We are not terrorists!

Major Derrill Guidry says:

I’m a soldier who just happens to be Muslim. It doesn’t have anything to do with my job. We need the support of the American people in order to survive as soldiers. Knowing that the people we serve are behind us, beside us, and with us, gives us the encouragement we need to intentionally make it through each day that we put on our uniforms and go to work whether here in the United States or overseas in a combat zone.

Read more on islamgate.org

Chance or intelligence ?

Is it probable that all the letters on this page unscrambled themselves by

chance to form these meaningful and structured sentences?

How then, could a human being – with ears, eyes and a mind – have been formed by chance? Is it credible that such a vast universe with inestimable billions of galaxies could have evolved by accident?

Does not the integration and complexity of a single cell far exceed that of a mere piece of paper with some intelligible writing on it, let alone this universe and all that it contains? (Especially since the universe also contains this piece of paper..!)….

Read more here

Sami Yusuf - Allahu Allah

A Muslim woman

Please meet sister Ingrid Mattson, a Canadian convert who has become a leader in the American and Canadian Muslim communities by advocating for the Ummah in teaching what Islam really is to non-Muslims, and engaging in interfaith studies.
Born in Ontario, Ingrid came into Islam while studying art in France and soon found herself in Pakistan where she worked to aid refugees from Afghanistan suffering from the war with Russia.

Facing trials…working Muslimaat in Britain

It is well-known that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has permitted women to make choices in regards to balancing responsibilities within and outside of the home.  This includes the choice of employment.  However ‘easy’ this choice may appear, working outside of the home in a non-Muslim country such as the UK poses a number of challenges for Muslim woman.  These challenges, which are often in direct conflict with Islamic principles, render some Muslimaat (female Muslims) to engage in social norms that contradict the Muslim’s way of life.    A test in their faith alongside the day-to-day struggle to please Allah, today’s working environment makes it tough to balance Islamic doctrine with the British work ethos.

This article will examine some of the trials Muslim women face in the British workplace with particular regard to the Hijab, working relationships and the obligation of performing the Prayer.

 Read the full article here

A large number of the Beautiful Names of Allaah are repeated manifold in the Qur`aan as demanded by the occasion and it is necessary to explain their meanings in a succinct way…

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This article and the next will be dedicated to a discussion of the top ten misconceptions about Islam, which are shared by many people around the world. These misconceptions may be attributed to a variety of causes, including inappropriate media hype, lack of reliable information sources, and lack of desire to pursue and understand the truth.

MISCONCEPTION #1:

Muslims are violent terrorists and/or extremists.

Perhaps currently, this would be the biggest misconception about Islam. Inappropriate media hype and bad journalism, based on subjective stereotypes, are the root cause.  When a gunman attacks a mosque in the name of Judaism, a Catholic IRA guerrilla sets off a bomb in an urban area, or Serbian Orthodox militiamen rape and kill innocent Muslim civilians, one must be careful not to use these random acts of violence to stereotype an entire belief system. The media often suggest the acts are a result of the perpetrators religious beliefs; however, this is seldom true.  It has become commonplace for media outlets to pair the description of an Islamic or Muslim fundamentalist with violent acts, creating a false perception that all Muslims or followers of the Islamic faith are violent.

Often dictators and politicians will use the name of Islam for their own perverse purposes. It is important for readers and those who consume media reports to consider the information source and recognize that Islamic teachings promote peace, contrary to what many media reports may imply. Islam literally means ‘submission to God’ and, ironically, given the subjective, stereotypical media hype, is derived from a root word meaning ‘peace’.

While it is true that to the ignorant Islamic teachings may seem exotic or extreme to those unfamiliar with its basic tenets who are rooted in the modern world; it does, in fact, promote peace and tolerance.  In contrast with Islam, Christianity and Judaism generally do not have the same prominence in the day-to-day activities of those living in the West. Islam is embraced as a ‘way of life’ for Muslims and there is no division between the secular and the sacred in their lives. Similar to Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or for those who have been forcibly expelled from their homes. That said, it prescribes strict rules of combat, which prohibits the harming of civilians and destruction of crops, property, trees and livestock.

Islam does not permit the killing of innocent people.

The Quran says:

“Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits.  God does not love transgressors.”

(Quran 2:190)

“If they seek peace, then seek you peace.  And trust in God for He is the One that hears and knows all things.”

(Quran 8:61)

War, therefore, is regarded as a last resort, and is subject to rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law.

The term ‘jihad’ literally means ‘struggle’.  Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad.  External combat and the inner struggle of the soul, which everyone wages against egotistic desires as they seek inner peace.

In terms of war ethics, there is historical evidence that suggests treated those they defeated humanely.  In La Civilization Arabe, French historian and sociologist Gustav Le Bon affirmed that the world had never known a conqueror more merciful than Muslims.

MISCONCEPTION #2:

Islam oppresses women.

Many of these countries do not follow Shari’ah (Islamic law) and have introduced their own cultural interpretation of gender equity.

Islam, on the other hand, acknowledges that men and women have distinct roles and equity between the two is laid down in the Quran and through the actions of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Islam regards a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings.  A Muslim groom offers a marriage gift to his bride for her own personal use and she keeps her original family name rather than taking her husband’s. Both men and women are expected to dress in a modest and dignified manner. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

“The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife.”

(Prophet Hadith)

Violence of any kind towards women is not tolerated in Islam, and Muslims are forbidden to force a woman to do something against her will. In Islam, marriage is viewed as a legal agreement that enables either partner to define conditions. Marriage customs vary widely from country to country.  Divorce is not common, although it is acceptable as a last resort.  According to Islam, a Muslim girl cannot be forced to marry against her will; however, her parents may suggest young men they deem suitable as suitors.

MISCONCEPTION #3:

Muslims worship a different God…..

….read the full article at islamgate.org

How to wear Hijab?

An article from (www.muhajabah.com ) presents a brief guide to the rules of dress for the Muslim sister for different situations:

1) Around her husband, a sister may dress however she chooses. There are no restrictions on what the husband can see or touch.

2) Around the (Mahram) relatives, women, and children (a complete list of exemptions is given in Surah an-Nur ayah 31), a sister should cover her (Awra) Display of the hair, arms, lower legs and feet, is universally agreed to be halal for this category.

3) Around (Non-Mahram) men, a sister must cover all of her body except her face and her hands. The face is the circle of the face only and does not include the ears or any of the hair. Just think about what you wash in (Wudu). The covering of the hair, neck, shoulders, and upper chest must specifically be accomplished by the (Khimar) (headscarf). The arms, torso, and legs should be covered by loose, opaque clothing that obscures the shape of the figure.

4) Outdoors and in open public places (such as the market or the Masjid), a sister must wear a (Jilbab) as an outergarment, that is, over her other clothes. If she is wearing a (Khimar), then the (Jilbab) only needs to cover from the shoulders to the ankles, such as a long coat. If she is not wearing a (Khimar), then the (Jilbab) should cover the head and neck as well.

The above rules set out what you need to wear in each situation in order to be observing correct hijab.

Watch the Video to see one way to wear the (Hijab).

www.islamgate.org

Since nine centuries in European societies some myths about Prophet Muhammad have been established due to historical conflict between Europe and Islamic world. But many of thinkers, philosophers and scholars have had another opinion, an objective and logical. Poets, novelists and writers were more distinguished to express their views on Muhammad. Emotions or illusions did not plunge them about truth, which they used to discuss and reach it. Lessing, Goethe, Pushkin, Lamartine, Collins, in addition to: Tolstoy, H G Wales, Bernard Shaw and Kazentzakis, represent a selection of most famous poets and writers in Europe. Goethe and Tolstoy were discussed in last two articles. We have to recognize others and what they have said in this regard.

Gotthold Lessing (1729-1781), the German writer, was one of the most prominent protagonists of Enlightenment era. He was a poet, philosopher, dramatist, publicist, and art critic. His plays and theoretical writings substantially influenced the development of German literature. In his writings he tried to contribute to the development of a new bourgeois theatre in Germany and defended the faithful Christian’s right for freedom of thought. In addition, he spoke up for tolerance of the other world religions in many arguments.

He considered Islam as a natural religion, called it the age of enlightenment and important for Western culture as Rome and Greece. He defined tolerance as the will to respect and dialogue, which had to lead to recognition Muhammad and Islam. Lessing believed that every thinker agree with him that all key principles in teachings of Muhammad stems from innate natural religion. He is a Prophet for today endeavor us to promote Islam.

The 19th century writer and poet Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), who founded the literature of his language with epic and lyric poems, plays, novels, and short stories, was one of the earliest significant literary figures in Russia. His most famous works…..

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While both Islam universality and modern globalization seek to unify the world and achieve a common sense of purpose, the spirit behind the actions and the means employed to achieve the same goal are markedly different.

Islam universality means that Islam is not a religion restricted to Arabs. The Holy Koran does not speak only to people from Mecca or Arabs, its message is directed to people from all walks of life, everywhere. It addresses mankind with a message based on one simple principle – the unity of God who created the universe.

Islam does not attempt to limit access to a particular group of people, and many Muslims recognize that part of their mission is to help encourage and promote the spread of Islam to every corner of the planet earth, a duty that is referenced in the Holy Koran at least a dozen times.

It seems that Islamic values sometimes compete and seemingly conflict with society’s trend towards modern globalization. For more than three decades, the media has aggressively promoted the concept of modern globalization, which in many ways seems to be nothing more than a modern expression of the age-old tendency towards domination and the power of an unjust force – a recurring theme which has perpetuated throughout history.

In some ways, the globalization phenomenon can be….. 

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