₦airaland Forum

Social media is a great tool to spread valuable and inspiring information. While there’s a part of me that has been shaped around its use, I noticed few things that are inappropriate due to people using it. While the growth of social media continues to expand, I hope that Muslims start using social media properly. I’m not generalizing Muslims, but I’ve seen a lot who use social media inappropriately and this list is based on what I encountered.

Here are 15 things people should stop doing on social media.

1. Posting about your voluntary deeds such as fasting, and charity works

2.Bad mouthing the people who owe you money

3. Posting a picture of others’ without their permission

4. Complaining about your job or your life

5. Bad mouthing your leaders or bosses

6. Making your account private to post hijabless photos

7. Sharing how much money you make

8. Posting a status with an intention of indirectly hurting someone

9. Sharing fake/hoax articles or fabricated ahadith

10. Posting updates about your relationship with your spouse

11. Bragging about your achievements

12. Making other believe that you are living a perfect life

13. Exposing the sins or flaws of others or those of yourself

14 Getting into arguments

15. Using other people’s content as your own

There are a lot more to add on this list and this is just few of the many things we do on social media. I recommend that we all evaluate the way we use our accounts online and start implementing social media etiquette in accordance to Islam. We are who we are online.

So be the Muslim you are, on and offline.

Source: TheMuslimBricks.com

If the opportunity seems "too good to be true," it is probably a scam.

Before you apply for a job or respond to an email with a copy of your resume, make sure the opportunity doesn't match these criteria.

1. No experience is necessary
That's usually the sign of a scam. The description is only a sales pitch, or the job described is so simple that anyone could do it. No particular skills, experience, or education are needed to do the job. When you analyze it, the job doesn't make sense, and anyone/everyone would qualify. Often, poor grammar, punctuation, and spelling are used in the description/pitch.

2. Respond immediately
These requests are very urgent! You don't have time to wait -- respond NOW! They don't want you to take the time to think about what they are asking or to do any research before you respond.

3. The job is very easy to do.
Although you must start as soon as possible, very little of your time and not much effort are needed to do the job. However, they will supposedly pay you very well for performing those few "duties." Again, "No experience necessary" may be part of the job description or pitch.

4. Job interviews are not required.
They are already so impressed with you that they don't need to talk with you about the job. Or, the interview can be done very quickly via text message or email because...

5. Very limited contact information is available for them.
Contact is only via e-mail to an address at gmail.com or some other e-mail service not associated with the name of their business. If they are supposedly hiring for a legitimate employer, the only contact information provided for your application is not associated with the alleged employer. No website, domain name, or other public record of the "employer" is available.

6. They have a very urgent need to hire you.
They need you to start immediately -- today, preferably! You must begin working as soon as possible.

7. You must immediately provide very sensitive information.
They require you to provide your Voters Card ID, bank account number, credit card number, and/or other personal financial information so they can pay you without delay. Tell them you need to have them send you a check, at least initially.
8. When you Google them, you find nothing, only job postings, or warnings.
A legitimate business does more than hire people. A legitimate business -- even one only a few weeks old -- has a website for customers and potential customers/clients. And that website is very likely visible to Google so it shows up in a Google search. An "invisible" website, or no website, is the symptom of a scam. If there are warnings, pay attention.

9. You need to "invest" in training, tools, or inventory to get started.
They want you to pay them for tools or inventory to start work. Or you need information they are happy to sell you so you can qualify for the job or start working.
If you really have no idea why someone would pick you to pay you handsomely to do a very simple job, get your guard up! As the old sergeant from Hill Street Blues said to the police officers as they headed out for their day's work,
"Be careful out there!"
Culled from job-hunt.org

henrydsenator:
Broz how do you know it's a scam?I just Checked the company's website online,and it exists. So stop discouraging people, if you don't want to apply its your choice.

Why not go a step further by calling those numbers displayed on the website?

Vatex Engineering is not recruiting at the moment. The job advert is a scam.. Avoid sending your CVs including contact details to crooks.

Companies of repute own websites. Why not log on to the company's website for authentic contact details?
Get through to the company and confirm.
I just did.

This job advert is a scam. Confirmed SCAM. OP, beware of posting vacancies without verification. Call the numbers to confirm

Great!

You just found this post.

And you intend to read it to the end.

Your gaze will likely scan or skim through the content first. Then you will decide whether to read through again or save for later. That’s just one of the pleasures your eyes afford you – reading.

Others include looking at your dear and loved ones; admiring the beauty of Allah’s creations around; communicating with your children, spouses and students; and engaging in many creative pursuits.

Your sight is a gateway to developing your mind and soul. But….

And it’s a big B.U.T, your eyes do not have unrestricted 24/7 rights to glancing at everything that comes into your view. Your gaze, along with all other actions you perform as a Muslim must be aligned with a meaningful purpose.

Imaam Ibn Kathir commented on Surah an-Nur [24:30], saying: This is a command from Allah (swt) to His believing slaves to lower their gaze and refrain from looking at that which is forbidden to them. So they should not look at anything except that which they are permitted to look at, and they should lower their gaze and refrain from looking at forbidden things. If it so happens that a person’s gaze accidentally falls upon something forbidden, he should quickly avert his gaze.
[Tafseer Ibn Kathir, 3/282]

Lowering your gaze therefore is restraining it from looking at what is forbidden.

That is easier said than done.

Living in today’s world where you are faced with explicit content – at the workplace, in school, on the streets or even at family gatherings such as weddings or in forms such as billboards, TV and Internet. You name it, the tech world has made things even more fast and furious.

Going to the masjid and Islamic events are not fitnah free.

What can a striving brother or sister do in this case?

Below are 30 ideas for you to consider. They are simple but worthy acts to help you lower your gaze.

Remember every new habit starts with a simple effort, so you can pick just one idea or two to get started. Then stick to it and keep practicing from day to day. In sha Allah you will get there.

*****

1. Purify your Heart

The heart is the seat of intention (niyyah). When your heart is pure and sound, your intention will equally be pure and and firm – anchored by sincerity. This will affect the actions of the rest of your organs including your gaze.

A pure heart is filled with love and remembrance of Allah (swt) and His Rasul (saw). Such a heart will nurse a firm intention to gaze at only what is pleasing to Him, while guarding against what is displeasing to Him – whether at home, work or while out with friends.

2. Put the Reward in Mind

Visualise the great reward and compensation for your restraint. Allah (swt) rewards His slave for good deeds with something similar and if he gives up something for His sake, He will compensate him with something better than it.

Therefore, if he lowers his gaze and refrains from looking at things that Allah (swt) has prohibited, Allah (swt) will compensate him for restraining his gaze for the sake of Allah (swt) and put light in his heart.

3. Devote Yourself to Allah (swt)

Engage in a lot of involuntary (naafil) acts of worship, because this in addition to your regular obligatory acts of worship will serve a means of protecting your senses & intellect.

Obey Allah (swt) and keep doing good deeds.

4. Purify your Sight

Keep your sight pure to earn Allah’s Pleasure in this dunya and in anticipation of seeing Him in jannah.

Allah (swt) said: “… and My slave continues to draw close to Me with supererogatory (naafil) works so that I shall love him. And when I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask (something) of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it.” (Bukhari, Hadith Qudsi)

5. Supplications (Du’a)

Make supplications for patience, self control, discipline and true surrender as you struggle to remain consistent on keeping your gaze pure.

6. Prayers

Just as Luqman the wise advised his son, ‘be regular in your prayers’, so must you be regular in your prayers for it is a protection and shield for you.

”Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.” [al-‘Ankaboot 29:45]

7. Marriage

Make every effort to get married to guard your chastity as prescribed by Prophet Muhammad (saw).

He said: “Whoever can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and in guarding one’s chastity…” (Bukhari & Muslim)

8. Fasting

In continuation of the above hadith, he (saw) said: ”… And whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

9. Keep Good Company

Your friends make or mark you. Choose good companions who will help you devote yourself to Allah (swt) and develop yourself spiritually, morally and mentally.

Drop the friends who encourage you to engage in immoral activities and disobedience of Allah (swt). Or keep a distance from them and do not ask them for advice.

10. Fight your Nafs

Set yourself a goal of winning against your nafs. Strive hard against your innermost desires.

”And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good” [al-‘Ankaboot 29:69]

11. Turn away Physically

Avoid the second glance.

It was narrated that Jareer ibn ‘Abd-Allaah said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah (saw) about a sudden glance, and he commanded me to avert my gaze.” (Muslim)

12. Recall Judgement Day

You will be accountable for your actions. The earth and your senses will testify to your activities. Your eyes, limbs and private parts will be witnesses on judgment day.

”That Day, it will report its news” [al-Zalzalah 99:4]

13. Gratitude

Be grateful for the gift and blessings of your eyes and other senses; Internet and other tech. tools, Islam and your intellect. If you are truly thankful, you will utilise your gifts in ways pleasing only to the Giver of the gifts.

14. Remember Allah (swt) is All-Seeing and All-Knowing

Recall Luqman’s advice to his son, ”Allah (swt) will bring everything to light”?

Guard your actions because no affair is hidden from Allah (swt), even if it’s equivalent to the weight of a mustard seed or scattered around. He is The Subtle and Informed and He will bring all matters to light – for reward or punishment in the hereafter.

15. Recall Death

Death is inevitable and it isn’t marked on any calendar for you to be warned about. Therefore seek a good end, for you will be raised on what you died upon.

Imagine the possible end result of an unrestrained gaze. It could lead to great immoral acts such as zina. Why lead yourself down that path with such heavy consequences when a simple lowering of gaze can bring you happiness and joy beyond measures?

16. Seek Forgiveness

Be humble, admit you are weak but remain repentant. Don’t feel helpless or make excuses for not repenting.

17. Set and Visualise an End Goal

Set your ambition for the highest station in Jannah then imagine the promised pleasures within. What will you give to achieve such a goal and gain all of the pleasures?

Do not aim for anything less, because you are worth it and you have the opportunity to go for it.

18. Consider it Worship

It may be a difficult personal battle especially where your work environment, school or family gatherings are mixed and with little or no Islamic ethos. Mark it as part of your worship acts.

Just as it is not easy to wake up for Fajr, attend congregational prayers or give charity but you do it anyway because it is worship and you crave for the rewards. Lower your gaze and crave for the sweet rewards.

19. Be Prepared

Have a copy of the Quran, kindle, ipad, ipod etc with you while traveling, waiting for an appointment, standing at a queue etc. That way, your sight and mind will be engaged productively while you develop yourself with every passing minute.

20. Safe Environment

Avoid or limit your visit to places where your gaze will be affected – because you will most likely be tempted to gaze around. Malls… check; beaches… check; streets… check.

Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “Beware of sitting in the street.” They said, “We have no alternative; that is where we sit and talk.” He said, “If you insist on sitting there, then give the street its rights.” They said, “What are the rights of the street?” He said, “Lowering the gaze and refraining from causing offense…” (Bukhari and Muslim)

21. Remember your Recording and Guardian Angels

Even those stolen glances or clear focused looks will be recorded.

”And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers, Noble and recording; They know whatever you do” [al-Infitaar 82:10-12]

22. Seek Beneficial Knowledge

Study from the authentic teachings and use what you learn to remind yourself to focus on your purpose on earth.

After reminding yourself and taking action, send reminders to your friends and loved ones to benefit, gain rewards and safeguard against negative consequences.

23. Be Yourself

Avoid popular culture. Your intention and actions may be pure and sound originally, but due to weak faith or low self esteem you may try to imitate *that* rich and popular musician, footballer or actor who looks at non-mahrams, mixes freely with them and gains attention of the world.

Mind you, its negative attention with huge consequences. Your model should be the Rasul (saw), so follow his example and you will prosper and command attention of the Angels and noble beings.

24. Have a Conversation with Your Nafs

Tell your nafs what you desire of success in this dunya and akhirah and how badly you want it. So you welcome no negative distractions from those success goals. Thank your nafs for its anticipated co-operation. Write a letter to your nafs if possible.

25. Organise Halaal Fun

Spend time with your righteous sisters or brothers in Islam. Or with your spouse and children. Play sports, games, share stories and take walks if you can.

Set some time for relaxing after productive work. Use your energy in permissible entertainment so you are not driven to utilise it via an impermissible outlet.

26. Seek Refuge against Shaytan

Shaytan is ruined. He is focused on doing the same to you and your pals so beware of his plots. Seek refuge with Allah (swt) against his plots and evil inclinations. Do not partner with him in disobeying Allah (swt).

”O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan – indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing…” (an-nur, 24: 21)

27. Dhikr

Keep your tongue moist and busy in the remembrance of Allah (swt).

For it is light on the tongue but heavy on the scales. And it is a means of of keeping your heart calm and at rest so you feel no undue attachment to the blings of the dunya including seemingly attractive non mahrams and other prohibited materials.

28. Consider it Jihad

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (saw) said: “…the adultery of the eyes is looking (at [that] which is not allowed)…” (Bukhari and Muslim)

When you restrain that gaze, thank Allah (swt) for the strength he gave you then give yourself a thumbs up for engaging in jihad – by moving away from zina.

29. Modest Interactions with Members of the Opposite Sex

Do not feel you are above temptation. Interact modestly with non-mahrams in necessary situations and refrain from excessive and unnecessary mingling.

Be modest, decent and sincere in your actions – including your speech and what you gaze at.

30. Improve your Personality

Make it a goal to improve your character and relationship with others. Strive to strengthen and showcase your Islamic identity. This includes what you look at and what you do not look at.

Having a true Islamic personality will help you interact with kindness, humility and with a smile while calling to the truth and forbidding the wrong.

*****

For any of the above ideas you choose to practice with, you will be developing many aspects of your spirituality, personality and relationships. You will be improving yourself and making the Ummah a much better place in sha Allah.

Lower your gaze, it is worth it!

”But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, Then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge”

[an-Nazi’at 79:40-41]

johnydon22:
Good try.... But try harder next time

the same you will turn around and tell me it has a son, or wait has a specially chosen people or chose a sun baked arab man... same being you are here implying is unknowable..

Anyway the issue here remains since you think the universe requires a creator since it is complex, this creator too must be very or in fact too complex to have been able to coreate the universe so don't you think must also require a creator?

Because of people that may find it difficult to believe in God and His Commands, He sent different persons at different times to different nations to relay who God is, what He expects from us and the consequences of adhering to or neglecting His commands.
Adam, Noah, Moses, Jesus, Muhammed and several other Prophets were sent.

And I didn't mention to you that He has a son. He is unlike what He created , thus God doesn't have a son. As I stated, he has chosen messengers not sons

Stconvict:
You still contradict yourself. If we don't know everything (which we don't) and our knowledge is limited (which it is), then why is your own knowledge that claims god exist even valid? Dude, in this world we all rely on our knowledge. If we don't, we won't be on NL sharing our views.

As the original post states, the burden of proof is on the person defending the fact that something came from nothing.
Thus you still asking if God exists is like going backwards by miles. Fine, you cant see the Creator but you can see His creations.
I told you God created the whole Universe, you said the Universe came from nothing, which requires proof?
Being a scientific person that I assume you to
be, the next question I expected you to ask is what are the qualities that God possess that makes him different from the things you see which are functions of matter, time and space.
Then we can move on

Stconvict:
You guys don't always make sense in your arguments and it says sth about how you reason. I even wonder why you use concepts proven by scientists to claim the existence of god. Here you mention planets and galaxies, but you refuse to accept the Big Bang Theory.
Before you, christains have always claimed that god lives in the sky, now that science has taken man beyond earth's stratosphere, you guys are now giving us the bullsh*t story that he is invisible and he's everywhere.
And please don't give us the recurring crap that he is self-existent.
If he can be self-existent, why can't the universe be self-existent?

When would atheists ever realise that the existence of God and Science are not parallel lines.?
Science discovers some ( not all) of what God created. Is that difficult to decipher?
The galaxies, planets, earth and all you mentioned where discovered by man through scientific methods? Yes. Who created them?
The issue is not the existence of the Big Bang. The issue is who created the Big Entity that made the Bang?
And to your question about the universe being self-existent because God is self-existent, note that your inability to admit the limitations of your knowledge about all things in existence is the major problem

The fact that we keep on discovering things about the Universe on a daily basis shoułd point out to you that there are much more that we are ignorant about.

johnydon22:
The universe is complex right? yes good.. then going from your analogy the complexity of the universe requires a designer...

then again you forgot that this designer must be super complex in order to have designed something as complex as the universe..

So in order for something that complex as the designer to exist, it must have been designed by another designer who in turn also requires a greater designer and so it stretches into an infinite regress of designers..

It is one thing to realise that there has to be a grand designer for the complex universe, it is another thing to know the qualities this Grand Designer possess.
If you can't grasp His creations in its entirety, how do you expect to grasp the Creator's location, size, origin etc
You know the limitation of the human eye interms of light intensity, grasp, visibility etcetera just as you know the limitations of other organs and those of other animals.
If the fact that you can't feel the texture of Pluto as a planet but you feel you should be able to know the origin and location of the Creator of the Milky Way doesn't amuse you, nothing will

For the last half of the twentieth century, Antony Flew (1923-2010) was the world's most famous atheist. Long before Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris began taking swipes at religion, Flew was the preeminent spokesman for unbelief.

However in 2004, he shocked the world by announcing he had come to believe in God. While never embracing any Religion, Flew only believed in the deistic, Aristotelian conception of God—he became one of the most high-profile and surprising atheist converts. In 2007, he recounted his conversion in a book titled There is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind. Some critics suggested Flew's mental capacity had declined and therefore we should question the credibility of his conversion. Others hailed Flew's book as a legitimate and landmark publication.

A couple months before the book's release, Flew sat down with Strange Notions contributor Dr. Benjamin Wiker for an interview about his book, his conversion, and the reasons that led him to God. Read below and enjoy!






Dr. Benjamin Wiker: You say in There is a God, that "it may well be that no one is as surprised as I am that my exploration of the Divine has after all these years turned from denial...to discovery." Everyone else was certainly very surprised as well, perhaps all the more so since on our end, it seemed so sudden. But in There is a God, we find that it was actually a very gradual process—a "two decade migration," as you call it. God was the conclusion of a rather long argument, then. But wasn't there a point in the "argument" where you found yourself suddenly surprised by the realization that "There is a God" after all? So that, in some sense, you really did "hear a Voice that says" in the evidence itself "'Can you hear me now?'"




Antony Flew: There were two factors in particular that were decisive. One was my growing empathy with the insight of Einstein and other noted scientists that there had to be an Intelligence behind the integrated complexity of the physical Universe. The second was my own insight that the integrated complexity of life itself—which is far more complex than the physical Universe—can only be explained in terms of an Intelligent Source. I believe that the origin of life and reproduction simply cannot be explained from a biological standpoint despite numerous efforts to do so. With every passing year, the more that was discovered about the richness and inherent intelligence of life, the less it seemed likely that a chemical soup could magically generate the genetic code. The difference between life and non-life, it became apparent to me, was ontological and not chemical. The best confirmation of this radical gulf is Richard Dawkins' comical effort to argue in The God Delusion that the origin of life can be attributed to a "lucky chance." If that's the best argument you have, then the game is over. No, I did not hear a Voice. It was the evidence itself that led me to this conclusion.

Wiker: You are famous for arguing for a presumption of atheism, i.e., as far as arguments for and against the existence of God, the burden of proof lies with the theist. Given that you believe that you only followed the evidence where it led, and it led to theism, it would seem that things have now gone the other way, so that the burden of proof lies with the atheist. He must prove that God doesn't exist. What are your thoughts on that?

Flew: I note in my book that some philosophers indeed have argued in the past that the burden of proof is on the atheist. I think the origins of the laws of nature and of life and the Universe point clearly to an intelligent Source. The burden of proof is on those who argue to the contrary.

You can read the full interview on:
http://thedeenshow.com/watch/3352/how-the-worlds-most-notorious-atheist-changed-his-mind

It seems many people are giving the option of praying in a bus while sitting
Is this allowed?
Can anyone relate an Hadith where the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed the Fard prayers while sitted on a camel/ donkey without being on a journey?

May Allah grant us understanding of this deen

For the OP and those in similar predicaments
1. One of the major conditions for the acceptance of Solat is that it must be observed within its time range. Not before or after
2. Allah has made Islam so easy for us.
3. Unlike other faiths, prayers can be observed anywhere on earth (provided there is no proven presence of impurities)
4. You can always perform ablution before you leave home.
5. Endeavour to wear socks after ablution. By so doing you wont need to wash your feet again if you lose your ablution in transit.
6. Equip yourself with a praying mat, adhan alarm, a satchet/bottle of water and compass( most phones have it) when leaving the house
7. The Qiblah direction of Lagos is 63 degrees North.
8. When the time of Subh arrives, alight if you can or wait till the next bus stop.
9. Do a search for the nearest mosque if you can. You would be surprised that mosques are closer than you thought. If not, pray anywhere you deem convenient. It would still be relatively dark so no one may even notice you. Even if they do, it is not strange.
10. Anything you lose in terms of time or money will be fully recompensed by Allah

May Allah make this deen easy for us to practise

For those asking what did God create? He created all these and more


If you reflect on this universe and its wonderful wisdoms, its strange creatures, its intricate design, its greatness and vastness, its complex composition, its creativity, renewal and inventiveness; if you look at the clear sky with all the stars and their constellations and consider the suns and the moons and their orbits; if you think of this earth with its plants, its produce, its minerals, its treasures, its elements and materials; if you look at the animal world and how it is wonderfully guided and inspired; indeed if you look at how man himself is made up, at his many systems, each of which performs a marvellous function; if you look at the world of the oceans and the wonders it contains; if you know the forces of the universe and their mysteries and laws such as electricity, magnetism, the ether, radium; then if you move from considering the nature and qualities of these worlds to the links and interrelationships amongst them and how each is related to the other very closely in such a way that they all constitute one global unit each part of which serves the other parts in the same way as an organ in a single body serves the other organs; if you do all that, you will, without needing evidence, arguments, revelation nor Qur’an, come out with a simple theoretical conclusion, namely: This universe has a Creator, Maker, Originator and this Maker must be great beyond what the feeble human mind can conceive.

Who else felt EY could have done a better job with the entire AC arrangement?
They should try and improve on the following areas
1. 30 people per session was way too much
2. The impulsive changes in allotted time for the different sections were somewhat unprofessional. It reeked of poor planning. One prepares for professional slide presentations according to the duration. And that can't be equated to 'working under pressure' as the recruitment team explained. Working under pressure had to do with constraints of time, resources and personnel relative to the anticipated result. That presentation was to be the result
3. How was teamwork (a core skill) being assessed for about 5-6 teams by just 4 persons? More staff could have been delegated to cover the group sessions
The interview sessions were rushed through as well.

I believe recruitment is the most important operation for the success of any company regardless of its size. A company is as good as the quality of its staff (I own businesses too).

It was reported that the Prophet Muhammed(Peace be upon him) said: 3 are the people for whom the pen is raised i.e their sins are not been recorded by the angels recording human's deeds. They are an insane person, someone who is asleep and a child until he/she attains maturity.


I know the OP is an atheist who posted this as a veiled ridicule to those of us that believe in God. But I am posting the above answers for all genuine seeker of truth.

We have turned the atheists debate inside out, yet they still hold on to science. Please answer me, What has Science ever created? Science only discovers what has already been created, Science modifies it or/and combines it with other created items to produce another form of a created item.
So who creates?
You might not call him God/Allah, but not admitting that there is a creator is pure deceit or delusion.











I testify that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, the Creator of all that exist. And I testify that Muhammed(Peace be upon him, is His Prophet and Messenger

It doesn't remove anything from me to believe in God

But to be frank why wont you believe in God

If you reflect on this universe and its wonderful wisdoms, its strange creatures, its intricate design, its greatness and vastness, its complex composition, its creativity, renewal and inventiveness; if you look at the clear sky with all the stars and their constellations and consider the suns and the moons and their orbits; if you think of this earth with its plants, its produce, its minerals, its treasures, its elements and materials; if you look at the animal world and how it is wonderfully guided and inspired; indeed if you look at how man himself is made up, at his many systems, each of which performs a marvellous function; if you look at the world of the oceans and the wonders it contains; if you know the forces of the universe and their mysteries and laws such as electricity, magnetism, the ether, radium; then if you move from considering the nature and qualities of these worlds to the links and interrelationships amongst them and how each is related to the other very closely in such a way that they all constitute one global unit each part of which serves the other parts in the same way as an organ in a single body serves the other organs; if you do all that, you will, without needing evidence, arguments, revelation nor Qur’an, come out with a simple theoretical conclusion, namely: This universe has a Creator, Maker, Originator and this Maker must be great beyond what the feeble human mind can conceive.

Great array of shine
illuminated the earth.

Beautiful blessed
and gifted since birth.

Sparkles of light
overcame the dark.

He set the standard.
Set the mark.

The Holy Qur'an naturally
flowed out his heart.

Nothing! Nor hardship
could tear it apart.

Soul so perfect with
heart so strong.

Sending light upon his
Ummah. Removing the wrong.

He is our role model who
shone our hearts with light.

Provided the teachings of
Islam that we implement even at night.

He had exceptional character.
So unique and kind.

He gave oceans of wealth to
charity and even the blind.

Subhan Allah our heart craves
to be like him.

His words spoke wisdom
during hardships when
things were dim.

Unlock your imagination
with the illuminating key of success.

Follow the Sunnah and strive
towards your Islamic Potential.
Eternal bless.

Time is essence.
He was super productive with time.

He repented to Allah daily.
What a shining dime.

Only one straight path leads to
Jannah. The As-sirat al-mustaqim.

He was the most compassionate
of mankind. Most loving and the most rahim.

Recite the Quran with Tajweed.
Meet him in Jannah so work
towards your dream.

May Allah at our last breath
make us die as a shaheed.

Shahadah we print on our soul.
The Hadith we read.

He cried tears as deep
as an ocean during Prayer
at night.

Making Sincere du`aa'.
As his feet swelled.
Begging for his Ummah to the Al-Might.

He was tortured and
deeply abused for his Ummah.

Still we neglect prayer,
neglect Islam, and neglect Jumu`ah.

He was an orphan.
Our Beloved. The Blessing To Mankind...

...If he saw the Ummah today.
What would he say? Would he mind?

The sweetness of jannah
is sweeter than the sweetness of our desires.

He spoke the truth, lead by example
and warned mankind of the fires.

Rose so blossomed. Rose so red.

Why?

Because it was watered with our tears.
Our soul craves for him. The Ummah he lead!

By Aaqib Ahmed

I can't fanthom why someone will believe that there is a God and still refuse to accept that Hell exists because God is Merciful.

We have to realise that God is both Merciful and Just. He upholds Justice. You think people like Adolf Hitler would be left to go scot free.

All these escapist mentality of 'if you don't talk about it, it wont affect you' wont help anyone.

The reality is that Hell exist just like Heaven exists.

My candid advice is for everyone to strive towards doing things that will save one from Hell like believing in the only true God, Allah, obeying His Commands and being of benefit to fellow men

As for those that still delude themselves about the non existence of a Creator even when they've never created a thing with their hands or brought anything into existence, I leave you with this words

Nay! You shall come to know!
Again, Nay! You shall come to know!
Nay! If you knew with a sure knowledge (the end result of piling up, you would not have occupied
yourselves in worldly things)
Verily, You shall see the blazing Fire (Hell)!
And again, you shall see it with certainty of sight!
Then, on that Day, you shall be asked about the delight (you indulged in, in this world)! [Quran 102 vs 3-8]

To pay your Zakat In Nigeria or get more info about Zakat related issues, visit

http://www.zakatandsadaqat.org.ng/

@kazlaw2000. The emphasis is not on the emergence of leaders. The critical issue is on supporting other laws opposing that of Allah. According to the unanimous agreement by scholars, this is one of the 10 acts that keep one out of the fold of Islam.
We can only be in control when we are conscious of Allah and keeping to His Commands. That was how the Companions achieved success.
We've been involved in democracy for decades now. Do we have our say?

We vote, yet our sisters and daughters aren't allowed to wear hijab in schools
We can't display our Islamic identities in most offices
We are being systematically marginalised.

Do you think the situation will change if all the major leaders in Nigeria were Muslims?

We will only stop being humiliated when we fear Allah in our words, thoughts and actions.

Wa Allahu 'aalam

@AlBaqir, As Muslims, Allah's laws should be the only governing system for us. That is why we are Muslims.

The concept of what is good or bad should be in the context of Allah's laws. Only when the Shari'ah is silent on issues can we derive benefits and harms using our own principles.
Your argument for democracy having some benefit can be ascribed to alcohol as well.

The issue of Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W) participating in those communal activities was done before Allah sent him the Qur'an. We can't based our actions on that Is there any ruling in the Shari'ah that is based on pre-Islamic laws?

Yes Nigerian system recognises the Shari'ah. It also recognises other anti-Shari'ah systems and rulings in the Nigerian constitution as well. The person you elect is going to rule by all.

The fact that the Messenger strived for years to establish Islam doesn't mean we can't survive without laws of the kuffar. What we should seek is Allah's help and steadfastness to surmount all challenges from following His Commands

We do not need to establish Sharia before we can govern ourselves on these aspects based on the Fitrah of "what is good and what is bad."
- This your statement is quite scary and shouldn't be pronounced by Muslims. Please what determines good or bad if not Shariah?

All the verses you quoted only consolidated the reality. Supporting any legal system opposing that which Allah has revealed is disbelief.

May Allah save us from the evils of our desires and keep us firm on the Right Path

Beloved brother

Why not inform a dedicated and practising brother in your neighbour to always call or flash you when it is time for Solat. The person should also call you after Solah to ascertain that you have prayed if you are mosques apart.
Most importantly make dua'a

Assalam alaykum beloved brothers and sisters
I am sure most people reading this are eagerly waiting for tomorrow so that they can cast their votes, exercise their rights and most importantly drive out the corrupt leadership that has been the source of Fitnah for so long.
Those were my thoughts as well until I had a heart to heart discussion with a brother ( may Allah preserve him in goodness) 2 days ago about voting in a democratic system
Before then, I had read the fatwas of come prominent scholars and faqihs on voting and concluded that
1. I am doing this with a good intention,
2.I am picking the lesser of 2 'evils',
3. If we don't get involved, we would not have a say in governance and would eventually be overrun by the non Muslims in our land,
4. Everyone is doing it, even the highly revered scholars are supporting it. e.t.c

The basis of my stance on not voting is Surah 5 vs 44.

Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah ] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah , and they were witnesses thereto. So do not fear the people but fear Me, and do not exchange My verses for a small price. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the disbelievers.

The emphasis shouldn't be on the voting process as such because some see it as just a selection process and there is not much difference with the Islmaic legislated Shura system.
The emphasis is on what the elected person is going to rule by

Whoever emerges as Nigerian president would definitely swear to defend and act upon the Nigerian constitution come the 29th of May.

Is ruling/ judging by the Nigerian constitution opposing to what is in the Quran?
Take a look at both books and their rulings on Robbery convicts, Interest, Marriage, Punishments for theft, adultery, rape etc. are they similar?

We might then be thinking, we are just voting them in and not the ones passing the judgements. But lets remember that those that support Kufr are not exempted from the act as well.

The bottom line is:
Being ruled by a non-Muslim (if Allah wills) that is corrupt and an Islamophobe is Fitnah (tribulation)
Supporting a Muslim to attain power and act on other than Allah's laws is Kufr(Disbelief).

Now ask yourself. Which is worse? Kufr or Fitnah?

For those that still think they are doing it with the right intention even if it is haram.
Can you steal to help someone or to finance a mosque project even if it is haram?

Lets try and overcome our desires and stand firm.

If death meets us at the polling booth, is it Jannah or Jahannam/


Then is it the judgement of [the time of] ignorance they desire? But who is better than Allah in judgement for a people who are certain [in faith] (5:50)

There is a problem with having benefit/harm as your criteria for deciding your actions. History tells us and the very nature of our perceptions tell us that what we consider beneficial today we may consider harmful tomorrow. We have to ask ourselves who decides what is good or bad for us.

The key reference to answer this question is in the quran where Allah says:

‘…and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.’ (Surah Baqarah: 216)

As Muslims our criteria should simply be halal and haram. This gives us a certain level of stability as well as an objective and timeless base to work from. Partaking in a system of governance that does not recognise Allah as the sovereign legislator is haram. This is an aqeeda issue.

Even if your justifying it using the principle of choosing the lesser of two evils, the ulema have clarified this issue. It applies only if it is a life and death situation and when there are only two options. Even if these conditions are satisfied, you still have to hate it in your heart. The two evils (harams) in this context are partaking in a kuffar system and abstaining (which apparently means you’ve isolated yourself and rendered yourself inoperable in society). Can someone please explain how the current reality is a life and death situation? And what makes you think there are only two options available to achieve our objectives (whatever they may be)?

Can we not be active in society outside of the political system? Erm, well, the simple answer is yes, yes we can.

What about this argument that the ulama have come to a consensus that voting is permissible. Well, my question would be how exactly have you quantified that? Who are these exclusive set of ulamas? As far as I’m concerned this is a complete falsity as there are many ulema in the muslim world that say voting is haram. There is no consensus.

Even if the majority view it as permissible, we need to understand that we respect our scholars and place them on a lofty pedestal because they follow the wahi (revelation). Our reference is the revelation not the scholar. Scholars are fallible.

We have countless sects amongst the Muslims. Do you think these sects were started by layman? No, they were started by scholars – even the sects that have deviated. It’s like we’re living in an age where people are completely stricken by paralysis and have lost the capacity to think critically. Snap out of it!

Note to job seekers:
In answering this kind of question, there are 3 paths to make the right impression
1.) Take some time to think about this and start by defining both terms ( if you really know them). Blabbing or waffling will give the opposite undesired impression. Then give real life examples of each attribute.
Thereafter, give the reason why you prefer one to the other
2) Tell the interviewer that it is desirable to have both attributes
3) Admit to little difference between the two terms but promise to research more into them

.

urchbarbie:
Amen! May we not experience it. Am currently in d north n I wld say majority of d sufferings of dese ppl r brought upon them by dier own folly. Am not denying d fact dat PEG has a hand in some vital issues dat could av settled dese war zones. These northerner are highly gullible individual. They allow dier religion rule them, yet we cry dat politics shldnt be sentimental. How can dese BH ppl be in ur area and u can't help urselves by either giving out relevant info to regain ur state/community

It is people like you that play God
Because you live in a peaceful place you can type that they are being attacked because they are gullible
Ask yourself, if you were a resident of Baga, Chibok or Gamboa what would you have done without presidential aid that could have prevented all these?
I would love to hear you answer