Harms of Delaying the Hajj

Harms of Delaying the Hajj

How could a faithful believer accept to leave off Hajj given his capability of fulfilling it with his property and body, when he knows that it is among the obligatory duties and fundamental pillars of Islam?

How could one greedily withhold his property from performing this obligatory duty, given that he spends it on what his soul desires?

How could one not want to tire himself in Hajj given that he tires and fatigues himself in worldly affairs?

How could one become too lethargic to fulfill this obligatory duty given that it is due only once in the lifetime?

How could one delay performing Hajj given that he does not know whether he would have the power to reach it after this year or not?
Beware  of  hoping to live long!

O you, whom Allaah The Almighty gave property and he has not yet performed Hajj! It should be known to you that life is short, what remains thereof is shorter (than what has elapsed), the appointed term is decreed but not known,   not available all the time and health is not assured perpetually.

1)- Have you not heard Allaah The Almighty saying to His Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) (what means): {Let them eat and enjoy themselves and be diverted by [false] hope, for they are going to know.} [Quran 15:3]

That is to say, let them live as cattle, interested only in food and desires and engaged in hope, as having excessive ambitions will divert them from obeying the Lord of the Worlds.

Have you not heard the statement of Allaah The Almighty (which means): {Do they not look into the realm of the heavens and the earth and everything that Allaah has created and [think] that perhaps their appointed time has come near?} [Quran 7:185]

2- Have you not heard Anas bin Maalik may Allaah be pleased with him saying, “The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) drew a line and said:‘This is (the example of) man.’Then, he drew another line beside it and said:‘That is his lifetime.’Then, he drew a third line far from it (the first) and said: ‘That is (man's) hope, and while he is in this state (of hope), the nearer line (death) attacks him.’" [Al-Bukhaari]

3- The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), feared for us from having excessive hope of living too long. In this respect, it was narrated on the authority of Jaabir may Allaah be pleased with him that the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: "Fancies and extensive hope (to live too long) are what I fear most for my Ummah (nation). As for fancy, it diverts (people) from the truth; and as for the extensive hope, it causes one to forget the Hereafter." [Al-Haakim]

4- So, talk yourself to account and hurry, O heedless one!.

Al-Hasan Al-Basri may Allaah have mercy upon him said, "Hurry, hurry (to do good things), for it is only breaths (which connect you with that life) and if they stop, your deeds which bring you closer to Allaah The Exalted would stop as well. May Allaah have mercy upon the man who looks at himself and then weeps for the number of his sins." Then, he recited the following verse (which means): {We only count out to them a [limited] number.} [Quran 19:84] He resumed, "The last number to be counted is your death, departure from your family and entering your grave."

You have a limited number of steps which you can never exceed and a fixed number of breaths beyond which you will never go.
For this reason, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), urges us to hurry (to do good deeds) and avail ourselves of (the opportunity offered by) life and time.

1- It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him that the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: "Hasten to (good) deeds before (the coming of) seven (things): are you waiting for poverty that causes one to forget (remembering Allaah and the Hereafter), richness that causes one to transgress all due bounds, sickness that corrupts (the health), old age that brings about senility (by which one might lose reason), inevitable and sudden death, (the affliction of) Ad-Dajjaal, which is an absent but expected evil, or the Hour, and the Hour is more disastrous and more bitter" [At-Tirmithi]

2- It was further narrated on the authority of Jaabir bin ‘Abdullaah may Allaah be pleased with him that he said that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), addressed them in a Khutbah (sermon) saying: “O people! Turn in repentance to Allaah before you die, and hasten to do righteous deeds before you are occupied (by illness and the like of it), and maintain what is between you and your Lord (i.e. His right over you) by remembering Him frequently, and giving charity frequently in secret and public, so that you would be provided with sustenance and victory and your affairs would be mended." [Ibn Maajah]

3- It was narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said to a man while instructing him: "Avail yourself of five (good benefits you have) before (the coming of) five (evil things you would suffer from): (avail yourself of) your youth before (the coming of) your old age, your health before (the coming of) your illness, your richness before (the coming of) your poverty, your leisure before (the coming of) your occupation and your life before (the coming of) your death." [Al-Haakim]

You have to show regret and turn in repentance today before you are forced to show regret on a day on which it would be of no profit to you to regret. At that time, man would say (what means):

• {"My Lord, send me back that I might do righteousness in that which I left behind."} [Quran 23:99-100]

• {Or [lest] it says when it sees the punishment, "If only I had another turn so I could be among the doers of good."} [Quran 39:58]

Put before your eyes the following Statement of Allaah The Almighty (which means): {And spend [in the Way of Allaah] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, "My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous." But never will Allaah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allaah is acquainted with what you do.} [Quran 63:10-11]

At the time death approaches you, you would neither return to your World, nor add to your good deeds. You have to work for the Day of Judgment, the Day of grief and regret.

Adhere to that gain by availing yourself of those virtuous seasons, which cannot be substituted.

Hasten to do good and hurry before the attack of death;

Before the indulgent shows regret for his indulgence;

Before he asks to be sent back to life to do righteousness, and his question receives no answer;

Before death impedes the hopeful from realizing his hope;

Before one becomes in his hole, in pledge of the deed which he has sent forth.

You should know that if one does not avail himself of the opportunity, it would turn into a cause of grief. Means might be available to you today, but not tomorrow.

Thus, sow today to reap tomorrow, and tomorrow is very near.

You should know that if Allaah The Almighty wills good for a slave, He expands his breast to accept that in which there lies his prosperity and salvation, and uses his organs in doing what pleases Him.

The successful happy one is the one, who, if instruction is given to him, his heart is opened to it, and his organs become responsive to act upon it. Those have the glad tidings (of Paradise) as stated by the Lord who says (what means): {So give good tidings to My servants who listen to speech and follow the best of it. Those are the ones Allaah has guided, and those are people of understanding.} [Quran 39:17-18]

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Hajj: Lessons for Life

Hajj: Lessons for Life

There are many lessons that could be learned from Hajj and that have great benefits for individuals and the entire Ummah (Muslim nation).

Dear reader, the following are some of these lessons:

1.  Gaining piety (fear of Allaah The Almighty)

Piety is the aim of Hajj and the best of all matters as Allaah The Almighty Advised the former and the latter peoples Saying (what means):

·   {Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihraam], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do - Allaah Knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allaah (piety). And fear Me, O you of understanding.} [Quran 2:197]

·   {Their meat will not reach Allaah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you.}[Quran 22:37]

·   {That [is so]. And whoever honors the Symbols of Allaah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.}[Quran 22:32]

The people of understanding whom Allaah The Almighty chose to fear Him draw lessons from Hajj to obtain piety. They look at the origin of the Divine legislation and its important status in religion, and realize that true love for Allaah The Almighty and slavery to Him are only achieved when one prefers what Allaah The Almighty wills to what he personally wills.

A good example of this is Prophet Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt his mention whom Allaah The Almighty ordered to slaughter his only son, Ismaa‘eel may Allaah exalt his mention the son that he was granted at an old age and the apple of his eyes.

This was a great trial that shows true faith and sincerity, as Prophet Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt his mention gave all Muslims a great lesson in being sincere to Allaah The Almighty by preferring what Allaah The Almighty decreed to what he wanted regardless of how precious this matter was. Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt his mention hastened to do what Allaah The Almighty ordered him to do despite his deep love and great mercy and pity towards his beloved son, so he succeeded and passed the test. Allaah The Almighty showed mercy to him and prevented the knife from cutting the throat of his son and ransomed Ismaa‘eel may Allaah exalt his mention with a great sacrifice and made this a confirmed act of the Sunnah for Muslims until the Day of Judgment. This was a great lesson for Muslims to treat Allaah The Almighty in the same way that they treat the ones they love and to sacrifice what they want for the sake of Allaah The Almighty and what He loves.

If pilgrims grasped this meaning and realized this great secret for which sacrifices were legislated, they would return after performing Hajj with these great lessons and they would never slacken or refrain from fulfilling the orders of Allaah The Almighty. They would never prefer the joy of sleeping to praying Fajr (Dawn prayer).

Love of money would never prevent them from abandoning cheating, injustice, Riba, giving less than what is due or selling merchandise by making false oaths.

Love of desires and women would never prevent them from lowering their gaze, maintaining their chastity and guarding their private parts in order to prefer what Allaah The Almighty loves to what their souls love seeking the reward and satisfaction of Allaah The Almighty in this life and the Hereafter.

Love of this life would not prevent them from spending money and sacrificing their soul in the Way of Allaah The Almighty.

You can compare many other matters to these ones.

This is how the people of understanding learn the great lessons of Hajj in order to gain piety.

2.  Getting used to Thikr (Remembrance of Allaah)

Thikr is the greatest aim of all acts of worship and it is greatly manifested in Hajj. This is because Tawaaf, Sa‘y and throwing the pebbles were all legislated in order to remember Allaah The Almighty according to the narrations of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

When pilgrims remember Allaah The Almighty constantly while performing these acts of worship, they feel assured, have peace of mind and draw closer to Him. Consequently, this will get them accustomed to remembering Allaah The Almighty after Hajj.

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Kingdom to focus on Haj and Umrah for revenue

Kingdom to focus on Haj and Umrah for revenue

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia will strengthen its Haj and Umrah service sector as part of a diversification strategy and reduce dependence on falling oil revenue.

Analysts have emphasized that Haj/Umrah is the second most important economic sector after oil and gas.

Economists consider Haj and Umrah as vital sectors with significant growth potential and ability to create more job opportunities for young Saudi men and women.

The tourism sector contributes SR85 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP) with Haj and Umrah providing a whopping SR45 billion.

With the completion of expansion projects at the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah, the revenue from the sector is expected to double.

Saudi Arabia currently receives nearly two million foreign Haj pilgrims annually. The figure is expected to reach 2.7 million by 2020.

It also receives more than six million Umrah pilgrims in nine months of the year. The figure is meager compared to the Kingdom’s potentials.

The tourism sector was instrumental in creating more than 100,000 jobs for Saudis within a short span.

Revenue from the tourism, Umrah and Haj sector is expected to grow by SR35 billion during the next five years through cultural, historical and medical tourism.

Abdul Ghani Al-Ansari, a member of the National Tourism Committee, emphasized the need to restructure the sector to make it a major contributor to the national economy.

There are 49 Saudi companies that are licensed to provide Umrah services. There are a similar number of Haj service firms in addition to 3,000 foreign agents. The total number of pilgrims who come for Haj and Umrah is estimated at between 7.3 million to 7.5 million, contributing SR57 billion to the GDP. This figure is likely to increase in the coming years, he said.

“The total capacity of hostels and furnished apartments in Makkah and Madinah is not fully utilized due to lack of good planning,” Al-Ansari told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

Makkah can now accommodate 12 million pilgrims while Madinah can house only 230,000 visitors. “This shows there is big gap when we compare the two holy cities,” he pointed out.

He called for the establishment of a center to discuss revenues generated from Haj and Umrah.

He urged authorities to increase the number of Umrah service firms to more than 100 to bring more pilgrims from all over the world.

The Ministry of Haj can meet its annual budget on its own without any need to depend on government funds to implement its projects, he said.

Economist Abdullah Katib estimated the annual revenue from the Haj season at SR20-23 billion on the basis of the number of Hajis, which had fallen during the past five years as a result of expansion works at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

“About 40 percent of this revenue comes from housing, 15 percent from gifts, 10 percent from food and the remaining from other services,” Katib said.

“As a result of ongoing expansion projects, the number of Haj and Umrah pilgrims is expected to increase by not less than 30 percent during the next five years. This demands construction of more hotels and housing units. This will enable the housing sector alone to generate SR9-12 billion during the same period,” he explained.

He said the annual increase should be balanced in order for the holy sites to accommodate the Hajis.

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The blessings of water

The blessings of water

Water is the most important liquid for human survival. Water has been on earth since its beginning. Without water there would be no life on earth. Water makes up about 71% of the Earth’s surface, while the other 29% consists of continents and islands. Did you know that that 96.5 per cent of all the earth’s water is salt water in oceans and seas? The remaining 3.5% is fresh water from rivers and lakes and frozen water in the polar ice tops. And, 69% of the 3.5% fresh water is in the form of ice. If we could melt all that ice, and the earth’s surface was perfectly smooth, the sea levels would rise to an altitude of 2.7 km. The human body consists of 75% water.

Water is one of the key elements responsible for life on earth. Water circulates through the land just as it does through the human body, transporting, dissolving, and replenishing nutrients and organic matter, while carrying away waste material. It also regulates the activities of fluids, tissues, cells, lymph, blood, and glandular secretions.

An average adult body contains 42 liters of water and with just a small loss of 2.7 liters a person can suffer from dehydration, dizziness, weakness, and headaches. The role of water is vital role in our health and essential for cell function.

The 75% of water in our body helps us swallow and digest food. Without water, all chemical reactions in our body would not take place, including carryingaway the substances that we do not need any more. Water regulates our body temperature and without water, we would be unable to live for a few days.

In our every day life we use water in our houses, to grow plants for food, in industries and factories, to produce energy and electricity, in transportation and trade. Whatever we think of to continue living, water is always there.

In the history of humanity, water has been the center of civilizations. Communities were established close to fresh drinking water sources such as wells, or in a region known of rain as a source of fresh water.

Traditional and modern medicine has been making use of the psychological and physiological diverse properties of water. Since early centuries and up until today, numerous healing springs located all around the world have been recognized for their benefits with historical records of how the water springs had curative properties.

Of the scientific marvels in the Holy Qur’an, water was mentioned as the source of all life.
“Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?” (21:30)

Fourteen centuries ago, the Holy Qur’an has revealed that water is a part of every living organism. Centuries later after the invention of the microscope, scientists discovered that the cytoplasm and the basic substance of the cell is made up of 80% water.

There are facts that mankind had not been aware of before the twentieth century yet they were mentioned in the Holy Qur’an.

Water in the seas and oceans regulates the temperature of the Earth, and it maintains marine life. The combination of hot and cold sea currents, the absorption of a great amount of sunlight and energy from the activities of the various marine life forms are all regulated by water.

When we study facts about water, we can see the amazing creative power that gave water a number of physical and chemical characteristics that are not found in other elements.

The low density of frozen water enables it to float on the surface of seas and oceans, otherwise if it sunk to the bottom of oceans and seas, it would interfere with underwater life. Moreover, the molecular structure of water with its double pole and resistance to dissolution and ionization, its freezing and boiling points and the high specific and latent heat, impressive viscosity and surface tension, its great ability in the processes of oxidation and reduction and to react with many chemical compounds help to crack the soil to facilitate the germination of plants. Water carries out a major role in all plants, animals and people. It is considered to be one of the great miracles of Allah.

Humans have been exploiting and abusing the sources of fresh water such as rivers, lakes, and also oceans and seas by contamination and pollution.
Water is a blessing from Allah, essential to all our bodily functions and life. We must conserve water and preserve it for ourselves and for the generations to come.

Abdullah ibn Amr reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) passed by Saad while he was performing ablution. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “What is this extravagance?” Saad said, “Is there extravagance with water in ablution?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Yes, even if you were on the banks of a flowing river.” Source: Sunan ibn Majah 425

Muslims should avoid wasting water.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

Messages from the Holy Qur’an: Taqwah

Messages from the Holy Qur’an: Taqwah

The Holy Qur’an is a book of guidance for all of humanity. Some verses of the Holy Qur’an were revealed to address a particular issue that occurred in the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Some verses of the Holy Qur’an serve as a direct message from Allah to the believing Muslims, regardless of their time in history or geographical place. Muslims should pay great attention to these verses. In several instances in the Holy Qur’an, Allah, glorified is He, explicitly calls out to the believers, {O you who have believed}.


Seven times in the Holy Qur’an, Allah instructs the believers to have taqwah.

Taqwah is one of those Arabic words that cannot be translated exactly into English. To have taqwah means to fear Allah; it means to have piety. A believer who has taqwah is constantly aware of the presence of Allah. A pious believer looks not to what the people would think or say about him/her, but this believer cares more of how he/she acts and behaves in the sight of Allah.

It is taqwah that stands between the believer and sin. A four-year old girl spilled a platter of food on to the kitchen floor; there is grease and tomato sauce everywhere. Her mother rushes in. None is in the house except mother and child. If her in-laws were present, the mother would have calmly wiped it up and reassured her frightened daughter. But now, they are alone in the house. The mother is so angry because it took hours of work to prepare that meal and now it’s splattered on the floor. The mother’s taqwah is what prevents her from hitting her daughter or even scolding her. Because of taqwah, the mother rushes over to hug her daughter, and she says, “It’s OK. It was an accident. Will you help me clean it up?”

Muslims should pay close attention to the messages in the Holy Qur’an that were meant for them. Each time Allah calls on the believers to develop taqwah, Allah also couples taqwah with another command in the same verse. Which are the seven verses in which Allah reminds the Muslims to have taqwah? What other lessons did Allah teach the Muslims in those verses? We will review the verses that have the same beginning: {O you have believed, fear Allah}.

The first verse:
{O you have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should believe.} (Chapter 2, verse 278)

Interest is prohibited in Islam. An economic system based on interest increases the gap between rich and the poor; it makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. According to an article in The Guardian, “The richest 62 people are as wealthy as half the world’s population.”

“In Islam, a person has to earn what he seeks to obtain. The lender of money does nothing thereby to entitle him to anything other than the money lent. In interest transactions there is no division of profit between the two parties on the basis of equality. A person lends his money to someone as a loan on the condition that the borrower has to pay a certain amount of money in addition to the principal within the given time period,” wrote Zahid Zamir, faculty member with the Department of Business and Accounting at York College of the City University of New York.

The second verse:
{O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]} (Chapter 3, verse 102)

It is very important to be sincere and to remain steadfast in our faith no matter what tribulations we may face. Whatever comes our way, we pray to Allah to keep us in the fold of Islam. The scholars say that in our last moments, as death nears, a Muslim may experience a final test. Shaytan whispers evil to the dying Muslim and tries to trick him/her into abandoning the religion of Islam.

That is why it is recommended to repeat this supplication, “Oh Allah! Turner of the hearts, turn my heart towards your deen.”

The third verse:
{O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek the means [of nearness] to Him and strive in His cause that you may succeed.} (Chapter 5, verse 35)

So fearing Allah or having taqwah, guarantees success for the believer.

The fourth verse:
{O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.} (Chapter 9, verse 119)

Honesty and truthfulness are admirable qualities of a good, pious Muslim. Not only should I strive to be honest under all circumstances, but I should also look for the company of those who are honest and truthful. The traits of friends rub off on one another.

As the great scholar Imam Al-Shafi’e said in his poem:
“I love the righteous, although I’m not of them
Perhaps I shall receive intercession through them
And I hate he who trades in sins
Although we are both dealing in the same trade.”

The fifth verse
{O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.}(Chapter 33, verse 70)

Again, having taqwah is equated with speaking the truth and dealing with people fairly and justly. How many of us have truly tried to incorporate honesty and justice in our lives?

The sixth verse
{O you who have believed, fear Allah and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of the His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you; and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} (Chapter 57, verse 28)

In this verse having taqwah and fearing Allah is coupled with believing in Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This verse is very promising to the Muslims. If Muslims filled their hearts and consciousness with taqwah or piety, the rewards are mercy and forgiveness from Allah, and a light and radiance in the life of the believer.

The seventh verse
{O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow – and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Aware of what you do.}  (Chapter 59, verse 18)

What have we prepared for tomorrow? The tomorrow in this verse does not mean the future in this world or our retirement plan. The tomorrow in this verse means the Day of Judgment.

How we can prepare for this tomorrow? We can prepare through acts of worship and acts of goodness: prayer, fasting, reading the Holy Qur’an, defending the weak, helping the poor, giving to orphans, speaking kindly, being good to our neighbor, visiting the sick.

The richness and depth of the meaning of the world taqwah as used in the Qur’an amazes me. Read those verses again and again, and reflect on the messages in the Holy Qur’an which state, {O you who have believed, fear Allah [have taqwah].}

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

World’s largest umbrella being installed in Makkah Haram

World’s largest umbrella being installed in Makkah Haram

MAKKAH — Work started on Thursday for the installation of the world’s largest folding umbrella in the northern courtyard of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

This is the first of the eight high-tech giant umbrellas and 54 small ones to be installed in the Grand Mosque in the coming six months.

Being manufactured in Germany, each canopy will consist of a giant clock, screens of guidelines for worshippers, air-conditioners, and surveillance cameras. Each umbrella will have a height of 45 meters and weigh 16 tons. It will give shade to an area of 2,400 square meters when open.

Some 25 engineers, specialist technicians, and safety experts from Germany will supervise the installation process and electronic operating mechanism. Another 54 small umbrellas will also be installed in the northern courtyard, covering a total area of 19,200 square meters. As part of the project, 122 benches for worshippers to take rest as well as service buildings will be built. The infrastructure work for the installation of canopies have already started.

The entire northern plaza stretching from King Fahd Expansion structure to the King Abdullah Expansion structure of the mosque will have canopies when the project is completed. The shaded area will have the capacity to accommodate around 400,000 worshippers.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques is supervising the project, in cooperation with specialists from the Ministry of Education and the contracting company, which is implementing the largest ever expansion of Islam’s holiest site.

In December 2014, a few weeks before his death, King Abdullah ordered the installation of umbrellas in the courtyards surrounding the Grand Mosque.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, announced then that the King’s order came to provide shading for external plazas, in addition to the areas approved in the King Abdullah Expansion project, with an additional area estimated at 275,000 square meters. More than 300 canopies will provide shade from the sun to the visitors of the Grand Mosque, he said.

Nearly 250 similar umbrellas have been installed on the plazas around the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah earlier. Like blooming flowers, the umbrellas are programmed to fold and unfold in minutely delayed sequence to avoid collision between their moving parts. Their near-silent operation is automatically aligned with changes in the daily temperature. They open each morning, creating a translucent ceiling, and retract each evening in less than three minutes.

In summer, the open umbrellas provide daytime shade and reflect away much of the sun’s radiant energy. When closed at night, they allow residual heat absorbed by the stone floors and walls to escape back into the atmosphere. The process is reversed in winter. When temperatures are relatively low, umbrellas are closed during the day to allow the winter sun to warm the site, and opened at night to retain heat near ground level.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

Effect of Hajj on Perfecting Tawheed

Effect of Hajj on Perfecting Tawheed

Every year, the Islamic Ummah (nation) lives this blessed season and these special days which combine between the honor of place and time. It is the occasion of Hajj to the Sacred House of Allaah The Almighty. Pilgrims, the guests of Allaah, from all corners of the earth come together hoping to attain the Forgiveness and Pleasure of Allaah The Almighty. Their ears enjoy hearing the Talbiyah and their hearts feel tranquil and humble due to achieving goals and hopes. They head for the Ancient House of Allaah, the Ka‘bah, to which people’s hearts long for and return. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [mention] when We Made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security.} [Quran 2:125]

Hence, there should be a benefit from the universal congregation at this time and the proper means to found and perfect Tawheed of the pilgrims during their stay in this purified country that is established on a solid base of sound creed since it was unified by King ‘Abdul-‘Azeez until the present time. From that time until now, this land has judged according to Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) in the various affairs of life and carefully applies its teachings. It continually tries to unite Muslims and does its best to spread the sound creed via its various facilities whether they are related to Da‘wah (invitation to Islam), the media, education or culture.

Its effective role is clear during Hajj when Muslims come from all over the world, to know each other, love each other and study the matters of their religion. Undoubtedly, this gathering is a chance for Muslims to become closer to each other and remove the image of disunity and aversion. It is also a power that disappoints the Muslims' enemies. It is a meeting on the straight Path of Allaah The Almighty and His sound methodology. The knowledgeable person towards the way of Allaah The Almighty, guides people to the right path, and teaches them. On the other hand, the ignorant person seeks guidance and asks about whatever confuses him; whereas the person who has doubts asks about doubtful matters and seeks the clear answers that go along with the Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) of Allaah The Almighty and the Sunnah (tradition) of His Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

The Hajj gathering is also a chance to remove the doubts and innovations in religion that are practiced by some Muslim sects that the pilgrim may not realize in his country. This is because steering away from religious innovations and adhering to the guidance of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), are among the main reasons for perfecting Tawheed and following the sound methodology which was approved by Allaah The Almighty for His slaves as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And, this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way.} [Quran, 6:153]

Therefore, pilgrims should offer a sincere Hajj for the sake of Allaah The Almighty in conformity with the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), without any increase or decrease or negligence. They should follow the example of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), who said: “Learn your rituals (of Hajj) from me.” They should not let any other matter distract them from their rituals. They should ask the people of knowledge about any difficult or confusing matter. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {So ask the people of the message if you do not know.} [Quran 16:43]

There is no doubt that the scholars of this country have a leading role in advising people during the season of Hajj whether in terms of their rituals or morals, dealing with other people and inculcating the true creed in their souls. Despite the few days spent during Hajj in this country, pilgrims have a great chance to meet the scholars there and benefit from their Khutbahs (sermons), lectures and Fatwas (rulings).

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – is considered the leader of the Islamic world and the caretaker of sound Islamic principles. Every year, it receives hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from within it and beyond its borders. It gathers all its material and human powers to organize the affairs of Hajj, serving the pilgrims of the Sacred House, facilitating their transportation and all other services so that they could so easily perform their Hajj without any annoying or distracting matters.

Pilgrims and residents of Saudi Arabia should benefit from the lessons, lectures and Fatwas of scholars there. They must adopt the sound creed of Tawheed and tolerant Islamic teachings and raise their children according to the correct Islamic upbringing away from deviation, extremism, or following the destructive streams and schools of thought which are propagated by the enemies of Islam.

Pilgrims should make the most of the school of Hajj in order to return to their homes carrying the correct message of this religion and its sound, pure creed and achieving the great goal of Hajj, which is to worship Allaah The Almighty Alone.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

Hajj and Its Influence on Boosting Faith

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is obligatory for every Muslim who has the physical and financial ability, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [due] to Allaah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way.} [Quran 3:97]

The rituals of Hajj have a great influence on boosting faith, because it is an established fact that Faith (Eemaan) increases through good deeds and decreases through sins and misdeeds.

Hence, every Muslim, whether or not he has performed Hajj, should contemplate the sublime meanings of these rites to reap the fruits of increasing Faith and strengthening his trust in Allaah The Almighty.

Ihraam:

Why do men wear two pieces of white cloth, and avoid form-fitting clothes when they enter the state of Ihraam?

The clothes of Ihraam are similar to the shroud, so, they remind us of death so we can prepare ourselves for it.

These clothes also remind us of the Resurrection when we will be barefoot and naked without any dress or shroud.

These clothes also remind us of the Blessings of Allaah The Almighty upon us, as He Says (what means): {O children of Aadam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment….} [Quran 7:26]

This is the clothing in this world, but what about our clothing on the Day of Resurrection, when we will be naked? The answer is in the last part of the verse in which Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {But the clothing of righteousness - that is best.} [Quran 7:26]

Just as we leave the sewn clothes when we enter the state of Ihraam, we have to make all our good deeds fully devoted to Allaah The Almighty without associating anyone with Him.

Talbiyah:
 
Talbiyah means saying “Labbayak Allaamumma Labbayk Labbayka La Shareek Laka Labbayk (Here I am at Your service O my Lord. Here I am. Here I am at Your service and under Your Command and You have no partners.)”

Talbiyah is an acknowledgment of servitude and absolute submission to the Mighty Lord.

Before Islam, the disbelievers used to perform Hajj and make Talbiyah but they used to add, “At Your service. You have no partner except the partner that You have. You own Him and whatever he owns.”

Tawaaf(circumambulation around the Ka‘bah):

When one performs Tawaaf around the Ka‘bah, he should remember that this is the first House of Allaah The Exalted on earth and that:

-   Whoever enters it shall be safe.

-   Allaah The Almighty made the House a place of return for the people and a place of security.

-   Ibraaheem (Abraham) and Ismaa‘eel (Ishmael), may Allaah exalt their mention, raised its foundations.

-   Hearts long for it and when they leave, they always wish to return.

-   ‘Abdul Muttalib, the grandfather of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said, “The house Has a Lord, and He Will Protect it.”

-   The Quraysh used to live around it. They were polytheists and used to circumambulate it naked.

-   It is the birthplace of the call of Islam.

Kissing the Black Stone:
 
-   The Black Stone is nothing but a stone, i.e., it can neither harm nor benefit.

-   Kissing this stone is an act of Sunnah (Prophetic tradition), but believing that it can benefit, harm, or do anything is an act of Shirk (polytheism).

-   Fighting other people to reach it is a sin.

Kissing the Black Stone is an act of the Sunnah for whoever can reach it without harming other people or intermixing with men (for women); however, kissing any other stone opens the doors of Shirk. The believer kisses the Black Stone while his heart is attached to Allaah The Almighty rather than the stone itself.

Drinking the water of Zamzam:
 
This is a stressed act of the Sunnah, but when the believer drinks it, his heart should be attached to the blessing of Allaah The Almighty, along with the belief that Allaah The Almighty has endowed this water with the ability to cure diseases. Nevertheless, the believer always knows that Allaah The Almighty can cure him through any other water or medicine, and that He can also delay the recovery of a person even if he drinks the water of Zamzam.

These are some of the indications and meanings that are implied in the Quranic verse in which Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {And if Allaah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him. And if He touches you with good - then He is over all things competent.} [Quran 6:17]

Hence, whoever attaches his heart to Allaah The Almighty alone has fulfilled true monotheism, which is the right of Allaah The Almighty over His slaves.

Sa‘y (ritual running) between Mount As-Safa and Mount Al-Marwah:
 
Pilgrims and those who perform ‘Umrah run between these two hills, to remember and to contemplate.

Near As-Safa, Ibraaheem may Allaah exalt his mention left his wife and young child in a barren valley in obedience to Allaah The Almighty, but we, on the other hand, find it difficult to leave our sins!

The believing wife obeyed her Lord and then her husband regarding an issue that may have led to her death along with her baby.

The mother of Ismaa’eel may Allaah exalt his mention ran between As-Safa and Al-Marwah hoping that she would find some water for her baby who was about to die of thirst.

This demonstrates sheer faith when its sweetness penetrates the heart!

Standing at ‘Arafaat:
 
This is the greatest pillar of Hajj and every pilgrim must stand at ‘Arafaat; otherwise, his Hajj will be invalid. The gathering of the pilgrims on ‘Arafaat reminds us of the Day of Assembly: {The Day He will assemble you for the Day of Assembly} [Quran 64:9]

Whoever remembers the Day of Assembly should prepare himself well for it.

On the Day of ‘Arafah, the pilgrim may face difficulty in obtaining water. So, when he gets it, he should remember the verse in which Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And the companions of the Fire will call to the companions of Paradise, "Pour upon us some water or from whatever Allaah has provided you." They will say, "Indeed, Allaah has forbidden them both to the disbelievers."} [Quran 7:50]

During the Farewell Pilgrimage, a man fell while he was riding his she-camel and making Talbiyah and he broke his neck. Thereupon, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “Wash him with water and lotus leaves, and shroud him in his two garments, but do not apply perfume to him or cover his head, for he will be raised on the Day of Resurrection reciting Talbiyah.”

He died while making Talbiyah, which is an act of worship; hence, he will be resurrected while performing the same act of worship.

So what about those who die while committing sins?

This is a fact that many people have become heedless of, namely: there is no refuge and no place of safety from Allaah The Almighty but with Him.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

Hajj: A Once in a Lifetime Obligation

Hajj: A Once in a Lifetime Obligation

Acts of worship vary in relation to time. An act of worship is either an annual obligation such as fasting the month of Ramadan, or a weekly obligation such as the Friday prayer, or a daily obligation such as the five prayers, or it is obligatory only once in a lifetime, and that is Hajj.

When a person tries to figure out the reasons behind imposing Hajj only once in a lifetime, he may wonder whether this is only for the sake of facilitation or for another reason. Facilitation may be the reason, however what is certain is that Hajj involves many lessons and great teachings and if the Muslim understood them well, they would be sufficient for him and he would not need to perform Hajj again. That is why one is not obliged to perform Hajj over and over again as long as the first time is sufficient if it was performed as Allaah The Almighty wishes and likes. Nevertheless, it is recommended that the Muslim perform Hajj after that as many times as possible to internalize these lessons and such teachings in his soul until they become like inborn traits. In such a case, Allaah The Almighty would encompass His slave in His Mercy and engulf him in His Bounty.
 
The ultimate purpose of Hajj is to achieve untainted Tawheed (monotheism):
 
Devotion to Allaah The Almighty and acknowledging His Oneness is the essence of Hajj as explicitly stated in the Hadeeth in which the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “Whoever performs Hajj for the Sake of Allaah…”, i.e. when one performs Hajj, he does so for the Sake of Allaah The Almighty to provide proof of the deep-rooted monotheism in his heart. One can easily recognize that confirmation of monotheism is the essence of Hajj since its legislation at the time of Ibraaheem (Abraham) may Allaah exalt his mention and throughout all its rites from beginning to end. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {And [mention, O Muhammad], when We designated for Abraham the site of the House, [saying], "Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaaf...} [Quran 22:26]

Al-Qurtubi may Allaah have mercy upon him commented on this verse saying, "This verse rebukes the polytheists who live in the neighborhood of the Sacred House, because adherence to and preservation of monotheism was the condition that was imposed on their father and his offspring, including you, but you did not meet this condition; and instead associated others with Allaah The Almighty."

Therefore, the polytheists are forbidden from approaching the Holy House, as Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so let them not approach al-Masjid al-Haram after this, their [final] year. And if you fear privation, Allaah will enrich you from His bounty if He wills. Indeed, Allaah is Knowing and Wise.} [Quran 9:28]

The pilgrim commences his Hajj by acknowledging Tawheed (Oneness of Allaah The Almighty) when he says Talbiyah: “Labbayka Allaahuma Labbayk, Labbayka La Shareeka Laka Labbayk, Inna Al-hamda wan-Ni‘mata, Laka wal-mulk, La Sharika Lakk (Here I am, O Allaah! Here I have come. Here I have come; there is no partner with You. Verily, praise, blessing and Kingdom are Yours. There is no partner with You).”

The Muslim is also required to make frequent Thikr, Talbiyah and Tahleel (saying, “Laa Ilaaha Illa Allaah (There is none truly worthy of worship but Allaah)”). He should also make Takbeer while throwing the Jamaraat (pebbles). When he intends to return to his country after finishing Hajj, he should return to the Sacred House to perform the Farewell Tawaaf along with making Thikr, supplication, Tahleel and Takbeer as much as possible. Hence, the pilgrim starts Hajj by acknowledging the Oneness of Allaah The Almighty and concludes with the same thing.
Then comes devotion, i.e. to make this act of worship sincerely for the sake of Allaah The Almighty, far removed from ostentation, seeking fame or good reputation. The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), said: “Allaahumma haathihi hijjatun la riyaa’a feeha wa la sum‘ah (O Allaah, this is a pilgrimage in which there is no showing off or seeking reputation).”
 
Things that invalidate and blemish Hajj:
 
Sexual intercourse and sins adversely affect the desired reward of Hajj. Sexual intercourse invalidates Hajj, and so does foreplay, kissing, and sexual speech in the presence of women.

Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {so whoever has madeHajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihraam], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj.} [Quran 2:197]

Abu Bakr Al-Jassaas may Allaah have mercy upon him commented on this verse saying,

In this verse, Allaah The Almighty commanded the pilgrim to guard his private parts and tongue from all sins and acts of disobedience. Indeed, sins are prohibited before entering the state of Ihraam, but Allaah The Almighty Stated that they are especially prohibited during Ihraam to stress the great status of the state of Ihraam and to confirm that the punishment of the sins that are committed during the state of Ihraam are more severe.

The greatness of Hajj cannot be compatible with committing sins or vices by the pilgrim. Hence, the pilgrim must purify himself by refraining from committing any sin so as to refine his soul and habituate it to abandon its bad habits. In this way, the pilgrim will emancipate himself from evil desires, and will perfect his soul with noble manners and good behavior.

The reward of the pilgrim:
 
What a great reward it is to receive forgiveness of all sins! The Muslim would return sinless after performing Hajj as legislated and directed by Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). He will return to his house after performing Hijrah and Jihaad, and after disassociating himself from the polytheists, and showing kindness to the poor and the needy. He will be far from sins just as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him, a clear white slate untainted by any blemish. Ibn Hajar may Allaah have mercy upon him said, “The words ‘as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him,’ mean without any sin. Apparently, this means forgiveness of minor and major sins and their consequences.”

This great gift is indeed more valuable than the whole earth full of gold, as it means that the pilgrim has been secured from the repercussions of his previous sins and misdeeds. Thus, the pilgrim should prepare himself for the future to make sure that his record of deeds remains clean. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present [before it]} [Quran 3:30]

Article by: www.islamweb.net

Hateem has new ornamental lamps

  saudigazette

Green ornamental lamps (one meter in height) have replaced the white ones (above left) on the boundary of Hateem, a low wall originally part of the Holy Kaba. Hateem is a semi-circular wall opposite, but not connected to, the north-west wall of the Kaba. The wall is 90 cm in height and 1.5 m in width.

 saudigazette

 The lamps signify the place from Prophet Ismail passed on bricks and stones to Prophet Ibrahim while he was constructing the Kaba according to the command of Almighty Allah.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

Hajj and Inner Peace

Hajj and Inner Peace

When Allaah The Almighty bestows upon a believing slave the blessing of calling him to perform the obligation of Hajj, this slave who loves Allaah The Exalted feels an overwhelming happiness, combined with awe and humble submission. He is conscious of the great responsibility that he should assume and the trust that must be discharged. He prostrates in humble submission and loves to praise and thank Allaah The Almighty for His great favor upon him, asking Allaah The Almighty to accept his Hajj and to help him safeguard it.

Hajj is a great responsibility before Allaah The Almighty; it requires sincerity, truthfulness in words and deeds, purity of the soul and inner peace.

Preparation for the journey of Hajj requires special behavior. The believing slave determines to travel to perform the obligation of Hajj being peaceful, chaste and pure with no impurity in his heart, overwhelmed by love for Allaah The Almighty, hoping to attain His mercy and seeking His pleasure.

The sincere slave who loves Allaah The Almighty starts his preparation for the Hajj journey with a peaceful mind; he purifies himself and elevates his heart, spirit and self to the highest levels of inner peace. He starts taking himself to account for his deeds, and to recall the incidents of his life, to take his actions towards himself and others into consideration. If he had ever abused or wronged someone, or was a reason for hurting someone, he should immediately seek the pardon of Allaah The Almighty first, and then ask for forgiveness from the one whom he wronged or hurt.

Complete forgiveness and perfect repentance depends upon the issue of preserving the rights of slaves. Allaah The Exalted quotes Nooh may Allaah exalt his mention as saying to his people (what means): {Worship Allaah, fear Him and obey me. Allaah will forgive you of your sins.} [Quran 71:3-4]

Allaah The Almighty does not Say "forgive all your sins", rather, He Says: {Forgive you of your sins}. That is to say that the forgiveness of some sins will remain suspended till the rights of slaves are fulfilled. Such sins are not pardoned by Allaah The Almighty except after fulfilling the rights of His slaves, or if they pardon orwaive them.

What is injustice? Many people mistakenly believe that a person may do whatever he wishes, then perform the obligation of Hajj and return as he was on the day he was delivered by his mother: without sin or error.

How can one allow himself to wrong others and become the cause of hurting or abusing them in any form whatsoever? Then, merely after performing the obligation of Hajj, he returns and feels as if he has not committed any mistakes. Where is the right of the people he wronged?

The Noble Quran denounced injustice in the strongest terms and threatened wrongdoers with painful torture. Moreover, just as it threatened wrongdoers, it promised those wronged, with victory and support.

In addition, it calmed them as it prohibited the public mention of evil, except by the one who has been wronged. Allaah The Exalted granted the right of public mention of evil to those who have been wronged because He knows the extent of the anguish and troubled feelings within the wronged person.

A wrongdoer is someone whose heart is afflicted with the disease of pride. He is selfish, arrogant and domineering to an unhealthy extent. He does not see anyone other than himself and is concerned only with achieving his own interests, even if the price is to transgress on the interests and rights of others and to hurt their humanity, dignity and pride. He is someone who has forgotten Allaah The Almighty, so Allaah The Almighty made him forget himself.

There are three types of injustice:

*   Injustice between man and Allaah The Almighty: it is injustice pertaining to the right of Allaah The Exalted. It is intended to mean disbelief, Shirk (polytheism) and hypocrisy with Allaah The Almighty. This type of injustice is considered great for Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice.} [Quran 31:13]

This type of injustice is not forgiven by Allaah The Almighty, because Allaah The Almighty forgives all the sins of whoever He wishes, except the sin of associating anything with Him.

*   Another type of injustice is between a man and himself: it is injustice towards the right of the human self, where the slave neglects and takes the obligations that Allaah The Almighty ordered him to fulfill lightly, such as being lazy when performing acts of worship. This is how man wrongs himself. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {among them is he who wrongs himself.}[Quran 35:32]

Allaah The Almighty forgives this kind of injustice to whom He wills.

*   Injustice between a man and people: it constitutes injustice towards the rights of others, such as unjustly consuming the rights of others, wronging them with a false testimony or wrongfully using power and authority to abuse and humiliate people.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

How does Hajj contribute to solving the problems of Muslims?

How does Hajj contribute to solving the problems of Muslims?

Fatwa
 
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) is His Slave and
Messenger.

Among the most important means that help in making the best of the Hajj season regarding the stated aim is that Muslim leaders and scholars should do their utmost to communicate and discuss such problems with each other. Exchanging ideas and consultations regarding the important matters actually lead to ideal solutions. Pilgrims should also do their utmost in supplicating Allah Almighty in order to obtain right guidance for themselves and the affairs of the Islamic Nation and to guard themselves from the evil of His and their enemy. This is so because Du‘aa’ is one of the most important means in achieving the desired aims and warding off the feared matters. We ask Allah Almighty to give Muslims right guidance for their affairs.

Article by: www.islamweb.net

Why ours is a different religion

image by:saudigazette

Why ours is a different religion

Islam is a religion without any mythology. Its teachings are simple and intelligible. It is free from superstitions and irrational beliefs. The oneness of God, the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the concept of life after death are the basic articles of its faith. They are based on reason and sound logic. All of the teachings of Islam flow from those basic beliefs and are simple and straightforward. There is no hierarchy of priests, no farfetched abstractions, no complicated rites or rituals.

Everybody may approach the Qur’an directly and translate its dictates into practice. Islam awakens in man the faculty of reason and exhorts him to use his intellect. It enjoins him to see things in the light of reality. The Qur’an advises him to seek knowledge and invoke God to expand his awareness: “Say ‘O, my Lord! Advance me in knowledge’.” (Qur’an, 20: 114)

God also says: “Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only men of understanding will pay heed.” (Qur’an, 39: 9)

It is reported that the Prophet (may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him) said that: “He who leaves his home in search of knowledge (walks) in the path of God.” (At-Tirmidhi) and that, “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.” (Ibn Majah and Al-Baihaqi)

This is how Islam brings man out of the world of superstition and darkness and initiates him into the world of knowledge and light.

Again, Islam is a practical religion and does not allow indulgence in empty and futile theorizing. It says faith is not a mere profession of beliefs, but rather that it is the very mainspring of life. Righteous conduct must follow belief in God. Religion is something to be practiced and not an object of mere lip service. The Qur’an says: “Those who believe and act righteously, joy is for them, and a blissful home to return to.” (Qur’an, 13: 29)

The Prophet is also reported to have said: “God does not accept belief if it is not expressed in deeds, and does not accept deeds if they do not conform to belief.” (At-Tabarani)

Unity of matter and spirit

A unique feature of Islam is that it does not divide life into watertight compartments of matter and spirit. It stands not for denial of life but for the fulfillment of life. Islam does not believe in asceticism. It does not ask man to avoid material things. It holds that spiritual elevation is to be achieved by living piously in the rough and tumble of life, not by renouncing the world. The Qur’an advises us to pray as follows:

“Our Lord! Give us something fine in this world as well as something fine in the Hereafter.” (Qur’an, 2:201)

But in making use of life luxuries, Islam advises man to be moderate and keep away from extravagance, God says: “…and eat and drink and be not extravagant; surely He does not love the extravagant.” (Qur’an 7:31)

On this aspect of moderation, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Observe fasting and break it (at the proper time) and stand in prayer and devotion (in the night) and have sleep, for your body has its right over you, and your eyes have rights over you, and your wife has a claim upon you and the person who pays a visit to you has a claim upon you.”

Thus, Islam does not admit any separation between “material” and “moral,” “mundane” and “spiritual” life, and enjoins man to devote all of his energies to the reconstruction of life on healthy moral foundations. It teaches him that moral and material powers must be welded together and that spiritual salvation can be achieved by using material resources for the good of man in the service of just ends and not by living a life of asceticism or by running away from the challenges of life.

The world has suffered at the hands of the one-sidedness of many other religions and ideologies. Some have laid emphasis on the spiritual side of life but have ignored its material and mundane aspects. They have looked upon the world as an illusion, a deception, and a trap. On the other hand, materialistic ideologies have totally ignored the spiritual and moral side of life and have dismissed it as fictitious and imaginary. Both of these attitudes have resulted in disaster, for they have robbed mankind of peace, contentment, and tranquility.

Even today, the imbalance is manifest in one or the other direction. The French scientist, Dr. De Brogbi rightly says: “The danger inherent in too intense a material civilization is to that civilization itself; it is the disequilibria which would result if a parallel development of the spiritual life were to fail to provide the needed balance.”

Christianity erred on one extreme, whereas modern western civilization, in both of its variants of secular capitalistic democracy and Marxist socialism has erred on the other. According to Lord Snell: “We have built a nobly-proportioned outer structure, but we have neglected the essential requirement of an inner order; we have carefully designed, decorated and made clean the outside of the cup; but the inside was full of extortion and excess; we used our increased knowledge and power to administer to the comforts of the body, but we left the spirit impoverished.”

Islam seeks to establish equilibrium between these two aspects of life — the material and the spiritual. It says that everything in the world is for man, but man was created to serve a higher purpose: the establishment of a moral and just order that will fulfill the will of God. Its teachings cater for the spiritual as well as the temporal needs of man. Islam enjoins man to purify his soul and to reform his daily life – both individual and collective — and to establish the supremacy of right over might and of virtue over vice. Thus Islam stands for the middle path and the goal of producing a moral man in the service of a just society.

Islam, a complete way of life

Islam is not a religion in the common and distorted sense, for it does not confine its scope to one’s private life. It is a complete way of life and is present in every field of human existence. Islam provides guidance for all aspects of life – individual and social, material and moral, economic and political, legal and cultural, and national and international. The Qur’an enjoins man to embrace Islam without any reservation and to follow God’s guidance in all areas of life.

In fact, it was an unfortunate day when the scope of religion was confined to the private life of man and its social and cultural role was reduced to naught, as has happened in this century. No other factor, perhaps, has been more important in causing the decline of religion in the modern age than its retreat into the realm of private life. In the words of a modern philosopher: “Religion asks us to separate things of God from those of Caesar. Such a judicial separation between the two means the degrading of both the secular and the sacred ... That religion is worth little if the conscience of its followers is not disturbed when war clouds are hanging over us all and industrial conflicts are threatening social peace. Religion has weakened man’s social conscience and moral sensitivity by separating the things of God from those of Caesar.”

Islam totally denounces this concept of religion and clearly states that its objectives are the purification of the soul and the reform and reconstruction of society. As we read in the Qur’an: “We verily sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance, that mankind may observe right measure; and He revealed iron, wherein is mighty power and (many) uses for mankind, and that God may know him who helpeth Him and His messengers, though unseen. Lo! God is Strong, Almighty.” (Qur’an, 57: 25)

God also says: “The decision rests with God only, Who hath commanded you that ye worship none save Him. This is the right religion, but most men know not.” (Qur’an, 12: 40)

Thus even a cursory study of the teachings of Islam shows that it is an all-embracing way of life and does not leave out any field of human existence to become a playground for the forces of evil.

Article by: islamreligion.com

10 Reasons Why Islam is the Religion of Truth

10 Reasons Why Islam is the Religion of Truth

1)  In 23 Years, Muslims Went from Being Powerless to Control the World.
When Islam started in Mecca, it was the prophet Mohammed by himself. A one man religion. He was exposed to punishments and oppression. The people who first entered Islam were weak and also were oppressed and tortured by the pagans of Mecca (their relatives). Forward 23 years later to see the transformation of these uneducated powerless individuals to the most powerful ones and to control the world.
The Arabs at the time of the prophet peace be upon him (6th century) were tribes and clans fighting each other. The Romans and the Persians were vast powerful empires. Forward 23 years later to see how some powerless individuals were able climb the mountain of world power to take over the Persian empire and the Roman empire and introduce new world order.
Not only did this transformation achieve miraculousness in its happenings but it’s also marvelous in its timing and its duration.
Had it not been to Islam, the world would be different (much worse). The heroes of Islam would not have been heroes but would have been forgotten.


2)  The Quran and its Eloquence as a Linguistic Miracle.
As the Arabs of that time were so linguistically gifted, a linguistic miracle was fit for the situation. Quran was sent to people who were so eloquent in the Arabic language. If the Quran was not a linguistic miracle, then any of the Arabs and Arab poets in Mekkah (where the prophet peace be upon him stayed for 13 years calling people to worship Allah alone) would come up and say some poetry to challenge the Quran (since the challenge to them was clear) but none was able to challenge the eloquence of the Quran.
The miraculousness of the Quran is an axiom to whomever studies Arabic academically.


3)  Inheritance and Economic System in Islam
Not only that, but the Islamic heritage system was revealed in only 2 verses. The Islamic heritage system is one that is comprehensive and astonishing in its detail. It has covered all cases and all situations in the most fair way. Such system was not known at all at the time of the prophet peace be upon him. No other religion has such system. How can an illiterate man come up with such system? A system that had no equal at that time.
The Islamic economic system is also a system of wonders. It has the compatibility to encompass all types of old and new business maneuvers. It also has the ability to provide welfare for all people. It’s not a theory but a system which is implemented throughout the world and has been applied through history with ultimate success.
How can an illiterate man from the 6th century come up with such system? How can a Sheppard in the desert in the Arabic peninsula design such a system? A system that had no equal at its time. A system which competes with the most recent business and economics sciences and is proven to have more success.
The answer is: he couldn’t. It was revealed to him.
http://quranicteachi....uk/economy.htm
http://en.wikipedia....Islamic_Banking


4)  Islam is the Only Religion that Makes Sense in Terms of Spirituality and Materialism
In our world, religion becomes more of a shopping center where almost every person could come up with a religion or a version of a religion. It makes it hard to distinguish the true religion from the fake ones. Some have went all spiritual on the scale of spirituality. Others have gone all the way to materialism. Only Islam can gather both ends in a harmonic mixture. In Islam, Muslims are to build this earth and make it prosper be it in agriculture, industry, sciences, etc. We are ordered to protect life and property of all people who do not transgress and oppress us. We are ordered that if the day of Judgement comes and one has a plant in his hand to plant it. We are allowed to marry, have children and enjoy life.
On the other hand, we are also responsible for our actions and we will be accounted for them. We should always work for the hereafter and wish to please God our creator.
Islam is also a whole way of life. It deals with economics. It sets rules for dealings between humans and animals to dealings between humans and humans to rights of neighbors and parents to the relationship between human beings and the creator.

5)  Scientific Proof in the Quran and the Sunnah
Just to make it clear, the Quran is not a science book but it does not contradict with science.

6)  Quran is the Only Book which Has Been Protected from Altercations
Whether you are a Muslim or not, one thing all scholars have agreed upon: The Quran has been preserved as it was revealed to the prophet in the 6th century. Copies of the Quran are still available in Tashqand and Cairo. One of the properties of the Muslim Nation is “ISNAD”. Isnad means having narration chains where each person in the narration chain is well known and has his life recorded and studies.
The holy Quran has been narrated through narration chains where a large group of narrators who are of very strong memory and minds have narrated the same text from one generation to the next (with the condition of actually meeting each other and listening to each other with no time gaps). This large group of narrators cannot all agree on a lie. The names and the life stories of EACH person is recorded and studied. Each narrator has his whole family recorded.
These narrations have agreed with the copies from the Quran.
Compare that with the current bible for example where there is no recorded narration chains (without putting the condition of having no time gaps or even having names for those narrators). Compare the Quran with current bible where you have thousands of manuscripts; no two are the same. Compare that with the writers of the bible where you only have one name: John who? Luke who? What is their last name?
The Quran has been revealed in Arabic and it’s read in Arabic. For the first time, the people speak the language of the prophet not the other way around. There are translations of the Quran in different languages but the Quran is in Arabic and should be read in Arabic noting that ‘translations of meaning’ is different than a version.
The Sunnah or the traditions of the prophet are protected through the same narration chains.
That being said; the Quran and the Sunnah have two distinct styles which have never contradicted.


7)  God in Islam is the Creator
Most people who do not believe in God have an altered image of God. I do not believe in God who has human qualities. I do not believe in God who is born and can die. I do not believe in God who has human weaknesses. I do not believe in God who hisses and can manifest himself in his creations such as a cow. Hence, many Christians and other religious followers have doubts in their Gods and then some of them throw these doubts behind their backs and say we have faith while others just throw these doubts and refuse the idea of God.

I do believe in God who is the creator of the heavens and the earth. I believe in God who has created everything that lives. So who is God in Islam?
God describes himself in the Quran as: Allâh! Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Al-Hayyul-Qayyum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists). Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursî [1] extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. [This Verse 2:255 is called Ayat-ul-Kursî ]

8)  Islam is the Largest Spreading Religion in this World
Islam is the largest spreading religion in the western world and not because Muslims have more children than others. More than 20000 Americans convert to Islam each year. 4000 have converted to Islam in Germany this year alone. Thousands are converting to Islam in Latin America. WHY? Where is my proof? hereis my proof and hereand hereand here.

9)  Have You Been to a Masjid?
If you have been to a Masjid, you would know what the word equality means. You would see Americans with Asians with Arabs with Hispanic all in one place; all are brothers who will protect each other and truly love each other. You would see all nations and colors in one place bowing down for the creator. Hundreds of years and millions of dollars would never gather these people together and make them brothers but Islam did. Don’t believe me; visit any Masjid near you and there is probably one near you.

10)  Consistency of Islam in Changing Times
Whether you are a Muslim or a person who attacks Islam such as Daniel Pipes, you would agree that Islam has been constant in these changing times. Nothing else has been constant. Muslims still think the old way; the way of the prophets and the way which God has revealed his book.

Article by: http://en.islamway.net