NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: INSIDE MECCA

A journey for 3 Muslims from different countries to perform Hajj (pilgrimage)

This story presents the most intimate and three-dimensional documentation of the annual pilgrimage to Makkah and sheds light on the universal principles of Islam during the days of the Hajj. Learn the historical significance of the city "Makkah" and, experience the epic journey of a lifetime, the "Hajj", as we witness the personal stories of the pilgrims and the mental preparation, physical strain and spiritual ecstasy they encounter on their life-altering pilgrimage of faith.

What Are the Names of Our Prophet?

Muhammad [Peace Be Upon Him]: What Are the Names of Our Prophet?

Did you know that the Prophet, had been called by many names and titles in the Qur`aan and Sunnah? Each of these names describing a special quality of this exalted personality. By understanding them and reflecting upon them, we can, begin to better understand his position in front of Almighty Allah and help increase . . .

. . .love and following of the Messenger of Allah - Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Read through this article by Sheikh Yusuf Estes here.

More about Muhammad [Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him]

http://www.prophetofislam.com/

Watch Sheikh Yusuf Estes elaborate more on the subject in "Muhammad A to Z"

http://www.muhammadatoz.com/

Muhammad A to Z - By Yusuf Estes, Former Christian Preacher

While others are clamoring over what to do when someone draws a cartoon or a picture of one of the prophets of Almighty God, (peace be upon them all), we decided it was time to show the "Real Picture of Mohammed" - everything we could find from A to Z. The results were far too many to list all of them. So, we took the first 26 and put them in alphabetical order, but as you read through the commentaries of others, you will be able to realize many hundreds of additional qualities of this man, Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

This "A-Z" on Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, deals with well established facts about Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, but certainly does not include everything there is to know about Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Volumes and encyclopedias and even libraries have been dedicated to presenting the picture of this great man.

Vatican: Islam Surpasses Roman Catholicism as World's Largest Religion

VATICAN CITY — Islam has surpassed Roman Catholicism as the world's largest religion, the Vatican newspaper said Sunday.

"For the first time in history, we are no longer at the top: Muslims have overtaken us," Monsignor Vittorio Formenti said in an interview with the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano. Formenti compiles the Vatican's yearbook.

He said that Catholics accounted for 17.4 percent of the world population -- a stable percentage -- while Muslims were at 19.2 percent.

"It is true that while Muslim families, as is well known, continue to make a lot of children, Christian ones on the contrary tend to have fewer and fewer," the monsignor said.

Formenti said that the data refer to 2006. The figures on Muslims were put together by Muslim countries and then provided to the United Nations, he said, adding that the Vatican could only vouch for its own data.

When considering all Christians and not just Catholics, Christians make up 33 percent of the world population, Formenti said.

Spokesmen for the Vatican and the United Nations did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment Sunday.

Fox News Source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,343336,00.html

Read the comments of Sheikh Yusuf Estes here: Islam #1 - Admits Church

SHAALOM 2 SALAAM: A MUSLIMAH'S JOURNEY FROM JUDAISM TO ISLAM

Just came across this beautiful post on the blog "SHAALOM 2 SALAAM: A MUSLIMAH'S JOURNEY FROM JUDAISM TO ISLAM" by a revert sister named Safiyyah.

I was impressed by her voluntary activities, to name a few "Member of Islamic Writers Alliance (IWA) and Muslim American Journalists Association (MAJA). Islamic weekend school teacher. Muslim prison chaplain. Volunteer Muslim Patient Visitation Coordinator. "

I'd insist you all to read her post on "Shahadah".

This is just another reminder for us Muslims to get back to the Basics and utilize our best in learning and sharing the message of Islam.

May Allah make understanding and practicing Islam easy for us. May Allah use in spreading the Message of his Deen, that To Believe in One God, and not associate parters with Allah, the All-Mighty. Ameen...

Surah/Chapter 112. Al-Ikhlas [The Purity of Faith]

1. Say: He is Allah, the One!

2. Allah, the eternally Besought of all!

3. He begetteth not nor was begotten.

4. And there is none comparable unto Him.

[Sheikh Yusuf Estes] "Which Group is the Right Group?" Fourth Edition

"Which Group is the Right Group?" - by Yusuf Estes

Fourth Edition - October 15, 2005

Seems like these days the Muslims now come in "All Flavors." There are so many different names of so many groups in the world today. But which are the "true Muslims?"

The groups carry names like:

Sunnies, Salafies, Shi'ites, Ahmadiyah, Kadianis Sufis, Nation of Islam, Hanafi, Shafi, Wahabi, Moorish Science, Five Percenters, Aghakhanis, Ansar Allah, Modernists, Reformed Muslims - etc.

So many sects and groups - all claim to be the "saved sect of Islam"

- But which one is the real Islam?

- How do we know for sure?

Good Questions!

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NOTE: With all respect to those who ascribe themselves to various groups in Islam, this article is dedicated to solving serious issues effecting Muslims world wide. The conclusion is that anyone who can say, "I believe there is only one God, Allah and Muhammad is His messenger and servant" is in fact, a Muslim. It is only when they insist on adding an adjective to describe their particular "type" of Islam that the problems begin to surface. Please read on with this thought in mind - Allah says; ""It is He (Allah) who has named you MUSLIMS.." [22:78]

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Read more on the subject here.

Islam: The Definition

Islam: The Definition

Defining "ISLAM" in English What Does It Mean? - Is It A Noun Or A Verb? "Islam" - Is Both - A Verb - & - A Noun

"ISLAM" As A Verb(Action):	"ISLAM" As A Noun
Surrender to Almighty Allah	6 Articles of Belief
Submission to His Will	5 Pillars of Action
Obey His Commandments	Complete Way of Life
Sincere Worship Only For Him	Rights & Limitations
Peace in Mind, Heart & Soul	Moderation in All Things

A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam

[Sheikh Yusuf Estes] Signs of Last Days - Today?

False Prophets! Wars! Famines! EarthQuakes! Heretical Teachings! Widespread Evil! Signs in the Sun and Stars!

It's all there and more..

In Islam over 1,400 years ago!

And ..

In Christianity over 2,000 years ago!

Compare the following here, then you decide - "Are We in the LAST DAYS?"

"Gitmo" Guard Accepts Islam

'TJ' Became Mustafa: "Gitmo" Guard Accepts Islam

As a guard in Guantanamo Bay, Terry Holdbrooks was charged with..

...keeping a careful watch on detainees in the infamous detention center. But after a series of extraordinary interactions between the former US Army specialist and Muslim detainees at the center, the Phoenix, Arizona-born prison guard decided to convert to Islam.

Watch the video and read more about it here.