Know Your Deen

Islamic QA for North America

August 26, 2014
by admin KyD
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Strategic Thinking. Spiritual Thinking.

Jumuah speech: Imaam Muhammed Shoayb Mehtar, Khadeeja Islamic Center; August 22, 2014

When Allah (SWT) wishes good for a person and wants a person to be in a good environment, Allah (SWT) brings that person in at the appropriate time so the person can gain the maximum benefit. Just as certain days and months are important, there are certain times of the year that are also important to our youth. Our youth are going back to school, evaluating the classes they are to take for their college semester. As we mentioned last week, one thing remains very important – how do we link our youth to Allah (SWT)? How do we link chemistry, geography, or American History and ourselves to Allah (SWT)? This is an important and fundamental question. If we don’t link what we are studying to Allah, we will link it to something else. We will link it to the moment or what the teacher is saying. Once we let other factors influence our religiosity, then there is a greater chance that our Imaan is going to be tampered upon and made weak. Continue Reading →

July 28, 2014
by admin KyD
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Tafseer (Night 27)

The note takers and the admins are very apologetic that these tafseer notes for nights 26 and 27 of Ramadan did not make it to you sooner. We do hope that you can forgive us on this final day of fasting for this delay.

Nightly Notes (27):

Tonight we have alhamdulillah ((all praise is due to Allah (SWT)) have finished reciting the Qur’an from cover to cover during this holy month of Ramadan. Allah (SWT) is the most kind, merciful, loving, compassionate, and highly giving to you and I. Tonight we are in a gathering surrounded by people of our faith who have done good, who are doing good, and who are wishing the best for themselves, their children, and their community. Such a gathering cannot be found just anywhere and everywhere in the world. People today are of the state of mind of “What do I benefit” from doing a given thing.

All of us gathered here tonight have a similar goal: focusing on Allah (SWT) and Rasulullah (SAW). Continue Reading →

July 28, 2014
by admin KyD
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Tafseer (Night 26)

The note takers and the admins are very apologetic that these tafseer notes for nights 26 and 27 of Ramadan did not make it to you sooner. We do hope that you can forgive us on this final day of fasting for this delay.

Nightly Notes (26):

Tonight we read Surah Duha wherein Allah (SWT) takes an oath on the rising the sun, on its brightness, on its heat (Ch. 93, Verse 1). This is why Salaatul Duha is prayed when the rays of the sun are hotter; we seek refuge from feeling the fire of Jahannam in the next world. Then again, in the next ayah (Ch. 93, Verse 2) Allah (SWT) takes an oath on the night. Why has Allah created the night? Is it for arguing? No! When it is dark that is a hint from Allah (SWT) to settle and calm down everything and take a ‘chill pill’. Imam Shaf’ee (RA) talks about speaking on cool and calm talks after Isha. That it is a sin to discuss ‘hot topics’. Traditional scholars will also eat light with some fruit, some water, and some warm milk (which helps lull you to sleep). Further, look at the example of Rasulullah (SAW): he would joke with his family members after Isha. How many of us in all honesty follow this noble and uplifting Sunnah in our nights with our families? Instead, we get into arguments and make international calls that turn into more than just ‘Assalamu Alaykum, how are you (so and so)?’ and then we go to bed. No wonder our nights are messed up and we can’t get any sleep.

This in turn messes up our days because we are dead tired with having no rest when Allah (SWT) is prescribing in the Qur’an why He created the night in the first place! Who are we to argue with Allah (SWT)? Continue Reading →

July 27, 2014
by admin KyD
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Eid: Tuesday, July 29, 2014

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Due to a lack of reliable moon sightings in North America, and in compliance with our criteria, the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake will complete 30 days of Ramadaan. Thus, there will be taraweeh prayers tonight, and Eid will be on Tuesday, July 29, 2014*.

There will be two programs, an early program for those who must work and/or go to school, and another for families:

Working/Students Program: begins at 7:00 am

Family Program: begins at 9:00 am

JazakumAllah khair.

 Update: In the interest of avoiding last-day-of-fasting bickering, comments will be posted and responded to after Eid. Please do understand that your comments are appreciated. Thank you.

* There are lots of discussions/inquiries with people confused as to why Eid is not on Monday. So in an attempt to clear up some of the confusion:

  • It was scientifically impossible for the moon to have been sighted in North America today. Scientific impossibility does not mean that there is zero chance, for nothing is impossible for Allah to make happen when and as he pleases.
  • Thus, going out to look for the moon is a Sunnah practice to uphold regardless of statistical probabilities. And, alhamdulillah, many Muslims in Salt Lake City and across the United States did turn out to look for the crescent.
  • However, as with many things scientific, the probabilities can line up with actual happenings, and this was such a case. Had there been reliable sightings, the testimonies would have certainly been accepted. Unfortunately, there were not.
  • The website moonsighting.com has a very informative map showing the regions of the world in which the crescent would have been visible, on July 27, 2014, with and without optical aid. We urge you to take a look at the map, and draw your own conclusions, as intelligent beings, about whether or not the crescent could reliably be seen. As stated at moonsighting.com:

“Moon is not expected to be seen in almost the whole world except with difficulty in South America, and with ease in Polynesian Islands, where there are not many Muslims reporting moonsighting. There is small possibility in South Africa but only experienced observers may see it.”

  • Do consider that testimonies in North America were sparse to non-existent. Under our criteria of Jaame Ghafeer, it was impossible to accept a Ramadaan of 29 days. InshaAllah, this one more day of fasting can be a blessing for us all rather than a source for bickering.

July 24, 2014
by admin KyD
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Tafseer (Night 25)

Ramadan 25, 1435/2014 Tafseer, by Imam Muhammed Shoayb Mehtar, Khadeeja Islamic Center, SLC, Utah

Nightly Notes (25)*:

Tonight we read from Surah Takwir onwards wherein Allah (SWT) is setting the stage up for the Day of Judgment. Just like for Hollywood and Bollywood stars there is a dramatic entrance setup with fanfare, music blaring, red carpet rolled out, etc. Allah (SWT) is setting the stage for the Day of Reckoning. The sky will be split asunder, the stars will fall (we’re not talking about ‘shooting stars’ here), the oceans and all the water in the earth will evaporate. Everything will cease to exist. Why does Allah (SWT) talk about all these signs?

So we can realize His greatness and change our behavior now before it is too late to do so on the Day of Judgment when everything has come to an utter and complete end.

Don’t be deceived by those whom we deem Continue Reading →

July 23, 2014
by admin KyD
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Tafseer (Night 24)

Ramadan 24, 1435/2014 Tafseer, by Imam Muhammed Shoayb Mehtar, Khadeeja Islamic Center, SLC, Utah

Nightly Notes (24)*:

Tonight we read Surah Na’ziat wherein Allah describes that on the Day of Judgment, this world and all that we have said and done in it will be shown to us like a big flashback. Just like when someone has a major surgery or almost gets into a serious accident, their life flashes in front of them; whatever they did the previous month, the previous year, just hits them. Allah is saying if such a flashback is possible in this world then how is it not feasible that He will give us the flashback of our lives on that Day? We will wish that we did more good and abstained from evil. Allah has placed us through a test in this world. This world will feel like a strong current on that Day, 10 years of our life will flash before us in one second.

We need to be mindful that when we pass away we will be brought up in front of Allah. Continue Reading →

July 23, 2014
by admin KyD
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Tafseer (Night 23)

Ramadan 23, 1435/2014 Tafseer, by Imam Muhammed Shoayb Mehtar, Khadeeja Islamic Center, SLC, Utah

Nightly Notes (23)*:

Tonight we read Surah Naba where the disbelievers are asking what is the great news. They ask in these times where is Allah, when is Qiyamah coming, and they make fun of our deen in general. For ex: many disbelievers joke and say they will be the first to go to Hell but the great news is Qiyamah. Some branches of Christianity thought the world was going to end and got rid of all of their wealth and belongings awaiting the ‘Rapture’ but nothing happened. Allah is saying there is no need for this nonsense. ‘Take full heed that they will soon know about Qiyamah’. Allah repeats this ayah again emphasizing it further. Continue Reading →

July 20, 2014
by admin KyD
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Tafseer (Night 21)

Ramadan 21, 1435/2014 Tafseer, by Imam Muhammed Shoayb Mehtar, Khadeeja Islamic Center, SLC, Utah

Nightly Notes (21)*:

Lately we’ve been reading Surahs that start or mention Sabbaha-lillah. This means the remembrance of Allah, to make Tasbih. Why does Allah use these words over and over again? These Surahs were revealed in the Madinah period. Why in Madinah and not Makkah? Because Allah is Continue Reading →