VIDEO: 7 Habits for Success and Happiness by Bilal Dannoun

7 Habits for Success and Happiness by Bilal Dannoun

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VIDEO: She Will Be In Hell ᴴᴰ Powerful Reminder

VIDEO: She Will Be In Hell ᴴᴰ Powerful Reminder

She Will Be In Hell ᴴᴰ Powerful Reminder

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VIDEO: 10 Minutes Before Fajr by Ustadh Saad Tasleem

VIDEO: 10 Minutes Before Fajr by Ustadh Saad Tasleem

VIDEO: 10 Minutes Before Fajr by Ustadh Saad Tasleem

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How Satan whispers in Ears and Allah shouts to the heart

How Satan whispers in Ears and Allah shouts to the heart

We all know that in our lives Two forces are always at work : Satan and Allah. But allah’s force is more powerful and it is up to us whether we resist his message or not, to ignore satan. Sometimes it so happens that we are confused about something and then we switch Read Full at HubPage and learn about the following

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Great Muslim Inventors and Inventions

Great Muslim Inventors and Inventions

Every single invention we see today was not built straightforwardly. These were unveiled to the world only after going through lot of experimenting and redesigning. Initially all inventions had problems. These problems were dealt by another inventor who came along and found a solution to it. However, the credit of creating an invention always went to the inventor who worked on the thought that was primarily introduced by former inventor. Similarly, the credit of many inventions that trace their roots to the Muslim Scientists and Scholars have been given to other inventors who later came along and made developments or improvements on the original idea.

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Junaid Jamshed - Pakistani Pop singer who committed to Islam



Junaid Jamshed - Pakistani Pop singer who committed to Islam

All Pakistanis and Muslims should be proud of Junaid Jamshed who took a bold step and renounced music to devote his life to Islam. He made huge sacrifices like cancelling his contract with PEPSI and abandoning his popularity as a singer. He joined the Tabligh Jamaat (preachers of Islam) when his career as singer was reaching its height of success. In an international poll conducted by BBC to choose ten most famous songs of all time, among 7000 Dil Dil Pakistan was third in top 10 songs.

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Male Circumcision in Islam

Male circumcision is among the rites of Islam and is part of the (in Arabic): fitrah, or the innate disposition and natural character and instinct of the human creation.

As-Shawkani said in his book Nayl al-Awtar (1/184):

"What the Prophet (s.A.w.) means by Fitrah is that if these characteristics are followed by a man, he would be described as a man of Fitrah, which Allah (s.w.t.) has gifted his servants with, and encouraged them to follow, so that they attain a high degree of respectability and dignity."

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Five are the acts quite akin to fitrah:Circumcision, clipping or shaving the pubes, cutting the nails, plucking or shaving the hair under the armpits and clipping (or shaving) the moustache." (Reported in Bukhari & Muslim)

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Show Kindness to Animals

Show Kindness to Animals

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) not only preached to the people to show kindness to each other but also to all living souls. He forbade the practice of cutting tails and manes of horses, of branding animals at any soft spot, and of keeping horses saddled unnecessarily. [Sahih Muslim] If he saw any animal over-loaded or Milad he would pull up the owner and say,

"Fear Allah in your treatment of animals." [Abu Dawood]

A companion came to him with the young ones of a bird in his sheet and said that the mother bird had hovered over them all along. He was directed to replace her offspring in the same bush (Mishkat, Abu Dawood)

During a journey, somebody picked up some birds eggs. The bird's painful note and fluttering attracted the attention of the Prophet (pbuh), who asked the man to replace the eggs. [Sahih Bukhari]

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Why Do Westerners Convert to Islam? (Interview)

Transcript of part of an interview conducted by Dr. Tariq Ramadan with sister Batool al-Toma, director of the New Muslims project at the Islamic Foundation, UK, in the weekly TV program “Islam and Life.”

In the interview, sister Batool, herself a convert to Islam, explains the different reasons that encourage westerners to decide to become Muslim.

Tariq Ramadan: This week we are going to discuss the challenges facing people who convert to Islam.

“I have always held the religion of Mohammed in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phases of existence which can make itself appeal to every age.”George Bernard Shaw

Famous Western Muslims

People in the Western world have been converting to Islam for some time. Cassius Clay, the three times World Heavyweight boxing Champion, embraced Islam in 1965. He said: “The feelings I had while standing on Mount Arafat on the day of the Hajj was the most unique. I felt exalted by the indescribable spiritual atmosphere there as over one and a half million pilgrims invoked God to forgive them for their sins. It was an exhilarating experience to see people belonging to different colors, races and nationalities, kings, heads of state and ordinary men from very poor countries all clad in two simple white sheets praying to God without any sense of either pride or inferiority. It was a practical manifestation of the concept of equality in Islam.”

After a long search for meaning and a life of fame, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll, Cat Stevens embraced the Muslim faith. He said: “I realized that this was the true religion - religion not in the sense the West understands it, not the type for only your old age. We must follow the will of God (Allah). Then, we can rise higher than the angels. The first thing I wanted to do now was to be a Muslim.”Jemima Goldsmith, daughter of the British billionaire Sir James Goldsmith, converted to Islam when she was only 21 years old. She said: “It would seem that a Western woman's happiness hinges largely upon her access to nightclubs, alcohol and revealing clothes; and the absence of such apparent freedom and luxuries in Islamic societies is seen as an infringement of her basic rights. However, as we all know, such superficialities have very little to do with true happiness.”

What do the Westerners see in Islam that makes them decide to become Muslims? Did the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq or Western support for Israel encourage westerners to convert? In 2009, approximately 40,000 Brits, 70,000 French nationals and 100,000 Americans became Muslims. What reasons lie behind these astonishing rates of conversion? ...

What Attracts People to Islam?

Tariq Ramadan: So these are the questions:

Why are so many people are coming to Islam?

What is attractive about Islam?

We spoke about this few weeks ago, but still what we want to discuss today is really what is happening, and in which way people could be attracted to Islam. And still when they are within the Muslim communities in the west which kind of problems which kind of challenges they are facing which is not always easy. When I’m very often asked by Muslim converts saying “OK, you have to say something about us because we are like a minority within the Muslim community.”

These are very critical and important questions. So, people are attracted to Islam, towards its simplicity, the very essence and principles of Islam, and then when they come within the community these are the problems that they have to face.

So these are questions that we want to tackle today so to answer these questions I’m joined by the director of the New Muslims project at the Islamic Foundation, Batool al-Toma.

So Batool, thank you for being with us today. You have watched the clip. I think that yes something is happening in the West which is quite clear that the people are attracted to Islam. You have been involved in dealing with converted people coming to Islam for the last 15 years. You yourself are a convert so you came to Islam, so if you were to respond to this very simple question: Why is this move towards Islam so frequent in our societies in the West?

Batool al-Toma: Well, it’s quite difficult really because the attractions are wide and very varied, and people come to Islam for all sorts of different reasons. Obviously, one of the reasons since time in memorial has been the fact that people meet other Muslims, and there is an attraction there. There is personal relationship, and so they want to get married. This is one reason and this will always be there. We should always sort of look at these kinds of situations when somebody converts to Islam for the sake of marriage, there has always been the suggestion that they are not quite a good Muslim because they converted to Islam for that specific reason. But you know, this is not for us to decide. Allah’s plan is much greater than our plan. And so Allah may have brought them to this situation for a reason.

Tariq Ramadan: It’s a very important point. You are saying that the reasons why you come to Islam say nothing about the sincerity and the in-depth of your faith. It could be a reason that’s apparent to all as marriage, but at the end of the day your intention, your heart, could change over the process of becoming a Muslim?

Batool al-Toma: Indeed, very much so. And you will often find that people who have converted to Islam for marriage or have married a Muslim and not had to convert in the situation of women, the women often become Muslims and become extremely sincere and practicing people. And they actually become a lesson and an example to other Muslims.

Tariq Ramadan: So, this is one dimension and it could be the majority situation in fact when you have people coming to know each other and its for marriage. But we also have people like Cat Strevens who became Yusuf Islam, it was something that was his relationship to the Quran. He read the Quran, he got the Quran from his brother, he read the Quran. And you have other people like Cassius Clay for example coming to Islam without anything which has to do with being in a relationship with someone, but the very essence of the message which is there is one God and which is your life has a meaning.

Batool al-Toma: And of course people come to Islam for all sorts of different reasons as I said. People because of all the dreadful situations that had occurred around the world, and have happened because Muslims have interpreted the Quran in terms of wanting to carry out these catastrophies for religious reasons, have triggered many non-Muslims to want to look into Islam to see what does this religion say about terrorism, peace, peaceful coexistence with other people from other faiths and so on, and have been shocked and surprised by what they found in the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet peace be upon him.

And I have had people come to me saying “I want to convert to Islam but I’m more shocked, I’m surprised that I have come this distance because it is not a faith that I would ever wish to look into.” But somehow because they have read into Islam in order to try to understand what goes on in the mind of Muslims who use their faith in order to carry out these terrible atrocities around the world. And they have found something which is peace and harmony in Islam, and it has drawn them further in. They were unable to unhitch themselves from what they are reading and eventually they become Muslims.

Again you could have a student who is doing a module in Art in university, and they are introduced to Islamic art as part of their university degree course. And then they begin to realize this connection between art and the Creator, and you know how the artist and the Creator, the artist manifests the Creator’s beauty and spirituality around the world. So, again it could be so many different reasons.

Tariq Ramadan: Yes, and we had so many stories coming from Iraq, Afghanistan, soldiers coming to know people and to learn more about Islam. And what you said is quite important about these different ways, but once again I think it’s quite important not to judge the way but our sincerity with a way because it’s something which is quite important.

Batool al-Toma: Exactly, and to remember that Allah opens the way, lights the way, removes the veils for us to be guided. So it’s not for us to judge others, which is quite important.

Source: OnIslam.net

Watch Dr. Tariq’s Interview with Sister Batool

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The Angels and the Jinn - Bilal Philip

Angels and Jinns The world of human beings, plants and animals is only that which meets the eye. Yet Allah has also created the Angels and the Jinns. All of this creation worships Him. It is an aspect of the Muslim's belief to accept the existence of other beings. The Angels & Jinns, looks at the Islamic viewpoint dealing with the nature of these creations and how they interact with our world.


Tags:
angels, jinn, muslim, islam, allah, islamic, demons, possession, sharia, bilal

Source: OnIslam.net

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How to Be a VIP on the Day of Judgment

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

Allah will cover seven people with His shade, on the Day when there will be no shade but His: a just ruler, a youth who has grown up in the worship of Allah, a man whose heart is attached to the mosques, two persons who love each other only for Allah’s sake and they meet and part in Allah’s cause only, a man who refuses the call of a beautiful and influential woman for illicit relation with her and says: I am afraid of Allah, a man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given, and a person who remembers Allah while he is alone and his eyes are flooded with tears." (Al-Bukhari)

We all need Allah’s shade. To be under Allah’s shade is to be protected by Him and be blessed by Him. We need His shade in this life and in the Hereafter. It is mentioned that the Day of Judgment will be a very hard and difficult Day. On that day everyone will be worried and will try to find some protection and shade; but there will be no shade on that Day except the special shade of Allah. This shade will be granted to seven special types of people:

1. A just ruler or a just leader: It could be any person who has some authority and he/she uses this authority with justice and fairness without any favoritism or prejudice. Justice is the command of God for all people; but the most critical is the doing of justice when one has power and authority. More difficult is, of course, dealing justly with those who show hate and animosity towards you. A just person, especially a just leader or ruler, is given number one place in this list of seven.


2. A young person growing up in the worship of Allah: Worship of Allah is good for all people at any age and time; but the worship of Allah from the tender young age has special blessings. Many people become devoted to Allah when they grow old. In the old age when the body becomes weak, people start paying attention to the spirit. However, to be conscious of one’s spirit and growing up as a youth in the obedience of Allah bring a special honor and blessings.


3. A person whose heart is connected to the mosque: Literally it says that the heart is hanging (mu`allaq) in the mosque. Imam Malik explained that it was a person who when he leaves the mosque, looks forward to coming back again soon. Normally people’s hearts are attached to their jobs, business and home. Mosque is not the priority for many people. However, those who love the House of Allah and keep it as their priority are the blessed people and they shall receive the special favor of Allah.
4. Two people loving each other for the sake of Allah: One should be friendly to all people and deal with all people in a kind and courteous manner. However, the friendship for the sake of Allah, for the reasons of piety and goodness is a very blessed friendship. This is a sincere friendship and when two or more people become attached to each other for Allah’s sake they bring a lot of good to themselves and to those around them. This is a kind of friendship that generates goodness in the world and is especially blessed by Allah.


5. A person of solid moral character: The Prophet gave an example of this solid character. He said a man tempted for illicit relationship by a woman who is beautiful and rich, influential or of a prestigious family (the word “mansib” means all these things in Arabic) and he refuses. Imam Ibn Hajar says that this is not limited to a man only who is tempted by a woman; it equally applies to a woman who may be tempted by a man who is very beautiful, powerful and rich and she refuses and says “I fear Allah.” It requires a lot of moral strength to refuse temptation when the other partner is attractive, rich, and not only consenting but persuasive. Those who have such a strong character are indeed under the protection of Allah.


6. A person of charity who does not show off his/her charity: A person gives charity in such a way that even his left hand does not know what his right hand has done. This is a very powerful and beautiful way to say that a person gives quietly, discreetly and with sincerity. His/her purpose is not to show off, seek publicity, name or fame; but only to please Allah. This is the highest kind of charity and it has a special reward and blessing from Allah.

7. A person who remembers Allah privately with eyes filled with tears: Thinking of Allah, repeating His Beautiful Names, thanking Him and praising Him, these are the ways to remember (dhikr) Allah. Doing the “dhikr” alone in one’s privacy, when no one is watching, with moving heart and tearful eyes is a sign of sincere faith and deep love of Allah. Those who have the love of Allah, they are indeed under His shade and protection.

All these seven characters are deeply moral and spiritual characters. They indicate a person’s faith and sincere commitment. They are related to feeling, thinking, speaking and action. These are true characters of sincere believers. We pray to Allah to bless us with these characters and with his shade in this world and also in the Hereafter. Ameen.

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Are Muslim-Christian Debates Counter-Productive? (Video Answer by Former Catholic Priest)

Are Muslim-Christian public debates about whether Jesus was a human Prophet or the son of God useful for finding the truth and finding common grounds?

Or are they counter-productive in your opinion in view of the bad feelings they create on both sides?

Watch brother Idris Tawfiq’s answer:


Your question is very interesting. So I’ll get around today’s answer by going in a circuitous way.

What you’re asking me is: are debates the best way of speaking to Christians to convince them of the truth of Christianity?

Or are there other ways that are better?

Well, first of all, I ask you to take the example of the shirt that I’m wearing. Now imagine someone who’s never met me before and that person comes to me and says “Oh that shirt doesn’t suit you! You look silly in it!” Well, if I don’t know that person and he tells that I look silly in my shirt, I would take offense and I won’t listen to a word he says.

But if you, my very dear friend, says to me “brother Idris, that shirt you’re wearing it doesn’t really suit you, in fact you look little bit sill in it.” I’ll say “Really? I’ll change it”

You get the idea?

If someone who doesn’t know me says things to me that is close to home I could be very offended by what he’s saying. But someone who is my friend, you know we can tell also these things to our friends. Our friends tell the truth, our friends don’t just say nice things to us.

Sensitivity of Interfaith Dialogues

Now, one of the problems it seems to me in dialogues between religions, interfaith dialogue, inter-religious dialogue… first of all, the word I’m using is “dialogue”.

Dialogue means one person speaks and the other person listens, and then the other person listens and the other person speaks.

That’s a dialogue, two people talk and listen to one another; otherwise they call it “interfaith monologue” where I just talk to the other person and tell him about my religion and he listens.

Now it seems to me this work of interfaith dialogue is very precious and we have to be very careful in the way we pursue it or else we’re going to offend people; it would be like if someone speaks about my mother, they’d better be very careful what they say. You understand?

My friend can say something in a nice way to me and I’ll listen, but a stranger says something about my own mother and I’ll be “what’re you saying?” It’s the same thing with faith. You know, if someone I don’t know criticizes Islam to me, I’ll take offense about what he says immediately. But if maybe a Muslim friend says “well, you know as Muslims we do this” and I would be inclined to say “yes, we do; what can we do about it?”

Well, take then, we have two people from different religions, and two people from two different religions are talking to one another about their faith which is very precious to them. If they don’t know one another well, there are on very shaky ground.

So I’m answering your question with that premise, that’s the bottom line. Interfaith dialogue, discussion about faith between people of different faiths is so important, it’s so precious but we need to be very careful.

Debate or Dialogue?

Now it seems to be in my experience that debating is interesting and fun, you know, who’s going to win the argument and you put forward your reasons and the other person puts forward his or her reasons, and at the end of the debate the audience votes on who gave the best reasons, that’s what the debate is, it’s in the formal sense of the debate.

Sometimes in a debate you have a team, two speakers, or three speakers who speak for the motion, two/three speakers speak against and at the end the audience make up their mind which one was the most convincing.

Well, it seems to me that’s all very well if we talk about which country should enter the European Union, or what is the role of United Nations.

But if you’re discussing faith, if you’re discussing for example a Muslim and a Jew, or discussing the role and the person of Jesus (peace be upon him), well debate seems to me to be inappropriate because in a debate you’re trying to convince the other person that you’re right, and you’re trying to win over the audience by clever arguments to win them to your position, you’re not really interested in listening to what the other person has to say because you believe as a Muslim that Jesus was not God. So in a debate, you don’t really want to listen to the Christian’s view that he was.

Let’s take instead the example of Imam Al-Ghazali. He used to say - and this is very extraordinary - “I’d like to lose an argument.”

What does he mean by that?

Imam Al-Gazali was a man so interested in the truth that he honestly admitted “If my opponent has an argument that is better than mine, I’m happy to lose my argument and to learn something new.” That’s a different approach.

Well, if we’re talking about Jesus (peace be upon him) as the son of God, as Muslims we know because the Quran tells us of a certainty {they crucified him not} (4: 157). We know that he wasn’t the son of God. But whether we can put that to a Christian audience in the form of a debate, a debate is aggressive, a debate is antagonistic, you know, we’re opposing each other with clever arguments. The very nature of debate is that it is confrontational.

The Real Jesus in Edinburgh

I remember once I did an event with the bishop of Edinburgh and it was held in a mosque, in the Edinburgh Central mosque, and the audience was made up of Christians and Muslims (roughly half and half) and the event was called: “Muslims Christians and the Real Jesus”

The bishop of Edinburgh got up and spoke for twenty minutes about what he believed about Jesus, and he said that Jesus was the son of God, who died on the cross, and rose from the third day for the salvation of Mankind. That was his talk. And then I got up and I said “Bishop, it’s very nice what you have to say and I respect your belief, but as a Muslim I reject that belief. As a Muslim, I know that Jesus did not die on the cross because the Quran tells me so”.

Then I spoke about the role of Jesus as a Prophet, as a Messenger of Allah. And at the end we didn’t vote on who was right or wrong; at the end we admitted to one another that we disagreed, but then we embraced and said let’s go for lunch.

It seems to me that a better way for us to know one another’s religion, and maybe even to persuade some people to believe what we believe as Muslims, is not to argue with them, it’s not to debate with them. First of all, it’s to be honest, we’re not pretending. Islam is not threatened by anything, Islam is perfect, that’s what Muslims believe, and we are ashamed of nothing in Islam at all.

Muslims are not perfect by the way. Muslims have made a lot of mistakes but Islam is not threatened by any religion or any creed. Muslims can argue very happily with people who have no religion or any religion. We’re not threatened. You know, people of faith shouldn’t be threatened by one another because we hold so much more in common with one another, than with those secular people who do away with faith altogether.

Listen & Dialogue

So what I’m suggesting to you in answering your question, I’m saying maybe debates are fun, you know they can be exciting, you score a point, you get your position over this one and then at the end you’re the best speaker if you win and everyone feels good. The losing side don’t feel very good because they lost and it made their opinion the losing opinion.

It seems to me in our world, which is torn apart by religious strife; our world needs people to come together, not to come apart. Not to come together and say we all believe the same thing because we don’t; and in dialoging with Christians, we’re not giving up one word of what we believe as Muslims.

But in interfaith dialogue we are listening to good people; we’re talking about people of faith, we’re not talking about tribal religion, we’re not even talking about people fighting over their religion, we’re talking about people of deep faith, who really believe what they’re talking about.

So in interfaith dialogue we listen to what others have to say; so we learn something from them, and then they listen to us, and they are more inclined to listen to us if we’re not attacking them and telling them “Your religion is wrong…”

If, instead, we say “OK, I’ve listened to what you say, but this is what Islam teaches” and then as well, and this is something that we sometimes forget: it’s not just what we say, but it’s when we leave the conversation and by the way we behave that what people would learn about Islam.

So Inshallah, I encourage you to dialogue. Dialogue means to speak and to listen. You know in Islam, people are free in the world to believe whatever they want; {there is no compulsion in religion}; {…to you your religion and to me mine}

But we will convince people of the beauty of Islam by beautiful words, wise preaching, and also by the good way we live our lives.

To watch this video, click here

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Rely on Allah, and do not give up

Prophet Muhammad said: “Strive for what benefits you and rely on Allah, and do not give up. If something befalls you, do not say: ‘If I had only done such and such.’ Instead say: ‘It is as Allah decreed and He does what He pleases’.” [Sahīh Muslim]

When Prophet Muhammad said: “Strive for what benefits you…” he was encouraging us to hasten in seizing the positive opportunities that come our way.

When he added: “… and rely on Allah…”, he was showing us that we should draw upon our faith in order to strengthen ourselves in our efforts.

This is why the Prophet did not stop there. He continued by saying: “… and do not give up.”

How can anyone give up on the fuel of one’s spirit and the embers of one’s faith?

Finally, he concluded by saying: “If something befalls you, do not say: ‘If I had only done such and such.’ Instead say: ‘It is as Allah decreed and He does what He pleases’.” [Sahīh Muslim]

Faith is not blind, nor is it a form of resignation and a denial of our great human potential. It does not mean we should spend our time lamenting in the ruins of the past and reject change. Instead, faith is our certainty that good is wherever Allah places it, and that every day you bring forth a new dream, a new hope, and a new success.

A young man once asked me about a book entitled The Secret by Australian author Rhonda Byrne. His question compelled me to buy it and read it. I took it with me and read it on some of my travels. It presents the idea that we must encourage ourselves to be optimistic, proactive, and believe that what we want can happen; indeed that it will be reality as soon as we utter it, believe it in our hearts, and rid ourselves of our pessimistic thoughts. People have to focus their minds and thinking on what they want and what must be, instead of on what they fear and detest.

This idea reminded me of something that Ibn al-Qayyim said: “If a servant relies on Allah as He out to be relied upon regarding moving a mountain off its base, then if that person is required to move a mountain, he will do so.”

I found that the basic idea of The Secret is one that we need to instil in ourselves, without dissipating its spirit by debating its finer details. This is because the book’s basic idea is in reality one of the prime motivators for productive work and fortitude.

She says hundreds of things in her book trying to explain the detailed implications and patterns of her ideas, but they really introduce only two or three new concepts. One of these concepts is reflected in something Prophet Muhammad quotes his Lord as saying: “I am as my servant thinks of Me, so think of Me how you wish.” In some narrations, it continues: “If he thinks well of Me, it is for his benefit, and if he thinks ill of Me, it is to his detriment.”

The expectations being referred to here pertain to this world as well the Hereafter. Good thoughts lead to good actions and good expectations lead to productive work. When we want to take hold of a new idea, we do not want to undermine it by over-thinking it, dissecting it, and qualifying it with exceptions. If we do that, it will sputter away and die. Once the idea is firmly in mind, it becomes easier to modify it and improve upon it.

The second new idea she introduces is expressed in the hadīth where the Prophet said: “When you beseech Allah, you should be certain that He will answer.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī]

What this means is that when we call upon Allah in prayer, we should know in our hearts that He will answer us. We should not supplicate with an attitude of experimentation or with feelings of doubt and scepticism.

`Umar used to say: “I do not worry about my prayers being answered, but about what I am going to pray for, because if I pray for something, its answer comes with it.”

These are among `Umar’s many inspired words. He is not only referring to deciding what to say in his supplications, which is in itself a good and blessed concern; he is speaking about something more profound: the need for our hearts and minds to have full trust in Allah and His promise.

Allah says: “Call upon me; I will answer you.” [Sūrah Ghāfir: 60]

And He says: “Who is it that answers the one in need when he calls out?” [Sūrah al-Naml: 62]

And He says: “When my servant asks you about me, I am near. I answer the supplications of those who beseech me.” [Sūrah al-Baqarah: 186]

Dark thoughts are enough to hurl us into dark places, as dank and stifling as we can imagine. It is as is we are hastening on death with our pessimistic thoughts. It is no surprise that pessimistic people in their psychological isolation, often appeal for death to hasten itself, and they lash out those who prevent them from attaining the only “relief” they can see in their lives.

The Prophet was once asked: “Who are the best people?” He replied: “Those who live long and do the best deeds.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī]

He also said: “None of you should ever wish for death. Never pray for it before it comes to you of its own accord. When you die, your deeds come to an end, and a believer’s life is never prolonged except for good.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī and Sahīh Muslim]

Life is a blessing which Allah bestows upon the living. It was the Prophet’s habit that when he woke up, he would thank Allah and say: “Praise be to Allah who revived us after causing us to die and to Him is the final gathering.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī and Sahīh Muslim]

The Prophet’s guidance is not just a provision for the next life, but for this one as well.

Source: islamtoday.net

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How Does Someone Become a Muslim?

Simply by saying with conviction, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah,” one converts to Islam and becomes a Muslim (to hear it click here).  This saying means 

“There is no true god (deity) but God (Allah),¹ and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God.”  The first part, “There is no true god but God,” means that none has the right to be worshipped but God alone, and that God has neither partner nor son.  To be a Muslim, one should also:

n  Believe that the Holy Quran is the literal word of God, revealed by Him.

n  Believe that the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) is true and will come, as God promised in the Quran.

n  Accept Islam as his or her religion.

n  Not worship anything nor anyone except God.

The Prophet Muhammad  said: {God is more joyful at the repentance of someone when he turns to Him in repentance than one of you would be if he were riding his camel in the wilderness, and it runs away from him, carrying his food and drink, so that he loses all hope of getting it back.  He comes to a tree and lies down in its shade (awaiting death), for he has lost all hope of finding his camel.  Then, while he is in that state (of desperation), suddenly it is there before him!  So he seizes its halter and cries out from the depth of his joy, “O God, You are my servant and I am Your Lord!”  His mistake comes from the intensity of his joy.}²

An important note:

If you are interested in converting to Islam or have a question regarding that, then it is highly recommended that you visit “Live Help” through chat that is found near the bottom right of this page, so an advisor may help you in pronouncing the testimony correctly and to provide you with important resources for new Muslims.

How Does Someone Become a Muslim?

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Who Is the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?

The Prophet Muhammad’s  Mosque in Madinah.

Muhammad  was born in Makkah in the year 570.  Since his father died before his birth and his mother died shortly thereafter, he was raised by his uncle who was from the respected tribe of Quraysh.  He was raised illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained so till his death.  His people, before his mission as a prophet, were ignorant of science and most of them were illiterate.  As he grew up, he became known to be truthful, honest, trustworthy, generous, and sincere.  He was so trustworthy that they called him the Trustworthy.¹  Muhammad  was very religious, and he had long detested the decadence and idolatry of his society.

At the age of forty, Muhammad  received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel.  The revelations continued for twenty-three years, and they are collectively known as the Quran.

As soon as he began to recite the Quran and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered persecution from unbelievers.  The persecution grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate.  This emigration from Makkah to the city of Madinah, some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

After several years, Muhammad  and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies.  Before Muhammad  died, at the age of sixty-three, the greater part of the Arabian Peninsula had become Muslim, and within a century of his death, Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China.  Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the truth and clarity of its doctrine.  Islam calls for faith in only one God, Who is the only one worthy of worship.

The Prophet Muhammad  was a perfect example of an honest, just, merciful, compassionate, truthful, and brave human being.  Though he was a man, he was far removed from all evil characteristics and strove solely for the sake of God and His reward in the Hereafter.  Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of God.

(For more information on the Prophet Muhammad , please refer to the links at More on the Prophet Muhammad .)

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Some Benefits of Islam: Forgiveness for All Previous Sins

When someone converts to Islam, God forgives all of his previous sins and evil deeds.  A man called Amr came to the Prophet Muhammad  and said, 

“Give me your right hand so that I may give you my pledge of loyalty.”  The Prophet  stretched out his right hand.  Amr withdrew his hand.  The Prophet  said: {What has happened to you, O Amr?}  He replied, “I intend to lay down a condition.”  The Prophet  asked: {What condition do you intend to put forward?}  Amr said, “That God forgive my sins.”  The Prophet  said: {Didn’t you know that converting to Islam erases all previous sins?}

After converting to Islam, the person will be rewarded for his or her good and bad deeds according to the following saying of the Prophet Muhammad : 

{Your Lord, Who is blessed and exalted, is most merciful.  If someone intends to do a good deed but does not do it, a good deed will be recorded for him.  And if he does do it, (a reward of) ten to seven hundred or many more times (the reward of the good deed), will be recorded for him.  And if someone intends to do a bad deed but does not do it, a good deed will be recorded for him.  And if he does do it, a bad deed will be recorded against him or God will wipe it out.}²

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Some Benefits of Islam: Real 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.  God has said in the Quran:

Truly, in remembering God do hearts find rest. (Quran, 13:28)

On the other hand, the one who turns away from the Quran will have a life of hardship in this world.  God has said:

But whoever turns away from the Quran, he will have a hard life, and We will raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment. (Quran, 20:124)

This may explain why some people commit suicide while they enjoy the material comfort money can buy.  For example, look at Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam), formerly a famous pop singer who used to earn sometimes more than $150,000 a night.  After he converted to Islam, he found true happiness and peace, which he had not found in material success.

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Some Benefits of Islam: Salvation from Hellfire

God has said in the Quran:

Those who have disbelieved and died in disbelief, the earth full of gold would not be accepted from any of them if one offered it as a ransom. They will have a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers. (Quran, 3:91)

So, this life is our only chance to win Paradise and to escape from Hellfire, because if someone dies in disbelief, he will not have another chance to come back to this world to believe.  As God has said in the Quran about what is going to happen for the unbelievers on the Day of Judgment:

If you could but see when they are set before the Fire (Hell) and say, “Would that we might return (to the world)!  Then we would not reject the verses of our Lord, but we would be of the believers!” (Quran, 6:27)

But no one will have this second opportunity.

The Prophet Muhammad  said: 

{The happiest man in the world of those doomed to the Fire (Hell) on the Day of Judgment will be dipped in the Fire once.  Then he will be asked, “Son of Adam, did you ever see any good?  Did you ever experience any blessing?”  So he will say, “No, by God, O Lord!”}¹

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Some Benefits of Islam: The Door to Eternal Paradise

God has said in the Quran:

And give good news (O Muhammad) to those who believe and do good deeds, that they will have gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow.... (Quran, 2:25)

 God has also said:

 Race one with another for forgiveness from your Lord and for Paradise, whose width is as the width of the heavens and the earth, which has been prepared for those who believe in God and His messengers.... (Quran, 57:21)

 The Prophet Muhammad  told us that the lowest in rank among the dwellers of Paradise will have ten times the like of this world,¹ and he or she will have whatever he or she desires and ten times like it.²  Also, the Prophet Muhammad  said: 

{A space in Paradise equivalent to the size of a foot would be better than the world and what is in it.}³  

He also said: 

{In Paradise there are things which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has thought of.}⁴  

He also said: 

{The most miserable man in the world of those meant for Paradise will be dipped once in Paradise.  Then he will be asked, “Son of Adam, did you ever face any misery?  Did you ever experience any hardship?”  So he will say, “No, by God, O Lord!  I never faced any misery, and I never experienced any hardship.”}⁵

If you enter Paradise, you will live a very happy life without sickness, pain, sadness, or death; God will be pleased with you; and you will live there forever.  God has said in the Quran:

But those who believe and do good deeds, We will admit them to gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow, lasting in them forever....  (Quran, 4:57)

   

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"Bismillah" Yusuf Estes Helps Christian to Islam?

Christian comes to Islam and asked this question about "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem"

Peace be on you, Mr. Yusuf Estes,

I got a question, but first I want to say thanks for explaining Islam to me in your chat room on www.ChatIslam.com

The teachers there made it easy to learn and get rid of misunderstanding I had about Islam and Muslims.

Only God knows how much I needed to meet you all and see the truth. It made me so happy to do shahadah with you guys. I believe God is really guiding me now.

Your websites are all amazing, especially www.ShareIslam.com and www.IslamTomorrow.com

Oh yeah, I also like www.GodAllah.com That one really explains good.

www.AllahsQuran.com seems easier the more I use it. It is the truth and no doubt about it. I cry when I read sometimes and I need to know Arabic some day.

My question is about saying Bismillah Rahman Raheem. Is it important or just a custom or something? Is it a type of prayer?

Thank you again, [name deleted]

Answer From Yusuf Estes

"Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir Raheem"
[In the Name of Allah, The Entirely Merciful, The Especially Merciful]

Peace - salam alaykum, dear brother,

Did you notice I use "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" at the beginning of my email to you? Take a look just above in color...

Muslims do this because we know the reward for saying, "Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir Raheem" (In The Name of Allah, The Entirely Merciful, The Especially Merciful) at the beginning of everything we do.

Before we eat, when we begin to read or write or go in our homes or buildings and when we start a trip, even go to market and espeically when we do anything of worship - like enter a mosque or read the Quran - we say, "Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir Raheem"


The meaning is actually quite comprehensive. Consider the depth and majesty of the meanings here, inshallah.

The term is often translated to be something like, "In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful". But there's a lot more if you understand from the Arabic.

It begins with "Bi" and means "with" or for English expression as used here, it means "In".
Like in English when someone comes with a message or decree from the king, they say, "In the Name of King Richard" or whatever.

The next part "ismi" means the "Name" of the One being Named.

Then comes "Allah" we don't have enough room in an email for all that goes along with this name. For this reason we made a whole website for God Allah:
www.GodAllah.com

Now the next part comes and really brings a special message along with it. Two of the amazing attributes and characteristics of the Almighty, and both from the same root.

Ar-Rahman cannot be completely explained in one English word. But I would at least like to offer an idea of the astonishing value of this "Name of Allah".

The root of the word here (and for the next word as well) comes from three Arabic letters; 'ra' 'ha' 'ma'.

The root, 'Ra-ha-ma', carries a deep meaning of Mercy to the Max.

Even this term cannot bring to mind the depth of such a heavy expression.
Imagine, the word for a woman's "womb" in Arabic, is "rahm", from this same root.

This implies the beginning and source of our lives, in the very place of conception within our mothers and it is nothing less than a "place of mercy".


When we use it for the characteristic or attribute of Almighty God Allah (called 'Asma wa Safa' of Allah in Arabic) it means the absolute and epitome of the word "Rahman" and is proceeded by the article "AL" (The).

This gives us the notion of The Merciful or The Gracious.

However, this is not just saying, "Allah has Mercy".

Instead it denotes Allah as being "The Mercy" and all mercy and all grace comes from His Mercy, His Grace.

In English, the next use of the same root seems like repetition and translations don't really produce the awesome and inspiring meaning we get from Arabic.

Ar-Raheem brings us the more concentrated focus on the Special Mercy and Particular Grace of Allah, by offering another form of the same root.

The first word carries a meaning of "The Mercy" or "The Merciful" in more or less general terms.

But the use of "AL Raheem" lets us understand the very Special, Specific Mercy of Allah waiting for true believers on the Day of Judgment.

By Allah's "Raheem" the believers are forgiven and enter Paradise.

Now we see the term here being better translated as, "The Especially Merciful".

So from the very beginning of this special phrase we are praising, extolling and raising high the Names of the Almighty, like Allah Himself demonstrated and conveyed to us in His Book - the Quran.

The Quran begins with this same exact expression,"Bismillah (Ar) Rahman (Ar) Raheem".

Muslims begin with this expression to mean, "I'm doing this with complete trust and belief in Almighty God, Allah, in His Name, hoping for His Mercy in whatever I'm doing".

-- Hope we answered your question.

Thanks for the email and your patience while waiting for me to answer you. When we travel getting email is sometimes difficult.

Salam alaykum - Peace be to you brother. Yusuf Estes

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