AMERICAN MUSLIM WOMEN…….WHERE DO YOU STAND?

GUEST KHUTBAH

By Dr. Kaukab Siddique

Women’s Central Role in the Islamic Struggle.

March 27, 2009: Dr. Kaukab Siddique gave the juma’s khutba and led prayers at a local mosque in Maryland, USA.
The masjid was packed but for wider distribution, the main points are given below:
Text: {After Muhammad, pbuh, received the revelation} “Then he went to Khadija (May Allah be pleased with her) the daughter of Khuwailid, r.a. and said ‘cover me up! Cover me up.’ They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, ‘I fear that something may happen to me.’ Khadija replied, ‘Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You do not cut blood ties, you help the poor and the destitute, you are generous to guests and you assist those struck by calamities’ ….” [Hadith, Sahih of Bukhari, The book of Revelation.]

*      The family system is under attack in America. The churches are in full retreat and in many cases support corruption. The school system is secular and lacks values.
*      Fornication is glorified in America. Pre-teen pregnancy has become old news. Adultery is commonplace. Homosexuality is being supported as legitimate all the way from the White House to the New York Times. Only Islam can save America.
*      Just as racism has affected Muslim communities in America, the degradation of women is slowly but surely eroding respect for women.
*      We must bring women and children into the mainstream of Islamic life if we want to survive as Muslims.
*       Look at the key examples in the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
*       When he received revelation, Khadija, r.a.,(May Allah be pleased with her) his wife, supported him and advised him. He accepted the advice. [Sahih Bukhari.]
*       When he was persecuted and attacked by the Makkans, Khadija’s [r.a](May Allah be pleased with her) wealth funded his striving.
*       The first martyr of Islam was a woman, Sumayya, r.a. [See Sirat Rasul Allah by ibn Ishaq.] In Islam martyrs have the highest ranking, second only to the messengers of Allah.
*       In Madina, young ‘Ayesha, 14 years old, was on the blessed battlefield of Badr. [Sahih Muslim]. She became a leader and a great faqih and teacher of Hadith.
*       At Uhud, when the Prophet, pbuh, was injured, his  daughter, Fatima Zahra, r.a., became his physician.
*       Again at Uhud, when the Muslims were losing after being outflanked by Khalid [then not a Muslim], Umm Ammara, r.a. (May Allah be pleased with her) shielded the Prophet, pbuh, with her own body.

That is the LOVE of the Prophet, pbuh. [Hubb-e-nabi] which is essential to our faith. [See Ibn Sa'ad's Tabqat for Umm Ammara, r.a.]

*      Today, Palestinian women are sending out their children to defy the yahood. Iraqi women are fighting for Islam along with their men. Afghan women have told their sons and husbands [Taliban] not to come home if they do not stand up to the NATO occupation forces.
* If our sisters in America are not active as equals in the masjid, we have no future. Islamic merit is based on TAQWA, not gender.

DU’A

*     O Allah! Help the Muslims of America to seek unity based on the Qur’an and the authentic Hadith.
*     O Allah! Help America’s Muslims to become part of ONE Ummah and to reject “American Islam” and “Pakistani Islam” and “Egyptian Islam” etc.
*     O Allah help us to identify and reject those who are cooperating with kuffar, munafiqueen and tawagheet.

THE PIONEERS: AS SABIQOON………….9:100

Courtesy: rightohijab's photostream

وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلۡأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحۡسَـٰنٍ۬ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡہُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمۡجَنَّـٰتٍ۬ تَجۡرِى تَحۡتَهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيہَآ أَبَدً۬اۚ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ (١٠٠)

And the first to lead the way, of the Muhajirin and the Ansar, and those who followed them in goodness – Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him, and He hath made ready for them Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever. That is the supreme triumph. (9:100)

Tafseer by Dr. Farhat Hashmi (translated from Urdu)

Sabiq: The one who moves forward, ahead of others,
As Sabiqoon: plural of Sabiq
Awaal, means the first: those who are ahead of everyone and who are from the Muhajir and Ansar. Who are these people?
From the Muhajireen: The Asabiqoon awalloon have been categorized as follows:
1.    First to accept Islam: Abu Bakr Siddiq, Zaid bin Haarisa, Abdur Rahman bin Auuf, Zubair bin Awwam, Saad bin Waqaas, Talha bin Hudabi (?) and Hazrat Khadija (though she died before hijra)
2.    Those who participated in Badr
3.    Those who prayed to both Qiblas
4.    Those who participated in the treaty of  Hudaibiya
5.    In the Quran they are described as: Those who became Muslims before the victory of Mecca.

From Ansar:
1.    Those who participated in first Bait and second Bait
Those who accepted Islam from Abu Zurara, Moosa bin Umair (Scholars who were sent to Medina to teach Islam prior to Hijra)

2.    Those who followed in the footsteps of the As Sabiqoon with Ikhlaas, (till the day of Judgement) these are close to Allah and will enter Jannah, when they see the opportunity of a good deed they do it right away they do not wait. These people are far and few between. But these will be people in this category till the final day.

The reward of being As Sabiqoon in the Quran: The original pioneers and later ones is outlined here:

Allah is happy with him and they are happy with his decision and he has prepared beautiful gardens with flowing rivers where they will abide forever. They are the ones that are most successful

courtesy: rightohijab's photostream

And elsewhere in the Quran about the As Sabiqoon who came later and will continue to come till the Day of Judgment will be given the same reward:
Hashr 10: Those who came after the Awaal, but who are considered As Sabiqoon:
059.010
YUSUFALI: And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into the Faith, and leave not, in our hearts, rancor (or sense of injury) against those who have believed. Our Lord! Thou art indeed Full of Kindness, Most Merciful.”

And in Surah Anfaal 75: They came later but did the same work as the Sabiqoon of earlier times
008.075
YUSUFALI: And those who accept Faith subsequently, and adopt exile, and fight for the Faith in your company,- they are of you. But kindred by blood have prior rights against each other in the Book of Allah. Verily Allah is well acquainted with all things.
PICKTHAL: And those who afterwards believed and left their homes and strove along with you, they are of you; and those who are akin are nearer one to another in the ordinance of Allah. Lo! Allah is Knower of all things.

ARE YOU A PIONEER?

Ya Ayohan Naas….. O’ Mankind

Museum of Mankind: Courtesy ruaminx (flickr photostream)

Allah Subhanawataala addresses mankind in the Quran and commands Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him,to call them to the path of One God.

In the continuous review of the Quran so far I have noted that the following types of mankind have been described:

Muttaqoon: Those that fear, love, obey and worship only Allah, and He has a special place for them in peace, love and sakina for ever.(Surah Zumar)

As Sabiqoon:
i)    Those who were the pioneers in accepting Islam when it was a great risk to do so.
ii)    They are also those (in current times and will be till the Day of Judgment) who continuously look for an opportunity to obey Allah and do it immediately without making excuses. (Surah Tawbah 9: 100)

Awaloon: the pioneers (same as As Sabiqoon)

Mohsineen are Muslims who go over and beyond the basics required for being a practicing Islam, and do it with Ikhlaas and Ehsaan.

Momineen: Muslims who have perfected their worship of One God.

Muslimeen: are generic people who accepted Islam as their way of life

Maghdoob e Alayhim: Those who know that Allah is One and are aware of His commands but are deliberately disobedient to Allah and earn His wrath.

Walad Da’aleen: Those who started out in the Deen of Allah believing in One God, but who have gone astray.

Munafiqeen: Hypocrites are those whose intent and actions do not match, i.e. they say one thing and do another (This is the absolute worst category to be in and has the worst outcome)

Other posts on the Hypocrites:

behaviorial-clues-of-the-hypocrites

characteristics-of-a-hypocrite-munafiq

hypocrites-strife

slay-the-idolaters-wherever-ye-find-them

Hypocrites and the-concept-of-imanat-and-khianat

Kuffar: Those who deny God or hide His existence by various methods and explanations.

DID I MISS ANY?

SELF EVALUATION: WHAT GROUP ARE YOU IN AND HOW QUICKLY CAN YOU MOVEUP?

HOPE IN CRISIS

coutesy: flickr Tariqs fantasy photostream

GUEST ARTICLE

Lose your job?? Don’t lose hope!!

by Asma bint Shameem

As world markets suffer from the ongoing global financial crisis and housing markets slump, as jobs are lost and unemployment rates rise high, as businesses close down and people don’t have a source of income, you worry. You worry about the growing global recession and its challenges. And you worry about your family, your kids, how to provide for them, how to put food on the table, how to pay the bills….   In times such as these, this is a reminder for my brothers and sisters, as the reminder always benefits the believers. “But remind, the Reminder will benefit the believers.” (Surah adh-Dhaariyaat: 55)

KEEP YOUR IMAAN STRONG 1. Remember….nothing happens except by the will and decree of Allaah: Belief in al-qadar (the Divine decree) is one of the pillars of our Imaan, and no one’s faith is complete without it. So if you lost your job, it was by the Will and Decree of Allaah. Allaah says:   “No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (al-Lawh al-Mahfooz) before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allaah” (al-Hadeed:22)

Also the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said: “Know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you, and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship.” (Tirmidhi-Saheeh)

2. It is Allaah that provides for you and NOT your employer; Remember that Allaah is al-Razzaaq (the Provider) and the Best of those who provide. It was Allaah who was providing you before you lost your job and it is still He that will provide you after you lost it. The one who fed you when you were in your mother’s womb will also feed you when you are an adult. And it was not you who was putting food on the table for your family. Rather it was Allaah using you as a means to provide for them.

“Except for Allah, is there any other Creator who provides for you out of heaven and earth? There is no god except He. Where then do you turn?” (Surah Faatir:3)

3. Know that your provision was written for you before you were even born: Allaah had sent an angel to write down your provision for you when you were just a few days old in your mother’s womb, and you will get it, no matter what. “(the angel) says, ‘O Lord, male or female? Doomed or blessed? What is his provision? What is his lifespan?’ And that is written in his mother’s womb.” (Bukhaari)   There is nothing that can take your provision away. And you will not die until you have had your full provision. The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said:   “The Holy Spirit (Jibreel) has inspired to me that no soul will die until it has completed its appointed term and received its provision in full, so fear Allaah and do not be desperate in seeking provision, and no one of you should be tempted to seek provision by means of committing sin if it is slow in coming to him, for that which is with Allaah can only be attained by obeying Him.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2085)

4. It is a test for you from Allaah: Remember that disasters and calamities are a test of a believer’s patience. And so He will test you to see how strong you are and how you will react to His test. And know if Allaah loves a person, He tests him.
“We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, and decrease of goods, life and fruits. Give glad tidings to the patient.” (al-Baqarah:155)

5. Surely, it is a means of expiation of your sins: Calamities are a means of expiation of sin and raising one’s status. The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said: “There is nothing that befalls a believer, not even a thorn that pricks him, but Allaah will record one good deed for him and will remove one bad deed from him.” (Muslim).  And he said: “Trials will continue to befall the believing man and woman, with regard to themselves, their children and their wealth, until they meet Allaah with no sin on them.” (Tirmidhi, saheeh by al-Albaani)

WHAT TO DO

1. Have tawakkul on Allaah Always think to yourself…Allaah wouldn’t decree something for me unless it was good for me. Have faith in Allaah’s Words…. “But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and may love a thing although it is evil for you. Allah knows, and you do not.” (Baqarah:216)
The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said: “If you put your trust in Allaah in the true sense, He will grant your provision as He grants to the birds, who go out in the morning hungry and come back full.” (Ahmad, Ibn Maajah and al-Tirmidhi).

2. Be patient Remember that with every difficulty comes ease and with hardship comes relief. “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for all his affairs are good and this does not apply to anyone except the believer. If something good happens to him he is grateful, and that is good for him, and if something bad happens to him he is patient, and that is good for him.” (Muslim).

3. Review your life and make LOTS of Istighfaar Look at your life. Is there something that you need to improve on? Is there something that you need to give up? Is there anything that may be a cause of Allaah’s warning or punishment to you?   “And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned” [al-Shoora:30]   “A man may be deprived of provision by a sin that he commits.”  (Ibn Maajah-saheeh by al-Albaani)   If there is such a thing, NOW is the time to fix yourself. Ask Allaah sincerely to forgive you and He will. There is no doubt in that.For He is al-Ghafoor, ar-Raheem.

‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft‑Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.’”[Nooh 71:10-12]

Fear Allaah and obey Him as much as you can: Obedience is the key to the Mercy of Allaah and fearing Him (taqwa) is a means to attain all success. Allaah says: “And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things” [al-Talaaq:2-3]

Make dua and do lots of good deeds Never forget that Dua is the weapon of the believer. Pray to Allaah with the attitude of certainty and He will surely respond. Do a lot of acts of worship, such as reading Qur’aan, fasting, giving charity, etc. This will get rid of your worry and anxiety, and give you happiness, peace of mind and success in this dunya as well as in the Hereafter.

“Whoever works righteousness – whether male or female – while he (or she) is a true believer; verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)” (al-Nahl:97)

Also, worship at times of hardship and tribulation has a special sweetness to it and a great reward.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said: “Worshipping at times of tribulation and confusion is like migrating to join me.” (Muslim)

Uphold ties of kinship If there are any family members that you have cut off from or are not on speaking terms, etc., correct that and ask them for forgiveness, even if it was not your fault. Why? Because the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:  “Whoever would like his provision to be increased and his life span to be extended, let him uphold the ties of kinship.”

Do your best to seek Halaal earnings….. Work hard to find a means of living for your family, while relying on Allaah. That is a responsibility placed upon you by Him.

Imam Ahmad was asked about a man who sat in his house or in the masjid and said, “I will not do anything until my rizq comes to me.” He said, “This is a man who has no knowledge.

“Strive to do that which will benefit you and seek the help of Allaah, and do not feel helpless.” (Muslim).

BUT, don’t lose sight of the Aakhirah

However, do realize that this world is only temporary and the REAL life is that of the Hereafter. This world should not be the main concern of the Muslim, rather our focus should be on what we do for the Aakhirah.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever is mainly concerned about the Hereafter, Allaah will make him feel independent of others and will make him focused and content, and his worldly affairs will fall into place. But whoever is mainly concerned with this world, Allaah will make him feel in constant need of others and will make him distracted and unfocused, and he will get nothing of this world except what is decreed for him.” (Tirmidhi- saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’).

2009: A REGULAR DIET OF ILM

Here is a plan thanks to the Brother listed at the end of the info courtesy HS:

All the best in your summer endeavors,
on behalf of Fawakih Resource Team

–starts—

LONG TERM PROGRAMS (3-4 weeks) – Domestic

American Learning Institute for Muslims – ALIM
Summer program
Livonia, MI
July 12 – Aug 8
alimprogram. com

Deen Intensive Foundation
Rihla Summer Program
Baltimore, MD
July 17 – Aug 7
deen-intensive. com

Fawakih – (recommended dual program)
Quranic Arabic and studies
Indianapolis, IN
July 9 – Aug 6
fawakih.com

LONG TERM PROGRAMS (3-4 weeks) – International

Reviving the Islamic Spirit – RIS
Sacred Caravan – Umrah program
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
May 6 – May 18
sacredcaravan. com/

The Dowra Program
40 day Islamic studies intensive
July 1 – August 10
Tarim, Yemen
thedowra.com

SunniPath (details available soon)
Shifa Summer Intensive Program
Amman, Jordan
June 20 – Aug 20
daraltawfiq. com

Imam Ghazali institute (check website for updates)
Summer study abroad Intensive
location TBA
dates TBA
imamghazaliinstitut e.org

SHORT TERM PROGRAMS (1-2 weeks) – Domestic

Almaghrib Institute
Various double weekend seminars
All over US
almaghrib.org

DarulHikmah (website currently not working)
Various double weekend seminars
Chicago, IL
darulhikmah. com

Tazkiyah Retreat (stay posted)
Sh. Mokhtar Moughraui
near Albany, NY
jannah.org/retreat/

Fawakih (recommended dual program)
Living the Hadith Program
Herndon, VA
June 19 – July 2
fawakih.com

SHORT TERM PROGRAMS (1-2 weeks) – International

IslamiCity Travel (check website for updates)
Travel Study Program
location TBA
dates TBA
islamicity.com

Umrah 360
Umrah and Islamic Studies
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
June 16 – June 26
umrah360.com

ARABIC PROGRAMS – Domestic

Zaytuna Institute
Arabic intensive
Berkeley, CA
June 22 – Aug 14
arabicintensive. org

DarUlQasim
Summer Arabic Program
Chicago, IL
dates tentative (July – Aug)
darulqasim.org

Bayyinah Arabic Institute (contact for details/updates)
Arabic courses/Summer Intensive
all around US / Texas (possibly)
http://www.bayyinah .com

ARABIC PROGRAMS – International

Al Diwan Center
Arabic Intensive Programs
(a) May or (b)June or (c)July + August
Cairo, Eygpt
aldiwancenter. com

Al Fajr Institute
Arabic Intensive Programs, all 14 levels
(Ibn Aqueel) June 25 – Aug 23, (Sibhawah I) June 25 – July 21, (Sibhawal 2) July 21 – Aug 23
Cairo, Egypt
fajr.com

Qasid Institute
Arabic Program
Amman, Jordan
June 16- Aug 20
qasid.com

Muslim American Society (MAS) (check website for updates)

Youth study abroad program – Arabic
Jul 24 – Aug 26
Cairo, Egypt
masyouth.net

ONLINE CLASSES

Sunnipath Academy (stay posted for summer schedule)
Various summer semester courses
sunnipath.com

Zaytuna Institute (stay posted for summer schedule)
Various Distance learning summer semester courses
zaytuna.org

Arees Institute (stay posted for summer schedule)
Various summer semester e-courses
arees.org

Seekers Guidance (stay posted for summer schedule)
Various downloadable summer semester courses
seekersguidance. com

AlHuda International (pleace check for updates)
Summer Quranic certification
July – Aug
http://www.alhudain stitute.ca/

–ends –

–
“We need spirited, energetic, and strong young people whose hearts are filled with life, enthusiasm, zeal and dynamism; whoe souls are full of ambition, aspiration and vigor and have great goals, rising and aspiring to reach them until the eventually arrive at their destination” – Hassan Al-Banna

Fawaad Iqbal Haider

THE DUA FOR RUKHSATI

I have asked my nearest and dearest friends and family to send me a dua e Ruksati for my daughters giving away ceremony after her Nikkah and reception (walima). Several of them wrote back beautiful duas that I printed to prepare a rukhsati booklet for my daughter and her husband to be.

As for me I am stumped, as what to do or say at Rukhsati. Some of this is the denial of the final giving away of my delicate flower that we have nurtured and protected from the hot winds and some of it is just not having a continuous moment of reflection to write something meaningful.

Thus as I am exiting the Wednesday tafseer class, she comes up to me and puts a pink book in my hand, the title reads “Hisnul Haseen”, she opens it to the page she has marked and it reads:

…………..When Fatima Zahrah may Allah be please with her was married to Ali (RA) at the time of Rukhsati, RasoolAllah PBUH, called for a glass of water and read a dua in it “to protect her and her progeny from the evil of Shaitan and then sprinkled the water on her chest, head and back and then did the same for Ali RA”

I look up after reading the excerpt…………..my eyes glaze with thankfulness to Allah SWT and turn to see the face of the smiling angel he had once again sent me to help me in completing the Sunnahs of a Muslim marriage.

ENTERING THE CIRCLE OF PEACE…………..STEP ONE AND TWO

From my personal diary………..

Each one of us on this earth is in search of peace, outer and inner. A sense of frustration arises because we find ourselves unable to control external events and the turmoil it creates within us.

Added to the true turmoil in the world around us as well as in the extended world at large is the propagation of lies and the promise of depressing outcomes by people who are the ready vessels for the whisperings of Shaitan.(paraphrased from the Hadith)

Entering the circle of PEACE is a process for which there are certain essential ingredients that need to be collected and certain essential garbage that needs to be gotten rid of.

Each one of us is a unique individual and the personal process of one person may not work for another. This is most evident by the numerous shelves in each bookstore packed with self-help books, none of which work completely.

So we begin with the basic essentials. You and I are individuals with our unique needs, which may not match anyone else, how do I go from here to enter the circle of peace?

The steps for doing thus are as follows:
1.    Making the Intention
2.    Getting rid of the clutter
3.    Reading the instructions
4.    Following the instructions
5.    Finding support in others on this path
6.    Refraining from going back to collecting clutter
7.    Making amends for past mistakes
8.    Traveling
9.    Having a focus in daily life
10.    Saying No to invitations to exit the circle of peace

1.    MAKING THE INTENTION
Look at your current life, are you completely happy with yourself, your surroundings, your work, your personal life and your friends, if you are then you are perhaps already in the circle of peace, and you just need to review 8, 9 and 10.
However if any of the areas mentioned above are unsatisfactory then you need to face yourself in the mirror and make the intention that you are going to deliberately and with istiqamah (steadfastness) endeavor, struggle and do your best to enter the circle of peace and do your utmost to remain within the circle of peace despite outside interference.

Once you have made the intention, then make a supplication to God Almighty that He in his infinite wisdom, place peace in your heart, mind and soul and allow you to live and die in peace.
(Dua of living and dying a Muslim)

2.    GETTING RID OF THE CLUTTER
There are two kinds of clutter:
i)        External clutter
ii)        Internal clutter

i)    EXTERNAL CLUTTER
This is relatively easier once you have made up your mind to clear the garbage and the beautiful boxes it comes in.
The external clutter enters your environment riding in the car of desire, the driver being your Nafs. Thus when you really really want something badly, ask yourself the question “Will I die without it?” if the answer is no, then do not acquire it.
This is not an easy task, thus to reinforce yourself study the following for at least roughly half an hour every day if not more:

If you like to listen: CD series by Mokhtaar Magroubi titled: ‘Diseases of the Heart” available at www.zawiyah.net.
If you like to read: This book by Hamza Yusuf “Purification of the Heart”
If you like the Internet then review Taleem ul Quran (available in English and Urdu) at www.alhudapk.com (audiovisual and then choose Farhat Hashmi for Urdu and Amina Elahe or Hijab Iqbal for English) Start with Sipara 1.

Examine your surroundings: Do you have distracters? Is there any thing that steals your time away from the study of the Quran and the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?These two sources are your guide book and your compass in the search for entering the circle of peace.

INTERNAL CLUTTER:

Is there any thing that steals time away from cleansing your heart of the diseases mentioned above?

Is there anything that pollutes your five senses with anxiety, anger, and emotions of frustration, envy, hatred, avarice, aggression, and predatoryness? If the answer is yes remove its source and delivery system, whether it is books, magazines, journals, articles, Internet email, news, movies, so called friends and acquaintances, colleagues or any other stimulationinciting these emotions.

IMPEDIMENTS
I know at this time you are panicking because that is your whole life, how can you give up everything, remember it is not forever, you are taking out the garbage and once you have entered the circle of peace you can bring back those items back in to your life ,that will help you stay in the circle of peace.

REINFORCEMENTS TO PREVENT RE-ACCUMULATION OF CLUTTER
Meanwhile study the Life of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. He (PBUH) for he too was surrounded by vicious clutter and negative emotions, people and things and he slowly learned to remove these things and people and emotions from within him while he had to continue to live within them physically.

Row hard to enter the circle of peace

TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS & YOUR OLD YEARNINGS
Now since you have freed up a lot of your time by removing  time spent with the news, coffee shops, newspapers, Internet, magazines, journals, surfing the internet, face book, aimless wanderings of the mall, fruitless texting and phone talk, you find yourself in a void, with nothing to do.

This is where you selectively start filling this void with the Dhikr of God Almighty.
Dhikr comes in two categories:
1. Formal Dhikr: such as the five time prayers, thus learn the prayer the way Prophet Muhammad PBUH conducted it, perfect it, memorize it (it sharpens your memory and intellect).

Before entering into these prayers take your time to prepare for wudu, wear clean, well-ironed, crisp clothes that you enjoy wearing for yourself (i.e. not to show others), annoit yourself with perfume if you like it as you have an appointment with your creator and empty your head of all obligations.

Perform the salaat over as extended a period as you can. If you only know one surah repeat it many many times in iqamah and the same for the ruku and sajdah, do long sajdahs, as that is when we are closest to God Almighty.

Learn and finesse the five prayers and learn a new surah every day or every few days if you are slow like me. Memorize its meaning and repeat it in every prayer.

2. Informal Dhikr or Dhikr on the go:
When the desire to indulge in the raucous aspects of the Internet, TV or radio, touches you, repeat the simple dhikr of “Astigfirullah” or “Subhanallahe wabehamdeh” which translates as “How perfect God is and I praise Him”

WHY DO ALL THIS?
TO ENTER THE CIRCLE OF PEAC E ………….everyone wants it, everyone yearns for it, everyone does not get it, ……..All these action points may sound superfluous and simplistic and those of you from Pakistan and other Muslim countries these acts may remind you of the uneducated class, but take it from me it will open a path in front of you towards the circle of peace………..such that you will be amazed at the happiness it will bring you. Keep doing it till the negative feelings go away and the path towards the circle of Peace is lighted with your Dhikr.

When ever you find yourself extending your hand to buy yet another glossy magazine, your feet move towards the mall to kill some time, or your fingers go to surf mindless websites on the internet, remind yourself that it is nothing bu clutter in your home, your heart and your mind and will fill your senses with unwanted clutter, and deviate you and distract you from your intended goal of entering the circle of peace.

STUMBLING AND CATCHING YOURSELF….
Sometimes you will feel despondent and may have the perception that you are not making progress and you may even yearn for the raucous movies, sad or joyous songs, and old friends with whom you killed time, but remember this too shall pass. Repeat the Dhikr with meaning and feeling till the feeling of despondency goes away.

Once you have entered the circle of peace, you have clarity of vision, a clean heart and you will be able to choose what you have found to be beneficial and bring it into the circle of peace with you and it will be worth the wait and the peaceful home you will bring it into…………..

To be continued………..

Know the purpose of your life

GUEST ARTICLE
By Mubashar Khokhar.

What is the purpose of creation of mankind and what does our Creator expect from us?

Allah Subhanawataala says:

(56) I have only created jinns and men that they may serve Me.
(  سورة الذاريات  , Adh-Dhariyat, Chapter #51, Verse #56)

57 No Sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me

58 For Allah is He Who gives (all) Sustenance,- Lord of Power,- Steadfast (for ever).

56اور میں نے جنوں اور انسانوں کو اس لئے پیدا کیا ہے کہ میری عبادت کریں

57میں ان سے طالب رزق نہیں اور نہ یہ چاہتا ہوں کہ مجھے (کھانا) کھلائیں

58خدا ہی تو رزق دینے والا زور آور اور مضبوط ہے

“Ibadat” comes from the root word “abd” in Arabic, which means “ghulam”. A ghulam (slave) is one who submits himself completely to the will of his master. In this context Master is the Creator ALLAH. And the abd / ghulam/slave leads his entire life as per the commands of Allah given in the Quran. Slave is better understood in contrast with a servant. A slave has no choice; a servant is free after his wages are paid. What Allah demands of mankind is slavery.

As to the sustenance and provisions (for which we spend all our life ) Allah says; Surah Hud v 6.

6: There is no moving creature on earth but its sustenance dependeth on Allah. He knoweth the time and place of its definite abode and its temporary deposit: All is in a clear Record.
6اور زمین پر کوئی چلنے پھرنے والا نہیں مگر اس کا رزق خدا کے ذمے ہے وہ جہاں رہتا ہے، اسے بھی جانتا ہے اور جہاں سونپا جاتا ہے اسے بھی۔ یہ سب کچھ کتاب روشن میں (لکھا ہوا) ہے

Surah Imran v 26 and 27

Say: “O Allah. Lord of Power (And Rule), Thou givest power to whom Thou pleasest, and Thou strippest off power from whom Thou pleasest: Thou enduest with honor whom Thou pleasest, and Thou bringest low whom Thou pleasest: In Thy hand is all good. Verily, over all things Thou hast power.
27″Thou causest the night to gain on the day, and thou causest the day to gain on the night; Thou bringest the Living out of the dead, and Thou bringest the dead out of the Living; and Thou givest sustenance to whom Thou pleasest, without measure.”
26کہو کہ اے خدا (اے) بادشاہی کے مالک تو جس کو چاہے بادشاہی بخشے اور جس سے چاہے بادشاہی چھین لے اور جس کو چاہے عزت دے اور جسے چاہے ذلیل کرے ہر طرح کی بھلائی تیرے ہی ہاتھ ہے اور بے شک تو ہر چیز پر قادر ہے

27تو ہی رات کو دن میں داخل کرتا اور تو ہی دن کو رات میں داخل کرتا ہے تو ہی بے جان سے جاندار پیدا کرتا ہے اور تو ہی جاندار سے بے جان پیدا کرتا ہے اور توہی جس کو چاہتا ہے بے شماررزق بخشتا ہے

In conclusion: Mans purpose is clearly defined in the Quran and it is:

To serve Allah in accordance with His commands.

. In essence, life is all about ’submission’ to Allah. And that is what he expects from us; complete submission.

(7) “‘Be ye not arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the true Religion).’”
31     میرے سامنے تکبر نہ کرو اور میرے پاس مطیع ہو کر چلی آؤ

(  سورة النمل  , An-Naml, Chapter #27, Verse #31)

Think how conscious we are about our roles as children, parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, owners, employers etc and how upset we get when our children don’t listen to our orders!

JazakAllah Khair.

A CALL FROM IRAQ………….

As the shadows lengthen, I hear the blackbird call……………..I am thousands of miles away from whence I heard her for the first time:

I am a pre- teen and I am visiting my grandmother in Lahore. The sun is bright and Shad the girl from the village, who lives with my grandmother, is spreading out the wheat, and shaking it on a tray to separate the wheat from the chaff. A sea of gold is spread in the Vairra (Punjabi for a private bricked in back yard). To my city girl eyes it is a gorgeous scene.

Suddenly as clear as a bell, the Koel calls from somewhere within the mango trees. Shad stops………… her hands dipped in the gold of the wheat, and listens attentively. She then addresses me in Punjabi “do you know what she is saying” , I lean forward all attention” no” I say “tell me” always eager to learn local folk lore.

“She is saying Yusuf Khooh” I know what the words mean in Punjabi, but I don’t know what she is referring to.

She looks at my confused expression and begins the story of Yusuf (AS) “His brothers got jealous of him and threw him in the well…………….and she goes on with the story in brevity.

“Yusuf Khooh” I repeat after her, which in English means “Yusuf (AS) is in the well” at that time I dismiss her story as a figment of imagination of the villagers.

Yusuf (AS) ……..I remember, whose beauty cannot be measured, that if all the beauty of the world was collected, it would only amount to half his beauty.

Somewhere what is currently Iraq, there was a little four year old boy (Yusuf AS). The intensity of sibling jealousy made him the target of their anger. One day they took him to play and lowered him into a well. As they were leaving him, he cried out and entreated to them not to leave him in the darkness………..but their hearts hardened and they left him in the well.

When the brothers went back to their father, and reported that Yusuf had been eaten by a wolf, he cried and kept crying till he became blind. He was a Nabi and knew that Yusuf his baby was alive, but where or in what condition he did not know……..and so he cried till blindness came upon him but the tears did not cease to flow.

The grief of losing one’s child is beyond the highest threshold of pain and the grief of losing one’s child and knowing he is alive somewhere…….. is a pain at a level higher than that.

I pause and try to think of the father’s plight………I cannot, it is too painful.

Yaqub (AS) was in a state where he could not even be angry with Yusuf (AS) brothers……..it was his own sons, Yusuf (AS) brothers who had left him in the well, to die or to be rescued but hoping never to be found.

Yusuf was his child, and every child has his or her own place in the heart of father or mother, a place that can never be replaced by another child no matter what……..and thus Yaqub (AS) cried his heart and his eyes out………..and so goes the narration in the Quran (Surah Yusuf)

Even though as a preteen I had chalked off the bird call and its Punjabi interpretation as a figment of the imagination of the villagers, today as I pause in my work  and listen to the Koel calling “Yusuf Khooh” in the trees beyond my office, repeating, entreating, calling………..for help, I wonder……..

I know that nothing in this universe happens by chance. My imagination flies and I wonder if some ancestor of this bird saw Yusuf (AS) in the well and flew for help. Over centuries this little bird has passed on the message in every local language to the birds of the world………a reminder to those of us whose hearts may be hardening with what we see happening to the children of the world…….the shrugging of the shoulders with “what can I do I am so far away”

This little bird…………..with all its strength has changed her song to that of a call for help to inform everyone who can hear……………

It reminds me how “laissez faire” we may become by desensitization to inhumanity……………so many things can harden our hearts…….the acid of envy, the fire of rage, the frustration of unrequited love of a human being, not getting one’s way, of wanting to be number one in the eyes of ones father and not being one, of succumbing to the obedience of the schemes of Shaitaan, of turning a deaf ear to the wails of a  four year old brother in the well, of being blinded by ghafala, and led by suggestions, whose source is evil (men led by shaitaan as the Quran states).

There are so many things that want to pour cement onto our hearts, but there is only one that can prevent it………the remembrance of accountability to Allah Subhanawataala, the finiteness of this world and the just due coming to us on the Day of Judgment.

I listen to the bird……..as Asar fades into Maghrib. Her calls of “Yusuf Khooh” become more frequent and more insistent as if she knows that with the waning daylight hours, the terror of the little boy in the well increases and the chances of being rescued, fade.

Presumably the little bird is doing her duty for centuries in perhaps reminding us of the plight of a little Muslim boy in the well ……..are we doing ours?

photo courtesy of :http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nerdybirders.com/images/Birds/asian-koel.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nerdybirders.com/html/birds/asian-koel.html&h=483&w=640&sz=84&tbnid=u6opLVfaWcCdnM::&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpictures%2Bof%2Bkoel%2Bbird&hl=en&usg=__I70-C88enoTlX6XrAbzIZpW4DwM=&ei=miK7Se-5E8Oetwe8zIj3Cw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image&cd=1

The cloak of sleep veiled him………

Masjid e Nabvi

The wedding function had begun, but the young nephew of the clan chief was still not there, the hosts perhaps were a little irritated. In the tradition of the classic pagan Arab tribes, the dances, music, wine and fahashah began in earnest.
In a society where men and women danced naked around the Kaaba, there were no holds barred to obscenity and lewdness when it came to celebrating a wedding where wine, women and song combined to make an explosive outcome.

He was hurrying to the city to attend this wedding in his clan. He had not been to one and was trying to get to the city on time. As the afternoon sun shone on his young teenage head, he felt sleepy, and next thing he knew was when he was waking up in the desert night, still enroute to the wedding.
“ I fell asleep” he wondered in amazement, “………..and the wedding is over” He got up dusted his clothes and set back for home, chaste and untouched by the seductions of Shaitaan’s people.

Allah Subhanawataala was protecting him from the evils of unrestrained fahashah as was common practice in Arabs of those days. The cloak of sleep veiled him from the antics of shaitaan at the wedding of his clan member.

What was he (PBUH) being prepared for …….with a veil being placed between his innocence and the harsh dunya …….