Shahadah in Islam

The Debt We Owe to Religion By: Ibrahim N. Abusharif The Arabic word commonly translated as "religion" is deen . "Religion" is a fairly good translation, but as many will point out, there is a problem in the modern idea of religion that diminishes the value of the word for this translation. (This is a linguistic argument, not a point to make against modernity.) Religion has come to mean different things because of secular cultural pressure, a common influence in definitions: Religion may mean certain hollow rites that people do during certain seasons of the year; or peculiar acts taken over by culture or family pressure, although they once were connected to devotion; or charming involvement with some vague tradition, with shades of transcending meaning or none at all, stuff that add color to how we live. The relationship of religion binding with the unseen and the Hereafter has become almost vestigial. That really creates a translation problem for deen (although ...

THE HISTORY OF ZAM-ZAM WA TE R - P ART 1 ZAM-ZAM Water is a refreshing, sweet, pleasant tasting, easy digestible, boundlessly blessed, virtuous and honourable water. It enjoys such blessings and virtues, which no other water can be compared to. Basis of nomenclature: The word 'zam-zam' originates from the word 'zumaazim', for which the following is recorded as its meanings: "Excessive water, far-reaching humming sound, the gathering of a scattered thing, to protect, the water of zam-zam or zam-zaam or zuwaa- zim is the mixture of sweet and brackish water." (Lisaanul Arab, vol. 12, page 275) In the initial stages of this well, a far-reaching humming sound could be heard, hence the name 'Zam-Zam'. According to lmaam Nawawi (rahrnatullahi alaih), the name 'Zam-Zam' was given owing to the excessiveness and large quantity of the water, because the words: 'Zam-Zam','Zam-Zoom' and 'Zamaa-Zirn' are said at the ti...

What It Means To Be a Man By Idris Tawfiq British Writer and Speaker Muslims believe that at the end of our life, we will stand alone before Allah Almighty on Judgment Day and give an account of all the things we have done, good or bad. On that day, we will all feel so ashamed that we will weep in the presence of Allah Almighty, asking forgiveness for all the wrong we did and for all the good we failed to do. There will be no one to plead for us, no one to make excuses for us. It will be as plain as that. As a man, I feel Islam to be a very manly religion. (That doesn't mean in any way that Islam isn't "designed" for women). Standing at prayer alongside others in the mosque helps me to be Muslim. With the brothers on either side of me and in front of me and behind me, I know that we are all praying for similar things. When our foreheads touch the ground in prayer, we are begging that our wives and children be kept safe, that our work be prosperous, and that our paren...

The Magnificence of Tahajjud Salaat It is said that: "For every good deed that an obedient slave and servant performs for the Pleasure of his Glorious Creator and Sustainer - Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala, the reward for it is specified in the Most Holy and Glorious Qur'an. Except for the regular performance of Tahajjud Salaat which commands an unusually high reward on account of its great worth, the reward is only known to Rahmathul Liel Ala'meen." Almighty Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala tells us about those who forsake the comfort of their warm beds in His Remembrance in verses 16 and 17 of Surah Sajda: "They forsake their beds of sleep, while they call on their Lord, in fear and hope. And they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them." "Now no person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden (in reserve) for them - as a reward for their good deeds." Men and women "breathless with adoration" shu...

1.0. Why is paying Zakat beneficial for me in the hereafter? "If you lend to Allah a goodly loan ( i.e. spend in Allah ' s Cause) He will double it for you, and will forgive you. And Allah is Most Ready to appreciate and to reward, Most Forbearing." [Al-Quran 64:17] "Who is he that will lend to Allah a goodly loan, then (Allah) will increase it manifold to his credit (in repaying), and he will have (besides) a good reward ( i.e. Paradise )." [Al-Quran 57:11] "Verily, those who give Sadaqat ( i.e. Zakat and alms, etc.), men and women, and lend to Allah a goodly loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit), and theirs shall be an honorable good reward (i.e. Paradise )." [Al-Quran 57:18] "The believers must (eventually) win through, Those who humble themselves in their prayers; Who avoid vain talk; Who are active in deeds of charity." [Al-Quran 23:1-4] "Ta Sin! These are the verses of the Quran and the Book that makes (things) c...

VIRTUES OF MAKKAH While departing from Makkah, Rasullullah(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) halte d on a plateau, faced the Qibla and said: " By Allah! You are the most beloved portion of Allah's earth to me, and verily you are the most beloved portion of the earth to Allah too. Verily you are the best, spot on the face of the earth. And the most beloved to Allah. If your people did not expel me, I would not have departed from you." (Al-Muatta) Rasullullah(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) stated in a Hadith- " The best and the most beloved city on the face of this earth to Allah is Makkah." (Sahih Al-Bukhari) Rasullullah(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) stated: " The earth was rolled out from Makkah. Allah stretched (the earth) from underneath it. Thus it is called the mother of all cities. " (Sahih Al-Bukhari) " The first mountain that was placed on the earth was Abu Qubais." (Ibn Abi Shiba, Ibn Abi Hatim and Dailmi from Ibn Abbas.) (Abu Qubai...

Who was the first man to write with a pen? Allah has praised Idrees(alaiyhis salaam) - E noch, describing him as being a prophet and truthful . He is mentioned in the Qur'an:" Verily! He was a man of truth (and) a prophet. We raised him to a high station. (Ch 19:56-57 Quran). Idrees(peace be upon him) -Enoch was born and raised in Babylon following the teachings and religion of Prophet Adam (pbuh) and his son S h e e th (pbuh). Idrees(peace be upon him) was the 5th generation of the Prophet Adam (pbuh) . He was the contemporary of Aadam(pbuh) for 308 years and was the first to be made a prophet after him and Prophet Sheeth(pbuh). He called the people back to his forefathers religion, but only a few listened to him, while the majority turned away. Prophet Idrees(peace be upon him) and his followers left Babylon for Egypt. There he carried on his mission, calling people to what is just and fair, teaching them certain prayers and instructing them to fast on certain days and t...

The Beard WHAT'S IN A BEARD ? The position that Islam has, or will have, in the world has a great deal to do with how the Muslims look at it, and to what extent they practise on its teachings. There was a time when Islam was running through every vein in a Muslim's body, and his actions were a living portrait of the glory and beauty of Islam, so the flag of Islam fluttering proudly in the sky, lifted by the winds of success. The non-Muslims could not dare to question Islamic concepts, because living examples of Islamic perfection were in front of them. When the spirit of Islam started drifting away from the hearts of the Muslims, their bodies were no longer inclined to take all measures, undergo all hardships to practise their flawless religion. The new place for Islam was not a strong firm heart, but a dark, dusty corner in the human mind. It would no longer be nurtured and cared for, upheld and protected by the warmth of love and devotion, but would now be probed and dissecte...