Sunday, May 10, 2009
As salamu alaikum sisters, I found this article on the things you should support a new muslims on the sisters area of islam way.com
1. You should give the new Muslim the feeling that Islam is a perfect religion, its source is divine, and it is totally inclusive. You have to emphasize that there is no truth but the truth of this religion.
2. You should clarify to the new Muslim that Islam erases every sin before it. Otherwise, he will keep thinking about his previous sins. You should make it clear for him that the moment he converted to Islam, his records became clean, and if he was Christian in the past, he will receive twice the reward from Allah. ( alhamdullilhah!!!)
3. Assure him that the only reference for Islam is quraan and sunnah, not the wrongdoings of Muslims. Only Qur’an and Sunnah can define what is right and what is wrong. Ok this one I personally love because all though I love my new family in islam (meaning brothers and sisters I meet) I feel as if they can be very judgmental and this can turn off those learning about islam. I know a few people who are sooo freaking judgmental and all I hear is this is not what to do and so on. I mean, call me crazy but just because we are muslim doesnt mean we know everything and everyone else knows nothing. It doesnt give us the right to judge and be so critical of others. I often hear people talking about whats true hijab and such but I guess although I wear proper hijab meaning my full head,ears,neck and chest are covered, I dont judge those I see who arent in correct hijab because, for one, its not for me judge.Dont get me wrong, giving advice or steering sister in the right is not being judgmental, Im referring to when its more than that.
4. Advise the new Muslim to read Qur’an, Hadith and Serah as often as possible.
5. Advise him to take care of his personal cleanness in all its types, (Ablution, Ghusl…etc.)
6. He should perform prayers in time, and you should point out the importance of praying in Gama’ah.
7. It is very important that the new Muslim lives in an Islamic environment. This will help him to obey Allah, mainly by keeping him away from sins, and wrongdoings. I think this one is very important and for those who are lucky enough to live in a islamic country, you are soo lucky alhamdullilah!! I can go a whole week with out recognizing another muslim :(
8. Take the new Muslim to a nearby mosque. It is better to have someone from the neighborhood accompanying him and following his progress. Ok, I can totally atest to this, see my post on my first experience at the masjid.
9. Let the Imam of the mosque know about this new Muslim, and remind the Imam to take special care of him.
10. Advise him to read and learn more about Islam. It is better if he can dedicate some of his time to do that, whether by himself, or with a group. I wish I had a group to learn with.
11. It is very important for the new Muslim to ask about everything he doesn’t know or can’t understand. He should try to contact scholars or at least ask anyone he trusts. So true,
12. Try to know about his financial status, and help him as much as possible to make him feel friendlier. It will be more encouraging to have his salary raised a little, if you are in a position to make that possible. I dont get this one. LOL
13. You should make it clear to him, that his conversion to Islam would cause him some problems. Allah is testing his faith by these problems. He can always handle these problems by referring to Qur’an and Sunnah.
14. You should emphasize the importance of Monotheism and Islamic belief basics. You can provide him with a book that explains these important things in a simple way.
15. Try to keep him away from his previous atmosphere, and to involve him in an environment that suits, and helps his development as a Muslim.
16. Try to engage him in some Islamic activities, and provide him with important books and recorded lectures. Yes, yes, I agree. I had the best time when my future sil and I went to this lebanese restaurant and to an islamic bookstore/everything store. I purchased sooo many cool islamic item, prayer gowns, prayer rugs, books on the deen, and much more. I say this is high on the list of things we as muslims should do with newcomers.
17. Try introducing him to group from his nationality. The communication between them will be easier; he can also have lessons with them.
18. He should feel that he is important and loved by everyone, because of his conversion to Islam. Giving him a gift would be a good start…
19. Make it clear to him that the problems he faces have occurred to every new Muslim, so they are expected. Try to follow-up with his problems, and help him solving them, so that he can handle them without doing something terribly wrong.
20. There should be a simple approach that helps him to learn Arabic language (reading and writing), In order to be able to read quran by himself and understand it. ( Iam currently learning to speak and read arabic, soo neat!!)
I just wish all the he's werent there and were replaced with he/her and him or her.
Other than that I thought this were wonderful tips to offer a new muslim. But I want to know what tips would offer to a new muslim,lets try to build on this list because Islam is overwhelming. I would love to meet a new muslim (though I am new myself) to help make the transition easier for them and to offer them encouraging words of advice.
Salaams
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Salaams everyone, Its a new year alhamdullilah! I hope everyone is having a good month. I have been down for so long, I am determined to give myself a pick me up and I noticed there are certain sites that I can read for days and they actually have an effect on me and my attitude. With that said, I will share some sites with you all I frequent, when I need to read some awesome islamic resources and learn more about islam:
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The Ruling concerning the Muslim woman who prays and fasts but does not wear the Hijaab
4 comments Posted by Inspired Muslimah at 10:35 PM
Her fast and her prayer are correct and all praise is for Allah. But she must repent for abandoning the wearing of the Hijaab. Disobedience does not invalidate her prayer or her fasting. Not wearing the Hijaab, speaking in a way that is not good like backbiting or slandering then this does not invalidate her prayer but it does decrease her Imaan (faith) and weakens it. She must repent to Allah for that. Likewise the wearing of the Hijaab, not wearing it in front of men is disobedience but her fast is not invalidated nor her prayer. Rather she must repent for it. Not wearing the Hijaab is considered a weakness in Imaan.
Likewise other things such as backbiting the people or doing something from the acts of disobedience, etc all of this is a deficiency and weakness in Imaan. When she performs the prayer with its conditions and obligations on time then her prayer is correct. Likewise her fasting when she fasts from what is forbidden to her and performs it the way it should be then her fast is valid. When she performs the obligations but then she does some forms of disobedience there is deficiency in her act of fasting such as backbiting, lying and the like. It is a deficiency in her fasting and weakness in her religion.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sisterhood in Islam and I love my fellow bloggers
12 comments Posted by Inspired Muslimah at 10:03 PM
A good sister is more than a good friend.
She is a companion in this dunya, in this world. She gives naseehah (advice), shares her knowledge, keeps contact with her sisters in Islaam, does ibaadah (worship of Allaah) together with her sisters in Islaam. she protects the honour of her sisters in faith, she controls her tongue and does not spread rumours nor talks behind the back of her sisters. She is a trustworthy friend, a beloved sister.
These images below show all the things we do and experience together as sisters in Islam. We laugh, cry, get married and have children, protest, and most importantly worship Allah together!!
Sisterhood is a beautiful bond between muslimaat. Simplest way to spread love between us is to spread salaam as Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, has said,
Unfortunately, many of our sisters and brothers are experiencing turmoil in Palestine;lets make duas for them. Also, lets make an effort to uphold the ties of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood in good times as well.
I am so grateful for all of my friends I have come to know since creating Inspired muslimah. Subhanallah, I have learned so much and I love you all for the sake of Allah. Halal Honey, Ange, Yasmin, Umm Travis, Beautiful Muslimah, A muslim Wife, Zaenab, Aalia, Lazeena Umm Yusuf, Random Muslima, Jana, Empress Anisa, OMG there are too many to name and now I feel bad because I did not name everyone, please forgive me, I have good intentions. The point was thanks to all who have contributed to my knowledge in Islam. I sooo appreciate you all. I love my sisters in Islam!!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
When you are stressed come to rely on this book, when you need someone to talk to, talk to Allah! I soo wish I could read and write arabic, this is a goal inshallah. Next summer I plant to take arabic classes and I am soo excited. I know quite a bit,for a beginner but to fully appreciate the Quran,one must be able to read arabic. I will have to settle for my english translation for now. With the end of the year approaching, I am not waiting for the new years for resolutions, I am beginning now.
Salaams everyone. I am having a rough week but inshaallah it will get better. I am soo tired this morning but alhamdullilah I still woke up for fajr this morning so all praise to Allah (s.w.t). I found this article and it is helpful for me so I thought I would share. We all have bad days and fall short and tips to boost your iman may be just what the doctor ordered. I am currently in my school library and I have soo much work to do. I have a quiz tomorrow and Friday, a 25 page take home final due Friday, a drug information paper, a medication assignment and a group paper due Friday. Another exam Monday and then cumulative finals. Needless to say I am overwhelmed and I notice a serious change in my attitue when I haven’t time to read Quran. I guess that’s a good thing. Well I hope some of you find these tips useful:
7 Steps to Increased Iman
By Sumayyah Meehan
The Prophet Muhammad (S) said: "Faith wears out in the heart of any one of you just as clothes wear out, so ask Allah to renew the faith in your hearts” (Mustadrak al-Haakim).
Our Iman is not always as sound and strong as we want it to be as it often fluctuates according to life circumstances. There are several causes for weakening Iman such as deficiencies in our prayers or the insinuating whispers from the Shaytan. Regardless of the cause, it is crucial for all of us to keep a check on our Iman and if we feel it is faltering in any way then we should take measures to restore it. It is our responsibility to know which things decrease our Iman and how to avoid them and those that increase our Iman and how to embrace them.
Here are 7 ways that you can brighten your Iman starting today!
1. Recognize and Repent
All humans commit sins no matter how hard we try to avoid them. Engaging in evil deeds decreases our Iman. Actions like lying, cheating and stealing, to name only a few, take a toll on the human heart which makes us more susceptible to being lead astray from the Path of Allah. It is important for us to reflect upon our deeds and weed out the ones that are contrary to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (S). Allah has gifted us with an innate sense of justice and the ability to reason and make sound judgements. Our fitrah (natural disposition) necessitates that we all know when we are committing a sin. And if we don't know, we certainly have a bevy of resources to find out from!
2. Perform Salah Regularly
Completing the five daily prayers, on time and according to the Sunnah, is an excellent way to increase our Iman. Not only are we performing an obligatory deed when praying, but by doing so we have a standing audience with the Creator of this world where we can ask for help and mercy. The effect of the salah on the human soul is cooling as Muhammad (S) once said that it cooled his eyes. The salah connects us with our Creator and, along with obedience to Allah, helps us to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an:
"The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses -this Qur’an- are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone); Who perform salah and spend out of that We have provided them. It is they who are the believers in truth. For them are grades of dignity with their Lord, and Forgiveness and a generous provision (Paradise)” (Al-Anfal: 2-4).
3. Qur’anic Recitations
Medical studies have shown that simply listening to a recitation of the Holy Qur’an has a physiological effect on our bodies. Research has also proven that the Qur’an has healing qualities on the body, mind and spirit. What better way to increase your Iman than to listen to a recitation of the Holy Qur’an on an audio device! Listen to the melodious rhythm of the Qur’an and while doing so try to reflect upon the meanings of what you are listening to.
4. Engage in Dhikr
"…Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." (13:28)
Remembering Allah much through acts of dhikr brings peace to the heart. It also gives us a sense of taqwa, a consciousness that makes us realise that Allah Almighty is ever near and that we should always strive to please Him. Some beneficial dhikr include:
Subhan'Allah- 'Praise be to Allah'
Al-Hamdullilah- 'Thanks be to Allah'
Allahu Akbar – 'Allah is the Greatest.'
5. Voluntary Fasting
Fasting can be thought of as a prescription for us, which cures the maladies of the human soul. There are innumerable benefits to fasting nawafil fasts. Fasting helps us be thankful to Allah for His Bounty, control unlawful desires, have compassion for the less fortunate and it weakens the effects of waswas, the insinuating whispers from the Shaytan.
6. Carry Out Good Deeds
Doing good deeds for others can be like switching on a light bulb in a darkened room. No matter how awful we are feeling there is just something about offering a helping hand to someone in need that lifts our spirits and brightens our Iman.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an: "For those who believe and work righteous deeds is a reward that will never fail” (Fussilat: 8).
Types of good deeds that any of us can fulfill include acts of dawah, feeding a poor person or donating something of value to charity. Not only does the deed benefit another person but it also benefits our own souls by polishing up our Iman.
7. Trust in Allah
The best way to increase your Iman is to completely submit your will to Allah by following every command in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Live your life according to them and you will find success around every corner. Turn to Allah in times of distress and be thankful to Allah in times of bounty. Have patience in Allah's Decree and always remember that no matter what trials or tribulations we face in this World, one day we will be called to account for our deeds which were hopefully sent forth with much goodness and patience.
Article adapted from Sisters Magazine
Thursday, November 27, 2008
My quest in becoming a better muslimah through the readings of the authentic hadith
2 comments Posted by Inspired Muslimah at 10:56 PM
Surat al Fatiha 5-7: "Thee (alone) we worship; Thee alone we ask for help. Show us the straight path, The path of those whom Thou hast favored; Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who went astray."
This is what we all strive for; direction in the right path. Recently I have been finding solace in relying on the Quran and authentic hadiths. With my limited knowledge of Islam, I find the hadiths to be the perfect bridge from the Quran though I know the Quran is the only perfect book written since it is from Allah (s.w.t). I am on a journey to learn as much about Islam as I can because while I enjoy learning from others, its time to start exploring myself.
According to the Cambridge history of Iran there are six major hadiths collections. Al-Sihah al-Sittah, is literally the translation for authentic six.
According to University of southern California, compendium of Muslim text, they state there are 4:
Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim,Sunan Abu-Dawud, and Malik Muwatta.
I will start my personal journey with Sahih Bukhari and will strive to share my knowledge with others, inshallah.
BACKGROUND
Sahih Bukhari is a collection of sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), also known as the sunnah. The reports of the Prophet's sayings and deeds are called ahadith. Bukhari lived a couple of centuries after the Prophet's death and worked extremely hard to collect his ahadith. Each report in his collection was checked for compatibility with the Qur'an, and the veracity of the chain of reporters had to be painstakingly established. Bukhari's collection is recognized by the overwhelming majority of the Muslim world to be one of the most authentic collections of the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).
Bukhari (full name Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Ismail bin Ibrahim bin al-Mughira al-Ja'fai) was born in 194 A.H. and died in 256 A.H. His collection of hadith is considered second to none. He spent sixteen years compiling it, and ended up with 2,602 hadith (9,082 with repetition). His criteria for acceptance into the collection were amongst the most stringent of all the scholars of ahadith.
It is important to realize, however, that Bukhari's collection is not complete: there are other scholars who worked as Bukhari did and collected other authentic reports. Sahih Bukhari is divided into nine volumes, each of which has several books.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
I am having a great time incorporating Islam into my life and learning every that Allah (s.w.t) has willed us to do. I have yet to start taking arabic although I have a few friends that speak it and are willing to teach me. I am trying the best that I can and I know i have a ways to go. As far as being a true muslim women, I am taking it day by day. But I will be honest. As soon as I feel as if I am making progress, I learn something else that I am doing that I shouldnt. I can understand why islam is intimidating to others. It can be overwhelming and thats where I am. I am happy with my decision to become muslim. I just feel as if Its taking me so long to grow. Living in the states doesnt help. I am a student and have class during juma. This bothers me because I feel like this is my chance to connect with other muslim sisters however, I cannot miss class. My schedule does not permit for me to make my five prayers on time as they come in. Is this an excuse? no, not at all. I know I need to do a better job with this. I will pray to Allah to guide me in the straight path and to know that for every area i fail in, its not intended. While I am happy to be muslim, I feel bad that some things are hard for me to accept. For instance, short sleeves, makeup, eyebrows, nail polish, ect. These are just to name a few. I didnt drink before so that has not been a problem, neither is things like not clubbing. Just some things im trying to get use too. I will not get discourage however, I just will learning and reading and praying and doing the right thing inshallah. To my fellow bloggers, how good are you all with making your 5 salats. I have attached a poll let me know, I am interested in this. Shukrain!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Here is a neat website I found that will walk you through the basics of wearing a hijab:
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Salaam,
