Thursday, June 29, 2006

Bull's-eye!

Today we have the same Qur’an with us. Millions of copies of it are in circulation. Day and night, it is ceaselessly recited. In homes, in mosques, and from pulpits. Voluminous exegetical works exist expounding its meaning. Words pour out incessantly to explain its teachings and to exhort us to live by it. Yet eyes remain dry, hearts remain unmoved, minds remain untouched, lives remain unchanged. Ignominy and degradation appear to have become the lot of the followers of the Qur’an.

Why? Because we no longer read the Qur’an as a living reality. It is a sacred book, but it tells us something of the past only, concerning Muslims and Kafirs, Jews and Christians, the faithful and the hypocrites, who 'once upon a time used to be'.

- Ustadh Khurram Murad, in his book "Way to The Qur'an"


P.S. - I know the red font looks highly idiotic, but html doesn't give me much choice.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Killing Bugs in Islam

Salam Alaekum.

http://www.mujahideenryder.net/2006/06/16/killing-bugs-in-islam/

Saif

Ayn As-Suroor? Ayn As-Sukoon?

Where is happiness? Where is tranquility?

Well, for a lot of people, it is in the pursuit of knowledge of the deen.


"If Kings knew of the pleasure we derive in studying kitabs, they would throw their kingdoms and start studying kitabs."

- Shaykh Muhammad Yusuf Kandhlawi


"While people are (lost) in the depths of the night,
We are blinded by the radiance of the day."

- Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim rahimahullah in his book Ighathat-al-Luhfaan min Masayid Ash-Shaitan (The desired elixir against the plots of Satan).


"Happiness is not in the castle of Abdul Malik ibn Marwan, in the army of Haroon Ar-Rasheed, in the mansions of Ibn Jassas, in the treasures of Qaroon (Korah), or in gardens of roses.

Bliss and happiness were the lot of the Prophet's (pbuh) companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) even though they were poor and lead harsh lives. Happiness was with Imam Bukhari in his collection of ahadeeth (hadiths), with Hasan Al-Basri in his truthfulness, with Ash-Shafi'ee in his deductions, with Malik and Ahmad in their introspection and self-denial, and with Thaabit Al-Bannani in his worship"

- 'Aaidh ibn AbdAllah Al-Qarni in his book 'Laa Tahzen'.


"The sleepless nights I spend in learning the sciences, are more beloved to me than the company or caresses of an enchanting woman.

My rapturous exhilaration when understanding a difficult concept, is more delicious to me than the most exotic of drinks.

More delightful to me than the sounds of a woman's hands on the drum, is that of my hands on my papers in order to remove dust.

O he who tries to attain my level by wishful thinking, how much difference there is between the one who finds the pain of climbing to be too much and the one who climbs and reaches the summit.

Do I toil through the night, while you sleep through it, yet you hope to surpass me?"

- 'Allama Zamakhshari, the famous commentator of The Qur'an.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

More precious than diamonds and pearls

The following incident took place when Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were not modest. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:

When we finally arrived, the chauffer escorted my younger sister,
Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.

My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You’ve got to work hard to get to them.”

He looked at me with serious eyes. “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.”

Taken from the book - More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali’s Life Lessons Through His Daughter’s Eyes.

Interesting article

Salam Alaekum.

Not Without Her Make-Up by Tazeen Abdullah.

Enjoy. (And do let me know what you think of it)


Saif

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

The best Jihad

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The best (Jihad) is (to speak) a word of truth to an oppressive ruler."
- Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2040

"We do not fear prison, or execution, and nor are we frightened by torture or injury; rather, we say what the magicians said to Fir'aun: We will never choose you above the clear proofs that have come unto us, and above Him Who created us. So decree what you will decree, for you can only decree what touches the life of this world."
- A Muslim's speech in front of an opressive ruler. The ayah is 20:72

"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
- Martin Luther King Jr.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
- Martin Luther King Jr.

"Never forget that turning a blind eye to oppression and watching from the sidelines is itself opression."
- Harun Yahya

"Our scientific advancement has outrun our spiritual advancement. We have guided missiles and misguided men."
- Martin Luther King

"One generation plants the trees, another gets the shade."
- Chinese Proverb

Fear not the path
of the Truth
because of the lack
of people walking on it.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

From the narrowness of the world to its spaciousness..

The commander-in-chief of the Persian army, Rostum, who was next only to the Persian Emperor in his glory and power, asked the commander of the Muslim army, S'ad bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) to send to him someone who could explain to them why the Arabian nomads and bedouins had come to the center of civilization and great military power, for they bore no correspondence to Arabia..

Rustum had utter contempt for the Arabs. He, however, summoned someone who may be able to explain to him the Arab's purpose and motives in engaging in a battle with the Persians.

Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas selected Rab'i bin 'Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) for this purpose. He was chosen for the tremendous faith and confidence which he would display before the commander-in-chief of the Persian Empire.

Rab'i bin 'Amir appeared in Rustum's court. His dress was marred with patches and darning marks. He was carrying an ordinary sword and shield. He entered the Persian camp riding an ordinary horse. Dressed in his unimpressive outfit he entered the court, crushing it's plush carpets. He tied his horse and approached Rustum. As he was armed with his shield and sword, guards at the entrance objected and asked him to lay down his weapons. Rab'i bin 'Amir refused, saying that he had not approached Rustum on his own, rather Rustum had invited him. If the guards did not let him enter in his armed state, he would return to his camp. Rustum allowed him to retain his arms.

Unaffected and un-over-awed by the sumptuous setting of the court, Rab'i approached with great confidence. Rustum asked him what had brought the Arabs to Persia? With his indomitable courage and conviction which owed it's origin to the divine Scripture and the Prophet's (peace be upon him) message he curtly said:

"Allah (the Almighty) has sent us so that we may liberate fellow human beings from subservience to other human beings and bring them to the obedience of The One True God. We are here to take them from the narrowness of the world to its spaciousness. Our aim is to free them of the persecution perpetrated against them by other religions. We want to bless them with the justice and equity of Islam."

Taken from a Lecture by Maulana Ali Mian Nadwi

Source - http://mercifulwinds.wordpress.com

(I wish I could find the original Arabic somewhere. I can't describe the feeling I had when I first heard Hazrat Rab'i's(may Allah be pleased with him) speech during a lecture at my mosque in Aligarh. It is a very powerful speech, and the translation fails to capture its true message.)

Edit - I found the original speech in Arabic. :)

،إن الله ابتعثنا لنخرج العباد من عبادة العباد إلى عبادة رب العباد
ومن ضيق الدنيا إلى سعة الآخرة، ومن جور الأديان إلى عدل الإسلام