Humbled

Love

You Have Power, We Have None

This is an interesting and unique question and that question is, do we have the power to control and guide our lives? Do we have the rationality, the capacity, the power to do this? Is it possible for us to decide a process in which we can govern our lives with order, peace, harmony and good will? Are we able to control our desires whatsoever by our own human physical, emotional and intellectual capacities? The answer to all of these questions is, no, we cannot.

   Allah swt created man and jinns for no other purpose but to worship Him alone. When he created Adam (a.s.) Allah swt. said to the angels (as mentioned in the Qur’an) to bow down to Adam a.s. He endowed man with the power of will as well as virtues, making him a vicegerent on earth. The ability to be vicegerent on earth means that he gave him a limited amount of control and power to guide his life. He equipped him with rationality and the ability to decide a process to govern his life with order, and good attributes such as justice, mercy, compassion and the like. He gave him the ability to control his passions and desires using physical, intellectual and emotional capacities, however, the shaitan became devious and excessively jealous and wanted to mislead mankind, attempting to mislead all of mankind.

   In the first section, we will explore and grow a broad understanding of what exactly it means to be a vicegerent and how much control a human being is capable of practicing. In the second section, we will look at the shaitan’s role in leading mankind astray through different means, why he was motivated to do so, as well as what was used to guide mankind again and again back to the straight path. We will observe closely why he fell into grief on four major occasions. In the Third Section, we will reflect and analyze what is meant by “Then We reduce him to the lowliest of lows” in surah Tin. and if in fact, mankind is capable of capable of defeating the shaitan, or prevent from falling astray from the path of guidance or if we are in fact capable of living our role as vicegerents of God’s perfect wll on earth with or without the help of Allah swt.

Section 1

   “Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said : “wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? Whilst we do celebrate Thy praises And glorify Thy holy name?” He said: “I know what ye know not. And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels and said “Tell Me the names of these if ye are right”. They said “Glory to Thee: of knowledge We have none, save what Thou Hast taught us: in truth it is Thou who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom. “ He said: “o Adam! tell them Their names.” When he had told them, Allah said “Did I not ttell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?” (Al Baqarah, 30-32)

    This reveals to us that human beings have a degree of control over nature and the natural world around them, as much control as Allah swt has given to them especially because he made man the His vicegerent on earth.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali states about these ayah in his commentary (n. 47):

   It would seem that the angels, though holy and pure, are endued with power from Allah, yet represent only one side of Creation. We may imagine them without passion or emotion of which the highest flower is love. If man was to be endued with emotions, those emotions could lead him to the highest and drag him to the lowest. The power of will or choosing would have to go with them, in order that man might steer his own bark. This power of will when used aright gave him to some extent a mastery over his own fortunes. and over nature, thus bringing him nearer to the God like nature which has supreme mastery and will. We may suppose the angels had no independent will of their own: their perfection in other ways reflected Allah’s perfection but could not raise them to the dignity of vicegerency. The perfect vicegerent is he who has the power of initiative himself but whose independent action always reflects perfectly the will of his Principal. …..
   The names of things, according to commentators means the inner nature and qualities of things  and things here would include feelings. The particular qualities or feelings which were outside the nature of angels were put by Allah into the nature of man. Man was thus able to love and understand love, and thus plan and initiate, as becomes the office of vicegerent. The angels acknowledged this. These things they could only know from the outside, but they had faith or belief in the unseen. And they knew that Allah saw all what others see, what others do not see, what others may even wish to conceal. Man has many qualities which are latent or which he may wish to suppress or conceal to his own detriment.

   We can now begin to understand the purpose of creation with the eye of goodness and purest standards. This means that the person is able to govern his life according to the principles outlined to him in the Qur’an. That he governs his passions and life and the natural world around him in accordance with those standards. When he understand the nature of things, he treats them according to what is best for them rather than without that good will and he understand the nature of things. He knows how to deal with different personalities, he knows how to practice his limits, he understand where his love, hopes, fears and trust belong. He understand the order of things and he places everything in its right place.

Section Two

    However, the shaitan is always waiting to lead him astray all of the time. We will analyze the ayahs that deal with what caused the shaitan so much enmity with mankind in the first place and his reaction when Adam a.s. was created. Then we will take a look at his weakened attempts in which he shrieked on four occasions; when Allah swt cursed him, when he was expelled from jannah, when the Prophet s.a.w.s. was born and when Surah al Fatiha was revealed. We will understand why it was that each of these was such a powerful blow against him. Finally, we will return to the question that without the help of Allah swt, would mankind really be able to resist the shaitan?

   The first thing we have to understand is why does the shaitan have so much enmity against mankind. When Allah swt created Adam (a.s). he refused to bow down to Adam (a.s.) although this was against the will of Allah swt. Allah swt states in the Qur’an:

“And behold, We said to the angels: i”Bow down to Adam:” and they bowed down: Not so Iblis; he refused and was haughty: He was of those who reject Faith. We said: “O Adam! dwell thou And thy wife in the Garden; And eat of the bountiful things therein as where and when ye will; but approach not this tree or ye run into harm and transgression. Then did Satan make them slip from the garden and get them out of the state of felicity in which they had been. We said “Get ye down, all ye people with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling place and your means of livelihood for a time

These ayah and several other ayahs in the Qur’an explain how the shaitan does his best to lead mankind astray in every single situation. His pride and arrogance kept him from obeying the command of Allah swt. Furthermore, his envy against mankind leads him to rebel and find every opportunity to go against mankind. His motivation is to disgrace, lead astray and prove his own worth and his enmity is ever-fueled. He refused to even obey the command of Allah swt due to his pride and arrogance.

His hopes of leading mankind astray ocurred on four occasions. But the last two occasions also shows that his hopes in leading mankind astray and how extremely relevant they are to the power they had in saving mankind as a whole. Those two were the mercy to mankind when such a beloved prophet named Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) came, his teachings, his mercy, his endurance and his commitment to worshipping Allah swt was so beautiful and magnificent. The last being the beauty of surah fatiha. Two beautiful shields that we now have is the Qur’an and its representation through the teachings and actions of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s. If we hold on to these two things firmly, the shaytan will not have the power to lead mankind astray. But this is in the case that we firmly grasp on to the Qur’an and the sunnah. We ourselves are not powerful enough to withstand the powerful blows of shaitan alone. We need the help of our creator and we seek his power. We learn to guard ourselves and create barriers and divine guidance against even coming close to haram actions by strictly holding on to our deen and having a shield against each and every one of the traps that the shaitan could possibly attempt to dig for us.

Section Three

  Finally, we move into our third discussion of is man capable of controling his own self? Allah swt tells us in the Qur’an that mankind was created so nobly and with such a good purpose. He was raised to the level of vicegerncy. But when he (mankind) did not fulfill his purpose which was to believe and do the righteous deeds, and instead used his faculties for other purposes except worshipping Allah swt, he was reduced and abased to the lowest of the lows. This shows that when we do not fulfill our noble purpose for which we were created, we are than reduced and fallen.

Conclusion

This concludes our discussion of whether mankind is in fact capable of controlling himself. The answer is alone, withotu divine guidance, he has no power and it is only unless he grasps, seeks the help of his creator and follows the teachigns that he can resist and live the noble life. In short, it is like the absence of goodness that causes one to fall to the lowliest of lows. The Question being, why does evil exist or what causes it to exist? The truth being, it doesnt exist. It is a condition that can only exist in the absence of goodness. Just as darkness is the absence of light, ignorance is the absence of knowldge, coldness is the absence of head, similarly, evil can only exist inthe absence of goodness. When one plants iman and works righteous deeds, it is the only way to eliminate evil and withstand falling into wrongdoing and the depths of darkness.

And Allah swt knows best.

Moral Development in Mankind

by Zartasha Zainab

The ayahs regarding moral development in the Qur’an have been taken, and using the commentary of Abdullah Yusuf Ali, reflected upon. These ayah state:

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

“Say: I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of Mankind

The King or Ruler of Mankind

The God or Judge of Mankind

From the mischief of the whisperer of Evil who withdraws After his whisper

The same who whispers into the hearts of mankind

Among Jinns and among Men” (Surah 114: 1-6)

This ayah, in its six verses seems to explain chapters of how moral development has occurred throughout centuries with the muslim community. It acknowledges both human weakness as well as a divine law that must take precedence over those human weaknesses and inclinations. It acknowledges higher attributes such as compassion, kindness, sharing, and so on often at the expense of reducing or being considerate towards our surroundings.

The first and foremost subject that requires understanding is, the acknowledgement of the creator, Allah swt. To name this creator with the attributes of “Kind or Ruler of Mankind, God or Judge of Mankind, Lord and Cherisher of Mankind” seems to acknowledge a very supreme and higher force that is far greater than the force of the individual themselves. These attributes have very powerful meanings.

The attribute “Lord and Cherisher of Mankind” seems to imply that it is Allah that sustains him and cares for him, that He provides him with all the means for his growth and development and for his protection against evil. The attributes Allah is his king or ruler seems to imply that more than any earthly king, Allah s authority to guide man’s conduct and to lead him to ways which will make for his welfare, and He has given him laws. The attribute Allah is the judge implies that all of our actions will be held accountable and brought to light. It means that all human beings will return to Him and He will Judge and be the goal of the hereafter and only Being entitled to man’s worship at any time. (1,1718)

When a person acknowledges the greatness of Allah swt, he ends up loving His creator and depending on Him. When he/she is in need they learn to turn to their creator and he/she does not feel belittled infront of any other person besides Allah swt and keeps a clear conscience not out of fear from others, but out of fear from the creator to whom all His actions will be held accountable. He becomes more proactive and realizes that he/she doesnt need to prove themselves to anyone and yet that they will be held accountable for all of their actions. They learn to place their love, their hopes, and fears seeking refuge from their own selves and outward factors only from Him. They become calm and content in being able to rely on someone at all given times and places. His importance is first and foremost emphasizes in these surah and so does obeying His will. All other things/issues become irrelevant as the individual learns to trust in Him, rely on Him and His will which is best for the self as well as dealings and interactions. And they fear the consequences only from Him, their creator.

They further seek refuge from the evil whispers of the shaitan as well as their own selfish endeavours which are against the will of Allah swt that teaches a person to be good to their soul as well as to be good in their interactions and dealings. It helps one purify the soul and further become moral developed.

The greatest moral development that any person faces is when they let things go, they oppress the evil ideas from the shaitan, they focus on higher principles and sincerely submit to the good will which is the good will of Allah swt, and submission to Allah, also known as islam. Through submitting to the will of Allah swt, one becomes capable of submitting to moral values and obtaining self control, resistance to temptation, and personal sacrifices for the welfare of others or for the community at large. They develop an understanding of the perfect will or the acknowledgement of the greatness of the creator which helps them develop morally.

 

The Token of Time

By Zartasha Zainab

Time is one of the greatest workings of Allah (swt). It is a never-resting force, one of the creations of Allah swt of which everyone knows some, and yet no one can explain. People have attempted to visualize it using ticking clocks, or the hour glass, and yet it is best understood as persisting force. It is like any other force such as the forces of justice, or the forces of love and mercy within mothers, or the forces of order such as in gravity, the planet's orbit, the rain cycle, time also, is a natural force at work. Time also has a mission which is to to slowly deteriorate and finally destroy all that is material. It can be best explained like the wind that searched out all the doors destroying the arrogant in the time of Moses (a.s.) yet the force of time is much greater in its working and its target is everything material. The only growth that ist doesnt destroy or can catch is our spiritual achievements. 

This requires that we perfect our internal state and submit to the will of Allah swt. It is important for us to clean our intentions and sincerely, understand ourselves to the depth and deepest recesses of our soul. To strive towards and place our love, hopes, trust, fears, dependance, weaknessses and humbly have faith in Allah swt. It is important for us to constantly purify our intentions and time will not have any power to take that away from us. Our iman, is here. This internal condition is than outwardly reflected, the good works that we do, good deeds such as helping the needy, fulfilling the rights of our families, neighbors, co workers, travellers and community can withstand the blows of time. OUr good deeds and achievements are counted and taken with us eternally. Spreading knowledge and teachign truth, whether it be the Qur'an, discoveries in the miraculous signs around us in creation through science, new findings, highly reformed or enlightening information to further benefit humanity, will not fade through the passage of time. In fact, learning and expanding vocabulary is something that psychological research has shown continues to grow as a person ages. Being patient during difficult times, stressing less, staying peaceful and content and not giving into the whispers of shaitan has the power to withstand the blows of times. Staying constant and persistant, having a goal and striving daily, doing homework regularly, following schedules and committing to tasks without delays, laziness or giving up or changing your mind in between, can also withstand the blows of time. 

The Qur'an states "By the token of time, verily man is in loss, except such as have faith, do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual teachings of truth, and of patience and of constancy" (Surah Asr). This should open our eyes to the reality around us. It shows that we are losing in our bargain against time if we are merely attending to our material gains. We should discard all bad habits such as laziness, music, idleness, feasting and excessive shopping. If we were to chase after, strive towards or make our direction in life and goals for material things, we would be like thirsty beings chasing after a fading mirage in a sandy desert and only find nothing. It should bring us to the realization that every morning we awaken, it is a blessing and with a purpose. Our attention should be towrds accomplishing that which will be ever lasting and beneficial to yourself and those around you. This can be in a wide range of careers with good will or iman including teaching, healing, counselling, justice and order order. Further to remain focused, persistant and patient in tryign to achieve them to the best of our ability and most efficient us of our time. It's our only surviaal. 

May Allah swt allow us all to win the race against time! 

Reflection: What It Really Means to Depend on Allah swt

There is a relationship that we have to establish and that is with our creator. When our creator becomes more important to us than anyone/anyplace/anything else.

External Reflection of an Internal Condition

by Zartasha Zainab

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be real? To be true? A thing that we could admit is good, a thing where the intention is just “right”? Something that is of pure nature, with good intentions and good motives, something honorable and presentable? Like an action that you would never have any problems in justifying? A truth? A moral and right thing to do. You’ve probably heard in your life the importance of being true to yourself. But what exactly does that mean? Are we always true to ourselves? Do we not have feelings and motives? Do we not have fears and desires? What does it mean to be good? To be the right thing?  To be true? To be real? And what enables us to reach this state? It is a state that we cannot obtain being by ourselves, or in a company of others. Being by ourselves we are prone to listen to our selfish motives, passions and desires, and yet being in a company causes us to present certain parts of ourselves while hiding other parts. To be absolutely true to yourself seems to require an audience that has the ability to question your actions and motives and yet know every grain and detail about you. it is a state in which  we have to be brought to light. A state of God-consciousness, or in Arabic you would call taqwa. It is to stand before your creator with all due sincerity, to stand before Allah swt. Allah, the one God of the whole universe, the All-Seeing, the All-Hearing and the All Knowing. To be held accountable for all your actions. To be conscience of his presence at all times, that is to be sincere. To be first sincere to God is to truly be sincere to yourself down to the depths of your soul.

                This is sincerity, that you can search the world for and yet never be able to obtain anywhere else except for in prayer before Allah swt. The knowledge that He is closer to you than your jugular vein, that He has known you since the moment of your existence. He knows your worries, your feelings, and your fears. He knows your joys, your pains and your tears, and he knows your successes and your failures, your strengths and your weaknesses, and yet he always wants the best for you and accepts you and is oft forgiving, most merciful. It is as though you are being held in light and nothing veils you before your creator, your soul delicately being held before a supreme light and force that exposes your every detail, your soul before the All-Knowing. It is a most vulnerable feeling, and yet the greatest confession to acknowledge and stand before your creator. Knowing that there is nothing to hide, and that you will be judged by Him who owns and rules the universe causes you to be more careful in your actions and always seek forgiveness and reward from the creator alone.

                This truth is a thing that you can only obtain through being sincere and to be sincere is a thing you can only obtain through having taqwa, God-consciousness. An internal condition that leads to goodness and righteousness being its external reflection.

                Allah swt tells us what this external reflection is: “It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah, and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers, to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves, to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity, to fulfill the contracts which you have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, those who fear Allah.” (Baqarah Ayah 177)

                The external reflection of this sincere internal condition is reflected. A person who materializes goodness. Nouman Ali Khan further defines these ayah stating that “Faith is like a foundation of a building. First you see the person is very giving, a good charitable giving, benevolent person but that is not an accomplishment. Good means to go beyond the law. Salah means they prayed, they established it,  and that their life revolves around the prayer (like furniture has to go around pillars) meaning schedules and appointments should revolve around the prayer. Salah doesn’t have to fit with everything else, everything else has to fit with salah. What he consumes must be pure and how he earns it has to be pure. These people always fulfill their words if and when they get into a promise/agreement. These are the people of goodness. Agreements include being a student, employing, jobs, neighborhoods, your lives are in other people’s hands when you have a license, it is an agreement to abide by certain laws. Employers give many jobs and than watching Islamic movies is not righteousness. Goodness it to fulfill promises when they get into them. These are patient and persistent people in difficult times and when times become hard (economically) and in the middle of the battlefield/war, no matter what they don’t let go of their faith. Those are the ones that are really good. Those are the people of goodness, the people of taqwa. Now goodness is defined, you can fit injunctions properly, and everything has its place”.

                This includes excelling academically when you are in a contract, being punctual, honest and persistent. Goodness is manifested in the person that has true iman. This is a message that I hope will reach all brothers and sisters. Be true to Allah swt. Do you not fear the creator? Do you not know that He is watching, that He is well-aware and that you will be held accountable for everything you do? Do not take this matter lightly, let your heart soften before your creator, and let it fill with iman. Let your actions be to seek His pleasure and practice his good and right will. Let yourselves be mindful of Him, He is here, close to you and there is nothing to hide from Him. Yes, you are being judged. Constantly with your every breath and moment, you are being judged so know yourself. There is nothing to conceal before Allah and fear none at all except for Him.  Be sincere before Him, fulfill everyone’s rights, fulfill all your promises. Do not make promises that you have no intention of keeping, be good, want good and be sincere before Allah swt and excel in everything.  To be true to yourself is in fact to be true to Allah swt. That is the way to success in both this life and the hereafter.

An external reflection of an internal condition.

Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you criticise, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. - Ernest Hemingway

Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you criticise, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try.

- Ernest Hemingway

We Believed in Goodness

-by zartasha

   On our way back from our errand in Eglington Downtown, we decided to pass through downtown and lakeshore heading towards Pickering.

  Passing the CN tower and skydom as we drove through the streets of downtown, we could see the work of every architectural phenomena. High buildings reaching the sky. Skyscape buildings. Every commercial product in the market. Every industrial and human achievement and the accumulation of an abundant amount of wealth.

   The people all striving towards a goal, almost running frantically towards a goal, but what goal? Ever since we are young we are taught this concept of success but as we drive through the streets of downtown, we realize that no one is in peace. Downtown, the place where everyone does exactly what they want to do without a care in the world. Everyone is competing and striving to beat the rest in this conceptual success. There is every form of self gratification available. Clothed in all the latest trends and yet pain, worry and arrogance marks all these faces. You see people on the streets and yet you see people on drugs, but people pass eachother without recognition. No one talks, there is no mercy, thankfulness or care for anyone. Everyone is different , everyone is unique and everyones does as they wish. Is this really what we want? Is this our measure of success?

  Crossing through these streets disrupts your own peace as though the world is cold although the day is warm,. Is this what we are working so hard to become?

    Exiting throughout the streets of downtowm, we enter don valley parkway.

    It contains a highway surrounded by a beautiful park. Lush trees grouped together reaching towards the heavens. Harmoniously breathing and their natural beauty is unmatched. The air is fresh, the winds are cool, the park is as though a meadow. The trees almost absorbing the pain, the worry, and returning peace and love into the air. This beauty is wild and yet  submitted to the diving law of its creator. There is goodness in it. There is a harmony to it that you can accept as goodness coming from a source of goodness. As you see the faces of the drivres around, their calm is reflected on their features. No loudness, no self gratification, no worry, just peace.

     We now turn to Eglington. There is a combination of civilization and nature. You can see pigeouns now. People are dressed more simply yet cleanly and comfortably. No one is rushing. There is some famlies, some friends, you can sense greater love here.

    Than we approach kingston and as we approach closer to pickering, the more you can see compassion rather than competition. People are now striving to want the best rather than to be the best. Humility and submission to the divine will are replacing the arrogance and self gratification behavior. As though we are taking the time to breathe, to plant the seeds to blossom into beautiful flowers. There is small homes with gardens rather than high sky scape buildings There is many birds. The people in the streets are with families. There is lesser diversity and greater unity because th e sense of community is growing. Wealth is not piled up and accumulated but people are living well. Love is surpassing the need for fame and self glory. People are considerate of their surroundings rather than oblivious.

    It is as though we are coming closer to heaven. But what do we really want? Why have we always been taught that money, fame and power are marks of success? That knowledge of technical advancements are the true marks of a great civilization? Why have we been kept so busy to fulfill the greater essence of life itself?

    The essence of life is created when our omnipotent self is awakened. A belief in a solid foundaiton behind everything. To believe that there is a creator and that creator has a will that marks every attribute of perfeciton, of goodness. And the absence of it as as thought the absence of a light leaving all else in darkness, Who taught us this is success? I've heard a quote that Everyone says love hurts, but that is not true. Loneliness hurts. Rejection hurts. Losing someone hurts. Envy hurts. Everyone gets these things confused with love. But in reality love is the only thing in this world that covers up all pain and makes someone feel wonderful again, love is the only thing that doesnt hurt. Just like sorrow is the absence of joy, just like chaos is the absence of patience, just like darkness is the absence of light, and just like evil is the absence of goodness, and ignorance the absence of knowledge. Nothing is beautiful without the perfect omnipotent will of the creator from whom originate all that is good. Goodness itself is a manifestation of the divine and the true essence of life. To believe that the beginning and the end belong to him. And to believe that what will happen will the His good perfect will. The angry faces just lackign that goodness within them deprived of the beauty that Allah created in the best of moulds. Reduced to the lowliest of lows, unmeasured greed and self gratification. Is this how we are measuring success?

    Everything just kept turning more and more beautiful because as we neared Pickering, that will manifested itself more. He is the Most Compassionate, He is the Most Just, He is the Most Wise and so is His perfect will. And so people let their compassion and want for the best supersede their competition and ruthless and want to be the best. The streets empty of homeless people. Like the final sermon of the prophet “my umaah, my umaah, m y umaah”.

The greed, gluttony and envy of the selfish desires replacing by an increase in humility and submission before the perfect diving will. The wealth shared, the community. The faces joyful and in peace instead of in hurry and greed and want.

We believed in goodness. Omnipotent goodness. But all this beauty only manifested itself when we took the first step even as it started wretched , but than the sincere heart and the sincere intention, and Allah swt made it beautiful.

May Allah swt preserve the goodness in our community.

The Greatness of Allah

Recongnizing His Existence

   The first most important thing to do, in order to develop a relationship with Allah (swt) is to recongize His existence absolutely and completely. A lot of literature has already been written about this. Below are examples of three different forms of Tawheed.

   The types of Tawheed are three: Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah, Tawheed al-Ilaahiyyah and Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat.

    Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah is singling out Allaah the Exalted with (the actions of) creation, providing sustenance, giving life, causing death, and all of the types of regulation and administration of the dominion of the heavens and earth, and (also) singling Him out, the Exalted, with (the right to) judgement and legislation and sending of the Messengers and revealing of Books. Allaah the Exalted said, "Verily, to Him belongs the creation and the comman, blessed be Allaah, the Lord of the worlds" (al-A`raaf 7:54).

    Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah is singling out Allaah with worship so that none besides Him is worshipped, so that none besides Him is called upon, so that no one is sought for rescue, or aid except Him. So that no one is sacrificed to or slaughtered for, or made an oath for, except Him. Allaah the Exalted said, "Say: My prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. This is what I have been commanded with and I am the first of those who submit (to him with Islaam and Tawheed)" (al-An'aam 6:162), and He said, "Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only)" (al-Kawthar 108:2).

    Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat is describing Allaah the Most High and naming Him with whatever He described and named Himself with, and with whatever His Messenger (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) described and named Him with in the authentic narrations - and to affirm that for Allaah without resemblance (to the creation) or likening (to the creation), and without (false) interpretation (of any of that) or negation (of any of that). There is nothing like Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. And may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his companions.

Our Relationship With Allah (swt): Table of Contents

(1) Perceiving His Existence

(2) Seeking His Pleasure
(3) Purifying the Intentions

(3) What to do with Attachments

100 Questions to Ask Before Marriage

[LIST=1]

[*]What is your concept of marriage?

[*]Have you been married before?

[*]Are you married now?

[*]What are you expectations of marriage?

[*]What are your goals in life? (long and short term)

[*]Identify three things that you want to accomplish in the near future.

[*]Identify three things that you want to accomplish, long term.

[*]Why have you chosen me/other person as a potential spouse?

[*]What is the role of religion in your life now?

[*]Are you a spiritual person?

[*]What is your understanding of an Islamic marriage?

[*]What are you expecting of your spouse, religiously?

[*]What is your relationship between yourself and the Muslims community in your area?

[*]Are you volunteering in any Islamic activities?

[*]What can you offer your spouse, spiritually?

[*]What is the role of the husband?

[*]What is the role of the wife?

[*]Do you want to practice polygamy?

[*]What is your relationship with your family?

[*]What do you expect your relationship with the family of your spouse to be?

[*]What do you expect your spouses relationship with your family to be?

[*]Is there anyone in your family living with you now?

[*]Are you planning to have anyone in your family live with you in the future?

[*]If, for any reason, my relationship with your family turns sour, what should be done?

[*]Who are your friends? (Identify at least three.)

[*]How did you get to know them?

[*]Why are they your friends?

[*]What do you like most about them?

[*]What will your relationship with them after marriage be?

[*]Do you have friends of the opposite sex?

[*]What is the level of your relationship with them now?

[*]What will be the level of your relationship with them after marriage?

[*]What type of relationship do you want your spouse to have with your friends?

[*]What are the things that you do in your free time?

[*]Do you love to have guests in your home for entertainment?

[*]What are you expecting from your spouse when your friends come to the house?

[*]What is your opinion of speaking other languages in home that I do not understand? (with friends or family)

[*]Do you travel?

[*]How do you spend your vacations?

[*]How do you think your spouse should spend vacations?

[*]Do you read?

[*]What do you read?

[*]After marriage, do you think that you are one to express romantic feelings verbally?

[*]After marriage, do you think that you want to express affection in public?

[*]How do you express your admiration for someone that you know now?

[*]How do you express your feelings to someone who has done a favor for you?

[*]Do you like to write your feelings?

[*]If you wrong someone, how do you apologize?

[*]If someone has wronged you, how do you want (s)he to apologize to you?

[*]How much time passes before you can forgive someone?

[*]How do you make important and less important decisions in your life?

[*]Do you use foul language at home? In public? With family?

[*]Do your friends use foul language?

[*]Does your family use foul language?

[*]How do you express anger?

[*]How do you expect your spouse to express anger?

[*]What do you do when you are angry?

[*]When do you think it is appropriate to initiate mediation in marriage?

[*]When there is a dispute in your marriage, religious or otherwise, how should the conflict get resolved?

[*]Define mental, verbal, emotional and physical abuse.

[*]What would you do if you felt that you had been abused?

[*]Who would you call for assistance if you were being abused?

[*]Do you suffer from any chronic disease or condition?

[*]Are you willing to take a physical exam by a physician before marriage?

[*]What is your understanding of proper health and nutrition?

[*]How do you support your own health and nutrition?

[*]What is you definition of wealth?

[*]How do you spend money?

[*]How do you save money?

[*]How do you think that your use of money will change after marriage?

[*]Do you have any debts now? If so, how are you making progress to eliminate them?

[*]Do you use credit cards?

[*]Do you support the idea of taking loans to buy a new home?

[*]What are you expecting from your spouse financially?

[*]What is your financial responsibility in the marriage?

[*]Do you support the idea of a working wife?

[*]If so, how do you think a dual-income family should manage funds?

[*]Do you currently use a budget to manage your finances?

[*]Who are the people to whom you are financially responsible?

[*]Do you support the idea of utilizing baby sitters and/or maids?

[*]Do you want to have children? If not, how come?

[*]To the best of your understanding, are you able to have children?

[*]Do you want to have children in the first two years of marriage? If not, when?

[*]Do you believe in abortion?

[*]Do you have children now?

[*]What is your relationship with your children now?

[*]What is your relationship with their other parent?

[*]What relationship do you expect your spouse to have with your children and their parent?

[*]What is the best method(s) of raising children?

[*]What is the best method(s) of disciplining children?

[*]How were you raised?

[*]How were you disciplined?

[*]Do you believe in spanking children? Under what circumstances?

[*]Do you believe in public school for your children?

[*]Do you believe in Islamic school for your children?

[*]Do you believe in home schooling for your children?

[*]What type of relationship should your children have with non-Muslim classmates/friends?

[*]Would you send your children to visit their extended family if they lived in another state or country?

[*]What type of relationship do you want your children to have with all their grandparents?

[*]If there are members of my family that are not Muslim, that are of different race or culture, what type of relationship do you want to have with them?[/LIST]

Physical Limitations, Spiritual Elevations

By Zartasha Zainab

The new moon has been seen, the month begins

The doors of hell have been shut, the devils in chains

The angels descend as I open my eyes

And sustain myself until the white thread of dawn in the sky

I intend to fast today in the month of Ramadan

The month in which was revealed the Qur’an

And now that I have my needs fulfilled

I fast to enlighten my spirit, a pillar on which Islam is built

Giving up food, drink, and sensual pleasures,

And seeking after the real treasure

And restraining evils so that my soul may be freed

Erasing arrogance, anger, gluttony and greed

Sorrow lust and envy, all devils’ marks

The shaitan’s whispers engrained in my heart

Reciting the word of Allah the final revelation

Enlightening my soul to reach spiritual elevation

It’s a physical fast, but a spiritual meaning

Those physically incapable can be rewarded if the indigent they are feeding

Prayer, contemplation, charity and love

Compassion and justice, strengthening our relationship with the one above

The rewards are doubled and I await layalatul Qadr

Better than a thousand months, rewarding than all other

Greatness of purpose and smallness of needs

Pleasing  Allah by our goodly deeds

Purifying my soul while from the devil I’m freed

A fruit to obtain, planting the right seed

And as sunset approaches I break my fast

Hoping it’s accepted as today’s breath may be my last

How great is Allah for the sustenance He gives

This sustenance from He who forever lives

And now I enjoy food, drink and sensual pleasures

But I know with my Lord lies all without measure

And when they ask me, what is this soul?

It is beyond neurons and atoms in my heart there’s a door

He breathed from His spirit and gave sight, hearing and hearts

And it finds rest, listening, obeying, and comprehending His words

Spiritual elevation is what I hope to obtain

Evils inside me I hope they are drained

And eating to live, not living to eat

Desires in check, is my purpose being fulfilled?

Pro Dealings

(found in fajr blog)

“Know that if you harm ten people, you will have enemies, even if they are your mothers and fathers, but if you do good to ten people who are not your relatives, they will become like mothers and fathers to you.

If you enter Basra and oppose its people, elevate yourself over them, vaunt your knowledge among them, and hold yourself aloof from their company, you will shun them and they will shun you; you will curse them and they will curse you; you will consider them misguided and they will think you misguided and an innovator. Ignominy will attach itself to you and us, and you will have to flee from them. This is not an option. It is not an intelligent person who is unsociable to the one who is unsociable until Allah shows him a way out.

When you go to Basra, the people will receive you, visit you and acknowledge your due, so put each person in his proper position. Honour the people of honour, esteem the people of knowledge and respect the shaykhs. Be kind to the young and draw near to the common people. Be courteous to the impious but keep the company of the good. Do not disregard the authorities or demean anyone. Do not fall short in your chivalry and do not disclose your secrets to anyone or trust them until you have tested them. Do not socialise with the base or the weak. Do not accustom yourself to what you disapprove of outwardly.

Beware of speaking freely with fools. You must have courtesy, patience, endurance, good character and forbearance. Renew your clothing regularly, have a good mount and use a lot of what is good. Offer your food to people: a miser never prevails. You should have as your confidants those you know to be the best of people.

When you discern corruption, you should immediately rectify it. When you discern righteousness, you should increase your attention to it.

Act on behalf of those who visit you and those who do not. Be good to those who are good to you and those who are bad to you. Adopt pardon and command the correct. Ignore what does not concern you. Leave all that will harm you. Hasten to establish people’s rights.

If any of your brethren is ill, visit him yourself and send your messengers. Inquire after those who are absent. If any of them holds back from you do not hold back from him.

Show affection to people as much as possible and greet even blameworthy people. When you meet others in a gathering or join them in a mosque and questions are discussed in a way different to your position, do not rush to disagree. If you are asked, tell the people what you know and then say, “There is another position on it which is such-and-such, and the evidence is such-and-such.” If they listen to you, they will recognise your worth and the worth of what you have. If they ask, “Whose position is that?” reply, “One of the fuqahā”.

Give everyone who frequents you some of the knowledge they are expecting. Be friendly with them and joke with them sometimes and chat with them. Love encourages people to persevere in knowledge. Feed them sometimes and fulfil their needs. Acknowledge their worth and overlook their faults. Be kind to them and tolerant of them. Do not show them annoyance or vexation. Be like one of them. Do not burden people with what they cannot do.”

By Imtiyaz Damiel

Rebellion

A little child knows not, the dangers of the playground in the dark

And you see the stars shining but the fire that has caused them to spark

As their shining in the sky and an angry man throws on it sand

wishing he could be the shining star so he throws with his hand

but the sand falls back to him and the star continues to shine

that is the example of the man that acts blind

And that is the difference between hating and climbing the ladder

A hater knows not the responsibilities of the shiner

A hater is the man that just throws up the sand

But back at his face is where the sand is going to land

And there is a difference between getting a position

And a criminal versus a civil citizen there is a clean division

Difference between a theif and the one that earns his prize

Nothing special about a theif or a lie

A follower knows not the responsiblities of the leader

He wishes to become or be in the position of the leader

Or a rebel that gathers his following based on a persons wrong

But does not look within him and that will not make him any more strong

Because climbing up that ladder was not an easy task

The one that gets up there doesn't hide in a mask

The one that gets there stays true to his word

The one that teaches gets up there with love

And flies upto the sky like a glowing shining dove

Rights and responsiblities come in a combo

Just like the little child cant be responsible

And cannot understand the dangers of the playground in the dark

And cannot have the right to play or go very far

You are where you are because thats where you can be

If you wanted to get higher than know there is more responsibility

IF you think you have enough challenges in you life right now

Than I better not see a new hater frown

First learn to endure what is in your own life with patience

Than Allah will begin for you your next stage up! Your next mission

by zartasha

Everything Happens for a Reason

part of Al- Kahf)

(66) Moses said to him: "May I follow thee, on the footing that thou teach me something of the (Higher) Truth which thou hast been taught?" قالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِىَ صَبرًا ﴿٦٧﴾

(67) (The other) said: "Verily thou wilt not be able to have patience with me!" وَكَيفَ تَصبِرُ عَلىٰ ما لَم تُحِط بِهِ خُبرًا ﴿٦٨﴾

(68) "And how canst thou have patience about things about which thy understanding is not complete?" قالَ سَتَجِدُنى إِن شاءَ اللَّهُ صابِرًا وَلا أَعصى لَكَ أَمرًا ﴿٦٩﴾

(69) Moses said: "Thou wilt find me, if Allah so will, (truly) patient: nor shall I disobey thee in aught." قالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعتَنى فَلا تَسـَٔلنى عَن شَيءٍ حَتّىٰ أُحدِثَ لَكَ مِنهُ ذِكرًا ﴿٧٠﴾

(70) The other said: "If then thou wouldst follow me, ask me no questions about anything until I myself speak to thee concerning it." فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا رَكِبا فِى السَّفينَةِ خَرَقَها ۖ قالَ أَخَرَقتَها لِتُغرِقَ أَهلَها لَقَد جِئتَ شَيـًٔا إِمرًا ﴿٧١﴾

(71) So they both proceeded: until, when they were in the boat, he scuttled it. Said Moses: "Hast thou scuttled it in order to drown those in it? Truly a strange thing hast thou done!" قالَ أَلَم أَقُل إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِىَ صَبرًا ﴿٧٢﴾

(72) He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?" قالَ لا تُؤاخِذنى بِما نَسيتُ وَلا تُرهِقنى مِن أَمرى عُسرًا ﴿٧٣﴾

(73) Moses said: "Rebuke me not for forgetting, nor grieve me by raising difficulties in my case." فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا لَقِيا غُلٰمًا فَقَتَلَهُ قالَ أَقَتَلتَ نَفسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيرِ نَفسٍ لَقَد جِئتَ شَيـًٔا نُكرًا ﴿٧٤﴾

(74) Then they proceeded: until, when they met a young man, he slew him. Moses said: "Hast thou slain an innocent person who had slain none? Truly a foul (unheard of) thing hast thou done!" قالَ أَلَم أَقُل لَكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِىَ صَبرًا ﴿٧٥﴾

(75) He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?" قالَ إِن سَأَلتُكَ عَن شَيءٍ بَعدَها فَلا تُصٰحِبنى ۖ قَد بَلَغتَ مِن لَدُنّى عُذرًا ﴿٧٦﴾

(76) (Moses) said: "If ever I ask thee about anything after this, keep me not in thy company: then wouldst thou have received (full) excuse from my side." فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا أَتَيا أَهلَ قَريَةٍ استَطعَما أَهلَها فَأَبَوا أَن يُضَيِّفوهُما فَوَجَدا فيها جِدارًا يُريدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقامَهُ ۖ قالَ لَو شِئتَ لَتَّخَذتَ عَلَيهِ أَجرًا ﴿٧٧﴾

(77) Then they proceeded: until, when they came to the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down, but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: "If thou hadst wished, surely thou couldst have exacted some recompense for it!" قالَ هٰذا فِراقُ بَينى وَبَينِكَ ۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأويلِ ما لَم تَستَطِع عَلَيهِ صَبرًا ﴿٧٨﴾

(78) He answered: "This is the parting between me and thee: now will I tell thee the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience. أَمَّا السَّفينَةُ فَكانَت لِمَسٰكينَ يَعمَلونَ فِى البَحرِ فَأَرَدتُ أَن أَعيبَها وَكانَ وَراءَهُم مَلِكٌ يَأخُذُ كُلَّ سَفينَةٍ غَصبًا ﴿٧٩﴾

(79) "As for the boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want: they plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable, for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by force. وَأَمَّا الغُلٰمُ فَكانَ أَبَواهُ مُؤمِنَينِ فَخَشينا أَن يُرهِقَهُما طُغيٰنًا وَكُفرًا ﴿٨٠﴾

(80) "As for the youth, his parents were people of Faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude (to Allah and man). فَأَرَدنا أَن يُبدِلَهُما رَبُّهُما خَيرًا مِنهُ زَكوٰةً وَأَقرَبَ رُحمًا ﴿٨١﴾

(81) "So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection. وَأَمَّا الجِدارُ فَكانَ لِغُلٰمَينِ يَتيمَينِ فِى المَدينَةِ وَكانَ تَحتَهُ كَنزٌ لَهُما وَكانَ أَبوهُما صٰلِحًا فَأَرادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبلُغا أَشُدَّهُما وَيَستَخرِجا كَنزَهُما رَحمَةً مِن رَبِّكَ ۚ وَما فَعَلتُهُ عَن أَمرى ۚ ذٰلِكَ تَأويلُ ما لَم تَسطِع عَلَيهِ صَبرًا ﴿٨٢﴾

(82) "As for the wall, it belonged to two youths, orphans, in the Town; there was, beneath it, a buried treasure, to which they were entitled: their father had been a righteous man: So thy Lord desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure - a mercy (and favour) from thy Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience." وَيَسـَٔلونَكَ عَن ذِى القَرنَينِ ۖ قُل سَأَتلوا عَلَيكُم مِنهُ ذِكرًا ﴿٨٣﴾

(83) They ask thee concerning Zul-qarnain. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story

Quest to the Straight Path

(published in 2010)

http://issuu.com/tmvmag/docs/tmvmagazine2010

Picture yourself on a lighted road in the dark woods that leads straight from your difficult day at work and directly towards your home filled with security and peace where all your loved ones reside. You are driving while your GPS is guiding you on where to turn and how to get where you need to get. Except for this straight path, all the rest of the ways are filled with the darkness of the woods with paths leading to destinations away from your home. On each of these paths, there are things that tempt you to stop, to come there way, and lead you astray and are filled with all kind of evil. However, you have to stay firm and direct your love, efforts, attention towards reaching the safety of your home, your final destination point.  

In Islam, when we think about the straight path, sirat al mustaqeen which we recite in Al Fatiha, we are asking for something of this nature, to guide us to this straight path, the path upon which is the grace of Allah and not a path which earns Allah’s wrath. This is part of the verse that opens the Qur’an before leading to the many different stories about the kinds of people that went astray, and we recite Al Fatiha at the beginning of every prayer no matter what sect a person belongs to, all of us are seeking to walk on the same path, the straight path that will lead us towards Allah (swt).

To find this straight path, the GPS which is like our guide that will lead you home, is the Quran, and your destination point is Allah (swt). The path is lighted and it is clear and open. Iblis (satan) and his followers try to divert us from going to this straight path. The Quran mentions that there are seven gates of hell in the following verses; “Allah says  ‘This way of my sincere servants is indeed a way that leads straight to Me. For over My servants no authority shalt thou have, except such as put themselves in the wrong and follow thee. And verily, Hell is the promised abode for them all. To it are seven gates: for each of those gates is a special class of sinners assigned.” (Al Hijr; 41-44).  To understand what these satans are inviting us towards to follow them, we need to understand what the major sins are, and what the straight path is. Righteous deeds would be things like establishing the five daily prayers, respecting your parents, giving in charity, being good to neighbours, helping the needy and keeping a peaceful and clean environment around you where you constantly learn and recite the Qur’an. What the satans are inviting us towards may be things such as associating partners with Allah (swt), worshipping idols and false gods, evil within us such as pride, anger, depression, lust, envy, greed or gluttony that cause us to spread evil in the world while being in a state where what is wrong seems fair seeming to us. Consider when a person is extremely angry, they think it is okay to yell at someone, throw things around and sometimes even cause murder. Similarly when we enter an evil state the wrong seems fair seeming to us. These things divert us from the straight lighted path and into a different dark path in the woods. Consider, when doing something of the nature, are you doing it for Allah (swt)? Than how can it lead you closer towards him when your purpose and destination is no longer Allah?

While we are on this straight path the key thing we need to always remember is that when we strive, do deeds or work hard towards a goal, are we doing it for Allah (swt)? Or are we doing it for a worldy benefit. For example, is what we are doing to honor the family we are in, to follow our parents ways or are we doing it because we feel it is the right thing to do that Allah (swt) has commanded.  The good deeds that we are doing, are they to please and impress others so that they can accept us? Or, are they for Allah (swt). Are we doing good such as providing people with healthcare benefits because we are trying to help people for the sake of Allah (swt)or  are we doing it for wealth? Keeping clean and clear intentions while in prayer, while in school, while around a group of people, while preaching or discussing religion are all very important because in the end these are the things that are going to get you where you need to go and keep a clear direction and strong purpose to reach towards Allah (swt).

The Quran, finally, is our guide and it is not a weapon for us to use towards other people. It is not a political game to reach power, it is our guide. There are many examples of prophets, civilizations, individuals in the Qur’an and the examples of those people surround us today on every direction and even though there are wrong things happening around us, a lot of the time these are examples for us on what not to become. Similarly, there are righteous practicing Muslims that surround us and these are examples of what kind of people we need to become. The reality is that we need to strive within, find the best examples around us that follow most of the teachings, learn from the example of our prophet (pbuh) and strive to become like them. Out of mercy we can tell the people around us if they are doing something that is going to lead them to hell or are wrongdoing but only with the knowledge that they are going to listen to our advice or if we have guardianship over them, or a group of individuals striving towards the same goals to learn to correctly practice Islam. However, in the end it is ourselves we are constantly trying to improve. Islam was inspired, and not enforced and it is not right to enforce it on anyone because their intention is fear and not Allah (swt) and Islam is not a religion that can be successful through enforcing and so we must focus on ourselves and keep our own intentions clear. We shouldn’t be using the Quran as a weapon to prove why a person, or a sect is incorrect or look down upon anyone but we should study the Quran, and follow it to the best of our ability one step at a time because in the end, it is the firm belief in Allah, the five daily prayers, giving zakat, respecting parents, neighbours, helping the needy, giving in charity and protecting your chastity and purity that are going to guide a person towards their destination.

Just to name a few benefits of being a believer, A person that prays five times a day will be clean, organized, punctual with a clean. They will be giving, caring, honest and fair. Their face will be calm and they will have a kind loving and modest nature. Just a prayer follows many characteristics but at the same time we need to recognize that we are all striving and are not perfect but the practice of Islam changes a person’s life one step at a time.  

Once we begin to use the Qur’an as a guide, practice the fundamental principles of islam, avoid the sins and keep our intention clear of what our destination needs to be, than we will be guided to the straight path. I am not going to say that the straight way is easy because the further you go on the straight path, the greater the diversions to lead us astray to another destination, but still, we have to strive towards the right goal to fulfill the purpose of our life.

Subhan'Allah

speech reminder !!

Speak the truth –- Al Qur’an 3:17

Speak straight –- Al Qur’an 33:70

Speak justice –- Al Qur’an 6:152

Speak kindly –- Al Qur’an 2:83

Speak politely –- Al Qur’an 17:53

Speak fairly –- Al Qur’an 17:28

Speak gently –- Al Qur’an 20:44

Speak graciously –- Al Qur’an 17:23

Speak not in vain –- Al Qur’an 23:3

Speak no lie –- Al Qur’an 22:30

Speak not to backbite - Al Qur’an 49:12

Speak not without proof –- Al Qur’an 2:111

Speak no slander –- Al Qur’an 33:58