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Discover Islam ...

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
The Prophet's Tolerance Towards Other Religions

The dealings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) with other religions can best be described in the verse of the Quran:

{To you be your religion, to me be mine} (Al-Kafirun, 109: 6)

The Arabian Peninsula during the time of Prophet Muhammad was a region in which various faiths were present. There were Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, polytheists, and others not affiliated with any religion. When one looks into the life of the Prophet, one may draw on many examples to portray the high level of tolerance shown to people of other faiths.

In order to understand and judge this tolerance, one must look into the period in which Islam was a formal state, with the specific laws laid down by the Prophet in accordance with the tenets of religion. Even though one can observe many examples of tolerance shown by the Prophet in the thirteen years of his stay in Makkah, one may incorrectly think that it was only due to seeking to raise the profile of the Muslims and the social status of Islam in general.

For this reason, the discussion will be limited to the period which commenced with the migration of the Prophet to Madinah, and specifically once the constitution was set. ...

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/about-muhammad/his-character/452289-the-prophets-tolerance-towards-other-religions.html
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Content Ever After[/FONT]
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Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Love is not the only component for building successful families.” Happiness can still be achieved with someone short of the ideal spouse. The key is to accept what one has.
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A beautiful Arabic proverb says: “Contentment is a treasure that never perishes.” If a person is content with a difficult situation, he will be happy; if he is discontent with a good situation, he will never be happy.
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Here are a few things that could help:
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1. Stop watching those romantic comedies. Most of those stories are more ‘fiction’ than Avatar.
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2. Remember, you’re not perfect yourself, even if your mother thinks you are.
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3. Get to know your spouse as they are, not as you wish for them to be. Each person has their own individuality, and if you accept them as they are, you may find someone very beautiful. Put an effort into discovering your other half, without any prior judgment. But essential for that is…
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4. … not to criticize them and to make them feel uncomfortable. When people feel they’re constantly monitored and evaluated, they act very sloppy and awkward and could never blossom, showing their true beauty.
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5. Do not define them by their shortcomings. In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah in Sahih Muslim, our Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A believing man would never feel repulsed by his believing wife; if finds something about her that he dislikes, he will always find something else about her that satisfies him.”
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6. Keep in mind that Mr. or Mrs. Super-Perfect DOES NOT exist. What about Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her), you ask? She was perfect and real, wasn’t she? Yes, she was real, for someone like the Prophet (peace be upon him). It would not be fair to hold that perfect woman as the minimum acceptable standard; that unless my wife is like her, she won’t be good enough. Khadijah was indeed the maximum - the best a woman can be. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said four women attained perfection. Only Khadijah amongst them was married to a prophet. In a hadith narrated in the Musnad, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said Allah sent 124,000 prophets, yet only one of the perfect women was married to a prophet. So 123,999 prophets had less-than-perfect wives. Some, like the great Prophets Nuh and Lut (peace be upon him) even had bad wives. Something to think about.
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7. Have taqwa (God-consciousness) of Allah in whatever you do and keep in mind His reward. Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “We found the joy of our lives in patience (sabr).”
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8. To make it easier on others, if you are blessed with a great spouse, then praise be to Allah. Just don’t make it difficult on the others, by continuously telling them how perfect your spouse is.
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9. Finally, if you still feel a compulsion to compare with others, then you should compare with those that have less. The Prophet (peace be upon him) recommended for this, as “it makes it easier for you to appreciate the blessings of your Lord.”
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[/FONT]http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/islam-day-to-day/family/452352-content-ever-after.html
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Prophet Muhammad’s Last Days

... despite the severity of his illness, the Prophet continued to be alert, his mind always intact, and he continued to show his keenness to establish the main principles of Islam deep in the hearts of his followers. He continued to remind them of the basic principles of his message...

Sometimes the Prophet was very keen to attend the congregational prayers and to see his followers in their worship. It seems that God wanted to reassure His messenger that his nation was very firm in its belief in the message of Islam that He enabled him to look at them in their dawn prayer on the Monday when his death occurred.

The Prophet’s appearance in that prayer gave the Muslims a false impression that he was much better. They thought that he was on his way to complete recovery. Happy in these hopes, people dispersed to attend to their affairs. That took place on Monday the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal in the eleventh year of the Islamic era...
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http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/about-muhammad/his-life/452353-prophet-muhammads-last-days.html
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
A Source of Healing

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Some things uplift us because they touch our hearts. God knows what hurts us or causes us to feel down; for each of our diseases, there is a cure.[/FONT]
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The Quran is one such source of healing. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Make use of the two cures, Quran and honey.” (Ibn Majah)
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]How is the Quran a Cure? [/FONT]
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The Quran is comprised of the complete, eternal words of God. If we receive a letter from someone we love, our hearts are soothed by reading their words. Because we love him, and especially if it is someone we respect, we take his words seriously and know he has our best interests in mind. If it is someone we are longing to meet, we read his words over and over again, seeking refuge in him, until we meet him.
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Now imagine that the Quran is made up of the words of God, directed to you. Imagine the longing of the heart for the words of its most beloved, of its Master. From personal experience, if ever I woke up shaken from a bad dream and my heart feels scared and uncomfortable, I recite the Quran. It always calms me down. The same is true whenever I have felt sadness; there is something about when the Quran enters your heart that takes away any worldly negativity....
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A Source of Healing - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Balance Between the Spiritual and the Worldly[/FONT]
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Taking refuge in a remote place,
seeking seclusion to put in order one’s relationship with the Lord is not the only approach.
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This relationship can also be maintained by restoring one’s interpretation of overall existence and one’s personal life, keeping it fresh with self-accounting and by seeking nearness, love, and zeal. A person engaged in this sort of practice does not spend even one minute in neglect, and feels greater peace as they deepen in servanthood.
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A physician, to give an example, perfects their studies of human anatomy and physiology as they research these subjects. Perhaps, for this reason, Imam Al-Ghazali ascribes equal importance to both medicine and religious studies in his work Ihyaa' `Ulum ad-Din (Reviving the Religious Sciences), and he stresses the fact that the negligence of either will bring harm to the nation of Islam. What a great negligence that would be! Imagine, when even the smallest toenail gives discomfort to your foot, you look for someone to alleviate the pain. Then someone comes and soothes your pain; you look upon such a person as being Khidr. A believing physician assumes the same role when they heal any major or trivial maladies.
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Rewarded for being helpful to others as a member of the community and providing services to people, physicians may be considered to be saints
at a level which no one else can reach. It is my opinion that a believing physician can be saved just by engaging in medicine. This is a balance, and it should be considered as such. It is the same for religious studies; if you retreat in seclusion, others may suffer from denial and atheism, as they would be deprived of religious teaching...
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http://www.onislam.net/english/shariah/refine-your-heart/advice/452385-balance-between-the-spiritual-and-the-worldly.html
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Why Islam?[/FONT]
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The short answer is this: There is a God. He is fair and just, and He wants us to achieve the reward of paradise.
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However, God has placed us in this worldly life as a test, to weed out the worthy from the unworthy. And we will be lost if left to our own devices.
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Why?
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Because we don’t know what He wants from us. We can’t navigate the twists and turns of this life without His guidance, and hence, He has given us guidance in the form of revelation.
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Sure, previous religions have been corrupted, and that is one of the reasons why we have a chain of revelation. Ask yourself: wouldn’t God send another revelation if the preceding scriptures were impure? If preceding scriptures were corrupted, humans would need another revelation, to keep upon the straight path of His design
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So we should expect preceding scriptures to be corrupted, and we should expect the final revelation to be pure and unadulterated, for we cannot imagine a loving God leaving us astray. What we can imagine is God giving us a scripture, and men corrupting it; God giving us another scripture, and men corrupting it again … and again, and again. Until God sends a final revelation He promises to preserve until the end of time.
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Muslims consider this final revelation to be the Holy Quran. You consider it … worth looking into ...
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[/FONT]http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/understanding-islam/belief/452453-why-islam.html
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Islamic Balance Between This Life & The Hereafter[/FONT]
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One of the most significant aspects of Islam is that it is a religion that is concerned with both this life as well as the hereafter.
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Islam urges Muslims to work hard to establish civilization and at the same time to work hard to earn their places in Paradise. This unique balance between life and afterlife can never be found in any man-made law...
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http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/research-studies/islamic-thought/452455-islamic-balance-between-this-life-a-the-hereafter.html
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]First Summer as a Muslim[/FONT]
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I remember my first summer as a Muslim. It wasn't that long after I converted, and I was barely into the transition phase. I knew that hijab is obligatory, but I was definitely not ready to tell my family and the world what I had just recently discovered myself...
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At the end of summer, I moved away from my family to finish my university education out of state. I used the move as a way to begin again in a new place with new friends and a new identity.
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Away from the pressure of disapproval, I was able to wear the headscarf and begin to figure out who I was as a Muslim. But the next summer, I returned home during the vacation and faced the same hard decisions again.
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I still wasn't ready to face my family and, even as painful as it was for me, I removed the headscarf upon arrival. I still dressed modestly, more modestly than I had before I moved, and my family always questioned why I wore so much clothing...
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Besides the clothing issue, I found that merging my Muslim identity with my American identity was much easier than I had thought it would be. I could still be me while adhering to my religious principles and I could still be with my family.
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It wasn't until the summer after that I really was able to complete the transition. I had been Muslim for two years and I felt strong enough in my belief to face anything....
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Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Interest, Unlawful – Profit Making, Lawful … Why?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Muslims believe that paying or receiving riba (interest/usury) is forbidden in Islam, while gaining profit in lawful business transactions is fully permitted. What is the difference?[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Many may think that lending money at a high interest is unjust, but in Islam, lending money on interest at any rate is unacceptable.[/FONT]
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Allah frowns upon increase of a wealth which does not involve exertion of effort and labor as well as assumption of any risk
. In many cases, riba, etc)
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] (usury) also involves deception of masses. Yet, if the increase involves using goods, labor or property, such commerce is lawful, as long as the commerce itself is not Islamically a prohibited one. Even then, Allah warns against unjust dealings (see 11:85, 26:183)[/FONT]
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Allah the All Knowing, All wise decreed laws for human good and comfort. Yet, man constantly argues against these rules and tries to justify his own finite wisdom to topple Divine decrees. He has not yet succeeded and will never succeed....
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Interest, Unlawful
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sincerity to God
(Ibn `Atta’ Words of Wisdom 4)

In his well-known book, Al-Hikam (Words of Wisdom), sheikh Ahmad Ibn `Ataa'illah As-Sakandari says:

“Actions are like statues that only come to life with the spirit of sincerity”.

Sincerity to Allah is more fundamental than relying on Allah, since it has to do with a deeper level of faith in Him, Most High. Yet, it was important to affirm our relying on Allah and hope in His Mercy, before discussing sincerity. This is because pure sincerity to Allah is so subtle and so hard to achieve without much hope in Allah's Grace and strong reliance on Him.

‘Sincerity is one of Allah's “secrets” that He plants in the heart of whomsoever He loves’, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said. And sincerity to Allah is so essential for our journey. In Ibn `Ataa’s words: (Actions are like statues that only come to life with the spirit of sincerity). If we imagine a simile between an action and a human body, then the action devoid of sincerity is like a body without a soul; a dead body.

What is sincerity?

It means to have your intention honest to Allah...
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Sincerity to God - Advice - Shari`ah - OnIslam.net
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Seven Etiquettes of Seeking a Spouse [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](An Islamic Perspective) [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] It is not uncommon to see or hear about potential candidates meeting in private, brothers and sisters “scoping the territory” for a spouse that looks good at Muslim events like conferences or lectures, or starting up a flirtatious conversation with someone they are interested in. None of these things fall within the guidelines of Islam.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Below are some Islamic principles, both general and specific, to consider if you will be meeting or seeking a potential spouse for yourself or someone else at a conference, lecture, the mosque or another event: [/FONT]
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1. Ask Yourself: Why Am I Getting Married?
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This is a good question to ask even if you are meeting the person to make a final decision because it will be a reminder about the real purpose of marriage from an Islamic perspective.
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Marriage is part of faith and it is part of the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
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As well, “my intention should be I am looking for someone with whom I will build a family,” says Imam Muhammad Nur Abdullah, a member of the North American Fiqh Council. He conducted pre-marriage counseling in the U.S. for two decades.
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“Marriage is a commitment and relationship that starts in this Dunya
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] (world) and will continue Insha Allah in Paradise together,” he adds. [/FONT]
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2. Ask Yourself: What Am I Looking For In a Spouse?
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Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
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“Men choose women for four reasons: for their money, for their rank, for their beauty and for their religion, but marry one who is religious and you will succeed”
(Al Bukhari & Muslim)
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This of course, applies to women as well...
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Seven Etiquettes of Seeking a Spouse - Living Islam - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Power of Knowledge

Islam encourages learning and gaining knowledge in all fields of life, not only religious knowledge.

Greek and Muslim scholars were very dissimilar in their methods. Muslim scholars were more into experimentation and practical advancement, whereas the Greeks relied on theoretical and philosophical knowledge.

Yet there is one statement by Aristotle that every Muslim scholar would agree with: "The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead." ...

The Golden Age of Islam came about not only because of the curious minds of Muslim scientists, but also due to their obedience to God.

One of the most famous of all Muslim scientists is Ibn Sina — known in the West as Avicenna. He was no doubt a devout Muslim. In fact, from various records we have of him, it was found that if he was stumped during research or experimentation, he would leave his books and head to the mosque, where he would continue to pray till the confusions begin clearing.

Religion and Science

Muslim scientists never distinguished science from religion. As a matter of fact, they felt that Islam encouraged scientific development.

There are two aspects of education/knowledge in relation to Islam: religious and non-religious. There is no limit on any of them. Indeed, there is not much distinction between them, as in the true sense, they are intertwined.

One thing though, is accepted by most Islamic scholars: non-religious knowledge is a benefit only to this world, which is not sufficient for Muslims...
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The Power of Knowledge - Ethics & Values - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Pleasures of Paradise

The reality of Paradise is something which people will never be able to understand until they actually enter it, but God has shown us glimpses of it in the Quran.

He has described it as a place essentially different to the life of this world, both in the very nature and purpose of life, as well as the types of delights which people will enjoy therein.

The Quran tells people about Paradise, which God offers to them, describes its great blessings, and proclaims its beauties to everyone.

It informs people that Paradise is one of two ways of life prepared for them in the afterworld, and that every good thing will be theirs in Paradise to a degree that surpasses our present ability to imagine.

It also shows that Paradise is a place where all blessings have been created perfectly and where people will be offered everything their souls and hearts will desire, and that people will be far removed from want and need, anxiety or sadness, sorrow and regret...
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The Pleasures of Paradise - Afterlife - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This Life: A Prison or Paradise?

... The mother reached into a bag to give the girl some medicine. I was struck by how miserable the little girl looked and suddenly I saw something. I felt as though I was looking at someone who was trapped.

This innocent, pure soul was imprisoned by a worldly body that had to get sick, feel pain, and suffer.

Hadith

And then I was reminded of the hadith in which the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever” (Sahih Muslim).

And for the first time, I understood it very differently than I had before. I think many people misinterpret this hadith to mean that the disbelievers get to enjoy themselves in this life, while the believers have to be restricted in this life by haram (prohibited) and halal (permitted), and have to wait until the next life to enjoy themselves. Or perhaps, some think it means that this life is miserable for the believer, while it is bliss for the disbeliever.

But, I don’t think that’s it at all.

And suddenly I saw the reality of this hadith in the little girl. I saw what looked like a soul imprisoned because it belongs to another world—a better world, where it doesn’t have to get sick...
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This Life: A Prison or Paradise? - Worldview - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sincerity: The Foundation of Perfect Deeds

Imam Al-Ghazali said that: "If you want to know whether something you did was purely for the sake of God or not, you should test your reaction when someone acts ungratefully. Do you feel self-righteous, like you were doing the person a favor? Do you feel angry that they did not appreciate your work?

It may not mean that your act was ostentatious, but it points to the fact that it was not solely for the sake of God. We were expecting, at the very least, recognition and respect from the person as a result of the good we did to them...

The more complete sincerity becomes, the more the person is upright. We are prone to making mistakes, and we may find that sometimes our intentions are mixed; sometimes there may not be an apparent intention behind whatever act we are doing. That is why we need to aspire to be of the sincere. As long as we are constantly reminding ourselves of doing things for God, He will even reward us for that insha’Allah....
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Sincerity: The Foundation of Perfect Deeds - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Believers' Love For One Another[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Love is one of the greatest blessings God has bestowed on humanity.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]God has created human nature in such a way that a person will take pleasure from loving and being loved, from friendship and from intimacy.[/FONT]
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Being with people who live by the moral values of the Quran, enjoying love and friendship with them, brings a believer greater pleasure than many other blessings.
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Therefore, the Paradise that God has promised to His servants whom He loves and with whom He is well pleased is a place of extraordinary beauty in which true love, friendship and intimacy will be experienced with enormous joy forever.

The information God provides about the life of Paradise in the Quran, always refers to joy, friendship, love, conversation, pleasing words and peace. Everything that might prove an obstacle to love and friendship has been kept far removed from the people of Paradise ...
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http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/growing-in-faith/452814-believers-love-for-one-another.html
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Islam: What's in a Name?

It is a common practice of Muslim scholars writing on some field of knowledge to define its basic terms. When it comes to Arabic words, this involves looking at their root meanings as well as their usage.

This practice is certainly useful when seeking to understand Islam as a faith and way of life, as there are many things to learn from the very fact that it is so named.

In this part, we shall explore two significant features of the name Islam, making special reference to how the Quran speaks of Islam and being a Muslim. We shall note that the word reflects the concept of peace, and that it is a name used right from the start.

A Meaning of Peace

The root s-l-m, from which the word Islam derives, has the essential meaning of being free of any flaws or harmful things. Thus the derivatives of this root include "salamah" which indicates soundness and safety, and "salam" which means "peace".

The verb-form "islam" thus conveys entering into a state of peace and security. In short, this is what we refer to as "submission". The active participle of the verb, that is, the word for "submitter", is "muslim"...
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Islam: What's in a Name? (Part 1) - Allah - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There is Surely Ease with Every Difficulty

God has created the world to test mankind. As an inherent feature of this examination, He tests man sometimes with blessings and at other times with hardships.

People, who do not evaluate events in the light of the Quran, fail to give the appropriate interpretation to events, and become downhearted and fall into hopelessness.

However, God reveals an important secret in the Quran, which only true and submissive believers can perceive.

This secret is revealed as follows:

{For truly with hardship comes ease; truly with hardship comes ease.} (Ash-Sharh 94: 5-6)

As God informs us in these verses, no matter what sort of adversity a person experiences or how a situation is overcome, God creates a path that will lead to a way out and gives relief to believers. Indeed, a believer will witness that God grants ease along with all hardships if he remains steadfast in his patience ...
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There is Surely Ease with Every Difficulty - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]God Increases His Blessings on The Grateful [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Believers, on the other hand, aware of their weaknesses and in humility before God, render their thanks to Him for every blessing granted.

Wealth and possessions are not the only blessings for which believers render their thanks to God.
Knowing that God is the owner and possessor of everything, believers express their inner gratefulness for good health, beauty, knowledge, wisdom, love of faith and hatred from disbelief, understanding, insight, foresight and for power.
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They are thankful for being rightly guided and for being in the company of believers. A beautiful landscape, easy handling of their affairs, fulfillment of their wishes, tidings of great joy, respectful conduct or any other blessings make believers immediately turn to God, express their gratefulness to Him and reflect on His mercy and compassion...
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http://www.onislam.net/english/read...-increases-his-blessings-on-the-grateful.html
God Increases His Blessings on The Grateful - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Throw the Baby: Trusting in Allah

One of the pillars of imaan (belief in Allah) is to believe in the Divine Decree – the good and bad of it. This means that we as Muslims are supposed to have complete belief and unwavering certainty in the Plan of Allah and His Decrees for us, whether they may appear good or not so good.

The believer who is aware of this knows that nothing Allah plans is completely evil. There is always some good in His Plan for us. Unfortunately, when we are in a predicament or a hardship, we feel that nothing is going our way and we begin to have bad thoughts about Allah. We feel that our world is crashing down around us and we will never have relief from our pain and difficulties.

I am here to remind you that things are not always as they seem.

Humans are creatures of logic. When we think something is logically correct, we may not see the bigger picture because it doesn’t “make sense” to us. When Allah’s Plan doesn’t make sense to us, we may begin to have doubts and feel distress because we don’t understand why something is happening to us. We know that Allah swt wants good for us, but we must remember that He may put us through serious hardships so that we may get the best. Everything Allah Plans happens for a reason. You may not understand why the opposite of what you want is happening, but soon you will see that thing happened to help you grow.

Throughout the Qur’an, we see glimpses of the perfect wisdom of Allah in His Plan and Decree. One amazing example is the story of Prophet Musa’s mother. She was put through a great trial but she prevailed because she put her trust in Allah first...
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Throw the Baby: Trusting in Allah
 
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