AR-RAYYAAN SADAQAH PROJECT: THE QUR'AAN PROJECT!

AR-RAYYAAN SADAQAH PROJECT: THE QUR'AAN PROJECT!: Asalaamualaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakatuhu We at Ar-Rayyaan Sadaqah Project have come up with an initiative to help aid our brothers &a...

Look at the concern our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had for the Muslims....

Our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him.) even asked forgiveness for the oppressors too:

Abdullah ibn Kinanah ibn Abbas ibn Mirdas (r.a) narrated from his father that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) prayed for forgiveness for his nation one evening at `Arafat, and the response came, “I have forgiven them, except for the oppressor, with whom I will settle the score in favour of the one whom he wronged.” He said, “O Lord, if You will, then grant the wronged one from Paradise (a compensation) and forgive the oppressor.” No response came (that evening). The next day at Muzdalifah he repeated the supplication, and received a response to what he asked for. He (the narrator) said, “The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) laughed,” or he said, “He smiled. Abu Bakr and ‘Umar said to him, ‘May my father and mother be ransomed for you! This is not a time when you usually laugh. What made you laugh? May Allah make your years filled with laughter.’ He said, ‘The enemy of Allah, Iblees, when he came to know that Allah answered my prayer and had forgiven my nation, took some dust and started to sprinkle it on his head, uttering cries of woe and doom, and what I saw of his anguish made me laugh.’”  (Ibn Majah #3013)

A Father's Tears - Warning! Distressing News From Ummah Welfare Trust In Syria

 

A FATHER'S TEARS

Yesterday we were speaking to the coordinator for the Syrian Orphans Programme.

He told us he had paid a very heavy price for supporting the orphans of those who were killed innocently during the revolution.

His 4 year old son was kidnapped and killed because of his relief work supporting our innocent brothers and sisters in Syria.

I asked him what made him so sure his son was... killed?

He said his son was made to phone him before he was killed. He then broke down in tears and wept bitterly.

May Allah have mercy upon our brothers and sisters in Ash-Shaam

Mohammad Ahmad in Syria,
Ummah Welfare Trust,
25th Shaban 1435https://www.facebook.com/Ummahwelfaretrust

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Examples Of The Love That Aisha (r.a.) And Her Husband Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) Had For Each Other

One day, a person gave Rasulullah (s.a.w.) a few dates as a gift, which have been mentioned in Hadeeth to have numbered 9 or 11. Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.) and Rasulullah hadn't eaten for a number days but despite her intense hunger Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.) did not eat the dates and kept them for Rasulullah (s.a.w.) When he returned home then Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.) presented the dates to him. Rasulullah (s.a.w.) ate the dates but later enquired "Aisha! Did you eat anything?" Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.) replied "O Rasulullah (s.a.w.) the pleasure of my Rabb is sufficient for me." Rasulullah (s.a.w.) understood that this meant she had not eaten anything and was saddened by this. He said to her, "You should have also eaten from the dates." Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.) smiled and asked lovingly. "Has Rasulullah (s.a.w.) eaten?" Rasulullah (s.a.w.) was moved by her affection and supplicated to Allaah, "O Allaah! Reward Aisha abundantly for her patience." Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.) asked "O Rasulullah! Ask Allah Ta'ala to make me your wife in Jannat as well." Rasulullah (s.a.w.) replied, "If you seek my company in Jannat then be patient and abstinent. Do not collect provisions for tomorrow and spend in Allaah's path whatever exceeds you needs."

After hearing this advice of Rasulullah (s.a.w.) Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.) practised upon it throughout her life with her heart and soul.  (Mustadraak Haakim)

On one occasion an Iranian neighbour of Rasulullah (s.a.w.) invited him to partake of meals at his home. Rasulullah (s.a.w.) replied that he would accept the invitation on condition that Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.) could also accompany him. The Iranian declined and Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said, "In that case I cannot accept your invitation."

The reason for Rasulullah (s.a.w.) declining the invitation was that at that time Rasulullah's (s.a.w.) household was in poverty and were suffering from the pangs of hunger. This is why Rasulullah (s.a.w.) did not think it appropriate to indulge himself in a meal while his beloved wife was suffering from hunger at home.

The Iranian returned again and invited Rasulullah (s.a.w.) to join him for meals. Rasulullah (s.a.w.) again requested permission for Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.) to accompany him and when the Iranian declined, Rasulullah also declined the invitation.

The host returned for the third time and again invited Rasulullah (s.a.w.) to join him for meals and when Rasulullah (s.a.w.) requested permission for Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.) to join him, this time the host granted him permission. Rasulullaah (s.a.w.) then joined him for meals accompanieds by Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.).

The neighbour declined the first two times because meals had been prepared for one person only and on the third, preparations had been made to accommodate Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.) as well. (Muslim)

(From 'Hundred Stories of Hadhrat Aisha (r.a.)' By Moulana Shuaib Saror)

Seven Scattered Pearls

Abu Dharr (r.a.) related: My beloved friend (Allah's Messenger s.a.w.) has commanded me to do seven things:

1. To love the poor and the needy and to be close to them.
2. To look towards those who are of a lower standing than me regarding worldly goods and not towards those who are of a higher standing than me in this regard.
3. To strengthen the ties of kinship, even if my relatives try to sever them.
4. Not to ask anything of anyone.
5. To speak the truth under all circumstances, even if it might be bitter (for him who hears it).
6. Not to fear the reproach of anyone when it comes to bidding good and forbidding evil.
7. To recite Laa hawla wa la quwwata illa billah often as these words are a part of the treasure beneath the Mighty Throne.  (Ahmad)

(From Scattered Pearls vol.8)

Three Easy Ways to Enter Paradise

Abu Saeed Al Khudri (r.a.) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: "A person who eats only from what is lawful, and acts according to my Sunnah, and from whose harm others are safe, shall enter Paradise." One man said: "O Messenger of Allah! This applies to many people." The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) replied: "Yes, and this shall be so even in the coming generations." (Tirmidhi)

(From 'Scattered Pearls' vol.8)

A Strong Believer

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said:

“A believer who is strong is better and more beloved to Allah than the one who is weak, although both bear goodness. Aspire for what benefits you, and seek help from Allah; and do not give up. And if any adversity befalls you, do not say if I had done this or that, it would have resulted in such and such. But say, Allah so destined and did it as He desired. For verily (the word) "if" opens the way for the work of Shaitan.”   (Muslim)

The Most Beloved of People

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

"The most beloved of people according to Allah is he who brings most benefit, and the most beloved of deeds according to Allah the Mighty, the Magnificent, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him. It is more beloved to me that I walk with my brother Muslim in his time of need than I stay secluded in the mosque for a month. Whoever holds back his anger, Allah will cover his faults and whoever suppresses his fury while being able to execute it, Allah will fill his heart with satisfaction on the Day of Standing. Whoever walks with his brother Muslim in need until he establishes that for him, Allah will establish his feet firmly on the day when all feet shall slip. Indeed, bad character ruins deeds just as vinegar ruins honey." [Tabarani, Hasan]

Worse Than The Sin Itself .....

Ibn Abbas (r.a.) said:

"O you who are given to sin! Don't deem yourselves safe from the evil consequences of your deeds! The sin is usually accompanied by things which are even worse than the sin itself. While you commit a sin, you're not feeling ashamed of the angels on your right and on your left, and that is even worse than the sin itself. You don't know how Allah is going to deal with you, and yet you are laughing. This laughter of yours is even worse than the sin itself. And if you succeed in committing a sin, you are happy about it. Your happiness is even worse than the sin itself. And if you could not commit a sin, you feel sad. This sadness is even worse than the sin itself. If a gust of wind moves the curtain that screens you while you commit a sin, you feel scared, but the fact that Allah is watching you does not frighten you. This condition is even worse than the sin itself."

(Hayatus Sahabah 3/588)

Advice From Abu Saeed Khudri: Be humble like the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Abu Salamah (r.a.) says that I said to Abu Saeed Khudri (r.a.) "What innovations people have made in clothing, food, means of transport and drinks."

Abu Saeed said "O my Nephew! Your eating, drinking and clothing should all be for the sake of Allah. If it creates self-liking, pride and showing off then it is a sin and unnecessary spending. You should do all the domestic chores, the Messenger of Allah used to do. The Prophet (s.a.w.) used to feed the camel and tie it, sweep the floor, milk the goat, mend the shoes, patch-up the clothes, eat the food with his servant, when the servant was tired he would grind the flour himself, would buy things from the market himself and never deem it lowly - and would carry the things purchased in his hand on a piece of cloth. He would shake hands with everyone rich or poor, old or young. He would be the first to say salam to those who offered prayers whether they were young or old, black or white, free or slaves." (Minhajul Muslim)

(From Scattered Pearls vol.4 by Maulana Muhammad Yunus Palanpuri)

Make Peace Between Yourselves

Sayyidina Anas (r.a.) says that once we saw that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) was smiling. Sayyidina Umar (r.a.) asked "O Messenger of Allah! What is the reason that you smile?" The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) replied "Two of any people kneel down before Allah. One says to Allah "O Lord! He did me wrong. I want to be compensated." Allah tells (the oppressor) to compensate for his oppression. The oppressor says "O Lord I am left with no good deed any more to give him as compensation." The oppressed then says "O Allah! Let him carry the burden of my sins." While saying this the Holy Prophet's eyes became wet with tears and he said "It will be a day of severe hardship. People will be willing to put the burden of their sins on anyone else.

Now Allah ta'ala will say to the one seeking revenge "Raise your head and look towards Jannah!" He will raise his head and say "O Lord! It has palaces of silver and gold, made of pearls. O Lord! To which prophet or siddiq or shaheed do these palaces beong to?" Allah ta'ala will say "They are given to anyone who can pay their price." He will say "O Lord! Who can pay their price?" Allah ta'ala will say "You can pay their price." He will then say "How O Lord?" Allah Jalla Shanahu will say "By forgiving your brother." He will say " O Lord! I forgive". Allah will say "Now you both hold each others hands and enter the Jannah." Then the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said "Fear Allah! Make peace between yourselves because on the day of Judgement Allah ta'ala will also make peace between the believers." (Tafseer Ibn Katheer 2:269)

(From Scattered Pearls vol. 3 by Maulana Muhammad Yunus Palanpuri)

One of my favourite sayings ....

Abu Hurairah (r.a.) narrates that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said:

"One sees a stalk in his brother's eye but forgets the trunk of his own eye."  (Ibne Habban)


Note: It means that the people see even a little fault of others but do not look at their own great sins and faults.

(From 'Muntakhab Ahadith' by Maulana Muhammad Yousuf Kandhlavi)

Gentleness

Jarir (r.a.) narrates that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said:

"One who is deprived of gentleness is deprived of a good thing." (Recorded in Sahih Muslim)

 The following two hadith were narrated by Aisha (r.a.):
  
"One who is given his share of gentleness, infact he has been given his share of the goodness of the world and Hereafter. The one who is deprived of his share of gentleness is deprived of his share of goodness in this world and the Hereafter. (Sharah-al-Sunnah)

"Allah gives gentleness to the family members of a house whom He intends to benefit and the one whom He deprives of gentleness is but to cause them harm." (Baihaqi)
 
Mu'adh (r.a.) narrates that the Prophet (s.a.w.) told Ashajj (r.a.) (from the tribe of 'Abd-al-Qais):
 
"You have two habits loved by Allah i.e. Gentleness and patience." (Recorded in Sahih Muslim)

(From Muntakhab Ahadith by Maulana Muhammad Yousuf Kandhlavi)

News Article:
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Arnoud Van Doorn talks about accepting Islam

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Beautiful Advice

Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari (Allah be pleased with him) asked:

 

“Messenger of Allah, tell me about an act, that if a servant of Allah does it, he enters Paradise" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him ) answered. "To believe in Allah and the Day of Judgement." Abu Dharr said, "Messenger of Allah, there must be deeds beside the belief." The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Let him show satisfaction with the will of Allah regarding whatever He has provided him.” Abu Dharr asked “Messenger of Allah, what if he is too poor to have anything to be satisfied with?” The Prophet (pbuh) said “Let him enjoin right and forbid wrong.” Abu Dharr said “Messenger of Allah he cannot do that because he stammers and is incapable of expressing himself.” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Let him do things for someone who is incapable of doing them.” Abu Dharr said, “Messenger of Allah, he himself is too clumsy to do anything for anybody.” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Let him help a weak person.” Abu Dharr said, “He himself is too weak to help anybody.” The Prophet (pbuh) said “What is that friend of yours good for? Let him not harm people.” Abu Dharr said, “If he does that, will he enter Paradise?” The Prophet (pbuh) said “Any Muslim who does any of these things, I’ll take him by the hand till he enters Paradise.” (Narrated by Al-Tabarani)

 

(From the book “Some of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.) Advice” by Abdul Aziz Al-Shinnawy)

No One On This Earth More Beautiful....

The Purpose of Life - Jeffrey Lang

Terrorism - Transgressing The Limits

Allah says in the Qur'an:  "if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people..."  (Qur'an 5:32) 

"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors. (Qur'an 2:190)

Explanation of this verse from Ibn Kathir's Tafsir: {but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors.}  This Ayah means, `Fight for the sake of Allah and do not be transgressors,' such as, by committing prohibitions. Al-Hasan Al-Basri stated that transgression (indicated by the Ayah), "includes mutilating the dead, theft (from the captured goods), killing women, children and old people who do not participate in warfare, killing priests and residents of houses of worship, burning down trees and killing animals without real benefit.'' This is also the opinion of Ibn `Abbas, `Umar bin `Abdul-`Aziz, Muqatil bin Hayyan and others.

Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Ibn `Abbas says: The Messenger of Allah, when dispatching his troops, would tell them, " ..Do not behave treacherously, nor misappropriate war-booty, nor mutilate [those whom you kill], nor kill children, nor the people in cloisters." [Narrated by Ahmad, Tirmidhi (who graded it hasan sahih ]).

Yahya related to me from Malik from Nafi from Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saw the corpse of a woman who had been slain in one of the raids, and he disapproved of it and forbade the killing of women and children. (Maliks Muwatta, Book 021, Hadith Number 009.)

It is narrated by Ibn 'Umar that a woman was found killed in one of these battles; so the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) forbade the killing of women and children (Muslim, Book 019, Hadith Number 4320)

Some Examples of The Mercy Of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

The Conquest of Mecca

..In 630 C.E. the Prophet Muhammad decided to take an army of 10,000 towards Mecca. Once the Muslims had reached Mecca, the leaders of Quraysh surrendered. As a result the Prophet Muhammad announced:

Those who shelter in the Ka’ba are safe; those who shelter in the house of Abu Sufyan are safe, and those who remain confined to their houses are also safe.

Abu Sufayan was a leader of Quraysh and one of the ardent enemies of the Prophet Muhammad. The Meccans were afraid about the impending conquest of their city because the Arabs had lived by the law of retaliation and there was a fear that Muslims would take revenge for the persecution of the Muslims and the losses in subsequent battles. When the Prophet Muhammad and the Muslims entered the area of the Kaba, he announced clemency for everyone in Mecca who no longer wished to fight the Muslims:

This day no reproach shall be on you. God will forgive you; He is the Most Merciful of the Merciful. You can go away!

Many of the Meccans, who were expecting some sort of punishment, were surprised by the Prophet’s statement and some decided to become Muslim. Thus, the conquest of Mecca was bloodless and ended years of warfare and violence between Quraysh and the Muslims.

This event is significant for Muslims because it demonstrates the character of the Prophet Muhammad. He could have exacted revenge, in accordance with the traditions of the Arabs, but instead he showed mercy on the Meccans. This is an important reminder for Muslims even to the present day about how conflict should be addressed. Finally, the conquest was a defining moment because it established Islam on the Arabian Peninsula, from there it spread to become a major world religion. (from http://insideislam.wisc.edu/2012/04/important-events-the-conquest-of-mecca/)


Enemy Becomes A Friend

http://islamstory.com/en/node/30006

Stories of the Qur'an by Ibn Kathir

Stories of the Qur'an 1 - Habil and Qabil

Stories of the Qur'an 2 - Harut and Marut

Stories of the Qur'an 3 - Dwellers of the Town

Stories of the Qur'an 4 - Story of the Cow

Stories of the Qur'an 5 - Moses and Al-Khidr

Stories of the Qur'an 6 - The Story of Qarun

Stories of the Qur'an 7 - Bilqis (Queen of Sheba)

Stories of the Qur'an 8 - The Story of Saba' (Sheba)

Stories of the Qur'an 9 - 'Uzair (Ezra)

To be continued inshaAllah...

1) "Islam" means "Peace through the submission to God".

 

2) "Muslim" means "anyone or anything that submits itself to the will of God".

3) Islam is not a cult. Its followers number over 1.5 billion worldwide. Along with Judaism and Christianity, it is considered to be one of the three Abrahamic traditions.

4) There are five pillars of practice in Islam. These practices must be undertaken with the best of effort in order to be considered a true Muslim: A) Shahadah - declaration of faith in the oneness of God and that Muhammad is the last prophet of God. B) Formal prayer five times a day. C) Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. D) Poor-due "tax" - 2.5% of one's savings given to the needy at the end of each year. E) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically and financially able.

5) There are six articles of faith in Islam. These are the basic beliefs that one must have in order to be considered a true Muslim. They are belief in: A) the One God. B) all the prophets of God. C) the original scriptures revealed to Prophets Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad. D) the angels. E) the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter. F) the divine decree (or destiny).

6) Islam is a complete way of life that governs all facets of life: moral, spiritual, social, political, economical, intellectual, etc.

7) Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. To become Muslim, a person of any race or culture must say a simple statement, the shahadah, that bears witness to the belief in the One God and that Prophet Muhammad was the last prophet of God.

8) "Allah" is an Arabic word that means "God". Muslims also believe that "Allah" is the personal name of God.

9) Allah is not the God of Muslims only. He is the God of all people and all creation. Just because people refer to God using different terms does not mean that they are different gods. Spanish people refer to God as "Dios" and French people refer to God as "Dieu", yet they are all the same God. Interestingly, most Arab Jews and Arab Christians refer to God as "Allah". And the word Allah in Arabic appears on the walls of many Arab churches.

10) The Islamic concept of God is that He is loving, merciful, and compassionate. But Islam also teaches that He is just and swift in punishment. Nevertheless, Allah once said to Prophet Muhammad, "My mercy prevails over my wrath." Islam teaches a balance between fear and hope, protecting one from both complacency and despair.

11) Muslims believe that God has revealed 99 of His names (or attributes) in the Holy Qur'an. It is through these names that one can come to know the Creator. A few of these names are: the All-Merciful, the All-Knower, the Protector, the Provider, the Near, the First, the Last, the Hidden, and the Source of Peace.

12) Muslims believe in and acknowledge all the prophets of old, from Adam to Jesus. Muslims believe that they brought the message of peace and submission (islam) to different peoples at different times. Muslims also believe that these prophets were "muslims" because they submitted their wills to God.

13) Muslims neither worship Muhammad nor pray through him. Muslims solely worship the unseen and Omniscient Creator, Allah.

14) Muslims accept the original unaltered Torah (the Gospel of Moses) and the original Bible (the Gospel of Jesus) since they were revealed by God. However, none of those original scriptures are in existence today, in their entirety. Therefore, Muslims follow the subsequent, final, and preserved revelation of God, the Holy Qur'an.

15) The Holy Qur'an was not authored by Muhammad. It was authored by God, revealed to Muhammad, and written into physical form by his companions.

16) The Holy Qur'an has no flaws or contradictions. The original Arabic scriptures have never been changed or tampered with.

17) Actual seventh century Qur'ans, complete and intact, are on display in museums in Turkey and many other places around the world.

18) If all Qur'ans in the world today were burned and destroyed, the original Arabic would still remain. This is because millions of Muslims, called Hafiz (or "preservers") have memorized the text letter for letter from beginning to end, every word and syllable. Also, chapters from the Qur'an are precisely recited from memory by every Muslim in each of the five daily prayers.

19) Muslims do not believe in the concept of "vicarious atonement" but rather believe in the law of personal responsibility. Islam teaches that each person is responsible for his or her own actions. On the Day of Judgment Muslims believe that every person will be resurrected and will have to answer to God for their every word, thought, and deed. Consequently, a practicing Muslim is always striving to be righteous.

20) Islam was not spread by the sword. It was spread by the word (Islamic teachings) and the example of its followers. Islam teaches that there is no compulsion in religion (the Holy Qur'an 2:256 and 10:99).

21) Terrorism, unjustified violence and the killing of innocent people are absolutely forbidden in Islam. Islam is a way of life that is meant to bring peace to a society, whether its people are Muslim or not. The extreme actions of those who claim to be Muslim may be, among other things, a result of their ignorance or uncontrolled anger. Tyrant rulers and those who commit acts of terrorism in the name of Islam are simply not following Islam. These people are individuals with their own views and political agendas. Fanatical Muslims are no more representative of the true Islamic teachings than Timothy McVeigh or David Koresh are of Christianity. Extremism and fanaticism is a problem that is common to all religious groups. Anyone who thinks that all Muslims are terrorists should remember that the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, perhaps the most celebrated person of our era, is a practicing Muslim.

22) The word "jihad" does not mean "holy war". Instead, it means the inner struggle that one endures in trying to submit their will to the will of God. Some Muslims may say they are going for "jihad" when fighting in a war to defend themselves or their fellow Muslims, but they only say this because they are conceding that it will be a tremendous struggle. But there are many other forms of jihad which are more relevant to the everyday life of a Muslim such as the struggles against laziness, arrogance, stinginess, or the struggle against a tyrant ruler or against the temptation of Satan, or against one's own ego, etc.

23) Women are not oppressed in Islam. Any Muslim man that oppresses a woman is not following Islam. Among the many teachings of Prophet Muhammad that protected the rights and dignity of women is his saying, "...the best among you are those who treat their wives well." (Tirmidhi)

24) Islam grants women numerous rights in the home and in society. Among them are the right to earn money, to financial support, to an education, to an inheritance, to being treated kindly, to vote, to a dowry, to keep their maiden name, to worship in a mosque, etc., etc.

25) Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfillment of God's decree to dress modestly. From a practical standpoint, it serves to identify one as attempting to follow God in daily life and, therefore, protects women from unwanted advances from men. This type of modest dress has been worn by righteous women throughout history. Prominent examples are traditional Catholic Nuns, Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus.

26) Arranged marriages are allowed in Islam but are not required. Whereas "forced" marriages, usually stemming from cultural practice, are forbidden. Divorce is permissible, however, reconciliation is what is most encouraged. But if there are irreconcilable differences then Islam permits a fair and just divorce.

27) Islam and the "Nation of Islam" are two different religions. Islam is a religion for all races and enjoins the worship of the one unseen God who, orthodox Muslims believe, never took human form. The "Nation", on the other hand, is a movement geared towards non-whites and teaches that God appeared in the form of Fard Muhammad in 1930 and that Elijah Muhammad (a man who died in 1975) was a prophet of God. These beliefs clearly contradict the basic Islamic theology outlined in the Qur'an. The followers of "the Nation" adhere to some Islamic principles that are mixed with many other teachings that are alien to Islam. To better understand the difference between the two, read about Malcolm X, his pilgrimage to Mecca and his subsequent comments to the media. Islam teaches equality amongst all the races (Holy Qur'an 49:13).

28) All Muslims are not Arab. Islam is a universal religion and way of life which includes followers from all races of people. There are Muslims in and from virtually every country in the world. Arabs only constitute about 20% of Muslims worldwide. Indonesia has the largest concentration of Muslims with over 120 million.

29) In the five daily prayers, Muslims face the Kaaba in Mecca, Arabia. It is a cube-shaped stone structure that was originally built by Prophet Adam and later rebuilt by Prophet Abraham. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was the first house of worship on Earth dedicated to the worship of one god. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba. It serves as a central focal point for Muslims around the world, unifying them in worship and symbolizing their common belief, spiritual focus and direction. Interestingly, the inside of the Kaaba is empty.

30) The hajj is a simultaneous pilgrimage to the Kaaba made by millions of Muslims each year. It is performed to commemorate the struggles of Abraham, Ishmael and Hagar in submitting their wills to God.

 

(From IslamOnDemand.com   see also: Islamic Virtues )

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