Sunday, 22 August 2010

Ramadan Pointers

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Ramadan Pointers
The bounties and opportunities of Ramadan are many and unlimited yet the number of days we have to take advantage of it are few and limited.

Patience

…those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!¹

Patience is inseparable from the purpose of Ramadan. Scholars mention four areas where patience is required: fulfilling acts of obedience to Allah; refraining from prohibitions; bearing trials and tribulations; and preserving one’s heart and intellect from misguidance. Fasting allows us to exercise and develop all these types of patience.

For Days Passed By!

Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past!²

Al-Hasan al-Basri is reported to have said, ‘The Hur al-'Ayn will say to a wali of Allah whilst reclining with her by a river of honey and being presented with a cup, "Allah looked upon you on a very long hot day, experiencing severe thirst and so Allah boasted about you before the Angels saying, 'Look at my slave, he has forsaken his wife, desire, pleasure, food and drink for my sake and for what is with me, bear witness that I have forgiven him!' So he forgave you that day and wed me to you".'

The All-Seer

The fasting day is much longer this year and it will get even longer with the years to come. This creates more difficulty for everyone, especially those at work. It is important to realise that we are all under the watchful gaze of the One who is above us all and that He is reserving our reward for us and soon enough we will find that reward with great happiness and joy. This is a matter we should often remind ourselves of throughout the day especially when we feel the pangs of hunger; when we fast all the while being conscious that Allah is watching us, our rewards multiply.

A Private Affair

The fast is a secret between the slave and his Lord, no one knows about the difficulty and hardship the fasting person is going through except Allah. He is the one who determines the reward, and His bounty is unlimited! Allah’s Messenger said, ‘Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said, 'Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me.' Fasting is a type of communication with Allah just as prayer is. It is as though we are calling out to Him, ‘I am only doing this action that no one knows about except for you. And this action that I do, even though I am doing it, it belongs to you.’

Striving to Win

Abu Musa al-‘Ashari is an example of one who came before us who truly understood the rewards and virtues of fasting and would love to increase his worship of Allah. He said, ‘Allah decreed upon Himself that whoever goes thirsty for Him on a hot day, that He would grant him water on the Day of Judgement.”³ Abu Musa would often fast and choose days that were hot and long.

The Highest Objective

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa (piety).⁴

We fast in order to attain taqwa. One scholar defined it in the following manner, ‘Taqwa is to act in obedience to Allah, upon a light from Allah, hoping for reward from Allah; and to abandon disobedience of Allah, upon a light from Allah, fearing punishment from Allah.’⁵

The Glorious Qur’an

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).”⁶

It is almost as though Allah is telling us that we should shift our focus and efforts during the holy month of Ramadan to reading the Qur’an. This is what some of the past scholars did as they would stop delivering lectures and answering questions. Many of them completed it dozens of times during this blessed month. This is a great opportunity for us to become more proficient in our recitation and ponder much over the Quran.

Translating Guidance

We should read the Quran with its translation as this will help us to understand what Allah is saying to us and will aid us in learning the Arabic words that appear in the Quran often. Reading the Quran is not enough; we must understand and ponder over it. This is why Allah said it is guidance for mankind so that we know what is right and what is wrong. Only when we know what is being read can we take it as a source of guidance. An easy step to take in this regard is to simply select a small portion of your daily recitation and read the English whilst following the Arabic. By doing this every Ramadan one can really build up their Quranic Arabic vocabulary.

Intimacy of Tawheed

“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.”⁷

This verse is among the same set that commands us with fasting; as we read the words of Our Lord and comply with what is asked from us, we should also ask Him what we need and want from Him. We should feel close to Allah in this month more so than any other month. As Allah speaks to us through his words in His book, we should speak to Allah in our supplications.

Whenever people questioned the Prophet about a matter and Allah addressed it in the Qur’an he would start by saying, ‘Qul’ (Say) Yet, when Allah was asked about Himself as in this ayah, he did not say, ‘Qul’. This shows us that we do not need to go through anyone to reach Allah and ask of Him, emphasising the greatness and importance of His Oneness. This also shows us how close Allah is to us. Allah also expresses His nearness to us by attaching the slave to Himself, ‘And when My slave asks you.’ This also shows the great heights a human being can reach by being a slave of Allah. Other verses refer to the slave as though they are distant and many, whilst here the slaves are being addressed as being near and as one individual.

So we know how close Allah is to us and that He promised to respond to His slave. Now imagine that this slave is fasting and the Prophet has told us that the supplication of the fasting Muslim will not be rejected!⁸. The bounties and opportunities of Ramadan are many and unlimited yet the number of days we have to take advantage of it are few and limited.

Let us make this Ramadan different to all our previous ones. They say that actions speak louder than words, so let your actions (worship) therefore be as though you are speaking to your Lord.

^{^{___________________________________________________________}}Notes:

source: www.islam21c.com

[1] Surah Al-Zumar verse 10[2] al-Haaqqah verse 24[3] Al-Bazzar and declared hasan by Al-Albani in Sahih al-Targhib, Vol 1 pg 412
[4] Surah Al Baqarah, 2:183[5] Talq Ibn Habib, related by Ibn Abi Shaybah in Kitaab al-Iman (no. 99)
[6] Surah Al Baqarah, 2:185
[7] Surah Al Baqarah, 2:
[8] Al-Tirmidhi

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:
"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind: Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE, Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE." [Ahmad]

Fasting: Ibn Qayyim

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

…Let us return to the commentary on the hadith of Harith, where he Prophet speaks of what will rescue a servant from the Foe:

“And [God] enjoins upon you the fast. Verily, the similitude of that is a man carrying a sack-full of musk in a crowd of people, all of them marvelling at its fragrance—for the breath of someone fasting is more fragrant to God, Most High, than the scent of musk.” [Tirmidhi,Amthal, 2790; Ibn Hanbal, Musnad, 16542.]

The Prophet uses the image of someone carrying a sack-full of musk concealed from view, hidden under his garments, after the habit of those who carry musk. Fasting is, likewise, hidden from the eyes of men and unperceived by their senses.

The fasting person's limbs fast from sins; his tongue fasts from lies, base language and false witness; his stomach fasts from food and drink; and his pudenda fast from union. If he speaks, he says nothing to violate his fast; and if he acts, he does nothing to spoil his fast. All his speech is salutary and wholesome, as are his deeds—like the fragrance one smells while sitting next to the bearer of musk. Anyone who sits with a fasting person benefits from his presence and is safe from false witness, lies, base language and wrongdoing. This is the fast prescribed by the Sacred Law, not simply abstinence from eating and drinking.

Hence, a sound hadih states:

“When someone does not refrain from speaking falsely and the action that springs from it and from ignorance, God does not need him to refrain from food and drink.” [Bukhari, Adab, 5597; Ibn Maja, Siyam, 1679; also in Bukhari, Sawm, 1770, without the word ‘ignorance’]

And in [another] hadith:

“Some who fast obtain nothing from it but hunger and thirst.” [Ibn Hanbal, Musnad, 8501, with the ending ‘And some may stand for prayer at night and receive nothing from it but sleeplessness.’ Also in Bahyaqi, Shu`ab al-Iman, 3542, with ‘standing at night’ mentioned first.]

True fasting is when the limbs fast from sin and the stomach fasts from food and drink. As food and drink can break the fast or spoil it, so sins can cut off its reward and spoil its fruits, as if one had not fasted at all.

Taken from Islaam.net

The Six Realizations of Tawakkul

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

TAWAKKUL is an attitude. I have found this to be a simple and true way of defining what reliance on Allah and trusting Him means. That is its nature. We possess tawakkul only if it is actually consciously present in our hearts and minds at all times, like a second nature. It is there whether we suffer major life setbacks or soar in an inexpressible moment of bliss and facility. Tawakkul is no “now and again” mood. That kind of emotional or spiritual spike is typical of all people.

Tawakkul is special, the direct result of true eman in Allah, certainty in the Hereafter, and continuous remembrance of both. This “attitude” leads to six convictions.

1. Allah has put me in this world temporarily for a test, and all of my good and bad circumstances are part of the test.

2. The test is about my performance in given situations, not about how good or bad my conditions are. Regardless of the circumstances I encounter, the test is about how well exhaust all my efforts in achieving the objective of the religion Allah has prescribed for me to attain His pleasure.

3. My success depends on the quality of my belief (in terms of relevance, wisdom, propriety, tactics, strategy, and sincerity) and its quantifiable expression, the amount of effort I put in my striving toward Allah, not on the material results they appear to produce, regardless of what kind of good or bad circumstances I happen to encounter.

4. Whatever Allah has commanded me to do and the objectives He wants me to achieve are the best things for me in this world and in the Hereafter. My duty is to continue steadfastly on the task Allah has assigned to me, utilizing every lawful tool humanly possible and doing my earnest best, without worrying about the results, leaving that totally to Allah.

5. Real success is attaining the pleasure of Allah, not the results in this world. Whether my efforts bear any visible effect in this world or not, I must persist upon my course.

6. Whatever hardships, tests, trials and suffering I undergo in my service to Him during this earthly sojourn are all part of His plan for my ultimate success. Enduring them with contentment, with neither a word of complaint nor being disheartened in any way, is a part of my task as His slave, and I do so for His pleasure.

These convictions produce a winning state of mind. The believer feels, “Because I truly believe in Allah and am doing what He wants me to do, He is with me, guarding me, and accepting my efforts. He will not let my endeavours be in vain, allow me to fail, or leave me unsupported. No one can do anything to me that is not already part of His plan for me as His slave. Regardless of what transpires in this world, the ultimate success is mine, as long as I am truly committed to His work. If I keep the right attitude, come what may, I will be successful."

The Prophet (PBUH) said: “How wonderful it is for a believer that he always ends up with goodness. If he suffers and remains steadfast, it is rewarding. If good things happen and he thanks Allah, that is also rewarding.” (Muslim).

It is a totally liberating, empowering state of mind that a true believer attains because of his trust in and reliance on the power, authority, help and support of Allah. He feels contentment in serving Allah, with little care for the results that Allah alone decrees for his untiring efforts. This brings tranquility to the heart, courage to the psyche, and an unparalleled resilience to one’s nature.

This is why the believer cannot be scared by threats of loss, pressured into giving up, made to compromise, compelled to give in, bought out of his Islamic mission, or forced into submission by any enemy, tyrant, power, or authority.

Of those who have tawakkul, Allah makes the truest observation—which is also the most comforting promise: {Whoever relies on Allah, then He is sufficient for him.} (65:3).

And never does Allah fail His Promise.

Taken from: IdealMuslimah.com

Friday, 20 August 2010

Ramadaan: Leader of all Months

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah Who made the succession of day and night a lesson for those who reflect. I thank him for his bountiful blessings and I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah. I equally testify that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him, his household and companions who are the people of righteousness and piety.
Dear brothers and sisters, It should be known that physical and spiritual felicity can only be attained by subjecting ones heart and body to the worship of Allaah and that it is through worshipping Allaah in complete sincerity that this world can be of no importance.

Dear brothers and sisters, it is a manifestation of Allaah’s mercy on His slaves that He ordained fasting for them in order to purify them from excessive tastes and to cleanse their hearts from lustful things. These days, Muslims all over the world are receiving the month of Ramadaan; leader of all months; the month of forgiveness, merits and gifts; the month that gladdens the hearts of righteous people. No wonder that a pious man said in his death bed giving a reason for his weeping:

“I am only weeping for the fact that people will continue to be fasting and performing prayers after my death while I will no longer be in a position to do likewise.”

Leader of all Nights

Ramadaan is the month that contains the leader of all nights; a night that is better than a thousand months. Whoever spends the night in prayers with faith and hoping for Allaah’s reward will have all his past sins forgiven. Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“When the month of Ramadaan enters, gates of Paradise are opened, gates of Hell are closed and devils are chained.” (Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).

Its time for night prayers

Dear brothers and sisters, whoever wants eternal prosperity should endeavor to worship Allaah and do good deeds sincerely. For, good deeds without sincere intention is of no use. Also, it is a glory for a believer to wake up in the night and perform prayers for, the best prayer after the obligatory ones are the prayers performed in the night. In fact, righteous people do compete with each other to make use of its darkness for doing acts of Ibaadah that bring them closer to Allaah and they loved this world only because of its nights. Aboo Sulaymaan Ad-Daaraanee said:

“By Allaah! If not because of waking up in the night and performing prayers, I would not have loved this world; for, the night is precious because of its darkness and performing the prayers during the night is one of the characteristics of righteous people.”

Al-Hasan Al-Basree said:

“Nobody abandons night prayers except that it is regarded as a punishment for a sin he has committed.”

Supplication: a link

You should also endeavor to supplicate to Allaah during the nights of this noble month because, supplication is the link between man and his Lord; it is an effortlessly clear profit and easy booty; it prevents calamities and brings forth Allaah’s treasures and bounties. By supplicating to Allaah during the night, He answers by granting the request generously for, His Hands never get tired of giving.

Qur'an : The best speech

There is no way to Allaah’s pleasure except through Qur'an.It is revealed in the best of all months. The best way you can spend your time during this month is to recite the Qur’aan as frequently as possible. Read it, reflect on its meaning and work by its injunctions. This is because the Qur’aan contains admonitions and lessons that increase one’s humility and humbleness.

Increase your ranks

As regards charity, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم was the most generous of all people and his generosity manifested most during the month of Ramadaan. Whenever he gave, he gave in plenty as if he had no fear of poverty. He would never be asked of anything except that he gave it unless if he did not have it. Charity, has its positive effects on the giver. It causes blessings to his wealth and children, prevents calamities and brings forth bliss. Ramadaan is a month of charity.

Ibnul-Qayyim said:

“Nothing brings Allaah’s blessings and prevents His punishment than obeying Him, moving closer to Him through acts of Ibaadah and being kind to His creatures.”

Therefore, spend in charity for, charity elevates one’s rank in front of Allaah and know that, man is going to stay under the shade of his charity on the Day of Resurrection.

Repentence

Dear brothers and sisters, make good preparation for this honorable month because it is a transient visitor. Receive it with a sincere repentance and spend your time during the month is acts of obedience to your Lord.

Increase you Reward

Further, try to perform ‘Umrah during Ramadaan for, a ‘Umrah during Ramadaan is equivalent in reward to a Hajj performed with the Messenger of Allaah. Also, provide food for fasting Muslims for whoever does that gets an equivalent of their reward without causing any deduction to the reward of the fasting Muslims.

Follow the Sunnah

I‘tikaaf (seclusion in a mosque for the purpose of worshipping Allaah alone) is also a Sunnah that should be kept during the last ten days of Ramadaan. Ibn Shihaab said:

“It is a strange thing that Muslims should abandon I‘tikaaf while the Messenger of Allaah e never skipped it right from the time he entered Madeenah until his death.”

Join the Cord

Use the period of this noble month to join the cord of kinship (by keeping good relations with your kith and kin). Also repent sincerely to Allaah as long as the door of repentance is still open. Be cautious of undesirable end because leaving this world is actually painful.

Source: Islaam.net

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:
"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

Wednesday, 11 August 2010

[Nasheed Vid] Welcome Ramadan by Mishary Rasheed

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Ramadhan Mubarak!!! (1431/2010)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

The Coordination Committee of Major Islamic Centres and Mosques of London have agreed that 1st Ramadan 1431 will be on

Wednesday 11th August 2010.

Saturday, 24 July 2010

Link: Ramadhan Reminders

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Click here...

Practical Tips in Preparation for Ramadan

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Allah Almighty says,

(The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong).)

(Al-Baqarah 2: 185)

Every Muslim should prepare himself to welcome the blessed month of Ramadan by strengthening his relationship with the Qur’an, busing himself with the spirit of fasting, and recharging his spiritual battery to prepare himself to make the whole blessed month of Ramadan a real occasion of sincere obedience.

Responding to the question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a Senior Lecturer and Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada states:

Ramadan is an event that occurs in the life of the faithful, as individuals and as an Ummah, once a year. It is intended by Allah to help us to recharge our spiritual batteries and thus prepare us for the great mission of realizing His will on earth. Therefore, in order to benefit from Ramadan, we may do well to prepare for it by opening our hearts and minds to embrace it. Let me offer a few tips:

1. We should empower ourselves by learning as much as we can about the precise laws as well as the benefits of fasting.

2. We should ensure that we gain true benefits from our fasting, let us make sure to realize the spirit of fasting: this can only be done by abstaining, not only from food, drink, and sex, but also by strictly restraining our minds, hearts as well as our eyes, ears, hands, tongue, and so on.

3.We must embrace the spirit of fasting as stressed in Hadith: to be charitable and compassionate as much as we can.

4. We should strengthen our relationship with the Qur’an; for Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an.

5. We should engage in dhikr and condition ourselves to make it second nature.

6. Last but not least, we should build up our community through acts of charity and compassion and extending help to those in need as much as we can.

Let us pray that we come out of Ramadan with our faith recharged, gaining strength in our faith and commitment and relationship with Allah.

- How to Prepare Oneself for Ramadan

- How Do Muslims Welcome Ramadan?

- A Piece of Advice to Welcome Ramadan

- Tips to Benefit Optimally from Ramadan

- Tips to Attain Spiritual Fulfillment

- Tips and Steps to Increase Taqwa (Piety)

Tuesday, 1 June 2010

Action Alert: Palestine – Israeli commandos open fire on Gaza aid ships

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Action Alert: Palestine – Israeli commandos open fire on Gaza aid ships

Monday, 31 May 2010 16:00

The commandos forcefully took control of the ships and opened fire when they met passive non-violent resistance from the Activists.
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[photo:arabnews.com]

Islamic Human Rights Commission
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31 May 2010

Action Alert: Palestine – Israeli commandos open fire on Gaza aid ships

Contents
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action required
4. Sample letter
5. Addresses for sample letter

1. Summary

6 ships carrying 10,000 tones of aid with 700 passengers came under fire by Israeli forces in the early hours of the morning. The commandos forcefully took control of the ships and opened fire when they met passive non-violent resistance from the Activists. 20 people are said to have been killed and hundreds more injured.

2. Background

The United Nations estimates that less than a quarter of the required aid for the Palestinian people reaches them as a result of the humanitarian blockade imposed by Israel. The flotilla of ships carried the much needed aid to the Palestinians in an attempt to alleviate their sufferings. The aid includes 5000 tonnes of food, reconstruction materials, school supplies and medical equipment.

The flotilla carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid were heading towards Gaza when they were fired on by Israeli forces.
Volunteers came from 60 countries and included 27 British citizens and humanitarians from Ireland, America, Greece, Kuwait, Turkey, Belgium and elsewhere around the globe. The Israeli helicopters were said to have fired on the ships before deploying their commandos on the deck of the ships. The activists attempted passive resistance to the commandos who then opened fire on the innocent, unarmed men, women and children. The attack on the flotilla took place in international waters and is illegal and an act of piracy according to international law.

20 people have been confirmed dead in this massacre and hundreds more injured. It is been reported that Raed Salah Head of Islamic Movement in Israel has been killed and Al Jazeera correspondent Jamal el Shayyal is missing since he last reported on the situation on Mavi Marmara.

IHRC urges countries to expel their Israeli ambassadors, cut all military and economic relations with Israel and support the boycott, divestment and sanction movement. IHRC is also disappointed at the lack of strong condemnation from the international community and the UN as there cannot be any excuse for armed forces opening fire on unarmed civilians.

3. Action required

Write to the following authorities requesting them to expel Israeli ambassadors and cut political and economic ties with Israel.

a) British Foreign Minister, campaigners will find the appropriate address, fax and email on the sample letter below,

b) US Secretary of State

c) President of the European Commission

4. Sample letter
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Sample letters are given below for your convenience. Please note that model letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to include further details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we request you to send a copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to IHRC. This is extremely important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with regards to our campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters. It is preferable that letters be sent via post, or otherwise by fax and/or email.

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a) Minister of foreign affairs in your country. (UK campaigners can write using the address supplied below, fax: +44 (0)20 7839 2417 or email: private.office@fco.gov.uk )

[Your name]
[Your address]

[Date]

Rt. Hon. William Hague MP
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London, SW1A 2AH, UK

Dear Mr Hague,

Re: Israeli commandos open fire on Gaza aid ships

I am absolutely outraged at the recent attack and killings of unarmed civilian men, women and children aboard the Flotilla. 6 ships carrying 10,000 tones of aid with 700 passengers came under fire by Israeli forces in the early hours of the morning. The commandos forcefully took control of the ships and opened fire when they met passive non-violent resistance from the Activists. 20 people are said to have been killed and hundreds more injured.

The United Nations estimates that less than a quarter of the required aid for the Palestinian people reaches them as a result of the humanitarian blockade imposed by Israel. The flotilla of ships carried the much needed aid to the Palestinians in an attempt to alleviate their sufferings. The aid includes 5000 tonnes of food, reconstruction materials, school supplies and medical equipment.

The flotilla carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid were heading towards Gaza when they were fired on by Israeli forces.
Volunteers came from 60 countries and included 27 British citizens and humanitarians from Ireland, America, Greece, Kuwait, Turkey, Belgium and elsewhere around the globe. The Israeli helicopters were said to have fired on the ships before deploying their commandos on the deck of the ships. The activists attempted passive resistance to the commandos who then opened fire on the innocent, unarmed men, women and children. The attack on the flotilla took place in international waters and is illegal and an act of piracy according to international law.

20 people have been confirmed dead in this massacre and hundreds more injured. It is been reported that Raed Salah Head of Islamic Movement in Israel has been killed and Al Jazeera correspondent Jamal el Shayyal is missing since he last reported on the situation on Mavi Marmara ship.

I urge you to cut all military and economic ties with Israel as well as expel the Israeli ambassador. You have a responsibility to ensure that international law is respected and unlawful killing is prevented. Israel needs to a hear a strong and uncompromising message from the international community that its crimes against humanity will not be tolerated.

I look forward to hearing back from regarding these urgent matters.

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature]
[Your name]

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5. Addresses for sample letters

b) Minister of foreign affairs in the U.S

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
U.S. Department of State
1825 K Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington DC, 20006

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c) President of the European Commission

José Manuel Barroso
President of the European Commission
1049 Brussels, Belgium

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For more information, please contact the office on the numbers or email below

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IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Please help IHRC by visiting http://www.ihrc.org.uk/catalog and making a donation or buying an item from our on-line store.

If you want to subscribe to the IHRC list please send an email to subscribe@ihrc.org

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If you are reusing this alert, please cite the source.

For more information, please contact the office on the numbers or email below.

"And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper."
Holy Qur'an: Chapter 4, Verse 75

Join the Struggle for Justice. Join IHRC.

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Last Updated ( Monday, 31 May 2010 17:39 )

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Saturday, 8 May 2010

Words of Wisdom from Prophet Muhammad

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Words of Wisdom from Prophet Muhammad

Fifty hadiths selected by Dr. Shahid Athar

1.. "Acquire knowledge, it enables its professor to distinguish right from wrong; it lights the way to heaven. It is our friend in the desert, our company in solitude and companion when friendless. It guides us to happiness, it sustains us in misery, it is an ornament amongst friends and an armour against enemies." (widely attributed to the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh))

2.. "A Muslim who plants a tree or sows a field, from which man, birds and animals can eat, is committing an act of charity." (Muslim)

3.. "There is a polish for everything that takes away rust; and the polish for the heart is the remembrance of Allah." (Bukhari)

4.. "What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured." (Bukhari)

5.. "The most excellent Jihad is that for the conquest of self." (Bukhari)

6.. "If you put your whole trust in Allah, as you ought, He most certainly will satisfy your needs, as He satisfies those of the birds. They come out hungry in the morning, but return full to their nests." (Tirmidhi)

7.. "When Allah created his creatures He wrote above His throne: 'Verily, my Compassion overcomes my wrath." (Bukhari & Muslim)

8.. "Allah will not give mercy to anyone, except those who give mercy to other creatures." (Abdullah b. Amr: Abu Daud & Tirmidhi)

9.. " 'Son, if you are able, keep your heart from morning till night and from night till morning free from malice towards anyone.' Then the Prophet said: 'O my son! This is one of my laws, and he, who loves my laws verily loves me.' " (Bukhari)

10.. "Say what is true, although it may be bitter and displeasing to people." (Baihaqi)

11.. "Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever is not kind has no faith." (Muslim)

12.. "When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, look to those, who have been given less." (Muslim)

13.. "If you do not feel ashamed of anything, then you can do whatever you like." (Abu-Masud: Bukhari)

14.. "O Lord, grant me your love, grant me that I love those who love you; grant me, that I might do the deeds that win your love. Make your love dearer to me than the love of myself, my family and wealth." (Tirmidhi)

15.. "It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad; and it is better still to sit with the good than alone. It is better to speak to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent; but silence is better than idle words." (Bukhari)

16.. "Verily, a man teaching his child manners is better than giving one bushel of grain in alms." (Muslim)

17.. "Whoever is kind, Allah will be kind to him; therefore be kind to man on the earth. He Who is in heaven will show mercy on you."(Abu Daud: Tirmidhi)

18.. "It is difficult for a man laden with riches to climb the steep path, that leads to bliss." (Muslim)

19.. "Once a man, who was passing through a road, found a branch of a tree with torns obstructing it. The man removed the thorns from the way. Allah thanked him and forgave his sins." (Bukhari)

20.. "Who are the learned? Those who practice what they know." (Bukhari)

21.. "Allah has revealed to me, that you must be humble. No one should boast over one another, and no one should oppress another." (Iyad b. Hinar al-Mujashi: Muslim)

22.. "Who is the most favoured of Allah? He, from whom the greatest good comes to His creatures." (Bukhari)

23.. "A true Muslim is thankful to Allah in prosperity, and resigned to His will in adversity." (Muslim)

24.. "A Muslim who meets with others and shares their burdens is better than one who lives a life of seclusion and contemplation." (Muslim)

25.. "Serve Allah, as you would if you could see Him; although you cannot see Him, He can see you. (Umar: Muslim)

26.. "Allah does not look at your appearance or your possessions; but He looks at your heart and your deeds." (Abu Huraira: Muslim)

27.. "The best richness is the richness of the soul." (at the field ofTabuk, Syria, Rajab 9 A.H.: Bukhari)

28.. "Keep yourselves far from envy; because it eats up and takes away good actions, like a fire eats up and burns wood." (Abu Daud)

29.. "Much silence and a good disposition, there are no two things better than these." (Bukhari)

30.. "Verily, Allah is mild and is fond of mildness, and He gives to the mild what He does not give to the harsh." (Muslim)

31.. "Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him." (Bukhari)

32.. "Once the Prophet was asked:'Tell us, which action is dearest to Allah?' He answered:'To say your prayer at its proper time.' Again he was asked: 'What comes next?' Mohammed said: 'To show kindness to parents.' 'Then what?' he was asked, 'To strive for the cause of Allah!' " (Ibn Masad: Bukhari)

33.. "When two persons are together, two of them must no whisper to each other, without letting the third hear; because it would hurt him." (Bukhari & Muslim)

34.. "Verily, it is one of the respects to Allah to honor an old man." (Bukhari)

35.. "All Muslims are like a foundation, each strengthening the other; in such a way they do support each other." (Abu Musa: Bukhari & Muslim)

36.. "Strive always to excel in virtue and truth." (Bukhari)

37.. "You will not enter paradise until you have faith; and you will not complete your faith till you love one another." (Muslim)

38.. "He, who wishes to enter paradise at the best gate, must please his father and mother." (Bukhari & Muslim)

39.. "I am leaving two things among you, and if you cling to them firmly you will never go astray; one is the Book of Allah and the other is my way of life." (Farewell Pilgrimage: Muatta)

40.. "Allah is One and likes Unity." (Muslim)

41.. "The best of alms is that, which the right hand gives and the left hand knows not of." (Bukhari)

42.. "The perfect Muslim is not a perfect Muslim, who eats till he is full and leaves his neighbors hungry." (Ibn Abbas: Baihaqi)

43.. "He is not of us who is not affectionate to the little ones, and does not respect the old; and he is not of us, who does not order which is lawful, and prohibits that which is unlawful." (Ibn Abbas: Tirmidhi)

44.. "No man is a true believer unless he desires for his brother that, what he desires for himself." (Abu Hamza Anas: Bukhari & Muslim)

45.. "To strive for the cause of Allah from daybreak to noon and sunset is better than the goods and enjoyment of the whole worldly life." (Bukhari)

46.. "Be not like the hypocrite who, when he talks, tells lies; when he gives a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he proves dishonest." (Bukhari & Muslim)

47.. "The proof of a Muslim's sincerity is, that he pays no heed to that, which is not his business." (Abu Hureira: Tirmidhi)

48.. "Do you know what is better than charity and fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind." (Muslims & Bukhari)

49.. "Conduct yourself in this world, as if you are here to stay forever; prepare for eternity as if you have to die tomorrow." (Bukhari)

50.. "The worldly comforts are not for me. I am like a traveller, who takes a rest under a tree in the shade and then goes on his way." (Tirmidhi)

Shahid Athar M.D. is Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Indiana University School of Medicine Indianapolis, Indiana, and a writer on Islam.

Read other articles by Dr Shahid Athar here.

Tuesday, 27 April 2010