Today's Beautiful Hadith is about Character

The Prophet salAllahu alaihi wasalam said, “The most complete in faith are those best in their character, those who are easy to socialise with, and those who get along with others and others get along with them. There is no good in the one who cannot get along with others and others cannot get along with him.”

MULTI FACTS ABOUT THE HUMAN BRAIN

Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression than men in the United States.

The human brain has about 100,000,000,000 (100 billion) neurons.

From all the oxygen that a human breathes, twenty percent goes to the brain.

People who ride on roller coasters have a higher chance of having a blood clot in the brain.

Once a human reaches the age of 35, he/she will start losing approximately 7,000 brain cells a day. The cells will never be replaced.

It is not possible to tickle yourself. The cerebellum, a part of the brain, warns the rest of the brain that you are about to tickle yourself. Since your brain knows this, it ignores the resulting sensation.

A women from Berlin Germany has had 3,110 gallstones taken out of her gall bladder.

In America, the most common mental illness is Anxiety Disorders.

Your brain is 80% water.

Your brain is move active and thinks more at night than during the day.

Great lesson to learn

A Young Couple Moves Into A New Neighorhood The Next Morning While They Are Eating Breakfast,

The Young Women Sees Her Neighbor Hanging The Wash Outside.

"The Laundry Is Not Very Clean" She Said

"She Dosnt Know How To Wash Correctly Perhaps She Needs Better Laundry Saops"

Her Husband Looked On But Remained Silent.

Everytime Her Neighbour Would Hang Her Wash To Dry,

The Young Women Would Make The Same Comments.

About One Month Later,

The Women Was Surprised To See A Nice Clean Wash On The Line And Said To Her Husband :

"Look, She Has Learned How To Wash Correctly. I Wonder Who Taught Her This"

The Husband Said : "I Got Up Early This Morning And Cleaned Our Windows."

And So it is With Life.

What We See When Watching Others Depends On The Purity Of The Window Through Which We Look !!!

Pictures of the week 9th - 15th Jan

An instructor from the Tianjiao Special Guard/Security Consultant Ltd. Co, smashes a bottle over a female recruit's head during a training session for China's first female bodyguards in Beijing January 13, 2012. According to the company, the training session consists of 20 women, mostly college graduates, who will undergo 8-10 months of training to develop sufficient skills to become security guards. The company will then offer the best trainee a chance to attend the International Security Academy in Israel. REUTERS/David Gray (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)





Mohammad Saber Yaqoti Hussaini Khedri, second right, the calligrapher of the world's biggest copy of the holy Quran turns a page at a ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012. Hussaini Khedri claims to have completed the writing of the world's biggest copy of Islam's holy Quran in 5 years along with his nine students with the financial support of a well- known figure Afghan Sayed Mansoor Nadri. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)





A model wears a creation of the Filhas de Gaia fall-winter fashion collection during the Fashion Rio 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Jan. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)





Residents burn tires and wave a flag as they await for the riot police and demolition crew to dismantle their homes in San Juan, east of Manila, Philippines, Wednesday Jan. 11, 2012. Several residents and police as well as demolition crew were injured as residents resist the demolition of their houses which allegedly was effected to pave the way for the development of the prime property such as the building of a new city hall, a shopping mall and condominiums. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)





Hindu devotees hold their saris to dry after taking a dip in the Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, on Makar Sankranti festival, that falls during the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela, in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus take a bath at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as "Magh Mela" to rid themselves of their sins and attain prosperity. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)





Indian soldiers train on stunt motorcycles in preparation for an upcoming Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)





A dressed monkey sits at a roadside to earn money from passers-by for his owner in Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday, Jan 13, 2012. (AP Photo/ B.K.Bangash)





A Hindu devotee's feet are seen while he rolls on the ground during the first day of Swasthani Brata Katha festival at Saali River near Kathmandu January 9, 2012. The month-long festival is dedicated to God Madhavnarayan and Goddess Swasthani and involves the recitation of folk tales about miraculous feats performed by the two Gods, in many Hindu households. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar (NEPAL - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)






A stranded driver sits on the top of his truck loaded with pipes on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway on the outskirts of Jammu January 8, 2012. The Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for the third consecutive day following heavy snowfall, local media reported. REUTERS/Mukesh Gupta (INDIAN-ADMINISTERD KASHMIR - Tags: TRANSPORT SOCIETY ENVIRONMENT BUSINESS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)





A visitor feeds a food pellet to a giraffe in the Giraffe Centre near Nairobi January 8, 2012. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic (KENYA - Tags: ANIMALS ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)






People walk under heavy snowfall near the eastern German town of Altenberg January 8, 2012. REUTERS/David W Cerny (GERMANY - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY)





A Christian pilgrim emerges from the water during a baptism ceremony in the Jordan River at the baptismal site known as Qasr el-Yahud, near the West Bank city of Jericho January 8, 2012. Hundreds of Catholic Christians gathered on Sunday on the banks of the Jordan River at the traditional site where it is believed John the Baptist baptised Jesus Christ. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)






Hindu women sit around fires to warm themselves up before taking a holy bath during the first day of the Swasthani Brata Katha festival at Saali River near Kathmandu January 9, 2012. The month-long festival is dedicated to God Madhavnarayan and Goddess Swasthani, involving the recitation of folk tales about miraculous feats performed by the two Gods in many Hindu households. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar (NEPAL - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)






A Hindu devotee's feet are seen while he rolls on the ground during the first day of Swasthani Brata Katha festival at Saali River near Kathmandu January 9, 2012. The month-long festival is dedicated to God Madhavnarayan and Goddess Swasthani and involves the recitation of folk tales about miraculous feats performed by the two Gods, in many Hindu households. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar (NEPAL - Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)





Firefighters aim coloured water at a target during the annual fire drill competition in Mumbai January 9, 2012. Firefighters in Mumbai took part in the annual competition to enhance their emergency response during fire incidents. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui (INDIA - Tags: SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)






Judges wearing wigs attend a ceremony to mark the beginning of the new legal year in Hong Kong January 9, 2012. The territory continued its common law system after it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA - Tags: CRIME LAW TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)






A heavy swell smashes the Panamanian-registered Tycoon into a cliff on Christmas Island, 2,800km (1,740 miles) west of Darwin, January 9, 2012. The cargo ship, which local media reports is leaking oil and fuel, was loading phosphate when heavy swells caused it to break from its moorings. Picture taken January 9, 2012. REUTERS/Lisa Preston (AUSTRALIA - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY TRANSPORT)






A keeper looks inside the mouth of a South American sea lion at 'Tiergarten Schoenbrunn' Zoo in Vienna, January 10, 2012. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner (AUSTRIA - Tags: ANIMALS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)






A man whose son died during the uprising last year, screams in front of riot police at the police academy where former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's trial is continuing, in Cairo January 10, 2012. The trial of Mubarak, his two sons, former interior minister and senior police officers resumed on Tuesday after the prosecutor demanded the death sentence for the former Egyptian president. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh (EGYPT - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CRIME LAW TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)






A man inspects a highway that was partially destroyed by rains near the town of Sapucaia, 104 km (65 miles) northeast of Rio de Janeiro January 10, 2012. Thirteen bodies were found with another nine people still missing due to heavy rains since the New Year, according to the Civil Defense, as Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff created a national task force to work towards preventing floods and landslides. REUTERS/Ana Carolina Fernandes (BRAZIL - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)






People visit the so-called "Moroz-city" (Frost city) at the Sokolniki city park in Moscow January 10, 2012. The city, made of ice, consists of streets, a bank, a theatre, a prison, a registry office, a hotel and other sights, according to the local media. REUTERS/Anton Golubev (RUSSIA - Tags: SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)






German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti listen to their national anthems before talks at the Chancellery in Berlin, January 11, 2012. REUTERS/Thomas Peter (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)






Students arrange themselves into a formation of the Pongal Panai, or an earthen pot, as part of the Pongal festival celebrations in Chennai January 12, 2012. Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamils across the country. REUTERS/Babu (INDIA - Tags: SOCIETY RELIGION TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)






The luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia leans on its starboard side as seen from the Giglio harbor, after running aground off the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. The luxury cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, sending water pouring in through a 160-foot (50-meter) gash in the hull and forcing the evacuation of some 4,200 people from the listing vessel early Saturday, the Italian coast guard said. The number of dead and injured is not yet confirmed Coast Guard Cmdr. Francesco Paolillo said. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)






Half-naked South Korean Special Warfare Forces members hurl snow during a winter exercise in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. More than 200 soldiers participated in the one-month winter exercise. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Du'a -- Personal Supplication in Islam

In the Qur'an, Allah says: "When My servants ask about Me, I am indeed close to them. I listen to the prayer of every supplicant, when he calls on Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me, so that they may walk in the right way" (Qur'an 2:186).

The word du'a in Arabic means "calling" - the act of remembering Allah and calling upon Him.

Aside from the daily prayers, Muslims are encouraged to call upon Allah for forgiveness, guidance, and strength throughout the day. Muslims can make these personal supplications or prayers (du'a) in their own words, in any language, but there are also recommended examples from the Qur'an and Sunnah. Some samples are found in the pages linked below.




Prayers for Forgiveness

Muslims believe that Allah is Merciful and Forgiving, and that only Allah can forgive sins. All human beings make mistakes, and all that is needed is to recognize the error, rectify it, and seek forgiveness for it. Muslims may ask forgiveness using any words in any language, but these personal prayers (du'a) from Islamic tradition are most common.

When reciting du'a with several repetitions, Muslims often use prayer beads (sobha) to keep track of the number of repetitions. Many simple phrases can be repeated to seek Allah's forgiveness in this way.

Du'a From the Quran

Waqur rabbighfir warham wa'anta khayrur rahimeen.
So say, "Our Lord! Grant us forgiveness and mercy! For You are the Best of those who show mercy."
Quran 23:118

Rabbi inni zalamto nafsi faghfirli.
Oh my Lord, I have indeed wronged my soul!
Quran 28:16

Rabbana innana amanna faghfir lana zonoobana waqina 'athaban nar.
Our Lord! We have indeed believed. Forgive us our sins and save us from the agony of the Fire.
Quran 3:16

Rabbana latu akhitna in nasina akhta'na rabbana wala tahmil 'alayna isran kama hamaltaho 'alal lathina min qablina. Rabbana wala tohammilna mala taqata lana beh wa'fo'anna waghfir lana warhamna anta maolana fansorna 'alal qawmil kafireen.
Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Protector. Help us against those who stand against faith."
Quran 2:286


Du'a From the SunnahAstagh firol lahal-lathi la ilaha illa howal hayyal qayyoma w'atooba ilayh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah. There is no deity but Him, the Living, the Eternal. And I repent unto Him. (Recommended to repeat three times.)

Subhanakal lahomma wabihamdik. Ash-hado alla-ilaha-illa ant. Astaghfiroka w'atoobo-ilayk.
Glory be to You, Oh Allah, and all praise! I testify that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and to You I do repent. (Recommended to repeat three times.)



Prayers of Thanks

Muslims recognize that all of their blessings come from Allah, and are reminded to give thanks to Allah throughout the day and night, all of their lives. Muslims demonstrate gratitude during the five daily prayers, as they follow Allah's guidance through the course of the day, and possibly by reciting these personal prayers (du'a) from Islamic tradition.

When reciting du'a with several repetitions, Muslims often use prayer beads (sobha) to keep track of the number of repetitions. Many simple phrases can be repeated to give thanks and glory to Allah in this way.

Du'a From the Quran

Balil-laha fa'bod wakum minash-shakireen.
Worship Allah, and be of those who give thanks.
Quran 39:66

Tabarakasmo rabbika thil jalali wal ikram.
Blessed be the name of thy Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty, and Honor.
Quran 55:78

Fasabbih bismi rabbikal azeem.
So celebrate with praises the name of thy Lord, the Supreme.
Quran 59:56

Alhamdu lillahil lathi hadana lihatha wama kunna linahtadiya laola an hadanallah.
Praise be to Allah, who has guided us to this. Never could we have found guidance, had it not been for the guidance of Allah.
Quran 7:43

Wahowallaho lailahaillahu. Lahol hamdo fil oola walakhirah. Walahol hukmu wa'ilayhi turja'oon.
And He is Allah, there is no god but He. To Him be praise, at the first and at the last. For Him is the command, and to Him shall you be brought back.
Quran 28:70

Falillahil hamdu rabbis samawati warabbil ardi rabbil 'alameen. Walahol kibria'o fis samawati walard wahowal azizul hakeem.
Then Praise be to Allah, Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth. Lord and Cherisher of all the worlds! To Him be Glory throughout the heavens and the earth, And He is Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom!
Quran 45:36-37


Du'a From the Sunnah

Allahomma ma asbaha bi min ni'matin aob bi'ahadin min khalkhika faminka wahdak. La sharika lak. Falakal hamdu walakash shukr.
Oh Allah! Whatever blessings I or any of Your creatures rose up with, is only from You. You have no partner, so all grace and thanks are due to You. (Recommended to repeat three times.)

Ya rabbi lakal hamdu kama yanbaghi lijalali wajhika wa'azeem sultanik.
Oh my Lord! All grace is due to You, which is befitting to Your glorious presence and Your great sovereignty. (Recommended to repeat three times.)

Allahomma anta rabbi la ilaha illa'ant. Khalakhtani wa'ana abdok w'ana ala ahdika wawa'dika mastata't. A'ootho bika min sharri ma sana't. Aboo' laka bini matika 'alayya wa'boo' bithanbi faghfirli fa'innaho la yaghfroth thonooba illa'ant.
Oh Allah! You are my Lord. There is no deity but You. You created me and I am your slave-servant. I am trying my best to keep my oath of faith to You, and to seek to live in the hope of Your promise. I seek refuge in You from my greatest evil deeds. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me, and I acknowledge my sins. So forgive me, for none but You can forgive sins. (Recommended to repeat three times.)

Salat-l-Istikhara
This "prayer for guidance" is often used to help in important decision-making


Anytime a Muslim is making a decision, he or she should seek Allah's guidance and wisdom. Allah alone knows what is best for us, and there may be good in what we perceive as bad, and bad in what we perceive as good.

If you are ambivalent or unsure about a decision you have to make, there is a specific prayer for guidance (Salat-l-Istikhara) that you can do to ask for Allah's help in making your decision. Should you marry this certain person? Should you attend this graduate school? Should you take this job offer or that one? Allah knows what is best for you, and if you are not sure about a choice that you have, seek His guidance.

The Prophet Muhammad said, "If one of you is concerned about some practical undertaking, or about making plans for a journey, he should perform two cycles (rak'atain) of voluntary prayer." Then he/she should say the following du'a:


Arabic:

Translation:

Oh Allah! I seek Your guidance by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power; I have none. And You know; I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things.

Oh Allah! If in Your knowledge, (this matter*) is good for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge, (this matter*) is bad for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs, immediate and in the future, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it. And ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me content with it.

Transliteration:

Allahumma inni astakheeroka bi ilmik. Wa'astaq-diroka biqodratik. Wa'as'aloka min fadlikal-azeem. Fa'innaka taqdiru wala aqdir. Wata lamo wala-a lam. Wa'anta-allamul ghuyoob.

Allahumma in kunta ta lamu anna (hathal-amra*) khayul-lee fi deenee wama ashi wa ajila amri wa'ajilah, faqdorho lee, wayassirho lee, thomma-barik lee fih. Wa'in konta ta lamo anna (hathal-amra*) sharrul-lee fi deenee. Wama ashi. Wa ajila amri. Wa'ajilaho. Fasrifho annee. Wasrifnee anh. Waqdur leyal-khayr haytho kan. Thomma ardini bih.

* When making the du'a, the actual matter or decision should be mentioned instead of the words "hathal-amra" ("this matter").

* After doing salat-l-istikhara, you may feel more inclined toward a decision one way or the other.

Patience, Perseverance, and Prayer


During times of deep trial, despair, and sadness, Muslims seek comfort and guidance in the words of Allah in the Qur'an. Allah reminds us that all people will be tried and tested in life, and calls upon Muslims to bear these trials with "patient perseverance and prayer." Indeed, Allah reminds us that many people before us have suffered and had their faith tested; so too will we be tried and tested in this life.

There are dozens upon dozens of verses that remind Muslims to be patient and trust in Allah during these times of trial. Among them:

"Seek Allah's help with patient perseverance and prayer. It is indeed hard except for those who are humble." (2:45)

"Oh you who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer, for God is with those who patiently persevere." (2:153)

"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives, and the fruits of your toil. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who say, when afflicted with calamity, 'To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return.' They are those on whom descend blessings from their Lord, and mercy. They are the ones who receive guidance." (2:155-157)

"Oh you who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy. Vie in such perseverance, strengthen each other, and be pious, that you may prosper."(3:200)

"And be steadfast in patience, for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish." (11:115)

"Be patient, for your patience is with the help of Allah." (16:127)

"Patiently, then, persevere - for the Promise of Allah is true, and ask forgiveness for your faults, and celebrate the praises of your Lord in the evening and in the morning."(40:55)

"No one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, none but persons of the greatest good fortune." (41:35)

"Verily man is in loss, except such as have faith, and do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual enjoining of truth, and of patience and constancy." (103:2-3)

As Muslims, we should not let our emotions get the better of us. It is certainly difficult for a person to look at the tragedies of the world today and not feel helpless and sad. But believers are called to put their trust in their Lord, and not to fall into despair or hopelessness. We must continue to do what Allah has called us to do: put our trust in Him, perform good deeds, and stand as witnesses for justice and truth.

"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West.
But it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day,
And the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers;
To spend of your substance, out of love for Him,
For your kin, for orphans, for the needy,
for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves;
To be steadfast in prayer
And give in charity;
To fulfill the contracts which you have made;
And to be firm and patient, in pain and adversity
And throughout all periods of panic.
Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.
Qur'an 2:177

Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.
Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.
Qur'an 94:5-6

Prayers During Meals

When eating, Muslims are to recognize that all of their blessings come from Allah. Muslims throughout the world say the same personal prayer (du'a) before and after meals. Unlike "grace" said before meals in many cultures and faiths, this prayer is not communal. Each individual, silently or quietly, says their own personal prayer whether eating alone or in a group.

Before Eating a Meal

Allahomma barik lana fima razaqtana waqina athaban-nar. Bismillah.
(Oh Allah! Bless the food You have provided us and save us from the punishment of the hellfire. In the name of Allah.)
Alternative: Bismillahi wa barakatillah. (In the name of Allah and with the blessings of Allah.)

Brief Alternative: Bismillah. (In the name of Allah.)

When Finishing a Meal

Alhamdulillah il-lathi at'amana wasaqana waja'alana Muslimeen. (Praise be to Allah Who has fed us and given us drink, and made us Muslims.)
Brief Alternative: Alhamdulillah. (Praise be to Allah.)
If One Forgets Before Beginning the MealBismillahi fee awalihi wa akhirihi. (In the name of Allah, in the beginning and the end.).

Islamic Prayer Beads: Subha

Definition: Prayer beads are used in many religions and cultures, either to help with prayer and meditation, or to simply keep the fingers occupied during times of stress. Islamic prayer beads are called subha, from a word which means to glorify God (Allah).

Materials

Subha beads are most often made of round glass, wood, plastic, amber, or gemstone. The cord is usually cotton, nylon, or silk. There is a wide variety of colors and styles on the market, ranging from cheap mass-produced prayer beads, to those that are made with expensive materials and high-quality workmanship.

Design

Subha may vary in style or decorative embellishments, but they share some common design qualities. Subha have either 33 round beads, or 99 round beads separated by flat disks into three groups of 33. There is often a larger, leader bead and a tassle at one end to mark the start point of recitations. The color of the beads is most often uniform throughout a single strand, but can vary widely among sets.

Use

The subha is used by Muslims to help count recitations and concentrate during personal prayers. The worshipper touches one bead at a time while reciting words of dhikr(remembrance of Allah). These recitations are often of the 99 "names" of Allah, or of phrases that glorify and praise Allah. These phrases are most often repeated as follows:
Subhannallah (Glory to Allah) - 33 times
Alhamdilillah (Praise be to Allah) - 33 times
Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great) - 33 timesThis form of recitation stems from an account (hadith) in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instructed his daughter, Fatima, to remember Allah using these words. He also said that believers who recite these words after every prayer "will have all sins pardoned, even if they may be as large as the foam on the surface of the sea."

Muslims may also use prayer beads to count multiple recitations of other phrases while in personal prayer. Some Muslims also carry the beads as a source of comfort, fingering them when stressed or anxious. Prayer beads are a common gift item, especially for those returning from Hajj (pilgrimage).

Misuse

Some Muslims may hang prayer beads in the home, or near young babies, in the mistaken belief that the beads will protect from harm. Blue beads which contain an "evil eye" symbol are used in similar superstitious ways that have no basis in Islam. Prayer beads are also often carried by performers who swing them around during traditional dances. These are cultural practices with no basis in Islam.

History

At the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims did not use prayer beads as a tool during personal prayer, but may have used date pits or small pebbles. Reports indicate that Caliph Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) used a subha similar to modern ones. The widespread manufacture and use of subha began about 600 years ago.

Where To Buy

In the Muslim world, subha can be found in stand-alone kiosks, at souqs, and even in shopping malls. In non-Muslim countries, they are often carried by merchants who sell other imported Islamic goods, such as clothing. Crafty people may even like to make their own!

Alternatives

There are Muslims who see the subha as an unwelcome innovation. They argue that the Prophet Muhammad himself did not use them, and they are an imitation of ancient prayer beads used in other religions and cultures. As an alternative, some Muslims use their fingers alone to count recitations. Beginning with the right hand, the worshipper uses the thumb to touch each joint of each finger. Three joints on a finger, over ten fingers, results in a count of 33.

Pronunciation: sub'-ha

Also Known As: misbaha, dhikr beads, worry beads. The verb to describe the use of the beads is tasbih or tasbeeha. These verbs are also sometimes used to describe the beads themselves.

Alternate Spellings: subhah

Common Misspellings:

 "Rosary" refers to the Christian/Catholic form of prayer beads. Subhaare similar in design but have distinct variations.

Examples:

The old woman fingered the subha (Islamic prayer beads) and recited prayers while she waited for her grandson to be born.

Shayari

Zakhm Nahin Koi Kahin Fir Bhi Kyon Ye Dard Ka Ehsas Hai


Lagta Hai Ki Dil Ka Koi Tukda Abhi Tak Us Bewafa Ke Pas Hai


Bada Ajeeb Hai Dil Bhi Yar Ab Tak Usi Se Pyaar Karta Hai


Lagta Hai Kambakht Fir Se Chot Khane Ka Intezaar Karta Hai...

Aakash tablets: 14 lakh booked in 14 days

The new year may be a year of low-cost computing in India. Sales bookings for the world's cheapest tablet, Aakash, have soared to 14 lakh units just two weeks after it was put up for sale online for Rs 2,500 a piece.

To cater to the 'unexpected' demand, UK-based vendor Datawind, the maker of the $35 tablet, has decided to establish three new factories - in Cochin, Noida and Hyderabad - in the first half of 2012 to assemble the tablet. Datawind currently has only one factory in Hyderabad, with its vendor Quad, which makes the LCD panel for the tablet.

"We never expected such a high response from both corporate and individual buyers. We plan to supply 70,000-75,000 units per day once the factories are in place by April," Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO, Datawind told ET from Panama, where he was invited to advise its government on its low-cost computing project.

"Around two weeks ago, we received a call from India's computer emergency response team that our website was probably suffering from a large cyber attack. We had to inform them we had just opened sale through our website," Tuli said. Datawind, which put out a limited 30,000 tablets for sale online with e-commerce provider Ncarry.com, has already exhausted the first lot.

A spokesman for Ncarry.com, said that the website is catering to orders across India, with delivery in 5-7 working days. Ncarry is a subsidiary of Netherlands-based Nimbuzz, which makes instant messaging applications. The Nimbuzz IM comes pre-installed on Aakash.

Pre-sales bookings for the Aakash tablet (about 400,000 in October) had surpassed the Indian tablet market which grossed about 250,000-300,000 tablets till last year.

Even with a resistive touch and slow processor, Aakash has received about 1 lakh orders a day since online launch last month. In comparison, Apple sold about 10 lakh iPads in 28 days and 30 lakh in 80 days of its launch in April 2010. Currently, the cheapest model of iPad at Rs 29,500, is about 12 times costlier than Aakash.

Aakash's maker Datawind is, however, strangulated with supply constraints, compared to Apple which managed smooth deliveries of the iPad. "We are not accepting cash for bookings currently, as we want to sort out supply issues," Tuli added.

Datawind plans to put on sale online the next version of Aakash - Ubislate 7, priced at Rs 2999, by mid-January. The newer version will come with a slot for insertion of a SIM card, for access of internet by GPRS or 2G connection. The current version of the tablet can access internet via Wi-Fi access.

Besides, the newer version will be twice as fast with a 700 Mhz processor compared to a 366 Mhz processor in the current tablet. In another development, the government has extended the letter of credit to Datawind to supply the next lot of 90,000 tablets, even though IIT Rajasthan is yet to provide the test specifications for the next version, which it wants to procure for supply to students. The delay from the government's end is likely to land Aakash in the hands of commercial buyers before students for whom the low-cost tablet was meant for in the first place.

Muslim Environmentalists

Islam teaches that Muslims have a responsibility to protect the environment, as stewards of the Earth that God created. Several Muslim organizations throughout the world are taking that responsibility to an active level, dedicating themselves to environmental protection.

Islam teaches that God created all things in perfect balance and measurement. There is a purpose behind all living and non-living things, and each species has an important role to play in the balance. God gave human beings certain knowledge, which allows us to use the natural world to meet our needs, but we are not given free license to exploit it. Muslims believe that all living things, including human beings, are subservient to God Alone. Thus, we are not masters who rule over the earth, but servants of God with a responsibility to maintain the balance which He has created.

The Quran says:
"It is He who has appointed you viceroys in the earth … that He may try you in what He has given you." (Surah 6:165)
"O children of Adam! ... eat and drink: but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters." (Surah 7:31)
"It is He who produces gardens with trellises and without, and dates and tilth with produce of all kinds, and olives and pomegranates similar [in kind] and different [in variety]. Eat of their fruit in their season, but render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered. And waste not by excess: for Allah loves not the wasters." (Surah 6:141)Muslims have formed various organizations worldwide, dedicated to taking action in the community to protect the environment. Here are a few:

The Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences -

 Founded in the 1980s in the United Kingdom, it is an internationally-recognized body articulating the Islamic position on environmental protection. They publish the ECO Islam newsletter, which can be downloaded from their website.
Green Deen -

 The blog of author Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, also the title of his book about what Islam teaches about protecting the planet.
DC Green Muslims - 

Founded in 2007 by Muslims in Washington, DC who gathered for an organic, vegetarian iftar (dinner to break the daily fast of Ramadan). They are a network of Muslims in Washington DC and surrounding areas who work to "help our communities understand and implement sustainable and eco-conscious ways of living while relating it to our faith and a holistic world-view."
AMEN -

 The African Muslim Environment Network was formed in 2006, to share information about successful environment-friendly development iniatives by mosques and Islamic organizations throughout Africa. The network includes Muslims and Muslim organizations in Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Muslim Green Team - 

A project by the Muslim American Society
Muslim Environment Watch -

 This blog tracks news and information on environmental issues in the Muslim world
Ilmu Giri Pesantran - 

This boarding school in Indonesia is taking the lead in educating farmers about sustainable practices.
ADAMS - 

The "All Dulles Area Muslim Society Center" (ADAMS) serves more than 5,000 families in Sterling, Virginia in the suburbs of Washington, DC. ADAMS made a goal of reducing its carbon footprint, created special parking spaces to encourage carpooling, and installed energy-efficient and solar-powered lights.
The Muslim World League - 

Contributed a declaration to "Faith in Conservation," a collection of statements on faith and the environment published by the World Bank in 2003. The declaration was written by Hyder Ihsan Mahasneh: a biologist, an Islamic scholar, and the first African head of the Kenya National Parks Service.

Animal Welfare in Islam

In Islam, mistreating an animal is considered a sin. The Quran and guidance from the Prophet Muhammad, as recorded in hadith, give many examples and directives about how Muslims should treat animals.


Animal Communities

The Quran describes that animals form communities, just as humans do: "There is not an animal that lives on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but they form communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they all shall be gathered to their Lord in the end"(Quran 6:38).

The Quran further describes animals, and all living things, as muslim - in the sense that they live in the way that Allah created them to live, and obey Allah's laws in the natural world. Although animals do not have free will, they follow their natural, God-given instincts - and in that sense they "submit to God's will," which is Islam. “Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praise all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise, and Allah knows well all that they do.”(Quran 24:41)

These verses remind us that animals are living creatures with feelings and connections to the larger spiritual and physical world. We must consider their lives as worthwhile and cherished. "And the earth, He has assigned it to all living creatures" (Quran 55:10).

Kindness to Animals

It is forbidden in Islam to treat an animal cruelly, or to kill it except as needed for food. The Prophet Muhammad often chastised his Companions who mistreated animals, and spoke to them about the need for mercy and kindness. Here are several examples of hadith which instruct Muslims about how to treat animals.


Reward for mercy: It is related from Abu Umama that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever is merciful even to a sparrow, Allah will be merciful to him on the Day of Judgment."
Animals are like humans: “A good deed done to an animal is like a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as cruelty to a human being."
Animals cannot speak up for themselves: It is related from Sahl ibn Al-Handhaliyya that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, once passed by a camel that was so emaciated that its back had almost reached its stomach. He said,"Fear Allah in these beasts who cannot speak." (Abu Dawud)
Mental cruelty also forbidden: It is related from AbdulRahman bin Abdullah that a group of Companions were once on a journey with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he left them for a while. During his absence, they saw a bird with its two young, and they took the young ones from the nest. The mother bird was circling above in the air, beating its wings in grief, when the Prophet came back. He said, "Who has hurt the feelings of this bird by taking its young? Return them to her." (Muslim)
Forgiveness of sins: It is related from Abu Hurayra, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that a prostitute once saw a dog on a very hot day going round and round a well, lolling its tongue because of its thirst. She drew some water for it using her shoe, and for this action all her sins were forgiven her. (Muslim)
Mistreatment is a sin: It is related from Jabir that the Messenger of Allah, once saw a donkey which had been branded on its face and he said, "May Allah curse the one who branded it."(Muslim)
Give rest to beasts of burden: It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not use the backs of your animals as chairs. Allah has made them subject to you, so that by them you can reach places that you would not otherwise be able to reach except with great fatigue." (Abu Dawud)

Pets

A Muslim who chooses to keep a pet takes on the responsbility of the animal's care and well-being. They must be provided with appropriate food, water, and shelter. The Prophet Muhammad described the punishment of a person who neglected to care for a pet:

It is related from Abdullah ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A woman was once punished after death because of a cat which she had kept confined until it died, and because of this she entered the Fire. She had neither given it food or drink while confining it, nor had she let it free to eat the creatures of the earth."(Muslim)

Hunting/Sport

In Islam, hunting for sport is prohibited. Muslims may only hunt as is needed to meet their requirements for food. This was common during the time of the Prophet Muhammad, and he condemned it at every opportunity:

It is narrated from Ibn Umar that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, cursed those who used any living thing as a target. (Muslim)
It is related from Ibn Abbas that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade inciting animals to fight one another. (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)
It is related from Abu Al-Darda' that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade eating mujaththama animals, that is, animals which have been tied up and shot with arrows. (Tirmidhi)

Slaughter for Food

 Islamic dietary law allows Muslims to eat meat. Certain animals are not allowed to be used as food, and when slaughtering, several guidelines must be followed to minimize the animal's suffering. Muslims are to recognize that when slaughtering, one is taking a life only by the permission of Allah in order to meet the need for food.

Cultural Misguidance

As we have seen, all animals are to be treated with respect and kindness. Unfortunately, in some Muslim communities these guidelines are not followed. Some people mistakenly believe that since humans needs take priority, animal rights are not an urgent issue. Others find excuses to mistreat certain animals, such as dogs. These actions fly in the face of Islamic teachings, and the best way to combat such ignorance is through education and good example. Individuals and governments have an important role to play in educating the public about the care of animals, and establishing institutions to support animal welfare.

"Whoever is kind to the creatures of God, is kind to himself." -The Prophet Muhammad