Death

Islam doesn't differentiate on the basis of skin color

Every one is equal before Allah. The deeds make a person superior or inferior.

This is not Islam....

A Nice Thought....

The Muslimah....

What does Islam mean?

Supplication....

Relating to women's wudoo

What is the way in which a woman should wipe her head when doing wudoo’?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The way in which a woman – and a man whose hair is long – should wipe the head when doing wudoo’ is what is narrated in the hadeeth of al-Rubayyi’ bint Mu’awwidh (may Allaah be pleased with her). Ahmad (26484) and Abu Dawood (128) narrated from her that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did wudoo’ in her house, and he wiped his entire head from the crown of the head, all the way to the back of the head, and he did not disturb or ruffle the hair. Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
What is meant by the “crown of the head” is the top of the head, i.e., start wiping from top to bottom.
Al-‘Iraaqi said: What is meant is that he would start wiping from the top of the head to the bottom, and he did that on each side. End quote from ‘Awn al-Ma’bood.
Another well known way of wiping has also been narrated, which is to wipe the hair with both hands from front to back, then to bring the hands back to the place where one started.
But this method leads to ruffling the hair, and the preferred method for women is to wipe the head in the first manner, or to wipe from the front to the back of the head and not to bring the hands back again.
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Mughni (1/87): If the one who has hair fears that it may be ruffled if he brings his hands back over his head, then he may not do that. This was stated by Ahmad. It was said to him: How should the one who has hair down to his shoulders wipe (his head) during wudoo’? He wiped his head once and said: Like this, so as to avoid ruffling his hair, i.e., he should pass his hands to the back of his head and not bring them forward again.
If he wishes he may wipe his head, as it was narrated from al-Rubayyi’ that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did wudoo’ in her house, and he wiped his entire head from the parting on each side to the back, and he did not disturb or ruffle the hair. Narrated by Abu Dawood. Ahmad was asked: How should a woman wipe her hair? He said: Like this; and he put his hand in the middle of his head, then drew it forwards, then he lifted it and put it where he had started, then he drew it backwards. Whatever he wipes it after wiping what is obligatory is good enough.
And Allaah knows best.

The Miracle called Aazaan!

Amazing as it sounds, but fortunately for the Muslims of the world, it is an established fact. Go on reading please.
Have a look at a map of the world and you will find Indonesia on the eastern side of the earth. The major cities of Indonesia are Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Saibil. As soon as dawn breaks on the eastern side of Saibil, at approximately 5:30 am local time, Fajar Aazaan begins.Thousands of Muazzins in Indonesia begin reciting the Aazaan.The process advances towards West Indonesia. One and a half hours after the Aazaan has been completed in Saibil, it echoes in Jakarta. Sumatra then follows suit and before this auspicious process of calling Aazaan ends in Indonesia, it has already begun in Malaysia.
Burma is next in line, and within an hour of its beginning in Jakarta, it reaches Dacca, the capital city of Bangladesh. After Bangladesh, it has already prevailed in western India, from Calcutta to Srinagar.It then advances towards Bombay and the environment of entire India resounds with this proclamation. Srinagar and Sialkot (a north city in Pakistan) have the same timing for Aazaan. The time difference between Sialkot, Quetta, and Karachi is forty minutes, and within this time,Fajar Aazaan is heard throughout Pakistan. Before it ends there, it has already begun in Afghanistan and Muscat. The time difference between Muscat and Baghdad is one hour. Aazaan resounds during this one hour in the environments of Hijaaz-e-Muqaddas (Holy cities of Makkah and Madinah), Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq.
The time difference between Baghdad and Alexandria in Egypt is again one hour. Aazaan continues to resound in Syria, Egypt, Somalia and Sudan during this hour. The time difference between eastern and western Turkey is one and a half hours, and during this time it is echoed with the call to prayer.
Alexandria and Tripoli (capital of Libya) are located at one hour's difference. The process of calling Aazaan thus continues throughout the whole of Africa. Therefore, the proclamation of the 'Tawheed' and 'Risaalat' that had begun in Indonesia reaches the Eastern Shore of the Atlantic Ocean after nine and half hours.

Prior to the Aazaan reaching the shores of the Atlantic, the process
of 'Zohar Aazaan' has already started in east Indonesia, and before
it reaches Dacca, 'Asr Aazaan' has started.
This has hardly reached Jakarta one and half hours later, the time of 'Maghrib' becomes due, and no sooner has 'Maghrib' time reached Sumatra,the time for calling 'Isha Aazaan' has commenced in Saibil!
When the Muazzins of Indonesia are calling out 'Fajar Aazaan', the AfricanMuazzins are calling the Aazaan for Isha.
If we were to ponder over this phenomenon thoughtfully, we would conclude the amazing fact that there is not even a single moment when hundreds of thousands of Muazzins around the world are not reciting the Aazaan on the surface of this earth. Even as you read this material right now, you can be sure there are atleast thousands of people who are hearing and recitingthe Aazaan!!!

Preparing for Ramadan

Among the best ways of preparing for the month of Ramadaan are:
1 –Sincere repentance
This is obligatory at all times, but because of the approach of a great and blessed month, it is even more important to hasten to repent from sins between you and your Lord, and between you and other people by giving them their rights, so that when the blessed month begins you may busy yourself with acts of worship with a clean heart and peace of mind. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful”
[al-Noor 24:31]
It was narrated from al-Agharr ibn Yasaar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O people, repent to Allaah for I repent to Him one hundred times each day.” Narrated by Muslim (2702).
2 –Du’aa’ (supplication)
It was narrated from some of the salaf that they used to pray to Allaah for six months that they would live until Ramadaan, then they would pray for five months afterwards that He would accept it from them.
The Muslim should ask his Lord to let him live until Ramadaan with a strong religious commitment and good physical health, and he should ask Him to help him obey Him during the month, and ask Him to accept his good deeds from Him.
3 – Rejoicing at the approach of the blessed month
The arrival of Ramadaan is one of the great blessings that Allaah bestows upon His Muslim slave, because Ramadaan is one of the occasions of good in which the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed. It is the month of the Qur’aan and of decisive battles in the history of our religion.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say: ‘In the Bounty of Allaah, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islam and the Qur’aan); —therein let them rejoice.’ That is better than what (the wealth) they amass”
[Yoonus 10:58]
4 – Discharging the duty of any outstanding obligatory fasts
It was narrated that Abu Salamah said: I heard ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) say: I would owe fasts from the previous Ramadaan and I would not be able to make them up except in Sha’baan.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1849) and Muslim (1146).
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
From her keenness to do that in Sha’baan it may be understood that it is not permissible to delay making them up until another Ramadaan begins.
Fath al-Baari (4/191).
5 – Seeking knowledge in order to be able to follow the rulings on fasting and to understand the virtues of Ramadaan.
6 – Hastening to complete any tasks that may distract the Muslim from doing acts of worship.
7 – Sitting with one’s family members – wife and children – to tell them of the rulings on fasting and encourage the young ones to fast.
8 – Preparing some books which can be read at home or given to the imam of the mosque to read to the people during Ramadaan.
9 – Fasting some of the month of Sha’baan in preparation for fasting Ramadaan.
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast until we said: He will not break his fast, and he used not to fast until we said: He will not fast. And I never saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) complete a month of fasting except Ramadaan, and I never saw him fast more in any month than in Sha’baan.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1868) and Muslim (1156).
It was narrated that Usaamah ibn Zayd said: I said: O Messenger of Allaah, I do not see you fasting in any month as you fast in Sha’baan? He said: “That is a month that people neglect between Rajab and Ramadaan, but it is a month in which people’s deeds are taken up to the Lord of the Worlds and I would like my deeds to be taken up when I am fasting.”
Narrated by al-Nasaa’i (2357); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i.
This hadeeth explains the wisdom behind fasting in Sha’baan, which is that it is a month in which deeds are taken up (to Allaah). Some of the scholars mentioned another reason, which is that this fasting is like Sunnah prayers offered beforehand in relation to the obligatory prayer; they prepare the soul for performing the obligatory action, and the same may be said of fasting Sha’baan before Ramadaan.
10 – Reading Qur’aan
Salamah ibn Kuhayl said: It was said that Sha’baan was the month of the Qur’aan readers.
When Sha’baan began, ‘Amr ibn Qays would close his shop and free his time for reading Qur’aan.

Dawah

Da’wah is an Arabic term meaning “invite” or “invitation”. Muslim who practices dawah, either as a religious worker or in a volunteer community effort, is called a Da’ee or Da`i.A da’i is thus a person who invites people to understand Islam.
An important matter for Muslims to realize is that da`wah is an obligation upon them.
Allah (s.w.t.) says in the Qur’aan:
“Invite to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.” (Qur’aan, Chapter 16, Verse 125)
“Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoiningal-ma`roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are successful.” [Qur'aan, Chapter 3, Verse 104]
The propagation of Islam was the mission of all the prophets and messengers of Allah. There was never a prophet who was not a preacher and teacher. All of them preached the same message: ‘Worship Allah, you have no other god but Him.’ They all called to their people saying: ‘I do not seek any reward from you for this work.’
Allah (s.w.t) also says:‘Call thou [all mankind] unto thy Sustainer’s path with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in the most kindly manner.’ (Qur’an, Chapter 16, Verse 125)
May Allah give us all guidance, and protect us from misguidance, and treat us with His grace and mercy, surely He is the Most Worthy of taqwa and forgiveness.

Hijab

Misconceptions about Hijab:

1.Hijab is a symbol of ‘male dominance’If you think Hijab is an act of submission, you are right! It is a way to submit to God. Like any other act of worship, the rewards of Hijab come only when it is done for Allah alone.

2.Hijab is a ‘cultural thing’From remote villages to cosmopolitan mega cities, women all across the world, from every ethnic background, wear Hijab. Do all of these women cling to old cultural practices? Hijab, the internal and external aspects, take understanding, training and determination. Since the purpose of Hijab is to please Allah, doing it for tradition is wrong.

3.Hijab is a ‘challenge to the political system’While Hijab may have political implications, as evident in the banning of Hijab in certain countries, Muslim women who choose to practice Hijab are not doing it to challenge the political system. Islam encourages men and women to observe modesty in private and public life. Hijab is an individual’s act of faith and religious expression.

Advantages of Hijab

I am liberated from slavery to ‘physical perfection’ – Society makes women desire to become ‘perfect objects’. The multitudes of alluring fashion magazines and cosmetic surgeries show women’s enslavement to beauty. The entertainment industry pressures teens to believe that for clothes, less is better. When we wear Hijab, we vow to liberate ourselves from such desires and serve only God.


I don’t let others judge me by my hair and curves! – In schools and professional environments, women are often judged by their looks or bodies—characteristics they neither chose nor created. Hijab forces society to judge women for their value as human beings, with intellect, principles, and feelings. A woman in Hijab sends a message, “Deal with my brain, not my body!”


I feel empowered and confident – In contrast to today’s teenage culture, where anorexia and suicide are on the rise, as women attempt to reach an unattainable ideal of beauty, Hijab frees a woman from the pressure to ‘fit in’. She does not have to worry about wearing the right kind of jeans or the right shade of eyeshadow. She can feel secure about her appearance because she cares to please only Allah.


I feel the bond of unity – Hijab identifies us as Muslims and encourages other Muslim sisters to greet us with the salutation of peace, “Assalamu Alaikum”. Hijab draws others to us and immerses us in good company.

More on Hijab:
In some Arabic-speaking countries and Western countries, the word hijab primarily refers to women’s head and body covering, but in Islamic scholarship, hijab is given the wider meaning of modesty, privacy, and morality. The word used in the Qur’an for a headscarf or veil is khimār.
‘Those who harass believing men and believing women undeservedly, bear (on themselves)a calumny and a grievous sin. O Prophet! Enjoin your wives, your daughters, and the wives of true believers that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad) That is most convenient, that they may be distinguished and not be harassed. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’(Qur’an 33:58-59)
Proper Hijab means loose and opaque clothes. Clothes should not be alluring or similar to the clothing of men. What about guys? Islam outlines a modest dress code for men and women. The requirements are different based on the obvious physiological and psychological differences between the two genders.
Hijab does not apply only to clothes. It is a state of mind, behaviour, and lifestyle. Hijab celebrates a desirable quality called Haya (modesty), a deep concern for preserving one’s dignity. Haya is a natural feeling that brings us pain at the very idea of committing a wrong.
The Prophet (s.a.w.) said:“Every religion has a distinct call. For Islam it is Haya (modesty).”

Woman

An awesome picture about the value of women in Islam

Life on Earth

This Lifetime on Earth is so short, but we always find ourselves preparing so much for this lifetime.
We forget that the life of the aakhirat is going to last FOREVER!
FOREVER!
FOREVER!
We can't even imagine that.
However, look at the lifetime on this earth in this way:

When a baby is born, we give the azaan in his ear.
And before burial there is Salah .
So the lifetime of this earth is as short as the time between the azaan for a prayer and the actual
prayer.
That's a good thought right? let's keep that in mind!

Forgiveness

Say: O My servants who have transgressed against their own souls, despair not of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah az-Zumar 39:53)

Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people. (Surah Yusuf 12:87)

Plucking of eyebrows

In al-Saheeh, it was reported that Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “Allaah has cursed the women who do tattoos and those who have this done, the women who pluck eyebrows and those who have this done, and the women who file their teeth and change the creation of Allaah.” Then he said: “Should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed, when it says in the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning): ‘… And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, abstain (from it)…’ [al-Hashr 59:7]”

Allah

Vander Hoven, a psychologist from Netherlands, announced his new discovery about the effect of reading the Qur'aan and repeating the word ALLAH both on patients and on normal persons. The Dutch professor confirms his discovery with studies and research applied on many patients over a period of three years. Some of his patients were non-Muslims, others do not speak Arabic and were trained to pronounce the word 'ALLAH' clearly; the result was great, particularly on those who suffer from dejection and tension. Al Watan, a Saudi daily reported that the psychologist was quoted to say that Muslims who can read Arabic and who read the Quran regularly could protect themselves from psychological diseases. The psychologist explained how each letter in the word 'ALLAH' affects healing of psychological diseases. He pointed out in his research that pronouncing the first letter in the word 'ALLAH' which is the letter (A), released from the respiratory system, controls breathing. He added that pronouncing the velar consonant (L) in the Arabic way, with the tongue touching slightly the upper part of the jaw producing a short pause and then repeating the same pause constantly, relaxes the aspiration. Also, pronouncing the last letter which is the letter (H) makes a contact between the lungs and the heart and in turn this contact controls the heartbeat. What is exciting in the study is that this psychologist is a non-Muslim, but interested in Islamic sciences and searching for the secrets of the HolYQuran Allah, The Great and Glorious, says, We will show them Our signs in the universe and in their ownselves, until it becomes manifest to (remember me in ur Dua) ALLAHU AKBAR.... Allah is great !

Perfume

When a woman wears perfume, the ruling depends on the situation:
1 –
Using perfume for the husband.
This is mustahabb and recommended, because it is part of treating him kindly, and it helps to increase love between the spouses, when each of them pays attention to what the other likes.
Al-Mannaawi said in Fayd al-Qadeer (3/190):
As for putting on perfume and adorning herself for her husband, it is required and is something that is liked. One of the wise men said: For a woman to adorn herself and put on perfume for her husband is one of the strongest causes of love and affection between them, and wards off dislike and disdain, because the eye is the pioneer of the heart; if the eye looks at something attractive, the message will reach his heart and love will be created, but if it looks at something ugly or that it does not like of outfits or garments, that that message will reach the heart and dislike and disdain will be created. Hence the advice that Arab women gave to one another was: Beware of letting your husband see anything that does not please him or letting him smell anything from you that he finds off-putting. End quote.
2 –
Putting on perfume and going out with the aim of letting non-mahram men smell it. This is haraam, and is a major sin.
It was narrated from Abu Moosa (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If a woman puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, then she is such and such,” and he spoke sternly - meaning an adulteress. Narrated by Abu Dawood (4173) and al-Tirmidhi (2786); classed as saheeh by Ibn Daqeeq al-Eid in al-Iqtiraah (126) and by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
al-Mannaawi said in Fayd al-Qadeer (1/355):
“She is an adulteress” means: because of that she is exposed to zina, and implementing the means that lead to it and calling those who seek it. Hence she is called an adulteress in a metaphorical sense, because desire may prevail and real zina may take place. Her passing by men is likened to her sitting in their path so that they pass by her. End quote.
3 –
If she puts on perfume and goes out, and thinks it most likely that she will pass by a group in which there will be men who will smell her perfume and fragrance, this is also haraam, even if she does not intend to tempt men and that is not her aim, because this action is a fitnah (temptation) in and of itself. There is also an indication in sharee’ah that it is haraam and not allowed.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islâm), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful”
[al-Noor 24:31]
So women are forbidden to show their adornments to non-mahram men, and perfume is undoubtedly one of the woman’s adornments, so it is included in this prohibition.
And it was narrated that Zaynab, the wife of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood, said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to us: “If one of you attends the mosque, let her not put on perfume.” Narrated by Muslim (443).
If the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade women to go out to the mosque wearing perfume, because men will usually smell some of the fragrance because of close proximity and there being no barrier between men and woman, then it is more likely that women are not allowed to go out to the marketplace and gatherings wearing perfume, although it is not regarded as a major sin, rather it is something that is clearly haraam.
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami said in al-Zawaajir ‘an Iqtiraab al-Kabaa’ir (2/71-72):
The ahaadeeth which count it as a major sin should be interpreted as meaning that this applies if the fitnah is certainly there; when there is merely the fear of fitnah, then it is makrooh, or when she thinks it will cause fitnah then it is haraam but is not a major sin, as is obvious. End quote.
See also the answer to question no. 7850
4 –
When she puts on perfume and thinks it most likely that her fragrance will not reach people and that men will not smell any of it, such as if she is going out in her husband’s car on a trip to an isolated place, or to visit her family, or she is going out in her husband’s car to a gathering for women only, or she is going to the mosque in the car and she is going to get out at the entrance to the prayer-hall that is for women only and is completely separate from the men, then she is going to come straight back in the car without walking in the street, and other such situations where the woman does not expect to pass through the streets and her aim in putting on perfume is to keep herself clean in general as enjoined by sharee’ah. In that case there is nothing wrong with her using perfume, because the reason for the prohibition, which is that the fragrance might reach other men, does not apply.
The evidence for that is as follows:
(i) The apparent reason for the prohibition in the evidence quoted above does not apply in this case, so there is no fitnah and there is no provocation of desire.
(ii) In Sunnah there is an indication that the womenfolk of the Sahaabah used to use perfume when they thought it most likely that it would not be smelt by men.
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: We used to go out with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to Makkah, and we would apply perfume to our foreheads when entering ihraam, then if one of us sweated it would run down her face, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would see it but he would not rebuke her.
Narrated by Abu Dawood (1830) and classed as hasan by al-Nawawi in al-Majmoo’ (7/219) and as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
This is to be understood in the light of the conditions that were known in earlier times, when the caravan of women was separate from that of men, or the woman would be in her howdah and did not mix with men or pass by the places where they were.
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (10/40):
It is permissible for her to apply perfume if she is going out to a place of women and is not going to pass by men in the street. End quote.
It says in Jalasaat Ramadaaniyyah (1415/al-Majlis al-Khaamis/Majmoo’at As’ilah tuhimm al-Usrah) by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him):
But if the woman is going to ride in the car and her fragrance will only be apparent to those before whom she may show the fragrance, and she will exit the car and go straight to her workplace without there being any men around her, then there is nothing wrong with it, because there is nothing haraam involved. When she is in her car it is as if she is in her house. But if she is going to pass by men then it is not permissible for her to wear perfume. End quote.
If an emergency arises in which some men happen to smell the perfume of this woman, because of a car accident, for example, or a sudden illness because of which she is taken to the hospital and the like, then this is something that is forgiven, in sha Allah, because Allaah does not burden any soul beyond its scope and the shar’i ruling is to be followed in cases where one has the choice, not in cases of necessity.
And Allaah knows best.

Hair

The fact that it is permissible for a woman to cut her hair short is indicated by the report narrated by Muslim (320) from Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan who said: The wives of the Prophet (S) used to cut their hair so that it came down just past their ears.

al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
al-Qaadi ‘Iyaad (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Perhaps the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did that after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), because they stopped adorning themselves and they had no need to grow their hair long, so they reduced the amount of effort required to take care of their hair. What al-Qaadi ‘Iyaad said about them doing that after his death and not during his lifetime was also said by others and it is sound. No one should think that they did that during his lifetime. This indicates that it is permissible for women to cut their hair, and Allaah knows best

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: We do not know of anything wrong with women cutting their hair. What is forbidden is shaving the head. You are not allowed to shave your head, but if you cut it to make it shorter or reduce its volume, we do not know of anything wrong with that. But that should be done in a good way that will be pleasing to you and your husband, and you can agree with him on something that will not be similar to the hairstyle of kaafir women because leaving it long will entail a lot of work to wash it and comb it. If the hair is thick and the woman cuts some of it to make it shorter and reduce its volume, there is nothing wrong with that. If she cuts some of it for purposes of beautification to make it pleasing to her and her husband, there is nothing wrong with that. But shaving it altogether is not permissible except in cases of sickness. And Allaah is the source of strength. End quote from Fataawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah (2/515).

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) said:
It is not permissible for a woman to cut her hair at the back and leave the sides long, because this is ugly and messing with her hair which is part of her beauty, and it is also an imitation of kaafir women. The same applies to cutting it in different styles with the names of kaafir women or animals, such as the Diana cut, which is the name of a kaafir woman, or the lion cut or mouse cut, because it is haraam to imitate kaafir women or animals, and because this is messing with the woman’s hair which is part of her beauty.
If the purpose of this haircut is to resemble kaafir and atheist women, then it is haraam, because imitation of non-Muslims is haraam, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” If the aim is not to imitate the non-Muslims, and it is only a modern trend among women that is considered attractive, then a woman can adorn herself in this way for her husband and appear like this in front of her close friends so that she may look and feel good among them. We do not see anything wrong with this.

Islamic weddings

Praise be to Allaah.
With regard to having a wedding party in the Islamic manner, you have to keep away from the things which are forbidden in sharee’ah but which many people do not pay attention to during celebrations, such as the following:
With regard to the woman: going to a male, non-mahram hairdresser to have her hair done; or adorning herself in ways that are haraam, such as thinning the eyebrows by plucking them, or wearing tattoos, or wearing hair extensions, or other kinds of haraam things, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the one who plucks eyebrows and the one who has that done, the one who adds hair extensions and the one who asks to have that done; imitating the kuffaar in their dress, because usually the wedding dress shows many of the woman's charms and her body, in such a way that the dress is very revealing - we seek refuge with Allaah – and also a great deal of money is wasted on the dress.
Among the haraam actions that have to do with the man are: shaving his beard for the wedding night, which is done on the grounds that this makes him look more handsome, but this is something which is haraam according to sharee’ah; letting one's clothes hang below the ankle (isbaal).
There follows a list of haraam things which both men and women should avoid in the wedding party:
1- Mixing of men with women, and things that are involved in that, such as greeting and shaking hands with one another, and men and women dancing together, because all of that is haraam and is a very serious matter.
2- Taking pictures, whether men do that amongst themselves or women do that amongst themselves.
3- Drinking alcohol or eating pork.
4- Letting the husband come in to where the women are in order to take his wife.
5- Women wearing revealing, tight or short clothes amongst themselves, because this is haraam – so how about wearing such things in front of men?
6- People should avoid spending extravagantly or going to extremes in showing off in wedding parties, because that may wipe out the blessing.
7- The husband and wife exchanging rings and thus imitating the kuffaar, thinking that this will increase the husband’s love for his wife and vice versa.
Finally, both partners should know that the more the teachings of Islam are followed in the wedding party, the more blessed their marriage will be, the more love and harmony there will be between them, and the less problems they will encounter in their married life. For if the married life is based from the outset on haraam things which go against the commands of Allaah, how can they expect the marriage to be successful after that? There have been many marriages in which there were things that went against the commands of Allaah, and they did not last. Fear Allaah with regard to this party and keep it free of things that are forbidden in Islam. May Allaah bless you both. We ask Allaah to give you and your husband strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.
And Allaah knows best.

Common mistakes in prayers

Assalamu alaikum Warahmathullahi Wabarakatahu.....
Mistake 1: Reciting Surat al-Fatiha fast without pausing after each verse. The Prophet (SAW) used to pause after each verse of this surah. (Abu Dawood)
Mistake 2 : Sticking the arms to the sides of the body, in rukoo' or sujood, and sticking the belly to the thighs in sujood. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "Let not one of you support himself on his forearms (in sujood) like the dog. Let him rest on his palms and keep his elbows away from his body." (Sahih Muslim) The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to keep his arms away from his body during rukoo' and sujood that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen (Sahih Muslim).
Mistake 3 : Gazing upward during prayer. This may cause loss of concentration. We are commanded to lower our gaze, and look at the point at which the head rests during sujood. The Prophet (SAW) warned: "Let those who raise their gaze up during prayer stop doing so, or else their sights would not return to them. [i.e. lose their eyesight]." (Muslim)
Mistake 4 : Resting only the tip of the head on the floor during sujood. The Prophet (SAW) said: "I am commanded to prostrate on seven bones the forehead and the nose, the two hands [palms], the two knees, and the two feet." (Sahih Muslim) Applying the above command necessitates resting the forehead and the nose on the ground during sujood.
Mistake 5 : Hasty performance of prayer which does not allow repose and calmness in rukoo' or sujood. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) saw a man who did not complete his rukoo' [bowing], and made a very short sujood [prostration]; he (SAW) said: "If this man dies while praying in this manner, he would die upholding a religion other than the religion of Muhammad." Abu Hurairah (RA) said: "My beloved friend, Muhammad (SAW) forbade me to perform postures of prayer copying the picking of a rooster; (signifying fast performance of prayer), moving eyes around like a fox and the sitting like monkeys ( i.e. to sit on thighs)." (Imam Ahmad & at-Tayalisi) The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: " The worst thief is the one who steals from his own prayer." People asked, 'Messenger of Allah! How could one steal from his own prayer?' He (SAW) said: "By not completing its rukoo' and sujood." (At Tabarani & al-Hakim). To complete rukoo' is to stay in that posture long enough to recite 'Subhana rabbiyal Adtheem' three times, SLOWLY, and 'Subhana rabbiyal-a'ala' three times, SLOWLY, in sujood. He (SAW) also announced: "He who does not complete his rukoo' and sujood, his prayer is void ." (Abu Dawood & others)
Mistake 6 : Counting tasbeeh with the left hand The Prophet (SAW) used to count tasbeeh on the fingers of his right hand after salah. Ibn Qudamah (RA) said: " The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used his right hand for tasbeeh." (Abu Dawood) The above hadeeth indicates clearly that the Prophet (SAW) used only one hand for counting tasbeeh. No Muslim with sound mind would imagine that the Prophet (SAW) used his left hand for counting tasbeeh. Aa'ishah (RA) said that the Prophet (SAW) used his left hand only for Istinjaa', or cleaning himself after responding to the call of nature. He never used it for tasbeeh. Yasirah (RA) reported: The Prophet (SAW) commanded women to count tasbeeh on their fingers. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "They (the fingers) will be made to speak, and will be questioned (on the Day of Resurrection.)" (At-Tirmidhi) The above Hadeeth indicates that it is preferable to count tasbeeh on the fingers of the right hand than to do so on masbahah (rosary).
Mistake 7 : Crossing in front of a praying person. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) warned: "Were the one who crosses in front of a praying person to know the consequences of doing so, he would have waited for *forty better than to cross in front of him." (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim).
*The forty in the tradition may be day's months or even years. Allah knows best.

To judge or be judged?

In today's world, U have to be cool enough to judge other people.
"U know I think there's something behind that face of hers" etc etc.
Well, I am amazed when a person says such a thing about someone just after the first meeting, in which they probably spoke for 5-10 minutes.
Hello?How did u manage to judge her so soon?
And I don't even think it's right, becuz I din't feel anything of that sort.
I mean , c'mon, go ez.... when u judge and most of the times it will be something similar to the above, u will not be able to trust that person.
And also the next time u meet u will not be able to talk properly to that person cuz u'v spoken bad about her.There u have lost another opportunity 4 friendship.Who knows she might have been ur best friend if u had not judged.
But yes, if u r not judging....
U r being judged....
Yes, since I am not that cool to be able to judge like that at first meeting, I am almost always being judged. And even by people who know me well, and from them when i receive comments(made after judging me in their way i presume) like" u know ur scarf shud v been tied in some other way, it's not looking nice as it is", it hurts.(because they probably din't realize that it's their company i value , and i don't need their judgement, and the scarf is not supposed to be an attraction!!)

Why do we judge ? don't say u don't, because we do, sometimes even I do(but never at the first meet), but my judgement is not cast in cement, I change it(or try to) as soon as I hear something nice about that person, or the after some good behaviour from their side.

Don't u hear urself saying sometimes "Did u look at her dress/dressing style?"(what about their company then?U spoke to her so nicely in the party and all u'v got to say is this about her dress, and not about how nice a person she is?)
We dress up in a particular way or tell things just because we know we are going to be judged by that, don't we? We do.... I did sometimes especially if iliked the person whom i knew wud judge me. But i've stopped, cuz if those people can't like the rael me, i don't want their appreciation ta all.
We are losing many close and healthy relationships of ours due to this nasty habit of judging.
We find ourselves asking how come the people b4 our times were soo happy and the relationships were so close. That's because they din't judge , neither did they worry about being judged.

We want our generation to be the same na? so stop judging and ultimately u will not be judged as well. If u like this message of mine, tell about it to ur friends as well.

And if the judging has to be done, I prefer to be judged rather than judge....
What is ur opinion friends???? :)

For ur benefit friends

Since i posted about girls(Islamic duties), I felt it was not balanced, so here is the post about boys.

Beauty

When my profile says simple... u may not realize what I am talking about...
but I am serious...
now this thing about beauty...
Today if u talk about beauty, people immediately get this idea of perfect makeup, perfect hair, perfect dress, and perfect way of carrying ourselves.
But to me if i say I'm beautiful today.... it does not mean any of the above things...
It means... when I'm fresh...when i've prayed nicely......... and I've got no makeup on.... when i do not fear embarassment due to the way I will or could behave...when I'm comfortable...and when I'm with people who really love me and do not care what i look like, and I would be beautiful to them anyway...and when i feel innocent and am innocent.........
I'm beautiful when I feel beautiful...

Never Too Old to Live your Dream

Never Too Old to Live Your Dream

The first day of school our professor introduced himself to our chemistry class and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, “Hi. My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?”I laughed and enthusiastically responded, “Of course you may!” and she gave me a giant squeeze. “Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?” I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.“I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one!” she told me.After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this “time machine” as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.Over the course of the school year, Rose became a campus icon and easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet and I’ll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three-by-five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a bit embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, “I’m sorry I’m so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.” As we laughed, she cleared her throat and began:“We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success.“You have to laugh and find humor each and every day.“You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and they don’t even know it!“There is a giant difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eight-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. “Have no regrets. The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.”She concluded her speech by courageously singing “The Rose.” She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.At year’s end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it’s never too late to be all you can possibly be.

-Dan Clark
(chicken soup)

For women folk

A'ishah Radiullah Tala urged women to take good care of their husbands and to recognize the rights that their husbands had over them. She saw these rights as being so great and so important that a woman was barely qualified to wipe the dust from her husband's feet with her face, as she stated:

'O womenfolk, if you knew the rights that your husbands have over you, every one of you would wipe the dust from her husband's feet with her face.'37

This is a vivid expression of the importance of the husband's rights over his wife.

`A'isha wanted to bring this to women's attention, so as to remove from the hearts of arrogant and stubborn women all those harsh, obstinate feelings that all too often destroy a marriage and turn it into a living hell.

Honouring and respecting one's husband is one of the characteristic attitudes of this ummah. It is one of the good manners known at the time of jahiliyyah that were endorsed by Islam and perpetuated by the Arabs after they embraced Islam. Our Arab heritage is filled with texts that eloquently describe the advice given by mothers to their daughters, to care for, honour and respect their husbands; these texts may be regarded as invaluable social documents.

One of the most famous and most beautiful of these texts was recorded by `Abd al-Malik ibn `Umayr al-Qurashi, who was one of the outstanding scholars of the second century AH.

He quotes the words of advice given by Umamah bint al-Harith, one of the most eloquent and learned women, who was possessed of wisdom and great maturity, to her daughter on the eve of her marriage.

These beautiful words deserve to be inscribed in golden ink.

`Abd al-Malik said: 'When `Awf ibn Muhallim al-Shaybani, one of the most highly respected leaders of the Arab nobility during the jahiliyyah, married his daughter Umm Iyas to al-Harith ibn `Amr al-Kindi, she was made ready to be taken to the groom, then her mother Umamah came in to her, to advise her, and said:

`O my daughter, if it were deemed unnecessary to give you this advice because of good manners and noble descent, then it would have been unnecessary for you, because you possess these qualities, but it will serve as a reminder to those who are forgetful, and will help those who are wise.

`O my daughter, if a woman were able to do without a husband by virtue of her father's wealth and her need for her father, then you of all people would be most able to do without a husband, but women were created for men just as men were created for them.

`O my daughter, you are about to leave the home in which you grew up, where you first learned to walk, to go to a place you do not know, to a companion with whom you are unfamiliar. By marrying you he has become a master over you, so be like a servant to him, and he will become like a servant to you.

`Take from me ten qualities, which will be a provision and a reminder for you.

`The first and second of them are: be content in his company, and listen to and obey him, for contentment brings peace of mind, and listening to and obeying one's husband pleases Allah.

`The third and fourth of them are: make sure that you smell good and look good; he should not see anything ugly in you, and he should not smell anything but a pleasant smell from you. Kohl is the best kind of beautification to be found, and water is better than the rarest perfume.

`The fifth and the sixth of them are: prepare his food on time, and keep quiet when he is asleep, for raging hunger is like a burning flame, and disturbing his sleep will make him angry.

`The seventh and eighth of them are: take care of his servants (or employees) and children, and take care of his wealth, for taking care of his wealth shows that you appreciate him, and taking care of his children and servants shows good management.

`The ninth and tenth of them are: never disclose any of his secrets, and never disobey any of his orders, for if you disclose any of his secrets you will never feel safe from his possible betrayal, and if you disobey him, his heart will be filled with hatred towards you.

`Be careful, O my daughter, of showing joy in front of him when he is upset, and do not show sorrow in front of him when he is happy, because the former shows a lack of judgment, whilst the latter will make him unhappy.

`Show him as much honour and respect as you can, and agree with him as much as you can, so that he will enjoy your companionship and conversation.

`Know, O my daughter, that you will not achieve what you would like to until you put his pleasure before your own, and his wishes before yours, in whatever you like and dislike. And may Allah (SWT) choose what is best for you and protect you.''38

She was taken to her husband, and the marriage was a great success.

This advice clearly included everything that one could think of as regards the good manners that a young girl needs to know about in order to treat her husband properly and be a suitable companion for him. The words of this wise mother deserve to be taken as the standard for every young girl who is about to get married.

It's a start!!

I really don't know wat i want to write as my first blog.
Beginnings are always difficult.
I know I have loads of ideas for subsequent blogs.
sooo keep checking!!