Yearning for Allah

Yearning For Allah

2008-06-05T19:52:00.003Z

If you'er new to this blog cheak out my new one.... I've been there for over a year! http://yearningforallah.wordpress.com/

Keep on movin' movin'! - click on me!

2007-03-06T17:23:00.000Z

DODin'!

2007-02-22T20:01:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum

Alhamdulilah I had an Al Kauthar charged day over the weekend! Wow what a week its been!

Mashallah we had a brilliant Al Kauthar day! House packed, sisters fired up, knowledge flowing, we were all in gear for a day of Al Kauthar experience! Inviting some old Al Kauthar students and bringing them to meet other sisters who haven't been to the course (yet!) was a brilliant way to get personal experience from sisters together and to get them to give their own personal twist to what they found most beneficial. Not to mention the side issue of chocolate fountain and food galore, that went down well (but no mango lassi! :( ) Mashallah I cant wait to have another one!

It left everyone on a knowledge high!

During the DOD course we went through 7 hadith in great detail, some of the topics that the hadith touch upon are simply amazing, we went through Intentions, Hadith Jibraeel alahisalam (levels of Islam, Emaan and Ehsaan), deviant groups, signs of the hour, applications of fiqh, Pillars of Islam, 7 conditions of Shahada, Pillars of Emaan, importance of Salah, predestination and its pillars, example of the pious and impious predecessors, Bidah, and public speaking. Subhnallah it was one weekend which change all our lives.

In the Al Kauthar day we had sisters talking about what they benefited most from. The sister who started, Mashallah a great sister from Revert2Reality. She began with what she wanted out of the weekend seminar, she didn't just want a temporary emaan bosst which normally occurs after a small talk or lecture, sh wanted something that would change her life forever. By the grace and mercy of Allah that is exactly what happened, we all were affected. She continued to talk about what affected her the most, Qadr.

The fourth hadith we covered was and still is the most important hadith, one of which holds dear to the one who is truthful.

Abu 'Abd al-Rahman 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud, radiyallahu 'anhu, reported: The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, the most truthful, the most trusted, told us:

"Verily the creation of any one of you takes place when he is assembled in his mother's womb; for forty days he is as a drop of fluid, then it becomes a clot for a similar period. Thereafter, it is a lump looking like it has been chewed for a similar period. Then an angel is sent to him, who breathes the ruh (spirit) into him. This Angel is commanded to write Four decrees: that he writes down his provision (rizq), his life span, his deeds, and whether he will be among the wretched or the blessed.

I swear by Allah - there is no God but He - one of you may perform the deeds of the people of Paradise till there is naught but an arm's length between him and it, when that which has been written will outstrip him so that he performs the deeds of the people of the Hell Fire; one of you may perform the deeds of the people of the Hell Fire, till there is naught but an arm's length between him and it, when that which has been written will overtake him so that he performs the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters therein."

[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

The last part of the hadith explains when Qadr overtakes a person, no matter what. There are reminders for us all here, that none of us has a guarantee, we have no guarantee, no one amongst us is guaranteed. Do you know if you are headed for Jannah or Jahanum? This is something we should contemplate upon daily, hourly, something which should be on our minds constantly, we are not guaranteed! Allah has said in the Quran, that some of us are headed for the fire! In one narration when Umar Radiatalaunhu heard this hadith he actually fainted, what impact this one hadith has, see its importance.

Sufyan at Thawri said: Has the knowledge of Allah about you ever made you cry?

Think about that for a moment, Allah has knowledge over everything, He knows you, He knows your actions, They is closer to you then your jugular vein! In this big wide world, we are but a speck but we are an important speck (as the beautiful sister said in her reminder) although we are a small speck upon this Earth our importance is shown in the mere fact that Allah has knowledge about us, He knows where we came fro0m, what we are doing what we have done and most importantly where we are headed!

Has the fact that Allah already knows if we r headed for Jannah or jahanum, has that fact ever made you cry, the uncertainly of it?

The question about the future, something we should constantly ask ourselves, which group are we from, the group for Paradise or the group for Hell!

The hadiths are the sources of our iman (faith), knowledge, and guidance as we are taught by the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam. Studying and understanding the Hadiths will activate our insight (basirah), enlighten our hearts, and uplift our souls. This will by the help of Allah, lead us and keep us on the right path to the end, inshaAllah.

Subhnallah what a course, Al Kauthar truly does enrich lives through knowledge! Miss the next one at your own peril!

Wassalam

Route of all EVIL?

2007-02-13T20:41:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum

Time spent with sisters who have yet to see the full extent of the world and those who inhabit it, is often spent discussing the lack of 'pious brothers' on the other hand many boys trying to be men discuss the fact that there are no sisters out there who will be right for them. More often then not these discussions lead to belittleing and often misrepresenting those of the opposite sex.

Now of course I am limited in what I can speak about due to some lack of ecperience, however what I do know is this.. people who have high expections are often in for disappointment. Now more then ever people are looking for what people can do for them rather then what they can do for others. This is a symptoms that as indiviuals we are guilty of in our own communities, its appling and disheartening. Somthings I have heard, Subhnalah just makes me want to scream... Women are not the route of all evil you know!!

I am just fed up of the critisinging and degrading that happend on more often daily and more frequenty then i would have hoped.

We, both Men and Women are equal in the sight of Allah, we are slaves just like each other, we have emotions, we have an intellect a voice a mind, we have strengths and weaknesses, we are human, we are not the route of all evil, if this was true, well then so are men because women were created from the rib of a man.

We are just so demanding! Men and women both are always striving to get what they need, in reality it is usually something that we want! The most prominate example of this is I need to get married or I need a husband with this that and the other, usually giving a hundred and one vital qualities. In reality our egos trick us to think that we need many things that the nafs wants. Expecting the best is natuaral (I use the term very lightly), who wants to settle for anything less, but think about the pressures that we see facing ourselves as women, as muslims, as daugters and as wives. We are very quick to say that "oh but why are others being picky" and "why cant they just see that we are human". Well then, wouldnt that apply to others, and not just ourselves. Do not let our nafs delude us in anyway. We want, we are demanding in things that we can and should not be dewling too much on.

When we falls into the traps of our nafs we undermine the respect of Allah's commandments and submission. We must humble ourselves infront of our Rabb. In salah we humble that most high part of our body, and we humble it to the heart, in sajood it becomes the highest part. We remember Allah using the heart, limbs, and tongue in total devotion. If we turn our hearts and tongue to Allah, Allah will turn to us and lift the veil bewteen man and his Rabb in order for us to converse with The Creator the Most High.

“Pay attention to Allaah and He will pay attention to you.”

This is the purpsose of man's creation.

In prayer Allah has placed the most perfect degree of servenship (al-ubudiyya) And seek help in patience and prayer [al-Baqarah 2:45]

The one who seeks to see the Face of Allah, Shaytaan will come to him through his desires, the ego, and make man neglegent of his worship. Shaytaan knows the part of man and plays on an individual's desires, taking the nafs wants as the primary focus. The Salaf always used to keep a little bit of hunger, why is this? So that the nafs will be preocupied with fulfilling the need of hunger, once this need is fulfilled the nafs would turn to other desires to be fulfilled, and may start wanted haram.

Eat and drink, but waste not by extravagance [al-A’raaf 7:31]

So better to keep the nafs busy with halal rather then to tempt haram.If the nafs is preocupied then the person can direct his other attention to good, for the search for knowledge, to give sadakah and in worship of Allah.

And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is al-taqwa (piety, righteousness) [al-Baqarah 2:197]

By no means shall you attain al-birr (righteousness) until you spend (in Allaah’s cause) of that which you love [Aal ‘Imraan 3:92]

When the soul commands towards evil, Allah puts the soul at peace, when the sould is tempted with evil, Allah restrains man from it, when the soul restrians man from good, Allah commands us to do it.

And yet, I am not trying to absolve myself: for, verily, man's inner self does incite [him] to evil, and saved are only they upon whom my Sustainer bestows His grace. Behold, my Sustainer is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace!" Surah Yusuf:53

Ibn al-Qayyim said: “Jihaad is of four stages: jihaad al-nafs (striving against the self), jihaad al-shayaateen (striving against the shayaateen or devils), jihaad al-kuffaar (striving against the disbelievers) and jihaad al-munaafiqeen (striving against the hypocrites).

Jihaad al-nafs means striving to make oneself learn true guidance, and to follow it after coming to know it, calling others to it, and bearing with patience the difficulties of calling others to Allaah. Jihaad al-Shaytaan means striving against him and warding off the doubts and desires that he throws at a person, and the doubts that undermine faith, and striving against the corrupt desires that he tries to inspire in a person. Jihaad against the kuffaar and munaafiqeen is done in the heart and on the tongue, with one’s wealth and oneself. Jihaad against the kuffaar mostly takes the form of physical action, and jihaad against the munaafiqeen mostly takes the form of words… The most perfect of people are those who have completed all the stages of jihaad. People vary in their status before Allaah according to their status in jihaad.”(Zaad al-Ma’aad 3/9-12)

Subhnallah if i remember correctly someone described it so beutifully.... People think that they want a husband but that void in their hearts can olny be filled by Allah and in His rememberence.

I know so many people who are in love... and the funny thing is there is no one in their lives, in fact they are in love with being in love! It sounds sooo silly beacuse it is! Like a very knowlegdeble sisters said, we waste so much time waiting to get married, we think too much about something that has alreday been written. "The pen has lifted and the ink has dried" so why make yourself crazy about what will happen when its alreday in motion and will happen, by the will of Allah, its His Qadr.

We look into our desires and our base nafs so much that we forget the perpose of creation in ibadat of Allah! How can we forget The One who created us!

remember...

Woman was made from the rib of man,

She was not created from his head to top him,

Nor form his feet to be stepped upon,

She was made from his side to be close to him,

From beneath his arm to be protected by him,

Near his heart to be loved by him.

And Allaah knows best.

My companion

2007-02-11T18:07:00.000Z

Those who have left. Those to come.

Our paths crossed once before. Yet to cross again.

By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have

Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the

mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and

Constancy. Those righteousness of my glory

days. Gone, but merely memories

thinking of you my dear sis.

In that cage which is

only too small to

hold your

grace.

IOG book review (short)

2007-02-06T15:57:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum,

This is well overdue, I did a book review for a site so I thought I'd put it up here as well, I have some notes to add to it, but I have yet to finish writting them up, so it'll be on here when it is. Inshallah

Summary:

The invocation of God is a translation of al- Wabil al sayyib. The author says, ‘ We have mentioned (in it) nearly one hundred benefits of remembrance of God (dhikr), and the secrets of remembrance. This is a book of great usefulness.’

Written in the fourteenth century by the renowned theologies Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyya rahiamullah, this treatise movingly details the many blessings of the remembrance of God. Through discussions of the ego, the nature of the body, the ephemerality of the world, the degrees of prayer, fasting, charity and the purification of the heart. This truly is a contribution to the Muslim’s spirituality.

.

Opinion:

I began reading this book with obvious great expectations due to whom it was written by. As with all Ibn Qayyims writings rahiamullah, the set tone and language used is eloquent and simple. Although this was translation of the book he wrote, the underlying personality of this great scholar is still vibrant and lifts the words off the page and enters your heart.

The actual book is divided into four parts; The Paths to Happiness; A commentary on the Hadith of al-Harith al-Ashari; The many benefits of Remembrance and The Kinds of Remembrance.

Part One sets the tone for the rest of the book, describing what is going to be discussed within the book, Ibn Qayyim Rahiamullah affirms the reasons why it is a must for all to be in constant remembrance of our Rabb.

Part two furthers this by discussing the importance of prayer, the three types of hearts and how to obtain the best of heart by cleansing the heart of tarnishes.

Part Three is the one that I liked the most this is because it was the part that I felt I could benefit the most and the one that I could understand the best. This part is further divided into a section that describes the various different benefits that can be obtained by the remembrance of Allah.

In part four the Sheikh describes the two types of remembrance. A short explanations which only lasts a couple of pages but it truly will change the view you have on the worship of Allah.

This book may be best studied with a student of knowledge as sme of the concepts may be hard to grasp at first, but its absoultly mind blowing once you understand it Subhnallah! If you truly wish to change the direction your heart is going towards then read the Invocation of God, by Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyya, Rahimmaullah.

Dua, to remember

2007-02-05T11:14:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatuallah

Beautiful Dua Video by Mishari Rashid Al-Efasy, taken from 21st Century Crusaders (Green 72 Media).

The mystery of the mind.

2007-02-02T19:37:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum

Just came back from work (feet ache ow!)... was just contemplating on today's every adventurous day at the place I work (I work in retail part time!... scary!).

It was a bit weird today (more so then usual), as I was working I hear whispers of my name being mentioned, I look up and hear it again..hmm I think whats this about... I make eye contact she looks down then up and says in a sheepish voice, oh we were just saying that we're going to hell, you'll be going to heaven! HUH??!?!?? whats this, I have been given my book in my right hand by a couple of my work colleagues!?! Ya Allah! As I think of it now it would have been an ideal opportunity for da'wah, but my mind was spinning.. I was thinking a million things in my head, how can someone say that they will be going to HELL and just laugh it off and at the same time recognise that someone else would be going to heaven yet seemingly not give a second thought.

Yes its obvious - I walk into work head to toe in black flowing material whilst the others,.. well lets just say no one notices me compared to them! (Alhamdulilah!) - its obvious I am a Muslim, but what is it that people recognise the good in us that yes there may be a point to wearing 'all that material' and praying every break time, there actually may be a reason why men don't treat me like they treat the other girls at work. But yet where does this thought process lead? What conclusion do they make... I wounder what goes on in their minds...

The same day brought conversations of "how strict my parents were" when they spoke about boyfriends! Ya Allah give me strength! In a typical manner I just turned the question around, and after a while said that "I'm probably more strict then my parents!" That did it, the look on their faces as they say "you can have a boyfriend but you choose not too" WOW!!!! That wasnt the case, but they choose to think that. They actually said if I like men and "do you go for them"... hmm wounder what they are trying to imply! :O

Needless to say I couldn't wait to get out of that conversation, khair, it was a busy day and Allah took me out of that. Alhamdulilah.

As I sit here I wounder how next to approach them to give em the dawah power treatment :D. Its strange though because some people its really easy to give the message to but with others it just feels there is no hope and I just feel I cant get through to them.

The mystery of the mind, May Allah guide them, Oh Turner of hearts give mercy upon those who You have guided and create softness and love for Your deen in those hearts who You deem to be worthy.

Ah I have to revise got an exam tomorrow on "Drops of Dew", glimpses of my notes and thought coming soon Inshallah!

Til next time.. keep on deenin'

wassalam

My Voice Within

2007-01-30T13:28:00.000Z

the heart feeling heavy

eyes wet with the tears of its tenderness

painful sorrow,

painful heart.

the stories of what has passed

bruising the heart so soft

painful sorrow,

painful heart.

without a shed of tear

all alone with no one to bear

painful sorrow,

painful heart.

hearts illuminate

only with the will of The One

painful sorrow,

painful heart.

easing the sorrows of past heartbreak

no joy in the heart of the dead

painless sorrow,

painless heart.

as The One brings noor

the heart shines bright

painless sorrow,

painless heart.

heart beat once again

polishing the sins of the past

painless sorrow,

painless heart.

no one to turn to, shout a shallow call

except the One who hears all

painless sorrow,

painless heart.

Oh Lord bring us with hearts so clear

bring us close to The One we hold so dear.

painless sorrow,

painless heart.

I Died the Day I Did not Defend Others

2007-01-22T17:30:00.000Z

Assalamu alykum Im sure everyone knows about this by now, but I thought I'd put all the video responses together. . A reply by Yasir Qadhi to the 'Despatches: Undercover Mosques' programme. . Dispatches Undercover Mosque Reply by Dr. Bilal Philips . A video response from Abu Usamah to the allegations made by Channel 4 Dispatches(1 of 4) . A video response from Abu Usamah to the allegations made by Channel 4 Dispatches(2 of 4) . A video response from Abu Usamah to the allegations made by Channel 4 Dispatches (3 of 4) . A video response from Abu Usamah to the allegations made by Channel 4 Dispatches (4 of 4)

Search for the Muslim inside yourself

2007-01-15T12:37:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum

Mashallah I have had the ability to meet many sisters during this last week, many old faces and many new ones. Talking to them and listening to their views on life and the world gave me the opportunity to analyse myself and how I treat sisters differently, of course we are but human and we will treat different people differently, an auntie wouldn't get the same banter as a old college mate, or a sister who has much knowledge wouldn't be at the same level as a sister still doing their GSCE's and still coming into deen. But I wounder how much of this do we use to 'judge' people.

Its a sorry state of affairs when we find ourselves looking down at certain sisters who look different, act different or speak differently. Its saddening to think we are at a time when people are judged by the length of their hijab and their beard. Its scary to see sisters shunning others who don't wear the 'correct hijab'. We analyse people when they pray salah, and think to ourselves "Oh that sister moved her finger, astagfarullah no way will I talk to her" or "That bro hasn't got his trousers high enough.. ahhh and to think I was gonna ask him round for some biryani!" What ever happened to the Sisterhood and brotherhood we as a ummah pride ourselves on?

I must admit I have fallen into this myself, yes you do have to judge a little especially if you are to be taught by a sister or brother, you need to be careful who you take the Deen from. And its known that first impressions are vital, we usually 'judge' people in the first 5 minutes we meet them. Remember 95% of communication is non verbal! (Remember that when people come round sisters!!).

we may find ourselves in a position that we have to judge or form an opinion on a person or of a situation or issue. In this case our faith, common sense and the fear of Allah should prevail. In such a situation we must be fair, doing justice to the issue at hand, not letting our naffs, whims or desires take precedence over our common sense and taqwa, it is from Islam to be fair.

"Allah does command you to render back your trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between man and man, that you judge with justice..." (Quran 4:58)

I wounder though how much do we look at others and how much do we actually look into our own hearts. I know a sister Mashallah may Allah protect hr. She said to me one time that she was getting so scared to do anything, she was scared about her deeds and was scared about how low her Emaan was getting. I asked her why she felt like this, she said she looked into her heart TOO MUCH, she was analysing everything she did, she would always stop and look into her heart all the time.. Subhnallah how I wished to be in her shoes, how I wished we were all more like her, what a admirable characteristic to have, if only we all did this, if only we all looked into our own hearts first before we judged others and before we decide how 'religious' someone is, look and analyse our own hearts, I think you may be surprised by what you find, I surely was!

Remembering the words of Allah...

"And among the best of you are those who have the best attitude (towards others" (Quran 68:4)

This is also emphasised in the words of our beloved Rasool salahi walyhiwasalam

"The best of people in his attitude towards others" (Bukhari and Muslim)

Be the Muslim women and men of good character, noble traits, friendly, gentle in manners and in speech, respectful to old and playful to the young, tactful in giving advice and humble when receiving it.

Remember...

"Nothing will weigh more heavily in the balance of the believing servant on the Day of Resurrection than a good attitude (towards others). Verily Allah hates those who utter vile words and obscene speech." (Tirmidi)

Four Principles for a Noble Character by Shaykhul Islaam

Shaykhul Islaam Ibnul Qayim

“It is not imagined that one can have noble character except if it is founded upon four pillars:

~The First: Sabr (Patience)

~The Second: 'Iffah (Chastity)

~The Third: Shujaa'ah (Courage)

~The Fourth: Adl (Justice)

Patience, inspires him to be tolerant, control his anger, endure the harms that he receives from others, to be forbearing and deliberate in his decisions. It motivates him to be gentle and not to be rash or hasty.

Chastity, inspires him to avoid every imprudent characteristic, whether in statement or action, and encourages him to have a sense of modesty and integrity which is the epitome of all good. It prevents him from fornication, stinginess, lying, backbiting and spreading tales to cause separation and discord between the people.

Courage, inspires him to have a sense of self esteem, to emphasize high and noble manners and to make it apart of his natural disposition. It also encourages him to exert himself and to be generous, which is in essence, true courage and it leads to strong will and self determination. It encourages him to distance himself from his ardent lowly desires, to control his anger, and to be forbearing because by such, he can control his temper, take it by the reins and curb his violent and destructive behavior just as the Messenger (Sallahu alaihi wa salam) said:

“The Strong is not the one who can wrestle his opponent to the ground but rather the strong is the one who can control himself when he gets angry.”

This is true genuine courage and it is the sole trait that the slave utilizes to conquer his opponent.

Justice, encourages him to be impartial in his behavior with people and to be moderate between the two extremes of negligence and extremism. It motivates him to be generous and kind which is the middle course between absolute degradation and arrogance, and to make this apart of his disposition and makeup. It encourages him to be courageous which is the middle course between cowardice and imprudence, and to be forbearing which is the middle course between extreme unnecessary anger and ignominy.

These four virtuous characteristics are the axis and provenance of all noble manners and the foundation of all repugnant and ignominious characteristics are built upon four pillars:

~The First: Jahl (Ignorance)

~The Second: Dhulm (Oppression)

~The Third: Shahwah (following ones lowly desires)

~The Fourth: Ghadab (Anger)

Ignorance, allows him to view good in the form of evil and evil in the form of good, and to consider that which is complete to be incomplete and that which is incomplete to be complete.

Oppression, causes him to put things in places which are not appropriate for them, so he gets angry when its time to be happy and he is happy when its time to be angry. He is ignorant and hasty when its time to be deliberate and deliberate when its time to be hasty, he is stingy when it is time to be generous and generous when its time to be stingy. He is weak when it is time to be courageous and assume responsibility, and he assumes responsibility when it is time to take a step back (and let someone else undertake the initiative). He is gentle and lenient when it is time to be harsh and firm and he is harsh and firm when it is time to be lenient. He is humble when it is time to be superior and arrogant when it is time to be humble.

Following (his) lowly desires, encourages him to be diligent in obtaining that which the soul ardently desires, to be stingy and greedy. It encourages him to adorn himself with all types of despicable and imprudent characteristics.

Anger, incites him to be arrogant, jealous, envious, to hold enmity of others and to be imprudent and shameless.

The foundation of these four repugnant and blameworthy characteristics are two pillars: Either, Extreme Self ignominy or Extreme Self Pride.

Who would do the honours?

2007-01-07T19:38:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum

I must admit, I found it difficult, I thought It'll be all right, I imagined it to be a natural thing to do. Nevertheless the more I want to do it the more I feel inadequate, the more I feel inadequate the less motivated I feel. Never thought I'd feel like this but I did....

Writing letters to detainees, its something I am sure everyone has thought of doing, but maybe questioned as I did, as still do... What can I write about? what do I know about talking to total strangers? Strangely enough I have found it a great way of remembering Allah. When you go through the process of writing an essay you think about an introduction a main body and a conclusion. Much the same a letter, you think how to introduce yourself, how to start the conversation. Then you go into the whole bunch of quoting hadith, dua, and Quranic ayahs, talking about the main point of the letter, saying words of encouragement, echoing the words of Rasool Salahi wa alyhi wasalam when he would say his blessed words of comfort to those who were suffering at the hands of the kufr, the same words he used to make the companions smile, I would try to use to make my sister in Islam, even if it was for a second, for her to smile. Then finally words to depart on, even though you don't know the other person opening your envelope, you feel a connection when you say those final words, a final departing dua. A connection that is strengthened every time you write, every time you seal that envelope. Cant wait for the next one so your connection is revived and strengthened.

Subhnallah what a connection we feel when writing to our sisters, what about the lifetime connection to our Rabb, our salah, every time we pray our connection is revived and the eagerness that should occur ever time the next salah is due, where is that eagerness now.. anyway, I've digressed...

What an honour that is. Making someone in unimaginable conditions, cut off from family friends, sons, daughters, husbands, parents all those who they hold close to their hearts... make them smile, what an honour!

When Salahuddin rode into battle holding the flag of the Shahadah up high, when Umar ibn Khatab (RA) struck fear into the hearts of the disbelievers, when Summayah (may Allah be pleased with her) stood firm against the mushriqs of Makkah, when Asiyah (may Allah be pleased with her) raised her head high and supplicated to her Lord... What was their encouragement, what was in their hearts, what was going through their minds. When our brothers and sisters are detained here or abroad... what did we do?

Who would raise up to the challenge, who would do the honours of making a troubled face of our detainees smile.

I look forward to hearing your experiences of writting to the detainnes :)

Wassalam

Get involved in the cage!

2007-01-07T17:09:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatuallah

IMAGINE..

"This ‘Eid, like the last ‘Eid-ul-Fitr, will never be the same without my husband and son. In spite of such a long lapse of time, in which they have been absent from our lives, I still have not got used to them not being around. Every day is a struggle."

Farhat Paracha, wife of Guantanamo detainee Saifullah Paracha

"Sometimes I feel like going out to Bush and saying, ‘What the hell do you think you are doing’? And sometimes I just feel that maybe I should leave it alone"

(Zahra Paracha, 14 year-old daughter of Guantánamo detainee Saifullah Paracha )

"I want you to prepare yourself that you may never see me again" (Jamil El Banna, British resident in Guantanamo Bay)

"Many times I had my dinner in front of me, and Daddy came to my mind and then I could not eat."

(Aisha, daughter of ghost prisoner, Masood Janjua)

"We want to find rest. This is worse than killing. You're killing us slowly day by day."

(Husnah Al Mashtouli, wife of Mahmoud Jaballah, one of Canada's secret trial five)

Get involved in the cage!

Cageprisoners is the most comprehensive detainee information website on the web. Many are in need of cageprisoners and cageprisoners in in need of you! .

To get involved fill out the helpers form attached and email to contact@cageprisoners.com

They will be having meetings to discuss future events soon so please full out the form as soon as poss if you want to be involved.

Jazakallah khair

wassalam

Dont forget the Ummah!

ABOUT US

Cageprisoners.com is a non-sectarian Islamic human rights website that exists solely to raise awareness of the plight of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and other detainees held as part of the War on Terror. The web-site is not aligned to any Islamic group or organisation. The site was launched in October 2003 during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan by individual Muslim volunteers who came together for the reasons set out below. The inspiration for the web-site came from two other excellent web-sites on the cage prisoners: http://www.alasra.org (in Arabic) and http://www.prisonerofwest.org. We have the backing of both Muslim and non-Muslim lawyers, activists, former detainees, families of prisoners and academics. Click here to read what some of these individuals had to say about Cageprisoners.com.

OUR AIMS

1. EDUCATE the public by being a comprehensive resource of information on Guantanamo Bay and other detainees held as part of the War on Terror highlighting their plight and ensuring that they are never forgotten.

2. CAMPAIGN for the repatriation or asylum for the Guantanamo Bay detainees in particular and that other prisoners are treated within the civilised norms of justice, and to ensure that they are given their due rights namely:

the right to humane treatment and conditions

the right not to be tortured

the right not to be detained indefinitely

the right not to be disappeared

the right to open fair civilian trials

the right to legal representation

the right of access to the Red Cross and medical personnel

the right of access to their families.

3. SUPPORT their families emotionally and financially via HHUGS

4. MOTIVATE others to take organised political and legal actions on both a local and international level.

5. CO-OPERATE with other individuals and organisations for these ends

6. PREVENT similar treatment of other communities in the future by developing, building and placing political, legal and social infrastructures.

Our work can be summed up in six points:

EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SUPPORT MOTIVATION CO-OPERATION PREVENTION

Eidun Sayeedun! But not for all

2007-01-01T11:46:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum

Eid Mubarak all...ok ok better late then never!...but its still the thrid day, so it still counts! oh and as you can probably tell, we didnt go to Hajj. Inshallah next year.. Inshallah

This Eid actually felt like Eid, well at least in my kitchen! Alhamdulilah usually we have to go to peoples houses but becuase everyone was doing eid the day later, they came to ours instead!

Anyway, Hope you all had a good Eid, dont forget those who have yet to receive their qurbani, or those who have no family to share their blessed day with.

What a time to hang sadam!....Inna lilaahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon. I think we've had enough coverage in the media with him, so I wont say too much. Its sad to see Muslims killing each other, but tragic to see a public execution of a Muslim, by Muslims on the day of Eid.

May Allah save us from the evil of ourselves and the tricks of shaytaan

wassalam

dont forget the ummah! now more then ever.

Beyond the Law

2006-12-15T20:56:00.000Z

CAGEPRISONERS PRESS RELEASE

13th December 2006

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

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.

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.’

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

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

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

“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.”

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.

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:

Beyond the Law – Report:

www.cageprisoners.com/beyondthelaw.pdf

Beyond the Law – List of Prisons:

www.cageprisoners.com/beyondthelaw_prisonlist.pdf

Beyond the Law – Map of Global Network:

www.cageprisoners.com/beyondthelaw_map.pdf

Source

Making my heart soft

2006-12-11T23:04:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum

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.

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!

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

"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).

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.

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

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

"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."

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]

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) further said:

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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]

Footnotes:

[1] Madaarijus-Saalikeen (3/9)

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

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

wassalam

Remember me and the ummah in your duas!

Ibn Al-Qayyim Speaks on Love

2006-11-22T13:28:00.000Z

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

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,

"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 ).

And He, the Exalted, has also said,

"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 ).

Those who desire are three types:

Those who desire Allah,

Those who desire what Allah has

And those who desire other than Allah.

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.

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,

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

(Quran 35:28 )

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

"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).

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.

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 â€˜Ã¢rifÃ»n) 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."

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."

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!"

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."

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).

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."

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."

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."

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)!'"

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."

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).

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...

2006-11-19T16:42:00.001Z

Reflecting on Ramadan

2006-11-13T12:42:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum

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

'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,

"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)

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

"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."

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.

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...

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

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

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.

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.

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

Overwhelmed by the Love of Allah.

2006-11-05T12:08:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum

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

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).

"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".

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

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.

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

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!

"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."

One leap of love has completed the journey,

I had thought this Earth and sky to by boundless.

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.

"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."

Words which come from the heart

Have an incredible effect.

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

"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"

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.

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.

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

"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;

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

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"

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

"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.

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.

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

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.

wassalam

Keep me in your duas

Muslim Psychology

2006-10-31T15:55:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykaum

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...

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

Wassalam

The Hijaab – The Mark of Faithfulness

2006-10-29T13:35:00.000Z

The Hijaab – The Mark of Faithfulness

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Faten Elayoubi

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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:

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

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."

Ibn Kathir also explains the ayah:

"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

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."

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.

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!

2006-10-29T13:00:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykaum

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!

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.

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!

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

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!

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?

wassalam

Don't forget the ummah!

we tried, but never do we give up!

2006-10-26T13:29:00.000Z

MPs Stick By Fast-Track Extraditions

25/10/2006

By Greg Hurst, Political Correspondent

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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”.

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.”

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”.

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

Eid Mubarak!

2006-10-23T12:59:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykaum

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

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

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.

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.

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 ;)

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

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

Dont forget the Ummah.

wassalam

Essence of Eid

Where Would I Be Without The Quran?

2006-10-21T15:24:00.000Z

Salam people!

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.

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

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

"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."

"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"

"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."

"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"

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

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

"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."

"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"

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

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

Remember me in your duas

Where Would I Be Without The Quran?

A Poem By Babar Ahmad

Date: 21-Sep-2004

By British Political Prisoner Babar Ahmad MX5383

13th September 2004

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?

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?

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?

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?

www.cageprisoners.com

Recitation that touches your heart

2006-10-19T10:38:00.000Z

deleted

Dead Hearts

2006-10-16T11:17:00.000Z

Dead Hearts

Imaam ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah rahimahullaah

Taken from Al Jumuah, Vol 8 Issue 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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)

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.

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."

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

Advice From an Older Brother

2006-10-11T14:09:00.000Z

Advice From an Older Brother

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

Friday July 21st, 2006

Transcribed and posted by brother Ibn al-Hyderabader

“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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Knowledge and Studying your Deen

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.

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.

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.

How to study your religion?

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.

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.

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.

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.

.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.

Parents

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Maturity

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

The Best of Times

2006-10-10T21:20:00.000Z

The Best of Times

Moazzam Begg

Cageprisoners.com

I first read the Dickens’ classic, Bleak House, in solitary confinement, Camp Echo. The concentric part of this story is based on the fictitious – though accurately representative – and never-ending case of Jarndyce vs Jarndyce which ultimately consumes and destroys the lives of it’s central characters, rather like the Supreme court decisions relating to the Guantánamo detainees. But it was the first sentence of this book, which reads, ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,’ that captured my imagination back then. That is precisely how I would have described the noble months of Ramadhan spent in US custody.

It was the night before the festival of Eid ul-Adha that I was sent from Pakistani custody into US custody at Kandahar. After the brutal initiation of being processed like an animal and locked in a cage made of razor wire, I couldn’t believe my ears when a visitor from the Red Cross was wandering around the cells, with an army escort, handing out small pieces of meat and cold bread to detainees, uttering the words, ‘Eid Mubarak’.

That was the first Eid my family ever spent without me. Another five (both Eids of al-Adha and al-Fitr) were to pass before I saw them again. For most people in Guantánamo, it is approaching ten of these blessed days over a period of five years, dwelling in cages. And still they pray for deliverance.

However, the worst Ramadan I’ve ever had in my life was not in Guantánamo; that happened in Bagram – the US detention facility in Afghanistan. This was a place where already torture, humiliation and degradation of detainees regularly occurred. We were not allowed to talk, we were not allowed to walk or exercise without permission. We were not given access to natural light–or dark. We had to guess prayer times and were not allowed to pray in jama’ah (congregation), call the athaan or recite the Quran out loud. I had to make tayyamum (dry ablution) for a year and had forgotten how to make wudhu correctly by the time I arrived in Guantánamo, since water could only be used to drink, but not for wudhu (ablution). Anyone failing to comply with these rules was unceremoniously dragged to the front of the cell, their wrists shackled to the top of the cage and a black hood placed over the head. It happened to us all – sometimes for hours on end.

When Ramadhan came I was already dreading it. I think we were all dreading it. There were no hot meals or drinks for us in Bagram. Fresh vegetables were a luxury we were not afforded. Fresh fruit was a rarity. There was none of the food we all so lovingly prepare and indulgingly consume during this month of abstention in our homes. There were no snacks between meals or keeping food until later: everything had to be handed back within 15 minutes – eaten or not. The meals were small pre-packed sachets, the types used for campers, and, sometimes, a mouldy piece of Afghan bread thrown in for good measure.

There was no Taraweeh prayer, no Eid prayer. In fact there was no Jumu’ah (Friday congregational prayer). The detainees in Bagram and Guantánamo shortened every prayer not only as a mercy from Allah, but as a refusal to accept any permanence of incarceration, even though that was–and continues to be–a looming reality. It was a defiant rejection of imprisonment without charge or trial – a fact unnoticed and quite irrelevant to our captors.

As if to punish us for the very arrival of Ramadhan we were given only two meals: the suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and iftaar (sunset meal), the latter being given to us often four hours after sunset. On the day of Eid ul-Fitr we did not feast and make merry like most of the Muslim world. Instead we were made to fast from dawn to near midnight when we were finally given a food sachet. One of the guards, a young female to whom I used to speak often about Islam, history and literature was appalled by this and gave me some of her own food, at real risk to herself. It is a gesture I will never forget, but she was a rarity.

That was the worst of times. But it wasn’t over. I spent the following Ramadhan alone, in solitary confinement. In truth, I hated the approach of this Ramadhan too. I knew the outlook was bleak. I had to imagine how my family were passing this month and the festival that followed. It is a month of blessing, extra prayer, sharing, inviting others to meals; a month of anticipating celebrations with family and friends who, for me and many others, were both only a distant memory by then. I thought of all the Islamic rulings about fasting and how it all seemed rather immaterial here. In fact I could have not fasted, since I was shortening my prayer – hence I had the status of a traveller, albeit a coerced one. But I think fasting was a pronounced difference between us and them, and act of defiance too.

The concept of abstaining completely from food as well as drink from dawn to dusk was as alien to most burger-eating, fries-munching, Budweiser-drinking yanks as American justice was for us. Even the practicing Christian soldiers, who often read the Bible in front of me, couldn’t comprehend that the fast of the Muslim was like the fast Prophets, not the fast of Lent during which some devotees choose to refrain from having mushrooms on their pizza as a personal sacrifice to the Almighty. I remember telling a guard that in fact he ‘fasted’ every day, although his timings were different: the break-fast meal every morning. He still didn’t get it.

after the passing of this Ramadhan in seclusion, with no contact from another Muslim for close to two years, I was longing, praying and agitating that the next one will be spent in the company of Muslims – even one Muslim. My prayer was finally answered. And thus, my final Ramadhan and Eid were both spent in the company of the world’s most dangerous terrorists (according to Bush) and the world’s finest examples of patience and fortitude (according to me).

Some guards ridiculed the athaan when the muezzin’s voice echoed around Guantánamo – particularly at sunset, when it clashed with the US national anthem that simultaneously rung out on loud speakers. What followed was a daily reminder to us all about our [soldiers and prisoners] purpose in life: one group – the one dressed in khaki–stopped in their tracks, stood in the direction of their flag, raised their right hands and saluted their object of their devotion: the US flag. The other group –the one dressed in orange – also stopped in their tracks, stood facing east and raised both their hands to salute their object of their devotion: the Unseen God and Lord of the Worlds.

During the day, despite the intense tropical Caribbean heat, we recited and memorised the Quran, had debates on any subject from medieval African history to Hubble’s expanding universe theory; from the Islamic ruling on captives to the latest Western methods of capturing them. We exercised vigorously, many of us far surpassing the physical capabilities of the full time soldiers guarding us. Some of us controlled our anger and antipathy towards the guards during this month and offered smiles and kind words, when the opposite would have been expected. That too was an act of defiance.

The greatest defiance, to me at least, was wishing each other ‘hanee-an maree-an’ (bon appetite) at iftaar. It was also the spontaneous breaking out into anasheed (Islamic songs) in Arabic, Urdu, Pashto, Farsi, Uighur, Turkish and yes, even English; it was the recitation of poetry and prose in verses that could not have been compiled anywhere on earth but Guantánamo – the prison of the enemy where captive Muslims brought the first ever call to prayer; it was the individual calls of as-salaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmat Ullahi wa barakaatuh ya Abdullah (May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you, O servant of Allah) emanating from cell blocks with invisible faces – faces that showered us with concern, hope and love, even though we couldn’t see them.

But there was an act of defiance even more potent. It was more powerful than throwing liquid cocktails at the soldiers, stronger than lashing out with shackled hands towards them or calling them himaar (donkey) or khanzeer (pig), even stronger than the hunger-strikes that nearly claimed the lives of many a brave man. It was the prayer. It was the du’aa (supplication) to Allah of the Imam reverberating, alone, amidst the chimes of razor wire rubbing against barbed wire impelled by a soft sea breeze. It was saying ‘Ameen’, in unison to a prayer we all wanted answered. It was the tears we all shed, in the knowledge that each of us had a reason to weep. It was the sadness that was almost sweet. It was our ultimate symbol of defiance. It was the best of times.

Source: http://cageprisoners.com/articles.php?id=16951

Ramadan Mubarak.. but is it?

2006-10-06T18:09:00.000Z

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu.

Inshallah, this reaches you in the best of health and eeman.

We spend Ramadan with our family and break our fast with a variety of options, in fact we have so much choice, we can not decide what to eat but what about the brothers who have been detained... a personal account from a brother currently in Belmarsh clearly stating that they are given iftar two hours before (therefore cold) and the food is not that which is sufficient for a child let alone a grown man. The brothers are held in cells for up to twenty one hours a day and only allowed 1 hour recreational time, in which they have to shower, make calls etc. Ramadan is the hardest time for those brothers detained, many of which do not have contact with family and friends as they are shunned due to the 'by association' tag.

This Ramadan, Inshallah with your help and support, I hope to send out Eid cards to all the brothers below in order to remind them that they are not forgotten and the ummah are still thinking of them.

nshallah, if we all come together, we can ensure that all the brothers receive cards with an individual message rather then sending out one circular to all. If you are interested in helping me to achieve this, please email letting me know which brother or brothers you will send to (we are doing this fisabilillah but this is just so i can ensure we have everyone covered).

Note: If you do not wish to write your name, you can Inshallah, sign it using your family name and if you do not wish to include your own address, then please use:

SPT

PO Box 45798

SW16 4XS

Please can you get back to me as soon as possible as the mail does not reach the brothers for weeks at a time and we Inshallah, want them to arrive before Eid (not two weeks later).

Addresses & Detainee No:

HMP Belmarsh Western Way Thamesmead London SE28 0EB

Syed Talha Ahsan TA6044

Tariq Al Daour NB9133

Dhiren Barot NB5353

Mohammad Bhatti MX5483

Abdul Aziz Jalil NB5352

Aabid Hussain Khan WW4708

Omer Abdulrehman MX5484

Muhammad Ramzi NB8285

Mahmood NB4267

Prisoner no. HJ4127

Prisoner no. FF7095

Prisoner no. HP9416

Prisoner no. HP6742

Prisoner no.HP8918

Prisoner no.HP6676

Prisoner no. NB 4670

HMP Woodhill, Tattenhoe Street, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK4 4DA

Babar Ahmad MX5383

Farid Hilali HP8485

Qaser Shafi MX5481

Nadeem Tarmohammed MX5480

Haroon Rashid Aswat

Zia ul-Haq MX5482

HMP Long Lartin South Littleton Evesham Worcestershire WR11 8TZ

Adel Bary CB9445 (facing extradition to US)

Amar Makhlulif FF8180 (facing extradition to US)

Detainee K, MX8762 (formerly under control orders)

Detainee Q, MX8760 (formerly under control orders)

Abu Qatada MX8756

Prisoner MK, NB9773

Detainee B (facing deportation) Broadmoor Luton Ward, Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG11 78G

Prisoner MX8760 HMP Full Sutton: YORK, YO41 1PS (sender must enclose name & address for mail to be delivered to a prisoner )

Farid Hilali HP8485 A2 - O11

HMP WHITEMORE: Longhill Road March Cambs PE15 OPR

Facing deportation / Currently bailed / House arrest

Detainee G, MX8759 (formerly under control orders) c/o Birnberg Peirce & Partners 14 Inverness Street Camden Town London NW1 7HJ

Detainee HH c/o Natalia Garcia Tyndallwoods Solicitors Windsor House Temple Row Birmingham B2 5TS

Detainee NN c/o Natalia Garcia Tyndallwoods Solicitors Windsor House Temple Row Birmgham B2 5TS

Detainee A, MX8754 (formerly under control orders) c/o Birnberg Peirce & Partners 14 Inverness Street Camden Town London NW1 7HJ

Detainee H, MX8758 (formerly under control orders) c/o Birnberg Peirce & Partners 14 Inverness Street Camden Town London NW1 7HJ

Detainee T,MX8755 c/o Natalia Garcia Tyndallwoods Solicitors Windsor House Temple Row Birmingham B2 5TS

. Mamdouh Abu Rideh c/o Daniel Guedalla Birnberg Peirce & Partners 14 Inverness Street Camden Town London NW1 7HJ

Detainee ‘E’ (FF9416) c/o Daniel Guedalla Birnberg Peirce & Partners 14 Inverness Street Camden Town London NW1 7HJ

Detainee P c/o Daniel Guedalla Birnberg Peirce and Partners 14 Inverness Street Camden Town London NW1 7HJ

Detainee ‘X’ (electric house arrest & awaiting extradition to the US) c/o Daniel Guedalla Birnberg Peirce & Partners 14 Inverness Street Camden Town London NW1 7HJ

Jazakallah khair for your time.

. Wasalaamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu www.forthesakeofallah.blogspot.com

hhugs_2004@yahoo.co.uk

The Hardened Heart

2006-10-05T11:17:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykaum

The quote by Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah is from this article he wrote

wassalam

The Hardened Heart

The slave is not afflicted with a punishment greater than the hardening of the heart and being distant from Allah for the Fire was created to melt the hardened heart. The most distant heart from Allah is the heart which is hardened. If the heart becomes hardened, the eye becomes dry.

If four matters are exceeded in quantity, beyond what is necessary, the heart shall become hardened: Food, sleep, speech and sexual intercourse. A body afflicted by disease does not derive nourishment from food or water, similarly a heart diseased by desire does not benefit from admonishment or exhortation.

Whosoever desires to purify his heart, then let him prefer Allah to his desires.

The heart which is clinging to its desires is veiled from Allah, commensurate to the degree that it is attached to them. The hearts are the vessels of Allah upon His earth, hence the most beloved of them to Him, are the ones most compassionate, pure and resistant to deviation.

They (the transgressors) preoccupied their hearts [in the pursuance] of the Dunya, would that they preoccupied them with Allah and the Hereafter, then surely they would have reflected upon the intended meaning of His poignant Words and Verses. Their hearts would have returned to their masters with a wisdom, marvelously curious and [in possession] of the rarest of precious gems.

If the heart is nourished with remembrance, its thirst quenched with contemplation and cleansed from corruption, it shall witness remarkable and wondrous matters, inspiring wisdom.

Not every individual is endowed with knowledge and wisdom, and assumes its character is from amongst its people. Rather the People of Knowledge and Wisdom are those who infused life into their hearts by slaying their desires. As for the one who slew his heart and vitalized his desires, then knowledge and wisdom are naked upon his tongue.

The destruction of the heart occurs by security [in this Dunya] and negligence, its fortification occurs by fear and remembrance. If the heart renounces the pleasures of the Dunya, it settles upon the [pursuance] of the pleasures of the Hereafter, and amongst those who call towards it. Should the heart become content with the pleasures of the Dunya, those pleasures [of the Hereafter] cease [to continue].

Yearning for Allah and His meeting is like the gentle breeze blowing upon the heart, extinguishing the blaze of the Dunya. Whosoever caused his heart to settle with his Lord shall be in a state, calm and tranquil, and whosoever sent it amongst the people shall be disturbed and excessively perturbed.

For the love of Allah shall not enter a heart which contains the love of this world, except as a camel which passes through the eye of a needle.

Hence, the most beloved servant before Allah is the one whom He places in His servitude, whom He selects for His love, whom He causes to purify his worship for Him, dedicates his objectives for Him, his tongue for His remembrance, and his limbs for His service.

The heart becomes sick, as the body becomes sick, and its remedy is al-Tawbah (repentance) and protection [from transgression]. It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty, and its clarity is obtained by remembrance. It becomes naked as the body becomes naked, and its beautification is al-Taqwa. It becomes hungry and thirsty as the body becomes hungry, and its food and drink are knowledge, love, dependence, repentance and servitude.

By: Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah Source: www.islaam.com

Prostitution - behind the veil!

2006-10-03T20:20:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum

Ok.. now its really bugging me that Muslim women claimed that they have rights, they are liberated, they are the ones that Islam has honoured them really is that really rue, is that projected from our action?... now I can hear some shocks and some eyebrows are sure to be raised after reading what I have just wrote. If you are a woman reading this, I ask you, when was the last time you truly defended YOUR RIGHT to wear hijab? And I don't just mean the line "Its the gift from Allah" or, "we are gems... we need to cover out beauty"... I mean from the heart, the words with meaning that tear jerking, heart wrenching pull on those who do not wear it, making them feel THEY are the ones at loss. I am sure you have been asked a thousand times... "WHY?!".. "Why, do you follow a religion that oppresses women", "Why do you HAVE to cover", and how many times have you been told "You're a woman, be proud!" "You're beautiful, be proud of your curves!!!"

Sisters to you I tell you this.... wake up and look around you, we are being represented and misrepresented by anyone and anything that will spark controversy... you only have to turn to your 'well researched' Docu-dramas that are finding their ways onto main stream media. Just yesterday I was disgusted at a documentary on Channel 4, Prostitution - Behind the veil, naturally it had veil in the title so I was intrigued. But low and behold, what do I find a seemingly well founded, factual documentary depicting women, MUSLIM WOMEN as prostitues! Lahowlawala quwata! I felt sick and was in tears at what I saw...

SYNOPSIS: CUTTING EDGE: PROSTITUTION BEHIND THE VEIL Directed by Nahid Persson, who fled from Iran 20 years ago, this documentary unveils the lives of two women, Minna and Fariba, who work as prostitutes in the Muslim society of Iran. Minna and Fariba are neighbours and good friends, who support each other. Both have to live with the widespread mistreatment of women and the double standards that permeate Iranian society today. Minna and Fariba both make a living from finding male customers on the streets. They have a choice between leaving their small children at home alone or taking them along when they have sex with various men. The film portrays the women sympathetically and explores their everyday life and the way prostitution functions in a country where it is banned and where adultery is persecuted, sometimes resulting in capital punishment. Many of the womens punters find a way to buy sex and still comply in Muslim law: they marry with the women in what is called Sighe, a temporary marriage legal in Shia Islam. Sighe can last from two hours up to 99 years. (From Denmark, in Farsi and Swedish, English subtitles)

The documentary allowed two (Shia) Muslim Women in Iraq, selling their Izat, OUR IZAT for no more then $10... They were driven to do such a thing to feed their children, and their heroin addictions... They had no use for Islam, and little understanding... one of them at one point riped her tiny little scarf off exclaiming "damed veil".... Oh my dear sisters.. look at how your right to wear hijab is being portrayed in all its glory.

Ok at first I just could not understand the audacity that these so called women could, would should do such things... things that I cannot repeat without going red with anger and shyness. But then I asked myself why am I getting angry at these women. As the documentary progressed it showed the reasons why these two women were heroin addicts, and guess what... guess who introduced them to the intoxicants... it was their husbands, the fathers of their innocent children.

What has driven them to such extreme, it was the action of their protectors, their maintainers. As a result not only did the women blame their situation, but they also blamed the country, the fact that shariah law is forced upon them, indeed they were blaming Allah... Astagfarullah.</DIV>

The documentary covered other issues such as quick marraiages, and having 'Sighe', which is apparently Halal (legal) in (Shia) Shariah law! It showed how one of the womens Sighe would beat her up and her baby, how a man can abuse women in the most horrendous way, how a man in his late 60s married a young runaway 17 year old girl, by a 'Imaam'</EM>! Their men are beyond words that he sold one of the womans daughter! What kind of man does that?! I felt sick! And we asked ourselves, why do people hate Islam so much!!

Now their husbands were in jail, they were left to fend for themselves, what else does a woman have of worth... but herself, the one thing that man desire. They were in possession of a mighty powerful tool, and so they used it to their advantage. They sold themseleves. Look at them now.

The children... they were not sensored, they would be witness to their mothers 'getting high' and probably inhaled some of the drug too, and worse still, the children would have to go on the streets with thier mothers, get in the car with total strangers, be witness to how much the price of their mothers honour is prices at, be witness to these fithy men talking fith to their mothers, what effect would this have on their small, innocent lives?

So to you, the Muslim woman, I ask you, what are you doing to truly portray Islam, what are you doing to defend the honour of your sisters, how are we showing others the Haqq, how are we exemplifying the deen of Allah, what will we say in front of Allah, what will I say in front of my Lord, the most high.

what are you doing... what are YOU doing, what are WE doing, what am I doing??

food for thought this Ramadan

wassalam </DIV>

See sample of the documentary here share your thoughts on the film here http://www.dfi.dk/tidsskriftetfilm/39/prostitutionbehind.htm http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/behindtheveil.html

A letter from a Christian woman to all Muslim Sisters

2006-10-03T11:38:00.000Z

Assalamu alaikum

This letter from a Christian lady really made my day!

A letter from a Christian woman to all Muslim Sisters

Between the Israeli assault on Lebanon and the Zionist "war on terror," the Muslim world is now center stage in every American home. I see the carnage, death and destruction that have befallen Lebanon, but I also see something else: I see you. I can't help but notice that almost every woman I see is carrying a baby or has children around her. I see that though they are dressed modestly, their beauty still shines through. But it's not just outer beauty that I notice. I also notice that I feel something strange inside me: I feel envy. I feel terrible for the horrible experiences and war crimes that the Lebanese people have suffered, being targeted by our common enemy. But I can't help but admire your strength, your beauty, your modesty, and most of all, your happiness. Yes, it's strange, but it occurred to me that even under constant bombardment, you still seemed happier than we are, because you were still living the natural lives of women. The way women have always lived since the beginning of time. It used to be that way in the West until the 1960s, when we were bombarded by the same enemy. Only we were not bombarded with actual munitions, but with subtle trickery and moral corruption.

They bombarded us Americans from Hollywood, instead of from fighter jets or with our own American-made tanks. They would like to bomb you in this way too, after they've finished bombing the infrastructure of your countries. I do not want this to happen to you. You will feel degraded, just like we do. You can avoid this kind of bombing if you will kindly listen to those of us who have already suffered serious casualties from their evil influence. Because everything you see coming out of Hollywood is a pack of lies, a distortion of reality, smoke and mirrors. They present casual sex as harmless recreation because they aim to destroy the moral fabric of the societies into which they beam their poisonous programming. I beg you not to drink their poison. There is no antidote for it once you have consumed it. You may recover partially, but you will never be the same. Better to avoid the poison altogether than to try to heal from the damage it causes. They will try to tempt you with their titillating movies and music videos, falsely portraying us American women as happy and satisfied, proud of dressing like prostitutes, and content without families. Most of us are not happy, trust me. Millions of us are on anti-depressant medication, hate our jobs, and cry at night over the men who told us they loved us, then greedily used us and walked away. They would like to destroy your families and convince you to have fewer children. They do this by presenting marriage as a form of slavery, motherhood as a curse, and being modest and pure as old-fashioned. They want you to cheapen yourself and lose your faith. They are like the Serpent tempting Eve with the apple. Don't bite.

I see you as precious gems, pure gold, or the "pearl of great value" spoken of in the Bible (Matthew 13: 45). All women are pearls of great value, but some of us have been deceived into doubting the value of our purity. Jesus said: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you" (Matthew 7: 6). Our pearls are priceless, but they convince us that they're cheap. But trust me; there is no substitute for being able to look in the mirror and seeing purity, innocence and self-respect staring back at you. The fashions coming out of the Western sewer are designed to make you believe that your most valuable asset is your sexuality. But your beautiful dresses and veils are actually sexier than any Western fashion, because they cloak you in mystery and show self-respect and confidence. A woman's sexuality should be guarded from unworthy eyes, since it should be your gift to the man who loves and respects you enough to marry you. And since your men are still manly warriors, they deserve no less than your best. Our men don't even want purity anymore. They don't recognize the pearl of great value, opting for the flashy rhinestone instead. Only to leave her too.

Your most valuable assets are your inner beauty, your innocence, and everything that makes you who you are. But I notice that some Muslim women push the limit and try to be as Western as possible, even while wearing a veil (with some of their hair showing). Why imitate women who already regret, or will soon regret, their lost virtue? There is no compensation for that loss. You are flawless diamonds. Don't let them trick you into becoming rhinestones. Because everything you see in the fashion magazines and on Western television is a lie. It is Satan's trap. It is fool's gold.

I'll let you in on a little secret, just in case you're curious: pre-marital sex is not even that great. We gave our bodies to the men we were in love with, believing that that was the way to make them love us and want to marry us. Just as we had seen on television growing up. But without the security of marriage and the sure knowledge that he will always stay with us, it's not even enjoyable! That's the irony. It was just a waste. It leaves you in tears.Speaking as one woman to another, I believe that you understand that already. Because only a woman can truly understand what's in another woman's heart. We really are all alike. Our race, religion or nationalities do not matter. A woman's heart is the same everywhere. We love. That's what we do best. We nurture our families and give comfort and strength to the men we love. But we American women have been fooled into believing that we are happiest having careers, our own homes in which to live alone, and freedom to give our love away to whomever we choose. That is not freedom. And that is not love. Only in the safe haven of marriage can a woman's body and heart be safe to love. Don't settle for anything less. It's not worth it. You won't even like it and you'll like yourself even less afterwards. Then he'll leave you.

Sin never pays. It always cheats you. Even though I have reclaimed my honor, there's still no substitute for having never been dishonored in the first place. We Western women have been brainwashed into thinking that you Muslim women are oppressed. But truly, we are the ones who are oppressed; slaves to fashions that degrade us, obsessed with our weight, begging for love from men who do not want to grow up. Deep down inside, we know that we have been cheated. We secretly admire and envy you, although some of us will not admit it. Please do not look down on us or think that we like things the way they are. It's not our fault. Most of us did not have fathers to protect us when we were young because our families have been destroyed. You know who is behind this plot. Don't be fooled, my sisters. Don't let them get you too. Stay innocent and pure. We Christian women need to see what life is really supposed to be like for women. We need you to set the example for us, because we are lost. Hold onto your purity. Remember: you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube. So guard your "toothpaste" carefully!

I hope you receive this advice in the spirit in which it is intended: the spirit of friendship, respect, and admiration.

From your Christian sister - with love.

Seven Strategies to Train Kids this Ramadan

2006-10-02T19:54:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatuallah wa baraktu

We ask Allaah the Most High, the All-Powerful, to teach us that which will benefit us, and to benefit us by that which we learn. May Allaah grant blessings and peace to our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.. Ameen

Seven Strategies to Train Kids this Ramadan

By: Shehnaz Toorawa

Oct. 5, 2005

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "No father has given a greater gift to his children than good moral training." (Tirmidhi)

The many aspects of Ramadan—fasting, prayers, moral values, charity, Qur'an, family, `Eid—provide a valuable opportunity to train kids. Whether they are your own kids or kids you teach, education or training isn't an automatic or easy process. Children don't bring empty minds and fill them with what we say. Training requires effort, energy, and a few techniques to take off.

Here are some training tips and techniques to transform your children's minds and memories this Ramadan:

(1) Let them get their Hands Dirty

"The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action." Herbert Spencer

hands-on activities compared to 5% through a lecture or 10% through reading (Brunmer, Jerome).

If, for example, you want to teach your kids the concept of zakah, get them to help you calculate your zakah, decide where to send the money, and mail the envelopes. Action and implementation can occur while children learn, not necessarily after!

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to bring his grandchildren Hassan and Hussein to the mosque as toddlers before they knew how to pray.

A concept becomes real and important to children when they experience it rather than simply read about it. They'll remember how to do it years later when you may catch them telling their friends "I've been calculating zakah since I was a kid!"

(2) Involve their Emotions

When children get emotionally involved in an activity, they rarely want to leave it. Video games and TV shows target children's emotions. As parents and educators, we can use the same technique for training.

Stories, songs, skits, crafts, and games grab children's emotions. Once a child is interested and excited, they're more likely to stay attentive till the end and get the message you want to give. Just as we remember events in our lives that were emotionally significant, children remember concepts learned through activities that were "fun," "funny," "exciting," or "different."

Don't be afraid to stir some fun into your training—you don't have to lose any content. Write a song about `Eid, create a Hadith treasure box, organize a Ramadan trivia night, or read a story about Ramadan in Madinah. If the kids enjoy it, they'll come back for more!

(3) Reveal the Purpose

We often hear students complain, "why do we have to do this?" or "this math exercise is pointless." Unfortunately, we often hear responses like "because I'm telling you to," or "because you have to," or worse, "you'll get a new CD player if you finish the book."

Like us, if children don't see the purpose or importance of an action, they won't have the motivation to complete it. To avoid getting similar comments from your kids about prayer or fasting, make sure they understand the purpose. Before you begin any lesson, whether it's a story about the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or an `Eid craft, explain exactly why you are the doing the activity and what benefits the children will gain from it.

Remind your children that they are doing acts of worship to please Allah, not you. Explain why we need to please Allah and how every action, including washing dishes or math homework, will help us achieve that goal. If children are praying only to please you, when you leave, their motivation and prayers will disappear.

If children are motivated to fast Ramadan or complete the Qur'an for a material incentive (like a CD player), they may never develop a love of Allah or an intrinsic desire to perform the action. They may, instead, learn to value material rewards and when the rewards disappear, the actions may disappear with them. Help your children understand that for Muslims, rewards don't necessarily always come in this life. They may have to wait for the bigger and better rewards of the hereafter.

(4) Highlight the Big Ideas

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." Albert Einstein

Ask yourself how many equations or formulas you remember from your Grade 12 math textbook. It may be five, two, or none. Let's be honest—most of us retained very little of the details we learned.

Children will not retain all the fiqh rulings of zakah, wudu', or Salah, and they won't need to! Make sure the little that they retain is exactly what you want them to remember. Focus on the big ideas, such as the awareness that Allah is watching us, that we get our rulings from the Qur'an and the Sunnah, that Prayer is a means of self-purification, etc. Repeat these ideas every day in different ways. While your children instil these principles in their minds, show them how to learn the rest on their own when they need it.

Help your kids learn "how to learn." Teach them where to find the fiqh information they need or how to research a topic and who to ask for information. They will be better prepared if they master the basics and know how to get the specifics. Memorizing every ruling will be a waste of their time and yours.

(5) Let them Lead!

Children often take responsibilities more seriously than adults. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) appointed Usamah ibn Zaid who was a young boy at the time, as commander of the Muslim army although many older and more experienced companions were present. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) trusted Usamah's capability for the position.

Give children leadership over important tasks and step out of the picture. Assign one child to wake up all his siblings for suhur. Let someone else be in charge of updating the iftar time every evening. Allow the children to plan, budget, and buy `Eid gifts for all the relatives. Let them choose which task they want to be in charge of.

Allow children to make mistakes and realize on their own what they should have done. Experience often trains better than instruction. Once a child goes out into the cold without a jacket, he'll remember, before you can remind him, to put on his jacket next time.

Train kids to be responsible for their own learning. If a child asks, "Does brushing teeth break my fast?" a simple "yes" or "no" may give them the answer, but it won't provide any long-term training. Ask them instead, "Where can you look to find that answer? Let's do some research." Begin the month of Ramadan by asking your children to do a research project on what breaks the fast and what does not. If they find the information themselves, they are likely to remember it and know exactly where to get it again next year.

"The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change." Carl Rogers

(6) Get Excited!

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." W. B. Yeats

Kids catch on to your enthusiasm. Show some excitement and passion about the topic you're teaching. Show your kids that you can't wait for Ramadan to begin. Be cheerful at Prayer times. Decorate the house in anticipation of `Eid.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught by example. His character and actions motivated people to love and emulate him. Be the example you want your kids to be. Make a genuine effort to love the activities you want your kids to love.

7) Combine Love with Learning

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would greet children warmly by hugging them, kissing them and picking them up.

Abu Huraira reported that al-Aqra' b. Habis saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) kissing Hasan. He said "I have ten children, but I have never kissed any one of them," whereupon Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He who does not show mercy (towards his children), no mercy would be shown to him. (Muslim)

Show children that you love them, regardless of how they perform. Allow each child to progress at their own pace. Saying, "look at your cousin Aminah! She's already finished the 15th Juz," will only lower your child's self-esteem and discourage what she's already accomplishing.

Excessive competition and comparison can often result in helplessness and lack of motivation for children who learn in different ways or at a slower pace. Allow children to judge their own progress and compare themselves to their former level rather than that of others.

Make this Ramadan the beginning of a memorable and long-lasting training experience for you and your children!

Sources: Bruner, Jerome S. The Process of Education. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1977. Shehnaz Toorawa holds a degree in Education from the University of Toronto and a diploma in Islamic Studies from the American Open University

Are your friends worth it?

2006-10-01T21:18:00.000Z

Does your friend fit these traits of a sincere, loving, and true friend?

Does he help you become a better and productive person?

It’s a mistaken belief that a ‘good friend likes you for what you are’. A sincere friend inspires you, either with words or actions, to improve your personality and situation.

In a beautiful analogy, the Prophet (saw) likened the company of a sincere friend to visiting a perfume seller. Every time you visit the perfume seller, you benefit from his shop: You get some perfume as a present, or you buy some from him or, at the least, you obtain a beautiful fragrance from his company. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Is she like a mirror to you?

The Prophet (saw) stated, “The believer is like a mirror to other believers (in truthfulness).” [Abu Dawud]. Like a mirror, your friend gives you an honest image. She forgives your mistakes, but does not hide or exaggerate your strengths and weaknesses.

Do his manners and lifestyle remind you of Allaah?

Once the Prophet (saw) was asked, “What person can be the best friend?” “He who helps you remember Allaah, and reminds you when you forget Him,” he counselled. The Prophet (saw) was further asked, “Who is the best among people?” He replied, “He who, when you look at him, you remember God”. Such a friend reflects qualities of love, mercy, honesty, service, patience, optimism, professionalism, and the entire lifestyle taught by Islaam.

Does he love you solely for the sake of Allaah?

The bonds we form at work, school and in the neighbourhood may whither over time if they are not built for the right reason. Friendship based on Islaamic principles is sincere and everlasting, since it is strengthened by a higher purpose and fervent faith.

Do you feel comfortable and secure in her presence?

If your friend’s company makes you feel guilty about the things you do and thoughts you share, you must question the benefit of this relationship. Consider the wise saying: “Being alone is better than having an evil companion and having a sincere companion is better than being alone.”

If your friend does not like you for the beauty of your character, intelligence, morality, and sincerity, you deserve better!

Source: "Cool or Fool: Choosing The Right Friends"

The hand that rocks the cradle

2006-09-30T19:53:00.000Z

By William Ross Wallace.

Blessings on the hand of women! Angels guard its strength and grace, In the palace, cottage, hovel, Oh, no matter where the place; Would that never storms assailed it, Rainbows ever gently curled; For the hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy's the tender fountain, Power may with beauty flow, Mother's first to guide the streamlets, From them souls unresting grow-- Grow on for the good or evil, Sunshine streamed or evil hurled; For the hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission Here upon our natal sod! Keep, oh, keep the young heart open Always to the breath of God! All true trophies of the ages Are from mother-love impearled; For the hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women! Fathers, sons, and daughters cry, And the sacred song is mingled With the worship in the sky Mingles where no tempest darkens, Rainbows evermore are hurled; For the hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that rules the world

My Plans This Ramadhaan

2006-09-30T19:20:00.000Z

Ayub A. Hamid

How should we -- simple, ordinary Muslims -- spend this fasting month so that at the end of the month we feel inner joy and true happiness knowing that our ‘Eed day will be the day of celebrating rewards from Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala? Here is a sample plan that you can use as your personal plan or use it as a model to develop your own personal plan:

This Ramadhaan, I will establish a close relationship with the Qur-aan. I will give top priority to increasing my knowledge and understanding of the contents and message of the Qur-aan. I will recite and study the Qur-aan with translation and tafseer regularly and steadily throughout the month. I will not sleep after Fajr, but instead study the Qur-aan at least for half an hour until I am ready to go to school or work. Throughout the day, I will find time to revise and re-learn the Soorahs and Aayaat I already know. Once that is completed, I will learn at least one Aayah a day from a Soorah I do not already know.

This Ramadhaan, I will sleep early, soon after Ishaa. I will go to bed with clear and conscious intention of fasting the next day, as well as with the intention of getting up early for Tahajjud. Then, while remembering Allaah, I will fall asleep. I will get up well before Suhoor time, thanking Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala for giving me life, offer Tahajjud and then make special Duaa for the mercy of Allaah on our Ummah, His help for its success and well being, and His interference to foil the plans of the enemy. I will also make special Duaa that Allaah protects my Ummah, my family and me from the Dajjaal and his Fitnah.Because time is a precious gift of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala for effective use of which I will be held responsible, I will try to weed out any time wasting activities from my daily routine. I will re-examine my day-to-day activities and use the discipline of this month to abandon at least one activity that is not conducive to or effective in the attainment of Islamic objectives for which Allaah has guided us to Islam. Because the value of time increases several hundred folds during this month, to make time for other more important Islamic activities, just for this month, I will not watch TV at all, not even the news. My knowing of what is shown in the news does not affect any affairs of the world. Watching the news causes only frustration, despair and anxiety. If I do not watch for a month, it will not have any impact either on me, my Ummah or the world at large. In addition, I can get a quick update of news from a website in a few minutes any way. Thus, I rather savemy time from TV and spend it on my personal improvement and building a close, personal relationship with Allaah, rather than on an activity where I cannot make any difference. (Unless I am one of those few Muslims who write letters, articles or op-ed pieces to TV producers / anchors, paper editors / columnists, politicians and media in general to make Islamic points or to stand up for the Ummah. If I am one of those, I will continue this Jihaad in Ramadhaan).

While fasting, I will make a special effort to speak only to add value and to say only what is true, factual, positive, meaningful and useful. When I do not have anything good and useful to talk about, instead of saying anything else, I will remember Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aqala through the beautiful words taught by our Prophet sallalAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, while paying attention to their meanings and feeling the impact of the words on my heart, my mind, my thoughts and my attitude. Or, if I do not know them, I will learn those words of remembrance or prayer. Or, I will spend those moments reciting the portions of the Qur-aan that I know or learning those I do not. I will not lend my ears to anything that is useless, indecent, negative, spiteful or inappropriate.

In my car, I will listen to the Qur-aan or some good speech of a reputed scholar. If my car CD player has a feature that allows it to repeat the same piece over and over again, I will use it to help me learn new verses or Soorah. Similarly, while riding the transit or subway, I will use my pocket-sized Qur-aan or book of Prophet sallalAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s Duaas to recite, practise or revise those I know or learn those I do not know.

This Ramadhaan, I will particularly watch my gaze. While glancing on a member of opposite sex, I will move my gaze away before I start evaluating or assessing the attractive features of looks, appearance or personality or before I start paying attention to or begin enjoying those attractions. I will not participate or listen to the comments of sexual nature that my colleagues, peers or friends make. While remembering Allaah in many other ways, I will more frequently ask for Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala’s mercy in the first 10 days of Ramadhaan (Yaa hayyu Yaa Qayyoomu, bi-rahmatika astagheethu) , invoke Allaah’s forgiveness in the second 10 days (astaghfirullaah- al-azheem- alladzi laa ilaaha illaa huwa-al hayyu-l- Qayyoomu wa atoobu ilayh) and seek salvation from the Fire in the last 10 days (Rabbanaa aatinaa fi-ddunya hasanatanwa fil-aakhirati hasanatanwa qinaa adzaab-annaar) . During the last ten nights, I will frequent the Duaa: Allaahumma innaka ‘afuwwun, tu hibbul ‘afwa, fa’fu ‘annee. This Ramadhaan, I will be exceptionally charitable. The tears that fill my eyes when I see the scenes of devastation, disease, starvation, agony, displacement, killings, blown up bodies and severed limbs of poor, helpless people of Lebanon, Palestine, Afghanistan, Chechnya and Kashmir will ameliorate my heart and open my purse. I will send all my Zakaah to them right at the beginning of Ramadhaan through trustworthy Islamic charities. In addition to my Zakaah, I will pay whatever I can spare from my family’s necessities for helping those in dire need. If I have been paying my Zakaah to my relatives, this Ramadhaan, I will help my relatives from my other savings and resources, so that I can pay Zakaah to the victims of state terrorism and occupation forces. I will avoid spending money on non-essentials and non-necessities such as excessive home decoration, getting new clothes for ‘Eed when closets are already full or buying more video games and toys for my children, so that those who are in more need than me and my family can be helped. I will even pay my Fitrah very early in Ramadhaan so that it can reach those displaced from their homes before the severity of winter.

Also this Ramadhaan, I will be generous and forgiving to my family, friends and the Muslim community at large. I will clear my heart from anger complaints, suspicion, jealousy, grudges or dislike against any of them. I will be extra kind, accommodating, courteous, supportive and helpful to my non-Muslims neighbours and colleagues. I will find ways to have them participate in the blessings of Ramadhaan and happiness of ‘Eed by sharing my food specialties with them or giving gifts and chocolates to them.

This Ramadhaan, I am going to take my vacations in its last 10 days, so that the precious opportunity offered by those days can be fully utilized for developing my personal relationship with Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala.I will kick at least one of my bad habits such as arriving late for appointments or breaking promises. I will show up or do what I indicate I will do and I will show up or do so on time. If I am a smoker, this Ramadhaan, I will not smoke even after Iftaar, before Suhoor or at night. I will keep my mouth odour free for prayers and Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala’s remembrance and my lungs, blood and heart from disease.

If I am a university student under pressure for tests and assignments, my act of worship is to do my utmost best to study hard and get the best possible results, given that any moment that is not spent on studying is not spent in any other pursuit except in the remembrance of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala or study of the Qur-aan. While travelling to/from or within campus or while taking a break from studies, I will automatically shift to remembrance of Allaah or recitation of the Qur-aan. For my studies, I will keep timings that are consistent with the spirit of Ramadhaan, i.e. sleep early and get up very early. Instead of staying up late at the risk of missing Suhoor or Fajr, I will adjust my body clock to Islamic lifestyle instead of the western lifestyle. When I get up to study at 2 or 3 AM, I will start with two Raka’at of Tahajjud and then continue with my studies. After Fajr, I will still spend 15-20 minutes on the study of Tafseer daily without exception.If we succeed this Ramadhaan in living as planned above, we will be able to look back and rejoice on the day of ‘Eed.

In Defense of Our Sisters

2006-09-29T09:48:00.000Z

In Defence of Our Sisters

By Abu Nour al-Maqdisi

In defence of our sisters, our pearls, our future, from the vicious attack of the kuffar and from the abuse you suffer at the hands of some Muslim men. To you I dedicate my first written public piece after four months of captivity so please do appreciate how important you are to me. It is my hope that my words reach your heart and motivate you to become active.

For long I have had the uncomfortable experience of hearing the Western and Secular world claim that Islam degrades and debases women. And for an equally long amount of time I have witnessed and read about some Muslim men, religious and non-religious, who either abuse women in accordance with their backwards culture or [in the case of religious men] degrade and debase women by quoting Qurâ'anic and Prophetic text out of intended context and meaning. More specifically, I write this in direct response to the prevailing attitude of some young religious men on various Internet discussion boards. Oh brothers, do you realize how much harm you cause by abusing your sisters? By fuelling the fires of the secular tide, by giving them justification to what is baseless in our Deen? Do you realize the type of doubt you instill in our sisters minds and hearts when you quote texts to serve a meaning they clearly don't intend? Do you realize the gravity of the sin you're committing? Be conscious of Allah!

My dear sister in Islam, we live in a world full of injustice. Where the weak and oppressed are always downtrodden and further abused and suppressed. I sympathize with you but I am also upset with you. For how long will you let these parties abuse you? For how long will you have no voice and allow so-called moderates to speak on your behalf?

You should be proud of being a woman, and more so, a Muslim woman. Allah, the Creator has fashioned you to exact and intended measurements and brought you about to fulfill your role in life. And in the Qurâ'an, He has promised you rewards and a lofty place in Paradise if you live according to His will. No doubt men and women are different and only the fool would claim otherwise. But realize my sister that the unique qualities that you possess as a woman are not meant to be looked down upon, but rather they are to be nourished and used. Allah the Most Supreme has given you these qualities in order to fulfill your role and not so that you are disrespected and debased. Cursed be the one who abuses you.

I do not find anything in our religion that justifies or supports abuse and disrespect. When I read the Qurâ'an and read our beloved Prophet's words I only find love, care, compassion, and fairness to women. Islam is the only system of life that takes into account the nature of things and deals with them accordingly. The ideal Muslimah that our religion seeks to promote is a woman who has dignity and self-respect. She does not allow others to abuse her in any way. She is a caring individual who may not necessarily have the toughness (physical ability) to engage in labour “ tough labour“ or defence but she is the main engine, she is the driving force. A car without an engine is useless. Similarly a society without women also at the helm is bound to be sick and dysfunctional.

Allah says in the Qurâ'an: "Verily, the Muslims men and women, the believers men and women, the men and the women who are obedient (to Allah), the men and women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds), the men and the women who are patient, the men and the women who are humble (before their Lord Allah), the men and the women who give in charity, the men and the women who fast, the men and the women who guard their chastity and the men and the women who remember Allah with much praise “ for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise)“ 33:35.

Allah further states: " O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware." - 49:13

Allahu Akbar! Both verses are Madani and are not abrogated by any other verse. This is what the Lord says from above the seven heavens so how dare you claim otherwise? These ayaat clearly establish the equality of all of creation before Allah.

Further, when we look at all of the Muslim female scholars Islam has produced and we look at how the Prophet and his Companions treated their wives we generally do not find an image of men beating their wives or constantly abusing them. Generally speaking, men who abuse their wives do it because they have a low status in the community and so find nowhere to practice authority except on their wives or they do it because they feel threatened or insecure (low self-esteem).

The Prophet used to play, race, and joke with his wives. Remember the food fight? In fact, the best description about his character came from his wives. And when you read the accounts of interactions between the Companions and their wives you only find love and compassion. But if what I am saying is true, then how do we explain the verses in the Qurâ'an that talk about beating your wife? And how do we explain the Prophet saying women are lacking in intellect and Deen or if prostration was allowed between the Creation, then it would be the wife to her husband.

First of all I must repeat that there is ample evidence from the ahaadith and Seerah that shows us how to treat women. And anyone who reads these accounts will generally find compassion, respect, and love in the way men and women treated each other.

Secondly, the Qurâ'an does nothing but insure women's rights. Most ayaat in the Qurâ'an are applicable to men and women but if any verses explicitly mention women then the majority of those verses talk about women's rights. Keep in mind that women, during the times of Jahiliyyah were not given proper rights and were much abused. Women were stuck in their homes forever if their husbands died. Infant girls were buried alive in the sand in many cases. They did not receive any inheritance and were viewed as insignificant beings. Islam came and saved women and explicitly protected their rights. The only ayah that the Orientalists use against the Qurâ'an and try to make it look like a Book that debases women is the verse that lists three measures to take against a very disobedient wife, the last of which is beating. There are a few notes that must be taken into account:

1) This is the only verse in the Qurâ'an that contains such instructions.

2) Beating is the last resort.

3) A disobedient wife does not equal a woman who refuses to make tea for you (please check any tafseer).

4) Scholars have commented about the nature of the beating (please check tafseer) some have indicated it is as light as hitting with a miswak on the back.

Thirdly, men are given authority over women and are above them by a degree only when they fulfill Allah's obligations upon them. And this verse clearly indicates that this status is not given because of their possession of the male reproductive organ, but rather because of the extra responsibility they have been given and so if a certain man does not fulfill his responsibilities, then this status is removed from him.

In light of the above factors, we must view the following Ahaadith:

1) Women are lacking in intellect and Deen If the Prophet wanted to debase women and call them stupid, he would have said, Women are stupid. What the Prophet is saying here is perfectly confirming what modern psychoanalysis has also reflected, that women generally speaking tend to be more emotional than logical. Further, the Prophet did not say this to disrespect or debase the woman, rather it is to ensure that men treat them accordingly (meaning taking into account that women are likely to use or value emotion over logic). Similarly there are other ahaadith that describe the nature of men so that women treat men accordingly. .

To further support my stance, I draw your attention to the hadith that states:

2) Women are â€œlike the bent riba so do not try to force them out of their nature, because it will break them.

3) In addition, is another hadith telling us to be gentle with the fragile vessels when the caravan was moving too fast.

4) Even clearer is his instruction for men not be like animals when they have intimate relations with their wives, thus fully acknowledging that sexual relations are for both men and women to enjoy and further preserving the rights of women. So from this it becomes more than clear that his statement was not derogatory but only meant quiet the opposite, to ensure that women are not abused.

As for the hadith about prostration, it is hypothetical and is meant to show how great a husband is who fulfills his obligations to his wife and I really doubt that even if prostration to the creation was allowed, that any of you men out there would deserve it. It occurred when a Companion made sujood to the Prophet, upon which the Prophet told him not to do it but that, if it was permissible, then it would be the wife to her husband.

My jailer is calling me to go to court so I have to finish up.

All I am trying to tell you my sister is that you should no longer allow others to abuse you. You should be proud of your Islamic identity, be active in propagating your Deen, and [achieving] a true understanding of it to yourself and others.

The barking of dogs does not affect the skies above them. My sisters, do not listen to these dogs but rather, listen to Allah and His Messenger. He did not create you to be abused and He did not give you the unique qualities that you have so that you are debased. Sisters, you must all stand beside each other united as one. And when a dog hurts any of you then all of you take one stand against it.

The Qurâ'an is clear, and the Seerah is clear and any educated analysis of our Deen will clearly reveal the facts about the status of women in Islam. My sisters! You are the engine of this Ummah. You are the driving force. Don't you see that you are the nucleus of our nation? Don't you see how the enemies of Islam are after you for they know your importance? Where are the Ayeshas and Umm Salamahs? Where are you? Where and to whom did our Messenger run to after the heavy revelation he received? Was it not Khadijah? And where did Abdullah ibn Zubair run to before Hajjaj mutilated his body? Was it not Asmaa bint Abu Bakr? And whose fingers were cut when the swords of the Khwaarij killed Uthmaan ibn Affan? Was it not his wife, and her blood is still there to be seen on the mus7af in the Turkish museum? And who was it that mobilized the Muslim the Muslim Ummah and kept sending their sons, husbands and brothers in our early history? Who was it? Indeed it was our women. So be proud of your legacy, be proud of being Allah's creation and do not let the juhaal abuse you.

Your brother in IslamSeptember 19, 2006.

Abu Nour al-Maqdisi

Maplehurst Detention Centre

assalamu alaykum wa rahmatuallah wa baratu

2006-09-27T11:39:00.000Z

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatuallahi wa baratu

Inalhamdulilah nahmadahu wanastaeenahu wanastaqfir wanatawakel elayh wana'ootho beliaha min sharuri anfusina wamin sayi'ata a'maalina manyahdiallahu falamuthilalah wamanyudlil falahathiyalah waashaduan laillahaillalah washadu anna muhammadancabadahu warassuluh 'mab'd

Verily! All praise is due to Allah, and may His peace be upon the Prophet Mohammed (salalahi wa alyhi wa salam).

Ahlan wa sahlan dear viewers (if there are any;))

First post as usual to welcome those who have graced my with your precious time to view my very valuble thoughts and not so dignified rants!

Feel free to comment on any of the posts Inshalah, otherwise I'll get bored of hearing the sound of my own keyboard!! :D

Wa alykum asalam wa rahmatuallhi wa baratu