I can’t believe its been over 9months since I made that first post on this blog; it was on Eid day and the post was about Eid as well and I remember proudly Emailing the link to my friends about my ‘achievement’.
What was I thinking back then?
Anyway, things have come a long way since that first post when I was all depressed about Eid being alone and everything. As the blessed Month of Forgiveness gently swept by us this past 29days I experienced what I am sure was my best Ramadan in a long time.
For starters, I now shifted to a comfortable two-bedroom house in a quiet little village overlooking the edge of the woods and 5minutes from work so logistics and travel wasn’t an issue.
Alhamdhulillah work wasn’t so bad to keep me preoccupied all the time.
The weather was incredible; and the best part was that my roomie (who is not even muslim) also decided to join in the true spirit of Ramadan and fasted the entire month. In all senses, things could not have been better.
Fasting takes your mind off the things we spend a lot of time on; like lunch & dinner, thinking about what’s for lunch and dinner, and thinking about how to cook or where to grab lunch or dinner. I guess we spend a lot of time thinking about food… and fasting gives you a chance to concentrate on more important aspects of living.
It truly was a peaceful, blessed month that swept by us; as a soft breeze would brush by your face; serene and so gentle, you wish it lasts, but passes over you before you comprehend its full beauty. I miss Ramadan already.
Wishing you all a very blessed Eid al-Fitr!!!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Food Festival
This entry may be a bit late in coming – Ramadan already started over a week ago – but somehow I wasn’t able to put this down till now.
In any case, Ramadan is finally here, after a full year has gone by and we as Muslims are asking ourselves a lot of important questions this month.
Surprisingly, one of the most frequently asked question is:
“What’s cooking?”
I don’t mean to exaggerate but the way things are sometimes, you almost start to wonder if its a month long food festival. While businesses in places like the Middle East tag up a “Ramadan-Special” for almost anything – ranging from discount sales to lavish evening buffets, more and more normal people seem to be concerned about just one thing: Food.
Every time I call up one of the guys, they want to know about what I had for Iftar, or planning to have for Sahur or the
I guess its time we stepped outside our food fantasies for a while and started concentrating on what Ramadan’s really about: Ibadah, Qiyam-ul-Layl and in other words; supplications.
Ramadan is a month of blessings, and thus makes sense to ask Allah for forgiveness and turning to Him in repentance.
The food factor can take the back seat for a while.
Peace.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Dhikr and the Law of Burglary
This was something that I was inspired to write on from an excellent speech I'm listening to...
Ibn Al-Jawzhi, gave an advice in his book Sayd al-Khatir where he mentions the single most important rule which every Burglar must learn if he wishes to become an expert on break-ins. And that rule is:
"Take what is light in weight, but heavy in value"
In other words, you don't wanna walk out with the couch or the wardrobe...you search for the safe and made do with the jewelery, gold and the diamonds.
Not to be teaching anyone about robbing a house, but this is also the principle we need to follow when it comes to Amal as-Sa'lih - good deeds.
You don't wanna waste time doing big things which get you little reward...time is short so we need to do things that are light in weight but heavy on the scale on the Day.
And one of the most important of such things is the Dhikr of Allah.We might think that just because its easy to say, it might not be of much benefit but that's not how it is.
Dhikr can carry enormous rewards.
For instance:
Subhanallahil Atheem....gets you a tree in Jannah!
La howla wala khowwatha illa billah...is among the treasures of Jannah.
So go ahead - and build up your place!
Ibn Al-Jawzhi, gave an advice in his book Sayd al-Khatir where he mentions the single most important rule which every Burglar must learn if he wishes to become an expert on break-ins. And that rule is:
"Take what is light in weight, but heavy in value"
In other words, you don't wanna walk out with the couch or the wardrobe...you search for the safe and made do with the jewelery, gold and the diamonds.
Not to be teaching anyone about robbing a house, but this is also the principle we need to follow when it comes to Amal as-Sa'lih - good deeds.
You don't wanna waste time doing big things which get you little reward...time is short so we need to do things that are light in weight but heavy on the scale on the Day.
And one of the most important of such things is the Dhikr of Allah.We might think that just because its easy to say, it might not be of much benefit but that's not how it is.
Dhikr can carry enormous rewards.
For instance:
Subhanallahil Atheem....gets you a tree in Jannah!
La howla wala khowwatha illa billah...is among the treasures of Jannah.
So go ahead - and build up your place!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Islam and the Phobia
I’m not really sure if “Islamophobia” is a real word by any standards; but what I do know is real is the concept.
I don’t think any culture or religious belief in history has ever been subjected to the insults as Islam is today.
I have had the personal experience of being asked “Why all muslims are terrorists”; I’ve had my blog vandalized with anti-Islam scum, and have had the ‘privilege’ of seeing the most disgusting hate-speech anyone can write on the Internet.
So I ask myself, WHY?
The first thing I get: the terror tag.
Now I know there’s a lot of weidos running around with guns and bombs and stuff, but wait a sec, its not like muslims are the only ones doing all this stuff.
What about those college boys in the U.S. shooting their teachers, classmates and girlfriends at campus? (“We were terrified” – one of the survivors)…and yet no TERRORIST?
Or how about the attacks in Finland?
Anyone remember the LTTE?
Those guys up in Northern Ireland?
Almost makes me wonder if terrorism can be called such only when done by a guy from the Middle East shouting stuff in Arabic.
And then there is 9-11.
Referred to as the biggest threat to the free world, the sole cause for starting unilateral invasions of two sovereign countries, and presumably a major factor in the U.S economic recession, global oil prices and the current food shortage.
Of course, looking at all the facts (?) surrounding the attacks didn’t make sense…there are hundreds of theories on how an airline can never hit the pentagon and simply vanish (you can check out the videos here) I’m not gonna get into all the detailed theories; but we have to admit, there are other explanations given to the attacks…and that the US intelligence isn’t all that accurate all the time (anyone remember the supposed “Weapons of Mass Destruction” in Iraq?)
But what hurts me the most is not the ‘random security checks’ at the airport or impolite questions I sometimes get on my beliefs.
Its something even low: Hate campaigns.
Shortly after the Danish cartoon controversy, YouTube was loaded with low-life scums who took pride in tarnished caricatures.
Sites loaded with supposed rubbish ‘facts’ about Islam that anyone with a grade-school education would find ridiculous to believe….
Public abuses and insults thrown at our Prophet (Recall what Israeli soccer team did?)…
Comments on personal blogs inciting hate….
How can anyone civilized, be so hateful?
I don’t think any culture or religious belief in history has ever been subjected to the insults as Islam is today.
I have had the personal experience of being asked “Why all muslims are terrorists”; I’ve had my blog vandalized with anti-Islam scum, and have had the ‘privilege’ of seeing the most disgusting hate-speech anyone can write on the Internet.
So I ask myself, WHY?
The first thing I get: the terror tag.
Now I know there’s a lot of weidos running around with guns and bombs and stuff, but wait a sec, its not like muslims are the only ones doing all this stuff.
What about those college boys in the U.S. shooting their teachers, classmates and girlfriends at campus? (“We were terrified” – one of the survivors)…and yet no TERRORIST?
Or how about the attacks in Finland?
Anyone remember the LTTE?
Those guys up in Northern Ireland?
Almost makes me wonder if terrorism can be called such only when done by a guy from the Middle East shouting stuff in Arabic.
And then there is 9-11.
Referred to as the biggest threat to the free world, the sole cause for starting unilateral invasions of two sovereign countries, and presumably a major factor in the U.S economic recession, global oil prices and the current food shortage.
Of course, looking at all the facts (?) surrounding the attacks didn’t make sense…there are hundreds of theories on how an airline can never hit the pentagon and simply vanish (you can check out the videos here) I’m not gonna get into all the detailed theories; but we have to admit, there are other explanations given to the attacks…and that the US intelligence isn’t all that accurate all the time (anyone remember the supposed “Weapons of Mass Destruction” in Iraq?)
But what hurts me the most is not the ‘random security checks’ at the airport or impolite questions I sometimes get on my beliefs.
Its something even low: Hate campaigns.
Shortly after the Danish cartoon controversy, YouTube was loaded with low-life scums who took pride in tarnished caricatures.
Sites loaded with supposed rubbish ‘facts’ about Islam that anyone with a grade-school education would find ridiculous to believe….
Public abuses and insults thrown at our Prophet (Recall what Israeli soccer team did?)…
Comments on personal blogs inciting hate….
How can anyone civilized, be so hateful?
Sunday, April 6, 2008
How Scary is the Shariah?
In keeping with the good writing spirit, I’d like to state that this post was inspired by an excellent article written on the topic by Noah Feldman – a law professor at Harvard University.
It is extremely well written and I strongly recommend you read the full article.
He writes, and I quote;
“To many, the word “Shariah” conjures horrors of hands cut off, adulterers stoned and women oppressed....
In fact, for most of its history, Islamic law offered the most liberal and humane legal principles available anywhere in the world."
Although I would like to disagree on his opinion that the Shariah was alright only “for most of history”, seeking to imply that it probably isn’t anymore, I would like to take this opportunity to thank him if I could for setting things right in his own way so far as the image of Shariah goes.
In his article Professor Feldman writes, when Rowan Williams – the archbishop of Canterbury – suggested in his lecture that it might be a good idea to allow Islamic and Orthodox Jewish courts to implement their religious law, it was “the word “Shariah” that was radioactive”
Now, thinking back on how this whole image thing got where it is now, I think we form part of the problem because we don’t tell people what our religion and our principles are all about.
This reminds me of an incident when I was still in India last year when a friend of mine and I had the opportunity to discuss Islam with a student of architecture on a train with us.
To our surprise, she hardly knew anything about Islam - in spite of her claiming to have ‘several Islam friends’.
While we explained to her on some of the aspects of Islam – this also included the usual questions on polygamy, hijab and the implications of the Shariah – it occurred to me that this was probably all the information what most people who don’t have much contact with muslims had.
And if this is the case in a country where Muslims form a sizeable part of the population, I’d hate to think on how much people know about Islam in places where you don’t have that many Muslims.
And like I always say, it’s up to us – every single one of us – to set things straight.
It is extremely well written and I strongly recommend you read the full article.
He writes, and I quote;
“To many, the word “Shariah” conjures horrors of hands cut off, adulterers stoned and women oppressed....
In fact, for most of its history, Islamic law offered the most liberal and humane legal principles available anywhere in the world."
Although I would like to disagree on his opinion that the Shariah was alright only “for most of history”, seeking to imply that it probably isn’t anymore, I would like to take this opportunity to thank him if I could for setting things right in his own way so far as the image of Shariah goes.
In his article Professor Feldman writes, when Rowan Williams – the archbishop of Canterbury – suggested in his lecture that it might be a good idea to allow Islamic and Orthodox Jewish courts to implement their religious law, it was “the word “Shariah” that was radioactive”
Now, thinking back on how this whole image thing got where it is now, I think we form part of the problem because we don’t tell people what our religion and our principles are all about.
This reminds me of an incident when I was still in India last year when a friend of mine and I had the opportunity to discuss Islam with a student of architecture on a train with us.
To our surprise, she hardly knew anything about Islam - in spite of her claiming to have ‘several Islam friends’.
While we explained to her on some of the aspects of Islam – this also included the usual questions on polygamy, hijab and the implications of the Shariah – it occurred to me that this was probably all the information what most people who don’t have much contact with muslims had.
And if this is the case in a country where Muslims form a sizeable part of the population, I’d hate to think on how much people know about Islam in places where you don’t have that many Muslims.
And like I always say, it’s up to us – every single one of us – to set things straight.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Fooled ya!
Yesterday, I just sitting at my desk minding my own business when a client walks in with an ‘Oh-my-God’ look and announces,
“Guess what, GEN 273 just halted”
Now this may not mean much to most people, but for me, it’s the equivalent of someone saying,
“Empire State just collapsed”
Two minutes after I started to panic, he bursts out laughing with a
“Fooled ya, it’s the first of April you know!”
And it also so happens that a lot of muslims keep asking, “why don’t we celebrate April Fool’s Day as well”. Leaving aside the stupidity and sheer incompetence this shows, I’d like to discuss on a bigger aspect; why we always wanna imitiate the west.
Historically, it is an accepted fact that the weak society always follows, or tries to follow the strong society. I’d like to take an example of the Bani Israel. When they were led out of Egypt and saved from the Pharaoh, what was the first thing they did?
Well, they apparently saw a group of people worshipping idols, so they go over to Musa (peace be upon him) and ask,”Why don’t you make for us a god like they have gods?”
Now, this happens after they witness the splitting of the Red Sea and seeing Pharaoh and his men drown with their very eyes. So is this their belief?
I wouldn’t think so. The thing is, the Bani Israel had been oppressed and enslaved for so long, that they had started to suffer from an inferiority complex. And anything someone else did, looked better than what they had.
This is exactly the problem with muslims today. We (I have to admit) are a weak people today. And by that, anything we see the west doing, we try to adapt. Be it April Fool’s Day, or New Years’ or Valentine’s Day, we wanna be a part of it just because we think that the stronger nation is always superior.
Its time someone set that straight.
“Guess what, GEN 273 just halted”
Now this may not mean much to most people, but for me, it’s the equivalent of someone saying,
“Empire State just collapsed”
Two minutes after I started to panic, he bursts out laughing with a
“Fooled ya, it’s the first of April you know!”
And it also so happens that a lot of muslims keep asking, “why don’t we celebrate April Fool’s Day as well”. Leaving aside the stupidity and sheer incompetence this shows, I’d like to discuss on a bigger aspect; why we always wanna imitiate the west.
Historically, it is an accepted fact that the weak society always follows, or tries to follow the strong society. I’d like to take an example of the Bani Israel. When they were led out of Egypt and saved from the Pharaoh, what was the first thing they did?
Well, they apparently saw a group of people worshipping idols, so they go over to Musa (peace be upon him) and ask,”Why don’t you make for us a god like they have gods?”
Now, this happens after they witness the splitting of the Red Sea and seeing Pharaoh and his men drown with their very eyes. So is this their belief?
I wouldn’t think so. The thing is, the Bani Israel had been oppressed and enslaved for so long, that they had started to suffer from an inferiority complex. And anything someone else did, looked better than what they had.
This is exactly the problem with muslims today. We (I have to admit) are a weak people today. And by that, anything we see the west doing, we try to adapt. Be it April Fool’s Day, or New Years’ or Valentine’s Day, we wanna be a part of it just because we think that the stronger nation is always superior.
Its time someone set that straight.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The war turns Five
Yesterday, on the 19th of March 2008, the world either celebrated or mourned, depending on your perspective, what is the fifth anniversary of what news channels called, "The US-led War on Terror”
I simply call it, America’s unjustified invasion of Iraq.
Now, 5years and some $200 billion later we are still clueless. There were no “Weapons of Mass destruction” (is this getting too old?), no “links to terror organizations” and as we see now, no reason to continue. Except that it’s already too late; people are still dying, violence is only on the up rise, and the economies (both Iraq and the US) can’t be much worse.
I don’t know where things go from here.
I can only pray, ask Allah subhana wa ta’ala to give peace and victory to the innocent, hungry masses that roam the streets without food for no fault of theirs.
Ameen.
I simply call it, America’s unjustified invasion of Iraq.
Now, 5years and some $200 billion later we are still clueless. There were no “Weapons of Mass destruction” (is this getting too old?), no “links to terror organizations” and as we see now, no reason to continue. Except that it’s already too late; people are still dying, violence is only on the up rise, and the economies (both Iraq and the US) can’t be much worse.
I don’t know where things go from here.
I can only pray, ask Allah subhana wa ta’ala to give peace and victory to the innocent, hungry masses that roam the streets without food for no fault of theirs.
Ameen.
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