What are your intentions for Ramadan

Posted by Unknown | 12:21 AM

Ramadan is coming and we have to list out what are our intentions for this ramadan and what should be our islamic routine so that we could make our Allah happy this month.



‘Umar b. al-Khattab narrated that the Prophet (Peace be upon him ) said: Deeds are [a result] only of the intentions [of the actor], and an individual is [rewarded] only according to that which he intends. Therefore, whosoever has emigrated for the sake of Allah and His messenger, then his emigration was for Allah and His messenger. Whosoever emigrated for the sake of worldly gain, or a woman [whom he desires] to marry, then his emigration is for the sake of that which [moved him] to emigrate.” Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim.

When i ask my friends this Question most of them have answers similar to the following

  • to Read Qur’an from A to Z .
  •  to Pray the 5 prayers on Time .
  •  to Fast ^_^ !
  •  to Pray Tarweh ^_^
  • to Do Zikr All the time .
  •  to watch Islāmic TV Shows
  •  to Pray Al-Fajr on time
  • to give charity and help poor people .

and Many other beautiful intentions ..

You May share your own intentions too ^_^ ..write them down then continue reading :)

so the Question was ..why doing all of these just in Ramadan ? :D
I mean ..Reading Qur’an from A to Z in Ramadan ..why do you want to Read it ? :D ..because it is Ramadan ? O_o ..umm we worship Allah the god of Ramadan :) ..no Ramadan ! :D 

some people I know personally :D ..and I used to be this person ..Read Quran in Ramadan ..and May give up in the middle..but even if they continued Reading..in Shawal ..the next month ..they leave Quran again ..

 

and same to all other intentions..some people do them just in Ramadan ..but before and after Ramadan , nothing of these is done O_o

so ..I am saying don’t Read ? :D don’t do these intentions ? :D

well NOO !
Personally i am just trying to present my Own biggest intention for Ramadan : 


My intention is to TRAIN myself on good stuff (all the good intentions) so after Ramadan  I became Better than before Ramadan ! :D 


I believe Yes ..in Ramadan we all worship and work more ..but to take a big big push ..so after Ramadan when we slow down again ..I become better than before Ramadan ..
Also if I am doing something wrong before Ramadan ..Train on doing it right on Ramadan ..

like people who don’t pray in time..if for 30 days they prayed on time ? :D so After Ramadan they pray on time most of the prayers too..that would be GREAT !

also I noticed now while writting..that we fast for 30 days in Ramadan ..and It’s Sunnah to fast 6 days in Shwal (the month after Ramadan) ..and it has a big big REWARD ..why ? :D it is like the least percent ..that you must go out of Ramadan with ..After fasting 30 days..at least Fast 6 days in Shawal..then after this we can fast 3 days every month ..or Monday and Thursday ..etc ..

so ..ask yourself ..what do you need to do for Allah in this Ramadan so you can be  a better person after Ramadan.

 

Ramadan In Islam

Posted by Unknown | 11:04 AM



Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Every day during this month, Muslims around the world spend the daylight hours in a complete fast.
During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. As a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking. Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, strengthen ties with family and friends, do away with bad habits -- essentially to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings. The Arabic word for "fasting" (sawm) literally means "to refrain" - and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words.



During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.
Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint; a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one's self on the worship of God.

Concept of Interest In Islam

Posted by Unknown | 9:26 PM



The literal meaning of interest or Al-RIBA as it is used in the Arabic language means to excess or increase. In the Islamic terminology interest means effortless profit or that profit which comes free from compensation or that extra earning obtained that is free of exchange. Hazrat Shah Waliullah Dehlvi a great scholar and leader has given a very concise and precise definition of interest. He says,

"Riba` is a loan with the condition that the borrower will return to the lender more than and better than the quantity borrowed." 

Interest In Pre- Islamic Times

Hafiz Ibn Hajr writes in his commentary of Sahih Bukhari (Fathul Bari):
"Imam Malik reports on the authority of Zaid Ibn Aslam that in the period of ignorance (pre-Islamic times) interest was changed according to the following scheme. One person had a right in the property of another person. It may have been a general right because of the amount lent or the price of something purchased or in any other form. A time was set when the claim would be settled. When the appointed time arrived the creditor would ask the debtor if he wanted to settle the claim or pay interest with an extension to the time. If the claim was settled then there was no increase in the payment. Otherwise the debtor would increase the amount payable and the creditor would extend the period further.

Islam's View Of Trade

Interest is not a subject without trade and commerce. Islam recognises trade and commerce not only as a lawful profession but also as a moral duty. Islam has laid down a complete set of rules for trade. The reason for these rules is to specify what halal earning is. There are many traditions (Ahaadith) concerning halal provision that can also be found in the books containing the traditions of the prophet (peace be upon him). Actually, Islam has encouraged men to earn their own provision and to provide it to their families. The condition is that the earning has to be according to the conditions set by the Shari’ah. Any sort of transaction that does not correspond to the rules of trade will not be allowed. These rules can be found under the heading of trade in the books of jurisprudence. Interest is amongst those conditions which all dealings must be free from. 

How Is Interest Illegal
 
The definition of interest has already been mentioned as well as that it is prohibited. If we explore the Qur’an we will come across at least four places where Allah has mentioned interest.
The first one is in Surah Al-baqarah verse no.275
"Those who devour usury will not stand except as stands one whom the Satan by his touch has driven to madness. That is because they say, "trade is like usury", but Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden usury",
In the next verse verse 276 in the same place he says,
"Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, and will give increase for deeds of charity, for he does not love any ungrateful sinner."
Two verses later in verse 278 he says,
"Oh you who believe! Fear Allah and give up what remains of your demand for usury if you are indeed believers."
In verse 279 he says,
"If you do not, take notice of war from Allah and his Messenger sallallahu alaihe wasallm but if you repent you shall have your capital sum. Deal not unjustly and you shall not be dealt with unjustly."
In the second place in Surah Aal-Imran, verse no.130 Allah says,
"Oh you who believe! Devour not usury doubled and multiplied; but fear Allah that you may prosper."
In the third place in Surah Al-Nisaa’ Allah states in verse 161,
"That they took usury though they were forbidden and they devoured peoples wealth wrongfully; we have prepared for those amongst them who reject faith a grievous chastisement."
In the fourth place, Surah Al-Room, verse no.39 Allah mentions
"That which you give in usury for increase through the property of people will have no increase with Allah: but that which you give for charity seeking the countenance of Allah, it is these who will get a recompense multiplied."

Last Advice

As you may have realised, giving and taking interest is unlawful. Unfortunately, the basis of many of the transactions (especially in banking and insurance), personal or business involve interest. Thus it is becoming increasingly difficult for the majority of the Muslims, especially those who are comercially orientated to abstain from dealings involving interest. Many of us purchase items on ‘Buy now, Pay later' schemes thinking that this sort of scheme is of great benefit to us. Sadly, what we fail to recognize at the time of purchasing this ‘supposed bargain' is the fact that if we fail to pay the required amount at the due time, we will be liable to pay interest.
Now, suppose a couple of months ago, we were purchased an item on a ‘Pay later' scheme in which there was no question about us keeping upto date with payments, however due to a change in our financial situation, we have failed to pay the required amount, and are paying interest now as a result. We would have joined a group of those unfortunate people who have been cursed by the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam.
Our advice to anyone who is involved in any form of interest is that the individual should minimise his expenditure in these dealings and if possible abstain completely from these transactions. In any case, every individual should continue to seek Allah’s forgiveness. The philosophy shows that a person who takes interest does not gain anything in reality but through the explanation of the Qur’an verse,
" Allah decreases interest and increases sadqah"
That in reality the money just goes to waste and the person does not even realise, and a person who gives money in the path of Allah, in whatever form it may be, actually gains although in reality it seems as though he is loosing out.
Every person should take all necessary precautions in their financial and social dealings. If a person neglects in keeping a watchful eye on financial dealings, this negligence will slowly spread to other aspects of religion. This will have a very detrimental effect on religious matters.
The dealings of usury and interest are not only a disadvantage to us in this world but will also be a source of great discomfort and pain for us in the hereafter. The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam has informed us about the punishment that awaits those people who deal with interest:
“Hazrat Abu Huraira Radhiallaho Anhu has reported the saying of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam that during his ascension (Mi'raaj), he noticed a group of men whose stomachs were bloated to the size of big rooms and their wanting to move from their positions was impossible. They would be crushed in a stampede by the friends of Fir'awn. The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam seeing their condition asked Hazrat Jibra'eel Alayhis Salaam about their identity. He was informed that they were the people who indulged in dealings of usury and interest.”
The summary of the matter is that interest is hazardous and should be abstained from in all manners. If anybody has a case they wish to solve then they should contact a Mufti and present their problem as it is.
I conclude by asking you my dear reader, is it really worth destroying the eternal life of the hereafter, just so that we may have a few more comforts in a life which can come to an end any moment



For millions of Muslims, banks are institutions to be avoided. Islam is a religion which keeps Believers from the teller's window. Their Islamic beliefs prevent them from dealings that involve usury or interest (Riba). Yet Muslims need banking services as much as anyone and for many purposes: to finance new business ventures, to buy a house, to buy a car, to facilitate capital investment, to undertake trading activities, and to offer a safe place for savings. For Muslims are not averse to legitimate profit as Islam encourages people to use money in Islamically legitimate ventures, not just to keep their funds idle.
However, in this fast moving world, more than 1400 years after the Prophet (s.a.w.), can Muslims find room for the principles of their religion? The answer comes with the fact that a global network of Islamic banks, investment houses and other financial institutions has started to take shape based on the principles of Islamic finance laid down in the Qur'an and the Prophet's traditions 14 centuries ago. Islamic banking, based on the Qur'anic prohibition of charging interest, has moved from a theoretical concept to embrace more than 100 banks operating in 40 countries with multi-billion dollar deposits world-wide. Islamic banking is widely regarded as the fastest growing sector in the Middle Eastern financial services market. Exploding onto the financial scene barely thirty years ago, an estimated $US 70 billion worth of funds are now managed according to Shari'ah. Deposit assets held by Islamic banks were approximately $US5 billion in 1985 but grew over $60 billion in 1994.
The best known feature of Islamic banking is the prohibition on interest. The Qur'an forbids the charging of Riba on money lent. It is important to understand certain principles of Islam that underpin Islamic finance. The Shari'ah consists of the Qur'anic commands as laid down in the Holy Qur'an and the words and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). The Shari'ah disallows Riba and there is now a general consensus among Muslim economists that Riba is not restricted to usury but encompasses interest as well. The Qur'an is clear about the prohibition of Riba, which is sometimes defined as excessive interest. "O You who believe! Fear Allah Almighty and give up that remains of your demand for usury, if you are indeed believers." Muslim scholars have accepted the word Riba to mean any fixed or guaranteed interest payment on cash advances or on deposits. Several Qur'anic passages expressly admonish the faithful to shun interest.
The rules regarding Islamic finance are quite simple and can be summed up as follows:  

  • Islamic Banking - Any predetermined payment over and above the actual amount of principal is prohibited.
  • Islamic Banking - The lender must share in the profits or losses arising out of the enterprise for which the money was lent.

  • Islamic Banking -Making money from money is not Islamically

    acceptable.

  • Islamic Banking -Gharar (Uncertainty, Risk or Speculation) is also prohibited.

  • Islamic Banking -Investments should only support practices or products that are not forbidden