THE BEST TIME FOR ASKING ALLAH (DUA / SUPPLICATION)



Middle of the night:


The Messenger (Peace and Blessing be upon him) said: "The Gates of Heaven are open at midnight, and a caller calls, 'Is there a supplicant that his supplication may be granted? Is there a petitioner that his petition maybe granted? Is there a distressed person so that his distress may be removed?' At that time, no Muslim makes a Dua but that it is answered, except for an adulteress who trades with her body, or a person who gathers his money unlawfully." [sahih al-Jami' 2968]


At the time of Azan and between it and the Iqamah:


The Messenger (Peace and Blessings Be upon Him) said: "A Dua between Azan and the Iqamat is not refused, so make du'a at that time." [ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban]


The Messenger (Peace and Blessing Be upon Him) said: "Two kinds of du'a are not rejected - or rarely are they rejected - du'a at the time of the call for prayer, and du'a at the time of fighting when the warriors are engaged with each other." [Abu Dawud]


On Friday after 'Asr The Messenger (Peace and Blessings Be upon Him) said: "Friday has twelve periods. Among them is a period when no Muslim asks Allah for anything but He grants it to him. Search for that period late after 'Asr." [sahihal-Jami' 8402]


When it is raining:


The Messenger (Peace and Blessings Be upon Him) said: "Two kinds of du'a are not rejected: du'a at the time of the call for prayer, and du'a during rain." [Abu Dawud]


Being a parent, while fasting and while travelling:


The Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "Three types of du'a are undoubtedly granted: a parent's du'a for his children, du'a of a fasting person, and du'a of the traveller." [Abu Dawud]


While Making Sujood:


The Prophet (Peace and Blessings Be upon Him) said: "The servant is closest to his Lord while in sujud, so ask Allah in that time."


Laylatul-Qadr:


Aisha asked the Prophet (Peace and Blessings Be upon Him) What should I say on Laylatil-qadr? And he replied, O Allah, indeed you are a Pardoner,and you love pardon; so pardon me "Allahuma inaka afuuin tuhibul afua Fahafu Anni"

An elderly Arab lady was sitting at the trunk of a tree, on the way to Haj. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) happened to pass that way. He was also heading for Baitullah, for Hajj, and to the Sacred tomb of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu -layhi Wasallam). Seeing this lady very disturbed and in a state of despair, (distressed) he spoke to her. The discussion is recorded as follows:


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah


The lady: "The word from a merciful Lord is Peace" (Surah 36 Aayat 58).


She meant that the reply of salaam is from Allah, Most High, Himself.


She said further: "Those whom Allah sendeth astray, there is no guide for them." (Surah 7 Aayat 186). She meant that she has lost her way.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Where are you coming from?


The lady: "Glorified be He who carried His servant by night from the Musjid-e-Aqsa (invioble place of worship) to the Musjid-e-Haraam"(Far distant place of worship) (Surah17 Aayat1). She meant that she had come from Musjid-e-Aqsa.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): How long are you in this place?


The lady: "For three nights" (Surah 19 Aayat10).


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): What arrangements are made for your food?


The lady: "And who (Allah) feedeth me and watereth me" (Surah 26 Aayat 79). She meant that somehow or the other, her food is provided to her by Allah.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Is there any water for Wudhu?


The lady: "And ye find not water, then go to high clean soil and (make tayammum) rub your faces and hands." (therewith) (Surah 4 Aayat 43).


She meant that she makes tayammum, due to not finding water.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Here is some food. Partake of it.


The lady: "Strictly observe the fast till nightfall" (Surah 2 Aayat 187).


She indicated that she is fasting.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): This is not the month of Ramadaan.


The lady: "And he who does good of his own accord (for him) lo! Allah is responsive, aware". (Surah 2 Aayat158) Meaning that I have observed an optional (nafl) fast.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): It is permitted to break the fast when in a journey.


The lady: "And that ye fast is better for you, if you did but know." (Surah 2 Aayat 184)


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Speak like how I speak.


The lady: "He (man) uttereth no word but there is with him an observer ready" (Surah 50 Aayat 18). She meant that since every word of a person is observed and recorded, she is taking precaution by speaking only in the words of the Holy Quran.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Which clan do you belong to?


The lady: "Follow not that whereof thou hast no knowledge, lo! The hearing and the sight and heart of each of these it will be asked" (Surah 17 Aayat36). She meant those things that you have no knowledge of, nor do they concern you, you are wasting your strength (senses) by


enquiring about them.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Forgive me. I have certainly made a mistake.


The lady: "Have no fear this day. May Allah forgive you" (Surah 12 Aayat 92)


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Would you like to travel on my camel and meet your caravan?


The lady: "And whatsoever good ye do Allah knoweth it" (Surah 2 Aayat 197). Meaning that if you will do this good deeds towards me, Allah will recompense you for it.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Well, then you may mount it.


Saying this he made the camel to sit down.


The lady: "Tell the believing men (when confronted by women) to lower their gaze". (Surah 24 Aayat 30).


Hadhrat Abdullah understood and (turned) looked away. While she was mounting, the camel jerked and her clothes got strangled in the saddle (dorsers) and she proclaimed: "whatever of misfortune striketh you, it is what your hands have earned." (Surah 42 Aayat 30). In other words she was drawing Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak's (RA) attention towards this


mishap.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) understood and he tied the legs of the camel and he straightened the straps of the saddle (or dorser).


She applauded him for his proficiency and capability by saying "And we made Sulaiman to understand" (Surah 21 Aayat 79).


When the journey was about to begin, the lady recited the Aayats which are read when undertaking a journey "Glorified be he who hath subdued these unto us, and we were not capable (of subduing them). And lo, unto our Lord we are returning." (Surah 43 Aayat 13).


Hadhrat Abdullh bin Mubarak (RA) held the bridle (or nose string) of the camel. He began to hum the (Huddi) famous Arabic song for travelling, and he started walking very fast.


The lady: "Be modest in thy bearing and subdue thy voice" (Surah 31 Aayat 19).


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) understood. He began walking slower and he lowered his voice.


The lady: "Recite of the Quran that which is easy for you." She meant that instead of humming the Huddi, he should rather recite the Holy Quran.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) began reciting the Holy Quran.


The lady became very pleased and said "but none remember (accept advice) except men of understanding" (Surah 2 Aayat 269).


After reciting the Holy Quran for a while, Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) asked (the lady if she had a husband) (if he was alive) "O Aunt, have have you a husband? (meaning is he living) The lady: "O you who believe, ask not of things which if they were made known unto you, would trouble you" (Surah 5 Aayat 101). She meant that no questions should be asked regarding this matter which indicated that her husband has most probably passed away. Finally they (caught up) met the caravan.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Do you have any son or relative (friend) in this caravan who has connection (contact) with you?


The lady: "Wealth and children are an ornament of life of the world" (Surah 18 Aayat 46). She meant that her sons were with this caravan and he has provisions with him.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): What work are your sons doing for the caravan? (Hadhrat Abdullah's object for asking was to make it easy for him to recognise her son).


The lady: "And landmarks, and by the star they find a way" (Surah 16 Aayat 16). She meant that he is a guide for the caravan.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Can you tell me their name?


The lady: "Allah chose Ibrahim as (for) a friend" (Surah 4 Aayat 125). "And Allah spoke directly unto Moosa" (Surah 19 Aayat 12). By reciting these Aayats the lady informed him that her sons names were Yahya, Ibrahim and Moosa.


Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) called out these names in the caravan and immediately three young people came forward.


The lady: (addressing her children) "Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city. And let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof" (Sura 18 Aayat 19) In other words she instructed them to feed Hadhrat Abdullah (RA).


When the food was brought, she told Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA):


"Eat and drink at ease for that which ye sent on before you in the past days." (Surah 69 Aayat 24), and with this Aayat she recited another Aayat, the object of which was to convey (show) her gratefulness to him for his good conduct and courtesy. The Aayat was: "Is the reward of goodness aught save goodness?" (Surah 55 Aayat 60).


Their conversation terminated on this Aayat. The lady's son informed Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) that his mother has been speaking in this manner, i.e. using only the Aayats of the Holy Quran in her speech, for the last forty years.


Subhanallah! May Allah(swt) give us more woman like her.

Assalamu alaikum


I wanted to let you know about a recently launched website The Online Islamic Library


It is helping to distribute good quality used, Islamic books, tapes and CDs.


These are sent to visitors of the site FREE of charge.


In our first week we have had 2 book orders and over 100 hits on the site. Please take a look and let friends and family know about us.


We rely on donations. If you have any books that you are no longer using (we all have a few right) then please consider donating. It makes a wonderful gift!


May Allah reward you.


Wassalam


Librarian

The Handsome Man



Once Aisha, The Wife of Prophet, was asked. "Who is the Handsome Man?" she answered :
" The Handsome man is man with Beard".
..



Wrote by Brother



<i>Tushar Imdad-ul-Haque Bhuiya </i>


I came to eat dinner in my halls of residence one day last year when two sisters started laughing at me; I had some food stuck in my beard. They went on to innocently and honestly mock my beard saying it was messy, unnatural and unhygienic. Little did they know the rage that I felt as a result of this and I channeled this rage by unleashing my anger through my pen and out came this poem.



I performed this poem in the Leicester University/DMU Islamic Societies and Eid Celebration and it was received with much laughter and acclaim - Alhamdulillah. Due to popular demand and many requests I have decided to type my poem up and email it to my friends in Islam. Let me remind you all not to be offended as this is no fatwa or religious statement - just a funny poem that spontaneously was produced as a result of my unfortunate experience...


Tushar (12th March )


"Glorified be He who beautifies women



With long locks of hair


And Men with long beards


There is beauty in the beard


Aye, there is beauty in the beard!


When the lion roars all the animals submit


For the lion is the king of the jungle


The lion with its glorious mane


And a Muslim man grows his mane in pride


Showing the rest of humanity that he is to be respected


Can one imagine a lion without its mane?


Nay, thou canst not!


Then imagine a man without his beard


Woe to worldly women who mock the beards so!


Desiring husbands with clean shaven faces


Woe to women who mock the Prophets Sunnah


In the name of hygiene, neatness and smooth texture


Indeed the women of this world cannot like the beard


But she who wants Paradise adores the beard!


A beard is a gift given to man


Something only he can grow; a woman never can!


When he ponders, he gently strokes it;


When he eats, it stores food;


When he is with kids, they play with it adoringly;


When he is with his wife, she fondles it lovingly;


When the enemy see it, fear is struck in their hearts!


Ah! there is indeed beauty in the beard!


All the Prophets had beards - yes they did!


Muhammad pbuh had a beard - so big! so big!


All the companions had beards - o yes! o yes!


All the sages had beards - I know! I know!


All the wise have beards - this true! this true!


All the pious have beards - you see! you see!


All the Muslims have beards!? - if only! if only!


Who did not have beards? The kafirun!


Who had clean shaven faces? The kafirun!


Who grew their moustaches? The kafirun!


"And what did our Prophet pbuh order?" I here you ask


He ordered us to lengthen the beard and trim the moustache!


Lengthen the beard and trim the moustache!


What greater reason that this can there be


The fact that our Prophet told us to see


That we make ourselves appear to the world


As full bearded men with honour untold


O Muslim brother! Why do you desire to look like a woman


When your blessed facial hair is the differece between you and the opposite gender?


O poor Muslim brother! Why do you imitate the kafir


Instead of following the Prophet of Islam?


O silly Muslim sister! Why are you so blind?


Infatuated with Hollywood actors who have no mind!


O wretched sister! Are you not scared of your choice?


You would rather have a feminine monkey instead of an exalted manly ape!


So indeed I love my beard


And adore the curls and tangles


Which no oil, gel or superglue can ever straighten


My glorious long, curly, messy, fluffy beard!


The playhouse for kids;


The envy of peoples


And the beloved of Allah!


I maybe rejected by worldly women because of this hair on my face


But who care! For my Mum loves it and she puts all such sisters to disgrace!


Be patient Muslim brothers, who shun the trendy look for a Prophetic pose


Paradise with the wide eyed Houris is our final abode!!!!!"


~*~


Hadith - Bukhari 9:651, Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri


The Prophet said, "There will emerge from the East some people who will recite the Qur'an but it will not exceed their throats and who will go out of (renounce) the religion (Islam) as an arrow passes through the game, and they will never come back to it unless the arrow, comes back to the middle of the bow (by itself) (i.e., impossible)." The people asked, "What will their signs be?" He said, "Their sign will be the habit of shaving (of their beards)." (Fateh Al-Bari, Page 322, Vol. 17th)


Hadith - Bukhari 7:781, Narrated Ibn 'Umar


Allah's Apostle said, "Cut the moustaches short and leave the beard (as it is)."


_________________

<b>The Most Beautiful Girl </b>



<b>No, she's not Diana Hayden nor is she Sushmita Sen, Not even Aishwarya Rai, Who is this girl then?

</b>


No, she does not flash her legs nor walk down the aisle semi-nude


For her such things are unthinkable, sacrilegious and downright rude


Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss "Anything", She does not aspire to be


She shuns all kinds of publicity in privacy she would rather be


Never in a swimming costume will she for a camera pose


Yes, she's the 'girl in hijaab' more beautiful than a rose!


Those who're 'stripped' of modesty will 'strip' for any cause


Whether on a lonely beach or in front of a full house


In their naked greed they dance In pursuit of earth's glory


Is there a thing more vulgar than a woman devoid of modesty?


In the name of freedom all moral values are now defined


Vulgarity, nudism, nakedness are steps to fame that wind


Those who are of rotten minds call it freedom of "female" species


Yet, they exploit them a-plenty, whenever and wherever they please.


But for their terrible transgressions maybe they are not fully to


blame, The Muslims forgot their duty and let them live in shame


Incumbent upon the Muslims it was to promote good and stop all vice

salam .... [img]style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif[/img] hay everone iam a new girl and i wound like to get kw everone whos here sooo i jst need to kw wht do u guys do and talk abut ?? i mean u can ask wht ever u want to kw rigth as long is nt a bad q... . i jst don't kw wht to say .. i mean if u wound like to kw abut me that cool with me i mean u are as free as bird so ya .....ooooooh and .... i forget to say dat ummmmmmm [img]style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif[/img] bint uthman one time i saw her chek dis website n i thought 2 join as well soo nw iam here .. anyway bint uthman is my big sister and let me tell u dat she is the coolest person u can ever meet .. so i see dat u all kw her but i got to see her 24/7 lol [img]style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif[/img]



i hop to benefit this forun and my brothers and sisters ......


salam alakum warah mutulah.

NEXT UPCOMING LECTURE AT THE AL KAWTHAR ACADEMY:



<b>Ungrateful to the Creation: Ungrateful to the Creator</b>


<b>Date: </b>
Friday 6th May, 2005


<b>Time: </b>
8:00pm


<b>Venue: </b>
Al Kawthar Academy


<b>Address:</b>
62 Gough Road,


Leicester, LE5 4XY.


(Near Masjid Ali)


<b>Tel: </b>
0116 246 1011


One of the root meanings of the word kafir (usually translated as 'unbeliever'), is ‘one who is ungrateful.’ So if a Muslim is somebody who is ungrateful, it could be said of him that he is close to kufr (disbelief). With this in mind, ingratitude is not something to be taken lightly, rather, somebody who is ungrateful should worry for themselves.


Some ask what have I got to be grateful for? Well, think of your eyes that you use to read this e-mail - what if you were blind? Should you not be grateful to Allah for your eyesight? How do you show gratitude for your eyesight? By seeing that which pleases Allah or that which displeases him?


<i><b>‘…And He granted you the (power of) hearing and the eyes and the hearts. Little you give thanks.’</b></i>[al Qur’an 32/9]


One point that many people do not understand is that one can never be or claim gratitude for the Creator, if one is not ungrateful to the creation. Gratitude to the creation is expressed through many forms including showing respect, being of service, assisting, praying for those who have benefited you and especially those who have benefited you in religion. One is at a loss who does not show gratitude to the creation and that person is only fooling himself who thinks that he can be grateful to Allah yet being ungrateful to others. For example someone cannot be ungrateful to one’s parents yet be grateful to Allah as Allah says:


<i><b>‘And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command), "Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal.’</b></i>[al Qur’an 31/14]


Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq will be addressing this important subject of gratitude to the creation and we encourage you to attend. Please come yourselves and invite others also for as the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, <i><b>‘Whomsoever guides towards a goodness, will get virtues equal to the one who performs that goodness.’</b></i> [Muslim]


- Due to the large number of attendees at our last event, there will be no seating available for sisters. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.


- Free admission


- There will be stalls where you can purchase Islamic audio & books, itr, clothing and a variety of other Islamic goods.


- Free refreshments provided.


- If you require any further information than you can ring the Al Kawthar Academy on 0116 246 1011. Alternatively you can e-mail us at enquiries@alkawtharacademy.org


<b>Upcoming UK Events</b>


Listed below are some of the upcoming lectures by Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq. Keep yourself updated by visiting the events section of the Al Kawthar Academy website, click here.


06/05/05 Ungrateful to the Creation: Ungrateful to the Creator
- Leicester, UK.


08/05/05 Islam, Iman & Ihsan
- Nottingham, UK.


13/05/05 Superstition & Horror
- Leicester, UK.


14/05/05 The Grave: A Garden of Paradise or a Pit of Hell
- Tooting, London, UK.


27/05/05 Details to follow - Leicester, UK.


29/05/05 Building a Mosque of Piety
– Greenwich, UK.


04/06/05 Spirituality in a Material World
– Manchester, UK.


05/06/05 Details to follow - Walsall - Awakening Conference.


11/06/05 Details to follow - Batley - No further details.


12/06/05 Details to follow - Burnley, UK..


22-24/07/05 Details to follow - Youth Tarabiyyah Conference – Kidderminster, UK.


17-18/09/05 Details to follow - Bukhari Jalsa - Kidderminster, UK.


Visit our site now at:


http://www.alkawtharacademy.org


If you have read this e-mail in a discussion forum, e-group or an online notice board and would like to receive e-mails from the Al Kawthar Academy directly to your e-mail address then please click here to join our mailing list.

Are we eating Pork?



<i>- Dr. M. Amjad Khan</i>


<i>In nearly all the western countries including Europe, the primary choice for meat is pig. There are a lot of farms in these countries to breed this animal. In France alone, Pig Farms account for more than 42,000. Pigs have the highest quantity of fat in their body than any other animal. The following report by a medical practitioner reveals the extent to which pig fat might be unknowingly consumed by Muslims throughout the world.</i>


One of my friends, Shaikh Sahib works in Pegal, France, in the Department of Food. His work is to register all makes of goods, foods and medicines. Whenever any company is putting something in the market, its ingredients have to be approved by the Department of Food, France, and as Shaikh Sahib works in the Laboratory Quality Control, he knows about the ingredients. Many of these ingredients contain scientific names, but some have mathematical names, like E-904, E-141. At first, when Shaikh Sahib came across them, he was curious and asked his Department Incharge, who was a French, and he replied, “Just do your job. Don’t ask questions.” This aroused suspicion in Shaikh Sahib’s mind and he started looking-up for them in the files. What he found was enough to astonish any Muslim in the world. In nearly all the western countries including Europe, the primary choice for meat is pig. There are a lot of farms in these countries to breed this animal. In France alone, Pig Farms account for more than 42,000. Pigs have the highest quantity of fat in their body than any other animal. But Europeans and Americans try to avoid fats. Thus, where does the fat from these pigs go? All pigs are cut in slaughter houses under the control of the department of food and it was the headache of the department of food to dispose of the fat removed from these pigs. Formally, it was burnt (about 60 years ago). Then they thought of utilizing it. First, they experimented it in the making of soaps and it worked. Then, a full network was formed and this fat was chemically processed, packed and marketed, while the other manufacturing companies bought it. In the meantime, all European States made it a rule that every Food, Medical and Personal Hygiene product should have the ingredients listed on it’s cover. So, this ingredient was listed as pig fat. Those who are living in Europe for the past 40 years know about this. But, these products came under a ban by the Islamic countries at that time, which resulted in a trade deficit.


Going back in time, if you are somehow related to South East Asia, you might know about the provoking factors of the 1857 Civil War. At that time, rifle bullets were made in Europe and transported to the sub-continent through the sea. It took months to reach there and the gunpowder in it was ruined due to the exposure to sea. Then, they got the idea of coating the bullets with fat, which was pig fat. The fat layer had to be scratched by teeth before using them. when the word spread, the soldiers, mostly Muslim and some vegetarians, refused to fight. This eventually lead to the Civil War. The Europeans recognized this fact, and instead of writing ‘pig fat’, they started writing ‘animal fat’. All those living in Europe since 1970’s know this fact. When the companies were asked by authorities from the Muslim countries, what animal fat is it, they were told it was cow and sheep fat. Here again a question arose, if it was cow or sheep fat, still it is haram to Muslims, as these animal were not slaughtered as per the Islamic law. Thus, they were again banned. Now, these multinational companies were again facing a severe drought of money as 75% of their income comes from selling their goods to Muslim Countries, and these earn billions of Dollars of profit from their exports to the Muslim world.


Finally they decided to start a coding language, so that only their Departments of Food Administration should know what they are using, and the common man is left lurking in the dark. Thus, they started E-Codes. These E-Ingredients are present in a majority of products of multinational firms including, but not limited to - tooth paste, shaving cream, chewing gum, chocolate, sweets, biscuits, corn flakes, toffees, canned foods, fruit tins, and some medications like multi-vitamins. Since these goods are being used in all Muslim countries indiscrimately, our society is facing problems like shamelessness, rudeness and sexual promiscuity.

<strong>
So I request all Muslims to check the ingredients of the items of daily use and match it with the following list of E-Codes. If any of the ingredients listed below is found, try to avoid it, as it has got pig fat.</strong>

<strong>
E100, E110, E120, E 140, E141, E153, E210, E213, E214, E216, E234, E252, E270, E280, E325, E326, E327, E334, E335, E336, E337, E422, E430, E431, E432, E433, E434, E435, E436, E440, E470, E471, E472, E473, E474, E475, E476, E477, E478, E481, E482, E483, E491, E492, E493, E494, E495, E542, E570, E572, E631, E635, E904.</strong>

<strong>
It is the responsibility of each and every Muslim to follow the Islamic path and also keep his fellow followers informed of anything that he comes across. May Allah help us lead a halal life.</strong>

<strong>
</strong><strong>Link</strong>

<i>Question and Answer Details</i>


Name: Sarah - United States


Topic: Culture & Society


Title: Female-Led Prayers: A Step Forward for Women?


Question:On March 18, 2005 Amina Wadud led the first female-led Jumu`ah Prayer On that day, women took a huge step towards being more like men But, did we come closer to actualizing our God-given liberation?



Date: 2005/3/28


Name of Consultant AAI Editorial Staff


Content of Reply


This answer was kindly provided by Sister Yasmin Mogahed, a member of Ask About Islam Editorial Staff. Yasmin is an Egyptian-American journalist based in Wisconsin, USA. She is currently studying for a Master's degree in Journalism.


Salam, Sarah.



Thank you for your inspiring question!


Well, answering your question, I can say that I don't think so.


What we so often forget is that God has honored women by giving them value in relation to God—not in relation to men. But as Western feminism erases God from the scene, there is no standard left but men. As a result, the Western feminist is forced to find her value in relation to a man. And in so doing, she has accepted a faulty assumption. She has accepted that man is the standard, and thus a woman can never be a full human being until she becomes just like a man—the standard.


When a man cut his hair short, she wanted to cut her hair short. When a man joined the army, she wanted to join the army, and so on. She wanted these things for no other reason than because the "standard" had it.


What she didn't recognize was that God dignifies both men and women in their distinctiveness, not their sameness. And on March 18, Muslim women made the very same mistake.


For 1,400 years, there has been a consensus of scholars that men are to lead Prayer. As a Muslim woman, why does this matter? The one who leads Prayer is not spiritually superior in any way. <b>Something is not better just because a man does it.</b> And leading Prayer is not better just because it is leading. Had it been the role of women or had it been more divine, why wouldn't the Prophet have asked Lady `A'ishah or Lady Khadijah, or Lady Fatimah—the greatest women of all time—to lead? These women were promised heaven and yet they never led Prayer.


But now, for the first time in 1,400 years, we look at a man leading Prayer and we think, "That's not fair." We think so, although God has given no special privilege to the one who leads. The imam is no higher in the eyes of God than the one who prays behind. On the other hand, only a woman can be a mother. And the Creator has given special privilege to a mother. The Prophet taught us that heaven lies at the feet of mothers. But no matter what a man does, he can never be a mother. So why is that not unfair?


When asked who is most deserving of our kind treatment? The Prophet replied "your mother" three times before saying "your father" only once. Isn't that sexist? No matter what a man does, he will never be able to have the status of a mother.


And yet even when God honors us with something uniquely feminine, we are too busy trying to find our worth in reference to men, to value it or even notice it. We too have accepted men as the standard; so anything uniquely feminine is, by definition, inferior. Being sensitive is an insult, becoming a mother is a degradation. In the battle between stoic rationality (considered masculine) and selfless compassion (considered feminine), rationality reigns supreme.


As soon as we accept that everything a man has and does is better, all that follows is just a knee jerk reaction: if men have it, we want it too. If men pray in the front rows, we assume this is better, so we want to pray in the front rows too. If men lead Prayer, we assume the imam is closer to God, so we want to lead Prayer too. Somewhere along the line, we've accepted the notion that having a position of worldly leadership is some indication of one's position with God.


A Muslim woman does not need to degrade herself in this way. She has God as a standard. She has God to give her value; she doesn't need a man here.


In fact, in our crusade to follow men, we, as women, never even stopped to examine the possibility that what we have is better for us. In some cases, we even gave up what was higher only to be like men.


Fifty years ago, we saw men leaving the home to work in factories. We were mothers. And yet, we saw men doing it, so we wanted to do it too. Somehow, we considered it women's liberation to abandon the raising of another human being in order to work on a machine. We accepted that working in a factory was superior to raising the foundation of society—just because a man did it.


Then after working, we were expected to be superhuman—the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the perfect homemaker, and have the perfect career. And while there is nothing wrong, by definition, with a woman having a career, we soon came to realize what we had sacrificed by blindly mimicking men. We watched as our children became strangers, and soon recognized the privilege we'd given up.


And so only now—given the choice—women in the West are choosing to stay home to raise their children. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, only 31 percent of mothers with babies, and 18 percent of mothers with two or more children, are working fulltime. And of those working mothers, a survey conducted by Parenting Magazine in 2000, found that 93 percent of them say they would rather be home with their kids, but are compelled to work due to "financial obligations." These "obligations" are imposed on women by the gender sameness of the modern West and removed from women by the gender distinctiveness of Islam.


It took women in the West almost a century of experimentation to realize a privilege given to Muslim women 1,400 years ago. Given my privilege as a woman, I only degrade myself by trying to be something I'm not, and in all honesty, don't want to be—a man. As women, we will never reach true liberation until we stop trying to mimic men and value the beauty in our own God given distinctiveness.


If given a choice between stoic justice and compassion, I choose compassion. And if given a choice between worldly leadership and heaven at my feet, I choose heaven.


I hope my words answer your question. In case you have any comment or you need more about the topic, please don't hesitate to contact us again. Thank you and please keep in touch.


Salam.

Are we eating Pork?



<i>- Dr. M. Amjad Khan</i>


<i>In nearly all the western countries including Europe, the primary choice for meat is pig. There are a lot of farms in these countries to breed this animal. In France alone, Pig Farms account for more than 42,000. Pigs have the highest quantity of fat in their body than any other animal. The following report by a medical practitioner reveals the extent to which pig fat might be unknowingly consumed by Muslims throughout the world.</i>


One of my friends, Shaikh Sahib works in Pegal, France, in the Department of Food. His work is to register all makes of goods, foods and medicines. Whenever any company is putting something in the market, its ingredients have to be approved by the Department of Food, France, and as Shaikh Sahib works in the Laboratory Quality Control, he knows about the ingredients. Many of these ingredients contain scientific names, but some have mathematical names, like E-904, E-141. At first, when Shaikh Sahib came across them, he was curious and asked his Department Incharge, who was a French, and he replied, “Just do your job. Don’t ask questions.” This aroused suspicion in Shaikh Sahib’s mind and he started looking-up for them in the files. What he found was enough to astonish any Muslim in the world. In nearly all the western countries including Europe, the primary choice for meat is pig. There are a lot of farms in these countries to breed this animal. In France alone, Pig Farms account for more than 42,000. Pigs have the highest quantity of fat in their body than any other animal. But Europeans and Americans try to avoid fats. Thus, where does the fat from these pigs go? All pigs are cut in slaughter houses under the control of the department of food and it was the headache of the department of food to dispose of the fat removed from these pigs. Formally, it was burnt (about 60 years ago). Then they thought of utilizing it. First, they experimented it in the making of soaps and it worked. Then, a full network was formed and this fat was chemically processed, packed and marketed, while the other manufacturing companies bought it. In the meantime, all European States made it a rule that every Food, Medical and Personal Hygiene product should have the ingredients listed on it’s cover. So, this ingredient was listed as pig fat. Those who are living in Europe for the past 40 years know about this. But, these products came under a ban by the Islamic countries at that time, which resulted in a trade deficit.


Going back in time, if you are somehow related to South East Asia, you might know about the provoking factors of the 1857 Civil War. At that time, rifle bullets were made in Europe and transported to the sub-continent through the sea. It took months to reach there and the gunpowder in it was ruined due to the exposure to sea. Then, they got the idea of coating the bullets with fat, which was pig fat. The fat layer had to be scratched by teeth before using them. when the word spread, the soldiers, mostly Muslim and some vegetarians, refused to fight. This eventually lead to the Civil War. The Europeans recognized this fact, and instead of writing ‘pig fat’, they started writing ‘animal fat’. All those living in Europe since 1970’s know this fact. When the companies were asked by authorities from the Muslim countries, what animal fat is it, they were told it was cow and sheep fat. Here again a question arose, if it was cow or sheep fat, still it is haram to Muslims, as these animal were not slaughtered as per the Islamic law. Thus, they were again banned. Now, these multinational companies were again facing a severe drought of money as 75% of their income comes from selling their goods to Muslim Countries, and these earn billions of Dollars of profit from their exports to the Muslim world.


Finally they decided to start a coding language, so that only their Departments of Food Administration should know what they are using, and the common man is left lurking in the dark. Thus, they started E-Codes. These E-Ingredients are present in a majority of products of multinational firms including, but not limited to - tooth paste, shaving cream, chewing gum, chocolate, sweets, biscuits, corn flakes, toffees, canned foods, fruit tins, and some medications like multi-vitamins. Since these goods are being used in all Muslim countries indiscrimately, our society is facing problems like shamelessness, rudeness and sexual promiscuity.

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So I request all Muslims to check the ingredients of the items of daily use and match it with the following list of E-Codes. If any of the ingredients listed below is found, try to avoid it, as it has got pig fat.</strong>

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E100, E110, E120, E 140, E141, E153, E210, E213, E214, E216, E234, E252, E270, E280, E325, E326, E327, E334, E335, E336, E337, E422, E430, E431, E432, E433, E434, E435, E436, E440, E470, E471, E472, E473, E474, E475, E476, E477, E478, E481, E482, E483, E491, E492, E493, E494, E495, E542, E570, E572, E631, E635, E904.</strong>

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It is the responsibility of each and every Muslim to follow the Islamic path and also keep his fellow followers informed of anything that he comes across. May Allah help us lead a halal life.</strong>

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</strong><strong>Link</strong>