Invitation To Understanding Islam

HOW MUSLIMS DRESS?
Allah makes a natural covering for all His creatures but not for His best creation: the human being. Instead, Allah tells us why and how we should clothe ourselves. Then Allah leaves us to choose whether to obey.
True Muslims always choose to obey Allah's commands.


The Noble Qur'an says:


“O children of Adam! We have sent clothing to you to cover the shameful parts of your body and to serve as a protection and decoration; but the best clothing is the clothing of piety” [7:26]




WHY COVER?

In Islam, dress has 4 functions.


1. COVERING


Dress conceals the private parts of the body that are called 'aurah in Islam. Muslims do not expose what Allah commands to be kept private. Allah forbids nudity.


2. PROTECTION


"And (Allah) has made garments to protect you from the heat (and cold)... " [16:81]


Dress protects the body from the weather; or heat, cold, wind and rain.


People living in desert region cover their heads and faces to prevent sand carrying living microorganisms entering their ears, noses, eyes and mouths.


3. ADORNMENT


Dress is worn to adorn and beautify the human personality, bestowing on it dignity.


Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty.[Sahih Muslim]


4. MORAL FUNCTION


Islamic dress helps safeguard the modesty and decency of a person and the moral ideal of society, where sex is permitted only in marriage.


There is a deep impact which outer modesty makes on inner spiritual well-being. Also, inner spirituality is reflected on one's appearance.


In Islam, both men and women should be custodians of the morality and society.


What Allah says in the Noble Qur'an :


-Modesty of Men


"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do."[24:30]




-Modesty of women and their dress in public


"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments (in public) beyond what may decently be apparent. Hence, let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms. And let them not display (more of) their charms to any but their husbands, or their father,..."[24:31]


-Protection for women


"O Prophet! Tell your wives, daughters and the believing woman that they should draw their outer garments (hijab), over their persons (when in public). That is more proper that they should be recognized (as decent women) and not molested." [33:59]


When should Muslims be dressed best?


"O cildren of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer." [7:31]




ISLAMIC DRESS : An Identity, not a uniform!


Islam, being a universal religion, has not set any particular form or style of dress. All manner of dress is acceptable as long as certain guidelines are followed. These guidelines apply to both men and women.
WHAT TO COVER?


Islamic dress must cover the 'aurah. 'Aurah is the parts of the body which cannot be exposed to others. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) defined 'aurah.


'Aurah is different for men and women.


A man's 'aurah extends from his navel to his knees. Most men choose to cover more than this minimum requirement. A woman's 'aurah outside her home and/or in the presence of non-mahram (not close relatives) men is her whole body except her face, hands and feet. Some scholars also include her feet. The head covering or hijab is a command of Allah. The face-veil or niqab is not a requirement, but some Muslim women choose to wear it for greater modesty, out of conviction that Islam requires it, or because of cultural tradition.


Muslim women are not permitted to cover their faces during prayer, while performing the pilgrimage rites in Mecca, when giving legal testimony, or when identification is crucial for security purposes. In her home, Muslim women may uncover their heads, arms, feet and legs below the knees. And in privacy with her husband, no part of her needs to be covered.


HOW TO COVER?


The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) admonished:
" Do not appear naked while fully clothed."[Bukhari]


Dress should not be transparent, showing the skin or so tight-fitting that it reveals the shape and sexual contours of the body. Loose-fitting clothes make prayer easier to perform.Dress should not be so outlandish or glamorous that it is provocative. However, Muslims may be as provocatively dressed (or undressed) as they like when they are with their spouses in private.


GENDER-APPROPRIATE


Men are not allowed to dress (and behave) like women, or as women. They are forbidden to wear pure silk and gold. Muslim men must be manly!


Likewise, women should not imitate men in dress (and behaviour too). Muslim women are feminine. Islam sets distinct and complementary roles for men and women in harmony with the natural disposition of goodness (fitrah) that Allah created them with.


Gender-appropriate dressing helps men and women fulfill their roles better.


MEN IN WHITE, WOMEN IN BLACK


In Islam, there is no "holy" colours. Islam does not require women to be always dressed in black or blue in public. This is cultural tradition practiced in some Muslim countries, or a rule imposed by certain Muslims authorities so as to enforce greater morality. Darker colours are worn because they conceal better.


Muslim men need not always wear white. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) wore clothes of various colours. However he recommended that white clothes be worn on Fridays and other assemblies.


"The purity and simple beauty of white befits the honour and dignity of man" [An Nasa'i]


The Prophet (pbuh) also grew a beard and often wore a turban on his head. Muslim men, out of their love for the Prophet, emulate him not only in character and conduct but also in dress and grooming.




HUMILITY AND THANKFULNESS


The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said : “Allah likes to see the signs of His bounties on His servants. “ [Tirmidhi]


He also said: “ Eat, drink, wear clothes, and give charity without extravagance and conceit.” [Bukhari]


Allah has not forbidden fine clothes, unless worn in arrogance and wastefulness. Allah’s bounty should not be flaunted lest it provokes envy and ill-feeling. Humility before The Creator and fellow human beings is a virtue. It’s difficult to be humble when one is decked in thousand dollar suits! However, Allah also dislikes slovenliness as a pretentious show of one’s poverty. Moderation and simplicity is always the preferred way.


THE LIBERATED MUSLIM WOMAN (AND MAN)


Islamic dress does not degrade or oppress women. Rather, it gives them dignity because it protects them from exploitation as sexual objects, and enslavement by the fashion, cosmetics, film and advertising industries. Dignity and protection, together with many rights that Islam grants women (which modern world has recognized only in the last 60 years) guarantees the high status of women in Islam. The incorrect practice of Islam in many Muslim countries does not represent TRUE ISLAM. Regrettably, the movie industry has now begun to blatantly exploit male sexuality. Islamic dress also preserves men’s dignity.




THE MUSLIM IDENTITY


Muslim men and women who dress as Allah commands them present an image of dignity, modesty and morality. This is the Muslim identity, unmistakably recognized anywhere in the world. Obey Allah and be loved by Him!


By: Fatima Ebrahim Munshi


So, friends, lets check ourselves, let’s correct ourselves so we can get Allah’s love.
wallahualam..


with love and dua'a
~fatma haniza~

PRPROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) BIOGRAPHY: THE MODEL OF GOODNESS

PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) BIOGRAPHY: THE MODEL OF GOODNESS

The behavior and personality of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) are the best examples to follow in Life. A companion of his, who spent full ten years with him, has said:


"Throughout my stay with him I never heard an indecent word from his lips and never found him rude to anyone. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) spoke very politely. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was kind to everyone."


Although Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the Prophet of Allah and had been appointed by Allah to guide the people, yet he was not ashamed of doing his work with his own hands. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) assisted the members of his family in household work and performed the jobs of other persons with great pleasure. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mended his clothes and shoes. He also took part in the construction of Masjid al-Nabi in Medina along with his companions.


His dress was always clean, though simple. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was very mindful of cleanliness. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) washed his hands and mouth before and after taking his meals.


Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was so kind and generous that he never refused a reasonable request of any person. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) often distributed edibles among others and went without meals himself. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) always helped the needy and the poor and went to the houses of the sick to enquire after their health.


Whenever he met anyone he said, 'Salamun Alaikum'. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) always spoke with a smiling face.


Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was a model of all the virtues and qualities of a believer described in the Noble Qur'an. None can describe him better than Allah who has said he possessed the noblest character.


"Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in Allah and the latter day and remembers Allah much." Noble Qur'an (33:21)


"And thou (Muhammad) (standest) on an exalted standard of character." Noble Qur'an (68:4)


"And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the worlds." Noble Qur'an (21:107)


Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has said, "I have been sent only for the purpose of perfecting good morals".


Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has said, "The best of you are those who have the best morals".


Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has said, "You cannot treat people by means of your wealth; hence, you should treat them by means of your moral conduct".


Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has said, "The most (important) things that cause people to reach Heaven are divine piety and a good temper".




PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) BIOGRAPHY: KINDNESS AND FORGIVENESS








More than 1400 years ago in Arabia the people were living very much in fear. They feared their neighbors. They feared other tribes. They even feared their idols. For this was the time before Islam. The Arabs were worshipping idols. In their ignorance they would bury their newly born daughters alive. As Islam began to spread among Arabs such cruel practices stopped. Islam taught love and peace. It taught kindness and respect.


Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself was a very kind and loving person. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) treated every one, young and old, with kindness and respect.


Because Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was spreading the word of Allah. And he was changing, for better, the lives of many Arabs and because some Arabs felt that by the teaching of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) their old idols were losing power they disliked Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and planned to kill him. Every time they tried to kill him, they failed. This angered the enemies of Islam even more. So they began to harass him in every way they knew.


One old woman made a habit of throwing rubbish on Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) whenever he passed from her house. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had to pass that house daily on the way to the mosque. Even when the old woman threw rubbish on him, he would pass silently without showing any anger or annoyance. This was a regular, daily event.


One day when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was passing by the woman was not there to throw the rubbish. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) stopped and asked the neighbor about her well-being. The neighbor informed the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that the woman was sick on bed. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) politely asked permission to visit the woman. When allowed he entered the house, the woman thought that he had come there to take his revenge when she was unable to defend herself because of sickness. But the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) assured her that he had come to her, not to take any revenge, but to see her and to look after her needs, as it was the command of Allah that if any one is sick, a Muslim should visit him and should help him if his help is needed.


The old woman was greatly moved by this kindness and love of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). By the example of greatness of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), she understood that he was truly the Prophet of Allah and Islam was the true religion. She accepted Islam at once.






PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) BIOGRAPHY: THE HELPLESS IDOL




It was hardly three years since the people of Madina had embraced Islam and had started to worship Allah. The young boys in the city were given a job to eradicate the worship of idols. Wherever they saw an idol, they destroyed it and set fire to it.


One day, the youths came to know that Omar bin Janab, the chief of Bani Salma tribe, had still preserved his idol and worshipped it. In order to impress upon him the uselessness of worshipping an idol made of wood, they removed it from his place and threw it down a pit. The chief of Bani Salma tribe, on tracing the idol to where it was lying brought it back, washed it and kept it in its original place. But the next day again it was removed and thrown into the pit.


The chief of Bani Salma tribe was very much disturbed at this or the last he brought home this idol and cleaned it. He then put his sword around its neck and said to the idol: "If henceforth anybody comes to you, promptly take action and kill him with the sword."


On the next day, the idol was again missing. This time he found it tied to a dead body of a dog. There was no effect at all of the sword which he had tied around the neck of the idol. This incident made him lose faith in his man-made wooden idol. He abandoned the idol worship altogether. On becoming a Muslim, he uttered a poem as under:


"Alas O my idol! If you were my God, you would not have reached this stage and I would not have seen you in the pit along with a dead dog. I have now put my faith in the Almighty Allah, from Whom come all blessings. It is He Who has freed me from darkness of ignorance."


This is one of the examples of how the young Muslim volunteers of Medina helped the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in putting an end to idol worship and spread the true message of Islam.




PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) BIOGRAPHY: THE ONE WHO SEEKS TO BE INDEPENDENT




One of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once found himself in severe poverty. His wife advised him to go to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and request his help.


The man approached the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), but as soon as the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) eyes fell upon the man, he said:


If a person seeks something from me, I shall certainly grant it to him, but if he were to exhibit himself as being self-sufficient and free from want, Allah shall make him affluent.


Hearing this, the man said to himself, The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has intended me by this speech of his.


Without uttering a word, he returned home and narrated the incident to his wife.


His wife said, The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is also human; explain your dilemma to him and see what he has to say.


The man returned to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) for the second time but heard the same sentence from him and again came back home without saying a word.


When this was repeated for the third time, the man borrowed a pickaxe from one of his friends and set off towards the mountains. Throughout the day he worked hard to gather firewood, which he sold for some flour and that night, he and his wife had bread for dinner.


The next day, he worked harder and collected more firewood and this continued for several days till he was able to purchase a pickaxe for himself.


After some period, as a result of his hard work, he managed to purchase two camels and a slave, and slowly became one of the affluent ones.


One day, arriving before the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), he narrated to him the events of his life and the effect of his words, whereupon the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) responded:


I had said (before): "One who seeks to be independent (of others), Allah shall make him independent."


SPECIAL THANKS TO:http://niktaufik.blogspot.com

cantik di hadapan Allah lebih mulia daripada cantik di mata manusia

assalamualaikum everyone..hurm...i just got hello from one of my partners life..huhu..leh dipanggil pasangan hidup la kot..sbb saye anggap all my shbt is my partners life..i luv you all more than i said..huhu..jiwang.hampir 1 jam kitorang bergayut..biasa la,pas 12 mlm murah sikit..hihihi.

then there are lot things we have been story mory..till one topic yg saye rase agk tak sdp didengar...n saye perasan bkn die sorang je yg suka ungkapkan kate2 ni,tp ramai lg wanita yg selalu sy dengar kate2 ni...

"sye tak cantik mcm die tu...mane la ade org nak..dah la hitam..gemuk,pastu pendek lak tu..tambah ngn jerawat lg..mane ade org laki pandang.."

hurm...penting ke kcntikan fizikal?sampai akhirnye kite tak sdr kite sbnrnye mengeluh2 ciptaan ilahi..nauzubillah..manusia dah diciptakan Allah sebaik2,secantik2 kejadian..menjadi keutamaan pd kite untuk sntiasa bersyukur dan mensyukuri nikmat Allah..

saye sgt suka berkongsi sebuah riwayat hadis yg sahih mengenai salah seoarang wanita penghuni syurga.subhanallah....sgt2 sye suka n harap semua terutama wanita dpt amik iktibar drpada riwayat hadis ni..insyaAllah..Dari Atha bin Abi Rabah, ia berkata, Ibnu Abbas berkata padaku,

“Mhaukah aku tunjukkan seorang wanita penghuni surga?”

Aku menjawab, “Ya”

Ia berkata, “Wanita hitam itulah yang datang kepada Nabi shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam lalu berkata, ‘Aku menderita penyakit ayan (epilepsi) dan auratku tersingkap (saat penyakitku kambuh). Doakanlah untukku agar Allah Menyembuhkannya.’

Nabi shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam berkata, ‘Jika engkau mahu, engkau bersabar dan syurga menantimu, dan jika engkau mahu, aku akan mendoakanmu agar Allah Menyembuhkanmu.’

Wanita itu menjawab, ‘Aku pilih untuk bersabar.’ Lalu ia melanjutkan perkataannya, ‘Tatkala penyakit ayan menimpaku, auratku terbuka, doakanlah agar auratku tidak tersingkap.’

Maka Nabi pun mendoakannya.” (HR. Bukhari dan Muslim)

saye jumpa hadis ni dlm muslimah.or.id.

subhanallah..betapa berbahagianya perempuan hitam itu td kerana telah dijanjikan syurga untuknya ats sikap taat dan sabar dgn ujian yg Allah bg..

ape yg menghantarkannya ke syurga?adakah kerana wanita tu cantik,jelita,atau mukanya licin,n fizikal yg menarik?tak...bkn sbb kcntikan..bahkan Ibnu Abbas menyebutnya sbgai wanita berkulit hitam..yg mungkin dlm msyarakat tak ada harganya n tak dipandang pun,tp meraih kedudukan mulia menurut pndgn Allah dan Rasul..bahkan kcntikan yg terpancar dr hatinya yg menghantarknnya ke kedudukan yg mulia..

kcntikan fizikal bknlah sgalnya..betapa sebenarnya kcntikan fizikal la yg byak menghantarkan wanita ke neraka..nauzubillahiminzalik..

jd shbtku..yg baru je tel sye td n shbt muslimah yg lain,bgaimana pun rupa kita,bagaimanapun fizikal kita jgn sekali2 rendah diri..bersyukurlah dgn sgla nikmat yg Allah anugerahkan kpd kita..the most important is,cantikkanlah iman kita..cantikkanlah hati dan akhlak kita..cantik di hadapan Allah lbh mulia dripada cntik di mata manusia..rite??(^^)

wallahualam..

with love and du'a

~fatma haniza~

Al- quran

hi everyone..hope that you always are in Allah’s love and bless, ameen.today i just relax myself and looked for something beneficial in internet..then i found something that may it give good reminder for us..insyaAllah..



Are you one of those people who rarely touch the Qur’an? Or do you read daily, but don’t find it is having the impact on you that it should? Whatever the case may be, these are some simple tips that can help you connect with the Qur’an.


1. Before you touch it, check your heart.
The key to really benefiting from the Qur’an is to check your heart first, before you even touch Allah’s Book. Ask yourself, honestly, why you are reading it. Is it to just get some information and to let it drift away from you later? Remember that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was described by his wife as a “walking Qur’an”: in other words, he didn’t just read and recite the Qur’an, he lived it.


2. Do your Wudu' (ablution).
Doing your Wudu is good physical and mental preparation to remind you that you’re not reading just another book. You are about to interact with God, so being clean should be a priority when communicating with Him.


3. Read at least 5 minutes everyday.
Too often, we think we should read Qur’an for at least one whole hour. If you aren’t in the habit of reading regularly, this is too much. Start off with just five minutes daily. If you took care of step one, Insha Allah (God willing), you will notice that those five minutes will become 10, then half an hour, then an hour, and maybe even more!


4. Make sure you understand what you’ve read.
Five minutes of reading the Qur’an in Arabic is good, but you need to understand what you’re reading. Make sure you have a good translation of the Qur’an in the language you understand best. Always try to read the translation of what you’ve read that day.


5. Remember, the Qur’an is more interactive than a CD.
In an age of “interactive” CD-Roms and computer programs, a number of people think books are passive and boring. But the Qur’an is not like that. Remember that when you read the Qur’an, you are interacting with Allah. He is talking to you, so pay attention.


6. Don’t just read; listen too.
There are now many audio cassettes and CDs of the Qur’an, a number of them with translations as well. This is great to put on your walkman or your car’s CD or stereo as you drive to and from work. Use this in addition to your daily Qur’an reading, not as a replacement for it.


7. Make Dua (supplication).
Ask Allah to guide you when you read the Qur’an. Your aim is to sincerely, for the love of Allah, interact with Him by reading, understanding and applying His blessed words. Making Dua to Allah for help and guidance will be your best tool for doing this.


with love and du'a
Noor fatma haniza

my love

I praise Allah for sending me you my love
You found your home and sail with me
And I`m here with you
Now let me let you know
You`ve opened my heart
I was always thinking that love was wrong
But everything was changed when you came along
And there is a couple words I want to say

For the rest of my life
I`ll be with you
I`ll stay by your side honest and true
Till the end of my time
I`ll be loving you...loving you
For the rest of my life
Thru days and night
I`ll thank Allah for open my eyes
Now and forever I…I`ll be there for you

I know it deep in my heart
I feel so blessed when I think of you
And I ask Allah to bless all we do
You`re my wife and my friend and my strength
And I pray we`re together in Jannah
Now I find myself so strong
Everything changed when you came along
And theres a couple word I want to say

I know that deep in my heart now that you`re here
Infront of me I strongly feel love
And I have no doubt
And I`m singing loud that I`ll love you eternally

I know that deep in my heart..

Artist : Maher Zain
Album : Thank You Allah
* just so in love with this song ^_^

Dont judge a book by its cover

Hye everyone.. I’m missing my friends right now, missing those friends in Dungun. May they always are in Allah’s love and bless, ameen. Emm, I just have a chat with one of my friends from Dungun. We share lots of stories starting from sharing my feeling of missing all of them, planning to meet each other and my recent activities. She shares with a problem but I’m not going to share it here. I’ll share a story which similar to her and may it be a good reminder for us, a story of thinking good of others.




I still remember a story told by my beloved elder sister which she experienced while she was to park her car. I always share this story with my friends and now to you guys who are reading this blog now for us to check about ourselves. My sister is a wonderful, pious Muslimah who always trying to have a good relationship with Allah. One day, while she was waiting for her friend in the car park, she saw a woman riding on a bike, wearing a tight, sexy shirt and jeans with brown-dyed hair. She looks just like a spoilt woman. If we are looking at that kind of women, we may think that she is not a good Muslimah. My sister sighed, unhappy with those who wear like that. But my sister didn’t stop watching the woman which slowly stops her bike. She took something from her bike and went to a group of cats and gives to them the thing she took from her bike before which actually are food for the cats.





After that she looks around whether there was any other cat to be fed. She gave every cat that she found until the food finished and she smiled with satisfaction. Subhanallah, how generous the heart of the woman which my sister thought was a bad one. Lets us check ourselves and learn a good lesson from this story. No matter how great and pious we are, we might not have the courage to do like what the woman did. Everyone have their own weaknesses. Human-being will never be perfect. We may wear according to the Muslimah clothing code perfectly, doing the best ibadah but there must be somewhere unexpectedly we commit sins and did wrong. It goes the same with the women. We never know the truth about her which she might be better than us. We are not the one who can judge others. Its Allah, the only who can judge us. Maybe her kindness will be greatly granted by Allah due to her sincere heart. Everybody in this world, no matter how bad they are, there must be good things they did which Allah prefer and favor better. Allah knows best whatever done by His slaves.




"And with Him are the keys of the Invisible. None but He knoweth them. And He knoweth what is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf falleth but He knoweth it, not a grain amid the darkness of the earth, naught of wet or dry but (it is noted) in a clear record". (6:59)




I have friends from various background and interest, I observe a lot and what I shared is a reality. I have a friend who really try and do the best ibadah but her relationship with other people was ignored. And a friend similar to the woman earlier but her ibadah to Allah was carefully done. Look! How imperfect we are. So, friends, lets check ourselves, let’s correct ourselves so we can get Allah’s love. And to my friend, may the story I shared here can change us for the better. Human is not perfect! OK my dear, I love you!


~finding Allah's bless~