Sunday, 7 December 2014 Muslims Prepare For Ramadan Islams Holy Month

As many families get ready to go on summer vacation camping trips, other families are preparing at home for the most important spiritual observance in the Muslim faith: the Holy Month of RAMADAN. Unlike festive holidays such as Christmas and Mardi Gras, Ramadan is not known for its frivolity-it is a solemn time of year which focuses on the core spiritual concepts and teachings of the Islamic faith. Although it remains mysterious to many Westerners, Ramadan reveals just how much the principles of the ISLAMIC faith have in common with those of the UNIVERSAL LIFE CHURCH. Ramadan has its roots in the story of how the prophet Muhammad received his revelations from the Islamic deity, Allah. By tradition, the prophet received his insight during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, itself called Ramadan. Since the new moon marks the beginning of the new month, Muslims traditionally mark the beginning of Ramadan by visual confirmation of the "Hilal", or crescent moon, which usually appears a day or two after the new moon. Rather than a time of revelry, feasting, and indulgence, it is a time of restraint, self-discipline, and almsgiving, its purpose being to emphasize compassion for the less fortunate and cleanse the soul of worldly impurities. According to Surah 2, Revelation 185 of the QUR'AN, "The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Qur'an; a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the criterion (of right and wrong)", thus, moral and spiritual integrity are central to Ramadan. These underlying values are reflected in the rituals followed by dutifully observant Muslims during the holy month. Perhaps the most important of these is Sawn, or fasting, which takes place during the daylight hours, a time devoted to prayer and meditation. Traditionally, families partake in a pre-dawn meal call Suhoor and an evening meal following dusk called Iftar. Also important is giving to the poor. For followers of Islam, this consists of an obligatory donation called Zakat as well as a voluntary donation called Sadaqa. Together, fasting and almsgiving constitute two of the five pillars of Islam. Traditionally, exceptions to fasting are made for travelers, the ill, pregnant women, children, and others. It may be surprising how much the principles of Ramadan overlap with those of UNIVERSAL LIFE CHURCH MINISTERS, who belong to many different faith traditions. Just as Muslims emphasize the need for spiritual reflection and purification by abstaining from everyday pleasures, so do the followers of many other faith groups. In Christianity, for instance, fasting is also practiced during Lent, and compassion for the poor through almsgiving is a value common to many world religions, as well as to followers of non-religious traditions like secular humanism. To the outsider, Ramadan might appear to be unnecessarily restrictive and self-denying, but to Muslims it is a respite from the temptation of succumbing to unhealthy habits and moral lassitude. It also presents an opportunity for non-Muslims-including Universal Life Church ministers and other ministers ordained online-to better understand a faith which is often maligned in the media. If the basic tenets of Islam's most sacred month can teach us anything, it is the fact that beneath the veneer of separateness, "we are all children of the same universe". The post Muslims Prepare for Ramadan, Islam's Holy Month appeared first on Universal Life Church Monastery Blog.

Reference: pagan-magic.blogspot.com

Sunday, 23 November 2014 Who Is Dajjal Islamic Point Of View

One of the biggest fitnah of the last time will be the arrival of dajjal. Dajjal, popularly known as anti-Christ will be the one eyed human with immense power, the like of which has not been exercised by any human being. Dajjal will be a fitnah so great that Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w said that if HE s.a.w.w found hi, HE will fight him and kill him.

The word dajjal is derived from the word dajl which means falsification. In Arabic, the word dajala means 'to mix', this word is used for the things or events where the deliberate falsification is done. And therefore the word dajjal is given to that one eyed creature because of his lies, falsification and kufr.

The most important thing about the ummah of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w is that we are told about dajjal, while no other prophets told Their people about him. We are told about him because there will not come any prophet after Muhammad s.a.w.w till the last day. there are some ahadith indicating how will dajjal look and what will he do and why is he the biggest fitnah. Below are given those ahadith.

It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Umar that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I found myself one night near the Ka'bah, and I saw a man with wheat complexion amongst the fair-complexioned men that you ever saw. He had a lock of hair the most beautiful of the locks that you ever saw. He had combed it. Water was trickling out of them. He was leaning on two men, or on the shoulders of two men, and he was circumscribing the Ka'bah. I asked, What is he? It was said: He is al-Masih son of Mary. Then I saw another person, stout and having too much curly hair, and blind in his right eye as if it was a full swollen grape. I asked Who is he? It was said: He is al-Masih al-dajjal.

(Sahih Muslim, Book #001, Hadith #0323)

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir told that he saw Jabir ibn Abdullah swearing by Allah that Ibn as-Sa'id was the dajjal (Antichrist). I expressed my surprise by saying: You swear by Allah! He said: I heard Umar swearing to that in the presence of the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him), but the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) did not make any objection to it. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book #37, Hadith #4317)

Narrated Fatimah, daughter of Qays: The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) once delayed the congregational night prayer. He came out and said: The talk of tamim ad-Dari detained me. He transmitted it to me from a man who was on of of the islands of the sea. All of a sudden he found a woman who was trailing her hair. He asked: Who are you? She said: I am the Jassasah. Go to that castle. So I came to it and found a man who was trailing his hair, chained in iron collars, and leaping between Heaven and Earth. I asked: Who are you? He replied: I am the Dajjal (Antichrist). Has the Prophet of the unlettered people come forth now? I replied: Yes. He said: Have they obeyed him or disobeyed him? I said: No, they have obeyed him. He said: That is better for them. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book #37, Hadith #4311)

And there is a ling hadith (Sahih Muslim, Book #041, Hadith #7015), which describes the dajjal, his appearance and how will he be killed. This liar will be killed by the hands of ESA a.s. this falsifier will be so confident and people will obey him so much that they will even believe him as god when he will say that he is god. Those who will reject him will suffer but for them is the true reward of ALLAH swt waiting because they will be the people who will not fell prey to that liar.

All we need is to fear that time of tribulation and test in which many people will not pass. The present system is preparing for the arrival of dajjal. We live in the world run by interest money. Rich are getting richer and they are preparing to welcome their master, the dajjal.

Tuesday, 2 September 2014 Nationalist Ulema Of India Importing Wahhabism

By R. Upadhyay

Syed Babar Ashraf Kachochavi, the evocative of All India Ulema and Masheikh Chart (AIUMB) in its Mahapanchayat (Seminar) available in Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) on October 16, 2011called upon the Indian Muslims to disown the Ulema related with Islamic institutions and organizations not quite Darul Uloom Deoband, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) and Ahale Hadees as they are importing a "mysterious ethics" of Wahhabism in India. He said, "they are funded by petro-dollars and aim to filch political power" (Mature of India dazed October 18, 2011).

Of the three organizations which are accused of importing Wahhabism in India, the Ulema of Darul Uloom Deoband and its political forefront the JUH were on purpose as pro-autonomy Muslims by the Indian In Congress (INC) being the Muslim leaders of these two organizations supported the internal escape leap unwilling the British. Being Ahle Hadees is a broadcast Wahhabi story of Indian Islam, the assert for importing Wahhabism impartial adjunct any discussion. These three organizations belonging to the Sunni array of Muslims put on in Islamic zeal and support strong differences with just starting out array of Sunni Muslims broadcast as Barelvis. AIUMB is an bureau in favor of Barelvis who make about 80% of Muslim associates in India and are the buddies of the Sufi tradition of Sunni Islam with casket be in love with of Islamic mystics.

In view of the sectarian differences, it has been a ceremonial war of words in the midst of them but the demand unwilling the pro-autonomy Muslims for importing Wahhabism, a radical interpretation of Sunni Islam which was propounded by an eighteenth century Jehadi, Mawlana Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab for rebirth of true Islamic organization is horrifically a upset of have emotional impact particularly being it is broadcast as ideological mother of the on departure Islamic terrorism all varnished the world.

The preparatory Saudi king had an compliance with Wahhab in 1744 and they had laid back beaten some areas of Arabian Bluff. Subsequently, the Convention of Saud sure the obtain of Saudi Arabia in 1932 with the column of the British and continued Wahhabism as its political ethics.

As a result of discussing the merit of the demand unwilling the Deobandis, we may not quite to support a twitter in the ancient times qualifications of the Deobandi Ulema.

It is a broadcast fact of the Islamic history that its Ulema order in India complete the Muslim sociology so strenuous that the spiritual aspect of the medieval hope became tractable to political power. Factually, Ulema (Islamic scholars) did not get as far as a diverse class of men into the life time of the Inventive and his without stopping four companions but by the eighth century they knotted the religion and politics appropriate to egocentric view that led to the measurement of Muslim private club in miscellaneous sectarian groups and in come to blows in the company of them.

On the whole, Ulema operates within exact contact of Muslim private club, intelligence miscellaneous Islamic institutions and expressive groups and are accomplished of mobilizing the Muslim associates in view or unwilling the ruler. Their services were correspondingly utilised by the Islamist warriors in their conquests in contradictory parts of non-Islamic world. Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran ascribed the consequence of Ulema and said, "Honorable the mullahs (synonymous to Ulema) can bring the development stylish the streets and make them die for Islam-begging to support their blood cabin for Islam" (www.indianmuslimobserver.com) Surrounded by the order of Muslim lead in the Indian sub-continent, a unlimited number of Ulema from miscellaneous Main Asian countries migrated to this land and clear-cut give or take a few under the majestic investment. Claiming themselves as the inheritors of the traditions of Inventive Mohammad, their nail job was to hint the oath class on the moral values of Islamic supremacy and guide the won over Muslim private club in India on miscellaneous rituals based on Arab traditions.

The highest poverty-stricken part of the assumed role of the Islamic office class was that they did not make weaker in justifying even the obstruct comings and goings of the oath class in lieu of majestic perks and civil liberties and thereby strayed from spiritual path. Interpreting the Islamic scriptures according to the likings of the kings, they acquired vast wealth and emerged as an top-quality land owning sweet Muslim expressive group in course of the centuries of Islamic lead. They habitually interpret Islam as a religion of goodwill but never objected the killings of safe development by the Islamic marauders.

So want India was under Muslim rule; Ulema had surprisingly had any strike with political power but when the end of Magnate Empire, their intolerance unwilling non-Islamic organization showed up and never tried to interpret Islamic scriptures recommending co-existence of Muslims in the organization under a open and mundane configuration.

As soon as the 1857 riot, the British that brought the common Indian private club as well as the Muslims under the purview of new illicit laws. On the other hand the Ulema was not given away from haulage out the hard work of organization with Islamic Flattering Permutation and other Islamic rituals, the British incursion with Shariat (Islamic laws) on illicit offences and alter by the new in reprisal codes affected them as this led to the curtailment of their judicial be in charge of varnished the Muslim private club.

Being the Ulema lost all hopes to even out Islamic power in the group together continent, a number of them migrated to Mecca since India under British lead as Darul Harb (Come in of War). But a heavy boundary of them who were the land owning sweet class and living in the highest blossoming piece in the midst of flow Ganga and Yamuna stayed back and launched the leap for renaissance of Islamic fundamentalism in the midst of institutions. Their leap was focussed arrogant on creating a cultural and an sad border line of Indian Muslims to support a human being whittle of their own and digression from other ethnic identities.

Purpose ideological planning from hate- Hindu Islamists not quite Sheikh Ahmad Sarhindi (1564-1624), Shah Waliullah (1703-1762) and Syed Ahmad Barelvi (1786-1831) the Ulema believing in Islamic zeal sure a madrasa in Deoband in 1866 which was end broadcast as Darul Uloom Deoband. Being Mawlana Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab (1703-1792) and Waliullah had contrived together for some time in Medina they correspondingly had ideological analogy with the exception of for some tactical differences.

Overawed by the British power the Ulema held in reserve digression from political activities and started re-organising the Muslim lots by teaching the fundamentalist story of political Islam. Exercising their witty power on preventing the Muslims from modern intelligence as initiated by a British definitely Muslim Sir Syed Ahmad, they correspondingly remained unconcerned to the Indian In Congress for varnished three decades so its formation in 1885.

The political activities of Deobandi Ulema started immediately in dead 1919 being Mawlana Abdal Bari of Farangi Mahal Islamic homeland in Lucknow in send off for with the Ulema of Darul Uloom Deoband set up Khitlafat Seminar to practice the Muslim lots unwilling the British which were instrumental for the end of Ottoman Empire and the homeland of the Caliphate. In the vastly listeners a political send off for namely Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind was correspondingly formed to protect the Islamic whittle of Muslims, dodge them from modern intelligence and to come to blows the challenge for political space for Muslims in the piece.

Quarrelsome to the understanding of Ummah (General Muslim community) as one nation, the JUH widely spread back to the Indian In Congress in escape contest on its own language and locale. Therefore, they could efficiently mobilize the Muslim lots with the column of the Hindus under the administration of Mahatma Gandhi and launched the Khilafat Conflict unwilling the British which "was not immediately based on a unfitting and poetic ethics, but was correspondingly a achievement in the cultivation of a human being Muslim whittle" (Mushirul Hasan in profitable and Fan magazine May 16, 1981).

Being Darul Uloom Deoband and its political forefront JUH had supported the escape leap led by the INC and had conflicting the two-nation erect of the Muslim League, the Deobandi Ulema were viewed by the Congress as pro-autonomy Muslims.

Repair of the Caliphate, the term which refers to the apply of organization in Islam with Caliph as the intelligence of the state in favor of the political unity of the common Muslim community has been the supernatural dream of the JUH ever so the end of this homeland in in the future twenties of the outlook century. Therefore, they entrapped the Indian In Congress in Khilafat leap in the name of Hindu-Muslim unity unwilling the British.

The Congress had not subsequently assumed the common game likelihood of the JUH as the leap it launched was not immediately unwilling the British but correspondingly unwilling the open-minded and open story of Islam as propagated by Kemal Ataturk of Fold who led a sedition unwilling the Caliph and his Ottoman Empire. The JUH took the taking away of the assumed role of Ulema in maturity of Turks as a difficulty substantiate for them and so raised their outlet unwilling the preparatory way in in Islamic history to democratize Islam.

The understanding of the JUH amalgamation hands with the Indian In Congress was never snap as it chose its break free path whenever they felt that some thing was not in conformity with the ethics appropriate their story of political Islam.

Since the JUH ruined to relinquish the homeland of Caliphate, they started maintaining keep unwilling the INC on the have doubts about that it was an bureau of the Hindus. They took the column of the Congress in Khilafat leap but boycotted even issues of internal view not quite Nehru communiqu in 1926 and fidgety unwilling Toddler Marriage Constraint Act 1929 popularly broadcast as Sharda Act on the arrange that they were anti-Muslim.

They were unsympathetic in countering the getting higher press of the Muslim League and adopted a "turn up the other way rope" being the League exploited the recent of maturity riot based on pan-Islamic ethics of political and religious unity of all Muslims that led to a put away escalate in partitioning the sub continent.

They conflicting the Pakistan leap but were ineffective to flake the arguments of Jinnah which were based on the vastly separatist Islamic ethics which was sternly propagated by them to mobilize the Muslim lots for renaissance of unconventional Islamism. Their discouragement to Muslim League was a tactical move to dodge the estrangement in the carefully worked-out fullness of Muslims in the sub-continent which they felt would high the nail objective of the Deoband to even out the Islamic power and Islamise the piece.

The views expressed by Maulana Hussain Ahmad Madani (1879-1957), the influential spokesperson of JUH in the breezy being precedent mass belied the pro-autonomy handhold of Deobandi Ulema being he said, "If Dara had triumphed, Muslims would support stayed in India but not Islam. Being Aurangzeb triumphed, both Muslims and Islam were give or take a few to aware....According to Maulana, the hope Dara followed was not real Islam seeing that Dara at home to accept Hindus. He (Dara) did not affirm on the lead of the Shariat". (Muslim politics in India by Hamid Dalwai 11969 page 71). "For Madani all non-Muslims are the enemies of Islam and Muslims" (Muslim Nationhood in India - Safia Amir, 2000, page 179). Readers can model their own ending on what sensitive of Islam the pro-autonomy Muslims' subscribed to as confirmed by Madani whose successors support turned both Darul Ulum and the JUH as dynastic organizations.

In 1945 the group which had doubts unwilling INC and its discouragement to Pakistan currently bankrupt digression and formed a human being bureau broadcast as Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and mobilized column in favour of mass.

Had the JUH launched an belligerent make unwilling Muslim League in the take part in an election available in in the future 1946, the private could not support sound 425 of 492 sitting room cold for Muslims which proved that the Muslims were mightily in favour of mass and emboldened Jinnah for donation a profess for Manage Transcript which forced the INC to derive mass.

Factually, the obstinate stand of the JUH on the leap for creating cultural and sad border line of Indian Muslims from its ethnic whittle suggests that their pro-autonomy involve was immediately for overseeing a political space on one occasion the British was ousted.

Mushirl Hassan primarily Vice-Cancellor of Jamia Milia Delhi and a noted screenwriter in his book (jingoism and predictable politics in India' page 35) quoted Peter Dead set against, " the Ulema in JUH made-up the Muslim community in break free India to be headed by its appointee Amir-i-Hind who would awareness with the leaders of non-Muslims in India as matching scarf of a Muslim imperium in India and it would be repeated for the Muslims to cling on to him". Delivery the concern of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan that the Congress was striving to suite Hindu lead in India, the JUH leaders correspondingly assumed that snap column to escape leap was furnish with to Hindu-dominated Congress (Ibid. page 160).

A number of Muslim organisations since 1947 alone when looseness in 1947 but the Deobandi Ulema who stayed back in India connected with the vote-greedy political classes and continued their politics of Islamic revivalism by creating common controversy by maintaining the vastly common rope of Muslim independence in the name of Muslim whittle which was the ethics at the back Pakistan leap..

The oil- affluent Saudi Arabia is eternally frightened of its makeup due to the impossible history of its founder king becoming protector of the two holiest shrines of Islam which recycled to be under the diligence of the Caliph. Therefore, with a view to alias Wahhabism and deliver a verdict be in charge of varnished the Indian Muslims that get as far as the flare biggest Islamic associates in the world it has been exciting Indian Ulema in the midst of oil-earned money power. It has been a part of its political intrigue to alias Wahhabism in India which was possible immediately in the midst of Indian Ulema particularly in the midst of citizens who support been exact to the oath political parties.

In the beginning, the JUH did not not quite the assumed role of the Saudi Ruler in the obliteration of the Caliphate and becoming the protector of the two holiest shrines of Islam with the column of the British. But varnished the being being Saudi Arabia emerged as oil power, its Ulema unseen the Saudi's anti-Caliphate assumed role and fell in line on the stand of the Wahhabi outfits not quite Earth Muslim League and Muslim Brotherhood which were more or less working as Saudi agents to flake the modernizing zeal of Kamal Ataturk among the Muslims in open countries by preaching obdurate Islam. Understatedly, the JUH even unseen the pro-British assumed role of Saudi Monarchy in t completion the Ottoman Empire and obliteration of Caliphate and facilitated the seriousness of Wahhabism.

The comeback of Ulema-power in the flourishing sedition in Iran in dead seventies of the outlook century and the admirably of Taliban in Afghanistan in its outlook decade generated a new spirit of anti-modern be astonished among the Indian Ulema particularly the Deobandis. When supervision the unconventional path of Islamism they support even established to the Islamist world that not quite their Arab counterparts who are under the surgical procedure of transforming the 'Arab splendidly stylish a careful summer of their pristine improper, they chi correspondingly not allow the Indian Muslims to adjust in Indian private club and persist in their leap for a human being whittle for the Muslims.

Definite

Unorthodox from the spiritual part of Islam, the Ulema related with institutions and Islamic organizations not quite Darul Uloom Deoband, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Ahle Hadees, Jamaat-e-Islami Formerly and others support surrendered to Saudi-sponsored hard-line Wahhabi Islam for the tug of oil earned wealth and thereby misguiding the Indian Muslims to prevail on the subterranean path of the hope and destroying the ethnic whittle of the association of Indian Muslims. Due to their egocentric view they do not yearning the Muslim private club to derive modernism as it chi with hostility set off their arrogant press varnished the community. So want the recent Muslim private club in India does not tight the political assumed role of Ulema, the wished-for of this flare biggest religious group in the residents would go to the bottom excited.

AIUMB, even though the official shape of the biggest association of Muslim associates in India, in refusal of any political column, its consideration to the Muslims to disown the Deobandi Ulema may be a inconsequential put into practice. Significantly, no political private in the residents has complete any unlocked effort with belligerent make an attempt to flake the so called pro-autonomy Ulema of Deoband for facilitating the seriousness of Wahhabism with the fashionable list to even out a theocratic organization and conformity to endure painstakingly by Saudi interpretation of Quranic agenda even in this modern age of non-judgmental attitude.

(The poet can be reached at call ramashray60@rediffmail.com)

Sunday, 2 September 2012 The History Of Islam

Every phenomenon whether it is political, social, religious or scientific has a history and a future is predicted and associated with it. World has seen many history making moments in different areas from religion to science. From among those history making moments, some lasted for long and some vanished and buried in the books of history for historians only. But the biggest miracle in the history of the world was a moment which changed the very face of the world and spread like wild fire, or may be faster than that.It was the advent of islam in the land of Arabia where at that time, people of different religions lived together. There were jews, Christians and pagans who used to worship idols. All these religions were living with their own ideologies and due to the clash of their views, they also had to face fights. For example holy Quran has described an incident of people of elephant (surah fil) who tried to destroy baitullah but they were defeated with the divine help. Historians say that Muhammad s.a.w.w was born the same year but some do not agree and say that Muhammad s.a.w.w was born late after this event.Anyway, when Muhammad s.a.w.w was given prophet hood, the fate of the arabs changed. Initially Muhammad s.a.w.w and HIS companions faced so many difficulties but after some time ALLAH helped muslims and their power, strength and force increased. Even when they were few they fought battle of badar with only 313 people against 1000 and won the battle with the help of ALLAH swt.Then muslims fought several other gazwaz and won with a prominent victory. Muslims finally took the charge of makkah the day when finally islam's enemies could not do anything to save their land from muslims.After the conquest of makkah islam grew with great spead. In the time of second caliph of islam hazrat umar farooq ra, he conquered Palestine and established muslim state there then hazrat ali r.a. also sent many expeditions to outside Arabia and islam grew faster from then on.Islam spread in 3 continents and muslims ruled half of the world in just few hundred years after islam came. This success which islam got in so less time has not witnessed by people ever before. Then came the golden era when muslim scientists and scholars introduced new and very logical and practical scientific points which are now the fundamentals of science. It was muslims who invented algebra, chemistry, physics, medical science and even the modern day operation tools were made by the muslims. When tatars attacked turkey, they destroyed libraries of muslims and everything that muslims wrote or did. They wiped out any mark of muslim from that land.Muslims ruled subcontinent for almost a thousand years. After this the down fall of muslims begain. The whole Africa which was under muslims got divided into countries of muslims where muslims are even now living a pitiful life with no basic necessities of life and no future. Indian subcontinent got divided into and muslims got only two small parts of that land. Similarly the entire Europe which was once under muslims got divided and muslims were forced back to turkey which is the only muslim state in Europe. Thus the downfall of muslims was so rapid that once those who were masters are now slaves.But islm is still growing at a faster rate. It has grown so fast that the biggest fear for the non muslim world is now the population of muslims. Britain has now set sharia courts for muslims and it is estimated that by 2050, muslims will be in majority in every non muslim country. There population increase is associated with their growing population which is wrong. Every year thousands of people convert to islam and their families also convert.From the history of islam, we see is that truth never dies, it keeps on multiplying itself, while from the history of muslims, we see that when muslims forgot islam, they were thrown to dust and now they are living in dust under the boots of kafirs.If we want to learn anything from our history, we should learn that our salvation is our true religion, the more we practice it, the more honored and respected we will be and the more kufars will fear us.

Credit: magical-poetry.blogspot.com

Tuesday, 5 April 2011 Karzai Looks For Religious Support To End Suicide Attacks

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=sl&nid=4662 Afghan Take precedence Hamid Karzai flew to Egypt from Oslo on 05 Feb 13 on one occasion signing a Source Semi-detached Agreement with Norway. He featuring in in Cairo to shepherd the two-day situation gossip of the Have confidence in of Islamic Prove (OIC) that began on 06 Feb 13.The 12th situation of the 57-member OIC, commenced as leaders from 56 Islamic nations apart from Syria gathered in Cairo to pierce for a basis to the Syrian challenge. Karzai in his address to the OIC forum requested them to raid alarm and guarantee council house and concerted action to redirect extremists from misusing Islam for their ends and disgrace its image. He appealed to the delegates that "We destitution redirect our mosques and madrassas from particular altered to produce offspring keenness and bane. Terrorist groups destitution not find resolved haven, sphere, aid or tutelage in our countries". He went on to add that religious scholars and ulema on both sides of the Muslim world destitution busily presume the extremists, who are dejection the ummah's redistribute and rigidity. In this context, Karzai referred to the bracket occupied by Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Mufti-i-Azam of Saudi Arabia who, according to a Saudi press release, had held that suicide attacks were prohibited in Islam. "He (a suicide bomber) claims to be a mujahid (holy warrior) in the name of Allah, but he is not. He is conflict in the name of the devil who has tempted him and stated him" to hand over out the brawl,. Afghan parliament spokesman quoted Karzai as arguing that mosques, seminaries and other sacred sitting room were particular blown up and early on boys turned modish secular shells in the name of Islam. Karzai correspondingly held that challenges earlier the Muslim world need not slightly strong biased equality, but correspondingly never-ending hard work to heave secular reserves and bring about financial get to your feet. The Afghan odd cleric Dr. Zalmai Rasoul echoed denouement sentiments so addressing the odd ministers' meeting of 12th situation of the OIC. He described terrorism as particular opposed to Islamic philosophy and religious experience and welcomed the Fatwa or religious finding of the Mufti-i-Azam of Saudi Arabia wherein he termed suicide brawl as Haram or opposed to Islamic teaching. Dr. Rasoul called on the religious scholars to unite opposed to terrorism and people conflict opposed to Islamic philosophy. Afghanistan sideways with Iraq has borne the brunt of suicide attacks. The prerogative had never interested a suicide brawl until September 9, 2001, seeing that the Northern Association Leader Ahmad Shah Masood was assassinated at Khwaja Bahauddin in Takhar Area, by two Arab al Qaeda suicide bombers. Including that brawl, Afghanistan was full modish a new climb of armed tribulation, yet suicide bombing came to the fore slightly on one occasion mid-2005. According to lacking information tranquil by the Club for Struggle Pronounce from open sources, offer carry been 736 suicide attacks in Afghanistan as September 9, 2001, butchery at lowest possible 3,755 relatives. The dignitary of suicide attacks in Afghanistan rose from one in 2001 (the bombing that killed Ahmad Shah Masood) to 736 by September 05, 2011. As per the information maintained by the Struggle Monitoring Found, Islamabad, militants carried out 102 suicide attacks in 2011 in Afghanistan resultant in 675 sufferers. Afghanistan's newscast department the Splendor Directorate of Trust (NDS) simply inside a six cut suicide bomber group in Kabul which was measures to deem an brawl even as the Trilateral Calm Association got underway in London. Also held were four coordinators of the new-fangled attacks on the Kabul Group Control dividing line and a suicide bomber with three companions. The department claims that about 241 suicide bombers, measures to express parliament officials and parliamentary members, carry been arrested in Afghanistan in the farther than two being. Static, NDS believes that the Taliban does not carry the gift to deem elaborate suicide attacks and these attacks are consistent by spy agencies (read Pakistan and Iran) and terrorists (Al-Qaeda and its affiliates), from the neighbourhood. On July 27, 2011, the Mayor of Kandahar Municipal, Ghulam Haider Hamidi was killed in a suicide brawl. This followed an brawl on July 13, seeing that a suicide bomber blew himself up into the Sara Mosque in Kandahar Municipal, butchery Mawlawi Hektmatullah Hekmat, the lather of religious assembly of Kandahar and four others. The mayor and the lather of the citys clerical assembly were any killed by turban bombers in what is whispered to be the formerly use of the mode. Turbans are fiercely-defended symbols of hauteur and district in Afghanistan, making them uncooperative to scrape short aberrant the wearer. At that time Take precedence Karzai called upon the clerics to gratify insurgents not to use turbans and other religious apparel to hand over out suicide bombings, not to express mosques and to make them alert that suicide was un-Islamic. Karzai's hard work to safety inspection suicide attacks customary saccharine impulsion seeing that in November 2012, Pakistan arranged to a price by the Afghan Rocky Calm Executive committee, to capture a meeting of ulemas in Kabul in late January 2013. The meeting was to exceptionally address the issue of suicide bombings and do again the shrewdness that they are un-Islamic and not permissible by the Koran. Static, on December 27, 2012 the Taliban issued a press release criticizing the deliberate meeting as an American hoax and in turn called on the Ulema -- truly people in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Dar al-Uloom Deoband of India, Al-Azhar University circles, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia -- to support the mujahideen, as a suspect of religious post and to boycott the "muddy work it." On January 09,2013 the Taliban self-important Mullah Omar issued a four-page press release condemning the meeting and hint that any scholar who attended would not slightly lose belief but would be "to blame to God." The Taliban has a good foundation to impede, candidly and diagonally, any admission to restrain in the use of suicide attacks, which carry been one of its peak effective and feared weapons. Secondly, Taliban intends to arrange its decent high landscape in religious matters that comes with waging a jihad with invasion of Sharia in Afghanistan and justifying suicide attacks in the name of religion. Mullah Omars press release is a strong memento that as far as suicide attacks are uneasy offer is leaving to be no let up in its manage. Meanwhile the Afghan parliament in the cape of Taliban terrorization and evident Pakistani laziness has occupied up the issue on an worldwide theater in free commotion and prospect that the friendly society religious wisdom on both sides of the borders energy be heard by its relatives.

Saturday, 12 December 2009 Innovation In Deen Biddah

Allah SWT has said in the Holy Quran

[005:003]....This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed MY favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as religion.Allah swt has perfected this deen for the mankind through Muhammad pbuh. all the messengers who came before him (pbuh) prophecized his (pbuh) coming. Finally, we were blessed to be the ummah of the final messenger pbuh upon who, the final revelation was perfected and completed. The verse mentioned above uses the word "perfected". This word indicates that whatever amendments were needed are done and there is no need for anymore amends in the divine religion, Islam. It does not mean that the previous revelations were not perfect, they indeed were perfect in their own times. But with the completion of deen, the matters are also perfected for the rest of the time.

Unfortunately, a part of muslim ummah did not understand this verse and its meaning and started innovations just like the old nations. The old nations were controlled by their priests. Whatever the priests said used to be followed by the common people. Kings used their influence the most to alter the deen for the sake of their ease. This thing continued until islam arrived. Islam made it clear that it is not the religion of priests only and that every man, every person should seek the knowledge of deen by considering it his responsibility. And to not only seek the knowledge but spread it as well. This is one of the reason why we still have the true islam with us. Our book is protected by Allah swt Himself, and our knowledge is still protected by this command.

Allah swt has talked about innovations in deen at many places in Quran, the verses mentioned below say;

[006:140] Losers indeed are those who killed their children foolishly, due to their lack of knowledge, and prohibited what GOD has provided for them, and followed innovations attributed to GOD. They have gone astray; they are not guided.And,

[016:056] They designate for the idols they set up out of ignorance, a share of the provisions we bestow upon them. By GOD, you will be held accountable for your innovations. [046:028] Why then did the idols they set up to bring them closer to GOD fail to help them? Instead, they abandoned them. Such were the false gods they idolized; such were the innovations they fabricated.These verses indicate the following facts about innovations;

1: Innovations are made due to the lack of knowledge of deen. Thus, no matter how much one studies about islam, if he fails to touch the fundamentals of the deen, all that he acquires is half knowledge. Therefore, innovations are result of lack of knowledge.

2: When people innovate, they cross the limits set by Allah swt. This is true. We see that all those innovations which people practice today, they are not only un islamic but also they cross the set limits. Instead of giving food and money to the poors, people spend it in innovations so it true for other blessings and provisions.

3: Whatever is attributed falsely to religion is empty and false. And not only false but when a time of need and help comes, the innovators and their innovations prove to be helpless.

Prophet Muhammad pbuh disliked innovations and said;

Muslim, Book 004, Number 1885:

Jabir b. Abdullah said: When Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) delivered the sermon, his eyes became red, his voice rose. and his anger increased so that he was like one giving a warning against the enemy and saying:" The enemy has made a morning attack on you and in the evening too." He would also say:" The last Hour and I have been sent like these two." and he would join his forefinger and middle finger; and would further say:" The best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the beet of the guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error." He would further say:, I am more dear to a Muslim even than his self; and he who left behind property that is for his family. and he who dies under debt or leaves children (in helplessness). the responsibility (of paying his debt and bringing up his children) lies on me."So, the best of the talk is the talk of Quran i.e. the best thing we have been given is Quran. All that is written in it is true and helpful. Similarly, the best guidance and best example for us to follow is prophet Muhammad pbuh. nothing that our beloved prophet said was contradictory to Quran. Whatever was/is attributed falsely to him is a great sin. What our beloved prophet pbuh did not preach and what we cannot find in Quran, it is no where the part of islam.

Muslim ummah needs to stick to Quran and sunnah. Obviously, we need scholarly guidance as well to understand deen better. But we should look for those people who followed these sources and who always speak from Quran and sunnah. We should not look for those who try to reason their perception and relate it with Quran and sunnah.

Sunday, 5 July 2009 Ramadan Is Not Just Eating And Sleeping

The blessings of Ramadan are many folds the goodness of this month cannot be measured with any scale because this is the month of ALLAH swt. These 29/30 days are so much that we can make lifetime in these days if we worship and invoke ALLAH sincerely. Ramadan's blessings and ahadith and verses are quoted and known to almost everyone around us, but the true spirit of Ramadan is ruined by the new trends set by people.

Just look around you and observe how people spend Ramadan, they know there will be no satan and they will be save from sins but then they also do nto care to do any good deeds if they avoid bad deeds. Ramadan should not be observed only in words, but it should be given importance in real. Eating as much as one can in the sahar and then to eat as much as one can in the aftar is not fasting. Neither all day sleep will serve any purpose or will do any good.

To eat in sahar and then to sleep without offering namaz or reciting Quran means nothing. And to eat in aftar and miss the prayer of maghrib. Often people get so tired from eating that they again sleep and miss even their isha. They seldom offer taraweeh. Is Ramadan name of eating and fulfilling our craze of having different verity of dishes on table?

No, Ramadan does not mean to spend money on eatables; it means to earn this one month in real, in spirit. But no one cares to earn the month rather they like to earn the maximum taste.

Why does one sleeps all the day while fasting? Fasting means to feel the hunger so that we can feel the pain fo those who do not have enough to eat, fasting means to surrender our will to ALLAH swt by feeling the importance of rizq that we are given thrice a day or more than that, fasting means to understand that how our beloved Prophet s.a.ww. and his companions fought without having anything to eat, but a sleeping man cannot understand and feel all this.

A sleeping man will certainly pass the time but his purpose of fasting will be lost, and he will never be able to understand the reason of fasting, the purpose of fasting and the peace which soul feels during fast.

Let us be more concerned with finding our purpose of living by fasting in real spirit rather than passing time. Let us make ourselves muslims, the real muslims this Ramadan by worshiping and by feeling the fast and realizing how many blessings we receive every day.

Credit: crafty-witch.blogspot.com

Friday, 30 January 2009 The Books Of Foundation The Quran

AL-QURaN

Possibly the most influential channelled text doesn't even have a real name.We know it as (The Quran), which simply means "the recitation",The name can also be transliterated Koran, Qur'an, and al-Qur'an, and it is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider to the verbatim word of (the God - Allah) and the final divine revelation - the Final Testament.It is regarded by most Muslims as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language.Muslims believe that the Quran was verbally revealed through the angel Jibril (Gabriel) from God to Muhammad gradually over a period of approximately twenty-three years beginning in 610 CE, when Muhammad was forty, and concluding in 632 CE, the year of his death.

"Furthermore, Muslims believe that the Qur'an was precisely memorized, recited and exactly written down by Muhammad's companions, called Sahabas, after each revelation had been dictated by Muhammad.Shortly after Muhammad's death the Quran was compiled into a single book by order of the first Caliph,Abu Bakr, and at the suggestion of his future successor Umar.Hafsa, who was Muhammad's widow and Umar's daughter, was entrusted with that Quran text after the second Caliph Umar died.When Uthman, the third Caliph, began to notice slight differences in Arabic dialect he asked Hafsa to allow him to use the text in her possession to be set as the standard dialect, the Quraish dialect - the Qurash being Muhammed's tribe.Before returning the text to Hafsa Uthman made several thousand copies of Abu Bakr's redaction and, to standardize the text, invalidated "all "OTHER" versions of the Quran.This process of formalization is known as the "Uthmanic recension".The present form of the Quran text is accepted by "most" scholars as the original version compiled by Abu Bakr.

"According to Muslim tradition, Mohammed was illeterate, however, the first Quranic revelation that came down to Muhammad is, "Read ! In the name of your Lord who creates...." (96:1)It is clear that this is also a commandment.God stresses the importance of literacy in the very first revelation.Furthermore, the second revelation (Sura) is "The Pen", which indicates again the importance of written communication.This makes the importance of literacy even more compelling.If indeed Muhammad was an illiterate man when the Quran was first revealed to him, how could he not" make himself learn to read and write during the twenty some years of his mission ?Perhaps a more poignant question should be, "How dare he not to obey his Lord's clear commandment to read and write?" Being a messenger of God, of course he would not dare disobeying his Lord.Also, in the Quran 25:4-5 there is a verse, where Muhammad's opponents, who rejected the divine source of the Quran, accused him of fabricating narrations. "Tales from the past that he wrote down; they were dictated to him day and night"," or so they alleged.This is a clear Quranic evidence that Prophet Muhammad was a literate man.

CHANNELLING THE QURAN

Muhammed is unusual in that there are detailed and confirmed descriptions of his beheviour when he claimed to receive communications from the entity he called (Jibril)*.

'"The Revelation is always brought to me by an angel: sometimes it is delivered to me as the beating sound of the bell (?) - and this is the hardest experience for me; but sometimes the angel appears to me in the shape of a human, and speaks to me.'"

"'Those who saw the Prophet in this state relate that his condition would change."Sometimes he would stay motionless, as if some terribly heavy load was pressed on him and, even in the coldest day, drops of sweat would fall from his forehead."At other times he would move his lips.'"'He fell to the ground like one intoxicated or overcome by sleep; and in the coldest day his forehead would be bedewed with large drops of perspiration."Inspiration descended unexpectedly, and without any previous warning.'"'Then Allah's Apostle returned with that experience; and the muscles between his neck and shoulders were trembling till he came upon Khadija (his wife) and said, "Cover me !"."They covered him, and when the state of fear was over"'.

All these are symptoms of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.The following is a partial list of the Temporal Lobe Seizure Symptoms ">

Hallucinations or illusions such as hearing voices when no one has spoken, seeing patterns, lights, beings or objects that aren't there.Rhythmic muscle contraction. Muscle cramps are involuntary and often painful contractions of the muscles which produce a hard, bulging muscle.Abdominal pain or discomfort. Sudden, intense emotion such as fear. Muscle twitching (fasciculation) is the result of spontaneous local muscle contractions that are involuntary and typically only affect individual muscle groups. This twitching does not cause pain.Abnormal mouth behaviors. Abnormal head movements. Sweating. Flushed face. Rapid heart rate/pulse.Changes in vision, speech, thought, awareness, personality Loss of memory (amnesia) regarding events around the seizure (partial complex seizure).

Muammad himself could not at first identify the spirit that possessed him, and the Quran mentions him by name only three times.Jibril, however, became Muammad's constant helper.He and the archangel Mikal purified Muammad's heart in preparation for the Prophet's ascension to heaven (miraj), and then Jibril guided him through the various levels until they reached the throne of God.When Muammad recited a supposed revelation acknowledging the pagan goddesses al-Lat, al-Uzza, and Manat, (the Satanic Verses), Jibril chastised him for presenting as divine a message inspired by the devil.Jibril also helped Muammad in times of political crises, coming to his aid at the Battle of Badr (624) with thousands of angels, then telling him to attack the Jewish tribes of Banu Qaynuqa and Banu Qurayah.

There is evidence that Muhammad, as he grew older, was less effected by his temporal lobe epilepsy.The early channelled communications, commonly called the 'Meccan Suras' (sura - chapter), are very different when compared to the later suras, usually reffered to as the 'Medinan Suras'.The Meccan Suras have a beauty and an imaginative quality that is often found in genuine channelled texts (Crowley's 'Book of the Law for example).The Medinan Suras are lifeless in comparisson, (and much longer on average), and primarily concerned with the military and political scheming that preoccupied Muhammad when he became a general and political leader.It has been suggested, therefore, that the early suras were channelled, while the later suras (which were still claimed to be from Jibril), were, in fact, composed by Muhammad unaided.

The Meccan suras are the chronologically earlier suras of the Qur'an that were, according to Islamic tradition, revealed anytime before the Hijrah (pilgrimage of the Prophet Muhammed from Makkah to Medina). The other type of sura is the Madinan sura.Meccan suras are typically shorter, with relatively short ayat, and mostly come near the end of the Qur'an. The division of surahs into 'Meccan surahs' and 'Medinan surahs' is primarily a consequence of stylistic and thematic considerations. Classification of the surahs into these periods is based upon factors such as the length of the verse and the presence or absence of certain key concepts.

THE QURAN and ISLAM

The Quran has much in common with the Book of Mormon.

Both books describe a basically eclectic, syncretic** religion.

Both Mormonism and Islam draw heavily on Judeo-Christian themes and orthodox Christian doctrine, while adding their own peculiar narratives, doctrines and practices.

Initially Islam, along with Mormonism at a later date, were considered to be heretical forms of Christianity - hence the Crusades with regards to Islam.

Later, however, they were both considered by some to be separate, non-Christian faiths.

In fact they are eclectic, syncretic amalgams of various Jewish, Christian and Gnostic narratives and doctrines.

The Quran recounts many of the stories of the Jewish Pentateuch (the Five Books of Moses), including the story of Adam and Eve, The Story of Abraham, and the Story of Moses and the Exodus.

Also included, and coming from the Gospels is the Nativity Narrative, and details about the death of Jesus.

It is obvious that Muhammad obtained his information about Christianity from various Gnostic Christian groups - (he refers to the monks in the desert) - docetists
who were active in the middle East at the time.The question, of course, remains - who, or what, were Jibril and Moroni ?

* According to the Quran, Gabriel (Jibra'il) the angel who revealed the Qur'an to the prophet Muhammad, and sent a message to most prophets, if not all, revealing their obligations.Gabriel is named numerous times in the Qur'an (II: 97, 98; LXVI: 4); and, in II: 97, the Qur'an expressly narrates:'Who is an enemy to Gabriel! For he it is who hath revealed (this scripture) to thy heart by God's leave, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, and a guidance and glad tidings to believers.'He is called the chief of the four favoured angels and the spirit of truth.He is called the created Holy Spirit (Islam), which is not to be confused with the Holy Spirit of God in Christianity who is revered as God Himself.In Muslim tradition, Gabriel occupies the role of one of the primary archangels and all historical commentaries build upon Gabriel's role as the transmitter of the Qur'an.Exegesis narrates that Muhammad saw Gabriel in his full angelic splendor only twice, the first being when he received his first revelation.Muslims also revere Gabriel for a number of historical events predating the first revelation.Muslims believe that Gabriel was the angel who informed Zachariah of John's birth as well as Mary of the future birth of Jesus and that Gabriel was one of three angels who had earlier informed Abraham of the birth of Isaac.These events of Zachariah and Mary can be found also in the Quran, mentioned in surah Maryam.

** Syncretic - Syncretism is the attempt to reconcile disparate, even opposing, beliefs and to meld practices of various schools of thought. It is especially associated with the attempt to merge and analogize several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, and thus assert an underlying unity.

Syncretism is also common in literature, music, the representational arts and other expressions of culture. (Compare the concept of eclecticism.) There also exist syncretic politics, although in political classification the term has a somewhat different meaning.

Docetism (from the Greek / dokein (to seem) /d'okesis (apparition, phantom), is defined narrowly as "the doctrine according to which the phenomenon of Christ, his historical and bodily existence, and thus above all the human form of Jesus, was altogether mere semblance without any true reality."

The Qur'an has a docetic or gnostic Christology, viewing Jesus as a divine illuminator rather than the redeemer of Pauline Christianity.In Sura 4:157-158 we read:

'"And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt ther; they have no knowledge ther save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain. But Allah took him up unto Himself. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise"'.

The Qur'an was compiled in the mid-seventh century AD (around 650 CE), corresponding to the period when docetism was still commonly accepted and taught among some Christian sects.

Monday, 1 December 2008 The 29Th Night Of Ramadan Month

Ramadan in Hong Kong seems to be about a day ahead of most of the readers on this blog. I guess it has to do with being this far in the East. A days ahead means tonight is the 29th of Ramadan and tomorrow, we'll be looking for the new moon. Although, from what I heard at an Indian food stall today was that they are expecting it to be a 30 day Ramadan.

Needless to say, the stall owner was not the happiest man. An additional day of Ramadan is a blessing. We have one more day, one more chance to have our sins pardoned. But for someone whose livelihood depends on selling food, the blessing is potentially hard to see. This, actually relates very well to the last post made by Syed Sibghatullah, about how age tends to take away the joy in worship.

I really think that as we mature and develop reasoning according to the ways of this world, it gets hard to believe. And I'm not talking about saying, "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad (pbuh) is the messenger of Allah". What I'm talking about is for a halal food stall owner in Hong Kong (with majority Muslim customers) to really and truly wish for another day of Ramadan, instead of saying "I hope it ends tomorrow".

I'm talking about for every one of us to believe that giving out Zakat does not lessen our money. Our acquired intelligence and knowledge in this world tells us otherwise. I have 100, and I give away 2.5 out of it, I must be left with less. Right? "If I have ten million dollars, do you actually expect me to pay 250,000 without complaining? That's 250,000!" is our general attitude.

I am the last person to say that I believe in all of this with absolute conviction. May God forgive me, but I have been concious of this for a while now. I can say that I believe, but do I really? My first Ramadan in Hong Kong is coming to a close, and I hardly went for tarawih (special prayers offered in Ramadan during the night) during this month. You must have noticed I went AWOL from this blog as well for quite some time, and I blame it squarely on my workload at office. Working 60 hours a week can take its toll on a person.

Coming back to the topic at hand, what is my level of faith then? My thought process throughout this month with regards to tarawih was on the lines of "there's sooo much to do at office. How can I leave for tarawih?". I say "I believe" but I give up prayers for work. I obviously do not believe that offering my prayers by taking up lesser work will bring me "success". How can it? How can I expect to stand out as a great employee, if I leave work for prayer?

I know that the fact that I am myself writing about it is somewhat paradoxical, but I have been thinking about it for some time and had to bring it up. Notice I say "thinking about it" and really that's all it has been. But as ramadan comes to an end, even if I am, as yet, unable to convert my thinking process into actions, I figure I can at least put it to words and hopefully get some more people to think about it.

I have been through a lot in my life that should make be 'believe'. I have been down on luck at numerous ocassions, all of which has proven to be great for me in the longer run. Times when I would sit in my room crying, I look back upon now and laugh about. How the events that caused me to cry have turned in my favour in a great way.

I have to admit, the All Merciful has been exceptionally merciful on me. Even then, I fail to really believe. I need to, we all need to start. We need to believe that trying to fulfil our duty towards God does not make us weaker in this world. We (at least I) need to believe that going to say prayers at 8 at night does not constitute neglecting work. We all need to believe that another day of ramadan is not a burden. On the contrary, it is a great blessing, one whose magnitude we cannot fathom. Fasting in Ramadan is not about "taking it easy because I feel weak " or "I am fasitng alternate days". We need to believe that believe that each day of fasting in Ramadan brings so much reward that temporary weakness should not even be a consideration for leaving a fast. We need to believe that giving out Zakat does not diminish our money, and that giving away for the consent of Allah actually increases our wealth. God returns us many times more as reward.

And while we are on the topic of giving money in the path of God, why stop at Zakat? That is only 2.5% of excess assets that is mandatory to give away. We should give as much as we can... and truly believe that God knows we are doing this in His way, and that He does not let anyone's sacrifice go unrewarded. A dollar given today will come back as two, five, ten, maybe even more tomororw. And if it doesn't come, our reward still awaits in a world that really matters.

So the question you have to ask yourself is 'do you believe?'. If the answer is yes, the next question is 'how much?' or in other words 'what would you do for the sake of Allah?'. Would you pray, with all your heart that Ramadan not end at 29 days? Would you tell your boss that the client can wait another day since you need to go for prayers after working 10 hours? If you have a business where a large potential buyer says they'll meet with you at 1.30pm on Friday, would you give up your prayer for it? Or would you give up the potential business opportunity to fulfil your obligation to God? Would you give up your money to help someone, seeking nothing in return other than God's good will? How much would you give? 2.5%... well, 2.5% you have to give away. How about more? How about all of it? Half of it? Quarter? Quarter of what you spend on yourself in a month?

Wheredoes your belief starts to shake?

Take that point, and try and build on it; to push it to the next level, and the next, and so on... and pray that Allah gives us all the strength to make the push.

Source: animals-and-shamanism.blogspot.com