I dont know if this topic is suited for this thread but I have a question..

After reading the Quraan with verses like suratul hadeed aayah #4 and after reading books like "Al-'Aqidah Al Wasitiyah"by sheikh ul islam I fully accept the fact that allah is above all creation...

however in sahih bukhari and in sheikh's book i found this hadith that had me wondering....

my dear muslim brothers and sisters i ask this question not because i want to cause fitna.. but because it has been bothering me for the past week or soo...

here is the hadith as reported in bukhari and muslim:

Quote:When any one of you stands up for prayer, you must not spit in front of you nor to your right <b>because Allah is in front of you</b> ;But you may spit to your left or under your foot

~ The Middle Path, and the True Manhaj ~

"...I do not have a personal thought [from my ownself - concerning Islaam -] except that [it is taken from] the Righteous Predecessors (radhiallaahu 'anhum); the followers of the 'Aqeedah of Al-Firqah An-Naajiah (i.e. the Saved Sect):

Ahl us-Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah.

We emphasise on Tawheed and its implications, rights and strongest bonds, as well as confronting all types of Shirk, especially the contemporary Shirk with its Kufr manifestations. We also hold fast to the middle path - the Path of the earliest people of this Ummah - without deviation from the way of the Believers towards extremism or negligence.

The distinguishing feature of our Da'wah is the public declaration and adoption of the Creed of Ibraheem ('alayhi salaam), by disclosing Al-Baraa' towards the Kuffaar and their false deities and creeds. This conforms with the faction that establishes the Deen of Allaah, 'evident by the Truth' - we ask Allaah (Subhanaahu wa Ta'aala) to be amongst them.

We detest the repulsive partisanship which splits up the Ummah into parties and sects; each sect rejoicing in that which is with it.

We regard ourselves as soldiers of Tawheed and servants of the Sharee'ah. We invite all Muslims to our Da'wah and we strictly adhere to the Book and the Sunnah. Whenever we find the sincere and Jihaadi leadership that leads us by the Guidance of the Book and the Sunnah towards supporting the Deen of Allaah (Subhanaahu wa Ta'aala), we join it and become their soldiers, supporters and disciples.

We motivate the youth to seek Knowledge of Sharee'ah, and to discern their [true] state of affairs.

We call for the establishment of Allaah's Sovereignty on earth...

We also believe in the absolute validity of Jihaad and in repudiating wrong-doings, and to change them by hand, provided those persons [who do so] possess sound methods, correct jurisprudence and are discerned with the balance of Al-Maslaheh (the Benefits) and Al-Mafasid (the Blights).

Hence, the enemies of Allaah (Subhanaahu wa Ta'aala) are not pleased with us, nor are we pleased with them. [And therefore], they are continually plotting against us and our Brothers who follow this Path..."

- Shaykh Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi

As someone who does not follow the teachings of Islam you may have heard many different things about Islam and the Muslims. Let us take this into perspective, whether or not we believe (consciously) that there is a God, our sub-conscious mind already believes in this God.

Any psychologist would tell you that in most instances the first word that comes out of a person, usually reflects the way that he feels, deep within his sub-conscious mind. This is why they have developed such techniques as automatic writing etc. An example is the little baby that cries. When he is in need of sustenance, who is the first that he calls? He calls out "Mommy!". Why does he do this? His "mommy" is the epitome of sustainers to him even if he does not know it, so he calls her.

Now take into consideration the atheist, he says "there is no God!", but who is the first that he calls when there is trouble. He says " Oh God!". It follows logically, that even though a man may say that he does not believe in God, deep within his heart he actually recognizes the almighty.

The muslims believe in this same fact. Our approach is to simply believe in this God, know that we cannot see him but surely he sees us. Now ask yourself, "If God was continuously watching over you, would you still go out and commit all the sins that you do, or would you go through life carefully, constantly thinking about him and aiming to please him?"

This is the main focus of Islam.

Now further, "What is a muslim?"

The word "muslim" literally means "he who submits to the will of God". For example, the sky submits to the will of God when he gives the command to rain, therefore the sky is a muslim. Your body submits to the will of god when he says to rest, therefore your body is a muslim. EVERYTHING that submits to the will of God is a muslim, literally speaking.

Now think further. Are you not tired of all the different views on who is this God? One person says one thing about God then another person says quite another. Do you not feel like believing in this God, worshipping him, and forgetting all these different views on who he is. Like simply forgetting all this confusion and just believing in this one God??!!

If this is how you feel then you actually already have faith in what the muslims believe. This is the essence of our faith. "There is a God. Worship him!" Forget all the confusion about who is God. The important thing is that he exists and we need to realize that. The only difference is that we use the Arabic word meaning God, i.e. Allah.

Now the question is: How do we know how to worship God?

We cannot just simply worship him any way we like, we need worship him in a way that would reflect that he is the greatest being that is in existence.

But how do we do this?

There has to be someone to show us. A man just like ourself who has a direct connection with God and does not claim to be God himself. A man who does not require us to worship him. But instead teaches us to worship the almighty.

Historically speaking, the best man for this is the man who the muslims believe is the prophet of God, i.e. Muhammad, upon whom be peace.

After considering all the above we can draw the following conclusions:

There is really a God

We need to worship him

He must have sent down someone to teach us the way of worship

Now if you believe in this then you are essentially a muslim. All it takes to become a muslim is testifying that there is no other God but the true God and that he sent down Muhammad (u.w.b.p) as a messenger and a guide to teach us how to worship him.

If after reading this you believe in this God then email us. If you have any further questions on Islam or if there is any other matter that you would like to address us on then just email us and we will gladly reply to you. Your responses are very much appreciated.

PEACE BE UNTO YOU - ASSALAAMU ALAIKUM

Lusting is a sin from my readings. Is masturbation?

Disclaimer: This is a 100% serious question. Do not reply if you cannot keep this mature.

Assalamu 'alaykum. . .


The translation:


One of the Salaf entered a field, and he was hungry, tired, so he wanted to eat, and his stomach was 'rumbling'. His eyes went to the trees, so he saw an apple, and reached for it, then he eat half of it under the protection of Allah, then he drank from the lake near the field. After that, he realised that he was not aware of what he was doing due to his hunger, and said to himself: Woe to you! How do you eat from someone elses goods without permission, so he swore that he wold not leave the place until he finds the owner of the field, and asks him to make what he had eat from him permissable, so he looked around until he found a door and knocked on it. The owner came out and asked him about what he wants . . . He said: "I entered your garden, that is next to the garden, and took this apply and eat half of it, then I remembered it is not mine, and I want you to excuse me and forgive me for this mistake", so the man said, "I wont forgive you, nor allow you ever, except with one condition?" So he said (and he is Thaabit bin Nu'maan), "what is this condition?" The man said: "to marry my daughter" He said: "I'll marry her". The man then said: "But my daughter is blind and cannot see, dumb and cannot speak, deaf and cannot hear" So Thaabit bin Nu'maan began thinking and considering - what a disaster - what's he going to do? Then he remembered that the tribulation he has got by having this woman, and taking care of her and serving her is better than to eat from the food (sadeed) of hellfire due to what he ate from that apple, and he remembered that his days in the dunya are numbered. So he accepted marrying her, and he wisheed for the reward from Allah, the lord of the worlds.


The day of marriage came, and the man was very worried: "How will I enter upon a woman who doesn't, or see, or hear?!" So he got felt confused and in a dillemma, and wished that the earth swallows him before that happens (i.e. he goes to her), but he relied upon Allah and said: "Laa Hawla wa laa quwata illa billah, wa inna lilah wa inna ilayhi raji'oon"...so he went to her, and as soon as he entered, he stood up and said to him, "assalamu 'alayk wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh", when he saw her, he remembered what he had imagined of the Hoor al-'Eeyn in paradise. After remaning a bit quiet, he said: "what is this?" So hears, sees, and speaks, so he informed her what her father had to told him, so she said: "My father spoke the truth and didn't lie" "What of what he told me then, how is it true?" She replied, "My father said I am dumb, because I have never said a word of haraam, nor have I ever spoken to a man whom it is not permissable to speak to. . . [he said] i am deaf, because I have never sat it in a place of backbiting and gossip or tale-telling. . . [he said] I am blind because I have never looked at a man who was not permissable for me"


So ponder and look at how Allah united between this pious woman and this pious man


- Abu Dujanah.

I quite liked this, and thought I'd give it to those of you who can speak Arabic:

http://www.alrayat.net/sound/18_yashaheedan.rm

as salam alykom

http://www.funwitharabic.com/

On supplicating for your brother in his absence and its acceptance

Supplication (du'aa`) for the absent is better answered than doing supplication for him whilst he is present; this is because it is more sincere and further away from shirk! How can one compare between the one who supplicates for others without being requested, with the one who supplicates Allah upon his request, whilst present?

In Saheeh Muslim, the Messenger said, 'No one supplicates for his brother in his absence, except that Allah appoints an angel every time he supplicates for his brother, the appointed angel says: "Ameen, and for you the like aswell'"

It is permissible to request from your brother to supplicate, because the creation ask from the creation what they are able to do. The creation is able to call upon Allah and ask from him, like asking him for help in what he is able, and in the actions that he is able to help with.

As for what you cannot be done except by Allah, the Most High, then it is not permissible to ask anyone but Him, may He be glorified; the angels, prophets nor other than them [are to be asked]. And it is not permissible to say to other than Allah, 'Forgive me' [for a sin], 'Bring down rain,' 'Grant us victory upon the disbeleiving people' or 'Guide our hearts,' and the like.

[see: Majmoo' al-Fataawaa, vol. 1/329-330]

Allah Won't Ask…..

- Allah won't ask what kind of car you drove

But will ask how many people you drove home who couldn't afford a car...

- Allah won't ask how much you worked

But will ask how much time you had for your family and loved ones…

- Allah won't ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet

But will ask how many of those clothes helped the needy…

- Allah won't ask about your social status

But will ask what kind of dignity you displayed…

- Allah won't ask how much material possessions you had

But will ask if they dictated your life…

- Allah won't ask what your highest salary was

But will ask what you compromised to obtain that…

- Allah won't ask how many promotions you received

But will ask how you promoted others…

- Allah won't ask what your job title was

But will ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability, honesty and attitude.

- Allah won't ask what you did to help yourself

But will ask what you did to help others…

- Allah won't ask how many friends you had

But will ask how many people you were a true friend…

- Allah won't ask what you did to protect your rights

But will ask what you did to protect others and rights of others…

- Allah won't ask the color of your skin

But will ask the contents of your character…

- Allah won't ask how many times your deeds matched your words

But will ask how many times they didn't…

Remember Allah loves you as you are…

It's not what you have; it is what you do with it…

Assalaamu aleikom wa Rahmat Allah!

I have heard that is good to fast The Day of Arafa, so I wonder when is it? Should I fast other days also and if yes what days and why?

Wa salaam

Soona