Photo: Kogi State University lecturer killed

A Kogi State university lecturer in the Faculty of
Agriculture, Prof Otitolaiye was killed on Friday Nov.
21st in the state. According to students who are
asking police to investigate his murder, he was on
his way to to eat at a place near Stadium Road in
Ayingba, when some armed men double-crossed
his vehicle at gun point, put him inside their vehicle
and drove away.

His body was found the next day Saturday Nov.
22nd at Ejule village in Ofu LGA of Kogi state. They
say his wife is heavily pregnant. The police have
started investigating the incident.

Justice: Islam’s ultimate value

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): "And the
heaven He raised and imposed the balance. That
you not transgress within the balance. And
establish weight in justice and do not make
deficient the balance.” [Quran 55:7-9]

These verses of the Quran, which are mentioned in
the chapter Ar-Rahmaan, or “(God) the All-
Merciful” stand out in their emphasis of the
importance of justice because they unite justice
with the important theological principle of Allaah’s
Khalq and Amr or His “Creation and Command.”

These verses make justice both the basis of the
creation and its source of continuity (by
commanding justice). This is true because, in
essence, the balance is the symbol of justice and
its means of realization at the same time.

Heavens and earth were originally created with
justice in a balanced way and they can only (or
were meant to) continue with it.

Muslims accepted
this magnificent guidance and ultimate value of life,
more than 1400 years ago. The great Commentator
of the Quran, Imaam Abu Ja'far At-Tabari (d. 310
AH) expounded the aforementioned verses, saying,
“Allaah created Heavens and Earth by (and in)
justice so that all things in them exist (and interact)
by (and in) justice.”
And there is not a single nation, past or present, but
that it has asserted its claims of honoring justice
and being just. Yet, the justice they claimed, at
times, meant nothing more than what the “powers
that be” wanted. Or sometimes justice represented
what is recognized and utilized by a majority or a
certain religion or ethnicity. What humans mean by
justice, in other words, may differ in its meaning
and means from one nation to another. It is
interesting to note that Socrates (killed in 339 BC)
defined justice as the, “Will of the powerful,” and it
is also interesting that this applies the vast majority
of the time in situations when religious values are
absent or weak. It is even more interesting that
some of the theories man has, overtime, developed
using ‘rationality' and empiricism, and which
exceedingly tilt the balance of justice in favor of the
powerful or the rich, still flourish in modern times
and continue to find advocates or even unabashed
supporters who will kill or die for them.

In one of the 100 or so verses which deal with
the essentials of justice and fairness, the Quran tells
us of this perversion of justice that sometimes
occurs in the course of human events. Verse 25 of
the chapter (57) Al-Hadeed, “the Iron,” pregnant
with meanings and profusely poignant, lay bear the
reality about the roots of injustice among people.

Many people mention being motivated by hearing
this verse recited just once. Allaah Says (what
means): “ We have already sent Our messengers
with clear evidences and sent down with them the
Scripture and the balance that the people may
maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down
iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for
the people, and so that Allaah may make evident
those who support Him and His messengers
unseen. Indeed, Allaah is Powerful and Exalted in
Might.” [Quran 57:25] So many points of benefit, so
much to learn and live by. For one, the balance of
justice is mentioned along with the Books, guidance
from Allaah, to indicate that true justice needs a
compass to save itself from relativism and free
judgment from personal drive. This also means that
the interpretation of Allaah’s Guidance must be free
from whims and ignorance, and this effort to free
one’s self from whims and ignorance is what
Muslim scholars—who are the interpreters of
Allaah’s Final Message— term Ijtihaad. The point is
that Allaah’s Guidance entails that only people of
knowledge who are able and honest may interpret
Divine texts. Ignoring this prerequisite has led—in
many times and places—to gross justifications and
evil consequences. Without this guidance, man has
done enough to give Socrates’ definition of justice
precedence over any other.

Another point worthy of our attention here is the fact
that Allaah is reminding us that He has provided the
messengers with iron to go along with the guidance
and the command to establish justice. Man has
known, for untold centuries, that he cannot institute
justice in almost any walk of life, or protect justice
whenever needed, without the power of iron.
But the intent of the message of this verse is
unambiguous. Allmessengers from Allaah, who
were sent to various nations throughout history,
came with the very same message.
The implication of this is so profound, especially for
today’s Muslims.

We must acknowledge and respect that loving and
establishing justice is a human trait, not an attribute
of the Muslim Ummahalone. In fact, our scholars
have long asserted, based on the aforementioned
verses among many others, that Allaah grants
supremacy to a just government or nation even
though it may be disbelieving, and He takes away
supremacy from an unjust government or nation
even though it may be believing. This is how just
the Islamic worldview is.
And a Muslim would not be completely truthful to his
belief without accepting this view.

Muslims should
support justice and those who seek it and they
should feel happy every time justice triumphs.

But judging by the current situation of most Muslim
countries and communities around the world, it is
not difficult to see that we have strayed from
justice.

To lure it back home, we need to mend our ways
and make them coincide with the guidance of our
Kitaab (the Quran) first.

Obligation of the Five Daily Prayers

Prayer is the most obligatory of the Five Pillars of
Islam next to the Two Testifications of Faith, and it
was ordained in the best and the most perfect way
for an act of worship. Prayer includes many of the
acts of worship, like the remembrance of Allah
Almighty, the recitation of the Quran, standing
humbly before Almighty Allah, bowing, prostration,
supplication, and Takbeer (uttering the words
‘Allahu Akbar’).

Prayer is also the head of the physical acts of
worship, of which none of the religions brought by
any of Allah's messengers is void.

Prayer, unlike all
other acts of worship, was enjoined by Almighty
Allah on His messenger, Muhammad the Seal of
Messengers, on the night of Al-Mi’raj (the
ascension of the Prophet ). This is an indication of
its greatness, a confirmation of its being obligatory,
and a sign of its high status in the Sight of Allah.

There are many hadeeths indicating the virtues of
prayer and showing its being obligatory on all
Muslim individuals. The fact that prayer is an
obligatory act of worship is primarily known in
Islam. So, whoever denies this fact is considered to
be an apostate.

Linguistically, prayer means invocation; Allah, the
Exalted Commands the Prophet to 'pray' for the
believers, saying (what means): "…And invoke
[Allah's blessings] upon them..." [Quran 9: 103]

According to the Sharee'ah (Islamic Jurisprudence)
, prayer is defined as a special kind of sayings and
deeds beginning with takbeer and ending with
tasleem (saying ‘assalamu alaykum wa
rahmatullah’). It is called 'prayer' because it
includes invocation. During prayer, the worshipper
is in a state of invocation through worshipping
Almighty Allah, praising Him, or supplicating Him for
something.

This is why it is called ‘prayer’. Prayer was
decreed by Almighty Allah on the night of Al-Mi'raj
before Hijrah, as five prayers to be performed every
day and night at specified times by every legally
accountable Muslim. Allah, the Exalted Says (what
means): "...Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon
the believers a decree of specified times." [Quran
4: 103]

Those prayer times are the times pointed out by
Allah's messenger through his words or his deeds.
Allah, the Exalted, Says (what means): "And they
were not commanded except to worship Allaah,
[being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth,
and to establish prayer and to give Zakah. And that
is the correct religion.” [Quran 98: 5]

In addition, in many verses of Allah's Glorious Book
(the Quran), Allah, the Exalted Says: “And establish
prayer..." [Quran: 2: 43]

Almighty Allah also Says (what means): [O
Muhammad], tell My servants who have believed to
establish prayer…” [Quran 14: 31]

Moreover, Allah, the Exalted Says: "So Exalted is
Allah when you reach the evening and when you
reach the morning. And to Him is [due all] praise
throughout the heavens and the earth. And (Exalted
is He) at night and when you are at noon." [Quran
30: 17-18]

Therefore, it is obligatory for whoever reaches one
of the specified times of prayer, being adult and
sane, to perform it, excluding women in a state of
menstruation or postnatal bleeding.

Scholars
unanimously agree that it is not obligatory for
women in the aforesaid two cases to perform
prayer, nor to perform it later after purification. On
the other hand, whoever is in a state of
unconsciousness, as in sleeping, fainting, and the
like, has to perform the prayer at the moment when
they wake up or recover to the normal state. Allah,
the Exalted, Says (what means): "...And establish
prayer for My remembrance." [Quran 20: 14]

In addition, the Prophet says: "Whoever misses a
prayer out of oversleeping or forgetfulness, let him
perform it once he remembers it."

A guardian of a child has to command him to
perform prayer when the child reaches the age of
seven, though it is still not obligatory for him. But
the purpose is to make the child interested in
prayer and used to it. Thus, the child and his
guardian will be rewarded when the former
performs prayer, for Allah, the Exalted, Says (what
means): "Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgment]
with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof
[to his credit] ...” [Quran 6: 160]

Moreover, when a woman showed the Prophet a
young boy who was with her, saying:"Does this one
have to perform Hajj (Pilgrimage), O Messenger of
Allah?" He replied, "Yes, and you will have a
reward."

So, a guardian has to teach his child how to perform
prayer and how to perform ablution for it. A
guardian has also to beat his child if the latter is ten
years old and neglects prayer, for the Prophet said:
"Command your children to perform prayer when
they become seven years old, and beat them for
(not performing) it (i.e. prayer) when they become
ten years old; and arrange their beds (so that boys
and girls sleep) separately." [Ahmad, At-Tirmithi,
Abu Dawood, and other compilers of hadeeths]

It is also impermissible to perform prayer later than
its due time, for Allah, the Exalted Says (what
means): "...Indeed prayer has been decreed upon
the believers a decree of specified times." [Quran
4: 103]

The meaning is that prayer has specified times at
which it has to be performed. A prayer is
impermissible to be deferred except for those who
would like to combine it with the following prayer,
provided that the said prayer can be combined with
another, and that the case is among those in which
combining two prayers is permissible as well as the
person being one who is allowed to combine
prayers in this way. As for delaying performing a
night prayer until the morning, a day prayer until the
night, or the Fajr (Dawn) Prayer until sunrise, it is
by no means permissible, whether the reason is a
state of major ritual impurity, minor ritual impurity,
or anything else. Rather, one has to perform them at
their specified times, regardless of one's state.

A person might happen to be detained in hospital
where he is confined to a bed that he cannot leave
to pray, or cannot change the impure clothes he
wears, or cannot find pure earth to perform
tayammum (dry ablution) instead of ablution to
pray. Some ignorant people in this case defer
prayer on the pretext that they will perform it later
when possible. In fact, this is a grave mistake and a
means of missing prayer whose reason is
unawareness and lack of juristic consultation. What
they have to do is to perform prayer at its specified
times regardless of their states. Their prayer will be
sufficient, even if it is performed without
tayammum or in impure clothes; Allah, the Exalted
Says (what means): "So fear Allah as much as you
are able..." [Quran 64: 16]

Even if they pray without facing the Qibla (the
direction of Qa'bah), provided they are unable to
face it, their prayer is still valid.

The prayer is the basic pillar of Islam, and the main
difference between a Muslim and a disbeliever. So,
whatever good deeds one might do are useless if
one is negligent of prayer, we ask Almighty Allah for
safety.

The Final Examination by Wakili Abdulmuluku Musa

It baffles me to see my young Muslim brothers and sisters using their time to read for six hours or more than that in a day, all because they want to pass their school examination.
This exam I am talking about is been written on a sheet of paper and the most annoying part is that the exam is been set by a human being like you and I.
This person setting the exam has the same brain as we do, has the same brain as we do, has the same eye and body or "Are the teachers no linger human being?".
  My question to the youth is "How prepared are you ready for the FINAL EXAMINATION?. Final examination is when we shall all face our Creator and God wont write his question in a paper, God will ask you and its just one question.
  ARE YOU PREPARE FOR THE FINAL EXAMINATION.

ABU Admission List Now on School Portal – 2014/15

Ahmadu Bello University, ABU admission list for the 2014/2015 academic session is out.

The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria provisional admission list that contains the names of candidates offered provisional admission into the university various undergraduate programmes for the 2014/2015 academic session is out.

ABU admission list has been successfully uploaded online and it is accessible for free.

Check ABU Admission List

To access your ABU admission status, kindly visit the university admission status checking portal @ http://putme.abu.edu.ng/. Enter your JAMB registration number where required, select your state and finally click the Login button to access your ABU admission status or click here to check it.

Note: This is for both DE and UTME candidates.

MSG Team congratulates all the candidates that made it to ABU Admission List for the 2014/2015 academic session.

ISIS says Islam justifies slavery – what does Islamic law say?

Professor Bernard Freamon teaches courses on modern-day slavery and human trafficking at Seton Hall University School of Law in New Jersey and also specializes in Islamic Legal History. He is currently writing a book, “Islam, Slavery and Empire in the Indian Ocean World.” The views in this article are his alone.

By Professor Bernard Freamon

In the past few months, the world has witnessed horrific accounts of the enslavement of thousands of innocent Yazidis and other religious minorities by ISIS partisans in Iraq and Syria.

In a recent article in its online English-language magazine, ISIS ideologues offered legal justifications for the enslavement of these non-Muslim non-combatants, stating that “enslaving the families of the kuffar [infidels] and taking their women as concubines is a firmly established aspect of the Shariah or Islamic law.”

The article argues, based on a variety of Shariah sources, that ISIS partisans have a religious duty to kill or enslave members of the Yazidi community as part of their struggle [jihad] against their enemies.

This argument is plainly wrong, hypocritical and astonishingly ahistorical, relying on male fantasies inspired by stories from the days of imperial Islam.

It is also an affront to right-thinking Muslims everywhere and a criminal perversion of Islamic law, particularly its primary source, the Glorious Quran.

Jurists around the world acknowledge that there is now a universal consensus recognizing an irrefutable human right to be free from slavery and slave-trading.

This right, like the rights to be free from genocide, torture, racial discrimination and piracy, has become a bedrock principle of human affairs. ISIS seeks to remove Islamic jurisprudence from this universal consensus by citing Quranic verses that recognize the existence of chattel slavery.

Citation to Quranic verses on chattel slavery at first blush seems to make this point because the Quran, like other religious texts, accepted the existence of chattel slavery as a fact of life at the time of its revelation.

It is also true, however, that the Quran established an entirely new ethic on the issue of slavery and ISIS’s selective use of certain Quranic texts to justify contemporary chattel slavery ignores this fact.

First, consistent with the new ethic, the emphasis in all of the revelations on slavery is on the emancipation of slaves, not on their capture or the continuation of the institution of slavery. (See, for example, verses 2:177, 4:25, 4:92, 5:89, 14:31, 24:33, 58:3, 90:1-12.)

There is not one single verse suggesting that the practice should continue. Further, the Quran makes no mention of slave-markets or slave-trading and it repeatedly exhorts believers to free their slaves as an exemplification of their piety and belief in God.

Perhaps the best example of this emancipatory ethic is chapter 90, which is explicitly addressed to the Prophet Muhammad. It posits that there are two roads one can take in life and that the “high road” is the one that leads the righteous human being to free slaves.

The Prophet followed this exhortation, exhibiting a great solicitude for the material and spiritual condition of the slaves in the society around him. His example inspired his companions to emancipate thousands of slaves and, in an oft-quoted statement, he remarked that he would meet the man who “sells a free man as a slave and devours his price” on Judgment Day.

This is an explicit condemnation of trafficking in free human beings.

It is true that there are reported examples from the Prophet’s life that describe him as giving and receiving slaves and he even used slavery as a tool of conquest in war.

He freed all of his individually owned slaves and the wartime circumstances in those reports were very unique, involving specific people who engaged in war or treachery against him.    [Read more…]

Articles of Faith

A Muslim believes in the following 6 articles of Faith:
 

1. Oneness of God                                                                 
A Muslim believes in ONE GOD, Supreme and Eternal, Infinite and Mighty, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider. God has no father or mother, no son or daughter. None is equal to Him. He is God of all humankind, not of a special tribe or race.

God is High and Supreme but He is very near to the pious thoughtful believers; He answers their prayers and helps them. He loves the people who love Him and forgives their sins. He gives them peace, happiness, knowledge and success. God is the Loving and the Provider, the Generous, and the Benevolent, the Rich and the Independent, the Forgiving and the Clement, the Patient and the Appreciative, the Unique and the Protector, the Judge and the Peace. Many of these attributes of God are mentioned in the Quran.

God creates in humans the mind to understand, the soul and conscience to be good and righteous, the feelings and sentiments to be kind and humane. If we try to count His favors upon us, we cannot, because they are countless. In return for all the great favors and mercy, God does not need anything from us, because He is Needless and Independent. God asks us to know Him, to love Him and to enforce His law for our benefit and our own good.

2. Messengers and Prophets of God                                          
A Muslim believes in all the Messengers and Prophets of God without any discrimination. All messengers were mortals, human beings, endowed with Divine revelations and appointed by God to teach mankind. The Holy Quran mentions the names of 25 messengers and prophets and states that there are others. These include Adam, the first Prophet, along with Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, the last of the Prophets (peace be upon them all). The key message brought by all Prophets was the same: to believe in One God and not to associate partners with Him, to stay away from sins and to lead a life devoted to earning God’s pleasure.

3. Revelations and the Quran                                                  
A Muslim believes in all scriptures and revelations of God, as they were complete and in their original versions. Muslims believe in the original scriptures that were given to previous messengers; for example David received the Psalms (Zabur), Moses the Torah (Taurat) and Jesus the Gospel (Injeel). However, the previous scriptures do not exist today in the original form in which they were revealed.

The Quran is the last testament in the series of divine revelations from God, and Muslims recite and turn to it for guidance in all aspects of their life. It comprises the unaltered and direct words of God, revealed through the Angel Gabriel, to the final Prophet, Muhammad, peace be upon him (pbuh), some 1400 years ago. The Quran is unique because it is the only revealed book that exists today in the precise form and content in which it was originally revealed.
The Quran is unrivaled in its recording and preservation. The astonishing fact about this scripture is that it has remained completely unchanged over the past fourteen centuries, a fact that is attested to by both non-Muslim and Muslim scholars alike. There are no versions of the Quran and every copy in the world remains identical, word for word in its original language Arabic. Muslims to this day continue to emphasize the importance of memorizing the Quran word by word, as a whole or in part, recognizing that it is the Speech of God and not a book written by Muhammad (pbuh), as sometimes erroneously thought.

4. Angels                                                                                   
Angels are a creation of God. They are purely spiritual and splendid beings that require no food or drink or sleep. They have no physical desires or material needs. Like other creations of God, Angels spend their time worshiping God. In contrast to human beings, Angels do not have free Will – they can only obey God and do not have the ability to disobey Him. Each Angel is charged with a certain duty. Angels cannot be seen by the naked eyes.

5. Day of Judgment                                                            
A Muslim believes in the Day of the Judgment. This world as we know it will come to an end, and the dead will rise to stand for their final and fair trial. On that day, all men and women from Adam to the last person will be resurrected from the state of death. Everything we do, say, make, intend and think are accounted for and kept in accurate records. They are brought up on the Day of Judgment.

One who believes in life after death is not expected to disobey God. They will be ever-conscious that God is watching all their actions and the angels are recording them.

People with good records will be generously rewarded and warmly welcomed to Paradise. People with bad records will be fairly punished and cast into Hell. The real nature of Heaven and Hell are known to God only, but they are described by God in familiar terms in the Quran.
If some good deeds are seen not to get full appreciation and credit in this life, they will receive full compensation and be widely acknowledged on the Day of Judgment. If some people who commit sins, neglect God and indulge in immoral activities seem superficially successful and prosperous in this life, absolute justice will be done to them on the Day of Judgment. The time of the Day of Judgment is known by God alone.

6. Predestination

A Muslim believes in the ultimate Knowledge and Power of God to plan and execute His plans. God is Wise, Just, and Loving, and whatever He does must have a good motive, although we may fail sometimes to understand it fully. The believer should have strong faith in God, recognizing that their own knowledge is limited and their thinking is based on individual consideration. In contrast, the Knowledge of God is limitless and He plans on a universal basis. Humans should think, plan and make sound choices and then put their trust in God. If things happen as they want they should praise God. If things do not happen as they want they should still praise God, recognizing that He knows best what is good for the affairs of mankind.

Curbing the Causes of Immorality in Society

Islam not only forbids unlawful sexual intercourse, it also forbids all the means that might lead to it, such as:

• Looking at women: If the eye conveys that which Allah The Almighty has made permissible for it to view, then the heart is protected from trials. However, if the eye conveys that which Allah The Almighty has prohibited, such as images of women and pornography, then the heart becomes sick and the person is afflicted with the ailment of gazing at women. For this reason, Allah The Almighty has prohibited looking at women and immediately followed this prohibition by commanding people to protect their private parts; this is in fact a confirmation of the fact that looking at impermissible things is a precursor to fornication and adultery. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except that which is apparent (like eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or dress like veil, gloves)."} [Quran, 24: 30-31]

• Intermixing between men and women, and men being in seclusion with women: The reason behind this prohibition is that it could lead to the establishment of illicit relationships between men and women that usually end up with them committing fornication or adultery. The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whenever a man is alone with a woman, Satan is the third in their company.” [At-Tirmithi]

This is by no means an accusation of being unable to control one's desires, rather, it is a reference to the natural inclination between them. It is also a warning that this inclination could transgress Allah's limits and result in fornication or adultery due to the prohibited act of being alone and with the influence of Satan.

Some ignorant people object to this Hadeeth (narration) claiming that even if Satan was the third, their conscience would be the fourth! They forget, or pretend to, that the temptation of women can outstrip the effect of the conscience, the mind, one's chastity and even one's religion; and that for every one person who can control himself when alone with a marriageable woman, there are thousands who cannot.

If one analyses the causes behind the widespread incidents of rape in the West, which are in the millions, one will discover that very many of them resulted from men and women being alone together, and this is most common in those countries which are the most open sexually.

Intermixing is a dangerous practice which many people indulge in under the guise of being civilized and up-to-date with the new developments of the century, as well as the claimed equal rights of men and women. This practice has removed bashfulness from the hearts of men and women; it is a way by which Satan corrupts the hearts, incites sexual desires and entices people to commit prohibitions. Indeed, many cases of betrayal and subsequent divorce are due to intermixing between men and women.

• Limiting women in the extent to which they are allowed to leave their homes: Islam has commanded Muslim women to remain in their homes and to cover up in front of unrelated men and clarified that this is perfect chastity, complete virtue and a purification of the hearts. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {"And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance" (Al-Ahzaab: 33) and: "And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts."} [Quran, 33: 53]

Women leaving their home must do so only for necessity and whenever they do go out they must remain within the boundaries set by Islam so that they do not become a target for men who are out to take advantage of them. When a woman goes out for a necessity she must adhere to full Hijaab and reveal nothing of her internal or external adornment. She must not wear short, tight, transparent clothes or something with a split which exposes part of her legs. Decorated garments are also prohibited for women as well as garments with wide sleeves which reveal her arms, or any other type of clothing which is attractive and eye-catching. To emphasize this, the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, even forbade women who wished to perform the act of worship of congregational prayer from attending the Masjid if they were perfumed, by saying: “Any woman who wears perfume should not attend the ‘Ishaa’ prayer (i.e. must remain at home).” [Muslim]

The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, even forbade women from walking in the middle of walkways so that they would not mix with men. Abu Usayd, may Allah be pleased with him, said that he heard the Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, addressing women while he was leaving the mosque and noticed that men and women had mixed, so he said: “Stay back, you (women) do not have the right to control the middle of the way; but use the sides of the road.” [Abu Daawood] Thereafter, women would walk so close to the walls that their garments would stick to them.

• Forbidding soft talk and tender tones: Immorality is reached through different means; by sight, actions or words. Therefore, Allah The Almighty forbade the believing women from being soft in their speech while talking to men; Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {"O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner."} [Quran, 33: 32]

Women today slight this issue. In fact, many women intentionally soften their tone whilst talking to men; prolong the conversation and exchange laughter and looks. This is exactly how sinful relationships between men and women are initiated.   
           www.islamweb.net

The principles of Ghusl (taking bath)

A brief summary of the principles of Ghuslis as
follows:

First,A Muslim should make his/her intention for
purification, then wash the private parts. Then make
Wudhoo' (ablution) like the Wudhoo' done for
prayer, then pour water on his right side, then the
left side. Then water should be poured on his
head,covering the entire body with water. It is also
reported in the Sunnah (narrations of the Prophet
Muhammad ) that washing the feet should be
delayed until the end of the Ghusl.

It is reported on the authority of Aa'ishah who said
that the messenger of Allah when performing Ghusl
from Janaabah (ritual impurity), used to wash his
hands, then wash his private parts with his left
hand. After that he performed Wudhoo' like that for
prayer. Next, he took some water and ran his
fingers in the roots of his hair until he used three
handfuls of water on his head. He would then go on
pouring water on the rest of his body and wash his
legs. [Muslim]

1. The person taking a bath should first of all wash
both hands up to the wrists, and then wash the
private parts. The hands and private parts should
be washed irrespective of whether there is any
impurity on them or not. Both these have to be
washed under all conditions. Thereafter, any
impurity found on the rest of the body should be
washed. Then make Wudhoo'. If one is sitting on a
stool or stone while bathing, then the feet should
also be washed when making Wudhoo'. But if one is
sitting in a place where the water accumulates and
he will have to wash the feet again after completing
the Ghusl, then the entire Wudhoo' should be made
but the feet should not be washed.
After performing Wudhoo', pour water on the head
three times. Thereafter pour water over the right
and left shoulders three times each in such a way
that water reaches the entire body. Thereafter move
from this place and go to a clean spot and wash the
feet. If the feet were washed when making Wudhoo'
there will be no need to wash them again.

2. Whilst pouring water over the body the first time,
rub the body well so that water reaches everywhere
properly and no place remains dry.

3. The above method of Ghusl is according to the
Sunnah. Some of the items explained above are
Fardh (obligatory) without which Ghusl will not be
complete and the person will remain impure. Some
other items are Sunnah (recommended but not
obligatory). Observing them entails reward, and by
not carrying them out, Ghusl will still be complete.
The Fardh acts are only three:
(a) To gargle the mouth in such a way that water
reaches everywhere.
(b) To wash the nose up to the soft bone.
(c) To pour water over the entire body.

4. While bathing, one should not face the Qiblah
(direction of the Ka'bah). Too much water should
not be used, nor should so little be used that one is
unable to wash thoroughly. The bath should be
taken at such a place that no one can see the
bather. One should not talk while bathing; he should
cover himself up first and then wash the feet.

5. If the bathing place is secluded where no one
can see, then it is permissible to bathe naked,
irrespective of whether one is standing or sitting
and irrespective of whether the roof is covered or
not. However, it is better to sit and bathe because
there is more modesty in this. To expose the body
from the navel to the knees before anyone is a sin.
Many women bath completely naked in the
presence of other women. This is a very evil and
shameful act.

6. Even if an area equal to a hair's breadth is left
dry, Ghusl will not be complete. In the same way, if
one forgets to gargle the mouth or wash the nose,
Ghusl will not be complete.

7. If a woman pours water on her head three times,
that will be sufficient and she does not need to undo
the braids. This is based on the Hadeeth (narration)
of Umm Salamah . It is narrated that she asked the
Prophet : "I am a woman with braided hair; should I
undo it when doing Ghusl for Janaabah?" He
answered: “No, rather it will be sufficient for you to
pour three handfuls of water on your head, then
pour water over yourself and you will be
purified.” [Muslim].Unless the Ghusl is after the
menses, then she has to undo the braids and wash
her hair thoroughly.
            source: islam web

The Life of a Dedicated Muslim Teenager

Teens face a lot of changes in their body and emotions, and temptations and peer pressure are increasingly prevalent at this age. Parents who follow the teachings of Islam should help their teens remain loyal to the doctrines of Allah. Carefully guide your teenagers through this critical stage of growth.

Temptations and peer pressure can influence your teen to commit sins, according to Islam, and to give in to negative desires. Teach teenagers to sacrifice their selfish desires and temptations in order to be an appropriate role model for fellow Muslims. Sara Latif of Effective Islam Parenting suggests that parents keep their teens away from drugs and alcohol by instilling in teenagers’ minds that their life is a gift from Allah. Teach them to be grateful for every aspect of life. Encourage teens to spend an appropriate amount of time in acts of worship, be obedient to Allah and seek guidance through Islam when selfish desires arise.

A Muslim teenager’s main responsibilities are to defend the Islam faith and contribute to the advancement of the Muslim “Ummah,” or community. Abdisalam Adam, board member with the Islamic Civic Society of America, suggests that you frequently tell your teens about the story of Muhammad’s migration, which exemplifies how youths have selflessly contributed to the success of the Islamic message. Encourage teenagers to develop courage and foresight in helping to shape the future of the community and nation by promoting Islam.

Spending time in the wrong environment can cause teens to pull away from the teachings of Islam. Teach your teenager to be constantly aware of their surroundings and how it could negatively affect their faith. Support your child to develop healthy friendships with their peers. Their friends should be willing to help in difficult times and strengthen your teen’s commitment to Allah. Avoid spending too much time with kids who encourage deceit, jealously, envy and sin.

A Muslim teenager’s life should be spent on finding the paths of righteousness, according to Maria Zain, a Muslim mother of three who lives in Malaysia and writes at OnIslam.net. Faith in Allah is most important. Instill the importance of dedicating your life to applying Islamic principles in all daily tasks, no matter how trivial. A Muslim teen who possesses these qualities will grow to be an honorable adult in the community of Islam.
           Source: everyday life

Being Motivated

  Hey guys, just read this motivating articles. Hope it motivates you too. dont forget to comment below Thanks.

Motivation and enthusiasm manifest as desire
and interest, and as a driving force that pushes
to take action and pursue goals. Lack of
motivation and enthusiasm denotes absence or
deficiency in desire, interest and driving force.

Lack of motivation and lack of enthusiasm are
two of the main reasons for failure and of living
a mediocre life. People lacking in motivation
and enthusiasm are usually passive, blame
everything and everyone for their
circumstances, and often come up with many
excuses why they shouldn't or cannot do this or
that. On the other hand, a motivated person is
energetic and positive, takes action to improve
his or her life, and does not give up when there
are problems.

Lack of motivation and enthusiasm can show up
everywhere, at home, at work, in relationships,
in pursuing goals and in everything else. This
often brings indifference, unhappiness and
dissatisfaction.

Motivation and Goal Setting

When it comes to living a healthy and confident
life, real goal achievement involves much more
than good intentions. For example, it is not
enough to know you want to eat differently or
that you want to lose weight.

Motivation can be
defined as an impulse to channel energy and
action toward a specific goal. This means, you
have to know what you want and be passionate
about it, and, you have to know how to set a
goal. Goal setting is a powerful skill to learn
because you give yourself a specific direction
and you give your energy a precise focus.

Manage Agreements

In business management circles, there is a
saying that you cannot manage people you can
only manage agreements. Indeed, great leaders
are compassionate and attempt to understand
the feelings of their employees, but they do not
try to manage other people's emotions and
personalities. Instead, great leaders get great
results from their people by managing
agreements. This is also true for self-
motivation. Learn to make adult, respectful
decisions about the direction you are moving
toward. Make specific agreements about your
responsibility and commitment to precise
actions. Then ask yourself, "Can I count on
myself to follow through with this commitment,
with 100-percent compliance? Can I count on
myself for that?" If the answer is "Yes" then you
have an agreement. Now, as you move forward
and encounter inner resistance or emotional
obstacles, you can manage your agreements
without becoming trapped in sticky emotions.

Agreements maintain motivation and action.

Imagine Success

Instead of constantly worrying and stressing, set
aside time each day to envision a new life.
Imagine clearly, and with all your internal
senses, what it will be like to live your goal.

Relish the physical sensations of the
anticipation of your exciting dream. For
example, the idea of losing weight is not very
exciting; however, visualizing a new life of your
choosing is exciting. Imagine yourself in your
ideal life. Touch your body lovingly, breathe in
the love for yourself, and feel the safety and
comfort of living inside your body.

Imagine
your body as healthy and active. Whatever your
goal, every day, make the choice to bring your
dream front and center. Most of all, feel the
excitement your dream generates. Allow that
excitement to saturate your body to such an
extent that you feel more alive and ready to
take the next step of your journey.

Take Action Daily

Your goals need to move from the idea state
into the physical state and the only way this can
happen is when you take action. Action on a
daily basis is necessary to make your dream
come true. Your daily actions do not have to be
big; they just have to be consistent. Follow your
heart and choose the steps that you know in
advance are the right actions for the amount of
energy you have right now. Then follow
through. Motivation increases as you become
actively dedicated to the process of making your
dreams come true.

Repeated Success Leads to Increased Motivation!

Helen Keller wrote, "Nothing can be done
without hope and confidence." Every day, take a
couple of minutes to list all your
accomplishments for the day. Develop a
tracking system for every effort and success, no
matter how tiny. Each step toward your goal
deserves recognition or some type of reward
system. A checkmark on your calendar,
congratulations from your loved ones, a hug
from your partner, or money in your success jar
all count. Document and celebrate often as you
get in the habit of acknowledging what you
have done right. Feeling the satisfaction of
having achieved something has a snowball
effect. With each success your confidence shoots
up, you realize your limitless potential, and you
gain more energy to take your next step.
Repeated success in a particular activity
motivates you to want to do that activity often.

Practice Kindness

Replace self-criticism with encouragement and
motivating inspiration. You easily encourage
everyone else in your life with praise and
uplifting sentiments. Why not do the same for
yourself? Imagine seeing a child looking forlorn
because she cannot figure out the puzzle she is
working on. You are not going to go over and
verbally smack the frustration out of her, are
you? Instead, you will probably talk
compassionately to her, put an arm around her,
see what is so upsetting, and inspire her with
words that will keep her optimistic and
inspired. Instead of punishing yourself when
things do not work our right, begin cultivating
compassion for yourself. You must feel
deserving and worthy to sustain the motivation
needed to achieve your desired outcome.

Believe in Yourself

Being motivated is all about knowing what you
want and believing in your ability to achieve it.
Belief is a feeling of certainty. It is like knowing
the sun will rise tomorrow morning. You do not
question whether the sun will rise, spend time
worrying that it might not, or imagine the
worst-case outcome. Believing in yourself
requires that you focus energy and excitement
on what you want. You form a loving
partnership with your dream, even though the
dream does not exist yet in your physical
reality. You assume your desire will manifest,
just as surely as the sun will rise again
tomorrow. Believing in yourself requires
spending time with what is important to you,
and what feels good to you.

               Source: Wish Bowl