IIOC Qur'an Class begins this Sunday!

A Must Attend Class for Youth Ages 5 to 17. Click HERE for registration form.

MY-SD Fajr at the Beach on Saturday, May 2nd!

A MAS Youth San Diego Revive Program...
Fajr at the Beach!

Sheikh Abdul Jalil Mezgouri

La Jolla Shores (Near Kellog Park)
Click HERE for map

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009
5:30AM Sharp
CARPOOLS AVAILABLE

Open to ALL Brothers & Sisters!
Light breakfast will be provided

For more information or carpools, please contact MAS Youth: youth@massandiego.org

IR Fundraising Dinner on Sunday, May 17th!

Islamic Relief presents.....
PALESTINE HUMANTARIAN CRISIS
Fundraising Dinner

Guest Speaker:
Andrew Whitley
Director, Representative Office of UNRWA, NY

Sunday May 17th, 2009
5:30pm - Reception
6:00pm – Program Starts

Doubletree Hotel
Ontario Airport
222 N. Vineyard Ave.,
Ontario, CA 91764
909-937-0900

Tickets: $25 ($30 at the door)
Reserve Table of 10 seats for $250
Children’s program provided

We do need volunteers who can help us with this fundraising dinner.

For more info Contact:
909-802-3853
714-676-1309
sw@irw.org
www.irw.org

"JUST LOOK AT THOSE HANDS!"

Allah's Messenger said: "The blessing of food is (received by) washing (the hands) before and washing (the hands) after taking it." May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him. [Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud]

You've heard it over and over again: "Just look at those hands! Wash them!"

Sure. You get tired of hearing it. And you probably tired of washing up so often.

But if you knew -- and if grown-ups knew -- exactly why it's so important, handwashing would be "number one" on everyone's list of things to do.

You say you washed you hands this morning after you woke up? That's good. But now it's lunchtime. You mean you haven't washed your hands again? Once a day just isn't good enough -- not if you want to keep harmful bacteria and other germs away!

We all know human hands are wonderful things. They can clap and snap. They can hold a napping cat or stir soup a vat.

But busy hands can also pick up dirt and germs. And these sneaky varmints love to play hide-and-seek.

Just look at the hands on this page. See the lines , cracks and wrinkles where dirt and germs hide. You can see even tinier nooks and crannies if you look at your own hand with a magnifying glass. It looks almost like a sponge, doesn't it?

While you're looking, you may also see some dirt. But no matter how hard you look, you won't see any germs. That's because they are tiny creatures (micro-organisms) that can only be seen through a microscope.

Where do germs come from? They live everywhere. In fact, billions of them grow and live on your body every day. Their favorite hangouts are your hair, under your fingernails and in the small folds of your skin.

Most of these germs won't hurt you. In fact, you can't even get rid of many of them, no matter how hard you try.

But germs also come from the world around you, and some of these can hurt you. They can make you sick. Luckily, these are the sort you can do something about.

Do you know where your last cold came from? Scientists believe most people get colds and other illnesses by touching a sick person or by touching something a sick person touched. That doesn't mean you shouldn't touch other people or things. And it doesn't mean you have to wear gloves.

All you have to do is wash you hands.

Handwashing can also help you keep food safe. Let's say you're making lunch for your friends. If your dirty hands touch the food, germs could spread, grow and cause food poisoning.

So next time, don't just look at those hands -- wash them! Follow these handwashing tips:

Wash Your Hands Often After you go to the bathroom. If you touch a cut or sore. And always before you touch food. Also, wash you hands after you touch raw meat or poultry. They may carry harmful germs too.

Lather Up With Soap and Warm Water. The suds scrub dirt and germs away.

Don't Leave Anything Out. Wash you hands front and back and between the fingers. Soap up your wrists too. And don't forget your fingernails. A good nail brush does the best job there.

Rinse Well In Warm Water. Those pesky germs will go down the drain!

['Just Look at those Hands!' in Halal and Healthy, by Soundvision.]

MY Study Aproad Program, Summer 2009

MAS Youth cordially invites you to ...

What: MAS Youth Study Abroad Program

Who: YOU and anyone you know!

When: June 24th - August 26th

Where: Al-Diwan Center, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

Why: To study the beautiful language of the Qur'an, to build long-lasting relationships, to visit various sites around Egypt, and to personally develop yourself

How: Register ASAP at masyouth.net/sap

For $3400* Package Includes: Tuition (200 hours intense Arabic Study), Lodging, Books, Round-trip Airfare, Weekend Sightseeing Excursions, Personal and Spiritual Development Activities

For more information email: sap@masyouth.net

*Price will be increasing to $3500 after April 15th for late registration (plus any additional increases in flight ticket costs)

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY!!!

Qiyam in the IE on Saturday April 25th!

ICIE & MAS-IE
present

"Hope"
A Qiyam Ul Layel Program
with Shaikh Abduljalil & Khaled Bahjri

Certainly no one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve. (Qur’an 12: 87)

Saturday April 25th
10:00 pm to 2:00 am

Islamic Center of Inland Empire
9212 Baseline Road
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701

Refreshments will be served

co-sponsored by MAS-IE & ICIE

7 Requirements of the Hijaab

This is a summary taken from an essay written in 'I Appeal to Your Sense of Shame My Muslim Sister...Will You Not Respond?" by Sr. Nawaal Bint Abdullah

The Requirements of Women's Hijab in Accordance with the Qur'aan, the Authentic Sunnah, and the Practice of the Pious Predecessors

The First Requirement: The Extent of Covering

The dress worn in public must cover the entire body except what has been specifically excluded, based upon the following proofs:

Allah(swt) says: "And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! turn ye all together towards Allah, that ye may attain Bliss." [Surat An-Noor, Aya 31]

The Second Requirement: Thickness

The garment should be thick and opaque so as not to display the skin color and form of the body beneath it. Delicate or transparent clothing does not constitute a proper covering.

The Prophet(pbuh) said: "There will be in the last of my Ummah, scantily dressed women, who go astray and make others go stray; they will not enter Paradise nor smell its fragrance, although it can be smelled from afar." [Saheeh Muslim]

The Third Requirement: Looseness

The clothing must hang loosely enough and not be so tight-fitting as to show the shape and size of the woman's body.

The Fourth Requirement: Color, Appearance and Demeanor

Allah has commanded women not to display their beauty, meaning both natural and acquired beauty.

Allah(swt) says: "O Consorts of the Prophet! Ye are not like any of the (other) women: if ye do fear ((Allah)), be not too complacent of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak ye a speech (that is) just." [Surat Al-Ahzaab, Aya 32]

The Fifth Requirement: Difference from Men's Clothing

The clothing of a Muslim woman must not resemble the clothing of men.

Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah has cursed the men who make themselves look like women and the women who make themselves look like men." [Reported by al-Bukhaari; see al-Fath, 10/332]

The Sixth Requirement: Difference from the Clothing of Unbelievers

Her clothing must not resemble the clothing of the unbelievers. This is a general ruling of the Sharee'ah which encompasses not only dress but also such things as manners, customs, relifious practices and festivities, transactions, etc.

The Seventh Requirement: No Vain or Ostentatious Dressing

The woman's dress must not be an expression of ostentaion, vanity or as a status symbol bu being excessively showy or expensive, not must it be excessively tattered so as to gain admiration and fame for being humble.

The Prophet(pbuh) said: "Whoever dresses for ostentation in this world, Allah will dress that person in a dress of humiliation on the Day of Resurrection, and then set it on fire." [Abu Dawood]

Knowledge and its Excellence

Allah(swt) says:

"By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy." [Surat Al Asr, #103]

It is obligatory upon everyone to help each other on birr (righteousness) and taqwaa (fear of Allah), advising one another so that you can understand the religion upon clarity, until they know what Allah has made obligatory upon them, and that which Allah has made unlwaful for them, unti they worship Alah upon clearnes and insight. 

Also, the Muslim teaches his family, his children, wife, and parents, relatices and those in his house, he should guide them towards good and warn them from evil.

[from 'Ilm and its Excellence' by Shaykh Abdul-Azeez Ibn Abdullah Ibn Baaz]

The Lawful Touch

Can Women Touch, Read, and or Recite the Qur'an
while in a state of impurity?

This is taken from the book on Dr.Bilal Phillips "Islamic Ruling on Menstruation and Post Natal Bleeding" page 12:

Touching and reciting the Qur’an. Menstruating women are permitted to read and touch the Qur’an.

*Footnote to the above statement: Although many scholars have prohibited menstruating women and people in the state of sexual defilement (junub) from reciting the Qur’an or touching it, Imaam al-Bukhaaree took the position that there was no authentic evidence to support such position and that it was in fact permitted. In support of his view he mentioned the positions of some of the early scholars who also permitted reciting and touching the Qur'an in order to show that the prohibition of menstruating women from reciting the Qur'an was not unanimous among scholars of the past. (Fat-h-al-Baaree, vol. 1 p. 305)

Ibn Taymeeyah said, "The prohibition of women from reading the Qur'an has no basis in either the Qur'an or the Sunnah. The statement attributed to the Prophet "The menstruating woman or person sexually defiled (junub) should not read anything of the Qur'an" is NOT authentic according to the unanimous opinion of the hadeeth scholars. Undoubtedly women used to menstruate during the Prophet's era and if recitation of the Qur'an was prohibited as formal prayer was prohibited, the Prophet would have explained it to his followers and his wives, and it would have been transmitted to us. Consequently, since no prohibition has been transmitted from the Prophet , it is not permissible to declare it haraam (forbidden) while knowing that he did not prohibit it. And if he did not prohibit it in spite of the many cases of menstruation during his time, it is obvious that it is not haraam
(al-Majmoo' vol. 26 p. 191)

Ibraaheem an-Nakha'ee (scholar among the students of the companions) said: "There is no harm in menstruating women reciting a Qur'anic verse. (It was also the opinion of Imam Maalik) (Vol. 1 p. 182 chap.. 9 of Sahih Al Bukhari) Imaam Al-Bukhari mentioned this incidence in order to prove that since the Prophet sent verses of the Qur'an to the pagans who were in a state of defilement, a menstruating woman should be able to read the Qur'an.

Fatawah or Islamic Rulings about some Important Issues by Sheikh Nasir-ud-Din-Al Albani 
Q. - Is it prohibited to recite the Qur'an without wudoo? 
A. - It is preferable to recite it upon purification. The hadeeth of the Messenger's making tayammum to reply to "as-Salaamu' alaikum" It is not forbidden to recite it without wudoo. As for the woman in her state of nifas or in after-birth confinement, then nothing prevents her from reciting the Qur'an. The hadeeth that At-Tirmidhee reported from Ibn 'Umar (r) that the Messenger said: "The woman ill with her period and the junub man may not recite the Qur'an" that is a 'munkar' hadeeth, as the Imaam of Sunnah Ahmad Ibn Hanbal says it is not authentic. Rather we have the hadeeth of Aisha (r) that the Messenger said to her when she made Hajj and she had her period: "Do everything the pilgrim does except prayer and tawaaf." Does not the pilgrim recite the Qur'an?"

So, this hadeeth is a clear proof of the permissibility of a woman's reciting/reading the Qur'an whilst in her period. Therefore it is not permissible to prevent the woman in her periods from reciting the Qur'an claiming that she is not pure! If Allah ta'ala had prevented her from reciting as He prevented her from praying, then we would follow that prevention and that would be the end of the matter. But He revealed to His Messenger a distinction between prayer and its constituent parts: since some people say that reciting the Qur'an is one of the pillars of the Prayer, so why do we not make purification a pre condition for it as it is for the prayer? So we say: Not only is reciting the Qur'an a part of the prayer, but also, prayer is begun by our saying "Allahu Akbar". So, we should also say that it is a requirement for saying 'takbeer' that we have wudoo! And the same goes for 'tasbeeh', 'tahmeed' etc. We find that some of the companions preferred to have wudoo to touch the Qur'an so that shows what is preferable, but to make it obligatory and to say that it is forbidden for a woman in her state of nifas to touch the Qur'an then that has no proof at all.

The Duâ' of Light

Ibn ‘Abbas reports that he once stayed the night as a guest of Maymuna, who was his aunt, and the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam). They slept on their blanket lengthways, and he slept at the end, crossways. After they had all slept for a while, the Prophet rose in the middle of the night to pray the tahajjud prayer, and Ibn ‘Abbas joined him. 
They both did wudhu, and he prayed eleven rak'ats with the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam). Then they both went back to sleep again until dawn. Bilal called the adhân and the Prophet did another two short rak’ats, before going into the mosque to lead the Dawn Prayer.
Ibn ‘Abbas said that one of the du'as that the Prophet made during this night was: 

"O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light behind me, light in front of me, light on my right, light on my left, light above me and light below me; place light in my sinew, in my flesh, in my blood, in my hair and in my skin; place light in my soul and make light abundant for me; make me light and grant me light."

"Allahummajal fi qalbi nuura, wa-fi basari nuura, wa-fi samee nuura, wa-ay-yameeni nuura, wa-ay-yasaari nuura, wa-fawqi nuura, wa-tahti nuura, wa-amaami nuura, wakhalfi nuura, wa fawqi nuura, wa tahti nuura, wa'jal li nuuraa."

[found narrated in Sahih Muslim, Book 4, Hadith # 1680]

Bid'ah in terms of worship and means of nearness to Allah

The Bid'ah that have been innovated in the field of worship in this time are many. Worship basically are restricted to the Book and Sunnah, no acts of worship should be legislated except by a proof from those two sources. Any act of worship which is not sanctioned by a textual proof is Bid'ah.

The Prophet said: "He who performs an act of worship which is not substantiated by our deen, it shall be rejected." (Muslim)

Innovated acts of worship practiced today are many; of such are:

Pronouncing the intention of Salat verbally, by saying: "I intend to perform such and such prayer for the sake of Allah." This is a Bid'ah because it does not belong to the Sunnah of the Prophet and because Allah, the Exalted, says:

"Say, 'Will you acquaint Allah with your faith, while Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and Allah knows everything?" (49:16)

Intention belongs to the heart or mind, because it is an internal action not to be expressed with the tongue.

Recitation of Dhikr in congregation after concluding the Salat is also Bid'ah. It is legitimate only to recite the Dhikr individually. Another Bid'ah is the request to recite al Fatihah in certain occasions, and upon concluding supplications for dead people. Likewise, holding mourning functions by preparing food for mourners, hiring reciters to recite the Qur'an, alleging that all these things belong to the ritual of mourning which will benefit the dead. While in fact, all of these Bid'ah have no base in Islam. Rather, they are difficulties that people impose upon themselves, and which Allah does not sanction.

[Chapter 4.4 from Aqeedah At-Tawheed by Shaik Fawzaan]

ICR Muslim Graduation Ceremony

2009 Graduation Ceremony Application for ILM Scholarship, Hifz-Al-Quran Scholarship, Journalism Scholarship, Essay & Movie Competition. Guidelines here.

Date: Sunday, June 14th, 05:00 PM

Location: Orange Terrace Community Center

20010 Orange Terrace Parkway. Riverside, CA 92508

Ph. 951-571-0285

Host: Islamic Center of Riverside

1038 W. Linden St., Riverside, CA, 92507

Ph. 951-684-5466 Fax 951-684-4422

1st Prize $1,000 (3 awards) 2nd Prize $500 (6 awards) 3rd Prize $250 (12 awards)

Hifz-Al-Quran Scholarship (3 Awards) Journalism Scholarship $4,000 (1 award)

Essay competition $500 (1award) Movie Competition $500 (1award)

(TOTAL VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE $16,000 plus Certificates, Trophies & Gifts will be Presented to All Attending Graduates)

IIOC Muslim Graduation Ceremony

Asalamu Alaikum~

The 1st Annual Muslim Graduation Ceremony is getting closer.....and the deadline for registering for the event is getting closer.  We will be giving out over 15 scholarships to the graduates this year. (FREE MONEY FOR SCHOOL!)  Just to recap: The Islamic Institute of Orange County (Masjid Omar Farouk in Anaheim) is hosting its 1st Annual Muslim Graduation Ceremony for ALL Muslim graduates in Orange County. This event is free of charge and it is open to all graduate levels (High School, College & Graduate Level). We are very excited for this event, as it will bring (Insha’Allah) unity amongst the Muslims in Orange County. We are following the footsteps of the Islamic Center of Riverside, as they host a similar event every year and alhamdulillah it's very successful.  
  
Since this is the 1st Annual Graduation Ceremony, we will need your help, as members of the Muslim community, to spread the word to all Muslim graduates in Orange County. If you are graduating or know of a Muslim graduating from High School, College or Graduate School, please inform them of this event.   For more information, please email us at ocmuslimsgradceremony@gmail.com. 
  
   
  
Walaikumasalam,
  
Lina Akkad
OC Muslims Grad Committee
IIOC
*Please spread the word....we are counting on you! 

The End of Music

By Kamal El-Mekki, a must listen to lecture!

"O Muslim, lawful things have good attributes Where is the good in singing, dancing and listening to flutes? Can we compare the words of singers and sounds of Musicians To the Glorious Quran, its lessons, wisdoms and admonitions? How many singers do you know and give admiration, And how many do you know of the companions and the following generation? How much do you spend on singers from your dollars? Compared to how many you know of Islamic Scholars. Do you see how much is memorized of Music songs? While you ignore the book to which memorization belongs? How much do you memorize of these incantations? And swayed back and forth in intoxication? Have you not seen those who follow the misguided? And increase the loudness of the Music, when they should hide it? And who writes their songs? thinkers, or men of academia? Or maybe scholars, like Ahmad, Malik or maybe ibn Taymiyah. O you who listens to music.. Don't you see that All the songs of the world and all the lyrics you've seen Wouldn't compare in reward to Alif Laam Meem ."

What to do When you Yawn

The son of Abu Said al-Khudri reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said:
"When one of you yawns, he should keep his mouth shut with the help of his hand, for it is the devil that enters therein."

[Narrated by Muslim - Book 042, Number 7130]

Invocation (Duaa) for Sneezing

When you sneeze , then say :

'Alhamdu lillaah.' All praises and thanks are to Allah.

Your companion should say :

'Yarhamukallaah.' May Allah have mercy upon you .

When someone says Yarhamukallaah to you then you should say:

'Yahdeekumul-laahu wa yuslihu baalakum.' May Allah give you guidance and improve your condition.

[Fortress of the Muslim. Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 243.]

The Forgotten Hijab Ban

Sister Muslema Purmel sent the following email to us, talking about the hijab ban and her interactions with French sisters who actually LIVED the ban. The insights of these sisters are invaluable and provide a window into the psychological torment that these “secular”, “free” societies are imposing upon them. What is the difference, I ask, between forcing the hijab ON (as the West constantly whines about) and forcing the hijab OFF the sisters? Where is the freedom of personal choice? Amazingly, these same societies are perfectly fine with a woman aborting her unborn child (its her body, she can do what she pleases, right?), yet this same woman would be scorned, her rights to education stripped, and other indignations imposed, if she puts a piece of cloth on her head. Could there be a better example of morality turned upside-down? [Amad from Muslim Matters] Cross-posted @ Streetprophets


By Mrs. Muslema Purmul al-Azhariyah

I had the opportunity to meet some French sisters who are now here with me in Cairo, and we got to talking about the issue of Islam in Europe.

It was actually really sad, hard to hold the tears as one sister (from Holland, convert to Islam) told her own story of how she would remove her scarf everyday when she entered work, so she would be left to wear only an allowed small headband just covering the front of her hair, until one day she broke down crying, and kept it on. A few days later, her boss asked her to sign some papers. She asked why, and he said “Your fired.” She replied, “Allahu Akbar” and signed the papers. “Some scholars said it’s ok, I can take it off if it’s a neccessity, but I just couldn’t take it off another time! I just couldn’t!” she said.

Another sister studied and finished law school before the ban happened. She wanted to be a lawyer and defend Muslim Liberties in France, but now after the hardship getting that degree she doesn’t know if she will ever be able to practice law in France, she is now studying Islamic Law at Al-Azhar. I heard stories of sisters who would break down crying outside the gates of their schools. How a sister in a private Christian school was allowed to wear hijab until parents complained and forced her to remove it. Listening to their stories, I felt like they are experiencing a daily sexual harrassment in order to go to school, go to work, and pay bills. “I feel like someone is telling me to take off my clothes, my underwear, my head is also my private part. But if the girl wants to wear a mini-skirt to school and show everything, no one punishes her. I cannot return to France, I cannot support it.” She told me about a housewife, who just went to the bank to withdraw money and she was asked to leave and remove her scarf. Now, since a month ago, the hijab ban has spread to some public schools in
Holland. As we know it is still a struggle in Tunisia, and Turkey. Are other countries in the world waiting to see how the world reacts so they too can implement hijab bans? As Martin Luther King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

I remember there was such an uproar BEFORE the hijab ban became law, and now afterwards, where are those same crowds, those same rallies, and talks? Essentially Muslim women are being deprived of one of their human rights. When does it become OK in the 21st century to require a woman to remove some of her clothes and reveal her body in order to participate in
public life? Where are the Muslim men who have gheera (chivalry) towards their women, and want to defend them from such physical harrassment, and psychological humiliation?! One sister compared the non-action with regards to the hijab-ban to the reaction people had toward the cartoons (which understandably upset a lot of people) and some countries excercised boycotts.
What about our sisters in France? How did we forget about this crime that occurs on a daily basis? Where is the body of the ummah that feels pain, when one part of it is hurt?

I’ll be honest, all this time in America, I felt this hijab-ban was a crime, but I never truly felt the pain of these sisters until I heard them tell their stories. The voice that said, “I just couldn’t take it off another time, I just couldn’t.” As a woman who wears hijab, I suddenly felt it- the depth of the crime that has been overlooked. I can’t imagine being in the same situation, my impulses say, “I would rather die first than remove my hijab.” So I wonder, do any of my French sisters walk around school and work feeling like they’ve been spiritually killed? Are they thinking about ways of “escaping France?” From my conversations with the French sisters, they are struggling to retain their sense of identity and Islamic practice. They had always faced discrimination with hijab before, but this Law has really broken the spirits of many. Some sisters just completely removed the hijab even outside of school because they couldn’t cope with the feelings of living a double-life.

Again where is the heart that aches? Where is the body that rushes to reveal the pain of one of its limbs?

I bear witness as an American Muslim, we have an AMANA because of the freedom and resources that Allah has blessed us with in America, to do something for our sisters in France and elsewhere, where the hijab has been banned. May we not be of those who passed by a
people being oppressed, and we could have done something, but instead we just passed by in silence.

Can we do anything for them? Can it be taken to the United Nations? Can we hold a campaign for them? Can we access our media and political leaders? Can we do rallies or lectures? Can we engage this phenomena from an academic level? A civic level? Let’s at least make a duaa, and make the intention to try and help if and when there is an organized effort to help our
forgotten sisters.

What are your ideas?

Post-Script (a followup email from the sister) :

Before I get into the reflection, as an update, there are some responses that occurred from those who recieved the email, that I wanted to share with you as both of you were interested in that:

1. A Muslim Professor of Law for AUC’s LLM program will be here in the beginning of the summer and wants to get the French sisters’ testimonies in an affidavit and have this issue pursued legally through his colleagues in the human rights community.
2. A second sister is trying to check the possibilities of raising the issue with something called the OIC. She said:
   -Organization of the Islamic Conference. The OIC is an international organization that includes reps from the Muslim-majority countries. It’s mission is to represent Muslim causes and it has standing at the UN. Bush recently appointed a Special Envoy to the OIC Sada Cumber, Indo-Pak businessman from TX). I’m not sure if the OIC has much or any influence, but I think it’s worth at least trying to raise this as an issue.
   Let me know what you think. In the meantime, I’ll try to find out how issues get raised with the OIC, or how to get ideas to Mr. Cumber.
3. Some young Muslims in CA posted it on their blog: muslamics.blogspot.com for purposes of spreading awareness.
4. Scattered emails of support and concern. The reflection is this:
   Initially I was heavily discouraged by some students of knowledge from writing the email on the hijab ban as it would be a “distraction” from my studies. They were right, it is a distraction. But they discouraged because they said , “what can you do from here?” The thoughts that it wouldn’t amount to anything substantial did cross through my mind, but because I was so frustrated with the topic, I still wrote the email, not expecting much response. Subhan Allah, Allah (swt) planned differently.It made me think the role of the Imams and the blogs we have in the 21st century. We hear lots of criticism about blogging as a “waste of time” and trying to effect real change on the ground instead. This experience showed me that your efforts as Imams in the blogging world can go a really long way in effecting change and ARE worth your time. Opening the simple question “What can we do” allows for an e-shurah, and even an e-activism, resulting in e-change. Don’t be discouraged from the voices that shun– you never know what Allah (swt) will allow to result from a simple blog.

Fajr Buddy Wake-Up Call

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu

As you all know, the Fajr prayer is probably the most difficult prayer to pray on time because of Shaytan whispering in our ears telling us to go back to sleep. So, the best way to fight this weakness is to find yourself a 'Fajr Buddy'. My main goal is to find reliable Muslims who are willing to pair up, based on gender, and respectfully remind their buddy every morning to wake up to pray. You must be responsible to follow through with this obligation EVERY MORNING! 

Jundub bin Sufyan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "He who offers the dawn (Fajr) prayers will come under the Protection of Allah. O son of Adam! Beware, lest Allah should call you to account in any respect from (for withdrawing) His Protection.''
[Muslim].

If anyone is interested, please email me your contact information(cell number) so that i can pair you up with someone of your same gender. my email is wafa.manasrah@gmail.com. check out the Facebook group for more information: Fajr Buddy Wake-Up Call.

Islaam warns against Debt

Ibn Maajah and others reported that the Prophet said, “No Muslim will take a debt which Allah knows that he wants to pay it back except that Allah pay it back on his behalf in this world and the hereafter.” 

One should therefore be aware of nursing bad intention of not paying back the debt for whoever does that exposes himself to the destruction mentioned in the above-quoted Hadeeth. The Ulamaa say, “The destruction includes destruction of his life, his good living, making things difficult for him and making him devoid of blessings (Barakah) in this world not to mention the torment that awaits him in the hereafter.”

[By Hussain Aalus-Sheikh, from Warnings and Advises Regarding Debt]

A FREE online class with Ustadh Suhaib Webb

MAS Bay Area and the Islamic American University Present:

MESSAGE FOR THE SEEKERS OF GUIDANCE

"Explanation of Risalah al-Mustarshidin"

A FREE online class with Ustadh Suhaib Webb

Where: Online

When: Every Saturday at 5pm EST / 4pm CST / 2pm PST 

Starting: April 4th (1.5 hours/session)

Why: “Take this opportunity to grasp an understanding of purification based on the broad universal principles of Islam, ingrained within its noble texts and practiced by the early Muslims. This is your chance to, not only learn this important text, but to be the pens that translate it into your societies.”

* More details of the webinar to come *

Please register online to confirm a spot for yourself in the class: Register Here

Actions are by Intention, as long as it is Correct

Ibn `Ijlaan said, "the action is not acceptable except by three: Taqwaa of Allaah, and good intention, and correctness (i.e. conformity to the Sunnah)"

[reported by ibn Abee ad-Dunyaa in his ‘al-Ikhlaas wa an-Niyyah', found in 'The Hadeeth of Intention']

Dutifulness to Parents, even if they are unjust

Ibn 'Abbas said, "If any Muslim obeys Allah regarding his parents, Allah will open two gates of the Garden for him. If there is only one parent, then one gate will be opened. If one of them is angry, then Allah will not be pleased with him until that parent is pleased with him." He was asked, "Even if they wrong him?" "Even if they wrong him" he replied.
[Narrated by Bukhari, in Al-Adab al-Mufrad. Chapter titled Parents.]

Supplication in the last third of the night

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
"Our Lord, the Blessed and Exalted, descends to the lowest heaven every night when a third of the night remains. He says, 'Who is calling on Me so that I can answer him? Who is asking Me for something so that I can give to him? "Who is asking Me for forgiveness so that I can forgive him?'"

[Narrated by Bukhari, mentioned in Al-Adab al-Mufrad. Chapter titled Guests and Spending.]

Ideal Amount of People for a Janaza Prayer

'Abdullah b. 'Abbas reported that his son died in Qudaid or 'Usfan. He said to Kuraib to see as to how many people had gathered there for his (funeral). He (Kuraib) said: So I went out and I informed him about the people who had gathered there. He (Ibn 'Abbas) said: Do you think they are forty? He (Kuraib) said: Yes. Ibn 'Abbas then said to them: Bring him (the dead body) out for I have heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: If any Muslim dies and forty men who associate nothing with Allah stand over his prayer (they offer prayer over him), Allah will accept them as intercessors for him.

[Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Chapter 189, Number 2072]