinni.</div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-39219400203587817672008-09-16T06:17:00.000-07:002008-09-16T09:30:29.844-07:00Ang Pagtatambal (Shirk) kay Allah<div align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;">Hinango sa Aklat na Ipinagbabawal na Ipinawawalang-bahala ng mga Tao</span></div><p align="justify">Ito ang pinakamalaki sa mga ipinagbabawal, walang pasubali, batay sa Hadith ayon kay Abu Bakrah, na nagsabi: "</p><p align="justify">"Nagsabi nang makatatlo ang Sugo ni Allah (sas): <strong>Ipinabatid ko ba sa inyo ang pinakamalaki sa malalaking kasalanan?</strong></p><p align="justify">Sinabi namin: Opo , o Sugo ni Allah. Sinabi niya: <strong>Ang pagtatambal kay Allah.'</strong></p><p align="justify">Bawat pagkakasala ay maaaring patawarin ni Allah maliban sa Shirk kaya kailangan para rito ang isang takdang pagsisisi.</p><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Sinabi ni Allah (4:48): <strong>"Tunay na si Allah ay hindi magpapatawad na tambalan Siya ngunit magpapatawad Siya sa anumang mababa pa roon sa kaninumang loloobin Niya."</strong>Ang Shirk ay may bahagi na napakalaki na nagtitiwalag sa tao sa pananampalatayang Islam, na ang nakagagawa nito ay mananatili sa Impiyerno kung namatay sa kalagayang iyon.</div><p align="left"><br /></p><div align="left"></div><p align="left"><br /></p><div align="left"></div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-12542116591943057292008-09-15T08:47:00.000-07:002008-09-15T13:14:17.294-07:00Liham Paanyaya<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWqf1DFTCoMbpH_NHlsZ8iRz5-O2vhg9PrDt972lAaWBmdSh8fQB7ELTsI9ffr-sTuTlKc8UffaPRyfpuwURQZIu2SU6ioEQaUHYeP_48zKM-i9NvcOJT8_VdCtIhetEzjGqiTgFI3G9K/s1600-h/LetterWGreenPen300x300Port.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246290141182217250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 112px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 92px" height="163" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWqf1DFTCoMbpH_NHlsZ8iRz5-O2vhg9PrDt972lAaWBmdSh8fQB7ELTsI9ffr-sTuTlKc8UffaPRyfpuwURQZIu2SU6ioEQaUHYeP_48zKM-i9NvcOJT8_VdCtIhetEzjGqiTgFI3G9K/s200/LetterWGreenPen300x300Port.png" width="171" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Ito ay Liham ng isang Muslimah na biniyayaan ni Allah ng Gabay...<br /><br /><br />Ang liham kong ito ay bilang pagpapakilala at paanyaya sa pananampalatayang Islam. Gabayan nawa tayo ng Diyos sa tamang landas.<br /><br />Isang pagbabalik-tanaw<br /><br />Karamihan sa mga Pilipino ay mga Kristiyano. At bilang Kristiyano ay sinasamba si Hesus na pinaniniwalaang isa sa diyos na nagkatawang tao na nabibilang sa trinidad. Na sa tuwing linggo ay nagsisimba; na sa tuwing may problemang darating ay nagdadasal kay Hesus o sa mga santo at santa, lumuluhod sa mga rebulto at taimtim na nananalangin sa kanila na sana ganito… sana bigyan niyo kami ng ganito… o anupaman; na sa tuwing buwan ng Disyembre ay pinagdiriwang ang kapanganakan ni Hesus at nagdadalamhati naman pag Semana Santa. At hindi lang sa Pasko nagsasaya kundi pati kaarawan ng bawat santo at santa, ang lahat ay namimiyesta. May piyesta ng Nazareno, Sta. Ana, Sta. Rita, Feast of St. Jude at St. Therese pati ni Valentino ay may espesyal na okasyon. Ang lahat ng mga gawaing ito ay aking kinalakihan. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="center"><em><a href="http://nice0102.blogs.friendster.com/my_blog/2008/02/liham_paanyaya_.html"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Basahin ang kabuuan...</span></a></em></div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-26826349156465346432008-09-15T07:38:00.000-07:002008-09-15T07:42:43.995-07:00The Five Levels of Prayer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_17FS9PsqgFh6Zjqrabc3tLnB_j8oqHpn7SVf1P_X6Bm48W81jf9xyBfSd9VwabQ2Sf0jxKuWZ-ykm-jxhhtGW6107sHFCAQhZVcQZ-sqQ__muHG2rFCrYn5uE5NAOrr4wxVdahb5qZa/s1600-h/pray2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246257958853625106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_17FS9PsqgFh6Zjqrabc3tLnB_j8oqHpn7SVf1P_X6Bm48W81jf9xyBfSd9VwabQ2Sf0jxKuWZ-ykm-jxhhtGW6107sHFCAQhZVcQZ-sqQ__muHG2rFCrYn5uE5NAOrr4wxVdahb5qZa/s320/pray2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Ibn al-Qayyim writes in his book al-Wabil al-Sayyib:<br /><br />"When it comes to prayer, people are of five levels:<br /><br />The first is the level of the one who wrongs himself and is negligent. He does not do wudu properly, or pray at the right time or make sure he does all the necessary parts of prayer.<br /><br />The second is one who observes the outward essentials of prayer, prays on time and does wudu, but he has lost the battle against his own self and is overwhelmed with waswaas (insinuations).<br /><br />The third is one who observes the outward essentials of prayer, prays on time and does wudu, and also strives against his own self and against waswaas, but he is preoccupied with his struggle against his enemy (Shaytan), lest he steal from his prayer, so he is engaged in salah and jihad at the same time.<br /><br />The fourth is one who when he stands up to pray, he fulfils all the requirements of the prayer, and his heart is fully focused and alert lest he omit anything, and his concern is to do the prayer properly and perfectly. His heart is deeply immersed in his prayer and worship of his Lord.<br /><br />The fifth is one who does all of that, but he takes his heart and places it before his Lord, looking at his Lord with his heart and focusing on Him, filled with love and adoration, as if he is actually seeing Him. That waswaas and those thoughts diminish, and the barriers between him and his Lord are lifted. The difference between the prayer of this person and the prayer of anyone is else is greater than the difference between heaven and earth. When this person prays, he is preoccupied with his Lord and content with Him.<br /><br />The first type is punishable; the second is accountable; the third is striving so he is not counted as a sinner; the fourth is rewarded and the fifth is drawn close to his Lord, because he is one of those for whom prayer is a source of joy. Whoever finds their joy in prayer in this life, will find their joy in being close to Allah in the Hereafter, and will also find his joy in Allah in this world. Whoever finds his joy in Allah will be content with everything, and whoever does not find his joy in Allah, will be destroyed by his feelings of grief and regret for worldly matters." </div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-52260873816250911982008-09-15T07:23:00.000-07:002008-09-15T07:26:04.757-07:00Islam, Iman & Ihsan<div align="justify">"Say: We believe in Allah (God Almighty) and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to the Prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him (God) we submit."<br />[Qur'an; 3:83]<br /><br /><br />Islam has thre essential aspects or levels. They are Islam, Iman and Ihsan.<br /><br /><br />Islam, In the lexical context, means surrender and submission to the commands of Allah Ta'ala. This meaning occurs in the Qur'an:<br /><br />"Then, when (Ibrahim (alayhi-salam) and his son) had both submitted (to Allah's command for Ibrahim (alayhis-salam) to sacrifice his son), and (Ibrahim) laid (his son) down on his forehead."<br />[surah as-Saffat; 37:103]<br /><br />Islam also shares the same root as "salam" which is peace, and thus it conveys the meaning of attainment of or bringing about of peace. A Muslim is a person who has entered into peace<br /><br /><br />Iman (belief) lexically means affirmation and confirmation in the heart.<br /><br /><br />Ihsan, means goodness, to strive for excellence in achieving piety.<br /><br />All these of these are explained in the infamous hadith found in the widely circulated and read Forty Hadith compiled by Imam Nawawi. It was narrated by 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiAllahi anhu), and is found in sahih Muslim;<br /><br /><br />"One day we were sitting in the company of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when there appeared before us a man dressed in pure white clothes, his hair extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on him. None of us recognized him. He sat with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Resting his knees against his and the palms of his hands on his thighs, he said, 'O Muhammad, tell me about Islam'.<br /><br />The Messenger of Allah replied, 'Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish the prayer, pay the zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so'.<br /><br />He said, 'You have spoken the truth,' and we were amazed at him asking and then verifying that he had spoken the truth.<br /><br />He then said, 'Inform me about Iman'.<br /><br />He replied, 'It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and in the divine destiny of both good and evil'.<br /><br />He said, 'You have spoken the truth'.<br /><br />He then said, 'Tell me about Ihsan'<br />.<br />He said, 'It is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for though you do not see Him, surely He sees you'.<br /><br />He then said, 'Inform me about the Hour'.<br /><br />He replied, 'The one who is asked knows no more than the one who is asking'.<br /><br />He said, 'Tell me some of its signs'.<br /><br />He said, 'That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, and barefoot, destitute shepherds will compete with one another in the building of magnificent buildings'.<br /><br />Then he (the questioner) went on his way but I stayed with him (the Prophet) for a long while.<br /><br />He said to me, 'Umar, do you know who this questioner was?'<br /><br />I replied, 'Allah and His Messenger know best'.<br /><br />He said, 'He was Gabriel. He came to instruct you in your religion."<br /><br /></div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-38656377990691181392008-09-15T07:10:00.000-07:002008-09-15T07:18:23.108-07:00Life is Like Baking a Cake<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYtbyU9RuVLpNr13cEpf67QwvUHt5irH4NGnofcmw9CTmwZKfcmeNUEbLgYgOiBRQugvosxMm1RXJuJqhG4FnQ9MsAdhLjaG9S0t8n5bTF79ksJDVqOptfsJoXv4uyJsNQPHXu_VIIREn/s1600-h/tools.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246252072344930978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYtbyU9RuVLpNr13cEpf67QwvUHt5irH4NGnofcmw9CTmwZKfcmeNUEbLgYgOiBRQugvosxMm1RXJuJqhG4FnQ9MsAdhLjaG9S0t8n5bTF79ksJDVqOptfsJoXv4uyJsNQPHXu_VIIREn/s200/tools.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">A little boy is telling his Grandma how "everything" is going wrong. School, family problems, health problems, problems with friends, etc.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which, of course, he does.<br /><br />"Here, have some cooking oil." "Yuck" says the boy.<br /><br />"How about a couple raw eggs? " "Gross, Grandma!"<br /><br />"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"<br /><br />"Grandma, those are all yucky!"<br /><br /><br />To which Grandma replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!<br /><br />God works the same way. Many times we wonder why he would let us go through such bad and difficult times.<br /><br />But Allah knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"<br /><br />Allah hears all our Du'as. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen and Hear. He is As-Baseerul, Sameer - The Seerer, The Hearer.<br /><br /><br />"And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way"<br />[surah al-Baqarah; 2:186]<br /><br /><br /></div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-78589242950502336322008-09-15T07:01:00.000-07:002008-09-15T07:09:19.547-07:00The Gossiper<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgc0pqfKlpPwQjKSbxfa-z2psBYGToc565N4YUjfO-MW2s_pLbN3QJsQS3XijHhboPYFzW-bXIHpePt3EFpnvEfHBc1pVn20HnxyuSFnFlBCFBomPHEisi3Qir0tOtORTNGlNvMUfJh6Kh/s1600-h/panakaw+na+pakikinig.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246249007837887458" style="WIDTH: 366px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 360px" height="328" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgc0pqfKlpPwQjKSbxfa-z2psBYGToc565N4YUjfO-MW2s_pLbN3QJsQS3XijHhboPYFzW-bXIHpePt3EFpnvEfHBc1pVn20HnxyuSFnFlBCFBomPHEisi3Qir0tOtORTNGlNvMUfJh6Kh/s400/panakaw+na+pakikinig.jpg" width="400" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><div align="justify">Author Unknown<br /><br /><br />A woman repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbor. Within a few days the whole community knew the story. The person it concerned was deeply hurt and offended.<br /><br />Later the woman responsible for spreading the rumor learned that it was completely untrue. She was very sorry and went to a wise old Ustadh to find out what she could do to repair the damage.<br /><br />"Go to the marketplace," he said, "and purchase a chicken, and have it killed. Then on your way home, pluck its feathers and drop them one by one along the road." Although surprised by this advice, the woman did what she was told.<br /><br />The next day the wise man said, "Now go and collect all those feathers you dropped yesterday and bring them back to me."<br /><br />The woman followed the same road, but to her dismay, the wind had blown the feathers all away. After searching for hours, she returned with only three in her hand.<br /><br />"You see," said the old Ustadh, "it's easy to drop them, but it's impossible to get them back.<br /><br />So it is with gossip. It doesn't take much to spread a rumor, but once you do, you can never completely undo the wrong."</div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-72817038974086414002008-09-15T06:58:00.000-07:002008-09-15T06:59:43.827-07:00Confidence and Self Esteem<div align="justify">Author Unknown<br /><br /><br />Confidence and Self-Esteem were best friends. They went everywhere together. If Confidence bought a new dress, Self-Esteem bought one just like it. They were very close.<br /><br />One day a new kid came to their school. His name was Peer Pressure. He had a friend called Hateful Words.<br /><br />They decided to give Confidence a hard time. They constantly teased her. They forced her to do terrible things. It was so terrible that Confidence lost Self-Esteem. When Self-Esteem wanted to start some classes, Confidence said they wouldn't be any good.<br /><br />Then one day, Peer Pressure introduced Confidence to Doubt. He wanted to ruin Confidence, but Peer Pressure said he couldn't yet. Self Esteem couldn't understand what was wrong with Confidence. Confidence now hung around with Depression, Low Self-Esteem, and Overeating.<br /><br />These girls were friends of Peer Pressure. Self-Esteem no longer had any friends. She no longer felt good about herself. She went to see her pastor. Pastor Good Words told her how to talk to Confidence. He introduced her to his daughter, Encouragement.<br /><br />Encouragement and Self-Esteem went to find Confidence. Self Esteem hoped she wasn't too late.<br /><br />The girls found Confidence in a stupor. She was no longer a vibrant, happy young girl. There were dark circles under her eyes. She had gained so much weight from eating that she couldn't move. Encouragement gasped and Self-Esteem cried. She begged Encouragement to do something. Encouragement began to hug Confidence. She kissed her and loved her. She told her that she was a beautiful young lady who had a lot going for her.<br /><br />Encouragement held Confidence so tightly that Self-Esteem thought she would smother her. Confidence began to cry. As she cried, she seemed to lose weight. Then a bright light suddenly glowed from Confidence and she began to smile.<br /><br />Peer Pressure and his friends didn't like what Encouragement was doing and tried to attack her. They hit at her and pulled at her, but they couldn't pull her away from Confidence. Then Confidence began to speak.<br /><br />"Get away from me, Peer Pressure. Take your friends and go. You no longer have any power over me." Confidence was now a glowing light. She and her friends made sure that Peer Pressure and his gang never bothered anyone in their town again.<br /><br />If you feel that Encouragement is not your friend, then try to find Encouragement in yourself. Self-Esteem and Confidence will follow. </div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-56136603322419495232008-09-15T06:36:00.000-07:002008-09-15T06:58:01.723-07:00Your Prayer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4yixn-loJDEHkJrMnsXpsdCk1cLrb2ls0AoiWyxYQz_fW6uaIt4A8db0HWi82pVDVZDsAiLskjlmfObVhF0sgoJEke4wVnFxFnpGjwI0vqUjciZJv-jrDJiCMPnPUIRJ1z8HURH31JDO/s1600-h/sujudw.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246246580664084194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4yixn-loJDEHkJrMnsXpsdCk1cLrb2ls0AoiWyxYQz_fW6uaIt4A8db0HWi82pVDVZDsAiLskjlmfObVhF0sgoJEke4wVnFxFnpGjwI0vqUjciZJv-jrDJiCMPnPUIRJ1z8HURH31JDO/s400/sujudw.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Author Unknown<br /><br /><br />He remembered his grandmother’s warning about praying on time:<br />"My son, you shouldn’t leave prayer to this late time".<br /><br />His grandmother’s age was 70 but whenever she heard the Adhan, she got up like an arrow and performed Salah. He, however could never win over his ego to get up and pray. Whatever he did, his Salah was always the last to be offered and he prayed it quickly to get it in on time.<br /><br />Thinking of this, he got up and realized that there were only 15 minutes left before Salat-al Isha. He quickly made Wudhu and performed Salat-al Maghrib. While making Tasbih, he again remembered his grandmother and was embarrassed by how he had prayed. His grandmother prayed with such tranquility and peace. He began making Dua and went down to make Sajdah and stayed like that for a while. He had been at school all day and was tired, so tired….<br /><br /><br />He awoke abruptly to the sound of noise and shouting. He was sweating profusely. He looked around. It was very crowded. Every direction he looked in was filled with people. Some stood frozen looking around, some were running left and right and some were on their knees with their heads in their hands just waiting. Pure fear and apprehension filled him as he realized where he was. His heart was about to burst.<br /><br />It was the Day of Judgement.<br /><br />When he was alive, he had heard many things about the questioning on the Day of Judgement, but that seemed so long ago.<br /><br />Could this be something his mind made up? No, the wait and the fear were so great that he could not have imagined this. The interrogation was still going on. He began moving frantically from people to people to ask if his name had been called. No one could answer him.<br /><br />All of a sudden his name was called and the crowd split into two and made a passageway for him. Two people grabbed his arms and led him forward. He walked with unknowing eyes through the crowd. The angels brought him to the center and left him there. His head was bent down and his whole life was passing in front of his eyes like a movie.<br /><br />He opened his eyes but saw only another world. The people were all helping others. He saw his father running from one lecture to the other, spending his wealth in the way of Islam. His mother invited guests to their house and one table was being set while the other was being cleared. He pleaded his case, "I too was always on this path. I helped others. I spread the word of Allah. I performed my Salah. I fasted in the month of Ramadan. Whatever Allah ordered us to do, I did. Whatever he ordered us not to do, I did not." He began to cry and think about how much he loved Allah.<br /><br />He knew that whatever he had done in life would be less than what Allah deserved and his only protector was Allah. He was sweating like never before and was shaking all over. His eyes were fixed on the scale, waiting for the final decision.<br /><br />At last, the decision was made. The two angels with sheets of paper in their hands, turned to the crowd. His legs felt like they were going to collapse. He closed his eyes as they began to read the names of those people who were to enter Jahannam. His name was read first. He fell on his knees and yelled that this couldn’t be, "How could I go to Jahannam? I served others all my life, I spread the word of Allah to others".<br /><br />His eyes had become blurry and he was shaking with sweat. The two angels took him by the arms. As his feet dragged, they went through the crowd and advanced toward the blazing flames of Jahannam. He was yelling and wondered if there was any person who was going to help him. He was yelling of all the good deeds he had done, how he had helped his father, his fasts, prayers, the Qur’an that he read, he was asking if none of them would help him. The Jahannam angels continued to drag him. They had gotten closer to the Hellfire. He looked back and these were his last pleas.<br /><br />Had not Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, "How clean would a person be who bathes in a river five times a day, so too does the Salah performed five times cleanse someone of their sins"? He began yelling, "My prayers…my prayers…my prayers." The two angels did not stop, and they came to the edge of the abyss of Jahannam.<br /><br />The flames of the fire were burning his face. He looked back one last time, but his eyes were dry of hope and he had nothing left in him. One of the angels pushed him in.<br /><br />He found himself in the air and falling towards the flames. He had just fallen five or six feet when a hand grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back. He lifted his head and saw an old man with a long white beard. He wiped some dust off himself and asked him, "Who are you?" The old man replied, "I am your prayers". "Why are you so late! I was almost in the Fire! You rescued me at the last minute before I fell in". The old man smiled and shook his head, "You always performed me at the last minute, did you forget?"<br /><br />At that instant, he blinked and lifted his head from Sajdah. He was in a sweat. He listened to the voices coming from outside. He heard the adhan for Salat-ul Isha. He got up quickly and went to perform Wudhu. </div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-23911658022704202372008-09-14T11:52:00.000-07:002008-09-14T12:32:02.206-07:00Unfolding the RoseA young, new ustadh (teacher) was walking with an older, more seasoned ustadh (teacher) in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what Allah Ta'ala had for him to do, he was asking the older ustadh for some advice.<br /><br /><br />The older ustadh walked up to a rosebush and handed the young ustadh a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young ustadh looked in disbelief at the older ustadh and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the Will of Allah for his life and ministry.<br /><br /><br />But because of his great respect for the older ustadh, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact...It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do. Noticing the younger ustadh's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older ustadh began to recite the following poem...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9C4wq_yNkjjj3QkJFwmxw16FJmKCMRjfrtB57UV3Ke-XK0nGvSUcUDtVen666VOGisbRqYJsueMVAneoMZsbRzIy720OSwrzyZrjRLdRjyp7EhREdJd9GPT71bJgunHvocg6Piod4F5X/s1600-h/red_rose2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245954850573788338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 263px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" height="165" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9C4wq_yNkjjj3QkJFwmxw16FJmKCMRjfrtB57UV3Ke-XK0nGvSUcUDtVen666VOGisbRqYJsueMVAneoMZsbRzIy720OSwrzyZrjRLdRjyp7EhREdJd9GPT71bJgunHvocg6Piod4F5X/s400/red_rose2.jpg" width="327" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="right">It is only a tiny rosebud, </div><div align="right"></div><div align="right">A flower of Allah's design;<br /></div><div align="right">But I cannot unfold the petals<br /></div><div align="right">With these clumsy hands of mine.<br /></div><div align="right">The secret of unfolding flowers<br /></div><div align="right">Is not known to such as I.<br /></div><div align="right">Allah opens this flower so sweetly,<br /></div><div align="right">Then in my hands they die. </div><div align="right"></div><div align="right">If I cannot unfold a rosebud,</div><div align="right"></div><div align="right">This flower of Allah's design,<br /></div><div align="right">Then how can I have the wisdom<br /></div><div align="right">To unfold this life of mine?<br /></div><div align="right">So I'll trust in Allah for leading<br /></div><div align="right">Each moment of my day.<br /></div><div align="right">I will look to Allah for His guidance<br /></div><div align="right">Each step of the way.<br /></div><div align="right">The pathway that lies before me,<br /></div><div align="right">Only Allah knows.<br /></div><div align="right">I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,<br /></div><div align="right">Just as He unfolds the rose. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><br />"And whoever relies on Allah - then He is sufficient for him"[surah at-Talaq; 65: 3] "<br />… And upon Allah rely, if you are true believers"[surah al-Ma'idah; 5: 23] "<br />… And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]"[surah ali-'Imran; 3: 159] "<br />… And rely upon Allah. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs"[surah an-Nisa; 4: 81]<br /><br /><br /><br />Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiAllahu anhu), narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,'If you rely on Allah with due reliance, Allah will provide for you as He does for the birds; they leave with empty stomachs in the morning and return full at dusk.'[at-Tirmidhi]Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-27194470883001816912008-09-13T05:30:00.000-07:002008-09-14T11:41:08.875-07:00Ang Paanyaya ng Islam, Ang Paghamon at Ang Katanungan<div align="justify">Hinango sa Aklat na "Sa Pagdatal ng Katotohanan"<br /><br /><strong>Ang Paanyaya ng Islam</strong><br /><br />Ang Islam ay ang Relihiyong ipinadala ni Allah para sa sangkatauhan. Ang Relihiyon at pamumuhay nang pagsamba sa iisa at tunay na Diyos, relihiyong sinunod ng mga naunang Propeta (nila Abraham, Moises, Noah, Ismael, Isaac, Jesus atbp.).<br /><br />Ang Paanyaya ng Islam ay hindi para magbago o magpalit ng paniniwala bagkus pagbalik lamang sa tunay at dalisay na pagsamba sa tunay na Diyos, pagbalik sa pananampalataya na tinuro ng mga Propeta at pag-alis ng pagkilala at pagsamba sa mga diyos-diyosan.<br /><br />“Sabihin mo: O Angkan ng Kasulatan halina sa mga pangungusap (pahayag) na magkatulad sa pagitan natin, na sambahin si Allah lamang at hindi itambal sa kahit na kanino. At huwag mula sa’tin ang gumawa ng panginoon maliban kay Allah lamang, at kapag sila’y tumanggi, sabihin niyo, sumaksi na kami ay mga Muslim.” KTQ3:64<br /><br />Pagbalik lamang sa tunay na Relihiyon. Ang Relihiyon ng mga Propetang nauna sa’tin.<br /><br />“Si Abraham ay hindi Hudyo at ni hindi Kristiyano bagkus isang tunay na Muslim Hanifa (kumikilala at sumasamba sa iisang Diyos) at hindi siya kabilang sa mga Al-Mushrikin ”. KTQ3:67<br /><br />At paniniwala sa pagiging Propeta ni Jesus<br />“At dumating ako (Jesus) na pinatunayan ang nauna sa akin na Torah (batas sa panahon ni Moises), at upang ipahintulot sa inyo ang ilan sa mga dating ipinagbawal noon, at ako ay dumating sa inyo ng may malinaw na tanda mula sa inyong Panginoon, kaya’t matakot kay Allah at tumalima (sumunod) sa akin. (50) Katotohanan na si Allah ang akin at inyong Panginoon, ito ang tuwid na landas.” (51)KTQ 3:50-51<br /><br />Ang lahat ng mga Propeta ni Allah ay dumating na may malinaw na tanda upang ipagdiin sa sangkatauhan ang pagkilala at pagsamba kay Allah. Katulad ni Jesus na Propeta ni Allah na pinadala bilang Sugo sa bayan ng Israel at hindi bilang anak ng Diyos o diyos.<br /><br />“At gagawin Namin siyang Sugo sa Angkan ng Israel; na sasabihin niya (Jesus): “Ako’y dumating sa inyo na may tanda mula sa inyong Panginoon.” KTQ3:49<br /><br />“At tandaan sabi ni Allah: O Jesus! Aking ika’y itataas at paglilinawin (na si Jesus ay Sugo ni Allah), doon sa mga hindi naniwala (tumanggi sa kaisahan ni Allah, kumilala kay Jesus bilang diyos o anak ng diyos) at pagiinamin Ko ang mga naniwala (sa Kaisahan ni Allah, Islam, aral ni Muhammad (saws)) sa mga hindi naniwala hanggang sa pagsapit ng Araw ng Paghuhukom. At sila’y magbabalik sa Akin (Allah) at sila’y Aking huhusgahan ayon sa kanila’y dating pinagtalunan”. KTQ3:55<br /><br />Malinaw ang kalagayan ni Hesus ayon mismo sa nagsugo at may likha sa kanya na si Allah, ang Panginoon.Balikan natin muli ang paanyaya ng Islam sa pagsamba sa iisang Diyos.<br /><br /><strong>Ang Paghamon</strong><br /><br />“Na kung sinoman ang makipagtalo patungkol sa kanya (kalagayan ni Jesus) pagkatapos na paratingin ang kaalaman (na si Jesus ay hindi anak ng diyos bagkus isang Propeta). Sabihin mo: ‘Halika! Tawagin ang aming mga anak at inyong mga anak, ang aming kababaihan at inyong kababaihan, ang aming mga sarili at inyong mga sarili, at tayo’y magdasal kay Allah (ng taimtim) at hilingin natin na ibagsak niya ang kanyang sumpa sinoman ang sinungaling’” KTQ3:61<br /><br />Salita ni Allah sa Qur’an, na ipinadala kay Propeta Muhammad ng dumating sa kanya ang mga Kristiyano at nakipagtalo hinggil sa kalagayan ni Jesus at pagiging Sugo ni Muhammad (saws), at ito ang patuloy na paghamon ng mga Muslim sa mga kababayan nating Kristiyano pagkatapos maiparating sa kanila ang malinaw na tanda at kaalaman. Paghamon hinggil sa kabutihan, paghamon para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayang Kristiyano, paghamon upang mabuksan ang kanilang kaisipan hinggil sa paanyaya ng Islam na kumilala lamang sa nag-iisang Diyos na si Allah at huwag Siyang ipagtambal. Ito ang malinaw na tanda.<br /><br /><strong>Ang Katanungan</strong><br /><br />“O Angkan ng Kasulatan! Bakit kayo tumanggi sa malinaw na tanda mula kay Allah, na kayo nama’y nakasaksi? (70) O Angkan ng Kasulatan! Bakit niyo hinaluan ang katotohanan gayo’y ito ay nalalaman ninyo?” KTQ (71) 3:70-71<br /><br />Buksan natin ang ating isipan hinggil sa Panyaya ng Islam. Pag-aralan natin at suriin at bigyan ng pansin ang panawagan ng ating Panginoon.<br /><br />“Sabihin mo: Kami ay naniniwala kay Allah at sa kanyang ipinadala sa amin, at sa naipadala kay Abraham at Ismael at Isaac at Haqob at sa Al-Asbat (ang 12 na anak ni Haqob) at sa ibinigay kay Moises at Hesus at sa mga Propeta mula sa Panginoon, at hindi namin sila kinilalang magkakaiba, at sa Kanya (Allah) kami ay nagpasakop (Islam) (84) at sinoman ang kumilala ng maliban sa Islam bilang Deen ito’y hindi tatanggapin ni Allah, at sila ang mga talunan sa Huling Araw.”KTQ (85) 3:84-85<br /><br /><strong>Si Allah ang saksi na naiparating namin Ang Paanyaya ng Islam!!!</strong><br /><br />“Walang sapilitan sa Relihiyon, ang tuwid na landas ay malinaw mula sa kaligawan. Sinuman ang tumalikod sa mga diyos-diyosan at nanampalataya kay Allah (bilang tanging Diyos) gayon, siya ay nakakuha ng matatag na panghahawakan na hindi masisira. Si Allah Ang Nakaririnig at Ang Nakaaalam.” KTQ2:256<br /><br />Para sa gustong makakuha ng kopya ng buong aklat na ito at iba pang Islamic Tagalog Books ay bisitahin lamang ang website na ito: <strong><a href="http://www.islamisip.webs.com/">http://www.islamisip.webs.com</a>at <a href="http://www.angtuwidnalandas.blogspot.com/">www.angtuwidnalandas.blogspot.com</a></strong></div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-7338808509527571562008-09-13T05:16:00.000-07:002008-09-14T11:41:32.231-07:00Paano ang Pagpasok sa Islam?<div align="justify">Isa sa katanungan ng nakararaming mga nagsusuri sa Islam ay hinggil sa paraan ng pagpasok dito. Ngunit bago natin simulan ang pagtalakay sa bagay na ito ay nais muna nating magpaliwanag ng ilang mga bagay.<br /><br />Una ay ang kahulugan ng Muslim. Maraming mga tao na ang pag-kaunawa rito ay mali tulad ng paniniwala na ang Muslim ay tribo o nasyon tulad ng mga Arabo at mga taga-Mindanao na hindi maaring mag-Muslim ang isang tao maliban na lamang na siya ay i-pinanganak na Muslim. Ito ay isang malaking pagkakamali sapagkat kung babalikan natin ang mga naunang mga Muslim, sila ay mga dating mga Mushrik (pagano) na sumasamba sa mga dios-diosan na pagkatapos maipaliwanag sa kanila ang pagsamba sa iisang at tunay Diyos ay yumakap sila sa Islam at tinawag silang mga Muslim.<br /><br />Ngunit hindi dito natatapos ang kahulugan ng Muslim, ang salitang Muslim ay mula sa wikang Arabe na ang kahulugan ay pagtalima at pagpapasakop sa batas ng nag-iisang Diyos na si Allah, kaya't sinuman o anuman na tumatalima at nagpapasakop sa mga batas na i-tinalaga ni Allah ay tinatawag silang mga Muslim. Tulad ng Araw na sumisikat sa kanyang takdang oras at lumulubog sa kanyang takdang oras na i-tinalaga sa kanya, dito ay nagpapasakop siya sa batas ng Diyos ng walang pagtutol, gayun rin halimbawa ang mga bundok ay nagiging poste ng lupa upang tumatag at ulan kung kailan siya pababagsakin sa lupa ay lahat ay pagsunod nila sa mga batas na tinalaga sa kanila ng Diyos na kung tawaging ay " Likas" o sa Arabe ay "Fithra". Dito'y walang pag-aalinlangan na sila ay mga Muslim, sapagkat malinaw na ang mga ito ay sumusunod at nagpapasakop sa batas na i-tinalaga sa kanila. Kahit ang mga tao ay kasama rito sapagkat sabi ng Propeta Muhammad (saws): "Lahat ay ipinanganak sa ilalim ng "Fithra" at ang siyang mga magulang lamang nila ang naggawa sa kanilang mga Kristiano, Hudyo at Majus (pagano o sumasamba sa apoy)". Kung pag-aaralan natin ay ating mapag-aalaman na ang mga tao mismo ay sadyang nagpapasakop sa mga batas na tinalaga sa kanilan ng Diyos, tulad na lamang na kapag ang tao ay kinailangan dumumi (magbawas) ay hindi niya ito kayang salungatin at wala siyang ibang magagawa kundi dumumi at gayun rin na hindi natin kayang pigilin ang ating antok, ilan ito sa mga batas na itinalaga ng Diyos sa atin na walang kayang humadlang. Mabuti man o masama, mananampalataya man o hindi, tayo ay nasasakop parin isang banda sa batas ng Diyos at dito ay nararapat na kilalanin tayong mga Muslim sa "Fitrah" (Kalikasan). Ngunit ang Diyos ay nagtakda ng batas na banal at mahalaga kaysa batas ng kalikasaan at ito ang batas Niya sa mga Mananampalataya, Ang Sharee’ah. Ang Diyos ay naglikha ng tao upang Siya ay sambahin, dito sa batas na ito ay itinuro Niya kung paano ang paraan, dito rin sa batas na ito ay matatagpuan ang gabay sa tao, sapagkat ang Diyos ay nag-bigay ng mga pagsubok sa tao at nag-bigay rin Siya ng mga paraan kung paano haharapin ang pagsubok na ito, at ito ay matatagpuan rin sa batas na ito.<br /><br /><strong>Paano matatagpuan ang batas na ito?</strong><br /><br />Sa bawat panahon, generasyon at mga tao ay nagpadala ang Diyos ng mga batas sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang mga piling Sugo, kabilang dito sina Propeta Noah, Abraham, Moises, David, Jesus at Muhamad (suma kanila nawa ang kapayapaan), ang bawat isa ay may dalang mga batas na angkop sa kanilang mga panahon at tao. Tulad na lamang halimbawa ni Moises na pinadala ng Diyos para sa iligtas ang mga Israelita kay Para'on, kaya't ang batas na dala ni Moises ay ankop sa kalagayan ng kanyang nasasakupan. Gayon rin sina David at Hesus, ngunit isang bagay na hindi nagkaiba ang mga propeta at sugo, ito ay hinggil sa mensaheng pagsamba, pagpapasakop at pagtalima sa iisang Diyos, ang tunay na Diyos, si Allah. Dito ay nagkakaisa lahat ng mga sugo, kaya nga naman kapag may nagpapakilalang Sugo at pagkatapos ay nagpapakilala ng maraming diyos at nagpapakilalang diyos, ito ay hindi kabilang sa mga pinili ng Diyos at tiyak na ito ay napabibilang sa mga bulaang propeta na pinagpauna na rin ng Diyos na darating sa atin.<br /><br />Ang selyo at kaganapan ng mga batas na ito ay ipinadala ng Diyos sa Kanyang huling Sugo mula sa lugar ng Arabia, sa lahi ni Ismael na anak ni Abraham (ra), na pinag-pauna na ng Diyos sa mga naunang propeta tulad nila Moises at Hesus hinggil sa pagdating nitong huling sugo, siya si Muhammad bin Abdullah (ra), ang tinalaga ng Diyos upang ganapin ang Mensahe ng Diyos para sa tao sa anyo ng Qur'an, ang kumpeltong batas para sa tao para sa ating panahon hanggang sa Araw ng Paghuhukom.<br />Ito ang dalawang uri ng batas na itinalaga sa atin ng Diyos, ang batas ng kalikasan at ang batas para sa mga mananampalataya na kung susundin ng ito tao ay para sa kanyang ikabubuti, ngunit may pagkakaiba ang dalawang batas na ito. Una ang batas ng kalikasan ay mahirap labagin sapagkat agad-agad pinapadala ni Allah ang parusa para dito, isang halimbawa ay ang paggamit ng ibang tao ng gamot upang pigilan ang pagtulog, dito ay naapektuhan ang kalusugan ng taong yaun at siya ay walang duda na magtataglay ng paghihirap, tulad rin na kapag i-nabuso natin ang mga pananim sa mga kabundukan ay sa pagsapit ng bagyo ay magkakaroon ng mga pagbaha na siyang pinsala sa mga tao o maaring magkaroon ng pag-lindol. Ngunit sa batas na i-tinalaga ng Diyos para sa mga mananampalataya ay hindi agad makakamit ang resulta ng pagsuway, tulad ng pag-darasal at pag-aayuno, kung sakaling hindi man ito gawin ng isang tao ay hindi kaagad siya babagsakan ng parusa, kaya nga naman napaka banal ng batas na ito sapagkat dito ay nagagamit ng tao ang isa sa pinakamagandang regalo ng Diyos sa tao na wala kahit ang mga anghel, ito ay ang kalayaan o "freewill". Kaya sinuman ang sumunod sa mga batas na ito ay tinatawag na Muslim.<br /><br />Ngayon nalaman natin ang tunay na kahulugan ng Muslim at paglilinaw sa kahulugan sa batas ng Diyos, mas magiging malinaw sa atin ang ating paksa, "Paano Maging Muslim?" Maaring sa pag-talakay natin sa naunang bahagi ay malinaw na ang isang tao ay nagiging Muslim kapag siya ay nagpasakop, tumalima sa batas ng Diyos. Samakatuwid kapag ang isang tao pala ay nagnais na sumunod at tumalima sa batas ng Diyos ay maaring maging Muslim? Ang sagot ay walang dudang Oo. Kung gayun pala ang mga hindi Muslim ay silang mga taong hindi nagpapasakop at sumusunod sa batas ng Diyos? Siyepre Oo ulit. Ngayon ang tanong ay nararapat bang maging Muslim ang mga tao upang musunod nila ang Diyos? Sapagkat sa pagpapasakop at pagtalima lamang sa batas ng Diyos maari mo Siyang masunod hindi po ba? At sapagkat paano mong sasabihin Siya ay sinusunod mo kung hindi ka naman nagpapasakop sa Kanyang batas na kung saan doon nakatala ang kayang mga utos na dapat sundin ng mga tao.<br /><br />Ang konklusyon ay nararapat lahat ng tao ay maging Muslim kung ang nais niya ay sundin ang Diyos. Ang pagiging Muslim ay isang kasunduan, kasunduan ng Diyos at tao, at tinuruan tayo ng Propeta Muhammad (saws) kung paano i-sagawa ang kasunduang ito. Ang kasunduang ito ay hindi kinakailangan ng mga papeles upang maging ganap, ni hindi kailangan i-lubog sa tubig o sabuyan ng tubig ang tao upang makamit niya ang kasunduan niya sa Diyos. Ang kasunduang ito ay puno ng pangako mula sa Diyos kapag nakamit ng tao, na alam natin na katotohanan ang pangako ng Diyos ay totoo. Ang kasunduang ito ay ang mag-aalis sa tao sa kaparusahan sa apoy kapag ito ay kanyang nakamit na hindi na kailangan mag-sakripisyo ng propeta o ng isang buhay para sa kaligtasan ng tao, ang kasunduang ito ay sapat para sa tao upang makasiguro na siya ay magkakamit ng tagumpay sa Araw ng Paghuhukom sapagkat ang kasunduang ito ay kasunduan sa pagitan ng Diyos, na si Allah ang Makapangyarihan.<br /><br />Ngunit ganun pa man kahit gaano karami ang kabutihang pinangako ng Diyos para mga magsasagawa ng kasunduang ito ay napipigilan parin ang maraming tao, at napag-alaman natin ang ilan sa mga dahilan nila:<br />Una napipigilan sila na makipagkasundo sa Diyos sapagkat sila ay bulag sa kanilang paniniwala, na kahit na hayag ang mga pagkakamali sa kanilang relihiyon ay nagwawalang bahala lamang sila at gumagamit ng mga dahilan upang maiwasan ang panawagan ng Diyos na walang duda na ito ay kagagawan ni satanas, sapagkat walang ibang gawain ang satanas maliban sa i-ligaw ang tao, gagawin niya ang lahat ng paraan upang manatili ang tao sa maling pananampalataya.<br />Ang sunod ay ang taong nakakita ng katotohanan ngunit pinipigilan siya ng kaniyang pamilya, kaibigan at mga bisyo at hilig ng katawan na siyang nagpapahuli sa tao upang pasukin ang tunay na pananampalataya.<br /><br />At ang isa pa ay nabibigatan sa obligasyong haharapin kung sakaling yakapin niya ang pananampalatayang ini-aalok ng Diyos, na kung saan nandito ang Kanyang katotohanan.<br />Kaya't nararapat sa tao na sa-isangtabi ang mga pananaw na ito at dapat sa kanya ay tugunin ang panawan ng Diyos. Kung nais ng tao na makamit ang kasunduang ito ay nararapat na maging matapang siyang harapin ang mga pagsubok at pumipigil dito mula sa mga nasa kanyang paligid at pakinggan ang kanyang puso at maging totoo sa kanyang sarili at dalisayin ang puso upang ibigay sa kanya ng Diyos ang Patnubay (hidaya) at makamit niya ang kasunduan na siyang maglalayo sa kanya sa apoy at magbibigay ng susi sa Paraiso.<br /><br />Tulad sa pagpapaliwanag ng Propeta Muhammad (saws) hinggil sa kasunduang ito, na ito ay napakadali sapagkat ito ay pagbigkas lamang kasama ang sinseridad sa puso ay matataglay niya ang kasunduang ito at papapasukin ni Allah sa Paraiso.<br /><br />Ngayon kababayan, magulang at kaibigan handa naba kayong tanggapin ang kasunduan at maging isang ganap na tagasunod ng Diyos o Muslim? Handa ka na bang iwan ang mali at madilim na pananampalataya at tumungo sa pananampalatayang tulad ng sa mga propeta at sugo? O mga minamahal, handa ka na bang makipagkasundo sa iyong Manlilikha at sumaksi?<br /><br />Kung gayun ito ang handog namin sa iyo…ang kasunduan na magbibigay sayo ng kalayaan.<br />Iyong bigkasin ng bukal sa puso at isipan….<br /><br /><strong>ASH-HADU ALLA ILAHA ILLAH LAHU WA ASH-HADU ANNA MUHAMMADAR RASULULLAH</strong><br /><br />Ako ay sumasaksi na walang diyos maliban kay Allah at ako ay sumasaksi na si Muhammad ay sugo ni Allah.</div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-8819925130621715392008-09-12T06:34:00.000-07:002008-09-14T11:50:00.979-07:00The Condition of Women before Islam<div align="justify">Islam came at a time when women all over the world were being oppressed and exploited. The most any society would accord the woman was to admit that she was part of the human race. They never admitted her dignity or gave her rights and responsibilities equal to those of men. The Greeks considered her to be an object of pleasure and amusement. This view was articulated in the classical texts most unambiguously:
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<br />We take prostitutes for pleasure, lovers to care for our daily health, and wives to give us legitimate children.
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<br />The Romans gave the father and husband the right to sell her to whomever they pleased.The Arabs gave the son the right to inherit the wife of his father (not his own mother) just like he would inherit his father’s wealth and his steed! That is if she were lucky enough not to have been buried alive at birth. This was the case with the rest of the world’s societies at that time, like those of the Persians and the Hindus. Women remained in this horrible state without protesting or rebelling against it. No one else was to do so either. Nor were there any social or economic developments that would require a betterment of her status. Then Islam came, proclaiming her rights and her equality with men. It established for her all of her rights to bring her out of the miserable state that she was in and elevate her to the noble status that she deserves. How did this happen?
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<br /><strong>Equality Between Men and Women in Islam </strong>
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<br /></strong>Islam establishes the principle of equality between men and women in all aspects of life that they are equal in, because both of them are equally human. It does however distinguishes between them in some areas, taking into consideration the natural differences between them and the special qualities that each of them has. Equality between men and women in Islam is derived from the following considerations:
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<br />1. Equality in their human origins: Islam conclusively establishes that all human beings have a common origin. This fact is mentioned in many verses of the Qur’ân:
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<br />- O Mankind, fear your Lord who created you from a single soul and created from it its mate and brought forth from the two of them many men and women. - O Mankind, verily we created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so you may know one another. Verily the most honorable of you with Allah are the most righteous.
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<br />2. Equality in their common destiny: Islam also establishes that all of mankind is going to return to Allah who created them, and everyone – male and female – is going to be recompensed for his or her worldly deeds. They will receive well if they did good and they will be requited with evil if they did evil. Allah says:
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<br />- And every one of you will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection. - A human being will have nothing except for what he does. And his deeds will be seen. Then he will be recompensed fully. - So their Lord accepted of them their supplication and answered them: ‘I will never allow the work of any of you to be lost, male or female. You are from each other. - Whoever works righteousness as a believer, whether male or female, we will truly give a good life and We shall pay them a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do.
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<br /><strong>Women's Rights in Islam</strong>
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<br />We should point out that human rights in Islam are not merely rights but are religious obligations. This means that it is obligatory for every person to protect them and restore them if they are taken away. It is equally obligatory upon society to make sure that every individual can enjoy his or her rights to the fullest. Islam has secured for the woman every human right. This includes her intellectual, religious, social, economic and political rights.
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<br /><strong>Intellectual and Religious Rights </strong>
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<br /></strong>Islam has guaranteed every man and woman the right to think and believe as they choose. It considers thinking and investigating to be an obligation upon every human being. There are numerous verses in the Qur’ân that encourage people to think about and investigate the phenomena both in the world around them and in the wonder of life itself.
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<br />Allah says:
<br /></div><div align="justify">- Do they not look in the dominion of the heavens and the Earth and all the things that Allah has created?” - Say (O Muhammad): “Behold all that is in the Heavens and the Earth.’ But neither signs nor warners benefit those who do not believe.” - Say: “‘Travel in the land and see how Allah originated Creation.” - Say (O Muhammad): “I exhort you to one thing only: that you stand up for Allah’s sake together and individually and reflect: there is no madness in your companion (Muhammad).”
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<br />As for the right to one’s own belief, Islam has guaranteed it and forbidden anyone to compel another to change his or her belief.
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<br />Allah says:
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<br />- There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the true path is clearly distinct from error. - So, will you (O Muhammad) then compel mankind so they will become believers? - You (O Muhammad) are merely a warner. You are not a dictator over them.
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<br />The Qur’ân threatens those who persecute believing men and women in order to turn them from their faith:
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<br />Verily those who persecute the believing men and women and then do not turn to Allah in repentance, they will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Fire.
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<br />From all of these texts, the independent religious identity of the woman becomes quite clear. No one else can impose upon her what she should believe. She must, of her own free will, decide what to believe. Allah says:
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<br />- O you who believe, if believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them. Allah knows best their faith. Then, if you ascertain that they are true believers, do not send them back to the disbelievers.
<br /></div><div align="justify">- O Prophet, if believing women come to you to give you their pledge that they will not associate anything in worship with Allah, nor steal, nor commit fornication, nor kill their children, nor commit slander, nor forge falsehood (to making illegitimate children belong to their husbands), nor disobey you in goodness, then accept their pledge and ask Allah to forgive them. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
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<br />- O wives of the Prophet! Whoever of you commits manifest lewdness will have a double punishment. This is easy for Allah. And whoever of you is obedient to Allah and His Messenger and works righteous deeds will be given a double reward.
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<br />When Islam came, women accepted Islam and made the emigration to Madinah, even though their fathers, husbands, and the rest of their male relatives remained disbelievers. Umm Habîbah, the daughter of Abû Sufyân, accepted Islam and emigrated in spite of the fact that her father was one of the leaders of the disbelievers. Even when her husband abandoned Islam, she remained steadfast in her belief.
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<br />Fâtimah, the daughter of al-Khattâb, became Muslim before her brother `Umar did and was the cause for him accepting Islam, because of her faith and because she stood up to him when he found out about her becoming a Muslim and wanted to abuse her.
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<br />Umm Kulthûm, the daughter of `Uqbah b. Abî Mu`ît, accepted Islam and emigrated in spite of the fact that every member of her family remained polytheists. There were many women who accepted Islam and were the reasons for their husbands accepting Islam.
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<br />Umm Sulaym – the wife of Abû Talhah al-Ansârî – and Umm Hakîm bint Huzâm – the wife of `Ikrimah b. Abî Jahl – were among these women.
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<br /><strong>Social and Economic Rights</strong>
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<br />Not only does Islam recognize her right to think and believe as she likes, it considers her to be an active member of society who can make a valuable contribution. Islam, therefore, secures for her many rights, including the right to an education, the right to own property and to use it at her own discretion, and the right to work.
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<br />1. The right to an education: In Islam, seeking knowledge is a religious duty upon every man and woman. This is because knowledge is integral to Islamic life. In the light of knowledge, a person’s eyes are opened. This person can then worship the Lord with proper insight and understanding.
<br /></div><div align="justify">Allah says:
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<br />Read in the name of your Lord who created. Who created the human being from a clot. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous. Who taught by the pen. Who taught the human being what he knew not.
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<br />Knowledge is a gift from Allah to every human being. Consequently, it is a right granted to all. No man or woman may be barred from it. The woman’s right to knowledge is exactly the same as a man’s. She must know the teachings of her religion and may acquire a deep understanding thereof. The verse mentioned above is addressed to all humanity, ordering them to read and to learn. It was the first verse of the Qur’ân to be revealed. It does not differentiate between men and women. This is what the woman enjoyed since the first days of Islam’s history.
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<br />Women used to compete with men in attaining knowledge at the mosque and at the houses of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him). Their strong desire for knowledge made the women ask the Messenger (peace be upon him) to set aside a special day for teaching them, above and beyond the general lessons that were open to women and men alike. Allah’s Messenger did, in fact, set aside a special day to remind them and to teach them.
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<br />Due to the care given by the women and the attention to knowledge given by Islam, many great scholars, jurists, writers, and poets appeared among the women during the era of the Companions and the Successors, and during every era of Islamic history.
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<br />2. The right to own and dispose of property: This is established by the Qur’ân in many of its verses.
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<br />Allah says:
<br /></div><div align="justify">- Men have a share of what they earn and women have a share of what they earn. - Men have a share of what their parents and relatives leave behind, and women have a share of what their parents and relatives leave behind, whether the estate be small or large – a legal share. - And give to the women their dowries with a good heart; but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take it and enjoy it without fear.
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<br />There is consensus among the scholars of Islam that all economic activities of a woman, like buying, selling, leasing, giving gifts, and giving collateral, are legally valid and that she has a completely independent economic existence.
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<br />3. The right to work: In Islam, a woman can practice any occupation that she chooses, as long as that occupation is lawfully permitted for men and women to engage in. There is no restriction placed upon her in this.
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<br />From the dawn of Islam, women engaged in many occupations such as commerce, agriculture, and manufacturing. A woman came to Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) and said to him: “I am a woman who engages in buying and selling.”
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<br />She then asked him for the legal rulings pertaining to some of the commercial transactions that she used to engage in. Another woman came to him complaining that one of the men forbade her from working on her farm. Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Go work your date palms; for perhaps you might give some charity or do acts of righteousness.”
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<br />4. The right to inheritance:
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<br />When Islam established inheritance for the woman, it was the first time in history that women were able to enjoy this right. The Qur’ân establishes for her this right in a number of its texts.
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<br />Allah says:
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<br />- Men have a share of what their parents and relatives leave behind, and women have a share of what their parents and relatives leave behind, whether the estate be small or large – a legal share.
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<br />- Allah commands you regarding your children’s (inheritance): to the male a portion equal to that of two females; if there are only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is half.
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<br />For parents, a sixth share for each if the deceased left children. If there are no children and they are the only heirs, the mother has a third…
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<br />- You have half of what your wives leave if they have no children, but if they leave a child, then you receive a fourth of that which they leave after payment of legacies that they may have bequeathed or debts.
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<br />They have a fourth of what you leave behind if you leave no child, but if you leave a child, they receive an eighth of that which you leave after payment of legacies that you may have bequeathed or debts.
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<br />If the man or woman whose inheritance is in question has left no other heirs, but has left a brother or a sister, each one (if no more than two) gets a sixth, but if they are more than two, they share in a third.
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<br />- If a man dies leaving a sister but no child, she shall have half the inheritance. If the deceased is a woman who left no child, then her brother inherits from her. If they are two sisters, they shall have two-thirds of the inheritance…
<br /></div><div align="justify">5. The right to marry: Islam establishes for the woman the right to have a choice as to whom she will share her life with.
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<br />Allah says:
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<br />- And do not prevent them from marrying their (former) husbands if they mutually agree on a reasonable basis.
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<br />- When have fulfilled their term (of waiting after the death of their husbands), there is no sin on you if they if they dispose of themselves in a reasonable manner.
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<br />Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
<br /></div><div align="justify">“A previously married woman has more rights over herself, and a virgin must have her permission sought.”
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<br />There are cases where Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) annulled the marriages of women who were married against their will.
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<br /><strong>Political Rights</strong>
<br /></div><div align="justify">In spite of the newness of this terminology, we find, if we review the Islamic texts and look back on the experience of the early Muslim societies, that Islam has established for the woman rights that can be labeled political rights.
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<br />Among these are the following:
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<br />1. The right to give consultation: There are many verses in the Qur’ân that establish the principle that Muslim affairs, in general, are to be based on mutual consultation. It is the business of the Muslims to exchange opinions and consult each other on these matters.
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<br />Allah says:
<br /></div><div align="justify">- And consult them in the affairs. - And their affairs are by mutual consultation.
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<br />These general texts pertain equally to both men and women. We find that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) would consult his wives on issues of general import. For example, he consulted with Umm Salamah on the occasion where he had ordered his Companions to shave their heads and come out of their pilgrim state at Hudaybiyah.
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<br />They did not do so, because they hated turning away from Mecca without making pilgrimage to it. She advised him to shave his own head and sacrifice, so he did so and all the others hurried to follow suit. He then praised her and commended her for her keen intellect. We find that the group of people led by `Abd al-Rahman b. `Awf who were active in selecting `Uthmân as Caliph was comprised of both men and women, whereby “they came to the ladies in their private rooms to seek their consultation with regards to selecting `Uthmân.” This is what we find in the historical source works. It indicates to us that even those women who remained concealed in their dwellings were consulted on the matter.
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<br />2. Emigration and giving allegiance: Muslim women emigrated to Abyssinia and to Madinah.
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<br />This emigration was equivalent to what we refer to today as seeking political asylum. This was a time when the Muslims were being oppressed in Mecca and were forbidden from expressing their views and calling to their faith.
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<br />They emigrated, seeking a place where they would be afforded the opportunity to practice their rites and express their beliefs. The first place the Muslims chose to go to was Abyssinia, because at that time it was ruled by a king who never oppressed anyone in his domain. Muslim women emigrated during this time, sometimes unaccompanied, like Umm Kulthûm bint `Uqbah b. Abî Mu`ît and Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with them both) did during the women’s emigration.
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<br />This is mentioned in the Qur’ân:
<br /></div><div align="justify">O you who believe, if believing women come to you as emigrants, test them.
<br />As for the oath of allegiance, it is a political and religious pact between the Muslims and Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) that is an expression of their faith in the Messenger and their political affiliation with his cause. The following verse talks about the oath of allegiance given by women:
<br /></div><div align="justify">O Prophet, if believing women come to you to give you their pledge that they will not associate anything in worship with Allah, nor steal, nor commit fornication, nor kill their children, nor commit slander, nor forge falsehood (to make illegitimate children belong to their husbands), nor disobey you in goodness, then accept their pledge and ask Allah to forgive them. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
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<br />This list includes a clause of political significance: “nor disobey you in goodness...”
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<br />3. Enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong: The Qur’ân has established the role of the believing women in enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong.
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<br />Allah says:
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<br />The believers, men and women, are protectors of one another; they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.
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<br />This duty, just as it includes the responsibility to rectify social ills, also has political dimensions that manifest themselves in giving advice and admonition to those holding political power.
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<br />As for military combat, Islam has not made it obligatory upon the woman, but it is permissible for her to participate in the war effort, usually as a noncombatant with duties like getting water to the fighters and tending to the wounded.
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<br />In spite of this, in some battles, women saw combat. Umm Sulaym al-Ansâriyyah defended Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) during the battle of Uhud and was wounded about ten times. </div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-78733940914759368662008-09-12T05:28:00.000-07:002008-09-14T11:42:56.606-07:00A Guide for Muslimah<div align="justify"><strong>A must for every muslimah....</strong></div><div align="justify"><strong>1. Covering ALL Of The Body </strong></div><strong><div align="justify"><br /></strong>It is an agreed position by many respected scholars that the face and hands of the woman must be covered. Some scholars say it is permissible to uncover the face and the hands of the woman as long as there is no fitna (infatuation) caused by this action. Two things must be taken into consideration</div><div align="justify"><br />a) if she is beautiful and beautifies her face and hands with external substances, or<br />b) the society around her is corrupt where men do not lower their gaze, then it is prohibited for her to uncover her face and hands. </div><div align="justify"><br />On the authority of the wife of the prophet (pbuh), Umm Salama (RA) said:</div><div align="justify"><br />"When the verse was revealed that they should cast their outer garments over their bodies' was revealed, the women of Ansar came out as if they had crows over their heads by wearing outer garments. </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>2.The hijab must not be a display</strong> </div><div align="justify"><br />The hijab itself must not be a display. Allah ordained it so as to cover the beauty of women and not for showing off. Allah (swt) says `And not show of their adornment except only that which is apparent.' (S24:31). </div><div align="justify"><br />AND `And stay in your houses and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance.' (S33:33). </div><div align="justify"><br />It is in no way logical that the hijab itself be a source of display. </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>3. The hijab must not be transparent</strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The purpose of wearing hijab must be achieved. In order for the hijab to be a cover, it must not be made of transparent material making the woman covered only by name, while in reality she is naked. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The prophet (pbuh) is quoted as saying: </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">"In the latest part of my Ummah (nation of Muslims) there shall be women who would be naked in spite of being dressed, they have their hair high like the humps of the Bukht camel, curse them, for they are cursed. They will not enter Al-Jannah and would not even perceive its odour, although it's fragrance can be perceived from a distance of 500 years travelling by camel" This indicates that a woman could cause herself a grave and destructive sin if she puts on a garment that is thin and transparent and which clearly shapes her body's features. </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>4.Hijab must be roomy, and not tight.</strong> </div><div align="justify"><br />The hijab is a safeguard against fitna. If it is tight, it will be descriptive of the woman's body and this violates and defeats the whole purpose of hijab. </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>5.The hijab must not be perfumed</strong> </div><div align="justify"><br />On the authority of Ad'Diya Al-Maqdisi, the prophet (pbuh) said:<br />"Any woman who perfumes herself and passes by some people that they smell her scent, then she is a Zaniyah (adulteress)." </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>6. The hijab shouldn't resemble the dress of a man</strong> </div><div align="justify"><br />Imam Ahmed, an-Nissa'ee reported the prophet (pbuh) to have said: "Women who assume the manners of men are not from us and also those of men who assume the manners of women." Abu Huraira narrated that: "The Prophet (pbuh) CURSED the man who wears the dress of a woman and the woman who wears the dress of a man." </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>7.The hijab must not resemble the garments of the kuffar</strong> </div><div align="justify"><br />Abu Dawoud and Ahmed have related the prophet (pbuh) said: "The one who take the similitude (manner) of a certain people, then he/she becomes one of them."<br />Abdullah bin Ummar (RA) said: "The Prophet (pbuh) saw me wearing two garments dyed in saffron (orange), whereupon he said: these are the clothes (usually worn) by the kuffar, so do not wear them." </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>8.The hijab should not be for fame</strong> </div><div align="justify"><br />Abu Dawoud and Ibn Majah have related the prophet to saying: "The one who wears a garment designed for a worldly fame, Allah will make them wear a garment of humility on the Day Of Resurrection then he will be set ablaze." The garment of fame is any garment a person wears to make themselves look famous. This applies whether the garment is highly precious and shows admiration to the life of this world or if it is chosen of a low quality to show lack of interest to this worldly life. The person may put on clothes with distinct colours so as to draw attention, act proudly and/or arrogantly. </div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>9.Concealed ways of display</strong></div><div align="justify"><br />Examining the various conditions about the hijab one can clearly recognise that many of the young Muslim women are not fulfilling these conditions. Many just take "half-way" measures, which not only mocks the community in which she lives, but also mocks the commands of Allah (swt). They consider what they put on now wrongly as "hijab" So, O muslimoon, be mindful to Allah (swt) and His Messenger (pbuh), and do not deceived by those who "bless" this action of yours and conceal their true intentions. Do not be deceived, and there is no excuse to follow the evil. </div><div align="justify"><br />If you are sincere in achieving Al-Jannah, then be mindful of these things, insha'allah<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Here are six beautiful gems for every Muslim to live by</strong> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>1. IMAAN , </strong>Every Muslim should strive for perfect Imaan. </div><div align="justify"><br />To have firm conviction that<br />· All success lies only in the hands of ALLAH alone<br />· The treasures of every thing is in the hands of ALLAH alone<br />· ALLAH is the creator and controller of all things and conditions </div><div align="justify"><br />ALLAH does every thing without the help of the entire creation, while the entire creation can do nothing without the help of ALLAH. </div><div align="justify"><br />The Kalima is the most excellent of all form of zikr. </div><div align="justify"><br />A person who recites the kalima 100x daily, his face will be shining like the 14th moon on the day of Qiamat .</div><div align="justify"><br />Frequent recitation renews the Imaan. It is the best of all good deeds. Continuous recitation leaves no sin unwashed. </div><div align="justify"><br />Nothing prevents this kalima from reaching ALLAH. </div><div align="justify"><br />Listen frequently to talks about the qualities of ALLAH .</div><div align="justify"><br />Speak (give da'wat) many times (at least 25x) </div><div align="justify"><br />So with the awareness that ALLAH is the creator and controller of every thing. </div><div align="justify"><br />Think & ponder of the attributes of ALLAH.</div><div align="justify"><br />Only in following the sunnah of Nabi (SAW) is there success, any other lifestyle leads to failure in this life and in the hereafter.</div><div align="justify"><br />To revive a sunnah in the time of Fitnah & corruption, the reward is equal to that of 100 shuhadaa (martyrs) .</div><div align="justify"><br />Give da'wah about the importance of sunnah.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Learn & practice daily sunnahs.<br /><br /><strong>2. SALAAH ,</strong> Salaah should be given preference over all matters.<br />Our life outside salaah should be on the pattern of salaah.<br />If our salaah is correct, then our whole lives will be corrected.<br />The key to Jannah is through salaat .<br />Salaat makes our daily rizq (sustenance) easy.<br />Give da'wat about the importance of salaah .<br />Invite towards salaah.<br />Perform long rakaats of nafl salaah.<br /><br /><br /><strong>3. ZIKR ,</strong> We should remember the Almighty with every breath we take<br />Zikr polishes the heart; brings peace of mind & removes difficulties in this world & uplifts the punishment in the grave<br />Learn & read mas noon dua's ...lstighfaar; Durood on Nabie (SAW) & Third kalima 100x daily (moming&evening ).<br /><br /><br /><strong>4. IKRAAM</strong> , A Muslim should always be ready to assist a fellow Muslim at all costs.<br />A person who helps a muslim in need , ALLAH grants 73 favours to such person.1 favour is sufficient to fulfill all his needs in this world & 72 is to raise his status in the hereafter.<br />Make salaam; respect elders & ulama; treat juniors with kindness; visit the sick; attend janaza's & nikah & give good advi ce.<br /><br /><br /><strong>5. IKHLAAS</strong>, Anything we do, we do for Allah alone<br />A person who gives a date only to please ALLAH, ALLAH will grant such person a mountain of reward, but if a person gives for name & fame, ALLAH will take them to task.<br />To make intention & check during & after deeds that it is solely for the pleasure of ALLAH<br /><br /><br /><strong>6. DAWAH ILLAL-LAAH</strong> , Always show those around you the beauty of our deen.<br />One morning or evening in the path of ALLAH is better than the whole world & whatever it contains. A little while in the path of ALLAH is more in reward than making Ibadat the whole night near the Hajeraswad on Laylatul Qadr. The smoke, let alone the fire of Jahannam is not allowed to touch that part of the body on which dust settles in the path of ALLAH<br /><br />To create in us the capacity to give our lives for the deen of ALLAH.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />PASS THIS MESSAGE ON. IF YOU DO NOT, NOTHING WILL BEFALL YOU...<br />BUT IF YOU DO... YOU MAY HAVE BROUGHT SOMEONE CLOSER TO HIS CREATOR.<br /><br />Ameen... </div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-29428679169143826832008-09-12T05:19:00.000-07:002008-09-14T11:52:32.558-07:00The Most important body part<div align="center">by:Anonymous</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body. Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct answer.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mummy." </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">She said, "No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon." </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I told her, "Mummy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes." </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind." </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge and over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No. But you are getting smarter every year, my child." </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Then last year, my grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">My Mum looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa. She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?" </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. She saw the confusion on my face and told me, "This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in your life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you were wrong and I have given you an example why. But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson." </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder." </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I asked, "Is it because it holds up my head?" </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">She replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it." </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is sympathetic to the pain of others. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><em>People will forget what you said... People will forget what you did.... But people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.</em></div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-17597341868396316062008-09-12T05:06:00.000-07:002008-09-12T05:18:45.044-07:00THE PEARL NECKLACE<div align="justify">Qazi Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Abdul Baqi Ansari is an illustrious personality of Islamic History. He was the most pious person of his time. Even after the lapse of nine centuries, his exemplary life is a source of guidance to Muslims. His biographers tell a number of tales of his honesty and reliability but the one that affected his whole life is full of strange and unique events. He has narrated this story in his own words and it adorns the pages of history books.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Qazi Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Abdul Baqi Ansari is an illustrious personality of Islamic History. He was the most pious person of his time. Even after the lapse of nine centuries, his exemplary life is a source of guidance to Muslims. His biographers tell a number of tales of his honesty and reliability but the one that affected his whole life is full of strange and unique events. He has narrated this story in his own words and it adorns the pages of history books.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">One day, I was hungry, as usual. I went to the Holy Ka'bah to pray to Almighty Allah to save me from my sad plight. On my way back, I saw a velvet cloth pouch lying near the road edge. I picked it up. It was nicely sewn and neatly tied with a silk cord. I looked around to find its owner but the road was deserted and nobody was in sight. I carried the pouch to my house.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I was curious to know the contents of the small bag. As I untied the cord, a very precious necklace of pearls slipped into my hand. The luster of the spotless pearls almost lit my room. The pearls of different sizes were nicely put together in a string of crimson colored silk. It was a radiant beauty and I was thrilled to hold the valuable ornament. For a moment, I altogether forgot the hungry and pitiable state in which I was. My thoughts went to the unfortunate owner who had lost the precious jewelry. He must be unhappy and very worried due to his great loss. The course of action which I instantly decided on was to look for the owner and give him back his necklace to relieve him of this mental suffering. It never came to my mind to keep it wrongfully in my possession. So I set out to search for him. Leaving the bag behind, I went straight to the place were it was found.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I was curious to know the contents of the small bag. As I untied the cord, a very precious necklace of pearls slipped into my hand. The luster of the spotless pearls almost lit my room. The pearls of different sizes were nicely put together in a string of crimson colored silk. It was a radiant beauty and I was thrilled to hold the valuable ornament. For a moment, I altogether forgot the hungry and pitiable state in which I was. My thoughts went to the unfortunate owner who had lost the precious jewelry. He must be unhappy and very worried due to his great loss. The course of action which I instantly decided on was to look for the owner and give him back his necklace to relieve him of this mental suffering. It never came to my mind to keep it wrongfully in my possession. So I set out to search for him. Leaving the bag behind, I went straight to the place were it was found.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I listened to his account of the loss very carefully. When I was sure of his ownership, I held his hand gently and requested him to come along with me. He looked at me very hopefully and without asking any questions, he followed me. On the way back to my house, I was delightfully thinking that a handsome amount of five hundred dinars would be mind after a short while. The very thought of getting a reward of that much money was very pleasing. I was wondering whether my miseries would be over. I would no longer be a hungry or poor person. With such happy ideas in my mind, I entered my house and also invited the old man to come in. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">When we sat down, I asked my perplexed guest about some marks of identification of his lost bad, so that his ownership could be established beyond doubt. He readily explained the shape and color of the pouch. He told me about its contents and gave an exact count of the pearls. He even described the tying cord. It convincingly proved that he was the rightful owner of the bad and the necklace of pearls. I silently rose and brought out the necklace pouch. As he saw it, his gloomy expression at once changed. His shining eyes beamed with joy and he looked at me with sincere gratefulness. His pleasant glance of thanks impressed me, and my own mode of thinking suddenly changed.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">A little earlier, I was enjoying the idea of getting a good reward but now my mind was reasoning as to what I had actually done to deserve it. It was by sheer chance that the bag had came into my possession. I had exerted no efforts to obtain it. Therefore, why did I expect to get a reward for returning it to its rightful owner? But I was actually in dire need of money. My poverty and the grim realities of life were looking me in the face. Why shouldn’t I accept the reward? It was absolutely legitimate and surely there was no harm in taking it. A painful conflict of indecision was going on within me and I was in an uneasy state of double mindedness. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The noble old man was looking at the necklace again and again as to assure himself of its recovery. He then looked at me and said, "O dear me, you are a virtuous person and I thank you from the core of my heart. I am unable to express fully my feelings o fgratittude for your act of praiseworthy conduct. Nevertheless, I offer you a purse of five hundred dinars as a humble present and request you to kindly accept it."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">He then placed in front of me a purse full of gold coins. A conflicting struggle of ideas was still going on in my mind. The sight of money which was within my easy reach was very tempting but I checked myself and said, "Sir, I thank you for offering me a substantial amount as a reward but it is impossible for me to accept it."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">"Why not?" asked my noble guest, "You justly deserve the reward because I am giving it entirely of my own free will. I gladly give it to you as a humble token of my gratitude. Please do not dishearten me by refusing it." I replied, "Sir, I cannot even think of being rude to decline your kind offer, but iti is certainly improper for me to take it without doing anything to earn it. The necklace is yours and I happened to find it only by chance. Its restoration to you does not entitle me to take anything in return. Please do not insist on me to accept what is not morally due to me."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">He was rather surprised by my firm refusal. Normally people yearn for money but I was adamantly declining it. He said, "My son! It is a virtue to be an honest person but the money is which is being offered to you is not disallowed by our faith. It is not prohibited to offer or accept such presents. Therefore, I request you to reconsider your unrealistic stand and keep that purse for the sake of my pleasure if not for anything else."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I said, "Sir, I do not at all intend to displease you, but the pleasure of Almighty Allah is more important to be reckoned with than your or my pleasure. If there is any good in my action, I will prefer to leave the matter to His Grace for compensation, which I do not wan tot risk for all the riches of this world. Kindly do not insist because I am determined not to accept any undue reward." My guest collected his pouch and purse and stood much dejectedly to leave. He patted me on the back and left without a word.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">After a week or so, I got back my previous job. My days of deprivation and hunger were over. I rejoined my classes and forgot all about the incident I my busy schedule of daily routine. I exerted all of my energy to acquire knowledge of the Holy Qur'an and Hadith. My main subject of interest was Islamic Jurisprudence. I completed my studies with a distinction.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">On the recommendation of my tutor, I was offered an appointment as Qazi of Qurtaba, (Cordova) the capital city of Haspaniyah (presently known as Spain). I readily accepted the post and started to prepare myself very happily for the long journey. I took leave of my colleagues and went to the port of Jeddah to embark on the ship for my destination. I boarded a merchant ship to carry me to the land of my future hopes. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">For the first few days, the voyage was smooth and very enjoyable. Then suddenly a violent storm of severe intensity overtook us and the ship was engulfed by stormy waves. The mountain high waves tossed the ship around like a tiny toy. The masts were broken and the sails torn. A mighty wave crushed the ship and wrecked it completely. A few screams were heard and it was all over. I saw some floating boards and a few victims of the crash swimming around trying to save their lives. They were the only survivors of the hapless ship who were drifting over the ocean surface. When I recovered from the shock, I found myself clinging to a plan and moving with it at the mercy of the waves.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">After drifting for two days, in a semi-conscious state, the waves tossed me upon the shore. I thanked Almighty Allah for saving me from the jaws of death. I was so weak that I couldn’t move. I helplessly lay there exposed to the scorching heat of the burning rays of the sun. I crawled to the dim shadows of a thorny bush. I lost track of time and was in a state between dizziness and heavy slumber.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">After some time, I slightly opened my eyes and saw a few strange faces staring at me. They poured a few drops of water into my mouth and I came out of my oblivion but was still unable to speak. They made up a stretcher and carried me to a nearby town. When we approached near it, the first man-made thing which caught my eye was a towering minaret of a Masjid. I thanked Allah for being among my own brethren of faith.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">They took me to a house belonging to one of them and laid me on a comfortable bed. With proper care, feeding, and treatment, I soon regained my lost energy. I told my kind host all about myself and the mishap of the ship wreck. My host, whose name was Faleh Hasan, informed me that I was in Hodeida, a coastal town of Yemen. The tract where I was luckily found was a desolate region and was a less treaded part of the coast. Faleh Hasan and his friends noticed a few vultures circling over the area, so they went to investigate and found me there in an unconscious state. He introduced me to his friends and I expressed my heartful thanks for saving my life. Due to their loving concern, I was soon normal, both mentally and physically. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I began to attend Masjid to offer my regular prayers and there I came to know many persons of nobility and of high-ranking positions. They all knew my unhappy episode through my host and treated me with understanding and respect. One of them was the aged and pious Sheikh Ahmad bin Suhail who usually led the prayers. He always greeted me with fatherly affection which touched me to the heart.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">One day, he was a little late to arrive to the Masjid, so the people requested me to lead the prayers. My hesitation and excuses proved to be useless before their sincere appeals. That day I performed the duties of Imam. I did my best to recite clearly the Verses of the Holy Qur'an during the prayer and afterwards delivered a brief sermon on Islamic Law. Everyone seemed to be highly impressed. Sheikh Ahmad bin Suhail came forward and congratulated me on my excellent performance. I thanked him for his appreciation and encouragement. I came back to the house of my host filled with delight and self-confidence.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">But later, I had sometimes thought that I had overstayed my welcome. So after the evening prayers, I stated my intention of leaving, but my host disagreed with me. He wanted me to stay for a few more days to recoup my health fully. At night, when I was going to bed, Sheikh Ahmad bin Suhail came with a few respectable people of the town. The friends of Faleh Hasan, who were my saviors, were also with them. When the preliminary formalities of greeting each other were over and all were comfortably seated, Sheikh Ahmad turned his eyes towards me and said, "Dear Abu Bakr, I have been honored by these gentlemen to speak to you, on behalf of them, about their commendable wish. I expect, you will please assent to it."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I was perplexed by that kind of address. So I said nervously, "Sir, you are very helpful and kind to me. I cannot disregard any of your commands or wishes. You can order me to do anything and it will be an honor for me to obey it."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">He said, "Dear son, we all earnestly desire you to stay here with us forever. The regular Imam of our Masjid had died last year. We still mourn his death and perhaps will do so forever. His respect is deeply rooted in our hearts. He had enlightened our lives with the torch of knowledge. We wish you to take his place and consent to be our Imam. We may not be able to offer you a better paid position than that of the Qazi in Qurtaba, but we will surely give you our love, affection, and respect."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">"But Sir," I protested, "I am a fresh, inexperienced student and feel small to carry out the sacred duties of the high office of Imam." The Sheikh said, "My son, do not underestimate yourself. We all have heard your recitiation and sermon, and are fully convinced of your ability to fulfill those responsibilities."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Before I could think of any evasive answer, my host, Faleh Hasan, and his friends vehemently backed up the proposal. I was left with no other alternative but to nod in affirmative. Everybody was pleased with my decision, especially Sheikh Ahmad who thanked me and kissed my forehead. They all rose to leave and thanking me individually, departed very happy.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">They left me thinking how the secret hands of fate change the course of destiny in a secret manner. Circumstances secretly take such a turn that they altogether change the plans made up by man. I had cherished the hope of being a Qazi of Qurtaba and had taken steps to attain that goal, but preordained events made me an Imam of the Masjid in Hodeida.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">So a new phase in my life began. I took charge of the imposed position and shifted to the assigned house of the Imam. I restarted the primary school that had closed due to the sad demise of the former Imam. I also commenced evening classes to impart lessons to explain the meaning of the Holy Qur'an. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I completely adjusted myself to the new environment and people generally accepted me as their religious leader. I was very contented and never for a moment regretted my decision to settle there. All the people, young and old alike, were happy and respected me. The feelings of any estrangement all faded away and I became as if I was one of them for ages.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">One day, Sheikh Ahmad came to me and after enquiring about my welfare, said, "Dear Abu Bakr, your services to or townsmen are praiseworthy and beyond our expectations. I am glad that you had accepted our offer of staying with us. Now have come to you to ask one more favor."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I said, "Sir, I am at your service. Please tell me and I will comply with your order."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">He said, "Dear son, a man is not perfect without his partner of life. I want you to marry and take full advantage of life. Marriage is also a sacred Sunna of our Holy Prophet. The sweet marital responsibilities are a real blessing which have been conferred onto man."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I replied, "Sir, you have always advised me in my best interest. I take you as a father to me and in this matter also, I will follow you counsel."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The Sheikh said, "Your predecessor, the late Imam of this Masjid was a very close friend of mine. He had a daughter, and when he was sure of his end, he entrusted her to my protection and care. Since then she has been under my guardianship. She is a lovely and adorable girl of good manners. Allah has endowed her with physical and mental beauty. She is virtuous and is a suitable match for you. I wish to give her in marriage to you and I feel sure that it will be a marriage of true minds."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I had no objection to the proposal whatsoever. A few days later, the bonds of marriage united us. After the festive ceremonies were over, Sheikh Ahmad escorted her to my house that was in fact her old abode where she had lived with her late father. I looked at her and my gaze was concentrated steadily on her. I forgot to even say welcome to her. I was not only looking at her beautiful and charming face, and at her downcast eyes; but my glance was riveted upon her pretty neck, which was ornamented by precious pearls. I at once recognized that necklace. It was the same necklace that I once found on a deserted road of Makkah. I looked at her in silent and open-mouthed wonder.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Sheikh Ahmad noticed my confused condition and thought that her beauty and the luster of the pearls had enchanted me. He politely said, "Dear Abu Bakr, that necklace and its wearer, both are yours now and you can take all your time to behold them. It may, perhaps, interest you to know that the necklace has a strange story of its own. Five years ago, my friend went to Makkah for pilgrimage and took that necklace with him to get it re-polished. There, he lost it. But due to the goodness of an honest young man, he recovered it intact. That commendable young man refused to sell his honesty and declined the pressing offer of a handsome reward. He left a lasting impression upon my friend who always remembered and talked about him. He once confided to me that he had a mind to go to Makkah again and ask that virtuous young man to accept the hand of his daughter, but time did not allow him to do so. Anyhow, it was destined differently. His daughter was to become your wife instead of his. The decreed decisions of fate are strange and beyond the understanding of man."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">An emotional storm erupted within me. The strange happenings of the fateful events which were unfolded by the hidden hands of destiny agitated me and drops of tears rolled down my cheeks; I looked towards Sheikh Ahmad through misty eyes and said, "Dear Sir, you are very right to say that insight into the unknown mysteries of fate is not possible. It would perhaps be a pleasant surprise to know that I am the same person who found the necklace and restored it to your friend. He, in return, offered me an amount of five hundred dinars. Although I was a pauper and was suffering from the agonies of hunger in those days, my conscience did not allow me to accept anything that was not my due. I pinned all my hopes and expectations of Almighty Allah for any reward. And here I am with His gracious and greatest reward of all."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Sheikh Ahmad was amazed and without saying a word, he held my hand and shook it was a passion. My newly wedded wife lifted her eyes and looked me full in the face. Her eyes were filled with enthusiastic love that any husband ever could desire for. Almighty Allah had bestowed upon me His favors by giving me a considerate and loving wife and nothing in life surpasses that bliss."</div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-29096431311601960212008-09-12T02:11:00.000-07:002008-09-12T03:59:27.114-07:00A Story about the tongue<div align="justify">I think one of the most detrimental parts of man, which keeps him separated from Allah, is gossip and his tongue and words that are misused. This tongue that we use to pronounce the Name of Allah and then to say to somebody, 'you are stupid' or 'I hate you,' is absurd.<br /><br />Sheikh Muzaffer used to tell the story about a sheikh who had a beautiful daughter. This daughter was coming to the age of marriage, and she had many suitors. She was so beautiful that handsome princes and rich men of position all wanted to win her hand in marriage. Finally the sheikh said, 'I'll ask three questions and give you three tasks. After you have completed these tasks, you will come back here. And the one who can succeed in all of them will be worthy of having my daughter's hand in marriage.'<br /><br />The next day they all returned. Some brought honey, others the sweetest smelling flowers, or just anything that had the sweetest taste or aroma, anything sweet you could dream of that was on the planet, they brought. At the end of this long line was a poor, meek student of the sheikh. The sheikh finally said to him, 'What is it? Why are you here?' He said, 'Well, your daughter is very beautiful, and I am in love with her. And I would like also to attempt to answer these questions so that I may win her hand in marriage.' The sheikh said, 'Well, all right.' He could not stop what he had started. The student was holding a box. 'What's in that box?' asked the sheikh. He opened the box. Inside was the huge tongue of an ox. The sheikh stepped back and said, 'Is this some kind of a joke or a game you're playing with me, son? I asked for the sweetest thing in the world, and you bring me this tongue!' The student said, 'But, my sheikh, humbly I tell you that the tongue is the sweetest thing in the world, because the words that come from this tongue, if they are sweet words, they can make a sick person well. They can make an unhappy person happy. They can make someone who is sad and despondent feel that his life is worth living, and have joy. Surely, the tongue is the sweetest of all things.' The sheikh said, 'All right, you win this one.'<br /><br />Then, addressing the others, he said, 'The next thing you are to bring me is the most bitter thing in the world.' The next day, the suitors all came and lined up. They brought bitter herbs and all kinds of bitter-tasting foods, plants, and whatever it was that tasted really bitter and terrible. And there was Mehmet the student at the end of the line holding a box. The sheikh said, 'What is it now? What do you have to show us this time?' Mehmet opened the box, and there was the same tongue. Astonished, the sheikh said, 'Surely you're playing a joke on us again. Yesterday you said that this was the sweetest of all things. Today you say it is the most bitter.' 'My sheikh,' Mehmet offered humbly and quietly, 'if the tongue says bitter words, it can make a happy person sad. If the tongue says bitter things to someone, it can hurt his very heart. This tongue is so bitter it can even break a heart.' The sheikh reluctantly said, 'All right, Mehmet, alright.' He paused and then said, 'And now, you come with me to the masjid.'<br /><br />They went into the kitchen in the rear, and the sheikh said, 'Make me a coffee.' There was a metal container with tripod metal legs that stood on the floor. In it you placed coals from thewood that was burning in the stove. It was very hot and you could make coffee. The sheikh said, 'Make me a coffee here.' Mehmet took some hot coals from the wood stove, and placed them in the container, and began to put coffee and sugar and water in the coffee pot. he moved the coffee pot back and forth over the hot coals, and soon the water began to boil. As it was bubbling the sheikh said, 'Now, Mehmet, tell me, what sound is this water making? What is it saying?' Mehmet was at a loss. He really didn't know. He said, 'I'm not sure.' The sheikh said, 'Think about it, come back tomorrow, and tell me the meaning of the sound the water is making. And if you tell me this secret, you can have my daughter in marriage.'<br /><br />The student returned to his room upset, because he thought for sure there was no way he was going to know what this boiling water was saying as it bubbled in the coffee pot. It seems that a friend of the daughter of the sheikh was cleaning up in the kitchen of the masjid and had overheard this conversation. She went to the sheikh's daughter and told her what had happened, word for word. That night, when the sheikh returned to his quarters and sat in his chair, his daughter asked, 'Dear Father, would you like a coffee before you go to bed?' He said, 'That's very nice of you. Thank you.'<br /><br />And so he began to make a coffee, and as she moved the pot back and forth over the hot coals, the water started to bubble. She glanced at her father casually and aasked, 'Oh, Father, tell me- it's an interesting sound this water makes when it's bubbling and making your coffee.' She went on, 'What can that mean? What does that sound say?' He thought for a second and said, 'All right,' and he explained; 'The water is saying that I was a drop in a cloud. There was condensation and the cloud opened, and I came down to the earth as a drop of rain. As this drop of rain I landed on a seed. That seed grew into a tree. A woodsman came, and he cut part of that tree, and chopped it up for firewood. And then this firewood was placed in the stove, and the hot coals were taken and put into this container, and then this coffee was made, and so the water was saying - 'What is burning me is from me.'<br /><br />The daughter didn't show any emotion. She said good night to her father, went directly to her room, and wrote down everything he had said, sealed it in an envelope, and gave it to a friend to deliver to the student Mehmet. Because, as he was in love with her, she was in love with him. He received the letter, opened it, and was amazed to see that the sheikh's daughter herself had sent a note with the answer to the sheikh's question.<br /><br />The next day, he went to the masjid as he had been instructed to do the day before. The sheikh greeted him, 'As-salaam aleykum. Make me a coffee.' His student answered, 'Wa-aleykum as-salaam, my sheikh,'and began to prepare the coffee. He moved the pot over the hot coals. The sheikh looked at him and said,'Mehmet, can you answer the question, what is this bubbling water saying?' Mehmet reflected within himself very deeply, as if he was thinking hard, then he said, 'Ah, my sheikh, Bismillah, my sheikh, this water is saying...' and he repeated exactly what was in the letter, exactly what the sheikh had said the night before. In conclusion, Mehmet added, 'And the water is saying, what is burning me is from me.' The sheikh's face turned red. He looked at him and said, 'Ah Mehmet, and what is burning me is from me.'<br /><br />One should watch one's tongue. Especially in daily life. Because the tongue can truly be the sweetest or the most bitter thing in the world. How often have we had the experience of feeling fine, and then we look at somebody and say, 'You are beautiful today,' or 'How kind it was of you to do that for that person,' or 'My heart really goes out to you.' Observe how that person is affected.<br /><br />We've also had the experience of being grumpy, and we just look at someone and say, 'Look, get out of here,' or 'I dislike you,' and we know the effect that has without even taking it to a point of gossip. Within gossip, the soul of the speaker as well as that of the listener can be lost.<br /><br />The tongue is tied to the heart. It is said that a man's character is hidden beneath his tongue, because the tongue says what is in the heart. So when we speak, we're expressing what is in our hearts. And though Allah says He cannot fit in the entire universe but can fit into the heart of a believer, He doesn't say that He will fit in that heart if it's cluttered with bad thoughts, deeds, and questions. Such a heart must first be clean.</div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-9343149372079410062008-09-11T12:44:00.000-07:002008-09-12T04:00:06.453-07:00Bad Company<div align="justify">by: Anonymous</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Have you ever thought about the people you hang around i.e. your friends (your homees!). Who are they? You may well ask why should I question the people who I associate with! Well the answer is really quite simple. Your friends play an important part of your life. They can influence you, make you do things that you'd probably never have dreamt of doing before, and they can affect your lifestyle too. There is a well known proverb which goes "show me your friends and I will tell you what you are".</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Who are your friends? Are they druggies, clubbers, drinkers and drunkards, fornicators, adulterers, gamblers etc? What ambitions do they have in life? Where are they heading? The answer may be "So what? I don’t really care who they are as long as we have a good time."</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>Getting to the Point</strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Your friends are your friends for a reason, whether this be because of your money, who you are (your status), because they are alone or they see you as someone who knows how to enjoy himself, or perhaps they want a ‘joke and some coke’.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">"You are in your friends' religion. Therefore you should note with whom you are making friends".</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">As Muslims our aim in life is different from the rest, we want to get into paradise and to guard ourselves from Hell. We are here to worship and obey Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala). Allah Ta'ala has placed upon us an honourable duty, which is to be the leaders of the world by spreading the message of Islam.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) says in the Qur'an:"You are the best community evolved for mankind, you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and you believe in Allah."[surah ali' Imran; 3:109].</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Our friends and company could either be an obstacle in our way by being helpers in our downfall to Hell, or they could be a source of help and support by making it easier for us to reach Paradise, which is the true life, the eternal life and a life full of enjoyment.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Allah says in the Qur'an:"On the day when the wrongdoer gnaws his hands, he will say; Ah! would that I had chosen the straight way with the messenger of Allah! Alas for me! Would that I had never taken such one for a friend! He verily led me astray from the reminder after it had reached me. Satan was ever the deserter of man." [surah Furqan; 27-29].</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>Choosing Your Friends</strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">If your aim was to be an athlete, a sports personality, then you would try to be with people who also want to become athletes or those who are already athletes. You would learn from them, train with them, go to the sport centre and even hang around with them, in fact you would try to do all that you can to achieve your goal.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Similarly as Muslims our goal is Paradise and not Hell. Therefore it only seems logical that we should try to arrange our life and activities to be around those who also share the same goal and at the same time stay away from those who have chosen another way, those who are forgetful, wicked and commit sins. A true friend shows you success in this world and the hereafter whereas a misguided friend is trickery and cunning.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) has given us some advice when choosing friends: </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was asked: "Who is the person that can be the best friend"! He replied: "He who helps you when you remember God and reminds you when you forget him". He was then asked: "and which friend is the worst?" To which he replied: "He who does not help you when you remember God and does not remind you when you forget Him".</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">How many of your friends remind you to pray when you’re busy with work or just playing? How many of your friends make you forget Allah and take you away from Him by keeping you occupied with something or asking you to indulge in a sinful act: "let’s go and checkout the club bro! ... let’s take some weed". These friends are not your real friends; they will desert you when you are in need.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) says:"Friends on that day will be enemies to each other except those who kept their duty (to Allah). O my slaves! For you there is no fear this day nor shall you grieve" [surah Zukhruf:67-68].</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Friends are those who love you not for who you are or what you have but purely for Allah. Those who are with you in times of happiness and also in sadness. They help you in preference to themselves.Umar ibn Al-Khattab (radiAllahu anhu) states that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: "There will be some slaves of Allah who will be neither from the prophets or martyrs but on account of their high position before Allah the prophets and martyrs will envy them. The people asked who will these be? The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) replied those persons who loved each other for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala even though there was no blood relation, they give their wealth to one another. By God, from their faces light will shine and they will be riding the light. When the people will be shuddering with fear, they will have no fear and when the people will be sad they will have no sorrow."[Abu Dawud] </div>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1802202860023387444.post-76512513413642821152008-09-10T13:56:00.000-07:002008-09-15T03:47:12.706-07:00Ang Kababaihan sa Ramadan<p align="justify"><strong>Ang Kababaihan sa Pagsamba</strong><br /><br />Kapatid na Muslimah! Paano mag-iipon ng kabutihan sa buwan na ito?<br />Mayroong mga paraan na para sa iyo na may maraming kabutihan sa buwan na ito, at<br />wala kang ibang gagawin kundi gawin ang mga ito kasama ang iyong pamilya at mga<br />minamahal.<br /><br />Ang ilan sa mga dapat mong gawin ay:<br />1. Ang mga obligadong salah: marapat sa kanya na magkaroon sa Ramadhan ng<br />ibang pinagkakaabalahan, kaya dito ay dapat maging bantay sa pagpapatupad ng<br />mga bagay na sumusunod:<br /><br />· Ang paghahanda sa salah bago pa ang oras nito sa pamamagitan ng Tahara at<br />paghahanda ng lugar na pagsasagawaan ng salah (sajadah).<br />· Ang pagtupad sa mga Sunnah (na salah) upang taglayin ang mga dakilang<br />palasyo sa Paraiso.<br />· Paggamit ng siwak bago magsagawa ng salah.<br />· Ang pagtayo ng salah at pagtupad sa tayo, pagyuko at pagtirapa nito ng<br />kumpleto.<br />· Pagsasambit ng mga pag-aalala kay Allah at panalangin pagkatapos ng salah.<br />· Ang pag-upo ng saglit sa sajadah upang magbasa ng Qur'an o pagluwalhati at<br />pagpuri kay Allah.<br />· Ang paghintay sa salah sa bawat salah, at siya ay laging nasa lugar ng dasalan<br />niya kaya't siya ay laging bantay, tulad ng sabi ng Propeta (saws): Tunay na ang<br />pagtawag sa babae ay lagian sapagkat siya ay nagsasagawa ng salah na para<br />bang ito na ang kaniyang huling salah.<br />· Kung aalalahanin ang dakilang gantimpala sa pag-upo sa dasalan at pagbasa<br />ng mga bahagi sa Qur'an at mga pag-alala kay Allah, na hindi tumatayo<br />hanggang sa ito ay matapos. Tulad ng sabi ng Propeta (saws): Sinuman ang umupo<br />sa kaniyang dasalan at inaalala si Allah at humihingi ng tawad, ang mga anghel<br />ay humihingi ng tawad para sa kaniya, hangga't hindi lumabas o nakipag-usap.<br /><br />2. Magkamit ng gantimpala at magkaroon ng busilak na intensiyon sa pagsasagawa ng<br />Iftar, sapagkat tunay na sinuman ang magpakain ng Iftar sa nag-aayuno ay tulad sa<br />kaniya (nagpakain) ang gantimpala nito (nag-ayuno).<br /><br />3. Magparami ka ng pag-alala kay Allah habang ginagawa mo ang mga gawaing<br />bahay, at sanayin mo ang iyong dila sa pag-alala kay Allah (mga dhikr).<br /><br />4. Ang ilang kababaihan kapag dinatnan ng kanilang buwanang dalaw o pagdudugo<br />sa bagong panganak ay iniiwan ang mabubuting gawa, na ipinagbabawal niya sa<br />kaniyang sarili ang pagkamit ng mga kabutihan sa buwang ito. Tunay na mayroong<br />ibang mga pagsamba na malayang huwag isara sa mga pagkakataong ito; tulad ng<br />pagbabasa ng Qur'an nang hindi humahawak ng Mushaf bagkos hawakan ito ng<br />may takip, ang pagbabasa ng mga aklat na nakakatulong at mga babasahing may<br />katuturan, at ang pananalangin (du'ah), ang pagbigkas ng Tasbih, paghingi ng<br />tawad at pagkakawanggawa at panalangin ng pagpapala at pagbati sa Propeta<br />(saws) at pagpapakain sa mga nag-aayuno, at walang alinlangan na ito ay mula sa<br />mga gawaing may malaking kabutihan, tulad ng sa hadith ng Propeta (saws): Ang<br />mga muftirun47 ngayon ay nagkaroon ng gantimpala. Mayroong mahalagang<br />mungkahi: Ito ay hinggil sa pag-aayos at pagsasagawa ng pagkain at pangangalaga<br />ng bahay sa pagitan ng mga kababaihan sa iisang bahay upang ang silang<br />mayroong mga dahilan upang hindi maisagawa ang Salah sa mga panahong ito sila<br />ang gagawa ng pagkain para sa Iftar at ng mga iba pang gawain sa mga araw na<br />ito sa buwang ito at mga gabi nito. At binabalita sa iyo ang gantimpala tulad ng<br />gantinpala ng mga mga pinagsilbihan, kung ikaw ay malusog at malakas ay gawin<br />ang mga gawaing ito.<br /><br />5. Ang pagninilay-nilay sa Qur'an ay pag-unawa sa kahulugan nito at mayroong mga<br />hayag ang kahulugan na hindi magigingmahirap para sa kanila, ang iba ay tinatapos<br />ang pagbasa ng Qur'an ng apat ng ulit sa buwan na ito o mas marami pa, at mas<br />mainam na kung sa iyong pagninilay-nilay at balikan ang mga aklat ng mga Tafsir.<br /><br /><strong>Ang Kababaihan at ang Kusina</strong><br /><br />Ang babae ay pumapasok sa kusina sa Ramadhan ngunit sa panahong ito ay mayroong<br />mga marapat gawin at aspeto, ito ang mga sumusunod:<br /><br /><br />· Dapat ng ipaunawa sa mga anak, na hindi mula sa mga gawain sa Ramadhan ang<br />paghahanda ng mga pagkain at inumin ng iba't ibang uri sa araw-araw… bagkos<br />ang mainam ay hatiin ito sa dalawang bahagi o tatlo, at paggawa ng Menu ng mga<br />nais na putahe na dapat pag-usapan ng pamilya hinggil dito, upang maging madali<br />para sa lahat ang magbigay ng kanilang mga mungkahi sa mga uri ng pagkain. At<br />paggawa ng listahan para sa pagpaparte-parte ng mga pagkain para sa mga araw<br />ng linggo. At ito ay magpapadali sa trabaho ng mga kababaihan, at para malaman<br />sa hinaharap ang gagawin. At karagdagan pa upang makasanayan ng lahat ang<br />pag-sistema at pagsasa-ayos, at kasama dito ang pag-iingat sa biyaya mula sa<br />pagsasayang na siyang pinagbabawal natin sa kanila at pagdadala sa ayos hinggil<br />sa mga ginagamit at pagbabago sa pag-uuri ng mga pagkain.<br />· Radio; marapat na maglagay ng lugar sa kusina para sa radio at mga cassette tapes<br />na nagtatalakay hinggil sa Ramadhan mula sa mga unang araw nito. At<br />pinapayagan ang pagpaparami ng pakikinig ng Qur'an at pinalalayo sa pakikinig ng<br />mga Nashid at mga palatuntunan sapagkat ito ay hindi oras para sa mga ito.<br />· Ang paggawa sa mga pag-alala kay Allah (dhikr) at Tasbih48 habang hinahanda ang<br />pagkain upang hindi manghina ang kanilang mga dila sa pagsabi ng pag-aalala kay<br />Allah.<br />· Ang mapakinabangan ang mga gamit pangteknolohiya, tulad ng; mixer, makinang<br />panghiwa, makinang pangmasa at microwave upang makatipid sa oras ang mga<br />kababaihan.<br />· Ang pagtitipid sa mga uri ng pagkain at inumin lalu't ang mga ginagamit sa<br />mahabang panahon, maaring hindi gamitin o bumili na ng pagkaing gawa na (para<br />makatipid sa ilang rikado), at ang pag-iingat ng babae sa kaniyang oras ay dapat na<br />mas maging maingat siya sa kaniyang pera.<br />· Maging bantay sa paggawa ng madaling pagkain upang makatipid sa oras.<br />· Ang pagbabawas sa pagsasagawa ng mga pagsasalo-salo (party) sa buwang ito<br />upang maiwasan ang pagsasayang ng oras at pera.<br /><br />Sa mga katulong sa bahay: huwag siyang pagbawalan ayun sa kakayanan nito na<br />magkamit ng gantimpala tulad ng sa iyo, at maaring makatulong sa kanya ang<br />paggamit ng mga sisidlang plastic upang makabawas sa kaniyang mga gawain, at<br />gayun rin marapat na kuhanan mo siya ng aklat para sa kaniya sa kaniyang wika o<br />dialekto na magpapaliwanag hinggil sa mga pagbabatas at kabutihan sa buwan na ito,<br />at kung sakaling hindi muslim ay pagkakataon mo na ito upang akitin siya sa pagpasok sa<br />relihiyong ito at makakatulong rin ang Islamic Center hinggil dito.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Ang Kababaihan at ang Kawanggawa</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong>Ang nag-aayunong tunay ay dinadalisay ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng mula sa pagiging<br />makasarili at mga epekto nito at ang pag-iisip sa kabutihang-palad sa sarili at mga<br />pagnanasa tungo sa pagpapahalaga sa nasyon at sa kanyang mundo at mga suliranin.<br />Aalalahanin niya ang mga pangangailangan ng kaniyang mga kapatid na mga<br />mahihina at kaniyang sasagutin ang mga tunay na nakararamdam sa pag-alis ng mga<br />suliranin nila, at hindi mapapalagay hangga't hindi napapawi ang paghihirap, hanggang<br />mapawi ang dilim sa pagdating ng liwanag ng kaniyang mukha at napahinga ang<br /><br />kaniyang puso – at sa iyo si A'isha (ra) – ang huwaran, gumugol ng isang libong dirham sa<br />isang araw habang siya ay nag-aayuno at ng dumating ang oras ng iftar ay sabi ng<br />kaniyang katulong sa kaniya, may natira pa ba sa atin para sa Iftar?! Sabi ni A'isha (ra);<br />kung napaalala mo lamang nagtira sana ako. Subhanallah! Kinalimutan niya ang<br />kaniyang sarili mula sa makamundong bagay.<br /><br />At para sa iyo kapatid na muslimah, ang sumali sa bagay na ito:<br /><br />1. Ang pagbigay ng zakat para sa ginto kung ito ay umabot sa nisab49, at ibigay ito sa<br />mga nararapat sa mga mabiyayang araw na ito upang madoble ang mga<br />gantimpala.<br /><br />Paggawa ng pagkain para sa iftar para sa nag-aayunong mahihirap at<br />nangangailangan, at pagsasalo-salo sa pagkain ng iftar kasama ang mga<br />nagtatrabahong babaing muslimah sa tamang lugar na pinagdadausan ng iftar ng<br />mga kababaihan sa inyong lugar. O sa nagtatrabahong babae sa ilalim ng<br />pangangalaga ng ibang tao, tulad ng mga nagtatrabaho sa mga pananiman at<br />mga tulad nito. Karagdagan sa pagpapakain ng iftar sa mga kamag-anakan at kapitbahay<br />at ang lahat ng ito ay gantimpala sa ayuno sa Ramadhan ng higit pa sa isa, at<br />dito ay mayroongmabuting ugnayan, kabutihan at mabuting kapit-bahay.<br /><br />2. At maaring gawin na ang buong pamilya ang magtustos sa isang pamilyang mahirap,<br />sa pagtitiyak hinggil sa pagkain ng Iftar at tulad rin ng suhur sa buong buwan.<br /><br />3. Gawin para sa sarili ang bilang mula sa kawanggawa na ilalabas sa pang-araw-araw<br />– ayun sa kakayanan – at gawin ito, minsan ay salapi, minsan ay ibang mga pagkain,<br />o sa ikatlong gabi ay damit at sa ikaapat na gabi ay prutas o matatamis, at mga<br />magagandang gawaing pangkawanggawa sa pagitan mo at pagitan ni Allah na<br />walang nakaaalam kahit na ang pinakamalapit na tao sa kaniya.</p><p align="justify"><br /><br /></p>Ideal Muslimah Islamisiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847100212297080140noreply@blogger.com0