When Heather Al-Yousuf, first met her husband of 28 years, they both felt a strong connection to their own faiths.

But their love was not straightforward as Heather is Anglican and her husband is Shia Muslim. However, Mrs Al-Yousuf thinks this is why so many inter-faith couples are drawn together.

Inter-faith marriage is on the rise in the UK. But as couples from different faiths fall in love, what are the challenges they face?

"There are quite a lot of Catholic-Muslim couples, and Catholics from quite a strong Catholic background meeting a Muslim from a strong Muslim background.

"It is almost like there is something they recognise about each other, there is an unconscious connection there - same kind of families, same kind of faith informing how they live life," Mrs Al-Yousuf says.

She believes each faith puts family at its core. However, inter-faith relationships also challenge both faiths. Where do they marry? In what faith do they raise their children?

According to figures from the 2001 census, more than 4% of married Muslims are in an inter-faith marriage in England and Wales.

But Mrs Al-Yousuf, who now lives in Oxfordshire, thinks this figure could be higher as there could be many more unmarried couples who choose not to marry due to the complications caused by selecting a ceremony.

Read more on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/0/24338285

Would anyone like to share any experiences they know of?

Abu Malik al-Ash’ari (Allah be pleased with him) reports that he heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) say: “There will appear people in my Ummah, who will hold adultery, silk, alcohol and musical instruments to be lawful” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

2Abu Malik al-Ash’ari (Allah be pleased with him) narrates a similar type of Hadith, but a different wording. He reports that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “Soon there will be people from my Ummah who will consume alcohol, they will change its name (by regarding it permissible. m), on there heads will be instruments of music and singing. Allah will make the ground swallow them up, and turn them into monkeys and swine” (Sahih Ibn Hibban & Sunan Ibn Majah, with a sound chain of narration).

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Abdullah ibn Mubarak rahimullah said:

Imam Abu Hanifa visited Madinah 12th Rabi' al-Awwal and I saw Abu Hanifa ditributing drinks to the children of madinah and telling them to rejoice as it is the day of RasoolAllah SallAllahu Alayhi WaAlihi WaSallam was sent to us. Imam Malik RadiAllhu Anh saw Abu Hanifa as he was doing this, so he called him over and said: O Abu Hanifa, Whosoever introduces into Islaam an innovation, and holds it to be something good, has indeed alleged that Muhammad (sallalahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) has betrayed the message. Read the saying of Allaah – the Most Blessed, the Most High,

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا
This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion. (Al-Ma’idah 5:3)

So that which was not part of the Religion at that time, cannot be part of the Religion today. And the last part of this Ummah cannot be rectified, except by that which rectified its first part.”

Upon hearing this Abu Hanifa weeped, and said: By Allah you have spoken the Truth, O Malik. By Allah you have spoken the Truth, O Malik!

And walked away repeating the statement of Malik, that which was not part of the Religion at that time, cannot be part of the Religion today)

The above narration with the addition cannot be found in the following references:
Imam Shaybani in Hadaiq al-Anwar vol 1 pg 130, Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali in Jami al-Ulm wa al-Hikm vol 1 pg 223 RadiAllahu Anhum

/Tumbleweed

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Ive been watching 'The Walking Dead' and its really made me think. If the world really does come to an end via a Zombie apocolypse (yes im aware there are no such things as zombies (yet) but imagine if ever is), What would I do and how would I survive? The world would cease to function.

1) Cardio: Expect there to be a lot of running especially at the beginning. Remember all it takes is one bite or infected cut before its game over. So get good at running.
2) Find a secure place to live. Somewhere with loads of supplies. A supermarket would be good or a grocery store. But how secure are they really? And what if the food runs out and theres a mob of zombies just outside.
3) Find weapons. As we dont have guns we'd be limited to melee weapons. Sooo a cricket bat? Or maybe just run them over with the car. A big car. Like a plow. Mr Plow... hmhmhmh la-la-la
4) All that running is going to be thirsty work. Find a source of water.
5) Keep a stash of granola bars/power bars to keep your energy up. Dont know when the zombies will come a moaning.

But imagine if you got bit! And its that moment where you know your going to turn into a zombie at any moment. What do you do???!!

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