As-salaamu `alaikum


Dear brothers and sisters


Call to Islam, Masjid al-Ghurabaa is holding a one day seminar...


Purification of the Soul


"`Adn (Edn) Paradise, under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever: such is the reward of those who purify themselves..." (Taa-Ha 20:76)


Date: Monday 17th April 2006 (Bank Holiday)


Time: 2pm – 7pm


Speakers:


Dr. Saleh as-Saleh (telelink)


Abu Imran


Abu Sohaib


Abu Saifillah `Abdul-Qaadir


Topics:


The Expiators of Sins


Returning to your Lord


The Dangers of not Correcting Oneself


A Sufficient Answer for the one who Asks for a Cure Which Works


Venue:


The Islamic Centre, Masjid al-Ghurabaa


116 Bury Park Road, Luton


Bedfordshire, LU1 1HE, U.K


For more information contact:


Abu Saifillah: 07951 951141


Aboo Uthmaan: 07916 166033


Check www.calltoislam.com for updates!


Brothers & sisters Welcome!


Crèche facilities available!


Please help us to spread the word

<b>The Best of the Best</b>


Abu Eesa Niamatullah


Thursday, April 13, 2006


Have you ever wondered to yourself what it actually means to be the best?


When we are told that ‘this is the best’ or ‘that was the greatest’ or ‘this will bring the most benefit’ etc, have you ever thought who on Earth gave such people/editors the authority to tell us that? In an age when we have a plethora of ‘Top 10’ or ‘Top 100’ lists on everything from cars to films, from foods to places, one wonders where is that list that will really provide some benefit to us in this current short life and the next very long one.


Well, wait no more. Below, from a choice of hundreds of narrations from our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, you can find 100 hadîth, in no particular order of merit, detailing ways on exactly how to become the best, how to have the most excellent characteristics, what really will prove most beneficial for us to know, what really are the greatest things to think about and hope for and indeed, how to become the most beloved of people to our Magnificent Creator, Allah, the Most High.


No more subjectivity, no more empty statements; just the divine criteria of what really is the best as developed by the very best himself, Muhammad al-Mustapha, upon whom be peace. For an explanation of the meaning of each of these hadîth, you can visit here.


So go on, don’t be ordinary. Don’t be common. Don’t be typical ...


Be the best.


Sayyidina Muhammad, peace be upon him, told us:


1. “The best of the Muslims is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe.” [Muslim]


2. “The best of people are those with the most excellent character.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]


3. “The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind.” [Dâraqutni, Hasan]


4. “The best of people are those who are best in fulfilling [rights].” [ibn Mâjah, Sahîh]


5. “The best of people during fitnah is a man who takes up the reins of his horse pursuing the enemies of Allah, causing them fear yet they make him fearful too, or a man who secludes himself in the desert fulfilling the rights of Allah upon him.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]


6. “The best of mankind is my generation, then those that follow them and then those that follow them. Then there shall come a people after them who will become avaricious, who will love gluttony, and who will give witness before they are asked for it.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]


7. “The best of people are those who live longest and excel in their deeds, whereas the worst of people are those who live longest and corrupt their deeds.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]


8. “The best of women are those that please him [her husband] when he sees her, obeys him when she is commanded, and who does not secretly betray him with regards to herself and her money in that which he dislikes.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]


9. “The best of women are those that please you when you see them, obey you when commanded, and who safeguard themselves and your money in your absence.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]


10. “The best of marriages are the easiest ones.” [Abu Dâwûd, Sahîh]


11. “The best of your dates is the Borniyyû date; it expels disease yet does not contain any disease itself.” [Hâkim, Hasan]


12. “The best of your garments are those which are white; shroud your dead in them and clothe your living with them. The best of that which you apply to your eyelids is antimony causing the eyelashes to grow and sharpening the eyesight.” [ibn Hibbân, Sahîh]


13. “The best quality of your religion is scrupulousness.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]


14. “The best of your religion is that which is easiest.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]


15. “The best of the prayer lines for men are the first rows, the worst being the final rows. The best of the prayer lines for women are the final rows and the worst are the first rows.” [Muslim]


16. “The best prayers for women are those performed in the most secluded parts of their houses.” [ibn Khuzaymah, Sahîh]


17. “The best of you in Islam are those who are most excellent in character as long as you deeply understand the religion.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]


18. “The best of you are the best of you in fulfilling [rights].” [Ahmad, Sahîh]


19. “The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]


20. “The best of you are my generation, then those that follow them and then those that follow them. Then there shall come after them a people who will betray and be untrustworthy, will give witness even though they have not been asked to, will make vows yet will not fulfil them and obesity will appear amongst them.” [bukhâri]


21. “The best of you are those who feed others and return greetings.” [Abu Ya’lâ, Hasan]


22. “The best of you is he from whom good is anticipated and safety from his evil is assured; the worst of you is he from whom nothing good is expected and one is not safe from his evil.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]


23. “The best thing mankind has been given is excellent character.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]


24. “The best of that which you treat yourself with is cupping.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]


25. “The best of journeys undertaken are to this Mosque of mine and the Ancient House.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]


26. “The best of which man can leave behind for himself are three: a righteous child who supplicates for him, an ongoing charity whose reward continues to reach him and knowledge which others benefit from after him.” [ibn Hibbân, Hasan]


27. “The best Mosques for women are the most secluded parts of their houses.” [bayhaqi, Sahîh]


28. “The best of the world’s women are four: Maryum bint ‘Imrân, Khadîjah bint Khuwaylid, Fâtimah bint Muhammad and Âsiyah the wife of Fir’awn.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]


29. “The best of days that you should perform cupping are the 17th, 19th and 21st of the month. I did not pass a single gathering of angels on the night of Isrâ’ except that they would say to me, ‘O Muhammad, perform cupping!’” [Ahmad, Sahîh]


30. “The best day on which the Sun has risen is Friday; on it Âdam was created, on it Âdam was made to enter Paradise and on it he was expelled. The Hour will not be established except on Friday.” [Muslim]


31. “Verily, the best of perfume for men is that which is strong in smell and light in colour, and the best of perfume for women is that which is strong in colour and light in smell.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]


32. “The most beloved of religions according to Allah the Most High is the ‘easy and flexible religion.’” [Ahmad, Hasan]


33. “The most beloved of deeds according to Allah are the continuous ones, even if they are little.” [Agreed upon]


34. “The most beloved of names according to Allah are ‘Abd Allah, ‘Abd’l-Rahmân and Hârith.” [Abu Ya’lâ, Sahîh]


35. “The most beloved of deeds according to Allah are the prayer in its right time, then to treat the parents in an excellent manner, and then Jihâd in the path of Allah.” [Agreed upon]


36. “The most beloved of deeds according to Allah is that you die and yet your tongue is still moist from the remembrance of Allah.” [ibn Hibbân, Hasan]


37. “The most beloved words according to Allah the Most High are four: Subhânallah, Alhamdulillâh, Lâ ilâha illallah and Allahu Akbar; there is no problem with which one you start with.” [Muslim]


38. “The most beloved of speech according to Allah is when the servant says, ‘Subhânallahi wa bihamdihî’ [How Transcendent is Allah and we praise him!].” [Muslim]


39. “The most beloved of speech according to Allah the Most High is that which Allah chose for his Angels: Subhâna Rabbî wa bihamdihî, Subhâna Rabbî wa bihamdihî, Subhâna Rabbî wa bihamdihî.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]


40. “The most beloved of people according to Allah is he who brings most benefit, and the most beloved of deeds according to Allah the Mighty, the Magnificent, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him. It is more beloved to me that I walk with my brother Muslim in his time of need than I stay secluded in the mosque for a month. Whoever holds back his anger, Allah will cover his faults and whoever suppresses his fury while being able to execute it, Allah will fill his heart with satisfaction on the Day of Standing. Whoever walks with his brother Muslim in need until he establishes that for him, Allah will establish his feet firmly on the day when all feet shall slip. Indeed, bad character ruins deeds just as vinegar ruins honey.” [Tabarâni, Hasan]


41. “The most beloved of people to me is ‘Â’ishah and from the men, Abu Bakr.” [Agreed upon]


42. “The best of people in recitation are those who when they recite, you see that they fear Allah.” [bayhaqi, Sahîh]


43. “The best of your leaders are those that you love and they love you, you supplicate for them and they supplicate for you. The worst of your leaders are those that you hate and they hate you, you curse them and they curse you.” [Muslim]


44. “The best of you are those who are best in paying off their debts.” [Tahâwi, Sahîh]


45. “The best of you are those with the longest lives and most excellent character.” [bazzâr, Sahîh]


46. “The best of you are those with the longest lives and best in action.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]


47. “The best of you are those with the softest shoulders during prayer.” [bayhaqi, Hasan]


48. “The best of you are those who are best to their wives.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]


49. “The best of you are those who are best to their families.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]


50. “The best of you during the ‘Period of Ignorance’ are the best of you in Islam as long as they deeply understand the religion.” [bukhâri]


51. “The best of you are those who learn the Qur’ân and teach it.” [Dârimi, Sahîh]


52. “The best of companions according to Allah are those who are best to their companion and the best of neighbours according to Allah are those that are best to their neighbour.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]


53. “The best of places are the Mosques and the worst of places are the markets.” [Tabarâni, Hasan]


54. “The best supplication on the Day of ‘Arafah and the best thing that I and the Prophets before me ever said was, ‘Lâ ilâha illAllah wahdahû lâ sharîka lahû, lahû’l-mulk wa lahû’l-hamd wa huwa ‘alâ kulli shay’in Qadîr.’” [Tirmidhî, Hasan]


55. “The best of provision is that which suffices.” [Ahmad in ‘Zuhd’, Hasan]


56. “The best testimony is when one gives it before he is asked to do so.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]


57. “The best of dowries are the easiest.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]


58. “The best of charity is that which still leaves you self-sufficient for the upper hand is better than the lower hand; start with those you are responsible for.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]


59. “The best of gatherings are those that are most open.” [Abu Dâwûd, Sahîh]


60. “The most beloved deed according to Allah is to have faith in Allah, then to maintain the ties of kinship, and then to command to good and forbid the wrong. The most abhorrent of deeds according to Allah is to associate partners with Him, then to cut the ties of kinship.” [Abu Ya’lâ, Hasan]


61. “The most beloved Jihâd according to Allah is that a word of truth be spoken to a tyrant ruler.” [Tabarâni, Hasan]


62. “The most beloved word according to me is that which is most truthful.” [bukhâri]


63. “The most beloved fast according to Allah is the fast of Dâwûd; he would fast every alternate day. The most beloved prayer according to Allah is the prayer of Dâwûd; he would sleep half the night, stand a third and then sleep for a sixth.” [Agreed upon]


64. “The most beloved dish according to Allah is that which most hands feed from.” [ibn Hibbân, Hasan]


65. “The most beloved servant of Allah is he who is most beneficial to his dependents.” [Zawâ’id al-Zuhd, Hasan]


66. “The best of earnings is that of the labourer as long as he tries his best.” [Ahmad, Hasan]


67. “The best of all deeds is to have faith in Allah alone, then Jihâd and then an accepted Hajj; they surpass all other deeds like the distance between the rising and setting of the Sun.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]


68. “The best of all deeds is the Prayer at its earliest time.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]


69. “The best of all deeds is the Prayer in its right time, to treat the Parents honourably and Jihâd in the path of Allah.” [al-Khatîb, Sahîh]


70. “The best of all deeds is that you bring happiness to your Muslim brother, pay off his debt or feed him bread.” [ibn Adiyy, Hasan]


71. “The best of faith is patience and magnanimity.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]


72. “The best of days according to Allah is Friday.” [bayhaqi, Sahîh]


73. “The best of Jihâd is that man strives against his soul and desires.” [Daylami, Sahîh]


74. “The best Hajj is that with the most raised voices and flowing blood.” [Tirmidhî, Hasan]


75. “The best of supplications is that of on the Day of ‘Arafah, and the best thing that was said by myself and the Prophets before me was, “Lâ ilâha illallah wahdahû lâ sharîka lahû.” [There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah alone, He has no partners.] [Mâlik, Hasan]


76. “The best of dinars are: the dinâr spent by a man upon his dependents, the dinâr spent by a man upon his horse in the path of Allah and the dinâr spent by a man upon his companions in the path of Allah, the Mighty, the Magnificent.” [Muslim]


77. “The best word of remembrance is: Lâ ilâha illallah and the best supplication is: Alhamdulillâh.” [Tirmidhî, Hasan]


78. “The best word of remembrance is: Lâ ilâha illallah and the best [expression of giving] thanks is: Alhamdulillâh.” [baghawi, Hasan]


79. “The best of hours are those deep in the latter part of the night.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]


80. “The best of all martyrs are those who fight in the front line; they do not turn their faces away until they are killed. They will be rolling around in the highest rooms of Paradise, their Lord laughing at them - when your Lord laughs at a servant, there is no accounting for him.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]


81. “The best of all martyrs is he whose blood is shed and whose horse is slaughtered.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]


82. “The best of all charity is the shade of a canopy [provided] in the path of Allah, the Mighty and Magnificent, to gift ones servant in the path of Allah and to gift ones she-camel in the path of Allah.” [Ahmad, Hasan]


83. “The best of all charity is that which is given to the relative that harbours enmity against you.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]


84. “The best of all charity is that you give it while you are healthy and desirous [of that money], hoping to become wealthy but fearing poverty. Don’t delay until you are about to breathe your last and then you say, ‘This is for ‘so and so’ and this is for ‘so and so’’, for indeed, it has already been written that ‘so and so’ would receive that.” [Abu Dâwûd, Sahîh]


85. “The best of all charity is when the one with little strives to give; start with those you are responsible for.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]


86. “The best charity is to provide water.” [ibn Mâjah, Hasan]


87. “The best prayer after the obligatory ones is the prayer in the depth of the night, and the best fast after the month of Ramadhân is the month of Allah, Muharram.” [Muslim]


88. “The best prayer is the prayer of the man in his home except for the obligatory prayer.” [Nasâ’î, Sahîh]


89. “The best prayer is that with the longest standing.” [Muslim]


90. “The best of all prayers according to Allah is the Friday morning prayer in congregation.” [ibn Nu’aym, Sahîh]


91. “The best fast is the fast of my brother Dâwûd; he would fast every alternate day and he would never flee [the battlefront] when the armies would meet.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]


92. “The best of all fasts after Ramadhân is in the month that you call Muharram.” [Nasâ’î, Sahîh]


93. “The best of all worship is supplication.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]


94. “The best deed is the prayer in its right time and Jihâd in the path of Allah.” [bayhaqi, Sahîh]


95. “The best of the Qur’ân is: “Alhamdulillâhi Rabb’l-’Âlamîn”. [Hâkim, Sahîh]


96. “The best of earnings is a blessed sale and that which a man earns with his hands.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]


97. “The best of the Believers is the most excellent of them in character.” [ibn Mâjah, Sahîh]


98. “The best of the Believers with respect to Islam is the one from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe; and the best of the Believers with respect to Îmân are the most excellent of them in character; and the best of those who migrate is he who migrates from that which Allah the Most High has prohibited; and the best of Jihâd is when one strives against his soul for the sake of Allah, the Mighty, the Magnificent.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]


99. “The best of mankind is the believer between two honourable persons.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]


100. “The best of all days in the world are the ten days [of Dhul Hijjah].” [bazzâr, Sahîh]


From SunnahOnline.com

I recently saw a brief article which spoke of Jesus' birth, in fact vigin birth, in the Quran. Is this true? If so do Muslims believe in the virgin birth of Jesus? And as a follow-up...who do muslims think Jesus was?

David Myatt, now known as Abdul Aziz, spent 25 years in the neo-Nazi movement.


He was imprisoned twice for violence in pursuit of his neo-Nazi political aims.


Before finding Islam 6 years ago, he led the political wing of Combat 18.


David Myatt


Although British by birth, Abdul Aziz (né David) spent his childhood years in


colonial East Africa and the Far East, returning to England when he was 16


years of age.


Shortly afterwards he became involved in politics, joining Colin Jordan's


British Movement, and then the National Front. He spent over 5 years as an


extreme right-wing street activist and agitator, and was imprisoned twice for


violence in pursuit of his neo-Nazi political aims.


On his release from his second term of imprisonment, he spent 2 years as a


Christian monk at a monastery in England. He left the monastery to continue


pursuing his political goals and was active for the next 20 years in various


neo-Nazi groups, including Combat 18. He took over the leadership of the


political wing of Combat 18 when its founder was jailed for murder.


Shortly afterwards, Abdul Aziz was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial


hatred and incitement to murder. The police investigation lasted over 3 years,


with the case being dropped because of lack of evidence. During those 3 years,


he discovered Islam following a trip, as a tourist,to Egypt.


He reverted to Islam in AH 1419/1998 CE.


A British Neo-Nazi's Journey to Islam


By Abdul Aziz Myatt


Mar. 02, 2006


http://www.islamonline.net/english/journey...03/jour01.shtml


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Islam - submission to the will of Allah. I converted to Islam because there


came a time when both my mind and my heart accepted that there was no god but


Allah and that Muhammad was His Messenger. All that I had believed and upheld


before this conversion is at worst wrong, and at best irrelevant.


My duty now, the purpose of my life, is to do the will of Allah, to submit to


the will of Allah — to strive, In sha' Allah, to be a good, a devout, Muslim.


To live as a Muslim in the way that Allah has decreed, through his Prophet and


Messenger Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. One of the many wonderful


things which occurred on the day I converted was when the Imam of the Mosque


explained that by accepting Islam I had begun a new life — Allah had forgiven


me my sins, and it was as if I started my life again with my Book of Life, the


record of my sins, empty.


I have a new life now, a new identity - for I am a Muslim, and all Muslims are


my brothers, wherever they happen to live, and whatever race they are said to


belong to.


How was it that I, a Westerner with a history of political involvement in


extreme "right-wing" organizations, came to be standing one Sunday outside a


Mosque with a sincere desire to go inside and convert to Islam? The simple


answer is that it was the will of Allah - He guided me there. As for my


political past, it belongs to the past. All I can do now is to trust in Allah,


the Compassionate, the Merciful, the Lord of all the worlds.


As Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid - a distinguished scholar - has said:


"Asking for details of a persons past and wanting to know what sins they might


have committed when they were ignorant about Islam is not right at all. Allah


covers peoples' sins and loves to see them covered (i.e. not dragged out into


the open). So long as a person has repented, his sins have been wiped out.


Islam deletes whatever came before, so why should we ask questions that will


only embarrass people? Allah accepts people's repentance without their having


to confess or expose their sins to any other person. A number of the Sahabah


[companions of the Prophet] had committed adultery and murder repeatedly, or


had buried infant girls alive, or stolen things, but when they entered Islam


they were the best of people. No one needs to be reminded of a shameful past;


it is over and done with, and Allah is the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful."


In terms of the 'Western' explanation that most Westerners will seek in order


to try and understand my conversion, I suppose my journey toward Islam began


when I first went to Egypt and, as a tourist, visited a Mosque. The Adhan - the


call to prayer - had begun and I was struck by its beauty.


It is fair to say my heart responded to it in a way that, at the time, I did


not understand. Then, I knew little about Islam, but each time I visited Egypt


I learnt a little more. I talked to several Egyptians about their religion, and


bought a copy of an English translation of the meanings of the Qur'an. The


little bits I read made a lot of sense to me, and the more I learnt about


Islam, the more admirable it seemed to be. The more Muslims I met, the more I


admired them.


But I was still in thrall to my own ego, my own Western way of life, and by two


other things which prevented me from fully appreciating Islam and investigating


it further. First, my life-long belief in Nature: the belief that we somehow


belong to Mother Earth in a special, almost pagan, way and that our own


consciousness is the consciousness of Nature.


Second, that it was our nation, our national culture, which defined us and


which therefore, was of supreme importance. But, in my heart, I always felt a


universal, honourable, compassion, as I always felt the need to be aware of the


numinous, the sacred. Many times in my life I believed this "numinosity"


derived from God, the supreme Being - while at other times I believed it


derived from Nature, from the cosmos itself: from what I often termed "the


gods".


For decades, I wavered between these two versions regarding the origin of the


sacred. Because of this awareness, these feelings, I was not as many people -


and journalists in particular - believed me to be: some sort of fanatical


political extremist who 'hated' people. And yet it is true to say that I was


perhaps too arrogant - too sure of myself and the understanding I believed I


had achieved - to give in to this compassion, this awareness, and accept I was


simply a humble creation of an all-powerful supreme Being. Instead, I believed


I could make if not a significant difference then at least some difference to


this world, based on my own beliefs and understanding.


Conversion


My conversion really begins when I started a new job, working long hours on a


farm, often by myself. The close contact with Nature, the toil of manual


labour, really did restore my soul, my humanity, and I became really aware of


the Oneness of the Cosmos and of how I was but part of this wonderful Order


which God had created.


In my heart and in my mind I was convinced that this Order had not arisen by


chance - it was created, as I myself was created for a purpose. It was as if my


true nature had fought a long battle with Shaitan, who had deceived me, but who


could deceive me no more. I felt the truth of the one and only Creator in my


heart and in my mind.


For the first time in my life, I felt truly humble. Then, as if by chance (but


it was the guidance of Allah) I took from my bookcase one of the copies of the


Qur'an I had bought after one of my visits to Egypt. I began to read it


properly - before, I had merely "dipped into it", reading a few verses, here


and there.


What I found was logic, reason, truth, revelation, justice, humanity and


beauty. Then, with a desire to find out more about Islam, I "surfed the


Internet" for Islamic sites. I found one with audio files of Adhan and Salah


and verses from the Qur'an. Again, my heart responded. There was no need for


words.


In the next few days I found more web sites as I read all I could about Islamic


beliefs. Stripped of my prejudices, my arrogance - no longer deceived by


Shaitan - here was everything that I myself felt, and always had felt to be


true: dignity, honour, trust, justice, community, truth, an awareness of God on


a daily basis, the need to be self-disciplined, the spiritual way before


materialism, and the recognition of how we, as individuals, are subservient to


God.


I marvelled at the life of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and at


the spread of Islam - at how those early Muslims, once "rough and ready"


nomads, had through only the words, deeds and revelations of the Prophet,


created perhaps the most civilized civilization there has ever been. I became


enthralled reading about the life of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings


be upon him, for there was something remarkable here: he seemed to represent


everything I felt in my heart and my mind to be noble and civilized. In fact,


he seemed to me to be the perfect human being: the perfect example to follow.


The more I discovered about Islam, the more it answered all the doubts, all the


questions, of my past thirty years. It really did feel as if I had "come home"


- as if I had at last found myself. It was like the time I first went to Egypt


and wandered around Cairo.


The sounds, the smells, the scenes, the people - I really felt I belonged


there, among "Islamic Cairo" with minarets and the Adhan around me. Personally,


I have always loathed cities and large towns - but Cairo was somehow different.


I liked it (and still do) - despite the overcrowding, the noise, the traffic.


Now, I would sit for hours listening to recordings of the Adhan (which I


understood) and the Qur'an in Arabic (which I did not understand). Truly, here


- I felt - was the numinous.


Thus, my own conversion became not a question, but a duty. For I had found and


accepted the truth that there was no god but Allah and that Muhammad was His


Messenger.


So it was that I came to enter a Mosque to say that I wished to convert to


Islam. They were so pleased and so friendly - so brotherly - that it brings


tears to my eyes now as I remember it, and I thank Allah that I found the true


Way in the end.


In my new life, I have a lot to learn, and a desire to learn, as I believe I


have the best guides anyone can have - the holy Qur'an and the example of the


noble Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

http://www.wpmi.com/news/state/story.aspx?...55-F35C75034969


CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - Officials for an American Muslim civil rights group say there will be a review into the treatment of an Iraqi-born Muslim woman who was forced to remove her hijab and was strip-searched while being detained after she was barred from entering the country.


Forty-five-year-old Safana Jawad, a Spanish citizen, arrived Tuesday at Tampa International Airport from Spain to visit her 16-year-old son, who lives in Pinellas County.


She told the Saint Petersburg Times, that federal agents told her she couldn't enter the country because she was connected to someone considered suspicious.


Officials from the Council on American-Islamic Relations say Jawad was interrogated for more than six hours before being fingerprinted and placed in a maximum security jail cell at the Pinellas County jail.


The group says it has received a letter from the U-S Department of Homeland Security. The letter states that a division of the Homeland Security's Office will work with officials at Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection on the matter.


A telephone message left last night for a Homeland Security spokesman wasn't immediately returned.


Jawad's ex-husband says she flew back to Spain last night without seeing her son.


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Information from: St. Petersburg Times, http://www.sptimes.com

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6FB...C89C950843F.htm[img][/img]A mentally ill Egyptian man killed a worshipper and wounded five others on Friday in knife attacks at two Coptic Christian churches in Alexandria, the Interior Ministry said.





Security and police officials said earlier that three Egyptians working together had killed one person and wounded three others in attacks on three churches and another man had been apprehended before attacking worshippers in a fourth church.


"(He) was apprehended as he tried to enter (a third church)," the ministry said in the statement. "The aforementioned is called Mahmoud Abdul Razik Salah Eddin Hussein," it said.


The ministry said Hussein had wounded three people in St. George's Church and then wounded three others in Saints Church before being stopped trying to enter another church named after St. George.


"The attacks ... led to six being wounded, one of whom died from his wounds," the ministry said, adding that Hussein suffered from mental illness and the attacks were under investigation.


A ministry official said Hussein's mental illness was the cause of the attacks and there was no political motivation.


The semi-official Middle East News Agency identified the victim as Nushi Atta Girgis, 78.





Egyptian riot police cordon off


one of the churches on Friday


The governor of Alexandria told Egyptian state television by telephone that Hussein, a supermarket employee, carried out the attack holding two knives and walked from church to church.


Governor Abdul Salam Mahgoub said three of the people wounded in the attacks were in hospital but would leave later in the day.


About 600 Copts, mostly young men, gathered after the attacks to protest in the Sidi Bishr neighbourhood, outside Saints Church.


The area was ringed by about 200 riot police, and truckloads more were nearby.


Father Augustinos, who leads a different Mar Girgis Church, said the attacks occurred just after Mass began at 9am (0700 GMT).


Alexandria is Egypt's second-


largest city


"We are trying to calm the situation after many of our youth started protesting," Father Augustinos said. "We are telling them to calm down. It doesn't do any good for the country to make protests.


"We want to live in peace and tranquillity but these are people who had their family members killed or wounded," he said.


Copts account for up to 10 percent of Egypt's population of 73 million. They typically attend weekly Mass on Friday.


US condemnation


The United States condemned the attacks on the Coptic churches and urged both the Coptic and Muslim communities in Alexandria to exercise tolerance and calm.


"This act of violence against worshipers on a holy day for the Christian Coptic Community in Alexandria is unacceptable," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.


"We also would ask the Egyptian Government to continue its efforts to defuse the situation, including providing effective security for all places of worship and calling upon people of all communities to refrain from further violence and incitement."


Egypt's last sectarian clashes were in Alexandria in October, when Muslims attacked churches and shops over the distribution of a DVD of a play deemed offensive to their religion. Four people were killed in weeklong riots.

'With the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful'


<b>The Classification of People According to the Guidance</b>


Excerpt from Ibn al Qayyim's "Ar-Risalat Ut-Tabukiyah"


The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) also classified people into three groups based on their response to his Message and Guidance.


He said:


<b>"An example of the guidance and knowledge with which Allah (azza wajall) has sent me is that of a rain that falls on different kinds of land: 1) One land is good; it accepts water and produces vegetation and grass in plenty. 2) Another land is dry with a solid bed that reserves water so that people can drink and irrigate with it. 3) The third kind is a porous land that can neither retain water nor produce vegetation. This is an example of those who acquire the knowledge of the Din and benefit from that with which Allah (azza wajall) sent me, and of those who do not take heed and who insist on rejecting Allah's (azza wajall) Guidance."</b> (Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)


The Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) likens the knowledge (with which he came) to rain, because both are causes of life. Rain is the cause of life for the body, while knowledge is the cause of life for the heart. He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) also likens different hearts to different valleys, as Allah (azza wajall) said:


<b>"He sends down water from the sky, making different valleys flow according to their different natures..." </b> (Ar-Ra'd 13:17)


Thus, just as there are three kinds of land, there are three kinds of hearts:


<b>1) </b> The first is a good land which accepts water and is ready to produce vegetation. When rain falls on it, it absorbs the water eagerly, giving rise to all sorts of pleasant vegetation.


This is an example of one with a healthy, pure, and intelligent heart, which embraces knowledge, and is guided by its true intelligent nature, blossoming by that wisdom and true faith. Therefore, it is eager to take the knowledge, and ready to bear fruits because of its good nature.


It is also like a rich business man who has experience in different trades and investments, which enables him to invest his wealth in that which brings the best profit.


<b>2)</b> The second kind is a hard, solid land prepared to preserve and keep water: It benefits people who visit it to drink or irrigate.


This is an example of one whose heart preserves knowledge and safeguards it so as to convey it just as he hears it, without changing it or deriving conclusions from it. This is also described in another hadith:


<b>"There is often one who conveys knowledge to one who is more knowledgeable than himself; and there is often one who carries knowledge when he himself is not knowledgeable."</b> (Narrated by Zayd bin Thabit, Anas bin Malik and others; recorded by Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithi, Ahmad, and others; authenticated by al-Albani (as-Sahihah no. 404).


It is also like a rich man who does not possess the knowledge or experience to invest his wealth, but who knows very well how to preserve it.


<b>3)</b> The third is a barren land which is incapable of holding water or producing vegetation: no matter how much rain falls, it does not profit by it.


This is an example of one whose heart does not accept any knowledge or wisdom. It is also like a poor man who neither possesses wealth nor knows how to preserve it.


The first of the above three examples applies to a learned man who teaches knowledge, and who calls people to Allah (azza wajall) with clear guidance; such are the inheritors of the Prophets.


The second applies to one who preserves the knowledge, and who transmits what he hears precisely; he carries to other people precious goods that they can use for trade and investment. The third applies to one who neither accepts Allah's Guidance nor benefits from it.


Thus, this hadith covers the different types of people and their different attitudes towards the prophet's dawah, which make them either happy or miserable.


Taken from Ahmad Jibril's Website - May Allaah protect him

<b>Trials</b> - <i> "If Allaah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials" </i>.


by Imâm al-Madîna al-Munawarrah 'Abdul Muhsin Ibn Muhammad al-Qâsim


Khutbah (sermon), Al-Jum'ah 5 Muharram, 1422 (20 March, 2001)


All praise is due to Allaah, may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger saws, his household and companions.


Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah as he should be feared, for fear of Allaah brings more blessings and prevents afflictions.


Dear Muslims! Allaah has foreordained the fate of all creatures, written down their impacts and deeds, portioned out between them their livelihood and wealth and created death and life that He may test them which of them is best in deed. Indeed, belief in Allaah's decree and preordainment is one of the pillars of faith. Nothing happens in this universe except by His will.


This life is full of misfortune and sorrow. It is destined to be a place of hardships and trouble. Trials and tribulations are as inevitable in this life as cold and heat. Allaah says,


<b>"And certainly We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to those who are patient."</b>


Pre-destination is a test by which the truthful ones are distinguished from untruthful ones. Allaah says,


<b>"Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, 'We believe,' and will not be tested." </b> (29: 2)


The human soul does not become pure except through trials, and it is during tribulations that real men are known. Ibn Jawzee said,


"Whoever wants to have everlasting peace and well-being with no affliction does not understand the meaning of Allaah's commandments, nor does he perceive the meaning of submission to Allaah. Every soul either believing or disbelieving shall inevitably taste suffering in this world, for this life is based on hardships. Man lives between comfort and suffering.”


Prophet Aadam, for instance, had the angels prostrated before him and yet was soon after expelled from paradise. A believer is afflicted with trials in order to refine him, not to punish him. He is tested in ease as well as in hardship. Allaah says,


<b>"And We tried them with good (blessings) and evil (calamities) in order that they might turn (to Allaah's obedience)."</b> (Al-A'raaf 7: 168).


Brothers in faith! Something undesireable may sometimes have a pleasant result, while something seemingly desirable may turn out to have an unpleasant and abominable result. Do not therefore feel that harmful things cannot come to you through hardship. Allaah says,


<b>"…And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allaah knows, and you do not know." (Al-Baqarah 2: 216). </b>


Prepare yourself mentally for afflictions before they occur so as to make their occurrence light on you. Do not be worried because of tribulations, for they have their limits, and watch what you utter during your hard times for many a word has ruined its utterer. A resolute Muslim stands firm during hardships, his heart does not change and he does not complain. Console yourself whenever afflicted with a promise of reward from Allaah. Wise people show endurance whenever they are stricken with misfortune so as not to add to their misfortune the malicious joy of their enemies, for whenever your enemies know of your misfortune they are overjoyed.


Brothers in Islaam! Endeavour to keep your misfortunes and pains to yourself, for concealment of afflictions and pains are of the qualities of noble people. Be patient over afflictions, they will soon be removed from you. Those who perished only suffered that because of their impatience while the patient ones are being recompensed with good rewards. Allaah says,


<b>"And those who are patient, we will certainly pay them a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do." </b> (Al-Anaam 16:96).


The reward of the patient ones will be doubled for their patience and Allaah will be with them, remove their afflictions and make them victorious.


O afflicted one! Your Lord does not deny you what you want except what is better than that, He does not test you but for your well-being and He does not subject you to tribulations but to purify you. He tries His slaves with pleasure as he blesses them with calamity. Do not therefore waste your time thinking over what has already been guaranteed for you. As long as one is still alive his provision will no doubt come to him. Allaah ta'ala says,


<b>"And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allaah." </b> (Hood 11:6).


Further, if Allaah – out of His wisdom – closes a door against you, He opens out of His mercy a door better for you than the closed one. It is by afflictions that righteous and understanding people are increased in rank and reward. Sa'ad bin Abee Waqqaas said


: I said, "O Messenger of Allaah, who are the most afflicted of all people? He replied saws, <b>"The Prophets, then the righteous people, then those who are nearest to them in perfection and those who are nearest to them. Man is tested according to his religiosity; if he is strong religiously, his test is increased and if he is weak in religion, his test is reduced And a believer will be tested until he walks on the earth sinless</b> [i.e. his sins have been erased by series of afflictions that he endured.]" (Al-Bukhari)


Fellow Muslims! Prophet Aadam laboured along difficult paths beset with affliction; Prophet Ibraheem was thrown into a blazing fire; Ismaeel was laid down for slaughter; Yoonus was swallowed by a whale; Prophet Aayoob suffered from a severe illness; Yoosuf was sold for a pittance, thrown into a well and wrongfully jailed and Muhammed saws suffered different kinds of injury. You also are in path of calamities moving, for the life does not give pleasure only to anyone. The Prophet saws said,


<b>"If Allaah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials." </b> (Al-Bukharee).


Some people of knowledge said,


<i>"Whoever Allaah creates for paradise will be having trials and undesirable things." </i>


Real trial, dear brothers, is the trial in one's religion and whatever trial besides that is regarded as well being, for it raises one in the rank and erases ones sins. Also all comforts that do not bring one closer to Allaah is a tribulation. Do not therefore grieve over what you miss in worldly materials, for worldly pleasure begets pain and disobedience. Aboo Dardaa said,


"Of the insignificance of this world to Allaah is that He is not disobeyed except in it, while what is with Him cannot be obtained except by abstaining from it. Engage yourself in what will benefit you more. Keep away from what is in peoples' hands you will be the wealthiest of them; do not lose hope in Allaah's mercy lest you are disgraced; always remember Allaah's favour on you and drive away your distress by being pleased with Allaah's decree, for however long the night may be, it will be followed by the dawn. Supplicate to Allaah. He will give you relief and if you are patient Allaah will provide a way out for you. Ponder over the story of Prophet Ya'qoob who lost a son for a long period and yet did not lose hope of relief from the Almighty One, but rather said, "Maybe Allaah will bring them all (back) to me."


Dear brother! It is only Allaah who deserves all praise and is capable of attending to all complaints. It is only Him you must beseech to remove your misfortunes. Pray to Him during the night with submission and humbleness and request Him to make your affairs easy for you. He says,


<b>"Is it not He who responds to the distressed one when he calls Him </b> (better than your gods.)" (27: 62)


Put your trust in the Omnipotent Lord and take refuge with Him with a humble heart, He will open the doors of His mercy for you. Fudayl ben 'Iyaadh said,


<i> "If you lose hope in all people and you do not ask anything from them, your Lord will give you all that you want."</i>


Whoever leaves his affairs to the hands of Allaah will achieve what he aspires: Always recite the prayer of Prophet Yoonus:


<b>لا إله إلا أنت سبحانك إني كنت من الظالمين</b>


<b>"None has the right to worshipped except You; Glorifed and exalted are You above all that they associate with You Truly I have been of the wrong doers." </b>


The 'Ulamaa said,


<i>"No one In distress recites this prayer except that Allaah gives him relief from his distress." </i>


Ibn al-Qayyim said, "It has been tested that whoever says:


<b> إني مسني الضر و أنت أرحم الراحمين</b>


<b>"Verily distress has seized me and You are the most merciful of all those who show mercy!" </b>


Seven times Allaah relieves him of his distress! Put then yourself under the protection of Allaah, depend upon Him, submit your affairs to Him and ask Him for relief. Try to supplicate in the most appropriate periods like during prostration and the last hour of the night. Do not feel uneasy if your supplications have not yet been answered, and do not lose hope of Allaah's mercy even though the period of your affliction may seem long, for relief is near, and continue to pray to Allaah. Also know that when Allaah afflicts you no one except Him is capable of removing that affliction for He does whatever He wills.


If your provision seems delayed, do a lot of istighfar (supplication for forgiveness), for misdeeds necessitate punishment; and if it does not seem that your supplications are having any impact, then examine yourself, for it may be that you have not been sincere in your repentance. Endeavour also, to give charity to the needy, for charity prevents and removes affliction. However, if your affliction is removed, give a lot of thanks and praise to your Lord and know that a false sense of safety is a big trial. Allaah says,


<b>"Say: Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allaah has ordained for us. He is our Lord and Protector, and in Alaah let the believers put their trust." </b> (At-Taubah 9: 51).


Dear Muslims! No condition is permanent. Fortunate is he who is always God-conscious. Fear Allaah in any condition you may find yourself. You can do nothing to prevent what has been destined to happen as you do nothing to attain what has not been pre-ordained. The ability to choose and control is with Allaah alone and His choice for His slave is better for him than his choice for himself. Dawood bin Sulaymaan said,


<i>"Three things indicate the piety of a believer; his trust in Allah in what he has not attained; his satisfaction with whatever he has attained and his patience over what he has missed."</i>


A wise man was asked,


<i>"What is wealth?" He replied, "Fewness of one's mundane desires and one's contentment with what suffices him."</i>


Shurayh said,


<i> "A slave will not be afflicted by a trial except that he finds three blessings therein, (1) that the trial has nothing to do with his religion, (2) that the trial was not bigger than it is, and (3) that Allaah gives him patience to bear it." </i>

Allah Himself is witness that there is no God save Him. And the angels and the men of learning too are witness. Maintaining His creation in justice, there is no God save Him, the Almighty, the Wise.


Lo! religion with Allah is The Surrender to His will and guidance. Those who formerly received the Scripture differed only after knowledge came unto them, through transgression among themselves. Whoso disbelieveth the revelations of Allah will find that Lo! Allah is swift at reckoning.


And if they argue with thee, O Muhammad, say: I have surrendered my purpose to Allah and so have those who follow me. And say unto those who have received the Scripture and those who read not: Have ye too surrendered? If they surrender, then truly they are rightly guided, and if they turn away, then it is thy duty only to convey the message unto them. Allah is Seer of His bondmen. 3:18-20





Recite unto them the story of Noah, when he told his people: O my people! If my sojourn here and my reminding you by Allah's revelations are an offence unto you, in Allah have I put my trust, so decide upon your course of action, you and your partners. Let not your course of action be in doubt, for you. Then have at me, give me no respite.


But if ye are averse I have asked of you no wage. My wage is the concern of Allah only, and I am commanded to be of those who surrender unto Him. 10:71-72





And Allah hath given you, of that which He hath created, shelter from the sun; and hath given you places of refuge in the mountains, and hath given you coats to ward off the heat from you, and coats of armor to save you from your own foolhardiness. Thus doth He perfect His favor unto you, in order that ye may surrender unto Him.


Then, if they turn away, thy duty O Muhammad is but plain conveyance of the message. 16:80-81

Bismillah


as salam alykom


I received this email from the web master of quran.nu.


Mash aAllah they have a good site with excellent functions:


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By the way, in case you know anyone who may be willing


to assist our online quran project, please direct them


to http://quran.nu/help


We're in desperate need of funds for the following two


very important projects:


1. Antique Russian translation of the Qur'an.


we have located a copy's of the oldest extant Russian


translation of the Qur'an. The translation was


prepared during the reign of the Tsars by a Bulgar


Muslim scholar, Sablukov. It is easily as accurate as


modern Russian translations (which are hosted at


Quran.nu) but at the same time has a uniquely older


literary style. If we can bring this translation


online, we would be gifting not only the 25 or so


million Russian Muslims themselves, but the over 250


million readers of Russian throughout the former


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purchase, shipment, script modernisation, and


rendition into electronic format.


2. Georgian translation of the Qur'an.


About 1 in 4 Georgian speakers are Muslim. Yet,


shockingly, there is no readily available translation


of the Qur'an in their language. We had began to


prepare for a Georgian translation but, due to lack of


funds, were forced to stall the project. Georgians are


the only non-Muslim majority Caucasian nation and have


much in common with their Muslim neighbours. If our


new translation was accessible and promoted free to


all, i'm confident that it would go a long way in


bringing the entire Georgian people to the fold of


Islam. The Islam of the Georgians would be of great


benefit not only for themselves in the Hereafter,


insha'Allah, but it would undoubtedly help spread


peace in the region amongst the embattled Chechens,


Abkhazians and S. Ossetians - all of whom have the


non-Muslim Georgians periodically pitted against them.