Beyond the Law

CAGEPRISONERS PRESS RELEASE

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13th December 2006

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Revealed: Over 100 Prisons identified worldwide for illegal detention in ‘War on Terror’

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Disappearances in the War on Terror have formed an integral part of the Bush administration’s programme of secret detention. This latest report by Cageprisoners: Beyond the Law: The War on Terror’s Secret Network of Global Detentions, highlights the wide-reaching extent of those countries that house these detainees, generally at the behest of the US government. The report shows that out of the 120 prisons identified worldwide, 72 have been, or are currently being used by the US to interrogate detainees.

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By piecing together statements of released detainees, work of investigative journalists and human rights organisations, we provide the most definitive and up to date list of prisons used in the ‘War on Terror.’

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Commenting on the findings of the report, Manfred Nowak, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, wrote,

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“…Cageprisoners publishes a comprehensive report which reveals the systematic practice of enforced disappearances in a global network of secret places of detention.”

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Further the Chair of the British Institute of Human Rights, Geoffrey Bindman, states that in the policies of the War on Terror,

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“This report is directed at one glaringly disgraceful element in that strategy: the detention without charge or trial and the physical abuse of those suspected of involvement in terrorism.”

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The release of the report aims to catalyse the process of bringing transparency to a situation deliberately shrouded in obscurity. Deliberately denying prisoners access to open courts or any semblance of justice, whilst being tortured and coerced into giving false confessions is not befitting of any civilised society. It is imperative that transparency swiftly be brought to this process, so that the innocent can pick up the remains of their shattered lives and be returned to their loved ones.

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The report consists of a list of detention facilities, an accompanying document to explain the terms and provide analysis of the findings, and finally a map, pinpointing the network of ghost detention sites worldwide:

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Beyond the Law – Report:

www.cageprisoners.com/beyondthelaw.pdf

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Beyond the Law – List of Prisons:

www.cageprisoners.com/beyondthelaw_prisonlist.pdf

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Beyond the Law – Map of Global Network:

www.cageprisoners.com/beyondthelaw_map.pdf

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Source

Making my heart soft

Assalamu alaykum

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wow its been a long time since I posted.. hmmm wounder if anyones still out der :'( c'mon peps I need some suport :) I've been busy with many things, on of which is that we plan to go to hajj, (but havent got visa yet so make dua). I also been going to talks and keeping my Islamic education going, went to an "Invocation Of God" seminar, Subhanllah was amazing, Inshalah will be posting glimses of my notes soon.

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I think I'll post about love of Allah, because this topic is still affected my heart alot and Mashallah it has softened it alot and Allah has enabled my tears to flow due to this... Allahu Akbar!

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Ibnul Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (d.751H) (rahimahullaah) said about developing love of Allah:

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"People have discussed about mahabbah (love of Allaah); its causes and what brings it about, its signs and its fruits and its rulings. The most comprehensive saying about this is what Abu Bakr al-Kattaanee (rahimahullaah) relates about al-Junayd (d.279H).

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Abu Bakr al-Kattaanee (d.322H) said: "A discussion about mahabbah took place in Makkah during the Pilgrimage month. The Shaykhs who were present spoke about this matter and al-Junayd was the youngest of them.

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They said to him: O 'Iraaqee, what do you have to say?

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So he bowed his head and tears were flowing from his eyes and he said:

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"A servant should overcome his soul; And be continuous in the remembrance of his Lord; Establishing the Rights of his Lord; Focusing upon Him with his heart; The late of fear setting a blaze upon his heart; Whilst drinking from the vessel of true love; And certain realities become unveiled to him; So when he talks, it is due to Allaah; When he speaks, it is from Allaah; When he moves, it is by the command of Allaah; And when he is serene, then it is from Allaah; He belongs to Allaah, is for Allaah, and is with Allaah."

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So the shaykhs began to weep and said: How can that be increased upon? May Allaah reward you with good, O crown of the knowledgeable ones!" [1]

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Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) further said:

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"The reason which cause the mahabbah (love of Allaah) to develop are ten:

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Firstly: Reciting the Qur`aan, reflecting upon it and understanding its meanings.

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Secondly: Drawing closer to Allaah through the performance of optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligatory deeds.

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Thirdly: Being continuous in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah - in all circumstances - with the tongue, the heart and the limbs. The more constant the dhikr, the more mahabbah intensifies.

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Fourthly: Giving precedence to what Allaah loves - when being overcome with desires - over what one personally loves and desires.

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Fifthly: Causing the heart to contemplate over the Names and Attributes of Allaah. Being a witness to what they necessitate and causing the heart to be enlightened in the garden of this realisation.

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Sixthly: Witnessing the blessing and the favours of Allaah; the apparent and the hidden.

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Seventhly: Subduing the heart and humbling it before Allaah, causing it to be in awe of Him.

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Eighthly: Being in seclusion during the time in which Allaah descends to the lowest Heaven; reciting the Qur`aan, and finishing this recitation with seeking Allaah's forgiveness and sincerely repenting to Him.

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Ninthly: Sitting in the gatherings of the sincere and true lovers of Allaah; reaping the benefits of their teachings, and not speaking except when you know there is benefit in doing so and that such speech will increase you in good and benefit others as well.

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Tenthly: Keeping clear from all those matters which will cause the heart to distance itself from Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic.

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So these are ten matters which cause the lover to reach the station of true love for Allaah, so that he may then reach Allaah - his Beloved." [2]

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Footnotes:

[1] Madaarijus-Saalikeen (3/9)

[2] Madaarijus-Saalikeen (3/17-18)

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Wallahi, how can any heart be softened by such words,

Wallahi, how can any eyes be dry in the presence of such inspiration

Wallahi, how can anyone be still in the midsts of such wisdom

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wassalam

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Remember me and the ummah in your duas!

Ibn Al-Qayyim Speaks on Love

Excerpt from the book:

"The Garden of the Lovers and the Excursion of Those Who Yearn"

(Rawdatul Muhibbeen) by Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah, Translated by Khalal Abu Asma

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Chapter: Concerning the Desire for Allah and the Signs of the One Who Knows Allah As for the desire for Allah (raghbah), wanting Him (lit. His Countenance) and yearning for the meeting with Him, then it is the capital of the slave, the foundation of his affair, the basis of his life of goodness, the source of his (true) happiness, success and bliss, and it is the coolness of his eye. For this reason he was created and for it he has been commanded. The messengers have been sent and the books have been revealed also for this purpose. There is no rectification or bliss for the heart unless its desire is solely for Allah, alone, Mighty and Majestic is He. Hence, He alone should be his desire, what he seeks out and his goal. As Allah, the Exalted, has said,

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"So when you have finished (your occupation), devote yourself for Allah's worship. And to your Lord turn your desires and intentions"

(Quraan 94:7-8 ).

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And He, the Exalted, has also said,

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"Would that they were contented with what Allah and His Messenger gave them and had said, 'Allah is sufficient for us. Allah will give us of His Bounty, and so will His Messenger. We implore Allah'"

(Quran 9:59 ).

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Those who desire are three types:

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Those who desire Allah,

Those who desire what Allah has

And those who desire other than Allah.

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So the lover is the one who desires Allah. The one who is concerned with works is the one who desires what Allah has. And the one who is satisfied with this life, in neglect to the Hereafter, is the one who desires other than Him. The person whose desire is for Allah alone, Allah with suffice him from every concern, take on all of his affairs, deflect from him what he is not capable himself to deflect, protect him like the protection of a father to his child and preserve him from all afflictions. And whoever prefers Allah to all others, Allah will prefer him to others. And whoever is for Allah, Allah will be for him where he is not even there for his own self. Whoever knows Allah, nothing will be more beloved to him than Him and no desire will remain in this type of person for anything other than Him, except that which will bring him closer to Him or assist him in his wayfaring to Him.

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From among the signs of experiential knowledge (maârifah) of Allah is veneration and awe (haybah). As the slave's experiential knowledge of his Lord increases, so to does his veneration and awe increase. As Allah, the Exalted, has said,

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"It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah"

(Quran 35:28 )

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meaning, those who are knowledgeable concerning Him. And the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

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"I am the most knowledgeable of you concerning Allah and I am the most intense in awe and reverence of Him"

(Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

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So whoever knows Allah (has maârifah) his livelihood will be pure, his life will be sweet, everything will revere him and all fear of created things will leave him. He will find intimacy with Allah and will have an aversion for (common) people. Knowledge of Allah (maârifah) will bequeath to him shyness in front of Allah, veneration and reverence of Him, vigilance (concerning His vision), love, trust in Him, turning to Him, pleasure in Him and submission to His ordinances.

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It was said to Junayd, may Allah have mercy upon him, "There are a group of people here that claim that they can attain righteousness by leaving all movement." He responded, "Such ones have spoken of the removal of all action, and this is something very immense. The one who fornicates and steals is in a better state than the one who says that (as far as I am concerned). For verily, those who have experiential knowledge of Allah (the ‘ârifûn) have taken their actions from Allah and they have returned to Allah in them. If I were to live one thousand years I would not decrease in performing righteous works." He also said, "One who knows Allah does not really know Allah until he becomes like the earth; the feet of the righteous and the unrighteous tread upon him. And (until he becomes) like the rain that waters what it likes and what it doesn't like."

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Yahya ibn Muadh said, "The one who knows Allah leaves this world (at the time of death) and he has not had his fill of two things: crying over his self and yearning for his Lord." Others have said, "One who knows Allah will not really know Allah until if he is given a dominion like the kingdom of Solomon it would not distract him from Allah for even the blink of an eye." It has also been said, "The one who knows Allah has found intimacy with Allah and has an aversion for other than Him. He has realized his poverty in front of Allah, so Allah has enriched him from His creation. And he has humbled himself in front of Allah, so He has ennobled him amongst His creation."

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Aba Salyman Ad-Daanar said, "While (resting) in bed, the one who has experiential knowledge of Allah has openings that do not even come to the one who is standing in prayer!"

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Dhun-na (Al-Misrar) said, "For everything there is a punishment. And the punishment of the one who knows Allah (the arif) is being cut off from the remembrance of Allah."

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In summary, the life of the heart is with Allah and there is no life for it without that, ever. So when the heart is in agreement with the tongue in its dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and the heart is in agreement with what the Beloved wants from it; when he (the servant) belittles the many works and statements that he has made and regards even Allah's subtle generosity and kindness as great; when he embraces obedience and leaves off disobedience, and has left all of it for the sake of his Beloved, so that nothing of it remains; when his heart has become full with reverence, awe, preference and pleasure in Him and his patience in yearning for Him has reached its last straw; when he cannot find repose except in His remembrance, desire for Him and yearning for the meeting with Him; when he cannot find (true) intimacy except in His dhikr, while maintaining His ordinances and preferring Him to others. Then this, this is the true lover (muhibb).

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Junayd said, "I heard Al-Harith Al-Muhasibar say: "Love (mahabbah) is your inclination to something with all of your being. Then, your preference to that thing over your own self, your soul and your possessions and wealth. Then, your being in accordance with that thing inwardly and outwardly, privately and publicly. Then, realizing your shortcomings with regards to your love of it."

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It was said, "Love (mahabbah) is a fire that burns in the heart. It burns everything other than what the beloved wants from the lover." It was also said, "Nay, it is exerting all efforts in pleasing the beloved. And that could never be so until one no longer sees the 'love' anymore, but only witnesses the beloved." It is mentioned in some of the Hadith Qudsi, "My servant, I am, by your right, a lover of you. So, be you, by my right upon you, a lover of Me."

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Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak said, "Whomsoever is given something of love and is not given its equivalent of awe and veneration (khashyah), then he is deceived."

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Yahya ibn Muadh said, "A muster seed's amount of love is more beloved to me than seventy years of worship without love!" Abu Bakr Al-Kattaar said, "An issue concerning love (mahabbah) came up in Makkah during the days of the Pilgrimage. The sheikhs spoke on the matter. Junayd was present and he was the youngest amongst them. So they said to him, 'Give us what you have O Iraqi!' He lowered his head in humility and his eyes shed tears, and he spoke: '(How great is) a slave who has left himself, connected to the dhikr of his Lord, upholding His rights, witnessing Him with his heart. The lights of His Essence have burned his heart and his drink is pure from the cup of His pure love. If such a one speaks, it is by Allah. If he utters, it is from Allah. If he moves, it is by the command of Allah. If he remains silent, he is with Allah. So he is by Allah, for Allah and with Allah.' So the sheikhs cried and said, 'There is nothing that can be added to this. May Allah rectify you, O Taj Al-a arifarn (crown of those who know Allah)!'"

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It was said that Allah revealed to Dawud, peace be upon him, "O Dawud, I have made it prohbited (haram) for the hearts to contain the love of Me and the love of others at the same time."

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Those who know Allah (the arifaun) have all agreed that love is not acceptable without compliance (with the Sacred Law), so much so that some of them said, "The reality of love is being in accordance with what beloved wants, concerning what pleases him and what makes him angry." The People (of the Science of Purification; Al-Qawm) have also agreed that love is not acceptable without Tawheed (belief in the Oneness of Allah).

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It was related that there was a man who claimed that he was overwhelmed by the love of a certain person. So one day this certain person said to him (the lover), "How can this be, when my brother over here is much more attractive and more perfect in beauty?!" The man looked over to him and then the person pushed him and said, "Someone who claims that he loves us and then looks at other than us?!"

A Meeting With Allah...

Reflecting on Ramadan

Assalamu alaykum

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While reading a book ok the bad consequences of the tongue I came across the following

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'Ubyda RA the freed slave of the Messenger Salalahi wa alyhi wasalam reported that someone came and showed the Messenger Salalahi wa alyhi wasalam two women who were fasting and siad that they were dying of thirst. The Messenger Salalahi wa alyhi wasalam turned away silently refusing to give permission for them to break their fast. Therefore, the man begged him again mentioning that the women were on the verge of death. The Messenger Salalahi wa alyhi wasalam the said: "Bring them to me nd bring along a bowl." When they came to him, he turned to one and told her to vomit in the bowl. She comlied spitting up a mixture of vomit, blood, pus and pieces of flesh that half filled the bowl. He turned to the other woman and had her do the same. after the bowl was filled, he said,

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"Verily these two have fasted what Allah has made halal for them and broke fast from what Allah has made haram. They spent their fast eating the flesh of others." collected by Ahmad and Baihaqi.

(see tafseer suarh al-Hujarat Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips page 105)

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Who among us actually completed their fast by gaurding our tongues? Who are the real fasting people? Ibn Rajab al-Hanabli said,

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"Those good people are the fearful ones who guard their tongue from evil speech, backbiting abd slaundering. As for tjose who are higher than them yhen, they are Siddiqoon (the truthful ones). They re the ones who actually make their hearts fast such that nothing enters it except love and pleaseure for their Lord. therefore, thier hearts are fasting for Him. I ask Allah to make our hearts like them."

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Subhnallah it just made me think about my fasting in Ramadan, has it been excepted, Ya Allah except our humble efforts. The effects of the tongue is so great and so easy to fall into sin, I wounder what its effect has been in Ramadan.

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Its been 20 days since Ramadan ended, so I looked at my routine and assesed how much of it has gone back to 'normal' and how much did I really change. I ask you to do the same. Ask yourself, what has changed in my life, do I still have the same khusho, the concentration I had in my salah during those taraweeh prayers in the masjid? Have I gone back to my binge eating ways? Is the Quran put back in its rightful place, high up on the shelf for dust to gather 'til next year? Has my character changed? Have we stopped teaching the children in out lives the importanence of being Muslim.. I wounder... what has changed...

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Our Shield of Ramadan has gone, Subhnallah, our beloved Ramadan has passes, how I miss it so much.

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Rasoolullah Salalahi wa alyhi wasalam said "Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the fire" Shahih Hadith, reported by Ahmad

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Just as before the gates of hell are open and the Shayteen are let out, and they begin once more to spread mischief on the Earth, and the results are plain to see, the masjuds are empty, the scaves are off or back to the stylish head gear, the beards are shaven off or go back to thier designer hair styles on the chin.

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But Alhamdulilah there is still hope, there is still the mercy of Allah which is plain to see, those sisters who have begun to waer hijab (good on you sisters :D), the barakah of are homes is now more vibrant then ever. Mashallah the presece of Allah in our lives and how it can make a persons face light up. That great feeling that you feel in Ramadan, during those long taraweeh salah, the late nights and early morning, all worth it because you earn so much spiritual time, and are now revitailsed for the rest of the year.

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Alhamdulilah Ive had my Ramadan recharge.. how was yours :D

Overwhelmed by the Love of Allah.

Assalamu alaykum

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Overwhelmed!.... in reflection of the last couple of weeks I've had....that is the word that comes to mind.

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Subhnallah... I am just sitting here in awe of Allah! In awe of those who have been blessed with the high levels of Ehsaan, Subhanallah, how i wish to be one of those who are experiencing the true love for Allah (Ishq Haqiqi).

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"The face of one who sincerely loves Allah ('ashiq) glows with the spiritual radiance (nur) of love for Allah. The knotted hearts of ordinary people become untied when they glanced upon such a face".

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These people who - when they are seen - Allah is remembered.

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Ive been reading book which was given to me by a beloved sister of mine, (Jazakallah khair sis, you know you have a special place in my heart, that's 'Ishq Majazi;)). The book is called "Love for Allah" by Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad, translated by Brigadier Ashfaq Ashraf.

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The book covers the following: 1) The importance of Love for Allah 2) The effects of love for Allah 3) The conditions of the lovers of Allah in this world 4) A comparison between love ('ishq) and intellect ('aql) 5) True love ('Ishq Haqiqi) and metaphorical love ('Ishq Majazi) 6) The condition of the lovers of Allah when dying 7) The condition of the lovers of Allah in their graves 8) The conditions of the lovers of Allah on the Day of Judgment 9) The signs of a sincere lover 10) Love for Allah in the present times 11) How to attain love for Allah 12) The difference between a Murid and a Murad

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Although this book is small and relatively light in appearance... appearances can be deceiving! I have found this book to be a eye opener and more importantly a heart opener!

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"Traveling the path becomes difficult if one's footsteps follow the dictates of the intellect alone. The path leading to Allah has many points where the intellect falters, causing one to stumble. However, if one rides the mount of love, one easily races along the path. And, endeavors that a person deems impossible are rendered possible by Love."

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One leap of love has completed the journey,

I had thought this Earth and sky to by boundless.

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The simplicity of the way the book is written by a person who is a person deeply in love with his most Beloved, Allah. His words emanate from the heart, such that it effects the heart of the reader immensely.

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"When an ordinary person says something it has no effect on others. When spoken to a person imbued with love for Allah, the same words penetrate the innermost recesses of the heart."

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Words which come from the heart

Have an incredible effect.

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The entire book effected me a lot and put a lot of things into perspective. The book begins by explaining the importance of love and the role of love in a person's heart

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"The human body is composed of limbs and organs, each with a unique trait: seeing is the trait of the eye; listening is the trait of the ear; and smelling is the trait of the nose. Similarly, loving is the trait of the heart; the heart is always in love with someone"

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Be it with a stone, God, or anyone else

There comes not tranquility without loving

The heart is the ocean of love; love is its act,

Guard it a thousand ways; it will still fall in love.

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Subhanallah, the author mixes his knowledge with love and his love with poetry, but I cannot but dream of words which would be better for such a immensely fantastic topic.

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Another point which made me reanalyse my own condition was the difference between True love ('Ishq Haqiqi) and metaphorical love ('Ishq Majazi).

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"To love those among creation that Allah has commanded to love is in truth a completion of love for Allah. A hadith states that the Prophet (salalhi wa alyhiwa salam) used to supplicate;

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O Allah, I ask of You Your love and the love of those who love You.

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Therefore, to love the Prophet (salalhi wa alyhiwa salam) is in reality to love Allah. Similarly, love for the noble Companions (Sahabah) AS, the family of Prophet (salalhi wa alyhiwa salam), and the friends (awliya) of Allah also falls in this category. In addition, love for one's shaykh is also due to love for Allah. There are certain limits to these loves of creation and to exceed these limits, or to fall short of them, is considered a sin, In essence, to have love for the Prophet (salalhi wa alyhiwa salam) is a condition of one's faith (Iman). While, to love one's shykh, parents, children, spouse is the completion and perfection of one's love for Allah. Thus, true love ('ishq haqiqi) is to love both Allah and those among His creation that He has commanded us to love"

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How to attain such a blessed unique quality is hard to those only whose hearts are not opened to Allah.

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"The foremost condition of attaining love for Allah is to sincerely crave for such love. A person may acquire the material world (dunya) passively, but true love ('ishq) is a treasure; therefore it cannot be acquired unless one actively seeks it.

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I am humbled by my abaseness, and in awe of Your exaltedness,

Yet, what can I do of my heart, still it desires to reach you.

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So we must be yearning for Allah, be sincere in wanted to meet Him.

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I'm off to read the book again... you can never get enough of a good book! I haven't touched on half the things that the author has, and I haven't done justice to it, so please get a hold of a copy and read it.

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wassalam

Keep me in your duas

Muslim Psychology

Assalamu alaykaum

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For those who are interested I have started a new blog which will be more active soon Inshallah, it is called Muslim Psychology and will be touching on issues of the current climate with reference to psychology with a Muslimahs view point...

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To view the blog click on to my profile and there is a link at the bottom, or go to 'other blogs'

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Wassalam

The Hijaab – The Mark of Faithfulness

The Hijaab – The Mark of Faithfulness

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Faten Elayoubi

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British politician Jack Straw recently commented that he thought the hijaab was "a visible statement of separation and difference", whilst Prime Minister Tony Blair backed his comments. Instead of concentrating on trying to bridge the gaps between the community, a minority are dividing it even more. As a Muslim woman who wears the hijaab I feel that it is the people who are speaking out against the hijaab who are separating us from the rest of society. I feel that they do not truly understand the reasons behind why we choose to wear it; hence you will find them speaking without wisdom.

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Our lives as Muslims center on trying to please our Lord through following His commandments. We believe that He is the One who knows what is best for His creation for He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. He explains to us through His revelation that He created mankind and jinn (creation made of smokeless fire) only to worship Him. One of the commandments brought down by Allaah is for both men and women to be modest.

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Lo! men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who persevere (in righteousness) and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their modesty and women who guard (their modesty), and men who remember Allah much and women who remember Allah hath prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward. Al-Qur'aan, 33:35

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One of the ways that both men and women have been commanded to be modest, is to dress in an appropriate manner. For women this includes wearing the hijaab, or as many know it, the headscarf.

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And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women' s nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed. Al-Qur'aan 24:31

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O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, that so they may be recognized and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful. Al-Qur'aan 33:59

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The hijaab is a protection against abuse and temptation from the outside world. It protects a woman from the prying eyes of strangers. The hijaab forces people to judge her based on her personality and the way she carries herself as a woman, instead of judging her based on her looks, the way she is dressed, or what brand of clothing she is wearing. She is a woman who looks after herself, keeps her beauty hidden to everyone except those whom Allaah has made an exception to and carries herself with dignity lessening the chances of someone annoying her, as the ayah itself states. In his tafsir (explanation) of the Qur'aan, Ibn Kathir interprets the ayah:

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"…that so they may be recognised and not annoyed" Al-Qur'aan 33:59

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to mean "That if they do that (i.e. draw their cloaks around them); it will be known that they are free, and that they are not servants or whores."

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Ibn Kathir also explains the ayah:

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"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms…" Al-Qur'aan 24:31

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to signify that "This is a command from Allah to the believing women, and jealousy on His part over the wives of His believing servants. It is also to distinguish the believing women from the women of the Jahiliyyah (ignorance) and the deeds of the pagan women."

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So from this we can see that a woman in hijaab is recognised as a Muslim woman, a woman who respects herself and the people around her, and this in turn demands respect to be shown to her.

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In conclusion, a woman who wears the hijaab, including the one who chooses to include the face veil as part of her dress code, is different. She is different to a woman who chooses to show off her beauty to the rest of the world, and she should not feel pressured into doing something she is not comfortable with. A woman in hijaab does not separate herself from the outside world as a whole; instead she separates herself from the filth that one can come across in this world; she moves away from the things that may harm her and brings herself closer to her Lord. She allows the hijaab to be a cover between her and the corruption that may lie ahead of her.

source

A time to act!

Assalamu alaykaum

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The picture appeared in the pictures of the year list. It got me thinking, about all sorts... above all looking at the picture it kinda confused me as well as humoured me somewhat. Well they do say that a picture speaks a thousand words, this case is no different. Firstly the fact that a man is taking pictured of niqabis and also the stark contrast to the strangeness of the forefront and the background. It is two worlds colliding, they do not fit. This thought lead me to thinking about Islam and the west, the clash of ideologies?... hmm maybe a topic for another time, and another blog space!

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With all the focus on Muslims and the most recent debate on the niqab, I wondered what could possibly come out of such a discussion. The head of Britain's race relations watchdog, Trevor Phillips, believes that the debate 'could trigger race riots'. He warned that "this time the conflict could be much worse", comparing to previous riots such as the ones in North England 5 years ago. Not surprisingly his comments were backed by the Tories, who have been at the forefront of the beating down the Muslim bandwagon. However it is not just the politicians who are getting involved, Muslims from all parts of society are ready to condemn, command and apologise, things that we so often run to do.

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What started as a remark by Straw who asked a few women to remove their veils during his constituency surgeries, has in the word of Phillip is now becoming dangerously polarised, and "seems to have turned into something really quite ugly". Yes I agree, it has turned very ugly. But Alhamdulilah it has taken something like this to mobilise sisters with niqab, Mashallah as a result of the ugly debate we have seen, or more accurately heard, sisters coming onto the radio stations being extremely articulate when they defend their choice of wearing the niqab. They have responded not violently but articulately... now this is what I call jihad!

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They say then pen is mightier then the sword, but given the right setting, the tongue isn't too bad either!

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Now my call and the call of many is for sisters to be more active, we have no one to defend us, we cannot wait for others to fight our battles, when it is us who are in the firing line, we must stand tall, as we too shout and proclaim La illaha illala! There is no God but Allah!

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Sisters there is a time to be quiet and a time to defend, what time do you think it is now, a time to be quiet or a time to defend?

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wassalam

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Don't forget the ummah!

we tried, but never do we give up!

MPs Stick By Fast-Track Extraditions

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25/10/2006

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By Greg Hurst, Political Correspondent

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THE Government has blocked plans to protect Britons from “fast track” extradition to the United States, accusing critics of the extradition laws of scare-mongering.

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A predicted rebellion by Labour MPs failed to materialise as some government backbenchers balked yesterday at changing extradition rules at the behest of “rich bankers” such as the NatWest Three.

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Ministers dismissed claims that defendants extradited to the US would not face a fair trial and appealed to MPs to put the interests of victims first.

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Joan Ryan, a Home Office Minister, told the Commons: “If these citizens stand accused of a serious crime, we should facilitate justice — and that is what this treaty is about.”

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The proposed amendments to the Police and Justice Bill, which were introduced by the Opposition and backed by the Liberal Democrats, were defeated by 320 votes to 263, a government majority of 57. Among those who voted against the Government were the former Labour ministers Keith Vaz and Frank Field. Clare Short, who resigned the Labour whip last week, also voted with the opposition. Under the amendments the US authorities would need to submit more evidence to extradite Britons, and judges could insist that trials were heard in Britain.

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Tory MPs said yesterday that the Anglo-American extradition treaty, signed in 2003, was imbalanced. They said that British authorities had to produce prima facie evidence showing “probable cause” to extradite an American, but the US had only to show that allegations had been made.

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However, Ms Ryan told MPs that there was “rough parity” in the tests. She said that the requirement on the US was similar to the test of “reasonable suspicion”. Dismissing claims that extradited Britons would not get a fair trial in the US, Ms Ryan said that America was a “trusted partner with a legal system in a democracy of very long standing with whom we have had relations for over 100 years”.

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She said that Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Lord Chancellor, and John Reid, the Home Secretary, were discussing plans with Alberto Gonzales, the US Attorney-General, to improve information sharing between prosecutors in cases spanning both countries. Some Labour MPs demonstrated their hostility to changing extradition laws to help defendants such as the NatWest Three, the investment bankers awaiting trial for fraud charges in Texas. John Redwood, Tory MP for Wokingham, faced cat-calls from Labour MPs when he said that the Tories had been told that the extradition treaty was needed to fight terrorism, not “white-collar crime”. He asked why such defendants should be taken from their families when they were unlikely to flee. In response to some barracking from the government benches, he said: “They are your constituents as well as ours.” Ms Ryan replied: “Fraud is not entitled to some kind of exemption. There is no such thing as a victimless crime.”

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Later, Andrew Dismore, Labour MP for Hendon, said that there were people who faced trial in the US who should be tried in Britain. However, those who were most as risk were defendants from minority communities, “not rich bankers”.

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SOURCE: The Times http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?id=17193

Eid Mubarak!

Assalamu alaykaum

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'tis Eid.. if you havent already relised :D....

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Seems like yesturaday that we were welcoming our dear friend Ramadan, how the days have flown by. “O son of Aadam you are but a few days, whenever a day has gone part of you hasgone too” -Hassan al Basree

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Our hearts now yearn for its return, but we are yet to find out if our efforts have been accepted. Farewell dear Ramadan Taqabbala Allaahu Minna wa Minkum. May Allaah accept it from you and us, aameen.

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May Allah purify us, guide us, accept our efforts during Ramadan, protect us from the evils of oursleves and of sShaytaan and shower us with His mercy and love.

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Have a nice day everyone, smile, be happy, enjoy the company of your friends and family, re connect broken ties of kinship.. and dont eat too much ;)

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and in the words of one text I got... "HOPE YOU HAVE A BOOMBASTIC DAY!..." :D

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Keep me in you duas, and please forgive me if I have ever hurt, offended or cause you harm, I love every Muslim for the sake of Allah. EID MUBARAK

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Dont forget the Ummah.

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wassalam

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Essence of Eid

Where Would I Be Without The Quran?

Salam people!

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Mashallah, my local Masjid finished the Quran in Taraveeh yesturday and did the end of Quran duah... Subhanllah, never have I been present at a more moving suplication, I am sure there was not a dry tear in the whole Masjid, which was the fullest Ive seen it since it opened.

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The Imaan was very emotional, making it all that much heart felt, the sisters of course were also very emotional.

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I cant do it justice but these are some glimses of the duah:

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"Ya Allah if our names are written on the gates of hell fire, Ya Allah if our names are written on the gates of hell, Ya Allah wipe them off.. wipe it off, and write our names on the gates of Jannah, Ya Allah."

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"Ya Allah let the Quran intercede on the day of judgment, Ya Allah let us have the Quran in the grave with us, let the Quran keep us company in our graves. Let us see Jannah in our graves"

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"Ya Allah, let the Quran speak on behalf of us on the day of judment, not against us, let the Quran speak on behalf of us on the day of judment."

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"Ya Allah on the day when when people will be running from eachother, women will drop their loads, when the sun will be close to our heads, when people will be grabing hasanaat good deeds from others, Ya Allah"

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"Ya Allah make us of the first 70,000 to enter Jannah, crosing the bridge swiftly"

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"Ya Allah, let us be amongst the ones your rasool picks out and intercedes on our behalf"

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"Ya Allah make us be amonght the Prophet Adam alayhi salam, Ibrahem alayhi salam, Musa alayhi salam, Ya Allah let us be among Prophet Muhammad salalahi wa alayhi wa salam, Let us be able to recognise him and he recognises us as part of his Ummah."

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"Ya Allah let us be distinguished as part of your Ummah, by the whiteness of our faces, the whiteness of our hands, the whiteness of our arms"

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"Ya Allah forgive us, Ya Allah forgive us, Ya Allah forgive us, Ya Allah forgive us. Ya Gafoor, Ya Raheem."

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I want to share this poem with you regarding the glorious Quran...

Remember me in your duas

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Where Would I Be Without The Quran?

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A Poem By Babar Ahmad

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Date: 21-Sep-2004

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By British Political Prisoner Babar Ahmad MX5383

13th September 2004

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Where would I be without the Quran?

Would I be guided? Would I be strong?

Would I be protected from evil and wrong?

Would I hear my Creator’s Words?

Would I hear Him describe the birds?

Would I know the stories of the old?

Would I realise their worth in gold?

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Where would I be without the Quran?

Would I find safety when others fear?

Would I find peace whilst sitting here?

Would I be happy when others are sad?

Would I be protected from going mad?

Would I be patient when things get tough?

Would I be firm when the seas are rough?

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Where would I be without the Quran?

Would I get to know the One above?

Would I increase for him my love?

Would I be aware of the Day to come?

Would I value what is worthless to some?

Would I be able to sleep at night?

Would I be able to see with His light?

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Where would I be without the Quran?

Would I have examples to follow?

Would I rejoice when others are in sorrow?

Would I have fear of the Burning Fire?

Would I be at the bottom of the sea,

And have hope, that one day, my Lord will release me?

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www.cageprisoners.com

Recitation that touches your heart

deleted

Dead Hearts

Dead Hearts

Imaam ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah rahimahullaah

Taken from Al Jumuah, Vol 8 Issue 4

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While thousands of Muslims are killed all over the world, and while tens of thousands are imprisoned and tortured for calling to the path of Allah and for enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, most Muslims remain remarkably silent and have no worry except for the material things of life. Their hearts have been filled with the love of this life and the forgetfulness of the Hereafter.

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Allah says in the Qur'an: "You will indeed find them, of all people, most greedy of life, even more than those who do not believe in Resurrection. Each one of them wishes he could be given a life of a thousand years. But the grant of such life will not save him even a little from due punishment. For Allah sees well all that they do." (Al Baqarah, 2:96)

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Many Muslims today have become so much attached to their life that their desire is to dwell among their family, house, money and commerce. They have forgotten that matters of the Hereafter should come before matters of this life and that we must strive to follow the orders of Allah, not just those we find easy and convenient to follow. Some Muslims today claim that it is better to perform extra prayers and extra fasting rather than enjoin the good and forbid the evil or defend the lives of weak Muslims. Such people would even blame the Muslims who strive to perform these obligations.

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This is what Ibn al-Qayyim had to say about such people: ''The Shaitan has misled most people by beautifying for them the performance of certain voluntary acts of worship such as voluntary prayers and voluntary fasting while neglecting other obligatory acts of worship such as enjoining the good and eradicating the evil, to the extent that they do not even make the intention of performing them whenever they are able to. Such people are considered by the scholars to be on the bottom of the scale of religion: For the essence of our religion is to perform what Allah ordered us to do. The one who does not perform his obligations is actually worse than the one who performs sins. Anyone having some knowledge about the revelation of Allah, the guidance of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, and the life of the companions would conclude that those who are pointed at today as the most pious people are in fact the least pious. Indeed, what kind of piety is there in a person who witnesses Allah's sanctities being violated, his religion abandoned, the Sunnah of His Messenger shunned, and yet remains still with a cold heart and a shut mouth' Such a person is like a dumb Shaitan! In the same way the one who talks falsehood is a speaking Shaitan. Isn't the misfortune of Islam due only to those who whenever their life and food are secure, would not care about what happens to the religion? The best among them would offer a sorry face. But if they were challenged in one of the things their heart is attached to like their money, they would spare no efforts to get it back. These people, besides deserving the anger of Allah, are afflicted with the greatest calamity without even knowing it: They have a dead heart. Indeed the more alive a person's heart is, the stronger its anger for the sake of Allah and the more complete his support to Islam and Muslims."

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(A'alaam al-Muwaqqi'een, volume 2, page 176).

Advice From an Older Brother

Advice From an Older Brother

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From a lecture given at MIST Nationals 2006 by Abu Ammaar Yasir Qadhi

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Friday July 21st, 2006

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Transcribed and posted by brother Ibn al-Hyderabader

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“I would like to start by congratulating everyone for making it to the First MIST National Conference. You are the participants and are the future of this ummah. I would like to take this opportunity to give everyone some advice as an older brother. I too once was in your place and it doesn’t seem like it was too long ago. The realty is very soon you guys are going to take over the place of your parents and your community leaders very soon. Very soon you are going to move onto college. Very soon you are going to start working, and very soon you are going to get marred. Very soon you will have kids and before you know it you will be an uncle or auntie. God Forbid!

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Before I start my actual lecture I would like to tell you a little bit about my self. I grew up in a fairly religious family and my parents were religious or you can say practicing parents. I was the average Muslim kid growing up and knew very little about my religion. It wasn’t until I started attending the University of Houston when I realized how ignorant people actually were about the religion of Islam, and how ignorant I was about my own religion. I attended the University of Houston in the early 90s. It was here when the desire for knowledge increased in me. It was hearing some of these people talk about Islam and misrepresenting it which really made my desire increase. The desire increased in me to start studying my own religion increased again and again. I got very involved in the MSA at the University of Houston, I remember being extremely active. I even did many halaqas there for the MSA.

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I remember 15 years ago sitting here in this university listening to my professors giving lectures. It was in t his same university. I actually had a class in this same exact building and I remember it like it was yesterday. I remember some of the classes that I took here. I remember taking these classes and thinking to myself, how is this actually going to benefit me? How is knowing all this stuff about chemical engineering going to benefit me. I remember taking thermodynamics and thinking to myself, how is this ever going to make me a good person, how is this going to change me? I remember the first day of class when my professor walked in for thermodynamics class, and I remember exactly what he said. He said, “By the end of this class you will be able to calculate how long it will take an ice cube to melt in a cup of coffee!” I thought about it and said to myself, “SO WHAT??” How does knowing how long it takes an ice cube to melt in a cup of coffee this make me a good person? I had this desire to learn about my religion and went through college with this desire and graduated with a bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering.

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I even worked at DOW Chemicals for a year, which is the 2nd largest chemical company in the USA. BASF is the largest. I was assigned a project which many people before me couldn’t do and left the project without completing it. I was assigned to finish stage 1. I, alhamadulillah, managed to get to stage 3 within 3 months and was in the process of finishing it. My boss told me you are going to go places. Money was just pouring in and I could go into a store and actually pick what I wanted to get and there was nothing that was holding me back. For the first time in my life I was able to buy what I want with my own money, without worrying about anything.

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All this was not something that really satisfied me. I felt incomplete, and wanted more. I still had the desire to study my own religion. So after doing some research into the Islamic Universities, I decided to go to the University of Medina and they accepted me. I spent 10 years at the University of Medina. I did my Bachelor’s in Hadeeth and my Master’s in Theology or Aqeedah from the college of Da’wah. And currently I am doing my Ph.D. at Yale.

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Knowledge and Studying your Deen

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And I am here in front of you today and if I were to choose again I would go back and do the same thing and do religious studies. I cant even remember what courses I took when I was at UH. My main motivation for choosing to do Islamic studies was that I realized I needed to do something for the ummah. As we speak we have a crisis going through our ummah. We all know, we don’t need to talk more about it, it is all over the news and everything. I know some of you wont leave what you are doing and I dotn expect you to and I don’t want you to. This ummah needs the doctors, engineers, and lawyers. Not everyone in this ummah needs to be an ‘alim or scholar. And Allah definitely doesn’t ask everyone to be a scholar. If you are not going to be a scholar then you should at least know your religion. To me I was ashamed that I knew so much about physics, chemistry, and mathematics compared to what I knew about my religion.

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Our communities are in need of scholars though. We see it in our communities often, where we have an iman who is from another world practically and doesn’t understand what we are going through. It is true, they are from another world because ehtye haven’t grown up here. We need to stop importing imams because our communities cant respect them. We see it in our communities that these moulvis and maulanas give fatwa and people don’t respect them, and we cant blame the imams nor can we completely blame the community. There is a big gap between them, we need homegrown scholars and students of knowledge to bridge this gap.

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Like I said before not everyone here is going to be a scholar, and nobody expects everyone here to become one. The least everyone should do is learn your religion. Each and every one of you can read a book a month, its not that hard and it only requires you to make some time for it. All you need to do is cut back on some of the things we do. I know all of us have things that we can cut back on. I am not saying stop hanging around friends, or going to movies or what ever it is you do. All I am saying is cut back on some of the things to make time for learning your religion. Our elders came here for whatever reason they came here for, we are growing here, we understand the psychology of Americans but if we don’t have knowledge of religion how are we going to make them understand our religion. How are we going to make da’wah to them and call them to Islam? There is a need for homegrown scholars and fulfilling that need starts with you.

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How to study your religion?

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1.Study the Qur’an - If you can memorize US History and the 50 States in alphabetical order then surely you can read the book of Allah, you can understand what the book of Allah is saying. Make sure you pull the Qur’an down from that shelf for 10-15 minutes a day and read it. If you don’t read Arabic, then read the translation at least. The Qur’an is the most blessed thing to read there is so much baraka in it. It is so blessed; it is the Speech of Allah.

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2.Book of Hadeeth – The best statements were the statements of RasoolAllah (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). Riyadh As Saliheen is a very good book for everyone. Read at least one or two hadeeth a day. The book is written for the laymen and thus it is very easy to understand.

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3.Study basic theology. We all need to study a little bit of aqeedah. Each and every muslims needs to know what is the Islamic belief or creed. We need to know the difference between us and them. We need to know what is the difference between God and Father.

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4.Another very important area of Islam that we need to study is fiqh. Each and everyone of us needs to know how to worship Allah. How many of us can list the factors that break your wudoo. Forget the differences of opinion, just know at least one opinion from the madhabs what it is and hwo to do it. This is the least everyone should know.

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.Basic Laws of Islam that govern our everyday life or that determine our everyday decisions. As the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “Learning knowledge is obligatory on each and every Muslim” This the least we need to do and with everything else we do it isn’t that hard at all. Allah doesn’t require you to become a scholar, but atleast learn your religion a little bit, and this way you will learn to respect the imams and ulemaa. And form personal experience let this knowledge come to you form someone who is elder but not too old.

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Parents

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Besides studying your deen, the other point I wanted to stress on was respecting your elders, specially your parents. I know this has been stressed a lot in your lives probably and you probably heard this more than you can count. We have heard all of the ayaat and hadeeth about respecting our parents many times. But do we actually do it? Allah mentions treating your parents with respect right after respecting Allah and Allah also tells us not to even say uff to them. Do you know what uff is in Arabic. In classical Arabic it was used for the dirt under our nails. This is the most trivial and miniscule thing you can think of and that is what uff is meant to represent. Later on the Arabs started to refer to the slightest expression of irritation as uff. This is what we aren’t supposed to tell our parents or feel this way with them. I know I said I wasn’t going to mention the ayaat and hadeeth about respecting your parents but Allah says, “If your parents force you to do shirk, drag you to worship an idol, don’t listen to them, but treat them with respect”. This is talking about the greatest sin a person could commit, this is the one unforgivable sin and Allah says if your parents try to make you do this then still don’t obey them but treat them with respect. If your parents are so evil to make you do shirk and you still have to treat them with respect then what about other things. I can say we all don’t treat our parents the way we are supposed to. We really fall short of treating your parents properly because it is true, we don’t.

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One thing that we as men might lack is that we don’t have the tenderness and emotion that we need to. We always want to be the tough people and the ones in charge. We don’t have the love that women have. You will think you love your wife a lot and you have attained the height of love. You think that there could not be a love for a human being that is higher than the love that you have for your spouse. This is what you think but a day will some when you will have a kid, and when you hold your child you will realize what the kind of love you are experiencing which never experienced before. You will realize the actual love that your parents felt when they held you, when you were first born. For the first time in your life you are ready to sacrifice anything to satisfy your child. This is called pure love, you love them just because you want to love them and there is no other reason for this love.

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Then it will hit you that this kid that you are holding is going to grow up under your care. You are going to be providing for this child’s upbringing for the rest of your life. You will see this child grow up right in front of you. Only then you are going to realize the kind of sacrifice your parents made to raise you. You are now in a position that your parents were once in, raising your own child. And then it will hit you again. You will remember the way you treated your parents and realize that this kid will grow up and treat you the way you treated your parents. The first time I realized this I was literally crying, because I realized that the kid that I will raise will one day talk back to me the way I talked back to my parents. This right here hits home, this shows you how your actions today will affect you in the future. Its still not too late for you to change, you still have some time before your parents pass away. You know what you did to your parents, and you should expect your children to treat you the same way you treated your parents.

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You might be frustrated with the rules and regulations your parents put on you and you think that you are an adult and they need to treat you like an adult. The truth is you are not an adult. You will become an adult when you go to sleep thinking about how you are going to pay rent or worrying about it. I myself thought I was able to live alone, I didn’t even know how much rent was. You will become an adult when you start worrying about how much rent cost and how you are going to pay for it, and you are going to calculate how you are going to pay for your groceries and utilities. You don’t really care about money now, your parents are filthy rich, and if you need anything all you need to do is ask your parents.

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You might look at your parents now and say that they are so backward and they are form another world, another time. It might be true because they are from another world and they think differently. They might not know how the world around you works but 30 years down the line, your kids are going to know a new generation. Your kids are going to look at you the same way you look at your parents. Your kids are going to look at you like a backward people you came from another time and it will be true because you will be from another time.

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And I am pretty sure for most of you your dad is the last person that you would go for advice or talk to about some issue that you are having. My dad used to be the last person I would talk to. Now he is the first. Just because your dad speaks in an accent doesn’t mean he doesn’t know what going on, he might not know exactly what’s going on but he does have experience. You will realize this later on in your life that your dad or mom are people that you should turn to for advice.

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You might not look at how you treat your parents as something that is big but you won’t be able to take back what you did to your parents. Your parents will love you the way no one else will love you. The love a parent gives to his offspring is something that is not found in anyone else. When your parents die, you will never be able to make up any hardship, any tears, any anger, any frustration you caused them. Even if you caused them some kind of irritation or sadness because of a face you made, you will not be able to take that back when they die. If you are angry then shut your mouth and just walk away. There is nothing wrong with bottling up your anger, it might cause you some pain now but in the long run it will save you from other kinds of harm. Allah said even if they force you on an idol you have to respect them, what about an 8 o clock curfew. At a stage in your life you will have to get out and be a real man or woman, this is not the time. A time will come but the time is not now.

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These are the best times of your life; you don’t realize it until you lose it. No one will love you the way your mother and father will love you, while you are experiencing that love look at it with respect and love and not suffocation because it is not. They might put these rules on you, okay you are going to get angry, but seal your lips don’t say anything and don’t even show anything on your face because once you say something you cant take it back. I miss being a kid, once you get to my age everyone wants to be a kid again, right now enjoy it. Everyone should feel that my parents are the best parents in the world.

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Maturity

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The third point that I wanted to stress was maturity. When your parents see that you are a mature respectful adult, they might actually slack off a little bit and let you do more things that you want to do, the way you want to do it.

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There is a problem with America. There is this age or boundary that they call adolescence. In Islam there is no intermediate stage, as soon as you hit puberty you are a full adult. The problem comes when we are given these contradictory ideas from here where you are not a child nor you are an adult. In the shareeah it has been laid down straight, you are a full adult once you hit puberty.

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If you feel that you are adults then start acting like adults. See what’s actually going around in the world and keep up with it. Like I said earlier, you are going to one day take charge after the adults go away. You need to know what is going on and find ways to improve the condition of the ummah around you or at least your self your family and community. There is a certain respect that comes with being a Muslim. You should see that you are different and that you are someone that actually cares. Be a mature adult and try to figure out the reason you are on this earth and plan accordingly. There is truly a reason for you to be a person on this earth, and not only that but a Muslim on this earth.

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And lastly to wrap up you are in a competition, it doesn’t matter who is going to win and lose. The main benefit for being here is that you are going to get to know other Muslims, and you are going to be with them praying on time, you are going to learn something about the religion and in the process better yourself. So while you are here act like you are mature and try to behave yourself. One incident can ruin the conference name. I don’t have to name other conferences, we all know about them, that due to laxness on their part the entire conference has a bad reputation. Make sure you observe the proper etiquette when you deal with other people and specially deal with other genders. I guarantee you there dozens of parents out there that didn’t want their kids out here at this conference because of the gender interactions that happen at places of gathering. I guarantee you right now your parents are worried about what you are doing.

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InshaAllah if everyone behaves themselves and observes the proper etiquette then MIST will be known as a place that can handle itself properly. It will be trusted by the parents. They will see that oh look its MIST we can trust them with our kids. And if we are able to maintain this reputation, the MIST Conference will grow bigger and bigger every year. If we have 3 or 4 regions being represented this year, we will have the double the following year, and more the next year. MIST can be known as a beacon of light for the west as a symbol of Islam in the high schools.”