As every Muslim knows or should know, Iman is the foremost and essential requirement of Islam. Without proper Iman, one cannot become a Muslim even if one is born in a Muslim family. In fact, Iman is something which has to be (self) consciously acquired in order to become a Muslim, constantly maintained in order to remain a Muslim, and continually reinforced and fortified in order to begin the next life as a Muslim. Therefore, Iman is something which cannot (and should not) be taken for granted. (Unfortunately, many of us take it for granted.)


If Iman is so important that it is the gist of life here and a savior in the hereafter, then it becomes necessary for each of us to find out what Iman really is. It is not right to say that I am a Muslim (and therefore I have Iman) because I was born in a Muslim family. As we will see shortly, the Quran (and that means Allah Almighty) does not accept this as a valid argument. What is Iman and what is its definition in the context of Islam?This is a fundamental question concerning Muslims and Islam. But one thing is quite clear:A definition of Iman which contradicts any Quranic principle cannot be accepted as Iman in Islam,no matter where and whomsoever it may have come from. After this preamble, let us explore first of all the meaning of the Arabic word Iman and its definition given in the Quran by Allah Almighty.


The root of the word Iman in arabic is a-m-n which means: to be calm and quiet (in one’s heart); to be protected from fear; trustworthiness and truthfulness (Taj al-Urus). Iman means to accept truthfully, to be convinced, to verify something, to rely upon or have confidence in something. Iman is usually translated in English as faith or belief, and faith in turn signifies acceptance without proof or argument, without reference to reason or thought, knowledge or insight. According to the Quran, Iman is conviction which is based upon reason and knowledge; a conviction that results from full mental acceptance and intellectual satisfaction; the kind of conviction that gives one a feeling of inner contentment and peace. And a Mumin is one who accepts truth in such a way that it ensures his own peace and helps him to safeguard the peace and security of the rest of mankind. In fact, Al-Mumin is one of the attributes of God Himself Quran chapter 59 verse 23.


Regards


Nawaz

To develop sincerity of intention in all our actions to please no one but Allah only . the Ikhlas-i-Niyyat means sincerity, i.e. to do all good deeds only for the sake of Allah and solely for winning His Pleasure. Sincerity is a very important factor in the life of a Muslim, for all his activities are judged only on the basis of his intention. If it is good, the action is good. and if the intention is something other than the attainment of the Divine Approbation, then the deed is not reward able at all. Sincerity can rightly be called the life and soul of the entire moral edifice of Islam. If the action lacks sincerity however dignified or pious it may be it will not fetch any reward from Allah. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) says:


"O people! The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions, and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended..... (Bukhari)


"If anyone's intention is to seek the hereafter Allah will place his sufficiency in his heart and order his affairs, and the world will come to him submissively; but if anyone's intention is to seekworldly good Allah will place poverty before him and disorder his affairs, and only so much of it as has been ordained for him will come to him." (Mishkat)


The only incentive for a Muslim in the discharge of his duties should therefore invariably be only the attainment of the Pleasure of Allah, or in other words to obey His Commandments only for the adoration of the Here after.


Allah is Omnipresent, All-knowing, All-hearing. Nothing is concealed from Him. He knows even the hidden secrets of our hearts. He is well aware of our intention, He knows the real motives d all our actions. We can deceive a man but can never deceive Him. If we perform a deed only to carry out His order, seeking solely His Pleasure, He will accept it, and grant the promised reward, but if the real incentive of the deed is some worldly gain, He will reject it, be it even a prayer.


A Muslim is, hence, required to be on a constant watch of his intention and keep it always pure. A slight negligence may lead him astray. The learned pious people said that if a man observed fast to obtain some hygienic benefits or performed Haj only to enjoy an excursion, or distributed all his wealth among the needy only to gain good reputation, he would not be honored by Allah, and would deserve no reward. Nay such a fellow would be put to trials, We all know that the learning and teaching of the Holy Quran, assisting the needy and being Wlled?? t in a battle waged in the Way of Allah, are most dignified actions in the sight of Allah, and He has promised great rewards on, But even these virtuous deeds are not accepted by our Lord if the motive prompt Hl gon??? the mare found other than the winning of His Pleasure, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi


Wasallam ) once said:


"Certain categories of people will be called first of all for reckoning on the Day of Judgment. A martyr will be asked by Allah, "Did I not bestow such and such favors on you?" Hoe will admit those boons and favors. Then Allah will ask him; " How did you make use of My favors? He will answer: " I went to the Holy War to please You, and was killed therein." Allah will say " You lie; you participated in the Holy War to be called a Hero by people, and this has been done." Then he will be thrown headlong into the fire of Hell.


Next a Scholar will be called and the same questions will be put to him. In reply he will admit the favors of Allah. Then he will be asked; " How did you make us of My favors?" He will answer, " I acquired knowledge of Islam and taught it to others, simply to please You" Allah will say: You lie; you attained knowledge in order to be called a scholar and recited the Holy Qur'an to be called a "Qaari." the he too will be thrown headlong into the fir of Hell.


Thereafter a rich man will be called, and the same questions will be put to him. He will say: " I always spent money to please You. Allah will say: you lie; you spend money in order to be called a "generous" man, and this has been said." Then he will also be thrown headlong into the fire of Hell."


Therefore we should always avoid show and vanity, and should render our actions to only please Allah.


Similarly, Salaat is the best of all actions a servant can do, but even this prayer is rejected if it is performed only for the sake of show. The Holy Quran says; lt. without sincerity, with Let us, brothers, examine our intentions in the light of the above and let us resolve to be always sincere in all actions we do. s But remember sincerity itself is based on the belief in Allah's Promises and on anover??? powering anxiety for winning His Pleasure. The stronger our belief is in His Promises the more sincerity we gain in our life. And when we call the people in complete sincerity towards Allah we shall deserve Divine Rewards on the one hand and on the other we shall get courage and fearlessness. May Allah grant us all to be most sincere.


Source: as-Sidq.org

Dear All


At creation, Allah Almighty -God- the Nourisher, set a challenge for humanity: to create a just society, a society in which the equality and competence all people share in the eyes of Allah Almighty would be reflected in the Socio-Economic and Political Order we call as The Nourishment System. Unjust societies are, self-destructive by nature; they inevitably produce rebellion. And in the nuclear age, full-scale rebellion could well lead to the destruction of human life, as we know it. It is the Quran that deals with these human problems in the social setup of the nation. Let's unfold the mysteries of the nature through the scientific revolution broadening the horizons of ntellectual


vision and find out the ways and means of their utilization in the human area according to the teachings of the Quran. It will unite the Sama (universe) and the Arz (Earth) together. What we forget now, the coming generations of the world would remember.


Regards


Nawaz

Dear All


Mental illnesses are the most misunderstood in our society. Usually,


these uncased diseases are taken very lightly. And when these become


serious, the society harshly outcasts their victims as crazy and


maniac. Depression is perhaps the highest reported problem in today's


modern world. Especially women are the most exposed to it. And are at


the greatest risk. More than half of our women folk suffers intense


sadness, pessimism, worthlessness and sense of guilt, which affect


their physical and mental health. They lose or gain excessive weight,


face problems in sleep, mourn endlessly, withdraw socially, are unable


to perform their role efficiently and in extreme cases commit suicide.


Youth is another major sufferer of depression and anxiety in the modern


world. Poor parent-child relationships, undue high expectations,failure


in life are the main reasons behind it. This Youth that rather than


expressing its anger towards others, it becomes angry about itself


and develops negative self-image that results in chronic depression.


Now added to it is the amazing phenomenon: every one of us claims to be


sensitive, complains about being alone and misunderstood but fails to


solve this self-created alienation by sharing our feelings and pains


with others. The major reasons are that we are losing that closely-knit


family and friends' structure that used to function as a support group


in such situations. We are also lacking the strength based on values


that provides a shelter against all miseries and evils. These problems


are the result of emotional instability. Declining social environment


is another major determinant of increasing mental health problems in


recent years. Poverty, over-crowded living onditions,unemployment, job


insecurity and inequity, a growing number of broken relations and


marriages, man-made natural disasters, wars, ethnic violence as well as


violence against women (in the east especially), children and older


people are some of the major factors which aggravate the situation. The


other factor making the situation worse all the more is the increasing


accent on material gains. This has become a worldwide phenomenon and


has resulted in drastic remolding of people's perceptions about values


and the gradual extinction of the young man with ideals. It is more so


for the rising middle class whose scions are money wise more ambitious.


The depressed people pass on through an extremely painful phase and


need full emotional and professional support to get back their faith in


life and in themselves.


Nation nourishes in the lap of trained, literate, and loving mother as


woman reared up under the canopy of the values enshrined in the Quran.


There is now a broad consensus among development specialists that it is


vital to educate women. Illiteracy among women promotes backwardness;


it sets up a vicious cycle from which it is economically and culturally


difficult to escape. Poorly educated women tend to have large families


that normally don't enjoy good health. Health standards achieved by


poor and large families are considerably lower than those of small and


rich households are. Poor health means poor quality of human capital,


which, in turn, means low incomes. On and on goes the vicious circle.


The only way of cutting into it is to educate women.


But our trouble is that: We don't learn from history, we don't learn


from experience, we don't learn from our elders, we don't learn from


what we were taught at school, college or university. And to boot, we


are led by the corrupt and the ignorant. This generation may well say


they have no elders to teach them to differentiate wrong from right in


the light of the Quran.Who is responsible for this gross negligence?


What is to be done?Are we conscious of this situation? When to start


nullifying the effects? Even when I pray: Are we make everything


blossom that the Quran sows in the deepest recesses of heart and those


committed to the Quran are trying to inculcate.May you develop further


all the elements of prosperity which lie hidden,unseen,unknown at par


with what the Quran demands.But are we,with all my pray, prepared to


come out of this trap?


Regards


Nawaz

<b>If a woman harms (in any way) her husband, then his wife in Paradise
</b>tells her: "Do not harm him, May Allah fight you, he is only staying temporarily with you. Soon he will come to us." [Ahmad & At-Tirmithi]


Asalamalaykum evr1


Can someone please tell me what that hadith is trying to tell us, alhamdulilah I understand the " don't harm your husband in anyway" part, but the rest isn't just sinking in. Especiall where it starts with <b>" His wife in paradise"</b>. Does that mean what it sounds like?


What is meant by " his wife in paradise"?


I dunno know how to fathom that, do you?


Jezekelah khayr in advance

With the name Of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower Of Mercy.


As-salâmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullâh:


Welcome to the new age of da’wah!


The da’wah scene has stagnated over the last few years; not much has changed and perhaps it is time for a new angle - an angle focused on personal thoughts and reflection, to gain an insight into the depths of our minds focusing on the issues we are all concerned about, the things which practically matter to us in our day to day lives as Muslims.


A brother active in the deen for many years invites us all to share his thoughts and feelings, a whole new approach to the endless struggle of da’wah - in short an “Islamiblog”; a personal search charting the struggles of Deen vs Dunya by Abu Eesa.


I invite you all to actively participate with your comments, suggestions and just general support!


http://islamiblog.blogspot.com/


Come follow the site on a day-to-day basis and get involved!


Jazâkumallâho Khayran


Any problems accessing the site or logging in please e-mail Islamic_dawah@hotmail.co.uk


Was-salâmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullâh


The Islamic Da'wah Team

According to the Biblical definition, if a married man sleeps with an unmarried woman, this is not considered a crime at all. The married man who has extramarital affairs with unmarried women is not an adulterer and the unmarried women involved with him are not adulteresses. The crime of adultery is committed only when a man, whether married or single, sleeps with a married woman. In this case the man is considered adulterer, even if he is not married, and the woman is considered adulteress. In short, adultery is any illicit sexual intercourse involving a married woman. The extramarital affair of a married man is not per se a crime in the Bible. Why is the dual moral standard? According to Encyclopedia Judaic, the wife was considered to be the husband's possession and adultery constituted a violation of the husband's exclusive right to her; the wife as the husband's possession had no such right to him. That is, if a man had sexual intercourse with a married woman, he would be violating the property of another man and, thus, he should be punished.


To the present day in Israel, if a married man indulges in an extramarital affair with an unmarried woman, his children by that woman are considered legitimate. But, if a married woman has an affair with another man, whether married or not married, her children by that man are not only illegitimate but they are considered bastards and are forbidden to marry any other Jews except converts and other bastards. This ban is handed down to the children's descendants for 10 generations until the taint of adultery is presumably weakened.


Holy Qur’an, on the other hand, never considers any woman to be the possession of any man. Holy Qur’an eloquently describes the relationship between the spouses by saying:


" And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them and He has put love and mercy between your hearts: verily in that are signs for those who reflect" (Qur’an 30:21).


This is the Qura’nic conception of marriage: love, mercy, and tranquility, not possession and double standards.

Dear All


Generally when people listend to the economic structure of Islam in


the light of pure Quranic definition then usually they mix it with the


economic system or values underlined by communism. Thus here i feel to


discuss difference between communism & islamic economic system. At


this point of time i am giving synopsis of what i have understood &


read through the understandings of other savant Islamic scholars.


Communism gives an economic system based on a particular philosophy of


life. In the same way Islam is not only a Social Order but also a Code


of Life, which deals with man as a whole and covers all aspects of


human life? Communistic philosophy sees Man just as a physical


being--nothing more nothing less--which ends with death,and provides


an economic system, which can cater only for his physical


welfare.Islam,on the other hand, views life as an uninterrupted and


ascending stream and man as possessing, besides his physical being, a


Self or


Personality capable of development and of living efficiently further


and on higher evolutionary planes of Life.The law governing


development of human Self, as enunciated by the Quran,has for its


basis the permanent value that by helping others a Self helps to


develop itself;although this is in ontradiction to the fact that the


development of man's physical being is possible only by helping


itself.Those convinced in Islamic ideology form themselves into a


society or a nucleus for crystallization of the ideology.The


responsibility for assuring every individual his basic needs of


life,physical as well as cultural,is shifted to the Society.The proper


discharge of its responsibility necessitates control on the resources


of production, creating thereby a healthy environment in which the


individual may be free to bring forth his utmost and to give his best


for the development of all humanity.Communistic philosophy of life and


the Islamic concept of life are,therefore diametrically opposed to


each other.In addition, it is the philosophy of life one believes in


which invokes motives, fixes the destiny and moulds the shape of the


society one builds.The fact is that the Islamic way of life is unique


and none of the other ways of life can be called Islamic.Nor can the


Islamic way of life be separated into parts,and a partial similarity


between one Islamic phase and a phase of some other system can make


the latter Islamic.The Islamic way is an indivisible whole like the


human body,breaking of which into separate parts would finish the body


itself.Quran chapter 2 Verse 85 is very clear on this point.Islam's


economic system is an integral part of the Islamic Deen (way of life)


and cannot be separated therefrom.


Regards


Nawaz

<b>This Message is to You O Concealed Jewel, O Protected Rose !</b>


It is to you, the Cultivator of Generations, Producer of Great Men.


<i><b>I will point out in it some of what Islam requires of the individual and the society concerning the rights of women .....</b>
</i>


<b>1. </b> Have you seen the Jewel? Why is it that the people love it while it is simply a piece of stone? It is because it is not so easy to see it, nor can you touch it except by paying an exorbitant price. Similar is the case of the woman – it is forbidden for a man to see her or touch her, in order that he does not dishonor her. She is like an untouched (pure) jewel, which is affected by the least touch.


<b>2. </b> Have you seen how a rose wilts, withers, and loses it luster and beauty if it is touched too much. Likewise, the woman is not allowed to be touched except by one in a lawful relationship of marriage. And whoever attempts to touch her – unlawfully – will earn a severe punishment or death.


<b>3. </b> Do you know the punishment for one who violates the marriage trust and cheats on his wife? The penalty is death, since he has fallen short in regards to the jewel which is with him, in addition to transgressing the rights of others.


<b>4.</b> Have you seen a jewel searching for a person (to possess it)? The same is the case of the women, like a precious jewel, she is the one who is sought out, not the seeker. It is incumbent upon the man to seek her hand. And if she agrees to marry him, then he will present to her a marriage dowry and something from his wealth.


<b>5.</b> Consider the Ruler or Head of State – if every one were able to speak to him directly and sit in his presence, he wouldn't be held in awe, nor possess the same prestige and status amongst the people that he has. Similarly, the woman is like a noble Queen. It is not the right of every person to speak to her directly or sit in her presence; this is something allowed to the select few.


<b>6.</b> The Supreme Being has created the male strong of body in order that he may go out and earn his livelihood, even in difficult circumstances. This is so that he may serve the women and children of his family. As for the woman, she has been created gentle, soft and sensitive, so that she may cultivate the future generations. The man goes out and works with the natural elements, while the woman deals with the human being (raising the children).


<b>7.</b> What do you think would happen if a lion and gazelle were placed together in one place? Is it possible for them to co-exist? Obviously not! Likewise, it is of necessity that the man be separated from the woman, in the interest of the woman. She is beautiful, attractive and weak. Hence, the strong will overcome her and devour her and violate her chastity – even if she were not willing.


<b>8.</b> The woman who performs work equal to the work of a man is entitled to – and is given – the same salary as the man.


<b>9. </b>The woman is allowed to work in any occupation, which she is capable of, as long as it is in consonance with the nature of her delicate physique.


<b>10. </b> The woman – like man - is addressed in the divine revelation with responsibilities for which she - like man - is equally rewarded.


<b>11.</b> The woman is excused from certain religious ceremonies and obligations during her post-child birth and menstrual periods, since these conditions are a cause of weakness and hence, she is in need of rest and relaxation.


<b>12.</b> If a woman dies while giving birth to a child, she is rewarded with the highest station in Paradise.


<b>13.</b> The person who is killed while defending his mother, wife, daughter or sister will be rewarded with the highest station in Paradise.


<b>14.</b> It is permissible for a woman to seek a separation from her husband if he has failed to fulfill her marital rights.


<b>15.</b> Is there anything more valuable to the human being than his life? Indeed, the honor and dignity of women is more valuable, precious and important to the Muslim than his own life.


<b>16.</b> It is permissible for the woman to remarry – whomever she desires – if he is divorced from her husband or widowed.


<b>17.</b> If a woman possesses wealth, she is free to use it in any lawful way, without permission of anyone [father, husband or others].


<b>18.</b> The woman has the right to the inheritance of her relative – at the time of his death – even if he does not desire that she receive it.


<b>19.</b> It is obligatory upon the man to spend his wealth for the maintenance – housing, food, etc. – of those under his care including his mother, wife or daughter, even if he doesn't desire to do so.


<b>20.</b> The mother has been given preference over the father – three times over – concerning their right to kindness and benevolence from their children.


<b>22.</b> Whoever truly desires paradise – Know that paradise lies at the feet of the mother, for the one who pleases her.


<b>23.</b> Whoever has daughters and treats them well – they will be a cause of him being screened from the hell-fire.


<b>23.</b> If a man kills a woman intentionally, he no longer deserves to live and will be killed, even if the victim was his wife.


<b>24.</b> <i><b>The Messenger of Allah – Blessings of Allah and Peace be Upon him advised concerning the woman:–</b></i>


<b>Treat the women well. He also said: The best of you are those who are the best in the treatment of their wives.</b>
<b>He also said: No one honors the woman except an honorable man. And no one humiliates her or holds her in contempt except one who is evil, vile, wicked and depraved.</b>



With these words I address you – as someone of intelligence:


Is there any greater Honor than this?


<b>Contributed by</b> : <i>Dai</i>

My favourite Hollywood star, Elizabeth Taylor purchased a Van Gogh (not the Zionist killed by some Muslim recently in Europe) painting at Sotheby’s auction on April 14, 1963 for $257,000. Now it’s valued at US$30 million.


Recently three Mauthner Jews coming out of South African woodwork have claimed that the picture was stolen from their grandfather, who fled from Berlin to South Africa in 1939. Naturally, the three have blamed the Nazis and not the Zionists for the theft – Though it has been proven that former US Secretary of State, Medelene Albright’s Jewish parents also stole many paintings from Paris under German occupation – but that’s another story.


But there is nothing new in this episode – The Zionists have successfully looted many banks and art treasures from all over Europe for being the property of Jews who ‘survived’ the Holocaust.