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Why does Allah allow suffering and evil in the world?
Source: islamonline.net
By: Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi
Indeed Allah is All-Powerful (Al-`Aziz) and He is able to do all things (Allahu ‘ala kuli shayin qadir). The Quran has mentioned this hundreds of times. It is also mentioned in the Quran that Allah is the Creator and He is the Best Creator. Glory be to Allah, the best Creator. (Al-Mu’minoon: 14)
But then the question comes why do pain and sufferings exist in the world. We find sickness, old age and death. We see things that are ugly, people who are insane and foolish. There are storms, earthquakes, floods, draught and famine. We also see people commit sins, show disloyalty, unfaithfulness, greed and insincerity. We see people commit rapes, murders; they fight and make wars. We know all these and many more problems. There are evils caused by human beings and there are natural disasters. There are suffering for individuals and there are those that involve a large number of people.
But we also know that this is not the whole story. Besides all these negative things, we also see beauty, health, prosperity, life, birth, wisdom, intelligence, growth and progress. We also see goodness among people, faith, sincerity, charity, love and the spirit of sacrifice. We also see a lot of virtue and piety. It is wrong to see one side of the coin and not to see the other side. Any philosophy that concentrates on one aspect of the creation and denies or ignores the other side is partially true and partial truths are no truth at all.
Illustrated Quran Lesson: Lowest of The Low (Video)
With Great Honour, Given to Human Beings, Comes Great Responsibility and With Great Responsibility comes great consequences should you fail to live up to them!
Gaza hospitals running out of supplies (Video)
Hamas and Israel have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning on Friday at 05:00 GMT, but that truce cannot come quickly enough for those coping with the consequences of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. Hospitals are facing a shortage of medical supplies, while hundreds of thousands of people have been left without power or water. Al Jazeera’s Imtiaz Tyab reports from the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
The vices of cheating and deception
Source: http://jamiat.org.za/
Cheating and deception are despicable characteristics that are beneath a decent person. Intentionally distorting the truth in order to mislead others contradicts the values of honesty, which requires an attitude of sincerity, straightforwardness, and fairness that leaves no room for cheating, lying, trickery, or deceit. There are many texts from the Quran and the Sunnah conveying the meaning that cheating, whether the target be Muslims or non-Muslims, is forbidden.
Accepting the guidance of Islam leads a person to truthfulness, which means a person completely avoids cheating, cheating, and back-stabbing. The Prophet, may Allah praise him, said:
“Whoever bears arms against us is not one of us, and whoever cheats us is not one of us.” (Saheeh Muslim)
According to another report, the Prophet, may Allah praise him, passed by a pile of food in the market. He put his hand inside it and felt dampness, although the surface was dry. He said:
“O owner of the food, what is this?’
The man said, ‘It was damaged by rain, O Messenger of Allah.’
He said, ‘Why did you not put the rain-damaged food on top so that people could see it! Whoever cheats us is not one of us.” (Saheeh Muslim)
Muslim society is based on purity of feeling, love, sincerity towards every Muslim, and fulfillment of promises to every member of society. Its members are endowed with piety, truthfulness, and faithfulness. Cheating and deception are alien characters in contrast to the noble character of a true Muslim. There is no room in it for swindlers, double crossers, tricksters, or traitors.
Islam views cheating and deception as heinous sins, a source of shame to the one guilty of committing them, both in this world and the next. The Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, did not merely denounce them by excluding them from the Muslim community in this world, he also announced that on the Day of Judgment every traitor would be raised carrying the flag of his betrayal. A caller will cry out from the vast arena of judgment, pointing to him, drawing attention to him:
“Every traitor will have a banner on the Day of Resurrection and it will be said: This is the betrayer of so-and-so.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
The shame of traitors – men and women – will be immense. Those who thought that their betrayal had been forgotten will find it right there, exposed for the whole world to see on banners raised high held by their own hands!
Their shame will increase even more when they meet with the Prophet of Mercy, the advocate of the sinners on that terrifying and horrible Day. Their crime is of such enormity that it will deprive them of divine mercy and the Prophet’s intercession. The Prophet, may Allah praise him, said:
“Allah said: There are three whom I will oppose on the Day of Resurrection: a man who gave his word and then betrayed it; a man who sold a free man into slavery and kept the money; and a man who hired someone, benefited from his labor, then did not pay his wages.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
One should steer clear of all the various forms of deceit and deception present in today’s society. Cheating is common in examinations, business transactions, and even between spouses and loved ones. Placing a label on domestically-made products to make it seem that it is imported is a kind of fraud. Some people give wrong advice when their council is sought and thus deceive the person who believes he is getting good advice. An employee should do the job for what he is paid for without any deception or cheating. Rulers rig the ballot to win elections and cheat the whole nation. Cheating between spouses and having extra-marital affairs is widespread in modern society.
A Muslim should value himself too highly to be among those who cheat or deceive perchance one might fall in the category of hypocrites about whom the Prophet, may Allah praise him, said:
“There are four characteristics, whoever has all of them is a true hypocrite, and whoever has one of them has one of the qualities of a hypocrite until he gives it up: when he is trusted, he betrays; when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he disputes, he resorts to slander.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)
Therefore, a Muslim who has true Islamic sensitivities avoids deceit, cheating, treachery, and lying no matter what benefits or profits such activities might bring him, because Islam considers those guilty of such deeds to be hypocrites.
Abu Huraira (Radi Allahu anhu) reported:
The prophet (SalAllahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Richness is not the abundance of wealth, rather it is self-sufficiency.”
Al-Bukhari & Muslim
As Taken from Riyad-us-Saliheen
| Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying: “On the Day of Resurrection, my followers (or Ummah) will be summoned `Al-Ghurr Al-Muhajjalun from the traces of Wudu. Whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. |
Commentary:
The word “Ghurr” is the plural of “Agharr” which means shining or white. It is used for animals (like a horse), i.e., a white mark on its face. Here, it refers to that radiance which will issue from the brows of the believers on the Day of Resurrection and which will make them prominent. Muhajjalun is from Tahjil which also means whiteness but it is used for that whiteness which is found on all the four or at least on three legs of a horse. Here, it refers to that light which will shine through the hands and feet of the believers because of their habit of performing Wudu’. This means that the believers among the Muslims will be distinguished from other communities by virtue of the refulgence issuing from their faces, hands and feet on the Day of Resurrection in the same way that a horse with a white forehead is easily distinguised from other horses.
7 Best Ways to Control Sin
As human beings we all possess a sinful nature. But as a Muslim we have to strive to step away from our nature by walking in the light of Islam. If we are not careful to resist ourselves from sin, it will weaken our souls and separate us from our Almighty Allah. On the necessity of self control, Allah says:
“And as for him who fears to stand in the presence of his lord forbids his own soul from its whims and caprices, then surely paradise is his abode”.
Consider these seven ways to control your sinful nature:
1. Know your enemy:
The most important strategy in warfare is to know the enemy. The more you know about your enemy the easier it makes your battle. Likewise, life is a battle against shaytan- The enemy of our souls- We need to study about him and his tactics he uses to lead people astray.
2. Always look to Allah for help:
Allah wants to help you and He is always with you. As Muslims we have direct access to Allah. When you wake up in the morning everyday ask Allah to protect you from evil temptations of this world. Make a habit to confess your sins and ask Allah for forgiveness before you go to bed.
3. Spend time with Allah:
A daily relationship with Allah is the basic principle to control our self from sins. Spend some time reading the Quran and indulging in Zikr. Make it a habit. It will help you to stay focused on Allah in your daily activities.
4. Avoid sinful situations:
A Muslim would be very careful to avoid sins and to avoid situations that are likely to cause sin. Sins often comes searching for you, so if you find yourself in a certain situation that you are more likely to fall in sin; it’s the time for you to walk away from that place.
5. Know the consequences:
Sin is a wall that separates us from Allah and it can enslave us and destroy our whole life. Countless lives have been ruined today because of pursuing things that Allah has forbidden. Remember that Allah has blessed with us with a healthy body and a sound mind, as a result being ungrateful for his gifts will draw severe punishments.
6. Fill your mind with Allah:
Thinking about something often can bring it to life; therefore avoid thinking about things that would arise evil temptations in your mind. Try to fill your mind with the remembrance of Allah.
7. Repent immediately when you fail:
If you fail and fall into sin, repent immediately. You should regret it and be determined never to indulge in any sinful behavior in the future.
Effects of Marijuana
Basics
Marijuana is made from a mixture of buds, leaves, and flowering tops of the hemp plant that grows in warm climates throughout the world. While the drug preparation and storage greatly affects its level of potency, it usually contains several hundred active chemicals. Of these many chemicals, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the one credited as having the greatest affect on the user. THC produces a variety of hallucinogenic, depressant, and stimulant effects. Users report a range of feelings while under the influence of the drug, varying from joy and relaxation, to suspicion and irritation. The “high” produced by marijuana causes physical changes such as reddening of the eyes, fast heartbeat, increased blood pressure, dry mouth, dizziness, and increased appetite.
Effects on the Body
Many feel that marijuana has few adverse side effects on the body; however, this is not always the case. With its high intoxication potential, it has a low dependency potential and low risk of organ damage or death. On the other hand, the consequences of marijuana should not be ignored. It may have negative effects on memory for heavy users. Moreover, information learned while under the influence of this drug is easily forgotten, which is why chronic smokers are at a disadvantage at school and at work. Using marijuana with especially high potencies can be quite dangerous. High levels of THC can cause panic attacks, similar to those produced by hallucinogenic drugs, and the users can feel like they are losing their minds. There are indications that regular marijuana smoking may lead to lung disease and lung cancer as well.
Some Israelis don’t speak out in favor of boycott for fear of consequences
The other day the New York Times ran an article on the boycott-Israel measure
passed by the American Studies Association that included three quotations from Israelis who criticized the American scholars.
What the Times failed to inform its readers that there is a law in Israel against advocating for boycott. Is it really so surprising that only critics of boycott spoke up?
And while no one has yet been punished by the law that we are aware of, it has had a chilling effect on free speech in Israel. American readers deserve to know as much.
Here are three reports we gathered:
Writes Ofer Neiman, a boycott advocate for Boycott from Within:
Israel’s High Court of (in)Justice (HCJ) is due to hear petitions against the boycott law soon. No lawsuit has been filed against Israeli citizens based on the law, and as far as I know, the state has agreed to the court’s suggestion that the law would not come into effect before the hearing.
There are quite a few Israelis who are willing to speak out in favor of BDS. [For instance, Ynet, the biggest, most mainstream site in Israel, publishes op-eds by Udi Aloni, who is a prominent Israeli BDS activist]
As for a normal life, that depends. Some are not affected. Some are. An entire class of students at a certain academic Institute boycotted my lessons. Some of them were bold enough to acknowledge that in the feedback survey…
No one can stop you from doing anything, the choices you make are yours, & the consequences will be yours as well.
No one can stop you from doing anything, the choices you make are yours, & the consequences will be yours as well.
Nadie puede dejar de hacer cualquier cosa, las decisiones que toma son los suyos, y las consecuencias serán añadidas.
Niemand kan je ervan weerhouden iets te doen, de keuzes die je maakt zijn van jou, en de gevolgen zullen zijn van jou ook.
Personne ne peut vous empêcher de faire quoi que ce soit, les choix que vous faites sont les vôtres, et les conséquences seront aussi le vôtre.
Niemand kann Sie von irgendetwas zu tun zu stoppen, die Entscheidungen, die Sie machen, ist dein, und die Folgen werden Ihnen als gut.
Méiyǒu rén kěyǐ zuò rènhé shìqíng zǔzhǐ nǐ, nǐ de xuǎnzé shì nǐ de, hé qí hòuguǒ jiāng shì nǐ de hǎo.
Ingen kan stoppa dig från att göra något, de val du gör är din, och konsekvenserna kommer att bli din också.
Nikto ne mozhet pomeshat’ vam delat’ nichego , vybor vy sdelayete eto vash , i posledstviya budut vash takzhe.
Hiç kimse bir şey yaparken sizi durduramaz, yaptığınız seçimler senindir, ve sonuçları da sizin olacak.
Nessuno può impedirvi di fare qualsiasi cosa, le scelte che fate sono tue, e le conseguenze saranno il vostro.
Tidak ada yang bisa menghentikan Anda dari melakukan sesuatu, pilihan yang Anda buat adalah milikmu, & konsekuensi akan menjadi milikmu juga.
PASS THE KNOWLEDGE (LIGHT & LIFE) 