Abu Hurayrah's Blog

Peircing the dagger through the lungs of the sunniforum moderators

2006-05-05T13:50:00.000-07:00

The moderators of sunniforum have “challenged” me to find where did people speak ill of Sayyidina wa Habibina Muawiyah RadiAllahu Anhu, and they themselves, the moderators, did not take action to ban such people. I say to them that they are the most unjust of people, the people who delete posts about Sharon, the biggest criminal and ape jew of our times, and the son of swines. Such people who delete my posts and posts about Sharon, posts about our beloved brothers of Hamas. What kind of venom runs through the blood of people who delete my posts, but don’t delete posts about insulting Muawiyah RadiAllahu Anhu!!!!!! Are these people in a position to hold leadership positions? Just a reminder for everyone, ANYONE who thinks its permissible to insult ANY Sahabi is from the people of the hell fire. There is no differences of opinion, so please no one pull out there batil magic wand of ikhtilaf, and start telling me there is differences of opinion.

These moderators have challenged me, and I asked them that if I meet their challenge, what will they do? Will they ban themselves? No they won’t, not at all. They most interesting of all this kufr that some members believe in, is that they are trying to prove that someone by the name of “Sidi Ahmad” is more pious than Muawiyah RadiAllahu Anhu. And these people are not shais, but your so called “traditional” muslims !!! SubhanAllah. Two people have went on huge rampage against Muawiyah RadiAllahu Anhu, our master, and the MODS, didn’t take any action. If I say one thing against Sharon it gets deleted in less than 5 minutes. I swear, I once said we shouldn’t say anything bad about Osama Bin Laden because we don’t know if he did the 9/11 attacks, and I swear they deleted it in no time. Ya Allah, destroy Sharon, and destroy the haters of Muawiyah, your beloved servant.

http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=56680&postcount=34
Sidi Ahmad never refused bay'a to the Imam of his time. Mu'awiya did. This alone is a *major* sin (kabira).

http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=56711&postcount=36
All of these together - at the very least - convince me that Mu'awiya sinned in fighting against Imam `Ali.

Cyanide in the jugular vein of the minute sunniforum member

2006-05-02T08:57:00.000-07:00

Unfortunaltey we have someone in our community who seems to be dedicated to promoting the notion that our beloved brothers in prisons are actually justly imprisoned. Most intereting, is his statement with regards to Shaykh Ali Al-Timimi. He says “as muslims living in the west, we should stand on the side of justice, even if its against our own mothers.” He advocates that Shaykh Ali Al-Timimi is guilty and that he should in fact be imprisoned by the US authroties, who are mainly monkey jews and the sons of pigs. He means to turn his back on our beloved brothers in prison, who are suffering because of us, because we are not fulfilling the obligations to free the prisoners and wage jihad against the ape jews who should rub their faces in the stool of donkeys. More drastic and very much expected, are the unjust sunniforum moderators who allow people to say such batil statements and deviant statements in public which they will never delete. But, they will delete any posts supporting our brothers in prisons and any our brothers in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan. But at the same time, they delete posts that call Sharon (the son of monkey) a “Zionists” with the ridiculous claim that it lacks “adab”. Such are the unjust moderators of sunniforum. I am always so surprised that these people who are brainwashed by the ideologies of some people, never actually tell us what we SHOULD do, but they are very quick to point out what we SHOULDN’T do. It is like picking up a prayer fiqh book, and it only lists things that are haram to do in prayer, but will never actually show you how to actually pray. Here I will inshaAllah mention a few fatawa by our Beloved Muftis in regards to our muslim obligation towards our beloved brothers in prisons, and surprisingly, one of them was translated on sunniforum.
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Question: Asalamu alaykum shaykh. As you are aware many of our Muslim brothers are currently imprisoned in Guantanomo Bay. What is the duty of the rest of the Muslims towards these imprisoned brothers? JazakAllah khair.
Wasalam.

Answer: Respected Brother in Islam,

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakatuhu,

When Muslims are imprisoned unjustly, as is the case in Guantanamo, it is the Waajib duty of all the Muslims of the world to do whatever is in their capacity to free these oppressed brothers.

Together with our efforts, it is our duty to continuously make du'aa for them.

And Allah Knows Best.

Was Salaam.

Mufti E. Desai
Fatwa Dept.
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)
Council of Muslim Theologians.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

28/01/2005
S No.: =====769
Fatwa No: ==27937
Date: ======26/12/2004

Subject: The Right of the Imprisoned

Question: Respected Mufti sahib, as you know the fall of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has resulted in the imprisonment of a large number of our Muslim brothers in the jails of the Disbelievers and the Heretics, where they are being treated inhumanely. What is the right of these Muslim brothers upon us? Please elucidate, may God reward you.

Answer: Praise be to God and Salutations upon his Prophet

In such a situation it is incumbent upon the rest of the Muslims that they impress upon the Muslim rulers the need to make efforts for the release of these oppressed Muslim brothers and they should also make personal efforts for this and if there arises a need for monetary help in this regard, they should not abstain from providing it. Nonetheless prayer should be made that they may be granted patience in the face of tribulation, steadfastness upon the religion of Islam and release from prison. And God is the Greater Knower of what is right.

The Servant Qamar uz Zaman, May God grant him forgiveness.
Dar ul Ifta - Jamia Binoria Karachi
29th DhiQa'dah 1425 H

{Attestation of Mufti Sayfullah Jameel}
"The Answer is correct."
The Servant Sayfullah Jameel
Dar ul Ifta - Jamia Binoria Karachi
29 -11 -1425 H

{Attestation of Mufti Abdullah Shaukat - Head of Ifta}
"The Answer is correct."
Abdullah Shaukat
Dar ul Ifta - Jamia Binoria Karachi
6th DhulHijjah 1425 H

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Question:

Bismillahi Rahman Rahim
InshAllah you and you families are doing well. This question
is in regards to Guantanamo Bay prisoners and other Muslim
prisoners all over the world. I would appreciate it if you
given me very detailed answers with stories of the Sahaba if
at all possible.
1.) What is our duty to these prisoners? I have heard on
other fataawa that it is obligatory for every Muslim to do
everything he can. Please explain to me if this is correct. I
need a juristic understanding of why it is obligatory or not.
2.) What is the Islamic ruling on torturing other Muslims?
Also, what is the Islamic ruling on non-Muslims torturing
Muslim brothers in prison? At the time of the Prophet, peace
and blessings be upon him, what was the reaction of the
Prophet, peace and blessinf be upon him, about hearing the
Sahaba getting tortured? When non-muslims are torturing
muslims, what are the obligations of other muslims?

Jazakullahu Kharian for spending time and reading my
question. I would appreciate it if you post this on the
website so that way many people can see and I would also have
a reference. May Allah Subhana Wa Tala Bless you and your work.

Ma salam

Answer:

Respected Brother/Sister-in-Islam

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakaatuh

Islamic governments around the world should be urged to assist in the light
of international laws on a governmental level in order to free Muslim
prisoners who are imprisoned without a just cause. If nothing is done on a
governmental level, then as citizens, we should only make Du'aa and do
nothing else. The citizens should protest regarding this in a legal way in
order to force their Islamic governments to carry out this task. If in order
to free Muslim prisoners, funds are required, then these funds should be
generously donated.

The Islamic government is responsible to assist in freeing Muslim prisoners
who are being tortured around the world. Citizens should urge the government
in a legal way in order to free tortured Muslims around the world. It is not
permissible for Muslims to torture prisoners. In the time of Nabi (SAW) some
Muslims were being tortured. This was in such a time when He (SAW) could not
fight. Nabi (SAW) persevered during this time. We should also be patient and
make Du'aa for our brothers.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
DARUL IFTA - JAMEAH MAHMOODIYAH, SPRINGS

JOINT PROJECT WITH DARUL IFTA, MADRASAH IN'AAMIYYAH, CAMPERDOWN

A Brother like That

2005-09-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

Shuaib received an automobile from his brother as a Eid present. On Eid day when Shuaib came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. "Is this your car, Uncle?" he asked. Shuaib nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Eid." The boy was astounded.

"You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing? Boy, I wish..." He hesitated. Of course Shuaib knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Shuaib all the way down to his heels. "I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that." Shuaib looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?" "Oh yes, I'd love that."

After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said, "Uncle, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Shuaib smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Shuaib was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Shuaib heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.

"There she is, uncle, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Eid and it didn't cost him a penny. And some day I'm gonna give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Shop windows that I've been trying to tell you about."

Shuaib got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride. That Eid, Shuaib learned what the Rasul-Allah meant when he had said: "love for your brother what you love for yourself".

Please don't kill ants or insects

2005-09-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

Allah does not like more so if it is against a speechless animal. Allah has prohibited us to make mischief on the land. And it is detestable to cut down trees and plants and to harm mute animals. On the Day of Resurrection a man will be question even about the bird that he killed for no reason. So why should one not be asked about burning an innocent and harmless ant, particularly if the perpetrator is one of those slaves who are close to Allah. Such act is liable to earn the displeasure of Allah. The Holy Prophet has narrated to us the incident of a Prophet burning down a colony of ants became the cause of Allah's wrath.

[Imam Bukhari has transmitted a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah The Messenger of Allah said, "Once while a Prophet amongst the Prophets was taking a rest underneath a tree, an ant bit him. He, therefore, ordered that his luggage be taken away from underneath that tree and then ordered that the dwelling place of the ants should be set on fire. Allah sent him a revelation, "Wouldn't it have bee been enough to burn a single ant (that bit you)'?"]

The version in Sahih Muslim as narrated by Ahu Hurayrah is:

[The Messenger of Allah said, "An ant had bitten a Prophet among the Prophets and he ordered that the colony of ants should be burnt. And Allah revealed to him, 'Because of an ant's bite you have burnt a community from amongst the communities which sing My glory."] (Bukhari#3319.Muslim#5567)

Explanation:

The Prophets are also human beings like any other man. They have the same human idiosyncrasies as any other man. Like all human beings they are displeased on being hurt and they get angry. This is what happened to the Prophet told us. Perhaps he was on a journey and had stopped so some where to rest under a tree. There was a burrow of the ants under the tree for an ant never lives alone but lives in a colony of ants. If anyone disturbs it at its burrow, it bites him and gives vent to its anger. Thus, when the Prophet sat there he became the target of the ant. He did not like that and decided to punish the ant. He had placed his luggage under the tree which he ordered to be moved away from there and the entire burrow of the ants was burned down. Hundreds of ants were burnt because of that.

Allah was displeased with this act of the Prophet and He let him know through revelation that He was angry. "If you had to seek vengeance then you should have punished the one ant that had bitten you. How is it that just because one ant caused you inconvenience you destroyed the whole community that was glorifying Me?" Justice demanded that the innocent should not be punished for the sin of the culprit. Besides, this behavior was not consonant with the character of men of Allah.

Lessons and Messages

This incident imparts to us many lessons:

l. It is not allowed to kill ants unnecessarily. However, if an ant bites anyone then he may kill it but it is wrong to harm it without any reason The same applies to other harmless and innocent animals. The Holy Prophet is quoted in a Hadith as having said about four animals which should not be killed. These four creatures are: ants, bees, hoopoes and sparrow-hawks. (Abu Dawood)

Nevertheless, it is allowed to kill the harmful creatures like snakes, scorpions, etc. In a Hadith, five animals are mentioned whom it is allowed to kill within and outside the Haram.

2. It is absolutely improper to burn any living creature in fire. The Shari'ah of Prophet Muhammad has prohibited it in clear terms. The Holy Prophet has mentioned the reason for that, "The punishment of the fire may be given only by the Lord of the fire."
Maybe it was permitted to earlier people.

3. It is not allowed to kill an incdent person against the sin committed by someone else. Only he should be punished who has committed the crime. Allah showed His displeasure to His Prophet by saying, "Why did you not kill only one ant? What was the wisdom in taking revenge from all of them?"

4. Even the ants glorify and sanctify Allah. Allah has said in the

Qur'an:
{And there is not a thing but glorifies Him with His praise but
you understand not their glorification.} (AI-Isra, 17:44)

5. We also learn from this that it is not approved that anyone who glorifies Allah should be killed because, if he is spared, he will go on praising and glorifying Allah as long as he lives.

6. The ants are also a whole community. Of the numerous communities of Allah, ants are a separate community. Zoologists tell us that this very tiny creature is very similar to mankind in its social life and political administration. The ants also have their families and tribes. They are driven by a mutual spirit of cooreration, division of labour and departments of government all of which are similar to human social life. European researcher s have studied them very closely by living near their large colonies and gained valuable information. (TafsirUsmani)

We quote from the Da'irah Al-Ma'arifah Al-Misriyah:

"if an enemy moves towards their colonies, all the ants stop working and turn out to tackle him.... One of them goes ahead to reconnoiter enemy position and reports back its findingsto the main body. After a while, three or four ants march forward followed by the whole army.... They bite the enemy and sting all of them." (Da'irah Al-Ma'arifAl-Misrasreferred inTafsirUsmani)

In short, although the ant is a tiny insect yet, in fact, it is very intelligent and a creature that plans-a strategist. The ants are a community by itself. And not only they but all animals, birds and insects-all living creatures of Allah-are individual communities

Allah has made it clear in the Qur'an:

{And there is not an animal in the. earth, not a bird that flies its two wings, but they are communities like yourselves.} (AI-An'am, 6:38)
on

All creatures, therefore, are separate communities by themselves. As scholars gain more knowledge about them through research and investigation, the truth of the Qur'an dawns upon us very clearly.

From Stories From the Hadith by Mohammad Zakariya Iqbal

Islamic Manners by Shaykh Abdul-Fattaah Abu Ghuddah (RA)

2005-08-27T20:28:00.000-07:00

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

Islamic Manners by Shaykh Abdul-Fattaah Abu Ghuddah (RA) is taken from the Madrasah In'aamiyyah, Camperdown website which is http://www.alinaam.org.za/ . I put it together and made it into a pdf file. On the website, once you enter the first page of the book, you can't move on to the next page. Plus this is more convenient.

Islamic Manners

Ma Salam

IKEA Launches Own-brand Hijab for Muslim Staff

2005-08-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

There is now IKEA designed head covers for Muslim women working at IKEA here.

Ma salam

Sunnats of eating, drinking, sleeping, awakening, going to the washroom, ghusl and leaving the house

2005-08-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

This is an excellent compilation of the sunnats of eating, drinking, sleeping, awakening, going to the washroom, ghusl and leaving the house by Hadhrat Moulana Shaah Hakeem Mohammed Akhtar Saheb.

Beloved Sunnats of Our Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam

Ma salam

Meat slaughtered by jews and christians

2005-08-27T19:14:00.000-07:00

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

I have compiled the following doecument which consists of both short fatawa and long detialed juristic style essays which deal with the issue of meat slaughtered by the people of the book. Please distribute in order to clarify people's misunderstandings.

meat slaughtered by jews and christians document

Ma salam

Some Math humor

2005-08-27T00:08:00.000-07:00

So there was a big, kickin' math party. All the functions were there: x^2, sin(x), 2^x, everyone. e^x, however, wasn't having as much fun as everyone else. He was alone, sulking in the corner. His good friend 2^x came over, and said, "hey e^x, cheer up! Join the party. Integrate yourself!" "Why bother?" asked e^x. "It won't make any difference."

From a math blog.

Al Jami'yyah newsletter from Jami'yyatul Ulama Canada

2005-08-26T21:47:00.000-07:00

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

This newsletter contians some peices which are also posted below. Please spread the news to people in Cananda and Toronto.

Ma Salam

The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah by Alfred Guillaume and A. Guillaume is not authentic

2005-08-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

Unfortunately some Islamic bookstores have suggested The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah by Alfred Guillaume and A. Guillaume as a good Seerah book for English readers. The problem is that bookstore owners don't read the books, especially if the bookstore is very large. The translation is deviant and you can check here to see the reviews of some people on it. It is very easy to see which people are the Muslims and which people are the looser kuffar.

Please also spread the word to other fellow muslims.

Ma salam

The person who decieved 4 million: Kevin Trudeau author of Natural Cures book

2005-08-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

Please check this one msnbc.mcn.com where Kevin Trudeau has decieved millions with his book. He is a convicted felony and a credit card fraud expert. So why should we believe him with his book.

You can also check out the 801 reviews on amazon.com here.

Ma salam

The Poor Man

2005-08-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

It was a usual meeting. The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) was in his place and his companions gathered around him to hear the words of wisdom and guidance.

Suddenly a poor man in rags appeared, saluted the assembly:
"Salamun Alaikum" and finding a vacant place, comfortably sat down. The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) had taught them that all Muslims were brothers and in an assembly one should sit wherever one finds a place, regardless of any status.

Now, it so happened that this poor man sat next to a very rich man. The rich man felt disturbed and tried to collect the edges of his dress around himself, so that the poor man did not touch them. The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) observed this and addressing the rich man he said:
"Perhaps you were afraid that his poverty would affect you?"

"No, O Messenger of Allah," he said

"Then perhaps you were apprehensive about some of your wealth flying away to him?"

"No, O Messenger of Allah."

"Or you feared that your clothes would become dirty if he touched them?"

"No, O Messenger of Allah."

"Then why did you draw yourself and your clothes away from him?"

The rich man said: "I admit that was the most undesirable thing to do. It was an error and I confess. Now to make amends for it, I will give away half of my wealth to this Muslim brother so that I may be forgiven."

Just as he said this, the poor man rose and said: "O Prophet of Allah, I do not accept his offer."

People present were all taken by surprise. They thought the poor man was a fool. But he explained:
"O Prophet of Allah, I refuse to accept his offer because I fear that I might then become arrogant and ill treat my Muslim brothers the way he did to me."

From sunniforum.com. Sorry, I don't have a reference. Maybe one day I will come across it inshAllah.

Story that made Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam cry

2005-08-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

The chief of the tribe, Qays Ibn 'Asim, after embracing Islam confessed to Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam the following incident:

"O Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. A daughter was born to me when i was away from home on a journey. In my absence, her mother out of natural urge nursed her for a few days. After some days fearing that I would kill her or bury her alive, she sent the child to her sister to be looked after. When I returned from my journey I was told that my wife had given birth to a dead child, thus the matter was shelved. The child remained in the care of her aunt for a few years.
"Once I went out of the house for the whole day. Thinking that I would out for a long time, my wife called her daughter to enjoy her company during my absence."
"I changed my mind and returned home much sooner than expected. When I entered the home my eyes fell upon a very beautiful, little girl playing in the house. When I looked at her I was suddenly overwhelmed by a strong and spontaneou urge of affection for her within me. My wife also sensed it and it became sure that my blood had recognised my blood and that my fatherly love and affection had sprung for the child. I asked my wife, "Whose daughter is this?She is really charming!"
"My wife tole me all about her. I could not control myself and eagerly took my daughter in my arms. Her mother told her that I was her father. She immediatley began displaying her love for me, and lovingly called me 'My father!My father!'"
"At those moments I felt an indescribably fatherly pleasure by emdracing her while she puts her arms around my neck."
"Days and weeks went by in this manner and the child remained with us, free from any worry or discomfort. But at times when she caught my attention such thoughts came to my mind, that I shall have to be a father-in-law, by giving her off to someone's wife. I shall have to bear the insult that my daughter will be someone's wife. How shall I be able to face the people? All my honour and pride will be ruined. These thoughts took hold of my mind and tortured me countinously."
"Ultimately these thoughts aroused my pride and provoked my hard-heartedness, and made me deviod of any pateince. Thus I firmly decided to do away with this stigma of shame and humiliation for me and my ancestors. I decided to bury the girl alive."
"I then asked my wife to get the girl ready as I planned to take her to a feast with me. My wife gave her a bath, clad her in pretty clothes and made her ready to go with me."
"The little girl was bubbling with hapiness, thinking that she was accompanying her father on a happy occasion. I set off with her towards the jungle. The child was going with me leaping with joy and pleasure, holding my hand here, getting ahead of me there, prattling to me with squeaks of innocent gaiety and laughter. But I has become blind to see and enjoy these innocent acts and was impatient to get rid of her as soon as possible. The child was absoutley unaware of my sinister intention and followed me merrily.
"I finally stopped at a place which I cannot remember now, and started digging. The innocent child was surprised to see me doing that and repeatedly asked, 'Father, why are you digging?' but I did not pay any attention to her queries. How could she possibly know that I was digging that pit to bury her own sheerful and beautiful self in it with my own hands?"
"While digging, dust wouldfall upon my feet and clothes. My daughter would clean the dust from my feet and clothes cheerfullu complaining,'Father you are spoiling your clothes.' But I, like a deaf person, did not even care to look at her. It was as if I had not heard her at all."
"I viciously continued my job and dug a pit big enough to serve the purpose. I then in cold blood, threw the innocent child into the pit and hastily started filling it.
"The poor child looked into my eyes frightened and surprised. She was frantically crying and screaming, 'Father! My dear Father! What is happening? I can;t get out! Father please help me! What are you doing? Why are you hiding me in the ground?' But I kept on doing my work like a deaf, dumb and blind person without paying the least attention to her beseeching entreaties and begging pleas. As I continued to bury her struggling body, I in my malice towards her being a girl, raised a rock above my head and brought it crashing down upon hers, in an attempt to stop her struggling, striking her either unconscious or dead, I cannot quite recall."
"As the earth slowly rose to consume her still body I heaved a sigh of relief when finally her bleeding face dissapeared from view. I then returned home satisfied that I had saved my honour and pride from humiliation".

Hearing this man describe the cold-blooded murder of his won helpless, innocent daughter, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam could not control himself, and with tears streaming down his cheeks, he let out such screams in his crying that people began to worry about him. He slowly recovered and managed to say; "This is extreme cruelty. Can one who does not have pity or mercy on others be shown mercy by Almighty Allah?"

Umar ibn Al-khattab on the rights of children

2005-08-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

Abul Laith Samarqandi (R.A) has related that a man brought his son to Hazrat Umar (radiyallahu anhu) and said: "My son does not obey me, he is disobedient to me". Hearing this Hazrat Umar (radiyallahu anhu) said: "O boy, don't you know what rights a father has on his son?" Thereafter he narrated the rights of a father on his children. The boy said: "O Commander of the faithful! Do the children too have any rights on their father?" Hazrat Umar (radiyallahu anhu) said: "Yes! the children too have rights on their father". "What are those rights"? asked the boy. Hazrat Umar (radiyallahu anhu) replied: "First of all, he should search for a good mother for his son. He should marry with a virtuous, religious woman, and must not marry any woman of questionable nature and doubtful character. The second right is that when he begets a child, he should name it with a good name, and the third right of the child is that he should impart religious knowledge to him and teach the Quraan". The boy said: "O' Commander of the faithful! my father has not discharged any of these rights. Firstly, the woman who is my mother is a negress, a slave woman that he has bought for 400 dirhams. She is a neophyte Muslim slave woman who is quite ignorant of religious education, Islamic civil manners and morals. It is in her laps that I have passed my infancy. She has not given me any religious education. What should I do? Secondly, they have not named me with a good name. They have named me Ju'al (meaning black, ugly man). I should have been given a good name which was my right, but my father did not discharge his responsibility towards me. The third is the right of religious education, which they did not give me at all. Now whatever decision you give, I will accept it". Hazrat Umar (radiyallahu anhu) said: "O' boy's father, first of all, you have been neglectful regarding the boy's rights which you did not discharge and now you tell me that your son does not obey you. GET OUT! It is you who have disobeyed first".

From Upbringing of Children by Moulana Moosa Ahmad Olgar available at albalagh.net

Is It Really Worth Being Careless?

2005-08-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

As the Muslim community continues to grow at a very rapid pace here in the GTA, the demand to fulfill their dietary needs is also on the increase at a similar pace. While some sincere brothers have taken up the task of providing their community with genuine halal consumables, other retailers and distributors see this demand as an opportunity to increase their cash flow and financially benefit themselves. Thus they obtain their stock from cost-efficient non-halal or doubtful sources and sell it off to the Muslim consumer, providing them the false surety that they are being sold genuine halal. The gullible Muslim consumer takes their word at face value and purchases the product feeling that it is unnecessary to investigate further whether they are really being told the truth or not. Subsequently he puts himself in harms way both in this world and the world hereafter. In this world, due to intaking such a product deprives himself from having any of his good deeds and duas accepted by his creator while in the hereafter he suffers the greatest loss ever imaginable i.e. refusal from being admitted into Paradise. All this is confirmed in the following traditions:

1.Abu Hurairah RA related,” Allah's Messenger PBUH said: Verily Allah is pure and He accepts only what is pure and indeed Allah has given those orders to the believers, which he has given to the Messengers. He has said, “O Messenger, eat from the pure foods and work righteous”. He -also- has said: “O you who have believed, eat from the pure things which we have provided you.” Then (the Prophet PBUH) made mention of a man who undergoes a lengthy journey in a state that he is disheveled and dusty. He spreads his hands towards the sky (calling), “O my lord, O my lord”, however his food is haram, his drink is haram, his clothes are haram and he has been nourished with haram! So how will his call be answered?” (Muslim)

2.S'ad RA relates: Allah's messenger PBUH said ' O S'ad purify your food (and as a result) you will become one who's supplications are accepted. I swear by He in whose hands the soul of Muhammad PBUH lies, verily a servant (of Allah) tosses a haram morsel in his stomach (due to which) no deed is accepted from him for 40 days “(Tabarani)

3.Abu Baker RA narrated that Allah's Messenger PBUH said “That body will not enter Paradise which has been nourished with Haram “(Baihaqi)

4.Jabir RA reported, “Allah's Messenger PBUH said: “That flesh will not enter Paradise which has grown from Haram, and all that flesh which has grown from Haram, the fire (of hell) is more worthy of it. “
(Ahmed, Darimi, Baihaqi)

It is due to such heavy consequences that Allah has repeatedly emphasized the consumption of halal in His book. The following are some examples of such verses;

1.“O Messengers, eat from the pure foods and work righteousness” (Holy Quran 23:51)

2.“O you who have believed, eat from the pure things which we have provided you” (Holy Quran 2:172)

3.“O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth (that is) lawful and pure” (Holy Quran 2:168)

4.“So eat of that (meat) upon which Allah's name has been mentioned, if you are believers in His verses” (Holy Quran 6:118)

5.“And do not eat that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed it is a grave disobedience”. (Holy Quran 6:121)

In the light of the mentioned verses of the Holy Quran and ahadith it becomes evident that strictly adhering to the consumption of halal and being careful and cautious about it is extremely important for each and every muslim. However, when the issue of investigating what you eat comes up, three questions are commonly asked by the general public;

1. If I see a product marked as halal or I am given assurance by the distributor or retailer that the product is halal, am I not supposed to believe him?

The answer is that even then you must investigate. The main reason being is that today we are living in an era in which deceiving, cheating and being unfaithful has become prevalent within our society. This unfortunate state of affairs is something that was foretold by our beloved Prophet PBUH in the following hadith; Imran bin Hussain RA reported that Allah's Messenger PBUH said, “The best of this nation is the generation within whom I have been sent then those people who will come after them. Then a people will emerge who will make vows and not fulfill them, they will deceive and they cannot be trusted…” (Al hadith)

When the current situation is such, we as Muslims have no choice but to be at the top of our guard and practice upon the following verse. “O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information then investigate…” (49:6) Unfortunately today swearing oaths in the name of Allah is seen as a cheap bargain to earn a few dollars. Therefore when we have the right to be inquisitive and the resources to investigate, exercise them!

2. If I was deceived by the retailer into believing that a product is halal when in reality it wasn't and I ate that product, will the sin of this action not be restricted to the retailer or will I also be held responsible?

The answer is that both parties will be sinful and held accountable except that the retailer will receive double the amount of sin than that of the consumer. This point is made clear in the following hadith' Jarir ibn Abdullah RA reported, “Allah's Messenger PBUH said, “…and whosoever introduces an evil practice in Islam, he will shoulder its sin and the sin of all those who will act upon it, without diminishing in any way their load (of sin).” (Muslim). Therefore in the light of this hadith the consumer will receive the sin of consuming haram and the retailer will be penalized for selling the haram product and simultaneously receive the same sin the consumer earned for eating that product. May Allah save us all. Ameen

3. If I purchased a non halal consumable, will it not be sufficient to say 'Bismillah' before eating it in order to render it halal due to the following hadith? ; Aisha RA narrated, “A group of people said to the Prophet PBUH, “Some people bring us meat and we do not know whether they mentioned Allah's name or not upon it (i.e. when slaughtering it)?” So he PBUH replied, “Mention Allah's name on it and eat.” The people who were being referred to had embraced Islam recently,” (Al-Bukhari)

The answer is no. This hadith, unfortunately, is one of the most misused and misunderstood hadith by the general public. Therefore it is extremely important to be acquainted with the correct implications of this hadith, and in general any hadith, before jumping to any conclusions. In the afore mentioned hadith, the people who had approached the Prophet PBUH were inquiring about the meat they were receiving from a tribe which had newly embraced Islam, whether the requisites of Zabeeha, the most important of them being the recital of Bismillah at the time of slaughter had been fulfilled. The reason they posed this question was that they were uncertain whether these new - muslims were aware of this ruling or not. Therefore in the light of this uncertainty what were they to do with this meat, consume it or throw it away? Their questioning was not in regards to how to make non Zabeeha meat halal. The Prophet PBUH answered their question in the most eloquent style by reminding them of their responsibility which was to recite bismillah before eating and then partake of the meal. Indirectly the Prophet PBUH had told them that this concern should not arise when the meat is being provided by a good muslim. When a consumable is provided by a good muslim there should stand no doubt that the consumable is shariah compliant and Islamically edible. The answer of the Prophet PBUH by no way means that by saying bismillah on non-zabeeha items, the item will be rendered halal. May Allah give us all the correct understanding. Ameen!

Jami’yyatul Ulama Canada,
Canadian Council of Muslim Theologians

From Jami’yyatul Ulama Canada

Mujahideen Attack Abu Ghraib Torture-Camp

2005-08-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

THE TORTURE AND atrocity camp which the U.S. military operates at the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad came under concerted Mujahideen attack. Dozens of fighters attacked the torture-camp with rockets and assault rifles. Two car bombs were also detonated.

“This was obviously a very wellorganised attack and a very big attack,” 1st Lieutenant Adam Rondeau said. According to the U.S. military 44 U.S. service members were wounded, some very seriously.

No count for the number of American dead was released. About 12 detainees in the tortureprison were also wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Guy Rudsill of the US military said: “A group of between 40 and 60 insurgents attacked the US forward operating base at Abu Ghraib. They detonated two VBIEDs (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) and also fired rocket-propelled grenades into the prison camp. It was a sustained attack. The attacks were intermittent. They would fire RPGs and then stop, then they would attack again.”

According to witnesses the second car bomb was detonated against US forces as they were evacuating casualties from the first car bomb blast.

The impunity and courage with which the Mujahideen launched their sustained attack on a location where there is a large concentration of US forces, demonstrates the pitiful state in which the American military finds itself entrapped. Despite the presence of 150,000 US soldiers armed to the teeth with the most sophisticated and destructive weaponry, plus the formidable airforce of the US, and the huge Iraqi puppet army it has created, the demoralised forces of the US could not pursue the handful of “40 to 60” ill-equipped “insurgents”. At most, the US military “responded with heavy weapons, and the situation was brought under control”. The dilemma of the U.S.A. in Iraq is amply demonstrated by such brazen and fearless attacks which the Mujahideen repeatedly mount against US and Iraqi collaborator targets throughout Iraq.There is no safe haven anywhere in Iraq for the U.S. military and its underlings neither their barracks nor bases.

The U.S.A.’s inability to meet the Mujahideen in a head-on clash is reflected in the following Qur’aanic aayat:

"They cannot fight you (O Muslims!) with their coalition, except from inside fortified barracks (like the Green Zone) or from behind walls (such as the concrete barriers erected in Baghdad and the Israeli wall). Their mutual in-fighting is severe. You think that they are united while in reality their hearts are apart. That is so because they are a people without intelligence."

From the only people who care about our brothers, al-haq.themajlis.net .

Story of a brother

2005-08-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

This is something that is very personal and important to me. I hope that you will learn and benefit from it. Let me begin by saying “Bismillah”, in the name of Allah. When I first started University (I am male in my early twenties) I had met another Muslim brother. We had become good friends, but this friendship was not like any other ordinary friendship, I would have done anything for him, he was like my real brother. During our last year of University, this brother of mine announced that he was engaged and that he was to be married after he graduates this year and finds himself a job. I was glad for him and so was he. He talked non stop about getting married, I was sort of getting jealous of him, because the brother had it made for him, finishing school, getting married and especially coming from a wealthy family. On day this brother was to meet me at the coffee shop. He showed up, but astonishingly he wasn’t smiling and wasn’t talking about his fiancée. I asked him what was wrong, he asked if we could talk somewhere privately and we did. Finally I knew why he was upset. He had told me that he found out that he had a brain tumor which was malignant, which meant it had become cancerous. When he told me the news, his voice was quivering and tears were streaming down his cheeks. I had never seen him like this before. I tried keeping in my tears and I tried not to show that I was hurt also. I was burning up inside and things were racing through my mind. I kept thinking, how could this have happened? A man who had everything made and had everything perfect. I kept it inside because I did not want him to see me upset. I saw this brother slowly go down. He had to drop out of school at his last year because he began to lose his memory and he started to repeat himself over again. He did not have a chance at school without his memory. This brother was intelligent, but after, he became lost. He was told that his fianceés family and her parents did not want their daughter to marry him, because he had no job and basically no future. This was hard for him, I remember he would cry to me about her and how he cared for her and how hopeless he felt. Later, the brother had problems writing and his right eyesight was fading. The tumor was on the left side of his brain so it affected everything on his right. Because of his memory loss, the brother soon forgot suras and he even forgot how to pray. A year later, his right arm was paralyzed and his eyesight was taken away from him. It was the hardest thing for me to see. The brother I loved so much as going through so much. I began coming over everyday helping him recite suras. When I was recited sura Fatiha to him and he was slowly repeating after me, I looked at him and I thought, this was the same brother who was so intelligent and was to finish school. This was the same brother who came from such a wealthy family. This was the same brother who talked for days about getting married and raising a family. This was the same brother who had everything. But now he can barely remember what I said to him ten minutes ago, he can’t get married, and now he is struggling to read Qur’an, he was not much of a practicing Muslim so it was harder for him to recite the Qur’an. This man was now turning towards Allah, he dropped EVERYTHING and turned towards Allah. Allah gave him everything, and he could take everything away just as easily. A month ago, I had received a call saying that the brother passed away and that his janaza is today. I washed his body with a couple of other brothers and I saw his lifeless body. He was buried and after that I returned home. The next day, I sat down wondering to myself about the power of Allah. My brother’s death made me realize that we forget what our purpose of being here is for: To serve Allah. You could have everything, but do you have anything that is important? I spent six years knowing this brother, and caring for him. I never once shed a tear when he was alive and not even when he passed away. But the day after his death, I did cry because I thought about the power of Allah. I thought about my brother. We always say that we will return to Allah, but we never really believe it. If we did, then we would struggle to read the Qur’an and pray to Allah like my brother did. My brother had his eyesight taken away from him, his arm was paralyzed and his memory was lost, but he still got up every morning and he insisted and I repeat, insisted on reciting the Qur’an. But we are able, but we still do not struggle to read the Qur’an. We do not really believe that we will return to Allah, or else we would struggle for Allah. My brother had love for materialistic objects, but when death approached him, those things were no use to him because he knew those things were not going to lead him to Jannah (Paradise) without his Iman. Allah can give and take things easily whenever and wherever. I love my brother and I pray that Allah will accept him, and I humbly request that prayer be made for him. I do pray that you have a true belief of Allah and our return to Him because if you do have this fear, you will struggle for your Islam to the best of your ability before you can say it is too late. May we all be rightly guided. Ameen your brother in Islam.

From www.sunniforum.com

Decorating the wall with cloth

2005-08-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

Sayyidatuna Aaisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘Verily Allah has not commanded us to cloth stone and sand.’ (Sahih Muslim vol.14 pg.312 and Sunan Abu Dawud vol.6 pg.69)

Al-Muhaddith Khaleel Ahmad Saharanpuri (RA) has commented on this tradition of hanging decorative cloth on the walls of the house is reprehensible (Makrooh) as it is a waste of money. (Bazlul Majhood vol.6 pg.69).

Decorating the wall with cloth was also disliked by some Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum), for example, Sayyiduna Abu Ayyoob al-Ansari (RA) and Sayyiduna Salmaan al-Faarisiy (RA). (Fathul Baari vol.9 pg.310 Hadith No.:5181; al-Mufhim of Imaam al-Qurtubi (ra) vol.5 pg.427)

However, it should be remembered that if one needs to curtain a window or a doorway in his house, this will be permissible based on need. (Raddul Muhtaar vol.9 pg.510-511 - Ilmiyyah; Fataawah Hindiyyah vol.1 pg.359)

From www.askimam.org

A Fine Gentleman

2005-08-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

Go to http://www.google.com and type 'failure' without qoutes and then hit the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button. What a mischief maker.

A true story about a mom

2005-07-31T21:19:00.000-07:00

Three men were wandering by the beach. It was almost after Isha... so they chose a nice clean spot, settled there and started to have the dinner they bought from a nearby fast-food resturant. They noticed an old lady wandering around... One of them couldn't help but go ask her what is she doing... as she, seemingly, was hungry therefore picking up left-overs thrown here and there to eat ... she seemed worried and anxious, as well. So this guy approached her and asked what's wrong?? She looked at him anxiously and told him that her son dropped her there and promised to pick her up at night and that she's been there since noon. The three guys asked her for her address. They decided to drop her there, thinking perhaps her son couldn't make it. She took a piece of paper out of her pocket and gave it to the guys saying her son wrote down their address in case she was lost. The guys opened the paper and got SHOCKED!!

The son wrote: Whoever finds this lady, should take her to the nearest Home!

Sad, shocked and annoyed the guys couldn't tell the lady what was actually written in there. She looked too old, too weak to take it. So, they tried hard to convince her to go with them... to help her look for her house or even son... or maybe take her to their families who'd help. But she refused wholeheartedly saying her son is coming to take her and that she can't go and leave him. He'd get worried. (She didn't want to worry him....( SubhanAllah!)

Helplessly, the three guys left to their homes. One of them, couldn't sleep, so he decided to go back to that beach and check on the lady. As soon as he got dressed and left to there, he found an ambulance, a police car and a crowd of people. He made his way through them all... and when he got there... he saw the old lady...dead and pale... covered by some white cold sheet. He gave out a loud cry and started sobbing...

When he asked what happened... he was told that this lady was waiting for her son... worried and concerened that something wrong might have happened to that son who didn't show up to take her home... her blood pressure rose up real high causing her a stroke.... she died...

Dream of the Rasul sallallahu alayhi wa sallam #2

2005-07-31T21:06:00.000-07:00

Narrated Samura bin Jundub:

Allah's Apostle very often used to ask his companions, "Did anyone of you see a dream?" So dreams would be narrated to him by those whom Allah wished to tell. One morning the Prophet said, "Last night two persons came to me (in a dream) and woke me up and said to me, 'Proceed!' I set out with them and we came across a man Lying down, and behold, another man was standing over his head, holding a big rock. Behold, he was throwing the rock at the man's head, injuring it. The rock rolled away and the thrower followed it and took it back. By the time he reached the man, his head returned to the normal state. The thrower then did the same as he had done before. I said to my two companions, 'Subhan Allah! Who are these two persons?' They said, 'Proceed!' So we proceeded and came to a man Lying flat on his back and another man standing over his head with an iron hook, and behold, he would put the hook in one side of the man's mouth and tear off that side of his face to the back (of the neck) and similarly tear his nose from front to back and his eye from front to back. Then he turned to the other side of the man's face and did just as he had done with the other side. He hardly completed this side when the other side returned to its normal state. Then he returned to it to repeat what he had done before. I said to my two companions, 'Subhan Allah! Who are these two persons?' They said to me, 'Proceed!' So we proceeded and came across something like a Tannur (a kind of baking oven, a pit usually clay-lined for baking bread)." I think the Prophet said, "In that oven t here was much noise and voices." The Prophet added, "We looked into it and found naked men and women, and behold, a flame of fire was reaching to them from underneath, and when it reached them, they cried loudly. I asked them, 'Who are these?' They said to me, 'Proceed!' And so we proceeded and came across a river." I think he said, ".... red like blood." The Prophet added, "And behold, in the river there was a man swimming, and on the bank there was a man who had collected many stones. Behold. while the other man was swimming, he went near him. The former opened his mouth and the latter (on the bank) threw a stone into his mouth whereupon he went swimming again. He returned and every time the performance was repeated, I asked my two companions, 'Who are these (two) persons?' They replied, 'Proceed! Proceed!' And we proceeded till we came to a man with a repulsive appearance, the most repulsive appearance, you ever saw a man having! Beside him there was a fire and he was kindling it and running around it. I asked my companions, 'Who is this (man)?' They said to me, 'Proceed! Proceed!' So we proceeded till we reached a garden of deep green dense vegetation, having all sorts of spring colors. In the midst of the garden there was a very tall man and I could hardly see his head because of his great height, and around him there were children in such a large number as I have never seen. I said to my companions, 'Who is this?' They replied, 'Proceed! Proceed!' So we proceeded till we came to a majestic huge garden, greater and better than I have ever seen! My two companions said to me, 'Go up and I went up' The Prophet added, "So we ascended till we reached a city built of gold and silver bricks and we went to its gate and asked (the gatekeeper) to open the gate, and it was opened and we entered the city and found in it, men with one side of their bodies as handsome as the handsomest person you have ever seen, and the other side as ugly as the ugliest person you have ever seen. My two companions ordered those men to throw themselves into the river. Behold, there was a river flowing across (the city), and its water was like milk in whiteness. Those men went and threw themselves in it and then returned to us after the ugliness (of their bodies) had disappeared and they became in the best shape." The Prophet further added, "My two companions (angels) said to me, 'This place is the Eden Paradise, and that is your place.' I raised up my sight, and behold, there I saw a palace like a white cloud! My two companions said to me, 'That (palace) is your place.' I said to them, 'May Allah bless you both! Let me enter it.' They replied, 'As for now, you will not enter it, but you shall enter it (one day) I said to them, 'I have seen many wonders tonight. What does all that mean which I have seen?' They replied, 'We will inform you: As for the first man you came upon whose head was being injured with the rock, he is the symbol of the one who studies the Quran and then neither recites it nor acts on its orders, and sleeps, neglecting the enjoined prayers. As for the man you came upon whose sides of mouth, nostrils and eyes were torn off from front to back, he is the symbol of the man who goes out of his house in the morning and tells so many lies that it spreads all over the world. And those naked men and women whom you saw in a construction resembling an oven, they are the adulterers and the adulteresses;, and the man whom you saw swimming in the river and given a stone to swallow, is the eater of usury (Riba) and the bad looking man whom you saw near the fire kindling it and going round it, is Malik, the gatekeeper of Hell and the tall man whom you saw in the garden, is Abraham and the children around him are those children who die with Al-Fitra (the Islamic Faith)." The narrator added: Some Muslims asked the Prophet, "O Allah's Apostle! What about the children of pagans?" The Prophet replied, "And also the children of pagans." The Prophet added, "My two companions added, 'The men you saw half handsome and half ugly were those persons who had mixed an act that was good with another that was bad, but Allah forgave them.'"

Reported by Imam Bukhari

Dream of the Rasul sallallahu alayhi wa sallam

2005-07-31T20:58:00.000-07:00

Narrated Samura bin Jundab:

Whenever the Prophet finished the (morning) prayer, he would face us and ask, "Who amongst you had a dream last night?" So if anyone had seen a dream he would narrate it. The Prophet would say: "Ma sha'a-llah" (An Arabic maxim meaning literally, 'What Allah wished,' and it indicates a good omen.) One day, he asked us whether anyone of us had seen a dream. We replied in the negative. The Prophet said, "But I had seen (a dream) last night that two men came to me, caught hold of my hands, and took me to the Sacred Land (Jerusalem). There, I saw a person sitting and another standing with an iron hook in his hand pushing it inside the mouth of the former till it reached the jaw-bone, and then tore off one side of his cheek, and then did the same with the other side; in the mean-time the first side of his cheek became normal again and then he repeated the same operation again. I said, 'What is this?' They told me to proceed on and we went on till we came to a man Lying flat on his back, and another man standing at his head carrying a stone or a piece of rock, and crushing the head of the Lying man, with that stone. Whenever he struck him, the stone rolled away.

The man went to pick it up and by the time he returned to him, the crushed head had returned to its normal state and the man came back and struck him again (and so on). I said, 'Who is this?' They told me to proceed on; so we proceeded on and passed by a hole like an oven; with a narrow top and wide bottom, and the fire was kindling underneath that hole. Whenever the fire-flame went up, the people were lifted up to such an extent that they about to get out of it, and whenever the fire got quieter, the people went down into it, and there were naked men and women in it. I said, 'Who is this?' They told me to proceed on. So we proceeded on till we reached a river of blood and a man was in it, and another man was standing at its bank with stones in front of him, facing the man standing in the river. Whenever the man in the river wanted to come out, the other one threw a stone in his mouth and caused him to retreat to his original position; and so whenever he wanted to come out the other would throw a stone in his mouth, and he would retreat to his original position. I asked, 'What is this?' They told me to proceed on and we did so till we reached a well-flourished green garden having a huge tree and near its root was sitting an old man with some children. (I saw) Another man near the tree with fire in front of him and he was kindling it up. Then they (i.e. my two companions) made me climb up the tree and made me enter a house, better than which I have ever seen. In it were some old men and young men, women and children.

Then they took me out of this house and made me climb up the tree and made me enter another house that was better and superior (to the first) containing old and young people. I said to them (i.e. my two companions), 'You have made me ramble all the night. Tell me all about that I have seen.' They said, 'Yes. As for the one whose cheek you saw being torn away, he was a liar and he used to tell lies, and the people would report those lies on his authority till they spread all over the world. So, he will be punished like that till the Day of Resurrection.

The one whose head you saw being crushed is the one whom Allah had given the knowledge of Quran (i.e. knowing it by heart) but he used to sleep at night (i.e. he did not recite it then) and did not use to act upon it (i.e. upon its orders etc.) by day; and so this punishment will go on till the Day of Resurrection. And those you saw in the hole (like oven) were adulterers (those men and women who commit illegal sexual intercourse). And those you saw in the river of blood were those dealing in Riba (usury). And the old man who was sitting at the base of the tree was Abraham and the little children around him were the offspring of the people. And the one who was kindling the fire was Malik, the gate-keeper of the Hell-fire. And the first house in which you have gone was the house of the common believers, and the second house was of the martyrs. I am Gabriel and this is Michael. Raise your head.' I raised my head and saw a thing like a cloud over me. They said, 'That is your place.' I said, 'Let me enter my place.' They said, 'You still have some life which you have not yet completed, and when you complete (that remaining portion of your life) you will then enter your place.' "

Reported by Imam Bukhari

The Boy & the Apple Tree

2005-07-31T20:55:00.000-07:00

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the treetop, ate the apples, took a nap under the shadow...he loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by...the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day. One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad. "Come and play with me" the tree asked the boy. "I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more" the boy replied. "I want toys. I need money to buy them." "Sorry, but I do not have money... but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money." The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad. One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was excited "Come and play with me" the tree said. "I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?" "Sorry, but I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house." So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad. One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said. "I am getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?" said the man. "Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time. Finally, the man returned after many years. "Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you ..." the tree said. "No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite" the man replied. "No more trunk for you to climb on" "I am too old for that now" the man said. "I really cannot give you anything... the only thing left is my dying roots" the tree said with tears. "I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years" the man replied. "Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, Come, come sit down with me and rest." The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears... This is a story of everyone. The tree is like our parents. When we were young, we loved to play with our Mum and Dad... When we grow up, we leave them...only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could just to make you happy. You may think the boy is cruel to the tree, but that is how we treat our parents. We take them 4 granted we don't appreciate all they do for us, UNTIL it's too late. Please enlighten all your friends and your families by telling them this story, Love your Parents.

When you thought I wasn't looking

2005-07-31T20:23:00.000-07:00

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in Allah.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I felt you kiss me good night and I felt loved and safe.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'"