CHARITY IN ISLAM (SADAQAH)

                                                             “The believer’s shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his charity.” - hadith

Charity is preached by every religion of the world, is a way of bringing justice to society, and justice is the essence of religion. A society can flourish only when its members do not spend all their wealth to fulfill their own desires but reserve a portion of it for parents, relatives, neighbors, the poor and the debilitated. According to the teachings of Islam, being charitable is one of the highest virtues and is considered a means of cleansing oneself spiritually and materially.

A true believer is thus always prepared, after meeting the needs of his family, to assist other people in need of his help. Thus the spirit of kindness and well wishing is the essence of charity. The giver is not to expect any reward from the beneficiary as there waits for him an abundant reward from God - material, moral and spiritual - what God deems it best to confer on His servant.

'Lo those who believe and do good deeds and establish Salah and pay Zakah, their reward is with the Sustainer; and no fear shall come on them, nor shall they grieve.' (Qur'an 2:227)

"Charity is for those in need." This is general principle which enjoins us to help people in need, be they good or bad, on the right path or not, Muslims or non-Muslims. No one should judge in these matters. The foremost ends in charity should be God's pleasure and our own spiritual good. The concept of charity in Islam as said earlier is thus linked with justice. It is not limited to the redresser of grievances. It implies apart from the removal of handicaps, the recognition of the right that every human being has to attain the fullness of life.  The Qur'an states: 'And be steadfast in your prayer and pay charity; whatever good you send forth for your future, you shall find it with Allah, for Allah is well aware of what you do' (2:110). Charity is central to a Muslim's life.

The best charity is to satisfy a hungry person, said Prophet Muhammad (SAS). He also said "No wealth (of a servant of Allah) is decreased because of charity." (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2247).

According to the teachings of Islam the giving of Alms serves a number of functions. First and foremost  amends for sins. The believers are asked to give Almsh immediately following any transgression (Ihya-e-Ulumuddin, Al-Ghazzali, 1/298). Voluntary alms giving can also compensate for any shortcoming in the past payment of Zakah.   Charity  also gives protection against all kinds of evil. Sadaqah wards off affliction in this world, and punishment on Judgment Day. (Ismail Hakki, Tafsir Ruh-alBayan, 1/418). It is therefore recommended to give Sadaqah by night and by day, in secret and in public to seek God's pleasure (Quran, 2:274). The constant giving of a little is said to please God more than the occasional giving of much.

There is dignity in giving and receiving charity. Just as in the Biblical tradition, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) taught that one who gives should aspire to "giving with his right hand so the left hand should not know”.  He also encouraged the one receiving the charity to become self-reliant, to seek ethical earning and independent livelihood and not depend on others, "Giving is better than receiving."

Giving money to the poor is an emblem of Islam and a sunna of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). He was never asked for anything, except that he gave it, and he would give without fearing poverty. People said that he was more generous than the “sent wind” that brings the rain clouds.

However, every wealthy adult Muslim must give 2.5% of his or her wealth in charity every year. Allah says: "O you who believe! Spend out of what We have given you" (2:254). This is the least charity a Muslim must give every year.

Giving Alms in secret

Allah says, "If you give charity openly then what a good thing it is; and if you give to beggars hiding it is better for you than everything, and He will remove some of your sins. And Allah is Aware of what you do." (Qur'an 2:271).

For a Muslim, charity is given to stave off miserliness and to draw nearer to Allah, if instead the donor seeks fame, then the act of charity becomes worthless.

Giving in secret is often better for the donor since it protects against insincerity, and it is better for the recipient as it maintains his dignity.

Giving Alms openly

Sometimes it is better to give charity publicly, so that others will also do the same. However, you must be on guard against any hypocritical notions.

Another danger of this is offending the dignity of the poor person. It may be hurtful to him to be seen to be needy.

Scholars say that if someone is asking for charity publicly, there is no need to worry about offending him by also giving publicly.

Avoid taunting and hurting

Any good you have earned by giving in charity can be wiped away by taunting and hurting the recipient.

Allah said, "O believers! Void not your charities by boasting of your favours conferred and injuring, like him who spent his wealth for showing to people and believes not in Allah and Last Day. Then the example of him is like that of a smooth rock on which is dust of earth; now a heavy rain fell upon it leaving it a bare stone. They shall have no control on anything of what they have earned and Allah guides not the infidels." (2: 264)

Taunting is to remind a person of a favour you did to them, while hurting them is making it known to others.

Some scholars say that taunting means to take advantage of a person you donated money to, and hurting them is to make them feel ashamed of their poverty.

Another view is that taunting is to make your charity an excuse for behaving arrogantly.

The cure for this is to remember that giving charity is to give what is due to Allah, as He has made it obligatory to give zakat.

Being humble

It is important to think little of your donation in order to avoid pride which will make your good deed worthless.

Zakat is only a small percentage of your wealth, and to give only this is to be content with giving the bare minimum.

Even if you give more in addition to your zakat, it would be better to look instead at the amount of wealth you are withholding, rather than at what you are giving with pride.

Give of what is good

Charity should be taken from the best of your wealth, and from what is dearest to you. Giving in charity is like giving to Allah Most High, and so only give Him what is good.

Allah says: "O believers! Give something of your pure earnings and of what We produce from the earth for you; and intend not to give especially vile of it, whereas if you get of it, you will not accept unless you close your eyes in it. And know that Allah is free of all wants, Praiseworthy." (Quran 2:267).

If the money you donate has been acquired dishonestly, it cannot be considered a good deed.

Ongoing charity (Sadaqa Jariya)

The best charity is that which continuously benefits people, such as helping to build a school, a clinic, or a water supply system, or helping a poor person start up his own business.

The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: “When a person dies, his works end, except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge that is benefited from, and a righteous child who prays for him.” [Muslim, Tirmidhi]

This means that any good you do that benefits people even after you die will count for you.

The charity of the Companions

The Companions were also known for their immense generosity. According to some exegetes of the Qur'an, Ali ibn Abi Talib and his wife, Fatima al-Zahra fasted for three days and each day they gave all the food they had in charity.

Allah revealed a verse of Qur'an about them "And they feed, for love of Him, the poor. The orphan and the prisoner." (Qur'an 76:8)

Other Companions, like Ka'b ibn Malik and Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas would have given all their wealth in charity, except that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) told them to keep a portion for themselves and families [Bukhari, Muslim]

The allure of hoarding up wealth

Man is attracted to wealth and is always in danger of becoming a miser. Allah says: "Adorned for men is the love of these lusts, women and children and the stored up heaps of gold and silver and branded horses and cattle and crops. This is the capital of living world; and it is Allah with whom there is an excellent destination" (3:14).

There is nothing wrong in being wealthy but it is important to avoid being greedy and miserly. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: "No doubt this wealth is sweet and green. Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim, from which he gives to the poor, the orphans, and needy travelers [Bukhari, Muslim].

He also said: "This worldly wealth is [like] green and sweet [fruit], and whoever takes it without greed, Allah will bless it for him, but whoever takes it with greed, Allah will not bless it for him, and he will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied" [Bukhari, Muslim].

Muslims believe that giving charity does not really diminish wealth. In fact, everything one gives is considered an investment for the next life. Islam does not discourage people from earning well or becoming rich. However, the teachings remind us that our wealth should never dominate us but should be seen as a trust, to be spent positively.

Importantly, one does not even have to be rich to be charitable. On many occasions Muhammad reminded people that, "a good word is charity,", "a smile is charity," and "picking up rubbish or removing obstacles from the path is charity". Young and old, rich and poor, the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker are all encouraged to join in the practice of sharing and caring.

Miss Muslimah World: A rash invention

I listened and watched with amazement comments from people who tagged themselves liberal Muslims rationalising the show of shame in Indonesia last week where a Nigerian Muslim Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola was crowned the Miss Muslimah World. More stupefying is that those who ought to know and point out where the organisers of the pageant goofed and where the pageant is antithetical to Islam rather chose to celebrate it. Very unfortunate.

*Aishah Ajibola

Woman, as taught by Islam since the light of Islam, is a precious and most valuable being.  She is to be protected, honoured, treasured and valued. And like a treasure, her beauty should be respected, hidden for the purpose of her security and safety so as not to be exposed to abuses by unworthy eyes and lustful minds.

That is why the Quran in Chapter 24 verse 31 says: “And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their head veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers or their husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical desire, or small children who have no sense of sex; and that they should not stamp their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O believers! Turn all together towards Allah, that you may attain bliss.” In the verses preceding the above verse, Allah also warned men telling them to lower their gazes.

The fact that in every pageant, flaunting, parading of the body and cat-walking are a common phenomena, the Jakarta show was not an exception in this regard. The alibi that the 21 contestants were adorned in the Islamic wears with hijabs did not remove the fact that they flaunted and cat-walked to the amused audience which were both sexes. That to a large extent must have whipped the emotions and passions of men present at the event.

So long as evidence from the Quran and Sunnah exists on lowering our gazes on women, all those men who sat to watch the catworking, strolling and poses of the Muslimah have run afoul of the injunction of Allah and the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. (s.a.w). Didn’t the so-called liberal Muslims know that the philosophy behind the above warning is to make the ‘beauty’ of a woman private and not a public affair? Have they also pondered on the parametres for picking the winners?

Yes! they recited the Holy Quran but was it a Quran reading competion, No.  There were men not only among the audience but also among those who adjuged the the winner and losers. The Judges are  Puan Jameya Syerif; Dr. Baron Abdul Radzak; Fareed Esky and KH Amidan of Indonesia Ulama Council.  They tested the ladies on dedication, reputation, and concern to academics, religious knowledge, information technology and social community.

In one of the posts which I read immediately after the pageant; it reads: “The grand final of the third World Muslimah peagant at Balai Sarbini in South Jakarta on Wednesday also began uniquely — with the women reciting verses from the Koran before strutting down the stage, wearing loosely fitting outfits and veils instead of revealing gowns.

While some of the women paraded with a model’s confidence, others were more awkward as they tottered by in glittering high heels and long gowns.”

Again, what is the need  for a Miss World alternative? The argument that the Miss Muslimah World is a riposte to the Miss World is not enough to call Islmaic pageant when the religion does not support it. The Quran says in Surat Hud: “And do not incline towards the disbelievers.” Do not adore their ways and do not follow them. An hadiths also says ‘He who imitates a nation is from amongst them.’

Instead of concentrating their energies on dawah, and offer assistance to people struck with poverty and disease all over the world, show love to people, especially to people in war-ravaged countries, denounce war and inhuman treatments in some parts of the world, they decided to compete with the shameful competition of Miss World.  Islam has no hand in such matters.  We must reject in its entirety this rash invention. The organisers should have a rethink, and refocus their interest and perhaps remove pageant out of it.  Quran recitation competition is accepted world but with low publicity when  women are involved because of the reservation Islam has for women.

Islam preserves the woman’s right of modesty, guards her from the corruption of society and that no male other than her close relatives and her husband, has the right to behold her beauty. The Prophet said: “A woman should be concealed, for when she goes out, the devil looks at her.” (Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 3109) The adornment of a woman is a private matter and not what should be celebrated in the public. That is what Islam teaches. Period.

By Ishola Balogun

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/miss-muslimah-world-rash-invention/#sthash.97Oxi4rk.dpuf

Islamic Diet & Manners

Muslims are a part of so many cultures and have contributed much to the nutritional practices of the world. However, the Islamic nutritional practices (including every other action) are expected to be predominantly determined by the injunctions and regulations of Islam as outlined by the Holy Qur'an and explained by Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). More than 900 million Muslims of different nationalities, societies, and geographical backgrounds of this world make this nutritional practice unique.

Cleanliness and Hygiene

Cleanliness and hygiene in Islam are emphasized to the extent Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported by Ibn Hayyan to have said: "Cleanse yourself, for Islam is cleanliness." In another Hadith the Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said, "Cleanliness invites towards faith, and faith leads its possessor to the Garden."

Cleanliness in food handling, cooking, preserving, processing, etc. is highly recommended and emphasized besides an overall cleanliness of body, clothing, home, and surroundings.

Miswak

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) laid special emphasis on cleaning the teeth, hands, and hair. He (PBUH) was particularly careful in the observance of Miswak (brushing teeth). Miswak is an Arabic word meaning tooth cleaner. It is made of wood and the Prophet (PBUH) recommended its use with every ablution (washing for prayer) five times a day and before and after every meal. How our modern day dentists would applaud that advanced view.

Eating Habits

Eating like all other acts of a Muslim is a matter of worship and begins in the name of Allah. Bismallah. Islam reminds Muslims that food and drink are the provision of Allah for survival and for maintaining good health. The following seven habits were recommended by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and are practiced by Muslims all over the world:

1) Du'a' (Supplication) before each meal:

"Bismillah wa ala barkatillah."
"In the name of Allah and with the blessings of Allah."

2) Du'a' (Supplication) after each meal:

"Al hamdu lil lazi at ta mana wa saqana waja-alana minal muslemeen."
"Praise be to Allah the One Who gave us the food and the drinks. Praise be to Him Who made us Muslim."

3) Eating less:

Overeating is discouraged and wasting of food is condemned.

"O children of Adam! Look to your adornment at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not prodigals. Lo! He loveth not the prodigals." (Quran 7:31)
(Editors note: Prodigal means wasteful or unnecessarily extravagant.)

4) Dieting:

One of the main principals of good health is a balanced diet. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) emphasized the behavior of eating less as a method of preventing sickness and diseases. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is reported to have said:

"Eat less you will be healthier." (Hadith)

"Nothing is worse than a person who fills his stomach. It should be enough for the son of Adam to have a few bites to satisfy his hunger. If he wishes more, it should be: one-third for his food, one-third for his liquids, and one-third for his breath." (Tarmazi, ibn Majah and Hakim)

5) Eating slowly:

Eating slowly is recommended for good health as it facilitates the food being thoroughly chewed and hence easier to digest.

6) Moderation and sharing:

Fourteen centuries ago, Islam laid down the basis of dietary regulations as well as the limits within which man can satisfy his physical needs and desires without endangering his life and mental health. Islam motivated people to seek the good of the Hereafter as well as of this world in a balanced way. It taught us to enjoy the pleasures of life, including food, in a moderate way, not becoming a slave to his desires or losing sight of the ultimate spiritual goal. Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) did not permit Muslims to undertake fast which might be harmful and lead to weakness or illness, even though fasting is considered and act of worship.

'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As told of God's messenger, "Have you not been informed, 'Abdullah, that you fast during the day and get up at night for prayer?" When he replied that this was so, he said to him, "Do not do it. Fast and break your fast, get up for prayer and sleep, for you have a duty to your body, your eye, your wife, and your visitors. May he who observes a perpetual fast never fast! Fasting three days a month is equivalent to a perpetual fast. Fast three days every month and recite Qur'an every month."

A Muslim is advised to avoid extremes and to choose a moderate course in all his affairs, including his eating habits. "Eat of the good things we have provided for your sustenance, but commit not excess therein." (Qur'an 20:81)

We are also encouraged to enjoy life within certain limits which are drawn from the Shari'ah which was built on the Islamic 'Golden Rule', "Do not harm or be a cause of harm", whether for oneself or others. We are cautioned to avoid greed and to enjoy the pleasures of sharing, especially in regard to eating.

7) Eating together:

The benefits of enjoying meals together applies whether it's a family sitting down together, a husband and wife dining out, or a young couple getting to know one another. The Prophet (pbuh) emphasized the importance of this when he said, "Eat together and not separately, for the blessing is associated with the company." (Ibn Majah)

Drinking Habits

It is recommended not to drain a glass of liquid in one continuous draught. The pharynx serves as a common passageway for both food and air, and the pathways for these cross. Intervals while drinking are also recommended to avoid choking. Sitting down while drinking is also recommended.

The Holy Prophet said, "Do not drink water in one gulp (or one breath) like a camel, but take it in two or three installments (with breaks for breath). Take the name of Allah (recite "Bismallah") when you start drinking and praise Him (say "Alhamdullillah") when you finish. (Tirmizi)

Table Manners

As Muslims we are required to show compassion, grace, gentleness, and consideration for others. This also extends to the table and how we conduct ourselves with others:

1) Sitting down while eating.

2) Eating together and sharing of food.

3) Serving others first, especially guests.

4) Host is the first to start eating and the last to finish. (This is the opposite of Western table manners.)

5) Taking food in smaller portions than needed.

6) Finishing (cleaning) the plate without leftovers (this too is different from Western tradition where we are taught to always leave a small bit on the plate.)

7) Eating with the right hand.

8) Waiting for everyone to finish before finally leaving the table or floor cloth.

9) Washing hands and mouth before and after eating.

10) Brushing teeth before and after eating (Miswak).

11) Sharing food with relatives, friends, neighbors, the needy and destitute.

12) Eat from the corner of the plate from your side (for one dish communal eating), don't eat from the middle or the other side of the dish.

13) As an invited guest it is permissible to ask your host for water or salt. Accept what is offered and don't request additional items your host may not have available.

14) When eating in a group, if quantities are limited, share from your plate with the others.

The Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) is reported to have said, "A plate for one is enough for two, and a plate for two is enough for four.

It is reported that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) has said that one who serves drinks should himself be the last person to drink. (Tirmizi)

It is also said that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) never found fault with any food; if he had the inclination, he would eat it, and if he disliked it, he would leave it.

"If a person takes the name of Allah (i.e., recites Bismillah or Assalamu Alaikum) when he enters his home and when he eats, Satan tells his companions, "Let us go. There is no room for you to pass the night in this house nor food." If he enters his house without calling to Allah, Satan says to his companions: "You have at least secured lodging." Then if he does not remember Allah at the time of eating also, Satan says, "You have secured both lodging and food." (Muslim)

Editors Note: Recently scientists in France discovered that eating with ones hands is beneficial as certain enzymes present on our fingertips act as an aid in digestion. Those elements are not present when using cutlery which is why it's called "finger lickin good"!

30 FACTS ABOUT ISLAM

1) "Islam" means "Peace through the submission to God".

2) "Muslim" means "anyone or anything that submits itself to the will of God".

3) Islam is not a cult. Its followers number over 1.5 billion worldwide. Along with Judaism and Christianity, it is considered to be one of the three Abrahamic traditions.

4) There are five pillars of practice in Islam. These practices must be undertaken with the best of effort in order to be considered a true Muslim: A) Shahadah - declaration of faith in the oneness of God and that Muhammad is the last prophet of God. B) Formal prayer five times a day. C) Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. D) Poor-due "tax" - 2.5% of one's savings given to the needy at the end of each year. E) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically and financially able.

5) There are six articles of faith in Islam. These are the basic beliefs that one must have in order to be considered a true Muslim. They are belief in: A) the One God. B) all the prophets of God. C) the original scriptures revealed to Prophets Moses, David, Jesus, and Muhammad. D) the angels. E) the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter. F) the divine decree (or destiny).

6) Islam is a complete way of life that governs all facets of life: moral, spiritual, social, political, economical, intellectual, etc.

7) Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. To become Muslim, a person of any race or culture must say a simple statement, the shahadah, that bears witness to the belief in the One God and that Prophet Muhammad was the last prophet of God.

8) "Allah" is an Arabic word that means "God". Muslims also believe that "Allah" is the personal name of God.

9) Allah is not the God of Muslims only. He is the God of all people and all creation. Just because people refer to God using different terms does not mean that they are different gods. Spanish people refer to God as "Dios" and French people refer to God as "Dieu", yet they are all the same God. Interestingly, most Arab Jews and Arab Christians refer to God as "Allah". And the word Allah in Arabic appears on the walls of many Arab churches.

10) The Islamic concept of God is that He is loving, merciful, and compassionate. But Islam also teaches that He is just and swift in punishment. Nevertheless, Allah once said to Prophet Muhammad, "My mercy prevails over my wrath." Islam teaches a balance between fear and hope, protecting one from both complacency and despair.

11) Muslims believe that God has revealed 99 of His names (or attributes) in the Holy Qur'an. It is through these names that one can come to know the Creator. A few of these names are: the All-Merciful, the All-Knower, the Protector, the Provider, the Near, the First, the Last, the Hidden, and the Source of Peace.

12) Muslims believe in and acknowledge all the prophets of old, from Adam to Jesus. Muslims believe that they brought the message of peace and submission (islam) to different peoples at different times. Muslims also believe that these prophets were "muslims" because they submitted their wills to God.

13) Muslims neither worship Muhammad nor pray through him. Muslims solely worship the unseen and Omniscient Creator, Allah.

14) Muslims accept the original unaltered Torah (the Gospel of Moses) and the original Bible (the Gospel of Jesus) since they were revealed by God. However, none of those original scriptures are in existence today, in their entirety. Therefore, Muslims follow the subsequent, final, and preserved revelation of God, the Holy Qur'an.

15) The Holy Qur'an was not authored by Muhammad. It was authored by God, revealed to Muhammad, and written into physical form by his companions.

16) The Holy Qur'an has no flaws or contradictions. The original Arabic scriptures have never been changed or tampered with.

17) Actual seventh century Qur'ans, complete and intact, are on display in museums in Turkey and many other places around the world.

18) If all Qur'ans in the world today were burned and destroyed, the original Arabic would still remain. This is because millions of Muslims, called Hafiz (or "preservers") have memorized the text letter for letter from beginning to end, every word and syllable. Also, chapters from the Qur'an are precisely recited from memory by every Muslim in each of the five daily prayers.

19) Muslims do not believe in the concept of "vicarious atonement" but rather believe in the law of personal responsibility. Islam teaches that each person is responsible for his or her own actions. On the Day of Judgment Muslims believe that every person will be resurrected and will have to answer to God for their every word, thought, and deed. Consequently, a practicing Muslim is always striving to be righteous.

20) Islam was not spread by the sword. It was spread by the word (Islamic teachings) and the example of its followers. Islam teaches that there is no compulsion in religion (the Holy Qur'an 2:256 and 10:99).

21) Terrorism, unjustified violence and the killing of innocent people are absolutely forbidden in Islam. Islam is a way of life that is meant to bring peace to a society, whether its people are Muslim or not. The extreme actions of those who claim to be Muslim may be, among other things, a result of their ignorance or uncontrolled anger. Tyrant rulers and those who commit acts of terrorism in the name of Islam are simply not following Islam. These people are individuals with their own views and political agendas. Fanatical Muslims are no more representative of the true Islamic teachings than Timothy McVeigh or David Koresh are of Christianity. Extremism and fanaticism is a problem that is common to all religious groups. Anyone who thinks that all Muslims are terrorists should remember that the famous boxer Muhammad Ali, perhaps the most celebrated person of our era, is a practicing Muslim.

22) The word "jihad" does not mean "holy war". Instead, it means the inner struggle that one endures in trying to submit their will to the will of God. Some Muslims may say they are going for "jihad" when fighting in a war to defend themselves or their fellow Muslims, but they only say this because they are conceding that it will be a tremendous struggle. But there are many other forms of jihad which are more relevant to the everyday life of a Muslim such as the struggles against laziness, arrogance, stinginess, or the struggle against a tyrant ruler or against the temptation of Satan, or against one's own ego, etc.

23) Women are not oppressed in Islam. Any Muslim man that oppresses a woman is not following Islam. Among the many teachings of Prophet Muhammad that protected the rights and dignity of women is his saying, "...the best among you are those who treat their wives well." (Tirmidhi)

24) Islam grants women numerous rights in the home and in society. Among them are the right to earn money, to financial support, to an education, to an inheritance, to being treated kindly, to vote, to a dowry, to keep their maiden name, to worship in a mosque, etc., etc.

25) Muslim women wear the head-covering (hijab) in fulfillment of God's decree to dress modestly. From a practical standpoint, it serves to identify one as attempting to follow God in daily life and, therefore, protects women from unwanted advances from men. This type of modest dress has been worn by righteous women throughout history. Prominent examples are traditional Catholic Nuns, Mother Teresa and the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus.

26) Arranged marriages are allowed in Islam but are not required. Whereas "forced" marriages, usually stemming from cultural practice, are forbidden. Divorce is permissible, however, reconciliation is what is most encouraged. But if there are irreconcilable differences then Islam permits a fair and just divorce.

27) Islam and the "Nation of Islam" are two different religions. Islam is a religion for all races and enjoins the worship of the one unseen God who, orthodox Muslims believe, never took human form. The "Nation", on the other hand, is a movement geared towards non-whites and teaches that God appeared in the form of Fard Muhammad in 1930 and that Elijah Muhammad (a man who died in 1975) was a prophet of God. These beliefs clearly contradict the basic Islamic theology outlined in the Qur'an. The followers of "the Nation" adhere to some Islamic principles that are mixed with many other teachings that are alien to Islam. To better understand the difference between the two, read about Malcolm X, his pilgrimage to Mecca and his subsequent comments to the media. Islam teaches equality amongst all the races (Holy Qur'an 49:13).

28) All Muslims are not Arab. Islam is a universal religion and way of life which includes followers from all races of people. There are Muslims in and from virtually every country in the world. Arabs only constitute about 20% of Muslims worldwide. Indonesia has the largest concentration of Muslims with over 120 million.

29) In the five daily prayers, Muslims face the Kaaba in Mecca, Arabia. It is a cube-shaped stone structure that was originally built by Prophet Adam and later rebuilt by Prophet Abraham. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was the first house of worship on Earth dedicated to the worship of one god. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba. It serves as a central focal point for Muslims around the world, unifying them in worship and symbolizing their common belief, spiritual focus and direction. Interestingly, the inside of the Kaaba is empty.

30) The hajj is a simultaneous pilgrimage to the Kaaba made by millions of Muslims each year. It is performed to commemorate the struggles of Abraham, Ishmael and Hagar in submitting their wills to God.

Halal and Haraam



Fish( Halaal)

 Truly, what is lawful is evident, and what is unlawful is evident, and in between the two are matters which are doubtful which many people do not know. He who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and honour blameless, and he who indulges in doubtful things indulges in fact in unlawful things, just as a shepherd who pastures his flock round a preserve will soon pasture them in it. Beware, every king has a preserve, and the things Allah has declared unlawful are His preserves. Beware; in the body there is a flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt, and behold, it is the heart.             [Bukhari & Muslim]

These days that civilization and western way of life as taken over the lives of most of us in this part of the world, the issue of what is Haraam or Halal needs to be discussed to keep our brothers and sisters in Islam on track. We go to eateries and buy a lot of foreign foods without trying to know what the foods are made of. This edition of On Islam Deen Digest discussed briefly the concept of Halal and Haraam.



Non Alcoholic Drinks (Halaal)



What is Halal?   "Halal" is an Arabic word meaning "lawful" or "permissible", and the term not only covers food and drink, but also to all matters of daily life. When it comes to Halal food, most people think of meat foods only. However, Muslims must ensure that all foods, particularly processed foods, pharmaceuticals, and non-food items like cosmetics, are also Halal. Frequently, these products contain animal by-products or other ingredients that are not permissible for Muslims to eat or use on their bodies.

Wikipedia define Halal as a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. The term is used to designate food seen as permissible according to Islamic law.

 The opposite of this word is Haraam.  Halal foods are foods that Muslims are allowed to eat under Islamic dietary guidelines. The criteria specify both what foods are allowed, and how the food must be prepared. The foods addressed are mostly types of meat/animal tissue.

 The following substances are considered as 'Haraam' forbidden as per various Quranic verses:

Pork and Pork-based products and by-products - sausages, gelatin etc –Qur'an 2: 173

Blood and blood by-products -Qur'an 2: 173

Animals slaughtered in the name of anyone but God. All that has been dedicated or offered in sacrifice to an idolatrous altar or saint or a person considered to be "divine"  –Qur'an 2: 173 & Qur'an 5:3

Carrion (carcasses of dead animals)  –Qur'an 2: 173

An animal that has been trangled, beaten (to death),  killed by a fall, gored (to death),  savaged by a beast of prey (unless finished off by a human)  -Qur'an 5:3

Food over which God's name is not pronounced (or at least not in a name other than God) -Qur'an  6:121



Alcoholic Drinks (Haram)



Alcohol- Qur'an 5:90

Most carnivorous animals, birds of prey and land animals withoutexternal ears (i.e., snakes, reptiles, worms, insects etc.)

Foods contaminated with any of the above products

 These verses also have information regarding Halal foods: 2:173, 5:5, and 6:118-119, 121.

 The following products are definitely

 HALAL:

1.            Milk (from cows, sheep, camels, and goats)

2.            Honey

3.            Fish and other sea foods

4.            Plants which are not intoxicant

 5.            Fresh or naturally frozen vegetables

6.            Fresh or dried fruits

7.            Legumes and nuts like peanuts, cashew nuts, hazel nuts, walnuts, etc.

8.            Grains such as wheat, rice, rye,barley, oat, etc.

 Animals such as cows, sheep, goats, deer, moose, chickens, ducks, game birds, etc., are also Halal, but they must be slaughtered according to Islamic Rites in order to be suitable for consumption. The procedure is as follows: the animal must be slaughtered by a Muslim. The animal should be put down on the ground (or held it if it is small) and its throat should be slit with a very sharp knife to make sure that the 3 main blood vessels are cut. While cutting the throat of the animal (without severing it), the person must pronounce the name of Allah or recite a blessing which contains the name of Allah, such as "Bismillah Allah-u-Akbar".

 While many things are clearly Halal or clearly Haraam, there are some things which are not clear. These items are considered questionable or suspect and more information is needed to categorise them as Halal or Haraam. Such items are often referred to as Mashbooh, which means doubtful or questionable. Food falling into this category should be treated as Haraam until you know otherwise.

 Intoxicants:

It should be noted that the Qur'an refers to all intoxicants (not just alcohol) as being Haraam. An intoxicant is, by definition, a substance eaten, drunk or smoked with the sole intention of becoming intoxicated, or a substance created with that purpose in mind. This basically means alcoholic drinks and narcotic drugs.

 Any food which was made with an alcoholic drink (usually wine) is Haraam because, although the food itself probably couldn't get you drunk, its alcoholic ingredient was made for that purpose. In most cases this is obvious - for instance Coq au Vin (chicken in wine) or Beef and Ale Pie. In contrast, some seemingly innocent foods can be made using alcoholic drinks and are therefore Haraam - examples are mince pies and teriyaki sauce. Always check the ingredients label!

 In contrast, alcohol can be found in some Halal foods, such as bread and soy sauce. These sometimes contain minute amounts of alcohol as a result of a natural reaction between certain chemicals during the manufacturing process (as opposed to alcoholic drinks being deliberately added to food to add flavour), and so couldn't be classed as Haraam.



Some medicines and mouthwashes contain alcohol - if you can find a non-alcoholic alternative then use that instead. Medicines containing alcohol would be considered Halal if there were no suitable alternatives available. It should be noted that only ethyl alcohol (such as mentholated spirits and ethanol, the alcohol found in alcoholic drinks) are intoxicating and are therefore Haraam. Other forms of alcohol (such as stearyl) are not intoxicating. These types of alcohol won't be found in any food or drink due to the fact that they are generally poisonous, but it is a point worth bearing in mind when buying household goods containing these. 



Pork meat (Haram)



 Pork By-Products:

This includes ingredients such as gelatin, emulsifiers, fat and enzymes. All of these are Haraam. They also have alternatives that are either Halal or vegetarian that can just as easily be used in their place. Items that can contain these pork-based ingredients

Include:

Jelly / Jell-O desserts

Marshmallows

Jelly / Gum sweets

Lard

Some medicines and supplements (especially Cod Liver Oil) also use gelatin as part of their capsules. It can be permissible to use these, but ONLY if there are no suitable alternatives.

 IS SMOKING HARAM?

The issue of smoking cigarettes is mentioned neither in the Quran nor in sunnah; because when Quran was sent down, there was not anything like cigarettes. Cigarette emerged after 15th century.

There are some general rules in Islam for making a judgment about something which is not mentioned in the main sources of Islam. One of them is “the rule is the permissibility of things”. That is to say; everything is created for human beings and while some things are stated to be Haram, some are not identified as Haram or Halal, and thus they are Halal. Another one is “what is clean and nice is Halal and what is filthy and harmful is Haram”.

 When those two general rules are taken into consideration together, we come up with a conclusion about smoking as follows: as there is nothing stated about smoking in sources, we should determine whether cigarette is filthy and harmful or not. If it has got features which we can describe as filthy and harmful, we should conclude that it is Haram; if it has not got such features, we should conclude that it is Halal.

 Due to this method of deduction, some Islamic scholars in history concluded that smoking cigarettes is Halal/mubah, because they said that they did not observe any harm from cigarettes; therefore, they could not say it was Haram. However, today science has proved that cigarette includes about 2000 kinds of poison, that it is the reason of many diseases, and that it harms not only those who smoke, but also those who are near smokers though they do not smoke themselves. In Nigeria every advert of cigarette end with Federal Ministry of Health warns that smokers are liable to die young, which shows the risk in cigarette smoking in case we see what the scientists say as too far to believe.

 The truth is that one risks his life by smoking. However, Allah says: “Do not risk yourself with your own hands”. For this reason, smoking means risking oneself. Smoking is also a very important personal right; because smokers harm non-smokers and disturb them. Forgiveness of violating a personal right is only possible if the person whose right has been violated forgives the violator. And providing it is very difficult.

 Exception if no Halal is available if there is no other food available, then a Muslim is allowed to eat non-Halal food. Surah 2:173 states: If one is forced because there is no other choice, neither craving nor transgressing, there is no sin on him.









 

                                                                                                  







WHY MUSLIMS?

 A man is taking a walk in Central park in New York. Suddenly he sees a little girl being attacked by a pit bull dog . He runs over and starts fighting with the dog. He succeeds in killing the dog and saving the girl's life. A policeman who was watching the scene walks over and says: "You are a hero, tomorrow you can read it in all the newspapers: "Brave New Yorker saves the life of little girl" The man says: - "But I am not a New Yorker!" "Oh ,then it will say in newspapers in the morning: 'Brave American saves life of little girl'" – the policeman answers. "But I am not an American!" – says the man. "Oh, what are you then? " The man says: - "I am a Saudi !" The next day the newspapers says: "Islamic extremist kills innocent American dog.