Islamic Gifts For Children's Birthdays

Being a child means little things can please you and you can find happiness in the smallest parts of life. For children, celebrating their birthdays is equivalent to getting presents from their friends and family and enjoying playing with them. For a Muslim child's birthday, the best presents which anyone can give them are Islamic gifts, which are related to their religion in one way or another.

There are a number of Islamic gifts that are available and can be given to children for their birthdays. One of the best Islamic gifts for children consists of good illustrated Islamic books. Based on the child's age, there are numerous topics which are of interest for them. The basic books about topics like Salat, Fasting, Hajj, Zakat, Lives of different prophets, Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) and Basics of Islam can be given to children of any ages between 5-12 years. There are different difficulty levels available about these areas, so you can select the ones which will be the most suitable for the child you are buying it for.

Islamic animated movies created by different Islamic media organizations are also great Islamic gifts for children. These movies feature animated characters who live life according to the principles of Islam and focus on teaching their viewers the day to day impact f Islam on the lives of its followers. There are different DVD's teaching children different matters such as telling the truth, helping others, respecting parents and elders, cleanliness, working hard and being humble which can help them in their lives on a daily basis. Due to this reason, these video gifts are well appreciated not only by children, but also by their parents.

There are also a number of educational and entertainment toys which also make great Islamic gifts, as they focus of implementing Islam into their teachings in one way or another. Educational toys such as Toy laptops, digital Quran iPod's and Arabic learning characters are a huge hit with children of almost all ages. In addition, Islamic action figures and dolls are great entertainment toys for children while being modest as well. Other toys which make good Islamic gifts for children include hand puppets, Arabic and Islamic puzzles, Islamic trivia games and Islamic art and calligraphy kits.

So the next time you are invited to a child's birthday party, or are looking for a present for your own child, be sure to check out the numerous Islamic gifts available for children at your local stores and choose with care and love the gifts which will help them become better Muslims.

Sohail Khan works for Islamic Impressions which specializes in retail and wholesale products for the Islamic market and stocks a wide range of ideal Islamic gifts to buy online or in our stores in London, Birmingham, Denmark and Trinidad.

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Islamic Shops - How They Help Others Learn About Islam

Religion is a topic of discussion that can be very controversial at times, as many people have different perceptions of the same doctrines. It is particularly hard for people belonging to different religions to understand and comprehend the various things that any particular religion teaches. For each person their faith and beliefs are the only way of life and it is not easy for them to show acceptance about other religions. An Islamic shop is a useful tool that can be very useful for non Muslims to learn about many things about Islam.

A normal Islamic shop carries numerous items that are significant for Muslims including Islamic clothing items, Praying equipment and Islamic books and CD's that contain oceans of information about Islam for Muslims as well as Non Muslims. There are books about the life of Prophet Muhammad, how to lead a good Muslim life, role of a person in a society, humanitarian and societal issues. Someone keen about learning more about Islam can easily do so from these books. Typically an Islamic shop which is located in an area where the majority is non Muslim can prove to be very advantageous in promoting the religion and gaining acceptance and tolerance from people of other faiths.

As Islam promotes ethical values like fair trade and good customer service by being polite and friendly towards the entire mankind, these features when exhibited in an Islamic shop can be very beneficial for the entire Muslim community living in a non Muslim area. People learn to trust and appreciate the good values that are a key part of Islam thus realizing that the followers of the Messenger of Allah are good, kind and humble people.

The negative media exposure due to terrorism globally has destroyed the peaceful image of Islam. An Islamic shop situated in an ethnic area where it can get traffic from different religions of the world can go a long way in restoring the positive impression that people had previously. In addition, the customers walking into an Islamic shop can view the different items that are trademarked with Muslims and understand their significance in a Muslim's day to day life. Prime examples are the Islamic clothing items like abayas, hijabs and jubbas. These garments are worn by Muslims as they follow the dress codes laid out in the Quran.

These loose fitting and modest clothing items are worn in order to preserve the honour and respect of the Muslims and have been worn by Muslims from the time of the Prophet Muhammad. Today the perception that only terrorists wear such clothes can be disregarded once people learn the religious importance of these items. In fact, today an Islamic shop can act as a binding force for expat Muslims as well as a sea of information about Islam for the non Muslims. These shops make the lives of people around them much easier and convenient.

Sohail Khan works for Islamic Impressions, which started as a traditional Islamic shop specialising in retail and wholesale products for the Islamic market, now with branches in London, Birmingham, Denmark and Trinidad.

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How Islamic Books Can Help You Lead a Happy Married Life in Accordance to Islam

Marriage is a sacred part of a Muslim's life, and great emphasis has been placed about the importance of marriage in Islam. Leading a happy married life in accordance to Islam's teachings can be made even easier with the help of numerous Islamic books available on the numerous topics of marriage and marital issues. These Islamic books are helpful for both men and women getting married in order to lead a happy and blissful life with your partner.

The most common Islamic books about marriage issues for the Muslims include:

The Muslim marriage Guide: This book acts like a complete A-Z guide for all marriage related issues for Muslims. The author Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood takes into account the social, emotional and personal factors that affect a couple in a married relationship along with a section about the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) marriages and wives. It clearly presents these topics in light of Quran and Hadith and is one of the most comprehensive Islamic books about marriage.

The Rights of Boys and Girls in Marriage: The well known author Maulana Mujahidul Islam Qasmi wrote this book to discuss the issues related to young Muslim girls and boys of marriageable age. This includes topics like a girl and boy's decision to choose a spouse independent of their parents consent and issues regarding child marriages and the child's rights once reaching adulthood. This is one of the more popular Islamic books about marriage topics for the younger generation.

The Essentials of Islamic marriage: Written by Muhammad Rifat Uthman, who is a famous author of many dependable Islamic books and specializes in Sharia law. This book describes the key ingredients of leading a happy married life beginning from proposing to the choice of a perfect Muslim partner. In addition it details the rights of both the husband and wife in a marriage.

The Islamic Marriage: Written by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanawi, it discusses all aspects of a family life from puberty to child rearing in addition to leading a healthy matrimonial.

Another series of Islamic books which are very beneficial and helpful for a Muslim couple include "Winning the Heart of your Husband" and "Winning the Heart of your wife" written by Ibraahim ibn Saaleh al-Mahmud. These books are very interesting to read and give references to the Quran in order to lead a happy married life. Therefore, it is important to read about these topics in order to have a successful and content life with your partner.

Sohail Khan works for Islamic Impressions which specializes in retail and wholesale products for the Islamic market and stocks a wide range of Islamic books on all subjects to buy online or in our stores in London, Birmingham, Denmark and Trinidad.

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Why Islamic Books Can Take Up an Entire Library!

Reading books is not just a hobby but a passion for many people and due to this love for books; the millions of libraries around the world are frequented by people looking to lose themselves in the timeless intrigue of books. The type of books one reads depends on a number of factors such as the mood, environment and interests. Some people tend to read more fictitious stories, whereas others opt for real life based story books. Yet others read subject matters of interest whether philosophy, history, science or politics. Another major chunk of people like to read religious books such as books on Christianity, Judaism or Islamic books.

Availability of books is a very important factor in the selection of reading choices. Many smaller countries do not have conveniently located libraries which offer their patrons thousands and thousands of books to choose from. As the Muslim population is increasing all over the World, with Islam being the major religion in numerous countries, the need for Islamic books libraries is also increasing. In smaller Muslim countries there are very limited amounts of libraries carrying Islamic books for the readers. This hinders the development and growth of real and authentic knowledge about the religion Islam.

Certain regular libraries in Muslim countries carry a few Islamic books, but those are not enough to cater to the entire Muslim community seeking to learn more about the history, advent and spread of Islam. As there is a shortage of libraries in general, people do not try to focus on a specific religious library, instead they just have a small section in the general library for Islamic books.

The idea of Islamic libraries is important in order to encourage Muslim as well as non Muslim readers to learn more about the religion and its basic principles and fundamentals. Every Islamic library should have sections about the pre-Islamic era, the advent and spread during the Prophet Muhammad's life, Time periods after his death including the spread of Islam in the Eastern Asian countries. In addition each library should carry Islamic books about the pillars, teachings and doctrines of Islam.

There are numerous Islamic books being published annually by scholars and researchers about the different aspects of the religion. Also books have been written about Islam and its effects on the day to day activities of life including politics, economics, science and social settings. These books should also be made available at these libraries. These libraries will have a very positive and constructive impact on the generations to come, as they will have access to multitudes of books in the sanctuary of a library.

Sohail Khan works for Islamic Impressions which specializes in retail and wholesale products for the Islamic market and stocks a wide range of Islamic books on all subjects to buy online or in our stores in London, Birmingham, Denmark and Trinidad.

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What Is Islamic Takaful?

The sense of security of one's life and property is natural to human beings. This sense of security gave rise the idea of insurance. Initially, insurance was a way to protect mutual losses to life, property and trade. It was not itself a business-like activity as it is now. We find the idea of insurance in the Muslim history. When Arabs expanded their trade in Asia they made an agreement with the members of the business expedition to contribute to a mutual fund which was supposed to be used to compensate any possible losses to life or property of the participants. Islamic term used for this kind of concept is Aquila. The traces of insurance can be found in the concept of Aquila. If someone might kill someone, and matter was settled with the payment of ransom money, the whole tribe of the murderer paid the ransom.

There is a Hadith of the Holy prophet, which goes:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "If somebody dies (among the Muslims) leaving some property, the property will go to his heirs; and if he leaves a debt or dependents, we will take care of them."(Volume 8, Book 80, Number 755)

The modern term used for Islamic insurance is Takaful, which means to compensate each other. This Hadith of the prophet clarifies another aspect of Islamic concept of insurance. So the basic concept of Islamic insurance is in fact in complete compliance with Islamic Shariah.

Since the international monetary system is designed by the leadership and management of the western powers, when they held away the world in 18th and 19th centuries and Islamic leadership development was at halt, the Islamic economic laws could not be in consideration while chalking out world economic system. Same goes for insurance. It was designed on interest. So the Muslim, their majority refrained from contributing to insurance companies thus they were bereft of the benefits which were offered by insurance.

Now in the present scenario, with growing insecurity to life and property, due to terrorist activities and due to the world powers showing up their muscles to each other, the demand for security has increased immensely. Since the Muslim countries are the most who are receiving the effects of terrorism and the insecurity as its aftermaths, the Islamic insurance must come forward to not only cater the mounting demand of security to life and property through providing insurance services based on Islamic economic principles of Shariah, but also they have great potential market to enhance their business to new heights.

Thanks to the leadership and management of Islamic finance managers, the Islamic insurance is now not an alien concept and practice in many Muslim countries. In Middle East, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and India, to name a few, the Islamic insurance companies are doing very well with positively growing business.

Mostly the Islamic insurance or Takaful is designed on two models in compliance with principles of Islamic economics of Shariah, i.e.

1. Mudarabah

2. Waqalah

Mudarabah: Mudarabah means profit sharing and loss bearing. This is the form of business well known and acknowledged by Islamic scholars. This concept has been introduced in Islamic insurance or Takaful in which the contributor provides the capital and the other party or entrepreneur acts like a working partner and the profit is divided between the both according to agreed upon share of profit. In case of loss, the both will bear it. Moreover, a portion of capital and profit is transferred to the mutual fund or pool which is used to fulfill the claims by the contributors.

Waqalah:In this model the company or entrepreneur acts as agent for the capital provider and make investment on his or her behalf in the business in compliance with Shariah. For its services the company charges its fee and the profit is transferred to the capital provider, except for a portion which is transferred to the mutual fund or pool to meet the claims of the contributors.

There is still a long way to go. The job to be done is to initiate more leadership development programs in Islamic finance. Also, it is the need of the hour to make the Muslim more aware of the Islamic insurance or Takaful and persuade them to make investment in the insurance companies to make possible losses against their life and property in order to make them less damaging, but turn them into benefit.

The Madinah Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship (MILE) brings senior executives and high potential leaders from all over the world for executive education to discover new dimensions in Leadership Development, Good Governance, Telecom Training, HR Performance and various other Leadership and Management practices to help them grow in their business careers.

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Islamic Financial Planning - Navigate Your Way Around Interest While Planning For a Massive Future

slamic Financial planning is essential, as in every journey you need to have a road map to be sure that you get to your destination, with your financial well-being you need to have a map to make sure that you get where you want to go, which is becoming a wealthy Muslim inheriting Jannah. This will be your GPS on your way to great wealth and Jannah inshaAllah. For each of the stages of your life design a map based on the needs of that stage. By imparting this knowledge to your children you will ensure they are on the right road to financial success and wealth mastery.

'A Muslim should prepare himself for the next world as if he is going to die tomorrow, but at the same time work hard to improve all his worldly comforts as if he is going to live forever.' (Narrated by Al-Dailami)

Islam is a comprehensive, integrative and holistic religion that governs all aspects of life, major and minor, personal and social, spiritual and materialistic and relates this worldly life to the Hereafter. This means that we need to practice Islam while we perform our business and economic activities. Muslims are encourage planning for their life and put efforts to achieve the goal setting then ask help from Allah. The final stage is tawakal for what the result and takes it as the destiny bestows by Allah.

Financial Planning is basically a discipline of wealth management that applies to the unique needs and concerns of respective individual. As a Muslim even though a person does not possesses any form of wealth, he still has to commit with financial planning process because either he would leaves debt or children to the trusted one. For starters, manage your expenses to save and invest 10% - 20% of your pre-tax income. Ideally this can be achieved by investing in your pension scheme with your employer. The sooner you start this habit, the less likely you will find yourself in financial difficulties later in life when it is harder to make up for lost time.

While creating your financial plan, plan for your death. Be prepared for your death, have your affairs in order, share with your family how your estate should be divided and write up a will. Death is inevitable, it is better to be prepared for it than not. As you begin to establish a career, family and network of friends, life will seem to run in a vicious cycle. This underscores the importance of managing your finances and your long-term goals.It is of utmost importance to master the techniques of building a strong financial foundation to become a wealthy Muslim inheriting Jannah and attaining peace of mind.

Discuss your finances with your spouse. Let them know if you are in debt and your net worth. This will show your trust in them and will also enable them to understand your stress. Both of you must be co-signers of your long-term plan and decision to become wealthy Muslims. Review and adjust your finances with your spouse regularly, discussing your options for investment and taking their opinions about investment. This will mitigate risk between the two of you and reduce the risk of impulsive investments, which can often be bankrupting. Unfortunately too many of us fail to achieve our required saving levels (this is the level that would be necessary to sustain ourselves if we stopped working).

Many Muslims enter a lifestyle of all work and no play which is detrimental to their health and wealth. The constant work routine keeps them locked into avoiding necessary decisions that need to be made to become wealthy Muslims. As you continue to implement your investment program, it's important to monitor your portfolio on an ongoing basis and ensure that you rebalance your portfolio as appropriate.

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Islamic Art - How Did it Begin?

Islamic Art that evolved the time followed the death of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was mostly depicted in the architectural manner. This form emerged in countries where ever Islam prevailed and personified the Muslim precepts in its motifs and themes. As the wings of Islam spread from Africa to Egypt and from Spain to Persia, it gained strength and substance. The origins lay in its rich and artistic Arabian heritage as different kinds of art were utilized to express the uniqueness of Islam without any form of pictorial depictions.

Islamic art was developed over time by a unique blend of various arts from the Byzantines, the Copts, the Romans, and the Persians. Therein lays the greatest asset of this art, its skill to fuse the native designs with imported ones to achieve a completely distinct end result. The one common factor in all kinds of Islamic art is the abstract embellishments and designs. Most utilized the curved and interlacing lines in bright and vibrant colors to enhance the various styles. The finest pieces of this art and architecture throughout the world are clearly distinguishable by the vivacious colors in floral designs.

The current form of such art is believed to have emerged during the rule of the Umayyad caliphate (661-750). Thereafter, many divergent periods of Islamic art and architecture transpired. Therefore, this art is most commonly classified according to the reigning empire when the art work was created. Most museums and art galleries have categorized their collections by the different Muslim dynasties including the Umayyad, Abbasid, Safavid, Ottoman and Mughal.

As Islam is a diverse religion that encompasses people of various ethnic backgrounds, the Islamic art is also much diversified to accommodate all ethnicities of its followers. It has the ability to unify various elements into a beautiful piece depicting the many facets of the artist. Islamic art avoids any form of human or animal representation in it. This is because of the Muslim belief that no one can replicate the work of Allah. Thus all such art is invariable found in the form of floral, geometric and abstract shapes and lines. Many good books are also available for those who are interested in learning more about its history and descent through time to its current version. World travelers notice the specific regional features of Islamic art varying from terrain to terrain to encompass that particular place's history into it.

Sohail Khan works for Islamic Impressions which specializes in retail and wholesale products for the Islamic market and stock a wide range of Islamic art, frames and other beautiful pieces to view online or in our stores in London, Birmingham, Denmark and Trinidad.

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