Tag Archives: hebrew

Divorce in Islam

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Many people are surprised to learn that divorce is allowed in Islam. After all, Islam is so strict and rigid in many ways, why would divorce be allowed? Marriage is Allah’s gift to mankind. It offers peace and security, physical pleasure and children. Marriage is meant to nurture the soul. While no one is happy all the time, marriage in general should bring happiness and fulfillment to both parties. Marriage is the center of the family, and also its thermometer. When the marriage is strong, the family flourishes. When it is weak, however, the entire family suffers. Allah, in His … Continue reading →

Dealing with a Difficult Mother

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As we discussed before, the mother is highly respected in Islam. We should treat our mothers with love, affection, and kindness. The ideal mother makes this easy. The ideal mother, whether Muslim or not, has her children’s best interests at heart. This mother loves her children, protects them, nurtures them, and would sacrifice anything for their health and happiness. Yes, it is easy to adore this mother. [h]The Abusive Mother[/h] What if this precious mother was not in your destiny? What if your mother was mean, abusive, or negligent? According to Islam, we should still treat her with kindness. We … Continue reading →

Anger in the Muslim Marriage

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Have you ever found yourself inexplicably angry at your spouse? Just nitpicking, tearing him apart, and looking for something to be mad about? Or, looking back on an argument, do you ever find yourself unable to pinpoint exactly why you were fighting in the first place? I’m sure we’ve all had these days. Why? Well, it could be that you are, in fact, married to the most annoying person on earth. More likely, though, it is the work of Shaitan (Satan). It is Shaitan’s mission to destroy marriages. Any time he can create a rift between husband and wife, he … Continue reading →

The Mother in Islam

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Since May is the month of mothers, it is an ideal time to look at mothers in Islam. The Muslim mom has a very special place, high up on a pedestal. Mothers are revered and adored, showered with affection, and shown great respect. In a well-loved hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said, “Paradise lies at the feet of mothers.” This means that we gain admission to Jannah (Heaven) through our treatment of our mothers. We can also be denied admission through mistreatment of mothers. It is said that no person will ever be granted access to Paradise … Continue reading →

Dealing with Anger– the Islamic Way

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We all experience anger from time to time. Maybe your spouse did something to upset you… the children are misbehaving… someone cut you off in traffic… your boss is being unreasonable. We share this world with many people of many different personalities. It is inevitable that we will feel anger or frustration from time to time. While the feelings are inevitable, angry reactions are not. In fact, the teachings of Islam are very clear on this: it is haram (forbidden) to lash out in anger. The Koran says: “O ye who believe! Let not a folk deride a folk who … Continue reading →

Islam Online — An Important Resource for Muslims

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As a Muslim revert (convert), I often find myself with questions: “Is this halal (lawful) or haram (forbidden)?” “What is the Islamic way to handle this?” Many of today’s issues aren’t specifically referred to in Koran or Hadith. I can try my best to interpret the Holy writing in today’s terms, but I am no scholar. Scholars are not readily available in my neck of the woods, either! So, what’s a confused, but well-intentioned Muslim to do? Islam Online is the perfect resource for Muslims, new or otherwise. The website is a treasure trove of information about the religion, but … Continue reading →

Conversational Hebrew vs Traditional Hebrew

The Hebrew Alphabet or Alef-Bet is one of the hardest languages to understand for an English speaker and reader when they first begin. The frustrations can sometimes be so overwhelming, the child or adult, will just throw their hands up in the air and say, “Forget it!” For children at a young age, around 3 years old, are exposed to any different language, they tend to pick it up quite easily. At least, the conversational part of the language but what happens when they have to learn the Hebrew letters and vowels and then try to put them all together? … Continue reading →

What is a Siddur?

A Siddur, to simply explain, is a prayer book. During times of prayer, a Siddur is used. Jews do not read through the entire prayer book at every service. Depending on the service, is the part of the Siddur which is used. For example, on Shabbat morning (Saturday), the Shabbat morning service is recited. This includes the Shema, the Amidah, the Torah or opening of the ark (Beit Hamikdash), ceremony, and the conclusion (Alaynu). Many of the services share similar if not the same prayers. The Kaddesh is a prayer repeated throughout a service. It is said for anyone who … Continue reading →

Protocol for Visiting a Muslim Home

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Whether you are Muslim or not, you could find yourself invited to a Muslim home. There are certain rules of etiquette you should be aware of. Although your Muslim hosts will understand if you inadvertently slip up, they will be impressed that you took the time to learn their ways. [h]Should You Bring a Gift?[/h] While it is certainly not mandatory to bring a gift while visiting, it is a nice touch. Most Muslims do bring a token gift when invited for a meal. Many also bring a gift on the first visit. So, what should you bring? If you … Continue reading →

Assalamu Alaikoum — What Does that Mean?

Assalamu Alaikoum. If you’ve ever spent any time at all around Muslims, you’ve no doubt heard those words. Although they sound a bit like mumbo jumbo to an American ear, the words actually have a beautiful meaning. “Assalamu alaikoum” is an Arabic phrase that literally means, “peace be with you.” “Assalamu alaikoum” is a Muslim greeting. Muslims of all nationalities, whether they speak Arabic or not, say “Assalamu alaikoum” when they meet and again when they depart. It is a way of showing respect to a Muslim brother or sister and of wishing them well. The response is, “Wa alaikoum … Continue reading →