Muslims all over the world to the health and happiness
Allah says in the Holy Qur'an
185. The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan ie is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [ of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [ie to say Takbir (Allahu-Akbar; Allah is the Most Great) on seeing the crescent of the months of Ramadan and Shawwal] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. And he who passes Lailat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven (Bukhari, Muslim).
Muslims spend the ninth month of the Islamic calendar observing a community-wide fast. The annual fast of Ramadan is considered one of the five "pillars" of Islam. Muslims who are physically able are required to fast each day of the entire month, from sunrise to sunset. The evenings are spent enjoying family and community meals, engaging in prayer and spiritual reflection, and reading from the Qu'ran.
Aside from the five-times-daily prayer, fasting during the month of Ramadan is the most visible and recognizable of Muslim acts the world over. During the 30-odd days of Ramadan, Muslims are required to fast during daylight hours, drinks included, and abstain from bodily pleasures like sex or other forms of sensual abandon. The focus is on humility, spiritual oneness with God and social oneness with the umma, or Islamic community, across the globe.
Fasting in Islam has its origins in Judaism, Christianity and the pre-Islamic Arab world. Although Ramadan is when Muslims fast most, they may fast voluntarily the rest of the year, or fast three days a month, or six days during the month of Sawwal, which follows the month of Ramadan, or fast on Mondays and Thursdays. Each of these proscriptions is recognized in Islam.
prophet Muhammad peace be upon him once said, "If one does not abandon falsehood in words and deeds, Allah has no need for his abandoning of food and drink." It is therefore imperative that the fasting person not only refrains from food and drink, but also from foul speech, lying, arguing, and the like.
Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, strengthen ties with family and friends, do away with bad habits - essentially to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings. The Arabic word for "fasting" (sawm) literally means "to refrain" - and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words.
During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.
During the fast, Muslims experience hunger and thirst and learn to sympathize with those in the world who have little to eat. They come to appreciate the blessings that Allah grants them. Through increased charity during the month, Muslims develop feelings of generosity and goodwill toward others. And since all Muslims in the world are undergoing the same experience at the same time, this practice strengthens community bonds throughout the Muslim world.
The Qur'an commands as follows: "Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an was sent down, as a guide to mankind, and clear signs for guidance and judgment between right and wrong. So every one of you who is present at his home during that month should spend it in fasting. But if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period should be made up by days later "(Qur'an 2:185). Therefore, every Muslim is required to fast, with the following exceptions:
Travelers
Those who are suffering from a temporary illness
The elderly or chronically ill
Women in menses or postchildbirth bleeding
Pregnant or nursing women
Children who have not yet reached adolescence
If possible, missed days are to be made up at a later time. If the reason for exception is long-term, then the missed days may be compensated for by giving in charity enough to feed one poor person for each day of fasting.
Children are not required to fast until they reach puberty. However, many children like to join in the activities of the family and try to fast for a day or part of a day. Sometimes they will fast on the weekends, for example, or will fast from noon until sunset. This is encouraged as practice for the day when fasting will be incumbent upon them.
On a day of fasting, Muslims rise before dawn for an early meal called suhoor. This light meal is intended to nourish the body through the rigorous daylong fast. The fast begins with the predawn call to prayer. Muslims continue through their daily lives of work, school, or other commitments, conscious of the limitations of fasting, and striving to be on their best behavior. Muslims continue to observe the daily prayers as usual and often spend part of the day reading chapters of the Qur'an.
As sunset approaches, Muslims often gather together as family or community to break the fast and enjoy a meal together at the end of the day. Muslims break their fast just as the call to prayer for the sunset prayer is heard. Following the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims often break their fast by eating dates and drinking some milk. After the sunset prayers, they sit down together for an evening meal called fitoor (technically, "breakfast"wink.
In the evening, Muslims gather at the mosque for special prayers called taraweeh. These extra prayers are offered each night of Ramadan. Every evening, a section of the Qur'an will be read in a long prayer, so that by the end of the month the entire Qur'an will have been heard. Muslims also spend time visiting with friends and relatives before retiring for the night to rest before starting the fast again the next day.
The People of the Scripture used to continue fasting until midnight or close to it, and did not break the fast before the stars intermingled in the sky. Sometimes, they continued fasting night and day. However, our Sharee’ah brought about ease, by encouraging us to hasten to break the fast at sunset and delay Suhoor until shortly before dawn, and forbidding continuous fasting. According to an authentic Hadeeth: "The people will continue to prosper as long as they hasten to break the fast and delay Suhoor." And: "The meal of Suhoor is the separating limit between us and the People of the Scripture."
Ramadan Kareem. Alhamdulillah Allah has made it easy for me so far. I thought the long days would be difficult to complete but it's been quite the opposite. My body hasn't felt this good in a long, long time. InshaAllah the rest of the month stays like this.
Allah praised the month of Ramadan out of the other months by choosing it to send down the Glorious Qur'an, just as He did for all of the Divine Books He revealed to the Prophets. Imam Ahmad reported Wathilah bin Al-Asqa` that Allah's Messenger said: (The Suhuf (Pages) of Ibrahim were revealed during the first night of Ramadan. The Torah was revealed during the sixth night of Ramadan. The Injil was revealed during the thirteenth night of Ramadan. Allah revealed the Qur'an on the twenty-fourth night of Ramadan.)
Allah said: (...a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).)
Here Allah praised the Qur'an, which He revealed as guidance for the hearts of those who believe in it and adhere to its commands. Allah said: (and clear proofs) meaning, as clear and unambiguous signs and unequivocal proof for those who understand them. These proofs testify to the truth of the Qur'an, its guidance, the opposite of misguidance, and how it guides to the straight path, the opposite of the wrong path, and the distinction between the truth and falsehood, and the permissible and the prohibited.
Things do not invalidate the fast:
• wet dream during fasting does not break the fast, the lack of willful intent and agreement of the scholars.
• It got him to vomit without choosing him when he was fasting, but did not break his fast, his fast is valid for saying peace be upon him: (from help vomiting - the drop and oppression - do not eliminate it).
• What is included in the throat without the choice of dust or flies, and other things that can not be avoided, it does not invalidate the fast, the lack of intent. Did not mean that the unthinking, heedless, and is costly to the verse: God Punish us not if we forget or fall. And saying peace be upon him: (pardoned for my error and what they forget it).
• bleeding from unintentionally: bleeding and the wound, and so on, does not break the fast, does not invalidate the fast, the lack of choice.
• from eating or drinking by mistake meaning it to him, for saying peace be upon him: (pardoned for my error and what they forget it). And saying peace be upon him: (forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast for it is fed and drink).
• Shaka from eating at dawn his fast is valid, do not eliminate it, because the basic survival of the night.
• It became the side of a wet dream or intercourse, and fed him the time, it is fast and may delay the ghusl until after the fast, and dawn, and his fast is not it properly spent. What is in the correct: that the Prophet (peace be upon him was becoming side of intercourse, then washed and fast). In Saheeh Muslim,
Similarities / Similar Teachings in the Qur’an and the Bible which Muslims follow but Christians don't
I) ISLAM
1. Definition
A. Meaning of Islam
(i) Islam is derived from the word salaam meaning peace.
(ii) Submission to the Will of Allah (swt) i.e. God Almighty.
B. Meaning of ‘Muslim’ – One who submits his will to Allah.
C. Islam is not a new religion found by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
2. Messengers in Islam
A. (i) To every nation was sent a Guide or a Messenger
Al-Qur'an 35:24
Al-Qur'an 13:7
(ii) 25 Prophets mentioned by name in the Qur'an
(iii) Islam is the only non-Christian faith that believes in Jesus (pbuh)
(iv) Stories only of some prophets mentioned in Qur'an
Al-Qur'an 4:164
Al-Qur'an 40:78
(v) More than 1,24,000 Messengers according to Hadith
B. (i) Previous Messengers were only sent for their people and nation and their complete message was meant only for a particular time period.
(ii) Moses (pbuh) was only sent for the Jews.
(iii) Jesus (pbuh) sent only for the Jews i.e. lost sheep of Israel.
Al-Qur'an 3:49
Mathew 10:5-6
Mathew 15:24
(iv) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the Last and Final Messenger for the
Whole of Mankind.
Al-Qur'an 33:40
Al-Qur'an 21:107
Al-Qur'an 34:28
Sahih Bukhari Vol.1 Book of Salaah Chapter 56 Hadith No. 429
(v) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) prophesised in the Bible.
Al-Qur'an 7:157
Al-Qur'an 61:6
Deuteronomy 18:18
Isaiah 29:12
Song of Solomon 5:16
John 16:7
John 16:12-14
3. Revelations of God
A. Several Revelations sent by Allah – Al-Qur'an 13:38.
By name only four are mentioned in the Qur’an.
B. (i) The Qur’an is the Last and Final Revelation.
(ii) All previous Revelations before Qur'an were only sent for a particular group of people and for a particular time period
(iii) The Qur’an was Revealed for the Whole of Mankind
Al-Qur'an 14:1
Al-Qur'an 14:52
Al-Qur'an 2:185
Al-Qur'an 39:41
II) PILLARS OF ISLAM:
1. Tauheed: Monotheism
A. La ilaha ilallahu, Muhammad-ur-Rasoolullah
Sahih Bukhari Vol. 1 Hadith No. 7
B. Believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels and the Book and the Messengers.
Al-Qur'an 2:177
C. Come to common terms — Worship of one God
Al-Qur'an 3:64
D. Concept of God
Al-Qur'an 112:1-4
Deuteronomy 6:4
Mark 12:29
E. Shirk – Biggest Sin
Al-Qur'an 4:48
Al-Qur'an 4:116
Exodus 20:2-5
Deuteronomy 5:7-9
F. Jesus (pbuh) not God. He never claimed Divinity
Al-Qur'an 5:72
John 14:28
John 10:29
Mathew 12:28
Luke 11:20
John 5:30
Acts 2:21
G. 99 Attributes of Almighty God
Al-Qur'an 17:110
H. Prefer using name ‘Allah’ rather than the word ‘God’ as the word ‘God’ can be played around with. Allah in the Bible – Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani
Mark 15:34
Mathew 27:46
2. Salaah
A. Not merely Prayers but Programming
Al-Qur'an 5:90
Al-Qur'an 2:188
B. Prayers restrain you from shameful and unjust deeds
Al-Qur'an 29:45
C. Salaah timings – for healthy soul five times a day
Al-Qur'an 17:78
Al-Qur'an 20:130
D. Take off shoes before entering mosque.
(i) Commandment of Allah to Moses
Al-Qur'an 20:11-12
Exodus 3:5
Acts 7:33
(ii) Can Pray with Shoes.
Sunan Abu Dawood – Vol. 1, Book of Salaah, Chapter 240,
Hadith No. 652-653.
F. Stand shoulder to shoulder, while praying –
Sahih Bukhari – Vol. 1, Book of Adhan Chapter 75 Hadith no. 692
Abu Dawood – Vol. 1, Book of Salaah Chapter 245 Hadith No. 666.
G. Sujud – Prostration
(i) To humble your mind, humble your body
(ii) Sujud mentioned 92 times in the Qur’an
Al-Qur'an 3:43
Al-Qur'an 22:77
(iii) Prostration in the Bible
Genesis 17:3; Numbers 20:6
Joshua 5:14; Mathew 26:39
3. Zakaah
A. Meaning: Purification and Growth
B. Description: 2.5% of saving every lunar year in charity
Al-Qur'an 9:60
C. If every human being gives Zakaah, not a single person will die of hunger.
D. "Wealth does not circulate only amongst the wealthy and the rich"
Al-Qur'an 59:7
E. I Peter 4:8
4. Saum - Fasting
A. Description – one lunar month i.e. during the month of Ramadaan every lunar year, Muslims fast, i.e. abstain from food and drinks from sunrise till sunset.
B. Benefits: learn self restraint. If you can control your hunger you can control almost all your desires. It enhances spiritual awareness.
Al-Qur'an 2:183
C. Medical Benefits:
(a) Increases absorption capacity of intestines
(b) Lowers cholestrol.
D. Discourages smoking, alcoholism and other addictions.
E. Bible prescribes Fasting
Mathew 17:21
Mark 9:29
5. Hajj
A. Description – Pilgrimage atleast once in life time if you can afford it
B. Universal Brotherhood – 2.5 million people from all over the world gather, wear two pieces of unsewn cloth, preferably white. Cannot differentiate between rich and poor.
Al-Qur'an 49:13
C. Significance of Kaaba – Muslims don’t worship it
Psalms 84:4-7
III ) ISLAM IS A COMPLETE WAY OF LIFE
These five pillars do not constitute complete Islam. Only if the pillars are strong, will the structure be strong.
1. Humans Created to Worship Allah
A. Jinn and Man created for worship of Allah
Al-Qur'an 51:56
B. Meaning of Ibadaah – root word Abd meaning ‘slave’.
2. Obeying Commandments of Allah is Submitting your will to Allah
A. Abstaining from alcohol
Al-Qur'an 5:90
Proverbs 20:1
Ephesians 5:18
B. Abstaining from prohibited food
Al-Qur'an 5:5
Al-Qur'an 2:173, 5:3, 6:145, 16:115
(i) Dead meat
Leviticus 17:15
Deuteronomy 14:21
(ii) Blood
Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:14, Deuteronomy 12:16,
I Samuel 14:33, Acts 15:29
(iii) Pork is prohibited
Leviticus 11:7-8
Deuteronomy 14:8
Isaiah 65:2-5
(vi) Food on which names beside Allah have been invoked
Acts 15:29; Revelation 2:14
C. (i) Being Honest in your Business
(ii) Helping Neighbours
Al-Qur'an 107:1-7
(iii) Abstaining from Backbiting
Al-Qur'an 104:1-3
Al-Qur'an 49:11-12
(iv) Obeying and Respecting Parents
Al-Qur'an 17:23, 24
(v) Celibacy or Monasticism is prohibited in Islam
Sahih Bukhari: Vol. 7 Book of Nikah, Chapter No. 3, Hadith No. 4
(vi) Loving, being Kind and Just to your Wife
Al-Qur'an 4:19
(vii) Abstaining from Adultery
Al-Qur'an 17:32
D. Dressing Modestly
(i) Al-Qur'an 24:30
Mathew 5:27-28
(ii) Al-Qur'an 24:31
(iii) Six Criteria for Hijab in Islam
Deuteronomy 22:5
I Timothy 2:9 e.g. of Mary
I Corinthians 11:5-6
E. Circumcision
Acts 7:8
John 7:22
Luke 2:21
F. In short, every Muslim should follow all the Commandments of Allah (swt) and His Messenger Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and abstain from the things they have prohibited.
CONCLUSION
(a) If Christian is a person who follows the teachings of Christ (pbuh) and not one who worships Christ (pbuh). (We are more Christian than the Christians themselves).
(b) Muslim is a person who submits his will to Allah.
Jesus (pbuh) said, "not my will but thy will be done." i.e. Muslim.
John 5:30
(c) Al-Qur'an 5:82
Registered: Jun 2005
Location: Southern Oregon,
Looking at you.
Wow! thanks eninn for answering me, but that wasn't the question. I wasn't asking about your religion, I was asking about you personally.
Just in case you don't know, "Jesse is Alive" is a person who also posts on this forum. So, how are you different from Jesse is Alive?
162. Say (O Muhammad): "Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).___
It was the practice of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to strive during the last 10 days of Ramadaan like no other time, to spend the night in prayer, supplication and recitation of the Qur'an. He also used to wake his family up to do the same.
Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever stays up and prays on Laylat al-Qadr out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven."
(Hadith - Bukhari & Muslim)
Thus, the Muslim should make good use of the last 10 nights of Ramadaan and spend them in prayer and remembering Allah. We do not know for certain which night Laylat al-Qadr is, but the odd-numbered nights in the last 10 days are the most likely according to the hadith:
"Seek it in the odd nights of the last third of Ramadan."
(Hadith - Bukhari)
The night of the 27th of Ramadaan (ie the night before the fast of the day of the 27th of Ramadaan) has been narrated as being Laylat al-Qadr.
In the last 10 days of Ramadaan is the blessed night of Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Decree and Honour - sometimes incorrectly translated as 'Night of Power'), which every Muslim is encouraged to seek out because during this night the angels descend to earth with goodness, mercy and blessings. It is also well established that Laylat al-Qadr is an honoured night because it was the night on which the Qur'an was revealed.
"Verily, We have sent it (this Qur'an) down in the Night of Al Qadr. And what will make you know what the Night of Al Qadr is? The Night of Al Qadr is better than a thousand months (ie worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, ie 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allah's Permission with all Decrees, (All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn "
(Qur'an - 97:1-5)
Waathilah ibn al-Asqa 'said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "The Scriptures of Ibraaheem (Abraham) were sent down on the first of the month of Ramadaan. The Tawraat (Torah) was sent down on the sixth of Ramadaan . The Injeel (Gospel) was sent down on the thirteenth of Ramadaan. The Zaboor (Pslams) was sent down on the eighteenth of Ramadaan, and the Qur'an was sent down on the twenty-fourth of Ramadaan. "
(Hadith - Ahmad and al-Tabaraani)
Abu Hurayrah said: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: 'There has come to you Ramadaan, a blessed month. Allah has made it obligatory on you to fast (this month). During it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are locked, and the devils are chained up. In it there is a night that is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is deprived indeed. '"
A person who has sex with his wife during the day of Ramadhaan, his fast becomes null and void. On the other hand, he is required to expiate his sin either by freeing a slave, failing that he should observe fast for two consecutive months, failing that he must feed sixty poor people. Moreover, he has to follow the mentioned order of expiation in case of failing short of doing any of the three ways. This is the opinion of the majority of Muslim scholars.
This opinion is based on a narration reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim may Allaah have mercy upon them from Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him: "A person came to the Apostle of Allaah ( sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )) and said: 'O Messenger of Allaah! I am doomed'. The Prophet, sallallaahu Alayhi wa sallam, said: 'What has brought about your ruin?' The person said: 'I had a sexual enter course with my wife during the month of Ramadhaan (i.e. during the day)'. Upon this the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Can you find a slave to set him free? He said: 'No'. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Can you observe fast for 2 consecutive months? He said: 'No'. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Can you provide food for sixty poor people?" He said: 'No'. Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him said: 'While we were sitting with the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) a large basket full of dates was produced to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). So, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Where is the inquirer?" He said: 'Me'. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Take this and give it as charity".
This also means that if such a person is not able to pay the expiation, it is permissible for someone to pay on his behalf as long as the first accepts, and this will be sufficient. But, if such a person does not expiate by all means, it is still his duty until he can do so. Then, when he can pay the expiation, he should feed the sixty poor people. Also, one can do such an expiation in his own homeland and this is better, since transferring the expiation to another country is permissible. This ruling of transferring the expiation is in contrast with paying Zakaah, which should be paid in the country where a giver lives unless there is some benefit, such as poor relatives in dire need, or no need exists for it where the giver lives.
It's one of my favorites. It has a great musical score when the Organians do their big reveal and put Kirk in his place when he's proclaiming his 'right' to wreck interstellar havoc (few are those who have made Kirk shut up in the middle of a speech).
"We have the right...!"
__________________
Shinier than a speeding bullet.
Jul 9th, 2013 02:13 PM
