Pearls of Wisdom

United For Change is historic; the maiden voyage is a unique convention entitled: United For Change Presents: United Against Malaria, One Goal, One Body during Labor Day weekend at the Gaylord Hotel, just outside of Washington, D.C.

Rarely have so many Muslim speakers committed themselves to this day, and collectively found agreement in a cause of this nature.

Tickets are now available for the event ‘United Against Malaria’ taking place at the Gaylord Convention Center in National Harbor, MD, sponsored by Muslims United for Change, and Islamic Relief.

Amongst the many confirmed speakers to attend the convention will be:

Shaykh Muhammad Ninowy, Imam Mohamed Majid, Shaykh Yasir Qadhi, Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Suhaib Webb and Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Imam Syed Naqvi.

The ticket prices are as follows

Adults - $30.00
Students - $25.00
Children (2-12) - $5.00 - includes childcare

You can buy tickets online at http://www.muslimsunitedforchange.com/events/ or look out for representatives in your community and masjids that are selling tickets insha Allah. These tickets will be cheaper and you will not have to pay the online processing fee!

Also that same night an Iftar Dinner/Tarawih will take place. This is a separate event with limited seating! The ticket prices are as follows

Adults - $30.00
Children (2-12) - $15.00

Insha Allah please come and support us in helping our brothers and sisters fight against Malaria and spread the word! Tell all your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc.

Buy your tickets now before they are sold out!!!

Jazak Allah Khairun and May Allah continue to bless us in this beautiful deen. Ameen.

Allah says, “…whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind…” Al-Maeda 5:32

Rasullah SAW said, “The Believers, in their love, mutual kindness, and close ties, are like one body; when any part complains, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever.”

At the time of Bani Israel, there was a man in a small village, called Barsisa. He was, what you call, a monk. But he was a true Christian. He believed in Tawheed and believed Isa (peace be upon him) was a messenger of Allah. One day three brothers decided to go for Jihad. But they had a sister and they did not want to leave her alone. So they went looking for someone to take care of her. The town people suggested to leave her with Barsisa, because of his piety. So they went to him and when they asked him, he said, “I seek refuge from the cursed Shaytan” and said No! This was because he was scared of falling into sin ( due to the potential fitnah it may cause). Then Shaytan came to Barsisa in the form of Waswasah (Whisperings). Shaytan is very smart and knew Barsisa had a soft heart. So he told Barsisa, “What if they can’t find someone good and leave her with someone bad, wouldn’t that be your fault?” Now Barsisa did not realize this was Shaytan whispering in his heart, and because of his compassion for others, he decided to accept their request and help the woman.
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MUJAAHADATU-SH-SHAYTAAN
Prepared by Abul-Layth

Bismillaah, wa-l-hamdu-lillaah, wa-s-salaatu wa-s-salaam alaa rasoolillaah!
Amma ba’d:
Allaah says,

As for those who strive hard in Our cause, We will surely guide them to Ours Paths (Allaah’s religion) [Sooratu-l-’Ankaboot, 29: 69].

Therefore, guidance is dependent upon striving hard, not just making an effort, but to truly struggle with all one’s might! The word Allaah uses for striving is ‘jaahada’. From the verb (a doing word if you like) ‘Jaahada’ come the words ‘jihaad’ and ‘al-mujaahadah’. Ar-Raaghib al-Asfahaanee (rahimahullaah) defines these words in his famous book on the language of the Qur’aan, ‘Mufradaatu-Ghareebi-l-Qur’aan’ thus: ‘the words jihaad and al-mujaahadah both mean to exhaust ones resources to resist the enemy. Jihaad is of three types:

1. Resisting the apparent enemy
2. Resisting the shayateen (Iblees)
3. Resisting the temptations of the self.’ [p.101]

Shaykh Abdu-l-Qaadir al-Jilaanee (rahimahullaah) has mentioned that there are four targets for the plots of Shaytaan: the qalb (the heart), the nafs (lower self), the ‘aql (the mind), and the hawaa (passionate instincts/ desires). Concerning this he said,
‘On the one hand the angel is inculcating taqwaa in the heart. The devil, on the other hand, is busy instilling fujoor (moral depravity) in to the nafs. As a result the nafs tries to persuade the qalb to use the limbs and organs of the body for impious and immoral purposes.
Within the physical constitution there are also two target areas: the ‘aql (the mind) and the hawaa (passionate instincts). The functioning of each of theses is subject to the will of a controlling influence, namely, that of helpful guidance (tawfeeq) and that of seductive [satanic] temptation (ighwaa’).’ Read the rest of this entry »

The members of a profane society are, in the main, rude, uncaring and inconsiderate. The reason for this is the egoism of the unbelievers. They all think of their own benefit. Others have no importance for them.

However, a real group of believers are completely different from such people, because one of the significant characteristics of the believers is their refusal to fall a prey to their own greed. Believers who overcome their vain desires, will naturally be caring and considerate towards other believers. The Qur’an tells of that kind of self-sacrificing relationship between the refugees who fled with Mohammed to Medina and the faithful people of Medina who helped them:

Read the rest of this entry »

As salaamo alaikum wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatu sisters and brothers,

FYI

1st Summer Islamic Reading Program

2009 Summer Islamic Reading Challenge
http://americanmusl immom.wordpress. com/1st-summer- islamic-reading- program/

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1st Annual Summer Islamic Reading Challenge – July 1, 2009 – August 15, 2009

Hosted by AmericanMuslimMom. com (to be launched July 1, 2009)
http://americanmusl immom.wordpress. com

Objective:

* To encourage Muslim children (and non-Muslims interested in Islam) to read and review Islamic children and adult books during the Summer months,
* To create a comprehensive list of recommended Islamic books, and
* To share the Islamic book reviews with as many Muslim children (and non-Muslim interested in Islam) as possible, by publishing the reviews on AmericanMuslimMom. com in the “By Muslims for Muslims” “Kids’ Review” section*.
* All participants will receive a prize.

*All entries are subject to editorial review for clarity and appropriateness. Participants may opt not to have their reviews published.

Rules:

* Participants must make an official Intent to Participate by registering online between July 1, 2009 and August 15, 2009,
* Any child entering PreK – Senior Year of college/university, who is interested in reading Islamic books (Non-Muslims welcomed),
* Participants must be U.S. residents,
* Islamic books read should be at or near one’s reading level,
* Islamic books read to aloud qualify,
* Islamic books can only be listed once,
* All books must be read in its entirety, partially read books are not allowed,
* Islamic books must be read between July 1 – August 15, 2009. (Islamic books read from June 20, 2009 to July 1, 2009 will be accepted; but official forms will not become available until the Kick-Off on July 1, 2009),
* Use the Official Islamic Book Review Form and Reading Journal to review at least one Islamic book. A parent/guardian must sign the journal when it is completed.
* At least one Islamic book must be read and one Islamic book review form must be completed. Reading additional Islamic books are highly encouraged.
* While one prize will be given to all participants, additional Islamic books, games, toys, and clothing may be distributed for different judged categories. (Limited to one additional prize per child, per summer).

* Young Muslim Adults. For our youths still in college or university, we will accept Islamic Book Reviews up to the age of 22 year.

* Islamic schools. You are allowed to list the full-time, weekend or summer Islamic academy that you are a student of (you may only list one school). For homeschoolers, we recommend that you register as a local co-op, study group (youth halaqah). Whichever school has the most participants will receive at least $100 of Islamic Books donated to their libraries, inshaAllah.

* The Founder/Owner/ Publisher of AmericanMuslimMom. com and her family members are not eligible for prizes.
* Deadline: Postmarked by August 15, 2009

Instructions:

* Register your child/ren entering PreK – Senior Year of college/university, during the Reading Challenge period of July 1, 2009 – August 15, 2009 (details below),
* Print out the Official Islamic Book Review Form and Reading Journal,
* Children read books at their reading level, or read-aloud to by an adult,
* Complete one full Islamic Book Review, and list additional Islamic books read on the Review Journal. All sections must be completed. A parent/guardian must sign the journal when it is completed.
* Mail the completed Review Journal to the address provided on the Review Journal (one per child). Multiple children from the same household may send their Review Journals in one envelope.
* Each participant will be sent a certificate and a prize in the mail by September 30, 2009.
* Additional Islamic books, gifts and prizes will be awarded to different select groups by judged categories.
* Deadline: Postmarked by August 15, 2009

Intent to Participate/ Registration:
[Purpose: We need to know the first name and age of each child to purchase the correct amount and appropriateness of prizes.]

* Participant must be officially registered on or before August 15, 2009.
* Participants can not register until the Official Kick-Off date of July 1, 2009.
* Two-methods:
o Post a comment to the Official Kick-Off page. Post your child/ren’s first name/s and age/s.
o Fill out a contact form. Title: Summer Reading Challenge. Enter your child/ren’s first name/s and age/s. All your children may be entered at the same time.
o Having problems? Email: contact@americanmus limmom.com

WEEKLY ISLAMIC BOOK REVIEW GIVE-AWAY

1. Each week one Islamic Book Give-Away Announcement will be posted at AmericanMusllimMom. com, with instructions and deadline dates for entry,
2. Post a comment to that particular week’s Islamic Book Give-Away Announcement with the Reviewer’s first name and age.
3. Submit an Islamic Book Review by sending the Official Islamic Book Review Form and Reading Journal (one entry per week) via fax or email (scanned) to: reviews@americanmus limmom.com (All pertinent information of the Reading Journal may be typed into the body of an email and submitted for consideration) . Deadline date will be posted on the announcement.
4. One reviewer will be selected to win the Islamic Book of the Week.
5. The Winning Reviewer will be announced and his/her review will be published on AmericanMuslimMom. com
6. This Review Journal must be sent via postal mail for official entry in the 2009 Summer Islamic Reading Challenge. The weekly Islamic Book Give-Away is separate from the actual Reading Challenge.

Stay posted at http://americanmuslimmom.wordpress. com for further information, until the official launch on July 1, 2009 at http://www.AmericanMuslimMom.com

WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

* Help spread the word (email, post this on your blog),
* Offer to volunteer and help,
* Become a sponsor or refer a sponsor,
* Make a donation (for example, Islamic books, games, prizes, monetary contribution, etc.).