Monday 2 May 2022
Eid ul Fitr عيد الفطر Mubarak / Eid greetings to everyone around the world
Sunday 1 May 2022
Why some people show ingratitude to God
It is Allah Who has given you the night in which to rest and the day in which to see. Allah is truly bountiful to people, but most people do not give thanks.( Surah 40 Al-Ghafir:61)
However, there a lot of people who despite having positions, wealth and a status in the society seldom show gratitude to God and it is the same people who one day stumble and are robbed of their worldly possessions and only then they realize the value of gratefulness.
For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.
Neither your God is any else nor mine is any else - A Hamd (Praiser) to Eulogize greatness of Allah)
You may refer to our reference page: Selected Invocations / Dua " دُعا " from the Qur'an for many invocations as contained in the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Saturday 30 April 2022
The Criterion for Divine Forgiveness
One Minute Dua ( دُعا ) - A well worded Supplication
Oh Allah give me all the good that there is and save me from all the evil that is there. Oh Allah when it's the time of my death, take me away as one of the highest believers. And oh Allah once you have taken me away, put my soul in the place of illiyn (where all the good souls are). And oh Allah when I wake up, on the day of judgement, bring me up amongst the Prophets. And oh Allah don't let me separate from them and when they go to Jannah, take me with them to Jannah. And when they enter Jannah, make me enter Jannah and I ask the same thing for my loved ones, families, friends (and the whole ummah). Ameen
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Invocations / Dua " دُعا " from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Thursday 28 April 2022
Islam in Iceland
Generally it is assumed that Muslim community is made up entirely of expatriates having moved to Iceland from elsewhere. It may indeed be the case that such individuals may make up the bulk of Iceland’s current Muslim community, but cases of native Icelanders converting to Islam are not unheard-of.
However in 2015, a YouTube channel ‘NewMan2015’ posted a video containing interviews with four Icelanders (including Agnes Ósk, Jóhannes Ari and Ibrahim Sverrir Agnarsson, who is now Director of the Icelandic Muslim Association) on their conversion to Islam and how it changed their lives. "Agnes Ósk reveals that she had been an atheist all her life, but that discovering Islam was a “relief, like coming home”."
Ex-drug addict Jóhannes Ari describes how Islam took him away from his former misery and brought him to a place in life where he could “think about how to make the best of each day”. Sverrir, the charismatic Director of the Icelandic Muslim Association, best describes his conversion as being “kidnapped by Allah”.
"Although the hours are long, the Muslims here do not feel it because they come together here, we are like family. They come in at early hours. We recite the Quran, have iftar and observe Tarawih prayers together. The first three days are most difficult. Then everything turns back to normal."
Hijab for women is looked upon as in parallel to any other non Muslim countries. However, for passport, a Muslim woman has to provide a proof of her faith duly acknowledged by the two main Muslim groups of the country.
Watch herein under a documentary about the Reykjavík Mosque:
Wednesday 27 April 2022
Can Moral Values be Forcibly Imposed
For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.
Who are merely like cattle; nay, even worse than them
And most certainly have We destined for hell many of the invisible beings and men who have hearts with which they fail to grasp the truth, and eyes with which they fail to see, and ears with which they fail to hear. They are like cattle - nay, they are even less conscious of the right way: it is they, they who are the [truly] heedless!
"they are farther astray" - inasmuch as animals follow only their instincts and natural needs and are not conscious of the possibility or necessity of a moral choice.
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
- Towards Understanding the Quran
- Tafsir Ibn Khatir
- Muhammad Asad Translation
- Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
- Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
- Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
Tuesday 26 April 2022
Believers!! Beware of enemies within (A verse specially for Reverts)
According to the first meaning, it applies to most of those difficulties which are encountered by many believing men from their wives and the women from their husbands and the parents from their children in following the way of God. It seldom so happens in the world that a man has a wife or a wife has a husband, who are full companions and helpers of each other in the matter of faith and righteousness, and that both may also have such children as may be the comfort of their eyes as regards to faith and deeds, morals and conduct. But generally it so happens that if the husband is righteous and honest, the wife and children look upon his honesty and piety and righteousness as a misfortune for themselves, and want that the husband and the father should earn Hell for their sake, and, by giving up the distinction between the lawful and the unlawful, should provide means of luxury and enjoyment, sin and vice, for them in every passable way. On the contrary, many a time a pious believing woman happens to have a husband, who does not at all approve her obedience to the laws of God. And the children, following in the footsteps of the father, make the life of the mother miserable by their deviation and evil deeds. Then, particularly, when during the conflict between Islam and unbelief a man’s faith demands that he should suffer losses for the sake of Allah and this religion, run risks, emigrate from the country or even endanger his life by joining the war against unbelief, the greatest hindrance in his way are the people of his own household.
The second meaning relates to those special circumstances which most of the Muslims were facing at the time these verses were sent down, and also today they are faced by every person who embraces Islam in a non-Muslim society. At that time in Makkah and in other parts of Arabia a situation that was commonly being experienced was that a man would embrace Islam but his wife and children would not only be disinclined to accept it but would try their best to press him to give up Islam. And similar were the situation encountered by the women who alone embraced Islam in the family.
There words are used in the Qur'an, with a meaning asking to "forgive" but each with a different shade of meaning. Afa (here translated "forgive") means to forget, to obliterate from one's mind. Safaha (here translated "overlook") means to turn away from, to ignore, to treat a matter as if it did not affect one. Gafara (which does not occur in this verse) means to cover up something as God does to our sins with His grace; this word is particularly appropriate in God's attribute of Gaffar, the One who forgives again and again.
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
- Towards Understanding the Quran
- Tafsir Ibn Khatir
- Muhammad Asad Translation
- Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
- Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
- Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
Monday 25 April 2022
The Barakah of paying Zakat - the Mandatory Charitable Contribution
Barakah is a term that means an “increase” and “growth”- and also, happiness. It is the establishment of divine goodness in something; from whence it exudes cannot be sensed by people, nor can it be outwardly quantified, nor is it limited by anything, but rather, something with barakah in it is called mubaarak, and has an unexplainable increase and benefit in it from Allah. [al-Isfahani, Mufradaat al-Qur’an]The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Charity does not reduce wealth.” [Muslim, Sahih] The physical amount outwardly decreases, but the remaining amount attracts barakah so that the actual benefit from it is not less. [al-Nawawi, Sharh Muslim]
And We made them leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakat; and they were worshippers of Us. (Surah 21 Al Anbiya:73)
“Zakat is for the poor and the needy; and those employed to administer the funds; for those whose hearts have been recently reconciled to Truth; for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer. It is ordained by Allah and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. "(Surah 9. Tawba, verse 60)
Zakat means increase and barakah: That is to say that whoever pays Zakat will have his wealth multiplied not only in this world, but his rewards will be multiplied in life in the hereafter. In fact, Zakat is given for the sake of salvation. Muslims believe those who give zakat can expect reward from God in the afterlife, while neglecting to give zakat can result in damnation. Zakat is considered part of the covenant between God and a Muslim.
Zakat is a means of compulsory redistribution of wealth in a way that reduces differences between classes and groups, thus preventing the many social disorders from which Communist and Western societies alike suffer, no less than contemporary Muslim societies that have neglected zakat. Moreover, zakat is a means of establishing justice indirectly. It rectifies whatever wrongs, injustices or means of exploitation in trading and industrial relations that have arisen. This may explain the fact that it is called a "right" rather than "charity", or an act of beneficence. Zakah also facilitates the proper direction of purchasing power in society. It transfers part of the power of consumption, which may be used extravagantly to fulfill a proper function in the lives of those who need it. [3]
Generally, it is observed that we are prone to extravagance (Israf), that is spending more than needed. If we analyze, the extra money spent which could have been curtailed could mean a whole day meal for a poor family. Instead, this money should be paid as Zakat for it will not only fulfill the needs of the needy but will also add to our Barakah.
Many Muslim philanthropists and even ordinary men make the Zakat contribution individually, due to which equal distribution of Zakat cannot be ensured nor it reaches all needy believers. Islamic states must ensure central collection of Zakat so that equal and just distribution can be ensured'. So let us give Zakat and help the needy. This will not only bring Barakah to us but would also earn us prayers of the needy and would help us when the scales will be set up on the Day of Judgement. But remember, while paying Zakat and alms, one's intention should be to please Allah and not to show off one's wealth to others, for it would nullify the noble act.
For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.