Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatuAllahi wa baraktu

With Ramadan drawing to a close, I got to thinking - I can't really keep the ramadan related internet finds thread going. So instead, I'm inagruating a new thread - my islam related internet finds.

So, if you find these things interesting, keep reading. If you don't, no one forced you to open this thread.





My first contribution is one of my favorite pieces - 'Don't get Angry': A Little Fiqh of Anger & Acquiring Good Character. The first half deals generally with prophetic advice on dealing with anger. The second deals with aquiring good character, and relies on sufi insites. If you're not a fan of sufism, you can stop reading when you get to that part

Thanks Rahma....well I was reading your Ramadan thread..donnow know about others but I was...and will staying tuned to read this thread too inchallah! Allah Maaki sis!

Rhama! I love your little blue smiley! Where did you get that? It's super cute!

I am excited for this thread. Hopefully I will have something to contribute too.

Somewhere in my random online surfing. I got more, but smurf-ish, but still cute

Okie dokie -

Before I continue to add to this thread, here are two excellent resources for those who may be unfamiliar with muslim lingo

On the tip of the muslim tongue - common phrases
Glossary of Islamic Terms and Concepts - much more comprehensive



So, here in the US, we're blessed to have several excellent scholars, mashaAllah. And some of these scholars have founded two excellent schools, mashaAllah - Zaytuna Institute and alMaghrib. Zaytuna takes a more traditional, madhab based approach, while alMaghrib is more Quran and Sunnah, salafi-ish. One may be aware that there is tension between these two communities here in the United States, and unfortunately, students will often snipe and take pot shots at one another.

Irtiza Hasan, the former director of alMaghrib, has written a letter this Ramadan, that inshaAllah will be beneficial not just to the students of both these institutes, but also to the general muslim populas, who will get caught up in the debate on which scholars to follow.


With that introduction, I will now post some beneficial khutbahs from someone I would not have considered listening to before I read this letter. I tend towards the Zaytuna/Sheikh Hamza side of affairs, and am generally wary about learning from someone who is more salafi in orientation. However, I have found the teachers from alMaghrib are very good speakers, and while I may disagree with some of what they teach, the majority overall is quite beneficial.

Alhamduililah, Yasir Qadhi has an excellent khutbah entitled I Have Only Been Sent to Perfect Good Manners. Muhammad Alshareef has several on the site, including this one - Sabr or Shukr ~ The Worry Stops Here.

And, from the "other side," articles by Zaytuna staff, especially Peace and Justice in Islam by Imam Zaid Shakr.

Thank you for these posts

I want you to know that I used a couple of your links in my blog They are very helpful thanks!!!

amal

Blog? Gotta link?

yes
My Webpage
I hope it works!
It's a new site my husband made for me... let me know what you think..I can't seem to get anybody to visit it

Wooo, I'm glad I can be of assistance

The layout of your blog is pretty spiffy lookin Amal.

Agreed... it looks real nice.

Oh my gosh I LOVE the layout of that blog!!!! Keep up the good work!!!

Thanks! I told him you all liked it and he is very happy for that please feel free to register and leave comments as you wish thanks for letting me know what you thought of it

Amr Khaled is another person I've been ambivilent about in the past, mainly because he tends to emphasize hijab again and again and again, ad nausium. But, again, I've challenged myself, and found that I like him

In Thy Name We Live was his Ramadan series this year. You can watch it with english subtitles on google video. Each episode focuses on one of the names of Allah (swt). He does tend to go on a few hijab tangents, but overall, excellent, easy to watch.

So, when one thinks muslim gear, hijabs, beards, kufis, abayas, shalwar kameez and galabiya usually pop into mind.

But, there are other options out there if you want to represent. I've got a shopping list a mile long from these stores:

Hijabman
Muslim Tees
Muslim Gear
Islamicaweb - relaunch soon. These are the old school guys. I have the awesomist (is that a word) shirt from them - a mufti guy with a mishaw in his hands striking a Saturday Night Fever pose on the front, with FUNdamentalist on the back

Cute. It should be noted though that some scholars disapprove of wearing anything with a du'a or name of Allah on it as you may enter a bathroom or other dirty place with it.

This thread is probably the best place to discuss this. Sisters, I am getting more discouraged every year as to the start date and stop date of Ramadan. I have also noticed that after 3 Ramadans in America, it is affecting my husband as well. The guilt of starting to fast late, or breaking a fast a day to early is great.

Soooooooo my husband and I made a decision this morning in regards to our future Ramadans. We will follow our brothers and sisters in Saudi Arabia and begin the day that they do. I look at it this way, the Saudi's have ALOT of experience with watching the moon, and I'm trusting them.

We had thought that our local mosque would be a reliable source and at 11pm Sunday, the recording said that Eid prayer was Tuesday. Somewhere around midnight they changed it, thus many missed getting that announcement. We learned today that many in Jordan was also unsure of Eid.

Did any others experience confusion in the start/stop of Ramadan?

Jackie

No but only because I go with KSA.

My husband gets into a fluff about it, but it doesn't really bother me. I guess I'm just a cool cucumber If you're worried about the start time, just fast 2 days before the probable start, and you'll be covered.

I can't say I'm a big fan of following Saudia. There has been talk that they use calculations instead of actual moon sightings. If you're going to use calculations, why not North America based ones like the fiqh council?

Something that I'm very excited about is Sheikh Hamza's new website (literally launched on Sunday) - Crescent Watch. I am hoping that throughout the year they'll add more articles and discussions on the issue.

Husband and I were originally going to follow their sighting, but every masjid we know of in the Twin Cities prayed Monday, so we did too, lest we find ourselves praying eid prayer in our living room on Tuesday.

According to this site, the High Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia actually looks to sight the moon before making announcements.

I went to the first site, Hijabman, and as I was looking at the shirts I actually laughed out loud when I saw the, "Whoops... there goes my wudu"

Cute

A reminder (as much for myself as for others)

Prophetic Reminders About the Importance of Prayer

Prophetic Reminders About the Importance of Prayer

Answered by SunniPath Fiqh Q&A Support Team

Lately, I've been missing my prayers and for no due reason. I don't know what's wrong with me - I just seem to have forgotten the importance. I was wondering if you can remind me of the importance of rewards for doing one's prayers and in a timely fashion, as well as the punishments for missing them with the intention of making them up, and missing them altogether ... ??? I've noticed that in the past, it is this type of information that has influenced me greatly ...


Wa Alaykum Assalam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu,

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful & Compassionate

The Prophet said in this regard: "The first thing that will be judged among a person's deeds on the Day of Resurrection is the prayer. If that is in good order, he will pass the test and prosper, and if that is defective, he will fail the test and will be a loser. (Tirmidhi)

Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As said that the Prophet mentioned prayer one day saying: "If anyone keeps to it, it will be a light, evidence, and salvation for him on the Day of Resurrection; but if anyone does not keep to it, it will not be for him light, evidence, or salvation; and on the Day of Resurrection he will be associated with Qarun, Pharaoh, Haman, and Ubayy bin Khalaf (a great enemy of Islam from among the Quraish). (Ahmed, Darimi, and Baihaqi)

'Umar ibn al-Khattab reported that a man asked the Prophet: "Messenger of Allah, what action is dearest to Allah Most High?" The Prophet said," Prayer at its proper time. The one who does not pray has no religion. Prayer is the main pillar of the religion." (Baihaqi)

After Umar had been stabbed, it was said to him, "As-salat, ya amir al-mumineen (The prayer, leader of the believers)!" He said, "Yes, truly! If anyone misses prayer, he has no share in Islam," and thereupon he prayed while his wounds were bleeding.

When Ali was asked about a woman who did not pray, he replied, "The one who does not pray is an unbeliever." Ibn Mas'ood said that the one who does not pray has no religion, and Ibn Abbas said, "The one who leaves off a single prayer will find, when he meets Allah Most High, that He is angry with him."

Abdullah bin al-As reported that Allah's Messenger said:" There are three kinds of people whose prayer Allah will not accept: a leader who is hated by his nation, a master who oppresses his slave after making a contract to set him free, and a person who observes prayer after its proper time (Abu Dawood).

From Riyad as-Salihin (The Meadows of the Righteous) - An-Nawawi

Chapter: On the excellence of the prayers

1042. Abu Hurayra said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'What do you think would happen if there was a river by someone's door in which he washed five times every day? Do you think that any dirt would remain on him?' They said, 'Not a scrap of dirt would remain on him.' He said, 'That is a metaphor of the five prayers by which Allah wipes out wrong actions.'" [Agreed upon]

1043. Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The metaphor of the five prayers is that of an sizeable flowing river at the door of one of you in which he washes five times every day." [Muslim]

1044. Ibn Mas'ud reported that a man received a kiss from a woman and went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and told him about it. Allah sent down, "Establish the prayer at the two ends of the day and in the first part of the night. Good actions eradicate bad actions." (11:114) The man said, "Messenger of Allah, is this for me?" He said, "It is for every single one of my community." [Agreed upon]

1045. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The five prayers, and Jumu'a to Jumu'a is expiation for what is between them as long as a man has committed no major sins." [Muslim]

1046. 'Uthman ibn 'Affan said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "There is no Muslim man who attends a prescribed prayer and does wudu' for it well and is humble in it and in its bowing, without that being expiation for the sins before it as long as he did not commit any major sin. This will always apply." [Muslim]

Wassalam,

Sunni Path Fiqh Team

Articles related to Salah, Dua and Dhikr

Q News - Muslim magazine from London. Click on back issues and you can read past editions online.

Mount Hira - memorize Qur'an. Posted in the past, but worth looking at again.

Surfing through DeviantArt, and came across some spiffy stuff. Now, in case you missed it ( ) I'm a big fan of calligraphy. This is cool in a different way, muslim graphic design.

You might like this, then.

maghribistyle

I've seen some of their designs in the past and really admired them (haya designs, almuhajabat). I wish I was artistic

She's a Floridian married to a Moroccan. Very nice to work with. She does painting, too. You can make personal requests and she will do whatever you want, calligraphy is her specialty.

Nature magazine's special feature on Islam and Science

1:1 In the name of God, the most merciful, the ever merciful:
Bismillāhir rahmānir rahīm

1:2 Praise be to God, the Lord of the Universe.
Al hamdu lillāhi rabbil 'ālamīn

1:3 The most Merciful, the ever Merciful.
Ar rahmānir rahīm

1:4 Master of the Day of Judgment.
Māliki yawmid dīn

1:5 You alone we worship. You alone we ask for help.
Iyyāka na'budu wa iyyāka nasta'īn

1:6 Guide us on the straight path;
Ihdinās sirātal mustaqīm

1:7 the path of those whom You have blessed, not of those who have deserved wrath, nor of those who stray.
Sirātal ladhīna an'amta 'alayhim ghayril maghdūbi 'alayhim walād dāālīn


The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: 'Allah, the Blessed and Exalted has said: ‘I have divided the prayer between Myself and My slave, into two halves, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.'

When the slave says ‘Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,’ Allah says, ‘My slave has praised Me.’
When the slave says, ‘The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy,’ Allah says, ‘My slave has extolled me.’
When the slave says, ‘Master of the Day of Judgement,’ Allah says, ‘My slave has glorified me.’
When the slave says, ‘It is You alone we worship and it is You alone we ask for help,’ Allah says, ‘This is between Me and My slave, and My slave shall have what he asked for.’
When the slave says, ‘Guide us to the Straight Path, the path of those whom You have favoured, not the path of those who receive Your anger, nor of those who go astray,’ Allah says, ‘All these are for My slave, and My slave shall have what he asked for.’'

[Sahih Muslim]

Attributed to both Sufyan at Thawri and Abu Hanifa:

A little amount of adab (manners) is more beneficial than a lot of knowledge without adab.

Excellent stuff at the Radical Middle Way website. I wish I lived in the UK, or that these guys would start a US leg of their tour.

Remembering the Beloved - Sirah (life of the Prophet) tour

Rama I don't want to take over your thread but I found this....

www.muslimgames.com

Yusuf Islam's new pop album, An Other Cup, can be heard here.

Check his song Beloved

His wisdom flowed from heaven's book
just like threaded pearls,
just like threaded pearls

He left his self to flee to God
and God sent him back to us

He was born to be the beloved-
a will of the Divine
He was born to be the beloved,
he was born to guide

He prayed all his nights alone
and stars and angels sighed
and in the day he lead the way
with blazing words so bright

He was born to be the beloved-
a will of the Divine
He was born to be the beloved,
he was born to be kind

He taught the people to worship
bowing to one God,
bowing to one God

His mercy stretched from East to West
to every man, woman and child

He was born to be the beloved-
a will of the Divine
He was born to be the beloved,


He opened up the doors of love
for every heart parched with thirst
He was a mercy to the words
and unto the human [birds]

He was born to be the beloved-
a will of the Divine
He was born to be the beloved,
he was born to guide


SubhanAllah, a pop song about the Prophet (saws). Who woulda thunk it?

The Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: "Do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well and that if they do wrong you will do wrong. But (instead) accustom yourselves to do good if people do good and not to do wrong if they do evil."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1325

I love this music but I loved him before too.... but I thought he said he was not going to do music again?

http://www.mountainoflight.co.uk/talks_cw.html#7

http://www.mountainoflight.co.uk/PDF/music...stion_faith.pdf


If you watch the VH1 special that's available on youtube and google video, it touches on this a little.

cool thanks

Hey Rhama...you gonna set up a Hajj thread?

Question:
In our offices and workplaces we can hardly find time to do acts of worship and righteous deeds. What can we do in the short time that we can find in our day? How can we make use of it?

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

Time is of the essence, it is too precious to be wasted or neglected. The wise person is the one who pays attention to his time and does not treat it as a vessel to be filled with cheap things and vain talk. Instead, he limits it to worthy efforts and righteous deeds that please Allaah and benefit other people. Every minute of a person’s life carries the potential to raise his own status and to make his people happier, little by little.

If you are keen to attain the highest position, and bring the most happiness to your people, then forget about relaxing and keep away from empty amusement.

In one minute you can do a lot of good and earn much reward. In just one minute, by giving in charity, studying, memorizing, or striving to do good deeds, you can make sure that this minute of your life is not wasted. One minute may be recorded in your book of good deeds if you know how to make the most of it and take care of it:

Strive to make the most of each minute

If you forget it, you forget the most important thing, the truth.

There follows a list of things that can be done in one minute, by the permission of Allaah:

. 1. In one minute you can recite Soorat al-Faatihah 3 times, reciting rapidly and silently. Some scholars said that the reward for reading al-Faatihah is more than 600 hasanahs, so if you read it 3 times you will, by the permission of Allaah, gain more than 1800 hasanahs – all of that in one minute.

2. In one minute you can recite Soorat al-Ikhlaas (Qul Huwa Allaahu Ahad) 20 times, reciting rapidly and silently. Reciting it once is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’aan. If you read it 20 times it is equivalent to reading the Qur’aan 7 times. If you read it 20 times in one minute each day, you will have read it 600 times in one month, and 7200 times in one year, which will be equal in reward to reading the Qur’aan 2400 times.

3. You can read one page of the Book of Allaah in one minute.

4. You can memorize a short aayah of the Book of Allaah in one minute.

5. In one minute you can say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer (There is no god except Allaah alone with no partner; to Him be dominion and praise, and He is Able to do all things) – 20 times. The reward for saying this is like freeing 8 slaves for the sake of Allaah from among the sons of Ismaa’eel.

6. In one minute you can say Subhaan Allaahi wa bi hamdihi (Glory and praise be to Allaah) 100 times. Whoever says that in one day will be forgiven for his sins even if they are like the foam of the sea.

7. In one minute you can say Subhaan Allaahi wa bi hamdihi Subhaan Allaah il-‘Azeem (Glory and praise be to Allaah, glory be to Allaah the Almighty) 50 times. These are two phrases which are light on the lips, heavy in the balance and beloved to the Most Merciful, as was narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim.

8. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When I say ‘Subhaan Allaah, wa’l-hamdu Lillah, wa laa ilaah ill-Allaah, wa Allaahu akbar (Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, and Allaah is Most Great)’, this is more beloved to me than all that the sun rises upon.” (Narrated by Muslim). In one minute, you can say all of these words more than 18 times. These words are the most beloved words to Allaah, the best of words, and they weigh heavily in the balance of good deeds, as was narrated in the saheeh ahaadeeth.

9. In one minute you can say, Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah (there is no strength and no power except with Allaah) more than 40 times. This is one of the treasures of Paradise, as was narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim. They are a means of putting up with difficulties and of aiming to achieve great things.

10. In one minute you can say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah approximately 50 times. This is the greatest word, for it is the word of Tawheed, the good word, the word that stands firm. If these are the last words of a person, he will enter Paradise, and there are other reports which indicate how great these words are.

11. In one minute you can say Subhaan Allaah wa bi hamdih, ‘adada khalqihi, wa ridaa nafsihi, wazinata ‘arshihi, wa midaada kalimaatihi (Glory and praise be to Allaah, as much as the number of His creation, as much as pleases Him, as much as the weight of His Throne and as much as the ink of His words) more than 15 times. This words bring many more times the reward for other forms of tasbeeh and dhikr, as was reported in saheeh ahaadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

12. In one minute you can seek the forgiveness of Allaah more than 100 times by saying “Astaghfir-Allaah (I seek the forgiveness of Allaah). The virtues of seeking forgiveness are no secret, for it is the means of attaining forgiveness and entering Paradise, and it is the means of being granted a good life, increasing one’s strength, warding off disasters, making things easier, bringing rain and increasing one’s wealth and children.

13. You can say a few brief and concise words in one minute, and Allaah may bring about some good through them that you could never imagine.

14. In one minute you can send blessings on the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 50 times by saying Sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (May Allaah bless him and grant him peace). In return Allaah will send blessings upon you 500 hundred times because one blessing brings ten like it.

15. In one minute you can motivate your heart to give thanks to Allaah, to love Him, to fear Him, to put hope in Him, to long for Him, and thus travel through the stages of ‘uboodiyyah (total enslavement to Allaah). You could do this when you are lying on your bed or walking in the street.

16. In one minute you can read more than two pages of a useful book that is easy to understand.

17. In one minute you can uphold the ties of kinship by calling a relative on the phone.

18. You can raise your hands and recite any du’aa’ you wish from the books of du’aa’, in one minute.

19. You can say salaams to and shake hands with a number of people in one minute.

20. You can forbid an evil action in one minute.

21. You can enjoin something good in one minute.

22. You can offer sincere advice to a brother in one minute.

23. You can console someone who is depressed in one minute.

24. You can remove something harmful from the road in one minute.

25. Making the most of one minute motivates you to make the most of other periods that would otherwise be wasted.

Al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

When people go to sleep, I let my tears flow, and I recite a verse of the most eloquent poetry

Is it not a waste that nights go by and I do not increase in knowledge, yet this time is counted as part of my life?
Finally, the more sincere you are towards Allaah and the more aware you are of Him, the greater will be your reward and the more your hasanaat will increase.

Note that most of these actions will not cost you anything; they do not require tahaarah (purity) and they will not tire you out or take much effort. On the contrary, you can do them whilst you are walking, or in your car, or lying down, or standing, or sitting, or waiting for somebody.

These actions are also among the greatest means of attaining happiness, expanding the chest (i.e., bringing relief and joy) and removing stress and anxiety. May Allaah help us and you to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Probably not. I will probably post hajj related info here though.

For example, Sunnipath is offering a free course on Hajj.



Excellent list. We can keep our tongues moist and our hearts polished with dhikr throughout the day.

ISNA 2006 talks

Achieving Balance in a Troubled World - Hamza Yusuf

Balancing Between Faith, Family and Community - Zaid Shakir

Last night, sweet husband and I had dinner at a ME buffet. The tvs had on one of those millions of ME/NA cable channels that played arabic music videos. I made a comment to my husband that during Ramadan, they played Sami Yusuf videos. Low and behold, what was the next video they played, but Hasbi Rabbi, my favorite came on.

Today, I came across a new video. Enjoy! Lyrics can be found here.

So, my parents got me an Ipod nano as a present for completing my paralegal certificate Now, in addition to having more time on my hands once I'm finished with my classes in a few weeks, I can explore the world of Islam related podcasts

Alhambra Productions - Zaytuna podcast, with stuff from Sheikh Hamza and Imam Zaid

Qur'an Weekly - Qur'an recitation with English translation

Alt-Muslim

Ikhutbah

Can one do dhikr while doing other work?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Can one do dhikr while doing other work?


Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

Yes, it remains recommended to perform remembrance of Allah while busy in one’s worldly activity.

Allah Most High says, "Truly, it is by the Remembrance of Allah that hearts find rest." [Qur'an, 13.28]

One of the great early Muslims said, “Everything that hearts find of worries and sadness is because of what they have been denied of beholding Allah.”

What is remembrance (dhikr) of Allah?

Imam Sha`rani explains in his Lawaqih al-Anwar al-Qudsiyya that its essential meaning is to have Allah in heart and mind at all times. Remembrance of the tongue and worship of the limbs is a means to this.

Normally, of course, ends are not reached if proper means are not taken.

The Mother of Believers, Sayyida A’isha (Allah be pleased with him) relates that,

“The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to be in remembrance (dhikr) of Allah in all his states.” [Bukhari, Muslim, and others]

In fact, there is great merit in this, because it is a means to remain conscious of Allah and not fall into sin or get busied by worldly concerns from one’s devotion to one’s Lord.

The righteous have said that, “Remembrance of Allah is the key to all good.”

Imam Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

“Be with Allah,

You will find Allah with you.”

Be with Allah by loving Him, turning to Him in all your affairs, by obeying His commands out of love, thanks and servanthood,

You will find Allah with you, for He is "closer to you than your jugular vein," and He does not let the efforts of those who seek Him go to waste.

And Allah alone gives success.

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

Faraz Rabbani

http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=...66&CATE=105

Muslim scholars call for ban on Female Genital Mutilation

Alhamdulilah. I hope this will be enforced inshaAllah.

Deleted scene from PBS documentary on Muhammad

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=60...dfeed&hl=en

Dr. Ingrid Mattson talks about community in Islam. Makes me miss my halaqa/dars even more. I hope they start it up again soon

RasulAllah (saws) said: "Almighty Allah says, I am with my slave when he thinks of Me and I am with him when he mentions Me. For if he mentions Me to himself, I have mentioned him to Myself; and if he mentions Me in a gathering , I have mentioned him in a superior gathering. If he approaches Me by a hands width, I approach him by and arms length; and if he approaches Me with and arms length, I approach him by a miles length. And if he comes to Me walking, I hasten to him swiftly."

Bukhari

Ring of the Dove - By Ibn Hazm - can be downloaded in PDF format here.

My husband is a huuuuuuge Ibn Hazm fan, but I've yet to read anything of his asside from a short biography or 2. I'm printing this out and putting it on my list of things to read.