ummtaalib

Let the Hereafter be your objective, your goal. Who says women cannot attain knowledge or excel in worship? There are examples of great women from the time of the Sahaabiyaat and through the ages where women have excelled in knowledge, worship and spirituality. So make the Aakhirah your objective in whatever you pursue, be it knowledge, worship, rectification etc and even in fulfilling your duties to your husband, children, in laws and in serving humanity at large. Today women pursue equal rights however it is in worldly matters whereas the Sahaabiyaat and their followers pursued in competing with the men in Deeni matters and matters related to the Hereafter. So don’t grieve and concern yourselves with the luxuries of this world. Compete for the Hereafter. This was the message from Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (hafizahullah) at the Annual Sister’s Gathering (March 2012)

I found this very inspirational post on the vital role of women in the Ummah. Women have a great responsibililty and a vital role to play...if only we realised and appreciated the great status Islam has bestowed upon us! A Woman’s Role In The Ummah Sisters, your role in society is like the role of the archers in the battle of Uhud. They were not at the forefront or in the thick of the action, BUT they held the most important position. They guarded the army. If they moved, the whole army would be uncovered and defeated. In the same way, if you leave your most important position, you leave the army-the Ummah uncovered. - You are the silent heroes, - You are the foundational structure of great generations, - You are the mothers who look after the family, - You are the first of the teachers of this Ummah, - You are the ones who teach the Muslim men courage, truthfulness, kindness, perseverance, and patience, - You are the carer’s of the men of this Ummah, - The success of this Ummah lies upon your shoulders. Allah states that a woman’s primary abode is her home. This does not mean she plays no role in society. She is like the engine of a car hidden in the bonnet. Everything of the car is meaningless without the engine. The engine being concealed does not mean it is insignificant. Infact, being concealed reveals its real value A woman is like a live wire tucked away. If it is exposed it will shock people. It is concealed yet provides the current for electricity. A woman is like the battery in a mobile phone. All the features of the mobile phone mean nothing if the battery is not there. It is concealed but provides the main function. Being concealed and doing what Allah wants us to do reveals the real value of women. http://www.idealwoman.org/2012/a-wom...-in-the-ummah

I have read and heard many times the story of how our beloved Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, on the momentous occasion of receiving Prophethood, goes to his beloved wife Khadijah R.A., confides in her and receives total support from her. A beautiful story, but never before have I heard of the beautiful lessons derived from this occasion as explained by Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (hafizahullah)in his bayan called “Ruswaayi sey bachaaney waaley awsaaf”. The enormous responsibility of Prophethood conferred by Jibrail left our beloved Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alyhi wasallam in a state of agitation and fear, i.e. would he be able to carry out this great responsibility or would he fail. He immediately went home to his beloved wife and recounted the whole episode of the meeting with the Angel Jibrail. Her immediate reaction was to offer loving words of comfort and support. She allayed his fears by pointing out to him that Allah Ta’aalaa had placed this responsibility on him, but surely not to humiliate him with failure. After all, did he not keep ties with those who wished to break them (silaa rahmi), and did he not worry about those who had no-one to worry for them (boj uthaanaa)? Did he not create means of earning for the poor (faqiro ko kamaane ke raastein dikhaanaa) and did he not help and stand up for the oppressed who were on the haqq? Did he not happily entertain guests? How then would Allah not help him in attaining success? The first lesson from this episode is that Khadijah R.A. describes five qualities present in Rasulullaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, which were the reason for his not being humiliated, and if these five qualities were to be present in us success would be guaranteed for us in both worlds. The second very important lessons especially for women, is that a wife should be a means of comfort to her husband, especially so if he was striving in the path of Deen. A few words of comfort from a wife are enough compared to others. Khadihah R.A. holds a very high status in the ummah. Allah Ta’aalaa sent salaams to her through Jibrail which were conveyed to her by Rasulullaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, she was the first to accept Islam and spend all her wealth in the cause of Islam, but there is no comparison to the status of her husband. Despite the differences in their status, Rasulullaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam, was able to go to her and confide his fears in her. Explaining further Shaykh says that to practice on these five things a couple would have to be united and supportive of each other. A man or a woman would never be able to feed the poor or worry about the weak, the helpless, the disabled, the widows or the orphans, or help the oppressed or invite guests without the support of the other. Therefore the five beautiful qualities Khadijah R.A. pointed out in her husband were present in her also!

Read Oh Mu’minah, read the Qur’an Read and ponder over the message from Ar-Rahmaan. Educated is she who recognises her Lord and His infinite mercy, Intelligent is she who submits to His wishes in total humility. In the Qur’an He did not forget to mention you, Apparent His love in His elevating you. Created you from the rib of man, close to his heart, To be loved and cherished, and not left to be perished. Read and know about Aasia, wife of the cruel Fir’own, She preferred torture and death and a house close to her Lord. Fruits sent down from Heaven, for Mariam, mother of Isaa Comforted and inspired to save her child was mother of Musaa. Know how Khowla’s anxiety was removed, And A’isha’s purity and sanctity proved, Verses of the Qur’an, sent down in mercy, A means of protection for women till eternity. Know that just as acceptance was granted to Ibrahim’s Ramee, So it was to Hajra’s Sa’ee Is Hajj complete without the stoning, And did not the Prophet, the Sahaba and the Awliya have to do the running? And just as Ahadith was narrated by Abu Hurairah, So it was by A’isha, Asma and Hafsah. And if there was born the likes of Hasan Al Basri, Then who can deny the high status of Raabiyah? If man will reap the reward of his worship and bear punishment for his inequity, Then woman too will do so equally, And if man can reach great heights, then you too are not denied, So struggle and strive and free yourself, you are not confined. The freedom of the West is nothing but imaginary Posing half naked and following the fashions is in actual fact slavery. So don’t be foolish and be left behind, Oh Mu’minah, Become in reality a devoted and true Muslimah!

From WASP to a Muslim Jonathan Brown 05/03/2003 From Washington DC to California I would like to start the story of how I became Muslim with a bit about my background prior to embracing Islam. I come from a white, upper-middle-class Anglo Saxon American family from Washington DC. Growing up I would accompany my parents to soiree’s, potato-salad laden outdoor luncheons at friends’ houses and church on Sundays. My parents were very well educated and both successful in their respective fields. My days were spent in a coat and tie at private schools. I was not exposed to much diversity, unless by diversity you mean different kinds of rich white people. Despite my excellent education, I certainly had little real understanding of how people from other countries or other religions perceived the world. I was religious as a child, but I did not care too much about the Protestant doctrine my Sunday school teachers tried to teach their students. I was religious, I suppose, because I believed in God in the same way so many people in this world do: I called upon Him when I needed Him, pledging my undying service and devotion if only He’d grant me whatever wish I desperately wanted at the time, only to forget Him later. But I suppose I really did believe in God, for throughout my life I always knew that some higher truth existed and going off to California for boarding school further constricted the role of religion in my life. My father could no longer make me go to church, and California’s rich and liberal environment has never been known to welcome any religious expression other than vapid adulterations of Eastern faiths such as Buddhism and Hinduism. When a teacher at my school suggested having a private Bible study at his house after formal dinner for any students interested he drew criticism from faculty and students alike. With such issues cast aside, then, I spent my high school days studying, drinking when I could and desperately trying to hook up with whatever female would let me near her. Time slipped by as my friends and I knocked tennis balls back and forth in the warm California sun, hoping to impress girls and reaping the inevitable heart-aches with which spoiled youths are constantly stricken. Beyond my English classes, clumsy attempts at getting drunk and days at the beach I knew in both my heart and mind that my life was not complete. I knew, with perhaps too much perspicacity, that all the fleeting delights of my life and all its momentary agonies could come to an end with the wrong turn on a highway or a freak accident. I knew that all my hopes and dreams as a person had to have more significance than simply the transitory whims of an animal born and bound to perish without history even noticing. I knew all this, so I kept looking for the truth that could grant my life meaning. Encountering Islam Soon I went off to college. There, among stacks of required readings and friends smart and arrogant enough to provide stimulation conversation for each other, I pondered these questions. Motivated and excited by my classes, my mind was always racing from thinker to thinker, from book to book. My university had a theology requirement, so I decided to take a class on Islamic Thought and practice. My professor was a Palestinian Muslim woman who made no apologies for her faith. She presented Islam in a fair and reasonable light, stating on the first day of class that she expected her students to “step into the shoes of a Muslim in order to understand Islam.” I was initially averse to sympathizing for a religion spread by the sword and so closely associated with terrorism, and I took every opportunity I could to argue with the professor about the merits of the religion. As the semester progressed, however, I found myself identifying more and more with the image of Islam that she presented: One God, totally beyond our comprehension, the Creator and Shaper of a rational and ordered universe; a message sent from on high, over and over again to the various human communities that had thrived on and then vanished from the earth; men corrupting this message out of the desire to hasten felicity, out of greed or the lust for power; one last messenger, sent to the dry earth of Arabia, that Near-Eastern crucible of human faith, to deliver the pronouncement one last time; God is, and you must worship Him, when you do, you will be free from fear and pain, and all the trials and vicissitudes of this life will gain meaning; one last book, intact, preserved for all time for the generations that would ponder it as the centuries passed. Surrendering to God This was the God I had believed in as a child, the God and the message cleansed of human accretions and worldly corruptions. This was the message that sat peacefully both in man’s heart and mind, bringing reason and faith together in submission to God. Yes, the manifestation was foreign; I knew no Arabic, barely understood the world into which the Qur’an was revealed and could hardly grasp the manifold transformations that would affect the Islamic tradition as time and space moved Muhammad’s revelation away from its origins. Nonetheless, I felt that I had alighted upon the truth that had evaded me for so long and that at last my nagging fears and doubts had come to an end. I spent the summer traveling in Europe and Russia and was able to ponder these questions with the seriousness and depth that only long hours of traveling afford. When I returned home to Washington to start my sophomore year of college, I decided that I had already become Muslim. I believed in God’s message, as delivered through the Prophet Muhammad, and all that remained was to formalize my commitment and begin living as a Muslim. I had already weaned myself off liquor and, quite unwillingly, put a stop to my attempted womanizing. I said the shahada (testimony of faith) in front of some of the Muslim friends I had made while learning about the religion and began to pray. God made this transition very easy for me. My family gradually understood the change that had occurred in my life, and they have never been anything but supportive and sympathetic. They are very result-oriented; when they saw that I no longer came home drunk or acted like an idiot they realized that my life had improved. Little can be compared to the euphoria of those first days. With every step I took and every glance at the green trees around me I felt that I had begun life anew. My life and everything in it took on a new purpose. Gone were the doubts and fears of yesteryear. All I wanted to go was serve God and worship Him…all I asked was that He grant me peace in this world and the next. I continued to take classes on Islam and gradually focused on Middle Eastern history. As my college career continued it occurred to me that studying and research were my forte and that pursuing graduate studies in the study of Islam and Islamic civilization would allow me to best serve God. Understanding Islam But I suppose I had another reason. It is difficult to explain to someone who has not experienced it, but Muslims have long conflated culture and religion. As a convert to Islam it is thus very difficult to distinguish between Arab, Indian or Iranian culture and the actual faith and practices of Islam. Moreover, Muslims have not exactly carried themselves well in the modern era. Their societies and states are poor, uneducated, backward, decadent, and torn by pathetic and pedantic racial or class conflicts. In addition, it is difficult to know when a Muslim is actually committed to their religion, when he is just waving it as some kind of flag to make himself feel better in a world in which secularism, modernity and the West have become paramount. Studying the history and development of the Islamic community helped me answer the important questions “How should I live as a Muslim in the modern world? What elements of Islamic tradition are authentic and which are just the cultural additions of Muslim cultures?” These problems are all interesting, but the Muslim ailment that has affected me most personally is the parochial visions of marriage that abound in the Muslim world. In Islam race should mean nothing. A person’s merit is determined by their belief in God, good deeds, and character alone. Unfortunately, many Muslims are overly concerned with race when it comes to marriage. Whether they are Muslim immigrants in the United States or families that have remained in their countries of origin, an alarmingly large percentage of Muslim parents are only interested in marrying their children to members of their ethnic community. Syrian immigrants in the United States want their children to marry other Syrians, Indian Muslim immigrants want their children to marry Indian Muslims, etc. This is all well and good for those people involved, but it presents somewhat of a dilemma for an American convert to Islam. This attitude is completely antithetical to the original spirit of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad was cast out of his hometown of Mecca because his preaching irked the city’s elite. He was welcomed in the city of Yathrib by noble folk who had embraced his message. As more and more Meccans converted, they made the journey to Yathrib, newly named al-Medina, to be welcomed into an emerging believing community. The Prophet wove these new emmigrants into the fabric of the community and, although tribal divisions did remain, the fraternity of Islam trumped them. Like these early immigrants I long to be accepted and welcomed into a Muslim family. Nonetheless, these problems amount to little when compared to the blessings that God has given me as a Muslim. He has allowed me to explore new peoples and cultures far removed from the white suburban fences and gin-and-tonic cocktail parties of my youth. He has given me a passion for learning and a mission to fulfill in contributing to man’s understanding of history and the world of Islam. He bestowed dignity upon me by leading me away from habits and vices not befitting an upstanding man. He has given my life meaning and saved me from the fear that plagues those whose mortality and life styles haunt them. He has given me brothers and sisters in faith who have embraced me as one of their own.

Experiences of a Recently Converted Hindu Woman My Experiences and How I Find that Islam does not Oppress Women" by Sister Noor, University of Essex I came from a purely Hindu family where we were always taught to regard ourselves (i.e. women) as beings who were eventually to be married off and have children and serve the husband-- whether he was kind or not. Other than this I found that there were a lot of things which really oppressed women, such as: If a woman was widowed, she would always have to wear a white sari (costume), eat vegetarian meals, cut her hair short, and never re-marry. The bride always had to pay the dowry (bridal money) to the husband's family. And the husband could ask for anything, irrespective of whether the bride would have difficulty giving it. Not only that, if after marriage she was not able to pay the full dowry she would be both emotionally and physically tortured, and could end up being a victim of "kitchen death" where the husband, or both the mother-in-law and the husband try to set fire to the wife while she is cooking or is in the kitchen, and try to make it look like an accidental death. More and more of these instances are taking place. The daughter of a friend of my own father's had the same fate last year! In addition to all this, men in Hinduism are treated literally as among the gods. In one of the religious Hindu celebration, unmarried girls pray for and worship an idol representing a particular god (Shira) so that they may have husbands like him. Even my own mother had asked me to do this. This made me see that the Hindu religion which is based on superstitions and things that have no manifest proof (1), but were merely traditions which oppressed women could not be right. Subsequently, when I came to England to study, I thought that at least this is a country which gives equal rights to men and women, and does not oppress them. We all have the freedom to do as we like, I thought. Well, as I started to meet people and make new friends, learn about this new society, and go to all the places my friends went to in order to "socialise" (bars, dance halls, ...etc.), I realised that this "equality" was not so true in practice as it was in theory. Outwardly, women were seen to be given equal rights in education, work, and so forth, but in reality women were still oppressed in a different, more subtle way. When I went with my friends to those places they hung out at, I found everybody interested to talk to me and I thought that was normal. But it was only later that I realised how naive I was, and recognised what these people were really looking for. I soon began to feel uncomfortable, as if I was not myself: I had to dress in a certain way so that people would like me, and had to talk in a certain way to please them. I soon found that I was feeling more and more uncomfortable, less and less myself, yet I could not get out. Everybody was saying they were enjoying themselves, but I don't call this enjoying. I think women in this way of life are oppressed; they have to dress in a certain way in order to please and appear more appealing, and also talk in a certain way so people like them. During this time I had not thought about Islam, even though I had some Muslim acquaintances. But I felt I really had to do something, to find something that I would be happy and secure with, and would feel respected with. Something to believe in that is the right belief, because everybody has a belief that they live according to. If having fun by getting off with other people is someone's belief, they do this. If making money is someone's belief, they do everything to achieve this. If they believe drinking is one way to enjoy life then they do it. But I feel all this leads to nowhere; no one is truly satisfied, and the respect women are looking for is diminishing in this way. In these days of so called "society of equal rights", you are expected to have a boyfriend (or you're weird!) and to not be a virgin. So this is a form of oppression even though some women do not realise it.(2) When I came to Islam, it was obvious that I had finally found permanent security. A religion, a belief that was so complete and clear in every aspect of life. Many people have a misconception that Islam is an oppressive religion, where women are covered from head to toe, and are not allowed any freedom or rights. In fact, women in Islam are given more rights, and have been for the past 1400 years, compared to the only-recently rights given to non-Muslim women in some western and some other societies. But there are, even now, societies where women are still oppressed, as I mentioned earlier in relation to Hindu women. Muslim women have the right to inheritance. They have the right to run their own trade and business. They have the full right to ownership, property, disposal over their wealth to which the husband has no right. They have the right to education, a right to refuse marriage as long as this refusal is according to reasonable and justifiable grounds. The Quran itself, which is the word of Allah, contains many verses commanding men to be kind to their wives and stressing the rights of women. Islam gives the right set of rules, because they are NOT made by men, but made by Allah; hence it is a perfect religion. Quite often Muslim women are asked why they are covered from head to toe, and are told that this is oppression--it is not. In Islam, marriage is an important part of life, the making of the society. Therefore, a woman should not go around showing herself to everybody, only for her husband. Even the man is not allowed to show certain parts of his body to none but his wife. In addition, Allah has commanded Muslim women to cover themselves for their modesty: "O prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies (when outdoors). That is most convenient that they could be known as such (i.e. decent and chaste) and not molested." (Quran 33:59) If we look around at any other society, we find that in the majority of cases women are attacked and molested because of how they are dressed. Another point I'd like to comment on is that the rules and regulation laid down in Islam by Allah (God) do not apply just to women but to men also. There is no intermingling and free-running between men and women for the benefit of both. Whatever Allah commands is right, wholesome, pure and beneficial to mankind; there is no doubt about that. A verse in the Quran explains this concept clearly: "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and protect their private parts (i.e. from indecency, illegal sexual acts); that will make for greater purity for them. And Allah is well aware of what they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and protect their privaate parts (from indecency, illegal sexual intercourse); and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments...." (Quran, surah "Al-Nur" 24:31) When I put on my hijaab (veil), I was really happy to do it. In fact, I really want to do it. When I put on the hijaab, I felt a great sense of satisfaction and happiness. Satisfied that I had obeyed Allah’s command. And happy with the good and blessings that come with it. I have felt secure and protected. In fact people respect me more for it. I could really see the difference in behaviour towards me. Finally, I'd like to say that I had accepted Islam not blindly, or under any compulsion. In the Quran itself there is a verse which says "there is no compulsion in religion" (3). I accepted Islam with conviction. I have seen, been there, done that, and seen both sides of the story. I know and have experienced what the other side is like, and I know that I have done the right thing. Islam does not oppress women, but rather Islam liberates them and gives them the respect they deserve. Islam is the religion Allah has chosen for the whole of mankind. Those who accept it are truly liberated from the chains and shackles of mankind whose ruling and legislating necessitates nothing but the oppression of one group by another and the exploitation and oppression of one sex by the other. This is not the case of Islam which truly liberated women and gave them an individuality not given by any other authority. Sister Noor has been a muslim for over a year and a half and is currently in her second year of undergraduate study in the Department of Biology

Why is the simile in Tashahhud special with Hadhrat Ibraaheem (a.s) ? and What is the reason for giving virtue to Hadhrat Ibraaheem (a.s) over Rasulullaah (s.a.w) in the Durud? There are 2 questions here: In the tashahhud, why is the similarity drawn only with Hadhrat Ibraaheem (A.S). What is the reason for giving virtue to Hadhrat Ibraaheem (A.S) over Rasulullaah (S.A.W) in Durud Sharif (as You have sent mercy upon Ibraaheem). The answer to the first question is as follows, Honour for Hadhrat Ibraaheem (A.S). In lieu of the Du'aa he made for the Ummah of Rasulullaah (S.A.W) . Other Ambiyaa' were not included in his Du'aa. Hadhrat Ibraaheem (A.S) is the Khaleel (friend) of Allaah I and Rasulullaah (S.A.W) is the Habeeb (beloved) of Allaah I. Hadhrat Ibraaheem (A.S) was commanded to call the people for Hajj [surah Hajj, verse 27] and Rasulullaah (S.A.W) was commanded to call towards Deen and Imaan [surah Aal Imraan, verse193]. Hadhrat Ibraaheem (A.S) saw that Kalimah Tayyibah was written on the trees of Jannah in a dream, so he made Du'aa to Allaah I to establish his mention on the tongues of the Ummah of Rasulullaah (S.A.W) It could be because Allaah has said, وَ اجْعَلْ لِّیْ لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ فِی الْاٰخِرِیْنَ ﴿ۙ۸۴﴾ Maintain a favourable word for me among those who are to come.[surah Shu'araa (the Poets) 26:84] Hadhrat Ibraaheem (A.S) is the most virtuous of all the other Rasuls. He is the father of the believers, as Allaah I says, مِلَّۃَ اَبِیْكُمْ اِبْرٰہِیْمَ ؕ Follow the religion of your father Ibraaheem. [surah Hajj, verse78] Rasulullaah (S.A.W) was given the order to follow Hadhrat Ibraaheem (A.S) , especially in the rituals of Hajj. Hadhrat Ibraaheem (A.S) also made this Du'aa, "O Allaah, make from me whichever old person of the Ummah of Muhammad performs Hajj..." There are a number of replies to the second question, i.e. why has Hadhrat Ibraaheem (A.S) been given preference and virtue in Durud e Ibraaheem (as You have sent mercy upon Ibraaheem), Rasulullaah (S.A.W) gave this similarity at the time when he did not know that he was more virtuous than Hadhrat Ibraaheem u. Rasulullaah gave virtue to Hadhrat Ibraaheem u out of humility and he commanded his Ummah to do the same. This similarity is not showing one person to be more virtuous than another, but it is related to an example, as Allaah I mentions in the Qur'aan, اِنَّآ اَوْحَیْنَآ اِلَیْکَ کَمَآ اَوْحَیْنَا ٓ اِلٰی نُوْحٍ Indeed We have sent revelation to you just as We had sent revelation to Nooh u. [surah Nisaa (Women) 4:164] Or, fasting has been made obligatory upon you just as it was made obligatory upon those before you. The meaning of this is the reality of fasting, not its time and its form. This is like somebody saying, 'Do good to your children like how you do good to someone.' The meaning of this is the reality of goodness, not the amount. Therefore, the meaning of 'just as You had sent mercy upon Ibraaheem and the family of Ibraaheem' will be like these examples Alislam.co.za

Love this! Jazaakillah for posting

Are exercises from yoga permissible? Hanafi Fiqh > Darulihsan.com # Q: There is a group of ladies in our area that have a woman trainer to come home and do exercises with them. This lady intends on introducing some other exercises with them that originate from ‘Yoga’.I know that yoga originates from the hindu culture, however they intend to use only the exercises/stretching techniques from yoga and not to practice yoga itself. There will be no meditation, humming and all the other aspects of yoga, just exercises. Will this be permissible? A: This is acceptable, provided that the conditions mentioned in the question are fully upheld and no other un-Islamic practices are found. Mufti Shafiq Jakhura Iftaa Department, Darul Ihsan Islamic Services Centre I concur with the answer: Mufti Zubair Bayat Ameer, Darul Ihsan Islamic Services Centre Source: http://islamqa.org/hanafi/darulihsan/76738

wa'alaykumus salaam Yes if its live the sajdah needs to be done.................... Question Is it necessary to make Sajdah-e-tilawat when listening to live taraweeh over the radio and an aayat of Sajdah is recited? Answer Assalāmu `alaikum Warahmatullāhi Wabrakatuh, Yes, sajdah tilawah will be wajib (compulsory) in such a case. (Fatawa Mahmudiya: 7/472, 473; Fatawa Usmani: 1/497; Al-Ikhtiyaar: 1/115; Tahtawi: 484) And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Mufti Faizal Riza, Australia. Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. Source: http://islamqa.org/hanafi/askimam/5732

Q. Pls advise if you hear an ayaat of Sajda e tilawat on radio or tape recorder Is it waajib to make sajda for that (Query published as received) A. No. Sajdah Tilawah does not become compulsory by listening to a pre-recorded recitation of the Qur’an. (Ahsanul Fatawa) And Allah Knows Best Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

By Abdur Rahmaan Umar “I love you, mom,” whispered Yusuf as he wrapped the soft pashmina shawl around his mother’s shoulders. The vibrant peach contrasted with the dark rings that had grown under her eyes lately, but their brightness had not faded. Her eyes lit up as she stroked the delicate embroidery on the edge of the shawl, “And this…Yusuf?” Yusuf looked at her with the excitement of a young boy unpacking his first bicycle, “Wait ma…there’s more,” he cried, as he removed a burgundy jewellery box. Presenting it in front of his mother, like they were the crown jewels, he gingerly lifted the lid to reveal a string of exquisite cultured pearls, delicately strung together with small black pearls breaking the shimmer of the white pearls. “Yusuf!” exclaimed his mother, her eyes brimming, “What’s all this?” Yusuf stepped back and looked at his mother holding the pearl necklace close to her chest, admiring it, “Mom, always wanted a pearl necklace….” “But it must have cost you a small fortune,” said Saffiyah as she held the pearls up to the light, studying the delicate changes of colour as she turned the necklace, “Why now…what’s special?” “It’s my mother’s day!” he beamed. “Er..,” began Saffiyah as she craned her neck to look at the calendar behind her, “But it’s not mother’s day. Not for a while, yet?” a puzzled look settling on her face. “I didn’t say it was Mother’s day,” replied Yusuf, “I said it was MY mother’s day. But let me explain….” “You remember I told you about Nasser who recently moved here from the coast?” Saffiyah nodded in acknowledgement. “Last night I met him at Sheikh’s program and asked him why he always begged sheikh for duas. I just found it strange that he would always insist that Sheikh make dua for him. He gave me an odd reply – he asked me if my mother was alive, and if I had fifteen minutes. I confirmed that I had both. We sat at the back of the masjid and he told me his story.” Yusuf paused to pour some tea, adding a sugar to each cup, handing one to his mother he continued, “Nasser told me that since his door of dua (supplication) had closed a long time ago, he had to seek another door for dua. Not understanding, I asked him what he meant. He was silent for a long time, and I thought perhaps I said something wrong, but he just looked at me and smiled. Wiping a tear from his eye he told me that his mother passed away when he was only five years old. He said that he could still remember the smell of her hair after she washed it, but remembered little else.” Yusuf watched his mother sipping her tea and noticed just how wrinkled her hands had become, the gold wedding ring still sat gracefully on her ring finger. She always took pride in grooming her nails, buffing them to a perfect shine. “After Nasser’s mother passed away he lived in the care of his aunties. They were good to him and cared for him as one of their own. They bought him what he needed and he had much of what he needed. Then he told me “You know, Joe, no one can replace the embrace of a mother. And no one can replace the dua (prayer) of a mother. I lost that dua a long time ago.” Then I thought of all the duas you make for me - how often when I rush out of the house you always say, “Yusuf, slow down, Allah Ta'ala be with you!” “Allah Hafiz.” “Yusuf, may Allah Ta'ala make your children the coolness of your eye.” “Ma…I never really cherished those duas until I heard Nasser’s story,” said Yusuf, dabbing his eye with a tissue, “I never knew that those were treasures beyond measure. And then it made some sense to me of what Sheikh said when he quoted Abdulla Ibn 'Abbas (RA), "If any Muslim obeys Allah regarding his parents, Allah will open two gates of the Garden for him. If there is only one parent, then one gate will be opened. If one of them is angry, then Allah will not be pleased with him until that parent is pleased with him." “And when Nasser told me – ‘Joe (as Yusuf was referred to by his friends), you know, I will never be able to call anyone in this world Mum, and I will never know the embrace of a mother. You still have it, Joe, value it, treasure it,’ I realised that what Allah had favoured me with was something so special that I couldn’t just celebrate it once a year and call it mother’s day. I decided that from now MY Mother’s day will be Every Day! - Yesterday, today and tomorrow will all be mother’s day. I can never repay you, but I know the heart of a mother asks for no repayment. And…if I can do nothing else for my mother’s day then I will at least thank Allah that he allowed my door of dua to be open for one more day.” “Forgive me ma…..” Yusuf choked, “I need to do so much more for you….” Saffiyah clasped his hands and stroked his face, “You are a good son, Yusuf, Allah Ta'ala will grant you lots of goodness in this world and the next.” eislam

Aameen!!

wa'alaykumus salaam ww sis are you close to where this is happening? May Allah ta'ala protect and help the Muslims of BD and around the world! An 'aalim we know was recently there visiting family and he got arrested and detained for a few weeks ...he was showing my husband the bruises!

Question What is the definition of Sunnah. What are the types of sunnah. Is there any type of sunnah if we don’t follow resulted in committing sins. Please give example. What are the rulings in Sharia about Qadaa prayer? Do we have to make up for all the missed prayer in our lifetime. Please give the reference of Hadith to answer this question. Answer In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh According to Shariah, the definition of Sunnah is “A prophetic way of life”. Sunnah is categorized into two Sunan Huda Sunan Zawaaid SUNAN HUDA Are those practices of Nabi (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that relate to the matters of Deen. An example of Sunan Huda is the prophetic manner, manner of performing Salaah etc Sunan e Muakadah (those practices that were not left out by Nabi (صلى الله عليه وسلم) except on a few occasions) falls in the category of Sunan Huda A person leaving out this type of Sunnah will be sinful. SUNAN ZAWAA’ID Are those practices of Nabi (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that relate to his personal habits and likes. For example, he liked to eat a certain type of food, the type of clothes he wore or the manner he walked, talked etc. If a person practices upon this type of Sunnah, he/she will be rewarded and one will not be sinful for leaving out this type of Sunnah. Source: http://islamqa.org/hanafi/askimam/1698

It is a myth that women in today’s society are liberated. From the stone age through to the space age, women have been incarcerated in a prison of oppression and discrimination. Advancements in the fields of science and technology have failed in unearthing the true status and value of women. We have transcended and penetrated the peripheries of space, yet fallen short of emancipating women from the bounds of exploitation and mistreatment. What kind of freedom can there be when a woman cannot walk down the street without every aspect of her physical self being “checked out”? What kind of freedom can there be when a woman is just an ‘advertisement’, employed only to boost the revenue of voracious, self centred and greedy men? Would you define being subjected to a mirror daily for hours on end as liberty? Today’s culture resonates and echoes the values and notions of the civilisations in the shadows of history, where women were nothing but a tool or a toy. Reading popular teenage magazines, you can instantly find out what kind of body image is “in” or “out.” and if you have the “wrong” body type, well, then you’re just going to have to change it, aren’t you? After all, there is no way that you can be overweight and still be beautiful. Look at any advertisement, is a woman being used to sell the product? How old is she? How attractive is she? What is she wearing? More often than not, that woman will be no older than her early 20s, taller, slimmer and more attractive than average, dressed in skimpy clothing. In the sphere of this unjust culture, only that woman is beautiful if she has the ‘looks’, whereas in the scope of islam, every woman can be beautiful. Beauty isn’t what the eyes behold, true beauty is good character and morals. Where the sight of this culture ends, the vision of islam commences. In this culture, eyes are glued to the exterior, whilst Islam’s spotlights are beamed at the interior. In Islamic principles and belief, a woman is likened to a precious jewel or to a sweet smelling and attractive flower, everything about her radiating rays of beauty. Islam shields her by enjoining her to wrap herself in the hijaab, so that this fence wards off the swamps of flies and impure creatures to pinch and steal the nectar of this exquisite flower. This small piece of fabric labelled as a hijaab has salvaged and rescued women from the tyranny of hollow concepts and opinions. Ladies dressed in the hijaab have been liberated from the hungry and judgemental eyes of onlookers. They have rocketed from the world of toys and tools to float freely in the galaxy of value and significance. Women who were once submerged in the dark oceans of peer pressure and ……… have surfaced in the submersible known as hijaab, breathing in at will the air of freedom. This fabric is a safety blanket, if lost all is lost. A woman revels in the realm of this fabric, where she has no worry regarding how people will judge her exterior. She is appreciated for her gentleness and soft nature, praised and treasured for her modesty and piety. The hijaab extends the promise of happiness and serenity in a time when women are hoping for salvation from depression and dejection. Islam has valued women with such a figure, that the money of this world can’t match. They aren’t toys for men to drool over, but the backbones of society. The hijaab ensures that women aren’t a commodity available on the market or on an auction waiting to be sold cheaply to the highest bidder. The hijaab has gifted women with a new purpose of life. They are now free from the shackles of worrying about the view of the creation, and now can truly turn their attention to their Creator. This simple piece of clothing inhibits extravagance and lavishness, thus crowning a lady with simplicity in this life and prosperity in the life to come. The hijaab shelters women from the tidal waves of fashion, women dressed in hijaab can never be ‘out of date’. This in itself dissolves so many worries and concerns of clinging onto the ‘trend of the time’. Women can now walk into a room stripped of the fear of rivalry and competition in appearance. Whereas those deprived of the hijaab are prone to jealousy and rancour as their only objective is to outclass and exceed peers in appearances and looks, which in itself structures a hypocritical social order, wherein friends are venomous snakes, lurking in the dark awaiting the moment to strike. The hijaab advocates equality, hence sowing the seeds of love and mutual compassion amongst female cotemporaries and friends. The hijaab unites the hearts of women by weaving a common thread of modesty and chastity through their souls. It is a reality and a fact that women are the icons of liberty and freedom in the Islamic global village. With Compliments~Darul Fiqh.com http://darulfiqh.com/

Bismihi Ta'ala 1. Immediately upon awakening rub the face and the eyes with both palms in order to remove the effects of sleep. [shamaa`il Tirmidhi] 2. When the eyes open in the morning recite the Dua: 3. When awakening from sleep, clean the mouth with a Miswaak. [Musnad Ahmad, Abu Dawood] The use of the Miswaak should be repeated when making Wudhu. Using Miswaak upon awakening is a separate Sunnah. 4. When wearing one’s trousers, first put on the right leg, then the left one. When putting on a Kurta or shirt, first put on the right sleeve and then the left one. The same procedure should be followed when wearing a vest. When wearing a shoe, first put on the right shoe. When removing any garment or shoe, first remove the left, then the right. This is the Sunnah method when removing any garment from the body. [bukhari – Tirmidhi] 5. Before immersing the hands into any utensils, wash them thrice thoroughly. [Tirmidhi] From "BEAUTIFUL SUNNATS OF THE BELOVED NABI (SALLALLAAHU 'ALAYHI WASALLAM) By Hadhrat Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum) http://ahaadeeth-and-sunnah.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/sunnats-upon-awakening.html

A Female Buddhists journey to Islam My Background before being a Muslimah My family and relatives are strict Buddhist. We are from the middle class of the society. My family’s nationality is a mix of Chinese and Thai. I was raised and trained to be a loyal Buddhist. As a young girl, I had supported the local temple, and I went to the temple quite often. Almost every day I would give charity to the monks as I believed that this is the way to enter paradise. Moreover, I was a good daughter and granddaughter. I used to take care and obey my parents and was good to all relatives. How did I become a Muslim? When my older sister graduated from Grade 9, she had a good chance to study in USA. She stayed with a Muslim family. They told my older sister so many things about life after death and Oneness of God.My sister embraced Islam. She used to write letters to me telling me to avoid eating pork as it is not good for health. I only read her letters, but I didn’t realize the importance of Islam and what she said to me. When I was in grade 10, I became more attached to the temple and supplicated to the Buddhist Statues. One day in the class, one thought just came to my mind about the statues, “Why I never get anything I have asked to these Gods?” However, I just ignored this thought. At the end of the semester, my parents sent me to USA for the summer camp and visiting my sister. I had only few days to stay with my sister with the Muslim family. I heard about life after death and oneness of God “Allah” from them. I believed what they told me was true but I didn’t yet accept Islam. During the summer camp, I heard someone in my group saying something bad about Islam. I didn’t like that, and I had an argument with that person. I felt like I wanted to protect Islam because it is a good religion. Finally, I just stopped the argument as we knew on one would win this argument. After summer camp was over, I went back to Thailand and continued my study until I graduated from High school. My parents wanted me to go with my father to visit my sister in the USA. So I had a chance again to go and stay there. Fortunately, everybody in this Muslim family had convinced my father to let me stay and study in USA . The family I lived with always spoke about the greatness of Allah and life after death. After a few days, I told my sister that I would like to be a Muslim. I was about 19 years old. My sister taught me the first and the second Kalimah. After that, I learned how to pray from my sister. I cried a lot because I wanted to be able to pray salaat like other Muslims. Every Sunday, the grandfather of this family took my sister and i to the masjid to learn how to read the Quran.The Muslim teacher there put me in the kindergarten class and learn few alphabets. I felt so ashamed to stay in the class as I was the oldest but knew nothing. I couldn’t express my difficulty to anyone and I couldn’t even communicate with other Muslim teachers there because my English was very poor and only few people understood me.Finally one Muslim sister taught me the basics of reading Quran (Alphabets and vowels). I wanted to learn more about Islam. I searched the internet and came across Mufti Taqi Uthmaani’s name.I got in touch with him and Alhamdulillah he sent me some books on Islam which were most valuable. I also found the website of Jamiatul Ulama, South Africa. Whenever I had any question/or needed any suggestion, I would send an email and waited for the reply eagerly. One Ramadhaan, I contacted the Jamiat.They suggested to me to contact Mufti Ebrahim Desai as he was in America. I sought advice and took Bay’ah from him. Whenever I needed any advices, I would contact Mufti Ebrahim Desai via email. Mufti Ebrahim Desai has helped me to have a better understanding of Islam and practice Islam. Life after returning home After I graduated from Associate Degree, I got scholarship offer from New York University to continue my bachelor degree. My parents didn’t allow me to go there and study because they wanted me to revert to Buddhism. I didn’t want to turn back to Buddhist anymore because I believed and loved Islam dearly. I thought too much about life after returning back to Bangkok, Thailand. For example: what should I do as I would face non-Muslim relatives and friends; what would I do there; would I pray and wear hijab; what food I would eat, I didn’t have any Muslim friends at all etc. Finally, I had to go back to Thailand. Life in Bangkok with my family was not easy at all. I had to face so many difficulties. I still wore the hijab but everyone was against me. My Imaan was weak and I stopped wearing HIjab. I rarely had a chance to connect with Mufti Ebrahim Desai. My parents ordered me to go to Laos and stayed there almost a year. Every day we had big arguments about me being a Muslim. I admit that I was weak. However, I didn’t abandon my prayer and fasting. I tried my best to eat Halal food. I couldn’t go anywhere as this place was not my hometown and I didn’t have money or car to go out without my parents’ permission. I was forced to dress up to look more beautiful for the public. I cried many times and made Dua that Allah helps me to practice Islam and make me a good Muslim. Alhamdulillah,once a Lao Muslim family sent me Halal food as they knew that I became a Muslim. I thought hard about what I should do to practice and follow the commandments of Allah.I asked my parents to return to Bangkok to continue with my studies. This is the only reason that I could use to return to Bangkok as I could do as I wish. Yes, my decision was right with the Help of Allah. Now I could wear the hijab, and I had Muslim friends. After marriage, I didn’t contact Mufti Ebrahim Desai.What I had learned from him while in America has been very valuable and carried me a long way. Mufti Ebrahim Desai sent me books which were and are more valuable than any of my belongings. Whenever some matters arose, my husband would come and consult with me as he knew that I learned from reliable Ulama. During previous years of my marriage, I still had so many difficulties but my Imaan was stronger and the love for Allah has been increasing. The love of Allah helped me to overcome many challenges of life.I feel being in touch with reliable Ulama is the greatest bounty for people like us who have very limited access to Islamic knowledge. Our Comments: Allah says ‘’When Allah opens up the heart of someone for Islam, that person is on light (guidance) from Allah’’. IdealWoman

Question: Is there any duas to be recited when one is worried and depressed? Answer:In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. Take note of the following Hadith and the Du’aa of Rasulullaah (salallaahu ῾alayhi wasallam) كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَدْعُو عِنْدَ الْكَرْبِ يَقُولُ “لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ” Transliteration:-La ilaha illa Allah Al-’Azim, Al-’Halim, la ilaha illa Allah, Rabbul ‘arshil ‘Azim, la ilaha illa Allahu, Rabbus-Samawati wa rabbul ardi wa rabbul ‘arshi karim :Translation:-Whenever Prophet salallahu ῾alayh wasallam would face distress he would recite “There is no deity except Allah, The Mighty and Forbearing; There is no deity except Allah, Lord of the skies and the Earth and the Lord of the Mighty Throne And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. (Sahih Bukhaari #6345)[1] [1] الجامع الصحيح للبخارى ، بَاب الدُّعَاءِ عِنْدَ الْكَرْبِ، رقم 6345)

I think we should write it and stipulate all the methods which make us happy sis : )

Q. How Islam belongs to the healing, some people claim that they have supernatural abilities to cure people without medical intervention – imposing of hands, reading any prayers. I know the woman who claims that she be able to heal people imposing of hands. What our religion says about it? (Query published as received) A. Allah has made this world such that whilst He alone is the controller of everything and everything revolves around His will, we are required to adopt the means to achieve these goals. The important thing is that the means adopted should be permissible and one’s belief should be focused, that despite adopting all the means, it is all dependent on the will and might of Allah. With regards to remedying ailments as well, the Shari’ah has encouraged that a person seeks treatment. In the Hadith, you will find many examples where the Prophet of Allah advised treatment of wounds and ailments. Sayyiduna Usamah bin Shurayk (Radiyallahu Anhu) reports that once, some Bedouins came to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and asked him if they should adopt medical treatment for their ailments. The Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied: “Adopt medical treatment. For indeed, Allah has provided a cure for every ailment besides old age” (Abu Dawood, Hadith #: 3855) So as you can see, the treatment of ailments and sickness is encouraged in Islam. However, the important point to remember is that only permissible methods can be adopted. The use of impermissible methods is prohibited and is of no benefit. This is why Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’oud (Radiyallahu Anhu) said: “Definitely, Allah has not placed cure in treatment that he has declared unlawful for you” (Sahih al-Bukhari) With regards to the method of healing you have described in your question where people claim to be able to heal by supernatural powers, this is a dubious method of healing and should be abstained from. Yes, there are some methods which are permissible for example, Ruqyah (where verses of the Qur’an are recited as a means of treatment with the belief that cure can only be achieved by the will of Allah). But besides this, most other methods are dubious and hold impermissible elements. For an ordinary person to differentiate between which is permissible and which is not permissible in such methods of treatments is nearly impossible and therefore, I advise that all such treatments be abstained from. Furthermore, many of these so called “healers” are fraudsters and have no proper knowledge on this subject. Considering the facts above, a person should rather adopt alternate physical methods of treatment which are free from doubt. In the acute case of such treatment not being beneficial, a person should consult with a reliable and trustworthy Alim or Imam to direct him/her to a reliable healer who practices on the Qur’an and Sunnah. And Allah Knows Best Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

1- Beautiful Reception After returning from work, school, travel, or whatever has separated you, begin with a good greeting. * Meet him with a cheerful face. * Beautify and perfume yourself. * Start with good news and delay any bad news until he has rested. * Receive him with loving and yearning sentences. * Make hard efforts for excellence of the food & having it ready on time. 2- Beautify and Soften the Voice * For your husband only, it shouldnt be used in front of non-mahram men (men who can marry you if you were unmarried). 3- Smelling Good and Physical Beautification * Taking good care of your body and fitness. * Put on nice and attractive clothes and perfumes. * Bath regularly and, after the monthly period, remove any blood traces or bad smells. * Avoid that your husband observes you in dirty clothes or rough shape. * Avoid prohibited types of ornamentation, e.g. tattoo. * Use the types of perfumes, colours, and clothes that the husband likes. * Change hair style, perfumes, etc. from time to time. * However with these things you should avoid excessiveness and, of course, only act as such in front of mahram men and women. 4- Intercourse * Hasten for intercourse when your husband feels compulsion for it. * Keep your body clean and smelling good as possible including cleaning yourself after intercourse. * Exchange loving phrases with your husband. * Leave your husband to fully satisfy his desire. * Choose suitable times and good occasions for exciting your husband, and encouraging him to do intercourse, e.g. after returning from a travel, weekends, etc. 5- Satisfaction With What Allah Has Allotted * You shouldnt be depressed because your husband is poor or works in a simple job. * You should look at poor, sick, and handicapped people and remember Allah for all that was given to you. * You should remember that real wealth lays in Iman and piety. 6- Indifference to Worldly Things 7- Appreciation * You should not consider this world as your hope and interest. * You should not ask your husband for many unnecessary things. * Asceticism does not mean not to enjoy what is good and permissible (Halal), but it means that one should look forward to the hereafter and utilize whatever Allah gave them to achieve paradise (Jannah). * Encourage your husband to reduce expenses and save some money in order to give charity and feed poor and needy people. * By the saying of the prophet, the majority of people in hell were women because they were ungrateful and deny the good done to them. * The result of being grateful is that your husband will love you more and will do his best to please you in more ways. * The result of being ungrateful is that your husband will be disappointed and will start asking himself: Why should I do good to her, if she never appreciates? 8- Devotion and Loyalty 9- Compliance to Him * In particular in times of calamities in your husband’s body or business, e.g. an accident or a bankruptcy * Supporting him through your own work, money, and properties if needed. * In all what he commands you, unless it is prohibited (Haram). * In Islam, the husband is the leader of the family, and the wife is his support and consultant. 10-Pleasing Him If He Is Angry * First off, try to avoid what will guarantee his anger. * But if it happens that you can’t, then try to appease him as follows: 1- If you are mistaken, then apologize. 2- If he is mistaken then: – Keep still instead of arguing or – Yield your right or – Wait until he is no longer angry and discuss the matter peacefully with him. 3- If he was angry because of external reasons then: – Keep silent until his anger goes – Find excuses for him, e.g. tired, problems at work, someone insulted him – Do not ask many questions and insist on knowing what happened, e.g. 1) You should tell me what happened? 2) I must know what made you so angry. 3) You are hiding something, and I have the right to know. 11-Guardianship While He is Absent * Protect yourself from any prohibited relationships. * Keep the secrets of the family, particularly bedroom talks and things that the husband doesn’t like other people to know. * Take care of the house and children. * Take care of his money and properties. * Do not go out of your house without his permission and put on full hijab. * Refuse people whom he does not like to come over. * Do not allow any non-mahram man to be alone with you in any place. * Be good to his parents and relatives in his absence. 12- Showing Respect for his Family and Friends * You should welcome his guests and try to please them, especially his parents. * You should avoid problems as much as you can with his relatives. * You should avoid putting him is a position where he had to choose between his mother and his wife. * Show good hospitality for his guests by arranging a nice place for them to sit in, perfection of food, welcoming their wives, etc. * Encourage him to visit his relatives and invite them to your home. * Phone his parents and sisters, send letters to them, buy gifts for them, support them in calamities, etc.. 13- Admirable Jealousy * Jealousy is a sign for wife’s love for her husband but it should be kept within the limits of Islam, e.g. not insulting or backbiting others, disrespecting them, etc.. * You should not follow or create unfounded doubts. 14-Patience and Emotional Support * Be patient when you face poverty and strained circumstances. * When you face calamities and disasters that may happen to you, your husband, your children, relatives or properties, e.g. diseases, accidents, death, etc. * When facing hardships in Dawah (imprisonment, getting fired, arrested, etc.), be patient and encourage him to keep on the path of Allah and remind him of paradise. * When he mistreats you, counteract his ill-treatment by good treatment 15- Support in Obedience to Allah, Dawah and Jihad * Cooperate with your husband and remind him of different obligatory and voluntary worships. * Encourage him to pray at night. * Listen and reciting the Quran individually and with your husband. * Listen to Islamic tapes and songs individually and with your husband. * Remember Allah much, particularly after Fajr and before Maghrib. * Share in arranging Dawah activities for women and children. * Learn Islamic rules (ahkam) and good manners (adab) for women. * Support your husband activities by encouraging him, offering wise opinions, soothing his pains, etc. * Yielding some of your rights and a part of your time with your husband for Dawah. * Encourage him to go for Jihad when needed and remind him that you and children will be in the preservation of Allah 16-Good Housekeeping * Keep it clean, decorated and well arranged. * Change house arrangements from time to time to avoid boredom. * Perfect of food and prepare healthy foods. * Learn all the necessary skills for managing the house, e.g. sewing. * Learn how to raise children properly and in an Islamic way. 17-Preservation of Finances and the Family * Do not spend from his money, even for charity without his permission unless you are sure that he agrees on this. * Protect his house, car, etc. while he is absent. * Keep the children in good shape, clean clothes, etc. Take care of their nutrition, health, education, manners, etc. Teach them Islam and tell them the stories of the Prophets and companions. With Compliments~ Darul Fiqh http://idealwoman.org/2012/17-ways-to-keep-your-husband-happy

The following fatwa is the most detailed: # Hanafi Fiqh > Askmufti.co.za Q: Is yoga permissible for Muslims? A: Yoga is a Sanskrit word (an ancient Indian language) meaning to join, or union. This was the name given to an art which originated in the Hindu religion, wherein special spiritual exercises were done to give enlightenment to the soul and to ‘join’ the spiritual self with God. Yoga as a means to enlightenment is central to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and has had some influence on other religious and spiritual practices. Ancient Hindu texts establishing the basis for yoga include the Upanishads (old Hindu scriptures), Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Bhagavad Gita (the famous Hindu Bible), the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and many others, which specify the criteria of having successfully mastered a particular yoga technique. The spiritual goals of yoga are regarded as inseparable from the religions of which yoga forms a part. In other words, Yoga originated as an inseparable part of the Hindu religion to derive spiritual fulfillment. All records and writings are unanimous that Yoga is based in, and originates from the Hindu religion. The postures adopted in Yoga such as the lotus position for example, were positions Hindus adopted when meditating in front of their deities and idols. In fact, the Hindu Bible, The Bhagavad Gita teaches the basics of Yoga and the philosophy behind it. A system or discipline that originates from an idolatrous religion, and comprises postures that resemble the idol worshippers is not permissible in Islam. The Messenger of Allah (alayhis salaam) abolished the ways and practices of ignorant times. (Bukhari). He also forbade the imitation of idol-worshippers, even in acts not related to worship. It appears in an authentic hadith of Imam Tirmizhi (RA) that once the Sahaaba were out in jihad with Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), when they came across a tree on which the Pagan Arabs used to hang their weapons as a symbolic act. The Sahaaba thought it a good idea to do the same, so they mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) expressed his amazement at this request, stating that this is tantamount to following in the footsteps of the Pagans. He forbade them from doing so. This hadith proves that imitation the ways of other religions in symbolic acts is not permissible. What was wrong in hanging weapons on a particular tree if the Sahaaba wanted to rest somewhere? The fact this practice was symbolic to an un-Islamic culture or faith made it unacceptable. We, therefore, can apply the same principle to the art of Yoga. In fact Yoga is deeply rooted in the Hindu religion, and today Hindus still practice this art as part of their religious ritual and worship. On these grounds Yoga would not be permissible in Islam. The Religion of Islam has its own form of spiritual discipline and meditation, and that is zikr of Allah and Salah. The Auliyaa of Allah (in Tasawwuf) also describe forms of meditation using the concepts in the Quran and Hadith. Muslims should resort to these types of meditation to seek closeness to Allah and purification of the soul. Mufti Siraj Desai

Assalaamu 'alaykum So as not to cause confusion I have looked at a good number of Q/A's by respected Ulama from various Iftaa sites. There are two opinions: 1. That it is permissible as long as none of the haram aspects are applied to the yoga exercises: "if the yoga consists in the form of ‘muraqabah’ practiced in the science of tasawuff, then it will be allowed. Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) has said ‘to concentrate strongly on a given subject for someone so that a person starts feeling the results inside him, to visualise the matter is called meditation’. At another point, Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) has said ‘to turn the thoughts with deep concentration towards Allah and His divine attributes or any such subject and to visualise it from the inner depth of your heart is called meditation’. (Tasawwuf and Character Building p.54)" 2. It is impermissible (and this is the more popular opinion) as it is deeply rooted in the Hindu religion: "Yoga, according to the World Book lexicon is, ‘A system of Hindu religious philosophy that requires intense mental and physical discipline as a means of attaining with the universal spirit.’ (World Book p. 2421)" "Yoga is a Sanskrit word (an ancient Indian language) meaning to join, or union. This was the name given to an art which originated in the Hindu religion, wherein special spiritual exercises were done to give enlightenment to the soul and to ‘join’ the spiritual self with God.Yoga as a means to enlightenment is central to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and has had some influence on other religious and spiritual practices" I found that there are more opinions against Yoga. and Allah ta'ala knows best