Prophet Sulayman, jinns and magic (4-4)

Prophet Sulayman, jinns and magic (3-4)

Prophet Sulayman, jinns and magic (2-4)

Prophet Sulayman, jinns and magic (1-4)

In Islam the marriage of a man and a woman..

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear brother in Islam, thank you very much for having confidence in us and we hope our efforts, which are purely for Allah’s Sake, meet your expectations.


First of all, we’d like to state that in Islam the marriage of a man and a woman is not just a financial and physical arrangement of living together but a sacred contract, a gift of God, to lead a happy, enjoyable life and continue the lineage. The main goal of marriage in Islam is the realization of tranquility and compassions between the spouses. For the attainment of this supreme goal, Islam defined certain duties and rights for the husband and wife.

For a detailed account of these mutual duties and rights, we’d like to cite the following:

“Piety is the basis of choosing the life partner. Many are the statements of the Qur'an and the Sunnah that prescribe kindness and equity, compassion and love, sympathy and consideration, patience and good will. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, says, "The best Muslim is the one who is best to his family." Also, he says, "… and the most blessed joy in life is a good, righteous wife." (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

The role of the husband evolves around the moral principle that it is his solemn duty to Allah to treat his wife with kindness, honor, and patience; to keep her honorably or free her from the marital bond honorably; and to cause her no harm or grief. Allah Almighty says: "…consort with them in kindness, for if ye hate them it may happen that ye hate a thing wherein Allah hath placed much good." (An-Nisa': 19)

The role of the wife is summarized in the verse that women have rights even as they have duties, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree over them. Allah Almighty says, "And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in kindness, and men are a degree above them. Allah is Mighty, Wise." (Al-Baqaraqh: 228)

This degree is usually interpreted by Muslim scholars in conjunction with another passage which states, among other things, that men are trustees, guardians, and protectors of women because Allah has made some of them excel others and because men expend of their means. Allah Almighty says: "Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath men the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High Exalted, Great." (An-Nisa': 34)

A-The Wife's Rights; The Husband's Obligations:

Because the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, have commanded kindness to women, it is the husband's duty to:

1- Consort with his wife in an equitable and kind manner. Allah Almighty says, "… and consort with them in kindness." (An-Nisa': 19)

2- Have responsibility for the full maintenance of the wife, a duty which he must discharge cheerfully, without reproach, injury, or condescendence. Allah Almighty says: "Let him who hath abundance spend of his abundance, and he whose provision is measured, let him spend of that which Allah hath given him. Allah asketh naught of any soul save that which He hath given it. Allah will vouchsafe, after hardship, ease.‏" (At-Talaq: 7)

Components of Maintenance:

Maintenance entails the wife's incontestable right to lodging, clothing, nourishing, and general care and well-being.

1-The wife's residence must be adequate so as to provide her with the reasonable level of privacy, comfort, and independence. The welfare of the wife and the stability of the marriage should be the ultimate goal.

2-What is true of the residence is true of clothing, food, and general care. The wife has the right to be clothed, fed, and cared for by the husband, in accordance with his means and her style of life. These rights are to be exercised without extravagance or miserliness.

Non-Material Rights:

A husband is commanded by the law of God to:

1- Treat his wife with equity.

2- Respect her feelings, and to show her kindness and consideration.

3- Not to show his wife any aversion or to subject her to suspense or uncertainty.

4- Not to keep his wife with the intention of inflicting harm on her or hindering her freedom.

5- Let her demand freedom from the marital bond, if he has no love or sympathy for her.

B. The Wife's Obligations; The Husband's Rights:

The main obligation of the wife as a partner in a marital relationship is to contribute to the success and blissfulness of the marriage as much as possible. She must be attentive to the comfort and well-being of her mate. She may neither offend him nor hurt his feelings. Perhaps nothing can illustrate the point better than the Qur'anic statement which describes the righteous people as those who pray saying: "Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the joy and the comfort of our eyes, and guide us to be models of righteousness.” (Al-Furqan: 74)

This is the basis on which all the wife's obligations rest and from which they flow. To fulfill this basic obligation:

1- The wife must be faithful, trustworthy, and honest.

2- She must not deceive her mate by deliberately avoiding conception lest it deprive him of legitimate progeny.

3- She must not allow any other person to have access to that which is exclusively the husband's right, i.e. sexual intimacy.

4-She must not receive anyone in his home whom the husband does not like.

5-She may not accept their gifts without his approval. This is probably meant to avoid jealousy, suspicion, gossip, etc., and also to maintain the integrity of all parties concerned.

6- The husband's possessions are her trust. If she has access to any portion thereof, or if she is entrusted with any fund, she must discharge her duty wisely and thriftily. She may not lend or dispose of any of his belongings without his permission.

7- With respect to intimacy, the wife is to make herself desirable; to be attractive, responsive, and cooperative.

8- A wife may not deny herself to her husband, for the Qur'an speaks of them as a comfort to each other. Due consideration is, of course, given to health and decency.

9- Moreover, the wife is not permitted to do anything that may render her companionship less desirable or less gratifying. If she neglects herself, the husband has the right to interfere with her freedom to rectify the situation and insure maximum self-fulfillment for both partners. She is not permitted to do anything on his part that may impede her gratification.”

Based on Hammudah `Abd al-`Ati’s Islam in Focus, with some modifications.
courtesy: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503544152

Marriage Between Shi'ites & Sunnis

http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.aspx?type=question&qid=3470

Title:
Marriage Between Shi'ites & Sunnis

Question:

I have a question and this infact pertains to me I am a sunni muslim and in love with a muslim girl but she belongs to a different sub sect namely shiite well its not only a one sided feeling as she also is in love with me and has also professed her feelings but what is holding us back is the fact that she is a shia muslim is marriage between a shia and a sunni halal or is it null and void as my Parents say it is null and void is it neccessary for the girl to convert to the sunni subsect or she can continue being a Shia Also pls tell me what are the major differences beteween the two schools If Possible give me a detailed overview on thier practices as i would like to also have knowledge on the above subject cause my decision should not only be emotional but also Practical and on the lines of islam and Awaiting your early reply"

Answer:

Shia and Sunni are both Muslims and therefore from a purely religious point of view there is absolutely no problem for them to be married. The answer, however, might be totally different when it comes to cultural or relationship point of view. For many it is difficult enough to accept that their spouse has different opinion, let alone having a fundamentally different understanding of religion. Problems may arise when it comes to religious ceremonies and practices, relationships with members of the different religious community, raising kids, etc... The other difficulty is that not only do the two persons need to be open-minded and be tolerant enough to accept their differences, they also need to be brave and strong against possible reactions from the members of the two communities who may have extreme sectarian feelings and beliefs. Your parent's belief that the marriage is void is only an example.

I have never understood the meaning of expressions like "is it necessary for him/her to convert to ..." Either a person realises that a belief is true and he/she naturally accepts it or a person does not realise it and therefore does not accept it. There is no value in accepting something that one is not firmly convinced of. If the lady you are referring to is so casual about her faith that she is happy to give it up for the sake of marriage then perhaps the whole issue of two different beliefs is not as serious as it sounds. Note that even if the girl converts to what you call 'Sunni' it does not clear up the potential problem. She still has relatives and a community who she cannot disassociate herself from and her conversion may bring even more problems to both of you.

So to make it brief, from the Islamic perspective there is nothing wrong with marriage between a Shia Muslim and a Sunni Muslim. However, there are certain - often wrong - social and cultural issues that should be carefully thought of and be prepared for, before such marriages take place.

There are different sub-sects among these two main sects of Muslims. However the major differences between typical Shia Muslims and Mainstream Muslims are as follows:

• While mainstream Muslims believe that after the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) the door for any new divine guidance has been closed for ever, Shia Muslims believe that divine guidance continued after the Prophet by 12 divinely appointed Imams who were infallible (like the Prophet) and had advantage of accessing unseen knowledge where necessary.
• Shia Muslims believe that the position of Imamah is higher than the position of Prophethood and therefore Imams have a higher position than ordinary Prophets. They believe Prophet Muhammad was himself an Imam so his position was higher, as for prophets like Ibrahim, Musa and Isa (pbut), they have differences of opinion but the prominent view is that their position is lower than the position of Shia Imams.
• Following from the above, while mainstream Muslims believe that the appointment of Khalifa should be by Shura (consultation) after the demise of the Prophet (pbuh), Shia Muslims believe that Ali (ra) was the divinely appointed Imam after the Prophet (pbuh) and that those who took his place have intentionally suppressed him and Ahl Albayt of the Prophet by not letting them have their right and that most of the rest of the companions did not remain loyal to the directives of the Prophet (pbuh) in that they did not support Ali (ra) to become the first Khalifa.
• Following from the first point, Shia Muslims believe that the last Imam was the Mahdi that was predicted by the Prophet (pbuh), that he was born in 255 A.H and went into occultation later and he is still alive and will return before the day of judgement to bring justice on the face of Earth.
• Following from the first point, Shia Muslims do not rely on Ahadith that reached us through the companions of the Prophet (pbuh), instead they mostly rely on sayings of their Imams (mostly the 6th Imam, Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq who is also very much respected by the mainstream scholars) that have reached them through the companions of Imams.

All the above leads to some differences in religious practices among Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims. While the main practices like prayer, Zakah, fasting and Hajj are in principal the same, there is a strong emphasis on Tawassul (seeking intercession) of Imams and calling them, visiting Imam's shrines, loving them as a means to salvation, grieving for Imams and reading prayers that are narrated from their Imams.

author: Abdullah Rahim

Why the Veil Liberates Women !

Good article by Omer Iqbal
Last month, newspapers all over the world broke the story of Faiza Silmi, a Muslim woman who was denied French citizenship on grounds of her ‘radical’ practice of Islam. On top of that, French minister for urban affairs, Fadela Amara – herself a Muslim – called Ms. Silmi’s face veil “a prison” and a “straitjacket.” This is despite the fact that Ms. Silmi wears it out of choice.

The concept of veil is quite misunderstood both in the West as well as amongst some Muslims. Sydney Morning Herald published a great article by Naomi Wolf exploring the motivation of wearing a veil among Muslim women – the article is a very good one and worth a read for anyone trying to understand the issue. The author recognized that Muslims differentiate between private and public life when it comes to sexuality. Modesty is a cherished value for both men and women in public. In an Islamic society, partners exclusively belong to each other. Explaining the concept, Ms. Wolf writes:

The West interprets veiling as repression of women and suppression of their sexuality. But when I travelled in Muslim countries and was invited to join a discussion in women-only settings within Muslim homes, I learned that Muslim attitudes toward women's appearance and sexuality are not rooted in repression, but in a strong sense of public versus private, of what is due to God and what is due to one's husband. It is not that Islam suppresses sexuality, but that it embodies a strongly developed sense of its appropriate channelling - toward marriage, the bonds that sustain family life, and the attachment that secures a home.

A family forms the foundation of a society, and it ought to be preserved. Modesty is one of the means, and perhaps the most important means, of achieving that goal. And headscarf is one of the many components of that modesty. However, it is not only headscarf that is the focus of Islamic teachings - it is in fact modesty. For this reason, in its order, Quran first addresses males and tells them to "lower their gaze and guard their modesty" and then moves to address women. Exploring the headscarf, the author narrates:

Many women said something like this: "When I wear Western clothes, men stare at me, objectify me, or I am always measuring myself against the standards of models in magazines, which are hard to live up to - and even harder as you get older, not to mention how tiring it can be to be on display all the time. When I wear my headscarf or chador, people relate to me as an individual, not an object; I feel respected." This may not be expressed in a traditional Western feminist set of images, but it is a recognisably Western feminist set of feelings.

The author also recounted her experiment of trying out a headscarf in shalwar kameez, dress worn by men and women in eastern countries. Her experience and learning are worth a read as they shed light on the feelings of a western non-Muslim woman in veil for the first time.

http://blogs.omeriqbal.com/news#128

Sami Yusuf : Al mualim

Sami Yusuf : Al mualim
Video sent by mariah7

Sami Yusuf is one of my favorites..

Boy's quran recitation listen and say machallah islam

Boy's quran recitation listen and say machallah islam
Video sent by jfal3

Surah Yasin

American girl from Oklahoma converts to Islam

American girl from Oklahoma converts to Islam
Video sent by Muslim_Forever

American girl from oklahoma reverts to Islam

Amazing Islam Miracles

Amazing Islam Miracles
Video sent by al_manchar

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/converts

Nicole Queen- Converts after seeing Youtube videos on Islam

Nicole Queen- Converts after seeing Youtube videos on Islam
Video sent by jfal3

غفرانك يا رب العالمين لا اله الا انت سبحانك اني كنت من الظالمين
ادعو الله يغفر. اللهم ارحمنا بالقرآن واجعله لنا شفيعا اللهم البسنا به الحلل واسكنا به الظلل اللهم اجعلنا من أهل القرآن آمين
islam quran complete in arabic and english
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IOH0US6P http://quranmp3.cjb.net

Playlistes:
1 kissas Alanbia Histoire des prophetes: http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/xb24i_jfal3_kissas-alanbia-histoire-des-prophet
2 mohamed hassan ahdate nihaya :
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/xb4lf_jfal3_mohamed-hassan-ahdate-nihaya
3 Amr Khaled - Ala Khota Al-Habeeb mohamed :
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/xb4xf_jfal3_amr-khaled-ala-khota-alhabeeb-moham
4 Mohamed hussein yaqob Wasol ila jana:
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/xb4p9_jfal3_mohamed-hussein-yaqob
5 Deedat Ahmed :
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/xb4t7_jfal3_deedat-ahmed
6 mohamed hassan :
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/xb4vq_jfal3_mohamed-hassan
7 jesus Issa:
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/xb4vd_jfal3_jesus
8 Quran koran :
http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/x66i4_jfal3_quran-koran

islam mohamed hassan ahdate nihaya episode 1 a 10: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HNPVEI1X
islam mohamed hassan ahdate nihaya episode 10 a 26: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KPB7NG6I

quran avec different lecteurs:
http://www.islamway.com/?iw_s=Quran&iw_a=view&id=122
اللهم اغفر لنا ورحمنا ادا صرنا اليك يارحمان يارحيم برحمتك نستغيث اللهم صلى على محمد وعلى أله وصحبه اجمعين الى يوم الدين نسأل الله الثبات عند الموت أمين وبرك الله فيكم

اللهـمَّ صلِّوَباركْ علـى محمـد، وَعلـى آلِمحمد، إِنكَ حمـيدٌ مجـيد

Journey to Islam

Masjid Al Haram

Islam is a monotheistic religion, civilization and way of life practiced by 1.6 billion people. Easily the world’s fastest growing religion, Islam is not confined to Arabs or Asians. People are accepting Islam in the West, in the Middle Eastern countries, in Africa, Far East and other parts of the world. The following are videos of just a few reverts (out of hundreds who choose Islam as their way of life every day) who accepted Islam. These new Muslims come from a variety of backgrounds and from around the globe. They shared their stories about their past and the important things in their lives that led them to Islam. We believe these stories are instructive and inspiring, and we hope you will as well. Watch and learn their enlightening and heart-warming stories and experiences.

• Brief interviews from reverts (new muslims) around the world
• Ex-disciple who reverted to Islam (video interview ) : Yusuf Estes interviews an ex-disciple (a person who believes in the teaching of Christ, believes in his doctrine, imbibes his spirit and imitates his example) who reverted to Islam. Abdullah Palmer is chair of the public relations for Muslim Students Association at George Mason University.
• Priests and Preachers accepting Islam (video) : Sheikh Yusuf Estes talks about what he has seen of Priests and Preachers coming to Islam.. When a Priest becomes Muslim, you have to wonder why they would give up everything, their status, their reputation, their church, to become Muslim. And Yusuf Estes talks about his personal story of how he came to Islam.. beautiful video.
• Islam fastest growing religion in the America
• Islam fastest growing religion in the Germany
• Islam fastest growing religion in the Australia
• Islam fastest growing religion in the France
• Latino Muslims Growing in Number in the US
• Napoleon from Outlawz accepts Islam : The Outlawz was an American rap group from Essex County, New Jersey, founded by Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after his release from prison. Mutah Beal (Napoleon) was a member of the group, before he accepted Islam.
  He also had acting experience in the movie 'Thug Life'. Brother Mutah has disassociated himself from that lifestyle of music and now has accepted the deen of Allah. Watch this video and find out how he went from a rapper (gangster) lifestyle, sleeping with a gun under his bed, making rap videos, owning three houses, to now where he lives a simple lifestyle of Islam and how he would never go back to that lifestyle again.

http://ediscoverislam.com/Why-Religion-of-Islam/Stories-of-New-Muslims/my-journey-to-islam-new-muslims-video

Creation of Adam (pbuh)

Quran has discussed the issue of creation of Adam (pbuh) in chapters 2 verses 31-39 and chapter 7 verses 11-27. A study of these verses reveals the following facts:

1. God's plan was to create Adam (pbuh) on the Earth from the very beginning and He informed of his this plan to the angels.

2. Angels realized that man will have the ability to cause bloodshed on earth and therefore they asked God why would he create someone like this.

3. God showed to them through a series of events that while there will be people who will cause trouble, there will also be those righteous people who will lead the righteous path and exhort others to the same.

4. God asked angels to prostrate to Adam (pbuh), but Satan disobeyed God out of pride against man. Consequently he became one of those who shall be subject to God's punishment on the Day of Judgment. Satan asked God to giv e him respite till the Day of Judgment in order to lead man astray from the right path. The permission was granted and that became his sole purpose.

5. God let Adam live in Paradise and asked him not to go near a tree. Satan caused Adam to disobey God's command and once Adam (pbuh) realized that, he felt sorry and asked God for forgiveness. God forgave Adam (pbuh). An example and a reminder of how Satan caused Adam (pbuh) to disobey God's commands.

6. According to God's initial plan, Adam (pbuh) was sent down to the earth and he was reminded that Satan is an enemy to man. As a result, God also assured Adam (pbuh) that revelation will be sent from Almighty towards man (perhaps because man can easily be led astray by Satan), so whoever follows His guidance will stand successful in the test of this life and Hereafter while whoever rejects it will face consequences.

This happens to be the sole purpose of man on this earth: to live by God's commands in order to win against Satan and be successful in the Hereafter. Adam (pbuh)'s episode provides significant guidance in this regard.

This is the brief outline of the events that Quran mentions happened. Needless to say, these are significantly different from the biblical version in many aspects.

Quran has mentioned previous books revealed by God in some special contexts. For instance, in Surah Yunus Quran has mentioned a law regarding the messengers of God that when a messenger of God comes to a nation, the nation is passed a judgment in this world by the Almighty. Then Quran cites examples of the nations of other Messengers and suggests that if one does not believe in this, one may verify it through the books revealed previously. So if one turns back to the bible, one can see that in previous nations, people who believed in the messenger of God were saved by Almighty, while those who did not were finished from this earth. As an example, prophet Noah (pbuh)'s nation was drowned except those who believed. Same was the case with prophets Abraham, Lot, Moses (pbut) and one can see these examples in Bible as well. So when Quran put forth this law, it did not bring a new law, rather just reminded of what had happened before. It then warned the idolaters from amongst the opponents of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that if they did not accept him as a messenger of God despite knowing that he was, then they shall prepare themselves for similar fate. It can be seen that by the time of prophet Muhammad (pbuh)'s death, all his opponents from amongst the idolaters who did not accept Islam, faced these consequences.

However, since a new book has come from God, namely the Quran, the law of God has been brought forward in this book and Quran holds the ultimate dominance in this regard. This is because it has been superseded by Bible, and God informs us in Quran that bible is not in its original form as revealed by God. You can read detailed answers to similar questions that I have answered in some of the posts on my website:

• Which Parts of Bible Are Accepted
• Why the Need of a New Scripture?

I think the real discussion that shall happen is whether Quran is the book of God or not, and whether Muhammad (pbuh) was a messenger and a prophet of God or not. If the people you are talking with are convinced that Quran is, then they should accept the teachings therein, and if they are genuinely convinced that it is not, then they have a right to what they believe is right.

To be honest, we cannot prove or disprove to anyone that Quran is the book of God. It is really up to them to judge and find out, we can just present arguments to them and keep ourselves open to learn as well.

http://www.omeriqbal.com/a/54

Holy Quran with translations - Chapterwise

http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/xmiqq_thinkislam78_the-holy-quran-recitation-translati/video/x2qn39_chapter-55-arrahman-the-most-gracio_family

Finding Qibla Direction Accurately

I’ve been in multiple discussions regarding direction of Kaaba with people with multiple opinions emerging on the issue. I offered prayers in the wrong direction for a while after I moved to the US until I read Khalid Shaukat’s article on Qibla direction from North America. Finding it through compasses or other means had always been a bit of a challenge. However, with Internet available, there is a nifty tool that I was introduced to by a friend that solves this problem for US, Canada and Europe at least.

The tool — called Qibla Locator — is a merger of multiple technologies: online maps, satellite imagery, and trigonometrical calculations of Qibla direction. The tool comes at the right time when it is possible to utilize all these technologies more feasibly than ever before.

To use this tool, go to QiblaLocator.com website, and type in the address of the place from which you are finding the direction. For instance: “1 Microsoft Way, 98052”. It will display the location using Google maps. Click on the ‘satellite’ or ‘hybrid’ tab at the top of the map to get the street view of the location. Then zoom in so that a building is clearly recognizable. Voila! Now you know the direction in relation to the place or building around/in which you are praying. You can use it while traveling so long as you have internet access which is available complimentary in most hotels these days. And the direction is going to be quite accurate too.

Getting Called to Prayer

In countries where call to prayer is not heard from a nearby mosque, keeping a track of prayer time often becomes a challenge. This is even truer as one gets further north or south from equator since the time change between seasons is sharper. On top of that, travel today is fast enough for one to be able to travel from North America to Europe to Asia within a day. Finding the time of the prayer becomes a challenge.

To solve this problem, meet Athan software by Islamic Finder –software that keeps track of all prayer times on a given location and plays Athan when time of a prayer begins. The Basic version is free and can be installed from Athan Software's download page. Once installed, it does not need an internet connection, and keeps calculating and displaying prayer times on the computer. You could download the Pro version for $29.90 in order to support the software and to get additional features. Feature comparison is listed on the download page. Interface of the software is very simple: everything is on one page:

The interface has three columns and a bar on the left hand side. The left bar shows the date (both Gregorian and Hijri) and ads in the free version. There are three columns: The left shows prayer times for the current day; the middle one lets you select Athan to play, start and stop it and adjust volume; and the right one allows the selection of the location and juristic method. You can adjust location and the juristic method (if you would like to) and click ‘Compact Screen’ link on the left column to get right of the right column – a useful feature that simplifies the display.

Prayer times of the current day update daily automatically without using Internet. Closing the window still keeps Athan software running in the background so that when the time of a prayer starts, it automatically pops up and starts the Athan. The real utility of this software lies in being able to select a different location, which updates the prayer times right away!

Another useful feature is that, by default, the software is configured to start when the computer starts. A nicety is recitation of bismillah at startup. If you plan to buy the Athan Pro version for $29.90, you get additional Athan recitations, Quran recitation, date converter and ad free interface among other smaller features. While you can buy the Pro version to support the organization for their project, the basic version is sufficient for most people’s need.

FAQ's on Zakat al-Fitrah

Q. What is Zakat al-Fitrah? A: It is religious tax/alms (Zakat) paid on the day when Muslims break the fasting period at the end of the month of Ramadan. This alms is known as Zakat al-Fitrah. Q. What do the Qur'an and Hadith say about Fitrah? A: Imams (as) say that the verses: Indeed whosoever purifies himself shall achieve success, and glorifies the Name of his Lord and prays (87:14 & 15) refer to giving of Fitrah and saying prayers on Eid al-Fitr. Hazrat Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq (A.S.) said: for your fast to be accepted, give zakat. Q. When does Fitrah become wajib (obligatroy)? A. Payment of Fitrah becomes obligatory after sunset on the eve of Eid al-Fitr. The Fitrah should be kept aside and paid on Eid al-Fitr before Eid prayers or before midday for those who cannot say their Eid prayers. It is necessary to have obligatory intention (Niyyah) of giving Fitrah for God's pleasure only. Q. What happens if someone forgets or does not give Fitrah on time? A. If one does not give out or set aside the Fitrah within the due time, he should give the Fitrah later, on the basis of precaution, without making the niyyah of adaa or qadhaa but only Qurbatan Ilallah. Q. Can we give Fitrah in advance? A. Giving Fitrah before the eve of Eid al-Fitr is not permissible. However, if you wish to send Fitrah earlier so that it reaches the needy on time, then you can send it as a temporary loan to the needy and then change your intention from loan to Fitrah on the eve of Eid al-Fitr. Q. To whom is Fitrah obligatroy? A. Paying Fitrah is obligatory on every Muslim who is mature (baligh), sane, financially able, and conscious on the eve of Eid al-Fitr. Fitrah should also be paid on behalf of all dependents (e.g. wife, children) whom one supports financially. Q. When is a host required to pay Fitrah for his guest? A. If a person invites another person to his house on the eve of Eid al-Fitr and if the guest is present at the host's place at the time of the sunset then it is obligatory for the host to pay Fitrah for his guest. Q. What happens if the guest arrives after the sunset on Eid night? A. In this case the guest will pay his/her own Fitrah and it is not obligatory on the host to pay Fitrah for the guest. Q. How much should we pay for Fitrah? A. Fitrah for a person is given on a weight of three kilograms (one sa'a) on any food commodity like wheat, barley, rice, millet, raisins or dates. It can be the item that is not a staple food in your town should not be given in Fitrah. Say, for example, if millet is not a staple in Vancouver then Vancouver Mumineen should not pay Fitrah on millet. Q. Can we give cash value of any commodity mentioned above? A. Yes, cash value in lieu of any foodstuff mentioned can be given as Fitrah. Thus, if a kilo of rice costs $2.00, the cash value of Fitrah on rice per person would be $6.00. We recommend, Fitrah on basmati rice to be Canadian Dollars 7.00 for residents of Canada and US Dollars 6.00 for US residents. (Please check prices for other items in your areas.) Q. Whom should we give the Fitrah to? A. It is given to the needy who are unable to meet their own or their dependants annual living expenses, nor do they have the means to do so through earning. Q. Who should not be given the Fitrah? A. A needy who: consumes alcohol, does not say his daily prayers (salat), commits sins openly, or he who is known to use the Fitrah in sinful way. GRATEFULNESS: Islam commands us to be GRATEFUL to ALLAH by using His favours in proper manners. We should share ALLAH's favours on us, with others. Allah can provide them (needy ones) better than what He has given to us, but He wants to test us: Is the love of Allah more in our hearts or the love of Dollars? Sadaqah al-Fitr (voluntary charity) is a very important part of Fasting in Ramadan. One very important aspect of fasting is that we become aware of how poor people feel. Poverty is a cause of many problems. Many of our ministers do not know what starvation is like, and they have other interests. How would they try to solve this problem? Al Hamdulillah, Islam has really solved the big problem of Slavery. And Insha Allah, Poverty will be solved.

Zakat al-Fitr

Allah (SWT) says in the Quran-e-Majid that one who gives "Zakat" and remembers Him will get salvation. Here, Zakat means "Fitra" and remembrance of God means the recitation of the following Takbir on the night and morning of Eid al-Fitr.

"Allaaho Akbar, Allaaho Akbar, Laa ilaaha illallaah wallaaho Akbar, Allaaho Akbar, Wa lillaahil hamd. Alhamdulillah alaa maa hadaanaa walahu Shukr alaa maa aulana."

The meaning of the above is: "Allah is Great, Allah is Great there is no one worthy of prayer but Allah, and Allah is Great; Allah is Great, all praise be to Allah, it is He Who guides."

Zakat al-Fitr is a small amount that Muslims are obliged to pay as charity at the end of Ramadan. Zakat al-Fitr is often referred to as Sadaqah al-Fitr (voluntary charity). The word Fitr means the same as Iftaar, breaking a fast and it comes from the same root word as Futoor which means breakfast. Thus, Islamically, Zakat al-Fitr is the name given to charity which is distributed at the end of the fast of Ramadan.

Fitr is compulsory on those who can afford it, and it is a sin not to give it.

Hazrat Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq (A.S.) has said that fasts do not attain perfection without Fitr just as Namaz is not accepted without invoking the blessings of Allah on Mohammad (S.A.W.) and his Aaal (A.S.) in Tashahhud. Hazrat Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq (A.S.) used to instruct his accountant to take out Fitr for each individual including slaves and servants male and female of his household without exception, as, he feared that one whose Fitr was not taken out might die within that year.

Fitr is dependant on the major item of food consumed by a person during the year. These may be rice, wheat, barley, dates, etc. In weight Fitr should be three Kilograms per person. It is also permissible to pay cash to the value of three Kilograms food grains.

It is obligatory on the head of the family to give Fitr of all persons (including servants of both sexes of any cast or creed) that take food in his house.

If a guest Muslim or non-Muslim arrives at one's house before the night of Eid al-Fitr and dines with his host, it is incumbent on the latter to give the former's Fitr. If the guest arrives after sunset of the night of Eid al-Fitr. Fitr is not obligatory even if he dines with his host. Even when the guest arriving before sunset does not dine, Fitr is obligatory on the host. In this it is better if both the host and the guest give Fitr.

If one's wife is at her parent's on the night of Eid al-Fitr, her parents should take out her Fitr.

On the last day of the month of Ramadan, if a person arrranges a Majlis which finishes afer sunset (Magrib) and if, he offers Niyaz or food to his guests, he does not have to give Fitr for them.

Fitr should be given to deserving Momins who do not have enough income for the maintenance of their families for the whole year.

Fitr cannot be given to one's dependants. But, it is better to give it to non-dependant deserving relatives. Next in order of preference are deserving neighbors and then any other deserving pious persons. Fitr from Syeds can be given to Syeds or non-Syeds. Fitr from non-Syeds cannot be given to Syeds.

If deserving persons are not really available, Fitr should be sent to places where such persons are found, or the amount should be sent to a Mujtahid who would do the needful in distributing the same.

It is not essential that the recipient of Fitr is an "Aadil" (just), but it is necessary to ensure that it is not given to anyone likely to use it in acts of sin, e.g. drinking liquor, gambling, etc.

Although it is permissible to send Fitr to any place it is preferable if it is distributed to a deserving person locally.

The time for giving Fitr is from the night of Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan Eid) up to the noon (Zohr) of Eid al-Fitr. If this is not possible for some reason the amount of Fitr should be set apart from his other monies and disbursed when deserving person is available or it may be sent to a Mujtahid for required distribution.

It is stated that Fitr ought to be given to pious persons and not those who indulge in sin.

IN RETROSPECT:

And now that the Holy Month of Glory (Ramadan) will end soon, let us look back to the lessons it will and has taught us, and let us pray to God that the things we observed the recitation of the Holy Quran, the saying of Prayers (Namaz) regularly, the charity which we did, the poor that we fed, the good manners and self-restraint that we observed, should be with us in our everyday lives and these are the very ACTS that take us nearer to Allah.

And Allah has said, "Therefore remember Me, I will remember you, and be thankful to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me." (2:152)

"If ye are grateful, I will add more (favors) unto you; But if ye show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed." (14:7)

And to those who have been indifferent and have wished that there was no such thing as this month of Ramadan and who on sighting the New Moon had a dejected face, should remember this Ayat of the Holy Quran.

"Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer): but those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell - in humiliation!" (40:60)

But can ye not see, O men, the mighty workers of God in the heavens and the earth? The dark-some splendor of the night with the stars, and the daylight splendor of the sun? How the earth with its spacious expanse and its mountains, yields moisture and pasture, and feeds and sustains men and cattle, through God's Providence?

AH! Transgress not all bounds and earn not the fire of punishment, but fear God and His Judgment, and prepare for the Garden of Perpetual Bliss.

ZAKAT AL-FITR and ZAKAT (ZAKAH) are different: (Alms giving, Charity)

Over the centuries, it has become a practice among the Muslims to offer their Zakat (Zakah) in the month of Ramadan. This is generally done to increase one's blessings. However, we should remember that Zakat (Zakah) becomes due, one year after a person's wealth reaches the value of Nisab (minimum amount) for a type of item (Gold, Silver, Savings, etc) and according to most scholars, his wealth has to remain above that Nisab level throughout the course of the year. So it is impossible for the whole Ummah to have reached the obligation of paying Zakat (Zakah), at the onset of Ramadan. We should be clear in our minds that Zakat (Zakah) is not tied in with the month of Ramadan. An individual can bring forward his Zakat (Zakah) due date (notice: not push back), in order to take advantage of the multifold blessings of Ramadan. In fact, to make it easy on the recipients whose needs have to be met, one might chose Ramadan for the extra Sadaqa he gives out.

Finally, Zakat (Zakah) is not simply the calculation of your dues on your Gold and Silver ornaments. Its scope and implication is wide-ranging. As such, it requires us to be diligent and aware of various details relating to our context and various forms of wealth. At the minimum, a learned scholar should be consulted.

Dress code for women

SUMMARY:

Quran is very clear about the dress code for the believers. Innovations and fabrication intorduced Hijab (veil) to Islam (submission.) Hijab (veil) is a traditional, not religious head cover that dates back to ancient civilizations, and is not supported or advocated by the Quran.

INTRODUCTION:

God, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful, insists on making His religion easy, practical and enjoyable for His true believers. God also told us that those who reject Him or His books are making life miserable for themselves and for their loved ones who follow in their footsteps.

He reminds us in the Quran that He has placed no hardship on us in practicing our religion (see 22:78).

"You shall strive for the cause of GOD as you should strive for His cause. He has chosen you and has placed no hardship on you in practicing your religion - the religion of your father Abraham. ................................" 22:78

God established also several rules in His book, the Quran, for His TRUE believers. Breaking any of His rules or refusing any of them means loss, misguidance, misery and eternal suffering. To understand a topic like the DRESS CODE for Muslim Women, we need to review quickly some of these rules established by our Creator, God Almighty, to whom we will be responsible for our deeds. Every rule is important and every rule is meant to be.

(1) The Quran is a complete book, See 6:19,38,114, 115, 12:111 and 50:45.

Remember that when God says that His book is complete, it means 100% complete.

"..........We did not leave ANYTHING out of this book." 6:38

"The word of your Lord is COMPLETE, in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient." 6:115

(2) The Quran is perfect; no mistakes, no falsehood, no nonsense.

"No falsehood could enter it (Quran), in the past or in the future; a revelation from a Most Wise, Praiseworthy." 41:42

".......All ruling belongs to God, and He has ruled that you shall not worship except Him. This is the PERFECT RELIGION, but most people do not know." 12:40 (see also 30:30, 30:43 and 98:5).

(3) The Quran is detailed, and when God says He detailed His book it means FULLY detailed. God does not do half jobs.

"Shall I seek other than GOD as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed? Those who received the scripture recognize that it has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully. You shall not harbor any doubt." 6:114 (See also, 7:52, 11:1, 41:3, 10:37 and 12:111)

(4) God does not need any addition to His book. God teaches us in the Quran that He does not run out of words and that if He so willed He could have given us hundreds, thousands or millions of books besides the Quran (see 18:109). Since the Quran is complete, perfect and fully detailed, God did not give us any more books.

(5) God calls His book, the Quran, the BEST HADITH. HE called on His true believers to accept no other hadiths as a source of this perfect religion . See 7:185, 31:6, 39:23, 45:6, and 77:50.

"Have they not looked at the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all the things God has created? Does it ever occur to them that the end of their life may be near? Which HADITH, besides this (Quran) do they believe in?" 7:185

(6) God calls on His true believers to make sure not to fall in the trap of idol-worship by following the words of the scholars instead of the words of God (see 9:31).

(7) God calls those who prohibit what He did not prohibit, aggressors, liars and idol-worshipers. Idol-worship is the only unforgivable sin, if maintained till death. See, 5:87, 9:37, 7:32, 6:119, 6:140 and 10:59.

"O you who believe, do not prohibit good things that are made lawful by God, and do not aggress; God dislikes the aggressors." 5:87

"Say, "Did you note how God sends down to you all kinds of provisions, then you render some of them unlawful, and some lawful?" Say, "Did God give you permission to do this? Or, do you fabricate lies and attribute them to God?" 10:59

(8) Muhammed is represented only by the Quran. The Prophet Muhammed was the last Prophet and a messenger of God (33:40). He was not the messenger of God because of who he (Muhammed) was, but because he was given the Quran (the message) to deliver to the world. The religion of Islam is a religion of God, not about Muhammed, who was blessed by God with the delivery of the message of the Quran. He did not have an agenda of his own. His job was to deliver to the world what God was giving him, the Quran. See 42:48, 13:40, 5:99-100

Muhammed cannot prohibit things, or make lawful things on his own. When he tried to do that God admonished him publicly, see 66:1

"O you prophet, why do you prohibit what GOD has made lawful for you, just to please your wives? GOD is Forgiver, Merciful." 66:1

66:1 reminds us that God is the only ONE to prohibit or make things lawful. NO ONE can attribute to Muhammed a prohibition that God did not give him in the Quran. Anyone who tries to do so is admitting his/her refusal of God's words and commandments in the Quran.

(9) The TRUE believers KNOW that when God says something, He means it, and when He does not, he means it as well. Everything given to us in the Quran was done deliberately and everything left out was also left out deliberately.

God does not forget. See 19:64. We are not to add to this religion what God deliberately left out and claim it to be from Him or His messenger. His messenger has only ONE message, the Quran. God already told us He does not run out of words. 18:109

(10) God does not need us to improve on His book, the Quran, but we very much need Him for every aspect of our lives. Those who think they have some improvement on the Quran are but asking for recognition of their idols as gods besides the ONE and ONLY GOD.

Fabricated hadiths tried to add to Islam (Submission) what the disbelievers thought God forgot to mention in the Quran.

(11) God calls on His TRUE believers to verify every piece of information they see, hear or read, see 17:36.

"You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them." 17:36

So, Please VERIFY for yourself.

THREE RULES FOR WOMEN DRESS CODE

IN ISLAM (SUBMISSION)

FIRST RULE : THE BEST GARMENT

[7:26] "O children of Adam, we have provided you with garments to cover your bodies, as well as for luxury. But the best garment is the garment of righteousness. These are some of GOD's signs, that they may take heed."

This is the BASIC rule of DRESS CODE in the Quran. This is the first rule in WOMEN DRESS CODE in Islam (Submission).

SECOND RULE : COVER YOUR BOSOMS

The second rule can be found in 24:31. Here God orders the women to cover their bosoms whenever they dress up. But before quoting 24:31 let us review some crucial words that are always mentioned with this topic, namely "Hijab" and "Khimar"

THE WORD "HIJAB" in the QURAN

"Hijab" is the term used by many Muslims women to describe their head cover that may or may not include covering their face except their eyes, and sometimes covering also one eye. The Arabic word "Hijab" can be translated into veil or yashmak. Other meanings for the word "Hijab" include, screen, cover(ing), mantle, curtain, drapes, partition, division, divider.

Can we find the word "Hijab" in the Quran??

The word "Hijab" appeared in the Quran 7 times, five of them as "Hijab" and two times as "Hijaban," these are 7:46, 33:53, 38:32, 41:5, 42:51, 17:45 & 19:17.

None of these "Hijab" words are used in the Quran in reference to what the traditional Muslims call today (Hijab) as a dress code for the Muslim woman.

God knows that generations after Muhammed's death the Muslims will use the word "Hijab" to invent a dress code that He never authorized. God used the word "Hijab" ahead of them just as He used the word "Hadith" ahead of them.

Hijab in the Quran has nothing to do with the Muslim Women dress code.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

While many Muslims call "Hijab", an Islamic dress code, they completely ignore the fact that, Hijab as a dress code has nothing to do with Islam and nothing to do with QURAN.

"Hijab" or veil can be traced back to early civilizations. It can be found in early and late Roman and Greek art. The evidence can be seen in archeological discoveries whether in pottery fragments, paintings or recorded civil laws. In Greco-Roman culture, both women and men wore head covering in religious contexts. The tradition of wearing the veil (by women) and the headcover (by men) was then adopted by the Jews who wrote it in the Talmud (Talmud equals the Hadiths and Sunna, neither are the words of God) then the Christians adopted the same. A well respected Rabbi once explained to a group of Jewish young women, "We do not find a direct command in the Torah mandating that women cover their heads, but we do know that this has been the continuing custom for thousands of years." After the prophet Muhammad's death , the writers of the hadith books adopted and encouraged the ancient tradition of head covering. Hadith book' writers took after the Jews as they did with many other traditions , and alleged them to the prophet since the Quran did not command it.

Any student of the Jewish traditions or religious books will see that head cover for the Jewish woman (and men) has been encouraged by the Rabbis and religious leaders. Observant Jewish women still cover their heads most of the time and specially in the synagogues, weddings, and religious festivities.

Christian women cover their heads in many religious occasions while the nuns cover their heads all the time.

As we can expect the traditional Arabs, of all religions, Jews, Christians and Muslims used to wear head cover, or "Hijab," not because of Islam, but because of tradition. In Saudi Arabia, up to this day most of the men cover their heads , not because of Islam but because of tradition.

North Africa is known for its Tribe (Tuareg) that have the Muslim men wearing "Hijab" instead of women. Here the tradition has the hijab in reverse. If wearing Hijab is the sign of the pious and righteous Muslim woman, Mother Teresa would have been the first woman to be counted.

In brief, hijab is a traditional dress and has nothing to do with Islam or religion. In certain areas of the world, men are the ones who wear the hijab while in others the women do.

Mixing religion with tradition is a form of idolworship, since the followers of traditions are following laws from sources other than God's scriptures and claim it to be from God. Idolworship is the only unforgivable sin if maintained till death.

Ignoring what God asks you to do in His book, or following innovated laws not stated in the the Quran, is a clear sign of disregarding God and His message.

When tradition supersedes God's commandment, the true religion takes a second place. God never accepts to be second, God has to be always the FIRST and to HIM there is no second.

THE WORD "KHIMAR" in the QURAN:

"Khimar" is an Arabic word that can be found in the Quran in 24:31 While the first basic rule of Dress Code for the Muslim Women can be found in 7:26, the second rule of the DRESS CODE FOR WOMEN can be found in 24:31. Some Muslims quote verse 31 of sura 24 as containing the Hijab, or head cover, by pointing to the word, khomoorehenna, (from Khimar), forgetting that God already used the word Hijab, several times in the Quran. Those blessed by God can see that the use of the word "Khimar" in this verse is not for "Hijab" or for head cover. Those who quote this verse usually add (Head cover) (veil) after the word Khomoorehenna, and usually between ( ), because it is their addition to the verse not God's. Here is 24:31,

"And tell the believing women to subdue their eyes, and maintain their chastity. They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies, except that which is necessary. They shall cover their chests, (with their Khimar) and shall not relax this code in the presence of other than their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons, the sons of their husbands, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, other women, the male servants or employees whose sexual drive has been nullified, or the children who have not reached puberty. They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order to shake and reveal certain details of their bodies. All of you shall repent to GOD, O you believers, that you may succeed." 24:31 Khalifa's translation.

Here is Yousuf Ali's translation, but the word KHIMAR was put back in place instead of (veils), so the verse would look as it should have been before adding Ali's own interpretation:

"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments ....... . . that they should draw their KHIMAR over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands.........."

Y. Ali's translation, with the word khimar put back in place.

"Khimar" is an Arabic word that means, cover, any cover, a curtain is a Khimar, a dress is a Khimar, a table cloth that covers the top of a table is a Khimar, a blanket can be used as a Khimar..etc. The word KHAMRA used for intoxicant in Arabic has the same root with Khimar, because both covers, the Khimar covers (a window, a body, a table . . . etc.) while KHAMRA covers the state of mind. Most of the translators, obviously influenced by Hadith (fabrications) translate the word as VEIL and thus mislead most people to believe that this verse is advocating the covering of the head.

In 24:31 God is asking the women to use their cover (khimar)( being a dress, a coat, a shawl, a shirt, a blouse, a tie, a scarf . . . etc.) to cover their bosoms, not their heads or their hairs. If God so willed to order the women to cover their heads or their hair, nothing would have prevented Him from doing so. GOD does not run out of words. GOD does not forget. God did not order the women to cover their heads or their hair.

God does not wait for a Scholar to put the correct words for Him!

The Arabic word for CHEST, GAYB is in the verse (24:31), but the Arabic words for HEAD, (RAAS) or HAIR, (SHAAR) are NOT in the verse. The commandment in the verse is clear - COVER YOUR CHEST OR BOSOMS, but also the fabrication of the scholars and most of the translators is clear by claiming- cover your head or hair.

The last part of the verse (24:31) translates as, "They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order to shake and reveal certain details of their bodies." The details of the body can be revealed or not revealed by the dress you wear, not by your head cover.

Notice also the expression in 24:31,

"They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies, except that which is necessary."

This expression may sound vague to many because they have not understood the mercy of God. Again God here used this very general term to give us the freedom to decide according to our own circumstances the definition of "What is necessary".

It is not up to a scholar or to any particular person to define this term. God wants to leave it personal for every woman and no one can take it away from her. Women who follow the basic rule number one i.e. righteousness, will have no problem making the right decision to reveal only which is necessary.

The word "zeenatahunna" in this verse refers to the woman's body parts (beauty) that can be exaggerated by the movement of the body while walking and not to the artificial ornaments and decorations as some people interpret it or translate it. At the end of the verse, God told the women not to strike with their feet to show their "zeenatahunna." Striking the feet while walking can emphasize , exaggerate or shake certain parts of the body that do not need to be emphasized. It is important to remember that striking the feet while walking does not have this effect on the head, hair or face, they are not part of what God calls in this verse the hidden zeena.

Accepting orders from anybody but God, means idol-worship. That is how serious the matter of Hijab/khimar is. Women who wear Hijab because of tradition or because they like it for personal reasons commit no sin, as long as they know that it is not part of this perfect religion. Those who are wearing it because they think God ordered it are committing Idol-worship, as God did not order it, the scholars did. These women have found for themselves another god than the One who revealed the Quran, complete, perfect and FULLY detailed to tell them they have to cover their heads to be Muslims.

Idol-worship is the only unforgivable sin, if maintained till death, 4:48.

THIRD RULE : LENGTHEN YOUR GARMENTS

The first regulation of DRESS CODE for Muslim women is in 7:26, the second is in 24:31 and the third is in 33:59

"O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives of the believers that they shall LENGTHEN their garments. Thus, they will be recognized and avoid being insulted. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful." 33:59

In 33:59, God sets the other regulation for the dress code for the Muslim women during the prophet's life.

Although the verse is talking to the prophet which means this regulation applies to the time of the prophet, just like the order in 49:2, the description fits the spirit of Islam (Submission in English), and can teach us a great deal.

If you reflect on this verse and how God ordered the prophet to tell his wives, his daughters and the wives of the believers to lengthen their garments, you would understand the great wisdom of the MOST WISE, the MOST MERCIFUL. In this verse, God, DELIBERATELY, (and all the TRUE believers know that everything GOD says, does, or did is DELIBERATE) said, tell them, to lengthen their garments, and never said how long is long. God could have said tell them to lengthen their garments to their ankles or to their mid-calf or to their knees, but HE DID NOT. He did not, OUT OF HIS MERCY, not because HE FORGOT as God does not forget. God knows that we will be living in different communities and have different cultures and insists that the minor details of this dress code will be left for the people of every community to hammer for themselves.

It is clear from the above verses that the DRESS CODE for the Muslim women (Submitters) according to the Quran is righteousness and modesty. God knows that this modesty will be understood differently in different communities and that is why He left it open to us to decide for ourselves. Decide, after righteousness what is modesty. Modesty for a woman who lives in New York may not be accepted by a woman who lives in Cairo Egypt. Modesty of a woman who lives in Cairo, Egypt may not be accepted by a woman who lives in Saudi Arabia.

Modesty of a woman who lives in Jidda in Saudi Arabia may not be accepted by a woman who lives in a desert oasis in the same country. This difference in the way we perceive modesty is well known to God, He created us, and He put NO hardship on us in this great religion. He left it to us to decide what modesty would be. For any person, knowledgeable or not to draw a line and make conclusion for God about the definition of modesty is to admit that he/she knows better than God.

God left it open for us and no-one has the authority to restrict it, it has to stay open.

RELAXING THE DRESS CODE:

In the family setting, God put no hardship on the women, and permitted them to relax their dress code. If you reflect on the verses, 33:35 and 24:60, you will see that God did not give details of what this relaxation is, because every situation is different.

A woman may relax her dress code in front of the four-year-old son of her brother but not as much in front of the 16 year old son.

"The women may relax (their dress code) around their fathers, their sons, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, the other women, and their (female) servants. They shall reverence GOD. GOD witnesses all things." 33:55

"The elderly women who do not expect to get married commit nothing wrong by relaxing their dress code, provided they do not reveal too much of their bodies. To maintain modesty is better for them. GOD is Hearer, Knower." 24:60

DRESS CODE FOR THE MOSQUES (MASJIDS):

"O children of Adam, you shall be clean and dress nicely when you go to the masjid. And eat and drink moderately; Surely, He does not love the gluttons." 7:31

HARDSHIP IN THIS RELIGION:

God, the MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL decided that those who will reject His complete book and go look for other sources for guidance will suffer in this life and in the HEREAFTER by their choice. God never put any hardship on the believers, but the scholars did, they invented their own laws in defiance of God, to regulate everything from the side of bed you sleep on, to which foot should step in the house, to what to do with a fly in your soup, to what to say when having intercourse with your spouse.

Those who believe God and believe that His book is COMPLETE, PERFECT AND FULLY DETAILED, will have everything easy for them as God promised, See 10:62-64, 16:97 while those who could not believe God and have been seeking other sources than the Quran will have all the hardship of this life and the life to come. In the Hereafter they will complain to God, "we were not idol-worshipers," but God knows best, He knows they were See 6:22-24

"On the day when we summon them all, we will ask the idol worshipers, "Where are the idols you set up?" Their disastrous response will be, "By GOD our Lord, we never were idol worshipers." Note how they lied to themselves, and how the idols they had invented have abandoned them." 6:22-24

CONCLUSION:

God, the Most Merciful, gave us three basic rules for the Dress Code for Women in Islam (Submission),

(1) The BEST garment is the garment of righteousness.

(2) Whenever you dress , cover your chest (bosoms).

(3) Lengthen your garment.

While these three BASIC rules may not sound enough for those who do not trust God, the TRUE believers know that God is ENOUGH. God could have given us more details to the point of having graphs, designs and color rules, but He , the Most Merciful, wants to give us exactly these very basic rules and leave the rest for us. After these three basic rules every woman is more aware of her circumstances and can adjust her dress for her situation. Any addition to these basic Quranic rules is an attempt to correct God or improve on His merciful design.

We have no obligation to follow but God's rules, just as His messenger did all the time. Innovations and fabrications that added thousands of rules to the women dress code are nothing but idol-worship and should be refused.

STAY WITH GOD, that is where the winners go.

May God bless us with His mercy and guidance.

May ALLAH forgive me, for any wrong understanding or inclusions here in the blog

References:

The Glorious Quran: All translated Quranic verses are taken from
the Authorized English translation of the Quran by Dr. Rashad Khalifa.

http://submission.org/dress.html

Paul and Corinthian Women's Head Coverings

Headcovering in Jewish Law