Qadr of Allah (SWT)

Sometimes it is very tricky to understand fate and nature and how they work.

But when you go through the Quran and Hadith, it becomes pretty easy to think about the Qadr the right way.

The first thing that ALLAH SWT created was the pen, then ALLAH SWT told it to write.

The pen asked: ‘What should I write, my Lord?’ ALLAH SWT then said, “Write everything that will happen till the end (Day of Judgment)”.

The pen wrote 50,000 years ago and ALLAH SWT saved it in “Loh e Mehfooz”.

The Quran mentions “it is recorded in a preserved tablet” (85: 22). In it, ALLAH SWT has also written about Himself, “Verily My Mercy overcomes My Anger“. (Bukhari)

Here a question arises: if everything has been written, then what are we supposed to do?

Well! ALLAH SWT has given the sense of good or bad to one’s nafs

It’s up to a human being whether he likes to take the right path and fight evil.

Or rather, he surrenders his will to Satan and acts upon his guidance.

ALLAH SWT has kept all the authority Himself but the only thing He SWT wants us to do is to try, not to focus on the result.

We should make our best efforts and leave the rest to ALLAH SWT.

Qadr and faith go side by side. If something happens, your faith must be strong enough to submit to the will of ALLAH SWT and accept His decree anyway.

“Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you and like something which is bad for you. ALLAH SWT knows and you do not know” (2: 216).

Why? Because ALLAH SWT says in various verses to satisfy our thoughts.

  • Be patient: ALLAH SWT does not let the rewards of those who do good go to waste“- (11: 115)
  • Humans can have only that for which they make efforts“. (53: 39)
  • Man will not get anything unless he works hard“. (53: 39)
  • And that his effort is going to be seen“. (53: 40)

ALLAH SWT has His ways of responding to our efforts. Sometimes they are visible and sometimes they help to get us away from some jeopardy. But HE doesn’t stop pouring down His mercy.

Our Prophet S.A.W.W has informed us of a beautiful way, how to be content with the will of ALLAH SWT

.

Abu Huraira R.A reported that ALLAH’s Messenger (ﷺ)said:

“A strong believer is better and is more lovable to ALLAH SWT than a weak believer, and it is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from ALLAH SWT and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don’t say: If I had not done that, it would not have happened so and so, but say: ALLAH did that what He had ordained to do and your” if” opens the (gate) for the Satan”. (Bukhari: 2664)

When you bring “if” into your thoughts, Satan gets a chance to intervene in your faith to play with it. And will get you indulged in doubts.

Leaving the matter to ALLAH SWT makes one Muslim content, which brings him the ultimate acceptance of what has happened.

ALLAH SWT loves contentment and will bless in ways one has never imagined.

So whenever one finds himself in such a situation, one should always remember this verse.

No disaster strikes except by permission of ALLAH SWT. And whoever believes in ALLAH SWT- He will guide his heart his heart. ALLAH SWT is All-knowing of all things”. (64: 11)

Does that mean Qadar can never be changed?

The Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.W told us that “nothing can change Qadr except dua” (Tirmidhi: 139). So one should keep making dua to seek ALLAH SWT’s mercy and help.

Being Muslim, all we all need to do is to make our best efforts and constantly make dua for a good Qadr.

And then, whatever happens, our hearts will be at ease and we will have a sense of peace while accepting ALLAH SWT’s decree. As we all know,

“They plan, and ALLAH SWT plans. Surely, ALLAH SWT is the best of Planners”. (8: 30)

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Passionate Show of Love: Fans Throw Soft Toys on Pitch for Children Affected by Quake

Fans of the Turkish soccer club Beşiktaş J.K. demonstrated great spirit of love and solidarity on Sunday by throwing thousands of soft toys onto the pitch during the match against Antalyaspor for the children affected by the devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria earlier in the month.

As the clock stroke 4:17 in the game, fans started to throw the stuffed toys to signal the time of day that the first earthquake struck the region on Feb. 6.

📚 Read Also: How My Faith Helped Me after the Loss of Loved Ones in Earthquake

Many of the toys were stuffed bears, rabbits and other animals in a touching, widespread donation to children affected by the earthquakes.

As the toys gathered on the edges of the pitch, players ran out to collect them and thank the fans.

Touching Moment

The touching moment was widely praised on social media.

Devastating Quake

Turkey and Syria have been ravaged by a series of recent earthquakes, as over 50,000 people have died.

Among the victims was Ghanian soccer player Christian Atsu, who was found dead under the building where he lived, according to his agent. Atsu was 31 and had been playing for Hatayspor.

Beşiktaş fans threw toys onto the pitch at least once before, as in 2011 they did so to donate to the children affected by an earthquake in the Turkish city Van. 

Trabzonspor, another Turkish soccer club, unveiled a tifo honoring the earthquake victims and rescue workers before its game against the Swiss club Basel earlier this month.

In that game, all ticket sales went to relief funds, and a banner that read “Yaninizdayiz” — which translates to “we are with you” — was on the Akyazi Arena pitch.

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Cycling from Hamburg to Makkah: Syrian Refugee Dies in Outskirts of Sacred City

Riding his bike for thousands of miles, a Syrian refugee launched his journey to Makkah last October 22 from Hamburg, Germany filled with a dream to perform umrah.

After 73 days on the road, 53-year-old Syrian refugee Ghazi Chehada passed away on February 17 on the outskirts of Makkah, only to be buried in the sacred city he has been longing to visit, Egypt Window reported.

Originally from Homs, the Syrian refugee immigrated to Hamburg, Germany, but he wanted to go to the Grand Mosque in Makkah by bicycle.

📚 Read Also:  Mesmerizing Description of Hajj by a Jewish Convert to Islam

Chehada documented his last days and published them on his personal pages on social networking sites.

“Alhamdulillah, you have reached your goal and set your feet on the holy land. You put on your ihram white clothes and set out for the Grand Mosque in Makkah,” a moderator of his page on Facebook wrote.

“Allah chose to take you to Him at this moment, for this choice, God willing, you will be in Jannah.”

Muslim pilgrimage or hajj is a lifetime journey that many aspire to.

In Islam, pilgrimage isn’t just an act of worship. It is an invitation from God himself.  

Allah Says in the Qur’an, “And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj).” (22:27)

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Perfecting The Prayer

Do you find that you use the same surah every time you pray? Well, this is a video that teaches us how to get out of the robotic nature of our salaat and pray as we have seen the Prophet (SAW) used to pray. There are many ways we can improve and perfect our prayers. Check these tips!

📚 Read Also: Learn How To Pray (Salah)

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Loving For Others What We Love For Ourselves

Having genuine people in your life is a true blessing from Allah.

As people have come and gone from my life over the years, I realized that the ones who meant the most to me were not the ones who gave me expensive gifts or even those who I could laugh and have a good time with. They were the ones who treated me kindly and fairly, as they would want others to treat them.

And over time, I have realized that I do not just want people like that in my life—I want to be that well-intentioned person in other people’s lives. Because relationships work both ways, and we tend to attract people who are similar to us.

Loving Allah, Loving His Creation

There is, of course, a huge benefit to this type of sincerity, which comes in the form of nearness to Allah. Gaining nearness to Allah is a constant effort.

For me personally, I know that even if I am praying, fasting, wearing a hijab out, and fulfilling all of my other obligations related to worship, that is just one part of it.

My relationship with others tends to be what makes or breaks that sacred relationship with my Creator. When I have pure intentions towards others and I am genuinely trying to follow the “golden rule,” I feel I am also sincere in my relationship with Allah.

At the end of the day, if I am doing all of the required acts of worship and even going above and beyond, but I am not kind to others, where is the sincerity?

Wish the Best For Others

It is not always easy to live this way, though. Our deen (religion) advises us to love for others what we love for ourselves, but sometimes I see a person who has more than I do and I have to fight unpleasant feelings inside myself.

Maybe some of it is coming from Satan and some of it is just human nature. I don’t know. But I do know that when I allow myself to let go of jealousy and envy, and I truly want the best for those around me, I am the one who benefits.

There are so many spiritual benefits to having this mindset, too. Not only does loving for others what you love for yourself provide you with inner peace, it is also an easy way to have the angels pray for you.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

There is no Muslim servant who supplicates for his brother behind his back but that the angel says: And for you the same.

This is a beautiful way to get past that barrier of jealousy or ill will towards others. Sometimes we just need that extra push, and that is okay.

Inner Peace

The inner peace that I mentioned is not something that can be easily described. It is the feeling of positivity that comes from doing good for others without expecting anything in return. It’s the joy that comes from knowing, deep down inside, that Allah knows the purity of our intentions. It is the hope that if we genuinely want good things for other people, Allah Almighty will grant us similar blessings.

When I find myself losing this peaceful feeling, it means that this is a time to reflect on what I might be doing wrong. Where are the areas for improvement in my character?

Striving For a Better Me

I remember, ever since a pretty young age, I have prayed for a very specific thing related to my inner character. For all these years, I have asked Allah to make me strong but keep me soft. I want the strength to stand by my morals, fight for injustice, and speak up for myself.

However, I also wish to remain soft, gentle, and kind as a person rather than becoming harsh, ill-willing, or hard-hearted.

This can be a tough balance to strike, which is why I am seeking Divine help. And I know that the closer I am to achieving this kind of balance, the more at peace I feel within myself.

Most of all, as Muslims, we should aspire to have the kind of character and behavior that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would be proud of.

One of the prophetic stories that touches me the most is something that the Prophet narrated. He said that there was once a prophet who was beaten by his own people to the point that he had to wipe away blood from his face. Yet he still prayed for them. The du’a (supplication) that he made was:

My Lord, forgive my people for they do not know.

This is just such a touching prayer. The mercy within this Prophet (peace be upon him) was unbelievable. And he narrated it to us for a reason. I think one of those reasons was to highlight the gentle character that we should all aspire to have.

Wanting the best for others and loving for them what I love for myself is something that I struggle with. I will continue trying to improve myself in this way, with the hope that Allah will recognize my struggles and purify my heart.

(From Discovering Islam archive)

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10 Verses & Hadiths on Social Solidarity and Fighting Hunger

This is part 3 of the series: How Islam Fought Hunger.
Part One shows how Islam encourages work and production, prohibits wasting of resources, and maintains food security.
Part Two presents texts that praise plantation and highlights the state duties in fighting hunger.
This part focuses on social solidarity as an important way to fight hunger.

Solidarity is one of the strategies that Islam uses to combat hunger. It is not acceptable in Islam that people live below the poverty line while others are spending extravagantly on unnecessary luxuries.

Catering for the needs of those underprivileged is a duty and obligation. The Qur’an described it as a right for the needy; it is not a favor on the part of the giver but an obligation and responsibility he owes to the community.

Zakah, one of the forms of such social solidarity, is one of the pillars of Islam that must be collected and distributed among its legal recipients. The first Caliph, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), waged a war to fight tribes that withhold it.

It is the right of those who are unable to support themselves and their families and cannot find suitable work to be supported by the society in a way that protect their dignity and honor, knowing that they are indeed receiving a right decreed for them by Allah Almighty.

Wealth belongs to Allah and we are trustees who are supposed to distribute it according the command of the original Owner, Allah Almighty.

A Significant Duty

21. Allah Almighty says:

{Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees. And such of you as believe and spend (in Allah’s Way), theirs will be a great reward.}  (Al-Hadid 57:7)

22. Allah Almighty says:

{And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah – give them tidings of a painful torment.}  (At-Tawbah 9:34)

Trait of True Believes

23. Allah Almighty says:

{And when it is said to them, “Spend from that which Allah has provided for you,” those who disbelieve say to those who believe, “Should we feed one whom, if Allah had willed, He would have fed? You are not but in clear error.”} (Yasin 36:47)

24. `Abdullah ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The believer is not he who eats his fill while his neighbor is hungry.” (Authenticated by Al-Albani)

25. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

The worst food is that of a wedding banquet to which only the rich are invited while the poor are not invited… (Al-Bukhari)

26. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

Every day… two angels come down from Heaven and one of them says, ‘O Allah! Compensate every person who spends (in Your cause,)’ and the other (angel) says, ‘O Allah! Bring destruction to one who withholds.’ (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

27.  `Adi ibn Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a -date-fruit (in charity.)” (Al-Bukhari)‏

Great Examples

These clear directions were genuinely embraced and applied by early Muslims. An amazing spirit of solidarity and giving permeated the Muslim society and yielded wonderful examples that are recorded in the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

28. Allah Almighty says:

{And they give food in spite of love for it (or for the love of Him, i.e. Allah) to the needy, the orphan, and the captive.

[Saying], “We feed you only for the countenance of Allah . We wish not from you reward or gratitude.

Indeed, We fear from our Lord a Day austere and distressful.”} (Al-Insan 76:8-10) 

29. Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

When the people of Ash`ari tribe ran short of food during battles, or the food of their families in Medina ran short, they would collect all their remaining food in one sheet and then distribute it among themselves equally by measuring it with a bowl. So, these people are from me, and I am from them. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Amazing Story

30. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

A man came to Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)! I am suffering from fatigue and hunger.”

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent (somebody) to his wives (to get something), but the Messenger found nothing with them. So, the Messenger of Allah said (to his companions). “Is not there anybody who can entertain this man tonight so that Allah may be merciful to him?

An Ansari man got up and said, “I (will, entertain him), O Allah’s Messenger!” So he went to his wife and said to her, “This is the guest of Allah’s Messenger, so do not keep anything away from him.”

She said. “By Allah, I have nothing but the children’s food.”

He said, “When the children ask for their dinner, put them to bed and put out the light (so that the guest does not realize that they are not eating); we shall not take our meals tonight,” She did so.

In the morning the Ansari man went to Allah’s Messenger who said, “Allah wondered or laughed (because of the good deed of) so-and-so man and woman (the Ansari man and his wife.)”

Then Allah revealed: {They give [the immigrants] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation} (Al-Hashr 59:9)

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15+ Ramadan Tips for Western Muslims

Allah the Almighty has blessed us with special hours such as the pre-dawn hours (sahar); with special days such as Friday, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and the Day of `Arafah; with special nights, such as the last ten nights of Ramadan and the night of Power (Laylat Al-Qadr) and with special months like the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is the most blessed month of the year. Since it is around the corner and as it is the case with respectful and dear guests that we get ourselves ready to receive them, we have to show Ramadan that it is the long-awaited-for guest.

In the rest of this article, we will try to pin down some practical tips to make the most use of this blessed time. We can make use of Ramadan to uplift our personality on three levels:

On the Individual Level

1. Start your day with light rak`ahs after Suhur and before Fajr Prayer.

2. Make sure to pray Fajr in congregation to be given complete light in the Day of Judgment that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) promised those who pray Fajr in the mosque.

3. Have a daily Qur’an reading assignment (wird). Reading one Juz’ (part) is the minimum that you can do in Ramadan. If you really cannot, then try to read as much as you can. If you have a recitation group after Fajr, this will help tremendously to make the task easy.

4. Assign to yourself that task of reading the tafseer of one juz’; knowing the meaning of the vocabulary and the context.

5. Try not to eat much. Follow the Sunnah (one third for food, one third for water and one third for air). This will help a lot in being attentive and not being lethargic during the Tarawih Prayer.

6. Challenge yourself to observe Duha Prayer. The Prophet said that this Salah is the one of the sincere and pious people.

7. Each day in Ramadan, teach yourself the meaning of Allah beautiful Names.

8. Take a nap to be able to stay focused during `Isha’ and Tarawih prayers.

I would like to finish this section by saying that the ultimate goal of Ramadan for a  Muslim is to reorient and redirect his/her interests, change the things that keep the heart busy with material life.

On the Family Level

1. Some of the steps mentioned above can be done with family too, like gathering after Fajr Prayer, reading Qur’an etc.

2. Family contest: Have a daily contest which can take 10-20 minutes before Maghrib. Have a poster, ask each member to prepare a section in the poster; e.g. an ayah with meaning, a hadith with meaning, a wisdom or short story and a quiz.

Family members may rotate in doing the different sections each day. It is suggested that parents take care of writing the quiz questions and the kids undertake preparing other sections.

Twenty minutes before Maghrib Prayer (or right after eating and before `Isha’), all family members gather and each one reads his or her section with brief comments. Then, a raffle is done to choose the winner of the day. Symbolic gifts and surprises may be offered.

3. Donate your Iftar: devote one day where you prepare one of your best Iftar and take it to your neighbor or at least share it with them. It does not matter whether you neighbor is a Muslim or not. This is a golden chance to get closer to your neighbor, introduce them to Islam and share the spirit of Ramadan with them.

4. If you cannot do # 3, you may replace it with a medium-sized sweet tray.

5. Choose one day where you can invite your friends and your children friends to iftar.

6. Create a program with questions and answers on Ramadan if guests come early.

On the Community Level

1. Most of Muslim communities in the West have their own gatherings, depending on the size of a certain ethnic population. In the relatively small-size Muslim communities, people tend to have a daily iftar in the Islamic center where each group from a certain country offers iftar for the whole community. Join these collective activities.

2. Invite your non-Muslim co-workers or classmates to the Center and introduce them to other Muslims.

3. Choose a group of young youth and start together a project to help the community at large. The following are some suggestions:

– You can plan for a soup Kitchen, using the Masjid and a mobile vehicle.

– You may invite a guest speaker every Saturday.

– You may plan for an event that only for moms and daughters, and another for fathers and sons.

– Fast-A-Thon: an event where you ask interested non-Muslim to pledge to fast and have free iftar.

This way, we will have a productive month on all levels which in a way reflect the comprehensive nature of Islam. When we practice some or all the steps mentioned above for thirty days, this indicates that being positive and productive is becoming to be a habit and an integral part of our daily life.

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source https://aboutislam.net/shariah/refine-your-heart/advice/15-ramadan-tips-western-muslims/

Through The Storm – (Nasheed by Maud and Firas)

In this video, Muad and Firas bring to us this beautiful nasheed that assures us about Allah the Almighty’s unending love and guidance for us no matter how difficult the situation we find ourselves. As Muslims, we should always remember to call upon Allah in all circumstances and maintain deep trust in Him.

📚 Read Also: 4 Ways to Boost Your Trust in Allah

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British Muslims Give £1bn a Year to Charity: Report

Charity is a central pillar in the Islamic faith and deeply entrenched into the Muslim way of life.

The London-based think tank, the Ayaan Institute, has proven that British Muslims are among the most generous religious groups, revealing that they give at least £1bn a year to charity.

The huge number, projected to reach £4bn by 2050, was revealed in the report titled, “Aiding the Ummah: Analyzing the Muslim Humanitarian Charity Sector in the UK.”  

📚 Read Also:  4 Benefits of Giving Charity You Can Never Imagine

“The Muslim charitable sector makes a valuable contribution to UK society, economy, the Muslim community and it helps countries around the world through aid and assistance. This work is driven by the Islamic faith and deserves more recognition,” Jahangir Mohammed, Director of the Ayaan Institute, said, 5Pillars reported.

The report found that British Muslim humanitarian charities raised £708m for causes in 2020, which combined with Muslim giving to UK charitable causes (including 2,752 mosques and prayer venues), means £1bn per year is given.

 “This research report we believe is the first of its kind, in identifying the number of Muslim humanitarian charities, analyzing their contribution, and attempting to provide further strategic direction,” the report read.

“We believe this work was necessary and has provided a useful overview at a time when Muslim donors, media, and the public are asking more questions about the nature and effectiveness of the work of Muslim charities.”

The Ayaan Institute is an independent think tank based in London, UK. Its vision, according to its website, is to “see a Muslim world that is united, independent, strong, prosperous, free of wars and conflict, and capable of resolving its own issues.”

Effectiveness

It recommends ways for charities to become more strategic and effective, suggesting charities should also engage in campaigning, advocacy and anti-Islamophobia work to help advance the lives of their beneficiaries, such as global refugees and displaced people.

“When we examined the objects and activities of charities, we found that few have a human rights object or carry out research, advocacy, and campaigning to advance the interests of their beneficiaries or object (within the bounds of charity law),” the report says.

“We recommend that charities attempt to do much more in advocacy to assist in tackling barriers that exacerbate poverty and dependence, such as racism, Islamophobia, and laws that prevent settlement.”

In Islam, Zakat or charity is a mandatory charitable contribution through which the right of the poor to find relief from the rich is secured.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 274:

“Those who spend of their goods (in charity) by night and by day in secret and in public shall have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.”

“The information in this report shows just how seriously Muslim communities take their religious obligations to help the poor and needy around the world. It is in the divinely ordained rituals and obligations of Islam that we find the greatest expressions of Ummah solidarity,” the report read.

“The Islamic faith has provided us with the tools to provide for the welfare needs of the Ummah, whether states and politicians are working towards those goals or not.”

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source https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/europe/british-muslims-give-1bn-a-year-to-charity-report/

Al-Farooq Mosque Moves to New Home, Celebrates Growth

24 years after opening doors for the first time, Al-Farooq Islamic Center of Nashville has moved to a new location to accommodate the growing Muslim community.

The mosque relocated to its new 40,000-square-foot space on Thompson Lane after purchasing and renovating an old Boys and Girls Club, The Tennessean reported.

“Serving is what really matters and that is what we hope to establish and nurture and allow to grow and not only to benefit ourselves, but to be a benefit for this wider community,” Salaad Nur, chairman of the board of directors at Al-Farooq, said at the ribbon cutting event Saturday.

📚 Read Also: In Pictures: Bulgaria’s Amazing Dzhumaya Mosque

The event was attended by Mayor John Cooper, Metro Council members, Metro Nashville Public School board members and other Muslim community leaders.

“The opening is a testament to the power of faith in our community and the human spirit,” said MNPS board member Berthena Nabaa-McKinney, who is Muslim, at the event Saturday.

“I believe that Masjid Al-Farooq has the potential to become a cornerstone of the community, a place where people can come together to gather, to celebrate, to seek solace and guidance.”

Growing Community

Al-Farooq opened in 1999, primarily by a group of people who attended the Islamic Center of Nashville. The mosque started the process to move to its new home in 2019.

Nur said Saturday’s event symbolizes an “affection and bond that connects us. That bond is not limited to the Muslim community. The things that feed the city is not limited to a brotherhood of one type.”

Tennessee developed its first substantial Muslim enclave in the 1990s, when the Clinton administration admitted thousands of Iraqi Kurds.

Al-Farooq is one of 12 mosques in Middle Tennessee. According to estimates, there are 70,000-plus Muslims in the state.

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source https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/n-america/al-farooq-mosque-moves-to-new-home-celebrates-growth/

A Spotlight on Muslims in Eastern Europe

Hearing the word “European Muslims,” the first thing that usually comes to one’s mind is the Muslims of the West: immigrants with Muslim backgrounds or white Western converts.

But there is another side to Europe, which has much more to do with Islam than we would first think.

It is really important to dig into the history of Eastern Europe to discover its forgotten treasures of the past and the challenging present of our brothers and sisters living in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnia-Herzegovina is one of the most diverse countries of former Yugoslavia where Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims), Serbs and Croats are living together more or less peacefully.

Bosnia covers the north and center of the country, with its name probably derived from “bosana,” an old Indo-European word meaning “water,” which Bosnia has no shortage of.

Muslim tribes have been present in Eastern Europe since early times, but the turning point in Bosnia came with the “invasion” of the Ottoman Empire, which lasted in the country for 400 years.  

The southern region of ancient Hum was later named Herzegovina after the occupation of the Ottomans.

With the diversity of nationalities comes the maelstrom of religions too.

Today, of the 4 million inhabitants, 40% are Muslims, 31% are Orthodox Christians, 15% are Roman Catholic, and 14% are others, including Jews who arrived in the late 15th century after being expelled from Spain.

Prosperity Under the Ottoman Rule

The word “invasion” is usually coupled with negative impacts; however, in the situation of Bosnia, the Ottoman occupation proved the contrary.

From 1463 to 1878, Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced a prolonged period of general welfare and prosperity.

The Ottomans allowed for the preservation of Bosnia’s identity; moreover, the country was an integral province of the empire with its historical name and territorial integrity.

During the 16th century, the economic and cultural life rapidly developed; so much so that the capital city of Sarajevo today is one of the few European cities that has had a water supply system for more than 400 years.

Contrary to what we might study at Western schools, the Ottoman Empire did not force people to convert to Islam; tolerance of other religious creeds was actually one of the distinctive features of Ottoman rule.

Eventually, the local Slavic-speaking Muslim community grew into the largest ethno-religious group in the country, accounting for 67% of the population in the early 1600s.

The Ottomans were followed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the late 17th century, which swept away ideas about a multi-faith Bosnian nation by seeding waves of nationalism, leading to the ominous event in Sarajevo, which eventually caused WW1.

Bosnia and Albania were the only parts of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans where large numbers of people had converted to Islam and remained there after independence in 1992.

But that independence was dearly paid for. In the Yugoslav civil war (1991-1999), the three-year Bosnian war was one of the bloodiest parts, in which 97,000 people lost their lives, mainly by the Serbian army. 83% of the victims were Muslims.

Bosnian Muslims’ Memories

This led to a lack of food supplies, which could only be provided by airplanes dropping food to the people below or by the help of the Croatian church.

Neila Muratovic and her mother lived in a Muslim-majority small town in Bosnia during the war. She says it felt safe inside, unlike the city of Srebrenica, for instance, where the Serbian army massacred 8,000 Muslim men in 1995.

The Serbs surrounded Neila’s area, which made it impossible to leave or approach the city.

“No one thought this could ever happen,” Neila says. “We, the average people, lived in peace with Serbs and Croats before.”

Another sister, Maida Halilovic, adds that Serbs could not enter the village they lived in, but they sent special helicopters instead to bombard their homes. During the attack, her father would take her in his arms and go to the mountains to hide.

Almost 15 years after the war, things are getting better; young people are less familiar with what happened in the past, but hatred towards Muslims has not disappeared completely from many areas in the country.

Nevertheless, Neila proudly wears the hijab, unlike many other Muslim girls, particularly in Sarajevo. Neila reflects on being a Muslim in Bosnia:

“The communist ideology brainwashed the people, including Muslims. Therefore, today’s Bosniak community is quite mixed, with both religious, practicing Muslims and Muslims who are highly influenced by the Western European lifestyle.”

However, we have Islamic studies as a subject in all schools, with the opportunity to learn the Arabic or Turkish language. We have Islamic high schools, and children are regularly brought to the mosque.

“Sad, but I feel here in Germany, where I currently live, that I see more women with hijab than in my home country, let alone niqab, which you barely see there.”

Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque (Begova Dzamija) is Considered to be the most important Islamic structure in the country.
Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque (Begova Dzamija) is considered to be the most important Islamic structure in the country.

Islamic Historical Sites

Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque (Begova Dzamija)

It is considered to be the most important Islamic structure in the country; the mosque is the largest and most visited Islamic building in the Balkan region and was originally built by the Ottomans in 1531.

The main architect and financier of the mosque, Gazi Husrev-beg, wrote in his memoirs:

“I built the mosques, the bridges, and the inns for travelers, and my vakuf (charity) is the finest that will ever be known. They will say, in the time to come, that Gazi Husref-Beg turned Sarajevo village into Sarajevo town.”

During the Bosnian war, the mosque was heavily damaged, but in 1996 it was renovated with Saudi and Syrian help, which architects claim caused it to lose its unique features. The interior was decorated intricately with complex colors; however, today most walls are purely white.

Old Bridge (Stari Most):

The bridge, which stands in the city of Mostar crossing the river Neretva, is one of the country’s most recognisable landmarks and also considered one of the most outstanding pieces of Islamic architecture in the area.

The original bridge was built by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I. in the 16th century (1567).

During the war, the bridge was deliberately destroyed, but with the help of UNESCO and other additional funding, it was reconstructed in 2004 as a World Heritage site.

Ferhat Pasha Mosque:

Situated in the city of Banja Luka, the mosque is one of the greatest examples of the 16th-century classical architecture.

Though it was one of the 16 buildings in the city destroyed during the Bosnian War in 1993 by the Serbian Republic, it is currently being rebuilt.

***

The article is from the archives and was originally published at Sisters Magazine.

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source https://aboutislam.net/family-life/culture/spotlight-muslims-eastern-europe/

New Muslims – 3 Very First Steps to Approach the Quran

I’d like to share with you some pointers about the role of the Quran in the life of a new Muslim, someone who just reverted to Islam and is trying to figure out the path.

In the very beginning, because Islam is such an ocean of knowledge and the Quran itself is such an ocean of knowledge, it can actually be pretty intimidating to even think about where to begin.

Take it Slowly

So the first bit of advice I’d like to give you is as far as learning and understanding the Quran is concerned, take it very little at a time.

Don’t rush yourself, don’t push yourself into; and don’t stress yourself out that you don’t know everything yet, or you don’t know how to recite it properly yet, or you haven’t understood all of it yet… It’s okay. The Quran, and our relationship with it, is all about quality and it’s not really about quantity.

Take Time to Memorize

New Muslims feel the pressure to want to pray exactly the same way that all the other Muslims pray in Arabic…

That’s quite a long journey. You should take your time and memorize the chapters; even if it takes you months to do it, it’s fine. It’s okay for you to take a little bit at a time as far as memorization is concerned.

And the question might even arise, “Why do I have to pray in Arabic? Can I just pray in English or Spanish or any other language?

Well, you certainly can, but we believe that the Quran is the literal word of Allah; that it’s literally doesn’t matter what ethnicity or background you come from…

I myself am not Arab and actually the majority of people in the world aren’t Arab, but we consider the language of the Quran sacred because it’s directly from Allah and that’s part of its purity and so we give it importance.

So, even if it takes you time do try to memorize some of the short chapters towards the end, and Inshallah you’ll figure out a way to understand them better.

Study the Quran

Finally, in the short message what I want to share with you is in studying the Quran or reading even a little bit about the meanings of the Quran or listening to the explanation of the Quran in translation… just keeping that going a little bit at a time also and continuously is very important.

Not just for new Muslims but actually for every Muslim because it’s our spiritual life. You’re going to be praying with it, and you’re going to be reading it in eventually bit in a pretty short time, if Allah wills, even in the Arabic language.

But until that happens and even after that happens, you should be continuously trying to understand it in the English language. Just a little bit at a time, it will give you a spiritual boost, and even open up your mind to things, and expand the wisdom of Allah on to you in ways that you didn’t expect.

So, I pray that you’re able to do that and sustain a healthy relationship and a continuously growing relationship with the Quran and your life.

Congratulations on your Islam!

(From Discovering Islam archive)

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Top Christian Priest Hilarion Heagy Embraces Islam

Father Hilarion Heagy, a prominent Eastern Christian Priest based in California, United States has embraced Islam, according to various sources.

The American priest, who was earlier Russian Orthodox Monk, is highly respected among his followers who found him exceptionally patient and kind.

“One simply can’t be a priest and monk publicly, and a Muslim privately,” Fr. Heagy, who has changed his name to Said Abdul Latif, wrote in a blog published late last year.

📚 Read Also: Former Far-Right Dutch Politician Recounts His Journey to Islam

Heagy said the flames of Islam ignited his soul twenty years ago at “a little Islamic center in a university town in the rust belt of Appalachia.” But he announced his conversion to Islam only recently.

“As a younger, middle-age priest, my life until this point was set. I had a ‘promising’ career as a priest. I was well-liked. Well educated. Everything, by all accounts, was going ‘right’. Yet my inner convictions have changed,” he wrote.

“Matured? Perhaps. But a seed planted years ago had blossomed into full bloom.”

Though the blog was published in December 2022, a post on Twitter by Jeff Cassman, brought it to the front.

“Homecoming”

The former Christian Priest, who had recently announced plans to found an Eastern Christian Monastery in California, said his conversion to Islam was actually a “reversion to Islam” and felt “like homecoming” after making the announcement.

“It truly is like “coming home”. My primordial faith. For the Qur’an states that we worshipped God alone and submitted to him since before we were even born,” he added.

“It is for this reason that converts to Islam often do not speak so much of ‘conversion’ as they speak of a ‘reversion’ to Islam — our primordial faith. A long process of Returning.”

Many Muslims have welcomed Fr. Hilarion Heagy, now Said Abdul Latif, with open arms.

“The future, for me, is uncertain. A leap into the dark is always wrought with some anxieties,” he wrote.

“And yet, I feel such a peace. A joy. A relief. My pull towards Islam over twenty years has finally led me home. Now begins the work of entering deeper into the faith. A deeper learning. A love for the Deen, a love for the Ummah, a love for the Prophet (peace be upon him).”

Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world, with the number of Muslims set to grow at more than twice the rate of the overall world population between 2015 and 2060 according to research by the Pew Research Center.

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Me-Time is Time For Allah

We often feel overwhelmed by all the tasks we face in our everyday life; whether as employees, mothers, fathers, homemakers. We often wish for some time for ourselves, time to relax, time off. Some me-time.

However, once we have that me-time, we do not come out as refreshed as we had wished or expected. Why?

 One on One With Allah

As Muslims who want to draw nearer to our beloved Allah, we should try and transform every moment of me-time in time with and for Allah.

Our me-time should be time when we are one on one with Allah. Only us and Allah. Because it is in this special me-time with Allah that we can really, fully draw new strength and recharge our spiritual battery.

We will gain energy for our worldly life and insha’Allah be more content and relaxed in our undertakings. We will receive light that guides us through the day. Light that illuminates the darkness of difficult times. And we will insha’Allah prepare for our time in the next world.

 All Of Creation Remembers Allah

How can we turn our me-time to time with Allah? Actually we can turn almost every activity into time with Allah. Imagine you have decided to take a walk to get some distance from your everyday activities, to refresh, to get some peace of mind. Walking in the forest is a healing experience. The more so when you connect your time to Allah.

All of Allah’s creation is in constant remembrance of Him. That is the way He created plants, animals, even mountains or rocks, rivers or the sea.

Feel it!

Feel how the trees always praise and remember Allah. Hear the dhikr of the birds praising Allah. It is amazing! Some trees are even bowing to Allah. Literally! And Allah even created some trees that are in constant physical submission to Him like the weeping willow.

Keep your eyes open for the signs and open your heart to it. This way you can transform your walk through the forest in a spiritual experience that leaves you feel blessed and strengthened for some time to come.

Connect to Allah Through Reading

If you belong to those people who love to dive into a book to refresh and have some me-time, then you can choose books that connect you to Allah.

Try to find books that increase your love for Allah. Read those books that make you want to become a better Muslim, that make you want to be good to people and that make you want to get up and perform some extra prayer and read Quran.

You will feel that after some time, you will not want to read books that do not have a positive spiritual effect on your heart.

Read on hajj experiences and it will create a strong longing for this special place that Allah has chosen out of any other place on earth. Murad Hoffman’s Journey to Makkah, for example, takes you on an emotional journey to where we turn everyday in our five prayers. Read about the inspiring life of earlier pious Muslims to boost your worship.

 Constant Connection With Allah

Even just sitting quietly in a small corner, on the sofa or the reclining chair can connect you to Allah. If you are too tired or exhausted to even move your mouth, let your heart remember Allah.

Just imagine that every beat of your heart calls out the name of Allah. Every breath you take breathes Allah. It is like a constant wireless connection. You just have to switch the button of remembrance on. And you are constantly connected to the most powerful source, to that Being that created everything, to your Allah.

And this constant WiFi connection with Allah will turn your me-time into time with Allah. Because He is always there, always intimately near. We just have to switch on the button to receive Allah’s signal.

 All Time is Time For Allah

If we keep connecting our spiritual heart to Allah, then we do not have to wait for me-time to connect to Allah but we can connect to Him in every situation and every moment. We just have to keep the WiFi switch on.

Allah says in the Quran that He is the close, intimate Friend of the believers and that He takes them out of the darkness into the light (Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 257).

We have to keep the connection. Allah will never cut the connection.

He will always send His signal. He always wants the Best for us.

Allah wants us to turn to Him, to seek Him, not only in our free time, in our me-time, but all the time. It is only in His remembrance that our spiritual hearts will find peace and tranquility (Surah Ar-R’ad 13:28).

If you can take some useful information from this article, this comes from Allah SWT. Alhamdulilah. And if there is anything unclear, wrong or expressed in an impolite way, I ask Allah SWT for His forgiveness.

(From Discovering Islam archive)

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Rehab Yourself Before Ramadan

Modern day rehabilitation centers, spas, and wellness retreats use multi-faceted programs incorporating strictly regulated diet, sleeping, fitness, and meditation routines to facilitate the recuperation, recovery and cure of participants.

The latter might be affected with a mental condition, substance abuse problems, addiction, or any other physical ailment.

The result of this stint in “rehab” is that the entrant becomes “cleaned up” and “detoxified”, emerging a few weeks or months later with a healthier mind, body and spirit.

Thankfully, God has, in His boundless mercy, already obligated a much better but similarly regimented program once a year for every Muslim. This program is known as “Ramadan”.

The Arabic root of the word “Ramadan” lies in the letters ra-meem-daad, which means, “vehemently heated by the midday heat of the sun” (Lane).

In fact, the fasting of the month of Ramadan is closely associated to the faith that resides in the heart of a Muslim, and is meant to act as a spiritual as well as physical “detox” program that rejuvenates this faith by “burning” off the sins that he or she commits during the rest of the year.

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that Prophet Muhammad said:

“Whoever fasts in Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, he will be forgiven his previous sins.” (An-Nasa’i)

Besides this burning off of sins, the “heat” of the yearly, 30-day long Ramadan fasting routine is also meant to increase a Muslim’s taqwa, or the level of their consciousness of God:

{O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may adopt taqwa.} (Al-Baqarah 2: 183)

Taqwa is embodied or personified by how much a Muslim remembers God, thinks about Him, yearns to please Him, avoids doing anything that displeases Him, and regrets and quickly asks forgiveness for, inadvertently or intentionally doing something wrong that involves His disobedience.

This higher level of taqwa is achieved as a result of the many acts of worship and voluntary good deeds that are ordained during Ramadan, which I have tried to summarily highlight below, in the light of the sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Generosity Towards Others, and Review of the Quran

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

“The Prophet was the most generous of all the people, and he used to become more generous in Ramadan when Archangel Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night during Ramadan to revise the Quran with him. Allah’s Messenger then used to be more generous than the fast wind.” (Al-Bukhari)

A fast wind distributes provision by acting as the harbinger of beneficial rains, and also by bringing about the pollination and fertilization of plants. The result of a fast wind is usually the distribution of sweet water that brings about the growth of abundant edible provision from fertile land.

This is exactly how the Prophet used to be towards other people during Ramadan – as generous and prosperity-bringing as the wind. He also reviewed the whole Quran that had been revealed to him till then, on a daily basis with Archangel Gabriel during Ramadan.

As the members of his ummah, we should emulate his behavior during Ramadan ourselves: we should review the entire Quran at least once, in an un-rushed, deliberating, pondering manner, either on our own, or at a daily Quran circle (halaqah), and we should become extra charitable during this month.

This can be done by discharging our yearly zakah to the needy among our extended family and local as well as global community, and by donating clothes and other belongings. We should also try to give fresh food for others to break their fast with for iftar during Ramadan.

We should endeavor to ask ourselves: “Am I reviewing the Quran at least once during this whole month? Am I a means for distributing welfare and provision to others around me, akin to a fast wind?”

Praying at Night

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said:

“Whoever stands (in the voluntary night prayer of) Ramadan out of faith and in hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” (An-Nasa’i)

The Prophet used to pray the late night prayer every night as personal routine throughout the year, but he has especially and highly recommended it for Muslims during Ramadan.

All praise to Allah, all the masajid around the world facilitate Muslims to pray this late night prayer in the form of congregational taraweeh during Ramadan. We should strive to not miss even one taraweeh prayer, and if we do, we should try to make up the loss by praying extra units of prayer at home, especially late at night in the 2 hours or so before Fajr, just before partaking in suhoor, the daily pre-dawn Ramadan meal.

The point is that, every minute of Ramadan is precious, and with the long summer days in which Ramadan is happening upon us this year, we should avail the extremely short nights by praying extra units of supererogatory prayers in them, and asking God for forgiveness for ourselves and guidance for the rest of the year.

Our aim should be to not let even one night of Ramadan pass without us standing in voluntary prayer in it.

Abstaining From Forged Speech

Fasting during the days of Ramadan entails more than just abstaining from food, drink and marital relations. It also involves abstaining from lying, lewd jokes, hurtful words, gossiping, arguing, backbiting, swearing, and speaking any statement which classifies, in Arabic, as “zoor”, according to the Quran and hadith:

The Quran enjoins: {…and shun the word that is false (qaul al-zoor).} (Al-Hajj 22: 30)

The same Arabic words “Qaul Al-Zoor” that are mentioned in the above verse of the Quran, are used by the Prophet to indicate the kind of speech that nullifies Ramadan fasting, and is thus completely prohibited, in the hadith below:

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

“The Prophet said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech (qaul al-zoor) and evil actions (amala bihi), Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink.” (Al-Bukhari)

The meaning of the Arabic word “zoor” is “deviation, crookedness, or a lie” (Lane).

The hadith above indicates that we should not just abstain from spoken lies during the Ramadan fasts, but also acting upon these lies in any manner, through our actions. Basically, any kind of dishonesty, in word or deed, is completely disallowed while fasting.

Examples of dishonest actions could be: Students asking others to sign in for them before class, to make it appear as if they came on time; employees availing company benefits by lying on official paperwork; a mother bribing her child to do a chore by promising him or her a treat that she doesn’t intend to give; telling someone that your cell phone battery was dead when they called, as an excuse to avoid talking to them, when the truth is that you had deliberately turned it off.

This prohibition is a very serious one, which we should all be extra careful about, as indulging in it nullifies the fast of Ramadan and renders it no more than a stretch of physical hunger and thirst, and not the sacred act of worship that garners the pleasure of God.

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