Who is Allah?

The Meaning of Allah

Allah is the Name of the Lord, the Exalted. It is said that Allah is the Greatest Name of Allah, because it is referred to when describing Allah by the various attributes. For instance, Allah said

He is Allah, beside Whom none has the right to be worshipped but He, the Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. He is Allah, beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa, the King, the Holy, the One free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the Almighty, the Wise) (59:22-24).

Hence, Allah mentioned several of His Names as Attributes for His Name Allah. Similarly, Allah said,

And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them) (7:180), and,

(Say (O Muhammad :) "Invoke Allah or invoke the Most Gracious (Allah), by whatever name you invoke Him (it is the same), for to Him belong the Best Names.'') (17:110)

Also, the Two Sahihs recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

(Allah has ninety-nine Names, one hundred minus one, whoever counts (and preserves) them, will enter Paradise.)

These Names were mentioned in a Hadith recorded by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, and there are several differences between these two narrations.

Tafsir Ibn Katheer

Is There Hope for Them?

Browsing for the news for my earthquake section, i m really feeling sad today. Life is so bitter for the people who are surviving after the quake in Himalyas. Its is piercing cold with snow there. And imagine all the rest and ease that we have in the warmth of our houses. All things that we need ready at our hands, warm water to wash ourselves, warm clothes, beds, blankets, quilts, pillows, clean and healthy food and water (and tea), clean environment. All things that save you from this biting weather, and these are what we dont think to be luxuries but as neccessities.

BUT those people from the cold mountains have NONE of these. Their flimsy tents are just as bad as being outside and facing the icy winds. Burning a fire inside could kill themselves. They still take the risk when their hands and bodies become stiff with cold, but it doesnt do any good. They dont have enough warm clothes to wear, and sitting on the bare earth inside a tent feels just like being on a slab of ice. Even outside under the sun the wind bites through the bones.

"Our skin becomes so hard that we can't move our hands properly, and they start to bleed," an old man said, and the same news report says that 2.4 million blankets suitable for winter and 1.2 million quilts are urgently required.

Its 2.5 million that are living in tents, and still another 400,ooo at the higher altitudes where probably there are no camps, and by January it will be snowing many feets.

Their troubles are endless, but the world has already forgotten them, the promised help has not reached them while they are in dire need of it.

THe point is think of all that you could need if you were them. Sweaters, jackets, socks, caps, gloves, shoeswinterized tents, anything to keep them going and warm. Food and medicine also because they are getting infections, and pneumonia.

Find out ways in which you can help them.

My side bar has the link to donate to Islamic Relief

and another one to direct you to a page listed with a number of organizations you can choose from and donate.

Go ahead and give them hope to live.

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And whatever you spend in the way of ALLAH, it shall be paid back to you in full and you shall not be wronged- The Quraan 8:61

Behold ! You are those who are called upon to spend in the way of ALLAH; but of you there are some who are niggardly. And whoso is niggardly, is niggardly only against his own soul. 47: 38.

And those of you who believe and spend will have a great reward. 57:7

'In the Name of Allah'

Blessings of Reciting 'Bismillah'

['Bismillah' is a short prayer for blessing, and for getting God's help and protection before starting any act]

In one of my previous post Beginning the Quraan, I talked about why it is important to begin the Quraan by saying Ta'awuz ("I seek Allah's refuge against Satan, the rejected"), the next etiquiette is to say 'In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful', and then we begin reading the Quraan.

This is to be said not just to begin reading the Quraan, but before doing anything except a bad or evil task.

When starting a work by Allah's (The God) name, He puts blessings in that, it could be in the sense that the output is increased, or it is done in a better way and also it reminds us that because we started by saying God's name, we must not cheat in it etc. or we must not do it in such a way to harm others or ourselves, or in anyway that can be evil.

Again it really hits the poor satan, not only he cannot take part in what we are doing, but also there is something else that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said. The following incident is taken from Tafsir Ibn Katheer .

Imam Ahmad recorded in his Musnad, that a person who was riding behind the Prophet said, "The Prophet's animal tripped, so I said, `Cursed Shaytan.' The Prophet said,

'Do not say, 'Cursed Shaytan,' for if you say these words, Satan becomes arrogant and says, 'With my strength I made him fall.' When you say, 'Bismillah,' Satan will become as small as a fly.'

This is how it looks in Arabic.

Pronounced: Bismillah-hir Rahman-nir Raheem

Means: In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Quraan on Your Mobile Phone

Update: June 04, 06

Been long since i have been waiting to get the holy Quraan on my mobile phone. Alhamdulilah now that I have it myself I can share my experience. I couldnt download it from the mobiquran site for some reason, I got it from PocketQuran.Com for my Sony Ericsson K700i.

It is quite a simple program, with the complete Holy Quraan in Arabic, with chapter and verse numbers, an index of surah names, and you can go to a specif verse by entering a number from a particular chapter. You can also save three bookmarks for later use.

For novices, you either download the file from the site to your pc, and then get it downloaded to your phone via data cable or/ infrared device/ bluetooth. And then you run it from your phone, which should be java enabled.

Or else if your phone is GPRS enabled, go to wap.PocketQuran.com and download direct to your phone.

This is good, but i hope that MobiQuran works too. Also plz share if you know a better software like this.

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Nov 19,05
Assalamalaikum

I found something good while surfing yesterday. Its a nice site which lets you install the Holy Quraan program on your cell phone. I havent tried, coz i dont have the right model yet.

MobiQuran

Steps are very simple and you can choose from nine languages, alongwith Latin aphabets, and also 4 different Turkish translations.

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And here i must again mention the Quraan Digital Book on which you can read and listen the Quraan in Arabic also, plz see the rest of its great features on the link above.

UPDATE

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Dec 15, 05

What I found this time is the colored version of the Digital Quraan

Colored Digital Quraan

It is beautiful, and also has a lot more additional featurs. Also has the Quraan translation in Urdu language.

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English - A Journey to Explore Islam Buy Today @ AL-Basheer.com

Guidelines for Hifz students

i.e for those who want to memorize the Quraan.

Q - What is the best time to memorise the new lesson?

A - The best time to learn the new lesson is when one's mind is quite relaxed. Generally this is at the time of Fajr (the morning prayer) and after the Magrib salah (the prayer after sunset).

Q - What is the best method to use in memorising one's new lesson?

A - One of the most effective methods to use in memorising the new lesson is as follows: Before commencing the actual procedure of memorisation, read the new lesson at least three or four times. This will prepare the student mentally for the lesson, as well as give him the crux of the lesson. Secondly, memorise verse by verse (ayah after ayah). Do not precede to the next verse if you have not memorised the previous one properly. Be very observant when memorising the lesson.

Q - How should one memorise a verse which is extremely long eg. Verse 282 of Surah Al-Imran (Chapter on the family of Imran)?

A - If the verse is very long, it is most advisable to memorise it in portions, eg. By memorising small portions of the verse. Once the entire verse has been memorised, one would be capable of reciting it fluently.

Q - Is it advisable for students to memorise their lessons by listening to cassettes?

A - It is advisable for students to listen to their new lesson on cassette then to begin memorising it. However, a more approved method is where the ustadh (teacher) himself recites the new lesson to the student and thereafter the student memorises his lesson.

Q - Are there any special benefits in listening to cassettes by the student?

A - From the many special benefits here are a few:

* Listening to these cassettes creates a greater urge and fervour to learn eg. A student loves to listen to the recital of the Qur'an by Sheikh Abdul Rahman As-Sudais, now by him listening to the recitation, this enhances the desire of learning.

* The student gets more familiar with the method of recital.

* The student tends to remember his lesson for a longer period of time.

NB. The effort of the student is still of utmost importance.

Q - Many students keep mentioning that certain chapters of the Qur'an are extremely difficult to memorise eg. Surah As Saffat. Please advise us.

A - These are merely statements of ignorance. Psychology proves when a person retains such statements and takes them to heart, one is bound to find the lesson difficult to memorise. The clarity of mind plays an extremely important role when memorising a lesson.

Q - Can you enlighten us on the importance of reciting one's lesson to the teacher before commencing the actual process of memorisation?

A - The importance of reciting the new lesson by the teacher cannot be over emphasized. One is definitely saved from many errors which could arise because of negligence. The student is made aware of any weakness regarding the application of the laws of tajweed etc.

Q - How much of the new lesson should a student learn?

A - This depends mainly on the student himself. The amount varies from 1/3 of a page to 2 pages and more.NB. Quality is of utmost importance, not quantity.Thus far most of the questions dealt with the 'new lesson' (sabaq). Hereunder follow questions pertaining to the 'previous day's lessons', revision (dor, Muraj'ah) as well as miscellaneous advice and noteworthy points.

Q - Students find great difficulty in remembering their previous day's lesson. What is the main cause for this?

A - The main cause for students forgetting their previous day's lesson is negligence.Hereunder follow some methods which will assist the students. As soon as the student recites his new lesson to the teacher from memory, he must revise the very same lesson instantly at least 4 to 5 times. The very same method should be adopted before one learns one's revision (i.e. the repetition of the new lesson).

Q - Students tend to make a lot of mistakes when reciting their revision. What is the cause of this?

A - Mistakes are unavoidable. It must be remembered that memorising the Qur'an takes different stages eg. First the student has to memorise the new lesson, revise it etc. It is like a building. The foundation has to be firm. Then only is it possible for the building to stand. Similarly, once the student makes the effort to learn his new lesson (sabaq) correctly, his revision becomes easier.To decrease the rate of mistakes, the teacher can set a target for the student eg. the student is not permitted to make more than 3 or 4 mistakes in a surah (chapter).

Q - What is the recommended amount of revision that a student should recite daily?

A - The Qur'an consists of 30 parts, it would be highly recommended that every student recites at least one part every day.

Q - How does a student remember those texts/ places in the Qur'an which are very often repeated? (Mutashabihat)

A - One can only remember these places after excessive learning.

Q - Is it necessary for a student to learn from one print of the Qur'an or can he learn from different prints of the Qur'an?

A - It is very important that a student learns from one print of the Qur'an, because the student generally visualises his lessons. Now if he starts learning from different prints, very soon he is going to be confused.NB. This also leads to a lot of strain on the student's mind.

Q - Does one learn better by reciting audibly or inaudibily?

A - This depends mainly on the student. Some students prefer to learn aloud whereas others prefer to learn in a low voice. The advantage of reciting aloud is that one tends to read more clearly and will detect any mistake one makes easily.

Mujahida an Nafs

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English - Tahfizh Al-Quran v3.0 Learn to Recite and Memorize the Holy Qur'an through an Advanced Educational Approach Buy Today @ AL-Basheer.com

Seize the Day, Tomorrow is not Yours

New article at Voice From the Heart about the latest situation of pakistan quake victims.

Count Down Continues More Complaints than Praises

It has rained, it has snowed and they are sick and exposed and are dying in the open in the camps with and without shelter as October 8 earthquake exposed everything that is harped for the people in ‘land of the pure’........

Beginning the Quraan

Why must "Auzubillahi Min ash Shaitaan ir Rajeem" be our first words we say before begining to read the Quraan, yes its one of the ettiquettes for when one wants to read the Quraan. (Meaning: "I seek Allah's refuge against Satan, the rejected")

The very first reason is, because Allah has commanded this in the Quraan itself,

"And when you recite the Quaan, seek refuge with ALLAH from Satan, the rejected" [16: 98]

And Satan is an enemy to us, because we are friends to Allah (the God), or are meant to be.

And the Quraan is the way to God. Satan would never want us to reach God, and get His pleasure, because he himself was rejected by God due to his own arrogance.

So he comes in our way, as we start to get guidance through Allah's words. He starts putting the opposite thoughts in our mind, so that we may not understand it correctly, get confused or even close it and place it aside.

Actually through this we are tested. NOT that Satan does that by having some power out of God's control. Ofcourse not, he is let to do all this by Allah. So for us it is a constant struggle. Another 'Jihad'.

"I seek Allah's refuge against Satan, the rejected"

And these words are a weapon. But remember our enemy is all time alert and very determined, he would keep attacking as he has vowed against us. That means we got to be equally resolute.

Even with you holding your weapon, he would be setting on you. Now you put your trust in Allah, because he cant harm unless Allah wills it. As Allah says, 'And upon All the believers should trust" [58.10].

Now be sure that you are protected by Allah, because you asked for it.

"And if an evil suggestion of Satan assail you, then seek refuge in ALLAH; surely, HE is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

As to those who are righteous, when an evil suggestion from Satan assails them, they remember ALLAH and behold ! they begin to see aright. "[7:200-201]

Ask For a Quraan

Asalamualaikum (Peace be upon you)

Write to or Visit on-line the organizations listed Here to receive a Free Translation of the Holy Quran in the mail.

King Fahd Holy Quran Printing Complex
Distributor of copies of the Holy Quran:
P.O. Box 3561, Al Madinah Al-Munawarah Saudi Arabia

Contact a local Saudi Embassy or Consulate for more information.
The phone # of the Saudi Embassy is:
(202) 342-3800
The department to contact is the Islamic Affairs Division.

Royal Embassy of Saudi ArabiaIslamic Affairs
601 New Hampshire Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20087
Website: http://www.iad.org/ - Islamic Affairs Division

Qur'an Account Inc. c/o A.S. Hashim, M.D.
Free Islamic books to the LIBRARIES OF PRISONS ONLY:
Requests by chaplains for the free Islamic books to the libaries of prisons should be written to:
6407 Tuckerman Lane
Rockville, MD 20852

Royal Embassy Of Saudi Arabia
Cultural Office 600 New Hampshire Avenue, NW,
Suite 500 Washington DC 20037
ph (202) 337-9450

World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY)
P.O.Box 8096 Falls Church, VA 22041
Phone: 703-931-7239
FaX : 703-931-7253


WAMY Headquarters at Riyadh :
Wamy, P. O. Box 10845, Riyadh 11443, Saudi Arabia
Tel. : (01) 464-1669/465-5431, from the other pamphlet :
Tel. : (01) 464-1663, 464-3281, Fax. : (01) 464-1710
Branch office at Jeddah :
WAMY, P. O. Box 8856, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel. : (02) 689-1962

Centro Islamico de Traduccionn (C.I.T.)
An organization which helps Spanish Muslims to get accurate information about Islam. To any Spanish speaking person who is interested in Islam, they distribute free Islamic literature in Spanish.
21 Oak terr. #6F
Somerville, NJ 08876
U.S.A.
e-mail: citi@bellatlantic.net


Why IslamFree Brochures
http://www.whyislam.org/brochures/

Talk Islam
Free Quran
http://www.sharaaz.com/cgi/free.html


You can also visit an Islamic Center or Mosque near you to receive a Free Translation of the Holy Quran

Peace and Blessings

This is a copy of a page at Converts to Islam


Recommended Book:

English - Towards Understanding the Quran (Vol. 2 Surahs 4-6) Buy Today @ AL-Basheer.com

Special Additions

There has been a few additions to 'My Quraan' which I would like to mention separately to highlight.

ON the right , the side bar bottom I put a link to buy a copy of the Quraan from Amazon.com, translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali. ANd right below it is another one where you can get a Biography of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), or you can read it online at http://www.al-sunnah.com/nektar/ without buying it, this is also the new link added to the link section.

Another link that i have added is that of an Index to the Quraan, which is ofcourse very useful for finding verses by topics from the Quraan. like for example, you want to look for the verses where Allah SWT talks about angels, so the index gives you all those verse numbers. There are more detailed ones as well, like the one that my copy of the Quraan has (Abdullah Yusuf Ali Translation). So once i find a better one i will replace the link inshaAllah.

And finally the Earthquake section, I keep updating it almost daily with the latest headlines from the Pakistan quake hit areas, or anything else related, because that must not be forgotten, those people need our care, and the world must be kept reminded about their suffering. This is little I can do through this page, because on the whole I must stick to what this site was created for basically.

Assalamalaikum :)