Living Islam (mission, prophet, marriage, faith, muslims)

[Cordoba]

The First Islamic Democracy in Madinah

The first true democracy which addressed the public at large, specially in sensitive issues like electing the ruler, was recorded immediately after the death of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

When the Prophet Muhammad felt he was dying, he wanted to settle the issue of his successor to prevent people from having splits among themselves; specially that the newborn state he established in the Peninsula was full of not only various but also historically rivaling ethnic, tribal and political factions.

Deep inside him, Prophet Muhammad wanted his best friend and companion during the Hijrah (emigration from Makkah at the time of the Prophet ), Abu Bakr, to succeed him, but he could not have had his wish outspoken because this would have gone against people's human right to choose their ruler.

He only asked Abu Bakr to lead the people, during his last illness, in the congregational prayer in a symbolic gesture of his wish. He did not do any more to let people understand his will, which if he had declared frankly, people would have obeyed blindly.

But for the Prophet, more important than having Abu Bakr as a successor was to educate his citizens the principle of democracy as the only cornerstone for building a modern state which guarantees social justice and national security.

Although most people understood the gesture, yet others insisted on practicing their right to choose.

Two Main Political Parties

At the time of the Prophet's death, the main political parties in Madinah were the Muhajirun, or the emigrants — mainly those who emigrated with him from Makkah to Madinah to escape tyranny — and the Ansar, or the supporters. These were the inhabitants of Madinah who received him and his people, hosted them and divided their own wealth among them.

After the Ansar had collected themselves together, on hearing the news of the Prophet's death, their leaders held a meeting in the colonnade or "thaqifat Bani Saad" which is a special place for public congregations, and they prepared their nominee, Saad ibn Ubadah, for the position of a successor. ...

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1203758804840&pagename=Z one-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout

[Cordoba]

The Meaning of Wisdom

Q: What is the meaning of Al-Hikma in Islam ?

A: Practically speaking, a wise person is someone who is able to make best decisions at the right time and the right place.

Naturally, this is associated with a type of maturity, which is not necessarily a function age. Also, such a possessor of wisdom is thought to have both a better grasp with the bigger picture of things and, most importantly, a faculty apt to make decisions and commitments that are more viable in the long run. So on the operational level, wisdom is associated with not having short-sightedness.

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1203757880034&pagename=IslamOnline-English-AAbout_Islam%2FAskAboutIslamE%2FAskAboutIslamE

[Cordoba]

Who Is "Allah"?

The name "Allah" is a word that is heard quite often these days whether it is on the television or passed along in conversation. But most non-Muslims have no idea who Allah is ...

Muslims believe that Allah is the One and Only God without partners and that the name "Allah" is unique to the sole Creator of this World and everything in it. To liken Allah to another supposed god in any way shape or form is to commit the one unforgivable sin of shirk, or ascribing partners to Allah ...

Muslims believe in submitting their entire will to Allah through acts of worship, obedience and good deeds. Muslims believe that Allah is ever-present watching over His Creation and is always close to them ...

The Quran reveals that there are Beautiful Names of Allah, which is how Muslims get to know the Creator. Muslims are forbidden to ponder upon Allah’s appearance or to attribute Him to anything in this World as some faiths liken Allah to man. Islam rejects this entirely. We can know about Allah from His beautiful names of which Prophet Muhammad said:

"Verily, there are ninety-nine names of God, one hundred minus one. He who enumerates (and believes in them) them would get into Paradise." (Al-Bukhari)

Some of the names are:

Al-Wadud — The Loving
Al-Khaliq — The Creator
Al-Ahad — The One
Al-Aziz — The Mighty and Strong

The best way for humans to understand Allah as the Creator is to open their eyes and see His design. Who else but Allah could create a flower as perfect as the rose? ...

Allah is the Most Kind and the Most Merciful. All that Allah has asked for humans to do is to be pious, worship Him alone and be kind to our fellow man. In return, humans are the veritable owners of the Earth to rule it as they see fit as Allah continuously showers His innumerable blessings upon humanity ...

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1203758872359&pagename=Z one-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout

[Cordoba]

Don't Hate… Educate

Prophet Muhammad's Communication Skills

This golden rule is reflected in the behavior of the Prophet who taught that a smile is charity, even to strangers, and always used a person's favorite name to address him, even with enemies.

He sat anywhere in a gathering not in the center, he didn't select a status title, and refused that people stand up for him. He always allowed personal direct contact for both friends and foes. He used to clear a place opposite him for the guest and never pulled away from the conversation first, even when it got aggressive.

Someone once pulled the Prophet's cloak forcefully to get his attention, but the Prophet didn't respond with equal force, he merely ordered him firmly to let go, and the man did out of the sheer authority of the order.

He respected even the youngest or poorest until each one thought himself the most favored ...

Don't Hate… Educate - Reading Islam.com

[Cordoba]

Islam A State of Becoming

Remember that Islam is a state of becoming not a state of being. Each day you must strive to improve and better yourself -- and you will improve.

Tazkiya or this new program for self-improvement that you now find yourself in, is a process that unfolds itself step by step.

You cannot expect to change all at once. This is against the laws of nature. The Prophet was always aware of this when he was dealing with his Companions.

Whenever someone embraced Islam, the Prophet would not ask that person to do everything immediately. Instead, he would teach and expect that person to start fulfilling his obligations only as much as he could bear at a time.

This gradual process of change is also clearly reflected in the manner in which the Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years. In all your efforts towards becoming a better believer, you must bear in mind this principle of gradualism

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1199279586517&pagename=Z one-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout

[Cordoba]

When Everybody Lets You Down
The Prophet's Trip To Taif

... the Prophet had to explore new avenues in his search for support. After long deliberation, he set out on foot for Taif, a mountainous town about 110 kilometers from Makkah. His only companion on this trip was his faithful servant, Zayd ibn Harithah.

Taif was populated by the Thaqif, the second largest tribe in Arabia. As he began his journey, Muhammad was full of hope. If the Thaqif would respond favorably to the call of Islam, that would signify a new, happier phase in the history of the Divine message. ...

None gave him a word of encouragement ...

When the Prophet reentered Makkah after his disappointing journey to Taif, he must have felt that he was in a very dire situation. Within the same year he had lost his loving wife and his uncle, who afforded him unwavering support.

His attempt to compensate for this dual loss with outside support not only failed to win him anything, but also compelled him to seek the protection of al-Mutim, a Quraysh notable who did not believe in Islam. Muhammad was now a fully aware tat he could no longer rely on his own clan, the Hashemites, for any measure of firm support.

He felt himself alone in the whole world. His few followers were no match for the forces opposing him. Yet he firmly believed in the truth of the message he was preaching. His faith in God did not waver.

http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1209357297704&pagename=Z one-English-Discover_Islam%2FDIELayout

[Cordoba]

Islam & Technological Progress

The pursuit of any proper and beneficial knowledge can bring us nearer to Allah and earn for us His blessings, as long as it facilitates for humanity the habitation and management of the Earth, and the establishment of the faith therein.

As the jurist al-Mâwardî put it: “…anything that helps us realizes our duties and develop civilized life on Earth.” This includes Islamic knowledge as well as the various knowledge pursuits in the fields of medicine, craftsmanship, commerce, technology, and culture. All of these types of knowledge benefit humanity and help us in fulfilling our duties as vicegerents of Allah on Earth.

http://islamtoday.com/showme_weekly_2006.cfm?cat_id=30&sub_cat_id=878