Bismillah.
“Ward off passing thoughts, for if you do not, they will become ideas.
Ward off ideas, for if you do not, they will become desires.
Fight the desires, for if you do not, they will become intentions.
If you do not resist them, they will become actions.
If you do not repel them with their opposites, they will become habits,
and it will be difficult to get rid of them.”
~ Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah's "Al-Fawâ’id"
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Dua' for Marriage
Bismillah.Rabbi inni limaa anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqeer. [28:24]
"My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!"
Musa made this dua; afterwards he was married to Prophet Shuaib's daughter.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
An Eid Gift: Amazing Gems of the Mutaqeen
Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem.
Salam Brothers & Sisters,
An Eid gift for all of you-
Amazing Gems of the Mutaqeen:
"If anyone continually asks for (Allah's) forgiveness, Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress, relief from anxiety, and will provide for him from where he never realized."
~ Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (Abu Dawood, No. 599)
"Humility is to leave your home and not to meet any Muslim except that you believe him to be better than you."
~ Imam Hasan Al-Basri
"I love the pious, although I am not among them."
~ Imam Abu Hanifa
"Whoever does not draw near to him by the gentle graces of kindness, is led to Him (Allah) by the chains of tribulation."
~ Ibn Ata'llah
"Beautiful words to the wise...Be careful if you make a women cry because Allah the most high counts her tears. A women came out of the rib of man, not his feet to be walked on, nor his head to be superior over; she came from his side to be his companion, under his arm to be protected, and next to his heart to be be loved."
~ Ustadha Hedaya Hartford
'Those who mutually love each other for Allah's sake will be on altars of light on the Day of Judgement and they will be envied by the Prophets and the Shuhada (Martyrs). "And remember the blessing of Allah upon you: you were once enemies and Allah joined your hearts and you became
BY VIRTUE OF ALLAH'S NI'MA (GIFTS), BROTHERS"'
~ Habib Umar bin Hafiz ( & quoting from Sura Al'Imran, 103)
So forward this gift on this Eid to another Muslim in order to strengthen the bond of sisterhood & brotherhood.
Courtesy of:
"Thoughts of a Hijaabi"
http://www.byanymeansnecessary.wordpress.com/
"SHAFIALLAH ~ Seeking the Cure of Allah"
http://www.shafiallah.blogspot.com/
"SunniPath Academy Blog"
http://www.blog.sunnipath.com/
Salam Brothers & Sisters,
An Eid gift for all of you-
Amazing Gems of the Mutaqeen:
"If anyone continually asks for (Allah's) forgiveness, Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress, relief from anxiety, and will provide for him from where he never realized."
~ Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (Abu Dawood, No. 599)
"Humility is to leave your home and not to meet any Muslim except that you believe him to be better than you."
~ Imam Hasan Al-Basri
"I love the pious, although I am not among them."
~ Imam Abu Hanifa
"Whoever does not draw near to him by the gentle graces of kindness, is led to Him (Allah) by the chains of tribulation."
~ Ibn Ata'llah
"Beautiful words to the wise...Be careful if you make a women cry because Allah the most high counts her tears. A women came out of the rib of man, not his feet to be walked on, nor his head to be superior over; she came from his side to be his companion, under his arm to be protected, and next to his heart to be be loved."
~ Ustadha Hedaya Hartford
'Those who mutually love each other for Allah's sake will be on altars of light on the Day of Judgement and they will be envied by the Prophets and the Shuhada (Martyrs). "And remember the blessing of Allah upon you: you were once enemies and Allah joined your hearts and you became
BY VIRTUE OF ALLAH'S NI'MA (GIFTS), BROTHERS"'
~ Habib Umar bin Hafiz ( & quoting from Sura Al'Imran, 103)
So forward this gift on this Eid to another Muslim in order to strengthen the bond of sisterhood & brotherhood.
Courtesy of:
"Thoughts of a Hijaabi"
http://www.byanymeansnecessary.wordpress.com/
"SHAFIALLAH ~ Seeking the Cure of Allah"
http://www.shafiallah.blogspot.com/
"SunniPath Academy Blog"
http://www.blog.sunnipath.com/
If you would like to add another gem to the list, please let us know through
comments so that we can Insha'Allah compile another group of gems for next Eid.
Jazak Allah Khair.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Allah (SWT) smiles favorably upon...
Bismillah.
In one of his sermons regarding marriage, Sheikh Zulifqar Ahmed states "It is recorded in a hadith that Allah (SWT) smiles favorably upon a husband and wife when they look and smile at each other."
Read the rest of Sheikh Zulifqar's beautiful Khutba "Islam and Marriage" by clicking this link .
In one of his sermons regarding marriage, Sheikh Zulifqar Ahmed states "It is recorded in a hadith that Allah (SWT) smiles favorably upon a husband and wife when they look and smile at each other."
Read the rest of Sheikh Zulifqar's beautiful Khutba "Islam and Marriage" by clicking this link .
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Housewife II
Bismillah.
Previously, we had made a post entitled "Housewife" ...here's another good read, from one of the Al-Maghrib forums (on the same topic):
'I want to be a full-time mother!'
Juli Herman describes her journey to fulfilling a much frowned-upon childhood ambition
'Doctor, Judge, Housewife”. Three blank lines, three responses. The following year, we received the same form to fill in. Without thinking, I jot down, “Lawyer, Housewife, Doctor.” No matter what I picked, “housewife” always tumbled forth as one of the three choices. I was in elementary school then, and my choice of aspired vocations has evolved over the years. You would think that I would have outgrown those childhood ambitions by now.
Yet here I am, twenty something years later, a housewife, or rather, a stay-at-home mother. You know how they say you become what you envision yourself to be? Well, I suppose that was what happened to me. In my subconscious, I aspired to be a full-time mother, and without knowing it, I actually strove to reach that aspiration. However, I also indirectly achieved my other childhood aspirations, for I am also a doctor, lawyer and judge. What mother isn’t?
Of course, growing up, “housewife” was never deemed to be a valid ambition. Who would want to be one when you could be an engineer or a doctor? In my high school years, I toiled, under my father’s constant urging, to achieve superb grades so I could pursue medicine and become a doctor just like him. I was convinced that was what I wanted to be.
However, when the time came, I had a change of heart, much to my father’s consternation. He then made sure I received sufficient career advice from his friends. After all the consultations, Computer Science was deemed to be a promising field for me to take up. Thinking only of studying overseas, I acquiesced to the suggestion. They were right. In the years to come, computer scientists were in high demand, but there was one problem: I no longer wanted to be one.
I married at the age of nineteen, in my second year of college. Six months later, my husband and I flew to the United States to complete our bachelor’s degrees under a government loan program for Malaysian students. Little did I know then that the course of my entire life was soon to change from what was expected of me by my family and country.
As soon as I set foot in the United States, my life began as that of a pregnant, foreign, undergraduate student. Acrobatic slips on ice patches, trudges through knee-high snow, prenatal visits to the doctor between classes, and struggles to fit my growing belly into campus seats were common challenges I faced. Suffice it to say, I never envisioned pregnancy as being part of the equation in my college years.
That summer, I was introduced to the world of motherhood, at the green age of twenty. Where I thought life was challenging before, it became even more so as the baby I had carried for nine months demanded my attention outside the womb twenty four/seven. My life as a student then began to take a path that very much differed from those of my friends’. While they spent laborious hours in the computer labs working on programming assignments, I spent just as many hours bathing, nursing and putting my daughter to sleep so I could do my assignments. While they struggled with group projects, I struggled trying to keep up with my daughter’s doctor appointments and the overwhelming information on childhood ailments and safety precautions.
Every morning, my husband and I would bundle up our daughter, and bolt out the door into the frigid winter air to drop her off at the babysitter’s. Then, strapping our bags to our backs, we would walk to class in subzero weather, just like any other student. Sitting in class while my milk overflowed was the only reminder that I was not like other undergraduates. As soon as classes were over, I would rush back home, often dropping one or two soaked nursing pads along the way.
As soon as winter left us, I was pregnant with our second child. I was in my fourth year then. Having two babies within a period of two years while still in college really tested my mettle as I ploughed through my senior level classes with a growing belly. While quitting school would have been the easy way out, the thought never crossed my mind. I was too stubborn to hand victory over to those who predicted that early marriage, motherhood, and education do not go well together.
Allah (SWT) had come to our aid more than once in all those years, and I have to say that it is only due to His grace that I finally graduated. On the last day of my finals, I rushed home in joy, and embraced motherhood as a full-time career. It never occurred to me to use my acquired degree to land a job. My childhood aspiration of “housewife” had caught up to me without my realizing it, though little did I know back then that the term “full-time mother” would have been more accurate. To me, the two children I had conceived and cared for during my undergraduate years are my hard-earned degrees. The piece of paper I soon received in the mail, I slipped in with the rest of the certificates I had attained throughout my school years. Motherhood overtook me, and before long, Allah (SWT) endowed me a with graduation gift: another baby.
While my friends pored over job search engines and sent out resumes left and right, I stayed home enjoying my two daughters. While they prepared for nerve-wrecking interviews, I prepared for yet another delivery. As is the human nature, tongues soon began to wag.
'What a waste!'
'You could have made a lot of money!'
'Are you sure you don’t want to work?'
Despite my elation of finally being able to stay home full time, their words struck a chord in me. The society I was raised in didn’t consider “full-time mother” as a vocation for an educated woman. As a developing country, Malaysia expects its educated citizens to land jobs in the workforce, thus propelling the country into the growth it is seeking. By taking motherhood as a full time job, I was disappointing my country. Guilt began to kick in, but I stuck with my decision.
For five years I agonized over that decision, while trying to justify it. Every time people made comments about it, it would send me into long-winded self justifications for my decision to become a full time mother to my three children.
My mother told me that people would say to her:
'What a waste of an education!'
'Education is never a waste,' was her response.
My father told me,
'If you want to work, take up teaching, so it won’t take you away from your children that much.'
I had my parents’ full support, but I was still troubled by what people were saying. Someone even said to my husband,
'Your wife would have made more money than you if she was working.'
Nevertheless, as the years went by, I grew into my role as a mother. I occupied myself with harnessing the education I attained by learning as much as I could about parenting and methods of child rearing. My innate love for reading, I transferred to my children by surrounding them with library books and educational videos. By the age of three, my firstborn was reading. I had taken up my mother’s suggestion of employing the Glenn Doman method for teaching children how to read. It took a lot of effort and time, but time was what I had in abundance with regard to raising the children, and I used it for that purpose.
Where I didn’t have time to sit with my children before, amidst the piling programming assignments, I now had time to explore the world with them. Of course life wasn’t all smiles and laughter, seeing how I was always exhausted on the couch by 4 pm every day, but I took it one day at a time. Before I knew it, my children had acquired a love for reading, and were even reciting their surahs by themselves. Without realizing it, I was home schooling my children, which, alhamdulillah, still continues to this very day.
As the years go by, I become more and more convinced that being a 'stay-at-home mother' needn’t be something to look down on. Women, especially those with education, have the added advantage of giving the words 'full-time mother' a new meaning. I suppose when I wrote down 'housewife' as one of my ambitions all those years ago, I wasn’t that clueless about what I wanted to be when I grow up"
Source URL: http://forums.almaghrib.org/showthread.php?t=24020
Previously, we had made a post entitled "Housewife" ...here's another good read, from one of the Al-Maghrib forums (on the same topic):
'I want to be a full-time mother!'
Juli Herman describes her journey to fulfilling a much frowned-upon childhood ambition
'Doctor, Judge, Housewife”. Three blank lines, three responses. The following year, we received the same form to fill in. Without thinking, I jot down, “Lawyer, Housewife, Doctor.” No matter what I picked, “housewife” always tumbled forth as one of the three choices. I was in elementary school then, and my choice of aspired vocations has evolved over the years. You would think that I would have outgrown those childhood ambitions by now.
Yet here I am, twenty something years later, a housewife, or rather, a stay-at-home mother. You know how they say you become what you envision yourself to be? Well, I suppose that was what happened to me. In my subconscious, I aspired to be a full-time mother, and without knowing it, I actually strove to reach that aspiration. However, I also indirectly achieved my other childhood aspirations, for I am also a doctor, lawyer and judge. What mother isn’t?
Of course, growing up, “housewife” was never deemed to be a valid ambition. Who would want to be one when you could be an engineer or a doctor? In my high school years, I toiled, under my father’s constant urging, to achieve superb grades so I could pursue medicine and become a doctor just like him. I was convinced that was what I wanted to be.
However, when the time came, I had a change of heart, much to my father’s consternation. He then made sure I received sufficient career advice from his friends. After all the consultations, Computer Science was deemed to be a promising field for me to take up. Thinking only of studying overseas, I acquiesced to the suggestion. They were right. In the years to come, computer scientists were in high demand, but there was one problem: I no longer wanted to be one.
I married at the age of nineteen, in my second year of college. Six months later, my husband and I flew to the United States to complete our bachelor’s degrees under a government loan program for Malaysian students. Little did I know then that the course of my entire life was soon to change from what was expected of me by my family and country.
As soon as I set foot in the United States, my life began as that of a pregnant, foreign, undergraduate student. Acrobatic slips on ice patches, trudges through knee-high snow, prenatal visits to the doctor between classes, and struggles to fit my growing belly into campus seats were common challenges I faced. Suffice it to say, I never envisioned pregnancy as being part of the equation in my college years.
That summer, I was introduced to the world of motherhood, at the green age of twenty. Where I thought life was challenging before, it became even more so as the baby I had carried for nine months demanded my attention outside the womb twenty four/seven. My life as a student then began to take a path that very much differed from those of my friends’. While they spent laborious hours in the computer labs working on programming assignments, I spent just as many hours bathing, nursing and putting my daughter to sleep so I could do my assignments. While they struggled with group projects, I struggled trying to keep up with my daughter’s doctor appointments and the overwhelming information on childhood ailments and safety precautions.
Every morning, my husband and I would bundle up our daughter, and bolt out the door into the frigid winter air to drop her off at the babysitter’s. Then, strapping our bags to our backs, we would walk to class in subzero weather, just like any other student. Sitting in class while my milk overflowed was the only reminder that I was not like other undergraduates. As soon as classes were over, I would rush back home, often dropping one or two soaked nursing pads along the way.
As soon as winter left us, I was pregnant with our second child. I was in my fourth year then. Having two babies within a period of two years while still in college really tested my mettle as I ploughed through my senior level classes with a growing belly. While quitting school would have been the easy way out, the thought never crossed my mind. I was too stubborn to hand victory over to those who predicted that early marriage, motherhood, and education do not go well together.
Allah (SWT) had come to our aid more than once in all those years, and I have to say that it is only due to His grace that I finally graduated. On the last day of my finals, I rushed home in joy, and embraced motherhood as a full-time career. It never occurred to me to use my acquired degree to land a job. My childhood aspiration of “housewife” had caught up to me without my realizing it, though little did I know back then that the term “full-time mother” would have been more accurate. To me, the two children I had conceived and cared for during my undergraduate years are my hard-earned degrees. The piece of paper I soon received in the mail, I slipped in with the rest of the certificates I had attained throughout my school years. Motherhood overtook me, and before long, Allah (SWT) endowed me a with graduation gift: another baby.
While my friends pored over job search engines and sent out resumes left and right, I stayed home enjoying my two daughters. While they prepared for nerve-wrecking interviews, I prepared for yet another delivery. As is the human nature, tongues soon began to wag.
'What a waste!'
'You could have made a lot of money!'
'Are you sure you don’t want to work?'
Despite my elation of finally being able to stay home full time, their words struck a chord in me. The society I was raised in didn’t consider “full-time mother” as a vocation for an educated woman. As a developing country, Malaysia expects its educated citizens to land jobs in the workforce, thus propelling the country into the growth it is seeking. By taking motherhood as a full time job, I was disappointing my country. Guilt began to kick in, but I stuck with my decision.
For five years I agonized over that decision, while trying to justify it. Every time people made comments about it, it would send me into long-winded self justifications for my decision to become a full time mother to my three children.
My mother told me that people would say to her:
'What a waste of an education!'
'Education is never a waste,' was her response.
My father told me,
'If you want to work, take up teaching, so it won’t take you away from your children that much.'
I had my parents’ full support, but I was still troubled by what people were saying. Someone even said to my husband,
'Your wife would have made more money than you if she was working.'
Nevertheless, as the years went by, I grew into my role as a mother. I occupied myself with harnessing the education I attained by learning as much as I could about parenting and methods of child rearing. My innate love for reading, I transferred to my children by surrounding them with library books and educational videos. By the age of three, my firstborn was reading. I had taken up my mother’s suggestion of employing the Glenn Doman method for teaching children how to read. It took a lot of effort and time, but time was what I had in abundance with regard to raising the children, and I used it for that purpose.
Where I didn’t have time to sit with my children before, amidst the piling programming assignments, I now had time to explore the world with them. Of course life wasn’t all smiles and laughter, seeing how I was always exhausted on the couch by 4 pm every day, but I took it one day at a time. Before I knew it, my children had acquired a love for reading, and were even reciting their surahs by themselves. Without realizing it, I was home schooling my children, which, alhamdulillah, still continues to this very day.
As the years go by, I become more and more convinced that being a 'stay-at-home mother' needn’t be something to look down on. Women, especially those with education, have the added advantage of giving the words 'full-time mother' a new meaning. I suppose when I wrote down 'housewife' as one of my ambitions all those years ago, I wasn’t that clueless about what I wanted to be when I grow up"
Source URL: http://forums.almaghrib.org/showthread.php?t=24020
Monday, September 22, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
"Crises of Marriage in America" ~ Br. Yaser Birjas
Bismillah.
An excerpt from Al-Maghrib Institute's "Fiqh of Love," which describes the current marriage crises in the US:
An excerpt from Al-Maghrib Institute's "Fiqh of Love," which describes the current marriage crises in the US:
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Zaytuna Institute Distance Learning Courses for Fall 2008.
Bismillah.
Islam, Marriage, and the Family
with Imam Zaid Shakir
A course for those wishing to deepen their understanding and implementation of a fulfilling Islamic family life. Topics covered include aspects of Islamic family law, relevant aspects of the Prophetic biography, and practical advice for newlyweds.
- Registration fee: Video course $50
The Essentials of Faith
with Ustadh Abdullah Ali
This course aims at raising a believer's awareness about God's uniqueness, greatness, and absolute perfection. It also aims at giving a historical context to some of the polemical controversies that developed after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) and led to the strife brought on by religious sectarianism. Topics covered include the basic tenets of the Islamic faith, scriptural and rational proofs and arguments for the existence of God, the first fundamental obligation of every human being, godly attributes, prophetic attributes, and other issues. Based on the introductory chapters of the classical text, al-Murshid al-Mu'in (The Helping Guide) by the great scholar, Imam 'Abd al-Wahid Ibn Ashir.
- Registration fee: Video course $45, Audio course $30
Back to Basics
with Imam Zaid Shakir
A course explaining the basics of Islamic belief and worship with a concentration on the elements and issues that are essential for the practical and sound practice of Islam in our time. Appropriate and beneficial for not only the new Muslim, but for any Muslim living in the West, this course covers the Five Pillars, the Articles of Faith, aqidah, and basic fiqh, and also addresses critical issues, such as appropriate gender relations and how to defend oneself against the attacks currently being levied against Muslims. As a supplement to these essentials, each session also includes commentary on a Prophetic Hadith from Ibn Hajar's collection outlining the rights of one's fellow Muslim.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40
Living the Qur'an
with Imam Zaid Shakir
An examination of selected passages from the Qur'an emphasizing the practical lessons we can draw from those passages for our daily lives. Considering specific themes such as patience, sacrifice, principled morality, the philosophy of life, the philosophy of history, and the reality of death, this course seeks to connect the believer with the Qur'an in a deep and meaningful way.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40
Getting Right with Allah
with Imam Zaid Shakir
An examination of the deeper meanings of the idea of God-consciousness (taqwa) and its profound implications for a believer's life. Based on the text by the great fourteenth-century scholar al-'Izz bin 'Abdus-Salaam, Maqasid ar-Ri'aya li Huquq Allah (The Objectives of Guarding the Rights Owed to Allah), this class relates the lessons of the text to our contemporary situation and aims to assist one in getting one's heart, body, and soul rectified and connected with one's Creator.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40
Disciplining the Soul
with Ustadh Yahya Rhodus
A course based on two sections in the third quarter of Imam al-Ghazali's Ihya' Ulum al-Din (Revival of the Religious Sciences). This course delves into the foundational principles of disciplining one's soul, offering a theoretical framework of how this is achieved. A topic of utmost importance in every age, these principles are key in enabling human beings to maximize their Adamic potential.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40
The Prophetic Characteristics Pt. 1, 2, 3, & 4
with Ustadh Yahya Rhodus
A four-part study of the inward and outward characteristics of the Prophet, upon him be peace, from his lineage to his names to his physical stature to his noble attributes, taking from the text of the late scholar Shaykh Yusuf al-Nabahani, Wasa'il al-Wusul ila Shama'il al-Rasul (The Means of Arrival to the Characteristics of the Messenger). Studying the characteristics of the Messenger of Allah, upon him be peace, fills one's heart with love for him and inspires one to follow his great example.
- Registration fee: Audio course $40 each. Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4
The Attainment of Excellence in Prayer
with Shaykh Salek bin Siddina
A comprehensive explanation of the means and benefits of developing greater presence and humility in the Muslim ritual prayer, based on the text Ishraq ul-Qarar (Radiance of the Hereafter). Delivered in a beautiful poetic format, this inspiring text by the great West African scholar, Muhammad Maulud, addresses all the elements of this "backbone of the five pillars" to assist the student in taking the prayer to a deeper level than simply its outward physical actions and to make each prayer a spiritual journey in itself. (Course is taught in Arabic with live English translation by Ustadh Usama Canon.)
- Registration fee: Audio course $30
Online registration available at http://www.zaytuna.org/
For more information: 510-548-1979 or distancelearning@zaytuna.org
Islam, Marriage, and the Family
with Imam Zaid Shakir
A course for those wishing to deepen their understanding and implementation of a fulfilling Islamic family life. Topics covered include aspects of Islamic family law, relevant aspects of the Prophetic biography, and practical advice for newlyweds.
- Registration fee: Video course $50
The Essentials of Faith
with Ustadh Abdullah Ali
This course aims at raising a believer's awareness about God's uniqueness, greatness, and absolute perfection. It also aims at giving a historical context to some of the polemical controversies that developed after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) and led to the strife brought on by religious sectarianism. Topics covered include the basic tenets of the Islamic faith, scriptural and rational proofs and arguments for the existence of God, the first fundamental obligation of every human being, godly attributes, prophetic attributes, and other issues. Based on the introductory chapters of the classical text, al-Murshid al-Mu'in (The Helping Guide) by the great scholar, Imam 'Abd al-Wahid Ibn Ashir.
- Registration fee: Video course $45, Audio course $30
Back to Basics
with Imam Zaid Shakir
A course explaining the basics of Islamic belief and worship with a concentration on the elements and issues that are essential for the practical and sound practice of Islam in our time. Appropriate and beneficial for not only the new Muslim, but for any Muslim living in the West, this course covers the Five Pillars, the Articles of Faith, aqidah, and basic fiqh, and also addresses critical issues, such as appropriate gender relations and how to defend oneself against the attacks currently being levied against Muslims. As a supplement to these essentials, each session also includes commentary on a Prophetic Hadith from Ibn Hajar's collection outlining the rights of one's fellow Muslim.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40
Living the Qur'an
with Imam Zaid Shakir
An examination of selected passages from the Qur'an emphasizing the practical lessons we can draw from those passages for our daily lives. Considering specific themes such as patience, sacrifice, principled morality, the philosophy of life, the philosophy of history, and the reality of death, this course seeks to connect the believer with the Qur'an in a deep and meaningful way.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40
Getting Right with Allah
with Imam Zaid Shakir
An examination of the deeper meanings of the idea of God-consciousness (taqwa) and its profound implications for a believer's life. Based on the text by the great fourteenth-century scholar al-'Izz bin 'Abdus-Salaam, Maqasid ar-Ri'aya li Huquq Allah (The Objectives of Guarding the Rights Owed to Allah), this class relates the lessons of the text to our contemporary situation and aims to assist one in getting one's heart, body, and soul rectified and connected with one's Creator.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40
Disciplining the Soul
with Ustadh Yahya Rhodus
A course based on two sections in the third quarter of Imam al-Ghazali's Ihya' Ulum al-Din (Revival of the Religious Sciences). This course delves into the foundational principles of disciplining one's soul, offering a theoretical framework of how this is achieved. A topic of utmost importance in every age, these principles are key in enabling human beings to maximize their Adamic potential.
- Registration fee: Video course $60, Audio course $40
The Prophetic Characteristics Pt. 1, 2, 3, & 4
with Ustadh Yahya Rhodus
A four-part study of the inward and outward characteristics of the Prophet, upon him be peace, from his lineage to his names to his physical stature to his noble attributes, taking from the text of the late scholar Shaykh Yusuf al-Nabahani, Wasa'il al-Wusul ila Shama'il al-Rasul (The Means of Arrival to the Characteristics of the Messenger). Studying the characteristics of the Messenger of Allah, upon him be peace, fills one's heart with love for him and inspires one to follow his great example.
- Registration fee: Audio course $40 each. Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4
The Attainment of Excellence in Prayer
with Shaykh Salek bin Siddina
A comprehensive explanation of the means and benefits of developing greater presence and humility in the Muslim ritual prayer, based on the text Ishraq ul-Qarar (Radiance of the Hereafter). Delivered in a beautiful poetic format, this inspiring text by the great West African scholar, Muhammad Maulud, addresses all the elements of this "backbone of the five pillars" to assist the student in taking the prayer to a deeper level than simply its outward physical actions and to make each prayer a spiritual journey in itself. (Course is taught in Arabic with live English translation by Ustadh Usama Canon.)
- Registration fee: Audio course $30
Online registration available at http://www.zaytuna.org/
For more information: 510-548-1979 or distancelearning@zaytuna.org
Friday, September 12, 2008
"SISTERHOOD AND BROTHERHOOD FOR ALLAH'S SAKE"
Bismillah.
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabrakatu.
The following is the English translation of an excerpt from lesson nine’s audio recording of “Attaining Good Character,” a SunniPath course offered by Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz and Sheikh Abdul Karim:
“Brotherhood for Allah’s sake and endeavoring to preserve it will lead to a vast arena of mercy from Allah. Brotherhood in Allah hastens wonderous types of blessings in this world prior to the hereafter. Those who mutually love each other for Allah’s sake will be on altars of light on the Day of Judgement and they will be envied by the Prophets and the Shuhada (Martyrs). And remember the blessing of Allah upon you: you were once enemies and Allah joined your hearts and you became BY VIRTUE OF ALLAH’S NI’MA (GIFTS), BROTHERS.”
Source: http://blog.sunnipath.com/2007/07/14/sisterhood-brotherhood-for-allahs-sake/
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabrakatu.
The following is the English translation of an excerpt from lesson nine’s audio recording of “Attaining Good Character,” a SunniPath course offered by Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz and Sheikh Abdul Karim:
“Brotherhood for Allah’s sake and endeavoring to preserve it will lead to a vast arena of mercy from Allah. Brotherhood in Allah hastens wonderous types of blessings in this world prior to the hereafter. Those who mutually love each other for Allah’s sake will be on altars of light on the Day of Judgement and they will be envied by the Prophets and the Shuhada (Martyrs). And remember the blessing of Allah upon you: you were once enemies and Allah joined your hearts and you became BY VIRTUE OF ALLAH’S NI’MA (GIFTS), BROTHERS.”
Source: http://blog.sunnipath.com/2007/07/14/sisterhood-brotherhood-for-allahs-sake/
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Ramadan Mubarak!!
Bismillah.
WELCOME RAMADAN 1429!!
May Allah help us increase our nearness to Him, purify and cleanse our hearts, and forgive our sins during this blessed month. Ameen.
WELCOME RAMADAN 1429!!
May Allah help us increase our nearness to Him, purify and cleanse our hearts, and forgive our sins during this blessed month. Ameen.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Story of Sufyan al-Thawri and his father
Bismillah.Abu al-Layth al-Samarqandl (d. 373) narrates in his Tanbih al-Ghafilln by way of Sa'id ibn 'Umayr al-Ansari who fought in the battle of Badr that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him), said: "Whoever invokes blessings upon me from my Community sincerely from his heart once Allah (The Exalted) sends ten blessings upon him and raises him ten degrees "
Abu al-Layth continues:
I heard my father narrate that it happened that, while Sufyan al-Thawri was circumambulating the Ka'ba, he saw a man who did not raise a foot nor lower a foot without making salat for the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him).
Sufyan said he told him: "O man! You have left saying subhan Allah, and la ilaha illallah and have proceeded with the salat on the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)! Do you have any explanation regarding this?"
The young man asked: "Who are you, may Allah pardon you?" "I am Sufyan al-Thawri*."
The young man said: "Had it not been that you are one of the Strangers among the people of your own time (i.e. one of Ahl al-Sunna), I would not have told you of my condition, nor revealed to you my secret.
"I went out with my father on pilgrimage to the Holy House of Allah, until I reached one of the resting-stations. My father became sick and I nursed him. One night, when I was at his bedside, he died and his face turned dark. So I said, 'We belong to Allah and to Him we return! ' Then I pulled the covers over his face, after which sleep overcame me and I slept.
"I saw a man next to me with a face such as I had never seen a more handsome one, nor clothes cleaner than his, nor a scent finer than his. He kept approaching until he came close to my father and removed the covers from his face, whereupon the face of my father became full of light.
"Then the man started to go back, so I held onto his clothes and said: 'O servant of Allah! Who are you, with whom Allah has graced us in this foreign land?' He said:
'Do you not you know me? I am Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah, who brought the Qur'an! Your father transgressed against himself, but he used to invoke salat on me frequently, and when he was affected with whatever affected him he called on me for help (isthaghatha bi), and I am prompt helper of one who makes much salat on me (wa-ana ghayyathun li-man akhthara al-salata 'alayy)'.
"Then I woke up and saw that the face of my father was bright."
Qabisa said that no one sat with Sufyan except they remembered death. Yusuf ibn Asbat narrates that he once handed Sufyan the ablution-pot in the evening and left him holding it pensively. At dawn, had not moved and said: "I am still thinking about the next life."
He would reach states of anxiety about the Day of Judgment in which urinated blood. He said: "I may see something against which I ought to speak out but I do not, then I urinate blood."
He also said: "I felt the fear of God to a point I wondered how I could still be alive, then I would say to myself: I have a fixed term of life, but I wish it were made lighter for me. My fear is such that I fear losing my mind." "I ask Allah to take away some of my fear of Him."
Ibn Mahdl said: "Night after night I would catch sight of Sufyan sitting up and calling out: "The Fire! The Fire! I cannot sleep nor feel pleasure anymore because i think of the Fire.'" Abu Nu'aym said that Sufyan would be useless for days whenever this state overtook him.
* Sufyan ibn sa'id ibn Masruq Abu 'Abd Allah al Thawri al-Mudari al-Kufi, may Allah have mercy on him (97-161), the Godfearing, wise, grief-stricken, Mujtahid Imam, was "Commander of the Believers in Hadith" - the highest level in hadith Mastership -, "Shaykh al-Islam, the Imam of hadith Masters, the leader of the practicing Ulema in his time, the author of the Jami'" (al-Dhahabi).
- Al-samarqandi, Tanbih al-Ghafilin, ed. Shaykh Ahmad Salam (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyya, c.1986) p.319-320.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Reminders on Salat
Bismillah.
Some cool videos from Islamic Tube (http://www.islamictube.net/), reminding us of the importance of prayer
description of the 1st video:
"A sheikh interviews a disabled Muslim who regrets what he did in the past and wishes he could do what he was able to do back then.....a heart squeezing interview....makes you be thankfull for what you have been given by Allah."
The second is entitled "Pray Before You Die"
Some cool videos from Islamic Tube (http://www.islamictube.net/), reminding us of the importance of prayer
description of the 1st video:
"A sheikh interviews a disabled Muslim who regrets what he did in the past and wishes he could do what he was able to do back then.....a heart squeezing interview....makes you be thankfull for what you have been given by Allah."
The second is entitled "Pray Before You Die"
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
"Live life as long..."
Bismillah.
"Live as long as you may, for verily you must die. Love whoever you wish, for one day you shall taste its separation. And do what you will, you will be rewarded accordingly."
~ Imam Ghazali
"Live as long as you may, for verily you must die. Love whoever you wish, for one day you shall taste its separation. And do what you will, you will be rewarded accordingly."
~ Imam Ghazali
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Maa Ki Shaan
Bismillah.
...dedicated to the deceased mother:
"We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth" (46:15).
"We have enjoined on man and woman (to be good) to his/her parents; show gratitude to Me and to thy parents; to Me is (thy final) Goal. If they (parents) strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration) and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love)" (31:14-15).
A man came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your father. (Bukhari, Muslim).
...dedicated to the deceased mother:
"We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth" (46:15).
"We have enjoined on man and woman (to be good) to his/her parents; show gratitude to Me and to thy parents; to Me is (thy final) Goal. If they (parents) strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration) and follow the way of those who turn to Me (in love)" (31:14-15).
A man came to the Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your father. (Bukhari, Muslim).
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Jinn Possession Incident
Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem.
Umm Reem's interesting conversation with a jinn who possessed a girl in Pakistan...a good lesson on why we should learn & recite the daily Adhkar:
"We read and we believe in every word of Noble Qu’ran and the ahadeeth of the Prophet, sallallahu alihi wasalam. We believe, without ever doubting, in all that Qur’an and ahadeeth talks about although we may never witness it. However, sometimes by Allah’s Mercy, we get to experience something further which affirms our faith and satisfies our hearts, and we thank Allah azzawjal for allowing us such an opportunity. It is for this reason that I want to share an incident, hoping that may this be a beneficial and Iman-boosting read for everyone.
During my visit to Pakistan last month, I had the opportunity to read over a ‘possessed’ girl. I will not discuss the details, but my conversation with the jinn, a creation of Allah that we have heard of but never seen, is definitely worth sharing. The conversation was a mixture of Urdu and Punjabi and I tried to be as precise as I can with the translation. This is not the complete conversation but bits and pieces.
I started of with the adhaan and some recitation from Qur’an until it, or she to be precise, agreed to talk to me. She was a female Jinnee named Seeta who had possessed a Muslim girl for almost 6-7 years. It wasn’t a voluntary possession rather a case of black magic. As advised, I tried to invite her to Islam first. Apparently it was the first time anyone had ever invited her to Islam so she was a little shocked:
Seeta: How can I become a Muslim?
Me: Why not, anyone can become a Muslim.
Seeta: But I am evil and I have done many evil actions.
Me: It’s okay you will be forgiven if you truly repent. My Rabb is the Most forgiving!
Seeta: But I’ve been a Hindu for centuries, I cannot change now.
Me: Sure you can if you truly believe that Islam is the true religion. Why don’t you go around and see. You can travel very fast. Go around and you will find Muslim Jinns of your kind. Talk to them and ask them, they will teach you about this religion.
Seeta: Yes, I know. Their caravans pass by us and we make fun of them.
SubhanAllah, I was truly amazed when she said this. It reminded me of the first ayah of Surah Jinn: “Say (O Muhammad): “It has been revealed to me that a group of jinns listened (to this Qur’an). They said: ‘Verily! We have heard a wonderful Recital (this Qur’an)!” And I pictured a “group” of Jinn and how they still travel in caravans!
Me: Haven’t you seen the angels when you go up on the heavens and tried to listen to their conversations?
Seeta: Yes. They throw stones at us. I’ve been hit by them many times. My right arm was broken because of that!!
My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t help but pause and just stare at the sky for few seconds. Up above those heavens, stern guards of Allah, the angels, are protecting the skies with meteor (‘stones’ as Seeta said), exactly how it is described in the Qur’an:
“And we have sought to reach the heaven; but found it filled with stern guards and flaming fires. And verily, we used to sit there in stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.” (Jinn: 8-9)
“Verily! We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty).And to guard against every rebellious devil. They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side. Outcast, and theirs is a constant (or painful) torment. Except such as snatch away something by stealing and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness.” (Saffat: 6-10)
I swear by Allah, I don’t see a reason why anyone’s eyes will not over flow with tears at this—tears of joy, a feeling of contentment, and a blissful satisfaction. SubhanAllah, a matter of ‘unseen’ was being described by someone who had seen it yet not believed in it, and was describing without realizing the effects it was having on the listener, not only just me but the others around and the ones who will hear it for as long as I shall live.
During our conversation, I learned that she was a Sikh but got married to a Hindu jinn (who died) and she adopted her husband’s religion and she insisted that husband’s religion is wife’s religion (wow talk about obedience to husbands!). But, she tried to cause confusion by insisting that she was an evil dead-soul (‘bad ruh’ the concept of which still confuses many Pakistanis). Previously she had everyone believed that she was an evil dead-soul, but when I rebuked her a few times for lying and told her that she wasn’t dead yet, then finally she confessed.
In any case, she asked me to give her time to think. But when I reminded her of death and the Day of Judgment, she asked the same ‘legendary’ question that why will she get hurt in Hellfire when she is made of fire! At times she also said that she doesn’t want to change her religion. And finally she said what manifested her ‘nature’ and confirmed her reality:
“I know Allah is the Creator but I cannot bow down to him!”
La howla wala quwatta illa billah. Same arrogance, same pride. Didn’t Iblees refuse to make sajdah even though he was certain of Allah being the Creator:
“…Aba wastakbarah…”[And they prostrated except Iblîs (Satan), he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers. 2:34]
I told her that she was doing exactly what her ‘master’ Iblees had done, and she replied:
“We are all of the same nature!” iyyadhobillah.
I sat there staring at her thinking to myself that this creation is low in intellect and high in arrogance and so even after seeing the clear Miracles of Allah azzawjal refuses to believe. On the other hand, humans cannot see what these jinns can see, but are blessed with a higher intellect. And perhaps that’s why humanity has more ‘logical’ and ‘reasonable’ proofs with the addition of the living miracle of Qur’an to see the truthfulness of Islam, yet if humans refuse then what good is that intellect which still leads to arrogance and ignorance!
We seek Allah’s refuge from the evil characteristics of arrogance, a trait of shaytaan.
Of the things that she said about Ibless was that he has a throne above the water!
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alihi wasalm, said:
“Iblees placed his throne on water then he sends out his emissaries…” (Muslim, 5023)
She also said that he has told them that he will wear a crown on the Day of Judgment.
He has also promised them of unlimited ‘rewards’. She said,
“Your Rabb has promised you rewards and our Iblees has promised us rewards.”
Surely his promises are nothing but lies, as mentioned in Qur’an:
“And Shaitân (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: “Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).” (14:22)
And surely he will turn his backs on all those who obeyed him:
“Their allies deceived them) like Shaitân (Satan), when he says to man: “Disbelieve in Allah.” But when (man) disbelieves in Allah, Shaitân (Satan) says: “I am free of you, I fear Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!” (59:16)
She had a particular obsession with Iblees’s beauty and kept repeating how handsome he is, a’oodhobillahi minhu. She also uttered a lot of evil which can only be uttered by someone wicked, and I will not mention it here.
Let me mention that the spell was cast upon the girl out of sheer jealousy and sadly by a very close relative. That day, as I read Surah Falaq upon her and got to the last verse, wAllahi I felt like I was reading it for the first time. It was as if I could ‘understand’ the meanings of it: “And from the evil of the envier when he envies.”
I was able to see what jealousy can cause; I could see the dangers of the one who becomes jealous, iyyadhobillah. That day, I truly appreciated the du’as of protecting oneself from evil eye and jealousy, and the adhkar of day and night.
Let me also state a few things that I had previously learned about jinns, mainly from Bilal Philip’s book and from Sh. Yasir’s Aqeedah class, and were confirmed by talking to Seeta:
She mentioned that if she leaves that girl, then she would want to possess someone else, I asked her the reason and she said:
“Because it is fun and I enjoy bothering people!” a’oodhobiAllah!
She liked attention and perhaps that’s why she was so talkative. However, she was a liar who tried to cause as many confusion as she possibly could.
She had a strong hold on the girl while in the bathroom. To be honest, some of the incidents were quite scary and I won’t even mention them. My sincere advice is to never forget the du’a before entering the bathroom!
To conclude, I have some advice for myself and for everyone else. To have a strong faith in Allah azzawjal and placing one’s tawakkul in Allah alone is a strong weapon against shayateen. If I ever get the permission from this sister, I would like to write about how she was before when the Jinn possessed her and how improving her faith kept weakening the jinn in her.
The beautiful adhkaar and the du’as are indeed a fortress of a believer. To be quite honest, that is the only defense we have against them but it is the fortification if we read with certainty and belief.
Be punctual with the prayers and read Qur’an. Make sure you recite Qur’an, and if you cannot (for some reasonable reason) then have it recited in your house everyday. Read your dua’s before leaving and upon entering the house (so shayateen don’t enter with you), before eating, before entering the bathroom and especially before falling asleep. May Allah azzawjal protect us from the fitan and sharr of all the shayateen among men and jinn, protect our spouses, children, families and all the Muslims around the world."
Source URL: http://muslimmatters.org/2008/02/11/a-conversation-with-a-jinn-the-exorcism-experience/
Umm Reem's interesting conversation with a jinn who possessed a girl in Pakistan...a good lesson on why we should learn & recite the daily Adhkar:
"We read and we believe in every word of Noble Qu’ran and the ahadeeth of the Prophet, sallallahu alihi wasalam. We believe, without ever doubting, in all that Qur’an and ahadeeth talks about although we may never witness it. However, sometimes by Allah’s Mercy, we get to experience something further which affirms our faith and satisfies our hearts, and we thank Allah azzawjal for allowing us such an opportunity. It is for this reason that I want to share an incident, hoping that may this be a beneficial and Iman-boosting read for everyone.
During my visit to Pakistan last month, I had the opportunity to read over a ‘possessed’ girl. I will not discuss the details, but my conversation with the jinn, a creation of Allah that we have heard of but never seen, is definitely worth sharing. The conversation was a mixture of Urdu and Punjabi and I tried to be as precise as I can with the translation. This is not the complete conversation but bits and pieces.
I started of with the adhaan and some recitation from Qur’an until it, or she to be precise, agreed to talk to me. She was a female Jinnee named Seeta who had possessed a Muslim girl for almost 6-7 years. It wasn’t a voluntary possession rather a case of black magic. As advised, I tried to invite her to Islam first. Apparently it was the first time anyone had ever invited her to Islam so she was a little shocked:
Seeta: How can I become a Muslim?
Me: Why not, anyone can become a Muslim.
Seeta: But I am evil and I have done many evil actions.
Me: It’s okay you will be forgiven if you truly repent. My Rabb is the Most forgiving!
Seeta: But I’ve been a Hindu for centuries, I cannot change now.
Me: Sure you can if you truly believe that Islam is the true religion. Why don’t you go around and see. You can travel very fast. Go around and you will find Muslim Jinns of your kind. Talk to them and ask them, they will teach you about this religion.
Seeta: Yes, I know. Their caravans pass by us and we make fun of them.
SubhanAllah, I was truly amazed when she said this. It reminded me of the first ayah of Surah Jinn: “Say (O Muhammad): “It has been revealed to me that a group of jinns listened (to this Qur’an). They said: ‘Verily! We have heard a wonderful Recital (this Qur’an)!” And I pictured a “group” of Jinn and how they still travel in caravans!
Me: Haven’t you seen the angels when you go up on the heavens and tried to listen to their conversations?
Seeta: Yes. They throw stones at us. I’ve been hit by them many times. My right arm was broken because of that!!
My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t help but pause and just stare at the sky for few seconds. Up above those heavens, stern guards of Allah, the angels, are protecting the skies with meteor (‘stones’ as Seeta said), exactly how it is described in the Qur’an:
“And we have sought to reach the heaven; but found it filled with stern guards and flaming fires. And verily, we used to sit there in stations, to (steal) a hearing, but any who listens now will find a flaming fire watching him in ambush.” (Jinn: 8-9)
“Verily! We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty).And to guard against every rebellious devil. They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side. Outcast, and theirs is a constant (or painful) torment. Except such as snatch away something by stealing and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness.” (Saffat: 6-10)
I swear by Allah, I don’t see a reason why anyone’s eyes will not over flow with tears at this—tears of joy, a feeling of contentment, and a blissful satisfaction. SubhanAllah, a matter of ‘unseen’ was being described by someone who had seen it yet not believed in it, and was describing without realizing the effects it was having on the listener, not only just me but the others around and the ones who will hear it for as long as I shall live.
During our conversation, I learned that she was a Sikh but got married to a Hindu jinn (who died) and she adopted her husband’s religion and she insisted that husband’s religion is wife’s religion (wow talk about obedience to husbands!). But, she tried to cause confusion by insisting that she was an evil dead-soul (‘bad ruh’ the concept of which still confuses many Pakistanis). Previously she had everyone believed that she was an evil dead-soul, but when I rebuked her a few times for lying and told her that she wasn’t dead yet, then finally she confessed.
In any case, she asked me to give her time to think. But when I reminded her of death and the Day of Judgment, she asked the same ‘legendary’ question that why will she get hurt in Hellfire when she is made of fire! At times she also said that she doesn’t want to change her religion. And finally she said what manifested her ‘nature’ and confirmed her reality:
“I know Allah is the Creator but I cannot bow down to him!”
La howla wala quwatta illa billah. Same arrogance, same pride. Didn’t Iblees refuse to make sajdah even though he was certain of Allah being the Creator:
“…Aba wastakbarah…”[And they prostrated except Iblîs (Satan), he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers. 2:34]
I told her that she was doing exactly what her ‘master’ Iblees had done, and she replied:
“We are all of the same nature!” iyyadhobillah.
I sat there staring at her thinking to myself that this creation is low in intellect and high in arrogance and so even after seeing the clear Miracles of Allah azzawjal refuses to believe. On the other hand, humans cannot see what these jinns can see, but are blessed with a higher intellect. And perhaps that’s why humanity has more ‘logical’ and ‘reasonable’ proofs with the addition of the living miracle of Qur’an to see the truthfulness of Islam, yet if humans refuse then what good is that intellect which still leads to arrogance and ignorance!
We seek Allah’s refuge from the evil characteristics of arrogance, a trait of shaytaan.
Of the things that she said about Ibless was that he has a throne above the water!
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alihi wasalm, said:
“Iblees placed his throne on water then he sends out his emissaries…” (Muslim, 5023)
She also said that he has told them that he will wear a crown on the Day of Judgment.
He has also promised them of unlimited ‘rewards’. She said,
“Your Rabb has promised you rewards and our Iblees has promised us rewards.”
Surely his promises are nothing but lies, as mentioned in Qur’an:
“And Shaitân (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: “Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.).” (14:22)
And surely he will turn his backs on all those who obeyed him:
“Their allies deceived them) like Shaitân (Satan), when he says to man: “Disbelieve in Allah.” But when (man) disbelieves in Allah, Shaitân (Satan) says: “I am free of you, I fear Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!” (59:16)
She had a particular obsession with Iblees’s beauty and kept repeating how handsome he is, a’oodhobillahi minhu. She also uttered a lot of evil which can only be uttered by someone wicked, and I will not mention it here.
Let me mention that the spell was cast upon the girl out of sheer jealousy and sadly by a very close relative. That day, as I read Surah Falaq upon her and got to the last verse, wAllahi I felt like I was reading it for the first time. It was as if I could ‘understand’ the meanings of it: “And from the evil of the envier when he envies.”
I was able to see what jealousy can cause; I could see the dangers of the one who becomes jealous, iyyadhobillah. That day, I truly appreciated the du’as of protecting oneself from evil eye and jealousy, and the adhkar of day and night.
Let me also state a few things that I had previously learned about jinns, mainly from Bilal Philip’s book and from Sh. Yasir’s Aqeedah class, and were confirmed by talking to Seeta:
She mentioned that if she leaves that girl, then she would want to possess someone else, I asked her the reason and she said:
“Because it is fun and I enjoy bothering people!” a’oodhobiAllah!
She liked attention and perhaps that’s why she was so talkative. However, she was a liar who tried to cause as many confusion as she possibly could.
She had a strong hold on the girl while in the bathroom. To be honest, some of the incidents were quite scary and I won’t even mention them. My sincere advice is to never forget the du’a before entering the bathroom!
To conclude, I have some advice for myself and for everyone else. To have a strong faith in Allah azzawjal and placing one’s tawakkul in Allah alone is a strong weapon against shayateen. If I ever get the permission from this sister, I would like to write about how she was before when the Jinn possessed her and how improving her faith kept weakening the jinn in her.
The beautiful adhkaar and the du’as are indeed a fortress of a believer. To be quite honest, that is the only defense we have against them but it is the fortification if we read with certainty and belief.
Be punctual with the prayers and read Qur’an. Make sure you recite Qur’an, and if you cannot (for some reasonable reason) then have it recited in your house everyday. Read your dua’s before leaving and upon entering the house (so shayateen don’t enter with you), before eating, before entering the bathroom and especially before falling asleep. May Allah azzawjal protect us from the fitan and sharr of all the shayateen among men and jinn, protect our spouses, children, families and all the Muslims around the world."
Source URL: http://muslimmatters.org/2008/02/11/a-conversation-with-a-jinn-the-exorcism-experience/
Saturday, August 2, 2008
The Hindu Poet who Loved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him
Bismillah
Amazing story...(Please zoom in to see it more clearly)
Amazing story...(Please zoom in to see it more clearly)
Read this document on Scribd: The Hindu Poet Who Loved Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him
Friday, August 1, 2008
Status of Wali in Grave & Hereafter ~ Sheikh Dr. Tahir Ul Qadri
Bismillah.
Videos regarding the status of a Wali (each is about 5 min..all of one lecture)...amazing:
Part 1: "Death is the gift for the believer"
Part2: After death, the soul of a Wali meets Allah Almighty!
Part 3: The sleep in the grave..excellent explanation:
Videos regarding the status of a Wali (each is about 5 min..all of one lecture)...amazing:
Part 1: "Death is the gift for the believer"
Part2: After death, the soul of a Wali meets Allah Almighty!
Part 3: The sleep in the grave..excellent explanation:
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Importance of Tassawuf (or Islamic Spirituality) by Sheikh Dr. Tahir-Ul-Qadri
Bismillah.
Excellent videos on the topic of Tassawuf and its importance..must watch:
"...Me ab dunya me rahta hu, magar aqa, dunya muj me nahi rehti" or "I live in this world but the world does not live in me:"
The reason behind the weakness of our works (amal) is due to the ignorance of Tasawwuf:
Excellent videos on the topic of Tassawuf and its importance..must watch:
"...Me ab dunya me rahta hu, magar aqa, dunya muj me nahi rehti" or "I live in this world but the world does not live in me:"
The reason behind the weakness of our works (amal) is due to the ignorance of Tasawwuf:
Saturday, July 26, 2008
"Bomb Blast Destroy Girls' School"
Bismillah.
Miltants attempting to prevent girls from attending school..such a sick and cruel way of destroying their future for an education:
Around the same time as the school bombing, militants blew up several shops, including barber shops and cell phone stores, in the Charbagh area of the Swat Valley, police in the region told CNN. There were no reports of injuries from those attacks, but the power was out in part of the area, said Shaukat Ali Khan, the coordination officer for the Swat district.
Militants have destroyed more than 30 schools in the Swat Valley in the past month, according to the NWFP's Ministry of Education.
The region is home to radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah, who has called girls' schools un-Islamic and warned families to remove their daughters from such schools.
Pakistan's Taliban have denied involvement in school bombings."
URL: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/25/pakistan.bomb/
Miltants attempting to prevent girls from attending school..such a sick and cruel way of destroying their future for an education:
"ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Bombings by militants have destroyed a government-run girls' high school and several shops in the Swat Valley of northern Pakistan, police said Friday.
Militants detonated an improvised explosive device at the school around 2am, destroying 10 classrooms and two offices, Officer Bashir Khan of the Kabal police station said. The blast also damaged nearby homes. No one was hurt, Khan said, and no one claimed responsibility. The school was in the village of Tatano Bandai in Pakistan's Swat Valley, about 93 miles (150 kilometers) north of Peshawar in the North-West Frontier Province.
Militants detonated an improvised explosive device at the school around 2am, destroying 10 classrooms and two offices, Officer Bashir Khan of the Kabal police station said. The blast also damaged nearby homes. No one was hurt, Khan said, and no one claimed responsibility. The school was in the village of Tatano Bandai in Pakistan's Swat Valley, about 93 miles (150 kilometers) north of Peshawar in the North-West Frontier Province.
Around the same time as the school bombing, militants blew up several shops, including barber shops and cell phone stores, in the Charbagh area of the Swat Valley, police in the region told CNN. There were no reports of injuries from those attacks, but the power was out in part of the area, said Shaukat Ali Khan, the coordination officer for the Swat district.
Militants have destroyed more than 30 schools in the Swat Valley in the past month, according to the NWFP's Ministry of Education.
The region is home to radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah, who has called girls' schools un-Islamic and warned families to remove their daughters from such schools.
Pakistan's Taliban have denied involvement in school bombings."
URL: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/25/pakistan.bomb/
Friday, July 25, 2008
Housewife I
Bismillah.
With regards to the controversy of the use of the term "housewife" at the SunniPath Blog, Sheikh Abdul Kareem Yahya, may Allah (SWT) reward and bless him, reminds us:
"...Namely, why is rearing a believing child, with a heart capable of knowing Allah like no other creature can, less valuable than participating in the work force in an industrial age that has ruined the environment? Even if she were not to have children, why is maintaining the space in which believers pray, recite Quran, make dhikr, take shelter, eat, drink and dress such that they can worship Allah in safety and good health unimportant? When we see the stations in the hereafter of ladies who have done this for Allah during these few days in this dunya, many of us with other occupations will envy them."
With regards to the controversy of the use of the term "housewife" at the SunniPath Blog, Sheikh Abdul Kareem Yahya, may Allah (SWT) reward and bless him, reminds us:
"...Namely, why is rearing a believing child, with a heart capable of knowing Allah like no other creature can, less valuable than participating in the work force in an industrial age that has ruined the environment? Even if she were not to have children, why is maintaining the space in which believers pray, recite Quran, make dhikr, take shelter, eat, drink and dress such that they can worship Allah in safety and good health unimportant? When we see the stations in the hereafter of ladies who have done this for Allah during these few days in this dunya, many of us with other occupations will envy them."
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Importance of an Early Marriage (replacement)
Bismillah.
Asslamu Alaikum,
Links regarding the importance of an early marriage:
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=12&ID=3489&CATE=202
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=4434&CATE=94
http://www.islamonline.net/iol-english/dowalia/society-27-12/society1.asp
Please forgive us for the previous incorrect reference and keep us in your dua'.
Jazak Allah Khair.
Asslamu Alaikum,
Links regarding the importance of an early marriage:
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=12&ID=3489&CATE=202
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=4434&CATE=94
http://www.islamonline.net/iol-english/dowalia/society-27-12/society1.asp
Please forgive us for the previous incorrect reference and keep us in your dua'.
Jazak Allah Khair.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Connection to Allah (SWT)
Bismillah.
Here's some reflection on advice from my father, may Allah reward and bless him, with regards to our connection to Allah (SWT):
Connecting with Allah in these days of fitna has become very difficult, especially for those of us living in the West. It's similar to connecting two inefficient wires in order to allow for current to pass in order to light up a bulb (which is comparably the heart). Our prayers, lack the concentration and full submissiveness of our pious predecessors and the Auwliya'. We continue to try connecting until we finally see some current go through for illumination (of the heart). The current, however, only lasts for a few seconds. This is because we are continually distracted by this dunya.
Many of us may opt to leave the West for the East in order to avoid distractions in our journey to Allah (SWT). But would this work for us, considering that fitna has spread to so many Muslim countries? Of course, Allah (SWT) knows best. I do, however, strongly believe that we have to put extra effort into our worship and strive to ask Allah for His assistance, for escape from the contemporary fitna is only from Allah, may He guide us. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, "This world is like a prison for the believer..." May we all return to Allah (SWT) in the state of faith and righteousness. Ameen.
Here's some reflection on advice from my father, may Allah reward and bless him, with regards to our connection to Allah (SWT):
Connecting with Allah in these days of fitna has become very difficult, especially for those of us living in the West. It's similar to connecting two inefficient wires in order to allow for current to pass in order to light up a bulb (which is comparably the heart). Our prayers, lack the concentration and full submissiveness of our pious predecessors and the Auwliya'. We continue to try connecting until we finally see some current go through for illumination (of the heart). The current, however, only lasts for a few seconds. This is because we are continually distracted by this dunya.
Many of us may opt to leave the West for the East in order to avoid distractions in our journey to Allah (SWT). But would this work for us, considering that fitna has spread to so many Muslim countries? Of course, Allah (SWT) knows best. I do, however, strongly believe that we have to put extra effort into our worship and strive to ask Allah for His assistance, for escape from the contemporary fitna is only from Allah, may He guide us. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, "This world is like a prison for the believer..." May we all return to Allah (SWT) in the state of faith and righteousness. Ameen.
Thoughts on the 2008 ICNA-MAS Convention.
Bismillah.
Masha'Allah, this year's convention was especially beneficial since it focused on attaining happiness and peace through the light and guidance of the Quran and Sunnah. Br. Nouman Ali Khan's words were especially motivational, for he said something along the lines (Insha'Allah, he'll forgive if I misquote), "If Allah can give life to the dead earth, then surely he can give life to the dead hearts." In other words, no matter how grave our sins may be, Allah has the ablity to cleanse our hearts if we sincerly ask Him for His help.
Sr. Radf, may Allah reward her, kindly posted her notes from this year's ICNA-MAS Convention at http://byanymeansnecessary.wordpress.com/2008/07/07/icna-2008-the-aftermath/ Please take a look at the post, as it gives a very good overview of what we learned during the convention.
Jazak Allah Khair
Masha'Allah, this year's convention was especially beneficial since it focused on attaining happiness and peace through the light and guidance of the Quran and Sunnah. Br. Nouman Ali Khan's words were especially motivational, for he said something along the lines (Insha'Allah, he'll forgive if I misquote), "If Allah can give life to the dead earth, then surely he can give life to the dead hearts." In other words, no matter how grave our sins may be, Allah has the ablity to cleanse our hearts if we sincerly ask Him for His help.
Sr. Radf, may Allah reward her, kindly posted her notes from this year's ICNA-MAS Convention at http://byanymeansnecessary.wordpress.com/2008/07/07/icna-2008-the-aftermath/ Please take a look at the post, as it gives a very good overview of what we learned during the convention.
Jazak Allah Khair
"The Muslim Marriage Guide" by Ruqayyah Waris Maqsood
Bismillah.
Click this link to access the complete text of Sr. Ruqayyah Waris Maqsood's "The Muslim Marriage Guide." You can also view a pdf version (which is downloadable) by clicking The Muslim Marriage Guide PDF format
Click this link to access the complete text of Sr. Ruqayyah Waris Maqsood's "The Muslim Marriage Guide." You can also view a pdf version (which is downloadable) by clicking The Muslim Marriage Guide PDF format
Saturday, July 12, 2008
The Muslim Student.
Bismillah.Sr. Iman Badawi's article "Top Ten Advices for the Muslim College Student" provides practical advice on how to make our studies a way of pleasing Allah (SWT). Her article can be accessed by clicking this link .
In further ellaboration of some of the points mentioned in the article:
1. We have absolutely no excuse for laziness when it comes to our education. Allah has given us the responsibilty to seek knowledge in order to benefit humanity for the sake of Allah (SWT), as we are the vicegerents on this earth. The Messenger said, "Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave."
2. Our studies can be a means of usefully preoccupying ourselves instead of wasting our time. Wasting time gives the Shaitan the opportunity to lead us astray through temptation. Making a schedule and managing our time effectively teaches discipline, which is required in our everyday Ibadah.
3. Never ever cheat. Firstly, it is disobeying Allah, and secondly, it does no one harm except the one who cheats. Cheating does not help in the learning process and can lead to failure in final exams or a follow-up course.
4. Note that a good student is a sign of responsibilty. Non-Muslims definitely look at this aspect of a Muslim, and a lazy Muslim student does not create a good impression. More importantly, Sr. Iman Badawi mentions that we should always strive for "perfection," since “Allah loves that when you endeavor upon a task that you perfect it.”
5. We should avoid showing off when it comes to academics. Whatever we do should be for the sake of pleasing Allah alone. In the end, the M.D. or Ph.D. won't make you stand out on the Day of Judgement. It's taqwa that matters the most. Obtain an education only to please Allah.
6. "The greatest success is to overcome our failures." I think I read this somewhere...don't quite remember who said or wrote it. The point is that sometimes we fail and this is part of life. We should'nt let our failures prevent us from future acheivement.
7. Make dua before and after you study or take an exam. Knowledge essentially comes from Allah (SWT). Only He can help us remember, for He is the one who provided us the faculties that allow us to learn.
May Allah (SWT) help us students to learn and apply knowledge for solely His sake. Ameen.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Reviving the Islamic Spirit Convention
Bismillah.
Reviving the Islamic Spirit
Reviving the Islamic Spirit
Presents
"A Spiritual Journey to Islam"
"A Spiritual Journey to Islam"
December 26-28, 2008
at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre
For further details please visit http://www.revivingtheislamicspirit.com/
(The post made yesterday had somemistakes and so was corrected. Please forgive us for the wrong information, which was due to old info still posted at their website.)
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