"Life is nothing but to possess religiosity, and death is nothing but to lose conviction (yaqeen)"
-Imam `Ali (kw), Mizan al-Hikmah
(translated & related to me by SMS from a student of knowledge in Khurasan)
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Holding onto the Rope?
Found this over at Asif Padela's blog (http://khamriyah.blogspot.com):
AMMAN - (JT) - Leading clerics on Wednesday endorsed fatwas (religious edicts) by top Muslim authorities forbidding the declaration of any Muslim an apostate (takfir).Concluding their three-day International Islamic Conference in the presence of His Majesty King Abdullah, the clerics issued a joint statement that forbids declaring any adherent to any one of the eight schools of Islamic jurisprudence an apostate.
http://www.jordan.jo/en/en-news/wmview.php?ArtID=3106
Don't be shy - thoughts & comments are welcome.
AMMAN - (JT) - Leading clerics on Wednesday endorsed fatwas (religious edicts) by top Muslim authorities forbidding the declaration of any Muslim an apostate (takfir).Concluding their three-day International Islamic Conference in the presence of His Majesty King Abdullah, the clerics issued a joint statement that forbids declaring any adherent to any one of the eight schools of Islamic jurisprudence an apostate.
http://www.jordan.jo/en/en-news/wmview.php?ArtID=3106
Don't be shy - thoughts & comments are welcome.
On human brilliance
An Op-Ed gem I stumbled upon:
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005072207811300.htm&date=2005/07/22/&prd=th&
Good insights & a thought-provoker. A reminder about Hasad as well...
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005072207811300.htm&date=2005/07/22/&prd=th&
Good insights & a thought-provoker. A reminder about Hasad as well...
Friday, July 22, 2005
In praise of our sisters
Initially, I made niyah to steer clear of 'controversial' topics in an attempt to reach a wider audience with this blog.
Now I feel, that this is wading into the ponds of compromise.
And this is something Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (ra), never did in his entire life. But more on this shining star of Islam (to use UmmZaid's phrase), in another post. Insha'Allah.
Barika has a wonderful blog (http://barika.blogspot.com). She's a more prolific blogger than I am, alhamdulillah. And she's the first, to post comments on my blog.
UmmZaid's aptly been labeled the 'grand matriarch' of the Islamic internet experience. She was the primary gate (http://www.sunnisisters.com/sunnisister) to the world of blogs for me, and I've been following her posts for almost a year now. Her choice of topics, her links to other blogs and her experiences appear unrivalled.
Huma Ahmed's www.jannah.org was the earlier net-souk of many a Muslim.
In my opinion, the Muslimahs are contributing so much more than the Muslim men are. We men, should at least feel a little embarassed, that our sisters are outstripping us in muhsinaat.
But it shouldn't surprise us either. Sheikh Nuh reminds us that the wheel is always turning.
The first acceptor of the message of our beloved (saw), was Khadijah (ra). The first shaheed of our deen, was Sumayah (ra).
Has the wheel turned full circle?
"...miles to go, before we sleep. And miles to go before we sleep" - adapted from Robert Frost
Now I feel, that this is wading into the ponds of compromise.
And this is something Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (ra), never did in his entire life. But more on this shining star of Islam (to use UmmZaid's phrase), in another post. Insha'Allah.
Barika has a wonderful blog (http://barika.blogspot.com). She's a more prolific blogger than I am, alhamdulillah. And she's the first, to post comments on my blog.
UmmZaid's aptly been labeled the 'grand matriarch' of the Islamic internet experience. She was the primary gate (http://www.sunnisisters.com/sunnisister) to the world of blogs for me, and I've been following her posts for almost a year now. Her choice of topics, her links to other blogs and her experiences appear unrivalled.
Huma Ahmed's www.jannah.org was the earlier net-souk of many a Muslim.
In my opinion, the Muslimahs are contributing so much more than the Muslim men are. We men, should at least feel a little embarassed, that our sisters are outstripping us in muhsinaat.
But it shouldn't surprise us either. Sheikh Nuh reminds us that the wheel is always turning.
The first acceptor of the message of our beloved (saw), was Khadijah (ra). The first shaheed of our deen, was Sumayah (ra).
Has the wheel turned full circle?
"...miles to go, before we sleep. And miles to go before we sleep" - adapted from Robert Frost
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Al-En3ekaas 3ala al Waqt
My Reflections on Time (en3ekaas al waqt 3ali)
As Muslims, we're all familiar with Surah Al-Asr, the Chapter on Time (or the Declining Day).
Our shaykhuna, Imam Shafi'i (ra) is reported to have said:
"if Allah (swt) were to have only revealed this Surah, it would have been
sufficient to guide mankind to the Straight Path"
And our beloved Rasulullah (s) has related in a sound tradition, that Allah (swt) says:
"Mankind continues to abuse Me by Abusing time, and verily, I am Time (Ad-Dahr)."
The Arabs have a saying: "Al Waqt qas'Saif' - Time is like a Sword. If you don't cut with it, or if you play with it, it cuts you.
"Friends are thieves of time" - Anonymous
Do we really need any more quotes?
Sh Hamza Yusuf, in his “Practical Steps for Changing our Condition,” mentions how the internet has become a modern killer of time.
I can personally vouch for this heavy statement. Yet this sense of loss, does not lead me
to profuse tears. And why should it? If tears are the polish on a wajha of Nur, then the rust
of perpetual sins obscures it all.
This nasiha has also been evoked, in the era of the television, the video game era that still rages on, and prior to all this, the advent of the novel. But that's just in the past few centuries.
So much time has passed in human history - and so much advice about the preciousness of time.
But advice is only good, when taken.
The modern mantra, is no longer al-waqt qas'saif - but 'time is money.' Right up there with 'knowledge is power.' Both of these have discernible truths in them - witness the state of affairs of our world. Yet this is not in line with the Islamic paradigm.
To us, knowledge is an ennoblement, Nur, and a Fadl (gift). Power is not the means, or the end.
To us, time is precious barakah. The medium of sowing good deeds. A perpetual niyamah that we must usewith the utmost care.
Ya Rabb-ul-Izzah, grant us this ability, and bless us in our time…
"...if you are thankful to Me, I will give you more..." - Al-Qur'an
As Muslims, we're all familiar with Surah Al-Asr, the Chapter on Time (or the Declining Day).
Our shaykhuna, Imam Shafi'i (ra) is reported to have said:
"if Allah (swt) were to have only revealed this Surah, it would have been
sufficient to guide mankind to the Straight Path"
And our beloved Rasulullah (s) has related in a sound tradition, that Allah (swt) says:
"Mankind continues to abuse Me by Abusing time, and verily, I am Time (Ad-Dahr)."
The Arabs have a saying: "Al Waqt qas'Saif' - Time is like a Sword. If you don't cut with it, or if you play with it, it cuts you.
"Friends are thieves of time" - Anonymous
Do we really need any more quotes?
Sh Hamza Yusuf, in his “Practical Steps for Changing our Condition,” mentions how the internet has become a modern killer of time.
I can personally vouch for this heavy statement. Yet this sense of loss, does not lead me
to profuse tears. And why should it? If tears are the polish on a wajha of Nur, then the rust
of perpetual sins obscures it all.
This nasiha has also been evoked, in the era of the television, the video game era that still rages on, and prior to all this, the advent of the novel. But that's just in the past few centuries.
So much time has passed in human history - and so much advice about the preciousness of time.
But advice is only good, when taken.
The modern mantra, is no longer al-waqt qas'saif - but 'time is money.' Right up there with 'knowledge is power.' Both of these have discernible truths in them - witness the state of affairs of our world. Yet this is not in line with the Islamic paradigm.
To us, knowledge is an ennoblement, Nur, and a Fadl (gift). Power is not the means, or the end.
To us, time is precious barakah. The medium of sowing good deeds. A perpetual niyamah that we must usewith the utmost care.
Ya Rabb-ul-Izzah, grant us this ability, and bless us in our time…
"...if you are thankful to Me, I will give you more..." - Al-Qur'an
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Genesis
How did this weblog come into existence?
In the beginning, was the blog: http://q-rihla.blogspot.com/
I stumbled upon this pearl, thanks to a recent post on Umm Zaid’s Sunni Sister blog. It’s set up by the participants of the ongoing Rihla 2005 (Deen Intensive) in al-Madinah. I quote from a post:
“..Like previous Rihlas, we were in the company of our teachers, Shaykh Abdallah Al-Qadi, Shaykh Muhammad Yaqoubi, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Shaykh Jamal Zhahabi..” (and they are all in Rasulullah’s city! Need I say more? Go and grab the Nur.) – [saw].
One of the rihla’ites posted her sentiments on the recent London tragedy. I composed a response in the “Comments” section, only to realize minutes later that anonymous comments aren’t allowed on the blog.
What the heck – why not sign up for a blog ID? So I did. In the process, my original response was lost, but Allah granted me the tawfiq to ‘archive’ my thought bubbles. And thus, this blog was born.
The history of science illustrates that the greatest discoveries happened ‘by accident’
But ‘nature has determinism, and man has destiny’ – as Alija Izetbegovic once wrote.
So there you have it. God does indeed work in mysterious ways.
“…and which of the favors of your Lord, will you then deny?” – Qur’an, Surah Ar-Rahman (55)
In the beginning, was the blog: http://q-rihla.blogspot.com/
I stumbled upon this pearl, thanks to a recent post on Umm Zaid’s Sunni Sister blog. It’s set up by the participants of the ongoing Rihla 2005 (Deen Intensive) in al-Madinah. I quote from a post:
“..Like previous Rihlas, we were in the company of our teachers, Shaykh Abdallah Al-Qadi, Shaykh Muhammad Yaqoubi, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Shaykh Jamal Zhahabi..” (and they are all in Rasulullah’s city! Need I say more? Go and grab the Nur.) – [saw].
One of the rihla’ites posted her sentiments on the recent London tragedy. I composed a response in the “Comments” section, only to realize minutes later that anonymous comments aren’t allowed on the blog.
What the heck – why not sign up for a blog ID? So I did. In the process, my original response was lost, but Allah granted me the tawfiq to ‘archive’ my thought bubbles. And thus, this blog was born.
The history of science illustrates that the greatest discoveries happened ‘by accident’
But ‘nature has determinism, and man has destiny’ – as Alija Izetbegovic once wrote.
So there you have it. God does indeed work in mysterious ways.
“…and which of the favors of your Lord, will you then deny?” – Qur’an, Surah Ar-Rahman (55)
A beginning
In the Name of God, the Most Beneficient, the Ultimate in Mercy, The Bestower & Enabler, and the Most Kind
and may the loftiest ennoblements, peace and blessings be showered upon the beloved of The Beloved, the pinnacle of human perfection, the ultimate oracle & guide unto humanity - our Muhammad al-Mustafa (saw), on his family, wives, progeny, companions and helpers.
They say, Rahma (mercy) comes when His word is recited. So:
"...Allah does not change the condition of a people, unless they change what is in their own selves" - Qur'an 13:11
I'm just another revert. And as other reverts know, we're often told that Jannah is promised to us, a foregone conclusion.
I don't believe that for a SECOND. If anything, reverts are perhaps more sorely tested by the Most Subtle. And given our times, reverts stumble heavily. We are floaters, adrift in doubts, shaytanic whisperings, and our earthly circumstances.
A mentor once said to me, that 'you reverts are the Muhajireen, and we must be your Ansar.'
We all have much work to do. We must demand more from ourselves, first and foremost.
And to Him is our final return.
and may the loftiest ennoblements, peace and blessings be showered upon the beloved of The Beloved, the pinnacle of human perfection, the ultimate oracle & guide unto humanity - our Muhammad al-Mustafa (saw), on his family, wives, progeny, companions and helpers.
They say, Rahma (mercy) comes when His word is recited. So:
"...Allah does not change the condition of a people, unless they change what is in their own selves" - Qur'an 13:11
I'm just another revert. And as other reverts know, we're often told that Jannah is promised to us, a foregone conclusion.
I don't believe that for a SECOND. If anything, reverts are perhaps more sorely tested by the Most Subtle. And given our times, reverts stumble heavily. We are floaters, adrift in doubts, shaytanic whisperings, and our earthly circumstances.
A mentor once said to me, that 'you reverts are the Muhajireen, and we must be your Ansar.'
We all have much work to do. We must demand more from ourselves, first and foremost.
And to Him is our final return.
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