US 'erodes' global human rights

A leading human rights group has criticised the US over the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal and the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
In its annual report, Human Rights Watch says that when a country as dominant as the US openly defies the law, it invites others to do the same.
It says an independent US commission should look into prisoner abuse at Iraq's US-run Abu Ghraib jail.
The report also calls for more military protection in Sudan's Darfur region.
According to the New-York based group, abuses committed by the US have significantly weakened the world's ability to protect human rights.
"The US government is less and less able to push for justice abroad, because it's unwilling to see justice done at home," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of HRW.
Washington says it has condemned the abuse and is investigating allegations in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.

Moral high ground 'lost'

HRW accuses the Bush administration of failing to take responsibility for the treatment of prisoners in its war on terror, saying they "sought to blame the scandal on the young soldiers they sent to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan".
It also highlights the coercive interrogation techniques used on prisoners at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib jail.
"Governments facing human rights pressure from the United States now find it easy to turn the tables," said Mr Roth. "Washington can't very well uphold principles that it violates itself."
The group calls for the Bush administration to set up a fully independent investigative commission, similar to the 9/11 Commission, to look into the Abu Ghraib allegations.
US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said eight investigations had already been completed and junior soldiers were being prosecuted.
"We do not condone torture or abuse of prisoners," he said.
"The actions of the administration have been quite clear in prosecuting this and investigating it and bringing it to light."

Criminal court

HRW also accuses the world of showing "callous disregard" for the 70,000 people killed and up to two million made homeless in the Darfur conflict.
"Darfur is making a mockery of our vows of 'never again'," said Mr Roth.
HRW singles out China and Russia - UN Security Council veto members - in particular for being more concerned about protecting oil contracts and arms sales to Khartoum than saving lives.
The report says a large UN-authorised military force is needed to protect citizens, and criticises Western powers for handing the situation to the relatively inexperienced African Union.
It also calls for an international criminal court to ensure crimes committed in Darfur do not go unpunished.
HRW's 527-page annual report covers the developments in human rights in more than 60 countries in the past year.
It found that human rights conditions remained grave in Iraq and Israel, and had deteriorated in Iran, with little sign of improvement in the rest of the Middle East.
And though improvements were noted in several African countries, the report said concerns remained about governments' commitment to protect human rights.

December 25 was assigned by Catholic Chruch

Written by a Christian BUT message about Chrimbo good.

Most scholars agree that December 25 was assigned by Catholic Chruch as Jesus' birthday. Why?
The New Encyclopedia Britannica, "is that early Christions wished the date to coincide with the
pagan Roman festival marking the 'birthday of the unconquered sun." But why would Christians
who were viciously persecuted by pagans for over two and a half centuries all of a sudden yield
to their persecutors.?

In the first century, the apostle Paul warned Timothy that "wicked men and imposters" would
slip into the Christian congregation and mislead many [ 2 Timothy 3: 13. ] Following the so called conversion of constantine in the fourth century, vast numbers of pagans flocked to the form of Christianity that then prevailed. With what result?

The book Early Christianity and Paganism states: " The comparatively little body of really earnest believers was lost in the great multitude of professed Christians."
Actually, the only celebration that Christians are commanded to observed is the
Lord"s Evening Meal [ 1 Corinthians 11: 23 26].
The reason the church opted to celebrate our Lord's coming on the 25th of
December lies in two areas. One to allow the diciples to celebrate our Lord while being able to hide behind the vail of the pagan holiday thus the pagan authorities thought they were just revelers of the pagan day, when they were really celebrating our Lord having come. The other was to leave a holiday in the year for the people instead of alienating them completely out of society. Think about how we celebrate Christmas in the western world, hardly spirtual with
all of the pagan symbols of the Christmas tree, and Santa Claus, and the mass maketing of
consumer goods. So if Christmas seems to more pagan then spiritual to you you're in one sense
correct. However it's up to you as and individual as to what meaning and how you choose to
celebrate the birth of our messiah. If you read the gospel of St. Luke. It's obvious that our Lord's birth was in the spring of the year from two stand points. One the stars that were in the sky at the time and second the shepards at night were in the fields with their flocks instead being hold up in the caves as they would in winter.
May God Grant You His Peace
Genesis 11:7,8 also states that because the inhabitants of Nimrod's first city built this tower and became united against God, the Lord confused their language and scattered the ALL OVER the earth. Archaeological findings have proved early man indeed came from the Babylonian and Northern Assyrian areas. (You could check in the public library). To the first inhabitants of the world after the flood, Nimrod (Ninus), the first King of Babel, his queen Semiramis, and their miraculously bord god child Tammuz, (the son of the sun) as the first pagan trinity. A multitude of various names have covered their true identity, but the discoveries of the ancient ruins of Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, Mexico, etc....., have enabled scholars to trace their worship from Babylon and Assyria to the Hindus; and across the ocean to the early American Indians. Their pattern of worship is usually the same, only the names are different because of the various languages in the world.

Comparing Bible doctrine with pagan mythology, scholars, both Christian and Non Christian, will
agree that some of the most cherished traditions and ordinances kept by both Catholic and
Protestant churches, have their origin from Sun worship, and not from the Old and New
Testaments. If search through the Bible, there is no verse tell you that Jesus born in the 24 th
December, it is coming from the Son of the Sun Tammuz, but they bring it to the custome of the
Roman Church if you will study carefully, but people just receive what they handed to them
without check it out, it same like Sinday they received it from the paganism, even Jesus worship in the Sabbath like the other real God's prophet (excluded Muhammad), the last prophet is Jesus worship on Sabbath, and he did not born on December, nobody exactly knew when
was Jesus birth. Sunday SACREDNESS, CHRISTMAS, THE CHRISTMAS TREE, EASTER, THE
EASTER EGG, AND BUNNY, HOT CROSS BUNS AND GOOD FRIDAY, are not Holy days and ordinances to be kept sacred from the Bible; but were sacred to the ancient BABYLONIAN
gods; NIMROD (BAAL) 1 KINGS 16:30 33, SEMIRAMIS (ASHTAROTH) JUDGES 2:13 AND TAMMUZ ) EZEKIEL 8 :14.
The mixture of Sun worship and the true worship of God brought judgments from God on the
Israelites during the apostasy. We will also study this later. These festivals to the heathen Trinity were observed centuries before the birth of Jesus in Babylon, Persia, Egypt,
Greece, Rome, Scandinavia, and other remote areas of the world. When the Lord brought Israel
out of the land of heathenism He said:"AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES, SAYING, SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND SAY UNTO THEM, I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD. AFTER THE DOINGS OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, WHEREIN YE DWELT, SHALL YE
NOT DO; AND AFTER THE DOINGS OF THE LAND OF CANAAN, WHITHER I BRING
YOU, SHALL YE NOT DO; NEITHER SHALL YE WALK IN THEIR ORDINANCES."
Leviticus 18: 1 3.

REFERENCE: Check the seal showing Ishtar, the mother of gods and Tammuz the god of
vegetation, Notice the bow and arrows, Tammuz like his father, Nimrod, was a mighty hunter.
Coutesy of the British Museum. See the TWO BABYLONS, by Alexander Hislop, p. 309,
Check the book THE ANTICHRIST 666, TEITAN 300 5 10 300 1 50 = 666 PAGE 29
AND 30.
Now, heathen philosophy says when Semiramis died, her spirit, like her husband's Ninus'
(Nimrod), became immortal and flew up to the moon and took possession of it.
She became the Moon Goddess, The mother of gods, The Queen of Heaven. When her god child
Tammuz died, the pagans claimed his spirit became immortal and took possession of the East
Star (Venus), that appears together with the sun and moon in the spring. This was also known as the New Year Festival. The reason they called it the New Year Festival because in ancient
times pagans began their New Year in the Spring, not in the January. As Baal, the Lord of Heaven had his visible home, the Sun, so did Semiramis as the Queen of heaven have her visible home, The Moon.
Tammuz, like his parents, took possession of the brightest lights in the sky, (Venus), the East
Star. The God was known as the bright and the morning star. One of the multitude of names
given to the Vegetation God was Athtar. In near Eastern Mythology, by John Gray, p.22, we
read the following: "Ishtar the war goddess name is also identified with the east star, the most
significant star in the near east, called by the Arabs in Palestine An najim, "The Star". It was the
home of the god of Vegetation of the Semitic people who was known as Athtar."
During the month of Abib was the jewish Passover Festival. This was held in the spring
also. The Jews were commanded by the lord to eat the passover Exodus 12:1 51, Leviticus 23:5.
However, just as the Jews celebrated the passover so did the pagans around them have their New Year Festival. It was and known today as Holy Week, the time of the resurrection of the dead Vegetation God, who died in the autumn and came back to life in the spring.
Just as the Jews had their sacrificial lamb and were commanded to eat it, so did the Cahna Bal have his sacrifice.
Cahna Bal was a preist of Baal. The priests of Baal sacrificed humans, most of whom were little
children. They sat these little ones on altars of brick or wood, and set them on fire as a burnt
offering to Baal. Then, as the Israelites were commanded to eat the passover lamb, so did
Cahna Bal, the priest of baal eat his sacrife. Cahna Bal is where we get our word cannibal one
who eats human flesh.
Satan is invented these cruel gods and its cruel clergy, to guide those who worshipped them to
destroy themselves. Everything from cannibalism, sacred prostitution, rape, incest, homesexuality, murder, lying, stealing, self emasculation, and suicide, did these gods in their
myths commit; therefore, those who worshipped them were led to follow in their footsteps. Here
is who accepted the heathen sacrifices:
"THEY JOINED THEMSELVES ALSO UNTO BAALPEOR, AND ATE THE SACRIFICES
OF THE DEAD. YEA, THEY SACRIFICED THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS UNTO DEVILS."Psalm 106:28, 37.

In the legend of the Tauric Goddess Diana, it is said that every stranger who landed on her shore, was sacrificed on her altar. Have you ever wondered what the Christmas Tree has to do with the Birth of Christ? or the ornaments you place on the tree, or the meaning of the word
"YULETIDE"? Or where the tradition of mistletoe came from and how it became a symbol of
Christmas? Reader, they have nothing whatsever to do with the birth of Jesus, but are some of the traditions obsereved to honor the birth of pagan god child TAMMUZ. There is not one single
Scriptural evidence that supports the Birth of Christ as being December 25th;but history says
December 25th was kept thousands of name of Tammuz, the pagan god child was "Ball bereth," which means: "Lord of the Fir Tree."
The Sun God, the Mother goddess, and their son, according to Babylonian mythology were
mystically changed into trees. This is the origin of burning the Yuli log. Nimrod deified as the
Sun god was symbolized by abig fir tree stripped of all its branches and cut almost to the ground.
But the great serpent which symbolized the life restorer, whose name is Aesculapius, twists itslef around the dead stock and lo, at its side sprouts a young tree a tree of an entirely different kind, which its side sprouts a young tree a tree of an entirely different kind, which is destined never to be cut down by hostile power; even the palm tree, the well known symbol of
victory. People of Aryan stock who believed that this Branch was of Mistletoe which grew on the oak tree, and to be kissed under the Christ in Isaiah 11:1 "AND THERE SHALL COME FORTH A ROD OUT OF THE STEM OF JESSE, AND A BRANCH SHALL GROW OUT OF HIS ROOTS."

Now take the word "Yuletide." The word yule is as Babylonian as Tammuz. The word yule is
the Chaldee word fo rinfant or little child, and teh 25th of December was called by the pagan
Anglo Saxons, "Yule day" or Child's Day. The pagan Egyptians, and the Persians both observed
the 25th of December as the birthday of their god.

In Germaninc Mythology, they too, had a supreme god to whom they gave sacrifice. These
war like people promised their god, whose name was TIWAZ, that if he would give them victory
over their enemy, they would give to their god all the spoils of the battle.
Like the Babylonians, god answered their prayers, they took their dead victims along with their
spoils of war, and dragged them to their sacred grove, and there hung bogs in Germany. This begot the origin of hanging ornaments from the Christmas Tree.
Littel sheelp of the Lord's pasture, it is impossible to ignore the pagan Festival of Christmas. The
World is commemorating the Birth of Christ, not Tammuz. There is an advantage during the
Christmas season to preach the real Jesus of the Bible. However, we should keep ourselves from the vanities fo the pagan Festival, not to mention the cost, and the death caused by lighted
Christmas Trees.
There is, however, an oppurtunity during the Christmas Season, with its beautiful music, to make others aware that Christ is no longer a helpless babe in a manger, but is the Savior of the world, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords. Mnay who think the Bible and its message is foolishness can be rached during the Christma Season where it would be alomost impossible to talk to them at another time. Even the Christmas Tree can be used to teach the children a great lesson. The
children should be taught that it is a historical fact that placing bulbs, tinsel, and lights on a
Christmas tree is pure pagan heathenism.
This pagan custom got its start from killing enemies and hanging their heads and their spoils from pagan sacred trees. It would not be a sin if an evergreen tree was set up in a church during the Christmas Season if it was done to be an object lesson. IF the parents would take the money they spend, and give the money as an offering to advance the preaching of the gospel, would not the Lord be pleased with such a self sacrifice?
Tammuz was killed and suffered mach pain, the men would identify with their god by self flagellation. This was usually done with knives, While the men would cut themselves to show
their sincerity, the women would weep for their god's return. They believed beacuse Tammuz
died in the fall, vegetationdied also, and if he was resurrected, this too would cause the
regenaration of plant life in the spring.
Tammuz was known as the SON OF THE SUN, and the ignorant pagan saw life beyond the
grave. If the proved faithful, at death they would shed their mortal bodied and become like the
spirits of gods, and live in Paradise.
One of the strict observances a follower had to keep in the worship of Baal, often with the pain of
death if broke, was a (Day) to give honor, and to recognize the Sun God as the Creator and Lord
of Heaven. This day was to be kept Holy, and the people were commanded by Law not to do any
servile work on this Holy Day. This day was to be a Holy Convocation; a day to be set aside
from earning a livehood. It was a day to give Thanks to the Sun God for the Bounties from
Heaven. On this day, the pagan would face the east at sunrise as the sun appeared, and they
worshipped the Sun toward the east, on what was called "Sun day," which is the first day fo the
week. However, during the New Year Festival, Sunday had a double observance at this time of
the year. it was Tammuz's appearance with the Sun, and the Moon, who were believed to be the
homes of Baal, and the Queen fo Heaven. Tammuz's star was the East Star (Venus).
This Sunday was the Holiest of Holy to the pagan. This pagan observance was called "Easter,"
and on this special day the followers of the gods would hold what modern Christian Churches call
today "Sun rise Services. "The same New Year Festival that was held in mesopotamia, was also
held in Western Asia and Greece under the name of "Adonis." He too was mourned, with bitter
wailing, and the East Star was his symbol.

Has the reader ever wondered what the Easter Bunny has to do with the Resurrection of Christ? Or the Easter Egg? Like teh Festival of Christmas and The Christmas Tree, they have nothing whatsoever to do with the Gospel of Christ. The Queen of Heaven was also a goddess of
Fertility, and because the rabbit and teh hen were noted for their many off springs, they were her symbols. Even the word "EASTER" is of pagan origin. It is Chaldean and means ASTARTE," this is one of the titles of BELTIS, the QUEEN OF HEAVEN at Nineveh.
The papacy claims the office of the pope possess infalibility. In other words they claim the pope
cannot err in anything according to the Scriptures. The Vicarius Filii Dei is without fault, and teh
words he speaks are binding on all Christians, according to the papacy. But where in the Word of
God can we find any statement that Jesus, the founder of Christianity, commanded a spiritual ruler or a sunstitute in His place to rule over His people? Where in the Word of God did Jesus set up a hierarchy of Archibishops, Cardinals, Priests, and Sisterhood of Nuns? Where in the Word of God can we find the exaltation of the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God? Where in
the Word of God can we find a commandment from Jesus for women to consecrate their virginity to God, and men as well as women forbidden to marry? Where in the Word of God is the sacrament of the 40 days of lent? Where in the WOrd of GOd is the Observance of Good Friday and the making of Hot Cross Buns? Where in the Word God is the Festival of Christmas commanded to be observe December 25th? Where in the Word of God is the Festival of Easter to be celebrated? Where in the Word of God are the repetitious prayers of the Rosary? Where in the Word of God did JEsus command that the Holy Sabbath Day, teh seventh day fo the week, be changed to the day of the pagan Sun God Baal? Where in the Word of God can we find the power of the preists to change a wafer into the real flesh and the wine into the blood of Jesus? These and other doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, handed down to many Protestants, we will study and compare with the Scriptures.
But first, we want to express our feeling toward the people who make up the Catholic Church.
We do not have any hatred toward any member of the Roman Catholic Church, not even the Pope himself. We are against the system, not the people of the Catholic faith. We believe that the foundation to all Christian doctrine is found written in the Holy Scriputres. We believe all
Christians should follow in the steps of our Leader, Jesus Christ. We believe the books of the
Bible were given before the Roman Catholic Church or a Protestant Church came into being, and
the Lord gave them to be a guide which will lead to eternal life with our Savior Jesus Christ. We
believe by reading the Word of God that a person is transformed from strength to strength, from glory to glory, in the image of Christ. We believe knowledge of the truth
produces faith and will give correction to the ways of error. We believe at present the Lord has His people in all faiths but will seperate all people of the world into two bands; those that do the
will fo God and those who do not. We believe that there is a last day message to the people of the
modern world and after this message there is no other. The door of eternal life will be shut
and those who have rejected and obeyed not the Gospel will lose their salvation. We believe
the last day message is found in the three angels messages of Revalation.
Not only does the Roman Catholic Church observe this heathen custom, but it was the Roman
Catholic Church who prometed the pagan festivals, Easter, Christmas, Good Friday, and Sunday
sacredness which we will study later. None fo these Pagan Festival were kept at the time of the
apostles of Christ. As mater of fact, they were shunned by both the Jews and Christ's followers.
Like the Israelites in their apostasy, it did not come all at once, but a little at a time, the enemy of the Gospel mingled the unholy practices of Baal worship into the pure worship of God. But Satan will be unmasked "AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL BE REVEALED, AND ALL
FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER : FOR THEMOUTH OF THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT.
According to The New Encyclop:dia Britannica, ^December 25, the birthday of Mithra, the
Iranian god of light and . . . the day devoted to the invincible sun, as well as the day after the
Saturnalia, was adopted by the church as Christmas, the nativity of Christ, to counteract the
effects of these festivals.` So the pagan birthday celebration continued with a simple switch in
names, from Mithra to Christ!
^God is a God, not of disorder, but of peace,` wrote the apostle Paul. (1 Corinthians 14:8) Now,
if a God of order intended to have Christians celebrate the birth of his Son on the earth, would He leave it to imperfect men to choose arbitrarily a date from pagan festivals and
to adopt ungodly practices?
So you may ask, If Jesus was not born on December 25, when was he born? From Matthew
chapters 26 and 27, we understand that Jesus died at the time of the Jewish Passover, which
commenced April 1, 33 C.E. Moreover, Luke 3:21 23 informs us that Jesus was about 30 years of age when he commenced his ministry. Since his earthly ministry lasted three and a half years, he was about 33 1/2 years old at the time of his death. Christ would have been a full 34 years old six months later, which would thus be about October 1. If we count back to see when Jesus was born, we reach, not December 25 or January 6, but about October 1 of the year 2 B.C.E.
It is also noteworthy that during the month of December, Bethlehem and its surroundings are
subject to wintry cold weather, chilling rains, and sometimes snow. One does not find shepherds
with their flocks outside at night during that time. This indicates that weather conditions in Bethlehem in December do not fit the BibleEs description of the events connected with the birth
of Jesus Christ.Luke 2:8 11.

From: Nimrod876
IN THE NAME OF THE TRULLY GOD,
I cannot fully express how saddened I am by the latest vicious act of terrorism which took place in Luxor, Egypt yesterday. In the past whenever I heard of such horrible, unjustifiable killings, that were said to be done by muslim groups, I doubted it. I simply could not believe that any muslim would not know that such an act unquestionably, under any circumstance would be forbidden in Islam, and that those who took any part in supporting such an act would gain nothing but GOD's wrath and be doomed to hell. This is not the way GOD would approve of muslims seeking justice for the wrongs done against them.
Besides being an great sin in the eyes of GOD, such an act only helps the enemies of Islam.
Especially, at this crutial time when the muslim peoples of Iraq are in a very dangerous position,
having confrontations with the UN, the US and her Western Alies, this monstrous act of murder is the perfect way to drive the majority of the public opinion against muslims.
Most people in non muslim countries don't really know all that much about Islam, or what kind of people most muslims are like. Only we muslims know each other well, and know that any ordinary muslim would not do or condone such heinous acts. In the past I thought these monsters must be always muslims pretending to be not to be muslims. I still think this is a strong possibility. Or else these misreable and dispecable cowards who might have been muslims in name, but evidently could have been true muslims at heart, had been brain washed and bought by the enemies of not only Islam but of all mankind. Or else they have to be individuals whose thinking ability has been altered by some advanced scientific technique that turns them into killing robots. This possibility could be checked out by doing a thourough forensic investigation on the bodies of the dead gunman. They should
especially be checked for any micro chips implanted in them. We are now living at such an age,
that many things which we see in the movies are no doubt actually possible and are taking place.
If alchohol and many common drugs can alter peoples minds and make them do terrible things
that they would not do otherwise, just think what the scientists of today can do with all the new
technology and knowledge they have available to them. These are just some thoughts that come to my mind. But, whatever the true cause is behind these horrendous terrorist acts, they
must be stopped. Incase the other possibility is true; that these are terribly misguided muslims, who somehow think they are doing this for the sake of their country or for Islam, the rest of the
muslims who are still sane and know better, should condemn them vehemently. Why don't the religios leaders in Islamic countries speak out more strongly against these monsters. They could issue a fatwa against them, as they did against Salman Rushdi, and offer a reward for anyone who helps catch, and bring to justice these sinners who are hurting Islam. I would like to see Saddam at the top of this list. And as ordinary muslims, you should voice our disgust anyway the muslim can against all terrorist acts.
Write to your local newspapers, your government representatives, religious organization, speak
up where ever you can, at school, clubs, among friends, etc., and let people know that Islam does
not allow terrorism under any circumstance, and no God fearing muslim would condone it.
I'm disappointed that there has not been any (except one) response to ISLAM, asking people to
send letters to President Clinton and other world leaders regarding the crisis in Iraq. We really
have to be more involved and active in trying to find peaceful solutions to the problems confronting ISLAM. Islam are helpless, and you shouldn't just sit back and expect others to do
all the work. Each individual has an obligation to do what he/she can to make this a better world. Terrorism=hate! This goes for ALL forms of terrorism. The end does not justify the means! It is interesting that so many of the "Islamic Terrorists" talk about the "enemies of Islam, but it seems that shaytan has blinded them, for they are the most dangerous enemies of
Islam themselves! Islam the ones who have provided the non Muslim world with the negative
image of Islam that permeates the media. They fuel the fire of the ever ready and hungry haters of Islam in the media who are waiting for the next big bombing/attack. They talk about the Great Satan as in the TERORISM, yet they are clay in the hands of shaytan! These horrendous people who claim to be fighting a Holy War are simply the tools that divide people
and, even worse, taint the truth of Islam. They are not only responsible for the murders they
have caused, but are also to be held accountable for the lies that they perpetuate about Islam.
May GOD lead you all to the Straight Path!

I think that Islam people has hit the nail on the head when he/she says: <>
The murderers butchering innocent victims in Egypt ,Algeria, Occupied Phalesteen, N Y City etc.. must be Muslim this is for sure.
I have heard that the men commiting such crimes are poor imported manual laborers of eastern
countries who once in "Arab" are kidnapped by the Muslim, injected with special chemicals then
subjected to special XRays to the brains that make them act like zombies. They are the one that
are doing all the killings and bombing all over the world. Including bringing down planes etc.... My source told me that Interpool and the FBI is looking very closely into the matter since some of the so called bombers of the world trade center in NY where found in jail!!!!!
May the Almighty bring light into this matter. In all ages Satan has persecuted the people of God. He has tortured them and put them to death, but in dying they became conquerors. They bore witness to the power of One mightier than Satan. Wicked men may torture and kill the body, but they cannot touch the life that is hid with Christ in God. They can incarcerate men and women in prison walls, but they cannot bind the spirit. The Sower Went Forth to Sow The gospel seed often falls among thorns and noxious weeds; and if there is not a moral transformation in the human heart, if old habits and practices and the former life of sin are not left behind, if the attributes of Satan are not expelled from the soul, the wheat crop will be choked. The thorns will come to be the crop, and will kill out the wheat.

A Great Gulf Fixed
Christ longed to let light shine into the darkened minds of the Jewish people. He said to them, "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill Me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God. This did not Abraham." John
8:39,40. The Highest Honor And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the
soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell . Matt. 10:28.

Beyond the Gloom to Glory
In all ages Satan has persecuted the people of God. He has tortured them and put them to death, but in dying they became conquerors. They bore witness to the power of One mightier than Satan. Wicked men may torture and kill the body, but they cannot touch the life that is hid with Christ in God. They can incarcerate men and women in prison walls, but they cannot bind the spirit.

An Appeal to Parents
These cities are filled with wickedness of every kind, with strikes and murders and suicides. Satan is in them, controlling men in their work of destruction. Under his influence they kill for the sake of killing, and this they will do more and more. . . .

The Gift of the Spirit
It is not a conclusive evidence that a man is a Christian because he manifests spiritual ecstasy
under extraordinary circumstances. Holiness is not rapture: it is an entire surrender of the will to God; it is living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; it is doing the will of our
heavenly Father; it is trusting God in trial, in darkness as well as in the light; it is walking by faith and not by sight; it is relying on God with unquestioning confidence, and resting in His love. God tells us over and over not to be like the pagans in our worship, and yet you seem to mix up
the secular with the sacred. No you won't find AOL in the scriptures, but you will find that God
tells us NOT to take the things of the heathen and use them to worship him. The children of
Israel tried that with the golden calf. They called the calf the God who brought us out of Israel.
Did God look down on them, you bet! He smote them and they died. What does he think when we take the celebration of the pagan sun god on December 25th and call it the birth of his son? Think about the golden calf and see if there is a lesson there.... I think

CALLING ALL MUSLIMS!

PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS ARTICLE TO AS MANY WEBSITES, GOOGLE AND YAHOO NEWSGROUPS, AND EMAIL CONTACTS AS YOU CAN. IF EVERYONE WHO READS IT POSTS IT TO JUST A COUPLE OF GROUPS/PEOPLE EACH IT WILL FOREVER STAY ON THE NET TO HIGHLIGHT THE ISSUES BELOW...PLEEEEEASE DO YOUR
BIT!...MANY THANKS AND ENJOY THE READ.

Please Note before reading this report.... President Bush Supports this
country with billions of dollars every year. If you doubt the
authenticity of this report you can visit the amnesty international web
site (the worlds largest and most respected human rights organization)
and find this press release which is labeled "05/10/2004
Israel/Occupied Territories: Excessive use of force"...Go to Amnestys
site and click on the library tab, then select "Israel" from the
country drop down list and you will find the link above listed on the
page.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
AI Index: MDE 15/095/2004 (Public)
News Service No: 247
5 October 2004

Israel/Occupied Territories: Excessive use of force
Amnesty International is concerned about the deterioration of the human
rights and humanitarian situation as a result of the Israeli army
incursion in the Jabaliya refugee camp and surrounding areas in the
northern Gaza Strip (including sectors in the nearby towns of Beit
Hanoun and Beit Lahiya).

In the past week (since the evening of Tuesday 28 September) more than
70 Palestinians have been killed, more than a third of whom were
unarmed and including some 20 children. Hundreds of others have been
injured.

The Israeli army has repeatedly used excessive force, including heavy
shelling from tanks and helicopter gunships. Experience has shown that
the use of such weapons and the manner in which they have been deployed
by the army in densely populated residential areas (the Jabaliya
refugee camp is one of the most densely populated places in the world,
with more than 100,000 Palestinians living in less than two square
kilometres), invariably results in a high rate of death and injury of
bystanders and people who are not involved in armed confrontation.
These tactics betray a lack of respect for fundamental human rights
principles, including the right to life.

In certain areas the Israeli army has also unlawfully destroyed or
damaged homes, schools, water and electricity networks, roads, and
other crucial infrastructure. Israeli forces have hindered access to
medical services -- not only for those injured in the military
operation but also those who need medical care for other reasons,
including women who need to give birth. When able to reach those in
need (they often cannot reach those in need of medical treatment)
ambulances have on several occasions come under Israeli army fire.
Strict closures have also been imposed throughout the Gaza Strip in the
past week, cutting the Gaza Strip into four isolated sections,
paralyzing all aspects of life, with people unable to reach their
workplace and students unable to reach the universities. In addition
schools in the area besieged by the Israeli army in the northern Gaza
Strip are closed. Thousands of people living in the besieged areas are
also experiencing shortages of food and other essential goods.
Amnesty International is calling on the Israeli authority to:
· put an immediate end to the use of excessive lethal force
· put an immediate end to unlawful destruction and damage of
Palestinian homes and properties, roads and other infrastructure.
· allow immediate access to medical care and other essential services
for the Palestinian population in the affected areas.
· respect the right to freedom of movement for the Palestinian
population elsewhere in the Gaza Strip.

Amnesty International also calls on Palestinian armed groups not to
initiate attacks and armed confrontation with Israeli troops from
amongst residential areas, as this puts the local residents at risk of
return fire and retaliation from the Israeli army, and reiterates its
call on Palestinian armed groups to put an end to attacks directed
against Israeli civilians in Israel or in the Occupied Territories.
(Notice how Amnesty International (which is the worlds largest and most
respected human rights investigation group) deliberately refuses to
condemn Palestinians from attacking Israeli military or government
targets because they are fully aware of the true situation the
Palestinians are in).

That's it Mr Bush...Turn your blind eye again (50 years in a row
now)...tell the Israeli's they are being a bit too naughty and pay
the Palestinian state idea a bit of lip service and sit on the
fence...and people wont notice you are actually supporting an
oppressive state.

Is it any wonder why America is being targeted by terrorists when
America gives around 50% $Billions of its annual foreign aid to this
country that has one of the worst human rights records on the planet.
Fact!...The real reason America supports Israel is because the
Evangelical Christian Movements belief is that Israels existence is
clearing the way for the second coming of Jesus in the holy land..
Politicians want their votes because they are a huge percentage of
voters in America, and upsetting this group would mean risking loosing
the presidency....it all comes down to supporting whoever wins you the
election and nothing what so ever to do with supporting human rights
and justice in the world..

To the passerby it seems as though the Palestine/Israel conflict is a
conflict of two sides.......at least that's the way the media often
portrays it. This is true to some extent....you can always find war
criminals on both sides of any world conflict.....I myself have in the
past lived and worked in many parts of the west bank, Palestine, and
Israel for a number of years and felt compelled to write this article
for the benefit of all those concerned.

The reason i am posting this letter is that i hope somebody of
influence reading it will take my suggestion and act on it.
There is no doubt that when watching the news on the conflict most
viewers are left with the impression "It's a war of two
sides"......and this is the problem......giving the general public a
TRUE picture of what is happening is impossible due to both sides
continually playing the blame game in the media refusing to see the
sufferings of the other side.....result:...people are left with the
impression, "I guess they are probably as bad as each other"...This
statement is not completely untrue....nobody can justify the murder of
Israeli children by the use of a suicide bomber nor can Israel justify
the state murder of hundreds of Palestinian children each year and call
it self defense against terrorism. Like I said before, there are always
war crimes on both sides of every conflict. But what stands out the
most about this conflict is the disturbingly unbalanced body count
figures published annually by the UN. Year after year the Israeli
military is killing 4 times more people than casualtys caused by
Palestinian violence.

Instead of Palestinian organizations putting up posters and flyers
stating "apartied - bring down the wall etc"......why not focus PR
campaigns to include the most UNARGUABLE FACTS!.....This and only this
will turn heads and change public opinion for the better...forget the
injustices and sentiment for a minute and focus on what will win the
hearts and minds of the masses...UNARGUABLE FACTS that relate to the
values of all people.

I am not up to date with the latest body count figures but i am
informed that UN recent figures state a ratio of aprox 3-5 dead
Palestinians to every Israeli, and year after year this ratio
continues.

When you consider that Israel is as well armed technologically as
the Americans, and that the Palestinians are....well lets just
say....slingshots made out of coca cola cans and the odd AK47 and home
made mortar don't do too much damage to a squadron of apache
helicopter gunships supplied by America.

With the above in mind, a rational person will tell you that if two
Unequally armed armies clash in a battle: The WORST CASE SENARIO is
that the most well armed side will suffer equal losses to that which it
inflicts....In such a scenario, at best a case of "SELF DEFENCE" and
"Minimum Force Necessary" might be claimed...but this scenario is
very rare and unlikely in warfare and only comes about when the
dominant army makes a serious strategic error.

If you found an adult dressed in armour holding high tech weapons
standing in a room with four dead children with pea shooters laying at
his feet and he told you he was forced to defend himself...would you
accept this?

When Israel is killing Palestinians at a ratio of approximately for
times as many and they are far better armed how can they seriously
claim self defense against terrorism???.....I was always taught that in
order to take the moral high ground and claim self defense you must use
the "Minimum Force Necessary"..Do these figures speak "Minimum
Force Necessary"???

In the civilized world, when a government is faced with a hostile
force the police are called in to form a barricade, if this proves
insufficient to keep the peace water cannons are used, then onto tear
gas, and if this still is not enough to control rioters the police may
use rubber bullets to disable there targets. In the extreme case police
may resort to live bullets and shoot at the legs...and in the extremely
rare case when this may fail to stop the most determined
opponent...shoot to kill if life is directly threatened. (This is the
definition of "Minimum force Necessary"

In Israel when a Palestinian attack takes place, the Israeli Policy
is to punish all Palestinians instead of targeting the few
responsible. All Palestinian towns and villages are put under curfew
and soldiers are given orders to shoot anybody seen walking the
streets. The familys of those responsible for attacks will have their
homes bulldozed as a deterent. As well as this the Israeli military
orders strikes with casualty figures in excess of those received and in
turn the Palestinians return a strike and the cycle of violence
continues with both sides making statements like "our attack was in
response to their attack". Which side is acting in self defence to an
attack received depends on your perspective.

In one recent year there were around 400 Israelis killed by Palestinian
militants. This is indeed a tragedy, however it is dwarfed by the fact
that an equal number of Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in
the same period all of whom were children under the age of ten.
(categorized as terrorists by Isreal) and guilty of nothing more than
throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers.

I'm not sure how to put the above argument all in one nicely
designed poster and flyer, but if you can I think it would have a real
impact, my proposal is this:

1. State UNARGUABLE unbiased reputable source figures (like the UN),
2. State a worst case scenario argument.
3. Close with the question: "Are these the figures of a country in self
defense against terrorism or is this genocide?"

The above ingrediance address the issues in a simplistic easy to
understand way for those with no background knowledge of the conflict
and also leaves little room for a counter argument response from pro
Israel groups. The truth always hurts the most.
Stating Logic & Truth, and backing it up with UN Statistics is the
way to turn heads.....post it up in every tube station and rail station
north to south, and give out thousands of flyers with this argument in
print ....i believe it will not fail to win the hearts and minds of the
masses.

I am not in contact with any pro Palestinian organizations but would
much appreciate it if readers can forward this idea to every campaign
office they know and also to the appropriate local and national
government office and any media/magazine/newsgroup address you can get
your hands on....i would love to see it posted from north to south.
To any Americans reading this article, you should be aware that your
government supports the state of Israel with billions of dollars of aid
each year ( approximately 50% of your foreign aid budget diverted from
people truly in need) because it is claimed "Israel is the only
democracy in the middle east", Israel is a democracy only by name but
far away from it in nature, the figures speak the truth. Please write a
letter to your senator and president asking him if these are the
figures of a democratic government in the Middle East, and hopefully
with a change in America's policy towards the middle east we can
start to see a reduction in the feelings of resentment towards America
in the muslim world.

When the world trade center was targeted on September 11th, America
was told the reason for it was that "These terrorists are fighting
against freedom itself", Ask yourself this.....If you were to
interview any of the Sept 11th bombers do you really believe they would
tell you they hate freedom?, is there anybody in the world who will
tell you they hate freedom?....No is the simple answer.....Or is it
more likely that these people or members of there family have in
someway been victims of Americas middle east policy's which have
filled them with misguided resentment and hate towards all
Americans?...........Your government would prefer you to think that
these people just wake up in the morning and feel like killing
civilians for no reason other than they hate people being free.
In my travels across the middle east prior to Sept 11th , I had the
opportunity to ask many muslims why they are so angry towards America,
the response was always the same again and again.....ISRAEL IS
OPPRESSING OUR FELLOW MUSLIMS!..and America is supporting their human
rights abuses with financial and military support........

For Fifty years now the United Nations has declared that Israel has
stolen and is illegally occupying the Palestinians land and that
Jerusalem is an illegally occupied city and the vast majority of
countries around the world support this view and call for Israel to
withdraw itself from Palestinian land year after year (accept America).
The American government has been ignoring this international ruling by
the UN for 50 years in a row despite the fact that the largest human
rights organization in the world Amnesty international condemns Israel
every year as having one of the worst human rights records on the
planet. America turns a blind eye again, fifty years in a row now......
After the Sept 11th terrorist attack the American government chose
to solve this age old dispute by launching bombs, and in the process
has killed dozens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers who were simply
obeying orders to defend there country, as would any American. And
today the body count has reached over 1000 American soldiers killed and
rising fast, just under 6000 injured, and of course you have at least
another ten thousand dead Iraqi civilians to date and that's after
the major assault on Iraq had ended.

When confronted by any problem, there are always two ways to solve
it..The intelligent way or the primitive impulsive monkey way

1) With brute force and aggression (launch operation shock and ore on
Iraq and Afghanistan)...forgetting the philosophy that every action has
a reaction and sending the message America is not taking any
responsibility for its middle east policys of support for Israel and
infuriating the muslim world even more and setting America up for even
more future Sept 11th bombings and helping terrorist organizations to
recruit many more fighters.
2) Or the intelligent way, which is to look at the root cause of why
your attacker is angry and if necessary defuse the problem from its
source as well as stopping the cycle of violence.
Sadly George Bush chose the impulsive way. And has only made American
citizens even more vulnerable. How many people do you think there are
at this very moment plotting to strike American soil because of the
attack on Iraq?, The answer is plenty more than there were before Sept
11th, some will be stopped, but as in the case of Israels lesson.
It's impossible to stop them all. Especially when the bombers are
prepared to die to reach their targets.

If America is a truly democratic country, then it should respect the
views of the UN and the vast majority of the world in regard to
Israel....The world has voted in regard to Israel, Its time to listen
to the result.

IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN TERRORISM IN THE USA AND PALESTINE???
READ THE BIN LADEN QUOTES BELOW TAKEN FROM AL QAEDAS LATEST VIDEO TAPE
RELEASE SEEN ON CNN AND BBC NEWS (OCTOBER 2004) AND DECIDE FOR
YOURSELF:
"I tell you that security is a major pillar of human life. Free men
do not renounce their security, irrespective of (US President George W)
Bush's claims that we hate freedom"
"I swear we never thought of attacking the towers, but when we saw
the injustice and arbitrariness of the US-Israeli alliance against our
brethren in Palestine and Lebanon, it became too much and the idea came
to me."
"The events that affected me directly go back to 1982 ... when
America gave the Israelis the green light to invade Lebanon, with the
backing of the US Sixth Fleet. It is difficult to describe what I felt
in these painful moments, but it created an overwhelming feeling of
refusal of injustice and a compelling determination to punish the
unjust. As I watched the destroyed towers in Lebanon, it occurred to me
that the unjust should suffer the same, that the towers in America must
be destroyed so that America gets a taste of what we went through, so
that it will stop killing our children and women"

Your security is not in the hands of (Democratic presidential
candidate) John Kerry, Bush or Al-Qaeda. Your security is in your own
hands. Any (presidential) mandate which does not play havoc with our
security would automatically ensure its own security."

PLEASE NOTE: I in no way condone the actions of September the 11th or
Palestinian attacks on civilians.....this article was written to point
out the huge imbalance of acts of violence and Americas miss guided
middle east policy and the consequences it has brought on the world.

A FINAL NOTE:......The Israeli position in regards to peace is
"surrender to our will and occupation or its war" Israel believes
that the Jews have a religious right to take over Palestinian land
because the Jews occupied this piece of land some 2000 years ago. If
the world were to operate around these rules the British would have a
right to invade and take back America because the British used to
occupy America only a few hundred years ago...and of course would
punish any American terrorists who have a problem with that. The
Israeli government say they are all for peace negotiations and are
prepared to talk about withdrawal from Palestinian land. At the same
time, the government is spending millions building new Israeli housing
settlements on Palestinian land.....If Israel has the intention to
withdraw...would they still be spending millions on new building
developments only to have to abandon them later???....I think this is
what George Bush would call a "no brainer". Israel Has built these
settlements because they can use this as a bargaining chip in
negotiating a settlement...... saying it is not reasonable to ask so
many Israelis to leave their new homes. Plain and simply it is an
illegal land grab and has been ruled illegal internationally.
The Palestinian position is the request that the UN resolutions that
have already been voted for by the international community are upheld
and the Israeli government be forced by UN sanctions to withdraw their
troops back into their own borders and land given to them by the UN
(Is this not a peaceful and reasonable request when all Palestinians
are asking for is that international law and voting be upheld?)

.......Once again like with the Iraq war the American government has
ignored these UN rulings and only follows the rules of the UN when they
feel like it....A very dangerous example to set for the international
community. Why should other countries obey the UN when those with great
power don't?

If you have mass mailing software please put it to good use and mass
mail the Christian evangelical movement, pro Palestine campaign groups,
government lobbying groups, and media. I give my full permission for
this article to be published and distributed free of charge for both
profit or campaigning reasons

12 Tips for Muslim Youth

Why should you, a young Muslim, be helping to bring your friends closer to Allah?
After all, you’ve got your own struggles to deal with: trying to explain why you pray to hostile teachers, Hijab discrimination, standing up in class when the professor attacks Islam, dealing with parents who think you’ve gone nuts because you’re growing a beard, or all the other difficulties faced by a number of practicing Muslim youth?
Islam was never meant to be an individualistic faith, reserved for the "chosen few". Muslims have a duty to spread the Deen, and practicing Muslim youth, whether beginners, activists or leaders have a crucial role to play.
"Allah has put them in a position that perhaps no one else is in," notes Sheema Khan, former Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) advisor for eastern Canada. "They have the means to communicate with their peers, they have an understanding of what they’re going through plus they have the guidance of Islam."
Who is your childhood friend, who would rather spend Fridays at MacDonald’s than the Masjid, or your classmate who is Muslim in name and only knows that "Muslims don’t eat pork" going to listen to: the nice Imam of the Masjid who would freak out if he saw the way they were dressed and talked or you who may have grown up with them, joked with them, or see them everyday in school?
The answer is obvious: you.
Don’t panic. Here are some tips and advice which can help from other Muslims, many of whom have been there and done that:

Tip # 1 : Make Your Intention Sincere
All work we do should ideally be for the sake of Allah. That includes the task of bringing someone closer to Allah. That of course means this should not be connected to arrogance, thinking you’re the teacher and everyone else should be lucky you’ve embarked on a crusade to save them. Guidance is from Allah. Make Dua and make sincere efforts and remember Allah can also misguide you if He wills (we seek refuge in Allah from that).

Tip # 2 : Practice What YOu Preach
Not practicing what you preach is wrong and you will lose the confidence of anyone, young or old, once they figure you out. Don’t do it.

Tip # 3 : Use The Quran & Seerah (biography of the Prphet peace be upon him) As Da’wah Guides
Read and understand those chapters of the Quran which talk about how the Prophets presented the message of Islam to their people. Read the Seerah (for some good Seerah books)to see especially how the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) brought Islam to so many different people, including young people.
As well, talk to Da’wah workers, and check out manuals they may have written, like Yahiya Emerick’s How to Tell Others About Islam.

Tip # 4 : Talk To People As If You Really Dont Know Them
Don’t assume you know someone just by looking at them. You don’t know that the Muslim girl in your homeroom who walks through the school’s hallways as if they were fashion show catwalks (see Ambe Rehman’s perspective on this) is not someone you can talk to about Allah because she looks like a snob. Or that the Muslim guy who you’ve never seen at Juma at your university is a "bad Muslim". Maybe he was never really taught Islam and has no idea what importance Friday prayers have in Islam, especially for Muslim men.

Tip # 5 : Smile
Did you know the Prophet was big on smiling? But many "practicing" Muslims seem to have "their faces on upside down" as one speaker once said-frowning and serious.
Smiling, being polite and kind are all part of the manners of the Prophet, which we must exercise in our daily lives. If we want to approach others with Islam, we have to make ourselves approachable. Smiling is key to this.
But note that being approachable does not mean being flirtations with the other gender. There are Islamic rules for how men and women should deal with each other that have to be respected. Dawah is no excuse to have long and private conversations and meetings with the other sex, for example. Set up a system where someone expressing an interest in Islam is referred to someone of the same sex.

Tip # 6 : Take The Initiative & Hang Out With Them
Take the first step and invite someone you may have spoken to a couple of times to sit at lunch together, to check out a hockey game or invite them over for Iftar in Ramadan. Also, share difficulties, sorrows and frustrations. Help with homework, be a shoulder to cry on when depression hits, or just plain listen when your friend is upset, discuss common problems and KEEP THEIR SECRETS. There are few things as annoying as a snitch and backstabber. But an important note: if the problem is of a serious nature,(i.e. your friend is thinking of committing suicide or is taking drugs), notify and consult an adult immediately.

Tip # 7 : Show Them Islam Is Relevant Today, Right Here, Right Now
Young people may think Islam is too "old fashioned" and not in tune with the modern age. Prove this wrong. Show how Islam is really about relating to Allah, which any human being can do, anywhere, anytime. Allah is always closer to you than your jugular vein and He hears and knows everything. Encourage friends to ask Allah’s help during tests, exams, and in dealing with problems at home with parents and siblings. Also point out how Islam relates to teenagers: Islam gives you focus and an understanding of who you are and where you are going, which most of "teen culture" does not.

Tip # 8 : Get Them Involved In Volunteer Work With You
If you are already involved in the community, get your friend to help out. Ask them to make a flyer for one of your youth group’s events or brainstorm for ideas about activities to hold this school year. This involvement makes them feel part of the Muslim community and deepens your friendship, since you are now working together on something beneficial for both of you. Make sure you thank them for their contribution.

Tip # 9 : Ask Them 4 Fundamental Questions
As your friendship develops, you will notice the topics you discuss may become more serious. You may be discussing, for instance, future goals and plans. Khan recommends four questions to ask that can steer the topic to Allah and Islam:
a. Where am I going in life and what would make me really happy deep down inside?
b. What do I believe?
c. Who should I be grateful to?
d. Did I get to where I am today without the help of anyone?

Tip # 10 : Emphasize Praying 5 Times A Day Before Any Other Aspect Of Islam
A person’s main connection with Allah, on a daily basis, is through the prayer five times a day. Don’t emphasize any other aspect of Islam until your friend starts making a real effort to pray five times a day. Emphasize the direct connection one has with Allah in prayer. If they are facing a problem, tell them to pray, and to ask Allah for help in Salah and outside this time. When possible, make it a point to pray together during your "hang out time". If your friend begins to pray, that is the first step to other aspects of Islam like giving up swearing, treating parents with respect or dressing “Islamically”.

Tip # 11 : Help Instill Confidence In Adults
Adults, like Bart Simpson’s dad Homer, are considered bumbling idiots in the eyes of "teen culture". Your job as a young Muslim is to help turn the tables on this false and unIslamic belief. All you have to do is this: when a Muslim adult does something good (i.e. saving someone’s life, donating money to a worthy cause, the Imam gives a good speech, taking good care of his/her family) bring it up in the course of your conversations with your friend and praise the adult in question. Doing this regularly may not only change your friend’s perspective, but could lead to them seeing their own parents in a more respectful way.

Tip # 12 : Support Them Even When They Become More Practicing
Remember, just because a person starts practicing Islam more regularly, this does not mean everything will be okay from this point onwards. There will still be hard times, difficulties. There may be times when your friend may have doubts about his or her newfound practice of Islam. Be there to reassure them.

Really trust Allah!

THE SECRET

One day, one friend asked another, "How is it that you are always so happy? You have so much energy and you never seem to get down."
With his eyes smiling, he said, "I know the Secret!"
"What secret is that?"
To which he replied,"I'll tell you all about it,
but you have to promise to share the Secret with others."
"The Secret is this: I have learned there is little I can do in my life that will make me truly happy. I must depend on Allah to make me happy and to meet my needs. When a need arises in my life, I have to trustAllah to supply according to HIS riches.
I have learned most of the time I don't need half of what I think I do.
He has never let me down. Since I learned that 'Secret', I am happy."
The questioner's first thought was , "That's too simple!"
But upon reflecting over his own life he recalled how he thought a bigger house would make him happy, but it didn't! he thought a better paying job would make him happy, but it hadn't.
When did he realize him greatest happiness?
Sitting on the floor with his grandchildren, has flowers on his garden, or reading a story,a simple gift from Allah..
Now you know it too!
We can't depend on people to make us happy. Only Allah in His infinite wisdom can do that. Trust HIM!
And now I pass the Secret on to you!
So once you get it, what will you do?
YOU have to tell someone the Secret, too!
That Allah in His wisdom will take care of YOU!
But it's not really a secret...
We just have to believe it and do it...
Really trust Allah!

author: unknown

But it's only words!

One day, one of the Companions asked the Prophet (peace be upon him): "O Messenger of Allah, will we be called to account for what we say?" He replied "May you be lost to your mother! People will be thrown, faces down into the hellfire, only on account to what their tongues said!" [Tirmidhi]

Indeed the tongue controls the rest of our body. A well controlled tongue will keep us within Islam but a loose tongue will destroy us. The Prophet said: "When a person gets up in the morning, all the parts of his body make a plea to his tongue saying 'Fear Allah regarding us, because we follow you. If you are right then we shall also be right , and if you are wrong then we shall also be wrong'." [Tirmidhi]

How often do we say "It wasn't me who said it!" or that "I was only joking". We treat lies as being trivial. However we are told that Allah's messenger did not hate anything more than lying [Ahmed]. The Prophet was once asked "Can a Muslim be a coward?" He replied "Yes". He was then asked "Can a Muslim be a miser?" and the reply was "Yes". The Prophet was again asked "Can a Muslim be a liar?" The Prophet replied "No! A Muslim can never be a liar".

If we listen carefully to ourselves and to our friends speaking one day - nearly every sentence will have a swear word in it, thinking it's cool and macho to swear, copying the idols of TV and the cinema. Is it really 'cool' to swear? The Hellfire is far from being cool. People will wish they were cool then rather than being cool in this world. Remember! That every time we speak, an angel writes down what we say, and that one day we will have to answer for every single word we ever uttered. So if we swear at someone then it's written down as a sin against us. We''re only harming ourselves. The Prophet said that "abusing a Muslim is a sin and fighting with him is disbelief" [Muslim].

Instead of swearing, lying and engaging in useless talk we can use our tongues in better ways and what better than telling people about Islam.

Source:"The Tongue " - Young Muslims UK

After Hajj

Abdullah Ibn Umar (r.a) reports that Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallaim said, "When you meet a Haajji (on his way home) then greet him, shake hands with him and ask him to beg forgiveness of Allah on your behalf before he enters his home, for his prayer for forgiveness is accepted since he is forgiven by Allah for his sins.”(Ahmad)

Firstly, the sincerity of intention should remain even after the performance of Hajj. There should be no pomp or show. One should not wish to be called or recognized as a Haajji. Many people adopt the habit of talking frequently about their journey in order that people may come to know of their Hajj. This is a deceit from Shaytaan who ruins the ibaadah of the person who is unaware of it. It is therefore, of great importance that the pilgrim does not talk about his Hajj without necessity, as it may lead to riyaa (show, insincerity). However, if necessity arises and one must talk about his Hajj, then he is at liberty to do so.

Secondly, it is noted through experience, that many pilgrims return with nothing but the sad memories to reflect upon, and this darkness filters through their tongues to the extent that they talk only about the hardships they have encountered during Hajj. The pilgrims should strictly refrain from this. On the contrary, they should talk about the greatness of the sacred places, the spiritual gains, the enjoyment in devotions of Haramayn - Umrah, tawaaf, salaam on the Sacred Grave, Salaat in Al Masjidul Haraam and Masjidun Nabawi, etc. If one looks at his journey of Hajj carefully he will find that the spiritual benefits far outweighs the physical hardships. Every second spent in these sacred places is incomparable with anything in the world.

The journey of Hajj is a long journey; hence, difficulties are certain to arise. When we travel in our country, do we always travel with comfort and ease? Do we never encounter difficulty? Considering the fact that 2-3 million pilgrims perform the rituals of Hajj at one time, I think the difficulties encountered are insignificant. Moreover, the pilgrims are rewarded abundantly by Allah Ta'aalaa upon every difficulty encountered in their journey, whereas the same is not the case whilst we undertake other journeys.Those people who engage in these types of conversation become the cause of discouragement to others who have not yet had the opportunity to perform Hajj. These unfortunate pilgrims fall into the category ...and who stop (men) from the way of Allah, and from the Sacred Masjid, .... mentioned in Soorah Hajj in the Qur'aan. They should take heed that if people are discouraged by their conversation and postpone their Hajj, then those who have discouraged them will be equally responsible.

Thirdly, the sign of a 'Mabroor Hajj' or 'accepted Hajj' is that upon one's return, his life, changes from worst to good. He becomes totally punctual in fulfilling the commands of Allah Ta'aalaa. His love and inclination towards the Hereafter increases and love for the worldly pleasures decline. Therefore, it is essential that the pilgrim should endeavor to fulfill the obligations laid down by Allah and avoid all the things forbidden by Him.

Source: Sh. Ml. Saleem Dhorat I.D.A.

FORGIVE THE DEBT, IF THE DEBTOR IS POOR

Author: Syeda Muneeba Masood

Allah is kind, all merciful and forgiving and that’s what he wants us to be towards His creatures. Creditors often have rude behavior towards debtors, which is not liked in Islam. Creditors should give time to debtors to pay back the debt and loan. If debtor is poor and needy then creditor should behave leniently towards him, instead of cursing or tensing him for debts. Our beloved Prophet Mohammad (SallAllaho Alaihi Wasallam) has advised us to forgive the debt and not to take it back, if the debtor is poor. By doing so one can earn high rewards from Allah in the life hereafter and blessings and mercy of Almighty in this world as well.

HADITH
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "A man used to give loans to the people and used to say to his servant, 'If the debtor is poor, forgive him, so that Allah may forgive us.' So when he met Allah (after his death), Allah forgave him." (Book #56, Hadith #687)
The above Hadith is enough to explain the virtues of forgiving debts and caring the poor. The wealth of Heaven is never ending, strive for that. Don’t run after the wealth of this Earth which is nothing but worthless than the wing of mosquito.

Top Ten Excuses Of Muslim Women Who Don't Wear Hijaab And Their Obvious Weaknesses

By Dr. Huwayda Ismaeel

Rendered into English from Al-Bayaan Magazine

Get on the train of repentance my sister, before it passes by your station. Deeply consider my sister, what is happening today before tomorrow comes. Think, my sister - starting now.
All praise is due to Allah Ta'aala as is deserved by His Majesty and Great Power. I send prayers and ask for blessings upon His Noble Messenger who drew the path for us to the pleasure of Allah and His Jannah. This path is a straight one that is surrounded by virtue from all sides and attends to the best moral characteristics which are increased by the clothing of purity, concealment, and chastity. It is the path trod by the two halves of human society, namely the man and the woman, toward harmonious contentment and happiness in this life and the Hereafter.
This is precisely why the Protector, the blessed and above all imperfection, has made wearing hijaab an obligation upon the woman as a safeguard of her chastity and protection of her honor and sign of her faith (Eemaan). It is on account of this that societies (both Muslim and non-Muslim) that have distanced themselves from the way of Allah and deviated from His straight path, are ill societies in need of treatment that will lead them to recovery and happiness.
Among the pictures that point to the distance of society from that path and that make clear the level of its deviation and separation from it is the open spread of women not just uncovering their faces but enhancing and making a display of their beauty. We find that, regretfully, this is commonly manifested in Islamic (Muslim) society despite the fact Islamic clothing is also widespread (and available). So then, what are the reasons that have led to this digression?
We put this question to a varied group of women from whom we derived ten major excuses and upon examination and scrutiny, the frailty of the excuses became evident to us.
Stay with us dear Muslim sister in these few lines so that we can know through them the reasons for turning away from the hijaab and then discuss each:

Excuse One: I'm not yet convinced (of the necessity) of hijaab.

We then ask this sister two questions:
One: Is she truly convinced of the correctness of the religion of Islam?
The natural answer is: Yes, she is convinced, for she responds "Laa ilaaha illallah!" (There is no God but Allah), meaning she is convinced of the 'aqeedah, and then she says: "Muhammadun rasoolullah!" (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), meaning by that that she is convinced of its legislation or law (sharee'ah). Therefore, she is convinced of Islam as a belief system and a law by which one governs and rules her life.
Two: Is the hijaab then a part of Islamic Law (sharee'ah) and an obligation?
If this sister is honest and sincere in her intention and has looked into the issue as one who truly wants to know the truth her answer could only be: "Yes". For Allah ta'aala, Whose Divinity (Uloohiyyah) she believes in has commanded wearing hijaab in His Book (Al-Qur'aan); and the noble Prophet, ('alaihi salaat wa salaam) whose message she believes in, has commanded wearing the hijaab in his sunnah.
What do we call a person who says they believe in and are content with the correctness of Islam but who nonetheless does not do what Allah or His Messenger have ordered? Certainly they can in no way be described as those whom Allah speaks of in this aayah:
The only saying of the faithful believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say 'we hear and obey' and such are the successful. [Soorah An-Noor 24:51]

In summary: If this sister is convinced of Islam, how then can she not be convinced of its orders?

Excuse Two: I am convinced of Islamic dress but my mother prevents me from wearing it and if I disobey her I will go to the Fire.

The one who has answered this excuse is the most noble of Allah's creation, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) in concise and comprehensive words of wisdom: There is no obedience to the created in the disobedience of Allah. [Ahmed]
The status of parents in Islam, especially the mother, is a high and elevated one. Indeed Allah ta'aala has combined it with the greatest of matters, worshipping Him and His tawheed, in many aayaat.
He stated: Worship Allah and join none with Him and do good to parents. [Soorah An-Nisaa 4:36] Obedience to parents is not limited except in one aspect, and that is if they order to disobedience of Allah. Allah said: But if they strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not. [Soorah Luqmaan 31:15]
The lack of obedience to them in sinfulness does not prevent being good to them and kind treatment of them. Allah said afterward in the same aayah: But behave with them in the world kindly.

In summary: How can you obey your mother and disobey Allah, Who created you and your mother?

Excuse Three: My position does not allow me to substitute my dress for Islamic dress.
This sister is either one or the other of two types: She is sincere and honest, or she is a slippery liar who desires to make a showy display of her "hijaab" clamoring with colors to be "in line with the times" and expensive.

We will begin with an answer to the honest and sincere sister:
Are you unaware my dear sister, that it is not permissible for the Muslim woman to leave her home in any instance unless her clothing meets the conditions of Islamic hijaab (Hijaab shar'ee) and it is a duty of every Muslim woman to know what they are? If you have taken the time and effort to learn so many matters of this world how then can you be neglectful of learning those matters which will save you from the punishment of Allah and His anger after death!? Does Allah not say: Ask the people of remembrance (i.e. knowledgeable scholars) if you do not know. [Soorah An-Nahl 16:43]. Learn therefore, the requirements of proper hijaab.
If you must go out, then do so only with the correct hijaab, seeking the pleasure of Allah and the degradation of Shaitaan. That is because the corruption brought about by your going out adorned and "beautified" is far greater than the matter which you deem necessary to go out for.
My dear sister if you are really truthful in your intention and correctly determined you will find a thousands hands of good assisting you and Allah will make the matter easy for you! Is He not the One Who says: And whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty) and He will provide him from sources he never could imagine. [Soorah At-Talaaq 65:2-3]?
With regards to the 'slippery' one we say:
Honor and position is something determined by Allah Ta'aala and it is not due to embellishment of clothing and show of colors and keeping up with the trendsetters. It is rather due to obedience to Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and holding to the pure law of Allah and correct Islamic hijaab. Listen to the words of Allah: Indeed, the most honorable amongst you are those who are the most pious. [Soorah Al-Hujuraat 49:35]

In summary: Do things in the way of seeking Allah's pleasure and entering His Jannah and give less value to the high priced and costly objects and wealth of this world.

Excuse Four: It is so very hot in my country and I can't stand it. How could I take it if I wore the hijaab?

Allah gives an example by saying: Say: The Fire of Hell is more intense in heat if they only understand. [Soorah At-Taubah 9:81]
How can you compare the heat of your land to the heat of the Hellfire?
Know, my sister, that Shaitaan has trapped you in one of his feeble ropes to drag you from the heat of this world to the heat of the Hellfire. Free yourself from his net and view the heat of the sun as a favor and not an affliction especially in that it reminds you of the intensity of the punishment of Allah which is many times greater than the heat you now feel. Return to the order of Allah and sacrifice this worldly comfort in the way of following the path of salvation from the Hellfire about which Allah says: They will neither feel coolness nor have any drink except that of boiling water and pus. [Soorah An-Naba' 78:24-25]

In summary: The Jannah is surrounded by hardships and toil, while Hellfire is surrounded by temptations, lusts and desires.

Excuse Five: I'm afraid that if I wear the hijaab I will take it off at another time because I have seen so many others do so!

To her I say: If everyone was to apply your logic then they would have left the Deen in its entirety! They would have left off salaat because some would be afraid of leaving it later. They would have left fasting in Ramadhan because so many are afraid of not doing it later, etc. Haven't you seen how Shaitaan has trapped you in his snare again and blocked you from guidance?
Allah Ta'aala loves continuous obedience even if it be small or recommended. How about something that is an absolute obligation like wearing hijaab? The prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: The most beloved deed with Allah is the consistent one though it be little.Why haven't you sought out the causes leading those people to leave off the hijaab so that you can avoid them and work to keep away from them? Why haven't you sought out reasons and causes to affirm truth and guidance until you can hold firm to them?
Among these causes is much supplication to Allah (du'aa) to make the heart firm upon the Deen as did the prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam). Also is making salaat and having mindfulness of it as Allah stated:
And seek help in patience and the prayer and truly it is extremely heavy except for the true believers in Allah who obey Allah with full submission and believe in His promise of Jannah and in His warnings (Al-Khaashi'oon). [Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:45]
Other causes to put one upon guidance and truth is adherence to the laws of Islam and one of them is indeed wearing the hijaab. Allah said: If they had done what they were told, it would have been better for them and would have strengthened their faith. [Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:66]

In summary: If you hold tight to the causes of guidance and taste the sweetness of faith you will not neglect the orders of Allah after having held to them.

Excuse Six: If I wear the hijaab then nobody will marry me, so I'm going to leave it off until then.

Any husband who desires that you be uncovered and adorned in public in defiance of and in disobedience to Allah, is not a worthy husband in the first place. He is a husband who has no feeling to protect what Allah has made inviolable, most notably yourself, and he will not help you in any way to enter Al-Jannah or escape from the Hellfire. A home which is founded upon disobedience to Allah and provocation of His anger is fitting that He decree misery and hardship for it in this life and in the Hereafter. As Allah stated: But whosoever turns away from My reminder (i.e. neither believes in the Qur'aan nor acts upon its teachings) verily for him is a life of hardship and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection. [Soorah Ta Ha 20:124]
Marriage is a favor and blessing from Allah to whom He give whom He wills. How many women who wear hijaab (mutahajibah) are in fact married while many who don't aren't? If you were to say that '..my being made-up and uncovered is a means to reach a pure end, namely marriage', a pure goal or end is not attained through impure and corrupt means in Islam. If the goal is honorable then it must necessarily be achieved by pure and clean method. We say the rule in Islam is: The means are according to the rules of the intended goals.

In summary: There is no blessing in a marriage established upon sinfulness and corruption.

Excuse Seven: I don't wear hijaab based on what Allah says: And proclaim the grace of your Rabb [Soorah Ad-Dhuhaa 93:11] How can I cover what Allah has blessed me with of silky soft hair and captivating beauty?

So this sister of ours adheres to the Book of Allah and its commands as long as they coincide with her personal desires and understanding! She leaves behind those matters when they don't please her. If this was not the case, then why doesn't she follow the aayah: And do not show off their adornment except only that which is apparent [Soorah An-Noor 24:31] and the statement of Allah subhaanah: Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies [Soorah Al-Ahzaab 33:59]?
With this statement my sister you have now made a shari'ah (law) for yourself of what Allah Ta'aala has strictly forbidden, namely beautification (at-tabarruj) and uncovering (as-sufoor), and the reason: Your lack of wanting to adhere to the order. The greatest blessing or favor that Allah has bestowed upon us is that of Eemaan (faith) and hidaayah (guidance) and among them is the Islamic hijaab. Why then do you not manifest and talk about this greatest of blessings given to you?

In summary: Is there a greater blessing and favor upon the woman than guidance and hijaab?

Excuse Eight: I know that hijaab is obligatory (waajib), but I will wear it when Allah guides me to do so.

We ask this sister on what plans or steps she will undertake until she accepts this divine guidance? We know that Allah has in His wisdom made a cause or means for everything. That is why the sick take medicine to regain health, and the traveler rides a vehicle or an animal to reach his destination, and other limitless examples.
Has this sister of ours seriously endeavored to seek true guidance and exerted the proper means to get it such as: Supplicating Allah sincerely as He stated: Guide us to the Straight Path. [Soorah Al-Faatihah 1:6]; Keeping company with the righteous good sisters - for they are among the best to assist her to guidance and to continue to point her to it until Allah guides her and increases her guidance and inspires her to further guidance and taqwaa. She would then adhere to the orders of Allah and wear the hijaab that the believing women are commanded to wear.

In summary: If this sister was really serious about seeking guidance she would have exerted herself by the proper means to get it.

Excuse Nine: It's not time for that yet. I'm still too young for wearing hijaab. I'll do it when I get older and after I make Hajj!

The Angel of Death my sister, is visiting and waiting at your door for the order of Allah Ta'aala to open it on you at any moment in your life. Allah said: When their term comes, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment). [Soorah Al-An'aam 7:34]. Death my sister doesn't discriminate between the young or the old and it may come while you are in this state of great sinfulness disobedience, fighting against the Lord of Honor with your uncovering and shameless adornment. My sister, you should race to obedience along with those others who race to answer the call of Allah tabaaraka wa ta'aala: Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord and Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heavens and the earth. [Soorah Al-Hadeed 57:21]
Sister, don't forget Allah or He will forget you by turning His mercy away from you in this life and the next. You are forgetting your own soul by not fulfilling the right of your soul to obey Allah and proper worship of Him. Allah stated about the hypocrites (Al-Munaafiqoon): And be not like those who forgot Allah and He caused them to forget their own selves. [Soorah Al-Hashr 59:19] My sister, wear the hijaab in your young age in opposition to the sinful deeds because Allah is intense in punishment and will ask you on the Day of Resurrection about your youth and every moment of your life.

In summary: Stop presuming some future expectation in your life will indeed occur! How can you guarantee your own life until tomorrow?

Excuse Ten: I'm afraid that if I wear Islamic clothing that I'll be labeled as belonging to some group or another and I hate partisanship.

My sister in Islam, there are only two parties in Islam, and they are both mentioned by Allah Almighty in His Noble Book. The first party is the party of Allah (hizbullah) that He gives victory to because of their obedience to His commands and staying away from what He has forbidden. The second party is the party of the accursed Shaitaan (hizbush-Shaitaan) which disobeys the Most Merciful and increase corruption in the earth. When you hold tight to and adhere to the commands of Allah, and among them is wearing the hijaab - you then become a part of the successful party of Allah. When you beautify and display your charms you are riding in the boat of Shaitaan and his friends and partners from among the hypocrites and the disbelievers and none worse could there be as friends.
Don't you see how you are running from Allah and to the Shaitaan, trading filth for good? Run instead my sister to Allah and follow His way: So flee to Allah (from His Torment to His mercy). Verily I (Muhammad) am a plain warner to you from Him. [Soorah Adh-Dhaariyaat 51:50] The hijaab is a high form of worship that is not subject to the opinions of people and their orientations and choices because the one who legislated it is the Most Wise Creator.

In summary: In the way of seeking the pleasure of Allah and in hope of His Mercy and success in His Jannah and throw the statements of the devils among people and jinn against the wall! Hold tight to the legislation of Allah by your molars and follow the example of the striving and knowledgeable Mothers of the Believers and the female companions (radiallahu 'anhum ajma'een).

In Conclusion

Your body is on display in the market of Shaitaan seducing the hearts of men.The hairstyles, the tight clothing showing every detail of your figure, the short dresses showing off your legs and feet, and the showy, decorative and fragrant clothing all anger the Merciful and please the Shaitaan. Every day that passes while you are in this condition distances you further from Allah and brings you closer to Shaitaan. Each day curses and anger are directed toward you from the heavens until you repent. Every day brings you closer to the grave and the Angel of Death is ready to capture your soul.

Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Hellfire and admitted to Al-Jannah, is indeed successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing). [Soorah Aale 'Imraan 3:185]

Get on the train of repentance my sister, before it passes by your station. Deeply consider my sister, what is happening today before tomorrow comes. Think about it, my sister - Now, before it is too late!

Reprinted from alharamain.org newsletter, issue 10.

Hijab and Society

by: Sukaina Rajani, 14

The rapid growing Islamic faith consists of many rules
and obligatory regulations which most Muslims (followers of the Islamic
faith) follow as part of their daily lives. Some take these obligations
as burdens and some take them with pleasure. One of these regulations
is to wear Hijab. Hijab is the act of covering the entire body and head
except for face and hands. This rule is for all girls over the age of
nine. This Hijab should enable people to see this young woman's figure.
God has set this regulation for many reasons which at a certain time
when I turned nine I was unable to understand. It has several moral
values and a few individual advantages.
Wearing Hijab in Islamic countries is so ordinary. If you walked down a
street in a majority Islamic country, you will not find a woman who is
wearing make-up, in short's and a tank-top in hot climate or any other
form fitting attire. However this is so common in western countries
that it is considered unnatural to cover yourself completely in the
summer. Women in these Islamic countries keep their beauty between themselves
and their spouses.
In western countries, the outlook on beauty is completely opposite. The
idea here is "If you've got it, flaunt it!!!!" Women here are perceived
as sex idols and are meant to look a certain way.
All teens want to fit in and so they conform to our society by dressing
and acting as those here. All people judge one by the way they look and
dress. They judge you by your outer beauty, not your inner beauty.
Status to teens also matters. No one wants to be a 'nerd' in school. We all
want friends who are capable of being introduced to others without
being ashamed. All these factors have to do with the choices we Muslim
girls make on the decision of wearing Hijab. Why should we let others
decide what we should and what we should not do for our hereafter? Does it
really matter what others think of us?
Wearing Hijab has many advantages and disadvantages. Why should we
Muslim girls let others judge us by our outer personality? I think that
Hijab lets us be who we are and not what the society wants us to be. Sure,
every teen wants to fit in, but wearing Hijab does not mean you cannot
be in style. You can buy all different clothes that are appropriate and
the head garments come in. varieties of colours and designs, so instead
of different hair styles you can have different head garments. I know
that it's not the same as Western fashion but why do we have to wear
what they decide? Why can't we make up our own type of fashion? It's our
country too.
Everyone is unique in their own way. Hey, think about it this way, you
do not have to worry about your hair in the morning or before going out
and you do not have to worry about sucking in your stomach in tight
shirts to look extra skinny then you already are! Once people realise your
religious dedication, some will learn to like it and respect you, but
there are the occasional that will not. We all have to be ready for that
before we begin wearing Hijab. We have to stay strong in our faith and
confident in ourselves.
From past chats with those who wear Hijab and from past experiences of
showing my religious dedication, I have found that people learn more
about your religions including the rules. They learn that you do not do
certain things. Peer pressure, in this case becomes less of an issue. If
they know you are not allowed to drink, they might offer a few times
but once they realise you will not, they stop asking. Most of the time,
if they know you will not drink and that your religious dedication is
strong, they will not offer. If thay know you do not 'go out' (as in
boyfriend and girlfriend) they do not ask or pressure you to. These little
minor things to us can create a lifelong of protection. Hijab is our
way of protection.. These advantages help the Majority of Muslim girls to
succeed in their lives.
Hijab ables us to conduct our lives in modesty. I believe that
simplicity is a persons most valuable beauty. Hijab has many more advantages.
There are some disadvantages also as in any other commodity. However,
these advantages are completely part of our worldly affairs. Think about
your hereafter. Besides the sense of fulfilment you get out of wearing
Hijab, God will also give us a great reward for following his command.
I know that this article is not long and that it does not give a lot of
the advantages that could persuade you completely to wear Hijab but I
hope that all Muslim girls all over the world who are not currently
wearing Hijab at least consider it.
Why should we be the prey for the westernised world?
We should all wear Hijab and make Islam stronger and more prosperous so
that more people all over the world can realise that Islam is the true
religion of this world and time.

http://www.iagd.net/youth/hijabandsociety.shtml

Reasons For Allah's Displeasure & The Remedy

Answered by Shaykh Mufti Abdur Raheem Lajpuri

Q. The Religious Scholars (Ulamâ) are requested to shed light upon the factors behind Muslim distress and suffering all over the world. Muslims are facing riots and massacres at many places - Why is this?

A. Reasons For Allâh's Displeasure & The Remedy
by the Grand Mufti of Gujerati, India, Hadhrat Shaykh Mufti Abdur Raheem Lajpuri (Allâh bless him)

Question: The Religious Scholars (Ulamâ) are requested to shed light upon the factors behind Muslim distress and suffering all over the world. Muslims are facing riots and massacres at many places - Why is this?

Answer. There are several reasons for this sad state of affairs in the Ummah. Among the more prominent ones are the following: Lack of true faith in Allâh Ta'âla. Increased disobedience towards Him. Increasing timidity among us. Love of the materialistic world [Hubb-e-Dunya wa Mâl]. Open disobedience of the Sunnah of Rasulullâh Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. Following our own innovated [bid'ah] practices and customs. Neglecting the rights of Allâh [Huqûq-Allâh], and the rights of creation [Huqûq-ut-Ibad]. Our complete ingratitude towards the innumerable blessings showered upon us by our Benefactor, despite being totally unworthy of these blessings. Disregard for the selfless advice given to us by our noble Ulamâ in relation to our religion. Almighty Allâh sums up the reasons for our suffering in Surah 42, Âyah 30 of the Holy Qur'ân: "Whatever misfortune happens to you, it is because of the things your hands have wrought, and for many of them he grants forgiveness…" A further elaboration on this point is found in Surâh 30, Âyah 4 1: "Mischief has appeared on and sea because of what the hands of man have caused, that Allâh may give them a taste of some of their deeds; in order that they turn back from evil. "

Severe Punishment for Certain Types of Sins

Indulging in disobedience and committing sins anger Allâh, but certain sins are such that, if committed, will invite a very swift and severe punishment. Among these types of sins are: Unjust decision-making and the breaking of a pledge — these await the imposition of tyrannical rule. Short-weighting and short-measuring by traders — await the punishment of famine, inflation and oppression. Widespread betrayal of trust will cause the imposition of tyrant rulers. Fearing death and inclining towards materialism [dunya] will result in timidity and fear the faithful and, at the same time, the kuffâr forces will receive encouragement and strength. - Jazâ-ul-A'mâl. The companion, Hadhrat Thawbân Radhi allahu Anhu narrated that Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi wasallam is reported to have said: "A period will come when the non-believers will come closer by calling one another for annexing the nations of the believers just like how people call one another for eating food when it has, been prepared. "Someone then asked as to whether the Muslims will be few in number then? Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wasallam is reported to have replied, "You will be large in numbers, but will like hay before a flood of water. Your enemies will not fear you because you will be so weak and timid. "One companion then asked the reason for this decline, and Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "Life (and its luxuries) will become more dearer to you and you will dislike death, (and facing Allâh) Mishkat Sharîf p.459. Chapter on Taghayyur-Un-Nâs; Abû Dawûd, p.242. Creating fear in the hearts of the enemies, which is a blessing from Allâh Ta'âla, can only be achieved through adopting the pious life prescribed by the Sharî'ah, and by following the practical life of Rasulullâh Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. Regarding this point, it is narrated in a Hadith [saying] of Rasulullah, Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalaam thus: "Whosoever emulates my way of life and adheres to my Sunnah, Allâh will bless him with four favours: The love of such a person will be instilled into the heart of virtuous people. Sinners and disbelievers will fear such a person in their hearts. His livelihood and good fortune will be increased for him. Allâh will strengthen him in religion." Sharh Shariat-ul-Islam Sayyed Ali Zadah p.8. Allâh Ta'âla has warned of dim punishment for those who do not order people to perform virtuous deeds and prevent them from committing evil and disobedient acts. He states in the Qur'ân: "And fear oppression which cannot fall exclusively on those of you who do wrong, and know that Allâh is severe in punishment " Surah 8. Âyah 25. This verse is explained in Tafsîr-e-Ma'âriful-Qur'ân as follows: Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbâs Radhiallahu Anhu has said that Allâh has ordered Muslims to prevent immorality and disobedience in their towns and villages. Furthermore, not preventing such actions, despite having the power to do so will definitely result in severe punishment on all, irrespective of whether they be pious people or immoral people. Imâm Baghawi has noted that in Shariah-Al-Sunnah and Mâalim appear narrations. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Masûd Radhiallahu anhu and Ayesha Siddiqah Radhiallahu anha that Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wassalam said: "Allâh does not send His punishment on all the people for the sins of a certain group of immoral persons when He sees the virtuous people preventing the wrong-doers from their activities. In case they do not prevent them, then Allah will certainly send and spread His punishment." Ma'âriful Qur'ân Vol. 4. p. 212. The Sahâbi, Hadhrat Hudhaifah Radhi allahu Anhu, has narrated that the Nabî Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "I swear by Allâh, the One in whose hands my life is, continue to order and guide people towards virtuous deeds and prevent people from immoral acts and sins. Otherwise, Almighty Allâh will surely send His severe punishment upon you. If you then turn to Allâh and pray your prayers will not be accepted. - Mishkât Sharîf, p.436. Chapter on Amr-Bil -Marûf.

Courtesy: sunnipath.com

TO BE CONTINUED..