Articles

Rules Regarding Ramadan

Order and encouragement to fast

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you in order that you might learn piety ... The month of Ramadan is that wherein was revealed the Qur'an, as a guidance to mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion. So, whoever among you witnesses the month should fast." [Al-Qur'an 2:183, 185]

"Every deed of the Son of Adam is for himself, except fasting - it is for Me, and I shall reward it." [Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]

"There is not any believer who remains hungry, and abstains from the forbidden things, and does not wrongfully consume the wealth of Muslims, except that Allah will feed him from the fruits of Heaven." [Musnad Abu Hanifah]

Why should I give Zakat?

Author: 
Zhara Hussain (Kent, UK)

Today, the abundance of wealth is everywhere, especially in the western societies where the race is on for the biggest house, the best cars, the latest clothes...but STOP!

What about our duty to Allah? What of the poor and needy? The arrogant will simply turn around and state that Allah could feed the poor if he is so wills. But what the arrogant do not realise is that spending in the way of Allah is actually doubling up their own reward in the hereafter. The prophet (SAW) explained that the greatest test for his followers will be the test of wealth.

The Great Blessings of the Holy Month of Ramadan

Author: 
Unknown

The month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Ramadhan is one of the greatest blessings of Allah (SWT) upon the Ummah of his beloved Prophet (saw). In the Quran it is stated 'Ramadan 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." (Suratul Baqara, 2:185).

This is especially an important month for muslims across the world; in an era in which we are constantly struggling with the idea of up keeping the Remembrance of Allah, due to complications of modern day life.

RaMaDan FeVeR!

Author: 
Unknown

The heat is on! Once a year a dramatic change occurs in the Muslim community. Once a year Icky baby and the Sams becomes Iqbal and Sameera.

Off come the baggy jeans, the Nike 180's and the Raiders cap. On come the yellow Shalwar Kameez (clothes most Pakistanis wear), the brylcreamed hairstyle which glues on that terribly uncool Towpee(cap) and in comes the miswak in the top pocket, making you look like something like "Karachi cops".

It's during this HOLY month of Ramadan that we ditch the daytime raves and the frequent visit to the library (and we don't mean for the reference section) and begin to act it out. Icky baby becomes temporarily religious.

Hijaab is an Attitude, not a Fashion (and it's for Men Too!!)

Muslim tourist wearing a headscarf

Muslim tourist wearing headscarf
Muslim tourist wearing headscarf.
Author: 
Fawzia Malik

Wearing the Hijaab isn't just a matter of simply putting a piece of cloth on your head, it is an attitude, a way of thinking and behaving, and accepting yourself for who and what you are. Basically it constitutes an Islamic way of life, it is a statement which indeed should portray a certain attitude.

A woman may indeed wear a long skirt and a scarf, but if she flirts constantly, then she can't be really described as wearing the Hijaab (Indeed clothes should be long, loose and not see through, after which any style of clothing is applicable).

What Ramadan isn't about

Boy eating

Boy eating
Boy eating
Author: 
Unknown

Yes, its that time of year again when we taste the wonderful variety of our family's home cooking. Never in such a short space of time do we encounter such scrumptious meals.

Every evening there will be a knock at the door and the aunty (or a liberated uncle) from next door will oblige with a sample of his or her delicacies and vice versa. Yes you've guessed it- its Ramadhan!

There is feverish activity during this month that is truly unsurpassable. Young children will eagerly get up for Sheri (the morning breakfast) bright eyed and excited for they have been allowed to fast. There will be competitions amongst the youngsters as to who can keep the most fasts, as they never seem to tire.

What is The Islamic/Hijri Calendar?

Author: 
Syed Khalid Shaukat

The Islamic calendar is based on lunar months, which begin when a thin new crescent Moon is actually sighted in the western sky after sunset within a day or so after the New Moon. Hence, the month is either 29 days or 30 days.

There are 12 months in an Islamic year, which is either 354 days long or 355 days long, compared to (Gregorian) civil calendar year of 365 or 366 days. Since the Islamic Lunar year has 12 lunar months, it is on an average, 11 days shorter than the (Gregorian) civil year, the Islamic year shifts earlier in each civil year by about 11 days.

The 12 months of the Islamic calendar are:

What your MP can do for you

Inside the House of Commons

Inside the House of Commons
Inside the House of Commons
Author: 
Irfan Jalil

There are 646 MPs. Each of them represents about 70,000 people. But if you thought all you had to do for your MP was go and vote once every four or five years, you were wrong. It turns out you're having to fork out for MPs' electricity and water bills, digital TV subscriptions, new kitchens and much more (just flick through a John Lewis catalogue).

The war in Yemen

Yemen

Yemen
Yemen
Author: 
Helen Lackner

International media talk constantly of Huthi forces, but in reality the main military force in Yemen is now that of ex-president Saleh who, wherever he is, is doing what he promised: destroying as much as he possibly can.

The war which has now started is what many of us feared for so long and hoped, against all rational thinking, would be avoided. And this time, let us not fool ourselves with misguided optimism, this will be long and as awful as any war can be. While political and even military internal struggles are hardly a novelty in Yemen, the new element is that the conflict has now added a major layer of international ‘proxy’ features which will only worsen the situation, making it reminiscent of the Lebanese civil war in the 1970s-80s. 

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