At the time of the prophet, muslims men and women were never too shy to ask the prophet about all affairs, including such private affairs as sexual life, so as to know the teachings and rulings of their religion concerning them. As Aisha, the wife of the prophet testified, "Blessed are the women of the Ansar (the citizens of Madina). Shyness did not stand in their way seeking knowledge about their religion." (All except Termizi).
The way the ladies asked the prophet-directly or through his wives is a proof that sexual matters were not taboo but were fully acknowldged and respected. "Shyness is part of the faith" as the prophet taught, but he also taught "There is no shyness in matters of religion" even entailing the delicate aspects of sexual life.
It is our firm belief that facts about sex should be taught to children in a way commensurate with their age as they grow up both by the family and the school. We emphasize that this should be done within the total context of Islamic ideology and Islamic teaching, so that the youth-beside getting the correct physiologic knowledge become fully aware on the sanctity of the sexual relation in Islam and the grave sin of blemishing such sanctity whether under Islamic law, or far more important in the sight of God. Provided the Islamic conscience is developed we see no reason to shun sex education (unfortunately the rule in many muslim countries), and we believe it is better to give the correct teaching rather than leave this to chance and to incorrect sources and to the concomitant feeling of guilt by the hush-hush atmosphere in which this is done.
Teaching about sex should also have its presence in the curricula of medical schools. We have done this in our medical school as part of the gynaecology and obstetrics program. We had no difficulty whatsoever with our religious and rather conservative men and women students, for the subject is given within an Islamic perspective.
Sex is an important area of marital life, and when people are in trouble they have only the doctor to resort to: and unless the doctor has had some basic teaching of sex, he or she will be quite helpless to help out. Sexual problems may manifest as strained family relations, psychosomatic symptoms or infertility. Medical treatment may affect sex such as some antihypertensive or antidepressant drugs. Sexual counsel is often a neglected aspect of managing such varied diseases as coronary thrombosis, diabetes, incipient heart failure etc. The role of lack of sexual education in some cases of infertility is well known. Surgery may influence sex in men and women. A carelessly repaired episiotomy, or colporrhaphy may have a devastating effect on marital happinnes. The psychological premath and after-math of the operation of hysterectomy is only too well known. On top of all of this, muslim women patients would wish to know the religious ruling on the multitude of gynaecological and obstetric situations relating to worship, and their reference is their doctor. It is therefore a religious, dictate that medical education preparing doctors who will cater for the needs of muslim communities, should equip them with the knowledge necessary to answer this need.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sex Education in Islam
Call To Prayer
Call To Prayer
To assemble the Muslims for congregational prayer, "Adhan" , or the call to prayer is given. The caller (Muadh-dhin) stands facing Kabah (Qiblah), and raising his hands to his ears calls in a loud voice:
ALLAHU AKBAR
ALLAHU AKBAR
ALLAHU AKBAR
ALLAHU AKBAR
ASH-HADU AL-LA ILAHA ILLALLAH
ASH-HADU AL-LA ILAHA ILLALLAH
ASH-HADU AN-NA MUHAMMADAR RASULULAH
ASH-HADU AN-NA MUHAMMADAR RASULULAH
HAYYA ALAS SALAH
HAYYA ALAS SALAH
HAYYA ALAL FALAH
HAYYA ALAL FALAH
ALLAHU AKBAR
ALLAHU AKBAR
LA ILAHA ILLALLAH
(Allah is the greatest)
(Allah is the greatest)
(Allah is the greatest)
(Allah is the greatest)
(I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah)
(I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah)
(I bear witness that muhammad (S.A.W.) is the Messenger of Allah)
(I bear witness that muhammad (S.A.W.) is the Messenger of Allah)
(Come to prayer)
(Come to prayer)
(Come to your Good)
(Come to your Good)
(Allah is the greatest)
(Allah is the greatest)
(There is no deity but Allah)
In Adhan for Fajr Salah, the following sentence is added after: HAYYA ALAL FALAH
ASSALATU KHAYRUM MINAN NAUM
ASSALATU KHAYRUM MINAN NAUM
(Salah is better than sleep)
(Salah is better than sleep)
Dua After Adhan
On completion of the Adhan, muslims are recommended to recite:
ALLAHUMMA RABBA HADHI-HID DAWA-TIT-TAM MATI-WA-SALATIL QAE-MATI
ATI MUHAMMADANIL WASILATA WAL FADI LATA
WAD-DARAJATAR-RAFI ATA
WAB ATH-HU MAQAMAM-MAHMUDA-NIL LADHI WA AT-TAHU
IN-NAKA LA-TUKH LIFUL MIAD
(O Allah! Lord of this complete call and prayers of ours, by the blessing of it.)
(give to Muhammad his eternal rights of intercession,)
(distinction and highest class [in paradise].)
(And raise him to the promised rank you have promised him.)
(Surely you never go back on your word)
IQAMAH
After Adhan when the muslims are assembled at the place of worship, a second call (Iqamah) is recited by one of the group. This signals the start of the congregational salah. It is similar to adhan except that it is recited faster but in a lower tone and these sentences are recited after HAYYA ALAL FALAH:
QAD QAMATIS SALAH
QAD QAMATIS SALAH
(The prayer has begun.)
(The prayer has begun.)
Steps in performing Oartial Ablution
Steps in performing Partial Ablution (Wudu).
- Declare the intention that the act is for the purpose of worship & purity.
Start by saying:Bismillah
"In the Name of Allah" - Wash the hands up to the wrists, three times.
- Rinse out the mouth with water, three times.
- Cleanse the nostrils by sniffing water
into them by the right hands & then eject the
water with left hand, three times.
- Wash the whole face three times with both hands,
from the top of the forehead to the bottom
of the chin and from ear to ear.
- Wash the right arm three times up to the forend of the elbow,
and then do the same with the left arm
- Wipe the whole head with a wet hand, once.
- Wipe the inner sides of the ears with the forefingers and
their outer sides with the thumb. This should be done with
wet fingers.
- Wash the two feet up to the ankles, three times, beginning
with the right foot and then the left foot.
The process ends with the recitation of the "Kalima-Shahadah"ASH-HADU ALLA ILAHA ILLALLAHU WA-ASH-HADU
AN-NA MUHAMMADAN ABDUHU-WA-RASULUH.
(I declare there is no god except Allah and I declare Mohammed is the messenger of Allah)
At this stage the partial ablution is completed and a person who has performed it in the prescribed manner is ready to start his prayer.
Note: Nullification of partial ablutionPartial ablution has to be repeated before performing prayers in cases of going to the bathroom. passing gas, vomiting or falling asleep.
Rakats Of Prayer
RAKATS OF PRAYER
A RAKAT is a unit or section of the prayer.
1.
The OBLIGATORY prayer (Fard):
Name of Salat Number of Rakats Method of reading
Fajr 2 Said loud
Zuhr 4 Said silent
Asr 4 Said silent
Maghrib 3 First 2 loud, last rakat silent
Isha 4 First 2 loud, last 2 silent
2.
The NON-OBLIGATORY prayer (Sunnah):
Name of Salat Number of Rakats Number of Rakats
before Fard after Fard
Fajr 2 -
Zuhr 4 2
Asr (4)* -
Maghrib - 2
Isha - 2
The Prophet (pbuh) used to pray a certain number of rakats, before and/or after every obligatory prayer. These prayers are highly recommended by the Prophet, yet they are not obligatory, they are termed (as-soonan ar-rawatib) which means "regular Sunnah prayers".
* Most ahadith confirm atotal of 10-12 rakats, while these four before Asr, are not as strongly confirmed.
3.
WITR prayer
It is the last prayer of the night and can be performed any time after the Isha prayer.It was strongly recommended by the Prophet (pbuh).
Witr literally means an odd number and is commonly prayed as three rakats, but can also be done in one, five, seven or nine rakats.
Prayer Times
PRAYER TIMES
There are five obligatory prayers in a day. Each Salat must be offered at or during its proper time.The Muslim should make a serious effort to pray each prayer at the beginning of its period.
1. The Morning Prayer (SALAT-UL-FAJR)
It can be performed at any time between the breaking of the dawn till just before sunrise.
2. The Noon Prayer (SALAT-UL-ZUHR)
Its time begins after the sun declines from its zenith until it is about mid-afternoon.
3. The Afternoon Prayer (SALAT-UL-ASR)
Its time begins soon after the time for Zuhr prayer ends and extends to just before sunset.
4. The Evening Prayer (SALAT-UL-MAGHRIB)
Its time begins just after sunset and extends to a period of an hour and a half.
5. The Night Prayer (SALAT-UL-ISHA)
Its time begins about an hour and a half after sunset and extends to dawn
Friday, January 16, 2009
How can we help a child to know about Allah?
A child can be taught about Allah in a suitable manner, according to his (or her) level of understanding. They can be told that Allah is One and has no partner. They can be told that He is the Creator of all things, so He is the Creator of the earth, the heavens, people, animals, trees, rivers, etc.
You can make the most of some situations by asking the child, while walking through a garden or in the countryside, about Who made the water, rivers and things in nature seen around them, to draw his attention to the greatness of the Creator. The father or mother may be with a child or group of children in a car on a journey or a
trip at the time of sunset, when the sun disappears from sight gradually. All that they have to do at that point is to draw the attention of those who are with them the power of Allah displayed in the setting of the sun.
A child can also be taught to understand the bounty of Allah and the blessing of good health that He has bestowed upon them. For example, you could say to them, Who gave you your hearing, sight and mind? Who gave you strength and the ability to move? and so on.
The child can also be encouraged to love Allah and to thank Him for this blessing and bounty. Making a child love Allah and the things that Allah loves is a good which will bring educational benefits sooner or later, by Allah's Leave. A child may ask about his Lord, whether He eats or sleeps. In that case we have to answer and tell him or her that there is nothing like Allah, and He is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing; neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. Allah is not like us, He does not need to sleep, eat or drink. If these meanings are made simple for a child and explained to them in a way that is suited to their age, then the love of Allah in their hearts is one of the things that will help them to be aware that Allah is watching them in secret and in public.
The History Of Palestine
Palestine is the land of prophets. Many prophets were born or died in Palestine, including Prophets Ibrahim (Abraham), Lut (Lot), Dawood (David), Suleiman (Solomon), Musa (Moses), and Isa (Jesus), alayhimu-salam.
Baitul-Maqdis in Palestine was the first Qibla (direction in which Muslims face when praying) too, and Muslims prayed facing Baitul-Maqdis for around 14 years, after which Allah ordered the Qibla to be changed towards the Kaabah in Makkah.
Early History
The Canaanites are the earliest known inhabitants of Palestine.
They were thought to have lived in Palestine in the third millennium BC. Then Pharaonic Egypt controlled the area for much of the second millennium BC. Prophet Musa, alayhi-salam, was born in Palestine during this time. When Egyptian power began to weaken, new invaders appeared: the Hebrews, a group of Semitic tribes from Mesopotamia; and the Philistines, after whom the country (Philistia) was later named, an Aegean people of Indo-European stock. The Israelites, a confederation of Hebrew tribes, defeated the Canaanites, but the struggle with the Philistines was more difficult. The Philistines had established an independent state on the southern coast of Palestine and controlled the Canaanite town of Jerusalem. The Philistines were superior in military organization and severely defeated the Israelites in about 1050 BC.
Then, in around 995 BC, Prophet Dawood, alayhi-salam, Israel's king, united the Hebrew tribes and eventually defeated the Philistines. The three groups (Canaanites, Philistines, and Israelites) assimilated with each other over the years. The unity of Israelite tribes enabled Prophet Dawood, alayhi-salam, to establish a large independent state, with its capital at Jerusalem. After the death of Prophet Dawood, alayhi-salam, in around 961 BC Prophet Sulayman, alayhi-salam, his son, became the new king of Israel.
Construction and Destruction of the First Temple
Prophet Sulayman, alayhi-salam, built a magnificent place of worship, the First Temple, which housed the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred chest holding the tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. Soon after his death, the kingdom was divided into two parts: northern Israel and southern Judah. Pagan Assyrians overran Israel in 721 BC. They destroyed the First Temple. In 538 BC Persian emperor Cyrus defeated the Babylonians and Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem.
Construction and Destruction of the Second Temple
In 515 BC the Jews built the Second Temple at the same site of the First Temple. Alexander conquered Palestine in 332 BC. Three centuries later, the Romans entered Jerusalem. Herod, the client king for the Roman Empire expanded the Second Temple but destroyed the religion. Then Prophet Isa, alayhi-salam, was born, around 4 BC. Jews joined with Roman paganism to persecute Prophet Jesus and his followers.
In 70 CE, Titus of Rome laid siege to Jerusalem. The Herodian Temple eventually fell, and with it the whole city. Seeking a complete and enduring victory, Titus ordered the total destruction of the city. A new city named Aelia was built on the ruins of Jerusalem, and a temple dedicated to Jupitor was raised.
Christian Rule of Palestine
In 313 CE the Roman emperor Constantine I legalized Christianity. Palestine, as the Holy Land, became a focus of Christian pilgrimage. Most of the population became Hellenized and Christianized. In 324 CE Constantine of Byzantium marched on Aelia. He rebuilt the city walls and commissioned the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and opened the city for Christian pilgrimage.
In the year 620 CE, Isra' wal Mi'raj took place. On this night, in a miraculous way, the Prophet PBUH was taken on a momentous journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and from there to heaven. The Night Journey was a great miracle that Muslims believe was given to Prophet Muhammad PBUH as an honor and also to impress upon the Muslims the importance of Jerusalem to them. The Night Journey from Makkah to Jerusalem is called al-Isra' and the ascension from Jerusalem to the heaven is called al-Mi'raj. Both of these events took place on the same night. Angel Gabriel took Prophet Muhammad PBUH from Makkah to Jerusalem. There he met all the Prophets and Messengers and led them in prayers. Then it is reported that the Prophet PBUH stood at the Sacred Rock (al-Sakhrah al-Musharrafah), went to the heavens. He arrived back in Makkah the same night.
Muslim Rule of Palestine
The Byzantines who ruled Jerusalem at this time were very harsh. They not only barred Jews from entering Jerusalem, but also persecuted Christians who did not follow the same sect as them. On the other hand, Muslims had the reputation for mercy and compassion in victory. So when the Muslims marched into Palestine in 638 CE, the people of Jerusalem gave up the city only after a brief siege. They made just one condition, that the terms of their surrender be negotiated directly with the Khalifah Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, in person. Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, agreed to come and entered Jerusalem on foot. There was no bloodshed or massacres. Those who wanted to leave were allowed to leave, with all their goods. Those who wanted to stay were guaranteed protection for their lives, property and places of worship.
The conquest of Palestine by the Muslims put an end to centuries of instability, religious persecution, and colonial rule. After the advent of Islam, people enjoyed security, safety and peace. Schools, mosques and hospitals were founded. Palestine was a center of learning from which a large number of scholars graduated. The conquest of Palestine by the Muslims began the 1300 years of Muslim rule, with the exception of the period of the Crusades (1099-1187) in what then became known as Filastin.
| The conquest of Palestine by the Muslims put an end to centuries of instability, religious persecution, and colonial rule. |
The Christian occupation of Palestine began after the sermon which pope Urban the second delivered in 1095 CE, when he incited the Christians to rescue the Holy Sepulcher from the hands of the Muslims. The Holy Land fell after a month of siege. The Crusades entered it in 1099 CE and massacred its residents not sparing the infants or elderly, and the number killed went over seventy thousand. Then the Crusaders established a Latin kingdom. During the occupation, massacres and great injustices were committed against the Muslim, Jewish and native Christian residents of the area.
Finally, in 1187 CE, Palestine was liberated by the Muslims under the leadership of Salatuddin Ayyubi, who brought back Islamic law to the area. Peace and justice once again ruled Palestine, and everyone, regardless of their religion, was allowed to live there peacefully.
The Founding of Israel and Palestine Today
The first serious plan for the establishment of the country of Israel was in the Bale conference in Switzerland in 1897 CE. The conference succeeded and was attended by 204 of those invited, where they decreed the establishment of a nation for the Jews in Palestine.
After the Bale conference, the Jewish movement became active which led Sultan Abdul Hameed (the then Khalifah) to deliver his famous decree in 1900 to stop the Jewish pilgrims from residing in Palestine for longer than three months. Sultan Abdul Hameed knew very well the designs and plans of the Jews. Contact with the Sultan was commenced by the Jews in 1882 when the Friends of Zion society put up a request to the Ottoman council in Russia for residence in Palestine. The Sultan responded: "The Ottoman government hereby decrees to all the Jews who desire to migrate to Turkey that they will not be permitted to reside in Palestine."
The Jews were angered and began to send delegation after delegation each of which returned with a response more severe than the one preceding it. Then in 1901, Sultan Abdul Hameed passed a law forbidding the sale of any land in Palestine to the Jews.
In 1902, Herzl formed another delegation to meet with the Sultan a second time after he attempted to convince him in 1896. The Sultan refused to meet with him, so they went to the Prime Minister Tahsin Basha with their suggestions. They offered the repayment of the entire debt of the Ottoman government which were to the extent of twenty three million gold English pounds, and to build a fleet for he protection of the empire costing two hundred and thirty million gold franc, and to offer an interest free loan to the value of thirty five million gold lira to revive the treasury. All these offers were in return for permission by the Sultan to the Jews to establish a Jewish nation in Palestine; that is to sell the lives and livelihood of the Palestinian people and the holy land for these offers. Sultan Abdul Hameed rejected all these offers.
After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the First World War, Britain and France signed the Sykes-Picot Agreement, which divided the Arab region into zones of influence. Palestine submitted to the British occupation and at the same time the ratios of Jewish migration began to increase with support from the non-Muslim countries.
Balfour Declaration
In 1917 CE the British government made promises to Arab leaders for an independent Arab state that would include Palestine (the Hussain-McMahon correspondence). Simultaneously, and secretly, it issued the Balfour Declaration, which declared Palestine to be a homeland for Jews. At that time Jews made up approximately 8% of the population of Palestine and owned approximately 2.5% of the land.
| Hundreds of thousands of Muslims were forced out of Palestine by the Jewish terrorist groups such as the Irgun, Levi, and Haganot, |
In 1918 the British and their Arab nationalist allies defeated the Ottomans. The British dismembered the Ottoman Empire and occupied Palestine. The British immediately began a campaign of immigrating European Jews to Palestine.
By 1947, the number of Jews in Palestine had reached approximately six hundred and fifty thousand (31% of the total population). They began to establish organizations, which were trained in organized terrorism. From these a large number were trained in and participated in the Second World War in order to gain experience and skills to go to battle in Palestine in the next stage. So when the United Nations decreed the division of Palestine, the Jews had seventy five thousand armed and trained members.
Jewish Terrorism
In 1948 the Jews claimed the establishment of a state for themselves over the land of Palestine and called it Israel. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims were forced out of Palestine under the military pressure of Jewish terrorist groups such as the Irgun, Levi, and Haganot, which were financed and armed by the British army as well as US Jewry.
In 1967 Israel attacked Egypt, Jordan and Syria and occupied more land including for the first time Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. Since that time Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa has been the target of several attempts by the Jews to destroy or burn it, including attempts to collapse it through underground excavations.
In December 1987, the Palestinians began an uprising (Intifada) in the West Bank and Gaza Strip against the continued Jewish occupation.
On September 28, 2000, Ariel Sharon broke into Masjid Al-Aqsa with 3000 Zionist soldiers profaning the Masjid Al-Aqsa to provoke the Palestinians. Palestinians protested and the second intifada began. Since then thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed by the Israeli army, and there is no end in sight
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