As salam alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuhu


plz can someone tell me are we suppose to fast and do zikur on this day which is 11-09-04.


salam

This forum reminded me of a funny story. I went to school with this muslim kid from Somalia. He was on the high school wrestling team and it was a few days before a big match. Now, as many of you may know, wrestlers have to be very careful about what they eat, because if they are even a half a pound over their weight class, they are disqualified. What I should also mention, is that it happened to be ramadaan (sp?). So the day of the match comes, he goes in to be officially weighed....... 6 lbs overweight. The coach turns to him and says "Dude, you GAINED weight during wrestling season... AND RAMADAAN?" The kid just kind of shrugged his shoulders and was like "Ok, I cheated a little." I think it was more than just a "little" cheating. Maybe a few pizzas worth of cheating. hahahaha!

I am trying to learn as much as i can about Islam and the muslim faith. I am gettin mixed messages about the beard. I was wondering to be a "true muslim do you have to grow a beard?

A UK-based Islamic extremist movement said that last week's abduction of Russian children by Chechen terrorists should be repeated in Britain.


Al-Muhajiroun spiritual leader Omar Bakri hailed last week's attack on a school in southern Russia in which close to 400 people, including many children, were killed, and said that holding women and children hostages would be reasonable for a Muslim who has suffered under British rule.


Bakri told The Sunday Telegraph, "If an Iraqi Muslim carried out an attack like that in Britain, it would be justified because Britain has carried out acts of terrorism in Iraq. ... As long as the Iraqi did not deliberately kill women and children, and they were killed in the crossfire, that would be OK."


"The mujahedeen [Chechen terrorists] would not have wanted to kill those people, because it is strictly forbidden as a Muslim to deliberately kill women and children. It is the fault of the Russians," said Bakri.


Al-Muhajiroun maintains a branch in Queens, New York that claims to be involved in "only peaceful activities." The group holds closed-door meetings and study sessions at a mosque in Jackson Heights, Queens, led by an older spiritual cleric identified as a Sheikh Choudray.


The Queens branch youth leader, Abu Yousuf, a U.S. citizen who says he attended a "camp" in Sudan and takes computer courses at the City University of New York, speaks at universities throughout New York City at events usually sponsored by the Muslim Student Association.


At one Al-Muhajiroun event at Queensborough Community College sponsored by the MSA and attended by WND, a Muhajiroun speaker working with Yousuf said, "We reject the U.N., reject America, reject all law and order. Don't lobby Congress or protest because we don't recognize Congress! The only relationship you should have with America is to topple it!"


The speaker continued, "The so-called terrorists are the only people who truly fear Allah. ... They are the only worthy causes, and the mighty superpower only fears them."


In a private interview with WND, a Queens-based Al-Muhajiroun leader said he would be "absolutely honored" to give up his life in a "martyr operation" against American civilians. The leader warned that "a jihad is coming to America because of the moves of the Bush administration."


As WorldNetDaily reported, Al-Muhajiroun announced plans to host a convention in London titled, "The Choice is in Your Hands: Either You're with the Muslims or with the Infidels," to celebrate the third anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.


Said Bakri: "On this day, we will talk about the ramifications of these [9-11] operations for Afghanistan and Iraq. ... We want the world to remember this operation ... that lifted the head of the [Muslim] nation."

<b>Reasons for wearing the hijab
</b>


<b>[compilation from various muslimahs]</b> lol some of them are so hillerious ( you sisters can add your own too if you like)


<b>1.</b> Because the Qur'an and Sunnah states so. Allah ordered us to wear the hijab and cover up to protect ourselves so we get the proper respect we deserve and not be treated like we are a piece of meat.


<b>2. </b>You can dye your hair any colour you want and no one can say anything at all, because its all hidden, you can have blue hair, or purple, or bright red, or neon pink or green, long or permed or short, or rainbow colors with sparkles and glitter, jewellery in your ears, and all over....


<b>3.</b> Children think you are a ninja, and you can say you are 'niqabi ninja' They will think of you as this heroine and will admire you.


<b>4. </b>People think it is your costume. Or at least some will think of it as a costume you are wearing for your party, or work, or that you were forced to wear it. LOL and you have to explain to them no it is your CHOICE to wear it though in the Qur'an it says it will Protect you.


<b>5. </b>People think you might be bald, but then you have to tell them no, I have hair...no I don't have cancer. You can show to the little kids, see I have hair....


<b>6.</b> You get a lot of respect in the hijab from all your brothers and sisters and other people, than you did before your hijabi days


<b>7. </b>You can wear whatever you like under the abayah, light and cool dresses are good.


<b>8. </b>Despite that this world has hot weather, HELL IS HOTTER, so you rather suffer a bit on this world than the Hereafter.


<b>9. </b>Have you noticed that some people that are really maybe ignorant about Islam and women and Muslims that they speak extra loudly and clearly to you wherever you go. "Wwwoould yooooou llike ttthat in beeeeeels/noooottes or ch change ma 'am?" "I speak english clearly, change please."


<b>10. </b>No bad hair days to worry about!.


<b>11. </b>People know that you're a Muslim. You can distinguish yourself in this society.


<b>12. </b>Your hair isn't exposed all kinds of crappy pollution and UV rays.


<b>13. </b>Your hijabs smell nice cause they start smelling like your shampoo.


<b>14.</b> Only the people you want to see your awrah, will see it...not every wierdo walking on the street.


<b>15.</b> your skin is protected under the niqab


<b>16. </b>No bugs in your hair (no having to worry about catching nits from other people!)


<b>17. </b>you won't age prematuredly, since you don't wear makeup


<b>18. </b>you won't have to waste time in the morning deciding on the perfect outfit in the morning, if you wear jilbab.


<b>19. </b>because you know your beautiful and you can keep all that beauty to yourself.


<b>20. </b>No one dares to mess with a hijabi sis while taking a walk.


<b>22. </b>you will feel a closeness to every muhajabah you see on the road and to every muslim you ever encounter


<b>23. </b>The inner feeling of peace you get when you wear it


<b>24. </b>little girls or little boys look up to you, and want to be like you.


<b>25. </b>When guys see you, they respect you, they cross the street so they dont pass by you and offend you.


<b>26. </b>They see muslims as trustworthy people and give you discounts at stores, and restaurants, and esp if you are in hijab they give you like 5 or 10 dollars/pounds off what you buy.


<b>27.</b> because most pious brothers WON'T EVEN CONSIDER marriage with a non-hijabi (caution: your intention for wearing hijab should still be to observe the command of Allah)


<b>28. </b>If you ever get in trouble.. you can pretend like you dont know any English and either flip out on them in Arabic/Urdu/any other language or run away crying as if they offended you.


<b>29. </b>Because theres more freedom in deciding who gets to see you rather than having anyone look at you and your beauty.


<b>30.</b> People treat you for your mind not your body. In the sense that you succeed in things (ie. job because of your performance and intelligence and not because how short your mini skirt is.


<b>31.</b> Because Muslims are required to practice Islam in every aspect of ur life including everyone, not just nuns like in Christainity or only on saturday. for Jews, or only Sunday for Catholics all of whom cover on those days, I am told as a respect to God. Muslimahs should respect God at all times.


<b>32. </b>Beauty fades eventually, and with hijab people learn to love your inner beauty without the hindereness of your outer beauty.


<b>33. </b>Your husband and loved ones learn to appreciate your beauty both outside and in more, and these tend to be the most important people in your life of which you grace those special people with your gifts from Allah.


<b>34. </b> You are a shining example how women in Islam are sooooo highly respected and valued and powerful in islam. For example you are no mans torphy to adorn his hand, you are a companion, mother and friend of the insha'Allah religous brother who appreciates you and your beauty. There are other things where this applies as well.


<b>35.</b> Thourghout history those that where scandalessly dressed and showing off there beauty, etc. tended to be the whores and prostitutes of the street, dancing girls etc., and those that were coverd tended to be the pious, respected women of history and many times they were the more powerfull then the other. (Sorry if I offeneded anyone with this one just a thought that has been in my head. I am not saying that these days that the people that don't dress correctly do things that I mentioned, I am just saying in history in the past this tened to be the case).


<b>36.</b> Hijab is a source of confidence. Non-Muslims easily recognize you to be different and do not stare when you stand up for you Islamic rights and beliefs which are often considered strange in the western society.


<b>37. </b>It keeps you warm in the winter. You dont have to worry about trying to keep a hat on to stop your ears from freezing up! Plus the head is medically known for the place where a HIGH level of heat is released from the body!


<b>38. </b>Long Lasting. Hijab protects your hair for longer and keeps it shiny, healthy and in good condition.

As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah...


Hey everyone I just started working about 2 months ago. This is my first job and with it brings responsibility. Since this is my first job, I have always procrastinated in learning about ZAKAAH...


Now i am in a position where i am earning money but have no clue about zakaah...


This is a pillar of islam and i need some help... can anyone PLEASEE HELP!!!!


REQUEST:Please give answers in accordance with the Aqidah of Ahlus sunnah... This is very important.. MUY IMPORTANTE

What does Islam say about the mentally retarded people who cannot follow Islam due to lack of mental understanding. According to Islam, are people who are so mentally handicapped that they are incapable of answering a question, let alone praying, capable of being muslims? Do they get to go to heaven even if they never have prayed once in their life? What if a mentally retarded person rejects Islam for no reason other than their retardation makes them say odd things?

First off apologies if i've posted in the wrong section, i feel it's polite to introduce myself before i join in the discussions. Please delete/move my post as you wish, i don't use internet forums and i may have posted wrong in the wrong forums etc despite reading the FAQ. I just need to express how i'm feeling somewhere, and maybe receive help and guidance. I can't explain how i feel right now...please forgive my ramblings but i have no one at all to speak with this on.


Islam came to me out of the blue. I've previously been an agnostic and the warmth, and overwhelming pull i've been feeling toward Islam over the last five days has been quite suprising and unlike anything else i've ever felt in my life, non stop constantly on my mind for the past few days, non stop, i've started thinking about god, it feels like my head is filled with a screen of endless data and the text is unreadable it's all blurring through my head so fast, it's so constant and so busy in my head right now. All the thoughts are of god, to hear myself say this to me, is truly insane, and this has only hit me the last five days. I don't know why now i should be feeling this warm pull toward god as opposed to any other point in my life, as religions of any kind have never touched me. In fact, at the point of my life now is when it would seem, for want of a better word inconvienient to change my life (on the verge of a major music deal) I've never been religious, or even thought of it. The impact this has had on me is so strong, and so unexpected and literally physical it can't be denied, but accepting this is very scary. The world has always been for the past 25 years viewed from one perspective for me, to have this literally upturned in a day is too immense and i know this is how other new Muslims feel, exactly the same, thus i am here.


I intially investigated Islam because i wanted to see why Allah accepted slavery. I am a African British male, Agnostic, and read a book by Ronald Segal called Islams black slaves for reasearch into a piece on African/Black history i was writing. Even if god said be nice to slaves, i didn't understand why it was even accepted by the allmighty, it didn't make sense. I read an explination which opened my eyes, and it continued from there...then i got to science and the Quran, once i read in detail the unexplainable, absouloutely astounding science in the Quran, there was no way at all to go back, a door was opened. If anyone reads in detail on the science and the Quran and still rejects Islam after this, to my personal eyes, they must be mad. I haven't even read the Quran fully yet, but this is the way, the route god picked me, through science and proof of his almighty power of creation. I've never wanted to embrace a religion, never been interested, but my studies bought me to Islam, to it's science and to a total belief in God. It seems like the natural way to live, it's all actually explained and proven in this book, i find it hard to accept anyone who has read this, the science in particular, can then turn away.


I don't know why now Islam and God are calling me now, and i still have many questions i need to ask about Islam, i hope i can ask here. questions regarding the status of women which concern me, and the existance of the devil etc. Please be patient with me as 25 years of walking around never knowing god and then within literally a day being struck with the most beautiful warmth i've ever felt, such as to bring me to tears is very very very frightening, i've been holding it all in for the past five days and i'm gonna burst soon!! I've been a solid Agnostic or to be honest probably Athiest for the last 25 years, up until the last five days, in which time i've read almost more about islam in such a short time, than i've ever read about one thing in my life.


How am i going to tell my girlfriend of six and a half years i love so much, who i think inside fears Islam. What am i going to do with everything ive done to get me to this point in my music career for the past however many years...and all my life really. To me disposing of what i've done musically now feels like the smallest chorse, but it will hurt so many people. I know none of you here can really answer these for me, and i know every non muslim who god reaches out to feels this way, i just hope someone can guide me. I havent even pronounced the "Shahada" yet. Or told anyone i know.


Thanks for bearing with me...sorry for the rambling

<b>Enemy Becomes a Friend</b>


In the sixth year after the hijrah, the Prophet, peace be upon him, decided to expand the scope of his mission. He sent eight letters to rulers in the Arabian peninsula and surrounding areas inviting them to Islam. One of these rulers was Thumamah ibn Uthal.


Thumamah was one of the most powerful Arab rulers in pre-Qur'anic times. This is not surprising since he was a chieftain of the Banu Hanifah and one of the rulers of al- Yamamah whose word no one dared to challenge or disobey.


When Thumamah received the Prophet's letter, he was consumed by anger and rejected it. He refused to listen to the invitation of Truth and goodness. More than that, he felt a strong desire to go and kill the Prophet and bury his mission with him.


Thumamah waited and waited for a convenient time to carry out his design against the Prophet until eventually forgetfulness caused him to lose interest. One of his uncles, however, reminded him of his plan, praising what he intended to do.


In the pursuit of his evil design against the Prophet, Thumamah met and killed a group of the Prophet's companions. The Prophet thereupon declared him a wanted man who could lawfully be killed on sight.


Not long afterwards, Thumamah decided to perform umrah. He wanted to perform tawaf around the Ka'bah and sacrifice to the idols there (The people of Makkah, before becoming Muslims, placed hundreds of idols in the Holy Ka'bah. These idols were later destroyed by the Prophet). So he left al-Yamamah for Makkah. As he was passing near Madinah, an incident took place which he had not anticipated.


Groups of Muslims were patrolling the districts of Madinah and outlying areas on the lookout for any strangers or anyone intent on causing trouble. One of these groups came upon Thumamah and apprehended him but they did not know who he was. They took him to Madinah and tied him to one of the columns in the mosque. They waited for the Prophet himself to question the man and decide what should be done with him.


When the Prophet was about to enter the mosque, he saw Thumamah and asked his companions, "Do you know whom you have taken?"


"No, messenger of God," they replied.


"This is Thumamah ibn Uthal al-Hanafi," he said. "You have done well in capturing him."


The Prophet then returned home to his family and said, "Get what food you can and send it to Thumamah ibn Uthal." He then ordered his camel to be milked for him. All this was done before he met Thumamah or had spoken to him.


The Prophet then approached Thumamah hoping to encourage him to become a Muslim. "What do you have to say for yourself" he asked.


"If you want to kill in reprisal," Thumamah replied, "you can have someone of noble blood to kill. If, out of your bounty, you want to forgive, I shall be grateful. If you want money in compensation, I shall give you whatever amount you ask."


The Prophet then left him for two days, but still personally sent him food and drink and milk from his camel. The Prophet went back to him and asked, "What do you have to say for yourself" Thumamah repeated what he had said the day before. The Prophet then left and came back to him the following day. "What do you have to say for yourself?" he asked again and Thumamah repeated what he had said once more. Then the Prophet turned to his companions and said, "Set him free."


Thumamah left the mosque of the Prophet and rode until he came to a palm grove on the outskirts of Madinah near al-Baqi' (a place of luxuriant vegetation which later became a cemetery for many of the Prophet's companions). He watered his camel and washed himself well. Then he turned back and made his way to the Prophet's mosque. There, he stood before a congregation of Muslims and said:


"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger." He then went to the Prophet, upon whom be peace, and said:


"O Muhammad, by God, there was never on this earth a face more detestable than yours. Now, yours is the dearest face of all to me."


"I have killed some of your men," he continued, "I am at your mercy. What will you have done to me?"


"There is now no blame on you, Thumamah," replied the Prophet. "Becoming a Muslim obliterates past actions and marks a new beginning."


<b>Source:</b> "Companions of The Prophet", Vol.1, By: Abdul Wahid Hamid.


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Bismillah .. Salaam Alaikum, dear brothers and sisters ..


The following Hadith is so profound and so true about life for everyone that I thought of sharing it with all of you.


The Prophet once slept on a reed mat and got up with the marks


of it on his body. His companions saw the marks and expressed


concern that they should have made him more comfortable. The


Prophet replied: "What have I to do with this world? In relation


to this world, I am like a rider who shades himself under a tree


and then (continues on his way)."


Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1351


May Allah (SWT) Bless our beloved Prophet (S.A.W.) and the noble members of his Household (A.S.) ... Ameen.