SEASONSALI

Tie Your Camel

S.E.A.Mohamed Ali. "nidurali" — Mon, 21 May 2012 02:50:48 +0000

Tie Your Camel

Anas (radi Allahu anhu) reported that a person asked Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), “Should I tie my camel and have Tawakkul (trust in Allah for her protection) or should I leave her untied and have Tawakkul.” Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) replied, “Tie her and have Tawakkul.” (Hasan) [Jami At-Tirmidhi]

Tawakkul means to put in one’s best efforts to do what Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) expects one to do and then leave the results to Allah’s will. Tawakkul comes from conviction in qada wa qadar, one of the six pillars of eeman: What Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has written for me must come to pass.

Tawakkul in Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) includes tawakkul in His provision of rizq. 50,000 years before the creation of the universe, what provisions would come to me were written down in Lawh Mahfuz (The Preserved Tablet). Our test in this world is of the means we choose to earn these provisions. Do we adopt halal means and work seeking the pleasure of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala); or do we resort to haraam, not trusting the rizq to come to us through halal means?

To seek one’s livelihood is the way of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). Even he did not sit at home waiting for provision to fall out of the sky. But he (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) also said not to kill oneself in trying to earn more and more; since only that which is ordained for us will come to us.

Source : http://dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com/

Our mother Hazrat Aisha’s (ra) knowledge

S.E.A.Mohamed Ali. "nidurali" — Sun, 20 May 2012 18:33:37 +0000

Although Hazrat Aisha (ra) was still very young when our beloved Prophet (saas) died, she was one of those who best knew, understood and committed to memory the Holy Qur’an and the Sunna of our Prophet (saas). Hazrat Aisha (ra) began memorizing the Qur’an from an early age and made enthusiastic use of our Prophet’s (saas) learning.

Leading members of the community in both the time of the Prophet’s (saas) Companions, and of those who had spoken to and learned from them, sought Hazrat Aisha’s (ra) advice on a great many matters. Many jurists consulted with our mother Hazrat Aisha (ra) in order to benefit from her legal knowledge.

Hazrat Aisha (ra) used Arabic very well, and due to her clear and accessible way of speaking and the way she preached in the manner most suited to the person concerned, she had a great impact on those to whom she spoke.

In addition to being our Prophet’s (saas) wife, Hazrat Aisha (ra) was also a worthy student of his, and occupies a special place in the field of learning. She corrected errors made by many scholars in the field of canonical jurisprudence and issued perfect interpretations of a number of hadiths. Hazrat Umar (ra) always sought the opinions of Hazrat Aisha (ra) on legal issues regarding women. This learning on the part of our mother Hazrat Aisha (ra) is related as followes in Islamic reference sources:

Abu Musa al-Ash’ari says: “When we had difficulty understanding a hadith from Rasulullah (saas), we would ask Hazrat Aisha (ra) what it meant and we always received an answer from her “. (www.beyan.com.tr)

Hazrat Urve says of Hazrat Aisha (ra) that, “I never saw a woman more learned than Hazrat Aisha (ra) in the fields of canonical jurisprudence, medicine and poetry.”

Ata bin Abî Rebâh said, “Hazrat Aisha (ra) was one of the members of the Ummah with the best knowledge of religious law and who held the very soundest opinions.”

Because of her remarkable memory and her close attention to every move made by our Prophet (saas), the information provided by our mother Hazrat Aisha (ra) is of the greatest value. Hazrat Aisha (ra), one of the Companions who related most hadiths, handed down a total of 2,210 hadiths from our Prophet (saas).

Hazrat Aisha’s (ra) Contribution to the Spread of Islam

Following the death of the Prophet Muhammad (saas), our mother Hazrat Aisha’s (ra) house in Medina became a center of learning where many people, great and small, would come to listen to her. In this way, she had the opportunity to spread and transmit Islamic moral values in the most effective way.
Hazrat Aisha’s (ra) wise speech and her deep love of and devotion to our Lord and our Prophet (saas) were instrumental in her having a considerable impact on the people she spoke to.

Our mother Hazrat Aisha (ra) took a close interest in women’s education and schooling right from the time when our Prophet (saas) was still alive. Thus she herself and the students she taught became clear models showing that women needed to be actively involved in learning.

Our mother Hazrat Aisha (ra) died in Medina on Tuesday, the 17th day of Ramadan, in the year 676.

Hadiths handed down from our mother Hazrat Aisha (ra)

“The Messenger of Allah (saas) preferred others’ desires over his own.” (Muhammed Yusuf Kandehlevi, The Islamic Life of the Prophet Muhammad and His People, Vol. 1, Sentez Press, Essential Works Series: 2/1, p. 297 (Targib, V/148; Bayhaqi from Hazrat Aisha (as))

“He did not speak his words fast and one after the other; his words were few and to the point.” (al-Fawaid, Hujjat al-Islam, Imam Gazali, Ihya’ Ulum al-Din, Vol. 2, Trans. Dr. Sittki Gulle, Huzur Press, Istanbul 1998, p. 800)

“The blessed one’s words were carefully chosen. Everyone who heard them understood.” (G. Ahmed Ziyauddin, Ramuz al-Ahadith, Vol. 2, Gonca Press, Istanbul, 1997, 521/4)

“When Rasulullah (saas) saw a thing he liked, he said, “Thanks be to Allah that pure things come from His blessing alone.” (The Six Books/7095)

“He was the gentlest, the most generous and the most smiling of faces toward women.” (G.Ahmed Ziyauddin, Ramuz al-Ahadith, Vol. 2, Gonca Press, Istanbul, 1997, 531/7)

Source : http://www.harunyahya.com

Moderation in JOY and GRIEF

S.E.A.Mohamed Ali. "nidurali" — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:06:12 +0000

Muslims’ commitment to Allah and His religion entails an unconditional loyalty.

For this reason, fluctuating conditions and circumstances never change believers’ zeal, enthusiasm and determination to live by the Qur’an.

Allah mentions two basic reactions shown by a believer.

First, hardship or severe conditions never daunt him.
Second, he never exults or feels pride because of what he obtains in this world. Allah reveals this in the Qur’an as:

That is so that you will not be grieved about the things that pass you by or exult about the things that come to you. Allah does not love any vain or boastful man. (Surat al-Hadid; 23)

Man is always vulnerable, since he has no idea about what awaits him in life.
A young person may suddenly be seized by a serious disease or become bedridden because of an accident. Anyone may lose all his wealth in a day or encounter events he never anticipated.

In such a situation, those of weak faith will despair or feel rebellious. Forgetting all the blessings of Allah in an instant, they may even lose their love for and trust in Him.

Aware that there is a divine purpose and good in every event that Allah creates, believers merely persevere in the face of unexpected events and trust firmly in Allah’s wisdom, compassion and justice.

Meanwhile, believers may sometimes experience loss of material wealth, have to risk their lives or abandon their homes. Yet all such seemingly adverse occasions will bring great reward, joy and glory in the Hereafter.

As well as unexpected losses, people may also experience unexpected gains. Allah opens His infinite dominion to whom He wills and grants success, authority and power.
But He warns Muslims against exulting in pride since any person receiving a great possession, authority or benefit becomes only a trustee, while it is Allah Who is the real possessor of everything.

In the Qur’an Allah reveals this fact.

Mankind! you are the poor in need of Allah whereas Allah is the Rich Beyond Need, the Praiseworthy. (Surah Fatir: 15)

Aware of this fact, believers never forget their own weakness and do not become arrogant even when they enjoy great blessings and wealth. They feel only a deep gratitude to Allah, and they strive to use their blessings for His cause in the best way possible.

Source: http://www.harunyahya.com/

Source : http://jannatulfirdauz-tice.blogspot.in

Muhammad Ali’s advice to his daughters

S.E.A.Mohamed Ali. "nidurali" — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:23:09 +0000

The following incident took place when Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were not modest. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:

When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.

My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You’ve got to work hard to get to them.”

He looked at me with serious eyes. “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.” Source: Taken from the book: More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali’s Life Lessons Through His Daughter’s Eyes.
Source :IslamCan
Source : http://www.islamcan.com/\

How to Keep your Bathroom Mold-Free

S.E.A.Mohamed Ali. "nidurali" — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:09:54 +0000

by SoundHealth, in General
Indoor mold exposure is associated with numerous health problems, including respiratory problems, asthma and allergies. Mold thrives in moist conditions and therefore the bathroom is ideal place for mold to grow. However, a few preventative measures can help to rid yourself of mold and mildew in and around the bathroom.

Make Sure Your Drains Drain Properly

Check that there is good drainage in the sink, bathtub or shower. When water doesn’t drain properly, it stands, creating an environment that is moist for longer periods of time and these are environments in which mold thrives. If the water does not drain as quickly as the water is run, there is a drainage problem. Use a bleach solution, or a solution specially formulated to unclog drains, or call a plumber if the drain stoppage is particularly bad.

Reduce Clutter

Toiletries, shampoo and shower gel bottles, etc are constantly in contact with water and are the perfect breeding ground for mold. The more of them there is in the bathroom, the longer it takes for the shower or bathroom to dry. . Throw away, store, or use up any products that you don’t use frequently. Place them where they will not sit in collected water – you may even consider hanging a shelf that is easily reached from the shower, as this will allow your products to air-dry completely, avoiding mold growth.

Thoroughly Clean

When cleaning the bathroom, make sure to remove all products first. Remove all damp or moldy areas with a sponge and a suitable cleaning solution. Before putting the products back, wipe them with a moistened cloth that contains some of the same cleaning solution. This will deter mold by removing any already present around the bases of bottles and jars, kill germs, and prevent the already sanitized surface from being re-contaminated with mold and bacteria.

Repairs and Remodeling

It may be that the caulking around the bathtub, sink or shower is peeling, old or cracked. Mold may even have found its way behind caulking, and some mold even grows in the pores of the caulk itself. It is usually impossible to remove this mold and the caulking will need to be replaced.

Mold growth can also be reduced by replacing loose, old, or outdated faucets and fixtures.

Remember:

Wear gloves when cleaning moldy areas.
Never mix chlorine bleach with any other cleaners, as toxic fumes can result.
The chlorine contained in bleach can be harmful to the lungs, so use it in a well-ventilated area.
All cloths or paper towels used for removing mold and mildew should be discarded in a plastic bag when finished.

Keeping your bathroom free of mold doesn’t have to be a routine, time-consuming task. Regular cleaning and maintenance, and reduction of surfaces on which mold can grow should keep mold at bay, and make your bathroom a healthier environment.

Source : http://www.healthymuslim.com/articles/toyxf-how-to-keep-your-bathroom-mold-free.cfm

Why I’m not Happy?

S.E.A.Mohamed Ali. "nidurali" — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:06:29 +0000

My hair is white now, where is happiness?

To remain happy in this world, we need to avoid those things which make us sad. There is nothing in this world which will give us continuous happiness but they will make us sad one or the another day. For example, you marry but you are not happy with each other even though it was a love marriage, you get a job but your colleages are corrupt, your parents are rude, your children are disobeident and there are endless matters which will make you sad and very few countable moments of happiness. That is why a Muslim is told in Islaam to have no hope and expectations from this world and to live this life for the next life to attain Paradise. If a human being spends his/her life upon the guidelines of Islaam and strives to attain paradise then his happiness is declared in this world and in the next world. Because you purchase sadness for the cost of next life which can be full of happiness.

Happiness is something which you cannot purchase from the super market, it needs your attention & dedication of which way is the right way of spending life. You will never be happy until you spend your life totally to attain paradise. Leaving the halaal pleasures of this world will never make you a happy person like monks and nuns, it is the challenge of taking both the visions together that will give you the continous happiness. We ask Allaah to give you the good of this world and of the next life!

Sheikh Danish Riyaz

Source : http://muslimfaith.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/why-im-not-happy/

RITUAL PRACTICES OF THE MUSLIMS AND HELP OF ALLAH TO THE MUSLIMS

S.E.A.Mohamed Ali. "nidurali" — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:56:53 +0000

by mthago
Nowadays many Islamic practices have turn ritualistic. An Islamic practice is said to become ritual when it is practice without even knowing the real reason why such practices have been ordered by Allah, done with incorrect intention and not in the way shown by Prophet Muhammad SAW. When an Islamic practice is performed as a ritual, it has no soul or life. As the practices have no soul or life, it has no power to attract the help of Allah or gain rewards from Allah. A ritual practice may still have the appearance and names of an Islamic practices but it does not possess the soul or life of an Islamic practices. One of the most important Islamic practices that have turn ritual is the reciting of the Great Kalimah ‘I bear witness there is no God but Allah and I bear witness Muhammad is the messenger of Allah’. Upon reciting the Great Kalimah a person must fulfill the right of the Great Kalimah. What is the right of the Great Kalimah? The right of the Great Kalimah is to enjoin Good and to forbid the Evils. What could be the greatest evil ever committed by mankind other than refusing to acknowledge the existence of Allah as the only God and Muhammad SAW as the Prophet of Allah. And what could be the most good action ever committed by men other than to acknowledge the existence of Allah as the only God and Muhammad SAW as the messenger of Allah by reciting the Great Kalimah in the presence of a witness. In order to fulfill the right of the Great Kalimah, a person after having reciting the Great Kalimah must deliver the Great Kalimah to all those who have not recited the Great Kalimah in this world and to persuade them with love and affection to recite the Great Kalimah. When a person recite the Great Kalimah, all the sins from the day he or she was born until the time of reciting the Great Kalimah will be forgiven by Allah. In addition, all the sins will be converted into good deeds.

The greatest evil ever committed by those who have recited the Great Kalimah is to abandon the first order of Allah which is to deliver the Great Kalimah to those who have not recited the Great Kalimah and to persuade them to recite the Great Kalimah. Many Muslims are committing evils and the greatest evil ever committed by Muslims is they abandon the work of inviting the non-Muslims to recite the Great Kalimah in the way shown by our Prophet Muhammad SAW. The work of delivering the Great Kalimah to the non-Muslims and to persuade them to recite the Great Kalimah is indeed the first order of Allah to the Muslims. When this first order of Allah is practiced by Muslims with the intention of pleasing Allah, Muslims have indeed fulfilled the right of the Great Kalimah and by virtue of fulfilling the right of the Great Kalimah; Allah becomes please with the Muslims and Allah with His power will instils or places the Great Kalimah into the heart of the Muslims. When the Great Kalimah is placed into the heart, Muslims will have Allah or the love of Allah in their heart. Whenever Muslims with the Great Kalimah in their heart recite the Great Kalimah, the recitation of the Great Kalimah will become real and full of soul and life. Without the Great Kalimah in the heart of Muslims, the recitation of the Great Kalimah will only come from the mouth and not from the heart and become only ritual. Many Muslims recite the Great Kalimah thousand of times but without soul or life and it has become a ritualistic practice that have no power to attract the help or gain rewards from Allah. Many Muslims involve with the ritualistic practices of making zikir or remembrance of the Great Kalimah for thousands of times daily and yet are not having the help of Allah with them, because the recitation of the Great Kalimah is a mere ritualistic exercises. A ritualistic Islamic practice is similar to a dead body with no soul or life or similar to an artificial flower. An artificial flower may look like a real flower but it has no smell as the real flower.

Today, when a Muslim recites the name of Allah, it is only a mere ritualistic action with no soul to the action. An action without a soul is dead and a dead action is not love by Allah and it will not lead to the fulfillment of the promises of Allah. As nowadays Muslims are not fulfilling the right of the Great Kalimah, the recitation of the Great Kalimah is a mere ritual action, because the recitation of the Great Kalimah does not come from the heart of the Muslims but only from the mouth. When the Great Kalimah is not in the heart of the Muslims, Muslims will be devoid of sincerity in all of their actions. A Muslim who do not have the Great Kalimah in their heart ,will not be able to perform any orders of Allah, with the intention of pleasing Allah(sincerity), because the love of Allah or the Great Kalimah is not in his or her heart. If the Great Kalimah or the love of Allah is not in the heart of Muslims, definitely love of other than Allah will be in the heart of Muslims. Any actions done, not with the intention of pleasing Allah will become a ritual action. All actions done, not with the intention of pleasing Allah is an action without soul or life. When a Muslim who has no Great Kalimah in his or her heart (as a result of not fulfilling the right of the Great Kalimah) perform five times daily prayers, the performance of the five time daily prayers will be devoid of sincerity and become a mere ritual practices.

Nowadays, because the Great Kalimah is not in the heart of Muslims (as a result of not fulfilling the right of the Great Kalimah)not only the performance of five times daily prayers have become a mere ritual but all other orders of Allah have become a mere ritual practices. In order to make things worse, many Muslims like to add to the already ritualistic Islamic practices, Bidaah practices, practices which are not even done by Prophet Muhammad SAW with the intention of strengthening the already ritualistic Islamic practices. Because of this, Islamic practices become more ritualistic and difficult to practice and many Muslims turn away from the teaching of Islam. Because Muslims have not fulfilled the right of the Great Kalimah, Allah is not pleased with the Muslims and Allah is not instilling the Great Kalimah into the heart of all Muslims. When Muslims are practising all the other orders of Allah, without the Great Kalimah inside their heart, all the other orders of Allah practice by the Muslims have become a mere rituals. Reciting the Great Kalimah and fulfilling the right of the Great Kalimah is the First Order of Allah and it has to be fulfilled by all Muslims ,males or females and failure to perform this First Order of Allah has makes all the actions of Muslims to become a mere ritual actions. A ritual action is a dead action and when all the actions of the entire Muslims in this world have become a mere ritual, the entire Muslims in this world can be regarded as a dead body that is incapable of doing and responding to anything. When the entire Muslim ummah is similar to a dead body, the enemies of the Muslims are capable of doing anything that they want towards the Muslim ummah.

We can make an analogy, when Muslims have become similar to that of the dead body, the enemies of the Muslims will be able to cut every parts of the dead body (Muslims) the way they like, without having the fear of Muslims will ever be able to counter back the attack. What is happening nowadays to the Muslims is exactly as if the Muslims are dead bodies. Muslims all over the world are being slaughtered and killed by non-Muslims. Muslims all over the world are being humiliated by the non-Muslims. Allah has used the Americans, Jews, Russians, Europeans and others to slaughter and to humiliate the Muslims. Allah is angry with the Muslims because Muslims have disobeyed the orders of Allah and the order of Allah that has been neglected by almost all the Muslims in this world is nothing other than the First Order of Allah which is the order for the Muslims to invite to Good (to invite the non-Muslims to recite the Great Kalimah and to invite the Muslims to do the work of Dakwah and to perform the five daily obligatory prayers) and to forbid the evils (non-Muslims refuse to recite the Great Kalimah and Muslims refuse to do the work of Dakwah and to perform the five obligatory prayers).Allah has cursed the Muslims as Allah has cursed the Jews and the Nasrani for neglecting the orders of Allah. Allah has cursed the Muslims and made them divided into 73 groups as Allah has cursed the Nasrani and made them into 72 groups and Allah has cursed the Jews and made them into 71 groups.

When all the practices of the Muslims have turn ritual and Muslims are like the dead body, Allah turn away from the Muslims. Whenever the Muslims pray to Allah for anything, their prayers will not be answered, and whenever Muslims ask for anything from Allah, it will not be granted and whenever Muslims ask for help from Allah against their enemies, Muslims will not be helped. Allah turns away from the Muslims and let the Muslims to be defeated and butchered by their enemies. When Muslims are defeated by their enemies, Muslims do not blame themselves for the defeat and instead they blame their enemies and start to say to the world that Allah will curse the enemies of Islam and Islam will be glorious. It is true that Islam will always be glorious but not to the followers who are not following the true teaching of Islam. Allah has made the Jews to punish the Arabs Muslims because the Arabs Muslims are neglecting the very first order of Allah. Muslims Arab must not blame the Jews but themselves and eliminate all the hatred that the Muslims Arabs have on the Jews and turn to the Jews with love and convey to them the Great Kalimah with love and without force. As long as Muslims and particularly the Arabs Muslims have hatred towards the Jews, the problem of the Middle East will not be solved by Allah. Muslims are trying to disclose their disobedient towards the First Order of Allah by putting all the blame of their defeat to their enemies. What is the value of the land of Palestine to Allah? And what is the value of the First Order of Allah to Allah? Naturally the order of Allah is valuable to Allah and the land of Palestine is valueless. In my opinion, we can forgo the claims of land and wealth but we cannot forgo the orders of Allah. When Allah is pleased with us, Allah will give us everything that we want in this world and hereafter.

Prof. Dr. Nasoha Saabin
March 2012
Dean of Faculty of Optometry
International University College of Technology Twintech
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Source : http://mthago.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/ritual-practices-of-the-muslims-and-help-of-allah-to-the-muslims/

Open Source and Islam

S.E.A.Mohamed Ali. "nidurali" — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:05:11 +0000

The words “Open Source” are often associated with software development and open source software is software where the source, the underlying code that makes it work and the content can be read by anybody who wishes to look at how things work internally. You can take the source and make changes to improve it and rebuild the application, or a software developer will often reuse and adapt some parts of it into another program. And the words “open source” are often synonymous with “free” but sometimes open source software is not completely free and the details are mentioned in the license – a legal document explaining how the work may be used. There are different software licenses out there that can limit what you can do with the software and the source code, but not all licenses deal with just software. Licenses and the words “open source” can apply to any number of media, including books, articles, pictures, audio, video clips and anything else. In this article I will try to explain some of options available in terms of licensing and making things open source.

In Islam, the majority of religious books and materials are public domain, meaning they are free to distribute, be re-published and sold or incorporated into other works. This is because they tend to be hundreds of years old, the authors are long dead, no publisher has bought the rights to the books and no government inherits the rights for itself. This is a good thing and has meant that books and the knowledge they hold have been continually passed on throughout the ages; nobody has held a monopoly on their distribution and sale and costs have remained low as different publishers have competed with each other.

There is a strong movement in Muslim communities to keep books available and not attach restrictive licenses and high prices to publications. This is so they can benefit the greatest number of people and continue to be republished and spread throughout the community. It is in the spirit of Islam to spread knowledge and learning and applying a premium to religious knowledge is seen as something that restricts the learning of religion and this is not acceptable. The Quran is a great example of a book that is published by different publishers, in different scripts and languages and it is well distributed and cheap to purchase. This is because Muslim scholars have taught that it is wrong to make significant profits from selling the Quran and most publishers of the Quran keep the price low so they make just enough profit to keep the printing press running. Also, derivative works, such as translations or commentaries are often distributed in the same way. And books about the teachings of Islam are sold for low prices so people are able to purchase them too.

Now, when it comes to the modern age of computers, distribution has become very quick and easy. It is possible to download the text of many books or files such as audio clips, video clips and software very quickly and share it. There are numerous websites distributing Islamic books and other files. But there are a few problems that stem mainly from ignorance…

Some of these resources have been uploaded illegally. For example, some nasheed singers like Yusuf Islam, for example, produce audio CDs (and DVDs) with licenses clearly printed on them, but somebody has taken that CD, ripped the audio from it and uploaded the MP3s to the internet and is now distributing the CD for free. This is theft. It is Haram (forbidden) to take things and distribute them against the permission of the author. You have stolen from your fellow brother. As much as we might think it should be free or cheaper, we are not seeing the reality that someone spent a lot of time, effort and money producing, recording, printing and distributing the CDs and wants to recoup some of that expense in order to continue to produce more works. Theft impedes the production of future quality content and can increase its price, so to support a producer and keep prices low you should do the right thing and buy their stuff.

Other problems with the way things are distributed is the format. For example, a lot of books are published in PDF format or as a Microsoft Word document or in proprietary formats or placed on websites under different encodings and in non-intuitive layouts. There are ways of extracting the text from these but sometimes this requires great technical knowledge or it is impossible to do it because they are locked so they cannot be read by another program. This poses a great problem to people who want to redistribute things in a different format as there is a great deal of skilled technical work and quite often they have to resort to repetitive copy-and-paste manual work in order to get things done and the thought of copying-and-pasting text thousands of times stops anyone starting a project.

And the final problem, is that a lot of Muslim works are not distributed with information about their origins or licenses (if any). If you have produced something and put it on the internet it does not make it free – you still hold all the rights to it and legally I have no right to copy, modify or redistribute it without asking permission from you first! If you’re going to create something or share it then please have a READ_ME file in the archive or metadata in the file or a disclaimer somewhere about where it can be obtained and under what license it is being distributed. This is important because if I want to use this content in a derivative work, distribute or sell it, I need to know that I have the permission of the author and it is allowed and I am not harming anyone in doing so.

People. If you’re going to share something online or offline, please make sure to:

1. Clearly state what license the work is published under (the freer the better), and the conditions for its use.
2. Clearly state who the author is and where the original book or file can be obtained and how the author may be contacted.
3. Distribute files in a high quality or mention how the high quality version can be obtained.
4. Distribute the files in a standard open format.
5. Spend some time on formatting the content in a logical and consistent way and distributing the content in multiple formats including useful formats such as XML using text encoded in UTF-8.

There are many licenses to choose from to license your work with. Here are a few I recommend with a small explanation. The licences are listed from most permissive to least permissive:

The Creative Commons (CC) Licenses -

1. Public Domain: No rights are held by the original author – the work is free to whoever to do whatever they want with it.
2. Attribution: Redistribute, modify, share, sell and add a new license to derived works, but any versions must carry the details of the original author and license.
3. Attribution-ShareAlike: Same as above, but the CC license must be maintained and no other license must be used.
4. Attribution-NonCommercial: Same as above but the work must not be sold. A different license may be applied.
5. Attribution-NoDerivatives: You are not allowed to share modified copies of this work, but untouched copies can be shared or even sold as long as the original author is attributed.
6. Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike: You may modify, redistribute and share this work but not add a new license nor sell it.
7. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives: The most restrictive CC licence. You can’t sell, make derivatives or relicense items under this license. You can only share it with the attribution to the original author.

The Creative Commons website has a great tool, a simple form you can complete to choose the most suitable license for your works.

Software licenses -

1. MIT license: A software license allowing you to copy, share, sell and use other licenses are long as the MIT license is passed along too.
2. The New BSD License: A software license where source code if free to modify and redistribute and sell, as long as the license is maintained.
3. The Apache 2 License: A software license where source code is free to modify and redistribute but not to sell. Derivative works can have a different license assigned to them but must retain the original Apache license. Only the new work that is not under the Apache 2 license may be sold.
4. GNU GPL: A software license which requires that the software remains free and that derivative works keep the same GNU GPL license.

And if none of these licenses appeal to you, you can create your own license based on one of the above. A lot of businesses that publish open source software license it under two different licenses – a free one for free projects and a pay one for commercial projects that use their source code. Some licenses have a time limit – they run out and become public domain after a set number of years. Some licenses are created for different forms of the same media. For example, some book writers have one license on hard-copy works but distribute the PDF/HTML copy on the internet under a different license. They are still able to sell hard copies in the book shops but people can also download the book for free. Some authors even allow you to translate the book under the same license. Surprisingly, this model works and there are quite a few example of books that are open source and can be bought from the book store and are available in more than one language thanks to volunteers translating the book! Anyway, whatever you decide in the end is your choice but I recommend you choose the least restrictive license you can to benefit the most people.

If you have produced something please share it in the comments. I can also recommend resources and help with finding good content and extracting text from different formats.

A resource shared is many new resources created.

Source : http://www.islamic-dictionary.com/blogs/admin/open-source-and-islam

The Meaning of Islam

S.E.A.Mohamed Ali. "nidurali" — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:57:51 +0000

ISLAM is derived from the Arabic root “SALEMA”: peace, purity, submission and obedience. In the religious sense, Islam means submission to the will of God and obedience to His law. Everything and every phenomenon in the world, other than man is administered TOTALLY by God-made laws i.e. they are obedient to God and submissive to His laws i.e. they are in the STATE OF ISLAM. Man possesses the quality of intelligence and choice, thus he is invited to submit to the good will of God and obey His law ie. become a Muslim. Submission to the good will of God, together with obedience to His beneficial law, i.e. becoming a Muslim is the best safeguard for man’s peace and harmony. Islam dates back to the edge of Adam and its message has been conveyed to man by God’s Prophets and Messengers including Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. Islam’s message has been restored and enforced in the last stage of the religious evolution by God’s last Prophet and Messenger Muhammad. The word Allah in the Arabic language means God, or more accurately The One and Only Eternal God, Creator of the Universe, Lord of all lords, King of all kings, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. The word Allah to mean God is also used by Arabic speaking Jews and Christians. Articles of Faith Allah, the One and Only God A Muslim believes in ONE GOD, Supreme and Eternal, Infinite and Mighty, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider. God has no father nor mother, no sons nor was He fathered. None equal to Him. He is God of all mankind, 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 help 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. God’s attributes are mentioned in the Quran. God creates in man 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 benefit and our own good. 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 Noah, Abrahim, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. Their message is the same and it is Islam and it came from One and the Same Source; God, and it is to submit to His will and to obey His law; i.e., to become a Muslim. Revelations and the Quran A Muslim believes in all scriptures and revelations of God, as they were complete and in their original versions. Allah, the Creator, has not left man without guidance for the conduct of his life. Revelations were given to guide the people to the right path of Allah and sent down to selected people, the prophet and messengers, to convey it to their fellow men. The message of all the prophet and messengers is the same. They all asked the people of their time to obey and worship Allah and none other. Abrahim, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad who were revealed their own book of Allah, were sent at different times to bring back straying human being from deviation to Right Course. The Quran is the sacred book of the Muslims. It is the last book of guidance from Allah, sent down to Muhammad, peace be upon him, through the angel Jibraeel (Gabriel). Every word of it is the word of Allah. It was revealed over a period of 23 years in the Arabic language. It contains 114 Surahs (chapters) and over 6000 verses. The Quran deals with man and his ultimate goal in life. Its teachings cover all areas of this life and the life after death. It contains principles, doctrines and directions for every sphere of human life. The theme of the Quran broadly consists of three fundamental ideas: Oneness of Allah, Prophethood and life after death. The success of human beings on this earth and in the life hereafter depends on obedience to the Quranic teaching. The Quran is unrivalled in its recording and prservation. The astonishing fact about this book of Allah is that it has remained unchanged even to a dot over the past fourteen hundred years. No scholar has questioned the fact that the Quran today is the same as it was revealed. Muslims till today memorize the Quran word by word as a whole or in part. Today, the Quran is the only authentic and complete book of Allah. Allah is protecting it from being lost, corrupted or concealed. The Angels of Allah There are purely spiritual and splendid beings created by Allah. They require no food or drink or sleep. They have no physical desires nor material needs. Angels spend their time in the service of Allah. Each charged with a certain duty. Angels cannot be seen by the naked eyes. Knowledge and the truth are not entirely confined to sensory knowledge or sensory perception alone. The 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 for judgment. 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 believe in life after death is not expected to behave against the Will of Allah. He will always bear in mind that Allah is watching all his actions and the angels are recording them. People with good records will be generously rewarded and warmly welcomed to Allah’s Heaven. People with bad records will be fairly punished and cast into Hell. The real nature of Heaven and Hell are known to Allah only, but they are described by Allah in man’s 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 Allah 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 only known to Allah and Allah alone. Qadaa and Qadar A Muslim believes in Qadaa and Qadar which related to the ultimate power of Allah. Qadaa and Qadar means the Timeless Knowledge of Allah and His power to plan and execute His plans. Allah is not indifferent to this world nor is He neutral to it. It implies that everything on this earth originates from the one and only creator who is also the Sustainer and the sole source of guidance. Allah is Wise, Just and Loving and whatever He does must have a good motive, although we may fail sometimes to understand it fully. We should have strong faith in Allah and accept whatever He does because our knowledge is limited and our thinking is based on individual consideration, whereas His knowledge is limitless and He plans on a universal basis. Man should think, plan and make sound choice, but if things do not happen the way he wants, he should not lose faith and surrender himself to mental strains or shattering worries. The Purpose of Life A Muslim believe that the purpose of life is to worship Allah. Worshipping Allah does not mean we spend our entire lives in constant seclusion and absolute meditation. To worship Allah is to live life according to His commands, not to run away from it. To worship Allah is to know Him, to love Him, to obey His commands, to enforce His laws in every aspect of life, to serve His cause by doing right and shunning evil and to be just to Him, to ourselves and to our fellow human beings. Status of Human Being A Muslim believes that human being enjoys an especially high ranking status in the hierarchy of all known creatures. Man occupies this distinguished position because he alone is gifted with rational faculties and spiritual aspirations as well as powers of action. Man is not a condemned race from birth to death, but a dignified being potentially capable of good and noble achievements. A Muslim also believes that every person is born muslim. Every person is endowed by Allah with spiritual potential and intellectual inclination that can make him a good Muslim. Every person’s birth takes place according to the will of Allah in realization of His plans and in submission to His commands. Every person is born FREE FROM SIN. When the person reaches the age of maturity and if he is sane, he become accountable for all his deeds and intentions. Man is free from sin until he commits sin. There is no inherited sin, no original sin. Adam committed the first sin, he prayed to Allah for pardon and Allah granted Adam pardon. Salvation A Muslim believes that man must work out his salvation through the guidance of Allah. No one can act on behalf of another or intercede between him and Allah. In order to obtain salvation, a person must combine faith and action, belief and practice. Faith without doing good deeds is as insufficient as doing good deeds without faith. Also, a Muslim believes that Allah does not hold any person responsible until he has shown him the Right Way. If people do not know and have no way of knowing about Islam, they will not be responsible for failing to be Muslim. Every Muslim must preach Islam in words and action. Acceptance of Faith A Muslim believes that faith is not complete when it is followed blindly or accepted unquestioningly. Man must build his faith on well-grounded convictions beyond any reasonable doubt and above uncertainty. Islam insures freedom to believe and forbids compulsion in religion (one of the oldest synagogues and one of the oldest churches in the worlds is in Muslim countries). A Muslim believes that the Quran is the word of Allah revealed to prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel. The Quran was revealed from revealed from Allah on various occasions to answer questions, solve problems, settle dbe man’s best guide to the truth. The Quran was revealed in Arabic and it is still in its original and complete Arabic version until today. It is memorized by millions. A Muslim also believes in a clear distinction between the Quran and the Traditions (called Hadits) of the Prophet Muhammad. Whereas, the Quran is the word of Allah, the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (hadits i.e.: his teachings, sayings, and actions) are the practical interpretations of the Quran. Both the Quran and the Hadits of Prophet Muhammad are the primary sources of knowledge in Islam. Application of Faith God has laid down for a Muslim four major exercises of faith, some are daily, some weekly, some monthly, some annually and some are required as a minimum of once in a lifetime. These exercises of faith are to serve man’s spiritual purposes, satisfy his human needs and to mark his whole life with a Divine touch. These major exercises of faith are: Prayer (Salah) Praying, to the Creator on a daily basis, is the best way to cultivate in a man a sound personality and to actualize his aspiration. Allah does not need man’s prayer because He is free of all needs. Salah is for our benefit which are immeasurable and the blessings are beyond imagination. In salah, every muscle of the body joins the soul and the mind in the worship and glory of Allah. Salah is an act of worship. It is a matchless and unprecedented formula of intellectual meditation and spiritual devotion, of moral elevation and physical exercise, all combined. Offering of salah is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female who is sane, mature and in case of women free from menstruation and confinement due to child birth. Requirements of salah: performing of ablution (Wudu), purity of the whole body, clothes and ground used for prayer, dressing properly and having (or declaring) the intention and facing the Qiblah; the direction of the Ka’bah at Mecca. Obligatory Salah: Five daily salahs, the Friday’s noon congregation salah and the funeral salah. Highly recommended salah: Those accompanying the obligatory salah and the two great festival salahs. Optional salah: Voluntary salah during the day and night. Times of Obligatory Salah: 1. Early Morning – after dawn and before sunrise. 2. Noon – after the sun begins to decline from its zenith until it is about midway on its course to set. 3. Mid-afternoon – after the expiration of the noon salah time until sunset. 4. Sunset – immediately after sunset until the red glow in the western horizon disappears. 5. Evening – after the expiration of the sunset salah until dawn. Salah should be offered in its due time, unless there is a reasonable excuse. Delayed obligatory salah must be made up. In addition to the prescribed salah, a Muslim expressed gratitude to God and appreciation of His favours and asks for His mercy all the time. Especially at times of, for example: childbirth, marriage, going to or rising from bed, leaving and returning to his home, starting a journey or entering a city, riding or driving, before or after eating or drinking, harvesting, visiting graveyards and at time of distress and sickness. Fasting Fasting is abstaining completely from eating, drinking, intimate sexual contacts and smoking from the break of dawn till sunset. It is a matchless Islamic institution which teaches man the principle of sincere love to God. Fasting teaches man a creative sense of hope, devotion, patience, unselfishness, moderation, willpower, wise saving, sound budgeting, mature adaptability, healthy survival, discipline, spirit of social belonging, unity and brotherhood. Obligatory fasting is done once a year for the period of the month of Ramadan; the ninth month of the Islamic year. Recommended fasting every Monday and Thursday of every week, three days in the middle of each Islamic month, six days after Ramadan following the Feast Day and a few days of the two months before Ramadan. Fasting of Ramadan is a worship act which is obligatory on every adult Muslim, male or female if he/she mentally and physically fit and not on a journey. Exception: women during their period of menstruation and while nursing their child and also in case of travel and sickness. Charity Giving (Zakah) Charity giving is an act of worship and spiritual investment. The lateral meaning of Zakah is purity and it refers to the annual amount in kind or coin which a Muslim with means must distribute among the rightful beneficiaries. Zakah does not only purifies the property of the contributor but also purifies his heart from selfishness and greed. It also purifies the heart of the recipient from envy and jealousy, from hatred and uneasiness and it fosters instead good-will and warm wishes for the contributors. Zakah has a deep humanitarian and social-political value; for example, it frees society from class welfare, from ill feelings and distrust and from corruption. Although Islam does not hinder private enterprise or condemn private possession, it does not tolerate selfish and greedy capitalism. Islam adopts a moderate but positive and effective course between individual and society, between the citizen and the state, between capitalism and socialism, between materialism and spiritualism. Zakah is paid on the net balance after paying personal expenses, family expenses, due credits, taxes, etc. Every Muslim, male or female who at the end of the year is in possession of the equivalent of 85 g of gold (approx. $1400 in 1990) or more in cash or articles of trade, must give Zakah at minimum rate of 2.5%. Taxes paid to government do not substitute for this religious duty. Contributor should not seek pride or fame but if disclosing his name and his contribution is likely to encourage others, it is acceptable to do so. The recipient of Zakah are: the poor, the needy, the new Muslim converts, the Muslim prisoners of war (to liberate them), Muslim in debt. Also employees appointed to collect Zakah, Muslim in service of research or study or propagation of Islam, wayfarers who are foreigners in need of help. The Pilgrimmage (Hajj) It is a pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in a lifetime and it is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female who is mentally, physically and financially fit. It is the largest annual convention of faith on earth (in 1989: 2.5 million). Peace is the dominant theme. Peace with Allah, with one’s soul, with one another, with all living creatures. To disturb the peace of anyone or any creature in any shape or form is strictly prohibited. Muslim from all walks of life, from every corner of the globe assemble in Mecca in response to the call of Allah. There is no royalty but loyalty of all to Allah, the Creator. It is to commemorate the Divine rituals observed by the Prophet Abrahim and his son Ishmael, who are the first pilgrim to the house of Allah on earth; the Ka’bah. It is also to remember the grad assembly of the Day of Judgement when people will stand equal before Allah. Muslims go to Mecca in glory of Allah, not to worship a man. The visit to the tomb of Prophet Muhammad at Madena is highly recommended but not essential in making the Hajj valid and complete. Islam is a Code of Life It is a Muslim belief that Muhammad’s mission was for the whole world and for all the time; because: Its universality has been clearly confirmed by the Quran (Surah 7: verse 158, 6:19, 34:28, 81:27). It is a logical consequences of the finality of his prophethood. He had to be the guide and the leader for all men and for all ages. Allah has provided, through him, a complete code which is to be followed, and this in itself supports the concept of finality, because without completeness, the need for other prophets would remain. It is a fact that during the last 1400 years no man has arisen whose life and works bear even the slightest resemblance to that of a prophet. Nor has anyone presented a book which could be remotely considered a divine communication. Still less has there been a man to claim legitimate authority as a law-giver fro mankind. The mission of Muhammad, as well as of other prophets who brought the universal message of Islam, does not end with the announcement of the message. He has to guide the people by explaining to them the implications of the Islamic creed, the morale code, the divine injunctions and commandment, and the form of worship that sustains the whole system. He has to exemplify the faith so others can pattern their participation in the evolution of Islamic culture and civilization. The believers must grow under his guidance into an organized community so that Allah’s word will prevail over all other words. 1. Spiritual Life: prayer (salah), fasting, charity giving (zakah), pilgrimage (hajj), love for Allah and His Messenger, love for truth and humanity for the sake of Allah, hope and trust in Allah at all times and doing good for the sake of Allah. 2. Intellectual Life: True knowledge based on clear proof and indisputable evidence acquired by experience or experiment or by both. The Quran points to the rich sources of knowledge in the whole universe. Islam demands faith in Allah on the basis of knowledge and research and leaves wide open all field of thought before the intellect to penetrate as far it can reach. 3. Personal Life: purity and cleanliness, a healthy diet, proper clothing, proper behaviour, and good healthy sexual relations within marriage. 4. Family Life: A family is a human social group whose members are bound together by the bond of blood ties and/or marital relationship and nothing else (adoption, mutual alliance, common law, trial marriage…etc.). Marriage is a religious duty on all who are capable of meeting its responsibilities. Each member of the family has rights and obligations. 5. Social Life: Man is ordained by Allah to extend his utmost help and kindness to other family members, relations, servants and neighbours. No superiority on account of class, colour, origin or wealth. Humanity represents one family springing from the one and the same father and mother. The unity of the humanity is not only in its origin but also in its ultimate aims. 6. Economical Life: Earning one’s living through decent labour is not only a duty but a great virtue as well. Earning is man’s private possession. The individual is responsible for the prosperity of the state and the state is responsible for the security of the individual. The Islamic economic system is not based on arithmetical calculations alne but also on moral and principles. Man comes to this world empty-handed and departs empty-handed. The real owner of things is Allah alone. Man is simply a trustee. 7. Political Life: The sovereignty in the Islamic State belongs to Allah; the people exercise it by trust from Him to enforce His laws. The ruler is only an acting executive chosen by the people to serve them according to Allah’s law. The State is to administer justice and provide security for all citizens. Rulers and administrators must be chosen from the best qualified citizens. If an administration betrays the trust of Allah and the people, it has to be replaced. Non-Muslim can administer their personal life of marriage, divorce, foods and inheritance according to the Islamic law or to their own religious teachings. They may pay Zakah or a different tax tributes “Jizyah”. They are entitled to full protection and security of the State including freedom of religion. 8. International Life: Man has a common origin, human status and aim. Other people’s interests and right to life, honour and property are respected as long as the right of Muslim are in tact. Transgression is forbidden. War is only justified if the state security is endangered. During war, destruction of crops, animals and homes, killing non-fighting women, children and aged people are forbidden.
Sources: 1. Sayyid Abu Al-’Ala Maududi, Islam: Its Meaning and Message, in M. Tariq Quraishi (ed.), American Trust Publications, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1984, 12-14. 2. Islam, An Introduction. Undated. Compiled by Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Elmasry c/o KW Islamic Association, P.O. Box 823, Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA N2J 4C2, (519) 885-2225.

Source : http://articlesonislam.wordpress.com

The Father of Algebra: Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī

S.E.A.Mohamed Ali. "nidurali" — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:20:52 +0000

There are about 750 verses in Quran urging Muslims to make use of reason to understand nature and thus reach their understanding of the Creator, in contrast to just 250 verses about legislation. The Holy Quran states: In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of the night and the [...]

Please click the Link to Read morehttp://islam4jesus.org/2011/11/27/the-father-of-algebra-muhammad-ibn-musa-al-khwarizmi/