Assalلmu `alaykum wa rahmatullلhi wa barakلtuhu.


May this message find you in the best of health and Iman Insha'Allah.


MUSLIM MARRIAGE EVENT - BIRMINGHAM


Date: Sunday 27th June 2004


Time: 2pm - 7pm


Venue: South Birmingham College, Cole Bank Road,


Hall Green, Birmingham, B28 8ES


* Are you seriously looking to get married?


* Are you and your family finding it very difficult to


find someone compatible in a halal way?


Please note, this event is NOT:


* Speed dating


* A management consultancy project aimed at posh/rich "professionals"?


* A good opportunity for casual free-mixing


Quite often we just complain, moan and sometimes


discuss the difficulties in trying to get married. We


can keep discussing until our hair turns grey but how


do we deal with these issues practically?


We are pleased to announce a Muslims marriage event in Birmingham


where the emphasis will be on providing solutions and bringing people


together.


· Extensive opportunities for introductions to take place.


· Special session in Urdu and Bengali for parents and


guardians who may have difficulties with English.


· A whole college has been hired, where there will be


a mixture of small group workshops and larger feedback sessions,


as well as sessions for introductions.


· This event is not just for "religious" people. All Muslims are welcome.


What are the solutions for the following problems in our society?


1. You want to marry someone you like but your PARENTS


are the main obstacle. What do you do?


2. How to encourage brothers to stop being so docile


and start being real men, and marry sisters HERE in


the UK.


3. How to encourage sisters to start realising that


there are more important priorities in life than one's


own career.


3. What is wrong with DIVORCEES and those with


DISABILITIES - how can they get married?


* Have you had enough of websites, paid & free


marriage services, full of time wasters and dodgy


people?


* Are you fed up with pretentious "halal" singles


evenings in posh restaurants?


* Are you sick and tired of mosque and organisation


based services, where you have to be best friends with


the committee members or they won't help you.


* Perhaps you're a revert or have very few friends and


family contacts?


* Maybe you're thinking, "I don't practice but my


heart is in Islam and I want to find someone who is


Muslim. So-called practicing people don't bother


helping because they look down on me or are simply


'too pious' and just 'too busy active in da'wah' (yeah


right)".


This is an event that would not only provide solutions


but also where you could meet your potential match, insha'Allah.


Experienced facilitators who have been invited


include:


· Mufti Abdul Kadir Barkatulla (Finchley Mosque, London)


· Dr Muhammad Naseem (Birmingham Central Mosque)


· Sister Najma Ebrahim (Muslim Women's Helpline)


· Maulana Hasan Ali (Lecturer and producer of "Family Life in Islam" series)


· Sister Sufia Amin (Young Muslims UK)


· Brother Abu Muntasir (Jam'iat Ihyaa Minhaaj As-Sunnah)


· Brother Ajmal Masrur (Islamic Society of Britain)


· Brother Hassan Ahmed (Islamic Forum Europe)


· Brother Zahid Amin (Young Muslims UK)


and many others.


It is mandatory to bring one or both parents. If this


is not possible, then someone who would be able to


influence the parents. Why is this? Because research


has shown that parents are half the problem. If you


don't have parents or a wali or you are a revert then


you can of course still come. Divorcees, widowers and


people with disability are most welcome. No passport


and asylum seekers please.


Cost: £10 per person. Please bring a prayer mat/cloth


with you.


* Unfortunately no children allowed on this occasion.


* Pre-registration is compulsory, either by phone or email.


* Refreshments available


* Selected bookstalls available


Places are running out fast. To guarantee you place


please call:


07963580882 or 07092 032 136 or 07092 032 763


DEADLINE for bookings: Monday 21st June 2004


We look forward to seeing you.


Wassalaam 'alaikum wa rahmatullaah.

Salaam Alaikum!


Given the stupefying enormity of the treacherous acts of barbarism committed by the self-congratulating terrorists--Muslims need to condemn the actions committed by the pigs of society who beheaded an innocent man by the name of Paul Johnson. Again, actions of low-down merit have been attributed to the house of Islam. We Muslims must take the initiative to abhor and protest these actions by standing up for what Islam is. The actions are anathema to Islam and thwart any effort of bringing the true message of Islam to the non-Muslim world. It must be asked–nay demanded–for Muslims to trash these horrendous acts and condemn them for the savagery that they emit.


Muslims please post your opinions.


--Ibn

<b>Greet ur Musilm fellows with smile & Salaam </b>

This article refers to it - http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/...eb600738da2.txt


Can someone explain in furthe detail what exactly is said, any famous times this has been used, and general thoughts

Asalamalaykum My Dear Brothers and Sisters In Islam


I thought of this Idea , Why don't we all learn about the Great-honorable sahabas-Companions of prophet Mohamed SaLaLahu-Alaihi-Wasalam and all other people who helped Spread Islam across the world.


Anyone can post a story of a companion whom you admire and respect. Pay tribute to him/her and let us learn about them. May Allah help us all follow their footsteps ameen.


I'll begin


<b>Khalid Ibn Al Waleed - AKA The Sword of Islam</b>


Who is this Muslim warrior, Khalid bin Al-Waleed?


He is the son of "Al-Mugueerah bin Al-Waleed" the richest man in Mecca and the most famous and well renown poet during that time. Khalid was a tall man with a


well built body. He was a knight and a warrior. Many people had mistaken him for "Omar bin Al-Khattab" for such close physical resemblance.


Khalid embraced Islam just 3 years before the death of prophet Mohammad (pbuh). One day, the prophet (pbuh) had asked Khalid's brother "Al-Mugueerah" who was a Muslim: " Where is Khalid? he shouldn't be ignorant about Islam since he knows better !" Al-Mugueerah sent a letter to Khalid informing him what the prophet (pbuh) had said. Khalid decided to embrace Islam after all. Khalid set out to Medinna with the company of "Amro bin Al-Auss" and both embraced Islam in the presence of the prophet (pbuh).


The prophet (pbuh) gave khalid the title "the Sword of Islam" or <b>"Sayf Al-Islam".</b>
Even though Khlaid didn't participate in the early battles, but of course, the prophet (pbuh) did foresee that Khalid will fight to raise the word of Islam. The prophet's prediction concerning Khalid was right on target and after all, Khalid is the one who conquered both empires, Rome & Persia. Khalid is the one who conquered the defectors "Apostates" headed by "Musailama the liar". Kahlid is the one who opened "Bilad Ashaam" and Iraq. All this happened during the rule of "Abu-Bakr" and "Omar bin Al-Khattab".


Khalid fought next to the prophet (pbuh) in several battles such as: Tabook, Hunain, & the battle of Ta'if which was a continuation for Hunain. In Hunain, the infidels have ambushed the Muslims and many of them fled away. It's said that only 12 "Sahabah" left fighting and protecting the prophet (pbuh). Meanwhile, Khalid was inside enemy lines fighting them like a lion. When Khalid heard "Al-Abbas" calling for the Muslims, Khalid pulled back and headed toward the Prophet (pbuh). Khalid, along with Omar, Ali and Abu-Bakr, fought vigorously around the prophet (pbuh). Khalid was wounded all over his body. But Khalid's ultimate Battle was, of course, the Battle of Mu'tah. The prophet (pbuh) had sent messengers to several Arabian tribes including " the tribe of Al-Talh" inviting them to Islam, all messengers got killed but one who went back to inform the prophet (pbuh). Also, the prophet (pbuh) had sent messengers to Hercules, the Roman Leader in Bilad Ashaam, but in the middle of the road the Tribe of Gassan had captured the messengers and ordered them killed. The Prophet (pbuh) vowed to punish both tribes for such heinous crimes.


The prophet (pbuh) decided to send 3 Thousand men under the leadership of "Zaid bin Harithah", and if he gets killed then "Jafar bin Abi Talib", and if he gets killed then "Abdullah bin Rawaha", and if he gets killed then Muslims ought to elect their new leader. Khalid bin Al-Waleed was among the Muslims in this platoon.


The Muslim army advanced until it reached the city of Ma'aan and stayed there for 2 nights. The Muslims have learned that the Arab tribes have gathered an army of 100,000 men and that Rome has sent an army of 100,000 men to aid the local Arab tribes. Two hundred Thousand men against 3 Thousand Muslims! Of course this is not a fair fight especially when the ratio is 67 to 1. But since when numbers scared Muslims!


Both armies advanced and met face to face in an area called Mu'tah, currently a small city in Jordan. Both sides launched fierce attacks at each other, while in Medianna which is 500 Miles away, the prophet (pbuh) was giving an instance and live battle update to his followers. The 3 Muslim leaders got killed and the Muslims elected Khalid to lead the army against the Roman/Arab gigantic armies. Khalid maintained the fight until night where he, using his superior war tactics, withdrew his small army and swapped the wings. Plus, he ordered few men to go behind the hills to cause rumble and dust to create illusion that Muslim backups are on the way. The following day, both armies engaged in a fiercer battle, but the Romans thought that the Muslims had received more backup, both Romans and Arabs panicked and began cowardly withdrawing from the battle field while the small and brave Muslim army on their tails. The Muslims won this amazing Battle under the great leadership of the Muslim leader "Khalid bin Al-Waleed".



<b>Battle outcome: </b>


1) Khalid broke 9 swords in his hand.


2) Only "12" Muslim casualties including the 3 leaders.


3) The Romans & Arabs got defeated with thousands in casualties.


Khalid bin Al-Waleed died at age 55 during Omar bin Al-Khattab's command. Khalid was living in the city of Homs, in Syria. When Khalid died he left two things behind, his <b> Horse </b>
and his <b>Sword</b>
. Khalid was a great warrior, with or against Muslims. In fact, it's because of Khalid Muslims got defeated in the Battle of Ohud. Now we know why the prophet (pbuh) gave him the title <b>" Sayf Al-Islam"</b>
.....May Allah (swt) have great mercy on Khalid's soul and grant him Al-Firdoos.....Ameen.

As salaam alaikum my siters and brothers in the deen.


I am so glad to be back on. I truly make dua that Allah has kept U all well and protected from the wispers of the shatins.


As salaam alaikum wa rahmatllahi wa barakatuhi


Ur sister in Islam


Haneefah

Quote:ABU DHABI – Abu Mussib Al Zarqawi is regarded as the most lethal insurgent in Iraq, but he has again appealed for more help.
In a message posted on Islamic websites, a message said to be from Al Zarqawi betrayed hints of desperation at prospects for the Islamic insurgency against the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. In the nine-page message to Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden, Al Zarqawi reiterated that his insurgents were racing against time to destabilize the post-Saddam Hussein government and its security apparatus.


"We are not competing with you," Al Zarqawi said in his message. "We just want to be the head of the spear, a bridge by which the [islamic] community can reach victory."


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This was the second message by Al Zarqawi to Bin Laden in less than a year, Middle East Newsline reported. In October 2003, U.S. intelligence intercepted a message by Al Zarqawi to Bin Laden that also appealed for help and warned of victory by an emerging U.S.-sponsored Iraqi government.


In his latest purported message, entitled "The Text of Al Zarqawi's Message to Osama Bin Laden About Holy War in Iraq," Al Zarqawi reviews the Islamic strategy as well as his organization's achievements. He said his group, "Monotheism and Holy War," plans to continue targeting Iraqi police and security forces in the effort to destabilize the U.S.-supported government in Baghdad.


"We are planning to heavily target them during the coming stage before they are in full control," the statement said. "What is coming will be more [attacks], God willing."


On Tuesday, Al Zarqawi claimed responsibility for the previous day's suicide car bombing in Baghdad that killed 13 people, five of them foreign contractors. Al Zarqawi pledged to launch additional attacks.


Western intelligence sources said they could not determine whether Al Zarqawi actually wrote the message. They said the Jordanian-born Islamic insurgent has mastered the use of the Internet for psychological operations against the U.S.-led coalition. The sources cited the videotape posted on Islamic websites of the beheading of U.S. national Nicholas Berg, a contractor in Iraq.


Many of the themes in Al Zarqawi's purported message reflected that of his letter to Bin Laden in 2003. They included the need to spark a civil war in Iraq and the fear that an effective Iraqi security force could end the Islamic insurgency.


<b>"The room for maneuver has started to become smaller," Al Zarqawi said. "The grip is getting tighter around the necks of the holy warriors. With the deployment of soldiers and police, the future has become frightening." Al Zarqawi said his group was trying to organize battalions to take over Iraq before national elections, scheduled for January 2005. Once again, he raised the prospect that Islamic insurgents would fail and either be expelled or killed.</b>


"[if we fail,] we will have to leave for another land to uphold the Islamic banner, or until God chooses us as martyrs," the statement said.


Al Zarqawi said his group has carried out 25 suicide operations against a range of targets in Iraq. He cited Shiites, Iraqi police and security forces and U.S. troops. He said the Shi'ites, the largest sectarian group in Iraq, remain the key to Iraqi stability while he dismissed the Sunnis as politically unaware and divided.


"If we succeed in dragging them [shi'ites] into sectarian war, we could wake up the Sunnis," Al Zarqawi said.

http://www.zawaj.com/articles/marriage_new_muslima.html


Marriage and the New Muslim Sister


By Saraji Umm Zaid


Reprinted from ModernMuslima.com and edited slightly by Zawaj.com


It often seems that the first words you hear from other Muslims after you've taken your shahada is, "Are you married?" Many, many new sisters report that they feel frustrated with the intense attention paid to their marital status. Often you will hear things like, "Marriage is half your deen," "It is the Sunnah," "You must help keep the brothers from committing unlawful sexual intercourse," and, "That's what Muslim women do."


Slam on the Breaks! Wait a Minute!


It is true that marriage and family life are important, the building blocks of the Islamic community. However, I think it is unfair for people to expect new sisters to turn around and get married right away. As a new Muslima, you are going to find pressure from your family, friends, and co-workers, and you will find yourself stumbling through a new culture and lifestyle. It is like being a baby, having to learn everything over again, and there will be a lot of frustration.


Although you may be eager to run out and get married right away yourself, I have to ask you to check yourself, and really think deeply about how well you can handle a commitment like marriage, when you've just made your first step in making a commitment to Allah ta'ala. If the brother is on some sort of deviancy, or isn't really practicing, or treats you in a horribly cruel manner, this will only serve to drive you away from Islam before you have had the opportunity to really study it. Staying single within the Muslim community for a little while will also afford you the opportunity to observe married couples, get to know other sisters, and observe the conduct of men within your community. It will also give you time to build up a reputation according to your Islamic practices, and not the fact that you're just the latest news.


Marriage in Islam: An Overview of Rights


As you may know, courtship and marriage are conducted in a radically different manner than you may be used to. No more dating, no more holding hands, no more going out for dinner, or hanging out at each other's house. Obviously, there is no pre-marital intimacy allowed. This doesn't mean that you don't choose your spouse [that's right, you still get to choose...] for reasons other than pleasant companionship, similar interests, and similar mannerisms. What it means is that you get to know each other, often in a short period of time, through chaperoned meetings, phone calls, and letters, rather than just "hanging out."


In Islam, marriage is looked at as a partnership [despite outside opinions to the contrary], and it is the foundation upon which an Islamic society is built. And yes, Islam holds a "traditional" view of the male / female dynamic within that marriage. Each spouse has certain rights over the other, and each spouse has certain responsibilities towards the other.


Responsibilities incumbent upon both spouses include, foremost, that mutual respect and appreciation is present in the most everyday and mundane dealings. Rigid rules of behavior and unrealistic expectations only serve to undermine the position of both spouses. Secondly, each spouse is responsible for their own diyn, or religion. You can't blame your husband's laziness for you not making morning prayers. Likewise, he can't blame your cooking (which is probably superb!) for his going out and eating or drinking haram foods.

Quote:With his bushy black beard and skullcap, Azhar Usman strides on to the stage with a raucous "Assalam Aleikum."
"For those who don't know what that means, I'll explain it to you," he declares. "It means: 'I'm gonna kill you.'" The audience bursts into laughter.


But his accent reveals that as well as being a Muslim, Azhar Usman is also an American.


The "Allah Made Me Funny" comedy show is an attempt by a group of American Muslim comics to counter the negative stereotypes and attitudes about Muslims and Arabs by poking fun at themselves, their communities and the prejudices they face.


Skewering stereotypes


Like their Jewish or African American counterparts, the Muslim comedians in "Allah Made Me Funny" aren't afraid to poke fun at themselves.


There are jokes about Muslims being late and about faulty sound systems in mosques.


 


Just as Muslims feel that Islam is greatly misunderstood in America so too America is greatly misunderstood in the Muslim world


Azhar Usman, comedian 


The show made its US debut at a club in Washington earlier this month.


The founder of the show, Preacher Moss, says the intention is to bridge the gap between different communities, which he believes has widened since the 11 September attacks of 2001.


"Post-9/11, we wanted to do something to bring the Islamic community into the mainstream," says Mr Moss, an African-American Muslim. "It's an opportunity to have some dialogue and to make people, Muslims and non-Muslims, feel enlightened and entertained."


The audience at the show is unusually diverse for Washington.


Trendy young professionals sit alongside women in Islamic headscarves, African robes and Asian shawal kameezes.


This is where mainstream America meets Islam, not with conflict but with laughter.


"You have a fair amount of people here who aren't Muslim," says Mr Moss. "They're just interested in dialogue and having that fellowship that's been lacking. And you have Muslims out here who are trying to come out and express themselves as well."


Unifying humour


The response from the audience is overwhelmingly positive.


"Humour brings us all together," says one young woman. "It doesn't matter whether you're black, white, Muslim, Chinese, Indian. Humour is humour."


A Muslim man at the show says: "I think anything for the Muslims in the public eye is good right now especially if it is funny and it's showing people that we also have a sense of humour.


"In the jokes the comedians highlight things like stereotypes. This performs an educational function, so it's very positive," he added.


The comedian Azhar Usman says that as well as showing Americans that most Muslims are not fanatics, he also wants to take the show to Muslim countries to help the Islamic world gain a better understanding of America.


They have had requests to tour around the world including Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar.


"Now I think that this tour without a doubt is ready to really explode into the Muslim world, no pun intended," Mr Usman said.


"I think what's important to recognise is that just as Muslims feel that Islam is greatly misunderstood in America so too America is greatly misunderstood in the Muslim world," he added.


Justice


America's moral credibility among Muslims has been badly damaged by the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US soldiers. American leaders insist only a handful of soldiers are to blame.


What this show is aiming to do is demonstrate that the actions of a handful of extremists acting in the name of Islam have nothing to do with most Muslims.


But since the 11 September attacks, many Muslims now believe American justice is biased against them.


That's a theme Azhar Usman tackles in his stand-up routine.


"We've made a lot of progress towards ending racism in America," he tells the audience. "But we've been hearing about it for decades. A black man says he can never get a fair trial in America."


He pauses. "But Arabs and Muslims say they can't even get a trial."


The audience roars appreciatively.

I'm a new Muslim who'd like to do a voluntary fast for 3 days...Can anyone please tell me exactly how I perform voluntary fasting according to Sunnah as I can't find info on fasting outside of Ramadan. Some proof from Qur'an or Hadiths would be great too! Thanks! Was-salamu alaikum