Blog Archives
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.
An eternal bride
Source: muslimvillage.com
The pleasure Hadhrat Ādam must have felt when he saw a woman next to him as he awoke from a deep slumber, during which Allāh created a ‘mate’ for him from his body, is absolutely beyond our grasp. This mate called ‘Hawwā’ was a very special gift that Allāh presented to the first man of the human race.
However, men in all ages have continued to receive such a gift throughout the human history and will carry on getting the same till the Day of Qiyāmāh. Muslim men are bestowed this gift by virtue of a ceremony known as ‘Nikāh’. A Nikāh is sacred social contract between the bride and the groom. This contract is a strong covenant (Mithāqan Ghalizā) as expressed in Quran in Surāh An-Nisā Āyat 21.
Accessibility, acceptance, and education: being Muslim with disability
By: Najah Zaaeed
Source: http://muslimmatters.org/
We live in a world in which people are increasingly facing various challenges, many of which affect their well-being and lifestyles. Unfortunately, Muslims with disabilities are sometimes faced with barriers within their own Muslim communities. Recently, the Muslim Social Research Network launched a global study to understand the needs of Muslims with disabilities in the U.S., UK and Canada. The findings will be used to educate Muslim organizations about the challenges their community members with disabilities endure and provide recommendations on how to improve services, communication, and inclusion.
What will you say to Allah?
Adiyy Ibn Hatim At-Taai: the epitome of generosity
Source: http://muslimvillage.com/
PART ONE
In the ninth year of the Hijrah, an Arab king made the first positive move to Islam after years of feeling hatred for it. He drew closer to faith (iman) after opposing and combating it. And he finally pledged allegiance to the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) after his adamant refusal to do so.
He was Adiyy, son of the famous Hatim at-Taai who was known far and wide for his chivalry and fabulous generosity. Adiyy inherited the domain of his father and was confirmed in the position by the Tayy people. Part of his strength lay in the fact that a quarter of any amount they obtained as booty from raiding expeditions had to be given to him.
When the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) announced openly his call to guidance and truth and Arabs from one region after another accepted his teachings, Adiyy saw in his mission a threat to his position and leadership. Although he did not know the Prophet personally, and had never seen him, he developed a strong feeling of enmity towards him. He remained antagonistic to Islam for close upon twenty years until at last God opened his heart to the religion of truth and guidance.
Palestine tragedy and Allah’s Help
By: The Haqq Seeker
Source: http://muslimvillage.com/
The Muslim Ummah is like one body
In a hadith Rasulullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alaihe wasallam) is reported to have said:
“The Muslim Ummah is like one body. If the eye is in pain then the whole body is in pain and if the head is in pain then the whole body is in pain.”
The above hadith clearly signifies that the Muslim Ummah are like one body, immaterial of where we are, what nationality or gender we belong to or what colour is our skin. If we hear that any part of this Ummah is being oppressed, then we should all feel this pain.
The biggest enemy of Muslims is….Muslims
By: A Muslim
Source: muslimvillage.com
As a father, nothing is more painful than seeing our Muslim children around the world suffering. We see the Syrians, Palestinians, Iraqi, Afghani – slaughtered and their blood streaming into rivers.
However, as I sat watching, listening and reading the many many condemnations of the Israeli atrocities against our brethren in Palestine, on websites, in the masjid, on YouTube, news agencies around the world – after seeing all the appeals, petitions, marches, protests and pleas for help from many organizations and people, this is the thought that came to mind: Why would Allah (swt) – hurt his own people who worship him?
Then, I thought – Allah loves his people 70 times more than a mother loves her children. Then why is Allah allowing this to happen?? After opening the Quran and reading numerous Ahadith – the answer was clear. When Allahs anger is in full force – when his obedience is lost, when his beloved messenger example is mocked, when his people forget his message and his prophetic way — He (swt) will send reminders.
War, blood, pain, killing and the loss of our innocent children — the only reminder we understand.
With over 50 years of Palestinian conflict – years of debate – our eyes, hearts are sealed with the real problem. Syrian massacre in front of us – a country shredded with no end of war in sight. Iraq millions butchered. Afghanistan shelled for decades…and all the other Muslim nations similar and screaming for help.
The cause? The cause is not the Jews, Zionists, Munafiqs, Freemasons, Bilderbergs – they are not the reason – but only a means; a tool Allah has used to wake up this ummah. But 99% are still asleep.
Is indigestion ruining your Ramadan?
By: Anisa Abeytia
Source: http://www.onislam.net/
Your digestive tract is a self contained unit that does not (when working optimally) allow the food you consume to be absorbed and distributed to the body without first sterilizing, identifying and processing it. Without proper digestion there cannot be health. Not only is the health of the gut important for commonly known reasons, but the digestive tract is also home to a large part of the immune system.
During Ramadan, digestive issues can be put at the forefront due to the types of foods we choose, how fast we eat them, and the lack of sufficient chewing.
There are many steps you can take to ensure that digestive distress does not ruin your Ramadan this year. They are simple and can make a large difference if done consistently:
- Drink water. Water is needed for digestion as well as to make HCl. – Chew your food well. This will enable the body to do less work. – Eat in a calm and relaxed manner. – Do not combine carbohydrates and proteins. People with digestive issues find this combination difficult to digest. The classic example is beans. – Start with a salad. Salad prepares the digestive tract to work. – Take a full spectrum enzyme supplement right before your meal (make sure it is vegetarian).
- Do not over stuff yourself. Eat in stages. – Avoid white rice and white bread. They are inflammatory foods and can cause lose bowel movements and other digestive issues. – Avoid overcooked food. – Avoid black tea, coffee and soda as these are diuretics. – Have a cup of chamomile or mint tea after your meal. This will help ease digestion.
Usually, the symptoms of digestive distress are there before Ramadan begins, but surface with a vengeance during this time. Common signs of digestive problems are:
- Gas – Bloating – Nausea – Constipation – Diarrhea/loose stool – Burping – Food allergies/sensitivities – Poor appetite – Fatigue after eating – Abdominal cramps
- Indigestion up to three hours after a meal – Mood swings – Poor memory – Joint pain
- Hives, skin rashes and eczema – Chronic nasal congestion – Headache – Heart burn
- Sour taste in the mouth
Many of these symptoms are associated with a lack of gastric juice, beneficial gut flora (bacteria), or digestive enzymes. These are symptoms of a larger problem occurring in the body and should not be medicated away. If they are only masked by taking pharmaceuticals, the problem will become worse.
There are many reasons for symptoms associated with digestive problems. Some of the most common are:
- Food allergies/sensitivities – Leaky gut – Poor quality of gut flora – Insufficient digestive enzymes – Low hydrochloric acid (stomach acid)
Food Allergies/Food Sensitivities
What are commonly called food allergies are really not “true” food allergies, but rather food sensitivities. The reason for this is that eating a food your allergic to causes a very specific and immediate response, it can also result in a medical emergency.
Food sensitivities are relatively rare. They are not usually life threatening and many people develop them over time. The most common food sensitivities are to soy, corn, dairy and wheat, although one can have sensitivity to any food. There are lab tests that can determine if you have specific food sensitivity and which foods are causing it.
However many people have an idea that they may be sensitive to a food already. If this is the case, simply remove that food/foods from your diet and see if your symptoms resolve (see list of symptoms above).
Leaky Gut
Intestinal permeability or leaky gut is a condition in which the lining of the intestines has become damaged allowing the contents passing through them to “leak” out into the blood stream. The most common cause of leaky gut is food sensitivities.
Over time foods that are irritating to the digestive tract cause “openings” to appear in the lining of the gut. As this occurs, large food molecules enter the blood stream and trigger an immune response (causing inflammation).
Every time the offending food such as wheat, milk or corn is ingested, the body becomes conditioned to recognize it as a harmful substance and flu like symptoms occur.
Leaky gut can cause many complications such as malabsorption of nutrients and food allergies. It can also trigger an immune response and cause auto immune disorders.
Removing food sensitivities can ease the symptoms, but it does not resolve the problem or stop the consequences. In order to improve your condition and start the healing process you will need to seek out a competent nutritionist.
Gut Flora
Our gut harbors many “non-native” organisms that can be beneficial, benign or harmful. The beneficial flora such as lactobacillus, which can be found in yogurt, help prevent opportunistic organisms, like yeast, from occupying the lining of the large intestine and causing an over growth, or pathogens from anchoring in the large intestine.
When this happens, these pathogens can compete with the host (you) for nutrients, causing a vitamin or mineral deficiency. The metabolic wastes of these pathogens can also overwhelm the body’s detoxification system and cause a toxic buildup in the body that can cause health issues.
There are many available probiotic supplements that will help restore the beneficial bacteria. You can also eat fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and olives. However, you will first need to find a holistic practitioner to work with in order to remove the harmful bacteria.
Low Hydrochloric Acid
Low stomach acid allows pathogens to enter the digestive tract. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) sterilizes the contents of the stomach and eliminates any harmful substances prior to entering the rest of the digestive tract. Many people that are diagnosed with acid reflux are surprisingly actually acid deficient, and often fall prey to chronic infections, like Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that can cause peptic ulcers.
A quick home test to check if you have sufficient stomach acid is to drink a carbonated beverage and if within a minute you belch, you have enough stomach acid. You can also have a doctor check your levels of HCl.
Insufficient Digestive Enzymes
There are many types of enzymes in the body, but here we are concerned with the digestive enzymes that are made in the pancreas. These enzymes help us digest fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
Raw and fermented foods contain the greatest amount of enzymes. When food is overcooked, the enzymes are destroyed and the food becomes more challenging to digest. In order for digestion to take place much energy is needed, when we supply the body with enzymes, it frees up the body’s energy to carry out other functions.
During Ramadan we are given a wonderful opportunity to allow the body to heal and carry out functions that it was not able to carry out due to excessive eating and digestion. Adding in a digestive enzyme (if you need to) will add to the physical benefits of fasting.
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.
PASS THE KNOWLEDGE (LIGHT & LIFE) 