Tantalising Rewards

ABSTAINING FROM ADULTERY
The person who takes a fancy (to another), conceals (his fancy and desire) and remains chaste (and pure from the sin) and thus dies (in this state of purity); he will be regarded as a Shaheed (Martyr). (Hadith)

It is reported in a Hadith Qudsi (wherein Allah says): "The (evil) gaze (of looking at a man or woman who is unlawful) is a poisonous arrow from the arrows of the devil. He that abstains from it out of My fear, I will grant him in return such Imaan (faith), the sweetness of which he will experience within his heart. (Ibn Katheer)

Environmental Concerns: Showing Gratitude

ISLAM ADVOCATES an environmental outlook which is between two extremes: total disregard and protecting it in the absolute sense.

TREES: Abu Bakr (radhiallahu anh) instructed a departing army not to cut down flowering trees, nor burn any oasis. (Muwatta of Imam Malik)

ANIMALS: A narration in Abu Dawud reports the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as commanding the return of two chicks to the mother bird which was in distress at their loss.

NATURAL RESERVE: Cutting trees of the area around the Ka’bah, the Haram, and the hunting of game is prohibited. This is the first protected reserve in humanity’s history.

WATER POLLUTION: Muslims are prohibited from relieving themselves in stagnant water. (Abu Dawud)

Christmas: In celebration of Christmas hundreds of trees are cut down. It is a senseless destruction of natural resources with no sanction in Christianity.
Muslims have always been conscious of caring for the environment because of Islamic teachings:

Not to waste / Not to destroy
ISLAM’S WORLD-VIEW IS COMPREHENSIVE AND CAN LIVE UP TO ANY CHALLENGE THAT FACES HUMANITY.

Adult Amusement: Evil World of Filth

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS?

• Are you experiencing financial problems?
• Has your personality changed?
• Are you afraid of an AIDS test?

RESULTS OF ADULTERY
From the Hadith we learn that adultery:

• Destines one to poverty
• Removes the warmth of one’s personality
• Reduces one’s lifespan.

DEPRAVED FOOLS
Prostitutes have commented that:
"Do you know how many Muslims come here?"
Many non-Muslim prostitutes are using MUSLIM names because of the increase in demand by MUSLIM males for MUSLIM sex workers!!??!

HIGH TIME
Immorality abounds and brings suffering and loss in its wake; and Muslim men are falling headlong into the filth. It is high time that those involved should tear themselves away from this evil.

REMOTE CONTROL
Before turning to the "Adult" Column or flicking the channel or clicking the link, let us...

NOT COME NEAR TO ADULTERY

Divorce: Brilliant Advice

When divorce is inevitable, bear in mind this lesson. Others can also learn:

A learned man wanted to divorce his wife. People asked him the reason. He replied, "Why should I disclose my wife’s faults?" After divorce, people asked why he had divorced. He replied, "Why should I disclose the faults of a strange woman?"

Politics

SOMETIMES Muslims question the need to know about world affairs.

The Holy Qur’aan itself refers to the battles between the then world superpowers, Persia and Rome, in Surah Rum.

In these verses, although the Arabs were far removed from the battles, the Qur’aan mentioned the fact that the Muslims would become happy at the victory of the Romans.

Knowledge of world affairs is compatible with piety and is in accordance with Islamic principles.

Who to Vote For

ELECTION FEVER is gripping the country. We have another sickness plaguing us: the gambling fever.
What does Islam say in this regard?

DEVIL’S WORK
The lure of winning big has caught us as never before with the widespread and easily accessible Lotto.
This is a clear-cut arm of gambling which is outlawed in the Holy Qur’aan.
The Holy Qur’aan terms gambling an abomination from the handiwork of the Devil through which he wishes to create hatred and enmity between men. (5:90-91)
Hard-earned cash, meant to be used on basic essentials, are thrown away in gambling. The rich play for higher stakes.

ADDICTION
There can never be such a thing as "sensible" gambling. That is why there are groups like Gamblers Anonymous trying to break people away from the net.
On the one hand government allows gambling but on the other bans under-age children from it. This is an acid test of whether anything is right: will we allow our children to involve themselves in it?
If not, then why do we ourselves do it?

BENEFITS
The idea that some people only gamble for relaxation is in direct contravention of Allah Ta’ala’s Law.
Gambling is prohibited in all circumstances and in all cases.
Some argue that the Lotto, etc. earn money for charity. This argument has been addressed in the Holy Qur’aan:
They ask you concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men, but the sin of them is greater than the benefit." (2:219)
Allah Ta’ala knows all the pros and cons in anything He prohibited. We can never put forward any argument to justify a prohibited act because, together with Knowing all this, Allah Ta’ala still banned it.

WHICH PARTY?
We come to the big question: which party do we vote for?
The Holy Qur’aan speaks about Hizb ush Shaytaan, the Party of the Devil, and Hizb ullaah, the Party of Allah Ta’ala.
A vote for gambling is a vote for the Devil whose Party is destined to lose. (Al Qur’aan 58:19)

Friday Lunch

A SAHAABI (radhiallahu anh) narrates that they used to look forward to Friday as there was an old lady who used to prepare special food for them which they used to eat after Juma prayers. [Bukhari]

The importance of Friday in the lives of our children and ourselves can be emphasized by this example of the Sahaaba (radhiallahu anhum) by preparing a special meal.

In other ways as well we should instill the greatness of this day in the hearts of our children. Give them their week’s spending on this day, chalk out special activities for the day.
In every way, Islamic occasions should be enlivened for our young ones and spirit put into them - within the ample framework of Islamic laws.

Hajj, Eid ul Adha, Ramadhaan, Eid ul Fitr, Fridays, are opportunities not to be missed in infusing spirit into our Islam.

Unique and Noble Manners

ISLAM TEACHES the best character even under extreme circumstances. This beauty of Islam is hidden due to Muslims’ ignorance and the false image portrayed in the media.

REVENGE
Muslims suffered 13 years of torture, torment and boycott at the hands of the Quraish in Makkah Mukarramah. They had every reason to take revenge.
Yet, at the conquest of Makkah, a general pardon was extended to the very same torturers and tormentors.

PRISONERS
After leaving Makkah for refuge in Madinah, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) sent a spy mission of 13 towards Makkah. They were spotted by a Quraishi trading caravan. The Muslim leader ordered an attack on the caravan. One person was killed, two taken prisoner and all goods were captured.
Back in Madinah, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) released the prisoners and returned all goods as he had not ordered an attack.

BETTER FOOD
The Quraishi army came to Badr in 2 AH to finish off the Muslims. After the battle, the Muslims captured 70 Quraish. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) decided that they be released on payment of ransom.
The prisoners were in the care of various Sahaaba who gave them better food than they themselves ate and clothed them.
Bear in mind that these were the same people who had tormented the Muslims for over a decade in Makkah!

TOTAL JUSTICE
Muslims are duty-bound to dispense justice to all, under any circumstance.
Under the most trying situations, the Sahaaba and the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) kept their emotions under check and administered justice.
No matter how difficult it may be, the beautiful teachings of Islam must come to the fore. Killing of innocent civilians, practicing torture and giving in to our emotions and acting contrary to Islam does not behove a Muslim.
Prisoner treatment, politics, war and all its attendant by products must be conducted within the framework of Islam. Then will victory come.

The T Word

The Holy Qur’aan says that two types of clothing were created for man: one merely conceals the body, the other is a source of adornment.

The clothes we wear speak a lot about the type of people we are. The T-shirt does all the talking. As Muslims, are we sending the right messages?

Words like ‘paranoid’ and ‘riot’ are all the rage. Sporting loyalties are displayed even if the sponsors are beer companies whose logos we don. One brand makes a play on a swear word and has made millions as a result.

Before we wear our slogans across our hearts which are filled with faith in Allah Ta’ala, we need to ask: Will we be happy to die in such a T-shirt and present the messages before Allah Ta’ala? As women, would we like to justify to the One who gave us life why we insisted on wearing these shape-revealing T-shirts in public when He Commanded us to be concealed?

The exams are near. Prepare your answers.

Poor Baby

Pictures of babies in the womb smiling, crossing their hands and making walking movements appeared in British papers.
The pictures renewed calls for abortion to be stopped. Britain allows abortion up to 24 weeks while the pictures were of foetuses much younger.
A 12-week-old foetus was seen making walking movements, a 15-week-old foetus sucks its thumb and yawns, at 18 weeks it opens its eyes, at 20 it smiles.

This Day, June 30

Taking on Adultery

The conference on Aids in Thailand (2005) attacked abstinence from intercourse as a means of fighting HIV.
It also said that youngsters must be told that oral intercourse and masturbation are fun alternatives to actual intercourse between unmarried couples.

PORNOGRAPHY
Some Examples:
Much of what is considered normal in art and advertising is pornography.
Sport events contain porn in the form of swimmers’ costumes and athletes’ skimpy outfits.

SERIOUSNESS OF ADULTERY
Allah Ta’ala will not speak to or look at a man who indulges in adultery.
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) placed adultery third in the rank of the most horrendous sins.
Adultery leads to poverty and decrease in blessings in what we own and makes us unable to acquire good deeds

ALIEN TEACHINGS
The school syllabus give guidelines:
Condoms, they proclaim, are a preventive measure when sleeping around with many partners.
Islam allows intimacy ONLY between MARRIED couples.

They say: Masturbation and oral intercourse are ways to have a sex life without actual intercourse.
Both are not allowed in Islam and fulfilment of desire is only lawful between MARRIED couples.

TURNING AWAY from looking at a prohibited man or woman brings:
Sweetness in faith and the pleasure that comes from it, more pleasing than the prohibited sight.

Islam’s solution: either MARRIAGE or TOTAL ABSTINENCE. Avoid the disasters of adultery.
Practice and SEE FOR YOURSELF.

Old Time’s Sake

Adapted From Adopt a Sunnah No. 19
By Madrasah In’aamiyyah

To keep up old ties is a concept that is deep rooted in Islam.
The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said, "To maintain relationships is certainly a part of Iman (Islamic faith).

WIFE
It was the noble habit of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam that when he used to slaughter a sheep for his household, he would send portions of it to the friends of his first and most cherished wife Khadijah radhiallahu anha after she ahd passed away.
When he received any gift, he would say that it should be taken to so and so, who was a friend of and used to love Khadijah radhiallahu anha.

VEHICLE
Abdullah Ibn Umar radhiallahu anhu was once on his way to Makkah for Umrah. On the way he met a shabbily dressed Bedouin whom he asked if he was the son of so and so. The Bedouin replied in the affirmative. Hearing this Ibn Umar radhiallahu anhu greeted him with full zeal, took off his turban and gave it to the Bedouin.
He then gave him his conveyance. At this, Ibn Umar radhiallahu anhu’s companion said that the Bedouin would have been pleased with whatever little he had given him. Ibn Umar radhiallahu anhu replied, "This person’s father is a friend of my father and I have heard our beloved Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam say, ‘Verily from the greatest forms of loyalty to ones parents after their death is for one to keep up ties with their friends.’" Here Ibn Umar radhiallahu anhu extended his kindness to the son of his father’s friend and not just the friend.

PARENTS
A man once enquired as to what rights his parents have on him after their demise. Among the things he was told by the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam was to maintain ties with those relatives who are linked to you via them and to pay respect to their surviving friends.
By doing this, one would also be pleasing his deceased parents as the Hadith tells us that parents are made aware of whatever the child does on their behalf.

Family Feeling

The Noble Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) taught us practically that we should express our love for family members.
This should not be merely bottled up for loved ones to assume it’s there. Let us look at a few examples.

SISTER
After the Conquest of Makkak, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)’s foster sister Shai’ma, daughter of his foster mother Bibi Halima, accepted Islam. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) showered her with an abundance of gifts.

COUSIN
When the Muslims returned victorious from the fierce battle of Khaibar, the Muslims who had emigrated to Abyssinia also returned. Among them was the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)’s cousin Ja’far (radhiallahu anhu).
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was so pleased to be reunited with his cousin that he said he could not tell which was greater: Victory over Khaibar or reunion with Ja’far (radhiallahu anhu).

THE NECKLACE
Among the prisoners captured by the Muslims in the battle of Badr was the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)’s son-in-law Abul ‘As, not as yet a Muslim.
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)’s daughter Zainab (radhiallahu anha) sent a necklace to ransom her husband. When the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw that it was the necklace which his beloved, departed wife Khadijah (radhiallahu anha) had given Zainab (radhiallahu anha) on her marriage, he was so grieved that he requested the Sahaaba to release him without ransom. They agreed and Abul ‘As (radhiallahu anhu) later became Muslim.

PRIORITY
The well-being of one’s family has been given special status in Islam. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) left Ali (radhiallahu anhu) in charge of his family when he went for the Battle of Tabook. Love for them needs to be given practical form in the giving of gifts, verbal declarations and acts of kindness. As taught to us by the best of teachers in the best of manners.

Dealing with Life

The Qur’aan offers complete guidance on every aspect of life.
Humans face many challenging situations encompassing loss of welath, loved ones, sickness, to name but a few. The Qur’aanic advice is to adopte a positive outlook.

LOSING HOPE
We are told never to lose hope in the Mercy of Allah. The defeatist attitude of despair is a trait of non-Muslims.
No matter how much you have destroyed your life, there is always a chance to make right and be accepted by Allah Ta’ala.

LIGHT
At the end of every tunnel is light. The Qur’aan emphatically declares that with hardship there must come ease. This is repeated.
Faced with the tests which Allah Ta’ala tells us must come in the form of loss of loved ones, property, or fear, hunger, etc. a Muslim adopts patience, deals with the problem as best he can and knows that no difficulty is everlasting except dying without Islam.

CAPABILITY
Sometimes we give in to the thought that how can I ever weather this storm? According to the Qur’aan, no soul is burdened except to the amount he/she can bear.
No matter how big the trial might seem, the one involved has the potential within to overcome it.
SILVER LINING
Gifts come in different guises and are not always packaged as we want. A calamity approached in the correct manner can be turned to one’s advantage.
Islam came to SA with exiles taken far from home. They did not give in to despair but turned the situation to the better and spread the light of Islam in this land.

BEST CONTACT
To pass the trials of this world, Muslims need to have Allah on their side. This is achieved by: 1) Patience, and 2) Following Allah’s commands to the best of one’s ability (Taqwa). For Allah is with those who have patience and Taqwa according to the Qur’aan.

Finally, our Lord informs us that He deals with us in accordance with our expectations of Him. Positive expectations beget favourable circumstances.

Advertise Yourself

MOST OF US CAN IDENTIFY TRADEMARKS OF PETROL COMPANIES, CLOTHES BRANDS, CELLPHONE SERVICE PROVIDERS, CHOCOLATES AND MORE.

WHY? It is because they have advertised themselves extensively so that we automatically identify them as providing a particular service.

NOW… How are Muslims supposed to be identified? What is a Muslim’s peculiar brand? Think for a moment. If you see a man in kurta, with a turban and a woman with a cloak what religion would you say they follow? It is universally acknowledged that they would most probably be Muslim. Our outer appearance is our identifying trademark.

EVERY WELL-KNOWN brand also has a reputation of quality, reliability or some outstanding trait. After establishing our trademark, we now need to display outstanding qualities which can be identified with the trademark. Today it is terrorism, extremism and a host of ugly behaviour. The need of the moment is to re-establish our qualities.

HOW… do we go about it? Non-Muslims do not enter our Musjids, nor go to Makkah; they are not recipients of Zakaat nor can they see us fasting. So what are our selling qualities? How do they buy Islam from us? It is through our character in our shops, businesses, schools, on the street and driving on the road. Unfortunately, in this we have failed.

ADVERTISE ISLAM IN YOUR WALK & TALK

More Babies

TIME of Nov 29, 2004 had an article entitled WE NEED MORE BABIES.
Sweden gives mothers 15 months off work with 80% pay to care for their newborn. Dads get a day a week off with 80% pay to help. If the child is sick, parents can stay at home for 120 days a year to look after it and the state pays the wages.

This is a taste of what Europe is doing to encourage having more children. Why? Because so few are being born that there are more deaths than births. It all began when ladies were forced into the workplace and found it hard to have careers and children. Birth control was glorified and intimacy was for instant gratification, not for developing family units and thus a stable society. Now, Muslim immigrants have higher birth rates and Europe’s population balance is upset. No new workforce, more old people.

Islam encourages having children and advocates specific spheres in life for males and females. All to make life more genuinely fulfilling and balanced.

Friends

HUMANS ARE sociable creatures. We need friends. And they largely make us who we are. A narration says that a person is recognised by the friends he keeps. What does Islam say about friendship?

FIRST THINGS
THE QUR’AAN prohibits Muslims from taking non Muslims as close friends. Being courteous, working with them, being kind and just to them, assisting them yes, but not bosom friends with whom we become intimate.
The reasons? The Qur’aan emphatically states that Jews and Christians will never be pleased with Muslims unless they forsake Islam. So their friendship is conditional.
Secondly, the Qur’aan makes the observation that taking close friends from non Muslims is fraught with danger as they will not fail to lead one astray from the road of Islam in some way or the other, thus destroying one's success in the everlasting life after death.
Umar (radhiallahu anhu) used to instruct Muslim armies conquering non Muslim lands to set up separate living quarters for Muslims. We witness the wisdom with our own eyes when, having lived with non Muslims, our way of life has drifted far from Islam.

WHO TO BEFRIEND
THE QUR’AAN says that the Believers are friends of one another. And among them, those who perform Salaah, give Zakaah, are true friends.
Friends will be enemies on the day of Reckoning except those who had Taqwa i.e.. Did what Allah Ta’ala wanted and stayed away from what He prohibited. Our friends must be pious Muslims as the Qur’aan directs. [9:119]

BEST FRIENDS
WE NEED to be friends of our spouses and children. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) set the standard by treating his wives in a loving manner. The kindness he extended to his children, grandchildren and other youngsters impressed them so much that they were ready to emulate him in every aspect.
Make our families our friends and they will respond with extraordinary loyalty and love. We will be good company and in good company.

Be Happy

The Reader’s Digest of October 2004 had an article entitled 10 Keys to True Happiness. We as Muslims have held the keys to happiness for over 14 centuries. Here’s two that they got right:

FAITH
Of the dozens of studies that have looked at religion and happiness, the vast majority have found a positive link. Religion is a very powerful way of coping with adversity.
The Holy Qur’aan tells us:
Whichever (Believing) man or woman does good deeds (in the obedience of Allah) We will definitely give them a good life…

CHARITY
Several studies have found a link between happiness and giving charity.
Islam emphasises the great rewards of spending welath in charity.

We believe with complete faith that Islam in all aspects has the perfect solution for true happiness in this world and the next. Studies merely back up that faith.

Climate Control

THE WORLD’S MOST advanced nations are now speaking about climate control - trying to control nature so as to get favourable and ideal weather.
Muslims have long ago held the key to climate control in their hands. When we utilized the key, everything: nature, politics, medicine, all fell at our feet. We were masters of the world.

So how do we control the weather? Prophet Noah (alaihis salaam) told his people:
Seek the forgiveness of your Lord…He will send rain to you in abundance, And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and rivers. [Holy Quraan71:10-12]
The obedience of Allah Ta’ala, turning to him in repentance, all these things bring about favorable conditions weather-wise as well.
On the other hand, sin and disobedience bring about destructive weather conditions. We are told in a Hadith that earthquakes, scorching wind, etc are our lot if we engage in immorality and the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala.
Muslim countries like Indonesia actively aid the sins of prostitution, alcohol, immorality in the name of tourism. Is it any wonder that they bore the brunt of the waves of destruction unleashed by the awesome Tsunami?

Black and White

There is no place for racism in Islam. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) practically demonstrated this:

COMPANION
BILAL (RADHIALLAHU ANHU) was a close companion of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). He was a black African, yet Muslims salute him as the first Muslim to call the Azaan every time Azaan is called around the world.
He was effectively the treasurer of the Islamic state in Madinah, in charge of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)’s finances.

MOTHER
UMME AYMAN (radhiallahu anha) looked after the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) when his mother passed away when he was six years of age.
On one occasion, after Prohethood, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) spread out his sheet for her to sit on, honouring her. Her likened her to his mother.
She was a black woman. How do we treat the maids who bring up our children? Do we teach our children to respect them?

SON
ZAID BIN HAARITH (radhiallahu anhu) was a young black boy. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) adopted this black boy as a son.
This is the only Sahaabi whose name is mentioned in the Holy Qur’aan. Imagine! We get 30 rewards for reading the name of this pious black man! Zaid was shown such affection by the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that he chose to stay with him rather than go to his father.
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) married this black boy to his cousin, Zainab (radhiallahu anha), an Arab lady of high lineage.

YOUNG LION
ZAID’S SON was Usamah. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) appointed him commander of the last army that he organised at the tender age of 17 or 18. Under his command were senior Sahaaba like Abu Bakr and Umar (radhiallahu anhuma).
The Noble Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) did not make skin colour a criterion for status in Islam. He practically banished race to the dirt heap. The only thing that matters is the level of Islam one has.