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A popular Nasheed by Dawud Wharnsby:

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A summit was held a few months ago in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA to promote a “secular version of Islam“. This Summit was an international forum spearheaded by Muslim secularists and was organized and sponsored by the Center for Inquiry in partnership with the International Intelligence Summit. 

Many who attended issued a declaration at the end of the summit. While many of the clauses of that declaration are in tune with Islam and its teachings, there were others that clearly are based on faulty and presumed premises (e.g. submitting Islamic practices to criticism or condemnation when they violate human reason or rights). The fact is that mainstream Muslims do not believe that any of it’s teachings violate human rights - rather Islam came and through its principles and teachings, it protected the weak, elevated the status of women, lay down rules for protection of minorities in Muslim lands and many other such principles. Read the Full Post by Clicking here ! →

Source ===> Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts Jr.’s column appears Sunday on editorial pages of The Times. His e-mail address is: lpitts@herald.com

Barack Obama is not a Muslim. Read the Full Post by Clicking here ! →

It is no secret that the Quran is filled with scientific facts that modern science is only raveling today. The small lecture by Dr. Zakir Naik sheds light on scientific aspects of geology and mountains and the verses mentioned in the Quran that support these scientific facts.

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Sunnah and it’s roles

The Sunnah (traditions) of the Prophet SAWS, along with Quran, is the cornerstone of the teachings of Islam. Among majority of the scholars, the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAWS is defined as the sayings (Hadith Qauli or the verbal order), actions (Hadith Fa’lee or the action) or approval of actions (Hadith Taqreeri) that are related to the beliefs as well as rulings of the Islamic faith – both in terms of rituals as well as daily life actions. The Sunnah has one of three roles when it comes to a ruling.

1. It emphasizes what is mentioned in Quran. e.g., the emphasis in many aHadith (Plural of Hadith) on the importance of prayers similar to what is mentioned in the Quran;
2. It explains what has come as a ruling in Quran. e.g., the number of daily prayers and the number of rakaa’h in each prayer.
3. It initiates a ruling that is binding upon the followers of the religion of Islam. e.g., forbidding eating the flesh of donkey.

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Being a Muslim, have you ever been labeled as a Sunni, Shia, Wahhabi, Sufi, or something else?

What about being accused of being a liberal, hijabi, sellout, or a hardliner?

Many of us may take it as an insult to be labeled as one but the reality is that it is how we are labeled by others – unfortunately sometimes unbeknownst to us – and that is how at times we pick our social circles.

Who is right?

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====== CAIR Press Release ======

CAIR Calls on the Bush Administration to Prevent Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Posted 1/21/2008 2:29:00 PM

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Extract from “The Journal” Issued by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)

— Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu (Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference)

One of the biggest threats to global peace and security in our present time is the scourge of Islamophobia. It is a matter of great concern not only to the Muslim world but also to humanity itself that the issue of Islamophobia is growing at an alarming rate. Today the Muslims are faced with a formidable challenge to counter an orchestrated campaign that is active in defaming Islam and distorting its sacred values of peace, tolerance and acknowledging the other, that lies at the basis of the Islamic faith. The danger is being exacerbated by media misreporting and provocations under the pretext of freedom of expression. Read the Full Post by Clicking here ! →

One of the issues that Muslims struggle with today is drawing the line between innovation (Bidaa’) and that what is lawful from an Islamic standpoint. All Muslims know the strict prohibition of the prophet against innovating things into religion. For example, celebrating of certain events such as the birthday of the prophet (SAWS), the night of the israa’ and maraaj in middle of the month of Shaban etc. have always been a topic of keen interest and debate among the Muslims for a long time. While the protagonists always argue that such events present great opportunity to renew the faith and show our love for the religion, the antagonists always dismiss such events as innovations in religion (Bidaa’) and warn of dire consequences both in this life and the hereafter. In addition, the proponents argue that Islam encourages the act of ijtihaad. Moreover, they say that the environment was very different during the days of the Prophet Muhammad SAWS so why should Muslims indulge in certain luxuries (say riding a car or plane) that was not prevalent during the early times.

Allah chose earth as a test bed for Adam, Eve and their descendants to live their life, earn their livelihood and die. Quran addresses this fact in many places such as: Read the Full Post by Clicking here ! →

The Malaysian cabinet and government declared last week that Malaysian Christians could no longer use the word “Allah”. Their rationale was based on the concern that the use of the word “Allah” by Christians in their religious messages could confuse some Muslims and hence could draw them toward Christianity.

It seems that the ban in Malaysia was placed 20 years ago but was never enforced until a few days ago. Read the Full Post by Clicking here ! →

10th of Muharram (the day of Ashura) is observed as an important day by both Sunni and Shia Muslims – however, for different reasons.

Most scholars believe that Ahsura is named as such because of “tenth” of Muharram (ten is translated as “Ashara” in the Arabic language)

Sunni Muslims look at Ashura as “good” while Shia Muslims believe that day to be a day of mourning and sorrow. Again – for different reasons.

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Allah says in the Quran:

“O mankind! If you are in doubt about the Resurrection, then verily! We have created you (i.e. Adam) from dust, then from a Nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge i.e. offspring of Adam), then from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood) then from a little lump of flesh, some formed and some unformed (miscarriage), that We may make (it) clear to you (i.e. to show you Our Power and Ability to do what We will). And We cause whom We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed term, then We bring you out as infants, then (give you growth) that you may reach your age of full strength. And among you there is he who dies (young), and among you there is he who is brought back to the miserable old age, so that he knows nothing after having known. And you see the earth barren, but when We send down water (rain) on it, it is stirred (to life), it swells and puts forth every lovely kind (of growth).” (Quran - Al-Hajj:5)

“And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination.” (Quran - Luqman:14) Read the Full Post by Clicking here ! →

Quran on the universe….

Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see. (Quran 13:2)

We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play. (Quran 21:16)

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A recent article in the New York Times highlighted domestic violence and other social issues faced by Muslim sisters in the US.

Unfortunately, such domestic abuse issues are quite common in Muslim households. The domestic issues that Muslim women face worldwide include husbands striking their wives (even when they are pregnant), family violence through marital discord, suicide, depression, humiliation, and other emotional illnesses that result from such treatment, and much more. Read the Full Post by Clicking here ! →

I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestioned ability of a man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor. — Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862)

The new Islamic year (1429 Hijri) is finally here. A few days ago, people celebrated the beginnings of 2008 in many novel as well as traditional ways. One of the usual ways was to set new goals and resolutions for personal transformation and improvement. Although, setting resolutions and goals is a powerful tool to help you potentially shape your destiny, you should note that there is no concept of “New Year Resolutions” within the teachings of Islam. Instead, as Muslims you should constantly be assessing your lives and setting goals and making resolutions, rather than waiting for special days during the year to perform the exercise.

However, given the importance of personal transformation (something that lot of us need), this is an appropriate time to discuss this subject. Read the Full Post by Clicking here ! →