Defence of the Hanafi Madhab from al-Ahsa

Defence of the Hanafi Madhab from al-Ahsa
Salam, we have recently made mention of this recent ‘giant’ of Ahsai scholarship. Alhumdulilah I got to know his grandson Sheikh Rayed al-Mulla quite well and read the text Wasilah al-Talab with him. He also kindly pointed me towards some rare works including a manuscript which I hope to edit in the near future (Inshallah). The following information is taken from Sheikh Rayed’s small booklet on the description of the prayer according to hanafi school, along with evidences, interestingly entitled : 'Sifah Salat al-Nabi'. Sheikh Abd al-Rahman appears to be from the same level of narration as Sh. Yasin al-Fadani, however whereas Sheikh al-Fadani passed away in 1989/1990, Sheikh Abd al-Rahman lived till 2001, when alive having one of the shortest chains in the world.****Allamah al-Muhaddith al-Sheikh Abd al-Rahman bin Abi Bakr al-Mulla (Allah have mercy on him) said in his treatise ‘Al-Itiraf bi Sihhah Madhab al-Ahnaf’:Know O seeker of benefit that Abu Hanifah (Allah have mercy on him) was the first of the Imams of Ijtihad, and the earliest of them in terms of preservation of the sunnah and recording of knowledge and legal issues, not least that of fiqh linked to the understanding of the book of Allah and the sunnah of His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace). He met a number of the companions and based his madhab upon the Quran, Sunnah and its rulings. As for that which is said regarding his madhab -which is in opposition to the truth, and is incorrect- has been rejected by the people of truth and verification who are relied upon.If his madhab were as they claimed, then why does it have a greater following than the others in terms of its muqallids. For we have been ordered to the majority, which is that what the majority of muslims who follow the truth are upon, because this is closer to that which is correct.He (Allah have mercy on him) also said:That which is incumbent upon us with regards to our Imams of ijtihad, the people of the four madhabs whose righteousness and virtue is witnessed to, is that we hold a good opinion of them because of the great struggle that they undertook in preserving the pure sunnah by their recording, preserving and guarding it from those who tampered with it. Along with our belief that all of them are upon truth and guidance from Allah, and all of them are agree on the principles of the religion, their difference being only being in the branches, as it is the area of ijtihad. This is according to that which reached them from the sunnah from the evidences related to rulings, each one of them took that which reached him and he regarded as authentic.
****Allamah al-Muhaddith al-Sheikh Abd al-Rahman bin Abi Bakr al-Mulla (Allah have mercy on him) was born in to the scholarly ‘al-Mulla’ family which traces its origin back to the noble companion Abd al-Rahman bin Abi Bakr al-Siddiq (Allah be pleased with them both) from the tribe of Quraish.
He was born on the day of Arafah in the year 1323. He kept the close company of his father Sheikh Abu Bakr, and likewise studied with other scholars of his city. He then travelled to Makkah and studied in the Madrassah al-Sawlatiyyah and kept the close company of the scholars of the Hijaz in the Haram al-Makki and Madani aswell as al-Taif.
From the notable Shuyukh he studied with are:
-His father Sheikh Abu Bakr-Sheikh Muhammad Abd al-Latif al-Mulla-Sheikh Abd al-Latif al-Jafari-Sheikh Ahmad al-Aliyy al-Arfaj-Sheikh Abd al-Aziz al-Ulji-Sheikh Umar Hamdan al-Mahrasi-Sheikh Hussein Abd al-Ghani al-Hanafi-Sheikh Muhammad Yahya Amaan-Sheikh Hasan Mashat-Sheikh al-Sayyid Muhammad Abd al-Hayy al-KattaniThe Sheikh passed away in the year 1421 aged approximately 98 years old having spent a life busy in learning, teaching and benefiting the muslims. His written works include:-An anthology of his poetry-A poem on the different types of hadith-Collection of treatise on various issues
Posted by al-Kakazai at 11:59 PM 0 comments
Labels: Fiqh, Scholarship

Chains of Transmission of Sh. Yahya al-Mulla
SalamI have received requests from a number of people whom I have met and others (via email) to share a little about the scholars in al-Ahsa. Mainly due to the lack of coverage that they receive. I recall mentioning to Sh. Yahya al-Mulla that I had occasionally heard of the ‘Hanafi’s in al-Ahsa’ but whenever I tried to obtain more information about them whilst on Umrah I could never seem to find any detailed information (it was if their existence was almost mythical). Sh. Yahya replied that they were happy to not be in the limelight and get on with their work quietly, they didn't want nor do not need the publicity.Inshallah please find below some of the Shuyukh and Asanid in Hadith of Sh. Yahya al-Mulla. I hope it is of benefit and will help shed some more light on his level of scholarship. We hope to publish a more detailed biography detailing all of his Shuyukh in the different sciences (if the Sheikh grants us permission!) in our upcoming translation of a work he had edited and annotated. Note: The information below is what I managed to obtain from the Sheikh after some persistent requests! He may well have not mentioned all of his teachers in hadith.***
Sheikh Yahya studied hadith with the following scholars:Sheikh Ahmad Jabir Jibran: With whom he studied the treatise of Imam Murtada al-Zabidi on the science of hadith, the Muwatta of Imam Malik with the commentary of al-Zarqani and Sahih MuslimSheikh al-Bukhari: with whom he studied Nukhbat al-Fikr with its commentarySheikh Ashiq Ilahi al-Barni: Sheikh Ashiq was resident in Madinah, and there Sheikh Yahya studied with him the hadith work Mishkat al-MasabihSheikh Muhammad Yasin al-Fadani: Sheikh Yahya attended his lessons on Sahih al-Bukhari, and gained Ijaza from him on numerous occasions, which included regularly visiting the Sheikh in his home.Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Mulla: Sheikh Abd al-Rahman was one of the renowned elderly scholars of the al-Mulla family who had studied in the Madrassa al-Sawlatiyyah in Makka and had spent a large part of his life in the Hijaz, towards the end of his life he returned back to al-Ahsa. It was here that Sheikh Yahya studied Sahih al-Bukhari and the Muwatta of Imam Malik with him alongside parts of the other books of hadith, indeed it was Sheikh Yahya who was chosen by Sheikh Abd al-Rahman to be the appointed reader in the lessons which were attended by people from as far away as Riyadh. Note: The Sheikh passed away in 2001 aged 98, and when alive had one of the shortest chains of transmission in the world, hence people travelling 4/5 hours to attend his reading of hadith.Sheikh Abd al-Shakur bin Fayyad al-Burmi: With whom he read the six books of hadithSheikh Yahya also has numerous Ijazas in hadith from a number of well known Shuyukh such as Sheikh Abdullah al-Ghumari and Sheikh Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah.
Posted by al-Kakazai at 1:46 PM 0 comments
Labels: Scholarship
Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Sheikh Muhammad Yasin al-Fadani
Salam, please find this draft biography and bibliography of the Sheikh of so many of the teachers we in the west (and elsewhere) have benefitted from.
Sheikh Yahya al-Mulla informed me (after I had finally persuaded him to mention his teachers) that he had studied two years in the Dar al-Ulum in Makkah run by Sheikh al-Fadani. He also added that he regularly attended his lessons, including those in Sheikh al-Fadani's home. He added that everytime he would meet Sheikh al-Fadani he would ask for Ijazah, such that the Sheikh one day remarked to him: 'Whats this! everytime you see me you ask for Ijazah!?'.
The information below is taken from the article written by Sheikh Abd al-Wahab al-Jabi, dated 1402/1982. Sheikh al-Fadani (Allah have mercy on him) passed away some years later. We ask Allah (the Exalted) to strengthen our links with him and with those that he was also close to. Ameen
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Sheikh Muhammad Yasin bin Muhammad Isa al-Fadani al-MakkiHe is Abul Fayd, Muhammad Yasin bin Muhammad Isa al-Fadani, belonging to Fadan or Badan, an area of Indonesia. He was of Indonesian origin but was born and raised in Makkah.Birth and Early EducationThe Sheikh was born in Makkah in the year 1335 (AH). He began his studies with his father Sheikh Muhammad Isa al-Fadani and his uncle Sheikh Mahmud al-Fadani. He then joined the Madrassa al-Sawlatiyyah al-Hindiyyah where he supplemented his studies with his regular attendance of the circles taking place in the Masjid al-Haram. He completed his studies at the Dar al-Ulum al-Diniyyah after it was set up.His Teachers and Subjects StudiedFrom those that he studied with during this period were the Sibaway of his age: Allamah Sheikh Muhammad Ali bin Hussein bin Ibrahim al-Maliki al-Makki (Allah have mercy on him) with whom he read a number of works amongst them being:-Jam’ al-Jawami’ with its commentary Hum’ al-Hawami’ in grammar by al-Hafidh al-Suyuti-Jalal al-Mahalli’s commentary on the Jam’ al-Jawami’ in Usul along with the marginalia of al-Attar and al-Bannani-Tafsir al-Khazin-Tuhfa al-Muhtaj of Ibn Hajar al-Haytami al-Makki with the marginalia of al-Sharwani and Ibn Qasim al-Ibadi-Zad al-Muslim of al-Shinqiti-Al-Risalah al-Waladiyah fi Adaab al-Bahth wal-Munazarah-Portions from the Sahih’s of al-Bukhari and Muslim-The whole of Sunan al-NasaiHe studied other works with him and kept his close company for a considerable time. He compiled his Sheikhs chains of narration in a work which he named: ‘Al-Maslak al-Jalli fi Asanid Fadilah al-Sheikh Muhammad Ali’ in which he also included a detailed biography.
***He studied with Allamah al-Sheikh Hasan bin Muhammad al-Mashat al-Makki (Allah have mercy on him) a number of works, amongst them being:-Al-Tuhfah al-Sanniyah on Inheritance-Al-Fawaid al-Shanshuriyyah on Inheritance-Lub al-Usul with its commentary Ghayah al-Wusul-The commentary on al-Suyuti’s Alfiyyah on hadith terminology by Muhammad Mahfiz al-Tarmasi entitled: Manhaj Dhul Nazar fi Manzumah Ilm al-Athar-Mukhtasar Ibn Abi Jamrah-Jami’ al-Tirmidhi-Sunan Abi Dawud-Raf’ al-Astar an Mahya Mukhadrat Talat al-Anwar-Tafsir al-Jalalayn-Al-Mawahib al-Laduniyyah of al-Qastallani-Ihya Ulum al-Din of al-Ghazali with its commentary by al-Hafidh al-Sayyid Muhammad Murtada al-Zabidi-The Hikam of Ibn Ataillah al-Iskandari
***He Studied with the Muhaddith of the two noble sanctuaries: Umar bin Hamdan al-Mahrasi al-Maliki (Allah have mercy on him) a large number of works in the Madrassa al-Sawlatiyyah, in the Haram al-Makki and in the Sheikhs home, amongst them being:-A considerable amount of the six books of hadith-Muwatta Imam Malik-Al-Jami’ al-Saghir of al-Suyuti with its commentary Fayd al-Qadir of al-Munawi-Bulugh al-Maram min Adillah al-Ahkam-Al-Shifa fi Huquq al-Mustafa-Jam’ al-Fawaid of al-Rawdani-Portions of al-Ashbah wal Nazair-A large number of portions from around 20 works in grammar, hadith, tafsir and their related sciences
He attended his lessons in fiqh, balaghah and read with him the pattern chained narrations (musalsalat) of:-Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Aqilah al-Makki-Ali bin Zahir al-Witri al-Madani-Abid al-Sindi al-Madani-Falih bin Muhammad al-Zahiri al-Madani-Al-Sayyid Hussein bin Muhammad al-Habashi al-MakkiAlong with other rare pattern chained narrations from other scholars.He gathered together his chains of narration in a large work named: Matmah al-Wajdan min Asanid Umar Hamdan, which he later abridged into: It-haf al-Ikhwan***He read with the Mufti of the Shafi’s, Allamah al-Faqih al-Sheikh Umar Ba Junayd (Allah have mercy on him) a number of works, amongst them:-Ibn Qasim al-Ghazzi’s commentary on the text al-Ghayah wal-Taqrib-Al-Iqnah Sharh Matn Abi Shujah (Matn Ghayah wal-Taqrib)-Fath al-Wahhab Sharh Manhaj al-Tullab of Zakariyyah al-Ansari-Tuhfa al-Muhtaj of Ibn Hajar al-Haytami-Minhaj al-Talibin of al-Nawawi with the commentary of al-Mahalli and marginalia of Qalyubi and Umayrah-Mughni al-Muhtaj of al-Khatib al-Shirbini-Sahih al-Bukhari with the notes of al-Sindi
***He studied Rawd al-Talib and its commentary Asna al-Matalib and the Sharh of al-Mahalli with the the Minhaj of al-Nawawi with the mariginalia of Qalyubi and Umayrah with Sheikh Saeed bin Muhammad al-Yamani and his son Sheikh Hasan al-Yamani (Allah have mercy on them both). Likewise he attended the latters lessons on Sahih Muslim and Sunan al-Nasai.These three scholars: Sheikh Umar Ba Junayd, Sheikh Saeed Yamani and Sheikh Hasan Yamani were regarded as his main teachers of Shafi fiqh.
***He studied with al-Sayyid Muhsin bin Ali al-Musawi al-Fillimbani then al-Makki (Allah have mercy on him) Shafi fiqh and Usul. He kept his close company and benefited greatly from him. He compiled a biography of his along with his chains of narration in the work: Fayd al-Muhaimin fi Tarjamah wa Asanid al-Sayyid Muhsin.
***He studied with Allamah Abdullah Muhammad al-Ghazi al-Makki (Allah have mercy on him) a large number of athbat (collations of chains of narration), more specifically his large thabat: Tanshit al-Fuad bin Tazkar Ulum al-Isnad, and the thabat in which he gathered the chains of his Sheikh al-Habib Hussein al-Habashi al-Alawi named: Fath al-Qawi.He took from him the Musalsalat of Ibn Aqilah and kept his close company and benefited greatly from him.
***He studied with Sheikh Ibrahim bin Dawud al-Fatani al-Makki a number of works in Masjid al-Haram and Dar al-Ulum al-Diniyyah, amongst them:-Tafsir al-Baydawi with the marginalia of Shihab al-Khafaji, which entailed a detailed reading, study and verification.-Tafsir al-Jalalayn-Jam’ al-Jawami’ of Taj al-Subki with its commentary Jalal al-Mahalli-Hashiyah of al-Sabban on Urud and Qawafi-The treatise of Tash Kubrazadah on Adaab al-Bahth al-Munazarah and other works
***He studied with Allamah Alawi bin Abbas al-Maliki al-Makki (Allah have mercy on him) portions from:-Al-Ajrumiyyah-Sharh Ibn Aqil on the Alfiyyah-Lub al-Usul-Al-Lam’ of Abu Ishaq al-Shirazi-Portions from Sunan Abu Dawud-The athbat of al-Kawrani, al-Basri, al-Nakhli, al-Fulani, al-Shawkani and al-Ameer (Allah have mercy on all of them).
***He studied with Allamah al-Sayyid Muhammad bin Ameen al-Kutbi al-Makki a number of works, amongst them:-Al-Ashmuni on the Alfiyyah-The treatise of Tash Kubrazadah on Adaab fi al-Bahth wal-Munazarah
***He attended the lessons of Allamah Shihab Ahmad al-Mukhallalati al-Shami then al-Makki (Allah have mercy on him). He took from him the musalasalat transmitted from the scholars of al-Shaam. He compiled his chains and biography in a work named: Al-Wasl al-Rati fi Asanid wa Tarjamah al-Shihab Ahmad al-Mukhallalati
***He studied with Allamah Khalifah bin Hamd al-Nabhani al-Bahraini then al-Makki a number of sciences, more specifically that of astronomy. He compiled his chains and biography in : Fayd al-Rahman fi Tarjamah wa Asanid al-Sheikh Khalifah bin Hamd aal-Nabhan
***He attended the lessons on hadith, its terminology and hadith of Allamah Ubaidullah bin al-Islam al-Sindi al-Diyobundi in the Masjid al-Haram.Likewise he attended the lessons of Allamah Hussein Ahmad al-Faydabadi better known as al-Madani, and Allamah Abd al-Qadir bin Tafiq Shilbi, both of them in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah.
***He received the hadith collection: Al-Manahil al-Salsalah fi al-Ahadith al-Musalsalah, from its compiler Allamah Muhammad Abd al-Baqi al-Luknawi al-Ansari al-Madani (Allah have mercy upon him).Likewise he received the musalsalat: Hadi al-Mustarshidin, from its author Abd al-Hadi al-Madrasi al-Shafi (Allah have mercy on him).Apart from the above mentioned scholars, Sheikh Muhammad Yasin al-Fadani received ijazah from a large number of scholars reaching approximately 700 in number, including both men and women.Allah the Exalted blessed him with the opportunity to teach a number of the Islamic sciences in the Masjid al-Haram and Dar al-Ulum al-Diniyyah, focussing later in his teaching career on the instruction of the noble hadith and its sciences.TeachingAfter Sheikh Muhammad Yasin gained his share of knowledge he focussed his energies towards the spreading of it amongst the students of Makkah and other lands. He began teaching in Dar al-Ulum Diniyyah at the beginning of the year 1356 (AH), becoming its head in the middle of the year 1359 (AH). Alongside this he delivered a variety of lessons in the Masjid al-Haram, between the doors (Bab) Ibrahim and Wada’, along with those in his home and office. Numerous students studied with him, many of them from the far east. He also gave ijazah to a large number of visitors to the holy city who came to visit him. Not least his ijazah to all those of his age which he gave a number of times.His WorksThe Sheikh authored a number of works, some of them unpublished, others in print and used by students in centres of learning throughout the world, not least for the soundness of their content and fine layout. From amongst his works are:Hadith-Al-Dur al-Mandud Sharh Sunan Abi Dawud (20 volumes)-Fath al-Allam Sharh Bulugh al-Maram (4 volumes)Usul al-Fiqh And Qawaid al-Fiqh-Bughyah al-Mushtaq Sharh Lum’ Abi Ishaq (2 Volumes)-Hashiyah ala al-Ashbah wal-Nazair fi al-Furu al-Fiqhiyyah of al-Suyuti-Tatmim al-Dukhul Taliqat ala Madkhal al-Wusul ila Ilm al-Usul-Al-Durar al-Nadid Hawashi ala Kitab al-Tamhid of al-Isnawi-Al-Fawaid al-Junniyah Hashiyah ala al-Mawahib al-Sunniyah ala Qawaid al-Fiqhiyyah-Taliqat ala Lum’ al-Sheikh Abi Ishaq-Ida’ah al-Nur al-Lami’ Sharh al-Kawkab al-Sati’ Nazm Jam’al-Jawami’-Hashiyah ala al-Talatuf Sharh al-Tarruf fi Usul al-Fiqh-Nayl al-Ma’mul Hashiyah ala Lub al-Usul and its commentary Ghayah al-WusulVarious Sciences-Janni al-Thamr Sharh Manzumah Manazil al-Qamr-Al-Mukhtasar al-Muhadhab fi Istikhraj al-Awqat wal Qibliyyah bi Ribh alMujib-Al-Mawahib al-Jazilah Sharh Thamarat al-Wasilah fil Falak-Tashnif al-Sam’, Mukhtasar fi Ilm al-Wada’-Bulghah al-Mushtaq fi Ilm al-Ishtiqaq-Manhal al-Ifadah, Hawashi ala Risalah al-Bahth li Tash Kubrazadah-Husn al-Siyaghah Sharh Kitab Durus al-Balaghah-Risalah fil Mantiq-It-haf al-Khallan Tawdih Tuhfah al-Ikhwan fi Ilm al-Bayan of al-Dardir-Al-Risalah al-Bayaniyyah –In a question and answer formatScience of Hadith and Chains of Narration-Matmah al-Wajdan fi Asanid al-Sheikh Umar Hamdan (3 large volumes)-It-haf al-Ikhwan bi Ikhtisar Matmah al-Wajdan-Tanwir al-Basirah bi Turuq al-Isnad al-Shahirah-Fayd al-Rahman fi Tarjamah wa Asanid al-Sheikh Khalifah bin Hamd aal-Nabhan-Al-Qawl al-Jamil bi Ijazah Samahah al-Sayyid Ibrahim Aqil-Fayd al-Muhaimin fi Tarjamah wa Asanid al-Sayyid Muhsin-Al-Maslak al-Jalli fi Tarjamah wa Asanid al-Sheikh Muhammad Ali-Al-Wasl al-Rati fi Tarjamah wa Asanid al-Shihab Ahmad al-Mukhallalati-Asanid Ahmad bin Hajar al-Haytami al-Makki-Al-Irshadat al-Sawiyyah fi Asanid al-Kutub al-Nahwiyyah wal-Sarfiyyah-Al-Ujalah fi al-Ahadith al-Musalsalah-Asma al-Ghayat fi Asanid al-Sheikh Ibrahim al-Khuzami fi al-Qira’at-Asanid al-Kutub al-Hadithiyyah al-Sab’ah-Al-Iqd al-Farid min Jawahir al-Asanid-It-haf al-Bararah bi Asanid al-Kutub al-Hadithiyah al-Asharah-It-haf al-Mustafid bi Nur al-Asanid-Qurrat al-Ain fi Asanid Alam al-Haramain-It-haf Ulul Himamal-Aliyyah bi Kalam ala Hadith al-Musalsal bil Awwaliyyah-Al-Dur al-Farid min Durar al-Asanid-Bughyah al-Murid min Ulum al-Asanid-Al-Muqtataf min It-haf al-Akabir bi Marwiyyat Abd al-Qadir al-Siddiqi al-Makki-Ikhtisar Riyadh Ahl al-Jannah min Athar Ahl al-Sunnah of Ab al-Baqi al-Ba’li al-Hanbali-Fayd al-Ilah al-Aliyy fi Asanid Abd al-Baqi al-Ba’li al-Hanbali-Arbaoon Hadithan min arbaeen Kitaban an Arbaeen Sheikhan-Arbaoon al-Buldaniyyah Arbaoon Hadithan an Arbaoon Sheikhan min Arbaeen Baladan-Arbaoon Hadithan Musalsalah bi al-Nuhah ila Jalal al-Suyuti-Al-Salasil al-Mukhtarah bi Ijazah al-Muarrikh al-Sayyid Muhammad bin Muhammad Zayarah-Tadhkar al-Musafi bi Ijazah al-Fakhr Abdullah bin Abd al-Karim al-Jurafi-Al-Nafha al-Makkiyahfi Asanid al-Makkiyah, Ijazah li Nabighah al-Qadi Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Umari-Fath Rab al-Majid fima al-Ashyakhi min Faraid al-Ijazat wal Asanid-Silsilah al-Waslah Majmuah Mukhtarah min al-Ahadith al-Musalsalah, Ijazah lil Qadi al-Sayyid Abu Bakr al-Habshi-Al-Kawakib al-Durari bi Ijazah Mahmud Saeed Mamduh al-Qahiri-Fayd al-Mubdi bi Ijazah al-Sheikh Muhammad Awd Munqash al-Zabidi-Al-Fayd al-Rahmani bi Ijazah Samaha al-Allamah al-Kabir Muhammad Taqi al-UthmaniHis Notes Upon Other Collections of Chains of Transmission-Nihayah al-Matlab Ala al-Arb fi Ulum al-Isnad wal Adab-Two treatise upon al-Amirs thabat (i) Al-Dur al-Nadir (ii) Al-Rawd al-Nadir fi Majmu al-Ijazat bi Thabat al-Amir-Two treatise upon the al-Awail al-Sunbuliyyah (i) Al-Ujalah al-Makiyyah (ii)Al-Nafha al-Miskiyyah-Waraqat ala Al-Jawhar al-Thamin fi Arbaeen Hadithan min Ahadith Sayyid al-Mursaleen of al-Ajluni-It-haf al-Bahith al-Surri ala Thabat Abd al-Rahman al-Kuzbari-Taliqat ala Kifayah al-Mustafid lil Sheikh Mahfuz al-Tarmasi-Tahqiq al-Jami’ al-Hawi fi Marwiyyat al-Sharqawi
Posted by al-Kakazai at 2:35 PM 2 comments
Labels: Scholarship
Saturday, July 05, 2008

Hanafi Ahsai Trends
SalamI posted the message below on another forum, it is reproduced here for fellow students of fiqh who may be interested. May Allah (the Exalted) facilitate the successful completion of the translation projects we have undertaken of some of the texts mentioned below.
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With regards to the hanafis in al-Ahsa, when they come to studying fiqh they have some flexibility. Recently the shuyukh there have edited and published the mutun authored by the hanafi ahsai scholars themselves which they have in turned used in their teaching.
For example in the past beginners might study:
Kifayah al-Ghulam: A 150 line poem on aqidah and fiqh al-ibadatAnd Wasilah al-Talab: Which is a brief text on aqidah, fiqh and tasawwuf (both were studied by Sh. Yahya as a young boy in al-Ahsa)
Now they are increasingly reading:Tuhfa al-Mubtadi: Beginners text on taharah and salahMinhaj al-Raghib Sharh It-haf al-Talib: Commentary on the aqidah/fiqh/tasawwuf text called It-haf al-Talib
Sh. Yahya in al-Ahsa some years ago published the 2000 line poem on fiqh called Tuhfa al-Tullab which covers all the chapters of fiqh. Some students read it with him (some even memorizing parts of it)
Despite this lessons for al-Quduri and al-Hidayah are still taking place currently in al-Ahsa. It seems the ahsai texts are being used more with students who are beginners due to their greater suitability when compared to more traditional texts such as Nur al-Idah.
Ws
Posted by al-Kakazai at 1:09 AM 2 comments
Labels: Fiqh
Sunday, June 22, 2008

Family Tree: Shah Waliullah and Knowledge
Salam. Inshallah I hope to be travelling soon, and may not get a chance to update the series of biographies of Indian hadith scholars we have been posting recently. The aim of the series was to make mention of those ulema who came after Shah Waliullah but before the solidifying of the Barelwi/Deobandi/Ahl al-Hadith split in the Indian Subcontinent. Its is accepted that all three of the aforementioned schools trace back their isnad in hadith to Shah Waliullah al-Dehlawi. Inshallah I hope to discuss this further in more detail in the future.
I found the above family tree in the thabat of Dr Taqi al-Din al-Nadwi (p.74), it consists of a diagram respresenting the scholarly descendants of Shah Waliullah. When I recently visited Dr Taqi I asked him whether he knew of any family members of Shah Waliullah presently living in India or elsewhere. Dr Taqi answered that he was not aware of any.
We ask Allah (the Exalted) to have mercy on all those mentioned in the diagram, and facilitate us to be linked to those mentioned therein even more closely.
Posted by al-Kakazai at 5:57 PM 0 comments
Labels: Hadith, Scholarship
Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Music (A Brief Note)
Salam, I recorded the following post back in June 2007 after a visit to al-Ahsa. It has to do with music. I've made some minor changes to it, and added the story at the end.
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Salam, alhumdulilah I set off for a visit to al-Ahsa after fajr and returned late this evening:
Hanafis: Musical Instruments are Unlawful (Haram)
Vis a vis music: I didn't have much time to spend with Sheikh Yahya al-Mulla, but I did ask him about music and his editing of a fiqh text where he comments that musical instruments are haram, even to the point that there are issues with the playing of the daff according to some hanafis.
He replied in response to my question: yes, most of the hanafi books state that the playing of musical instruments is haram. I asked him about Sh al-Nabulsi and he replied that: yes he does permit instruments and that he had in his possession Sh. al-Nabulsi's book on the issue.
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Difference of Opinion and Tolerance
He also said that it was therefore an issue that is differed amongst the scholars so we cannot condemn others who allow it as the other madhabs have more lenient rules on this issue. However he advised that the student of knowledge/practising people should try NOT to listen to nasheeds with music.
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Musicians in Muslim Societies and an Interesting Incident
I added that culturally musicians have been looked down in muslim society and that it goes against the practice of noble people and he agreed citing the case of one of his relatives playing a duff at a wedding which shocked some people resulting in his father getting rid of the instruments from the wedding party (as far as I understood from the story)
[From what I understood one of the elder women from his relatives had taken an vow (nadhr) that if the marriage took place she would beat a daff, they asked Sh. Yahya's father about fulfilling the vow when the marriage took place, and he replied that it was permissible for her to do so. The point being even something halal can at times be inappropriate for people of nobility]
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Evidences for Prohibition
He added by saying that from what he understood there are evidences prohibiting music, but that they are not totally direct and clear, he also cited a hadith where Sayiddina Umar (Allah be pleased with him) heard some music and placed his hands in his ears so as to not listen to it, but did not order others to do the same.
*
Conclusion
To conclude what i understood from him was NOT a green light to music, there is a difference regarding it, most hanafis say it is haram, some said it was permissible, other madhabs have opinions permitting it. We cannot criticise those who listen to nasheeds with music, and he advised practising people to avoid it. He also mentioned an interesting story he heard directly from one of the old hanafi scholars from al-Ahsa about a duff. ws
***
[Sh. Yahya mentioned that he heard from one of the elderly scholars of the al-Mulla family that in the time of the Ottomans in al-Ahsa a hadra took place near the fort. Daffs were being used and when the hadra reached the peak of its intensity, they witnessed the duffs flying into the air, suspended and beating themselves! I believe the scholar who informed Sh. Yahya of the incident actually witnessed it.]
Posted by al-Kakazai at 3:45 PM 4 comments
Labels: Fiqh, Other
Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Bida Hasanah (A Brief Note)
Salam, I wrote the following brief reply on another site, obviously much more can be written on this issue, but I was a disappointed to see once again some clouding of the matter of 'bidah hasanah'. More specifically in relation to Imam al-Sirhindi's views.
**********************************************************I am baffled as to why some ulema say that there is no such thing as 'bida hasanah' when they are part of tariqah's, have people take bayah with them, hand out awrad, none of which were practised in this exact same form at the time of the Prophet (Allah bless Him and give Him peace).
The argument in reply to this that: 'No these acts have a basis in the shariah and are jaiz' is exactly what the proponents of the concept of 'bida hasanah' are arguing anyway. They just define it as bidah hasanah, whilst you may refer to it as sunnah.
It should be noted that Imam al-Sirhindi (Allah be pleased with him) instructed students with the dhikr known as the 'lataif', and 'nafi wa ithbat' (as far as I am aware). None of which is related in hadith to have been practised by the Prophet (Allah bless Him and give Him peace) in this specific manner. Then there is the mention of fana and baqa and other detailed spiritual states, none of which have been mentioned in the sunnah in the exact same way as in the Maktubat.
The point is, when people say there is no bida hasanah, and use as a standard argument: 'Did the Prophet (Allah bless Him and give Him peace) or the Sahabah practise this? When at the same time they quote scholars like Imam al-Sirhindi, and maybe are members of tariqah themselves raises more questions than it answers. Not least the incongruity of their reasoning and proof.
Wassalam

ALMISKEENAH

In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate.
Praise is to Him who guided the believers to the truth.
And may His blessings and salutations be upon Mohammad SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.
~*~
I thought that I would have been posting far more than this. Time flying by with each and every moment involved and engaged with so many, Alhumdulillah. and not all places I have been staying are ‘connected’. The yearning for ‘home’ sits as a painful lump deep in the heart. Realizing how so many of you feel as you express your separation from our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May Allah Ta’ala return us all, Ameen.
This is the visit we made to the highest residential building in the Southern Hemisphere, the Eureka Tower, where The Edge, is the main adreniline spinning attraction. A glass cube, holding the fearless extends out from the 88th floor. The wait was to long for our plans. We were more than happy to take in the 360 degree views of the city.











All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.

Latest Bin Laden Offer

Latest Bin Laden Offering Most Desperate and Controversial to Date

by liyakhath ali khan

Advertisement for latest Osama Bin Laden video from radical Islamist terrorist website Washington, DC (Rotters) - Osama bin Laden warned in his latest DVD release, available for purchase from terrorist websites, that Al Qaeda would be stepping up its threats of attacks both in Europe and in the United States in response to offensive cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed republished by Danish newspapers. Bin Laden threatened to bring attacks also to the heart of America, targeting what he described as "your center of decadence" by infiltrating and threatening collegiate spring breaks nationwide. "Clearly we are witnessing some degree of desperation on the part of Al-Qaeda leadership," stated Ben Pensive, the head of US supported IntelCenter, a group tasked with monitoring militant websites worldwide. "Al-Sahab, al-Qaeda's media and PR wing, has become quite sophisticated with it's video editing and marketing skills. We were surprised at how well al-Qaeda has been able to maintain what appears to be a growing trend in female suicide bombers, and now , perhaps, we have some answers as to how they've accomplished this." The DVD was made public simultaneously just yesterday on thousands of jihadist websites worldwide, and is offered for the price of €29.95. The advertisement claims that the price, including shipping and handling, would be waived for anyone signing up for a 1 year tour of duty and subsequent training in the mountains of Pakistan. The validity of the disk is currently being assessed by the CIA, and initial analysis suggests that this is indeed the work of the elusive and now buff terrorist mastermind. The video apparently highlights lighter moments and frivolity from the front lines of al-Qaeda's war on the US. It is predominantly composed of scenes calculated to attract young Muslim women, including a controversial mud-hut wrestling party. At the conclusion of the video, bin Laden issues a chilling death threat aimed specifically at Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Frances. In the rambling condemnation, bin Laden accuses Frances of disrespect for women worldwide, and cautions his Girls Gone Wild franchise against further searches through their archives in an attempt to find a rumored lesbian encounter between recently revealed prostitute Ashley Alexandra Dupre and his own niece, Wafah Dufour, which reportedly occurred two years ago.

Hijab

Hijab wearers blame crime, not clothes

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Urfa Masood and Tasneem Chopra of the Fitzroy-based Islamic Women's Welfare Council call comments linking the hijab to sexual attacks 'abhorrent'.

A SENIOR Muslim leader's suggestion that women who failed to wear the hijab were "inviting" sexual attacks was "abhorrent" and grounds for his resignation, representatives of Muslim women say.

Urfa Masood, 28, vice-chairwoman of the Fitzroy-based Islamic Women's Welfare Council of Victoria, said she backed yesterday's call by the Islamic Council of Victoria for Sheikh Taj al-Din al-Hilali to resign his position.

Ms Masood said: "I was appalled by the comment. Sexual violence is a terrible crime to be inflicted on a woman and to blame it on the woman is just not an acceptable attitude."

Like the council's chairwoman Tasneem Chopra, Ms Masood was wearing a hijab and said the cleric's suggestion that it was a protection against rape was "rubbish".

"I don't think any of us put on the hijab saying 'now I am going to be safe, no one will rape me'. It is simple a matter of taste.

"Sexual violence knows no ethnic, no race, no religious bounds," Ms Masood said.

Ms Chopra said the sheikh's linking of the hijab to protection against sexual crimes was "totally disingenuous in that he completely ignored the incidents of sexual violence perpetrated from within the Muslim community". She said all women are susceptible to sexual violence in their homes.

"The attire of women is not the issue. It is the criminal behaviour and inclination of men who perpetrate those crimes that is the issue at large." Ms Chopra said she was heartened that at a time when the sheikh's comments could have driven a wedge between the Muslim and the wider community, they had been strongly rebuffed by the vast majority of Muslim commentators, both men and women.

"The average Muslim realises that these are not comments that represents Islam, and certainly don't represent Muslim Australia," she said.

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History of Islam

The history of Islam centers around one person, Muhammad (also spelled Muhammed or Mohammed). He was born around 570 A.D. and was raised by his extended family after the death of his parents. As he grew, he became dissatisfied with polytheism and came to believe in one God, Allah. He began to have religious visions around age 40. During these visions, Muhammad would receive "messages" or "revelations" from Allah. He would memorize them and teach them to his followers. These visions are now recorded in the Qur'an (or Koran). Muhammad continued to receive these visions and messages until his death in 632 A.D.

The Expansion of Islam

Muhammad's new faith was not widely accepted in his hometown of Mecca. Therefore, he and his followers moved to Medina which means "City of the Prophet". This movement is known as the Hijirat or "the flight". It marks the turning point in Islam and serves as the beginning date on Islamic calendars.

At first, Muhammad was sympathetic to both Christians and Jews, but after their rejection of his teaching, he turned from Jerusalem as the center of worship for Islam to Mecca. He realized he must return to Mecca, and he did, conquering the city. Islam quickly spread throughout the area.

When Muhammad died, he left no document appointing a successor. Some people thought that one of the original converts who had taught with Muhammad, some wanted a member of a powerful political family in the area, and others felt that 'Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad had been divinely designated as successor. An early believer, Abu Bakr was appointed, but died within two years.

Eventually, a power struggle developed as different groups of Muslims believed their method of establishing a successor were the best. The largest argument was over whether the successor should be elected or chosen through heredity. This controversy produced the main body of Islam known as the Sunnis (followers of the prophet's way) and other numerous sects including the Shi'a and the Sufis. The Sunnis are the majority in Islam today.

The Shi'a are the group of Muslims who believe that the successorship should remain within Muhammad's family, and that leaders are spiritually chosen, not politically chosen. They carry with them the pain of Muhammad's son-in-law, 'Ali, who was murdered by Mu'awiya in order to obtain power. Today, the Shi'a dominate Iran.

The Sufis are a group who believes that orthodox Islam is too mechanical and impersonal. This group of Islamic mystics seek for direct personal experience of the Divine.

Nationalism in the Arab world since the rise of Israel as a political power has kept Islam strong. It is a rapidly spreading religion because of its cultural and political appeal and its universal message of peace, temperance and the brotherhood of man.

References

McDowell, Josh and Don Stewart, Handbook of Today's Religions. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. Twelfth printing, June 1992.

Shelley, Fred M. and Audrey E. Clarke, eds. Human and Cultural Geography. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1994.

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In a four part series 'Islam: Revolution and Reform' Jane Little visits Iran, Turkey, the UK and the USA to explore changes which are taking place in this "dynamic and evolving religion". [RealPlayer required] American Learning Institute for Muslims (A. L. I. M.) 2001 Summer Retreat for Islamic Studies at Madonna College in Southeast Michigan July 24, 2001 - August 19, 2001 An intensive summer session for college students (undergraduate and graduate) and high school seniors, focusing on the following topics: fiqh, shari`ah sciences, Qur'anic Sciences, Hadith sciences, Seerah, Muslim Character & Spirituality, Islamic History, Da'wah, and more. Islamic Texts and Resources Information on Islam and other religions provided by the Muslim Students Association at the University of Buffalo, New York State. The Religion of Islam by the Islamic Affairs Department at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington DC. In English, Spanish and Arabic. 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"Those who listen to the Word (the Quran) and follow the best meaning in it: those are the ones whom Allah has guided and those are the one's endowed with understanding." - Quran 39:18 Treasured Koran goes digital The British Library in London has made a digital version of a 700-year-old copy of the Koran, so that visitors can browse it without damaging the original. BBC, September 8, 2002 Quran Resources Download the entire Quran (audio) A particularly beautiful recitation by Nassir Al-Ghamidi. Available as MP3 or Real Audio files. Three other recitations also available. Quran101.com A site which enables non-Arabic speaking new Muslims to learn the short surahs of the Quran and other requirements for performing ritual worship (Salat). Each phrase slowly and clearly enunciated. Includes 17 surahs plus ayat al kursi (2:255), the Tasha-hud (Al-Taheyat), the Adhan and the Iqama. Requires RealPlayer Holy Quran (Arabic Script and Recitation) Requires RealPlayer. Listen to and learn the Quran verse by verse. An Index to the Qur'an An online search facility. The Quran Translations, transliteration, index and introduction to each chapter. Index of the Qur'an An introduction to each chapter of the Quran by the late Pakistani scholar, Syed Abu Al-Ala Al-Maududi. Includes information on such matters as name, theme, period of revelation and historical background. Syed Abu-Ala' Maududi's Chapter Introductions to the Qur'an The late Pakistani scholar explains the Quranic verses from the sunnah of prophet Mohammed, including the historical context behind the verses. Prophet Mohammed and his hadeeth (sayings) Biography of Prophet Muhammad Mohammed The Prophet By Prof. K. S. Ramakrishna Rao A sympathetic biography by an Indian, Hindu academic. What non-Muslims say about Prophet Mohammed Principles of Success in the light of the life of Prophet Mohammed by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. 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Bukhari's collection is recognized by the overwhelming majority of the Muslim world to be one of the most authentic collections of the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). Translation of Sahih Muslim with internal search engine Translator by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui with an introduction by the Muslim Students Association at the University of Southern California. Sahih Muslim is a collection of sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It is also recognized as one of the most authentic collections of the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). Partial Translation of Sunan Abu-Dawud (Hadith collection) Translated by Prof. Ahmad Hasan with an introduction by the Muslim Students Association at the University of Southern California. Translation of Malik's Muwatta Translated by A'isha `Abdarahman at-Tarjumana and Ya`qub Johnson with an introduction by the Muslim Students Association at the University of Southern California. Malik's Muwatta ("the well-trodden path") is a collection of two items: the sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) (also known as the sunnah). The reports of the Prophet's sayings and deeds are called ahadith. the legal opinions and decisions of the Prophet's Companions, their successors, and some later authorities. Hadith Search Riyad-us-Saliheen An extremely useful collection of quotations from the Quran and hadeeth grouped by topic. Includes explanatory commentary. Compiled By Al-Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi. The Book of Jihad and Expedition (Kitab Al-Jihad wa'l-Siyar) A translation of Translation of Sahih Muslim, Book 19, the Muslim rules of warfare. An-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths A popular small collection of forty two of the sayings of prophet Muhammed gathered by the Islamic scholar Yahia bin Sharaful-Deen An-Nawawi. Forty Hadith Qudsi Hadith Qudsi are the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) as revealed to him by the Almighty Allah. Hadith Qudsi (or Sacred Hadith) are so named because, unlike the majority of Hadith which are Prophetic Hadith, their authority (Sanad) is traced back not to the Prophet but to the Almighty. The Hadith Database Translation of Sahih Bukhari Translation of Sahih Muslim Translation of Malik's Muwatta Partial Translation of Sunan Abu Dawood Translation of Hadith Qudsi Translation of Al Nawawi's Forty Hadith An Introduction to the Science of Hadith How the recorded sayings and teachings of Prophet Mohammed are traced back and checked for legitimacy and authenticity. Women Scholars of Hadith History records few scholarly enterprises, at least before modern times, in which women have played an important and active role side by side with men. The science of hadith forms an outstanding exception in this respect. By Dr. Muhammad Zubayr Siddiqi Would you advise individuals to study hadith from al-Bukhari and Muslim on their own? "There are benefits the ordinary Muslim can expect from personally reading hadith... but without a guiding hand, the untrained reader will misunderstand many of the hadiths," cautions Nuh Ha Mim Keller. The Schools of Islamic Law Al Fiqh al akbar by Imam Abu Hanifah All the main beliefs and spiritual convictions of the Sunni-Hanafi school of law (madhab). Translated by Hamid Algar, Professor of Persian and Islamic Studies, University of California, Berkeley. Abu Hanifah Encyclopaedia Britannica article on the Muslim jurist and theologian whose systematization of Islamic legal doctrine was acknowledged as one of the four canonical schools of Islamic law. The school of Abu Hanifah acquired such prestige that its doctrines were applied by a majority of Muslim dynasties. Even today it is widely followed in India, Pakistan, Turkey, Central Asia, and Arab countries. The Four Sunni Madhabs A brief overview of their doctrines and history from the Department of Religion and Ethics at Saint Martin's Teacher Training College, Lancaster, England. Hanifi Maliki Shafi Hanbali Understanding the Four Madhhabs (Schools of Law) The threat to the internal cohesion of Islam posed by rejectionists by Abdal-Hakim Murad What is a Madhhab? Why is it necessary to follow one? "The slogans we hear today about 'following the Qur'an and sunna instead of following the madhhabs' are wide of the mark...In reality it is a great leap backward, a call to abandon centuries of detailed, case-by-case Islamic scholarship in finding and spelling out the commands of the Qur'an and sunna," argues Nuh Ha Mim Keller. Why Muslims follow Madhabs "Who needs the Imams of Sacred Law when we have the Qur’an and hadith? Why can’t we take our Islam from the word of Allah and His Messenger?" Nuh Ha Mim Keller explains the necessity to respect and value scholars and the schools of Islamic law. Sharia Resources English translation of Fiqh-us-Sunnah by Sayyid Saabiq. Volume 1: Purification and Prayer Volume 2: Supererogatory Prayer Volume 3: Zakaat and Fasting Volume 4: Funerals and Dhikr Volume 5: Hajj and 'Umrah Muslim character The Blessings of Salaat Prostrate and bring yourself closer to God - Quran 96:1 Our Fajr Double Advantage The key to spiritual and material success for Muslims By Michael Young Smoking is haraam in Islam Powerful arguments based on the Quran and Sunnah from Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed Goal Setting for Muslims by Ahmed Adam Part 1 - Introduction, The Journey, The Importance of setting goals, Leading a balanced life, Focus is the Key, What goals should we pursue? Islamic teachings on the Importance of Parents Say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. - Quran 17:23 Backbiting & Slander - an Islamic perspective And why did you not, when you heard it, say? "It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to God, this is a most serious slander" (Quran 24:16) A commentary on one of the most destructive of major sins. Dare to be different Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood offers advice for the shy Muslim teenager who longs to be like everyone else in the group and feels left out; for the Muslim teenager who is being tempted into non-Muslim ways – getting drunk, smoking, sexual activity etc.; for the Muslim teenager who is so committed to serving God that he/she is in danger of becoming a ‘pain in the neck’ – an extremist. Four Principles of Dawah Texas Muslim Juan Galvan offers his insights on Invitation to Islam. The Pleasures of Learning By Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed, Ph.D "My Lord! Enrich me with knowledge.." - (Quran, 20:114) The Great Importance of Good Manners by Muslims "According to most scholars, one of the reasons that Islam spread in the region of South-East Asia, to places like Indonesia and Malaysia was the fact that Muslim traders appeared to have excellent manners. There was no Jihad in Indonesia. We must also remember that the converse applies and that bad manners reflect badly on Islam." A khutbah (sermon) by M. Waleed Kadous Born Muslim... Reflections about Muslim immigrants in the West by Neqiniso Abdullah We must love others to be loved by God "When we close our hearts to others, our eyes are closed to see the beauty of God in them. The message of Islam, Judaism, Christianity and all other religions is one of love and service to others. If God decides to care and love and feed even those who deny his existence, then who are we to deprive someone else of our love just because he is of different color or speaks a different language or is born in a different country or prays to the same God but in a different direction, using different words?" Dr. Shahid Athar A Fishy Tale A sensible warning in the form of a parable. Are we "born to be free"? "Freewill is the most difficult of God's gifts to understand or appreciate. The person who gives up selfish freedom and agrees to be God's servant will always be truly free. By Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood. Dhikr - Remembering Allah by Khalid Baig "I am with my servant as long as he remembers Me." (Hadith Qudsi) Humility in Knowledge, Arrogance in Ignorance "A pseudo doctor is danger to life. A pseudo religious scholar is danger to faith." "Waste no time debating what a good Muslim should be. Be one!" Respecting our differences, by Muhammad Alshareef Honesty in Monetary Dealings Uprightness and honesty in monetary dealings forms a vital part of the fundamental teachings of Islam, says Moulana Manzoor Naomani. Perfecting One's Character "The Magnificent Journey" by Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah Ignore that which does not concern you A Sign of Excellence in Islam by Shaykh Nathim Sultan Gossip and Its Adverse Effects on the Muslim Community Anecdotes on the Condemnation of al-Ghibah (gossip/backbiting) from Shaykh Husayan al-Awaaishah Convertitis or the Case of the Insta-Scholar Convertitis - a highly contagious disease, which spreads rapidly among converts to Islam, particularly those who are experiencing great amounts of confusion, but who don't think they are. Caution For New Muslims Dangers of Excess and Extremism among Muslims By Imam Ghayth Nur Kashif Concealing the Faults and Weaknesses of Others abridged from "Freedom of Expression in Islam" by Kamali Lifestyle Choices - Food for Thought "I took my clothes off, I learnt all there is to know about sex and I changed my body - all to please men" - topless model Jordan. A recent British tabloid story gave Michael Young cause to reflect. A Muslim's Character by Sheikh Muhammad Al-Ghazali Chapter 1: Pillars Of Islam And Moral Values. Purpose Of Prophethood -- Perfection of Morals Chapter 2: Weakness Of Morals--Proof Of Lack Of Faith Mercy, Guidance, and Light "God's Guidance, like His Mercy, is ever-present and available to us all, but we must be receptive to it." By Sirac Münir Forgiveness in Islam By Shahid Athar, M.D. "O Son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O Son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins as great as the earth, and were you then to face Me ascribing no partners to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it." - Hadith qudsi. What Does It Mean To Be a Muslim Today? "To be a Muslim one has constantly to face the challenge, first of knowing what God wills or desires not only for humanity in general but also for oneself in particular, and then of doing what one believes to be God's will and pleasure each moment of one's life." By Riffat Hassan Being a Real Man in Islam: Drugs, Criminality and The Problem of Masculinity English convert to Islam, Yahya Birt, contrasts the crisis of criminality in the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities in Britain with the Islamic ideal and suggests a way forward. Community and Society It's Muslim Boy Meets Girl, But Don't Call It 'Dating' Many American Muslims - or at least those bent on maintaining certain conservative traditions - equate anything labelled "dating" with hellfire! September 19, 2006 Can’t we be (Halal) Friends? "We should accept that what is forbidden in Islam is seeking privacy with someone of the opposite sex without a third party present... What we need is firstly to recognise that there is nothing at all wrong with young people meeting in situations where intimacy cannot occur because of witnesses; and secondly to create occasions in which they can meet safely in halal ways, so that they CAN get to know each other." By Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood Who or what is a Salafi? Is their approach valid? Their basic claim is that Islam has not been properly understood by anyone since the prophet Mohammed and the early Muslims - except themselves. By Nuh Ha Mim Keller Islam doesn’t need liberalising Continuous renewal is central to Islamic jurisprudence. Those who say that Islam should reform itself have misunderstood it, says Mohammad Seddon. Who are the "moderate Muslims"? The term moderate Muslims is not only becoming important in the post September 11 discussion of Islam and the West, it is also becoming highly contested. What do we really mean when we brand someone as a moderate Muslim? Indeed the more interesting question is what does the word mean to Westerns, looking-in to Islam, and to Muslims, looking out from within Islam? By Muqtedar Khan, Ph.D. Islam is wonderful, but I can't stand the Muslims "Why should I try to convert my non-Muslim friends when I often prefer them to the Muslims that I know? How will being Muslim change their lives for the better if they already display more of the Islamic virtues than most of the Muslims they are likely to meet?" By British convert to Islam, Michael A. Malik. Why are you here? Why have so many Muslims chosen to forsake Dar al-Islam and settle in the West where there is so much that is injurious and unconducive to their Islamic faith and morals? Is Islamist activism among immigrant communities just a glaring symptom of a guilty conscience among those who have migrated not for the cause of Allah but for worldly benefits? A self-righteous magazine article prompts British convert, Michael Young, to question the methods, priorities and very commitment to Islam of Muslim immigrants. Rethinking Islam "There is nothing divine about the Shari`ah. The only thing that can legitimately be described as divine in Islam is the Qur’an. The Shari`ah is a human construction; an attempt to understand the divine will in a particular context...The Shari`ah is nothing more than a set of principles, a framework of values, that provide Muslim societies with guidance. But these sets of principles and values are not a static given but are dynamically derived within changing contexts. As such, the Shari`ah is a problem-solving methodology rather than law. It requires the believers to exert themselves and constantly reinterpret the Qur’an and look at the life of the Prophet Muhammad with ever changing fresh eyes. Indeed, the Qur’an has to be reinterpreted from epoch to epoch – which means the Shari`ah, and by extension Islam itself, has to be reformulated with changing contexts. The only thing that remains constant in Islam is the text of the Qur’an itself – its concepts providing the anchor for ever changing interpretations." [More] By Professor Ziauddin Sardar Islam has a progressive tradition too Most western views of Muslims are founded on ignorance, says American scholar, Hamza Yusuf Hanson. Islam and the West A former Catholic nun and author of books on many of the world's religions including Islam, English writer Karen Armstrong speaks about Western views of Islam, the mood after 11 September and her hopes for better relations between Islam and the West. Scholars debate future of Islam Ulamas from across the world attend conference in Malaysia BBC News, 11 July, 2003 Boys will be Boys - Gender identity issues "Walaysa al-dhakaru ka’l-untha, says the Qur’an: the male is not like the female. This is why we say, respectfully ignoring the protests of old-fashioned feminists, that men and women, in a God-fearing society, will tend towards different concerns and spheres of activity. Our aim, after all, is human happiness, not political correctness." By Abdal-Hakim Murad. Islam and Freedom of Thought "What was once an occasional event -- silencing scholars -- increasingly has become a way of life in most Muslim countries. From South Asia to North Africa, an entire generation of Muslim intellectuals is at this moment under threat: Many have already been killed, silenced, or forced into exile." By Akbar Ahmed and Lawrence Rosen Islam and the Theology of Power "Supremacist puritanism in contemporary Islam is dismissive of all moral norms or ethical values." By Khaled Abou El Fadl, UCLA School of Law. The Islamic State and Religious Minorities The Taliban are gone but they have left us with several serious questions about the future of religious minorities in Islamic states in particular and religious states in general. By Muqtedar Khan, Ph.D. Freedom and Islam "Recently, I read an article, “Women in Islam” describing the liberation of women by Islam and Prophet (s). In reality women cannot travel alone to Hajj or visit Mecca (the safest place for any one), and women cannot drive a car in Saudi Arabia. It is not a secret that Muslims in general and Muslim women in particular in the world are the least free and least educated. So, I wonder: Oh Islam! You are a great theory but no practical value, unless you live in the West." By T. O. Shanavas, M. D. Vice President, Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc. Islamic Government "The establishment of justice for all citizens of the state, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, is one of the major purposes of the Islamic system of government. Corruption, bribery, abuse of authority, the creation of social conflict for personal or group benefit, torture, exploitation and oppression, are all evils against which the Islamic system must struggle." By Bilal Cleland. Relations between Communities of Faith in the Qur'an Islamic Fundamentalism in the Sunni and Shia Worlds "The West is democratic, but if democracy anywhere gave birth to an Islamic state. they would abort it immediately. Unfortunately, many Western powers do not believe that democracy is an absolute value, a universal, absolute value. There are other values as well, but if democracy breeds Islam, then let us frustrate it completely. This has happened time and again in Turkey and it happened in Algeria. I'm sure it will happen anywhere else." By Dr Hassan al-Turabi. Tolerance in Islam by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall, early 20th century English convert to Islam. Unity and Diversity Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi gives an Islamic perspective on diversity, unity, harmony, tolerance and peace. Is every new thing a Bid'a? Dr M Hussain conducts an invaluable investigation of this controversial subject. The Fall of the Family (Part I) "Back in the 1950s and early 1960s, British family values were still recognisably derived from a great religious tradition rooted in the family-nurturing Abrahamic soil. While the doctrinal debates between Islam and Christianity remained sharp, the moral and social assumptions of the "guest-workers" and their "hosts" were in most respects reassuringly and productively similar. That overlap has now almost gone." Abdal-Hakim Murad Reflections on Islam and Muslim Society "The worst advertisements for Islam are the Muslim countries with their selective Islam, especially where the religion is used to deprive people of their rights. In fact, a society that obeys the fundamentals of Islam has to be a liberal one." By Imran Khan, former Pakistani cricket captain. Wisdom from a Plumber "Too much material success, too many lawyers and psychiatrists, and too many service industries doing everything for everyone has America losing its edge, and essentially, its American-ness," says US convert to Islam, Abdul-Lateef Abdullah. Spirituality - Two views Australian Muslim convert Bilal Cleland contrasts Islam's holistic approach to the material and spiritual worlds with that of other philosophies and religions. The Ideal Muslim and His Community Dr. Muhammad Ali Al-Hashimi offers more than 60 practical tips. Frustrations of a Muslim Convert Committed to Islam, vexed by Muslims A cautionary tale. How for one theologically motivated convert to the pure monotheism of Islam, certain fellow Muslims have turned the Straight Path into something of a rocky road. by Michael Young. Introduction Lack of Induction Internet - The good, the bad and the dangerous! Beware the Zealots! Must we proceed at the pace of the most prudish? "Muslim name" and attire Relationship with non-Muslim parents So-called "Islamic Causes" Final Thoughts Ten Things Every Muslim in the West Should Do American convert and writer, Yahiya Emerick, suggests ten easy things that every Muslim family can do to contribute to the betterment of Muslims and the establishment of Islam in the West. Six things you can do for Islam Practical tips for contributing to Islam on a community level. Islam is a religion Enough of this "way of life" business. "What's wrong with admitting that your own religion is, in fact, a religion?" asks American convert to Islam, Yahya M. Islam needs to talk to the rest of the world From a speech given to the Muslim Council in Washington DC by Akbar Ahmed, Professor of Islamic Studies at the American University, 20 July 2001 The True Face of Islam Despite its violent image in the West, the religion of Islam is a balm to millions in an otherwise cruel and crowded world. American writer Zachary Karabell reflects on his experiences of Islam in Egypt. What do today's Muslims need? by Dr. Sherif Abdel Azeem Mohammad "Caution: There is Another anti-Islamic Site" Why issuing an alert letter is precisely the wrong thing to do "The most anti-Islamic site will die if it faces a frozen counter. That would happen if you just leave it alone. But if you are out there telling everyone about it and asking them to do the same, you are in effect volunteering as their publicity department." By Khalid Baig, 7 December 2001 The Confusion of the Scholars by Yahiya Emerick When I first became a Muslim, one of the things that was mentioned over and over was that there was no clergy in Islam. No "holy men" or intermediaries between Allah and people. Then I was introduced into the whole culture of "Scholars." That's where my alarm bells started to ring... Justice and Injustice American convert to Islam, Sirac Münir, reflects on terrorism, globalization and poverty through the lens of the Risale-I Nur (The Treatise of Light), a Quranic commentary written in Turkish by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi (1877-1960) and a work which has been the inspiration of a movement for the strengthening and renewal of Islam in Turkey and elsewhere from the time it was written to the present day. The Confusion as to the True Nature of Islamic Government "Intellectuals are inclined ever more towards democracy. They love Islam but are afraid of theocratic rule. They view democracy not as an alternative to Islam, but genuinely believe that as a political philosophy, it is the Holy Quran itself which propounds democracy." Islamic Morality in War "Do not kill an old man, a woman or a child. Do not injure date palms and do not cut down fruit trees. Do not slaughter any sheep or cows or camels except for food. You will encounter persons who spend their lives in monasteries. Leave them alone and do not molest them." - Caliph Abu Bakr The Treatment of Minorities - the Islamic Model "Far from imposing Qur'anic laws on everybody, Islam permits and even encourages every group (Jewish, Christian or other) to establish its own tribunals presided over by its own judges. As far as issues of social and cultural autonomy are concerned, the safeguard of the rights of non-Muslims in Islamic territory goes even to the extent of giving them the liberty of practising customs entirely opposed to those of Islam," explains Syed Mumtaz Ali. An interview with Hamza Yusuf Topics covered include education, the effects of colonialism on Muslim countries, Muslim daily life and the modern Muslim mentality, technology, the generation gap. Conducted by Randa Hammadieh. Orientalism, Misinformation and Islam by Abu Iman 'Abd ar-Rahman Robert Squires. A study of how Islam is misunderstood and maligned in the West. The Latter-Day Kharijites of Kabul As the world pleads for Afghanistan's pre-Islamic cultural heritage, the Taleban drag the good name of Islam ever deeper into disrepute. By Michael Young, March 3, 2001. The Western Mind of Radical Islam A highly thought-provoking 1995 article by Daniel Pipes, Editor of the Middle East Quarterly (non-Muslim) Muslim societies need to deal with their own failure Martin Woollacott The Guardian (London) September 28, 2001 Do Animals Have Souls? American convert to Islam, Sirac Münir, ponders the issues. Islam, Market Economy and the Rule of Law "Law is in Islam a process of discovery. Just as the physical scientist believes that the laws of physics exist as an absolute, waiting to be discovered rather than invented, so the Muslim legal scholar believes that the shariah has been created by God and his role is to discover and articulate it rather than invent it." by Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, Ph.D. Khatami warns against imposition of views President Mohammad Khatami of Iran has given a warning about what he called forces attempting to impose their own interpretation of Islamic rule on the country. BBC News, 10 February 2001 'Tribal' acts giving a false view of Muslims Slaughter in Algeria, the plight of two nurses in Saudi Arabia, and the Taliban's arrest of Emma Bonino give the world a false view of Islam, argues Michael Jansen. Irish Times, Wednesday, October 1, 1997 Zakat Islamic Philanthropy: For the love of God "And be steadfast in your prayer and pay charity; whatever good you send forth for your future, you shall find it with God, for God is well aware of what you do." - Quran 2:110 Shahid Athar M.D. Zakat Calculator Enables Muslims to calculate their compulsory alms-giving in US$. The Muslim Philanthropy Boom What's behind the growing number of mosques, Islamic centers and Islamic schools in the United States? The third pillar of Islam. By Monique Parsons. Zakat Links and Muslim charitable Organizations in the US. Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr Pinning Down The Start Of Ramadan Is A Matter of Debate Islamic Council Uses Science, Not Sightings of New Moon By Caryle Murphy Friday, September 22, 2006 Fasting Is Not Only to Purify the Soul, but also to Cleanse the Body Mariam Alireza, 27, September, 2006 Take medication on time in Ramadan, say doctors By Nada S.Mussallam, 28 September 2006 Ramadan Duas Duas for starting and ending the daily fast Ramadan - The Fundamentals of Fasting Obligations and exemptions explained by Umaru Ibrahim Ramadan Rules and regulations Compiled by Ishaq Zahid Reaping the Benefits of Ramadan "In the month of Ramadan it is very important that we spent a few moments to understand some of the wisdoms and lessons that we can learn from this month of fasting", writes Ali Al-Timimi. The Spiritual and Health Benefits of Ramadan Fasting By Shahid Athar M.D. "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn self restraint". (Quran 2:183) Reflections on Ramadan "A person who can restrain himself, for the love and pleasure of God, deserves a reward from the Creator Himself. The hardship of fasting brings the glad tidings that the fasting undertaken for the sole purpose of pleasing God is sure to be accepted by the Most Merciful Lord." By Ibrahim B. Syed, Ph.D The Medical Benefits of Taraweeh Prayers Muslims perform five daily contact prayers (Salat) and voluntary prayers (Sunnah, Nafl) throughout the year and Taraweeh prayers during the month of Ramadan. This results in moderate physical exercise particularly to every muscle in the body. By Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed, Ph.D Ramadan in the News Delicious Sweets and Festive Mood Make Damascus Different in Ramadan Ellen Feris, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, September 27, 2006 Pinning Down The Start Of Ramadan Is A Matter of Debate Islamic Council Uses Science, Not Sightings of New Moon By Caryle Murphy Friday, September 22, 2006 As Ramadan Begins, Ex-Catholic Reflects on Islam Chris Moore was raised Catholic but converted to Islam during a quest for spiritual fulfilment. By Caryle Murphy, Friday, September 22, 2006 Ramadan Duas Duas for starting and ending the daily fast Ramadan Begins in North America by Anayat Durrani, December 1, 2000 Ramadan in Knoxville Jeannine F. Hunter meets Muslim students at the University of Tennessee as they invite friends, who are not Muslim, to experience their faith and enjoy a meal at a local mosque. Knoxville News-Sentinel, December 9, 2000 Ramadan Fasting at British Universities by Abul Taher. The Guardian, Tuesday December 12, 2000 Muslims worldwide begin 3-day holiday to mark Ramadan's end CNN, 27 December 2000 Muslims mark end of Fast BBC News 27 December 2000 Cyber Alms for Ramadan BBC News, 1 December 2000 A Prayer on Eid Day by Shahid Athar M.D. Eid preparations are exciting, busy By Mariah Ashraf Jamal, Los Angeles Times, Saturday, December 30, 2000 Muslims Celebrate End of Month long Sacrifice Eid El Fitr in California by Richard Fausset, Los Angeles Times, Thursday, December 28, 2000 Halal Food Zabihah.com A guide to self-declared halal restaurants and food stores in North America with over 1,000 reader reviews. Heresies and pseudo-Islamic sects The Problem Of Qadiyanism How the heretical beliefs of the Ahmadiya sect, who accept their founder Ghulam Ahmad as a prophet, have put them outside the fold of Islam and left them designated as non-Muslims in Pakistan. By Sayid Abu'l Ala Mawdudi What's in a name? - The Problem with the "Nation of Islam" A court ruling overturning a fifteen year British ban on its leader, Louis Farrakhan, has propelled the so-called Nation of Islam into the headlines. Michael Young examines the Islamic credentials of these self-styled "Muslims". America's black Muslims close a rift Louis Farrakhan's "Nation of Islam" edges closer to orthodox Islam. By Daniel B. Wood Islam and Christianity Men pray during the holy month of Ramadan at the tomb of John the Baptist, at the historic Umayyad mosque in the Old City of Damascus Septembers, 27 2006. The [Catholic] Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,(5) who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting. Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom." Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions - Nostra Aetate "Of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim population, or of any systematic persecution intended to stamp out the Christian religion, we hear nothing. Had the caliphs chosen to adopt either course of action, they might have swept away Christianity as easily as Ferdinand and Isabella drove Islam out of Spain, or Louis XIV made Protestantism penal in France, or the Jews were kept out of England for 350 years. The Eastern Churches in Asia were entirely cut off from communion with the rest of Christiandom, throughout which no one would have been found to lift a finger on their behalf, as heretical communions. So that the very survival of these Churches to the present day is a strong proof of the generally tolerant attitude of Mohammedan [sic] governments towards them" . Arnold, Sir Thomas W. THE PREACHING OF ISLAM, A HISTORY OF THE PROPAGATION OF THE MUSLIM FAITH, Westminister A. Constable & Co., London, 1896, p. 80. Christians Pray That Muslims Find Jesus Evangelicals choose Ramadan to target Islamic Nations September 22, 2006 Muslims want to know more on Pope's view of Islam Following a wave of protests against Pope Benedict's remarks on Islam, Muslim intellectuals in Turkey are asking what he really thinks about their faith and what long-term consequences his views will have. By Tom Heneghan, Religion Editor Reuters Friday, September 22, 2006 The Islamists' War "Those who have taken most offense at the Pope's comments have responded in ways that seem to prove Manuel II's point." Linda Chavez, Thu Sep 21, 2006 Christian Extremism According to the evangelicals so influential in today's America, only 'born again' Christians are on their way to Heaven, the Jews are doomed and the rest of us including non 'born again' Christians are not really on God's 'radar screen' at all until He calls us forth to be slain at Armageddon. And extremely worrying for Muslims, one of the things that has to happen before the time of the end can come, is not only the re-establishment of Israel but also that the Jewish Temple in Jerusalam must be rebuilt on its ancient site. This necessitates destroying the Haram ash-Sharif and the al-Aqsa mosque. by Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood Europe’s Muslims worry bishops John L. Allen Jr. of the National Catholic Reporter details differing attitudes of the Catholic hierarchy to the dramatic rise in Europe's Muslim population. "I knew that my God was a real God, and his was an idol." US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has declined to criticise the evangelical Christian general in charge of finding Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden who told audiences the war on terrorism is a battle with Satan and described the god of the Muslims as an idol. BBC News, 17 October, 2003 Islam and Unitarians – The Quest for Truth and Justice Islam is a corrective to, not an aberration from, Christianity. "Unitarians and Muslims both believe that the New Testament is an uncertain guide to the actual events of this early period. Muslims regard the books of the New Testament as mainly the product of the followers of Paul of Tarsus, who did not know Jesus, but whose followers became dominant." by Bilal Cleland No offence, but Muslims love Jesus as much as Christians do "The Muslim Jesus is not divine, but a humble servant of God. He was not crucified - Islam insists that the story of the killing of Jesus is false. He is, as it were, Jesus as he might have been without St Paul or St Augustine or the Council of Nicaea." By John Casey Jesus and The Virgin Mary in Islam Many Christians may be surprised to learn that Muslims love and honor Jesus and his mother, Mary. By Juan Galvan The Trinity - a Muslim Perspective A lecture by Abdal-Hakim Murad given to a group of Christians in Oxford, England. Jesus Through a Muslim Lens Many may be surprised to learn that Muslims believe in Jesus' miracles. But this shared interest goes much further By convert to Islam, Michael Wolfe The Judeo-Christian-Islamic heritage "Media images of Islam have often obscured the fact that Muslims, Jews and Christians share much in common." By John L. Esposito The Conversion Story of Oum Abdul-Aziz An American former "born again" Christian explains how her in-depth theological studies led her to reject the Christian doctrines of Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus and Original Sin and to embrace pure monotheism in Islam. Contains detailed references from the Bible and Quran. Comparing Christianity & Islam "Islamic growth rates in Africa and even America are phenomenal. Islam has the world's lowest rate of being converted and one of the world's highest rates of converting. What accounts for this success? What makes Islam such an attractive creed?" Alarmed Catholic, Peter Kreeft, bemoans the success of Islam then outlines the main theological and practical differences, as well as the important common elements, between Christianity and the other great world religions. Belief-O-Matic Quiz Even if YOU don't know what faith you are, Belief-O-Matic knows. Answer 20 questions about your concept of God, the afterlife, human nature, and more, and Belief-O-Matic will tell you what religion (if any) you practice...or ought to consider practicing. The Origin of Life - an Islamic Perspective Science must increase our faith. It is wrong for anyone to close their eyes to what is right in front of them. For a Muslim the evidence of dinosaurs and fossils is not a threat to our beliefs. Rather, it is a confirmation of the power of Allah. Adapted from the Book: What Islam is All About By Yahiya Emerick The Poisoned Chalice The Guardian, Saturday November 25, 2000 Christianity faces extinction - and it is not science but the church itself that is to blame, argues AN Wilson (non-Muslim). "The millennium is the anniversary of an event that we no longer believe: namely, the birth of Almighty God in human form in a stable in Bethlehem. How, at this date in history could we possibly claim that Christianity was literally true? Christianity will decline yet further in the next 1,000 years to the point of near extinction - because Christians themselves no longer believe it to be true.... There is a religion that satisfies this deep human need for a moral code without a mythology. It is not Christianity. The mullahs and the imams of Islam preach the same undiluted message which was first given to the world by the Holy Prophet in the sixth and seventh centuries. While the west tries to dub the followers of Islam fundamentalist lunatics, increasing numbers of people turn to the Koran and find in this book what they have always craved: a moral and an intellectual acknowledgement of the lordship of God without the encumbrance of Christian mythological baggage in which almost no one really believes. That is why Christianity will decline in this millennium, and the next religious hunger of the human heart will be answered by the Crescent, not by the Cross." [Full Article] Islam and Judaism Creating Peace, One Meal At A Time Although They Rarely Agree, Muslim And Jewish Students At Yale University Foster A Sense Of Understanding, Civility By ADRIAN BRUNE, September 28 2006 The Judeo-Christian-Islamic heritage "Media images of Islam have often obscured the fact that Muslims, Jews and Christians share much in common." By John L. Esposito Beyond belief - The Rabbi and the Imam Meet Rabbi Hershel Gluck and Imam Ismael Amaan. They are good friends who delight in confounding expectations even as tensions rise in the Middle East. By Michael Skapinker, August 8 2003 Jewish dad backs headscarf daughters in France school row Lila and Alma began to get interested in Islam two years ago - their mother is a non-practising Algerian. Now their left-wing Lawyer, Jewish father is campaigning against their expulsion from a state school for the "ostentatious" conduct" of wearing hijab in apparent contravention of a 1905 law guaranteeing the separation of church and state. Islam Hijacked Rabbi Reuven Firestone, author of "Jihad: The Origin of Holy War in Islam" and Professor of Medieval Judaism and Islam at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, offers his insights into the events of September 11. Islam and Judaism Cambridge academic and former Pakistani ambassador to London, Akbar S. Ahmed, celebrates the Jewish contribution to humanity and the shared core belief in the one omnipotent, universal God. When Jews and Muslims Lived in Harmony As violence between Muslims and Jews flares in the Middle East, it's all too easy to forget that for long periods of time, the two sides coexisted in relative harmony in some parts of the region. Katherine Roth reports on an exhibition celebrating two thousand years of Jewish life in Morocco held in early 2001. Qaradawi Rejects Al-Qaeda’s Killing of Innocents Prominent Muslim scholar Dr. Youssef Al-Qaradawi has condemned Al-Qaeda for their fuel tanker suicide bombing of a centuries-old Jewish synagogue on the Tunisian island of Djerba in April 2002. British Jewish group calls for dismantlement of Zionist state London, Nov 15, 2001, IRNA -- Representatives of a Jewish religious group has called for the dismantlement of Israel as the root cause of tension and violence in the Middle East. Judaism – an Alternative to Zionism "One hundred years ago, a Jew, far removed from his faith and in total ignorance of its basic beliefs, launched the movement today known as Zionism. Its early adherents were almost uniformly drawn from the ranks of Jews who had previously abandoned their faith." For over a century Zionism has been opposed by large segments of Orthodox Jewry, explains Rabbi Dovid Weiss in a speech delivered at the NGO Forum of the United Nations World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa on August 29, 2001. More Than 1,000 Jewish Pilgrims Visit Jerba, Tunisia More than 1,000 Jews, including dozens of Israelis, gathered in the south-western Tunisian island of Djerba late last week in a rare pilgrimage to an Arab land. Panafrican News Agency (Dakar), May 17, 2001 Why Jews Don't Accept Jesus as the Messiah or Son of God An answer to Christian missionaries by David Wolpe, Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and author of Making Loss Matter. Polygamy in Jewish History by Charles A. Rubenstein. The Vice-President of Granada by Eliezer Segal. How a Jew rose to high office in Muslim Spain. New Jewish-American Campus Network seeks "middle path" for peace. A press release from the newly formed Tikkun Campus Network. Links to other sites dealing principally with the religion of Islam (not politics) Islamic Philosophy Online An academic site dedicated to the study of the philosophical output of the Muslim world. Al Ghazali's Website Resources for studying the works of the great Muslim philosopher and theologian, Ghazali of Tus (1058-1111) Amal Press - Reviving Classical Education Amal Press was founded in 2001 by a small group of Muslims based in the UK. It was born out of a need to present traditional orthodox teachings of Islam in an age that is steeped in ignorance of its rich, historical, spiritual and intellectual legacy. The consequences of this has been the unfortunate and disastrous fall of Muslims into the abyss of division, confusion and discord. Amal Press endeavors to provide readers a source of sound knowledge. The Sunnah Islamic Page Features introductory articles, a discussion forum, Islamic software, and audio/video. In several languages. This is Islam A site based in Blackburn, England, which aims to "act as a channel to spread the teachings of Islam - da'wah - and to assist Muslims and Non-Muslims worldwide via the Net, to cope with their religious obligations within their worldly life, to honor our obligations to society by being an economic, intellectual and social asset to each nation and each community in which we serve." Multiple features including E-Commerce store selling a large selection of Islamic Books, Islamic Videos, Audios and Gifts. Also World News concerning Islam and its Community, On-line articles, on the Teachings of Islam from the Quran, Hadith & Sunnah, Islamic Beliefs, Hajj & Umrah Portal, Charity, Halal & Haraam, and Islam & the Family.

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