Powerful message reminding us of an issue we often take lightly
“Shall I inform you of the greatest sins and in another variation he repeated this three times. We the companions said, “Certainly, O messenger of Allah! He (saw) said: “Associating anyone with Allah, disobedience to parents”.
The prophet sat up straight after he had reclined and added, “And I warn you against false utterance and false witness, “And I warn you against false utterance and false witness”.
The messenger of Allah (saw) kept saying that warning until we thought that he would not stop“.
In the fourth installment of a six-week lecture series on Christianity and Islam, a three-woman panel put together by the United Methodist Student Movement Ministry Team spoke about women in the Muslim culture.Often perceived by the Western world to have an oppressive attitude toward their women, Muslims often have been subjected to scorn and ridicule because of a misconception that these negative behaviors are rooted in Islamic belief, speaker Brenda Meneses said.
Meneses said that is not true.
Islam actually teaches equality and respect for everyone, including women, but people often confuse cultural behaviors with the actual theology, Meneses said. Christians in the Western world, she said, have difficulty understanding because they have a different attitude about the role of religion in their lives.
Christians - Westerners in general, for that matter - have long separated their religious life from a secular one. They are “compartmentalized,” she said.
In contrast, Muslims integrate their religion into every aspect of their lives, affecting how they dress, court one another and conduct politics, she said.
Meneses and the other two women on the panel, Aurora Deiri and Narjis Pierre, acknowledged conditions for women vary from country to country but they stem largely from the culture that existed prior to Islam’s spread throughout the world and the nuances of varied interpretations of the theology.
Deiri likened it to the subtleties of the many Christian faiths that exist today.
Except for extreme instances of disparity, which Meneses said is becoming more rare, Islam has pushed women’s rights sooner and more significantly than Christianity. “If you ask me if there is any feminism in the Muslim world I say … it is in the Muslim world,” Pierre said.
It is difficult for the Western world to see this, Deiri said, because there is very limited understanding of the Islamic religion.
This ignorance causes people to misinterpret some of the external practices of Muslims that Westerners often cite as oppressive, she said, such as the wearing of head scarves by women.
When asked how Christianity and Islam can be so far apart today when they have so much they share in common ancestry, Deiri replied, “In some instances, ignorance allows you to retain power.”
Karen Armstrong author of Muhammad: A Prophet for our Time, Faith After September 11th, and The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions has been especially popular in the years following September 11. Her writings explore the role of religion in modern times in the context of current events. She describes herself as a “freelance monotheist.”
Below is her 2008 TED Prize wish talk. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. The annual conference now brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes).
In her impassioned talk, Armstrong dismisses the notion that religion is the cause of political turmoil. Rather, she says “the cause of our present woes are political.” She states the recent fervor in religious enthusiasm (in all three Abrahamic faiths) is playing a larger role in our affairs. Secularism, she says “is looking rather old fashioned.”
Rather than accusing faith as the perpetrator of misunderstanding, she calls for a universal movement towards compassion. “Religious people prefer to be right, rather than compassionate.”
Armstrong’s unique perspective did not come easy, especially after scanning her exhaustive academic background. While most people who claim one of the three Abrahamic faiths will immediately criticize her approach (ironically proving her case), it is noteworthy that she has a point. At the minimum, it’s refreshing to hear the idea that religions are not the cause of violence and terror.
These sisters are seriously producing some awesome content
In their own words: “SISTERS is the fresh new magazine for Muslim women that encourages you to be the best Muslimah you can be, providing inspiration for an Islamic life from deen and tarbiyah to food and fashion - and everything in between!”
About SISTERS
SISTERS was founded in March 2007 by Na’ima B. Robert, author of ‘From My Sisters’ Lips’ and is dedicated to inspiring you to be the best Muslimah you can be, from the inside out, in every area of your life.
Each glossy issue is packed with inspiration for an Islamic life: from you and your deen, to your family, community and the world around you. With over 100 pages of content, SISTERS contains touching true stories, interesting articles, exciting features and practical and stylish ideas for fashion, food, decor and practically everything in between!
Harvard tests women-only gym hours to accommodate Muslims
Associated Press - March 4, 2008 4:34 PM ET
BOSTON (AP) - Harvard University has banned men from 1 of its gyms
for a few hours a week.
It’s a move to accommodate Muslim women who for religious and
cultural reasons can’t exercise comfortably in their presence.
A school spokesman says the trial policy went into effect last month
after a group of 6 Muslim women asked the university for the special
hours.
But some students say it’s wrong for Harvard to deny a resource
that’s supposed to be available for everyone.
Supporters of the practice say it’s important to show tolerance and
respect.
An Associated Press reporter who went to the gym during the
restricted hours on Monday didn’t see any Muslim women entering.
Efforts to reach some of the women who requested the policy were
unsuccessful.
Harvard says the policy will be reviewed at the end of the semester.
2008.
The Presidential Elections are around the corner.
Lately I have seen many blogs, even muslim ones, just put up there thoughts on one candidate and shun the rest.
They just tell you why they think this candidate would be great for there race, sex, religion, or political views.
YouthMatters and Islam|HD do not endorse any candidates. We want you to make up your mind, on your own and vote on the issues not on the popularity of a person or
because everyone you know is voting for them.
We have provided for you links for you to browse trough and make up your own mind.
Bilal bin Rabaah ( رضى الله عنه ) was the (مؤذن ) “caller to the prayer” in Medina but he only called the prayer for the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ), After the Prophet’s death (صلى الله عليه و سلم ), Bilal ( رضى الله عنه ) moved to Damascus like many of the other sahaba ( رضى الله عنهم ) who migrated to different parts of the new Muslim World and he was no longer the caller for the azaan.
On one occasion, he returned to Medina and the sahaba ( رضى الله عنهم ) requested him to call the azaan again like he used to before. On hearing the voice of Bilal ( رضى الله عنه ) again since the death of Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم ) , it flooded back memories for Medinan sahaba ( رضى الله عنهم ) of old days gone by. It was recorded that there was intense weeping of the sahaba( رضى الله عنهم ) in hearing the familiar voice of Bilal ( رضى الله عنه ) calling to prayer, and there was loud noise and sobbing across the town, that Bilal ( رضى الله عنه ) was unable to complete the azaan.
Every Week, Inshallah I will have a lecture tailored to help you get your Eman up and Inshallah keep it up.
All you have to do is listen to it and benefit from it. If you like it, Search the Shaykh on any search engine and buy
more of his lectures or click on the link provided.
Question: Why are the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) counted as proof?Answer: Praise be to Allaah.
Hadeeth means the words, actions, approval or attributes that have been narrated from the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
A hadeeth may either confirm things that are mentioned in the Qur’aan, such as prayer, zakaah, etc., or it may give details of things that are mentioned in the Qur’aan in general terms, such as the numbers of rak’ahs in each prayer, the thresholds for paying zakaah, the details of Hajj, etc. It may also explain rulings which are not mentioned in the Qur’aan, such as the prohibition on being married to a woman and her (paternal or maternal) aunt at the same time.
Start Practing Some Simple Sunan Of The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Today!
