For centuries women all over the world have been deprived of basic rights and freedoms. Here in North America, it was not until 1963 when pay equity between genders was recognized, a basic right that Islam acknowledged long before. Furthermore, women were under severe prohibitions with respect to pursuing education, owning property, conducting business, and inheriting money, until hundreds of years after Muslim women had established their own personal enterprises through the divine legislation of Islam.

For years here and abroad, often times mass media and the theology of various faiths and religions have perpetuated views towards the degradation of women. Even today in 2012, women from many walks of life continue to experience great challenges amidst man-made laws and ideals resulting in large numbers of women converting to Islam.

Women in Islam

By the mercy of Allah we are honored to present a two day Ilminar titled “Women in Islam”. This 2 day seminar will highlight the unprecedented rights and freedoms Islam gave women 1400 years ago.

The topics will be introduced and examined surrounding four core issues:

1. Instructors will provide clarity and answers to some of the greatest fallacies of our time:

Who has the right to give divorce and why?
Is a single woman’s witness not competent to a single male?
Genuine and authenticated explanation of the Quranic verse 34:4
Menstruation…A curse?
Fairness in the distribution of inheritance.
Hijab: A form of oppression or freedom?
Gender Equity! Does Equality mean Identicality?
And more…

2. Ethical and legal rights related to our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. Case studies will be examined in order to better understand practical solutions, for example:

Mahmoodah has reached the age of marriage. She is also in the midst of wrapping up her studies. She is under enormous pressure from her parents to get married. She has not come across any suitable man of her liking. She feels her parents do not really care who she gets married to as long as she just gets married. Is it fair and allowed for her to be pressured in this manner?
Aliyah is a married working mother of three children. After a long day of work she is expected to prepare dinner, do the dishes, clean up after the kids, put the kids to bed and make tea for her in-laws. She is tired and exhausted. What does Islam say about this?
Asfa is the sister of Ahmed. Ahmed has learned that his sister is an abusive relationship where she is being treated with cruelty from the time she got married. However Asfa continues to stop her brother from addressing the matter as she fears this will only make her marriage worse. How should this situation be handled?

3. Sisters only workshops conducted by Qualified female instructor(s) .Topics include:

The lessons learnt from the 4 greatest Women
Tips on enhancing the mother-daughter relationship

4. Finally we will briefly touch on the lives of some of Islam’s greatest scholars, who took revolutionary steps to create awareness towards human rights and the rights of women.

A detailed description and schedule of all the sessions will be posted two weeks prior to the program Inshallah.

Who Is this Program for?
This Ilminar is open and will cater towards brothers and sisters of all walks of life. We are confident (with the help of Allah) that this will be amongst the most beneficial courses you have ever taken, empowering you to feel confident in your beliefs and eradicating any misconceptions you may have.

Venue
The program will be held in a classroom setting for both brothers and sisters at Jame Masjid Markham located at 2900 Denison Street, Markham Ontario L3R 4J8. Seating is limited.

Schedule
Wedding or not, we have structured this program in a manner that will allow you to carry on with your regular weekend activities. The general timings for the program are as follows:

Saturday June 2 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday June 3 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

A detailed schedule will be e-mailed after confirmed registration.

Instructors
Shaykh Ibrahim Madani
Shaykh Sufyan Chhapra
Shaykh Fayaz Tilly
Shaykh Imran Khan
Shaykh Omar Subedar
Shaykh AbuBakr Mulla
Shaykh Hassen Ahmed
Ustaadah Umm Zainab (tentative)

Admission  Only $15* includes:

Lunch both days
The priceless experience of seeking knowledge in the presence of learned scholars

*$25 after May 27th 2012

Additional material will be available for purchase.

For any further assistance you may contact servantsofallah1@gmail.com

Surely Allah does not forgive that a partner be ascribed to Him, although He forgives any other sins for whomever He wills.
He who associates anyone with Allah in His Divinity has indeed forged a mighty lie and committed an awesome sin. Surah An-Nisa [4:48]

“O you who have believed, if you support Allah , He will support you and plant firmly your feet.” (Quran 47:7)

To read more Beautiful Ayahs & Hadiths on the go download the new HOTD app here http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/hadith-of-the-day/id480437544?mt=8 or Search Hadith of the Day in the App Store!

In Islam Every Day is “MOTHERS DAY”

One day a man came to see the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. It seemed that he was trying to solve something but couldn’t quite work it out. So he asked the Prophet. ”Tell me, O Prophet!” I have many relatives and many friends whom I love, and whom I wish to care for and help. But I often find it difficult to decide which of them has the greatest claim upon me? Which of them should come first?” The Prophet replied immediately, ”Your mother should come first and before all others.”

The man was very pleased to have this clear guidance from the Prophet. But of course there were all his other relatives and his friends, so he asked ”and after my mother, who has the greatest claim upon me?” The Prophet’s reply this second time surprised him. ”Your mother!” he said again.

The man wondered why the Prophet was repeating himself. Perhaps he had not spoken clearly, the man thought, so he asked the question again, ”What I want to know is, after my mother, who has the greatest claim upon me? Again the Prophet said ”your mother!” Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him said:
Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother!

The Prophet had now said it three times. Slowly, the man realized why he had done so. ”The Prophet means that my mother is extremely important, so much so that my duty to her must be stressed over and over again. Even so, the man’s thoughts ran on, ”what about all the others I love and wish to care for?” Still uncertain and wanting to know more, he once again turned to the Prophet and said, ”and after my mother, who comes after her? Is there anyone besides her?” The Prophet then replied ”after your mother, your father.” ”And then?” asked the man. ”Then people who are nearest to you,” said the Prophet. Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Prophet.

Abu Hurayrah [Radi-Allahu anhu] said: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “The Hour will not pass until time is shortened, a year will be like a month, a month will be like a week, a week will be like a day, a day will be like an hour, and an hour will be like the burning of a stalk of palm fibres.”
[Ahmad]

“And Walk Not On The Earth With Conceit And Arrogance. Verly, You Can Neither Rend Nor Penetrate The Earth, Nor Can You Attain A Stature Like The Mountains Of Height.” (Surah Al-‘Isrā’- 17:37)

The best of sinners…. are the ones who repent

By His mercy towards weak man,(the Most Merciful) Allah has opened the gate of repentance to him, and has commanded him to turn to Him, every time sin overwhelms him. Were it not for that, man would suffer a great deal of hardship and would not have the drive to draw closer to his Lord; he would lose all hope of His forgiveness and pardon. Repentance is something that is necessary as a result of man’s shortcomings and human failings.

Allah has enjoined repentance on all kinds of people in this Ummah: those who are foremost in good deeds, those who follow a middle course, and those who wrong their own selves by doing haraam things).

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful” [al-Noor 24:31]

“O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance!” [al-Tahreem 66:8]

And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “O people, repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness, for I repent one hundred times a day.” Narrated by Muslim, 2702 from the hadith of al-Agharr al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him).

Allah has bestowed His mercy and encompassed His slaves with his kindness. He is Forbearing and does not punish us or destroy us straightaway, rather He gives us respite, and He commanded His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to proclaim His generosity:

“Say: O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Zumar 39:53 – interpretation of the meaning].

And He says, out of kindness towards His slaves (interpretation of the meaning):

“Will they not turn with repentance to Allah and ask His forgiveness? For Al Khair laah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Maa’idah 5:74]

“And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them (till his death)” [Ta-Ha 20:82]

“And those who, when they have committed Faahishah (illegal sexual intercourse) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins; — and none can forgive sins but Allah — and do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:135]

“And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah’s forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Nisa’ 4:110]

Allah calls to repentance those who committed the gravest form of shirk and sin, those who say that ‘Eesa (peace be upon him) is the son of God – exalted be Allah far above what the wrongdoers say. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Will they not turn with repentance to Allah and ask His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Maa’idah 5:74]

And He opens the door of repentance to the hypocrites, who are worse than the kuffaar who openly show their kufr. Allaah says:

“Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them.
146. Except those who repent (from hypocrisy), do righteous good deeds, hold fast to Allah, and purify their religion for Allah (by worshipping none but Allah, and do good for Allah’s sake only, not to show off), then they will be with the believers. And Allah will grant the believers a great reward”
[al-Nisa’ 4:145-146]

One of the attributes of the Lord is that He accepts repentance and rejoices over it by His grace. Allah says:

“And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins, and He knows what you do” [al-Shoora 42:25]

“Know they not that Allah accepts repentance from His slaves and takes the Sadaqaat (alms, charity), and that Allah Alone is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful?” [al-Tawbah 9:104]

It was narrated that Abu Hamzah Anas ibn Maalik al-Ansaari (may Allah be pleased with him), the servant of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah rejoices more over the repentance of His slave than any one of you who finds his camel after having lost it in a desolate land.” Agreed upon.

According to a report narrated by Muslim (2747): “Allah rejoices more over the repentance of His slave than any one of you if he is on his camel in a desolate land, then it runs away from him and on it is his food and drink, and he despairs of finding it, so he goes to a tree and lies down in its shade, having despaired of finding his camel, then while he is like that, it suddenly appears in front of him and he takes hold of its reins and says, because of his intense joy, ‘O Allaah, You are my slave and I am your lord,’ making this mistake because of the intensity of his joy.”

Allah knows best.

O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. (2:153)

I swear by the night when it draws a veil,
And the day when it shines in brightness,
And the creating of the male and the female,
Your striving is most surely (directed to) various (ends).

Then as for him who gives away and guards (against evil),
And accepts the best,
We will facilitate for him the easy end.
And as for him who is niggardly and considers himself free from need (of Allah), And rejects the best, We will facilitate for him the difficult end. And his wealth will not avail him when he perishes.

Surely Ours is it to show the way,
And most surely Ours is the hereafter and the former.
Therefore I warn you of the fire that flames:
None shall enter it but the most unhappy,
Who gives the lie (to the truth) and turns (his) back.
And away from it shall be kept the one who guards most (against evil),
Who gives away his wealth, purifying himself
And no one has with him any boon for which he should be rewarded,
Except the seeking of the pleasure of his Lord, the Most High.
And he shall soon be well-pleased.
Surah Al-Layl (92:1-21)

INSTRUCTORS: Shaykh Omar Subedar & Shaykh Yusuf Badat

DURATION: 12 Weekend Morning Sessions
TIMING: 9:30 am to 11:30 am Saturday & Sundays mornings
START DATE: May 19, 2012  END DATE: June 24, 2012
COST: $100 early bird – $120 afterwords (includes text book & material)

COURSE OUTLINE: Click here
LOCATION: Oxford College of Arts, 670 Progress Ave, Scarborough, ON (401 & McCowen) 
REGISTRATION: Click Here

“I am not worried about whether my du’a will be responded to, but rather I am worrried about whether I will be able to make du’a or not. So if I have been guided by Allah to make du’a, then (I know) that the response will come with it”. – Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra)

Photo By AnNamir

Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah , they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allah , Lord of the Throne, above what they describe. Surah Al-‘Anbyā’ (21:22)

Jabir (radi Allahu anhu) stated: “As the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) taught us the Quran, so also he instructed us to observe Istikhara in every matter. The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) used to say:

‘When anyone among you is perplexed over an important matter, he should perform two Rakahs of supererogatory (nafl) prayer and then make this dua:

O Allah, I ask You to show me what is best through Your knowledge, and bring it to pass through Your power, and I ask You of Your immense favour; for You are All-Powerful and I am not, You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of the Unseen. O Allah, if You know this matter to be better for me in my religion, livelihood, and final outcome, then bring it about and facilitate it for me, and bless me with abundance therein. And if You know this matter to be worse for me in my religion, livelihood, and final outcome, then keep it from me, and keep me from it, and bring about the good for me whatever it may be, and make me pleased with it.’” [Sahih Bukhari]

Istikhara means “to ask for goodness and welfare.”

Suppose you have two job offers. Both are halal. Both are comparable. Which one should you take? Only Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) knows which will be better for your Akhirah and Dunya, long-term and short-term. There are so many hidden factors that we cannot possibly know about. So why not ask the One who does know and is the Most Sincere for your welfare? It is Sunnah (recommended) to pray two Rakahs and then make the Istikhara dua. However one may make the dua on its own, or pray the two Rakahs alone with the intention of seeking Allah’s guidance in the matter. The two Rakahs may be prayed at any time of day or night except for the forbidden times of prayer. After you have sincerely sought Allah’s guidance, then you simply follow the course suggested to your heart or that you find is made easy for you to do. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “One who observes Istikhara is never disappointed, and the one who takes counsel is never put to shame; and the one who observes economy does not have to depend on others.” [Tabarani]

Commentary: There are many choices we have to make all the time. Some obvious important matters are those related to marriage or employment. But there are other matters that may appear to be small but could have far reaching consequences. Only Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) knows what is best for you and He is willing to give the advice for free. Whenever you are in doubt or perplexed regarding what to do make Istikhara, consult Allah and ask him what to do!