The man was a warrior, but the woman became very much afraid because it seemed almost hopeless:

The boat was small and the storm was really huge, and any moment they were going to be drowned. But the man sat silently, calm and quiet, as if nothing was happening.

The woman was trembling and she said : “Are you not afraid ? This may be our last moment of life! It doesn’t seem that we will be able to reach the other shore. Only some miracle can save us; otherwise death is certain. Are you not afraid? Are you mad or something? Are you a stone or something?”

The man laughed and took the sword out of its sheath.

The woman was even more puzzled: What he was doing?

Then he brought the naked sword close to the woman’s neck, so close that just a small gap was there, it was almost touching her neck.

He said :” Are you afraid ?”

She started to laugh and said :” Why should I be afraid ?,If the sword is in your hands, why I should be afraid? I know you love me.”

He put the sword back and said, : “This is my answer. I know God Loves me, and the storm is in His hands SO WHATSOEVER IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS GOING TO BE GOOD.

If we survive, good; if we don’t survive, good ,because everything is in His hands and He cannot do anything wrong. “

Allah( Subhana wa taaala) say’s in the Quran :

“But it may happen that ye hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that ye love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knoweth, ye know not” (Quran, 2:216).

Make a habit of saying Alhamdulillah and acknowledge Allah in everything you do. It’s very easy to forget and to neglect this. Acknowledging Allah as often as possible will save you from becoming selfish, self-centered and proud.

Therefore, Brothers and Sisters, always be optimistic and respond with “Alhamdulillah” and Remember that Everything happens with you is for GOOD. — 

Alhamdulilah [“Praise be to Allah.”] – الْحَمْدللّهِ

Source: Unknown

That is the whole reason I started this blog. So far, it has served its purpose.

Anyway this post is about welcoming my friend to the world of blogging and to the wordpress family. Najma Aijaz, a school mate, a class mate, a friends friend, a close friend, a sister and some one I look up to with a lot of love and respect. She has been there for me when I needed friends and people I can trust around me. And like they say a friend in need…. is Najma indeed ! Anyway this is the link to her blog: eimaan.wordpress.co – so go ahead, give it a read and enjoy what she has to say.

Najma, now you can thank me

- Prepared by M. Tahir Farrath -

Bis-mil LAAHIR Rahmaanir Rahiim

As every Muslim knows, Eimaan is something which has to be self-consciously acquired in order to become a Muslim, constantly maintained in order to remain a Muslim, and continually reinforced and fortified throughout life.

Eimaan is the foremost and most essential requirement of Islaam, for the Messenger of ALLAAH (S.W.A.S.) was asked:

Ayyul A’maali Afdol? Qaal: Al-Islaam. Fa-Qaal: Ayyul Islaami Afdol? Qaal: Al-Eimaan.

“Which deeds are best? He said: Al-Islaam. So (the companion) asked: Which Islaam is best? He replied: Eimaan.” (Bukhaariy & Muslim).

Unless Eimaan enters the heart, one cannot call oneself a Mu_min (believer), for ALLAAH (S.W.T.) Says:

Qaalatil A’raabu Aamanna. Qul-lam Tu_minuu walaakin Quuluu Aslamnaa wa lammaa Yadekhuil Eimaannu fii Quluubikum

“The Arabs say: We believe. Say (O Muhammad): You have no faith, but say ‘We have submitted’ for faith has not yet entered your hearts.” (49:14)

Therefore, Eimaan is not about Al-Iqeraaru bil-Lisaan – accepting or expressing it with the tongue, but At-Tasdiiqu bil-Qalb – to truly accept it with the heart (2:8-9), followed by appropriate actions. As such, Eimaan has seventy odd (Baatin – inner and Dhaahir – outer) branches.

The Sharhul ‘Aqaa-id among the Ahnaaf states that “It is not proper in the Sharii’ah to proclaim the same person as a Mu_min but not a Muslim or a Muslim but not a Mu_min”. None can judge who is a Mu_min, because faith is in one’s heart and in matters of Eimaan, one’s profession or status has no relevance (26:111-112).

However, one should not take Eimaan for granted because even the slighest misinterpretation may border on Kufr (disbelief), and without proper Eimaan, one cannot be regarded as a Muslim though one was born in a Muslim family as a Muslim. In order to acquire such an Eimaan in ALLAAH, it is necessary to first reject every other authority except Allaah. Hence, if one desires to be successful in the next life, then everything the Qur-aan says as truth is Eimaan. (2:26)

Eimaan is usually translated in English as faith or belief, and faith in turn signifies acceptance without proof or argument, without reference to reason or thought, knowledge or insight. According to the Arabic, it means “to be free from lies and differences”, and to verify or accept with the heart. Linguistically, it means “to attest to something with confirmation, whether true or considered false (by others)”.

On the other hand, the Arabic root of the word Eimaan and Amina is A-M-N, which means: to be calm and quiet (in one’s heart); to be protected from fear; trustworthiness and truthfulness. Thus, Eimaan means to accept truthfully, to be convinced, to verify, to rely upon or have confidence in the Diin of Islaam.
According to the Qur-aan, Eimaan is conviction which is based upon reason and knowledge. A conviction that results from full mental acceptance and intellectual satisfaction. The kind of conviction that gives one a feeling of inner contentment and peace. One who accepts truth in such a way that it ensures his own peace and helps him to safeguard the peace and security of the rest of mankind is a Mu_min. Hence, Al-Mu_min is one of the attributes of ALLAAH (S.W.T.) Himself (59:23).

In the context of Eimaan, many use verse (2:62) and say that ALLAAH has said that if Muslims, Jews, Christians, and Sabians believe in God and the hereafter and do good deeds, then they will go to Heaven. Further on, however, the Qur-aan goes on to mention the additional components as follows:

Walaakinnal Birra man Aamana bil-LAAHI wal Yawmil Aakhiri wal Malaa-ikati wal Kitaabi wan Nabiyyiin

“but indeed righteousness is to believe in ALLAAH, and in the Hereafter, and in Malaa-ikah, and in the Book, and the Prophets.” (2:177)

Wa man-Yakfur bil-LAAHI wa Malaa-ikatihii wa Kutubihii wa Rusulihii wal Yawmil Aakhiri fa-qade Dolla Dolaalan ba’iid

“and whoever denies ALLAAH, His Malaa-ikah, His books, His messengers, and the day of judgement has gone far far astray.” (4:136)

Someone narrated that the person sitting next to him asked, “What is your faith?” The man’s curiosity turned into some kind of metaphysical discussion when I asked him, “What do you mean by faith?” He replied, “You know, everybody has a faith, except, of course, atheists.” I continued, “This does not explain what is meant by faith?” To this, he gave the following explanation: A Christian’s faith is Christianity; a Jew’s faith is Judaism; a Muslim’s faith is Islam; and so on. It seemed to me that my new friend thought that he had a good deal of understanding in this matter. I interrupted, “But you are talking about religion.” He continued, “Yes, kind of — but religion is different from faith. For example, a Christian’s faith is Christianity but his religion could be Catholicism, Protestantism, etc. . .”

According to my new friend’s logic, a Muslim’s faith is Islaam and his religion could well be Sunni or Shi’ti, etc. “But that is not how most Muslims think”, I told my friend; “Muslims think that faith is Islaam, which is considered as their religion”. I then asked my friend, “What do you mean by religion?” At this point, he went on: “Religion is too complex to understand. It is a private matter between man and God, and your faith is your personal subjective belief in Him in whatever way you prefer…etc.” (Mansoor Alam). In other words, one should be having a peronal relationship with God.

Thus, existentialists have suggested that people have the courage to accept that while no meaning has been designed in the universe, we can each provide a meaning for ourselves.

(Continued in Part 2)

http://groups.google.com/group/the-islamic-study-circle