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      In   the   name  of   ALLAH,   the    Beneficent,   the    Merciful



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             I N F O R M A T I O N    &   N E W S    N E T W O R K

                        MUSLIMS @ ASUACAD.BITnet
______________________________________________________________________________
                             IINN ARCHIVE

 File Name: arafat.day                             Lasted Updated: Aug 08, 1994
 Archive Location: ftp.caltech.edu, login:anonymous, dir: /pub/calmsa
______________________________________________________________________________



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	        THE ESSENCE OF THE ARAFAT DAY
                -----------------------------

 Today is arafat day. A day millions of muslims stand at mount
 Arafat in remembrance of Allah (SWT). A day millions will
 remember the readiness of Abraham (AS) and his son Isma'il to
 submit to the most extreme form of self-sacrifice. A day our
 brothers performing the Hajj will commemorate with a sacrifice
 in the valley of Mina, six mile north of Mecca. The place where
 Abraham saw in a vision that he has offered his son in
 sacrifice and both submitted their wills to God.

    ` Then, when (the son) Reached (the age of) (Serious) work
 with him, He said: "O my son! I see in vision That I offer thee
 in sacrifice: Now see what is Thy view!" (The son) said: " O my
 father! Do As thou art commanded: Thou will find me, If God so
 wills one Practising Patience and Constancy!" Quran 37:102

    ` So when they had both Submitted their wills (to God), And
 he had laid him to Prostrate on his forehead (For sacrifice),
 We called out to him , "O Abraham! "Thou hast already fulfilled
 The vision!" - thus indeed Do We reward Those who do right.
                                        Qur'an 37:103 - 105

 The sacrifice was a trial of the will of the father and that of
 the son (Abraham had his first son at the age of 86). The whole
 thing is symbolical. God does not require the flesh and blood
 of animals much less of human beings. But he does require the
 giving of our whole being to God, the symbol of which is that
 we should give up something very dear to us, if Duty requires
 that sacrifice.

     ` For this was obviously A trial - And We ransomed him With
 a momentous sacrifice:" Qur'an 37:106 - 107

 It is be noted that the ransom was made NOT by the men, but by
 GOD. God wants our will and devotion, not necessarily our lives
 in physical sense. He will find means, if we offer ourselves,
 to use us not for our destruction, but for our further advance-
 ment.

     ` And We left (this blessing) For him among generations (To
 come) in later times: Qur'an 37 108

      ` Peace and salutation To Abraham!" Thus indeed do We
 reward Those who do right. For he was one Of our believing
 Servants.  Qur'an 37:109 - 111.

 This was the story of Abraham who was promised the leadership
 of the world.

    ` And remember that Abraham Was tried by his Lord With
 certain Commands, Which he fulfilled: He said: "I will make
 thee An Imam (leader) to the Nations." He pleaded: "And also
 (Imams) from my offspring!" He answered : "But My Promise Is
 not within the reach Of evil-doers" Qur'an 2:124

 The trial of Abraham and Isma'il happened before the building
 of the Ka'aba (the House of God). After the trial Abraham and
 Isma'il build the House for those who Compass it round, or use
 it As a retreat, or bow, or Prostrate themselves in prayers.

     ` And remember Abraham And Isma'il raised The foundations
 of the House (With this prayer): " Our Lord ! Accept (this
 service from us : For Thou art the All-Hearing, The
 All-Knowing.
      ` Our Lord! make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy (Will), And
 of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Thy (Will); And show
 us our places for The celebration of (due) rites; And turn unto
 us (in Mercy); For Thou art the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.
      ` "Our Lord! send amongst them An Apostle of their own,
 Who shall rehearse Thy Signs To them and instruct them In
 scripture and Wisdom, And sanctify them: For Thou art the
 Exalted in Might, The Wise."  Qur'an 2:127-129

 Alhamdu Lillah, God has answered their prayers and Has sent to
 us all (mankind) an Apostle (Muhammad (SAW)). God further warn

       `And who turns away From the religion of Abraham But such
 as debase their souls With folly? Him We chose And rendered
 pure in this world : And he will be in the Hereafter In the
 ranks of the Righteous  Qur'an 2:130

 God has chosen the faith for us all. And this was the legacy
 Abraham and Jocob left to their sons.

    ` And this was the legacy That Abraham left to his sons, And
 so did Jacob; " Oh my sons! God hath chosen The Faith for you;
 then die not Except in the Faith of Islam."
    ` Were ye witness When Death appeared before Jacob? Behold,
 he said to his sons : "What will ye worship after me?" They
 said : "We shall worship Thy God and the God of thy fathers, -
 Of Abraham, Isma'il, and Isaac, - The One (True) God : To Him
 we bow (in Islam)." Qur'an 2:132 - 133

 This was in essence the whole message of Islam thus the
 significance of today. May Allah (SWT) take our lives as
 Muslims (those who submit to Him in ISLAM).

 Id' Mubarak to all.

 Wassalamu Alaikum Warahamatullah Wabarakatuh.

Saleh Abdullahi El-Yakub.      

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

        EIDUL-ADHA FESTIVAL, ANIMAL SACRIFICE AND HAJJ
        ==============================================
                                from
                        Muhammad Ishaq Zahid

                Eidul-Fitr and Eidul-Adha are the two biggest holidays
    Muslims all over the world celebrate each year. While Eidul-Fitr
    comes at the end of the Fasting month of Ramadan, Eidul-Adha comes
    during the Hajj (pilgrimage) season. A three day festivity begins
    on the 10th day of the Islamic (lunar) month of Dhul-Hijjah to
    commemorate the occasion of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to
    sacrifice his son Ismail and the latter's willing acceptance of
    the will of Allah. Ismail was spared when Allah provided a ram to
    be sacrificed instead. For over fourteen centuries, millions of
    Muslims all over the world re-enact the occasion by sacrificing
    animals as a way of expressing their total submission to Allah and
    their willingness to shed their own blood if ever the need arises.
    This year, the Eidul-Adha is on Monday, May 31, 1993, according to
    Saudi Arabia. Muslims in other parts of the world may celebrate it
    on different days.

    EID PRAYERS
    ===========

    Eid prayers are held on the day of Eid. These prayers consist of
    two raka's (units) and are held in large congregations in the
    early morning after sunrise. Muslims, young and old, men and women
    attend these prayers with a great deal of joy and wear their best
    clothes and perfume.

    Takbir Tashriq
    ==============

    The following glorification of Allah is said aloud after every
    Fard prayer starting with the Fajr prayer of 9th Dhul-Hijjah till
    the Asr prayer of 13th of Dhul-Hijjah and on the way to the Eid
    prayer and back.

     Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La Ilaha illallahu
    wa-Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa Lillahil Hamd.

    (Allah is Greatest, Allah is Greatest! There is no deity but
    Allah, and Allah is Greatest, Allah is Greatest! And all praise is
    only for Allah.)

    ANIMAL SACRIFICE
    ================

    The Holy Quran gives the following spiritual objectives for
    offering a sacrifice: (22:36-37)

    1. As a practical expression of one's gratitude to Allah for His
    many blessings.
    2. As a declaration of Allah's greatness and glory.

    According to Hadrat Umm Salmah, Prophet Muhammad
    (Sallallaho'alaihi wasallam ) said:  "The person who
    intends to offer a sacrifice should neither have a haircut nor
    have his nails pared after the sighting of the Dhul-Hijjah
    crescent till he has offered the sacrifice." (Muslim)

    According to Hadrat Abu Said Khudri, the Holy Prophet
    (Sallall-aho 'alaihi wasallam ) said to his daughter:
    "O Fatimah, arise and stand near your sacrificial animal, because
    for each drop of its blood that falls to the ground, Allah will
    forgive you your previous sins. Hadrat Fatimah asked, 'Is this
    good news only for the people of our house, or for the rest of
    the Ummah (nation) as well?' The Prophet replied, 'This is for
    the people of our house as well as for the whole Ummah."
    (Jam'al-Fawaid)

    The animal should be slaughtered after the Eid prayer. Sacrificial
    animals are camels, sheep, goats and cows or buffalos. The
    sacrifice is obligatory on every well-to-do Muslim who possesses
    property over his basic needs. A person is required to offer a
    sacrifice on his own behalf only. The sacrificial meat may be
    consumed at home, and can be sent to relatives and friends, but at
    least one-third of it should be distributed among the needy and
    the poor. Sacrifice can be offered on any of the three days
    starting from 10th Dhul-Hijjah to the sunset of 12th Dhul-Hijjah.

    HAJJ
    ====
     Hajj is known as the fifth pillar of Islam. Every able Muslim
    must visit Al-Kabah, the house of Allah, in Makkah at least once
    in his or her lifetime. The Hajj period is from the 8th to 13th
    of Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Each
    year millions of Muslims from all over the world converge on
    Makkah and Madina in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.

    REFERENCE:
    Everyday Fiqh by Abdul Aziz Kamal.

=============================================================================
*****************************************************************************
=============================================================================

              PROPHET IBRAHIM (ABRAHAM) AND HIS MESSAGE
              =========================================
                                 from
                        Muhammad Ishaq Zahid

    *******************************************************************
    *   Prophet Ibrahim looked at the stars, the moon and             *
    *the sun and asked why his people worship them as deities. He saw *
    *them rise and decline and rejected them as partners to God.      *
    *  Today's seekers of the Truth looked at the rising moon of      *
    *Communism and rejected it as a Lord and lo it only took 77 years *
    *for this moon to disappear. Today, the seekers of Truth have the *
    *Book to help them discover that the sun of Capitalism is not     *
    *worthy of worship, since it is going to vanish in the face of    *
    *the Truth.                                                       *
    *******************************************************************

        On this joyous occasion of Hajj and Eidul-Adha, it is the
    example of Prophet Ibrahim (may peace be upon him) that we need to
    remember and follow. A selection of passages from the Holy Quran
    will give us glimpses of the life of Prophet Ibrahim. Surah
    (chapter) 2, verse 258 contains a dialogue between Ibrahim and
    Nimrod. In verses 3:65-68, the Holy Quran tells us that Prophet
    Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but a Muslim. A Muslim
    is a person who has completely submitted himself to the commands
    of Allah. Verses 6:73-83 speak about Ibrahim. In verse 6:74 is
    Ibrahim's dialogue with his father challenging his father's false
    beliefs. Allah Subhanhu wa T'Ala also describes Prophet Ibrahim's
    quest for Truth. Prophet Ibrahim looked at the stars, the moon and
    the sun and asked why his people worship them as deities. He saw
    them rise and decline and rejected them as partners to God.
    Today's seekers of the Truth looked at the rising moon of
    Communism and rejected it as a Lord and lo it only took 77 years
    for this moon to disappear. Today, the seekers of Truth have the
    Book to help them discover that the sun of Capitalism is not
    worthy of worship, since it is going to vanish in the face of the
    Truth. Verse 6:79 is the prayer of Ibrahim, "Inni Wajjahtu Wajhia
    ....," that all Muslims should memorize and apply.


    002.255  God! There is no god but He,-the Living, the
    Self-subsisting, Eternal. No  slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His
    are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who  is there can
    intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what
    (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them.
    Nor shall they compass  aught of His knowledge except as He
    willeth. His Throne doth extend over the  heavens and the earth,
    and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for  He
    is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).

    002.256  Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out
    clear from Error:  whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath
    grasped the most trustworthy hand- hold, that never breaks. And
    God heareth and knoweth all things.

    002.257  God is the Protector of those who have faith: from the
    depths of darkness He  will lead them forth into light. Of those
    who reject faith the patrons are the evil ones:  from light they
    will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be
    companions of the fire, to dwell therein (For ever).

    {The following verse is a dialogue between Ibrahim and Nimrod.}

    002.258  Hast thou not Turned thy vision to one who disputed with
    Abraham About  his Lord, because God had granted him power?
    Abraham said: "My Lord is He Who  Giveth life and death." He said:
    "I give life and death". Said Abraham: "But it is God  that
    causeth the sun to rise from the east: Do thou then cause him to
    rise from the  West." Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance)
    rejected faith. Nor doth God Give  guidance to a people unjust.

    002.259  Or (take) the similitude of one who passed by a hamlet,
    all in ruins to its  roofs. He said: "Oh! how shall God bring it
    (ever) to life, after (this) its death?" but  God caused him to
    die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). He said: "How
    long didst thou tarry (thus)?" He said: (Perhaps) a day or part of
    a day." He said:  "Nay, thou hast tarried thus a hundred years;
    but look at thy food and thy drink; they  show no signs of age;
    and look at thy donkey: And that We may make of thee a sign  unto
    the people, Look further at the bones, how We bring them together
    and clothe  them with flesh." When this was shown clearly to him,
    he said: "I know that God hath  power over all things."

    002.260  Behold! Abraham said: "My Lord! Show me how Thou givest
    life to the  dead." He said: "Dost thou not then believe?" He
    said: "Yea! but to satisfy My own  undertaking." He said: "Take
    four birds; Tame them to turn to thee; put a portion of  them on
    every hill and call to them: They will come to thee (Flying) with
    speed. Then  know that God is Exalted in Power, Wise."
    ------------------------------------------------------------------

    003.060  The Truth (comes) from God alone; so be not of those who
    doubt.

    003.061  If any one disputes in this matter with thee, now after
    (full) knowledge Hath  come to thee, say: "Come! let us gather
    together,- our sons and your sons, our women  and your women,
    ourselves and yourselves: Then let us earnestly pray, and invoke
    the  curse of God on those who lie!"

    003.062  This is the true account: There is no god except God; and
    God-He is indeed  the Exalted in Power, the Wise.

    003.063  But if they turn back, God hath full knowledge of those
    who do mischief.

    003.064  Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as
    between us and you:  That we worship none but God; that we
    associate no partners with him; that we erect  not, from among
    ourselves, Lords and patrons other than God." If then they turn
    back,  say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims
    (bowing to God's Will).

    003.065  Ye People of the Book! Why dispute ye about Abraham, when
    the Law and  the Gospel Were not revealed Till after him? Have ye
    no understanding?

    003.066  Ah! Ye are those who fell to disputing (Even) in matters
    of which ye had  some knowledge! but why dispute ye in matters of
    which ye have no knowledge? It is  God Who knows, and ye who know
    not!

    003.067  Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was
    true in Faith, and  bowed his will to God's (Which is Islam), and
    he joined not gods with God.

    003.068  Without doubt, among men, the nearest of kin to Abraham,
    are those who  follow him, as are also this Apostle and those who
    believe: And God is the Protector  of those who have faith.

    003.069  It is the wish of a section of the People of the Book to
    lead you astray. But  they shall lead astray (Not you), but
    themselves, and they do not perceive!

    003.070  Ye People of the Book! Why reject ye the Signs of God, of
    which ye are  (Yourselves) witnesses?

    003.071  Ye People of the Book! Why do ye clothe Truth with
    falsehood, and conceal  the Truth, while ye have knowledge?
    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    006.073  It is He who created the heavens and the earth in true
    (proportions): the day  He saith, "Be," behold! it is. His word is
    the truth. His will be the dominion the day  the trumpet will be
    blown. He knoweth the unseen as well as that which is open. For
    He is the Wise, well acquainted (with all things).

    006.074  Lo! Abraham said to his father Azar: "Takest thou idols
    for gods? For I see  thee and thy people in manifest error."

    {Azar or 'Tehra' of the Bible, variously spelt as Zerah and
    Therach in the Talmud and Athar by Eusebius.
    This comment is taken from Maududi's Towards Understanding the
    Quran.}

    006.075  So also did We show Abraham the power and the laws of the
    heavens and  the earth, that he might (with understanding) have
    certitude.

    006.076  When the night covered him over, He saw a star: He said:
    "This is my  Lord." But when it set, He said: "I love not those
    that set."

    006.077  When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said: "This
    is my Lord." But  when the moon set, He said: "unless my Lord
    guide me, I shall surely be among those  who go astray."

    006.078  When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said: "This
    is my Lord; this is  the greatest (of all)." But when the sun set,
    he said: "O my people! I am indeed free  from your (guilt) of
    giving partners to God.

    006.079  "For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards
    Him Who created the  heavens and the earth, and never shall I give
    partners to God."

    006.080  His people disputed with him. He said: "(Come) ye to
    dispute with me,  about God, when He (Himself) hath guided me? I
    fear not (the beings) ye associate  with God: Unless my Lord
    willeth, (nothing can happen). My Lord comprehendeth in  His
    knowledge all things. Will ye not (yourselves) be admonished?

    006.081  "How should I fear (the beings) ye associate with God,
    when ye fear not to  give partners to God without any warrant
    having been given to you? Which of (us)  two parties hath more
    right to security? (tell me) if ye know.

    006.082  "It is those who believe and confuse not their beliefs
    with wrong - that are  (truly) in security, for they are on
    (right) guidance."

    006.083  That was the reasoning about Us, which We gave to Abraham
    (to use)  against his people: We raise whom We will, degree after
    degree: for thy Lord is full  of wisdom and knowledge.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    ==================================================================

    Please Note:  The English translation of the Holy Quran is from
    Abdullah Yusuf Ali's book. Please let us know of any errors or
    ommisions.