Islamic Life

What’s inside::

What’s inside: 2 Did You Ever Ask Yourself? The Hadith of Allah’s 99 Names Why Wear Hijab? 10 Tips for Enjoying Life Verses of Observations ! History of Hajj What is Prayer? Fun Zone Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11

Didn’t You Ever Ask Yourself?:

Didn’t You Ever Ask Yourself? Didn’t you ever ask yourself; what did you give Islam? How many girls repented because of you? How much would you pay to guide strayed girls to your God? Many girls would say: “I just can’t go call to the good nor deny bad actions by telling other girls, I’m ashamed !” Wow! How can a whore celebrity sing in front of thousands of men staring at her, consuming her with their eyes and she never said “I can’t, I’m ashamed!”?! How can an uncovered dancer expose her body to thousands of people & she never panics or adjourn?! Satan got you! Some girls even perk for others bad things like exchanging porn magazines or songs with them; they would also backstab others when they meet with friends. Those have entered the devil’s party and their love and friendship will turn into hate and enmity. Do you know why? Because they never meet except for fun and distraction from doing good deeds. They never meet for doing worship for Allah. And they probably never advice each other nor warn each other from doing bad stuff that Islam doesn’t accept. Do you know how they end up? Allah (Almighty) said : “ ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضًا وَمَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ نَاصِرِينَ ” That’s right, girls will say to their best friends who they always sat with in life, laughed, and exchanged songs & magazines, on the Last Day those girls will just curse and blame each other for their own mistakes. Then they’re all thrown in Hell, who nobody can avoid except by Allah’s mercy . Oh but how to gain Allah’s mercy? No matter how many mistakes you did, how much time you wasted in doing bad things, Allah’s repenting gates are always open. All you have to do is repent. Repenting is regretting sins you did in the past & promise by your heart & intention to never get back to them ever again. That’s how you gain it ! And, in the end, I whisper those words to you that I hope they reach your heart before your ears. Don’t get attracted by the spreading sins. Don’t get deceived by unveiled girls with wide relations or those who are addicted to love, their only interests are songs & movies. Honestly, it’s really hard to hold yourself these days from doing sins. Sins are everywhere! But it’s only for a little period of time, then-by Allah’s mercy- you’ll enter Paradise by all your good deeds & intentions (Insha’Allah). Imagine yourself in the Heavens; doing whatever you want, getting whatever comes to your mind! And all what you did was do what Allah told you to & abstain yourself from sins. It’s just little fatigue, then forever-happiness. Allah’s promises always come true; that’s a fact! So, finally, always remember that Allah told and promised those who do good deeds & stay away from sins are in Heaven forever after, rewarded with ever-lasting happiness! Allah (Almighty) said : “ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلاً ” 3

Hadith of Allah’s 99 Names:

Hadith of Allah’s 99 Names This is the beginning of a series studying the Most Beautiful Names of Allah. The focus of this series is to help the reader to understand and implement the famous hadith of the 99 Names. Abu Hurayrah has reported that the Prophet ( sal-Allahu ‘ alayhi was- Sallam ) said: “Indeed, Allah has Ninety-Nine Names. “Indeed, Allah has Ninety-Nine Names, one hundred less one, whoever enumerates ( ahsaaha ) them shall enter Paradise” [Agreed Upon]. Some narrations add: “… and He is Witr , and loves the Witr .” Meaning of ‘ Ihsaa ’: Enumerating (and memorizing) them Understanding their meanings and acting upon them Make du’a as mentioned in the ayah - “And to Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so invoke Him by them. And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation [ ilhad ] concerning His Names. They will be recompensed for what they have been doing. The Name Of Allah It is He (Allah) Who is the only Ilah (God to be worshipped) in the heaven and the only Ilah (God to be worshipped) on the earth [ Zukhruf 43:84] Allah hath not chosen any son, nor is there any god [ ilaah ] along with Him; else would each god [ ilaah ] have assuredly championed that which he. 4

Why Wear the Hijab? :

Why Wear the Hijab? Girls Only! Interviews I am sitting in my first-period class impatiently waiting for the teacher to stop babbling about monomials and polynomials. When the bell rings , a girl approaches, her face forming a question mark. She wonders if it's okay to ask a "personal" question... "Why do Muslim women wear the hijab ?" It's not the first time this has happened and it is certainly an issue that needs to be addressed. One of the major misconceptions about the hijab (covering of the body except the face and hands) is that young women are forced to wear it by their parents or by male family members. Sumayya Syed , 16, says that what parents or men want have nothing to do with it. In fact, she astounds people who ask by saying that every woman should have this form of liberation. Syed maintains that when a woman is covered, men cannot judge her by her appearance but are forced to evaluate her by her personality, character, and morals. "I tell them that the hijab is not a responsibility, it's a right given to me by my Creator who knows us best . It's a benefit to me, so why not? It's something every woman should strive to get and should want." The young woman admits to being surprised that many people wonder if she wears the hijab everywhere (at home, when sleeping, in the shower) . The truth is that Muslim women only cover themselves in front of men who are not direct relatives (brothers, fathers, and uncles) to prevent indecent acts or thoughts. Another young woman who wears the hijab , ZeinabMoallim , 18, maintains that some people assume that all Muslims who wear the traditional dress are immigrants who don't know English and perceive them as " weirdos ". "I remember in my class when I answer questions, some students look at me like I'm kind of dumb and I can't answer (them)," she says. "So usually I answer, just to let them know I can do things." 5

Slide 6:

All of the young women interviewed agreed that the advantages of wearing the hijab are many. According to RemaZawi , 16 , "You feel modest...and you feel like you're covered up . You have more self-respect. You have more confidence in yourself that you don't need to care about Syed emphasizes that a major plus is that people actually evaluate her on who she is and not on her beauty or clothing. "It keeps me protected from the fashion industry . The hijab liberates you from the media, brainwashing you into, Buy this, buy that, you're supposed to look like this," she says . "It allows me to be who I am. I don't have to worry about being popular through buying things that are 'cool'." Hana Tariq, 15, who just recently began wearing the hijab , agrees with Syed's view and says that the hijab lets you know who your real friends are. " People who are friends with you because of the way you look aren't real friends . And people who judge you by your personality are true friends, because people can change looks but they don't really change personalities." The young women said the hijab provides them with an identity. They don't have to tell people they are Muslims. It shows. However , there are drawbacks. Mariam Hussein , 18, was in a store minding her own business , when an old woman came up to her and proclaimed loudly, "Go back to your country!" It was a difficult situation because the young woman considers Canada her home. Responses to the hijab vary widely. Zawi is one of the few Muslim girls in her school who wears the traditional Muslim garb. She says some students treat her differently by looking at her in strange ways or vandalizing her property. However, she also finds that other students have questions for her regarding the hijab . "I find that it's so hard for them to ask because they're really shy, so I confront them. I tell them, If you want to know anything , just talk to me”. Syed , who attends a school with a fairly large Muslim population, says the people she knows treat her with dignity and the comments she gets from friends and classmates are generally not disrespectful. "Most people in my life respect me with my hijab : they don't swear around me, they don't crack bad jokes," she says. Some people may think that the more a woman covers, the less freedom she has. But, according to Muslim tradition, it is actually the opposite. The less she wears , the more she is degraded and the more she is put in the line of fire of male criticism. Syed is astonished at the behaviour of some women who claim to want "freedom". She can't understand how going topless, for example , represents equality. "People have to understand that we (males and females) are not equal in body image but we should be equal in rights, in justice . Taking off your shirt will not make you equal to a man; it'll make you lower. Why? Because the woman's body is created differently." 6

Slide 7:

10. Help whoever is in need 9. Try things you want to try (only right ones) 8. Have family time at least twice a week 7. Be yourself; don’t pretend to be someone you’re not 6. Always take time to smell the roses 5. Be satisfied with whatever you have 4. Look at the bright sides of every problem 3. Family & friends come first 2. Always smile 1 . Rely on Allah in all times 7

Verses with Observations ! :

Verses with Observations ! } فَإِذَا انْشَقَّتِ السَّمَاءُ فَكَانَتْ وَرْدَةً كَالدِّهَان { [الرحمن 37] (55:37) (What will happen) when the heaven will be split asunder and will become crimson like leather } مَرَجَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ { , } بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخٌ لَا يَبْغِيَانِ { [الرحمن 19-20] (55:19) He unleashed the two seas so that they merge together, (55:20) and yet there is a barrier between them which they may not overstep. } اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ { [القمر: 1] (54:1) The Hour of Resurrection drew near and the moon split asunder. 8

The History of Hajj :

The History of Hajj Hajj literally means 'to set out for a place'. Islamically however it refers to the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Makkah with the intention of performing certain religious rites in accordance with the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad (saws). During the Hajj period itself, the atmosphere around the sacred precincts of the Ka'ba was like a circus. Sure enough, a man by the name of Muhammad ibn ' Abdullaah (SAWS) was born .For twenty-three years, the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) spread the message of Tawheed [true monotheism] - the same message that Ibraaheem and alI the other Prophets came with - and established the law of Allaah upon the land. He expended every effort into making the word of Allaah supreme and his victory over falsehood culminated in the smashing of the idols inside the Ka'ba which once again became the universal centre for the worshippers of the one True God. 9

What is Prayer?:

What is Prayer? Prayer in Islam, is worship of Allah the Almighty, Praising and Thanking Him, acknowledging His Sovereignty and committing oneself to obey and remember Him at all times. It is the central part of a way of life, which is based on submission to the Owner of all. The Muslim must seek to remember Allah at all times. He must be mindful that everything he is, everything he does, everything he knows and understands, is due to the Mercy of Allah. In acknowledging this, he remembers the fact that death lies in wait and he does not know when he will depart from this worldly life. Five times a day, he stands in prayer. Focusing all his thoughts on the Creator. He praises, thanks and acknowledges the Greatness of Allah and seeks His forgiveness. His sins pass before his consciousness and render him humble before the Majesty of the One who owns all things, including the Day of Judgment. He stands, conscious that Allah Sees Him at all times and that in prostration he is the closest to His Maker. The Muslim realizes that the Angel of death could be behind him at any time, that Jannah (Paradise) lies on his right and the fire of hell is on his left. The truth of his actions and their consequences are unknown to him and as he prayers, his heart is moved by sincere intent to strive harder, work more, study more, forgive more and share more. He comes out of the state of prayer, feeling renewed; more determined to use what remains of his time in the most beneficial way. An angry shout or unkind word, stops on the same lips that recite the Qur'an and remembers Allah. Hands reaching forth in greed and hate, retreat to find better solutions. Hasty careless words, dismal thoughts and attitudes disappear beneath the light that shrouds the mind of the one who prays because of their love and fear of Allah. 10

Fun Zone !:

F u n Z o n e ! A) Let’s test your Islamic Information ! Answer these questions: Who was ‘ Asadul Allah’ ? Where was the first Islamic group? Who is the companion who never lost a battle? B) Order the letters in each word (can be 2 words): qsnecuost dufteilri qhroyualn 11 Answers: A1: Hamza (RAA), A2: In Makkah , A3: Khaled ibn Al- Waleed , B1: Conquest , B2: Eidul-fitr , B3: Holy Qur’an