| Living \r\n the Quran |
Al-Baqarah \r\n (The Cow)
\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Sabr is an Arabic word which comes from a root meaning \r\n to detain, refrain and stop. Hence, the ruler who abstains from injustice, the young man who \r\n stays away from indecency, and the rich who gives up worldly pleasures, \r\n will have the highest status before Allah. On the other hand, \r\n the adulterous old man, the untruthful ruler, and the arrogant \r\n poor are severely punished by Allah because it is more convenient \r\n for them to overcome such unlawful desires. Consequently, giving \r\n up patience in such situations sheds light on their disrespect \r\n and rebellion against Allah. \r\n \r\n Source: |
| \r\n Understanding the Prophet's Life |
| \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Women Praying in Mosque \r\n \r\nWomen used to attend the jama`ah or congregational \r\n Prayers and the Friday Prayers in the Prophet's Mosque. The Prophet \r\n (peace and blessings be upon him) used to urge them to stand in \r\n the last rows behind men. \r\nAt the beginning, men and women used to enter through \r\n the same door. When this caused overcrowding on entrances and \r\n exits, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), said: \"(It \r\n would be better) if this door is left for women.\" \r\n Upon hearing so, the men made that door for women, and it became \r\n known up until today as \"The Women's Door\". \r\nMoreover, women, at the time of the Prophet, used to \r\n attend the Friday Prayers; they used to perform the Prayer regularly \r\n and listen to the khutbah to the extent that one of them \r\n could recite Surat Qaf as she heard the Prophet recite \r\n it several times in the Friday khutbah. Women also used \r\n to attend the Eid Prayers and participate in that big Islamic \r\n festival that included the old and the young, men as well as women, \r\n out in the open, all worshipping Allah. \r\nUmm Attiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated, \r\n \"We used to be ordered to come out \r\n on the Day of the Eid and even bring out the virgin girls from \r\n their houses and menstruating women so that they might stand behind \r\n the men and say takbir along with them and invoke Allah \r\n along with them and hope for the blessings of that day and for \r\n purification from sins.\" (Reported by Al-Bukhari) \r\nMoreover, women used to attend religious sermons with \r\n men at the Prophet's house and they used to inquire about religious \r\n matters that many women nowadays would find embarrassing to ask \r\n about. For instance, A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) praised \r\n the women of Al-Ansar for trying to understand their religion \r\n without being held back by bashfulness for they used to ask about \r\n such matters as major ritual impurity, wet dream, purificatory \r\n bath, menstruation, chronic vaginal discharge, etc. \r\nAnd when women found that men's questions were taking \r\n most of the Prophet's time, they plainly requested the Prophet \r\n (peace and blessings be upon him) to make a special day for women. \r\n So the Prophet dedicated a day for them when he used to give them \r\n lessons and sermons. (Narrated by Al-Bukhari) \r\nSource: |
| Unlearn! |
\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n In the attempt to extinguish a burning desire for ‘learning \r\n Islam or Deen’, many practicing Muslims, often take extreme \r\n approaches to the study of Islam that are devoid of practicality \r\n and spirituality. \r\nIn order to overcome this problem we need to unlearn, before \r\n we learn. This section concludes some misconceptions that we \r\n need to unlearn before we move on to learning Islam. Next week \r\n we will start a new series on 10 tips to enhance our Islamic \r\n knowledge. \r\nCan’t Integrate Creativity \r\n and Fun with Islamic Education \r\nThere are several new and creative modes of Islamic learning \r\n that make Islam much easier and fun to learn. Just because Allah \r\n has made Islamic education easy through technology, such as \r\n audio/video/CD/DVD programs and lectures, email newsletters, \r\n phone conference calls, e-magazines, articles, PalTalk, video \r\n conferencing, and iPOD, doesn’t mean they are not effective \r\n or beneficial. In many ways these avenues of auditory and visual \r\n learning supplement traditional method of learning through books \r\n and scholars. \r\nSelective Islam \r\nSome so-called ‘progressive Muslims’ have a hard \r\n time digesting certain aspects of Islam or Islamic sources that \r\n do not seem ‘rational’ or ‘compliant’ \r\n with our modern age. They pick and choose whatever they like. \r\n Due to this cut and paste method of learning they fail to see \r\n the bigger picture and deny Islamic law any role in our society. \r\n This leads to privatization of Islam to the domain of personal \r\n worship only. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Source: |
| Canada \r\n Votes! |
\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Enjoin Good and Forbid Evil: \r\n CANADIAN STYLE \r\nEnjoin good and forbid evil; the duty of every Muslim. Sometimes \r\n though, it’s hard to figure out what is good and what \r\n is evil. A lot of the time, it’s even harder to figure \r\n out how to enjoin good and forbid evil. \r\nLet’s take an example, our example: Canadians, either \r\n by birth or immigration, wanting to better society, wanting \r\n to improve our neighbourhoods and communities, our cities and \r\n provinces, our country and our world. How do we do it? \r\nThere are many ways to make change, but in a democratic system \r\n voting is one of the few ways to directly affect social changes. \r\nCanada is a parliamentary democracy. That means that people \r\n speak through their representatives. Staying away from the system \r\n is losing our voice; it is giving up a chance to fulfill the \r\n will of God. \r\nHere are few reasons why you should vote in the next election \r\n (Federal, Provincial, Municipal or any where your opinion is \r\n counted): \r\n1. FOR PUBLIC INTEREST \r\nWhen we vote, we choose the representatives who will make the \r\n laws and policies that govern how we live together. \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n 2. TO MAKE OUR VOICE STRONG \r\nWhile democracy involves much more than holding elections every \r\n four years, voting is a powerful way to send a message to governments \r\n and politicians. The more votes, the more powerful the message \r\n is. In other words, every vote counts. \r\n3. EASIEST POLITICAL PARTICIPATION \r\nCompared to other forms of political participation, voting \r\n does not require a lot of time or effort – in other words, \r\n it is one of the easiest ways to have a say in how our society \r\n is governed. \r\nAs Muslims it is our civic and religious duty to strive to \r\n move the society forward as closely as possible to the ideals \r\n of justice, fairness, equity and compassion for all; we cannot \r\n do this effectively unless we ensure that those who are committed \r\n to such ideals are voted to positions of power. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n More Resource: |
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