Message from Sheikh Yusuf Estes !

The following message is forwarded by Yusuf Estes .....



Assalamualikum Everyone ,



Note:- Forwarded Message from Shk. Yusuf Estes.



Bismillah Rahman Raheem




I need your help, inshallah. Please do something for me and for Islam right now, inshalllah. First, read this and then join me and those who believe in Allah - to stop a very horrible crime about to be committed by some very powerful and forceful people. Help me put this information all over the Internet and around the world - we can do it, inshallah.



Let me start at the beginning . . .



Can you imagine my shock when I opened up an email telling me our website domain name (YOUTUBE.COM) is being taken over by GOOGLE and their video site - YOUTUBE?



Here is more or less what we were told:




NOTICE: Effective August 5th, 2009 Google (owner of YouTube.com) will take over YOUTUBEISLAM.COM.




Although we have purchased the name "YOUTUBEISLAM.COM" and have renewed for several years through GODADDY.COM it seems GOOGLE has enough influence to just simply take our domain name from us - and by the way, we have even paid for it all the way through to next year.




First, their lawyers contacted us saying they were going to take our domain because we copied their logo. We didn't even come close to their logo.. (look for yourself www.YOUTUBEISLAM.com/images/logo.gif)




They next came up with saying our name was too similar to their name. We changed the name and the layout to read: Yo Utu Beis Lam.com and we even registered that as a trade name.



We changed the logo and the images to reflect the new name.




They said they went into "arbitration" (of course we were not invited to that meeting) and then our registrar (GODADDY.COM) notified us they are "transferring" our domain name over to GOOGLE.



We have always maintained the highest of standards on our site - We never allowed any videos with inappropriate material. We did not allow videos that insulted or put down other religions. No dating or suggestive materials. No bad language. Only topics fit for all the family.



We paid for the bandwidth from our own pockets to make sure everything was always as it should be without having people click and wind up on websites attacking beliefs or making fun of believers and certainly nothing to hurt people's feelings.


Above all, we did not put up any ads (especially not GOOGLE ADS) on our site. (Could this be why they want it so bad?)



Or is it just so they can advertise their thousands of customers who would be happy to introduce thousands of paying advertisers to ways of entering into the homes of trusting Muslims who will think the website still belongs to Yusuf Estes and his dawah team?


Maybe they just don't like Islam?



Or possibily they don't like seeing so many new people entering Islam from our work?



Why does GOOGLE - a company who bought YOUTUBE for billions of dollars - want to take away our little website?



Good question.



I think you know the answer.



But do we have to let them do this without at least telling others about the unjust way of dealing of these people?



Are we just going to sit there and do nothing, while they destroy our work, our efforts, our viewers trust and above all - destroy the chance for many people to know the truth about real Islam in simple English language.


We don't have to.


We can make a difference, maybe even stop these cowards. Let's join together, all around the world and make a difference.


Let's tell everyone what is going on and what they can do to help...


1. Get a good copy of this page and make sure it is easy to read


2. copy it


3. Make sure to mail it out to everyone and ask them to do the same


4. Send text messages - Like this: "Google trying to steal Yusuf Estes website - www.YoutubeIslam.com Help us stop them - www.GuideUS.TV for details"


5. Call people you know, or fax them, and tell them the same basic statement, asking them to share this message in every way possible.


6. Pray to Almighty Allah and beg Him to give victory for His deen and His message in English.




Thank you and may Allah Bless you and your family and make your efforts work for good for you and for all of us, ameen.



Make dua and ask Allah to keep this site and domain for His Sake, ameen.


Jazakallah khair was salam alaykum,


Yusuf Estes

Google’s abuse of power to take over popular YoutubeIslam.com

Google has sent shockwaves in the online Muslim community by wrestling to take over the popular Islamic video sharing website YoutubeIslam.com. The website run for over three-and-a-half years by Sheikh Yusuf Estes, a popular da’ee in America, is 100 percent child safe and visited by thousands of net surfers for videos on a variety of subjects.



“Our little website became very popular with even non-Muslims. Everywhere we go people tell us how much they appreciate having something of this high moral value, excellent quality and professional approach to presenting Islam,” said Yusuf Estes.



The Sheikh says Google, the owner of YouTube.com, is trying to scare people into giving them their website domain names if they contain anything with the sound or appearance of the words like “tube”, “you”, “youtoo”, “youtube”, “tubeyou” or even words like “tub”, if connected in some way with anything like “U”.



Since earlier this year, Google’s law firm has been trying to take ownership of YoutubeIslam.com. For more read here.

Ready, set, let’s go!

Field trips have always been an essential part of the educational system. In this, new concepts have emerged, thus making the process of learning closely associated with travelling. Experts in the field believe that students develop life skills in a fun and challenging way through educational trips that provide them with an opportunity to broaden their horizons.




“Field trips aid in the development of skills in students as well as give students a chance to socialize with each other. They learn numerous things, such as, how to deal with different situations, plus they become more active,” said Dr. Sadik Dahlan, director general of Coral International School in Jeddah.




Students are taken to academic and non-academic trips. The academic trips offer students deeper subject learning and an increased level of self-confidence.




“Our education is usually based on textbooks. Students are taken on academic field trips that are planned in accordance with what is being taught in the classroom so that they can learn and easily relate their experiences. We hold discussions with the schoolteachers about what topic they are teaching so that we can organize a related field trip. For example, on the environment day, students were taken to a park,” said Dahlan, adding that students at his school have also visited colleges, universities, libraries, etc.




Seconding Dahlan, Huda, principal of the Learning Oasis School in Riyadh, gave another example of subject-related academic trips.




“Field trips related to science or social studies subjects are common. These include a trip to the zoo if the children are studying about animals,” she said.




Non-academic trips allow the students to escape for a while their accustomed studying routine. Students are taken to malls where there is usually a small play land, where they can indulge in some physical activity that otherwise is limited due to the lack of parks and playgrounds in Jeddah. Students visit sports centers as well as nearby cities as part of their school trips. “Children at our school have virtually visited every new mall in the city, and are updated with different aspects of the place they visit, such as, its management, etc.,” said Dahlan, adding that other activities, such as, swimming, barbeque, etc., are also included in the field trips. For more read here.

Fatwas

Talking in mosques



Q- Is it permissible to talk about worldly matters inside the masjid and at a time other than the salah?



A – All praise is due to Allah. It is not permissible to use the masajid as places of selling, trading, or other worldly affairs. The masajid were built for the remembrance of Allah, recitation of the Qur’an and offering prayers.


However, it is permissible to speak a little about worldly matters as long as it does not distract the reciters (of the Qur’an) or those praying.




– The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Verdicts





Preaching without practicing




Q- If after repeated attempts, a person is not able to apply something that he exhorts others to do, is it still permissible for him to call others to do that action? What if he does so supposing that the person he is calling will be able to apply what he failed to apply himself?




A – When one is inviting others to do a good thing that he himself is not capable of doing, then yes, he should call others to do it. An example of this is if someone calls others to pray late at night while he himself is not able to do so or if someone calls others to give charity, but he himself has no sufficient resources to give charity, then we tell him to go ahead and invite others to give charity. But as for him calling to something that he is capable of doing but doesn’t, then this is foolish in intellect and going astray in religion.





– Sheikh Muhammad Bin Saleh Al-Uthaymeen; Fatawa Islamiyah, vol. 8, pg. 56

Get used to harsh conditions

COMMENTING on Sheikh Bakr Abu Zayd’s advice, “...and do not indulge in luxury and comfort...”, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Uthaymeen said: “This is a piece of advice that should be given to both students of knowledge and (common people). This is because indulging in luxury and comfort contradicts the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He forbade excessive luxury. He would sometimes enjoin others to be barefoot. A person who becomes accustomed to comfort will find it difficult to face situations that may not come with the comfort he is used to.





Let’s take the hadith of occasionally being barefoot for example. Some people never leave their feet bare. They always have to wear socks, khuffs, or shoes. If you were to suggest such a person to walk 500 meters without wearing anything to protect his feet, it will be extremely hard for him. His feet might even start bleeding from the harshness of the ground! If one makes himself accustomed to harsh conditions by avoiding constant comfort, you will find such a person blessed with much good.





If the body is not accustomed to such conditions, it will not have immunity to pain. So, a person accustomed to comfort will be hurt at the slightest of things, while a (strong) person will be immune and he won’t feel pain at all. This is why the hands of laborers are much stronger and firmer than the hands of students of knowledge.





There is nothing deterring or preventing a laborer from doing any type of job, since his hands have already become accustomed to these conditions. If you touch their hands, it will feel as if you are touching a rock because of the roughness. There is no doubt that being accustomed to comfort and luxury will harm a person extensively.” – Sharh Hilyat Talib Al-’Ilm, pg. 43

Benefits Blog: Jarir – a notable legend in poetry

MOST people who come to the Kingdom carry back fond memories of a chain of bookstores called ‘Jarir’, yet not many of us know much about the eponymous poet after whom the chain of stores is presumably named.



He was Jarir Bin ‘Atiyyah Bin Huthayfah Al-Khatfi Bin Badr Al-Kulaibi Al-Yarboo’i, Abu Hazrah, from Banu Kulaib, a sub-tribe of Banu Tamim.



Born to a humble family in Yamamah during the reign of Caliph Uthman Bin Affan, he later moved to Damascus where he lived through the era of the Umayyad Caliphs (648 to 722 CE). It is said that he succeeding in impressing the tyrant governor of Iraq, Al-Hajjaj Bin Yusuf, with his fawning verse, subsequently made a living by penning eulogies in praise of some of the other Umayyad caliphs.



According to an account in Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah, Jarir was the only ‘court poet’ who was granted an audience by the ascetic Caliph Umar Bin Abdul Aziz. On the occasion, Jarir recited a few couplets of extempore verse, praising ‘Umar Bin Abdul Aziz for his generosity and comparing him favorably with some other past Caliphs, but he was admonished by Umar Bin Abdul Aziz to “stop lying for a living.”



On hearing this, Jarir asked ‘Umar Bin ‘Abdul-’Aziz for some money, since he was poor and had no other means of sustenance. Umar Bin Abdul Aziz said, “If you could prove to me that you are included among the list of people mentioned in the Qur’an who should be helped with alms, I would be the first person to do so.” When Jarir insisted on receiving some money, pleading his poverty, Umar Bin Abdul Aziz gave him 200 Dirhams from his own pocket, taking care to clarify that it was not from the public exchequer. Jarir later said that those two hundred Dirhams brought him such plenitude, that he was not reduced to begging for money ever again.



For more read here.

Fatwas

Sajdat-ut-Tilawah



Q- If I come across a verse of Sajdat-ut-Tilawah (prostration of recitation) when I am reciting the Qur’an at my desk, or when I am teaching the students, or in any place, should I perform the Sajdat-ut-Tilawah? And is the prostration for both the reciter and the listener?




A – Sajdat-ut-Tilawah is a sunnah for the reciter and for the listener. It is not an obligation. Also, it is not prescribed for the listener except while following the reciter. So if you recite such a verse in your office or the place of instruction, it is lawful for you to make prostration and it is prescribed for the students to follow by prostrating with you, because they are the listeners. And if you do not observe the prostration, there is no objection.




– Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz; Fatawa Islamiyah, vol. 2, pg. 282





Speaking to women




Q- What is the ruling if a young, unmarried man spoke with a young unmarried women on the telephone?




A – Speaking with an unrelated woman in a manner that provokes desires, such as speaking words of love or flirting and subduing one’s voice, whether on the telephone or otherwise, is not permissible. This is in accordance with what Allah said: “Then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire.”


As for speaking when there is a need, there is no objection to it, as long as it is free from corruption, but only in cases of necessity.




– Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Verdicts; Fatawa Islamiyah, pg. no. 120, vol. 5.






Q- Which of the two is better: Dedicating oneself to da’wah or dedicating oneself to seeking knowledge?




A – Seeking knowledge is better and more worthy. It is possible that the student of knowledge gives da’wah while seeking knowledge, but it is not possible that he gives da’wah to Allah while he does not have knowledge. Allah said: Say (O Muhammad): “This is my way; I invite unto Allah with sure knowledge…” (Qur’an, 12:108)



So how could there be da’wah without knowledge? And no one has ever given da’wah without knowledge; and whosoever calls without knowledge, (he will) not be successful.




– Sheikh Muhammad Bin Saleh Al-Uthaymeen; Kitab-ul-’Ilm

What’s on your mind?

Our lives are usually so preoccupied with materialism today that we hardly find time to think about the eternal life to come. Our quest to conquer every desirable thing in this temporary world has left little energy in us to work for eternal happiness. ‘Aaidh Bin Abdullah Al-Qarni mentions in his book ‘Don’t Be Sad’ some telling narrations of people who lived otherwise.




A RIGHTEOUS person was once thrown into a lion’s cage, and Allah then saved him from its claws. He was later asked, “What were you thinking about at the time.” He said, “I was considering the saliva of a lion – whether it is considered by scholars to be pure or impure (i.e. whether, when I die, I will be in a state of purity or not).”





Allah described those who were with the Prophet (peace be upon him) according to their intentions:?“Among you are some that desire this world and some that desire the Hereafter.” (Qur’an, 3:152)





Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned that a person’s value is measured according to his determination and his goals. A wise person once said words to the same effect: “Inform me of a man’s determination and I will tell you what kind of man he is.”





A vessel capsized at sea. A pious man among others was hurled into the water. He began to make ablution, one limb at a time. Later, he managed to get to shore and was saved. He was asked about why he made the ablution. The man replied, “I wanted to make ablution so that I would die in a state of purity.”





Imam Ahmad, during the pangs of death, was pointing to his beard while others were making his ablution for him, reminding them not to miss a spot.





“So Allah gave them the reward of this world, and the excellent reward of the Hereafter.” (Qur’an 3:148)

Arrogance: The barrier to Paradise

ALLAH’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever has an atom’s worth of kibr (pride and arrogance) in his heart will not enter Paradise.” So a man said: What about a person who loves (i.e. takes pride in) wearing beautiful clothes and beautiful shoes? So he replied: “Indeed Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Kibr is to reject the truth, and to despise the people.” (Sahih Muslim, 1/65)

So Allah informs us that the Hellfire is the abode of those who have kibr (pride and arrogance). And we learn from the (above) hadith that: “Whoever has on atom’s worth of kibr in his heart will not enter Paradise.” So this is a proof that kibr necessitates entry into the Hellfire and prevents entry into Paradise. And this comprehensive explanation that the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned has clarified the meaning of kibr in the dearest possible manner. So he divided kibr into two types:

1. Kibr against the truth This is to reject truth and not accept it. So anyone who rejects the truth is proud and arrogant – in accordance with what he rejects. So it is obligatory upon everyone to humble themselves to the truth that Allah sent His Messenger with, and (the truth) He sent down in His Book.


Those who, out of pride and arrogance, do not comply with the Messengers (i.e. do not believe in them and their message) are disbelievers and they will eternally dwell in the Hellfire. This is because they rejected the truth that the Messengers brought to them with clear signs and proofs. They are prevented from accepting it because of the kibr they harbor in their hearts. Allah said: “Verily, those who dispute about the Signs of Allah, without any authority having come to them, there is nothing else in their breasts except pride.” (Qur’an, 40:56) For more read here.

Abaya trends among expat women

EXQUISITELY styled abayas are on the wish list of every woman in the Kingdom. Expat women too are determined to make a fashion statement out of the typically black cloaks that are, by and large, not mandatory in their home countries. “Saudi women as well as expat women prefer modern abaya styles. However, women in Riyadh are more conservative in their choice of abaya colors, and there are some restrictions prohibiting very attractive and colorful abayas in Riyadh. On the other hand, women in Jeddah like to wear colorful abayas,” said Hala Droubi, a Syrian PR coordinator in TBWA\RAAD, Jeddah.



“Another difference between Saudi women and expatriate women,” she said, “is that most Saudi women are willing to invest more in abayas than the average expatriate women. They also buy new abayas more frequently and in almost every season or have their own custom-made abayas, making sure that they follow the latest trends in abaya styles.”



Abayas in vibrant hues, with bands of glistening diamantes, sheaths of leopard prints, glittering stones, ribbon and lace embellishments, etc. are just some of the designs in abayas that are gaining popularity with expat women.



Droubi said the latest trend in abayas is inspired by the old traditional Egyptian “milaya laf” dress, which women used to wear in the 1920s in Egypt.



Abayas in butterfly and fish silhouettes and with embroidery designs on the neck, back and borders also score high with expat women, and so do black abayas blended with bright and flashy colors, and those embellished with sparkling diamantes and detailed bead work in the front. Satin pleated abayas with chic net sleeves give a modern and contemporary look. For more read here.

Fatwas

Mistake in recitation



Q- If the Imam makes a mistake in his recitation during the audible prayers, such as omitting a verse or part of a verse, or altering the words of a verse by mistake... should he be corrected by the worshipper who is being led by him?



A – If the Imam makes a mistake in his recitation, by omitting a verse or by some grammatical error therein, it is prescribed for those behind him to correct him. If the mistake is in Surah Al-Fatihah, he must be corrected, because its recitation is a pillar of the prayer; unless the mistake does not change the meaning of the Verse, in which case, it is not obligatory to correct him, such as would be the case if he recited: Ar-Rahmana or Ar-Rahima or the like.



– Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz; Fatawa Islamiyah, vol. 2, pg. 420




Satan’s whispers



Q- When we think about doing a good deed, Satan comes and whispers, “You are only doing that ostentatiously, to be seen of men and for good reputation.” Therefore, we don’t do that good deed. How can one remain free of such occurrences?



A – One can remain free of such occurrences by seeking refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan, as well as by continually performing good deeds. He should not pay attention to such whisperings that make him stop doing such good deeds. If he turns away from such whisperings and seeks refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan, such whisperings will stop by the Permission of Allah.




– Sheikh Muhammad Bin Saleh Al-Uthaymeen; Islamic Fatawa regarding women, pg. 56

Guess who’s coming for dinner?

‘CHECK that out; that guy walks likes this!’ exclaimed a friend, pointing discreetly at a passerby in the university hallway as we sat perched on the stairs during a free slot between classes. She then made a swinging movement with her shoulders and waist that made the rest of us burst out laughing in loud guffaws. The person under ‘dissection’, realizing that he was the source of our jest, made himself scarce as peals of our laughter echoed through the halls.




Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “A person is on the faith of his friend; so watch whom you befriend.” (Sunan Abu Dawood)




During student days at school and university, we tend to hang out with the most popular crowd. Peer pressure kicks in and we do anything, good or bad, to “fit in” and be accepted by the group. Sadly, sometimes we end up committing major sins this way, such as backbiting, slander, malicious gossip, rumormongering, cheating in examinations, and having flings with members of the opposite gender.




Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used an analogy to explain the opposite effects of good and bad company.




Abu Musa reported Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) as saying: “The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and that of the one (iron-smith) blowing bellows; the owner of musk would either offer you some free of charge, or you would buy it from him, or (at least) you would smell its pleasant fragrance; and as for the one who blows the bellows, he would either burn your clothes or you shall have to smell its repugnant smell.” (Sahih Muslim, no. 6361)



For more read this.

Four principles of worship By Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah

THE verse: “You alone do we worship.” (Qur’an, 1:5) is built on four principles:







1. Saying of the heart
It is i’tiqad (belief) in what Allah informed about His Self; concerning His Names, His Attributes, His Actions, His Angels, and all that He revealed upon His Messenger (peace be upon him).







2. Saying of the tongue
It is to inform and convey (what Allah has revealed), to call to it, defend it, to explain the false innovations which oppose it, to establish its remembrance and to convey what it orders.







3. Action of the heart
Love for (Allah), reliance upon Him, repenting to Him, having fear and hope in Him, making the religion purely and sincerely for Him, having patience in what He orders and prohibits, having patience with what He decrees and being pleased with it are some examples. These are connected with the action of limbs. In fact actions of limbs without the heart is of little benefit, if any benefit at all.







4. Action of the limbs
Such as salah and jihad, attending the jumuah (Friday prayers), aiding those who are (needy) and displaying kindness to the creation.







So Al-’Ubudiyyah (servitude to Allah) is a comprehensive term for all these four stages. The one who actualizes them has indeed actualized: “You alone do we worship.”
– Madarij-us-Salikin (1/100-101)

The man behind the armor: Salah-ad-Din Al-Ayyubi

HE defied the odds in an era of darkness. He set aside the criticism of those who called him crazy for wanting to do the seemingly impossible: uniting the Ummah, standing up to the Crusaders, and returning honor where it belonged. He was respected by both his friends and foes, and is perhaps one of the few men whose name evokes feelings of honor and pride in the minds of so many people in every era and place.






He had the Crusaders chasing their tails in the battles of Alexandria, Hittin, Acre, Tyre, Beirut, Nablus, Haifa, Tiberius, Gaza, ‘Asqalan, Jerusalem, and dozens of other cities and towns across Sham and North Africa. He is popularly known as Salah-ad-Din the warrior.






But, who was the man behind the armor? How was he as a person, and as a Muslim? What personality does it take to carry out such heroic feats and achieve such a status?






In Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah (13/5-6), Ibn Kathir said that at the time of his death, Salah-ad-Din hardly had any money in his possession, and this was because: “…of the immense amount of gifts and charity and kindness that he used to show the leaders and ministers under his command, and even to his enemies.






“He was very simple in his clothing, food, drink, and transportation. He would only wear cotton, linen, and wool. It is not known that he ever approached anything forbidden or discouraged, especially after Allah blessed him with his kingdom. Rather, his greatest concern and goal was to aid Islam.”






Ibn Kathir continued: “He was very strict in praying on time in the jama’ah (congregation). It is said that he never missed a single prayer in jama’ah for a great part of his life, even during the illness that killed him. The imam would enter and lead him in prayer, and he would struggle to get up and pray despite his weakness.”






“He loved to hear the recitation of the Qur’an and the reading of hadith and knowledge. He was constant and habitual in listening to ahadith being read to him, to the point that he would hear a section read to him while he was standing between the ranks of soldiers!”




For more read here.

A giant of our era: Memories with Sheikh Jibreen

I WAS really moved when I heard about the death of our beloved Sheikh, Dr. Abdullah Bin Jibreen on Monday. A brother from Jordan called me and informed me of the sad news while I was playing with the baby. I couldn’t help but put her down and contemplate on the great loss the Ummah had just faced.






I first met Sheikh Jibreen in 2003, when I took a week off from school to go and visit Riyadh. Little did I know that I would have the opportunity to meet one of the greatest scholars of our era. My first encounter was a rather funny one. We walked with the sheikh from his masjid to his house after Asr prayers. This was the first opportunity I had to actually get close to the sheikh and see him in person. It was customary for students to kiss their teachers on foreheads, so I thought this was expected of me. I never thought I would almost be thrown down to the floor for that! As I approached to kiss his forehead, the then 75-year-old man, no taller than 5’8”, pushed me and I went 10 feet away as if I were just a fly! The sheikh, as small as he was, was built like a tank, Masha Allah. I was later informed that due to his humility he disliked being treated as a ‘sheikh’. He considered himself only a student of knowledge, may Allah have mercy on him.




Another amazing incident during this visit was when we attended his Thursday morning class. After Fajr prayers till about 10 A.M., he would go through nearly 12 different books. The books I remember specifically going through with him at that time were: Tafsir Al-Tabari, Tafsir Shawkani, Kitab Al-Tawhid, Usool Al-Thalathah, Imam Nawawi’s 40 Hadith, Sharh Al-Sunnah of Al-Muzani, and the Mandhoomah of Al-Ajrumiyyah.





If you thought going through so many books was a great accomplishment, listen to this. When we reached Tafsir Al-Tabari, the sheikh started falling asleep (we could hear him snoring gently). At that point, may Allah forgive me, I thought to myself, “wow, some sheikh he is. He falls asleep on his students.” But as the brother continued reading the book out loud the sheikh was able to point out places where he didn’t pause, or places where there should be a comma and their wasn’t, and even the typographical errors in the book while his eyes were closed and his head leaned forward on his chest! That really was a site to be seen. A man so proficient and expert in what he taught that he could do it in his sleep! May Allah have mercy on him. For more read here.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Jibreen passes away

RIYADH/JEDDAH/BISHA – Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Bin Jibreen, one of the Kingdom’s senior Ulema and a former member in the Ifta Permanent Committee, died Monday at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh after prolonged illness.

Funeral prayers will be performed Tuesday noon at Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.

Sheikh Jibreen, 78, was initially treated in Germany upon directives from King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. He returned to complete the treatment in the Kingdom.

One of the sheikh’s companions at the hospital said his heart stopped on Sunday but revived after electric shocks. There was no response when the heart stopped again on Monday, he said, noting the sheikh experienced a relapse last week and his condition deteriorated after an artery surgery. He added that the deceased also suffered complications of lung inflammation.

Several Ulema and thinkers expressed sorrow on the death of Sheikh Al-Jibreen and prayed to Allah to bestow His mercy on him and grant patience to his family members, relatives, students and the Muslim Ummah.

Dr. Muhammad Bin Saad Al-Shuwai’er, Adviser to the Kingdom’s Grand Mufti, said the Muslim Ummah owes Sheikh Al-Jibreen a right – that is, to pray that Allah bestow His mercy on him.

For more go here.

Racism and bigotry on the rise

AS someone who grew up in a multiethnic neighborhood of London, I have difficulty understanding why a growing number of Britons and other Europeans invest so much energy in hating others simply because of their religion or race. Are they fearful of people who are superficially different from them? Are they concerned about foreigners taking their jobs? Are they just hate-filled individuals in search of an easy target as an outlet for their own negative emotions or just easily influenced sheep who derive a sense of belonging from sharing their hate with co-members of right-wing or neo-Nazi parties?



Because I’ve always derived pleasure in mixing with people of different cultures who have given me so much in terms of understanding and knowledge, I would like to think that cross-cultural mingling would “cure” such contemptuous attitudes because, in the end, regardless of their color or garb, people are just people the world over. But, now, I’m not sure.



A very close British friend — let’s call him Brian — who has lived and worked abroad for most of his life, tells me that he supports the racist British National Party (BNP). His anger is palpable when our phone conversations occasionally turn to the subject of race. He maintains that the traditional face of Britain has been changed forever due to the influx of immigrants, whom he resents for failing to assimilate into the British way of life, preferring to reside within community pockets. “I want my country back,” he usually says. “What can we do about this? They should go back.”



“Go back to where?” I ask. “Most have been born in the UK. They are as British as you or I.” I then remind him of our country’s colonial past, which opened Britain’s door to “subjects” of Her Majesty and of the indisputable fact that the vast majority of his own friends are non-British. And I know, for a fact, that, although he is not particularly wealthy, he has been generous to many of them in terms of helping to pay for operations and even donating toward a Thai family’s aspirations to own a small farm. For more go here.

Nano-particles in Camels’ urine may help treat cancer

Dr. Faten Abdel-Rahman Khorshid is responsible for one of the Kingdom’s greatest national achievements in the field of science for her work which began with the urine of camels and concluded in a potential cure for cancer. After spending more than five years in lab research, this Saudi scientist and faculty member from King Abdul Aziz University (KAAU) and President of the Tissues Culture Unit at King Fahd Center for Medical Research, has discovered that nano-particles in the urine of camels can attack cancer cells with success. Her work began with experiments involving camel urine, cancer cells found in patients’ lungs and culminated in injecting mice with leukemic cancel cells and camel urine to test the results.



Speaking to the Saudi Gazette, Dr. Khorshid claimed that she was inspired by Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) medical advice and that camel urine consists of natural substances that work to eradicate malignant cells and maintain the number of healthy cells in a cancer patient.



“This treatment is not an invention, but rather, taken from our Prophet’s legacy,” she remarked. A Hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari (2855) and Muslim (1671) claims that some people came to Madina and fell ill with bloated abdomens. The Prophet (pbuh) told them to combine the milk and urine of a camel and drink that, after which they recovered. A swollen abdomen may indicate edema, liver disease or cancer. Dr. Khorshid added that she is not a medial doctor but a scientist and her job involves the preparation and testing of a drug in the lab and supervising the manufacture, testing and application of the drug. For more read here.

Islam preaches mercy for all creation By Ahmad Wahaj Al-Siddiqui

AFTER 9/11, Islam and Muslims have been targeted and accused of violence and terrorism. The reality is that terrorists have no religion and this is specially true because they have targeted and killed probably more Muslims than non-Muslims.


Islam is against all anti-social behavior and it has clearly defined the rights of every creation, including animals and plants. It has outlined our duties towards each other and defined how our relationships with each other should be.


The rights and duties of parents and children towards each other, for example, or those of wives and husbands or masters and servants have all been explained. Islam orders Muslims to be good with their neighbors, irrespective of their status in society, color or religion. It orders the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice in the society.


Our duty is not restricted to our relatives or neighbors alone, but it also includes common people we meet on the street. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was a mercy to the Alameen (all creation). Islam promotes welfare of all humanity. It orders rich Muslims to pay Zakat (obligatory charity) to the needy people.


Moreover, the right to education is very much emphasized. Islam orders free education for all. Every citizen should have access to free learning and this is a responsibility on every Muslim state.


Furthermore, Islam does not allow its followers to swear at the gods of people of other religions. It prohibits forceful conversions and promotes tolerance.


Muslim rule from its very beginning provide a living proof of its tolerance and humanitarian approach.

– SG

10 gems for a good life

By ‘Aaidh Bin Abdullah Al-Qarni


1. Wake up in the last third of the night to beg forgiveness from Allah.“...and those who pray and beg Allah’s Pardon in the last hours of the night.” (Qur’an, 3:17)


2. At least once in a while, seclude yourself from people in order to contemplate.“Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth...” (Qur’an, 3:191)


3. Stay in the company of the righteous.“And keep yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord...” (Qur’an, 18:28)


4. Remember Allah often.“Remember Allah with much remembrance.” (Qur’an, 33:41)


5. Pray two units of prayer with sincerity and devotion.?“Those who offer their prayer with all solemnity and full submissiveness.” (Qur’an, 23:2)


6. Recite the Qur’an with understanding and reflection.“Do they not then consider the Qur’an carefully?” (Qur ‘an, 4:82)


7. Fast on a hot, dry day.“He abandons his food, drink, and desire — all for Me.”


8. Give charity secretly.“Until the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand has spent.”


9. Provide relief and aid to the afflicted Muslim.“Whoever gives relief to a Muslim from one of the vicissitudes of this life, Allah will relieve him from a calamity that is from doing the calamities of the Day of Judgment.”


10. Be as abstemious and abstinent as possible in this fleeting world.?“The Hereafter is better and more lasting.” (Qur’an 87: 17)


– Excerpt from ‘Don’t Be Sad, IIPH

Extinguish conflicts

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for the others’ faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert (cut your relation with) one another, and do not hate one another; and O Allah’s worshipers! Be brothers (as Allah has ordered you!”) (Al-Bukhari, 8/73, no. 90)

Lessons from the death of a pop icon

JUST think about it. The eyes follow the righteous soul as it floats effortlessly upwards through the seven heavens. It leaves the body like water flowing from a stream and angels greet it with beautiful words supplicating to Allah to bless it. The doors of heaven open and angels dress it with beautiful clothes, asking who this wonderful soul is. At last, that day arrives and records are placed in the right hand and it is told to return to its grave until the Day of Judgment.


On the other hand, the evil soul is ripped apart from the body by angels with the sternest of faces, welcoming it to Allah’s wrath and anger. The body is torn from the inside as the severity hits home. All angels curse the soul and the doors to heaven are shut. There is total pandemonium as angels ask about the ugly soul. Slowly but surely the records go to the left hand and Allah’s promise is delivered. Allah says in the Noble Qur’an: “Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeeds successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception.” (Qur’an, 3:185)


Everyone must experience the end. This is the only real guarantee we have in life. Death is true and we all know people who have died. Think back, those who were alive last year are no longer here today and as another Ramadan approaches of the Prophet (peace be upon him), ask yourself, is this going to be my last? The Companions remembered death continuously and acted upon the knowledge of death they had.


They were from the best of people and with the best of Allah’s creation, Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). But see how they remembered this reality. They would weep remembering that they will be held accountable for their deeds after death. For more read here.

From America to Yemen to Egypt: Rocky life of a revert divorcee

HOW does a born Muslim meet a revert American Muslim woman? ‘Wow! Masha Allah, Allah guided you. It’s such a pleasure to meet you.’


Little more than speaking glorifying words do we do. Helping her out in the issues she may be facing hardly crosses our mind. Reverts aside, our attitude gets worse toward Muslims in general.


Meet Umm Ni’mah, an African American woman whose ancestors were slaves and who grew up in the late 1960s in New Jersey under the cult of Elijah Muhammad. She embraced Islam in her early twenties.


“I remember how I’d often pass by a Masjid on the bus and look at how beautiful and clean the sisters looked. I wanted to be like them, I wanted to look like that,” Umm Ni’mah recalls. “I found no real satisfaction from dating and going out dancing. I wanted to submit to something greater to feel fulfilled, not used. I became tired with wasting my life and my time.”


“I started to practice true Islam. I read the Qur’an more and more. I tore down and fought my desires within myself in order to please my Lord, Allah Alone. I cried to Him a number of times to remove the evil filth of shirk from my chest, my mind, and my soul. I tried to follow every rule I could and I loved reading about the religion, Alhumdulillah.”


Reborn with Islam, Umm Ni’mah’s life was filled with peace, contentment and gratitude. She found the purpose of life and the way to success. Then came time for the next stage of life, the desire of every youthful being, the world’s prelude to fantasies – it was time to get married.


“I married at 26. We had a son together.” But marriage is more than a fantasy, it’s about adjusting to one’s role, caring for each other and building a family.


“We argued a lot and our marriage did not last over two years. We divorced, may I add, happily?” Like Umm Ni’mah, her husband was a practicing Muslim and a student of Islamic studies. He left for Yemen with their son, Abdur Rahman, to study Islam and live in a Muslim country. He remarried and settled there.


Two years later, in 1999, it was Umm Ni’mah’s turn to travel to Yemen. It was her own Hijrah (migration to a Muslim land). “After two years of staying away from my only child, I wanted to leave the non-Muslim land and be with my son and support him,” Umm Ni’mah wrote in email to Saudi Gazette.


“At the airport, a couple received me and escorted me to the village where my son lived. I had high hopes that my son would be learning Islam and benefitting from living in the Muslim land. Everyone seemed anxious to meet the sister who’d let her only child go to the land of the Muslims at such a young age. They didn’t know the pain and hardships I faced alone for doing this.” For more read here.

Fatwas

Is Iblis an angel?


Q- Is Iblis, may Allah curse him, an angel or not? And if he is not an angel then what is the meaning of exclusion in Allah’s Words: “All the angels prostrated themselves, except Iblis.” (Qur’an, 15:30-31)?


A – It should be known that angels are creatures of Allah. He created them from light, they never disobey Him, and do as He says. As for Iblis (Satan), Allah mentioned that he was amongst the Jinn, Allah says: “...and when We said to the angels, prostrate to Adam, they all did, except Iblis who was from the Jinn, who transgressed the command of his Lord. (Qur’an, 18:50)


Allah mentions in the Qur’an what Iblis said when He commanded him to prostrate to Adam. He said: “You created me from Fire, and You created him from clay.” (Qur’an, 38:76)


As for the type of exception, in His Words: “All the angels prostrated themselves, except Iblis,” it is a separate exclusion, as one may say: ‘Everyone came except for a donkey.’


There are some people of knowledge who say Iblis, may Allah curse him, is an angel except that he disobeyed Allah, the Exalted, and insisted on being disobedient. Iblis deserved the curse of Allah till the Day of Recompense.


– Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Verdicts; Fatawa Islamiyah, vol. 1, pg. 96



Sunnah prayers during travel


Q – Is the requirement for offering the fixed Sunnah prayers lifted during travel, and (if so) what is the evidence for this?


A – It is prescribed for one to leave the fixed Sunnah prayers during travel, except Witr and the Sunnah of Fajr. It has been authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the Hadith of Ibn Umar and others, that the Prophet would not pray the fixed Sunnah prayers while traveling, except Witr and the Sunnah of Fajr. As for the supererogatory prayer, they are prescribed during travel and while one is resident, and likewise the prayers for whose performance there is a reason, such as the Sunnah of Wudhu, Tawaf, Adh-Dhuha, and Tahajjud prayer at night, based upon Hadiths which have been narrated to that effect.


– Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz; Fatawa Islamiyah, vol. 2, pg. 431

Beware of Michael Jackson email virus

COMPUTER security firm Sophos issued a warning Thursday about an Internet virus transmitted from a mass email claiming to contain secret songs and photos of Michael Jackson. The email comes with the subject “Remembering Michael Jackson” and is sent from “sarah@michaeljackson.com”, Sophos said in a statement sent by its Asia office in Singapore.


It tells recipients that an attached file titled “Michael songs and pictures.zip” contains secret songs and photos of the pop music icon.Sophos warned computer users not to open the attachment.


“By opening the attachment, computer users are exposed to infection. Once infected, a computer will begin automatically spreading the worm onto other Internet users,” Sophos said. “Besides spreading via email, Sophos experts note that the malware is also capable of spreading as an Autorun component on USB memory sticks.”


Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant at Sophos, said many computer users are likely to be tempted to open the attachment because of the feverish interest in the King of Pop’s sudden death.


“But sensible computer users should by now be well aware that cybercriminals will be quick to exploit news events to spread malware and spam,” he said. “Anyone who receives this email should delete it immediately to save themselves the embarrassment of infecting their email contacts.” - AFP

Confusion causes Facebook to give users more privacy control

FACEBOOK is overhauling its privacy controls over the next several weeks in an attempt to simplify its users’ ability to control who sees the information they share on the site.


Privacy has been a central, often thorny issue for Facebook because so many people use it to share personal information with their friends and family and beyond. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company said Wednesday that the new settings will give people greater control over what photos, updates and personal details they share with their friends, family and strangers on Facebook and, eventually, the wider Internet.


To make the settings easier, Facebook is consolidating its existing six privacy pages and more than 30 settings onto a single privacy page. It will also standardize the options for each setting so the choices are always the same, something that hasn’t always been the case. That means that for various pieces of content, users will be able to click on a lock icon to choose whether to show it to everyone, only their friends, friends of friends, members of professional or school networks or people on a customized list. For more read this.

Confusion causes Facebook to give users more privacy control

FACEBOOK is overhauling its privacy controls over the next several weeks in an attempt to simplify its users’ ability to control who sees the information they share on the site.


Privacy has been a central, often thorny issue for Facebook because so many people use it to share personal information with their friends and family and beyond. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company said Wednesday that the new settings will give people greater control over what photos, updates and personal details they share with their friends, family and strangers on Facebook and, eventually, the wider Internet.


To make the settings easier, Facebook is consolidating its existing six privacy pages and more than 30 settings onto a single privacy page. It will also standardize the options for each setting so the choices are always the same, something that hasn’t always been the case. That means that for various pieces of content, users will be able to click on a lock icon to choose whether to show it to everyone, only their friends, friends of friends, members of professional or school networks or people on a customized list. For more read this.