Phillip Hitti in 'Short History of the Arabs."

During all the first part of the Middle Ages, no other people made as important a contribution to human progress as did the Arabs, if we take this term to mean all those whose mother-tongue was Arabic, and not merely those living in the Arabian peninsula. For centuries, Arabic was the language of learning, culture and intellectual progress for the whole of the civilized world with the exception of the Far East. From the IXth to the XIIth century there were more philosophical, medical, historical, religious, astronomical and geographical works written in Arabic than in any other human tongue."

An-Numan Ibn Muqarrin RA
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The tribe of Muzaynah had their habitations some distance from Yathrib on the caravan route which linked the city to Makkah. News of the Prophet's arrival in Yathrib spread rapidly and soon reached the Muzaynah through members of the tribe who had left and returned. One evening the chieftain of the tribe, an-Numan ibn Maqarrin, sat among the elders and other members of the tribe and addressed them: "O my people, by Allah, we have learnt only good about Muhammad, and of His mission we have heard nothing but mercy, kindness and justice. What's wrong with us? Why do we tarry while people are hastening to him?" "As for myself," he continued, "I have made up my mind to leave early in the morning to join him. Whoever of you wishes to go with me, let him get ready."

An-Numan must have been a persuasive chieftain. His words had a wondrous effect on the ears of his people. The following morning an-Numan's ten brothers and four hundred horsemen of the Muzaynah were all ready and prepared to go with him to Yathrib to meet the Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam, and enter the religion of Islam. An-Numan however felt embarrassed to go to the Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam with such a numerous following without carrying any presents for him and the Muslims. There wasn't much he could carry anyway. That year was a year of drought and famine for the Muzaynah and much of their livestock and crops had perished. Still, an-Numan went around the dwellings of his fellow tribesmen and gathered up whatever sheep and goats were left. These he drove before him and made his way to Madinah.

There in the presence of the Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam, he and his fellow tribesmen announced their acceptance of Islam. The whole of Madinah was agog with excitement with the coming of an-Numan and his companions. Never before had there been a single family with all eleven brothers accepting Islam at the same time together with four hundred horsemen. The noble Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam was exceedingly glad and rejoiced greatly. Indeed the sincerity of their effort was accepted and commended by Allah Almighty when He revealed the following words of the Quran to the Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam: "And among the nomad Arabs are such as believe in Allah and the Last Day, and regard all that they spend in Allah's cause as a means of drawing them nearer to Allah and of (their being remembered in) the Apostle's prayers. Oh, verily, it shall (indeed) be a means of (Allah's) nearness to them, (for) Allah will admit them into His grace. Verily Allah is much-Forgiving, most Merciful." (The Quran, Surah at-Tawbah, 9:99).

An-Numan lived under the guidance of the Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam and participated in all the campaigns he waged with valor and dedication. In the time of Abu Bakr RA, he and the people of Muzaynah played a major and commendable role in putting an end to the fitnah of apostasy. During the caliphate of Umar al-Faruq RA, an-Numan distinguished himself, in particular, in the encounters with the Sasananian Empire. Shortly before the Battle of Qadisiyyah, the commander of the Muslim forces Sad ibn Abi Waqqas sent a delegation to the Sasanian Emperor, Yazdagird. The delegation was headed by an-Numan ibn Muqarrin and its main purpose was to invite the emperor of Islam . When an-Numan and his delegation reached Ctesiphon, the Sasanian capital, the people of the city looked upon them with curiosity and some disdain. They remarked on their simple appearance, their rough clothes and shoes and their weak-looking horses. The Muslims were in no way overwhelmed and sought an audience with Yazdagird. He granted them permission, summoned an interpreter and said to him: "Say to them (the Muslims): why have you come to our dominions and why do you want to invade us? Perhaps, you have designs on us... and seek to venture against us because we are preoccupied with you. But we do not wish to inflict punishment on you." read more

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The UN Security Council has unanimously condemned North Korea's latest nuclear missile test, labelling it a "clear violation" of a 2006 resolution passed after Pyongyang's first atomic test.

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Congress of the South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has given government 30 days to come up with concrete steps to help the poor.

All eyes will be on President Jacob Zuma who will chair his first ever Cabinet Lekgotla in Pretoria this morning.

Beat egg; Add balance of ingredients; Mix well; Grease muffin pan; Pour mixture into muffin pan; Sprinkle coloured; Baked at 180

For example, the congregation is very large and the people are standing so close to each other that it is not possible to make Sajdah on the ground. It will be permissible to make Sajdah on the backs of those offering Salaah. This is on condition that the person on whose back Sajdah is being made is also offering the same Salaah as the person making the Sajdah.

A Second Chance 

To be happy, drop the words “if only” and substitute instead the words “next time” 

What does your Daddy do?

Third grade teacher was getting to know her pupils on the first day of school. She turned to one little girl and asked,
"What does your Daddy do?" The girl replied,
"Whatever my Mommy tells him to do."