Issue 5: Ali Wannabe & Jamal!

By Irfan Khan and Dawud

In the Mosque, after a talk has been held, everyone is sitting down to eat, food is being served. Jamal sees Ali and makes a bee line for him and sits across from him.

Jamal: As Salaamu alaykum Ali, its a very pleasant surprise to see you here.

Ali: W-S

Jamal: Huh? Double-you ess?

Ali: I said 'Wa Salaam.' And it's good to see you too.

Jamal: Aww thanks, really though it's amazing that you're here.

Ali: Its nothing, I got a text saying there was food and … the rest is history.

Jamal: Well the important thing is that you're here; just being in a Mosque is a rewardable act.

Cut The Culture

By Alveena Salim

Culture, what exactly is it? Well even though you might think it's got nothing to do with you; you are in fact surrounded by culture all the time – be it the culture of your parents/grandparents or the western 'British' culture.

Culture is the outward expressions of your values, beliefs, lifestyle etc. So from that point of view if culture is just basically your way of doing things then Islam can be your culture right? Yep too right it can and so it should be!

Editorial - The Freedom To Insult?

In a dark dark world there was a dark dark country. In the dark dark country there was a dark dark newspaper. In the dark dark offices of the dark dark newspaper, the dark dark Editor had a dark dark idea.

He decided to set up a dark dark competition to make some dark dark caricatures of the Prophet of Islam. His dark dark intentions being to test whether Muslims would be able to accept this dark dark vision.

Enough of the fairy tale! The Muslim reaction was anger. Understandably so. Yes some Muslims went too far with their protest by rioting, threatening, kidnapping and hijacking! However, the thing most non-Muslims did not understand was why the reaction was two months down the line.

Why Vote, and Who To Vote For?

Author: 
Haitham Al-Haddad

With the Name of Allah, and in Him we seek assistance, and the praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship besides Allah alone, without any associate, and there is nothing comparable to Him. And I testify that Muhammad is His servant and final Messenger.

In the current climate, many brothers and sisters in Britain have become preoccupied with the issue of the coming elections and debating the question of whether Muslims are allowed to vote and which party is most deserving of our vote. In reply, I would like to present the following clarification and advice.

Al-Nikah: the Islamic Marriage Ceremony

Author: 
Mohammad Mazhar Hussaini

The following article describes in a simple and clear manner the requirements and method of the Islamic marriage ceremony.

Mutual Agreement of Bride and Groom

Marriage (nikah) is a solemn and sacred social contract between bride and groom. This contract is a strong covenant (mithaqun Ghalithun) as expressed in Quran 4:21). The marriage contract in Islam is not a sacrament. It is revocable. Both parties mutually agree and enter into this contract. Both bride and groom have the liberty to define various terms and conditions of their liking and make them a part of this contract.

Mahr

The marriage-gift (Mahr) is a divine injunction. The giving of mahr to the bride by the groom is an essential part of the contract.

Divorce - Marriage Dissolution

Author: 
Hussein Khalid Al-Hussein, Ph.D

Introduction

Any discussion of marital relationships in Islam, should briefly mention the laws of divorce, since marriage and divorce are strongly related. The laws of divorce are among those laws shown in detail in the Qur'an along with the laws of marriage. It is also important to study the other forms of marriage dissolution besides divorce that are mentioned in the Qur'an and Hadith.

At-Talaq (Divorce)

Divorce is allowed in Islam. People, however, should not abuse this permission by seeking divorce without good reasons. Although if a couple divorces without reason it would still be considered lawful.

Laylatul-Qadr (the Night of Decree/Power)

Author: 
Unknown

In the Name of Allah, the Ever Merciful, the Most Compassionate

The excellence of this night in the last ten days of Ramadhaan is well known.The Prophet (SAWS) said:

"Whoever stands (in prayer) Laylatul-Qadr out of Faith and seeking reward, then his previous sins are forgiven." (Bukhari)

And the special du'a for this night is:

Allaahumma, innaka `Afuuwwun, tuHibbul `afwa, fa`fuu `annii

(Oh Allah, you are the One who pardons greatly, you love to pardon, so pardon me) [from the hadiith in at-Tirmithii and ibn-Majah -sahiih]

It has signs, for the Messenger (SAWS) said,

The Veil Is Not Oppression, It's Chic, Say Muslim Women

Author: 
Leela Jacinto

Voices on the Veil: Is the Veil Oppressive or a Celebration of Identity?

When the Taliban lost control of Kabul last November, the world waited for Afghan women to immediately shed their burqas, or all-encompassing robes. But it didn't quite happen that way.

Most women in Afghanistan today still cover their heads as they have done for centuries. And many women across the Islamic world say the hijab, or traditional headscarf worn with loose clothes, should not be seen as a sign of women's oppression, but a statement of their identity and religion.

The Concept of God in Islam

Author: 

It is a known fact that every language has one or more terms that are used in reference to God and sometimes to lesser deities. This is not the case with Allah. Allah is the personal name of the One true God. Nothing else can be called Allah. The term has no plural or gender. This shows its uniqueness when compared with the word "god," which can be made plural, as in "gods," or made feminine, as in "goddess." It is interesting to notice that Allah is the personal name of God in Aramaic, the language of Jesus and a sister language of Arabic.

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