Discover Islam ...

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Can We Be Happy Without God? [/FONT]

"A million New Yorkers are good without God. Are you?"

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[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica]This is one of the surprise questions that would greet New York commuters on the subway. A coalition of eight atheist organizations has purchased a month-long campaign that would place their posters in a dozen busy subway stations throughout Manhattan.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica]This is "part of a coordinated multi-organizational advertising campaign designed to raise awareness about people who don't believe in a "god", according to a statement from the group, the Big Apple Coalition of Reason. [/FONT]​

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[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica]The executive director of the New York Center for Inquiry, one of the associated atheists, explained that the coalition hopes "to encourage talking and thinking about religion and morality."[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica]As believers in Islam, we do welcome talking and thinking about religion and morality. And thinking of religion, we need to, first of all, confront the question of the existence of God ........[/FONT]​

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1256909870359&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout&ref=body​

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Knowledge & Absolute Truth: Any Relation?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Q: How does knowledge relate to absolute truth? [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]A: absolute truth is something that no one can know, it has got to be mythical. But to believe in anything, we must accept some foundation, not as a myth, but as truly existing. And indeed, the building block of the foundation of that belief is our innate understanding of it. Without absolute truth, truth has no standing; and without truth, nothing is meaningful.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]This is where religion comes in. Religion teaches us that life has a meaning. It gives us answers to our eternal questions, such as: "Who am I?" "Where do I come from?" "Where do I go?" "What is the meaning of life?" "What is death?" "Is there any life after death?"[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]From the very beginning of human consciousness, humans have been searching for answers to these questions. They traversed desert tracks, crossed the seas and climbed the mountains; but found no answers. Then they turned inwards. They spent days and nights on end in the remote mountain caves, meditating on the mysteries of life and death, seeking answers.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]At the end, God revealed His guidance to help them find answers to their eternal questions. ....[/FONT]

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1252188384736&pagename=IslamOnline-English-AAbout_Islam/AskAboutIslamE/AskAboutIslamE

 

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[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon[/FONT]

The Last Sermon of the Prophet (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is known as Khutbatul Wada' (the farewell sermon) to the Muslims who had accompanied him for the Hajj towards the end of his life. It is mentioned in almost all books of Hadith.

This sermon was delivered in front of a large gathering of people, on the Ninth Day of Dhul-Hijjah 10 A.H. (during the Hajj), in the 'Uranah valley of Mount Arafat' in Makkah.

[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Xc1MfX9X8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Xc1MfX9X8[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Understanding the Why of Hajj[/FONT]

Q: I have a friend who asked me a question, why must a Muslim do hajj?

A: Muslims believe that Islam is not just a religion; rather, it is a comprehensive way of life. Thus its articles and deeds of worship serve as a long term and short term training for its followers on how to conduct themselves in life.

In every worship there is wisdom and it just needs some reflection and meditation to explore the hidden secrets. Of all the five main deeds of Islam, hajj stands on its own as a unique act of worship by all merits.

Aspects of Worship

When we look into hajj, we will discover that it gathers all other meanings inherent in the other acts of worship. The testimonial of faith is an action of the tongue that represents it submitting to Almighty Allah and accepting His Lordship of this universe.

Prayer is an action that represents paying some of your time and effort to show your submission to Almighty Allah and dedication to Him. It also represents a small meeting of a congregation of the larger Muslim nation five times everyday to celebrate their unity on that small level.

Zakah is a representation of sacrifice. People sacrifices some of their money to show that they trust the reward of Allah and prefer it to all the gains of the world.

Muslims give to show solidarity with their brothers and sisters and their care for their want and need, to show that they are not enslaved by money. Rather, they use it for the benefit of the society and the welfare of the community.

Fasting is another representation of avoiding certain things which are allowed at other times as a token of showing devotion to Allah and sharing the sufferings of the poor and the needy as well as training oneself on how to control one's desires and lead one's body towards spiritual refinement.

Hajj: Five in One

If we look into hajj, we will discover that the previous four main deeds are represented in this last one as if hajj is the culmination and compendium of all Islamic deeds. .........

Reading Islam

 

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[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica][FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]A Universal Message[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica]With a crowd of over 120.000 pilgrims, his voice could not reach out to all those who were present. Thus, a man with a loud voice, called Rabiah ibn Umayyah ibn Khalaf, stood next to the Prophet's camel, repeating every sentence the Prophet said so that all those who were with the Prophet heard everything.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica]The Prophet's speech that day was the highlight of his pilgrimage, outlining the nature of Islamic society. As usual, his speech began with the praise and glorification of God. The Prophet then went on to say[/FONT]​

"O people, listen to me as I explain to you, for I do not know whether I will ever meet you again in this place after this year. ......​

O people, the believers are brothers. It is illegal for anyone to take the property of his brother unless it is given without any coercion. O people, your Lord is one and your father is one. All of you are the children of Adam, and Adam was created from dust. The most noble among you is the most God-fearing. No Arab enjoys any privilege over a non-Arab except through the fear of God. Have I delivered my message?"

[FONT=Verdana, Helvetica]They answered: "Yes, you most certainly have." .........[/FONT]

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1258880407378&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout​

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The Social Aspect of `Eid[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]In `Eid, social manners should be highly respected in a way that pleases others and does not hurt anyone. Here are some of the manners of `Eid.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Share your food. Islam recommends Muslims to share food whenever possible. `Eid Al-Adha is a great opportunity to share ....[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Spread kindness. Among the main aims of Islamic manners is to help in establishing and maintaining healthy social relationships. .....[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Avoid too much formality. Formality in manners, especially during `Eids, should be reduced to the barest possible minimum. This enables freer social intercourse, makes the social machinery run more smoothly, and facilitates meetings.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Spread the spirit of brotherhood. Visiting the sick,... exchanging gifts with other members of the society, shaking hands when meeting or parting, sharing in other happy occasions such as weddings and births, etc., are all ways to strengthen and develop social relations. Particular importance is attached to such exchanges among relatives and neighbors during `Eids.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Do everything for the sake of Allah. Social relations should be quite free of personal interest and should be wholly established for the sake of Allah. .....[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Come Together. In Islam, social life is encouraged at a wide level; namely, by meetings at the level of the community as a whole. It is recommended that the five Prayers prescribed in Islam be performed in congregation in the mosque.... [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Indeed, Islam is a social religion[/FONT]

http://www.islamonline.net/English/Eid_AlAdha/Reflections/09.shtml

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Muslim Belief in a Nutshell [/FONT]

Do you find the tenets of Islam complicated to understand?


Do you have a hard time reading about Muslim belief and wish there was an easier way to understand it?

Do you always mix up between the similarities and differences between the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam?​

Watch Fadel Soliman's 6-minute presentation about the basics of Muslim Belief​

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1242759224468&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout​

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Trust in God (Tawakkul)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Do you truly have full trust in Allah (SWT)? [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]There are some of us who strive our utmost to prepare for things wherein no certainty exists, whilst others fail to prepare for certain things wherein lies no doubt. And let us not forget those that believe their destiny is completely in their own hands, whilst their counterparts hold, in what can only be described as 'bravery', that they have full trust in Allah (SWT), thus granting themselves the ticket to do nothing at all.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Tawakkul is a light for our hearts and a means for us to seek nearness towards Allah (SWT) in a manner that absolutely nothing else can achieve. The essence of this quality of the heart is built upon two very important pillars: dependence upon Allah and trust in Allah.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]We may often trust a person, without necessarily depending upon them, and likewise we may depend upon a person without fully trusting them. However when it comes to Our Lord (SWT), both exist simultaneously in perfection .......[/FONT]

http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=SZ0802-3523

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Does Faith Increase and Decrease?[/FONT]

A Muslim (as well as a Jew and a Christian) in this context can remember the story of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him): how God commanded him to sacrifice his only son and when he was prepared for it, God told him to sacrifice a lamb in the place of his son.

The foregoing story of the sacrifice of Prophet Abraham leads a religious person to have a stronger faith in God as the All-Merciful Creator and Sustainer of this universe. This is the teaching of the three scriptures of the three Semitic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

So increase or decrease of religious faith is the common experience of Muslims as well as of the followers of other religions as well. One can see that a fluctuation or vacillation of one's faith, depending on the nature of life experiences, is quite natural and typical of human psychology, irrespective of a person's religious orientation. .........

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1254573622659&pagename=IslamOnline-English-AAbout_Islam%2FAskAboutIslamE%2FAskAboutIslamE

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Islam: Faith and History[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]A short video about the meaning of the Islamic religion:[/FONT]

What is Islam?

Who are Muslims?

IslamOnline for Islam and Islamic News, Islamic Finance, Banking and Business

(5 minutes)

 

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Prayers: A Special Connection with God

The important point to note here is that Islam does not impose on its adherents rituals for the sake of rituals, as they are likely to be performed mechanically without understanding their meaning in life ......

The important aspect of a believer's faith is his or her relationship with God; and nowhere is this relationship exemplified as in prayer. Prayer lifts a person spiritually towards his or her Creator and if it is done with devotion and sincerity, his or her heart will be filled with the love of God and the hope of Paradise.

Praying five times a day helps Muslims to constantly remember God and seek His forgiveness and pleasure. Besides, it offers an occasion for repentance, so that they earnestly ask Allah for forgiveness of the sins they committed. .......


Prayers: A Special Connection with God - Reading Islam.com

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Emigration to Madinah: A New Start [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The Islamic calendar is counted from the year of Prophet Muhammad's emigration from Makkah to Madinah known as the Hijrah. This journey is one of the most important events in Islamic history.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The first day of the lunar month of Muharram in the Islamic calendar marks the start of a new year, which this year will be, according to calculations, Friday, December 18, 2009 ......[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Read more about the significance of Prophet Muhammad's emigration to Madinah, why it took place, its consequences and the lessons learned. ........[/FONT]

Emigration to Madinah: A New Start - Reading Islam.com

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]How Prophet Muhammad Handled Criticism [/FONT]

Criticism can be tough to deal with for even the most humble of people, particularly if it is unfair or lacking in tact. Like a knife, it often causes deep, festering wounds and divides the closest of friends.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), however, was exemplary in his ability not only to accept criticism humbly, but moreover, to use it to achieve positive results.

One day, a Jewish rabbi, Zaid ibn Sanah, came to demand the payment of a debt that the Prophet owed him. He violently pulled the Prophet's cloak from his shoulder and addressed him rudely, saying: "You, son of Abdul-Muttalib, are dilly-dallying."

Umar ibn Al-Khattab, one of the Prophet's Companions, was incensed by this and reproached Zaid saying: "O Enemy of Allah, do you talk to the Messenger of Allah and behave towards him in this manner?! By the One who sent him with the truth, had it not been for the fear of missing Paradise, I would have beheaded you with my sword!"

The Prophet, however, kept smiling and said to Umar: "This man is entitled to better treatment from you. You ought to have advised me to repay the loan promptly and asked him to make his demand politely."

Then, turning to Zaid, the Prophet said: "There are still three days before the appointed time for repayment." At the same time, he asked Umar to repay the loan and give Zaid 20 measures in excess of that which was owed to compensate for his threatening attitude towards Zaid. ........


How Prophet Muhammad Handled Criticism - Reading Islam.com

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The Difference Between Jesus in Islam & Christianity (Radio Program)[/FONT]

Jesus Christ in Islam is a reverend Prophet who had a miraculous birth with only a mother, Virgin Mary, and with no father. His miraculous birth and his call to get back to the lost spirituality within the Jewish community and the fact of challenging their way of life grabbed the attention of both the Roman ruler and the Jewish rabbis.

For Christians, Christmas is on the 25th of December every year to celebrate his miraculous birth but how do both Muslims and Christians envision Prophet Jesus? Would the image of Prophet Jesus change radically by moving from Islam to Christianity? We interview some of Muslims converts to hear what they have to say about their understanding of Prophet Jesus

To have a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ’s life, message and what he represents for Muslims and Christians joining us in this show, Idris Tawfiq, he is a British Muslim speaker and writer and a former Catholic Priest.

Jesus between Islam & Christianity: Any Difference?

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Out of Egypt: The Story of Passover in the Quran [/FONT]

Many Jews may be surprised to learn that Islam as preached by Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the same religion preached by Abraham, as well as of all other prophets mentioned in the Torah and the Bible. Muslims honor all the prophets of the Jews – Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David and Solomon among others – as their own prophets .......

The torments inflicted on the Children of Israel by the Pharaoh were continuous and harsh; and so God sent His prophets Moses and Aaron (peace be upon them) to warn the tyrant that he should stop the oppression of the Children of Israel and free them. .......

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1175751840758&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam/DIELayout

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The Way to Repentance [/FONT]

This series is a collection of inspirational advice in an attempt to set out the goal of the believer: Paradise, and the way to reach that ultimate goal.

The process of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) must involve the recognition and confession of our faults, mistakes, and aberrations and turning to Allah, asking for forgiveness with the expectation of His mercy.

Seeking forgivness is asking Allah for His forgiveness for the sins you have committed, while repentance is turning away from our faults and returning to Allah, to His path. When Allah desires good for a believer, He gives him awareness of his faults.​

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), when questioned about the nature of virtue and sin, replied:​

"Virtue is to have good morals, sin is what pricks your heart and when you dislike that people come to know about it." (Muslim)​

Likewise, whenever we are faced with a dilemma or uncertainty in our daily life we have been exhorted by the Prophet to observe the following guidelines:​

Seek a verdict from your heart. Virtue is that which your soul and heart feel satisfied with. Sin is that which troubles the soul and about which the heart is uneasy and confused, even though people may give their legal opinions in its favor. (Muslim)​

But what exactly does the process of seeking forgiveness and repentance entail?​

To find the answer: ​

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1260258459240&pagename=Zone-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout&ref=body​

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Before It’s Too Late [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Ibn Al-Qayyim said:[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]How many people of firm intent and resolution are there, whom Satan has delayed by causing them to say “soon.” And how many strivers has he stopped. Maybe a scholar intends to return to his studies and Satan whispers to him: Relax for an hour. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Satan does not cease his attempts to make laziness and inactivity beautiful and appealing to a person so that he keeps delaying his actions. He would say to the servant who worships at night: Time does not stop! The night is long! He continuous with theses whispers until the morning arrives and the servant has not even prayed ......[/FONT]

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1158658518895&pagename=Zone-English-Living_Shariah%2FLSELayout

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The main lesson: Don't procrastinate![/FONT]

Don't delay till tomorrow the good deeds you can do today

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Spending in the Way of Allah [/FONT]

Spending in the way of Allah is a great virtue. It has paramount importance in divine religions. All prophets emphatically urged their followers to spend in the way of Allah. This article sheds some light on the blessings of charitable spending in the way of Allah.

True Attachment With Allah

The greatest benefit of spending in the way of Allah is that it establishes a strong bond between a person and his or her Creator. People's hearts generally lie where their wealth is. If they hide their wealth in some secret place, they find themselves thinking about that very place all the time. In case of investment in a business or a company, they cannot help being preoccupied with the continued viability of the investment. In short, what is evident from practical experience is that people's hearts are affixed to their wealth. Keeping in view the foregoing explanation, one can assert that anyone who spends in the way of Allah would find that they are in an everlasting communion with their Lord because they have entrusted their wealth to Him.

Stronger Ties With Society

Among the benefits that spending in the way of Allah affords the spender is that it helps him or her establish unfailing ties with society. ..........
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1256909904940&pagename=Zone-English-Living_Shariah%2FLSELayout​

 

[interfaithdilaog]

Dear Muslim Borthers,

I want to share with all of you a good source of Islamic spirituality. I personally refresh myself and my wife every day and every week with the help of the webisite with its weekly and daily documents and materials written and spoken by Muslim Scholar Mr.
Fethullah Gulen.

HERKUL.ORG

http://fethullahgulen.org

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]How an Atheist Can Feel Allah[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Q: [/FONT][FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]I am an atheist, or at least I was; now I'm not so sure. I've recently been thinking about Islam but I'm having several crises ...

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]I don't FEEL Allah. I want to and I'm learning but how am I supposed to know if my path is becoming perverted by my impure intentions and how do I know when I'm a Muslim? When I feel it in my heart or in my head? I respectfully ask your advice on this matter.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]A: [/FONT][FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]People of faith believe that God speaks to them in many different ways. Some people are drawn to Him through science, others through the beauty of nature, while others still find Him in places and events.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]In my own case, Allah Almighty drew me to Islam not through listening to a great speech, or through reading books or even by reading the Quran.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]My first introduction to Islam came through the simple greeting of a young boy cleaning shoes in the street. The simplicity and the honesty of his faith really touched my heart and set me upon a journey which eventually led me to embrace Islam.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]As a speaker now about Islam all over the world, I often tell my audiences that this young boy will be in for a surprise when he meets his Maker. As well as having the good and the bad deeds of his life read out on Judgement Day, he will also learn that his kind greeting was the catalyst that has now brought many to Islam. Without his initial as-salamu alaykum, I would not be writing this answer for you today.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]So, for all people, it is different. ......[/FONT]​

Read more: http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1237705805963&pagename=IslamOnline-English-AAbout_Islam%2FAskAboutIslamE%2FAskAboutIslamE#ixzz0bnwkJsQG​

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