Eid Mubarak

Assalaamulekum my brothers and sisters in Islam i wish you all eid mubarak!
May Allah bless you all !
remember me in your prayers!


http://www.123greetings.com/events/eid_ul_fitr/eid_mubarak/mubarak45.html


http://www.123greetings.com/events/eid_ul_fitr/eid_mubarak/mubarak27.html

http://www.123greetings.com/events/eid_ul_fitr/eid_mubarak/mubarak70.html


http://www.123greetings.com/events/eid_ul_fitr/eid_mubarak/mubarak60.html

Moral Motion Productions: Watchful Eye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqwrXx4CvFQ

Poor Eggs!

Most important part of your body is...

My mother used to ask me:
"What is the most important part of the body?"
Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct answer.
When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mommy."
She said, "No Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."
Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I told her,
"Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes.
She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind."
Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge. Over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No, but you are getting smarter every year, my child."
Then last year, my grandpa died.
Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry.
My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa.
She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?"
I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. She saw the confusion on my face and told me,
"This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in your life.
For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you was wrong and I have given you an example why. But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson."
She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said,
"My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder."
I asked, "Is it because it holds up my head?" She replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry.
Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it."
Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is sympathetic to the pain of others. People will forget what you said... People will forget what you did.... But people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.
True or not, the story makes you stop and think.
Be blessed. Be a blessing. Get your shoulder ready..

Dr. Amr Khaled - RIS US 2010 Closing Session with English Subtitles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H4_Prjqypk

Ramadan: A Time for Thought, Action & Change

“Fasting in Ramadan develops in a person the real spirit of social belonging, of unity and brotherhood, and of equality before God.
This spirit is the natural product of the fact that when people fast they feel that they are joining the whole Muslim society (which makes up more than one fifth of the world’s population) in observing the same duty, in the same manner, at the same time, for the same motives, and for the same end...
Twelve Reasons to Fast!
Fasting is an institution for the improvement of moral and spiritual character of human being. The purpose of the fast is to help develop self-restraint, self-purification, God-consciousness, compassion, the spirit of caring and sharing, the love of humanity and the love of God. Fasting is a universal custom and is advocated by all the religions of the world, with more restrictions in some than in others.
The Islamic Fast, as opposed to mere starvation or self-denial, is an act of worship and obedience to God, thanksgiving, forgiveness, spiritual training, and self-examination. Ramadan gives us a break and provides us with a rare opportunity to think about our own selves, our future, and our families. It is a time to give ourselves a mental break and to temporarily forget about the hundreds of worries and stresses we are constantly bombarded with.
In hectic times, such as ours, and in places like the West, this valuable time to think about our lives, on individual basis, is a luxury and is desperately needed! It is a unique month of self-analysis, and of taking stock of one’s moral and spiritual ‘assets and liabilities’...
Fasting indoctrinates us in patience, unselfishness, and gratitude. When we fast we feel the pains of deprivation and hunger, and learn how to endure it patiently...
http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/first-steps/fasting/453383-ramadan-a-time-for-thought-action-a-change.html

Science and Islam: part 3: The Power of Doubt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LjdnKE_i9E&feature=related

Science and Islam: Part 2: The Empire of Reason

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0FSgNE4Lxc

Science and Islam: Part 1: The Language of Science

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPlaS_wGzx8&feature=related

Count Your Blessings, Read Surah Ar Rahman- Most Gracious

SURA 55. Rahman, or (Allah) Most Gracious
1. [Allah] Most Gracious!
2. It is He Who has taught the Qur’an.
3. He has created man:
4. He has taught him speech [and intelligence].
5. The sun and the moon follow courses [exactly] computed;
6. And the herbs and the trees -- both [alike] prostrate in adoration.
7. And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance [of
Justice],
8. In order that ye may not transgress [due] balance.
9. So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance.
10. It is He Who has spread out the earth for [His] creatures:
11. Therein is fruit and date-palms, producing spathes [enclosing dates];
12. Also corn, with [its] leaves and stalk for fodder, and sweet-smelling
plants.
13. Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?
14. He created man from sounding clay like unto pottery,
15. And He created Jinns from fire free of smoke:
16. Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?
17. [He is] Lord of the two Easts and Lord of the two Wests:
18. Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?
Reflect

1.Moreover, the most frequently repeated ayah in this surah which can be translated as, ““Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?”” is addressing both jinn and men, for it states ““your Lord”” and orders both of them to thank Allah (SWT) for His blessings and not to deny them. When this ayah was revealed, the Prophet (SAWS) said, “…when I read this surah on the jinn, their response was better than yours. They answered, “We do not deny any of your blessings Allah, all the praise is for You”1. It is a marvelously significant meaning and a very pleasant answer to the question ““Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?”” Please think about it whenever you read surat Ar-Rahman and deeply thank Allah (SWT) by heart and soul for all His blessings.

2. The surah then goes on listing the great blessings that we enjoy without really realizing their value. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as ““And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance (of Justice) in order that ye may not transgress (due) balance. So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance. (TQM, 55:7-9). The balance that Allah (SWT) set for judgment in heavens and earth and for judging all creatures is one of the most significant blessings He (SWT) bestows upon us. Yet when man deviated from the right path and exceeded his limits, injustice and corruption prevailed.

3. The surah demonstrates more blessings, as Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “He has let free the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together. Between them is a Barrier which they do not transgress”” (TMQ, 55:19-2http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif0) and within the process of enlisting these great blessings, the same question is repeated over and over again.

4. Ar-Rahman demonstrates two categories of people. First, the one that denied Allah’s (SWT) blessings. The second category (i.e. the people of paradise) to strengthen the effect of these ayahs and thus enhance the opportunity of making the right choice.

5. Be grateful for all the blessings, Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD6Ov8JHTfk&feature=fvw

Emergency Appeal: East African Famine

As we listened to the anchor share the stories of families coming to the refugee camps for aid, he highlighted one specific story of a father who walked for 30 days and 30 nights to save his three young sons. At one point in his journey, the children were too weak to walk so their father would carry them one by one – dropping one off at one point then going back for the other across the barren desert.

Then they shared another story of a mother. She was sitting quietly by the bedside of her child who just passed away. Her two other children passed away a few days before this baby. She sat there for hours, quietly, because she could not afford to bury her own child.

In the past 3 months, it is reported that nearly 30,000 children have died.

30,000!

CNN's Anderson Cooper visits Somali hospital which runs low on aid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIgRRjLBuWY

Action Items

Donate Whatever You Can.You can donate through Islamic Relief: http://www.irusa.org/emergencies/east-africa-crisis/

Pray. Make du`a’ (supplication) for them
Stay Updated and Raise Awareness
Don’t Waste Any Food.
Seek Allah’s Forgiveness
Help Your Local Community.

http://www.suhaibwebb.com/society/international/emergency-appeal-east-african-famine/

Surrender to Allah in difficulty, Study Surah Ahzab

Surah 33. Al-Ahzab (The Clans, The Coalition, The Combined Forces) In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 1. O Prophet! Fear Allah, and hearken not to the Unbelievers and the Hypocrites: verily Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom. 2. But follow that which comes to thee by inspiration from thy Lord: for Allah is well acquainted with (all) that ye do. 3. And put thy trust in Allah, and enough is Allah as a disposer of affairs. 4. Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his (one) body: nor has He made your wives whom ye divorce by Zihar your mothers: nor has He made your adopted sons your sons. Such is (only) your (manner of) speech by your mouths. But Allah tells (you) the Truth, and He shows the (right) Way. 5. Call them by (the names of) their fathers: that is juster in the sight of Allah. But if ye know not their father’s (names, call them) your Brothers in faith, or your maulas. But there is no blame on you if ye make a mistake therein: (what counts is) the intention of your hearts: and Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. 6. The Prophet is closer to the Believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers. Blood-relations among each other have closer personal ties, in the Decree of Allah. Than (the Brotherhood of) Believers and Muhajirs: nevertheless do ye what is just to your closest friends: such is the writing in the Decree (of Allah.. 7. And remember We took from the prophets their covenant: As (We did) from thee: from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary: We took from them a solemn covenant: 8. That ((Allah)) may question the (custodians) of Truth concerning the Truth they (were charged with): And He has prepared for the Unbelievers a grievous Penalty. 9. O ye who believe! Remember the Grace of Allah, (bestowed) on you, when there came down on you hosts (to overwhelm you): But We sent against them a hurricane and forces that ye saw not: but Allah sees (clearly) all that ye do. Action Plan 1. This surah is, by the way, one of the best surahs in the Qur’an to portray the different difficult situations that people may go through. The incident of Al-Ahzab (which is also called the Conquest of the Trench) was itself a very difficult situation. 2. Through all of the ayahs, the surah focuses on obedience to Allah (SWT), surrender and submission to Him in these situations. 3. Surrender without hesitation. If someone still insists upon not carrying out the orders of Allah (SWT) until he understands the wisdom behind them, then read what this important ayah says about the concept of submitting surrender to Allah (SWT). 4. It is inadmissible for anyone to protest and refuse any command given by Allah (SWT) and say that he needs to be convinced first of the concept behind this command. Young men and women, surrender to Allah (SWT), for the ayahs in the Qur’an, throughout 20 of its chapters, have made clear the wisdom of Allah (SWT) and His plan for His creations and the wonder in the laws He has placed (which proves that our religion does not ask that people follow blindly nor does it disable minds from thinking on their own). It is high time you surrender. 5. There are two types of ways to surrender to Allah (SWT). One can either submit to Allah (SWT) by one’s own choice and freewill, or can be a servant to Allah (SWT) without having to choose. The first type is the one the heavens and the earth feared, knowing how uneasy is to carry the moral responsibility and perform duties. For this reason, they chose the second type of surrender, which is that of submission to Allah (SWT) without being given the choice of fulfilling Allah’s commands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRfdF85r-Po&feature=player_embedded