Faith Fridays - Faith and the Cubicle by Imam Suhaib Webb [VIDEO]

Every Friday we hope to bring you a khutbah or short lecture in English that we feel may be of benefit to you. Think of it as a weekly khutbah from a different perspective. All you need to do is spend 30 minutes (or less) a week to learn something new.

If you have any suggestions on a video that we should share please send us an email via "Write for Us".

One of our favourite imams is back in town. That's right, Imam Suhaib Webb is gracing YMP with his awesomeness and will talking about whether we have ADD. Not "attention deficit disorder" but "akhirat deficit disorder"! RSVP here.

In preparation for next week's talk we bring to you a recent sermon of his where he expertly advises us on how to live our Islam and how to let it shine through everything that we do.

Enjoy.

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Guess who's back in town?

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Faith Fridays - Fajr Reminders with Sheikh Bilal Ismail [VIDEO]

Every Friday we hope to bring you a khutbah or short lecture in English that we feel may be of benefit to you. Think of it as a weekly khutbah from a different perspective. All you need to do is spend 30 minutes (or less) a week to learn something new.

If you have any suggestions on a video that we should share please send us an email via "Write for Us".

Salam.

If you haven't already heard YMP will be hosting an event with Sheikh Bilal Ismail this Friday 23r September entitled "How to be a Good Buddy?". As such this week's video will be introducing Sheikh Bilal.

This two part video was taken at Al Kauthar's Knowledge Hive 2010 in Kuala Lumpur (which I heard was really good). In it Sheikh Bilal validates the feeling that we have sometimes that being a Muslim is tough. Sometimes our ritual worship, prayers, Ramadhan, saving money and going for Hajj, are really difficult.

But Allah says "For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease", surah ash-Sharh verses 5-6. It is surely impossible for us to imagine life without our daily prayers, without fasting, without Qur'an, without Islam.

And in the difficulty of waking up to pray fajr, in the difficulty of foregoing food, drink and all our desires, in the difficulty of striving to worship Allah there is beauty and joy. Joy when we accomplish what we set out to do beauty in the knowing that there is unity in this ummah because we all proclaim there is no God but Allah. And of course, ultimately and most important of all there is tranquility in knowing that we seek only to please Allah.

This is one of the best reminders I have ever received.

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Tips For Becoming More Active In Mosques

Salam everyone,

This is another article written by Hijab al Faisal. She is working at Quranreading.com as a Web Content Writer teaching Quran to students living in the USA, Canada,and the UK. According to Hijab, Quran Reading is the largest Online Quran Academy, where they have taught more than 5000 kids and parents to Read Quran online with Tajweed. 

Masha Allah!

Please visit their website for more details. :)

(Note: YMP is not in anyway related to any of our the guest author's organization. We only publish the articles submitted to us once it has been approved by our Co-Editors. If you are interested to write on our blog, please submit your draft to adam.alhabshi@gmail.com and shazeea@gmail.com)

For a Muslim society, the mosque serves as a founding stone. It is also a place where Muslims gather to offer prayers in congregation and meet other Muslim brothers to share problems and find solutions for each other. It serves as a center for knowledge, wisdom and remembrance of Allah. It also serves as a place from which Muslims raise their voices to acknowledge and prove their belief in the Oneness of Allah Almighty.

The Importance of Mosques in Islam

Although mosques are specifically made to worship Allah and read the Holy Quran, they also serve as a center point for gathering all Muslims and encouraging them to socialize. Praying in congregation with other Muslim brothers is therefore considered a social activity that enables Muslims to get to know their Muslim brothers.

It is for this reason that becoming active in mosques is important for all Muslims. They should not only use the mosque as a place to worship Allah, but should also use it as a center for education, training, learning and other activities. Some tips to become more active in the mosque are given below.

Tips for Becoming Active in the Mosque

If you are a Muslim and have the desire to be active in the mosque, you may be able to find numerous ways to play your part. It is the responsibility of Muslims to ensure that the mosque is not only treated as a place to worship Allah, but it is also used as the center for education, learning and discussions on various aspects.

1.   Be Socially Active:

     Muslim mosques are a center for all kinds of social activities. This is evident from the fact that the Prophet (PBUH) used Masjid-e-Nabwi not only for worshipping Allah, but also as a place for all kinds of Muslim activities. Deputations that came from other places were also received at Masjid-e-Nabwi. Therefore, Muslim mosques should be increasingly used as the hub for cultural, political and social activities. Therefore, it is your duty to be socially active in the mosque. You can do so by simply encouraging people to stay a little longer after the evening prayers and discuss matters. You may also use this opportunity to share any Islamic knowledge with your Muslim brothers during the gathering.

2.     

    Teach Quran:

     You may also use the mosque to teach Quranic teachings to Muslim children. Quran learning in the mosque will create the habit of visiting mosque regularly in young Muslims. After teaching the holy book to these children, you may also encourage them to participate in all kinds of work required by the mosque. This will imply the importance of mosques in the hearts of these individuals from a very young age.

3.     

     Donate Regularly: 

    

    Another important way to be active in the mosque is by donating regularly in the mosque. The mosque is the place where so many Muslims belonging to different backgrounds meet and worship Allah in congregation. Therefore, it is your duty to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the mosque. Therefore, donate for the mosque, even if it is a small amount. Additionally, donating to mosques also increases the love of Allah in the hearts of donors.

Moreover, when Muslims gather in mosques on a daily basis, they can identify the needy people and can therefore help them in their hour of need.

Keep the Mosque Clean:

4.      

      Since a mosque is the center for worshipping Allah, it is essential to keep it clean and tidy. If you want to gain rewards, you should help in the cleaning of the mosque. According to a narration, the Prophet (PBUH) persisted Muslims to pray on the grave of an individual who helped clean the mosque.

Additionally, it is also important that parents inculcate Quran teachings in the children. Parents may also register children to online Quran schools for that purpose.

Conclusion

Most of the times, people ignore such teachings of Islam. However, it is important that all Muslims understand the importance of Islam. Only then can they become active in the mosques. 

www.quranreading.com

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Faith Fridays - Give Back to Allah by Imam Siraj Wahhaj [VIDEO]

Every Friday we hope to bring you a khutbah or short lecture in English that we feel may be of benefit to you. Think of it as a weekly khutbah from a different perspective. All you need to do is spend 30 minutes (or less) a week to learn something new.

If you have any suggestions on a video that we should share please send us an email via "Write for Us".

It's very easy to say "alhamdulillah" but part of praising Allah is being grateful for what we have and part of being grateful of what we have involves moving beyond acknowledgement into using what we have been bestowed for Allah and in His cause.

Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who always packs a mean punch when he talks, reminds us about being thankful for what we have and about giving it back to Allah.

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Feed the Poor, Feed the Soul

by Azeem Ambalam

Azeem is a regular volunteer at YMP's Soup Kitchen. We operate every Wednesday and Sunday night. This article was originally published here.

I first found out about PERTIWI Soup Kitchen thru my neighbor Jenna whom I tagged along with on a rainy Sunday night last April. To be honest I was just curious but largely still uninterested but for some reason I just went along. All I knew about soup kitchens were long lines of the poor queuing up for watery soup at dinghy premises in the dodgier parts of town.

I was right about the lines though, but there wasn’t a dinghy kitchen or any soup at all. We load up a vending truck with pre-packed food supplied by a caterer before heading out to our recipients at a few locations close to the city centre. From then on it is a matter of preparing drinks on site, crowd control and distributing the food to the homeless.

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Faith Fridays - Purify Your Soul by Perfecting Modesty by Sh. Omar Suleiman [VIDEO]

Every Friday we hope to bring you a khutbah or short lecture in English that we feel may be of benefit to you. Think of it as a weekly khutbah from a different perspective. All you need to do is spend 30 minutes (or less) a week to learn something new.

If you have any suggestions on a video that we should share please send us an email via "Write for Us".

This week we're talking about modesty (hayaa'). While traditionally this term has been applied to how we dress in reality we should have modesty in everything that we do. But how do we do that without understanding what hayaa'  is in the first place?

This video was taken at the the ICNA Conference (Islamic Circle of North America) at a special session for the youth. Listen to what Sheikh Omar Suleiman has to say about hayaa' and how important it is that we check our intentions ALL THE TIME!

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The Rights Of A Spouse In Islam

Salam everyone,

This is an article written by Hijab al Faisal. She is working at Quranreading.com as a Web Content Writer teaching Quran to students living in the USA, Canada,and the UK. According to Hijab, Quran Reading is the largest Online Quran Academy, where they have taught more than 5000 kids and parents to Read Quran online with Tajweed. 

Masha Allah!

Please visit their website for more details. :)

(Note: YMP is not in anyway related to any of our the guest author's organization. We only publish the articles submitted to us once it has been approved by our Co-Editors. If you are interested to write on our blog, please submit your draft to adam.alhabshi@gmail.com and shazeea@gmail.com)

Islam considers marriage a sacred union of two beings.

In Islam, marriage is a gift of Allah to enable its servants to lead a happy and contented life. The basic purpose of getting married in Islam is to attain happiness and love in this world. However, for this relationship as well, Islam defines some rights, obligations and duties for Muslims.

The Prophet (PBUH) says,

“The best Muslim is the one who is best to his family.”

And the Prophet (PBUH) also says,

“… and the most blessed joy in life is a good, righteous wife.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

For a husband, it is his duty to treat his wife well. All husbands are required to show kindness, honor and patience towards their wives. Allah says in the Holy Quran,

“…consort with them in kindness, for if you hate them it may happen that you hate a thing wherein Allah has placed much good.” (An-Nisa’: 19)

For a wife, it is essential to understand that men possess a degree over them. Allah says in the Quran,

“And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in kindness, and men are a degree above them. Allah is Mighty, Wise.” (Al-Baqaraqh: 228)

However, it is essential to note that men have higher obligations towards their wives. They are the trustees, guardians and protectors of their wives. Allah has made them in charge and has laid the duty to provide for the basic rights of women on men.

The Rights of the Wife

According to Islam, the wife has many rights over her husband. The Prophet (PBUH) has guided the men to show kindness towards women. it is also the duty of husbands to take the responsibility of the maintenance of his wife and his family. It is essential that men take on this duty happily, without condescendence. Allah says in the Quran,

“Let him who has abundance spend of his abundance, and he whose provision is measured, let him spend of that which Allah has given him. Allah asks naught of any soul save that which He has given it. Allah will vouchsafe, after hardship, ease.‏” (At-Talaq: 7)

Maintenance of a wife typically includes providing her with lodging, clothing and food. Also, the man should make sure that the residence provides privacy and comfort to the wife. It is also the duty of the husband to respect the feelings of the wife and to not inflict harm, pain and suffering on her. Men also do not have the right to curb the freedom of their wives.

The Rights of the Husband

The basic obligation of the wife towards her husband is to facilitate the success of the relationship. This means that it is the duty of the wife to make sure that her husband is comfortable and happy with her. The wife should try not to hurt the feelings of her husband or offend him. The wife should also not cheat on her husband, must not grant the right of intimacy to anyone else or accept gifts without his approval.

Conclusion

All these rights can be easily studied through Quran education. Muslim men and women should both understand their rights and obligations as stated by Islam and Quran and follow them in order to have a successful relationship.

http://www.quranreading.com/

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Faith Fridays - Parting Farewell Advice of Ramadan by Nouman Ali Khan [VIDEO]

Every Friday we hope to bring you a khutbah or short lecture in English that we feel may be of benefit to you. Think of it as a weekly khutbah from a different perspective. All you need to do is spend 30 minutes (or less) a week to learn something new.

If you have any suggestions on a video that we should share please send us an email via "Write for Us".

Ramadhan has left us and while we celebrate the victory of fasting and abstaining for a whole month there is a bittersweet feeling that lingers. The question "What next?" also plays a part because we all know that it shouldn't just stop after 29/30 days.

In this week's video Nouman Ali Khan looks back at the Qur'anic verses on Ramadhan and points out that this month is the training ground that is suppose to prepare us for the rest of our lives. He then links taqwa, Qur'anic guidance and the key to making du'a and having it being answered by Allah.

May Allah accept our deeds during Ramadhan, and forgive us for our laziness and things that we could have done better. Let this month be a springboard from which all our future actions will emanate from.

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