Musings Of A Yorkshire Lass

Yvonne Ridley on BNP protest tomorrow

2009-09-10T13:18:00.000-07:00

Sister Yvonne Ridley gave clear warning to attendees of the protest, via her Facebook profile:

TO EVERYONE going to Harrow Mosque on Friday - be very careful you are not wound up and lured into a trap. There were all sorts of shenanighans [sic] going on during the Bradford riots, but who was arrested? The BNP, the anti Nazi protestors [sic]? Nope, young Muslim men who ended up being sent down for four years.

There's a lot of hype and spin being created by muck stirrers who couldn't g[i]ve a stuff about silencing the BNP but would like to see lots of young Muslims being arrested. Please do not allow yourselves to be led blindly into a situation where you will be set up and compromised. There's going to be a lot of nasty people turning out at Harrow with a whole mixed bag of agendas.

The bad people will not only be the gorillas with knuckles trailing on the ground and wearing England T shirts. Watch out for the 'voices' right at the back goading and inciting those who are pushed to the front. They might seem to be on your side, but when the going gets tough they will scarper out of every copper's reach.

The Bradford youth were hauled before a nasty piece of work called Judge Gillick who thought he was running an Apartheid court in Jo'berg. Collective responsibility was the order of the day and long prison sentences were handed out to those who just turned up to protest.

Please pass on.

http://muslimmatters.org/2009/09/10/harrow-mosque-911-counter-protest-urgent-advice-for-attendees/

The Glorious Qur'an

2009-08-20T14:24:00.000-07:00

The Quran is the divine book of Allah which every believer should hold fast to in their day to day lives. Below are some Ahadith on the virtues and benefits attaching oneself to the Glorious Qur'an.

The best of you is he who learns the Qur'an and teaches it. (Bukhari)

There is no envy (acceptable) except in two cases: a person whom Allah has given then Qur'an and recites it throughout the night and throughout the day. And a person whom Allah has given wealth, that he gives out throughout the night and throughout the day. (Bukhari, Muslim)

Whoever reads a letter from the book of Allah, will receive a hasanah (good deed) from it (i.e his recitation), and the hasanah is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Meem is considered as a letter, rather Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter, and Meem is a letter. (Tirmidhi, Darimi)

Read the Qur'an. For verily it will come forth on the day of resurrection as an intercessor for its readers. (Muslim)

The Qur'an is an intercessor (which by Allah's permission) intercedes, and an opponent (which is) truthful. He who appoints it as his leader, (then it) will lead him to Paradise. And he who puts it behind him, (then it) will lead him to the fire. ( Bayhaqi, Tabarani)

Fasting and the Qur'an will intercede for the slave on the day of resurrection. Fasting will say, ' Oh my Lord! i prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for him. ' The Qur'an will say, ' I prevented him from sleep during the night, so accept my intercession for him. ' The Prophet peace be upon him said, ' And they will (be allowed) to intercede. (Ahmad, Tabarani)

The likeness of the believer who reads the Qur'an is like that of citron; its taste is delicious and its scent pleasant. And the likeness of the believer who does not read the Qur'an is like that of a date; its taste is delicious, yet it has no scent. And the likeness of a hypocrite who reads the Qur'an is like that of basil; its scent is pleasant, yet its taste is bitter. And the likeness of a hypocrite that does not read the Qur'an is like that of a colocynth; its taste is bitter and it has no scent. (Bukhari, Muslim)

Read the Qur'an, put it into practice, do not abandon it, do not put grudges (upon others) through it, and do not eat and gain wealth through it. ( Ahmad, Tabarani)

Poem On Tabligh

2009-08-08T16:06:00.001-07:00

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

I haven't written anything for this blog in a while; so i thought might as well make a quick post inshaAllah.
We are in the blessed month of Shabaan (And whilst on this subject, i would like to post this very informative link regarding what people call 'shab e barat' http://islamibayanaat.com/EnglishLiterature/ShabeBaraat.pdf May Allah save us from innovation, ameen), and soon to enter the blessed month of Ramadhan. May Allah give us the ability to make good intention of spending this month wisely, and may He give us the ability to follow our intentions through.

I would like to share a poem, i am unaware as to who the author is unfortunately; but it is a beautiful poem mashaAllah:

The tableeghis, easy target for criticism,
Attacks against them launched with cynicism
Politically unaware , Intellectually Docile,
Painted as some as simplistically puerile

But I must hasten to disagree,
And quote to you some history
To prove the nature of my claims
And perhaps to defend their noble aims

When Hinduism was spreading in Mewat,
And muslims were losing iman from the heart,
A spiritual man arose who stood apart,
And founded what we now know as tableeghi jamaat

Who knew this spark of love would spread like fire,
For the situation seemed quite dire,
It transformed darkness to illumination,
And rescued the sunnah from devastation

Empty masjids cried floods of tears,
As no worshippers made sujood for many years,
And then crowds came back and thronged their floors,
You can see angels smile, and the heavens echo with
applause.

The dhikr of Allah is being revived by their crowds
Throughout the lands jam'aahs travel like rain-bearing
clouds
Bringing much sought for water to thirsty lands,
And turning to luscious green arid desert lands.

Some people may be unaware of this information,
That mawlana Ilyaas was an initiated Sufi master
But he saw the mutasawifs and ulema remaining aloof
from their congregation,
Whilst Indians muslims plunged into great disaster

So he took the da'wah out to the masses,
Like Bees flying on journeys making honey in stashes,
Unknown inhabitations became Honeycombs sweet,
Where millions of muslims gather and meet

They left their families and their abodes,
And embarked on difficult dusty roads,
Travelling for the pleasure of the divine,
To replace the darkness of post modernity with the
sunnah's shine.

Embryonic change happens in Forty Days,
Strange Indeed are Allah's ways,
Don’t call this number a reprehensible innovation,
Perchance it be a sign of your lack of academic
discrimination.

In the way of Allah each step they tread,
But only for jihaad this should be said?
Open the hadeeth work of bukhari- the chapter on
JUMUAH, ya akhee f'illah,
In that very chapter not about jihad, it quotes the
hadeeth of the feet being covered with dust Fee sabeel
illah

How many a former drug addict I have encountered in
these lands,
Whose previously injecting hands are enshrouded with
ancient sins
And now he sits in the house of God with a tasbeeh in
his hands
Those same hands make dhikr on those beads of strings.

How many a robber who used to steal,
How many a zaani who shamed the earth's surrounds
How many a musician singing profane sounds
Now recounts God's Jalal-it makes him yell out squeals
And now the earth begins to smile,as he prostrates and
as he kneels..

How many a face- black white and yellow from every
schism
Sit on a mat and eat together their repast
Whilst politicians talk of the problems of racism
Oh This is not out problem- a thing of the past.

He makes nadaama and in tawbah turns
His heart with Love of Allah yearns
God Bless you Oh dearest mawlaana ilyaas
How beautifully you turned Yaas Into Aas

From the orient to the occident
And from the south right to the north
Crowds emerge with intentions heavenly bent
And taking Allah's name alone, they come forth

Pakistanis, Caucasians, Mayalsians, Africans, And Turks
Chinese, Eskimo, and Russian faces
Ethnicities unheard of fill Masjids where traces,
Of their forefathers are written in historical works.

Whilst nations sit before cathode rays,
That titillate their eyes with their enticing ways,
These men rebel against satan's invitation
And turn to the work of the prophets-driving iblees to
frustration

They sit of the floor as it indents their knees,
They know not of Nietzsche,Hume,Kant or Socrates,
They couldn’t perhaps recount ghazzali or avicenna's
complex kalaam,
But the dhikr of Allah makes their souls calm

This is not to deny the place of the mutaklimeen,
Without whom we would be in disarray,
But for the awaam such complex arguments can lead
astray
So let dhawq and wijdaan provide them with yaqeen.

They are not by tales of Machiavelli's prince infected
The sahabas stories motivate their lives
Such dark political ideologies before such heros stand
rejected
Upholders of truth and self sacrifice

They hold no huge political rallies protesting to
creation
In the nights they stand in prayer before the answer
of every supplication
And with tears flood the floors begging for mercy and
rejuvenation
Once more gifting glory to the Ummah of the best of
creation

Don't approach the worldly kings -they cannot protect,
A Pretzel falls into their tracheas, almost suffocating
Such a small little thing He cannot eject?
How will he give Honour to those who stand outside the
white house waiting?

They couldn’t tell you about quantum mechanics or
Hawkings
They couldn’t refute Darwinian thought or the
reductionism of dawkins
They don’t know that much of Heisenbergs principle of
uncertainty
For to them the kalimah is a deeply rooted certainty

They might not know Chomskys views on Linguistic
Bayaan,
Or how Steven Pinker's instincts about
neurolinguistics fit,
But they have of a surety read soorah rahman
And know that language is from Allah a merciful Gift.

And not the product of random forces without end,
Or indeed a blind watchmaker -No my friend
The blindness is in your hearts-not the maker of
harmony
So with Ahsan-ul-qawl..They call To the Absolute with
humility

On the Day of Reckoning when the Prophets say nafsee
nafsee....
Perhaps Dawkins will smile ,albeit,temporarily
Thinking "Ah My Selfish Gene Thesis was true"
Even these prophets are exhibiting ultimately a
selfish hue

But Then Mustafa shall come and say Ummati Ummati..
Such selflessness which will cause his theory to
terminate suddenly,
This is the beloved of Allah, and this maqam you
cannot explain scientifically,
So Discard Dawkins Memes for Muhammad(saw)'s MEEM

They fall not prey to materialism or such bakwaas,
They see the divine hand behind each moving leaf,
In fact they are aboard a noah's ark constructed by
mawlana ilyaas,
They hold on to the sunnah with their teeth

Of Freud's oedipus complex they remain unaware
Or indeed of changing uncertain paradigms
Imaan, Salaah, the 6 points are in the air
The kaafirs who promote intellectual kufr will pay for
their crimes

Qiyamah is before their eyes
Not mere logical premises philosophers surmise
But deep rooted convictions that change their lives
You don't have to read volumes to be called wise

Those of us who study in intellectual arrogance
Forget rumi's tales of the lover's simple acceptance
The intellect is still looking for its transportation
Love has circled the ka'ba 7 times in dedication

--
حسبي الله لا إله إلا هو عليه توكلت وهو رب العرش العظيم

A very special Dream

2009-06-05T03:25:00.000-07:00

A very special dream

History books contain the mention of an amazing incident that took place in the year 557. At the time, the ' Abbasid dyna sty was experiencing a sharp decline. As the lands of the muslims became plagued by weakness and even chaos, some Christians got together and plotted the prophet's body from his grave and to transport it back to their own lands, in what would obviously be a serious blow to the morale of the muslims. For this diabolical plot, they sent two men to Medinah, both of whom disguised themselves in Moroccan garments and claimed to be travelers who came to visit the holy city.

The two men stayed in a well known house that was adjacent to the prophets masjid. In order to blend in with their milieu, they performed acts of worship in a conspicuous manner, always hoping to be seen by others in order to gain their trust. But on the inside, they were plotting to achieve the task for which they had been sent.

Having come up with a plan that, at least in their minds,was sure to work, they began to execute it.The secretly began to dig a tunnel from inside the house, and by continuing to dig, they hoped to eventually reach the prophet's grave. Every day, they would dig a little bit, placing the extra dirt in bags. They of course did not want to be seen by anyone when they would dispose of the extra dirt, and so would get rid of it while they would take their daily walk in Al-Baqi, the famous graveyard of Medinah. As they would walk through the graveyard,they would slowly pour out the dirt from underneath their cloaks.And all the while, they would be giving others the impression that they were visiting the graveyard in order to remember d eath and the hereafter.At times, they would also spill excess dirt into a well that was near their home. After many days of secret toil, the two men were finally near the grave of the prophet peace be upon him.Feeling sure now that they would succeed in their mission, they began to concentrate their thoughts on concocting a plan to actually transport the prophet's body to their homeland.But they could plot and plan as much as they wanted, for Allah had other plans for them, and what he wills, he does.

Far away from Medinah, the ruler during that era, Nuruddin Muhammad Bin Zangi, saw a troubling dream. In that dream, he saw the prophet (peace be upon him) pointing to two men of red complexion, and instructing Nuruddin Muhammad to protect him from them. Nuruddin Muhammad was frightened and agitated at witnessing this dream. In order to calm his nerves, he stood up to pray, after which he went back to sleep. But during that night, he saw the same dream three times. When he woke up the third time, he summoned one of his ministers to come to him. That minister was Jamaluddin Al-musili, a wise minister who was a practising, righteous muslim. When the ruler finished telling him about his dream, Jamaluddin said, ' This is concerning something that is happening in Medinah.go now to the prophets city and keep secret what you have seen.'

For the remainder of that night, Nuruddin Muhammad made preparations to leave. 20 men, one of them being Jamaluddin, made preparations to go with their leader. They made the journey from Ash-Shaam to Medinah in 16 days. When they reached their destination, the leader went to the the Ar-Raudha ( a special place in the prophet's masjid) and prayed, but as of yet, he had no idea what he should do about his dream.
His minister Jamaluddin, asked him if he remembered what the two people in his dream looked like. Nuruddin Muhammad said that he remembered them clearly, and that if he saw them, he would certainly recognise them. Jamamluddin had a plan to apprehend the two men, and he immediately put it into action.When the inhabitants of Medinah were gathered in the prophet's masjid, Jamaluddin made the following announcement, ' Indeed the ruler has bought with him a great deal of wealth that has been ear marked for charity. Have the poor ones amongst you register their names, and then bring them, so that each can take his fair share. '
While each person came to take a share of the handout, Nuruddin Muhammad was standing right there, looking at each person, in the hope of seeing one or both of the mn he saw in his dream. He saw no man that resembled any of the two he had seen in his dream.

He then asked, ' Is there anyone left who has still not taken his share? ' Someone said, ' There remain two men from Morocco; they refuse to take their share, and indeed, they are both very righteous. '
'Bring them to me. ' said Nuruddin Muhammad immediately. When the two men were bought before him, Nuruddin Muhammad immediately recognised them; they were the two men that the prophet pointed to in his dream. The leader asked them, ' Where are you from?' They said, ' We are from the West, and we have come here in order to perform Hajj. After we arrived, we decided to stay here this year. '

Perhaps their plot was not exactly clear to Nuruddin at that moment, but he knew they were guilty of something, and so he continued to interrogate them, hoping that they would confess their crime, whatever it was. But they kept to their story, and with no proof against them, Nuruddin couldn't justly take steps against them. The leader them ordered for their home to be searched. After a thorough search, they found nothing peculiar save a large amount of money that the two men had stored in their home. Through the will of Allah, as they began to leave the house, Nuruddin stopped to look at the wooden floor. One of its boards was loose, and Nuruddin stooped to take a closer look.He realised that the board was not solidly attached to the floor, and so he picked it up. The people of Medinah were shocked to see the entrance of a tunnel and even more shocked to see where it led to, for they had been certain that the two men were righteous muslims.

After\being arrested by the irate ruler, the two men confessed that they weren't really from the west, but were instead christians who had been sent by their leaders with a great deal of wealth that was paid to them upfront for the job of removing the prophet from his grave, and transporting the body back to their lands. Nuruddin ordered for the two men to be executed and for the tunnel to be blocked and filled up again. When these two orders were completed, he returned to Ash-Shaam.
And Allah knows best.

( Lu'Lu'Il Manthoor)

Judgement

2009-05-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

Assalamu Alaikum

These are the days of judgement; but not our judgement with Allah, but judgement with fellow human beings.
These are the day's when people are judged through who one's parents are, and if one is not to the level of being as deeni as one's parents, well not only is one judged, but the parents fall into the cross fire too. ' He/she must not have bought up their kids properly...' is the most popular one. Never mind that the offspring cover up, keep out of the eye of the public and generally be as normal as everyone else....judgement after judgement.

These are the days when one is judged through 'education', whether one has a piece of paper confirming some kind of degree, or the title of an aalim or aalima, or just someone who's name people have branded and made 'big.'

These are the days when a simple person with a simple income and a simple house and a good character; to look aside and forget when someone commits a wrong against them, is ignored in favour of a another person just as pious, but with more material wealth.

These are the days when Money and looks are the most important things to people, and these are the days when those who strive for the deen and keep a low profile and yet are simple are brushed aside for a striver of the deen with deeper pockets.

These are the days when people enjoy not worshipping Allah and being a good fellow Muslim to fellow brothers & sisters, but enjoy backbiting, slandering and judging.

These are the days in which i wish i was born in another era, where people loved each other and looked out for one another.
None of us are perfect. We all have faults. We all have traits, and after a certain age these are faults and traits that do not reflect on one's parents, but on oneself. Yet, as long as we have an intention to change those faults of ours, no one but Allah has the right to judge us.
Before judging others, lets judge ourselves. At the day of judgement, YOU won't be asked about ME, and I won't be asked about YOU, but we will be asked about OURSELVES.

Wa'alaikum as salam Wa Rahmatullah

2009-04-14T01:23:00.000-07:00

Assalamu Alaikum

Summer is creeping up on us slowly, gifting us with the occasional beautiful bright day, and of course, with rainy, gloomy days punctuating the sunshine! British weather, love it, or hate it. Funnily enough, after more than two weeks in a hot country, i begin to miss British weather.

I'm sure everyone keeps up to date with the news. We should keep in touch with the happenings around the world, we aren't the only ones in the world and getting comfortable and content in our boxes -or lives- won't help either us, or the people out there who aren't as comfortable as us.
The recent earthquake in Italy http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2009/04/2009462312804620.html , over 90 people dead and so many injured, left homeless. Instead of just viewing these things as natural disasters, we should view them as an eye-opener and lesson for us all. The future is hazy, TOMORROW is hazy.
We don't know if we will be sitting comfortably engrossed with our life tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or next year. For all we know, today could be our last day alive.
What should we be doing? Preparing for that time when we die ourselves. It takes a lifetime of preparation for that last journey every human goes through. None of us are ready, we are far, far from ready, we are pathetically inadequately loaded with good deeds.
Supposing a natural disaster hit us today, what we would we feel like when in front of the almighty? oh that i had had another week in the dunya, that i could have obtained some more marks for doing good deeds. But by then, it will be too late. Its not morbid to think about; after all, this world is transitory, its so.....opaque, any moment it can be torn through, broken, dead. So isn't it better we prepare as much as we can for that last most important journey?
I don't know about you, but i feel extremely frightened when i think about it, because i know i am nothing, have prepared nothing for that last day.
May All give us all the ability to read our five daily prayers without missing any, to follow the commandments of Allah swt and to follow the beautiful Sunnah of his Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.

W.S

A day celebrating Mawlid or a lifetime of following the Sunnah...?

2009-03-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

Assalamu Alaikum WaRahmatullah

It's the Islamic month of Rabi'ul Awwal, the month in which the Best of mankind Muhammad peace be upon him was born.
Some people believe this is a day of celebration and go to great lengths making this day into a celebration..
However, does it really make sense if you religiously attend a 'mawlid gathering' yet regularly miss jummah salah with congregation, hesistate in keeping a beard or donning the hijab,hesitating on following the sunnah in daily life? Does it make sense to march out, to sway to songs deemed Islamic, to express fervour and love for the Prophet Muhammad when in daily life there is no willingness to follow even the sunnah of washing one's hands before sitting down to eat?

Quoting from Mufti Ebrahim Desai 1. The life of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم is an integral path of our Deen. Love for Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم is a means of the perfection of our Deen. Therefore to discuss the life of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم and educate ourselves on that can never be bidah.

However, if one regards celebrating the birth of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم or regard discussing the different aspects of the life of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم on particular days of a year to be compulsory, that is indeed bidah.

2. Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم also used to keep Nafl fast on Thursdays as well and on the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th of the lunar month, irrespective of which days of the week that was. Fasting on Thursday and other days of the week were certainly not due to him celebrating his birthday. Monday was also the day Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم passed away. Should we celebrate the birth of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم each Monday and also mourn his death each Monday?

Furthermore,
Q.) I was brought up in a Barelwi tradition. Since I have begun seeking knowledge from the wider Muslim (i.e. not just Barelwis, but excluding Shia’s and similar groups, though including Wahhabis and Salafis) community, I can say that I have gained much. I now understand more and more of what the common ground is between groups and focus less on the disagreements. I think this kind of tolerance comes with knowledge. Just as your article, "Humility in Knowledge and Arrogance in Ignorance" would say.

I can say that I have changed certain beliefs that I had before my "quest for knowledge." I have benefited enormously from Deoband educated imams here - as a very famous Middle Eastern Sheikh said "Deobandis know their fiqh."

There is one issue though that remains an anomaly and that really leaves me wondering. That is concerning the Maulid (or as they would say in the Indian subcontinent, Milad). Granted, there are some things that Barelwis may do which are curious, but from all that I have seen around the world the Maulid seems to be an accepted practice among Sunni Muslims. Scholars like Jalaluddin Suyuti, Ibn Hajar Asqalani and even Ibn Taimiya described it as a praiseworthy innovation.

From the Ottoman Turks, to the pre-Salafi Arabs, the Malay Archipelago, the Persian and Indo-Pak region, the Maulid was not controversial or questionable in any way. The Sudanese uprising against the colonial forces was fueled by the emotion of the Maulid (verhandelingen). This is why the colonial forces tried to quell the celebration of Maulid in order to subdue the masses.

Today the Turks (Hanafi) still celebrate it with fervor, the Malay (Shafi’i), the Bosnians (Hanafi), some (non-Salafi) Arabs, the Barelwis, the Sudanese. In fact, the only people who don’t celebrate it seem to be the Salafis, Deobandis and the Tabligh Jamaat (the Shariah base of which is of course the books and texts of the Deobandi school).

This is curious. If imams like as-Suyuti have permitted it (if it is free of blameworthiness), was he in error? Was Asqalani in error? The establishment of a day to celebrate the Maulid is completely regarded as bid'ah by Mufti Usmani, praiseworthy or blameworthy acts aside.

A.) As I explained in my article on celebration of Eid-e-Milaad-un-Nabi, holding a meeting to discuss different aspects of the life of the Holy Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam is a very meritorious act for which the Muslims should strive to the best of their ability. But confining this discussion to the events of the birth of the Holy Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam and restricting it to a particular date and holding attendance at such meetings as necessary or obligatory for every Muslim renders this practice as bid'ah or innovation. Mostly the meetings of Maulid today are of this type. Therefore, contemporary Ulema of Deoband have declared it a bid'ah.

If the life of the Holy Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam is made subject of a meeting, and the meeting is free of the above mentioned defects, nobody can call it a bid'ah. It is in this context that some scholars of the past have allowed the practice.

Answer by: Justice Mufti Taqi Usmani

A Discussion of Milad and Bid'ah

[Note: Although the question does not address the issue of Milad from a fiqh point of view, but only from a historical point of view, yet it is also important to examine the issue in that context. For the most important question for a Muslim has to be whether or not a particular act is permissible according to the Shariah, which is derived from Qur'an, Sunnah, and the practice of the Sahabah, as they understood the Sunnah. The following provides that perspective.]

The establishment of ceremonial gatherings under the banner of "Eid-Milad-un-Nabee" and attaching religious significance to them is purely bid'ah and an innovation in Deen, because neither did Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam himself indulge in it, nor did the illustrious Khulafaa-e-Raashideen, Radi-Allahu anhum, organize such functions. Similarly, neither did any of the other Sahaaba-e-Kiraam, Radi-Allahu anhum, participate in such gatherings, nor is there any incident on record during the blessed era of the taabi’een or tab’e taabi’een (Rahmat-u-Allahi alayhim) that can, in any way, substantiate this innovation. These people were best acquainted with the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam and had total love for him. They were staunch followers of the Shariah.

Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam has in no unclear terms, said: "Whoever introduces anything that is not part of Deen, into this Deen of ours, it shall be rejected." (Bukhari/Muslim)

In another Hadith he says: "Hold fast onto my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-guided Khulafa, after me. Hold fast onto it firmly, and beware of newly-introduced practices, for every new practice is an innovation and every innovation leads one astray." (Abu Dawood/Tirmizi)

Severe warnings have been sounded in the above-mentioned Ahadith with regard to introducing and implementing innovations in Deen. The holy Qur’an enjoins: "And whatsoever the messenger giveth you, take it. And whatsoever he forbiddeth, abstain (from it). And keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is stern in reprisal." [Al-Hashr 59:7]

"Verily in the messenger of Allah, ye have a good example for him who looks unto Allah and the last day, and remembers Allah much." [Al-Ahzab 33:21]

"This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed my favor unto you, and have chosen for you a religion, al-Islam." [Al-Maidah 5:3]

There are numerous other Ayat and Ahadith that can be quoted. But from no Ayat or Ahadith can the current form of "Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabee Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam" be proved.

Will such innovations grant proximity to Allah Taala? On the contrary, these innovations should be a cause of great concern and alarm for the Ummat-e-Muslimah!

It is a known fact that Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam is the most superior of all the Ambiyaa alaihimus-salaam and also that he is the seal of all the prophets alayhimus-salaam. He left no stone unturned in conveying Deen to us and rendering precious advice to us. If the "Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabee Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam" was a divinely inspired act, then surely Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam would have commanded the Muslims to it, or at least, either he or his beloved Sahabah, Radi-Allahu anhum, would have practiced it.

That is why, in the light of these unambiguous proofs, the Ulama-e-Haqq have always refuted and rejected the customary form of "Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabee Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam" and Mahfeel-e-Milad and have also always discouraged people from participating in such gatherings.

Some Wrongs of the Contemporary Milad Gatherings

The contemporary form of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabee Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam apart from being a manifestation of Bid’ah, also encompasses other evils such as the intermingling of sexes, usage of musical instruments and many other such evils. The most abhorring and shocking evils in these functions are the acts of shirk that take place. With hollow claims of "Hubbe-Rasul Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam" (love for Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam) entreaties and supplications are made to beings other than Allah, namely to Ambiyaa alaihimus-salaam and Auliaa-e-Kiraam Rahmat-u-Allahi-alaaihim.

The Belief that the Prophet Comes to the Milad Meeting

Some people also believe that Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam comes to this function and due to this belief, they stand up in respect and veneration. This is absolutely untrue. Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam does not arrive at any "Eid-e-Milad-un Nabee Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam" function. He is in his Rawdha-e-Mubarak (grave) at Madinah Munawwarah and will emerge from it at the onset of Yawmul-Qiyaamah, or the Day of Judgement.

The following Ayat and Hadith testify to this fact: The Qur’an, addressing Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam announces explicitly: - "Lo! Thou wilt die, and Lo! They will die. Then Lo! On the day of resurrection, before your sustainer, you will dispute." [Az-Zumar 39:30-31]

At another place, Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam is addressed together with the rest of mankind: - "Then Lo! After that you surely die, then Lo! On the day of resurrection you are raised (again)" [Al-Muminun 23:16]

Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam himself has said in a Hadith: - "My grave will be the first to be opened on the day of Qiyamah and I shall be the first person to intercede and the first person whose intercession shall be accepted."

These Ayat and Hadith as well (and there are others) prove that all of mankind will be raised from their graves on the day of Qiyamah, with Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam being no exception. On this, there is consensus of the entire Ummah.

The Importance of Durood and Salaam

Instead of squandering our money and time on futile acts of Bid'ah let us rather utilize our precious time, as much as possible in the recitation of Durood and salaam upon our beloved Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam which is indeed, a highly meritorious and virtuous act. The Qur’an enjoins: - "Lo! Allah and his Angels shower blessings on the Nabee 'O' ye who believe ask for the descent of blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation." [Al-Ahzab 33:56]

Rasulullah Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam has said: "Whosoever sends one Durood upon me, Allah Taala will shower ten mercies upon him." (Muslim). Particularly on Jumuah, one should increase the recitation of Durood and salaam.

[Mufti Ebrahim Desai FATWA DEPT. Jamiat Ulema Islam. South Africa]

'celebrating' the Prophet's (peace be upon him) is a clear bid'ah. (AskImam.com)

May Allah save us from committing Bid'ah Ameen.

Wa'alaikum salam WaRahmatullah

Convert a lemon into a sweet drink

2009-03-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah!

InshAllah everyone in this wide world is doing well and if you are not, may Allah bring ease and blessings into your lives.
I'v been quite busy lately and haven't had a chance to really write anything for either of my blogs. However i would like to share with you a chapter from the amazing book Laa Tahzan Don't be sad by Dr Aidh' Al Qarni.

Convert a lemon into a sweet drink

An intelligent and skillful person transforms losses into profits; whereas, the unskilled person aggravates his own predicament, often making two disasters out of one.

The Prophet (pbuh) was compelled to leave Makkah, but rather than quit his mission, he continued it in Madeenah -- the city that took its place in history with lightning speed.

Imam Abmad ibn Hanbal was severely tortured and flogged, and yet he emerged triumphant from that ordeal, becoming the Imam of the Sunnah. Imam Ibn Taymiyah was put into prison; he later came out an even more accomplished scholar than he was before. Imam As-Sarakhsi was held as a prisoner, kept at the bottom of an unused well; he managed therein to produce twenty volumes on Islamic jurisprudence. Ibn Atheer became crippled, after which he wrote Jam `ey al-Usool and An-Nihayah, two of the most famous books in the Science of Hadith. Imam Ibn al-Jawzi was banished from Baghdad. Then, through his travels, he became proficient in the seven recitations of the Qur'an. Maalik ibn ar-Rayb was on his deathbed when he recited his most famous and beautiful poem, which is appreciated until this day. When Abi Dhu'aib al-Hadhali's children died before him, he eulogized them with a poem that the world listened to and admired.

Therefore, if you are afflicted with a misfortune, look on the bright side. If someone were to hand you a glass full of squeezed lemons, add to it a handful of sugar. And if someone gives you a snake as a gift, keep its precious skin and leave the rest.

And it may be that you dislike a thing that is good for you...

(Qur 'an 2: 216)

Before its violent revolution, France imprisoned two brilliant poets: one an optimist, the other a pessimist. They both squeezed their heads through the bars of their cell windows. The optimist then stared at the stars and laughed, while the pessimist looked at the dirt of a neighboring road and wept. Look at the other side of a tragedy - a circumstance of pure evil does not exist, and in all situations one can find goodness and profit and reward from Allah.

Is not He [better than your gods] Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him... (Qur'an 27: 62)

From Whom do the weak and the oppressed seek victory? Who does everyone beseech? He is Allah. None has the right to be worshipped except Him.

Therefore it is most advisable for you and I to invoke Him during times of both hardship and ease, to seek shelter with Him in difficult times, and to plead at His doorstep with tears of repentance; then will His help and relief quickly arrive.

(Is not He [better than your gods] Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him... (Qur'an 27: 62)

He saves the one who is drowning, gives victory to the oppressed, guides the misguided, cures the sick, and provides relief to the afflicted.

And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only... (Qur 'an 29: 65)

As for the various supplications one makes to remove hardship, I refer you to the books of the Sunnah. In them, you will learn prophetic supplications with which you can call to Allah, supplicate to Him, and seek His aid. If you have found Him, then you have found everything. And if you lose your faith in Him, then you have lost everything. By supplicating to Him you are performing one of the highest forms of worship. If you are persistent and sincere in your supplication, you will achieve freedom from worry and anxiety. All ropes are cut loose save His, and all doors are shut save His. He is near; He hears all and answers those who supplicate to Him.

If you are living through affliction and pain, remember Allah, call out His name, and ask Him for help. Place your forehead on the ground and mention His praises, so that you can obtain true freedom. Raise your hands in supplication, and ask of Him constantly. Cling to His door, have good thoughts about Him, and wait for His help - you will then find true happiness and success.

...

Wa Alaykum AsSalam Wa Rahmatullah

assalamu alaikum WaRahmatullah

2009-02-14T15:28:00.000-08:00

Hoping everyone is fine inshAllah. I am doing great despite visits to the torture chamber -AKA the Dentist- and snow that fell continuously the past week!

I just wanted to share a short story with you all-its written in the simplest of English, but it contains an important message. enjoy and heed.

The Shipwreck

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island ....

He prayed feverishly for Allah to rescue him,and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions.

But then one day, after scavenging for food,he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened;everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.

"Allah, how could you do this to me!" he cried.
(Comment; Plenty of people use such statement --- think again you should never qestion Allah nor object to his willing)

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly.
But we shouldn't lose heart, because Allah is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground--it just may be a smoke signal that summons The Grace of Allah.

Wa Laikum AsSalam Wa Rahmatullah

Support Palestine; Help The Oppressed

2009-01-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

This situation in Palestine needs no introduction.
The world is aware of the genocide being committed in Palestine, and how many women, men & children have been killed by the Zionists. I'm sure we have all seen the horrific images of dead and dying children and people in the news, and if that doesn't make you feel horrified and wanting to cry out for justice, then there is something wrong with you. The palestinians are being ignored mostly, and it is up to us to donate generously to reliable organizations, write to those in power to stop Israel from killing more palestinians and most of all, pray. The Dua is a powerful weapon. inshAllah i will be posting up an article on the power of prayer. Remember, Allah almighty does not ignore the prayers of the oppressed; in this case the Palestinians.

There are a number of Jews out there who want to stop Israel from committing these crimes, one of these being the Jewish sect Neturei Karta, who should be applauded for their efforts. You can learn more about them from their website http://www.nkusa.org/

If you want to do your bit for Palestine-and you should, this is not just a crime against our Muslim brethren, but it is a crime against human sanctity- then visit this website http://tenminute.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/raising-awareness-for-gaza/
where there are many suggestions and ways that you can help the situation.
InshAllah we can do as much as we can in the form of prayer, donation and peaceful protest, and inshAllah May Allah Free Palestine.

Wa'Laikum Salam Wa Rahmatullah

Belated Eid Greetings !

2008-12-09T14:15:00.000-08:00

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

Eid Al Adha Mubarak folks! A belated Eid Mubarak i am aware, but nevertheless-:)
I am hoping that InshAllah all of you had a wonderful eid, with lots of Qurbani to eat!
A Ramadhan comes and a Ramadhan goes, and it seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating Eid ul Fitr...

Alhamdulillah i had a fantastic Eid, full of family and kids and noise-:)

The night before Eid ( full of Memories, as that time last year i was in Hajj, on the plains of Mina) i happened to glance out of the window and found myself unable to stop gazing into the blackness punctuated by street lamps. Have you ever just stared into the night and realized that that patch of sky we can see stretches on forever? That as we gaze into the blackness of the sky in the night, in other parts of the world this very sky is light and blue and full of sunlight? That as fajr adhaan sounds here, Isha salah is read somewhere else at this very time of sunrise for us?
Well, i gazed, and i felt a desire to travel around the world, keep a track of the time and be more amazed over the awe inspiring beauty and power of God's doing.

InshAllah, one day.

Wa Alaikum As Salam Wa Rahmatullah

Thoughts In The Night

2008-11-29T16:13:00.000-08:00

Assalamu Alaikum WaRahmatullah

I haven't posted here in a while now- reason being i haven't had much inspiration to write lately....however something is better than nothing so here goes.

I'v been batteling insomnia for a while now. Not good i have to tell you, insomnia, most of the time lack of sleep makes me more energetic the following day, but there are times when you just want to topple down in a dead sleep during work etc.

I lie awake during the silent hours of late night and early morning and wonder about life. with the sliver of light filtering in through my bedroom door, and the slight light from the street lamps outside, everything seems to slot into place and the little puzzles of the day soon make sense. I think back to the things that made me happy and rejoice, thank the almighty. i think about the things that upset me; petty talk, people etc, and lose the clearness for a while. But the longer i stay awake, the more i realize that Allah has blessed me with so much, i should take the difficult times as tests from the almighty and do shukr for all the things he has blessed me with. Alhamdulillah.
And SubhanAllah, even something as annoying as Insomnia can be a source of good; in my case contemplation on the blessings of Allah. so SubhanAllah that in everything that we go through, there is some wisdom behind it.

Wa'alaikum as salam waRahmatullah

What Am I?

2008-10-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah

What am i?

I am a Salafi , in the sense that i am strong in following the Quran & Sunnah.
I am a Sufi: with great love for the balm of hearts, Dhikrullah.
I am a Barelwi, my love for the Prophet Muhammad holds no bounds.
But most of all, i am Tablighi, thankful to Allah. And i have come to see all these qualities are combined in me, Alhamdulillah.
Whether we are Salafi, Sufi, Barelwi or Tablighi, our Religion and the foundation of our belief is One. And in this, whether we are any of the above, we all are part of the Ahlus sunnah Wa' Jamaa'ah and brothers & Sisters in Islam. Hang on tight to the rope of Allah.

What are you?

Wa'alaykum As Salam Wa Rahmatullah.

Eid Mubarak

2008-09-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

Eid Saeed!

So another Ramadhan gone and another Eid Ul Fitr is upon us once again.
Its a time of sadness and reflection because the blessed month of Ramadhan has passed by swiftly, and we do not know if we will be blessed with another Ramadhan to experience.
And its a time of joy and happiness because the day of Eid is upon us, a day of Thanksgiving to Allah Almighty for the bounties bestowed on us.
So wherever whenever our ummah celebrates Eid, i wish you all an Eid Mubarak and lets hang on tight to the good we did in Ramadhan and try to stay steadfast throughout the year, InshAllah!

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah

Ramadan Mubarak!

2008-09-03T12:34:00.000-07:00

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah

Ramadhan Mubarak!!!

So the beautiful month of blessed Ramadhan is upon us once again. How lucky we are! There are some who were blessed to take part in this month last year who are not with us today, who have passed by, and there are those of us lucky, lucky ones who were able to take part last year and have been blessed once again this year. Lets give thanks to Allah for giving us this blessing, and ask him to give us many more Ramadhans to come Ameen. Every year many of us make the intention to make this Ramadhan better than the last, to fill the time with worship and spend time wisely. I usually fall far from the mark. But still, we should make a good intention and at least try to act upon it. I want to share some beautiful Ahadith and Aayah's about Ramadhan with you all;

Allah's Apostle said, ' When the month of Ramadhan starts, the gates of Heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained. '
So since one of the biggest obstacles in the path stopping us from being good Muslims (the Shayateen) are chained, it should be easier for us to be better, right? Wrong. We still have our Nafs, that inner part of us through which we succumb to desires etc, and this is what we have to fight against, and really, since the devil is chained up, we really should make an intense effort to change.

Ramadhan is the (month) in which the Quran was sent down, as a guide to mankind and a clear guidance and judgement ( so that mankind will distinguish between right and wrong).
(Quran 2:183)
So this is also the month of the Quran, the month in which this amazing book of Allah was revealed to Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Therefore, in this month we should read the Quran as much as we can. There is great reward in reading the Quran.

Abu Umamah reports, I came to the Messenger of Allah and said, ' Order me to do a deed that will allow me to enter paradise. ' He said, ' Stick to fasting, as there is no equivalent to it. ' Then i came to him again and asked him again, and he said, ' Stick to fasting'
(Ahmad, Nisai)

InshaAllah i hope you all have a fruitful Ramadhan, and inshAllah none of us are deprived of its blessings and Allah's mercy. Make amends with those we have broken ties with, ask forgiveness for any wrongs we have committed, towards Allah and if towards a fellow human, then ask forgiveness from that human. Brotherhood is a strong part of Islam. If we have mercy on people and others in this world, Allah will have mercy on us.

George Bernard Shaw.He was -and still is- a famous Irish playwright. Some of you may know him for his literature...i myself like the play written by him 'Pygmalion' or more commonly known as 'My fair Lady.' George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin, and grew up in situations close to genteel poverty-he was also a teetotaller . Shaw was an ardent socialist, and even more than his interesting life and ideas and writings, what interested me most were his views regarding Islam.

' I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him- the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being the anti-christ , he must be called the savior of humanity.

I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness. I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today. '
( GBS in the Genuine Islam, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936)

What a wise man. Not only are his views on Islam full of wisdom and understanding, but some of his preserved quotes are pretty thought provoking too.

A fashion is nothing but an induced epidemic.
That one made me laugh; but don't you think its true? I do, to an extent.
Reading made Don Quixote a gentleman. Believing what he read him mad.

Well, i think i shall change the quote of the week to one of GBS's.
Once again, Ramadhan greetings folks, make sure you have a good one!
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah

New Additions

2008-07-31T13:10:00.000-07:00

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah!!!

Well! After a week of sizzling heat and humidity, the rain falls. I must say its a welcome change!

I think i mentioned two of my sisters were expecting Twins in a previous Post. Well, one of my sisters gave birth to beautiful baby g irls a couple months ago, and JUST a couple of days ago, my other sister gave birth to beautiful baby boys!!! MashAllah! Make dua that they grow up healthy and strong, and that they are contributors to the faith, and a coolness for the eyes of their Parents.
Parents go through so much, and i guess we can never fully appreciate our parents until we are Parents ourselves.

The summer is going nicely, if a little boring. I went shopping the other day, and decided to check out 'Bookworm' with my sister. Bookworm is a book shop, well more of a stall, selling old books, new books, all kinds of books. Its been there since i was a child, and i hadn't visited the shop for quite a few years. And so, it was a great pleasure coming across book series i'd read as a Teenager! Of course i had to buy them, i bought one of the Kay Tracey series, One of the Trebizon series, and one of the All that Glitters series, and also splurged on a new hardback one of the in d eath series by Nora Roberts writing as J.D Robb. You remember the Boarding school series by Enid Blyton? Well, Trebizon is a more modern type of books by author Anne Digby and boy, are those books amazing. I can never tire of reading them!
And oh yes, i spent the last of the money in my purse on a pair of boots i now regret buying....and i am now Broke. Ah Well!

So, this entry is probably boring for anyone else reading it, but i enjoy this blog more than the others i have to admit, its like having an online diary!
I hope to talk about George Bernard Shaw next entry inshAllah.

'Til then, Take care folks.
W/Salam

Random

2008-07-02T05:14:00.000-07:00

The weathers been Indian summer-like the past couple of days. Gorgeous! Unless of course you are stuck in a stuffy office, or having to rush to places....but oh so lovely for that long leisure walk thinking of nothing but the immediate present, feasting the eyes on places we never noticed before, until the bright glaring blessing of the light of the sun touched on it, giving it a golden glow and a whole new appearance; like that cherry tree ( i think its a cherry tree anyway) down by the community center, its branches of white blossom moving slightly in the almost non-existent breeze, all fluffy and reveling in the sun........

Yeah, so enough of the rambling trying to sound arty farty and romantic. The past months have just been absolutely worthless, and i'd been looking for something to give my Imaan a boost and to perk up my mood. So i tried to read more Islamic related books, and also some punchy novels by Ex-SAS author Chris Ryan, i tried to distract myself by tiring myself out on the old creaky treadmill in the spare bedroom...and OH YEAH i tried shopping of course. Which helped whilst i was window shopping and buying useless junk, but came home, upended the bags on my bed and thought: what on earth......
So going by instinct alone, i tried to concentrate on my 5 daily Salaah by taking my own sweet time in praying, no rushing, just nice and slow, concentrating on the meaning of what my tongue was well versed in uttering in Salaah before the Lord of the worlds, and every time i turned my head to the left, and said ' Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah' i truly felt the sweetness of praying my Salaah properly, i felt an inner peace and satisfaction and a sense of purpose. If i had nothing else to do, i had my religion. And Islam can be studied in many different ways. It isn't just becoming an aalima or aalim, its about reading and learning reliable material, digesting it and trying to bring it alive. Are you bored? frustrated? Got nothing to do but mope? Concentrate on your Salaah, and the sweetness of Salaah will enter you.

Flattery.... We as humans sometimes flatter people, or people flatter us. Excessive compliments, praising someone to their face about things other than good results in exams etc similar, its not encouraged in Islam. When someone flatters me, i feel pleased with myself and satisfied. And i imagine almost everyone else feels the same, unless they are truly God-fearing. Takabbur (self-pride) enters our hearts and Takabbur is severely disliked in Islam. Back to flattery, here is a hadith which shows how disliked flattery is in Islam:

When you face flatterers, throw dust in their faces.
(Muslim)

Say Masha'Allah and don't excessively flatter. InshAllah.
Duty calls.

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah.

OMG, did you hear....??!!

2008-06-17T15:44:00.000-07:00

My name is Gossip.

I have no respect for Justice.

I aim without Killling.

I break hearts & ruin Lives.

I am cunning & malicious and gather strength with age.

The more i am quoted, the more i am believed.

My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves against me because i have no name and no face.

To track me down is impossible.

The harder you try, the more elusive i become.

I am nobody's friend. Once i tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.

I topple governments and wreck marriages.

I ruin careers, and cause sleepless nights, heartaches and indigestion.

I make people cry in their pillows.

Even my name hisses.

I am called Gossip.

I make headlines and headaches.

Before you repeat me, ask yourself:
is it true?...is it harmless?...is it necessary?
If i am not,
don't repeat me.
(Anonymous)

Yep, Gossip. Backbiting. Slander.
All very common, especially in our Asian communities. You can't go to the corner shop without seeing a huddle of women - and surprisingly enough, even Men! - one woman talking frantically, the others listening avidly. Its usually a juicy tidbit someone HEARD about someone else. Most of the time the story has been fabricated, or wildly elaborated and exaggerated over, and even if it's true, if the person being talked about were to hear it, she/he would be hurt and upset over it.
In our communities? People just can't keep their 'noses' to themselves. Curtains twitch every time someone passes, tongues wag when some calamity befalls an unfortunate person, and the wagging tongues are not sympathetic, oh No, that they aren't.
Ever heard of the German term ' Schadenfreude ? ' No? well let me tell you what the meaning of this word is.
1) Malicious joy, OR
2)Malicious pleasure, OR
3)Taking a perverse pleasure in someone's misfortune.

There you have it. And thats what seems to be behind all this backstabbing/Gossip/Slander, Malicious pleasure. People gossip to feel better about themselves, whilst looking down upon others. Some do it because its a past time, not realizing its a huge mega sin. Others are just plain catty and have disgustingly messed up natures.
Some gossip and slander,when they themselves have a fault exposed (not through gossip or slander, but maybe through a failed marriage ) and not wanting to be out done or to be looked at askance, they make up tall tales of their ex- partner.
Or pure and simple (but burning) jealousy sometimes motivates a person in slandering and gossiping.

Lets now look at some Ahadith on this subject.
It is related that Ibn Abbas said; The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him passed by two graves and said; ' They are being punished, but they are not being punished for anything that was difficult to avoid. One of them used to walk about spreading malicious gossip ( Nameemah) and the other used not to take pre-caution to avoid getting u rine on himself when he urina ted. '
( Al-Bukhari, 213, Muslim, 292)

The Prophet Muhammad once said:
Oh Ka'ba! Indeed, you are sacred; nevertheless, the sanctity of a Muslims wealth and honour is much greater than yours.

Comprehende? If the sanctity of a Muslims honour is more than that of the Ka'aba, then how can we slander others and gossip so easily?

We need to stand straight, and realize that gossip and slander is no small thing, its a huge sin we will be punished for. Telling the truth about someone in a situation that calls for nothing else is different, but to retaliate and lie like a coward, to gossip about someone you barely know, to hurt a fellow Muslims feelings....Quit it. We are Muslims, we should wear our faith like a badge of honour, and BE Muslims. Its easy to say ' I am a Muslim' but its not so easy living up to it. But hey, is their ever any harm in trying. Nope, indeed, their isn't. So, try-:)

That was not meant to be a lecture, it came straight from the heart.
The next time we lie, Gossip, backbite, slander, ruin an in nocent persons chances in Marriage, in businesses, in exams, the next time we try to sully a persons character, stop and think.....

Would i ever think of breaking the Ka'aba?

Privileged Kids

2008-05-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

Assalamu Alaikum WarahMatullah

Hi,
So the beautiful sunshine reverts back to cool and gloomy this Saturday. Well, what can i say, typical British weather!
Feeling quite...anticipatory these days. Two of my sisters are expecting TWINS :O !!! Not long to go for both of them, and since as far as i know we don't have any twins in the family, immediate or far, its quite exciting.

Talking of kids - the human kind- i was thinking the other day. I don't know about you, but I have noticed that our kids (meaning those of us living in Western countries, i.e Uk, the USA etc) are pretty pampered. Even those of us who don't consider themselves well-off, really have got it all. Doting parents, abundance of food, basic and more than basic comforts, rights etc. But take off to a third world country, say Africa, India and so on...and we can't take it. A bit of heat we moan and feel swoony. A not so clean bathroom and we feel sick. Food not up to our standard and we complain. Maybe our oh so privileged lives have made us into these intolerant, complaining people. Maybe we need to sit up and realize what its like for people who live in situations a far cry from the way we live. Maybe we need a taste of their lives to bring out the strength in us. Because right now most of us whimper at the sight of a dirty toilet or a spider.

I have been to India a few times and although i don't 'click' with Indian c ulture too much, i have to say that the poor Indian kids i encountered left quite an impression on me. There's a lot of poverty in India, and children as young as 5 years old work for a living. At the train stations, their are children of 5 to 10 years old, thin scrawny children, with huge sacks of water bottles on their backs, which they sell to passers-by. I tried lifting one of those sacks, and i can tell you, it was nowhere near light. Walking the length of a train holding that sack would have been quite a strain but this 6 year old child was walking around shouting the price of his wares, all with a cheerful smile and a cheeky comment for his friend down the yard, who was also carrying a similar sack on his back. What made me think though, was that these youngsters were doing this back breaking work cheerfully and smilingly. But i saw older men doing the same job, men in their 30's, old bent backed men who were slower than the others...and their facial expressions were quite different. I saw a kind of hopelessness in their faces; this was what they had done as kids, and this was what they were doing now, decades on. This backbreaking work that probably paid them peanuts.

Our pampered kids would lift one of those sacks up to prove how strong he is, but if they were to do what those kids do everyday? I can't imagine.

Also reminds me of our Beloved Prophet Muhammads time, He and his Sahaba were the same, they worked hard, went hungry, and all to preach the faith. But i won't go on about that now; theres my Tablighi Blog for that :P

It would be great if High schools and even Junior schools had programmes where the kids can be taken to third world countries to see how how poor children live, and if they were to experience the same for a few days. At the rate we are living right now, i wonder what the future generation is going to be like.....Some genius contraption to remove a persons shoes for them, automatic combs?
Doesn't bear thinking about...

Life Goes On...

2008-05-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

She was 18 years old. She looked good, she had intelligence, she had ambition, but most of all she had the ability to dream. She had never had any dreams shattered, or destroyed, and believed that to make a dream come true all she had to do was work towards it with everything she possessed.
She wanted to be an author, a journalist, a teacher, a social worker but most of all she dreamed of being married to the man of her dreams and living a dream of a marriage. She had wonderful parents, and everything else anyone would want but she always felt there was something lacking- a spark? true happiness? some void? She still doesn't know what exactly was lacking but it certainly wasn't what she got.
She had some rather strange ideas about marriage. In the early teen years looks was all that mattered. But at 18 she thought none of that mattered. She thought that all he had to be was religious and he would be the perfect husband. And when he came along she thought, this is it! He was an aalim, a haafidh, he seemed very religious and decent. So, casting aside everything that her family and friends told her;that she was too young, did she really even like him.....But no, her mind was made up. She married him.

It lasted two months. They didn't live together, met for an hour maybe each day. She realized you didn't need to live with a person to get to know them, those mere hours were enough. She had married someone who lived a lie, who preached, sported the sunnah of keeping a beard, who gave talks....but who practiced nothing. Who smeared the Sunnah of the Prophet by keeping a beard and dressing in the Sunnah way, but acted against it. Someone who committed many wrongs, but gave the world the impression he was a practicing Muslim. She found out he had never married her for HER, but to get a name.

Marriage was something sacred to her. But she wasn't willing to live like this.
The inevitable happened, they divorced.

Life seemed to be on hold. As if someone had stopped time and let it hang on a thread for a period of days and weeks. She had never been in love, she was not recovering from a broken heart. But her dreams had been shattered, her heart left lifeless. She knew aalims and scholars who were great people, true scholars. But now she had come across an 'aalim' who destroyed the whole concept of what a scholar is-for her anyway. Her biggest dream had turned into a farce.

She realized though, that Life Goes On. Almost more than a year onwards, she has put it behind her, knowing that there are many more men out there, one of whom will fulfil her dream. She knows that religiousness is not the only thing to look for, there are many more things to consider. Personality, Attraction, REAL religiousness. But she is in no hurry; one of the most valuable things she learned was to take life as it goes by, don't be too impatient, too hasty, take it slowly, savour every moment, supplicate with common sense.
She did lose one thing though. She doesn't dream so easily. She doesn't want another one destroyed. She knows that instead of dreaming, trust Allah Azza Wa'Jal and he will be there every step.
And life goes On. Don't wallow in distress. This life is merely the turning of a spinning wheel, it may seem slow, but before you know it, its over. So live it to the full, don't waste it, be happy.

*******************************************

Not everyone is cut out to be a scholar. There are some who will never practice on what they learnt, they won't even try. These people are a bane and an embarassment to society, these people spoilt it for those scholars who strive to live for Allah. Don't force your sons and daughters, your brothers and sisters to become aalims and aalimas. Let them choose; and only make them complete the course if they have the Qabiliyyat, the ability to try to act upon Ilm-e-Deen. Because he who sins knowingly is certainly worse than he who sins unknowingly.

If Allah brings you to it; He will bring you through it.

Suffering is a gift. In it is hidden mercy. -Jalaluddin Rumi

Summer Graces Us With Her Presence...

2008-05-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

Assalamu Alaikum

Peace & Blessings upon you all.

To those of you who read my blogs; i begun this one with the intention of writing random thoughts, diary-type entries etc. A place for me to offload random thoughts i suppose.

Well, the month is May and Summer has finally reared her elusive head. I woke up to a glorious day, with the sun streaming brightly through the window and the sounds of Children playing in the street. I find these kinds of days so captivating, if i was a child i would run straight through the back door to breath in the scents of the grass and revel in the warmth of the day. But i am not a child anymore; and reflexes are more 'grown up.' But that doesn't stop me from appreciating such a glorious day.

Great Lovers of Allah have commented that for them Winter season is a blessing, because the days are short and the nights are long; giving them the freedom of worshipping God through the long, slow hours of Winter nights. I agree with them; but there is nothing like a bright Summers day with the sun twinkling in all its glory; a beautiful creation of the Almighty!
I had an uneventful day today. Mainly enjoying the sun and lounging around; three cheers for Bank Holidays!
Recently, i have really become interested in beautiful quotes and sayings etc, and i would like to share a few with you. Enjoy!

Balaghal Ula Bi Kamalihi. Kashafad Duja Bi Jamalihi. Hasanat Jami'u Khisalihi. Sallu 'alayhi Wa Aalihi.

He taught people with his amazing way. He showed his beauty. He was beautiful in every way; so peace be on him and his family.
-Saadi Al-Shiraz commenting on the ways of the blessed Prophet Muhammad.

The World is three days; As for yesterday; it has vanished, along with all that was in it. As for tomorrow; you may never see it. As for today, it is yours, so work in it.
-Hasan Al-Basri

If you are aware of your humility, then you are arrogant.
-Ibn Ata'Illah

Knowledge is understanding that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

God made the illusion look real
and the real an illusion.
He concealed the sea
and made the foam visible,
the wind invisible
and the dust manifest.
you see the dust whirling
but how can the dust rise by itself?
You see the foam, but not the ocean.
Invoke him with deeds; not words;
for deeds are real
and will save you in the infinite-life.
-Rumi
(Mathnavi)

Peace Out.