Logging life

Zikr of Allah

2012-05-01T20:24:00.001-04:00

Among all the ibadaat, only zikr has no limit to it. But of course what use is zikr if we don't have fikr? In the following verse there is a warning for those who don't do zikr. Today's age when we have limited free time it is all the more important to take some time out to read Qur'an with meaning and understanding and setting some time apart for zikr and fikr. And whoever turns himself away

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Female birth

2012-04-17T23:38:00.000-04:00

Regarding births, Allah mentions female before male child but then in the next verse about twin births He first mentions males even though it seems female twin births are more common. To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He creates what he wills. He gives to whom He wills female [children], and He gives to whom He wills males. Or He makes them [both] males and females,

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Revenge or patience?

2012-04-08T10:34:00.000-04:00

Sahih International : Surah Shoora [36:43] So whatever thing you have been given - it is but [for] enjoyment of the worldly life. But what is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who have believed and upon their Lord rely. And those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, and when they are angry, they forgive. And those who have responded to their lord and established prayer

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Inter-faith dialogue

2012-03-16T18:08:00.000-04:00

When the fuel of so much violence around us is religion then we have to take lead in talking to other faith communities. Muslims are confused about inter-faith dialogues, many take that as an opportunity for giving dawah but the goal should be to develop a better understanding. This verse provides a good basis for Muslims to enter into interfaith dialogues. So to that [religion of Allah ]

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Answer evil with good

2012-03-02T18:29:00.000-05:00

The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend. [Surah Ha-meem sajda : 36] Pickthall translation

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Creation in six days

2012-02-26T09:58:00.000-05:00

Surah Fussilat or Ha-meem Sajdah : 9 -12 http://quran.com/41/9-12 Say, "Do you indeed disbelieve in He who created the earth in two days and attribute to Him equals? That is the Lord of the worlds." And He placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance in four days without distinction - for [the information] of

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this world's life

2012-02-01T05:50:00.000-05:00

Islam has come for this world and the next and Allah's help is not just a promise for the hereafter but in this life too. Most surely We help Our messengers, and those who believe, in this world's life and on the day when the witnesses shall stand. [Surah Mu'min : 51] Shakir therefore we are asked to pray for both this life and the hereafter dua : رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً

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How to call Allah

2012-01-21T17:34:00.001-05:00

So invoke Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, although the disbelievers dislike it. [Al-Mu'min : 14] Sahih International and when you do call Allah with sincerety : And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible. [Al-Mu'min : 60] Sahih International

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Examples in Quran

2012-01-08T07:17:00.000-05:00

Why do we have so many examples, parables, similitude in Quran? And We have certainly presented for the people in this Qur'an from every [kind of] example - that they might remember. [Az-Zumar: 27] translation: Sahih International

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Quranic affect

2012-01-02T15:40:00.000-05:00

Why do we read Quran and what should be the immediate and long-term impact of its reading on the readers? Quran explains the immediate affect of reading: Allah has sent down the best statement, a Book (this Quran), its parts resembling each other in goodness and truth, oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and

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Auliya

2011-12-21T06:52:00.000-05:00

Auliya in Arabic means friend, helper, or protector. In Sufism, those who have reached high level of God-consciousness are called Auliya-Allah or friends of Allah. These are important people and no harm in visiting their graves and praying for them. But more often than not their graves (dargaahs) become a place to to plead and ask them for favors. Allah in Az-Zumar verse 3 in fact uses the word

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Governance in Islam

2011-07-23T19:37:00.001-04:00

In the following verse, Allah tells Prophet Daud (alaihe salaam) that I have made you a khalifa in the earth ( خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ ) so govern among people (فَاحْكُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ ) with truth (justice) and do not follow your own desire ( بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَىٰ ). I find it significant that Allah tells Prophet Daud to govern among people and not rule over the people which

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In case of emergency, break glass

2011-07-08T22:38:00.000-04:00

In Surah Saffat, mentioning the story of Yunus, how he fled from his nation, then while crossing the river, his ship was caught in a storm and his name came up in the lots and he was thrown overboard then a ship swallowed him, Allah says that he may have remained there had he not been doing the tasbeeh. And had he not been of those who exalt Allah. He would have remained inside its belly until

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Lord of the easts

2011-06-19T12:29:00.001-04:00

In Surah As-Saffat, Allah declares Himself as Rabb-ul-Mashaariq i.e. Lord of the easts. Not sure why most translators have translated it as the Lord of the sunrises. But if we stick to original Arabic then question arises east from where? is it east from the reader's perspective or east of Hijaz? Also, how many easts are there? As-Saaffat Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all that is

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Loss-proof business

2011-05-05T22:29:00.000-04:00

Those who rehearse the Book of Allah, establish regular Prayer, and spend (in Charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a Commerce that will never fail: [Al-Fatir: 29] سورة فَاطِر جو لوگ الله تعالیٰ کی تلاوت (مع العمل) کرتے رہتے ہیں اورنماز کی پابندی رکھتے ہیں اور جو کچھ ہم نے ان کو عطا فرمایا ہے اس میں سے پوشیدہ اور علانیہ خرچ کرتے ہیں وہ ایسی تجارت کے

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Who is an aalim?

2011-05-02T19:58:00.000-04:00

Quran says ulema are those who fear Allah. And they fear Allah because they contemplate on natural phenomena. So if look at these two verses then it is clear that ulema are not those who read and memorize Islamic books but scientists who think about and investigate nature around them. Beholdest thou not that Allah sendeth down water from the heaven, and then We thereby bring fruit of diverse

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Long commute

2011-04-17T08:33:00.000-04:00

Then they said: Our Lord make the distance between our journeys longer. And they wronged themselves. Wherefore We made them by words and dispersed them with a total dispersion. Verily herein are signs for every persevering, grateful persons. [Saba: 19] سورة سَبَإ سو وہ کہنے لگے کہ اے ہمارے پروردگار ہمارے سفروں میں درازی کر دے اور (علاوہ اس ناشکری کے) انہوں نے (اور بھی نافرمانیاں کر کے) اپنی

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Straight talk

2011-04-04T20:16:00.000-04:00

Al-Ahzab O ye who believe! Guard your duty to Allah, and speak words straight to the point; (70) سورة الاٴحزَاب اے ایمان والو الله سے ڈرو اور راستی کی بات کہو۔ (۷۰)

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Send blessings on the Prophet

2011-03-19T11:42:00.000-04:00

Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation. (Al-Ahzab: 56) [translation: dariyabadi] سورة الاٴحزَاب بے شک الله تعالیٰ اور اس کے فرشتے رحمت بھیجتے ہیں ان پیغمبر پر اے ایمان والو تم بھی آپ پر رحمت بھیجا کرو اور خوب سلام بھیجا کرو۔ (۵۶) [tarjuma: Thanwi]

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Muslims of Gujarat: The real picture

2010-12-27T12:15:00.000-05:00

Gujarat government has made many claims about vibrant Gujarat. Recently, it has also made claims that Muslims in Gujarat are in much better condition that many other states of India. When Narendra Modi’s newspaper ad in Bihar was found to be using image of the UP Muslims, BJP spokesperson claimed that facts about minorities of Gujarat remain the same. He said his party is ready to debate the data

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Book review: Islamism and Democracy in India

2010-12-27T12:12:00.000-05:00

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind of today is not the same organization that Abu Ala Maudidi launched in 1941. Starting with the aim of establishing Islamic governance, its purpose and role in India has slowly changed to the Jamaat becoming a champion of secularism and democracy. Its detractors will say that this apparent change in Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) is just tactical, but researcher Irfan Ahmad’s

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Positive stereotyping

2010-12-27T12:08:00.002-05:00

Stereotyping is an oversimplified image or representation. One image is meant to represent all members of that group or community. It helps in identification but offers no individuality or scope for diversity that exists within that group. When you see news stories about Muslims on TV it is often accompanied by images of burqa clad women and men with cap and beard. In both cases visuals are

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Badshah Khan's hundred-year-old message of peace

2010-12-27T12:06:00.000-05:00

"There is nothing surprising in a Muslim or a Pathan like me subscribing to the creed of nonviolence. It is not a new creed. It was followed 1,400 years ago by the Prophet all the time when he was in Mecca.” - Badshah Khan A hundred years ago, a young Pathan of just 20 years of age, established a modern school to bring education to his people. Concerned about poverty, ignorance, and violence

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Fatwas: the big picture

2010-12-27T12:02:00.002-05:00

An analysis of randomly selected Deoband fatwas Fatwas have been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Headlines and news reports give readers the impression that muftis who issue these fatwas are working against heavy odds to keep Muslims backward and that most of their energy is spent on keeping women in check. The realty is far from what media, liberal Muslims or even Muslim scholars would

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Everybody loves a bad fatwa

2010-12-27T11:54:00.000-05:00

Everybody loves a bad fatwa. And why not? It fills column space for newpapers; It brings in viewers for Television channels; it plays into the image of Muslims as a backward community for communalists; and it gives activists a chance to reinforce their secular credentials. Never mind that this fatwa will not change the lives of millions of Muslims and text of the fatwa could be not what has been

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