It’s hard, especially when you’re a teenager and bombarded with images of sexuality: that hot-looking scantily clad guy or gal in the magazine, grinning at you and luring you; or the persistent emphasis on sex in the movies (even Toy Story!); or the pervasive links to pornography and ad banners that pop up while you may simply be checking your e-mail or researching something for school. How does a young Muslim protect him or herself from all of this? Below are some tips that can help:

Tip 1. Know what is Halal (lawful) and what’s not

We may think only hard core pornography is Islamically unacceptable. This is not true. Improperly dressed men and women, sexual situations, foreplay, kissing, touching, dirty jokes: none of these are Islamically acceptable. Talk to a trusted Muslim friend, family member of the same gender or an Imam about this. Bring it up and ask them to give you the Islamic perspective.

Tip 2. Remember your accountability to Allah

In America and some other countries, you’re fully responsible for your actions when you turn 18. In Islam, you’re fully accountable as soon as you understand these things. So that means that from that point onwards, you cannot assume looking at this stuff is no big deal. Your eyes will testify about what you looked at on the Day of Judgment. Remember that Allah is always watching. He is Most Just and Merciful, and He rewards us for the good and punishes us for the bad we do.

Tip 3. Become conscious of the Haram (unlawful)

Too often, it’s easy to dismiss that billboard with the spandex-and-bikini-top-clad blonde girl advertising gum, or the guy in tight leather pants and no shirt advertising perfume. When you see it, remember the Islamic perspective, your accountability to Allah, and lower your gaze. Do the same for television and the internet. If you keep doing this, insha-Allah, it’ll become a habit, and eventually an automatic reaction.

Tip 4. If feeling overwhelmed, remember Allah

In situations where you feel overwhelmed and can’t get yourself to switch the channel, close the browser window or turn your eyes away from the billboard, ask Allah’s help. You don’t necessarily need any heavy duty, long Dua's. "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah" (there is no power or ability except with Allah) is short, simple, and reminds you who is really in control and can help you out of this.

Tip 5. Seek refuge in Allah from Shaitan

Shaitan lured you into this mess. Seeking refuge in Allah (saying awthu/awoozoo billahi minash Shaitan ir rajeem), will help you resist him and his whisperings to continue looking at the material.

Tip 6. Get up and leave

If you feel unable to control looking at the screen or the magazine, leave the situation. Get out of the living room, your bedroom where the internet is, or where you’ve been reading the magazine. Take a walk. Just do something to physically get out of the situation.

Tip 7. Avoid those involved in pornography

If one of your friends is into pornographic magazines, websites, dirty jokes etc. either help him or her change through gentle and sincere advice, or abandon frequent contact with them. Their compulsion will affect you, so it’s best to stay as far away as possible, by remembering the danger to yourself, your Deen, and your relationship with Allah.

Tip 8. Stay away from places where it’s found

Sometimes it’s on a billboard on a highway and you can’t miss it. But often times, you’ll notice certain parts of your city (the seedier ones) tend to be filled with this kind of material (where there are usually strip joints, for example). Avoid these places as much as you can. If it’s on your way to school, try to change your route. Also, in summer, stay away from the beach.

Tip 9. Surf or watch TV when others are around

The temptation to sneak a look at dirty pictures or that bikini-clad babe is heightened when you’re alone in your room watching television or surfing the internet. Try to avoid late night TV and internet surfing. Instead, watch or surf when others are around so you can resist the urge to sneak a peek, thinking no one’s watching (and remember Allah is always watching). It is a good idea not to have TV or computer in the bedroom anyway. Living room or study room is a better place for this stuff.

Tip 10. Remember your example

If you have younger brothers and sisters, think of the bad example you’re setting for them. What message will they get if they barge into your room and catch you watching Baywatch or flipping through Playboy.

Tip 11. For brothers, remember your mom and sister

Disgusting right? Exactly. No one in his right mind would look at his mom or sister the way many of us look at the Baywatch babes or the girls on the internet or in magazines. Remember mom and your sister, and that should sicken you enough to stop, insha-Allah.

Tip 12. Have someone watch over you

If you really feel you’re becoming addicted to this kind of material, try to watch TV, surf the internet with someone else. You don’t have to tell them why you’re doing this, but this method can perhaps keep you in check and help you avoid looking at pornography or other similar material. After all, Shaitan tempts us most easily when we’re alone. Sitting in the company of a family member or good Muslim friend will insha Allah, help.

Tip 13. Fast

The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) advised us to fast to cool passions. This should be a method we use to handle the desire aroused by pornography and similar material.

Tip 14. Do Tawba and return to Allah

If you do end up watching the bad stuff, repent to Allah. Seek His forgiveness, reaffirm your faith in Him, and do good deed to compensate for that sin. He is All-Forgiven as long as you are sincere.

Tip 15. Repent again and fine yourself

If you lapse, do tawba again. Allah is All-Forgiving as long as we mean it. But then you need to discipline yourself by promising to yourself that if I did it again, I will pay this much in charity or fast for a day.

The message is that don’t give up on yourself. Keep trying. Struggle is life. Shaitan could be creative. And with the help of Allah, you will be the winner insha Allah.

http://www.islamicfinder.org/articl...mp;lang=english

Asalaamu alikum,

Does anyone have a dua' for a brother or sister that passes away and their family?

-Jennifer

السلام عليكم

قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم :

ليس على اهل لا اله الا الله وحشه فى الموت ولا في القبور ولا في النشور كأني

انظر اليهم عند الصيحه

ينفضون رؤوسهم يقولون الحمدلله الذىاذهب عنا الحزن

رواه الطبراني عن ابن عمر رضى الله عنهما

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

وقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم :

ليس من عبد يقول لا اله الا الله مائة مره الا بعثه الله تعالى يوم القيامه

ووجهه كالقمر ليلة البدر ولا يرفع لاحد يومئذعمل افضل من عمله الا من قال مثل

قوله او زاد

رواه الطبرانى عن ابى الدرداء رضي الله عنه

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

وقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم :

ليس يتحسر اهل الجنه على شئ الا على ساعة مرت بهم لم يذكروا الله عزوجل فيها

رواه الطبرانى والبيهقي عن معاذ رضى الله عنه

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

فأكثروا من قول لا اله الا الله اخوانى واخواتى

عسى ان ينفعنا الله بها يوم لا ينفع مال ولا بنون الا من اتى الله بقلب سليم

إِنَّا أَنذَرْنَاكُمْ عَذَابًا قَرِيبًا يَوْمَ يَنظُرُ الْمَرْءُ مَا

قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ وَيَقُولُ الْكَافِرُ يَا لَيْتَنِي كُنتُ تُرَابًا

(40) النبأ

منققققققول

As SalaamU Alaikum Sista's and Brothers

I'm sooo Sooo glad Ramadan is here again!

May Allah(SWT) allow us to go through it with ease. Amin. I make dua that Allah will protect Our sistas and Brothers and children and elder, and sick.

Keep them all safe and may they be able to make prayer, at the Masijid.(over seas)Amin.

I have said Often I just wish I could stay homw during Ramadan so it would not be so stressful on me! Allah knows best. U please make dua for me that my Husbnd is release soon from this place they have him in Prison for 28 years in new jersy, Please keep us in ur duas! amin.

ASA !

Ur sista in Islam,

Here's a really nice website where you can sponser a poor Palestinian child for $50 a month.

http://www.kinderusa.org/

I have a Ramadan question:

What if a person is physically incapable of fasting? I have a blood-sugar condition where I become severely hypoglycemic if I do not eat throughout the day. Where would this place me in Islam? Would I be sinning by not being able to fast?

Thank you!

I'm Josh, I'm a non muslim American. I am here to learn, teach, discuss, and anything else the rest of you would like to do

No real comment from this thread, simply want to say hello!

سجد لله رغم أنفه

كانا صديقين منذ الطفولة لم يربهم أهلهم بل تربيا بالشوارع تعلما كل شيء تعلما أشياء طيبة و أخرى خبيثة و أخذا

بعمل كل ما بدا لهم...

بعد أن استقر الاثنين على حالة الترحال من الفندق إلى الذي بعده من بلد إلى الذي يليه وفي سفرة من السفرات ..

وفي ذلك المكان .. سمعا المنادي وهو يقول : ( الله أكبر الله أكبر .... .. حي على الصلاة حي على الصلاة ,, حي على الفلاح حي على الفلاح ..)

نعم إنه الأذان ..

الأذان الذي أدخل في جوف أحمد شعور جميل وهو يسمع المؤذن يناديه

فقام أحمد ليتوضأ وهو يقول يا خالد قم بنا للمسجد القريب .. نصلي ..

نحن نفعل كل شيء فهلا ذهبنا لنسجد لله سجدتين

تعال فقط نصلي ثم نكمل المشوار سويا

رد خالد مغضبا .. أأنت جاد يا أحمد؟ أتريدني أن أسجد لله ؟ كيف و أنا ...

و أنا ... ( تفوه بما لا يقال على الله جل في علاه)

انتاب أحمد نفور من صاحبه و قال له قل ما بدا لك فأني ذاهب للمسجد

=====================

بعد أن رجعا إلا بلدهما ... افترق الاثنين لفترة ..

و إذا بأحمد يحن لصاحبه فذهب و طرق عليه الباب

رد عليه أخ لخالد .. سلم أحمد عليه و أخذ يسأله عن حال بيتهم و الأهل ...

فإذا بالأخ يقول له الأولى أن تسأل عن صاحبك (خالد)؟ لا عن أحوالنا!!

تعجب أحمد من الرد و انتابه الشك ... ما ذا حصل لخالد .. هل به مكروه؟

طلب منهم أن يروه خالد ليطمئن عليه

وهنا المفاجأة ..

دخل أحمد الغرفة .. وسلم .. فإذا بصديقه يرد السلام لكن وهو ساجد؟؟

ويسأل عن أحوال أحمد دون أن يرفع رأسه؟ انتظر أحمد لحظات

فسأل يا خالد ما الذي حل بك؟

أجاب خالد .. تذكر تلك السفرة لبلد كذا ؟

تذكر حين قلت ( أأنا أسجد لله!) تذكر؟

قال نعم .. أذكر

أجابه منذ أن رجعت و أنا أذهب من مستشفا لآخر .. أريد علاجا لألم رأسي و لكن لا أحد عنده العلاج .. لا أرتاح إلا هكذا و إنا ساجد و إن رفعت رأسي أغمي علي من الألم؟!؟!

I must say that I find the whole of you to be very pleasant and enjoyable to share a conversation with.Thank you for welcoming me I read that you condemn attacks on civilians such as 9/11 and Suicide Bombings. Why is this side never outspoken and condemning of such atrocities elsewhere? I search across the internet for my news and from my American Stations to the BBC to French Liberal Papers - never do I see a large percentage of muslims calling for an end of violence on both sides. Instead, I constantly read a condemnation of only Israel and the US. It's the same rhetoric I find else where, except for many of the peaceful people here.

Ever since 9/11, people here are quick to point out that "most muslims don't think the way " Osama, and the like, do. I fully want to believe this is true, but with the exception of my own muslim friends, and this board, the condemning of such people is nonexistant - why??

WILL YOU FAST WITH ME? By Roger Mason

This column has covered fasting and you can read more in the ARCHIVES at www.youngagain.com on fasting. Nothing on the face of this earth is a more powerful healing means than fasting on water only. You can easily go up to two weeks on water (unless you're diabetic or underweight) and see miracles occur. The Bible is full of references to fasting in both the old and new testaments for example. All the major religions used to fast originally. The easiest thing to do is fast once a week from dinner to dinner (or lunch to lunch or breakfast to breakfast) on water only. For the last ten years now we eat dinner every Friday night and do not eat again until dinner Saturday night. We only miss breakfast and lunch every Saturday. If this is too much at first then just miss breakfast for a month or two on your fast day and then miss both breakfast and lunch. If a special occasion comes up just change your fast day, but never skip over it. Two years ago one of my non-patients with prostate cancer would not fast for two days, so I offered to fast with him. He agreed and we fasted for two days. Yes, he eventually cured his prostate cancer and is alive and well today having the insight to not undergo surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. That started a monthly two-day fast with any of my non- patients who wanted to join. This happens the last Thursday to Saturday of every month. If you are interested in joining us for one or all twelve two day fasts in 2003 please print this sheet out. There are about 100,000 readers of this column every week and if just one in 1,000 of you dear people choose to do this that will mean it will be one hundred of us every month on a 2 day group fast together. My Fasting Dates For 2003· January 23-25 · February 20-22 · March 27-29 · April 24-26 · May 29-31 · June 26-28 · July 24-26 · August 28-30 · September 25-27 · October 23-25 · November 20-22 (27-29 would be on Thanksgiving) · December 18-20 (25-27 would be on Christmas) If going two days without food seems intimidating just do your one day fasts for a year or two and you'll see how easy and natural it is to go one day on water only and not be hungry and feel much better than usual. If you choose to do this on one, several or all of the twelve fasts please know that there are people all over the world fasting with you. I'll be fasting with you. This makes it much easier to know you are part of a group and not doing it alone. You'll feel a commitment to people you have never even met. You'll find strength in this commitment. If you simply cannot fast at this point then try a mono diet instead. Eat only a certain soup all day and nothing else but water. Or eat only brown rice or oatmeal. Do not go on a fruit only or a fruit juice only diet, as this would be an extreme sugar overload and not a health practice. A fruit juice "fast" is really just a sugar feast. There are some very good books on fasting and when you read them you'll understand WHY you should fast and how it helps you. · Dave William's "Miracle Results of Fastng", · Paul Bragg's "Miracle of Fasting", · Eve Adamson's "Complete Idiot's Guide to Fasting", · Alan Cott's "The Ultimate Diet", · Herbert Shelton's "Fasting for Renewal of Life", · Leo Bueno's "Fast Your Way to Health", · Joel Fuhrman's "Fasting and Eating for Health" are all good books to read although their dietary advice may not always be the best. Please fast with me, fast with dozens of others any month you choose to. Thank you.