imam mahdi


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“The subject of the Mahdi” is one that has always occupied an important place in the Islamic world, ever since the Age of Bliss. Hoping that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be instrumental in making the afflictions Muslims have been going through, the intellectual systems based on denial, unfair and unjust practices, conflicts and wars pervading the world to come to an end, believers have always awaited the coming of this blessed individual in their own times and sincerely prayed to Allah for it to come about.  
The hadiths of our Prophet (saas) speak of Muslims eagerly awaiting the coming of the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as) ever since the time of the Ashab al-Kiram (Companions of the Prophet [saas]) and of their “begging Allah to be among the living at that time.” We are told that the old “will beg Allah to be young” in order to live to see the age of the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as). In the hadiths, our Prophet (saas) also tells the believers who will live in that time “to find and follow Hazrat Mahdi (as), even by crawling over ice,” and advises those who live to see this happy age to strive to be worthy of this blessing from Allah:
Ibn Abi Shayba and Nuaim Ibn Hammad in Kitab Al-Fitan, and Ibn Majah and Abu Na’im quoted from Ibnu Mas’ud. He said that:
"... He [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] owns the earth and fills the earth with justice which was previously filled with oppression and violence. WHOEVER OF YOU LIVES TO SEE HIM, LET HIM CRAWL OVER SNOW TO HIM AND JOIN HIM. Because he is Hazrat Mahdi (as).” (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 14)
"In his [Hazrat Mahdi’s (as)] time, ADULTS WILL SAY "WISH I WAS YOUNGER," AND YOUNGER ONES WILL SAY "WISH I WAS GROWN UP." (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 48; Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 17)
"… THE LIVING (FOR OTHERS TO SEE THE GRACES THEY ENJOY) WILL WISH THE DEAD WERE ALIVE." (Al-Sharani, Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p. 437)
Nuaim Ibn Hammad quoted from Ibn Abbas: "Hazrat Mahdi (as) is a young man from the Ahl al-Bayt. OUR OLD MEMBERS WILL NOT LIVE TO SEE HIM, WHILE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HOPE FOR HIM." (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 23)
Nuaim Ibn Hammad reported from Tawus: "I WISH I WOULD NOT DIE UNTIL HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WERE TO APPEAR. For then, in his period the good become even better, and even the wicked ones are treated well.” (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 17)
"His [Hazrat Mahdi’s (as)] time will be one of such justice that THE DEAD IN THE GRAVES WILL ENVY THE LIVING..." (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar, p. 22)
This blissful time, for which people have been deeply longing for hundreds of years will, according to the indications in the hadiths, last “for more than half a century.” And little time now remains until these historic glad tidings, of such great importance to the Islamic world, finally come about. By Allah's leave, the timing given by the Prophet (saas) in the hadiths for the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (as) is now imminent. The century we are living in, or “Hijri 1400s”, is “the century of the Mahdi,” by Allah’s leave. “The coming of the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as),” that people have been keenly awaiting and praying for over the centuries will, by His leave, take place in this century. Sincere Muslims living in this century and who eagerly, hopefully and enthusiastically await the coming of these historic individuals will, insha’Allah, be able to enjoy the honor of being among the Prophet Jesus’ (as) and Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) helpers, friends and close followers. They will be able to support the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as) in their intellectual struggle against irreligious movements, in spreading the moral values of Islam across the world, in uniting the Islamic world and in causing the Christian world to follow the Qur’an and the true faith. Being among the supporters of these holy individuals, they will have the honor of being among those instrumental in the Muslim world attaining the peace, happiness, plenty and abundance for which it has longed for the last 14 centuries.
The hadiths of our Prophet (saas), books written by great Sunni scholars, and all the statements by worthy scholars who were mujaddids (revivers) and mujtahids (scholars who derive legal rulings) of their own times, all point to the present century. Almost all the events known as “The Portents of the End Times” have come about one after the other “like the beads on a necklace.” The developments taking place in the world on an almost daily basis show that we are living in “The End Times” and that “the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as) will appear in this age, and the age that they will be instrumental in its being a most holy one is approaching.” 
Everyone, whether or not they take a great interest in this reality, is by now well aware of it; the subject of Hazrat Mahdi (as) is being discussed on domestic and foreign television and radio stations, on chat programs, in newspapers and magazines, at conferences and on web sites. There is no doubt that this is an important sign revealed in the hadiths and foretelling the coming of Hazrat Mahdi (as):
"HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL APPEAR, EVERYONE WILL SPEAK ONLY OF HIM, DRINK OF HIS LOVE AND SPEAK OF NOTHING ELSE." (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 33)
One of the aims in the preparation of this book is to enable both Muslims excitedly awaiting the Prophet Jesus (as) and Hazrat Mahdi (as) and everyone interested in the subject to obtain the most accurate information and access the most trustworthy sources; it is for them to be able to learn important facts regarding these holy individuals from valuable hadiths that have been scrupulously transmitted from the Prophet (saas) and down the centuries to the present day. In this way, Muslims, the Islamic world and everyone on Earth will be able to follow these significant events of such great importance for human happiness and to ready themselves for these historic events both better and faster.
People have not had the honor of seeing a “Prophet” for the last 14 centuries. They have been unable to meet and see such a holy person and to witness his deep faith, fear of Allah and superior moral virtues. By Allah's leave, this time is now the age when people will be honored by a “Prophet” after 1400 years. Allah will send the Prophet Jesus (as) back to Earth to support Hazrat Mahdi (as) in his struggle against denial. On this second coming, the Prophet Jesus (as) will adhere to the Qur’an and will be instrumental in the whole Christian world also obeying the Qur’an. The Prophet Jesus (as) will follow Hazrat Mahdi (as) and they will establish the global dominion of Islamic moral values under Hazrat Mahdi’s (as) spiritual leadership. This is a great blessing from Allah for people living in the current century.
The “Mahdi of the End Times” awaited for hundreds of years will only come once, and people in this century will have the honor of seeing this Great Person. Our Prophet (saas) reveals in the hadiths that “Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be the most virtuous person of his age.” We are told that his good manners and conduct will resemble those of our Prophet (saas). It is a great blessing from Allah for a believer to live in the same age as such a virtuous and holy figure. A Muslim must strive to find someone described as “the most virtuous person in the world” of his own day.
Allah's sending two such superior figures chosen by and beloved of Him at the same time is a great blessing. The information in this book will, by Allah’s leave, be instrumental in Muslims having a better understanding of this great mercy and these glad tidings from Allah, and getting ready in a much better way for the dominion of the moral values of Islam after so many centuries.

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Relevation the Hadith sahih hadith


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Revelation

Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab:
I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."

Narrated 'Aisha:
(the mother of the faithful believers) Al-Harith bin Hisham asked Allah's Apostle "O Allah's Apostle! How is the Divine Inspiration revealed to you?" Allah's Apostle replied, "Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of Inspiration is the hardest of all and then this state passes ' off after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says." 'Aisha added: Verily I saw the Prophet being inspired Divinely on a very cold day and noticed the Sweat dropping from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over).

Narrated 'Aisha:
(the mother of the faithful believers) The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah's Apostle was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright day light, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone) continuously for many days before his desire to see his family. He used to take with him the journey food for the stay and then come back to (his wife) Khadija to take his food like-wise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet replied, "I do not know how to read.
The Prophet added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, 'I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?' Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, 'Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists) has created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous." (96.1, 96.2, 96.3) Then Allah's Apostle returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, "I fear that something may happen to me." Khadija replied, "Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your Kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones."
Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin 'Abdul 'Uzza, who, during the PreIslamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to Waraqa, "Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!" Waraqa asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" Allah's Apostle described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same one who keeps the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Allah's Apostle asked, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while.
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari while talking about the period of pause in revelation reporting the speech of the Prophet "While I was walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the cave of Hira' sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him and came back home and said, 'Wrap me (in blankets).' And then Allah revealed the following Holy Verses (of Quran):
'O you (i.e. Muhammad)! wrapped up in garments!' Arise and warn (the people against Allah's Punishment),... up to 'and desert the idols.' (74.1-5) After this the revelation started coming strongly, frequently and regularly."

Narrated Said bin Jubair:
Ibn 'Abbas in the explanation of the Statement of Allah. 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Quran) to make haste therewith." (75.16) Said "Allah's Apostle used to bear the revelation with great trouble and used to move his lips (quickly) with the Inspiration." Ibn 'Abbas moved his lips saying, "I am moving my lips in front of you as Allah's Apostle used to move his." Said moved his lips saying: "I am moving my lips, as I saw Ibn 'Abbas moving his." Ibn 'Abbas added, "So Allah revealed 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith. It is for us to collect it and to give you (O Muhammad) the ability to recite it (the Qur'an) (75.16-17) which means that Allah will make him (the Prophet ) remember the portion of the Qur'an which was revealed at that time by heart and recite it. The Statement of Allah: And 'When we have recited it to you (O Muhammad through Gabriel) then you follow its (Qur'an) recital' (75.18) means 'listen to it and be silent.' Then it is for Us (Allah) to make It clear to you' (75.19) means 'Then it is (for Allah) to make you recite it (and its meaning will be clear by itself through your tongue). Afterwards, Allah's Apostle used to listen to Gabriel whenever he came and after his departure he used to recite it as Gabriel had recited it."

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
Allah's Apostle was the most generous of all the people, and he used to reach the peak in generosity in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night of Ramadan to teach him the Qur'an. Allah's Apostle was the most generous person, even more generous than the strong uncontrollable wind (in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds).

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas:
Abu Sufyan bin Harb informed me that Heraclius had sent a messenger to him while he had been accompanying a caravan from Quraish. They were merchants doing business in Sham (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan), at the time when Allah's Apostle had truce with Abu Sufyan and Quraish infidels. So Abu Sufyan and his companions went to Heraclius at Ilya (Jerusalem). Heraclius called them in the court and he had all the senior Roman dignitaries around him. He called for his translator who, translating Heraclius's question said to them, "Who amongst you is closely related to that man who claims to be a Prophet?" Abu Sufyan replied, "I am the nearest relative to him (amongst the group)."
Heraclius said, "Bring him (Abu Sufyan) close to me and make his companions stand behind him." Abu Sufyan added, Heraclius told his translator to tell my companions that he wanted to put some questions to me regarding that man (The Prophet) and that if I told a lie they (my companions) should contradict me." Abu Sufyan added, "By Allah! Had I not been afraid of my companions labeling me a liar, I would not have spoken the truth about the Prophet. The first question he asked me about him was:
'What is his family status amongst you?'
I replied, 'He belongs to a good (noble) family amongst us.'
Heraclius further asked, 'Has anybody amongst you ever claimed the same (i.e. to be a Prophet) before him?'
I replied, 'No.'
He said, 'Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?'
I replied, 'No.'
Heraclius asked, 'Do the nobles or the poor follow him?'
I replied, 'It is the poor who follow him.'
He said, 'Are his followers increasing decreasing (day by day)?'
I replied, 'They are increasing.'
He then asked, 'Does anybody amongst those who embrace his religion become displeased and renounce the religion afterwards?'
I replied, 'No.'
Heraclius said, 'Have you ever accused him of telling lies before his claim (to be a Prophet)?'
I replied, 'No. '
Heraclius said, 'Does he break his promises?'
I replied, 'No. We are at truce with him but we do not know what he will do in it.' I could not find opportunity to say anything against him except that.
Heraclius asked, 'Have you ever had a war with him?'
I replied, 'Yes.'
Then he said, 'What was the outcome of the battles?'
I replied, 'Sometimes he was victorious and sometimes we.'
Heraclius said, 'What does he order you to do?'
I said, 'He tells us to worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship anything along with Him, and to renounce all that our ancestors had said. He orders us to pray, to speak the truth, to be chaste and to keep good relations with our Kith and kin.'
Heraclius asked the translator to convey to me the following, I asked you about his family and your reply was that he belonged to a very noble family. In fact all the Apostles come from noble families amongst their respective peoples. I questioned you whether anybody else amongst you claimed such a thing, your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man was following the previous man's statement. Then I asked you whether anyone of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom.
I further asked whether he was ever accused of telling lies before he said what he said, and your reply was in the negative. So I wondered how a person who does not tell a lie about others could ever tell a lie about Allah. I, then asked you whether the rich people followed him or the poor. You replied that it was the poor who followed him. And in fact all the Apostle have been followed by this very class of people. Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing, and in fact this is the way of true faith, till it is complete in all respects. I further asked you whether there was anybody, who, after embracing his religion, became displeased and discarded his religion. Your reply was in the negative, and in fact this is (the sign of) true faith, when its delight enters the hearts and mixes with them completely. I asked you whether he had ever betrayed. You replied in the negative and likewise the Apostles never betray. Then I asked you what he ordered you to do. You replied that he ordered you to worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship any thing along with Him and forbade you to worship idols and ordered you to pray, to speak the truth and to be chaste. If what you have said is true, he will very soon occupy this place underneath my feet and I knew it (from the scriptures) that he was going to appear but I did not know that he would be from you, and if I could reach him definitely, I would go immediately to meet him and if I were with him, I would certainly wash his feet.' Heraclius then asked for the letter addressed by Allah's Apostle
which was delivered by Dihya to the Governor of Busra, who forwarded it to Heraclius to read. The contents of the letter were as follows: "In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful (This letter is) from Muhammad the slave of Allah and His Apostle to Heraclius the ruler of Byzantine. Peace be upon him, who follows the right path. Furthermore I invite you to Islam, and if you become a Muslim you will be safe, and Allah will double your reward, and if you reject this invitation of Islam you will be committing a sin by misguiding your Arisiyin (peasants). (And I recite to you Allah's Statement:)
'O people of the scripture! Come to a word common to you and us that we worship none but Allah and that we associate nothing in worship with Him, and that none of us shall take others as Lords beside Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are Muslims (those who have surrendered to Allah).' (3:64).
Abu Sufyan then added, "When Heraclius had finished his speech and had read the letter, there was a great hue and cry in the Royal Court. So we were turned out of the court. I told my companions that the question of Ibn-Abi-Kabsha) (the Prophet Muhammad) has become so prominent that even the King of Bani Al-Asfar (Byzantine) is afraid of him. Then I started to become sure that he (the Prophet) would be the conqueror in the near future till I embraced Islam (i.e. Allah guided me to it)."
The sub narrator adds, "Ibn An-Natur was the Governor of llya' (Jerusalem) and Heraclius was the head of the Christians of Sham. Ibn An-Natur narrates that once while Heraclius was visiting ilya' (Jerusalem), he got up in the morning with a sad mood. Some of his priests asked him why he was in that mood? Heraclius was a foreteller and an astrologer. He replied, 'At night when I looked at the stars, I saw that the leader of those who practice circumcision had appeared (become the conqueror). Who are they who practice circumcision?' The people replied, 'Except the Jews nobody practices circumcision, so you should not be afraid of them (Jews).
'Just Issue orders to kill every Jew present in the country.'
While they were discussing it, a messenger sent by the king of Ghassan to convey the news of Allah's Apostle to Heraclius was brought in. Having heard the news, he (Heraclius) ordered the people to go and see whether the messenger of Ghassan was circumcised. The people, after seeing him, told Heraclius that he was circumcised. Heraclius then asked him about the Arabs. The messenger replied, 'Arabs also practice circumcision.'
(After hearing that) Heraclius remarked that sovereignty of the 'Arabs had appeared. Heraclius then wrote a letter to his friend in Rome who was as good as Heraclius in knowledge. Heraclius then left for Homs. (a town in Syrian and stayed there till he received the reply of his letter from his friend who agreed with him in his opinion about the emergence of the Prophet and the fact that he was a Prophet. On that Heraclius invited all the heads of the Byzantines to assemble in his palace at Homs. When they assembled, he ordered that all the doors of his palace be closed. Then he came out and said, 'O Byzantines! If success is your desire and if you seek right guidance and want your empire to remain then give a pledge of allegiance to this Prophet (i.e. embrace Islam).'
(On hearing the views of Heraclius) the people ran towards the gates of the palace like onagers but found the doors closed. Heraclius realized their hatred towards Islam and when he lost the hope of their embracing Islam, he ordered that they should be brought back in audience.
(When they returned) he said, 'What already said was just to test the strength of your conviction and I have seen it.' The people prostrated before him and became pleased with him, and this was the end of Heraclius's story (in connection with his faith).

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dua istakhara


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introducing islam


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I. ISLAM AND MUSLIMS
The name of this religion is Islam, the root of which is Silm and Salam which means peace. Salam may also mean greeting one another with peace. One of the beautiful names of God is that He is the Peace. It means more than that: submission to the One God, and to live in peace with the Creator, within one's self, with other people and with the environment. Thus, Islam is a total system of living. A Muslim is supposed to live in peace and harmony with all these segments; hence, a Muslim is any person anywhere in the world whose obedience, allegiance, and loyalty are to God, the Lord of the Universe.
II. MUSLIMS AND ARABS
The followers of Islam are called Muslims. Muslims are not to be confused with Arabs. Muslims may be Arabs, Turks, Persians, Indians, Pakistanis, Malaysians, Indonesians, Europeans, Africans, Americans, Chinese, or other nationalities.

An Arab could be a Muslim, a Christian, a Jew or an atheist. Any person who adopts the Arabic language is called an Arab. However, the language of the Qur'an (the Holy Book of Islam) is Arabic. Muslims all over the world try to learn Arabic so that they may be able to read the Qur'an and understand its meaning. They pray in the language of the Qur'an, namely Arabic. Supplications to God could be in any language.

While there are one billion Muslims in the world there are about 200 million Arabs. Among them, approximately ten percent are not Muslims. Thus Arab Muslims constitute only about twenty percent of the Muslim population of the world.
III. ALLAH THE ONE AND THE ONLY GOD
Allah is the name of the One and Only God. Allah has ninety-nine beautiful names, such as: The Gracious, The Merciful, The Beneficent, The Creator, The All-Knowing, The All-Wise, The Lord of the Universe, The First, The Last, and others.

He is the Creator of all human beings. He is the God for the Christians, the Jews, the Muslims, the Buddhists, the Hindus, the atheists, and others. Muslims worship God whose name is Allah. They put their trust in Him and they seek His help and His guidance.
IV. MUHAMMAD
Muhammad was chosen by God to deliver His Message of Peace, namely Islam. He was born in 570 C.E. (Common Era) in Makkah, Arabia. He was entrusted with the Message of Islam when he was at the age of forty years. The revelation that he received is called the Qur'an, while the message is called Islam.

Muhammad is the very last Prophet of God to mankind. He is the final Messenger of God. His message was and is still to the Christians, the Jews and the rest of mankind. He was sent to those religious people to inform them about the true mission of Jesus, Moses, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham.

Muhammad is considered to be the summation and the culmination of all the prophets and messengers that came before him. He purified the previous messages from adulteration and completed the Message of God for all humanity. He was entrusted with the power of explaining, interpreting and living the teaching of the Qur'an.
V. SOURCE OF ISLAM
The legal sources of Islam are the Qur'an and the Hadith. The Qur'an is the exact word of God; its authenticity, originality and totality are intact. The Hadith is the report of the sayings, deeds and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet's sayings and deeds are called Sunnah. The Seerah is the writings of followers of Muhammad about the life of the Prophet. Hence, it is the life history of the Prophet Muhammad which provides examples of daily living for Muslims.
VI. SOME ISLAMIC PRINCIPLES
A. Oneness of God:

He is One and the Only One. He is not two in one or three in one. This means that Islam rejects the idea of trinity or such a unity of God which implies more than one God in one.

B. Oneness of mankind:

People are created equal in front of the Law of God. There is no superiority for one race over another. God made us of different colors, nationalities, languages and beliefs so as to test who is going to be better than others. No one can claim that he is better than others. It is only God Who knows who is better. It depends on piety and righteousness.


C. Oneness of Messengers and the Message:

Muslims believe that God sent different messengers throughout the history of mankind. All came with the same message and the same teachings. It was the people who misunderstood and misinterpreted them.

Muslims believe in Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ismail, Jacob, Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad. The Prophets of Christianity and Judaism are indeed the Prophets of Islam.


D. Angels and the Day of Judgment:

Muslims believe that there are unseen creatures such as angels created by God in the universe for special missions.

Muslims believe that there is a Day of Judgment when all people of the world throughout the history of mankind till the last day of life on earth, are to be brought for accounting, reward and punishment.


E. Innocence of Man at Birth:

Muslim believe that people are born free of sin. It is only after they reach the age of puberty and it is only after they commit sins that they are to be charged for their mistakes. No one is responsible for or can take the responsibility for the sins of others. However, the door of forgiveness through true repentance is always open.

F. State and Religion:

Muslims believe that Islam is a total and a complete way of life. It encompasses all aspects of life. As such, the teachings of Islam do not separate religion from politics. As a matter of fact, state and religion are under the obedience of Allah through the teachings of Islam. Hence, economic and social transactions, as well as educational and political systems are also part of the teachings of Islam.
VII. PRACTICES OF ISLAM
God instructed the Muslims to practice what they believe in. In Islam there are five pillars, namely:

Creed (Shahada): The verbal commitment and pledge that there is only One God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, is considered to be the Creed of Islam.

Prayers (Salat): The performance of the five daily prayers is required of Muslims.

Fasting (Saum): Fasting is total abstinence from food, liquids and intimate intercourse (between married couples) from dawn to sunset during the entire month of Ramadan.

Purifying Tax (Zakat): This is an annual payment of a certain percentage of a Muslim's property which is distributed among the poor or other rightful beneficiaries.

Pilgrimage (Hajj): The performance of pilgrimage to Makkah is required once in a life time if means are available. Hajj is in part in memory of the trials and tribulations of Prophet Abraham, his wife Hagar and his eldest son Prophet Ishmael.

VIII. OTHER RELATED ASPECTS
A. Calendar:

Islamic practices are based on the lunar calendar. However, Muslims also use the Gregorian calendar in their daily religious lives. Hence, the Islamic calendar includes both the common era and the migration (Higra) year of the Prophet of Islam from Makkah to Madinah in the year of 623 C.E.


B. Celebrations (Eid):

Muslims have two celebrations (Eid); namely, Eid of Sacrifice and Eid of Fast-Breaking. The Eid of Sacrifice is in remembrance of the sacrifice to be by Prophet Abraham of his son. The Eid of Fast-Breaking comes at the end of the month of fasting, Ramadan.


C. Diets:

Islam allows Muslims to eat everything which is good for the health. It restricts certain items such as pork and its by-products, alcohol and any narcotic or addictive drugs.


D. Place of Worship:

The place of worship is called Mosque or Masjid. There are three holy places of worship for the Muslims in the world. These are: Mosque of Kaaba in Makkah, Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad in Madinah, and Masjid Aqsa, adjacent to the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

A Muslim may pray any where in the world whether in a Mosque, a house, an office, or outside. The whole world is a place of worship. It is preferable that Muslims pray in a congregation, however, he/she may pray individually anywhere.


E. Holidays:

The holy day of the Muslims is Friday. It is considered to be sacred and the Day of Judgment will take place on Friday. Muslims join together shortly after noon on Friday for the Friday congregational prayer in a Mosque. A leader (Imam) gives a sermon (Khutba) and leads the congregational prayer.


F. Distribution of Muslims in North America:

There are approximately five million Muslims in North America and are distributed in its major cities such as New York, Detroit, Boston, Toledo, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Cedar Rapids (Iowa), Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, Vancouver, Windsor, Winnipeg, Calgary, and others.


G. Contributions in North America:

Muslims are established in North America. The Sears Tower and the John Hancock buildings in Chicago were designed by a Muslim chief architect, originally from Bangladesh. Muslims have established academic institutions, community centers and organizations, schools and places of worship. They live in peace and harmony among themselves and among other groups of people in the society. The rate of crime among Muslims is very minimal. Muslims in North America are highly educated and they have added to the success of American scientific and technological fields.

The Muslims of the early period of the Islamic era were pioneers in medicine, chemistry, physics, geography, navigation, arts, poetry, mathematics, algebra, logarithms, calculus, etc. They contributed to the Renaissance of Europe and world civilization.
IX. NON-MUSLIMS
Muslims are required to respect all those who are faithful and God conscious people, namely those who received messages. Christians and Jews are called People of the Book. Muslims are asked to call upon the People of the Book for common terms, namely, to worship One God, and to work together for the solutions of the many problems in the society.

Christians and Jews lived peacefully with Muslims throughout centuries in the Middle East and other Asian and African countries. The second Caliph Umar, did not pray in the church in Jerusalem so as not to give the Muslims an excuse to take it over. Christians entrusted the Muslims, and as such the key of the Church in Jerusalem is still in the hands of the Muslims.

Jews fled from Spain during the Inquisition, and they were welcomed by the Muslims. They settled in the heart of the Islamic Caliphate. They enjoyed positions of power and authority.

Throughout the Muslim world, churches, synagogues and missionary schools were built within the Muslim neighborhoods. These places were protected by Muslims even during the contemporary crises in the Middle East.

--- Ahmad H. Sakr, Ph.D.

For more information please contact:

The Institute of Islamic Information and Education P.O. Box 41129
Chicago, IL 60641-0129 U.S.A.

INTRODUCTION OF III&E

The Institute of Islamic Information and Education (III&E) is dedicated to the cause of Islam in North America through striving to elevate the image of Islam in North America through striving to elevate the image of Islam and Muslims by providing the correct information about Islamic beliefs, history and civilization from the authentic sources. Enquiries are welcome.

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NAAT (drood paak)


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Sami Yusuf - Asma Allah - New Album 2009


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Namrud


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Last night’s sohbet included stories about Ibrahim (as) and Nimrud & Musa (as) and Firaun.

We might have heard these stories before but it is worth repeating. Nimrud was ruling the whole world at the time. And he declared war on Allah (jj). With his arrogance he denied Ibrahim (as) and the message. When Ibrahim (as) told him Allah (jj) was the only God, he said he was God. When Ibrahim (as) said Allah gives life and death, he ordered two prisoners, ordered one’s head cut off and the other be left free. He said he could also give life and death. But when Ibrahim (as) said Allah makes the Sun to rise from the East and challenged him to make it rise from the West, Nimrud was beat. Because of that, Allah will make the Sun rise from the West in the End Times, then set back West. The doors of forgiveness are open until that moment, and that moment on the doors will be closed.

Nimrud was stubborn and raised an army of 100,000 fully armored soldiers. He said he was ready for war with Allah (jj). The higher the arrogance, the smaller the thing with which Allah makes the tyrant fall. He sent an army of millions of mosquitos that went through the armor and ate the flesh of the soldiers. There was amongst them a crippled one. He was sad that Allah (jj) didn’t give him the opportunity to serve Him. So Allah ordered that little cripple legged mosquito to finish Nimrud. The cripple got in Nimrud’s glass made room through the key whole, avoided Minrud’s attempts of swatting, and entered his head through his nose. There he started eating away at his brain. The pain was so severe that it caused constant severe headaches. The only time he could rest was when he tapped his head and the mosquito quit eating. As the pain grew, Nimrud ordered one of his servants to hit his head with a stick. After a while, the stick turned into a hammer. One day, the servant got fed up and hit him so hard his head cracked open and a mosquito the size of a bird came out flying.

The only other tyrant to rule the whole world was Firaun. Sheytan knocked on his door one day. He asked who it was. Sheytan said, “O cursed one, you don’t know who lies behind the door and you claim to be the Highest God, saying: ‘Ana Rabbukum al-Ala.’ I don’t even claim that.” He asked Firaun why he claimed that. Firaun said he had lots of magicians with powers. “So what?” said Sheytan and raising his one hand he showed him the inventions and events of the past, and raising the other showed him those of the present and future. These included computers, rockets, televisions, phones, etc. He said he liked what Firaun was doing and told him to continue fooling the people and doing Sheytan’s work.

When Musa (as) challenged Firaun, a place and time was set where all the magicians of his dominion came out. They threw there canes and ropes and it appeared to the people like snakes. Musa (as) dropped his staff and it turned into a snake too. This snake started swallowing the other snakes one by one while not growing in size. The magicians went into prostration and said they believed in Musa (as) now. Firaun asked why they submitted to Musa (as). They said what they were doing was magic, a temporary veiling of the eye, but this other snake was real. Firaun threatened them with death. They said it was alright because they had seen the Truth and could not go back to their old ways.

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firaun


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A miracle, by definition, is a supernatural event beyond the laws of science; it is fulfilled only by Allah's will and power. It has significance and can be confirmed only by those who directly witnessed the event in time.

When Francisco Mitra became the president of France in 1981, France requested from the Egyptian government to host the mummy of Pharaoh. For the purpose of running laboratory and archeological examinations on the mummy of the most notorious dictator ever lived on earth. Upon arrival, very royal attendants were there including the French president himself and all ministers who bowed in honor for the Firaun Mummy.

When the ceremony ended, the mummy was carried to a specially-designed section at the Archeology Centre of France. Were it started to be tested by the greatest French archeological and anatomical scientists in order to discover more about such a great Firaun Mummy.

The scientists were headed by Professor Maurice Bucaille. The scientists were trying to restore the mummy while Professor Maurice Bucaille was mainly concerned with how did this mummy died? The final report of the scientists was released late at night which states that the remaining salt in the mummy is an overt evidence that it was drawn in the sea, and the body was rescued very shortly where it was immediately embalmed to be saved.

An amazing thing was still confusing Professor Maurice Bucaille is that how could this body possibly be safer than any other mummy despite being taken out of the sea up until this time. Professor Maurice Bucaille was writing his final report on what he thought would be a new discovery about saving Pharaoh's body immediately after his death and embalming it.

Note: The picture shown above is the dead body of Ramses II, the Egyptian King in the era of Prophet Moses (pbuh). Its age is approximately 3000 years old and it was found by the Red Sea, at the place called Jabalain, and is now on display in the Royal Mummies Chamber of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

And there, someone whispered to him that Muslims claim to know something about the drowning of this mummy. Yet Professor Maurice Bucaille firmly denied such thing saying that it's impossible to discover this without the development of science and without using his high-tech and complicated laboratories and computers.

To his surprise, he was told that Muslims believe in a book called "Holy Quran" and this Holy Quran narrates the story of Pharaoh's drowning and ensures the safety of his body after his death as to be a Sign to mankind.

Professor Maurice Bucaille couldn't believe his own ears and started to wonder: How can a book existed 1400 years ago speak about the mummy that was only found 111 years ago, in 1898? How can that be possible while the ancient Egyptian heritage was discovered only a few decades ago and no one knew about it before?

Professor Maurice Bucaille sat down pondering on what he was told about the book of Muslims, Holy Quran while his Holy Book (The Bible) narrates only the drowning of Pharaoh without saying anything about his body.

"Is it possible that this mummy in front of me is the one who was chasing Prophet Moses?" "Is it possible that Prophet Muhammad knew this 1400 years ago?"

Professor Maurice Bucaille couldn't sleep that night till they brought him the Old Testament where he read: "And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. (Exodus 14:28) But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 136:15) For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the Children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. (Exodus 15:19)"

Professor Maurice Bucaille was surprised that the Holy Book (The Bible) didn't mention about the destiny of the body and that it will be saved.

When the scientists were done with the mummy, France retuned it to Egypt, but Professor Maurice Bucaille couldn't rest for a moment since he was told that Muslims know about the safety of the body from Holy Quran. So, he decided to travel and meet anatomy Muslim scientists and there he spoke about his discovery of the safety of the mummy after its death in the sea and so on.

One of the Muslim scientists stood up and simply opened Holy Quran and pointed to the Professor at one verse: "We brought the Children of Israel across the sea and Pharaoh and his troops pursued them out of tyranny and enmity. Then, when he was on the point of drowning, he (Pharaoh) said, I believe that there is no god but Him in whom the Children of Israel believe. I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam). What! Now! And indeed you disobeyed before and you were of the mischief-makers. This day shall We save you in your body, that you may be a Sign to those who come after you! But verily, many among mankind are neglectful of Our Signs." (Holy Quran 10:90-92)

Professor Maurice Bucaille was struck when he read that and immediately stood in front of the crowd and said loudly: "I believe in Islam, I believe in Holy Quran."

Then he went back to France with a different face he traveled with. In France, he dedicated 10 years investigating the scientific discoveries and comparing them with Holy Quran and trying to come up with one scientific contradiction with Holy Quran. Finally he quoted one verse from Holy Quran to be his conclusion:

"No falsehood can approach it (this book) from before or behind it: it is sent down by One Full of Wisdom, Worthy of all praise." (Holy Quran 41:42)

As a result of all years of his research, Professor Maurice Bucaille wrote a book that shook all Europe, especially the scientists there "The Bible, the Quran and Science: The Holy Scriptures Examined in the light of Modern Knowledge."

Ariel Sharon still brain dead (Neither Dead nor Alive)

Ariel Sharon is lying in coma since years, and no doctor is able to find the correct disease. No life - No death, this is the result of killing thousands of innocent people in Palestine. What we do in this world, we have to taste, before we leave this on our heavenly abode as well. This is what the whole World is watching the result of assault of innocent Muslim in Palestine.

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hazrat ibrahim


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"Ibrahim was of the self-same faith (as Noah) and came to his Lord with a pure heart. He said to his father and to his people, 'What are these that you worship? Would you serve false gods instead of Allah? What do you think of the Lord of the Creation?'

He lifted up his eyes to the stars and said, 'I am sick!' Then, his people turned their backs and went off.

He stole away to their idols and said to them, 'Will you not eat your offerings? Why do you not speak?' With that, he fell upon them, striking them down with his right hand.

The people came running to the scene. 'Would you worship that which you have made with your own hands,' he said, 'when it was Allah who created you and all that you have made?'

They replied, 'Build up a pyre and cast him into the blazing flames.' Thus they schemed against him, but we balked their schemes.

He said, 'I will take refuge with my Lord; he will guide me. Grant me a son, Lord, and let him be a righteous man.'

We gave him news of a gentle son. And when he reached the age when he could work with him his father said to him: "My son, I dreamt that I was sacrificing you. Tell me what you think.'

He replied: 'Father, do as you are bidden. Allah willing, you shall find me faithful.' And when they had both surrendered themselves to Allah's will, and Ibrahim had laid down his son prostrate upon his face, We called out to him saying: 'Ibrahim, you have fulfilled your vision.' Thus did we reward the righteous. That was indeed a bitter test. We ransomed his son with a noble sacrifice and bestowed on him the praise of later generations. 'Peace be on Ibrahim!'

Thus are the righteous rewarded. He was one of Our believing servants.

We gave him Ishak, whom We made a saintly prophet, and blessed them both. Among their offspring were some who did good words and others who clearly sinned against their souls."

- Quran 37:83 to 37:113

Prophet Ibrahim is the Father of Monotheistic Faiths (Jewish, Christian and Islamic) and was named Khalil'ullah - Friend of Allah for his staunch faith in the Unseen God. He went against his father, Azar, and his community who were idol worshippers and upheld his belief in Tawhid - One God.

To uphold his belief and his dawa of the One God, he did not give in to Nimrud and his people who threatened to throw him into a blazing fire when they were confounded.

"Ibrahim's people replied: 'Kill him! Burn him!' But from the fire Allah delivered him. Surely in this there are signs for true believers." 29:24

"'Fire', We said, 'be cool to Ibrahim and keep him safe." - Qulna ya naru koonee bardan wasalaman AAala Ibraheema - Quran 21:69

Prophet Ibrahim's life is a sign and an example to us. His trust in Allah and willingness to submit to Him with the sacrifice of his dearest possession was a severe trial turned manifest example. If one sees the esoteric view of this series of events, it is readily evident that when Ibrahim was willing to fulfil Allah's command of giving up his dear son, Allah did not really need or want his son as Ismail had been granted to him in old age 11:69-71, - it was a test. And Ismail, by readily agreeing to his father's need to obey the command of Allah, relieved the burden Ibrahim must have felt. Both father and son submitted to the Will of Allah.

Then Allah gives a hundred-fold...

In reality, blood wasn't shed, but life was made even more valuable with the knowledge of Allah's pleasure in their willingness to comply. It is the same with our Dasond and other offerings made in the name of Allah. We are only offering back what was granted to us. After all, we are Ismailis!

This event in history gave birth to Eid-ul Adha - Festival of Sacrifice, where Muslims all over the world remember the tough sacrifice Hazrat Ibrahim had to make and was rewarded by Allah by sparing Ismail and making him an example for us to follow in our lives - when we choose to submit to His will, all ends well.

Eid-ul Adha is celebrated on the 10th of the month of Zul-Hijja after pilgrims complete their Hajj to Kabbah and follow the footsteps of Bibi Hajar when she was left in the valley of Mecca with Ismail by Hazrat Ibrahim. Families and Jamat get together to recite the morning prayers and then there is feasting, exchange of gifts and rejoicing.

I thought it would be helpful, here, to give the Muslim-Christian names of the Prophets believed by the Ahl-e Kitab as I build my web site with more and more stories from the Holy Quran. Quiz to follow soon... If I've missed any, please fill me in.

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Inside AdSense: The AdSense revenue share


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Inside AdSense: The AdSense revenue share

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peace tv


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