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Saturday, 03 January 2009 11:14 |
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"By Sumayyah bint Joan"
The adage that ignorance is bliss could not be farther from the truth when seriously put into practical application. Throughout the annals of time, what great accomplishments has ignorance made? What great empires and what marvels of science and technology now bear witness to ignorance's strength and power? That's right, none. Nothing of true worth is achieved without wisdom and knowledge.
It was with supreme knowledge that Allah Almighty laid the foundations of the heavens and the earth. It was with wisdom, knowledge and understanding that Hadhrat Sulaiman (Alaihis Salaam) ruled the greatest empire the world has ever known. Our own Prophet, Hadhrat Mohammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) told us that acquiring knowledge was a duty placed on each and every Muslim. But the knowledge of what and who, remains the question.
Many of us have used the above saying of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam), to justify dealing in Riba (interest), in order to send our sons and daughters to the finest universities to become doctors, lawyers and engineers. We use it to justify sending our children to private schools, because they supposedly have higher academic standing and prestige than ordinary Muslim schools. We say we are doing it, because the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) said to get knowledge, but is this the knowledge he was speaking about?
It is narrated by Hadhrat Abu Musa (Radhi Allaho anho) that the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) said: "The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain-water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And) another portion of it was hard and held the rain- water and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilised it for drinking, (making their animals drink from it) and to irrigate the land for cultivation. (And) a portion of it was barren, which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then the land was of no benefit). The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah's religion and gets benefit from the knowledge, which Allah has revealed through me and learns and then teaches it to others. The (last example is that of a) person who does not care for it and does not take Allah's Guidance revealed through me (He is like the barren land.)" (Bukhari)
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Read more... [Acquiring knowledge]
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Saturday, 03 January 2009 11:12 |
"By Lobna Elhaw"
This is the story of Maryam (Mary) daughter of Imran and mother of Isa (Jesus) [Alaihis salaam]. She was respected by both Muslims and Christians, but there are some aspects on which the two religionists differ. Let us see the facts that the learned writer has compiled about her.
Allah declares He has no son:
In many verses of the Glorious Qur'aan, Allah the Exalted denied the claim of the Christians that He has a son. A delegation from Najran came to Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam). They began to talk about their claim about the Trinity, which is that Allah is three in one, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with some disagreement among their sects. That is why Allah affirmed in many verses of the Holy Qur'aan that Jesus is a slave of Allah, whom He moulded in the womb of his mother like any other of His creatures, and that He created him without a father, as He created Adam without a father or mother. It means Maryam is not the wife of God.
Maryam--member of the chosen family:
Allah the Almighty said, "Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above the Alamin (mankind and jinns) (of their times). Offspring, one of the other, and Allah is the All-Hearer, All-Knower.
Maryam's birth:
"(Remember) when the wife of Imran said: "0 my Lord! I have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your Place of worship), so accept this, from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing.
"Then when she delivered her (child Mary), she said: "0 my Lord! I have delivered a female child," -- and Allah knew better what she delivered, -- "and the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam, and I seek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for her offspring from Satan, the outcast." (3:33-36)
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Read more... [The story of Maryam]
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Saturday, 03 January 2009 11:06 |
"By QHA Rabbani"
The Holy Qur'aan and Sunnah are the only two sources for the essential beliefs of those people who call themselves Muslims. Among those beliefs the most important one is that there is no deity other than Allah. This is the first half of the attestation of every Muslim, the second half being that Muhammad is Allah's Prophet. There are a few other fundamental principles that a Muslim is required to accept. Thers are some people who have no attachment with Islam, still they insist on misusing the names of "Islam" and "Muslim" either intentionally or in ignorance. In this article, we will try to briefly show how many "religious" groups around the world who use the name of Islam are in fact clearly and absolutely in violation of certain basic principles contained in the Holy Qur'aan and Sunnah.
The followers of the Nation Of Islam believe in (all quotes taken from their homepage or their publications): ...one God (Allah) and that Allah (God) appeared in the Person of Master W Fard Muhammad, July, 1930; the long awaited 'Messiah' of the Christians and the 'Mahdi' of the Muslims.
However, the Holy Qur'aan states in chapter 4, verse 36, "Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him." And according to Islamic belief Allah do not appear in any person's shape. Although it is a Hindu belief that God appears in shape of man, which they term as 'Avtar', but Islam denies that. The followers of the Nation of Islam further believe "in the resurrection of the dead -- not in physical resurrection -- but in mental resurrection. We also believe that the so-called Negroes are most in need of mental resurrection; therefore, they will be resurrected first." But the Holy Qur'aan states in chapter 20, verse 55, "From the earth did We Create you, and into it Shall We return you, and from it shall We bring you out once again."
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Read more... [Abusing Islam and its teachings]
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Friday, 24 October 2008 22:16 |
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By Abdullah
Good character is a branch of faith, which include suppressing one's anger and being gentle and humble. Allah the Most High has said: Surely, you are of tremendous nature, [68:4]; and: Those who suppress their anger, and forgive other people -- assuredly, Allah loves those who do good. [3:134]
Bukhari and Muslim relate that Hadhrat Abdullah bin Amr (Radhi Allaho anho) said, "The Messenger of Allah (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) was never immoderate or obscene. He used to say, 'Among those who are most beloved to me are those who have the finest character.'"
They also narrate that Hadhrat Aisha (Radhi Allaho anha) said, "Never was the Messenger of Allah (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) given the choice between two things without choosing the easier of them, as long as it entailed no sin. If it did entail sin, he was of all people the most remote from it. Never did he seek revenge for something done against himself; but when the sanctity of Allah was challenged, he would take vengeance for His sake alone."
The meaning of good character is the inclination of the soul towards gentle and praiseworthy acts. This may take place in one's personal actions for Allah the Most High, or in actions which involve other people.
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Read more... [Those who have the finest character]
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Islam
