A DUA FOR WHEN MUSLIMS FIGHT MUSLIMS……….

	Surah Zumar 46
	Transliteration 46; Quli allahumma fatira alssamawati waalardi AAalima alghaybi waalshshahadati anta tahkumu baynaAAibadika fee ma kanoo feehi yakhtalifoona
	Yusuf Ali 46: Say: “O Allah. Creator of the heavens and the earth! Knower of all that is hidden and open! it is Thou that wilt judge between Thy Servants in those matters about which they have differed.”
	French 46: Dis: ‹Ô Allah, Créateur des cieux et de la terre, Connaisseur de tout ce que le monde ignore comme de ce qu’il perçoit, c’est Toi qui jugeras entre Tes serviteurs ce sur quoi ils divergeaient›.
	Spanish 46: Di: “¡Alá, creador de los cielos y de la tierra! ¡El Conocedor de lo oculto y de lo patente! Tú decidirás entre Tus siervos sobre aquello en que discrepaban”.
	Indonesian 46: Katakanlah: “Ya Allah, Pencipta langit dan bumi, Yang mengetahui barang ghaib dan yang nyata, Engkaulah Yang memutuskan antara hamba-hamba-Mu tentang apa yang selalu mereka memperselisihkannya”.
	Melayu 46: Ucapkanlah (wahai Muhammad): Wahai Tuhan yang menciptakan langit dan bumi, yang mengetahui perkara-perkara yang ghaib dan yang nyata, Engkaulah jua yang mengadili di antara hamba-hambaMu, mengenai apa yang mereka sentiasa berselisihan padanya.
	German 46: “Sprich: “”O Allah! Schöpfer der Himmel und der Erde! Kenner des Verborgenen und des Offenbaren! Du allein wirst zwischen Deinen Dienern richten über das, worüber sie uneins waren.”"
	Russian 46: Скажи: «О Аллах, Творец небес и земли, Ведающий сокровенное и явное! Ты рассудишь Своих рабов в том, в чем они расходились во мнениях».
	Bosnian 46: Reci: “Allahu, Stvoritelju nebesa i Zemlje, Ti koji znaš nevidljivi i vidljivi svijet, Ti ćeš robovima Svojim presuditi u onome oko čega su se razilazili!”

STORIES FROM PAKISTAN: The Mistress And Her Driver

These are true stories, fictionalized to protect the identity of the characters. All photos are borrowed and have no actual association with the story.

This series of “Stories from Pakistan” were related to me when I researched the reasons for moral decay in Pakistanis, and the evolution of “the Talibanisation of Pakistan”.

The analysis of the stories is my own.

Karachi mercedes: courtesy of:http://www.flickr.com/photos/22361526@N08/2304908119/

Give the kinsman his due, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and squander not (thy wealth) in wantonness. Quran: 17.026 :

He…………… was a poor young man from a small village in the North; She was an affluent, educated wife of a CEO from Karachi.

She was the mistress and lady of the house and he was her driver.

One day he heard from his uncle the truck driver that his mother was desperately ill with cancer and would die unless taken to the Shaukat Khanum Hospital in a city far away from their village. Money was needed and someone needed to take her there.

He had a good job, driving his mistress in her Mercedes earning 7000 Rupees a month. He needed 5000 more to get his sick mother to Lahore, where the cancer hospital was located. This put him in a quandary. If he left his job and took his mother to the hospital in Lahore, he would lose his job as well as the money needed to finance her treatment.

She………….. was a graduate of St. Josephs College an elite college in western education run by the Catholic Nuns. A college providing free education to the catholic girls on the backs of the city’s Muslim elite that beat down the doors to get their girls into the college.

St. Joseph College Karachi: courtesy of:http://www.flickr.com/photos/94489023@N00/258803174

Her parents were Muslims by birth but secular by choice. She had never been educated in the Quran and was not aware much of the Sunnah, which to her like many other girls growing up in Pakistan was an optional path. Her children were grown and married and had their own homes. She loved shopping, for them, for herself and for her friends.

He came to her and asked her if she would give an advance on his salary of 5000 Rs, to take care of his sick mother. She was irritated. These drivers from up north always had some excuse; if it wasn’t a sick mother it was a dying grandmother. She told him that she did not have 5000 Rupees to give him, and that was that. Having said that she rapidly forgot him and carried on with her lunches and visits with family and friends, till her husband got home in the evening.

The next day he was summoned to drive her to the shopping mall. After shopping all day she came out of the mall in the late afternoon laden with lots of bags filled with her purchases. He rushed to her assistance in his usual respectful manner.

There were at least ten bags. As he was loading them into the trunk, one of the bags ripped and the contents and a rolled up paper fell out. As he stuffed everything back in the torn bag and placed it in the trunk, he glanced at the piece of paper that had unrolled in its descent. He picked it up and glancing at it realized that it was a receipt. He froze as he saw the total amount and his breath stopped as he tried to focus on the end total of Rupees 25,000.

She had been brought up in an affluent home, where money was never an issue. Where servants were seen and not heard and sometimes not even seen. Her convent education had precluded her from her Islamiat classes which she was happy about as Arabic was so difficult. She had been beautiful in her youth and some of the well preserved looks still lingered. Her life ran like a smooth well-oiled machine, there was no incentive to learn anything as old fashioned as The Quran. It was the book bound in a beautiful cover, which graced the upper most bookshelf. It had been used for a ceremony at their wedding and since then had never been cracked open.

He was a child of war torn Afghanistan when the Afghans were fighting the “Godless Russians”. In crossing the border to Pakistan he had lost his grandfather, his father and all the rest of his family members. It was only he and his mother who had survived the trek from the mountains of Afghanistan into Peshawar.

His mother had kept him hidden from the Madrassahs where one could get free food and free education. She was fearful of madrassahs, as she had heard from others in the camp that mysterious aircraft with no men in it dropped bombs onto Madrassahs. She was going to make sure her son did not go to any madrassah. She regretfully accepted that her decision also meant that he would never be able to learn the Quran.

Madrassa student:courtesy http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarwarmushtaq/3277351129

Thus he had learnt his English and his math at the NGO camp. His mother could not read the Quran, though she revered it. Having lived in makeshift areas she had not had the continuity of a secure family life to learn the Quran from her elders. Her nomadic life in the fifteen-year war with Russia had taken its toll on the family, which barely kept body and soul together.

Thus she had acknowledged with sadness that she could not teach him the Quran, the salaah or its meaning. She had a strong faith in God and transmitted that to her son in the best way she could.

One day his uncle who was a trucker invited him to go to Karachi a city 1500 miles away from his village where he said jobs abound.

She sent him away knowing as she said goodbye to him that she may never see him again, but that he would do well in a job as a truck driver, in the remote but large bustling city of Karachi.

Standing at the open trunk of the Mercedes in the parking lot of the mall, the receipt in his hand, his head was spinning.  The tidal wave of rage was rising like a tsunami in his heart spreading into the cool areas of his brain, until all he could see was his sick mother and the receipt for goods for 25000 Rupees. Just as the fire of rage ascended to its peak, the chill of cold focused anger settled in his heart and mind. He shut the trunk and slipped into the driver seat.

She was looking at the new fashions in the glossy magazine she had picked up at the mall. Soon she realized that the car seemed to have been traveling for a while and they were still not home. She looked up and out of the window and saw the desert in the outskirts of Karachi.  She was alarmed but coolly tapped him on the shoulder, “Are you lost?” Where is this?” She asked, authoritatively. He did not answer, but turned onto a wide stretch of sand and brought the car to a standstill.

He got out of the car and opened her door, his eyes cold with anger. She was petrified but maintained her arrogant composure.

He then said showing her the receipt “ you had told me you did not have the money to advance me 5000 Rs from my salary to help my sick mother, and look at this”………..he said showing her the receipt for 25000 rupees,………..“this!”……….He said. Utter contempt, rage, disgust, and the finality of end point anger poured into that one word, and without another word, he killed her on the spot. He killed her!

The Karachi news and media erupted into another tirade of venomenous indignation against the Taliban.

A man in need, but in Ghafala (ignornace of the Deen that brings peace, trust and faith in God) and thus devoid of the rope of Hope from Allah. A woman raised in greed and ghafala ( ignorance of the Deen that sensitizes one to the needs of the less fortunate and teaches compassion and the fear of God), oblivious to the rights of the needy, devoid of the knowledge and commandment in the Quran to fulfill the rights of the needy instead of” wasting it wantonly”.

Pakistan……………….. unraveling the fiber of its moral fabric, stitch-by-stitch, person-by-person, at all the levels of society, where the light of the Quran has not permeated, and the darkness of Ghafala presides.

004.093 YUSUFALI: If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (For ever): And the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him.

O ye who believe! Squander not your wealth among yourselves in vanity, except it be a trade by mutual consent, and kill not one another. Lo! Allah is ever Merciful unto you. Quran 004.029

IN THE FIRE DUE TO OBSTINANCY OR IGNORANCE?…….……….Surah Ra’ad 13:43

Obstinate denial leaves us alone without Allah: courtesy flickr.com

وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَستَ مُرسَلاً قُل فَى بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدَا بَينِى وَبَينَم وَمَن عِندَهُ  عِلمُ ٱلكِتَـبِ (٤٣

The Unbelievers say: “No messengers art thou.” Say: “Enough for a witness between me and you is Allah, and such as have knowledge of the Book.” (43)

TAFSEER BY DR. FARHAT HASHMI 13:43

Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is commanded by Allah to say to those who deny that he is Allah; s Messenger that “ Allah’s witness is enough for me and he who has the ilm (knowledge) of the book”

Who has the ilm (knowledge) of the book? What is the book that is being referred here?

Thus if the Book being Luh- e- Mahfooz then it is Allah who has the knowledge and is being referred here. If the book is Torah and Injeel then the reference is to the Ulema of these Books and if the book is the Quran then the reference is to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Thus the people in the above categories are witness to Prophet Muhammad’s Prophet hood.

In Surah Al Imran ayah 18 Allah Subhanawataala says:

There is no god but He: that is the witness of Allah His angels and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Power, the Wise. (18) The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His will): nor did the people of the Book dissent there from except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account. (19)

The people of knowledge know who is Allah’s Messengers. No one who has knowledge of the book would deny that Prophet Muhammad pbuh is the Messenger of God.

People can deny the Messenger only on the basis of ignorance or their obstinate ego.

MY TAKE:

Obstinacy is the brother of arrogance. It is that characteristic which prevents us from softening our heart towards something that we know from the inner precincts of our heart to be true. but one  denies it because of arrogance ( A disease of the heart)  and the whispered encouragement of the Shaytaan to dig our heels in and oppose it.

Thus we sometimes end up denying the truth while knowing it with our inner being to be the truth.  (May Allah Subhanawataala protect us from this trait).

COMMUNICATING GODS WORD: TAJWEED

BY YASIR QADHI:

and here is an introduction by Nouman Ali Khan:

The Virtue of Tawakkul

Excerpted from:Books of Al Ghazali (http://www.ghazali.org/site/outtakes.htm)

The virtue of tawakkul: Allahu ta’ala has commanded everybody to have tawakkul and declared, “Tawakkul is a requirement for iman.” It is purported in the sura of Maida: “If you have iman, put your tawakkul in Allahu ta’ala.“ In the sura of ‘Imran: Certainly Allahu ta’ala likes those who have tawakkul.” In the sura of Talaq: “If a person puts his tawakkul in Allahu ta’ala, Allahu ta’ala is sufficient for him.” In the sura of Zumar: “Isn’t Allahu ta’ala sufficient for His born slave?” And there is many an ayat like these.

Once Rasulullah ’sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam’ said,

“They showed me some of my Ummat. They covered mountains and saharas. I was surprised and pleased to see that they were so many. ‘Are you pleased?’ they said, and I said, ‘Yes, I am.’ They said, ‘Only seventy thousand of these will go to Paradise without any questioning.’ ‘Which ones,’ I asked. ‘They are the ones who do not mix their deeds with sorcery, spell, incantation or augury, and who do not put their tawakkul and trust in anybody besides Allahu ta’ala.”

Uqasha ‘radiAllahu anh’, who was among the listeners, stood up and said, “O Rasulullah! Pray for me so that I shall be one of them.” So Rasulullah prayed, “O my Allah! Include him among them!” But when someone else stood up and asked for the same prayer, he stated, “Uqasha has forestalled you.”

He stated in another hadith,

“If you put your tawakkul in Allahu ta’ala thoroughly, He would send your sustenance as He sends it to the birds. Birds go out with empty, hungry stomachs in the morning and come back with their stomachs filled, satiated in the evening.”

He stated in a hadith,

“If a person trusts himself to Allahu ta’ala, Allahu ta’ala will come to his help in his every deed. He will send him food from places which he does not expect at all. If anyone trusts the world, He will leave him in the world.”

When Hadrat Ibrahim was put on the catapult and was about to be hurled into the fire, he said, “Hasbiyallah wa ni’mal wakil,” which means “My Allah will suffice for me. He is a good guardian, a good helper.” As he fell into the fire Hadrat Gabriel (Jabrail) came to him and asked, “Do you have any wish?” “Yes, I do, but not from you,” he said. Thus, he proved true to the word “Hasbiyallah.” Therefore, he was praised in the sura of Wannajmi: “Ibrahim, a man of his word.

” Allahu ta’ala declared to Hadrat Dawud: “If a person gives up hope of everything and puts his trust in Me only, I shall certainly rescue him even if all the beings on earth and in heaven strive to harm and deceive him.”

end excerpt

MAKING INTELLIGENT CHOICES………….Ar-Rad 13: 1-2

Above the clouds but below the skies..........What is holding them?

Surah Ar-Rad (The Thunder)

المر  تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ  وَالَّذِي أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ الْحَقُّ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

اللَّهُ الَّذِي رَفَعَ السَّمَاوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا  ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ  وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ  كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى  يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُم بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Alif Lam Mim Ra. These are the Signs (or Verses) of the Book: that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord is the Truth; but most men believe not. (1) Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that ye can see; then He established Himself on the Throne (of authority); He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law)! Each one runs (its course) for a term appointed. He doth regulate all affairs explaining the Signs in detail that ye may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord. (2)

Tafseer

This book words that were revealed to Prophet Muhammad are the truth but people do not understand it and do not believe it. Allah Subhananawataala says in Surah Yusuf:

012.105: And how many Signs in the heavens and the earth do they pass by? Yet they turn (their faces) away from them!

Keep in mind: Surah Yusuf shows contrasts of life, and some lessons, as well as in Surah Lut the good and the bad, the blind and the seeing are not the same and one must learn how to choose what is best and the truth.

This Surah gives contrasts and shows us that how we must recognize the truth from falsehood.

Allah is that who raised the roof of the Heavens (skies) without pillars, and you see the heights of the roof of the skies and you see there are no pillars

In Surah Hajj Allah Subhanawataala says:

22: 65. Do you not see that Allah has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the earth and the ships running in the sea by His command? And He withholds the heaven from falling on the earth except with His permission; most surely Allah is Compassionate, Merciful to men.

Allah has raised the skies without pillars that you cannot see. The network of the magnetic field of these planets etc in orbit holds each other and is invisible to us.

He captured the suns and moon and each is moving at a particular pace as commanded. How long they will move? For a specified time: till the Day of Judgment, and or the specified time of completing the circuit example of a year example explained in detail in Surah Yaseen. (All planets are moving in their own orbits):

036.037 And a Sign for them is the Night: We withdraw there from the Day, and behold they are plunged in darkness;

036.038: And the sun runs his course for a period determined for him: that is the decree of (Him), the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing.

036.039: And the Moon, – We have measured for her mansions (to traverse) till she returns like the old (and withered) lower part of a date-stalk.

036.040I: It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to Law).

He Subhanawataala plans for everything and explains all these to you so that you prepare for the time you will meet your Lord, because these things will not last for ever nor will you.

Just as you will become dust, this Universe one day will also be dust.

End Tafseer

My Take;

Allah Subhanawtaala has given a choice to human beings between the good and the bad, the sour and the sweet, the truth and falsehood. These are only some of the choices amongst many.

Allah Subhanawataala encourages us in this Surah to use our intellect and deductive and reasoning abilities to discern what is good for us and what is not. He also gives example of His creation of the skies and the sun and moon and explains how they move in a specific time and space. Scientists who search for answers find them and then people like me and others read them and exclaim in wonder about our Creator.

These ayahs call us to:

1. Recognize our Creator in the perfection on his creation
2. Recognize that we have choices, some innocent and some significant ones that will change our outcome on the day of judgment
3. To understand that time is finite and each one of us has an individual limit on earth.
4. Recognize that we will not live forever, nor will the Universe.

5.     To accept and bow with gratitude and respect to our Creator.

WHY DO WE SEND BLESSINGS ON PROPHET MUHAMMAD PEACE BE UPON HIM IN EVERY PRAYER?

A QUESTION FROM A BLOG READER AND MY HUMBLE ATTEMPT AT ANSWERING IT (PLEASE ADD OR CORRECT IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION TO ADD)

Question: No other prophet has asked for -duaa 4 his n his family although he is already supposed 2 b next 2 Allah in rootbaa-in every namaz we have 2 pray 4 him –y?

My humble answer:

This is, as I understand it:

We as Believers are commanded by Allah Subhanawataala to send salawaat to Prophet Muhammad and his Aal (relatives and people) in every prayer and as many times a day as possible. He (PBUH) has reaffirmed this commandment by saying that we should send salaawaat to him and his Aal (family) as many times as possible.

WHERE DOES THIS COME FROM?

In one word, the commandment comes from the Quran. It is given directly and indirectly:

Direct:

Allah Subhanawataala says in the Quran:

Surah Al-Ahzab, Chapter #33, Verse #56)

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

English translation:

Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.

And in French:

Certes, Allah est Ses Anges prient sur le Prophète; ò vous qui croyez priez sur lui et adresses [lui] vos salutations.

Indirect: Allah Subhnaawataala COMMANDS us in the Quran numerous times, to obey Him (subhanawataala) and His Rasool (pbuh) starting with Surah Al Imran and many other surah, some are quoted below:

Surah Al-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #32)

32            قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

Say: “obey Allah and His Messenger.: But if they turn back, Allah loveth not those who reject Faith.

Surah Al -Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #50)

وَمُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَلِأُحِلَّ لَكُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي حُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَجِئْتُكُم بِآيَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ

“‘(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me.  (i.e.Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him)

Surah Al-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #132)

وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

And obey Allah and the Messenger. that ye may obtain mercy.

Thus the irrevocable message of Allah for the Believers is:

Obey me and obey the Rasool (peace be upon Him)

And then the promise of Jannah with obedience to Allah and His Rasool (PBUH):

Surah an-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #13)

تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَ‌ٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

Those are limits set by Allah. those who obey Allah and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein (for ever) and that will be the supreme achievement.

And then the punishment fro disobedience of Allah and His Rasool (pbuh):

Surah an-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #14)

وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ نَارًا خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَلَهُ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ

But those who disobey Allah and His Messenger and transgress His limits will be admitted to a Fire, to abide therein: And they shall have a humiliating punishment.

And then a reminder that he who obeys the Messenger obeys Allah!

(  سورة النساء  , An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #80)

مَّن يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ ۖ وَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ فَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا

He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah. But if any turn away, We have not sent thee to watch over their (evil deeds).

And then a warning :

Surah Muhammad, Chapter #47, Verse #33):

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوا أَعْمَالَكُمْ

O ye who believe! obey Allah, and obey the apostle, and make not vain your deeds!

In Summary:

We have to remember the reason Allah Subhanawataala created us was to worship him; He made the process pleasant by placing us in a beautiful dunya and providing us with beauty around us.

He prescribed the format for worship through a series of messengers, the last one being Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings upon him, who then instructed us how to pray by showing us physically how to pray. He taught us what to say in prayer and the Durood or the blessings to him and his family and his followers are part of the prayer both obligatory and extra.

He (pbuh) was sent as a mercy to mankind

So the equation goes as such for the Believer:

We believe in One God and we believe Muhammad PBUH to be his last Rasool (pbuh), we believe in the Quran to be the authentic word of God revealed to mankind via Prophet Muhammad pbuh.

We are commanded in the Quran (the direct words of God) to worship him, and to obey Him (God Almighty) and to obey his Rasool (Prophet Muhammad pbuh).

If one disobeys the Punishment is outlined, if one obeys Allah Subhanawataala the benefits and rewards are outlined (see the ayahs quoted above).

Thus when Prophet Muhammad shows us how to pray we obey him and pray the way he has shown us how to pray, We do not devise other ways, neither adding nor subtracting.

The only thing that stands between acceptance of and carrying out obedience to Allah and His Rasool (Pbuh) is a strong arrogant Nafs, strengthened by the whisperings of the shaytaan who has vowed to prove that the children of Adam are stupid and disobedient.

The Rasool (peace be upon him) follows and obeys Allah Subhanawataala in everything.

Thus he is given to us as a human role model who demonstrates to us that no matter what your weaknesses, or strengths, with your daily ups and downs, family and professional life, you can still obey Allah Subhanawataala and live a full and rewarding life.

If we are Believers, then the commandments of Allah Subhanawataala are the law of our lives, and we must struggle to live by them no matter what the circumstances.

Allah knows best!

If you have additional information or references please feel free to add in the comments, thank you!

DISEASES OF THE BODY AND DISOBEDIENCE OF GOD: PORK

workers at a Danish pig processing plant:http://www.foodprocessing-technology.com/projects/danish_crown/danish_crown5.html

“This is unprecedented in terms of any kind of illness that has been associated with occupational exposure”

Daniel Lachance MD, Research Faculty, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic.

BACKGROUND

The eating of the flesh and blood of swine is forbidden as a clear commandment in the Quran.

Surah Baqarah: 002.173 He hath only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name hath been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then is he guiltless. For Allah is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful.

Surah Al Anaam :006.145 Say: “I find not in the message received by me by inspiration any (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be dead meat, or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine,- for it is an abomination - or, what is impious, (meat) on which a name has been invoked, other than Allah’s”. But (even so), if a person is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- thy Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

016.115 YUSUFALI: He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits,- then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

If the creation of Allah would not eat pork it would not imbibe, inhale and ingest the flesh and blood of the pig, thus not only protecting themselves but also those who prepare the meat for consumption.

THE TRUE & SAD STORY OF PAIN

The pivot of this true story comes from the heartland of America where in two pork processing plants a mysterious illness exploded amongst its workers, disabling them with pain.

Masses of workers complained of headaches, pain in the neck, back and burning pain in the feet. Usually workers in meat processing plants are at the lowest rung of the socioeconomic ladder, and many times these are migrant workers with no health care.

However there are some advantages of having an epidemic in Minnesota because the researchers from Mayo clinic came to the assistance of the Minnesota Health department and the Federal Centers for Disease control and unraveled this painful and disabling disease associated with pig processing.

THE MODERATE VIEW

Sometimes Muslims are scoffed at for refusing to eat pork as it is touted as “clean and safe to eat “according to the non Muslim media. Colleagues with a smirk and a patronizing manner have informed me time and again that it was only forbidden because in olden times it carried worms in its flesh, which are bred out in the pig lots of the Heartland of America.

Moderating and changing the commandments of Allah is on the agenda of “Moderate Islamists”. Its proponents want to moderate Islamic principles to adjust and fit the satiety of our Nafs (self, desires). They are pressured by the surrounding media which sells the products for an extravagant and sometimes decadent and hedonistic way of life.

These can appears very seductive to one who is not well heeled in the words of God Almighty and who wishes desperately to fit in. He or she thus works feverishly to intellectually rationalize a reason to bypass the way of life designated by Him (God Almighty) for all His creatures.

SEARCHING FOR REASONS FOR THE PAIN

Almost three years ago when the majority of the Pig Processing Plant workers fell ill, no one paid attention to them, until perhaps they reached a critical mass with an absentee rate which interfered with the smooth running of the Plants involved.

It took three years for the Medical researchers from Mayo Clinic to figure out what was going on…….and here is what they found after three years of agonizing pain in these men and women from the pig processing plant:

THE REASON

“The Mayo doctors who are following the illness of these Pig processing plant workers have identified the condition as an inflammatory neuropathy, which they labeled specifically as an autoimmune sensory-predominant polyradiculoneuropathy”

TRANSLATION

When translated into normal language it means that the nerves of these workers when exposed to the pig products reacted in such a manner that they no longer could discern between what was their own tissue and what was a foreign invader.

Thus the body’s defense forces attacked its own nerves with a vehemence creating destruction (inflammation) in its wake resulting in pain in the owner of the body which became a battlefield with all of its ramifications.

THE SYMPTOMS:

“This illness was giving the workers ongoing neuromuscular symptoms including pain, fatigue, and weakness and tingling in their extremities” Mayo Clinic Researchers

REASON FOR NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

“The workers illness has been blamed on exposure to aerosolized pig brain tissue in the processing plants. This set off an immune response that attacked their nervous system, particularly the nerve roots exiting the spinal cord and nerve endings in the hands and feet, confirmed by neurophysiologic testing”.**

PROVIDING PROTECTION FROM OUR HARAAM (FORBIDDEN) DESIRES

This article is quoted not to scare people away from eating pork, nor is it to justify the truth of Allah’s word in the Quran.

It is to illustrate the limitation of our intellect, and to understand and admit that the Quran was revealed for all times and to believe that when Allah Subhanawataala says in the Quran, that I only forbid you from those things which are harmful for you, to believe Him by submitting to Him. The word Islam means “Submission, which results in peace”.

SUMMARY

Just as the body of these workers when exposed to a haraam thing, reacted by destroying its own self and becoming unable to discern between what is good and bad for the body, there are things in life that we cannot predict will harm us. Sometimes they are used for a time and may result in irreversible damage.

Thus by obeying the commandments of Allah Subhanawataala, we not only protect ourselves but all those people who are exposed to the processing of those goods and products (pork, alcohol, gambling etc) which are harmful to society at large, whether they participate in it directly or by default.

WHAT DOES ISLAM PROMOTE?

Islam is a religion and a way of life that promotes good health, social responsibility and preventive measures for addictive and harmful lifestyles. Most of all it protects us from the excesses of our own self (Nafs/desires).

Allah knows best.

** These findings were presented by the Mayo Clinic researchers at the American Academy of Neurology Meeting in Seattle in April of 2009.

RAMADAN REFLECTIONS: THINKING, SAYING AND………….DOING

Rehal & Quran from Syria

Before Ramadan, I am listening to the tafseer of the Quran by Dr. Farhat Hashmi online and I have all these ideas of what I am going to do in Ramadan.

It is Friday before Ramadan begins and the Imam in the Jumma Khutba speaks about controlling our tongues and our eyes and not to look for negative things in our fellow Muslims.

Hmmmm……… I think, and plan not to be irritated by the “minor” disturbances during prayer. As the eve of Ramadan approaches, I plan and plan……….. for isha and taraweh…………We eat an early and simple dinner, I read the translation of the juz and a quarter that the Imam may recite for Taraweh and head out to the mosque.

The first part of the drama enfolds with Isha. I move to the outer edge on the other side of the entrance so that I can situate my rehal and small copy of the Quran to follow the Imam in taraveh.

Some of the women come in late, jump over my rehal oblivious of what it is used for. Some children as old as five years, talk in a shrill voice and laugh loudly through out the taraveh. Some run up and down the room, jumping over chairs, working off the refined sugar and carbs their mothers lovingly fed them for dinner.

The recitation for the Taraveh is beautiful and I am able to follow it word by word in my copy of the Quran.

I notice as the rakats flow, my focus is eroded by what appears the loud talking of the older children, and finally I lose my place as to which rakat I am praying.

I try to focus by imagining being in the Haram on the hard marble floor with no musallah, no food in my stomach except some zam zam and a date, listening with rapt attention as the words of Allah resound around His House.

After Taraveh I approach the mother of one of the older children and ask her why she is losing such a wonderful opportunity to teach her daughter the etiquette of being in a mosque, of listening to the Quran attentively and the unique tradition of Taraveh?…………. she says, well………. my daughter cannot sit for “this long”.

At this moment my cynical self kicks in. Let me see how long it was?

It was one hour with three rests………..I thought to myself…………. how long is a movie? A minimum of one and one half hour!  Did I think her daughter had never been to a movies?  No I did not.

How long is the line at Disney World? A minimum of one hour in the blazing summer heat. Had this child of an affluent mother never been to Disney world, I doubt it! Had she not waited in the heat for the rides? I doubt it.

I realize the perspective of the parent is reflected on to the child………one hour of sitting quietly and listening to the words of God being recited beautifully, in a large air-conditioned room, with a full meal in the stomach is long, while watching a movie in a theatre for one and one half hour and sometimes two hours is not long?

Either the child in question or all the children had a disease of Hyperactivity or the colonialistic brainwashing of Pakistanis and Indians of priorities kicked in, with Tarbiyah of the child in Deen coming in last.

Well all said and done……….. I ruined any sawab I was going to get last night

I realized how far removed I was from the Sahaba of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who did not even pay attention when a scorpion stung him seven times…………

Were the shrill, loud and annoying voices of these children and the attitude of their oblivious mothers, during prayer more irritable or more deadly than a scorpion sting?

I realized that my span between thinking, resolving and doing still has a long way to go before it is shortened and becomes one!

As I struggle to correct my attitude please keep me in your prayers!

THE SHIRT: A PROOF OF INNOCENCE 12:23-32

AND THEN THIS HAPPENED…………

Yusuf AS choosing prison over disobedience of Allah…………