Written by Ruwayda Mustafah | 15 December 2010

An aggressive secular state often marginalizes ethnic minorities, and attempts to divide et impera minorities to weaken their ethnic roots. France has forcefully banned the face veil for women, referred to as Niqab by Muslims, under the pretext that it is oppressive for women. The law will come into effect later this year unless turned down by senior judges. Women who break the law will be fined. But the question is – what will this ban achieve?

Written by Owais Ahmad Wani | 08 October 2010

Starting from Medina they began travelling North- West. Taking Tayma on their right they were marching towards Tabuk. It was the late part of evening , the time when shadows begin to elongate.. the breeze from Red Sea touched their bodies making their clothes flutter , their camels moved their nostrils in response to the brackishness that the breeze carried. the time of sunset prayers was due. As they dismounted their camels and prepared for prayer the sun began setting in the Gulf of Aqaba.

Written by Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi | 21 August 2010

Allah says what means: “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it has been prescribed for people before you so that you will (learn how to) attain Taqwa” (Qur’an, al-Baqarah, 2:183)

Ibn ‘Umar reports that Allah’s Messenger said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):

·         1. To testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger.

·         2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly.

·         3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity)

·         4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca)

·         5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. [Bukhari]

Written by Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi | 12 August 2010

Do you know that we are going to host a unique, a generous and an honourable guest; a guest that visits us once a year and brings with it all sorts of blessings; a guest that brings with it the wide Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah; a guest that brings with it a smell of Paradise; a guest that makes the believer closer to Allah and His Paradise and away from Devil (Shaitan) and Hell Fire. It is Ramadhan, the month of the Qur’an, the month of Mercy, the month of Forgiveness, the month of prayer at night and Suhoor, the month of solidarity and mutual help, the month of all blessings.

It is reported from some of the Salaf, pious ancestors that they used to pray to Allah during the six months before Ramadan to extend their lives so that they can fast Ramadan, and in the six months after Ramadan they would ask Allah to accept their fasting of Ramadan. Therefore, we have to be thankful to Allah that He allowed us to witness this Ramadan, so let us please Him during this month.

Written by Ruwayda Mustafah | 24 July 2010

The role of women, undoubtedly the words “role” and “women” are continuously used as if there is a particular role “specified” for women. Not all women are mothers, nor can they all afford going to University, or have a prestigious lifestyle, which enables them to be educated, to work, and to manage sufficient time for their children. If there is anything for women to learn, be they Muslim, Christian, Jewish, atheist or whatever else they choose to be – is that our experiences can only be used as a standard for ourselves, not others.

Written by Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi | 16 July 2010

Now there have been difference of opinions pertaining to the terms “Iman” and “Islam”, whether they have similar connotations or represent different aspects of religion.

To start with, Iman (belief) may be described as the mental state of assurance or conviction in which the mind accepts and endorses its convictions of corresponding with reality. This belief creates a feeling of satisfaction that the road to salvation has been found” – by the man, who has confessed the Kalimah verbally, endorsed it by his heart and supported it by the actions, the actions which stem from his limbs (3-Siddiqi). The literal meaning of Iman, as has been discussed in “belief” or confirmation of truth. Allah says: “…. Thou believest not our saying even when we speak the truth” (12:17). While “Islam” means submission, surrender and avoidance of unbelief, rebellion and disobedience. Heart is, according to Ghazzali the special seat of Iman or confirmation of truth and tongue is its interpreter. Islam indicates submission and surrender and the confirmation of this state of submission and surrender by tongue. Ghazzali observes that the term ‘Islam’ is more comprehensive term and ‘Iman’ is a special term. Iman, according to him is a part of Islam, and Iman is Islam, but every Iman may not necessarily be Islam. 8/(Ihya. I, P.144) Fazl.

Written by Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi | 09 July 2010

Islam and Iman

According to Bukhari, the “Iman” and “Islam” has one and the same meaning, because the question of Gabriel was ostensibly concerning “Iman” and “Islam”, while as the reply of the prophet (SAW) amounted to their being different. In that sense “Iman” will consist of confirmation of special items, and Islam, of specific actions and deeds. Bukhari wanted to interpret the matter in his own way. The report of Abu Sufiyan also indicated that “Iman” is “Din”  (religion), thus it will amount to the belief that “Islam and Iman”  will be one and the same thing. This is the first of the statement of Bukhari (RA). Abu ‘Awana al-Asfraini has mentioned in his “Sahih from al-Mazni (a Shafie) that these two terms has one meaning. While as Imam Ahmad thinks otherwise. Both these scholars have different arguments in their view point. But according to Asqalani, in reality, there is the relation of commonality and specialty in these two terms, because every “Mumin” is a ‘Muslim’, but every Muslim (may) necessarily not be a “Mumin”. The author (Bukhari) wanted to show that the term “Islam” is applicable to “belief and action at one and the same time”, contrary to “Iman”, which is applicable on both without qualification and he referred to the Quranic verse Wa razeetu Lukumul – Islama Dina. Because “Islam” here encompasses both action and belief together, and a performer of action who is not having belief, is not man of religion and a content person”. (Fathul Baari Volume 6/(P.115)

Written by Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi | 18 June 2010

In Fathul-al-Bari (a famous commentary on Sahih-Bukhari, by Hafiz Hajar Asqalaani), some important points have been brought to our notice on the subject of Iman and Islam. Following is the resume of the same.

      Belief can be revived for time being for the reason, that the worldly entanglements sometimes divert us from the taste of Iman. Hazrat Ma’az Ibn Jabal (RA) used to say: “Come let us (revive) our belief for sometime”  and Hazrat Ibn Masa’od (RA) used to say: “Certitude (yaqeen) is the complete belief”. Ibn Umar (RA) said: “A servant will never reach to the essence of piety, unless he abandons that which perturbs his heart”. 1/(P.45).

Written by Ruwayda Mustafah | 07 June 2010

Women rights is often spoken about in light of religion, politics and legal systems¹. For the past century or so we've heard numerous claims against the Islamic ideology, criticism stemming from feminists², politicians³ and religious figures⁴ on the rights Islam gives to women⁵. Often, articles written by antagonists of Islam are substantiated on the basis of conjecture, lack of information and repetitive claims that have been debunked in the past. Arguments perpetuated by individuals for the sake of discrediting Islam do not represent an objective analysis of women under Islam. One of the commonly used argument against the Islamic ideology is about feminism and gender equality. Feminism in it's essence is not necessarily incompatible with Islam, that is if we were to agree on one definition, but there is no definition of feminism which appeases to every feminists thought. In addition to this, contemporary feminists in the west have found a new cause or wave of feminism that does not represent the views of the early founders of the feminist movement.