Sunday, April 29, 2007

The art of giving gifts

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu


Rasullallah and the shabas have taught us beautiful ways of living harmoniously. One of the best characters of the Rasullallah and the sahabas is to treat their brothers need more importantly than there own. These hadiths from Bukhari are on gifts.

Narrated Asma bint Abu Bakr (Radhiallaho anho):
My mother came to me during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam)and she was a pagan. I said to
Allah's Messenger (seeking his verdict), "My mother has come
to me and she desires to receive a reward from me, shall I
keep good relations with her?" The Prophet said, "Yes, keep
good relation with her."

Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 789



Narrated Ibn Abbas (Radhiallaho anho):
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said, "The bad
example is not for us. He who takes back his present is like a
dog that swallows back its vomit."

Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 791


Narrated Umar bin Al-Khattab (Radhiallaho anho):
I gave a horse in Allah's Cause. The person to whom it was
given did not look after it. I intended to buy it from him,
thinking that he would sell it cheap. When I asked the
Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) he said, "Don't buy it,
even if he gives it to you for one Dirham, as the person who
takes back what he has given in charity, is like a dog that
swallows back its vomit."

Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 792



Narrated Aiman (Radhiallaho anho):
I went to Aisha (Radhiallaho anha) and she was wearing a
coarse dress costing five Dirhams. Aisha said, "Look up and
see my slave-girl who refuses to wear it in the house though
during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi
wasallam) I had a similar dress which no woman desiring to
appear elegant (before her husband) failed to borrow from me."

Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 796



Narrated Ibn Shihab Az-Zuhri (Radhiallaho anho):
Anas bin Malik (Radhiallaho anho) said, "When the emigrants
came Medina, they had nothing whereas the Ansar had land and
property. The Ansar gave them their land on condition that
the emigrants would give them half the yearly yield and work
on the land and provide the necessaries for cultivation."
His (i.e. Anas's mother who was also the mother of Abdullah
bin Abu Talha), gave some date-palms to Allah's Messenger
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) who gave them to his freed
slave-girl (Um Aiman) who was also the mother of Usama bin
Zaid (Radhiallaho anhuma). When the Prophet finished from
the fighting against the people of Khaibar and returned to
Medina, the emigrants returned to the Ansar the fruit gifts
which the Ansar had given them. The Prophet also returned
to Anas's mother the date-pallms. Allah's Messenger gave
Um Aiman other trees from his garden in lieu of the old
gift.

Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 799



Narrated Jabir (Radhiallaho anho):
Some men had superfluous land and they said that they would
give it to others to cultivate on the condition that they
would get one-third or one-fourth or one half of its yield.
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam)said, "Whoever has
land should cultivate it himself or give it to his brother
or keep it uncultivated."

Narrated Abu Said (Radhiallaho anho):
A bedouin came to the Prophet and asked him about
emigration. The Prophet said to him, "May Allah be
merciful to you. The matter of emigration is difficult.
Have you got some camels?" He replied in the affirmative.
The Prophet asked him, "Do you pay their Zakat?" He replied
in the affirmative. He asked, "Do you lend them so that their
milk may be utilized by others?" The bedouin said, "Yes."
The Prophet asked, "Do you milk them on the day off watering
them?" He replied, "Yes." The Prophet said, "Do good deeds
beyond the merchants (or the sea) and Allah will never
disregard any of your deeds."

Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 801

Monday, April 09, 2007

Peace, Propaganda & The Promised Land

Assalaamualaikum (May peace be upon you),
The following video is on how the Jewish government and the Zionists are controlling the media to oppress the voice of the Palestinians and their struggle against the worlds longest lasting (35 years of ) illegal military occupation. It shows how the Palestinians are systematically wiped out from their ancestral homelands, how they are denied the most basic of needs. The video also has lots of information on how much funding and support the Israeli government gets from the American government and American Organizations.

The video also shows how the American public is mislead by the American media (CNN, ABC, FOX, NBC, MSNBC) which effectively employs linguistics to tell only the Israeli side of the story.

Part 1 of the story.


Part 2 of the story.


Please spread the message. It's the least we can do.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Fiqh of the Beard

The Beard is a order of

Rasulullah [Wajib]

Narrated Nafi' (Radhiallaahu Án) "Ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Án) said, The Prophet said, "Do the opposite of what the pagans do. Keep the beards and cut the moustaches short." [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 72, Hadith # 780]
Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu Bakr ibn Nafi from his father Nafi from Abdullah ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Án) that the Messenger of Allah, ordered the moustache to be trimmed and the beard to be left. [Imaam malik's Muwatta Book 51, Hadith # 51.1.1]

It is clear from the stated ahadith that growing the beard is not only a practice (Sunnah) of Rasulullah but also a command for the Muslims in follow (Wajib).

Narrated Aisha (Radhiallaahu Ánha): Rasulullah said:

"Ten things are part of the fitrah: cutting the moustache, letting the beard grow, cleaning
the teeth with a siwak, rinsing the nose with water, cutting one's nails,
washing between the finger-joints, plucking the armpit hairs, shaving the pubic
hair and cleaning one's private parts with water." [Reported by
Imaam Muslims in his Sahih Book 2, Hadith # 0502, also reported by Imaam Ahmad,
Muslim and the four authors of Sunan ]

This hadith further emphasizes the importance of letting you beard grow for a man, as being
from the natural guidance (Fitrah) of the human being.

At Tabari reported in a hadith that Kaiser, the King of Persia, after having read the letter sent by the Rasulullah inviting him to accept the faith of Islam, ordered his sub-ordinate Bayon (Badhun), the governor of Yemen, to send two persons to bring the Prophet of Islam before him. Bayan accordingly sent two messengers who according to the fashion of those days were clean shaven and having long moustaches. When they appeared on the scene toward the Rasulullah , he very much disliked the unnatural appearances of those persons and said; "Woe to you, Woe to you. Who ordered you to adopt such appearances?" They said; "Our lord Kaiser". Rasulullah then told them "My Rabb COMMANDED me to lengthen my beard and clip my moustaches".

[Recorded by Ibn Jarir At-Tabari, and judged to be Hasan (good) by Shaikh
Albaani.]

SubhanAllah here Rasulullah disliked even looking at a man who has gone against the naturalways and shaved the Beard, while keeping a long mustache. Those of us who shave the beard and keep long mustaches while calling ourselves follower and lovers of Rasulullah should think, would we like Him to be disgusted with us due to this mutilation of the unnatural appearances (Fitrah)? This hadith also makes a point in showing that Rasulullah was ordered by Allah to trim his mustache and grow the beard. This hadith is a refutation for those who claim that growing the beard was a custom of the Arabs and indeed this is an order of Allah upon Rasulullah and an order upon the Muslims by Rasulullah .

Allah orders us in the Quran to obey the order of Rasulullah


"Make not the calling of the Messenger among you as your calling of one another. Allah knows those of you who slip away under shelter. And let those who oppose the Messenger's commandment (i.e. his Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship,
statements, etc.) beware, lest some Fitnah (afflictions) befall them or apainful torment be inflicted on them."
[Quran, Surah #24 Ayah #63]

Allah has made clear that those who oppose the Sunnah of Rasulullah are headed for the punishment of Allah.

"And whatever the Prophet gives you, accept it and whatever he forbids you, abstain (from it)"[Quran, Surah #59 Ayah #7]


"The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His messengers." And they say: "We hear ,and we obey: (we seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys." [Quran, Surah #2 Ayah #285]

"And obey Allah and the Messenger; that ye may obtain mercy." [Quran, Surah #3 Ayah #132]

" O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and make not vain your deeds!" [Quran,Surah #47 Ayah #33]


"Those are limits set by Allah. those who obey Allah and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein (for ever) and that will be the supreme achievement." [Quran, Surah #4;Ayah #13]


"In the Messenger of Allah is a good example for you to follow." [Quran Surah#33 Ayah #21]


"So set you (O Muhammad ) your face towards the religion of pure Islamic Monotheism Hanifa (worship none but Allah Alone) Allah's Fitrah (i.e. Allah's Islamic
Monotheism), with which He has created mankind. No change let there be in Khalq­illah
(creation of Allah) , that is the straight religion, but most of men know
not."
[Quran, Surah #30Ayah #30] [Tafsir At­Tabarî, Vol 21, Page 41]

The Beard is from the Sunnah of Rasulullah

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (Radhiallaahu Án)"Rasulullah said, "Cut the moustaches short and leave the beard (as it is)." [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 72, Hadith #781]

Jaabir (Radhiallaahu Án) reported that Rasulullah used to have a large beard [Sahih Muslim].

Narrated AbuHurayrah (Radhiallaahu
Án)
"Rasulullah said
"Trim closely the moustache, and grow beard, and thus act against the
fire-worshippers."
[Sahih Muslim, Book 2, Hadith # 0501]

Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (Radhiallaahu Án): Rasulullah said, "There will emerge from the East some people who will recite the Quran but it will not exceed their throats and who will go out of (renounce) the religion (Islam) as an arrow passes through the game, and they will never come back to it unless the arrow, comes back to the middle of the bow (by
itself) (i.e., impossible)." The people asked, "What will their signs be?" He said, "Their sign will be the habit of shaving (of their beards)."
[Sahih Al-Bukhari 9:651] [Fateh Al-Bari, Page 322, Vol. 17th]

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Napolean

The Rapper Napolean (Tupacs friend) embraces the correct path, And talks about his new found happiness and peace.

Monday, November 13, 2006

How I Came To Love The Veil



Yvonne Ridley, Washington post - London, USA
Monday, October 23, 2006

I used to look at veiled women as quiet, oppressed creatures -- until I was captured by the Taliban. In September 2001, just 15 days after the terrorist attacks on the United States , I snuck into Afghanistan , clad in a head-to-toe blue burqa, intending to write a newspaper account of life under the repressive regime. Instead, I was discovered, arrested and detained for 10 days. I spat and swore at my captors; they called me a "bad" woman but let me go after I promised to read the Koran and study Islam. (Frankly, I'm not sure who was happier when I was freed -- they or I.)

Back home in London , I kept my word about studying Islam -- and was amazed by what I discovered. I'd been expecting Koran chapters on how to beat your wife and oppress your daughters; instead, I found passages promoting the liberation of women. Two-and-a-half years after my capture, I converted to Islam, provoking a mixture of astonishment, disappointment and encouragement among friends and relatives.
Now, it is with disgust and dismay that I watch here in Britain as former foreign secretary Jack Straw describes the Muslim nikab -- a face veil that reveals only the eyes -- as an unwelcome barrier to integration, with Prime Minister Tony Blair, writer Salman Rushdie and even Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi leaping to his defense.
Having been on both sides of the veil, I can tell you that most Western male politicians and journalists who lament the oppression of women in the Islamic world have no idea what they are talking about. They go on about veils, child brides, female circumcision, honor killings and forced marriages, and they wrongly blame Islam for all this -- their arrogance surpassed only by their ignorance.
These cultural issues and customs have nothing to do with Islam. A careful reading of the Koran shows that just about everything that Western feminists fought for in the 1970s was available to Muslim women 1,400 years ago. Women in Islam are considered equal to men in spirituality, education and worth, and a woman's gift for childbirth and child-rearing is regarded as a positive attribute.
When Islam offers women so much, why are Western men so obsessed with Muslim women's attire? Even British government ministers Gordon Brown and John Reid have made disparaging remarks about the nikab -- and they hail from across the Scottish border, where men wear skirts.
When I converted to Islam and began wearing a headscarf, the repercussions were enormous. All I did was cover my head and hair -- but I instantly became a second-class citizen. I knew I'd hear from the odd Islamophobe, but I didn't expect so much open hostility from strangers. Cabs passed me by at night, their "for hire" lights glowing. One cabbie, after dropping off a white passenger right in front of me, glared at me when I rapped on his window, then drove off. Another said, "Don't leave a bomb in the back seat" and asked, "Where's bin Laden hiding?"
Yes, it is a religious obligation for Muslim women to dress modestly, but the majority of Muslim women I know like wearing the hijab, which leaves the face uncovered, though a few prefer the nikab. It is a personal statement: My dress tells you that I am a Muslim and that I expect to be treated respectfully, much as a Wall Street banker would say that a business suit defines him as an executive to be taken seriously. And, especially among converts to the faith like me, the attention of men who confront women with inappropriate, leering behavior is not tolerable.
I was a Western feminist for many years, but I've discovered that Muslim feminists are more radical than their secular counterparts. We hate those ghastly beauty pageants, and tried to stop laughing in 2003 when judges of the Miss Earth competition hailed the emergence of a bikini-clad Miss Afghanistan , Vida Samadzai, as a giant leap for women's liberation. They even gave Samadzai a special award for "representing the victory of women's rights."
Some young Muslim feminists consider the hijab and the nikab political symbols, too, a way of rejecting Western excesses such as binge drinking, casual sex and drug use. What is more liberating: being judged on the length of your skirt and the size of your surgically enhanced breasts, or being judged on your character and intelligence? In Islam, superiority is achieved through piety -- not beauty, wealth, power, position or sex .
I didn't know whether to scream or laugh when Italy's Prodi joined the debate last week by declaring that it is "common sense" not to wear the nikab because it makes social relations "more difficult." Nonsense. If this is the case, then why are cellphones, landlines, e-mail, text messaging and fax machines in daily use? And no one switches off the radio because they can't see the presenter's face.
Under Islam, I am respected. It tells me that I have a right to an education and that it is my duty to seek out knowledge, regardless of whether I am single or married. Nowhere in the framework of Islam are we told that women must wash, clean or cook for men . As for how Muslim men are allowed to beat their wives -- it's simply not true. Critics of Islam will quote random Koranic verses or hadith, but usually out of context. If a man does raise a finger against his wife, he is not allowed to leave a mark on her body, which is the Koran's way of saying, "Don't beat your wife, stupid."
It is not just Muslim men who must reevaluate the place and treatment of women. According to a recent National Domestic Violence Hotline survey, 4 million American women experience a serious assault by a partner during an average 12-month period. More than three women are killed by their husbands and boyfriends every day -- that is nearly 5,500 since 9/11.
Violent men don't come from any particular religious or cultural category; one in three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime, according to the hotline survey. This is a global problem that transcends religion, wealth, class, race and culture.
But it is also true that in the West, men still believe that they are superior to women, despite protests to the contrary. They still receive better pay for equal work -- whether in the mailroom or the boardroom -- and women are still treated as sexualized commodities whose power and influence flow directly from their appearance.
And for those who are still trying to claim that Islam oppresses women, recall this 1992 statement from the Rev. Pat Robertson, offering his views on empowered women: Feminism is a "socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."
Now you tell me who is civilized and who is not.

hermosh@aol.com
Yvonne Ridley is political editor of Islam Channel TV in London and coauthor
of "In the Hands of the Taliban: Her Extraordinary Story" (Robson Books).

Monday, February 06, 2006

The Prophet

The Man Behind the Cartoons :

Do You Know This Man ? You Must Know This Man




1) Do You Know This Man?

History has recorded the appearance and deeds of many religious leaders: Moses, Jesus Christ, Zoroaster, and Abraham, to name just a few. There have also been many self-proclaimed prophets and messengers, each of whom has claimed to bring a divine revelation for mankind. Some have proven to be false, and others have been forgotten. But there is one religious leader who stands alone, an unlettered man who transmitted a revelation from God that literally changed the course of history and the destinies of a major portion of mankind: Muhammad, the Prophet and Messenger of God.

Encyclopedia Britannica confirms:

"...a mass of detail in the early sources shows that he was an honest and upright man who had gained the respect and loyalty of others who were likewise honest and upright men." (Vol. 12) B

George Bernard Shaw said about him:

"He must be called the Savior of humanity I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much-needed peace and happiness." (The Genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. X 1936)

"If any religion had the chance of ruling over England, nay Europe within the next hundred years, it could be Islam."

"I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion, which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence, which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion for from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity."

"I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today." (Sir George Bernard Shaw in 'The Genuine Islam,' Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936.)

He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numerous social and political reforms, established a powerful and dynamic society to practice and represent his teachings, and completely revolutionized the worlds of human thought and behavior for all time to come.

"HIS NAME IS MUHAMMAD" May the Peace of God Be upon Him (PBUH).

He was born in Arabia in the year 570 CE, Muhammad started his mission of preaching Islam, the religion of truth and the submission of man to One God, at the age of forty and died at the age of sixty-three. During the short twenty-three year period of his prophet hood, Muhammad (PBUH) changed the entire Arabian peninsula forever. Within the space of one generation, the vast majority of people went from paganism and idolatry to devout and strict monotheism, from tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion, from drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and piety, from lawlessness and anarchy to a lifestyle characterized by discipline, from moral bankruptcy to the highest standards of moral excellence.

Human history has never seen such a complete transformation of a people or a place before or since-and just imagine that all of these unbelievable wonders took place in just over two decades and because of the efforts of one man.

Michael H. Hart, in his recently published book on the rating of individuals who have contributed towards the benefit and upliftment of mankind writes:

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels. (M H. Hart, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, New York, 1978, pp. 33)

Lamartine, the renowned historian, when speaking on the essentials of human greatness, wonders:

"If greatness of purpose, smallness of means and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad? The most famous men created arms, laws and empires only they founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes. This man moved not only armies, legislation, empires, peoples and dynasties but millions of men in one-third of the then-inhabited world; and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and souls.... his forbearance in victory, his ambition, which was entirely devoted to one idea and in no manner striving for an empire; his endless prayers; his mystic conversations with God; his death and his triumph after death; all these attest not to an imposture but to a firm conviction which gave him the power to restore a dogma. This dogma was two-fold: the unity of God and the immateriality of God-the former telling what God is, the latter telling what God is not; the one overthrowing false gods with the sword, the other starting an idea with the words.

Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images, the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire: that is MUHAMMAD. As regards all the standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask IS THERE ANY MAN GREATER THAN HE?" (Lamartine: Histoire de la Turquie, Paris, 1854Vol.11, pp 276- 277).

The world has had its share of great personalities. But these were one-sided figures who distinguished themselves in only one or two fields, such as religious thought or military leadership. The lives and teachings of these great personalities are shrouded in the mists of time. There is so much speculation about the time and place of their birth, the mode and style of their life, the nature and detail of their teachings, and the degree and measure of their success or failure that it is impossible for humanity to reconstruct accurately the lives and teachings of these men.

Not so this man The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) accomplished so much in so many fields of human thought and behavior in the fullest blaze of human history. Every detail of his private life and public utterances has been accurately documented and faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of the records so preserved are vouched for not only by the faithful followers but even by his prejudiced critics.

Muhammad (PBUH) was a religious teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father-all in one. No other man in history ever excelled or equaled him in any of these different aspects of life- but it was only for the selfless personality of Muhammad (PBUH) to achieve such incredible perfection.

Mahatma Gandhi, speaking on the character of Muhammad (PBUH), says in Young India:

"I wanted to know the best of one who holds today undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind....I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidness, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2nd volume (of the Prophet's biography) I was sorry there was not more for me to read of the great life."

Thomas Carlyle, in his Heroes and Hero-worship, was simply amazed as to "how one man single-handedly could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades."

"The lies (Western slander) which well-meaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammad) are disgraceful to ourselves only."

"A silent great soul, one of that who cannot but be earnest. He was to kindle the world, the world's Maker had ordered so."

Diwan Chand Sharma wrote:

"Muhammad was the soul of kindness and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him. " (D. C. Sharma, The Prophets of the East, Calcutta 1935, pp. 12)

Edward Gibbon and Simon Ockley, speaking on the profession of Islam write:

"I believe in one God, and Mahomet, a Apostle of God" is the simple and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual image of the Deity has never been degraded by any visible idol; the honor of the Prophet has never transgressed the measure of human virtues; and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds or reason and religion." (History of the Saracen Empires, London, 1870, p. 54).

Muhammad was nothing more or less than a human being But he was a man with a noble mission, one which was to unite all human beings on the worship of the one and only God and to teach them the way to honest and upright living based on the commands of God. He always described himself as "a servant and messenger of God," and every single one of his actions proclaimed loudly the truth of this phrase.

Bosworth Smith: "He was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without Pope's pretensions, Caesar without the legions of Caesar: without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue; if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Mohammed, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports." (Bosworth Smith, MOHAMMAD AND MOHAMMADANISM, London, 1874, p. 92.)

Annie Besant: "It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher." (Annie Besant, THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD, Madras,1932, p. 4.)

W. Montgomery Watt: "His readiness to undergo persecutions for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as leader, and the greatness of his ultimate achievement - all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raises more problems than it solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad." (W. Montgomery Watt, MOHAMMAD AT MECCA, Oxford, 1953, p. 52.)

James A. Michener: "In all things Muhammad was profoundly practical. When his beloved son Ibrahim died, an eclipse occurred, and rumours of God's personal condolence quickly arose. Whereupon Muhammad is said to have announced, "An eclipse is a phenomenon of nature. It is foolish to attribute such things to the death or birth of a human being." "At Muhammad's own death an attempt was made to deify him, but the man who was to become his administrative successor killed the hysteria with one of the noblest speeches in religious history: "If there are any among you who worshipped Muhammad, he is dead. But if it is God you worshipped, He lives forever." (James A. Michener, "ISLAM: THE MISUNDERSTOOD RELIGION," in READER'S DIGEST (American edition), May 1955, pp. 68-70.)

Sarojini Naidu, the famous Indian poetess speaking on the aspect of equality before God in Islam, stated:

"It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy for, in the mosque when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: "God Alone is Great." I have been struck over and over again by this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man instinctively a brother. (S. Naidu, "Ideals of Islam," vide Speaches ~ Writings, Madras, 1918, p. 169).

Prof. Hurgronje: "The League of Nations founded by the prophet of Islam put the principle of international unity and human brotherhood on such universal foundations as to show candle to other nations ... the fact is that no nation of the world can show a parallel to what Islam has done towards the realization of the idea of the League of Nations." The world has not hesitated to raise to divinity individuals whose lives and missions have been lost in legend. Historically speaking, none of these legends achieved even a fraction of what Muhammad accomplished. And all of his striving was for the sole purpose of uniting mankind for the worship of the one God on the codes of moral excellence. Muhammad or his followers never at any time claimed that he was a son of God, a God-incarnate, or a man having a divine nature-he always was and is even today considered as only a human messenger chosen by God.

Today even after a lapse of fourteen century, the life and teachings of Muhammad (PBUH) have survived without the slightest loss, alteration, or interpolation. They offer the same undying hope for treating mankind's many ills that they did when he was alive. This is not a claim of Muhammad's followers but also the inescapable conclusion reached by a critical and unbiased study of human history. Maybe it is time for you to get to know this outstanding person who has influenced the life of billions of people over the last fourteen hundred years. He could also change your life.




2) You Must Know This Man - Muhammad

Biography, mission and the message of Muhammad - the Prophet of Islam

You may be an atheist or an agnostic or you may belong to any of the religious denominations that exist in the world today. You may have been a Communist or a believer in democracy and freedom. No matter what you are, and no matter what your religious and political beliefs, personal and social habits happen to be- YOU STILL MUST KNOW THIS MAN!

He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numberless social and political reforms, established a dynamic and powerful society to practice and represent his teachings, and he revolutionized the worlds of human thought and human action for all time.

His name was Muhammad (peace and blessings of Almighty Creator be upon him)-and he accomplished all these wonders in the unbelievably short span of twenty-three years.

Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in Arabia in 570 CE, and when he died at the age of 63, the whole of the Arabian Peninsula had changes from paganism and idol worship to the worship of One God; from tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion; from drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and piety; from lawlessness and anarchy to disciplined living; from utter moral bankruptcy to the highest standards of moral excellence. Human history has never known such a complete transformation of a people or a place before or since.

The Encyclopedia Britannica calls him "the most successful of all religious personalities of the world." Bernard Shaw said, "if Muhammad (pbuh) were alive today, he would succeed in solving all those problems which threaten to destroy human civilization in our times." Thomas Carlysle was amazed as to how one man, single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades. Napoleon and Gandhi never tired of dreaming of a society along the lines established by this man in Arabia fourteen centuries ago.

Indeed no other human being ever accomplished so much, in such diverse fields of human thought and behavior, in so limited a space of time, as did Muhammad (pbuh). He was a religious teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide, a political thinker, a military genius, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father-all in one. No other man in history ever excelled or equaled him in any of these difficult departments of life.

The world has had its share of great personalities. But these were one-sided figures who distinguished themselves in but one or two fields, such as religious thought or military leadership. None of the other great leaders of the world ever combined within himself so many different qualities to such an amazing level of perfection as did Muhammad (pbuh).

The lives and teachings of other great personalities of the world are shrouded in the mist of time. There is so much speculation about the time and the place of their birth, the mode and style of their life, the nature and detail of their teachings and the degree and measure of their success or failure that it is impossible for humanity today to reconstruct accurately and precisely the lives and teachings of those men.

Not so this man Muhammad (pbuh). Not only was he born in the fullest blaze of recorded history, but every detail of his private and public life, of his actions and utterances, has been accurately documented and faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of the information so preserved is vouched for not only by faithful followers but also by unbiased critics and open-minded scholars.

At the level of ideas there is no system of thought and belief-secular or religious, social or political -which could surpass or equal ISLAM-the system which Muhammad (pbuh) propounded. In a fast-changing world, while other systems have undergone profound transformations, Islam alone has remained above all change and mutation, and retained its original form for the past 1400 years. What is more, the positive changes that are taking place in the world of human thought and behavior truly and consistently reflect the healthy influence of Islam in these areas.

It is not given to the best of thinkers to put their ideas completely into practice, and to see the seeds of their labors grow and bear fruit in their own lifetime. Except of course, Muhammad (pbuh), who not only preached the most wonderful ideas but also successfully translated each one of them into practice. At the time of his death his teachings were not mere precepts and ideas straining for fulfillment. They had become the very core of the life of tens of thousands of perfectly trained individuals. At what other time or place and in relation to what other political, social, religious system, philosophy or ideology-did the world ever witness such a perfectly amazing phenomenon? Except of course, ISLAM, which was established as a complete way of life by Muhammad (pbuh)himself. History bears testimony to this fact and the greatest skeptics have no option but to concede this point.

In spite of the phenomenal success which crowned his efforts, he did not for a moment claim to be God or God's incarnation or Son -but only a human being who was chosen and ordained by the Creator to be a teacher of truth to mankind and a complete model and pattern for their actions.

He was a man with a noble and exalted mission -and his unique mission was to unite humanity in the worship of the One and only God and to teach them the way to honest and upright living in accordance with the laws and commands of God. He always described himself as a Messenger and servant of God, as indeed every single action and movement of his proclaimed him to be.

A world which has not hesitated to raise to Divinity individuals whose very lives and missions have been lost in legend and who, historically speaking, did not accomplish half as much-or even one tenth-as was accomplished by Muhammad (pbuh), should stop to take serious note of this remarkable man's claim to be God's messenger to mankind.

Today, after the lapse of some 1400 years, the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. Today they offer the same undying hope for treating mankind's many ills which they did when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was alive. This is our honest claim and this is the inescapable conclusion forced upon us by a critical and unbiased study of history.

The least YOU should do as a thinking, sensitive, concerned human being is to stop for one brief moment and ask yourself: Could it be that these statements, extraordinary and revolutionary as they sound, are really true? Supposing they really are true, and you did not know this man Muhammad (pbuh) or hear about his teachings? Or did not know him well and intimately enough to be able to benefit from his guidance and example? Is it not time you responded to this tremendous challenge and made some effort to know him? It will not cost you anything but it may well prove to be the beginning of a completely new era in your life.

Come, let us make a new discovery, the life of this wonderful man Muhammad (pbuh), the like of whom never walked on this earth, and whose example and teachings can change YOUR life and OUR world for the better. May God shower His choicest blessings upon him!


Written by S. Husain Pasha.



Read also:

a.. Prophet Muhammad: The Leader

b.. Muhammad the Compassionate

c.. The Prophet's Methods for Correcting People's Mistakes (E-Book)

d.. The Prophet's Contribution to Human Thought

e.. Honesty & Trustworthiness

f.. The Finality of Prophethood

g.. Prophethood: Its Nature and Necessity

h.. The Prophet's Generosity

i.. The Prophet's Mercy

j.. The Prophet as Educator

k.. The Prophet's Patience

l.. Mohammad's Prophethood: an Analytical View

m.. The Prophet's Compassion for Children

n.. The Prophets Were Examples

o.. Do Muslims Exaggerate in Praising Prophet Muhammad?

p.. Muhammad: The Man & The Message

Compiled from the following scources:
http://www.cs.odu.edu/~lee_m/lib/muhammad/additionalsayings.html
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/prophet/otherscholars.html
http://www.islamonline.net/English/In_Depth/mohamed/1424/kharitah/article08.shtml

Monday, May 17, 2004

I heard the Prophet

I heard the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) saying,

Do not exaggerate in praising me
as the Christians praised the son of Mary,
for I am only a slave.
So, call me
the Slave of Allah and His Apostle.

Narrated by Umar (Radiyallaahu 'anhu)
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Volume:4 Number:654

ALLAH CERTAINLY HELPS

ALLAH CERTAINLY HELPS THOSE
WHO HELP HIS RELIGION


O believers! If you help the cause of Allah,
He will help you and establish your feet firmly.

Al-Quran 47:7 (Surah Muhammad: 7)

Seven people

The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said,
"Seven people will be shaded by Allah
under His shade on the day
when there will be no shade except His.


They are:

(1) a just ruler;

(2) a young man who has been brought up in the worship of Allah,
(i.e. worship Allah (Alone) sincerely from his childhood),

(3) a man whose heart is attached to the mosque
(who offers the five compulsory congregational prayers in the mosque);

(4) two persons who love each other only for Allah's sake
and they meet and part in Allah's cause only;

(5) a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth
for an illegal sexual intercourse with her
and says: I am afraid of Allah;

(6) a person who practices charity so secretly
that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given
(i.e. nobody knows how much he has given in charity).

(7) a person who remembers Allah in seclusion
and his eyes get flooded with tears."


Narrated by Abu Huraira
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Volume:2 Number:504