Tuesday 1 October 2013

The Excellence Of Ibadah During The First Ten Days Of Dhul-Hijjah

In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful
Indeed all praise is due to Allah, we praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness, we seek refuge with Allah from our soul’s evil and our wrong doings, he whom Allah guides, no one can misguide, and he whom He misguides, no one can guide.

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad the Messenger of Allah and his family and Companions and all who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.

My Dear respective brother and sisters in Islam,

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala has blessed the nation of Muhammad SAW with many opportunities to reap rewards and blessings every day of the year.
The last ten nights of Ramadan (the month of fasting) are among the most blessed nights of the year and in particular Laylatul-Qadr (the night of power) is extremely sacred. Similarly, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah (the 12th Islamic calendar month) carry special status during the blessed month of “Pilgrimage”. The following  Hadith of the Prophet SAW will highlights the importance of these ten days in the sight of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala and the amplified reward for all good deeds during this blessed season.

Just like the last ten nights of Ramadan are the best ten nights out of the year, these first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are the best days of the year and the most beloved to Allah.

Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with Him) reported that The Messenger of Allah SAW said, "There are no days during which the righteous action is so pleasing to Allah than these days (i.e. the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah)." He was asked thus "O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah?" He SAW replied, "Not even Jihad in the Cause of Allah, except in case one goes forth with his life and his property and does not return with either of it."[Sahih Al-Bukhari]
And in another narration He SAW said "There are no days greater in the sight of Allah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time recite a great deal of Tahleel, Takbeer and Tahmeed." [Reported by Ahmad]
This Hadith brings out the following the point Righteous deeds during the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah are far better and more rewarding than righteous deeds done on other days of the year, because they are Hajj days in the sacred season of pilgrimage. Because of their excellence and importance, Allah (SWT) swore by them thus:"By the Dawn; by the ten Nights..." [Al-Fajr 89:1-2]
So, the questions we should be asking ourselves are the following.
  1. How do we make the most of this season of blessings?
  2. What deeds can we perform to attain Allah’s pleasure?
Every Muslim should strive to fill these days with worship and righteous deeds as much as he is able.
 In his wisdom, the Prophet SAW did not specify certain deeds so that each person would be able to choose those deeds that suit his circumstances and his personal inclinations.
Recitation of the Quran might be difficult for some while it is easy for others, and likewise fasting, charity and so forth. Therefore, each of us should strive to earn Allah’s Pleasure in these days in the manner that Allah has facilitated for him e.g.

1.  Perform Hajj (Pilgrimage)
Obviously, Hajj is one of the best deeds that one can do during these ten days. However for those of us who are not able to fulfill the Hajj Obligation this year, there are still many more ways to earn the pleasure of Allah.

2.  Fast on the ‘Day of Arafah.
The Prophet SAW said: “Fasting the Day of Arafah (ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah) is expiation for (all the sins of) the previous year and expiation for (all the sins of) the coming year.” [Muslim]
and in another narration he also said “Anyone who fasts for one day for Allah’s pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years.” [Bukhari, Muslim]

3.  Perform Dhikr and Takbeer
This is as specified in the Hadith above with Takbeer (Allahu-Akbar) Tahmeed (Al-Hamdu-Lillah) and Tasbeeh (Subhana-Allah).

4.  Stand the Night in Prayer
Seeking Allah’s forgiveness and humbling ourselves in front of Him in supplication and prayers during the latter part of the night is an act of worship that is very beloved to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala calls out to His servants in the latter part of the night thus: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?” [Bukhaari, Muslim]

5.  Read the Book of Allah (The Quran).
It is time to re-establish your connection the Quran if we haven’t been doing so, and do more of it if we have. Establish a beautiful relationship with the book of Allah starting in these ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. Recite its verses and we will surely reap its blessings. Understand its message. Implement the commandments of this book in your life.
 This relationship with the Quran will open for us the doors of wisdom and happiness in our lives. This will ultimately lead us to guidance and success in this life and the Hereafter.

6.  Increase in doing ALL good deeds
if we are not able to perform Hajj this year, we can occupy ourselves during these blessed days by any and every possible good deed. Every act that is done with sincerity for the pleasure of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala will bring you closer to Him for He says “So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it; and whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it.“[Al-Zalzalah 99:7-8].

7.  Slaughter an animal and distribute the meat (Sacrifice)
Ibn Umar said: “The Prophet SAW lived in Madeenah for ten years and every year he slaughtered an animal.” [Ahmad]

8.  Attend Eid prayers
Attending Eid prayer is from the Sunnah of the Prophet SAW. We should therefore be keen on practicing this Sunnah and performing it according to the teachings of our Prophet SAW.

9.  Thank Allah
One of the biggest forms of worshiping Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala is to thank Him, deeply, sincerely and continuously. After all, it is He who blessed us with all that we have. In fact, we wouldn't even be here if it wasn’t for the Mercy of our Creator. So we should thank Him for everything that He gave us, the blessing of Islam, the blessing of life and every blessing we possess. Thank Him for the opportunity to experience these ten days. Ask Him for His mercy, forgiveness and guidance.
10.         Remembrance and Da’wah
Let us pass this message round hopping that it may benefit the Ummah through us for the Prophet SAW said “Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward.” [Tirmidhi]


May Allah Forgive us our sins, guide us right from the evil of insincere intention, save us from misguided knowledge, grant us beneficial knowledge, righteous deeds and benefit the entire Ummah from this work. AMIN.
Follow @islamcreedng

Monday 22 July 2013

Explanation Of The Recommended Dua for Laylatul Qadr


In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful
Indeed all praise is due to Allah, we praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness, we seek refuge with Allah from our soul’s evil and our wrong doings, he whom Allah guides, no one can misguide, and he whom He misguides, no one can guide.
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad the Messenger of Allah and his family and Companions and all who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.


Dear respective brother and sisters,
I have noticed a significant interest in the video explaining the dua recommendation of the prophet SAW for the last 10 night of Ramadan, I have decided to do a textual explanation of this dua and hope it will go a long way in assisting our Muslim brothers and sisters who might not be privy to a fast internet capable of downloading or watching the video, or might want to print the information to ponder over its contents as well as print and share it with the public in general.


I have also included the video for those who wish to have all the visual and textual contents together, this video is an enhancement on the one earlier released by Majed Mahmoud.



Aisha, May Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?'
The Prophet SAW said: “Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and you love to pardon, so pardon me “Reported by Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).

The transliteration of the dua is:-

“Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul afwa fa`a fu annee”

And the Arabic text is as written below
اللْهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

The meaning of the dua is broken down as follows
اللْهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ
O Allah, You are pardoning 

تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ
and You love to pardon

فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
so pardon me

From all the dua of the Quran and Sunnah, the Prophet SAW specified this dua for the last 10 nights, showing us how profound it is.
One of Allah’s beautiful names, Al-‘Afuww (the Pardoner) and it appears five times in the Qur’an and four times with Al-Ghafoor (the Most Forgiving)


Al-‘Afuww comes from the root ‘afw, which means to hide, obliterate, or remove something.
This meaning connotes ‘pardoning’, which is when one looks over another’s error and does not take them to account for it. Technically, it means Allah’s protection from trials and sicknesses for the believers (i.e.… safety and well-being).

Difference between ‘Afuww and Ghafoor

On the Day of Judgment, we may find that many sins we committed are not in our record, this is ‘afw, which is when Allah completely removes your sins from your record as if you never committed them. When it comes to ‘afw Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala said: “And He pardons much” [Ash-Shura 42:34]

Al-‘Afuww pardons His Servants by not calling them to account for their sins and erasing their sins from their records. Not only does Allah pardon and remove our sins, but He Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala loves to Pardon, as is implied in the dua above.

Al-Ghafoor comes from the root ghafar, which means to cover, conceal, and shield. When Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala forgives a sin, it means that He covers it and conceals it.

Al-Ghafoor is the One who does not expose the sins of His Slaves. He shields and protects His Slaves from the consequences of their sins and still forgives even though He is All-Aware of the wrong they committed.

When it comes to Al-Ghafoor, He will forgive the sins but they will appear in your record. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala Said “Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases.” [An-Nisa’ 4:48]

Al-Ghafoor is the One who forgives any sin regardless of the size as long as one seeks sincere repentance. Al-Ghafoor even forgives sins when we does not seek repentance because it is out of Allah’s Mercy that when a Muslim does certain acts, these acts will automatically have some or all of their sins forgiven.
The sins that Allah did not erase will appear in our record, but Al-Ghafoor can still forgive them.

The Prophet SAW said, “There would come people amongst the Muslims on the Day of Resurrection with sins as heavy as a mountain, and Allah would forgive them.” [Muslim]

When Al-‘Afuww and Al-Ghafoor are paired together, it shows how Merciful and Compassionate Allah is. He Pardons much, and for those sins He does not Pardon, He will forgive and conceal if He Wills.

May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala pardon all our sins, past, present and future, make the Ummah benefit from this work and keep our hearts firm on His guidance. AMIN



Thursday 18 July 2013

Will You Take Your Mothers For Granted?

In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful
Where can we be and who are we without the mercy of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala through our mothers????
Please watch this short video of Imam Asim Hussein...



Wednesday 5 June 2013

The Month Of Rajab And Its Significance



In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Indeed all praise is due to Allah, we praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness, we seek refuge with Allah from our soul’s evil and our wrong doings, he whom Allah guides, no one can misguide, and he whom He misguides, no one can guide.

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad the Messenger of Allah and his family and Companions and all who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
Assalamu’alaikum

The month of Rajab- its significance

The Month of Rajab is the seventh month in the Islamic lunar calendar. This month was regarded as one of the sacred months (Al-Ash-hur-Al-hurum) in which battles were prohibited in the days of the Holy Prophet SAW. It is also deemed to be a prelude to the month of Ramadan, because the month of Ramadan follows it after the intervening month of Sha’ban. Therefore, when the Holy Prophet SAW sighted the moon of Rajab, he used to supplicate to Allah in the following words:
“O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha’ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadan (i.e. prolong our life up to Ramadan, so that we may benefit from its merits and blessings).”
Although the month of Rajab has the aforesaid merits, yet no specific way of worship has been prescribed by the Shari’ah in this month. People have invented some special rituals or practices in this month which are not supported by reliable resources of the Shari’ah or are based on some unauthentic traditions. Here we briefly discuss the night of ascension.
Celebration of Lailatul Meraj
It is generally believed that the great event of Meraj (ascension of the Holy Prophet SAW to the heavens) took place on the night of 27th Rajab. Therefore, some people celebrate the night as “Lailatul Meraj”.
Indeed, the event of Meraj was one of the most remarkable episodes in the life of our beloved Prophet SAW. He was called by Almighty Allah. He travelled from Makkah to Baitul Maqdis and from there he ascended the heavens through the miraculous power of Allah. He was honored with a direct contact with his Creator at a place where even the angels had no access. This was the unique honour conferred by Allah to the Holy Prophet SAW alone. It was the climax of the spiritual progress which is not attained by anybody except him.
No doubt the night in which he was blessed with this unparalleled honour was one of the great nights in the history of this world. But, as we have explained in our discussion about the month of Rabi’ul-Awwal, Islam has its own principles with regard to the historic and religious events. Its approach about observing festivals and celebrating days and nights is totally different from the approach of other religions. The Holy Quranand the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet SAWdid not prescribe any festival or any celebration to commemorate an event from the past, however remarkable it might have been. Instead, Islam has prescribed two annual celebrations only. One is Eid-ul-Fitr and the other is Eid-ul-Adha. Both of these festivals have been fixed at a date on which the Muslims accomplish a great ibâdah (worship) every year. Eid-ul-Fitr has been prescribed after the fasts of Ramadan, while Eid-ul-Adha has been fixed when the Muslims perform the Hajj annually. None of these two Eids is designed to commemorate a particular event of the past, which has happened in these dates.
This approach is indicative of the fact that the real occasion for a happy celebration is the day in which the celebrators themselves have accomplished remarkable work through their own active effort. As for the accomplishments of our ancestors, their commemoration should not be restricted to a particular day or night. Instead, their accomplishments must be remembered every day in our practical life by observing their teachings and following the great examples they have set for us.
Keeping this principle in view, the following points should be remembered with regard to the “Lailatul-Meraj”:
1.             We cannot say with absolute certainty in which night the great event of Meraj had taken place. Although some traditions relate this event to the 27th night of the month of Rajab, yet there are other traditions which suggest some other dates. Al-Zurqani, the famous biographer of the Holy Prophet SAW has referred to five different views in this respect: Rabi’ul Awwal, Rabi’ul Akhir, Rajab, Ramadan and Shawwal. Later, while discussing different traditions, he has added a sixth opinion, that the Meraj took place in the month of Zul-Hijjah.
Allamah Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlawi, the well-known scholar of Hadith, has written a detailed book on the merits of Islamic months. While discussing ‘Lailatul Meraj’, he has mentioned that most of the scholars are of the view that the event of Meraj took place in the month of Ramadan or in Rabi’ul Awwal.
2.            It is also not certainly known in which year the event of Meraj took place. There are a number of views mentioned in the books of history, which suggest a wide range between the fifth year and the twelfth year after the Prophet SAW was entrusted with prophethood.
Now, if it is assumed that the event of Meraj took place in the fifth year of his prophethood, it will mean that the Holy Prophet SAW remained in this world for eighteen years after this event. Even if it is presumed that the Meraj took place in the twelfth year of his prophethood, his remaining lifetime after this event would be eleven years. Throughout this long period, which may range between eleven and eighteen years, the Holy Prophet SAW never celebrated the event of Meraj, nor did he give any instructions about it. No one can prove that the Holy Prophet SAW ever performed some specific modes of worship in a night, calling it the ‘Lailatul Meraj’ or advised his followers to commemorate the event in a particular manner.
3.             After the demise of the Holy Prophet SAW also, not one of his companions is reported to celebrate this night as a night of special acts of worship. They were the true lovers of the Holy Prophet SAW and had devoted their lives to preserve every minute detail of the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet SAW and other Islamic teachings. Still, they did not celebrate the event of Meraj in a particular night in a particular way.
All these points go a long way to prove that the celebration of the 27th night of Rajab, being the Lailatul Meraj has no basis in the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet SAW or in the practice of his noble companions. Had it been a commendable practice to celebrate this night, the exact date of this event would have been preserved accurately by the Ummah and the Holy Prophet SAW and his blessed companions would have given specific directions for it.
Therefore, it is not a Sunnah to celebrate the ‘Lailatul Meraj’. We cannot take any practice as a Sunnah by our own emotions, unless it is established through authentic sources that the Holy Prophet SAWor his noble companions have recognized it as such, otherwise it may become a bid’ah about which the Holy Prophet SAWhas observed in the following words:
“Whoever invents something in our religion which is not part of it, it is to be rejected.”
Being mindful of this serious warning, we should appreciate that the 27th night of the month of Rajab is not like ‘Lailatul Qadr’ or ‘Lailatul Bara’ah’ for which special merits have been mentioned expressly either by the Holy Quranor by the Holy Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam.
However, all the recognized modes of ibadah [worship] like salah, recitation of the Holy Qur’an, dhikr, etc. are commendable at any time, especially in the late hours of the night, and obviously the 27th night of Rajab is not an exception. Therefore, if someone performs any recognized ibadah in this night from this point of view, nothing can stop him from doing so, and he will be entitled to the thawab (reward) allocated for that recognized act of worship, Insha Allah). But it is not permissible to believe that performing ibadah in this night is more meritorious or carries more thawab like ‘Lailatul Qadr’ or ‘Lailatul Bara’ah’, because this belief is not based on any authentic verse or sunnah of the Holy Prophet SAW. Similarly, it is not a correct practice to celebrate this night on a collective scale and to invite people to special ritual congregations.
4.            Some people suggest some special modes of worship to be performed in this night. Since the Shari’ah prescribes no special mode of worship in this night, these suggestions are devoid of any authority and should not be acted upon.
It is believed by some that the Muslims should keep fast on the 27th Rajab. Although there are some traditions attributing special merits to the fast of this day, yet the scholars of Hadith have held these traditions as very weak and unauthentic reports which cannot be sufficient to establish a rule of Shari’ah. On the contrary, there is an authentic report that Sayyidina Umar RA used to forbid people from fasting on this day. He would compel them to eat if they had started fasting.
It should be borne in mind here that a ‘nafil’ fast can be observed on any day (except the six prohibited days of the year). Therefore, fasting on the 27th Rajab is not prohibited in itself. What is prohibited is the belief that fasting on this day is more meritorious than fasting in other normal days. One should not fast on this day with this belief. But if someone fasts therein, believing it to be a normal nafil fast, there is no harm in doing so.
Source: Madrasah Arabia Islamia Azadville


Kindly note that any mistake in the contents of this article is due to my imperfection as a human being as only Allah Subhanahu Wa-Ta'ala is perfect in all affairs.
May Allah Forgive us our sins, guide us right from the evil of insincere intention, save us from misguided knowledge and grant the entire ummah benefit from this work AMIN.
Kindly feel free to make comments, contributions or corrections where necessary.
May Allah Bless us all, AMIN

Monday 27 May 2013

The Impact Of Social Media On Islam



In the Name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Indeed all praise is due to Allah, we praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness, we seek refuge with Allah from our soul’s evil and our wrong doings, he whom Allah guides, no one can misguide, and he whom He misguides, no one can guide.
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad the Messenger of Allah and his family and Companions and all who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
Dear respective brother and sisters, elders ulama in Islam, Assalamu’alaikum wa rahamatullah.

Mass  media as we all know  is a means of public communication in  reaching a large audience, in the past this is usually achieved through the use of town-criers and horse men to deliver messages within and outside communities, those medium were less advanced and thus subject to control and also less probable of truncating the limits of Islamic jurisdictions.

Today this means has gradually evolved into the use of facilities like the satellite TV, telephones, billboard, social networks such as Facebook, twitter, and so on. These social networks are today known as the social media because they invariable support the spread of information and in the least controlled manner also.
These modern media tools will in most cases serve to promote the traditional role of mass media as defined by the media practitioners which is to inform, educate, and to persuade the people by providing them with the right information and education on critical and trivial matters within and outside their environments.
The media can bring changes in behavior and attitude of the people by emphasizing certain issues.
 But today due to the lack of control and rightful actions, these tools are used to de-propagate the religion of Islam by showcasing anti-Islamic vices, promoting anti-Islamic ethics (westernization and western habits as well as their approach to matters)
We shall however outline some of its negative and positive impacts on Islam as well as a best practice approach to utilizing its potentials positively in-sha-Allah.

Negative effects of social and mass media

1.            promotion of indecency

Islam propagates the emulation of certain manners by Muslims, these manners are without a reason to better the ummah in general, and one of such is the lowering of the gaze as stipulated in the following ayah where Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala said Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do” [Surah An Noor 24:30]
 The rule of modesty applies to men as well as women. A brazen stare by a man at a woman (or even at a man) is a breach of this refined manner.
This is a commendable virtue which today has been abridged by the social media platforms we have. The expression of almost naked pictures of both men and women on social media such a Facebook, Blackberry messenger, twitter as well as all other electronic communication mediums has made it almost impossible for the Muslim community that utilizes such tools to uphold such a noble command from the Almighty Allah.
This is ultimately because it is not easy refusing to enlarge the display picture of that Aura exposed girls or guy on your social network profile.
 2.            Unguarded Utterances
 One of the founding principles of the media is “freedom of speech”, freedom of speech irrespective of its effect on the individuality of society, freedom of speech weather blasphemous in  nature to the principles of not only islam but also other people ideology in general.
This principle of mass media practice has been transferred to the social media of today and has caused several negative tendencies to its users which include the Muslims in general, tendencies such the act of engaging in illicit discussion with the opposite sex and all that care to participate, public insult/abuse of individuals via these electronic means, display of illicit pictures of one’s self and foes, all these are done in the name of “freedom of speech and expression”.
Abu hurairah reported that the messenger of Allah SAW said, “…He who believes in Allah and the last day, let him speak good or remain silent” Bukhari and Muslim
The Prophet has commanded “good” in the speech of man, this is to promote good qualities in individuals and promote peaceful coexistence beyond the right to utter anything we like in the name of “freedom of speech and expression” which only end in sowing seed of discourse between people.
This prophetic manner is also an indication of the faith in Muslim for He said …He who believes in Allah and the last day…”
This manner is fast becoming absent today in the way words are being exchanged through social media. Updates of Un-godly statement are the trends of the day on our social media.
The spread of illicit pictures and lyrics of western songs has done no good but succeeded in corrupting the minds of the Muslim ummah against upholding good virtues and manner as stated in the quoted hadith above.
Reading these messages, engaging in hearing them or promoting their subsequent multiplication will invariably lead to a decline of iman in the hearts of any Muslim, a danger which today drives some even out of Islam. Subhanallah
Or how do you explain your individual “belief in the messenger and the last day” when you have chosen bad and illicit utterances as against prophetic traditions and manners.
We should be aware that the things we write online are also recorded by the angels so we shouldn’t allow ourselves to fall into a false sense of security thinking that our anonymous comments go unrecorded.
 3.            Demonization of Islamic clerics and Muslims

Opposing basic rights are the primary images that are repeatedly portrayed through the media,
 This creates misconceptions that portray Islam as a religion of violence, today the western Media has launched a campaign against Islam in the name of a campaign against terror by referring to these clerics or the Muslims as “terrorist”, “extremist”, “radical Islamist”.
These are all misconceptions about Islam that are due to the media’s prejudice and ignorance mostly because not enough knowledge is always sought in Islam
Abu Darda reported that the prophet SAW said “nothing will be heavier on the scale of the believers on the day of resurrection than good manners; Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language”
 At-Tirmidhi
In another tradition, Abdullah Bin Umar reported that the Prophet SAW said “the best of companions to Allah is one who is best to his companions and the best of neighbors to Allah is the one who is the best of them to his neighbors.  At Tirmidhi
 So how does one define as “radical” a religion that preaches the best of manners and thereby forbidden the utterance of utter and foul language?
How do you define as “extreme” a religion that preaches the best in a man as that who is best to his neighbors?
So how does one define as “terrorism” a religion that preaches kindness to animals and even plants?
The media today does not carry or portray all that is good in the religion of Islam but miss-represents it mostly through doctored or one sided show in order to influence people’s views on Islam.
The Western media usually identifies “Islam” in Muslim conflicts. It hardly points other religions out in their conflicts.
For example, the news would say, "Five Israelis may have been shot, but they were shot by five Muslims", instead of saying "Five Israelis were shot by five Palestinians". The media often reverses this action when a conflict is against Muslims, for example the news would usually say "Bosnians are being killed by Serbians", but instead rarely says, "Muslims are being killed by Christians”
The negative impact of the media and social media in general are numerous but that also in not without an advantage in plays in the role Muslims lives and Islam as a religion.

Positive effects social and mass media
 1.            Teaching the Quran.
 Uthman bin Affan reported that The Prophet said, "The most superior among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it."
It is not without doubt that this is a indeed a noble tradition, the social media no doubt today presents us with countless opportunities to achieve this spiritual superiority before Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. Muslims today have developed countless ways of giving online courses in Arabic, Tajweed and so on through the social media and internet.
People can now learn the language of the Quran as well as its recitation within the comfort of their homes. Islamic internet websites provides question and answer segments which are closely regulated by certified clerics and Ulamas of the Deen and I don’t mean sheikh Google and Mufti Facebook. Masha Allah
 2.            The ease of propagating dawah.
 During the early Islamic era, the Sahabis and other muslims ride Horses or use other local transportation means to travel to nations to in order to call them to Islam, the religion was propagated through dawah in gatherings or during discussions with individuals, these local means of communications thou not as viable and fast but nonetheless aided successfully the spread of islam through the special grace of Allah.
The Prophet SAW said “If Allah guides a person through you, it is better for you than all that is on the earth.”
And in another tradition The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said  "God, His angels and all those in Heavens and on Earth, even ants in their hills and fish in the water, call down blessings on those who instruct others in beneficial knowledge." - Al-Tirmidhi
We have an advanced media and other electronic means of communications today to that can enable us achieve so much more that’s better than all that’s on this earth before Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.
A simple message today on Islamic propagation can be viewed and read by billions of people around the globe through the use of social media platform and electronic aids.
This social and electronic media in this regards provide us with the opportunity to enlighten more individuals about Islam within a concise span of time, so therefore if used right has no limit to extend of which the messages of islam as a religion travels to all around the world, this can also be used to positively correct the view of islam in the minds of certain individuals.
Methods of constructive usage of social media and electronic aids
 1.             Ensure that you limit yourself to the quest for useful knowledge always, The Prophet SAW said, “He who sets foot on a path in the quest of knowledge, Allah facilitates for him the path to Paradise. Tirmidhi.
It is therefore essential for us that if we must indulge in the use of the social and mass media, then we should do so in such a manner that it will be beneficial to use with respect to the acquisition of rightful knowledge and May Allah guide us to paradise through such venture. Amin
 2.            We live in an environment dominated by non-Islamic values and behaviors. Parents and elders should understand that Islam makes it clear that children are a blessing, a trust, and a test from Allah, Allah says, “And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial and surely with Allah is the mighty reward” (Suratul Anfal: 28)
This remind us of a binding responsibility to ensure that we instill the path of guidance on those we are responsible for be it our friends, brothers and sisters as well as our children.
We can always endeavor to educate them on the most effective ways to utilize the media tools they find at their disposal.
3.            The social media today enables us to bridge communication boundaries by staying in a virtual company of people from all over the world. This is similar to a gathering of people around each other but just with the absence of physical presence.
We therefore stand to benefit just as much w in a social/virtual gathering as we would in a physical one. And this is of course with reference to our contacts on Facebook, twitter, blackberry, yahoo, google+, TUMBLR and so on.
Prophet Muhammad SAW said: “The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk, and the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows. So as for the seller of musk then either he will grant you some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows then either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him.” Bukhari and Muslim
And In another Tradition, the Prophet Muhammad SAW said: Mix with the noble people, you become one of them; and keep away from evil people to protect yourself from their evils.” Bukhari and Muslim
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala says
“And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.” [Al-Isra’i  18:28]
My dear Brothers and sisters we can see from the hadith and Ayah the Importance of keeping good friends and also the effect of it.  If we stay with someone for a long period of time, after some time the quality of that person that we are with will be reflected in ourselves. We begin to talk or act like them so if their action and lives values are not in conformity with that of  Islam, we begin to loose our iman by  gradually being with them.
It is therefore imperative that we regulate the communication we make with people through the social and mass media to that which will benefit us and Islam positively.



Kindly note that any mistake in the contents of this article is due to my imperfection as a human being as only Allah Subhanahu Wa-Ta'ala is perfect in all affairs.
May Allah Forgive us our sins, guide us right from the evil of insincere intention, save us from misguided knowledge and grant the entire ummah benefit from this work AMIN.
Kindly feel free to make comments, contributions or corrections where necessary.
May Allah Bless us all, AMIN