Read Islamic Books

By Khalid Baig

“Verily, he who has purified the heart is successful and he who has despoiled it has lost.”  Read more... (1085 words, estimated 4:20 mins reading time)

By Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Almighty Allah Ta’ala in His infinite Mercy has made certain animals halal (permissible) for this Ummah. We are required to be thankful to Him by following the dictates of the Qur’an and Sunnah by ensuring that His name is taken upon slaughtering of the animal. Allah Ta’ala states in the noble Qur’an:  Read more... (2352 words, 8 images, estimated 9:24 mins reading time)

1. “For every nation We have specified a rite (for slaughtering) so that they may take the name of Allah Ta’ala upon (the slaughter of) the animals granted to them as sustenance.” (Al-Hajj 22:34)

By Sara Bokker
I am an American woman who was born in the midst of America’s “Heartland.” I grew up, just like any other girl, being fixated with the glamour of life in “the big city.” Eventually, I moved to Florida and on to South Beach of Miami, a hotspot for those seeking the “glamorous life.” Naturally, I did what most average Western girls do. I focused on my appearance and appeal, basing my self-worth on how much attention I got from others. I worked out religiously and became a personal trainer, acquired an upscale waterfront residence, became a regular “exhibiting” beach-goer and was able to attain a “living-in-style” kind of life.  Read more... (1378 words, estimated 5:31 mins reading time)

By Khalid Baig

(Author’s Request: Please turn off your television set as you read this article.)

Television has spread like a wild fire in the world, including the Muslim world. It seems to have overcome the limitations of space and time.

Consider place. In Saudi Arabia, one can find the imprints of Hollywood only a few yards away from the Haram, the most sacred of all sanctuaries of Islam. Videocassettes are easily available at stores. A hotel attendant, at a walking distance from the Haram al-Sharif in Makkah can be found busy watching English movies on the television in his office even as the prayers are going on. At the Jeddah airport, the Umrah pilgrims can watch a European beauty contest courtesy of an Egyptian TV channel being broadcast to the airport television sets.  Read more... (2604 words, estimated 10:25 mins reading time)

The Straight Path has been laid out. Our job is only to follow it, not to try to discover new paths.

By Khalid Baig

Once some Jewish scholars said to Sayyidna Umar bin Khattab, Radi-Allahu unhu, “The Qur’an contains a verse that if it had been revealed to us, we would have designated a day to celebrate its revelation.” Upon enquiry they mentioned the verse: “This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [Al-Maida 5:3] “Yes, I know, the time and place when it was revealed,” he replied.  Read more... (1030 words, 3 images, estimated 4:07 mins reading time)

By Nakata Khaula

Do Muslim Women Have Rights?

Anyone whose sole source of knowledge about Islam has been the Western media, “knows” that Islam “oppresses” women. The hijab or veil, is the symbol of such “oppression.” To “liberate” Muslim women from such “oppression” has been the cherished goal of media pundits, Western “experts” on Islam, and the feminists.  Read more... (3577 words, estimated 14:18 mins reading time)

By Khalid Baig

In April President Clinton gathered an army of former presidents, state governors, city mayors and hundreds of prominent people from all 50 states to address one of the most pressing problems facing America today. He brought former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell, to lead this army. Their task: Solve the problem of 15 million young Americans who are considered at-risk youth. “They are at risk of growing up unskilled, unlearned, or, even worse, unloved,” said Powell, who was appointed chairman of President’s Summit for America’s Future. The problem has “the potential to explode our society,” he warned.  Read more... (963 words, estimated 3:51 mins reading time)

This article provides useful advice on how to avoid some common problems encountered in Ramadan. If followed, it would enable one to fast comfortably and enjoy fully the spiritual benefits of Ramadan. During the holy month of Ramadan, our diet should not differ very much from our normal diet and should be as simple as possible. The diet should be such that we maintain our normal weight, neither losing nor gaining. However, if one is over-weight, Ramadan is an ideal time to normalize one’s weight. In view of the long hours of fasting, we should Consume slow digesting foods including fiber containing-foods rather than fast-digesting foods. Slow digesting foods last up to 8 hours, while fast-digesting foods last for only 3 to 4 hours.  Read more... (960 words, estimated 3:50 mins reading time)

In order to maximise our time and perform our 'ibaadat with ease, we

should try to follow a set routine or timetable.

1. We must wake up for suhoor as it is a Sunnah of our Rasool

(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). He has informed us that the food of suhoor is full of Barakah: "Eat suhoor, because in it lie great blessings." (Bukhari,Muslim)

We should arrange our time for suhoor in such a way that we are also  Read more... (1405 words, estimated 5:37 mins reading time)

By Khalid Baig
(Courtesy http://www.albalagh.net)

There is a group of practices that we can consider as the twin sister of bid’ah. Like bid’ah they flourish on the twin foundations of ignorance and outside influence. Like bid’ah they entail rituals. But unlike bid’ah the rituals have not been given an Islamic face. They are followed because they are considered an acceptable cultural practice or the hottest imported “in” thing.  Read more... (1099 words, estimated 4:24 mins reading time)