Saturday, March 28, 2009

the five pillars of islam

The shadatain

The shadatain, which is the basic creed or tenet of Islam: 'ašhadu 'al-lā ilāha illā-llāhu wa 'ašhadu 'anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh, or "I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God." As the most important pillar, this testament is a foundation for all other beliefs and practices in Islam. Muslims must repeat the shahadah in prayer, and non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam are required to recite the creed.

Salah

Salah, or ritual prayer, which must be performed five times a day at fixed times. Each salah is performed facing towards the Kaaba in Mecca. Salah is intended to focus the mind on God; it is seen as a personal communication with God, expressing gratitude and worship. According to the Qur'an, the benefit of prayer "restrains [one] from shameful and evil deeds". Salah is compulsory but some flexibility in the specifics is allowed depending on the circumstances. In many Muslim countries, reminders called calls to prayer are broadcast publicly from local mosques at the appropriate times. The prayers themselves are recited in the Arabic language, and consist of quotes from the Qur'an.


Muslims who seek for His forgiveness are none other than like these chaste children

Zakat

Zakat, or alms-giving. This is the practice of charitable giving by Muslims based on accumulated wealth, and is obligatory for all who are able to do so. It consists of spending a fixed portion of one's wealth for the benefit of the poor or needy, including slaves, debtors, travelers, and others. A Muslim may also donate more as an act of voluntary charity (sadaqah), in order to achieve additional divine reward. There are two main types of zakat — a zakat on "traffic", which is a fixed amount paid during the month of Ramadan, and the zakat on wealth, which covers money made in business, savings, income, and so on.

Sawm

Sawm, or fasting during the month of Ramadan. Muslims must abstain from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk during this month, and are to be especially mindful of other sins. The fast is meant to allow Muslims to seek nearness to God, to express their gratitude to and dependence on him, to atone for their past sins, and to remind them of the needy. Sawm is not obligatory for several groups for whom it would be excessively problematic. For others, flexibility is allowed depending on circumstances, but missing fasts usually must be made up soon afterwards.

The Hajj

The Hajj, which is the pilgrimage that occurs during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the city of Mecca. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime. When the pilgrim is around ten kilometers from Mecca, he must dress in Ihram clothing, which consists of two white unhemmed sheets. Rituals of the Hajj include walking seven times around the Kaaba, touching the Black Stone, running seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah, and symbolically stoning the Devil in Mina. The pilgrim, or the hajji, is honored in his or her community, although Islamic teachers say that the Hajj should be an expression of devotion to God, not a means to gain social standing.

home decor time

He2 .. the picture was taken during home renovation





I took all the pictures but just certain angles, because the other parts didnt really complete.. my mother likes japanese or chinese style.. so she plans all the architecture's works.. how's it?? he2 by the way, If im not mistaken I've read one book about feng shui, it stated that chinese people make the home decoration based on their tradition, but we dont go on much on it.. just have fun with such wonderful things .. hmm among the earliest country that received Islam as their beliefs was none other than , china .. Malaysia herself got the influence from china too..

Thursday, March 26, 2009

the quran on cerebrum



Allah said in the Qur’aan about one of the evil unbelievers who forbade the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) from praying at the Ka'abah:

«"Let him beware! If he does not stop, We will take him by the forelock (front of the head), a lying, sinful forelock!"» [Qur’aan 96 :15-16]

Why did the Qur’aan describe the front of the head as being lying and sinful? Why didn't the Qur’aan say that the person was lying and sinful?
Is there a relationship between the front of the head and lying and sinfulness?

The Arabic word Nasiyha means forelock. If we look into the skull at the
front of the head, we will find the prefrontal area of the cerebrum. What
does physiology tell us about the function of this area? A book entitled,
Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology, says about this area: The motivation
and the foresight to plan and initiate movements occur in the anterior
portion of the frontal lobes, the prefrontal area. This is a region of
the association cortex... The book also says: In relation to its
involvement in motivation, prefrontal area is also thought to be the
functional center for aggression...



So, this area of the cerebrum is responsible for planning, motivating,
and initiating good and sinful behavior, and is responsible for telling
lies and speaking the truth. Thus, it is proper to describe the front of
the head as lying and sinful when someone lies or commits a sin, as the
Qur’aan said: ...a lying, sinful aasiyyah (front of the head)!
Scientists have only discovered these functions of the prefrontal area
in the last sixty years, according to Professor Keith Moore.

THE MISCONCEPTION OF WOMEN IN ISLAM


Islam gave women rights and privileges at a time when only barbaric manners and values dominated.
Yet, some people argue that Islam has alienated women in some domains. In fact, this belief is a misconception to the truth. People who say so, may have read about it in a magazine or seen it on TV. A quick examination of the issues judged as unjust to women will certainly correct the misunderstanding.

Man as the head of the household:

Some people believe that a woman in Islam is regarded as inferior to man since the Quran says (what means):"Men have one degree above women." [Quran 2: 228]

In fact, to understand this Quranic verse, you should see another one, related to the issue in question. It reveals the wisdom behind this concept.

In the Quran it also says (what means): "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allaah has given the one more than the other and because men support them from their means." [Quran 4:34]
This verse implies that it is a man's duty to support his wife, and not the reverse, but this, in no way, makes him superior to her.

In fact, the rights and responsibilities of a woman are equal to those of a man but they are not necessarily identical. Since men and women are not created identical, they have different physical and emotional qualities, jobs and privileges. This does not mean that women are inferior.

On the contrary, women are considered crucial members of society in Islam since they are assigned the job of bringing up future generations. People today tend to look down at housewives but, in fact, raising children is one of the most important and difficult tasks. The way a mother brings up her child determines the way he will behave in the future. This duty, which requires patience, love, understanding and wisdom was significantly assigned to women in Islam because her nature suits this job.

Allaah The Exalted, in His Wisdom, has assigned a role for each member of the family so that there would be no arguments concerning who should do what. If a sailboat has two leaders, each will want to follow a path, leading ultimately to chaos and even a crash. In the same manner, how many times have your parents fought over some decision because each had their own point of view and wanted to apply it? This is precisely why it is preferable to have one leader for each household. However, this does not give the leader the right to be a dictator, or to neglect the role of his companion. This does not make him superior to other members of his family. It just gives him a larger duty.

Inheritance:

Some people claim that Islam is unjust towards women because it entitles them to inherit half of what men get. In fact, those people only know one side of the truth.

First, the principle of women inheriting half the money is only applicable in 45 percent of the cases. In the other 55 percent, women inherit the same amount or sometimes even more. For example, a mother and a father each inherit the sixth of their son's property when they are not the only inheritors.

In addition, the laws of inheritance in Islam are proportional to the duties of spending. Indeed, a man in Islam has the responsibility of supporting his family, his brother's children (when his brother dies), his parents (when they retire and do not have an income), his children from his previous marriage (if he has them) and his household, including his wife and children. A woman, on the other hand, does not bear this responsibility. She has the freedom to use the money she collects from her dowry or work as she pleases.

You might object here, saying that women today are working and helping their husbands pay the expenses, which entitles them to share equality with men. In fact, you should know that women's economic assistance to their husbands, which has become the norm today, is only an answer to the females’ wishes. Islam does not oblige women to spend on their households. It is a free choice many women have themselves taken today to feel more liberated, so it does not entitle them to a bigger portion of the inheritance.

Polygyny:

Polygyny is one of the most questioned principles that Islam grants men and women. Indeed, many people wrongfully accuse Islam of injustice because it allows a man to have up to four wives. Nevertheless, like every instruction in the Quran, polygyny has a reason. You see, Islam is a practical religion that acknowledges the needs and temptations of human beings and provides laws that deal with them, thus preserving harmony and morality.

- Polygyny might be the solution for a couple if the wife is barren, the husband wants children of his own and the option of separation does not appeal to both parties.

- If a woman is chronically ill and is unable to perform her marital duties. Polygyny may also be the solution when the couple does not want divorce.

- Polygyny is the religion's answer to cases where some men have excessive sexual needs that cannot be fulfilled by one wife. This in no way means that men should abuse this right and use it whenever they fancy a woman. It is rather a chance Islam has provided to prevent men from committing adultery. Many people who condemn polygyny cheat on their wives, calling this phenomenon a 'swift affair.' Islam, at least, has offered the second woman the option of being called 'a wife' rather than 'a mistress', especially in some countries where women remarkably outnumber men.

- Polygyny may settle the problem of an increased number of unmarried women, especially during wars.

However, polygyny has some limits and conditions to be met. Indeed, the Quran instructs the man to be fair with his wives on all levels, including treatment, money, house, etc. The only level where the man may have an uneven stance is the level of the feelings that he cannot control:

The Quran says (what means): "You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives even if it is your ardent desire, so do not incline too much to one of them [by giving her more of your time and provision] so as to leave the other hanging [i.e. neither divorced nor married]. And if you do justice, and do all that is right and fear Allaah by keeping away from all that is wrong, then Allaah is Ever-Forgiving and All-Merciful." [Quran 4:129]

Finally, it is worth knowing that Islam gives a woman the right to refuse polygyny for her husband by setting it as a condition during the marriage procedures. If this condition is set, then the woman is granted divorce if her husband marries another while he is still married to her.

You might ask, why could not there be polyandry (a woman having more than one husband)? The answer is simple. Islam did not allow it because Allaah is All-Aware that it will create a problem of kinship. This means that the child may not know who is actually his father (it could be anyone of the four husbands). In addition to the psychological damage it may cause, this problem also complicates the issue of inheritance. Even birds and animals do not allow polyandry.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Exam-oriented mind!!


The exam-oriented mind has become new challenges for all community especially in Malaysia. we might get ourselves into totally depression, suffers and paranoid of facing failure in examination. Once it goes on, many of us do not take into consideration about how the spiritual quotion (SQ) plays an important role of breaking this polemic. Nowadays, parents are more worried their children go home; showing their report cards with all "red marks", rather than feeling so worried about the moral degradation amongst the teenagers. We should come out with new dimension of thinking so that it becomes one part of our comitments. This world does not hold any responsibilities to change the behaviour of the teenagers, but the onerous are burdened onto our shoulders. Academic is one of the vital elements, but it does not mean for anything. As what we are facing now, many schools put academic level into high priority rather than the value in the students. Going through with this matter, all people must come out to reveal how the powerful of spiritual activities will ascertain the level of academic. It is not the issue of wasting time to do such things, but the main point is how sincere we are. Muslims nowadays dont realize that the Israeli had practised many Islamic life namely in their daily routine and as well as in their study.. But why we aren't in that boat.?? Israeli start their education during in their mothers' ovaries. The mothers answer the mathemathical questions in order to give a start to the babies. They eat like what the prophet (peace be upon him) taught us to: milk, nuts and fruits. They dont mix sea products with what on the land during their dinner, and that also was taught by Islam.. It's all about how we are going to show our obedience to the must worship one.. Let's explore the islam's scholars thousand years ago like Al-Imam As-Shafie, Usul fiqh inventor, he memorized and read the lessons that he was going to learn before the classes started, he used to do the qiamullail, he memorized the qur'an, he taught many people about Islam and many he did was what coming back to the blessing of the AlMighty one, and yet we know his life but there are still a few reasons to evade ourselves from worshipping Him with all of hearts,souls and slaving all of our entire lives to Him, the Most Gracious and The Most Merciful... One thing if we know the truth of Islamic way, we wont be pressing the students to get results with flying colour and we wont be pressing them to leave the islamic activities(usrah, taalim, Islamic talk, etc) as what they are doing are on our responsibilities!!! so strive for hereafter

Friday, March 20, 2009

it's a start!

Salam, the revolution of our thinking skills should become the first matter to be discussed before we argue about why Muslims nowadays don't seize a good achievement in life. It is none other than, we get ourselves into a digress path.. we might be feeling so great to hear and to be ruled under western system. Muslims may opt their system before put their next priority into islamic system. Islam is a way of life, which includes all sort of life's aspect starting from a very simple thing like family matters till the complex one such as politics. Now on, we need to put all these into considerations as well because the system that God has created will keep us save in this world and hereafter. God said in His holy quran , "O Mankind! There has come to you from your Guardian-Lord an exhortation, a prescription for the minds, a guidance and beneficence for those who believe" [10:57]. Many of us dispute about what is the significance of doing this and that? Looking through this issue, as a muslim we need to put our high trust in our soul to the particular system brought by Islam. we don't need to find new dimension rather than Islam, as Islam itself promises good prospectus to our future..
The caliph of mu'min, Umar el Khattab , said that " we are dignified by Allah with Islam, whoever wants to find dignity from other religion, Allah will marginalize us" The educational system that Allah teaches us has wholly aspects of humans' lives. Allah never puts onerous to the mankinds.. but human themselves feel the prohibited things play a role of blocking their needs.. Allah is the veryily creator to all of things in this cosmos, so He knows everything about what the ''need's'' and ''the need not's'' for us... so just follow them as one part of our worship..

watashi no sukina uta