Tariq Ramadan

As-Salamou 'Alaykoum wa rahmatoullahi wa barakatouhou

Tariq Ramadan is an example for us, Muslim Europeans.

Tariq Said Ramadan (born 26 August 1962 in Geneva, Switzerland) is a Swiss Muslim academic whose views on Islam reflect a reformist perspective. He advocates the study and interpretation of Islamic texts, and emphasizes the heterogeneous nature of Western Muslims.[citation needed] He emphasizes the necessity for their contribution to European society.
The British Prospect and the American Foreign Policy magazines ranked him in 2008 at number 8 in a list of the world’s top 100 contemporary intellectuals. [1] He is regularly called Islam’s ‘Martin Luther' in the West for his controversial views that challenge the mainstream Islamic beliefs.[citation needed] Many Arab intellectuals disagree with this assessment however, including Egyptian intellectual and reformer Tarek Heggy.[2] He does not have a wide audience base in countries with Muslim majorities. Tariq Ramadan teaches theology at the University of Oxford.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariq_Ramadan

Professor Tariq Ramadan is the grandson of Hasan El Benna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood (Ihvân-ı Müslimîn). He holds a MA in Philosophy and French literature which he completed about the German thinker Nietzsche. Furthermore Ramadan holds a PhD in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of Geneva. Between 1988 and 1992 he was appointed as Dean of the Geneva College. In 1992 he received one-on-one intensive training in classic Islamic scholarship from Al-Azhar University scholars in Cairo, Egypt.
Despite his young age, he spent large part of his life by supporting the struggle for independence of underdeveloped countries in Africa, South America and Asia.
He is Professor of Islamic Studies (Faculty of Theology at Oxford). Professor Ramadan is also a Visiting Professor (holding the chair: Identity and Citizenship) at Erasmus University in Netherland.
He is currently Senior Research Fellow St Antony’s College (Oxford), Doshisha University (Kyoto, Japan) and at the Lokahi Foundation (London).
In October 2007, he was offered a Professorial Chair in Islamic Sudies at the University of Leiden. He decided to turn down the offer.
Through his writings and lectures he has contributed substantially to the debate on the issues of Muslims in the West and Islamic revival in the Muslim world. He is active both at the academic and grassroots levels lecturing extensively throughout the world on social justice and dialogue between civilizations.
Professor Tariq Ramadan is currently President of the European think tank: European Muslim Network (EMN) in Brussels.
Professor Ramadan speaks French, English, Italian, Finnish and Spanish. His book ‘Islam, the West and the Challenges of Modernity’ has also been translated into Turkish.
http://www.uniday2009.org/en/programme/prof-dr-tariq-ramadan.html

Here is an extract of an article written by him about Islam and European citizenship:
Hence, it will not be enough to repeat obsessively that we want to promote common citizenship and that we respect people’s identities. These theoretical discourses, full of good and humanist intentions, will be neither heard nor trusted by the citizens if they are not part of a prospective vision and concretely translated into effective multidimensional policies. We need a holistic approach based on a vision, overall objectives and practical steps to follow. It is crucial to understand, upstream from the problems we are facing on the ground, that solutions will be reached though a two way process. Our democratic societies, without changing their laws, must reconsider their traditional and inherited narrative to make it more inclusive. Inclusiveness is the key when it comes to teach the official History of a country. The western populations have changed tremendously and it becomes important to think about, and shape, a more comprehensive and consistent common History of memories. We must be willing and able to integrate in our official curricula a self critical discourse as to what have been done to previous colonised people who now have become our fellow citizens : to speak about the two sides of our past, the light one as well as the dark one. A positive discourse on the immigrants contributions to our societies and a better knowledge of the cultural and religious diversity should go along all the social policies promoting civil engagement and social cohesion.

Our requirements towards the new citizens or the residents with diverse cultural backgrounds must be clear with no compromise. They have to know, and abide by, the laws, respect the institutions and accept the cultural Western environment (they may be selective for their own sake and behaviour but they have to be inclusive as well and make the national culture theirs). It is important that they refuse to feed a kind of ?victim mentality? and start addressing, not as potential-suspect-on-the-defensive, but as fellow proactive citizens some of the legitimate concerns and fears people might have around them : on violence, women, cultural heritage, etc. This should be the intellectual and social attitudes the new citizens have to promote by being in the mainstream debates regarding common values, national identity and domestic issues: they must refuse to create a new kind of citizenship which is a psychological alienated ‘minority citizenship’. It does not exist in our legislations but it may be created in some minds (this is one of the reasons why the legal approach is necessary without being sufficient and exclusive).

to read all the full article here is the link:
http://www.euro-muslims.eu/menu-vertical/emn-members-articles/detail/news/citizenship-and-identity-old-concepts-and-new-challenges/?tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2008&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=09&tx_ttnews%5Bday%5D=12&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=404&cHash=a5d12510d4

I‘ve found some comments about him that really sum up what I think about him:

‘professor tariq ramadan is an activist-intellectual of the first order. he thinks; therefore, he is viewed as a threat to those who do not. and the greatest ‘threat’ he presents, especially to the sinecurist scholars, is simply that he has respect for them, but, not fear of them.’

‘MashaAllah! I believe he should be one of the role models for today’s soicety. His ideas, perspective and work are quite impressive…if only more people implement the holistic nature of Islamic life, Muslims would no longer be viewed as a threat or as vermin to the society. When we have muslims being the greatest contributors to the progress of society, they will be looked up to by non-musmlims too. The situation would then be one in which the student getting the highest marks is a Muslim, the person volunteering at the welfare home is a Muslim, the lady helping out at the orphanage is a Muslim, that diligent, innovative worker is a Muslim, the scientist who just invented a cure for some rare disease is a Muslim,etc….you get the picture. That’s how Muslims should be and that’s the state of society we should strive towards.

http://www.halaltube.com/performing-good-deeds-in-our-society-as-means-of-getting-closer-to-god#comment-1087#comment-1087

May Allah bless him and give him the full reward here and in the hereafter.

Ameen
Imane

Get involved : VOTE !

As-Salamou 'Alaykoum wa rahmatoullahi wa barakatouhou

'Elections to the European Parliament will be held in the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) between 4 and 7 June 2009.[1][2] 736 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will be elected by proportional representation to represent some 500,000,000[3] Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament_election,_2009

As Muslim, if we want to be accepted WE HAVE TO GET INVOLVED in the society in which we live.

If we want to be represented and listened, we have to show that we can make THE difference.

If we keep on living hidden, alone, without any link with the non Muslim majority, how can we show the example?

If real Muslims were in important positions in France, would the hijab have been banned from school?

It’s true that there are few, not to say none, political parties in Europe that considers Islam as an important positive issue, but some of them want to fight for the human rights, and may be Muslim can be heard.

Moreover, more and more ‘visible minorities’ are involved in politics, and in chah allah more Muslims.

Btw, as a hijabee, when I enter in the vote hall, I can see the stare of some people, but I don’t care (I try to in fact...).

I AM A MUSLIM FRENCH CITIZEN. Nobody can tell me go home because France is my land. At the end of the day, if I will not be accepted, next generations will in chah allah.

Even if for some Muslims, ‘voting for non Muslim is haram’, I don’t see the bad thing in getting involved in the society in which I live. And is there today any real democratic Muslim country?

Here is what Shaikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi thinks about Democracy.

Islam's Approach Toward Democracy by Shaikh Yusuf Al-QaradawiSource: http://muslimvillage.com/story.php?id=673

'It is the duty of the Islamic Movement in the coming phase to stand firm against totalitarian and dictatorial rule, political despotism and usurpation of people's right.

The Islamic Movement should always stand by political freedom, as represented by a true, not false, democracy. It should clearly declare its refusal of tyrants and steer clear of all dictators, even if some tyrants appear to have good intentions towards the Movement in order to obtain some gains and only for a time that is usually short, as has been shown by experience.

The Qur'an denounces tyrants such as Nimrudh, Pharoah, Haman and others, but it also dispraises those who follow tyrants and obey their orders. This is why Allah dispraises the people of Nuh saying : And (they) followed one whose wealth and children give him no increase but only loss.Allah says of the people of Hud: And (they) followed the command of every proud obstinate (oppressor of the truth, from their leaders) (Quran 11:59)

Allah also says of the people of Pharaoh: But they followed the command of Pharaoh, and the command of Pharaoh was no right guide. (Quran 11:97) And they obeyed him. Verily , they were a people who were rebellious (against Allah). (Quran 43:54)

A closer look at the history of the Muslim Ummah and the Islamic Movement in modern times should show clearly that the Islamic Ideology, the Islamic Movement and the Islamic Awakening have never flourished or borne fruit unless in an atmosphere of democracy and freedom , and have withered and become barren only at the times of oppression and tyranny that trod over the will of the people which clung to Islam.

Such oppressive regimes imposed their Secularism, Socialism or Communism on their people by force and coercion, using covert torture and public executions, and employing those devilish tools that tore flesh, shed blood , crushed bones and destroyed souls.We saw these practices in many Muslim countries including Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Iraq South Yemen, Somalia and North African States for varying periods of time, depending on the age or reign of the dictator in each country.

On the other hand, we saw the Islamic Movement and the Islamic Awakening bear fruit and flourish at the times of freedom and democracy, and in the wake of the collapse of imperial regimes that ruled people with fear and oppression. Therefore, I would not imagine that the Islamic Movement could support anything other than political freedom and democracy. The tyrants allowed every voice to be raised, except the voice of Islam; and let every trend express itself in the form of a political party or a body of some sort, except the Islamic current which is the only trend that actually speaks for this Ummah and expresses its creed, values ,essence and its very existence.

However, some Islamists still have their reservations on democracy and are even wary of the word 'democracy' itself. What I wish to stress here is that Islam is not democracy and democracy is not Islam. I would rather say that Islam is not attributed to any principle or system. Islam is unique in its means, ends and methodologies, and I do not wish that Western democracy be carried over to us with its bad ideologies and values without us adding to it from our values and ideologies in order to integrate it into our comprehensive system.

However, the tools and guaranties created by democracy are as close as can ever be to the realization of the political principles brought to this world by Islam to put a leash on the ambitions and whims of rulers. These principles are : shura , nasihah (advice), enjoining the good and forbidding the evil disobeying illegal orders, resisting unbelief and changing wrong by force when possible.

It is only in democracy and political freedom that the power of parliament is evident that people's deputies can withdraw confidence from any government that breaches the constitution. It is also only in such an environment that the strength of free press , free parliament, opposition and the masses is most felt.'

If you want to be respected : vote!

Allahou a’lam

Imane

One of the best sadaqa : BLOOD DONATION

As-Salamou 'Alaykoum wa rahmatoullahi wa barakatouhou

‘Sadaqa is voluntary Islamic charity as opposed to zakat, or obligatory charity.

Sadaqa may be financial assistance, public service, or even a smile to someone who needs it.

Sadaqa is what is given voluntarily for the sake of Allah to obtain the recompense from Allah when the person who does so aims at conformity with the truth in his deed.
SADAQA is voluntary while ZAKA is obligatory’. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadaqa

The eminent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states the following concerning blood donation:

Blood donation is the best assistance a man can offer a patient who needs a blood transfusion due to blood loss or surgery. Donating blood is a highly estimated deed, as it saves the life of a human being whether he is a Muslim or not. It is an act whose virtue is explicitly clarified in the Qur’anic verse in which Allah the Almighty says:

“Whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind” (Al-Ma’idah: 32).

It is well-known that donating money is a highly esteemed deed in Islam; Allah is pleased with such deeds, so He accepts them and multiplies their reward up to seven-hundred-fold and more, by His Will. Donating blood is even greater in virtue and reward than donating money, as the former saves the life of a human being. Blood, which is a part of man, is more precious than money. The blood donor gives part of his body to his brother or sister out of love and solidarity.The virtue of blood donation increases when it is done to support a person in a hazardous condition and relieve his hardship. This is an extra virtue that qualifies one for more reward from Allah the Almighty. It is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Verily, Allah likes supporting a man in need” (Reported by Abu Ya`la, Ad-Dailamy and Ibn `Asakir, on the authority of Ibn Anas, as related in Faidul-Qadir 2/287).

It is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If one removes a hardship of a Muslim in this life, Allah will relieve a hardship from him on the Day of Judgment” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Ibn `Umar, as related in Al-Lu’lu’ Wal-Marjan 1667).

Moreover, it is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) declared that supporting the needy, even animals, deserves great reward in Allah’s Sight. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “While a man was walking he felt thirsty and went down a well and drank water from it. On coming out of it, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of excessive thirst. The man said, ‘This (dog) is suffering from the same problem as that of mine.’ So he (went down the well), filled his shoe with water, caught hold of it with his teeth and climbed up and gave the dog water. Allah thanked him for his (good) deed and forgave him.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Messenger! Is there a reward for us in serving (the) animals?” He replied, “Yes, there is a reward for serving any living creature” (Reported by Abu Hurayrah, as related in Al-Lu’lu’ Wal-Marjan 1447).

It seems that the Prophet’s Companions thought that serving such creatures does not entail any reward from Allah the Almighty and that there is no value for such an act in Islam. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified to them that being good to any living creature, whether it be a dog or such, deserves great reward. So what about assisting a human being, and what if that human being is a true believer? It then entails much greater reward.

Blood donation generally entails great reward, and when it is done for the favor of someone’s kin, it deserves even greater reward, as it strengthens the ties of kinship and enhances good relations among relatives. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Supporting a needy person is a charitable deed, while supporting a relative is two charitable deeds: spending money and strengthening the ties of kinship.” (Reported in Al-Jami` As-Saghir by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah, and Al-Hakim on the authority of Salman Ibn Amir; verified by Al-Hakim, and supported by Adh-Dhahabi, as related in Faydul-Qadir by Al-Manawi 4/237).This reward especially multiplies if the relation between one and his kin is not originally good. In other words, if a man is having a dispute with his relatives and can overcome feelings of enmity and hatred that are rejected by Allah and by people, and extend a helping hand, whether with money or blood, he then offers the best act of charity, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) considered it so when he said: “Charity is to support a kin with a severed relation (that is, one who does not keep good relations with his kin).” (Reported in Al-Jami` As-Saghir by Ahmad and At-Tabarani on the authority of Abu Ayoub and Hakeem Ibn Hizam, and in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad by Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Sa`id. Reported also by At-Tabarani and Al-Hakim on the authority of Umm Kulthum bint `Uqbah, and verified by Al-Hakim, according to Muslim’s conditions; and supported by Adh-Dhahabi, as related in Faydul-Qadir: 2/38).

DON'T FORGET TO DONATE YOUR BLOOD

Jazakoullahou kheyran

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both deny?

Imane

Allah or God ?

As-Salamou 'Alaykoum wa rahmatoullahi wa barakatouhou

Because I am both Arabic and French speaker, when I am talking about The Almighty, I don’t know if I have to use Allah or God.

As Muslims, it’s the same for us: He is the Unique.

However, when some of non Muslims refer to Allah, they think that He isn’t the god of the Christians or the Jewish, but another God, invented by Mohammed صلى الله عليه وسلم (Astaghforallah).

So, as for this point of view, it’s important to refer to God (in English), Dieu (in French) or Dios (in Spanish).

Say: "Invoke God, or invoke the Most Gracious: by whichever name you invoke Him,He is always the One -- for His are all the attributes of perfection."Al Isra 17:110

. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: 'To God belongs 99 names, 100 minus 1, anyone who memorizes them will enter Paradise; He (God) is odd (odd number, he is the Only One), and He loves odd numbers

On the other hand, when we talk about Allah, there is obviously a connection to Islam. And one of the most beautiful names of God is Allah. The Qur’an was revealed in Arabic, and when it is transalated it inevitably loses some important meanings.So referring to Allah gives a direct connection to the Holly Book.

As far as I am concerned, I feel more comfortable by using God when I am not talking in Arabic.

Finally, the most important thing is to believe that there is only one Creator.

What about you? I would be pleased to share your points of view about using one or the other term.

May God/Allah bless you
Imane.

Dhikr : the key to all success

As-Salamou 'Alaykoum wa rahmatoullahi wa barakatouhou

Astaghforallah, sometimes I feel so alone. It’s like nobody can understand me. When I am in that mood, in fact Asshaytan is the winner because I forgot what all The Almighty have given to me: a wonderful family, an easy life without debts or any disease.

aoudoubillah mina chaytane rajim

Moreover, the most important thing that we usually forget is that God is ALWAYS with us

We verily created man and We know what his soul whispereth to him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. (16)
وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ وَنَعۡلَمُ مَا تُوَسۡوِسُ بِهِۦ نَفۡسُهُ ۥ‌ۖ وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ ٱلۡوَرِيدِ
(s.50 :16)

How can we find ourselves alone when He is that nearer? A’oudoubillah, we are so weak and if we follow this world, it can only lead us to our destruction, here and in the hereafter.

To be stronger, ‘remembrance’ is the most important solution: God is present with us in every moment so let’s try to thank him as often as possible and let’s try to be forgotten.

And when My servants question thee concerning Me, then surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they may be led aright. (186)

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ‌ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعۡوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ‌ۖ فَلۡيَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لِى وَلۡيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِى لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡشُدُونَ ١٨٦
(S 2 : 186)


The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"If your hearts were always in the state that they are in during dhikr, the angels would come to see you to the point that they would greet you in the middle of the road." (Muslim)

The word dhikr has many meanings. It means:
- God's Book and its recitation;
- Prayer;
- Learning and teaching
- Invocation of Allah with the tongue according to one of the formulas taught by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم or any other formula;
- Remembrance of The Almigthy in the heart, or in both the heart and the tongue.


“During the night of Isra' and Mi`raj, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was taken up to a point where he heard the screeching of the Pens (writing the divine Decree). He saw a man who had disappeared into the light of the Throne. He said: "Who is this? Is this an angel?" It was said to him, no. He said: "Is it a Prophet?" Again the answer was no. He said: "Who is it then?" The answer was: "This is a man whose tongue was moist with Allah's remembrance in the world, and his heart was attached to the mosques, and he never incurred the curse of his father and mother."
(Shaykh Muhammad `Alawi al-Malaki cited it in his collated text of the sound narrations on that topic entitled al-Anwar al-bahiyya min isra' wa mi`raj khayr al-bariyya”)

A man came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and said:
"O Rasulallah, the laws and conditions of Islam have become too many for me. Tell me something that I can always keep.The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "(I am advising you in one thing:) Keep your tongue always moist with dhikrullah."
(In Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, and Ibn Hibban declared it fair (hasan)).

Jabir reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, said:
"The best remembrance of Allah is to repeat la ilaha illallah and the best prayer (du'a) is al-hamdu lillah (all praise belongs to Allah)."

Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"There are two phrases that are light on the tongue but heavy on the scale of rewards and are dear to the Gracious One. These are: subhan Allah wa bi hamdihi, "Glorified is Allah with all praise to Him," and subhan Allah al-`azim, "Glorified is Allah, the Great."


Ya ALLAH, please forgive me because I am so ungrateful to you, make me stronger in your pathway in order to see your face in al Firdaous, amine ya rab al’alamine

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both deny?

Imane

The Iron miracle

“And We also sent down iron in which there lies great force and which has many uses for mankind…” (Quran 57:25)

As-Salamou 'Alaykoum wa rahmatoullahi wa barakatouhou

Reading the Qu’ran as often as possible is highly recommended. The Holy Book is also called adhikr (reminder).
In fact, there are so many treasures inside, showing us the mercy of The Almighty on the human being, masha Allah
How can someone deny that it can only come from God?
Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both deny? (Quran 55:16)
Some miracles were only discovered recently, thanks to new technology. Iron is one of them.
This metal is so important for the human being, that no life can exists without it. And masha Allah, one surat is titled AL HADID (the Iron).

“Of all the metals there is none more essential to life than iron. It is the accumulation of iron in the center of a star which triggers a supernova explosion and the subsequent scattering of the vital atoms of life throughout the cosmos. It was the drawing by gravity of iron atoms to the center of the primeval earth that generated the heat which caused the initial chemical differentiation of the earth, the outgassing of the early atmosphere, and ultimately the formation of the hydrosphere. It is molten iron in the center of the earth which, acting like a gigantic dynamo, generates the earth’s magnetic field, which in turn creates the Van Allen radiation belts that shield the earth’s surface from destructive high-energy-penetrating cosmic radiation and preserve the crucial ozone layer from cosmic ray destruction…
“Without the iron atom, there would be no carbon-based life in the cosmos; no supernovae, no heating of the primitive earth, no atmosphere or hydrosphere. There would be no protective magnetic field, no Van Allen radiation belts, no ozone layer, no metal to make hemoglobin [in human blood], no metal to tame the reactivity of oxygen, and no oxidative metabolism.
“The intriguing and intimate relationship between life and iron, between the red color of blood and the dying of some distant star, not only indicates the relevance of metals to biology but also the biocentricity of the cosmos…”
Michael J. Denton, Nature’s Destiny (The Free Press: 1998), 198.

"In addition, the 25th verse of Surat al-Hadid, which refers to iron, includes two interesting mathematical codes.

1. In the Quran, there is a mathematical value for every letter. The mathematical value for the word iron (hadid) is 26.
Ha=8/Da=4/Ya=10/Da=4 Total=26

2. The verse which refers to iron is the 25th verse in the sura Hadid. If we count Basmalah as a numbered verse then that number is 26.

3. The name God mentioned in this verse for 26th time is in the 25th verse. The atomic number of an element is the main characteristic of that element and is determined by the number of its protons which are the building blocks of that element. Iron’s atomic number is 26 because of its 26 protons. The fact that from the beginning of the sura Iron (Hadid) till the end of the verse of that sura that alludes to iron, the word God is used 26 times.


Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both deny? (Quran 55:16)

Imane

Sobhanak ya 'adhim!

12. We created man from an extract of clay.
13. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed.
14. Then We made the drop into an alaqah (leech, suspended thing, and blood clot), then We made the alaqah into a mudghah (chewed substance)…” (Quran 23:12-14)

12. Walaqad khalaqna al-insana min sulalatin min teenin
13. Thumma ja’alnahu nutfatan fee qararin makeenin
14. Thumma khalaqna alnnutfata ‘alaqatan fakhalaqna al’alaqata mudghatan fakhalaqna almudghata ‘ithaman fakasawna al’ithama lahman thumma ansha/nahu khalqan akhara fatabaraka Allahu ahsanu alkhaliqeena

As-Salamou 'Alaykoum wa rahmatoullahi wa barakatouhou

I try everyday between salat al-maghreb and salat al-isha to read and listen to the Qur’an in the net (http://quranexplorer.com/quran/ : in this site, there is a double page: one in Arabic and one translated, and we can choose the reciter, my favourite one is Mishari Rsheed, so when I don’t understand the meaning in Arabic I have it in French, which I can understand and read much easily).
Yesterday, I was listening to sourate al Al-Mumenoon سُوۡرَةُ المؤمنون
And sobhanallah, it was like if I read it for the first time. I don’t know if it happens to you, but sometimes just one word make me cry. How can we doubt about the creation after reading the three ayat above?
I have made some research and this is a very interesting article about embryonic development.
“In the Holy Quran, God speaks about the stages of man’s embryonic development:
12. We created man from an extract of clay.
13. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed.
14. Then We made the drop into an alaqah (leech, suspended thing, and blood clot), then We made the alaqah into a mudghah (chewed substance)…” (Quran 23:12-14)
Literally, the Arabic word alaqah has three meanings: (1) leech, (2) suspended thing, and (3) blood clot.
In comparing a leech to an embryo in the alaqah stage, we find similarity between the two. Also, the embryo at this stage obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, similar to the leech, which feeds on the blood of others.[2]

The second meaning of the word alaqah is “suspended thing.”
The third meaning of the word alaqah is “blood clot.” We find that the external appearance of the embryo and its sacs during the alaqah stage is similar to that of a blood clot. This is due to the presence of relatively large amounts of blood present in the embryo during this stage. Also during this stage, the blood in the embryo does not circulate until the end of the third week.Thus, the embryo at this stage is like a clot of blood.


So the three meanings of the word alaqah correspond accurately to the descriptions of the embryo at the alaqah stage.
The next stage mentioned in the verse is the mudghah stage. The Arabic word mudghah means “chewed substance.” If one were to take a piece of gum and chew it in his or her mouth and then compare it with an embryo at the mudghah stage, we would conclude that the embryo at the mudghah stage acquires the appearance of a chewed substance. This is because of the somites at the back of the embryo that “somewhat resemble teethmarks in a chewed substance.”
How could Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, have possibly known all this 1400 years ago, when scientists have only recently discovered this using advanced equipment and powerful microscopes which did not exist at that time? Hamm and Leeuwenhoek were the first scientists to observe human sperm cells (spermatozoa) using an improved microscope in 1677 (more than 1000 years after Muhammad). They mistakenly thought that the sperm cell contained a miniature preformed human being that grew when it was deposited in the female genital tract.’
For more details here is the link of the full article http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/216/

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both deny?
Imane

Skirk, the unforgivable

Pilgrims on the grave of Sheikh El Kamel, in his mausoleum in Meknes, Morocco, pleading to intercede (Astaghfor Allah)

“…Worship God! You have no other god but Him…” (Qur’an 7:59, 7:65, 7:73, 7:85; 11:50, 11:61, 11:84; 23:23)

Assalamou ‘alykum

Yesterday, I went to a Akika. I was invited and specified that there would be no men. So when I arrived, the meal was ready and al hamdoulillah every thing was fine. But when all the guests had finished, the music started.
At the beginning I didn’t pay attention to the lyrics because I was talking to my cousin about our children. But when we stopped I started listening to the music. It was a traditional one called “ACHAHBI”: the lyrics talk about the power of some Sheikhs (holly dead people) that can cure any kind of disease, help you to have children, or to get husband!)
ASTAGHFORALLAH.
And the worst, some women started to dance like if they were in trance
ASTAGHFORALLAH.

I was seeing myself in a jahilya assembly. I told my cousin what I felt, and she agreed with me. But alhamdoulillah, they finished by changing the kind of music.

Back home, I didn’t feel very comfortable. So I talked about my feelings to my husband. What should I do next time? Either I won’t go to any kind of party or I will give a chance and if it’s not OK I will go out?
On the other hand, when I am invited, all my circle know that I don’t go to mixed parties, so they always focus on the fact that THERE WILL BE NO MEN.
According to my husband, it’s a very big victory because ten years ago, nobody would have thought like that here. So with our behaviour, may be they would understand. So for him I have to go, when they say there will be no men, and try to make them understand that the choice of music is also important, and can drive you to Shirk. But I know that it will be very difficult...

In Morocco, and some others Muslim countries, there is still today a great importance given to the Sheikh or Sayid. They are seen as able to intercede for you next to God, http://science.jrank.org/pages/7788/Intercession-in-Middle-Eastern-Society.html
Astaghforallah

Islam specifies that prayer should only be directed to God.
if not repented from, and it denies the very purpose of creation.

“And do not invoke, along with God, anything that can neither benefit you nor harm you, for behold, if you do it, you will surely be among the evildoers!” (Quran 10:106)

http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/51/

“Shirk ( شرك‎) is the Islamic concept of the sin of polytheism specifically, but in a more general way refers to worshipping other than Allah, associating partners with him, giving his characteristics to others beside him, or not believing in his characteristics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirk”

"1.Categories of Major Shirk
Derived from the Qur'an and the prophetic tradition (Sunnah), there are three main categories of Shirk in Islam.
1.1. Shirk in Rubūbīyah (Lordship)
This category of Shirk refers to either the belief that others share God's Lordship over creation as His equal or near equal, or to the belief that there exists no Lord over creation at all.
Shirk by association - This is the shirk concerned with associating 'others' with Allah.
Shirk by negation - This is Shirk in Rubūbīyah (Lordship)
This category of Shirk refers to either the belief that others share God's Lordship over creation as His equal or near equal, or to the belief that there exists no Lord over creation at all.
1.2. Shirk in al-Asma was-Sifat (the names and attributes of Allah)
Shirk in this category includes both the common pagan practice of giving God the attributes of His creation as well as the act of giving created beings God's names and attributes.
Shirk by humanization - In this aspect of Shirk in al-Asma was-Sifat, God is given the form and qualities of human beings and animals. Due to man's superiority over animals, the human form is more commonly used by idolaters to represent God in creation. Consequently, the image of the Creator is often painted, moulded or carved in the shape of human beings possessing the physical features of those who worship them.
Shirk by deification - This form of Shirk in al-Asma was-Sifat relates to cases where created beings or things are given or claim God's names or His attributes. For example, it was the practice of the ancient Arabs to worship idols whose names were derived from the names of God. Their main three idols were: al-Lat taken from God's name al-Elah, al-'Uzza taken from al-'Aziz and al-Manat taken from al-Mannan . During the era of Muhammad there was also a man in a region of Arabia called Yamamah, who claimed to be a prophet and took the name Rahman which, in Islam, belongs only to God.
1.3. Shirk In al-'Ibadah (Worship)
In this category of Shirk, acts of worship are directed to other than Allah and the reward for worship is sought from the creation instead of the Creator. As in the case of the previous categories, Shirk in al-'Ebadah has two main aspects.
Ash-Shirk al-Akbar (Major Shirk) - This form of Shirk occurs when any act of worship is directed to other than Allah. It represents the most obvious form of idolatry which the prophets were specifically sent by God to call the masses of mankind away from. Examples of this shirk, asking forgiveness, admittance to paradise and other things that only Allah can provide, from other than Allah.
2. Ash-Shirk al-Asghar (Minor Shirk)
Mahmud ibn Lubayd reported, "God's messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "The thing I fear for you the most is ash-Shirk al-Asghar (minor shirk)."
The companions asked "Oh! messenger of God صلى الله عليه وسلم , what is minor Shirk?"
He replied "Ar-Riya (showing off), for verily God will say on the Day of Resurrection when people are receiving their rewards, 'Go to those for whom you were showing off in the material world and see if you can find any reward from them."
· Secret Shirk
Mahmud ibn Lubayd also said, "The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came out and announced, 'O people, beware of secret Shirk!'
The people asked, 'O messenger of God صلى الله عليه وسلم , what is secret Shirk?'
He replied, 'When a man gets up to pray and strives to beautify his prayer because people are looking at him; that is secret Shirk."
- Swearing by other than Allah
This is considered minor Shirk, unless the one who swore believes that whoever he swore by is equal to or worthy of Allah's worth.
-. Karma
Karma is a form of secret shirk because it is believing that some other worldly power can repay you with justice or injustice for your deeds in the world when the truth is only Allah (God) has power over what and when something will happen to you
-. Luck
Luck is a form of shirk because it is also entails believing that something other than Allah can bring upon good or bad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirk_(Islam)

Wa Allahou a’lam
Imane

A stranger in the community

(This picture is taken from the net : it's a Moroccan wedding, with men singers astaghforallah, this is NOT MUSLIM)

Bismillah irrahmanirahim

Assalamou ‘alykum

I have been reading sisters blogs for months, and I didn’t dare opening one, until our sister Flifla from Hénna de la mariée suggested it to me (Allahi jazik ya oukhti).
Al hamdoulilallah, now I’m writing to share with you my experience, hoping that it will help us in our religion.

Sobhanallah, the blogs of the revert are so interesting and so helpful. Even if I was born in a Muslim family, sometimes I consider myself as a revert.

In France, most of Muslims come from North Africa and are called “The Arabs”. And for most people here, when you are Arabs you can only be a Muslim (and for some extremist even Taliban…).

Nevertheless, most of the first wing of emigrants didn’t know a lot about their religion, and often mixed tradition to religion. So many things were done but because in the mother country everybody did it, that was tolerated whereas not accepted by Islam.
Astaghfor allah, major sins were (and keep on being) accepted because ‘our ancestors accepted them’ (mixed parties, consulting fortune tellers, bewitching people using curse…)

I don’t want to hurt anybody I’m just going to speak about what happen in my circle.

I grew up in a traditional family. I’ve always seen my parents praying and fasting. The most important thing for them was to succeed, to be the best at school in order to be respected. My father wanted to protect us from bad “company” so we didn’t have “Arabs” friends and didn’t Even if my mother was a great believer, she didn’t wear the hijab whereas she was a beautiful woman. During summer holydays we went to Morocco, to see the family, and each year we went to mixed marriages, to the sea side. We were seen as ‘open’ Muslims ‘(astaghforallah).

Sobhanallah, I don’t know what happen to my mother, but when she was about forty, she decided to go to Mecca and to wear hijab even if my father wasn’t keen on that idea. So little by little she tried to change but when your company didn’t change you can’t change a lot.

As far as I’m concerned, I’ve started to change when I travelled aboard as an Erasmus student. I felt so alone that I was checking masajids in order to see Muslims and to listen to the Qur’an. And sobhanallah, what I noticed it’s that the Arabs were so far from deen, and the revert so close to it. I was so ashamed by some behaviour…

And Allah sent me a light in my life: a Spanish sister called Zaynab. She was married to the Imam of the masjid of Seville. I was the only Arab woman there, but I was so well welcomed even if I didn’t wear the hijab at that time. She taught me so many thing and the most important to be close to The Almigty, making douaa, trusting in him. There was so much love sobhallah.

Back home, I felt so weak so I started to make douaa: I’d just wanted to have a simple life but a real Muslim life with a husband that could help me in the path to Jannah, And sobhanallah I was granted. A friend of mine presented him to me: I couldn’t imagine that I would meet someone like him (Allahou akbar)

My problems with the community have started when I decided to change my life and to live according to the Sunnah. A lot of my friends and some of my own family thought that I had a brainwash, some betting on how long my marriage would last. But alhamdoulillah, that happened 10 years ago and I have two wonderful boys (allahi hfadhoum).

But I keep on being seen as a stranger, as a poor wife married to a hard husband! For example I don’t go to mixed parties (or when only women are invited the singers are men!), whereas some hijabees go, even if they take part from the local masjid, pleading ‘Allah ghaleb’. Astaghfourlallah, ashahaytan ghaleb!

But I don’t care: I want to see the face of God in Jannah with those that I loved Amine

When someone chose the side of God, he will never loose, even if it can be hard.

Keep your Imane
Imane.

Umm Al-Kitab

1.1. Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrrahim1.

2. Alhamdu lillahi rabbi alhalamin1.

3. Alrrahmani alrrahim1.

4. Maliki yawmi din1.

5. Iyyaka nahbudu wa-iyyaka nastahin1.

6. Ihdina ssirata almustaqim1.

7. Sirata alladina anhamta halayhim ghayri almaghdoobi halayhim wala dallin

Assalamou’alykum

I wanted to share with you a tafsir of Al Fatiha that I’ve read a few months ago.
Sobhanallah, even if I was born and raised in a Muslim family I was never told how important it was. However I knew the basic issues such as without reading it, no salat and no marriage were accepted, and as it was the beginner of the Qur’an.

One day, I was surfing on the net, going from links to links until arriving on the page of Amr Khaled: http://www.amrkhaled.net/acategories/categories80.html

Machallah, I wasn’t keen on watching his show on Iqraa TV. For me, he was to “show off” (ya Rab ighfr li).
Sobhanallah, reading him was so instructive and so pleasant, that I am ashamed not giving him a chance before: I had preconceived ideas about him.
In fact, he tries to give a new impulse to Islam, trying to educate the young being the best community in earth, following the teaching of our beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم

As far as the Fatiha is concerned, he gives a wonderful tafsir:
http://www.deenresearchcenter.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=K%2bmM49zwKXM%3d&tabid=58&mid=446&language=en-US

“This Surah holds all the treasures of the Qur’an”. Within it, there is one aya that sum up our religion (sobhanallah):
1.5. Iyyaka nahbudu wa-iyyaka nastahin
(you do we worship and you do we beseech for help)
Islam is to worship God alone, because He is The only one Who can help.

Ya Rab Laka alhamd ouaachchokr

Imane

Mohammed (peace be upon him) seen by Lamartine

Assalamou 'alaikum

At school in France we have to study several great authors, such as Maupassant, Balzac or Beaudelaire. One of them Lamartine is also seen as one of the most important French poet of the XIXth century.
Sobhanallah, I've never heard that we was muslim and that we wrote a lot about our beloved prophet (peace be upon him), were they ashamed by his new religion ?

Here is an extract about what he thougt about Islam :

'Muhammad (saw) est le meilleur des prophètes. Il fascine, guide, éclaire, oriente, enseigne, rappelle, appelle… Seul Dieu peut sortir un modèle aussi extraordinaire. Une traduction concrète de Son Livre Suprême.
“Jamais un homme ne se proposa, volontairement ou involontairement, un but plus sublime, puisque ce but était surhumain : Saper les superstitions interposées entre la créature et le Créateur, rendre Dieu à l’homme et l’homme à Dieu, restaurer l’idée rationnelle et sainte de la divinité dans ce chaos de dieux matériels et défigurés de l’idolâtrie… Jamais homme n’accomplit en moins de temps une si immense et durable révolution dans le monde, puisque moins de deux siècle après sa prédication, l’islamisme, prêché et armé, régnait sur les trois Arabies, conquérait à l’Unité de Dieu la Perse, le Khorasan, la Transoxiane, l’Inde occidentale, la Syrie, l’Egypte, l’Ethiopie, tout le continent connu de l’Afrique septentrionale, plusieurs îles de la méditerranée, l’Espagne et une partie de la Gaule. Si la grandeur du dessein, la petitesse des moyens, l’immensité du résultat sont les trois mesures du génie de l’homme, qui osera comparer humainement un grand homme de l’histoire moderne à Mahomet ? Les plus fameux n’ont remués que des armes, des lois, des empires ; ils n’ont fondé, quand ils ont fondés quelque chose, que des puissances matérielles, écroulées souvent avant eux. Celui-là a remué des armées, des législations, des empires, des peuples, des dynasties, des millions d’hommes sur un tiers du globe habité ; mais il a remué, de plus, des idées, des croyances, des âmes. Il a fondé sur un Livre, dont chaque lettre est devenue une loi, une nationalité spirituelle qui englobe des peuples de toutes les langues et de toutes les races, et il a imprimé, pour caractère indélébile de cette nationalité musulmane, la haine des faux dieux et la passion du Dieu un et immatériel… Philosophe, orateur, apôtre, législateur, guerrier, conquérant d’idées, restaurateur de dogmes rationnels, d’un culte sans images, fondateur de vingt empires terrestres et d’un empire spirituel, voilà Mahomet. A toutes les échelles où l’on mesure la grandeur humaine, quel homme fut plus grand ?…” 'Lamartine, Paris 1854

Allahou akbar

Bismillah

Assalmou 'alaykoum

It's may first post ! I hope I won't be too boring ...
I'll try in chah allah to share my research in the way of getting closer to The Almighty.
I'm not a 'pro' on computers so l'll try to do my best with the help of God.