• Finances of the Masjid
• The Islamic Library
• New Muslims
• Brother Needs Funds for Wife
• Meetings and Prayers
• More Progress on the Building Fund
• Celebrating Eid
• The Muslim Man

Finances of the Masjid

More and more Masjid An-Nur is finding it harder to pay bills and provide area Muslims with financial assistance when needed. Zakat and operations money is needed desperately.

Monthly donations to operations have slackened off because some of those that pledged monthly payments are not paying. We only have four families that give regularly to operations.Unfortunately, those that said they would contribute monthly are receiving pledge reminders and just throwing them away. Because of this, we are having to use what little Zakat money we receive to pay the operating bills of the Masjid.

Please give to Operations and Zakat and keep this Masjid alive and available for those that need its warm walls to do their prayers and financial support in hard times. It is the duty of all of us to provide for our Masjid and for those that are in need of assistance. Do it today before it is too late and you stand before Allah and he asks you why you did not spare $20 a month to support your Masjid. We can all spare something. None of us are free of this obligation. Give today!

"... and whoever is saved from the greediness of his soul, these it is that are the successful." Quran (64:16).

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Due to the donation of books from The Path to Knowledge, Masjid An-Nur now has a library of books available for all interested. These books will become available at the Masjid shortly; however, there are a few things that are essential when using these books.

The Path to Knowledge made it clear in donating these books that they must be made available to all Muslims - men, women and children alike. Therefore, these books will be placed in the main area on the first floor next to the women's prayer area.

It is also important that those checking books out understand that if they do not return the books in a timely fashion then others will not benefit from their knowledge. Anyone checking out books must sign the check-out form provided and know that if they are not returned the Treasurer will call and ask for their return or for a reimbursement to the Masjid for the price of the book.

Please be considerate to others and bring the books back when due, as everyone should benefit from these books. Those wishing to browse or read them in the Masjid itself are more than welcome as long as they return them to their proper place.

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The Path to Knowledge donated packets of information for those individuals newly converted to Islam. When a new member takes his or her shahadah, they will receive free information on Islam basics.

These packets must be given to new Muslims only that are in need of this information. Please contact the Imam or a member of the Shurrah Council for more information.

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One of the brother's of our Masjid has found a wife in Morocco and is planning to go there in March to marry and bring her back. He is in need of financial assistance for a plane ticket there and tickets to fly them both back to the United States. If you are interested in donating money to this Brother, you can either send it to Masjid An-Nur with a clear not stating that it is for this purpose.

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Following are scheduled meeting/prayer times. Contact the Imam for more information/time changes.

• Friday Prayers - 12:30 p.m.
• Sunday School - Sunday 12:00 p.m.
• Prayer Class - Monday 5:30 p.m.
• Discussion Group - Wednesday 7 -8 p.m.

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More Progress

During calendar year 1997, we raised over $10,000 for the Building Fund. We are now at $37,400! - 50% of our goal! This is an amazing milestone. Please give generously to this cause. We are on the verge of really making this new Masjid happen.

We have also applied to Muslim charities for funds, but this will not happen if these charities do not see that we are committed to our Masjid. Show them how committed we are by giving today and you'll receive three-fold the reward from Allah for giving during Ramadan.

Our goal is to break ground for the new Masjid, Inshallah, during spring or early summer. Please give generously to the Building Fund -- for a new House of Allah.

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Celebrating Eid

Eating Before the Eid Prayer

"On the day of Eid al-Fitr the Prophet (PBUH) would never go to the Eid prayer without having eaten dates, and he always used to eat an odd number of them." (Hadith authenticated by Bukhari)

Attendance of Women to the Eid Prayers

Umm ‘Atiyyah (PBUH) narrated: "Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) ordered us to take middle-aged and young women to the Eid prayer place on both Eids so that they could take part in the celebration and be part of the congregation." (Hadith authenticated by Bukhari)

It must be mentioned, however, that women should only attend if they are appropriately covered, even if it means borrowing what is needed from a sister.

Omission of the Adhan and the Iqamah

Jabir bin Samurah (PBUH) narrated: "Not once, not twice, but many times I prayed the Eid prayer with the Prophet (PBUH), and there was neither an adhan nor an iqamah pronounced for the prayer." (Hadith authenticated by Muslim and Ahmad)

The Adhan is not needed as everyone is waiting the arrival of the prayer, and the iqamah is not needed as the Eid prayer is not compulsory.

Absence of Nafl Prayers

Abdullah bin Abbas (PBUH) narrated: "When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) arrived at the Eid prayer place, he prayed only the two rakahs of the Eid prayer; he did not pray any prayer before or after it."

The Muslim man has several main responsibilities under Islam. Some of these responsibilities are described below, as taken from the book The Responsibilities of the Muslim Man by Imam Abu Muslimah As-Salafy. The Muslim Man is in focus here because he is the backbone of the Muslim society, and what he does affects the women and children. It is the Muslim Man's responsibility to provide a true Islamic atmosphere for their women and children.   (Continued)

Each Muslim man is called to worship Allah. This is his first and most important responsibility. To worship Allah is to fear him, as a verse in Surah Alee Imran implies (3:102): "O you who believe, fear Allah as he out to be feared and don't die except as Muslims."

Therefore, the first obligation of a Muslim is to worship and praise Allah. A Muslim man should be thankful to Allah for what he has provided for him -- from his wealth to his wife and children. Nothing that Allah has given should be taken for granted.

To Establish Salaah in the Masjid

In a Hadith related by Bukhari and Muslim, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "I swear by the One who my soul is in his hands, I definitely wanted to gather some firewood, to command someone to call the adhan, to command someone else to lead the salaah, and then to go to those men who remained behind and to burn their houses down."

As Muslims, men are enjoined to perform their prayers at the Masjid whenever they can and are required to attend Juma'a prayers on Fridays. This means that even if you do not agree with the way the Masjid is run or do not like a fellow Muslim brother that attends the Masjid, you are still obligated to go to the Masjid to offer your salaah. There is no excuse. If you feel you cannot go to a particular Masjid, then it is your obligation to find or build one where you would feel comfortable.

Offering Salaah only on Fridays is what is required but is not what you should strive for. You should strive to offer your salaahs as many times a week as you can, taking into consideration your work and family obligations.

To Give Da'wah

All Muslim men are obligated to call people to the religion of Islam. This, however, must be done in the proper manner. First of all, it must be done with clear proof and knowledge and it must be done in the best of manners. Furthermore, it should not be done arrogantly or rudely as to make the other person feel belittled or offended.

"I command you to call to the path of your Lord [with wisdom] and with good exhortation; and argue [or debate] with them in the finest manner. Indeed your Lord knows best who is astray from his path and he knows best who is guided." (Surah Nahl - 16:125)

"I command you to say ‘This is my path. I am calling to Allah on [clear proof and knowledge] and so are those who follow me; and, subhana Allah I am not of the Mushrikeen.'" (Surah Yusuf - 12:108)

To Acquire Knowledge

Each Muslim man is called to acquire as much knowledge of Islam as possible. This means understanding the Quran, not just reading it in Arabic and not knowing what is being said. This also means using your intelligence to read the Hadith and other sources of knowledge to have a clear, rounded understanding of what Islam asks of Muslims.

"Seeking knowledge is compulsory on every Muslim." (Hadith authenticated by Bukhari and Muslim)

To Change Wrong

The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Whomever among you sees a wrong, then he should change it with his hands. And if he is not able to, change it with his tongue. And if he is not able to, then hate it in his heart and that is the weakest part of Iman [faith]." (Hadith authenticated by Imam Muslim)

A Muslim must always try to change what they see as wrong in the best way they can. If they are unable to change it with their own hands at the time of the error, they should speak against it and let the wrongdoer know that deed was wrong.

However, if the Muslim fears for his life, he should hate it in his heart. However, if a Muslim man sees something wrong and doesn't not say or do anything when he is given the opportunity, he will be condemned along with that wrongdoer. This is not to say that one should not correct it in the best way possible, as everything done in the name of Allah should be done in the finest manner possible.

The Prophet (PBUH) stated, "If the people see an oppressive person [a wrongdoer] and the people don't stop him, then it is soon that Allah will get all of them together in the punishment." (Hadith authenticated by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhee)

To Perfect One's Character

Among the responsibilities of the Muslim Man is to perfect their character. It is for this reason that Prophet Muhanned (PBUH) was sent to humanity, and this is why the Hadith plays such an important role in a Muslim's life.

Therefore, the Hadith should be studied in order to gain knowledge of how the Prophet (PBUH) led his life, how he interacted with his wives and his community, both Muslim and non-Muslim. We must understand that the Prophet was as human as the rest of us, but he was given a special role by Allah to guide us to the right way of living our lives.

Good character should be applied no matter where we are -- in the Masjid, in public and especially in our homes. Too often men feel that they only have to display good character at the Masjid or in front of the community, then they turn around and speak harshly to their family and treat their women and children unfairly and with disrespect and little kindness. This is wrong. Women and children rely on men to display the type of character that Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) displayed as they are not able to defend themselves against men. Therefore, it is even more critical for the Muslim Man to show perfect character in front of their women and children.

To Marry

"O you group of young men, I command you to get married if you have the ability to do so because, indeed, this is better for lowering your gaze and guarding your private parts. And whoever is not able to, then I command him to fast because it is a means of castration [it is a means for removing his sexual desires]". (Hadith authenticated by Bukhari and Muslim)

Indeed, the Prophet (PBUH) makes it clear in this Hadith that getting married is to be regarded as a sunnah and very respectful of Allah. Furthermore, with regard to perfecting one's religion and character, marriage is 50 percent of that: "When a man marries, he indeed perfects half of his religion. Then he should fear Allah for the remaining half." (Hadith authenticated by Bukhari)

Marriage is a big responsibility of the Muslim Man, as he is the provider and the protector of the women and children. All too often we see men not living up to those responsibilities and finding no wrong in letting their wives support them. Many men look for women of wealth just so they won't have to support them. This is very wrong and completely against Islam. When a Muslim man marries, he alone is responsible for the care, maintenance and protection of the woman and any children they may have together.

To Live in Kindness With Your Wives

Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) stressed in his last Khutbah and several other times during his lifetime that Muslim men are to live in kindness with their wives. Furthermore, Surah Al-Nisah (4:10) states, "I command you to live with the women in kindness." So, not only did the Prophet (PBUH) stressed this, but Allah directly commands the men to do so.

All too often women find themselves at the mercy of their husband's harsh talk and inconsiderate attitudes. Even if a wife does not complain to him, the Muslim man should always be striving to repent and change. He knows when he has spoken wrongly to his wife, and he knows exactly what it is that Allah has commanded him to do. Men and women are not alike, as stated in Surah Alee Imran (3:36) "... and the male is not like the female ..." This is a reminder to the Muslim Man that women think and act differently then men, not because they are wrong, but because that is the way that Allah made them. Men should not try to straighten the women out, as it would break them, but they should also not leave them to their own devices either. Men and women are complementing companions to one another, and the Muslim Man should not try to make the woman just like himself, as the Prophet (PBUH) said in another Hadith "... breaking them is divorcing them."

To Provide for the Women

A Muslim man is responsible for providing for his wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters from out of the wealth that Allah has so generously given him.

Providing and maintaining does not just mean giving them money; it also means providing them with an environment and home life that is conducive to practicing Islam. It means providing the family with the materials and instruction needed to learn about Islam, as well as setting an example yourself of proper Muslim character. The Muslim man must know and practice Islam himself if he expects his family to do so. How can he expect his wife to pray five times a day and speak kindly to him and others if he doesn't do so himself?

To Provide According to One's Means

As Allah commands in Surah Talaq (65:7), "I command the rich man to give his wealth like he is rich to his family. And I command the poor man to give of that which Allah has given to him. Allah does not burden a soul except that which he has given it."

Don't be stingy with your wealth. Women have the right to take what is sufficient for them if they feel that you are not providing adequately for them or your children.

"Take whatever you need from his wealth for yourself and for your children." (Hadith authenticated by Bukhari) So, if you find some of your wealth missing every now and then, know that your wife has a legitimate right to take from it to provide for the family.