Qurbani

Fiqh of Qurbani , note that there is a mistake on the weight of silver for nisab, it is NOT 100g, see here for the correct weight

see here for a discussion on the weight of silver issue

613.36g in ounces

Cost of silver in ounces

Remember not to cut nails/hairs if performing Qurbani (mustahab)

Bob Talks Too Much: "You lookin' at me!?"

Bob Talks Too Much: "You lookin' at me!?"

Adam & Hawaa (alayhas salaam)

Surah 7 Verses 19-25

Here the story of the fall of Adam & Hawaa (alayhas salaam).

An interesting point is to note that the Arabic used in these verses is in the dual form, denoting the reference to the two persons here.
In Arabic one can refer to something in three ways:

singular (one)
dual (two)
plural (more than two)

Referring to dual form is only possible in Arabic and is of paramount importance here. This is lost in the translation in English. This shows why Arabic is meant to be the language of Quran. So in the context of the story:

Both are told not to approach the tree
Both are approached by Iblis
Both are tricked by Iblis
Both ask Allah for forgiveness
Both are sent down to Earth

So Hawaa (alayhis salaam) is not the cause of Adam (alayhis salaam)'s mistake. Satan does not get to Adam through her. None of this blaming the woman business.

Islam sets the woman free from the shackles of blame.

No reference is made to the apple.
No reference to Satan as a snake. Satan is quoted as whispering. Evil comes in whispers. Goodness is said clearly. Satan cannot force one to do anything. Read A'uthubillah.... to seek protection and one will feel better straight away.
No reference to the type of leaves used to cover.

These are not relevant. What is relevant is that both made a mistake, asked for forgiveness and were forgiven.

Verse 23 is one of the forty rabbana

PDF of forty rabbana can be found here

Iblis - leader of Shayateen

Surah 7 Verse 11-18

This is the account of how Iblis became cursed.
He was amongst the angels although he was Jinn. He achieved this status because of his extreme piety.

However he did not bow to Adam:
- because he was made of clay, Iblis was of fire, Iblis thought it beneath him, pride
- Iblis was around before Adam, why should a senior bow to a junior

In his pride, he disobeyed Allah. He did not see that the issue was not who he was bowing to, but who gave the order.
Even in his wrong, he blames Allah for 'misguiding' him (Verse 16).

A few lessons from this:
- even if we do not understand a command, this is not a reason not to do it. Many people say that they need to 'understand the logic' behind before practising. But this is not obedience, submission. As long we are sure of the authenticity of the command, then that is all that matters.
- we obey the command, in the meantime we can research the wisdom/logic behind it. Even if we do not find it, this does not mean there is none.
- no matter how pious one can be, it does not mean one cannot make mistakes. True piety embodies true humility. There is no room for feeling that one is so pious rather one should be thankful to Allah all the time and always think of others as better than oneself in matters of Deen.

Allah mentions in Verse 13, that it is not a place for pride here. Again the importance of guarding against any traces of pride in one's heart.

Adopt Islamic way of life to avoid cancer.....

BBC article on report

The report (free downloadable PDF format)

Recommendations to prevent cancer

Amazing quotes from the BBC article on the report of The World Cancer Research Fund:

The World Cancer Research Fund carried out the largest ever inquiry into lifestyle and cancer, and issued several stark recommendations.

They include not gaining weight as an adult, avoiding sugary drinks and alcohol, and not eating bacon or ham.

In particular, researchers say people should stop eating processed meats, such as ham, bacon and salami, and limit the consumption of red meat to 500g a week

From a cancer perspective, all alcohol should be avoided, although researchers accepted drinking small amounts could have protective benefits for other diseases.

It is always amazing how people are at pains to justify the 'goodness' of alcohol. Yet the problem is the ills are much greater. One can always get this 'goodness' from other less risky ways, I am sure. The Quran says there is good in it, but that its evil outweighs its good.

Quote from the Report itself, section 12.1:

For example, the evidence on alcoholic
drinks and breast cancer, as shown in chapters
4.8 and 7.10, does not show any ‘safe
threshold’. The risk evidently increases,
albeit modestly, at any level of intake of
any alcoholic drink. And there is no nutritional
need to consume alcohol. So in this
case, the appropriate recommendation
based solely on the evidence for breast cancer
would be not to consume alcoholic
drinks; the quantified recommendation
would be zero.

The way of life to be adopted is quite simply an Islamic one.

It will be clear to all that Islam is the correct way, even if they will not admit to it.

Example of the reaction to report, when the way of life is criticised people are not so ready to accept. But people are quick to criticise others' way of life backed by similar reports.

Another report belittling risk of alcohol to pregnant women Binge drink baby damage 'unclear'

Dangers of eating bacon, bad for lungs