Salaam


Basically this applies to everything in life.


Now most of you will probably say don't eat at McDonalds or boycott certain companies because of a political issues, others will say it’s only food or a gift.


Many of us will get offers, promotions, haraam gifts (sweets etc) for the sake of cheap goods!


If you got anything that remotely sounds promotional or offers like for example with some sweets we cannot eat or a money saving book for McDonald’s food, what would you do:


- Give it to a non-believer?


- Throw it in the trash can?


- Recycle it?


- Take it anyway!?


- Don’t know!


Some of you may say give it to a non-believer (we tend to do this alot anyway), but isn't our job to convince our non-believing humans to see our way of life, correct them to the right path?


So giving away unwanted gifts, promotional offers and haraam sweets to non-believers because we ourselves cannot take is right or wrong?


What would you do with your haraam gifts (goods, food, drinks)?


Also we have people who make money (profit) for the sake of survival of so fair enough you buy cheap and sell for profit that’s fine... but what if what you’re buying is stolen? Would you knowingly buy stolen items for profit yourself?


Finance is a long issue so I will not go into it, but haraam promotions is something important to look into it and its very much common sense!


Anyway you take care; I hope to hear from you soon, Inshallah.


Ma'asalaama

<b>"Waste no time debating what a good Muslim should be. Be one!" </b>



by Muhammad Alshareef


Imam Malik one day entered the Masjid after Asr. Towards the front of Masjid An-Nabawee he drew closer and sat down. Rasul Allah had commanded that anyone who enters the Masjid should not sit until he first prays 2 rakas as a salutation of the Masjid. Imam Malik was of the opinion however that Rasul Allah's forbiddance of praying after Asr took precedence and so he would teach his students to not pray the tahiyyatul Masjid if they entered between the Asr and Maghrib time.


At that moment that Imam Malik sat down, a young boy had seen him sit without first praying the 2 raka's of Tahiyyatul Masjid. The young boy scorned him, "Get up and pray 2 rakas!"


Imam Malik dutifully stood up once again and began praying the 2 rakas. The students sat stunned: What was going on? Had Imam Malik's opinion changed?


After he had completed the salah, the students swarmed around and questioned his actions. Imam Malik said, "My opinion has not changed, nor have I gone back on what I taught you earlier. I merely feared that had I not prayed the 2 rakas as the young boy commanded, Allah may include me in the Ayah...


<b>"And when it is said to them, 'Bow (in prayer)', they do not bow." - al mursalat 77/48.
</b> <b></b>


Imam Ahmad held the opinion that eating camel meat nullifies ones Wudhu, an opinion that the majority of scholars differed from. Some students asked him, "If you find an Imam eating camel meat in front of you and - without first making Wudu - then leads the Salah, would you pray behind him?" Imam Ahmad replied, "Do you think I would not pray behind the likes of Imam Malik and Sa'eed ibn Al-Musayyab?"


Allah created humans with differences. It is the law of creation. Different tongues, different colors, different cultures...all that on the outside. On the inside, humans were created with many degrees of knowledge, intellect, and comprehension of concepts. This is all a sign of Allah's all encompassing power to do whatever He wills:


"And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors: verily in that are signs for those who know." [30:22]



Humans shall differ, that is not the issue. The issue is: How as a Muslim should one confront these differences of opinions and what should be our relationship with someone of a different opinion.


Allah ta'ala commanded us to call and advise people in this Deen of Al-Islam. Many Muslims set off on this mission blindfolded, not realizing that the map was there in the Qur'an also. In fact, in the very same verse where Allah commanded us to call and advise people in this Deen, Allah taught us how to do it. Read the following verse carefully:


<b>"Invite (fi'l Amr - Allah is commanding) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction and argue with them in a way that is best! " - Surah An-Nahl 16/125.
</b>


There is no need to philosophize. No need to talk in the flower gardens. It is right there, plain and simple for anyone who would take heed.


There in that Ayah are the three ingredients to apply when we disagree with someone. The same Allah that taught us to debate the truth, taught us how to do it:


1 - With Hikmah (wisdom)


2 - With good instruction, and


3 - To argue in a way that is best.


What does it mean to have Hikmah when differing with someone? The grandsons of Rasul Allah(saw) once set one of the most beautiful examples of Hikmah in advising others. Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn - in their young age - once saw a senior man performing Wudu incorrectly. Together they arranged a plan to teach the man without insulting him, advising him in a manner befitting of his age.


Together they went to the senior and announced, "My brother and I have differed over who amongst us performs Wudu the best. Would you mind being the judge to determine which one of us indeed performs Wudu more correctly."


The man watched intently as the two grandsons of Rasul Allah performed Wudu in an explicit manner. After they had completed, he thanked them and said, "By Allah, I did not know how to perform Wudu before this. You have both taught me how to do it correctly."


We must understand that there are two dimensions to Hikmah. Firstly, there is the Hikmah of knowledge - Hikmah Ilmiyyah. And secondly, there is the Hikmah of Action - Hikmah Amaliyyah.


Some people may have Hikmah of knowledge. But we see that when they try correcting others, advising them, they lack the Hikmah of Action. This causes many a common folk to reject the Hikmah of knowledge.


To illustrate this hikmah of knowledge without Hikmah of action, a brother once completed the Salah in a local Masjid and then proceeded to shake hands with the people on his right and left. The brother to his immediate right slapped his hand and snapped, "That is not part of the Sunnah!" The man replied most correctly, "Oh, is disrespect and insult part of the Sunnah?"


To show Hikmah when we differ requires the following:


<b>Sincerity</b>



One: If we differ, our intentions should be that we are differing in the sincere hope of coming away with the truth. Our intentions should be sincere to Allah.


We should not differ just to release some hate or envy in our heart. We should not differ to embarrass someone like we may have been embarrassed.


Rasul Allah said, "Whoever learns knowledge - knowledge from that which should be sought for the sake of Allah - only to receive a commodity of the material world, he shall not find the fragrance of jannah on the day of resurrection." - An authentic hadith narrated by Abu Dawood in Kitab Al-Ilm.


<b>Kindness and Gentleness </b>



Two: To have Hikmah when differing means we should rarely depart from an atmosphere of kindness and gentleness, we should seldom allow ourselves to become angry and raise our voices.


Fir'own (Pharaoh) was one of the evilest people that lived. Musa was one of the noblest. Look at how Allah told Musa to advise Fir'own...


"Go, both of you, to Fir'own. Indeed, he has transgressed. And speak to him with gentle speech, perhaps he may remember or fear (Allah)."


A man once entered upon the Khalifah and chastised him for some policies he had taken. The Khalifah replied, "By Allah, Fir'own was more eviler than me. And by Allah, Musa was more pious than you. Yet, Allah commanded him...'And speak to him with gentle speech, perhaps he may remember or fear (Allah).'"


<b>Take Your Time and Clarify </b>



Three: To have Hikmah when dealing with others is to be patient and clarify things before snapping to conclusions.


Imam Ahmad narrates with his chain of narrators leading to Ibn Abbas who said, "A man from Bani Saleem passed by a group of the Prophet's companions. (At that time of war) The man said 'as salamu alaykum' to them. The companions concluded that he only said 'as salamu alaykum' to them as a deception to save himself from being caught. They surrounded him and Malham ibn Juthaamah killed him. From that event Allah revealed the verse...


<b>"O you who have believed, when you go forth (to fight) in the cause of Allah, investigate, and do not say to one who gives you (a greeting of peace), "You are not a believer," Aspiring for the goods of worldly life; for with Allah are many acquisitions. You (yourselves) were like that before; then Allah conferred His favor (i.e. guidance) upon you, so investigate. Indeed, Allah is ever with what you do, acquainted."</b>
- Surah AnNisa, 4/94. From Tafseer Ibn Katheer.


<b>Speak Kindly </b>



Fourthly, never trade in kind words for harshness, especially when dealing with other Muslims.


Look at the power of a sincere and polite word: Mus'ab ibn Umayr was the first of ambassador of Rasul Allah in Madinah. Before Rasul Allah had arrived in Madinah, Mus'ab taught ahl al-Madinah about Islam and they began to enter the Deen.


This enraged Sa'd ibn 'Ubaadah, one of the chieftains of Madinah. He sheathed his sword and set off for the head of Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr. When he confronted Mus'ab he threatened, "Stop this nonsense you speak or you shall find yourself dead!"


Mus'ab replied in the way that should be a lesson for us all. This man before him did not stop at rudeness and ignorance, he wanted to slit his throat.


Mus'ab said, "Shall you not sit and listen for a few moments. If you agree with what I say then take it, and if not, we shall desist from this talk." Sa'd sat down.


Mus'ab spoke about Allah and His messenger until the face of Sa'd ibn Ubaadah's face shone like a full moon and he said, "What should a person do who wishes to enter into this Deen?" After Mus'ab had told him he said, "There is a man, if he accepts this Deen, there shall be no home in Madinah that will not become Muslim. Sa'd ibn Mu'aadh."


When Sa'd ibn Mu'aadh heard what was happening, he was infuriated. He left his home to go and kill this man called Mus'ab ibn Umayr for the dissention he had caused. He entered upon Mus'ab and announced, "You shall desist of this religion you speak of or you shall find yourself dead!"


Mus'ab replied, "Shall you not sit and listen for a few moments. If you agree with what I say then take it, and if not, I shall desist from this talk." Sa'd sat.


Mus'ab spoke about Allah and His messenger until the face of Sa'd ibn Mu'aadh's face shone like a full moon and he said, "What should a person do who wishes to enter into this Deen?"


Look at what a kind word did. Sa'd ibn Mu'aadh went home to his Madinan tribe that night and announced to them all, "Everything of yours is Haram upon me until you all enter into Islam."


That night, every home in Madinah went to bed with Laa ilaaha illa Allah...all because of a kind word.

<b>Family Life in Islam
</b>


In a time when values tend to be turned upside down, family life as the very heart of society was attacked just as much as many other handed-down traditions. About ten years ago, when it become fashionable for young torch-bearers of a "Modernism" to live in "communities", share sex and children and earnings, many people feared that this might mean the end of family life. Fortunately, this is not so. In the end, the overwhelming majority of young women still dream of having a wedding ring on their finger, living in a comfortable flat as "Mrs. So-and-so" and bringing up their children in an orderly home, just as young men prefer to introduce "her" with the words" "This is my wife" instead of "this is my mate or comrade". Neither socialism nor any other "isms" were able to uproot what has been implanted into human nature from time immemorial.


If dangers for family and particularly matrimonial life could be overcome successfully in the West, they were the more unable to gain ground in the Muslim World. There, family life with all its aspects concerning not only husband, wife and children, but all other relatives too, is so firmly established by tradition as well as by religious law that it could not be affected seriously.


The Islamic Approach


Now, one may say that a happy and healthy family life cannot be guaranteed by law. It is true that it depends so much upon the goodwill of all concerned that the best laws remain written phrases where this goodwill is missing. Here, however, as in all other spheres of the Islamic Way of Life, the ruling factor is the fact that Islam is not a religion in the Western sense of the word, but truly THE WAY OF LIFE for those adhering to it. Islam means on the one hand the complete submission to the Will of Allah. And on the other, it is the conscious acceptance of man's vicegerency on earth as ordained by Allah.


Submission to the Will of Allah, if applied to family life, means accepting the desires inherent in man's nature and living up to them, mutual confidence, kindness, self-sacrifice and solace; uncles, aunts and and all other relatives whom one can trust and who may either grant protection or be granted protection; the desire for a peaceful and fostering home; the desire for a good education; the desire for help in the hour of need; and the desire for doing good or receiving good, just as the events may demand.


The conscious acceptance of man's vicegerency on earth means seeking the best possible means for a successful vicegerency. And here again family life provides the most promising basis for our activities. A good and healthy family life grants us the right approach to life, helps us to see matters in the right perspective, gives us the most useful education not only as far as our future profession is concerned but also for the handling of life itself. When we are grown up, it gives us a safe home that enables us to take part in society life to its greatest benefit, and when we become old, it grants us our livelihood just as we used to grant it when we were still able to do so.


To people completely engrossed in the way of life prevailing in the West today, this may sound incredible. Why not leave children in the nursery and depend on their education at school --after all, what a lot of taxes are paid for this purpose? and why feel responsible for relatives in need or old family members since they certainly must be insured against troubles of all sorts and there are homes for old people where they are neither disturbed not can disturb... ? There are so many and much more useful and lucrative things to do instead of looking after children and caring for old or sick family members.


Yet, incredible though it may sound--in the Muslim World these responsibilities are still shouldered by the majority of families. This is due to the Islamic injunctions which have not at all become obsolete in the course of modern techno-industrial developments but are taken quite seriously by Muslims up to this very day. And why is this so? I think it is so because Muslims honestly believe in their accountability for their conduct here on earth on the Day of Resurrection, because they are fully aware of their role as Allah's vicegerents and because they feel contentment in fulfilling their religious duties, thus achieving Allah’s good pleasure which is the main aim of their very existence.


Non-Muslims may wonder how a religion can still exercise such a powerful influence over people in modern times that at least in this sphere Western examples are rather shunned instead of being imitated contrary to the usual trend in most other fields.


Structure of Muslim Family


It is the firm structure of Islamic family life resting on the following four pillars that makes these values so enduring and enables them to outlive Western practices. They are based on Qur'anic regulations and the traditions from the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), handed down from generation to generation.


1. Family life as a cradle of human society providing a secure, healthy and encouraging home for parents and the growing children.


2. Family life as guardian of the natural erotic desires of men and women, leading this powerful urge into wholesome channels.


3. Family life as the very breeding-place for human virtues like love, kindness, mercy.


4. Family life as the most secure refuge against inward and outward troubles.


An ever valid and never outgrowing aspect of Islamic family life is, however, that the strength of all the four pillars is made up by the system. And it must not be forgotten, that the benefits of family life are extended not only to blood relations but encompass also the world-wide family of Muslims, the Islamic brotherhood.


http://www.jamaat.org/islam/FamilyIslam.html

Would someone please send an email to CAIR. Security high at Port of Miami after alleged entry attempt
.


There’s some damage control needed here and the shrill, screeching tone of the jihadis in suits at the sharia factory are needed here.

Quote:MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Security at the Port of Miami was tightened Sunday after three people tried to drive a truck into a secure area without the proper documentation, police said.
The incident began at about 8 a.m., when the driver of the 18-wheeler, which was loaded with cargo, was unable to produce required paperwork, said Robert Williams, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade Police Department.


When the driver was taken from the truck and interviewed, "some of his actions determined that something might not be correct here," Williams told reporters.


Conflicting accounts by authorities make it unclear whether the two were in the container portion of the vehicle or just in the cab portion, behind the driver.


Williams said the parties were detained and interviewed by the FBI.)


A bomb squad was sent "as a precaution" to check the vehicle, he said.


Port of Miami spokeswoman Andrea Muniz said the cargo area was closed.


But Williams said neither the passenger nor the cargo side of the port was closed.


Williams said the three are from the Middle East.


A law enforcement source told CNN the incident does not appear to be related to terrorism. Law enforcement officials told CNN the three appear to be in the United States legally.


Though Williams said no charges had been filed, the FBI said the three were being held on state charges.


Sunday is typically a busy day for cruise ships at the port: Passengers come ashore in the morning and new passengers arrive for late afternoon departures.


<b>Federal law enforcement authorities described two of the three, including the driver, as being of Iraqi descent and the other as being of Lebanese descent.</b> But Williams said their nationalities had not been determined.

<b></b>


[this site as wonderful gift to muslims and all non-Muslim guests . :)



http://www.think-deeply.com/



best



silver heart :wavey:

hi all.. i've been hanging around here for a few days now..


i use this program called GameMaker 6.1 to develop small computer games.. if you have young kids i'd be happy to make a game or something for them? (it's easy) it can be anything you want? -- want a religious themed game? an educational game? why not get your kids or anyone you know who might be interested to use the software (it's free!) and you can make your own programs (it makes more than games, some people make media players and windows GUI's etc)


maybe it could be a good influence (rather than other things young people get into these days if you know what i mean..?)


if there is anyone here who is interested in such a thing you can get the free software at http://www.gamemaker.nl/


if this is just a complete waste of time i apologise (i am still learning things here) you folks have been warm and receptive here i just wanted to offer something in return.. :wavey:

INTRODUCTION


Countries do prosper except with the help of its citizens and religion does not gain strength except with its followers. The Muslim Youth are future of this Ummah, they are the torch bearers and flag bearers of this Deen. When Muslim youth are rightly guided then by default future society is on right guidance. So, Muslim Youth has major role to play in reforming the society.


TYPES OF YOUTH


There are different types of Youth we find today


The one group who is totally satisfied with this Deen and sees Eemaan as blessings from Almighty Allaah and losing it is a big loss. Fulfils obligatory acts of worship with Love, Hope and Mercy.


The second group who is convinced about this Deen and knows very well that this is the truth but due to lack of knowledge and wrong influence his Aqeedah corrupts. The doors of evil is opened for them through their friends, surroundings etc.,


The third group are those who have made a life time commitment with Shaytaan the accursed. They have no faith in the Deen, nor do they believe in Aaqhirah. For them this worldly life is everything, they eat, drink, enjoy and die.


The following compilation is targeted to the first two category of the youth, who are confused and some don’t know where to start in reforming the society.


MUSLIM YOUTH CAN BE A BOON OR A BANE FOR THE SOCIETY


Sociologists have performed some experiments to determine which societies will fall and which ones will continue to strive in the future. They have been able to pinpoint exactly the time at which some societies would fall or prosper. Their findings have not been proven to be wrong in fact they have proven to be correct every time the research has been performed.


How did they know that?


The way they do their research is by going to the universities in each country and asking the young people there what do they hope to achieve in life?. Through their answers they are able to determine the future of each country. Some have high ambitions of becoming a scholar, scientist, statesman and some who are least bothered about their future and they don’t have any plan. As its said, if we fail to plan, we plan to fail!


This research is not a new idea. It existed since history began. It also existed since when Muslims used to be in Andalusia (Spain now). Socialist back then used to be Portuguese. They used to be sent to the Muslims in Andalusia under the decoy of researchers but in fact they were spies sent to know how the young Muslim people think. They knew that youth of a country are its hope for the future, so they wanted to know if the young Muslims were serious in life or if they had an objective in life. At first they used to find examples like; a young Muslim telling them that he started memorizing Sahih Muslim after having already memorized Sahih Bukhari. Another one would be training hard to excel in archery and another one would tell them that he is the best knight in the country and no one would dare challenge him.


So, the Portuguese spies, they did not have much options but to tell the army of their country not to attack the Muslims because of the will and the earnestness of the youth. Until one day, a Portuguese spy approached two young Muslims one of whom was crying. He asked him: why are you crying?. The young Muslim answered: My girlfriend has left me. Then the Portuguese spies knew that it was their chance to attack the Muslims and throw them out of Andalusia. The Muslims reined in Andalusia for 800 years but withdrew out of it in one month only. [Amr Khaled, Towards a bright beginning]

Cleveland Muslim Leader Convicted of Lying About Terror Ties Deported



As I type these lines, the cities of Ohio are ablaze and furious mobs of violent Christians and Jews are filling the streets calling for death to all Muslims. Why, you ask? Because a moslem has dared to desecrate Christian lands™ and the punishment for such heathen effrontery is death. It's what God wants.

Quote:DETROIT — A Muslim leader from Ohio who was convicted of lying about his involvement with a group the U.S. government designated a terrorist organization has been deported to his native Palestinian territories, immigration authorities said Friday.
Fawaz Damra, 46, was convicted in June 2004 of concealing his ties to Palestinian Islamic Jihad when he applied for U.S. citizenship in 1994.


Damra, who served imam at Ohio's largest mosque, the Islamic Center of Cleveland, was deported on Thursday, said Tim Counts, spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He was flown to Amman, Jordan, then crossed to the West Bank.


A message seeking comment with his lawyer, Michael Birach, was not immediately returned.


Damra immigrated to the United States in the mid-1980s and is married with three U.S.-born children.


In Ohio, he had become involved in interfaith activities, particularly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. But soon after, a tape of a 1991 speech in Chicago became public in which <b>Damra said Muslims should be "directing all the rifles at the first and last enemy of the Islamic nation and that is the sons of monkeys and pigs, the Jews."</b>


Damra apologized and said he made the remarks before he had any interaction with Christians and Jews.


At his 2004 trial, prosecutors showed video footage of him and other Muslim leaders raising money for an arm of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The State Department placed the group on its list of terrorist organizations in 1989.


Damra had been imam of a Brooklyn, N.Y., mosque in the mid-1980s that became a focus of fundraising for anti-Soviet forces in Afghanistan. His replacement there, Omar Abdel-Rahman, was convicted in a 1995 foiled plot to blow up New York City landmarks.

when i logged into my msn.. this is what i am greeted with in the annoying pop-up..


"mufti voted funniest of the year award"


http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=175456


^ there's the link..


your thoughts..? (i'll post later.. don't want to 'influence' any comments)

Why do people here (Muslims)....follow "Mohammed" PBUH, SAW, PEACE AND BLESSINGS BY UPON HIM) or something every time they type his name?


What does SAW mean?


When you say his name do you do the same?


Is this commanded or something?


Are you commiting sin if you don't?