Beautiful Mosques

Masjid Al Haram , Mecca , Saudi Arabia

A masjid is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, masjid. The primary purpose of the masjid is to serve as a place where Muslims can come together for prayer. Nevertheless, masjids are known around the world nowadays for their general importance to the Muslim community as well as their demonstration of Islamic architecture.

A Beautiful Hadith

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: 'When a man dies and his relatives are busy in funeral, there stands an extremely handsome man by his head. When the dead body is shrouded, that man gets in between the shroud and the chest of the deceased.

Thereafter he turns to his dead companion and says, 'I am the Qur'an, which you used to read, sometimes in a loud voice and sometimes in a low voice. Do not worry. After the interrogation of Munkar and Naker, you will have no grief.'

Beautiful Story

An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Quraan. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could. One day the grandson asked,

"Grandpa! I try to read the Qur'an just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?"

Do You Want Allah to Love You??

Do You Want Allah to Love You??
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Allah loves Muhsineen (Good Doers) [2:195, 3:134, 3:148, 5:13, 5:93]

Allah loves Tawwabeen [2:222][Those who turn to rightfulness and recourse much to Him and His Guidance]

Allah loves Mutahhareen [2:222, 9:108] [Those who keep their bodies free from filth, minds distant from dirty thoughts and conduct clean from unseemly acts]

The Story of a Boy and a Tree

The Story of a Boy and a Tree
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As Salaamu‘alaykum and peace to all,

“A son’s sacrifice towards his parents is not complete until a situation arises whereby he buys and frees his parents from becoming slaves.” As we already know, we cannot deny the greatness of our beloved parent’s sacrifice, how they have spent most of the time lives to secure our future; their children’s future. From the time we were infants until we become useful people, they care for us. This is a story that relates to their sacrifice; a story about a boy and a tree in a countryside.

A Letter to My sisters

A Letter to My sisters

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I sat in the car that night, after the blessed day of Eid, and watched you while my heart tore to shreds. You were so pretty, so confident, so relaxed as you strolled across the street while your "boyfriend" casually rested his arm on your shoulder. How I longed to get out of the car, take anything I could get my hands on, and cover you with it, that I might conceal some of what you deemed prudent to reveal and save you from being the object of lustful gazes.

Sure, your jeans fitted well, like a second skin, and your bare shoulders glistened beneath the street lights. No doubt, the effect you had aimed to achieve had been realized, but was Allah pleased with the effect you produced?

Why we must read Al-Quran?

Why we must read Al-Quran?
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Why do we read Quran, even if we can't understand a single Arabic word? This is beautiful story, please read till end and forward to all you knows...

Read this Magic - ALLAH the all Mighty

Check this out, very interesting findings of Dr. Tariq Al Swaidan might grasp your attention:

Dr.Tarig Al Swaidan discovered some verses in the Holy Qur'an that mention one thing is equal to another, i.e. men are equal to women. Although this makes sense grammatically, the astonishing fact is that the number of times the
word man appears in the Qur'an is 24 and number of times the word woman
appears is also 24, therefore not only is this phrase correct in the grammatical sense but also true mathematically, i.e. 24 = 24.

Choosing Friends

Choosing Your Friends

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Humans have always been social creatures and in need of friends and companions. A good part of our lives is spent in interaction with others. For Muslims like us who are living in a society where we are clearly a minority, the issue of choosing the right companions is essential for preserving our Deen. Befriending righteous and virtuous Muslims is a necessary means for staying on the Straight Path.

In an authentic Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you befriend." [reported by Abu Dawood & Tirmidhee]. Mixing with followers of any way other than that of the Guidance results in a change in one's behaviour, morals and conduct.

If we accompany such friends, then we inherit their habits, behaviour and perhaps even their religion. Such a Muslim would find himself in a situation where he is willing to hide his or her Islam in front of those who despise it (those whom he considers as friends) and to separate from the believers. When this situation occurs, a point is reached when there is a very slight difference between the Muslim and his wrong-doing companion. Many times a Muslim is encouraged by his friends to do evil and to forget his duties.

The result is that Muslims themselves are often ashamed to leave them to perform prayer, their friends thus causing them to clearly deviate from the Right Path. Instead of making friends with the misguided ones we should befriend the righteous but still treat everyone else in a gracious and just manner.

In another Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk, and the one who blows the blacksmith's bellows (respectively). So as for the seller of musk then either he will grant you some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith's bellows then either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him." [Bukhari & Muslim]

In his commentary of this Hadith, Imam an-Nawawi said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) compared a good companion to a seller of musk and spoke of the virtue of having companions who are good, who have noble manners, piety, knowledge and good culture. Such are those who grant us from their virtue. And he (peace be upon him) forbade us to sit with those who do evil, commit a lot of sins and other bad deeds, as well as with innovators, backbiters, and so forth.

Another scholar said: "Keeping good company with the pious results in attainment of beneficial knowledge, noble manners and righteous actions, where as keeping company with the wicked prevents all of that." Allah the Exalted says in the Qur'an: "And (remember) the Day when the wrong-doer will bite his hands and say: Woe to me! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger. Woe to me! If only I had not taken so- and-so as a friend! He has led me astray from this Reminder (the Qur'an) after it had come to me." [25:27-29]. He also says: "Friends on that Day will be enemies one to another, except al-Muttaqoon (i.e. those who have Taqwah)." [43:67] In two authentic narrations of the Prophet (peace be upon him) we were commanded to keep company with a believer only, and told that a person will be with those he loves.

So,if we love and associate ourselves with those who are misguided, we should fear for our fate. The wise person is the one who prepares himself for the Hereafter, not the one who neglects his faith and falls into the trap of Satan who tells him that he will be forgiven and that he can do whatever he wishes. If we truly believe that the best speech is the Speech of Allah and that the best guidance is the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), we should act in accordance with them, lest we build a proof against ourselves.

From another perspective, a “believer is the mirror of his brother,” and if he sees any faults in the other believer, he draws his attention to it in an acceptable manner, helps him to give it up and to wipe away any evil that he may have. We ask Allah to make us of the righteous ones and give us companions who will take us away from His wrath and lead us to His pleasure and Paradise.

What's our excuse?

Quran....

Why do we read Quran, even if we can't understand a single Arabic word ?

This is a beautiful story

An old man lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Qur'an. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, 'Grandpa! I try to read the Qur'an just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?'

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, 'Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.'

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, 'You'll have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough,' and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would Leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, 'See Grandpa, it's useless!' 'So you think it is useless?' The old man said, 'Look at the basket.'

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

'Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives.'

The Nature Of The Prophet's Diet

Benefits:
- Milk contains vitamins and minerals that fruits have.
- Pressed Dates help the liver resist toxic elements using the anti-toxic or antibiotics that the dates contains.
- Pressed dates help the body get rid of the harmful chemical elements that the body has to deal with, like the lead that a high rate of it in the body can cause renal failure.

Islam in 1,000 words..

Islam in 1,000 words..

How does one begins to comprehend a religion that supports peace,promises rewards on earth and in the afterlife,and yet has extreme followers who use it to rationalise terrorist attack?
Islam,for believers,is a relegion of peace,moderation and has all the answere to their worldly question.For fanatical Muslims Islam gives them the licence to defend their religion and their way of life,by encouraging suicide bonbings and acts of terror againts Western countries.And for non-Muslims, their perception of the relegion varies - from acceptance to mortification, to sheer cinfusion.
Hence a brieft and whirlwind lesson in Islam is offered, to foster some understanding about Muslims..

The definition of Islam..

Islam means submission to Allah,God, the Creator of all things.The word Islam is derived from the Arabic language,To understand it further,here's a brief look at the roots of the word itself:

"Should we take its root from the word 'Salima', hence Islam mean 'safe': saviour or sanctuary.In this context,Allah takes care of the welfare of all Muslims, in both worlds - the
present and the afterlife. A believing Muslim will then take care of his family,his freinds,his community and their worldly safety.

"If Islam is derived from the word 'Salmi' then it means peace. If from the word 'Istaslama',then Islam means to obey God and be faithful to the teachings,as promoted and taught by the Prophet,Nabi Muhammad - peace be upon him(pbuh). It also means honesty and sincerity. If Islam comes from the word 'Sullam', it means 'ladder' or 'advancement', for all believers must strive to be the best they can be." (Bimbingan Lengkap Fardu Ain,Abu Humaira).

Any Muslims, practising or not, should be able to spout the trunk of Islamic beliefs in a second.These have been drummed into their heads from young, and woe to those who cannot remember them.Like the recitation of the Al Fatihah.Muslim children are taught the pillars of Islam and faith the moment they can warble.

The Five Pillars of Islam are:

* The testimony that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Mohammad is His Messenger
* Establishing the prayer.and the one is to pray five times a day:
at dawn, afternoon, late afternoon, at sunset and at night (Subuh,Zuhur,Asar,Magrib and Isya')
* Zakat - giving alms to the poor
* Fasting in the month of Ramadhan
* Perfoeming the Hajj at least once in a lifetime, provided the believer is sane, has reached puberty, is a free man as opposed to being a slave, and financially and physically able to perform the hajj.

Then there are the Six Pillars of Faith (Iman), which is not to be confused with the former.The believer must believe in:

* Allah (God)
* His Angles (mentioned in Surah Al Baqarah 2:177 & 285)
* The Book - Quran
* The Messengers
* Qiamat - the Last Day on earth
* Qada' and Qadar - Divine Preordainment

What is the different then between the two? The Pillars of Islam mean the performed deeds that are seen, while Iman refers to the affair of the soul.Both go together, and are to be observed strictly.

Who?

You may be seeing thes terms along the way. A brief interpretation of them follows:

* The Muttaquns - the Pious. The Believers. The word 'Muttaqun" originates from 'taqwa' which means protecting one's self from God's punishment by obeying Him.

* The Munafiks - Hypocrites. They say they are Muslims but do not behave so. There is a whole chapter devoted to them: Surah Munaafiquun.

* The Musyrik - they do not believe in God; most devote themseives to idol worship.

Here are more rules to abide: no premarital or extra-marital sex, no indulging in anything that will make you khayal - high - such as alcohol,drugs and other substances, or activities that make you forget the world. Dress modestly, and behave with utter decorum. Food fall into two categories: halal and haram. Pork is bad, while fish is good. Chicken and beef have to be slaughtered in the proper Islamic manner before consumption.

Then dogs You can keep them as watchdogs but not as pets and you can touch them, but only when they are dry. And why is that? Dogs are dirty. What about cats? Cats lick their behinds, don't they? And if alcohol is sinful, what about alcohol in medication and perfume? What's the difference?

Another question that was lobbed my way: if you can't have premaritial sex, then what about masturbation? Which is better,solo sex or real sex? The former is not encouraged as it has been said that it is the Devil that performs the deed, and may make you go blind, while the latter is a no-no, you will go to hell, but in this day and age when marriage is not necessarily and attraction option any more, and you know you can't have permarital sex, what on earth are you to do?

The interpretation of Islam in modern times has made the religion seem anti-social, anti-human rights and againts progress. Islam is a dynamic guide to vartious living, for its people to cultivate a life and a world that will reward them on earth and in the Afterworld.

So how do you go about being a Muslim?