Thursday, 4 August 2011

The Astronomy of Ramadan


Tradition dictates that Ramadan, like other holy months in the Islamic calendar, begins the day after the thin crescent of the new moon is first seen with the naked eye. Because visibility is very dependent on local atmospheric conditions, religious officials in different countries—relying on eye-witness observations from volunteers—often disagree on the exact moment, sometimes by as much as 3 or 4 days. It’s a recipe for international confusion.

Tuesday, 2 August 2011

The translation of surah jinn

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
1.   Say (O Muhammad SAW):
"It has been revealed to me that a group (from three to ten in number) of jinns listened (to this Qur'ân).
They said:
'Verily! We have heard a wonderful Recital (this Qur'ân)!
2.   'It guides to the Right Path, and we have believed therein, and we shall never join (in worship) anything with our Lord (Allâh).
3.   'And exalted be the Majesty of our Lord,
He has taken neither a wife, nor a son (or offspring or children).
4.   'And that the foolish among us [i.e. Iblîs (Satan) or the polytheists amongst the jinns] used to utter against Allâh that which was wrong and not right.
5.   'And verily, we thought that men and jinns would not utter a lie against Allâh.
6.   'And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the masculine among the jinns, but they (jinns) increased them (mankind) in sin and disbelief.
7.   'And they thought as you thought, that Allâh will not send any Messenger (to mankind or jinns).
8.   'And we have sought to reach the heaven; but found it filled with stern guards and flaming fires.
9.   'And verily, we used to sit there in stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.
10. 'And we know not whether evil is intended for those on earth,
or whether their Lord intends for them a Right Path.
11. 'There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary;
we are groups each having a different way (religious sect, etc.).
12. 'And we think that we cannot escape (from the punishment of) Allâh in the earth,
nor can we escape (from the punishment) by flight.
13. 'And indeed when we heard the Guidance (this Qur'ân), we believed therein (Islâmic Monotheism),
and whosoever believes in his Lord shall have no fear, either of a decrease in the reward of his good deeds or an increase in punishment for his sins.
14. 'And of us some are Muslims (who have submitted to Allâh, after listening to this Qur'ân),
and of us some are Al-Qâsitûn (disbelievers those who have deviated from the Right Path)'.
And whosoever has embraced Islâm (i.e. has become a Muslim by submitting to Allâh), then such have sought the Right Path."
15. And as for the Qâsitûn (disbelievers who deviated from the Right Path), they shall be firewood for Hell,

16. If they (non-Muslims) had believed in Allâh, and went on the Right Way (i.e. Islâm) We should surely have bestowed on them water (rain) in abundance.
17. That We might try them thereby.
And whosoever turns away from the Reminder of his Lord (i.e. this Qur'ân, and practice not its laws and orders), He will cause him to enter in a severe torment (i.e. Hell).
18. And the mosques are for Allâh (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allâh.
19. (It has been revealed to me that) When the slave of Allâh (Muhammad SAW) stood up invoking (his Lord Allâh) in prayer to Him they (the jinns) just made round him a dense crowd as if sticking one over the other (in order to listen to the Prophet's recitation).

20. Say (O Muhammad SAW):
"I invoke only my Lord (Allâh Alone), and I associate none as partners along with Him."
21. Say:
"It is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to the Right Path."
22. Say (O Muhammad SAW):
"None can protect me from Allâh's punishment (if I were to disobey Him), nor should I find refuge except in Him.
23. "(Mine is) but conveyance (of the truth) from Allâh and His Messages (of Islâmic Monotheism),
and whosoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, then verily, for him is the Fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever ."
24. Till, when they see that which they are promised, then they will know who it is that is weaker concerning helpers and less important concerning numbers.

25. Say (O Muhammad SAW):
"I know not whether (the punishment) which you are promised is near or whether my Lord will appoint for it a distant term.
26. "(He Alone) the All-Knower of the Ghâ'ib (unseen),
and He reveals to none His Ghâ'ib (unseen)."
27. Except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen (He informs him of unseen as much as He likes), and then He makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march before him and behind him.
28. [He (Allâh) protects them (the Messengers)], till He sees that they (the Messengers) have conveyed the Messages of their Lord (Allâh).
And He (Allâh) surrounds all that which is with them, and He (Allâh) keeps count of all things (i.e. He knows the exact number of everything).

OUR GOD BLESSINGS

حضرت ابو موسی اشعری (رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ) رسول اللہ (صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم) سے روایت فرماتے ہیں کہ
آپ نے فرمایا;
اللہ تعالی شعبان کی پندرہویں رات نظر رحمت فرما کر تمام مخلوق کی مغفرت فرما دیتے ہیں
سواۓ مشرک اور کینہ ور کے.
(ابن ماجہ، صفحہ نمبر 101