Kids Special of the Week

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Hadith of the week

Sahih Bukhari
Volume 1, Book 1, Number 5:

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
Allah's Apostle was the most generous of all the people, and he used to reach the peak in generosity in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel used to meet him every night of Ramadan to teach him the Qur'an. Allah's Apostle was the most generous person, even more generous than the strong uncontrollable wind (in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds).

Ningxia to Spearhead Islamic Finance in China

Tursday - Islamic Finance News of the week

With encouragement from the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is set to take the lead in trialling Islamic financial services in China.

If the pilot project is successful, policy makers hope that Islamic financial services will gradually become available throughout North West China.

Lu Suping, Chairman of the Bank of Ningxia's board of directors, confirmed that the regulatory bodies had given the bank preliminary approval to go ahead with an Islamic Finance trial.

History of the Islamic Finance Initative

The idea of offering Islamic financial services was first raised at the end of last year by the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region's Peoples' Government, but according to a source from Ningxia Branch of China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), "it was only after many rounds of consultation that the trial finally gained support from the relevant departments."

At the start of this year a special office was set up to undertake a feasibility study into the proposed trial. Lessons were drawn from the experience of both other countries and also Hong Kong in regard to the establishment of Islamic financial services. The results of the feasibility study have been presented to the CBRC and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region's party committee.

A source familiar with the matter revealed that, regulatory bodies had suggested that either a special department be established within the Bank of Ningxia or that special service windows capable of providing Islamic financial services be introduced at various branched of the bank."

In fact, due to disagreements about the scale of the pilot project, the CBRC finally decided to select Ningxia as a trial area. However, they plan to gradually enlarge the scale of the project," the above source added.

The Islamic Finance Pilot Project Details of how the project will proceed remain scant. According to Lu Suping, " we still haven't formulated a detailed plan, the bank's first priority is to establish a special branch, designed in an Islamic style, and capable of providing Islamic financial services to local Muslims." She also revealed that they planned to recruit a Muslim manager to run the branch. When questioned about the bank's ability to support the pilot project in these uncertain economic times, Chairwoman Lu noted that the Bank of Ningxia currently had 34 branches, was well-governed and has an exemplary risk control system. "

Moreover, the bank already employs 200 Hui nationality workers, 13% of the total number. Hui employees also make up 12% of the bank's management level staff," said Mrs Lu. "

These Muslim employees provide the human resources required for the pilot project," she added. Chairwoman Lu said preparations for the pilot project would be completed before the end of this year.

However, local banking watchdog remains cautious about the pilot project and has drawn attention to some of the difficulties that lay ahead for the bank.

For instance, the scope of Islamic financial services goes beyond those laid out in the country's commercial banking law and therefore the introduction of Islamic financial services will require special permission from various departments.

Furthermore, according to Islamic financial practice, financial transactions are calculated on the basis of the transfer of real assets, which will often meet problems to do with the duplication of tax and therefore will need to apply for some kind of preferential tax policy.

Moreover, commercial banks lack experienced employees who are also familiar with Islamic doctrine.In order to study the operation of Islamic banks, the local government, the CBRC and Bank of Ningxia have organized an inspection tour of Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates in July.

Global VisionThe EO learned that local government has dreams of turning Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia, into a Islamic financial center on the mainland.

This aim is revealed in the documents relating to the establishment of an Islamic bank in the government's working report this year.

A source from Ningxia branch of CBRC revealed, the pilot project would provide Ningxia with many opportunities to join some international Islamic financial organizations. This raised the possibility of Ningxia establishing regional trade with these organizations and Islamic countries. "

It's possible in the future that Ningxia could introduce an Islamic investment fund or Islamic bonds to attract international Islamic investors into local economic construction," the source added.

(By Cheng Zhiyun / The Economic Observer Online)

Is there any saheeh hadeeth about the virtues of Soorat Ta-Ha?

Wednesday - Islam Q &A of the week

I would like to find out about the virtue of reading Soorat Ta-Ha, and the virtue of reading it every night three times in succession for a certain period. Thank you very much.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

The following ahaadeeth about the virtues of Soorat Ta-Ha are saheeh:

-1-
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said concerning Bani Israa’il (al-Isra’), al-Kahf, Maryam, Ta-Ha and al-Anbiya’: They are among the best of the earliest ones that I learned by heart.

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (4994).

Al-Bayhaqi said in Shu’ab al-Eemaan:

He was referring to the superiority of these soorahs because of what they contain of stories of the Prophets (blessings and peace be upon them) and the nations.

And they were among the first soorahs to be revealed at the beginning of Islam, because they are Makkan soorahs, and they were among the first parts of the Qur'aan to be recited and memorized. End quote.

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said in Fath al-Baari (8/388):

What Ibn Mas’ood meant was that they were among the first parts of the Qur’aan that he learned, and that they have a special virtue because they contain stories of the Prophets and the nations. End quote.

-2-
It was narrated from Abu Umaamah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The greatest name of Allaah appears in three soorahs of the Qur’aan: in al-Baqarah, Aal ‘Imraan and Ta-Ha.”

Narrated by Ibn Majaah (3856) and al-Haakim (1/686); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (746).

He (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

With regard to the words of al-Qaasim ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan (the one who narrated it from Abu Umaamah) that the greatest name is found in the verse (interpretation of the meaning): “And (all) faces shall be humbled before (Allaah), Al-Hayyul-Qayyum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists)” [Ta-Ha 20:111] in Soorat Ta-Ha, I could not find anything to support it. It is more likely in my view that it is in the verse at the beginning of the soorah: “Verily, I am Allaah! Laa ilaaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I)” [Ta-Ha 20:14], and that is in accordance with some saheeh ahaadeeth. See: al-Fath (11/225) and Saheeh Abi Dawood (1341). End quote.

Secondly:

Concerning the virtues of Soorat Ta-ha there are some da’eef (weak) ahaadeeth, which I will quote here to draw attention to them and warn people against them.

-1-

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Allaah, may He be blessed and exalted, recited Ta-Ha and Ya-Seen one thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, and when the angels heard the Qur'aan they said: Glad tidings to the nation to whom this is revealed, glad tidings to the hearts that carry this, glad tidings to the tongues that speak it.”

Narrated by al-Daarimi (2/547). The editor said: Its isnaad is very weak. Ahmad said of ‘Umar ibn Hafs ibn Dhakwaan: We rejected his hadeeth and regarded him as very weak. In al-Mu’jam al-Awsat (5/133) it says: Ibn Hibbaan said in al-Majrooheen (1/208): This is a fabricated text. Ibn al-Jawzi said likewise in al-Mawdoo’aat (1/110). Ibn Katheer said in Tafseer al-Qur’aan il-Azeem (5/271): It is weird. Al-Albaani said in al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah (1248): It is munkar. See also al-Kaamil (1/216) and Lisaan al-Meezaan (1/114).

-2-
It was narrated that Ma’qil ibn Yasaar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Learn the Qur'aan, accept as permissible what it permits, regard as forbidden what it forbids, follow its guidance and do not reject anything in it. Whatever you are confused about in it, refer it to Allaah and to those who are in authority after I am gone, so that they may tell you. Believe in the Tawraat and Injeel and Zaboor, and what the Prophets brought from their Lord, but be content with the Qur’aan and what it contains of clarity, for it is an intercessor whose intercession will be accepted. Each verse will have light on the Day of Resurrection. I have been given Soorat al-Baqarah among the early Revelation, and I have been given Ta-Ha and Ta-Seen-Meems and Ha-Meems from the tablets of Moosa and I have been given the Opening of the Book (al-Faatihah) from beneath the Throne.

Narrated by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak (1/757) and he said: This hadeeth has a saheeh isnaad although they (al-Bukhaari and Mulsim) did not narrate it. Also narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Mu’jam al-Kabeer (20/225). Classed as da’eef by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah (2826) and by Ibn Hibbaan in al-Majrooheen (2/65).

-3-

That the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say in his du’aa’:
“O Lord of Ta-Ha and Yaa-Seen, O Lord of the Holy Qur’aan.”

Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (5/173-174):
There is no difference of opinion among the scholars that this hadeeth is a lie against the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). End quote.

-4-
“Whoever reads Ta-Ha will be given the reward of the Muhaajireen and Ansaar on the Day of Resurrection.”

This was quoted by al-Zamakhshari and al-Baydaawi with regard to the virtues of Soorat Ta-Ha, but it is a fabricated hadeeth.

See: al-Kashf al-Ilaahi by al-Tarabulsi (1/178).

With regard to what you asked about the virtue of reading it three times every night, I could not find that in the books of the Sunnah, and I did not even find it in the books of mawdoo’ (fabricated) reports. Nothing concerning that has been proven from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), so you should be careful and avoid that, and strive to follow the saheeh Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and shun that which is da’eef (weak) and mawdoo’ (fabricated).

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A

Islamic Society of Wichita

Tuesday - Islamic Institution in USA Series

http://www.myisw.net/isw/

The Final Phase of the Diplomacy of Negotiation

Monday - Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) left his confinement and went on preaching his Faith as usual. Quraish, likewise, repealed the boycott but went on in their atrocities and oppression on the Muslims. Abu Talib, the octogenarian notable, was still keen on shielding his nephew but by that time, and on account of the series of tremendous events and continual pains, he began to develop certain fits of weakness. No sooner had he emerged victorious from the inhuman boycott, than he was caught in a persistent illness and physical enervation. The polytheists of Makkah, seeing this serious situation and fearing that the stain of infamy that the other Arabs could attribute to them in case they took any aggressive action against the Prophet (Peace be upon him) after he had lost his main support, Abu Talib, took a decision to negotiate with the Prophet (Peace be upon him) once more and submit some concessions withheld previously. They then delegated some representatives to see Abu Talib and discuss the issue with him. Ibn Ishaq and others related: “When a serious illness caught Abu Talib, the people of Quraish began to deliberate on the situation and reviewed the main features that characterized that period and which included the conversion of ‘Umar and Hamzah to Islam, coupled with the tremendous stir that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) had created amongst all the tribes of Quraish. They then deemed it imperative to see Abu Talib before he died to pressure his nephew to negotiate a compromise on the various disputed points. They were afraid that the other Arabs might attribute to them the charge of opportunism.”

The delegation of Quraish comprised 25 men including notables like ‘Utbah bin Rabi‘a, Shaibah bin Rabi‘a, Abu Jahl bin Hisham, Omaiyah bin Khalaf, Abu Sufyan bin Harb. They first paid tribute to him and confirmed their high esteem of his person and position among them. They then shifted to the newgive-and-take policy that they claimed they wanted to follow. To substantiate their argument they alleged that they would refrain from intervening in his religion if he did the same.

Abu Talib summoned his nephew and apprised him of the minutes of his meeting with them, and said: “Well, my nephew, here are the celebrities of your people. They have proposed this meeting to submit a policy of mutual concessions and peaceful coexistence.” The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) turned to them saying:

“I will guide you to the means by which you will gain sovereignty over both the Arabs and non-Arabs.”

In another version, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) addressed Abu Talib in the following words: “O uncle! Why don’t you call them unto something better?” Abu Talib asked him, “What is it that you invite them to?” The Prophet (Peace be upon him) replied, “I invite them to hold fast to a Message that is bound to give them access to kingship over the Arabs and non-Arabs.” According to Ibn Ishaq’s version, “It is just one word that will give you supremacy over the Arabs and non-Arabs.” The Makkan deputies were taken by incredible surprise and began to wonder what sort of word was that which would benefit them to that extent. Abu Jahl asked, “What is that word? I swear by your father that we will surely grant you your wish followed by ten times as much.” He said, “I want you to testify that there is no god worthy to be worshipped but Allâh, and then divest yourselves of any sort of worship you harbour for any deities other than Allâh.” They immediately clapped their hands in ridicule, and said “How can you expect us to combine all the deities in one God. It is really something incredible.” On their way out leaving, they said to one another, “By god this man [Muhammad (Peace be upon him)] will never relent, nor will he offer any concessions. Let us hold fast to the religion of our forefathers, and Allâ h will in due course adjudicate and settle the dispute between us and him.” As regards this incident, Allâh revealed the following verses:

“Sâd: [These letters (Sâd, etc.) are one of the miracles of the Qur’ân and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings]. By the Qur’ân full of reminding. Nay, those who disbelieve are in false pride and Apposition. How many a generation We have destroyed before them, and they cried out when there was no longer time for escape! And they (Arab pagans) wonder that a warner [Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)] has come to them from among themselves! And the disbelievers say, ‘This [Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) ] is a sorcerer, a liar. Has he made the gods (all) into One God (Allâh). Verily, this is a curious thing!’ And the leaders among them went about (saying): ‘Go on, and remain constant to your gods! Verily, this is a thing designed (against you)! We have not heard (the like) of this among the people of these later days. This is nothing but an invention.’” [38:1-7]

Makka to Madina Board Game

Saturday - Kids Special of the week

http://www.muslimgames.com/

During the Golden Age of Islam, travelers could journey from city to city without border restrictions or passport requirements. Mecca to Medina is a riveting adventure game in which player success depends on the strategic use of resources to complete routes between cities.

In this battle against the elements, players navigate treacherous Trading Routes to reach their destinations. Whether headed to Baghdad, Cairo, Medina, or another distant city, the road ahead is bound to be full of opposition and challenge. But if you keep your cool, use resources wisely, and shrewdly bargain at the Bazaar, you’ll safely arrive where you intended to go.

Heated competition among players creates challenges, as opposition arises with every roll of the dice. Players count on calculated moves to win the game. But watch out for unexpected events-- a player’s progress can be upset with a simple turn of an Event Card. MECCA TO MEDINA ON TV! -- HOW TO PLAY !

Mecca to Medina - $25.00

Hadith of the Week

Sahih Bukhari
Volume 1, Book 3, Number 80:
Narrated Anas:
Allah's Apostle said, "From among the portents of the Hour are (the following):
1. Religious knowledge will be taken away (by the death of Religious learned men).
2. (Religious) ignorance will prevail.
3. Drinking of Alcoholic drinks (will be very common).
4. There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse