Bismillah


A research published by:


EUROPEAN COMMISSION


DIRECTORATE GENERAL JRC


JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE


Institute for Health and Consumer Protection


Physical and Chemical Exposure Unit


http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_safe/ne...k_052003_en.pdf

I have not been here for years, but I seemingly still get these Email reminders to return, so here am I.


We study many religions, one of course being Islam. I am not Muslim myself, but have some threads that need some questions answered. I am looking for the right people who can do so in a constructive manner, can anyone help? Thanks.

Bismillah


As salam alykom


We already started the last ten days which include Laylatul Qadr which is better than 1000 months according to Quran in terms of worship.


It is preferred for the Muslim to repeat on Laylatul Qadr the phrase: Allahum inaka a`fown tohebul a`fw fa`afo a`ni.


O Allah You are the All Pardon Who Loves to Pardon, thus, Pardon me.


This is based on a hadeeth:


Narrated under the authority of A`aesha may Allah be Pleased with her who said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, do you see if I learnt which night is the night of Qader, what do I say? He said: say, Allahum inaka a`fown tohebul a`fw fa`afo a`ni" reported by Termidhi.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/health/n...tness.html?_r=1


THE first time Julia Shearson rode her bike after converting to Islam seven years ago, her headscarf became stuck in the wheel.


C.M. Glover for The New York Times


THE first time Julia Shearson rode her bike after converting to Islam seven years ago, her headscarf became stuck in the wheel.


“You have to overcome the looks,” said Ms. Shearson, 43, the executive director of the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islam Relations. “It’s already hard enough to exercise, and if you look different ... it’s even harder.”


As a Muslim woman in the United States, Ms. Shearson has found it difficult to stay fit while adhering to her religious principles about modesty. Islam does not restrict women from exercising — in fact all Muslims are urged to take care of their bodies through healthy eating and exercise — but women face a special set of challenges in a culture of co-ed gyms and skimpy workout wear.


Many pious Muslim women in the United States, like Ms. Shearson, wear hijab in public, loose garments that cover their hair and body, which can hinder movement and add to discomfort during exercise. Women may show their hair, arms and legs up to the knees in front of other women.


Muslim women are often limited in their choice of activity, as well. Some believe that certain yoga chants, for example, are forbidden, as well as certain poses like sun salutations (Muslims are supposed to worship only Allah). For the sake of modesty, working out around men is discouraged.


That modesty can be a benefit and a liability. On the one hand, Muslim women are spared some of the body-image issues that other women face; on the other, that freedom can be a detriment to their physical well-being.


“We don’t have the external motivation that non-Muslim women have,” said Mubarakha Ibrahim, 33, a certified personal trainer and owner of Balance fitness in New Haven, a personal training studio catering to women. “There is no little black dress to fit into, no bathing suit. When you pass through a mirror or glass you’re not looking to see ‘Is my tummy tucked in? Do I look good in these jeans?’ You’re looking to see if you’re covered.”


After gaining 50 pounds while pregnant with her first child, Ms. Ibrahim studied exercise and nutrition, and became certified through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. In 2006 she opened her studio, which offers a safe environment for women to exercise (she says she has more orthodox Jewish clients, who also adhere to rules of modesty).


Ms. Ibrahim said she would like to see exercise become as natural a part of a Muslim woman’s life as praying.


In July, about 120 women from around the country attended Ms. Ibrahim’s third annual Fit Muslimah Health and Fitness Summit in New Haven. She offered yoga, kickboxing, water aerobics and core conditioning classes alongside workshops on weight loss, nutrition, cancer prevention and diabetes at the two-day, women-only event. She plans to hold another one in Atlanta in February.


“An important part of your spirituality is your health,” said Tayyibah Taylor, publisher of Azizah, a magazine for Muslim women, and co-sponsor of the summit meeting. “You can’t really consider yourself in good health if all parts of your being are not healthy — your body, your mind and your soul. It’s a complete package.”


This is especially true now, during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting from dawn until sunset. “The Muslim prayer is the most physical prayer — the sitting, bowing, bending,” said Daisy Khan, executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement. “The physicality of our prayer forces us to create flexibility in our body.”


But how to mix one’s physical and spiritual needs with practicality? Some Muslim-Americans go to women-only gyms like Curves, which has thousands of branches across the country. And some gyms and Y.M.C.A.’s offer gender-segregated areas, hours or days.


Other women, like Umm Sahir Ameer, a 27-year-old student in Shaker Heights, Ohio, take matters into their own hands. Last year, Ms. Ameer started the Muslimah Strive Running-Walking Group so she and 12 of her friends could exercise together.


“I wanted to establish this group as a way to further unite Muslim women in my community while gaining physical endurance,” she said.


Those who do work out in co-ed gyms have learned to make accommodations in their clothing. Loretta Riggs, 40, an educational coach in Pittsburgh, started exercising two years ago after divorcing her husband. She wears a scarf made of spandex, long-sleeved Under Armour shirts and Adidas or Puma pants.


“Some women don’t think you should be working out in a co-ed gym,” she said, “but I’m around men all the time in my workplace, when I take my kids to the park, when I walk outside.”


She added: “Why would I deprive myself of being healthy because I am a Muslim and I choose to cover? It’s very important to take care of myself.”


Mariam Abdelgawad, 21, a math teacher in San Jose, Calif., said that in high school she played hockey, soccer and ran track and field, all while wearing hijab.


But today she works out at home, since there are no female-only gyms in her neighborhood. Her parents, with whom she lives, have a treadmill, elliptical machine and Pilates equipment, as well as weights. She exercises about three times a week, but said she missed the camaraderie of the gym.


Though working out at home is convenient, she said, it is also very easy to procrastinate and not do it. “I don’t have all the options that a gym would have,” she said.


Swimming also poses problems. Although some Muslim women have been known to hop in the water in their street clothes, this can be cumbersome for a workout. The burqini — a one-piece outfit that resembles a scuba wet suit — has received a lot of attention in recent months (most notably in France, where a young woman was banned from wearing one at a pool), but it tends to be too form-fitting for some women.


“I tried it once, and it sticks to your body,” said Marwa Abdelhaleem, a 26-year-old teacher in Toronto who started a female-only swimming group to avoid the burqini question. “It’s really fitted. I wouldn’t wear it in public.”


Ms. Ibrahim, however, is more focused on the private.


“One of the ideas I promote is that when you are married and you take off your clothing, your husband should not be like, ‘You should put this back on,’ ” Ms. Ibrahim said. “Even if you wear a burqa, you should be bikini-ready. You should feel comfortable and sexy in your own skin.”

Want to make vanilla extract but don't like using vodka or other types of alcohol? Well, here you are. Takes some time, but well worth the effort!


Ingredients


* 2 vanilla beans


* 1 1/2 cups glycerin


* 1/2 cup warm water


Directions


1. Slit beans down the middle, and scrape down seeds.


2. Place both in glycerin and warm water.


3. Place in a dark jar (or a light jar in a dark place).


4. Let sit for a month or so.


5. Shake often.


6. Strain. (optional).

Asalaamalikam everyone





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Bismillah


as salam alykom


As far as Christians explain:


<b>God is not Jesus. God is Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Each Person completely possesses the SAME divine nature, which is why it is fitting to say: the Father is God, the Son (Jesus Christ) is God, & the Holy Spirit is God. Not 3 different gods, but 3 Persons in the One True God.
</b>


This is a spin off another thread:


http://islamsms.com/bb/index.php?showtopic=5134


According to this explanation, Jesus the human was put on the cross (however, he is also divine and possesses complete divine characteristics according to the above statement). Then why Jesus was saying:


Mathew: 27:45-50)


The Death of Jesus


45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi,[c] lama sabachthani?"—which means, "<b>My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?</b>"[d]


47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."


48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."


50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.


The above mentioned set of verses actually raise many questions. However, I prefer to be focused on point by point for better presentation and understanding.


If Jesus was crying outloud to his god asking why he had foresaken him, taking in consideration that Jesus himself is both God and man together with the other icons of trinity. Then who made this decision of putting him on the cross? according to the statement he was not in agrement with it.


Who was the decision maker in this regard?


Thank u

Muslim Community and British Politicians


Jim Fitzpatrick, a British minister criticized the segregation of male and female guests at Muslim wedding. Yet another 'Gaffe' from another jumped up, half-baked, ill-educated Labour moron; a former fireman indeed. He learned nothing about putting out fires rather than starting them. He actually has a GCSE 'D' in Politics? God Help us internationally if he is ever made a Diplomat. I suppose he left in a huff because there was no beer an' 'Am sandwiches at the buffet. The Minister's action is just a stupid, attention-getting stunt appealing to prejudices. This serves only to inflame the prejudices so widespread today. People have their customs, and you don't insult them. It hasn't been that long since our society had some public institutions that kept men and women separate. And it hasn't been that long since women in our society typically wore hats with veils. Plenty of Western customs, we accept as normal, are unacceptable or ridiculous to others.


Muslim marriage is a religious ceremony. He insulted the bride and groom for his own political gain. They should not walk out because it would have been bad manners and rudeness to do so. They should respect the couple wishes, it’s their big day. He should have ascertained what the customs are beforehand, and then not attended if he thinks the practice offensive. One should have respect of others people's customs, even if one does not agree. Perhaps he should grow up and get an injection of reality. If you are not prepared to accept this then don't go or don't insult the bride and groom by walking out. What a disgusting small minded little man. Just shows the caliber of today's MP's from all parties. Well being a Labour politician his appalling ignorance of Islamic tradition plus downright rudeness to his hosts does not surprise me in the least. He should do his homework instead of ruining someone’s day. He is totally an ignorant person. If a Muslim wants to have separation at a wedding (like much of the Muslim world) then they should be allowed to, and don't insult them when they do. Jewish wedding has observed the tradition of separating of men & women at ceremonies, without raising any eyebrows. Men and women are separated in Masajid and Synagogues. Muslim secondary schools are also segregated.


In the past another British Minister Jack Straw caused a similar furore when he referred to Muslim veils as “a visible statement of separation and difference” and called for women to remove them during surgeries in his Blackburn constituency. No one has the right to ban the freedom of choice in a secular and democratic country. The right to choice is a basic fundamental right the person should have. To veil or not to veil should be an individual choice. Dress codes are for children. Muslim women should be free to wear burqas. If women get Away with wearing cropped shirts and pants that show their panties, they should be able to wear burqas too.


Globalisation is here to stay, Muslims are here to stay and so are other communities. Those idiot British ministers need to learn that the world is made up of different people and the British society and its Establishment need to learn to accept and tolerate every culture for what it is and most importantly respect and tolerate the values of each and every religion.


Iftikhar Ahmad

Is there a set time for reciting the morning and evening dhikrs?‏


Is there a set time for reciting the morning and evening dhikrs, and if there is a set time but I do not remember until after that time has ended, should I still recite them, or not?


Praise be to Allaah.


The correct view is that there is a set time for reciting the morning and evening dhikrs, because of the time mentioned in many ahaadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in which he said: “Whoever says such and such in the morning…” and “whoever says such and such in the evening…”


But the scholars differed to the exact start and end of the time in the morning and the evening. Some of the scholars said that the time in the morning begins when the dawn comes, and ends when the sun rises. Others said that it ends when the forenoon (al-duha) ends, but the preferred time for dhikr is from when dawn begins until the sun has risen. With regard to the evening, some scholars said that the time (for dhikr) begins at the time of ‘Asr and ends when the sun sets, and others said that the time lasts until one-third of the night has passed. And some of them said that the time for the evening dhikr starts after sunset.


Perhaps the most appropriate view is that a person should strive to recite the morning dhikrs between dawn and sunrise, then if he misses that it will be acceptable if he recites them before the time of the forenoon (al-duha) ends, which is shortly before the time for Zuhr prayer. And he should recite the evening dhikrs between the time of ‘Asr and Maghrib, then if he misses that it will be acceptable if he recites them before one-third of the night has passed. The evidence for this preference is the fact that the Qur’aan urges us to remember Allaah in the early morning (bukoor) and in the late afternoon (‘ashiy), which is the time between ‘Asr and Maghrib.


Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):


‘and glorify the Praises of your Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting’


[Qaaf 50:39]


This is the interpretation of what is mentioned in the ahaadeeth, ‘Whoever says such and such in the morning… and in the evening’. What is meant by this is before the sun rises, and before it sets. The time for that is between dawn and sunrise, and between ‘Asr and Maghrib. And Allaah says:


‘and glorify the praises of your Lord in the ‘Ashi (i.e. the time period after the midnoon till sunset) and in the Ibkaar (i.e. the time period from early morning or sunrise till before midnoon)’


[Ghaafir 40:55]


Ibkaar means the first part of the day, and ‘ashiy means the latter part. So the time for these dhikrs is after Fajr and after ‘Asr.”


(Summarized from al-Waabil al-Sayyib, 200. See also Sharh al-Adhkaar al-Nawawiyyah by Ibn ‘Allaaj, 3/74, 75, 100).


There are also dhikrs to be recited during the night, as was narrated in the hadeeth:


“Whoever recites the last two verses of Soorat al-Baqarah at night, that will be sufficient for him.” (al-Bukhaari, 4008; Muslim, 807). And it is known that the night starts at sunset (Maghrib) and ends at dawn. So the Muslim must strive to recite every dhikr that is connected to a specific time at the right time, but if he misses it, should he make it up or not?


Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “With regard to making it up if he forgets it, I hope that he will be rewarded for that.”


See also Question no 11169 and 3781.


Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid


http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/22765

Khutbah video: Leaving a legacy


Assalaamu-alaikum,


Here's the link: http://www.discoverulife.com/nationbuilding


Walaikum-Assalaam