On the Response to Umar Lee on Sh Hamza Yusuf

BismillahirRahmanirRahim,

There's been an interesting discussion started by Umar Lee entitled "Rand Institute Muslims," in reference to the American think-tank that outlined a strategy on how to make Islam "more civil and democratic." (http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/2005/MR1716.pdf_)

It's beginning to cause a stir (http://ginnysthoughts.wordpress.com/2009/01/17/rim-rand-institute-muslims-%C2%AB-umar-lee/), which is bordering on the personal.

One detailed response to the Umar Lee post, already broadcasted by Deenport.com, has come from Indigo Jo (http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/mt.php/2009/01/18/response_to_umar_lee_on_shaikh) , where he describes his motivations to respond:

"I have shied away from "debating" Umar over his ramblings about "masculinity" the last couple of years, but when I see these same attitudes paired with slander of scholars, I cannot continue to keep quiet."

It is good that people are not choosing silence anymore, in light of ongoing events.

This is my original comment on Indigo Jo's response, which he has not yet published:

BismillahirRahmanirRahim,

An interesting topic, with perhaps more issues raised than can be handled in one blogpost.

While Umar Lee may have gone overboard in casting Hamza Yusuf as the king of 'RAND Muslims,' I think he raises some valid issues.

It's important for Muslims to remember, that any leader we have in these times is not above questioning. There are traditions from Rasulullah that warn about leaders in the end of times appearing to be knowledgeable, but in reality are `asaghir ("little ones") who are the worst hypocrits.

These are real prophecies, not to be dismissed or overlooked while we consult our Maliki and Shafi'i manuals of fiqh on obscure matters. We should ask ourselves why the stalwarts among the `ulema are deemphasizing these aspects of the deen, in favor of efforts to canonize and bring an ecclesiastical framework to Islamic knowledge.

The reason why this should be a cause for concern, and a vital discussion for us, lies in the nature of leadership itself. For example, Malcolm X may not have been a scholar or faqih, but he led by his example in standing up for the truth, even when it was bitter and politically inconvenient. And his efforts, galvanized many Muslims in America against obvious injustices. The authorities feared his agitations would bring about an uprising, and he was assassinated while speaking the truth to power. Many still remember his example today, and became Muslim through him.

There is historical precedent for this kind of an uprising against injustice - from Salahuddin Ayubi (ra). And many others who we may come to know, once we truly learn about our history.

Your response to Umar Lee, while methodical and in my opinion, with good adab (manners), has a kind of finality to it, that smacks of the Salafi/Wahabi refutations. I feel this should not be about defending Hamza Yusuf, despite our love for what he's done. It should raise further questions.

It was from Hamza Yusuf that I learned, that Imam Shafi'i (ra) used to make a du'a before engaging in debate, that Allah place the truth on the opponent's tongue, so that he would be able to accept it.

We should respect Umar Lee's opinions, and not sweep our dirty laundry under the carpet in the name of 'defending our scholars.'

Reflections on `Ashura

BismillahirRahmanirRahim,

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him and his father) that he was asked about fasting the Day of `Ashura [10th of Muharram]. He said, I did not see the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) fast a day while more avid to seek its virtue than this day, meaning the Day of `Ashura . [Bukhari (2006), and Muslim (1132)].

Tirmidhi relates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to a man, If you want to fast a month after Ramadan, then fast Muharram, for it has a day in which Allah forgave an entire people, and He turns to others in repentance in. [Tirmidhi (841)]

It amazes me how, when I've made paltry efforts to remind people about Muharram and `Ashura, many Muslims aren't sure how to react to it.

Before taking bayat with my sheykh, I too was heedless. Sure, I'd know "objectively" that Muharram was one of the holy months mentioned by Allah , that Ashura is its 10th day and it is Sunnat to fast on it and a day before or after.

These facts I gathered on Muharram and `Ashura from SunniPath, Zaytuna and other sources online, swirled around in my mind, albeit incoherently. I sort of knew that it'd be good to do these things, but actually performing them was a minor jihad!

Perhaps an obstacle that taints the spirit of `Ashura for most Sunni Muslims, is what it has become associated with. The ignorant and baseless practices that some of our ummah perform in the name of commemorating Imam Husayn's sacrifice, in effect, have given a bad name to this holy Day (radhi Allahu anhu).

I saw this blemish in action, when chatting with a close friend online. No matter how much I told him that celebrating Muharram and `Ashura was very much a part of our traditions, he wanted nothing to do with it. His "exemplar" was the Saudi-Wahhabi paradigm, of which he is gradually weaning off from, insha'Allah Rahman.

According to our sheykh, Tuesday was yaum-e-Ashura. I made intention to hold firmly to the fast, and I hope Allah will accept whatever I did good in it. Alhamdulillah, I made it to the dergah safe, having broken my fast on the road trip upstate.

After some zikr, we had an energetic hadra, masha'Allah. In our holding each other's hands, forming a circle and exclaiming loud remembrances of our Lord, it felt as though the remnants of our evil selves were being stomped on. The sheykh and his chosen murids were leading us all the way. But no matter how exalted we may have momentarily felt, our feet were firm on the ground, thanks to our sheykh.


Then we had sohbet, where Sheykh offered us all some tea, and a special dessert (picture and caption taken from someone more devoted than myself - Yasin, of hakkani.wordpress.com):

Our sheykh also told us about the momentous events that occured in history on the day of `Ashura. It is the day on which the ship of Noah (as) landed on top of a mountain. On the tenth day, Ashura, we prepare the delicious desert Aşure in keeping with the Ottoman tradition. The sweet is also known as Noah’s Pudding and is made with dried fruit and beans. The story goes: when Noah’s ship settled on the top of the mountain, the surviving believers gathered the remaining rations and prepared them into Ashure.

It is also known that Moses (as) fasted on this day to commemorate Allah saving him and his people, and drowned Pharoah and his people.

One of the murids asked sheykh what the greater wisdom was behind the sacrifice of Imam Husayn (ra), knowing that he was plunging himself to certain death. Our sheykh was measured in his response, as if not wanting to say so much, and then stated that it was destiny. Sheykh mentioned that some older companions of holy Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallim - advised him not to go. Even Imam Hasan (ra) did the same. But Imam Husayn (ra) chose to go inspite of all this. Our sheykh said that there are higher stations for Imam Husayn (ra) because of it.

We were also told about lost Sunnats of Ashura, including giving in charity, rubbing the head of an orphan in kindness and to take care of orphans, to wear kohl/surmak (?) on the eye.

Being here in dergah in the midst of all this, alhamdulillah, made it feel like a holy Day was upon us. If Allah forgave an entire people on this day, I pray that He forgave me of my many evils and sins.

On Muharram 1, 1430 AH

Bismillahir-Rahman ar-Rahim,

On Muharram 1, 1430 A.H.

By the grace of Allah and His beloveds, I once again feel the need to type my thoughts.

As of sunset on 12/28/08, we entered into 1430 A.H.. One thousand, four hundred and
thirty years since the momentous event of Allah's Messenger - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallim -
migrating to the city of safety - Madinah.

Where is our refuge, today?

In the past 2 months alone, a constant barrage of "doom and gloom" news permeated
the media. For those of us who observe daily events with discernment, it is clear we
are ALL enmeshed in an economic crisis that is still unraveling.

Most of us are so intensely drugged by these media outlets; so, we could not
avoid noticing the decline:

- Stock markets slide, with historic losses

- Banks and major industries seek government bailouts

- Countries declaring bankruptcy

- Unusual extremes of weather

- Hunger a real possibility in lands of prosperity

- Bloodshed and strife, where might prevails

In the midst of all these trials - which are still going on and WORSENING, at the time
of this writing - our heedlessness still makes the wealthier of us wonder, what will happen
on the night of Dec 31, 2008? Who will go to Times Square and watch the ball come down?
Who will be with me on that night, and make me happy to ring in the new year?

There is no "happy new year" greeting that can be said with an iota of sincerity.
Our Sheykh is saying, that major fitan (tribulations) are headed our way.

The question still stands - where can safety be found today?

Many sayings of our holy Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallim - warn us of
the Last Day. Our Sheykh keeps warning us of the trials therein; of which the Dajjal
is only a part, will be immense and unprecedented in human history.

There is a sound tradition (paraphrased here) where Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) asked
the holy Prophet - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallim - on what can be done when the trials come?

The advice given by Rasulullah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallim - was 'Kitab-ullah'
(the book of Allah - ie. the holy Qur'an).

But who will be our exemplars in this endeavor, to help us LIVE this knowledge we absorb?
Where do we discover the living Sunnat right before our very eyes, especially
in these trying times? To whom do we give our ALLEGIANCE?

It can only be - to the true inheritors of the Prophets.

Where can we find them?

A hadith qudsi clearly states, that if we walk to our Lord, then He runs to us.
And the book of our Lord states - to obey the messenger of Allah, will grant us His love,
and promised safety. Everlasting success, in this life AND the next. No fear, and no grief.

In this Muharram, may we all run to the true inheritors of our holy Prophet
- alayhi salat was salam. And may Allah subhana wa ta'ala assist us in finding them,
loving them and serving them. Amin.

Please spare a moment for me in your du'as.

Notes from Prison - 3

(3rd part in this ongoing series: more pearls from Alija Izetbegovic's treasure chest, 'Notes from Prison, 1983-1988)

-They were not Arabs, but they wrote in the Arabic language: Abu Nives, one of the greatest poets of Arab poetry, was Persian. Ibn el Mustafa, also a Persian, was the author of the most beautiful Arab prose (second century after Hijra). Sibenshi, the famous systemizer of Arab grammar, Ibn Sinna and the great scientist El-Birouni were also Persians. Ibn Rumi was of Greek origin, as well as the geographer Jakub, while Ibn-Kufi (Spanish chronicler), Ibn Hazm (theologian and writer) and Ibn Kuzman (great poet) were of Visigoth origin [Francesco Gabrielli, The History of Arab Literature, p.11]

In the first centuries of Islam, the predominance of Arabic language was absolute. The only exception to it was the Persian national reaffirmation movement in the tenth and eleventh centuries, first in poetry and then in prose. The complete separation of Persian literature from Arab happened only recently. The predominance of the Arabic language was everywhere due to the predominance of the Qur'an in spiritual life.

-Considering the relationships between the Arab-Muslim and Spanish-Catholic communities in the medeival Spain, Ortega Y Gasset said: "It is a real shame that the relationships that existed between these two communities have not yet come to light. We must admit that our Arabists (scientists who study the Arab world), led by Ribero, have made some important steps in the attempt to get a clearer picture of the way the Moors and the Spanish lived together. However, unless this issue is approached from deeper layers, it will not be possible to read much further."

Gasset believes that lack of knowledge or poor knowledge also characterized the relationship between Europe and Islam in general - "ignorance of the fact is one of the big realities of the history of the West" (Gasset in his preface to Ibn Hazm's Dove's Necklace)

-With the exception of the Mayan culture, ended by forceful death, all other cultures in history died gradually as a consequence of aging, the slowing down of life rhythm, some kind of sclerosis, that is, of internal changes. This process can be followed most clearly in Roman civilization, where the invasion of barbarians was just a coup de grace for an organism that had been in the state of agony for two centuries. The Arab civilization was not an exception to this rule. It is up to historians to establish what this culture suffered from, to examine the causes of its decline, in which colonial subjugation was not the reason for its fall but rather a consequence of its internal descent. Anyway, does the Qur'an not say: "Verily, never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)" [Qur'an 13:11]. It could be said that this rule has the power of natural law in the life peoples and their movement through history.

It is a Gift

I won't be posting for a while, so I thought I'd leave you all with a beautiful prayer.

It's taken from Sh. Muzaffer Ozak al-Jerrahi's "Adornment of Hearts," page 137. It's listed as his gift 'to dervishes and friends:'

Allahumma ya mufattihu fattih umuruna ala-l-khayri

wa-llahu khayrun hafizan wa huwa arhamu-r-rahimin

(translation: O Allah, O Opener! Open the way for establishing our affairs in goodness

Allah is the Supreme Guardian, the Most Merciful of the merciful)

The Sheikh recommends that whoever recites this invocation seven times after their morning prayer, Allah will make his life prosper.

May we all benefit from this invocation. It may bring light, to our darkest hours.

Ramadan leaves Middle Earth

All good things...must come to an end.

For Muslims around the world, the end of Ramadan culminates in Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the two major Eid holidays. It's a time for celebration, to rejoice in our blessings. Eids are festive occasions where people love to congregate for prayer, visit relatives & loved ones, and have feasts in exuberance. Music (yes!), dressing up, kids hankering elders for "Eidee" money/gifts. Who says Muslims don't know how to have fun?

Spiritually, it may be cause for sadness. Sh Nuh in his "Ramadan and You" lecture relates the tradition where Rasulullah (saw) informs us that 'the fiends are manacled' in this holy month. Those fiends being, the minions of evil. He also advised to throw ourselves into performing good deeds. A Naqshabandi murid related from his sheikh that it's as if Allah gives us a blank check for `amalus-salihaat. Little wonder then, why Ramadan is the Month of Mercy.

But was it truly a Rahma to those who suffered earthquakes, floods or natural disasters? And these are only what's reached us via the mainstream media. Who knows what quiet earthquakes erupt in people's lives, in families, in unknown households, or in far off lands we least expect to hear from?

One of Abdul-Hakim Murad's latest contentions, reads thus:

His name in our age is al-Sabur

Al-Sabur means the Most Patient, the Most Forbearing. And given the kind of unpredictable, massive fitan we've been having in our world, patience has become a buzzword on our lips. Easy advice to offer others, but extremely difficult to practice. Especially on ourselves.

But nothing good ever comes easy. I wrote an earlier post on Rajab, Ramadan and Tolkein where I mused on how Gandalf the Grey wizard was Rajab, and Ramadan was Gandalf the White. From the movie standpoint, it's apparent that "grey-Gand" is more rooted in the Shire of the Hobbits, more folksy in his ways, even provincial when contrasted with Saruman. To me, grey-Gand represents a kind of village Friend of God (Wali) that is accessible, simple and full of love. And the `amir (leader) of the Fellowship of the Ring.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) tells us that Rajab is the Month of God & that Ramadan is the month of the ummah (community). In the Two Towers film, Gandalf the White appears from the darkness of Fangorn forest, but is changed. He does not even initially recollect his former 'grey' past, only aware that his mission is unfinished & that it is why he's been sent back to Middle Earth.

The Battle for Helm's Deep ensues, where elves and men fight alongside each other, against the relentless siege of evil unleashed by Sauron and Saruman. Anyone who's watched the Two Towers will not fail to appreciate the sheer grandeur of those war scenes. Or of the shots where the women and children are shown, tugging at our heartstrings. The fear in the eyes of the warriors for good; and yet, they fight on, with patience. Gandalf the White fights valiantly, alongside legions of soldiers of Rohan. And the bounty of Providence, where fate provides the seemingly outnumbered with formidable allies, as God says in the Qur'an of those who TRULY are conscious of Him:

"...from sources they could never imagine..."

But what does Gandalf the white say, at the end of this?

The Battle for Helm's Deep, is over. But the battle for Middle Earth, has just begun.

Indeed, this month has passed. No more special ease with worship. The fiends will be unleashed again, and we shall be left to our post-Ramadan `anfus (selves). Scary thought, isn’t it?

In the Fellowship film, Gandalf the Grey advises Elrond, father of Arwen, the elven chief of Rivendell to place the hopes of victory in the hands of Men. What does Elrond say in reply?

"Men are weak...it was because of Men that evil was allowed to survive...there is no strength left in them"

Do we prove him wrong? Do we prove ourselves wrong, and strive to improve ourselves and those around us? To contribute, and to leave this world a better place?

Or will we continue to have our heads in the sand, and remain victims of circumstance?

Ya Malik, Ya Hakeem. Keep us strong & wise. And ready for battle against all dhulm.

Eid Mubarak, everyone! Spare a moment for me in your prayers.

This is 'Dedo'

Alija Izetbegovic was affectionately known as 'Dedo' (grandfather in Bosnian) by many Bosnian Muslims. He passed away from this world on October 19, 2003.

Some excerpts from his preface to Notes from Prison: 1983-1988:

-what the reader is about to embark upon (and perhaps read) is my escape to freedom. To my regret, this, of course, was not a real escape, but I wish it were. This was the only possible escape from the Foca prison, with its high walls and iron bars - an escape of mind and thought.

-I could not speak, but I could think, and I decided to use that possibility to the maximum. At first I had silent discussions on all kinds of things and I commented on the books I was reading and the events taking place outside. I then started taking notes, secretly at first, but I then became quite "arrogant" - I sat, read and wrote.

-the value of these thoughts, therefore, is not in the thoughts themselves, but rather in the circumstances they were written in. On the side of the wall there was the total silence of the prison, and on the outside there were inklings of a tempest that was to become a hurricane in 1988 that would crush the Berlin Wall, sweep away Honecker and Ceausescu, destroy the Warsaw Treaty and shake the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. I had an almost physical sensation of the passage of time and its phases changing right before my eyes.

-these are thoughts on freedom, the physical and the inner, on life and destiny, on people and events, on books read and their authors, on imagined, unwritten letters to my children- in other words, on everything that could have crossed a prisoner's mind during those long 2,000 days (and nights).

May God Almighty expand his grave, and raise him as a just ruler on the last Day.