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Black & White Modern Chic Edgy Minimal Email Newsletter

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Pillars of Islam (Zakat)

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خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ صَلاَتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ﴿9:103﴾
“Ambillah (sebahagian) dari harta mereka menjadi sedekah, supaya dengannya engkau membersihkan mereka (dari dosa) dan mensucikan mereka (dari akhlak yang buruk), dan doakanlah untuk mereka, kerana sesungguhnya doamu itu menjadi ketenteraman bagi mereka, dan (ingatlah) Allah Maha Mendengar Lagi Maha Mengetahui.”

Surah At-Taubah (ayat 103)

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The topic that we choose for our group presentation is ‘Pillars Of Islam: Zakat’. We bring up this topic to make sure more peoples know about zakat as it also one of the important elements in the pillars of Islam. We also elaborated more on this topic as many people only know the basic things about it. Plus, we also divided this topic into a few parts to make it easier for us to present it to other peoples. For my part, I elaborate more about the objective of zakat, that is zakat as purification of the soul. Based on the Quranic verse and the poster above, it helps me to explain the topic in more depth. It helps me to clarify to others that zakat not only helps the poor but can also help to purify our soul from any bad traits such as envy, ripples, and ingratitude. As a result, it will make people more aware that there are many benefits of zakat that we never know and help us to realize that zakat not only bring benefits to the society and religion but also to the individual. Besides, throughout completing this task, we as one group collaborate in making this presentation going smoothly. As a part of usrah, it becomes our responsibility to remind each other about Islamic teachings. It is a great experience to work as one team in doing this topic. Member of my usrah group has done a great job in explaining and doing their part on the video.

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The Importance of Khushoo' in Prayer

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The topic that we choose for our group presentation is "The Importance of Khushoo' in Prayer". We bring up this topic to make sure more peoples know about khushoo' as it also one of the important elements in the Ibadah, especially prayers. We also elaborated more on this topic as many people only know the basic things about it. Plus, we also divided this topic into a few parts to make it easier for us to present it to other peoples. For my part, I elaborate more about the benefits of khushoo', that is Khushoo' helps us attain more blessing and rewards from Allah. Besides, I also explain more about the way to attain khushoo' such as wearing clean attire when praying. Based on the poster above, it helps me to explain the topic in more depth. It helps me to clarify to others that khushoo' is not impossible to achieve. As a result, it will make people more aware that there are many benefits of khushoo' that we never know. Besides, throughout completing this task, we as one group collaborate in making this presentation going smoothly. As a part of usrah, it becomes our responsibility to remind each other about Islamic teachings. It is a great experience to work as one team in doing this topic. Member of my usrah group has done a great job  in explaining their parts perfectly during the presentation.

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Throughout the usrah sessions, I managed to get many beneficial input that can be practice in life. The "Naqibah" also provides many helps for the usrah members especially regarding the tasks and some things that need further explanation in order to have better understanding about the topics that have been discussed. But, I think it will be more interesting to include some game sessions during the usrah which will improve the ukhuwah among members and some quiz sessions in order to increase the understanding about the topics. Overall, the "Naqibah" is doing a good job in conducting the usrah sessions which is very fun and interesting. Besides, every weeks we were given opportunity to learn certain topic related to Islamic practices which are really beneficial for all of us.

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For week 1, we managed to learn more about how to get benefits and positive values in our everyday worship towards Allah SWT.

-There are several conditions to attain the benefits from the Ibadah that we have done:

1. Our intention must be sincere. Everything that we have done must be based on the intention to attain His pleasure, Allah The Almighty.

2. Every Ibadah must be done based on the correct ways and reliable sources. In Islam, the reliable sources are Al-quran and hadith. From these 2 sources, there are guidances on how to perform the Ibadah perfectly in the correct way especially prayer.

3. We must perform the worship with Ihsan, that is we worship God, Allah SWT as if we see Him, and although we cannot see Him, we undoubtedly believe that He is constantly watching over us.

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In week 2, we learn more about 4 pillars of Islam. That are prayer, fasting, zakat and pilgrimage (Hajj).

1. Prayer:
It is important for us, Muslim to make sure our prayers been done perfectly. The perfect prayer is a prayer that is performed by fulfilling all the pillars and conditions and performed in a state of Khushoo'.
By perfecting our prayers, it will prevent us from committing any sins that have been forbidden by Allah such as Zina, Stealing and Riba'.
-It has been mentioned in Surah Al-Ankabut verse 45:
اُتۡلُ مَاۤ اُوۡحِىَ اِلَيۡكَ مِنَ الۡكِتٰبِ وَاَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ ​ؕ اِنَّ الصَّلٰوةَ تَنۡهٰى عَنِ الۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَالۡمُنۡكَرِ​ؕ وَلَذِكۡرُ اللّٰهِ اَكۡبَرُ ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَعۡلَمُ مَا تَصۡنَعُوۡنَ‏ ﴿29:45﴾

(29:45) (O Prophet), recite the Book that has been revealed to you and establish Prayer. Surely Prayer forbids indecency and evil. And Allah's remembrance is of even greater merit. Allah knows all that you do.

2. Fasting (Sawm)
During the holy month of Ramadan, which occurs on the ninth month of the lunar-based Islamic calendar, all Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink and things that can invalidate one’s fast from dawn to dusk for 30 days.

In Surah Al-Baqarah verse 183, it will explain more about the benefits of fasting.

يٰٓـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا كُتِبَ عَلَيۡکُمُ الصِّيَامُ کَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِيۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُوۡنَۙ‏ (183)

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.

Fasting will train us to become closer to Allah SWT and prevent us from doing unbeneficial activities that will bring harm to us.

The act of fasting is meant to remind Muslims of the less fortunate and to reinforce the need to be thankful. As one of the five pillars of Islam, fasting during the month of Ramadan is mandatory for all healthy adult Muslims. Children who have not reached puberty, the elderly, those who are physically or mentally incapable of fasting, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and travelers are exempt.

3. Zakat
As one of the pillars of Islam, zakat is a form of obligatory charity that has the potential to ease the suffering of millions. Zakat cleanses a Muslim's soul from being stingy, greedy and proud. By paying zakat, Muslims are able to develop a sense of sympathy towards people in need. At the same time, it is able to eliminate selfishness.

It has been mentioned in Surah At-Taubah verse 103:

خُذۡ مِنۡ اَمۡوَالِهِمۡ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمۡ وَتُزَكِّيۡهِمۡ بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيۡهِمۡ​ؕ اِنَّ صَلٰوتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمۡ​ؕ     وَاللّٰهُ سَمِيۡعٌ عَلِيۡمٌ‏

[9:103] (O Prophet)! "Take alms out of their riches and thereby cleanse them and bring about their growth (in righteousness), and pray for them. Indeed your prayer is a source of tranquillity for them." Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

4. Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Surah Al-Baqarah verse 197:

الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلاَ رَفَثَ وَلاَ فُسُوقَ وَلاَ جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ وَمَا تَفْعَلُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللّهُ وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُوْلِي الأَلْبَابِ

(2:197) The months of Hajj are well known. Whoever intends to perform Pilgrimage in these months shall abstain from sensual indulgence, wicked conduct and quarrelling; and whatever good you do, Allah knows it. Take your provisions for the Pilgrimage; but, in truth, the best provision is piety. Men of understanding, beware of disobeying Me.

The verse above tell us more about the things that can ruin the pilgrimage.

1. Rafas: The inappropriate words that related to sexual lust and intercouse.

2. Fasik: The acts of sin and immorality such as backbiting and slander.

3. Jidal: Arguing and quarreling over unfounded things.

Things like this should be avoided to ensure that the pilgrimage can be performed perfectly and receive mercy from Allah SWT.

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In this week, we get to learn the ways to attain khusyu in prayers.

Khusyu’  is usually referred to the sincerity and concentration of an individual during his/her prayer. It takes place when a person focuses on nothing else but his conversation with his Almighty Creator. In other words, when you obtain Khusyu’  in solat (prayer), you cannot hear or think anything that surrounds you at that particular moment as you stand and speak to Allah the Almighty.

Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali Rahimahullah gave an interesting definition of khusyu’, stating: “The origin of khusyu’ comes from the softness of the heart, the calm and submissive state of one’s heart.” See Al-Khusyu’ Fi Al-Solat, Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali (pg. 17).

Ways to attain khusyu' in prayer:

1. Performing ablution perfectly. It will make us become more prepared in performing the prayer.

2. Meet all the legal requirements of prayer: facing the Qiblah, cover the aurah properly and perform the prayer in the right time.

3. Perform nawafil prayers (prayers; tahiyyatul masjid,tasbih, tahajjud).

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After learning about the ways to attain khusyu' on the last week session, for this week , we focused more on the benefits that we gain if we perform the prayers in the khusyu' state.

To attain khusyu’ in prayer is a little bit difficult unless he really wants to. That is why Allah has mentioned that regarding the reward for those who attain khusyu’ in Surah al Mu’minoon, verses 1-2, which means: “Successful indeed are the believers: Those who humble themselves (khusyu’) in prayer.”

Besides, there are several benefits when we succeed in attaining khusyu' in prayers.

1. Gain more rewards from the Almighty Allah; the more khusyu' the person, the more rewards he get.

2.  Without khusyu', the heart cannot easily be purified because prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds. Prayer keeps one away from shameful and evil deeds and when you remember of Allah during your prayers, Allah will mention your name in response to your prayers.

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In this week, we learn more about how fasting in month of ramadhan can instill positive moral values for individual.

Muslims believe that fasting is more than abstaining from food and drink. Fasting also includes abstaining from any falsehood in speech and action, abstaining from any ignorant and indecent speech, and from arguing, fighting, and having lustful thoughts. Therefore, fasting strengthens control of impulses and helps develop good behaviour. This purification of body and soul harmonizes the inner and outer spheres of an individual.

1. Fasting educates us to be loving people. Fasting raises awareness of the situation of poor people who live in our society. Fasting teaches the rich, who eat good, nutritious food and never suffer from hunger, what hunger is. When they stay hungry and thirsty for a specific period they begin to think about the poor and feel empathy for them. The sense of empathy that invokes due to fasting helps to understand other people better and provide helps for those who in need.

2. Fasting educates us to be patient.

Fasting and patience carry the same meaning which is self -restraint. Self-restraint here means refraining from doing bad things and breaking God’s commandments.

It teaches us patience and unselfishness, because when we fast, we feel the sufferings and pains of deprivation. This makes us realize the severe effects of such pains on others, who might be deprived of essential commodities for days or weeks together. Such a person is much quicker than others in sympathizing with his fellow human beings and responding to their needs. This is an eloquent expression of unselfishness and genuine sympathy.

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For this week, we learn more in details about zakat.

Zakat Derived from the Arabic word "al-Zakat" which means holy, blessing, blessing, bloom, fertilize, grow and charity.

Zakat is an obligatory that every muslims need to perform as been mentioned in Al-Quran, Surah An-Nur verse 56:

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا
الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

Establish Prayer and pay Zakah and obey the Messenger so that mercy may be shown to you.

Benefits of Zakat:

Helping the Community at large.The most important benefit of zakat is that it helps to build society. If everyone keeps on saving the money and spend on themselves, then the less privileged will always remain poor. Therefore, with the help of zakat, people learn to support others in need. Zakat gives all the Muslims an opportunity to create a huge impact in the lives of deserving people.

Money Circulation
With the help of zakat, your money circulates in the whole economy. As Zakat is an obligatory act, Muslims who are financially stable, pay zakat to the needy. This way, money gets out of the ones who are wealthy enough and reaches those who are not much privileged.

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For this week, we learn more about pilgrimage.

The Hajj, is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims are expected to make at least once in their lifetime. The word Hajj is an Arabic word, meaning ‘to intend a journey’.

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam – the others are shahadah (declaration of faith); salat (daily prayer); zakat (giving of alms); sawm (fasting in Ramadan).

It is mandatory for Muslim adults to go on Hajj at least once in their lifetime. They must be of sound mind and physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.

In Al-Quran verse 97, it will explain more about the obligation to perform pilgrimage or hajj.

فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا وَلِلّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ الله غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ

(3:97) In it there are clear signs and the station of Abraham; whoever enters it becomes  secure. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by all who can make their way to it. As for those who refuse to follow His command, surely Allah does not stand in need of anything.

The pilgrimage must take place during the month of Zulhijah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. The rites of Hajj are performed from the 8th to the 12th of Zulhijah.

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Coral Flowers Bridal Shower Thank You Card