THE BLESSED MONTH OF RAMADAN

Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed

President

Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc.

7102 W Shefford Lane

Louisville, KY 4024206462

E-MAIL: PRESIDENT@IRFI.ORG

WEBSITE: WWW.IRFI.ORG

 

Human beings look for what they think of as happiness in thrills and chills, in things and events, ininstant gratification. Surely, this type of thing is fun, but it's transitory(short-lived).  To be truly happy - contented, at peace with oneself – one must be true to oneself, honest with those around. One must  treat other  people fairly.

The real source of happiness is inner peace. If our mind is peaceful, we shall be happy all the time, regardless of external conditions, but if it is disturbed or troubled in any way, we shall never be happy, no matter how good our external conditions may be. External conditions can only make us happy if our mind is peaceful. We can understand this through our own experience. For instance, even if we are in the most beautiful surroundings and have everything we need, the moment we get angry any happiness we may have disappears. This is because anger has destroyed our inner peace.

If one wants true and lasting happiness one needs to develop and maintain “inner peace”. The only way we can do this is by training our mind and body through spiritual practice. For Muslims Ramadan gives the opportunity of Siyam (fasting), Salaat (ritual prayers), Tilawat-e-Qur’an (recitation of the Qur’an) and Dhikr Allah (Remembrance of Allah).  The blessed month of Ramadan brings happiness, goodness, spiritual enlightenment, rewards, and physical and spiritual benefits to all the Muslims. Ramadan brings out a special feeling of emotional excitement and religious zeal among Muslims of all ages. Children look forward to the excitementof sighting the moon and eating special meals with their families. Adults appreciate the opportunity to double their rewards from God and seek forgiveness for past sins. As Ramadan emphasizes Muslim brotherhood and community, all feel a particular closeness towards Allah and amongst their family and friends.  Muslims have to change their whole physical and emotional selves during these 30 long days of fasting. “Atyab at-tihani Bi-munasabat hulul shahru Ramadan al-Mubarak” is Arabic for: “The most precious congratulations on the occasion of the coming of Ramadan”

WHAT IS RAMADAN?

The word, Ramadan is derived from the Arabic root word ramida or ar-ramad signifying strong burning heat and dryness, especially the ground. Thus, the word Ramadan indicates the warm sensation in the stomach as a result of thirst. Spiritually, Ramadan burns out the sins with good deeds, as the sun burns   the ground.  The hearts and souls of believers are more receptive (readily open) to the warnings and remembrance of Allah during Ramadan, just as the sand and stones are receptive to the sun's heat. While the heat helps shape, form, and mold virtually every matter - including metal, plastics, plants and living cells - Ramadan undoubtedly helps a serious believer to remold, reshape, reform, and renew his/her physical and spiritual nature and behavior.

RAMADAN is called the blessed month because:

In this month, the whole Qur'an was sent down to the first sky from Lawhe Mahfuz.  In the month of Ramadan, there is the night (Laylathul Qadr), which is better than 1000 months. In this month, the thawaab of good deed is equal to the fardh of another month. This is the month of patience and the reward of this patience is Jannah. This month teaches the lesson of kindness towards others. In this month, the Rizq (daily bread) of Muslims is increased. In this month, the first ten days are of mercy, second ten days are of forgiveness and the last ten days are of being freed from Hell. The month of Ramadan is a month in which the Mercy and Blessings of Allah Ta'ala descend upon us continuously. Ramadan is the most important month of the year. It is the month that the believers await with eagerness. During Ramadan the believers get busy seeking Allah's mercy, forgiveness, and protection from Hellfire. This is the month for renewing our commitment and re-establishing our relationship with our Creator. It is the spring season for goodness and virtues when righteousness blossoms throughout the Muslim communities.  It offers every Muslim an opportunity to strengthen his Iman, purify his heart and soul, and to remove the evil effects of the sins committed by him. Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. Said, "Anyone who fasts during this month with purity of belief and with expectation of a good reward (from his Creator), will have his previous sins forgiven," "Anyone who stands in prayers during its nights with purity of belief and expectation of a reward, will have his previous sins forgiven."  The rewards for good deeds are multiplied manifold during Ramadan.

Qur'an was revealed in this month

 

Whenever the month of Ramadan approaches, happiness and joy return to the Ummah, because Ramadan brings two of the greatest gifts of Allah, namely the fasting month of Ramadan and the celebration of the revelation of Al Qur'an.

"The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Qur'an was revealed as a guidance for humanity, as a clear proof of that guidance, and as a criterion for distinguishing between right and wrong" (2: 185).

Ramadan was the host month that received final revelation, Al-Qur'an Al-`Azeem. Allah (SWT) conferred this book upon humanity through His Messenger Muhammad bin `Abdullah. According to a Hadith the reading of Al-Qur'an has been mandated by its Author (Allah (SWT)), for the believers all the time, particularly   in the month of Ramadan.  From the beginning of Islam, Muslims read Al-Qur'an while  fasting in the month of Ramadan.  By reading the Qur'an the believer cherishes the privilege of directly conversing with the Creator of the Universe.  But the Qur'an is also a Huda (a guidance). And as Huda –  as true guidance – it teaches us how to live our lives as complete human beings. It teaches us how to live our lives with respect, dignity, honor, and love. It further teaches us that Allah Ta’ala is a divinity that embraces the concerns of all humanity. Ramadan is the month of spiritual excitement in the Muslim world. It is the month of fasting and recitation of the Glorious Qur'an, which was revealed during this month-the month of Tahajjud and Qiyam Al-Lail, Taraweeh prayers, Sadaqah, Zakat-ul-Fitr, Zakat Al-Mal. The spiritual training during the month of Ramadan cannot be complete without a great deal of reading of the Book of Allah. This divine Book deals with the questions of total life: creed, moral instructions, administration of warnings, giving good news, lessons from historical events, interpretation of the material and natural phenomenon, inviting humanity to their Creator, and admonishing the unbelievers. Ramadan affords a believer an opportunity to cross-reference his entire                 life with the reading of Al-Qur'an; and anyone who observes this practice during Ramadan has a better chance of graduating to a higher spiritual level.

 

Fasting is a powerful expression of Allah that takes the Muslims to the blessings of His mercy, and a key to uncouple the mysteries of His nearness. Fasting is a discipline that provides direct communication between the believers and the Creator.  This is an act of 'Ibadah that develops self-worth, self-strength, self-rebuilding, self-discipline and self-control. The institution of fasting moves the believer from unauthentic to authentic.  It enriches the vital needs of human being, both physical and spiritual. Fasting is a characteristic form of worship ('Ibadah) prescribed as part of an overall system of Islam.  Fasting   directs the fasting person to the art of balancing the spiritual essentials with physical needs. Fasting strengthens the will power that controls our actions. Fasting awakens the mind and stimulates clear         thinking and consciousness of Allah. Fasting is the sobering of a mind and reconstruction of our spiritual faculties. Fasting makes the individual ready and prepared to meet the Creator. 

 

To a Muslim, fasting not only means abstaining from food, but also refraining from all vices and evils committed by us consciously or unconsciously. For it is believed that if one volunteers to refrain from lawful foods and sex, they will be in a better position to avoid unlawful things and acts during the rest of the year.

 

The third pillar of Islam, Zakat, is an opportunity that should not be lost on eligible Zakat payers: to mix Ramadan with mandatory gift giving so as to carry on the commands of Allah (SWT) and to combat greed of an affluent person and to help needy meet his essential needs, and thus build a bond of strong relationship in the Ummah.

HADITH ON RAMADAN

Abu Hurayrah (ra) relates the Messenger of Allah (saws) said when one Ramadan came: "A blessed month has arrived. Observing it in fasting is mandated on you (the believers). During this month, the gates of Paradise will be opened and the gates of Hellfire will be closed. The evil ones (Shayaatin) will be handcuffed. In it there is one night, during which worship is better than worship in a thousand months. Whoever is denied its blessings has been denied the biggest blessing." (Ahmed, Nasaee, and Baihaqi). This hadith emphasizes the importance of being mindful and aware of the rules that govern the 'Ibadah of fasting. For one of the key words in every 'Ibadah is"muwafaqah Ash-Shari'ie," observing in accordance to the commands of the Lawgiver.

 

THE MERITS OF FASTING

Islam is built on five pillars. Each represents a unique institution through which the believer builds his/her relationship with the Creator and the creation. Of all the pillars of Islam, none is more special than Siyaam or fasting. While there may be an appearance of Riya, or show, in all other pillars such as- Salaat, Zakaat, Hajj, and even theKalimah - there is no such possibility in fasting. The only One Who  knows that you are really abstaining from food and drink is Allah, the Almighty. It is easy to pretend to be fasting; while  secretly, you may eat or drink.

 

It has been reported by the way of Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Prophet (sas) reported that Allah (SWT) said in a Hadith Al-Qudsi: "All services of the son of Adam are for him except fasting. It is for Me, and I will reward him for it. Fasting is a shield. On the day you fast, do not use obscenity, nor yell at others, nor act ignorantly towards them. However, if anyone abuses you verbally or attempts to draw you to fight with him, say 'I am fasting' two times. The Prophet (sas) then states: I swore by the One (Allah) in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath of the faster is sweeter to Allah on the Day of Judgment than  the scent of musk. The fasting person experiences enjoyment twice: he is pleased when he breaks his fast, and he is pleased when he meets his Maker" (Muslim).

 

Certainly, there is only one reason why a believer will put himself or herself through this ordeal or trying physical exercise and that is to seek the pleasure of Allah (SWT). The fast is the single most important device to test theIman, or faith, of the believer and the depth of his sincerity and commitment to the concept of Tawheed, the Oneness of Allah.

 

The hadith also states that fasting is a shield, an armor protecting the believer from sinful acts (ma'asi). When you eat, the blood flow increases considerably, and the energy level increases, making it easier        for Satan to use your own energy level to tempt you to commit sins. In another hadith, the Prophet states: "Satan runs in the circulatory system of the son of Adam in the same way blood circulates in our system; so tighten his passages with hunger." (Bukhari/Muslim)

 

Fasting enables the believer to guard against his archenemy. It also helps him against human evil by putting the patience and perseverance gained from fasting into use with forbearance and forgiveness. Otherwise, in this case, Al-Qur'an allows the believer to repel evil without transgression.

 

Also it is the month of social activities among Muslims. During the month the entire lifestyle of Muslims undergoes a dramatic change, with the nights wearing a festive look.  The whole pattern of  private and public life is transformed along with the timings for schools and universities.

The spiritual fervor of Ramadan supersedes all other activities throughout the year. No one can explain        the happiness unless he seeks the blessings of this month day and night. For these and many other reasons, the following is recommended for those who wish to benefit from this month. Preparations in this regard should start at least from the month of Rajab, two months in advance. Al­lah has revealed in Surah Al-Tawbah (Re­pentance) concerning the four sacred months:

The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year); so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are sacred.” (9: 36)

(Zul Qi’dah, Zil Hijjah and Muharram; and then the month of Rajab, which is be­tween Jamada II   and Sha‘ban.)

 

Therefore, it is recommended that Muslims in­crease their fasting in those months so as to be close to Allah. Moreover, they would be pre­paring themselves for Ramadan before it comes. Our beloved Prophet (pbuh) used to fast most of the month of Sha’ban. The Prophet said: ‘Many people are unaware of this month's sig­nificance; it is between Rajab and Ramadan. In this month the deeds of the people are lifted to the Lord of the Worlds. I like my deeds to be lifted while I am in a state of fasting.”

 

Ramadan is the month of fasting. As the Qur’an says: ‘0 you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was a prescribed to those before you that you may (learn) self-restraint (Taqwa).” (2:183)

Taqwa can be realized through three opportunities provided for us by the fast:

The disciplining of the will (tarbiyat ul-Iradah)

The purification of the self (tazkiyat un-Nafs)

The purification of the soul (tasfiyat ur-Ruh)

 

Allah (SWT) says: " That He wants you to complete the prescribed period (of fasting) so that you are able to magnify the greatness of Allah for His having guided you, and so that – perchance – you may be thankful"(2: 185).

 

The greatness of Ramadan therefore lies in the opportunity it offers for the development of Taqwa –  a virtue that allows us to truly participate in that great cosmic celebration in honor of the revelation of  the Qur'an as a Huda to all people, which is, as mentioned earlier, Ramadan itself. Ramadan allows us          to magnify Allah Ta’ala as He ought to be magnified, namely, with complete awareness of our earthly duties and spiritual work; and, therefore, to be of those who are truly thankful to Allah. It is a virtue too, which is ultimately celebrated in the Quran itself, for Allah says: " The best of you are those who have learnt Taqwa" (49: 13).

 

Rec­ommendations to increase the spiritual strength ¹

 

* Try to reduce the number of hours that you watch TV, and instead spend sometime read­ing Qur’an, Hadith, Sirath, Fiqh, Shariah and any literature about Islam.

* Avoid looking at any unlawful or salacious pictures whether they are from commercial magazines of departmental stores or oth­erwise.

* Avoid going to theaters. Instead try to go to Masjid, and make it a habit at least once a day.

* Avoid eating in excess, and try to curb your eating habit. Don’t eat unless you are hungry and try not to overload your stomach.

* For those who have the habit of drinking coffee, tea or soda, try your best to reduce their consumption.

* For those given to smoking cigarettes, try to curb this habit before Ramadan.

* Those fond of music, rap-music and songs should reduce the time spent on them. In­stead they should recite or listen to the Noble Qur'an.

* For those who enjoy playing cards, cut it out and fill your time with something useful.

* For those who enjoy picnics to enjoy social outings, apply a break on this habit before Ramadan.

* If you have friends who do not practise the teachings of Islam, try your best to avoid so­cializing with them.

* If you travel quite often for the sake of business, try to do local business so that you will be close to your family and your local community.

*If you are a late night sleeper, go to bed early, so that you will be able to wake up early for Salat Al-Fajr.

*Try to fast Mondays and Thursdays as of today.

* Keep yourself in a state of Wudoo’, most of the time.

* Evaluate yourself daily before going to sleep. Thank Allah for the good deeds you have done, and apologize to Him for the mis­take you have made.

* Give yourself the time to isolate yourself for contemplation, remember Allah through Zikr: Tasbeeh (Subhaan Allah), Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), Tahmeed (Al-hamdu Lillah) and Tah­leel (La ilaha ill-Allah).   You will be elated spiritually and you will enjoy life tremendously.

* Those of you, who can perform Umrah be­fore Ramadan, please do so.

* Start giving charity on a daily basis no mat­ter how little it is.

* Find time to pray the extras, such as Duha Salat, Qiyam Al-Layl and Tahajjud.

* Find time to help others with your wisdom. Knowledge, and other talents.

* Try to educate Muslims and non-Muslims through articles.

* Associate yourself with Muslim scholars, Hafiz, Qari’ and other Ulama so that you will be able to learn from them.

* Train yourself to do good and render ser­vices free of charge to others.

*Try to learn how to make Da'wah to non-Muslims.  It is an art with knowledge and di­plomacy.

 

To prepare ourselves before Ramadan ap­proaches us is far better than waiting till it comes. To prepare ourselves for anything else in life is a sign of wisdom and maturity. To train ourselves step-by-step is an excellent idea instead of last minute training.  Muslims should train and pre­pare themselves well in advance before Ram­adan and Hajj.

 

THE WISDOM BEHIND FASTING ²

There are reasons and wisdom behind every single act in Islam, no matter how small. It is possible to know the wisdom  behind some acts, and for others we may never know. Salaat, for instance, is a daily training for purifying the believer and reminding him or her  that he/she is a member in a community of believers. Fasting, on the other hand, is an annual institution containing all conceivable attributes for human excellence. It is a training for the body and soul, a renewal of life, encouraging the spirit of sharing and giving. The following are some of the general benefits:

Self-Restraint (Taqwa)

Allah (SWT) states: "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may (learn) self restraint." (Al-Qur'an, 2:183)

This verse indicates the first lesson or wisdom to be gained in fasting is  Taqwa (self-restraint  or the conscious  of Allah (SWT)). That is to say, fasting instills in the heart the essence of consciousness of the Creator, moral courage both in secret and manifest, guiding the heart, the seat of emotion from spoilage and moral indecency.

Fasting instills taqwa or conscious of Allah, and does so by controlling two aspects of the human body, which are the root causes of human downfall, namely the stomach and the private parts. The human            body is constructed with the need to please the two of them and, in the process, man transgresses the         rights of others, fellow human beings, and the commandments of Allah are violated. By Fasting one        raises the level of taqwa, thereby the person avoids the sins, which are detrimental to life itself.

Behavior Modification

It is possible for a fasting person to control or changes his or her habits; the reason being human life is an embodiment of acquired habits. To change or control a habit is to wage a war on oneself. If jihad is mandatory on every believer because it is the peak of the essence in Islam, and it entails changing habits, then fasting is the training ground for the inevitable that will occur. The believer cannot wage a war and hope to defeat an enemy if he or she cannot wage a war against his soul. For a fasting person who controls the consumption of food and drink, it will undoubtedly be easy for him to control other habits, including the habits of smoking, drug abuse and illicit sex. If you can control your tongue, hands and all other parts of your body, it will be easy for you to apply the same training for the rest of          the year.

Heath Benefits

The benefits of fasting transcend guiding the faster from idle talk and indecent acts. Fasting is a guard against disease, provided the faster follows the strict dietary rule: eating during Iftar (fast breaking) and avoiding over-eating. Allah (SWT) states: "...Eat and drink, but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not wasters." (Al-Qur'an,7:31).

 

Some disorders originate from stomach indigestion. This is why the Messenger of Allah (sas) says: "The son of Adam will never fill a container with something worse and evil than his stomach. It will suffice him some morsels (food) that will keep him on his feet, otherwise, he should divide his stomach     into three parts: one third for his food, one third for his drink and the other third for his breath." (Ibn Hibban)

 

The fast helps to correct the problem of obesity and diabetes. Doctors over the years have used fasting as a prescription for certain ailments.Once there was a discussion between Ali Bin Husain bin Waquid (ra) and a Christian physician to the Khalifah, Haroon Ar-Rasheed, about Islam's outlook on the science of medicine and health care. The physician said to Ibn Waquid: "There is not in your Book, Al-Qur'an, anything about medicine. For if Al-Qur'an is a book of science, what about this science? Aren't there two kinds of sciences: the science of the body and the science of the soul?" Ibn Waquid responded: "Allah, the Most High has combined  both sciences in half of a verse, when He states: "...Eat and drink but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters." (Al-Qur'an, 7:31)

The physician said: "Why, then, has nothing been mentioned about medicine from the mouth of your Messenger?" Ibn Waquid replied: "Our Messenger (sas), has combined the sciences about medicine in a few words when he says: "The stomach is the house for disease and prevention is the essence of medicine." The Christian physician then said: "Then your book, Al-Qur'an, and your Prophet  Muhammad left nothing about medicine for Jalienas (Galen - a famous physician of the ancients)." (Arkanul Arba`ah by Abul Hasan Nadwi)

 

An American physician published a report on fasting and its benefits saying: "It is mandatory on every person who is sick to restrain from food certain days in a year whether he be wealthy or poor because if bacteria can find food in abundance in the body, it will grow and multiply. But with fasting it becomes weak.'' He then praised Islam. It should be considered as the wisest religion, because by mandating  fasting it has mandated health care. He continued: "Indeed, Muhammad, who brought this religion, was the best physician who succeeded in his teachings, for he called for prevention before ailment, that is apparent in fasting and the nightly prayer (Taraweeh) that Muslims observe after fast breaking  every day of Ramadan, for these physical acts contain big benefits in digesting food." (Arkanul               Arba`ah by Abul Hasan Nadwi)

Patience

Fasting helps in conditioning the heart, the soul, and the body on the virtues of patience, tenacity, and firmness in the face of adversity. Patience is the pinnacle of self-mastery, discipline and spiritual agility. Patience is to turn the phrase "I can't" into "I can." It is to say, the difficult is easy. It is an inner and psychological demolition of things perceived by others as impossible. Fasting helps in all these shades           for the virtuous, patient person because, the conditioning is that if a believer can exercise patience, and forsake gourmet food and drink, and the exhilaration we enjoy while eating or drinking our favorites, as well as marital association, the gratifying of other normal appetites for a whole day, for a month the realization that the barrier between you and food is your consciousness of your Creator, can better  make you able to exercise patience in virtually everything in life.

Social  Benefits

Socially, fasting is an expression of solidarity with the poor, the family and the whole society. This is a period in which the rich have first-hand experience of what it is to be poor, the pains the indigent suffers    in normal living conditions. The process of disciplining resulting from Islamic fasting instills in the rich         the virtue of mercy, Rahmah, which is very important in terms of social well - being and proliferation of harmony. Allah bestows His mercy upon those who themselves are merciful to others. "Those who are merciful to others, the Merciful will have mercy upon them," the Messenger said. He continued, "Have mercy upon those on earth, and those in heaven will have mercy upon you." (Abu Dawud/Tirmidhi)

Family Ties

Fasting strengthens family ties, especially in that the family is an endangered institution in western society. It helps the family gather together to break fast, at Iftar, and eat Sahur together at least twice a day for a month. The family even makes Salaat, together with the father as Imam. Fasting enhances        and energizes friendship, as Ramadan is known as the month of invitations and visitations. Friends, family members and neighbors extend invitations to each other to come to their homes to have Iftar together. Muslims communities have Iftar in the Masajids. The Messenger said, "When a believer invites you, you should respond."  In addition, Muslims get together in the Masajid for Taraweeh and ta' aleem.

 

REFERENCES

 

1.  Dr. Ahmad H. Sakr (Pres­ident, Foundation for Islamic Knowledge, P.O. Box 665, Lombard, IL 60148. Fax: 708-627-8894)  " Gear Yourself for Ramadan" Islamic Future-Vol. XII, No. 64, p. 3, Dec-Jan 1996/1997.

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SECRETS OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE

Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed

President

Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc.

7102 W. Shefford Lane

Louisville, KY 40242-6462

E-Mail: PRESIDENT@IRFI.ORG

WEBSITE: WWW.IRFI.ORG

 

 

It is better to be married than staying single. Hence Allah created Eve or Hawwa for Adam. The risks are high for singles-longevity and health problems and the insurance premiums are high for singles.

Love commits suicide on the night of Jalwa (nuptial night) or after the honeymoon, because Love is blind, but marriage is a real eye-opener.

 

For a lasting marriage there should be a common interest.

The couple should soon discover a common interest and a common goal. Raising children is an excellent choice to focus on the common interest and goal.  As parents the couple should nurture them with the best. One could be one step ahead.  Make the children to excel parents in everything- both TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE. Tangible means that you can touch and feel. Intangible examples are: Education, knowledge, spiritualism, Character, pain, pleasure, etc. In short parents  should have  a goal of  making the children  to have a better life than themselves.  One father's words of wisdom to his daughters  "Education is your real husband and your profession is your real husband".  These assets are intangible and are better than tangible things.  Parents blessed with foresight and wisdom strive to make each generation to excel both in education and profession. If a grandfather is a high school graduate, and father is a college graduate, the grandchildren should earn a graduate degree or a doctorate degree.   Parents should aim to see progression of status and achievements from one generation to the next.

 

In North America without the wisdom and guidance of our elders it is a big challenge to make our children to excel us.

 

Back home if children go astray the parents are blamed. On the other hand if children do well the credit goes to the parents.

 

Greatest satisfaction for parents is when children do better than the parents such as when they earn a terminal educational degree, better income, status, etc. Similarly for a teacher the greatest satisfaction is when the student excels the teacher in qualification, status, job, etc.

 

Subsequently one should develop a philosophy "IT IS BETTER TO GAIN THE LOVE OF YOUR CHILDREN AND LOSE THE RICHES OF THE WORLD, THAN TO GAIN THE RICHES OF THE WORLD AND LOSE THE LOVE OF YOUR CHILDREN"

 

Many of us living in Western countries are entangled in the rat race and have little time for our spouses and children. 

 

Some parents have doubts. When they invest so much into their children's future, they doubt if the children would care them in their old age or if they would respect them.

 

Some parents   comment at seeing good children  "Your parents are lucky to have you", and the good child would immediately reply, " I am lucky to have my Parents".

When children go to college interviews they face difficult questions.  One of the questions asked is  "Who is your Hero?"  As parents we expect their reply would be a war hero, political leader, religious leader, etc. But to our surprise, our child would reply, "My Hero is my Father".  This reply deeply touched the heart of the parents.

 

Some of our children, particularly daughters continue to live with their parents.  As you know in America children want to live separately after age 18, even though they may be living in huge mansions of their parents.

 

Children need the right amount of love, discipline, guidance, communication, involvement and parental TIME.

 

Each family has family values, moral and ethical standards. We expect our children to follow them strictly. One of our friends' sons at age 25 married a lowly educated American white Girl. There is nothing wrong in marrying an American girl, but she already was a mother who had two daughters out of wedlock. Another young Muslim physician married his late patients' American white widow who had two daughters. Love is blind.

 

It is a blessing from Allah (SWT) to have children who admire and practice Islamic values in the Western countries.

 

Secrets of a Happy Marriage:

 

The secrets of a happy marriage are High Fidelity or Faithfulness and TRUST.

The married couple should learn the art of compromise and it usually takes years.

The largest parts of compromise are openness to the other’s point of view and good communication when differences arise.

It is important to remember that affections and courtesies must flow back and forth between both partners. “You have to have a deep respect for each other,”

 

“A happy and successful marriage is based on equality. When one or the other dominates strongly, intimacy is replaced by fear of displeasing.”

 

With work and persistence, and commitment on the part of both partners, a marriage can be long lasting and successful, ultimately becoming like a favorite sweater (A husband and wife, to paraphrase the Qur’an, are garments for each other.), soft in just the right places, and worn with such love and ease that even the grayed spots are comforting and familiar.

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Reformation of the Syllabus

By Professor Nazeer Ahmed

( Dr. Nazeer Ahmed is the Director of the American Institute of Islamic History and Culture, located at 1160 Ridgemont Place, Concord, CA 94521. Dr. Nazeer Ahmed is a thinker, author, writer, legislator and an academician. Professionally he is an Engineer and holds several Patents in Engineering. He is the author of several books; prominent among them is "Islam in Global History."  He can be reached by E-mail:drnazeerahmed1999@yahoo.com   )

The madrasa has become the repository of vested interests just like any other institution in modern life. There is money on the line. Sometimes, it is big money. The molvis and mullahs stand to lose by modernizing the madrasa. First, it would blur the line between deeni talim and dunawi talim. Second, it would deny the mullahs their claim for exclusive control over deen. Third, it would dry up their source of funding. In other words, the madrasas would then become just like any other school. The mullahs would no longer head up the list of invitees whenever a poor villager slaughters a chicken for a feast. Most importantly, their exclusive claim to God and heaven would be compromised.

The prosperous madrasas would have the most to lose from a modernization of their curriculum. These schools cannot compete with the secular schools in subjects dealing with science and technology. Opening up their curriculum to modern education would be like inviting “duniya” into their closeted “deen”. The owners of these schools, or of the trusts that run these schools, would lose their market niche. Therefore, they jealously guard their current market position as the guardians of “deeni taalim”.

Islam is a civilization. It includes both deen and duniya. Islamic education must cater to the needs of a global civilization. It must include the natural sciences, mathematics, social sciences and religious studies. It cannot just be deeni taalim or dunawi taalim. This bifurcation is a product of history, not of religion. Anything less than instruction about Islam as a civilization is cheating generations to come.

An attempt at the transformation of the madrasa must therefore be gradual, preserving the stability that this institution provides while enhancing its social usefulness. The changes must also come from within the community rather than imposed from the top. A first step in this direction is the reintroduction into this syllabus a study of the mathematical, natural and historical sciences as well as Qur’anic spirituality (tazkiya). These subjects were a part of the Nizamiya Nisab as late as the eighteenth century. Once mathematics is mastered, science, philosophy and the natural sciences will follow. Gradually, the Nizamiya Nisab will be transformed into an Islamic Nisab embracing the Qur’anic sciences, mathematics, the natural sciences, philosophy and technology.

The probability of a successful reformation of the syllabus would increase substantially if the molvis are trained to see the benefits of a liberalized syllabus, which includes a study of the languages, mathematics, history and spirituality. A top-down approach offers several advantages: It trains the teachers and has the highest potential for student reach. It offers the highest benefit-to-cost ratio. It exposes the vast majority of mullahs to the beauty and majesty of the natural and historical sciences in an Islamic framework.

If history is any guide, a reform process, which is strongly opposed by the mullahs is likely to fail, or cause a major social upheaval. Kemalist Turkey achieved such reforms but the Kemalist revolution was the tail-end of a long series of reformations starting with the Tanzeemat in the first half of the nineteenth century. And the Kemalists had to use coercive methods to ensure that the reforms would succeed.

Another aspect of the reformation is the competition with secular schools. The madrasas could enjoy an advantage vis-à-vis secular schools if they offered quality instruction in secular as well as religious subjects. There is hunger among the people of South Asia for both secular and religious knowledge. Unfortunately, the madrasas are neither competent to teach the secular subjects nor can they compete in secular fields. The inability to compete has pushed the molvis into a corner. To preserve their turf and protect their employment, they take a hard position on the division of instruction into deeni and dunyawi domains. To coax the mullahs to emerge from their shell, both financial incentives and external pressures may be required.

Technology and the Madrasa

Science and technology have had a checkered history among Muslim people. The scientific method was cultivated by Muslim scholars in Spain and Central Asia in the Middle Ages. But it withered after the Mongol invasions of the thirteenth century. In succeeding centuries, Muslim scholars, while paying lip service to the need for mastering science and technology, looked with deep suspicion on anything that disturbed their partitioning of the sacred and the profane. The introduction of the printing press into Muslim societies is a case in point. While the printing press was introduced into Europe in the fifteenth century, it was not until 1728 that it found acceptance in the Ottoman Empire. It was introduced into Mogul India even later. The reason was the determined opposition of the ulema who felt that the Word of God would be defiled if it touched a wooden or iron press. While the printing press made possible the wide diffusion of books in Europe, the Muslim world remained far behind. It is not uncommon even to this day to find a mullah who stands up before a large gathering of Muslims and harangue them that science is secular and it fosters unbelief.

But the pervasive effects of technology cannot be avoided, not even by the most insular madrasa. Technology transforms societies and cultures and the madrasa cannot escape the winds of change. As early as the first part of the twentieth century, many a farsighted ulema realized that the students in the madrasas must study science and technology along with the traditional subjects if they are to face the modern world.

In slow measured, even the most orthodox ulema have started to bend in the direction of technological education. At Madrasa e Baqi us Salehat near Bangalore, the students learn to use computers along with memorization of the Qur’an and Hadith. Mobile phones are used by molvis to talk to one another. IT driven technologies have made the principals and the sheikhs realize the need to upgrade the teaching of science and mathematics. Many a school in Southern India require their students, before their graduate, acquire the state-sponsored high school diploma. These may not seem like much from a global perspective, but constitute a fundamental and welcome departure from the rigidity that characterized the syllabus in most madrasas and seminaries.

9/11 and American pressures

It has been alleged time and again that the perpetrators of the 9/11 attack on the world trade center were products of madrasas. Whether it is factual or not, the accusation is repeated often times, and most people in America have come to believe, that the attack was connected with students who attend madrasas. Indeed the madrasa has been accused to be the breeding ground for “jehadis” and “terrorists”. If perception is reality, it has hurt the image of the madrasa in the global consciousness. And it will affect fundamentally and profoundly, the further evolution of the madrasa as we go forward into the twenty first century.

There have been several consequences of this xenophobia. Money, which used to flow freely from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries has decreased to a trickle. Donations from America and other Western nations have just about stopped. Even small donations are questioned. The allegations against some Islamic charities have fostered a sense of fear among potential donors. The madrasas now must fend for themselves and depend on local support.

A second side-effect has been increased government surveillance of all madrasas. Representatives from the police departments routinely visit the madrasas in India and Pakistan and question the cognizant principals and molvis who teach there. In Afghanistan, total chaos reigns and the madrasa operates under the perennial fear of violence. The shadow of government surveillance has increased further the difficulty that the madrasas face in raising funds or recruiting students.

A much more disastrous result of 9/11 and the injection of the term “terrorism” into politics is the destruction of educational links that have existed between religious schools and seminaries in different parts of the world. For almost a millennium, the madrasas in Southern India radiated their influence far beyond the borders of South Asia. As early as the twelfth century, it was the migration of Awliya from the trading communities of Southern India and Gujarat that introduced Islam into the Indonesian and Malaysian Archipelago. Until recently, the madrasas in the South attracted students from Sri Lanka, Maldiv Islands, Malaysia and Indonesia. Alumni from the schools of Vanambadi and Salem are scattered all over South-East Asia.

Because of government restrictions following 9/11 and the suspicion that somehow the madrasa is a breeding ground for terrorists, that link has been cut. Now, these students come no more and an age-old connection between India and SE Asia has been broken. The movement of scholars and students and the cross-fertilization of ideas and cultures that it fostered for a thousand years has been scuttled. Student exchanges foster international understanding and are a major element in the liberalization of the madrasa. The scuttling of this process will increase the isolation and alienation of the madrasa from liberal global currents.

The things Muslim should do. We as Muslim should give our first priority in learning quran and do quran reading to seek the right path of Islam and through the quran teaching we can achieve the goal of our life and the deputy to guiding our kids to learn Koran that we should fulfill with perfecting kids quran recitation power and knowledge in Islam and also motivate our children’s to do quran memorization and then guide them to learn holy Quran tafseer  so they could understand the quran in Arabic and the quranic translation and also let or kids to listen quran from top quran reciters to get them inspired. at last I would pray for all my Muslim brothers and sisters that may Allah accept there Dwas and prayers and inspire you with the teachings of our holy prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) so let us join hands and spread the knowledge that every Muslim is born to spread the knowledge of Islam now a day many online quran tutor are available for kids and elders to learn tajweed quran and with exact pronunciation and perfect the quran recitation online with qualified teaching staff  who can guide then with there experience and knowledge and the write teachings to help us in achieving the path of Jannah so learn quran and its teaching and spread the word of Allah join live quran teacher and do one on one sessions from tajweed teachers

 

Miraj: A spiritual or a physical journey?

Many Muslims believe that Miraj of Muhammad (PBUH) was a physical journey. In contrary, Allah has said that Miraj was a vision or ru'ya (Surah Bani-Israil Ayat 60). Our dear Prophet experienced this extraordinary vision when contemporary people were relentlessly humiliating him. Even after years of his dedicated mission, only few people had accepted the Truth. In such circumstances, it is natural that anybody would be disheartened and be in a low morale. During such a period of preaching, Allah (SWT) granted our Prophet a vision that he is leading a salat where all the past prophets were attending. This vision signifies that our dear Rasul would be the imam of the whole world as all the previous prophets acknowledged his highest level of dignity and status. Thus, it can be concluded that his preaching would soon prevail all over the world. In this spiritual journey, he traveled beyond the world and observed a view of the universe. Many people of his time assumed this to be a physical journey. To correct them, our prophet said that he was in the stage of half-sleep and half-awake. When he woke up (or completed the journey), he found his seat to be warm. This attests that the journey consumed a brief moment. All the incidents that happened in this short period can only occur spiritually or in ru'ya.

The disbelievers thought that our rasul implied a physical journey and they ridiculed our prophet and demanded a book to be brought down from the heaven (Bani-Israil, Ayat 93). Our rasul replied: “but I am just a human being” (Ayat 93). This Ayat confirms that he does not possess power of a superman or is not provided with a 'burraq' to travel physically to heaven and bring a book!Unfortunately, these days we Muslims started to believe that the journey was physical.

Some Questions:

Usually, the incidence of Miraj is described vividly. In spite of that, many loopholes in the description remain. Usually, Muslims do not cast suspicion on such contradictions in the description. If you believe that this journey was indeed a physical journey, then you have to come up with some reasonable answers to the following questions. These questions are

1. Why did Angel Gabriel enter the house by breaking through the roof? Was the landing imperfect? Who repaired the breakage before others could see the defect? Another version says angels Gabriel, Mika'il and Israfil came together and they did not pierce the roof. Why is the discrepancy in the story?

2. It is told that Burraq would not allow our prophet to ride him, till Gabriel scolded it. Did Allah(swt) send a special animal that would not do its duty till scolded.

Another version says that this animal was way too eager to carry our Prophet while it was in its own heaven. Why is the discrepancy in the story?

3. How did all other prophets come to Jerusalem? Did they come in spiritual form or in physical form? If they came in physical form, then resurrection or Qiyamat had once taken place already. Because the dead prophets were brought back to life already in to their earthly bodies.

4. If the previous prophets came in physical form, what kind of transportation did they acquire? More Burraqs? Or only few large burraqs like jumbo jets? Remember that we are talking about 124,000 prophets.

5. We are told that Prophet's Burraq was tied to one corner of Masjidul Aqsa. Where did all other prophets tie their individual burraqs or their jumbo burraqs?

6. A gathering of such huge magnitude is sure to cause much commotion in the area. Did the people of Jerusalem miss such a major gathering? Not even a single person noticed 124,000 prophets and 124,000 burraqs suddenly entering their small town of Jerusalem?

7. How big was the Aqsa Mosque at that time? Could it really hold 124,000 prophets? Football stadiums in this country can barely hold such large number of spectators.

8. If you say that, all the prophets came spiritually and none of them came physically, then why did our prophet Muhammad(PBUH) make a physical journey? He could also have reached there spiritually.

9. When the incident of Miraj happened, what our prophet needed was a morale boost at the humiliating situation around him. He did not really need any physical boost. If at all Allah sent all the prophets in their physical bodies, then it would have been more helpful to send them to Makkah. These 124,000 prophets, of different races and nationality, could have camped in Makkah for a day or two, and scared the hell out of the disbelievers.

10. Which prayer was that? Isha? Or some other time? Was there an Adhan? Or Ikamat? Who gave the Adhan or Ikamat that all the prophets could hear yet none of the residents of Jerusalem could hear?

11. As we are told, our prophet then went to the heaven and several prominent prophets greeted him. We know that those prominent prophets also were in the congregational prayer at Jerusalem. How did they reach heaven before Muhammad (PBUH)? Another kind of transportation that is quicker than a Burraq? So you mean that Allah provided a slow Burraq to Muhammad (PBUH)?

12. Why did the gatekeepers enquire the identity of Gabriel and Muhammad(PBUH)? The angel gatekeepers did not recognize a major angel, the Gabriel? If the gatekeepers are so stupid or ill-informed, then they may not do a good job in protecting the heaven.

13. Allah(swt) had sent his special angel Gabriel and a special animal Burraq, to bring our prophet to the heaven. In such a special occasion, did Allah(swt) forget to instruct the gatekeepers about the very special guest? In this world, we usually send some body to the airport to pick the special guest up. Of course Miraj does not happen every day. Out of so many prophets, only our rasul experienced this miraj. In such a major event, the gatekeepers repeatedly insulted Gabriel and our prophet by asking their identity. Also, Allah(swt) probably did not install security systems where you could swipe your magnetic cards to enter, or let a scanner scan your finger prints, or a voice activated system that would recognize our prophet's voice.

14. What is the need of a gate in front of the heaven, any way? Who tries to trespass that such security is needed? Was it not possible for the Burraq to fly little higher and cross the wall without any interruption at the gates? Helicopters can do that.

15. Why did Gabriel stop at each gate? I thought his style is to pierce through the roof. Probably, the roof of heaven is made of a different grade of concrete that Gabriel would have hurt himself.

16. Allah(swt) has said that he resides close to our jugular vein. But this description says that Allah(swt) resides in the seventh heaven, behind a curtain. Does it not hit the fundamental understanding of Islam that Allah(swt) is omnipresent and without a physical body?

17. Allah(swt) said that " And know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart" (8:24), and also " for we are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein (50:16)". If we subscribe to the story that Allah(swt) is stationed behind the curtain in the seventh heaven, then these two ayats are in serious question. Please also read ayats 2:115, 6:3. What do you want to believe? Allah's(swt) words in Quran or this story??

18. Another form of this story says that beyond this curtain was an exceptionally bright light. What kind of light was that? Electromagnetic radiation? The curtain a special grade of lead with high atomic number that could restrict the light or energy of Allah? Can some thing restrict Allah(swt)? Is Allah(swt) confined to one area?

19. Why does Allah(swt) need so much of security? Is He not the most powerful? Is there a threat of a military coup from Iblees that Allah(swt) needs the security? Security guards of our presidents are usually physically stronger, swifter, and able than the presidents. So, Allah's 'body' guards are physically stronger than Allah(swt) that they could protect Allah(swt) in case of any assault?

20. Burraq is a winged animal little smaller than a horse. It flaps its special wing to cross long distances at a fast pace. Once it crossed the atmosphere, it really did not require the wings, as there is no air to flap his wings. At that time, did he transfer his rider to another kind of animal? Or probably he manages equally well without flapping the wings. I presume he carefully covered our prophet with his wings at that time, because it is terribly cold up in the atmosphere. He might also have saved extra air or oxygen inside his wings for our prophet's survival. Probably there was no need for extra air, as it happened too fast, before our prophet needed another breath of air.

21. We are repeatedly told that during our prophet's visit to the heaven, he was prescribed with 50 prayers a day and six months of sawm for his followers. Let's just think what fifty prayers a day will do to us. Out of 24 hours a day, we probably sleep 6-7 hours. That leaves us with 17-18 hours. We spend about two hours in eating, bathing, and other biological needs. That leaves us with about 15 -16 hours. If we have to pray fifty times in this time, then we have to pray about four times an hour. Well, then there is not much time left for other things to do. We do not have enough time to go to grocery. Well, we do not need to go, because every one in the grocery store is also praying fifty times a day. Actually, the grocery store is empty. Because, the farmers did not grow any crops this year as they were praying fifty times a day. Well, we do not need grocery that much, since we are also fasting six months!!

22. Who saved us from this difficult task of 50 prayers and six month of fasting? Musa (AS)? So, Musa (AS) was instigating our prophet against the initial commands of Allah(swt)? So, we believe that our prophet listened to the "advices" of Musa instead of "orders" from Allah(swt)? While Al-Quran says in 10:15, "if I were to disobey my Lord, I should myself fear the chastisement of a great day (to come)."

23. Our prophet had to make several trips to Allah to get all the reductions and discounts on prayers and fasting. When Musa(AS) "instigated" our prophet, did it take so long for Muhammad(PBUH) to realise the burden of so many prayers and such long fasting? Was our prophet so retarded? (May Allah forgive me).

24. At the following website http://www.islam.org/mosque/isra/Israa_Miraj_Hadith.shtml we find this description:
"Then Moses stopped him when the prayers had been reduced to five and said, "O Muhammad! By Allah, I tried to persuade my nation, Bani Israel to do less than this, but they could not do it and gave it up. However, your followers are weaker in body, heart, sight and hearing, (bolds are mine) so return to your Lord so that He may lighten your burden."

How true, Muslims are weaker in body, heart, sight, hearing than the Bani Israel ! Any idea who fabricated this story? You dont get an extra point if you answer it correctly. Followers of Moses are only one race of people. While a Muslim could be African, Asian, Mongoloid, Caucasian or any other race. If we believe the story as written in the above website, then Bani Israel is better than rest of the humanity!

25. Allah(swt) says that He is Rahman and Rahim. But I see that He wanted us to go through 50 prayers and 6 months of fasting. Not very Rahim, huh?

26. Only Musa (AS) had the real perception of the hardship of mankind. Neither Allah(swt) nor Muhammad (PBUH) had any clue! But again, Allah insists in Al-Quran 2:185, "…Allah intends every facility for you, He does not want to put you to difficulties…".

27. I thought heaven was very secure with all these gatekeepers. Did the security guards allow Musa(AS) to loiter around? Why did the gatekeepers allow Muhammad(PBUH) multiple revisits to Allah(swt)? Where was Gabriel at that time?

28. These days, many of us celebrate the incident of Isra and Miraj. Did our prophet celebrate this incident? Did his companions celebrate this incident? No?

OTHER WEBSITES

If you insist on celebrating Isra and Miraj, then please read what Shaykh `Abdul `Aziz ibn Baz has to say. He wrote, “If the celebration of this night had been lawful, they (companions) would have been first to do it. The Prophet also is the most sincere in guiding people. He most truly fulfilled his mission, and performed his noble duty. If the glorification and celebration of that night had something to do with Islam, the Prophet would never have neglected it nor concealed it. Since nothing about this was narrated from the Messenger and his companions, therefore glorification and celebration of that night was absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Islam, as Allah has perfected for this nation its religion, completed His favor upon it and rebuked and refuted the innovators who introduce into the religion that which Allah has not allowed”.

I would strongly suggest you to visit an web site Mairaj or the Ascesion. If my style of writing irritated you, you will find more polite way of writing in this web site as well as the one mentioned in the above paragraph.

There are multiple web sites that describes in detail of Isra and Miraj, as if it happened physically. I am not providing links to those sites. If you are intersted to read those sites, you can to go any search engine and enter Miraj. One site will even describe you about the heaven of burraqs where there are 40 million burraqs, each with a "La-ilaha illallahu muhammadur rasulallah" inscribed on its forehead! I do not want to speculate who did the census to conclude 40 million burraqs or who would read the Kalimah written on their forehead.

Conclusion

If you think that this incident of Miraj occurred in vision or in dream, and the journey was spiritual in nature, then you will find very logical answers to all the questions that I posed. If you think the journey was indeed physical, then let me know what are the answers based on Quran. Do not just say that Allah (swt) is most powerful and He can do any thing. Yes, I agree that Allah (swt) is most powerful and He can indeed do anything, but you will agree that He does not do stupid things.

May Allah(swt) bless all the readers without limit in their effort in serving the cause of Islam. Also, may Allah(swt) forgive me for my mistakes, ignorance and wrong attitude and guide me in the right path.

Join live quran teaching staff

Now days we as Muslims have to spread the voice to learn quran and so we could gain the true knowledge and the quran teaching that is give to us by our beloved prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and do quran reading. Do we as Muslim ask our self that why we are at the peak of destruction? The answer will be simple that we have left our roots the holy quran we should guide promote Islam from in our homes first and let learn our kids quran  and encourage them in doing quran memorization this should be our first goal for it we can do different stuff like let then participate in different online quran recitation competition to let them listen quran from different online quran reciters and along with it we elders should learn quran also and improve our knowledge of quran and Islam and learn holy quran tafseer because to understand and learn quran Arabic and for this now a days there are many online quran tutor available who teach tajweed quran and its translation and tafseer so let us join our hands to be the voice of Islam and let improve the image of it as well and full fill our deputy