How Do You Know if Allah is Punishing You?

How do you know if Allah is punishing you? When something negative happens then seek the forgiveness of Allah.

The condition of your heart will determine if Allah is punishing you or not. If your heart is made distant from Allah because of something that happened to you, then that is a punishment.

If your heart became closer to Allah because of something that happened to you, it was the biggest blessing.

Some people have a lot of money and a lot of wealth but this can drive them away from Allah. This is a punishment and not a blessing despite it seeming to be positive.

If you lost your job or had an accident or someone passed away, if it it made you come to pray, then this was the biggest blessing.

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source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/how-do-you-know-if-allah-is-punishing-you/

Do the Dead Know What is Happening on Earth?

Do the dead know what is happening on Earth? Are they pleased or displeased by what is happening with me?

When someone righteous passes away usually the family experience a heightened sense of religiosity, or they may slip back into old habits as the person who used to remind them of Allah is gone. A companion said that when we were with the Prophet (pbuh) a good deed was easier to do,all we cared about was the akhirah. Each one of the companions feared hypocrisy so much, when their brothers and sisters passed away they were worried would they be with them in the hereafter? 


When the brother of Abu Darda (ra) passed away he used to make a dua “Oh Allah I seek refuge from you from doing anything to disgrace me in the sight of by bother”. The deeds of the living are shown to those who have passed away. If they see they are good they rejoice in their graves. 

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أنر قلبك ووجهك بغض بصرك

حين يغض المؤمن بصره، يبصر قلبَه، فإذا أبصر قلبه، فطن لخبائث نفسه فطهّرَها، وفطن لأنفس من حوله فصَحّت فراسته فيهم، وتلك هي البصيرة، فإذا أبصر القلب وطَهُر، قَوِيَ وثَبُت وأشرق الوجه ونَضُر.


وتلك الفائدة العظيمة من فوائد غض البصر، هي أساس النفس الزكية التي تدفع الإنسان لكل خير ومنفعة، وتثنيه عن كل رذيلة وخسارة.
في هذا يقول تعالى: {قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ} (النور30)، وفي الآية، يُذَكر الله تعالى المؤمنين بعلمه بما يصنعون، إذ أن أكثر ما يتطلبه غض البصر من المؤمن، أن يراقب الله عز وجل.


بالإضافة إلى تلك السكينة التي يورثها غض البصر في النفس، نتيجة رضا العبد وإبصاره قيمة ما لديه من نعم، فإن غض البصر عندما يتحول إلى سلوك مجتمعي يورث الاستقرار الأسري، والأمن المجتمعي، إذ تشعر النساء بالأمن والأمان، ويشعر كل فرد بأن غيره قنوع بما لديه، ولن يمد عينيه إلى ما أنعم الله به على الآخرين من متاع الدنيا.


يقول تعالى:{لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَاخْفِضْ جَنَاحَكَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ} (الحجر 88).
يُقصد بغض البصر، الانصراف عن متاع الدنيا بشكل عام، ليس فقط غض البصر عن النساء، فإطلاق البصر في جميع متاع الدنيا يورث القلب الطمع والخواء، مما يؤدي إلى الافتتان بالدنيا والمنافسة عليها، بشكل يصرف المؤمن عن نفسه وربه.

ملخص فوائد غض البصر

  1. يكسب القلب نور البصيرة
  2. سبب لإشراق الوجه وبهائه
  3. يورث القلب قوة وثباتا وشجاعة
  4. حب الله تعالى للعبد
  5. الأمن والأمان في المجتمع
  6. سبب لحسن العلاقة بين الزوجين
  7. ثواب الترك لله

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20+ Fatwas About Hijab

Discussions surrounding Muslim women’s Hijab have raised a mixed range of responses in non-Muslim countries.

Some deem Hijab a symbol of oppression against women and, therefore, they push for anti-hijab measures and policies. Yet, Muslim women gladly cherish it as a command of God meant to embower them as human beings, not objects, and to protect their privacy and modesty.

So what is the truth behind Hijab?

Are women subjugated by wearing it?

And how Can Muslim sister deal with the challenges related to it?

This folder answers these questions and more:

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source https://aboutislam.net/shariah/shariah-and-humanity/shariah-and-life/20-fatwas-hijab/

Swiss Catholic Church Opposes Proposed Burqa Ban

Switzerland Catholic Church and other religious groups have announced their opposition to a proposed ban on burqas or niqab, saying it violates religious rights.

“Covering the body due to religious conviction … constitutes an external symbol of worshipping God,” the bishops’ conference said in a joint statement with the Swiss Council of Religions.

The bishops stressed that freedom “to choose and shape ways of life, lifestyles and orientations” was a core value of Switzerland’s liberal democracy, adding that they would reject “all ideologically and socio-politically motivated attempts” to interfere with constitutionally protected religious expressions,” Catholic Philly reported.

📚 Read Also: Muslim Activist Promises to Pay Fines for Swiss Niqabi Women

Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim and Jewish leaders also signed the statement.

The Swiss will vote on whether they want to ban full facial coverings in public on March 7, when they will also vote on a range of other issues as part of the country’s direct democratic system.

The text of the proposed ban does not mention Muslim veils explicitly, stating only that “no one shall cover their face in public, nor in areas accessible to the public or in areas where services are ordinarily accessible to all”.

But the proposal, which has been opposed by the Swiss government, is widely seen as targeting niqabs, burqas and other face-covering veils worn by some Muslim women.

Minority Women

The church and religious leaders said that the burqa was worn by very few Muslim women in Switzerland, who would face “two conflicting forms of pressure: the religious requirement to cover the face and compulsion exerted by the state to refrain.”

“The concealment of female identity in the public sphere is frequently viewed as expressing gender inequality. This perception is not, however, shared by all women concerned,” the statement said.

“This initiative claims to have public security as a goal. In reality, it is directed toward an exceedingly small minority of the population and does not resolve any problems.”

The Swiss  government also urged people earlier this month to reject the proposal, saying the move would hurt tourism.

In 2009 Swiss voters backed a proposal to ban the construction of new minarets.

Two-thirds of Switzerland’s 8.5 million residents identify as Christians. But its Muslim population has risen to 5%, largely because of Balkans Muslim immigrants.

Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not just a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations.

As for the face veil, the majority of Muslim scholars believe that a woman is free to cover or show her face or hands.

Scholars, however, believe that it is up to women to decide whether to cover their faces.

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source https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/europe/swiss-catholic-church-opposes-proposed-burqa-ban/

Canadian PM, Lawmakers Mark 4th Anniversary of Quebec Mosque Shooting

Four years on the terrorist shooting that left six Muslim worshippers dead, Canadian prime minister and members of Parliament marked the anniversary of the Quebec City mosque shooting on Friday, January 29, calling for action to fight against racism and discrimination against Canada’s Muslim community.

“Every year on this day, we will honor the victims, and we will recommit ourselves to fighting the discrimination and hate that took them from us,” Trudeau said Friday from outside Rideau Cottage, Global News reported. 

“No one should ever be afraid because of the way they pray. Not in Canada. And not anywhere around the world.”

📚 Read Also: Quebec Unveils Memorial for Mosque Victims

In his speech, Trudeau announced that Jan. 29 will become an official day of remembrance for the victims of the attack and a time to call for action against Islamophobia, defending people’s right to worship free from violence. 

The day will be officially called the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia.

“The duty to remember is the duty of honor and respect. Four years ago, six Canadians united by their faith fell victim to the bullets of a killer. This was an act of terrorism inspired by Islamophobia,” Conservative MP Gérard Deltell said in the House of Commons. 

“Islamophobia and all phobias based on religious beliefs have no place and must be condemned without any conditions. These forms of violence have no place in Canada. Your memory will be preserved forever; we will not forget you ever.”

Sad Moments

Four years ago, a Canadian gunman opened fire at a Quebec City mosque on the evening of January 29, 2017.

The victims were Mamadou Tanou Barry, Ibrahima Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzeddine Soufiane and Aboubaker Thabti, who were killed shortly after finishing evening prayers.

Alexandre Bissonnette, the man responsible for the Quebec City mosque shooting, received a life in prison sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Last month, the city of Quebec unveiled a memorial for the mosque victims, serving as a symbol to human resilience and unity.

In January 2020, Afghan Canadian director Ariel Nasr released The Mosque: A Community’s Struggle, a documentary on those affected by the tragic terrorist attack on Quebec mosque.

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source https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/n-america/canadian-pm-lawmakers-mark-4th-anniversary-of-quebec-mosque-shooting/

Mosque Volunteers Battle Snow to Feed Vulnerable

A Birmingham mosque has turned into a source of support for some of the most disadvantaged people in the city amid freezing winter weather and COVID-19 pandemic.

Mosque volunteers distributed hundreds of meals in the snow on Saturday, January 30, amid massive demand from people.

The effort is part of the annual ‘Winter Freeze’ campaign, run by the mosque and the Islamic Relief UK charity, Metro reported.

Islamic Relief, which began in Birmingham, said the equivalent of 2,000 substantial meals were handed out overall.

📚 Read Also: COVID19: US Muslim Charities Launch Appeal to Help Vulnerable Families

Between 65 and 70 per cent of the foodbank’s users are from outside the Muslim community and the deliveries take place across the city.

Saleem Ahmed, Head of Services & Welfare at the mosque, said: “The scale of need is massive. We have hundreds of families contacting us each week, as well as the police, local schools, charities and various organisations who say they have families who are struggling.

“Sometimes they need financial help, and we have a hardship fund we can support them with, and sometimes it is food poverty.

“Some families are forced to choose between food and heating, and that’s where we come in to help them to plug that gap.”

Growing Need

In previous years, the mosque, which is a registered charity, has opened up its hall during the cold weather to give rough sleepers overnight shelter and food, but due to Covid has had to move the Winter Freeze project outside.

Huzaifa Lorgat, Senior Fundraiser, Midlands and Wales, for Islamic Relief, has witnessed growing demand during the pandemic.

“For us it’s an hour or two of our day but for another person this could be a lifesaver,” he said.

“The food could last for another month and the gloves and hat could keep them warm this winter. ‘Poverty is rife and as a charity you see the devastation in other countries but to see it on the rise on your own doorstep hits you twice as hard.”

Islam lays a great emphasis on the virtue of neighborliness, stressing on Muslims’ individual duty to be good to neighbors.

This act of generosity falls in line with what many British Muslims have been doing to help their community.

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source https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/europe/mosque-volunteers-battle-snow-to-feed-vulnerable/

El destino y la voluntad humana

No es fácil hablar del Destino y no es posible explicarlo todo en un video de 15 minutos, es una de las cuestiones más complejas. Pero Assia San hace una aproximación a cómo podemos entender la relación entre el Destino y la voluntad humana. 

La importancia de los términos

A la hora de hablar de cualquier tema es muy importante que conozcamos el significado de los términos que utilizamos y que los podamos poner en contexto. Esto es aún más importante cuando hablamos del Islam, puesto que no debemos hablar desde las costumbres, sino desde el conocimiento.

¿Qué es el destino?

El destino es uno de los pilares de la fe o creencia. La creencia tiene seis pilares:

  1. Creer en Allah
  2. Creer en los Ángeles
  3. Creer en los Libros revelados
  4. Creer en todos los Mensajeros
  5. Creer en el Destino, lo bueno y lo malo de este
  6. Creer en la Próxima vida y todo lo que esta implica, como el Día del Juicio o el Jardín y el Fuego

Cuando hablamos del Destino nos referimos a que Allah tiene conocimiento de todo lo que ha sucedido, está sucediendo o va a suceder antes de que ocurra y que esto está escrito en la Tabla Protegida (Al Lauh al-Mahfud). 

La pregunta entonces es ¿si todo está escrito, dónde queda mi voluntad?

El Destino y la voluntad

Una cosa es el conocimiento de Allah y otra nuestra voluntad. Podemos proponer un ejemplo, aunque siempre salvando las distancias, pero para que nos entendamos. 

Le quieres hacer un regalo a tu hermana y sabes que su color preferido es el verde. Pero le compras cuatro vestidos, unos rojo, uno azul, uno amarillo y uno verde. Tu hermana elige quedarse con el verde. Tú ya sabías que ella iba a elegir ese color, porque es su preferido, pero el hecho de que tu lo supieras no es la razón de que ella lo eligiera. Si hubiese querido, podría haber elegido cualquier otro. 

Evidentemente, el conocimiento del Creador no es como nuestro conocimiento. El conocimiento del Creador es perfecto y completo y el nuestro no y no podemos entender este conocimiento, puesto que nosotros somos Su creación. 

Si nosotros creamos algo y la damos un propósito -por ejemplo una aspiradora- lo que la aspiradora conoce es aquello que le hemos hecho capaz de conocer para que pueda aspirar. Allah nos ha creado para que le adoremos y nos ha dado el conocimiento necesario para ello. 

Lo que es importante respecto al Destino

Lo más importante respecto al Destino es el estado de nuestro corazón. Esto es lo que nosotros podemos controlar. El cómo nos enfrentamos a las situaciones que la vida nos pone por delante. 

Por ejemplo, cuando nos sucede algo malo podemos frustrarnos y enfadarnos e incluso intentar rebelarnos o podemos enfrentarnos a ello sabiendo que si Allah lo ha querido así es porque tiene que haber algún bien para nosotros en ello.

Allah nos ha dado medios para conocerle y unos de ellos es a través de las pruebas que nos pone. Por eso una prueba puede ser una bendición. Nuestro destino y por lo que Allah nos ha creado, es para conocerle. 

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source https://aboutislam.net/es/el-destino-y-la-voluntad-humana/

Le Savoir Scientifique Prouve L’existence De Dieu

La Professeure Jackie Ying (née en 1966), chercheuse en nanotechnologie à Singapour, a développé, avec son équipe, le test le plus rapide du nouveau coronavirus (Covid-19).

Elle est née à Taïwan. Durant son enfance, elle émigra à Singapour avec ses parents et alla à l’école là-bas. Elle se convertit à l’Islam. Elle dit :

« Si vous étudiez la science véritablement, vous finissez par croire en un Créateur. »

Les Autres Religions Me Rendaient Curieuses

Le Professeur Jackie Ying suivit son enseignement primaire et secondaire à Singapour. Elle fréquentait une école primaire chinoise.

Ainsi, elle n’avait pas d’amis malais, ce groupe ethnique habituellement associé à l’Islam à Singapour. Par la suite, elle alla dans un lycée multiculturel. C’est alors qu’elle se rendit compte qu’il existait différentes croyances. Le Professeur Jackie raconte que c’est à ce moment-là qu’elle commença à beaucoup s’intéresser à la religion. 

« J’ai toujours voulu connaitre la raison et le sens de l’existence. Dans la religion, on trouve plusieurs réponses à ces questions. », dit-elle.

Il Doit Y Avoir Un Créateur

Depuis la période du lycée, elle étudia plusieurs religions, dont l’Islam. Elle se convertit à l’Islam vers la trentaine.

Lorsqu’on l’interroge sur le lien entre l’Islam et la science, le Professeur Jackie Ying répond que l’Islam nous apprend à rechercher le savoir. Avec le savoir scientifique, poursuit-elle, on peut être très utile à sa société.

De façon plus importante : « Le savoir scientifique prouve encore et encore l’existence de Dieu. Ainsi, je ne crois pas que les deux [la religion et la science] soient contradictoires l’une avec l’autre. »

Le fait d’avoir une vocation scientifique a aidé le Professeur Jackie à voir la Vérité, le Créateur derrière les choses qu’elle étudie.

L’Islam Est Simple

Le Professeur Jackie Ying dit que ce ne fut pas difficile pour elle d’accepter l’Islam. Contrairement à d’autres religions, l’Islam est simple, explique-t-elle. Cette simplicité l’aida à accepter l’Islam.

D’autres religions ont des concepts compliqués qui sont difficiles à accepter, selon le Professeur Jackie.

Cependant, en dépit de cette simplicité, on serait surpris en découvrant l’impressionnant savoir que contient l’Islam. Elle dit :

« Lorsque j’ai ouvert le Coran pour la première fois, j’ai vu clairement que c’était un livre extrêmement spécial et extraordinaire. »

Au Service De L’humanité

Après avoir accompli sa première `Omra, le Professeur Jackie se mit à se couvrir la tête. Ceci révéla son lien avec l’Islam et sa croyance en Allah à tout le monde. Elle est également active dans le domaine de la Da`wah (appel à l’Islam) à Singapour.

En tant que scientifique, Ying a reçu des dizaines de récompenses et a publié des centaines d’articles scientifiques reconnus dans son domaine. Actuellement, elle dirige le NanoBio Lab à l’Agence de la Science, la Technologie et la Recherche de Singapour. Elle a été désignée dans le classement des 500 personnalités musulmanes les plus influentes au monde.

Le Professeur Jackie Ying est un bel exemple de la façon dont les musulmans peuvent contribuer au développement, à la recherche et à la science de nos jours.

Le fait de voir Allah derrière « la scène » procure l’humilité nécessaire pour aller plus loin, contribuer et être utile l’humanité.

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Storm of the Heart – My Journey Towards Inner Peace

I knew every one of the steps that led down to the entrance of the library. Every crack, bump, and slope of those 15 stairs.

Since I was young I had read the inscription on the wall in front of the entrance. It said:

“Everything that man has ever dreamed of or known is contained in books.”  

I didn’t really believe that. There were many things I knew and kept hidden inside, and I’d never read them anywhere.

I was not always understood when I spoke. People often told me not to ask so many questions as it would make me disturbed and discontented with life.

Life Purpose

I had a very real feeling from when I was a child that something was missing. I didn’t know where I belonged, but I knew I was lost and looking for a place to fit in.  

But some things I knew for sure without needing to question. I knew that the human body is an amazing thing.

I could see so clearly how it carries on its functions without our even knowing or understanding how it works. And what is more, even though we do not necessarily understand how it functions, it still works!

This made me think about how science only believes in what it understands and what can be tested. But there are so many missing pieces of knowledge that are basic to life and yet scientists still can’t understand how life enters and leaves a body, how the human brain works, and so much more.

The human body gives us warning signs when things are amiss. We feel pain. Yet people often think of pain as negative. Without it, how would we know we are ill?

This made me think that even the negative things in life serve an overall purpose of balancing things and helping the human mind to comprehend some of the wonders of life.

Within each human psyche there lies an instinct: a sense of right and wrong. A warning sign telling us when things are amiss, something which is common to people everywhere. It is a desire to learn, to grow, to become complete.

Yearning for Inner Peace

Like everyone else, I yearned for peace. I searched for it everywhere but when I was with others, usually I’d feel its absence. People often spoke of peace but didn’t practice it or even really know how to achieve and maintain it.

I read about it in books but they didn’t tell me how to get it. Ignorance, jealousy, competitiveness, pride, discontent, and just plain nastiness kept peace at bay.

Over the years I learned to find peace in nature. The mercy that lies in a mother’s heart, the yearning in mankind to learn, to be better, yet rising and falling under the yoke of ignorance and selfishness.

Humanity becomes civilized only to destroy itself, like placing a rope around one’s neck. The more we ignore our sense within, the further we stray from freedom, peace, and justice.

Like a mother who kills her child seeking freedom has destroyed any chance of peace in the memory of her deed, there can be no freedom without peace.  

But what is surprising is that in our ignorance we are often so arrogant. Oblivious to our smallness in the nature of things, we dare to legislate and declare the means of survival for all others. Yet we cannot even control the blinking of our eyes or the beating of our hearts.

Scientists dare to take on nature, competing with the sun, rain, wind, and with life itself. They play with nature that we hardly understand. Regardless of all this, the sun continues to rise and set, the planets continue to orbit, people are born and people die.

Where to Find Inner Peace?

Life goes on and man’s arrogance continues. Books are written about law and justice that bear no fruit. Books record the misdeeds of man, his rise and fall over waves of time. I read about so many of these things in the library at that time of my life.

But when I looked out the window of the building I saw magnificent trees and gardens, and I couldn’t help notice how nature bows down to laws that were prescribed before time.

The books didn’t mention how we find peace in the submission of nature to those laws.

There can be no peace, no freedom until humanity throws off the shackles of human-made law and submits to the One Who created all that exists, thereby bonding our innate instinct to the nature surrounding us, which all bows to and praises its Maker.

(From Discovering Islam’s archive)

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source https://aboutislam.net/spirituality/storm-of-the-heart-my-journey-towards-peace/

That’s How I Fell in Love with Hijab!

My own experience with wearing hijab came before I converted to Islam. For nearly a year and a half before I accepted Islam as my religion, I had been studying the religion and learning about its tenets and characteristics.

Of course, being a woman, I was especially interested in women-centered issues. But hijab being the very visible symbol it is, I found myself especially intrigued with its purpose and soon found myself fascinated with the women who donned it.

As my studies of Islam progressed, I began to wander into and peruse Islamic bookstores where English versions of the Quran lined the shelves along with collections of hadith and stories of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions. But as much as I devoured all I could of writings and lectures on Islam, I found myself drawn to another part of the bookstore – the place where rows and rows of abayas were displayed and stacks of hijabs were kept.  After window-shopping lost its appeal, I finally found the courage to try on and purchase my first head covering.

Wearing hijab for the first time

I remember putting it on for the first time. It was just a simple one-piece pull over. Nothing more intricate would do for a first-timer so I stuck with the basics.

However, something strange happened when I pulled that innocent piece of green material over my head. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, was appalled at what I saw and quickly – and perhaps a little too forcibly than necessary –ripped it off my head. In addition to seeing myself in a completely different and unfamiliar way, I have no doubt that the negative stereotypes and images of hijab-clad women so often seen and portrayed in the media fueled my drastic and horrified response to my own covered head.

As the months wore on, Ididn’t find occasion to wear my new hijab, but I did continue in my studies and was satisfied with that. However, as it turned out, in the end I didn’t need any special occasion to don the headscarf. Instead, it was mere curiosity, which finally persuaded me to give it a second chance.  And to ease the transition, I decided to head back to the bookstore to buy something more appealing to my taste.

However, I recovered quickly and rationalized that I would buy the hijab and only wear it if I ever had need to venture into a mosque. Now, I look back at that moment and see that the purchase of the hated head cover was a tiny step toward acceptance of what it means and what it would eventually come to symbolize in my life, even though I didn’t realize it at the time.

Once I found a few simple styles that I liked, I began discreetly wearing them around town, usually to halal food stores and other places where I wouldn’t feel like all eyes were on me. It wasn’t until I decided to wear my hijab while out to dinner with my husband when I realized that  I had turned a corner in my feelings for covering my hair and had become to feel more comfortable with it.

I believe those early hijab trials and allowing myself to slowly become accustomed to my new look helped me to put on the hijab full time immediately after I made the life-changing decision to convert to Islam. As a result, immediately after taking my shahada, I washed, covered my head, and began to pray. Alhamdullah!

Unexpected reactions

What’s more, the next day I walked nervously into work with my new accessory and faced everyone’s curious stares. It was difficult, but my conversion and outward change was met with love and acceptance from my coworkers, and I was thankful.

Their reactions turned out to be a predictor of my family’s when they first laid eyes on my hijab. I won’t go so far as to say they loved it, but they’ve treated me, my conversion, and my change of dress with respect and tolerance.  In some ways ,it’s as if I haven’t changed my outward appearance at all with regards to how I’m treated by my family and when I go out in public.

I have never been openly shunned or shamed or in any way mocked. I know that I am blessed in this regard and only hope and pray for the same for my fellow convert sisters who have chosen the path of hijab.

Now that I’ve spent nearly nine years as a covered Muslim woman I’ve adapted my style of hijab several times, experimenting and having fun with it.  When I look in the mirror, I no longer have the urge to rip it off my head and cast it away forever.

Now I know the feeling of dignity and protectiveness that it affords me and I thank Allah for it. I wish this same sense of peace for all my fellow hijabi sisters and for those who have not yet taken the step to cover themselves, which I know for many, is a difficult one. Insha’Allah we all find our own way to celebrate our hijab, our right to wear it, and grow in love for it as a symbol of worship to Allah.

First published: February 2014

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source https://aboutislam.net/family-life/culture/thats-how-i-fell-in-love-with-hijab/

Dua to Protect against Backbiters and Gossipers

Here is a dua to protect you against backbiters and gossipers. People can insult us and hurt our feelings. Say this dua to protect yourself against them.

This dua is recited by Saad Al Qureshi.

اللّٰهمّ اجْعَلْنِي خَيْرًا مِمَّا يَظُنُّونَ، وَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا لا يَعْلَمُونَ، وَلا تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا يَقُولُونَ برحمتك يا أرحم الراحمين

O Allah! Make Me to be better than what they think of us! Forgive me that which they do not know! Do not blame me for what they say! By Your mercy O Most Merciful!

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source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/dua-to-protect-against-backbiters-and-gossipers/

10 Popular Halal Dishes

Many of us like to try different dishes from around the world! Being Muslims shouldn’t stop us! Here are 10 popular halal dishes!

10. Nasi Lemak. This is from Malaysia. It is a dish that is made up of steamed rice. It is made with pandan leaves, coconut cream and topped with crispy fried anchovies and ground peanuts.

9. Baklava. This is a dessert from Turkey. It is crunchy with a sticky texture. It is topped with honey but it is filled with nuts. The Greeks also make Baklava and it is also popular in the Middle East.

8. Fish and chips. This is one of the top dishes in the United Kingdom. This meal consists of fresh fish that is fried in batter and chips (fries).

7. Falafel. This is a globally recognized Middle Eastern dish. The traditional sandwich is a pita bread wrapping, pickles, fresh vegetables and Tahini sauce. The falafel patty is crispy on the outside and soft in the middle.

6. Pho. This is a Vietnamese noodle soup made of broth, rice noodles and meat such as beef or chicken.

5. Tahini. The tahini dip or sauce is made from toasted and ground sesame seeds ground to a paste. This is essential to add to many different Middle Eastern dishes.

4. Pad Thai. This is a universal Thai dish that is stir fried noodles and you can add almost anything to it. People add tofu, bean sprouts, eggs, chicken, fish and different sauces to it.

3. Pita with Za’atar. This is a staple Middle Eastern dish. It is a warm pita bread that is served with nearly every single meal. The dough is sprinkled with a blend of Middle Eastern spices.

2. Hummus. This is a creamy and smooth blended of mash chick peas, tahini, olive oil , lemon juice as well as garlic. Humus can be used as a dip but it also works as a spread on different things.

1. Shawarma. This is a tasty Arabic dish! The tender meat is slow cooked. Then it is wrapped in a pita bread stuffed with sauces and vegetables and Arabic spices.

Which is your favourite? Were then any missed? What is on you list to try?

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source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/10-popular-halal-dishes/

Sacred Justice.. Lessons from the Story of Prophet Musa (PBUH)

{O you who have believed, be constantly upright with equity (with others), witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or (your) parents and nearest kin. In case (the person) is rich or poor, then Allah is the Best Patron for both. So do not ever follow prejudice, so as to do justice; and in case you twist or veer away, then surely Allah has been Ever-Cognizant of whatever you do.}   [A’Nisa: 135]

The injustice we see today is overwhelming. No place is free of it. The internet and social media now allow us to witness the wrongs as if it is right in front of us. It’s easy to get discouraged. Let’s start with educating ourselves on sacred justice. These are lessons from the story of Musa (peace be upon him) narrated in Surat Al-Qasas.

Lesson #1: Oppression Requires Division

{Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people into factions, oppressing a sector among them, slaughtering their [newborn] sons and keeping their females alive. Indeed, he was of the corrupters.} (Al-Qasas: 4)

“Divide and conquer” is not just a fancy phrase for dividing up work. It is a tactic that historians have studied for centuries. It has been used to successfully colonize lands, it’s used in wars, and it was used in the transatlantic slave trade. 

This verse doesn’t just explain how conniving Pharaoh was. This verse serves as a reminder of the prerequisite to complete dominance of a people. If we can recognize its symptoms early, we have the advantage to be on the right side of the fight. 

Unfortunately, the insidious nature of such division makes it easy for people to ignore and even justify injustice. Malcolm X once said “if you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”  

Being divided can make people justify something like putting little kids in gray cages without their parents. And when these kids go missing or die, it becomes “collateral damage.” 

Lesson #2: Doing The Right Thing is Hard Sometimes

{And the heart of Moses’ mother became empty [of all else]. She was about to disclose [the matter concerning] him had We not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers.} (Al-Qasas: 10)

It is uncomfortable to do the right thing, especially if you are the only one doing it. Even Musa’s mother, who had been assured by Allah that Musa would be taken care of, had enormous difficulty with her task. 

Doing the right thing is hard, but it’s right. God didn’t promise us ease in the dunya. He commanded us to stand up for justice and promised a reward for it in the hereafter.

 So advise your friend even if you’re afraid of what he/she may say. Donate even if you feel like you’re not making a difference. Educate yourself even if you’re the only one doing it! If it’s for the sake of Allah, it will make this world better and the next one even better!

Lesson #3: Justice Requires Patience

{And he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people and found therein two men fighting: one from his faction and one from among his enemy. And the one from his faction called for help to him against the one from his enemy, so Moses struck him and [unintentionally] killed him. [Moses] said, “This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy.” He said, “My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me,” and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. (Al-Qasas 28: 15-17)

Passion is not the most important part of justice. Patience and wisdom are. 

Before deciding an action, thoughtfully assess what you are about to say and do. It is not an Islamic action to take a side on a matter without understanding both sides. Hasty decisions driven by uncontrolled anger and emotions don’t help a just cause. The consequences can be detrimental. So caution must be exercised so Shaytan doesn’t take advantage of your haste. 

In these verses, we see the extreme of what can happen when one takes a hasty action and gives rein to extreme anger. This led to the death of someone and eventually caused Musa to be run out of the city! 

Acting on impulse can also lead to taking sides without proper investigation. It’s extremely tempting to take sides because we have a strong feeling of who is telling the truth. But the exercise in patience and wisdom is for security purposes! It protects us from carrying sin if we’re wrong. I know I personally have jumped to conclusions only to be wrong. So, I sinned because I thought ill or accused someone of something they didn’t do. I had to shamefully apologize and make tawbah. Had I asked questions first before taking sides, I wouldn’t have followed shaytan’s footsteps. Judges in Islamic courts were advised to never pass a judgement when in an emotional state. Whether they were sad, angry, or even hungry. This was to protect them from being swayed unintentionally because of their emotions. 

Conclusion

Humans have abused their free will to wreak havoc on this earth. But Allah is most Just. He has given us the methods toward justice in this dunya all throughout the َuran and authentic sunnah. A Muslim submits to God and upholds justice “even if it be against yourselves or (your) parents and nearest kin.” And perfect justice will come in the hereafter.

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source https://aboutislam.net/shariah/quran/quranic-reflections/sacred-justice-lessons-from-the-story-of-prophet-musa-pbuh/