Fundraising Page for the Masjid: Fun Run for the NPICC

Alhumdulillah, I am pleased to announce that on Sunday night, I decided that I am going to do a run for the Masjid. As mentioned before, regarding the Masjid, I too am dedicated to helping the Masjid through fundraising and donating. I will be doing a Fun Run on the 8th of June (Saturday) this year (after all my exams) in Oaks Park, Oaks Lane Entrance IG2 7PX Insha'Allah. I hope to collect at least £500 for the Masjid but any more would be great as well. I will not be using the money, so don't think I'm just doing for myself. 
All the money, 100% will go to the Masjid Insha'Allah.  Anyone who wants to contact me, please email me at tayyib14@hotmail.co.uk or tayyib14@gmail.com. The event will Insha'Allah begin at 10:00 and probably end at 12:00, may be earlier though. You are welcome to come, and please do so if you are available. For those of you who want to visit the fundraising website, please click here. 

25 Days LEFT............

Help the Masjid: Donate or Fundraise

One of the reasons, I blog is to publicize petitions and certain events. And in this post, I want to publicize a Masjid. Some of your may have already seen text in the left hand side about fundraising and donating to the NPICC. The NPICC is currently in need of donations, we currently need £700,000 to build this Masjid. Only £40,000 has been collected and another £60,000 of Qard-e-Hasanah approximately. Another £600,000 whether Qard-e-Hasanah or not needs to be collected.
I know this amount will take time and effort to reach but the more we try, Insha'Allah the closer we can get to Masjid. This Masjid will mean a lot to many Muslims in the community.

Current Condition

I, myself as a Muslim nearby am trying to help out but my ability to do so, is limited.
The Masjid will be available for both men and women and is believed to facilitate a library within the Masjid Insha'Allah. Please do help by donating or fundraising. I, myself have began a fundraising page recommended by the Masjid Staff themselves through the website BTmyDonate.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said in a hadith:

Whoever builds a mosque for Allah – though it be the size of the ground nest of a sandgrouse – Allah will build for him a house in Paradise

Alhumdulillah, we have already began to pray in a porter-cabin which holds believed to be 30 to 50 people. But we need more space as more Muslims join to pray.
With your support we can collect at least £100,000 by the end of this year, if not more Insha'Allah. To visit the NPICC (Newbury Park Islamic Cultural Center) website here. To donate, please click here, and to fundraise please click here.
Please help. Your support for the Masjid will be much appreciated. Jazakullah Khair.  

Saturday Volunteering: The BIG Tidy Up

Alhumdulillah, the Masjid nearby (NPICC) teamed up with the Church nearby for a voluntary tidy-up, where volunteers join in the BIG Tidy Up campaign to clear up the streets. Unfortunately, pictures have not been released on either the Church's Website or the Masjid's Website. Pictures will be released soon though and may be placed on this website.
The day was successful collecting well over 20 bags Alhumdulillah. The day finished with a BBQ organized the Church which was Halal as well. Another surprising element added to the day was the numbers joining to help out and the community spirit still out there.
But this clean up wasn't completed as alot more rubbish still needs to be collected.  However it is believed that the Church will be organizing another clean-up sooner this year but this has not been confirmed. 

If you do want updates to see any London Event for the BIG Tidy Up please click here. May Allah (SWT) allow us all to work together with other religious backgrounds.

Shaker Aamer: 20/04/13

Today is deadline day for the petition regarding Shaker Aamer's case. Alhumdullilah the petition has reached over 100,000 which will result in a debate on the 24th of this month. Jazakullah Khairun for signing the petition for those of you who did. The Campaign website mentions

Following the success of an ePetition on the plight of Shaker Aamer - the last British resident still held by the US in Guantanamo - securing over 111,000 signatures, the issue will be subject to a debate in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 24 April, 9.30-11am.
The ePetition calling for Mr Aamer's return to the UK, crossed the 100,000 threshold on 12 April and yesterday Jane Ellison, the Aamer family's MP, formally asked the House of Commons Backbench Business Committee to allocate time for a debate. Jane emphasised the urgent need to have the issue debated in Parliament before the end of the current Parliamentary session, expected to be around the beginning of May.
Due to the very limited amount of Parliamentary time available ahead of the House rising, Jane was advised to apply for a debate in the Speaker’s ballot due to the urgency of the situation and given that no slots would have been available in the main Chamber of the House of Commons until late May. However she intends to bid for further time in the main Chamber in the next session, where it would be possible to vote on a motion, adding further weight to efforts to secure his release.
Write to your MP
We urge all supporters contact their Member of Parliament as a matter of urgency, requesting that they:
1. Attend the debate in Westminster Hall on 24^th April 9.30am.
2. Make representations that Shaker Aamer’s case should be subjected to a further debate in the main Chamber of the House of Commons with a vote, at the earliest available opportunity in May.
1. Visit http://www.writetothem.com
2. Enter your full UK postcode.
3. Select the hyperlink under “Your Member of Parliament”.
4. Enter your full name, address and email.
5. Copy and paste our template letter below. You can personalise your letter whilst keeping the main points.
6. Preview and send your message.
7. Ensure you check your email to confirm your message, or it will not be sent to your MP.
8. If you experience any technical difficulties whilst sending your message please visit www.theyworkforyou.com to obtain your MP’s contact details, by entering your postcode and following the link to their personal website.
9.     To help us track which MPs have been contacted, kindly send a copy of your correspondence and any replies received to mp@saveshaker.org.

http://www.saveshaker.org/urgent-action-ask-your-mp-to-attend-the-parliamentary-debate-for-shaker-aamer/269. 
A Sample Letter is also given for those who want to write to their MP's about Shaker Aamer (UK citizens and residents ONLY)

Please do note that on the day of the the debate (24/04/13), there will be protest outside the House of Commons, London at 11am to 2pm.

The Coke Conspiracies - Part 2

Like the previous debate on Coca Cola, whether the product was halal or haram, another conspiracy opened up for another debate.
Does Coca Cola and Pepsi contain alcohol?
This is a very common question with many Muslims but the actual answer to this question is NO, it doesn't.

Although The Daily Mail says :

According to tests carried out by the Paris-based National Institute of Consumption (INC) more than half of leading colas contain the traces of alcohol.These include the brand leaders Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola, while it is mainly only cheap supermarket versions of the drink which are alcohol-free.‘60 Million Consumers’, the French magazine, publishes the results of the tests in its latest issue.They suggest that the alcohol levels are as low as 10mg in every litre, and this works out at around 0.001 per cent alcohol.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2165422/Coke-Pepsi-contain-tiny-traces-alcohol-reveals-French-research.html#ixzz2LXhPv8ht 

Some Muslims believe that the product is haram because of the amount of alcohol whilst other believe that the product is not haram because of the concentration of the alcohol. 

If the claims were true, I personally would agree with the second opinion because the concentration is so low that the product couldn't make you drunk unless you drunk thousands of litres......

Some say that the product contains a minute amount and thus cannot make you drunk as do all other soft drinks.

Some who believe that the product is halal say that the alcohol is not intoxicating due to the minute concentration.

The Coca Cola Company however itself mentions that

Coca‑Cola is recognized as a non-alcoholic beverage and we do not add alcohol as an ingredient. Trace levels of alcohol can occur naturally in many foods and beverages. Governments and religious organizations have recognized that such minute levels are considered acceptable in non-alcoholic foods and beverages. Our products are safe and meet the safety requirements, laws and practices in every country where our brands are sold.

Ingredients on back proves no alcohol (source)

This could, however mean that the validity of the source and reliability of source was weak making it a false claim. The French research could have been biased or false. I, myself have tried to find the research but could not find any original source of such research on the Internet.
For a more detailed blog post regarding the rumor please visit here.

But Allah knows best. I personally agree that all coca cola is halal because the company clearly mentions that the product contains no alcohol and for this reason, my decision is based on the company itself. 

Are Dogs Haram to keep?

One question which has actually struck me that people of today know little of was that "Are Dogs Allowed to be Kept?...".

The simple answer to that question is NO but dogs are only allowed to be kept under 2 reasons.

The Prophet said, "Whoever keeps a (pet) dog which is neither a watch dog nor a hunting dog, will get a daily deduction of two Qirat from his good deeds."
 
*Qirat means large mountain

Dogs are only allowed for that purpose, not to kept as a pet. Some people may argue that dogs can be used to guide the blind, however I believe it is not recommended because many technologies for example the use of sticks to move.

Why can't we keep dogs though?
Dogs are not allowed as the prophet Muhammad (SAW) said

"The purification of the utensil belonging to any one of you, after it is licked by a dog, lies in washing it seven times, using sand for the first time."

For this reason, the saliva of the dog is believed to be impure. So if a dog touches you, you remain pure but if licking you, you become impure.
As Dr Bilal Phillips (left) talks about muslims running away from dogs because of the belief of the dog touch is impure.

The Prophet said, "A man saw a dog eating mud from (the severity of) thirst. So, that man took a shoe (and filled it) with water and kept on pouring the water for the dog till it quenched its thirst. So Allah approved of his deed and made him to enter Paradise." And narrated Hamza bin 'Abdullah: My father said. "During the lifetime of Allah's Apostle, the dogs used to urinate, and pass through the mosques (come and go), nevertheless they never used to sprinkle water on it (urine of the dog.)"

 It doesn't necessarily mean that the dog must be hated but it is an animal and is still a living creature.

Allah's Apostle said, "While a man was walking he felt thirsty and went down a well and drank water from it. On coming out of it, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of excessive thirst. The man said, 'This (dog) is suffering from the same problem as that of mine. So he (went down the well), filled his shoe with water, caught hold of it with his teeth and climbed up and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for his (good) deed and forgave him." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Is there a reward for us in serving (the) animals?" He replied, "Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate."

Update: Shaker Aamer 05/03/2013

Alhumdullilah the numbers are still rising but are still not reach 50,000.  As of 4:38, the signatures count has reached only 35,882 signatures which is very worrying. Please, please, please help this campaign. As I update you, I look at the petition count checking it rising. . Please help this innocent brother. The videos below are supporters of the campaign for Shaker Aamer including Andy Worthington, Imam Shakeel Begg, Imam Haitham Al Haddad and Omar Deghayes (Former Inmate in Guantanamo)

                                                                                                      

                                                                                            

Update: Shaker Aamer 01/03/2013

Quick Update here. Alhumdullilah the numbers have risen but not a lot though. As of 6:25 01/03/12 34,990 signatures have been accumulated which means that we need on estimate another 65,000. Thats not a lot, I fear that the numbers are rising well enough to help reach that.
But I have good news about campaigns across Britain. The Save Shaker Campaign Website has provided that there are campaigns across London and some outside I believe. If you do live near the following areas or boroughs, please participate in these crucial campaign which could help rise the figures to at least 100,000. Please help.
This information is taken from the Save Shaker Aamer Campaign Website:
01/03/13:  Brighton Mosque, Al Madina Mosque in Bedford Place, Brighton BN12 PT - meet 12.30pm at the Mosque.
01/03/13: Central London Mosque, campaigners meet up outside the Mosque at 12.30pm
02/03/13: Wandsworth STWC stalls in Putney High Street near Putney Exchange, London SW15 - meet 11.30am - includes use of e-petition 'petition' sheets and SSAC leaflets.
Upcoming:
06/03/13:  SSAC representative will be speaking at Kingston University ISOC meeting
15/03/13: Lewisham Islamic Centre (Mosque), campaigners meet outside Mosque at 12.30pm
16:/03/13:  Wandsworth STWC stall in Clapham Junction, St Johns Road, London SW11 - meet 10.30am until 12 noon - includes use of e-petition 'petition' sheets and SSAC leaflets.
23/03/13: Tooting Mosque,Tooting, London SW17 From 12 noon to 5pm
29/03/13: Norbury Islamic Academy - 1595 London Road, Norbury London SW16 - campaigners meet outside Mosque at 12.30pm


Insha'Allah, these campaigns and meeting will increase the numbers to 100,000. Please make dua that they will and we can reach the 100,000 signatures required.

Hadith of the Month: Brotherhood

Source

Since the blogger freeze for couple of months, I haven't been able to do the hadith of the week properly and for that reason, I've decided that I change the weekly hadith posts to monthly hadith posts. Today will be the first Hadith of the Month about Brotherhood. A topic which I've done quite alot as well but I want to relate this to my previous posts.

Today's Hadith of the Month is...

"A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. He does not oppress him, nor does he leave him at the mercy of others." [Sahih Muslim].

Allah (SWT) says in Surah Hujurat:

  "The Believers are but a single Brotherhood." [Al-Hujurat 49:10]

 
I found this poem about brotherhood and Islam which I think is a brilliant poem which relates to Muslims suffering across the world.
 

He asked:
Where is the brotherhood?
I feel so misunderstood
I’d cry if I could
But
I stand proud and tall as I should
Brother you are not alone
We may be different
We may be seas apart
But
Our faith brings us together
A bond like no other
Keep striving, my brother
No matter how many times you stumble, you fall
Pick yourself up and carry on
Keep on pleading to the Most Merciful of All
And
Keep making dua for our Ummah as a whole
Takbeer, Allahu Akbar!

Update: Shaker Aamer 28/02/13

Small update again, I know I've been stressing this quite a bit too much but this again in a reminder to sign the petition. So far the petition streak reaches 34,760 which means that we need at least 66,000 before we reach 100,000 signatures. Pray to Allah to help this noble cause for Shaker Aamer. Please, please, please, help this innocent brother.
Heres yet another video regarding Shaker Aamer's case. Many videos have been published on YouTube about Shaker Aamer. I'm not saying to create another but at least help the campaign. Please help this innocent brother whether through Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter or any other possible means (even writing to your local MP) Please help. Shaykh Sulaiman Ghani is also participating to help the campaign.

 British Petition link is here and International Petition link is here.
For those of you who wish to help and have already signed the petition, please click here

Just read that Joy Hurcombe, Chair of the Save Shaker Aamer Campaign has said the following:

There are only a few weeks left to get 100,000 signatures on the government e-petition 33133, "Return Shaker Aamer to the UK", launched by Shaker's father-in-law, Sadeed Siddiqui. British resident Shaker Aamer has been unlawfully imprisoned in Guantánamo for over 11 years without charge or trial (Report, 14 December). We appeal to all readers to add their names to the e-petition to reach this target number. Achieving this would mean that there could be a debate in parliament. It would also mean that public protest at this terrible injustice would be on record. This would help the case for demanding Shaker Aamer's release and return to his British family. To date, there are over 30,000 names on the e-petition. If all of us signed and encouraged all our friends and colleagues to add their names, we could get the required number. The government could not ignore it. Please sign the e-petition today. The deadline is 20 April, but do it now and help end the torture and abuse endured every day by Shaker Aamer. Go to www.freeshaker.com for a useful link to the government website.

Joy Hurcombe

Chair, Save Shaker Aamer Campaign

Update: Shaker Aamer's case... 22/02/13

I know I've stressed this petition a bit too much updating you daily since the blog post was published and I didn't do so for Babar Ahmed, but this is only because the numbers aren't rising well enough. The number of signatures required are 100,000 signatures before 20/04/2013 which is in another 58 days. Regardless of your background, origin, race, religion, please help this innocent man. I've told you his back story and given you the links to the petition but this is just a reminder to sign the petition. Our numbers are less than 32,388 which means that we need about another 64,000 approx to reach the required target. That means 1165 daily for 58 days or 49 per hour for 58 days
Please help raise awareness regarding this case whether through blogging, emailing, messaging or even handing out leaflets. Please help this brother... 
British Petition link is here. 
International Petition link is here

Here's an old teacher of mine talking about Shaker Aamer's case. (quite embarrassing for me since I emailed him through his webpage a couple of days back and then found the next day that he knew the case and this video was up..)

 Update: 23/02/2013 9:28pm GMT.  We've collected 32,861 signatures. That means about another 400 signatures were collected in 1 day which is very very worrying..... Please help raise awareness through all means. Please
 Update: 26/02/2012 9:44pm GMT. We've collected  34,315 signatures so far. Thats about less than 2000 in 4 days though. InshaAllah we can reach our aim of 100,000. Please, please, please help whether by collecting signatures, giving out flyers, please my brother and sisters regardless of your ethnicity, religion, colour, please help promote this good cause.