The Secret of Superiority

 The Secret of Superiority
Sahl ibn Sa’d (radi Allahu anhu) reported: “Gabriel (alaihis salam) came to the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and said, ‘O Muhammad… know that the honour of the believer is in the night prayer…’” [Fiqh-us-Sunnah]



The greatest strength of a Muslim is his one on one communication with his Lord; the Lord of all creation – Allah the Magnificent.



The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) were never defeated on the battlefield. In one of those instances, Heraclitus, the defeated Emperor of Byzantium, rebuked his soldiers:



“Shame on you! What sort of people are those with whom you have just fought? Aren’t they human beings like you?”



“Yes, Your Highness, definitely they are human like us.”



“Alright then, who is greater in number; you or they?”



“Your Highness, we are superior to them in every respect.”



“So why are you defeated whenever you face them?”

The Muslim World and Cinema

Every culture promotes its history, beliefs, heroes, values,norms, and attitude. The African-American director Spike Lee said about his films, “I'm just trying to tell a good story and make thought-provoking, entertaining films. I just try and draw upon the greatculture we have as a people, from music, novels, the streets.” Is there a parallel to African-American, Asian, or Latin cinema, called “Muslim Cinema”? Does it exist, and if so, how can it be understood? Before one can understand the cinema of a people, a little more light needs to be shed on the actual people.The Muslim world, with approximately one fifth of the world population and in turn its politics, economics, and culture, plays a very important role on the world stage. Headline news is the most popular venue promoting what is known about Muslims, so it becomes imperative for Muslims to be seen and heard from other vantage points. One of these vistas is art, and in the present world Cinema,due its mass appeal and significant availability. An introduction to Muslim Cinema allows Muslims to take a critical reflection about their own beliefs and culture, as well as providing a window for those who are of other faiths to see who Muslims are.
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Muslim Cinema: An Introduction and the Top 101 Muslim Theme Films

Importance of History

By Muhammad Tariq Ghazi
A large number of people are not interested in history. Of those interested, a vast majority is limited to historical myths that help them alleviate pain of the present, which is far more severe than they really deserve. In an attempt to reduce impact of their endless suffering, they find some consolation in remembering that their ancestors were great people who had contributed positively to human heritage, as against the masters of today. An Indian Urdu poet with little understanding of social cycles, once said, “Don’t frown upon torn-up caps on our heads; our crowns are put up in museums”. Such interest in history betrays social sickness, rather than enabling people to make any contribution to society they live in.
Both attitudes are negative. On both sides we find highly educated and otherwise intellectual or academic leaders of a given community. They want to focus on the present, thinking that by moving away from the current situation or changing their existing course of thinking or action, or by simply copying the now developed communities, they could rise to the pinnacle of progress. They have come to this conclusion because they have divorced their followers of their past – their history.

‘Best among you are those best to their families’

by xeniagreekmuslimah

The Hadith: “The best among you are those best to their families (wife and children), and I am the best of you to my family,” underlines the importance of kind treatment toward women.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) elevated women to a dignified level unheard of in the world nearly 1.5 millennium ago.

The Prophet wiped off all stigma attached to women by virtue of her gender and willed in his last sermon that women be treated with respect and kindness.

That was the Muslim society in its pristine form.

The yawning gap between the time of the Prophet and the present time is sadly reflected in a report on the status of women in the present world prepared by the World Economic Forum in 2008.

The report showed that mainly Muslim countries took the last positions in a list of 130 countries in terms of humanitarian treatment of women. While Yemen and Chad had the dubious distinction of coming at the end of the list, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan took positions right before them.

INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM

Honor and Respect of Muslim Women in Islam - Yusuf Estes Part 1/2
Islam is a verb meaning: Surrender (your will to Allah), Submit, Obey, Sincerity, and 'salam' or peace. Islam gives freedom in chioce to believe or not to believe. It says in the Qur'an 2:256 "There is no compulsion in religion." And the accusations which say 'Islam was spread by the sword' it is a rather silly accusation. As explained, Islam requires people to submit willfully to the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, not to any King, country, or to any race.
Fact:

Aashooraa in History

Narrated Ibn Abbas: When the Prophet came to Medina , he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of 'Ashura' (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: "This is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Moses observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah." The Prophet said, "I am closer to Moses than they." So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it. [Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 609]

“This is a righteous day” – in a report narrated by Muslim, [the Jews said:] “This is a great day, on which Allaah saved Moosa and his people, and drowned Pharaoh and his people.”

“Moosa fasted on this day” – a report narrated by Muslim adds: “… in thanksgiving to Allaah, so we fast on this day.”

According to a report narrated by al-Bukhaari: “… so we fast on this day to venerate it.”

A version narrated by Imaam Ahmad adds: “This is the day on which the Ark settled on Mount Joodi , so Nooh fasted this day in thanksgiving.”

“and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day” – according to another report also narrated by al-Bukhaari: “He said to his Companions: ‘You have more right to Moosa than they do, so fast on that day.”

The practice of fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ was known even in the days of Jaahiliyyah, before the Prophet’s mission. It was reported that Aaishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The people of Jaahiliyyah used to fast on that day…”

Al-Qurtubi said: “Perhaps Quraysh used to fast on that day on the basis of some past law, such as that of Ibraaheem, upon whom be peace.”

It was also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on ‘Aashooraa’ in Makkah, before he migrated to Madeenah. When he migrated to Madeenah, he found the Jews celebrating this day, so he asked them why, and they replied as described in the hadeeth quoted above. He commanded the Muslims to be different from the Jews, who took it as a festival, as was reported in the hadeeth of Abu Moosa (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said: “The Jews used to take the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as a festival [according to a report narrated by Muslim: the day of ‘Aashooraa’ was venerated by the Jews, who took it as a festival. According to another report also narrated by Muslim: the people of Khaybar (the Jews) used to take it as a festival and their women would wear their jewellery and symbols on that day].

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘So you [Muslims] should fast on that day.’” (Reported by al-Bukhaari). Apparently the motive for commanding the Muslims to fast on this day was the desire to be different from the Jews, so that the Muslims would fast when the Jews did not, because people do not fast on a day of celebration. (Summarized from the words of al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar – may Allaah have mercy on him – in Fath al-Baari Sharh ‘ala Saheeh al-Bukhaari).

Fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ was a gradual step in the process of introducing fasting as a prescribed obligation in Islam. Fasting appeared in three forms. When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah, he told the Muslims to fast on three days of every month and on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, then Allaah made fasting obligatory when He said (interpretation of the meaning): “… observing the fasting is prescribed for you…” [al-Baqarah 2:183] (Ahkaam al-Qur’aan by al-Jassas, part 1).

The obligation was transferred from the fast of ‘Aashooraa’ to the fast of Ramadaan, and this one of the proofs in the field of Usool al-Fiqh that it is possible to abrogate a lighter duty in favour of a heavier duty.

Before the obligation of fasting ‘Aashooraa’ was abrogated, fasting on this day was obligatory, as can be seen from the clear command to observe this fast. Then it was further confirmed later on, then reaffirmed by making it a general command addressed to everybody. It was reported from Ibn Mas’ood that when fasting Ramadaan was made obligatory, the obligation to fast ‘Aashooraa’ was lifted, i.e., it was no longer obligatory to fast on this day, but it is still desirable (mustahabb).

The virtues of fasting Aashooraa

Narrated Ibn Abbas: “I never saw the Prophet seeking to fast on a day more (preferable to him) than this day, the day of 'Ashura', or this month, i.e. the month of Ramadan.” [Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 224]

The meaning of his being keen was that he intended to fast on that day in the hope of earning the reward for doing so.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “…For fasting the day of ‘Aashooraa’, I hope that Allaah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.” [Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2602]. This is from the bounty of Allaah towards us: for fasting one day He gives us expiation for the sins of a whole year. And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty.

Which day is ‘Aashooraa’ ?

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “ ‘Aashooraa’ and Taasoo’aa’ are two elongated names [the vowels are elongated] as is stated in books on the Arabic language. Our companions said: ‘Aashooraa’ is the tenth day of Muharram and Taasoo’aa’ is the ninth day. This is our opinion, and that of the majority of scholars. This is the apparent meaning of the ahaadeeth and is what we understand from the general wording. It is also what is usually understood by scholars of the language.” (al-Majmoo’)