Thursday, December 9, 2010

Mother's Status In Islam

All praise is for Allah and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad SAW.
After Allah and His Messenger, the most beloved and respected person to any Muslim should be his Mother.
Allah has given the mother such status that Rasulullah SAW says: (mafhum)
"Paradise lies under the feet of mothers."
Obedience and respect towards your mother is a very important duty in Islam and is similar to performing Salat and keeping fast. To hurt your mother in any way is the second biggest sin and those who commit this evil sin will be harshly punished by Allah in the Hereafter or maybe even in this world.
 
WHY?
Your mother is not a Prophet, nor is she an angel. She is just a human being like you. So why has Allah ordered you to be obedient towards your mother, and why does your mother have such a high status in Islam?
Allah loves and cares for us more than anybody else, and he especially loves those people who love and care for others. Similarly, Allah's Wrath fall upon those people who hurt other people in any way? Allah the All-Knowing knows that in this world nobody is more loving and caring towards another person than the way that a mother is towards her child. Only Allah and Rasulullah SAW love you more than your mother!
Only Allah knows what your mother does for you. Allah sees your mother feeling pain whilst she tries to give you whatever you want. Allah sees your mother’s love and kindness. Pleased by your mother's actions, Allah has given her a very high status and many virtues and rewards. Allah also sees that many of us are not thankful to our mothers. Allah sees many of us being disobedient towards our mothers.
Therefore, Allah has ordered us to be good towards our mothers. Allah has not advised us; but Allah has ordered us! We have no choice; therefore we have to be good towards our mothers.
To encourage us to do this, Allah has promised Paradise for those of us who are obedient towards our mothers.
At the same time, Allah has threatened to severely punish those of us who do not listen to our mothers, or hurt them in any way.
 
But what does your mother do for you?
She only cooks and cleans?
What - just that???
So why do you need to be thankful to your Mother?
Apart from Allah, nobody knows what our mother really does for us.

TEN REASONS FOR BEING THANKFUL TO YOUR MOTHER:
1. Your mother carried you in her womb for nine months bearing pain upon pain.
2. During this time, she could not eat nor sleep - because of you.
3. When you were a baby, and then a child, she spent every minute of her life looking after you.
4. She only slept when you slept. She only ate after you had eaten.
5. She was patient and loved you even when you cried all night; when you cried all day.
6. She taught you how to walk; how to speak; how to eat; how to live.
7. When you fall ill, she looks after you.
8. She always cooks and prepares food for you..
9. She buys you the things you ask for.
10. She will always love you, no matter what you do.

These are just a few things that our mothers do for us. They do so much more; more things we do not know about. And one thing that your Mother does for you, that nobody else in the world does, is that she worries about you from the bottom of her heart.

SO WHAT ARE THE THINGS SHE WORRIES ABOUT?
1. She worries about your food.
2. She worries about your clothes.
3. She worries about your health.
4. She worries about your education.
5. She worries about your future.
6. She worries about your whole life.

Allah has ordered us, in various places of the Holy Qur'an, to be good to our mothers. Allah has told us to look after them even more when they are old and weak. Allah has taught us to be gentle to our mothers and speak to them in a nice manner.
Allah has also told us to supplicate to Him for our mothers with this prayer:
"Rabbir-Hamhuma Kama Rabbayani Sagheerah."

("My Lord - have Mercy upon my parents; the way they had Mercy upon me when I was young.")

The Prophet Muhammad SAW has also ordered us to be good to our mothers. The Prophet SAW has told us about the great rewards for that person who is good to his mother. He (SAW) has described the mother as being a 'Door of Paradise'.

Rasulullah SAW has also warned us of severe punishments for that person who is disobedient to his mother.
TEN EASY WAYS TO ENTER PARADISE
1. Listen to your mother.
2. Help your mother.
3. Smile at your mother.
4. Be thankful to your mother for whatever she does for you.
5. Spend time with your mother.
6. Always ask your mother if you can help her with anything.
7. Buy your mother gifts.
8. Be good to your mother's family and friends.
9. Lead a good and exemplary life so that your mother is happy.
10. Always make du'a for your mother, especially after every Salat.

THOSE WHO ARE DISOBEDIENT TO THEIR MOTHER WILL BURN IN THE FIRE OF JAHANNAM (HELL FIRE)
However hard we try, we can never repay our mothers for what they have done for us; but we can at least do as much as we can, and also ask Allah to repay them for us. Our mothers are indeed a great blessing from Allah. We should greatly appreciate and value this blessing.
Whilst our mothers are alive, we have a golden opportunity to guarantee ourselves Paradise and also success in this world.
We will only truly realize the value and status of our mothers when they are no longer with us.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

15 Ways to Increase Earnings.........

1. The Taqwa of Allah

And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). (2) And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allâh will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allâh has set a measure for all things.
[Surah Al-Talq, Verse 2-3]

And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwâ (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes).
[ Surah Al-Araf, Verse 96]

2. Seeking forgiveness and repentance

"I said (to them): 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; (10) 'He will send rain to you in abundance; (11) 'And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.' "
[Surah Nooh, Verses 10-12]

"And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimûn (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh)."
[Surah Hood, Verse 52]

And (commanding you): "Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace (i.e. the one who helps and serves needy and deserving, physically and with his wealth, and even with good words). But if you turn away, then I fear for you the torment of a Great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).
[Surah Hood, Verse 3]

3. Tawakkul

‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab reported that Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

"If you were to put trust in Allah (Tawakkul) the way that Allah deserves, then you would be provided for as birds are; they leave (in search of food) at the beginning of the day famished, and return at the end of the day full"
[Shaykah Al-Abani’s Silsilat Al-Sahihah, # 310]

And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allâh will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allâh has set a measure for all things.
[Surah Al-Talq, Verse 2-3]

Would that they were contented with what Allâh and His Messenger (peace be upon him) gave them and had said: "Allâh is Sufficient for us. Allâh will give us of His Bounty, and so will His Messenger (from alms, etc.). We implore Allâh (to enrich us)."
[Surah Al-Tawba, Verse 59]

4. Constantly worshiping Allah

Abu Hurayrah stated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"Allah says, ‘O son of Adam! Take time out to constantly worship me, I will fill your chest with richness , and remove your poverty. And if you do not do so. I will make your hands filled with occupation, and will not remove your poverty”
[Shaykh Al-Albani declared it to authentic in his Sunan Al-Tirmidhi]

Ma’qal Ibn Yasaar reported that Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Your Lord, all glory and honor be to Him says, ‘O Son of Adam! Take the time out to constantly worship Me, I will fill your chest with richness! O Son of Adam! Do not distance yourself from Me, or I will fill your chest with poverty, and fill your hands with work ”
[Shaykah Al-Abani’s Silsilat Al-Sahihah, # 1359]

5.Thanking Allah

And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshiping none but Allâh), I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe."
[Surah Ibrahim, Verse 7]

6. Frequently performing Hajj and ‘Umrah

It has been reported by ‘abdullah Ibn Mas’ud that the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"Follow up between Hajj and ‘Umrah (i.e. continuously repeat the performance of Hajj and ‘Umrah) because they both eliminate poverty and sins just like a furnace eliminates the dirty impurities of iron, gold and silver. And an accepted Hajj has no reward less than paradise"
[ Shaykh Al-Albani in Sahih Sunan Al-Tirmidhi (1/245)]

7. Establishing the ties of kinship

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever is pleased with the fact that his Rizq be increased, and his life-span be extended, then let him establish the ties of kinship”
[Al-Bukari, # 5985]

Anas Ibn Malik reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever wishes to have his Rizq increased, and his life-span be extended, then let him establish the ties of kinship”
[Al-Bukari, # 5986]

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Learn enough of your lineage, so that you can establish the ties of kinship, for establish the ties of kinship increases the love amongst families and multiplies wealth and extends age”
[Shaykh Al-Albani in Sahih Sunan Al-Tirmidhi (2/190)]

8. Spending in the Way of Allah

Say: "Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and (also) restricts (it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allâh's Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers."
[Surah Saba, Verse 39]

Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“ Allah has said: ‘O Son of Adam! Spend I will spend on you!”
[Sahih Muslim (2/690)]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“There is not a single day in which a servant wakes that two angels come down (from the Heavens). One of them says, O’ Allah! Give to the one that spends a substitute (for what he has spent). And the other one says, ‘O Allah! Give to the one that withhold some (his money) destruction!”
[Al-Bukhari #1442]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“While a person was in an open area of land, he heard voice in a cloud above him say. "water the garden of so-and-so!" So the cloud immediately departed, and started pouring its rain out on a rocky plain. A large crevice in the rocks collected all of this water. So the man followed the water (in its course), and he found a man standing in his garden, using an instrument to direct this water in different directions *(to irrigate his garden). He said to him, ‘O servant of Allah! What is your name?’ The man said ‘So-an-so,’ the same name that he had heard in the clouds! Then the man asked him, ‘O servant of Allah! Why are you asking me my name?’ So he responded. ‘I heard a voice in the clouds- the same clouds that this water came from- saying, “water the garden of so-and-so” with your name. What do you interpret this as (i.e. why do you think this happened )?’ So he said, ‘If you say this (i.e. if what you say occurred), then (the reason for this is that) I see what (crops) come out of it (this garden), and I give one third in charity, and I eat with my family one third of it, and I return one third of it (to cultivate more crops)”” and in another narration, it is reported that he said, …and I give one third of it to the poor, and the beggars, and the wayfarers.’
[Muslim (4/2288)]

9. Hijrah, Emigrating for the sake of Allah

He who emigrates (from his home) in the Cause of Allâh, will find on earth many dwelling places and plenty to live by. And whosoever leaves his home as an emigrant unto Allâh and His Messenger, and death overtakes him, his reward is then surely incumbent upon Allâh. And Allâh is Ever Oft¬Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[Surah Al-Nisa, Verse 100]

10. Marriage

And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the Sâlihûn (pious, fit and capable ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allâh will enrich them out of His Bounty. And Allâh is All-Sufficent for His creatures' needs, All-Knowing (about the state of the people).
[Surah Al-Nur, Verse 32]

11.Supporting students of Islamic knowledge

Anas Ibn Malik said,
"There were two brothers (that lived) at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). One of them would come to Prophet (peace be upon him), whereas the other one would seek his sustenance (by working). So the the one who used to seek his sustenance complained to the Prophet (peace be upon him) about his brother. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied,
‘It is possible that you are provided your rizq because of him’"
[Shaykh Al-Albani agreed it to be authentic, Saheeh Sunan Al-Tirmidhi(2/274)]

12. Showing kindness to the Poor

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"The only reason that you are aided in victory (against your enemies) and provided with sustainance due to your weak?"
[Al-Bukahri (14/179)]

13. Being honest in ones dealings

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"The two parties of a transaction have the right (to annul the contract) as long as they don't separate (from each other). So, if they were truthful (to one another), and honest in explaining (the defects of an item), then they will be blessed in their transaction. But, if they lied, and hid (the defects of an item) then the blessings of their transaction are destroyed"
[Muslim, # 3836]

14.Making the Hereafter One’s main Concern

Once Zayd Bin Thabit wa with Marwan, the leader of the City, when he went to visit 'Abd Al-Rahman Ibn 'Uthman Bin 'Affan, Abd Al-Rahman said, "Nothing caused him to come here, at this hour except a question that he wants to ask." So he asked him (what the matter was). He replied, "He (meaning Marwan) asked us about matters that we heard the Prophet :saws: say". I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say
"Whoever puts this world as his only (and primary) goal, them Allah will divide his affairs for him, and He will place poverty before his eyes, and nothing will come to him of this world except that which was already written (i.e. pre-destined) for him. But whoever made the Hereafter his goal, the Allah will gather his affairs for him, and he will place richness in his heart, and the world will come to him conquered and submissive"
[Al-Albani Silsila As-Saheehah, #950 ]

15. Striving to achieve the goal (for sustainance)

He knows that there will be some among you sick, others traveling through the land, seeking of Allâh's Bounty; yet others fighting in Allâh's Cause. So recite as much of the Qur'ân as may be easy (for you), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give Zakât, and lend to Allâh a goodly loan, And whatever good you send before you for yourselves, (i.e. Nawâfil non-obligatory acts of worship: prayers, charity, fasting, Hajj and 'Umrah), you will certainly find it with Allâh, better and greater in reward. And seek Forgiveness of Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful
[Surah Al-Muzammil, Verse 20]

And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayât (signs etc.). Then, We have obliterated the sign of the night (with darkness) while We have made the sign of the day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning. And We have explained everything (in detail) with full explanation.
[Surah Al-Isra, Verse 20]

Taken from Yasir Qadhi's book "15 Ways to increase your earnings from Quran and Sunnah"
Shared By: Nighat Asma

Wassalam,
Al Huda Institute, Canada

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Haj reunites sisters from three different countries

The Haj pilgrimage this year has reunited three Indian sisters who now live in different countries, giving them an opportunity to relive memories of their childhood which they spent in Allahabad.

Shahana Mirza, Farzana Mirza and Durdana Mirza happened to make it to the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia this year by sheer coincidence and are savouring the moment.

In 1977, Shahana, the eldest of the Mirza sisters, married a distant cousin of hers in Karachi in Pakistan and has made it to India only thrice since then. Two years later, Farzana married Yawar Siddiqui, who then worked in Chicago.

Durdana married an engineer in Bangalore. Her husband is accompanying her to Haj and so is Yawar, Farzana's husband.

    For all of them it is a great reunion. "It seldom happens this way, and it was never planned. We applied for Haj in India through the government-supervised Haj Committee. Too many people apply, and pilgrims are decided through a computerised draw of lots. We were lucky to have been chosen this year," Shakir Bazmi, Durdana's husband, told 'Arab News'.

"We wrote to Shahana in Pakistan and she told us they too were coming to Saudi Arabia for Haj. We were delighted beyond words. Then the word came that their sister in the United States was also going to perform. Our happiness knew no bounds. For the sisters it was like a fairy tale," said Bazmi.

The three sisters met last week in the vicinity of the holy Kaaba in Mecca. They hugged each other and relived their childhood memories.

"We did meet on different occasions, sometimes in India, sometimes in Pakistan, but we were never at one place together," said Durdana.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

HAJ 2010

Yesterday marked the start of the Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Press Agency said that a record number of Muslims were expected to make the Hajj this year - over 3.4 million anticipated over the five days of the pilgrimage. One of the pillars of Islamic faith, the Hajj must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by any Muslim who has the ability to do so. Pilgrims perform a series of rituals including walking around the Kaaba, standing vigil on Mount Arafat and a ritual Stoning of the Devil. At the end of the Hajj, on November 16th, the three day festival of Eid al-Adha begins around the world. 


(34 photos total)
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/11/hajj_2010.html

Monday, November 15, 2010

Thank you Pastor

Thank you Pastor Terry JonesFor your service to Islam!1.       Thanks for making Quran a bestseller. More copies Qurans and  were sold on Amazon, local and online Islamic stores, thus providing humanity an opportunity to read and ponder over God's guidance for  humanity.[Image]
2.       Thanks for the business.  More people bought Islamic literature, along with the Quran, generating extra revenue for the Islamic stores. 
3.       More individuals visited the mosques to attend Muslim open houses and Islam presentations, thus receiving the wonderful message of Islam.
4.       More individuals called on the GainPeace's outreach hotline 800-662-ISLAM and inquired about the faith of Islam, giving Muslims an opportunity to explain Islam to our fellow citizens.  You generated more publicity for Islam, then all our past outreach campaigns combined. 
5.       More people Googled the words 'Islam' and 'Quran'.The more that you spoke about Islam and the Quran, more people came to Muslim websites to learn about the truth of Islam.
6.       Libraries were busy loaning out copies of the Quran. Yes, libraries across the USA, Canada and Europe were busy lend out copies of the Quran to its patrons.   
7.       Thanks for saving the Muslims advertisement dollars.  The free publicity to the words 'Quran' and 'Islam', that you gave, Muslims could have spent millions of dollars but couldn't have generated the same publicity and attention of the media, and thanks to you, the word of God (the Quran) became a household word.
8.       Thanks for waking up the Muslims.  Muslim all across the world are now more passionate about the wonderful and peaceful faith of Islam and are eager to share it with their neighbors, colleagues, friends and humanity.
9.       Thanks for encouraging more people to embrace Islam.  We had more people calling, learning and embracing Islam in the past few weeks, then we ever had since the last 40 years.   
10.   Thanks for uniting the people of conscience, the Muslim, the Jews, the Christians, the Hindus, and the atheist, on the common platform of goodness, love and tolerance and against hatred, bias and bigotry.
Pastor Terry Jones, we pray that you actually read the Quran with an open mind and heart and ponder over its message of the oneness of God. If you love Jesus, follow the religion of Jesus, the religion of Jesus was Islam, submission to the The Creator. May God, enlighten you to the truth of Islam and that you start worshiping the One Creator as was preached and practiced by Prophets Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, peace be upon them.  Welcome to Islam.


Dr. Sabeel AhmedDirectorThe GainPeace Project, USAInfo@GainPeace.com

LIVE FROM MAKKAH AND MADINAH

makkah
madinah

Eid Greetings From President Obama

Michelle and I extend our greetings for a happy Eid-ul-Adha to Muslims
worldwide and wish safe travels to those performing Hajj.  This year,
nearly three million pilgrims from more than 160 countries - including
the United States - have gathered in Mecca and neighboring sites to
perform the Hajj rituals and stand together in prayer.

On Eid, Muslims around the world will commemorate Abraham’s
willingness to sacrifice his son, and distribute food to those less
fortunate - a reminder of the shared values and the common roots of
three of the world's major religions.

On behalf of the American people, we extend our best wishes during
this Hajj season – Eid Mubarak and Hajj Mabrour.


http://www.isna.net/articles/News/Eid-Greetings-From-President-Obama.aspx

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Islam in the Land of the Rising Sun

The road to Hajj in the Land of the Rising Sun begins with the little known fact that there are ethnic Japanese Muslims.

Everyday the call to prayer is made in different corners of the predominantly Buddhist country - unobtrusively within the confines of its 50 or so mosques and approximately 100 musollas or communal prayer rooms.

Twenty-six-year-old Kubo-san prays at a small musolla in the agricultural district of Saitama, about two hours outside the capital, Tokyo.

Built 15 years ago by Bangladeshi workers, Kubo is the only ethnic Japanese in the congregation.

"I was born into a very ordinary Japanese family," he says. "We did not have a strong sense of religion."
Kubo's upbringing mirrors that of many Japanese - their attitudes and philosophy towards life shaped by the ancient religion of Shinto.

An ancient polytheistic faith, Shinto involves the worship of nature and is unique to Japan.

While divination and shamanism is used to gain insights into the unknown, there are no formal scriptures or texts, nor a legacy of priesthood that structures the religion.

After the Second World War, Shinto suffered a huge setback when the emperor was forced to denounce his status as a 'living god'.

While many historians would claim that the Japanese people lost their faith after this, recent surveys suggest that at least 85 per cent still profess their belief in both Shintoism and Buddhism.

'Special meaning'

"The first I knew about Islam was in my school days," Kubo says.

"The schools in Japan usually teach history. I knew about Islam in such history classes. Although I knew only a little bit, it shook my soul strongly."

His interest in Islam developed as he read more about it, but it was only when he began to meet expatriate Muslims in Japan that he considered converting.

Now, he is preparing to go on Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, for the first time.

"We Muslims pray five times a day towards Mecca. And pray 'peace be upon Prophet Muhammad'. He was born in this town and started Islam in Mecca. So for Muslims, it has a special meaning to go to Mecca. I feel honoured that I have this opportunity to go there."

'First step'

But just five years ago, Kubo's pilgrimage would not have been possible.

Reda Kenawy is Egyptian but he moved to Japan when he was in his twenties. He worked for a travel agency and decided to branch out to form his own agency specialising in organising Hajj pilgrimages for Japanese Muslims.
Japan's small Muslim community is tightly-knit
"All my staff said I was crazy when I wanted to plan the Hajj trip," Kenawy says. "In terms of business aspects, there must be a demand in the market to cover the costs. It would not work if there are no Muslims going."

"So I told them someone has to start, someone has to take the first step, then others could take it from there."

But, it was an uphill task, particularly when dealing with the Saudi Arabian authorities.

Kenawy says they told him: "We've never heard of Japanese Muslims and we've never heard of Hajj trips organised from Japan."

"So I told them there were Muslims in Japan and I was there as a Japanese. I have the Japanese nationality and I was representing Japan and wanted to bring Japanese pilgrims for Hajj.

"They said I couldn't and that my passport was forged and I looked Egyptian."

'Honour and happiness'

Kenawy persisted in his quest to take Muslim pilgrims from Japan to Mecca and five years on, his travel agency is one of only two registered companies that have been sanctioned by the Saudi government to organise Hajj pilgrimages for Japanese Muslims.

The number of pilgrims using Kenawy's agency has grown year on year, but for him the most encouraging development is the increase in ethnic Japanese Muslims.

"Right now, we have 90 per cent foreigners and 10 per cent [ethnic Japanese]. My dream is to have the opposite - to have 90 per cent Japanese or maybe 99 per cent original Japanese and only one per cent foreigners."

Abdullah Taki is a 36-year-old former body-piercer who converted to Islam in 2006. He made his Hajj pilgrimage in 2007.

"For me, the meaning of visiting the Kaabah is not to see a building but to visit God's home, to meet God," he says.

"At first, when we reached the country by airplane, we entered Madina before entering the city of Mecca. Although I could not see the area because I was in the airplane, when I heard the announcement that we [were there], I shed tears unconsciously.

"I felt an indescribable sense of honour and happiness. I was very deeply touched."

Camaraderie

Like Kubo, Taki's contact with Muslims in Japan started mainly with the expatriate community.

Every Friday, Muslims from Turkey, the Middle East, Central Asia, China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Japan pray together in Tokyo's Cami Mosque, which is modeled on Turkey's beautiful Blue Mosque.
Kubo learnt about Islam from
Muslim expatriates in Japan
There are no official records of the number of ethnic Japanese Muslims but some estimates put it at 10,000 - about a tenth of the country's total Muslim population.

The community of Japanese Muslims is so small that when they meet new faces for the first time, a sense of camaraderie is immediately established.

Higouch-san is 73 years old and has been a Muslim for more than 45 years. Mahmuda Saito is 63 and converted more than 30 years ago. Both know how difficult it can be to practice Islam in Japan.

When Higouch and Saito became Muslims there were only two mosques in the whole of Japan.

"It was very difficult. We Japanese have our own culture and traditions so it is quite difficult to carry out five prayers a day and fasting for a month," Higouch says.

'Planting seeds'
Saito is preparing to go on Hajj for the first time. As for many other Japanese Muslims, this involves a lot of self-study.

"It is not a normal holiday so I try to start from the preparation of my heart," she says.

"To learn how to prepare my mind to carry out the Hajj rituals, I read the books regarding the Hajj everyday at home. I would like to absorb the knowledge of the Hajj as much possible before the trip.

"It could be my last Hajj ... [so] I visit this holy city to try to feel the life of the Prophet and his companions of a long time ago."

Kenawy will be leaving Japan with 120 pilgrims - seven of whom are ethnic Japanese and going on Hajj for the first time and he is hopeful that this number will continue to grow.

"Like when you plant a seed and watch it grow, it can easily die or grow to be a big tree with many branches which cover everything. But it's not a tree yet. It's very easy to be broken now," he says.

"But with all the people's support, I think 10 or 20 years from now, maybe I'm not here, I can see there will be an organisation like a ministry for Hajis like in Singapore or Indonesia."
Road to Hajj - Japan can be seen on Tuesday, November 9, at 0630GMT, and on Friday, November 12, at 1630GMT. 
Source:
Al Jazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/hajj/2009/11/2009111011825150196.html

Thursday, November 4, 2010

E-Books

E-Books

1. FIRST THING FIRST:

2. HADITH, SUNNAH AND RELATED BOOKS:

3. SEERAH AND RELATED BOOKS:

4. ASPECTS OF THE PROPHET AND RELATED BOOKS:

Go to http://islamcalling.wordpress.com/e-books/ to download the books you need.

By M.Khalifa