MUSLIM FUN FACT OF THE DAY: A friend posted an article on FB and wanted to be inclusive and respectful, so she wrote "God/Allah ..." It made me wonder how many people think "Allah" is somehow different than the God they grew up learning about. So the lesson of the day - the word "Allah" is simply Arabic for "God." If you are an Arab Jew (yes, they exist) or an Arab Christian or any Arabic-speaking human who believes in the concept of "God" you will use the word "Allah." The word is NOT EXCLUSIVE to Muslims, but since the Qur'an's language is Arabic ... shocker ... the Arabic word "Allah" is used. Allah is not a different being. As I previously stated, as a faith that also view the Prophet Abraham (PBUH) as the "father of our religion," Muslims do not have a different concept of "God." I do not ascribe to the "your God v. my God" line of thinking. Allah (الله) = Elohim (אלוהים) = Dios = Dieu = Gott = Dio = Theós (θεός) = God ... whatever your native tongue He is one and the same. And here's a "fun fact" bonus lesson: Jesus (PBUH) spoke Aramaic (which most linguists agree is "an ancestral" language to Arabic and Hebrew). The Aramaic word for "God" is ʼĔlāhā, or Alaha. And from Alaha came Allah, which again Arabic-speakers of all Abrahamic faiths, use to mean "God". So really, Allah is pretty dang close to the words Jesus (PBUH) himself uttered; so maybe you might want to take it easy on the "Allah" jokes, eh? :) #MuslimFunFactOfTheDay

MUSLIM FUN FACT OF THE DAY: As I passed a sign that said "Jesus is the reason for the season" I thought about how many people have NO IDEA that Muslims love Jesus (PBUH) too! Jesus is a very important prophet in our faith. While Muslims do not believe in "the holy Trinity" or that Jesus (PBUH) was divine and "the Son of God" or that he was crucified and therefore a "Savior" -  let's focus on what Muslims and Christians DO both believe. Jesus (PBUH) was born from the Virgin Mary. Jesus (PBUH) is the Messiah of God. Yes, your read that right - Muslims believe he's the MESSIAH OF GOD. Muslims believe that Jesus (PBUH) will return to this Earth (meaning the Second Coming of Christ) and that he was risen to heaven (raised at the threat of harm, without crucifixion) and "sitting on the right hand of God," as it says in the Qur'an, until God chooses to send him back to His followers. One of the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) FIRST responsibilities when his destiny was revealed to him, was to RESTORE the name of the Prophet Jesus (PBUH) to a people who'd forgotten his name and were therefore oblivious to his teachings. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) constantly referred to the Prophet Jesus (PBUH) in this teachings, as well as all the prophets of God before the both of them, from Adam to Noah to Moses to Abraham (PBUT). Muslims believe Jesus (PBUH) cured the lepers, resurrected the dead, as well as other miracles that he performed with God's permission and power. Jesus (PBUH) was a shining example of how to treat the sick, the weak, the poor, and everyone mistreated by society. He was also a leading example in a lesson all humankind regularly forgets - HOW TO NOT JUDGE OTHERS! "God himself is the ultimate judge on the day of judgment/the day of reckoning," as stated in both the Bible and the Qur'an. Jesus (PBUH) is a beloved prophet of God in Islam and one cannot be a Muslim without loving and honoring him. Just another reminder that we are more alike than different. #OneLove #MuslimFunFactOfTheDay

This GIF is everything Muslims have wanted to say!

http://media.giphy.com/media/TlK63EwiHqemn41RRHq/giphy.gif

MUSLIM FUN FACT OF THE DAY: As friends are currently celebrating Hanukkah and more friends are getting ready to celebrate Christmas, please consider this - Islam is also an "Abrahamic faith." The Prophet Abraham (PBUH = peace be upon him - which Muslims say after all prophets' names out of respect) is a BIG prophet for us and his name is mentioned in our 5 daily prayers. We are a part of "the covenant of Abraham" and therefore consider that Jews, Christians, and Muslims are all "people of book." The term "People of the Book" in the Qur'an (32 separate verses) refers to followers of monotheistic Abrahamic religions that are older than Islam. This includes all Christians, all Children of Israel (including Jews, Karaites and Samaritans), and Sabians. We have far more in common than we have differences.‪#‎OneLove‬ ‪#‎MuslimFunFactOfTheDay‬

Sadly ... I felt the need to revive this blog given what's going on in the world today ... so here we go:

Hello friends - While I've continued to post articles on here, I took a little "time-out" from responding to all the ... shall I say 'mind-blowing' things I've read recently posted here by 'friends.' I needed to take a break from cringing, shaking my head, and headaches induced by reading things on this screen. While I refuse to agree that I or Muslims in general " need to speak out against terrorism" as I feel (1) that's a given if you're a decent, normal, rational, and sane human being, but more importantly (2) it is offensive to place me and 1.7 BILLION Muslims on Earth on the same level as mass-murdering f*** heads! I have decided to try to take a more educational/informative approach. Since power-hungry, fear-mongering a-holes like Trump play on people's ignorance, which leads to irrational fear, I will try to combat ignorance. I will start trying to post at least one "Muslim Fun Fact of the Day' and will kindly ask you folks to share with your networks. For the record, I'm not trying to "preach my religion" or "convert infidels" but to educate, especially those where I might be the only Muslim you know. Please feel free to ask questions, but if you chose to do so, please remain respectful. Somewhere in the last 20 years, we have lost the ability to have civil discourse and civil debate which lead to the exchange of different ideas and even the right to agree to disagree. :) PEACE. #MuslimFunFactOfTheDay

Deeds ...

A man asked the Prophet, "What sort of deeds or (what qualities of) Islam are good?" The Prophet replied, "To feed (the poor) and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know."

- Hadith narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr, as related by Al-Bukhari

Children ...

Once Abu Umamah asked the Prophet about the rights of parents over their children. The Prophet replied, "They are your Paradise and they are your Hell."

- Reported by Abu Umamah