Asma Allah (The Names of Allah)

Islam is not only for the Arabs

Nor only for the South Asians

Islam is not just for one race

or one nation

BUT...

ISLAM IS FOR ALL!

Halal Food

WHAT IS HALAL FOOD?

In Arabic, the word halal means permitted or lawful. Halal food are food that are allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines. According to these guidelines gathered from the Qu'ran, Muslim followers cannot consume the following:

• pork or pork by products
  
• animals that were dead prior to slaughtering
  
• animals not slaughtered properly or not slaughtered in the name of Allah
  
• blood and blood by products
  
• alcohol and any forms of intoxicants
  
• carnivorous animals
  
• birds of prey

These prohibited food and ingredients are called haram, meaning forbidden in Arabic.

WHAT ELSE?

Halal food are food that consist of safe ingredients, otherwise, it is haram to be eaten

Halal food are food that are prepared in clean environment

Halal food are food that can benefit our health....

HALAL FOOD IS GOOD FOR ALL!

Maher Zain - Open Your Eye with Lyrics

Have you ever wonder about The Creator?

Look around yourselves
Can’t you see this wonder
Spreaded infront of you
The clouds floating by
The skies are clear and blue
Planets in the orbits
The moon and the sun
Such perfect harmony

Let’s start question in ourselves
Isn’t this proof enough for us
Or are we so blind
To push it all aside..
No..

We just have to
Open our eyes, our hearts, and minds
If we just look bright to see the signs
We can’t keep hiding from the truth
Let it take us by surprise
Take us in the best way
(Allah..)
Guide us every single day..
(Allah..)
Keep us close to You
Until the end of time..

Look inside yourselves
Such a perfect order
Hiding in yourselves
Running in your veins
What about anger love and pain
And all the things you’re feeling
Can you touch them with your hand?
So are they really there?

Lets start question in ourselves
Isn’t this proof enough for us?
Or are we so blind
To push it all aside..?
No..

We just have to
Open our eyes, our hearts, and minds
If we just look bright to see the signs
We can’t keep hiding from the truth
Let it take us by surprise
Take us in the best way
(Allah..)
Guide us every single day..
(Allah..)
Keep us close to You
Until the end of time..

When a baby’s born
So helpless and weak
And you’re watching him growing..
So why deny
Whats in front of your eyes
The biggest miracle of life..

We just have to
Open our eyes, our hearts, and minds
If we just look quiet we’ll see the signs
We can’t keep hiding from the truth
Let it take us by surprise
Take us in the best way
(Allah..)
Guide us every single day..
(Allah..)
Keep us close to You
Until the end of time..

Open your eyes and hearts and minds
If you just look bright to see the signs
We can’t keep hiding from the truth
Let it take us by surprise
Take us in the best way
(Allah..)
Guide us every single day..
(Allah..)
Keep us close to You
Until the end of time..

Allah..
You created everything
We belong to You
Ya Robb we raise our hands
Forever we thank You..
Alhamdulillah..

Artist: Maher Zain

Copyright: Awakening Records 2009

prayer is a waste of time!

Muslims have to pray 5 times a day and it is a waste of time?

1 day = 24 hours

Chatting + blogging + surfing (Facebook, Friendster, Myspace) = 2 hours
Gossiping = 30 minutes (or more?)
Playing PS2 = 1 hour
Watching TV = 2 hours
Sleeping = 6 to 9 hours
Day – dreaming = 1 hour

1 prayer ± 3 minutes

3 minutes x 5 times prayer = 15 minutes

5 times prayer only cost you about approximately 15 minutes…

So you have the residual of;
24 hours – 15 minutes = 23 hours and 45 minutes to do other things

Xiet_Enigma
150509

Why Is Islam seen as Difficult?

Islam is a beautiful, simple religion. But unfortunately many muslims do not practice true Islam. This creates a negative image about Islam until Islam is seen as a religion that is difficult, illogical, barbaric, oppressive of women, unjust and so on.

That is why we cannot learn about and judge Islam based on the doings of an individual Muslim. This is because not everything that Muslims do reflects what is contained in the teachings of Islam. To know the true teachings of Islam, we have to learn it from the original source, namely the Qur’an and as-Sunnah. We can accept or reject the words and deeds of any person, except for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who is protected by God from any wrongdoing.

Why is Islam seen as difficult? The following are some of the reasons why Islam is perceived as difficult.

Islam that has become impure

Islam is naturally simple. But when the teachings or practices of Islam are polluted by things that do not come from Islam, the simplicity of Islam is lost, and the religion is seen as difficult.

When a person embraces Islam, he only needs to change his beliefs (akidah) and only has to perform a few particular practices. He can still practice his culture, as long as it does not conflict with the Qur’an and As-Sunnah. He does not need to become an Arab or a Malay, or change his racial identity in any way. But when Islam becomes mixed up with the traditions of a culture, or any made-up practices, it becomes difficult, especially for those who have recently embraced Islam. They are not only told to change their beliefs, but also to change their culture and the habits that they have followed for years.

Hai manusia, sesungguhnya Kami menciptakan kamu dari seorang laki-laki dan seorang perempuan dan menjadikan kamu berbangsa-bangsa dan bersuku-suku supaya kamu saling kenal mengenal. Sesungguhnya orang yang paling mulia di antara kamu di sisi Allah ialah orang yang paling bertakwa di antara kamu. Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Mengetahui lagi Maha Mengenal. (49:13)

Islam that is practiced without knowledge

Many Muslims do not practice Islam with knowledge based on Qur’an and as-Sunnah. As a result, they do not understand the rukhsah (conveniences) that are in Islam.

In addition, they cannot differentiate between cultural traditions and the teachings of Islam.

There are also those who instruct muallaf to do things that do not actually come from the teachings of Islam, such as forbidding them from going back to their families, telling them to break off their relationships with their non-Muslim friends, and so on. In truth, when embracing Islam, a person should become a better son or daughter, a better family member and a better friend.

“Dan Kami perintahkan kepada manusia (berbuat baik) kepada dua orang ibu-bapaknya; ibunya telah mengandungnya dalam keadaan lemah yang bertambah-tambah, dan menyapihnya dalam dua tahun. Bersyukurlah kepada-Ku dan kepada dua orang ibu bapakmu, hanya kepada-Kulah kembalimu. Dan jika keduanya memaksamu untuk mempersekutukan dengan Aku sesuatu yang tidak ada pengetahuanmu tentang itu, maka janganlah kamu mengikuti keduanya, dan pergaulilah keduanya di dunia dengan baik, dan ikutilah jalan orang yang kembali kepada-Ku, kemudian hanya kepada-Kulah kembalimu, maka Ku-beritakan kepadamu apa yang telah kamu kerjakan.” (31:14-15)

Other than that, in many places, people who embrace Islam are told to change their names. This is a very sensitive issue in many cultures. A lot of non-Muslims delay embracing Islam because they are reluctant to change their names. While in truth, Islam does not force a person who has embraced Islam to change their name, as long their name does not have a bad meaning. Good names are Islamic names, regardless of what language they are in. In fact, many of the companions had non-Arabic names such as Salman and Bilal. They were never instructed by the Prophet (PBUH) to change their names to Arabic.

Islam that does not follow priority

Islam is a religion that emphasizes priority. The companions often asked Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), “What (deed) comes first?” or “What (deed in) Islam comes first?” Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gave different answers to different people based on their different levels and situations.

A person must practice Islam based on priority. That person must not be burdened with drastically practicing all the teachings of Islam. But he or she must first learn the basic knowledge of Islam, including recognizing God and the core issues of Islam, before other matters. If this is not followed, Islam becomes difficult to practice because the foundation for building one’s faith is too weak.

This happens in society when they emphasize matters of fiqh (aspects of law) compared to akidah (belief), emphasize matters of furu’ (branches, i.e. finer points) compared to core issues, emphasize tilawah (recitation of) al-Quran compared to understanding the tafsir (interpretation) or contents of the Qur’an and so on.

Article by zahir & firdaus

Islam is Simple: Islam is Easy in Practise

God is Most Merciful, Most Gracious and Most Just. He does not burden a person with something that he or she cannot bear.
“Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope."
(Al-Baqarah 2:286)

God judges us based on the best that we can do. God does not compare us to other people. The best that we can do is not the same as the best that another person can do.

When someone embraces Islam, he does not have to drastically carry out all the teachings of Islam. He only needs to do what he can, gradually introducing Islam into his life, step-by-step and at his own pace, according to priority.

The Qur’an came down in stages
In the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Qur’an was not sent down in one go, but was sent down in stages, over a period of 23 years. Therefore, the companions*

learned Islam from the Prophet and then practiced it gradually, step-by-step.

The Prohibition of Alcohol

Many of the companions were alcoholics and drunkards. They drank alcohol in great quantities. With the coming of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), alcohol was forbidden. But this prohibition did not happen drastically. It occurred gradually.

Beginning with explaining the hazards of alcohol:
“They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: “In them is a great sin, and (some) benefits for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit.” And they ask you what they ought to spend. Say: “That which is (spare) beyond your needs.” Thus Allah makes clear to you His Laws in order that you may give thought." (al-Baqarah 2:219)

This was followed by the reduction of the intake of alcohol by forbidding the companions* from performing solat (prayer) while drunk. With this, they had fewer opportunities to drink alcohol.
“O you who believe! Approach not shalat (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter…” (4:43)

After that, only then was alcohol forbidden entirely.
“O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper” (5:90)

A lot of rukhsah (convenience)
In Islam, there are a lot of rukhsah (conveniences)that are given to us by God. For example, when we are travelling or sick, we are allowed to not fast in the month of Ramadan and replace our fast on other days.

"Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful" (2:185)

God has given us many more conveniences. For example:
- People who are travelling are allowed to combine and shorten two solats (prayers) in one time.
- People who are sick can combine their solats (prayers) in one time.
- People who are sick can perform solat (prayer)sitting or lying down.
- Food that is forbidden becomes permissible in times of crisis.

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful” (5:3)

* The companions are those who believe, have met Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and have passed away as Muslims.

-article by Zahir & Firdaus

Islam is Simple: Life is easier with Manual

People always say, “Islam is a difficult religion. So many do’s and don’ts (commands and prohibitions/laws). This is haram, that is haram! What is halal??! It’s so difficult!”
In truth, the commands and prohibitions in Islam are only a few.

For example, Islam prohibits its followers from eating pork. But at the same time, there are hundreds, even thousands of kinds of food that are considered halal.

Islam makes it compulsory for its followers to perform solat (prayer) five times a day. Each solat only takes about 5 minutes. This means, 23 hours and 35 minutes of the day of a Muslim is outside of solat.

Other than that, as has been explained before this, do’s and don’ts in Islam are for the good of mankind himself.

Muslims do not live in trial and error. The entire life of a Muslim is based on a practical manual that was given by the Manufacturer of humanity and the entire universe. The Most Gracious and Most Merciful God sent the Prophet as a technician to explain the manual that was given to humanity so that they may live in the best way.

“…This day, I (God) have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But as for him who is forced by severe hunger, with no inclination to sin, then surely Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” 5:3

The teachings of Islam embrace all aspects of life, including personal issues, family, society, law, nationhood, entertainment, economy, military, politics, civilization and so on and so forth. It encompasses the relationship between a human and his God, the relationships between humans and the relationship between humanity and the universe.

Islam does not just revolve around faith, it also revolves around deeds. It does not only give guidance on spiritual issues, it also gives guidance on material, physical, mental and emotional issues.

With this manual, we are not left floundering looking for a path that has been theorized by humans for our lives. God has made our lives more convenient by giving us this all-encompassing manual. What we need to do is only refer to this manual and be obedient to the commands of God.