Prohibition Of Riba – Sheikh Imran Hosein

Prohibition Of Riba – Video Part 1

Prohibition Of Riba – Video Part 2

The Shari’i Silver Dirham: The Shield of Zakat-ul-Fitr

The Shari’i Silver Dirham: The Shield of Zakat-ul-Fitr
By Hisham Kassim (5 Ramadan 1430 Hijri)

“The Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) enjoined Zakat-ul-Fitr on the one who fasts to shield one’s self from any indecent act or speech, and for the purpose of providing food for the needy.” (Hadith related by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and ad-Daraqutni)

Muslims worldwide are obliged to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr as alms at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It is unanimously recognized by all schools of Islamic Law as a pious duty of every Muslim man and woman, and a blessed way of following in the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

The origin of this obligation can be dated to the month of Shaaban in 2 Hijri, and this mandatory giving of alms was personally carried out 9 times by the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) before he passed on in the month of Rabiulawwal in 11 Hijri.

The Shari’i Silver Dirham: Reviving the Blessed Form of Mahr

The Shari’i Silver Dirham: Reviving the Blessed Form of Mahr

By ZARINAR (15 Shaaban 1430 Hijri)

All praise and gratitude are only for Allah Almighty. We seek guidance and forgiveness from Him. We also seek refuge in Him from the evils of our own doing. Whoever Allah guides, none can lead him astray. Whoever He leaves to go astray, none can guide him back to the right way. We testify that there is no God but Allah, and we testify that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger.

The soul, the heart and the mind were created in a balance, in a state of fitrah or a natural state of the human being. In the Holy Qur’an, Allah Almighty says:

“… Allah has endeared Faith (Iman) to you, and has made it beautiful in your hearts …” (Surah al-Hujurat 49:7)

Central to the union of hearts, minds and souls is the oldest ‘contract’ between two people in marriage, made in the name of Allah the All-Seeing, the Witness. So critical is this contract in the building of a thriving Islamic community, i.e. by bringing families together, that the realization of this part of one’s life is equated to fulfilling half of one’s faith. And the heart knows that at the threshold of the commitment with one’s soulmate, that God the al-Wadud (the Loving) sanctions this sacred institution.

“And of everything, We have created pairs that you may be mindful.” (Surah az-Zariyat 51:49)

At the Threshold of Marriage

In the search for a relationship that brings love, trust, harmony and compassion, we refer to the Holy Qur’an (for people of understanding) and its description of marriage.

“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts) …” (Surah ar-Rum 30:21)

When Allah unites two partners in Islam, it is the strongest of bonds. A do’a or prayer by a couple could be as follows:

“I enter this contract, this act of worship, in the name of our Creator and Sustainer, as a servant of God. I enter this sacred institution to grow and enrich my life and that of others. My companion in this journey is one who fears Allah in all matters, and who knows his/her ultimate return is to God, the Sublime, the All-Forgiving.”

Amiin, and a very essential aspect of binding this sacred contract is the mahr.

What is the Mahr?

The mahr is a compulsory part of an Islamic marriage contract. It is a gift of money, possessions or property made by the husband to the wife, which becomes her exclusive property. It is an admission of her independence, for she becomes the owner of the money or property immediately, even if she may have owned nothing before. It is also intended as a token of the husband’s willing acceptance of the responsibility of bearing all the necessary expenses of his wife.

Islam, Murabaha and Fixed Deposits

By Shaikh Imran Hosein

From http://imranhosein.org/articles/islam-and-money/100-islam-murabaha-and-fixed-deposits.html

Islam has declared war on the moneylender who demands interest. It did so in the very last divine revelation (al-Baqarah, 2:279) to come down in the Holy Qur’an. Here is that last revelation:

“O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and give up what remains of your demand for usury (i.e., the interest due on a fixed deposit, or on any other loan on interest), if ye are indeed believers.” If ye do it not (i.e. if you persist in your claim or demand for the interest due to you), then take notice of (a declaration of) war from Allah and His Messenger: but if ye turn away (from such claim or demand), then you are entitled to the return of your capital sum (placed in the fixed deposit or otherwise lent); do not enter into (such) unjust transactions, nor allow yourselves to be subjected to such.

The Shari’i Silver Dirham and Gold Dinar: Embracing the Hidayah of Allah

The Shari’i Silver Dirham and Gold Dinar: Embracing the Hidayah of Allah

By Hisham Kassim (1 Rabiulawwal 1430 Hijri)

“Show us the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom Thou has bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not Wrath, and who do not go astray.” (Surah al-Fatihah 1:6-7)

It is rather unfortunate that many Muslims today still prefer to store their valuable assets in fiat currencies rather than silver or gold because of the perceived value being attached to them by the central banks of their respective countries. When queried about the wisdom of their choice, the standard answer would normally be that they were still waiting for the Hidayah of Allah to make a better decision.

Hidayah(هِدَايَة)

Hidayah means present or gift in Arabic. In its Islamic context, Hidayah means guidance or leadership as given by Allah Almighty. It is only through the Grace of Allah Almighty that His true and loyal servants are being granted guidance. Thus, Hidayah is actually a very precious and personal gift from the Creator bestowed upon whoever He pleases. It is a guiding Light or Nuur from Allah Almighty which He, in His infinite Wisdom places in the heart of His tried and tested true believer, one who has proven his unconditional love for his Creator.

The Neglected Element of Taqwa in The “1,000 Dinars” Verse

The Neglected Element of Taqwa in The “1,000 Dinars” Verse

By Hisham Kassim (10 Muharram 1430 Hijri)

“… And for those who fear Allah (Taqwa or high God-consciousness), He [ever] prepares a way out. And He provides for him from [sources] he never could expect. And if anyone puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is [Allah] for him. For Allah will surely accomplish His purpose: Verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion.” (Surah at-Talaq 65:2-3)

Historically, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) never named the above passage from the Holy Qur’an the “1,000 Dinars” verse, but many unverified stories have appeared over the years including one version where Prophet Khidr (‘alaihissalam) was somehow responsible for helping some poor man out of debt by advising him to recite this verse daily. As a result, you can find the “1,000 Dinars” verse hung on the walls of many Muslim shops, offices and households all over the country today. The tenacity with which these business and home owners hold on to the faith that this verse will help bring opportunity and other forms of bounty from Allah Almighty is so great that it would be considered almost sacrilege not to believe in its miraculous power of attraction. However, when it comes to income-related aspirations, most Muslims will normally visualize it to be in the form of the local or the various international paper currencies in the market, and not the Shari’i gold dinar that the verse was aptly named after.