Girl with a Pearl Drum

Amazing and powerful article written by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf.  May Allah elevate his status and the status of  all those who love and learn from him.  May Allah guide all those who misunderstand him.  How sorry I feel for the latter!

http://sandala.org/blog/2011/06/21/where-are-the-no-smoking-signs-in-medina/

The article is about the blindness of our hearts to certain realities in Medina that deteriorate the environment–physical and spiritual.  We have become so obsessed with material acquisition and forget that we are merely here on earth for good character acquisition.  Thus, we should not complain about the West but rather we should look inward to rectify our inner selves.  Why are we so greedy, heedless, and selfish?  We seriously need to fix our hearts before Allah helps us change our societies at large.

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A great article and a great reminder:

The Most Harmful Thing

These days I have been listening to a series of lectures based on the topic of how to become an excellent teacher of Quran. Surprisingly I have learned things which I had not even expected. For example, the concept that external problems or hurdles are not the real obstacle in the way of success… Rather it is our sins which have the most damaging effect on our lives. This reminded me of the countless times I have told others that I could not do such and such thing or could not complete the target I had in mind because of this problem or that hurdle… sometimes blaming people, other times crying over health problems… always a string of excuses which are nothing more than that… excuses! Because If I had truly wanted to do something and sincerely asked Allah, then why would he not let me do things which I want to do only for his sake? Surely there must be something wrong inside my own self?

I remember a few years ago I had gone to visit my parents. The next morning there was no water in the taps… very strange!!! Because the night before they had got the water tank refilled… so where did those gallons of water disappear? Plumbers were called and they began digging to find the leakage… the whole house was in an uproar, with people coming in and out… nothing else could be done because everything depends on water. Finally the broken pipe was discovered and repaired, the tank was filled again and life restored back to normal.

But when the same story happens with our tank of faith and knowledge; it never becomes an issue of concern. We fill our hearts and minds with the knowledge of Quran and Hadith… but the next day when we face any situation and open the tap, nothing comes out… no patience, no gratitude, no kindness with others… where did all the knowledge go? No body is worried… no one tries to find the leakage of the heart…

But we must realize that just as life stops if there is no water, similarly the soul dies if there is no faith… our very survival depends on it… so if the knowledge is not coming out in deeds then it means that there is some serious leakage problem. For me it remained a mystery for many years but Alhamdulillah I just found out that every sin for which we do not feel guilty nor do taubah nor correct it… then it creates a crack in our heart from where faith keeps dripping out and we don’t even realize it. So whenever we feel lack of motivation, lack of energy, then immediately we should pray to Allah to show us where we went wrong and then honestly and sincerely ask Allah for forgiveness. So as to mend the crack and ensure that our tank of faith remains full.

May Allah protect us from our self conceit and give us insight with which we might realize our mistakes and correct our ways. Because no one else can do it for us. Each one of us has to be responsible for his own life.

By: Shaheen Ahmad

Wassalam,
Al Huda Institute, Canada

Posted in: Advice & Wisdom, Defeating the Ego by Hifzin114 /
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We often lose sight of transcendent beliefs when our prayers go unanswered, little do we know that calamities only serve to strengthen our character and prevent us from greater ones.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the most beloved creature on the face of the earth and in the history of mankind to God, yet he was also tried with the most calamities and tribulations.  Whenever he got sick, his illness would be 3X as worse than that of a regular person (mentioned in a hadith).  Tribulations are meant to make us strong individuals, purify us of our sins, and make us strong Warriors in the way of Allah.  This warrior is not meant in the narrow-minded way of fighting on the field.  It is the warrior of the soul, the capacity to have great morality, great generosity, great manners, and great character towards others.  A true warrior of God never looses control over his emotions, he never allows his anger to take hold of him.  He never allows his miserliness to prevent him from giving to others.  How do we reach this level?  Certainly not by being pampered and being treated like a prince/princess for the rest of our life.

Thus, tribulations given to us from Allah are also a mercy from him.  It is better to undergo tribulations on earth, rather than to endure tribulations in Jahannam (hellfire).  The Prophet (pbuh) had the toughest life on earth but he also had the highest place in Paradise.  Our response to Allah’s tribulations is what determines our place and worth in Paradise.

Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, an illness, an anxiety, a grief or mental worry, or even the pricking of the thorn but that Allah will expiate his sins on account of his patience.”
Al Bukhari and Muslim

Posted in: Advice & Wisdom, Defeating the Ego, Pain & Tribulations by Hifzin114 /
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A beautiful reminder:

Muhammad (pbuh) said: “If somebody reproaches you and makes you feel ashamed of any of your defects, do not make him feel ashamed of any of his defects.” [Abu Dawood]

Usually, when somebody points out one of our shortcomings, we immediately become defensive and start finding faults with him/her. But the advice of our beloved Prophet (pbuh), is that we should listen quietly and evaluate what we are being told. If there is something we can improve about ourselves, it is only to our own advantage to do so. If the criticism is unjustified, then we are rewarded for our patience and good behavior in not retaliating. The angels will take care of defending our honor. Starting a counter attack opens the door for Satan to come in and take over.

Once Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) was sitting with the Prophet (pbuh) when a man came and started to abuse Abu Bakr.Abu Bakr remained silent. Finally, he started to speak in his defense. At this point the Prophet (pbuh) got up and left.  Abu Bakr immediately went after him and inquired if he had done something wrong.  The Prophet (pbuh) replied that as long as he had been silent, angels had been speaking on his behalf, but when he started to respond, the devil came and sat down next to him. As the Prophet (pbuh) could not remain seated where the devil was sitting, he left.

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My friend and I recently went to an event sponsored by CAIR.  Before we entered the room, a bald Caucasian man stopped my friend and I and told us that he was conducting a federal investigation.  I was a bit startled but I thought it was a census so I relaxed a bit.  I smiled at the FBI agent.  However he did not smile back.  He was serious and even somewhat a bit…nervous?  I began to feel extremely uncomfortable.

He asked me for my full name and address, he asked my friend and I why did we come to this event and how did we hear about it?  Meanwhile he was writing all of this down.   He asked us if we ever went to a halaqah.  At this point he began asking my friend more questions because he saw my hesitancy in answering.  I walked away once I saw that his attention was no longer focused on me.  I waited for me friend.  I felt so humiliated and frustrated that I wanted to go home.  I promised my friend that I would get to the bottom of this.  Once we were in the actual event room I expressed my feelings to one of the sisters in the room.  She looked at me and smiled, “They’re actors.”

UNBELIEVABLE .  It was all a part of the event, to keep us aware of this reality and how we should and should not respond.  This was powerful and unforgettable.

Here are some things I learned:

Always ask to see a badge of identification from an FBI agent.

Never open the door and allow them to come into your home.  Just open the door wide enough to step outside your home and speak to them politely outside.  Tell them that you want to cooperate and keep your country safe.  However you will not speak with them until your lawyer is present and that you are willing to set up an appointment for that.

The anti-Semitic literature of the 1920s are very similar to the literature of the far right today.

Gallup poll: Only 7% of all the FBI-documented acts of terror were committed by Muslims…what about the other 93%?

The fifth amendment was created to protect the innocent man who may be ensnared by ambiguous means.

Posted in: Advice & Wisdom, General, Pain & Tribulations by Hifzin114 /
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I got this from http://questforthedivine.blogspot.com/.  Love that blog!

The Prophet (pbuh) was sitting with four of his companions (ra) — Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman and Ali.  The topic of discussion was what three things each loved most in this world.  The Prophet (pbuh) answered first.  His three were perfume, women, and prayer.  Then he asked this same question of each of the companions.  This is what they picked.

Abu Bakr: Looking at the Prophet’s face (pbuh), making salawat on the Prophet (pbuh), and giving money to charity

Omar: Advising people, stopping wrongdoing, and saying the truth even if it’s hard

Othman: Cooking and giving people food, saying salaam to others, and making the night prayer when everyone is asleep

Ali: Fasting in summer, taking care of guests, and using the sword to defend the Prophet (pbuh)

Then Jibril came to the Prophet (pbuh) and revealed the three things that he loved most.  They were coming with the message to the world, coming to the Prophet (pbuh), and saying “alhamdulillah.”

Finally, Jibril told the Prophet this. “Allah sends you salaams and to the sahaba. Allah loves these three things: a tongue always in dhikr, a heart that’s grateful, and a body that’s tested but patient.”

Posted in: Advice & Wisdom, General, Love by Hifzin114 /
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“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do.”
-Samuel P. Huntington

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I was talking to my cousin on the phone…and we were discussing life, Islam, struggles, etc.  He is older and much wiser than me.  He is also married and with three children…thus he had a lot to share.

He said that with every period in life there will be a competition, and a struggle to stay away from the wrong type of competition.  Even “pious” people will compete with one another…they will compete to have the most ”beautiful” and “pious” children, the bigger house, the greater number of donations given to charity, and the list goes on.  So although in college people compete with grades…the competition with grades transcends to competition in other areas as we grow older.  My cousin told me to be aware and not to succumb to it.  InshAllah none of us will.  Ameen.

Here is a good poem by Rumi that was translated by Ali K-R.  It is about sacrificing the nourishment of the body for the nourishment of the soul–which is longer lasting and will bring more satisfaction in the long run.

“Life goes on in hope of tomorrow, ignorantly it goes towards turmoil.  Know the value of these days today, watch and see how you trade them away.  At times for a bag, at times for a cup, life left.  Every breath leaves the bag of our life.

Death takes away one by one and in awe of it, even the wise lose their color and wit.  Death is standing upon the path waiting, the master goes towards it in meditation.  Death has now come closer to our thoughts, pray tell, to where do the thoughts of the heedless go?

The body is a sacrifice, don’t nourish it so.  Nourish your heart, for it is your heart that ascends.  Don’t fatten up this corpse, for the one who nourishes his body will go forth ruined.  Through wisdom, fatten up your spirit so that it may gain strength, for it goes to that place.  Your wisdom comes from that king who is righteous in the way, for he is the one that goes like a blazing sun.”

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It is amazing what can happen in 2 months…which is how long it took me to update this blog.  I have encountered a depression that I have never fathomed before: Post Graduate Depression Syndrome. While dealing with this (and still am), I can only sit and lament at the fact that so many people take advantage of school.  The essential worries an undergraduate student has to think of is the next upcoming exam to study for, what to eat for lunch, and whether you will talk to your professor tomorrow or next week.  Everything is planned out for you…you just pick your classes and follow the syllabus.  My version of paradise is one in which there is a never-ending school.  I wish I could stay in school and major in everything: sociology, anthropology, economics, philosophy…I’d even try art.

The real world is filled with so much uncertainty.

Anyway, to place my title into the spotlight for the moment: I took my friend’s advice and applied for a job with developmentally disabled children.  It’s just a temporary job and I am doing it to witness the “growing and learning experience” that my friend continually rants and raves about.  The disorders these children have include cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, epilepsy, and other neurological disorders. I work with girls ages 6-24.

This experience really has proven to be an extraordinary one because these children all seem to have bipolar disorder.  One moment they are holding your hand, smiling, and showing extreme love.  The next moment they are on the floor tantrumming and refusing to participate in any activities.  I often wonder what is within these children that manifests something of God.  Everything in creation is a sign and manifestation of the attributes of God.  Thus…what kinds of signs do these children convey?

I have some thoughts. First, they should make “normal” people appreciate their faculties of mental awareness and speech.  Second, they have trouble with simple tasks such as brushing one’s teeth…this may symbolize that at the end of the day humans are all the same: bodies of flesh and clay that depend on simple, mundane processes in order to function in society properly.

I have a beautiful memory that cannot leave my mind.  Today I hugged a girl before she was about to sleep.  She gave me a kiss on the cheek.  I do not want to or intend to fall for her simple gesture.  Just previous to her calm and loving demeanor she was screaming and throwing her sheets, pillows, and comforters at her counselors.  But after the trantrumming ceased…she became affectionate again.  After looking at her lying helpless in bed..and reflecting on her dependency on counselors for direction in all matters of life during the day…one can’t help but have love and compassion.  She is really beautiful.  And I don’t mean exterior beauty.

Then it hit me.

Human beings tantrum all the time.  We sin extensively throughout our lives and even present a horrible attitude to our Creator.  Yet our Creator probably looks at us, knows our complete helplessness and dependency on Him for all matters in life, and has deep compassion.  The same girl who kissed me has erratic trantrums throughout the day.  She hates to take a shower…we shower her while she is yelling “no” anyway.  She hates to leave the lounge to participate in productive activities.  We wait patiently until she is done crying before we sometimes have to redirect her out of the room.  To her we may seem evil but we are doing it for her own growth.  The goal of my job’s organization is to promote the Independence, Inclusion, and Productivity of the developmentally disabled.  Allah probably aims the same for us.  We may cry and tantrum but God is still there to show compassion.

Posted in: Advice & Wisdom, General, Pain & Tribulations by Hifzin114 /
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There is a reason why we bump into the people that we do.  It may be a part of a larger plan, sort of like an unveiling (Kashf) of God’s supreme power reflected through the good qualities and amazing abilities of the people we encounter.

Once you become attached to a person’s personality, it is extremely hard to let go.  But essentially this is the purpose and idea behind the life of this world.  Do not become stuck at a level and you will attain spiritual ascension.

Rumi discusses this when he speaks about the “tresses” of God’s “hair”.  The tresses are the beautiful attributes of God that manifest through his creations.  People hold onto the tresses and become so infatuated that they forget that the sole purpose behind the tress was to guide them to the Being behind it.

Yes, people are beautiful, intelligent, generous, loving.  The world is beautiful, intelligent, generous, loving.  But do not allow these things to block your view of the Being behind them all.  Try not to allow yourself to hold onto a tress for so long that you cry when it is time to let it go.

It’s so hard sometimes because you wonder why you had to encounter the tress in the first place.  Yet there is a wisdom behind it, you may not understand it now, nor 10 years from now.  But use it as a tool to get beneath the “hair” that covers God.  Use it as a way of understanding the vastness and wonder of God.  Do not fall in love with the painting.  Like the painting but fall in love with the Painter.

Goodbye beautiful tress.

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