Why does Ramadan seem to move from year to year? I would guess it would be to do with differences between calendars, but I wouldn't have thought that would allow for more than a few weeks variation.


What brings this up is that I'm sure it was in November one year (I was working with a Muslim at the time. Which was a little wierd, feeling guilty having my dinner when he didn't), but now I see its in September.


One thing that I would also like to know is how strict this is? The lad I was working with, an apprentice electrician, told me that a fellow sparky, who was also a muslim, wouldn't drink water, and would also spit out his own saliva rather than swallow it. Thing is, I work in the building trade, so theres plenty of physical labour, and you sweat a lot, and I imagine this would be worse in somewhere a bit hotter than North Yorkshire, such as Egypt :) Isn't there a danger of dehydration, or was the other muslim taking an extreme view?

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/therightpath/messages


by Yasir Qadhi


The topic of du'â and its relationship with destiny (qadr) is a very important one, and one around which much confusion exists. Many people ask: "If everything has already been destined to occur, then of what use is du'â, as, if Allah has written what I want, I will get it without making du'â, and if it is not written for me, then I will never get it no matter how much du'â I make?"


The response to this question lies in understanding the outcome of anything is dependant on the performance of the efforts that are necessary to procure it. In other words, it has already been decreed, for example, that a seed will give fruit if planted, but this will not occur unless the farmer takes the appropriate efforts in irrigating the crop, maintaining it, protecting the seedling as it grows, and ensuring as much as he can that the factors are amenable for the plant to give fruit.


So even though a person believes in the Divine Decree, he must at the same time strive all he can to ensure that the desired goal occurs. So du'â is the means that one uses to achieve the desired goal that one has, and this means in no way contradicts the destiny that has been written for that person.


This stance is clarified by the Prophet's hadîth reported by Thawban, that he said:


"Nothing increases one's life-span except good deeds, and nothing repels Divine Decree except du'â. And very, a person may be deprived for sustenance due to a sin that he does!" [Narrated by Ibn Maajah #90 and confirmed authentic by Shaykh al-Albaanee in as-Sahîhah #154]


In other words, the performance of good deeds is a cause of increasing one's life span, so if a person puts in the necessary effort, the results will be achieved, and this is also destined. So both the means to achieve a goal, and the fulfilment of the goal itself, are already decreed.


If someone were to ask: "How can du'â repel Divine Decree?" we would respond, "The fact that you may be ill has already been decreed by Allah for you, as has the fact that you will ask Allah to cure you of this illness (i.e. both the illness and your asking to cure the illness has been decreed). In a similar manner, a person may be deprived of his sustenance that was decreed for him since Allah's eternal knowledge encompassed the fact that this person would perform a sinful deed that would cause deprivation of his sustenance. All of this, then, is from the decree of Allah, all Glory and Praise be to Him."


There are a number of ahadîth that clarify this point. For example, Mu'aadh ibn Jabal reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:


"Caution will be of no benefit against Divine Decree, but du'â benefits all things, whether they come down or not. I therefore advise you to make du'â, O servants of Allah!" [This hadîth is weak. It was narrated by Ahmad, Abu Ya'la and at-Tabaraanee in al-Kabîr, as has been mentioned in Da'îf al-Jâmi' #4785]


So no matter how cautious a person is, he cannot escape what is written for him, simply because Allah controls everything, and nothing escapes His Knowledge or Power. However, by turning to Allah through du'â, it is possible to avert something that might have been decreed. Salmaan al-Faarsee narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:


"Nothing repels Divine Decree except du'â, and nothing increases one's life-span except good deeds." [Authentic, reported by at-Tirmidhee and al-Haakim from Salmaan, and is in Sahîh al-Jâmi' #7687]


This hadîth informs us in no uncertain terms that the only way that we can repel some Divine Decree is through the means of du'â. So it is possible that some unpleasant matter has been preordained for us, but only if we do not make du'â to avert it from us. So if a du'â is made, then this matter will not occur or be fulfilled, whereas if du'â is left, the misfortune will occur.


Another narration by at-Tirmidhee also supports this. The Prophet, upon whom be peace, said:


"There is no Muslim on the face of the earth that asks Allah for anything except that Allah gives it to him, or averts from him a similar evil, as long as he does not ask for something evil or for breaking the ties of kinship." [Authentic, narrated by at-Tirmidhee from 'Ubaadah ibn Saamit, as is mentioned in Sahîh al-Jâmi' #5637]


From this narration, the benefits of du'â are made clear, and its value is understood. For not only is a person rewarded for a making a du'â, but it is also a cause of repelling an evil that was destined for him, and in obtaining the good that he was expecting.


Ibn Hajr, commenting on the benefits of du'â, said:


"And the benefit of performing du'â is the attainment of reward by obeying the command (of Allah to make du'â), and also by the attainment of what is asked for, for there is a possibility that the request is dependant on the du'â, since Allah is the Creator of both the effort and result of the effort!" [Fath al-Bârî 11/95]


Therefore, the proper response to the question posed at the beginning of the chapter is, in the words of Ibn al-Qayyim, as follows:


"The logical consequences of such a reasoning leads to a rejection of all efforts. It can, therefore, be said to a person who holds this view, 'If the satisfaction of your hunger and thirst has already been destined for you, then it will be fulfilled, whether you eat or not. On the other hand, if it has not been destined for you, it will never occur, whether you eat or not. And if a son has been destined for you, then you will be granted one, whether you have intercourse with your wife or not. On the other hand, if a son has not been destined for you, then you will never be granted one. In this case, there is no point in getting married!' Now will any sane person agree with all of these conclusions?" [Al-Jawâb al-Kâfi p.13]


To summarise, then, Divine Decree (qadr) cannot be used as an excuse not to make du'â. For, just as one strives to ensure that one attains worldly needs, of food, drink and family, so too must one strive in one's religious deeds to attain the desired goal. Du'â is intrinsically related to qadr; in fact, it is part of one's qadr. Allah has already decreed that a certain matter will be granted to a servant, or an evil averted from him, if he make du'â, so if he were to leave du'â, then the desired goal would not be reached.


Hence why it was the sunnah of the Prophet, upon whom be peace, to make the following du'â during the witr prayer:


" ... Bless me in what You have given me. And avert and turn away from me the evil that has been decreed for me, for verily You Decree (all things), and none can decree against You ... " [Reported by at-Tirmidhee #464, an-Nasaa'ee #1725 and others, with an authentic chain]


So the Muslim turns to Allah and prays to Him so that any and all evil can be averted from him.


Additionally, it should be remembered that the concept of Divine Decree is one that a human can never fully understand, due to his limited intellect and finite capabilities. The true Muslim does not delve too deeply into the philosophical ramifications of Divine Decree. Rather, he accepts all that has occurred to him in the past as having been destined for him, and he strives to obtain what he desires in the future (as long as it is permissible for him). Since he does not know what has been written for him in the future, he expects the best from Allah, and does everything in his power to ensure that what he wants is granted to him. Just like going to work everyday will ensure, if Allah wills, that he gets his pay-cheque at the end of the month, so too does making du'aa ensure, if Allah wills, that he achieves his desired goal.


__________________________


"By Al-`Asr (the time). Verily! Man is in loss, Except those who believe (in Islaamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma`roof ÇáãÚÑæÝ) which Allaah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar ÇáãäßÑ) which Allaah has forbidden], and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allaah's Cause during preaching His religion of Islaamic Monotheism or Jihaad, etc.)." [Al-Qur'aan, Al-`Asr (103): 1-3]

Salam Aleikum


You may have heard about the fish seen in the UK with the markings of Allah (swt) upon it.


I was lucky enough to see the fish in my local town, and I was so excited I took my whole family to see it.


The fish has now been sold, and so I decided to setup a website to share the pictures across the Mulsim Ummah. The site also has a video of the fish, and lots of interesting Islamic news and Articles.


Go to www.allahfish,com to see the pictures and the video.


Let me know your thoughts. If you like the site, please tell other Muslims


Wasalam


Umar

i have heard some non-Muslims say that nudity is somehow "natural" or "artistic".how can i convince them that it's wrong,and that no one should ever show their private parts?

Salaam





WOMEN ONLY!!


Please show your support for the Muslims around the world, and attend for the sake of Allah.


Jzk

rumour has it that a young girl was turned into a fish for kicking a Quran out of her mothers hand in refusal to turn down the t.v


see the video for yourself by clicking the following image





hoax or real? Allah knows best ... this is not a proof for the truth of Islam but an insresting video for sure.....


wasalams

http://news.ibn.net/newsframe.asp?url=http...en.asp?url=cinh


By PAUL BURKHARDT


The Associated Press


Tuesday, March 7, 2006; 1:59 AM


NEW YORK -- Cindy Sheehan, who drew international attention when she camped outside President Bush's ranch to protest the Iraq war, was arrested Monday along with three other women during a demonstration demanding the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.


The march to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations by about a dozen U.S. and Iraqi anti-war activists followed a news conference at U.N. headquarters, where Iraqi women described daily killings and ambulance bombings as part of the escalating violence that keeps women in their homes.


Cindy Sheehan, who became a peace activist after her son was killed in Iraq, is arrested in front the building which houses the American Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Monday, March 6, 2006 in New York. Sheehan and three other anti war activist were arrested after trying to deliver a letter to the American mission. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) (Mary Altaffer - AP)


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Women Say No to War, which helped organize the march, claimed Sheehan was physically assaulted by security officers during the arrests. Photos show officers dragging Sheehan, with her shirt yanked up. Police said the four women were arrested for criminal trespassing and resisting arrest.


The women were trying to deliver a petition to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations with more than 60,000 signatures urging the "withdrawal of all troops and all foreign fighters from Iraq." When they arrived at the mission, they found the doors locked.


Ann Wright, a former U.S. Army colonel and U.S. diplomat, said in a statement issued by the group that the U.S. Mission refused to send someone to meet with the women "whose lives and families have been shattered by this destructive and immoral war." The protesters refused to leave without delivering the petition, she said. At one point, witnesses said they sat down in front of the doors and interlocked their legs.


Richard Grenell, the spokesman for the U.S. Mission, said in response to Sheehan's arrest: "We invited her in to discuss her concerns with a U.S. Mission employee. She chose not to come in but to lay down in front of the building and block the entrance. It was clearly designed to be a media stunt, not aimed at rational discussion," Grenell said.


At the news conference, Sheehan said when her 24-year-old son _ a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq _ died in April 2004, "the morgues were filled with innocent men, women and children."


Entessa Mohammed, a pharmacist who works at a hospital in Baghdad, became tearful when recalling the deaths and injuries she said she has witnessed daily.


She estimated that 1,600 Iraqis are killed in Baghdad every month, with a greater number injured. "Thanks for the liberation from Saddam" Hussein, Mohammed said, addressing the Bush administration, "now please go out."


U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice planned to meet with delegations of Iraqi and Afghan women in Washington on Wednesday, which is International Women's Day, to honor their achievements in politics.


The Women Say No to War activists, who plan to be in Washington on Wednesday to meet with members of Congress, said they were denied requests to meet with Rice or other "relevant" State Department officials.

http://news.ibn.net/newsframe.asp?url=http...en.asp?url=cinh


ASSOCIATED PRESS


March 6, 2006


A Muslim woman who claims she was denied employment after she refused to remove a head scarf worn for religious reasons is accusing a Des Moines convenience store chain of violating her religious rights.


In the lawsuit, Aaliyah Withers-Johnson claims officials at Git-N-Go Convenience Stores Inc. told her she could not work for the company if she insisted on wearing the head scarf, known as a hijib, worn as part of her Islamic faith.


The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Des Moines, accuses the company of racial and religious discrimination.


Withers-Johnson, who also is black, claims she wore the scarf to her initial job interview for a position as a store clerk on March 11, 2005, was offered a position and told to report six days later for training.


But at the training session, Withers-Johnson claims she was immediately pulled aside by a company official and told she would not be able to start ‘‘because of the thing you are wearing on your head,’’ the lawsuit said.


Officials say company policy prohibits employees from wearing caps, scarves or anything on their head.


Withers-Johnson told the official the scarf was required as part of her faith then asked if she was not being hired because of it, the lawsuit said.


The officials responded by saying: ‘‘If I let you wear it then everyone else is going to want to,’’ according to the lawsuit.


‘‘It shows that not everyone is always as sensitive as they need to be to people’s religious beliefs,’’ said Jill Zwagerman, the woman’s attorney. ‘‘Her general reaction was pretty obvious when her religious attire was compared to a baseball cap or a scarf.’’


Withers-Johnson, who is a U.S. citizen and student at Drake University, is seeking an unidentified amount for lost wages and benefits and punitive damages.


She also wants a judge to bar the company from future discrimination of race-based stereotypes, require sensitivity training throughout the company and impose mandatory race bias testing on upper management officials.


A telephone message left Monday for attorneys for Git-N-Go wasn’t immediately returned.


The company operates as many as 38 stores in the Des Moines area

Salam all how r u all doing.


I was thinking why not create a directory here off all the different types of help available for Muslim youth today. This can be for anyone in any country.


Lets put together help organisations and resources that are out there just to help us Muslims. This can help our Muslim brothers and sisters that are out there suffering from different problems.


This can be from any kind of councilling for anyone confused about anything e.g having family problems OR anyone suffering from any health problems.


Inshallah maybe this can help them to find someone to chat to, so they can overcome thier problem.

GIRL POWER!!! IN ISLAMBy Sajid Iqbal


<b>“Oppression”</b>


“They have to walk 10 steps behind their husband”


“They can’t even work”


Yeah yeah, heard it all before and probably a lot more. What is it with people thinking Islam treats women as second class citizens? Don’t tell me, you sometimes wonder that too? Well STOP THERE, because you’ll be surprised just how many rights women are given in Islam. Not Convinced ? Read on ! You will soon realise that its not the Spice Girls who introduced 'Girl Power' but it was Islam.



Next time you think Islam oppresses women, a woman is worth half a man and that Islam treats them like second class citizens then never forget this:


What does Islam give to women?


Islam elevated the status of women 1,400 years ago by declaring them equal to men, giving them the right to work, right to education to the highest level, right to vote, right to take public office, right to join the army, right to divorce (God forbid), right to inheritance, right to marry who she wishes (yippie!!) and so on and so forth, the list is endless….you got all day?



Are Muslim women allowed to work?


There is NO legal provision in either the Qur’an or the Sunnah (sayings & way of life, of the Prophet ( blessings and peace be upon him)) which prevents a woman from seeking a career or a job. Women are permitted to take up such important professions as teaching, medicine, lawyers, accountants, MP, journalist – just to name a few!



In British and other western countries women don’t even get paid equally for doing the same job as a man!(1)


The money a Muslim woman earns is her own. In the Western world, on the other hand, any property a woman possessed, belonged exclusively to her husband. WHAT? It’s true.(2)


So I hope that’s made things crystal clear!


Are Muslim women allowed to seek Education?


You bet they are! Acquiring knowledge in Islam, is a duty binding both males and females. In a hadith (saying) of the Prophet (Blessing and peace be upon him) it states: “It is a duty on both men and women to seek knowledge (religious and secular)”. (Ibn Maajah)



Yet, it was not until the beginning of the 20th Century that Western women were allowed to attend University. Shocking!(3)


So girls, get yourselves down to college/University!


STATUS OF THE MOTHER


Do you want to know something that will make you fall of your seat? Around that time the child was only recognised to have one parent – the father! In Islam, however, the status of the mother is so high, that the Prophet (Pbuh) said – “Jannah ( Paradise) is at the feet of the Mother”.(Bukhari & Muslim )



POLITICAL RIGHTS


Islam gave women political rights including voting and taking part in political activities such as sitting in parliament and becoming MPs. Lets not forget that women only got the right to vote in Britain in the beginning of the 20th century!



It took three generations for the British woman to win the most basic rights. Outrageous!Women underwent arrest, humiliation, hunger strikes, protest marches – JUST TO GET THE RIGHT TO VOTE!


Voting was secured as late as 1918. Society was very hostile towards women, regarding them as, wait for it – Deviants. Yet Islam gave women these rights 1400 years ago without them even asking for it!


What rights does a Muslim woman have over her husband?


If there’s one thing that the West believe to be true – is that a Muslim woman has to walk 10 steps behind her husband, she has no say in any matter and she’s there to cook, clean and look beautiful for her ‘Purpose in life’ (husband) to appear. YEAH RIGHT!



Just get your head around some of the rights Islam has provided for women and realise what real GIRL POWER is all about:-


Any money she earns or inherits is her own and her husband still has to provide for her....now we're talking about girl power!


On Marriage, she is entitled to receive a gift, Mahr, (which is usually in the form of money) and this is her own property.


Under Islamic Law a woman cannot be married off without her consent. She has final approval on a marriage partner and she can refuse and cancel a marriage arranged without her consent.


She is not required to change her maiden name upon marriage, as Islam recognizes her independent legal personality.


A great number of Jurists, say that the wife is not required to perform the household chores! ( Malik & Shafi – schools of thought).


Although the Prophet(saw) was such a great leader, he assisted in the house cleaning and mended his own clothes. SO HUSBANDS DO SOME HOUSEWORK PLEASE!


It is the husbands duty and full responsibility to provide expenses for: food, clothing, recreation etc, even if his wife is filthy rich!


Contrary to common belief – in the Islamic law a husband cannot, I repeat cannot, beat his wife or even mistreat his wife.


There is a saying of the Prophet ( Blessings and peace be upon him) “ ….The best of those are those that are best to their wives”. (Tirmidi)


She also has the right to initiate a separation from marriage if her rights under marriage are not being granted. SO A WOMAN DOES HAVE THE RIGHT TO DIVORCE.


Widows have the right to remarry, and they are in fact encouraged to do so.


The Customs of dowry, is a practice which has never been sanctioned by Islam.


I’ve got to stop or I’ll end up writing a book. Believe me this list is endless!


“Why do Muslim women have to cover? This is oppression surely!”


Nowadays, topless and mini skirts are OK but covering yourself is 'oppression'…. Who you trying to fool? Take a good look around, be honest – do you think women are being degraded? Yep, so do I.



Women wearing next to nothing selling cars, plastered upon bill boards, upon magazines, the internet and just about anywhere and everywhere. Blimey, if that’s not degrading, what is? Islam emphasizes on modesty. No person should be seen as a sex object. Men also have to dress modestly.


What are the benefits in covering?


When a woman puts on her hijab, dresses moderately and steps out. She’s sending out a message LOUD & CLEAR – “Deal with my mind and not my body”. What will happen:-



Men will stop flirting with you, they’ll start talking to you.


You’ll be taken seriously, because they won’t be looking elsewhere.


There will be no arm around the shoulder or waist, they’ll stand almost a yard apart.


Ask any sister who dresses Islamically, and she’ll tell you, that by behaving like a Muslimah, she attracts a GREAT AMOUNT OF RESPECT.


BLAME MEN NOT ISLAM



Not Islam, but sadly some Muslim men, do oppress women today. This is because of their cultural habits or their ignorance about Islam.


So what we find is that Islam gives women wonderful rights and has done for over 1400 years. Women are by no means seen as second class citizens in Islam....actually it looks like women have more rights in Islam than men do!


THE LARGEST GROUP OF CONVERTS TO ISLAM IS WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES 16 AND 24!(4)


References:


www.eoc.org.uk/EOC eng/dynpages/camp_pay.asp


www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide19/part10.html


ibid


Muslim converts Association