What is beauty?

Source: huffingtonpost.com

By: William C. Chittick

Anyone with the vaguest knowledge of Islamic culture knows that it has produced extraordinary works of art and architecture — Persian miniatures, the Taj Mahal, the Alhambra. Few are aware, however, that this rich artistic heritage is firmly rooted in a worldview that highlights love and beauty.

The link between love and beauty is clear. We love what we find beautiful. Beauty attracts, ugliness repels. Nor are beauty and ugliness simply physical characteristics. We all know people who are outwardly attractive but personally repellent, and vice versa.

Beauty makes a massive appearance in love poetry like that of Ibn al-Farid, Rumi, Yunus Emre, and countless others. Their verses stir up wonder and delight by evoking the beautiful characteristics of the beloved.

How much do we need to shop to be happy?

Source: muslimvillage.com

By: Maryam Hedayat

It is human nature or human tendency of having no satisfaction. We get more still we crave for further more. We are never gratified with what we have at present, instead we always desire for better and beyond.

How much money do we really need to be happy? And how much do we need to spend to be joyful?

Most of us believe that once we reach a certain financial target we will be happy and not want more, but the fact is that nothing is ever enough for us as human beings.

55-Surah Ar-Rahman

This Surah is entitled Ar Rahman, the word with which it begins. This title, however, deeply relates to the subject matter of the Surah too, for in it, from the beginning to the end, the manifestations and fruits of Allah’s attribute of mercy and grace have been mentioned.

1. The Most Merciful

2. Taught the Qur’ān,

3. Created man,

4. [And] taught him eloquence.

5. The sun and the moon [move] by precise calculation,

6. And the stars and trees prostrate.

7. And the heaven He raised and imposed the balance

8. That you not transgress within the balance.

9. And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance.

10. And the earth He laid [out] for the creatures.

10 Tips to Fight Depression

Source: http://islamgreatreligion.wordpress.com

Assalam O Alaykum,

I would like to share this article,which is very usefull for everyone.

Well,from last few days,i’m xtrmly depressed,so,I was looking for some solution.and i found this article.

Feeling down in the dumps, depressed, having the blues: these are just some of the terms used to describe a feeling of hopelessness and despair that can hit even the most optimistic of us at some point in our lives. While clinical depression requires proper professional treatment, the occasional feeling of sadness due to factors ranging from economic difficulty to harassment and discrimination can be helped through some simple spiritual practices. Here are a couple that can help:

1. Look at those below you

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whenever you see someone better than you in wealth, face or figure, you should look at someone who is inferior to you in these respects” (Bukhari, Muslim). If you are reading this article online, consider this: you are one of the lucky set of human beings on the planet who can afford a computer and internet connection or at least have access to one. The United Nations Development Program’s 2007 Human Development Report notes that there are still around 1 billion people living worldwide at the margins of survival on less than $1 a day, with 2.6 billion living on less than $2 a day. Also consider that in the Quran (14:7), God says that if you are thankful to Him for what you have, He blesses you with more.

2. Serve your fellow human beings

The best way to thank God is to serve humanity, especially those who have less than you. Serving others is uplifting and rewarding. It helps us gain a better perspective on life’s challenges, making us realize how very often, are problems seem so small compared to the awesome difficulties others face. That’s why when the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Muslims were a small, poor and persecuted community, they used to give to the poor even more. They understood that when you are generous when you have less, you achieve the perspective of a winner. You are focused on the bigger picture.

3. Read Surah Ad Duha

According to one report, after the Prophet had begun receiving revelation from God, at one point a long period of time passed with no such communication from Allah. As a result, the Makkans ridiculed the Prophet and he became severely depressed. That’s when this chapter was revealed (Quran 93: 1-11). The chapter is a beautiful reminder to us to see life in the greater scheme of things, to be grateful for what we have and to never give up striving for what is right. This chapter of the Quran can be considered a direct recipe from God for depression.

4. Turn to God in all situations

Remember that nothing can harm you without the consent of God. While you must take care of yourself, rely on God and know that He is always with you and only He can give you strength in difficult times. Also remember that He will help you can come out of a trying situation as a better person if you deal with it positively.

5. Remember God’s Names

God has many beautiful Names which describe His attributes and powers. These are reminders of His Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, Justice, Strength and much, more. Supplicating to God using these Names reminds us that God has these attributes more than any other being and that we can and must rely on Him during good and bad times.

Seeking purity through Zakah (charitable giving)

By: Maryam Hedayat

Source: muslimvillage.com

Allah has created human beings with different colors, attitudes and levels of knowledge, so too their deeds and provision vary. He has made some of them rich and some poor, to test the rich as to whether they show gratitude, and to test the poor as to whether they are enduring.

Since the believers are a brotherhood, and brotherhood is based on compassion, kindness, love and mercy, Allah has enjoined upon the Muslims the institution of Zakah which is taken from the rich and given to the poor.

Zakah is one of the five basic pillars of Islam, which means to grow, to increase, and to spread. The literal meaning of the word Zakah is “purity”.

It is an obligation (Fard), prescribed by Allah on those Muslim men and women who possess enough means, to distribute a certain percentage of their annual savings or capital in goods or money among the poor and the needy. Zakah is assessed once a year on both capital and savings from income.

Men & Women Are Different (Video)

 This is your brother Abdul Wahab Saleem with The Daily Reminder.

Allah (subahaanahu wa ta’ala) says in the Quran…

Wal layli iza yaqsha Of course, every single one of has either memorized this surah or heard it numerous times…rather innumerable times in Salaah. Allah says the night as it envelopes, what does the night envelope? The night envelopes all of humanity. When the night falls everything becomes dark, when the night falls it becomes extremely dark, within the entire world so Allah says in the Quran…

Wal layli iza yaqsha

The night when it envelopes all of the world!

Then Allah continues and he says…

wan nahari iza tajalla.

And the day when it becomes bright and the interesting thing is that Allah (subahaanahu wa ta’ala) says ‘tajalla’ using the verb form tafaa’alaa which has a connotation of something occurring gradually. So if you sit in the morning time and as I was doing just this morning, you sit in the morning time and you look at the eastern horizon of the sky you will notice that the sun is coming out slowly, it will be coming out slowly and as it gradually appears…gradually the ‘nahaar’ – the morning time also appears along with the gradual progression of the sun. Wanhari iza tajalla
So these are two things, two concepts – the night and the day…if you go to the youngest of children, may be my daughter that’s about 4 years old she knows that its night time now and its day time now. Depending on the time of the day she’ll tell you It’s dark outside or its not dark outside…it’s really bright outside, the sun is in the eyes she will say.

Every single one of us, children the older, the elderly, all of us know the night from the day and for that reason Allah starts this beautiful surah with the beautiful message with the night and day because this is one difference that I know, that you know, that every single one of us knows, but then he continues to something, he knew people are going to differ about.

KHALID YASIN: THE PURPOSE OF LIFE (VIDEO)

 Purpose of Life is a thought provoking talk by Sheikh Khalid Yasin. The reason of the Universe as a whole and Human beings in particular is explored. It forces a logical mind to stop for a while and think where we are heading with our lives.
More lectures…