The Youth – Muslims or otherwise- throughout the world are facing many challenges.
In Britain more than 50% of the Muslim population is under the age of 25. Although Muslims are the fastest growing ethnic group in the UK, their success rate overall in the mainstream activities has not been a source of pride for the [...]
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Administrator on August 3rd, 2010
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar. Muslims practice fasting for the entire month of Ramadan. Muslims are obliged to abstain from all food, drink, use of tobacco, and marital relations from dawn till sunset. However, that is merely the physical component of the fast; the spiritual aspects of the fast include refraining from gossiping, lying, slandering and all traits of bad character.
A fasting person’s aim is to attain purity of thought and action. The act of fasting redirects the hearts away from worldly mundane activities, towards Allah – the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth.
The month of Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, recitation of the Qur’an, doing Zikr, remembrance of Allah, endurance and self-discipline. It is a month of training – training the soul and body- to be able to exercise self-restraint. The fasting Muslim is continuously tied with rules and regulations for an entire month and then released for 11 months to see whether the training has been adequate and effective.
A workshop about fiqh of Fasting, ins & outs of fasting, learning about making the most of Ramadan will be held on Sunday 8th August at 5-7pm at Makkah Masjid.
The session is open to both brothers and sisters and literature will be available to participants to take away at the end of the session.
During this month the personality of a Muslim develops so that during the rest of the year, the trained Muslim does not commit wrong under unrestricted conditions. Ramadan is a month to purify ourselves. Fasting helps to overcome bad habits either gradually for some of us or immediately for those with a stronger will power.
The Qur’an commands: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you attain taqwa (self-restraint)” (2:183).
The Holy Quran says: “Ramadan is the month in which we sent down the Holy Quran, as a guide to mankind, also clear Signs for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong).” (2:185)
AHADITH ON FASTING
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. And he who passes Lailat al-Qadr in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven (Bukhari, Muslim).
Abu Huraira related that Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Allah said, ‘All the deeds of Adam’s sons are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.’ Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarrelling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, ‘I am fasting.’ By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting.” (Bukhari )
On the Day of Judgement, “Fasting will say: O My Lord I prevented him from food and desires so accept my intercession for him.” (Ahmad, al-Haakim and Abu Nu’aim, Hasan)
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: He who gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting persons reward.” (Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh).
Abu Huraira related that Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst, and many people who pray at night get nothing from it except wakefulness (Darimi).
Abu Huraira related that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: If anyone omits his fast even for one day in Ramadan without a concession or without being ill, then if he were to fast for the rest of his life he could not make up for it (Bukhari).
Ramadan has another deeper significance for Muslims. Ramadan’s greatness is manifest in the fact that Allah Almighty chose it for the revelation of His Scriptures from time to time. In every Ramadan the Muslims celebrate the spiritual significance of that divine fact the eternal abiding permanence of the Holy Quran.
During this Holy month therefore, Muslims recite the Holy Quran more than in any other month. Throughout this holy month, therefore, from every Muslim home is heard, during the day and night, the pleasant and beautiful cadences of Quranic recitation. The Holy Qur’an states “Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace” (13: 28.) Peace of mind and contentment of the heart can only be attained by sincere and continuous remembrance of Allah.
For information about the month of Ramadan and fasting: virtues of the month of Ramadhan, who must observe fast (sawm), who is exempt from fasting, conditions of observing Roza (fasting), what does or does not invalidate a fast (sawm), particular rulings relating to women and fasting etc, please visit Deen Foundation on: Important Conditions of Fasting and What Invalidates Fasting
May Allah grant us the strength to benefit from this blessed month of Ramadaan and may we take full advantage of these powerful days.
May Allah’s mercy and blessings be with us throughout the Holy month of kindness, brotherhood, sacrifice, patience and mercy, and throughout the year, Inshaa-Allah.
We take this opportunity to wish you, your family, friends and loved ones, A Blessed Month of Ramadan.
Administrator on July 22nd, 2010
The night of Deliverance (Laylatul-bara’ah)
The nisf Sha’ban night is is the night falling between 14th and 15th day of the month of Sha’ban. It is a night known as Laylatul-bara’ah, Shab-e-barat, night of freedom and night of deliverance.
In year 2010, this night Shab-e-barat shall fall on Monday night, 26th July 2010.
There will be a gathering at Makkah Masjid on Monday night, 26th July 2010 after maghrib to gain the immense spiritual benefits and blessings that this night brings.
All brothers and sisters are welcome.
There are certain traditions of Prophet (peace be upon him), which indicate the significance of this night; human beings are attended by distinct Divine mercy in this night. ‘
Aishah Siddiquah, mother of the believers (radi-Allahu anha) is reported to have said: Once the Prophet, (peace be upon him), performed the late night prayer (Tahajjud) and made a very long sajdah until I feared that he had passed away. When this thought came to my mind, I touched his thumb and the thumb moved, I returned to my bed. Then I heard him saying while prostrating: ‘I seek refuge of Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge of Your pleasure from Your displeasure, and I seek Your refuge from Yourself. I cannot praise You as You deserve to be praised. You are exactly as You have defined Yourself.’
Thereafter, when he raised his head from prostration (sajdah) and finished his prayer, he asked me, ‘Do you know which night is this?’ I said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘This is the middle night of Sha’ban. Allah looks upon His slaves in this night and forgives those who seek forgiveness and bestows His mercy upon those who pray for mercy but keeps those who have malice (against a Muslim) as they were before, (and does not forgive them unless they eradicate the malice from their hearts).’
In another hadith the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “This is the middle night of Shaban. In this night Allah frees a large number of people from the fire of hell, more than the number of the hair growing on the sheep of the tribe Kalb.” Kalb was a tribe which had a very large number of sheep at that time. The hadith refers to the sheep of that tribe to large number of people that are delivered from the Fire due to their sincere repentance in this night.
However, the ahadith also point out that in this night Allah does not even look at a person who associates partners with Allah, or at a person who harbours malice in his heart (against someone), or at a person who cuts off the ties of kinship, or at a man who leaves his clothes extending beyond his ankles (as a sign of pride), or at a person who disobeys his parents, or at a person who is a habitual drinker.”
In this night, it is encouraged to be abundant in worship during this night, particularly in prayer and supplication.A Muslim should seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty, recite the Holy Qur’an, perform dhikr (recitation of the name of Allah) in this night, recite Salah (durood) on Prophet Muhammad, sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam.
On the 15th of Sha’ban, the day immediately following the Night of Bara’ah, it is mustahabb (advisable) to keep optional fast. As it is noted above, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) regularly observed fast in this month.
Fasting in the Month of Sha’ban
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said: “Shaaban is my month”.
This is a month of asking for forgiveness of sins, fasting, giving alms and charity. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) used to observe fasts in this month more than any other month, excluding the month of Ramadhan. The companion Usama ibn Zaid, Radi-Allahu anhu, reports that he asked Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam: “Messenger of Allah, I have seen you fasting in the month of Sha’ban so frequently that I have never seen you fasting in any other month.” The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “That (Sha’ban) is a month between Rajab and Ramadan which is neglected by many people. It is a month in which an account of the deeds (of human beings) is presented before the Lord of the heavens and the earth, I wish that my deeds be presented at a time when I am in a state of fasting.”
Administrator on July 21st, 2010
Last week the Conservative backbencher Philip Hollobone tabled a Private Members’ Bill calling for a ban on wearing a burka or niqaab (face veil) in public places. The Bill follows moves in a number of European countries, including France and Belgium, to ban the wearing of a face veil in public.
The UK government has responded to Mr Hollobone’s proposal by saying that it will not ban the burka. The Immigration Minister Damian Green has said that forbidding women in the UK from wearing certain clothing would be “un-British”. He said such a law would run contrary to the conventions of a “tolerant and mutually respectful society”. In an interview with the Telegraph newspaper, he has said it would be “undesirable” for Westminster to vote on a burka ban, and that there was no prospect of the coalition government proposing such a bill.
Makkah Mosque welcomes the government’s confirmation that it will not be banning the veil. Whilst it is accepted by the vast majority of Muslim scholars that wearing a face veil is not a mandatory requirement of Islamic dress for women, it is important that Muslim women are allowed to dress in a way in which they feel comfortable. Imam of Makkah Mosque, Qari Asim, said: “The small minority of British Muslim women who choose to wear the face veil should not have their freedom to express their religious views curtailed. Britain’s tolerance is one of the things that makes this a great country to live in and the current government’s desire to preserve this tolerance deserves to be applauded.”
Administrator on July 15th, 2010
One of HRH Prince of Wales’ charities is Mosaic. Mosaic was founded to create opportunities for young people, championed by Muslims, harnessing the power of positive thinking.
Mosaic aims to achieve two things:
- Increase education opportunities for those who do not have them
- Increase opportunities for understanding between people of different backgrounds
Mosaic holds an annual International Summit in the summer and this year’s summit, 2010, will bring together 80 Muslim delegates from 17 countries around the world to engage in leadership development, to better enable them to become agents of positive change. Delegates have been selected from a wide range of individuals aged 25-35, representing a diverse range of backgrounds and experience – from teachers to designers, HR professionals, students, engineers, journalists and business leaders.
Mosaic International Summit is an innovative leadership development opportunity, designed to bring together young emerging leaders from across the Muslim world.
Makkah Mosque in conjunction with Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) will host some of the delegates on Tuesday 20 July at 2:30-4:30pm. The Mosaic Global Delegates will gain first hand experience of the work that mosques do in the UK to harness the power of positive thinking and the inspiration they provide to the future leaders of this country.
A workshop will be held at Makkah Mosque on Tuesday 20 July at 2:30-4:30pm to discuss the phenomenal and inspiring role of mosques in galvanizing the power of positive thinking and bringing positive change in the world. The workshop will provide an opportunity to British Imams and the global Muslim delegates to discuss issues common to them in their own localities and share experiences and good practices with each other.
Imam of Makkah Mosque, Qari Asim said: “As chair of Leeds Mosaic and chair of MINAB Youth Committee, we are delighted to be hosting the Mosaic global leaders at Makkah Mosque and providing them with an insight into what inspiring work local communities in Britain are doing to foster a strong and positive leadership.”
Maulana Shahid Raza OBE, Chairman of MINAB said: “This is a good example of how Mosques are involving in positive projects and we’re delighted to support the work of Makkah Masjid, UK’s Model Mosque, to help bring about change for the benefit of everyone”.
Administrator on July 9th, 2010
On the 27th of Rajab every year, Muslims celebrate Al-Isra Wal Miraj, the Night Journey to the Heavens, event in which the beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) traveled from Makkah to Jerusalem and from there he went beyond the seventh heaven until he reached the presence of Allah Almighty and witnessed the glorious countenance of the Lord of the heavens and the earth.
To celebrate this miracolous night journey, the following programmes will be held at Makkah Mosque on the following dates:
1) Friday 9 July after Maghrib prayer (09:45pm)
2) Sunday 11 July after Zuhr prayer (2:30pm)
The events are open to all brothers and sisters. Talks will be given in Urdu and English.
Part of the objective of organizing such events is to encourage our youth, our sisters and elders to participate by reciting the glorious Quran, reading nasheeds and naats in praise of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and delivering shorts talks on Islam.
Guests will include: Pir Sahibzada Habib-ur-Rahman sahib Mahboobi, Allamah Ghulam Rabbani Afghani and Sufi Muhammad Afzal Nushahi.
During these programmes, the events that took place during this miracolous night journey will be explored and the importance of the gift of Miraj (salah, namaz, prayer) will be highlighted.
As part of the event on Sunday 11 July after Zuhr prayer (2:30pm), the third youth workshop on “Being a British Muslim: challenges & opportunities” will be held.
The workshop will explore the opportunities presented by Britain and how Muslims are or are not benefitting from those opportunities. The workshop will also discuss the reasons for Muslims not benefitting from the opportunities that are at their disposal.
Administrator on June 29th, 2010
Leeds Makkah Mosque, in conjunction with leading local and national organisations, invites you, your friends, colleagues and contacts to an event entitled ‘Communities United – Working Together for a Brighter Future’ on Wednesday 7 July 2010 at 2:30pm – 5.30pm to mark the 5th anniversary of the atrocities committed against civilians in London on 7 July 2005.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leeds/10535443.stm
Makkah Mosque truly believes that the diversity of British society is a source of great national pride and is something that should be passionately celebrated and promoted. It has long been leading the way in holding multi-cultural events to celebrate community, culture, sports and commerce – some of the areas where diversity is a strength.
The programme will consists of worksops and inpiring speeches.
The workshops will be held between 2:30 pm – 4.00 pm and will cover issues that are common to all communities, including ‘caring for the world (environment & sustainibility)’, ‘sports breaking barriers’, ‘Islam in the media’ and ‘business connecting communities’. Brodrick Clarke, Director of Programs for the Ali Center, Louisville US, will lead a youth workshopThe core aim of the workshops is to bring people of different backgrounds together to meet, learn and connect around issues of common interest and universal appeal so that inter-community relations are enhanced.
Following the workshops, talks will be delivered by politicians, sports personalities, media representatives and entrepreneurs between 4:15-5:15pm.
http://www.myyorkshire.org/playback-video.asp?journeyid=141&resourceid=265
The Keynote speakers will be Kristiane Backer, TV presenter and journalist, and Greg Roberts, CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center in the US.
Greg Roberts said that the Ali Center is honored to be a part of Communities United event. “Our headquarters is located in Louisville, Kentucky, a Sister City of Leeds so we are especially excited to be involved in this partnership and to formally recognize the families and loved ones of those whose lives were lost in the 7/7 bombings.”
Roberts continued by saying, “Our mission embraces the promotion of respect, hope, and understanding among cultures through our outreach and educational initiatives. And the Center’s founder, Muhammad Ali, embodies the values that we hope will inspire people around the globe to break down barriers among us and embrace our commonalities in order to bring about true healing in the world. We are proud to be a part of this effort.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/jul/06/faiths-unite-in-leeds-five-years-after-london-bombings
TV presenter and journalist Kristiane Backer will be amongst the speakers and has said “As a Muslim, I am deeply distressed at those who contort the values of my faith and its commitment to peace and justice for their own corrupt means. Life is sacred in Islam. My faith teaches me to serve God by positively contributing to society; to care for the weak and the elderly; to be kind to animals and to protect the environment.”
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/features/JULY-7-Five-years-on.6404673.jp
The Imam of Makkah Mosque, Qari Asim, commented: “The event has been organised to remember those who lost their lives in the tragic London bombings on 7/7 and also to remember all those lives that are still being lost throughout the world due to violent extremism. Makkah Mosque’s message is clear and simple – those who resort to violent extremism in the name of Islam are not following the true teachings of Islam.
The event will also seek to highlight the positive way in which communities have moved forward and have been working tirelessly for a peaceful co-existence.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/06/bombings-brought-out-best-leeds
The Chair of the MINAB, Maulana Shahid Raza OBE, expressed his support for the event by commenting, “We at the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board recognise and welcome the efforts of Makkah Mosque which has worked in collaboration with their local community to promote a culture of peace, harmony and tolerance amongst the diverse communities of Leeds.
The tragic events of 7/7 touched everyone’s hearts. The Muslim community in Leeds recognised the misrepresentation of their faith by the perpetrators of the attacks, who used religion as a despicable cover for their actions. These actions could never be justified in the name of Islam. Their attempts to divide communities in creating an atmosphere of mistrust and fear have largely failed.
Today’s events mark the coming together of those communities, who stand united together against all forms of hate which so often manifest itself into unspeakable violence. MINAB takes pride to support this event as well other similar forthcoming initiatives by its members.”
http://www.makkahmasjid.co.uk/wp/index.php/category/media-coverage/page/2/
Deborah Green, chief executive of Marketing Leeds said:
“We are proud to support the Connecting Communities Workshop. As well as raising the profile of Leeds to a national and international audience, we also work with the local community through a programme of festivals and events, to celebrate and promote the culture and diversity of our city.
“This workshop, which marks the anniversary of a tragic event, will bring communities together to encourage inter-community relations and highlight the way that people in the Leeds city region work together to make the city a better place for residents and visitors alike.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/10533264.stm
Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, in whose constituency Makkah Mosque is located expressed his views on the forthcoming event in the following statement:
“The terrible events of 7/7 and the links to Yorkshire and to Leeds were a shock to all of us, but in the days and weeks afterwards, the community in Hyde Park and Headingley really pulled together and that strength of unity was crucial to taking us forward.
”Five years on, I am very pleased to be able to attend this important event at the Makkah Mosque to highlight the real progress that is has been made in bringing the community closer together and working together for the benefit of all.”
http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=13437
Rt Hon David Miliband MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary, sent his apologies for not being able to attend in person and added:
”I applaud you for holding this commemorative event, wish you well in your work in the future and hope that we can continue to work together to realise our shared vision of a modern, multi-faith, multi-cultural Britain in which opportunity is equal for all.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/2010/jul/06/leeds-today-good-grub-holbeck-walks-and-city-varieties
Fabian Hamilton, MP for Leeds North East praised the continued working together for the welfare of our fellow citizens in the following words:
”I have always felt that my dear friends in the Leeds Muslim Community are like my family, my brothers and sisters – that we are part of one another – and that our connection becomes stronger as the years pass and as we continue our work together for the welfare of our fellow citizens, whatever their faith or background.”
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/and/My-Passion-One-man39s-unique.5668099.jp
Director, the Home Office sent well wishes as follows: ”I would like to wish you every success for the commemorative event that you are holding on the 7th July. You should be rightly proud of the positive work that Makkah Mosque, and its partner organisations, have undertaken across UK communities over a number of years. Thank you for your invitation for the Home Office to attend – please accept our apologies that were unable to do so.”
Leeds Rugby Foundation are fully behind th aims and objectives of the event, with Connecting Communities Manager Ikram Butt adding: “While in many respects sport is trivial compared to the tragedy suffered in the name of extremism, it is still a vital vehicle for bringing people together as players, volunteers or fans in common aims.”
“We are very aware in Leeds and the surrounding areas of the power of sport, in particular the community and family-based ethos of rugby league, which can be used to break down perceived barriers.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/10533264.stm
Event partners and supporters include the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB), HRH Prince of Wales’ charity Mosaic, Marketing Leeds, Muhammad Ali Center, GFEvents, Leeds Rugby Foundation, Yorkshire Cricket Board, ABDN, Together4Peace, White Ribbon Campaign and Concord.
Administrator on June 20th, 2010
Today, 20 June 2010, the UK, is celebrating Father’s Day. The purpose behind Father’s Day is a day to honour all the fathers for everything they do for their children. This is an occasion to express gratitude towards one’s father for all his love and support.
Showing gratitude to parents and treating the with kindness, love, compassion and care is considered as one of the most important acts of worship in Islam. Kindness toward parents, in the Glorious Qur’an, is mentioned next to the commandment to believe in One God. In other words, everyday is a Father’s Day and Mother’s Day in Islam and therefore should be celebrated as such.
The following verses of the Noble Qur’an and the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) highlight the high status given to parents in Islam.
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. And out of kindness lower to them the wing of humility and say: ‘My Lord! Bestow on them Thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.’” (Qur’an 17:23)
- Abdullah ibn ‘Umar narrates that the Prophet said:
“The Pleasure of the Lord lies in the pleasure of the parent. The Anger of the Lord lies in the anger of the parent.”
- Bahys ibn Hakim said that he heard from his grandfather, that he had asked the Prophet , ‘Who should I do a good turn?’ The Prophet replied, ‘Your mother.’ His grandfather once more asked the Prophet , ‘Who shall I do a good turn?’ The Prophet said, ‘Your mother.’ His grandfather repeated the question a third time. The Prophet said, ‘Your mother.’ After repeating the question for the fourth time, the Prophet replied, ‘Then your father and then in order, your relatives.’
- Ibn Abbas said, “Any Muslim whose father and mother are Muslims and who wakes every morning with the intention of doing right by them will have two doors opened for him/her in paradise by Allah Taa’la. If only one parent is alive, then one door (will be opened). If he/she angers a parent, Allah Taa’la will not be pleased with him/her. Then the Prophet was asked, “What if one’s parents are unjust to him/her?” He answered, “Even if they are unjust (one must act good to please ones parents)”.
Sayyiduna Mu’adh reported that the prophet said “good news to those who are good to their parents, Alla will increase the length of their lives “.
- Abu Ja’far heard Abu Huraira say that the Prophet said, “There is no doubt that three kinds of prayers will be answered, the prayer of the oppressed, the prayer of the traveller, and the prayers of the parents for their children”.
- In addition to the foregoing, the Prophet (peace be on him) not only prohibited insulting or cursing one’s parents but declared it to be a major sin. He said, ‘Among the major sins is a man’s cursing his parents.’ The people who were present wondered how a sane and believing individual could curse his own parents, and enquired, ‘How is it possible for a man to curse his own parents?’ The Prophet (peace be on him) replied, ‘He insults another man’s father, and then the other insults his father, and he insults the other’s mother, and the other returns the insult to his mother.’ (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
It is one of the beauties of Islam that, with respect to the treatment of parents, it forbids the Muslim to be disrespectful to them even if they should be non-Muslims who are fanatical to the point of arguing with him and putting pressure on him to renounce Islam. Says Allah Ta’ala: …Be grateful to Me and to thy parents; to Me is (the final) goal. But if they strive to compel thee to associate with Me that of which thou hast no knowledge, do not obey them; but keep company with them in this life in a kind manner and follow the way of those who turn to Me. Then to Me will be your return and I will inform you (of the meaning of) all that you did. (Qur’an 31:14-15)
In short, the importance showing kindness to parents are:
1. Obedience to Allah and His Messenger, (peace and blessings be upon him),
2. Obeying and honouring one’s parents is a means of entering Paradise,
3. Respecting and obeying them is a way of showing gratitude to them because they are the ones who brought you into this world, and
4. If a person is good with his parents this may be the cause of his own children respecting him and showing kindness and compassion towards him.
Parents have a right to receive love, discipline and care from their children but they must give their children the same rights as well. If both parents and children submit to the will of God, there will be love and peace in the family.
The priorities of many parents for their children include wealth, material comforts, a good education, a good job, a happy marriage and living happily ever thereafter. In the materialistic world, when everyone is competing to get a higher, more comfortable and luxurious position in the world, this list of priorities is only natural. Accumulation of wealth and leading a comfortable lifestyle is not against the spirit of Islam. However, Islam requires Muslims to use these blessings from Allah with a sense of accountability. One must bear in mind that as with wealth, children are a treasure from Allah and the way we raise them and invest in them could mean the difference between them bringing the fruits of success or abysmal failure in this world and in the hereafter.
Parenting is an enormously important, time consuming task for which there is, justifiably, the promise of great reward.
Imam of Makakh mosque, Qari Asim’s book Our Children: Our Future tackles one of the most pertinent challenges facing the Muslim community of Britain today; raising children to be good Muslims and responsible citizens of the world.
admin3 on June 13th, 2010
Leeds Makkah Masjid is honoured to be hosting Shaykh Muhammad Bin Yahya An Ninowy on Thursday 17th June at 7:30pm after Asr prayer. He will insha Allah be talking about Sacrifice in Islam, with particular reference to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddique (may Allah be pleased with him).
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) was the closest companion of our beloved Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He was well known for his devotion to the Holy Prophet, and the example of his love is one for us all to follow.
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) has said in a famous Hadith narrated by Imam Bukhari that no one can be a true believer until his love for him (i.e. the Prophet) is greater then his love for his parents, children and all of humanity. No one demonstrated this quality better that Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (RA), and thus he is honoured with the title of the best of all creation after the prophets and messengers.
This quality of loving the Messenger is extremely relevant today in view of the repeated attacks on the honour and dignity of the Holy Prophet, highlighted by the recent deplorable Facebook campaign. In this month of Rabi -ut Thani, the month of Hazrat Abu Bakr’s passing from this world, we pray that Allah Ta’ala enables us to follow in his exalted footsteps and leads us to the door of ultimate mercy and light.
Shaykh Ninowy is a well known scholar originally born in Syria and currently residing in the USA. Please see below for a more detailed biography.
http://www.alhaqq.net/Ninowy.html
There are also two workshops being held for brothers and sisters of all ages on Sunday 13th June and Sunday 11th July, both starting at 2:30pm. Everyone is encouraged to attend and express their views.
Administrator on June 12th, 2010
When the tragic events of 7 July 2005 occurred in London, the Muslim community shared the national sense of sadness and revulsion. But these emotions were soon to be clouded by an uncomfortable awareness that certain parts of society was associating the whole of the Muslim community with the mindless acts of a few individuals, and Muslims were being tarnished as “terrorists”, “extremists”, “fundamentalists” and “the other”.
In particular, for the British Muslim community of Leeds, the city from which a number of the instigators of the atrocities were from, the whole situation was extremely intense. The media attention that followed the attacks was a truly surreal affair; the narrow terraced streets of the suburbs of Hyde Park and Beeston were suddenly besieged by an international array of press and TV journalists presenting a community unrecognisable to the local residents, apart from the familiar sights of the local butcher’s shop, curry house and chip shop. Makkah Masjid itself – built some 2 years previously through the generosity and sincerity of the local Muslim community – became the preferred backdrop against which much of the media reporting took place.
The days that followed 7/7 were difficult. There was fear of reprisal from the far right and of heavy handed policing. Anger too at the way the events were being reported with the whole community being made to feel that it was on trial. And added to this, contradictory claims around how this was or was not connected to what continues to happen in Muslim lands such as Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan. No wonder then that the resulting confusion was made worse by attempts to reconcile the seeming ordinariness of the alleged bombers with the carnage that they had caused.
Given this situation Makkah Masjid felt that it was incumbent on it to take a number of positive actions to try to identify some of the factors that contributed to the atrocities, with the aim of working towards tackling these. The actions Makkah Masjid took included:
i) increasing its engagement with the youth to identify factors which may have contributed to the catastrophic events, listening to the voices of disengaged youth to identify what they see as the key issues that are challenging their community and what mosques and Islamic institutes can do to overcome those challenges or what guidelines masajid can provide in respect of those challenges.
ii) Makkah Masjid also enhanced its mission of bringing to the locality an authentic Islamic voice which was both compassionate and scholarly – a voice that would convey a message rooted in sacred knowledge, branching out into a community in crisis.
iii) the Mosque has assumed a significant role in promoting understanding and tolerance between different cultural and faith groups.
In respect of engaging the youth, Leeds Muslim Council, the management committee of Makkah and Madina Masjids, held a number of workshops in Makkah Mosque, Madina Masjid and in Woodsley Community Centre. The workshops:
1) Discussed the concept of the Muslim and British identity and the challenges that were likely to arise as a result of the catastrophic events of 7/7;
2) Inspired the youth to be proud of their multiple identities and work towards a higher aim of benefitting everyone with the best elements of those identities;
3) Addressed the barriers to our youth being successful in this life and the next;
4) implemented a local youth project in Leeds to start addressing some of the responsibilities British Muslim youth have towards each other and the wider community.
As part of the findings of the workshops it was decided that annual youth conferences would be held in order to discuss religious, social, political and economic challenges and opportunities that Muslims faces living in Britain. These workshops would also analyse how young British Muslims can contribute positively to all aspects of British life.
It was also agreed that in order to assess the progress, 5 years on from 7/7 a number of extended workshops would be held in the summer of 2010 to analyse whether:
- the challenges faced by Muslims in Britain have been overcome;
- the engagement of Muslim youth has in fact increased;
- the disenfranchised British Muslim youth feel more engaged;
- the integration process has been streamlined;
- the distinction between “fundamental” and “modern” Muslim has disappeared or
- the opportunities offered by Britain have been taken up by British Muslims;
- the contribution of British Muslims to the social, political and economic fields has increased or decreased; and
- the vilification of British Muslims in the media has got better or worse.
It is now 5 years on from 2005 and Leeds Muslim Council and Young Minds has started the workshops. Young Muslims are portrayed in the media in the context of radicalisation, but their lives are far more complex than this. Much is written about young Muslims but their voices are rarely heard. These workshops aim to explore the issues of multiculturalism, Islamism and the experiences of Muslims in Britain in the light of the events of 9/11 and 7/7 and the policies and practices developed as a result of those tragic events.
These workshops are organised in partnership with the Mosques and National Advisory Board (MINAB): http://minab.org.uk/.
The first of these workshops took place on Sunday 16 May 2010. The theme of the workshop was “The Participation of Youngsters in the Mosque”.
The second of these workshops aims to identify the key challenges facing British Muslim youth today and explore practical ways in which these challenges can be managed or overcome.
This workshops will give youngsters an opportunity to air their views on issues including Mosques, madrashas, radicalization, Islamophobia, extremism, policing, body-scans, PREVENT agenda, citizenship, media, body-scans, hate crime, discrimination, challenging the violent extremist ideology
and supporting mainstream voices.
The third of these workshops will explore the opportunities presented by Britain and how Muslims are benefitting from those opportunities or can benefit from those opportunities.
The next workshop will take place on Sunday 13 June 2010 at 2:30pm.
The third workshop will take place on Sunday 11 July 2010.
Makkah Mosque, Young Minds are committed to young people find their voices within mosques, their own community and throughout society so that their aspirations can be met and their contribution can be recognized. These workshops are aimed at achieving those aspirations.
For further details, please contact: mail@makkahmasjid.co.uk or info@minab.org.uk
Administrator on June 11th, 2010
HRHR Prince of Wales, Prince Charles was speaking to an audience of scholars at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies – which attempts to encourage a better understanding of the culture and civilisation of the religion. Prince Charles urged the world to follow Islamic ’spiritual principles’ in order to protect the environment.
The Prince of Wales delivered a speech titled “Islam and the Environment” and spoke about the inspiration that he sees in Islam to ensure ‘the environment’. He said:
- “The traditional way of life within Islam is very clear about the “centre” that holds the relationship together. From what I know of its core teachings and commentaries, the important principle we must keep in mind is that there are limits to the abundance of Nature. These are not arbitrary limits, they are the limits imposed by God and, as such, if my understanding of the Qu’ran is correct, Muslims are commanded not to transgress them.”
- “I would urge you to consider whether we can learn anything from the Islamic culture’s profound understanding of the natural world to help us all in the fearsome challenges we face.”
- “The Islamic world is the custodian of one of the greatest treasuries of accumulated wisdom and spiritual knowledge available to humanity. It is both Islam’s noble heritage and a priceless gift to the rest of the world. And yet, so often, that wisdom is now obscured by the dominant drive towards Western materialism – the feeling that to be truly “modern” you have to ape the West.”
The full speech can be seen on the following link
http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/speechesandarticles/a_speech_by_hrh_the_prince_of_wales_titled_islam_and_the_env_252516346.html
