WHEN IN DESPAIR SAY…….39:053

When in despair say:

“La takneytu mer Rahmatullah“………..over and over again…………till you are lifted out of your despair by the divine grace of Allah SWT

Quran 39:053: Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

GOODBYE MY FRIEND……

For a dear friend who is relocating to another part of the world:

It is time to say goodbye as we part to live in different worlds, globally connected and yet so removed from each other.
Goodbye is something that neither of us mentioned even at our final parting, each hoping to meet again. I don’t talk about goodbyes, because I have said so many goodbyes agonized over them and yet …..Allah SWT has many a time reunited me with my dearest friends and family.
The world has become smaller and more connected in so many ways. It is in our own hearts that we create distance either by desire or circumstance.
I don’t talk of Goodbyes because I have had to say goodbye without warning and without a chance to exchange that last feeling of love embodied in a hug that leaves the imprint of love on the spirit of both persons as they walk away. Keeping that imprint of love in their spirit no matter what the distance or passage of time.
Thus as the world has become more global and shrunk in many ways, the distances rolled up, perhaps both of us realize, you my friend and me that every breathing moment is a goodbye…..for it can never be recreated, re-felt, or recaptured in any shape or form. It must be let go……
“Pray as if this is your last salaat”..
“Meet as if this is your last visit”
……….and store those memories for time will never bring back this moment.
Thus this is not really a goodbye……….even though each of us will return to our radically different worlds, we will inshallah remember each other with affection, I pray.
And me………..I will remember your sincere friendship with great respect and deep gratitude, and thank Allah for placing me in your path.
May Allah be with you always!

I AM A BHIKARI……………(BEGGAR)

I have begged to go to His House and for seven years I was not granted that privilege. Perhaps because my begging was not sincere, and perhaps it lacked the etiquette of the beggar.
—–And then He (SWT) accepted my begging or liked the way I begged and I was called to His (SWT) door ….Once, twice, thrice and handed out His love and mercy………..I have begged to go again but this time with some restraint thinking that perhaps I am being too greedy.
He (SWT) in His infinite generosity has granted me my wish.

Inshallah Paul and I will be going for Ummrah in the coming weekend.
The Ummrah is also called the minor pilgrimage, but to me there is nothing minor about going to the House of my Lord……it is enough that He has allowed me to come back to His House, and this time with Paul.
I am going laden with my list of “Bheek”.
There is a fine line that a beggar must not cross in the etiquette of begging, but at His Door there is no dearth of treasures that can be handed out, whether they be for this dunya or the next.
I must prepare my etiquette……..because I want to ask for a lot for my Akirah.
Inshallah I will be praying for all of you the seen and the unseen readers and friends.
May Allah accept your prayers, so make sure you are praying and asking him too….……while I am at His House asking on your behalf.
Please keep my family and me in your prayers.

IN PREPARATION FOR YOUR FRIEND’S WEDDING……………

My Dearest Daughter,
Asalaam o alaikum,
We have received the wedding invitation of your friend. I am very happy that she has found the right person to marry. May Allah give her peace and serenity in her marriage and guide her to the right path with sincerity.

She is a close friend of yours and inshallah she will be asking your opinion and advice in the coming days.

In giving advice, it is best to follow the methodology recommended in the Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). You might say that my friend is not a muslim and why should I impose my belief and advice based on that belief on her?

The answer lies in your heart. Would you not want to share with one of your closest friend what you think and know from the bottom of your heart to be good, lasting and brings harmony in life?

This brings me to how you may impact on your friends positively or negatively by the advice you give them.

Every Christian and Jewish wedding that I have attended begins with the parade of young women (bridesmaids) who walk in a state of undress under the scrutiny of several hundred pairs of eyes of strangers. Unfortunately this is required by the bride that her bridesmaids be exposed to the maximum. I have often heard complaints from bridesmaids who are uncomfortable and resentful at showing that much skin in public.

As the bridesmaids pass by, I have heard people comment on their exposed flesh, either lasciviously or in a derogatory manner. After many years of listening to such remarks I see the wisdom of why muslim women and men are commanded to cover their (imperfect) bodies and only to uncover them to their spouses who are their “garments” and who in the partnership of marriage both hide their partners blemishes, and enhance their beautiful aspects on an ongoing basis.

So please give your friend good advice discouraging her from the half naked dresses of the bridesmaids, and if she insists then you have a choice to either bow out or ask her to give you special consideration of wearing a decent dress that will not expose your body to the general public to be leered at.

May Allah grant you the strength and guidance to discuss this sensitively with your friend as you always have done in the past and help her make the right decision and stay strong.

In your Hajj two years ago, the slate of your (Amaal) actions was wiped clean at Arafat. You have started your new young life with no sins or disobedience of Allah on it. Be careful what you write on it, carefully examining it continuously and preventing the disobedience of Allah to cloud its clarity.

Guard the sparkling purity of your slate of your Amaal (actions) carefully, as you have done, so far, preventing it from the splatters of filth, resulting from both the minor and major disobedience of Allah.

May He (SWT) give you the ability to spread the light of your inner goodness on your friends, your colleagues and your patients, with few words and more by a living example. Ameen

You are always in my prayers. May Allah bless you, protect you, and reward you for your efforts at being a good friend. Ameen.

With love,

Mom

WHO CAN A PERSON CALL IN DISTRESS? 6:40-41

Prophet Muhammad SAW is being commanded in these ayahs to address the idolaters and defier of the faith and those who deny the message:
My note: These are instructions to our Prophet, while he is faced with his own family and friends who are well to do and argue with him about the existence of one God. However the Arabs in those days were widely traveled and had seen the destroyed nations all over the middle east and even further, and thus knew that previous nations had been destroyed by the disobedience of God and somewhere in the center of their hearts they knew that Prophet Muhammad PBUH was speaking the truth about worshipping only one God.
RESISTANCE TO CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE
Thus Allah SWT commands our Prophet PBUH, beginning with “Say!” and then he gives him the words to bring understanding to these people who were so well ensconced in their way of life, even if it is to their detriment, that any threat to it was met with violent force.
Allah SWT is commanding Prophet Muhammad PBUH to say…….tell them, say to them:
“Wake up! ” Think! …if Allah’s azaab (wrath) comes , in this world (personal or natural disaster) or the HOUR, (The Day of Judgment) You will not call any other than Allah if you are included in the truthful. (Sadiqueen). It is actually a statement of fact.
IN TIMES OF DISTRESS…….
Even the kaafirs, people who have been committing shirk in the event of a huge disaster, turn and call to Allah.
Allah SWT reminds: Think about it ……then at this time will you will continue to do the wrong things you are doing, No you will call for Allah and then He will take away the disaster and you will forget your idols
Tawheed is in the fitrah of every human, thus when a major disaster falls on them at that time his tawheed rises and he calls out to God, forgetting all the smaller Gods that he has been committing shirk with.
At times of difficulties whether minor or major, we should call for Allah and no one else, Sometimes even muslims call for saints, other messengers of Allah and relative of RasoolAllah, and that is completely forbidden and comes under shirk.
Allah also listens to the idol worshipers if he wants to, thus a dua of the oppressed has no impediment in rising to The Lord, and He listens and helps. If He wants
Allah also listens to the call of the restless, and his Rahma is more than his Ghadab.
DO NOT BE DESPONDENT OF THE MERCY OF ALLAH (this is the translation of a supplication from the Quran: La taknatu mer rahmatullah (repeat on the rosary/Tasbeeh in times of distress)
Allah has Rahmat- e- Aam, (Mercy for All) whether one is kaafir or momim, one should never say I am too sinful so Allah will not listen to my dua, when Allah listens to the dua of the oppressed even if he is a kaafir, then a muslim who has even done terrible sins should not be despondent of the mercy of Allah
The waswasa (whisperings) from Shaitan are that the sinful should remain despondent of the mercy of Allah. Thus whether one is faced with a small challenge or a huge disaster one should ‘ruju’ (call upon, get help) this to Allah. (Tafseer by FH)

6:40 Say: “Think ye to yourselves, if there come upon you the wrath of Allah, or the Hour (that ye dread), would ye then call upon other than Allah.- (reply) if ye are truthful!

Qul araaytakum in atakum AAathabu Allahi aw atatkumu alssaAAatu aghayra Allahi tadAAoona in kuntum sadiqeena

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُكُم إِنْ أَتَاكُمْ عَذَابُ اللّهِ أَوْ أَتَتْكُمُ السَّاعَةُ أَغَيْرَ اللّهِ تَدْعُونَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (6:40)

6:41 “Nay,- On Him would ye call, and if it be His will, He would remove (the distress) which occasioned your call upon Him, and ye would forget (the false gods) which ye join with Him!”

Bal iyyahu tadAAoona fayakshifu ma tadAAoona ilayhi in shaa watansawna ma tushrikoona

بَلْ إِيَّاهُ تَدْعُونَ فَيَكْشِفُ مَا تَدْعُونَ إِلَيْهِ إِنْ شَاء وَتَنسَوْنَ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ

(6:41)

My observation on where I live: This brings to mind the episode of 911 in the US; it was the first time that this generation of Americans had personally experienced a disaster on their own soil in which every person was affected. Two things happened: It put the fear of God in them and all the worshipping centers of every faith were full of people every day and second all the copies of the Quran were sold out from every bookstore all over the United States.

What do you do in distress? Please share your steps.

OUR TESTIMONY TO ALLAH

All the generations to come from Adam (AS) have borne witness to the following:

007.172 
 When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): “Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?”- They said: “Yea! We do testify!” (This), lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: “Of this we were never mindful”

What helps you to follow your testimony to Allah? 

DEFINATION OF DEEN

The internet and the Islamic literature is full of references to “Deen” What is Deen? Here is a beautiful and concise defination of Deen:

“Deen is a comprehensive term for piety, knowledge and practice of Islam, and Fear of Allah ”

Excerpted from an article by Dr. K. Siddique

Would you share your defination of Deen?

THE PROPOSAL……..

I am having a flashback from thirty years ago. It is difficult to write this as sometimes I remember it as clear as a day and then sometimes the details become hazy.
I am on the Hudson River parkway driving from New York to Connecticut. My heart is in turmoil, I have made the most difficult decision of my life, and I have accepted that perhaps there will be no love in my life ever! Because the one love I have, is for a man who is a non-muslim by birth even if he is muslim in behavior and actions.
Friendship and camaraderie for this “sweet eyed” man has changed to feelings of love. We have both recognized that our association with each other is heading in a direction that will or has to culminate in marriage.
On asking my mother who has a soft spot for Paul and has been our friendly chaperone, but who is a woman of few words, says, “ I do not mind who you marry as long as he is a muslim”
Conversations with my Aunt (now deceased) who is a born again muslim, and very dear to me, are quite different. The hallmark conversation with her returns in bits and pieces, as I negotiate the turns on the winding parkway.
She has referred me to several ayahs in the Quran, which clearly state that a muslim woman cannot marry a non-muslim man and keep her religion. I have wrestled with that fact but no matter which way I read the Quran the fact does not change.
I remember arguing with her as to loopholes and she says” Either you can convert to Christianity or he can convert to Islam, but spouses with two faiths cannot live under the same roof harmoniously” These words irritate me, but now many years later I have understood the wisdom of her words. It is novel enough to learn the eccentricities of each others cultures leave alone throw in the spanner of faith.
Following which she (my Aunt) brings up the kid issue, which at my age and interest is a non-issue, I am not thinking that far. I am wrestling with the issues in the now!
Do I want to convert to Christianity I think to myself? I can see myself dressing up and going to church on Sunday, and then I have a vision in my minds eye of people in the church praying to Jesus as God and I recoil, I cannot do that! That is the stopping point for me.
I guess I have run out of reasons and what is staring me in the face is a choice that is no choice at all.
Having made up my mind, I decide to drive to Connecticut to see Paul. I call him and tell him I am coming and that I have something to tell him.
I have just completed night call and am sad that we have to end this beautiful friendship because it can never go anywhere further. With each turn of the highway, I find myself resigned but in tears, it is a final goodbye, I have to say this to him and turn around and come back.
I am on Route 8, winding through the beautiful trees growing along the ravine, lit with the New England fall colors. At the bottom of the deep ravine is a rushing river, whose sounds I can hear if I let the window down.
Normally this scene entrances me and I savor this drive, but today I cant take the turns fast enough in case I chicken out and put it off.
At this point I am not complaining, just a deep sense of sadness prevails within me that I will probably never love again and perhaps spend my life as a nostalgic single woman. As my car eats up the miles between him, and me I see the doors of happiness shutting one by one, I see myself working working working into an empty loveless future.
I take the Farmington exit and after a short climb, arrive at his house, as I enter the living room, he has the book in his hand A guide to family structure in Islam, he sets it down as he greets me. His eyes innocent of the horrible news I am going to give him, he looks straight at me and says,” I have decided to become a muslim”

Hindsight is always twenty twenty……. I can now understand Allah Subhanawataala’s gracious mercy on me.
He took pity on me and in his infinite rahma flung open all the doors of happiness that I thought I had closed, after I submitted to Him (SWT)

Have you experienced His (SWT) Rahma after you had thought “all is lost”?

Does Islam Allow Muslim Men To Marry Non-Muslim Women in America?

Q. I have been told that Muslim women are not allowed to marry non-Muslim men but Muslim men are permitted to marry non-Muslim women. What does Islam say?

Answer by Professor Dr. Kaukab Siddique:

Islam teaches that marriage is half the faith. Marriage is one of the most powerful means for the spread of Islam. It turns hostile communities into friends. The Qur’an used it to break up the well-established system of slavery in pre-Islamic Arabia and then in the rest of the Islamic commonwealth.

Islam does not permit a Muslim, male or female, to marry a non-Muslim, especially in countries like the U.S., China and India where Muslims are minorities.

In a fully developed Islamic state, where Islam is dominant, Muslim men are sometimes allowed to marry non-Muslim women who are chaste and follow the original teachings of Moses and Jesus, pbuh.

In America, people coming in from Arab countries have propagated the view that Muslim men are allowed to marry non-Muslim women. Not only is this an incorrect view it has seriously damaged the Islamic cause in America.

This country has become more pagan than Christian and a non-Muslim woman who comes into a Muslim home is backed by the entire power of the secular State system and the children of such a marriage are educated by a secular education system. Other than in very exceptional cases, such a marriage is very damaging.

Tens of thousands of American and African-American women have embraced Islam during the last two decades. These men who are marrying non-Muslim women are denying marriage to those women who have embraced Islam. Racism and nationalism are often involved in the Muslim male’s decision to marry non-Muslim [usually White] women.

Why have U.S. Muslims been so misled? It has to do with inability to study the Qur’an in CONTEXT and the desire to study the Qur’an WITHOUT the help of the Hadith of the Prophet, pbuh. If we were to know HOW to study Islam, such questions would not arise.

The Qur’an makes it very clear that marriage is to be based only on FAITH in ALLAH and that one of its purposes is to UNDERMINE SLAVERY. Marriage based on CLASS STRUCTURE and NATIONALISM is a clear violation of Islam. Here is what the Qur’an says:

“Do not marry women who associate others with Allah [mushrikat] until they believe. A slave woman who believes is better than one who associates others with Allah [mushrika] even though she allures you. Nor marry men who associate others with Allah [mushrikeen] until they believe: A male slave who believes is better than one who associates others with Allah [mushrik] even though he allures you. They [associaters] beckon you to the Fire but Allah beckons by His Grace to the Garden [of Bliss] and forgiveness, and makes His Signs clear to mankind that they may receive admonition.” [2:221]

Notice that I have written the Arabic word in brackets. It is often incorrectly translated as “disbelievers” and “idolaters” although mushrik is one who associates others with Allah.

All interpretations must end when there is a clear Hadith of the Prophet, pbuh, on the issue. He never recommended marriage with non-Muslim women. Addressing men, he makes it quite clear that Islamic integrity and faith is the requirement for marriage:

“The messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, said: Women are married for 4 reasons: for wealth, for family nobility, for beauty and for Deen: You should marry for Deen, otherwise may your hands be rubbed in the dirt.” [Narrated by Abu Huraira, r.a., in the Sahih of Bukhari and the Sahih of Muslim.]

Deen is a comprehensive term for piety, knowledge and practice of Islam, and Fear of Allah.

Our Arab brothers try to take advantage of a permission granted in chapter 5 of the Qur’an to marry women from the People of the Book: These brothers [conveniently?] ignore the fact that the verse they are using was revealed after the victory of Islam when Islam had become the dominant force in Madinah: ” … [lawful unto you in marriage] are not only chaste women who are believers but chaste women among the People of the Book revealed before your time ….” [5:5]

This is a legal “permission” within a context of Islamic dominance. The Prophet, pbuh, does not recommend it. What is legal is not necessarily the best course.
And Allah knows best.

What is your opinion? 

ON THE EVE OF YOUR ENGAGEMENT……………

Dear J……….Asalaam-o alaikum,
I asked you what should I give you as a gift? And you said…..surprise me! I have been thinking since then of what gift from me would fulfill all the criteria that I desire in a gift for you.

I would like your gift to be a gift of light. Something that you could hold in your heart and look at it every now and then to bring you joy and love. It should be something that when you think of it, it would bring a smile to your lips and it should be something that you could hold on to in moments of stress and strife and find strength.
Even though no material object fulfills these criteria, you will get something material, because Shireen recommends something tangible.
However in addition to the tangible gift I am going to give you something that comes close to the above mentioned criteria as much as possible ……..I am going to give you a dua that will be with you forever, held in the records of Allah to be granted as and when He deems fit.

You are to me like my son, very different from him in many ways, but at his death you have stepped into his shoes and eased my loss. I have not wanted to burden you with the load of memory, but when I look upon you, I am reminded of the love and unconditional affection Tariq had for you, and as I have gotten to know you better I now know why.
I remember how you visited me on the days that I was in the throes of grief as if you knew by telepathy. You comforted me with your sweet smile and serious eyes…… May Allah always provide you comfort in your life and may grief never touch you and your loved ones.

I remember when your mother told me of your father being critically ill with a prognosis that spelt “terminal”. You at the young age of ten or eleven sat with her in the waiting room of the Operating Room holding her hand and comforting her and telling her that you were there for her and that everything would turn out well…..….. May Allah Subhanawataala always be there for you in your moments of strife and difficulty if you ever have any. May he protect you and your loved ones from all harm and pain.

I remember when you brought me flowers on the first mother’s day after Tariq died and I was overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness………May Allah fill your life with the vibrant flowers of happiness and the end of your days with the fragrance of jannah.

I remember when you accompanied us to Swarthmore to get Tariq’s belongings and to attend the many functions the students and the college had put on to remember him……….When ever I felt that I could not bear it any more I looked at you and you had a gentle innocent, compassionate look in your eyes, which steadied me………..May Allah always be by your side to steady you in your struggle to remain on the Straight Path.

I remember how when we went to Aisha’s wedding few months after Tariq’s death, you stayed close to Shireen and me giving us a silent and steady support at all times………….May Allah always be at your side to support and steady you in all your work for Deen and make your passage through dunya easy.

I remember how you have helped me uncomplainingly with all my electronic mishaps …..stepping into Tariq’s shoes………….May Allah be your helper every step of your way and May you never want for anything from anyone except Him.

And finally…………..May Allah place mercy and love between you and your wife to be and may both of you always be showered with his rahma in this world and the Hereafter.

This is my dua for you…………..and your loved ones, May Allah accept it in its entirety.

Ameen