A Muslim scholar and a MBA graduate

 

A MBA graduate and a Muslim scholar went together for a dawah trip.

At nightfall they, after reading their Esha salaah, they set up their tent ,and fell asleep.

          Some hours later, the Muslim scholar wakes his MBA friend and says

"Look up at the sky and tell me what you see."

The MBA replies, "I see millions of stars."

         The Muslim scholar asks, "What does that tell you?"

    The MBA ponders for a minute.

          "Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies

          and potentially billions of planets.

                    Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three.

          Theologically, it's evident that Allah our Lord is All-Powerful and

          we are small and insignificant.

          Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.

What does it tell you?"

 

The Muslim scholar is quiet for a moment and then recites the dua:

inalillahe wa inna elayhe rajeun [o Allah we belong and unto Him shall we return](dua to be read when someone suffers any loss)

The Muslim scholar then says:

"Practically speaking...Someone has stolen our tent."

......Sometimes our education stands as a barrier to common sense! 

THE POWER OF DUA(PRAYER) 'There is no believing servant who supplicates for his brother in his absence where the angels do not say, 'the same is for you'' [Muslim]                                                                                 Making dua is a simple and powerful way to make a difference for our Muslim community and for ourselves especially since our duas are returned to us. It is also a productive way to relieve stress. Allah rewards the patient and loves to hear his believers ask continually. There are certain times a dua is more likely to be accepted by Allah (SWT).   Below are some ways to make Dua that will be easy for us to incorporate in our daily routines-Inshallah. 1. At the End of the Obligatory Salat:  "O Messenger of Allah, which supplication is heard (by Allah (SWT), he said the end of the night and at the end of the obligatory Salat (prayer) [at-Tirmidhi]. This time is after saying 'Athyat', and before making Tasleem (finishing prayer)  2. An Hour On Friday  'There is an hour on Friday if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat (prayer) and asks something from Allah (SWT), then Allah (SWT) will definitely meet his demand.' And (the Prophet (SAW) pointed out the shortness of that particular time with his hands. [Sahih al-Bukhari] Some have said that this hour is from the time the Imam (prayer's leader) enters the mosque on Friday's prayer until the prayer is over (i.e. between the two khutbahs), whereas others have said that it is the last hour of the day (i.e. after the ASR prayer until the Maghrib prayer). 3. During the Rain  'Two will not be rejected, Supplication when the Adhan (call of prayer) is being called, and at the time of the rain'. [Al-Hakim 2: 114, and Abu Dawud #2540, ibn Majah]   4. Dua after praising Allah and giving salat on the Prophet (SAW) in the tashahhud at the end of salat. 'I was once praying, and the Prophet (SAW), Abu Bakr and Umar (were all present). When I sat down (in the final tashahhud), I praised Allah, then sent salaams on the Prophet, then started praying for myself. At this, the Prophet (SAW) said: 'Ask and you shall be given it! Ask, and you shall be given it!' [At-Tirmidhi #593 - Hassan, Mishkat al-Misbah #931]   5. Between Adhan and Iqamah Anas (RA) narrated that Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: 'A supplication made between the Adhan and Iqama is not rejected.' [Ahmad, Abu Dawud #521, at-Tirmidhi #212, Sahih al-Jami #3408, an-Nasai and Ibn Hibban graded it sahih (sound)] 6. Dua of the one fasting at the time of breaking fast The prophet (SAW) declared, 'Three men whose dua is never rejected (by Allah) are: when a fasting person breaks fast (in another narration, the fasting person until he breaks his fast), the just ruler and the one who is oppressed.'[Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi - Hassan]  7. While Prostrating           'the nearest a slave can be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so invoke (supplicate) Allah (SWT) much in it. [Muslim, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i and others, Sahih al-Jami #1175]

RIGHTS OF RELATIVES

 

 

A Muslim is required to maintain a good relationship with his relatives. In Islamic terms, 'Silah-Rahimi' is used to denote 'good treatment towards the relatives'.

 

In the Qur'an Allah tells us:

   "Give your relatives their due…" (17:26)

   "Allah commands justice, kindness and giving to near relatives…." (16:90)

   "…And show kindness to your parents and to near relatives…" (4:36)

 

The sayings of Allah's Messenger Muhammad [Peace be upon him] are replete with virtues of joining the ties of relations and helping relatives We are encouraged to visit our relatives, inquire about their circumstance, spend on them, give them sadaqa (voluntary charity) if they are poor,assist them in any reasonable way and the most important is to show love and affection to them.
   
In the Quraan, where the Muslims are enjoined to show kindness to parents, they are also required to treat other relatives with love and sympathy and to pay due regard to their rights as well.

The foremost claim on a person is that of his mother, then of his father, and then grade by grade, of the other relatives.  Therefore through relationship, the relatives' rights come after that of the parents.

Allah has declared, "I am Allah, I am Ar-Rahman (The Merciful), I have created the bond of kinship and named it Rahim,-which I have derived from the root of my name of Rahman.  Thus, whoever, shall join it (ie. Rahim), I shall join him, and whoever will break it, I shall break him."

The Almighty has designed the system of birth in such a way, that whoever is born, is tied to the bonds of kinship-and these bonds carry certain claims and rights.  Thus, whoever fufills these claims, by being kind to his relatives and treating them well, Allah will "join him" i.e. He will make him  His own and bestow His favour and mercy on him.  And whosoever will violate these claims, Allah will "break him" i.e. He will have nothing to do with him.

Fulfilling the Rights of Relatives

It is related by Anas (R.A.) that the Allah's Messenger Muhammad [Peace be upon him] said "Whoever wants an increase in his sustenance and that the marks of his feet remain for a long time in the world (i.e. to live long) - he should be kind and helpful to his relatives."

Family quarrels, which generally arise from the disregard of the relatives' rights, affect a persons health and causes friction in homes and in the community at large. Those who treat their relatives well and are helpful to them, are free from tensions and they are happier and more peaceful.

 

Violation of Relatives' Rights

The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam has said "Whoever violates the rights of relatives, shall not go to Paradise."

It shows that the violation of the relatives' rights is so detested by Allah, that with its filthiness, no one can enter Paradise.  It is only when a person (believer) has received his punishment or has been forgiven, that the gates of Paradise will be opened for him.

Showing Kindness to Those Who Severe Relations

Often,there are people who care little for the bonds of relationship and are rude and unjust in this respect.  Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam has enjoined to continue to treat them well and fufil the obligations, irrespective of what they do and how they behave.

Abdullah ibn Umar(R.A.) relates from the Prophet (S.A.W.), "He does not fulfill the claim of Silah-Rahimi[one who keeps the ties of relations]  who shows no kindness in return for the kindness shown to him. The person who really fulfills the claim is he who treats his relatives well even when they are mean and unjust to him."

A man asked: O Messenger of Allaah[pbuh], I have relatives with whom I maintain ties of relations, yet they cut-off from me. I treat them kindly, yet they treat me in an evil manner. And I am forbearing and patient with them, yet they behave rudely and ignorantly towards me. The Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:
"If the situation is as you say, then it is as if you are filling their mouths with sand. And Allaah will continue to aid and support you as long as you continue doing what you are doing."

When the violation of the rights of relatives is returned in a similar manner, the evil will spread in the society -But if it is returned with kindness, it may lead to their correction and it will assist in the promotion of Silah-Rahimi, in the life of the community.

As we know, Islam enjoins us not only to be good to those who are good to us, but also to be good to those who are not good to us. This shows exemplary moral character according to the standard of Islam.

 

And the most important aspect of fulfilling the rights of relatives….It is a means to Allah's happiness!!!!!!!!!!

 

Some practical Tips to Promote Family Relations:

 

• Visit them often- don't wait for "occasions" e.g. deaths, marriages etc
• Invite them home
• Always show love even if your relatives do not do the same.
• Always make dua [pray] for them
• Give them gifts- Spend on them according to your means.
• Help them in need and sympathise with them on sad occasions
• Share happy moments and occasions with them
• Avoid backbiting- It's the main cause of friction
• Always talk positively about them and don't look down upon them
• Occasionally give them a call to enquire about their welfare
• Don't compete with them in material pursuits.
• Always be a well-wisher of your Relatives
• Plan ways to improve and strengthen relations.

 

Spreading Salaams

"And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally."

(Qur'an, An-Nisa 4:86)

Human interaction is an important facet of any society. In Islam, proper relationships are stressed at all phases of interaction and the common greeting holds a special place in Islamic manners. Allah says in the Qur'an:

"O you who believe! enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission and greeted those in them, that is better for you, in order that you remember." (Qur'an, An-Nur 24:27)

"....But when you enter houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allah, blessed and good...."

(Qur'an, An-Nur 24:61)

Too often, we take greetings for granted and attach minimal importance to them. In these verses, however, Allah reminds the Muslims that offering greetings and the manner of the greeting are of upmost importance. Similarly, in a Hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet stressed the importance of greetings when he defined the rights of a Muslim:
"The rights of a Muslim upon another are five: returning greetings, visiting the sick, following the funeral procession, responding to invitations and offering 'Tashmeet' for one who sneezes." (Bukhari and Muslim)
The recommended greeting of a Muslim is to say:

"assalaamu alaykum" (peace be upon you)

According to a Hadith related by Bukhari and Muslim, this form of greeting was ordained by Allah from the time of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him).
THE VIRTUES OF SALAAM
Exchanging salaam holds a high position in Islam. Not only is salaam equated with many other important deeds, but it is one of the defining criteria of belief. We observe many Hadiths pertaining to the position of exchanging salaam in Islam.
In one Hadith a man asked the Prophet about which aspect of Islam was best. The Prophet replied:
"Feeding the hungry, and saying salaam to those you know and those you don't know." (Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet also said:
"You will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another: 'spread salaam' (the greeting of peace) among you." (Muslim)
The Prophet Muhammad also explained another virtue of salaam in the following Hadith:
"When two Muslims meet (give salaam), and shake hands, they are forgiven their sins before they part (with each other)." (Abu Dawud)
Finally, reflect on another saying of the Prophet , when he said:
"O people! spread salaam, feed the hungry, be in touch with your kin, and pray while people are asleep (at night) you shall enter paradise peacefully." (Tirmithi)
THE GRADES OF SALAAM
There are several forms of exchanging salaam. Each has its grade which corresponds to the extent of the phrase.
There is a Hadith where Imran Ibn Hussayn (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:
"A man came to the Prophet and said, 'assalaamu alaykum!' The Prophet returned his greeting and when the man sat down, the Prophet said: 'Ten.' Another man came and said: 'assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah.' to which the Prophet also responded, and when the man sat down, He said 'Twenty.' Another man came and said: 'assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.' The Prophet returned his greeting, and after the man sat down, he said: 'Thirty." (Abu Dawud and Tirmithi)
The Hadith has been interpreted to mean that the minimum form of the Islamic greeting which is acceptable is "assalaamu alaykum" and one is rewarded ten good deeds for saying it. The second grade, adding "wa rahmatullah", raises the reward to twenty good deeds. The best grade of salaam is "assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatahu", and this is worth thirty good deeds.
The response to the greeting is similar in form and rewards. The least one could say is "Wa alaykum-us-salaam" and the best response is: "Wa alaykum-us-salaam wa rahmatulahi wa barakatahu".
In the time of the Prophet the Sahabah (companions of the Prophet ) would compete with each other, to see who could give salaams first.
The Prophet said:
"The best of the two persons is the one who begins with salaam." (Related by Nawawi in his book Al-Adkar)
"The Prophet was asked: 'O Messenger of Allah ! When two persons meet with each other, who should take the lead in greeting the other? He answered: 'The one who is closest to Allah." (Tirmithi)
The Prophet said:
"The person closest to Allah is the one who precedes others in greeting." (Abu Dawud)
THE ISLAMIC RULING ON SALAAM
Initiating salaams is considered 'Sunnah' or optional, returning the salaams after it is offered is considered 'wagib' or obligatory, based on the first Qur'anic ayah mentioned. Islam also encourages people to offer the first greeting as mentioned in the Hadiths mentioned previously.
The Prophet was asked about the most appropriate way to give salaams as shown in the following Hadith:
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that a man asked the Prophet :
"O Messenger of Allah , when any one of us meets a Muslim brother or a friend then should he bow his head (as a sign of courtesy to him)?' He said: 'No.' The man said: 'Should he embrace him?' He said: 'No.' The man then asked: 'Should he clasp his hands?' He said: 'Yes." (Tirmithi)
Unfortunately, now in our community Muslims have adopted other methods of giving salutations, and as we can see in this Hadith, The Prophet was very precise about how salaams were to be given.
We as Muslims, should remember that Prophet Muhammad is the best example for us to follow in all aspects of our life, and we should be careful not to add anything new to the Deen of Islam, for fear of implying that the Prophet Muhammad did not complete his mission.
As Allah (Most Exalted is He) says in the Qur'an:

"You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah, a beautiful pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day."

(Qur'an, Al-Ahzab 33:21)

The Messenger of Allah said:
"I have not left anything which Allah (Most Exalted is He) ordered except that I have ordered you with it, nor anything that Allah forbade you, except that I forbade you from it." (Buhaiqi)
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH SALAAM IS DISCOURAGED
There are certain situations under which it is preferable not to offer salaam. These include; when a person is relieving himself, when one is having marital relationship, when someone is sleeping or when in the bathroom.
Offering salaam when someone is reciting the Qur'an is permissible but discouraged. The same rule applies to someone who is making du'a (supplication) or one who is praying.
EXCHANGING SALAAM WITH NON-MUSLIMS
The Prophet said:
"Do not greet the Jews and the Christians with salaam." However, if they salaam first, we may reply by saying "wa alaykum" (and upon you)." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Salutation and Meeting Non-Muslims
Amr bin Shu'aib - Tirmithi: The Messenger of Allah said: "He does not belong to us who imitates people other than us. Do not imitate the Jews or the Christians, for the Jews salutation is to make a gesture with the fingers and the Christians salutation is to make a gesture with the palms of the hands."
Ayesha - Bukhari: When some Jews came to the Messenger of Allah and said, "Assaamu 'alaikom" (Death be upon you) and he replied, "Wa 'alaikom" (and upon you), she ('A'isha) said, "Death be upon you and may Allah curse you and be angry with you." The Messenger of Allah then said, "Gently, 'A'isha, keep to kindness and avoid harshness and coarseness." She asked if she had not heard what they said, and he asked if she had not heard what he said, saying, "I replied to them, and my prayer regarding them will be answered, but theirs regarding me will not." In a version of Muslim he said, "Do not be one who uses bad languages for Allah does not like bad language or the use of it."
Surah Mujadila:8: "And when they (Non-Muslims) come to thee, they salute thee, not as Allah salutes thee (but in crooked ways)." E.g. Assaamu 'alaikom.
Abu Hurairah - Muslim: The Messenger of Allah said, "Do not salute the Jews and Christians before they salute you, and when you meet one of them on the road force him to go to the narrowest part."
Ossama bin Zaid - Bukhari and Muslim: The Messenger of Allah , passed by a company of Muslims, Mushriks and Jews and he gave them a salutation.
CONTEMPORARY SALUTATIONS OF THE NON-MUSLIMS
During the Messenger of Allah's time there were various kinds of contemporary salutations in vogue, but none of these were chosen by Allah (Most Exalted is He), for the Muslims. The superiority of the Muslims Salaam has already been mentioned previously. It was deemed apt that a paper on salutations should also include an analysis of the modern Non-Muslim salutations. In this section the etymological meaning of some of these salutations will be traced back. By doing so it is hoped that the Muslim will further realise the importance of Salaam and abandon the use of Non-Muslim salutations. The Concise Oxford Dictionary has been used so that others can easily refer to it.
"Hello"
The Oxford Dictionary has the following entries on this word:

• Hello: "Expressing surprise or informal greeting or beginning telephone conversation.(The) cry 'hello'. (Variety of Hallo.)";
• Hallo, halloa': "Calling attention or expressing surprise or informal greeting or beginning telephone conversation...(The) cry 'Hello'. (Variety of earlier Hollo.)";
• Halloo: "Inciting dogs to the chase, calling attention, or expressing surprise...The cry 'halloo'.;
• Halloo: "Cry 'halloo!' especially to dogs; urge on (dogs etc.) with shouts; shout to attract attention.";
• Holler: "(Make, express with) loud cry or noise. (Variety of Hollo.)";
• Hollo, holla: "Calling attention...cry of 'Hollo'.";
• Hollo, ho'llow "Shout; call to (hounds)."

This word originates from Old French (before 1400 A.D.). The reader will appreciate that this salutation, which is derived from a word meaning shouting at dogs!, is far from the meaning and derivation of Salaam. It is really a meaningless salutation.
Good Morning
There is no etymological entry on this word in the Concise Oxford Dictionary, but it is defined under the word good as: "(Used in forms of greeting or parting, as) good...morning, night..." In the Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary we have the following entries: Good morrow, good mo'rrow. "A salutation used at meeting in the morning, equivalent to the later good morning...(God) give you good morrow...(e.g.) good morrowe to thee!; ...an idle, trivial or empty saying..."
There is no reason why a Muslim should substitute his Salaam for any other rather meaningless Non-Muslim salutation. In fact, not all mornings are necessarily good. Good morning...so what? The salutation of Salaam is not meaningless. The person saying Salaam is invoking Peace, Mercy and Allah's Blessing on the one being greeted. The equivalent of good morning in modern Arabic is "Subh Khair". It should not be used.
Goodbye
This is defined as "(Saying of) farewell (expressing good wishes on parting, ending telephone conversations etc., or figurative with reference to thing got rid of or irrevocably lost.) (Contraction of God be with you!...)
The modern expression goodbye has no meaning and it cannot be compared with Salaam. Salaam is not just a mere expression of good wishes; it is du'a. The word goodbye also implies that the person using it is rather happy to get rid of the person being saluted. This kind of feeling or expression has no place in the Islamic concept of Brotherhood. The word goodbye was originally the expression, "God be with you", and the fact that it has been changed is further evidence that the Christians have tampered with their original teachings. Now-a-days, the word goodbye has been further reduced to just bye. So they first lost the God and now even the good for their farewell.
In Islam the salutation of Salaam is used on all occasions, on meeting and for farewell. There are also other additional farewell dua's which can be used with Salaam. Examples are: "Fee Iman Allah" (May Allah keep you safe) and "Astowda Okomallah" (May Allah guard you). The term "Khuda hafiz" (God keep you safe) is used in Persian and Urdu. It will be noted that the original meaning of goodbye is very similar to these dua's.
The Conveyance of Regards
The word regards means the "Expression of friendliness in letters etc., compliments". It is used to convey expressions of friendliness from one person to another, for example, so and so sends his regards to you. This word implies the conveyance of mere expressions and it is also related with friendliness. Muslims are Brothers in Islam and not just friends. According to a Hadith the Muslims should use Salaam to convey salutations to fellow Muslims. The term regards is not suitable for use amongst Muslims.
Special Modes of Salutation
There are certain special modes of greeting used by the Non-Muslims. Amongst these is the practice of lowering oneself or bowing down in front of another human being when greeting. This is based on their belief of the inequity of human status, that the one bowing down is inferior to the one being greeted. It has nothing to do with respect. This method of greeting is un-Islamic. Firstly, bowing down in front of anybody except Allah is forbidden in Islam. Secondly, all believing human beings are equal in Islam and thus there is to be no special greeting for the so called great men of authority and position. The great in Islam are those who are nearer to Allah in piety. S. Abdul Hai (1977) writes " Islam has prescribed a simple mode of salutation for all, great and small. During the earliest times of Muslim rule, even a commoner saluted the Caliphs simply by saying, "Assalaamu 'alaykum ya Amir ul Momineen" (Peace be upon you, O Commander of the Faithful)." We should be proud of our Islamic heritage.
GREETING THE YOUNG
It is considered a part of the Sunnah for adults to offer salaam to children in order to teach them the proper greeting manners and to build their self esteem. In both Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet passed by some youth and he offered salaam to them. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet , used to do this quite often.
ETIQUETTE OF SALAAM
There are several etiquette's to be followed with respect to the exchanging of salaam. The Prophet (saws), for example said:
"The person who is riding should offer salaam to the one who is walking; and the one who is walking should greet the one who is sitting; and the smaller group should greet the larger one." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Aside from the situations mentioned in the Hadith, the one who enters a house should initiate salaam to those already there. Furthermore, if one enters his home, it is preferable to offer salaam, even if there is no one at home by saying "Assalaamu alayna wa ala ibadillahi assaliheen" (i.e. peace be upon us and the righteous servants of Allah). With respect to salaam between the young and the old, the young is expected to begin the greeting.
It is also considered improper for someone to meet a group of Muslims and offer salaam only to some of them. The greeting must be for all in the group. If a group of people offer salaam to an individual at the same time, he may reply only once to all of them.
The head should never be bent as a sign of greeting. We bend our heads only to Allah. It must also be emphasized that other body gestures in any form or shape (for example, raising eyebrows, extending the arms, smiling, winking, etc.), cannot replace uttering the words of salaam.
Salaam for someone at a distance can be offered by saying the salaam and waving the hand. Waving the hand alone, however, is not considered a salaam.
Salaam is not only confined to the time of meeting only but it extends to when separating as well.
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), relates that the Prophet said:
"When one of you joins a gathering, he should greet those present; and when he leaves them he should salute them, because the first salutation is not better than the last one." (Abu Dawud and Tirmithi)
SAYINGS OF THE SAHABAH REGARDING SALAAM
Umar bin Khattab: "There are three ways of showing sincere brotherly love: give him the greeting of Salaam when you first meet him, make him comfortable, and call him by his favourite names."
Sa'id bin al-As: "I owe my sitting-companion three things: on his approach I greet him, on his arrival I make him welcome, and when he sits I make him comfortable."
CONCLUSION
There are two fundamental categories of human beings: Muslims and Non-Muslims. Any human being who chooses to submit to his Creator is called a Muslim and his way of life is Islam. A Muslim is a precious being in the sight of Allah. The Muslim gains special privileges, honour and dignity because of Islam. They are people (Muslims) who have achieved peace (Salaam) by accepting Peace (Islam). The salutation of Salaam is a special blessing of Allah for the Muslims. The first conclusion is that the Muslims should use Salaam to salute fellow Muslims because it is only befitting for them to do so.
It is below the dignity of the Muslim to use such expressions below their noble status. The Muslim should not degrade himself, by using Non-Muslim salutations; or his fellow Muslims, by saluting them with Non-Muslim salutation; and nor his Deen al-Islam, by adopting the ways of the Non-Muslims. The second conclusion is that Muslims should not use Non-Muslim salutations amongst themselves because these are unfit for them. The Muslims should not only refrain from using Non-Muslim salutations, but they should abhor such practices.
The Non-Muslim human being, a Kafir, is one who chooses to reject the message of Peace and adopt his own anti-Islamic way of life, Kufr. Such beings are in utter discord, and their life is in contradiction with any concept of peace or harmony. These people will never attain the magnanimity of the Muslims, but the contrary, ignominy.
The salutations of these people are likewise only worthy of their status, rather meaningless and unworthy of noble people. They do not deserve the peaceful salutation of Salaam because they have chosen to reject it. The third conclusion is that Non-Muslims should not be saluted with the full Salaam as they are unworthy of it. They are deprived of the blessings of Salaam as they rejected it. How can a Muslim pray, "Peace be upon you, and Allah's Mercy and Blessings" for a person who does not believe in Allah or lead his life in accordance with the teachings of Islam, for this dua to become effective for him. The salutation of Salaam cannot be used for them.
Allah says in the Qur'an:

"It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe, that they should pray for forgiveness for the Mushriks, even though they be of kin, after it is clear to them that they are companions of the fire."

(Qur'an, At-Taubah 9:133)

Further:

"Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and those who are with him are hard against the unbelievers, (but) full of Mercy for one another."

(Qur'an, Al-Fath 48:29)

The general conclusions are: the salutation of Salaam is for the Muslims and the Non-Muslim salutations are for the Non-Muslims.
The Muslims should not use bad language when saluting the Non-Muslims but should be polite and courteous. The wording of the Salutation for the Non-Muslim according to the Qur'an and Hadith should be noted. The ayat in the Qur'an, like all other ayats, is beautiful. The wording is, "Peace on him who is rightly Guided." Although, this is used for the Non-Muslims it is in reality, only applicable to those who are rightly guided, the Muslims. The salutation for the Non-Muslims in the Hadith is that the Muslims should say, "Wa 'anthom" or "Wa 'alaykum" when greeted by the Non-Muslims. That is, they should say, "The same to you" or "Upon you" concerning whatever that Non-Muslims have said.




References:

1. Article, Al Jumuah Mag, Salaam by R Dhafir
2. Riyadh-Us-Saleheen
3. Salaam - Salutation

MY BELOVED

        The Holy Rasulullah Muhammad (peace be upon him)

  

"And We have not sent you(Muhammad-pbuh) but as a Mercy to all of mankind."-(Holy Quran 21: 107)

"Muhammad[pbuh] is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets; and Allah has full knowledge of all things." – The Holy Quran (33:41)

 

 

MY BELOVED

a poem

(Author unknown)

There was a time in my youth,
When Islam was only a custom.
They said "say there is no diety except God,..
And pray, you'll go to Heaven."

Ah, how simple, no struggle in this,
Just a word, and simple act.
Thereafter I'm absorbed in this world again,
With my 'assured' place in Paradise intact.

But this was not to be my fate
For ALLAH chose to guide my heart.
I learnt of a man who struggled so hard
When his mission was from the start.

The story of someone who had morals,
Spoke gently, kindness he knew.
Never fearing to say what's right,
His conviction in ISLAM was true.

The touch of his hand was as soft as silk
To comfort a crying child.
To mend his clothes, or do the chores,
Never complaining, he always smiled.

His smell was always of musk,
And cleanliness he kept at his best.
Stark contrast with the heroes of today,
Who stink of beer and sweat.

He held the hands of his companions.
Unashamed to play with many children.
So modest, so humble, a perfect example,
That strangers could not recognise him.

His eyes slept little for nights were precious,
His prayers he treasured much greater.
To pray in the depths of night,
Seeking forgiveness, and nearness to his Creator.

He broke his tooth for me at Uhud,
And bled for me at Ta'if.
He cried for me, tears of concern,
Just so I could have this belief.

His enemies admired his teachings,
Uniting every religion, every clan.
Till ISLAM came to every corner of the world,
O, but indeed he was only a man.

To own a house, or build his wealth
Was not his main priority.
To establish ISLAM was more essential,
To bring us under a Higher Authority.

Don't you want him to plea for your case,
When before ALLAH-The Judge-you stand?
Don't you wish to be around his fountain,
A burning desire to drink from his hand?

So I love him more than all creation,
My Leader, my Humble Prophet.
Muhammad (pbuh) was a mercy to all mankind,
And to me, he is MY BELOVED !

The Messenger of Allah- Rasulullah [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] advised:

 

 "Whoever loves my Sunnah(my way), indeed he loves me and whoever loves me will be with me in Jannah." (Tirmidhi-Hadith2678)

 

Certainly, there is an excellent example for you in the Messenger of Allah, for him who looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much." (Quran-33:21)

SAFGUARDING OUR KIDS

The Messenger of Allah[peace be upon him] has mentioned, "When the night approaches then prevent your children (from venturing outdoors) because verily Shaitaan spreads out at this time, ....." (Hadith-Sahih Bukhari).

In another narration Rasulullah[pbuh] has stated,

" Don't let your animals and children out from the time the sun sets until the first portion of darkness passes (i.e. Esha time sets in), for indeed Shaitaan sets out from the time the sun sets until the first portion of darkness passes by." (Hadith-Sahih Muslim)

Safeguarding our children from the evil elements that lurk in our environment is an incumbent duty of the parents, just as it is incumbent to safeguard them from all other evils.

The tendency today is to allow children the freedom to roam out of the house during this time, when the  Shayateen and their evil influences are at their strongest.

From the above narrations we learn that parents are duty-bound to ensure that children are given the necessary protection during this time in an Islamic environment.
 
May Allah Ta'ala protect our innocent children from all forms of evil. Aameen

 

Freedom of Expression?

 

 

With the latest in-your-face act of the Facebook, the issue is once again attracting headlines. Should Muslims react? How should they react? Where do they stand on the philosophical issue underlying all this?

In the media the issue has been framed as a clash between two camps. One camp stands for freedom of expression. The other wants to curtail it.  Needless to say the first camp is enlightened and virtuous. The other is a relic of the dark ages. The clash in other words is between a civilized and civilizing West and Islam that just refuses to be civilized.

Once you accept this framing of the whole issue, the outcome is already decided. Are you for freedom of expression or not? It is a loaded question, and just like the yes/no question, "Have you stopped beating your wife?" no matter how you answer it, you remain guilty.

Look at the typical Muslim response which begins, "We also believe in freedom of expression but…" It matters little what you say after that. It is obvious that you are trying to add exclusions and limitations to a basic moral value while the other side is asking for no such limits. It is not difficult to see which side will come out ahead.

But this predicament is a result of uncritically accepting a false statement about the nature of the clash. For the real clash is not between those who are for and those who are against a freedom. Rather it is between two different freedoms. On the one hand is the freedom to insult. On the other is freedom from insult. Whether it was the Satanic Verses of the 1980s or the Cartoons of 2005 and their endless reproduction since then, if they stand for any freedom, it is freedom to insult. Pure and simple. Muslims, on the other hand, have stood for and demanded freedom from insult. Nothing more. Nothing less.

These are certainly opposing values. You can be for one or the other. And the question does arise, which one is a better value.

To see that let us imagine a society that truly believes in the first as a cherished moral value. It celebrates freedom to insult and guards it at all costs. Every member of it enjoys this freedom and practices it regularly. In a business everyone insults everyone else. The boss is insulting the employees, the employees are insulting the bosses. The salesmen are insulting the customers. The accountants are insulting the creditors. Everyone is enjoying the great freedom to insult. The same is true of the home. The parents are always insulting the children. The children are constantly insulting the parents. The spouses are incessantly insulting each other. And in doing so they all stand on the high moral ground because freedom to insult is such a fundamental freedom on which the society is built.

Actually contrary to the claims of the pundits if the Western society was truly built on this "cherished moral value," it would have perished a long time ago --- consumed by the fires of hatred and negativity generated by this freedom. No home, no neighborhood, no village, no business, no organization and no society can survive for long if it makes freedom to insult as a cornerstone of its freedoms. Clearly most who advocate this freedom do not practice it in their daily lives. But they are making an exception in the case of Islam and Muslims. The driving force behind this is not any great moral principle but a deep rooted hatred born of ignorance.

Software professionals sometimes use a term called beature. It stands for a bug turned into a feature. A bug is a defect in the software. A feature, on the other hand, is a desirable attribute. A beature is a defect that is presented (thanks to slick marketing) as a feature. Freedom to insult is also a beature. It is the growing sickness of Islamophobia in the West which is being presented as a high moral value, packaged by the slick marketing departments as freedom of expression. 

Well, whether or not freedom to insult is a Western value, Islam has nothing to do with it. It lays emphasis on its exact opposite: the freedom from insult. It values human dignity, decency, and harmony in the society. The freedom of religion it ensures includes freedom from insults. While it does not shy away from academic discussion of its beliefs and showing the falsehood of non-Islamic beliefs, it makes sure that the discussion remains civil. In those discussions it wants to engage the intellect of its opponents; in contrast those who itch to insult their opponents are interested in satisfying their vulgar emotions. Thus while its most important battle is against false gods it asks its followers to refrain from reviling them. (Qur'an, Al-anam, 6:108). It also reminds them to stay away from harsh speech. "Allah loves not the utterance of harsh speech save by one who has been wronged." (Qur'an, Al-Nisa, 4:148). Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, who is being reviled by the scum of the world, taught Muslims to never let the low moral standards of their adversaries dictate theirs.

As a result of these teachings Muslims can never even imagine insulting any Prophet --- from Adam to Moses to Jesus to Muhammad, peace be upon them all. Even when they ruled the world, Muslims treated the religious leaders of non-Muslim also with respect – even during battles. In the Baghdad court Jewish and Christian scholars engaged in open discussions with the Muslim savants. Needless to say they had not been attracted by the freedom to insult but its exact opposite. Freedom from insult is a fundamental value that assures peace and harmony. It leads to healthy societies. And Muslims are very proud of their impeccable record here.

What is true of a home or a village is also true of the world as it has become a global village. Now, more than ever before, the world needs the harmony and tolerance that can only be assured by the freedom from insults.

By: Khalid Baig