The United Muslim Students Organization

Eid Mubarak - Eid'l Fitr 2011

2011-08-29T06:55:00.000-07:00

Assalamu Alaikum!

May this holy occasion of
sharing & togetherness
fill your heart and home
...with joy & happiness...

Eid Mubarak my Brothers and Sisters in Islam!

Eid'l Fitr 1432

2011-08-28T13:15:00.000-07:00

Eid'l Fitr, the end of Ramadhan 1432 or the 1st day of Shawwal (Islamic Calendar), declaration depends on moon sighting. The sighting will be done by our Muslims Brothers later this afternoon, August 29, 2011.

If the moon will be sighted, the Eid'l Fitr will fall on the 30th day of Ramadhan (August 30, 2011); in all we will have 29 days of Fasting.

However, if the moon will not be sighted, August 31, 2011 will be our Eid'l Fitr Celebration; in all we will have 30 days of Fasting.

For the record, the moon was sighted (August 29, 2011), Happy Eid to all our brothers and sisters in Islam

Something To Share

2011-07-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

This was shared to me and I would like to share it with you.

. o 0 O 0 o .

An atheist professor of Philosophy was speaking to his class on the problem Science has with GOD. He asked one of his new Christian Students to stand and...

Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, you believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor : Is GOD good ?

Student : Sure.

professor: Is GOD all powerful ?

Student : Yes.

Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent.)

Professor: You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, young fella. Is GOD good?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Is satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor: Where does satan come from ?

Student : From . . . GOD . . .

Professor: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student : Yes.

Professor: So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer.)

Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who created them ?

(Student had no answer.)

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?

Student : No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?

Student : No , sir.

Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?

Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.

Professor: Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student : No, sir. There isn't.

(The lecture theatre became very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?

Student : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)

Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar.)

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?

(The class broke out into laughter. )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Professor: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student : That is it sir . . . Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.

P.S.

I believe you have enjoyed the conversation. And if so, you'll probably want your friends / colleagues to enjoy the same, won't you?

Forward this to increase their knowledge . . . or FAITH.

By the way, that student was Einstein
. o 0 O 0 o .

Eid'l Fitr 2009 (1430 AH)

2009-09-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

For a record for this blog Eid'l Fitr 2009 (1430 AH) or 1st day of Shawwal was last September 20, 2009.

The moon was sighted last September 19 (night), then automatically September 20 was announced as day of Eid’l Fitr.

Belated Eid'l Fitr Al-Mubarak!!!

Eid Mubarak

2009-09-16T01:16:00.000-07:00

Advance
HAPPY EID MUBARAK
TO ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
IN ISLAM

Sunnat Prayers during the month of Ramadhan

2009-09-13T20:32:00.000-07:00

During the month of Ramadhan, Sunnat salah or voluntary prayers were performed in addition to the Fard as-salat or Obligatory prayers. To mention, Fard as-salat are performed five times a day. Prayer times are Fajr (pre-dawn), Dhuhr (noon), 'Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset) and 'Isha (evening).

Sunnat prayers are optional and additional voluntary prayers. These are performed before and/or after Fard prayers. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) used to pray them (Sunnat prayers) regularly so it is highly recommended. At the time of Ramadhan, Sunnat prayers were performed. The Tarawih and Tahajjud.

Tarawih Prayer
Tarawih can only be performed during the fasting month of Ramadhan. This prayer can be performed alone, in a group, at home, or in a mosque or other public meeting area. It is performed after the Fard prayer of 'Isha.

Tahajjud Prayer
Tahajjud or "night prayer" is a voluntary prayer. Unlike Tarawih, Tahajjud can be done anytime between 'Isha and Fajr. It is best done between midnight to Fajr.

During Ramadhan, Tahajjud Prayer is done anytime after Tarawih. On the other hand, it is performed in Jamaa’ah (congregation) in a mosque during the 21st day of Ramadhan until Eid’l Fitr comes or for the last ten days of Ramadhan. It is performed on the 10 last days in order to witness the Lailatul-Qadr in the month of Ramadhan. Most of the scholars agreed that Lailatul-Qadr is at the 27th day of ramadhan. But their is no proof with us so every odd nights of last 10 days must be given importance during Ramadhan.

Salatul Tasbih Prayer
This is a four Rakaat prayer, aims to recite the below Tasbih in 300 times
"SUBHANALLAH, AL-HAMDULILAH, LAILAHAHILLAALLAH, ALLAHU AKBAR."

This can be performed everyday, but if you cannot then do it once a week, if you cannot than once every month, then if you cannot then once a year, if you cannot then once in a lifetime.

It is recommended to be performed during the potential nights of Lailatul-Qadr because of the amazing blessings during that blessed night as stated in the Qur’an itself.

Ameen

Muslim Prayer Mat

2009-09-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

Every time Muslims performed a prayer, they are expected to do it in a clean place. Thus, traditionally Prayer Mats are use to ensure the cleanliness of their place of prayer.

A prayer mat is a fabric in a rectangular shape, in about one meter long or just enough for an adult to fit comfortably when kneeling or prostrating. Within the rectangle, you can usually find images of mosques and other Islamic landmarks and always have an arch design on them that point towards the direction of prayer.

The Arabic word for a prayer mat is "sajada". Sajada when in used, it is pointed in the direction of Makkah (Mecca), the holy city. Therefore All Muslims are required to know the direction Makkah from their home or where they are. To be certain on the direction, there are some prayer mats containing compass to find the direction of Makkah when praying.

After each prayer, prayer mats are immediately and carefully folded or rolled and placed in a clean area to ensure the cleanness of the mat.

Question and Answer about Islam

2009-09-03T01:20:00.000-07:00

Assalamu Alaikum Wa rahmatullahi Wa barakatuh

UMSO will share Islamic information in a Question and Answer form, originally the questions were taken from the IslamiC City Quiz.

1. What is the Quran?
Answer: The word of Allah (s.w.t.)

2. What does Islam mean ?
Answer: Islam means to obey Allah (s.w.t.) and follow His commands

3. What is the language of the Quran?
Answer: Arabic

4. How long did it take to complete the revelation of the Quran?
Answer: 23 years

5. People who disobey Allah (s.w.t.) will be terribly punished by sending them to ..…
Answer: Hell

6. The house of Allah (s.w.t.) in Makkah is called ..…
Answer: Kaaba

7. What is the name of the book sent down to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)?
Answer: Al-Quran

8. Pillars of Islam are also called ...…
Answer: Arkanal Islam

9. What is the first duty of a Muslim?
Answer: Shahadah

10. One of the pillars of Islam is to share our wealth with the poor. What is this pillar called?
Answer: Zakat

11. What do you say when you sneeze?
Answer: Alhamdulillah

12. When is Fajr salat performed?
Answer: Dawn until sunrise

13. What do we call the meal taken before dawn in Ramadan?
Answer: Suhur

14. In the month of Ramadan, there is a night which is better than a 1,000 months. It is ...…
Answer: Lailatul-Qadr

15. The festival that comes during Hajj is .…
Answer: Eid'l Adha

16. What is Salat?
Answer: Praying

17. Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha are all ...... salat.
Answer: Fard

18. What is the purpose of Salat?
Answer: To remember Allah (s.w.t.)

19. A prophet is called .......... in Arabic.
Answer: Nabi

20. When was Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) born?
Answer: 571 C.E.

21. For how many years did Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) preach?
Answer: 23 years is right.

22. In which year did Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) become the prophet of Allah (s.w.t.)?
Answer: 610 C.E.

23. When is Witr salat offered?
Answer: After Isha

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Hope above are helpful for you...
SHUKRAN

Arabic Alphabets

2009-08-27T01:16:00.001-07:00

Please watch the video and learn how to read the Arabic Alphabets:

Adhān

2009-08-26T01:58:00.000-07:00

Adhan is the Islamic call to prayer recited by the muezzin (chosen person at the mosque to lead the adhan)

Adhan consists of eight repeated lines and seven standard elements; Arabic transliteration and English translation are the following:

[1]Allahu Akbar
Allah is Great
(repeated 4x)
[2]Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah
I bear witness that there is no god except the One God (Allah).
(repeated 2x)

[3]Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah
I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
(repeated 2x)

[4]Hayya 'ala-s-Salah
Hurry to the prayer (Rise up for prayer)
(repeated 2x)

[5]Hayya 'ala-l-Falah
Hurry to success (Rise up for Salvation)
(repeated 2x)

As-salatu Khayrun Minan-nawm
Prayer is better than sleep
(repeated 2x)
*For the pre-dawn (fajr) prayer and inserted after the fifth part above.

[6]Allahu Akbar
Allah is Great
(repeated 2x)

[7]La ilaha illa Allah
There is no god except the One God (Allah)

---OOO---
Shukran

Islamic Holy Month of Ramadhan

2009-08-23T23:49:00.000-07:00

Ramadhan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar (Hijri calendar; Lunar calendar). It is the month that Muslims observe the Fast of Ramadan. A fast held from sunrise to sunset, for 29 or 30 days.

Determining When Ramadhan Starts
Ramadhan begins with a combination of the sighting of the new moon and astronomical calculations. If it is visible it will be the signal for the beginning of the month of Ramadhan.

According to the Islamic Calendar, Ramadhan was scheduled to start on Saturday, 22nd August 2009. But then, sighting of the new moon is very important in proclaiming when Ramadhan starts.

Here in the Philippines, our Muslims Brothers looked for the moon last August 20, 2009 (Thursday Night) but the moon was not sighted. Thus, the Ramadhan 1430 (Ramadhan 2009) started last August 22, 2009. However, if the moon was sighted Thursday Night, then Ramadhan would have started the very next day, on August 21.

Fasting
Fasting during Ramadhan is obligatory. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam (Five Pillars of Islam: Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Fasting during Ramadhan and Hajj). Daily fasting starts from sunrise and ends when the sun sets. During this period Muslims are expected to abstain from eating and drinking completely. Fasting is also viewed as a means of controlling one's desires (of hunger, thirst, sexuality, anger, violence) and focusing more on giving thy self, faith and worship towards Allah..

Sahur
Muslims wake up early in the morning to prepare for the daily fast. Sahur, an Arabic term, refers to pre-dawn meal.The meal is eaten before the sun rises, and before the fajr or dawn prayer.

Iftar
The fast is broken at sunset. In Arabic it is called Iftar. Iftar, refers to the evening meal for breaking the daily fast during the Islamic month of Ramadhan. Traditionally, a date is the first thing to be consumed during Iftar when the fast is broken.

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Brothers and Sisters, if something is missing on the post, please address. UMSO blog is open for suggestions and corrections.
Shukran

Ramadhan 2008 Caravan

2009-01-27T21:04:00.001-08:00

*Special thanks to our moderator; S. Ma. Luz dela Cruz for letting the UMSO used the school bus.

USMO Attended The ISMO - Dinner For A Cost

2009-01-27T20:49:00.000-08:00

UMSO on Ramadhan 2006

2008-05-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

The story behind the picture...

The picture was taken last Ramadhan 2006, it was the night we broke our Fast in our MPR (Muslim Prayer Room) located at the Annex Bldg. of UIC, Main Campus.

It was the second night we broke our Fast together as an Organization. We contributed to prepare our foods and drinks. The foods were cooked by one of a member's mother, where the main dish was what we called “paste'l”. Paste't is made of rice and thin strip sliced fried chicken rolled in a banana leaf. It is the well known food of the Maguindanawn Tribe. We ate and shared the food after a whole day fasting while in school. While eating we exchanged talk, laugh and of course jokes, we had this First year guy, who always make as smile and laugh. That made us more close and comfortable to each other.

After our fruitful dinner, we performed our prayer together. We prayed Aisha (a 7 o'clock prayer), Tarawi (a Sunnah prayer during Ramadhan), and Weiter (ender prayer in a day). It was our president who first led the prayer and followed by our co-member, who is an African student.

As the prayer ended, we fixed our things, cleaned the MPR and prepared ourselves to go back home, and for some to their boarding houses and dormitories. As we get along our way, their was someone had a great idea to have our very first big group picture.

That was the story behind our picture, it is so memorable for us...

Breaking of Fast at the MPR happened again during the Ramadhan 2007, there, we were not only UIC-UMSO members but the celebration was opened to all ISMO (Inter-School Muslim Oraganization) member. ISMO is a Davao based muslim students organization open to all Muslim Students here in Davao City.

For now, I wish I could be with them in this coming Ramadhan 2008.

Masalam...

United Muslim Students Organization

2008-01-18T19:56:00.000-08:00

Assalamu Alaikum W.W.

The United Muslim Students Organization (UMSO) is one of the religious organization and is the only one Muslim organization in the University of the Immaculate Conception, Davao City. It was establish as a group of Muslim students since the year of 1997,with the primary objective of uniting Muslim students through Islamic belief and principles.

In addition, the UMSO received the first award from the University Administration which was the Most Active Religious Organization of the university at the school year 2006-2007; this was the result of the effort of hard working and bounding of the officers and members to keep the organization alive with the teachings of Islam.

As former officer of the club, I wish you good luck and more power to our Organization.

Shukran!