Mosque in a muslim community

A mosque is generally a very symbolic place for a Muslim, being a humble way for Muslims to recreate pure divine presence on earth. The primary purpose of the mosque is to serve as a place where Muslims can come together for prayer. Nevertheless, mosques are known around the world nowadays for their Islamic architecture but most importantly for its general vitality to the Muslim Ummah (community).

A mosque brings the community together as it acts as many things, a social center, a community center and an educational center etc as it has many events which welcome both old and new members of the mosque. In addition to holding the five obligatory daily prayers, mosques hold jumu?ah prayers, or Friday prayers, which replace the midday prayer as the second required prayer on Fridays. It is required for all men to attend mosque on Friday for Jumuah. The sermons often have a strong practical slant, trying to integrate and apply Islamic beliefs and historical teachings into contemporary daily life. In many Islamic societies, jumu'ah often has a significant community or even political role. I believe sermons are significant in bringing the community together as the congregation is standing side by side in a line, facing Mecca, together, all united in their faith and worship of Allah .

There are study centers for new comers of the faith to come and learn about the Islamic faith, about the teachings of the Quran, learn how to read it and pronounce . These are often take place on weekends or in the evenings. Some mosques provide full time schools if you depend on the mosque to provide a full time Islamic education. Few but some mosques have Madrassah?s Arabic classes, classes on the Shariah, the hadith, the Sunnah, Tafsir(Quranic interpretation) and Muslim history. This will expand ones knowledge of Islam and will also draw them closer to their faith. Mostly children attend this study center however all are welcome who care to learn.. Which can deepen the faith as it can expand ones understanding of Islam. Nearly all mosques provide libraries which offer a variety of books on Islam which will expand knowledge on Islamic teachings. Education is though of as very important in Islam and is very important to mosques too as it is often thought that the Minaret is shaped like a pen/pencil which is though of as representational of education.

There are classes for women available in some mosques which offer courses on cooking, sewing etc. This can be for both knowledge or pleasure but it also can help the woman socialize and communicate which she may not get much chance to do especially if she is married and has children.

Often some mosque host charitable events and dinners to not only raise money for charity but to bring the community together and make them apart of it.
Most mosques sometimes host bazaars where community members can shop for Islamic merchandise are common among mosques.

Since mosques form the center of Muslim communities, they are where Muslims go to both give Zakat and, if necessary, collect Zakat. Prior to the holiday of Eid ul-Fitr, mosques also collect a special Zakat that is supposed to assist in helping poor Muslims attend the prayers and celebrations associated with the holiday.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are encouraged to attend mosque as it can be a very trying time for people and it is a time where u can rely on fellow Muslim?s who are too fasting. Mosques will often invite poorer members of the Muslim community to share in beginning and breaking the fasts as providing charity during Ramadan in Islam is seen as especially honorable.

Many marriage services take place in mosques however
Even though mosques are obviously places of worship, the majority of them in the UK have not yet been officially registered as such, and so any Islamic wedding that merely takes place at a mosque has to be registered legally with the UK law as well, in order to be seen as valid in the UK.

Counselling is available in Mosques which offer support during family /relationship problems and anything else which may be bothering someone. The counselling may be done by the imam who will listen effectively to what your saying to define your goals with respect to your values and culture Facilitates your untangling of thoughts, feelings and worries about a situation Helps you gain your own insight into how you act, think and feel, shows and helps you express your emotions in your own way shows and helps you work out your own solutions to problems , shows and helps you accept what cannot be changed , shows, helps and supports you and your relationship while you do all this Helps you become empowered to act in ways that are in your best interest .

Mosques may also help you with legal problems such as visa problems as such. They are also very welcoming of travellers and welcomes them as part of the community offering them food, clothing ,a place to stay.

Birmingham Central Mosque offers all of these facilities, events and ceremonies. It provides education for children and adults, lectures and seminars, counselling and a marriage bureau along with sporting and recreational activities and workshops. Over the years, Muslims have used the mosque for events, meetings, lectures, studies and community and educational purposes. It is one of the largest Muslim?s centers in Europe and receives 20,00 visitors a week.

I believe that a mosque is absolutely vital in the Muslim community as it is the one place where Muslim brothers and sisters stand together side by side, equal.
Mosques built more recently, especially in countries where Muslims are not the majority, tend to be away from the center of major cities. Nevertheless, even a mosque in a less densely populated area often influences Muslims to relocate their homes and businesses so they are close to the mosque. Thus, mosques form the focal points of Muslim communities, even if they do not form the center of the entire community as a whole. In the United States, the growth in the number of mosques and congregants in suburbs is much greater than that in densely urban areas.

SALAH

Allah has said in the Noble Quran: "I have not created the jinn and humankind for any other purpose except that they should worship Me."
It is clear from the above verse of Noble Quran that the purpose of our birth and of our life no other than that of the worship of Allah. There are many acts of worship in Islam, and Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ) is one of the most important obligatory acts.

Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ) is the ritual prayer practiced by Muslims in supplication to Allah. The term is commonly used to refer to the five daily prayers, which are compulsory upon all mature Muslims. Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ) is considered the most important act of worship in Islam and its importance is such that under very circumstances it can be omitted.

Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ) strengthens the foundations of our faith. It prepares a person to live the life of goodness and obedience to Allah, and it builds courage and determination. Every time we perform Salah, we renew commitments to Allah and we rid ourselves from worldly pressures five tomes a day.

According to a Hadith a companion of Holy Prophet (PBUH) came to him one day and asked him "What is the thing Allah loves most?" Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) replied "The thing that Allah loves most is when his people pray Salah on time."

Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ) is a practical sign of obedience to the commands of Allah. Its importance has been emphasized about 500 times in the Noble Quran.

Once Holy Prophet (PBUH) shook a dry branch of a tree so that all of the leaves of the branch fell off then the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said "The sins of those who pray Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ), drop off as the leaves of this branch fell off."

Before Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ),we make Wudu (ablution) is a unique way of cleansing certain parts of our body so we are clean before bowing down to the one who created us, who created the universe the one and only Allah.

The Holy Prophet once asked his companions "Tell me if there was a river at the door steps of one of you washed five times a day would any of your dirt remain?"
When Holy Prophet Mohammad received the reply that none of it would remain he then said "That is like the five times Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ), with which Allah wipes out sin."

The last thing that the Holy Prophet emphasized at his deathbed was Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ. He also said the first thing we will have to answer about on the day of judgment is Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ. While in Salah one communicates with Allah and experiences his presence.That's why a Hadith says: "Salah is the Meraj of Muslim
(Namaz is called as Meraj-ul-Momineen).
The Holy Prophet also said "The key to Heaven is Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ). The key to Salah is purification."

Namaz (SALAH,NAMAZ) is a pillar of Religion. If Namaz (SALAH,NAMAZ) is accepted all other deeds are accepted. If Namaz (SALAH,NAMAZ) is rejected then all other deeds are rejected."(Holy Prophet Mohammad PBUH)

IMPORTANCE OF SALAH IN ISLAM

Holy Prophet Mohammad said: "Allah has set the light of my eyes in Salah and made it the most desirable thing for me, like the food for the hungry and the water for thirsty. The hungry is contented after the meal and the thirsty is satisfied after drinking water. But my thirst for Salah is never quenched."
The Holy Prophet said: "Everything has a face and the face of your religion is Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ); none of you should stain the face of his religion."
Ali Bin Abi Talib said: "Allah has ordained the obligation of faith for purification from polytheism and the obligation of Salah (SALAH,NAMAZ) for refraining from pride and arrogance."

GOOD BYE FOR THE NEXT POST.

Islam and Jihad

The Arabic word Jihad literally means "holy struggle". It is not holy war.War is war.No war can be holy.The blood of humans is holy and sacred.The Quran says unjust killing of one man means the killing of the whole mankind.What is just killing and what is unjust killing.When somebody kills a man without any reason or justification it is unjust killing.When the judge gives the capital punishment to his murderer and issues the order of his death,it is a just killing.Similarly,when a war is thrust upon you and you become the victim of persecution and aggression,you are permitted to defend yourselves and kill the invaders or perpetrators.There are some Muslims who believe in Jihad in the name of aversion and conversion.They have aggression attitude.Such extremists divide the world in two blocs.The House of Peace and the House of War.Wherever there is no Is;lam as a code of system of life it is House of War and we should crusade for the enforcement of Islamic way of life and change it in to the House of peace.Such ideology has created immense problems for the Muslims world over.

In Islam Jihad is of three types.The struggle of Tongue;the struggle by Pen and the struggle by Sword.So far as religion is concerned the Quran time and against announces peaceful preaching through exhortation,love,logic,mercy and example.No where the Quran has said that the people of other faiths should be killed or forcibly converted.In Sura Al-Nahl in verse 125 the Quran says, "Invite (all) to the way of Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious;For thy Lord knoweth best,who has strayed from His path, and who receive guidance."The Jihad by Tongue and Pen means that you preach your ideas and ideology with logic and love.Do not hurt other feelings.Do not sow the seeds of hatred and discord in the name of God.The Quran announces the whole of humankind as one community.We are the members of one human family.Believers are human beings.God sent prophets with books not with swords and guns.Noah,Abraham,Moses,Jesus and Mohammad gave us law and code of life.All preached brotherhood,justice,freedom,equality and peace.The prophets were the greatest champions of human rights.They boldly revolted against the tyrants,oppressors and aggressors.

In Surah "The Woman" it is clearly mentioned that Jihad is only and only against terrorists and aggressors.It is not against peaceful civilians of any country,creed,clan or class.Let us all respect each other's ideas and ideologies.Let inter-faith dialogue be encouraged.The spirit of co-ordination and co-existence is the spirit of Islam.The extremists and terrorists must be either educated or eliminated.The coming centuries must see divinity through humanity.Humanity must be our message and mission.The monarchs,the dictators,the tyrants,the despots and the transgressor must be eliminated,not be innocent,docile and defenseless civilians of any faith.Nobody can be permitted to spill the blood of any human in the name of faith or crusade.

Islam and Christianity

Islam

Islam was founded by the prophet Mohammad (PBUH) who was born on CE 570,sometimes during the 6th century A.D,he founded Islam.It is a very widely spread religion and has many customs and traditions in it that have to be followed.To be considered a Muslim,one has to follow the "Five Pillars of Islam".These are:

Shahadah(Belief-one has to believe that there is only one God,by the name of Allah and that Allah has a single messenger by the name of Mohammad(PBUH).

Salah(Prayers)-All Muslims above the age of 12 have to pray 5 daily "Namaz".These are called Fajr,Zuhr,Asr,Maghrib and Esha.

Zakah(Almsgiving)-All Muslims have to 2.5% of their annual savings to a charity of their choice.

Saum(Fasting)-All Muslims have to fast for the holy month of Ramadan.They have to fast from sunrise to sunset everyday for the month.After the month there are Eid celebrations.

Hajj(Pilgrimage)-All Muslims have to try to visit the Holy city of Mecca and the Kabah at least once in their life time during the holy month of Hajj.If they visit Mecca anytime apart from that month,it is called Umrah and they still have to perform Hajj.

Christianity

The Christian religion was founded in C.E. 0 by Jesus.Christian believe that Jesus in the son of God and that he was born to the Virgin Mary.Jesus was crucified by the Romans after being betrayed by one of his followers-Judas.Christians believe that after Jesus 'died,"Jesus returned to our earth.The Christian Holy Book is called The Bible.The Bible is divided into two halves-The Old Testament and The New testament.In the Old Testament,there are stories of prophets such as Noah,Issac,David and others,along with tales of how the earth was created,whereas in the New Testament are tales of the life of Jesus and his teachings.

There are many Christian Denominations such as Protestant,Roman Catholic and others.Denominations are people of the same fundamental belief of Christianity,but slightly differing views on things such as Divorce(which will be covered later in this book) and other teachings.

When two people love each other,they decide to get married.When two people marry each other,it is a symbol of their love for each other and a statement to everyone else.By being married,the bride and the bridegroom mutually agree to love each other, and only each other for the rest of their lives.They can then live together and have children together as a married couple.

If one of the spouses cheats on the other,it is called adultery and is a major sin in most religions-except Mormons,who believe in monogamy- and can result to the break up of the marriage, i.e. divorce.When to people divorce each other,it is a way for them to no longer be married to one another and can allow them to see and marry other people.

Christian Marriage Traditions

Traditional Christian marriages usually take place in a church and the two people who want to marry each other are married by a priest.This is how a traditional marriage takes place.

Islam Marriage Traditions

A marriage in Islam involves a simple marriage contract which is just the giving of a gift to a wife and the singing of a contract with repeating of Quranic verses before an Imam.But traditionally,other customs and traditions,which are not compulsory,are performed.

The Fast of Ramadan

Muslims wake up before sunrise about two hours earlier and have some food.There is no limit on how much you can eat,but it is better not to eat too much because you won't be able to feel the hunger and thirst of the poor Muslims that are in need.

During the 30 days of Ramadan,between sunrise and sunset,Muslims are forbidden from eating,drinking,smoking and engaging in sexual relations during the hours of daylight.This is a sacred time for worship and concentration on the Islamic faith,rather than everyday activities.But some people don't have to fast like sick people,elderly people,on a journey,pregnant women and children who have not started puberty are permitted to break their fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year.

Muslims visit Mosque every day during Ramadan,to pray together and study the Quran.As well as the five daily prayers that are said throughout the year,a special prayer called the Taraweeh or "Night Prayer" which you pray 11 times.This is prayed during Ramadan.When the sun goes down at the end of the day the fast is open with a few dates then they pray together and then have a big meal with their family and friends called the iftar.After dinner,people usually go to the cemetery to visit their dead relatives and pray for them.

During Ramadan,it is particularly abhorrent for Muslims to tell lies,insult others,criticize someone behind their back,bear false witness or crave someone else' possessions.Though these things are considered offensive at all other times of the year,they are thought to undo all ther good gained by fasting.But people should be kind to one another and to be helpful,polite and to treat animals well.

On the night of 27th day of Ramadan,Muslims celebrate Laylat-al-Qadr or "Night of Power."It is said that Quran was revealed to Mohammad(PBUH) on this night.On this night people all around the world pray to Allah and ask for forgiveness.

If you have you eat anything or drink anything accidentally,because you forgot you were fasting,your fast does not break,but if you eat or drink anything intentionally your fast is broken.There are strict rules about keeping your fast.These are;you are not allowed to swear,smoke,you must not be selfish,greedy and have sexual intercourse during the hours of fasting.People also pray to Allah and ask for forgiveness.

Ramadan ends with a three day festival called Id-al-Fitr.It's a time for friends and family to gather together in prayer,exchange gifts and indulge in large meals and mainly children get pocket money.People also visit their dead relatives in the cemetery where they will pray for them.

Ramadan is important because it happens on the nine month of the Islamic calendar;Ramadan is also the fourth pillar of Islam.

It gives you inner spiritual strength,you also develop self-control over your passions and appetites,people also feel the thirst and hunger of other people and feel sympathy for them and mainly give them money as Zakaah which is the third pillar of Islam and you only have to pay 2.5% of your income or more if you want.

Ramadan is also important because it brings the whole community together by praying together in a mosque.Ramadan is also important for Muslims because it is believed to be the month during which the Holy Quran was revealed by Allah to Mohammad(PBUH).

This might effect a Muslims life by they will become more holy and spiritual and get closer to Allah,they will have a better self-discipline of themselves,they will stop and think about what they do in the future like committing any bad sins or deeds e.g. stealing;they might start to care about poor people and not put food to waste and also by Muslims fasting and not doing any bad deeds they might get closer to Allah.It makes them feel that they have fulfilled a requirement which is the fourth pillar of Islam which is sawm(fasting).

The Islamic Festivals

The purpose of all festivals is to let the people celebrate an occasion together,to share its joys and to feel united.Religious festivals unite us in our love of God as much as of each other.Most of our festivals are religious.

Our main religious and social festivals are Eid-ul-Fitr,Eid-ul-Azha and Eid Milad-un-Nabi.We celebrate them together each year with great joy and zeal or passion.

Eid is a Arabic word which means festival.Eids are celebrated in three Islamic Lunar months all around the world.

On the day of Eid people emjoy and express happiness and offer prayers in the form of group....usually they gather in an open land or in a mosque and tons of people join together and pray in congregation and ask Allah for His blessing,forgiveness of all sins and ask for success in this life and hereafter that is good life.Also they ask for the true path to live in this life and get forgiveness for all sins and get destination that is heaven,which Muslims believe will bring succes in this life and hereafter only if they lead this life on true path,never lie,never harm to others with thier hand and with their tongue and believe uniformity in all human beings and are never proud on themself and we think God has blessed us with this quality and we are always thankful to our God and try to help others especially the poor,before all should have faith in the Oneness of God.So it is claer that Eid celebration is not only an expression of our happiness but also it express the spiritual happiness.After Eid prayers and meeting on the occasion of Eid,people hug each other.Eid is the time to spread happiness,love and triumph thereby creating enthusiasm among all the family members.

"Eid-ul-Fitr" is celebrated after the holy month of Ramazan is over.It means "reward" that is given to us in the form of joy,satisfaction and hope after we have fasted for one full month.We have the satisfaction of having purified ourselves,bodily and spiritually.We feel happier in our kindness and help to others.Every Muslim who has enough means is to give a certain amount of wheat or its value in money to the needy.We can give more.

Eid-ul-Fitr festival is also called feast of breaking the fast.Ramazan is the holy month of Muslims.Allah revealed the Holy Quran to Holy Prophet(peace be upon him) during this month.Once the crescent moon is sighted,the Ramazan month comes to end and on the first day of Islamic lunar month Shawwal,it is now the time for celebrations for people of Muslim culture.In the whole month of holy Ramazan,Muslims keep fasting and from sunrise to sunset everyday they eats and drink nothing.Muslims believe,after almost 600 years of Prophet Jesus,the God sent Prophet Muhammad into this world to show the right path to human mankind to live in this world and believe in the oneness of God,Pray 5 times,keep fasting,do charity,go on pilgrimage.God makes the whole month of Ramazan fasting is obligatory.After this He gives a fruitful end in name of festival Eid-ul-Fitr festival and it is also called Ramazan festival.On this holy occasion people give charity to poor so that poor people also can celebrate the festival and wear new clothes and go for special Eid prayer ceremony near by mosque to thank God by reciting various prayers.After the prayer there is get together at Muslim's house for Eid meal,which has special dishes and variety of desserts.After that people go to their relatives and friends place and meet them and greet them Eid's happiness or happy Eid.

"Eid-ulAzha" means the festival of sacrifice.It is the festival that celebrates Hazrat Ibrahim's attempt to sacrifice his son and his actual sacrifice of a sheep.

Eid-ul-Azha festival,celebrated on the 10th day of last Islamic Lunar month,is also called feast of the sacrificed.The Eid-ul-Ates in the remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim's readiness to sacrifice his son Ismail to God as an act of submission to God's command and his son's acceptance to being sacrificed,before God intervened to provide Prophet Ibrahim with a sheep to sacrifice instead.On another occasion God ordered Prophet Ibrahim to leave his wife Hajira and son Ismail alone far away.He again sacrificed his love for his son and He left them far away with a huge amount of food grains but after sometime mother and son had nothing left and then a infant was crying for thirst and dehydration.Miraculously god started one spring of water from the earth at the feet of Ismail.This water never got stopped from that time and its name is "ZAM ZAM water" and it is believed to be Holy water in Muslim culture.Later Prophet Ibrahim was instructed by the God to build a Holy building in front of that Holy spring water well.It's name is Kaaba in Makkah,Saudi Arabia.In the remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim's sacrifices.Muslims celebrates Eid-ul-Azha.At the time of Eid-ul-Azha people go to Hajj Pilgrimage and people give sacrifice of sheep,cows,camels with the remembrance of the sacrifice given by the Prophet Ibrahim and followed and obeyed what His God ordered.Muslims believe they obey the same God of Prophet Ibrahim who is very near to God.

Every Muslim,who has to means,is to sacrifice an animal in the way of God,after the Eid prayers.At least one-third of the meat of the sacrificed animal is to be distributed among the needy.The rest of the two-third meat can be shared by the family,relatives and neighbors of the owner of the animal.Here again,we share our meat with others and show our generosity.Our joys cannot be complete without it.In this way,we show practically that we are ready to sacrifice our all for God,for our "deen"(religion) or for the society or the country if it so demands.

"Eid Milad-un-Nabi" means the festival on the birth of our Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him).It is celebrated in memory of our greatest leader who showed the world the right path of Islam.We celebrate the successes of Islam by remembering the Prophet's mission on earth.

All Islamic festivals bring us closer and show us our common path and aims.They are the outer expression of our inner belief and faith.The inner faith and the outer expression,in this sense,make up Islamic culture.The outer expression includes our customs,ways of life,our buildings,the most sacred (holy) the House of God (the mosque).

The Islamic festivals,in fact,bring out the spirit of Islam in concrete form.They show that we can be truly happy if we live a life of purity,hard work,worship and generosity.Social happiness depends on sharing each other's joys and sorrows as advised by God and the Holy Prophet.

Religion plays a significant role in Muslim culture.Muslims believe in oneness of God.Their concept of religion is oneness of God.They celebrate festivals because of God's order.Muslim try to spend their live as per Gods wishes.Likewise in their festivals,Muslims remember their God and they celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr,Eid-ul-Azha and Eid Milad-un-Nabi for the sake of God's mercy and heaven after death.

Social Evils

It is very unfortunate that social evils in our country have developed into institutions.Now we find a great many social evils surrounding us like diseased trees that no one dares to cut down.Social evils come in the society,when rights of the poor not given to them.Social evils destroy the economy of the country.It became a serious crime.Social evil grow because of poverty and unemployment.When people find no source of income then they found only way of earning through social evils.The carriers of social evils are human beings.There are many social evils like bribery and corruption,hoarding and black marketing,smuggling,adulteration,injustice.

Firstly,bribery and corruption are found in quick growth and speedy development in important government departments,offices,law courts,police stations, and all those places where public problems are supposed to be solved.Bribery,favoritism, and nepotism(favor shown to relations) are common like cheating and fraud.These have put a stop to true progress,equality,development, and hope for a better future.We see that bribery and corruption are growing up speedily and development in the government departments like,offices,law,police stations and other places.Where people go to solve their problems.When they go in the government department for their small problems that time some government officers demand for money from people and says that it is gift not bribery.Due to bribery people face number of problems.Bribery does not thrive the common people.Bribery is stopping the way of progress,development,equality and thought of better future.Some rich people and heavy industries fed up the money to government department for their personal work.From this way,rich people progress fast and they became richer get richer.On the other hand,poor people do not progress due to bribery and they became poor get poorer.Sometimes,some people fed up to government department for some ordinary matters like a new connection of electricity,sanction of building plans for houses.

Secondly,hoarding and black-marketing are the twin evils that cause abnormal rise in prices and suffering of the people.In order to become rich quickly,big traders hoard huge quantities of articles or commodities of daily use like grains,onions and potatoes and other necessities of life like medicines in short supply to sell them later at higher prices.

Thirdly,smuggling is a serious social evil that is extremely harmful to the country's economy.When foreign goods are smuggled into the country on a large scale,the local industry,business and agriculture suffer.Other countries usually dump their goods or sell them at lower prices to capture foreign markets.The local producers cannot sell their goods easily, and they either reduce their production or close up their businesses.The government of the country cannot collect taxes and duties on the smuggles goods.It cannot have control over the standards of the smuggled goods and inferior goods harmful to the people.

Fourthly,adulteration is a serious social evil as well as a crime as food items like milk,honey,spices,pulses,rice,wheat and many other food items are mixed with cheap and harmful commodities.In fact,adulterators play with the life and health of the people.They make food impure and injurious to health like the many kinds of soft drinks or "sherbets" or ice cream sold by street vendors(sellers).

Fifthly,injustice is one of the most harmful social evils that wrongs all the society.If an officer in a department,a judge in a court of law,a manager in a factory, or any person in authority is unjust,he corrupts the very fabric of society.He misuses his authority and makes injustice prevail.The people and society should judge him honestly, and if he does injustice,they should force the government to try him in a court of law and then dismiss and punish him.

It is very sad that a number of deadly social evils still grip us after more than half a century of independent existence.Only through effective moral and social education of the people and the establishment of a true political,economic and social system can we bring social evils to an end.

Muslim Unity

The unity of Muslims the world over is the need of the hour.Only unity can bring them the glory that the world of Islam once enjoyed.Theirs will then be a third world bloc that may be as powerful as the capitalistic bloc or individual world powers like Communist China.

Muslims should be united in the religious field.Their belief in God and the Quran is the true basis for their unity.They should not allow the differences of sects to affect it.The Muslims in all corners of the world have the same aims- to live a good life in the world and to have a better life in the next.

The Muslim countries should try to make join arrangements for their defense.Almost all of them are surrounded by powerful enemies.They can become a world power if they all come to have a joint defense system.

Muslims will have to make tremendous scientific progress to become a big military power.They need great scientists who can invent new weapons of war.They need modern science laboratories where they can carry out advanced scientific research.However,for this they should have scientific education of the highest order.

The Muslim countries should co-operate in the economic field as much as possible.It means that they should have common industrial and trade policies.One Muslim country may easily use the capital or funds of another richer country for setting up factories and industrial plants.The raw materials of one country can easily be used in another.

Politically, the Muslim countries should have common policies.They should support each other in world bodies like the United Nations(UN). They should offer full support to a country that has a dispute with another country outside the Muslim world.

Muslims may have a world Organization like the UN,Or they may have a Commonwealth of Muslim States.A secretariat of Muslim States is no doubt functioning.It arranges summits or conferences of Muslim States in central Muslim cities.It also tries to bring them closer in the political,economic and cultural fields.Yet,there should be a more powerful central Muslim organization with wider powers to bring their disputes or wars to an end.

The people of one Muslim country should try to learn the language of another.There should be a free exchange of scholars,writers,teachers,scientists and students .The radio,television,films,newspapers and magazines can play a useful role in bringing Muslims closer.

Madressah education in pakistan

The madressahs or seminaries in Pakistan are about 13000 with over fifteen lac students.

Now is the time for the madressahs to have their aims:(a)true Islamic and moral education applicable to all Muslims,(b)a good working knowledge of English and the basic physical and social sciences,(c)physical education involving bodily exercises and games if possible,(d)development of a vision of life based on the ideals of intellectual and social progress,cooperation and mutual help.

How to function.A seminary should function under an administration that is well educated and is above all sects and divisions in society.The academic classes in it should take place regularly.The students should attend them with interest and study in libraries for long hours.Books on subjects like the Holy Quran and fiqh and other religions,information technology,the physical and social sciences and standard newspapers and magazines from all over the world should be freely available.

Broad Islamic and moral education is important,but education in the languages and professional fields is important,too.For this purpose,modern education should be provided and able teachers should be employed from here and abroad.

Politics and the collection of arms and ammunition should not be allowed in any of our seminaries.We have a very huge army equipped with the latest weapons even when large-scale wars in the presence of nuclear weapons are becoming obsolete.Our students in educational institutions need the armor of knowledge and thought.Let them join the armed forces or political parties afterwards if they desire.Now they need to be prepared to live as true Muslims,to earn well and to meet the challenges of life ably and effectively.

OUR SUGGESTION.Learned scholars in all fields of knowledge,in schools,colleges and universities,should be associated with the teaching and training programs of the seminaries.Their syllabi and educational programs should be prepared by religious scholars and professional teachers of good repute together.Funds should be provided by the government,capitalists,landowners and business people for the efficient running of the seminaries,and they should be strictly and regularly audited.Efforts should be made to convert the present texture and composition of our seminaries into institutions of higher learning contributing to the growth,strengthening and establishment of our families and society on strong moral,economic, and creative lines for a glorious future.

"Not to hang our heads in shame beside the advanced and flourishing
But to live honorably and rise deservedly to the highest regions of glorious success"

The disadvantages of illiteracy

Illiteracy is a curse for any nation or country.It has no advantages at all.Its disadvantages are many.

The first great disadvantages of illiteracy is that uneducated people cannot gain any knowledge through books,magazines or newspapers.They cannot learn anything new through reading,This means that they are at a great disadvantage as compared to educated people.Educated people can easily learn all they like from books and writings or lecture or discussions.Thus they are able and wiser.

The second great disadvantage of illiteracy people cannot know well about their rights and duties in society.They cannot easily understand the laws of the country,the politics of the government and the programs of different political parties.It has been well said that illiterate people do not know how to use their democratic rights.They cannot wisely elect their representatives in general elections.They can easily be misled by slogans of politicians.

Perhaps the greatest handicap of illiterate or uneducated people is that they cannot make much progress in life.They cannot get good government jobs and cannot join the armed forces.They cannot very well run shops or take part in trade or industry.Illiterate villagers cannot easily learn the ways of advanced or modern farming, and so remain poor and backward.They go on using the old,outdated method of tilling fields,sowing and reaping crops.Thus they cannot add to food production so much.They can really make quick progress by getting educated.

The country or nation,as a whole,cannot make proper and quick progress if the majority of its people are illiterate or uneducated.Only properly educated people can promote the agriculture,trade and industry of the country in suitable ways.Scientists,engineers,doctors,scholars,philosophers,writers,poets and artists arise out of educated and literate people.Illiterate people can at the most work,with their hands or do"manual" labor,thinking less and struggling more.They cannot so well make use of their minds or intelligence.

We should make the best efforts to educate the illiterate people.The government and the educated people should work together to bring illiteracy to an end.Illiteracy promotes backwardness and thrusts us behind the less advanced nation seven.Religious,social,cultural,scientific and economic progress on the modern lines are impossible without a high level of universal education.

The Islamic Ideology

Islam means obedience or submission to the will of God.The will of God is expressed clearly in the religious law.The Holy Quran is the supreme expression of the Islamic law.Apart from the Quranic law,Islamic law includes old customs and traditions which are not against our religion.The life of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him),as a whole,his words and deeds ,is another important source of law,after the Holy Quran.

Islamic law covers all the important aspects of our private life.It guides us about the types of food we may or may not eat,the way we dress ourselves,the relations between men and women, and so on.All these rules of private life go together with prayers and acts of worship.We have to pray five times a day,keep fasts during the holy month of Ramazan and perform other acts of worship like sacrifice at Eid-ul-Azha.Thus,we live remembering God all the time.Perhaps,we know about all this too well.Unfortunately,we don't fully act on the rules of private living given by Islam.

Islam is quite clear about our public life too.It means that it guides us about the duties of the government and the State and our duties towards society.It also guides us about the duties of society towards the individual.

Firstly,the Holy Quran says that full power belongs to God.Therefore,all governments or States become agents of the supreme ruler,that is, God.As such,they have to obey the order of God and frame their laws according to the Holy Quran if they are truly Islamic.

Islam is a religion of true peace,justice and equality.It gives us clear directions in regard to respect for each other's rights in society.It asks us to help the poor and the needy by giving "zakat" regularly.It asks us not to give and take interest.It demands of us to be honest in personal,public and business dealings.

Islam is a flexible religion.It permits us to make use of our reason or mind to suggest solutions for new kinds of social problems.Whatever laws and rules have been given by it in concrete form are for our practical benefit.

We can say with certainty that Islam is a complete social and religious system.It can take us to heights of perfection in this world as well as in the next.

Woman Place in Society

Man and woman are the two parts of a whole.One is incomplete without the other.The holy Quran says,"And we have created you in pairs"(male and female). The existence of one without the other would be colorless and boring.The need of the one for the other is so great that it was honored even in heaven when eve was created for Adam.Moreover the union of the both is necessary for human survival.Besides this need,they are a complete source of joy and comfort for each other.It is said that man is the crown of the universe but it is woman who adorns this crown with her charms.That is what milton asserts in paradise lost:
"O fairest of creation!Last and best/of all god's works!.
In Islamic society,women are treated with utmost honour.She has the honour of being a mother,a wife,a sister and a daughter.No other religion gives her so much importance as Islamic gives her.The holy prophet in his last address asked the Muslims to treat women and the slaves kindly.As a mother,she enjoys matchless honour.The holy prophet said,"Verily,the heaven lies under thy mother's feet".
The role of women in society has been greatly overseen in the last few decades but now are coming to a more perspective to people.In the early days women were seen as wives who were intended to cook,clean and take care of the kids.Soon enough it caught on that women should have a big role than what other people thought women should have.
also read an essay on 'courtesy'

In our society,women are not respected and honored especially in villages.In villages,they do not even get the chances of education.They have to work in the fields with men.Their life in villages is hard.
In cities,most of the women enjoy the opportunities of education.Their life is as much better as that of men.They can take part in every kind of activity.They are allowed to go to colleges,offices and universities.They even can compete with men in election.In many countries of the world,they have proved their skills.
As far the liberty of women is concerned,they should be allowed to take part in all kinds of political,social,economic and cultural activities.But they should also realize their duty as Muslim women.Islam imposes upon them certain restrictions.For example,they should wear veil.They should not violate the golden principles of Islam.Islam does not forbid them to get education,work for the progress of their country,earn money and struggle for an honorable status.But sometimes,in their unjustifiable freedom,they ignore their duties as Muslim women.Sometimes like the European women,they speak against the universal principles of Islam.Then they cannot be overlooked.They must realize their duty as Pakistani and Muslim women.
It is admitted that women are as important as men.They should be given every chance for the betterment of themselves and society.Without their role,the speed of the development of the country would be very slow.They should come out to work with their men but at the same time they should be true Muslims.
It would not be out of place to ask women not to neglect their duties at home.She should also be a good mother,a loving wife,an ideal house-keeper and a matchless patriot.With this regard her duty is two-fold.She will have to perform her duties in the house as well as outside the house.

A True Muslim

The word- you see and hear it every day but you don't know and you don't understand what it's all about.You see Muslims all over the place yet most people don't even know what Islam is.Islam is hardly known,not because there are no Muslims around,but because no body knew what Islam was.You find it so ironic that Islam is so prevalent yet undiscovered by most people.It's so unreal to find something so common yet so unfamiliar to almost everybody.To find something so widespread that it's all over the place and at the same time so unknown to everyone is almost unthinkable.This unusual circumstance surrounding Islam arouses your interest of wanting to know more about this seemingly "Strange" religion. To be a Muslim is a great blessing of Allah.It is indeed his mercy to make us believe in Allah and his prophets(a.S);the final one being the holy prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him). The hallmark of a true Muslim is the magnanimity of heart.

Islam is not complicated,Muslims are.When I say I am Muslim,I should not feel the need to categorize myself as an extremist,moderate or liberal.I either practice my religion or don't, but as long as I believe in one god and the holy prophet(PBUH),I am as much of a Muslim as anyone else. Ideally,I should not feel the need to say out my religious beliefs.But with the way things are going in this country,it is important that every person who recites and believes in the Kalma stands up to those passing fatwas,promoting hatred and intoxicating the minds of the ignorant.

A true Muslim believes that Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth.He remains conscious that Allah knows all the facts even the innermost secrets of hearts.He believes that man can grasp only that part of his knowledge which Allah wills.He spends good,worthy things in the name of Allah.He knows that if he gives alms to the poor secretly,it will be,hopefully enough,atonement for some of his sins.When Allah is mentioned,they feel the fear of him in their hearts.Their faith increases every time they hear and ponder over Quran's verses.They perform prayers regularly.They spend in charity in the path of Allah.
as Quran says:"The believers are only those who,when Allah is mentioned,feel a fear in their hearts and when his verses (this Quran) are recited unto them,they increase their faith; and they put their trust in their lord(alone).
a good Muslim is ever eager to seek knowledge.He is clean,brave and pure.He does his duty well.He tries to attain excellence in every field of life.He/she offers prayers punctually five times a day.A true Muslim believes that good deeds endure for rich rewards in the hereafter.It is indeed a great privilege to be a Muslim.