Bakhabar, July 2013

Better light a candle than curse the darkness

ISSN 2319-4049

http://bakhabar.biharanjuman.org/

Be Aware, Always, Everywhere

Ramadan Special May Allah Give us the strength & Patience to fast during the whole month of Ramadan!

Accept all our fasts in this holy month! Give us the opportunity to worship in the night of Qadr and accept our worship!

Help us to continue all the good deeds we do in this holy month!

Volume 6, Issue 7, July 2013

Editorial If the 11 months were the stains, Let Ramadan Be the Cleaner The holy month of Ramadan is here again to engulf us in its spiritual beauty. A month of fasting coming to clean the dirt accumulated , on our beings during the previous eleven months. Our spirit, our soul, deadened by the weight of our pursuit of immediate materialistic goals, is left stranded on the shores of restlessness. Ramadan is the best bet for a spring cleansing not just for the soul but also for the cage our soul resides in. This cage called body doesn’t need to remind us to feed it. Eat sleep drink and merry!

But this month has come to give us something more precious, if we focus on the purpose behind it, and i.e. to gain more taqwa, to become stronger. Become stronger so that we can follow the edicts of Islam in a better and pronounced way.

Our focus unfortunately is on the wrong things. Let me tell you about an incident from last year. On a TV show, an impoverished man from Somalia was asking a scholar in a television studio.

We are very poor people. We don’t get anything to eat at suhoor or iftar, will Allah accept our fasting?

The Islamic scholar who was in Saudi gear put a handkerchief to his nose and began to sob.

Touching! Isn’t it?

This wonderful sob story made headlines everywhere. Oh, they said, our Scholar…what a sensitive scholar!

The focus was on those tears shed on a perfumed hanky in the air conditioned studio. No reason to doubt the tears but what has happened to us?

Why couldn’t that hungry desperation and that most agonizing query about not having anything to eat either at suhoor or iftar , make the headline everywhere ?

In the same way, in this month of fasting where the focus should be on the soul, what we do is, do a bit extra for the body. You begin to observe it when we see Ramadan pictures flashing before us with the attractive pictures of a myriad variety of foods. Ramdan or Food Festival? This happens due to the change in focus , as I have said earlier.

Our hunger during fasts should remind us of the hunger and tribulations of those unfortunate people , who don’t get anything to eat for their suhoor or iftar , or those who get some food, but never enough. I am sure like me you too have read stories of big wastages of food at the iftars and elaborate dinners thereafter. Muslims spend hugely on these post iftar dinner parties. Let’s stick to simple iftars simple dinners, and avoid Israaf. The amount thus saved can be donated to any charity or better still a charitable educational organization.

Our change of focus to prefer aakhirah, over duniya, would bring a lot of wonders to our ummah and us . If Allah had created us for this world , He would have created us without death!

May the Ramadan cleaner wash away all the dirt, all the stains, from our souls .Aameen

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Bihar Anjuman’s Patna chapter arranged counseling session for placements of MANUU 2010 batch students Bihar Anjuman’s Patna chapter arranged a special counseling session for placements of MANUU 2010 passed students, on 19th June 2013, at Dr. Usman Ghani Imarat Girls Computer Institute, Patna. Enam Khan Sb, convenor of the chapter informed that eight students of MANUU 2010 batch passed from respective colleges, this year. The result of Hyderabad is announced and four students passed with good marks (avg. 65 %) We are waiting for Darbhanga result which is expected in a few days.

Please note five students opted for B.Tech. Their names are……

1 Md Faizan Alam. IT 2 Saleem Hassan IT 3 Belal Anwar IT 4 Waqar Ahmad IT 5 Md. Ameen Raza Civil Eng. Bihar Anjuman took care of their expenses throughout their diploma engineering studies from 201o to 2013. However, BA will not support their B.Tech. studies with funds. The students are ready to manage it themselves. However, three students need job without which they cannot finance their future studies. They are 1. Shabbir Raza ECE 2. Md. Sajid CE 3. Danish Raza CE We are thankful to these people who visited on the day of counseling and discussed in presence of Shoaib Khan Sb, IPS. They are…

1. Md. Ali Khan, M.D. ITECI 2. Alok Kumar Nikhil, (B.Tech), Web designer 3. Miss Jeewan Jyoti (MCA), IT counselor 4. Vikash Kumar (B.Tech), IT counselor They held separate meetings with the three students for two hours. They are asked to do certificate courses like OCA, OCP, DBAI, DB, aII for computer engineering students and for communication engineering CCNA, CCNP or MCSP. These are three months certificate part time courses.

However, they were offered small jobs in Kolkata. The can earn money and do certificate courses in Kolkota. We discuss Hyderabad, Banglore and Noida but these are very expensive places. We have given one week thinking time to the three students.

Khabron ki Khabar

10 gems for a good life Seraj Akram Chhattisgarh me naksalion ne 30 se zayed logo (congress ke neta aur security guard) ka qatl kiya, uske lash par nache. phir bhi ise Dahshatgardi nahi kahte, lekin agar koi bahka hua insan tiffin bomb blast kar de aru 2-4 insan mar jaye ya zakhmi ho jaye to use Dahshatgardi ka shor shrou ho jata he. ek 75 salah zaeef japani bashindah everest ki choti ko sar kiya jab hausla ho buland to phir koi bhi rukawat insaan ko maqsad hasil karne se nahi rok sakti.

Madhya Pradesh me ek na bina larki ne pure sube me first aayi. is se sabit hota he ke dushwarian hausla mand insan ko kameyabi se nahi rok sakti.

Delhi me ek gharon me kam karne wali behad garib aurat ka larka 12 ween class me top kiya.

Muslim bachon ko pahle sahulat chahie phir baad me parhai, unke liya har kam me rukawat he, sirf hilay bahane me rukawat nahi he.

IPL ke khel me satte ka bahut bara raz fash hua, kayi player pakre gaye. agar insan ke lalach ki had aur imandari na ho to phir koi kitna bhi kama le be-imani se kamane ka moqa zaya nahi karta.

UP me 2 bache bhuk ki tab na laakar chal basa. aaj ke muhazzab samaj ke munh par thappar.

UP me bomb blast ke mulzim Khalid ki police custody me maut. beqasur ke pakre jane par bhi koi insaf nahi mila aur ab qatl hone par bhi insaf ki umeed nahi.

Varun ke khiaf sabut mitane aur usko beqasur sabit karne me samajwadi party ne pura sath diya.

Muslim ke masiha Mulayam kitne dayaloo hain, apne virodhion ko bhi puri madad karte hain, yah aur bat he ke muslim ke vote lene ke baad lagatar fasad karwakar muslim ko pareshan kar dosti ka alaq hi haq ada kar rahe hain.

Is se sabit hota he ke siyasi party ko muslim ka vote chahie aur kuch nahi.

Jis qaum ko apne dushman aur dost ki tameez karna nahi malum unke sath aisa hi hota he.

Bangladesh me ek imarat girne se 1000 se zyadah logo ki maut ek almiya jis se darjano sawal ubharte hen.

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1. Wake up in the last third of the night to beg forgiveness from Allah. “...and those who pray and beg Allah’s Pardon in the last hours of the night.” (Qur’an, 3:17) 2. At least once in a while, seclude yourself from people in order to contemplate.

“Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth...” (Qur’an, 3:191) 3. Stay in the company of the righteous.

“And keep yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord...” (Qur’an, 18:28) 4. Remember Allah often.

“Remember Allah with much remembrance.” (Qur’an, 33:41) 5. Pray two units of prayer with sincerity and devotion.?

“Those who offer their prayer with all solemnity and full submissiveness.” (Qur’an, 23:2) 6. Recite the Qur’an with understanding and reflection.

“Do they not then consider the Qur’an carefully?” (Qur ‘an, 4:82) 7. Fast on a hot, dry day.

“He abandons his food, drink, and desire — all for Me.” 8. Give charity secretly.

“Until the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand has spent.”

9. Provide relief and aid to the afflicted Muslim.

“Whoever gives relief to a Muslim from one of the vicissitudes of this life, Allah will relieve him from a calamity that is from doing the calamities of the Day of Judgment.”

10. Be as abstemious and abstinent as possible in this fleeting world.?

“The Hereafter is better and more lasting.” (Qur’an 87: 17) – Excerpt from ‘ Don’t Be Sad, IIPH

‫ﺭﻣﻀﺎﻥ ﻛﺮﻳﻢﺭﻣﻀﺎﻥ ﻛﺮﻳﻢﺭﻣﻀﺎﻥ ﻛﺮﻳﻢ‬ MEDICAL ASPECTS OF FASTING Dr. Moiz Shams, Aligharh

There are two beneficial health aspects of RAMADAN, one would be the psychological benefit and the other the physical health benefits which includes: 1.Loss of excess weight.

2.Improvement of Lipid profile and Glucose profile.

3.Gastrointestinal rest.This benefits patient with chronic gastrointestinal diseases.

4.In salah(Namaz) all the muscles and joints have mild exercise in terms of caloric output.

5.Ramadan fasting is actually an exercise in self discipline.For those who are chain smokers or nibble food constantly or drink coffee or tea every hour is good way to break the habit.

6.Psychological effect of feeling of inner peace and tranquility.The prophet (SAW) has advised "If one slanders you or aggress against you,tell them ,I am fasting."Thus personal hostility during the month is minimal.

Regarding general advice for maximum benifit from fasting there are few tips. jid in Mas

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Bakhabar

1.Drink a lot of fluid throughout the period between Iftar and Sahoor,especially for old persons exposed to cardiovascular risks.

2.It is actually sunnah to break your fast on a date, then go to pray the Maghrib and return to complete your iftar. This is the ideal way to break your fast and avoid too much eating suddenly after a long period of hunger..

3.Try to avoid heavy meals, specially Iftar. Lighter meals will help you perform prayer etc without feeling sleepy.

4.Avoid fatty meals and diets containing a high amount of sugar,as much as ytou can.Ramadan is a chance to lose the excess weight and improve the internal metabolic profile.

5.Try to increase diets containing water and fibres in both Iftar and Sohoor.

Taraweeh prayer are unique in building up muscles during physical movements of prayer. Tension is relieved in the mind due to spiritual persons perform Tarawih prayer feel alert and active.

4

I am a book in Elegant Print; To know my name, here are some hints.

Rich in cover and nicely bound; In hearts of Muslims I am rarely found.

High on a shelf I am kept; Forgotten there I am left.

With respect I do get a lot of kisses; My main point is what that always misses.

In a melodious voice they recite me; Neglecting the meaning inside me.

At times I am used to swear;

My true use is very very rare.

A miracle I am that can change the World; All one has to do is understand my Word.

I have Wisdom, I have Treasure; So much so that there is no Measure.

I am your Scout; I am your Guide; But who’s there to follow my bide.

Separating Right from the wrong is my Fame, Holy Quran is my Name.

Amit Hashmi: afhashmi1211@yahoo.com

‫ﺭﻣﻀﺎﻥ ﻛﺮﻳﻢﺭﻣﻀﺎﻥ ﻛﺮﻳﻢﺭﻣﻀﺎﻥ ﻛﺮﻳﻢ‬ Ramadan,1st Ashra- Allah’s Mercy, 2nd Ashra, Allah’s Forgiveness 3rd Ashra, Salvation from hell-fire

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The condition of hunger gets highlighted on each fasting person leading to:

‫ﺤﻀﺭﺕ ﻋﻠﻲ‬

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- Care and concern for the poor and hungry - Helping attitude towards have-nots - Charity and donations - Refrain from wasting food and drinks.

- Social responsibility

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Mirch Seraj Akram MEDICAL ASPECTS OF FASTING

aksar muslim jahan bhi koi masla hota he uske hal ke lie islam ka hawala dene lagte hain, Quran aur Hadees se misalayn dene lagte hain. inko khud samajh me nahi aata ke kya sirf qanun hone se sare masle ka hal nikal sakta he? ya usko hal karne ke lie hikmat amli, mansuba aur behtar karkardagi bhi honi chahie?

Hindustan me agle sal phir election hone wala he, aur muslim is intezar me ki koi party unko thali me lakar muslim ki bahbood ke liye tohfa paish kare. aur unko pata he ki yah qaum chand baton me bahalne wali he ise kuch dene ki zarurat nahi he, inke pas aur koi hal nahi he. aksar muslim hukumat se shikayat hi karte rahte hain na insafion ke liye, kabhi apne gireban me nahi jhankte ki mulk ki taameen me hara kya role he. ham bina sarkari madad ke bhi kya kuch kar sakte hain aur kaise karna chahie.

Dr. Moiz Shams, Aligarh

are two beneficial health aspects of RAMADAN, one would be There the psychological benefit and the other the physical health benefits which includes: 1.Loss of excess weight.

2. Improvement of Lipid profile and Glucose profile. 3.

Gastrointestinal rest. This benefits patient with chronic gastrointestinal diseases.

4. In salah (Namaz) all the muscles and joints have mild exercise in terms of caloric output.

5. Ramadan fasting is actually an exercise in self discipline. For those who are chain smokers or nibble food constantly or drink coffee or tea every hour is good way to break the habit.

6. Psychological effect of feeling of inner peace and tranquility. The prophet (SAW) has advised "If one slanders you or aggress against you, tell them, I am fasting."Thus personal hostility during the month is minimal.

Regarding general advice for maximum benefit from fasting there are few tips.

1. Drink a lot of fluid throughout the period between Iftar and Sahoor, especially for old persons exposed to cardiovascular risks.

2. It is actually Sunnah to break your fast on a date, then go to pray the Maghrib and return to complete your iftar. This is the ideal way to break your fast and avoid too much eating suddenly after a long period of hunger.

3. Try to avoid heavy meals, especially Iftar. Lighter meals will help you perform prayer etc without feeling sleepy.

4. Avoid fatty meals and diets containing a high amount of sugar, as much as you can. Ramadan is a chance to lose the excess weight and improve the internal metabolic profile.

5. Try to increase diets containing water and fibers in both Iftar and Suhoor.

Taraweeh prayers are unique in building up muscles during physical movements of prayer. Tension is relieved in the mind due to spiritual persons perform Taraweeh prayer feel alert and active.

Attention

Collective use of Zakaat money can change the society Please give your zakaat money to Bihar Anjuman's local chapter, for collective use, to educate and empower the society."

3 Bakhabar

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‫ﺭﻣﻀﺎﻥ ﻛﺮﻳﻢﺭﻣﻀﺎﻥ ﻛﺮﻳﻢﺭﻣﻀﺎﻥ ﻛﺮﻳﻢ‬

Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.

Bihar Anjuman’s Patna chapter’s counselling session for MANUU students Bihar Anjuman’s Patna chapter conducted a special counselling session for RCC Patna students who qualified in the entrance test of MANUU polytechnics. The counselling session was arranged by the chapter’s convenor, Janab Enam Khan Sb, in Bihar Anjuman’s office at Anand Place in the presence of Janab Shoaib Khan sb & Janab Naushad Ansari sb. Students were advised to follow the following points: 1. Counseling date is fixed on 30th June at Hyderabad and candidate must reach by 29th June. Book your ticket now.

2. Prepare a draft of Rs.2775/3. Original Matric marks sheet 4. Original School leaving certificate 5. Character certificate 6. Cast certificate, if applicable.

7. Four sets of Passport size Photograph 8. One photo copy of all documents.

This is worth noting that due to the special study material prepared by retired DIG of Bihar Police, Janab Shoaib Khan Sb, IPS, record number of students qualified from RCC Patna, this year. Subhanallah!

Q u o t e s

‫ﺤﻀﺭﺕ ﻋﻠﻲ‬ Bakhabar

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Think of the lifetime of human beings. As children, they have to touch everything, to pick things up and put them in their mouth, even things that can harm them, for childhood is the age of the heart, the age of the first operation: addition. As adolescents, their mind begins to express itself, and they set about rejecting anything they find disagreeable, useless or harmful: they are doing subtraction.

As adults, they embark on multiplication: their life is filled with relationships, children, department stores, acquisitions of all kinds… Finally, having reached old age, they think they will soon be departing for the next world, and they write their will to leave their possessions to various people: they are doing division.

So, human beings begin by accumulating, and then they throw out many things. But the good things must be planted so that they multiply. And what should they plant?

Their good thoughts and feelings, for example. Yes, that is true multiplication. And what they harvest they can divide, in other words, share out.

A quick preparation for Ramadan Kareem 1. Start reading Quran daily after Salat al-Fajr.

2. Spend some time listening recitations from the Quran.

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3. Train yourself to go to bed early so that you can wake up for Salat al-Fajr.

4. Keep yourself in a state of Wudu (Ablution) most of the time.

5. Evaluate yourself daily before going to bed.

6. Thank Allah for good deeds, and repent to Him for your mistakes and sins.

7. Start giving Sadaqah daily, no matter how little. Make it a habit like eating and drinking.

8. Find time to pray extras, such as Tahajjud prayers.

9. Spend more time reading Islamic books, especially the Quran, Sirah, Hadith, and Fiqh.

10. Find time to help others with your wisdom, knowledge and other talents.

11. Try to write articles on Islam for Muslims as well as for non-Muslims.

12. Associate with Muslim scholars / ulama and other pious people so that you may learn from them.

13. Train yourself to do good, render free service to others to seek the pleasure of A l l a h . qah daily, no matter how little. Make it a habit like eating and drinking.

8. Find time to pray extras, such as Tahajjud prayers.

9. Spend more time reading Islamic books, especially the Quran, Sirah, Hadith, and Fiqh.

10. Find time to help others with your wisdom, knowledge and other talents.

11. Try to write articles on Islam for Muslims as well as for non-Muslims.

12. Associate with Muslim scholars / ulama and other pious people so that you may learn from them.

13. Train yourself to do good, render free service to others to seek the pleasure of A l l a h .

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Quoted from Al-Hasan Al-Basri : "He who has no manners has no knowledge; he who has no patience has no Deen, and he who has no piety has no nearness to Allaah for him."

A quick checklist in Ramadan 1. Make a resolve to win the maximum favor of Allah by performing extra Voluntary prayers (Nawaafil), making frequent Dua and increased remembrance (Dhikr).

2. Try to recite some Holy Quran after every Prayer. In fact if you read 3-4 pages after every Prayer you can easily finish the entire Quran in Ramadan!

3. Study the Tafseer (commentary) every morning.

4. Invite a person you are not very close with or your relatives to your home for Iftaar, at least once a week (Weekend). You will notice the blessings in your relationships!

5. Bring life to your family! conclude the fast with your some quality time together each other better.

6. Give gifts on Eid to at least 5 people: 2 to your family bers, 2 to your good friends, and 1 to a person whom you love purely for the sake of Allah.

7. Make commitment to join Islamic study circles to learn more about m and improve your own life.

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8. Donate generously to the Masajid, Islamic organizations, and any where people are in need or oppressed. "Because Ramadan, is a month of sharing!�

9. Share month of Ramadan and its teachings of peace and patience with your neighbor.

10. Sleep little, eat little! Make sure you do not defeat the purpose of fasting by over-indulging in food and being lazy.

11. Seek the rare and oft-neglected rewards of the night better than 1000 months (Laylatul-Qadr / Shab-e-Qadr).

12. Weep in private for the forgiveness of your sins: Ramadan is the month of forgiveness and Allah's Mercy! It's never too late.

13. Learn to control your tongue and lower your gaze. Remember the Prophet's (pbuh) warning that lying, backbiting, and a lustful gaze all violate the Ramadan fast!

14. Encourage others to enjoin and love goodness, and to abandon everything that Allah dislikes. Play the role of a Da'ee (one who i nv i t e s t o A l l a h ) w i t h ze a l , p a s s i o n , and sympathy .

15. Experience the joy of Tahajjud prayers late at night and devote yourself purely and fully to Allah in the Itikaf retreat during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

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Prophet (peace be upon him) Said: 'The most meritorious form of Almsgiving is the effort to help a poor man, made in secret, by one who is himself of little means.' (Ahmad).

The key to Paradise is salah, and the key to salah is taharah (purification)[Mishkat]

30 Common Mistakes During Ramadan T

his list was taken from a class on the fiqh of Ramadan, given by Sheikh Ahmad Musa Jibril. Some of the issues may have a difference of opinion, but these are the most correct opinions.

cooking you cannot taste the food to see if it has the right spices/flavors. This is false, and allowed in Islam as long as the person cooking is not eating the food. Rather they can taste it to see if it needs salt, or more spices.

1) Focusing on food; to the extent that people begin to worry about eating more then actually fasting. This also goes along with spending tons of money on Iftaars even though a person does not need to eat that much food.

10) Many people think you cannot use a Miswak or toothbrush during Ramadan. This is false, for the Prophet(saw) used to use a miswak during Ramadan. Also you CAN use toothpaste; the reasoning by the scholars is that the Miswak has flavor, thus toothpaste is okay to use (if you are not eating it).

2) Making Suhoor way before Fajr. Some people eat Suhoor a few hours after Taraweeh or Isha Salah, this is wrong. It should be eaten closer to the time of Fajr.

11) Some people make the Fajr Adhan early.

They do this so people will stop eating before Fajr and not invalidate their fast. This is wrong and something we should not do.

3) People don't make Niyyah (intentions) to fast for Ramadan. This is something in the heart and does not need to be verbal. Also it only needs to be done once, at the beginning of Ramadan and not every single day.

12) Some people make the Maghrib Adhan late. They do this so people will start eating late, just incase Maghrib has not come in yet.

This too is wrong and we should not do this.

4) If you find out late that Ramadan started, you should stop eating and fast for that day, making that day up after Ramadan/Eid ends.

5) Many people don't think you pray Taraweeh on the first night of Ramadan (such as tonight). They believe you pray it after the first day you actually fast. They forget that the Islamic calendar runs on the moon, maghrib is the start of the new day.

6) Many people believe if you eat or drink on accident this breaks your fast. This is false, if you do this on accident then you continue fasting and do not need to make up the day.

7) Some people take the opinion that if they see someone eating or drinking they should not remind the person that he/she is fasting.

According to Sheikh Bin Baz (ra), this is incorrect and it is an order from Allah for us to ordain the good and forbid the evil. Thus we tell the person, because we are forbidding the evil this way.

8) Many sisters believe they cannot use Hennah while fasting. This is incorrect, they are allowed to use it during Ramadan

13) Many many people believe you cannot have intercourse with your spouse during the whole month of Ramadan. This is false, you cannot do this only during the times when you are fasting. Between Maghrib and Fajr it is permissible to do.

14) Many women believe that if their period has just ended and they did not make ghusl, they cannot fast that day (considering their period ended at night, and they went to bed without Ghusl, waking up without having a chance to make it). This is incorrect, if a women has not made Ghusl she can still fast.

15) Many men believe that if he has had intercourse with his wife and did not make ghusl (similar to the above) then he cannot fast the next morning. This is also incorrect, for he can fast even if he has not made Ghusl.

16) Some people pray Dhur and Asr prayers together during Ramadan. (mainly in Arab countries) This is incorrect and should be avoided.

17) Some people believe you cannot eat until the Muadthin is done calling the Maghrib Adthan. This is incorrect, as soon as he starts a person can break their fast.

9) Some people believe when you are

making dua before they break their fast. This is one of the three times when Allah accepts a person dua.

19) Many people make the mistake of spending the later part of Ramadan preparing for Eid, neglecting Ramadan. This is incorrect and these people lose the concept of what Ramadan is about.

20) Many parents do not let their children fast during Ramadan (young children). This is something counter productive to a child. By allowing him to fast he will grow up to know he must do this act.

21) Many people think Ramadan is just about not eating and forget about controlling their tempers and watching what they say. In actuality we are supposed to control our tempers and mouths even more during Ramadan.

22) People often waste their time during Ramadan.

They go to sleep during the day and get nothing done. We should be taking advantage of this blessed month by doing extra Ibaadat.

23) Some people don't go on trips or travel during Ramadan. They think they have to break their fast when traveling. This is actually optional, if you want to break your fast while traveling you can (with making it up later), and if you don't you can continue fasting.

24) Many people who are able don't make Itikaaf at the masjid. We should take advantage of our good health and spend lots of time at the Masjid, especially the last 10 days of Ramadan.

25) Some people believe they cannot cut their hair or nails during Ramadan. This is also false.

26) Some people say you cannot swallow your spit during Ramadan. This too is false. However you cannot swallow mucus that has entered your mouth.

27) Some people say you cannot use scented oils or perfumes during Ramadan. This too is false.

28) Some people believe bleeding breaks the fast.

This is not true.

29) Some people believe if you throw up on accident it breaks your fast. This is not true, however if you do it intentionally it does.

30) Some people think you cannot put water in your nose and mouth during wuduh in Ramadan. This t o o i s i n co r r ect . S o ur ce: <http://www.a2youth.com/islam/special/ramadan />

18) Many people don't take advantage of

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The believers are but a single Brotherhood. Live like members of one family, brothers and sisters unto one another [Quran,49/10].

What to avoid in Ramadan 1. Reduce watching TV, instead spend more time reading the Quran and other Islamic literature.

2. Avoid looking at unlawful pictures, whether magazines, department store catalogs or otherwise.

3. Avoid going to theaters; instead go to Masajid, Islamic organizations and make that a daily habit.

4. Avoid eating too much. Eat only when you are hungry and try not to fill your stomach completely.

5. If you drink Coffee, Tea or Soda, be sure to reduce consumption .

6. If you smoke, try to reduce daily usage; otherwise Ramadan will be very difficult for you to observe.

7. If you have friends who do not practice the teaching of Islam, try to avoid socializing with them.

8. If you travel a lot on business, try to do more local business, so you can be more closer to your family and community .

9. If you are used to staying up till midnight, try to go to bed earlier, so that you will be able to wake up early for Salat al-Fajr and Tahajjud prayers as well. To prepare ourselves before the month of Ramadan arrives is far better than waiting till it comes. To prepare ourselves for anything in life is a sign of wisdom and maturity. No one is assured of living one day more; tomorrow may not come. So hurry and benefit from blessings and rewards from Allah.

Remember: "Time is not money or gold; it is life itself and is limited.

You must begin to appreciate every moment of your life and always strive to make the best use of it.

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Be Practical than Preacher

Appeal to donate your Zakat/Sadaqat to RAHBAR-e-Banaat School and Madrasa, for holistic education & guidance [Only for Girls of weaker sections, in Bihar & Jharkhand]: Details http://school.biharanjuman.org/ Your support has helped the project a lot, but it needs more funds, therefore, come forward to donate your Zakat & Sadaqat, to this important project of Bihar Anjuman.

Individual NRI Donors may please transfer their contributions to the following bank account of RAHBAR, the NGO of Bihar Anjuman [Kindly send an email to school@biharanjuman.org, once you have made the transfer, so that we may be able to maintain a proper account, at our levels. Also, please send scanned copy of your ID proof (passport copy for NRIs), which is a mandatory requirement. In case of any problems in transferring the committed amount, please write back to us (school@biharanjuman.org) so that we could find an alternative means of transferring the funds [like sending to a personal account of one of the Bihar Anjuman's representatives, or handing over cash or cheque to him]. In any case, please do not forget to send us an email after the transfer has been made.]

A/c name: RAHBAR A/c number: 00891450000123 Bank name: HDFC Bank Branch: D-965, Mata Ka Mandir, New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110065 IFSC Code: HDFC0000089 MICR Code: 110240009 Donations: all kinds of donations are acceptable Willing to donate for this noble cause? Write to school@biharanjuman.org or fill an online form at http://www.rahbar.info/rahbar-ebanat.htm to commit your donation Read this article, please: Letter and Spirit of Z a k a t ( Z a k a h ) [http://www.biharanjuman.org/zakat-letterand-spirit.html] The students in this madarsa will be from poor families, most of whom are not going to any schools or madrasas, at all. Therefore, zakah funds may be used to impart literacy to them.

Yateem girls will be accommodated in a hostel which is the first building being built [structure of 2 floors are ready, thus 16 rooms can be used once finishing work is completed].

Hostel is planned to become functional by December 2011, insha-Allah, after completing the boundary wall.

You may donate (from any funds at your disposal) for:

Regular (monthly, quarterly, annual) contribution: (a) sponsoring a teaching staff for the madarsa: Rs. 4,000 to 6,000 per month, (b) sponsoring a non-teaching staff (matron, peon, muhassil, etc.): Rs. 3,000 to 4,000 per month (c) sponsor a student's expenses (nonresident): Rs. 200 per month Sponsor construction cost for eisal-e-sawab and sadaqa-e-jaariya:

(a) construction of class-rooms (one classroom: Rs. 4 lakhs): total number of classrooms planned = 15 (architectural dwg @ http://bit.ly/eFUnHI) (b) Construction of hostel (one hostel room: Rs. 2 lakhs): total number of rooms planned = 24 (architectural dwg @ http://bit.ly/eFUnHI) (c) Construction of a library-cum-reading room @ Rs. 4 lakhs + furniture @ Rs. 1 lakh (d) Construction of the office room @ Rs. 3 lakhs + office furniture @ Rs. 50,000/= (g) hand pump for drinking water, Rs. 10,000/= (with platform), near hostel building (h) 2 Overhead water-tanks + 1 electric pump + water-supply work for hostel building, Rs. 50,000/=

Trust registered to secure RAHBAR-e-Banat Schoolcum-Madrasa project: â&#x20AC;&#x153;RAHBAR-e-Banat Educational Trustâ&#x20AC;? was registered, in Samastipur, on the 20th July 2011, and the property of RAHBAR-e-Banat School-cum-Madrasa was transferred from its owners (who had verbally donated the land in July 2009) to this Trust. This has helped secure the investment made in the project, alhamdolillah. Five trustees from the region - 2 from the family of the donor of land and 3 from nearby villages - will now take care of the project which will have an executive committee to manage the day-to-day affairs of the project.

The office of the trust is situated at RAHBAR-eBanat School-cum-Madrasa, Village Rahimabad, Block Tajpur, Distt: Samastipur

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Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever

WEEKS BEFORE RAMADHAN: `Heart Focus' Weeks Make Tawbah Nasooha Listen to Islamic lectures. Choose a scholar and topic that you feel will motivate you and get your heart into the right state Read Islamic books about self development and purifying the heart Do your best to pray all your Salah on time Ensure that you pray the Sunnah al-Mu'akkadah raka'at with your five daily fard prayers Actively focus on improving your Khushoo' in salah by spending more time on it and concentrating on what you are saying.

Allocate time to doing Tasbih and istighfar, especially after salah.

HOW TO MAKE TAWBAH Tawbah consists of three parts: Knowledge, repentance and determination Knowledge: If you have knowledge of Islam then you will recognise your sins and understand why they are harmful for you and know what the punishment is if you continue to do those sins. You must also have sincere faith and devotion to Allah, because if you know that something displeases/angers Him then you will feel bad about doing it.

Repentance: Once you understand that the sins you have done are harmful and that you have earned Allah's displeasure, then you will feel bad about having sinned.You will feel deep regret and remorse, even grief at having committed those sins.

Determination: When you feel so bad about doing those sins, then you will refrain from doing them and be determined never to do them again, especially if you know what the harmful effects and punishment are for those actions.

If you have committed a sin involving taking away someone else's rights, then you must return those rights and ask forgiveness from that person also. (Adapted from Imam al-Ghazali, Ihya Ulumuddin, translated by Maulana Fazlul Karim, Taj Com pany, 1982, Vol. 4) TIPS TO HELPYOU STAY AWAY FROM SINS: Stay away from the places of sinning Keep yourself in the company of those who remember Allah Keep your hands busy with useful work and your tongue busy with remembrance of Allah Understand the harmful effect of sins and read about the punishment for sinning Remind yourself about the rewards fro doing good deeds, both in this life and in the hereafter

A wise man once sat in the audience and cracked a joke.. all of them laughed like crazy..

After a moment he cracked the same joke again & a little less people laughed this time...

He cracked the same one again & no one laughed!!!

Then he smiled and said ''when you can't laugh on the same joke again & again then why do you keep crying over the same thing over & over again'' FORGET the past and MOVE ON ..........

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T i p s f o r m o t i v a t i o n Ryan Whiteside is a Guest Blogger for PickTheBrain.

First, let's find out what the importance of motivation exactly is. Simply put, motivation is that driving force which allows you to achieve your goals and go after what you want in life. If you want to change your personality for the better, get a promotion at work, start a new habit, be a better person who is part of the community, become a better parent for your kid – all of these things would be easier accomplished if you are properly motivated.

As long as you have a strong personal motivation, you can achieve almost anything that you want from life. However, remember not to fall into the trap of looking for short-cuts to achieve your goals. It's perfectly fine if you have to take a long and winding road to achieve your goal. It will be an even sweeter victory when you finally achieve your goal, knowing that you have had to go through several hurdles to attain it.

A goal doesn't do you much good unless you are constantly thinking about, and working towards it. Write down your goal and place it somewhere that you will see it at least 1-2 times a day. If you have a weight loss goal, place your written goal beside the refrigerator. If your goal is to get physically stronger, place your written goal near your weight bench so you can see it when you are working out. This provides the extra motivation you need for those tough days.

A great way to motivate yourself with business goals is to put up a motivational quote beside your desk. Do a Google search for motivational quotes, then print off one and put it inside of a picture frame. Keep it there and read it occasionally throughout the day. Whenever you find yourself not looking at

Developing Motivation in Life So how can you develop motivation in life? If you wish to accomplish a goal – be it short-term or long-term in nature – how can you find it in you to be properly motivated? Here are a few things that you should keep in mind: 1. Focus on one goal at a time.

This should be partnered with the fact that you should make sure that your short-term goals all help in achieving your longterm goals. One of the best ways for you to focus on one goal at a time is to make a diary of your goals – yes, write it down – so that you will have a visual representation of the things that you want to achieve rather than letting it all get lost in your head.

2. Get rid of all the distractions which might prevent you from achieving your goal.

Let's say that you are a writer who wants to finish a book. How can you type away on your keyboard one chapter after another if there are many distractions surrounding you like television, friends chattering away or the lure of aimlessly browsing through the Internet. In order for you to stay properly motivated, make sure to steer clear of any distractions.

3. Completely block out any negative influences.

Finally, make sure that you are completely blocking out any negative influences in your life. If you feel that you are being distracted from your goal by a problem which does not seem to go away, ask yourself what you can do to eliminate such a challenge and distraction in your life. Maybe you are being sidetracked by negative thoughts and feelings because you have no faith in yourself. Addressing the root of the problem, completely blocking out any negative distractions and thinking purely positive thoughts is the best way for you to develop motivation in your everyday life.

Constantly Work At MotivatingYourself

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the quote anymore, or it no longer provides the inspiration that it once did, it's time to change the quote. It's perfectly OK to change this quote every 1-2 weeks for maximum motivation.

Some people make a habit of reading their goals either when they first wake up or right before they go to bed. When you read your goals upon arising, you may begin to notice that you find yourself doing more each day to help you reach your goals.

Similarly, when you read your goals right before bed, you may notice that you wake up with good ideas that you never thought of before.

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts It's important to have motivation in your life. Motivation is the fuel that you need to continue striving for your goals. Soak up motivating things in your life on a daily basis. Read great books that will inspire you. Read great blogs that are both positive and informative.

It's human nature to have days were you aren't very motivated.

However, if you continue to surround yourself with positive and motivational things, those days will be few and far betwee Forwarded by M Junaid Tahir

What is The Main (Principal) Name of GOD ALMIGHTY and What He Says about Jesus Christ?

By Tanwir Phool The main or principal name of GOD ALMIGHTY is "ALLAH".

There is no plural of this word. Similar word is also available in the New Testament(Gospel). It is an opinion that this word means "Al-Elah" i:e "The Deity". The word "Elah" stands for "Deity" and "Al" for "The" in Arabic. In the Old Testament , the names of GOD ALMIGHTY are "JEHOVAH " and "YAHWEH" which are nearer to pronunciation of "ALLAH".

The Gospels tell us about the last words of Jesus. According to Gospels(the New Testament) there are three different versions of the last words uttered by Jesus on the cross.The reason is that ,only translations of Gospel are available instead of the original text revealed on Jesus.

According to Mark (15:34-35), Jesus yelled with a great shout "Eloi,Eloi, lama sabachthani?". Through the centuries, according to interpreters the last words of Jesus meant "My GOD, my GOD, why haveYou forsaken me?"

In Hebrew it is "Eli,Eli, lama azabtani?" while in Aramaic "Elahi,Elahi,lema sebaqtani?".

The word "Elahi" is available in Arabic which means "My Deity" or "My GOD".This word is also available in Psalms of David in the same meanings(the text of Psalm 22:2 in Aramaic).

According to Mark,followed by Matthew(27:46-47) the element of screaming has further been emphasized that some of those present at the moment would have understood that he(Jesus) was calling for the prophet Elijah.

According to John(19:30) "As Jesus took the wine,he exclaimed:'It is finished' and bowing his head,he handed over his spirit."

According to Luke(23:46) there is a third and different version of the last words of Jesus "And shouting with a great shout Jesus said 'Father into thy hands I commit my spirit."

It is obvious that the scene of death of Jesus in past tense can't be described in a book revealed on him in his life time.It is only a historical statement which has been added to Gospel.

Let us discuss the word "father" quoted in translation of Gospel.There is a word "Rab" which means "Preserver, Cherisher, Sustainer, Master, Deity or Lord".This word was also used for "father" and its plural is "arbaab"(verse No.31 of surah No.9 of the last book of GOD ALMIGHTY).When used for GOD ALMIGHTY there is no plural of this word.

Jesus had used the same word for GOD ALMIGHTY which was wrongly translated as "father" by the interpreters.GOD ALMIGHTY is far away from eating,drinking and sexual relations.Those who eat and drink are subject to death and He will never die.He is The Creator and all others are His creatures who are subject to death.Adam was born without father and mother and Jesus was born without father as GOD ALMIGHTY is Omnipotent(Having Power over all things).According to verse No.59 of surah No.3 Aal-e-Imran (The Family of Imran):" The similitude of Jesus before GOD ALMIGHTY is as that of Adam; He Created him from dust,then Said to him "Be": and he was."

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There are two categories of prophets; "Rasool" and "Nabi".The word "Rasool" is derived from Arabic word "Irsaal" which means "to send".This is used for a Messenger of GOD ALMIGHTY Blessed with a Book, such as Moses,David,Jesus and Mohammed (Peace be upon them).

"Nabi" is an assistant/deputy to "Rasool" such as Aaron,Solomon,Zachariah and John(Peace be upon them). The word "Nabi" is derived from "Naaib" which means "deputy or assistant".

"Rasool" has also the powers of "Nabi" as such he is greater than "Nabi". Every Rasool is also a Nabi but it is not necessary that every Nabi is also a Rasool. No Rasool was killed or murdered as he was sent specially by GOD ALMIGHTY. However,other prophets who were not "Rasool" but only "Nabi",were murdered such as Zakariya (Zachariah) and John(Peace be upon them).Jesus was also a "Rasool"(Messenger of GOD ALMIGHTY Blessed with a Book) as such it was not appropriate for him to be killed/murdered ,but another person of the same resemblance was crucified in his place.Verses 156 to 159 of surah No.4 "An-Nisa"(Women) of the last Book of GOD ALMIGHTY tell as under: "That they rejected faith;that they uttered against Mary a grave false charge;that they said(in boast),"We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary,the Messenger of GOD;but they killed him not,nor crucified him.Only a likeness of that was shown to them.And those who differ therein are full of doubts,with no (certain) knowledge. But only conjecture to follow,for of a surety they killed him not;nay,GOD Raised him up unto Himself; and GOD is Exalted in Power,Wise, and there is none of the people of the Book but must believe in him before his death,and on the Day of Judgment he will be a witness against them.â&#x20AC;?

GOD ALMIGHTY is also called "Rahmaan"(The Most Merciful) and there is no plural of this word also.The last two verses of surah No.17 "Bani Israel"(The Children of Israel) tell as under: "Say,'Call upon Allah,or call upon Rahmaan: by whatever name you call upon Him,(it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names.Neither speak your prayer aloud,nor speak it in a low tone,but seek a middle course between.Say,Praise be to Allah(God Almighty),Who begets no son,and has no partner in (His) dominion:nor (needs) He any to protect Him from humiliation:Yea, magnify Him for His Greatness and Glory !"

In verse No.82 of surah No.5 God Almighty(Allah) Admires the Christians and Says,"Nearest among them in love to the Believers will you find those who say,"We are Christians": because amongst them,there are men devoted to learning,and men who have renounced the world,and they are not arrogant."

GOD ALMIGHTY(ALLAH) Sees the Faith of inner heart and Says in verse No.62 of surah No.2: "Those who believe and those who follow the Jewish(scriptures) and the Christians and the Sabians,any who believe in GOD ALMIGHTY(ALLAH) and the Last Day,and work righteousness,shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear,nor shall they grieve."

Paying Zakaat: Some Considerations M.A. Haque The holy month of Ramazaan is almost here. A large number of Muslims pay their Zakaat in this month. I am unable to comment on the logic of the same. Zakaat is to meet the requirements of those who are in need. It is not so that the needs are limited to the month of Ramazaan. People need food and other requirements all the year. If someone is in need of help for treatment or education in other months the person cannot wait till Ramazaan. Still people generally pay Zakaat in Ramazaan. One possibility is that during Ramazaan lot of people from Madarsaas move around to collect Zakaat and it is easy to pay the Zakaat to them. Also, professional beggars descend in large numbers at mosques, especially on Fridays.

But we need to understand the basic purpose of Zakaat. It is meant to fulfill the needs of those who are in need and preference has to be given to those who for some reason or the other cannot ask openly.

In fact people who pay Zakaat are expected to find out about those needy persons and give to them. Qur’an is quite clear about the order of preference. First preference is for those who are near and in need.

The word “Qurbaa” has been used in Qur’an. It may include relatives and possibly friends and neighbours too. Next preference is to Orphans. Yateem (orphans) have been mentioned in Qur’an in this context and also in other contexts. People have been directed to treat them with love and sympathy and to help them. Obviously, the orphans under reference are those who do not have means to support themselves or who are not being taken care of by their relatives. If there are no such orphans in need, then others may be given the money or other items of Zakaat. After that the Zakaat is to be spent on “Miskeen”, which means poor or indigent i.e. those who are not in a position to meet their needs. But the Miskeen does not include professional beggars. In fact professional beggars have to be discouraged as it leads to adoption of begging as a profession in the society. After these categories one may choose the Madarsaas which provide Islamic education and knowledge to those who cannot meet their expenses related to boarding, lodging etc.

As far as relatives, friends, neighbours etc. are concerned, the persons on whom Zakaat becomes obligatory, they have to look for those people. Same is the case with the orphans. Also, there are orphanages which support orphans, who are not in a position to sustain themselves. Finally, the Madarsaas come into picture. We find that most of the Madarsaas send out their representatives to collect the Zakaat. They move around and reach to residences, shops, business establishments etc. and people pay them the Zakaat, as that is easy. They also can be found in different mosques, especially during Friday prayers as large numbers of people go there for congregational prayers. They are generally called “Safeers’. They can be found moving all the year round. But during the month of Ramazaan their activities become intense. Reason is same as explained above. Most people pay Zakaat during the month of Ramaazan. The Safeers are generally able to collect sufficient funds for the Madarsaas they work for. An important reason being that looking for the needy in family, among friends and in the neighbourhood, are considered difficult. Hence, the easy way is adopted i.e. Zakaat money is given to the Safeers and also to the professional beggars.

The important question is- how far it is justified? The person paying Zakaat has to first exhaust the other options i.e. looking for needy in the family, among relatives and friends, in the neighbourhood and also among the orphans. If there are none among those to receive the Zakaat, certainly the indigent and the Madarsaas can be given, but only after exhausting the earlier options.

In case of Madarsaas another issue is that people pay the Zakaat

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without verifying the authenticity. The “Safeers” carry some letters/certificates and few photos. People look at them and pay the Zakaat money. But there is no guarantee that the documents are

genuine. Cases have been reported where Zakaat money were being used for personal ends by those “Safeers”. Under the circumstances, a better option is that the Zakaat is paid to only those institutions about which authentic information is available to the person who is giving the Zakaat. Another issue is that now it has become customary for the “Safeers” to work for the institutions on commission basis. From reliable sources it is gathered that the commission goes up to as high as 60% i.e. only 40% goes to the beneficiary institutions. Rest goes to the Safeers. Probably that is the reason that the Safeers keep no stone unturned while collecting funds. Also, they travel to far off destinations to collect Zakaat. I have personally encountered Safeers in Gurgaon form West Bengal, Bihar etc. Once I was approached by a Safeer. When I asked him about the place from where he was, I was astonished as he was from Bhagalpur in Bihar. Bhagalpur city and its surrounding areas have high percentage of Muslims and quite a sizeable portion of them must be paying Zakaat. When I asked him the reason for travelling to Gurgaon for collecting Zakaat, he told me that he was travelling as Bhagalpur did not have sufficient Muslim population. He was not aware that I lived in Bhagalpur for several years and I knew the city as well as the suburbs very well. When I challenged him and told him about the area, he changed his track and started telling me that people in the area were not cooperative. Then I suggested him that if the people of the area were not cooperative and supporting the institution, why should they run the institution for those people.

They should close down. He had no answer and wanted to get rid of me by telling that if I did not want to give anything, it was my choice.

Probably, he was apprehensive that I could jeopardize his chances of receiving money from others present there.

My idea of narrating the incidence is that while paying the Zakaat we should be very careful. I remember the words of a scholar on the issue. When we pay a bill or we send our payment to some agency, we never handover the amount to unknown persons. We only pay to persons about whom we are sure that the amount will reach the right place. Also, we cross check that the money reached its destination.

In case of Zakaat we need to be doubly sure as we are fulfilling an essential obligation towards Allah. One possibility is that we can handover the money to the persons who run the institution/s directly and only to those about which we have authentic information.

Alternatively, we can send through some reliable acquaintance to the institutions/s directly. After that we have to leave the matter with Allah. But we must seriously consider against paying to anyone, including the ‘roaming’ Safeers. ***********

Commentary on Hadith Nos. 4379 of Abu Dawoud

Beneficial Advice to the Youth Who Came to Perform Umrah

by Shaykh Ahmad Bazmool

Gheyas Hashmi, Jeddah (hgheyas@albatool.com.sa) One of our brothers has quoted the above Hadith in last issue of Bakhabar. In Islam, the most difficult thing is MAKING R E G U L AT I O N S A N D D R AW I N G U P LEGISLATION and SCIENCE OF HADITH. Scholars have precisely discussed these two issues which are available in hundreds of books. I personally advise our brothers in Islam not to write a hadith or involve himself in matters that are concerned with legislation because legislation does not depend merely on one Hadith or evidence but so many things are looked into, i.e. Quran, all authentic Hadithes on the same subject, tradition of Sahaba Kiram, examination of primary textual evidence, Fiqh, Ijtihad, Scholars’ viewpoint, etc. However, they can choose to write on Muslim building characters, selfpurification, Fazayel Aamal and stories of the prophets and their nation, Seratunnabi, etc about which ample information available in Quran, Hadithes, authentic books of History and Sirat.

If such kind of Hadith is quoted the people will draw up a fatwa at his own and will take it granted. As far is the authenticity of the above hadith is concerned, there is different of opinion. First of all, this hadith is Muttarib (unstable), where difference in text or in chain or narration is found. One of the Rawi (narrator) of this Hadith (‫ (ﺳـﻤﺎﻙ ﺑـﻦ ﺣــﺮب‬is treated as weak by some scholars. Some have graded this hadith to the lowest degree of authentication. According to Beqahi, (Maez, Jahniah, Ghamdiah) who have accepted their crimes were not set free and these are famous narrations.

Regarding punishment to those who accepted their crimes (Fornication, Theft, Wine-drinking) and made true repentance, scholars differs about them based on evidences they have and the knowledge & wisdom they have applied. It is given in brief as below:Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik and some of Shafayee scholars are of the opinion that they will be punished. Imam Hambal gone against it. According to Inb Temiah and Ibn Qayyam they will not get punishment unless they want it to do so in order to purify their soul. Some say if the matter has not gone to the judge, the punishment will not be carried out.

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In co-operation with our brothers from KSA Da’wah Translated by: Abu Ishaaq Nadeem ttp://www.uvioo.com/video/?m=aaefanbox&so=yt&c=0&v=pMKERxLStYI The above video is in MP3 audio for easy download / listening On the 10th Sha’baan 1433 / 30th June 2012 our Shaykh Ahmad ‘Umar Bazmool (‫ﺣﻔﻈﻪ‬ ‫ (اﷲ ﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ‬delivered a beneficial advice to some youth who had come from the UK to make Umrah.

In this lecture the Shaykh mentioned from amongst other things, the following: • The commandment of asking the people of knowledge if you do not know.

• The obligation of seeking knowledge to remove ignorance • The importance of being kind to your parents, not even saying “uff” to them • Taking care of the parents in old age and seeking their forgiveness • Being patient with Allah’s decree and not using it as an excuse to justify his sinning • Do an action to the best of your ability in matters of religion and worldly matters • Defending the status of women in Islam, responding to false accusations • The plots of Shaytaan, the enemy of the believers…

The individual is asking how do we know what is a major sin?

Q.The individual is asking how do we know what is a major sin?

A. The shaykh said major sins are for example that which Allaah tabaarak ta wa ta’aala, informs us the punishment for whoever performs it will be the hell fire. Likewise that which the Prophet (Sallaahu alayhi wa sallam) informed us that whoever does this action they will be distant from the mercy of Allaah, or whoever does this action will be cursed by Allaah.

These are certain things which inform an individual that a sin is a major sin. You have the hadith where the Prophet (Sallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘abstain from the seven major sins’. However the Prophet Sallaahu alayhi wa sallam did not mean that there are only seven. He sallaahu alayhi wa sallam in that hadith mentioned seven but did not say that they are the only major sins. The proof for that is ibn Abbass (RadiAllaahu anhumma). He was asked are there only seven? He said they are closer to seventy then seven. So there is no specific number of the amount of major sin there are.

Shaykh Saalih ibn Muhammad al-Luhaydaan (May Allaah preserve him) (Kitaab-ut-Tawheed Class 01.12.12) Riyadh.

E x c e l l e n c e o f P r e s c r i b e d P r a y e r s An-Nawawi on the Excellence of Prescribed Prayers

By Abu Amina Elias for FaithinAllah.org In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful An-Nawawi records in his book, Riyad us-Saliheen: ُ‫اﺗْﻞ‬ ‫ﻣَﺎ‬ ‫ﺃُﻭ‬

‫ﺤﺸَﺎ ِء ﻭَاﻟْﻤُﻨ َﻜ ِﺮ ۗ َﻭﻟَ ِﺬ ْﻛ ُﺮ‬ ْ ‫ﻦ ا ْﻟ َﻔ‬ ِ‫ﻋ‬ َ ٰ‫نَ اﻟﺼَّﻠَﺎﺓَ ﺗَ ْﻨ َﻬﻰ‬ ّ ‫ﺼَﻠَﺎ َﺓ ِإ‬ ّ ‫ب ﻭَ​َﺃ ِﻗﻢِ اﻟ‬ ِ ‫ﻦ ا ْﻟﻜِﺘَﺎ‬ َ ‫ﻚ ِﻣ‬ َ ْ‫ﻲ إِﻟَﻴ‬ َ ِ‫ﺣ‬ َ ‫اﻟّﻠَ ِﻪ َﺃﻛْ َﺒ ُﺮ ﻭَاﻟﻠَّﻪُ َﻳﻌَْﻠ ُﻢ ﻣَﺎ ﺗَﺼْ َﻨﻌُﻮ‬ ‫ن‬ Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Verily, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, but the remembrance of Allah is greater, and Allah knows that which you do.

Surah Al-Ankabut 29:45 Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‫ﻦ‬ ْ ‫ﺧ ْﻤﺴًﺎ ﻣَﺎ َﺗﻘُﻮﻝُ َﺫﻟِﻚَ ﻳُ ْﺒﻘِﻲ ِﻣ‬ َ ‫ﻞ ﻓِﻴ ِﻪ ﻛُﻞَّ ﻳَ ْﻮ ٍم‬ ُ ِ‫ ﻳَﻐْ َﺘﺴ‬٬ْ‫ب َﺃﺣَﺪِ ُﻛﻢ‬ ِ ‫نَ ﻧَ َﻬﺮًا ﺑِﺒَﺎ‬ ّ ‫َﺃﺭَﺃَﻳْ ُﺘ ْﻢ ﻟَ ْﻮ َﺃ‬ ِ‫َدﺭَ ِﻧﻪ‬ If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day, would you notice any dirt on him?

They said, “Not a trace of dirt would be left.” The Prophet said: ‫ﺨﻄَﺎﻳَﺎ‬ َ ‫ﺲ َﻳ ْﻤﺤُﻮ اﻟﻠَّﻪُ ِﺑﻬَﺎ ا ْﻟ‬ ِ ْ‫ﺕ ا ْﻟﺨَﻤ‬ ِ ‫ﺼَﻠَﻮَا‬ ّ ‫ﻚ ﻣِﺜْﻞُ اﻟ‬ َ ِ‫ﻓَ َﺬﻟ‬ That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah erases evil deeds.

Source: Sahih Bukahri 505, Grade: Sahih Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‫ﻞَ ﻳَ ْﻮ ٍم‬ ّ ُ‫ﻞ ﻣِ ْﻨ ُﻪ ﻛ‬ ُ ِ‫ب َﺃﺣَﺪِ ُﻛﻢْ َﻳﻐْ َﺘﺴ‬ ِ ‫ﻋﻠَﻰ ﺑَﺎ‬ َ ‫ﻏ ْﻤ ٍﺮ‬ َ ‫ﻞ ﻧَ ْﻬ ٍﺮ ﺟَﺎ ٍﺭ‬ ِ َ‫ﺲ َﻛﻤَﺜ‬ ِ ْ‫ﺕ ا ْﻟﺨَﻤ‬ ِ ‫ﺼَﻠَﻮَا‬ ّ ‫ﻞ اﻟ‬ ُ َ‫ﻣَﺜ‬ ٍ‫ﺲ َﻣﺮَّاﺕ‬ َ ْ‫ﺧَﻤ‬ The example of the five prayers is that of a river running at the door of one of you in which he cleanses himself five times a day.

Source: Sahih Muslim 668, Grade: Sahih Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: A man kissed a woman and he came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and told him about that. So the verse was revealed: ِ‫ﻦ اﻟﺴَّﻴِّﺌَﺎﺕ‬ َ ‫ﺕ ﻳُﺬْﻫِ ْﺒ‬ ِ ‫ﺤﺴَﻨَﺎ‬ َ ‫نَ ا ْﻟ‬ ّ ‫ﻞ ِإ‬ ِ ْ‫ﻦ اﻟﻠَّﻴ‬ ْ ‫ﻃ َﺮﻓَﻲْ اﻟﻨَّﻬَﺎ ِﺭ َﻭزَُﻟﻔًﺎ ِﻣ‬ َ ‫َﺃ ِﻗ ْﻢ اﻟﺼَّﻠَﺎ َﺓ‬ Establish prayer at the two ends of the day and in the first hours of the night. Verily, good deeds take away evil deeds.

Surah Hud 11:114 The man said, “O Messenger of Allah, does it concern me

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only?” The Prophet said: ‫ﻦ ُﺃﻣَّﺘِﻲ‬ ْ ‫ﻋﻤِﻞَ ِﺑﻬَﺎ ِﻣ‬ َ ‫ﻦ‬ ْ ‫ﻟِ َﻤ‬ It concerns everyone in my nation who acts according to it.

Source: Sahih Muslim 2763, Grade: Sahih Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ُ‫ﺶ ا ْﻟﻜَﺒَﺎ ِﺋﺮ‬ َ ْ‫ﻦَ ﻣَﺎ َﻟﻢْ ُﺗﻐ‬ ّ ‫ﺠﻤُ َﻌ ُﺔ إِﻟَﻰ ا ْﻟﺠُ ُﻤﻌَ ِﺔ َﻛﻔَّﺎﺭَ ٌﺓ ﻟِﻤَﺎ ﺑَﻴْﻨَ ُﻬ‬ ُ ‫ﺲ ﻭَا ْﻟ‬ ُ ْ‫ﺨﻤ‬ َ ‫ﺼَﻼَ ُﺓ ا ْﻟ‬ ّ ‫اﻟ‬ The five prayers and Friday to Friday will erase the sins between them, so long as major sins are avoided.

Source: Sahih Muslim 233, Grade: Sahih Uthman ibn Affan reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‫ﻋﻬَﺎ‬ َ ‫ﺧﺸُﻮﻋَﻬَﺎ َﻭ ُﺭﻛُﻮ‬ ُ ‫ﻦ ﻭُﺿُﻮءَﻫَﺎ َﻭ‬ ُ‫ﺴ‬ ِ‫ﺤ‬ ْ ‫ﻀﺮُ ُﻩ ﺻَﻠَﺎ ٌﺓ ﻣَﻜْﺘُﻮﺑَ ٌﺔ ﻓَ ُﻴ‬ ُ ْ‫ئ ُﻣﺴِْﻠ ٍﻢ َﺗﺤ‬ ٍ ِ‫ﻦ ا ْﻣﺮ‬ ْ ‫ﻣَﺎ ِﻣ‬ ُ‫ﺕ ﻛَﺒِﻴﺮَ ًﺓ ﻭَ َﺫِﻟﻚَ اﻟﺪَّ ْﻫ َﺮ ﻛُّﻠَﻪ‬ ِ ْ‫ب ﻣَﺎ َﻟ ْﻢ ﻳُﺆ‬ ِ ‫ﺖ َﻛﻔَّﺎﺭَ ًﺓ ِﻟﻤَﺎ ﻗَﺒَْﻠﻬَﺎ ِﻣﻦْ اﻟﺬُّﻧُﻮ‬ ْ َ‫ِإﻟَّﺎ ﻛَﺎﻧ‬ When the time of prescribed prayer arrives, no Muslim performs ablution well with its due reverence and bowing except that it will be an expiation for his previous sins as long as he does not commit a major sin, and this applies for all time.

Source: Sahih Muslim 228, Grade: Sahih Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best. http://www.faithinallah.org/an-nawawi-on-the-excellenceof-prescribed-prayers/

The US$ - America's WMD … By Dr. Mansoor Durrani, CEO, Senior Vice-President, NCB, Jeddah US domination of the world affairs is often attributed, among others, to its technological prowess; nuclear arsenal; fleet of aircraft carriers; satellite networks gathering intelligence round-the-clock. But its most potent weapon that has wrecked foreign economies; destroyed nations; and has been used to buy Prime Ministers, Presidents, Army Generals, Judges and Ministers is often ignored.

That is the power of its currency. United States dollar (US$) was born when Continental Congress of the United States authorized the issuance of the US$ on 8 August 1785. Post World War II (WWII) the creation of The International Monetary Fund (IMF) & The World Bank was the first step towards establishing a global US$ hegemony. The US sat back and watched the WWII unfolding, saying that this was not its war, until the attacks on Pearl Harbor.

In response, after nuking Japan, the US-led allied forces claimed victory in this global mayhem. Nearly all the European and Asian countries were war-wrecked and started borrowing from the US to rebuild their infrastructure and economies. This gave the US an opportunity to develop institutions and make fiscal policies to enslave the world in the coming decades.

The centerpiece of this neo-imperialism was to turn a green piece of paper into the most lethal weapon the world has ever witnessed.

Starting from Bretton Woods to the US$ hegemony and then to the modern day foreign exchange (currency) markets, understanding these three phases are essential to grasp the intricacies of the subject.

BRETTON WOODS: The Bretton Woods Accords were entered into at the end of World War II, on 22 July 1944, “to regulate the international monetary system”. The chief features of the Bretton Woods system were an obligation for each country to adopt a monetary policy that maintained the exchange rate by tying its currency to the U.S. dollar and the ability of the IMF to bridge temporary imbalances of payments. Currencies were allowed to fluctuate from this “peg” only within a very narrow band of plus or minus one percent. The principal architects of the Bretton Woods Accords were British economist John Maynard Keynes and Assistant U.S. Treasury Secretary Harry Dexter White. Keynes envisioned an international central bank but the United States had just become the world’s only financial superpower and was not ready for that step in 1944. The IMF system was formulated by Dexter White, and it reflected the power of the American dollar. Under the White Plan, the US$ would be backed by gold, which were considered “as good as gold” because the United States had agreed to maintain their convertibility into gold at US$35 per ounce. As long as people had faith in the US$, there was little fear of running out of gold, because gold would not actually be used. The Bretton Woods worked for a while, but it was mainly because fewer countries actually converted their dollars into gold. Trade balances were usually cleared in US$, due to their convertibility into gold. US suffered a great blow in the Vietnam War. International confidence in the US economy declined. The French started converting their US$ reserves into gold. Other countries followed. The US had lent more dollars than the gold it had in its vaults. A massive conversion would drive the US into bankruptcy. President Nixon issued Executive Order 11615 in August 1971 closing the “gold window” permanently. This meant the dollar would not be converted (a promise on which it was originally issued) into gold anymore. Since the US was a superpower no country would dare retaliate let alone go to war. This act was known as the Nixon Shock. The result of taking the dollar off the gold standard was to finally take the brakes off the printing press. Now Fiat dollars (or dollars backed by nothing) became the new global currency!

The cost of producing a US$ to the US is simply the cost of printing the note, whereas a foreign government must provide a US$‟s

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worth of goods for that US$. The difference between these two values is called “seigniorage” and its benefits go directly to the US government. Further, the US$'s position in the world allows the

US government to borrow money at exceptionally low interests rates due to high demand for the US$. This phenomena is generally called "exorbitant privilege" and allows the US to run a balance of payments deficit "without tears," as French economist Jacque Rueff said.

DOLLAR HEGEMONY: The above was an initial phase of the dollar hegemony. Another important development followed that allowed the dollar hegemony to grow further. Till 1970s, the world oil resources were owned by 7 private American and European oil companies popularly called “Seven Sisters”. Due to domestic pressure, oil producing nations began “nationalizing” their oil fields. This was achieved by buying the equity stakes of foreign oil companies.

This “transfer of ownership” was allowed by the US on one condition: the oil will be priced (bought and sold) in US$ only! As long as oil transactions were denominated in US$, the US essentially controlled all the oil in the world financially regardless of who owned the oil fields. This reduced all oil producing nations into mere The U.S. dollar, which was originally backed by gold, was now “backed” by oil. Every country had to acquire US$ to purchase this essential commodity. Oil-importing countries around the world were left with two options: (a) borrow US$ from the IMF/World Bank by signing up to atrocious conditions or (b) earn US$ by producing exportable goods for paying expensive oil import bills. Even if it meant diverting productive capacity away from feeding and clothing their own people. After falling off with his US masters, Saddam tried to sell Iraqi oil in non-US$ currencies. Thus the wars in Iraq were less about physically controlling oil and more about keeping oil denominated in the US$ and protecting US$ hegemony. The difference is subtle but important. This is why central banks around the world have been forced to hold more US$ reserves than they need. While the tradesurplus nations are forced to lend their export earnings back to the US, these same nations are starved for capital as export earnings in US$ are only invested in their export sectors to earn more US$.

The domestic sector with local currency earnings remain of little interest to global corporations. As a result, domestic development stagnates for lack of capital.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE: The foreign exchange currency transactions mean that one party purchases a quantity of one currency in exchange for paying a quantity of another. As per the Bretton Woods system the exchange rate of nearly all countries (currencies) were fixed. But

The US$ - America's WMD when Nixon broke the “gold window” and refused to convert the US$s into gold, the system of floating exchange rates came into existence. Since no viable alternative existed after the US$ went off the gold standard, so most countries agreed to it. They had no choice other than fixing or „pegging‟ their currency with the US$ or leaving their currency on a floating exchange rate wherein its value is determined by its demand and supply in the market. It is intriguing how Wikipedia introduces the „foreign exchange market‟. Rather than admitting that US broke the Bretton Wood agreement and as a direct consequence the foreign exchange market came into existence, and that the modern day market is not a thoroughly planned and organized market, it states that the market “we see today started evolving during the 1970s when world over countries gradually switched to floating exchange rate from their erstwhile exchange rate regime, which remained fixed as per the Bretton Woods system till 1971”. Readers are conveniently deceived by the use of words “evolving” and “gradually switched” leaving an impression that the system was developed periodically and systematically.

After the Bretton Woods was abandoned, currencies were (and still are) valued merely by their relative exchange rates in the socalled “free” market. Foreign exchange markets became giant casinos, in which large US institutional investors (now dominated

by Hedge Funds) are betting on the relative positions of different currencies. The daily estimated foreign exchange trades are over US$ 4 trillion. Of this, over 45% are “swaps”; 35% “spot transactions”; and approximately 12% “outright forwards”.

Similarly, an estimated US$370 trillion are now riding on complex high-risk bets known as derivatives. This is 28 times the US$13 trillion annual output of the entire U.S. economy. But only smaller countries are vulnerable and left at the mercy of these investors who can radically devalue national currencies just by selling them short on the international market in large quantities. These currency manipulations could be devastating and bring countries down on their knees.

The alternative to letting the currency float is for governments to keep their currency tightly pegged to the US$. But governments that have taken this course have faced other hazards. The currency becomes vulnerable to the US monetary policies; and if the country does not set its peg right, it can still be the target of currency raids. In the interests of “free trade,” most governments agree to keep their currency freely convertible into US$. This means governments should be ready to absorb any surpluses or replenish deficits in the exchange market. For this, they must have enough US$ reserves to buy back their own currency. Recent depreciation of Indian and Turkish currencies is being attributed to these countries‟ current account deficits (higher imports and lower exports).

But this is not the only reason!

If governments set the peg too high (so that their currencies do not buy as much as the equivalent in dollars), there will be “capital flight” out of the local economy. Capital

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flights then force governments to spend their US$ reserves to “defend” their currencies; and when the reserves are exhausted, the governments either default on their US$ obligations or let their currencies devalue to earn more US$s. When the value of a currency drops, so does everything priced in it. Through enforced privatization programs, national assets are then snapped by circling “foreign vulture capitalists” for pennies on the dollar. But what goes around, comes around. The same sort of speculative devaluation could happen to the US$ if international investors were to abandon it as a global "reserve" currency, something they are now threatening to do in retaliation for what they perceive to be the US economic imperialism.

THE BOTTOMLINE: There is no really safe course at present for most nations. Whether their currencies are left to float or are kept tightly pegged to the dollar, they can still be attacked by speculators or strong nations.

Professor Henry C. K. Liu is a Harvard educated economist. He chaired a department at UCLA before becoming an investment adviser for developing countries. He calls the current monetary scheme, upon which the economic infrastructure is built, a ‘cruel hoax’. “When we wake up to that fact”, he says, “our entire economic world view will need to be reordered, just as physics was subject to reordering when man’s world view changed with the realization that the earth is not stationary nor is it the centre of the universe”. Till then, Uncle Sam will continue to rule the roost!

[The author was listed by GIF magazine, UK, as one of the world's 20 most influential People in Islamic finance, among the top twenty Islamic Bankers of the world.]

Graduating from Ramadan 9/16/2009 - Religious - Article Ref: ic0909-3956 Number of comments: 9 By: Staff Is l ami C i t y* [ S o ur ce: http://www.islamicity.com/articles/articles.asp?ref=ic09093956] We leave the blessed month of Ramadan, its beautiful days and its fragrant nights. We leave the month of the Quran, taqwa, patience, struggle, mercy, forgiveness and protection from punishment on the day of judgment.

Many questions and numerous thoughts come to the mind of the sincere Muslim, who self reflects with truthfulness.

Have we fulfilled the requirements of taqwa and graduated from Ramadan school with the diploma of God-consciousness?

Have we fought our souls and desires and defeated them, or have we been overtaken by our customs and blind imitations?

Have we performed our actions in a way that fulfills the conditions for receiving mercy, forgiveness and release from chastisement?

What Have We Gained From Ramadan?

Ramadan is a school for strengthening iman (faith), an opportunity to recharge one's spiritual batteries and to acquire one's provision for the rest of the year.

The noble month is a true school of transformation in which we train our inner self to change our actions, habits and manners that are in variance with the Laws of Allah. "Verily, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves." (Quran 13:11) If you have fulfilled the requirements of taqwa (Godconsciousness), fasted the month, prayed in it with sincerity, and strove against your soul, praised and thanked Allah for all His blessings, and asked Him for steadfastness then you have benefited from Ramadan.

After the end of this blessed month, to revert back to habits of before Ramadan would be like one who stitches a beautiful garment and then deliberately destroys it. Or a person who earns a fortune trading throughout the day, then when the night comes, he throws away all that he earned. What would people say about such a person?

This is the condition of one who returns to ill habits after Ramadan and leaves righteous actions. After he was favored with the blessing of obedience and enjoyment of communicating with Allah he returned to ignorant actions. How deprived are the people who know God only in Ramadan!

Falling short in one's commitment to Islam after Ramadan is manifested in many ways, including: Leaving the compulsory prayers, after they filled mosques for Taraweeh prayers, thus going to the masjid for recommended prayers and leaving

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obligatory ones, and a return to a life of material and social indulgence without God-consciousness.

This is not thankfulness for blessings and favors, nor is it the sign of acceptance of one's actions, rather this is opposition to favors and absence of thankfulness.

From signs that one's deeds are accepted is that he or she has improved in his or her obedience to Allah. "And remember when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]" [Quran 14:7].So if a person is truly thankful to his Lord, you will see him guided to more obedience and distanced from actions that are disliked by God. A Muslim must continuously be in the state of obedience and God-consciousness. A believer knows that the Lord of Ramadan is also the Lord of all times and places.

"So remain on a right course as you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you [to Allah]."

[Quran 11:112] Continue Fasting -- If the fasting in Ramadan has ended, then there remains voluntary fasting, such as fasting six days in Shawwal, on Mondays and Thursdays, the three days in the middle of the month, the days of Aashoora and Arafat, and others.

Continue Prayers -- If standing in prayer at night during Ramadan has ended, then there remains voluntary night prayer throughout the year.

Continue Charity -- If Zakat, charity and zakat ul-fitr of Ramadan have ended, then there is the option of sadaqa, and many other doors to charity and voluntary actions still remain open.

Continue Quran -- Reading of the Quran and understanding it is not only for Ramadan, rather it is for all times.

Continue Good Deeds -- The requirement of showing forgiveness and compassion to people does not end with Ramadan. Know that Allah is the most forgiving and companionate and loves all who are forgiving and companionate.

Righteous actions are for all times and all places, so strive and beware of laziness.

"O Allah, Who turns the hearts, keep our hearts steadfast upon Your prescribed path."

I ask Allah to accept from us and you our fasting, our prayers and other righteous actions, that our condition after Ramadan be a better one, that the state of our humanity improves, that we are granted honor and that we truly submit to our Lord. Ameen Adapted from "Wa maadha baada Ramadaan", by Dar AlWatan

I’takaaf … [http://yassarnalquran.wordpress.com/] In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Mercy-giving ___________________________________ 1. The word itikaaf ‫ إﻋﺘﻜـﺎف‬comes from the Arabic root ‫‘ ﻉ ﻙ ف‬a-ka-fa. ‘akafa means to adhere, cling, stick, to give oneself over, apply oneself, devote oneself.

It also means to seclude oneself, isolate oneself, withdraw, retire to a place, to hold back, to restrain.

If you apply the meanings of this verbal root akafa to itikaaf, Subhanallah, a myriad of meaning emerges!

In simple terms “itikaaf is to seclude oneself to the devotion of one and only Almighty Allah.

The question ‘where to seclude oneself’ is answered in ayah no. 187 of Surah al Baqarah. In a masjid!

I take the liberty to translate the word itikaaf as ‘to disconnect oneself from everything to connect with Allah in His very house, the masjid’.

The person in itikaaf is called as ‘aakif (singular) and ‘aakifoon (plural) ‫– ﻋﺎﻛـﻒ‬ ‫ﻋﺎﻛﻔﻮن‬ ٢. One must make his intention clear: To please Allah and none else!

As it is eloquently clear from the word meaning itself, the purpose of itikaaf must be to devote oneself, fully and exclusively, for the devotion, remembrance and worship of Allah Tabarak Wa Ta’ala.

One must be online with Allah as He is always available hotline!

It is sensible not to connect to the internet in the masjid during itikaaf!

3. Is there any special masjid to perform itikaaf?

Itikaaf can be performed in any masjid where congregational Salah is offered.

4. Itikaaf is better performed in Ramadhaan than in any other month.

Itikaaf has to be done in the last ten days of Ramadhaan as it was the usual practice of the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad ‫ﺻﻠّﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠّﻢ‬ ٥. Itikaaf is optional or obligatory, you may ask.

Itikaaf is optional. It is reported from authentic ahadeeth that the Prophet ‫ﺻﻠّ ﻰ‬ ‫ اﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳــــﻠّﻢ‬once abandoned itikaaf in Ramadhaan and did it in Shawwal!

Had itikaaf in Ramadhaan been Fardh (obligatory) how could the Prophet abandon it?

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By Muqeet So it is clear that itikaaf is Sunnah, the way of the glorious Messenger of Allah.

6. Is it only for men? or Can women also perform itikaaf?

There is no gender bias. Itikaaf can be performed by both, men and women. In case of married woman, her husband’s permission is necessary.

7. Three conditions control the act of itikaaf. a. Niyyah (Intention as discussed before) b. To be in a state of purity c. Staying in a masjid.

8. It is compulsory that one should stay in itikaaf for all ten days?

Islam is an easy religion and it never makes things difficult for people.

So if someone is desirous to perform itikaaf and is not in a position to devote all ten days at a stretch, then it allowed to perform itikaaf even for a day or two.

Itikaaf can be even for some hours!

Just go to the masjid, spend some hours in the dhikr, remembrance of Allah, and come back. You will get the reward of performing itikaaf.

As itikaaf is a preferred Sunnah and the Prophet ‫ ﺻﻠّﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠّﻢ‬used to sit in itikaaf during the last ten days of Ramadhaan, it is better to complete all the ten days, by those who have the means to do so.

9. Beginning and the end of itikaaf According to the Sunnah, Itikaaf begins with one having the intention to observe it and it ends when the period intended ends.

It is desirable to begin Itikaaf after the Fajr Prayer of the twenty-first day of Ramadhaan, following the example of the Prophet ‫ﺻﻠّﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠّﻢ‬ ۱٠. Three things nullify an I’tikaaf: 1. Leaving the mosque intentionally without any genuine reason 2. Conjugal relations 3. Loss of purity by menstruation in case of women

consideration. The Prophet ‫ﺻﻠّﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳـﻠّﻢ‬ said, “I was shown the rewards of my Ummah (for their different deeds) even for a speck of dirt that someone removes from the masjid”.

13. Avoiding unnecessary talks is very important It is better for the one who observes Itikaaf not to talk much with people. Rather, they should keep to the `Ibadah and obedience.

However, if a man is visited by some of his brothers or a woman is visited by Muslim sisters or some of her Mahram relatives (unmarriageable relatives) and has talks with them, there is nothing wrong in that.

14. What are the commendable things in Itikaaf?

1. To recite the Qur’an and ponder over its meanings.

2 . To e n g a g e o n e s e l f i n t h e Z i k r (remembrance) of Allah.

3. To seek forgiveness for one’s sins.

Sayyidul Istighfaar is the best form of seeking forgiveness from Allah.

4. To invoke blessings upon Prophet Muhammad ‫ﺻﻠّﻰ اﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠّﻢ‬ ٥. To offer as much of Nawafil (extra) prayers as possible.

6. To perform Qiyaamul Layl/Tahajjud prayers.

7. To memorize the chapters (surahs) or aayaats (verses) of the Qur’an.

8. To memorize the ahadeeth.

9. To read any good book on Seerah.

10. To seek Laylatul Qadr preferably in all the nights (of the last ten days) 15. Do you know what a vowed Itikaaf is?

11. The person in itikaaf, is he or she allowed to leave the masjid?

The one who observes Itikaaf should keep to the place of their itikaaf, and should not go out except for answering the call of nature or for bringing food, if there is no one to provide it for them.

12. Eat, drink and sleep but do keep keep the masjid clean!

Cleanliness of the masjid and caution against things that might dirty it, such as remnants of food, have to be taken into

Suppose a Muslim swears by Allah that he will observe itikaaf in one of the three masjids (Masjid al Haram, Masjid an Nabawi or Masjid al Aqsa) then he must fulfill his vow by compulsorily observing that itikaaf.

I hope most of the major points are covered in this post, alhamdulillah.

Jazakallahu Khayra for reading this post.

May Allah give us the Tawfeeq, Hidayah and Istiqaamah to live by His teachings.

Aameen.

Modes of Islamic Microfinance The conceptual framework for Islamic microfinance requires that the contracts and transactions between the multiple parties involved in the process are Shariah-compliant.

Most importantly, they must not violate the prohibitions against riba and gharar. While there seems to be a consensus on the meaning of these prohibitions, there is less agreement on the interpretation and manifestation of the prohibited elements in real-life situations.

Further,Shariah-compliance of the contracts in form in no way provides an insurance against exploitation. Several observations are in order.

1. Rates on micro-murabaha and micro-ijara financing are deemed Shariah-compliant while interest rates are not. However, both can be and often are exploitatively high.

2. In case of participatory modes e.g. mudharabah, musharakah and mudharaa the sharing ratio could be unfairly biased against the poor beneficiary because of their low bargaining power. Similarly, in case of fee-based modes, e.g. wakala, hawala the agent-MFI may charge an exorbitant fee for the same reasons.

3. The permissibility of salam (sale of non-existent produce) is linked to the economic benefits it confers on poor farmers in need of pre-cultivation financing. However, salam can often involve exploitation when the advance price paid to the poor farmer is artificially pegged at low levels due to his/her weak bargaining power.

4. For Islamic modes of finance involving multiple contracts, e.g. murabaha and ijara, Shariah-compliance often requires careful sequencing of contracts to ensure that profits are associated with risk-bearing. However, in the context of microfinance involving large number of repetitive contracts involving small values, adherence to desired sequencing become practically impossible.

5. When MFIs price a benevolent transaction, e.g. qard and kafala (they are permitted to charge actual costs without any element of profits) they may actually be passing the costs of their inefficiencies to their beneficiaries.

6. When pawnshops provide qard that is backed by collateral or rahn and charge custodial fee from the borrower, it may well be a case of disguised riba, especially when the quantum of fee moves in direct proportion to quantum of loan.

A mechanism to redress the above undesirable possibilities may be found in the following: 1. Prudential regulation of markets to ensure healthy and adequate competition among the players and thereby, remove abnormal and/or illegal profits through mispricing.

2. Creative fiqhi solutions (for instance, replacement of murabaha with istijrar may bring in the required flexibility in settlement of repetitive transactions in microfinance) 3. Vigilance by Shariah scholars to prevent disguised riba (for instance, scholars may ensure that custodial fees are delinked from quantum of loan or that actual

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administrative costs recoverable from the beneficiary in qard are not overstated) 4. Identifying appropriate organizational structure (in case of earlier salam example, a farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cooperative may replace the vendor and thus prevent exploitation of individual farmers by the latter) Notwithstanding the varied nature of Islamic modes for microfinance, the fact remains thatmurabaha remains overwhelmingly popular among IsMFIs. Its popularity is attributable the following reasons: 1. Murabaha is simple. The straightforward calculation of the installments for repayment is more easily comprehensible by the beneficiary. In contrast to this, the payments under a partnership-based mode are uncertain and therefore, less favored.

2. In contrast, partnership-based modes are demanding on the part of the beneficiary in terms of the need for proper book-keeping and ascertainment of the financial results of the business. Financial illiteracy acts as a constraint. Further, the beneficiaries may be justifiably reluctant to share info relating to all aspects of their business with the MFI. 3. Murabaha is familiar. For conventional MFIs venturing into Islamic MF and usingmurabaha, the transition is least demanding. Among all Islamic products, murabaha comes closest to interest-bearing micro loans.

Sadaqa: Islamic Social Finance Dr Obaidullah on Zakat, Waqf and Islamic Microfinance

T h e D a y o f A c c o u n t s , Q i y a m a h : T h e D r i v i n g F o r c e b e h i n d b e i n g H o n e s t a n d E t h i c a l ….. From “Beyond Education” collection – Nissar Nadiadwala’s Editorial forYoung Muslims

person? Are there any syrups or tablets to pull down the index of greed of a person?

Satyam is a so called huge company which showed a large number of employees and manipulated their accounts. These types of manipulation is common in many companies and also in those business where some partners are active and others are sleeping partners who just invest. Financial forgeries are the biggest crimes of our times which corrupt the masses in general. I remember a wellknown cricketer of Pakistan who was accused of gambling and accepted bribe for letting his national team be defeated. The reason that came out was: “I lost my precious savings in the BCCI liquidation and had no options but to accept bribe,” the man said.

There are two aspects of responsibilities; Accounts a n d A cc o u n t a b i l i t y.

Accounts can be manipulated but accountability cannot be. It is directly connected with your heart and no open heart surgery can exploit it. This reminds me an incident in the life of Umar Khattab who was the famous righteous Khalif of Muslims. He once found that a camel from public property had escaped in the desert. So Umar searched in the afternoon of hot desert and when someone asked him, he replied, "It is a camel from the public property so I am searching for it." In another incident he found a poor widow's child crying for food. Umar went back quickly and carried a bag of food on his back; his helper too went along with him and offered his help to carry the bag on his back. But Umar replied, "Will you carry the burden on the day of Judgement?" This is accountability. One day you have to stand before your creator and give all the accounts of what you did. The sahih hadith says: No one will be able to move from their place until they have given account of few things; one of them is: where did you earn from and where did you spend?

Last decade saw a catastrophic economic crime when a share broker called Harshad Mehta caused a big tumble in the Mumbai share market. I remember very clearly how news about tea-stall owners and small time middle class people lost their precious wealth in the fall of share market index. A woman's story still haunts me. She was a lady from Gujarat and her husband had saved a huge amount for their daughter's marriage which was very close. The lady got carried away by the rising share market index wave and without informing her husband, she sold the entire jewellery and bought the share planning to sale it off a week before the wedding in order to profit more and faster. But Mehta was arrested and the Mumbai share market saw a never seen before plunge and many people including this lady lost their capital as well. Imagine how embarrassing situation for the woman! I don’t know the rest of the story as to what happened afterwards.

The question is what drives a person to be honest and ethical? What makes a person accountable?

How can honesty and ethics be groomed in a

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The Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) announced, "By Allah! Even if my own daughter Fatima steals, I will not hesitate to cut off her hands." This is honesty and honesty is protected through strict laws. Honesty and accountability are not imposed but established by the law. Strict law in the world and stricter after death. That is why Qiaymat is also called THE DAY OF ACCOUNTS...

YAUM-E-HASHR

The Inner Secrets of Fasting

By Imam Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisee From "Mukhtasar Minhaaj ul-Qaasideen" (pp. 38-41) Translated by Ismaa`eel Ibn al-Arkaan and edited by Abu Khaliyl Reprinted from Islaam.com Know, that in the fast (Sawm) is a special quality that is not found in anything else. And that is its close connection to Allah, such that He says: "The fast (Sawm) is for Me and I will reward it." [Saheeh alBukhaaree and Muslim] This connection is enough to show the high status of fasting. Similarly, the Ka`bah is highly dignified due to its close connection to Him, as occurs in His statement: "And sanctify My House." [Soorah al-Hajj:26] Indeed, the fast is only virtuous due to two significant concepts: • The first: It is a secret and hidden action thus, no one from

the creation is able to see it. Therefore riyaa' (showing off) cannot enter into it.

• The second: It is a means of subjugating the enemies of Allah. This is because the road that the enemies (of Allah) embark upon (in order to misguide the Son of Aadam) is that of desires. And eating and drinking strengthens the desires.

There are many reports that indicate the merits of fasting, and they are all well known.

The recommended acts of fasting The pre-dawn meal (suhoor) and delaying in taking it are preferable, as well as hastening to break the fast and doing so with dates.

Generosity in giving is also recommended during Ramadaan, as well as doing good deeds and increasing in charity. This is in accordance with the way of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam).

It is also recommended to study the Qur'an and perform I`tikaaf during Ramadaan, especially in the last ten days, as well as increasing upon the exertion (towards doing good deeds) in it.

In the two Saheehs, `Aa'ishah said: "When the (last) ten days (of Ramadaan) would come, the Prophet would tighten his waist-wrapper (izaar), spend the night in worship, and wake his family up (for prayer)." [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Muslim] The scholars have mentioned two views concerning the meaning of "tighten his waist-wrapper (izaar)": • The first: It means the turning away from women.

• The second: It is an expression denoting his (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) eagerness and diligence in doing good deeds.

They also say that the reason for his (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) exertion in the last ten days of Ramadaan was due to his (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) seeking of the Night of Al-Qadr (Lailatul-Qadr).

An explanation of the inner secrets of fasting and its characteristics

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There are three levels of fasting: The general fast, the specific fast, and the more specific fast.

• As for the general fast, then it is the refraining of the stomach and the private parts from fulfilling their desires.

• The specific fast is the refraining of ones gaze, tongue, hands, feet, hearing and eyes, as well as the rest of his body parts from committing sinful acts.

• As for the more specific fast, then it is the heart's abstention from its yearning after the worldly affairs and the thoughts which distance one away from Allah, as well as its (the heart's) abstention from all the things that Allah has placed on the same level.

From the characteristics of the specific fast is that one lowers his gaze and safeguards his tongue from the repulsive speech that is forbidden, disliked, or which has no benefit, as well as controlling the rest of his body parts.

In a hadeeth reported by Al-Bukhaaree: "Whosoever does not abandon false speech and the acting upon it, Allah is not in need of him leaving off his food and drink." [Saheeh alBukhaaree, Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah] Another characteristic of the specific fast is that one does not overfill himself with food during the night. Instead, he eats in due measure, for indeed, the son of Aadam does not fill a vessel more evil than his stomach.

If he were to eat his fill during the first part of the night, he would not make good use of himself for the remainder of the night. In the same way, if he eats to his fill for suhoor, he does not make good use of himself until the afternoon. This is because excessive eating breeds laziness and lethargy. Therefore, the objective of fasting disappears due to one's excessiveness in eating, for what is intended by the fast, is that one savors the taste of hunger and becomes an abandoner of desires.

Recommended Fasts As for the recommended fasts, then know that preference for fasting is established in certain virtuous days. Some of these virtuous days occur every year, such as fasting the first six days of the month of Shawaal after Ramadaan, fasting the day of `Arafah, the day of `Aashooraa, and the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram.

Some of them occur every month, such as the first part of the month, the middle part of it, and the last part of it. So whoever fasts the first part of the month, the middle part of it, and the last part of it, then he has done well.

Some fasts occur every week, and they are every Monday and Thursday.

The most virtuous of the recommended fasts is the fast of Dawood (`alayhis salaam). He would fast one day and break his fast the next day. This achieves the following three objectives: The soul is given its share on the day the fast is broken. And on the day of fasting, it completes its worship in full.

The day of eating is the day of giving thanks and the day of fasting is the day of having patience. And Faith (Eemaan) is divided into two halves - that of thankfulness and that of patience. [Note: the hadeeth with a similar stament is unauthentic, see adh-Dha`eefah: 625] It is the most difficult struggle for the soul. This is because every time the soul gets accustomed to a certain condition, it transfers itself to that.

As for fasting every day, then it has been reported by Muslim, from the hadeeth of Abu Qataadah, that `Umar (radhiallahu `anhu) asked the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam): 'What is the case if one were to fast every day?' So he (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: "He did not fast nor did he break his fast - or - he did not fast and he did not break his fast."[Saheeh Muslim] This is concerning the one who fasts continuously, even during the days in which fasting is forbidden.

P a p a y a Helpful & Important Information...

Do share it with your dear family and friends.

Papaya for Uric Acid Problem High uric acid in the system not only leads to gout but also kidney stones...

Both are painful diseases from things we eat hahaha.

Cheers...

This is a really effective, just mix green papaya cubes to the ordinary green tea, my cousin-brother tried and found it very effective.

I have also shared with a friend with gout to try this (his "toe joints" started to deform), after a week of drinking this formula there is significant improvement, and after two weeks the toe joints heal and revert to normal state.

It is almost three years now, the joint pain is gone, but he maintains the intake between 1-3 times monthly to avoid relapse.

Other friends suffering from years of gout problem have also recovered.

It is good for all, even those without gout.

Good formula! Do share with the people in need!

An improved sequence by Professor Lai from the China School of Pharmacy : Cut green papaya into small cubes, place into the water, bring to boil, then add tea leaves, similar to the tea-making process.

Clinical tests show that this brings better effects for treatment of gout, subject to frequent drinking of this formula.

Mr. Liu Qing, Chief of the Rende Town in Tainan, was suffering for years from severe stomach pain around the posterior wall of stomach.

He used green papaya as a tea pot to prepare the family tea daily, after a month, his chronic disease condition was much improved.

His family members with high uric acid were also healed by the same papaya tea.

For this Mr. Liu planted a lot of papaya to share with relatives and friends with similar sickness.

According to Mr. Liu, in selecting the green papaya as tea pot, pick those the shape of which is fat and short, with larger capacity.

Cut off the top part of the papaya, clear away the seeds, open a small hole at the upper side wall to facilitate pouring of tea.

Create a small ventilation hole at top cover, put in the tea leaves, pour in boiling water, place the top cover back onto the papaya, you may also use the toothpicks to secure the top cover.

Similar to normal process of preparing tea.

Liu like to use Oolong tea as the taste is good.

He was pleasantly surprised that the stomach pains he suffered for many years was healed after a month of drinking tea from the green papaya pot, without taking any other medication.

He passed some green papaya leaves to a friend who worked at a Medical Center to test and analyse the content.

The tests confirmed that the healthy enzyme present in papaya is beneficial to human health.

Now as papaya in Mr. Liu's orchard is yielding suitable size fruits, he would share the fruits with family and friends.

Xu Fuchang, an experienced papaya farmer, said green papaya means to unripe papaya, where the skin is still green in colour.

Generally, the papaya takes about four months to fully mature and ripen, but the healing effect would be lost after it is fully ripe.

Green papaya should be harvested when the papaya is approximately three months old, when the fruit is still firm, and the "papaya milk" contains high papaya enzyme and other healthy ingredients.

Not only the green papaya can be used in tea drinking, you may also cut them into cubes, and boil with the ribs, or even slicing the green papaya into fine long pieces and fried with garlic, very tasty, and no adverse effects on the human body.

Ramzan : Crash Course on Self-Control Naushad Ansari Patna Ramzan is a holy month for Muslims allover the world.

During this month, people abstain from food, drinking, smoking and sexual intercourse in the daytime. This they call ‘Sawm’ or fast.

It is believed that the revelation of Quran began in this month. The first revelation : “Recite Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One, who by the pen taught man what he did not know” blessed to the Prophet. This emphasizes the importance of education. Later, Prophet declared: “the acquisition of knowledge is incumbent on every male and female”.(Al-Bukhari) Ramzan is a kind of "crash course" of self control. A Quranic verse says, “O you who believe! Fasting has been prescribed to you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain self-restraint.” (II: 183) Indeed, Prophet said: “Whosoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, has no want that household leave his food and drink.”

[Al-Bukhari] The Prophet Muhammad called the month of Ramadan a month of patience. Keeping aloof from amenities turns one’s thought towards have-nots. One experiences hunger. Fasting, in this way, serves the two purposes, restraint from sin and devotion to the humanity.

Besides, fasting, is one of the oldest natural therapies.

It increases one's powers of concentration and improves one's mental as well as spiritual strengths like peace of mind, confidence and courage. It is well-known that Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi and almost all the sages have abstained from food in their pursuit of spiritual insight. *Hony. Secretary, Peace Foundation, Patna

The Inner Secrets of Fasting Characteristics of the most specific fast Know that the one who has been given intellect, knows the objective behind fasting. Therefore, he burdens himself to the extent that he will not be unable to do that which is more beneficial than it.

Ibn Mas`ood would fast very little and it is reported that he used to say: "When I fast, I grow weak in my prayer. And I prefer the prayer over the (optional) fast.

Some of them (the Sahaabah) would weaken in their recitation of the Qur'an while fasting. Thus, they would exceed in breaking their fast (i.e. by observing less optional fasts), until they were able to balance their recitation. Every individual is knowledgeable of his condition and of what will rectify it.

(There was a slight modification to the article by the editor, such as the exclusion of a couple of statements.) ****************************************

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They beat the odds to excel in academics MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S. The HinduA. Mohamed Navas, one of the toppers in Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions- 2013, working at a workshop manufacturing springs for bicycle stands in Madurai. Photo: R. Ashok A boy tops engineering admissions, while a girl is all set to pursue medicine Muslims in the country are more often than not associated with illiteracy and backwardness besides being projected as proponents of gender inequality. These attributes are slowly but steadily getting watered down as many children from the community are beating the odds to excel in academics.

A case in point is that of A. Mohamed Navas, a 17-year-old resident of Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board quarters at Avaniapuram here. Employed in a workshop that manufactures springs meant for bicycle stands for a daily wage of Rs.150 ever since he completed Class XII, the boy has topped the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) this year.

With a cut-off mark of 194.50 out of 200, he has been declared State first rank holder among Backward ClassMuslim category students in the vocational stream. Having studied in a Tamil medium government-aided school all through, he is now all set to join B.E., or B.Tech. degree course in a government engineering college.

Nevertheless, the irony remains that the boy, who lost his father at the age of one, does not have anyone to offer him even the paltry expenses he might have to incur at a government college.

His mother A.Thara Hussain Beevi has been pedalling her sewing machine for the last 16 years to feed him and his elder sister A. Zeenath Nishan, now a B.Com graduate.

Navas opened a bank account in his name in June last year for receipt of State Government’s one-time scholarship of Rs.2,000 given to Plus Two students from minority community.

But the account remains dormant till date with the initial deposit of Rs.100 as the scholarship amount is yet to be deposited.

Ms. Beevi was offering Namaaz (prayers) at her single room accommodation when The Hindu knocked at her door for an interview with Navas whom she summoned, over a borrowed mobile phone, from the workshop.

She had no idea that Navaz’s name and photograph had been displayed on Anna University’s website until a requisition was made for the interview. The only thing that had been bothering her ever since he scored high marks in Plus Two was the expenses that she might have to incur on his higher education.

Burkha-clad girl Not very different is the case of S. Syed Ali Fathima, a 17year-old Burkha-clad Muslim girl of Othakadai here.

With a cut-off mark of 197 out of 200, she stands a fair chance of getting a medical seat under government quota through 3.5 per cent reservations provided for Backward Class-Muslims.

However, the girl is in no mood to celebrate as her good Bakhabar

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score has only increased the anxiety regarding future expenses for her studies.

Daughter of a cattle feed seller, the girl has excelled after faced many a humiliation for not paying her school fees in time, her inability to spend for transportation and so on.

Her elder sister too scored 1,033 out of 1,200 marks in the Plus Two examinations a few years ago.

But could not join an engineering course for want of money and ended up pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

The two girls studied with the financial assistance from their maternal uncle M.Jahir Hussain, himself a father of three girls, who struggles to make ends meet with the paltry income from his textile business.

Ms.Fathima’s mother S.Mahabu Beevi (51), a school dropout, says: “My father, a tea shop owner at Thumbaipatti in Melur, did not educate me. But I do not want that to happen to my daughters. The education my children receive at schools and colleges is for worldly life and the religious education that I impart to them at home is for life after death. I am confident Allah will show us the way forward.”

Keywords: Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions, Muslims, minority community, backward class, socio-economic conditions http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/they-beatthe-odds-to-excel-in-academics/article4829459.ece

Ramadan provides an annual training opportunity that is meant to fulfil the characterbuilding needs for the rest o f t h e y e a r

Commit your share of Uniforms to poor girl students getting absolutely free education.

Respect the women? Help us educate them in RAHBAR-e-Banat Madrasa cum School [http://school.biharanjuman.org/] Cost of 1 set of uniform for each girl: Rs. 395/= (salwar-suit + scarf/ dupatta) [Only for Girls of weaker sections, studying at Bihar Anjuman's first madrasa-cum-school project] Individual Donors may please transfer their contributions to the following bank account of RAHBAR, the NGO of Bihar Anjuman. Kindly send an email to school@biharanjuman.org, once you have made the transfer, so that we may be able to maintain a proper account, at our levels]. NRI donors: please send scanned copy of your passport copy, which is a mandatory requirement.

A/c name: RAHBAR; A/c number: 00891450000123 Bank name: HDFC Bank; Branch: D-965, Mata Ka Mandir, New Friends Colony, New Delhi-110065 IFSC Code: HDFC0000089; MICR Code: 110240009 Non-Indian donors, kindly do not transfer any funds to this bank account.

An idea of the budget is given in the below table: The students in this madarsa are from poor families, most of whom are not going to any schools or madrasas, at all. Therefore, zakah funds may be used to impart literacy to them. Yateem girls will be accommodated in a hostel which is the first building being built [structure of 3 floors are ready, thus 24 rooms can be used once finishing work is completed]. Hostel is planned to become functional by December 2012, inshaAllah, after completing the boundary wall.

You may donate (from any funds at your disposal) for: (A) Sponsor construction cost for eisal-e-sawab and sadaqa-e-jaariya: (a) construction of class-rooms (one classroom: Rs. 4 lakhs): total number of classrooms planned = 15 (architectural dwg @ http://bit.ly/eFUnHI) (b) Construction of hostel (one hostel room: Rs. 2 lakhs): total number of rooms planned = 24 (architectural dwg @ http://bit.ly/eFUnHI) (c) Construction of a library-cum-reading room @ Rs. 4 lakhs + furniture @ Rs. 1 lakh (d) Construction of the office room @ Rs. 3 lakhs + office furniture @ Rs. 50,000/= (g) hand pump for drinking water, Rs. 10,000/= (with platform), near hostel building (h) 2 Overhead water-tanks + 1 electric submersible pump + plumbing work for hostel building, Rs. 75,000/= (B) Regular (monthly, quarterly, annual) contribution: (a) Sponsor the principalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s salary @ Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 8,000 per month, (b) sponsor a teaching staff @ Rs. 4,000 to 6,000 per month, (c) sponsor a non-teaching staff (matron, peon, muhassil, etc.) @ Rs. 3,000 to 4,000 per month (d) sponsor a student's expenses (non-resident): Rs. 200 per month Educate poor girls; give them class-rooms and drinking water facility (in hostel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; pic in right)

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RAHBAR Coaching Centres Produce Much Better Results than Most Commercial Coaching Centres for Matric exam

RCC Patna student gets 6th Rank in all India polytechnic entrance exam,

[More than 97% Pass the 1st major hurdle of their career]: Total of 300 students could make it this year, in the matric (10th Bihar and Jharkhand board exams) from the 18 active centres (that kept track of their students after classes got over in the RCCs) during current academic year, alhamdolillah. Unfortunately, 10 students out of a total of 300 could not make it. Most of these are students who were not regular in classes during the current year - there are various reasons for this, including general hopelessness among this economic class of people, working to fulfill the daily needs of the populous family. The students who have consistently been with the RCCs from 8th grade (in the 3 centres which started in 2010) have done excellently well, thus making a case for “catching them young”.

A total of 119 students could achieve first division (40%), while 154 received second division and 27 students were placed in the third division. The passing rate of all RCCs combined is 97% which is an excellent jump from last year’s 91.3%. The 97% pass-rate was not achieved by most commercial coaching centres that we have information about.

The academic level of students who join the RCCs has always been very low, because they come only from the government schools (as a policy of RCCs) wherein teaching hardly takes place. Unless these muslim students are coached to cross the threshold of 10th board, the percentage in higher studies cannot be increased. The huge drop in the number of failed students is definitely a source of satisfaction and encouragement. It does require a lot of guts to take up the challenge of transforming the non-meritorious lot into the meritorious ones, that is, churning heroes out of zeros. And, although the real heroes are the students who get transformed in these RCCs, the volunteers (committee members) and teachers are no lesser heroes whose untiring efforts makes such inspiring headlines.

Sl. No.

Centre's Name

1st Div

2nd Div

3rd Div

Fail

Total Passed

Total Appeared

%age Pass

1

SAMASTIPUR

17

7

1

0

25

25

100%

2 3

CHHAPRA PATNA

4 5 6

DARBHANGA MUZAFFARPUR KISHANGANJ

16 11 11

8 10 9

1 1 2

0 0 0

25 22 22

25 22 22

100% 100% 100%

7 8 9

HAJIPUR RAFIGANJ HAZARIBAGH

11 8 7

8 4 18

3 1 5

0 0 0

22 13 30

22 13 30

100% 100% 100%

7 6

13 14

1 0

0 1

21 20

21 21

100% 95%

10 11 12

GOPALGANJ 2 RAMGARH MOTIHARI

6 5 5

8 14 12

3 4 0

0 0 2

17 23 17

17 23 19

100% 100% 89%

13 14 15

DHANBAD Nalanda BHAGALPUR

2 2 2

5 5 4

1 0 2

0 1 2

8 7 8

8 8 10

100% 88% 80%

16 17

SIW AN ARWAL

1 1 1

8 4 3

1 0 1

2 0 2

10 5 5

12 5 7

83% 100% 71%

119

154

27

10

300

310

97%

18 MADHUBANI Total in all RCCs

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and helps 66 (Sixty Four) Zero-to-Hero stories from RAHBAR Coaching Centres, now: 27 students of RAHBAR Coaching Centres make history in 2013, with Khadeeja Mastoor of RCC Patna getting 7th Rank in MANUU diploma engineering entrance exam. RCC Chapra, a flop in year 2012, took RCC movement to new heights by getting 17th Rank in the same al India exam. Four (4) of the top 50 ranks were bagged by RCCs managed by Bihar Anjuman, three of these by RCC Patna alone, thanks to the exceptional efforts of Janab Shoaib Khan Sb, IPS, who has devoted his precious time to the RCC Patna and considered the children studying there as his own.

Subhanallah!

RAHBAR Coaching centres were able to transform 27 zeroes of yesterday into heroes of today, this year, thus adding to the 39 of previous three years (6 in 2010, 16 in 2011, and 18 in 2012), taking the total to 66, now. RCC Patna has once again pushed all other RCCs behind maintaining its top position of last year which it had grabbed from the shining star of 2011, RCC Darbhanga.

Also, continuing in the tradition of last year, when for the first time 3 female students from RCC Patna had qualified for MANUU admissions, thus removing the gender bias from its zero-to-hero miracles, finally, this year too four (4) girls from RCC Patna qualified. A remarkable good news is that all these Sl Name Rank RCC neo-heroes KHADEEJA will get their 1 7 Patna MASTOOR admission 2 SHAHJAD ALAM 17 Chapra fees and ZULAIKHA 3 26 Patna KHATOON monthly 4 SABAHAT NAAZ 27 Patna expenses RUKSHAR 5 55 Patna sponsored, PERWEEN insha-Allah, SHAHJAHAN 6 65 Patna PERWEEN through Bihar 7 Mujtaba Shamim 94 Muzaffarpur Anjuman.

8 MAHTAB RAZA 96 Tajpur Total 9 ALQUAMA MOFIZ 99 Patna sponsorship of MD. SHANAWAZ 10 123 Tajpur ALAM diploma engg 11 Sarfraz Ahmad 126 Muzaffarpur students 12 Naushad Alam 128 Muzaffarpur increases to 13 ASHKAR ANWAR 136 Tajpur 66, now.

14 MD ZAMEER 139 Patna Following is 15 NAYEEM MAZHAR 145 Patna the full list of 16 MD. MERAJ HASAN 153 Tajpur RCC students 17 MD. NASEEM 168 Chapra 18 Waseem Ahmad 169 Muzaffarpur who qualified 19 NAZRE ALAM 178 Chapra for admission 20 MD. AFTAB ALAM 191 Hajipur to MANUU 21 Homa Kausar (F) 194 Muzaffarpur diploma 22 MERAJUDDIN ANSARI 197 Chapra engineering 23 MD. NADIM REZA 234 Tajpur courses.

24 ALI IMAM 241 Chapra 26

Shahid Reza ZAFAR ANSARI

244 252

27

NAUSHAD ALAM

319

25

Muzaffarpur Patna Chapra

Zahackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Corner Was Islam spread by Sword in India or elsewhere?

Read what the Historians and Wikipedia have to say.

"No mass conversions w e r e attempted and the destruction of temples such as the Sun Temple of Multan was forbidden. Lane-Poole writes that, " as a rule Muslim government was at once tolerant and economic".

A small minority who converted to Islam were granted exemption from Jizya in lieu of paying the Muslim mandated Zakat. Hindus and Buddhists were given the status of Dhimmi (protected people).

An eccelastical office, "sadru-I-Islam al affal", was created to oversee the secular governors. While some proslytization occurred, the social dynamics of Sind were no different from other regions newly conquered by Muslim forces such as Egypt, where conversion to Islam was slow and took centuries."

S o u r c e : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_bin_Qasim#Re ligion

Peo p l e w i l l never have problem when you say, smile is a sunnah, helping poor is a sunnah. But the real and critical problem arises, when you say stopping oppressor and oppression is ALSO sunnah. You can find so many of them condemning you and confusing you. We tend to take what is soft and ignore what is tough.

Islam came to India through a prayer of Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him: When Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him was stoned in Taif for his call toward truth, and he was bleeding profusely, even his shoes filled with his blood. He did not despair and give up on those who stoned him.

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Later the Angel of mountains asked him, if he wished the whole Taif would be crushed between mountains for stoning a Prophet.

Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him refused and made supplication for their guidance and confidently prayed for their children to receive the light of Islam.

After years, in 93 Hijri, the 17 years old Hero - Mohammed bin Qasim, who came to liberate India with 4000-10000 army was from the children of Taif.

So never give up on people and become judgmental, rather look at the brighter side and hope for the best.

There was an Egyptian Arab man serving food in a restaurant. During short conversation he told that his sister is a Medical Doctor. I really appreciate his efforts and his family's contributions to make her Doctor.

I wonder, why the Media always say Muslims especially Arabs are backward in educating their women.

An Arab person with silver-colored beard and a worn out skull cap on him was squatted eating his dinner. We went past him, no sooner he looked at us, he said 'Salaam Alaikum - Faddhal' - Peace be upon you, come join me. We salaamed him back, but were astonished at his behavior and g e n e r o u s a t t i t u d e .

Though, he looked below average, he was calling everyone passing by to share food.

He is kind of l u m i n o u s example for all of us, though we possess thousands and thousands in lockers, but don't even look for opportunity to help underprivileged.

Zahackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Corner Tonight after dinner, my friend and I were seated in a typical Mallu Boofia (Bakery) having coffee and just beside us were 2-3 teenagers making fun of every passerby by making faces or mimicking voice; and they were making fun of us either.

I saw my friend buying 3 Apple Juice cans and then heading toward them, it looked risky situation, but he told 'Salaam Alaikum - Peace be upon you' and then gave those cans to each one of them. They were agape at the situation and kept silent for a while.

Try something out of ordinary by gifting those who mock you!!

In the Maghrib salah today, a very old Saudi man who could hardly walk with his stick was accompanied by son to the Masjid. The sight was delightful as the son held both hands of his father and gave him strength to walk.

The more delightful sight was this old man did not stay back at home for prayers rather came to Masjid, come what may.

In the era, where sons disobey their parents and contemptuously talk to them, this gentleman stands as a vivid example of an obedient son.

Don't seek knowledge to kick someone in Hell, but seek knowledge to save yourself and others from Hell.

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My friend Khalil and I were strolling after dinner and found a group of 4-5 African kids. Khalil stopped for a while and affectionately gave a kiss with hand to a kid; and the kid smiled back.

I noticed his act keenly, the way he showed affection to a dark complexioned kid.

Why do we always call fair complexioned children with chubby cheek and curly hair as 'CUTE KID', while we don't regard dark complexioned kids as 'CUTE'?

I was in my office today in Saudi Arabia and I could see all the 'Gorras - Whites' from America and Britain.

As a company's policy, employees have to share their personal details like the details mentioned in the Iqama with their co-workers for integrity or someone other purpose. But I was surprised to see the names to be John, Fredrick, Paul, Tom, Jim but their religion in the resident permit shows 'ISLAM'.

SubhanAllah, long live Islam and long live those who promote it!!

Q u o t e s R C C S a m a s t i p u r p r o d u c e s 1 7 if you're on the right track, you'll get run over f i r s t d i v i s i o n e r s t o o c c u p y Even if you just sit there. t h e T o p a c h i e v e r p o s i t i o n â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Will Rogers Top 3 Matric Scores come from RCC Hazaribagh, backed by highest Maths scores: A rare distinction has been achieved by RCC Hazaribagh; they took away all the top three spots in terms of scores in the matric exam obtained by students of all RCCs. Shama Parween of RCC Hazaribagh gets 98% scores in Maths, the highest among all RCC students. Below is a list of top 25 scorers.

Among the top five, next two scorers come from RCC Samastipur which has produced the maximum number of first divisioners (17) thus achieving 68% first divisions with 100% Pass percentage. In the top twenty-five, maximum nine (9) number of first divisions come from RCC Samastipur, replacing last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top achiever, Darbhanga (with 4 students in top 25, they are in the 2nd position, this year), to occupy the top position.

Sl. No.

Name

Marks

%

RCC

1

Shama Perween

412

82%

Hazaribagh

2

Taiyaba praween

407

81%

Hazaribagh

3

Rabiya Praween

406

81%

Hazaribagh

4 5 6

Tahir Qamar Sarfaraz Alam Ishteyaque Ahmad

397 396 390

79% 79% 78%

Tajpur Tajpur Tajpur

7 8

Nasir Anwar Fardin Shahidi

386 381

77% 76%

Tajpur Tajpur

9

Gulam Sarwar

380

76%

Darbhanga

10

Shamsuddin

380

76%

Darbhanga

11

Shams Tabrez

380

76%

Kishanganj

12 13 14

Ashfaque Ahmad Danish Iqubal ZEENAT PERWEEN

377 374 370

75% 75% 74%

Tajpur Tajpur Patna

15

Shahnawaz Ahmad

369

74%

Ramgarh

16

Shaista Jabeen

363

73%

Tajpur

17

Abu talib Ahmad

362

72%

Darbhanga

18

Abdul Aziz

358

72%

Darbhanga

19

FAIZA SHOAIB

358

72%

Chapra

20

Waseem Ahamad

357

71%

Muzaffarpur

21 22

MD. ARIF SHAHIN PERW EEN

356 355

71% 71%

Rafiganj Patna

23

MD. ZAMEER

355

71%

Patna

24

Mahfooz Alam

354

71%

Kishanganj

25

Md. Rizwan

352

70%

Tajpur

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Put your future in good hands -- your own.

- Ron Kaufman Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads, that sew people together through the years.

- Simone Signoret Take care that old age does not wrinkle your spirit even more than your face.

- Michel de Montaigne The two hardest things in life: success and failure.

- Anon

Ramadan The Blessed Month of Fasting Time to purify and train body and soul Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) address on the eve of Ramadan(Narrated by Ibn Khuzamah): People, a great blessed month has come upon you.

Allah has made fasting during it an obligation, and steadfastly observing its nights in worship a voluntary act.

Whoever undertakes an act of obedience to Allah during this month with a righteous deed, it is as if he has performed an obligatory act at other times, and whoever performs an obligatory act during it is as one who performed seventy obligations at other times.

It is the month of patience, and the reward for patience is Paradise.

It is the month of goodwill, during which provisions are multiplied.

Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and blessings of Allah be Editorial Board upon him) said: Publisher: Bihar Anjuman BaKhabar “ Allah has no need for the hunger and the thirst of the person who does not restrain from telling lies and acting on Editorial Board: Asrarul Haque, Seraj Akram, them even while observing fast.”

Mohd. Allam and Ms Farhat Shakeel,

Jahanzeb Mashhadi Chief Editor: Ms. Asma Anjum Khan

email

bakhabar@biharanjuman.org

“The editors and publishers are not responsible for the views of writers, and their views do not reflect our policy or ideology in any way. We however reserve the right to edit any material submitted for publication, on account of public policy, or for reasons of clarity and space. – From Publishers.”

Pictures have been taken from available public sources.

Together we can change our society.

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“ When one of you is fasting, He should abstain from indecent acts and unnecessary talk, and if someone begins an obscene conversation or tries to pick an argument, he should simply tell him, ‘I am fasting.’”

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Ramadan provides an annual training opportunity that is meant to fulfil the character-building needs for the rest of the year.