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Backbiting and Cursing

Have you ever heard someone backbite or even curse? Or have you backbited or cursed yourself? Ponder about this question hard before you continue reading….
Backbiting means to say awful things about a person when he or she isn’t present. Would you ever like someone to backbite about you? I do not think so. If you hear someone backbiting, you should not join them. You should either change the subject, or just leave. If that is impossible, just stay quiet. The Quran says that backbiting is like eating the flesh of one's dead brother. Isn't that disgusting and shameful?
Have you noticed that when you backbite, you hurt someone’s feelings or you can even ruin their reputation? Instead of backbiting, just tell the person how you feel about them, to their face.

Cursing is a form of verbal abuse using vulgar words or to wish misfortune on a person. This is a horrible habit that is disrespectful. We should never curse Allah’s creation, whether if it is an animal or human. Prophet Muhammed (S) said, “Do not use bad language, for Allah doesn’t like bad language or the use of it.” (Bukhari and Abu Dawud)
Another hadiths says, “The believer doesn’t taunt, curse, abuse anyone, or talk indecently.” (Tirmidhi)

Have you ever heard the saying what goes around must come around? So, if you curse or backbite about someone, don’t be surprised if someone is doing it to you.

AYATUL KURSI

Al Asma Ul Husna 99 Names Of Allah God

Sami Yusuf-You Came To Me Lyrics

Justice and Fairness

BE JUST and BE FAIR; no matter what the case is! Justice and fairness means that all people should be given equal treatment. A Muslim, especially, should treat everyone, Muslim or non-Muslim equally. It doesn’t matter what color you are, or what’s your culture, only Allah judges you on how much Taqwah (fear in God) you have in Him. The Quran also reminds us about this concept. It says in Surah Al-Baqarah Ayah 143: "And thus we have made out of you a justly balanced Ummah, that you be a witness over the nations, and the Messenger be a witness over you."

One should not favor his friend and be dishonest to get him out of trouble. He should be just and fair and tell the teacher or parent what happened. A person who is called to be a witness should avoid bias or prejudice of any kind. In this way, he will be helping the cause of justice, fairness, and happiness of others. People in postions of responsibility have a special duty to be just. Both individually and as members of the Ummah, Muslims have a special responsibilty to stand for fairness and justice. Why don't we as Muslims set the proper examples for everyone else in this world?

Controlling anger defeats Shaitan!

A painful headache, pale, hot, firey face, with a heart beating so quickly, goose bumps rising from the skin; what’s happening? We as human beings, all go through this phase. We are trying to fight off the Shaitan. You may ask how? Well, all you have to do is control your anger. Do not let a person get to you at anytime. Try to ignore them as much as possible if they are bugging you.
It has been reported that Prophet Muhammed (S) said, “Do not be angry,” and he repeated this several times. Why did he emphasize on this? Why is my question!? He wants us to know that it is important that we control our anger as it will help us act more patient and calm towards other things.
Anger is only an emotion that overtakes a person during the moment they are feeling something bad in their heart. It is the most destructive human emotion. When you are angry, you lose your self-control. You may shout, curse, and say things that you didn’t even mean to say, out of frustration. By getting angry, Shaitan tries to break our faith. We must always remember that we should control our anger and anger shouldn’t control us!
He who controls his anger is the greatest in the eyes of Allah (SWT). But you may ask how to control your anger? Here is the answer: There are several ways in controlling your anger. Prophet Muhammed (S) gave us advice on how to control our anger. He said, “When one of you is angry while standing, let him sit down; and if it goes away (it’s good); otherwise let him lie down.” If one controls his anger, Allah (SWT) will reward him greatly on the Day of Judgment. Let's all try to be that person. AMEEN!

Jealousy

Jealousy is an emotion everyone has. It is the hurt feeling we sometimes, experience, because we long for something that another person has. We may be jealous because of someone’s beauty, intelligence, popularity, clothes, wealth, toys, etc. A jealous person not only wants to possess what the other person has, but he wants that person to be deprived of his possession. Sometimes a jealous person might even go out of their way to hurt the person they are jealous of. My mom told me that a jealous person can’t see anyone happy because they are not happy. Thus, they make people’s lives unhappy and miserable. Allah (SWT) also says in Surah al-Falaq Ayah 5“from the mischief of the jealous person as he practices jealousy.”

Jealousy can break up friendships, start wars, and most of all hurt people. Jealousy begins with resentment toward a person who has been blessed with God’s bounties. He may steal and harm the person to get what he wants. A jealous person is never grateful to Allah nor is he patient. It is important to remember that jealousy is a sneaky trap of the Shaitan. We must all be careful and try not to harm anyone, even when you’re jealous.

Allah has a reason for everything He does. He is trying to test us to see if we pass or fail. As Muslims, we should always be humble, patient, and most of all thankful to God. We shouldn’t ask for more and be a greedy person. We should look below us to see how other’s lives are.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Revenge is the worst thing that you can plan against somebody who has done something bad to you. Surah Al-Fussilat Ayah 34 says “The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one that is better, then lo!, the person who was your enemy may become like a close friend.” A Muslim should always have an open mind and heart when dealing with offensive people. Sometimes people may irritate you, but you should control yourself with your actions.

We may unintentionally or intentionally hurt someone’s feelings. We must always ask for forgiveness from Allah and that person we hurt. You should also accept forgiveness. Holding grudges is the worst thing because when it builds up, you will blow up. Muhammad (S) said, “It is not allowed for a man to keep apart from his brother more than three days, each of them turning away from each other when they meet. The better of the two is the one who is the first to give a greeting.” Muslim

We should never let small differences of opinion break up relationships. Sometimes, you have to let it go and reconcile our differences. We should always try to persuade one another to live in peace and forgive. Allah (SWT) says in Surah Al-Hujurat Ayah 10 says “The Believers are but a single brotherhood: so make peace and reconciliation between your two contending that you brothers; and fear Allah that you may receive Mercy.” It is our duty as Muslims to stay united peacefully. I have a saying for you: “Just forgive and forget…Move on with the future.”

Gratitude, Patience, and Endurance

Everyone goes through misfortunes and good times during their life time. Facing hardships makes a person stronger. It also teaches us important lessons in patience and endurance. Imagine that you are a bird with two wings. If one wing is broken, you can’t fly. This analogy goes with the concepts of patience and gratefulness. During good times, Allah (SWT) tests us to see if we are grateful to Him. During bad times, Allah tests our patience. Sabr versus Shukr!! Surah Al-Baqarah Ayahs 155 to 157 proves this.
Gratitude and patience are the mark of a true Mumin. When something bad happens, right away he is thankful to Allah. He doesn’t question Allah about what has happened, but waits patiently. The Quraan and hadeeth advics us about this concept. Surah Al-Imran Ayah 200 says “O belivers be patient and be better than others in patience, and support each other to do right, and ne conscious of Allah; that you may succeed."
Prophet Muhammed (S) said, "Wondorous are the believer’s affairs, for there is good in all his affairs and this is so only for the Mumin. When something bad pleasing happens to him, he is grateful to Allah and that is good for him, and when something displeasing happens to him, he perseveres patiently, and that is good for him.” Muslim

Hadeeth

The Messenger of Allah (SWT) said:
"True spiritual excellence is devotion to God as of you see Him, and though you do not see Him, you atleat know He sees you."
Bukhari and Muslim

letter

Dear non-Muslims of the world,

I am a True Muslim and want to help you understand what I believe in. I want to also express my loyalty towards you. Do not take any of this personally or offensive; this is what I believe in and what others believe in.
My religion, Islam, teaches the world to believe in one God, Allah. He created you, He created me, and He created everyone and everything in this world. He gave us the Quran, our Holy Book, as a guide to heaven. In this book, it includes stories of the past, prophets, angles, and many signs of Allah, such as, an earthquake which shows His power and destruction.
Islam teaches everyone to be united and stand up for one and another when in trouble. This creates our fate. Islam itself means peace and surrender to the will of God. Islam doesn’t believe in fighting for the sake of ourselves; there must be a reason for us to be fighting. That reason must be for God. Mankind is created equal and we should keep it that way.
I respect who you are and what you believe in. But I would just like you to have an open mind about Islam. This is my sincere message that I would like to convey to you, today, and for the rest of your lives.

Sincerely,
Your True Muslim Friend

Hadeeth

Prophet Muhammad (S) said:
"Two should never converse privately excluding a third until others join them. The reason being is that it would dismay them."
(Bukhari & Muslim)

Hadeeth

Prophet Muhammad (S said:
"A person who breaks another person's heart is worse in the eyes of Allah (SWT) than destroying the Kabah."

Mosque a.k.a. Masjid

A Masjid is a place to worship the only one God. Allah doesn’t want anyone else worshipped there. It says in the Quran: “And Indeed the mosques are for (the worship of) Allah (God) alone, so call not on anyone besides Him.” Surah 72 Ayah 18

It is Sunnah to enter the Masjid with the right foot as the Prophet Muhammed (S) did. One should also recite a duaa when entering the Masjid: “O God! Open the doors of your Mercy for me.” A person should take off his shoes to avoid making the Masjid dirty. The prayer rugs must always be clean because people pray there. A person should also pray two Rakat Salah when coming in a mosque, as it is a Sunnah. This prayer is called “Tahiyyat al-Masjid.”

It is sunnah to exit the Masjid with the left foot. One should also recite a duaa when leaving the Masjid: “O God! I ask you to bless me with Your Generosity,”

If one prays with the congregation, the reward is twenty-seven times more than praying alone. We must all make an effort to go to the Masjid to pray. The Masjid is the House of God and is built and maintained by those who love and worship Him. While in the Masjid, we shouldn’t talk, play, or make noise. We should concentrate on remembering God, and only God.

Hadeeth

Rasulullah (S) said,
"Should you become eager to mention another's faults, recall your own."
Imam Rafi'i

Cat Stevens also known as Yusuf Islam

Cat Stevens was a music artist who made as many as fifty top selling hits at a young age. His wonderful piece of work was a huge hit in Britain and America. After experiencing death twice, he began to contemplate about his survival on Earth. This period for him was known as “The Great Awakening.”

He began to study other religions and ideas. His brother, David, had brought back the Holy Book (Quran) as a souvenir from Jerusalem and had given it to him. He read the pages and realized that it wasn’t the words of man, but the words of God. He did an abundant amount of research on Islam and made a trip to Jerusalem; to see the Dome of Rock. He was asked who he was by Muslims. He replied that he was a Muslim. From that day on, he became more interested in finding information about Islam. He read the chapter about Joseph in the Quran and was inspired by how he was described. He thought of naming himself Joseph, but the Arabic name, Yusuf. His new name was Yusuf Islam.

This shocked many of his fans and his change of religion was all over magazines and news papers. He also helped many people in Bosnia, Britain, Bangladesh, and some parts of Africa. He helped children without food and built four schools to provide children with education of Islam. Yusuf Islam still sang, but Islamic songs about God, nature, the prophet, etc.

Hadeeth

Rasulullah (s) said,
“ Every Muslim has five rights over every other Muslim:
1. The right to replay, should he greet him.
2. An acceptance, should he invite him
3. A visit, should he fall ill
4. A prayer, should he sneeze
5. A presence at his funeral, should he die.”
(Transmitted by Ibn Majah)

Islamic Brotherhood

Allah (swt) has created everyone so He can test us. Every Muslim is also being tested. A Muslim should treat other Muslims as his brother and sister. Muslims should care for each other. They should have a relationship of trust, love, respect, and companionship. Muslims should live together in peace, sharing their joys, and their sorrows. Islamic Brotherhood is a moral obligation for every Muslim and is important to his faith. Prophet Muhammad (s) said,“ By Him in whose hand my soul rests, a man doesn’t believe until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself.” (Bukari and Muslim)

The common bond of Islam makes Muslims of all race and tribe’s brothers and sisters. A Muslim should help another Muslim when in need. When we Muslims are united, there is strength. Shaitan hates to see Muslims together. He tries to create divisions between Muslims to conquer our souls. We must avoid this. Allah (swt) warns us in the Quran: “ And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (swt) (stretches out for you) and be not divided among yourselves. (Surah 3, Ayah 103)
One should not have pride in himself and say that he is better than others. All Muslims are members of one big family. Islam was revealed by Allah (swt) for every nation, race, and color.

Meccan vs. Medani Surahs

The Quran is split into two parts: Meccan and Medani Surahs. Did you know that two-thirds of the Quran was revealed in Mecca, and one-third was revealed in Medina? There is a big difference between the Meccan and Medani surahs.

The Meccan Surahs talk about building your Aqidah. You may ask what Aqidah is. Aqidah is Iman, which is faith. So, basically Aqidah is building your faith in God. It also talks about the Day of Judgement. It talks about the punishments of those who disbelieve in God and the rewards of those who believed in Him.
The Medani Surahs talk about Shariah or Islamic laws. An example is Satr (Islamic dress code), respect, kindness, etc. It is important to know what God is saying in the Holy Book (Quran), as it will effect us when we grow.

Knowledge (Ilm)

Knowledge or Ilm is the information that we use to perform daily functions and plan future action. When a baby is born, what knowledge does he have? If you said nothing, you are absolutely wrong. When a baby is born, God gives him basic knowledge known as instincts. This is why a baby is able to blink, cry, drink milk, and move its arms and legs. When we grow, we gain more knowledge of the world.

Because Allah (SWT) granted us intelligence, it is our duty to seek knowledge, so we can understand what Islam is and how we can worship and serve God. Prophet Muhammed (S) said, “The search for knowledge is a duty for every Muslim, male and female. “ (Bukhari)

Knowledge also protects us from the Shaitan. Prophet Muhammed (S) said, “One scholar is harder on the devil than a thousand worshippers.” (Tirmdhi and Ibn Majah)
One who struggles in finding knowledge becomes very dear to Allah (SWT). Muhammed (S) said, “Whoever travels in search of knowledge is on Jihad until he returns.” (Tirmidhi and Darimi)

This is a question to ponder about. Do you need knowledge or do you want knowledge? If you answered need knowledge, you are correct. There are two types of knowledge: need and want. The type of knowledge you need, is the knowledge of your Iman or faith. In order to get knowledge you want, you have to get the knowledge you need. The knowledge a person wants is the knowledge of Tafseer, Hadeeth, Theology, Fiqh (rules and regulations), but first you have to have Iman (belief in God).

Tahdhib and Aklaq

Moral Education:
Tahdhib comes from the word Hudhaba which means to train, clean, improve, and refine someone. So, Tahdhib means training and education for personal imporvement and refinement. In other words Tahdhib means moral education.
Akhlaq comes from the word Kahlaqa which means to create, shape, and mold. So, Akhlaq means naturally good temper, noble character, and good manners. Islam teaches us: "All people are on the Fitrah, true noble narure." (transmitted by Bukhari)
Environment meaning the people that surround us can impact us. The Quran (Holy Book) and Sunnah (Prophet's actons) teach us good morals and manners. It is very important for a Muslim to learn about Islamic Tahdhib and Akhlaq.

Decency of Dress and Good Manners

Part of being modest is to dress properly. Allah (SWT) says, "O you children of Adam! We have bestowed garments upon you to cover your shame, as well as to make you look beautiful. But the garment of righteousness, that is the best. Such are among the signs of Allah that they may receive admontion!" (Al-Araf 7:26)
The way you dress is very important. If you dress modest, you are modest. If you dress indecently, you are indecently.

Islamic dress coding is known as Satr. Satr says that girls should cover their entire body. The hands and face are the only thing optional to be covered. Muslim women around muslim women should also be modest. However, if they want to they can cover themselves from the navel to the knees. Boys should cover the body between the navel and the knees. Both men and women should wear loose clothing.
Our own Prophet Muhammed (S) lived very modestly. He didn't have fancy meals, or fancy clothes. He wore simple attire and ate simple meals. When someone learns to live modest, he doesn't need fancy clothes, etc., and jealousy has left their hearts. Let us all try to be a good true modest person. Ameen!

Explaination of Hadeeth

"Consideration is from Allah and haste is from the devil."
When you care or when you are considered about others, the thoughts are from Allah. However, when you do somehting out of selfishness, it is from the devil. You can implement this in your lives by considering before just doing something. You can also take your time and have a good intention. For example, if you are done with your homework, you can be considered by offering a freind if she needs help. If she does, you can take time out by explaining to her, nicely and slowly.

Modesty and Humility

First of all, what is modesty? Think about it. If you still don't know, modesty is being humble and doing good deeds or actions without trying to get noticed or show off. You should try not to have pride in yourself and show off. Prophet Muhammed (S) said, "Actions are judged by their intentions." Since modesty means purity of intention, your actions are judged based on who and what you are doing it for.

Think about this now, do you like to show off? Is yes not that is horrible. If no that is good. Show-offs want recognition for everything they do. They think that they are better than others and try to put them down. Many people pay attention to them, but inside they really don't care, and like them. Many people are proud of being beautiful, intelligent, etc. But these are all qualities that Allah (SWT) gave us. If He wants He can take it away from us.

Do you like people who show off? Probably not. As I mentioned earlier, show offs want recognition for everything they have achieved. Say you got a 60% on your test, and your friend got a 99%, and she started showing off her grade, would you like that? Probably not. You should try not to be a show off and try not to hang out with show offs. You probably felt really dumb. Your friend just wanted someone to notice her grade. One should also not brag when offering charity. Muhammed (S) said, "He is most charitable who gives secretly that his left hand doesn't know what his right hand has given." (trasmitted by Bukhari)

We should all try to be a True Muslim for a true Muslim knows that everything he has is from Allah: wealth, beauty, intelligence, etc. One has nothing to be proud about because one day Allah (SWT) can take everything away. Remember, everything is a gift from Allah (SWT) and you should be modest about it!