The Islamic or Hijrah calendar

BY Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

The Islamic calendar or Muslim calendar is also called the Hijrah calendar

The Islamic calendar is the official calendar in many Muslim countries, especially Saudi Arabia. Other Muslim countries use the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes and only turn to the Islamic calendar for religious purposes.

 Muslims do not traditionally "celebrate" the beginning of a new year, but we do acknowledge the passing of time, and take time to reflect on our own mortality.

Eid-E-Miladunnabi

By Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

The holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi, marking the birth and death anniversary of Prophet Hazrat Mohammed (PBUH), will be observed across the country as elsewhere around the Muslim world today. He was born and died the same day on 12^th Rabiul Awal (Lunar Month).

The festival of Eid-e-Miladulnabi is also popularly known as Barah Wafat. It falls on the twelfth day of the third month Rabi-ul-Awwal . Here, Barah or twelve stands for the twelve days of the Prophets sickness

The celebrations of birthday are subdued, as the day also happens to be the death anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. The day is marked by holding religious discourses, reading the Holy book of Quran and giving alms to the poor.

Hajj: A Way To Amity And Global Peace

By  Khandaker Nazneen Sultana    

Hajj or pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia is one of the five pillars of Islam. Hajj is a compulsory act of worship like other four pillars. While Iman or faith is to be constantly present in the Muslims, Salat is to be performed five times a day, Sawm (fasting in the month of Ramadan) and Zakat (compulsory giving out a portion of wealth) take place once a year, Hajj is to be performed at least once in lifetime for those who have the wherewithal to make way to Makkah and live there for several days.

It is a visit to the Ka’ba, the house of Allah in Makkah to perform certain rituals. Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) built Ka’ba being ordered by Allah for the purpose of worshipping Him. Allah asked Ibrahim (AS) to call out all people to gather in Makkah at the call of Allah.

Clothing in Islam

By Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

 The Qur'an and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad had much influence on the clothing of all medieval Muslims. Both men and women are commanded in the Qur'an to "lower their gaze and be modest."  It is generally understood that men are not to expose the area of their body from the navel to the knee. 

*The Qur'an tells both women and men to be modest.

*The Qur'an tells men that they should not wear silk or gold jewelry to show off their wealth.

*Clothing should not attract attention or be worn to show off.

* Clothing must cover the entire body; only the hands and face may remain visible.

* The material must not be so thin that one can see through it.

Repentance (tawba) and condition of tawba in Islam

By Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

Messenger of Allah, Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) said: ‘Regret is Repentance.’ Repentance is a concept consisting of three successive and joined elements: knowledge, state [of remorse] and action. Knowledge is first, awareness second and action third.

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW), "Allah will turn towards anyone who turns in repentance before the time that the sun rises from the place it set."  -- [Muslim]

Heaven after Death in Islam

By Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

Heaven is a place, where  we will have, full of felicity, happiness, achievement, salvation, the attainment or fulfillment of desires, We have to win Allah’s good pleasure and by that, we could reach the stage at which Allah’s good pleasure is all in all to us. Heaven is for righteous deeds. Obedience of Allah and His Messenger is a sure way to Paradise.
The Prophet (SAW) told us that within Paradise are things that no eyes have ever seen, nor ears have ever heard, and that things in it are beyond our imagination and comprehension, but we all have our own personal ideas of what eternal bliss would probably be like.

Hell after Death in Islam

By Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

An-Nu`man ibn Bashir (RA) narrated that he heard the Prophet (SAW) said: "The least torture in the Hell on the Day of Judgment is that of a man whose foot sole is laid on a live coal which causes his brain to boil just like a boiler."-- [Bukhari and Muslim]

Prophet Hazrat  Muhammad (SAW) told: "He does not think that any other person is tortured more severely than him although he is in the least torture."--[Muslim]

Abu Huraira (RA) narrated: “This fire of yours which burns the son of Adam (in this world) is the seventieth part of the heat of the Hell. They say: 'We swear by Allah, our fire is quite enough. The Prophet said: 'It is sixty nine times more and each part of it is like the heat of your fire."-- [Muslim]

Kiamat in Islam

By Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

 The Qur’an reminds us time and again that this universe has been created temporarily and at an appointed time it will surely be annihilated.  The exact date and time of this event, termed as Kiamat, is known to Allah Alone. The Qur’an and the Hadith have however informed us about various signs which will occur prior to Kiamat and which will be indicative of the closeness of the event.

 As soon as Kiamat is over, the Death in the form of a sheep will be slaughtered and announcement made that there will be no more deaths. The Jannatis will welcome this announcement with joy and the Hell dwellers will mourn the death of the Death.

Death of human in Islam

Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

All the prophets of Allah called their people to worship Allah and to believe in life after death. Surely Allah will raise all the dead. Allah will shower His Mercy on those who suffered for His sake in the worldly life, believing that an eternal bliss was awaiting them.  But those who abused the bounties of Allah, caring nothing for the life to come, will be in the most miserable state.

Narrated Anas (RA) The Prophet (SAW) said, "When a human being is laid in his grave and his companions return and he even hears their foot steps, two angels come to him and make him sit and ask him: 'What did you use to say about this man, Muhammad?' He will say: 'I testify that he is Allah's slave and His Apostle.' Then it will be said to him, 'Look at your place in the Hell-Fire. Allah has given you a place in Paradise instead of it.' " The Prophet (SAW) added, "The dead person will see both his places. But a non-believer or a hypocrite will say to the angels, 'I do not know, but I used to say what the people used to say! It will be said to him, 'Neither did you know nor did you take the guidance (by reciting the Quran).' Then he will be hit with an iron hammer between his two ears, and he will cry and that cry will be heard by whatever approaches him except human beings and jinns."  -- (Sahih Bukhari, 2:422)

Introduction/ Preface

What is Islam?’

I Seek Refuge in God from Satan the Accursed 

In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Quality of a leader in Islam

Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

Professor of American Chicago University Judom Masserman in his book ‘ Who is the greatest leader of world’ point out that Mohammad (SAW) is the greatest leader of the universe for all time.

The greatest historian Sir William Mur said, He (Prophet Mohammad (SAW) was the master mind not only of his own age but all ages.   He posses all the good qualities like, modesty and kindness, self-denial and occupied the affection of others.

Paradise lies at the feet of mothers

Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

Prophet (SAW) said: "Paradise lies at the feet of mothers". Napoleon said, “ Give me a good mother, I shall give you a good nation.”

According to a hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): “A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, who among the people is most deserving of my good companionship?’ He said, ‘Your mother.’ He asked, ‘Then whom?’ He said, ‘Your mother.’ He asked, ‘Then whom?’ He said, ‘Your mother.’ He asked, ‘Then whom?’ He said, ‘Then your father.’” -- (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 4/13, and Muslim, 2548).

The lawful thing Allah hates most is divorce

By Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

Divorce is contrary to the laws of nature. Muhammad. (SAW) says: “The lawful thing Allah hates most is divorce.”-- (Abu Dawud).
Divorce is permitted in Islam as the last unwelcome resort, when all other doors are closed. It is an unwelcome necessity, a bitter pill, an abomination. The Muslim resorts to it only when all the other means to sustain marital life fail.

Rights and Duties of Husband in Islam

Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

 Ayeshah (RA.) the wife of the Prophet (SAW), reports: The Prophet (SAW) of Allah said:  “The best of you is he, who is best to his wife.” -- (Tirmidhi).

Again Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) said, “Act kindly towards women, for they were created from a rib and the most crooked part of the rib is its top. If you attempt to straighten it you will break it, if you leave it alone it will remain crooked: so act kindly towards women. --(Bukhari,Muslim).

For the woman her husband is Paradise as well as Hell

Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

All our mutual rights and duties are referred to Allah. With rights come responsibilities.  Therefore, wives have certain obligations to their husbands.  A wife is to keep her husband's secrets and protect their marital privacy.

A wife must also guard her husband's property.  She must safeguard his home and possessions, to the best of her ability, from theft or damage.  She should manage the household affairs wisely so as to prevent loss or waste. She should not allow anyone to enter the house whom her husband dislikes nor incur any expenses of which her husband disapproves.

Memorial Day Poem

‘Dear sweet Little Ethan’

Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

Dear sweet Little Ethan you are so sweet.

We love you all from the deepest of our heart.

Dear sweet Little Ethan you are like flower.

Your sweet little spirit forever will bloom.

Dear sweet Little Ethan glows in the heavens.

Little leaf is blowing to a beautiful world.

Dear sweet Little Ethan staying our loves memories.

You are everywhere shining likes bright sun.

Rights of parents or the duties of children in Islam

By Khandaker Nazneen Sultana

Abu Hurairah, a companion of the holy Prophet, has said that “a person is indeed disgraced, who does not earn Paradise by caring for his parents during the life time and old age of his or her parents”.

According to Prophet Muhammad (SAW), the parents of a certain person are his Heaven or Hell, that means if a person obeys his parents, attends to their needs and keeps them happy and comfortable, he will attain Paradise. On the other hand, if he is disrespectful and rude to them, offends them by ignoring their needs and feelings or causes them grief in any manner, his place shall be in Hell.

 On another occasion, when asked about the major sins, the holy Prophet replied, "To associate someone with Almighty Allah, to disobey parents, to kill unlawfully, and to give false evidence".