I'TIKAF - "THE SPIRITUAL RETREAT"

I'tikaf - "The Spiritual Retreat" in order our hearts get attached to Allah SWT

by E Islam

The basic purpose of I’tikâf is that the heart gets attached to Allâh and, with it, one attains inner composure and equanimity and pre‑occupation with the mundane things of life ceases and absorption in the eternal Reality takes its place, and the state is reached in which all fears, hopes and apprehensions are superseded by the love and remembrance of Allâh, every anxiety is transformed into the anxiety for Him and every thought and feeling is blended with the eagerness to gain His nearness and to earn His good favour, and devotion to the Almighty is generated instead of devotion to the world and it becomes the provision for the grave where there will be neither a friend nor a helper. This is the high aim and purpose of I’tikâf which is the speciality of the most sublime part of Ramadhân, i.e., the last ten days.

UK REVERTS SHINE AT MUSLIM NOW RETREAT

UK reverts shine at the Muslim Now retreat

by Amal Stapley

Before I came to Islam, I was surrounded by Muslims who were encouraging me to say my Shahadah.

When I finally did take the step they were overjoyed, but when I asked them to tell me more about the deen they all started to fade into the background.

They said that they didn’t know enough about Islam to help me on my journey.

So I had to hunt around for somewhere to go where I could learn the foundations of Islam to help me put my new-found fledgling faith into practice.

My quest took me on a very long journey to many different sources and eventually to many different countries, and eventually back home to the UK.
But it was only recently that I came across an amazing Retreat for New Muslims. Muslim Now, a branch of iERA (Islamic Education and Research Academy) that was established to provide support for new Muslims in the first couple of years of their journey, is now holding two of these Retreats a year.

REVERTS: IS IT BETTER TO LIVE IN A MUSLIM COUNTRY?

Reverts: Is it better to live in a Muslim country?

by Aya Timea

Do you dream of living in a Muslim country?

Do you get tired of fighting with your family and friends to accept you as a Muslim?

Wish you to live in a land where you hear the beautiful sound of Adhan (call to prayer) five times a day, everybody welcomes you with salam aleikom and everybody is just tremendously happy that you chose the path of Islam instead of living in the West?

Well, I did. And I moved.

That is why I want to share my experiences with you, to let you know how I see life as a reverted Muslimah coming from the heart of Eastern-Europe and now living in the land of the Nile, in a city which never sleeps: in the adventurous Cairo.

REVERTS: HEROES OR SOCIAL MISFITS?

Reverts: Heroes or Social Misfits?

by Lauren Booth*

‘Mum I’m a Muslim’.

This statement falls from your lips.

Then you watch, heart pounding, as your mother, the one who gave birth to you, who knows you inside and out, struggles to put words to her horror – that you have suddenly joined the most pilloried faith in the modern world.

Despite the fact that before taking my Shahadah I had spent half a decade traveling the Muslim world, my mum was still shocked. She had never expected me (‘of all people’), her Jack Daniels drinking, low neckline wearing, foul mouthed, eldest daughter, to embrace something so ‘puritanical’.

All credit to my mum though. Despite her silent horror, she has (with bitten lip) for the past three years, worked hard at accepting that Islam has entered her family from this most unexpected direction.

THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN IS THE PERFECT TIME TO PROMOTE ISLAM

THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN IS THE PERFECT TIME TO PROMOTE ISLAM - MUSLIMS ARE ENCOURAGED TO OPEN  THEIR DOORS TO NON-MUSLIM NEIGHBORS

by Syarif Hidayat

         The holy month of Ramadan is the perfect time of the year to promote Islam. That is why Muslims are encouraged to share the Ramadan spirit with the non Muslim friends and neighbors by taking part in an initiative aimed at breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of good relationship and good neighborliness between Muslims and non-Muslims in the communities, especially in the non-Muslim majority countries like those in the West.

        Islam is a beautiful religion, full of wisdom and harmony.   If this wonderful religion is followed properly then a typical Muslim would only be a great example to follow. You might believe this or not! But good manners are the best form of Da’wah. If we ask ourselves, what if a person was walking around calling people to Islam and to worship the one true God yet he have no manners at all, will anyone follow him? Or even listen tohim? The answer must be No, for sure.

CHINA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT BANS ITS CITIZENS FROM PERFORMING RAMADAN FASTING

THE COMMUNIST CHINA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT BANS ITS CITIZENS FROM PERFORMING FASTING IN THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN

by Syarif Hidayat

        While the Christian majority countries in the West and the other non-Muslim countries around the world give their Muslim citizens freedom to perform fasting in the holy month of Ramadan and observe the other  religious rites, the Communist China is the only country on this planet that bans its citizens from fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

       It’s not exactly breaking news that China has serious issues with freedom of religion and as an officially Atheist state is often very repressive against those observing religious rites. China has once again leveled restrictions on the persecuted Uighurs when it comes to practicing Ramadan. Unlike millions of Muslims around the world, Uighur students returning for summer vacations in northwestern China are banned from fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

DURING RAMADAN, MUSLIMS CALLED TO RE-EVALUATE LIVES IN LIGHT OF ISLAMIC GUIDANCE

DURING RAMADAN, MUSLIMS ARE CALLED TO RE-EVALUATE LIVES IN LIGHT OF ISLAMIC GUIDANCE

 

by Syarif Hidayat

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡڪُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِڪُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ (١٨٣) أَيَّامً۬ا مَّعۡدُودَٲتٍ۬‌ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ۬ فَعِدَّةٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ‌ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ ۥ فِدۡيَةٌ۬ طَعَامُ مِسۡكِينٍ۬‌ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرً۬ا فَهُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (١٨٤)

      


          In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Allah SWT says in Al Qur’an:  “O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious ). [Observing Saum (fasts)] for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskîn (poor person) (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, is better for you if only you know.” (Al Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 183-184)

DESPITE ISLAMOPHOBIA, ISLAM IS THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGION IN THE WEST

DESPITE ISLAMOPHOBIA, ISLAM IS THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGION IN THE WEST

by Syarif Hidayat

         Despite Islamophobia is still prevailing strongly in the Western world, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the West especially in the United Kingdom and the United States. The increase of the conversion to Islam is one the results of post-9/11 curiosity. The 9/11 tragedy has triggered more curiosity among western people especially Americans to study more about Islam.

        In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.  The Almighty God Allah SWT says in Al Qur’an: "O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islâm (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islâmic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitân (Satan). Verily! He is to you a plain enemy. Then if you slide back after the clear signs (Prophet Muhammad SAW and this Qur'ân, and Islâm) have come to you, then know that Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” - (Al Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqara, Verses 208- 209)

WELCOME O RAMADAN – THE MONTH FULL OF GOODNESS, PIETY AND BENEFITS

WELCOME O RAMADAN : AS MUSLIMS, WE SHOULD BE READY FOR THE HOLY MONTH FULL OF GOODNESS, PIETY AND BENEFITS

by Syarif Hidayat

        Marhaban Ya Ramadhan! (Welcome O Ramadan!), as Muslims, we should be ready for the holy month of Ramadan, the month of goodness and piety and the month that is full of benefits.

         Allah SWT says in Al Qur’an: “O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious).” (Al Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 183)