Where Prayer Goes

I had time in my life when I was totally desperate and almost lost faith. I thought what happened with all those prayers which I asked from God. Then the answer came to me in the form of following options. Some one told me that:

Allah (God) always has three replies to our prayer.

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God - Allah - Bhagwan

Christians respect and believe in God.
Muslims respect and believe in Allah.
Hindus respect and believe in Bhagwan.
and so on…
Okay. I say, does not matter from what religion we are; Why not should we respect other religions and their believes too? It is important. Everybody has full right to follow his religion and his believes about it. Even if you do not have any religion; that is up to you. Choose your own set of believes. But I say respect believes of others as well. If you follow a religion, you are following it for your own good. It is not a matter of which believes are good and which are bad. All religions teach good things and talk about virtue.

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Religion and Terrorism

Religion means A strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny.
Terrorism means the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain personal goals at whatever basis they may be.

All Religions teach us how to live a disciplined life of peace. Every Religion; Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Jewish and any other will teach us to live a life of peace and perfect harmony. Tell me if I am wrong. Many people can have many mind sets towards different aspects of life. Views contradict. But we can still live together with peace while keeping our view about some particular thing and respecting views of other people.

The thing that’s wrong is to blame some religion or label some religion with strong acts. i.e. Terrorism.
No religion will guide you to the ways of terrorism, extremism or whatever bad things.
To label any Religion or its followers with the term terrorism or terrorist is very mean thing to do.

Terrorists have no religion. They believe in nothing but hate and revenge. Religions teach to forgive, to let it go for good and to be patient. Terrorists or extremists can be from any religion or race or they may say they belong to some but it is not the fact. Today I see it a fashion to label a Muslim with term terrorist. In my opinion terrorists have no religion and they believe in nothing which lead to desperation and extreme acts due to their inability to differentiate evil and good deeds and they can be from any race and any religion.

Am I wrong? What do you think? If you do, why do you call Muslim a terrorist?

Socialism In Islam

The Muslim is Friendly And Likeable

The Muslim who truly understands the teachings of his religion; is gentle, friendly and likeable. He mixes with people and gets along with them. This is something which should be a characteristic of the Muslim who understands that keeping in touch with people and earning their trust is one of the most important duties of the Muslim. It is an effective means of conveying the message of truth to them, and exposing them to its moral values, because people only listen to those whom they like, trust and accept. Hence there are many Hadiths which commend the type of person who is friendly and liked by others. Such a person is one of those chosen ones who are beloved by the Prophet (PBUH) and will be closest to him on the Day of Resurrection:

“Shall I not tell you who among you is the most beloved to me and will be closest to me on the Day of Resurrection?” He repeated it two or three times, and they said,
‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah (PBUH).’ He said:
“Those of you who are the best in attitude and character.”
(Reported by Ahmad and its Isnad is Jayyid).
Some reports add:
“Those who are down to earth and humble, who get along with others and with whom others feel comfortable.”

One of the attributes of the believer is that he gets along with others and others feel comfortable with him. He likes people and they like him. If he is not like this, then he will not be able to convey the message or achieve anything of significance. Whoever is like that has no goodness in him, as in the Hadith:

“The believer gets along with people and they feel comfortable with him. There is no goodness in the one who does not get along with people and with whom they do not feel comfortable.”
(Reported by Ahmad and al-Bazar; the men of Ahmad’s Isnad are Rijal as-Sahih)

The Prophet (PBUH) set the highest example of good behaviour towards people. He was skillful in softening their hearts and called them to follow him in word and deed. He demonstrated how to reach people’s hearts and win their love and admiration. He was always cheerful and easy-going and never harsh. When he came to any gathering, he would sit wherever there was a free space, and he told others to do likewise. He treated everyone equally, so that no one who was present in a gathering would feel that anyone else was receiving preferential treatment. If anyone came to him and asked for something, he would give it to them, or at least respond with kind words. His good attitude extended to everyone and he was like a father to them. The people gathered around him were truly equal, distinguished only by their level of taqwa. They were humble, respecting their elders, showing compassion to young ones, giving priority to those in need and taking care of strangers.

The Prophet (PBUH) never used to disappoint anyone who came to ask from him. There are three characteristics that he did not possess:

1. He was not argumentative.
2. He did not talk too much.
3. He did not concern himself with matters that were not his business.

There are three things that he never did to people:

1. He never criticized anyone, he never said “Shame on you!” to anyone.
2. He never looked for anyone’s faults.
3. He never said anything but that for which he hoped to earn reward.

When he spoke, the people around him would listen earnestly, sitting still as if there were birds on their heads. When he was silent, then they would speak. They never argued with one another in his presence. They would smile at whatever he smiled at, and would be impressed by whatever impressed him. He would be patient with a stranger who might be harsh in his requests or questions, and his Companions would ask the stranger to speak gently.

He said, “If you see someone in need, then help him.” He never accepted praise except from someone who was thanking him for a favour, and he never cut off anyone who was speaking; he would wait until the person indicated that he had finished, or stood up.
Aishah tells us that he used to be cautious of the worst type of people, and he would speak gently to them and treat them well. A man sought permission to enter upon him and he said, “Let him in, what a bad brother of his tribe he is!” When the man came in, he spoke gently to him. Aishah said: ‘O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), you said what you said, and then you spoke gently to him.’ He (PBUH) said, “O Aishah, the worst of people is the one whom people avoid (or are gentle towards) because they fear his slander.” (Bukhari and Muslim). The true Muslim follows in the footsteps of his Prophet in his dealings with all people, whether they are good or bad, so that he is liked and accepted by all people.

Why Should Women Wear The Hijaab (Veil)?

Allah orders the Muslim woman to wear the hijaab when she steps out of the security of her home or when in the presence of strange men. So to wear the hijaab is a source of great good for you the Muslim woman - for many reasons. Among them:

1. You please Allah. You are obeying the commands of your Lord when you wear the hijaab and you can expect great rewards in return.
2. It is Allah? protection of your natural beauty. You are too precious to be “on display” for each man to see.
3. It is Allah? preservation of your chastity.
4. Allah purifies your heart and mind through the hijaab.
5. Allah beautifies your inner and outer countenance with hijaab. Outwardly your hijaab reflects innocence, purity, modesty, shyness, serenity, contentment and obedience to your Lord. Inwardly you cultivate the same.
6. Allah defines your femininity through the hijaab. You are a woman who respects her womanhood. Allah wants you to be respected by others, and for you to respect yourself.
7. Allah raises your dignity through the hijaab. When a strange man looks at you, he respects you because he sees that you respect yourself.
8. Allah protects your honor 100% through your hijaab. Men do not gaze at you in a sensual way, they do not approach you in a sensual way, and neither do they speak to you in a sensual way. Rather, a man holds you in high esteem and that is just by one glance at you!
9. Allah gives you nobility through the hijaab. You are noble not degraded because you covered not naked.
10. Allah demonstrates your equality as a Muslim woman through the hijaab. Your Lord bestows upon you equal worth as your male counterpart, and gives you a host of beautiful rights and liberties. You express your acceptance of these unique rights by putting on the hijaab.
11. Allah defines your role as a Muslim woman through the hijaab. You are someone with important duties. You are a reflection of a woman of action not idle pursuits. You display your sense of direction and purpose through your hijaab. You are someone that people take seriously.
12. Allah expresses your independence through the hijaab. You are stating clearly that you are an obedient servant of the Greatest Master. You will obey no one else and follow no other way. You are not a slave to any man, nor a slave to any nation. You are free and independent from all man-made systems.
13. Allah gives you the freedom of movement and _expression through the hijaab. You are able to move about and communicate without fear of harassment. Your hijaab gives you a unique confidence.
14. Allah wants others to treat you - a Muslim woman - with kindness. And the hijaab brings about the best treatment of men towards you.
15. Allah wants your beauty to be preserved and saved for just one man to enjoy - your husband.
16. Allah helps you to enjoy a successful marriage through wearing hijaab. Because you reserve your beauty for one man alone, your husband’s love for you increases, he cherishes you more, he respects you more and he honors you more. So your hijaab contributes to a successful and lasting marriage relationship.
17. Allah brings about peace and stability in the society through the hijaab! Yes this is true! Men do not cause corruption by forming illegal relationships because you - the Muslim woman - calm their passions. When a man looks at you, he feels at ease, not tempted to fornicate.

So a Muslim woman in hijaab is dignified, not dishonored, noble, not degraded, liberated, not subjugated, purified, not sullied, independent, not a slave, protected, not exposed, respected, not laughed at, confident, not insecure, obedient, not a sinner, a guarded pearl, not a prostitute.

Dear Muslim sister! Fulfill your duties towards Allah, put on your adornment - put on your hijaab, and race towards Jannah (Paradise) by doing all good actions. You should agree by now that wearing hijaab is extremely beneficial - it must be - because Allah only commands what is good. And believe me sister, it is good to obey the commands of your Lord.

“Their reward is with their Lord: Gardens of Eden underneath which rivers flow wherein they will dwell for ever; Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him; this is (in store) for whoever fears his Lord.” [Sooratul-Bayyinah 98:8]

Allah says in the Qur’aan, ‘O Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) say to your wives, your daughters and to the women of the Mu’mineen that they draw over them their Jilbaabs (outer cloaks or Burqahs).That (covering themselves with Jilbaab) is the least (minimum requirement which they adopt) so that they be recognized and not be molested (by shameless people of loose morals).’ (Ahzaab 59)

Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas (Radhiallaahu Anhu) further states, ‘The women must cover their faces and heads with their Jilbaabs and leave only one eye exposed (covered).’ (Ibid)

The proper definition of Hijaab can be understood from the following verse of the Qur?an, ? Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That would be better that they should be known so as not to be annoyed.·Imam Qurtubi has mentioned the explanation of ?loaks·given by Abdullah ibn Mas?od [Radhiallaahu anhu] in his famous Tafseer ?l-Jaami li bayanil Qur?an· Abdullah ibn Mas?od [Radhiallaahu anhu] states that the cloaks should be tied or worn in such a way that only one eye remains exposed or another method would be to tie the upper portion on the brow just above the eyes and another portion above the nose just below the eyes, leaving only the two eyes exposed. (vol.14 pg.232; Darul hadith-Cairo). It is not permissible for a young woman to expose her face in the presence of non-Mahram men. (Shaami vol.1 pg.406; HM Saeed)