A Masjid is a Community Center for Muslims

June 12,2015
written by:Sheila Quinn

Hadeeth: “Narrated Samura bin Jundab: Whenever the Prophet finished the (morning) prayer, he would face us and ask, ‘Who amongst you had a dream last night?’ So if anyone had seen a dream he would narrate it. The Prophet would say: ‘Ma sha’a-l-lah’ (An Arabic maxim meaning literally ‘What Allah wished,’ and it indicates a good omen.)…” (From the collection of hadeeth: “Sahih Al-Bukhari”; Volume#2; Book “Funerals”#23; chapter #91; hadeeth #468)

There are other hadeeth.

 One is a hadeeth which is narrated by Ayesha (mother of believers/ a wife of Prophet Muhammad). In that hadeeth she talks about an incident in which she watched a sports event in the masjid. She was sitting behind Prophet Muhammad.

Another hadeeth is narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (a companion of Prophet Muhammad and a son of another companion of Prophet Muhammad). In this hadeeth Abdullah ibn Umar mentioned that one time Prophet Muhammad pointed to one of the doors of the masjid. And he (Prophet Muhammad) said if only we would leave that door for the women. He said that he wish that door would be just for the women and that door (pointing to the other door) would be for the men. Prophet Muhammad wanted there to be separate entrances-one for the women and one for the men. Apparently there were two doors to the masjid in which both men and women used.

Qur’an:

      “Allah alone can show the right path but there are ways that turn aside; if Allah had so willed, He could have guided all of you.”  (Sura: “An-Nahl” (The Bee) #16; ayah #9)

 “Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures), in the Taurat and the Gospel:-for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil: he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure);: he releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the Light which is sent down with him, - it is they who will prosper.”
(Sura: A’raaf (The Heights); ayah #157)

“…This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…” (Sura: “Maida” (The Table Spread) #5; ayah #3)

Hadeeth

“Verily, I have left amongst you the Book of Allah and the Sunnah (Traditions) of His Messenger which if you hold fast, you shall never go astray.” (Sahih Muslim) 
(Source: “Ar- Raheeq Al – Makhtum” (The Sealed Nectar; chapter: “The Farewell Pilgrimage”)

The masjid is a community center for Muslims-not just a place of prayer. The masjid is a place of many different community activities for Muslims. It is a place of: prayer, classes, sports, social activities, community meetings, etc. It is a place that all Muslims, both men and women can go.

The Islamic Faith consists of: The Qur’an and The Sunneh of Prophet Muhammad. Anything that came after the death of Prophet Muhammad is misguidance. An English translation of what Allah says in The Qur’an is: “…This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…”  (Sura: “Maida” (The Table Spread) #5; ayah #3)

One of the things that is misguidance is Fatwa, itself. Fatwa has displaced The Sunneh of Prophet Muhammad. Many Muslims are following fatwa instead of The Sunneh of Prophet Muhammad. It is time to return to The Sunneh of Prophet Muhammad; it is time to start building-and using- masjids as community centers for all Muslims.

Link: 

A Masjid is a Community Center for Muslims:http://theummahtimes.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-masjid-is-community-center-for-muslims.html.

                                                                           

Some Differences Between Islam and the Christian-European Culture

January 13, 2010

By Sheila Quinn

Source: The Ummah Times

In the Christian European perception of things, we humans are capable of anything- and of knowing everything. In this perception we possess things and we possess ourselves.

Yet, such perceptions are contrary to the Islamic Faith. There are things that we humans cannot know without Guidance from The Creator. Also, we do not possess anything- not even our own bodies or ourselves. Did we create ourselves? Did you create yourself? Did I create myself? Are we sustaining ourselves? Did we create the oxygen that we are breathing?

It is known that dogs hear what we cannot hear and that insects see what we cannot see. Therefore it is logical to say that there is a possibility that there are creatures which exist on this earth with us which we cannot sense.

Indeed, from The Qur'an we do know that there are such creatures. Just as we are made from clay (mud/dirt) there are some creatures which are made from pure light(Angels) and others which are made from flame less fire (Jinn). The Angels don't have any free will and therefore are always good. Whereas, the Jinn are like us in that they have free will. Like humans, some are good and some are not good.

All knowledge comes from The Creator. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was deeply aware of this. He was deeply conscious of The Creator.  

Link: http://theummahtimes.blogspot.com/2010/01/some-differences-between-islam-and.html.

There Is No God but The God

May 29, 2012
written by: Sheila Quinn
Source: The Ummah Times

There is no God but The God. This is the first half of The Shahadatain-one of the five pillars of The Islamic Faith.

I have profiles on several social networks on the internet. There is this one social network that I was very active on at first. The experiences that I had in it were very interesting. There was this one group about Christianity which I participated in by sharing some information about Islam. Most of what I said was not responded to by Christians but by some atheists who were arrogantly assuming that they were being logical.

“Deaf, dumb and blind, and they perceive not” are words from The Qur’an which accurately describes many atheists.

One post in the Christianity group had a response from an agnostic who didn’t like Christianity-but was very much aware of the wonders of creation (“nature”). He seemed to like some religions like Buddhism and others. I suggested that he might want to learn about Islam. His response to my suggestion was both surprising and disappointing. His attitude was that there might be a God, but that if there is a God he did not have any interest in learning about Him. I was stunned by his response and had no idea as to what to say. I had opened up to him and he verbally slapped me in the face. Months later I thought up how I should have responded to him. His attitude was nonsensical. It was like he was appreciating many different paintings from the same painter, but had absolutely no interest in the painter himself.

It is interesting that most of the comments I made in the Christianity group were responded to by atheists who just wanted to bully others. (They not only bullied me, they also bullied the Christians in the group. I responded to their bullying by writing a post about ethno-centrism and about how my mother taught her children to not be ethnocentric.). Most of the time I just ignored their comments.

In general Christians think of themselves as monotheists. The fact is that most of them are not monotheists but polytheists. Those Christians who think that Jesus is God Himself-or the son of God- are giving partners to The One God. They are blaspheming their Creator. Unless they change their beliefs -in an acceptable way- before they die they will find themselves in The Hellfire. I am not the one who is saying this. The Creator Himself says this in the Qur’an in a number of places. An example is:
“They say, ‘Allah hath begotten a son!’ –Glory be to Him! He is Self Sufficient! His is all things in the heavens and the earth! No warrant have you for this! Say ye about Allah what ye know not?” (Qur’an; Sura “Yunus” (“Jonah” #10) Ayah # 68)

Many Muslims are like many Christians. Just as many Christians are giving partners to The One God, many Muslims are also giving partners to The One God. How is this? Those Muslims who are involved in Taqlid (Taqleed) are giving partners to The One God. Such Muslims are Mushrikeen (Polytheists). Any Muslim who follows anyone other than Prophet Muhammad is involved in Taqlid. They are making shirk with Allah; they are mushrikeen (polytheists).

"Turn ye in repentance to Him, and fear Him: establish regular prayers, and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah- those who split up their religion and become sects-each party rejoicing in that which is with itself." Qur’an; Sura “Rum” (“The Romans”) #30; aya’in #31-32

“Those who follow the Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet…So it is those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the Light which is sent down with him,-it is they who will prosper” (Sura: “Al A’raf” (“The Heights” # 7) Ayah #157)



Some References:

Qur’an: Sura “Yunus” (“Jonah” #10) Ayah # 68); Sura “Rum” (“The Romans”) #30; aya’in# 31-32); (Sura: “Al A’raf” (“The Heights” # 7) Ayah #157)


Blog Articles: “A Disease Called Taqleed” written by Sheila Quinn; “Is the Islamic Nation Sinking?” written by Sheila Quinn