The Status of Parents in Islam

The Status of Parents in IslamAll religions and all societies have given parents an honorable status. From a purely material viewpoint, we find ourselves indebted to our parents, particularly our mother. She not only nourished us in her womb, but went through pain and suffering. She loved us even before we were born. She toiled when we were totally helpless infants. She spent sleepless nights caring for us. Our parents as a team provided for all our needs: physical, educational, psychological, and in many instances, religious, moral, and spiritual.
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How do I tell my parents and family I’ve become a Muslim?

How do I tell my parents and family I’ve become a Muslim? – This is probably the hardest thing you will have to do as a new Muslim. For many people, it poses the prospect of opening up old wounds, risking hurt feelings on both sides, and threatens to rip apart familial relationships. For others, they know that they will be accepted by their parents, siblings, and other family members unconditionally. Mash’Allah.

For teenagers, my advice would be different than advice that I would offer to an adult, especially one who is living on their own, and may already be married. Insha’Allah, I will address the concerns of young people who still live at home first.
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Who Wrote The Bible and Why It Matters

Who Wrote The Bible and Why It Matters – Apart from the most rabid fundamentalists among us, nearly everyone admits that the Bible might contain errors — a faulty creation story here, a historical mistake there, a contradiction or two in some other place. But is it possible that the problem is worse than that — that the Bible actually contains lies?
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The Beauty of Following the Guidance of God

The Beauty of Following the Guidance of God – I said in my last post that Islamic thought divides human beauty into two basic sorts, innate and acquired.

Innate beauty is the harmonious balance of the entire range of divine attributes present in the human substance, such as life, consciousness, desire, power, speech, compassion, justice and kindness. Acquired beauty can also be called “recovered beauty” because it is not a new beauty, simply the innate beauty brought into the open. Although we are innately beautiful, we have lost touch with ourselves.
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The prophetic character

The prophetic character – I love the month of Rabi ulAwwwal, and look forward to hosting and attending Milad celebrations, marking the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad.

Milads are effective in increasing one’s love for the Prophet whom the Quran exalts, calling him the exemplar for humanity and ‘mercy for all the worlds’.
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So if Jesus is not the Son of God, then who is he?

So if Jesus is not the Son of God, then who is he?When I first started to read an English translation of the Qur’an (also known as Koran) that was available in my Secondary College’s Library, Christianity was my professed religion. I can still remember today how fascinated I was with what was being discovered by this 17 year old who would openly profess allegiance to the Church of England in class, ridiculing anyone who would not follow suite.

Not only did this book with its’ exotic cover contain the most beautiful stories of the previous Prophets that I loved to hear about in Bible class, but amazing stories I didn’t know of as well.

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An Islamic Perspective on Sexuality

An Islamic Perspective on Sexuality - In Islam, sexuality is considered part of our identity as human beings. In His creation of humankind, God distinguished us from other animals by giving us reason and will such that we can control behavior that, in other species, is governed solely by instinct. So, although sexual relations ultimately can result in the reproduction and survival of the human race, an instinctual concept, our capacity for self-control allows us to regulate this behavior. Also, the mere fact that human beings are the only creatures who engage in sexual relations once they are beyond the physical capacity for reproduction, sets us apart from all other species which engage in sex for the sole purpose of reproduction.

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What does the Qur’an say about Jesus?

What does the Qur’an say about Jesus? – In the Qur’an, there are many stories about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ (called ‘Isa in Arabic). The Qur’an recalls his miraculous birth, his teachings, the miracles he performed by God’s permission, and his life as a respected prophet of God. The Qur’an also repeatedly reminds that Jesus was a human prophet sent by God, not part of God Himself. Below are some direct quotations from the Qur’an regarding his life and teachings of Jesus.
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