Blog Archives
Fatwa: Is music haram?
Source: islamawareness.net
By: Sheikh Muhammad Ali Al-Hanooti
Among the entertainments, which may comfort the soul, please the heart, and refresh the ear is singing.
Islam permits singing under the condition that it is not in any way obscene or harmful to Islamic morals. There is no harm in its being accompanied by music, which is not exciting. In order to create an atmosphere of joy and happiness, singing is recommended on festive occasions such as the days of ‘Eid, weddings and wedding feasts, births, ‘aqiqat (the celebration of the birth of a baby by the slaughter of sheep), and on the return of a traveler.
‘Aishah narrated that when a woman was married to an Ansari man, the Prophet (peace be on him) said, ” ‘Aishah, did they have any entertainment? The Ansar are fond of entertainment.” (Reported by al-Bukhari.) Ibn ‘Abbas said, ” ‘Aishah gave a girl relative of hers in marriage to a man of the Ansar. The Prophet (peace be on him) came and asked, ‘Did you send a singer along with her?’ ‘No,’ said ‘Aishah. The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) then said, The Ansar are a people who love poetry. You should have sent along someone who would sing, ‘Here we come, to you we come, greet us as we greet you.’ ” (Reported by Ibn Majah.)
Crying washes heart’s maladies
Source: islamweb.net
It is a fact which no one can debate that crying washes out the maladies of the heart. Crying out of fear from Allaah softens the heart and cleans it from its filth. Yazeed Ibn Maysarah 
said: “Crying happens due to one of seven things, joy, sadness, terror, to show off, pain, gratitude and out of fear from Allaah one tear from which extinguishes as huge as oceans size of fire”
Good Cheer
Source: http://fridaynasiha.com/
“Say, ‘In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy – in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate.'”
We must learn to remedy our sorrows with joy and good cheer. There are so many things that we can rejoice in. We should rejoice in our very humanity, knowing that Allah has so honoured the human being.
We should rejoice in the blessings that we have, and that we often overlook or take for granted. We should feel joy in being alive. We should rejoice in our family and loved ones, and in the provision that Allah has given us.
We should take cheer in thanking Allah for His blessings, since through our gratitude Allah will continue to bless us.
The Little Flowers
Source: blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com
By: Shifnas Bint Thamiem
Being in the middle of a newly bloomed garden with cool breeze early in the morning nourishes our feelings. Spending time with little kids, who look like buds waiting to blossom, gives us the same kind of refreshment. These little flowers of our ummah can pour joy and happiness into our lives. Noisy chit chats, innocent giggles, messy acts and pure smiles bring tranquility to our hearts.
Subhan Allah, kids are an amaanat from Allah 
. They are but a trust from Allah and we should handle them with extra care. We, as guardians, will be questioned about how we exercised our responsibilities while taking care of our amaanat.
Book of Deeds: Fill It With Whatsoever You Wish
Source: http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com
By: Nasmira Firdous
Imagine this: You’ve just written one of the most amazing books, making it shoot into the best-selling list. You have your name plastered all across the world. You have just been given the most coveted literary award, after being generously appreciated by some of the world’s famous literary giants. The feeling of excitement and joy is palpable. (If you can’t imagine any of this, just think of yourself as J.K. Rowling :P)
But, stop. Just for a moment. What if I told you that one day you will indeed read a book which you and solely you were responsible for writing? What if I told you, on that Day, that book will have a record of ALL your words, thoughts, intentions, actions, every unspoken word and every wrong reaction? What if that book holds the keys to your eternal abode? Would you be eager to open it and gasp with happiness or would be perspiring and hoping you had righted the wrongs?
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did not celebrate his birthday he only recognized it
By: Abiuel Hoque
Its very clear that our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did not celebrate his birthday he only recognized it. It is completely OK to be happy. Yes, you are one year older, but when that happiness goes a little over board, and people expect to be given presents, plus others wanna throw parties, its not right.
A true believer will always express his happiness and joy by thanking Allah. So there’s no harm in recognizing the day as your birthday, but don’t let others wish you or give you presents just because its your birthday. Birthdays are not special occasions, and doing anything to make them special is not part of our religion.
Gaza families bake Eid ‘cake of resistance’
Gaza City – When Elham Elzanin fled her home in Beit Hanoun, she only had time to grab her terrified children and evacuate. Now sheltering at a school in Gaza City, Elzanin’s nine-year-old daughter Nima cries over missing one of the sweetest parts of the Eid holiday: cake.
“I said to myself, ‘We ought to make the children feel the atmosphere of Eid, even if warplanes are bombing,'” Elzanin, 39, told Al Jazeera. She said that the idea quickly spread among the children seeking refuge with their families at al-Hud school, and soon, a group of mothers began baking.
“The Israelis should know they will not stop us [from] finding some joy in making Eid cake,” she said. The cake, she added, represents “resilience and resistance”.
Bitter Eid for children in Gaza (Video)
Source: Al Jazeera
The United Nations Security Council has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza – but the air strikes and shelling goes on. Muslims world-wide began to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan. But as Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford reports, there’s little joy for Palestinians in Gaza
Seven lights of devotion in Ramadan
Source: Sunnah.org
By: Sunnah.org
There are a number of highly recommendable worshipful practices to be performed during the days of Ramadan, for those who seek closeness to their Lord and His Companionship. Even if in the first part of the month we have missed out on one or more of these acts, we can still make an effort from now to reap their benefits insha Allah.
Don’t Forget or Neglect the Pre-dawn Meal (Suhoor)
It is recommended to partake of a light meal (suhoor)prior to commencing the fast. The fast begins at first light and ends at sunset (maghreb).
“Eat some food before the fast begins, there is blessing in its partaking.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Zaid, the son of Thabit related: “We partook of suhoor (food before the commencement of the fast) during Ramadan with the Messenger of Allah and then stood up for prayer.
He was asked what was the interval of time between the two, so he replied: ‘The time it takes to recite fifty verses (of the Quran).’”
The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said: “My nation will remain in goodness as long as they break the fast as soon as it is due.” [Muslim]
Joy When Breaking the Fast
The fast is broken at sunset, and it is termed in Arabic iftar. It is a time of happiness and refreshment after experiencing the pangs of hunger and thirst. It is usually broken with dates and in many cultures a light soup with bread or small side dishes. Breaking the fast is followed immediately by the evening obligatory prayer. In many parts of the world, including the US, breaking fast is observed in congregation in mosques and homes.
The Prophet (s) said: “Whosoever fasts experiences two joys. He is joyful when he breaks his fast, and is joyful because of his fasting when he meets his Lord.”
“When evening approaches from this side (east) and the day retreats from this side (west) and the sun has set, the one who is fasting breaks his fast.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
“Break your fast with a date, or with water because it is pure.” [Abu Daud and Tirmidhi]
Generosity and Good Deeds During the Month of Fasting
Our beloved prophet, Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, spoke on many occasions about the fast of Ramadan.
He informed us of the way in which we should prepare ourselves as well as urging us to do good, to be charitable, and to refrain from ways in which our fast would become invalid.
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: The Prophet was the most generous amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel visited him, and Gabriel used to meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month. The Prophet used to recite the Holy Qur’an to Gabriel, and when Gabriel met him, he used to be more generous than a fast wind (which causes rain and welfare). [Bukhari].
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)”
[Bukhari]. “Allah, the Mighty, the Glorified says: ‘All the deeds of the son of Adam are for himself, but his fasting is for Me and I shall reward him for it.
The fast is a shield. When any of you fasts he should forsake swearing and noise.’”
Retreat – ‘Itikaf
Regarding the retreat, it was the practice of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, to retreat to the Mosque during the last ten days and nights of Ramadan, fasten his cloak around his waist and encourage his family to do the same. His time in the Mosque was spent in worship and not in idle talk.
If it is one’s intention to offer the retreat then there are specific rules to be observed:
- Once the intention or vow has been taken to observe these days of continuous retreat, the continuity of its observance is broken if he leaves the mosque without a justifiable necessity, such as to attend a funeral.
- However, the observance is not broken when one leaves to go to the toilet. Those in retreat are permitted to renew their ablutions in their own home, but the restatement of the intent must be renewed unless the intention to spend the ten days in advance has been made. Any form of business to and from the mosque is not permissible.
- It was the practice of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, not to leave the mosque except for the call of nature. Neither would he inquire about a sick person except as he passed by without stopping.
- Sleeping, eating, washing hands in the mosque do not invalidate the retreat, nor yet the emergence of a limb or part of the body from the mosque.
- Sexual intercourse invalidates the observance of the retreat, but not a non-arousing kiss.
The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, would go into seclusion for (the last) ten days during the month of Ramadan, but the year in which he passed away he went into seclusion for twenty days.
[Bukhari]
Narrated ‘Aisha: “Allah’s Apostle used to practice `Itikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, ‘Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan’”. [Bukhari]
Narrated ‘Aisha (r) (the Mother of the Believers):” Allah’s Apostle used to let his head in (the house) while he was in the mosque and I would comb and oil his hair. When in `Itikaf he used not to enter the house except for a need.” [Bukhari]
PASS THE KNOWLEDGE (LIGHT & LIFE) 