The basic purpose of human existence is acquisition of knowledge of God;
there is no relationship more true than this spiritual affiliation.
All other types of relationships are but derivative and dependent upon that spiritual connection, and in themselves nothing to boast of.
- Lahiji: "Mafatih"
Monday, July 28, 2008
A Woman's Pride: The God Standard Not the Man Standard
This is a truly awesome response to the 'women leading prayer' controversy... kudos to Yasmin!
Woman's Reflection on Leading Prayer:
by Yasmin Mogahed
'Given my privilege as a woman, I only degrade Myself by trying to be something I'm not--and in all honesty--don' t want to be: a man. As women, we will never reach true liberation until we stop trying to mimic men, and value the beauty in our own God-given distinctiveness. '
On March 18, 2005 Amina Wadud led the first female-led Jumuah (Friday) prayer. On that day women took a huge step towards being more like men. But, did we come closer to actualizing our God given liberation? I Don’t think so.
What we so often forget is that God has honored the woman by giving her value in relation to God not in relation to men. But as western feminism erases God from the scene, there are no standard left but men. As a result the western feminist is forced to find her value in relation to a man. And in so doing she has accepted a faulty assumption. She has accepted that man is the standard, and thus a woman can never be a full human being until she becomes just like a man-the standard.
When a man cut his hair short, she wanted to cut her hair short. When a man joined the army, she wanted to join the army. She wanted these things for no other reason than because the 'standard' had it. What she didn't recognize was that God dignifies both men and women in their distinctiveness—not their sameness. And on March 18, Muslim women made the very same mistake.
For 1400 years there has been a consensus of the scholars that men are to lead prayer. As a Muslim woman, why does this matter? The one who leads prayer is not spiritually superior in any way. Something is not better just because a man does it. And leading prayer is not better, just because it's leading. Had it been the role of women or had it been more divine, why wouldn't the Prophet have asked Ayesha or Khadija, or Fatima-the greatest women of all time-to lead?
These women were promised heaven-and yet they never lead prayer..
But now for the first time in 1400 years, we look at a man leading prayer and we think, 'That's not fair.' We think so although God has given no special privilege to the one who leads. The imam is no higher in the eyes of God than the one who prays behind.
On the other hand, only a woman can be a mother. And God has given special privilege to a mother. The Prophet taught us that heaven lies at the feet of mothers. But no matter what a man does he can never be a mother. So why is that not unfair?
When asked who is most deserving of our kind treatment? The Prophet replied 'your mother' three times before saying 'your father' only once.
Isn't that sexist? No matter what a man does he will never be able to have the status of a mother.
And yet even when God honors us with something uniquely feminine, we are too busy trying to find our worth in reference to men, to value it-or even notice. We too have accepted men as the standard; so anything uniquely feminine is, by definition, inferior. Being sensitive is an insult, becoming a mother-a degradation.
In the battle between stoic rationality (considered masculine) and self-less compassion (considered feminine), rationality reigns supreme.
As soon as we accept that everything a man has and does is better, all that follows is just a knee jerk reaction: if men have it-we want it too. If men pray in the front rows, we assume this is better, so we want to pray in the front rows too. If men lead prayer, we assume the imam is closer to God, so we want to lead prayer too. Somewhere along the line we've accepted the notion that having a position of worldly leadership is some indication of one's position with God.
A Muslim woman does not need to degrade herself in this way. She has God as a standard. She has God to give her value; she doesn't need a man.
In fact, in our crusade to follow men, we, as women, never even stopped to examine the possibility that what we have is better for us. In some cases we even gave up what was higher only to be like men.
Fifty years ago, society told us that men were superior because they left the home to work in factories. We were mothers. And yet, we were told that it was women's liberation to abandon the raising of another human being in order to work on a machine. We accepted that working in a factory was superior to raising the Foundation of society -just because a man did it.
Then after working, we were expected to be superhuman-the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the perfect homemaker -and have the perfect career. And while there is nothing wrong, by definition, with a woman having a career, we soon came to realize what we had sacrificed by blindly mimicking men. We watched as our children became strangers and soon recognized the privilege we'd given up.
And so only now-given the choice-women in the West are choosing to stay home to raise their children. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, only 31 percent of mothers with babies, and 18 percent of mothers with two or more children, are working full-time. And of those working mothers, a survey conducted by Parenting Magazine in 2000, found that 93% of them say they would rather be home with their kids, but are compelled to work due to 'financial obligations' . These 'obligations' are imposed on women by the gender sameness of the modern West, and removed from women by the gender distinctiveness of Islam.
It took women in the West almost a century of experimentation to realize a privilege given to Muslim women 1400 years ago.
Given my privilege as a woman, I only degrade myself by trying to be something I'm not--and in all honesty--don' t want to be: a man. As women, we will never reach true liberation until we stop trying to mimic men, and value the beauty in our own God-given distinctiveness.
If given a choice between stoic justice and compassion, I choose compassion. And if given a choice between worldly leadership and heaven at my feet - I choose Heaven.
Woman's Reflection on Leading Prayer:
by Yasmin Mogahed
'Given my privilege as a woman, I only degrade Myself by trying to be something I'm not--and in all honesty--don' t want to be: a man. As women, we will never reach true liberation until we stop trying to mimic men, and value the beauty in our own God-given distinctiveness. '
On March 18, 2005 Amina Wadud led the first female-led Jumuah (Friday) prayer. On that day women took a huge step towards being more like men. But, did we come closer to actualizing our God given liberation? I Don’t think so.
What we so often forget is that God has honored the woman by giving her value in relation to God not in relation to men. But as western feminism erases God from the scene, there are no standard left but men. As a result the western feminist is forced to find her value in relation to a man. And in so doing she has accepted a faulty assumption. She has accepted that man is the standard, and thus a woman can never be a full human being until she becomes just like a man-the standard.
When a man cut his hair short, she wanted to cut her hair short. When a man joined the army, she wanted to join the army. She wanted these things for no other reason than because the 'standard' had it. What she didn't recognize was that God dignifies both men and women in their distinctiveness—not their sameness. And on March 18, Muslim women made the very same mistake.
For 1400 years there has been a consensus of the scholars that men are to lead prayer. As a Muslim woman, why does this matter? The one who leads prayer is not spiritually superior in any way. Something is not better just because a man does it. And leading prayer is not better, just because it's leading. Had it been the role of women or had it been more divine, why wouldn't the Prophet have asked Ayesha or Khadija, or Fatima-the greatest women of all time-to lead?
These women were promised heaven-and yet they never lead prayer..
But now for the first time in 1400 years, we look at a man leading prayer and we think, 'That's not fair.' We think so although God has given no special privilege to the one who leads. The imam is no higher in the eyes of God than the one who prays behind.
On the other hand, only a woman can be a mother. And God has given special privilege to a mother. The Prophet taught us that heaven lies at the feet of mothers. But no matter what a man does he can never be a mother. So why is that not unfair?
When asked who is most deserving of our kind treatment? The Prophet replied 'your mother' three times before saying 'your father' only once.
Isn't that sexist? No matter what a man does he will never be able to have the status of a mother.
And yet even when God honors us with something uniquely feminine, we are too busy trying to find our worth in reference to men, to value it-or even notice. We too have accepted men as the standard; so anything uniquely feminine is, by definition, inferior. Being sensitive is an insult, becoming a mother-a degradation.
In the battle between stoic rationality (considered masculine) and self-less compassion (considered feminine), rationality reigns supreme.
As soon as we accept that everything a man has and does is better, all that follows is just a knee jerk reaction: if men have it-we want it too. If men pray in the front rows, we assume this is better, so we want to pray in the front rows too. If men lead prayer, we assume the imam is closer to God, so we want to lead prayer too. Somewhere along the line we've accepted the notion that having a position of worldly leadership is some indication of one's position with God.
A Muslim woman does not need to degrade herself in this way. She has God as a standard. She has God to give her value; she doesn't need a man.
In fact, in our crusade to follow men, we, as women, never even stopped to examine the possibility that what we have is better for us. In some cases we even gave up what was higher only to be like men.
Fifty years ago, society told us that men were superior because they left the home to work in factories. We were mothers. And yet, we were told that it was women's liberation to abandon the raising of another human being in order to work on a machine. We accepted that working in a factory was superior to raising the Foundation of society -just because a man did it.
Then after working, we were expected to be superhuman-the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the perfect homemaker -and have the perfect career. And while there is nothing wrong, by definition, with a woman having a career, we soon came to realize what we had sacrificed by blindly mimicking men. We watched as our children became strangers and soon recognized the privilege we'd given up.
And so only now-given the choice-women in the West are choosing to stay home to raise their children. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, only 31 percent of mothers with babies, and 18 percent of mothers with two or more children, are working full-time. And of those working mothers, a survey conducted by Parenting Magazine in 2000, found that 93% of them say they would rather be home with their kids, but are compelled to work due to 'financial obligations' . These 'obligations' are imposed on women by the gender sameness of the modern West, and removed from women by the gender distinctiveness of Islam.
It took women in the West almost a century of experimentation to realize a privilege given to Muslim women 1400 years ago.
Given my privilege as a woman, I only degrade myself by trying to be something I'm not--and in all honesty--don' t want to be: a man. As women, we will never reach true liberation until we stop trying to mimic men, and value the beauty in our own God-given distinctiveness.
If given a choice between stoic justice and compassion, I choose compassion. And if given a choice between worldly leadership and heaven at my feet - I choose Heaven.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
10 Tips to Fight Depression
By Abdul Malik Mujahid
Feeling down in the dumps, depressed, having the blues: these are just some of the terms used to describe a feeling of hopelessness and despair that can hit even the most optimistic of us at some point in our lives. While clinical depression requires proper professional treatment, the occasional feeling of sadness due to factors ranging from economic difficulty to harassment and discrimination can be helped through some simple spiritual practices. Here are a couple that can help:
1. Look at those below you
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whenever you see someone better than you in wealth, face or figure, you should look at someone who is inferior to you in these respects” (Bukhari, Muslim).If you are reading this article online, consider this: you are one of the lucky set of human beings on the planet who can afford a computer and internet connection or at least have access to one.
The United Nations Development Program's 2007 Human Development Report notes that there are still around 1 billion people living worldwide at the margins of survival on less than $1 a day, with 2.6 billion living on less than $2 a day.
Also consider that in the Quran (14:7), God says that if you are thankful to Him for what you have, He blesses you with more.
2. Serve your fellow human beings
The best way to thank God is to serve humanity, especially those who have less than you. Serving others is uplifting and rewarding. It helps us gain a better perspective on life's challenges, making us realize how very often, are problems seem so small compared to the awesome difficulties others face.
That's why when the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Muslims were a small, poor and persecuted community, they used to give to the poor even more. They understood that when you are generous when you have less, you achieve the perspective of a winner. You are focused on the bigger picture.
3. Read Surah Ad Duha
According to one report, after the Prophet had begun receiving revelation from God, at one point a long period of time passed with no such communication from Allah. As a result, the Makkans ridiculed the Prophet and he became severely depressed. That's when this chapter was revealed (Quran 93: 1-11). The chapter is a beautiful reminder to us to see life in the greater scheme of things, to be grateful for what we have and to never give up striving for what is right. This chapter of the Quran can be considered a direct recipe from God for depression.4. Turn to God in all situationsRemember that nothing can harm you without the consent of God. While you must take care of yourself, rely on God and know that He is always with you and only He can give you strength in difficult times. Also remember that He will help you can come out of a trying situation as a better person if you deal with it positively.
5. Remember God's Names
God has many beautiful Names which describe His attributes and powers. These are reminders of His Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, Justice, Strength and much, more. Supplicating to God using these Names reminds us that God has these attributes more than any other being and that we can and must rely on Him during good and bad times.
6. Say Hasbun Allahu wa Ni' mal Wakeel
This has been translated as "God suffices me and He is the best guardian." It is an excellent way of reminding us that whatever worries we have or problems we face, God has the answer and cure to all of them and is the only One who can really do what is best for us.
7. Make sure when you leave home, you read this Dua, ‘In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no might nor power except with Allah.’ Bismillahe tawakkaltu alAllahe la haula wa la quwwata illa biAllah.
8. Take your spiritual break from the world, five times a day
Taking a break away from school, work or other life activities to spend a few minutes to remember God helps you reconnect with the Creator of the Universe, fortify your soul and strengthen your resolve to live a better life that is in tune with your faith and principles.
9. End your day on a good note
Shakespeare once wrote a play entitled “All's well that ends well.” That's good advice for dealing with depression too. End a day that may have been riddled with challenges and frustrations by making Wudu before going to bed, thinking of God and the Prophet and counting every blessing you have.
10. Stop Shaytan in his tracks
Shaytan is the source of many of our negative emotions. It's his job to make us feel pessimistic and to despair of any good in life. When you feel these feelings coming on, stop him dead in his tracks: say Aoutho billahi minash Shaytan ir Rajeem (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan).
Feeling down in the dumps, depressed, having the blues: these are just some of the terms used to describe a feeling of hopelessness and despair that can hit even the most optimistic of us at some point in our lives. While clinical depression requires proper professional treatment, the occasional feeling of sadness due to factors ranging from economic difficulty to harassment and discrimination can be helped through some simple spiritual practices. Here are a couple that can help:
1. Look at those below you
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whenever you see someone better than you in wealth, face or figure, you should look at someone who is inferior to you in these respects” (Bukhari, Muslim).If you are reading this article online, consider this: you are one of the lucky set of human beings on the planet who can afford a computer and internet connection or at least have access to one.
The United Nations Development Program's 2007 Human Development Report notes that there are still around 1 billion people living worldwide at the margins of survival on less than $1 a day, with 2.6 billion living on less than $2 a day.
Also consider that in the Quran (14:7), God says that if you are thankful to Him for what you have, He blesses you with more.
2. Serve your fellow human beings
The best way to thank God is to serve humanity, especially those who have less than you. Serving others is uplifting and rewarding. It helps us gain a better perspective on life's challenges, making us realize how very often, are problems seem so small compared to the awesome difficulties others face.
That's why when the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Muslims were a small, poor and persecuted community, they used to give to the poor even more. They understood that when you are generous when you have less, you achieve the perspective of a winner. You are focused on the bigger picture.
3. Read Surah Ad Duha
According to one report, after the Prophet had begun receiving revelation from God, at one point a long period of time passed with no such communication from Allah. As a result, the Makkans ridiculed the Prophet and he became severely depressed. That's when this chapter was revealed (Quran 93: 1-11). The chapter is a beautiful reminder to us to see life in the greater scheme of things, to be grateful for what we have and to never give up striving for what is right. This chapter of the Quran can be considered a direct recipe from God for depression.4. Turn to God in all situationsRemember that nothing can harm you without the consent of God. While you must take care of yourself, rely on God and know that He is always with you and only He can give you strength in difficult times. Also remember that He will help you can come out of a trying situation as a better person if you deal with it positively.
5. Remember God's Names
God has many beautiful Names which describe His attributes and powers. These are reminders of His Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, Justice, Strength and much, more. Supplicating to God using these Names reminds us that God has these attributes more than any other being and that we can and must rely on Him during good and bad times.
6. Say Hasbun Allahu wa Ni' mal Wakeel
This has been translated as "God suffices me and He is the best guardian." It is an excellent way of reminding us that whatever worries we have or problems we face, God has the answer and cure to all of them and is the only One who can really do what is best for us.
7. Make sure when you leave home, you read this Dua, ‘In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no might nor power except with Allah.’ Bismillahe tawakkaltu alAllahe la haula wa la quwwata illa biAllah.
8. Take your spiritual break from the world, five times a day
Taking a break away from school, work or other life activities to spend a few minutes to remember God helps you reconnect with the Creator of the Universe, fortify your soul and strengthen your resolve to live a better life that is in tune with your faith and principles.
9. End your day on a good note
Shakespeare once wrote a play entitled “All's well that ends well.” That's good advice for dealing with depression too. End a day that may have been riddled with challenges and frustrations by making Wudu before going to bed, thinking of God and the Prophet and counting every blessing you have.
10. Stop Shaytan in his tracks
Shaytan is the source of many of our negative emotions. It's his job to make us feel pessimistic and to despair of any good in life. When you feel these feelings coming on, stop him dead in his tracks: say Aoutho billahi minash Shaytan ir Rajeem (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan).
Persevere...
Persevere, have faith in His benevolence.
Through afflictions God only tests your faith;
He is completely aware of your condition.
Have patience and wait for the divine decree.
Do not become like the foolish laborer who is removed from the king's palace for demanding his wages ahead of time.
-Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani, "Fayuz E Yazdani"
Through afflictions God only tests your faith;
He is completely aware of your condition.
Have patience and wait for the divine decree.
Do not become like the foolish laborer who is removed from the king's palace for demanding his wages ahead of time.
-Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani, "Fayuz E Yazdani"
Remembrance or Forgetfulness?
I had a discussion with a student yesterday. He asked me about a conversation he had with a co-worker, who, upon learning that my student liked to do zikr on his motorbike on his way to work, asked my student why he needed to say that particular surah so many times when, according to the Prophet (SAW), saying la ilaha illallah once with sincerity is sufficient. My student did not know how to answer his co-worker at the time. The incident reminded me of something my teacher taught me, so I relayed it to him. Based on what I was taught, the answer is, actually, quite simple and it lies in the Hadith Qudsi which states very clearly, "I am with My slave when he remembers me." Every moment in this life is an opportunity to be in one of two states -- that of remembrance or that of forgetfulness. To be in remembrance is when Allah returns the favor and remembers us, resulting in infinite goodness. To be otherwise is, well, otherwise. As such, after your one sincere moment of remembrance, what then? What do you do with the remaining moments? The Great Jihad is fought at this level -- in the heart and the mind. To live in remembrance as often as possible, or in forgetfulness. This is the choice we have as we go through this life and its string of moments.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Allah and His Creation...
God created suffering and heartache, so that joy might be known as their opposite.
Hidden things become manifest through their opposites.
But God has no opposite; so he remains hidden.
Light is known as the opposite of darkness.
But God's light has no opposite.
Thus we cannot know him through our eyes.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
Hidden things become manifest through their opposites.
But God has no opposite; so he remains hidden.
Light is known as the opposite of darkness.
But God's light has no opposite.
Thus we cannot know him through our eyes.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
Monday, July 14, 2008
Learning About Ourselves...
People differ greatly in the amount of anxiety and worry they can stand: some can endure a great deal without being adversely affected, while others soon show signs of strain.
You should observe yourself closely, so that you understand your own powers of endurance.
By this means you will learn to divest yourself before any harm is done.
-Razi: Kitab al-Muluki
You should observe yourself closely, so that you understand your own powers of endurance.
By this means you will learn to divest yourself before any harm is done.
-Razi: Kitab al-Muluki
Monday, July 07, 2008
The Miracle of Spiritual Healing....
Here's what Real Healing is all about.
With Forgiveness and Justice, we investigate your life and the validity of your limiting beliefs. Seen in the right light, all problems are understandable. Once they are understood properly (brought into consciousness), the lessons they are there are to teach us are learned and there is no further need for the problem. That's why we all need a healer: someone who can help us make sense of our lives. When your past is completely clear to you, your future becomes equally clear. The only reason we do not see clearly into the future is that we are attempting to view it through the unclear lense of the past. Spiritual Realization is the very foundation of our well-being, our health, happiness and prosperity. Bringing body and soul into alignment relieves the mind of its preoccupations and heart of its burdens. This allows our natural healing energies to operate freely and unencumbered within the body.
- Ali Ansari
With Forgiveness and Justice, we investigate your life and the validity of your limiting beliefs. Seen in the right light, all problems are understandable. Once they are understood properly (brought into consciousness), the lessons they are there are to teach us are learned and there is no further need for the problem. That's why we all need a healer: someone who can help us make sense of our lives. When your past is completely clear to you, your future becomes equally clear. The only reason we do not see clearly into the future is that we are attempting to view it through the unclear lense of the past. Spiritual Realization is the very foundation of our well-being, our health, happiness and prosperity. Bringing body and soul into alignment relieves the mind of its preoccupations and heart of its burdens. This allows our natural healing energies to operate freely and unencumbered within the body.
- Ali Ansari
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Refraining from Wrongdoing
I once saw a Christian monk gaunt through self-sacrifice and doubled over by the fear of God.
I asked him to show me the path of God.
He replied, "If you knew God you would know the way to Him.
I worship Him although I do not know Him; you disobey Him though you know Him.
With knowledge comes fear, yet you are self-assured; with heresy ignorance, yet I feel fear within me."
His words moved me so deeply that since then I have refrained from wrongdoing.
-Abd'Allah bin Mubarak al-Marwazi, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"
I asked him to show me the path of God.
He replied, "If you knew God you would know the way to Him.
I worship Him although I do not know Him; you disobey Him though you know Him.
With knowledge comes fear, yet you are self-assured; with heresy ignorance, yet I feel fear within me."
His words moved me so deeply that since then I have refrained from wrongdoing.
-Abd'Allah bin Mubarak al-Marwazi, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
If You Wish to Shine Like the Daylight....
If you wish to shine like the daylight, burn up the night of self-importance.
Dissolve the self like copper in the elixir; dissolve in Him who fosters all existence.
But you are bound by the discord of "I" and "We."
The cause of your ruin is this sad dualism.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
Dissolve the self like copper in the elixir; dissolve in Him who fosters all existence.
But you are bound by the discord of "I" and "We."
The cause of your ruin is this sad dualism.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
Monday, June 30, 2008
Trust Your Heart!
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "…Righteousness is that about which the soul feels tranquil, and wrongdoing is that which wavers in the soul, and moves to and fro in the breast even though people again and again have given you their legal opnion [in its favor]."
(An Nawawi #27)
(An Nawawi #27)
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Come Against Your Will
Come against your will is the toggle of the intelligent;
Come willingly is the spring-time of those who have lost their hearts.
-Mathnawi [III, 4472]
Against your will is to go against your nafs; giving in to every desire by following your own whims is the path to self-destruction.
Come willingly is the spring-time of those who have lost their hearts.
-Mathnawi [III, 4472]
Against your will is to go against your nafs; giving in to every desire by following your own whims is the path to self-destruction.
Allow God's Power to Pervade our Actions....
When we allow God’s power to pervade all our actions, and submit to his decrees, we shed all anxiety about the effects of our actions on others;
we cease even to consider the effects of our actions.
When we cease to consider the effects of our actions, we are adopting the attributes of God himself.
- Qushayri, "Risalah"
we cease even to consider the effects of our actions.
When we cease to consider the effects of our actions, we are adopting the attributes of God himself.
- Qushayri, "Risalah"
Monday, June 16, 2008
Ask Allah for the Remedy and Be Patient....
This world is full of remedies.
But you have no remedy until God opens a window for you.
You may not be aware of that remedy just now.
In the hour of need it will be made clear to you.
The Prophet said God made a remedy for every pain.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
But you have no remedy until God opens a window for you.
You may not be aware of that remedy just now.
In the hour of need it will be made clear to you.
The Prophet said God made a remedy for every pain.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
Friday, June 06, 2008
What is Soul?
What is soul?
Soul is conscious of good and evil,
rejoicing over kindness, weeping over injury.
Since consciousness is the inmost nature and essence of the soul,
the more aware you are the more spiritual you are.
Awareness is the effect of the spirit:
anyone who has this in abundance is a man or woman of God.
- Rumi, Mathnawi [VI, 148-150]
Soul is conscious of good and evil,
rejoicing over kindness, weeping over injury.
Since consciousness is the inmost nature and essence of the soul,
the more aware you are the more spiritual you are.
Awareness is the effect of the spirit:
anyone who has this in abundance is a man or woman of God.
- Rumi, Mathnawi [VI, 148-150]
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The How is Chosen by Allah...
"Rabi'a," Hasan asked, "how have you attained such a degree of holiness?"
Rabi'a replied: "By losing in him all that I have attained."
Hasan asked, "How do you know God?"
Rabi'a replied: "You want to know how to know God. I know God, without knowing how to know him."
-Attar: Rabi'a
Rabi'a replied: "By losing in him all that I have attained."
Hasan asked, "How do you know God?"
Rabi'a replied: "You want to know how to know God. I know God, without knowing how to know him."
-Attar: Rabi'a
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Knowledge Saves the Heart from Ignorance
Knowledge is the spirit that saves the heart from the death of ignorance;
it is the light that saves it from the darkness of iniquity.
The hearts of the iniquitous are dead because they are oblivious to God, and the hearts of the heedless are sick because they ignore His commandments.
-Abu Ali Thaqafi, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"
it is the light that saves it from the darkness of iniquity.
The hearts of the iniquitous are dead because they are oblivious to God, and the hearts of the heedless are sick because they ignore His commandments.
-Abu Ali Thaqafi, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"
A Leader Says So Much
If in the darkness of ignorance,
you don’t recognize a person’s true nature,
look to see whom he has chosen for his leader.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi" [IV, 1640]
This stanza speaks volumes....
you don’t recognize a person’s true nature,
look to see whom he has chosen for his leader.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi" [IV, 1640]
This stanza speaks volumes....
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Way to go Guys!
Terrific idea and effort by our youth....
Muslim Free Blood for Non-Muslims
By Ahmed Soliman, IOL Correspondent
The website has built up a worldwide database of more than 15,000 donors.
RIYADH — A brainchild of four technology-savvy young Saudis following the teachings of their faith, an online blood bank is assisting thousands of people, Muslims and non-Muslims in desperate need of blood donations.
"The website is serving Muslims and non-Muslims alike," Khalaf Al-Goudi, one of the founders of the http://www.freeblood.com/, told IslamOnline.net.
"It is quite often that a Muslim donates to a non-Muslim through our site," he added.
The website was established four years ago by Goudi, his cousin and two friends as a unique electronic blood bank that offers services to patients who need blood donations from around the world.
It has built up a worldwide database of more than 15,000 donors.
A person can visit the website and register as a blood donor or a patient who needs blood donations, providing information about city and country of residence, exact address, phone numbers and blood type.
The data are made available to those who badly need blood, hospitals as well as local and international blood banks.
The website clearly states that donors should not expect to be financially compensated for their donations.
"It is totally non-profit," says Goudi.
"The goal is to follow Islam's teachings of solidarity and helping others in need."
Efficient
The founders say their project offers an easy, accessible venue for donors and patients.
"It is more of a fast donor-patient link," says Goudi.
The four young Saudis were inspired by a situation they had experienced four years ago.
"There was this patient me and my cousin knew who needed a donation from a very rare blood type," Goudi recalls.
"When we went to the hospital's blood bank to ask for donors who can help him, they handed us this huge, tattered donors' record book.
"We were supposed to search it for donors who can help the patient."
The idea for the online blood bank was born only days after this experience.
"Six months later, the website was launched."
Goudi says he and the other founders were convinced that record books and paper archives can not be efficient in the age of computers and internet.
"A website would be much easier to access for both donors and patients, especially those who desperately need a life-saving blood donation," he maintains.
"All what it takes is one click and you have a list of donors who can help you out."
Muslim Free Blood for Non-Muslims
By Ahmed Soliman, IOL Correspondent
The website has built up a worldwide database of more than 15,000 donors.
RIYADH — A brainchild of four technology-savvy young Saudis following the teachings of their faith, an online blood bank is assisting thousands of people, Muslims and non-Muslims in desperate need of blood donations.
"The website is serving Muslims and non-Muslims alike," Khalaf Al-Goudi, one of the founders of the http://www.freeblood.com/, told IslamOnline.net.
"It is quite often that a Muslim donates to a non-Muslim through our site," he added.
The website was established four years ago by Goudi, his cousin and two friends as a unique electronic blood bank that offers services to patients who need blood donations from around the world.
It has built up a worldwide database of more than 15,000 donors.
A person can visit the website and register as a blood donor or a patient who needs blood donations, providing information about city and country of residence, exact address, phone numbers and blood type.
The data are made available to those who badly need blood, hospitals as well as local and international blood banks.
The website clearly states that donors should not expect to be financially compensated for their donations.
"It is totally non-profit," says Goudi.
"The goal is to follow Islam's teachings of solidarity and helping others in need."
Efficient
The founders say their project offers an easy, accessible venue for donors and patients.
"It is more of a fast donor-patient link," says Goudi.
The four young Saudis were inspired by a situation they had experienced four years ago.
"There was this patient me and my cousin knew who needed a donation from a very rare blood type," Goudi recalls.
"When we went to the hospital's blood bank to ask for donors who can help him, they handed us this huge, tattered donors' record book.
"We were supposed to search it for donors who can help the patient."
The idea for the online blood bank was born only days after this experience.
"Six months later, the website was launched."
Goudi says he and the other founders were convinced that record books and paper archives can not be efficient in the age of computers and internet.
"A website would be much easier to access for both donors and patients, especially those who desperately need a life-saving blood donation," he maintains.
"All what it takes is one click and you have a list of donors who can help you out."
Monday, April 28, 2008
Pretension is a Veil
No denser veil than pretension exists between God and the devotee.
There is no closer way to God than spiritual impoverishment before Him.
-Tustari in ‘Attar: “Tadhkirat”
There is no closer way to God than spiritual impoverishment before Him.
-Tustari in ‘Attar: “Tadhkirat”
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