*~*Amahautie*~*

Wednesday, September 03, 2003

 
INSPIRATION

Time is like a river - it flows by and doesn't
return.
-- Chinese Proverb

Time is a sort of river of passing events, and
strong is its current; no sooner is a thing
brought to sight than it is swept by and another
takes its place, and this too will be swept away.
-- Marcus Aurelius

We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.
-- Native American Proverb

Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men
of old; seek what they sought.
-- Matsuo Basho

You never get over being a child, long as you have
a mother to go to.
-- Sarah Orne Jewett

It would be a very big book that contained all the
maybes uttered in a day.
-- French Proverb

These things are good in little measure and evil
in large: yeast, salt and hesitation.
-- The Talmud

Where you will sit when you are old shows where
you stood in youth.
-- Yoruba Proverb

Old age takes away from us what we have inherited
and gives us what we have earned.
-- Gerald Brenan


Sara 12:06 PM

 
QUR'ANIC INSPIRATION

[7] If We had sent unto thee a written (message)
on parchment,(a) so that they could touch it with
their hands, the unbelievers would have been sure
to say: "This is nothing but obvious magic!"(b)
[8] They say: "Why is not an angel sent down to
him?" If we did send down an angel, the matter
would be settled at once, and no respite would be
granted them.(c) [9] If We had made it an angel,
We should have sent him as a man, and We should
certainly have caused them confusion in a matter
which they have already covered with confusion.(d)
[10] Mocked were (many) apostles before thee; but
their scoffers were hemmed in by the thing that
they mocked.(e) - Qur'an Surah 32:2-3

(a) Qirtas, in the Prophet's life, could only
mean "parchment", which was commonly used as
writing materials in Western Asia from the 2nd
century B.C. The word was derived from the Greek,
Charles (Cf. Latin "Charta"). Paper, as we know
it, made from rags, was first used by the Arabs
after the conquest of Samarqand in 751 A.C. The
Chinese had used it by the 2nd century B.C. The
Arabs introduced it into Europe; it was used in
Greece in the 11th and 12th century, and in Spain
through Sicily in the 12th century. The Papyrus,
made from an Egyptian reed, was used in Egypt as
early as 2500 B.C. It gave place in Egypt in the
10th century.

(b) The materialist want to see actual physical
material things before them, but if such a thing
came from as unusual source or expressed things
they cannot understand, they give it some name
like magic or superstition, or whatever name is in
fashion, and they are not helped at all in
attaining faith because their "hearts are
diseased" (2:10).

(c) Also see 2:210. An angel is a heavenly being,
a manifestation of Allah's glory, invisible to men
who live gross material lives. Such men are given
plenty of respite in which to turn repentance to
Allah and make themselves worthy of His Light. But
if their prayers to see an angel were granted, it
would do them no good, for they would be destroyed
as darkness is destroyed by light.

(d) Supposing as angel should appear to their
grosser sense, he could only do it in human form.
In that case their present confused notions about
spiritual life would be still more confounded.
They would say; "We wanted to see an angel, and we
have only seen a man!"

(e) "The scoffers were mocked by the thing that
they mocked" would express epigrammatically part
of the sense, but not the whole. "Hemmed in"
implies that the logic of events turned the tables
and as a man might be besieged and surrounded by
an enemy in war, and would be forced to surrender,
so these mockers will find that events would
justify Truth, not them. The mockers of Jesus -
where were they when Titus destroyed Jerusalem?
The mockers who drove Muhammad from Mecca - what
was their plight when Muhammad came back in
triumph and they sued for mercy - and he gave it
to them! According to the Latin proverb, "Great is
Truth, and must prevail."

Sara 12:06 PM

 
HADITH INSPIRATION

Narrated Abu Huraira: I said: "O Allah's Apostle!
Who will be the luckiest person, who will gain
your intercession on the Day of Resurrection?"
Allah's Apostle said: O Abu Huraira! "I have
thought that none will ask me about it before you
as I know your longing for the (learning of)
Hadiths. The luckiest person who will have my
intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be
the one who said sincerely from the bottom of his
heart "None has the right to be worshipped but
Allah." And 'Umar bin 'Abdul 'Aziz wrote to Abu
Bakr bin Hazm, "Look for the knowledge of Hadith
and get it written, as I am afraid that religious
knowledge will vanish and the religious learned
men will pass away (die). Do not accept anything
save the Hadiths of the Prophet. Circulate
knowledge and teach the ignorant, for knowledge
does not vanish except when it is kept secretly
(to oneself)." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 3,
Number 98

Narrated 'Abdullah: When the following Verse was
revealed: "It is those who believe and confuse not
their belief with wrong (worshipping others
besides Allah.)" (6:83), the companions of Allah's
Apostle asked, "Who is amongst us who had not done
injustice (wrong)?" Allah revealed: "No doubt,
joining others in worship with Allah is a great
injustice (wrong) indeed." (31.13) Sahih Bukhari,
Volume 1, Book 2, Number 31

Narrated Al-Bara 'bin 'Azib: The Prophet said to
me, "Whenever you go to bed perform ablution like
that for the prayer, lie or your right side and
say, "Allahumma aslamtu wajhi ilaika, wa fauwadtu
amri ilaika, wa alja'tu Zahri ilaika raghbatan wa
rahbatan ilaika. La Malja' wa la manja minka illa
ilaika. Allahumma amantu bikitabika-l-ladhi
anzalta wa bina-biyika-l ladhi arsalta" (O Allah!
I surrender to You and entrust all my affairs to
You and depend upon You for Your Blessings both
with hope and fear of You. There is no fleeing
from You, and there is no place of protection and
safety except with You O Allah! I believe in Your
Book (the Qur'an) which You have revealed and in
Your Prophet (Muhammad) whom You have sent). Then
if you die on that very night, you will die with
faith (i.e. or the religion of Islam). Let the
aforesaid words be your last utterance (before
sleep)." I repeated it before the Prophet and when
I reached "Allahumma amantu bikitabika-l-ladhi
anzalta (O Allah I believe in Your Book which You
have revealed)." I said, "Wa-rasulika (and your
Apostle)." The Prophet said, "No, (but say):
'Wanabiyika-l-ladhi arsalta (Your Prophet whom You
have sent), instead." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1,
Book 4, Number 247

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira
that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) said: Ask me (about matters pertaining to
religion), but they (the Companions of the Holy
Prophet) were too much overawed out of profound
respect for him to ask him (anything). In the
meanwhile a man came there, and sat near his knees
and said: Messenger of Allah, what al-lslam is?
-to which he (the Holy Prophet) replied: You must
not associate anything with Allah, and establish
prayer, pay the poor-rate (Zakat) and observe (the
fasts) of Ramadan. He said: You (have) told the
truth. He (again) said: Messenger of Allah, what
al-Iman (the faith) is? He (the Holy Prophet)
said: That you affirm your faith in Allah, His
angels, His Books, His meeting, His Apostles, and
that you believe in Resurrection and that you
believe in Qadr (Divine Decree) in all its
entirety, He (the inquirer) said: You (have) told
the truth. He (again) said: Messenger of Allah,
what al-Ihsan is? Upon this he (the Holy Prophet)
said: (Al-Ihsan implies) that you fear Allah as if
you are seeing Him, and though you see Him not,
verily He is seeing you. He (the inquirer) said:
You (have) told the truth. He (the inquirer) said:
When there would be the hour (of Doom)? (Upon
this) he (the HolyProphet said: The one who is
being asked about it is no better informed than
the inquirer himself. I, however, narrate some of
its signs (and these are): when you see a slave
(woman) giving birth to her master - that is one
of the signs of (Doom) ; when you see barefooted,
naked, deaf and dumb (ignorant and foolish
persons) as the rulers of the earth - that is one
of the signs of the Doom. And when you see the
shepherds of black camels exult in buildings -
that is one of the signs of Doom. The (Doom) is
one of the five things (wrapped) in the unseen. No
one knows them except Allah. Then (the Holy
Prophet) recited (the folowing verse):" Verily
Allah! with Him alone is the knowledge of the hour
and He it is Who sends down the rain and knows
that which is in the wombs and no person knows
whatsoever he shall earn on morrow and a person
knows not in whatsoever land he shall die. Verily
Allah is Knowing, Aware. He (the narrator, Abu
Huraira) said: Then the person stood up an (made
his way). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) said: Bring him back to me. He was
searched for, but they (the Companions of the Holy
Prophet) could not find him. The Messenger of
Allah (may peace be upon him) thereupon said: He
was Gabriel and he wanted to teach you (things
pertaining to religion) when you did not ask (them
yourselves). Sahih Muslim, Book 001, Number 0006:

Sara 12:05 PM

 
DU'A OF THE WEEK

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa
salaam) heard a man supplicating;

Allahumma, inni 'as'aluka bi innaka 'anta Allahu
laa 'ilaha 'ila antal 'ahadus samad althee lam
yalid wa lam yulad wa lam yakul lahu kufwan ahad.

"Oh Allah, I ask You, as You are Allah, there is
no other god except You, the Only, the Eternal
Refuge, who begets not nor is begotten, nor is
there any comparable unto Him"

He said, "I swear by Him in whose hand is my soul,
that this man has appealed to Allah by His
greatest name, which if He is called by it, He
responds and if He is petitioned by it He gives".

Reported by Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah -
hasan
Book: "The Muslim's Supplication Throughout the
Day and Night"
by: Siddiqah Sharafuddeen

Sara 12:05 PM

 
INSPIRATIONAL SHORT STORIES

:: Whe Our Fathers Irritate Us ::

An old man was sitting in the courtyard of his
house along with his son who had received a high
education. Suddenly a crow perched on a wall of
the house. The father asked the son: What is this?
The son replied: It is a crow. After a little
while the father again asked the son: What is
this? The son said: It is a crow.

After a few minutes the father asked his son the
third time: What is this? The son said: Father, I
have just now told you that this is a crow. After
a little while the old father again asked his son
the fourth time: what is this? By this time some
statement of irritation was felt in the son's tone
when he rebuffed his father: Father! It is a crow,
a crow. A little after the father again asked his
son: What is this? This time the son replied to
his father with a vein of temper. Father: You are
always repeating the same question, although I
have told you so many times that it is a crow. Are
you not able to understand this?

The father went to his room and came back with an
old diary. Opening a page he asked his son to read
what was written. What the son read were the
following words written in the diary:

'Today my little son was sitting with me in the
courtyard, when a crow came there. My son asked me
twenty-five times what it was and I told him
twenty-five times that it was a crow and I did not
at all feel irritated. I rather felt affection for
my innocent child.'

The father then explained to his son the
difference between a father's and a son's
attitude. While you were a little child you asked
me this question twenty-five times and I felt no
irritation in replying to the question twenty-five
times and when today I asked you the same question
only five times, you felt irritated, annoyed and
impatient with me.

Surah Al Isra (The Night Journey) also known as
Surah Bani-Israil (The Children of Israel)
17:23-24

Thy Lord hath decreed That ye worship none but
Him, And that ye be kind To parents. Whether one
Or both of them attain Old age in thy life, Say
not to them a word Of contempt, nor repel them,
But address them In terms of honour.

And, out of kindness, Lower them to the wing Of
humility, and say: "My Lord! bestow on them Thy
Mercy even as they Cherished me in childhood."


Sara 12:05 PM

 
ARABIC WORD KNOWLEDGE

al-Nar - Hell: literally, 'The Fire'.
This commonest of all names for Hell appears many
times in the Qur'an where Hell is always described
in very physical terms. The eternity of Hell,
especially for wicked Muslims, has been questioned
by some theologians who have pointed to verses in
the Qur'an and the Hadith literature to support
their views.

Jahannam - Gehenna.
This is one of the seven ranks of Hell. The word
has connotations in Arabic of 'depth' and is very
commonly used in the Qur'an to designate Hell,
appearing 77 times. Tradition consigned
unrepentant wicked Muslims to this layer of Hell
to suffer for a while until their eventual
transfer to paradise. When no longer needed
Jahannam will be obliterated.


Sara 12:04 PM

 
:: Bedtime Prayers ::
By: Ellen Bailey. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

When I was a child and it came the bedtime hour
I would kneel by my bed and say my nightly prayers
I would shut my eyes and ask for a lot of foolish
things;
Like a new bicycle or a new wagon or a toy train

I prayed for new clothes; those that were in style
I prayed for good grades so my parents would smile
I prayed only for me and no one else
I left it to others to pray for themselves

The youthful things I prayed for came to pass
But I learned they were things that did not last
I look back now and see that I was vain
To pray only for me while others were in pain

Now that I am older my prayers have changed
I no longer ask God for material things
I pray for strength to make it through the day
I pray for courage to keep my fears at bay

I pray for people with lonely souls
I pray for the hungry and the cold
I pray for little orphans without homes
I pray for those who are shut-in and all alone

I pray that tensions in the world will ease
I pray that we will find everlasting peace
And each night before I go to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep

Sara 12:04 PM

 
Want a Great Way to Teach your Kids Compassion?

Then use object lessons. For instance, have your
family only drink water for a couple weeks and use
the money you'd normally spend for soda or tea and
send it to a non-profit organization that helps
people in the Third World dig fresh water wells.
Or deliberately buy generic clothes instead of
name brand ones and send the savings to help
clothe orphans. Using visual examples of
compassion will really make its teaching stay with
your children.

Sara 12:03 PM

 
:: The Demands of Qur'an ::

The Quraan makes five demands of every Muslim. Put
in a simple language, these demands are as
follows:

A Muslim is required:

1. To believe in the Quraan;
2. To read it;
3. To understand it;
4. To act upon its teachings; and
5. To convey its message and teachings to
others.

Sara 12:03 PM

Monday, August 25, 2003

 
salaam boggers. whats up.. im crazy busy w. classes now.. well i can prolly post more now actually ..lol.. so yeye.. good luck w/ everything.. wsalaam
Sara 4:15 PM

 
INSPIRATION

It is easy to be brave from a distance.
-- Native American Proverb

Nothing is impossible for the person who doesn't
have to do it.
-- Weller's Law

Life is a candle before the wind.
-- Japanese Proverb

You only live once. But if you work it right,
once is enough.
-- Fred Allen

In time of war the devil makes more room in hell.
-- German Proverb

There was never a good war or a bad peace.
-- Benjamin Franklin

A silent mouth is sweet to hear.
-- Irish Proverb

He has the gift of quiet.
-- John Le Carre

A child's tear rends the heavens.
-- Yiddish Proverb

What's done to children, they will do to society.
-- Dr. Karl Menninger


Sara 4:12 PM

 
QUR'ANIC INSPIRATION

[2] (This is) the Revelation of the Book in which
there is no doubt,(a) - from the Lord of the
Worlds. [3] Or(b) do they say, "He has forged it"?
Nay, it is the Truth from thy Lord, that thou
mayest admonish a people to whom no warner has
come before thee: in order that they may receive
guidance.(c) - Qur'an Surah 32:2-3

(a) By the time of the Holy Prophet the earlier
Books of Revelation had been corrupted by human
ignorance or selfishness or fraud, or
misinterpreted altogether. There were sects
violently disputing with each other as to their
true meaning. Suck doubts had to be set at rest
and they were set at rest by the revelation of the
Holy Qur'an. This Qur'anic inspiration came
directly from Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and
did not consist merely of human conjecture or a
reconstructed philosophy, in which there is always
room fro doubt or dispute. Also refer to 2:2.

(b) The force of "or" (am in Arabic) is that the
only alternative to the acceptance of the Book as
a divine revelation is the supposition that it was
a forgery by the Holy Prophet. But this
supposition is absurd on the face of it because
(1) the Quraysh, his critics, knew him to be an
honest and truthful man; (2) he was unlettered,
and such a Book would have been beyond his powers
as a simple unlettered Arab, unless Allah inspired
it; and (3) there was a definite reason for its
coming as it did, because the Arabs had received
no Messenger before him and Allah has sent
Messengers to every nation.

(c) The Arabs very much needed guidance for
themselves, and the advent of a World Prophet
through them was what might have been expected in
view of the past course of Allah's revelations.
Sara 4:12 PM

 
HADITH INSPIRATION

Narrated 'Aisha: (the mother of the faithful
believers) The commencement of the Divine
Inspiration to Allah's Apostle was in the form of
good dreams which came true like bright day light,
and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon
him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of
Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone)
continuously for many days before his desire to
see his family. He used to take with him the
journey food for the stay and then come back to
(his wife) Khadija to take his food like-wise
again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him
while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came
to him and asked him to read. The Prophet replied,
"I do not know how to read.

The Prophet added, "The angel caught me
(forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could
not bear it any more. He then released me and
again asked me to read and I replied, 'I do not
know how to read.' Thereupon he caught me again
and pressed me a second time till I could not bear
it any more. He then released me and again asked
me to read but again I replied, 'I do not know how
to read (or what shall I read)?' Thereupon he
caught me for the third time and pressed me, and
then released me and said, 'Read in the name of
your Lord, who has created (all that exists) has
created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is
the Most Generous." (96.1, 96.2, 96.3) Then
Allah's Apostle returned with the Inspiration and
with his heart beating severely. Then he went to
Khadija bint Khuwailid and said, "Cover me! Cover
me!" They covered him till his fear was over and
after that he told her everything that had
happened and said, "I fear that something may
happen to me." Khadija replied, "Never! By Allah,
Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good
relations with your Kith and kin, help the poor
and the destitute, serve your guests generously
and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones."

Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa
bin Naufal bin Asad bin 'Abdul 'Uzza, who, during
the PreIslamic Period became a Christian and used
to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would
write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah
wished him to write. He was an old man and had
lost his eyesight. Khadija said to Waraqa, "Listen
to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!" Waraqa
asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" Allah's
Apostle described whatever he had seen. Waraqa
said, "This is the same one who keeps the secrets
(angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I
wish I were young and could live up to the time
when your people would turn you out." Allah's
Apostle asked, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqa
replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone (man)
who came with something similar to what you have
brought was treated with hostility; and if I
should remain alive till the day when you will be
turned out then I would support you strongly." But
after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine
Inspiration was also paused for a while.

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari while
talking about the period of pause in revelation
reporting the speech of the Prophet "While I was
walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the
sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had
visited me at the cave of Hira' sitting on a chair
between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him
and came back home and said, 'Wrap me (in
blankets).' And then Allah revealed the following
Holy Verses (of Quran):

'O you (i.e. Muhammad)! wrapped up in garments!'
Arise and warn (the people against Allah's
Punishment),... up to 'and desert the idols.'
(74.1-5) After this the revelation started coming
strongly, frequently and regularly."

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 1, Number 3

Sara 4:11 PM

 
DU'A OF THE WEEK

Sometimes during i'tidal (when raising up from the
position of ruku) the Messenger of Allah
(sallallahu alayhi wa salaam), would also
sometimes say:

"Allahumma rabbana lakal hamd mil'as samaawati wa
mil'al ard, wa mil'a ma bainahuma, wa mil'a ma
sh'ita min shaiin b'ad"

"O Allah, our Lord, unto You is praise filling the
heavens and filling the earth, and what is between
them and whatever You should will beyond
that..." , Aameen.

[Sahih Muslim]

Sara 4:11 PM

 
INSPIRATIONAL SHORT STORIES

:: Mom, You Owe me $14.75 ::

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen
one evening while she was fixing supper, and he
handed her a piece of paper that he had been
writing on. After his mom dried her hands on an
apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

* For cutting the grass: $5.00
* For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
* For going to the store for you: $0.50
* Babysitting my kid brother while you went
shopping: $0.25
* Taking out the garbage: $1.00
* For getting a good report card: $5.00
* For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00
* Total owed: $14.75

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, the
boy could see the memories flashing through her
mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper
he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

* For 9 months I carried you while you were
growing inside me: No Charge.
* For all the nights that I've sat up with you,
doctored and prayed for you: No Charge.
* For all the trying times, and all the tears
that you've caused through the years: No
Charge.
* For all the nights that were filled with
dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead:
No Charge.
* For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping
your nose: No Charge,
* Son. When you add it up, the cost of my love
is: No Charge.

When the boy finished reading what his mother had
written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he
looked straight at his mother and said,

"Mom, I sure do love you".

And then he took the pen and in great big letters
he wrote: "PAID IN FULL"


Sara 4:11 PM

 
ARABIC WORD KNOWLEDGE

Tanzil -
Revelation, i.e. of the Qur'an.

Tanzih -
Considering or declaring God to be above and
beyond anthropomorphic elements or description.
Tanzih stresses the remote and transcendent aspect
of God, while its opposite, tashbih, emphasizes,
sometimes overmuch in the view of some Islamic
theologians, the immanent aspect of God. These two
Qur'anic concepts are neatly summarized in the
Qur'anic assertion, on the one hand, that God has
no like and, on the other, the statement that God
is nearer to man than his own jugular vein.

Tashbih -
Anthropomorphism, describing God in human terms.
The whole problem of how God should be described
and the nature of His attributes precipitated much
debate in medieval Islam.
Sara 4:09 PM

 
:: As The Day Ends ::
By: Ellen Bailey. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

As the day ends and the sun goes down
And the sun sheds its last rays of light
I think to myself as I look around,
"Have I spent my day living right?"

As the day ends and the sun goes down
I thank the Lord for this day I have owned
And as the night steals in without a sound
I feel His presence and know I am not alone

As the day ends and the sun goes down
I count my many shares and blessings
And recall what's right can be found
In His wonderful teachings and lessons


Sara 4:09 PM

Wednesday, August 13, 2003

 
INSPIRATION

The very thing one likes, one does well.
-- Japanese Proverb

The winds and waves are always on the side of the
ablest navigators.
-- Edward Gibbon

The stars make no noise.
-- Irish Proverb

Unknowingly, we plow the dust of stars, blown
about us by the wind, and drink the universe in a
glass of rain.
-- Ihab Hassan

It usually rains where it's already wet.
-- German Proverb

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you
gotta put up with the rain.
-- Dolly Parton

The difference between adults and children is that
adults don't ask questions.
-- American Proverb

Children are not things to be molded,
but are people to be unfolded.
-- Jess Lair

Help thy brother's boat across, and lo! thine own
has reached the shore.
-- Hindu Proverb

It is one of the beautiful compensations of this
life that no one can sincerely try to help another
without helping himself.
-- Charles Dudley Warner

Sara 6:51 PM

 
QUR'ANIC INSPIRATION

103] Say: "Shall we tell you of those who lose
most in respect of their deeds?(a) - [104] "Those
whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while
they thought that they were acquiring good by
their works?"(b) [105] They are those who deny the
Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having
to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their
works, nor shall We, on the Day of Judgment, give
them any weight.(c) [106] That is their reward,
Hell, because they rejected Faith, and took My
Signs and My Messengers by way of jest.(d) -
Qur'an Surah 18:103-106

(a) That is; those who prided themselves on their
works in this life and now find that those works
are of no avail. Their loss is all the greater
because they had a misplaced confidence in their
own deeds or in the assistance of false
"protectors". Allah is the only Protector: no one
else's protection is of any use.

(b) Many people have such a smug sense of
self-righteousness that while they go on doing
wrong, they think that they are acquiring merit.
So, in charity, all elements that make for outward
show or selfishness (as to get some worldly
advantage) nullify the deed of charity. In the
same way, hypocrites sometimes affect to be
surprised that their declared effort for
somebody's good is not appreciated, when they are
really seeking some hidden gain or false glory for
themselves. The sincere are only those who believe
in their spiritual responsibility and act in
Allah's sight.

(c) What weight can be attached to works behind
which the motives are not pure or are positively
evil? They are either wasted or count against
those who seek to pass them off as meritorious!

(d) False motives, pretense, deception and
hypocrisy flourish because people do not take the
higher life seriously. In effect they treat it as
a jest. Signs and Messengers are sent as a special
and personal Mercy from Allah, and for such things
the first person singular is used as in this
verse, even when it involves a sudden transition
from the first person plural as in the last verse.

Sara 6:50 PM

 
QUR'ANIC INSPIRATION

103] Say: "Shall we tell you of those who lose
most in respect of their deeds?(a) - [104] "Those
whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while
they thought that they were acquiring good by
their works?"(b) [105] They are those who deny the
Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having
to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their
works, nor shall We, on the Day of Judgment, give
them any weight.(c) [106] That is their reward,
Hell, because they rejected Faith, and took My
Signs and My Messengers by way of jest.(d) -
Qur'an Surah 18:103-106

(a) That is; those who prided themselves on their
works in this life and now find that those works
are of no avail. Their loss is all the greater
because they had a misplaced confidence in their
own deeds or in the assistance of false
"protectors". Allah is the only Protector: no one
else's protection is of any use.

(b) Many people have such a smug sense of
self-righteousness that while they go on doing
wrong, they think that they are acquiring merit.
So, in charity, all elements that make for outward
show or selfishness (as to get some worldly
advantage) nullify the deed of charity. In the
same way, hypocrites sometimes affect to be
surprised that their declared effort for
somebody's good is not appreciated, when they are
really seeking some hidden gain or false glory for
themselves. The sincere are only those who believe
in their spiritual responsibility and act in
Allah's sight.

(c) What weight can be attached to works behind
which the motives are not pure or are positively
evil? They are either wasted or count against
those who seek to pass them off as meritorious!

(d) False motives, pretense, deception and
hypocrisy flourish because people do not take the
higher life seriously. In effect they treat it as
a jest. Signs and Messengers are sent as a special
and personal Mercy from Allah, and for such things
the first person singular is used as in this
verse, even when it involves a sudden transition
from the first person plural as in the last verse.

Sara 6:50 PM

 
HADITH INSPIRATION

Narrated 'Abdullah: The Prophet said, "Abusing a
Muslim is Fusuq (an evil doing) and killing him is
Kufr (disbelief)." Narrated 'Ubada bin As-Samit:
"Allah's Apostle went out to inform the people
about the (date of the) night of decree (Al-Qadr)
but there happened a quarrel between two Muslim
men. The Prophet said, "I came out to inform you
about (the date of) the night of Al-Qadr, but as
so and so and so and so quarrelled, its knowledge
was taken away (I forgot it) and maybe it was
better for you. Now look for it in the 7th, the
9th and the 5th (of the last 10 nights of the
month of Ramadan)." Sahih Bukari, Volume 1, Book
2, Number 46

Narrated Ibn Abi Nu'm: A person asked 'Abdullah
bin 'Umar whether a Muslim could kill flies. I
heard him saying (in reply). "The people of Iraq
are asking about the killing of flies while they
themselves murdered the son of the daughter of
Allah's Apostle . The Prophet said, They (i.e.
Hasan and Husain) are my two sweet basils in this
world." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 57, Number
96

Narrated 'Ubaidullah bin 'Adi bin Al-Khiyar: That
Al-Miqdad bin 'Amr Al-Kindi, who was an ally of
Bani Zuhra and one of those who fought the battle
of Badr together with Allah's Apostle told him
that he said to Allah's Apostle, "Suppose I met
one of the infidels and we fought, and he struck
one of my hands with his sword and cut it off and
then took refuge in a tree and said, "I surrender
to Allah (i.e. I have become a Muslim),' could I
kill him, O Allah's Apostle, after he had said
this?" Allah's Apostle said, "You should not kill
him." Al-Miqdad said, "O Allah's Apostle! But he
had cut off one of my two hands, and then he had
uttered those words?" Allah's Apostle replied,
"You should not kill him, for if you kill him, he
would be in your position where you had been
before killing him, and you would be in his
position where he had been before uttering those
words." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 59, Number
354

Narrated Abu Dhar: That he heard the Prophet
saying, "If somebody accuses another of Fusuq (by
calling him 'Fasiq' i.e. a wicked person) or
accuses him of Kufr, such an accusation will
revert to him (i.e. the accuser) if his companion
(the accused) is innocent." Sahih Bukhari, Volume
8, Book 73, Number 71

Narrated Ibn 'Umar: I heard the Prophet saying,
"Do not revert to disbelief after me by striking
(cutting) the necks of one another." Sahih
Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 88, Number 198

Narrated Uthman ibn Affan: AbuUmamah ibn Sahl
said: We were with Uthman when he was besieged in
the house. There was an entrance to the house. He
who entered it heard the speech of those who were
in the Bilat. Uthman then entered it. He came out
to us, looking pale. He said: They are threatening
to kill me now. We said: Allah will be sufficient
for you against them, Commander of the Faithful!
He asked: Why kill me? I heard the Apostle of
Allah (peace be upon him) say: It is not lawful to
kill a man who is a Muslim except for one of the
three reasons: Kufr (disbelief) after accepting
Islam, fornication after marriage, or wrongfully
killing someone, for which he may be killed. I
swear by Allah, I have not committed fornication
before or after the coming of Islam, nor did I
ever want another religion for me instead of my
religion since Allah gave guidance to me, nor have
I killed anyone. So for what reason do you want to
kill me? Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 39, Number
Sara 6:49 PM

 
DU'A OF THE WEEK

On the authority of Ibn 'Abbas (radiallahu anhu)
the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa salaam) said:

'Allahumma ‘alimal-ghaibi wash-shahadati
fatiras-samawati wal-ard, Rabba kulli shai’in wa
malikahu ashhadu an la ilah illa Anta, A’udhu bika
min sharri nafsi wa min sharrish shaitaini wa
shirkihi, wa an aqtarifa ‘ala nafsi su’an, aw
ajurrahu ila Muslim

"Oh Allah, Knower of the unseen and the evident,
Inventor of the heavens and the earth, Lord of all
and its Possessor, I bear witness that there is no
GOD but You. I seek refuge in You from the evil of
my soul and from the evil of Satan and his
helpers. I seek refuge in You from bringing evil
upon my soul and from harming any Muslim", Aameen

[Reported by At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]

Sara 6:47 PM

 
INSPIRATIONAL SHORT STORIES

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on
a small, uninhabited island.

He prayed feverishly for Allah to rescue him, and
every day he scanned the horizon for help, but
none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little
hut out of driftwood to protect him from the
elements and to store his few possessions.

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he
arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the
smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had
happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with
grief and anger.

"Allah, how could you do this to me!" he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by
the sound of a ship that was approaching the
island. It had come to rescue him.

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man
of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they
replied.


It is easy to get discouraged when things are
going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because
Allah is at work in our lives, even in the midst
of pain and suffering.

Remember, next time your little hut is burning to
the ground -- it just may be a smoke signal that
summons The Grace of Allah.

Sara 6:46 PM

 
ARABIC WORD KNOWLEDGE

'Ulama' - [sing. 'alim] -
Religious scholars, jurists (loosely), learned
men, imams, judges, Ayatullahs and similar people.
The 'ulama' were, and are, often referred to as if
they formed a coherent professional monolithic
group of intellectuals and academics. While there
were, and are, such groups, the 'group ethic'
should not be overstressed. The 'ulama' were often
regarded as custodians or 'orthodoxy'. The Arabic
word should never be translated as 'clergy' of
which there are none in Islam.

Sara 6:45 PM

 
:: My Master ::
By: M. Fethullah Gulen
Source: : fethullahgulen.org

My eyes long for You, my heart watches your path,
If I could reach Your presence once, autumn would
turn into spring...

If my head could touch your feet, if my teardrops
could cascade,
If I could cry "You...You," all obstacles would
melt away...

Your village’s pink color can never be matched,
The faces that come with sin leave purified.

Those who come attain to light, each become a joy,
Mercy rains everywhere, the blind remain
destitute.

From your soil and earth and sacred trail
Daylight flows to the dark worlds...

Exhausted, whatever I say to You, Your praise does
not fall to me;
I said I’ll say something, but words did not
suffice.

From Your profound compassion, from Your vast
spiritual power,
Turn and incline towards me; my spirit yearns for
your favor!


Sara 6:45 PM

Tuesday, July 29, 2003

 
salaam.. sorri everyone for SUch a long wait for the update... i have been just sleepy n tired and working .. so i never got the chance.. but anyway.. i hope everyones summers went well...mine was awsommme in pakiland... it was a cool trip as alwayz.. umm okay n skools start up.. soon.. till then ill try to blog or GOLB regularyl... take care , peace
Sara 12:03 AM

Monday, July 28, 2003

 
INSPIRATION

The mouth is the cause of calamity.
-- Japanese Proverb

Were there no fools, there would be no wise men.
-- German Proverb

Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them
the rest of us could not succeed.
-- Mark Twain

You never plough a field by turning it over in
your mind.
-- Irish Proverb

Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater
privilege, than the raising of the next
generation.
-- C. Everett Koop, MD

A man is judged by his deeds, not by his words.
-- Russian Proverb

Sara 11:54 PM

 
QUR'ANIC INSPIRATION

[22] Is one whose heart God has opened to
Islam,(a) so that he has received Enlightenment
from God, (no better than one hard-hearted)? Woe
to those whose hearts are hardened against
celebrating(b) the praises of God! they are
manifestly wandering (in err or)! - Qur'an
Surah 39:22

(a) Those who listen to Allah's Message find at
each stage Allah's Grace helping them more and
more to expand their spiritual understanding and
to receive Allah's Light, so that they travel
farther and farther to their goal in the Path of
Truth and Righteousness. They are not to be
compared to those who shut out Allah's Light from
their hearts. See next note.

(b) Just as there is spiritual progress for those
who seek Allah, so there is more and more
spiritual retrogression for those who close their
hearts to Allah. Their hearts get hardened and
they allow less and less Allah's Grace to
penetrate within. But it is obvious that they
flounder on the Way and cannot walk with the firm
steps of those assured Faith.

Sara 11:52 PM

 
HADITH INSPIRATION

Narrated Ibn Abbas: Regarding His (Allah's)
Statement:-- 'Move not your tongue concerning (the
Qur'an) to make haste therewith.' (75.16) And
whenever Gabriel descended to Allah's Apostle with
the Divine Inspiration, Allah's Apostle used to
move his tongue and lips, and that used to be hard
for him, and one could easily recognize that he
was being inspired Divinely. So Allah revealed the
Verse which occurs in the Surah starting with "I
do swear by the Day of Resurrection.' (75.1) i.e.
'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to
make haste then with. It is for Us to collect it
(in your mind) (O Muhammad) an give you the
ability to recite it 'by heart.' (75.16-17) which
means: It is for us to collect it (in your mind)
and give you the ability to recite it by heart.
And when We have recited it to you (O Muhammad)
through Gabriel then follow you its recital.
(75.18) means: 'When We reveal it (the Qur'an) to
you, Listen to it.' for then: It is for Us to
explain it and make it clear to you' (75.19) i.e.
It is up to Us to explain it through your tongue.
So, when Gabriel came to him, Allah's Apostle
would listen to him attentively, and as soon as
Gabriel left, he would recite the Revelations, as
Allah had promised him. Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6,
Book 61, Number 564

Malik related to me from Muhammad ibn Amr ibn
Alqama from his father from Bilal ibn al-Harith
al-Muzani that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, said, "A man speaks
what is pleasing to Allah and he does not suspect
that it will have the result that it does, and
Allah will write for him His good pleasure for it
until the day when he meets Him. And a man speaks
what excites the wrath of Allah and he does not
suspect that it will have the result that it does,
and Allah will write His wrath for him for it
until the day when he meets Him." Malik's Muwatta,
Book 56, Number 56.2.5

Malik related to me that he heard that Isa ibn
Maryam used to say, "Do not speak much without the
mention of Allah for you will harden your hearts.
A hard heart is far from Allah, but you do not
know. Do not look at the wrong actions of people
as if you were lords. Look at your wrong actions
as if you were slaves. Some people are afflicted
by wrong action and some people are protected from
it. Be merciful to the people of affliction and
praise Allah for His protection." Malik's Muwatta,
Book 56, NUmber 56.3.8

Sara 11:51 PM

 
DU'A OF THE WEEK

Allahumma 'inni 'asaluka nafsan mutma'innatan
tu-minu biliqa'ika, watarda biqada'ika, wataqn'a
bi'ata'ik.

"O Allah, I ask Thee for a calm soul which
believes in the Meeting with Thee, approves what
Thou hast decreed and is contented with what Thou
hast given", A'ameen.

Hasbunallahu wa n'imal wakil
Allah is sufficient for us and he is the best
disposer of affairs.

[Du'a's by Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim]


Sara 11:49 PM

 
ARABIC WORD KNOWLEDGE

al-Ba'th -
The term generally has two distinct meanings, the
first being 'resurrection' and the second being
'sending'. (1) Pre-Islamic Arabia believed that
the souls of the dead lived on in some shadowy
existence beyond the grave but there was no
resurrection of the body. The Qur'an, however,
later taught that there would, in fact, be a
resurrection of both the body and the soul on the
Day of Judgment. The pagan Arabs did not believe
in this. Many Islamic scholars believe, however,
contrary to the teachings of the Qur'an, that it
is only the souls that will be resurrected on the
Day of Judgment. The Qur'an has many references
and detailed descriptions of the Day of Judgment
or Resurrection (Yawm al-Ba'th or Yawm al-Qiyama).
(2) the word ba'th has the additional technical
theological sense of indicating the sending out of
prophets by God.

al-Hisab -
Literally, 'Reckoning'. The Day of Judgement is
called in Arabic 'The Day of Reckoning' (Yawm
al-Hisab), among other names (see verse 27 of
Surat Ghafir). The Qur'an gives a considerable
amount of detail about the Day of Judgement: in
particular, two styles of judgement, with scales
and with books, are mentioned. See, for example,
verses 8 and 9 of Surat al-A'raf and verses 7-12
of Surat al-Inshiqaq.

Sara 11:42 PM

 
:: I am Always With You ::
By: Allison Chambers Coxsey, © 1996

My Friend,
I Am Always with You
When true friendship
binds two individuals together,
that bond can never be broken.

For in times of confusion,
I will be there to listen to you.

In times of sadness,
I will be there to console you.

In times of anger,
I will be there to talk with you.

Even when miles separate us,
my friend,
when you are confused,
when you are sad,
when you are angry - - -
search your heart ...
and I will be there
Sara 11:38 PM

 
Ten Things We Waste

1. -- Our Knowledge --
Wasted by not taking action with it.

2. -- Our Actions --
Wasted by committing them without sincerity.

3. -- Our Wealth --
Wasted by using on things that will not bring
us ajr (reward from Allah). We waste our
money, our status, our authority, on things
which have no benefit in this life or in the
akhirah (hereafter).

4. -- Our Hearts --
Wasted because they are empty from the love of
Allah (swt) and his Messenger (sallallahu
'alahi wasallam), and a feeling of peace and
contentment. In it's place, our hearts are
filled with something or someone else.

5. -- Our Bodies --
Wasted because we don't use them in ibadah
(worship) and service of Allah.

6. -- Our Love --
Our emotional love is misdirected, not towards
Allah, but towards something/someone else.

7. -- Our Time --
Wasted, not used properly, to compensate for
that which has passed, by doing what is
righteous to make up for past deeds.

8. -- Our Intellect --
Wasted on things that are not beneficial, that
are detremental to society and the individual,
not in contemplation or reflection.

9. -- Our Service --
Wasted in service of someone who will not
bring us closer to Allah, moreover something
that will benefit us in dunya.

10. -- Our Dhikr (Remembrence of Allah) --
Wasted, because it does not effect us or our
hearts.

Sara 11:36 PM

Monday, June 16, 2003

 
stole a quiz frm Kchica
ur more thanwelcome to steal it frm me:)
Sara 6:26 PM

 

your eyes show love


which eye are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Sara 6:25 PM

 
salaam this awsome email frm Mlaiha S. i got...so i decided to post it up:)
Sara 6:05 PM

 
Forwarding a well-written, worth reading piece...
>
>
>
>A Benedictine Sister of Erie, Sister Joan is a best-selling author
>
>and well- known international lecturer. She is founder and executive
>
>director of Benetvision: A Resource and Research Center for
>
>Contemporary Spirituality , and past
>
>president of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses and
>
>the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Sister Joan has been
>
>recognized by universities and national organizations for her work
>
>for justice, peace and equality for women in the Church and society.
>
>She is an active member of the International Peace Council.
>
>
>
>Published on Thursday, May 29, 2003 by the National Catholic
>
>Reporter
>
>
>
>Is There Anything Left That Matters?
>
>
>
>by Joan Chittister, OSB
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>This is what I don't understand: All of a sudden nothing seems to matter.
>
>
>
>First, they said they wanted Bin Laden "dead or alive." But they
>
>didn't get him. So now they tell us that it doesn't matter. Our
>
>mission is greater than one man.
>
>
>
>Then they said they wanted Saddam Hussein, "dead or alive." He's
>
>apparently alive but we haven't got him yet, either. However,
>
>President Bush told reporters recently, "It doesn't matter. Our
>
>mission is greater than one man."
>
>
>
>Finally, they told us that we were invading Iraq to destroy their
>
>weapons of mass destruction. Now they say those weapons probably
>
>don't exist. Maybe never existed. Apparently that doesn't matter
>
>either.
>
>
>
>Except that it does matter.
>
>
>
>I know we're not supposed to say that. I know it's called "unpatriotic."
>
>
>
>But it's also called honesty. And dishonesty matters.
>
>
>
>It matters that the infrastructure of a foreign nation that couldn't
>
>defend itself against us has been destroyed on the grounds that it
>
>was a military threat to the world.
>
>
>
>It matters that it was destroyed by us under a new doctrine of
>
>"pre-emptive war" when there was apparently nothing worth pre-empting.
>
>
>
>It surely matters to the families here whose sons went to war to
>
>make the world safe from weapons of mass destruction and will never
>
>come home.
>
>
>
>It matters to families in the United States whose life support
>
>programs were ended, whose medical insurance ran out, whose food
>
>stamps were cut off, whose day care programs were eliminated so we
>
>could spend the money on sending an army to do what did not need to
>
>be done.
>
>
>
>It matters to the Iraqi girl whose face was burned by a lamp that
>
>toppled over as a result of a U.S. bombing run.
>
>
>
>It matters to Ali, the Iraqi boy who lost his family - and both his
>
>arms - in a U.S. air attack.
>
>
>
>It matters to the people in Baghdad whose water supply is now fetid,
>
>whose electricity is gone, whose streets are unsafe, whose 158
>
>government ministries' buildings and all their records have been
>
>destroyed, whose cultural heritage and social system has been looted
>
>and whose cities teem with anti-American protests.
>
>
>
>It matters that the people we say we "liberated" do not feel
>
>liberated in the midst of the lawlessness, destruction and wholesale
>
>social suffering that so-called liberation created.
>
>
>
>It matters to the United Nations whose integrity was impugned, whose
>
>authority was denied, whose inspection teams are even now still
>
>being overlooked in the process of technical evaluation and
>
>disarmament.
>
>
>
>It matters to the reputation of the United States in the eyes of the
>
>world, both now and for decades to come, perhaps.
>
>
>
>And surely it matters to the integrity of this nation whether or not
>
>its intelligence gathering agencies have any real intelligence or
>
>not before we launch a military armada on its say-so.
>
>
>
>And it should matter whether or not our government is either
>
>incompetent and didn't know what they were doing or were dishonest
>
>and refused to say. The unspoken truth is that either as a people we
>
>were misled, or we were lied to, about the real reason for this war.
>
>Either we made a huge - and unforgivable - mistake, an arrogant or
>
>ignorant mistake, or we are swaggering around the world like a blind
>
>giant, flailing in all directions while the rest of the world
>
>watches in horror or in ridicule.
>
>
>
>If Bill Clinton's definition of "is" matters, surely this matters.
>
>If a president's sex life matters, surely a president's use of
>
>global force against some of the weakest people in the world
>
>matters. If a president's word in a court of law about a private
>
>indiscretion matters, surely a president's word to the community of
>
>nations and the security of millions of people matters.
>
>
>
>And if not, why not? If not, surely there is something as wrong with
>
>us as citizens, as thinkers, as Christians as there must be with
>
>some facet of the government. If wars that the public says are wrong
>
>yesterday - as over 70% of U.S. citizens did before the attack on
>
>Iraq - suddenly become "right" the minute the first bombs drop, what
>
>kind of national morality is that?
>
>
>
>Of what are we really capable as a nation if the considered judgment
>
>of politicians and people around the world means nothing to us as a
>
>people?
>
>
>
>What is the depth of the American soul if we can allow destruction
>
>to be done in our name and the name of "liberation" and never even
>
>demand an accounting of its costs, both personal and public, when it
>
>is over?
>
>
>
>We like to take comfort in the notion that people make a distinction
>
>between our government and ourselves. We like to say that the people
>
>of the world love Americans, they simply mistrust our government.
>
>But excoriating a distant and anonymous "government" for wreaking
>
>rubble on a nation in pretense of good requires very little of
>
>either character or intelligence.
>
>
>
>What may count most, however, is that we may well be the ones
>
>Proverbs warns when it reminds us: "Kings take pleasure in honest
>
>lips; they value the one who speaks the truth." The point is clear:
>
>If the people speak and the king doesn't listen, there is something
>
>wrong with the king. If the king acts precipitously and the people
>
>say nothing, something is wrong with the people.
>
>
>
>It may be time for us to realize that in a country that prides
>
>itself on being democratic, we are our government. And the rest of
>
>the world is figuring that out very quickly.
>
>
>
>From where I stand, that matters.
>
>
>
>A Benedictine Sister of Erie, Sister Joan is a best-selling author
>
>and well- known international lecturer. She is founder and executive
>
>director of Benetvision: A Resource and Research Center for
>
>Contemporary Spirituality , and past
>
>president of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses and
>
>the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Sister Joan has been
>
>recognized by universities and national organizations for her work
>
>for justice, peace and equality for women in the Church and society.
>
>She is an active member of the International Peace Council.
Sara 6:04 PM

Sunday, June 15, 2003

 
salaam... sorri no update goin tp paki land:) see ya when i get backk.. :)
Sara 4:55 PM

Monday, June 09, 2003

 
INSPIRATION

A sunrise is God's way of telling the world to
lighten up.
-- Roadside Church Sign

There's no thief like a bad book.
-- Italian Proverb

Some books are to be tasted, others to be
swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.
-- Francis Bacon

A baby is an angel whose wings decrease as his
legs increase.
-- French Proverb

Perhaps parents would enjoy their children more if
they stopped to realize that the film of childhood
can never be run through for a second showing.
-- Evelyn Nown

A harvest of peace is produced from a seed of
contentment.
-- American Proverb

That they may have a little peace, even the best
dogs are compelled to snarl occasionally.
-- William Feather

Sara 4:25 PM

 
QUR'ANIC INSPIRATION
[38] We did send messengers before thee, and
appointed for them wives and children:(a)(b) and
it was never the part of a messengers to bring a
Sign except as Allah permitted(c) (or commanded).
For each period is a Book (revealed).(d) [39]
Allah doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth:
With Him is the Mother of the Book.(e) - Qur'an
Surah 13:38-39

(a) All of the Prophets of whom we have detailed
knowledge, except one, had wives and children. The
exception was Jesus, the son of Mary. But his life
was incomplete: his ministry barely three years;
his mission was limited; and he was not called
upon to deal with the many-sided problems that
arise in a highly organized society or State. We
pay equal respect to him, because he was Allah's
Messenger: but that is not to say that his Message
covers the same universal ground as that of Al
Mustafa. There is no reproach for a normal human
being if he lives a normal human life; there is
glory if he beautifies it and sets a nobler
example of virtue than other men, as did Al
Mustafa.

(b) Also, let us not forget, that based upon last
weeks Qur'anic Inspiration, wherein we discussed
the return of Jesus to Earth to defeat the
anti-Christ and lead the world to Islam
(submission to Allah), that he may in deed have
his wife and children "appointed" for him by Allah
in the second coming where he is suppose to be
here for a period of about 40-years. Only then
will he have completed his total mission as
envisioned by the Divine Creator.

(c) No Prophet performed any miracle or showed
forth any "Signs" except as Allah willed. Allah's
will (Mashiyyah) is an All-Wise, universal Plan,
which is not formed for the benefit of one tribe
or millah or of one age or country (see the
following verse #39). The greatest Miracle in
history was and is the Qur'an. We can apprehend
its beauty and grandeur today as much as did the
people of Al Mustafa's day - even more, as our
collective knowledge of nature and of Allah's
creation has increased.

(d) Kitab: Yusuf Ali translated "a Book
(revealed)"; but it can also mean "a Law Decreed"
or "A Decree established". Ultimately the meaning
is the same; for each age, according to Allah's
wisdom, His Message is renewed.

(e) Umm al Kitab: Mother of the Book: the
original foundation of all revelation; the essence
of Allah's Will and Law (also refer to 3:7 as
well).

Sara 4:24 PM

 
HADITH INSPIRATION

Narrated Abu Huraira: A man came to the Prophet.
The Prophet sent a messenger to his wives (to
bring something for that man to eat) but they said
that they had nothing except water. Then Allah's
Apostle said, "Who will take this (person) or
entertain him as a guest?" An Ansar man said, "I."
So he took him to his wife and said to her,
"Entertain generously the guest of Allah's Apostle
" She said, "We have got nothing except the meals
of my children." He said, "Prepare your meal,
light your lamp and let your children sleep if
they ask for supper." So she prepared her meal,
lighted her lamp and made her children sleep, and
then stood up pretending to mend her lamp, but she
put it off. Then both of them pretended to be
eating, but they really went to bed hungry. In the
morning the Ansari went to Allah's Apostle who
said, "Tonight Allah laughed or wondered at your
action." Then Allah revealed: "But give them
(emigrants) preference over themselves even though
they were in need of that And whosoever is saved
from the covetousness Such are they who will be
successful." (59.9) Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book
58, Number 142

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab
that he was asked about the suckling of an older
person. He said, ''Urwa ibn az-Zubayr informed me
that Abu Hudhayfa ibn Utba ibn Rabia, one of the
companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, who was present at
Badr, adopted Salim (who is called Salim, the
mawla of Abu Hudhayfa) as the Messenger of Allah,
may Allah bless him and grant him peace, adopted
Zayd ibn Haritha. He thought of him as his son,
and Abu Hudhayfa married him to his brother's
sister, Fatima bint al-Walid ibn Utba ibn Rabia,
who was at that time among the first emigrants.
She was one of the best unmarried women of the
Quraysh. When Allah the Exalted sent down in His
Book what He sent down about Zayd ibn Haritha,
'Call them after their true fathers. That is more
equitable in the sight of Allah. If you do not
know who their fathers were then they are your
brothers in the deen and your mawali,' (Sura 33
ayat 5) people in this position were traced back
to their fathers. When the father was not known,
they were traced to their mawla.

"Sahla bint Suhayl who was the wife of Abu
Hudhayfa, and one of the tribe of Amr ibn Luayy,
came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, and said, 'Messenger of
Allah! We think of Salim as a son and he comes in
to see me while I am uncovered. We only have one
room, so what do you think about the situation?'
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, said, 'Give him five drinks of
your milk and he will be mahram by it.' She then
saw him as a foster son. A'isha umm al-muminin
took that as a precedent for whatever men she
wanted to be able to come to see her. She ordered
her sister, Umm Kulthum bint Abi Bakr as-Siddiq
and the daughters of her brother to give milk to
whichever men she wanted to be able to come in to
see her. The rest of the wives of the Prophet, may
Allah bless him and grant him peace, refused to
let anyone come in to them by such nursing. They
said, 'No! By Allah! We think that what the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, ordered Sahla bint Suhayl to do was
only an indulgence concerning the nursing of Salim
alone. No! By Allah! No one will come in upon us
by such nursing!'

"This is what the wives of the Prophet, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, thought about the
suckling of an older person." Malik's Muwatta,
Book 30.2.12

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: When
the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was
commanded to give option to his wives, he started
it from me saying: I am going to mention to you a
matter which you should not (decide) in haste
until you have consulted your parents. She said
that he already knew that my parents would never
allow me to seek separation from him She said:
Then he said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious,
said: Prophet, say to thy wives: If you desire
this world's life and its adornment, then come, I
will give you a provision and allow you to depart
a goodly departing; and if you desire Allah and
His Messenger and the abode of the Hereafter, then
Allah has prepared for the doers of good among you
a great reward She is reported to have said: About
what should I consult my parents, for I desire
Allah and His Messenger and the abode of the
Hereafter? She ('A'isha) said: Then all the wives
of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) did
as I had done. Sahih Muslim, Book 009, Number 3498
Sara 4:24 PM

 
DU'A OF THE WEEK

Allaahu laa ilaaha illa Huwal Hayyul Qayyoom, laa
ta'khuthuhu sinatun wa laa nawm, lahu maa fis
samaawaati wa maa filardh, man thal lathee
yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi ithnihi, ya'lamu maa
baina aideehim wa maa khalfahum. wa laa yuheetoona
bishay'im min 'ilmihi illa bimaa shaa'a, wasi'a
kursiyyuhus samaa waati wal ardh, wa laa ya'ooduhu
hifdhuhumaa, wa Huwal 'Aliyyul 'Adheem.

(Allah! There is no God but He, the Ever Living,
the One Who sustains and protects all that exists.
Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him
belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is
on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with
Him except with His permission? He knows what
happens to them in this world, and what will
happen to hem in the Hereafter. And they will
never encompass anything of His knowledge except
that which He wills. His Throne extends over the
heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in
guarding and preserving them. And he is the Most
High, the Most Great.)

Whoever reads this when he lies down to sleep will
have a guardian from Allah remain with him and
Satan will not be able to come near him until he
rises in the morning. Al-Bukhari

Taken from Fortress of the Muslim Invocation From
the Qur'an and Sunnah pages 113-117


Sara 4:23 PM

 
:: A Bus Driver Converts to Islam ::

Several years ago an Imam moved to London, United
Kingdom. He often took the bus from his home to
the downtown area. Some weeks after he arrived, he
had occasion to ride the same bus. When he sat
down, he discovered that the driver had
accidentally given him a twenty pence (a.k.a
'tuppence') too much change.

As he considered what to do, he thought to
himself, you better give the twenty pence back. It
would be wrong to keep it. Then he thought, "Oh,
forget it, it's only tuppence. Who would worry
about this little amount? Anyway the bus company
already gets too much fare; they will never miss
it. Accept it as a gift from Allah (swt) and keep
quiet."

When his stop came, the Imam paused momentarily at
the door, then he handed the twenty pence back to
the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much
change". The driver with a smile, replied, "Aren't
you the new Imam in this area? I have been
thinking lately about going to worship at your
Mosque. I just wanted to see what you would do, if
I gave you too much change."

When the Imam stepped off the bus, his knees
became weak and soft, he literally grabbed the
nearest light pole, and held on for support, and
looked up to the heavens and cried: "Oh Allah, I
almost sold You and Islam for twenty pence!"


Sara 7:55 AM

 
ARABIC WORD KNOWLEDGE

Adab -
Word with a wide variety of meanings ranging from
'culture' and 'good manners' to 'belles-letters'.
The basic Arabic root indicates the possession of
refinement or good habits bequeathed down the
ages. One of the most notable exponents of adab in
its sense of belles-letters was al-Jahiz.

al-Jahiz, Abu 'Uthman 'Amr b. Bahr - (160/776-255/868-9) -
One of the most distinguished and prolific
medieval Arabic writers and, in particular, a
major exponent of the adab genre. From an Islamic
religious point of view, al-Jahiz is of special
interest because of his Mu'tazila writings and
interests. he was called al-Jahiz, meaning 'the
Goggle-eyed', because of an eye infection.

Sara 7:55 AM

 
:: The Message ::
By: Mamoon Syed
Source: Courtesy of IDN

Here ye! here ye! From far and near
The one they called the Prophet Muhammed was here
To deliver a message to everyone everywhere
So listen up party people because this you should
hear.

This is a story from a far away atmosphere,
That you will find very clear.
so listen up everybody, because
with this we should take care.

We go back in time, over 1400 years,
To a city called Makkah, where moral values no-one
bears.
But there was one man who was honest and humble
And with other people he would never rumble.

One day at the age of 40,
He retrieved to a cave with serenity.
Angel Gabriel came upon him there
and filled our beloved Prophet with fear

But from that day forth, Rasull started to
preach,
The orders of Allah to all people he had to
teach.
There is no god but Allah he stated
After that he begun to be hated.

But the Rasull was persistent and didn't care.
Because in his heart was room for only one FEAR.
The FEAR of Allah, Glorified and Most High,
Never out of tiredness would he sigh.

But soon later people started to believe,
Khadija, Ali..the numbers wouldn't seize.
What great hardships they all endured
Hunger, abuse and victims to the kafir's sword

But what great faith and taqwa they had,
To be Muslims they were blessed and glad.
Omar, Abu Bakr, Othman, Bilal and the list goes on
and on
May Allah be pleased with all that they have done.

Proud they were to be servants of their Creator..
Proud they were to wear hijab or a gallabeya.
They didn't care what the kafirs said
Whether they laughed, abused, or didn't give them
their daily bread.

'Cause they knew of the day that was to come,
When all would return to their Lord, and know they
had won.
They'de see their accounts in their right hand...
And with the Rasull they would stand.

The kafirs will be damned to hell FOREVER
And the believers in Paradise...FOREVER.
Now I ask all you, and mostly myself..
Is this life worth it with its deceptive Wealth???

A day will come promises Allah Ta'ala,
Where the Mu'min will talk to the kafir with
laughter.
"What do you want now?" they will ask,
"money, gold, or another chance?"

The reply that will come is scary but true..
A DROP OF WATER they will ask from
YOU.........(inshallah)
So brothers and sisters in Islam
Let's unify and keep other from HARAM..

Let's enjoin the good and sunnah in our lives.
So on yaum-al-qiyamat we can survive.
Let's stay away from those things that are
doubtful
Cause Allah's Mercy is much Bountiful

And make du'a for "maghfirat wa ajran azeema"
And ask Allah to guide us to "sirat al mustaqeema"

AMEEN


Sara 7:54 AM

Monday, May 26, 2003

 
salaaam!!! so i made it to the wedding porr sana couldnt.... i wish u could have cus i was board outta amy mind.. i didn t know many ppl there.. more were frm the bride n grrom ppl da!! the decorations were allhumdullilah sooo awsome!! so many roses and stuff every lil detail was awsome...... i wonder if sum of these bloggin ladies made it.. that would be wierd.. cus we saw each otehr but not really.. hehe. um okay.. soo im mad tired.. the wedding was two days long.. dholki on sat night and wedding on sunday night.. mashllah both were beautifully aranged.. may they have a happy life forvere (ameen) !!! hm,m im signing off see u guys late salaaama

Sara 3:53 PM

 
INSPIRATION

Instruction in youth is like engraving in stone.
-- Columbian Proverb

I do beseech you to direct your efforts more to
preparing youth for the path and less to preparing
the path for the youth.
-- Ben Lindsey

One falsehood spoils a thousand truths.
-- African Proverb

Some people handle the truth carelessly;
Others never touch it at all.
-- Anonymous

They are not dead who live in the hearts they
leave behind.
-- Native American Proverb

==================================================

> QUR'ANIC INSPIRATION

Last week we looked at ayat 1 through 3 now we
look further into Surah Ghafir with verses 4
through 6.

[4] None can dispute about the Signs of Allah(a)
but the unbelievers. Let not, then, their
strutting about(b) through the land deceive thee!
[5] But (there were people) before them, who
denied (the signs) - The People of Noah, and the
Confederates(c) (of evil) after them; and every
People plotted against their Prophet, to seize him
and disputed by means of vanities,(d) therewith to
condemn the Truth: but it was I that seized them!
And how (terrible) was My Requital! [6] Thus was
the Decree of thy Lord proved true against the
unbelievers;(e) that truly they are companions of
the Fire! - Qur'an Surah 40:4-6(d)

(a) Allah's knowledge and attributes are perfect
and everything around us proclaims this. We are
surrounded by His Signs. It is only want of Faith
that will make people dispute them.

(b) Also see 3:196 for the same language. Their
strutting about shows how little they can read the
Signs.

(c) See also 38:11-13 for more in this area. All
the hosts of wickedness collected together from
history will have no power against Allah's truth
or the Messenger of that Truth or Allah's Holy
Plan for all His creation.

(d) Whenever a great and vital Truth is
proclaimed and renewed, there are always shallow
minds that are ready to dispute about it! And what
petty and vain arguments they advance! They think
they can discredit or condemn the Truth in this
way, or render "of none effect" Allah's Plan. But
they are mistaken. If they seem to succeed for a
time, that is merely their trial. They may try to
plan and plot against Allah's men, but their plots
will fail in the long run. They will themselves be
caught in their own snares. And the, how terrible
will be their punishment!

(e) See also 13:32 for similar language.

Sara 3:46 PM

 
HADITH INSPIRATION

Narrated Al-Bara' bin 'Azib: The Prophet was
carrying earth with us on the day of the battle of
Al-Ahzab (confederates) and I saw that the dust
was covering the whiteness of his abdomen, and he
(the Prophet ) was saying, "(O Allah) ! Without
You, we would not have been guided, nor would we
have given in charity, nor would we have prayed.
So (O Allah!) please send tranquility (Sakina)
upon us as they, (the chiefs of the enemy tribes)
have rebelled against us. And if they intend
affliction (i.e. want to frighten us and fight
against us) then we would not (flee but withstand
them). And the Prophet used to raise his voice
with it. (See Hadith No. 430 and 432, Vol. 5)
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 90, Number 342

Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that whenever Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) came back from
the battle or from expeditions or from Hajj or
Umra and as he reached the top of the hillock or
upon the elevated hard ground, he uttered Allah-o-
Akbar thrice, and then said: There is no god but
Allah. He is One, there is no partner with Him,
His is the sovereignty and His is the praise and
He is Potent over everything. (We are) returning,
repenting, worshipping, prostrating before our
Lord, and we praise Him Allah fulfilled His
promise and helped His servant, and routed the
confederates alone. Sahih Muslim, Book 007, Number
3116

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "The
main source of disbelief is in the east. Pride and
arrogance are characteristics of the owners of
horses and camels, and those Bedouins who are busy
with their camels and pay no attention to
Religion; while modesty and gentleness are the
characteristics of the owners of sheep." Sahih
Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 520

Narrated 'Uqba bin 'Umar and Abu Mas'ud: Allah's
Apostle pointed with his hand towards Yemen and
said, "True Belief is Yemenite yonder (i.e. the
Yemenite, had True Belief and embraced Islam
readily), but sternness and mercilessness are the
qualities of those who are busy with their camels
and pay no attention to the Religion where the two
sides of the head of Satan will appear. Such
qualities belong to the tribe of Rabi'a and
Mudar." Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number
521

Sara 3:39 PM

 
DU'A OF THE WEEK

Allahumma, laka rak'atu, wa bika 'aamantu, wa laka
'aslamtu, wa 'alaika tawakkaltu. Anta Rabbi,
khasha'aa sam'ie wa basari, wa dami, wa lahmi, wa
mukhi, wa 'athami wa 'asabi lillahi, Rabbil
'aalameen.

"O Allah, to You I bend in ruku, in You I believe,
to You I submit and upon You I depend. You are my
Lord. My hearing, my sight, my blood, my flesh, my
brain, my bones and my nerves are subdued before
Allah, Lord of the Worlds", Aameen.

(Reported by Muslim & Abu Dawud
Sara 3:39 PM

 
INSPIRATIONAL SHORT STORIES

:: Unknown on Earth and Well-Known in Heaven ::

Abu Huraira says (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be
upon him) said: Allah Almighty loves from among
His creatures the purest, the unknown and the
innocent ones; those whose heads are not combed,
whose faces are dusty and whose stomachs are
empty; those who are not allowed to enter the
courts of the leaders and the kings; and are
rejected if they should ask the hand of wealthy
girls. If they are absent nobody would ask about
them and once they appear no one is pleased to see
them; when these people become sick no one visits
them and once they die none attend their funerals.

The Prophet was then asked: How can we meet one of
them O Messenger of Allah? He said: One such
person is Uways Al Qarani. The Companions asked:
And who is Uways Al Qarani? He said: A wide eyed
white person, broad shouldered, with a straight
built body. He always has his beard close to his
bosom, with his eyes fixed on the place of his
prostration, putting his right hand on his left
hand, reciting the Qur'an and weeping upon
himself. He has dirty clothes and no one cares for
him. He is unknown on earth but well known in
heaven. If he swears upon Allah, Allah will surely
fulfill his oath. Under his left shoulder he has a
white brilliant spot. On the Day of Judgement it
will be said to the slaves of Allah: Enter
Paradise, and Uways will be told: Stop here to
make intercession. Then Allah will make him
intercede in favour a large number of people,
equivalent to the tribes of Rabiah and Muddar. O
Umer and you Ali, if you should meet him ask him
to seek forgiveness of Allah for you; for Allah
will surely forgive you.

Sara 3:38 PM

 
ARABIC WORD KNOWLEDGE

Jabr -
Compulsion, predestination, fate, determinism,
determination. This was a word of considerable
theological significance in the debates of
medieval Islam. (See Qadar)

Qadar -
Often translated as 'destiny', 'fate', 'divine
predestination', 'divine determination', qadar
specifically is the divine application of qada in
time, according to the most widespread
interpretations. (See Qada)

Qada -
Divine decree, divine judgement, divine will, the
function of God as Judge (Qadi). The word has a
variety of other senses in the Qur'an. (See Kasb)

Kasb or Iktisab -
Medieval theological doctrine of 'acquisition',
often associated with, but probably not invented
by, al-Ash'ari. According to this doctrine God
creates any action but man 'acquires' it. This was
a valiant attempt by medieval Islamic theologians
to solve an aged-old problem: how did one
reconcile, on the one hand, God's total
omnipotence and omniscience with, on the other,
man's free will and responsibility for his own
actions?


Sara 3:38 PM

 

:: It Feels so Wrong ::
By: LAYLA MAI

My hearts not in it,
It feels so wrong
To pretend and deny
What's going on.

Am I insane
Or are you asleep
Am I over reacting
When I sit and weep

This classroom
Is not my home
Where I'm confined
Not left to roam

What is it their hiding
Behind heavy books?
Why is it the end product
Isn't always as it looks?

Is this the "net"
'Lambs to the slaughter'
Where colourful dormitories
Invite sons and daughters?

Everyone is welcome
To expand the mind
But now I know
I was
Deaf and blind!

Who speaks of pain?
Who turns insane?
After all they knew
No longer remains?
Who is forced to feel the rain?

We're all equal they say,
So why the grade?
Everyone's an individual,
So why behind 'painted faces
Do they masquerade'?

Sara 3:36 PM

Monday, May 19, 2003

 
INSPIRATION

Conscience is the voice of the soul.
-- Polish Proverb

Shame arises from the fear of man; conscience from
the fear of God.
-- Samuel Johnson

He who doesn't look ahead remains behind.
-- Mexican American Proverb

Light tomorrow with today!
-- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no
tears.
-- Native American Proverb

Grief shared is half grief; Joy shared is double
joy.
-- Honduran Proverb

May the Lord grant me a sword and no need to use
it.
-- Czech Proverb

One sword keeps another in the sheath.
-- George Herbert

A camel never sees its own hump.
-- African Proverb

It is difficult to see the picture when you are
inside the frame.
-- R.S. Trapp



QUR'ANIC INSPIRATION

[1] Ha Mim.(a) [2] The Revelation of this Book is
from Allah, Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge(b)
- [3] Who forgiveth Sin, accepteth Repentance,(c)
is strict in Punishment, and hath a Long Reach (in
all things). There is no god but He: to Him is the
Final Goal. - Qur'an Surah 40:1-3(d)

(a) Surah 40 begins a series of seven surahs
(40-46) to which are affixed the abbreviated
letters Ha Mim. Chronologically they all belong to
the late Meccan period and immediately followed
surah 39 in time. As to the precise meaning of the
abbreviated letters Ha Mim no authoritative
explanation is available. If Mim here has a
significance similar to Mim in Alif, Lam, Mim it
means the End of Things, the Last Day, and all
these surahs direct our special attention to that
Ha, the emphatic guttural, in contrast with the
softer breathing of Alif, may mean to suggest that
the beginning is only for the End, the Present for
the Future, and to emphasize the eschatological
element in Faith. But this is mere conjecture and
should be taken for no more than it is worth.

(b) This verse is the same as 39:1, except for
the last words describing the attribute of Allah.
In surah 39:1, it was "Full of Wisdom", because
stress was laid on the wisdom of Allah's Plan in
ordering His World. In this surah the stress is
laid on Knowledge, before which shallow knowledge
of men is vain (40:83)

(c) Allah's knowledge is supreme and
all-reaching. But there are other attributes of
His which concern us even more intimately; e.g.,
He forgives sin and accepts our repentance when it
is sincere and results in our change of heart and
life: but He is also just and strict in punishment
and so no loophole will be left for evil except in
repentance. And further, all His attributes reach
to everything: His Mercy, as well as His Knowledge
and Justice; His Bounties as well as His
Punishments.

(d) This surah is called Ghafir (Forgiver, see
verse 3). It is also called "The Believer"
(Mu'min) from the story of the individual Believer
among the people of Pharaoh who declares his faith
and looks to the Future (verses 28-45). In surah
23, called The Believers (Mu'minun), the argument
was about the collective force of Faith and
Virtue. Here it is about the individual's witness
to Faith and Virtue and his triumph in the End.

Sara 10:00 AM

 
HADITH INSPIRATION

Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir: I heard Allah's
Apostle saying, 'Both legal and illegal things are
evident but in between them there are doubtful
(suspicious) things and most of the people have no
knowledge about them. So whoever saves himself
from these suspicious things saves his religion
and his honor. And whoever indulges in these
suspicious things is like a shepherd who grazes
(his animals) near the Hima (private pasture) of
someone else and at any moment he is liable to get
in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Hima
and the Hima of Allah on the earth is His illegal
(forbidden) things. Beware! There is a piece of
flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed)
the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt
the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 49

Narrated Abu Musa: The Prophet 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 utilized it
for drinking, making their animals drink from it
and for irrigation of the land for cultivation.
(And) a portion of it was barren which could
neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation
(then that land gave no benefits). 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 (the Prophets
and learns and then teaches 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 that barren land.)" Sahih
Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 3, Number 79

Abu Huraira reported: One day the Messenger of
Allah (may peace be upon him) appeared before the
public that a man came to him and said: Prophet of
Allah, (tell me) what is Iman. Upon this he (the
Holy Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith
in Allah, His angels, His Books, His meeting, His
Messengers and that you affirm your faith in the
Resurrection hereafter. He (again) said: Messenger
of Allah, (tell me) what does al-Islam signify. He
(the Holy Prophet) replied: Al-Islam signifies
that you worship Allah and do not associate
anything with Him and you establish obligatory
prayer and you pay the obligatory poor-rate
(Zakat) and you observe the fast of Ramadan. He
(the inquirer) again said: Messenger of Allah,
what does al-Ihsan imply? He (the Holy Prophet)
replied: That you worship Allah as if you are
seeing Him, and in case you fail to see Him, then
observe prayer (with this idea in your mind) that
(at least) He is seeing you. He (the inquirer )
again said: Messenger of Allah, when would there
be the hour (of Doom)? He (the Holy Prophet)
replied: The one who is asked about it is no
better informed than the inquirer. I, however,
narrate some of its signs (and these are): when
the slave-girl will give birth to he master, when
the naked, barefooted would become the chiefs of
the people - these are some of the signs of
(Doom). (Moreover) when the shepherds of the black
(camels) would exult themselves in buildings, this
is one of the signs of (Doom). (Doom) is one of
the five (happenings wrapped in the unseen) which
no one knows but Allah. Then he (the Messenger of
Allah) recited (the verse):" Verily Allah! with
Him alone is the knowledge of the hour and He it
is Who sends (down the rain) and knows that which
is in the wombs and no person knows whatsoever he
shall earn tomorrow, and a person knows not in
whatsoever land he shall die. Verily Allah is
Knowing, Aware. He (the narrator, Abu Huraira)
said: Then the person turned back and went away.
The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)
said: Bring that man back to me. They (the
Companions of the Holy Prophet present there) went
to bring him back, but they saw nothing there.
Upon this the Messenger of Allah remarked: he was
Gabriel, who came to teach the people their
religion. Sahih Muslim, Book 001, Number 0004

Narrated Abu Hurayrah: The Apostle of Allah (peace
be upon him) used to say: "O Allah, I seek refuge
in Thee from four things: Knowledge which does not
profit, a heart which is not submissive, a soul
which has an insatiable appetite, and a
supplication which is not heard." Sunan Abu-Dawud,
Book 8, Number 1543

Sara 9:59 AM

 
DU'A OF THE WEEK

:: What to say when waking up at night ::

It is reported of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi
wa salaam) that he said: "One who wakes up at
night and says:

Lã 'ilãha 'illa 'allãhu wahdahu la shareeka lahu,
lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa `ala kulli
shay'in qadeerun, 'al-hamdu lil-lahi, wa
subhãnallãhi, wa lã 'ilãha 'illa 'allãhu, wa
'allãhu 'akbaru, wa lã hawla wa lã quwwata 'illã
bil-lahi 'al-`alyyil-`atheemi

There is no 'ilãh except Allah, Alone, no
associate does He have, his is the Kingdom, to Him
is all praise, and He is very able to do every
thing. All praise be to Allah, Glory be Allah,
there is no 'ilãh except Allah, and Allah is
greater [than every thing]. There is neither
might, nor strength except by Allah The High The
Magnificent.

then says: 'Allãhumma 'ighfirlee
(O' my 'ilãh forgive me. )

or supplicates, he will be answered, then if he
makes ablution and prays his prayer would be
accepted".

Reporters:
To be found under Tahajjud in Saheeh al-Bukhãri.
The two words "'al-`alyyil-`atheemi" were not in
al-Bukhãri's wording, they were found with Ibn
Mãjah, and Ibn As-Sunni with sound ascription as
described by Sheikh Al-Albãni. Al-Albãni included
this hadeeth in The Authentic of Good Sayings as
#35.

Taken from the book:
Authentic Supplications of the Prophet
Sara 9:59 AM

 
INSPIRATIONAL SHORT STORIES

:: A Funny Story of Three Men in New York City ::

Not long ago, three friends came to the New York
city. They decided to stay in a hotel during the
visit. It so happened that their room ended up
being on the 60th floor. The policy of the hotel
was that every night after 12:00 a.m. the
elevators are shut down for security reasons. So
on the next day, the three friends rented a car
and went out to explore the city. They enjoyed
movies, concerts, and other things throughout the
whole day. At one point, they remembered that they
have to get back to the hotel before 12 a.m. When
they arrived, it was beyond 12 a.m. at night. The
elevators were shut down. There was no other way
to get back to their room but to take the stairs
all the way to the 60th floor. All of a sudden,
one friend got an idea. He said "For the first 20
floors, I will tell jokes to keep us going. Then
another one of us could say wisdom stories for the
next 20 floors. Finally, we will cover the other
20 floors with sad stories." So, one of the
friends started with the jokes. With laughs and
joy, they reached the 20th floor. Now, another
friend started saying stories that are full of
wisdom. So, they learned a lot while reaching the
40th floor. Now, it was time for the sad stories.
So, the third friend started thus, "My first sad
story is that I left the key for the room in the
car."

Now, what is the point of this story? This story
resembles our life cycle. For the first 20 years
of our life, we spend time in joking and enjoying
whatever is out there. Then, after we reach 20, we
go into the work force, get married, have kids and
this is the time when we use our wisdom. Then, if
we reach 40, we finally see the white hairs and
begin to think that my life is coming to an end
and the sadness begins.

It's better that we start our life in the very
beginning by remembering death rather than
preparing for it at the end our life when very few
of us have the energy to obey Allah completely.


Sara 9:58 AM

 
ARABIC WORD KNOWLEDGE

Wird - [pl. awrad] -
Time used for extra worship; or part of the Qur'an
recited at such a time; or a sufi litany
comprising Qur'anic excerpts recited many times,
as a kind of 'daily office' of various sufi
tariqas.

Dhikr or Zikr -
(in Egyptian Colloquial Arabic) - Literally,
'remembrance', 'recollection', 'mention'. In
tasawwuf the word has a technical sense of
'litany' in which the name of God, or formulae
like 'God is Most Great' (Allahu Akbar), are
repeated over and over again in either a high or
low voice, often linked to bodily movement or
breathing. The dhikir is often one of the most
important activities of the sufi and its central
place has analogies with that of the Divine Office
in Western Monasticism.

Hadra - Literally, 'presence'.
The word has acquired a technical meaning in
tasawwuf and come to indicate the dhikr recited
commonly, often on a Friday. This word hadra has
replaced the older term sama'.

Sama' - Literally, 'audition', 'hearing'.
The word has the technical sense in tasawwuf of a
mystical or spiritual concert.


Sara 9:57 AM

 

:: The Almighty ::
By: Amina Mofassir

All things brilliant and mirthful
that an eye sees but a tongue cannot say,
the glowing sun that brightens up the day,
In the slanting silvery moon's beams,
the twilight which softens the whole scenes.

Be it the joyous oceans or the billowy lake,
in the crystal dews of rain and the fluffy snowy
flakes
Things that are near and far,
I see Oh the mighty Allah,
the magnificence of Thee.

Among the radiant butterflies and the fragrant
flowers,
the singing nightingale and the mirthful bowers.

The tuft of peach blossomed trees,
that bend from side to side in the soft breeze.
The twinkling stars in the velvet of the sky,
in the clouds that float over mountains high.

From the trifling to the enormous things of
nature,
I see the depiction of the Mightiness of Thee my
Creator.

Oh Allah I bow down before Thy glorious throne,
the Mighty and the Ruler art Thee alone.
Thou art the Most Merciful and the Most Beneficent
I put my trust in thee The Sustainer of all the
creations.
Guide me to the path of the righteous leading to
the real Fa'laah.
let my heart find rest in Thy remembrance , my
Allah!

Sara 9:57 AM

 
:: The Qur'an Publishing System ::



Sara 9:57 AM

 
:: Junk History ::
By: Mark Glenn

Next to “junk science,” which claims that the
earth is warming to the point that we will all be
burned to a crisp within just a few years, the one
thing that I hate most about the age in which we
live, an age that renders little to no critical
thinking as pertains important issues, is the area
of “junk history.” There are, more so today than
at any other time I think, a few things that
invariably pop up in discussions that demonstrate
how easy it is to sway a society’s thinking on a
given topic with just a few well placed and
misleading items repeated over and over again.

As someone who taught history for many years, I
cannot describe how irritating it is to hear that
Abraham Lincoln fought the “American Civil War” in
order to free the slaves, that FDR saved this
country from the Great Depression, that the first
amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the
right to publish pornography, and that “assault
weapons” have been the greatest source of crime
and violence in the US during the last century.
And yet, it is easy to see how well-intentioned
people, who have not yet grasped the extent to
which they have surrendered to media and
government types the ability to think for
themselves, can buy into these notions. They are
packaged very cleverly, with bits and pieces of
information that are verifiably true. And let’s
not forget to consider those mouthpieces doing the
convincing-very impressive. All kinds of advanced
degrees from this school or another, a book tour,
a radio or tv show, you