tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74916552011-04-21T15:24:22.350-04:00Clawing back out of the Abyss of Mediocrity...brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.comBlogger711100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1176690698598669172007-04-15T22:25:00.000-04:002007-04-15T22:31:38.603-04:00I took a break for like 10 months. This little journal about my Umrah trip last summer was sitting around in the drafts, from september. So I decided to publish it.<br /><br />Except its not just a post. Its a book. (try to) enjoy it inshaAllah :).<br /><br />Dont worry, there's pictures!!<br /><br />I pilfered them from my buddies' albums on something that rhymes with racebook. All by myself. ;)<br /><br />***<br /><br />Alhamdulillah, got back from Shabab Islamic Centre's 2006 Umrah trip a few days ago. Needless to say, those three weeks will inshaAllah be burned into my head for the rest of my life. Some thoughts on the trip I figured that I should maybe write down, while its still fresh. Its mostly to store personal memories, so feel free to skip the categories. :)<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">1. Preliminaries </span></strong><br /><br />For better or for worse, the flight from T.O. was booked for like 6 AM in the morning. Me and another brother decided to be smart and arrive at the airport like 3-4 hours in advance, because we thought the 1 hour hop to NYC was considered an 'international' flight. Me? I didnt even sleep that night. Not sure if I could've since I was so excited about the whole trip.<br /><br />So I arrive at Pearson at like 2 am in the morning, only to find out that the airport is basically deserted (except for the cleaning crews), and that all the airline counters are closed. The seats are unavailable because random people have decided to sleep over for the night, so I'm relegated to sitting on the floor and thinking about whats to happen next.<br /><br />And because I've a tendency to be paranoid (ahem), I took out a pocket Qur'an and started reciting Surah Yaseen. ;)<br /><br />The counters didnt open until 4 am, though, so we had plenty of time to sit around and day-dream. Customs was a breeze, alhamdulillah. The other brother who was with me, though, was in for a bit of a scare since the officer stuffed all his documents into a yellow folder and told him to step into a side room for uh, *further questioning*. Alhamdulillah, the brother was kicked out within a few minutes as the other officers bluntly told him that he didnt need *further questioning*, and was good to go. Needless to say, this same brother - lets call him Ali - thoroughly enjoyed his time at JFK International Airport, on our way back from the trip. ;)<br /><br />Then we met a third brother inside the waiting lounge; very cool guy mashaAllah, who goes to UTSC.<br /><br />The trip to NYC was only about an hour, which was good, because the plane that took us there was a dinky 40 seater jet that let you know every time it made a slight turn. The three of us were all seated at the very back of the plane, right ahead of the turbines. And the washroom, but khayr.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">2. New Yawk City </span></strong><br /><br />So we get to LaGuardia airport by like 7.30 AM, with nothing to do for the next 14-ish hours. (The flight to Jeddah was scheduled to leave at 9 P.M). So one of the guys had the brilliant idea that we'd 'tour New York' and kill some time in the process. The idea was brilliant, but it had one hitch. We were 3 brown guys - noticeably Mozlem - that needed some place to stash our luggage. (I'm told that dragging three pieces of luggage across NYC is decidedly un-cool). I went up and asked one of the airport workers if there was anyplace I could put away my luggage for a few hours (e.g. a locker of sorts), and he immediately said no. Racist punk. But since we were in NYC of all places, I almost didnt want to blame him.<br /><br /><em>By the by: You New Yorkers dont know how to make an Ice Cappucino. Even Tim Hortons does it better than you guys. zomg!</em><br /><br />So anyways, we were stuck with our luggage. Decided to wait a few hours cuz we had some friends coming over on the next flight from Toronto. Once they arrived, we made arrangements to get a taxi over to JFK airport. Along the way, we heard brief comments about how a news camera team was following one of the brothers in Pearson (Toronto's airport), but we basically didnt make too much out of it. At the time.<br /><br />John F. Kennedy airport is humongous. HUGE. It has like 9 terminals, one of which (terminal 4) seems to be bigger than all 3 of Toronto's terminals combined. So anyway, we found a mall/ restaurant area and settled down there for a few hours. I went exploring, and found a pretty nice musalla not too far away from the place.<br /><br />There were about 10 of us now, and since we were all tired, we basically prayed dhuhr and 'asr, and proceeded to crash in the place. More brothers/ sisters come in, and the more brothers lay down to nap in the brothers' only section. Numbers go up to 15-20 by now, so the sight of so many people napping in a prayer room got some attention. I had already taken my nap by then, and was reading Surah Yaseen (again, lol).<br /><br />Random fobby airport dude comes up and starts causing a ruckus. He points at me and yells at the other brothers, claiming that they were disturbing my 'prayer'. One particular brother got up and and took him outside, for uh, a little discussion. Anyways, we all got up and did an impromptu halaqa on Umrah rites. Was pretty beneficial, imo.<br /><br />Eventually we get to the Saudi Airlines counter, somewhere in Terminal 2 (took a train there; was quite a view) and waited there for another 4-5 hours before boarding onto the plane. So much for JFK. I volunteered to run around between terminals to pick up some brothers and sisters that had arrived on different flights to the main Saudi terminal. It helped pass the time, and it was exhiliarating in a weird sort of way, when you consider that I could've easily missed my own flight... but atleast it helped pass the time. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-117669069859866917?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1176690350533504652007-04-15T22:23:00.000-04:002007-04-15T22:25:50.536-04:00<strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">3. Saudi Airlines</span></strong><br />Not much to say here, except that the planes were actually quite good. They made American Airlines look like a third-world carrier, anyway. We had 2 full meals on SA (had a menu to choose from, at that), televisions on the back of each seat, and even a prayer space at the back of the plane, where you could have 8-10 people praying at the same time. Alhamdulillah.<br /><br />I rank the flight as maybe an 8 / 10. It would have been higher if I had gotten a window seat though. :'(<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">4. Lost camera </span></strong><br />So these pictures that are going to be posted arent actually my own; I'm having to leach off what other brothers took on the trip. Maybe there would've been more pictures otherwise. <br /><br />So I'm not the only one in my family that tends to worry. Little Farooq was going out on his first major field trip - with no mummy - and so everyone seemed to get a tad overprotective. So when I asked to borrow my brother's digital camera, he purposely made me put it in the check-in luggage, because according to him, no electronics were allowed on the carry-ons. I learned the hard way that he was totally wrong. Not only were people bringing them on the carry-ons, they were even taking pictures inside the plane. Before we had even left Toronto!!<br /><br />So feeling a bit left out, I come to JFK and take out the camera from the main suitcase and put it in my carry-on piece. But since my brother never gave me a case for the camera, it was kind of vulnerable. So I felt obliged to put it in this tupperware box my mom had given to keep my sandwiches. Except the box was old and breaking apart, so she told me to throw it away when I was done.<br /><br /><em>Anyways.</em><br /><br />In our approach to Jeddah - basically when we were in and over the Red Sea - the announcement came on to don the ihrams. And ihrams are light and compact, you know? So when I put them on, I obviously needed to put away the clothes I had been wearing beforehand. However, because my clothes were much heavier, I had to get rid of excess stuff. Lying on top of everything else is none other then the old tupperware box my mom had told me to throw away. Except I didnt even throw it away; I left it on seat 46c. Was too lazy to throw it away, so I guess it serves me right.<br /><br /> ***<br /><br />Suffice it to say, I now owe my brother a new Sony Cybershot digital camera. :'(<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-117669035053350465?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1176690177298678482007-04-15T22:02:00.000-04:002007-04-15T22:22:57.320-04:00<strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">4. Makkah </span></strong><br /><br />We got there at night, so initial reactions of the city was delayed. One thing of interest that did happen just before we reached the hotel, though: our bus driver, may Allah [swt] bless his soul, wanted to get us as close to the entrance as possible. To do this, he started reversing the bus on a one way street. 55 seater coach bus. In reverse. On a one way street. Oh, and it was basically Isha time, so there was a huge jam building up behind us. Then, to get out of the situation, he tried doing a three point turn...<em>a three point turn</em>. <em>In a coach bus</em>. On a one way street. At Isha time. In Makkah. With horns blaring non stop behind us.<br /><br />Welcome to Saudi Arabia. :)<br /><br />We basically ate dinner in the Dallah Ayjadh, had a quick intro session to the Shabab group that had organized the trip, and then headed out for the Umrah.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">4a. The Umrah </span></strong><br /><br />On the outside, the Haram is like a white palace that stands out like an oasis in contrast to its surroundings.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/1600/580904/View%20from%20Hilton.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/320/906375/View%20from%20Hilton.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As beautiful as the outside is, its naturally nothing compared to the awesomeness that is housed just inside...<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/1600/85327/Bayt%20al%20Atiq.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/320/685426/Bayt%20al%20Atiq.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/1600/479457/Ka%27aba2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px" height="317" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/320/309649/Ka%27aba2.jpg" width="319" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Bayt al 'Atiq</span><br /><br />Before I left, I was told that seeing the Ka'ba for the first time is a very... touching experience. In fact, you're almost left senseless the first time you lay eyes on it in real life. This is actually very true...I wouldnt trade those feelings for anything else in the world. There's also a saying (cant find the exact source) that any dua that you make during this time is granted. So ask for whatever you want, and it will be granted <em>bi idhnillah</em>.<br /><br />Some wise people of the past would make the dua to have all their future duas (in the Haram) accepted. Which is kind of sneaky, but it works. But sometimes, you dont have the will-power to think about what you want to say... it just comes out. So yeah.<br /><br />The umrah rites can actually be done in as little as 20 minutes (or so I'm told), but the average time is closer to 3 hours. If memory serves correct, you make tawaaf seven times, then pray 2 rakats of nawafil (preferably behind the Station of Ibrahim, but good luck with that), drink as much ZamZam as you possibly can, and then walk/ run between Safa-Marwa 7 times. At each mountain, you're supposed to try and face the Ka'ba, raise your hands and make du'a. Then when you're done this, you go out and get you hair trimmed/ shaved. Better to get it shaved, unless your mom wants it only trimmed. Like mine did. :/<br /><br />When we were performing the Umrah, it was easily past 12 midnight. But the Haram was packed, mashaAllah. Later, I asked someone, and I was told that we had basically entered the peak time for Umrah (Rajab / Shaban/ Ramadan), which is why it was actually busier than normal.<br /><br />In terms of carrying valuables around, its best not to leave them in the hotel, even when you're in a state of ihram. You're in the holiest city in the world, but unfortunately not all the people there appreciate that fact. Hotel workers easily have access to your rooms, and there have been incidents of valuables being stolen. Alhamdulillah, none of that happened in either of the hotels we stayed in.<br /><br />Similarly, when you're making tawaaf and you're very close the the Ka'ba, there's alot of pushing and shoving that goes around. And alot of thieving as well, apparently. The best way (for guys, anyway) to store all their valuables is to take an ihram belt with pockets. Not only does it hold up the lower half of the ihram garments aka izaar (alhamdulillah), it also allows you to keep your more valuable stuff (money, passports, etc) on your person at all times. Though to be extra careful, guys should fold the upper part of their izaar over the belt, so as to cover the belt itself from public view.<br /><br />Why bother, you ask?<br /><br />Because sometimes, even the belts can get nicked when you're jostling around near the Ka'ba. When we (another brother - lets call him Umer - and myself) were making tawaf, we tried to get near the Ka'aba, and I saw 2-3 guys running away from the Ka'ba, with gleeful looks on their faces that clearly gave the impressio they had done something wrong. The last of the three guys had a necklace enclosed in his fists (no, it wasnt a tasbeeh). It looked like a cheap, child's necklace, so I was even more surprised as to why he would bother taking it. But I basically got his attention and gave him a few words that let him know I saw what he did. He tried to give me this blank, innocent look but there was guilt written all across his face. So I kind of went on in disgust, and tried to catch up with Umer.<br /><br />I had heard alot of stories before coming about theives, but this was the only incident I ever experienced myself. On the whole, I think there's a bit of hype attached to the issue; your valuables should be safe as long as they're with you. <em>Generally</em>.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">4b) Getting around teh System </span></strong><br />For newbies like us, getting as close to the Ka'ba as you possibly can - and staying there - is probably one of the major themes of a visit to the Haram. It took a few days for me to learn that you cant just sit down next to the Ka'ba and casually offer 2 rak'ats. Even if you were to somehow manage to get a space to stand still, dont expect anyone to respect your prayer space. Because you're so close, you're basically praying inside the tawaaf circle of all the pilgrims. And pilgrims - actually, the vast majority of worshippers you'll meet in the Haramain - dont really care about stepping in front of your prayer, or jostling you from side to side.<br /><br />So even if you manage to get some space, dont expect to have too much khushoo in your prayer, because people will be passing you on all sides. Besides, you'll actually be an obstacle to the other pilgrims making tawaaf, so its actually best to pray outside the circle altogether (the Hatim, of course, is a different case), and content yourself to pray from a distance, and just set your gaze on the Ka'ba in between nawafil prayers.<br /><br /><em>(Besides, if you're too close, the religious police will keep on your case and try to move you further and further back to make room for the tawaaf crowd.) Depending on the time of day, you may be able to pray closer to the Ka'ba then normal. At times, the tawaaf circle will be so big that it only leaves 6-7 rows to pray. At other times, like around Dhuhr and the midday sun, you can actually pray quite close.</em><br /><br />But - brothers - if you want to pray close to the Ka'ba during the fardh prayers and then easily pray your sunnah prayers in the Hatim (the semi-circle area; pray inside it and you're basically praying inside the boundaries of the original Ka'ba) this is what you do:<br /><br />1. Make sure you've finished doing your regular tawaaf (the tahiyyatul Haram) approximately 5-1o minutes before the adhaan goes. You need this extra time to position yourself close to the Hatim.<br /><br />2. Then, as soon as the Adhaan starts, you'll see pilgrims directed away from the tawaaf area and back into the regular rows away from the Ka'ba for prayer. Ignore them, and head directly to the area thats to the right of the Hatim. You should be able to make it to ATLEAST within 2-3 rows away from the actual Ka'ba itself. *<em>swoon</em>*<br /><br />3. Dont bother reading any nawafil prayers at this time. You'll have to spend enough energy trying to keep your spot, and there will also be pilgrims who are still making their rounds of tawaaf... so the khushu might be minimal. Content yourself with staring at the Ka'ba.<br /><br />4. Pray the fardh in congregation.<br /><br />5. Once the fardh prayers are over, you'll have about 5 seconds to make it to the Ka'ba (if thats what you want), or to line up to pray inside the Hatim. (They close the Hatim during the fardh prayers). Because you're basically near the Hatim already, and only a few rows away from the Ka'ba, you'll have no trouble getting in once they remove the barriers.<br /><br />6. Obviously, you probably want to pray close to the Ka'ba as possibe, and you may be tempted to do so since the tawaaf circle is outside the Hatim, so you have no pilgrims to deal with. However, if you have the choice, I think its better to pray a bit further away; towards the back of the Hatim. This is because there will be other people fighting to get near the Ka'ba, and they can easily be a distraction for your prayer. However, its up to you.<br /><br />This method will easily work atleast 90% of the time. The only two times it didnt work for me was a) when it was after 'Asr, and you're not supposed to pray anything in between 'Asr and Maghrib anyway, and b) once, the guards refused to open the barrier (some people were getting too pushy, I guess). But that time, we were actually blessed with a light drizzle. Which was awesome, because you had all these factors that multiplied the chances of a du'a being accepted. So yeah.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">4c) Personalities </span></strong><br />The Shabab Centre had some pretty amazing hookups, alhamdulillah. We had quite a few personalities meet with us while in Makkah. For example, in Madinah we had the opportunity to meet with Sh. Salman al-Oudah, as well Sh. Hudhaifee, the Imam of Masjid an-Nabawai. Sh. Thubaity (another Imam of an-Nabawi) also requested to have a meeting with our group, but unfortunately we couldnt make it.<br /><br />But on our second full day in Makkah (Saturday, August 19th) there was a reception for us in the musallah of the Hilton just across the street from the Haram, in which Sh. Sa'ud ash-Shuraym (the Imam of the Haram) paid a visit. Rumour has it that a few Saudi princes also dropped by. I cant confirm these rumours myself, because I actually skipped the reception... : (I was kind of miffed at having to pray Maghrib in the musalla when the Haram was in full view, so I snuck out a while before Isha in case the reception extended that long). So I missed out on that.<br /><br />Then, a few days later, there's a gentleman (cant remember his name) who oversees all the administrative affairs of the Haramain - in both Makkah and Madinah. Anyways, he requested to have an audience with the brothers in his office, which happened to be just down the street from our hotel and the Haram itself. Anyways, we expected to be given some insights in the policies that were implemented in the Haramain, but we were instead treated to a talk that outlined Saudi Arabia's domestic policy, and its zeal to implement these policies based on Islamic teachings. Which is all well and good, but ... during the Q&A session, the first question was asked by a very passionate brother - lets call him 'Gengiz', for simplicity's sake - in regards to Saudi's foreign policy...<br /><br />... something about questioning where the Islam went when the same government was standing idly by watching its brothers and sisters in Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Afghanistan, etc. getting slaughtered, and even tacitly helping the oppressing nations in the process.<br /><br />It was a very good question. But it was the wrong man to ask, and it kind of put him in a difficult position. (I'm told that there are two factions of the ruling group in Saudi..one which is religious, and one which is secular/ materialist... the religious faction has the say in domestic affairs, whereas the secular one rules foreign policy... and Allah [swt] knows best). Anyways, so much for that session. :)<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">4d. Mount 'Arafat</span></strong><br />While at Makkah, we took the buses around to visit some of the areas that are used for Hajj, like Muzdalifa, Mina, the Jamraat, and 'Arafat. The Jaraat was under construction, and we just passed by Muzdalifa and Mina. But we stopped for a bit at 'Arafat, to climb the mountain and (if you were adventurous enough) to roam around on the plains.<br /><br />The place has history, and a future which will probably be enough to humble anyone.<br /><br />1. Unconfirmed reports say that when Adam and Hawwa (AS) were sent down from Heaven, they landed in seperate areas of the Earth. 'Arafat is where they finally met each other after wandering the lands. ('Arafat is supposed to be derived from *ta 'arafah* --> "they saw each other" ... or something like that.)<br /><br />2. Fast forward several thousand years, and you'll see that this is the mountain where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gave his famous Khutbah when he performed his Hajj in 9 A.H.<br />Link to the Sermon: <a href="http://www.islamonline.net/English/In_Depth/mohamed/1424/kharitah/article02.shtml">http://www.islamonline.net/English/In_Depth/mohamed/1424/kharitah/article02.shtml</a><br /><br />***<br /><br />Depressingly (?) enough, they have bazaars and stalls everywhere. I wanted to buy a sword (they were real cheap!), but then had second thoughts on it. The logistics of bringing it back through customs and NYC with a ton of other Muslims after 9/11 and stuff kind of made me pause. :(<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">4e. Ta'if </span></strong><br />Did you know they have monkeys roaming the mountains of Ta'if? They even had some at the Cave of Hira, and I'm assuming they were pretty aggressive. Heard stories about them stealing pop bottles from your very hands. And stuff. Anyways, we made a big fuss about seeing a family of mountain monkeys climbing up a distant hill. We were the ones behind a fence this time (heh), and so we tried to attract their attention by yelling and throwing things (the guys did, anyway). But, alas.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/1600/666970/Ta%27if.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/320/814883/Ta%27if.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Some of us paused for a group picture. The brother in the top left is probably still trying to get the attention of the monkeys. :)</span><br /><br />Anyhow, for some reason the bus drivers were stopping at random places and letting us off. On one such stop, we got off just to admire the mountainous view. Since there was nothing in between us and the mountains, I decided to go mountain climbing, under the assumption that we'd be there for quite a bit. A few other guys also wanted to come along, and we even saw on one of the nearby mountains a bedouin tent. A real. live. bedouin tent. We didnt see anyone, but I think there was laundry drying outside. We wanted to pay a visit to see what the bedouin hospitality was all about, but we couldnt go far because:<br /><br />a) I was only wearing chappals<br />b) Some people in the other bus werent feeling too well, so we had to hurry along and get to our final destination.<br /><br />Along the way, we came to a masjid that is probably the third most awesomest masjid I've ever seen, after the Haramain. It was so peaceful and set in such an idyllic setting, you feel like staying there all day. I asked other people in the group, and no one seemed to know its name. The group amir laughed me off though; he said it was a below average masjid by Saudi standards. Whatever. That place made Nugget Mosque and ISNA Canada mosques (in Toronto) look ghetto, even though these custom-built mosques have the fancy wudu areas, class rooms, and skylights.<br /><br />We finally got to where we were going, which was basically a private picnic area to chill for the day. Brothers got to bond, etc. Its hard to describe, but the brothers had two enclosed picnic areas for themselves, right next to each other. Even though they were walled and had seperate entrances, there was a common wall about 3 meters high, over which you could hear what was happening in the adjacent area (which was basically a meeting place). Some people tried to speed the bonding process by fomenting a mini-war between the two sub groups, by throwing shoes, food and stuff over to the other side. But we couldnt really do too much, since one of the groups was loaded with shaykhs and we had to give them respect.<br /><br />Towards the end of the day, when we were getting ready to leave, some locals came over on their own and offered tea and snacks to the whole group - mashaAllah at their adab and hospitality; I think Muslims living in the West can learn tons from the simple respect and manners that those living in much poorer and simpler communities treat strangers with.<br /><br />Then we all (tried to) have a sing-along, in which we sang random nasheeds together into the desert night, like Tala'al Badru and Ghurabaa.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/1600/602488/Ta%27if%20sing%20along.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/320/198092/Ta%27if%20sing%20along.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Sh. Yaser Fazaga and some brothers entertaining the rest of us.</span><br /><br />Then we got ready to go back, and on the way back, we were supposed to do Umrah again (take advantage of the opportunity and whatnot), but I promptly threw up just outside the bus and wasnt really feeling well enough to do the rites again. Stupid hummus.<br /><br />Luckily enough, the vomit provided me an excuse to stay in Makkah the next day, whereas the rest of the group was dragged off to some conference in Jeddah. Suckers. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-117669017729867848?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1176688930992250422007-04-15T21:58:00.000-04:002007-04-15T22:02:10.996-04:00<strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">5. Makkah --> Madinah<br /></span></strong><br />So we stayed about a week in Makkah, and after saying the Friday prayers in the Haram, we basically made ready to move out and head for Madinah; a 5 hour trip in our beloved coach buses.<br /><br />Well, it was <em>supposed</em> to be a 5 hour trip....<br /><br />***<br /><br />At this point, I should make mention of the fact that we had several sponsors for our trip. Saudi Airlines was one. Huda TV - a relatively new channel in the MidEast - was another. Saudi Airlines gave us the flight from NYC to Jeddah. And Huda TV? Well, Huda TV devoted its time to making 30 episodes of a reality TV show. Of our 14 day Umrah trip. <em>Of us</em>.<br /><br />***<br /><br />Needless to say, the day-to-day details of our trip wasnt exactly worthy enough to be broadcast, so I felt somewhat sorry for the TV crew that was following us around everywhere. They made us repeat the dua for traveling a second time just so it could be captured on camera; they filmed us eating, sleeping during lectures, and they even had some of us re-enact Umrah rites... while we were in Madinah, to boot.<br /><br />Anyways, this sympathy diminished during our bus ride to Madinah. So there were about 100 of us in total on this trip; I would say 55 brothers, maybe 45 sisters. Each got their own bus. heh. The brothers' bus was understandably a bit more crowded than necessary, so we had somewhat of a tight fit in the back of our bus; people were actually sitting / sleeping on the aisle. One enterprising young brother (remember 'Ali'?) actually took a mattress that was hidden behind the back row, spread it over the steps leading to the rear entrance, and made himself comfortable.<br /><br />The heat, the crowded-ness, and the general anticipation surrounding the whole trip all combined to transform several brothers into hyperactive... um, clowns. You'd think it gave the Huda TV folks enough to film, anyway.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/1600/659341/desert.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/320/804273/desert.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But no. As luck would have it, our brother's bus started to *break down* about an hour's drive out of Makkah. Well, it didnt really 'break down' in the regular sense, but the bus driver felt it would be best to ... pull over and have the bus changed. So he pulls into a random gas bar, and with the exception of another store right next to it, we are miles away from any other sign of civilization. Pure. Desert. Ya3ne.<br /><br />All of us brothers were, of course, anxious to get off the bus. I had the opportunity to get off earlier than most since I was sitting next to the rear exit door, and after a short walk in the sand (awesome experience, I tell you), I turned around to see the rest of the brothers spilling out of the bus, much like clowns would be spilling out of a circus car. (Note: this analogy is more apt than you might think...).<br /><br />We were told it would be atleast an hour before the replacement bus came, so a few brothers started a game of soccer right there in the desert. Some of us were really hungry, so we went on a little trek to the gas bar (because we were warned against buying anything from the store itself) to buy chips and water. And sat down and had a little picnic. heh.<br /><br />It was actually one of the most amazing scenes of nature I'd been in, and since it was nearing sunset (and there was a gentle desert wind blowing), it was much, much better than being cooped up in a bus. There are alot of 'mountains' (or hills, if you prefer to call them that) in the way between Makkah and Madinah. Basically, it looks as if a gigantic bulldozer came along and just dumped dirt into various piles along the highway. Interestingly enough, rumours had gotten out that we had stopped because the Huda TV wanted us to stop, but these rumours were later discovered (?) to be baseless. Even then, it didnt prevent one brother from Saskatoon to slyly suggest to the camera that the bus had been sabotaged, simply so that the TV crew could add some spice to their reality series. He said it in english, so the crew didnt actually understand. It was only when the rest of us started laughing that camera backed away - slowly but surely - and retreated back to its own crew.<br /><br />Other than that, most of us actually enjoyed the unscheduled stop, and were almost sad to see the next bus arrive to take us to Madinah. The folks at the gas bar were actually very nice and hospitable. They sprayed the ground down with water to prevent the dust from kicking up during the soccer game (given that water is so precious in the desert, I thought that was really saying alot), and then they spread out mats and cushions for all of us to relax and enjoy the desert sunset.<br /><br />Anyways, the second bus soon arrived, and - I kid you not - we hadnt even left the gas bar before we discovered that it too was broken. Luckily, a company mechanic was on hand and he fixed the broken parts with a spare wire hanger. Interestingly enough, once we were back on our way to Madinah, the floor boards at the back of the bus actually started to fall apart; so you could literally see the moving parts beneath - and under that, the road flying by.<br /><br />It caused a ruckus in the back, and some brothers (not me) started freaking out. We ended up putting a metal frame on top of it, and then another mattress on top of that to prevent anyone from falling into the hole. It was an awesome mini-trip, though. Even if it did end up taking around 3 hours longer than expected. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-117668893099225042?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1176688263647105592007-04-15T21:29:00.000-04:002007-04-15T21:57:24.206-04:00<strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">6. Madinah al Munawwarah</span></strong><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/1600/922990/Main%20Entrance%20of%20an-Nabawi.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/320/570221/Main%20Entrance%20of%20an-Nabawi.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/1600/859505/Sepia%20Nabi.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/320/312786/Sepia%20Nabi.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The men's main entrance of Masjid an-Nabawi...</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">the picture on the bottom is not from the 1800s. Its been digitially mastered. :)</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Random memory:</strong> While visiting Uhud, our guide was telling us about this Hadith where the Prophet (PBUH) described how Dajjal would try to enter Madinah...but would be stopped at the gates. In the Hadith, Dajjal remarked about how he was prevented from the 'White Palace of Muhammad'... subhanAllah, this latest version of the an-Nabawi is only a few decades old, and it truly is a palace! Gold plated doors, marble floors, courtyards, and rich carpets....<u><span style="color:#336666;">wa ash-hadu anna muhammadur Rasulullah!!</span></u></span><br /><br />We got to Madinah around 11 pm at night. From the distance, we could see the tall, glowing minarets of an-Nabawi coming into view, even though we were well outside the city limits. Naturally, this led to spontaneous bursts of singing 'Madinatun Nabi' by Dawud Wharnsby, or - for those who had a more cheesy taste - 'Madinah, Madinah' by Aashiq i-Rasul.<br /><br />By the time all of us had taken a shower, eaten, prayed Maghrib + Isha, it was already around 2 am anyway. So rather than go to sleep for a few cheap hours (and since we had napped enough on the bus anyway), me and Umer decided to stay awake to explore the courtyard around the Masjid, and stay there until it opened again around 3.30 am (unlike the Haram in Makkah, which is open 24/7, Masjid an-Nabawi closes from around 10:30 pm - 3:30 am every night for maintenance). This is good, because everyday you have a new opportunity to get some of the best seats in Masjid, if you're up for it.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/1600/946811/Green%20Dome2.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/320/759622/Green%20Dome2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/1600/383633/Green%20Dome.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/320/408234/Green%20Dome.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The front of the Masjid, from the entrance facing the graves of the three companions. The green dome is incredibly beautiful, especially at night. I could just sit there for hours staring at it.</span><br /><br />Being the newbies that we were, we stayed there when the doors opened and immediately headed for the Rawdah, which is a special, green carpeted area of the Masjid. The Prophet (PBUH) had stated that this area is a garden from among the gardens of Paradise.<br />You’re supposed to pray 2 rak’ats there and then move, making room for the crowd that’s waiting just outside the Rawdah section.<br /><br />Well, we prayed some nawafil there, started reading some Qur'an to pass the time until Fajr, until we realized that we had a chance to be in the first row for the Fajr prayers (which has mad benefits, especially when you consider the blessed place its in). We quickly got up and headed for the first row, only to find out that all the spaces had already been taken by the local shuyukh and students of Madinah University. Anyways. At least we knew what to do the next time around...<br /><br />Waking up at 2:30 am was fun; perhaps one of the most memorable part of our almost two week stay in Madinah. But it meant a few of us had to leave those late night, after-isha halaqas a bit early to make sure we got a decent amount of sleep. But it was in line with the Sunnah anyway, so it was all good.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"><strong>6a) Masjid an-Nabawi<br /></strong></span>What can I say about the Masjid that hasnt been said already? Pictures generally say it best anyway.<br /><br />Suffice it to say, the Prophet (PBUH) has said:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">“One prayer in my mosque is better than one thousand prayers in any other mosque excepting Al-Masjid Al-Haram.”</span></strong> (Bukhari)<br /><br />... and so naturally, the idea is to pray here as much as you can. And to stock up on rewards before returning.<br /><br />There are two main areas of an-Nabawi that could commonly be targetted, to increase upon this 1000x reward:<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>1. Praying in the Rawdah</strong>.</span> </span>The Prophet (PBUH) has said, "What is between my house and my minbar is a garden (Rawdah) from the gardens (Riyadh) of Paradise". Nowadays, you know that you're in the Rawdah because the carpet is a green-ish color, whereas in the rest of the Masjid its red. The pillars are also of a different style.<br /><br />Obviously, this hadith cannot be literal in its meaning, and must be used metaphorically. Praying in the Rawdah area is not as if you're actually praying in one of the physical gardens of Paradise. The reasoning given by some of the shuyukh we met in Madinah was that in Paradise, there is no fear, no sorrow, and no sickness. However, when you enter the Rawdah in an-Nabawi, it is still possible to be afraid, to have sorrow, and to suffer from illnesses. Hence, the nature of the Rawdah is different from the nature of the Gardens of Paradise.<br /><br />2. <strong><span style="color:#333399;">Then you have the other place to pray in an-Nabawi, which is the same as the place-to-be in any other Masjid: the front row </span></strong>(for men; for women, the best row is the back row). Regarding the front row, the Prophet (PBUH) has said:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">"If the people come to know of the great rewards and benefits of the congregational Prayer, they would never stray back but would rush to the mosque for it. The first row merits the highest rewards and should be regarded as if it consisted of pure angels. Two persons praying together merit greater rewards than each praying individually, the rule being that the larger the congregation, the higher its rewards in the sight of Allah." </span></strong>(Abu Da'ud)<br /><br />and also:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">"If people came to know the blessing of calling Adhan and the standing in the first row, they could do nothing but would draw lots to secure these privileges.''</span></strong>[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].<br /><br />... among others.<br /><br />But since the rewards of the Rawdah havent been detailed whereas those of the first row have, it seems reasonable to assume that its more beneficial to be praying fardh prayers in the first row, and any nawafil prayers in the Rawdah, if possible. If I had to choose between the two, I would have chosen the first row. And Allah [swt] knows best.<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">6b) The Dar ul Hijra Intercontinental Hotel</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"><br /></span></strong>Ok, firstly I should get it out of the way that I'm not really a fan of luxury. I would personally have preferred to do this trip in the rough; living closer to nature and closer to how the Prophet (PBUH) and how the Sahabah experienced Makkah and Madinah.<br /><br /></span></strong>That way, you get greater appreciation for how the Prophet (PBUH) travelled to Ta'if in the heat and promptly got stoned out of there, how the Sahabas would flee from Makkah towards Madinah in the scorching heat, and how the great armies of Islam would travel across vast stretches of desert and fight in the scorching desert heat.<br /><br />As for our group, we had to rush to go out and *visit* Mt Uhud in the early hours of the day, before the sun reached its peak. We got there in air-conditioned busses, stayed there for like an hour, and left because the sun was rising too high - we left Uhud around 8 am because the heat was apparently too much to handle. And we left in air-conditioned buses.<br /><br />So much for experiencing the life of the sahabas, yeh? <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/1600/982112/Uhud%20from%20Nabawi.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" height="238" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/5174/464/320/831024/Uhud%20from%20Nabawi.jpg" width="405" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">View of Mt Uhud in the distance, outside the main entrance of an-Nabawi. Our hotel would be one of the buildings on the left.</span><br /><br />Same thing with the accomodations. Alhamdulillah, the organizers went above and beyond in providing everyone with luxurious suites, enough food, and such. But sometimes you want to keep it simple.<br /><br />Anyways. Back to the issue at hand. On paper, the Dar ul Hijra InterContinental was supposed to be a 4 or 5 star hotel. On paper, mind you. In reality, it was ... meh. Didnt look like a 5 star. Or even a 4 star, for that matter.<br /><br />Mainly because of the elevator. On one occasion, about 15 brothers crammed into the elevator because it had been a long day and we were all hungry. Going up to the 10th floor from the ground floor was looking to be a challenge, but we thought we were good since the weight limit was 2200 kg, and we werent even close to reaching that.<br /><br />THE ELEVATOR gave a few jerks at first. It didnt move like it was supposed to. It went from G to 8, then it went back down to G. Then it went down even further to like -2 or something. By this time, quite a few brothers were freaked, and decided to evacuate from the elevator. That left like 5 or 6 of us still on. No more problems, yea?<br /><br />Please. Thats when the elevator decided to go into pure, exhilirating free fall.<br /><br />It was fun, actually. We fell with a slight thud (because we only fell 1-2 floors), and just waited. Eventually one of the shaykhs in the elevator had the bright idea of using the emergency telephone, to try and get a crew to force the doors open. After waiting for a few minutes, some of us got a bit impatient and the same shaykh decided to pry the doors open from the inside, only to find the team working on the other side staring right back at us. I decided to shatter the brief awkward silence with a simple 'Assalaamu alaikum'.<br /><br />We climbed out of the shaft and tried to get out of the basement floor by going through the stairs, but the hotel crew was totally against it (they really dont like us using hotel stairs in Saudi.) But we went up in two groups; me and two other brothers decided to wait behind and go up as a second batch (didnt want to risk the same thing from happening again). We waited too long, and decided to try our luck with the stairs, once the hotel crew had left.<br /><br />The stairs were a complete maze... we literally had to run around for the first few levels, trying to find the proper way up. If we ever came to a fork, one of us would hold one door open, while a second would cautiously go up to see if the next door opened into the right place. (If not, we'd be stuck in the bowels of an Intercontinental.) Anyways, we eventually made it back to the Mezzanine floor, and from there we took the other elevator. But we still got there in time for dinner. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-117668826364710559?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1157927828930810132006-09-10T17:31:00.000-04:002007-04-15T21:28:00.300-04:00<p><strong>7. Beggars<br /></strong>One thing you'll notice in Makkah and Madinah is the number of beggars in the precincts of the Haram. I have to admit, its a good location to pick. You have pilgrims from all across the world coming and trying to get Mercy. Giving zakaat and feeding the poor is an excellent way to do so.<br />Some of these beggars are genuine; I would guess that most others are fake. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way.</p><p><br />Once, another brother and I were in one of the malls across the Haram and the whole issue of beggars came up. We had suspected by then (being newbies to Makkah and whatnot) that there was a fair share of scam artists on the street. I was ready to ignore them all, but the brother gave me some very good advice and reminded me of Surah al Ma'oon; not to be like those who do not feed the needy and orphans and whatnot.</p><p>This naseeha ringing fresh in my head that night, I kind of tried to be extra generous that night. One desi uncle in bright blue shalwar kameez came up to me asking for some food to buy 'roti', but I didnt have any at the moment, so I put him off. Then I went back to the hotel grabbed some, and came back looking for the same uncle... he seemed genuine enough. </p><p>Couldn’t find him in the courtyard of the Haram, blue shalwar kameez or no. So I randomly dropped it off in front of some beggar lady.</p><p><br />Dude. No sooner had the bills left my hand (Saudis dont really use coins), these two little kids came running after me and chased me, begging for more money and make dua and stuff. </p><p>Persistent little munchkins, they were. I couldnt shake them, no matter how hard I tried. The last resort was to head all the way back to the hotel again (which was a good 5-10 minutes away), and hopefully lose them in the lobby by forcing the elevator shut on them. Finally, I crossed the last street before my hotel, and the kids didnt follow. </p><p>They just stopped. As if they werent allowed to go any further. I told some of the other brothers about this incident, and someone remarked that the streets of Makkah are filled with rival gangs, each with their own turf. The two little kids belonged to one group, and apparently the street my hotel was on marked the boundary of their turf.<br /></p><u></u><p><u>Lesson you learn:<br /></u>A. When giving charity in Makkah and Madinah, dont give it to people who come up asking you for it. If you absolutely must, give them food. NOT money.<br />B. Give whatever you give in secret, and away from crowds; lest someone else see you and start harrassing you.<br />C. Give it to people who dont ask you for money, but look like they could need it. These could be simple merchants on the street selling miswaks or stuff. </p><p><br /><strong>8. Shopping<br /></strong>Inevitably, the topic of shopping will always come up when going for Umrah or Hajj. Getting the best deals on the latest abayas, thobes, books and CDs. (I mean, I got entire sets of Imam Anwar alAwlaki for less than $20 CDN each). </p><p>Everyone knows that coming from the West, there are deals to be had. So do the merchants in Saudi. And they also know that if they double (and sometimes triple) the regular price, its still going to be a bargain for anyone coming from Canada/ USA/ UK. Someone told me that they expect you to haggle the price down, and that its an insult to the merchant if you dont. </p><p>Once, I went to a watch store and asked the guy how much the watch cost. He quoted something like 700 riyals, and I was positive it couldnt have cost more than $200 CDN (I got around by mentally converting the price into CDN $, and figured even then, it should be about half / a third of what was quoted). I was so insulted at this price, that I decided to insult the shopkeeper back by walking out of the store without another word. </p><p><br />Someone said that you should dress and talk like a Saudi. So for the first week or so, we'd go dressed up as Saudis and try to impress with our rudimentary knowledge of Arabic. Never mind that the shopkeepers can spot you as a tourist the moment you step into the store, the only people that visit those shops in the first place are tourists to begin with. Locals have their own hangouts. If you're going shopping in Makkah / Madinah, the malls that are right in front of the Haramain? yeah. you're not going to get the best deals there. </p><p>Then again, thats not the purpose of the trip. So save yourself $5 and rather that wasting extra time hunting for bargains, spend some extra time in the Haramain.</p><p>Anyways. One of the brothers and I spent one of the evenings trying to buy some stuff for the folks back home; specifically mom and sisters. Remembered some advice from some married brother that the jilbabs should be made of material that isnt 'noisy'. so we actually had to check the material before buying anything. </p><p>You know how stores have those mannequins? And they dress them up in front of the stores, just so you can get a better idea of how the material would 'look'? Yeah. I went up to behind one mannequin to check out the material of its jilbab. My left hand was still in mid air when the mannequin moved. </p><p>And I froze. And forced my hand down, and had to keep it down with my right hand.</p><p><br />And then we had to get out of there, cuz I would never trust any more mannequins in Saudi Arabia. Ever.<br /><br /><strong><u></u></strong></p><p><strong><u>9. The Journey Home</p></u></strong><p>The trip was only supposed to be about 2 weeks long; we had all promised family and employers that we’d basically be back by Labour Day weekend. Half of the people did leave as scheduled, but the other half (of which I was a part of), found that our seats were apparently overbooked, and there was no flight until 4-5 days later. It was only later that we had found that there were actually 50 empty seats on the Saudi Airlines flight that was scheduled to leave that Labour day weekend.</p><p><br />So we’re fretting and worrying. Some of us had to get back to work, and our bosses didn’t sanction the extra week off. So we were fretting and some of us who stress a lot were worrying that we’d lose our jobs. Alhamdulillah, none of that happened, and we got to stay almost a whole extra week in Madinah, <strong>FREEE!!! And there was no penalty, whatsoever!!</strong></p><p><strong></strong><br />What an awesome blessing, mashaAllah.<br /></p><p>At the return trip in New York, we got stopped for a few hours at a circus that was being administered by a bunch of clowns. (Otherwise known as the Customs and Immigration officers of John F. Kennedy International Airport). Can’t really talk about that here, some of those clowns might be reading. </p><p>;) </p><p><em>Rabbana taqabbal minna innaka antas Sami ul ‘Aleem, wa tubb ‘alayna innaka antat Tawwabur Raheem.</em></p><p>May Allah [swt] accept our Umrah, forgive all our sins and enable us to go back to the Holy cities soon to perform even greater acts of worship. Ameen!<br /> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-115792782893081013?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1154559639555464072006-08-02T18:54:00.000-04:002006-08-02T19:00:39.580-04:00emails, islamica, and everything else (like MSN) are totally not on the to-do list anymore, cuz I'm totally working like a dog these days. 9am - 5pm on weekdays, and then off to a second place to work from 7pm to as late as 1.30/ 2 AM. basically, i only come home to sleep for like 4-5 hours.<br /><br />alhamdulillah. atleast i get to rake in the dough for the next few weeks. then i can maybe burn a few bills on the Umrah trip that inshaAllah, I'll be going on in mid-august. 2 weeks left for that. w000t!!<br /><br />the other cool thing is that my 9-5 job is actually being trained at the National Student Loans Service Centre. For all those that live in Ontario, this means that I basically work for OSAP. you know when you call in and what details about how much money you're getting, blah blah blah? yeah. I'm going to be one of the CSRs you'll be talking to.<br /><br />:evil grin:<br /><br />dont worry folks. my days and nights are spent trying to figure out a loophole in the system. in fact, my very next post (within a few days inshaAllah) will divulge the secret ins and outs of the loan system, and discuss ways of avoiding interest payments.<br /><br />seems i might still have some hopeful leads; i'm only halfway thorugh training, so i have 1.5 weeks more of learning the nooks and crannies of the system.<br /><br />stay tuned.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-115455963955546407?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1153422932418691442006-07-20T14:43:00.000-04:002006-07-20T15:18:56.876-04:00<span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#cc0000;">Or do you think that you shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that <strong>even the Apostle</strong> and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of God?" Ah! Verily, the help of God is (always) near!</span></em> - Surah al Baqarah, v. 214</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Even the Messenger (the Rasool) - the person who had direct access to Allah [swt] by recieving wahy, was shaken. The Messengers had Yaqeen, but they were shaken in spirit. What does this mean for the rest of us, especially given that we're living in times of fitnah where traitors may be hiding under every corner, ready to sell themselves for a few measly dollars? </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Personally, I think the calamities and the bombshells havent stopped just yet. Not in Toronto, not in Palestine, not anywhere in the world. The hour does indeed grow dark, and looks to grow even darker. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">In times like these, its easy to lose hope and just give up, out of sheer frustration. But the help of Allah [swt] is always near, and truly, Allah [swt] is the Most Merciful, Most Wise in the affairs of His servants. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The following is something we could all keep in mind. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">***</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Question</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>I often hear that there is great wisdom behind the calamities that befall people. What is this wisdom?</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Answer</strong>: </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Praise be to Allaah. Yes, there is great wisdom behind calamities, including the following: </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>1 –</strong> <strong>To attain true submission and servitude (‘uboodiyyah) to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. </strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Many people are slaves to their whims and desires and are not true slaves of Allaah. They say that they are slaves of Allaah, but when they are tested they turn on their heels and lose out in this world and in the Hereafter, and that is an evident loss. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): <em><span style="color:#000099;">“And among mankind is he who worships Allaah as it were upon the edge (i.e. in doubt): if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him he turns back on his face (i.e. reverts to disbelief after embracing Islam). He loses both this world and the Hereafter. That is the evident loss”</span></em>[al-Hajj 22:11] </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>2 – Trials prepare the believers to prevail on earth</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">It was said to Imam al-Shaaf’i (RA): Which is better, patience or tests or prevailing? He said: Prevailing is the level attained by the Prophets, and there can be no prevailing except after trials. If a person is tried he will become patient, and if he remains patient he will prevail. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>3 – Expiation of sins</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">al-Tirmidhi (2399) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (RA) said: The Prophet (PBUH) said: “<span style="color:#cc0000;">Trials will continue to befall the believing man or woman in himself, his child and his wealth until he meets Allaah with no sin on him.”</span> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">It was narrated that Anas (RA) said: The Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) said: <span style="color:#cc0000;">“When Allaah wills good for His slave, He hastens the punishment for him in this world, and when Allaah wills ill for His slave, he withholds the punishment for his sins from him his sin until he comes with all his sins on the Day of Resurrection.”</span> Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396)</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>4 – Attainment of reward and a rise in status</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Muslim (2572) narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (RA) said: The Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) said:<span style="color:#ff0000;"> <strong>“The believer is not harmed by a thorn or anything greater, but Allaah will raise him in status thereby, or erase a sin thereby.” </strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>5 – Calamities provide an opportunity to think about one's faults and shortcomings and past mistakes.</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">...Because if it is a punishment, what was the sin? </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>6 – Calamity is a lesson in Tawheed, faith and trust in Allaah</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">It shows you in a practical sense what you really are, so you will realize that you are a weak slave, and you have no strength and no power except with your Lord, then you will put your trust in Him in a true sense, and will turn to Him in a true sense, and put aside your position, pride, arrogance, self-admiration and heedlessness, and you will understand that you are poor and in need of your Lord, and you are weak and need to turn to the Most Strong, the Almighty, may He be glorified. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Ibn al-Qayyim said: <span style="color:#006600;">Were it not that Allaah treats His slaves with the remedy of trials and calamities, they would transgress and overstep the mark. When Allaah wills good for His slaves, He gives him the medicine of calamities and trials according to his situation, so as to cure him from all fatal illnesses and diseases, until He purifies and cleanses him, and then makes him qualified for the most honourable position in this world, which is that of being a true slave of Allaah (‘uboodiyyah), and for the greatest reward in the Hereafter, which is that of seeing Him and being close to Him.</span> <em>(Zaad al-Ma’aad, 4/195)</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>7 – Calamities drive out self-admiration from our hearts and bring them closer to Allaah</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Ibn Hajr said: Yoonus ibn Bukayr narrated that al-Rabee’ ibn Anas said: A man said on the day of Hunayn: “We will never be defeated today for lack of numbers.” That upset the Prophet (PBUH) and then they were defeated. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zaad al-Ma’aad (3/477): In His wisdom, Allaah decreed that the Muslims should first taste the bitterness of defeat, despite their great numbers and adequate equipment and strength, so as to humble some people who felt proud as a result of the conquest of Makkah and who had not entered His land and His sanctuary as the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) had entered it, bending his head whilst riding his horse to the extent that his chin almost touched the saddle, out of humbleness before his Lord. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “<span style="color:#cc0000;">And that Allaah may test (or purify) the believers (from sins) and destroy the disbelievers</span>”[Aal ‘Imraan 3:141]</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">al-Qaasimi (4/239) said: i.e., <span style="color:#000099;"><strong><em>to cleanse them and purify them of sin and of pride and arrogance. He also cleanses them of the hypocrites, and make them stand out distinct from them</em></strong>… </span>Then He mentions another reason, which is “to destroy the disbelievers”, for if they prevail they will transgress and overstep the mark, which will be the cause of their downfall and destruction. The laws of Allaah dictate that when He wants to destroy His enemies and erase them, he makes available to them the means which will lead to their doom and eradication, among the greatest of which, after their kufr, is their transgression and tyranny in persecuting, opposing and fighting His close friends… Allaah destroyed those who waged war against the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) on the day of Uhud and persisted in kufr. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>8 – To demonstrate the true nature of people, for there are people whose virtue is unknown until calamity strikes</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad said: <strong><span style="color:#000099;">As long as people are doing fine, their true nature is concealed, but when calamity strikes, their true natures are revealed, so the believer resorts to his faith and the hypocrite resorts to his hypocrisy.</span></strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Al-Bayhaqi narrated in al-Dalaa’il that Abu Salamah said: Many people were confused – i.e., after the Isra’ – and some people came to Abu Bakr and told him. He said: “I bear witness that he is telling the truth.” They said: “Do you believe that he went to Syria in one night then came back to Makkah?” He said: “Yes, and I believe him in more than that, I believe what he says of the Revelation that comes to him from heaven.” And because of that he was named al-Siddeeq. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>9 – Calamities strengthen people’s resolve</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Allaah chose for His Prophet (PBUH) a hard life filled with all kinds of hardship from a young age, in order to prepare him for the great mission that awaited him, which none could bear but the strongest of men, who have gone through hardship and who are tested with calamities and bear them with patience. The Prophet (PBUH) was born an orphan, then it was not long before his mother died too. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Allaah reminded the Prophet (PBUH) of that when He said (interpretation of the meaning): “<span style="color:#cc0000;">Did He not find you O Muhammad) an orphan and give you a refuge?</span>”[al-Duha 93:6] It is as if Allaah wanted to prepare the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to bear responsibility and endure hardship from an early age. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>10 – Another reason behind calamities and hardship is that a person becomes able to distinguish between true friends and friends who only have their own interests at heart.</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>11 – Calamities remind you of your sins so that you can repent from them.</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “<span style="color:#cc0000;">Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allaah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself”</span>[al-Nisa’ 4:79] </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much”</span><span style="color:#000000;">[</span>al-Shoora 42:30] </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Calamities offer an opportunity to repent before the greater punishment comes on the Day of Resurrection. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “<span style="color:#cc0000;">And verily, We will make them taste of the near torment prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e. accept Islam)”</span>[al-Sajdah 32:21] The “near torment” is hardship in this world and bad things that happen to a person. If life continues to be easy, a person may become conceited and arrogant, and think that he has no need of Allaah, so by His mercy He tests people so that they may return to Him. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>12 – Calamities show you the true nature of this world and its transience, and that it is temporary conveniences, and shows us that true life is that which is beyond this world, in a life in which there is no sickness or exhaustion.</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">“<span style="color:#cc0000;">Verily, the home of the Hereafter that is the life indeed (i.e. the eternal life that will never end), if they but knew</span>”[al-‘Ankaboot 29:64] But this life is just hardship and exhaustion. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">“<span style="color:#cc0000;">Verily, We have created man in toil</span>”[al-Balad 90:4] </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>13 – Calamities remind you of the great blessings of good health and ease.</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This calamity shows you in the clearest way the meaning of health and ease that you enjoyed for many years, but did not taste their sweetness or appreciate them fully. Calamities remind you of blessings and the One Who bestows them, and cause you to thank and praise Allaah for His blessings. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>14 – Longing for Paradise</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">You will never long for Paradise until you taste the bitterness of this world. <span style="color:#000099;">How can you long for Paradise when you are content with this world</span>? This is some of the wisdom behind calamities, and the interests attained by them, and the wisdom of Allaah is great indeed. And Allaah knows best. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">***</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe", and that they will not be tested with affliction? Lo! We tested those who were before you. Thus Allah knoweth those who are sincere, and knoweth those who are pretenders.</span> (Al Ankabut 29:2-3)</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-115342293241869144?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1145834535252638572006-04-23T19:17:00.000-04:002006-04-23T20:03:21.606-04:00Salaams<br /><br />I dont generally waste my time with forwards, but this is really good. please read it inshaAllah. And whether or not you pass it on to 10 other people on your list, just make sure that you take steps to cross the Sirat while you're still in this dunya. :)<br /><br />....<br /><u><b><span style="font-size:6;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>THE HEARTBREAK</span><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></b></u><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span></span> <div class="quran"><span style="font-size:180%;">وَإِن مِّنكُمْ إِلَّا وَارِدُهَا كَانَ عَلَى رَبِّكَ حَتْمًا مَّقْضِيًّا</span></div> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span>Not one of you but will pass over it: this is, with thy Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished. (Surah Maryam, verse 71)</p> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Abu Sa'id al Khudri reported Allah's Messenger as saying: "When the believers pass safely over (the bridge across) Hell, they will be stopped at a bridge between Hell and Paradise where they will retaliate against one another for the injustices done among them in the world, and when they are purified of all their sins, they will be admitted to Paradise. By Him in Whose hands the life of Muhammad is, everybody will recognize his dwelling in Paradise better than he recognizes his dwelling in this world."</span><br /><b>(Sahih al-Bukhari, Fath Al-Bari) </b><br /><br />Having now arrived at the terrifying bridge of Sirat, everything is pitch black except for the fire of hell blazing from underneath. You see people you love go - could be your mother, or perhaps your father... maybe it's that strange guy you once gave salam to - he's also here today! Your sweat dripping uncontrollably from the anxiety of it all, from the apprehension and the scare of falling and slipping. All you can think of is that If you fall then it's all over. If you dont make it through, everything you've ever worked for will have perished. You thought before that this day would never come - yet here it is!<br /><br />The tragedy of it all. The days that made our our lives were short, and today, we see the slides of our earlier existence back to haunt us. Will we succeed on today? Will we make it through this path?<br /><br />There is no sun, no independent source of light besides the Fire of Hell itself. But the people that are crossing the bridge - they have light. Their very own light, coming from their bodies. We see the righteous ones fly by us. Some dart across like lightning, some fly like the wind, others gallop like a speeding horse. And still others; others are crawling on all fours. But the righteous ones, they make it. One of them is a person you recognize. It was that guy who spent his time memorizing the Quran while you were watching tv, but you remember him - his strength to fight his desires and determination to please Allah. Over there is a girl that you remember, who spent her weekends with her parents and relatives, struggling to please them.<br /><br /><div class="quran"><span style="font-size:180%;">يَوْمَ تَرَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَسْعَى نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِم بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ</span></div> <p><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">One Day shalt thou see the believing men and the believing women- how their Light runs forward before them and by their right hands: (their greeting will be): “Good News for you this Day! Gardens beneath which flow rivers! to dwell therein for aye! This is indeed the highest Achievement!” (Surah Hadeed, verse 12)</span></p><br />But you chose to go out with your friends, driving around pointlessly, wanting to be seen and wanting to see what your eyes had no right to see. A life in ignorance was bliss. But that life is over.<br /><br />Wasnt it was easy for you to pursue your desires, delay your salat, ignore charity, and act immoral? Remember how it was easy for you to hoarde money, to cheat, to deal with interest, and to flirt and to gossip? You loved buying new clothes, filling up your driveway with cars, your room with DVDs and music CDs, And you would have fought to keep it all. Back then, it never crossed your mind to spend these blessings for the sake of Allah.<br /><br />Some invested for a day like this, and others chose to invest in a world that has now passed; a dark, dead and lonely world. All He asked was for you to be grateful, but you choose to forget Him. He offered you everthing, and you turned your backs on Him, eyes bedazzled with so many cheap desires.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:6;"><br /></span> <span style=";font-family:Traditional Arabic;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-size:6;">يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ الْكَرِيم الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّاكَ فَعَدَلَكَ فِي أَيِّ صُورَةٍ مَّا شَاء رَكَّبَكَ كَلَّا بَلْ تُكَذِّبُونَ بِالدِّينِ</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">O man! What has seduced thee from thy Lord Most Beneficent? Him Who created thee. Fashioned thee in due proportion, and gave thee a just bias; In whatever Form He wills, does He put thee together. Nay, but ye deny the Judgment!!! (Surah al-Infitar, verses 6-9)<br /><br /></span><br />You are completely naked today! So are your sins, everything comes out today. You've brought absolutely nothing with you, and you are all alone. You wonder where your friends could be, where are your past friends on a day like this? If they were worth committing sins for, then how come they are not here to bear this heat for you?<br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:Traditional Arabic;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-size:6;">يَوْمَ يَفِرُّ الْمَرْءُ مِنْ أَخِيه وَأُمِّهِ وَأَبِيه وَصَاحِبَتِهِ وَبَنِيهِ لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْنٌ يُغْنِيهِ</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span> That Day shall a man flee from his own brother, And from his mother and his father. And from his wife and his children. Each one of them, that day, will have enough concern (of his own) to make him indifferent to the others. (Surah 'Abasa, 34-37).</span><br /><br /><br />Where is everyone? You feel scared, for all that you knew of, has indeed perished today, except your miserable soul.<br /><br />You continue to be alone in the darkness, and your knowledge tells you that paradise is just over there, just across this path. Yet, it is so narrow. Paradise is very close, all you have to do is cross this path, and it will surely end. It is your single wish at this very moment, abiding in guilt and in sorrow, to be rescued from the anxiety. You soon see your brothers make it through, standing on the other side, and your cousins too! Knowing this, you want to be with them on that end. You remember how they used to remind you of prayer and to hold your tongue except in good, but you forever refused to listen out of sheer stuborness. You were always better than everyone. You were right and they were wrong. It seems that you thought wrong. Your sweat drips, and your eyes tear...<br /><br /><br />You turn to Allah desperately, "O Allah, let me make it to Paradise! O Allah, i implore you! By your grace, let me see the gates of Paradise! O Allah, they were only small mistakes!"<br /><br />Tears.<br /><br /><b>The Heartbreak of it All.</b><br /><br />On that day, that moment, you would give up everyone to be rescued. You would be willing to trade in your wife, your husband, your children, your friends, and even you parents, just so that you could be with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in paradise. You didn't choose him then but you now, you would. How come you weren't from the people of his sunnah and guidance? You quickly remember that this moment is too profound for you and the fire is boiling. You have become desperate, and you don't know what else to do.<br /><br /><br /><b>The Heartbreak of it All.</b><br /><br />Your turn has come, and you have walk on the sirat now.<br /><br />Suddenly, it happens. The hooks come out from the Fires of Hell, and one digs into your flesh. You try desperately to hang onto the bridge, but the bridge is as sharp as a blade. Your hands begin to bleed, and blood trickles down your arms. But the hook will not let go; it only digs deeper.<br /><br />Your hands are covered in blood. They slip, and just like that, it's all over. Down you fall, farther and farther into the depths of Hell, screaming in fear and terror. You black out, but find no rest. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://what-the-hell-is-hell.com/fire2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 344px; height: 203px;" src="http://what-the-hell-is-hell.com/fire2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>You open your eyes, and see a fearsome, terrifying Angel standing before you, with the gates of Hell open before you. With a whimper, you motion that you dont belong here, that there must be some mistake. A single, choked syllable escapes your lips.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">'</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Why</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">?</span></span>'<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:6;"><br /></span> <ol dir="rtl"> <li> <p align="right"><span style=";font-family:Traditional Arabic;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-size:6;">ذَلِكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَفْرَحُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَمْرَحُونَ ادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا فَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ</span> </span><br /></p> </li> </ol> "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">That is because you exulted in the land unjustly and because you behaved insolently.</span><b style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> </b><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Enter the gates of hell to abide therein, evil then is the abode of the proud. (Surah al-Ghaafir, 76-77)</span>"<br /><br /><br />....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />These are our moments, this is our life. Let us not take it for granted. Let us not despair from the mercy of Allah, and begin to redouble our efforts and our acts of woship with complete sincerity and regards to the One who can rescue us from such a horrifying event.<br /><br />May Allah [SWT] grant us the abillity to cross the Sirat on the first instance, free of fear and free of terror. Ameen.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-114583453525263857?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1145500937565519892006-04-19T22:41:00.000-04:002006-04-19T22:42:17.576-04:004 exams in 24 hours. fourth year is certainly finishing up with a bang. <br /><br />alhamdulillah.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-114550093756551989?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1142737441624461502006-03-18T21:35:00.001-05:002006-03-18T22:18:29.080-05:00Busy stretch ahead; I have to really get cracking... since I have like 4-5 essays due in the next few weeks (please dont quote me on this - after all, I have skipped the last two weeks worth of <span style="font-style: italic;">all </span>my classes).<br /><br />Anyhow, I hoped to cut some corners by bringing 'multi-tasking' to a whole new level. Two of my courses - POL300 (Politics and Islam) and RLG350 (Studies in Islam) - each have like 10-15 page essays due, one day after the other.<br /><br />The plan was to write basically teh same paper for both courses, and with a few minor tweaks, submit them to the respective courses. I did shura with some unofficial authorities and there was <span style="font-style: italic;">ijma</span> among the various brothers that this was, in fact, a legal move - having done it themselves, I guess.<br /><br />So anyways, that was the plan.<br /><br />Being the dumb keener that I can sometimes be, I took the initiative to email each of the two profs my basic outline/ ideas for the essay. You know - hope for feedback. And stuff.<br /><br />But then I copy/ pasted one email and sent it to the second prof, only changing the greeting and the name. By itself, this wouldnt have been a problem if I had kept things very generic and whatnot.<br /><br />Heck, things would have been quite rosy.<br /><br />Except that I made the mistake of mentioning 'Human Rights in Islam' as being one of the units we'd studied in class (rightfully so, POL300). Problem was, we hadnt even touched the issue in RLG350.<br /><br />(As usual, you realize these mistakes <span style="font-style: italic;">after</span> pressing the 'Send' button).<br /><br />Today I got an email back from the RLG350 prof:<br /><br /><div style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">"There is no need to apologize. Students do not have to submit essay topics to me, unless they would like to have some feedback. However, </span><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;">I think you are confusing RLG 350H with another course you are doing. We did not do a unit on Human Rights in Islam."<br /><br />Andrew Lane<br /></span></div><br /><br />Polite? Absolutely. But it hurts when you realize that he was giving feedback to everyone else in the class.<br /><br />****<br /><br />In other news, congratulations are in order for Br Muhammad Ali Jabbar in being elected to President of Ryerson Students' Union. May Allah [SWT] grant him the ability to keep the admin running in as pure and halal manner as possible.<br /><br />I would advise you all to make dua for the brother as well; student politics (especially non-MSA stuff) can get difficult when you have to deal with stuff like alcohol, pubs, and other shady stuff.<br /><br />I would also advise you all that Ryerson University is henceforth qualified as a mini-khilafah. Regardless of which college / university you currently attend, please make hijrah to Ryerson <span style="font-style: italic;">now</span>, and give your bay'ah to br. Muhammad. We can advance from there inshaAllah.<br /><br />Thanks in advance for your anticipated cooperation.<br /><br />****<br /><br />PS: Does anyone have an essay on Fiqh or something? Just so I can get focused after this horrible set back.<br />;)<br /><br />PPS: Plagiarism is bad kids. Dont do it, and dont assume I'm doing it either. thanks.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-114273744162446150?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1142531835987238162006-03-16T12:16:00.000-05:002006-03-16T13:12:22.740-05:003 weeks of school left.<br /><br />And, mashaAllah, I've skipped basically every single class the past two weeks. I promised myself that when I got around to finishing 4th year, I wouldnt begin to slack off like everyone else. But I guess habits can be really hard to change, especially since this one has been cultivated all the way back since Gr 8.<br /><br />But atleast I can blame the alMaghrib institute for this latest spell.<br /><br />During the Aqeedah 101 class this past weekend, the Shaykh was discussing Islamic evidences for the existence of Allah [SWT], and then he moved on to Western/ Philosophical proofs for His existence (only because we live in a society where these proofs hold sway). Then he described how messed up philosophers are (its true), and narrated what Imam Shafi'i (RA) had to say about someone who studies philosophy... something about public humilation, being blindfolded on a donkey and being led backwards through the town market or something.<br /><br />Anyhow, the Shaykh is like, "I understand universities and high schools force you guys to take atleast one philosophy credit against your will, and this is why I'm going to teach you whats so bad about philosophical proofs. You guys have had to take a philosophy course, right? You know what I'm talking about, then?"<br /><br />And because I'm sitting in the front row and he's looking at me, I nod and raise my hand. Because its haraam to lie.<br /><br />And then out of the blue, one brother (lets call him 'Tanvir', for simplicity's sake) sitting halfway across the room is like "Oooh, oooh, Shaykh Yasir! Sahykh Yasir!! That brother over there? Get this... he's actually a philosophy MAJOR!!!"<br /><br />And then the shaykh looks at me, and he says, 'Is this true'?<br /><br />And I have to lower my head in shame and say, 'Yes, it is true'. Because you know, its haraam to lie.<br /><br />Anyhow, later on during the break, it reaches my attention that 'Tanvir' and the brother sitting next to him were studying philosophy extensively as well - much more than the minimum requirements that they 'force' us to take, anyway.<br />...<br /><br />Naturally, I couldnt strangle him at the time because we were in a packed auditorium. It was a nice auditorium too (Ryerson's ENG103), so I'm sure none of the other students would have appreciated having police chalk in the front row. Police chalk can be distracting sometimes.<br /><br />But watch your back, traitor. :)<br /><br />***<br /><br />So yeah... where was I? Oh yes, Aqeedah101 provided some incentive for me to start skipping classes again. Whats really cool is that I'm skipping class even now, as I type this - I mean, I tried to, but then I checked my email and found out that class was cancelled <em>anyway</em>.<br /><br />Maybe this is some kind of a sign that I should start skipping all my philosophy classes until the end of the year. I would do it too... for first year calc, I didnt go to a single complete class for atleast 6 months. beat that.<br /><br />***<br /><br />Then there are the annual MSA elections. Its around this time of year that people randomly get into groups and start whispering behind their best friends' back, and nomination forms are furitively flashed about.<br /><br />Oh, and the gossip. The rumours. The backbiting... cant forget about those; it wouldnt be an MSA election otherwise, now would it? Last year, things were getting so bad that we had to give a khutbah (with some explicit references) on the evils of backbiting. I think it did its job at the time, but every year there's this new batch that needs to be reminded this isnt really a soap opera, no matter what things look like. Anyhow, being an exec for the previous two years, you get used to being the centre of incoming/ outgoing gossip, and it can get depressing after a while, though.<br /><br />This year, I got appointed as one of the Elections Officers, so you'd think people would watch what they say around me. Because, you know, I can use personal discretion to kick people out of the elections.<br /><br />>:-)<br /><br />But no. I'm still hearing more than maybe I should be. People have the nerve to come up to me and discuss the best way to nominate a brother as the Sisters' Events Coordinator, or to discuss 'alliances' and 'voting blocs'. Dont worry guys, I'm trying to quash these ideas in <strong>everyone</strong>'s head.<br /><br />Oh, and that nominating a brother for Sisters' Events Coordinator thing? That joke is old. We did that two years ago on a brother who, incidentally, is the current MSA president. But anyway, right after we did that, we had the Constitution modified so there was no freaking way a brother could be nominated to the position (or vice versa).<br /><br />Never thought I'd say this, but I'm going to miss the MSA. Y'all better make sure it doesnt crash and burn when our year leaves.<br /><br />In either case, I'm sure some of the brothers and sisters who are graduation will drop by from time to time, 'making sure' that things are running smoothly...<br /><br />:D<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-114253183598723816?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1141936563112168332006-03-09T15:22:00.000-05:002006-03-09T15:39:37.940-05:00<a href="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/images/041127_souk1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/images/041127_souk1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Kudos to the brothers and sisters who helped organize and volunteer at UTM's latest edition of the Islam Awareness Week. I'm not even an exec this year, and I can honestly say that it was the best IAW I've seen - ever - at least at UTM, anyway. Crowds were amazing, we had some really neat discussions (there were like 5 christians vs Ibrahim in a 1.5 hour marathon on Wednesday... and Christians had to take shifts, lol), and over all, alot of volunteers and displays.<br /><br />Ok, so what if most of the time there were more Muslims in teh house than non-Muslims... crowds of volunteers are crowds, nonetheless.<br /><br /><br /><br />:)<br /><br />But we had casualties. The toll has now reached four brothers who have had to drop courses cuz of heavy involvement with IAW. Nevermind that 2 of them had to drop university courses (which they shelled out between 500 - 1500 bucks for), what especially irks me is that 2 of the other brothers are basically dropping the next alMaghrib course.<br /><br />AlMaghrib!!! These double weekend seminars were supposed to be untouchable; and to think there are withdrawals taking place? SubhanAllah.<br /><br />Anyhow, the good (bad?) thing is that all these brothers are juniors (2nd year or less). Its good to see the activism, but y'all got to know where to draw the line. MSA work takes priority over everything <strong>except</strong> family and school. Or should I say priority over everything except family and cramming? Because lets be honest, MSA makes us all skip classes.. I've had to skip so many, the thrill is completely gone. But these are stories for another day.<br /><br />Bottom line: dont drown yourself in anything.<br /><br />Moderation is the key to everything in life - including the amount of <em>itr</em> you choose to apply. Please brothers, it was a crowded Student Centre. A little bit of <em>itr</em> can go a long way, but a little bit more can take you in the opposite direction.<br /><br />>:D<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-114193656311216833?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1141680396565583902006-03-06T16:26:00.000-05:002006-03-06T16:26:36.566-05:00pretty please?<br /><br />http://kevan.org/johari?name=ghettosuperstar<br /><br />lol<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-114168039656558390?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1141610594609281922006-03-05T20:49:00.000-05:002006-03-05T21:10:49.413-05:00<a href="http://virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/ghayes/images/DSC03398%20Lonely%20tree%20on%20shorelilne%20b.JPG"></a><br />... so naturally, I'm wasting time on it, finding excuses to be on it as long as possible. And what better time than a procrastination spree to kick this blogging thing up again?<br />:)<br /><br />Anyhow, I've decided that I'll begin a countdown of weeks/ days/ hours left until I'm finished fourth year (inshaAllah).<br /><br />But what about Law school, you ask?<br /><br />I'm not sure I want to go there anymore. It all seems so haraam.<br /><br /><strong>Criminal / Advocacy Law</strong> - has too much lying. and argumentation. then there are those Muslim lawyers that 'dont even ask' if their client is guilty, so they can do the case with an honest conscience.<br /><br />lol.<br /><br /><strong>Corporate Law</strong> - means I could sit around at a desk all day (yay!), but then with all the paperwork for mergers/ takeovers/ taxes/ acquisitions, there's bound to be interest (ribaa) involved. Next.<br /><br /><strong>Civil Law</strong> - seems like its worth a look, and possibly the only reason I'd consider law school. Helping Muslims and stuff.<br /><br /><strong>International Law - </strong>also worth a look.<br /><br /><strong>Assorted - </strong>not sure I'm interested intellectual property and whatnot.<br /><br /><strong>Business - </strong>this is the last reason i've got to get a J.D/ LL. B. not to practice business law (whatever the heck that is), but to go into upper management or something. because a law degree is way better than an MBA. And MBAs are cheap like water these days.<br /><br />:D suckas. <br /><br /><br />In either case... I'm just waiting to see what happens. <br /><br /><a href="http://virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/ghayes/images/DSC03398%20Lonely%20tree%20on%20shorelilne%20b.JPG"></a><a href="http://virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/ghayes/images/DSC03398%20Lonely%20tree%20on%20shorelilne%20b.JPG"></a><a href="http://virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/ghayes/images/DSC03398%20Lonely%20tree%20on%20shorelilne%20b.JPG"></a><a href="http://virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/ghayes/images/DSC03398%20Lonely%20tree%20on%20shorelilne%20b.JPG"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/ghayes/images/DSC03398%20Lonely%20tree%20on%20shorelilne%20b.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://virtual.yosemite.cc.ca.us/ghayes/images/DSC03398%20Lonely%20tree%20on%20shorelilne%20b.JPG"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-114161059460928192?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1134866796631657672005-12-17T19:44:00.000-05:002006-01-19T09:01:37.636-05:00<em>The Messenger Muhammad (saw) said:</em><br /><br /><strong>"Some peoples will come on the Day of Judgement and their Imaan will be outstanding, it's light will shine from their chests and from their right hands. So it will be said to them, 'glad tidings for you today, Assalaamu alaykum and goodness for you, enter into it (Jannah) forever!' So the angels and the Prophets will be jealous of the love of Allah for them." So the Sahabah asked, ' who are they O Messenger of Allah?' He (saw) replied, "They are not from us and they are not from you. You are my companions but they are my beloved. They will come after you and will find the book (the Qur'an) made redundant by the people, and a Sunnah which has been killed by them. So they will grab hold of the book and the Sunnah and revive them. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>So they will read them and teach them (the Qur'an and the Sunnah) to the people and they will experience in that path a punishment more severe and more ugly than what you (O Sahabah) have experienced. Indeed, the Imaan of one of them is equivalent to the Imaan of forty of you. The Shaheed of one of them is equivalent to forty of your Shuhadaa'. Because you found a helper towards the truth (the Prophet [saw]) and they will find no helper towards the truth. So they will be surrounded by tyrant rulers in every place, and they will be in the surroundings of Bayt ul-Maqdis (al-Quds). The Nussrah (victorious material support) of Allah will come to them, and they will have the honour of it on their hands." Then he (saw) said "O Allah give them the Nussrah and make them my close friends in Jannah."</strong> <em>[Musnad of Imam Ahmed]</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>***</em><br /><em></em><br />May Allah [SWT] grant us the honor of being these chosen ones. Ameen.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/main-1.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com" /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-113486679663165767?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1131205948937209512005-11-05T10:46:00.000-05:002005-11-05T10:52:28.946-05:00Even though Ramadan is over, may Allah [SWT] allow us to draw closer to Him as the year passes.<br /><br />Few quick things:<br /><br />* Do not talk to me about differences in the whole moonsighting thing. ever. I think I've had it with the whole "I follow Saudi, I follow local" stuff. please leave me alone, jazaks.<br /><br />* I'm getting lazy with the whole blogging thing; RL beckons, and its awfully tantalizing. meh. <br /><br />* Some people are either toooo cool, or they're tooooo cool. (4 o's or 5, I cant decide which!)<br /><br />* Phase one of the free digital camera thing is complete. with any luck, i should be able to get something in the mail by mid-december. <br /><br /><br />stay tuned for updates. maybe.<br /><br />wsalaam<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-113120594893720951?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1128341513941371802005-10-03T07:54:00.000-04:002005-10-03T08:15:59.336-04:00<span style="font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;">"There has come to you Ramadaan, a blessed month, in which Allah has made it obligatory to fast. During it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained. In it is a night (Laylatul-Qadr) which is better than a thousand months.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> He who is deprived of its good truly has been deprived."</span><br />[An-Nasaa'i, authenticated in Takhreej al-Mishkaat]<br /><br /><br /></span> "Whosoever does not abandon false speech and the acting upon it, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Allah is not in need of him leaving off his food and drink.</span>"<br />[Saheeh al-Bukhari, Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah]<br /><br />****<br /><br /><br /><div class="storyText" id="storyBody" style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial,verdana,geneva,helvetica,sans-serif;"> <p> During this Ramadhan do not let the sweetness of our deeds vansh into the night, leaving only emptiness. When one contemplates the texts on fasting, its wisdom and goals in Shariah, and looks at the reality of the Muslim communities, one realizes a wide gap between the reality and our obligations.<br /></p> <p>Remember that Ramadhan is a bounty that Allah blessed His servants with, to strengthen their faith, and increase their piety (Taqwa).<br /></p> <p>Allah said: "<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious</span>.</span>" (Al-Baqarah 2:183). This article is an attempt to present the essential causes of this gap, and to some remedies. primary reason for the gap is ignorance about the goals of fasting and the wisdom behind it. Many Muslims ignore the purpose and wisdom of fasting. Fasting is done merely to conform to the social environmet without contemplation. If one is not aware of the divine wisdom of Shariah and its fruits in this world and in the hereafter, one will not apply it in the right way. </p> <p style="font-weight: bold;"> <big><br /></big></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;"><big>Goals of Fasting</big> </p> <p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Achieving Taqwa</span>:</strong> is one of the most important wisdom of fasting. Fasting brings on Taqwa as it lessens the desire of the stomach and mutes the sexual appetite. Whoever fasts frequently would overcome these two desires more easily. This deters against committing abominations and sins and assist in controlling life leading to Taqwa. </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Strengthening willpower and acquiring patience</span>:</strong> The Prophet (SAW) called Ramadhan the month of patience as it increases one's will power to control his desire and the selfishness of his soul. This training allows him to be strong in following Allah's commands. The most important being to carry the Message and propel it forward. The person trains himself to be patient in obeying Allah by stopping at the limits set by Allah both by way of action and abstention. Allah said: "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">These are the limits set by Allah, so approach them not</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">.</span>" (Al-Baqarah 2:187) </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Fasting is pure worship</span>:</strong> The fact that he is abstaining from food and drink both in public and in secret shows his honest faith and strong love of Allah, and his knowledge and feeling that Allah is all-knowing of everything. For this reason Allah has made the reward for fasting greater than for any other type of worship. Allah said in the hadith Qudsi: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Every deed of the son of Adam will be multiplied [in rewards], the good deed by ten of its like, up to seven hundreds, up to whatever Allah wills, except fasting, it is for Me and I will reward it. He abandons his desire and his food for My sake.</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">.</span>" (Related by Muslim) lbn al-Qayyim said: "...And people may see that a person is not eating in front of them, but the fact that he is really abandoning his food and his desire for the sake of God is a thing that nobody can find out about, and that is the essence of fasting." (Zaad al-Ma'ad 2/29). </p><p> <strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Relieving Muslims from life's distractions:</strong> Eating, drinking, and socializing all distract a person and weaken ties with Allah. It is by the Mercy of Allah that Muslims are ordered to fast so as not to be bothered by the intrusion of these activities. Nor by the thought about them nor the anticipation for them when devoting themselves to the all types of worship Either reading the Qur'an, offering additional prayer or making I'tikaf. For this reason the Prophet (SAW) said: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Fasting is a shield, and a secure fortress against Hell fire</span>" (Related by Ahmad). </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Discovering Allah's Blessings</span>:</strong> A person experiences the hardship of the poor. He should then be thankful to Allah Who has blessed him with His bounty while others are deprived. This should make him more sympathetic and willing to share this bounty. The poor rediscovers that fasting helps a person be more devoted to worship. More able to concentrate and meditate. He should then be able of this devotion all year long, a blessing he should thank Allah for. </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Acquiring strength and endurance</span>:</strong>It has been discovered that depriving the body of food for a period of time helps its defense and endurance mechanism. This in turn this protects the body from certain diseases. </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Remember that fasting is not only dependent on abstentions</span>:</strong> Many believe that fasting consist only of certain abstentions, forgetting that Allah established certain acts of worship with fasting. Among which are: </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Qiyamul-layl</span>:</strong> The Prophet (SAW) said: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Whoever performed the night prayer during Ramadhan out of belief and anticipating God's rewards, will be forgiven his previous sins.</span>"(Related by Muslim).Performing Umrah: The Prophet (SAW) said: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">An Umrah during Ramadhan is like a Hajj with me</span>." (Related by al-Hakim). </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Offering Iftar (meal) to those who fasted</span>.</strong> The Prophet (SAW) said: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Whoever feeds a fasting person has the same reward as him, except that the reward of the fasting person will not be diminished.</span>" (Related by Ahmad). </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Reading and completing the Qur'an</span>:</strong> The Prophet (SAW) said: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Fasting and [reading] Qur'an will intercede for the person: fasting will say: O Lord I forbade him eating and drinking so let me intercede for him, and the Qur'an will say: I deprived him from his night sleep so let me intercede for him," he then said: "So they will intercede.</span>" (Related by Ahmad). The Prophet (SAW) used to recite the whole Qur'an to Angel Jibreel each Ramadhan. </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Giving in charity:</span> Ibn Abbas (RA) said:</strong> "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">The Prophet (SAW) was the most generous among people, and he was more generous during the month of Ramadhan.</span>" (Related by Muslim). </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> I`tikaaf</span>:</strong> which is to confine oneself in the masjid for prayer and invocation leaving the worldly activities. Ibn Abbas (RA) said: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">The Prophet (SAW) used to perforrn I'tikaf during the last ten days of Ramadhan</span>." (Related by Muslim). It is surprising that many people have abandoned I'tikaf though the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam never abandoned it from the time he arrived to Madinah until he died. </p><p> <strong style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Supplication:</strong> In the verses dealing with fasting, Allah said: "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then answer them, I am indeed near to them. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me.</span>" (Al-Baqarah 2: 186). This is an encouragement for the fasting person to increase his invocation. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Three invocations will be answered: The invocation of the fasting person, the invocation of the oppressed, and the invocation of the traveler</span>." (Related by Muslim). </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Repentance</span>:</strong> Ramadhan is the time of repentance and return to Allah, for it is a time when the devils are chained, and when many people are saved from hell fire every night by the grace of Allah. </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Applying oneself in all good deeds in the last ten days of Ramadhan</span>:</strong> Aysha (RA) said: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">When the last ten days come, he (SAW) would pray most of the night and wake his family, and apply himself, and tighten up his loincloth.", and she also said: "The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to strive in the last days of Ramadhan more than he did during the other days</span>." (Related by Muslim). </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Abstaining from vain talk</span>:</strong> Sins decrease the reward of fasting although they do not annul it. The Prophet (SAW) said: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Fasting is not [only] abstaining from eating and drinking, but abstaining from vain and obscene talk, so if someone insulted you or wronged you say: I am fasting</span>." (Related by al-Hakim) and he also said: '<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Whoever does not abandon lying, then Allah does not need him to abandon his food and drink.</span>" (Related by al-Bukhari). </p><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> <big> Common errors made during Ramadhan</big> </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Excessive spending</span>: </strong>Ramadhan should be a time to avoid being wasteful, and learning to be prepared in facing harder times by distinguishing the needs from the luxuries. Unfortunately, many people go beyond their limits to spend during Ramadhan. Whether in the varieties of food that they savor each night, or by the other types of spending. </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Staying awake during the night and sleeping during the day</span>:</strong> Some people sleep during most of the day when they are fasting. Ramadhan is not a time of being lazy, and this do not allow the full benefit from the experience of fasting. It is as if they have only inverted their nights into days and vice versa. In addition, some may spend a great portion of the night indulging in eating and drinking and socializing </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Spending more time in socializing</span>:</strong> Because people invite each other more often during Ramadhan they do tend to spend more time socializing with friends, and relatives. While it is a good deed to feed the fasting person, this should not result in precious time lost in vain talk. Use the occasion for remembering Allah and offering additional prayers, and for the Da'wah to Allah. </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Insisting on performing a certain number of Rakaas during the Tarawih (night) prayer</span></strong> to the point of not praying behind the Imam and thus forfeiting the benefit of congregational prayer. This might also bring hatred and disagreement between the Muslims of one community. </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Reading Qur'an too fast:</span> </strong>Some insist on finishing the whole Qur'an once or more, even if they have to read very fast. Although reading the Qur'an many times is desirable, this should not be done hastily, especially during the Tarawih prayer without pondering upon its meaning. Allah ta'ala said: "<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">This is a Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its verses,</span>" (Saad 38:29), and the Prophet (SAW) said: "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Those who read the Qur'an in less than three days do not grasp [its meaning]</span>" </p><p> <strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> Socializing in l'tikaf</span>:</strong> Many people are eager to do I'tikaf but some confine themselves in the masjid not to pray and worship Allah but to talk and socialize. </p><p> The ways of doing good are numerous in Ramadhan Many people try to perform more than they are able to. By going beyond their capabilities, they end up not performing any deed in the desired way. </p><p> Scholars and Dai'ahs should assume a more prominent role in educating the people - both by talking to them and by giving the best example in their behavior which should comply to the Shariah and following the Sunnah. </p><p> The Muslim should realize that his priorities dictate that he does what benefits him in the Hereafter and should not put worldly interests first. </p><p> The Muslim should apply himself to deepen his sense of following the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, in every aspect of his life, at all times and especially during the month of Ramadhan. This necessitates seeking more knowledge about the Fiqh of fasting and its etiquette, assimilating the wisdom and goals of fasting, and facilitating the means that allow all the Muslims to benefit from their fasting. </p><p> We ask Allah to accept our fast and our good deeds. May He forgive all our sins, and enable this month of Ramadan to be a means of saving us completely from the Hell fire, and entering us straightaway into alFirdaus. Ameen.<br /></p> <p>Modified from <a href="http://islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=144">source</a><br /> </p> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-112834151394137180?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1127061166942166262005-09-18T12:18:00.000-04:002005-09-18T12:38:20.543-04:00law school applications are a pain. not only do you have to run around begging random professors (who might not even remember you) for references, you have to shell out major $$$. There's like this $175 <span style="font-style: italic;">base </span>fee, and then for each law school you apply to (in province), you pay an additional $75. Applying once, then, will cost you $250. But obviously, you have to make sure you apply to good schools (in case you get in), and the not-so-good schools (as backup), so you can easily look forward to spending ~ $600-ish.<br /><br />it better be all worth it.<br /><br />Anyways, what really pains me about the application process are the personal statements that you have to write up. If they were regular essays, then they'd be easy. But they're not regular; they're personal. You have to talk about yourself. You have to sell yourself. You have to make the school see why you're better than 2000 other applicants.<br /><br />It gets pretty tough... especially when you realize that the Admissions officers have been doing this for years; they've screened tens of thousands of statements, and they know when a person is just letting out hot air. So statements like "I want to become a lawyer because I have extensive experience of various aspects of the legal system, and believe that I would be a boon to the legal community " just doesnt cut it.<br /><br />So i'm going to ask you guys for some help. Help me come up with ideas on how to answer questions such as:<br /><br />"<b><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:12;" >Discuss the significance of a law degree program in light of your goals.<span style="">"<br /><br /></span></span></b><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:12;" ><span style="">and<br /></span></span><b><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:12;" >"Why do you want to study law? Do you have a career objective other than the traditional practice of law? Please describe.</span></b><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:12;" ><span style=""> "<br /><br />and<br /></span></span><b><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:12;" >"How do you think your academic, business employment and/or professional experiences have contributed to your development as an individual and prepared you for the study of law?<span style="">"<br /><br /></span></span></b><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:12;" ><span style="">so yeah. help me out, and maybe i can arrange for free legal assistance once i'm done with school. heck; write up a decent essay and i'll even consider naming my firstborn after you.<br /><br />oh, and please make it snappy - deadlines are approaching soon. :)<br /><br />jazaks.<br /></span></span><b><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:12;" ><span style=""><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><br /></span></span></b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-112706116694216626?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1126703721403961012005-09-14T09:08:00.000-04:002005-09-14T09:15:21.406-04:00Less than a month left to go! Lets get preparation ready, inshaAllah. This includes guarding your nafs starting NOW, being more patient with others, and fasting various days from the month of Shaban (i.e. now) - though you're not supposed to fast the last few days of Shaban 'just in case' Ramadan comes a bit earlier. so yeah. get cracking; its easier to implement your post-Ramadan resolutions this way inshaAllah.<br /><br /><br />Speaking of resolutions, monday was the first day of school. remember the post i made a few weeks ago, saying that this was it, i would finally take school seriously this year?<br /><br />lol.<br /><br />on the first day of school, my first class isnt even half over when I resolve to skip it. ditto for the other class i had that day (i didnt even bother going to that one before i decided to skip...).<br /><br /><br />anyways, old habits may certainly die hard... but here's to bloody murder. again.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-112670372140396101?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1126268224502218702005-09-09T08:14:00.000-04:002005-09-09T08:57:17.603-04:00By Dr. 'Umar al-Ashqar<br /><br /><div class="storyText" id="storyBody" style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial,verdana,geneva,helvetica,sans-serif;"> <p>When the Day of Resurrection comes, a man's wealth and capital will be his <i>hasanaat</i> (good deeds). If he had done wrong to any people, they will take from his <i>hasanaat</i> to the extent that he mistreated them. If he does not have any <i>hasanaat</i>, or if his <i>hasanaat</i> run out, then some of their <i>sayi`aat</i> (bad deeds) will be taken and added to his burden.</p> <p>Bukhari narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Whoever wronged his brother with regard to his honour or any other matter, should seek his forgiveness today, before there are no longer any dinars, or dirhams; <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">and if he has any righteous deeds, they will be taken from him, in accordance with the wrong he did; and if he has no </span></span><i style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">hasanaat</i><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">, some of the </span><i style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">sayi`aat</i><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> of his counterpart will be taken and added to his burden.”</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </span> [Bukhari: <i>Kitaab al-Mazaalim, Baab man kaanat lahu mazlamah `inda rajul</i>, <i>Fath al-Baari</i>, 5/101]</p> <p>This person whose <i>hasanaat</i> are taken from him by the people, and then has their <i>sayi`aat</i> placed on his own back, is the one who is bankrupt, as the Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) called him. Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Do you know who is the one who is bankrupt?" They said, "The bankrupt is the one who has no money and no possessions." He said, "Among my ummah, the one who is bankrupt is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer and fasting and zakah (to his credit), but he will come having insulted this one, slandered that one, consumed the wealth of this one and shed the blood of that one, and beaten that one. So they will all be given some of his </span><i style="font-weight: bold;">hasanaat</i><span style="font-weight: bold;">, and when his </span><i style="font-weight: bold;">hasanaat</i><span style="font-weight: bold;"> run out, before judgement is passed, some of their sins will be taken and cast onto him, then he will be cast into the Fire."</span> [Muslim: 4/1998, hadith no. 2581.]</p> <p>If a debtor died when he still owed money to people, they will take from his <i>hasanaat</i> whatever is in accordance with what he owes them. In Sunan ibn Maajah it is narrated with a <i>saheeh</i> <i>isnaad</i> that Ibn 'Umar (radhiallahu `anhu) stated: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Whoever dies owing a dinar or a dirham, it will be paid from his </span><i style="font-weight: bold;">hasanaat</i><span style="font-weight: bold;">, for then there will be no dinars or dirhams.”</span> [Saheeh al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, 5/537, hadith no. 6432.]</p> <p>If people wronged one another, the score will be settled between them. If they mistreated one another equally, then there will be no score to settle. If one of them is still owed something by the other, he will take what he is entitled to.</p> <p>In Sunan at-Tirmidhi it is narrated that 'Aa'ishah said: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">A man came and sat in front of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, I have two slaves who tell me lies, betray and disobey me, and I insult them and beat them. What is my position with regard to them?” The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">'On the Day of Resurrection, their betrayal, disobedience and lying will be measured against your punishment of them. If your punishment is commensurate with their wrongs, then there will be no score to settle. If your punishment of them was less than their sins deserved, then this will count in your favour. If your punishment of them was more than their sins deserved, then the score will be settled against you.' The man turned away and started to weep. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said to him, 'Have you not read the words of Allah?' -</p><b> </b><p><b>“<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">And We shall set up Balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We to take account.</span>”</b> (Qur'an 21: 47).’” [<i>Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh</i>, 3/66, hadith no. 5561. It is also narrated in <i>Saheeh al-Jaami`</i>, 6/327, hadith no. 7895, where it attributed to Ahmad and Tirmidhi.]</p> <p>Because <i>zulm</i> (oppression) is such a serious matter, it is better for those who fear that Day to give up oppression and avoid it. The Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) has told us that oppression will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection. Bukhari and Muslim narrated from 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:</p> <p>"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Oppression (</span><i style="font-weight: bold;">zulm</i><span style="font-weight: bold;">) will be darkness (</span><i style="font-weight: bold;">zulumaat</i><span style="font-weight: bold;">) on the Day of Resurrection.</span>" [Bukhari: <i>Kitaab al-Mazaalim, Baab az-Zulm Zulumaat Yawm al-Qiyaamah</i>, <i>Fath al-Baari</i>, 51100; Muslim, 4/1969, hadith no. 2579.]</p> <p>Muslim narrated from Jaabir ibn 'Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:</p> <p>"<span style="font-weight: bold;">Beware of oppression (</span><i style="font-weight: bold;">zulm</i><span style="font-weight: bold;">), for oppression will be darkness (</span><i style="font-weight: bold;">zulumaat</i><span style="font-weight: bold;">) on the Day of Resurrection.</span>" [Muslim: 4/1969, hadith no. 2578.]</p> </div> ****<br /><br />So yeah. Give up the harsh treatment of others, the gossip and the slander already. Because the irony of ironies is that these people who you believe are inferior to you - why else would you trash them so? - will demand free hasanaat from you on Yawm al Qiyamah.<br /><br />And dont lose your cool when someone else oppresses you either - they're doing you a great favor by either giving you LEGIT reward, or if they have none to give, they'll do you a favor by taking away LEGIT penalties that you've accrued over your lifetime. <br /><br />Allah knows best how many of our actions are insincere - and therefore not beneficial to us, even though we might think otherwise - but the settling of scores provides a REAL difference on your scales.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-112626822450221870?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1125119544093940762005-08-27T01:09:00.000-04:002005-08-27T15:56:58.930-04:00<span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> You are going to ask: and where are the lilacs?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">and the poppy-petalled metaphysics?</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">and the rain repeatedly spattering</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">its words and drilling them full</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">of apertures and birds?</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">I'll tell you all the news. </span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">One morning all that was burning,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> one morning the bonfires</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> leapt out of the earth</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> devouring human beings-</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> and from then on fire,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> gunpowder from then on,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> and from then on blood.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> Bandits with planes and tanks,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> bandits with finger-rings and duchesses,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> bandits with black friars spattering blessings</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> came through the sky to kill children</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> and the blood of children ran through the streets</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> without fuss, like children's blood.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Jackals that the jackals would despise,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> stones that the dry thistle would bite on and spit out,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> vipers that the vipers would abominate!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Face to face with you I have seen the blood</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> of the Ummah tower like a tide</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> to drown you in one wave</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> of pride and knives!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Treacherous </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> puppets:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> see my dead family,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">look at the broken sisters:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> from every house burning metal flows</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> instead of flowers,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> from every socket of the Ummah</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Islam emerges</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> and from every dead child a rifle with eyes,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> and from every crime bullets are born</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> which will one day find</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> the bull's eye of your hearts.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">And you'll ask: why doesn't his poetry</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">speak of dreams and leaves</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">and the great volcanoes of his native land?</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Come and see the blood in the streets.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Come and see</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">The blood in the streets.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Come and see the blood</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">In the streets!</span> </span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5174/464/1600/baby.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5174/464/320/baby.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"></span></span><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />...</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-112511954409394076?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1124081847692534762005-08-15T00:47:00.000-04:002005-08-15T00:57:27.693-04:00to the three people that still read the blog on occasion, i feel obliged to mention to you that i've changed the look. i think after all these years, the old punk-goth personality that was forcibly planted within me 10 years ago has finally been laid to to rest. <br /><br />alhamdulillah. peer pressure can be a terrible thing, especially for a 12 year old going through the trauma of having to switch to a completely new middle school. but thats over now, and peer pressure isnt even a tenth of what it used to be for me. thank God i care very little for the opnions of other people. i've found that it helps immensely to reflect and meditate on the inner self - getting focused and knowing what you want to do with life inevitably helps you from falling prey to the superficial expectations of others.<br /><br />besides, the black background was getting old, and forced me to heavily modify the text in the longer passages... which, i think, ultimately made the page load slower than normal. :D<br /><br />now that haloscan, user comments, blogs and all other forms of customized coding have been wiped out, i realize i have some other admin stuff left to take care of. its only fitting, i guess, because a re-invention / revitalization of the self was a long time in coming.<br /><br />maybe later. i got better things to do at the moment.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-112408184769253476?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1124041596639817202005-08-14T13:42:00.000-04:002005-08-15T01:00:24.053-04:00having managed to resign from YoungMuslims, escape from the MSA ( fingers crossed), and retreat from playing an *active* role in AlMaghrib Toronto (not sure if you can call it active to begin with), not to mention FINALLY convincing my brother to use his admin powers to block off Islamica from the network at home :D, I have nothing left to blame if I get anything short of a 4.0 in the coming year.<br /><br />this time, its gonna be all about me.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-112404159663981720?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1122908494371149822005-08-01T10:35:00.000-04:002005-08-03T16:52:12.446-04:00<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/file.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><b style="font-weight: bold;"> </b><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" >Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day,- there are indeed Signs for men of understanding,- </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" >Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say): "Our Lord! You did not create this in vain. Glory be to You! Preserve us from the doom of Fire. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" >Our Lord! Whoever you cause to enter the Fire: You have indeed confounded him. For the evil-doers there will be no helpers. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" >Our Lord! Lo! we have heard a crier calling unto Faith: "Believe you in your Lord!" So we believed. Our Lord! Therefore forgive us our sins, and remit from us our evil deeds, and make us die the death of the righteous. </span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Our Lord! Grant us what You did promise unto us through Your Prophets, and save us from shame on the Day of Judgment: For You never break Your promise."</span></span><br />(TMQ, 3:190-194)</span><br /><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><br />***<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Weeping of the Prophet (PBUH) ...</span></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font>The Prophet (SAW) said to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ood, "Read to me the Qur'an." He said, "O Messenger of Allah! Should I recite to you and it was revealed to you?" He said, "Yes, for I like to hear it from others." "I recited Soorat an-Nisaaa' until I reached the ayah, </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font> <b style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </b> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><b>"How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad) as a witness against these people?" [An-Nisaa' (4):41]</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font>He then said, 'Stop now.' I found that his eyes were tearful." </span><small>[Fath al-Bari 8:712]</small></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font>Abdullah ibn ash-Shikhkheer, radhiallahu `anhu, said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, praying with us, and I heard the sound of his weeping coming out of his chest, which was like the sound of a boiling pot." </span><small>[Abu Dawood, An-Nasaa'i, and At-Tirmidhi in ash-Shama'il, authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim]</small></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Also, Rasulullah (saws) used to stand up nights in qiyamul-layl every night to the extent his feet swelled. Aisha (ra) asked him, why do you do this when Allah has already forgiven you everything before and everything after? He (saws) said: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Then shall I not be a grateful 'abd (servant)?</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /><br /></p> <font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" ></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">...vs. Our Weeping</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font>The righteous have cried, the worshippers have cried and the believers have cried. And in this time there are people by whom a complete year passes and they do not drop a single tear from the fear of Allah. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span></span></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font>O Allah we seek refuge with you from hard hearts. O Allah soften our hearts to Your remembrance!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font> </span><b style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </b> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><b>"Those who believe, and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." [Ar-Ra'd (13):28]</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></sp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</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><b>"The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses are recited unto them, they increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone)." [Al-Anfaal (8):2]</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span></span></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font>So why do </span><i>we</i> not cry today? We do not cry from the strength of the hardness of our hearts and our hearts' attachment to this world. So our hearts have hardened and our eyes have dried.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span></span></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font> We are distant from our Lord. Had we been close our hearts would not have hardened. So he, who spends a whole week without his eye dropping a tear, let him sit and supplicate and humble himself. Maybe his heart would soften and his eye would drop a tear. And if his heart doesn’t drop a tear, then let him open the Book of Allah and read its ayat with contemplation, humility and submissiveness.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font></span><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font>So if his eye cries, his heart fears and his soul humbles he has succeeded; and if he continues in the state of the hardened heart, let him sit in a dark room and weep over his state, for his heart has died.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><br />****<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font>May Allah [SWT] enable us to weep out of fear of Him as He should be feared, and may each tear that rolls down our faces be a means of freedom from the Fire. Ameen.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-112290849437114982?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1122188845890368822005-07-24T02:55:00.000-04:002005-07-24T04:03:36.450-04:00<div class="storyText" id="storyBody" style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial,verdana,geneva,helvetica,sans-serif;"> <h3><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Many times, we will sin with the promise to ourselves that "we'll do it [this sin] one last time, and then ask for forgiveness - inshaAllah." But who are we trying to fool? We try to fool Allah [SWT]. We only end up fooling ourselves. </span><br /></span></h3><br /><h3>[The] Human Being Has a Great Capacity For Self-Delusions</h3> <b><a href="http://islaam.com/Scholar.aspx?id=1">By Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah</a></b> <p><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">There are two things one should be take heed of if one wishes to attain success and felicity: </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> 1) To know the details of the means of attaining good and evil, and to be clear about these through witnessing them in the world around, through one's own experience and that of others, as well as through reports one has heard about earlier and latter nations.<br /></span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">One of the most effective means for attaining this is pondering over the Qur'an, for along with the sunnah, it clearly explains the paths to good and evil. If you turn your attention to them, they will suffice you. They will inform you of Allah's treatment of the obedient, and of the sinners.<br /></span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Moreover, apply what you read to practical experience, and you will see the illustration of this - that Allah is true, the Messenger is true, the Qur'an is true, and that Allah fulfills His promise. History contains details of the paths to good and evil mentioned in the Qur'an and sunnah.</span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> 2) Beware of deceiving oneself with regard to these paths. This is very important, for the servant knows that sin and heedlessness are harmful to him in his world and the Hereafter, and yet he may deceive himself: </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">[He would decieve himself] through relying on Allah's pardon and forgiveness, by procrastination of repentance, by performing istighfar only verbally, by doing good deeds [after impetuously sinning], by knowledge, by justifying his sins by the argument of destiny, by citing examples of people committing similar sins, or by following in the footsteps of ancestors and elders. </p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> Many people think that they can perform some sin, and then if they say "Astaghfirullah" the sin will disappear. Or, they may deceive themselves with ahadith such as: "Whoever says "SubHaanallaahi wa-biHamdih" one hundred times in a day, his sins are taken off from him, even if they be like the foam of the ocean." Or "A servant committed a sin and then said, 'O Lord! I have committed a sin, so forgive me,' and so he was forgiven . . . . then Allah says, 'My servant knows that he has a Lord Who forgives sins, and takes [to task] for them. I have forgiven My servant, so let him do as he wishes.'" </p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> Such people cling to the texts of hope, and hold fast to them with both hands, and put [all] their reliance in them, such that if they are reprimanded for committing some sin, they will recite all that they known about Allah's mercy and forgiveness. Some went to excessive limits in this, such that they claimed that to remain free of sins is being ignorant or under-estimating Allah's mercy and pardon. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> Some deceived people cling to the notion of fatalism; that the servant has no free-will and that he is compelled to commit sins. Other cling to the notion of irja' (false hope), claiming that faith is merely affirmation, and that deeds are neither a part of faith nor have any effect upon it. According to their claim, the iman of the most sinful of believers is just like the iman of the angels Gabriel and Michael.</span> </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> Some are deceived by their fathers and elders, thinking that they have a rank before Allah, such that they would not leave them to perish. They take this by analogy from the behavior of worldly kings, who might grant a favor or pardon to someone based on the merits of his father or relatives. Such people are used to being taken out of difficult situations by their fathers, and are under the impression that this may happen in the Hereafter too. </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> Others deceive themselves by reasoning that Allah has no need of punishing them since He gains nothing from it, and He does not lose anything by showing them mercy. Such a person may say, 'I am in dire need of His mercy, and He is not at all needy of [anything]. if a poor, thirsty person were in dire need of a drink of water from someone in whose premises there flows a river, he would not be denied it, and Allah is more generous, and more expansive in mercy.' </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> Others are deceived by ridiculous misinterpretations/ misunderstandings, e.g.: </p><p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> "Your Lord will give you, so that you become pleased."</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> [Surah Duha, 5] he says: I am not pleased to enter the Fire. This is despicable ignorance, and clear lies, for he should be pleased by what Allah is pleased by, and it is not against Allah's pleasure to punish the oppressors, wrong-doers, evil-doers, traitors and those persistent on major sins.<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">"</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Allah forgives all sins.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">" [Surah Zumar, 93]</span> </span> </span>This is also despicable ignorance, for this verse refers to those who repent; otherwise it would imply invalidation of the verses threatening punishment for the sinners. This is specified by another verse, </p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> "Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, and He forgives anything beneath that to whomever He wills</span>." [Surah Nisa,48] Also, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"None will burn in it except the most miserable one who rejected and turned away [from the truth].</span>" [Surah Layl, 15-16]. This is a specific fire from among the various levels of Jahannam, and moreover the fact that only the rejecters will burn in it does not rule out that others may enter it. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">[Hell] has been prepared for the unbelievers."</span> [Surah Baqarah, 24]. The fact that it has been prepared for the unbelievers does not rule out that sinful Muslims may also be punished in it, just as the fact that Heaven "<span style="font-weight: bold;">has been prepared for the pious</span>" [Surah Aali-`Imran, 133] does not rule out that people with the smallest grain of faith may enter it even if they were not pious. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> Some are deceived by fasting the days of `Ashura and `Arafah, such that some may even say that the fast of `Ashura' expiates the whole year, and the fast of `Arafah remains as a surplus of reward. Such people have failed to realize that the fast of Ramadan and the 5 daily prayers are greater and more noble than the fasts of `Arafah and `Ashura, and that [it is understood that] sins are [only] forgiven as long as major sins are avoided. So, [fasting] from one Ramadan to another, [praying] from one Jumu`ah to the next, act in a mutually strengthening manner to achieve forgiveness of minor sins, provided major sins are avoided. So, how then can an optional fast expiate every major sin of a person while he still persists upon the sins, and has not repented from them?</span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Also, it is possible that these two optional fasts expiate all sins in totality, but that this has certain prerequisites and conditions, such as avoidance of major sins, or that the expiation is achieved in conjunction with other good deeds, much the same as the 5 daily prayers and the fasting of Ramadan expiate minor sins in conjunction with the avoidance of major sins. "<span style="font-weight: bold;">If you abjure the major things which you are prohibited from, We shall expiate you your evil deeds.</span> [Surah Nisa, 31] </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> Some are deceived by the hadith Qudsi, "<span style="font-style: italic;">I am according to the good expectation/thought of My servant., so let him think of Me as he wishes.</span>" i.e. that whatever he thinks I will do to him, I will. But, good expectations can only be with good conduct, for one who does good expects that his Lord will deal with him well, will not break His promise, and will accept his repentance. As for the one of evil conduct, who persists upon major sins, oppression and other evils, the desolation of sin, wrongdoing and [other] prohibited things prevent him from having good expectations of his Lord. This is something we witness in everyday life. A disobedient employee who has run away with company property will not have a good expectation of his boss. The evil of wrong deeds cannot coexist with good expectation. The best in expectation of his Lord['s mercy] is the most obedient to Him. Hasan Basri said, "The believer has good expectation of his Lord, so he make his deeds good. But, the evil person has bad expectation of his Lord, so he does evil." </p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> How can someone claim to have good expectation of his Lord when he is like a runaway, and is doing things which displease and anger his Lord, and has abandoned His orders, and is at war with Him. How can one have good expectation of his Lord if he thinks that He does not see him? "</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">And, you used not to conceal yourself, lest your hearing, sight and skin testify against you, but you thought that Allah does not know much of what you used to do. And that, your expectation which you entertained about your Lord, has destroyed you, so you have become among those lost/ruined.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">" [Surah Fussilat, 23] So, these people, who thought that Allah did not know much of what they did, actually had ill- expectation of their Lord, and that destroyed them. Such people are deceived if they think they will directly enter Heaven; they are fooling themselves; Satan is leading them astray and beguiling them.</span> </p><p style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Ponder over this.</span> </p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> Consider: how is it possible for one's heart to be certain that one is going to meet Allah, that Allah sees and hears all that he does, and knows his secret open affairs, and that he will be made to stand before Allah, answerable for all his deeds - how can one be certain and aware of all of this, and yet persist upon things which displease Allah; persist upon abandoning Allah's orders, neglecting His rights, and yet claim that he has good expectation of Allah?!! </p><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Abu Umamah Sahl ibn Hanif reports: `Urwah ibn al-Zubayr and I entered upon `A'ishah and she said : If only you had seen the Messenger of Allah in one of his illnesses; [when] he had 6 or 7 dinars. The Messenger of Allah ordered me to distribute them [in charity?], but the pain of the Messenger of Allah kept me from doing that, until Allah cured him. Then, he asked me about them: "What have you done? Had you distributed the 6 dinars?" I said, "No, by Allah. Your pain had kept me from doing so." He asked for them to be brought [to him], and put them in his hand then said, "What would be the expectation of Allah's prophet if he met Allah with these in his possession?"</span> </p><p><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> What, then would be the expectation of the people of major sins, and the oppressors, if they were to meet Allah with these sins and forfeited rights of people on their backs? If their claim that they entertained good expectations that Allah would not punish evil and wrongdoing people, were to benefit them, then everyone could do as he wished, doing everything that Allah has forbidden, provided he kept good expectation of Allah, thinking that the fire will not touch him. Subhanallah! How deceived can one be? Prophet Ibrahim said to his people, "</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Is it a lie, gods besides Allah, that you desire? What then is your expectation of the Lord of the Worlds?</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">" [Surah Saffat, 86] i.e. what is your expectation of Allah, what do you expect He will do to you if you meet Him having worshipped other than Him?</span> </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> So, if we reflect over this, we will realize that good expectation of Allah is equivalent to good deeds, for one is moved to good deeds by good hope of Allah, that He will reward him for his efforts and accept them. Otherwise, good expectation along with pursuit of whims and desires and lusts is incapacity. </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> In short, good expectation can only occur if the means for salvation are pursued. Pursuit of the means to destruction cannot accompany good expectations. </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> Someone might claim: It might, based on the expansiveness of Allah's mercy and forgiveness and generosity, and that His mercy exceeds His wrath, and that punishing does not benefit Him, nor does forgiveness harm Him. The reply is: Allah is indeed most generous and merciful, but this is in the appropriate place. Allah is also described as possessing wisdom and might and inflicting retribution, seizing with might, and punishing those deserving punishment. So, if the good expectation is based merely on some of Allah's attributes, then the righteous and the evil, the believer and the unbeliever, would equally be candidates for it. But, the names and attributes of mercy do not benefit the unbeliever or similarly one who has neglected his duty and exposed himself to Allah's curse. Rather, good expectation of Allah is for one who repents, regrets his sins and desists from the. This is good expectation, whereas the first is deception. </p><p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> "Those who believe, and those who perform hijrah and jihad in the path of Allah - they are hopeful of Allah's mercy."</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> [Surah Baqarah, 218] So, these people are the ones who can be truly hopeful of Allah's mercy; not the evil and sinful people. "</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Then, your Lord is, to those who make hijrah after they have been persecuted, and then perform jihad and are patient/steadfast - indeed, your Lord is, after that, Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> [Surah Nahl, 119] So, the knowledgeable one is he who puts hope in its correct place, whereas the deceived one is he who puts it elsewhere.</span> </p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-112218884589036882?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1121288460516649952005-07-13T16:59:00.000-04:002005-07-13T17:01:00.520-04:00So about a week after FedEx ships the Shukr package to my house, I get a letter in the mail from Fedex, telling me that they had 'generously' decided to cover the customs/ excise charges at the Canadian border, and now would appreciate it if I could pay the additional $50-odd fee as soon as possible. :@ :@ :@<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-112128846051664995?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1120592938322742542005-07-05T15:23:00.000-04:002005-07-05T15:59:48.073-04:00<a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1849_2854392"></a><br /><a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1851_879354"></a><br /><br />This is awesome. After spending a few weeks wallowing in misery once I'd recieved my LSAT scores ( they werent what I'd hope they'd be ), yesterday I met another student who had taken the test on the same day and compared notes.<br /><br />To my surprise (moreso than hers), it turns out that the scores I've gotten arent actually all that bad, and may still be able to get me entered into the school of my choice. Alhamdulillah.<br /><br />Its a big relief, actually, because I wasnt even sure if I wanted to write the test again ... on the day of the exam, I was in perfect shape (despite the fact that I only got 3 hours of sleep that night), and felt great after the exam. The only problem was that halfway through Section 5, I literally hit a blank wall and had to read the questions 2-3 times before anything would even get filtered through to my head.<br /><br />Maybe it was a sugar low from the O-Henry I'd eaten during break time, but the backup plan would've seen me suffer through massive amounts of training to be able to last just another 15 minutes. Alhamdulillah, it might not be necessary.<br /><br />Although, of course, it'd be a good idea if I actually <strong><em>called</em></strong> the school up before making any concrete plans. :P<br /><br />Make dua for me inshaAllah.<br /><br />In other news, the stuff I ordered from ShukrOnline finally came today, almost a full week earlier than expected. I ordered the Turkish Jubba and this knee-length hooded 'sweater', as well as 3 kufis.<br /><div><a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1849_2854392"></a><a href="javascript:CaricaFoto("></a><div><a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1849_2854392"></a><a href="javascript:CaricaFoto("></a><a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1851_879354"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1851_879354" border="0" /></a><a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1849_2854392"></a></div><a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1849_2854392"></a></div><a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1849_2796732"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand" height="380" alt="" src="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1849_2796732" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1849_2854392"></a><a href="javascript:CaricaFoto("></a><a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1849_2854392"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1849_2854392"></a><a href="javascript:CaricaFoto("></a><a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1849_2854392"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The material for the two 'shirts' is excellent, but I'm not impressed with the kufis - only because they <strong><em>still </em></strong>dont seem to fit, though I tried to order a larger size.<br /><br />In any case, the most pleasing thing of all was my mother's reaction. I fully expected her to kind of, you know, get *angry* after finding out that I spent what I did on the stuff. But she was pretty cool about it all.<br /><br />( I suspect its because I neglected to mention that all prices were in $USD. :D )<br /><br />Anyways, she was so impressed that she took a look through the catalogue and started picking out stuff for herself. I happily pointed out that since there's a flat rate (though hideously unfair) shipping fee for Canadians, she might as well buy everything she can to exploit the S&H charges. Naturally, this paves the way for me to go back and buy some of those Malaysian shirts. ;)<br /><br />Oh and to any brothers reading this - the kufis that I got are no good for me, right? Contact me if you want them; I have black, brown, and beige (as shown in picture) colours. The actual style can be seen in the link posted below.<br /><br />Jazaks.<br /><br /><a href="http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1853_1657476">http://store1.yimg.com/I/shukr_1853_1657476</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-112059293832274254?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1120072074566324012005-06-29T14:58:00.000-04:002005-06-29T15:18:04.070-04:00<span style="font-weight: bold;">Taken from works by Imam ibn al Jawzee</span><br /><br /><div class="storyText" id="storyBody" style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial,verdana,geneva,helvetica,sans-serif;"> <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">The believer is not one who performs the ordained religious duties superficially and avoids what is forbidden only, but he is one whose faith is absolute, with no objection whatsoever arising in his heart and no obsession dwelling in his soul. The more hardships he faces, the more his faith grows and the more his submission strengthens.</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">He could pray and not see a trace of an answer to his prayers, yet he does not change because he knows that he is owned by One who deals with him in whatever way He chooses. For if an objection was to arise in his heart, he then forsakes the role of the slave and takes on the role of a protester such as that of Iblees (the devil).</span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">A strong faith unveils itself in strong hardships.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">A believer sees in Yahya, son of Zakariyya, a fine example. He was killed by a tyrant who confronted him, yet He (subhanahu wa ta`ala), who made him a prophet, did not intervene nor defend him.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Similarly all the tyranny that befell the prophets and the believers was not held back from them. If one goes to think that Divinity cannot answer for them then one is an unbeliever. However if one believes that Divinity can answer for them but chooses not to, and that God (subhanahu wa ta`ala) can make the believers go hungry while infidels are full and inflict the believers with sickness and grant the infidels health, then one is only left with submission to the Owner even when tormented or scorched.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Jacob cried for eighty years when Joseph son of Jacob (peace be upon him) was gone, he never gave up; all he said when his other son was gone too is “May God bring all of them back to me”.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Moses (peace be upon him) prayed against Pharaoh, who killed children and crucified magicians and cut their hands, for 40 years before he was answered.</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">In such submission the intense of one’s strong faith is manifested not in mere rak`at (bowings in prayer).</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">So many of those who glorify Qadar were afflicted with tribulations and this did not increase them except in submission and pleasure (with their Lord), and there lies an explanation of the meaning of His words, "Allah is pleased with them" (Qur'an, 5:119 and elsewhere).</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Al-Hasan Al-Basree said: people are the same in health but when hardship befalls they show distinction.</p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">There are many people who are blessed with a slew of a blessings from Allah. And then when Allah decides to test them in these blessings, they then hate Him. And they'll cry out in self-pity 'why have you done this to me?'<br /><br />Yes, many people invoke Allah, asking for His love and asking for His pleasure, but they do not love Him, nor are they pleased with Him.<br /><br />But look at this man, who was raised by the Prophet (saw). Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqqas.<br /><br />He used to live in Kufa where he was the governor of that city. He then retired to Madinah, where his eye-sight was then taken from him.<br /><br />And it was known amongst the people that Sa'ad was someone who's dua's would always be accepted, as he was amongst the ten given glad tidings of paradise.<br /><br />And so the people would come to him and ask him to pray for them. And so he would pray for this person, and for that person...all day and night, every day and every night.<br /><br />And a young boy entered upon him, while he was invoking Allah to bless other people. The young boy said <b>"O Abu Ishaaq (Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqqas), I see you praying for many people, but have you prayed to Allah to return for you your sight?"</b><br /><br />Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqqas replied to him, <b>"O son of my brother, the decree of Allah is more beloved to me than my sight".</b></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></p> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-112007207456632401?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1119900675554063732005-06-27T15:27:00.000-04:002005-06-27T15:41:06.750-04:00<p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">We've all heard stories about how people do Qiyam all night. About Imam Abu Hanifa, its said that he spend 40 years using the same wudu for Fajr as he did for Isha (the implication being that he spent his entire night <strong>awake </strong>in prayer, among other things.) You may point out that 40 years is a tad unrealistic to be performing the Qiyam nonstop, and say that the narration is therefore unreliable. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">I would argue that it doesnt matter. </p> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">We can safely say that Abu Hanifa, along with loads of other pious people who spend half the night, or 2/3rds the night awake and in remembrance, did this act with quite some regularity; meaning that their sleep patterns were atleast consistent. </span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">I know every time I've tried to do it, I've had to make up for the sleep I've lost either on Saturdays or during a Public Policy lecture. </p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Personally, I've always wondered how the Sahabas, Tabi'een, et. al. got away with it. So maybe they didnt do it every day - maybe they did catch op on their sleep occasionally. But the matter remains that their sleep patterns would, in general, remain consistent. They had their own businesses to run by day, persuing knowledge, etc - so sleeping during the day time is probably ruled out. </p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Anyone have ideas on how they did it? </p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">I was speaking with a few brothers today, and it appears that there's this *technique* that helps one get buy on relatively minimal sleep - only 2 hours a day - and still allows you to function normally - some will argue even better than normal - in your everyday life. </p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">What you see below is from another website; I'm not posting links because the site has some vulgar language, and</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">so I've cleaned it up a bit. Any thoughts that you guys have on the matter would be greatly appreciated.</span></span> </p> <p>****</p> <p>(From the website) </p> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Sadly, I didn't get around to trying this schedule until my </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="Sophomore" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dSophomore');">Sophomore</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> year of college. I tell you, I'd give nearly anything to go back to it, but very, very few jobs will accomodate this schedule. For the record, because people always ask, yes, this is the way that </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="Leonardo Da Vinci" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dLeonardo%2520Da%2520Vinci');">Leonardo Da Vinci</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> and </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="Thomas Jefferson" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dThomas%2520Jefferson');">Thomas Jefferson</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> often slept. I'll walk you through it.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">The Hours.</b><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">You'll be </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="sleeping" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dsleeping');">sleeping</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> for twenty minutes at a time, every four hours, round the clock. When I did it, I </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="took a nap" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dtook%2520a%2520nap');">took a nap</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> at 8, 4, 12, then 4, 8, and 12 again. This totals a mere two hours of sleep in a twenty-four hour period. As a forewarning, yes, it's terrible to get used to, but after about </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="two weeks" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dtwo%2520weeks');">two weeks</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> you'll </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="never wanna give it up" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dnever%2520wanna%2520give%2520it%2520up');">never wanna give it up</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Special General Tips.</span></b><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">You can probably </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="guess" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dguess');">guess</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> this tip, but here it is anyway--DO NOT, under ANY conceivable circumstances, OVERSLEEP. Oversleeping on this schedule in the beginning (you won't oversleep after the beginning, even if you try) is devastating; you'll be </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="exhausted" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dexhausted');">exhausted</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> for at least a day. So. MAKE SURE to wake up after 20 minutes, and don't skip </span><i style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">any</i><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> naps. </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="Skipping a nap" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dSkipping%2520a%2520nap');">Skipping a nap</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">, no matter how long you've been doing this schedule for, will make you tired until you get the next two naps in normally.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Week One Tips.</b><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">During the first week, you WILL be </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="tired" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dtired');">tired</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">, but actually I found that kind of fun. Day one and two, you just feel like you haven't slept, and those naps aren't doing you any good because you just </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="toss around" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dtoss%2520around');">toss around</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> for twenty minutes, or, usually on day two, you </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="drop off" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3ddrop%2520off');">drop off</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> and then want to kill yourself when the alarm goes off 20 minutes later. Stick with it. Days 3-5, if you like to </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="meditate" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dmeditate');">meditate</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">, now's the time. For one thing, with </span><i style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">twenty-two</i><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> waking hours per day, you're gonna </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="run out of things to do" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3drun%2520out%2520of%2520things%2520to%2520do');">run out of things to do</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> by this time. For another thing, you'll bevery high by the end of the first week, as your body adjusts and your mind </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="starts to get this really weird clear-dreaming feeling" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dstarts%2520to%2520get%2520this%2520really%2520weird%2520clear-dreaming%2520feeling');">starts to get this really weird clear-dreaming feeling</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">. If you've ever played with </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="sleep deprivation" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dsleep%2520deprivation');">sleep deprivation</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">, you know what high I'm talking about. And no, you won't die on this schedule like you would if you just </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="stopped sleeping" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dstopped%2520sleeping');">stopped sleeping</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> or something; in fact, I was really getting the hang of it by day ten. By day twelve, </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="I felt like a million bucks" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dI%2520felt%2520like%2520a%2520million%2520bucks');">I felt like a million bucks</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">, and continued to feel that way for six more months.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">How it Works and Why It Might Work For You.</b><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Okay, over the course of a </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="normal 8-hour sleep" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dnormal%25208-hour%2520sleep');">normal 8-hour sleep</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">, your body gets an accumulated 1.5 hours or so of </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="REM" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dREM');">REM</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> sleep (</span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="deep, dreaming sleep" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3ddeep%252C%2520dreaming%2520sleep');">deep, dreaming sleep</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">). REM sleep is absolutely vital to your mind and body's condition and you will die without it; the other </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="stages of sleep" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dstages%2520of%2520sleep');">stages of sleep</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> do little more than provide time for the body to rest and grow and heal. On that note, I would not suggest this schedule under any circumstances to someone under 18 or anyone sick with anything--you all need as much sleep as you can get. That said: On this schedule, what you're doing for the first few days that makes you so wasted is depriving your body and brain of REM sleep completely. You don't stay asleep long enough to get there. </span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">The <a title="brain" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dbrain');">brain</a> really, REALLY doesn't like this, but it doesn't take too long before it figures out that you're sleeping regularly, just not for long. So after about 3-5 days (which is as much sleep deprivation as a normal person can handle), the brain begins its <a title="workaround" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dworkaround');">workaround</a>. It starts jumping <i>right</i> into <a title="REM sleep" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dREM%2520sleep');">REM sleep</a> as soon as you close your eyes for one of those naps--and you'll know the first time this happens, too; you'll wake up feeling really, really rested. Now, after a few more days your brain gets the hang of the schedule....and now, where most people are getting one-and-a-half hours of REM sleep in 8 hours of sleep, you're getting two full hours of REM. And by week two, you'll notice it, too: here are some of the benefits I noticed, while I was doing it:<br /><br /></p> <ul> <li style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">If you have <a title="sleep disorders" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dsleep%2520disorders');">sleep disorders</a> like <a title="nightmares" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dnightmares');">nightmares</a>, <a title="night terrors" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dnight%2520terrors');">night terrors</a>, mid-sleep choking fits, thrashing, muscle soreness or <a title="sleepwalking" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dsleepwalking');">sleepwalking</a>, this will probably flat-out cure you. I had many of the above, and they all disappeared on me virtually <a title="overnight" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dovernight');">overnight</a>. 20 minutes just isn't enough time to build up for those things. </li><li style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">If you're <a title="tight for time" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dtight%2520for%2520time');">tight for time</a>, like I was, it's a <a title="godsend" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dgodsend');">godsend</a>. Everbody wondered how I had so much time to have fun in college--they didn't know that I did all my studying at Denny's between my 4a.m. and 8a.m. naps. </li><li style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Yes, <a title="you'll still dream" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dyoull%2520still%2520dream');">you'll still dream</a>, and actually my personal occurence of <a title="vivid" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dvivid');">vivid</a> or <a title="lucid dreams" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dlucid%2520dreams');">lucid dreams</a> went way up when I was on this schedule. But most of the time, especially in the beginning, you won't remember; just sleeping and waking up. </li><li><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">As far as </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="being tired all the time" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dbeing%2520tired%2520all%2520the%2520time');">being tired all the time</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">, NO. No NO no no. I was much less tired after two or three weeks of this than I have ever been, before or since. For one thing, you're </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="going to bed" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dgoing%2520to%2520bed');">going to bed</a> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">every four hours, so every time you turn around it's time to go to sleep. And after about three weeks to a month, you won't need an</span> <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="alarm clock" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dalarm%2520clock');">alarm clock</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> anymore either--I used to </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" title="fall asleep" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dfall%2520asleep');">fall asleep</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> at Noon right in the middle of the quad at school, and my eyes would pop right open exactly 20 minutes later.</span><br /><br /></li> </ul> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Okay, even I have to pretend to be adult once in a while, so here it is: I do not know anything--and I doubt many others do either--about the wisdom or effects of living on this schedule for a super-extended period of time, like </span><i style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">years</i><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">. Like I said, I did it for </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="six blissful months" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dsix%2520blissful%2520months');">six blissful months</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> without a problem, and about seven friends ended up doing it with me by the middle. (*heh* We used to crash all at once in the Library. People called us the 'Sleeping Herd'.) The books say that Da Vinci and Jefferson did it all their lives, (although Jefferson did it for several weeks at a time, after which he took one day off and slept a full 24 hours). There's speculation, but no hard fact that I've found, regarding </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="Benjamin Franklin" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dBenjamin%2520Franklin');">Benjamin Franklin</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> and </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="Henry Ford" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dHenry%2520Ford');">Henry Ford</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> doing so. You may not have as easy a time with this or fall in love with it like I did--keep in mind I'm a </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" title="night-worshipper" href="javascript:ol('http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node%3dnight-worshipper');">night-worshipper</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> and have played around extensively with sleep-deprivation and other sick experiments. There. If that didn't dissuade you, you're ready.</span><br /><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111990067555406373?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1119402066185341212005-06-21T20:54:00.000-04:002005-06-21T21:01:06.190-04:00Initially, I was planning to post all the chapters of The Alchemy of Happiness for people to view; believing that in the event the initial source gets taken offline for any reason, there'd be a backup over here. <br /><br />However, the work is too long to be posted in a blog, so I'll hook y'all up with the link I got it from.<br /><br />Of course, this will mean that you have to deal with Westernised spelling, older English terms, and, worst of all, no color. <br /><br />Perhaps its for the best - enjoy. :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/tah/index.htm">http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/tah/index.htm</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111940206618534121?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1119327912438376922005-06-21T00:13:00.000-04:002005-06-27T12:08:48.673-04:00I wasted an entire day today. And wasted loads of money... doing basically nothing. This completely sucks, because I'm dead tired. And I had to skip a class doing all this nothing. :mad:<br /><br />Not that I have problems skipping classes; anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I end up skipping classes more than I actually attend. But the whole pointless-ness of it all today... it just pisses me off. Ok, wait... there are plenty of times when I skip for no reason. But today I'm tired, to boot.<br /><br />Why is it that very few of us can manage our time effectively? Its not just me; almost everyone I know has a problem with being good with their time. Everyone procrastinates. Everyone likes to just sit around and kill time EVERY day.<br /><br />WTH?!?!!?<br /><br />I think there's a hadith that correlates Allah [SWT]'s displeasure with a person, and how inefficient that person is with his time. May Allah [SWT] protect us all from His displeasure.<br /><br />I guess I might as well go pray Isha now.<br /><br /><br />Wa'alaikum assalaam. <br /><br />PS: InshaAllah I'll never be going to a Second Cup Coffee again. $5.00 for a coffee? gosh.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111932791243837692?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1118542432587102052005-06-11T22:07:00.000-04:002005-06-11T23:15:23.350-04:00This is a work by Imam Ghazzali. It was so good, apparently, that the Christian monks of the middle ages couldnt help but translate. It may seem a bit wordy, but its actually quite concise. Props to dream34 for providing the link.<br /><br />Its long, but well worth the read inshaAllah.<br /><br />Oh, and it was initially written in Ye Olde English ishtyle, so I tooketh the initiative and cleaned it up/ brought it up to date.<br /><br /><br /><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Alchemy of Happiness</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"> - </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">by Imam Ghazzali (RA)</span><br /></p> <p><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Introduction</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">KNOW, O beloved, that man was not created in jest or at random, but marvellously made and for some great end. Although he is not from everlasting, yet he lives for ever; and though his body is mean and earthly, yet his spirit is lofty and divine. When in the crucible of abstinence he is purged from carnal passions he attains to the highest, and in place of being a slave to lust and anger becomes endued with angelic qualities. Attaining that state, he finds his heaven in the contemplation of Eternal Beauty, and no longer in fleshly delights.</span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">The spiritual alchemy which operates this change in him, like that which transmutes base metals into gold, is not easily discovered, nor to be found in the house of every old woman. It is to explain that alchemy and its methods of operation that the author has undertaken this work, which he has entitled, <i>The Alchemy of Happiness</i>. Now the treasuries of God, in which this alchemy is to be sought, are the hearts of the prophets, and he, who seeks it elsewhere will be disappointed and bankrupt on the day of judgment, when he hears the words, "We have lifted the veil from off thee, and thy sight to-day is keen."</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">God has sent on earth a hundred and twenty-four thousand prophets to teach men the prescription of this alchemy, and how to purify their hearts from baser qualities in the crucible of abstinence. This alchemy may be briefly described as turning away from the world to God, and its constituents are four:</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">1. The knowledge of self.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">2. The knowledge of God.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">3. The knowledge of this world as it really is.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">4. The knowledge of the next world as it really is.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">We shall now proceed to expound these four constituents in order.<br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">***</span><br /></p> <h1 style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" align="center">CHAPTER I</h1> <h3 style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" align="center">THE KNOWLEDGE OF SELF</h3> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">KNOWLEDGE of self is the key to the knowledge of God, according to the saying: "<span style="font-style: italic;">He who knows himself knows God,</span>"and, as it is Written in the Quran, "<span style="font-weight: bold;">We will show them Our signs in the world and </span><i style="font-weight: bold;">in themselves</i><span style="font-weight: bold;">, that the truth may be manifest to them</span>."<br /></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Now nothing is nearer to you than yourself, and if you do not know yourself, how can you know anything else? If you say "I know myself," meaning your outward shape, body, face, limbs, and so forth, such knowledge can never be a key to the knowledge of God. </span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">Nor, if your knowledge as to that which is within only extends so far, that when you are hungry you eat, and when you are angry you attack some one, will you progress any further in this path, for the beasts are your partners in this? But real self-knowledge consists in knowing the following things:<br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">What art your in yourself, and from where have you come? Where are you going, and for what purpose have you come to tarry here awhile, and in what does your real happiness and misery consist?<br /></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">Some of your attributes are those of animals, some of devils, and some of angels, and you have to find out which of these attributes are accidental and which essential. Until you know this, you cannot find out where your real happiness lies. </span><br /></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">The occupation of </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">animals </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">is eating, sleeping, and fighting; therefore, if you are an animal, busy yourself in these things. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Devils </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">are busy in stirring up mischief, and in guile and deceit; if you belong to them, do their work. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Angels </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">contemplate the beauty of God, and are entirely free from animal qualities; if you art of angelic nature, then strive towards your origin, that you may know and contemplate the Most High, and be delivered from the thraldom of lust and anger.</span><br /></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">You should also discover why you have been created with these two animal instincts: whether that they should subdue and lead you captive, or whether that you should subdue them, and, in your upward progress, make of one your steed and of the other your weapon.</span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">The first step to self-knowledge is to know that you are composed of an outward shape, called the body, and an inward entity called the heart, or soul. By "heart" I do not mean the piece of flesh situated in the left of our bodies, but that which uses all the other faculties as its instruments and servants. In truth it does not belong to the visible world, but to the invisible, and has come into this world as a traveller visits a foreign country for the sake of merchandise, and will presently return to its native land. It is the knowledge of this entity and its attributes which is the key to the knowledge of God.</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Some idea of the reality of the heart, or spirit, may be obtained by a man closing his eves and forgetting everything around except his individuality. He will therefore also obtain a glimpse of the unending nature of that individuality. Too close inquiry, however, into the essence of spirit is forbidden by the Law. In the Qur'an it is written: "</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">They will question thee concerning the Spirit. Say: 'The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">'"</span> (*brother_bruce's disclaimer: I'm not sure if this is misinterpretation from the Christian monks, but the Spirit being referred to in ths verse is traditionally thought of as being the Arch-Angel Jibreel, who would convey the Revelation to the Messengers. And Allah [SWT] knows best.)<br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Thus much is known of it that it is an indivisible essence belonging to the world of decrees, and that it is not from everlasting, but created. An exact philosophical knowledge of the spirit is not a necessary preliminary to walking in the path of religion, but comes rather as the result of self-discipline and perseverance in that path, as it is said in the Qur'an: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Those who strive in Our way, verily We will guide them to the right paths</span>."</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">For the carrying on of this spiritual warfare by which the knowledge of oneself and of God is to be obtained, the body may be figured as a kingdom, the soul as its king, and the different senses and faculties as constituting an army. Reason may be called the vizier, or prime minister, passion the revenue-collector, and anger the police-officer. Under the guise of collecting revenue, passion is continually prone to plunder on its own account, while resentment is always inclined to harshness and extreme severity. Both of these, the revenue-collector and the police-officer, have to be kept in due subordination to the king, but not killed or expelled, as they have their own proper functions to fulfil. But if passion and resentment master reason, the ruin of the soul infallibly ensues.</span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">A soul which allows its lower faculties to dominate the higher is as one who should hand over an angel to the power of a dog or a Muslim to the tyranny of an unbeliever. The cultivation of demonic, animal, or angelic qualities results in the production of corresponding characters, which in the Day of Judgment will be manifested in visible shapes, the sensual appearing as swine, the ferocious as dogs and wolves, and the pure as angels. The aim of moral discipline is to purify the heart from the rust of passion and resentment, till, like a clear mirror, it reflects the light of God.</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Some one may here object, "But if man has been created with animal and demonic qualities as well as angelic, how are we to know that the latter constitute his real essence, while the former are merely accidental and transitory?" To this I answer that the essence of each creature is to be sought in that which is highest in it and peculiar to it. Thus the horse and the ass are both burden-bearing animals, but the superiority of the horse to the ass consists in its being adapted for use in battle. If it fails in this, it becomes degraded to the rank of burden-bearing animals. </span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">Similarly with man: the highest faculty in him is reason, which fits him for the contemplation of God. If this predominates in him, when he dies, he leaves behind him all tendencies to passion and resentment, and becomes capable of association with angels. As regards his mere animal qualities, man is inferior to many animals, but reason makes him superior to them, as it is written in the Qur'an: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">To man We have subjected all things in the earth.</span>" But if his lower tendencies have triumphed, after death he will ever be looking towards the earth and longing for earthly delights.</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">Now the rational soul in man abounds in, marvels, both of knowledge and power. By means of it he masters arts and sciences, can pass in a flash from earth to heaven and back again, can map out the skies and measure the distances between the stars. By it also he can draw the fish from the sea and the birds from the air, and can subdue to his service animals, like the elephant, the camel, and the horse. </span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">His five senses are like five doors opening on the external world; but, more wonderful than this, his heart has a window which opens on the unseen world of spirits. In the state of sleep, when the avenues of the senses are closed, this window is opened and man receives impressions from the unseen world and sometimes foreshadowings of the future. His heart is then like a mirror which reflects what is pictured in the Tablet of Fate. But, even in sleep, thoughts of worldly things dull this mirror, so, that the impressions it receives are not clear. After death, however, such thoughts vanish and things are seen in their naked reality, and the saying in the Qur'an is fulfilled: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">We have stripped the veil from off thee and thy sight today is keen.</span>"</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">This opening of a window in the heart towards the unseen also takes place in conditions. approaching those of prophetic inspiration, when intuitions spring up in the mind unconveyed through any sense-channel. The more a man purifies himself from fleshly lusts and concentrates his mind on God, the more conscious will he be of such intuitions. Those who are not conscious of them have no right to deny their reality.</span><br /></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Nor are such intuitions confined only to those of prophetic rank. Just as iron, by sufficient polishing, can be made into a mirror, so any mind by due discipline can be rendered receptive of such impressions. </span>(<span style="font-style: italic;">*EDIT: Of course, this is not to say that any of us will be able to purify our souls to the extent of being able to recieve wahy as the Prophets used to recieve. Allahu 'alim.</span>) <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">It was at this truth the Prophet hinted when he said, "Every child is born with a predisposition towards Islam; then his parents make a Jew, or a, Christian, or a star-worshipper of him." Every human being has in the depths of his consciousness heard the question "</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Am I not your Lord?</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">" and answered "</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Yes</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">" to it. But some hearts are like mirrors so befouled with rust and dirt that they give no clear reflections, while those of the prophets and saints, though they are men "of like passions with us," are extremely sensitive to all divine impressions.</span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Nor is it only by reason of knowledge acquired and intuitive that the soul of man holds the first rank among created things, but also by reason of power. Just as angels preside over the elements, so does the soul rule the members of the body. Those souls which attain a special degree of power not only rule their own body but those of others also. </span><br /></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">If they wish a sick man to recover he recovers, or a person in health to fall ill he becomes ill, or if they will the presence of a person he comes to them. According as the effects produced by these powerful souls are good or bad they are termed miracles or sorceries. These souls differ from common folk in three ways: (1) what others only see in dreams they see in their waking moments. (2) While others' wills only affect their own bodies, these, by will-power, can move bodies extraneous to themselves. (3) The knowledge which others acquire by laborious learning comes to them by intuition.</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">*EDIT: Although he may apparently be referring to the Awliyaa, it is important to note that Allah [SWT] <span style="font-weight: bold;">alone </span>has power over all affairs</span>).<br /></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">These three, of course, are not the only marks which differentiate them from common people, but the only ones that come within our cognisance. Just as no one knows the real nature of God but God Himself, so no one knows the real nature of a prophet but a prophet. Nor is this to be wondered at, as in everyday matters we see that it is impossible to explain the charm of poetry to one whose ear is insusceptible of cadence and rhythm, or the glories of colour to one who is stone-blind. </span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Besides mere incapacity, there are other hindrances to the attainment of spiritual truth. One of these is externally acquired knowledge. To use a figure, the heart may be represented as a well, and the five senses as five streams which are continually conveying water to it. In order to find out the real contents of the heart these streams must be stopped for a time, at any rate, and the refuse they have brought with them must be cleared out of the well. In other words, if we are to arrive at pure spiritual truth, we must put away, for the time, knowledge which has been acquired by, external processes and which too often hardens into dogmatic prejudice.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">A mistake of an opposite kind is made by shallow people who, echoing some phrases which they have caught from Sufi teachers, go about decrying all knowledge. This is as if a person who was not an adept in alchemy were to go about saying, "Alchemy <i>is</i> better than in gold," and were to refuse gold when it was offered to him. Alchemy is better than gold, but real alchemists are very rare, and so are real Sufis. He who has a mere smattering of Sufism is not superior to a learned man, any more than he who has tried a few experiments in alchemy has ground for despising a rich man.</p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Any one who will look into the matter will see that happiness is necessarily linked with the knowledge of God. Each faculty of ours delights in that for which it was created: lust delights in accomplishing desire, anger in taking vengeance, the eye in seeing beautiful objects, and the ear in hearing harmonious sounds. The highest function of the soul of man is the perception of truth; in this accordingly it finds its special delight. Even in trifling matters, such, as learning chess, this holds good, and the higher the subject-matter of the knowledge obtained the greater the delight. A man would be pleased at being admitted into the confidence of a prime minister, but how much more if the king makes an intimate of him and discloses state secrets to him!</p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">An astronomer who, by his knowledge, can map the stars and describe their courses, derives more pleasure from his knowledge than the chess-player from his. Seeing, then, that nothing is higher than God, how great must be the delight which springs from the true knowledge of Him!</p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A person in whom the desire for this knowledge has disappeared is like one who has lost his appetite for healthy food, or who prefers feeding on clay to eating bread</span>. All bodily appetites perish at death with the organs they use, but the soul dies not, and retains whatever knowledge of God it possesses; nay, increases it.</p> <p><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 51);">An important part of our knowledge of God arises from the study and contemplation of our own bodies, which reveal to us the power, wisdom, and love of the Creator. His power, in that from a mere drop He has built up the wonderful frame of man; His wisdom is revealed in its intricacies and the mutual adaptability of its parts; and His love is shown by His not only supplying such organs as are absolutely necessary for existence, as the liver, the heart, and the brain, but those which are not absolutely necessary, as the hand, the foot, the tongue, and the eye. To these He has added, as ornaments, the blackness of the hair, the redness of lips, and the curve of the eyebrows.</span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Man has been truly termed a "microcosm," or little world in himself, and the structure of his body should be studied not only by those who wish to become doctors, but by those who wish to attain to a more intimate knowledge of God, just as close study of the niceties and shades of language in a great poem reveals to us more and more of the genius of its author.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">But, when all is said, the knowledge of the soul plays a more important part in leading to the knowledge of God than the knowledge of our body and its functions. The body may be compared to a steed and the soul to its rider; the body was created for the soul, the soul for the body. If a man knows not his own soul, which is the nearest thing to him, what is the use of his claiming to know others? It is as if a beggar who has not the wherewithal for a meal should claim to be able to, feed a town.</p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">In this chapter we have attempted, in some degree, to expound, the greatness of man's soul. He who neglects it and suffers its capacities to rust or to degenerate must necessarily be the loser in this world and the next.<br /></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">The true greatness of man lies in his capacity for eternal progress, otherwise in this temporal sphere he is the weakest of all things</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">, being subject to hunger, thirst, heat, cold, and sorrow. Those things he takes most delight in are often the most injurious to him, and those things which benefit him are not to be obtained without toil and trouble. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">As to his <span style="font-weight: bold;">intellect</span>, a slight disarrangement of matter in his brain is sufficient to destroy or madden him;</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">as to his <span style="font-weight: bold;">power</span>, the sting of a wasp is sufficient to rob him of ease and sleep</span>; <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">as to his <span style="font-weight: bold;">temper</span>, he is upset by the loss of a sixpence</span>;<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> as to his <span style="font-weight: bold;">beauty</span>, he is little more than nauseous matter covered with a fair skin</span>. <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Without frequent washing he becomes utterly repulsive and disgraceful</span>.</p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">In truth, man in this world is extremely weak and contemptible; it is only in the next that he will be of value, if by means of the "alchemy of happiness" he rises from the rank of beasts to that of angels. Otherwise his condition will be worse than the brutes, which perish and turn to dust. It is necessary for him, at the same time that he is conscious of his superiority as the climax of created things, to learn to know also his helplessness, as that too is one of the keys to the knowledge of God.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111854243258710205?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1117514945136512732005-05-31T00:38:00.000-04:002005-05-31T21:30:26.486-04:00You know, in a weird sort of way. ;)<br /><br />****<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Dude, where's the Washing Machine? </span></span><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">by Talal Sarwani</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">There's a very interesting worldwide phenomena taking place among the Muslim youth of today. Everyone's favorite bit of Sunnah has become the advice of the Prophet (SA'AS) to get married asap. Alhamdulillah, the wisdom of that advice is nothing short of Divine, but the abuse of that advice is causing much trouble in the Ummah today. That trouble has manifested itself into the most hated of what is Halaal: Talaq (Divorce). Kids are getting married right and left, lost in some romanticized version of what married life seems to be about, and the second they find themselves stuck in a mud of responsiblity, it's time to flip out the cell phone and SMS your significant other:</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)">I divorce you.</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)">I divorce you.</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0)">I divorce you.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">Indeed, it is a time of cowards.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">So I set out to investigate what was causing this desperate desire for the Great Hookup. What did I find? Were the beards really growin' and the brows left un-threaded? Were the kufis being worn and the hijabs being tightened? Was the thawb and the 'abaya truly being donned? Was the scent of 'oud aromafying the surroundings? Read on, brothers and sisters, read on for the truth....</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,102,255)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">The number one danger towards the one who is single, is to be around those who have newly become doubles. It's been referred to in the past as</span> </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,204,0)">The Fever</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,102,255)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">.</span> </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,204,0)">The Fever</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)"> is not just the feeling that one needs to get hitched, it's the malady that causes such feelings simply from having attended the hitching ceremonies of all-too-many people in an all-too-short amount of time. For proof of the existence of this syndrome, please go up to any brother (though I claim to know their perspective as well, out of respect, I shall take the Fifth as far as sisters are concerned) during the summer, especially during this Summer of a Thousand Weddings. You'll hear the usual talk of empty hearts needing companionship, of guys swooning over she who looked back and if you're around one after someone else's wedding, a feeling of slight dejection rather than complete happiness for his just betrothed brother and sister. </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,204,0)">The Fever</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,102,255)"> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">is a powerful thing, taking over the life of he or she who is stung by it, causing him or her to find themselves raising their hands to Allah every night, asking for either the filling of their empty hearts or at the very least a respite from their feelings. So, brothas and sistas, if you find yourself in this most unwanted predicament, the prescription is as follows:</span></span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255); FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,204,0)">Step 1</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,204,0)">:</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">Lower your gaze</span></span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,204,0); FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Step 2:</span> Pray for the feeling to go away</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255); FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,204,0)">Step 3</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,204,0)">:</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">Lower your gaze</span></span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,204,0); FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Step 4:</span> Don't talk to others about your predicament (you'll realize they're in the same hole, and then the both of you will wallow in each other's misery)</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,255); FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,204,0)">Step 5</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,204,0)">:</span> <span style="COLOR: rgb(255,0,0)">Lower your gaze</span></span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,204,0); FONT-STYLE: italic">Rinse. Spit. Repeat.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,102,255)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">InshaAllah</span> </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,204,0)">The Fever</span><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,102,255)"> <span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">should soon subside and all will be back to normal. HOWEVER, say the ol' heart sparks at the just barely-sighted-glance of a certain someone, then be sure to follow the following steps. Now, keep in mind this is the ONLY acceptable follow-up to that "cue the chorus" moment. Consider this your final warning not to join certain committees of certain organizations, "accidentally" finding certain someones sitting there.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic">BONUS:</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,204,0); FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Step 6</span>: ISTIKHARA TIME!!!!!!!!</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,204,0); FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Possible Step 7 for Brothers</span>: Be a Man. Call her parents.</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(255,204,0); FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Possible Step 7 for Sisters</span>: Just sit there all coy and shy (I keed, I keed).</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">This prescription is signed and endorsed by <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Shaykh </span>(of the Polaroid Picture kind) <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Ishq ibn Al-Hubbatani</span>, so you better believe it works.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">There is however a lot more that contributes to the I Think I Love You, Marry Me syndrome plaguing the Ummah today. The majority of these causes rests in the realm of what a brother once said: "Blame it on the Deen".</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The Romantic Islam</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">As a preface to what follows, let me say that this topic includes far more than I can write about in this space, so I'm not gonna cover anything... I mean everything. There's literally an incredible amount of things that fall into The Romantic Islam, but I'll just touch upon these two of varying extremes, to give you just a taste of what I mean.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">I'm using the word romantic not in the sense of an ideal, but in the plain old Qais/Majnu/Romeo and their Lailas/Juliet sense. These are those bits (according to the very doubtable research done for this) of Islam that when people gain knowledge of them, at a certain time of their lives, in that certain state of mind, all havoc lets loose, the hearts open up in need, and the shaitaan is called in for playtime.</span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">You... complete... me...</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">When Tom Cruise uttered those words to his love in Jerry McGuire, the heart of every woman in movie theaters around the world let out a collective sigh. If only they knew what Muslimahs had already known for centuries, or at least what they did, once, know. I'm referring to the oft-repeated hadith of the Lone Hearted:</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0); FONT-STYLE: italic">Narrated by Anas, who reported that the Prophet(SA'AS) said:</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,204,51); FONT-STYLE: italic">When a man marries, he has fulfilled half of his religion...<br /><br /></span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">We are the creations of a Creator who knows our innards better than we know our names, so when we experience this wisdom that has been passed down to us, our hearts yell: SUBHANALLAH!!! I NEED to get married. Let's just face it, this hadith makes everyone feel good about things, and is among the greatest proliferators of Wandering Heart technology. Do note the "...", because you rarely ever hear the rest of the hadith:</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(255,204,51); FONT-STYLE: italic"><br />"...so let him fear Allah regarding the remaining half."</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">'Nuff said, yo. Fo schizzle.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sweet Nothings</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">Ahem, the following is a very interesting tidbit. It's something I gleaned from a brother in whom the desire to be wed was gnawing at him from the inside. We were in a room with just pillows on the floor to chill on. It of course happened to be a time of someone else's wedding, which is why I just sat relaxing after a long night of partying with the *cough*aunties*cough*. So, this brother comes up to me, with a copy of Sahih Bukhari of all things, and he prompts me to read:</span><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(0,153,0); FONT-STYLE: italic">Volume 2, Book 21, Number 258:</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0); FONT-STYLE: italic">Narrated 'Aisha :</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0); FONT-STYLE: italic">After offering the Sunna of the Fajr prayer, the Prophet used to talk to me, if I happened to be awake; otherwise he would lie down till the Iqama call was proclaimed (for the Fajr prayer).</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">"Alright", I thought, "so?". He plopped himself down onto the floor, and with a bleary-eyed look, said: "Wouldn't it be amazing to have someone to talk to when you walk up a little early for Fajr?". Let's just say he didn't take too kindly at me falling over from laughter nor my suggestion that he could always give me a call anytime he feels lonely at that hour. If you're in this state. brothers and sisters, please follow the prescription given to you above, and inshaAllah spare the rest of us from stomach-hurting hilarity.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The End of This</span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">Alas, all great things come to an end, as must this column. I just barely touched upon what I really wanted to talk about, but my mind is not in a state of organization, so I leave you with this little conclusion. Realize that marriage isn't a joke or little fling you go through. It's a responsibility, where the third party in the trust between a husband and wife is Allah. All this talk of love and all that jazz is a distraction, so pay little attention to it. There is ONE person for whom you are meant, inshaAllah, so take care of your personal half of your deen, and Allah will provide you with the best of companionship. Take the halaal way, and you'll feel it yourself. The second the Nikah is done, the man and woman are infused with a feeling of rahmah towards each other granted to them by Allah. It's akin to that sudden mercy felt by one who has just become a parent. It's not something you can understand beforehand.</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">There's lots of things in Islam that stir the hearts, but they are there to convince you of the correctness of the Straight Path. Don't let the shaitaan lead you astray when he discovers the state of your heart and mind. Seek refuge and establish trust in Allah, for that is the only way to keep yourself on the Sirat-Al-Mustaqeem. Someone once questioned the hurried rush to marriage seen in the Ummah, and couldn't understand how they took that step when they didn't even have a way of supporting a family. "When you're capable of getting her the washing machine, then you're ready to begin a life together".</span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">So, I humbly bow out, going back to saving a little every two weeks, so that I can inshaAllah buy whatever washing machine her heart desires </span><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)"><-- sarcasm alert for the troublemakers among you If I offended anyone, forgive me, inshaAllah. Oh, and to those souls who recently have been, or soon will be paired back to those they were with in Fitra, our Du'as are with you. May Allah grant you all the best in the Dunya and the Hereafter.. Ameen, Ameen, Ya Rabbil 'Alameen. </span><br /><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">Peace out, </span><br /><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,153,0)">wa alaikum as salaam, </span><br /><br />( taken from <a href="http://www.hidayaonline.com/archives/000033.html" target="_blank">http://www.hidayaonline.com/archives/000033.html</a>)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111751494513651273?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1116908278067832252005-05-23T23:39:00.000-04:002005-05-24T00:25:04.086-04:00<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">'...My servant continues to draw nearer to Me with additional devotions until I love him. When I love him, I become te hearing with which he hears, the sight with which he sees, the hand with which he strikes and the foot with which he walks. Were he to ask for something I would surely give it, and were he to ask for refuge, I would surely grant him refuge.' (</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Bukhari</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Salat is the foremost form of </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">ibada </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">that Allah (SWT) Himself has prescribed for us. In His own words He commands: <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">"</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Establish regular Prayer that you may remember Me</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">" (Qur'an, 20:14). </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">The whole purpose of Salat is to be ever conscious of Allah the Creator, Lord and Sustainer of all things. When we perform Salat, we involve our tongue, our heart, our mind and indeed our whole body. In this sense, Salat is indeed, one of the most comprehensive forms of </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">dhikr</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">. It is perhaps for this reason that Allah states in a hadith qudsi: <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">"Out of all the ways through which My servant gets closer to Me, Salat is the dearest to Me"</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">. (Bukhari)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">It is unfortunate that we do not always take full advantage of this gift. We pray five times each day, but few of us remain conscious for long (enough) that in Prayer we have the best means to develop a strong connection with Allah (SWT). We may compare the obligatory Salat to bathing five times a day. If after such frequent bathing, you body still remains dirty, then we may question the usefulness and efficacy of such bathing. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Similarly, if after regular observance of Prayer our hearts remain unmoved, our morals remain corrupt, and our conduct remains unaffected, we may question the usefulness and efficacy of our Prayer. If you enter Salat and come out of it the same person, then you have missed something, and you may have missed a golden opportunity to achieve something great.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Remember, though, that Salat is an obligation. Whether your heart is attentive or not, it must be performed. You cannot give up Prayer because to you it appears useless. Dont give up the obligation but try to infuse it with the purpose it seeks to serve - remembrance of Allah (SWT).<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Excerpted, with slight modificiations, from Khurram Murad's </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"In the Early Hours"</span><span style="font-style: italic;">. </span></span><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111690827806783225?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1116263721932159752005-05-16T13:09:00.000-04:002005-05-16T13:38:16.696-04:00alMaghrib updates will have to wait once I actually have my notes in front of me, inshaAllah.<br /><br />In the meantime, I was reading up on some of the Companions, and some of their stories are really inspiring. motiviating. moving.<br /><br />Like this one... it should teach us all who are involved in some organization - be it MSA, YM or something (even as simple individuals who act alone) - a bit on responsibility.<br /><br />***<br /><br />(Narrated by Zaid ibn Islam)<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">“One night I saw ‘Umar patrolling with the night guard. I joined him and marched with him. When we left the city, we caught sight of a fire a short distance away. When we reached it, we saw a woman with two or three weeping small children.<br /><br />The woman had placed a pot on the fire and she was saying: ‘May Allah get me justice from ‘Umar, for he has eaten his fill and we are hungry.’<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">“Hearing this, ‘Umar stepped forward, greeted her and asked: ‘May I come closer?’ She said: ‘If your intentions are good, you may.’ He questioned her and she replied: ‘We left our distant homes and arrived here hungry and tired. The hunger has made us miserable and we cannot sleep.’ The Commander of the Faithful asked her what was in the pot and she replied: ‘There is water in it. I hope to get the children quiet with this pretence, for they think I am cooking food.’</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">“Umar then went to the flour merchant’s shop and bought a sack of flour, which he slung over his shoulder. Then he went to the grocer’s shop and bought supplies and cooking fat. I said: ‘O Prince of the Believers, let me carry these things for you.’ ‘Umar said: ‘If you carry this load, who will carry my load of sin and ward off that woman’s prayer against me?’</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">“Umar began weeping and walked to them. ‘May Allah reward you with blessings,’ said the woman. ‘You are better suited to look after the Muslims than ‘Umar is.’ He then started to prepare a meal for this family. When it was completed, he gave it to the children and said to the woman: ‘Do not wish ill on ‘Umar. He had no knowledge of your troubles.’</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">Then he left - sobbing into the darkness.”</span><br /><br />***<br /><br />SubhanAllah. The fear of a man over something so little, despite the fact that he was one of the Ten companions given the glad tidings of Paradise in his own lifetime.<br /><br />There are multiple lessons to be learned from this one passage. Included among them are:<br /><br />1) Umar's genuine concern for the safety and security of the woman in question.<br />2) Him actually questioning the matter with her to clarify her position - e.g. to make sure she wasnt a fake.<br />3) His fear that the woman's curse would actually have an effect on his standing in the Hereafter. 'Umar was one of the most knowledgeable of the companions, and he would definitely know that such a curse could very well be legitimate.<br />4) Therefore, we are shown a glimpse of the rights that our neighbours (and fellow members) have over us.<br /><br />If he was this worried, then we <em>really</em> need to get our act together. May Allah [SWT] forgive all our sins and purify our intentions in His cause, and may He grant us the company of such blessed Companions in the Hereafter. Ameen.<br /><br />***<br /><br />Speaking of getting my act together, looks like summer time wont be a time to ease of after all. I just had my first class in political theory (yuck!), and have already managed to get myself around 10 chapters of Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan to read - by Wednesday.<br /><br />Interestingly enough, this isnt even my only class... there's some third year philosophy course I also have twice a week.<br /><br />And then, of course, there are the LSATs coming up in early June. wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!<br /><br />Make dua for me inshaAllah.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111626372193215975?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1116014050316430302005-05-13T15:52:00.000-04:002005-05-13T15:54:10.316-04:00It just occurred to me that the last few posts have been all about me, myself, and I.<br /><br />Although this is a blog, and its my blog on top of that, it just feels weird. I think I'll be getting back to the Islamic side of things a bit more often inshaAllah.<br /><br />Maybe notes from the alMaghrib class could go up next...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111601405031643030?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1116013958250510252005-05-13T15:33:00.000-04:002005-05-13T15:52:38.256-04:00Right, so I was writing my last exam of the term the other day (Symbolic Logic, if you must know), in the University's gym - i.e. there were atleast 100, 150 people in the class.<br /><br />Alhamdulillah, the class didnt go all that bad for the term - I was going into the exam with an 80ish mark - just above average, I guess.<br /><br />Despite that, I was able to answer the odd question in class, and (apparently) impressing the prof a bit, here and there. See, the thing about this professor (her name is Brunning) is that everyone who's <span style="font-style: italic;">graduated </span>from her classes will say that she's an amazing teacher, really knows her stuff, etc, etc.<br /><br />Those who happen to be in her class at any given moment may hold slightly different opinions. ;)<br /><br />Previous students also recommend getting to know Brunning a bit, by regularly dropping into her office hours and stuff. She's especially generous in writng reference letters, something that definitely comes in handy when a person is applying to medicine, law, or going into some other graduate field of study. <br /><br />In order to get a reference letter, then, means that you have to be a familiar enough face around her. If you are a familiar face, then she should know your name. <br /><br />If she knows your name, then she will be able to pick on you in class, perhaps when you are least prepared.<br /><br />Therefore it may not be a good idea to know this professor too well, numsayin?<br /><br /><br />*P --> Q. <br />*Q --> R <br />*R -->S <br /><br />Therefore ~T. <span style="font-size:78%;">(If you find a mistake, please shut up - the exam is over, ok?) :P<br /><br /></span>Anyways, the real freaky part is that I tried my best to hide my name from the prof all throughout the term. She asked me straight up what my name was, but I managed to mumble something and get away - or so I thought. Really late into the term, she's handing back tests and right before giving me mine, she does a double take and frowns,<br /><br />I'm thinking 'Geez! I didnt think I got that bad!'<br />The people around me are thinking 'ahahahaha sucker!'<br />The prof figures it out and says " Oh, its actually not a bad mark; I was just expecting more from you."<br /><br />That sucked.<br /><br />And to top it all off, halfway into the final exam (we had 150 people, remember that) she walks up to my desk and says quietly "You better make me give you a high 'A' on this exam!'<br /><br />"Look, lady. I cant really do much about that, though if you'd rather give me a 90 on the paper without even marking, I'm sure I can live with that".<br /><br />Gosh, as if I didnt need any additional pressure. :@ :@ :@<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111601395825051025?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1115669681228120622005-05-09T16:09:00.000-04:002005-05-09T16:16:34.500-04:00Salaam.<br /><br />Been awfully busy as of late (<span style="font-style: italic;">alhamdulillah </span>for having a life! :faint: ), so apologies are in order, especially to my oh-so-devoted fans (well, the one loyal fan that actually frequents this blog, anyway. :-/ ).<br /><br />There's loads of things to chat about + the much needed blog update coming soon (am I beginning to sound like azher? :P ), inshaAllah.<br /><br />Cant do that now, though - my brother's in a rush to get to the airport. You see, his company (Bell Canada) basically gave him an all-expenses-paid trip to Paris, France.<br /><br />Even now, I hear him getting impatient and yelling at select family members (i.e. myself) to giddy up and get in the BLOODY CAR ALREADY!!!!<br /><br />But we can save it for the next episode. InshaAllah.<br /><br />I'm out.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111566968122812062?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1114006419208289422005-04-20T10:06:00.000-04:002005-04-20T10:32:15.923-04:00I was on my way to work yesterday and 3 people from school were already doing that job-hunt thing that happens near the end of every school year. One guy had like 10 resumes on him, and his friends were like, "Only 10? Dude, we're going to Square One - you'll need atleast 25" (Square One is the biggest shopping mall southern Ontario, I think).<br /><br />I was flooded with memories of having to spend hours on job searches...fruitless job searches. Kinda made me thankful that I actually have: 1) a job 2) a job close to home 3) a job that lets me be flexible with hours and 4) a job that doesnt require me to work weekends. Even if the job sucks and the manager has a hidden agenda of trying to get me fired, it will have to do for now.<br /><br />In related news, "Lloyd" wasnt at work yesterday. He didnt come in on Monday either, giving him <span style="font-style: italic;">atleast a </span>four-day weekend.<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><br /><br />You see, he called in sick. Both days.<br /><br /><br />Quick poll: Should I bring up his supposed "sickness" (emphasis on quotation marks) when he gets back or no? You know, a casual remark such as "So... feeling better, Lloyd?" Totally innocent, but he'll know exactly whats going on. <br /><br /><br />Life is real good. Alhamdulillah. :)<br /><br />salaam.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111400641920828942?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1113788786569492452005-04-17T20:49:00.000-04:002005-04-17T23:35:10.766-04:00... so little time.<br /><br />I dont know how many hours I've probably stared at some of the following pictures, hoping that one day, I'll get a chance to see them in the flesh. :)<br /><br />I told a friend about this wish, and he's like "Akhi, there are only three Masjids in the world that you're allowed to make Hijrah to (the Haram, Masjid an-Nabawi and Masjid al Aqsa. "<br /><br />I'm like "True. But I'm not coming as a pilgrim. I'm coming as a tourist."<br /><br />But firstly, I have a bone to pick. When the Zionists finally manage to dig their tunnels underneath al-Aqsa and manage to destroy it [may Allah (SWT) protect it], the inevitable outcry among Muslims would probably destroy Israel, even in the pathetic state the Ummah is currently in. So television cameras will quickly zoom into the city scape of Jerusalem...<br /><br />...only to find out that the Golden Dome, that beatiful, comforting dome still stands....<br /><br /><br />...and the clamor/ Jihadist fervor will subside.<br /><br />Its unfortunate that most Muslims equate the Golden Dome to be synonymous with Masjid alAqsa. I would like point out that this is NOT the case. <span style="font-size:100%;">The "Golden Dome" is known as Qubbat as-Sakrah. It is the location from which the Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] ascended to the heavens on the night of Mir'aj. <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> It is NOT Masjid alAqsa</span></span>; Masjid alAqsa is nearby. </span> Picture is posted below.. you cant see alAqsa very well since I've had to shrink the picture, but it basically has a green dome. PLEASE inform your buddies about this vast deception.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/Jerusalem.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com" /><br /><br />JazakAllah khairun.<br /><br />And now back to our regularly scheduled programming. www.gettyimages.com has some really nice photographs. An extensive collection, really. If you sign up for membership (membership is free), the watermark will get taken off.<br /><br />Below are some of my favourites. The first, of course, is the Dome of the Rock. I repeat, the picture is NOT Masjid alAqsa. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/AlQuds3.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com" /><br />But its still worthy of a good :faint: nonetheless. :P<br /><code><br /></code><code><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/Haram2.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/Kabah.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/Kabah2.jpg" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/Haram.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">:faint: Do we REALLY need an introduction? This is the one place I <span style="font-weight: bold;">need </span>to be at, above all. Please make dua that I get to go soon, inshaAllah. </span><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/UbudiahMosque.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/SultanSalahuddin.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Both the above mosques are located in Malaysia. </span></code><code><span style="font-family:arial;">Malaysia. Dang, Malaysians really know how a thing or two about architecture.</span> </code><br /><code><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/BlueMosque2.jpg" /><br /></code><code><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/BlueMosque.jpg" /></code><br /><code><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/BlueMosque3.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The above three pictures are all of the Blue Mosque, in Turkey. The third one is especially SWEET. Islamicans may note that it also happens to be my avatar on IslamicaWeb. :) </span><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/HagiaSophia.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The Hagia Sophia, in Turkey. </span><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/HagiaSophia2.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The Hagia Sophia, Turkey. (Internal view) </span><br /><br /><br /></code><code><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/SultanHassan.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Cairo's city scape. This particular mosque is known as the Sultan Hassan. </span><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/Mezquita.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">La Mezquita, in Qurtoba, Spain. Spain is another must-visit place inshaAllah. </span><br /><br /><br /></code><code></code><br /><code><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/fatih2017/KashmiriMasjid.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And finally, this is but a random Masjid in Kashmir. I dont know its name. I dont have an external picture. But the sheer simplicity and serenity that emanates from this photograph makes it one of my favourites, hands down. Which is why its lasted as my desktop wallpaper for so long. :faint: </span><br /></code><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111378878656949245?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1113412225220520152005-04-13T13:00:00.000-04:002005-04-13T13:10:25.220-04:00My life is interesting, alhamdulillah.<br /><br />You see, I just found out that a really close friend of mine will be coming to town in early May [he lives in Qatar]. <br /><br />It'll be a whirlwind trip, inshaAllah - he's only coming for four days. In that short time frame, he's also managed to book his nikah/ wedding ceremonies. <br /><br />The ceremony will take place on Friday, May 6th... inshaAllah.<br /><br />But I work on Fridays. Moreover, seeing as how I work in a bank, the first Friday of every month is generally very busy.<br /><br />I need ideas... do I call in *sick* - go to the nikah - and risk getting fired, or do I skip the wedding and come to work like a good li'l soldier?<br /><br /><br />*ponders*<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111341222522052015?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1113322269794379102005-04-12T11:46:00.000-04:002005-04-12T12:16:52.276-04:00The MSA dinner last Friday was good.<br /><br />Alhamdulillah.<br /><br />I had to get up and give a quick 5 minute talk on what the MSA did the past year, and thankfully I didnt slip or trip or anything. No, I have no issues with public speaking ... but the dress shoes I was wearing weren't actually mine. Apparently, either my dad or my brother *borrowed* my own shoes and I couldnt find them before I left the house on Friday... so I had to improvise. Naturally, I take the shoes that fit me best, but the heels were a bit worn out...making it very easy to slip and slide when you walk.<br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br />The food was nice. The talk was nice too - Sh. Muhammad AlShareef has an amazing style of speech, and his Qiraat wasnt too shabby either.<br /><br />A pity I didnt actually get to enjoy either, as I was running around like a headless chicken all over the hall making last minute adjustments and stuff.<br /><br />***<br /><br />In related news, I came back to work on Monday and rumours were spreading that "Lloyd" wanted to fire me - apparently, I wasnt convincing enough when I called in sick on Friday.<br /><br />Ordinarily, the fact that "Lloyd" wants to fire me is not a big deal - after all, he has been trying to get me fired since last December.<br /><br />The only reason I deem these rumours to be worthy of my attention now is that in the intervening months, there was a little shuffling of 'teams', and "Lloyd" has since become my direct supervisor.<br /><br />So it might be worthwhile to pay these rumours some attention.<br /><br />So what could I do, except try to make the best of what was a bad situation? I kept the most pitiable expression I could on my face (keeping it real, mind you) throughout my shift. Then, when people greeted me and asked "How are you today", I would manage to grunt, smile weakly and say "I'm better, thanks".<br /><br />Alhamdulillah, I even garnered responses such as "Yeah, you dont look so good... take some Vitamin C tablets.. they should help". And this from people who didnt even know I was *supposed* to be sick.<br /><br /><br />To top it all off, I even managed to pull of a few spectacular sneezes. And it aint easy to fake sneezes, you know.<br /><br />Alas, "Lloyd" was usually nowhere in the vicinity when the sneezes came.<br /><br />Which means that I'll have no choice but to consider my options in further detail.<br /><br />Luckily for me, "Lloyd" is neither impressive nor popular at work. For half the shift, he'll pretty much just stand around and tap his fingers (or his pen) against some cubicle or table. And he'll stare out at the floor with this blank, lost look.<br /><br />Everyone I've talked to resents him in one way or another. Then there are those who have vowed to quit work the day "Lloyd" is appointed their manager.<br /><br />"So," I says to myself. "the man has enemies."<br /><br />Perhaps I could use this to my advantage. You see, my theory on the workplace is to 'be so good they cant possibly ignore you'. (Not only does this contribute towards job security, but it also works as a kind of credit in my favour - so the next time I 'withdraw some funds' - otherwise known as calling in sick - the supervisor will generally think twice about firing me.)<br /><br />But there are several 'teams' in the area that I work in, and so there are several managers in the vicinity... and I'm on good terms with pretty much all of them. So I'm thinking, I could play these managers off against "Lloyd" - much like Nixon played China and Russia off each other, back in the day.<br /><br />Its called triangular diplomacy. Sneaky, but effective.<br /><br />In the meantime, I might actually have to go on another job hunt in case things get too far out of hand. But I dont plan on leaving quietly.<br /><br />Cheers! :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111332226979437910?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1112707641377272362005-04-05T09:11:00.000-04:002005-04-20T10:17:19.166-04:00Almost where, exactly? Define 'there'. :-/<br /><br />Its the second week of April, and therefore the last week of classes.<br /><br />In an earlier era, this would have been a call for celebration.<br />In an earlier era, I said.<br /><br />Because now, it really doesnt make a difference for me what the school calendar says anyway. You see, I'm a habitual skipper. Its been getting so bad lately that of the 14-15 hours of class I have a week, I only go to maybe 2-3 of them. Two entire courses have been completely ignored this semester. And its not even that I purposely skip anymore! Sometimes, I just happened to <em>forget</em> that I even <em>had</em> a class at a given time.<br /><br />There are other times that I do gather the will power to go to class, only to find out that I've forgotten where the room was located. My campus is big, but its not that big. :s<br /><br />One of the joys of university life is that attendance [generally] doesnt matter. I dont know what I would have done if there was a roll call at the beginning of every lecture.<br /><br />So class or no class, it doesnt even make a difference on me anymore. And to think that once upon a time, I viewed skipping as a taboo. Or that in high school, I'd actually get a thrill from telling my teacher [off] that I didnt plan on showing up later that afternoon.<br /><br />Alas! The sweet innocence of childhood.<br /><br />Anyways, its not even 9.30 AM right now, and my eyes are already burning. Today will be a mission to get through, inshaAllah.<br /><br />Turns out my dad forgot about the hour being moved forward and woke me up for fajr at 5:30 [thats 4:30 by last weeks standards], with such urgency that I thought it was almost <em>zawwal </em>time.<br /><br />More than one person in the family wasnt entirely amused with the drama that's usually reserved for trying to wake a person up during the last few minutes of fajr-time. :)<br /><br />With all the hype, I couldnt go back to sleep either, so I actually ended up getting some homework done (gasp!) before coming to school this morning. If I'm still alive later today, I might even be able to make it to work in the evening. The good news with that is, with the sorry state I'll be in by that time (say inshaAllah!), I'll have no problem giving my boss (for simplicity's sake, lets call him "Lloyd") the impression that I'm not feeling too well.<br /><br />Because this Friday is my MSA's dinner. Incidentally, I also have a shift scheduled that day, but I plan on 'calling in sick' on Friday. So maybe "Lloyd" will reminisce back to Tuesday and say<br /><br />"hmm...so maybe he's not taking the day off just to get a three-day weekend; I remember he didnt look too well last time he was in... Okay. Its probably legit. I'll let this one slide."<br /><br />Life is good. :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111270764137727236?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1112083286503299092005-03-29T02:56:00.000-05:002005-03-29T03:03:38.476-05:00Bismillah.<br /><br />Gossipping is so easy, that all of us do it at one time or another. Here are inshaAllah some reminders for us to watch our tongues and become closer to Allah [SWT].<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Anecdotes on the Condemnation of al-Ghibah (gossip/backbiting)</span></span><br />By Shaykh Husayn al-Awaaishah<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">1 - It is reported from al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) that a man said to him: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">You have gossiped about me</span>." He (al-Hasan) said: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">You have not reached such a position that you can control my Hasanat!</span>"</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">[Translator's Note: The Islamic teaching is that the Hasanat (rewards) of the one who gossips will be awarded to the victim.]</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">2 - Someone was told: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">So-and-so has gossiped about you</span>" - so he sent him a dish of dates, with the message: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">I heard that you had given me your Hasanat as a gift, and I want to return the favour; please excuse me for not being able to pay back in full.</span>" </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">3 - It was reported from Ibn Mubarak (may Allah have mercy on him) that he said: "If I were to gossip about anyone, I would gossip about my parents, for they have more right to my Hasanat."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">4 - Ghibah is the hospitality of the wrongdoer.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">5 - From Amr ibn al-As (radhiallahu `anhu); He passed by a dead mule, and said to some of his companions: "It would be better for a man to eat his fill from the meat of this than from the flesh of his fellow-Muslims." [Sahih al-Targhib at-Tarhib]</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">6 - A man mentioned something bad about another to his friend. His friend said to him: "Do you go out and fight against the Romans?" He said, "No." His friend asked: "Do you go out and fight against the Turks?" He said, "No." The friend said: "<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Romans are safe from you, and the Turks are safe from you, but your Muslim brothers are not safe from you!</span>"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7 - If you are unable to do three things, then you must do three (other) things:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">if you cannot do good, then stop doing evil;</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">if you cannot benefit people, then do not harm them;</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">if you cannot fast, then do not eat the flesh of the people.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8 - The poet said:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">"If a man is wise and fears Allah,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">This will keep him too busy to concern himself with the faults of others,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">Just as the weak and sick person is concerned with his own pain</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">To think of the pain of others."</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111208328650329909?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1111112355967556292005-03-17T21:15:00.000-05:002005-03-19T19:06:18.220-05:00Havent posted in a while, but then, I'd say its because the semester is almost up, and all assignments/ essays/ tests are quickly coming to a head next week. <br /><br />But they're ALL next week!! :/ Test on monday, paper to hand in on tuesday, 2 more papers to hand in on wednesday. Make dua for me please. Thanks. <br /><br /><br />In other interesting news, our MSA is holding its annual elections next week. Nomination period closes Friday [tomorrow] at 3pm. In the last 48 hours, I have seen so many members get active, so many nomination forms being flashed around, and so many conspiracy theories about 'rigged elections' being thrown about, that I can only say 'alhamdulillah'. <br /><br />And this is despite all the empty meetings, the scarcity of volunteers, and the lack of feedback. <br /><br />gosh. deep down inside, the members did care after all. <br /><br />:) I love my MSA. <br /><br />But if all goes according to plan, I wont have to return next year on the MSA. So make dua for that too.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111111235596755629?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1110302210997026452005-03-08T12:02:00.000-05:002005-03-08T12:16:51.020-05:00<em>by Shaykh ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah</em><br /><br /><br />Allah, the Exalted said,<br /><em><strong><span style="color:#999999;">"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their private parts; that will make for greater purity for them. Indeed Allah is well acquainted with all that they do."</span></strong></em> [an-Noor 24:30]<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#33cc00;">So Allah made purification and spiritual growth to be the outcome of lowering the gaze and guarding the private parts. It is for this reason that lowering one's gaze from (seeing) the prohibited things necessarily leads to <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>three</strong></span> benefits that carry tremendous value and are of great significance.</span><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">The First</span></strong>: <span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><em>experiencing the delight and sweetness of faith</em></span> </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">This delight and sweetness is far greater and more desirable that which might have been attained from the object that one lowered his gaze from for the sake of Allah. Indeed, "<strong>whosoever leaves something for the sake of Allah, then Allah, the Mighty and Magnificent, will replace it with something better than it</strong>".</span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br />The soul is a temptress and loves to look at beautiful forms and the eye is the guide of the heart. The heart commissions its guide to go and look to see what is there and when the eye informs it of a beautiful image it shudders out of love and desire for it. Frequently such inter-relations tire and wear down both the heart and the eye as is said:<br /><br />When you sent your eye as a guide for your heart one day, the object of sight fatigued you. For you saw one over whom you had no power - neither a portion or in totality; instead you had to be patient.<br /><br />Therefore when the sight is prevented from looking and investigating the heart finds relief from having to go through the arduous task of (vainly) seeking and desiring. <br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Whosoever lets his sight roam free will find that he is in a perpetual state of loss and anguish for sight gives birth to love (<strong>mahabbah</strong>) the starting point of which is the heart being devoted and dependant upon that which it beholds. </span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">This then intensifies to become fervent longing (<strong>sabaabah</strong>) whereby the heart becomes totally dependant and devoted to the object of its desire. </span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Then this further intensifies and becomes infatuation (<strong>gharaamah</strong>) which clings to the heart like the one seeking repayment of a debt clings firmly to the one who has to pay the debt. </span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Then this intensifies and becomes passionate love (<strong>ishk</strong>) and this is a love that transgresses all bounds. </span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Then this further intensifies and becomes crazed passion (<strong>shaghafa</strong>) and this a love that encompasses every tiny part of the heart. </span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Then this intensifies and becomes worshipful love (<strong>tatayyuma</strong>). Tatayyum means worship and it is said: <strong><em>tayyama Allah; </em></strong> i.e. he worshipped Allah.<br /></span><br /><br />Hence the heart begins to worship that which is not correct for it to worship and the reason behind all of this was an illegal glance. The heart is now bound in chains whereas before it used to be the master, it is now imprisoned whereas before it was free. It has been oppressed by the eye and it complains to it upon which the eye replies: I am your guide and messenger and it was you who sent me in the first place!<br /><br />All that has been mentioned applies to the heart that has relinquished the love of Allah and being sincere to Him for indeed the heart must have an object of love that it devotes itself to. <em>Therefore when the <strong>heart</strong> does not love Allah Alone and does not take Him as its God then it must worship something else</em>.<br /><br />Allah said concerning Prophet Yusuf (as),<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#999999;">"Thus (did We order) so that We might turn away from him all evil and indecent actions for he was one of Our sincere servants."</span> </em></strong>[Yusuf 12: 24]<br />It was because the wife of al-Azeez was a polytheist that (the passionate love) entered her heart <em>despite</em> her being married. It was because Yusuf (as) was sincere to Allah that he was saved from it <em>despite</em> his being a young man, unmarried and a servant.</span><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>The Second</strong>: <em>the illumination of the heart, clear perception and penetrating insight</em>.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Ibn Shuja'a al-Kirmani said, "whosoever builds his outward form upon following the Sunnah, his internal form upon perpetual contemplation and awareness of Allah, he restrains his soul from following desires, he lowers his gaze from the forbidden things and he always eats the lawful things then his perception and insight shall never be wrong".</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Allah mentioned the people of Lut and what they were afflicted with and then He went on to say</span>,<br /><span style="color:#999999;"><strong><em>"Indeed in this are signs for the Mutawassimeen."</em></strong></span> [al-Hijr 15: 75]<br /><span style="color:#006600;">The Mutwassimeen are those who have clear perception and penetrating insight, those who are secure from looking at the unlawful and performing indecent acts.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Allah said after mentioning the verse concerning lowering the gaze,</span><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#999999;">"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth."</span></em></strong> [an-Noor 24: 35]<br /><span style="color:#006600;">The reason behind this is that the reward is of the same type as the action. So whosoever lowers his gaze from the unlawful for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Magnificent, He will replace it with something better than it of the same type. </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>So just as the servant restrained the light of his eye from falling upon the unlawful, Allah blesses the light of his sight and heart thereby making him perceive what he would not have seen and understood had he not lowered his gaze.<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">This is a matter that the person can physically sense in himself for the heart is like a mirror and the base desires are like rust upon it. When the mirror is polished and cleaned of the rust then it will reflect the realities (haqaaiq) as they actually are. However if it remains rusty then it will not reflect properly and therefore its knowledge and speech will arise from conjecture and doubt.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>The Third</strong>: <em>the heart becoming strong, firm and courageous.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Allah will give it the might of aid for its strength just as He gave it the might of clear proofs for its light. Hence the heart shall combine both of these factors and as a result, Shaytan shall flee from it. It is mentioned in the narration, "whosoever opposes his base desires, the Shaytan shall flee in terror from his shade."</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#663300;">This is why the one who follows his base desires shall find in himself the ignominy of the soul, its being weak, feeble and contemptible. Indeed Allah places nobility for the one who obeys Him and disgrace for the one who disobeys Him, </span><br /><span style="color:#663300;"><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#999999;">"So do not lose heart nor fall into despair; for you must gain mastery if you are true in faith."</span></em></strong> [ale-'Imran 3:139]<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#999999;"> "If any do seek for nobility and power then to Allah belongs all nobility and power."</span></em></strong> [Fatir 35:10]<br /><br />Meaning that whosoever seeks after disobedience and sin then Allah, the Might and Magnificent, will humiliate the one who disobeys Him. Some of the salaf said, "the people seek nobility and power at the door of the Kings and they will not find it except through the obedience of Allah."<br /><br /><em>This is because the one who who obeys Allah has taken Allah as his friend and protector and Allah will <strong>never</strong> <strong>humiliate </strong>the one who takes his Lord as friend and patron.</em> In the Du'a Qunoot there occurs, "the one who You take as a friend is not humiliated and the one who You take as an enemy is not ennobled".<br /><br />(source: al-Muntaqa min Ighaathatul Lufhaan fi Masaayid ash-Shaytaan, pp.102-105, of Shaykh ibn al-Qayyim, summarized by Ali Hasan)<br /><br /><em>(Courtesy of </em><a href="http://www.youngmuslims.ca"><em>www.youngmuslims.ca</em></a><em>)</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>***</em><br /><em></em><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="color:#cccccc;">May Allah [SWT] grant us all the ability to control our desires and our nafs fi sabil illah. Ameen</span>.</span> </span><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-111030221099702645?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1109903874187302172005-03-03T21:22:00.000-05:002005-03-06T17:41:55.856-05:00<strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Email account #1</span></strong><br /><strong>Inbox: </strong>7112 Messages<br /><strong>Sent Items:</strong> 1772 Messages<br /><strong>Misc. Folders: </strong>130 Messages.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Email Account #2:</span> </strong><br /><strong>Inbox: </strong>712 Messages<br /><strong>Misc. Folders: </strong>41 Messages.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Email Account #3</span>: </strong><br /><strong>All Folders: </strong>~150 Messages<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Email Account #4:</span></strong><br /><strong>All folders: </strong>~50 Messages.<br /><br /><br /><br />(None of the aforementioned accounts are more than 4 years old. )<br /><br /><br /><br />And all this is <em>excluding:</em><br /><em>- </em>The time I was forced to delete atleast 30 megs worth of messages from <strong>Account (1) </strong>because I was taking up too much space on a [private] server<strong>. </strong>Needless to say, they have since given up on warning me. ... for the time being. :)<br /><strong></strong><br />- The fact that <strong>Account (2) </strong>is a hotmail account, and before Hotmail gave me 250 MB of inbox space, I had to spend every other day deleting loads of messages.<br /><br />- I deleted several hundred messages from <strong>Account (3)</strong> after I found out that they were a) actively filtering my own, <em>personal </em>emails, and b) were owned by the Egyptian government, and hence, had no qualms with monitoring the actual content of my sent/ recieved messages.<br />(Tip: Stay away from using Gawab.com; I've had a terrible experience with them - dont let their 1001 megs worth of storage space and customized themes fool you.)<br /><br />- A <strong>fifth, </strong>hotmail<strong> </strong>account that was approximately 6-7 years old and was deleted due to inactivity. It too had several hundred messages, which I had to consistently delete due to space problems.<br /><br />- A <strong>sixth </strong>account that also had a few hundred messages, but was also deleted by hotmail due to inactivity/ lack of use.<br /><br />- Oh, and none of these messages are spam. :-/<br />***<br /><br /><br />So, am I the only freak that literally has thousands, if not tens of thousands of messages stored on my various inboxes, some of them dating back years? Or do other people also have an aversion do deleting email?<br /><br />They make me feel like a somebody. :freak:<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-110990387418730217?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1109702789509171422005-03-01T13:41:00.000-05:002005-03-02T16:18:22.296-05:00Salaams.<br /><br />Ok, so inshaAllah this blog is still getting tweaked around yet [ufff, I'm not satisfied!], so please bear with me on any weird changes you notice.<br /><br />Anyhow, I tried to upload some audio to the blog ['tried' being the key word], but I'm not sure how successful my efforts were... because my computer seems to have issues. For some reason, I cant seem to be able to connect to RealPlayer or something.<br /><br />So we have two possibilities: 1) Either my computer has issues with RP, or 2) I have issues with coding.<br /><br />If its (2), then please do let me know so I can get back to 'work'.<br /><br />And if its (1), I hope you guys are enjoying Mesut Kurtis' nasheed as we spe- read.<br /><br />In the event that its just my computer, and the coding is actually working, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ameerah and A_Muminah for providing the necessary coding.<br /><br />And I would also like to thank Sir Plops Ploppington III for unwittingly allowing me to modify the code [slightly, I say!] by checking out the coding on his website.<br /><br />Yours,<br /><br /><br />:biter:<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-110970278950917142?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1109479314223067432005-02-26T23:25:00.000-05:002005-02-27T11:22:14.206-05:00<b style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Assalaam-u-alaikum.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">We all have problems. We all have our own weaknesses that keep us back. That hold us away from becoming closer to Allah [SWT]. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">But its important that we dont lose hope of Allah [SWT]'s Mercy and forgiveness -</span><br /></span></span></span><br /><br />“Say: ‘O My servants who wronged against their souls, do not despair of Allah’s mercy! For Allah forgives all sins; for He is indeed Forgiving, Compassionate.’”</b><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> (Az-Zumar: 53)</span><br /><b style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><br /></b><b style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Isnt that cool? But the verse doesnt give us a free ride; below are the conditions for having a sin being erased [taken from IslamOnline.net]:</span><br /><br /></span></b> <p><b>Firstly,</b> one must feel deep remorse for the sins one has committed.<br /></p> <p><b>Secondly,</b> one must refrain from it totally while also abstaining from all those leads or circumstances that led him to such a sin in the first place.<br /></p> <p><b>Thirdly,</b> [s]he must be firmly resolved never to sin again, and immediately becoming occupied in whatever good deeds that [s]he can in order to wipe out his/ her past sins.<br /></p> <b>Fourthly,</b> all of the above involve sins involving the rights of Allah; if, however, your sins involve the rights of human beings, then you must also do whatever it takes to return or compensate or redress the grievances of the person you have wronged. Paying him his dues or compensating him in whatever ways possible becomes an essential condition of valid repentance.<br /><b style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">****</span><br /><br /></span></b><b style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">"I beseech you O’ Lord, in the name of your honour, and (by) my ignominy that you have mercy on me.<br /><br />I beseech you in the name of your Strength and my weaknesses, Your self-sufficiency and my dependence.<br /><br />To you I submit my sinning, guilty forelock.<br /><br />You have many slaves apart from me. But I have no master save you. There is no refuge but with you, nor escape from you except to you.<br /><br />I plead to you O’ Lord, in the manner of the pleading of a destitute, and entreat you in the manner of a broken, down trodden man.<br /><br />I beseech You in the manner of a blind man in fear.<br /><br />This is a supplication, O’ Lord, from one whose head is bowed down before your majesty, whose nose is in the dust, whose eyes are filled with tears and whose heart has submitted."<br /><br />....<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">May Allah [SWT] forgive all our sins and enable us to die in a state of Islam. Ameen. </span><br /></b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7491655-110947931422306743?l=brother-bruce.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>brother_brucehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15759695524134712240noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491655.post-1109448397198693632005-02-26T15:04:00.000-05:00