Today’s American political landscape can be quite a confusing and frightening place. The ideas of the Founding Fathers are commonly cited as the foundation of the nation. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are seen as the infallible documents on which American life are based. Freedom, democracy, and liberty are the cornerstones of political and social ideas in the United States.

At the same time, however, the rising tide of Islamophobia is making its presence felt. Politicians support the characterization of Islamic life as incompatible with American society. Media “pundits” decry the supposed influence Muslims are having on destroying the basis of American political and social ideas.

The truly ironic part of this is that Muslims in fact helped formulate the ideas that the United States is based on. While this article will not argue that Islam and Muslims are the only cause of the American Revolution, the impact that Muslims had on the establishment of America is clear and should not be overlooked.

Islamic Philosophy and the Enlightenment

The political and social ideas that caused the American colonists to revolt against the British Empire were formulated in a movement known as the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that argued that science and reason should be the basis of human society, not blind following of monarchs and church authority.

Children are the coolness of their parents’ eyes. ‘Coolness of eyes’ is an Arabic expression. It means that if someone is deeply depressed, his “eyes are warm” as opposed to a mother whose “eyes are cool” when she cries upon seeing her child after many years.

When the ‘season of tests and exams’ arrives, the entire parent fraternity is bogged down with preparation, stressing themselves and straining their children. The worst arguments arise during this season. As the D-Day approaches, another storm in the box is waiting to explode. Pre-result day talks include: “Wait till you get your report” and the sanctions are all set to be implemented.

The most important thing at stake is the child’s self-esteem, which should be respected in order for him to achieve success in the future. The aim is to help the child develop a balanced personality, which is neither over-confident nor of an individual who thinks very low of himself.

Some positive ways to turn this occasion into a beneficial event are:

• Publicly discussing the unpleasant will always bring ill feelings and estranged relationship. It is not very hard to choose between result and relationship. A healthy relationship is directly proportional to good results in all the exams of life. This is the only thing which can positively influence an individual’s way of thinking and living.

Somewhere in a small village and across the globe, there are couples pledging their lives to one another, committing to a lifelong journey, their better half thereby making them one. The Qur’an has described this union like this:

”…They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them...” (Surah Al Baqarah2:187).

Other mentions of the union include: “And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.” (Surah Ar Rum 30:21)

Though many an article have been written about the rights of women in Islam, very few deal with the rights of the husband. And of those that do, they paint a backward portrait of Islam; making it seem as though women are slaves to the man. What people fail to realise is that with rights comes responsibilities. Islam has put that into consideration.

Think about women who have broken stereotypes and overcome boundaries by working, raising children and also stepping up to the challenge for the impoverished, ill and oppressed. How do these women do all this and still maintain good relationships with their spouses?

As-Salaamu Alaikum Brothers & Sisters,

For 30 years already, Masjid King Khalid has been serving the muslim community of the greater Raleigh metropolitan: now is your time to  Support this mosque

2013 marks Masjid King Khalid at Shaw University 30th Anniversary. In recognition of this milestone in our community's rich history we are planning a 30th Anniversary Celebration Event & Conference at the end of the year.

In order to raise money to finance an event of this magnitude, we need your help.
Over the course of the next few months, Masjid King Khalid will be asking you to assist us in raising the funds necessary to execute this worthwhile event by getting involved with our mini-fund raiser events that we will hold at least twice a month.

How you can help? There are several ways to get involved with these fundraising initiatives:

1 - You can sign up yourself and your children to come out and help execute the Saturday Barbecue & Food Sales Event in front of Masjid King Khalid.
The 1st one is scheduled from 12pm - 5pm on Saturday, May 25th 2013.

The words Islam (Islam or submission) and iman (faith or belief) are often used interchangeably. Strictly speaking, iman is something which has entered the heart whereas Islam is more a matter of practice (cf. Q 49.14). The Qur’an defines the content of belief as God, the last day, the angels, the Scripture and the prophets (Q 2.177).

Islam is built on five pillars: The profession that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the messenger of God; performance of the ritual prayer; payment of the obligatory charity; the pilgrimage; and the fast of Ramadan. — SB 1.9, Ibn Umar

The true Muslim is one whose tongue and hand other Muslims do not fear. The true emigrant is one who flees what God has forbidden. — SB 19, Abdallah ibn Amr

When a man calls his fellow Muslim an infidel one of them certainly deserves that title! — SB 8.32, Abu Hurayra

None of you really believes until he desires for his fellow Muslim what he desires for himself. — SB 1.10, Anas

None of you is a complete believer unless he has more affection for me than he has for his father, for his children and for all the rest of the human race. — SB 1.10, Abu Hurayra

It is He who has created the night and the day and the sun and the moon: each moves swiftly in its own orbit.Never have We granted life everlasting to any man before you. Should you yourself die, do they, perchance, hope to live forever?
Every soul shall taste death. We test you all with evil and good by way of trial. To Us you all must return. (The Prophets: 21: 33-35)

The first of these verses concludes references to a number of universal phenomena that are worthy of deep contemplation as they point clearly to the fact of creation and God’s power over every thing in the universe. "It is He who has created the night and the day and the sun and the moon: each moves swiftly in its own orbit."

The night and day are two universal phenomena, while the sun and the moon are two great celestial bodies that are closely related to human life on Earth and to life generally. When we contemplate the succession of the day and night and the movement of the sun and the moon, we realize that they are so accurate to admit no defect, and so consistent to allow no failure. Such contemplation is sufficient to guide our hearts and minds to the facts that the law system that applies to them is one, the will governing them is one and their great Maker is one.

This first passage of the Surah, which we have been discussing over the last few weeks, concludes with an outline that links the laws relevant to the creation, formation and sustenance with those relevant to the nature and destiny of human life: "Never have We granted life everlasting to any man before you. Should you yourself die, do they, perchance, hope to live forever? Every soul shall taste death. We test you all with evil and good by way of trial. To Us you all must return."