The Purpose of Life in an Hour and a Half

Source: sandala.org

By: Hamza Yusuf

Given the choice, I would rather read a book than listen to a lecture. Books are wonderful companions: they offer their opinions, and if you disagree, they don’t seem to mind. I can reread when I find difficulty with what is written, and the book doesn’t think I’m stupid or get annoyed that I’m asking it to repeat itself, sometimes again and again. From a great author, I can acquire in a few hours what took him or her a lifetime of reflection and insight to realize. Despite that, on occasion, I have heard lectures that have moved me deeply. Recently, someone sent me a lecture insisting that I watch it. It was by an American convert to Islam (I don’t like the word “revert,” as we don’t revert to Islam; we convert – unless one was a Muslim, left it, and then returned), Dr. Jeffrey Lang, about the purpose of life. I found this lecture to be the most powerful I have ever heard from an American Muslim.

FREE BOOK: THE GARDENS OF THE RIGHTEOUS (PDF)

 The Gardens of the Righteous (رياض الصالحين), pronounced Riyadh as-Salihin in the original Arabic, is a compilation of verses from the Qur’an and hadith by Al-Nawawi. It contains a total of 680 hadith divided across 372 chapters, many of which are introduced by verses of the Quran.

Amazing Graphics Show How Much Fruits Have Changed Since Humans Started Growing Them

Source: businessinsider.com

If someone handed you a peach 6,000 years ago, you might be surprised: the sour, grape-sized lump you’d be holding would hardly resemble the plump, juicy fruit we enjoy today.

Throughout the 12,000 years or so since humans first developed agriculture, the foods we eat have undergone drastic transformations. Farmers have found ways to select for different traits when breeding plants, turning out generations of larger, sweeter, and juicier crops.

Beyond the Ice Bucket Challenge…

Source: blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com

If we see, in reality, “Ice Bucket Challenge” is nothing more than a reflection of societies’ slavery which is in the hands of a few artificially glamorized celebrities (Hollywood, Bollywood actors, Politicians, Sports persons, etc.). This clearly shows the influence certain people have on the masses even without meeting them in person, or giving them any money or perks. The way this cult started is something we all need to contemplate on. The media controls the world; the hearts and the minds of people. Read more here in sha Allah

The Qur’an Versus the Bible: Which is the True Word of God Today?

 

 

Source: manyprophetsonemessage.com

Muslims believe that Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them both, were given Scripture by God Almighty:

Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto… [Chapter 5, verse 44]

And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous. [Chapter 5, verse 46]

The Deen Show: Student Loan crisis and how Islam protects you from loan sharks (Video)

 In this weeks show we’ll be talking about the Student Loan crisis and how borrowers are finding themselves in a paralyzing predicament of repaying two, three or multiple times the original amount borrowed, with no bankruptcy protection, no cap on fees and penalties and no recourse to the law. Points covers in this show:
1.What Usury is and how it equals modern day Interest
2.Why charging Interest is unjust and is a form of great oppression.
3. How Charging interest is not only prohibited in ISLAM and the Quran but also in the Bible and Christianly
4. How Interest/Usury used to be outlawed.
5. How bankers took over the job of loan sharks
6. Solutions and tips on how to stay debt free and avoid being in- slaved to Interest/Usury, all this and more on this weeks show of TheDeenShow with Eddie.
More episodes…

Chris Hedges speech about Gaza (Video)

 Chris Hedges was part of the team of reporters at The New York Times awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 2002 for the paper’s coverage of global terrorism. He also received the Amnesty International Global Award for Human Rights Journalism in 2002. The Los Angeles Press Club honored Hedges’ original columns in Truthdig by naming the author the Online Journalist of the Year in 2009, and granted him the Best Online Column award in 2010 for his Truthdig essay “One Day We’ll All Be Terrorists.”

Major Israeli news outlet apologizes for blog that justified genocide of Palestinians

On August 1 the Times of Israel published a blog entry (reproduced in full below) by one Yochanan Gordon that essentially justified and all but called for the extermination of Palestinians.

The blog ultimately asked to following question of readers:

If political leaders and military experts determine that the only way to achieve its goal of sustaining quiet is through genocide is it then permissible to achieve those responsible goals?

It immediately sparked outrage on social media and was promptly withdrawn by the Times of Israel who called ita “damnable and ignorant” breach of trust regarding their open blogging editorial policy. They also reported that the author issued a public apology as well.

Note: Below is the entire original “Times of Israel” blog entry, ’When Genocide Is Permissible’ that was published on August 1 then retracted.