CONTENT 03
How to earn a Halal income?
05
3 unique tips to become a practical Muslim
06
What are Islamic mutual funds?
08
How to keep learning all about Islam?
10
4 tips to never tell a lie
11
Which Women Enter Jannat
13
What they said about Knowledge? Creative: Adnan Hussain
Top Story
How to earn a
HALAL INCOME?
I
n this age of materialism it is very difficult to earn a Halal income. The task gets more difficult if one lives in a non-Muslim society. Here you not only have to examine the source of your income but also to see what a company does commercially where you work. In Muslim societies one has to just keep watch on the source of income and to ensure that whatever amount is he earning that is the exact reward of his services. Similarly in business one has to keep the profit margins according to Shariah to make the business profit as Halal income. Usually all types of earning from the following sources is strictly prohibited. The institutions which deal with usury or interest based transactions The activities that promote vulgarity, obscenity Activities related to gambling The activities that develop intoxication If you work in any venture related to any of the above four sources you don’t earn Halal income as you are related to that specific prohibited activity. Therefore, you must remain aloof from all such jobs or business that directly or indirectly related to above mentioned. Usury or interest base finance The earning from a job in any financial institution that deals with interest is not Halal income. That is why you should not even apply in such institutions because if you get that job, your friends and family may force you to join it. This is also a deception that someone who joins such a job with the pledge as
soon as he gets the one with Halal income he would switch over. It is nothing but a self-deception and must be avoided. Even you cannot do a job in an Islamic bank under a group of banks where some of its companies also deal with interest based banking because there is no guarantee from which source your paid your salary. Activities that promote vulgarity or obscenity Entire entertainment industry of the present times falls under this category. Yes if you do any entertainment work according to the teachings of Islam then you are allowed to do a job or start a business in such ventures. Otherwise this industry all over the world is directly or indirectly depraving the human beings with vulgarity and obscenity. Here again you cannot work in makeup department of a film company that produces sensation movies because it does not earn Halal income to pay you your salary out of it. Activities that develop intoxication All manufacturing concerns that produce intoxicants in shape of liquid or solid you cannot do a job or business there because their income is not Halal income. Islam strictly prohibits sale, purchase, manufacture and use of all types of intoxicants. Activities of and related to gambling The earning from all work that are do with gambling or promotes it, is not a Halal income. The business of gambling is growing everywhere so you must take care to do a job in place that might be promoting their business like websites or ad agency with sole contract of promoting a gambling den.
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And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is al-taqwa (piety, righteousness) [al-Baqarah2:197]
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Tutorial
unique tips to become a
PRACTICAL
I
MUSLIM
deologically no doubt we are Muslims. We are proud of being Muslim. With our appearance most of us clearly look as the followers of Islam. But are we practically following this religion of peace and blessings. This is the right question we must ask to ourselves. On the occasions of any religious festival we follow the teachings related to it. But is this enough to be the follower of one of the most modern religions of the world? Not exactly. For this we have to at least follow the Faraiz (obligations) and stay away from all major sins (Gunah kabeera) more particularly. Apart from common disinclination to be a practical Muslim, there are minor things which stop us to fulfill the obligations and simultaneously rubbish things which attract us, spoil our belief. So we have to take strict vigil over apparently trivial things which actually drag us to the path of disaster. For this purpose here are 3 unique tips to control the negative thoughts and happily act upon Islamic teachings. Remain alert of evil force This is the first step which can make us realize where the fault lies. We must see where we skipped the obligations willfully and where some
evil force stopped us to do so. This evil force is not any physical being. It is a pretext. Whenever we make a plan to do a good deed the second thought that comes in our mind is a fascinating proposal to defer it for a while and do something more necessary. That evil force tries to convince us to first finish the worldly work so that we can offer the prayer with more devotion. It is nothing but a misguidance. To crush such thoughts we should argue if we don’t offer prayer on time we would not be able to concentrate our work. To fight any kind of negative thought we must prepare a counter argument to reject it. We must remember that evil force never rejects our ideas of doing something good. It tries to make us defer it with the plan to do a good deed more effectively after sometime. So remain alert of evil force. Don’t be unduly courteous This is the second hurdle whenever we try to fulfill our obligations. While at workplace we sometimes become reluctant to quit a gathering. In family we try to defer any good work just to avoid displeasure of any family member. So instead of becoming rigid in observance of Islamic teachings we should ask them to join us if our fellow beings are
also Muslims and are very close to us. Secondly we should make an impression as if our religious activities are our unavoidable routine which we enjoy doing on time. In this way we don’t have to inform them while going to mosque to offer prayer or to do any other religious obligation. Always fulfill basic requirements This is another lethal attack from the evil force to stop us from doing our religious obligations. Sometimes a negative thought misguides us that we are not in complete physical purity, sometimes it creates a doubt about the cleanliness of our clothes or appearance. So from the start of the day we should take full care of our cleanliness and purity and don’t give a chance to our negative self to stop us doing well. Keep praying for the righteous way We must remember that without the support of Allah we can never stay on the right path. So applying all our tips and tricks to become a practical Muslim we must keep on seeking the favor of Allah. Obviously He will help us to be His obedient worshippers and this must be our firm belief. In this way we would always resort to Him in case any worldly affair attempts to divert us from the right path.
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Money Matters
WHAT ARE
ISLAMIC
MUTUAL FUNDS?
T
o understand the Islamic mutual funds first we have to be clear on the question; what are mutual funds in general. It is actually a way of safer investment where an investor does not need to have any technical knowledge of investing. What he needs to do is to simply deposit his money into a mutual fund company under a deal. Now it is the job of fund managers of that mutual fund company to find the best lucrative options to put that money and earn maximum return on it. The Mutual Fund Company gets its commission on every chunk of profit from each investor. This is a general definition of mutual funds. Under Islamic mutual funds the same process is adopted but fund managers are bound to invest the money in those investment options that are interest-free which means they accept the money on profit and loss basis not on any fixed term of returns. Here investors are not to just trust on fund managers that their money would be used according to teachings of Islam for investing. There is certification of such Islamic funds by Shariah boards in each country that clearly describes which funds are Islamic.
The process Mutual fund companies do not receive money from investors without any plan. They offer various types of funds to serve the needs of all types of investors. Many people save less and want to invest less as well while many people just save more and after that they invest their entire saved money into any safe mode of investment. Mutual Fund Companies introduces various types of funds some offer less return with less investment and some other offers huge investment with huge returns. This is the general rule of investment that higher the returns, higher the risk and vice versa. Why Islamic mutual funds are safer? It is generally said that conventional mutual funds are safe and Islamic mutual funds are safer. In general type of mutual funds the element of riba (interest) is involved while latter is free from any type of illegitimate mode of investment. Therefore more safety of latter is natural. Another reason of their being safe mode of investment is that funds are handled by investment experts. They have sound knowledge of various investment options. They fully know how much money to be in-
vested in which option and for how much time. They also foresee any change in the trends of returns of any investment product and take decision according to it. That is why very rarely their investment decision fails to bring return or bring lesser returns. Usually they make investors earn smartly. In return they charge their fee as commission. Availability In every Islamic country Islamic mutual funds of various types are available. Most popular of its types are Islamic equity funds, Islamic stock funds, Islamic income funds, Islamic balanced funds etc. You can also invest in funds online regardless of the country of your origin. It is wise to first visit the company of mutual funds to get detailed briefing about the benefits of various types of funds and to see which ones are the most suitable for you. If you have huge sum of money to invest you can also get the services of any investment advisor to make decision of investing hugely in this safe and Islamic way of investing. Most of the huge investment companies in non-Muslim countries of the advance part of the world also offer Islamic mutual funds for investing.
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“The worst thief among people is the one who steals from his prayer, by not doing rukoo’ and sujood properly.” Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him
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Article
W
e need to keep learning all about Islam to become a perfect Muslim and win the blessings of Allah. Our actions can never be strictly according to Islam unless we fully know about what it demands from us. For this purpose we need not to devote our entire time for Islamic learning. We should regularly spare a little time to learn it as much as possible and whatever we learn we should apply it on our daily life. In this way we will be following all the teachings of Islam and also those teachings that are not compulsory to follow but are desirable if we act upon them. Don’t take it as a duty If we take it as our duty to keep learning all about Islam we will be devoid of passion while doing so. We need to develop interest in it. For this purpose learn those teachings first that are directly related to our life. These are: • • • • • • •
All about compulsory religious obligations Sunnah related to our daily life About rights of people About rights of Allah About rights of self About family life About professional life
Discuss after study If we simply keep learning all about Islam through books and websites we may not be able to retain all we learn. For this purpose we need to discuss whatever we learn with our family members, friends and other fellows. Our intention to do this should be to retain our knowledge and to share with others for their
benefits also. We must not try to show how scholarly or knowledge lovers we are. Any pompous behavior will lead to a disaster and we will not be able to be a true Muslim. Action must The second effective tip to retain whatever we learn about Islam is to apply in our daily life. If we learn about how to behave with our elders our every act must reflect that we know about this. Secondly our ultimate purpose should also be to improve our deeds with the help of what we learnt about Islamic teachings. People will also note change in us if we keep learning all about Islam and show it through our deeds. Never be bookish Learning about Islamic history and philosophical issues regarding Islam is equally good but in first instance we should learn about the practical aspects of Islam. Our ultimate objective must be to become a practical Muslim. After this stage we may resort to theoretical aspect to strengthen our Islamic ideology. Full use of online resources Nowadays online resources are the best hub to teach us practical aspects of Islam. Most of the websites and blogs nicely cover topics that relate to our practical life. We can search such resources by writing top Islamic resources in Google search window. Moreover, if we keep visiting this blog we can have lot of tips and tricks to learn how to spend our life as an ideal Muslim. So never forget to keep visiting this blog and also share your views about its contents in comments section below.
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“Do not become
angry, and Paradise will be
yours.”
Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him www.idealmuslim.com | 9
4nevertipstellto a B
eing a Muslim it is our bounden duty to speak truth all the time. Even if we have to face any type of hardship by following the path of truthfulness we should never cave in before falsehood. We all know that falsehood is the root-cause of several other sins. Just to protect our one lie we have to tell lies over lies and to commit a great sin (gunah kabeerah). Therefore, it is necessary to adopt easy to follow tips and always stay away from the path of shatan. Here are four easy tips you can follow without any ado and avoid one of the great sins.
Think long-term
Tips and Tricks
you tell a lie. Similarly the benefits you derive by following the falsehood will end earlier or later. It means you would be loser in all the ways.
Control fear factor This is the most lethal trick of shatan that he develops the fear factor if you speak the truth. So always control it with following reasoning: • I have to obey the order of Allah even if I lose or gain • If Allah is the savior no one can harm me in any way • Those who speak truth remain alive in their deeds forever
It happens in everyone’s life that a little lie gives Think logically us huge worldly benefits. But ultimately we not only Whenever you need to tell a lie just think would have to be liable for this here and hereafter but we that be the last one in your life. Just imagine how are also known as a liar if we keep on doing so. you have to move ahead with your one lie. You have Therefore, whenever a situation arises where a lie to become a liar to put a cover over it. Therefore, incan save from problems we must think: stead of doing thousand sins it is good to avoid the first one and face a little worldly hardship for the • Will this lie save me in the hereafter? time being. • Will I not become known as liar? • Will the benefits of lie last forever?
Leave the rest up to Allah
If you find the answers of the above three questions in affirmation you may go ahead and follow the shatan. But from all the rational standards it is impossible you would escape from the ire of Allah at doomsday because of speaking lies. Nor anyone in this world will remember you as a truthful person if
Not everything is under our control in this world. Our freedom of choice is very limited. It is Allah Who has complete control over all the affairs of this world. With this concept in mind just speak the truth in any kind of adverse situation and leave the rest up to Allah.
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Which
Hadith
Women Enter Jannat
R
asul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Shall I inform you which woman will enter Paradise?” The Sahaba replied: “Yes, most certainly.” Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “The woman who has children, is lovable, when she becomes angry the husband consoles her, and when the husband becomes angry she says that as long as you do not become pleased with me, I will not even apply surmah (antimony) to my eyes.” [Tibrani] The love between husband and wife offends Shaytaan more than anything else. If husbands and wives are to care for each other and try to keep the environment of the house as peaceful and loving as possible, every Muslim house can become a model of Jannat. All kinds of quarrels will cease and the misfortune of divorce will not prevail. Children brought up in such environments will be an example of piety, discipline, love and sympathy. May Allah make every Muslim house a model of Jannat. If the hearts of both spouses are united, there can be no greater bounty, and if there are differences between them (Allah forbid), there can be no greater calamity. www.idealmuslim.com | 11
“The most beloved of people to Allaah are those who have the best attitudes.� Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him www.idealmuslim.com | 12
Opinion
What Muhammad [PBUH] said about education/study • The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim. [both male and female] • If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. • He who issues forth in search of knowledge is busy in the cause of Allah till he returns from his quest. • Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave • He who leaveth home in search of knowledge, walk in the path of God” • Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave”
What his Muhammad S.A.W followers (Imam, Scholars, etc) said : “True knowledge is not measured in relationship to how much you memorize and then narrate, but rather, true knowledge is an expression of piety [protecting oneself from what Allah prohibited and acting upon what He mandated]. “Also, “Study and act upon what you learn.” Ibn Mas`ood, radiallaahu `anhu [Related by Abu Na`eem] “All humans are dead except those who have knowledge; and all those who have knowledge are asleep, except those who do good deeds; and those who do good deeds are deceived, except those who are sincere; and those who are sincere are always in a state of worry.” Imam Shafi’i (rahimullah) “There is no worse calamity for knowledge and its people than when outsiders intrude. They are ignorant, but presume to know. They cause trouble yet think that they are helping.” Imam Ibn Hazm Rahimahullah Seek (beneficial) knowledge, because seeking it for the sake of Allah is worship. And knowing it makes you more God-fearing; and searching for it is jihad, teaching it to those who do not know is charity, reviewing and learning it more is like tasbeeh. Through knowledge Allah will be known and worshiped.” -Ibn Taymiyyah A learned man who doesn’t restrain his passions is like a blind man holding a torch, he guides others but not himself. -Shaykh Sa’di Knowledge is my companion; it is with me wherever I go. My heart is its container, not the bookshelf. –Ali RA The creative spirit demands persistence. Seeking knowledge at an Young age is like engraving on a stone. - Hasan al-Basr
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“If your good deeds please you and your bad deeds upset you, then you are a mu’min (believer).” Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him
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This E-Magazine is a monthly publication as a new initiative brought to you by the Ideal Muslim team. Ideal Muslim is an organisation headed by Mufti Mohammed Kamil Sheikh (Med, MCMI) aiming to enhance the quality of people’s lives by providing practical tips and advices on all areas of life, giving the readers the opportunity to become Ideal Muslims. The organisation also operates Islamic Weekend Schools across London and actively teaches the future generations’ practical living techniques in a fun and enjoyable manner.
We appreciate all feedback, constructive criticism. Please share your thoughts with us at:
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