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Date: April 28, 2015
Marriage is a religious duty and a moral safeguard in the society. Marriage is the most legal way to indulge in intimacy between a man and woman. Delaying marriage without a legitimate reason is a sin in Islam. We should not get engaged for many months and the marriage should be solemnized quickly in order to allow the newlyweds to start their new life in the most pure manner. Keeping the engaged couples without a Nikkah is a great sin and it is similar to widowing. Get your Nikkah as soon as possible and complete your studies. To delay marriage in Islam is prohibited.
"The best of what a man leaves behind are three: a righteous child who supplicates for him, ongoing charity the reward of which reaches him, and knowledge that is acted upon after him."
Sunan Ibn Mājah
"Every day two angels come down from Heaven and one of them says, 'O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your Cause,' and the other (angel) says, 'O Allah! Destroy every miser.'"
Sahih Bukhari
Great News: Alim.org now has recitation for the Quran! We’ve added 13 popular recitations in both Murattal and Mujawwad styles! Now you can hear the recitation of ayaat from some of while studying them and interacting with the community by reading and responding to other people’s comments about them. Recitation on Alim.org comes equipped with functionality that provides you with a lot of control over how and what is recited. You can set the reciter to play an entire surah or just a set of ayaat and also specify a number of times to repeat any unit of recitation. This ends up providing a great tool that can assist with memorization of the Quran and helping to learn how to properly recite it. Please visit the site and try out recitation if you haven’t already done so. We’re eager to hear your feedback and as always, please spread the word about us!
Read MoreHow quickly time flies…just about three weeks ago Ramadan began and Muslims around the world commenced their first fast and today it is approaching its last ten days. Now of course we all know that fasting is important spiritually as it teaches us to be patient, be self-aware, and to have restraint (“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint.” al-Qur'an 2:183). But did you know there are many physical and mental benefits of fasting? Let’s start with physical benefits: • weight Loss - Normally, the body uses glucose for energy and keeps fat as “reserve” energy. But while fasting the body begins to use fat as its main source of energy. Why does this matter? Essentially you are burning fat which entails to weight loss. However, keep in mind due to this occurring, the food you eat before and after fasting is absorbed much more quickly and powerfully. So if you break your fast with fried fatty foods, you will gain more weight than you will lose. In the same way, if you eat more nutritionally rich foods, then you will be much more energized. • Giving your body a break - As you fast your metabolism slows down and less of your energy is directed towards breaking down food. 650f your body’s energy is directed towards digesting your food in a day. In a way, you are resting your body by fasting! • Repairing the body – Since less of your energy is directed to breaking down food, the body spends more time repairing the body by producing more white blood cells. White blood cells are the body’s main source of protection against diseases and ailments. This helps tremendously for patients recovering from cancer as during chemotherapy many of the white blood cells are destroyed in the cancer cell eradication process. • Detox – As you fast the toxins stored in your body are dissolved. No special juice or greens needed. Alright now that we’ve listed a few great physical benefits let’s move onto some mental benefits: • General mental well-being – After a few days of fasting, the production of endorphins increases tremendously leading to a happier sense of self and increased alertness. • It decreases feelings of depression – BDNF (Brain-derived neurotic factor) is a protein that interacts with neurons in the parts of the brain that regulate memory, learning, and higher cognitive function and helps to spur synapses (which pass signals from one neuron to the next) and new neurons. Depression occurs when there is a lack of serotonin production as well as a miscommunication between the synapses. Since the brain can focus on functions other than food digestion, it can produce more BDNF. • Aids in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are neurodegenerative diseases. This means that they occur when the brain is not producing enough neurons. Fasting could help mitigate this issue; since the brain produces more BDNF while fasting (which aids in the production of neurons and synapses) then it will be more unlikely for a person to be deficient in neurons. • More Sleep – A study in 2003 by Michaelson et. al. found that after 8 days of fasting those who fasted were much more likely to get better sleep than those who did not fast. Time and time again Islam proves itself as an enduring religion. Whether it is through salat or fasting, Islam continues to show us the many faceted benefits of our way of life. Sources: 1. "Fasting and Your Health." - Live Well. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 July 2014. http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Healthyramadan/Pages/fastingandhealth.aspx 2. "Fasting for Mental Health: Does It Work? - Mind the Science Gap." Mind the Science Gap RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 July 2014. http://www.marksdailyapple.com/fasting-brain-function/axzz37MsEbQbn 3. "Fasting for Mental Health: Does It Work? - Mind the Science Gap." Mind the Science Gap RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 July 2014. http://www.mindthesciencegap.org/2013/04/10/fasting-for-mental-health-does-it-work/
Read MoreYou may wonder what is this excitement about the ‘last ten nights of Ramadan;’ be startled to a superlative degree, one of the nights in last ten nights of Ramadan is better than 83 years, yes, eighty-three years (but, if you can find it though!) That is What our Supreme Lord, Allah, the Exalted tells us in the Glorious Quran Surah Al-Qadr, 97:1-5: _We have sent down this (Qur'an) in the Night of Glory. And what do you know what the Night of Glory is? The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit archangel Jibril descend in it with every decree, by the permission of their Lord. That Night is peace, until the rising of the dawn."_ Exploring this short surah, one can seize the following themes: The Book “Al-Quran” is a Glorious Book of Allah, the Exalted and He revealed it in this very night that became “Night of Glory & Power.” This Splendid Book is a blessing to mankind to such a degree that its revelation changed the history of humankind and it changes, sometimes, the individual destiny. During this night decrees descend, and destinies are made or modified that promotes good for all. Question is asked when the actual Night of Glory and Power (Lailat ul-Qadr) falls each year. The honest answer is only Allah, SWT Knows. Neither Allah, SWT nor His Prophet, SAW have specified any one night. The Muslims should, therefore, enhance their eagerness and passion to seek the benefits from the virtues of Lailat-ul-Qadr. And should spend more and more nights in worship and devotion to Allah, the Exalted and should not remain content with and look for only one or few nights of Ramadan. Our beloved Prophet Mohammad peace and blessings of Allah, SWT be upon him, used to perform “I’tikaf’ in the Masjid Nabvi in Madina, each year and spent his time in complete devotion and worship to Allah, SWT during the last ten days and nights of Ramadan. His companions joined him with eagerness. It is an act of high recommendation for all Muslims. The last ten nights start on sundown of Ramadan 20. All Muslims are recommended to spend these days and nights, especially all odd nights in Ibadaat (worship): Recitation of Al-Quran with understanding, recitation in prayers as much as possible, performing all prayers: Fard, Sunan, and Nawafil with clean heart and mind; making honest repentance for all wrong done, and asking sincere forgiveness and mercy for every life from Allah, SWT. Dear Muslims, here is a great opportunity again starting sundown of May 13, 2020 while under the dangerous cloud of Conronavirus-19; to bow down, to prostrate, and to ask forgiveness to our Most Merciful Lord, Allah, the Exalted to forgive, protect and save the humanity. Believe it or not, humans are always under a test. But this test is gigantic and intolerable to powerful and modern nations. For the individuals nothing but the righteous efforts with lot of supplications to all Powerful Allah SWT’s can bring the resolve and peace through His mercy! The Alim Foundation: NMS; May 12, 2020
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