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O Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning shall be established! 14:41

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Duties and Honesty

[This article is an excerpt from a future book InSha'Allah. The copyright is reserved by the author and this Newsletter. We pray that he will finish this book soon. May the Almighty Lord protect him and reward him for his goodness. He gives success through His mercy to whomsoever of them that works righteousness, Ameen]

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala) says in Sura-tul Mutaffifeen (83:1-3), “Woe to the cheaters! Who, when they take the measure (of their dues) from men, take it fully. And when they measure out to others or weigh out for them, they give less than is due.”

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala) constantly implores us repeatedly in the Qur’an  “Wa-tta-kullah: Keep your duty to Allah”. A part of this duty is fairness and honesty in our work and in earning our livelihood. When we receive our paycheck or compensation for our work, we expect the full remuneration that we were promised in our contract. We must likewise be equally wary that we have fully performed the job required of us with honesty, integrity, diligence, and timeliness. In this same spirit, if we are capable of working, but choose willingly to depend on others to support us, then we are cheating our family or community. Work is an honorable duty of man, and to strive and exert a due effort to achieve any desired end is a law of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala).

When Bibi Mariam (Alaihe AlSalam) was suffering from the throes of childbirth, she rested in pain and hunger against the trunk of a date palm tree. It would have been easy for Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala) to alleviate her pain and to miraculously feed her. After all, she was carrying His

illustrious Nabiy Isa (Alaihe AlSalam) in her womb. But instead, we are told in Surah Mariam (19:23-26), a voice came to her, “Grieve not, surely thy Lord has provided a stream beneath thee. And shake toward thee the trunk of the palm-tree, it will drop on thee fresh ripe dates. So eat and drink and cool the eye.” Even in the frail state of childbirth, she was asked to work and exert to achieve the provision that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala) had gifted her.

The concept of Mutaffifeen has a wider significance. Once a man did not attend the prayer in time, and being questioned by Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the father-in-law of Nabiy Muhammad [Sallallahu Alayhi (Waalhi) wa salam], offered a lame excuse. Umar, in reference to the above verses from Surah-tul Mutaffifeen replied to him,“Taffafta: Thou hast defaulted”. Hence, Mutaffifeen refers not only to those who cheat others by giving them less than their due, but also to those who default in any of their duties, in general.

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By the grace of the Almighty lord, the Kufa Center of Islamic Knowledge (KCIK) is dedicated to serve Islam and Humanity, and we are delighted to sponsor the Islamic Seminar. We are honored to cordially invite any professional, thinker, educationist, scientist, scholar and spiritual leader to benefit the society as a whole. We kindly request from our respectful speakers who would like to give a speech to submit in advance a copy of their speech. O’ Lord, It is the right of our tongue that we should consider it abominable to utter obscene language, and we should accustom it to good speech and discipline it with good manners. And keep it silent except in time of necessity and for spiritual or material benefit. And keep it away from superfluous, reviling, useless talk, which may cause harm or little benefit. Grant us intelligent and wisdom to use this gift of speech well. And there is no power but with You the High and Great lord.

We seek the harmony of differing cultures and our aim is to promote just peace at all levels, local, regional and global. The Center services are free of charge, and anyone who is interested to visit us, please contact the Center and honor us with your present. All participants are welcome, there is no registration form, or fee, and refreshments will be served free of charge. Jazakum Allah Khair (May almighty lord Reward You With Goodness), Ameen.

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A large number of requests, through phone calls, letters, and in person, have been received from those who are interested in the AL-KUFA Newsletter, Dawah program, the Prayer Time-Table and also from those who filled the Free Subscription / Cancellation Form for the AL-KUFA Newsletter. InSha'Allah, the Center will continue the prayer time-table for each month in the KCIK’s website. The number of requests for the AL-KUFA Newsletter for December 2000 increased by 100 copies. Please share this newsletter as well as other material you receive from us, including the Glorious Qur'an with others. Those who do not receive the AL-KUFA Newsletter may get it through KCIK’s website. If you receive more than one copy of this newsletter via a duplicate mailing, you can help us correct this by informing us and we thank you for that. Jazakum Allah Khair.

Our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of you. Because of the large numbers of letters that AL-KUFA has received, we will acknowledge and publish only some of these letters each time, and we are unable to include references due to space limitations. Our purpose of publishing these letters is to (a) make a certain plea known to the public in order that they might respond for the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala), (b) make us all aware of certain circumstances, or (c) to share a joyous news as well as to make Dua'as and Prayers for those who are ill or have lost a loved one, and also for the one they have lost. NOTE: For those who are interested in announcing the birth of a child, sponsorship of orphan/child, graduation, wedding, death, or to publish matrimonial or employment interests, please contact the Kufa Center of Islamic Knowledge {you must include a telephone number for matrimonial requests and please include your full name in English as well as your complete address, telephone number, and identification number with picture}. Those who send letters and e-mails, please also provide the Center with your telephone numbers. In addition, brothers and sisters who are requesting of us various Islamic materials and messages, please provide us with a full name, postal address, telephone number, and e-mail address. If this is to be sent to an institution, please ensure that the institution will accept such material(s), even if it is just the AL-KUFA Newsletter. (Please informs us in this case about the committed name and DC number for ID). Please type your request(s) and sign the paper. Insha'Allah, we will continue sending this newsletter to whoever wishes to receive it. Also, we request readers to let us know their new addresses when they relocate. Thank you brothers and sisters, and may Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) reward all of you. Jazakum Allah Khairan.

AL-KUFA received letters, e-mails faxes and telephone calls. Our special thanks and appreciation to all brothers and sisters who took the time to call the Center with their prayers, support and substance. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) reward them and shower His blessings on all with His protection, Ameen.

The Center received letters from chaplains Christopher, Kimberly and Douglas in Florida, Dennis and Matt in Utah and Frederick in Delaware requesting copes Qur’an, videos, publications, cassette lectures and from chaplain Gene in Virginia acknowledging the receipt of two prayer rugs, ten copies of the Glorious Qur'an, and five Islamic caps (Kufi) that were sent to the City Roanoke Jail Muslim inmates. She also donated $50 and gave an Islamic book (Hardcover) to the Center and the Center received Islam books from Religious Scholar. Also, our brothers and sisters who sent their Islamic dues and/or donations of $100 (Zakat Al-Fitr), $25 and $25, from North Carolina, Virginia and California respectively. We thank you all for sharing your gifts from Almighty Lord with us. Jazakum Allah Khair (May Allah Reward You With Goodness).

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[Continued From Vol.6, No.6]

A Muslim woman may wear whatever she pleases in the presence of her husband and family or among women friends. But when she goes out or when men other than her husband or close family (not legal for marriage) are present, she is expected to wear a dress which covers all parts of her body, as stated before, and which should not reveal the figure. These relevant verses above (33:59, 24:30-31) are directed to men and women alike. It exhorts women to cover themselves when they go out and urges both men and women to lower their gaze and behave modestly in the presence of the opposite sex. The Glorious Qur'an says, “And the men who guard their private parts and the women who guard (their private parts), and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember Allah (much), for them hath been prepared forgiveness and a great recompense.” 33:35

Islam has no fixed standard as to the style of dress or type of clothing that Muslims must wear. However, some requirements must be met. The first of these requirements is that the aforementioned parts of the body must be covered. Islam has two sources for guidance and rulings: first, the Qur'an, the revealed word of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) and secondly, the Hadith or the traditions of the Nabiy (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wa Salam) who was chosen by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) to be the role model for mankind, and whose sayings, teaching, and life are also part of the revealed word of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala).

The clothing must be loose enough so as not to reveal the shape of the woman's body. One desirable way to hide the shape of the body is to wear a cloak over the other clothes. However, if the clothing is loose enough, an outer garment is not necessary. Thickness of clothing is also a requirement. The clothing must be thick enough so as not to show the color of the skin it covers, or the shape of the body (Muslim). Another requirement is an overall dignified appearance. The clothing should not attract men's attention. It should not be shiny and flashy so that everyone notices the dress and the woman. In addition there are other requirements: For both men and women, clothing requirements are not meant to be a restriction but rather a way in which society will function in a proper, Islamic manner. Men have been instructed to restrain their eyes and guard their morals against indecency. Women have not only been enjoined like men to observe these commands, but they have been given some additional instructions for their dress. The Divine Commandment does not mean that men and women should always look down and should never look at each other. Men and women can interact within the confines of Islam, and have been enjoined by the Shari’ah (Islamic Law) to look at each other (as permissible in regard to clothing) before marriage.

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Inna Lilallahe Wa Inna Ilailhe Raajeoon

In January of this year, the sadness of the untimely demise of our Muslim brothers Hajji Jasim Al-Najadah and Hajji Adel Al-Najadah and sisters Hajjiah Aysha Al-Shamali, Hajjiah Afifa Bint Fatima Bint Rowthan (Um Saadi from Colorado), and Hajjiah Aisha Abu Hawwas (Um Ismail from Virginia). Sisters, brothers, sons, daughters and many grandchildren survive the first families Al-Najadah and Al-Shamali. Their son, brother Hajji Ali S. AL-Najadah wrote, “My heart is torn into small pieces for them, in remembrance of their care and love not for their own families, but for others.” Six daughters and two sons, and many grandchildren survive Hajjiah Afifa of second families of Rowthan and Jassiam. Her daughter, sister Jabria Jassiam from Illinois wrote, "She was a unique human being in her daily jihad for her family and her Islam. She didn’t have the opportunity to go to school and learn how to read or write, but she wanted her children to attain the highest degree of education, and so she worked hard and pushed as much as she could to achieve that. She never refused to help ‘miskeen’ [(poor and/ needy wretch) individual], the orphans, or any person in need. She disappeared from the house for an hour or so and we all got upset because we needed her to make us ready to go to school. She usually awoke around 5:00am every day to bake the bread in the ‘tanoor’ (clayoven), and she would walk few a blocks to give the fresh bread to some needy families in the neighborhood. She never told anybody about where she was giving and what she was doing. She believed very strongly in helping others anonymously, so as to preserve dignity of the person who needed the help. She loved children and helped many families raise their children and never complained in her whole life about any burden, whether financial or physical, from neighbors, friends, relatives or even strangers. I always loved that woman and wanted to be patient and strong like her.” Sister Jabria donated $300, to be spending on behalf of her mother for good things, especially for Dawah. Six sons and four daughters, and many grandchildren survive Hajjiah Aisha of third family of Abu Hawwas. We pray for Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala), mercy for them them and also for the Muslims who died in the tragic earthquake in India and Pakistan. The Glorious Qur'an says, “Every soul shall taste of death; Then unto Us (only) ye shall (all) be returned.” 29:57

The KCIK and the editors of AL-KUFA Newsletter send their deepest and most sincere heartfelt condolences, to their families, relatives and friends. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala), for sake of His chosen one, give them patience, courage, and strength to accept His Will. The Glorious Qur'an says, “And those who believe and do good, certainly will We lodge them in the exalted place, in the gardens beneath which flow rivers, they shall abide therein; How excellent is the recompense of those who act right.” 29:58

We pray to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) to alleviate the deep sorrow of their families, relatives, and friends. Their spirit still lives in the minds of their families, especially our brother Hajji Ali, sister Jabria, Ismail, Ibrahim, and also the families of the victims of the earthquake. We request to you all who are able to assist, even with prayers, to make every effort to help and to ease the sufferings of the victims of the tragic earthquake in India and Pakistan. O' Lord, let me not forget to remember them after my ritual prayers, and forgive them through my supplication, Ameen. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) bless their departed soul, shroud them with mercy and forgiveness, and grant them company with the righteous, and appoint for them the gardens of Paradise, and rest their souls in peace, and join their souls with that of the true believers, “And join me with the righteous.” O' Lord, reward them for their goodness, Ameen. The Glorious Qur'an says, "Who when, misfortune befalleth them, say, to Allah we belong and to Him is our return." 2:156 O Lord, let it be one of the gates to Thy Forgiveness and one of the keys of the Mercy and let them abide in Thy Paradise, Ameen.

We ask our readers to read Surah Fateha (The Opening the Glorious Qur'an) and pray for them and their family.

Surah Alfatiha

,Bism-Illah-Ir-Rahman-lr-Ahim [In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful]

Alhamdu Lillahi Rabbil Aalameen [(All praise is (only) Allah's, the Lord of the worlds]

Ar Rahmanir Rahim [The Beneficent, the Merciful]

Malike Yamwiddin [Master of the Day of Judgment]

Iyyaka Na'abodo Wa-Iyy-Yaka Nastaien [Thee (alone) do we worship, and of Thee (only) we seek help]

Ih Dinas Siratal Mostaqim [Guide us (O' Lord) toward the Right Path]

Siratal La-Thee Na An Amta Alaihim Ghairil Maghdhoobi Alaihim Wa La-Dhalleen [The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed Thy bounties, not (the path) of those who were inflicted with Thy wrath, nor (of those) who lead astray] Ameen. Jazakum Allahu Khairan.

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A genuine believer learns from a mistake and responds to the accompanying loss by turning it into a gain in the sight of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala).

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O’ Lord! I ask Your love, I entreat Thee by Thy benevolence to draw me nearer to Thee. And grant me that I should be grateful to Thee and inspire me to remember and to invoke Ameen.

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Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) said, “A Muslim puts his hand in a hole where a scorpion has bitten him only once!”

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Silence is the best reply to a fool. Humility the outcome of knowledge. To assist the wrong is to oppress the right. Friendship is impossible with a liar. Enmity is the occupation of fools. Pride impedes progress and mars greatness. Boasting issues from small minds. None is more respected than a pious man. Your tongue will speak out what it is accustomed to. One’s behavior is the index to one’s mind.

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