The Story of the Night Journey

by Sheikh Safiur Rahman Al-Mubarakfuri

The last days of the Makkah phase in the Prophet's life were noted for alternate fortunes. However, glimpses of propitious lights were looming on the distant horizon, ultimately materialized in the event of the Prophet's Night Journey (Al-Israa') to Jerusalem and then Ascension (Mi`raj) through the spheres of the heavens.

The exact date of this great event is still controversial:

* Some scholars, including Imam At-Tabari, are of the opinion that the Night Journey occurred in the same year the Prophet received the first revelation.

* Imams An-Nawawi and Al-Qurtubi prefer the opinion that it occurred five years after the Prophet's mission.

* Another opinion sets Rajab 27, 10 years after the Prophet embarked on his great mission as the exact date of the event.

* Still, other scholars are in favor of dates ranging between 12 to 16 months prior to the Prophet's migration to Madinah.

The first three opinions were rejected by some scholars on the basis that it is established that the obligatory Prayer was instituted on the night of Al-Israa' and that such institution had not occurred during the lifetime of Khadijah, the Prophet's wife, who passed away in Ramadan, 10 years after the Prophet had started his noble mission.

As for the other opinion, I [Al-Mubarakfuri] did not find any proof to strengthen it. However, the context of Surat Al-Israa' implies that it was revealed in a late time during the Makkah phase.

The scholars of Hadith reported the details of the Night of Al-Israa'. Here I give a summary of the Night's events:

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was carried in body from the Sacred Mosque in Makkah to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on a mount called Al-Buraq in the company of Angel Gabriel. There Prophet Muhammad led all the other prophets in prayer.

After that Gabriel took him to the heavens. When they reached the first heaven Gabriel asked the guardian angel to open the first heaven's door. It was opened and Prophet Muhammad saw Adam, the progenitor of humankind. The Prophet saluted him. Adam welcomed him and expressed his faith in Muhammad's prophethood. The Prophet saw on the right side of Adam the souls of those who will be happy in the hereafter and saw the souls of the doomed ones on his left.

Gabriel then ascended with the Prophet to the second heaven and asked for opening the gate. There the Prophet saw and saluted Prophets Yahya (John) and `Isa (Jesus). They returned the salutation, welcomed him, and expressed their faith in his prophethood.

The same happened in each heaven: In the third heaven, the Prophet saw Prophet Yusuf (Joseph); in the fourth, Prophet Idris (Enoch); in the fifth, Prophet Harun (Aaron); in the sixth, Prophet Musa (Moses); and in the seventh, Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace and blessings be upon them all.

When Prophet Muhammad left Prophet Musa (peace and blessings be upon both of them) in the sixth heaven, Prophet Musa began to weep. Asked about the reason, he answered that though Muhammad was sent after him as a messenger, those who will enter Paradise from Muhammad's nation are greater in number than those from Musa's nation.

The Prophet then was carried to Sidrat Al-Muntaha (Arabic for "the remotest Lote-tree") and was shown Al-Bait Al-Ma`mur (Arabic for "the much-frequented house") which is attended daily by 70,000 angels; the angels who attend it never leave it until the Day of Resurrection.
He was then presented to the Divine Presence getting at the closest possible nearness. There Almighty Allah ordained 50 daily prayers for him.

On his way back, he told Prophet Musa that his followers had been enjoined to pray 50 times a day. Prophet Musa advised him to ask Allah to reduce the number because the Muslim Ummah would not bear performing such a number of prayers. The Prophet turned to Gabriel as if asking his counsel. Gabriel nodded, "Yes, if you desire," and ascended with him to Almighty Allah. Then Almighty Allah made a reduction of 10 prayers. The Prophet then descended and reported that to Musa, who again urged him to request a further reduction.

The Prophet once more begged Allah to reduce the number further. He went again and again to Almighty Allah at the suggestion of Musa till the prayers were reduced to five only. Again, Musa asked him to implore for more reduction, but the Prophet said, "I feel embarrassed (of repeatedly asking my Lord to reduce the number of daily prayers.) I accept and resign to His Will." When the Prophet went farther, a caller was heard saying: "I have imposed My (Allah's) ordinance and alleviated the burden of My servants."

The Night Journey raised a good deal of stir among people, and the skeptical audience plied Muhammad with all sorts of questions. The disbelievers found it a suitable opportunity to jeer at the Muslims and their creed. They pestered the Prophet with questions as to the description of the Mosque at Jerusalem, where he had never gone before, and to their astonishment, the Prophet's replies furnished the most accurate information about it. However, this increased in them nothing but flight from Islam, and they accepted nothing but disbelief.

For true Muslims, however, there was nothing unusual about the Night Journey. Almighty Allah, Who is powerful enough to have created the heavens and the earth, is surely powerful enough to take His Messenger beyond the heavens and show him firsthand those signs of His that are inaccessible to people otherwise.

This believing attitude was epitomized by Abu Bakr whom the disbelievers challenged on account of this event to believe what the Prophet said, and he readily said, "Yes, I do verify it." It is reported that this answer is what earned him the famous title of As-Siddiq (Arabic for "the verifier of the truth").

source: http://www.islamonline.net/

* Abridged and adapted from the author's The Sealed Nectar.

Sheikh Safiur Rahman Al-Mubarakfuri was born and received his education in India. He taught jurisprudence and Hadith in the Salafi University and worked as the editor in chief of its magazine Muhaddith. He worked in the Sunnah Center affiliated with the Islamic University in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. He authored a number of books, including Ar-Rahiq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar) which was honored by the World Muslim League with the first prize in a contest about the Prophet's biography.

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Lifting the Veil Using a 'Bluetooth Burqa'

Can a burqa be sexy? A Berlin-based artist has invented a digitally-enabled robe that will send an image of a woman's face -- or anything else -- via Bluetooth.

A burqa may not be the flirtiest garment ever invented for women. The highly modest head-to-toe robe even shrouds the eyes, so for centuries it's been difficult for women wearing them to send suggestive signals to men.

But now a German designer has debuted a digitally-enabled burqa that can broadcast a photo of the wearer to nearby mobile phones. Markus Kison calls it the "CharmingBurka," and says it isn't forbidden by Islamic law.

A model demonstrated a prototype of Kison's garment at the Seamless 2008 design and fashion show in Boston, a high-tech fashion event run with support from the Masschusetts Institute of Technology.

Kison says the burqa has a "digital layer" that incorporates a Bluetooth antenna, which lets women "decide for themselves where they want to position themselves virtually." Nearby mobile phones that also use Bluetooth will light up with any small file a woman chooses to broadcast as her identity -- a photo, a cartoon, a text file or even a sound clip.

Kison's broadcast technology started as a marketing tool; the so-called "Bluebot" system is meant to send digital advertisements to passing phones. But Kison's new design turns a burqa into a walking MySpace page.

A broadcasting burqa may not be explicitly forbidden by Islamic law -- since most interpreters of Shariah have never imagined such a thing -- but certain Islamic governments have tried to clamp down on electronic flirting. By 2002 it was so common for teenagers in Saudi Arabia to send each other pictures of themselves by phone that an import ban was imposed on camera phones. But demand was so high that the law was lifted two years later.

source: http://www.spiegel.de/

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12 Tips For Women Weight Training

"Women become disabled. We get osteoporosis, diabetes, and obesity largely because we're losing this muscle," Miriam Nelson, an associate professor of nutrition at Tufts University, told ABCNEWS' John McKenzie But recent research assures women that they need not give in to aging. Pumping iron is now a proven prescription A recent study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that post-menopausal women can reduce their body fat, increase muscle mass, build up their bones, and improve their balance by lifting moderately heavy weights on a regular basis "Biologically, these women were about 20 years younger then they were at the start of the year," says Nelson, expert and lead author of the study Experts say the benefits of weight training are now indisputable, to both prevent the effects ofaging in pre-menopausal women and reverse the effects of aging in post-menopausal women. To find out how women can get the most out of weight-training sessions, ABCNEWS.com asked three exercise experts Johanna Hoffman, an exercise physiologist at the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center in Lutherville, Md.; Dr. Edward Laskowski, co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center in Rochester, Minn., and a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation; and Dr. Paul D. Thompson, director of preventive cardiology at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Conn their top training tips.

Here are their top 12 tips:

1) Set a Goal. Decide what you want to get out of your workout. Are you after Jennifer Aniston's arms or a job with World Wrestling Entertainment? Are you lifting weights to improve function, health, appearance, or sports performance? Once this has been determined, you can better tailor your routine, choosing exercises that will target the proper muscles

2) Be Consistent. Once you commit to weight training, stick with it. True, a long day at work doesn't provide much inspiration, but resist the urge to skip sessions. "If you can't do a lot, do a little," recommends Thompson. "Something is better than nothing."

3) Learn Proper Form and Technique. "Exercise is like medicine," says Laskowski, "it's based on science." If you have no experience with weights, experts recommend investing in a couple of sessions with a personal trainer. One thing to keep in mind is to avoid hyper-extending or locking out any joints. This allows the muscle to relax, which is counterproductive. Also, be sure that your whole body is properly aligned in order to protect the lower back

4) Get Tired. While many theories exist on the best ways to build muscle, recent research indicates that a single set of 12 repetitions with the proper weight can build muscle just as efficiently as three sets of the same exercise good news for people trying to squeeze weight lifting into a busy schedule. Laskowski recommends a single set of exercises using a weight heavy enough to tire the muscles after a dozen repetitions. "When you work a muscle to fatigue, you are releasing factors that build endurance and strength," adds Hoffman

5) Muscles Are Sexy. Many women avoid weight lifting because they are afraid of looking too buff and muscular, opting instead for the treadmill or the elliptical machine to burn calories. In truth, weight training converts fat into lean muscle. Lean muscle burns more calories, aiding in weight loss. "It's like having a V-8 engine instead of a 4-cylinder. You have a bigger engine to burn more calories because it takes calories to keep that engine running," explains Laskowski

6) Vary Your Exercises."You can fall in love with your trainer but don't fall in love with any one exercise," says Thompson. If you repeat the same exercise, you will overdo a particular muscle group. Everyone undoubtedly has a particular asset they may want to develop, but don't overdo it. Use a full variety of exercises, machines and resistances. Try lifting free weights, water, household items, and even your own body weight. Changing it up will shock the muscles, challenging them to lift the weight

7) Move Slowly. Don't cheat by racing through your exercises. Remember, it only takes one set so be sure to get the most out of your time in the gym. Take one to two seconds to contract the muscle, hold the contraction for half a second, and then lengthen the release to three or four seconds. You are 20 percent to 40 percent stronger on the way down so following this time breakdown will maximize strength gain

8) Work Balanced Muscles Groups. People generally work out only what they can see, says Laskowski, "it's as if they have a 'Cadillac in the front, and a Volkswagen in the back.'" But too much time devoted to one side may create posture problems. Since, every muscle has an opposing muscle, be sure to work the entire pair. For example, follow stomach crunches with back extensions and bicep curls with tricep kickbacks

9) Find Female-Focused Exercises. Women should pay particular attention to building strength in the upper back and shoulders. This will protect against poor posture later in life, a common problem related to osteoporosis. And don't neglect your lower body females are five to six times more likely to suffer a knee ligament tear. To protect against knee injury, focus on building the hamstring muscles

10) Choose a Get-Buff Buddy. A lifting partner is helpful not only for spotting but for motivation as well. When your arms are feeling like Jell-O and you think you've got nothing left to give, a little encouragement from a friend may be all you need to push out that final rep

11) Drink Caffeine Before Lifting. Although optional, a little caffeine may give you an extra boost of energy to lift after a long day. You may be surprised by the effects a cup of coffee or can of soda can have on your performance

12) Be Patient. "Rome wasn't built in a day; you won't be either," says Thompson. It takes time to incorporate the benefits of weight lifting. Changes in muscle fiber won't show until four to six weeks, but in the meantime, your muscles are learning how to act more efficiently.

Taken From: abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/
source: http://www.fitmuslimah.com/

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Women and Weights

by Karen Sessions

So ladies, what can weight training do for you? Weight training will give you near-perfect symmetry and put curves and definition in all the right places. Muscle is firm and toned, not soft and mushy. It gives you strength, health, vitality and a beautiful body. Also, weight training will decrease your chance of injuries in everyday life and recreational activities. Weight training improves work, sleep, endurance, sex and many other areas of your life.

Ladies Training

Training for ladies shouldn't differ that much from men's training. We have the same number of muscles and they contact in the same fashion. The only difference between men and women are hormones. Men naturally have higher levels of testosterone, a muscle-building hormone, while women are constantly fighting the estrogen issue, a fat storing hormone. Now I'm not saying that just because you are female and have higher levels of estrogen you are doomed to gain weight. What I'm saying is that we can use what we have to our advantage. Regular weight training will build lean body mass. The more body lean body mass you acquire, the higher you raise your metabolism. An increased metabolism results in more calories burned per minute. Sounds interesting? Read on....

Muscle vs. Fat

A statement I hear a lot is that muscle weighs more than fat. The fact of the matter is that a pound of muscle and a pound of fat weigh the same, a pound. A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat does. Muscle allows you to eat more food without getting fat because muscle is the only body material that is metabolically active. Once you put muscle on your body you will burn an additional twenty to thirty calories an hour. Bodybuilders actually burn fifty to seventy-five additional calories per hour.

Muscle Turns to Fat?

A misconception that I hear many women saying is that they don't want to workout because if they stop the muscle will turn to fat. Now, let's analyze this statement. People begin resistance training program in order to rid the body of fat, not to gain it. Muscle can't turn into fat any more than fat can turn to muscle. Muscle (metabolically active) and fat (metabolically inactive) are two completely different tissues responsible for their own functions. Just as your heart and liver are two different organs performing completely different functions, the same goes for muscle and fat. Now I ask you, can your heart turn into your liver, or vise versa? If there were any truth to the above statement there would be a lot of people out there with great muscle potential, if you catch my drift.

An explanation to the above myth is that some bodybuilders do gain extra weight off-season in preparation for the up coming competitive season. Many veterans of bodybuilding gain weight when they get older or retire, how does that differ from the average American? There is a biological reason for the weight gain. The metabolism slows down as we age, meaning the body needs fewer calories per day to maintain itself. The downfall is that most people, including bodybuilders, don't reduce their caloric intake to compensate for this slowdown and the end result is fat gain.

Another explanation is that bodybuilders, in hard training, develop enormous appetites and need the extra calories for muscle growth and repair. If the intake stays the same when training volume is reduced or ceased, the unburned calories get stored as fat; again, this is no different than the average American.

Stop Making Excuses!

Simply put, stop making excuses. Not exercising is far more harmful to your body, image, and health than working out. Exercising and nutrition is a learned lifestyle, if you are not consistent with it you will decrease muscle and increase fat, but muscle definitely will never turn into fat.

Karen Sessions has been in the fitness industry since 1988. She embarked on weight training to overcome an eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa in its early stages. She overcame the eating disorder, received her personal training certificate, competed in many local bodybuilding contests, and qualified for Nationals. Since then she’s went on to write six e-books (weight loss, female bodybuilding, contest preparation, leg training, figure/fitness secrets, and cellulite removal). She writes articles for several fitness websites, as well as her own, www.theelitephysique.com, and also distributes a monthly e-newsletter. She has a very active and lively forum, filled with positive and supportive people with informative content. Karen’s sole goal is to educate others and help them apply that knowledge.

source: http://www.fitmuslimah.com/

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How to Wear an Abaya or Islamic Clothing

Some Muslim women wear an abaya as a form of hijab or Islamic dress. In the United Arab Emirates an abaya is the national form of dress for women, but this does not mean that every Muslim woman everywhere in the world needs to wear one, or that every female traveller to an Islamic area is required to wear one either. If you are travelling to Muslim nations or regions, plan ahead to find out about local dress and what will be expected of you as a tourist. Wearing an abaya, jilbab, niqab and headscarf or shawl are all Islamic clothing options for women in different areas.

Wearing an Abaya

An abaya is a type of outerwear that some Muslim women wear over their clothes. Most abayat are black, though some may be of different colours and even the black garments may have embroidery or artwork on them. Abayat are really more like long caftans than anything else, and come with headpieces that cover the hair. For most abayat, the only things left uncovered on a woman’s body are the face, feet and hands. Some women will also wear gloves to cover their hands and there are options for covering the face as well. An abaya may go by other names as well, including 'chador' in Iran. Abayat can be bought in Muslim areas or online, and female shop assistants and local women are usually more than happy to help women unfamiliar with abayat to put them on correctly and understand when and where they are needed.

Wearing a Jilbab

A jilbab is another form of outerwear that some Muslim women wear over their clothes. Jalabib are more like long coats than caftans, and in some areas may be called manteau because they resemble mantles. Most jalabib are worn with a headscarf to keep the hair covered and again leave only the face, hands and feet uncovered. But again, gloves and a face covering can also be worn to make a jilbab cover more of a woman’s body.

Wearing a Niqab

A niqab is a veil that a Muslim woman may wear over her face in addition to an abaya or a jilbab. Wearing a niqab is popular in the Persian Gulf as well as in North Africa and some parts of Southeast Asia. In the West, the terms 'niqab' and 'burqa' are often used interchangeably though they are not technically the same garment (a burqa is one outer garment that falls over the entire body and leaves only a covered space for the eyes).

Two types of niqab that are popular around the world are the half-niqab, which leaves the eyes and forehead uncovered, and the full or 'gulf-style' niqab which consists of two bands and leaves only the eyes open. As covering the face is usually a new experience for Western women, wearing a niqab can be awkward at first so practice is recommended.

Wearing a Headscarf or Shawl

Around the world a headscarf or shawl is usually the most commonly identified form of Islamic clothing found on women. Many tourists feel most comfortable donning a headscarf or shawl in Muslim areas, and the variety of options means that most women can make the head covering as much a fashion statement as a religious requirement. The purpose of such head coverings is to ensure that hair, neck and ears are covered, but using pretty, patterned scarves often help women match their head coverings to their outfits and feel more comfortable and confident.

Wearing an abaya or other form of Islamic clothing may make women feel more comfortable as they travel through Muslim areas and may be required by law in some Muslim nations. Women interested in learning more about Islamic clothing should speak with Muslim women or contact a local Muslim cultural centre.

source: http://www.femaletraveller.co.uk/

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