Boycott Israel [IslamCity] ar-Rayyaan
Sahl ibn Sad, radiyallahu anhu narrates that Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Paradise has eight gates, and one of them is called ar-Rayyaan, through which none will enter but those who observe fasting." [al-Bukhaari]
Boycott Israel [IslamCity] Re: a brother asking for muslim friends
Assalamu Alaykum va Rahmatullah. Brother Orhan, I am a muslim from IRAN. I don't know you but I know you have a friend that to everywhere you go, he would be with you. The best friend that everything you do, he would help you mercifuly. He is so kind, would always Love you so much and care for you. Be sure he bestow his blessings to you for always. Be happy and proud that you have the best friend in all universe : ALLAH Surely he is the Sun that brighten your days in NY. Think about him and don't think that you are alone. You have ALLAH and his gift 'QURAN' with yourself. And muslims all around the universe are your friends for ever, even they can't see you or talk with you but always they are in your heart and your mind. Our great poet 'Baba Taaher' said: "everybody say that 'Taaher' don't have any friend, but God is my friend, so i need no other friend." Best Rigards, Zeynab Khodakarami [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- In islamcity@yahoogroups.com, "acid_lani" wrote: > > Eselamu aleykum we rahmetull-llahi we berekatuhu, > > I am a brother from Macedonia, and two weeks ago I came in New York as > an exchange student. I will be here for the entire academic year, but > I really feel bad since I am really homesick and miss my family, > friends, the mosques in Tetovo, my city, and everything else. Here in > NY everything is different. I would really like to meet brothers and > sisters from this place, especially Manhatten, where New York > University, the one I am attending, is located. I really need to be > close to someone here so that I can feel the joy of Ramadan and Eid in > family atmosphere. > > May All-llah bless you all. > > Eselamu aleykum > > your brother Orhan Ceka > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] >
Boycott Israel [IslamCity] Happiness and Inner Peace
* * * * * * *Happiness and Inner Peace* REAL happiness and peace can be found in submitting to the commands of the Creator and the Sustainer of this world. Allah has said in the Qur'an: "Truly, in remembering Allah do hearts find rest." *(Qur'an 13:28) * ** On the other hand, the one who turns away from the Qur'an will have a life of hardship in this world. Allah has said: "But whoever turns away from the Qur'an he will have a hard life, and We will raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment." *(Qur'an 20:124)* This may explain why some people commit suicide while they enjoy the material comfort money can buy. You will also find true happiness in helping others, keeping good relationships with blood relatives, sheltering an orphan, helping someone to pay his debts, supporting the weak, feeding the needy, spending money on charity... etc. This simply means that happiness is not found in collecting money as a lot of people think. Real happiness is found in enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil. You have to be always busy thinking about how to make the best use of your time in satisfying Allah and this in fact is the real pleasure of life. You have to realize that your life is short and it is a journey from birth to death during which you have to follow what your conscience tells you.** Compiled from various sources. * Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to p ublish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications. * ** *Note that an English translation of the Qur'an is an interpretation of the Qur'an, and does not have the perfect status as the Qur'an in its original Arabic form.* *.* <><><><>
Boycott Israel [IslamCity] Fasting is for me...
Abu Hurayra (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Allah, the Mighty and Exalted said, 'Every action of the son of Adam is for himself except fasting, for that is solely for Me. I give the reward for it.
Boycott Israel [IslamCity] Iranian research output is booming
- Original Message - Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 12:38 AM Subject: Iranian research output is booming About 364 Iranian reseachers have published over 30 articles each, in scientific journals approved by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI). A faculty member of Bou-Ali University noted publishing such large number of articles in scientific journals approved by ISI shows that the country is making scientific achievments, ISNA reported. Mohammad Ali Zolfi-Gol, a chemistry professor, pointed out that about 1,000 Iranian scientists have over 10 articles each published in prestigious scientific journals. Minister of Science, Research and Technology has also said that the number of research articles published in ISI journals has now increased to 7,000 from the 5,000 before President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office. HSH/RA http://www.presstv.com/Detail.aspx?id=21301§ionid=3510208
Boycott Israel [IslamCity] 9/11 Anniversary Part One
9/11 Anniversary Part One Another anniversary To remember and mourn Those that died on that day When the planes crashed In to the WTC and narrowly missed the Pentagon A day when terrorism arrived in the USA And the whole world changed War on terror was launched Invasion after invasion Only halted due to dogged resistance Iran and Syria survived Temporarily As the Neo-Con agenda Fell apart In the deserts of Iraq And the valleys of Afghanistan A Coalition was formed To storm And smoke out the enemy Brits were there as always Even though their public said not in our name Much has been done In the name of those 3000 that died And more yet to come All in the name of fighting and killing the new enemy Al Qaeda and Political Islam 9/11 Became a justification For almost anything Many now wonder Who planned and did it? Conspiracy theories Mistrust of the powers that be Refusal to follow blindly and accept Has been the result and Bushes legacy Millions of dollars were destroyed on that day But billions gained in oil revenues from Iraq Accountants balance the figures While American blood fills the rivers Its the white/black working class boys and girls Who fight, are killed and wounded While the Neo-Cons and businessmen sign new deals And their kids spend daddies millions Every anniversary treated like a marketing strategy To unify and milk anger and grief Raise another army To go into the valley of death Where the enemy awaits and fights in stealth Over 4000 dead and 25 000 wounded Americans of course Iraqi dead in 6 figures But they dont matter Even Saddam never killed this many But many call him a tyrant and murderer So how long will these wars continue? Trillions wasted As poverty and unemployment at home rises Hurricane Katrina exposed the soft underbelly America does not care for its own citizens Overseas its not looking good either Mujahideen getting stronger Courage coming with the downing of every plane Blowing up of every tank and soldier America no longer the boulder More like the pebble To be crushed under the feet of these so called rebels So what will you do The American public? Follow blindly the leader who fails to inspire or elect another to continue this butchery? Whose policies will bring the chickens home to roost? Or select a third brave option Isolation and non- interference in Muslims affairs Make your choice wisely Because the enemy is prepared to fight and die bravely But you already saw that on 9/11 2001. - Yahoo! Answers - Get better answers from someone who knows. Tryit now.
Boycott Israel [IslamCity] Friday Nasiha - Issue #437: "Surah al-Anfal (The Spoils of War) - Ch 8: Vs 24 (Partial)" + "Listening Skills" + "Atheists are Polytheists!" - from YoungMuslims
Friday Nasiha - Issue #437 Rajab 19, 1428, A.H. - August 3, 2007, C.E. - Living the Quran Surah al-Anfal (The Spoils of War) - Chapter 8: Verse 24 (Partial) Living Through Quran "O you who believe, respond to Allah and His messenger as they call you to that which gives you life" The Quran came to change the beliefs, behavior and outlook of all who are astray. It came to guide them to the true happiness and the way of life that one should follow in this life. Al-Suddi, an early commentator on the Quran, stated that this verse means that Islam gave the Companions true life after they were truly dead in disbelief. The difference between faith and disbelief is truly comparable to the difference between life and death. Knowing the Quran, that source of life to which Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) is calling every human, as opposed to not knowing it is also comparable to the difference between life and death. The effect of the Quran can clearly be seen in the first generation of Muslims. These were the people who were given life by the Quran. They were taken from darkness into light. The example they set is the example that all later generations who believe in the Quran must aspire to. The Change in the Arabs Brought about Through the Quran Perhaps one of the best descriptions of the change that took place among the Muslims can be seen in the famous statement of the Companion Jafar ibn Abu Taalib who was asked by the Negus of Abyssinia about the mission of the Messenger. He told him: "O king, we were an ignorant people, worshipping idols, eating carrion and indulging in sexual pleasures. We teased our neighbors, a brother oppressed his brother, and the strong devoured the weak. At this time a man rose among us, who had already been known to be truthful, noble and honest. This man called us to Islam. And he taught us to give up worshipping stones, to speak the truth, to refrain from bloodshed, and not to defraud the orphans of their property. He taught us to provide comfort to our neighbors and not to bring a slander against chaste women. He enjoined upon us to offer prayers, observe fasts and give alms. We followed him, gave up polytheism and idolatry and refrained from all evil deeds." That generation, in turn, took the message to the rest of the world. They were clearly a people who were taken from darkness into light and to the straight path of Allah. When asked by the Emperor of Persia what brought the Muslims to their lands, two different Companions answered in similar terms: "Allah has sent us to take whoever wishes from the servitude of mankind to the servitude of Allah and from the tightness of this world to its expanse and from the injustice of the ways of life [in this world] to the justice of Islam." Why Doesn't the Quran Have the Same Effect Today? The reason why the Quran does not have the same effect today has nothing to do with the essential nature of the Quran- as it will always be the true guidance that is ever available to take mankind from darkness into light. The source of the problem is in the way that many of today's believers approach the Quran. The possible reasons for this kind of situation could be many. In general, though, four, which were mentioned in the introductory chapter, stand out glaringly: (1) Some Muslims emphasize secondary aspects of the Quran while ignoring its more important primary aspects; (2) Too many Muslims do not recognize and understand the primary goals of the Quran; therefore they read it but do not get out of it what it desires (3) In addition, some Muslims do not approach the Quran in the proper manner, missing the essential link between what it teaches and how it is to affect mankind; and (4) Even when the above obstacles or problems are overcome, still some Muslims do not interpret the Quran in the proper manner and, hence, although they read it they do not get its correct teachings from it. Source: "How to Approach and Understand the Quran" - Jamal ad din Zarabozo == Understanding the Prophet's Life Listening Skills Psychology teaches us that, though you are not necessary going to convince others or change their minds by listening to them, you are going to endear them to you and make them more sympathetic. One of the most notable qualities of great and influential people is their ability to listen to others and to show them proper regard. A delegation of Mecca 's polytheists once came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to object to him. They spoke at length until they had nothing more to say. Only then did the Prophet (peace be upon him) spoke up and ask: "Are you done?" When they told him
Boycott Israel [IslamCity] Islamic Creationist and a Book Sent Round the World
See how intolerant are the West and self-styled 'scientists' on Harun Yahya's book "ATLAS OF CREATION". (The book is available on: http://www.harunyahya.com/books/darwinism/atlas_creation/atlas_creation_01.php ) - Abi Islamic Creationist and a Book Sent Round the World By CORNELIA DEAN Published: July 17, 2007 In the United States, opposition to the teaching of evolution in public schools has largely been fueled by the religious right, particularly Protestant fundamentalism. Skip to next paragraph Enlarge This Image Tony Cenicola/The New York Times Atlas of Creation, by Adnan Oktar of Turkey, is turning up, unsolicited, in mailboxes of scientists. Tony Cenicola/The New York Times The book says that creatures today are just like creatures that lived in the fossil past, so evolution must be impossible. Now another voice is entering the debate, in dramatic fashion. It is the voice of Adnan Oktar of Turkey, who, under the name Harun Yahya, has produced numerous books, videos and DVDs on science and faith, in particular what he calls the deceit inherent in the theory of evolution. One of his books, Atlas of Creation, is turning up, unsolicited, in mailboxes of scientists around the country and members of Congress, and at science museums in places like Queens and Bemidji, Minn. At 11 x 17 inches and 12 pounds, with a bright red cover and almost 800 glossy pages, most of them lavishly illustrated, Atlas of Creation is probably the largest and most beautiful creationist challenge yet to Darwins theory, which Mr. Yahya calls a feeble and perverted ideology contradicted by the Koran. In bowing to Scripture, Mr. Yahya resembles some fundamentalist creationists in the United States. But he is not among those who assert that Earth is only a few thousand years old. The principal argument of Atlas of Creation, advanced in page after page of stunning photographs of fossil plants, insects and animals, is that creatures living today are just like creatures that lived in the fossil past. Ergo, Mr. Yahya writes, evolution must be impossible, illusory, a lie, a deception or a theory in crisis. In fact, there is no credible scientific challenge to the theory of evolution as an explanation for the complexity and diversity of life on earth. The book caused a stir earlier this year when a French translation materialized at high schools, universities and museums in France. Until then, creationist literature was relatively rare in France, according to Armand de Ricqles, a professor of historical biology and evolutionism at the College de France. Scientists spoke out against the book, he said in an e-mail message, and thanks to the highly centralized public school system in France, it was possible to organize that the books sent to lycées would not be made available to children. So far, no similar response is emerging in the United States. In our country we are used to nonsense like this, said Kevin Padian, an evolutionary biologist at the University of California, Berkeley, who, like colleagues there, found a copy in his mailbox. He said people who had received copies were just astounded at its size and production values and equally astonished at what a load of crap it is. If he sees a picture of an old fossil crab or something, he says, See, it looks just like a regular crab, theres no evolution, Dr. Padian said. Extinction does not seem to bother him. He does not really have any sense of what we know about how things change through time. Kenneth R. Miller, a biologist at Brown University, said he and his colleagues in the life sciences had all received copies. When he called friends at the University of Colorado and the University of Chicago, they had the books too, he said. Scientists at Brigham Young University, the University of Connecticut, the University of Georgia and others have also received them. I think he must have sent it to every full professor in the medical school, said Kathryn L. Calame, a microbiologist at the Columbia University medical school who received a copy. The genetics department, the biochem department, micro everybody I talked to had it. While they said they were unimpressed with the books content, recipients marveled at its apparent cost. If you went into a bookstore and saw a book like this, it would be at least $100, said Dr. Miller, an author of conventional biology texts. The production costs alone are astronomical. We are talking millions of dollars. Fatih Sen, who heads the United States office of Global Impex, a company that markets Islamic books, gifts and other products, including Atlas, would not comment on its distribution, except to describe the book as great and refer questions to the publisher, Global Publishing of Istanbul. Repeated attempts by telephone and e-mail to reach the concern, or Mr. Yahya, were unsuccessful
Boycott Israel [IslamCity] An Extract from The Will of Ayatullah Syed Shahabuddin al-Mar'ashi
Please read it feel it and forward to your dear ones. Iltemase Dua Subject:[Yearn For Allah] An extract from the will of Ayatullah Syed Shahabuddin al-Mar'ashi Five (5) minutes of your time and I promise they'll be worth! In September 1990 in Qum I was privileged to attend the funeral of Ayatullah Syed Shahabuddin al-Mar'ashi. His death plunged the whole Shia world into grief. Ulema followed the coffin with tears streaming down their faces. In every street of Qum the sounds of mourning could be heard. Although the Ayatullah's house was very near the Haram of Janabe Masuma Qum (A.S.), it still took one and a half hours for the bier to reach the courtyard of the Haram for the recitation of Namaze Mayyit. Thereafter the body of the Ayatullah was transported across the shoulders of the 1.5 millions gathered there, and was finally laid to rest with great dignity near his famous library. In the Syrian trimonthly magazine al- Mawsim, the Ayatullah's will has been published. A translation of extracts which were addressed to his son Mahmood al-Mar'ashi has been reproduced below. Without doubt these words are not only those of a father for his son but serve for us as a reminder as well. Allah ( S.W.T.) says "Inna zikra tanfaul mu'mineen"; Verily reminders are valuable for the believers. I advise my son 1. Always remain ready to serve the religion of Islam and strive in the defence of Truth. Today the religion of Islam is crying, "Hal min Nasirin Yansuruni, hal min Zaabbin Yazubbu 'Anni?"; "Is there a helper who will come to my aid, is there a saviour who will come to my rescue?" O my son, in this age there are very few who answer this plea from Islam, and may Allah reward the few that there are. 2. Always ponder deeply over the verses of the Holy Qur'an and follow the advice and instructions contained therein. Visit the graves frequently and think, "where were these people yesterday, what were the, how were they and where have they come today Do not sit and indulge in vain and useless gatherings. There are few gatherings today where gossip, slander and lies are not present, rather they do not exist. Refrain from excessive attachment to this world. 3. Maintain good relations with your close relatives because by this act you will gain inspiration to do good and earn blessings and an increase in your means and life-span. 4. Always refrain from backbiting of the servants of Allah, and especially remain aloof from gossip about the Ulamae Deen , because that is like eating poisoned dead meat. 5. Remain engrossed in the learning of religious knowledge. Continue to progress in it everyday and remain busy in spreading it all the time. 6. O my son, make a habit of reciting everyday after Namaze Subh, Surae Yasin once. After Namaze Zuhr , recite Surae Naba , after Namaze Asr recite Surae Asr, after Namaze Maghrib Surae Waaqia and after Namaze Isha recite Surae Mulk. In this practice there are amazing gains. My teachers advised me to this and I have seen its blessing more than once. 7. In the Qunoot of Wajib Namaz always recite this du'a Allahuma Inni Asaluka bi Hakki Fatimata wa Abiha wa Ba'liha wa Baniha wa Sirril Mustawdai Fiha an Tusaaali ala Muhammadin wa aali Muhammad. Wa an Taf'al bi Ma Anta Ahlu wa la Taf'al bu Ma Ana Ahlul." This du'a was taught to me both by my father as well as my teacher Jamalus Salikeen ShaykhMuhammad Husein Shirazi. He has narrated this authentic hadith from Sayyid Murtadha Kashmiri Rizvi by Ibne Tawoos from The Holy Imams (A.S.) 8. O my son, in the Rukuu, especially of the last rakaat, after Zikr recite salawaat in this way: "Allahumma Sali Ala Muhammadin wa aali Muhammad wa Taraham ala Aajizna wa Aghisna Bihakkihim". 9. Always recite the Tasbih of our wronged grandmother Fatima Zahra (A.S.). That Tasbih is not only for recitation after Namaz, but it should be recited all the time. 10. O son, there is a memorable speech by Sayyidae Tahira, Bibi Fatima ( A.S.) which she gave in Masjide Nabawi in front of the Ummah. Even the Ulema and proficient linguists have failed to understand it fully. Think deeply about her words and try to understand them. 11. Study the famous sermon of Amirul Mu'mineen Sayyidul Mazlumeen ( A.S.) called Shikshikiyyah. 12. I stress to you to never abandon the Namaze Shab. Do Istighfaar in the early mornings. 13. Be gentle and merciful to the poor and needy, and especially take care of the Sadaat and students of Islam. 14. Avail yourself of the blessings of the Ziyarat of the Holy Ahlul Bayt ( A.S.). Reach the places where they are buried and after reciting salutations, repent and ask du'a - in these actions there is untold benefits. 15. O my son, regard your life time as precious and do not wa
Boycott Israel [IslamCity] Ramadhaan - Q & A [ PART 1 ]
WET DREAM Q) During Ramdhan, if one has a wet dream (self relief during sleep), is the fast valid? A)If one has a wet dream during fasting, the fast is still valid. MENSES Q1) If a female gets her period during her fast, can she break the fast right away or she has to wait till the end? A)If a female gets her periods during fasting, she may eat immediately thereafter. However, she should not do so in public and in the presence of other fasting people. Q2) A female starts menstruating while fasting. What if she stops menstruating during fasting? How should she conduct herself? A)If her menses commenced while fasting, she can eat (not in public). If her menses stopped while fasting, she should abstain from eating, drinking, etc. but (in both instances) make up for the day by keeping a Qadhaa fast after Ramadaan. (Aalamgiri vol.1 pg.214; Rashidiyya) BATHING WHILST FASTING Q)I've been told not to take bath when I'm fasting,either before fasting or after iftar I can take a bath.Please tell me whether this is true. A)It is permissible to take a bath while fasting. The information given to you is incorrect. PREGNANCY & POST BIRTH Q1. Is a pregnant woman or one who has just delivered, permitted to fast in the month of Ramadhaan? A) The fast of a pregnant woman is valid. However, due to weakness during pregnancy, she is exempt from fasting. After delivery of the baby, during Nifaas (bleeding after birth), she cannot fast. Q2. A woman delivered a baby about a month ago through a ceassarean operation. The doctor said that the operation wound may take upto 6 months to recover. She is also breast-feeding the baby. She has been adviced to keep herself healthy with proper intake of food. Since Ramadan is commencing after 1 month, is it permissible for her to miss her fasts in the month of Ramadan and make up for it later. Please advice. A) Allah Ta ala says in the Qur aan, If a person is sick (whilst in Ramadhaan) or on a journey, then complete fast on other days (besides Ramadhaan). If by not eating there is harm feared to either the woman or her child, it will be permissible for her to continue eating and keep Qadhaa of Ramadhaan whenever she is able to. Fatwas are by Mufti Ebrahim Desai -Taken from Islam.tc. ] Prepared by Al-Islaah Publications ( www.everymuslim.net ) Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links. http://mobile.yahoo.com/mobileweb/onesearch?refer=1ONXIC
Boycott Israel [IslamCity] Iran in frontline of stem cell research
- Original Message - Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2007 11:59 PM Subject: Iran in frontline of stem cell research Royan International Twin Congress,the 8th Congress on Reproductive Biomedicine 3rd Congress on Stem Cell Biology and Technology ended in Tehran. "Iran is in the frontline of world stem cell research" said Professor Ariff Bongso, the honory chairman of the congress. "I have already heard the news of Iran's outstanding achievements in stem cell research and now, by attending the congress and visiting Iran's Stem Cell research center Royan, I observed the fact that Iran is really a leading country in stem cell research." Bongso is a prominent international scientist who has made several significant breakthroughs in human embryonic stem cell research and has an international reputation for his work on IVF. More than 33 top scientists from 16 countries alongside with Iranian researchers took part in the congress and more than 140 papers were presented on the latest developments in the field. Iran, one of the 10 countries that produce embryonic human stem cell, has successfully cloned a sheep and will clone a cow within three to five years. MHE/HAR http://www.presstv.com/Detail.aspx?id=22275§ionid=3510208
Boycott Israel [IslamCity] RAMADAN: A Time For Revival Or Survival
RAMADAN: A Time For Revival Or Survival http://www.youngmuslims.ca/publications/ramadan.asp As in years past, the beloved yet unexpected guest of millions, "Holy Ramadan" once again enters our lives. Muslims are filled with great joy in anticipation of welcoming him. Yet to one unaccustomed, it would almost seem as if Muslims had never met him before! All of a sudden, our new-found love for this guest causes us to radically change our daily schedules and habits to entertain him. Our Mosques mysteriously overflow with worshippers, chapters of the Quran are heard chanted till the wee hours of the morning accompanied by a hail of cries, and our social gatherings and feasts become livelier than ever before - all these sacrifices made to honor this special and 'holy' guest from Allah. Isn't it interesting and ironic that while he is among us, for a full 30 days, we starve, read numerous articles on do's and don'ts of treating this guest, avoid watching TV in his presence, and sing songs or Nasheeds of joy, yet we fail to understand him and the mission of his visit? For some odd reason, this same "Holy Ramadan" becomes a stranger to us on the 1st of Shawwal! Let the Scrubbing Begin! What many of us forget is that this guest accompanies a deep purpose and responsibility. It is as Muhammad al-Shareef notes: "Whenever a guest comes to our home, we prepare in advance for his arrival by vacuuming the carpet, dusting the shelves, and scrubbing the sinks. We should do this for our guest of Ramadan as well. But the scrubbing should not just be of our physical surroundings, it should include the scrubbing of our sins!" Ever Wonder Why The 'Change' And 'Blessings' Don't Last? Sayyid Abul A'la Mawdudi explains in Let Us Be Muslims: "The greatest mistake we commit is to regard the outward shape of acts of prayer and fasting as the real 'Ibadah (worship) and we suffer from the delusion that whoever just fulfills these requirements performs the 'Ibadah of Allah. Just as physical strength cannot be obtained from the bread until it is fully digested, the spiritual power cannot be obtained from fasting until the person allows Ramadan’s purpose to permeate one’s heart and mind and dominate one’s thought, intention and deed.” Ramadan - A Tool Of Transformation And Month Of Sharing In addition to the indispensable personal benefits of fasting, Ramadan is a time for social awareness. As Hammudah 'Abd al-Ati describes in Islam in Focus: "No sociologist or historian can say that there has been at any period of history anything comparable to this powerful institution of Islam: Fasting in the month of Ramadan. People have been crying throughout the ages for acceptable belonging, for unity, for brotherhood, for equality, but how echoless their voices have been, and how very little success they have met." No Time To Hibernate! As Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick eloquently explains in Ramadan in History: "Ramadan is actually a time of increased activity wherein the believer, now lightened of the burdens of constant eating and drinking, should be more willing to strive and struggle for Allah. The Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) nine Ramadans were filled with decisive events, such as Jihad, and he left us a shining example of sacrifice and submission to Allah. Throughout Islamic history, most of the significant battles were won in this month!" Living Taqwa - Moving Dead Hearts To Action! Quran [2:183] describes attainment of Taqwa to be the real purpose of Fasting. But, what is Taqwa? Sayyid 'Umar ibn al-Khattab: "A person with the quality of Taqwa is like a person walking with caution on a thorny road. The way he would take care to save his clothes from getting entangled in the thorns, so is a person with Taqwa conscious of every action he does (for fear of falling into wrong)." Sayyid 'Ali ibn Abi Talib: "Taqwa means fearing Allah, acting in accordance with the Quran, contentment with whatever little you have, and preparing for the day of departure (death)." Imam al-Ghazali narrates: "Whoever fears something (in the creation of Allah) runs away from it, whereas whoever fears Allah runs to Him (out of love and obedience)!" Let us all begin to live a life of Taqwa this Ramadan to avoid the 'thorns' that come our way in the form of worldly temptations in the media and society in general. Intensifying Our Love And Study Of The Quran It is said when you love someone, you would know every little thing he or she says, likes and dislikes. How can we claim to love Allah, yet know very little about His message and gift to us? Ramadan offers the rare opportunity for an intense reflection on the message of the Quran. It is the source of a constant revolution in the lives of millions of those who possess a living heart, as Allah says, "Indeed in this (Quran) there is remembrance for those who have a living heart, listen attentively and are awake to taking heed." [Qaaf: 37] It is r
