Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Quizzed over Salaah?

Hazrat Esa (alaihis salaam) once passed by a river. There he saw a beautiful and elegant looking bird lying in a puddle of mud and dirt. The bird's entire body was covered with filth. He then noticed this bird come out of the mud and then dive into the river until it was clean and beautiful again. Thereafter, the bird once again flew into the dirt and mud and became covered with filth. Once more, the bird left the mud and flew into the river again until it was clean and beautiful again. This astonishing act was repeated five times. Hazrat Esa (alaihis salaam) began to wonder as to the reason for this strange sequence of events. Sayyiduna Jibraeel-e-Amin (alaihis salaam) descended and told him: "This bird is equal to a human from the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). Each time he sins he becomes unclean, and when he performs his Salaah, then Almighty Allah purifies him just like the mud and dirt that was cleansed from the bird".


The value of Salaah is also mentioned in the Qur'an:

اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ

"Indeed Salaah stops one from indecency and sins"


The Qur'an mentions Salaah as being an act of worship that can stop one from commiting acts of sin. However, it should be noted that this is a Salaah, a prayer, that is performed with all it's qualities; concentration, contentment, applying all the rules related to Salaah and determination is only part of the ingredients to an accepted Salaah. But in order to do that it is important that we seek the knowledge regarding Salaah.

Maybe a Quiz! would help to test an individual's knowledge of his/her knowledge on Salaah.

I am hoping that everyone can hit the target.

Wasalaam.

Ps. Please leave a vote on the Poll (Left Hand Column) so that I have some idea as to what people want to know about.

Scoreboard!

Monday, February 21, 2005

A New Beginning

As Salaamu Alaykum,

As many readers will be aware, Simply Islam came to a halt from being updated due to some personal reasons.

However, with the help and aid of Allah, things have managed to settle down and life has taken its normal course once again.

Insha-Allah I am hoping that this time Allah will give the strength and inclination to continue this blog in order to benefit those who come here.

As mentioned before, this blog will consist of certain areas of Islamic Education:

1. Fiqh (Jurisprudence) - In simple words, lessons that will teach an individual the most necessary knowledge in regards to their everyday life. Rulings that will be needed in order for one to discharge his daily obligations.

2. Qur'anic Teachings - The Qur'an is the book that was revealed upon the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam in order to guide mankind. Insha-Allah a few verses will be mentioned and explained in order to create an understand between the Believer and the Qur'an.

3. Ahadeeth (Prophet Narrations) - Being one of the main sources of our religion, it is vital that each and every Muslim has some sort of connection with the words of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. Its importance is such that the Sahaaba Radhi Allahu Anhum would travel for months on camel backs in order to attain one Hadeeth.

4. Tazkiyyah (Reformation of the Heart) - "Be Aware, within the body there is a piece of flesh, if that piece of flesh is righteous then the entire body will be righteous, if that piece is corrupt, then the entire body will be corrupt. Know that that piece is the Heart." For a believer to attain the complete level of Imaan (belief) it is important that his heart is reformed. In order to do this, the Mashaa'ikh (spiritual guides) have prescribed many antidotes for the sin of men. Insha-Allah an effort will be made to present these works along in order to make the heart the home of Allah.

Finally, I would like to emphasise that this blog is here for both me and you to benefit from. If there is any way in which this learning could be improved I would more than appreciate ideas and comments.

I pray to Allah that he makes this effort an accepted one, and that through this he gives us all salvation and inclination to achieve that which we have intended to fulfil. Aameen.

Finally, I would like to thank all those who aided me in continuing this blog by their support. May Allah accept your good intentions. Aameen.

Wasalaam