My dear readers, today is Layla tul-Qadr. It is an Arabic word which means “night of Value” & “Night of Power”. It is also known as Shabe- Qadr. Holy Quran was revealed in this night is in itself explains its excellence, needless to mention all other blessings and virtues which are indeed. Read the rest of this entry »
I saw at Yahoo Answers, in comments or other social networks that many people want to know what is Mecca and it’s importance in Islam and for Muslims. If you are from any Muslim country then this looks like a very simple question but for those who want to know about Islam or they are planning to convert or those who just dig into Islam. They want to know more, so I decided to tell them briefly.
Actually Mecca also written as Makkah situated in Saudi Arabia and one of the holiest city in religion Islam. Name Kabah comes from the Arabic word meaning ‘cube’, it refers to the cube-shaped stone inside the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. The word “Mecca” is so popular that it is also added in English dictionary meaning something that is most important. Holy city laid near the coast of the Red Sea. and it has total population of 1,290,000.
According to Islamic tradition, Mecca history was goes back to Prophet Abraham who built the Kaaba with His son, Prophet Ishmael in around 2000 BCE. Mecca is the place that links to many of the Prophets that Almighty Allah sent to us. So it is in news and history books from long time.
At first Masjid al-Haram constructed by Prophet Abraham which stands upright bearing evidence of various events which took place. The Holy Quran says that Mecca was attacked by the Ethiopians in the year when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) born.
Mecca in the ancient era was a major trade hub. There were Idols everywhere before Islam arrived. If we say that Prophet Muhammad open His eyes in Idol world, then it is not wrong. before emergence of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the city was under the rule of Banu-Quraish.
As we talked earlier that it is a busy place and in history from thousands of years. But why Mecca is important for Muslims. Actually the thing is Islam started it’s ground level there. Mecca was the birthplace of Muslim’s last messenger Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He spent his earlier 40 years there. Then He went to Madina and after building authority, He came back as a victories and live rest of His life in Mecca as well.
Secondly, Holy Kaaba also present in Masjid al-Haram which present in Mecca. Millions of Muslim visited Masjid al-Haram to perform Hajj. It is also the world largest unity place for people, where millions of people gather from all races, community, countries without any difference and pray to their God. Every Muslim must need to perform Hajj at least once in life. So Mecca is every important.
There are many other things that are also rememberable for Muslims such as many Prophet Muhammad’s companions also buried in Mecca. Many Mosques that built with Prophet Muhammad hands. The Zamzam Well, the holy well which sprung into existence with Prophet Ishmael heels when He was rubbing them with thrust. It was also in Mecca, just next to Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram. There are also many other things that is why Mecca is important and so holiest for Muslims.
As mentioned earlier, kaaba built by Prophet Abraham. There is a large black stone inside it. Confirmed by Muslims/Christian historian that Angel Gabriel gave this to Prophet Abraham at Allah’s will. It is the focal point for worship during daily prayers, it unifies all Muslims, direction of every Muslims during prayers is towards Kaaba known as Qibla.
Hopefully you understand what is Mecca and it’s importance for Muslims. Write below if you still have any question or comment for me.
Holy Ramadan is gone, time to concentrate heavily on follow throw, it seems like people just ended those efforts that they did in Ramadan, those prayers, fasts, wake up at Suhoor etc all gone. You know this is the most crucial part of our lives. True worshipers are those, who concentrate on Allah’s guidelines in sorrow as well as in happiness. But seems like we just fail in this. Lets think we did different type of prayers in whole Ramadan, but what we did on Eid day! No prayer what so ever. Here come our test and we completely fail in it.
I just found 10 steps to keep Ramadan spirit alive, you can find some very interesting tips in this. Yes! writer wrote exactly what was in my mind. You should have to concentrate on Dua, thinking about your past life and feel bad on wrong habits, always get some time for yourself regularly and think only about you, what was you, why Allah send you to this world, try to connect with Allah Almighty, pray Astagh-Firullah as many as you can, as deep as you can. May Allah Almighty mercy on us and bless us.
One thing that they didn’t add in above article is, You should always need to remember before or while doing work that Allah Almighty is watching us. What we do whether it is right or wrong, Allah Subhana Wa Ta’llah is watching us and we will receives its reward in the world here after. keep this as a strong faith and hopefully shetaan will not mis-guide you whole life.
Yet another Ramadan gone, may Allah Almighty give us another chance to see next Ramadan. It’s time for people (who are going to Hajj) to make some Hajj mobilization. This is the time when people need guides to perform their best Hajj. But if they found those guides for free then that is really an occasion for them, Yes! I found something for all, who have plans to go to Hajj. Curtsey to SoundVision who wrote this really nice book on hajj. You can read complete book for free at Here . I’m sure you will find good information with this guide.
I also find another good resource for you people as I’m committed to provide quality to you. This is a diary of 21 days for the holy land by Prof. M. Ishaq Zahid, a creator of Islam101.com. He wrote his own story, how he spent his 21 days on holy land in the search of greatest Lord of all, how he tried to happy Allah Almighty and much more.
I highly recommended you to read these resources, if you are going to perform 5th pillar of faith, The HAJJ. Where you meat with thousands of people with no difference of name, cast, color, region. Allah said in Quran [22:27.8] “And proclaim that the people shall observe Hajj pilgrimage. They will come to you walking or riding on various exhausted (means of transportation). They will come from the farthest locations.” They have only one thing in common, THEY ARE MUSLIM. They come only for one purpose, TO PERSUADE ALLAH. As Allah said [ 2:199] You shall file together, with the rest of the people who file, and ask Allah for forgiveness. Allah is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
Brothers and sisters! this is Umer Hayat from IslamConcepts.com want to say an Eid Mubarak to all my readers. IslamConcepts is an open source place for people to share their views with others. Muslims celebrating today as a Eid, It is really a peaceful and happiness day. day to forgive others, day that brings people closer.
Actually there are two Eid in whole year according to Islamic calendar. First is Eid-ul-fitr also known as Smaller Eid”. and second is Eid-ul-azha or “Greater Eid. Today is Eid-ul-fitr. Muslims completed fasting for whole one month in Ramadan and today new month started in lunar calendar, so that’s why we are celebrating this special day.
Islam told us to settle our disputes with others on this day, meet them with a big smile, hug them, wish them a happy Eid and pray for them from your heart. So they also do the same. Allah like people who always kind with others and this is the purpose of Eid. Eid is a total social activity that brings people closer and minimize the gap.
I want to say an Eid Mubarak to all of you. If you have any thing to say then reply here. May Allah almighty forgive us and show us the right path.
Ramadan is flying away from us like a bullet. Seems like, it just started few days back but actually it only left 5 days from now. Month of blessings and forgiveness is about to over. You can read here further about What is Ramadan and also Ramadan is coming: Prepare for it.
Zakat is the fourth pillar of Islam and we need to complete this duty in Ramadan. You can read more here What is Zakat. The basic purpose of Zakat is we need to spend part of our money that we hold from longer then a year to poor people.
There are some details in calculating your Zakat amount that is not a problem now. You can calculate your Zakat online with real accuracy and without lot time consuming.
Without further delay, here is a list of free online Zakat calculators in the market.
1) YesPakistani zakat Calculator
2) Islamicity Zakat Calculator
3) Hadiya Foundation Zakat Calculator
4) SoundVision Zakat Calculator
Choose which ever you like more and suites your requirements. Remember that these calculators are based on US Dollar calculation, so keep that in mind while entering amount.
Now you can calculate more efficiently, but if any problem then its better to contact your mosque Imam for detailed guidance and understanding, as 1 by 1 meetings always a best way to learn then any other thing.
If you want to test your faith then work with this great hadith. Actually Prayer is a light & Charity is proof of your faith, if you are doing these then this is the proof that you are good Muslim and your faith is strong on Almighty Allah.
Just read this beautiful hadith quoted in [Sahih Muslim : Book 2 'Al-Taharah' , Number 0432]
“Abu Malik at-Ash’ari Radi Allah Anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) said: Cleanliness is half of faith and al-Hamdu Liliah (Praise be to Allah) fills the scale, and Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah) and al-Hamdu Liliah (Praise be to Allah) fill up what is between the heavens and the earth, and prayer is a light, and charity is proof (of one’s faith) and endurance is a brightness and the Holy Qur’an is a proof on your behalf or against you. All men go out early in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves”.
Simple translation of this Hadith: If you implement on Holy Quran then this will be your biggest Intercession to lead you to heaven but if you don’t implement on the Holy Quran then it is also the first one to leads you towards hell. Common man after awake, busy in work, those works will lead him to way of peace and also those works who lead him to the hell where fire everywhere.
So decide yourself, if you want to go to hell fire then continue your routine, just wake up, start doing this life work and forget Allah Almighty, who created you OR live your life as He advised us to live.
This is our test, check yourself and grab the result. If it is OK then make it to good, if good then make it to excellent, and continue your journey towards betterment. but if you fail in till now test then start your journey towards right path from now. Don’t waste a single second, do sorry to Allah Almighty, as He is the greatest and very merciful.
A man superiority is totally based on his deeds. While distinguishing/ranking a person, Allah Almighty will not see towards his face and wealth. He always look towards its deeds. As Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Said in the Hadith quoted in (Sahih Muslim: Book 32, Number 6219)
“Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah’s Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi- wasallam) as saying: “Don’t nurse grudge and don’t bid him out for raising the price and don’t nurse aversion or enmity and don’t enter into a transaction when the others have entered into that transaction and be as fellow-brothers and servants of Allah. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him. The piety is here, (and while saying so) he pointed towards his chest thrice. It is a serious evil for a Muslim that he should look down upon his brother Muslim. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother in faith: his blood, his wealth and his honor.”
In simple form Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that don’t do anything wrong with your brothers. This is not only about your blood related brothers, this is also about all the Muslims, as every Muslim is a brother of other. Then Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) looked towards his chest thrice and said Godliness belongs to your heart not your apparent deeds.
And in very next Hadith from above (Sahih Muslim: Book 32, Number 6220), He (Prophet Muhammad) said:
“Verily Allah does not look to your bodies nor to your faces but He looks to your hearts.”
In just next hadith, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said almost the same like above (Sahih Muslim: Book 32, Number 6221)
“Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (sal-allahu- alleihi-wasallam ) as saying: “Verily Allah does not look to your faces and your wealth but He looks to your heart and to your deeds.”
Here I found a very nice video lecture on this discussion. Hopefully you like it.
May Allah the greatest, give us chance to work on our souls, as working on them are much more greater then working on our external body.
I received an Email from one of my dear friend Mr. Asim. In this Email that he forwarded to me, I found a very nice story ( no idea is it true or animated), anyway I really like it and hopefully you will also as well. There is a big lesson in this story for everyone. So without further do, here is for you named as : Wake Up For Fajr Salaah.
A man woke up early to pray the Fajr Prayer in the mosque. He got dressed, made his ablution and was on his way to the mosque. On his way to the mosque, the man fell and his clothes got dirty.
He got up, brushed himself off, and headed home. At home, he changed his clothes, made his ablution, and was again on his way to the mosque.
On his way to the mosque, He fell again and at the Same Spot!. He again got up, brushed himself off and headed home. At home, he once again changed his clothes, made his ablution and was on his way to the mosque yet another time.
This time, he met a man holding a lamp. He (first person) asked the man of his identity and the man replied ‘I saw you fall twice on your way to the mosque, so I brought a lamp so I can light your way’. The first man thanked him profusely and both start walk on their way to the mosque.
When they reached mosque, the first man asked him to come in and pray Fajr with him. The second man refused, the first man asked him a couple more times and again the answer was the same. The first man asked him, you looks like a very nice person, helped me as well, why you did not wish to come in and pray. Then second person replied.
I am Shetaan(devil/ evil)
The man shocked at his reply. Shetaan went on to explain, “I saw you on your way to the mosque and it was I who made you fall. When you went home, cleaned yourself and went back on your way, Allah forgave all of your sins. I made you fall second time and even that did not urge you to stay home but rather you went back on your way to the mosque and because of that, Allah forgave all the sins of the people of your household.
I was AFRAID, if I made you fall one more time, then Allah will forgive the sins of the people of your village, so I made sure that you reached here safely.”
Wow. What a story. Mashallah. Hopefully you really like it despite from the fact that it’s based on truth or just an informative story. There is a great lessons for all of us that do not let Shetaan benefit from our actions and do not put off a good that you intended to do as you never know how much reward you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to achieve that good.
Please let me know if you like this story and if you know any Islamic story, that boost our faith on Allah Almighty, you can also share that as well in here below comment section. May Allah give you fruit of doing that. Ameen!
Ramadan is the ninth month of Islamic calendar. It is known for fasting. This is a month in which Allah Almighty gave us the most mercy among others. Here are few of the prayers that we need to perform in whole Ramadan to gain more kindness from Allah, the most merciful. These prayers (Dua) are so beneficiary for us. I quoted most of them from here.
“Wa bisawmi ghadinn nawaiytu min shahri Ramadan”.
Translation: I intend to keep the fast for tomorrow in the month of Ramadan.
“Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa ‘alayka tawakkaltu wa ‘ala rizq-ika aftarthu”.
Translation: O Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You and I put my trust in You and I break my fast with Your sustenance.
“Aftara ‘indakumus saa’imuna, wa akala ta’aamakumul-abraaru, wasallat ‘alaikumul mala’ikat”.
Translation: May those who are fasting break their fast in your home, and may the dutiful and pious eat your food and may the angels send prayers upon you.
You can see above, these are some of the most frequent prayers (dua) in the month of Ramadan.
Now if we dig deeper, we will find Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that we should need to recite these two things most often in Ramadan. First is “La’ila ha il’lallah” and secondly “Astagh firullah”. Recite them in whole Ramadan any time and all the time. The more you do, the more better it will be. actually Allah Almighty gave us this month as a gift, so we adjust of our body and soul. Allah says in Holy Quran, Chapter: 2, Verse: 185 “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).”
Conclusion: This is not typical conclusion as what normally you can see but it is some sort of advice to all my dearest brothers and sisters. Look, Allah Almighty gave us pure gold-mine in the shape of Ramadan. Now it’s our turn to took an opportunity. Totally up to us that how many can we dig from it.
Try to pray about hell fire as most as you can, think about it, imagine about it. You will feel its intensity and you say “Astagh firullah” automatically, but the only thing is just don’t stop it. Do it regularly and with consistency. On the other end, try to think about heaven, think about it, imagine it and just feel that if you want to catch all that, you surely have to drive your car on right path with consistency and patience. As Allah Almighty said “Our Lord, forgive us and our sins and the excess (committed) in our affairs and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.” (Qur’an 3:147)
My name is Umer Hayat. I\'m from Pakistan and a practicing Muslim.
I’m a full time Internet Entrepreneur making a living online. Doing blogging and providing Online Internet Solutions @
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I created IslamConcepts.com on 11th August 2009. This blog only talk about true Islam. Hopefully you like my work and come back again and again.
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