Majestic Offer

by Jane

Back in December YMP hosted Dr Reda Bedeir on the topic of Jannah. This is what one attendee came away with.

“It’s heaven,” they say
When you love someone
And they love you back
And in their show of love
They never slack

They say things like
You’re my baby, my life
I’m yours forever
If you leave, I will die

Yes all this sweet talk
Is flattering I admit
Beggars promising kingdoms
Are typically passionate

But a majestic promise
Needs a majestic maker
And the promise of heaven
Is a majestic offer

Heaven, subhanAllah
Home and wholeness
Mysterious and Unseen
Like love
Fortress of freedom
Unshackled from struggle
Secure and Free
From loss

Contentment eternal
Forever bathed in love
Heaven could be a hut
It’d be more than enough

But Allah in His Majesty
Promises much more
Luxurious abodes
Majestic décor

Walls of gold
Floors of pearls
Magnificence, par excellence
Of all the worlds

Motivation and mockery
Irresistible, so odd
This offered to me?
A servant, so flawed

There are places in heaven
He built with His Hands
SubhanAllah
This world is just sand

So don’t promise forever
Don’t belie the fact
That we’re all beggars of time
Time we owe back

Back to Allah
Yet Al-Wadud He
Considers it a loan
Lend Him what’s His
His Jannah you’ll own

This is love personified
Incapable by you or I
Undeserved yet unmatched
From this world we must detach

Mind and heart cannot resist
Despite its blackness and disease
Ya Allah, forgive me please
I am Yours, I believe

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Misconceptions About The Religion Islam

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)

Although there is a lot of violence that occurs in different regions of the world from Ireland to Lebanon that involves religions like Hinduism and Christianity, the Western world still associates Islam with violence. The Muslim conquest of Spain and the Ottomans that dominated Eastern Europe have provided a history of Islam that is related to power and force. 

The upheavals of the past decade in the Middle East and the moments that use the name of Islam seek for solving the problems of the Muslim world are caused and created by the conditions which are largely beyond the control of Muslims. In order to understand the true nature of Islam, it is very important to analyze the question clearly and to remember that the word Islam means peace. The real goal of Islam is to maintain equilibrium among various forces. The Islamic concept of justice is related to the equilibrium, the word for justice in Arabic is (al-adl) while the word for equilibrium in Arabic is (ta’adul). Quran Tutor tells more about the sayings of Islam on Violence.

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What Makes Islam And Quran So Inspirational To People?

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)

In the West, we find a huge majority of people who have a very distorted and diminished image of Islam, thanks to the expertise of popular (but rogue) media. The fact of the matter is that the masses do not find time and have enough interest to investigate into the truth and the reality of issues by themselves. Ultimately they become a victim to the disinformation disseminated by media.

In fact, not only particular to the West but also anywhere in the world, if you can manipulate popular media to your motives, you can get a lot of people to believe whatever is being fed to them, at least in the beginning.

Thankfully, not everyone is going to believe what they are told to accept as true. There are many people who are driven to expose the truth behind the scenes by what they see in the media. This is more common after the 9/11 atrocity which caused more than 3000 lives to perish.

Though almost all of influential Western media did their best to churn the story and hold Islam and Muslims the culprit of this painful event, which in itself is against the true teachings of Islam, but on their way to plan this, they undermined the influence of individual decisive power. Much to their dismay, this went against all their ill-intentioned plan.

And the result? Instead of hating Islam and Muslims, a significant number of Westerners (particularly the Americans) started to convert to Islam. Now, the reality is that Islam has turned into the most popular religion of the world, with largest number of people turning to it, particularly from the Western world.

The fact of the matter is that truth cannot be forsaken; it will reveal itself, sooner or later.

There are definitely more facets to this mass conversion of people from West to Islam, but discussed below are some of pretty simple but important points that can help a person understand the causes behind this phenomenon.

•         Islam is the truest of religions that Allah Almighty, the Mighty Creator of the whole universe, declares mandatory for anyone who wants his/her way to guidance. Look what Quran, the religious Scripture of Islam, says about it:

Aal-e-Imran [3:19] the Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His will): nor did the People of the Book dissent there from except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account.

•          It is a religion that teaches about peace, harmony, and coherence among humans, while focusing on finding common grounds with other religions in the process to guide them about the ultimate truth and reality about Allah Almighty, prophets, and this life, etc. The following verse is just one example of Quran teaching in this regard:

Ash-Shura [42:13] The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah--that which We have sent by inspiration to thee--and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: namely, that ye should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).

•          The true concept of Islam lies in utter submission to the might of Allah (SWT), and one who does so, becomes owner of a character that inspires others rather than repelling them, and this is what exactly serves to be the biggest motivation of people in converting to Islam.

May Allah Almighty lead every soul truly searching for Quran Education and Islam guidance, much to His liking and countless benefits of the person. 

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Reflections on last weekend’s Open Circle event with Wardina Safiyyah

By Jane

Last Sunday YMP hosted a sisters-only Open Circle entitled "Falling in Love Again with Islam". Here are some (brilliant brilliant) thoughts by someone who attended.

Life seemed surreal last Sunday. Like many at the event, I hadn’t even contemplated the existence of such a welcoming and intellectual group of sisters gathering for the purpose of self betterment. It was lovely and I, for one, was deeply touched by everything—from Kak Wardina’s advice and insights all the way to the chocolate chip cookies that probably loaded me with oxytocin, since I was especially excited to meet and mingle with every single person—which isn’t typical of this introverted self .

There seemed to be two recurring themes in that day’s discussion, one of which was hardships—getting through them. There wasn’t a person in the room that I didn’t seem to admire, especially among those who joined the discussion. I admire the sisters who are struggling to don the hijab and keep it on. I admire the sisters who are struggling to make it in male dominated professions and environments. I admire the sisters who are struggling to do anything because they have established that it would please Allah swt. I admire anyone who is struggling for (cliché alert) the sake of Allah. We should all admire these people.

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Understanding Qur’an As An Instrument Of Guidance Than An Instrument Of Swearing

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)




The Holy Quran, the final word of Allah, still preserved in its original condition, without traces of a mistake, not even a full stop, serves to be the absolute guidance, not only for Muslims, but for any human being who desires to escape the darkness of negligence and illiteracy

Yunus [10:57].  O mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord (i.e. the Qur'an, enjoining all that is good and forbidding all that is evil), and a healing for that (disease of ignorance, doubt, hypocrisy and differences,) Which is in your breasts, - a guidance and a mercy (explaining lawful and unlawful things) for the believers.

This verse not only confirms the fact that Qur’an is the best piece of advice Allah the Almighty ever awarded to human beings, but also points to the fact that Quran does not serve any particular group of people, but instead serves all of the humanity. The usage of the “O mankind” makes this fact very much clear.

Swearing – A Not So Good Societal Norm

A study of history reveals the fact that in every society, there seems to surge some not-so-good societal norms, which pose more harm than good. Swearing is one of them. It is considered to be an oath, mostly in the form of a factual statement or as a promise, usually calling upon an authority much higher in status than the parties involved (usually God), in order to bear witness in favour of the oath maker. In other words, swearing in its usual form, is considered as taking an oath or making a solemn vow.

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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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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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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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An American Volunteer at YMP's Soup Kitchen

by Crystal Corman

YMP got to know Crystal through some mutual friends a year ago. She's a graduate student in Washington, DC at American University and Wesley Theological Seminary. She was in Malaysia as a Boren Fellow. In addition to studying bahasa, she conducted research on the participation of Muslim women in Malaysia's various Islamic institutions. She regularly joined us at talks, events and charity projects and the bonds she has formed with YMP will last even though she is now all the way in Nebraska, US. This is her account of volunteering with YMP's Soup Kitchen.

Even though I knew I’d only be living in Kuala Lumpur for less than a year, I was excited to join with YMP’s service to feed the poor and homeless. I’m an American graduate student in Malaysia to do fieldwork for my master’s degree. Though poverty is not part of my research project, I do want to meet a wide variety of Malaysians to gain a broader perspective of the country and society. But at a deeper level, it is my faith as a Christian that compels me to feed the hungry.

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Salaam

By Yasmin Kassim

As-salaam-ulaykum my dear brothers & sisters,

Salam by Peter Fuss

I’m sure that most of you as Muslims would have naturally responded my salaam with “wa-alaykum-salaam”, right? Hehe. Not surprising, this habit of replying is almost a natural response amongst us Muslims, regardless of whether we really know what it means. When I was younger, about 9 years old I used to think as-salaam-ualaykum meant “Hello, how are you?” in Arabic…Haha I was young. Until not so long ago, I actually found out that it meant “peace be upon you”. I thought to myself, why was ‘peace’ used as the greeting of the Muslim society, there should be a greater meaning to this.

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