HAPPY RAMADHAN

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MOTHER....

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.

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Importance of Halal Food

Muslims are urged to always ensure that the foods they are taking are Halal, which is, permitted by Islam for Muslim consumption. This is because Halal food brings blessings, while eating non-Halal food can distance oneself from conducting welfare activities. Non-Halal food could also darken and harden the heart, and make the consumer forget about the life hereafter and care only for the world. Food can deeply affect one's personality and religious practice, because the source of Halal and clean food would make the whole body active so that one would remain devoted in performing religious deeds, and love life in this world as well the hereafter. Apart from that, eating Halal food will also bring about the feeling of gratification and devotion towards Allah the Almighty in oneself; it would enlighten one's heart and make one fully aware of Allah's might. All these characteristics will become the main reasons one's religious deeds are accepted and his prayers answered. Verily, food plays an important role in producing persons of quality, and who are ideal academically, physically and spiritually. Let others say we are fussy for being too cautious in choosing food. Most importantly, our religious deeds are accepted by Allah the Almighty and that we are safe in this world and the hereafter.

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TALEBEARER

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Basic Islamic Principles For Peaceful And Successful Social Life

Islam is a religion quite different from its predecessor religions. It is unique and special in many ways, like no other religion has ever been before it. Almost all of the religions before Islam were meant to teach and guide a particular segment of society at any particular time and place, while Islam is the only religion chosen by Almighty Allah for guiding humanity till The Day of Judgment.

This day, I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…” (Holy Qur’an, 5:3)

Islam is also gifted by the presence of the last Apostle of Allah Almighty, i.e. Muhammad (PBUH), who also serves to be the last of messengers Allah (SWT) ever bestowed humanity with. Thus, Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Holy Quran complement the religion that Islam is, with the graciousness and generosity of The Mightiest towards human beings.Now, only those people are deemed successful in the eyes of Allah (SWT) and His Apostle Muhammad (PBUH) who follow these two sources of guidance to regulate their lives with.
In fact, Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also once said:
“I am leaving you two things and you will never go astray as long as you cling to them — they are the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.” [Reported by Al- Haakim - Sahih].

Given below are some of the basic principles and values that should be inculcated in Islamic lifestyle. They might include:

Abstinence From Interfering In Other’s Issues
Have you ever tried to find the reason(s) why your life seems to be the epicenter of so many social issues? A neutral and mindful analysis would lead you to the conclusion that majority of problems we come across in our daily lives are due to unnecessarily bothering into others’ affairs. This type of issue arises only when a person thinks that he is the one with all the knowledge and wisdom, and therefore, has the right to poke into others’ affairs to guide them, which is absolutely wrong according to the teachings of Holy Quran that tells us:

[Al-Naml; 27:6} As to thee, the Qur'an is bestowed upon thee from the presence of One Who is Wise and All-Knowing.

Forgive Others And Seek Forgiveness
Most of the times, it is our unforgiving nature that gives birth to so many of our daily life problems. Forgiveness is a virtue Allah Almighty beholds towards all of His creatures, and likes forgiveness Himself:
An-Nisa [4:110] If anyone does evil or wrongs his own soul but afterwards seeks Allah’s forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.Therefore, if we want to please Allah Almighty, we should try to follow an accommodating and forgiving behavior towards fellow human beings.

Abstinence From Jealousy
Jealousy is also a very negative aspect of human character, which when overcomes other characteristics of human nature, causes a lot of problems in our social lives. Therefore, one should stay away from such negative feelings. Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also advised us to stay away from jealousy, except in the following situation:

“Envy is not permitted except in respect of two persons — one whom Allah blesses with the recitation of the Quran and he remains engaged in it day and night, and the other is one who given abundance of wealth by Allah and he spends it (in Allah’s path) day and night”.
May Almighty Allah bestow us the character and strength to follow these principles of a successful and peaceful life.

By Hijab al Faisal

http://www.pkarticleshub.com/

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Working Productively in Dunya for Akhira

Every Muslim acknowledges that this life is temporary and the eternal life will begin in the hereafter. Allah has promised to those who believe and do righteous deeds a more bountiful, peaceful, and fulfilling life in the Hereafter; that is if we follow the principles of Islam accordingly and live our lives pleasing Allah and abstaining from sins. How can we work productively as an Ummah to achieve Allah’s Love in this life and the next? How can we work towards a permanent abode in Paradise?

This article is aimed to establish the various ways we can work efficiently to gain the favour of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and working for our Hereafter.

1. Maintaining Our Salah

We know as Muslims that one of the main acts which distinguishes a Muslim from a non-Muslim is Salah (prayer). The importance of prayer in Islam cannot be understated. Every Muslim is obliged by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) to pray five times a day, however there are many Muslims who forget the importance of this obligation. Prayer is one of the most essential elements of obtaining a place in Paradise.Our Prophet (Peace be upon him) has said what means:

“The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad.” (Recorded by al-Tabarani. According to al-Albani, Sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503.)
Accordingly, a Muslim must consider the consequences of neglecting prayer – will his other good deeds be accepted? Will his neglecting of prayers lead him to do more evil and bad deeds? Allah knows best, but we are told that prayer is obligatory and very important. We should ensure that we maintain our five daily prayers, performing them with enthusiasm, love, fear, hope, and sincerity.

2. Zakat (Obligatory Charity)

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has made it an obligation that every Muslim must give at least 2.5 per cent of their wealth each year to benefit the poor. The payment of zakat is an aspect of Islam which should not be overlooked as Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has commanded us to give to the less fortunate from what He has provided to us.

Charity is another aspect of Islam which deals with kind and righteous deeds to the less fortunate but charity in Islam also extends to the simplest of actions. Even a smile upon greeting your sister or brother can be an act of charity and giving. Our Prophet (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said that, “Even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is an act of charity.” How Merciful is Allah and how beautiful is our religion that even a smile is counted as charity!
If you are generous and give charity, Allah will give you the same in return or more in this dunya and in the akhirah. Our Prophet (Peace be upon him) said that “The best charity is to satisfy a hungry person” and also that “No wealth (of a servant of Allah) is decreased because of charity.” (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2247).

3. Virtuous Deeds Establishing a Path to Paradise

Apart from the five pillars of Islam establishing good relationships with family and maintaining pure friendships can also help to promote good deeds. There are many ways in which we can carry out virtuous deeds which can please Allah as discussed in this article in relation to prayer and charity. Other righteous deeds include being kind to others, being hospitable to family, friends and neighbours, not backbiting or judging others. We should rush to perform good deeds before something hinders us from doing so. Working towards bettering ourselves will help us improve our eman. There are many things we need to do as Muslims to ensure that our eyes, mouth and body are in submission to Allah; we need to constantly be checking our heart and purifying it to gain a better life in the Hereafter.

Final thoughts to reflect on and take that step today to a better life in the
hereafter ….

• In this life we go through many ‘ups and downs’ as Allah provides us with sustenance and loss and we should all accept what Allah has decreed for us and this acceptance affirms our faith in Allah and our acknowledgement that He is The All-Powerful.

• If you do suffer from any misfortune in life, remember to remain steadfast in your prayer as this will give you strength and Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) will give you relief in due time.

• If there is something certain in life, it is death – which has been decreed by Allah. Many of us have lost our loved ones to death and this should wake us up to the fact that one day we all will have to experience death. We should be ready for death and working with it in mind; if we don’t wake up to this reality, it may too late when death does arrive

• Try to make the necessary steps in your life today to work towards a better chance of obtaining Paradise and most importantly pleasing Allah by the way of Islam.

by Tasnim Nazeer
http://www.productivemuslim.com/

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Seeking Knowledge - The Way to Paradise

"Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have been granted knowledge to high ranks."
(Qur'an)

"Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim (male and female)." (Hadith)

THE VIRTUES OF KNOWLEDGE

Allah (Most Exalted is He), Who created us and gave us sustenance, has also given us guidance. He said:
"Verily We have created man into toil and struggle… Have We not made for him a pair of eyes; and a tongue, and a pair of lips; and shown him the two ways (obedience and disobedience)?"
(Qur'an, Al-Balad 90:4-10)

After providing us with the capability to contemplate, think and differentiate between things, He instructed us to know Him, to know his Prophets and to know His Deen, Islam. He said:

"So know that there is no god save Allah, ask forgiveness for your sins and for the believing men and the believing women. Allah knows well your moving and your place of rest."
(Qur'an, Muhammad 47:19)

This verse shows the importance of knowledge and the virtues that Allah has given to it. It also shows that knowledge comes before deeds, since Allah instructed His Prophet to know that He is One and the only One worthy of worship. After that, He commanded him to ask forgiveness for himself, his family and for his Ummah.

If Muslims truly realise the importance Islam places on knowledge and its virtues, they will definitely be keen to learn and teach others. They would start with themselves and their families; then their neighbours and the community at large.

Once Mu'awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with her) gave a sermon in which he said, "I heard Allah's Messenger saying, "If Allah wants to do good to a person, he makes him very knowledgeable in the Deen." (Related by Bukhari and Muslim)

This is because knowledge is the basis of all good; it generates actions that are based on the commandments of Allah and the instructions of the Prophet . Hence, every Muslim must instil in his mind a desire to seek knowledge. Allah (Most Exalted is He) instructed His Prophet -- and thus all Muslims -- to ask Allah to increase him in knowledge. He said:

"And say: My Lord increase me in knowledge."
(Qur'an, Ta-Ha 20:114)

Though, initially, all Muslims are equal in the sight of Allah, those who believe, have taqwah (fear of Allah and righteousness), and have been granted knowledge move up to higher ranks. Allah says about those who have taqwah:

"Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is he who has most taqwah."
(Qur'an, Al-Hujurat 49:13)

And He said about those who believed and acquired knowledge:
"Allah will raise up, to (suitable) ranks and (degrees), those of you who believe and who have been granted knowledge. And Allah is well-acquainted with all you do."
(Qur'an, Al-Mujadilah 58:11)

When a servant of Allah is granted knowledge, he appreciates Allah's creation more, and becomes more acquainted with Allah's attributes and qualities. Consequently, he wholeheartedly witnesses that his Creator is the only one worthy of worship, and then submits to Him humbly. This, in return, generates in his heart a fear, which is akin to a full appreciation and love of His Lord. Allah (Most Exalted is He) has witnessed in favour of His learned servants these qualities, full appreciation of His Oneness and fear of Him. He stated in two verses, to be recited until Doomsday:

"There is no one worthy of worship but He: That is the witness of Allah, His angels and those endowed with knowledge, Standing firm in Justice (or maintaining His Creation in Justice). There is no god but He, the Exalted in power, the Wise."
(Qur'an, Al-'Imran 3:18)

"It is only those who have knowledge among His servants that fear Allah."
(Qur'an, Fatir 35:28)

The Messenger of Allah gave glad tidings to anyone who undertakes the task of seeking knowledge. Abu Hurayrah relates that the Prophet said, "For him who embarks on the path of seeking knowledge, Allah will ease for him the way to paradise." (Related by Muslim) If no Hadith on the importance of knowledge besides this one had been uttered by the Prophet , it would have been enough for Muslims. Yet the Prophet did more than that:

He used to stimulate his companions to seek knowledge: Ibn Mas'ud relates that the Prophet said, "Only two persons are worthy of being envied; a person upon whom Allah bestows riches and gives him the power to spend it in a righteous cause; and a person upon whom Allah bestows wisdom by which he judges and which he teaches." (Related by Bukhari and Muslim)

He used to congratulate the companions whenever they issued a right judgement or correctly answered a question. Imam Muslim narrates that once the Prophet asked Ubayy Ibn Ka'b, "Do you know which verse in Allah's Book is the greatest?" Ubayy answered by reciting Ayat-ul-Kursi (the verse of the Throne, i.e. Al-Baqarah, 2:255): "Allah! None has the right to be worshiped but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists…) The Messenger kindly patted him on the chest, saying, "Congratulations, Abul-Munthir for this knowledge".

He used to call upon Allah to grant them the correct knowledge and understanding of this Deen: Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated, "Once the Prophet embraced me and said, 'O Allah! Bestow on him the knowledge of the Book (Qur'an)." (Related by Bukhari)

He ordained all his companions and, thus, every Muslim who possesses some knowledge -- even as little as one verse -- to disseminate what they know to others: He said, "Convey (what you learn from me) even if only one verse…" (Related by Bukhari)
He made special du'a (supplication) for those who learn his sayings and transmit them to others: Zayd Ibn Thabit narrated that the Prophet said, "May Allah brighten the face of the person who hears what I say and retains it, then conveys it to others: for sometimes one who hears from another remembers it better than the original hearer himself." (Related by Ahmad and Tirmithi)

He assured all those who disseminate his knowledge that they will get the same reward of any Muslim who acts upon that knowledge: Abu Hurayrah relates that the Prophet said, "He who calls another to guidance will have a reward equal; to the reward of him who follows him without diminishing the reward of either of them." (Related by Muslim)

He showed to us the noble status of the learned people of His Ummah: Abu Umamah relates that the Prophet said, "A learned one is as much above an (ordinary) worshiper as I am above the least of you; and he added: Allah, His angels and all those in the heavens and in the earth, even the ants in their holes and the fish in the water, call down blessings on those who instruct people in beneficent knowledge." (Related by Tirmithi)

Better still, he declared that the 'Ulama' (those who have Islamic knowledge) are his heirs: Abu Darda' said that he heard the Prophet saying, "The 'Ulama' are heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets do not leave an inheritance of Dirhams and Dinars but (they left) only knowledge. He who acquires knowledge acquires a vast portion." (Related by Abu Dawud and Tirmithi)

After reading all these promises and glad tidings, one might ask, what more do we need to awaken our consciousness? We have been promised an easy way to paradise; the inheritance of our Prophet; a lofty rank, high and noble in status; a blessing from Allah and a supplication of all that exists in the heavens and earth; a face beaming in brightness and beauty on the Day of Judgement, when other faces will be sad and dismal. So, let us embark on the road to paradise; let us seek knowledge today.

By Habib Ahmad
http://www.missionislam.com/

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