Documentary
This video is for educational purposes only and simply provides a view of the Syrian people who are literally being butchering by Bathist Assad regime who is ironically backed by the so called regime that claims to support the “oppressed” worldwide. It has some graphic material (it is blured) but nevertheless we put a clear warning in the video title (+18). Continue reading
Amin Maalouf
European and Arab versions of the Crusades have little in common. For Arabs, the twelfth and thirteenth centuries were years of strenuous efforts to repel a brutal and destructive invasion by barbarian hordes. In “The Crusades Through Arab Eyes”, Amin Maalouf has sifted through the works of a score of contemporary Arab chroniclers of the Crusades, eyewitnesses and often participants in the events.
He retells their stories in their own vivacious style, giving us a vivid portrait of a society rent by internal conflicts, and shaken by a traumatic encounter with an alien culture. He retraces two critical centuries of Middle Eastern history, and offers fascinating insights into some of the forces that shape Arab and Islamic consciousness today.
Reviews:
‘A useful and important analysis adding much to existing western histories … worth recommending to George Bush.’ London Review of Books ‘Well-researched and highly readable.’ The Guardian ‘A wide readership should enjoy this vivid narrative of stirring events.’ The Bookseller ‘An inspiring story … Very readable … Well translated … Warmly recommended.’ The Times Literary Supplement ‘Very well done indeed … Should be put in the hands of anyone who asks what lies behind the Middle East’s present conflicts.’ Middle East International
About Author:
Amin Maalouf is a Lebanese writer and journalist. He is the author of bestselling books, including Leo Africanus, Samakand, On Identity and Ports of Call. He has lived in Paris since 1976. Continue reading
Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da‘wah and Guidance
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 22 | Size: 11 MB
A brief book on the two Holy Mosques in Saudi Arabia, the Holy Mosque in Makkah is the most revered place of worship for Muslims around the world. At the center of the Mosque is the Ka’aba, which literally means ‘cube’ in Arabic. All Muslims are required to face in the direction of the Ka’aba five times every day when offering their prayers. The Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah is the second most revered place of worship for Muslims around the world. Millions of Muslims visit the Mosque each year, to worship, to visit the Prophet’s grave, and to see the city that gave birth to Islam. Continue reading
Linguistic Miracle http://www.linguisticmiracle.com/
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 150 | Size: 2 MB
In the first section of this Book, there is introduction of Classical Arabic (a more in-depth version of the language in comparison to the Modern Fus-ha Standard, Spoken Arabic aka MSA). I will explain the literary tools of Classical Arabic, with examples, and later near the end of this section, I will share a few gems of Classical Arabic language, to give you a feel of how the Classical Arabs expressed themselves through Poetry, and what powerful literary tools they used to convey their message to an equally praiseworthy literary audience. The second section will focus on discussing the subtleties of the Qur’anic text and its beauties, and will further give tips for students of Qur’anic and Arabic language to have the ability themselves to extract beautiful gems from the Qur’an.
Introduction to the Arabic Language:
The Arabic language is a unique language, and has many special and unique features which make it suitable for it to convey; many meanings in few words, subtleties, emphasis and powerful imagery through speech alone. If God was to convey a message to mankind, it would be through a language which is easy to learn, and has the highest form of expressiveness. I believe that Arabic is that language by which He communicated His final Message to mankind, and I will try to prove it through this Book – Qur’an, the Linguistic Miracle.
In the first section of this Book, I will be introducing Classical Arabic (a more in-depth version of the language in comparison to the Modern Fus-ha Standard, Spoken Arabic aka MSA). I will explain the literary tools of Classical Arabic, with examples, and later near the end of this section, I will share a few gems of Classical Arabic language, to give you a feel of how the Classical Arabs expressed themselves through Poetry, and what powerful literary tools they used to convey their message to an equally praiseworthy literary audience.
What is the Arabic language?
Arabic is an ancient Semitic language, believed to be over 2000 years old. So it has had alot of time to develop, and enrich its meanings and linguistic beauty. Some say it – the language- has been inspired and preserved miraculously in its pure form. It has stayed firm and pure to its roots, meaning that words and their meanings which were said over 1,400 years ago are still preserved and documented for us uptill this day. Unlike many other languages where words change meanings every few generations, and the meaning of the original word is lost. An example in the English language today is the word ‘wicked’ which meant ‘evil’ last generation, but in this generation it means ‘good.’ It may be that 2 generations ahead, ‘wicked’ may only be recognized as meaning ‘good’, possibly making future readers of the language confused.
How is Arabic Structured?
Arabic works with a triliteral root system, which means that most words are made of 3 Root Consonant letters, and other 1 and 2 letter words with different meanings surrounding that word. It is then for the reader to use his knowledge of the language to separate and distinguish between the letters to understand which letter means what.
This will be explained later in the book, and is a fun part of learning the language. (Almost like connecting a jigsaw puzzle.)
How does Arabic language work?
Arabic 3 Consonant lettered words are usually ‘Descriptions’. These Descriptions will then fit into Contexts for Objects.
For example; the word ‘sayyaarah’ means ‘Car’. But in reality, it comes from the root meaning of the 3 Root Letters: Siin-Ya-Ra (s-y-r) = Meaning: ‘Travelling through Movement.’
We therefore see that other words like i.e. ‘he went for a walk’ (saara), or “siiyrah” (a walk through a journey), which have similar Root letters have similar meanings, simply due to their Root letters being the same. This makes it extremely easy to know what a word means in Arabic, because you might see a long difficult word, but you break it down to look at its root 3 letters – and voila! You know what root meaning and description is being hinted at. This allows you to visualize the picture being portrayed through the Arabic.
This root system is also found partially in other languages, but Arabic sustains this rule throughout its entire language consistently, which makes its richness even more exciting to explore.
What makes it even more exciting is that the Arabic language has one of the richest sets of Vocabularies in the world, probably more than any other language. (For example: the Arabs have over 1000 words just for describing the Camel, and over 60 different words for Love!) And the amazing bit is – every word has its own shade of meaning, so two words could be similar, but they both would have a slightly different implication in meaning. Continue reading
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Hijrah to Madinah: Perilous journey from Makkah to Madinah. Continue reading
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Preaching in Taif: Suffering at the hands of the people of Taif. Continue reading
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Hudaybiah: The Truce gave a period of Peace and respite. Continue reading
Ustadh Uthman Lateef
Who are the Ghurabah (Strangers)?
Amidst the current crisis in Syria, who are the Ghurabah?
How can we aid those who are suffering?
How can we become amongst the Ghurabah?
The Prophet SAW said “Islam began as something strange, and it will return as something strange the way it began. So Tooba for the Strangers”. Continue reading
Shiekh Ahmad Musa Jibril | http://ahmadjibril.com/
“Permission to fight is given to those (i.e. believers against those disbelievers), who are fighting them, (and) because they (believers) have been wronged, and surely Allah is Able to give them (believers) victory.” [(22): 39)] Continue reading
Dr. Ali Muhammad Sallaabee
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 1297 | Size: 33 MB
Succession to the Prophet…The murder of `Uthman and the quest for justice…The Battle of the Camel…Ahl al-Bayt…Caliphs and Imams…Moderation and extremism…
This book is far more than a biography, as it discusses major issues that have their origins in the early decades of Islam, the repercussions of which are still felt today. In this book, Dr. Sallabi guides the reader through a myriad of hadiths and reports, peeling away the centuries-old layer of fabrications and distortions through which hostile elements both in the Muslim world and beyond sought to conceal the truth. What emerges is a clear picture of the first great turmoil that engulfed the Muslim world and how the noble Companions of the Prophet and the members of his family worked together to resolve these momentous issues, following the guidance and teaching brought by the Messenger of Allah.
The true battle for hearts and minds is that which is raging in the Muslim world today, where many vested interests are seeking to distort the very self-image of the Muslims. It is high time for us to reclaim our history and to stop letting others tell it for us. This book is of great importance as it sets the record straight on a period of our history that is of major significance. Every Muslim who cares about the big issues faced by Islam and Muslims should read this book.
Dr. Ali M. Sallabi is famous for his detailed books of history and biography that bring the past to life for modern readers. Dr. Sallabi was born in Libya in 1383 H/1963 CE, and earned a bachelor’s degree at the Islamic University of Madinah, graduating first in his class. He completed his master’s and doctorate degrees at Omdurman Islamic University in Sudan. Continue reading
Abdullah Issa
The unanticipated assault of the Mongol Tatars on the Islamic Empire has been and will always be one of the worst and the most bloody of its kind ever to effect the Muslim Ummah in its history. The way Allah spared the religion of Islam through this extremely difficult time is incredible and nothing short of divine. It is truly a time in Islamic History every Muslim should know about and no Muslim should ever forget… Who were the Mongols? What did they do that was so horrific? Was it really that bad? How did Islam and the Muslims deal with it? Continue reading
Heba Dabbagh
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 260 | Size: 2 MB
Like the color wheel, the days of our lives feature different colors. Some days bring splashes of glorious white. Other days are stained with the darkest of hues.
My life began as bright and lively as a budding flower and the days of my childhood were filled with love from my beloved parents and feelings of belonging and warmth from my family. I flourished lifted by this love and goodness and grew to become my father’s favorite, my mother’s confidant and a princess among my seven brothers and four sisters, the one they went to for help. Most nights I went to bed thinking about my dreams, fell asleep trusting that my dreams would come true and awoke feeling safe and serene.
I took no part in any political activities. Although I loved my faith and spent much of my time studying it, that did not make me a political activist. My lack of affiliation with political organizations did not mean that I was blind to the injustice and cruelty of the government and its oppression of all factions of the Syrian population. When I became a hostage in the hands of the government, I saw first hand the evil that ruled my country. I shared cells and stories with people like me and others who came from a variety of different backgrounds and faiths, some from the sect of the ruling party itself.
I lived a happy, carefree life until I went to university and faced the difficulty of parting with my family. It pained us to part, but it was a parting of our choosing, a decision we arrived at together, unlike the forced parting that came later. That parting separated me from my family and landed me in the prisons of oppressors and in the depth of darkness. Then came a final parting, a permanent one. The oppressors killed my parents and eight of my brothers and sisters and forced my remaining three brothers to flee the country and live far away from home.
The picture I had created of my life blurred and darkened. The buds of all my hopes and dreams never bloomed. I sat in the depth of prisons, a hostage for my “politically active” brother, the years of my life slipping away, my heart breaking and my soul withering.
Everything that happened to me was based on informant lies. The government knew well that the allegations against me were baseless. They chose to ignore the truth. They did not want to waste the efforts of their paid informants and their mob of agents who screeched onto my street, ripping through the silence of the night to capture me. They did capture me and they dragged me from one prison to another for nine fruitless years, slamming every door of mercy and humanity shut in my face.
Nine years were long enough to kill every last one of my dreams and any hope I had in any human being. During those nine years, I had but one ray of light in my heart, my hope in God. No matter how much that hope dimmed, it never died. My hope in God knew no limits, although pains did obscure it for short periods of time. My pleas to God were my only comfort. They saved me.
When people slept and the whips retired, I prayed to God. Oh God, the only one who can, when nightly despair overcomes us, shine upon us from His light and ease our sorrows; God, who when tragedy befalls us, can bring relief; God, who when all roads for help are blocked, can send ships of rescue through means unbeknown to the oppressors; God, who in Him is safety and comfort and stability and under his protection we find peace. I prayed to God to grant me the patience to bear any test that he gives me. I prayed to Him, to conform my will to His and to fill my heart with acceptance for the path He chooses for me. I prayed to God to assist me in His praise during times of ease and strain. Oh God, in patience we grow and in your praise and acknowledgement of your blessings we rid ourselves of selfishness and pride. In hardship we find virtue. Grant us good character and peaceful hearts. Your power encompasses everything.
The Kind and the Almighty bestowed upon me invaluable blessings. He grounded me, protected me and sent to me from amidst the blur of sticks and whips that which eased my pains and sorrows. He gifted me with my cellmate and soul mate, Majida. Majida always found more patience and peace than I could muster and was always more ready to give and sacrifice.
God showered his mercy upon us both in the form of our other cellmates, a group of women with many virtues. We will never forget their goodness, their love and their open arms. We were partners in our imprisonment, our worries and our suffering. I would like to thank them here and ask God to grant all of us his forgiveness and his blessings. I would also like to ask for their forgiveness and pardon if I mentioned anything in this book that may hurt them in any way. But the duty I feel to speak out against the oppression of the Syrian regime overpowers my worries of the consequences of doing so. I feel entrusted with the task of documenting these events. As painful as it is to bring the past to light, it seems easy in comparison to keeping the secrets of the oppressors and allowing all of our suffering to be in vain.
I lived in the hell of Syrian prisons for nine years, a hostage. The pen would tire before I could describe every detail of what took place and every pain I felt while I was imprisoned by this evil regime. But I lived through it all and in the end I can say that the days of our lives come in black and white and every shade in between. Some days are easy; others are hard. Some days pass with ease; others with friction. But all of our days are products of a predetermined destiny.
While the ruling dictators thought that they held the reins over the land and people, it was, and still is, God’s will that holds ultimate power and final say. Today the rulers of our lands use their power to oppress. Tomorrow they will stand with the rest of us in the hands of the Ultimate and Just Ruler.
Although my unjust imprisonment and the loss of nine years of my life pain me, today I live in the midst of God’s bounties. God’s kindness has healed my wounds and replaced anxiety with peace and deprivation with blessings. I feel these blessings in my beloved husband who planted hope in the hearts of the deprived and kept his promises. My husband is a light and hope that shines in my soul and makes up for all I lost. I also feel these blessings in our lovely daughter Wafa, who introduced new happiness to our lives, and in our other two children Jabir and Sarah. Jabir and Sarah’s mother, Hanan, left her children in our care for she had taken under her care the fight for justice and honor. Although she is gone, her life remains a shining example for the rest of us.
I feel now, as I felt before, that thffe end of my story has not come. The chapter of accountability is yet to come. The oppressors who rule the land today will stand in the hands of God in this final chapter. I put my trust in God and there I find comfort. Continue reading
Dr. Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabee
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 773 | Size: 19 MB
From the day he embraced Islam until the day he died, Abu Bakr As-Siddique أبو بكر الصديق (Radhi Allahu Anhu – May Allah be Pleased with Him) was the ideal Muslim, surpassing all other Companions in every sphere of life. During the Prophet’s lifetime, Abu Bakr was an exemplary soldier on the battlefield; upon the Prophet’s death, Abu Bakr (R) remained steadfast and, through the help of Allah, held this nation together. When others suggested keeping Usaamah’s army back, Abu Bakr insisted – and correctly so – that the army should continue the mission which the Prophet (S) had in mind. When people refused to pay Zakaat, and when the apostates threatened the stability of the Muslim nation, Abu Bakr was the one who remained firm and took decisive action against them. These are just some of the examples of Abu Bakr’s many wonderful achievements throughout his life. I have endeavored to describe all of the above in a clear and organized manner. But more so than anything else, I have tried to show how Abu Bakr’s methodology as a Muslim and as a ruler helped establish the foundations of a strong, stable, and prosperous country – one that began in Al-Madeenah, extended throughout the Arabian Peninsula, and then reached far-off lands outside of Arabia.
Throughout the brief period of his caliphate (about 2 years), Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (R) faced both internal and external challenges; the former mainly involved quelling the apostate factions of Arabia and establishing justice and peace among the citizens of the Muslim nation; and the latter mainly involved expanding the borders of the Muslim nation by spreading the message of Islam to foreign nations and conquering those nations that stood in the way of the propagation of Islam.
During the era of his caliphate, Khalifah Abu Bakr As Siddeeq (R) sent out armies that achieved important conquests; for example, under the command of Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed (R) the Muslim army gained an important victory in Iraq. And the Muslim army achieved other important victories under the commands of Al-Muthannah ibn Haarithah (R) and Al-Qa’qaa ibn ‘Amr (R). In short, the victories achieved during the era of Abu Bakr’s Caliphate paved the way for victories that later took place after Abu Bakr’s death. I have tried to analyze the above-mentioned conquests and to break down the reasons why they were such monumental successes. I particularly pointed out Abu Bakr’s contributions to those conquests: His military strategy, the leaders he chose, the letters through which he communicated with them, and so on.
Dr. Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabee is famous for his detailed books of history and biography that bring the past to life for modern readers. Dr. Sallabi was born in Libya in 1383 H/1963 CE, and earned a bachelor’s degree at the Islamic University of Madinah, graduating first in his class. He completed his master’s and doctorate degrees at Omdurman Islamic University in Sudan. Continue reading
Sheikh Abu Adnan
“The city of the Muslims on the day of the Great War (al-Malhamah) is in a fertile oasis next to a city called Damascus, and it is from the best cities of Sham.”
“Go to Sham, for it is the chosen land of Allah’s lands, and it is the destination of His chosen servants.”
“Glad tidings for Sham, glad tidings for Sham, glad tidings for Sham.” The Companions asked: “And why is that, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “O glad tidings for Sham. The Angels of Allah spread their wings over Sham.”
“If the people of Sham become corrupt, there is no good in you. There will always be a victorious group of my Ummah. They will not be harmed by those who betray them until the Hour is established.” And in one narration: “And they are in Sham.” Continue reading
Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 154 | Size: 3 MB
There is a growing sense of concern today among consumers, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, about the healthfulness of what they eat. Health food stores have gained a prominent status in the US, and many consumers review every last ingredient listed in a food item’s nutritional facts list to ensure that they meet their dietary standards. Muslims must be even more conscientious of what they consume, as a Muslim’s diet must, above all, be lawful (halal) under Islamic law, as well as wholesome (tayyib). The Qur’an states, “O people, eat from whatever is upon the earth that is lawful and wholesome” (2:168).
Of all types of food, one that has become the cause of controversy among Muslims the world over is slaughtered meat. Muslim sources without the guidance of scholars have spread inaccurate information about Islam’s rules and regulations for animal slaughter, leaving Muslims confused about the facts. Authored by a Muslim scholar recognized worldwide for his mastery of Islamic jurisprudence, The Islamic Laws of Animal Slaughter clears up the confusion. The author presents a brief, structured analysis of Islam’s laws for animal slaughter, as well an overview of their practical application in the modern world. A couple of articles, appended specially for this translation, round off the discussion by addressing matters particularly relevant to Muslims in the US and other Western nations.
“An engaging, enlightening, and intellectually thought-provoking work that reassures Muslims that it is still possible to consume Halal and pure sustenance in this extremely complex world.” —Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC), UK. Continue reading
Sheikh Zahir Mahmood
A few people stand in the face of tyranny with endurance when they believe in the true and eternal message of Islam. This book sheds light on the life and struggle of the greatest example of endurance. Bilal bin Rabah whom Islam changed from a weak slave to a great hero, stood firm in the face of oppression and hence taught generations to come how a Muslim should act when his Faith is challenged. He was the only Mu’adhdhin (caller to prayer) during the lifetime of the Prophet*. His emblem all his life was `Allah is One, Allah is One.’
This erudite scholar was born in England and has gained licenses to teach (ijaazas) in many Islamic sciences including Qur’an, Jurisprudence (Fiqh) and Traditions (Hadith) of The Prophet (SAW) from various Shyukh.
Following the completion of his secular studies at the age of 16, he enrolled at Dar al-Uloom al-Arabiyya al-Islamiyya, Bury (a satellite college to al- Azhar University), where he initiated his studies of the Alimiya course. Thereafter, he studied 3 years in the presitigious seat of learning al-Jamia al- Islamiyya Karachi, Pakistan. Continue reading
Mohammad Bayazeed Khan Panni
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 150 | Size: 1 MB
Over the last thousand and four hundred years, the coming of the one-eyed giant, the Dajjal, has remained the topic of numerous discussions and debates in Moslem households all over the world. However, the actual understanding of this enigmatic phenomenon remains as elusive to us as it was to the Companions of the Messenger of Allah so many centuries ago. It all began when Mohammad (s.a.s), the final and the greatest Messenger of Allah, told about the arrival of a giant on earth during the later time (Akheri Zamana), an event he has referred to as the greatest ever in the life of mankind.
To give his people, his ‘Ummah’, both of his time and of the future, a better idea and understanding of this fearsome entity, he has described in great detail what it, the Dajjal, would look like, its activities in this world, what tremendous power it would yield over the world and the destiny of Man and he talked of its demand to be accepted as the lord or ‘rub’ of mankind. He has called this character the ‘Dajjal’, an Arabic word used to describe something or someone deceptive, something very attractive to look at, but is actually despicable a dazzling impostor. The Messenger of Allah has also said that this giant would have sight in one eye only, the other would be blind. Common sense tells us, it can be no living being, for its vehicle is to have one foot in the east and the other in the west, see and hear what is said in a whisper on the other side of the world, and so forth. Among the thousands of ‘Hadis’ or Hadis s attributed to the Messenger of Allah, those concerning the Dajjal occupy a position of great import and significance, deemed as it has been as the gravest danger to ever face mankind. The Hadis regarding the Dajjal are as thought provoking as they are frightening since they speak of a giant that will see with only one eye yet have the power to bring the whole world under its control and in so doing lead a great number of people astray. In one such Hadis, the Messenger of Allah has stated ‘From the Creation of Adam to the Judgment Day, there is no other event as grave and alarming the as the Dajjal.’1 He goes on to state that- ‘There has been no Messenger from the time of Noah (a.s.) who has not warned his followers about the Dajjal.’ 2 And to further stress on its importance, and as an after thought the Messenger of Allah himself sought refuge with Allah from the malaise of the Dajjal.3
So how concerned are we about the colossal import of a situation the Messenger has deemed as the gravest occurrence from the beginning to the end of time, about something all Messengers from the time of Noah (a.s.) have warned their followers about, regarding a matter our Messenger himself sought refuge from? It goes without saying that far from being concerned about it, we are yet to realize that the Dajjal’s birth took place 472 years ago, and having passed its infancy and childhood it is now an adult that has the entire world including its ‘Moslem’ population laying prostrate at its feet!
The reason for this ignorance remains the fact that during the last few centuries we were colonized by the European Christian forces, the method of education they imposed on us has been one that has taken us far away from the true faith of Eslam. The result of which has been that this nation can accurately recall how long it took Hannibal to cross the Alps with his army or recite without mistake from Shakespeare, but is totally in the dark as regards to what the Messenger of Allah has stressed to be the most important event in the history of this world. The small portion of this populace which is actively involved in the study of the Qur’an and the Hadis too have neglected it to oblivion. With their shortsighted and narrow vision, these people are waiting for the literal transformation of the Messenger’s prophecy where he informs of the emergence of a huge one-eyed giant astride a colossal mount and of its tyrannical rule. They have accepted these Hadis in their literal aspect only, neither spending their time nor their effort in trying to see beyond the mere words, to try and gauge why this should be the single most grave, influential and frightening event throughout the world’s history. These people devote far more time on details regarding wadu (ablution), meswak (cleaning teeth), kuluk (using sponge) and other trivial issues than they think about the Dajjal or its significance!
Like others, I too was waiting for a huge one-eyed giant and to hear its proclamation to be the lord and ruler of mankind!
However, the first time I realized that it would not be the case was when I read Muhammad Assad’s book “Road to Mecca”. Muhammad Assad was born as Leopold Weiss into an Austrian Jewish family and converted to Din-ul-Eslam in his youth. It is in this beautiful writing that he first hinted at the idea of the Western civilization being the Dajjal prophesied fourteen centuries ago by the last Messenger of Allah. However he has not elaborated on this issue. It was in the late 50′s or early 60′s that I read this book and from then onwards, the more I thought about it, the clearer it has become to me that his idea is indeed correct. For the Messenger of Allah to give the mostly illiterate Arabs of fourteen hundred years ago a correct and comprehensive picture of a civilization based on today’s technological advancement was next to impossible. Therefore, he did so through a series of allegorical references which exactly match the description of the western civilization of our time.
Everything we know about the Dajjal is derived from the Messenger’s ‘Hadis’ or tradition i.e. words or actions of the Messenger himself, also action of others, he approved or disapproved of. As we all know, Hadis are classified into several groups, among which three are prominent, namely the ‘sahih’ or correct; ‘hassan’ which are also true but not as accurately related as the former and thirdly ‘daif’ or weak, poor Hadis s, some of which are nevertheless accepted when corroborated. Besides these, there are also ‘gharib’, ‘munkar’, ‘maruf’ etc. divisions. During the rigorous process of collecting and verifying true Hadis, many false statements earlier deemed as correct Hadis have been rejected, while some of the true ones have also been omitted due to the fact that they could not be unbrokenly traced back to the Messenger of Allah himself. In order to get a complete and comprehensive idea about any subject broached in the Hadis, it is necessary to study all Hadis regarding it, notwithstanding the fact whether they are accepted without any doubt or rejected outright. Similar has been my method in collecting all relevant data about the Dajjal; however the ones quoted here are almost all Sahih or correct Hadis and those remained the basic platform of this research.
I have categorized all Hadis regarding the Dajjal into two groups. One part containing predictions related to its importance and gravity, the other concerning its identification. From the first group of the Hadis we are able to derive why the emergence of Dajjal occupies a more important stance than the deluge of Nooh’s (a.s.) (Noah) time and why it is graver than the world wars. In the second group of Hadis the Messenger of Allah has related to us some definite signs through which we should be able to correctly identify the Dajjal as what it is and thus resist and reject the influence of the Dajjal. The almost complete lack of education and the total absence of technology could have prevented the people of the then Arabia in understanding the concept of the Dajjal, however, today, when almost every one of the allegories used to describe the Dajjal by the Messenger have been reflected in the mirror of the western society, how close are we in correctly interpreting and identifying it as the self-same “Masih-al-kazzab,” the Dajjal? Unfortunately far from resisting or rejecting it, we, the so- called Moslems of this world, have it in front of our very eyes and yet are not only unable to recognize it for its true self, but have accepted it as our lord, master and have submitted to it.
Let us start with the name, with which the Messenger has introduced us to it, the Dajjal- which is not actually a name, in the sense that it is more of a description than a proper name; like that of Emam Mahdi (a.s) who will have a separate personal name but is known to us as Al-Mahdi or ‘the rightly guided one’ who will appear in the later times to guide mankind to true Guidance, the right path. Similarly, the Dajjal is not a name in the proper sense as an adjective. The literal meaning of the word “Dajjal” is that of an attractive impostor, beautiful outside but dark and ugly inside, a cheat a deceiver and a liar. Is not this statement true of the technologically advanced western civilization which dazzles the beholder with fantastic achievements on the one hand yet due to its absolute detachment from God in their collective lives, society is rife with injustices, crimes and sins of every kind? This ‘civilization’ has been responsible for the deaths of 14 million human lives in course of the two world wars and another 20 million people in different wars and skirmishes ever since. The number of people disabled from these would be at least double of the dead; countless more have been displaced and rendered homeless. It does not end there- injustices and cruelty on a personal and collective level, murders, thefts, rapes, kidnappings go on unabated and it is for these that the western civilization is the dazzling, attractive impostor. Continue reading
Sheikh Muhammad Saleh al-Munajjid
It is incumbent to adhere to the understanding of the Salaf, because this way has at its beginning the pious gathering of the Sahabah who took the religion directly from the Messenger of Allah. They were the best of those who understood the teachings and adhered to them in a way that gained the Pleasure of Allah – the Most Gracious.
“And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajirun and the Ansar and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him.” [Soorah At-Tawbah: 100]
The belief of the Sahabah is an example for us to follow, as Allah says in the Qur’an: “So if they believe in the like of that which you believe, they are rightly guided, but if they turn away, then they are only in opposition.” [2:137]
Furthermore, the Qur’aan exhorts us to follow the way of the believers, which is a reference to the way of the Sahabah.
“And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the way of the believers. We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell – what an evil destination.” [Soorah An-Nisaa: 115] Continue reading
Muhammad Mustafa al-Azami
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 398 | Size: 10 MB
The History of the Qur’anic Text from Revelation to Compilation : A Comparative Study with the Old and New Testaments
The Qur’an reigns supreme in Muslim hearts as the most sacred of texts: a profusion of exalted ideas to rouse the mind, noble histories to stir the soul, universal truths to awaken the conscience and precise injunctions directing humanity to its own deliverance, all distilled into the melodious essence that is the Word of Allah. Through fourteen centuries Muslims have persevered in championing the text against corruption, memorising its every word and contemplating its every phrase, so that in our own times untold millions have enthusiastially committed each letter to heart.
Beginning with a catalogue of ancient and contemporary attacks on the Qur’an, this expansive book provides unique insights into the holy text’s immaculate preservation throughout its history, as well as exploring many of the accusations levelled against it. The reception of divine revelations, Prophet Muhammad’s role in teaching and disseminating these verses, the text’s compilation under his guidance and the setting of its final external shape shortly after his death, are meticulously and scientifically examinded alongside such topics as the origins of Arabic, its palaeography and orthography, the so-called Mushaf of Ibn Mas’ud, and the strict methodology employed in assembling textual fragments.
By way of comparison the author investigates the histories of the Old and New Testaments, relying entirely on Judaeo-Christian sources including the Dead Sea Scrolls and uncovers a startling range of alterations that touch almost every fact of the Biblical Scriptures. Using this as a springboard for assessing Western theories regarding the Qur’an, he makes a sophisticated yet passionate case for questioning the aims of Western scholarship in continuously undermining Islam’s holy book, and illustrates convincingly that such research, motivated by more than mere curiousity, has no scientific bearing on the Qur’an’s integrity.
This monumental effort, a scholarly work composed in an impassioned tone, provides a welcome foundation for sincere study at a time when assailing the Qur’an has become all too common. Continue reading
Andy Worthington
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 350 | Size: 13 MB
On 11 January 2002, exactly four months after the terrible events of 9/11, the first of 774 prisoners arrived at a specially constructed prison on a US naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Until recently, it was impossible to tell the stories of these men. Held without charge, without trial, without access to their families, and, initially, without access to lawyers, they are part of a peculiarly lawless experiment conducted by the US administration, which has chosen to disregard both the Geneva Conventions and the established rules of war, holding the men not as criminals or as Prisoners of War, but as “illegal enemy combatants,” a category of prisoner which is itself illegal.
For four years, those in overall charge of Guantánamo – George W Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld – maintained such a strict veil of secrecy that they refused even to reveal the names of the prisoners, and it was not possible to provide a comprehensive overview of the prisoners and their stories until spring 2006, when, in response to a Freedom of Information lawsuit, the Pentagon was forced to reveal the names and nationalities of all the prisoners held in Guantánamo, as well as 7,000 pages of transcripts of tribunals convened to assess their status as “enemy combatants.”
The tribunal process was, like everything else at Guantánamo, both illegal and deeply flawed. The prisoners were not allowed legal representation, and were prevented from seeing the classified evidence against them, which often consisted of allegations based on hearsay or torture, but they were at least allowed to tell their own stories, which were otherwise completely unknown. Through a detailed study of these documents, as well as discussions with lawyers representing the prisoners, and an analysis of press reports, interviews with released prisoners and other reports compiled by human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, I have been able to put together the first detailed history of Guantánamo and its prisoners.
Beginning with the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001, The Guantánamo Files explains, in detail, the genesis of the prison, its counterparts in Afghanistan, its development from 2002 to the present day, its role as a prison devoted to interrogation and torture, the legal challenges that have been launched against the administration, and the network of secret prisons that underpins Guantánamo’s brutal illegality. More importantly, The Guantánamo Files allows the prisoners to tell their own stories, explaining who they are and the circumstances of their capture. In contrast to the administration’s claims that they are the “worst of the worst,” what the stories reveal most of all is that very few of them had anything to do with al-Qaeda, and the vast majority were either Taliban foot soldiers, recruited to fight an inter-Muslim civil war in Afghanistan that began long before 9/11, or humanitarian aid workers, religious teachers and economic migrants, who were, for the most part, sold to the Americans by their allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Bringing these stories to life for the first time, The Guantánamo Files vividly demonstrates the human cost of the administration’s ill-conceived and violently executed “War on Terror.” Continue reading
Salih Al-Husayyin
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 69 | Size: 1 MB
Thirty hours had not passed since the shocking, unlawful events of September 11, 2001, before television screens across the United States and the world were saturated with the images of two ‘pilots’ – two young men from Saudi Arabia, Amir Bukhari and Adnan Bukhari. These images, repeatedly flashed in the global media, suggested the American authorities had discovered the identities of two of the pilots, both Saudi nationals, who had crashed their respective aircraft into the World Trade Centre towers in New York, as well as the Pentagon in Washington. When it subsequently came to light that Adnan Bukhari was in fact alive and well, and that his brother Amir Bukhari had actually died in the United States a year prior to the attacks, few learned the truth. Fewer people still knew that at as the image of Adnan Bukhari were flashing across the screen, he was in the custody of American intelligence services and incapable of defending himself until long after the presumption of guilt was firmly established.
Shortly after 9/11, the world also came to ‘know’ that American authorities had identified the hijackers – nineteen Muslims, eleven of whom were Saudi nationals. Thereafter, their full identities were revealed, alongside their photographs, in the media and posted on the walls of all international airports. However, many of these suspects managed to rebut these reports by contacting newspapers and announcing that they were still very much alive. Within ten days, it emerged that at least eight of the suspected identified as participants in the attacks were actually still alive!
The passport of a ninth suspect was presented by the American administration as proof that a Saudi national had been amongst the hijackers. This despite the fact that it was highly unlikely for a passerby to discover an intact, unblemished passport in the debris of an incinerated aircraft several days after it crashed. As this official account gradually faded, the mystery of how this sole passport of a missing passenger, who was Muslim and a Saudi national, reached the American authorities remains an enigma.
Nevertheless, the walls of international airports in the U.S. continued to be decorated with the photographs of these “living dead” for a remarkable length of time. The news media remained silent, despite its responsibility for propagating misinformation about these individuals. The media was fully capable of rectifying these errors, though that may have led to questions about the American administration’s ability to handle the incident.
Less than a month after 9/11, letters laced with artificially synthesized anthrax germs, featuring the message ‘Death to Israel! Death to America! Allah is the Greatest!’, were sent to members of Congress and journalists. Thereafter, American politicians and journalists professed that terrorists had the ability to manufacture biological weapons, and had begun to use them. Fear entered into every home in North America, relevant vaccines ran short, and the postal system was altered.
However, an expert on biological weapons, Barbara Rosenberg, would not be the first to discover that the powder enclosed in the envelopes was actually a product of an American military laboratory. This was a fact the American administration of George W. Bush knew full well from the time that the letters first surfaced.
So what was the motive behind the Bush Administration deluding the world into believing that it was Saudi pilots who had been responsible for this crime while it knew the truth? What was the motive behind the American administration hoodwinking the world into believing that it was eight or more Saudis that were responsible for this crime when, in fact, they were still alive? The American administration did not revise their initial official account about the 9/11 tragedy event even after certain facts later came to light. If their account was based on factual evidence, why was false evidence needed to support it?
The reputations of the 9/11 “living dead” were tarnished internationally in a manner unprecedented in history. The presence of the definitive evidence mentioned above establishes various aspects of governmental liability, enough for any fair minded judge to order compensation or damages to the accused. So why wasn’t the conscience of a single American stirred enough to remedy the harm caused by this injustice by, at the very least, apologising?
Is it because the honour of a Muslim is not respected on the same level as other human beings? Or is it because an apology would have drawn attention to the reality behind the whole sordid affair? Moreover, why did the Bush Administration leave the American public in a state of panic and terror for a more than a month, and not disclose to them the reality it knew from day one? They, in fact, continued to embellish facts so every American citizen came to believe they were at risk of an impending act of ‘Islamic biological terrorism.’
In a democratic country, is it not strange that not a single citizen out of 300 million questioned the government regarding the potential harm they faced due to their leaders penchant for suppressing the truth? Is not an examination of this depressing public response regarding these facts enough to show us how, at the end of time, people will believe in the anti-Christ and concur with him without the benefit of an accurate assessment revealing the truth?
I had initially embarked on this work in the wake of a report that was issued by the U.S. State Department on International Religious Freedom for the year 2005. Later, certain additions were included and, as the reader will see, the initial input of the author and his specific opinions has largely disappeared.
I have limited myself to citing specific, documented facts. It is hoped that this will help the reader assess the credibility of the State Department’s religious freedom reports, and that readers might find answers to other questions periodically raised in examining similar reports. Continue reading
Prof. Mohammed Al-Bishr
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 149 | Size: 1 MB
Recent reports in the Western media and political and humanitarian organizations can be classified into four major categories:
1- Religious police, Wahhabism and allegations of religious extremism.
2- The situation of Christians in Saudi Arabia and how the religious police is dealing with them.
3- Alleged violent and cruel behavior of the religious police.
4- The status of Saudi women and how the religious police deal with them.
These are the four issues often referred to by the Western media, particularly American, the reports of the US State Department, Human Rights Watch, the press reports released by the United Nations and American research institutes concerned with Middle East studies and others.
It is not our concern in this book to dwell on everything that has been written on the Saudi religious police or try the magnitude of the subject. What we can do, however, is to pick out the general viewpoints and major trends which represent the main ingredients of this mental picture about the Saudi religious police; a picture which has been distorted by those press releases and reports. Before discussing these three categories, we would like to emphasize the following points:
1- Much of what has been written about the religious police represents only a unilateral point of view. Such representation is often devoid of truth, either because credible information on any reported adverse incident is lacking or because the person reporting the incident is ignorant of the nature of Saudi society, its values, culture and the systems prevalent in it.
2- Some of what has been written on the religious police concerned only individual cases in which Saudis or non-Saudis (Muslims or non-Muslims) may have been involved, but were made to appear representative of the entire Saudi society. We would like to cite here those cases in particular in which non-Muslim residents in Saudi Arabia were involved in breaking the law and were caught red-handed by the religious police. Those individuals later instigated the sources mentioned earlier to malign the religious police and, in the process, protect their own selves.
3- We notice that when these Western sources talk about the religious police in Saudi Arabia, they concentrate on only one aspect of the case discussed (such as, for example, apprehending an individual for a moral violation). The discussion, however, fails to mention the religious, cultural and legal considerations that had led to the apprehension. Consequently, several important aspects of the case were misconstrued and a major party to the case – the religious police – had been ignored. We can therefore claim that, in such cases, these sources are guilty of a deliberate misrepresentation of facts to meet the malicious ends of vested interests.
4- We have not come across a single piece of news, or a single political or humanitarian report in all the Western sources that mentions the positive impact of the religious police on Saudi society. This is a clear indication of the injustice and prejudice against a religious organization that is genuinely concerned with reform and with preserving and safeguarding moral values in Saudi society.
5- What is being written on the religious police in Saudi Arabia derives from a purely Western cultural approach to the concept of religion, life, behavior and morals. Such an approach, inevitably, clashes with the culture of other societies. The political, religious and cultural standards by which these Western sources judge the actions of the religious police in Saudi Arabia are, thus, wrong and unacceptable.
These five points are conclusions based on observing and following all that has been published on the religious police by Western sources, particularly the print media in the United States. These conclusions are the result of an in-depth reading of the topics discussed or the cases argued concerning the functions and duties of the religious police in Saudi Arabia. Continue reading
Prof. Abdullah Al-Turaiqi
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 115 | Size: 1 MB
More than 1400 years have passed since the revelation of Islam, during which it has established a magnificent civilization that for many years brought happiness to mankind.
For a number of reasons however, this civilization has seemingly dwindled. Some seem to think it has perished, died, and become a never to be repeated relic of history; they consider the natural alternative and successor to this to be Western civilization, with its materialist global ideology. However, this is a fallacy as the fact remains that Islam has maintained all its pillars and therefore remains, theoretically, robust and dynamic enough to contend with and relate to reality.
The Saudi state, established in the mid 12th Hijri century and continuing till the present day, is an extant proof of this. This state has maintained its pillars and principles whilst concurrently deploying all measures and processes relevant to contemporary civilization.
We present this model to the reader not as a nostalgic link to history, but rather because its origins and principles stem from the timeless Islamic shari’ah, whose relevance never depletes. As Leopold Weiss (Muhammad Asad (d. 1992)), said: “The rules of this shari’ah were formulated in a way that no rule would contradict with the original nature of man and the significant requirements of human community at all places and times.”
It is a model that is built upon this classic and enduring system and which adds to that a unique variety of contemporary modernity that influences and interacts with reality and benefits from all that is modern, positive and beneficial, without adopting westernization or integration with the other.
It is a model that exerts all efforts in realizing Islam and reviving its principles and civilization without claiming perfection or infallibility.
Sufficient proof for the rectitude and suitability of this model is the fact that it is a beacon of light in an era of diversity and challenge replete with secularism, atheism and materialist conflict.
Despite the practicality and applicability of Islam, it is true that there will always be shortcomings between its theory and application. This is such because man is, by his very nature, erroneous and has limited capabilities, even if he combined his efforts. Notwithstanding this, we present the Islamic system as that which is the finest and most suitable.
We hope that the reader would join us, with objectivity and sincerity, in searching for the truth and reality, wherever and whatever it is, and regardless of whether it has an increasing number of opponents or competing viewpoints. Such a search, we wish, would be an optimistic one and not a pessimistic one that prejudges the Islamic civilization as one of aggression and evil, as portrayed by Samuel Huntington in his book The Clash of Civilizations.
The fact that the Islamic governmental model, like other models, has substance and profile, is best demonstrated when we present it, as we are doing in this work, in comparison and contrast to comparative jurisprudence. The substance is the bases, principles, values and legislation upon which the system stands, which are found within the pages of this study, and which remain constant despite the ever changing condition of people and their customs.
The profile consists of the patterns, mechanisms and means of which the system consists of, such as: relations between authorities, administrative practices, shoura (consultation) and so forth, and these are subject to change, according to welfare and situation.
We hope, dear reader, that this brief study about the system of governance in Islam and its modern application in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will be of interest to you. Continue reading
Shaykh Zainuddin Makhdum
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 143 | Size: 18 MB
Tuhfat Al Muahidin Fi Ba’d akhbar al Burtughaliyyin – Tribute to the Holy Worriors in respect of a brief account of the Portuguese.
First written in Arabic in the late sixteenth century, Tuhfat al-Mujahidin is a pioneering historical work dealing with the struggles of the Malabar Muslims in southern India against the Portuguese colonisers’ encroachment in India, and the rise of Malabar as a medieval naval force under the Zamorin of Calicut. Based on the author’s own first hand information of events and what he could gather from reliable sources, it was written to motivate Muslims for the struggle against the invading Portuguese. Thus the republication of this anti-colonial manifesto could not have been more timely at a time when Muslims continue to be the only obstacle to the Western imperialistic ambitions. This translation of the Tuhfat is extensively annotated with more than 200 notes explaining local backgrounds and clearly identifying the names mentioned in the original Arabic work. The Tuhfat is compulsory reading for anybody trying to learn about post-Cordova episodes of Muslim history.
Its author, the sixteenth century’s Shaikh Zainuddin Makhdum was from the renowned Makhdum family from the town of Ponnani in Malabar, northern Kerala. He rose to become a leading Islamic scholar, spending ten years studying in Mecca, where he also joined the Qadri order of Sufism. On his return to his native Malabar, he spent almost four decades teaching at the central mosque in Ponnani, then a major centre for Islamic studies in southern India. He also served as the envoy of the Zamorins, the Hindu rulers of Calicut, to Egypt and Turkey. Continue reading
Abdullah Hakim Quick
The lecture discusses the real state of the Muslim and their need to step out of the illusion which we are faced with in the 21 century. Abdul Hakim Quick also discusses who are the true Awliya’ of Allah and adds some touching history of how Muslims lived throughout history and what they sacrificed to hold on their religion.
Shaykh Abdullah Hakim Quick Ph.D. has travelled to more than 34 countries on lecture and educational tours. He embraced Islam in 1970 and thereafter pursued his studies at the Islamic University of Madinah, where he completed a BA from the College of Da’wah and Usul al-Din. He later read for his Masters degree and completed his PhD on the History of Islam in Africa at the University of Toronto, Canada. The focus of his thesis was the life of the great mujaddid of the 18th century, Shaykh Uthman Ibn Fudi (Usman dan Fodio), the Amir of the Sokoto Caliphate. Shaykh Ibn Fudi succeeded in combining the best of fiqh, theology and spirituality, and successfully developed an Islamic State.Shaykh Abdullah Hakim has served as Imam, teacher and counselor in the USA, Canada and the West Indies. For three years he contributed to the religious page of Canada’s leading newspaper. He is presently a Senior Lecturer at the Dar-ul-Arqam Islamic Institute and Director of the Da’wah Department of the Muslim Judicial Council, Cape Town, South Africa.As the new millennium dawns, Islam is in need of innovative rethinking based on original, authentic Islamic sources. Shaykh Abdullah Hakim provides an example of this new, progressive Islamic thinking. Continue reading
Abu Adnan
Abu Adnan discusses the shariah perspective of protesting and its evidences, the current situation in Egypt, the tyranny of the current regime, naseeha and advice to the scholars of Egypt and ways to move forward.
Sheikh Abu Adnan is currently the Amir of the Global Islamic Youth Centre in Sydney, Australia. He is heavily involved in presenting informative lectures on a regular basis to a variety of audiences, delivering Juma’ah Khutbah, assisting and training potential Islamic speakers as well as playing a lead role within the Sydney Muslim community. Sheikh Abu Adnan also helped set up the Islamic College of Australia and currently holds the position of Deputy Principal at the college. He teaches many authentic Islamic courses concerning Fiqh, Tafseer, Seerah, Aqeedah, Hadeeth and Quranic Sciences, all of which require students to graduate with certified documentation. Continue reading
Umar S. al-Ashqar
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 358 | Size: 8.5 MB
Is it true that mankind today has reached such a level of progress that they have no need of the Messengers and their teachings? Are humans capable today of guiding themselves without referring to the methods set out by the Messengers?
The answer is No. Mankind needs to know the Messenger, and the Message he conveyed. They have to believe in what he said and obey him. The only way to achieve happiness and success in this world and in the Hereafter is to follow the Messenger. By following the Messenger, man will become aware of the details of good and evil, and Allah will be pleased with him. His guidance comprises good deeds, good speech, and good morals. His speech and conduct are the criteria against which all actions are measured. Without a Messenger’s guidance, man is like a fish out of water. When man abandons this guidance, then his heart is spoiled.
Since man’s happiness in this world and in the Hereafter is linked to the guidance of the Prophet, one should know well the prophet’s teachings and biography in order to join his true and successful followers.
This comprehensive work which is full of clear proofs and evidences from the pure teachings of Islam, is an essential reading for all Muslims and seekers of truth. Continue reading
Ghainaa Publications
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 72 | Size: 1 MB
Despite the huge number of foreigners who come to Saudi Arabia every year, many were overwhelmed by the developments in the different spheres and they rarely try to examine or understand customs, traditions and the cultural and social aspects of the Saudi society or other aspects that form the identity of this society. Thus foreigners are unable to portray the real image of Saudi Arabia to the outside world. Even Saudis themselves are unable to convey an accurate portrait of the country, due to the paucity of knowledge to enable them to fulfill this role.
Emanating from a full conviction of the importance of knowledge in intermingling and communication between nations and people and due to the keenness of portraying the true image of our country to others, we have come up with the idea of this book “Saudi Arabia in 100 Questions.” The book aims at presenting a simple, comprehensive and objective picture of the various aspects of life in Saudi Arabia. We have been keen to simplify these answers to cover political, economic, cultural and social aspects and have it reach the reader without boring elaboration or inconsistent abridgement.
Some numbers of Questions:
- Is Wahabism an Islamic doctrine or a reform call?
Wahabism is not an Islamic or political doctrine as some may think. It is a reform call initiated by the late sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab, a Muslim scholar whose efforts were to purify Islam from the deviations that had crept into the practices of some of its adherents. What is known in the Western media as “wahabism” is a latterly-created name that does not express the reality of this reformatory call. This call is not an Islamic or political doctrine as some believe. It is a call that demonstrates Islam’s stand vis-à-vis some violations committed by some Muslims. The call has urged Muslims to resort to the true path of religion according to the teachings of the holy Quran and the Prophet’s Sunnah.
- What are the official days celebrated in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia celebrates only two occasions which are Eid Al-Fitr which comes after the fasting month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Adha during the annual Hajj season. Saudi Arabia also celebrates its National Day which falls on September 23. The National Day is observed as a holiday in Saudi Arabia.
- What is the official religion of Saudi Arabia and what is its stance vis-à-vis the followers of other religions?
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and the land where the Holy Quran was revealed. The Kingdom is also the custodian of the most sacred Islamic shrines “The holy Haram of Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah”. All Saudis are Muslims and Islam is a religion that respects the followers of other heavenly religions “Christianity and Judaism”
Islam recognizes the Prophethood of Jesus and Moses and that a Muslim’s faith is considered incomplete if he does not believe in all the Prophets sent by God. Islamic teachings promote non compulsion of others to embrace Islam. The rights of non Muslims, who come to work in Saudi Arabia, are respected just as the rights of Muslims coming from other countries. Continue reading
Fawzy Al-Ghoudairy – Website of Rasoulullah (peace be upon him)
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 34 | Size: 2 MB
This is an important book talks about a common issue misunderstood but misused by lots of thinkers and orientalists. It is “Why did Prophet Muhammad marry Aisha the young girl?” The author shows the reason behind their discussion. They want to distort the picture of Prophet Muhammad not criticize the marriage of young girl. Also if this kind of marriage was strange, why did not the disbelievers of Quraish use it as a pretext against Muhammad?! The author discusses other topics such as: Europe also allows marrying young girls, the age of consent in most countries worldwide.
Contents:
1. Is the Purpose Criticizing the Marriage of Young Girls or Distorting the Picture of Prophet Muhammad?
2. If such Marriage was Strange, then why didn›t the Disbelievers of Quraish use it as a Pretext against Muhammad?
3. Did they know the Marriage Age in Judaism?
4. Europe also allows Marrying Young Girls!
5. The Age of Consent in Most Countries Worldwide!
6. Is it Logical to judge a Marriage Case that took Place before 1400 Years under the Laws of the 1st Century?
7. Brides in Africa are Younger than Ten?
8. It is not for Satisfying a Desire!
9. Let’s Pause here! Continue reading
Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 383 | Size: 3.5 MB
This “freedom” put a proud people in chains
And turned free men into slaves
“Independence” made us weak
And slaughtered us
In the name of kindness
This is democracy by the whip
And the fear of chains
With a whirlwind at its core.
This is the autobiography of Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, a senior former member of the Taliban. His memoirs, translated from Pashto, are more than just a personal account of his extraordinary life.
My Life with the Taliban offers a counter-narrative to the standard accounts of Afghanistan since 1979. Zaeef describes growing up in rural poverty in Kandahar province. Both of his parents died at an early age, and the Russian invasion of 1979 forced him to flee to Pakistan. He started fighting the jihad in 1983, during which time he was associated with many major figures in the anti-Soviet resistance, including the current Taliban head Mullah Mohammad Omar.
After the war Zaeef returned to a quiet life in a small village in Kandahar, but chaos soon overwhelmed Afghanistan as factional fighting erupted after the Russians pulled out. Disgusted by the lawlessness that ensued, Zaeef was one among the former mujahedeen who were closely involved in the discussions that led to the emergence of the Taliban, in 1994.
Zaeef then details his Taliban career as civil servant and minister who negotiated with foreign oil companies as well as with Afghanistan’s own resistance leader, Ahmed Shah Massoud. Zaeef was ambassador to Pakistan at the time of the 9/11 attacks, and his account discusses the strange ‘phoney war’ period before the US-led intervention toppled the Taliban.
In early 2002 Zaeef was handed over to American forces in Pakistan, notwithstanding his diplomatic status, and spent four and a half years in prison (including several years in Guantánamo) before being released without having been tried or charged with any offence.
My Life with the Taliban offers a personal and privileged insight into the rural Pashtun village communities that are the Taliban’s bedrock. It helps to explain what drives men like Zaeef to take up arms against the foreigners who are foolish enough to invade his homeland. Continue reading
Abdul Malik Mujahid (compiler)
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 320 | Size: 8.5 MB
Excerpts and passages collected from many books written by the scholars of the Islam have been compiled in this book. The writings will be of equal interest to all Muslims whether they are Children or Adults, and similarly they will gain a lot of virtues, develop good character patterns, and adopt intellectual behavior in their lives from the examples of the great personalities of Islam.
Publisher’s Note Darussalam is presenting Gems & Jewels for the readers. This book is based on excerpts and passages collected from many books written by the scholars of Islam. The wise sayings, interesting events, logical deductions, intelligent approaches, admonitions, moral lessons and teachings etc., have been compiled to give the readers the opportunity of knowing what the great personalities of Islam have been doing in their life and how their character has been an example for us to follow.
We hope that the presentation of Gems & Jewels will be a continuing process, and we will be compiling and publishing one volume after the other providing the readers gems and jewels from our glorious history.
The writings in this series will be of equal interest to all Muslims whether they are children or adults, and similarly they will gain a lot of virtues, develop good character patterns, and adopt intellectual behavior in their lives. Because of the usefulness of the series, we are planning to produce it in other languages also so that a majority of the Muslims may be able to benefit from it. We pray to Allah for the success. Continue reading
Ghainaa Publications
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 223 | Size: 1.5 MB
This book was prepared by a group of Saudi scholars and intellectuals. They address Western mind which looks at fair truth and objective and convincing dialogue. The book, in general, discusses the most important issues and suspicions raised by Western political and media organizations in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 events. These events have placed Islam, the Kingdom, its people, and its religious, educational and social institutions in a position that requires correction and review. The book is a moderate vision in responding to the issues and suspicions. A biased reader would notice the major difference between the reality and the raised concepts and images which were far from the reality.
The terrorist events of September 11 have marked a new turning point in international and human relations, particularly between the United States and the Islamic World. Political, cultural and religious institutions in the West have contributed to the delineation of the main features of such relations. The American media in particular has established and played a major role in promoting a great many negative notions, spreading incorrect and disingenuous terminology, and creating recurrent suspicion towards Islamic culture, which is adhered to by many Muslim peoples, governments, leaders and legal systems. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was particularly targeted in this respect for well-known reasons. Thus, these institutions have put Islam in general and the kingdom, its people, its leaders and its legal system in particular, within the framework of the relations that need to be scrutinized, reviewed and amended.
We strongly and unreservedly condemn the attacks on New York and Washington, just as we do those that targeted facilities in Riyadh, Nairobi, Dar es Salam and Bali. While we consider such deeds among those prohibited by Islam and appreciate that they constitute a threat to the security and peace of humanity, we are nevertheless firmly convinced, and such conviction is shared by all rational people in the United States and elsewhere, that such events need to be addressed objectively and impartially.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been in the forefront of states that have suffered as a result of what happened in New York and Washington. Its afflictions extended so far as to involve attacks on the religion of the state and its political, social and educational institutions, this being the result of an erroneous and unfair interpretation of the events. It is this that has prompted us to compile this book in order to address the open Western mind, which bases its views, ideas and attitudes on objective dialogue and persuasion. We are well aware in this address to Western peoples in general, and to the American people in particular, that they are eager to discover the truth. This is because their lives are based on true knowledge and dialogue that aims at reaching the truth, which is what all rational and fair people aspire to. In this book, we address the most important issues raised by the political, intellectual and media institutions in the United States with respect to way of life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the immutable principles on which it is based. This is exemplified by its moderate and judicious way of life, which the just reader will find a great disparity between and the allegations attributed to it, which are quite remote from reality. Continue reading
Farhia Yahya
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 46 | Size: 1 MB
The pages of our Islamic history and heritage are filled with the lives of men and women whose influence on our history can only be retold by history itself. They served as beacons of light, illuminating the path set by this Ummah’s Messenger (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam), and yet they were the heroes who protected this very path. Their interests didn’t lie in worldly gain nor were their efforts for selfish reasons but they worked hard in sincerity and under burden to deliver this message of Islam to you and I. They strove day and night purifying their societies and correcting what had become corrupt in this Ummah. They were true ‘ubbaad (slaves) of Allah who had put the Hereafter before their eyes and hence worked only towards this one goal.
Their nights were not the same as ours, nor are our days comparable to theirs – and it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that a lifetime of ours could not equal a number of their days in virtue and achievement. For they were a people who valued time, knew how to live fully and work hard in ease and under pressure, in poverty and in health. They knew no bounds when it came to aiding the religion of Allah and they refused to acknowledge any limits to their efforts and struggles. They were the Companions, the Tabi’in (successors), the Atba’ al- Tabi’in (successors of the Tabi’in), they were the righteous of this Ummah in the past and they are to be the righteous of those to come.
From amongst such figures are those who excelled in certain fields be they in leadership, scholarship, political thought, arts of war, business and literature to name but a few. You could say that one was a leading figure in such-and-such field; another would be an Imam on a different platform. However, rarely has history in the post Prophethood era witnessed personalities who had gathered all these characteristics and succeeded across numerous fields and avenues. Rarely has it witnessed lives that were so enriched and yet enriching, so influential and inspiring, so powerful and empowering, so humble and yet so humbling.
One of these rarities lies in the very being of that scholar from Khurasan, the Mujahid between the army ranks, the faqeeh (jurist) and muhaddith (narrator) of his time, the righteous ‘aabid (worshipper) of his Lord, the successful merchant across cities, the well-known zahid (ascetic), the poet and writer, the grammarian and linguist, the respected and the leader of the Pious – ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak.
But who was ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak? Who is he about whom Isma’il ibn ‘Ayyash, the scholar of al-Sham said, “There is none like ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak on the face of this earth, nor do I know of a single good characteristic created by Allah except that He has put it in ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak.”
Let us delve into learning more about the life of this man whose input into Islamic Scholarship and history still benefits not just the masses today, but even the heirs to Prophethood; the scholars themselves. Continue reading
Al-Imam al-Waqidi
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 587 | Size: 32 MB
The Islamic Conquest of Syria – A Translation of Futuhusham: The inspiring history of the Sahabah’s conquest of Syria
“Glory be to Allah, the keys of Syria have been given to me,” proclaimed Rasulullah (PBUH) at a time when Muslims were facing complete destruction. Yet fourteen years later, Yazid bin Abi Sufyan marched into Caesarea, the last Roman stronghold of resistance in Syria.
The Islamic Conquest Of Syria, is the first complete English translation of Futuhusham, the ninth century Arabic classic detailing the Muslim advance into Syria. The English reader has, for the first time, the opportunity to read about the great epic struggle of a small ill-equipped band of Muslims that overthrew the superpower of their day. Events only briefly mentioned in other books are graphically described here, such as the Battle of Al Yarmuk, which changed the course of world history. The great personalities of early Islam are brought to life in a unique way. The strategies of Khalid bin al Walid, the piety of Abu Ubaydah al Jarrah, the bravery of Dirar al Kindi and many more are vividly described. The text also sheds light on some lesser-known aspects of Islamic history such as the significant role of women and Roman princes who had embraced Islam
Al Imam Al Waqidi, the great historian, was born at the beginning of 130 AH in Al Madinah, where he began his studies. He migrated to Iraq in 180 AH during the reign of Mamun ar Rashid. There Yahya al Barmaki welcomed him due to his great learning and he was included as one of Mamun’s elite. He was soon appointed as judge and held this post until his death in 207 AH. Continue reading
Abdullah Hakim Quick
IISNA 2010 Islamic Revival Tour, Melbourne, Australia. Hakim Quick investigates the past dynasties and empires, their collapse and triumps, their attrition and their return. This is an inspiring lecture which ends in the future of Islam were we are heading, what to expect and how we got here. Continue reading
Gharm Allah Al-Ghamdy
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 10 | Size: 1 MB
Khalifa is an Arabic word literally meaning “one who replaces someone else who left or died” (English: caliph). In the context of Islam, however, the word acquires a narrower meaning. The Muslim Khalifa is the successor (in a line of successors) to Prophet Muhammad’s position as the political, military, and administrative leader of the Muslims. The prophetic role of Muhammad is strictly not included in this definition, as the Qur’an and Hadith clearly state that Muhammad was the last of the prophets. Khilafa is a related Arabic word which, in the context of Islam, is used to denote the government of the Muslim state, of which the Khalifa is the head. A workable analogy of Khalifa and Khilafa is president and presidency or king and monarchy. The Khilafa is a fard kifaya on the ummah.
Contents:
# Definition of Khilafa and Khalifa
# The duties and responsibilities of the Khalifa
# The prerequisites to becoming the Khalifa
# How the Khalifa may be chosen
# The Majlis-Ash-Shura
# How the Majlis-ash-Shura selects the Khalifa
# Using force to choose the Khalifa
# Disobeying and removing the Khalifa
# Who has the authority to remove a bad Khalifa
# The removal of the Khalifa
# The Khilafa of Abu Bakr Continue reading
A. Abd-Allah
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 11 | Size: 1 MB
Some people reject God because they can find no evidence for Him which satisfies both their hearts and minds simultaneously. Then there are others who accept God on the basis of emotional or irrational reasons which satisfy their hearts, but leave their minds unsure. These two groups of people have never found a satisfying answer to the question of their relationship with God. Then there are yet others who have found the correct path which God intended for us: to accept Him and His message to us using our minds first and foremost, and the heart follows easily and naturally as a consequence.
Instead of searching for the answer, there are also some people who chose to simply brush the question aside and ignore it unfortunately. This is the easy way out of what appears to be a very difficult, mysterious question which may seem to have no final solution. Most of these people are unaware of a very powerful message which completely and unequivocally establishes the correct path to God. This message squares with both the mind and the heart, and it has no equal since it comes to us straight from God Himself.
The message comes in the form of a book. In fact, God has given us several Books of guidance through the years, but each one was ultimately corrupted and changed by dishonest people. Each Book essentially contained the same fundamental message as the previous Books. Mankind was expected to guard these Books from harm, but unfortunately failed to live up to this expectation. Slowly but surely, each Book was edited and tampered with, destroying its authenticity. This is partly why God kept sending us more revelations.
However, almost 1400 years ago, God sent us another Book with the same basic message as the earlier ones, but with a small but very important difference. This time, God decreed that this Book would be the last Book sent down to us because God would protect it Himself. Regarding this Final Book, God said,
إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ ۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
“Behold, it is We Ourselves who have bestowed from on high this reminder: and behold, it is We who shall truly guard it” [Chapter 15, verse 9]
Today, if we compare the 114 chapters in every copy of this Final Book with each other, we will find they match perfectly word for word – from the oldest copies made 1300-plus years ago to the ones printed just a few hours ago. No human hand has changed it.
The rational person has every right to be doubtful, of course, if he or she has never read this book. For such people, here is a small sample of what the Final Book contains. Suppose we wanted to ask God several questions about Him and about ourselves. Short of Him speaking to us directly (such a privilege has been granted to only one person out of all humanity), the Book has the best answers one can find. It is on the strength of these answers that an honest person may be struck with the conviction that the Final Book is from none other than God Almighty. Again, here is only a small part of the information one might find. Continue reading
Lyrics:
Allah, The Most Kind and Gentle
Although I vanish, the Most Gentle and Kind vanishes not. Thus, I have hope in Him – hope that fails not.
I seek safety with Him from a time where trials would age this body of mine
So, I bring my needs, and I’m ever in poverty To the One with whom hearts find tranquility
Numerous are the matters that Allah decrees! Yet, the unseen realm, is that which none sees
His decree eases secretly our difficulties And by decree does He alleviate our calamities
and by His discreet kindness and generosity, there’s relief – replacing all adversity.
Whose door do I have, besides Allah’s door? I have no other Master nor another whom I so adore!
He is generous, kind and gentle, blessing us ceaselessly, He answers our prayers and conceals our faults so beautifully,
Enduring is He, never hastening to recompense our delinquency He bestows his mercy like pure rain, gracefully
Therefore, King of kings, please pardon me; My sins have cast me so far away from thee
My lusts have caused my malady Yet there’s none but thee to heal me
So my Lord, comfort and shield me from eyes burning green. for when calamities strike they do so with fangs sharp keen.
My Lord, fasten me with the joys of children and family Without them a man is certainly a stranger, poor and lonely
Ah, my young children, on their fate I do fret Worn from worry and grief I am ever upset
But to thee the reigns of my life I do surrender To the One who handles affairs with majestic splendor
The Most Merciful, my refuge and the pillar on which I lean In repentance, I call Him with none in between.
Allah, Of my condition thee did hear so my Master, I ask, is relief near?
O Lord of Judgment Day, relieve this anxiety of stubborn worries that in my heart sink deeply
And bind me to the rope of thy content, and turn thy Face to me And accept me so that I may repent and return wholly to thee.
My safety and success are in thy Hands So support my will against life’s difficult demands
And with Thy remembrance illuminate my life. Indeed when recalling thy name sweetness becomes rife
And say of me that I am still thy servant sharing in thy Kindness, drawing near to thee, no longer distant
My thoughts of thee, my Sustainer, are pleasant And my hopes in thee, lie in meadows, fertile and fragrant
And send prayers and praises upon the Prophet and his family For whom the nightingales from their branches sing their sweet melody Continue reading
Sheikh Abdullah Azzam
Those people, Ahmad ibn Hambal, as-Shafiee, al-Izz ibn Abdis Salam, an-Nawawi, Syed Qutb, Hassan al-Banna, Abd Aziz al-Badri, Saleh Siriyah… What gave them immortality? What caused their rememberance? How were their names scribed in to the books… Continue reading
Imam Hassan Al Banna
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 14 | Size: 1 MB
The most dangerous period in the life of a nation, and the most deserving of critical study, is the period of transition from one situation to another. It is then that plans for the new period are laid and its guiding principles and policies are drawn up, according to which, the nation will be formed and towhich it will adhere. If these plans, principles, and policies are clear cut, sound, and solid, then announce for this nation of a long and extended life, of prosperous and flourishing work. Inform them of success and give them glad tidings of a great reward, eternal fame, the just verdict of history, and a good reputation.
This important task poses two conditions: The first is to liberate the nation from its political bonds so that it may obtain its freedom and regain its lost independence and sovereignty. The second is its reconstruction, so that it may follow its own path among other nations and compete with them in its progress toward social perfection. For the time being, the political struggle has come to a halt, and you, along with the nation, are facing a new period. You will now see two ways before you, each one urging you to turn the nation in its direction and to follow its path . Each has its particular characteristics, its distinguishing features, its effects, its results, its advocates and its promoters. The first is the way of Islam and its principles, its rules, its culture and its civilization; the second is the way of the West and the outward aspects of its life, its organization and its methods. It is our belief that the first way, the way of Islam, its principles and rules, is the only way which ought to be followed, and towards which the present and future nation should direct itself.
If we take the nation along this path, we shall be able to obtain many benefits, among them is the Islamic methodology which has already been experienced and history has testified as to its soundness. It has produced for the benefit of mankind a nation, most powerful and virtuous, most merciful, and righteous, blessed above all other nations. It possesses a sanctity and stability in the minds of men which makes it easy for all to adopt and understand, to respond to, as well as to adhere to, once they are properly oriented to it. Add to that national self esteem and sincere patriotism. For then we will construct our lives on our own rules and principles, taking nothing from others. Herein lie the highest ideals of a social and active independence, after political independence.
To take this course, will firstly mean a strengthening of Arab unity, and secondly, a strengthening of Islamic unity. The entire Islamic world will support with its heart and soul. They will see us as Brothers, and we will stand behind and support each other. And herein lies a great moral advantage which no intelligent person will shun.
This course is complete and comprehensive, and guarantees a nation the best system of organization for public life, both practical and spiritual. This is the advantage that distinguishes Islam, for it bases the organization of the life of a nation on two important pillars: the adherence to good, and the avoidance of that which is harmful. Continue reading
