Goodbye 2013 ! Welcome 2014

BYE BYE 2013 - Welcome 2014 ! 

BYE BYE 2013

    Before I finally say goodbye to 2013,
    I would like to say

  
    to each and everyone of you.
    For the impact you had in my life
    Specially for those who sent me email,
    You have enriched my year!!

Wonders of Love من عجائب الحب

خرجت إمرأه من منزلها فرأت ثلاثة شيوخ لهم لحى بيضاء طويلة وكانوا جالسين في فناء منزلها.. لم تعرفهم .. وقالت لا أظنني اعرفكم ولكن لابد أنكم جوعى ! أرجوكم تفضلوا بالدخول لتأكلوا.

A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."

سألوها: هل رب البيت موجود؟
" Is the man of the house in home ?" they asked .

فأجابت :لا، إنه بالخارج.
" No ", she replied . " He's out ."

فردوا: إذن لا يمكننا الدخول.
"Then we cannot come in", they replied .

Masala tea

Ingredients
4 cups water
2 whole star anise
1/2 tablespoon ground cardamom
12 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 large piece ginger, candied or fresh, diced
1 teaspoon-1 tablespoon crushed black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
8 bags black tea (or equivalent loose)
4 cups milk,
hot 1/4 cup honey, or brown sugar Serves
/ Yields

Three Best Friends

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, no one is a (perfect) believer until he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he wishes for himself.” [Bukhari]

There once lived three men who were the very best of friends for the pleasure of Allah. One of the friends, Waqidi, related:

“I had two friends, a Hashimite and a non-Hashimite, and we were very close to each other, like three inseparable companions. I did not have much money and when the day of Eid approached, my wife said to me, ‘We can be patient at all times, but I cannot bear to see my children weeping and crying. I feel as though my heart would break, when I see them in rags, while other children are buying new clothes and other fine things for Eid. If you could get me some money for Eid, I would sew new clothes for them.’

Read Prophet Muhammad's letters that he sent to various rulers...

 Assalamu-Alaikum and Greetings !

Letters sent by the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) to kings and rulers inviting them to Islam

We learn from Sahih Bukhari that late in the six year A.H., on his return from Hudaibiyah, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), decided to send messages to the kings and rulers beyond Arabia calling them to Islam. In order to authenticate the credentials of his envoys, a silver seal was made in which were graven the words: “Muhammad the Messenger of Allâh”

Below, you will find two posts with the contents of those letters. The first letter was send to Negus (also referred to as Najashi), while the second post is about the letter that he sent to Cyrus Al-Muqawqas (the Coptic Vicegerent in Egypt). The posts also include the response sent by those rulers to the prophet (s.a.w.s.).

Letter of Prophet Muhammad to Negus (Najashi) Letter sent by Prophet Muhammad to Cyrus Al-Muqawqas (Coptic Vicegerent in Egypt) from:     IqraSense.com <admin@iqrasense.com> to:     mohamedali

Valuable is Covered

Aisha (radi Allahu anha) narrated: “Asma (radi Allahu anha) came to see the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). She was wearing a thin dress. The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) turned away from her and said, ‘O Asma, once a woman reaches the age of puberty no part of her body should be uncovered except her face and hands.’” [Abu Dawud]

Once Muhammad Ali's daughters came to visit him wearing clothes that were not modest. His daughter narrates:

“When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father's suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged as many hugs and kisses as we possibly could in one day.

“My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them.’

“He looked at me with serious eyes. ‘Your body is sacred. You're far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.’” [More Than a Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Presented Through His Daughter's Eyes]
dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com

Niqab Ban in the University of Moratuwa: A Victim Student Tells Her Story

by Fathima Sahar

My name is Fathima Sahar, a first year student at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Moratuwa. I am one of three students who are affected by the ban on the niqab by the University. I thought of writing this because our side of story has been literally ‘veiled’ away from the public. The media that reported the issue only spoke to the University authorities and did not contact us. The University too, that is so eager to see our faces did not want to hear our voices, ideas and thoughts. Before they decided to ban the niqab – the University did not trouble itself to give us a hearing, to discuss, to find a solution to whatever problem they perceived.

In that sense, the way we have been treated is no different to the way many of our sisters in many other contexts are treated. Women and their voices are hardly allowed to be heard but kept muted and suppressed. And in that sense at least, I feel it is my duty to speak up and speak out.

I was born in a refugee camp. My parents are from Mannar and were victims of the ethnic cleansing of the Northern Muslims by the LTTE in 1990. Like most refugee students I saw a University education as a passport to a better future and a means for empowerment to fight against the type of injustices that my parents suffered. So my journey from Puttalam to Moratuwa was hard and difficult yet it was inspired by the hope of something better.

Shaikh Yasir Qadhi on Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela has returned to his Creator.

The Prophet (SAW) praised Mut`im b. Adi because he was a man who stood up for what was right, and helped the downtrodden Muslim community at a time when the Quraysh was guilty of the height of injustice.

It is my opinion that if there was one man in our time who truly embodied that spirit of Mut`ims struggle, it was Nelson Mandela. Of the rewards that Allah gives a person in this life is respect and fame, and it is very likely that the genuine love all felt towards him was a result of his sincere efforts to help the weak and oppressed of his nation, and fight the unjust, tyrannical, inhumane and un-Islamic notion of white supremacy and Apartheid.

Another benefit that we as Muslims can derive from Nelson Mandela's life is that truth shall always win in the end. For much of his life, Mandela was labelled a terrorist (even by the US and UK). Eventually, he won the Nobel prize and became his country's president. 'Terrorists' are relative, and when one is fighting for the truth, in a legitimate and Islamic manner, eventually his cause shall be victorious, even if the opposers of truth despise it.

May Allah guide us all to truth, humility and sincere action.

Shaikh Yasir Qadhi
by Zafar Khan
Source : http://theislamawareness.blogspot.in

Muslim Women Going Out!!

“And remain in your homes” are the words of Allah (swt) addressed to the believing women and the wives of the Prophet (saw). The word in the Ayah, “qarna” means to remain and adhere. Allah has ordered the woman to adhere, to stay, and not merely to it, in her home. She should accustom herself to staying home and not going out. And if she does go out she should feel uncomfortable in doing so.

Affairs outside our home can be harmful as well as Haram. Would you even think that going shopping could fall into this? Don't be surprised. Islam directs that a woman is primarily meant to remain in her home. She may come out for her needs. If she goes out, according to the conditions of the Shariah, for a need which her husband cannot fulfil for her, then there is nothing against that. But, sometimes we fall into a western mentality of role sharing. Now there is nothing wrong with a husband helping his wife out and vice-versa.

However, a woman taking over responsibilities of the husband with the intention of “making things easier on him” is skirting on the questionable. This is particularly so when we talk of shopping and other such needed but not always necessary tasks. A better way would be to organise herself and her household affairs and that of her children by simplifying her lifestyle and cutting back on the unnecessary.

The Social Aspect of Women in Islam:

As a Mother:

(1)  The Quran elevates kindness to parents (especially mothers) to a status second to the worship of God:

{Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents.  If one of them or both of them reach old age with you, do not say to them a word of disrespect, or scold them, but say a generous word to them.  And act humbly to them in mercy, and say, “My Lord, have mercy on them, since they cared for me when I was small.” } (Quran, 17:23-24, see also 31:14, 46:15, and 29:8)

(2)  Naturally, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) specified this behavior for his followers, rendering to mothers an unequalled status in human relationships.  A man came to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)  and said, “O Messenger of God!  Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship?”  The Prophet (pbuh)  said: {Your mother.}  The man said, “Then who?”  The Prophet (pbuh)  said: {Then your mother.}  The man further asked, “Then who?”  The Prophet (pbuh)  said: {Then your mother.}  The man asked again, “Then who?”  The Prophet (pbuh)  said: {Then your father.}

Worst of Ummah

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The worst of my Ummah are those who indulge in delights; those who eat all different kinds of food, and wear all different kinds of clothing, and are loose in their speech.” [Al-Jaami as-Sagheer min Hadeeth al-Basheer an-Nadheer by Imaam As-Suyooti]

Why?

A country sends an ambassador to another country to improve bilateral relations, enhance trade ties, and so on. Suppose the ambassador becomes engrossed in sightseeing and enjoying the local cuisine and culture, at the cost of his official duties, while the whole time on his government’s expenditure. What do you think will happen to him when he returns to his country?

Similarly, if we don't fulfill the duties we were sent to earth for, then we will not be appreciated by Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) when we return to Him. That is why the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) mentioned what he did about the worst of his Ummah – because, their focus is not on fulfilling the responsibilities of the office they were entrusted with, but on enjoying themselves.

Life Bakes a Cake

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "If Allah loves a people, then He tests them.” [Al-Jaami as-Sagheer by Imaam As-Suyooti]

A little boy was telling his Grandma how "everything" was going wrong – trouble at school, problems with relatives, health, friends...

Meanwhile, Grandma was baking a cake. She asked her grandson if he would like a snack, which, of course, he did.

"Here, have some cooking oil."

"Yuck" said the boy.

"How about a couple of raw eggs?"

"Gross, Grandma!"

"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"

"Grandma, those are all yucky!"

Grandma replied: "Yes, all those things taste bad on their own, but when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!”

Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But each of life’s troubles and each period of affliction is an ingredient that will prepare the most wonderful Paradise. As the raw cake needs to be baked, we need to exercise patience, and steadfastness on Allah’s chosen religion, in order to harvest the fruit of the trouble.

This hadith has been sent to me by dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com

Smile to Make Your Children Happy

Lines from the diary of a child speaking about his happy childhood,

"My father was always cheerful and his smile never left his face, even in the most difficult situations. This smile meant a great deal to us as it revealed how much our father loves us. This smile used to force us to behave properly and avoid mistakes so as not to anger our father and miss his smile even for a second. My father’s smile was the source of our psychological balance. It provided us with warmth, confidence, frankness and courage in the face of hardships. May Allaah reward him with the best."

Protagonists of the frowning approach:

Some parents and educators adopt the frowning method in dealing with their children. Hence, they avoid speaking with them cordially or smiling at them. They believe that there should be strict limits between parents and their children so that they can succeed in their upbringing.