Jawharah

I duno if usernames changed, or the majority are new members? I'm mm_ca04 if you remember that name. I barely visit tho. Anyway, hope all is well with you, nice to see you here!

:sl: Wow, mashaAllah! I never saw this till now! May Allah bless your sweet daughter with strong health and grant her righteousness as she grows up. Ameen! Nice to see a post from you. :sl:

:sl: Jazakallah khair for sharing bro. I only read this now.. It made me all the more grateful for my health. May Allah reward you for your hardships and grant you complete recovery. Ameen.

:sl: I don't think Muslims will know if they are practicing it, because if they are, then they are in violation of the US law and also will be disowned by the LDS church. Therefore what they do will be undercover and not made too public. Yes, some cases may get out but not all so it's hard to know the stats. :sl: That's true Livius, about them being friendly. It was weiiirdd going from Cali, to a place where people make eye contact and greet you and stuff. Was like whoa...! :no:

:sl: Ditto that. Well 'cept change paternal and make it maternal.. All others are gone.. Ameen to the adiya.

:sl: Thats strange that you didn't see any Desis. :sl: There are a lot of Desis there. Most are Punjabi's and Pathans. If you're at Masjid Khadeejah on Friday, the Masjid is full, and the diversity is much more obvious. There are lot of Bosnians and some Somalis as well, but the Desis are present. lol. The main people who were in charge of that Masjid were Desis...although now the board is mixed. The Somalis generally go to their own Masjid though, and for the daily salaah people generally come all the out to the main masjid but just go to their lil jamaat houses.. How are the state laws there, in comparison to federal laws? Are there muslims there? How are they? They are a close knit society. But nobody's perfect, and they aren't either. You'll hear a lot of positive talk, but there are negatives. But hey, no matter where you are, you gotta fight your nafs and shaytan. How are the polygynists? Are there really like a lot? Are most of them mormons or are there muslim ones too? What about people who are neither and who don't practice it...do they support such a life style, oppose it, or are they neutral about it? No idea... I didn't socialize with the Mormons as such. The Muslims that I know of weren't practicing polygamy. What city were you in? Salt Lake City? Do all these things vary from city over there? Yeah, I was in Salt Lake City for 1 1/2 weeks. I don't think too much varies through the cities. If you want to be in the big city though, Salt Lake City would pretty much be it. The rest of the cities outward are farmland type, with majority Mormons and little Muslim communities... Is it a pretty state? Very, very, beautiful. Salt Lake City itself is gorgeous. The mountains are just amazing, and having been there in the winter made it look a lot like it was America's own Swiss Alps...! I took some pictures...lol. How is the temperature there? It was about 14 F in the winter at night and around 30 F in the day...lol. During the summer they say it gets around the 80s.

:no: MashaAllah, the pictures are awesome and I also appreciate the translation. It reminds me of when I was there...lookin at the pics and hearing the nasheed in the background, just like when we were walking through the streets of Makkah. :sl: May Allah accept your Hajj and may He take us all back to the Haram'ain again. :sl:

Death[using large font size is not allowed] [using large font size is not allowed] Sheikh Salaah al Budayr February 15, 2008 ~ Safar 8, 1429[using large font size is not allowed] All praise is due to Allah, the Magnificent, the Exalted. I praise Him for the favors and grace He has bestowed upon us. I bear witness that there is no God except Allah alone without any partners. He is [using large font size is not allowed]glorified and well above being compared with anyone or anything. He is greater than any attribute of creation which will ultimately come to an end. I also bear witness that our Prophet and Leader Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is His servant and messenger, and the one who has been characterized by the best and most honored of traits and attributes. May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, and companions, the most best of companions and most honored family.[using large font size is not allowed] Oh Muslims, fear Allah, the Almighty, and give thanks to Allah for the favors and graces He has bestowed upon you all your life. Lessen your hopes in this life, and prepare yourselves for a sudden death, since there is no servant who has far-reaching hope except that it ends in sinful deeds. Allah says: "[using large font size is not allowed]O you who believe! Fear Allâh and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what you do.[using large font size is not allowed]" [surah Hashr: Ayah 18][using large font size is not allowed] Oh Muslims, you are in a place which is not meant to last forever, even if your life is lengthy. This life is a bridge for those who will cross it. It is a lesson for those who reflect and take examples and lessons from it. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception and deceiving things. This is a life that leads to death. When you look at the crowds of people, you see nothing but dispersion, and you only hear that so-and-so is ill or that so-and-so has died. Death is evident at all times, and we are neglectful of what will happen to us sometime in the future.[using large font size is not allowed] Oh you who is made for death and yet goes astray. Oh you who has listened to admontions giving you guidance and advice. Oh you who have indulged in awful sins, won't you stop, regret, and cry, and open your eyes to see goodness, and walk towards guidance so as to find the true goal into attaining true happiness. If you send and refuse and abandon and turn from the guidance, you will be surprised by your sudden death, and you will be told of your deeds. On the Day of Judgement, you will know who you disobeyed and you will cry tears of blood when remembering your deeds and the pursuits you followed in your life. Allah says "[using large font size is not allowed]...On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance (then) avail him?[using large font size is not allowed]" [surah Fajr: Ayah 23][using large font size is not allowed] Oh you who commit prohibited acts, stop! Oh you who commit sins, are you not ashamed and embarrassed? Oh you who oppose your Lord by commiting sins, slow down. Oh you who give yourself full freedom to do whatever you want and follow all that you desire, Allah the King, and His angels are a witness. Allah says: "[using large font size is not allowed]Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).[using large font size is not allowed]" [surah Qaaf: Ayah 18] Oh you whose heart is busy thinking about this and that girl. Oh you who is enjoying himself. Is there a covering over your heart? How much humiliation and disgrace in you? Oh you who has been disabled by deprivation. Oh you who has responded to sin, how many doors did you close in your pursuit of sin? How many times did you turn away from people who tried to advice you? How many prayers did you neglect? How many sinful looks did you have? How many people's rights have you taken? How many night clubs and places of sinful activity have you approached? How much evil have you spread? [using large font size is not allowed] Did you forget the time of your last breath, death; when the tongue becomes heavy, when the hands are loosened, and when the eyes gaze, and family and neighbords cry over you. Did you forget what happens to an individual at the time of his death, when his soul is pulled out, the hardships he experiences is severe. His moaning can be heard from afar, his color changes, his forehead sweats, and his right and left hands hit together against each other. The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam), and there is nobody more favorable to Allah than his messenger, when it was his time to die, he had a small pot with water in it next to him. He put his hand into the water and wiped his face with it and said "[using large font size is not allowed]None has the right to be worshipped except Allah. Death has its agonies.[using large font size is not allowed]" [saheeh Bukhari][using large font size is not allowed] Where are the ones who we lived with for a long time, and then we forgot? Where are the ones whom we loved and treated with kindness? How many eyelids of our loved ones did we close in death? How many dear ones have we buried? How many close ones did we put into the grave, and yet we remain standing. Did death have mercy on anyone when they were sick or in a weak state? Did death leave money for the sake of his children? Did death give more time to a family man for the sake of his children? Where are those who were with us in the past days and years? There came to them the destroyer of joys, the stopper of desires, the divider of groups. Death made the masajid and places empty. You find them in the middle of graves, not down, not being able to remove the status they are in. And they cannot bring to themselves any benefit or harm. They await a day when nations will be called to their Lord, and all creation will be gathered and directed to the place of judgement. The people will tremble from fear and horror of that day. Eyes will shed tears, and hearts will break apart from the fear of being judged.[using large font size is not allowed] Oh servants of Allah! Take advantage of your lifetime that is going to elapse. Put entertainment aside, and stand up at night in repentance with regret, since such repentance is accepted. The forgiveness of Allah is accepted and His favors are evident. Therefore, if you have done bad deeds earlier in your life, hasten to do good acts, praising Allah the Almighty, and do not delay. Whoever has failed to do an obligatory duty, should do it, and whoever had a kafara that he should do, should do it. Moreover, whoever was unust to his fellow Muslim concerning his money, or honor, or anything else, should ask Allah the Almighty for forgiveness before there comes a day when he has no money. On that day, if he has a good deed, it will be taken from him according to the amount of his injustice. And if he did not have any good deeds, then bad deeds will be taken from the person who was treated unjustly and will be given to him. Hence, know that Allah ordered you with an order that He started with Himself, then by His glorifying angels, and then with you oh believers, both jinn and mankind.[using large font size is not allowed] (you are not allowed to post links yet)"you can't post links until you reach 50 posts_muslimtents(contact admin if its a beneficial link)/iharam/khutbahs/makkah021508.html"]Source[/url] [using large font size is not allowed]

Innovations in Celebrations Delivered by Sheikh Saud ash Shuraim Safar 8, 1429 ~ February 15, 2008[using large font size is not allowed] All praise is due to Allah, the most Endearing, and the most Forgiving. It is He who has created the day and the night. And it is He who has made them succeed one another. He knows what is in the heavens and the earth, that which we cannot see, and He is not seen, but He sees everything. Indeed He knows everything that happens. And I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of our servitude except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger who advised the Ummah with his guidance, and removed from us the taints of jahiliyya. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, and companions on a perpetual basis.[using large font size is not allowed] The advice we give to all, and that we all ought to pay heed to is to be aware of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) and fear Him so that we do not fall into that which displeases him. Everything that is an innovation in the deen is a bid'ah, and every innovation is a misguidance. The maturity and development of a Muslim is evident in the way he conducts himself in terms of his belief and the actions that emanate from this belief. He is a person who follows the guidance that is contained in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). He stays away from ignorance, and that which leads to ignorance, in creating new matters to the deen and innovating that which is not in the deen. A prominent feature of every Muslim is that he is humble and has humility when facing Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) and that which is required of him. What other quality can a believer have if he does not have this quality of humility? We only provide an avenue for the Shaytaan to lead us astray and lure us to create innovations when we are ignorant and when we fail to humble ourselves in front of the ocean of knowledge that is available for us and we think that we know better than that is contained in the Sunnah and the works from the rightly guided ulama. We then resort to measures and ways which the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) did not teach, nor is it in the Book of Allah. [using large font size is not allowed] Shaytaan deceives us by introducing matters and ways into this deen and making us think that it is good. It is most dangerous when a person goes a deed thinking it will gain him closeness to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) when it is not a thing which the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has brought. Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) says: [using large font size is not allowed]"Say (O Muhammad SAW to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me, Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."[using large font size is not allowed] [surah Ale 'Imraan: Ayah 31] Truth and obedience to the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) lies in us strictly following the message which he has brought. If we sincerely wish to gain further closeness to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) and be amongst those who qualify to be loved by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala), then we need to follow the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) as is intructed in the Quraan.[using large font size is not allowed] The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said "Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that does not belong to it shall have that action rejected." [saheeh Bukhari and Muslim] This is one of the most fundamental beliefs of our deen and imaan that we only follow that which is in conformity with the Quran and Sunnah. This Ummah has its source of knowledge and reference in the Quran, Sunnah, and the works of the ulama who have spent their life in understanding, expanding, and explaining the Sunnah. This makes us not needy of following other cultures and traditions or seeking other forms of knowledge.[using large font size is not allowed] When we look at the moral fabric of our society, we see that Islam provides us the strongest foundation to build the best society upon moral and ethical principles. When we look at the morals we pick up from other cultures, we see that it has brought us nothing but doom and misery in our societies. Many from amongst us have imported Western ways, culture, ideas, and attitudes, and that which does not conform to the Sunnah. It has only brought upon us shamelessness, lewdness, and vice. A major role and responsibility for this confusion and pollution of the Muslim societies is held by the television and media corporations who whole sale import things which who are in contradiction to the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). They bring in everything they find which satisfy their whims and desires, sometimes under the pretext of creating controversy or showing people what exists out there in the world. We have only seen the result to be nothing but negative, with it really introducing backwardness and decadence to our societies.[using large font size is not allowed] The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said [using large font size is not allowed]"You will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit so much so that even if they entered a hole of a mastigure (a kind of lizard), you would follow them." We said, "O Allah's Apostle! (Do you mean) the Jews and the Christians ?" He said, "Whom else?"[using large font size is not allowed] [saheeh Bukhari] The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) went on further to expound on the story of the Banee Israeel who were told to worship Allah and not associate any other with him. They were told to sacrifice a cow, and they decided to mock the command, until they turned to worshipping a calf. When we leave the guidance of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam), and decide to blindly follow other nations, we will definitely land in the abyss and decadence that they live in. Only the enemies of Allah ally with other enemies of Allah. Allah is a sufficient guardian for the believers and in Him do they find solitude.[using large font size is not allowed] All praise is due to Allah alone, and may be the peace and blessings be upon His messenger after whom there will be no other messengers.[using large font size is not allowed] Oh Muslims! Fear Allah and know that from the things that makes one frustrated and worried is when you see certain patterns developing in segments of the Muslim communities where they have started to follow the fashion of the cultural, moral, and general lifestyle of those who are not from amongst the Muslims and not on the guided path of Islam. Those who defend the stance that we need to learn from other societies and cultures undoubtedly have a valid point. However, they only use this argument without any context, failing to understand the consequences of some of the things they bring in from foreign cultures.[using large font size is not allowed] This is most evident and harmful when we see the imported festivals and celebrations that are brought into our societies, whether it be in the name of Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, or Lovers' Day. When we see this happen and know the ignorance and damage it has caused in our communities. Only yesterday we had the so called Valentines' Day, and see the vice and the vile nature of this celebration. When we look at the history of Valentines' Day, we find that St. Valentine was a person who used to facilitate people getting married against the order of the community he or she was living in. On the day this Christian saint died, the people decided to celebrate this day by giving their lovers flowers. In this pretext we see much vice and nudity, and that which we consider vile in terms of illicit relationships between men and women as if this day removes the obligation to abide by that which moral and righteous. It is a day which people use an excuse to let their whims and desires go out of bounds.[using large font size is not allowed] As Muslims we know that love is not confined to one day of the year. Love between a husband and wife is require all throughout the year. However, additionally in Islam love is not confined to a husband and wife, but it is a blessing of the Muslim community where it extends to the parent and child, two brothers, and a person of the community with another person of the community. Every member of the community is obliged to love one another. The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said [using large font size is not allowed]"You will not enter Jannah until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I guide to that which would make you love one another? Spread greetings of salaam abundantly amongst yourselves."[using large font size is not allowed] [saheeh Muslim][using large font size is not allowed] The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam came to Madeenah and they had two days in which they would (relax and) play'. He said, [using large font size is not allowed]"What are these two days?" They said, "We used to play (on these two days) during the Jaahiliyyah." The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "Allaah has given you something better instead of them: Yawm al-Duhaa (Eid al-Adha) and Yawm al-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr)."[using large font size is not allowed] [Abu Daawood, Nisai, and Ahmad] And the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayahi Wasallam) also said[using large font size is not allowed] "Every people has a festival and this (Eid) is ours."[using large font size is not allowed] [saheeh Bukhari and Muslim] The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) also narrated in a hadith [using large font size is not allowed]"Whoever resembles a community, he is from them."[using large font size is not allowed] (Ahmad and Abu Dawud)[using large font size is not allowed] When Muslims fall into the trap of Shaytaan and follow foreign ways which does not conform to way of Islam, we are then following our whims and desires. Allah says: [using large font size is not allowed]"And thus have We sent it (the Qur'ân) down to be a judgement of authority in Arabic. Were you (O Muhammad SAW) to follow their (vain) desires after the knowledge which has come to you, then you will not have any protector or defender against Allâh."[using large font size is not allowed] [surah R'ad: Ayah 37][using large font size is not allowed] (you are not allowed to post links yet)"you can't post links until you reach 50 posts_muslimtents(contact admin if its a beneficial link)/iharam/khutbahs/makkah021508.html"]Source[/url] [using large font size is not allowed]

:sl: Awesome pictures mashaAllah! I miss it soo much.. Perfect nasheed for the background, just like when you're walkin down the Makkah streets and you hear it. :sl: Jazakallah khair for the translation as well.

:sl: When inactive members have been deleted, the number of registered members goes down, but the actual member number remains the same. :sl:

Special Needs Delivered by Sheikh Saalih al Humaid Muharram 16, 1429 ~ January 25, 2008 All praise is due to Allah, we praise him and seek his forgiveness and mercy. All praise is due to Allah who has blessed us with many a blessings and has raised the heavens and who is in control of affairs of the world. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah. And I bear witness, without any hypocrisy, weakness, or uncertainty, that there is nothing worthy of worship besides Allah without any partners. And I bear witness that Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is His final messenger and servant. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and all those who follow his footsteps until the last day. (Ameen)[using large font size is not allowed] Oh people, I remind myself and then you, fear Allah and be aware of Him. Time is swiftly passing by and all of us are afflicted with indecisions and challenges of meeting our desires or whims and that which is most necessary for us. We ought to pay attention to our final destination and give priority to that which will lead us to Jannah and be of benefit to us in our final abode and destination, over our transient needs and desires of this world.[using large font size is not allowed] O mankind! Verily, the Promise of Allâh is true. So let not this present life deceive you, and let not the chief deceiver deceive you about Allâh. Surely, Shaitân is an enemy to you, so take him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire.[using large font size is not allowed] [surah Faatir: Ayaah 5-6][using large font size is not allowed] Oh Muslims, Allah has addressed man in the most honorable of forms. He addressed man understanding his humanity through which man differentiates himself from the rest of the creation. And Allah says: [using large font size is not allowed]O man! What has made you careless about your Lord, the Most Generous? Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion; In whatever form He willed, He put you together. [using large font size is not allowed][surah Infitaar: Ayaah 6-8][using large font size is not allowed] And so man is honored and given dignity in his very creation. And Allah says: [using large font size is not allowed]And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with At-Taiyyibât (lawful good things), and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment. [using large font size is not allowed][surah Isra: Ayah 70] However there is no difference and no discrimination or superiority of one man over another except through the fear of Allah and piety. And Allah says: [using large font size is not allowed]Verily, the most honourable of you with Allâh is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa. [using large font size is not allowed][surah Hujurat: Ayah 13][using large font size is not allowed] Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) continuously tests us whether it be through the provision of good or forbidding us from enjoying some luxuries. And Allah says: [using large font size is not allowed]We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good, and to Us you will be returned. [using large font size is not allowed][surah Anbiya: Ayah 35][using large font size is not allowed] Oh Muslims, from what we see in the characteristics of the Ummah is that it takes care and pays attention to every member of its community. This is a sign of its maturity and civilization and greatness. Especially when we look at the attention and care that is paid to people who require special attention and need. And we see that in the shariah in the form of a body of knowledge that is to do with the social responsibility and the social insurance and the protection of people's rights. The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said that the Muslim ummah is like body, when part of body pains, the rest of the body feels pain and sleeplessness. When we are talking about people of special needs we acknowledge them and need to acknowledge that they are an integral part of this organism that the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) described. The people of special needs need be protected, whether it is their social, personal, physical, health care rights and their rights to employment. And we see many an example of this in our deen, where it epitomizes the level the attention and care that is required when dealing with people in special needs. This must take efforts to integrate people who are usually discriminated against and people with special needs, i.e. people with disabilities.[using large font size is not allowed] The importance of this is demonstrated when Allah admonishes His Prophet in the beginning verses of Surah 'Abasa. From this story, Allah is reminding that there is no superiority of one group of people over another, whether it the high social status people over the weak. In this particular story, the Messenger of Allah had been talking to the leaders of Quraysh including Waleed ibn Mughirah, Ummayya bin Khalaf, and their likes who were the the noblest amongst Quraysh to convey to them the message of Islam. In the process, he ignored the blind person who came to him with a question, and was admonished by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala), reminding him that the message should be spread to everybody, and no favoritism and preference should be given to any group of people over another. [using large font size is not allowed] The person in this particular story was a great companion by the name Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum (Radiallahu Anhu), and on more than 10 occasions the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) left him as his representative in Madeenah when he was expeditions. He also participated in the Battle of Qadasiyyah, where he had been carrying the banner and later achieved martyrdom in this position. The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) had also given him the duty of calling the adhaan. Bilaal (Radiallahu Anhu) would call the adhaan in the night and Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum would call the adhaan in the morning.[using large font size is not allowed] Those who are disabled are not absolved of their obligations towards Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala), nor are any concessions made towards them. The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) says that there are no concessions for anybody, whether it be the blind or the disabled. If they can hear the call to prayer, they ought to participate in the congregational prayer.[using large font size is not allowed] This requires us to ensure that the people with special needs are an integral part of society and a contributing part. They are not to be left to side, and treated as disabled people, but they should be given roles where they are made to feel as an important part of society.[using large font size is not allowed] Allah says:[using large font size is not allowed] There is no restriction on the blind, nor any restriction on the lame, nor any restriction on the sick, nor on yourselves, if you eat from your houses, or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your mothers, or the houses of your brothers, or the houses of your sisters, or the houses of your father's brothers, or the houses of your father's sisters, or the houses of your mother's brothers, or the houses of your mother's sisters, or (from that) whereof you hold keys, or (from the house) of a friend... [using large font size is not allowed][surah Nuur: Ayah 61][using large font size is not allowed] These ayaahs were revealed to correct a prevalent tradition at the time of the Messenger of Allah, where people felt ashamed to include the weak or the disabled in their social gatherings. Therefore Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) revealed these verses to tell the people that including such people amongst us is encourage able.[using large font size is not allowed] This is the beauty in this deen, which takes care of the humanness and caters for their needs in the best of forms. The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said that there is no negativity, and I am pleased by people who take an optimistic outlook on things. All of us, whatever our positions are, we ought to look and have optimism and have aims and goals in our life which we can achieve. From the beauty of this ummah, you see people who were blind or disabled and they were addressed as such. Regarding them as such were not impediments that would hold them back, but rather they were honored and people sought to look after them with care. Their disabilities did not prevent them from attaining elevated status amongst society and in the sight of Allah. [using large font size is not allowed] We have many examples of great scholars and thinkers who were ill, blind, and disabled. We need to learn from these examples in the Quraan and Hadeeth and the legacy left for us from Islamic history. We need to take every measure possible to provide the necessary opportunities for disabled members of our community so that they may become an integral part of the society and not have a passive role. This should not be a duty of only the lay person, but it should also extend to organizations, institutions, governments, and countries to insure that disabled people are catered for and that we provide the necessary environment, mechanisms and tools that is required to enable the disabled to participate as active members and not as people who are passive and make them feel deficient in one way or another.[using large font size is not allowed] Some families take a passive attitude with regards to their disabled relatives, looking after them and caring for them, but do not give them responsibilities and keep them on the side. This has a psychological impact on the disabled family member and influences them in a negative way.[using large font size is not allowed] All praise is due to Allah, the One who Guides. I praise him and I thank Him for the continuous blessings and favors. I bear witness a testimony that is free of defect, hypocrisy, and uncertainty, that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His final messenger and servant. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his companions and those who follow his footsteps until the last day.[using large font size is not allowed] The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was the greatest example to us in showing us how be the most remembering of Allah and most cautious and aware of Allah. We need to remind ourselves that it is not our body and appearance that matters, but rather it is our intentions and that which we conceal in our hearts. The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said "Indeed in the body there is a piece of flesh. If it is upright and righteous the whole body remains upright and righteous. But if it becomes corrupt and infected, the whole body becomes corrupted and infected." This piece of flesh referred to is the heart.[using large font size is not allowed] Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) has mentioned that there are people who have good health, sight, and hearing, but they are people who are as good as people who are lacking in these physical blessings, because they did not pay attention and take heed to what was told to them or to what they saw in front of them. Rather they abuse that which they have. Therefore their sensory abilities are of no benefit to them.[using large font size is not allowed] Diversity is an actual part of Allah's creation. This diversity is there not so that people may discriminate but to appreciate the beauty and meet each other's needs and be interdependent. It is so that we may be part of this body that the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) described as a brick wall which supports every other part. And we must acknowledge that some physical disabilities may become impediments on person's ability in completing their tasks to the full extent. But that which is most important to Allah is one's intentions to do good regardless of whether a person may not be successful in completing their task. The levels of disabilities vary from physical impairments to mental impairments, and this affects both the healthy and the weak.[using large font size is not allowed] (you are not allowed to post links yet)"you can't post links until you reach 50 posts_muslimtents(contact admin if its a beneficial link)/iharam/khutbahs/makkah012508.html"]Source[/url] [using large font size is not allowed]

Assalaamu alaikum, In case anybody wants to watch it...here... :sl:

:sl: Some of the wording says La illaha illallah Muhammad ar Rasulullah, Subhanallah wa bihamdih, Subhanallahil 'azeem, Allah, and Surah Ikhlaas. Not sure about the rest.

:sl: I've not been around here much lately, so I wouldn't know, but I don't think there are thaaaat many members from America around here. :sl: Anyways, I'm a teenager growing up in California. Southern California at that. I won't say things are the best for Muslim kids growing up here. But you have to be prepared to make the effort, and seek the reward of Allah. If you move to a place like Houston, Orange County, San Diego, San Jose, or New York City you will see a lot of Muslims, and a lot of diversity amongst the Muslims as there are lot of Muslims. Regarding Southern California particularly, if you're walking around, don't expect to say hijaabi girls or bearded brothers much. If you do see a hijaabi girl, they might be wearing tight clothes. However, if you keep your children close to the masajid and specifically the people of knowledge, inshaAllah you will be successful. The Al Maghrib institute has a base here in Southern California and two bases up in Northern California, which is open to ages 13 and up I think. So things aren't the best here and you might not see much impressive efforts on the outside, but there are some changes for the better being made for the children growing up... It also depends on how strong the parent's values are. Remember, a child can grow up in Makkah, and be misguided if the parents don't instill in them the fear of Allah and protecting them from evil friends... That said, you mentioned the prices of housing being an issue, so I suppose Orange County and Southern California would be a difficulty. If you were to go to a place like Salt Lake City, or some other place where the Muslim community is growing, it would be more close knit and the also affordable.