[polarbear]

I've started reading the quran in Arabic. I still need the english translations, but I can now recite it directly from my husband's quran with a little bit of confidence

So much easier to memorize things when you can read it that way - I've finally memorized more than 3 suras You know the short ones at the back and al-fatiha

They're probably the same three suras that I use in my salat! lol. Those are the only ones I know aside from Al Fatima.

I've been listening to THIS this morning but they're too short and it's a pain to have to keep clicking on the next one to listen to.

how to pray, al-fatiha, and these three suras are the first things taught to any new muslim. The three suras are the last in the quran and also the shortest with alot of repeating words.

I had to find a page of something in arabic to read aloud in front of the class for my arabic final this week, and the quran has everything vocalized (with the vowels on it) and most modern arabic doesn't. So I went to my husband's quran to see if it was doable for me - and yay very easy for me to recite

Good for you! There was a seminar that I didn't go to last year that a few of the women in my group at the mosque went to and after just one night they were able to at least attempt to read it in Arabic and they did sooo good! Now I wish I had gone with them!

First step to reading arabic is knowing the letters and how to pronounce them. This book was the one that helped me write arabic (aka - know the letters) and it has descpritions and examples with english words on how to sound out the letters. It's like a kindergarten book with the letters written out in light grey and you trace, then it leaves space for you to try it yourself.

You could even photocopy the pages and blow them up bigger - maby it could be something you and your girls could learn together if they are interested. Your husband could help you with how too


Write It in Arabic: A Workbook and Step-by-Step Guide to Writing the Arabic Alphabet

[HLM]

My favourite is Mashary Rashid Alafasy.... on www.alafasy.com and he has beautiful nasheed too.

Rajaa- its normal to have ups n downs whats important is to realize u re in that phase n work on getting that good feeling again "khosho3".. its normal n its all about the internal struggle; remember the thawab "good points" u get when u try hard (: listen to lessons on that subject it gives u ideas or tips on how to get over that. i know im struggling too these days coz im obssessed with this visa process im guilty of having my mind occupied by it too much!! i need to relax! :S

[Alhamdulillah]

Hey everybody, hope you are well!! I wanted to know some information. Somebody told me that muslims do not have pictures of their children on the walls in their home and are not allowed to have angels (like figureines) in the home. Is this correct and if so is there anywhere that I can read this information? I have tried to find it but maybe I am not looking in the correct place.

Extremely religious Muslims do not have photos at all in their homes....demons live in them they claim. Any statues are forbidden in your home...because people back in the days would worship statues...hope that makes sense.

Correction, religious muslims do not have pictures or statues on display in their homes for religious reasons..... extremely supersticious muslims may believe it's because demons live in them

[nunyab]

My favourite is Mashary Rashid Alafasy.... on www.alafasy.com and he has beautiful nasheed too.

Rajaa- its normal to have ups n downs whats important is to realize u re in that phase n work on getting that good feeling again "khosho3".. its normal n its all about the internal struggle; remember the thawab "good points" u get when u try hard (: listen to lessons on that subject it gives u ideas or tips on how to get over that. i know im struggling too these days coz im obssessed with this visa process im guilty of having my mind occupied by it too much!! i need to relax! :S

Hay thanks... after the approval yesterday I tooK my time in prayer today very slow concentrating on everything I was saying in Arabic and translating it in english in my head and the meaning behind it. I think you are right sometimes we just have other things on our mind and this is a time I must clear and just focus on prayer..... Insha'allah the feeling will come back but the intense focus was very relaxing Alhamdolilah.

[Nawal]

Hey everybody, hope you are well!! I wanted to know some information. Somebody told me that muslims do not have pictures of their children on the walls in their home and are not allowed to have angels (like figureines) in the home. Is this correct and if so is there anywhere that I can read this information? I have tried to find it but maybe I am not looking in the correct place.

Extremely religious Muslims do not have photos at all in their homes....demons live in them they claim. Any statues are forbidden in your home...because people back in the days would worship statues...hope that makes sense.

Correction, religious muslims do not have pictures or statues on display in their homes for religious reasons..... extremely supersticious muslims may believe it's because demons live in them

In my experience...no correction needed...they walk hand in hand. I want to clarify by saying extremist...in any area/religion can become supersticious.

This post has been edited by Nawal: 07 August 2008 - 11:28 PM

[Henia]

Never heard of Muslims who do have images in their homes being called supersticious (demons living in them) rather I have heard that supersticious Muslims have the amulets like Hamza and Evil Eye, etc. Muslims who donnot believe in having images in the homes, fear that the images will be worshipped.

[Henia]

I wonder why Sufis have gotten such a bad rap?!

[RAKASA]

I wonder why Sufis have gotten such a bad rap?!

Did I miss a post about Sufis getting a bad rap?

[Henia]

I wonder why Sufis have gotten such a bad rap?!

Did I miss a post about Sufis getting a bad rap?

No, you did not miss anything! I just wonder why some people say Sufis are not "real" Muslims and the whole bit?! ALot of misconceptions!

This post has been edited by Henia: 08 August 2008 - 08:32 AM

[Nawal]

[Henia]

What? Alot of Muslims dismiss Sufis and Shia as being not "real" Muslims ... so I wonder but anyway forget it!

[nunyab]

ooooooh... ummmm that's a hard one to answer and not have feathers ruffled you know what i mean? But I was so intrigued by part of your question I've been doing a lot of reading about the orgins of Islam and the rift between Shia's and Sunnah. I am having great conversations around this with a Shia friend of mine and it is requiring me to learn more about my religion overall... i love learning and this has been quite a path of discovery of my own path and others.

Sufi~ i haven't started my reading on that yet..and I stress YET cause i will Insha'allah. I've read some writtings but not enough to know anything other than I feel their hearts are beautiful..... my opinion so don't freak anyone please.

lol.... Rajaa

[S and S]

ooooooh... ummmm that's a hard one to answer and not have feathers ruffled you know what i mean? But I was so intrigued by part of your question I've been doing a lot of reading about the orgins of Islam and the rift between Shia's and Sunnah. I am having great conversations around this with a Shia friend of mine and it is requiring me to learn more about my religion overall... i love learning and this has been quite a path of discovery of my own path and others.

Sufi~ i haven't started my reading on that yet..and I stress YET cause i will Insha'allah. I've read some writtings but not enough to know anything other than I feel their hearts are beautiful..... my opinion so don't freak anyone please.

lol.... Rajaa

I'm with you on that one Rajaa. I think Sufis have beautiful hearts, at least from the things I have read about them, but I keep meaning to read something more in depth. I told my father about sufis (at least what I know) and he got really interested. My father is agnostic so I was suprised he wanted to know more.

[Nawal]

What? Alot of Muslims dismiss Sufis and Shia as being not "real" Muslims ... so I wonder but anyway forget it!

I didn't mean it that way silly!! LOL I meant, none of us would mention that (or not those of us active enough on here! ) I have seen so many debates on it....we could share some articles if you wanted!

[Nawal]

ooooooh... ummmm that's a hard one to answer and not have feathers ruffled you know what i mean? But I was so intrigued by part of your question I've been doing a lot of reading about the orgins of Islam and the rift between Shia's and Sunnah. I am having great conversations around this with a Shia friend of mine and it is requiring me to learn more about my religion overall... i love learning and this has been quite a path of discovery of my own path and others.

Sufi~ i haven't started my reading on that yet..and I stress YET cause i will Insha'allah. I've read some writtings but not enough to know anything other than I feel their hearts are beautiful..... my opinion so don't freak anyone please.

lol.... Rajaa

No one should freak Rajaa It's your opinion and you're entitled to it!