Discover Islam ...

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Sharing Success: Fair Trade Commerce for a Better World

An interesting talk by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf at the RIS Convention (Reviving the Islamic Spirit)

December 25, 2011 - Toronto - Canada

[youtube]seEpf-bmnIQ[/youtube]
RISTalks: Shaykh Hamza Yusuf - "Fair Trade Commerce for a Better World" at RIS Canada 2011 - YouTube

(47 minutes)

 

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This Religion is Easy

Abu Hurayrah relates that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

"This religion is easy.

No one becomes harsh and strict in the religion without it overwhelming him.

So fulfill your duties as best you can and rejoice.

Rely upon the efforts of the morning and the evening and a little at night and you will reach your goal." (Al-Bukhari)

These words of the Prophet (peace be upon him) define for us the concept of moderation in its proper Islamic context...

This Religion is Easy... - He Said - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

[Maija]

Jazak allahu khayran ! You have done so much work in this, I will surely give this a read through when I am looking for inspiration !

Abu Hurayrah relates that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

"This religion is easy.

No one becomes harsh and strict in the religion without it overwhelming him.

So fulfill your duties as best you can and rejoice.

Rely upon the efforts of the morning and the evening and a little at night and you will reach your goal." (Al-Bukhari)

These words of the Prophet (peace be upon him) define for us the concept of moderation in its proper Islamic context...

These were my thoughts tonight, MashaAllah, salah has really kept my heart so happy.

 

[Cordoba]

You're welcome sister
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Sunnah of Planning in Islam[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The setting of goals, making plans and designing strategies to assure the accomplishment of objectives are all Islamic Sunnah. This is according to the Quran and the practice of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Planning, therefore, must be at the center of a Muslim's life, in all his or her moral, political, social and economic activities.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Unfortunately, this precious Sunnah, however, is not apparent in the lives and activities of the Muslims today. It is the absence of this Sunnah that has contributed much to our failures and suffering.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Planning in the Quran [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Quran teaches the Muslims to be strategists and planners in their affairs. It shows this in a number of ways: through the stories of the Prophets, the law of God in nature, and in praising the people of vision and foresight.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]An illustration of this can be seen in the story of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and his strategies in approaching the Pharaoh of Egypt. When God commanded Moses to go to Egypt and call Pharaoh to God, Moses accepted the order and spelled out his plans as can be seen in verses 25-32...[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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The Sunnah of Planning in Islam - Islamic Thought - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Lawful Livelihood for a Successful Future[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]As a method of earning one's living, it is significant and crucial for every Muslim to have the correct understanding of halal livelihood.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There is no doubt that one of the obligations upon us as Muslims is that we earn for ourselves and our family pure and lawful provisions. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]“O People! Allah is pure, and He only accepts that which is pure![/FONT]
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Allah has commanded the believers what He has commanded the Messengers, for He said, {O Messengers! Eat from the pure foods, and do right,} and He said, {O you who believe! Eat from the pure and good foods We have given you.}” (Muslim)[/FONT]
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There are many hadiths and verses in the Quran reflecting the significance of working and earning honest livelihood...
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Lawful Livelihood for a Successful Future - Ethics & Values - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Women in Islam: Are Women Considered Inferior Than Men? [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]How can Islam enfranchise women when it continues to treat women as inferior within its law?

Question answered by Dr. Ingrid Mattson.
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[youtube]2gkzWHXENNE[/youtube]
Women in Islam: Are Women Considered Inferior Than Men? - YouTube

(Around 4 minutes)

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If God is Merciful, Why Does He Punish?[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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Why did God create people whom He already knew would reject Him and go to hell?

Shouldn't God who is All Loving instead not create them so that they won't go through punishment?

These are some common questions connected to this topic. Answered by Nouman Ali Khan[/FONT]

[youtube]N1MTLgvfFGs[/youtube]
If God is Merciful, Why Does He Punish? - YouTube

(5 minutes)

 

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Assuming the Best About Allah

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said three days before his death:

"None of you should ever die except while assuming the best about Allah." (Muslim)

It is wrong for any Muslim to think ill of God. A Muslim should always assume the best about his Lord.

As long as the Muslim is striving to engage in good deeds, he should expect the best outcome: that God will accept his good deeds; that God from His grace will forgive him; and that He will bless him to live out his life, until its end, upon faith. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) said the above mentioned hadith...

Assuming the Best About Allah - He Said - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]One Man's Evil Actions Don't Represent a Religion[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Islam is so peace-loving and forgiving, right? Then why do countries such as Pakistan stone, behead and/or shoot men & women for merely speaking against Islam or for even being raped?

Answered by brother Nouman Ali Khan
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[youtube]Rx8kgVJlKho[/youtube]
One Man's evil Actions don't Represent a Religion - YouTube

(2 minutes)

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Am I Dreaming? (Part 1)[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Islam says that dreams can be meaningful but the scholars have warned that not all dreams should be considered as such. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Renowned Islamic scholar Ibn Sirin, an expert on dream interpretation mentions in his classical book on the subject that dream interpretation is a difficult science and that scholars treat it with the upmost care. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Prophet Muhammad taught us about dreams, also with the upmost care, and he mentions dreams and dreaming often.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]“Indeed the worst of lies is that of a person who falsely claims to have dream.” (Al-Bukhari)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]“True dreams are from Allah, and bad dreams are from Shaitan (Satan).” (Al-Bukhari)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]“Those of you with the truest dreams will be those who are most truthful in speech.” (Muslim)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]“If anyone of you has a dream that he likes then it is from Allah. He should thank Allah for it and narrate it to others.” (Al-Bukhari)[/FONT]
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It is from Prophet Muhammad that we learn that dreams are of three types...
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Am I Dreaming? (Part 1) - Understanding Islam - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Towards Becoming Better Muslims:

Don't Persist in Sin: Good Deeds Erase Bad Deeds

Ever done something wrong where the guilt says, you have gone too far, might as well continue, you are condemned anyway?
Who hasn't?

Sadly, guilt pushes us further into the problem and away from the solution where we think 'may as well persist' thoughts may form in our head and they are joined with the terrible twin partners of guilt, shame and blame.

We shouldn't sweat it though as in Islam we have been blessed with the knowledge that God is All-Forgiving All-Merciful and our bad deed is easily corrected...

www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/growing-in-faith/462473-dont-persist-in-sin-good-deeds-erase-bad-deeds.html

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dream Interpretation (Part 2)[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dreams do hold some significance in the way of life that is Islam; however we must be careful not to rely too much on them or believe that they are filled with hidden messages and symbols.
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The great majority of dreams are a product of active, healthy mind and are not prophetic in anyway.[/FONT]
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It is also incorrect to assume that the prayer for guidance (Istikarah) should be answered with a dream.[/FONT]
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In conclusion we are able to sum up dream interpretation with the words of Ibn Sireen, the most well-known Islamic dream interpreter. On a day when asked about 100 or more different dreams, he said in answer to all the questions:[/FONT]
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“Fear God and do good whilst you are awake, and whatever you see in your sleep will not harm you.”[/FONT]

Dream Interpretation (Part 2) - Understanding Islam - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Because of Her a Nation Was Born

The rites of our pilgrimage have their roots deep in the history of God's noble Prophets from the time of Abraham to the time of Muhammad (peace be upon them all).

Our pilgrimage, as a consequence, affirms in our hearts the strong connection that exists between all of the Prophets while reminding us if the great sacrifices they all had made for the guidance of the world's people.

We see this clearly in the story of Abraham and Hajar, which we find narrated in Sahih Al-Bukhari.

Abraham (peace be upon him) set off with his wife Hajar and newborn son on a long journey. They arrived at Makkah. Hajar looked around her. She could see nothing but a barren wasteland in all directions. There was no life. The silence was unbearable.

In the distance, the land met the sky without any movement breaking the terrain anywhere. This alien landscape grew even stranger in Hajar's eyes as she recalled that her husband Abraham was intending to leave her here, without a doubt, and return to his people.

Hajar's mind was beset with all number of thoughts: What was she getting herself into?

How can she survive among these sharp crags?

How will she bear the impenetrable darkness of the night?

This was certain death. What husband would leave his wife and child to die in the desert?

The Power of Trusting in God

When she turned to her husband, her conduct was impeccable. Her manners were perfect and her countenance was calm. Nevertheless, whenever it seemed to her like he was about to leave, her heart would make an involuntary jump.

The time came when Abraham resolved to depart. Hajar was not going to disobey her husband, for he was a Prophet of God and this was something about which she had no doubt. He did not take but a few steps before Hajar rushed over to him, the full force of her being left alone in this wilderness bearing upon her.

She asked: "O Abraham! Where are you going, leaving us in this barren, empty valley?" Abraham did not turn around to face her, though she asked again and again. Finally, she asked:

"Did Allah command you to do this?"

Abraham said: "Yes, He did." Then her heart calmed down.

She said: "Then, Allah will certainly not ever neglect us."

Her words were so certain, so sure, that it added reassurance to even Abraham's heart in his carrying out what he knew for certain God had commanded him to do.

In this, we see how a woman is able to shoulder great hardships that a man would be unable to bear, as long as she is a firm believer in the task that she is undertaking. When a woman believes in a cause that is noble, she is able to sacrifice her safety, her stability, and even her entire life aspiring for what she recognizes to be a greater and mighty purpose.

This is how our mother Hajar was able to remain in that desolate wasteland until the water that was with her ran out without losing heart and without succumbing to despair. Nor did she sit down and await her fate...

Because of Her a Nation Was Born - Pilgrimage - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Need Something? Just Ask Allah

Allah has named Himself Al-Mujeeb, which means the One who responds.

Just as we are certain that the Qur’an is true, we must be certain that Allah, Al-Mujeeb, will answer our call.

We should never think that Allah will not answer, because by feeling so, we are denying this attribute of Allah.

Whenever we are feeling down, we should not hesitate to ask Him over and over again, and to go into sujood (prostration) and plead because that is the closest that we are to Him. If we realize this, the doors of mercy have been opened for us, because the Prophet said,

“For whoever the door of du`a’ (supplication) opened, for him the doors of mercy are opened.” (Tirmidhi).

Four conditions

Ibn Al-Qayyim said he who fulfills the following conditions should know that Allah will surely answer his supplication...

Need something? Just ask Allah | MuslimVillage.com/

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Do You Know How to Engage with The Quran?
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]To become engaged with the Quran means to interact with the text, have a conversation with the Author, question and discover.
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Quran is a dynamic moving text unlike any other. I guarantee that you will derive different meanings from it every time you read it at different intervals throughout your life. Your heart will perceive what you read differently depending on your capabilities, needs, comprehension and openness.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It is your “heart” that perceives. This is a fundamental premise of successfully reading and engaging with this marvelous book. Your mind can take in the information, rationalize, organize, prioritize, …etc. but your heart is the center of faith, guidance and comprehension (just as it can be the center of quite the opposite conditions if left untrained/purified)...

Do You Know How to Engage with the Quran? - Revelation - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net[/FONT]

 

[alikhan0]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]We believe in God and in what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma'il: Isaac, Jacob and The Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus and the Prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another, among them, and to God do we bow our will (in Islam)." (Qur'an, Al-'Imran 3:84)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Thanks![/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]***staff edit***[/FONT]

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dealing with Grief as a Muslim (True Story)
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I am thankful that God blessed me with those beautiful sixteen years with my dad. He was not mine to keep and to God we all return. As soon as I adopted this thought process and this belief which is core in Islam, the grief which was once so heavy and almost burdening my life was lifted.[/FONT]
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The relief was immense and I immediately understood why my dad had been taken from me. His death would be a test for me and ultimately my guide to Islam, Alhamdulillah. God is the knower of all things, and ultimately I will never know for sure why my dad’s soul was taken. I feel that from my dad dying, I was guided to Islam and was saved from my own self destruction.[/FONT]
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I can now say with an open heart that the death of my father wasn’t easy. I struggled often fighting against myself, but I can say that this was my first and best experience of grief that taught me how to deal with grief both from an Islamic perspective but also on an emotional level as to not get too embroiled, become angry or bitter with God.[/FONT]
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It is God’s way and we have to accept that we might not always know why He does certain things but what we know is that when He removes something from our life, He will replace it with something better. It’s our Divine Predestination that God has planned for us even before we were born...[/FONT]

God Gave Me Islam in Place of My Dad - In Their Own Words - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Towards a Better Understanding of The Quran:

Reflections on The Chapter of Light (Part 1)

Islam Facilitates Marriage and Divorce without Taking Either Lightly

It is important to note before continuing that Islam facilitates both marriage and divorce.

This does not mean that either is to be taken with jest but it does suggest that there is no excuse for individuals whether male or female, young or old, to convince themselves that marriage/divorce are so complex to the point that having intimate relations out of the marital bond is preferable. Sex comes with responsibilities, consequences, and limits that are reflected in the bond of marriage.

However, there is an acknowledgement that people and circumstances change and that this may lead to unanticipated needs and feelings than when the relationship first commenced.

When such changes are irreconcilable, God, despite the express provision that the most hated permissibility in the sight of God is divorce, commands that we know each other in beneficence or that we part with each other similarly. It is unacceptable, Islamically-speaking, to promote in any way sexual promiscuity or laxity because of misguided beliefs about the sacredness of the marital bond...

Reflections on The Chapter of Light (Part 1) - Revelation - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Steps on the Path to Allah:

Keeping Ties with God and Trusting Him

Life is a journey down smooth paths, rocky roads and extremely treacherous terrain.

While joy comes naturally during the easy times of life, it takes effort to find moments of happiness during adversity.

It's easy to get caught up in our own stress and anxiety, and I for one plead guilty of this, however, I try to remember that our life is short and temporary, and that the everlasting life is in the Hereafter. This will to some extent help put our worries in perspective...

Keeping Ties with God and Trusting Him - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Turn Your Lemons Into Lemonade [/FONT]

by Sheikh Muhammad Al-Ghazali

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Power of Positive Thinking [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The first thing Islam asks you to do is to think about and calmly reconsider your feelings about what has befallen you:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]{It may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. God knows, and you know not.} (Al-Baqarah 2: 216)[/FONT]
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Who knows? Perhaps something good comes from something bad. Perhaps an opportunity is wrapped within a calamity. As the saying goes: “Every cloud has a silver lining.”[/FONT]
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Who knows?

Perhaps difficult times, through good management, lead to better days, and positive outcomes emerge from an unpleasant, difficult, or even painful situation.[/FONT]
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Most of us complain of surrounding circumstances and thereby double our lacking and suffering, although troubles and pains are the soil that nourished great figures whose skills bloomed out of heaps of difficulties...
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Turn Your Lemons Into Lemonade - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net