The 5th article of faith is Qadr (divine decree). The actual root word means measuring out. Allah has measured out everything what we need. SubhanAllah. Excellent explanation!
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Social media is a constant in our daily lives that impacts our perception of ourselves.
Our perception is our reality, even if that reality is skewed and incorrect, it feels real to us.
Social media gives us an unrealistic, glorified glimpse into the lives of others.
When we compare ourselves socially, professionally and spiritually to these online personas, we run the risk of developing lowered self-esteem and less gratitude for our blessings.
Self-esteem is essentially a person’s evaluation of their own self-worth.
Just as a teacher may give a grade of A or D, we grade ourselves.
If we have low self-worth we are more likely to be guarded with social connections and shy away from opportunities that could help boost positive emotions.
Self-esteem is a grade that impacts our attitude towards ourselves.
We want a balance with self-esteem, not too high and not too low.
Healthy self-esteem is not arrogant or boastful.
As Muslims, we must remember that our worth is measured on a higher scale, one of righteousness and faith.
“And the weighing [of deeds] that Day will be the truth. So those whose scales are heavy – it is they who will be the successful” [Quran 7:8]
We often use comparisons to evaluate ourselves. In our youth we look to role models for examples of what is good and bad, and for establishing standards.
Often our timelines are full of people traveling, buying expensive cars or taking selfies with the Kaaba in the background.
These comparisons and models are distorted, we are seeing the highlight reel of someone’s life, their idealized online reality.
We are not seeing their mistakes or what they look like without filters.
Social media has become a source for social comparisons equipped with a system that lets us know if our friends love, like, hate or feel sad about us.
Using this as our comparison is unrealistic.
Honest analysis of ourselves empowers us with a good understanding of our thoughts, beliefs, weaknesses, skills and how we use all of this to interact with our environment.
To strive for personal growth, we must be able to accurately self-analyze.
Low self-esteem goes directly against accurate awareness of self.
Some even compare themselves to their own online personas.
They created an unrealistic portrayal of themselves online so when time comes to meet someone, they feel anxiety as if they cannot live up to their own self.
If we combine lowered self-esteem with ungratefulness we have someone who feels like they are failing at life.
They don’t recognize their blessings and become overly focused on negativity.
It could lead to anxiety and/or depressive behavioral health concerns that can become dangerous or even deadly.
Being grateful is a spiritual and emotional benefit that enhances our mood, allows us to take account of our blessings as well as enables us to see hardships as lessons.
We are shown in Quran and Hadith to be grateful for our blessings.
“’If you are grateful, I will surely increase you” [Quran 14:7]
Instead of looking at social media as a spectacle of those above us in success and prosperity, we need to be mindful of our own blessings.
Islam promotes qualities like gratitude, mercy and charitable acts.
If we consciously encourage ourselves to look to those in greater struggles than our own, we will be promoting a grateful perspective which can increase our self-worth inshallah.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“Look at those who are beneath you and do not look at those who are above you, for it is more suitable that you should not consider as less the blessing of Allah.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]
I say this constantly and it holds true.
You can think of our perspective like a pair of glasses.
My glasses optimize my vision clarity and depth, yet I put on someone else’s glasses it could create the opposite effect and I fall down the stairs.
If we consciously try to alter which pair of glasses we put on today, we are altering how we view and interact with our environment, this includes social media.
“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” [Quran 13:11]
While scrolling through our feeds we can remember it Is from Allah (swt) when one is given a blessing such as the ability to travel or a new marriage.
Instead of feeling like we must compare to it, we can make duaa for their continued success and say alhamdulillah for the blessings we have.
“None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself.” [al-Bukhari]
Social media can be beneficial and positive as well as a source of Islamic discussion.
This is if we use it in moderation, ethically and have a positive faith-based perspective when interacting.
Healthy self-esteem and gratefulness are part of having a good quality of life and happy disposition.
This article is from our archive, originally published on an earlier date and highlighted here for its importance.
The post This Is How Social Media Impacts Our Self-Esteem appeared first on About Islam.
What is the first step after you sin? You know that Allah is the One who constantly forgives. So as soon as you sin, you must believe Allah is the most forgiving.
The post What Is The First Step After You Sin? appeared first on About Islam.
Imagine you got news from your doctor that you only have 5 days to live.
What would you do in those five days?
And what stopped you from doing these things all those other days before you got the “bad” news?
Morbid?
Yes but the reality of the situation is we may not even have 5 days; equally so we may have another 5, 15, 50 years who knows?
So with this gloomy thought in mind acknowledging its possibility what can we do to prepare for it?
As Muslims we are equipped with the knowledge {Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest}, and what better way to remember Him but through prayers.
By prayers I do not mean the automatic standing, and prostrating exercise but really getting into the gist of things and feeling the prayers not just doing the actions.
How do we benefit from our prayers and reach the epitome of contentment we so often heard about while listening to the stories and biographies of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions?
We know that victory comes with patience and patience is what we need to attain the necessary relationship with God so that our prayers are accepted in that we as Muslims reach the khushu’ (serenity) we so often read and hear about in regards to praying.
I for one know that with the demands of life, practicing Islam is like riding a roller coaster. Sometimes we are on fire for God, and sometimes we don’t feel a thing. How can we stop this up-and-down ride? We need to agree that we can’t always trust our feelings, because feelings have nothing to do with the facts of God’s word. Feelings come, feelings go. And feelings can fool us.
Trust the facts, not your feelings. The fact is firstly you have to pray since it’s the first thing a Muslim will be judged for after death and secondly the best thing to do to obtain peace of heart and mind, happiness and tranquility is by this remembrance of God. The Quran says:
{Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.} (13:28)
We know from the saying of Prophet Muhammad that prayer is the pillar of one’s religion hence prayer is the foundation for one’s relationship with God. The Prophet said:
“The servant is never closer to God Exalted is He, than when he is prostrating himself in worship.” (Muslim)
What better way to come close to God during our prayer than with khushu’ mentioned above which encompasses awareness, humbleness, dignity, calm, and surrender.
Too many of us have sadly become slaves to the habit of praying, doing so in a mechanical and thoughtless manner, and it’s this thoughtlessness which differentiates those who have grasped the concept of complete submission to those who yes have submitted and prayed but have let their thoughts wonder elsewhere.
Just from personal experience, there is no feeling of tranquility that could be stronger and more relaxing than this feeling. I have many times prayed when I was completely stressed out and felt like I couldn’t take any more stress, and entered the prayer, and then coming out, I feel refreshed, calmed down, at peace and relieved.
I remember my late father telling me as a child a beautiful story where the companions worked hard to reach khushu’ during their prayers.
He said one man was asked how he preserved this khushu’ in which he replied that during prayer he imagined that God was before him, that the Angel of Death was at his back, that the gardens of paradise are to his right, that the fires of hell are on his left and that he is standing on the Sirat bridge waiting to enter heaven. As a youngster this scared me and to this day sends a shiver to the reality of the situation if visualized correctly.
Acknowledging the significance of khushu’ leads us to recognize necessary steps to take regarding khushu’ in our prayers, therefore, it is about getting in the right state of mind where we are fully guarding our thoughts from any distractions and focused on God and the various prayer invocations.
Besides spiritual rejuvenation, the practice of khushu’ also teaches us to induce a positive state of mind for any other moment or activity by teaching us to keep distracting thoughts at bay and enabling us to focus on the task at hand with the heart and mind fully immersed.
By trying to draw some sort of parallel, we may better understand the importance of this khushu’ sentiment. Envision this, you get a chance to be in a meeting with a top notch personality, you feel that you want to extend the time, which is mostly tight due to numerous engagements of this person.
The person is mostly timed well, insisting to keep his/her busy schedule and even if the topics are not fully covered, you still will be dismissed. Of course you will switch your cell phone off before getting into the office, as you feel lucky for being there, you don’t want to be interrupted, and you give full attention during the meeting so that you don’t miss the slightest detail.
Isn’t it true that we should plan for this meeting making the necessary preparations for it?
Likewise preparing for prayers meeting someone much higher incomparable then our aforementioned top notch personality requires work.
If our prayer is not connected to our real life or our true feelings and thoughts, then boredom and dryness naturally result from this disconnection. Are we working too hard when we pray?
As a general rule, if we feel as if we are working too hard, then we probably are. Such efforts, though well intentioned, indicate that we may be trying to control our prayer too much and this happens often as the devil downplays our effort and tries many times to confuse us.
Take for instance when you are nearly half way through your prayers, and you start to be distracted wondering if you had washed before hand or if you were praying correctly.
We need to carefully discern feelings of boredom or spiritual dryness. Furthermore trying to impress onlookers by performing the ‘perfect’ prayers will result to nothing less than a meltdown as we’ve included creations into the equation of impressing the Creator.
Attaining khushu’ is not a black or white situation, but rather a work in progress. We must try to treat it as if we are working out, where we have to build up slowly but surely. The single most important factor that works for me personally when praying is knowing who God is.
To have a true belief coming from my heart, that we have a Lord who cares about us, who is there for us, and who is the greatest. Earnestly trying to believe in this and understanding the meanings of what we are reciting during prayers will help us tremendously in the quest for khushu’.
Whether we have 5 days or 50 years to still live, prayers still come five times a day and we can in spite of everything improve ourselves understanding God has made this treasure of khushu’ available to anybody who wants it. It does require effort, diligence, consistency, and belief.
Remember prayer is a way of life and since it comes five times a day we can still make better our selves understanding that the time in between is in preparation for the next, awareness of the passing time, remembering our duty to our Creator and our responsibility to our own soul.
So whatever we’re doing, we need to stop and put it aside, stand in prayer and try to look within, at the faults that follow us around in our life, and seek guidance, forgiveness and escape from the evil consequences of what we may have done.
Say Allahu Akbar!
(From Discovering Islam archive)
The post Searching for Spirituality in Prayer? appeared first on About Islam.
Children often look forward to their time at school. They enjoy learning, being with friends, making new friends and playing.
However not all children have a positive experience. Unchecked school bullying can affect children’s mental health.
According to research, 49% of children in grades 4 through 12 reported being bullied.
Bullying occurs not only at school, but through online forums, emails, and cell phones.
Most bullying takes place in school but can occur wherever children gather in the community.
Children who are bullied may be seen as vulnerable, “not cool”, not having many friends, and may be seen as “different” (race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual preferences, etc.)
The truth is, any child can become a victim of bullying at any given time.
Your child may not tell you they are being bullied. If you are a parent, there are certain signs to watch for indicating that your child is being bullied at school.
Additional signs can include social isolation, a change in eating habits, bedwetting, anxiety or depression or frequent psychosomatic complaints such as headaches, tummy aches, not feeling well, and so forth.
If you are a child and are being bullied, or if your child is being bullied, there are things you can do.
Importantly, children should know they can talk to parents about bullying.
Inform a parent, a school counselor, teacher, or administration for intervention.
Children who are being bullied can also discuss the bullying with a peer (friend).
Research has shown that 57% of bullying stops when a peer intervenes on their behalf. You can also call the “No Bully” help hotline at 1-866-488-7386.
Bullying is a serious issue and can lead to mental health problems, and even suicide.
While most children who are bullied do not have thoughts of suicide, suicide ideation may occur and is a serious concern.
Bullying can have a lasting effect on mental health.
A study found that children who were bullied frequently were more likely to develop a psychiatric disorder as an adult.
There is also a link between bullying and childhood mental health problems such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and an increased risk for suicide.
In some cases, bullying may be so traumatic it leads to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Children who are bullied are at risk for social, emotional and psychological impairment if intervention is not provided.
According to the National Institute for Health, children who are victims of bullying are at an increased risk for mental health issues, substance abuse, physical injury, social and emotional problems, and violence to others later in life.
Professionals urge that supports and proper mental health treatment be put in place for children who are victims of bullying in order to negate the potential consequences of bullying.
It is important to teach children about bullying and appropriate behavior from an early age.
When a child knows what behaviors are acceptable and which are not, it provides a platform for comparison.
If a child is taught to be respectful, kind, and have empathy, they will likely expect to be treated that way.
It is proactive to teach children what healthy behavior looks like as well as non-healthy behavior.
This sets a standard and can be an impetus for discussion should a child experience unhealthy (bullying) behaviors from others.
Treating your child with kindness, respect, and dignity is also a protective factor.
Children who are treated well at home generally do not expect to be mistreated outside of the home and will be more likely to disclose what is happening to them.
If a child is not raised to believe they are worthy of good treatment they may accept bullying behaviors as a norm. Protective factors begin in the home.
Resilience includes using the family structure as an intervention and mediating point and has a protective effect regarding mental health outcomes of bullying.
Children who talk about being bullied reduce mental health risks by processing and making sense about what happened rather than burying it.
The family is the foundation for protection, comfort and problem solving.
A family can utilize the wisdom and guidance of Islam to assist in dealing with bullying. An example would be the hadith stating:
” When you go to your bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi, (2.255) for then there will be a guard from Allah who will protect you all night long, and Satan will not be able to come near you till dawn.” Bukhari
This Ayat can be utilized any time a danger is perceived.
Children with a solid foundation of emotional resilience feel accepted at home and other places.
When children feel valued and accepted for who they are, they are better able to cope with stress and negativity, thus reducing mental health risks insha’Allah.
As parents we want our children to feel confident so that if they experience something as serious as bullying, they will be able to be resilient and bounce back.
We want to have an open door policy where our children can talk to us about anything without feeling shame, embarrassment, or feel that we will not take them seriously.
Inspiring positive emotions in children is a protective factor as well.
Do so with messages of affirmation and hope.
Encouraging children to find pleasure and joy in life can often act as a buffer and counterbalance, negating bullying risks.
Expose children to positive engagements such as hobbies, charity, going to Islamic events, and activities with friends who are positive.
It is important to facilitate the forming of healthy social connections as it is a negating factor when there are mental health risks due to bullying.
Helping children find an area of interest that they can excel in increases their self-confidence and self-worth.
This can also deter the mental health outcomes of being bullied. High levels of support increase a child’s ability to handle bullying.
Children who practice mindfulness have better mental health outcomes if they are bullied.
Mindfulness enables a child to become aware of and regulate their emotions.
It helps in remaining calm even in the face of bullying. This can be empowering for the child.
Providing a warm, loving environment wherein a child is valued and heard and building resiliency are strong points for reducing the mental health risks of bullying.
Offering essential coping tools, as well as providing direct intervention and support in situations of bullying also helps to negate any mental health effects that bullying may produce.
While bullying may never be eliminated in society, there is much we can do to prepare our children to be safe and healthy, both in the short and long term outcomes.
This article is from our archive, originally published on an earlier date and highlighted here for its importance.
The post How Bullying Affects Mental Health appeared first on About Islam.
Le travail est la vocation de vivre ; l’oisiveté c’est la mort. Le temps perdu sans rien faire, selon l’imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, est encore plus grave que la mort:
« Perdre son temps vous éloigne d’Allah et de l’au-delà, alors que la mort vous coupe de l’ici-bas et de ses habitants. »
Ce monde est la ferme des gens, dont ils récolteront le rendement dans l’au-delà. Par contre, ceux qui ne sèment rien dans ce monde ne récolteront rien dans l’au-delà, si ce n’était que des pertes et des regrets.
Beaucoup sont indifférents face aux bénédictions de la santé et des loisirs alors que le Prophète Mohammad a dit:
« Deux bénédictions que beaucoup de gens n’apprécient pas à leur juste valeur: la santé et les loisirs. » (Boukhârî)
Beaucoup de gens avec des corps sains et beaucoup de temps errent sans but dans cette vie sans espoir ni préoccupation ni une cause à laquelle consacrer leur vie:
« Pensiez-vous que Nous vous avions créés sans but, et que vous ne seriez pas ramenés vers Nous? * Que soit exalté Allah, le vrai Souverain! Pas de divinité en dehors de Lui, le Seigneur du Trône sublime! » (Coran 23: 115-16)
La vie, la terre et les cieux ont été créés suivant une vraie loi, que l’humanité doit connaître et vivre dans ce monde, car elle sera interrogée à ce sujet demain. Le Prophète a dit:
« Les deux pieds d’un serviteur ne bougeront pas le Jour de la Résurrection jusqu’à ce qu’il soit interrogé sur quatre choses : Sa vie en quoi l’a t-il passé? Sa science qu’en a t-il fait? Sur ses biens d’où l’a t-il gagné et comment l’a t-il dépensé? Et son corps, comment il en a usé? ». (Tirmidhî)
L’égo de l’homme est tout le temps actif. S’il ne s’occupe pas de la vérité, cela l’occupera du mensonge. S’il n’est pas engagé en une motion rapide et constructive de bonnes œuvres, d’efforts, de croissance et de production, il sera emporté par des pensées imprudentes. Et par la suite, il sera entraîné dans un tourbillon de futilités et d’absurdités.
Dale Carnegie a expliqué ce fait en disant:
« Lorsque nous ne sommes pas préoccupés, nos esprits tendent à devenir quasiment vide. Chaque étudiant en physique sait que “la nature a horreur du vide”. La chose la plus proche du vide que vous et moi verrons probablement est l’intérieur d’une ampoule électrique à incandescence. Cassez cette ampoule et la nature force l’air à remplir l’espace théoriquement vide. »
La nature se précipite aussi pour remplir l’esprit vide. Avec quoi?
Généralement avec des émotions.
Pourquoi?
Parce que les émotions d’inquiétude, de peur, de haine, de jalousie et d’envie sont motivées par la vigueur primitive et l’énergie dynamique de la jungle. De telles émotions sont si violentes qu’elles ont tendance à chasser de nos esprits toutes les pensées et émotions paisibles.
La meilleure façon d’en protéger notre vie et notre esprit est d’avoir un parcours qui consomme le temps et l’énergie, ne laissant aucune place au mal pour lui voler quoi que ce soit.
Dale Carnegie a dit également:
« Pourquoi une chose aussi simple que de s’occuper aide-t-elle à chasser l’anxiété? Grâce à une loi – l’une des lois les plus fondamentales jamais révélées par la psychologie. Et cette loi est la suivante: il est tout à fait impossible pour un esprit humain, aussi brillant soit-il, de penser à plus d’une chose à la fois. » (Comment arrêter de s’inquiéter, 50)
C’est vrai et voilà que ce verset le confirme:
« Allah n’a pas placé à l’homme deux cœurs dans sa poitrine. » (Coran 33: 4)
Il en est de même de l’esprit qui ne peut pas distinctement concevoir deux choses à la fois, il ne peut pas être préoccupé par deux contraires.
La répartition des tâches en islam tout au long de la journée et de la vie se base sur cette loi, ne laissant aucun écart susceptible d’être comblé par des faussetés vides de vérité.
Tout un parcours est résumé dans la sourate « Al-`Asr » (Temps), un court mais exhaustif chapitre coranique, où Allah dit:
« Par le Temps!* L’homme est certes, en perdition, * sauf ceux qui croient et accomplissent les bonnes œuvres, s’enjoignent mutuellement la vérité et s’enjoignent mutuellement l’endurance. » (Coran 103: 1-3)
La perte continue est inévitable à chaque instant, comme l’explique le sage érudit musulman Al-Hassan Al-Bassrî: « Ô Fils d’Adam, tu n’es plus que quelques jours. Chaque jour qui passe, une partie de toi s’en va. » Il imaginait chaque jour criant à chaque lever de soleil: « Ô Fils d’Adam, je suis un nouveau jour ; Je suis témoin de tes actions. Profitez de moi, car je ne reviendrai qu’au Jour de la Résurrection. »
Seuls sont exclus de la perte ceux qui tiennent compte du temps et saisissent les quatre moyens de sécurité et de succès. La foi en Allah, les bonnes actions, la pratique et l’enseignement de la vérité, et la démonstration et le rappel mutuel de la patience face aux obstacles qui attendent ceux qui adhèrent à la vérité.
Carnegie, Dale. Comment arrêter de s’inquiéter et commencer à vivre. New York: Simon et Schuster, 1990
Pour consulter le texte originel en anglais, veuillez visiter ce lien.
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We all go through difficult times but how do we achieve patience during these times? There are 4 ways that we can start applying.
The post How To Achieve Patience In Difficult Times? 4 Ways appeared first on About Islam.
How often have you been through hardships and wondered why?
In this new episode from the series Inspiration, Muhammad Zeyara goes through a number of difficult situations in a row, and he starts wondering if Allah hates him.
The story starts as he is getting ready to attend a wedding.
On his way, he goes through several difficult situations, as he first tries to stop a fight, and his suit gets messed up.
He then passes by someone with a flat tire, and stops to help, but his clothes get in a worse situation.
He then finds an obstacle on the road, which he stops to move away, and his trousers are torn.
Finally, when things could not get any worse, his car engine breaks down, and he is forced to hike his way back.
However, at the very end, after all these hardships, something positive happens…
Reflections
As commented by Sheikh Omar Suleiman in the last part of the video:
“It might be that you hate something, and it ends up being the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:
“… But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” (2:216)
Now here, Zeyara meets his future father-in-law.
And it might not always end up that amazing, but at the end of the day how amazing is the affair of a believer.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said because anything that happens to him, he’s always good.
It’s such a liberating feeling to submit yourself to the decree of Allah (SWT), realizing that some things are not going to go the way you plan, and that’s better for you.
And so the Prophet, peace be upon him, told us never to say if; “if this would’ve happened” or “if I would’ve done that.” …
Don’t miss this excellent new short film, and the commentary of Sheikh Omar Suleiman.
The post Hardships: Blessings in Disguise? (Inspiration) appeared first on About Islam.
Before we can speak of deserting sins, we need to have a good idea of what we mean by “sins.”
From the Islamic point of view, a sin is a conscious and willful act that violates Allah’s rights (i.e. His commandments) or the rights of a fellow being.
On the other hand, we cannot consider a person to be a sinner if he or she is forced to do something prohibited against his or her own will.
Watch Also: Companion Stares at Woman In Hajj – How Prophet Reacts?
Likewise, acts done because of some illnesses, such as insanity or obsessive-compulsive disorder, are not sins.
This is because human accountability is an important aspect of justice as envisaged in Islam. And no one can be truly held accountable for an action he or she has no power to resist or avoid, because Allah does not lay more burden on a human than he or she can bear.
Islam teaches that sin is an avoidable act that harms the perpetrator’s own soul, so there is no “original sin.” This means that there is no innate or inherited nature that prompts a person to disobey Allah; that is to say, it is a person’s choice whether to sin or not.
Indeed, Islam has a unique view on the subject of sin, one not shared by other religions. According to the Qur’an, Adam and Eve, the first pair of humans, were allowed to live in the heavenly Paradise to enjoy a happy life, but they had been warned not to approach a particular tree so that their happy life would not be disrupted.
But Iblis (Arabic for: Satan) led them into temptation and made them slip into sin. Consequently, they were expelled from Paradise, and thereafter, their destiny was to live on earth until the Day of Judgment.
Both Adam and Eve knew of the seriousness of the sin they committed, and so they repented, and Almighty Allah accepted their repentance and forgave them.
This story given in the Qur’an tells us how imperfect we, the children of Adam, are. And at the same time, it is made clear that the humans are created with a capacity for realizing their lapses and amending themselves.
Almighty Allah, by narrating this story in the Qur’an, makes us aware of the fact that He is Compassionate and Merciful to His creatures, particularly to those who repent and return to Him.
This story also brings to light the idea that humans are susceptible to being influenced by external circumstances. But this does not mean that they are without freedom of choice.
Indeed, they are endowed with free will and intellectual faculties. This makes them responsible for their choices and actions, while freeing them from the burden of hereditary or instinctual sinfulness.
Islam teaches that Almighty Allah does not leave humans helpless in the constant struggle between the forces of good and those of evil; rather, He guides them through His books and Prophets.
The post Deserting Sins Is Difficult; Here Are Some Useful Tips appeared first on About Islam.
Dhul-Qi’dah is the eleventh month in the hijri calendar. It’s one of the four sacred months in Islam during which warfare is prohibited.
The hijri calendar is a lunar one with its months beginning when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted.
Since the hijri lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the tropical year, Dhul-Qi’dah migrates throughout the seasons.
Read Also: When Prophet Muhammad Was Denied Access to Makkah
“The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on May 30, 2022 (Monday) at 11:30 UT,” Moonsighting.com reported.
“On May 30, the moon can be seen by high powered telescope in USA. On May 31, it can be seen in Far East and Europe with difficulty but in Africa and Americas very easily. On June 1, it can be seen in the whole world.”
According to astronomical calculations, Dhul-Qi’dah 1443 is expected to end on June 30, meaning that Dhul Hijjah will start on Friday, July 1.
As a result, the rituals of Hajj will occur this year between Friday, July 8 and Tuesday, July 12. Furthermore, `Eid al-Adha will start on July 10.
Dhul-Qi’dah is one of the four Sacred Hijri months of the Islamic Calendar, namely Rajab, Dhul-Qi’dah and Dhul-Hijjah, in addition to the 1st month, Muharram.
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said in his farewell pilgrimage:
“O People! Time has gone back to how it was at the time Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. A year has twelve months, four of which are sacred, three consecutive, Dhul-Qi’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, as well as Rajab, which comes between Jumadaa and Sha’ban.” [Al-Bukhari].
In Islam, a sacred month is a Hijri month when battle and fighting are forbidden.
The post When Will Dhul-Qi’dah 1443 Start? appeared first on About Islam.
Mosques are fortresses of faith and essential hubs for all things Islamic. This is especially true within majority non-Muslim societies.
A mosque should serve more than just as a place of prayer but as a community. Its role is so important that some scholars proclaim it to be haram (prohibited) for a Muslim family to settle in a place where a mosque is inaccessible to them.
So shouldn’t a mosque be a space where the next generation of Muslims swarm?
Unfortunately, many mosques fall incredibly short in opening their doors to youth. If we fear the day that mosques will become barren as many churches have in the United States, it’s time to take action.
Here is advice on how to make your mosque more welcoming to Muslim youth.
{The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakah and do not fear except Allah, for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided.} (At-Tawbah 9:18]
Recently, I visited a new mosque for Jummah prayer. I entered through the front door and took off my shoes. Before taking two steps, I was immediately met by an older white-bearded man rushing toward me. He told me in Arabic that I needed to grab my shoes and head out to the back and in from the women’s entrance. All the while, a few men were watching me get kindly chastised. He then told me I could enter this way “just this once.” I felt humiliated and immediately wanted to exit the mosque. But I stayed.
Had the culture of the mosque been one of prophetic interactions, the man would’ve allowed me to make the mistake and come to me later to inform me of the women’s entrance for future reference. While the man was well-meaning, his initiative was not gentle nor welcoming.
All custodians (board, workers, volunteers) of the mosque must be trained in prophetic mannerisms. They should know the art of timing. What is the point of adhering to strict policies of the mosque if you turned someone away from the love of Allah’s house?
Another issue affecting culture are the mosque-goers themselves. Vigilante aunts/uncles may take it upon themselves to search for anything they deem inappropriate, like a young man wearing shorts or a sister whose scarf is too loose.
If these vigilantes have not learned to advise warmly and tactfully, their behavior should not be tolerated. No young person wants to enter a space where he/she is constantly criticized and humiliated for their shortcomings without any acknowledgement of their faith journey. This is not to say we should be silent about inappropriate and especially haram behaviors. It is to say we should approach with mercy.
So you’ve hired a youth director and assume that the problem will resolve itself. News flash… it’s not that easy.
Support your youth workers (especially when they’re volunteers). As an institution, provide financial support, offer resources (like thefyi.org and relevant program manuals), training, and realistic expectations.
Can Women Give Lectures in the Mosque?
Empower your youth workers to explore new strategies without always peering over their shoulders or shooting down their ideas. Offer them Islamic guidance and development so that they don’t get burned out or stray from prophetic tarbiyah (self-development).
If space permits, offer them a room where their work/activities can happen without interruption from curious mosque-goers. Give them space and trust and watch how far it goes.
If you’re a mosque truly committed to transformation, get a young person on your board. This is a revolutionary idea that very few mosques would ever consider. But, representation matters and if done correctly, it says “we honestly care about you” to young Muslims everywhere.
Alternative spaces for youth are all the rage right now. While this is a pretty specific idea, I’ve seen some mosques creating cafe-like spaces where youth could do their homework/study, host brunches, and have cool events like art nights or storytelling series. Of course, not all mosques can afford this but explore a DIY solution like transforming a small empty room with some cheap finds from a local thrift shop.
There’s nothing I enjoy more during Jummuah than watching younger khateebs be given the reigns. It tells me that the mosque I’m at is invested in developing youth to be Muslim leaders. But, not all young khateebs are the same. So find younger men who are Islamically educated but also educated on community and social issues.
Avoid young men who are carbon copies of a judgmental uncle. If there is a shortage of young khateebs, start training some. Qalam Institute offers a workshop. Youtube is also helpful.
I’ve seen many a mosque board disappointed when they’re not able to reach 200 youth in their first month. Just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) began, don’t be afraid to start with a small group of dedicated young people. If your youth halaqa only has 6 regular attendees, consider it a blessing! Invest in them and then worry about strategies to pull in a larger audience.
Events that fill gaps other institutions can’t fill are also helpful. For example, all-women’s swimming, qiyam events, sports-leagues, career-fairs/college prep and engaging workshops on Muslim-specific topics can be great ways to draw young people in.
I pray that the Allah allows our mosques to be spaces of mercy from His mercy. Ameen.
The post 6 Tips for Youth-Friendly Mosques appeared first on About Islam.
Le Prophète Mohammad (Salla Allah Alayhi Wa Sallam) a dit:
« Chaque personne sera rétribuée pour ce qu’elle avait l’intention de faire. » (Mouslim)
Cela requiert de s’emplir le cœur de détermination pour agir continuellement ou bien s’abstenir de quelque chose uniquement par amour d’Allah. Ceci montre qu’on a des intentions sincères et que l’on ne change pas de résolution suite à des raisons passagères. En fait, ce qu’on fait pour satisfaire à Allah (l’Exalté) ne doit pas être délaissé pour plaire à Sa création.
Le Prophète Mohammad (Salla Allah Alayhi Wa Sallam) a dit:
« Adorez Allah comme si vous Le voyiez, car même si vous ne Le voyez pas, sachez qu’Il vous voit. » (Mouslim).
L’un des signes démontrant qu’on n’œuvre que pour Allah est de n’accepter que la vérité et de voir tout ce qui n’en émane pas comme vain et éphémère. Comme l’a dit le Prophète Mohammad:
« Que périsse l’esclave du dinar… ! » (Boukhârî).
Il faut aussi éviter de tomber dans des questions douteuses. Comme l’a dit le Prophète Mohammad:
« Laisser ce qui est douteux pour ce qui ne l’est pas. » (Tirmidhî et Nasâ’î).
Soyez patient lors des épreuves, des difficultés et des luttes contre les désirs personnels. Et évitez surtout les péchés et les plaisirs suspects. En tenant à pratiquer cela régulièrement, on restera [en adoration] dans nos divers états: sommeillé ou éveillé, accompagné ou isolé, étant à satiété ou ayant faim, étant en pleine gloire ou bien humilié parlant à autrui ou bien restant silencieux sans mot dire.
Cela empêche de suivre ses propres désirs et de devenir fier de sa propre opinion. Certes, une personne qui se laisse guider par soi-même ne sera pas parmi les réussis.
Il est dit: « Ne remettez pas le travail d’aujourd’hui à demain »… En fait, les actions se construisent les unes sur les autres ; et quiconque se contente d’un [statut] inférieur sera privé d’un autre supérieur.
Cela n’a rien à voir avec la paresse dans le culte ou au manque de productivité dans le travail. Il s’agit de réaliser que l’on n’est pas capable de rien faire sans le soutien d’Allah, le Plus Capable et le Plus Généreux.
Cette prise de conscience se manifeste également par le respect et la révérence qu’on montre à autrui. Certes, les gens sont des moyens et doivent aider les uns des autres sur le chemin d’Allah, l’Exalté.
Ne soyez pas assuré que vos bonnes actions aient été acceptées à moins que vous ne le voyiez par vous-mêmes [au Jour du Jugement]. On devrait avoir de l’espoir non pas en raison des bonnes actions elles-mêmes, mais car Allah est le plus Bienveillant et le plus Généreux.
Le wird est le (dhikr quotidien répété régulièrement). Celui qui n’a pas de wird n’a pas de source supplémentaire de soutien de la part d’Allah. Grâce au wird, l’âme s’ouvre en public et en privé ; elle devient plus soucieuse des droits d’autrui.
De plus, elle aime ou haït pour autrui ce qu’elle aime ou haït pour elle-même. Ce wird nous pousse également à œuvrer davantage à plaire et satisfaire Allah. C’est par espoir qu’Allah nous facilite toute chose et de nous réaliser ce que nous trouvons agréable.
Ne vous éloignez pas du rappel d’Allah, même le temps d’un clin d’œil. Celui qui observe toujours son cœur par amour d’Allah, et ne laisse pas autre que Lui y pénétrer, a vraiment trouvé Allah et expérimenté Sa Bienveillance. Il a également atteint ce qu’on appelle « `Ilm Al-Yaqîn » (la connaissance certaine).
Cela se manifeste en considérant Allah comme le Facilitateur ou le Moteur de toute chose soit immobile soit en mouvement tout autour de nous.
De là, la pleine conscience augmente jusqu’à reconnaître qu’Allah est le Pourvoyeur de tout et qu’Il répond à Ses créatures de la meilleure manière. (Pour illustrer cela), le Prophète a dit:
« Mon Seigneur m’a appris les bonnes manières, et Il m’a donné les meilleures manières. »
Sachez de quoi vous devez vous occuper, à la fois intérieurement et extérieurement car quiconque pense qu’il n’a pas besoin d’obéir à [Allah et Son messager] est perdant. Cela s’oppose, en outre, à cette parole d’Allah:
« Dis: “Si vous aimez vraiment Allah, suivez-moi, Allah vous aimera alors… » (3:31)
Pour consulter le texte originel en anglais, veuillez visiter ce lien.
The post 10 Principes Pour Ceux Qui Cherchent Le Chemin d’Allah appeared first on About Islam.
Islam’s holistic approach to health and well-being means that anything that is harmful or mostly harmful, is forbidden. Therefore, Islam takes an uncompromising stand towards alcohol and forbids its consumption in either small or large quantities.
Alcohol is undoubtedly harmful and adversely affects the mind and the body. It clouds the mind, causes disease, wastes money, and destroys individuals, families, and communities.
Researchers[1] have proven that there is a strong link between alcohol and gambling. Drinking impairs judgement, lowers inhibition, and encourages the type of risk taking involved in gambling and dangerous activities.
God tells us in the Quran that intoxicants and gambling are abominations from Satan and orders us to avoid them. (Quran 5: 90)
In Australia, a country with a population of around 20 million, about 3,000 people die each year from alcohol abuse while 65,000 others are hospitalized.
Studies have consistently revealed a link between heavy drinking and brain damage and around 2500 Australians are treated annually for alcohol related brain damage.
Research in the United Kingdom indicates that 6% of cancer deaths are related to alcohol abuse and Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention says that drinking greatly increases the risk for numerous cancers.
Alcohol is considered highly carcinogenic, increasing the risk of mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, and breast cancers. Drinking it during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, causing the child to be small at birth, have some facial malformations, small eye openings, webbed or even missing fingers or toes, organ deformities, learning disabilities, mental retardation and much more.
Researchers in Australia have also estimated that 47% of all those who commit violent crimes, and 43% of all victims of these crimes, were drunk prior to the event.
Alcohol is responsible for 44% of fire injuries, 34% of falls and drownings, 30% of car accidents, 16% of child abuse instances, and 7% of industrial accidents.
Even though it is clear that alcohol is responsible for a great many evils it is legal and even encouraged in most societies. In Muslim countries where alcohol is forbidden, many people still find it difficult to resist temptation and fall prey to the disease that is alcoholism.
Amazingly even in the light of such startling evidence against alcohol, people around the globe continue to consume it in ever-increasing amounts. Why?
It is one of the tools Satan uses to distract humankind from the worship of God. God states clearly in the Quran that Satan is an open enemy towards humankind yet by drinking alcohol, we invite Satan into our lives and make it easy for him to distract us from our real purpose in life, to worship God.
Surely, Satan is an enemy to you, so treat him as an enemy. He only invites his followers that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire. (Quran 35:6)
Alcohol affects the mind and makes sinful behavior and evil actions fair seeming. It creates enmity and hatred between people, prevents them from remembering God and distracts them from praying, and calls them to participate in unlawful sexual relationships.
It generates shame, regret, and disgrace, and renders the drinker witless. It leads to the disclosure of secrets and exposure of faults.
Satan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of God and from the prayer. So, will you not then abstain? (Quran 5:91)
In pre-Islamic Arabia, alcohol use was widespread. To eradicate this evil, God in His mercy revealed the prohibition in stages. First, He made it clear to them that the harm of drinking alcohol is greater than its benefit, next He told the Muslims not to come to prayer while intoxicated and finally, He revealed a verse totally prohibiting alcohol.
O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, idolatry, and divining arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. So avoid that so that you may be successful. (Quran 5: 90)
When this was revealed, the Muslim citizens of Madinah immediately began to destroy and empty their alcohol containers into the streets. Even those who were guiltlessly enjoying cups of wine spat the alcohol from their mouths. It is said that the streets of Madinah ran with alcohol.
Why then is it so difficult to expunge this evil in the 21st century?
Believers today must completely trust God, in the same way that the first Muslims trusted God and understood that He was their only Protector and Provider.
All power and strength comes from God and a scourge like alcohol can be eradicated only when those affected by alcohol turn to God with complete submission.
The Quran is a book of guidance sent to all of humankind. It is a set of instructions from the Creator for His creation. If we follow these instructions, our lives will be easy and tranquil, even in the face of disaster and mishap.
God links alcohol and gambling to idolatry and declares it filthy and evil; however, He is merciful and generous towards the believers and acknowledges the power of addiction.
Islam is committed to encouraging and facilitating those who wish to repent from evil doing and sinful behavior. God accepts repentance from those who are truly sorry for their actions and committed to staying away from sin.
Muslim communities do not ostracize those who have made mistakes but keep them within the fold of Islam encouraging them to seek the closeness to God that will allow them to leave sinful behavior.
Friends, family, and neighbors do not just look away while a person destroys himself or his family.
Islam is a community-oriented faith. There is no place for an individual to do what he wants to do, if it hurts others.
Alcohol abuse affects not just the alcoholic but also his or her family, and community. There is great wisdom in the prohibition of alcohol.
________
Footnotes:
[1] All research in this article is taken from https://ift.tt/Uk6u2s4
Source: Islamreligion.com
(From Discovering Islam archive)
The post Why Islam Prohibits Drinking Alcohol appeared first on About Islam.
Las oraciones obligatorias en el Islam son cinco que están establecidas en un tiempo determinado. Dice Allah en el Corán:
Ciertamente el salat es para los creyentes un precepto en tiempos determinados.
Corán, 4:103
Fajr/Subh: es la primera de las oraciones. Se hace justo al amanecer, cuando sale por el horizonte el primer rayo de sol. En España esto puede ser desde las 4:30 de la mañana hasta las 7:30, dependiendo de la época del año.
Duhur: es la segunda de las oraciones obligatorias en el Islam, se hace cuando el sol llega a su zénit, al mediodía. En España esto puede ser desde la 13:00 hasta las 14:30, dependiendo de la época del año.
Asr: la tercera oración obligatoria se hace cuando el sol empieza a declinar, a mitad de la tarde. En España esto puede ser desde las 16:30 de la tarde hasta las 18:30, dependiendo de la época del año.
Maghrib: es la cuarta oración obligatoria y se hace cuando se pone el Sol. En España esto puede ser desde las 18:00 de la tarde hasta las 22:00, dependiendo de la época del año.
Isha: es la última oración del día. Se hace por la noche cuando ha desaparecido toda claridad de luz del cielo. En España esto puede ser desde las 20:30 de la tarde hasta las 23:30, dependiendo de la época del año.
Estas son las cinco oraciones obligatorias en el Islam, que, como hemos dicho, tienen un tiempo concreto y su hora depende de la época del año y del lugar geográfico.
Además de estas cinco oraciones obligatorias hay otras que son voluntarias, estas pueden hacerse a lo largo de todo el día pero hay algunos momentos en los que son más recomendables.
Si estamos en un país musulmán lo más sencillo es escuchar el Adhan, la llamada a la oración, para saber cuando ha comenzado el tiempo de cada Salat (oración).
Si no es así, o nos encontramos en un lugar donde no se escucha el Adhan, podemos saberlo por la posición del sol. De manera simplificada y aproximada sería:
Subh/Fajr: cuando la primera luz del amanecer surge por el horizonte.
Duhur: cuando el sol ha llegado a su Zénit (al medio día).
Asr: Cuando el sol está a mitad de recorrido entre el Zénit y la puesta.
Maghrib: justo a la puesta del sol.
Isha: cuando se ha hecho de noche y ha desaparecido toda luz solar del cielo.
Una forma sencilla de saber cuándo es cada oración obligatoria es tener una aplicación que nos lo indique, como podría ser MuslimPro.
Las oraciones se hacen siempre en dirección a la Kaaba, en La Meca. Esto varía dependiendo de en qué lugar en el mundo estemos. Por ejemplo, mientras que en España la Kaaba suele quedarnos hacia el sureste, aunque más al este que al sur, en Malasia les queda al suroeste.
Para encontrar la Quiblah también nos pueden ayudar las aplicaciones móviles o una brújula. En España, la dirección aproximada es hacia el sureste, más hacia el este que hacia el sur.
Otro requisito para hacer la oración, el Salat, es haber llevado a cabo antes la purificación ritual, bien sea la purificación menor, el Wudu, o la mayor, el Ghusl, dependiendo de nuestras circunstancias.
Las cinco oraciones son obligatorias en el Islam para toda persona adulta, que sea musulmana y esté cuerda.
Una persona es considerada adulta cuando llegado a la pubertad. Por lo tanto, los niños, las personas que no están cuerdas y quienes no son musulmanes no tienen obligación de hacerla.
The post Las cinco oraciones obligatorias en el Islam appeared first on About Islam.
Do you ever wonder what about the people who have never heard about Islam?
Allah said in the Quran that when we are born, we have an original disposition (“Fitrah” or “Fitra”) to believe in Him. Thus this is a very important notion to know and understand.
Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said:
No child is born but upon Fitrah. He then said. Recite: The nature made by Allah in which He created man, there is no altering of Allah’s nature; that is the right religion.” [Sahih Muslim 2658d]
“Each child is born in a state of Fitrah, but his parents make him a Jew or a Christian.[…]” [Sahih Muslim 2658e]
Indeed, all children are affected by the beliefs of their environment. Moreover it can be a direct pressure or an indirect influence.
The lesson from Omar Suleiman is about a righteous man (Zayd ibn Amr ibn Nufayl) who died before reaching Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
First, Zayn always felt that the Meccans were doing something against pure Monotheism. Hence he didn’t hesitate to talk against it.
Another example of his natural empathy is that he used to rescue daughters who were buried alive, before Islam forbids it.
Furthermore he travelled in search of the Truth.
While he was away, he learnt about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Unfortunately he died on his way back to Mecca.
Secondly, the son of Zayn asked the Prophet what would happen to his dad since he died before saying his Shahada.
For this reason Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) explained that he saw the Day of Judgment.
While all the nations will stand behind their prophets, Zayd will be a Nation of One.
That is to say he will be his own Ummah !
What a valued place mashaAllah!
In conclusion, this natural behavior to worship one god is what is really inside of us. Nevertheless, sometimes we just choose not to follow it.
May Allah guide us, ameen.
The post What about People Who Have Never Heard about Islam? appeared first on About Islam.
