The Prohibition on fasting in the second half of Sha’ban

Praise be to Allaah. 

Abu Dawood (3237), al-Tirmidhi (738) and Ibn Naajah (1651) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When Sha’baan is half over, do not fast.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 590. 

This hadeeth indicates that it is not allowed to fast after halfway through Sha’baan, i.e., starting from the sixteenth day of the month. 

But there are reports that indicate that it is permissible to fast at this time. For example: 

Al-Bukhaari (1914) and Muslim (1082) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not anticipate Ramadaan by fasting one or two days before it begins, but if a man habitually fasts, then let him fast.” 

Celebrating 15th of Sha'ban

Praise be to Allaah Who has perfected our religion for us, and has completed His Favour upon us. And blessings and peace be upon His Prophet and Messenger Muhammad, the Prophet of repentance and mercy.

 Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):

 “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion [al-Maa’idah 5:3]

“Or have they partners with Allaah (false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not ordained? [al-Shooraa 42:21]

 In al-Saheehayn it is reported from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: 

“Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours [Islam] that is not part of it, will have it rejected.” 

In Saheeh Muslim it is narrated from Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say in his Friday khutbahs: “The best of speech is the Book of Allaah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The most evil of things are those which are newly-invented, and every innovation (bid’ah) is a going-astray.” 

The Biography of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA) (9 DVD set) by Sheikh Anwar Al-Awlaki

This nine-disks DVD PACK features, Sheikh Anwar effortlessly transports the viewer back to a unique place in Islamic history. This epic journey begins with Umar's (RA) early life and conversion to Islam, to his close relationship with Rasoolullah (SAW), to living through Abu Bakr's Khalifah, to eventually succeeding him as Khalifah and concluding with his brutal assassination.

This series is over 20 hrs long and features UNCUT footage and also Q&A which was not included in the audio release.

We are strictly against preventing people from knowledge - for that pupose we will offer this Series completely for FREE, for the sake of Allah (swt), so that it may reach the hearts of the minds of those who will watch it and it may spread over all the world, so everyone may insha Allah be able to get a taste of this beautiful Seres.

We ask Allah (swt) to accept our efforts and intentions of those who spread this knowledge, support it or who produced this series and especially Sheikh Anwar Al-Awlaki - may Allah protect him and give him Firdaws Al-Ala. (Amin.)

Lower Your Gaze - An Amazing Story of a 16 year old Sahabi

This is an amazing story of how one young Sahabi (may Allah be pleased with him) felt when he committed a sin unintentionally. Brothers and sisters, let's be honest with ourselves- how often do we actually lower our gaze? Whether it's on the streets, internet, books, magazines, etc. Do we really fear Allah, our Lord in public and in private? Or are we among the hypocrites that lower their gazes when at the Masjid or Islamic gatherings, but not from non-mahrams on the streets or when we're alone browsing through the internet, magazines, etc. Do we realize the fact that Allah hears all that we say and sees all that we do, and that He knows our intentions and what is in our hearts?

"Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the hearts conceal." (Qur'an 40: 19)

We should also ask ourselves- how often do we sin and once we recognize sins we've committed, whether they're major or minor sins...how does recognizing our sins affect us? Do we stop upon recognition and feel remorse and turn to Allah seeking forgiveness, or are we too busy and heedless to even recognize the sin let alone repent to Allah. And some of us pay so little attention to sins, that we don't even think they're worth thinking about because we assume they're so 'insignificant'. May Allah give us all the ability to recognize our sins, turn to Him in sincere repentance and may He forgive us, Ameen!

For the complete lecture, watch the video below:

Fasting in Sha'ban

Shabaan is the name of the (eighth) month, and it is so called because in this month the Arabs used to disperse (tashaaba) in search of water, or it was said that they dispersed to carry out raids and forays. Or it was said
that it is so called because it shaaba (branches out or emerges) i.e., it appears between the months of Rajab and Ramadaan. The plural forms of the word Shabaan are Shabaanaat and Shaaabeen.

Fasting in Shabaan

Aaishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger (saw) used to fast until we thought he would never break his fast, and not fast until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allaah fasting for an entire month except in Ramadaan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in Shabaan. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 1833; Muslim, no. 1956).

According to a report narrated by Muslim (no. 1957). He used to fast all of Shabaan, he used to fast all but a little of Shabaan.

Alim.org

Recently, a new website has been made by the Alim Foundation (formerly ISL Software Corporation). For those of you who have used the Alim software, it is almost an online version of the software with a few extra features. The site can be accessed at  http://alim.org/.

The services on this site are of no charge as opposed to the Alim software. Currently, it is in beta (development) version.
The main features available are various translations of the Quran, a few Hadith books along with some other extra features (such as narrator's list etc.), stories of the Prophets, biographies of the Sahaba, Islamic History and much more. Moreover, users can comment to ask or convey information which they think might be missing.
Following are the details that have been provided by the softwarehouse along with a search box for that site.. Note that since I copied it from their site, 'our' and other such pronouns refer to their softwarehouse.

Rulings of the Beard

Why Dr. Zakir Naik has been banned in the UK

This is with reference to an exclusion order issued to Dr Zakir Naik by the British Home Office, UK Border Agency, dated 16th June 2010.

Dr Zakir Naik, the illustrious and eminent speaker from Mumbai, India, is respected and revered throughout the world for his enlightening and convincing efforts promoting similarities between major faiths based on converging values for a common platform of Peace, using the binding commonalities that exist between the religious scriptures including the Bible, Vedas, Torah and Glorious Qur’an.

Following on from recent malicious and specious reports in the British media about the work of Dr Zakir Naik, we are disappointed to learn the British Government has decided to exclude him from visiting the United Kingdom to conduct a Peace Conference Tour between 25th-27th June 2010.

It is deeply regrettable the British Government has bowed to pressure from sectarian and Islamophobic pressure groups by preventing the entry of Dr Zakir Naik, who has been visiting and delivering talks in the United Kingdom for the past 15 years.

In the wake of these inaccurate press reports, Dr Zakir Naik issued a press release in the United Kingdom dated 11th June 2010 which is attached herewith.

The exclusion order issued by the Secretary of Home Department UK, appears to rely mainly on the following four extracts from various talks by Dr Zakir Naik which they found objectionable;

A couple more bans by the UK

Dr Bilal Philips Banned from the UK

(by Dr. Bilal Philips)

Well, the inevitable finally happened. At least the British Home Secretary called Dr Naik in Mumbai prior to his trip and told him not to come. I arrived to London this Saturday morning, 19 June, at 8am only to denied entry and put back on a plane at 11am back to Doha!!! So, I was unable to attend the Qur’aan conference on the 20th as planned!!! Sorry to all who attended the conference expecting to hear from me or see me. Even the conference was harassed by the British National Party and had to change their venue at the last moment. And Allah is the best Protector and disposer of our affairs.

Al Kawthar Lecturers Banned

Dr Zakir Naik challenges UK ban!

Let Death be your Slogan

Suppose that you were told tonight that tomorrow is your last day on this Earth, what would you do?

Do you think that you won’t change your regular routine to one which is more Islamic, in other words, is your routine Islamic enough?

Do you think you will be content with what you had been able to do in this life and that you would not ask for some more time?

Death is something that all of us know that we will experience as Allah (swt) mentions in the Quran in Surah Al-e-Imran, Chapter 3, Verse 185:

Al-Malahim Interview with Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki

Dr. Zakir banned in UK

An Indian Muslim preacher has been banned from entering the UK for his "unacceptable behaviour", the home secretary says.

Zakir Naik, a 44-year-old television preacher, had been due to give a series of lectures in London and Sheffield.

Correct Me if I'm wrong

It has been narrated that once Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) stood up and asked his people, “What would you do if you see that I have made a wrong decision (i.e. against the Quran and Sunnah)?” One of them stood up and said, “We would use our swords to force you back onto the right path (i.e. the Quran and Sunnah).” Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) replied by saying, “I am happy to have such people who would correct me and bring me back to what is right in case I make some mistake.”

I hope that I can expect the same from my readers that they would correct me if I am wrong even if it means being rude to me or going against any of my other wishes.

Pakistan lifts ban on Facebook

LAHORE, Pakistan – Pakistan lifted a ban on Facebook on Monday after officials from the social networking site apologized for a page deemed offensive to Muslims and removed its contents, a top information technology official said.

When Death becomes a Wedding

For those viewing this post from the homepage, note that there's more after the following video. You'll be able to see the complete post by clicking "Read the complete entry" below.

Worldchains - An Alternative to Facebook?

A new website called Worldchains has recently been made (after the controversy of Everyone Draw Muhammad Day) by a Pakistani. Even though I just signed up, it seems almost an exact copy of Facebook and might prove to be very successful especially if Facebook is banned in Pakistan forever. However, of course there will be some setbacks of using this, at least in the beginning, because all the contacts that a person could have might not be willing to sign up at this site. It has got a few extra options which might be annoying to many and some options just don't work properly while I can't figure out how to do some of the same stuff which I used to on Facebook but on the whole, it's not bad. Following are the details of this site.

Is the Prophet Muhammad (S) synonymous to forgiveness?

This post has been written in response to the article “Pakistan should ban extremism, not Facebook” which was published on the CNN International website on 20^th of May.






Why is it that when it comes to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (S), the views of some Muslims are similar or, in some aspects, even worse than that? Why is it that these people think that the Prophet Muhammad (S) did nothing all his life except forgiving people left and right?

Why is it that when it comes to their own honour, they use every possible means to defend it and when it comes to the honour of the Prophet Muhammad (S), they do not do anything claiming that the Prophet Muhammad (S) would not do anything to defend his honour?

These are usually the people who, after an in-depth study of Islam, deviate from the Sirat al-Mustaqim (the straight path) by following some deviant sects, establishing a new sect and in some cases, migrating from Islam to kufr (disbelief).

We advise such people to first research on what they are going to say and then go and speak their mind to other people, informing them whether it is the Islamic view which they are expressing or their own view.

CNN obtains letter written by Faisal Shahzad

New York (CNN) -- Faisal Shahzad, the suspect in the failed car bombing in New York's Times Square, was frustrated with the state of the Muslim world and sought a way to "fight back."
Two e-mails obtained by CNN help piece together a portrait of the Pakistani-born naturalized U.S. citizen. They also may shed some light on what propelled his failed terror plot.

"Everyone knows the current situation of Muslim World," he wrote in an e-mail he sent to a large group of recipients in February 2006.

At the time, he had been in the United States for about six years, had earned his MBA and was working as a financial analyst in Connecticut.

"Everyone knows how the Muslim country bows down to pressure from the west. Everyone knows the kind of humiliation we are faced with around the globe."

Pakistan blocks YouTube over un-Islamic content

Move follows Muslim anger that prompted government to block Facebook

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan blocked YouTube and many other Internet sites Thursday in a widening crackdown on online content deemed offensive to Islam, reflecting the secular government's sensitivities to an issue that has ignited protests in the Muslim country.

The move came a day after the government obeyed a court order to block Facebook over a page called "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!" that encourages users to post images of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. Most Muslims regard depictions of the prophet, even favorable ones, as blasphemous.

Supporters of an Islamist political party protested against Facebook in at least three cities in small and peaceful rallies. The government, which is unpopular among many Islamists for siding with the United States in the war against the Taliban and al-Qaida, is hoping that the website bans will lessen anger in the days ahead.

CNN: Pakistan blocks YouTube, Facebook over 'sacrilegious content'

(CNN) -- Pakistan on Thursday blocked access to YouTube -- a day after it shut down the social networking site Facebook -- in response to an online group calling on people to draw the Prophet Mohammed.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority ordered operators to shut down YouTube "in view of growing sacrilegious contents on it," officials said in a statement.

PTA said Thursday it reached its decision after all "possible avenues were used within its jurisdiction, including using regular channels available on the Facebook and YouTube to launch protest, to avoid appearances of derogatory material available on their websites."

Pakistan Bans YouTube

Update: Please read the article below that was added.

Even though no news update on this yet, it looks like Pakistan has also YouTube along with Facebook (Facebook was banned on the order of Lahore High Court which was issued yesterday. Visit http://islamicb.blogspot.com/2010/05/pakistan-shuts-down-facebook-over-draw.html or http://islamicb.blogspot.com/2010/05/pakistan-court-orders-facebook-ban.html for more information) the reason being the same, i.e. in protest to Everyone Draw Mohammed Day. See the following screenshots.

Pakistan shuts down Facebook over 'Draw Mohammed Day'

(CNN) -- Pakistan is blocking access to Facebook in response to an online group calling on people to draw the Prophet Mohammed, officials said Wednesday.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority issued the order a day before "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day," scheduled by a Facebook group with the same name.

"Obviously (the blocking of Facebook) is related to the objectionable material that was placed on Facebook. That is why it is blocked," said Khoram Ali Mehran of the telecommunication authority.

Pakistan court orders Facebook ban

A Pakistani court has issued a ban on the social networking site Facebook after a user-generated contest page encourged members to post caricatures of Prophet Mohammed.

Founder claims 'Everyone Draw Mohammed Day' a fiction

The cartoonist, Molly Norris, who claims to have declared May 20 as ‘Everyone Draw Mohammed Day’ has backed out with the argument that it was supposed to be a fictional joke and therefore, she apologises to all the Muslims and asks that this day be called off.

However, instead of it getting cancelled, it’s popularity is growing, both among Muslims and non-Muslims. More non-Muslims are intending to show what they claim to be ‘freedom of speech’ as indicated by the increasing number of members on the facebook event page, not forgetting to mention that there are some who are condemning. This simply shows the intentions of the majority of the kuffar. Even though this was soon to happen, Allah (swt) specifically chose to disgrace Molly Norris by making her take the initiative of the worst crimes in His eyes so that she receives the sins of all those who follow her practice even after she calls it off.

Similarly, more Muslims are responding to such activities and are using this opportunity to propagate the message of Islam as shown by the following video.

Muhammad Cartoonist attacked during lecture

STOCKHOLM - A Swedish artist who angered Muslims by depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a dog was assaulted Tuesday as angry protesters interrupted his university lecture about the limits of artistic freedom.

Lars Vilks told The Associated Press a man in the front row ran up to him and head-butted him during the lecture, breaking his glasses but leaving him uninjured. It wasn't immediately clear what happened to the attacker.

A video clip of the incident on the website of a Swedish newspaper showed police using pepper spray and batons to hold off an angry crowd shouting "God is great" in Arabic after Vilks was escorted out of the lecture hall.

Response to Everyone Draw Muhammad Day: The Dust will never settle down

The kuffar are planning to celebrate the first Annual Everyone Draw Muhammad Day on the 20th of May, 2010. Following is the poster for that event.




Here is our video response to it followed by a lecture explaining how the Sahaba (RA) would react to such blasphemy and the rulings on how we should deal with it. It's long but do take some time out to read it. It's very important. You can either listen to the lecture posted after the video or just read the typed article. It's the same. Though, if you haven't got enough time for that, at least listen to the last 10 minutes of the lecture or read the last 4-5 pages.

Obama VS the Mujahideen

Anwar al-Awlaki appears in an al-Qaeda video

(CNN) -- An American-born Muslim cleric has appeared in a video released by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Anwar al-Awlaki authorised for assassination by Obama

Dr. Israr Ahmed called back by Allah (swt)

LAHORE: The world of Islam lost a luminary early on Wednesday as Dr. Israr Ahmed breathed his last in Lahore, Pakistan. He died of a massive cardiac arrest, according to media reports.

Yemeni cleric family offers a deal

The father of a Anwar al-Awlaqui, the Yemeni Islamic cleric who is on a Washington hit list has told Al Jazeera that his son would stop anti-US messages if taken off the list.

Al-Awlaqi, a US-born cleric with alleged links to Al-Qaeda has been placed on the hit list for directly plotting against the United States, a US intelligence official said last week.

Al Jazeera quoted the father, Nasser al-Awlaqi who is a former minister of agriculture and rector at the University of Sanaa as saying: "If Washington stops targeting his son by threatening to abduct, capture, or kill him, Anwar will cease his statements and speeches against it."

20 Exam Tips for Students

20 Exam Tips for Students

Praise be to Allaah and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger and upon his family and companions.

The Muslim student puts his trust in Allaah when facing the tests of this world, and he seeks His help whilst following the prescribed means, in accordance with the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):

“The strong believer is better and is more beloved to Allaah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive to attain that which will benefit you and seek the help of Allaah, and do not feel helpless.” (Saheeh Muslim, hadeeth no. 2664)

Among those means are the following:

• Turning to Allaah by making du’aa’ in any way that is prescribed in Islam, such as saying, “Rabbiy ishrah li sadri wa yassir li amri (O my Lord, expand my chest and make things easy for me).”

• Getting used to sleeping early and going to exams on time.

• Preparing all required or permitted equipment such as pens, rulers and setsquares, calculators and watches, because being well prepared helps one to answer questions.

• Reciting the du’aa’ for leaving the house: “Bismillaah, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allaah, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah. Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika an adilla aw udalla, aw azilla aw uzalla, aw azlima aw uzlama, aw ajhala aw yujhala ‘alayya (In the name of Allaah, I put my trust in Allaah, and there is no strength and no power except with Allaah. O Allaah, I seek refuge with You lest I should stray or be led astray, lest I slip (commit a sin unintentionally) or be tripped, lest I oppress or be oppressed, lest I behave foolishly or be treated foolishly).”Do not forget to seek your parents’ approval, for their du’aa’ for you will be answered.

• Mention the name of Allaah before you start, for mentioning the name of Allaah is prescribed when beginning any permissible action; this brings blessing, and seeking the help of Allaah is one of the means of strength.

• Fear Allaah with regard to your classmates, and do not be affected by their anxiety or fear just before the exam, for anxiety is a contagious disease. Instead, make them feel optimistic by saying good words as prescribed in Islam. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was optimistic when he heard the name of Suhayl (which means “easy”) and he said: “Things have been made easy for you.” He used to like to hear the words ‘Yaa Raashid, when he went out for any purpose. So be optimistic that you and your brothers will pass this exam.

• Remembering Allaah (dhikr) dispels anxiety and tension. If something is too difficult for you, then pray to Allaah to make it easy for you. Whenever Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) found something too difficult to understand, he would say, “O You Who taught Ibraaheem, teach me; O You Who caused Sulaymaan to understand, cause me to understand.”

• Choose a good place to sit during the exam, if you can. Keep your back straight, and sit on the chair in a healthy manner.

• Look over the exam first. Studies advise spending 10% of the exam time in reading the questions carefully, noting the important words and dividing one’s time between the questions.

• Plan to answer the easy questions first, then the difficult ones. Whilst reading the questions, write notes and ideas which you can use in your answers later.

• Answer questions according to importance.

• Start by answering the easy questions which you know. Then move on to the questions which carry high marks, and leave till the end the questions to which you do not know the answers, or which you think will take a long time to produce an answer or which do not carry such high marks.

• Take your time to answer, for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Deliberation is from Allaah and haste is from the Shaytaan.” (A hasan hadeeth. Saheeh al-Jaami, 3011).

• Think carefully about the answer and choose the right answer when answering multiple-choice questions. Deal with them in the following manner. If you are sure that you have chosen the right answer, then beware of waswasah (insinuating whispers from the Shaytaan). If you are not sure, then start by eliminating the wrong or unlikely answers, then choose the correct answer based on what you think is most likely to be correct. If you guessed at a correct answer then do not change it unless you are sure that it is wrong – especially if you will lose marks for a wrong answer. Research indicates that the correct answer is usually that which the student thinks of first.

• In written exams, collect your thoughts before you start to answer. Write an outline for your answer with some words which will indicate the ideas which you want to discuss. Then number the ideas in the sequence in which you want to present them.

• Write the main points of your answer at the beginning of the line, because this is what the examiner is looking for, and he may not see what he is looking for if it is in the middle of the page and he is in a hurry.

• Devote 10% of the time for reviewing your answers. Take your time in reviewing, especially in mathematical problems and writing numbers. Resist the desire to hand in the exam papers quickly, and do not let the fact that some people are leaving early bother you. They may be among the people who have handed in their papers too early.

• If you discover after the exam that you answered some questions incorrectly, then take that as a lesson in the importance of being well prepared in the future, and not rushing to answer questions. Accept the will and decree of Allaah and do not fall prey to frustration and despair. Remember the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “If anything befalls you, do not say, ‘If only I had done such and such.’ Rather say, ‘Qadar Allaah wa maa sha’a kaan (the decree of Allaah and what He wills happened),’ for saying ‘if only’ opens the door for the Shaytaan.” (Saheeh Muslim, and the first part of this hadeeth was mentioned above).

• Note that cheating is haraam whether it is in foreign language tests or any other tests. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Whoever cheats is not one of us.” It is wrongdoing and it is a haraam means of attaining a degree or certificate, etc., that you have no right to. The consensus is that cheating is a kind of cooperation in sin and transgression. So do without that which is haraam, and Allaah will suffice you from His bounty. Reject all offers of haraam things that come to you from others. Whoever gives up a thing for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better. You have to denounce and resist evil, and tell the authorities about any such thing that you see during the exam, or before or after it. This is not the forbidden kind of slander rather it is denouncing evil which is obligatory.

Advise those who buy or sell questions or post them on the Internet etc., or who prepare cheat notes. Tell them to fear Allaah, and tell them of the ruling on what they are doing and on the money they earn from that. Tell them that the time they are spending in preparing these haraam things, if they spent it in studying, or answering previous exams, or helping one another to understand the subject before the exam, that would be better for them than doing these haraam things.

- Remember what you have prepared for the Hereafter, and the questions of the examination in the grave, and how to be saved on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever is saved from the Fire and admitted to Paradise will indeed have succeeded.

We ask Allaah to make us succeed in this world and cause us to be among those who are victorious and saved in the Hereafter, for He is the All-Hearing Who answers prayer.

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

 

Source: http://islamgreatreligion.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/20-exam-tips-for-muslim-students/

Why did they target Imam Anwar al-Awlaki

After the Fort Hood attack, there has been much confusion not only among the non-Muslims but also the Islāmic community. Some Muslims do not know what to think about Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki any more. Some of them who, up until November 5 2009, held the Imam in great respect, found themselves questioning their allegiances and reviewing their moral and religious alliances. As soon as the United States media started focusing on him, many of so-called Muslim blogs from around the world condemned the Fort Hood incident and even went so far as to call Imam Anwar a non-Muslim. I believe it would be a good idea, therefore, to review the facts and analyze them in the light of the Qur’an and the Sunnah to see where our Deen stands on this issue. Is Imam Anwar really outside the bounds of Islam or are his opponents the hypocrites ?
Before we study the incident and it’s aftermath, we should cover a little background information on Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki (especially for those of us who don’t quite know him yet).

A Message from Anwar al-Awlaki

Following is the message sent by Imam Anwar al-Awlaki, in specific, addressing the American Muslims.

The first video is an excerpt from CNN. The next two videos make up the whole lecture of about 12 minutes which was sent as the message.

LETTER TO BARACK OBAMA - END THE WAR OF TEROR – JUST SAY NO TO AMERICAN EMPIRE

REVOLUTION MUSLIM is pleased to announce our next effort and we ask all to take time out to participate in this noble cause. We have penned a letter to Mr. Barach Obama, Pharoah of the American Empire calling him to Islam and, or to end the Wars and American aggression across the globe. This is in emulation of our noble and beloved Prophet Muhammad (saws), who sent several letters to the leaders of his time calling them to Islam and warning them in the event they did not accept of impending doom. We ask all to sign it whether you live in the United States and stay tuned for more information about the endeavor as we use it to spread our platform over the coming months inshallah. You can read the pdf below and then sign the petition by clicking HERE... feel free to email this petition to friends and family, or to print the flier and hand it out in your community, embed it on blogs and websites, forums and make youtube videos about the endeavor we would like to get as many signatures as possible inshallah. Jazakallah Khair and again stay tuned for more with regard to developments of this effort inshallah.

Zaid Hamid's links with Yusuf Kazzab

Here's a letter that I was recently emailed. Following that is a letter from an ex-fan of Zaid Hamid.

They Only Wish to Deceive Us

The Kuffar would do anything that they can so that we, Muslims, follow them and leave Islam and surprisingly, many of us are doing what they want.
Do listen to the following two videos.

A Few Updates

Last week, I mentioned that I would be updating my feed url from http://feeds2.feedburner.com/imaddd to http://feeds2.feedburner.com/islamicb. Well, the change has been made along with a few others mentioned below.

How Islam was Established - Imam Anwar al-Awlaki

Feed Update

I am extremely sorry to all those who had subscribed to my blog. For all those who had subscribed, they would not have got any update for almost a year now (this applies to even those who subscribed using Facebook and other social networking sites). I just discovered yesterday as I was making a fan page on Facebook that my feedburner feed's size limit of 512 KB had been exceeded. Therefore, no update after the post "Celebrating Eid Milad-un-Nabi" had been sent to the subscribers. Therefore, I have posted the following list of blog posts, that subscribers might have missed, and linked them to their respective posts so that if anyone clicks it, he'll be redirected there. I have changed the settings of my feed to display a maximum of 7 posts. Therefore, Inshallah, you will be receiving updates from now on.

Also note that, Inshallah, in about a week, I will change my feed url from http://feeds2.feedburner.com/imaddd to http://feeds2.feedburner.com/islamicb . All those who manually added the feed url to their reader would have to change it. For those who either subscribed to email updates or subscribed using Feedburner, their feed url would automatically be updated when I update, so they won't have to change anything.

Milads - A Common Bid'ah

Rabi'ul Awwal has started and the season for one of the most common bid'ahs, milads, have also started. Let us take a look at the details of this bid'ah.

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Q.) What is the truth about Milad? On the 12th of Rabi-Awwal Milad-un-Nabi is celebrated with great fanfare and Milad meetings are arranged. What is the ruling of Shariah regarding that?

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Are we planning for the Present or the Future?

The dark sky encompassed the whole street except for the light being emitted by my bike's headlight. I was hurrying to the mosque when, suddenly..., I heard a loud clicking sound and a sigh of pain.

Important Update - Letter from Aafia Saddiqui - My Dead Nation

I recently posted an article titled Letter from Aafia Saddiqui - My Dead Nation. However, I was unsure of the authenticity of the letter and since I did not want an inauthentic article to be spread, I have removed it.

Letter from Aafia Saddiqui - My Dead Nation

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Important Update - Letter from Aafia Saddiqui - My Dead Nation

Celebrating Valentines Day? Valentines Day not for Muslims

Allah has chosen for us Islam as our religion and He will not accept any other religion from anyone, as He Almighty Says (what means):

“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.” [Quran 3:85]

Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )told us that some of his followers would follow non-Muslims in some of their rituals and customs, as in the Hadeeth (Prophetic narration) narrated by Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri may Allaah be pleased with him:

“You will certainly follow the ways of those who came before you, span by span and cubit by cubit, until even if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would follow them.”

We (listeners) said, “O Messenger of Allaah, (do you mean) the Jews and Christians?”

He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )said: “Then who else?”

[Al-Bukhaari]

What the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) spoke of has indeed come to pass and has become widespread in recent times, in many of the Muslim countries.

Many of the Muslims follow non-Muslims in many of their customs and ways of behaving, and imitate them in some of their rituals and in celebrating their holidays.The matter has been made even worse by the opening up of mass communications between peoples, whereby the rituals and customs of the non-Muslims are now transmitted with the glamorous adornment of sound and image from their countries into the Muslim countries, via satellite TV and the World Wide Web (Internet). Many Muslims have been deceived by their glamour.

In recent years, a new phenomenon has spread among the Muslim youth – males and females alike – which does not bode well. This is manifested in their imitation of non-Muslims in their celebration of the Valentine’s Day, which has led the scholars to explain the rulings of Sharee’ah (Islamic Law) concerning that, out of sincerity towards Allaah, His Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk, so that Muslims may have a clear understanding of this issue and so that they will not fall into that which will undermine the ‘Aqeedah (belief) with which Allaah has blessed them.

The story of the Festival of Love (Valentine’s Day)

Are those who rebel against the rulers today Khawarij?

Sheikh ‘Umar ‘Abdur Rahman said:

Just as for the Khawarij, the Ulamaa’ had explained that they were one of those who rebelled against the true Imam (Al-Imam Al Haq), and they were openly disobedient to them, and they conspired against them – but where are the true Imams today, who could (the most rightful) give a label to someone who rebel against them as‘Khawarij’ ?

Methodology for the Re-Establishment of Khilafah - Imam Anwar al-Awlaki

Question:
Salam Alakum. What I understand from your lectures is that you believe the
method to re-establish Khilafah is through Jihad. Can you respond to this?

“Another view that is being addressed to the Ummah is the concept of fighting
the rulers and that through military struggle Islam will return to the world
stage. Again this is based upon a particular Hadith. It has been narrated from
many sources including Imam Muslim that the Prophet (saw) said, .Do not
challenge the people of authority unless you see explicit Kufr of which you have
clear proof from Allah(from Islam).. Ibn Kathir in his Tafseer states that if
the Khaleefah reverts to the rule of disbelief, he would be fought until he
returned to the implementation of Islam and the Shari’ah.

Ibn Hajr in his Fateh al-Bari also states that if he becomes a Kafir, or
changes the Shari.ah he should be fought and removed. This view is also
mentioned in Nayl al-Awtar and supported by Imam Shawkani. That is, if the ruler
rules by other than the Shari’ah he is fought until he either repents or is
removed. However that is the only situation that it applies to i.e. the ruling
of a Khaleefah who resorts to the Kufr ruling and disobedience to Allah. It does
not relate to the Khaleefah becoming tyrannical and also does not relate to his
personality becoming corrupt. In which case obedience to him is binding and the
Muslims should still pray behind him and fight Jihad behind him.

However, these Ahadith are not connected to the current situation. They are all
connected to revolt and rising against the Khaleefah and are titled under the
subject of .Khurooj min al Khaleefah. i.e. rising against the authority of a
Khaleefah or an Imam.

The current situation is not that of the Khulafaa’ who used to rule by Islam
and then turned away from Islam. The current problem is also not merely related
to removing a ruler by killing him. Rather, entire systems of Kufr have been
implemented over Muslims for over 76 years, none of the rulers have ever ruled
by the Shari.ah and none of them are Khulafaa’ within a Khilafah. The systems
that they are applying are either monarchies or Capitalistic with some sort of
democratic framework. Hence, the reality isn.t that of removing a bad Khaleefah
within an Islamic State. The reality is of uprooting an entire Kufr system,
including it.s ruler, to again establish Dar ul-Islam. The current rulers are
not comparable in any way to Khulafaa’ who have introduced one Kufr law into the
Khilafah. Hence these Ahadith, which have always been understood in the context
of Dar ul-Islam i.e. where Islam is implemented and the Muslims possess the
security, do not apply upon the current situation. The reality which they
address is that of removing a Khaleefah who rules with Kufr within the Islamic
State, not that of uprooting an entire Kufr system merely by fighting and
killing the ruler of that system.

The only situation that is comparable from the evidences is the establishment
of the Islamic State for the very first time by the Prophet(saw) and the
struggle which he (saw) went through in order to establish this State and change
Dar ul-Kufr to Dar ul-Islam. This is the struggle which he (saw) referred to in
the Hadith of Hamza and as is illustrated in the Books of Sunnah and Seerah. As
that is the only instance in which a complete system of Kufr existed and was
changed to a complete system of Islam. So the matter is regarding the changing
of a system, not merely a ruler. The Ahadith of fighting, apply to changing a
ruler i.e. a Khaleefah who has gone astray not a system, only the struggle of
the Prophet (saw) in Makkah applies to the changing of a system. So military
struggle is not the method of re-establishing the Khilafah.”
- Also, can you give me your views on Hizb ut-Tahrir. JazakAllah Khair. Salam
Alakum.

Muslim Convert: Warning to Those who reject Islam

The Recitation which the non-Muslims asked to Translate