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Current Affairs articles

“Innocent, until proven guilty…”

“The believers are nothing else than brothers. So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy.” [Al-Hujurat, 49:10]

The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Release the prisoners.”

The scholars of the past would says, “If a Muslim becomes incarcerated in the west, it is an obligation of the Muslims in the east to free them. And if a Muslim becomes incarcerated in the east, it is an obligation of the Muslims in the west to free them.”

Innocent

He’s been indicted, the general decided, the paper incited, he must be guilty,

The agent presumed, the prosecutors consumed and the judge assumed we’re sure he is guilty.

The bigots are infused, TV is amused, the public is confused, but trust us he is guilty,

Doesn’t matter what we saw, we will simply change the law, call it the final straw we think he’s guilty.

We have him on a call, it may be to congressional hall, our goal is to make him fall, because we believe him to be guilty,

The trial would be perfect, when guilty is the verdict, even if the evidence is suspect, never mind we find him guilty,

But he only spoke his mind, to people of every kind, justice may be blind, but it’s been hard to find, because he’s innocent.

Strip search.

His body was built, his head was bald,

His heart was dead, his face was cold.

His eyes were fierce, moustache was thick,

He lifted up his finger, I was his pick.

Take off your jumper and shirt and boxers,

But I’ve only been to the library, have not seen or met anybody,

Strip! You’re going to strip! And don’t you dare move your lip.

Take off your shirt and jumper and boxers. Open your mouth show me your tongue,

Give me a cough, deep from your lung.

Hold your buttocks and bend over, turn around, lift it up and stay sober.

The routine is to humiliate, to scar and to intimidate,

His search took an eternity, in the name of security, they strip you of your dignity.

Shakedown

They came Monday morning, in front of my door,

Five COs and one Lt at 6 foot and 4.

Come out, shut up, cough up, they said.

Turn around, back up, hold up your head.

They joked and laughed, it’s time for a shakedown!

Control, destroy and don’t you dare frown!

Contraband! Contraband! He yelled from the side. My heart has sank, he’s found my height.

Extra blanket, extra sheet, boxers he’s thrown.

Plastic spoon, peanut butter and a picture I’d drawn.

My heart was beating faster than before,

If he finds it my life ain’t the same any more.

Seconds and minutes were passing like years,

Frustrated, worried and crying without tears.

Undaunted they left, cell upside down,

Startled it looked, like a tornado hit town.

But I calmed and laughed and thanked the Lord,

My pencil is safe and mightier than the sword.

(Anonymous)

12 Rabeeul Thani 1436

“The Believers, in their mutual love, mercy and compassion, are like one body: if one organ complained, the rest of the body develops a fever.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

O Allah! Please free the innocent, that are shackled in chains and locked up behind bars.

O Allah! Be a guardian for their families.

Ameen Ya Rabb!

Categories
Spirituality

The importance of Durood/Salawaat ﷺ

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Merciful.

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“Verily, Allah and His angels confer blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Invoke blessings on him, and greet him with goodly salutations.” (Qur’an 33:56)

** PLEASE RECITE DUROOD ONCE BEFORE READING**

“In the annals of history, never was a man named ‘Muhammad’ before our dearest and beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him). He was given this name by his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib. The name Muhammad means, ‘One who is praised again and again’.”

Shaykh Muhammed Saleem Dhorat (Hafidhahu Allah), Islamic Da’wah Academy, Leicester, UK.

Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has given many different commands in the Qur’an, such as prayer (Salah), fasting, pilgrimage (Hajj) etc. 

He has also described and praised many noble Prophets and greatly honoured them.

After creating Sayyiduna Adam (peace & blessings be upon him), He (may He be glorified and exalted) ordered the angels to prostrate to him. However, nowhere has Allah stated in any command or in any act of honouring, that He is also a participant and that the believers should follow suit. 

This honour is solely for the Leader of the creation, the Pride of the world (peace & blessings be upon him), where Allah attributes the act of conferring blessings Himself, and after attributing it towards His angels, finally orders the believers that they too should also invoke blessings upon him.

What virtue could be greater than the believers participating in this act with Allah and His angels? 

Those who understand Arabic know that the verse begins with the particle ‘inna’ which adds great emphasis to its meaning, and the imperfect tense, ‘mudari’ has been used, which indicates continuity. In other words, it is firmly established that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) and His angels are constantly conferring blessings upon the Noble Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him).

The author of ‘Ruh al-Bayan’ (may Allah have mercy upon him) writes, “Some scholars state that the meaning of Allah conferring His blessings is raising the Noble Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) to the Praised Station (Al-Maqam al-Mahmood), which is the station of intercession.”

The blessings of (salat) of the angels are to pray for the Noble Prophet’s (peace & blessings be upon him) status to be elevated and to seek forgiveness for the Noble Prophet’s (peace & blessings be upon him) followers.

The meaning of the believers invoking blessings, is to follow the Noble Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him), love him, and to mention and praise his sublime qualities.

Moreover, this honour which Allah granted the Noble Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) is far greater than the respect shown to Sayiduna Adam (peace & blessings be upon him) by ordering the angels to prostrate before him, because Allah is personally engaged in this act of honouring the Noble Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him), whereas only the angels were ordered to prostrate before Sayyiduna Adam (peace & blessings be upon him).

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him) said,“Whoever invokes one blessing upon me, Allah will confer ten blessings upon him.” [Muslim & Abu Dawood]

One blessing and mercy from Allah is sufficient for the whole creation, let alone ten of Allah’s blessings in return for invoking blessings once!

How fortunate are those pious elders whose daily practice was to invoke blessings and peace 125,000 times! Just as we read regarding some of the pious elders of the family of Shaykhul Hadith Hadhrat Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyya Khandelwi (Allah illuminate his grave).

What virtue for invoking blessings is there which is greater than being granted ten blessings for invoking once? 

It is narrated in ‘Al-Targhib’ on the authority of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (Allah be pleased with him) that, ‘Whoever invokes one blessing upon the Noble Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him), Allah and His angels confer 70 blessings upon him.’ 

(N.B. One should understand at this point that if different rewards are mentioned for a certain action, as in this case where ten rewards are promised in one Hadith and seventy in another, some scholars are of the opinion that because Allah’s favours on the Ummah of Muhammad (peace & blessings be upon him) are increased on a daily basis, the narrations which mention greater reward are the latter Hadiths. Thus it is as though Allah initially promised ten rewards and then increased this to 70. Other scholars have interpreted this difference, with respect to different people, times and conditions. Similarly as discussed, on the reward of congregational prayer being multiplied by 25 or 27 times). 

With regards to this matter, another opinion is that of Mulla Ali Qari (Allah illuminate his grave), who writes that the reward of 70 may be particular to invoking blessings on Friday, as in another Hadith it is narrated that the reward for good actions increases seventy fold on a Friday.

Sayyiduna Anas (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) said, “The person in whose presence I am mentioned should invoke blessing upon me. Whoever invokes one blessing upon me, Allah confers ten blessings upon him.” In another narration, “Whoever invokes one blessing upon me; Allah confers ten blessings upon him, forgives ten of his sins and elevates his status tenfold thereby.” [Ahmad & Nasa’i]

Allamah Mundhiri (Allah illuminate his grave) has also narrated the same hadith in Al-Targhib on the authority of Sayyiduna Bara’ (Allah be pleased with him), with the addition that the invoker receives the reward of freeing ten slaves.

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him) said,“Indeed the closest person to me on the Day of Judgement is he who invokes blessings upon me abundantly.” [Tirmidhi]

Hafidh Ibn Hajar (Allah illuminate his grave) states in the commentary of the above Hadith that whoever recites Durood 300 times daily, will attain the honour of being closest to the Prophet (SAW) on the Day of Judgement.

Allamah Sakhawi (Allah illuminate his grave) narrates the same from Qut al-Qulub. Respected Mawlana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (Allah sanctify his secret) would instruct his disciples to invoke blessings on the Prophet (SAW) at least 300 times. He, (RH), would say, “The favour of the Noble Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) is immense. It is then truly an act of disloyalty that a person be miserly in invoking blessings upon him.”

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him) said,“Whoever invokes blessings upon me near my grave, I hear his blessings, and whoever invokes blessings upon me from a distance, they are conveyed to me.” [Bayhaqi & Mishkat]

Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq (Allah be pleased with him) used to say, “Invoking blessings on the Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) extinguishes sins more than cold water extinguishes fire and sending peace on him is better than freeing slaves.” 

Love for Allah’s Messenger (peace & blessings be upon him) is better than the blood which flows in one’s body (as life in this temporary world depends on the blood in one’s body, whereas the eternal life of the Hereafter is doomed if one does not possess love for the Prophet SAW). 

In another narration, love for Allah’s Messenger (peace & blessings be upon him) is better than fighting in Allah’s path.

When Hasan al-Basri (Allah illuminate his grave) used to discuss the crying of the date tree-trunk, he used to cry and say, “O slaves of Allah! A piece of dry wood cries out of longing for Allah’s Messenger (peace & blessings be upon him); you are more worthy of longing to meet him.” [Manifestations of Prophet Muhammad SAW’s beauty]

Shaykh Zakariyra RH had hundreds of disciples across the globe, many of them would write to Shaykh addressing their problems. A common reply he would give:

‘Har Dard Ki Dawa – – – Salle Ala Muhammad’ (Sallallaho Alayhi Wasallam).

The remedy for every problem is in sending salutations upon the Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him).

Sayyiduna Ka’b ibn Ujrah (Allah be pleased with him) says, “The Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him) once said,‘Come close to the pulpit, and so we came close. When he ascended the first step, he recited, ‘Ameen’. He then ascended the second step and recited, ‘Ameen’. He then ascended the third step and recited, ‘Ameen’. After he came down [after the sermon], we recited, ‘O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him), we heard you say something today which we have never heard you say before.’ He SAW said, Jibreel came to me and said, ‘May that person be destroyed who witnesses the month of Ramadhan but is not forgiven.’ I said ‘Ameen’. When I ascended the second step, he said, ‘May that person be destroyed in whose presence you are mentioned but does not invoke blessings upon you’. I said, ‘Ameen’. When I ascended the third step, Jibreel said, ‘May that person be destroyed who finds both or one of his parents in old age, but they do not enter him into Paradise.’ I said, ‘Ameen’.” [Bukhari]

Not much elaboration is needed here – Sayyiduna Jibreel (AS) said three curses and the Noble Prophet (peace & blessings be upon him) said ‘Ameen’ upon all three curses. Firstly, the curse of an angel as great as Sayyiduna Jibreel (AS) was sufficient itself, and the intensity the curse gained through the Noble Prophet’s ﷺ ‘Ameen’ is quite evident. 

Please see below PDF version of forty duroods:

http://www.inter-islam.org/DuroodSalaam/ArabicSalat-Salam.html

Ismail ibn Nazir Satia (In dire need of Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and pleasure).

7 Rabi’ul Thani 1436

O Allah! Have mercy on us and write our death in Medinah – The City of Your Beloved Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam Enable us to travel time and time again to Makkah and Medinah… Ameen Ya Rabb!

*The contents of this article have been condensed from the book “Fadhail Durood” by Shaykh Zakariyya RH – unless otherwise stated.

Categories
Ramadhan

The Qur’ān – a Great Miracle: Part 2

Ma Sha Allah! AbsoTOTALutely beautiful… Alhumdu Lillah. JazakAllah Khayran to Mufti Saheb and the writer(s).

Ended very aptly with the quote from Shaykhul Hind RH

Categories
Spirituality

al-Nifaq

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In the name of Allah, All praise due to Allah

حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ بْنُ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ وَاصِلٍ الأَحْدَبِ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ الْيَوْمَ شَرٌّ مِنْهُمْ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانُوا يَوْمَئِذٍ يُسِرُّونَ وَالْيَوْمَ يَجْهَرُونَ‏.‏

Beware of the Hypocrisy and Corruption of the Two-faced

It was related by Abū Hurayrah (radhi Allaahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allāh (sallallahu aayhi wa sallam) said,

“Indeed the worst of the people are the two-faced, those who go to one group of people with one face and a different group with another.”[1]

In his explanation of this narration, al-Hāfiz Ibn Hajr (rahimahullaah) says, “al-Qurtubi RH stated,

‘Indeed the one who is two-faced is the worst of the people because he is similar to the hypocrite[2],using cajolery and lying to create fasād (corruption) between the people.’

Imam al-Nawawī RH said,

“He is the one who goes to each group of people with that which will please them, so he gives them the impression that he is with them and against the other group, and his action is that of hypocrisy, lying, deceit and using trickery to uncover the secrets of each group; and it is from the prohibited sycophancy.”[3]

Also, in his book al-Zawājir, Al-Haythamī (rahimahullaah) considers the two-faced person from the people of major sin. He states,

“The Two-hundred and Fifty-third Major Sin: the speech of the fork-tongued, i.e. the two-faced, who has no regard with Allāh.”[4]

In another wording of the narration, ‘Ammār ibn Yāsir (radhi Allaahu anhu) related that the Messenger of Allāh (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said,

“Whoever had two-faces in the worldly life will have two tongues of fire on the Day of Resurrection.” [5]

Azīm Ābadī (rahimahullaah) says: “Al-‘Alqamī stated:

‘This means that since he came to each group with different faces to cause corruption, he will be given two tongues of fire like the two tongues he had with each group in the worldly life.'”[6]

Therefore, it is incumbent upon the believers to be wary of those who carry other people’s speech to them, “So and so said such and such about you,” only to turn around and take the second party’s speech back to the first. For how many close companions have been turned into enemies and much rancour has replaced love among us as a result of such machinations? And if these provocateurs truly understood what awaited them from punishment and humiliation, perhaps it would cause them to turn to Allāh in penitence and repair the bonds their whispers have destroyed.

The Hypocrites of Today

These are some timely narrations collected by Muhammad Musa Nasr in his book ‘al-Munafiqun’ (p. 95-98). They are all authentic.

1 – Jubayr bin Nufayr RA said:

“I went to visit Abu ad-Darda’ RA at his home in Homs, and I found him praying at his mosque. When he sat for the tashahhud, he began seeking refuge with Allah from hypocrisy. When he finished, I went to him and asked: “May Allah Forgive you, Aba ad-Darda’! What do you have to do with hypocrisy?”

He replied: “O Allah, Your Forgiveness! (he said this three times) Nobody who feels safe from tribulation will be safe from it! By Allah, a man can be tested for a single hour and turn back on his religion.””

2 – ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr RA said:

“There will come a time when people will gather in their mosques, and there won’t be a single believer in them.”

3 – al-Hasan RH said:

“The Hour will not come until each people will be overwhelmed by their hypocrites.”

4 – Hudhayfah RA said:

“The hypocrites among you today are worse than the hypocrites who lived at the time of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم)!”

He was asked: “O Aba ‘Abdillah, how is this so?”

He replied: “They used to hide their hypocrisy. As for the ones today, they display it openly.”

We ask Allāh (azzawajal), the Mighty and Majestic, to give us protection from the two-faced and to unite our hearts upon Islām and Sunnah, Ameen.

References:

– (1) Bukhari/Muslim

– (2) Just as the hypocrite gives the outward appearance of Islam while harbouring disbelief and hatred in his heart, the two-faced person gives the outward appearance of love, fealty and reparation whilst harbouring the desire to cause hatred and division in his heart.

– (3) Fathul Bari – 10/475

– (4) al-Zawajir – 2/574-576

– (5) Abu Dawood 4212

– (6) ‘Awnul Mabood [Sharh Abu Dawood]

Categories
Poems

An Ode to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) Part II

Part II – In Defence of Rasul Ullah (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wasallam)

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى سَيِّدِنَا وَنَبِيِّنَا وَ شَفِيْعِنَا وَحَبِيْبِنَا وَ سَنَدِنَا وَ مَوْلَانَا  مُحَمَّدٍ وَ بَارِكْ وَ سَلِّم

Ismail Ibn Nazir Satia (One who is in dire need of Allah’s Forgiveness, Mercy and Pleasure).

18th Rabiul Awwal 1436

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى سَيِّدِنَا وَنَبِيِّنَا وَ شَفِيْعِنَا وَحَبِيْبِنَا وَ سَنَدِنَا وَ مَوْلَانَا  مُحَمَّدٍ وَ بَارِكْ وَ سَلِّم IMG_9150

The eyes weep, the heart bleeds, but our love for you, O Rasool Ullah (SAW) will never die, In Sha Allah.
Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wasallam) is always in our hearts and on our mind.
His (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wasallam)’s remembrance keeps our tongues moist.

Eyes that are blind, hearts that are hard will never recognise your beauty.
Your kindness came like rain, that cares not, on whom it falls upon.
With the light of your sincerity, you broke the clouds of tyranny. .

Categories
Poems

An Ode to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

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اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى سَيِّدِنَا وَنَبِيِّنَا وَ شَفِيْعِنَا وَحَبِيْبِنَا وَ سَنَدِنَا وَ مَوْلَانَا  مُحَمَّدٍ وَ بَارِكْ وَ سَلِّم 

May The Choicest Blessings and the Mercy of God Be Upon Muhammad – A Mercy To Mankind.

Year 570 CE you were born in the holy city of Makkah,

Wherein lies the beauty built by Ibraheem (AS) and Ismaeel (AS) – the exalted Ka’bah.

It had been 600 years since the Prophet Eesa (AS), this period is also known in the Qur’an as ‘Fatrah’.

You came at a time when the world was in darkness, people were lost, misguided and swimming in ignorance.

How auspicious that moment was for us all,

When the beloved Aminah (RA) conceived and gave birth to such a blessed soul.

The world was illuminated brightly, and the 1000-year-old fire was extinguished suddenly.

The extravagant castles of Shaam could be seen, Oh, what a time this must have been.

The shadow of your father, the honourable Abdullah (RA), had already left this world.

This was the just the start of your hardships, through which you were tumbled and turned.

It was at the tender age of six, your mother’s gentle touch was no longer felt,

Heart-wrenching. Heartbreaking. Heart left to melt.

Then came along the gallant Abdul Muttalib who took you into his care,

Oh, Muhammad! Such an upbringing of pain and grief is seldom and very rare.

But Allah gives the most difficult of battles to those,

Who are selected by Him and for his mission He chose.

After a year or two Abdul Muttalib met his Lord – ache upon ache.

Such pain left you lonely and full of tears,

But this was part of Allah’s plan; to make you strong and without fears.

Now you stayed with your uncle, an orphan, aged eight,

Abu Talib was his name, he loved you and the affection he showed was great.

You herded sheep and became a shepherd,

You became known for truthfulness and honesty – a man of his word.

You later grew into a fine man and started to trade,

Which attracted the attention of Khadeejah (RA) – whose husband you were later made.

You lived happily and had six children,

Four blessed daughters; two beloved sons who died as infants.

Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthoom, Fatimah (RA),

Little Qasim, and how can we forget Abdullah? (RA)

As time went by, and evil began to spread,

A lot of thoughts started going through your head.

You looked at people, as they worshipped idols carved from their own hands,

And over trivial issues, how a clan would fight with other clans.

The people of Arabia mercilessly buried their baby daughters alive,

And they did not ever fulfil the rights of their children and wives.

People deprived the poor and didn’t give the weak their rights,

Men merrily drank wine and gambled throughout the night,

Shedding blood and killing was prevalent,

The sanctity of human life had become totally irrelevant.

Little did they know how their lives were about to be turned,

As the light of Prophethood shone, glimmering bright, like a lantern you burned.

One day in Mount Hira as you were meditating,

An angel descended and started communicating.

“Read! O Muhammad, Read!” Were the first words said,

You were scared and frightened and quickly rushed ahead.

Upon reaching home, sweating and panicking you screamed,

“O Khadeejah! Wrap me quick”; a large blanket, warm and thick.

Alarmed, petrified and terrified, as any wife would be,

She obeyed instantly, as she was first the believer (in Islam) to be.

(To be cont…)

Ismail Ibn Nazir Satia (One who is in dire need of Allah’s Forgiveness, Mercy and Pleasure).

12th Rabiul Awwal 1436 – Written in memory of the Beloved (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wasallam) on the date of His SAW demise.

The eyes weep, the heart bleeds, but our love for you, O Rasool Ullah SAW will never die. In Sha Allah. Muhammad (peace be upon him) is always in our hearts and on our mind. His SAW’s remembrance keeps our tongues moist.

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Categories
Spirituality

For Effective Da’wah in the West

By Shaykh Abul Hasan ‘Ali an-Nadwi (rh)

This is a transcription of a speech delivered in Dewsbury, UK in 1982 at the opening of the Dewsury Markaz.

I am filled with happiness by your reception. I would be most ungrateful if I do not respect your wishes and share my inner feelings. If I desire I could shower you with praises, for Almighty Allah has bestowed me with an abundance of vocabulary, but I would not be fulfilling the right of friendship.

Da’wah in the Seerah

As you are aware, the Prophet (Sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) had a burning desire to invite humanity towards Islam. Despite 13 years of untiring effort in Makkatul Mukarramah and 7 years in Madinah Munawwarah, there was no large scale movement of non-Muslims into Islam. Between 7 AH and 10 AH, which is the period after Fatah-Makkah until the Prophet (Sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam)’s demise, there was such an influx of people entering the ranks of Islam that was not witnessed in the preceding 20 years.

Imam Zuhri (ra), an eminent Muhaddith and Tabi‘, expressed surprise on this sea change, with so many people embracing Islam in a matter of just 3 years. Along with other distinguished Muhadditheen, he has commented that this was due to non-Muslims having had an opportunity for the first time to observe and intermingle with Muslims, witness their honesty, fair dealing, compassion, and sole reliance on Almighty Allah. This left such a deep and profound impression on non-Muslims that thousands entered into the fold of Islam within a relatively short period of time.

Applying the Lessons of Seerah Here and Now

This incident also contains abundant lessons on how Muslims should live in this country. Their conduct should be sublime and captivating. Whosoever should see us should accept Islam. Whosoever sits with us should be inclined towards Islam. There should be no need to convince anyone to accept the Truth.

Therefore, in this country if you wish to live peacefully and have an opportunity to present Islam to the host community, you will need to inculcate and manifest sterling qualities, not just inside the Mosques but also outside in the streets, in the markets, in your daily activities, and at home. A life of Taqwa will immediately attract non-Muslims towards Islam.

Dangers of Living Isolated and Insulated

As an ordinary student of Islam it is my religious responsibility to warn you. If you do not lead an upright life, if you continue to live an insular lifestyle, and if you fail to manifest the beauty of Islam to non-Muslims, then you face some real dangers. In such a case, there is no reason for you to feel content and secure in this country.

If ever the fire of race, religion, or nationalism rages here you will not be saved. In Spain there were Mosques a hundred times more beautiful than yours. So do not feel content and self-satisfied. As an ordinary student of religion I would wish to express my joy and happiness at this wonderful new Mosque. But what words shall I use to congratulate you?

Lessons from Spain

Others may not speak to you as plainly, but remember the glorious Masjid of Cordoba. It still stands in Spain. Iqbal, Poet of the East, so eloquently reminisces the great legacy of Islamic Spain in his famous poem, Masjid-e-Qurtaba. In Islamic Spain, there were such brilliant Mosques, celebrated Madrasahs, famous scholars like Shaykh al-Akbar (ra), Ibn al-Hazm (ra), Qurtubi (ra), Shatbi (ra) – and how many others shall I mention?

However, when the flames of religious sectarianism raged then the Mosques and Madrasahs became deserted. Once, Islamic Spain boasted such magnificent structures, distinguished educational centers, refined culture and society. Regrettably, the Muslims, despite such a high standard of living, did not draw the non-Muslims of that country to see the truth of Islam, to warn them of the dangers of disbelief, with the result that ensuing religious violence subsequently consumed them like a morsel. The Arabs with their glowing history, architectural splendor, and vast oceans of knowledge, were displaced from the country. Today, unfortunately, the ears eagerly wait to hear the Azaan and the empty Mosques thirst for the Salaah.

Earn Your Place in Your Country

My dear brothers, you must earn your recognition in this country. You should earn your place and leave an imprint on the host community of your value and significance. You must show your exemplary conduct is far nobler than that of other people. You must impart on them the lessons of humanity. You should demonstrate such commitment and noble virtues that impress on people that there cannot be found more upright humans elsewhere besides you. You need to establish your worth, showing what blessing and mercy you are for the country.

If however you decide to live in an enclosed environment simply content with your Prayers and Fasting, apathetic to the people and society you live in, never introducing them to the high Islamic values and your own personal qualities, then beware lest any religious or sectarian violence flares up. In such a situation, you will not find safety or protection.

I pray to Almighty Allah my prediction is totally unfounded. But remember, you are guests here. YourTabligh, Mosques, Madrasahs, Ibadah, and religious sacrifices are all worthy of commendation. May Almighty Allah grant you Barakah. But do not forget to earn your place in this country. Gain proficiency of the national language and use it to effectively propagate Islam. Prepare writers and orators to convey the message of Islam. Although you will distance yourself from their religion, do not distance yourself from them. Establish your credibility to the extent that if you are entrusted with onerous responsibilities, as was Prophet Yusuf (`Alayhi as-Salaam), you do not shirk but embrace all challenges wholeheartedly.

Your Priority Should Not Be Wealth and Luxury

You will have to present a new pattern of life to this country. You will not earn recognition by exerting yourselves in the workplace. If you overwork you will be looked upon disparagingly and be likened to horses and bulls. In fact, you will be labelled as money-making machines. However, if you can show to the people here that you are worshipers of Almighty Allah and not wealth, you do not bow before power but only before virtue, you are humans and think like humans, you are concerned not only about yourselves but also about others; and you are compassionate about your own children as well as theirs, that you are earnestly concerned about the path of destruction they have chosen for themselves, you will then earn their respect. They will begin to respect Islam and become desirous of studying it. They will ask you for literature concerning Islamic beliefs and practices and an opportunity will arise here for you to promote Islam.

On the other hand, if you remain preoccupied in eating and working, engaged in prayers, remaining indifferent to what is happening in the country, insulated within the Muslim community, totally apathetic to what is happening outside, which direction the country is taking – in such a situation if there is trouble you will not be able to save yourselves.

StrengthenYour Position

I have been meaning to convey and accentuate this message to you as I do not know whether I will be able visit you again in the future. You gathered here with love and affection and therefore it was easy for me to convey. As a student of religion it would have been convenient for me to recommend the virtues of reciting various Zikr or prescribe certain Wazifahs but you may not have had an opportunity of listening to the message I have just conveyed from anyone else.

Please strengthen your position in this country. Earn your recognition. Do not be like a straw or crop that is uprooted by a mere breeze. You should be so firm that not even a hurricane is able to displace you. Display such noble character that you attract the hearts of the people. See then how these people will stand up to defend you. If there is the slightest hostility towards you, they will be the first ones to argue on your behalf and argue what a blessing you are for them.

May Almighty Allah grant us the ability to understand what is right; may He bless and protect you. Ameen.

Courtesy of Darul Ihsan

Categories
Poems

Two swords: Of Flesh & Of Steel.

In the name of Allah, the Just

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The truth is the truth; right is right,
To me it is clear – black and white.
At times you feel odd and at times you feel alone,
Tired, troubled and torn.

You may not seem intelligent or even very bright,
But speaking the truth will raise you in Allah’s sight.
It may cause a dispute; it may end up in a fight,
As the truth is bitter and certainly not welcomed with delight.
Sometimes you feel scared and just want to run,
But remember – that’s the cowards way, son.
You’d rather speak with courage and great might,
Go on, give them a fright! They might understand, this matter isn’t light.

We must use our intellect and insight,
To stick up for the truth and keep our left shoulder light.
As the dazzling day ends followed along by the dark night,
Similarly, it is clear what is wrong and what is right.

So dear friend, as I now end,

I hope my words didn’t bite, this is my last and final plight….

Please, stand firmly for truth and for justice and for what is right.

Ismail ibn Nazir Satia (One who is in dire need of Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and pleasure)

18 Safar 1436

(Written in memory of my late father, Haji NazirAhmed Daud Satia RH, one year after his demise. I believe he taught me courage, justice, morals, values and principles – Alhumdu Lillah. Out of sight, but not out of mind, Abba. Your voice has left us, but your legacy of justice remains In Sha Allah).

Categories
Shaykh Saleem Dhorat

Children

By Mawlana Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafidhahullah

Children are a Blessing

Being gifted with children is a great blessing from Allah (subanahu wa ta’aala). For any blessing we receive we need to do shukr, i.e. be grateful to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala). True shukr meets the following requirements:

1. Realise the blessing is the result of the Grace of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) and that it has come to you without your being deserving of it.

2. Acknowledge your gratitude in your heart and express it verbally as well.

3. Use the blessing in the way Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) wants you to, and observe the rules and limits He (subhanahu wa ta’aala) has set for it.

As with all blessings, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) has set rules and limits regarding the blessing of children too, e.g. when to be lenient, when to reprimand, what to teach them, what to keep them away from etc. Following these rules when dealing with children is called ta’leem (education) and tarbiyyah (upbringing).

Giving children correct ta’leem and tarbiyyah is a major responsibility of parents. If they fail to make proper arrangements for the ta’leem of their children and do not give them proper tarbiyyah, they will face severe questioning on the Day of Reckoning. Failure to provide children with ta’l?m and tarbiyyah is failure to do shukr for the blessing of children.

Sending children to Madrasah from the age of 5 to the age of 12 and completely handing over the responsibility of ta’leem and tarbiyyah to their teachers is not sufficient or satisfactory. Even after enrolling their children in a madrasah, parents need to keep abreast of how they are learning and how their conduct and character are forming.

How Much Ta’leem?

Every child needs to be educated to the extent that he/she becomes aware of all the questions of halaal and haraam that are likely to confront an average person in life. Every child should know what is fard and w?jib and what is optional, and the difference between makrooh tahrimi, which entails sin, and makrooh tanzihi, which does not.

In addition to this, every child needs to understand that when confronted with any situation in life that he/she has no knowledge about then a qualified ‘alim or mufti needs to be consulted. The masaa’il related to business are an example; they are not taught as standard, for every child will not need them, but when a child grows up to become a businessman he needs to acknowledge the need to consult a mufti at every step in order to learn the masaa’il of business.

Where to Obtain ‘Ilm From

“Truly this ‘ilm is Deen, so be careful who you take your Deen from.”

In today’s age in particular, when authentic and inauthentic ‘ilm are both widespread, correct ta’leem is essential. People nowadays resort to the internet if they want to know something and google provides them with masses of information on the masaa’il they are looking for, without any check on authenticity. Part of ta’leem is to instruct children in the correct avenues for acquiring ‘ilm.

In Islam, great importance is given to the chains of teachers and students that go back to the fountainhead of ‘ilm, Ras?lull?h (sallalaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). When the source of ‘ilm is authentic, the ‘ilm taken from that source will also be authentic, therefore the source of ‘ilm should be someone linked to a chain of authentic teachers and who is regarded as authentic by the contemporary ‘ulama

Tarbiyyah

Tarbiyyah means training your children’s minds and hearts in such a way that they live their lives according to the ta’l?m they receive. It is not enough, for example, just to teach them that alcohol is haraam; it is also necessary to nurture within them love for Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) and His commands and fear of His displeasure and Jahannam, so that a genuine desire not to displease Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) and fear of the consequences of their actions are what drive them to abstain from alcohol.

Without this sort of tarbiyyah, youngsters will know that alcohol, drugs, zina, theft etc. are haraam yet still indulge in them. So ta’leem and tarbiyyah are two distinct things.

Take the example of salaah. A child of seven receives the ta’leem that salaah five times a day is fardh, and his father also makes him go with him to the masjid for salaah regularly.

Then when the child reaches his teens he stops going for salaah. The father complains that his child used to be so good and has suddenly turned bad, whereas it is the failure of the father to do tarbiyyah of his child’s mind and heart about salaah that is the real cause of the child abandoning salaah after reaching the age of independence.

The Power of Tarbiyyah

Tarbiyyah should result in children never opposing the ‘ilm they learned, no matter what the circumstances. They should have the message firmly ingrained in their minds that Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) is the One who controls benefit and harm, andto obey Him is to please Him and to disobey Him is to displease Him. And seeing as He controls benefit and harm, it is not possible for someone to lose out by pleasing Him, whatever the circumstances, even though the intellect may argue differently.

An episode from the life of Shaykh ‘Abd-ul-Qadir Jilaani sufficiently illustrates this point. His mother did his tarbiyyah properly and one of the points she stressed to him was to always tell the truth and never lie. She then sent him away to study ‘ilm, cleverly sewing some money into his clothing so that it would not be stolen on the journey. He did run into bandits on the way though, and when they asked if he had anything valuable he told them he had money and where it was hidden.

When the chief of the bandits asked him why he had admitted he had money, he said simply that his mother had taught him always to tell the truth, for it pleases Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala).

Shaytaan always tricks people by telling them of all the potential harms of telling the truth and the potential benefits of lying, but the tarbiyyah of his mother meant he understood that benefit can only come from obeying pleasing Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala). The bandits were greatly moved and repented.

Some Advice on Tarbiyyah

In order to do tarbiyyah properly, parents should show love to their children, be their friends,give them rewards for good behaviour and sit and talk with them. They should read stories of our pious predecessors to them and also take them into the companyof the ‘ulam? and mashayikh.

If a child makes a mistake, parents should not ignore tarbiyyah and just suffice with a reprimand.

Today’s mistakes, if left untended, will grow and grow. If, for example, a child tells a lie then the parents should understand that the sickness of lying is in the child’s heart and will not be removed by just shouting or getting angry with the child. Concerned parents should refer to the experts, the mash?yikh, for a solution. If the sickness is not cured through tarbiyyah then the child will go on lying, only in ways that his parents will not detect.

Finally, it should be understood that being harsh and overly strict with children is not tarbiyyah. Love is what is needed. If children are treated with love 90% of the time then on the rare occasion’s parents do get angry for some reason the child will feel ashamed rather than resentful.

May Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) grant all parents the ability to be truly grateful for the great blessing they have been given in the form of children. And may He (subhanahu wa ta’aala) also grant them the ability to fulfil the requirements of shukr by ensuring that ta’leem and tarbiyyah are properly carried out. Ameen.
Categories
Current Affairs articles Marriage

The Loss of Conversation

Sister Fazila Bux, 1st Ethical CT/

May 21, 2012
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We live in an age where we are all ‘connected’. The phenomenon of the World Wide Web, manifested in Facebook, social networking sites, phone apps, and so forth seem to offer us endless and ever easier ways of keeping in constant touch with each other. In spite of this, many sociologists are finding our quality and quantity of conversation is actually poorer than a few years ago.
Why the paradox? Typing a smiley emoticon in a text message is certainly not the same as witnessing a real facial expression. Teens today are so engrossed in their online worlds, that they are simply not picking up the art of verbal conversation, which was a rite of passage even a mere decade ago. Even in workplaces, staff are less focused in meetings, reflexively checking phones and emails.
It is worth considering what the art of language represents, for we may be unwittingly degrading one of our most important qualities. Human beings are defined as “al-haywan al-natiq ” meaning we are the ‘talking animal’. The word for ‘talking’ in Arabic shares the same root as the word for ‘logic’ given speech is intrinsically linked with intellect, and this ability to externalise our intellect by meaningful sounds is the key factor differentiating us from animals.
Speech, and its corollary, the written word, therefore are gifts bestowed upon us by our Creator. The mightiest of gifts, the Quran, whose wisdom and depth transcend the limits of human intellect, was transmitted orally. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was known for his eloquence and brevity of speech: the ability to say a few words strung in a manner that conveyed vast meaning.
Limiting the art of conversation to only its online forms is not only depriving us of the irreplaceable warmth and depth of a face-to-face conversation, but is also depriving us of the ability to contemplate and reflect.
As Muslims we believe we can draw closer to God through pondering on His signs, both His word and His creation. To be less able to recognise these signs is therefore calamitous. Indeed the Qur’an states: “In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for people of intelligence” (Qur’an 3:190) .
Constantly being online makes it difficult to concentrate on anything, never mind contemplate.
Conversation is an art, and effective speech is a Prophetic trait to aspire towards.
In today’s world, properly conversing with our loved ones, and reflecting on life is something which no longer happens automatically but which needs proactive planning and effort. The sooner we realise this, the sooner we put a stop to a subtle degradation of our humanity.

Umar bin Al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him), the second caliph and Companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) once said that if it were not for three pleasures, he would not find any joy in life.

One of these three pleasures was “sitting in the company of men who like to pick good topics for conversation just as people like to pick good dates from a tree.”