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Discover Islam ...

Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Who Has Your Trust?
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Who do you trust?
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Who is that one person that gives you an internal tranquility, no matter what you entrust them with?
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For some of us it might be our mother or father, perhaps a best friend or our spouse. That trust gives us confidence, conviction and peace.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In reality though, we do not trust them in a fully comprehensive sense. We might trust them to be there for us, or trust them not to judge us harshly when we make a mistake. But would we trust our best friend to be our lawyer in court if she is a fashion designer and is not particularly eloquent?
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]So our trust is in regards to certain things. What elements would have to be there in order for someone to have our trust 100%?

[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There are three main elements:[/FONT]

  1. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The person is an expert in what they do: you might not trust your fashion designer best friend to be your lawyer, but you would trust the Harvard-educated lawyer who is known never to have lost a case (let’s call him “Adam”).[/FONT]
  2. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The person is a moral person: Even if Adam is an amazing lawyer, if you weren’t sure about his moral character, you still wouldn’t be completely at ease. You might be afraid that he would cheat you out of your money for example. But if Adam is also an amazingly upright human being, you would be happier to give him a power-of-attorney.[/FONT]
  3. [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The person cares about you specifically: now imagine if Adam happens to be your close uncle who always treated you as his own child. Doesn’t that increase the trust, confidence and certainty? You absolutely know that Uncle Adam will you get you through it all.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] While Allah is far above any analogy, the above example just breaks down the concept of trust for us...
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Who has your trust?
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Wisdom of Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them)

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Quran is replete with many stories about the life and teachings of Jesus.
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]There are in fact recalling of his miraculous birth, his teachings, the miracles he performed by God's permission, and his life as a respected Prophet of God.
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Quran continues to repeatedly remind us that Jesus was a human Prophet sent by God, not part of God Himself.[/FONT]
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Raised in a non-Muslim country, many were surprised to see me referring to the sayings of the Prophet Jesus. We as Muslims are taught that Islam’s view of Jesus lies between two extremes. That of the Jews, who rejected Jesus and sadly labeled him as an imposter while the Christians, on the other hand, considered him to be the son of God and worship him as such.[/FONT]
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Islam considers Jesus in addition to Noah, Abraham, Moses and Muhammad (peace be upon them) to be one of the greatest and most forbearing of Prophets. The great reverence to which Jesus is held lies in conformity with the Islamic view of the Oneness of God, the Oneness of Divine guidance, and the complementary role of the subsequent mission of God’s messengers...[/FONT]

Wisdom of Jesus & Muhammad (peace be upon them) - Messengers - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Does Zakah Encourage Unemployment?

Zakah (obligatory alms) in Islam is one of the main five deeds which are considered as the pillars of Islam. Muslims believe that Allah Almighty is the All-Wise and that when He commands humans, it is always to benefit them.

Saying that zakah encourages unemployment is invalid. Actually, the opposite is true. Zakah is really a way of reducing unemployment.

One of the conditions of zakah is transferring the ownership of the amount of the zakah money from the rich to the poor. This means that an amount of money is taken from the pockets of the rich, who tend to save, into the pockets of the poor, who tend to spend in order to fulfill their needs.

Give a rich person 100 dollars, it may be kept unspent in his pocket for a year. In contrast to that, it will evaporate from the pocket of a poor person in less than 30 minutes, because he needs food, clothing, and other essentials for himself and his family.

This means that 2.5% of the cash savings, 5-10% of the agriculture income and 20% of the income of extracted minerals will be spent in the market through the poor.

This will lead to the increase in market demand on goods. To accommodate this increase in demand, there should be an increase in production. This, in turn, will lead to an increase in job opportunities...

Do Alms Encourage Unemployment? - Aspects of Worship - counsels - OnIslam.net

 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Faith in Citizenship

RIS Convention

Canada 2011[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] - Dr. Jamal Badawi[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]An excellent talk by Dr. Jamal on being a Canadian Muslim or an American Muslim

[youtube]08SVthLI9OE[/youtube]
RISTalks: Dr. Jamal Badawi - "Faith in Citizenship" - RIS Canada 2011 - YouTube
[/FONT]
(29 minutes)
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
A Muslim Engagement Ceremony
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Q: I am a recent convert to Islam and I should get engaged in three months, insha' Allah. I do not know much about how engagement is performed in Islam and I need information on the rules to follow for the engagement ceremony so that I do my best to bring Allah's blessing on my engagement and future marriage.

A: Congratulations for your engagement and welcome to the fold of Islam...

Marriage is an act of worship and obedience to Allah, Who commands the husband and wife to respect and love each other, to create a peaceful home, and to help each other in rearing good Muslim children to make a positive difference to the world.

It is also a lawful response to the basic instincts of intimacy within a detailed system of rights and duties. Muslims are instructed on how to channel these desires to live a tranquil, settled life. The Quran says what gives the meaning of:

{And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts. Undoubtedly in these are signs for those who reflect.} (Ar-Rum 30:21)

Many verses of the Quran discuss marriage, family relations, and domestic etiquette, so I encourage you to do some readings in preparation for your new life.

Engagement: A Promise of Marriage

It is important to clarify that engagement in Islam is just a promise of marriage. It does not entitle fiancés to any special rights over one another, other than publicly declaring serious interest in a life-long commitment to each other under Allah's law...

[/FONT]A Muslim Engagement Ceremony - Social Life - counsels - OnIslam.net

 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Improving Communication Between Muslim Spouses [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Every marriage goes through a unique set of challenges, because every married couple in this world is one-of-a-kind.

As the years pass after tying the nuptial knot, if the communication problems between a husband and his wife are not resolved in time, they can cause permanent damage and irreversibly affect their relationship.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This in turn will have an impact on the character-building and moral upbringing of their children.[/FONT]
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There are many steps that spouses can undertake to improve their communication with each other. By trial and error, i.e. by applying different methods at different times and in different situations, they can come up with a workable solution for eliminating their emotional distance and indifference at any phase in life.[/FONT]
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Deep Conversations
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Most of the time, the most effective form of communication is talking to each other frankly and openly via a deep, uninterrupted conversation, in order to resolve a problem. However, this method might not be applicable at all times, especially if one spouse is totally unwilling to listen or talk to the other...[/FONT]

Improving Communication Between Muslim Spouses - Family - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: Why Isn't Quran's Order As Originally Revealed?
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A:[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It is a delight to answer your question because it gives me an opportunity to show that there is no contradiction at all in the way the Quran was revealed.

It also allows me to explain something of the beauty of the Quran.

Let us take some of the apparent contradictions or misunderstandings one by one...

Why Isn't Quran's Order As Originally Revealed? - Qur'an & Scriptures - counsels - OnIslam.net[/FONT]
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: Why Can't We See God?
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A: Since time began, many people have asked, "Why can't we see God?"

The quest for God has always been at the core of human life.

Human beings have always been searching for this Supreme Being that has created them and originated the whole universe. They have always been looking for this great power that runs the universe in such a perfect way.

The hearts realized His existence; yet, the senses could not encapsulate Him. The simple reason for this is that senses are created by Him. They are placed within the limits of their humanness, and therefore cannot go beyond this limitedness.

People cannot tell how many spikes are there in a bicycle if it is running quickly. They cannot tell what is behind a room if they are inside that room. The laws of the universe govern a human being, but they do not govern God who created and placed them.

Since God is beyond space, direction, and encapsulation, a human being cannot encapsulate him by his eyes. Human eyes normally see things or people in a direction and perceive them with certain descriptions like a certain size, shape, and color.

Since God is beyond all these limitations, a human eye cannot witness Him...

Why Can't We See God? - Islamic Creed - counsels - OnIslam.net
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Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: Choosing Between My Parents and Islam: What to Do?
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A: The situation you find yourself in at the moment is certainly a very complicated one and is causing you a lot of pain. Before saying anything else, we must remember that Almighty Allah is in control of all things and is the Master of all situations and circumstances.

Our problem is often that we want to find answers to things that are totally out of our control. There is nothing that is outside the scope of His power and His mercy. That is why Muslims should never despair and that is why the answer to your problem is just waiting to be found.

We need to remember, in answering this question, that Muslims have the greatest respect and reverence for their parents. We listen attentively to what our parents have to say, and it is our duty to love and respect them.

This love and respect includes praying for them and placing them before Almighty Allah, asking Him to care for them. It could be that this situation is a way that will bring the whole family closer together and closer to Allah...

Choosing Between My Parents and Islam: What to Do? - New to Islam - counsels - OnIslam.net

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Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Q: What are the Benefits of the Five Daily Prayers?
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A: The regulation of praying at certain set times is not just a random idea.

The whole idea is to permeate the whole of one's day with the remembrance of Allah.

Some new Muslims say that they lead very busy lives and ask if it is OK to say all the five prayers together in the evening when they have more time. It is precisely because we live busy lives that we must pray at certain times.

The times are simple: when we get up, at noon, in the middle of the afternoon, in the early evening and at night. By praying at these set times we give a routine of prayer to our day. We wake up thinking of Allah and we spend the day interrupting all of our busy-ness to think of Him again.

So, if you are new to Islam is it easy to adjust to the routine of praying at five fixed times a day?

Well, in my own case it certainly wasn't easy and it took me some time to get used to it. So if at first you are not feeling all that uplifted by getting up to pray at four in the morning, stick with it. The routine itself will help you. By doing good things we become good people. The routine of prayer will make you a better Muslim...

What are the Benefits of the Five Daily Prayers? - Aspects of Worship - counsels - OnIslam.net

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Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Towards a Better Understanding of the Islamic Belief:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Surrender - The Pens Have Been Lifted [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Maintaining our faith often seems like a constant battle, between what we know and what we feel.

Fortunately though, faith in God in addition to His divine plan is there to keep us sane when our emotions run amok.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For me, it's this faith; this integral part of life along with the knowledge that as long as one does his or her best, God will choose what will happen next in our lives which keeps us grounded.[/FONT]
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This is where, as Muslims, our strong belief in destiny or ‘qadar’ offers us the inner strength which non-believers lack. The last of the six fundamentals of Islam in fact is to believe in qadar where good and evil, advantage and disadvantage, profit and loss are all preordained, determined and written by God.[/FONT]
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It is this strong faith which can keep us focused on the fact that God alone controls all destinies and has ultimate power over all things...
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Surrender - The Pens Have Been Lifted - Fate & Destiny - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tips for Keeping Balance in Life [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Are life and the Hereafter enemies?
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Does seeking worldly affairs affect one's destiny in the Hereafter?[/FONT]
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Or are life and the Hereafter two faces of the same coin?
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Can a Muslim balance between them?[/FONT]
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Islam is about moderation in all affairs whether religious or worldly.
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]God created us with a purpose in this life. God created us to acknowledge His oneness and to worship Him alone. If we understand the main objective of creating human beings, we will recognize the importance of exerting every possible effort to worship God the proper way...
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Tips for Keeping Balance in Life - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Clash of Reason and Revelation: Reconciling Science and Scripture in Islam

Religion and revelation are often thought to clash with reason and science, but the Islamic worldview offers the opportunity to recognize the realm of each and deal with any perceived contradictions in a mature intellectual framework.

Explore the relation between each as we take a parallel journey to that of Albert Einstein in seeking to understand God and His Word.

Originally given at MAS Youth Conference at Queens College in New York.
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[youtube]WUMOBQkt6BY[/youtube]
The Clash of Reason and Revelation: Reconciling Science and Scripture in Islam - YouTube

(66 minutes)
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]How Can One Enter Paradise?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Apart from outlining the political foundations, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) laid down the social foundations of the new Muslim community in Madinah.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]These were his first words which he uttered upon his arrival to Madinah. Imam al-Tirmidhi reported that the Prophet said:[/FONT]
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"O people! Spread the greeting of peace, feed (the poor and needy), behave kindly to your relatives, offer prayer when others are asleep, and (thus) enter Paradise in peace."...[/FONT]
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Spreading the Greeting of Peace[/FONT]
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This is the first step in a Muslim's journey to Paradise. The official greeting in Islam is as-salamu `alaykum (peace be unto you). This is a call for peace that Muslims remind themselves of all day when they meet each other.[/FONT]

How Can One Enter Paradise? - He Said - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net
 
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