Trust in God is realization of ones desperate needfulness.
- Jurayri in 'Attar: Tadhkirat
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Highest Stage of Worship...
The truest and highest stage of worship is to see God face to face, and to receive His guidance from His own mouth. Those who attain this highest stage, choose for themselves whatever God chooses for them. Their entire characters are transformed by God. They are God's friends; so they no longer discriminate between people, but regard all people as friends. Wherever they go, they go from God; wherever they arrive, they arrive at God. Whatever they do, they do for God; whatever service they perform, they perform it in God. The self has been truly annihilated.
- Junayd, "Tawhid"
- Junayd, "Tawhid"
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Once the Ego is Overcome...
Once the ego is overcome peace follows. "Only God and no living creature has the power to control destinies." With that conviction entrust all your cares to the Lord and follow the path of the Truth, conforming to the divine edicts, until you attain union with Him and become as pure as Adam before whom all creatures prostrated.
- Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani, "Fayuz E Yazdani"
- Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani, "Fayuz E Yazdani"
Friday, October 30, 2009
In Islam, the Opportunity to Do Good is Everywhere
"When one of you plants a tree, the fruits of which all creatures enjoy, let it be written as charity."
- Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as reported by Anas bin Malik
Don't ever underestimate the power of the small act of kindness... Allah sees everything...
- Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as reported by Anas bin Malik
Don't ever underestimate the power of the small act of kindness... Allah sees everything...
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Practice
Practice what you have learned, for theory without practice is like a spirit without a body. One who is content with learning alone is not learned, for the truly learned seeks more than mere words. Divine guidance entails self-mortification, without which contemplation is unattainable.
- Al-Hujwiri, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"
- Al-Hujwiri, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Atheist Professor and the Faithful Student...
An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty...
He asks one of his new students to stand and......
Prof:
So you believe in God?
Student:
Absolutely, sir.
Prof:
Is God good?
Student:
Sure.
Prof:
Is God all-powerful?
Student:
Yes..
Prof:
My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't.
How is this God good then? Hmm?
(Student is silent.)
Prof:
You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student:
Yes.
Prof:
Is Satan good?
Student:
No.
Prof:
Where does Satan come from?
Student:
From....God...
Prof:
That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student:
Yes.
Prof:
Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student:
Yes.
Prof:
So who created evil?
(Student does not answer.)
Prof:
Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible
things exist in the world, don't they?
Student:
Yes, sir.
Prof:
So, who created them?
(Student has no answer.)
Prof:
Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you.
Tell me, son... Have you ever seen God?
Student:
No, sir.
Prof:
Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student:
No, sir.
Prof:
Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you
ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
Student:
No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Prof:
Yet you still believe in Him?
Student:
Yes.
Prof:
According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student:
Nothing. I only have my faith.
Prof:
Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student:
Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Prof:
Yes.
Student:
And is there such a thing as cold?
Prof:
Yes.
Student:
No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)
Student:
Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold .. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
Student:
What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Prof:
Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student :
You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light.....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Prof:
So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student:
Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Prof:
Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student:
Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully
understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
Prof:
If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.
Student:
Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)
Student:
Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class is in uproar.)
Student:
Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
(The class breaks out into laughter..)
Student:
Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)
Prof:
I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
Student:
That is it sir... The link between man & god is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.
NB: I believe you have enjoyed the conversation...and if so...you'll probably want your friends/colleagues to enjoy the same...won't you?.... this is a true story, and the student was none other than..........
APJ Abdul Kalam, the former president of India.
He asks one of his new students to stand and......
Prof:
So you believe in God?
Student:
Absolutely, sir.
Prof:
Is God good?
Student:
Sure.
Prof:
Is God all-powerful?
Student:
Yes..
Prof:
My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't.
How is this God good then? Hmm?
(Student is silent.)
Prof:
You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student:
Yes.
Prof:
Is Satan good?
Student:
No.
Prof:
Where does Satan come from?
Student:
From....God...
Prof:
That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student:
Yes.
Prof:
Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student:
Yes.
Prof:
So who created evil?
(Student does not answer.)
Prof:
Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible
things exist in the world, don't they?
Student:
Yes, sir.
Prof:
So, who created them?
(Student has no answer.)
Prof:
Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you.
Tell me, son... Have you ever seen God?
Student:
No, sir.
Prof:
Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student:
No, sir.
Prof:
Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you
ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
Student:
No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Prof:
Yet you still believe in Him?
Student:
Yes.
Prof:
According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student:
Nothing. I only have my faith.
Prof:
Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student:
Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Prof:
Yes.
Student:
And is there such a thing as cold?
Prof:
Yes.
Student:
No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)
Student:
Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold .. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
Student:
What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Prof:
Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student :
You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light.....But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Prof:
So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student:
Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Prof:
Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student:
Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully
understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
Prof:
If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.
Student:
Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)
Student:
Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class is in uproar.)
Student:
Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
(The class breaks out into laughter..)
Student:
Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)
Prof:
I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
Student:
That is it sir... The link between man & god is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.
NB: I believe you have enjoyed the conversation...and if so...you'll probably want your friends/colleagues to enjoy the same...won't you?.... this is a true story, and the student was none other than..........
APJ Abdul Kalam, the former president of India.
Abu Hanifa and The Roman
Many years ago, during the time of the Tabi’een (the generation of Muslims after the Sahabah), Baghdad was a great city of Islam. In fact, it was the capital of the Islamic Empire and because of the great number of scholars who lived there, it was the center of Islamic knowledge. One day, the ruler of Rome at that time sent an envoy to Baghdad with three challenges for the Muslims. When the messenger reached the city, he informed the Khalifah that he had three questions which he challenged the Muslims to answer. The Khalifah gathered together all the scholars of the city and the Roman messenger climbed upon a high platform and said,
"I have come with three questions. If you answer them, then I will leave with you a great amount of wealth which I have brought from the king of Rome.” As for the questions, they were: ‘What was there before Allah?’ ‘In which direction does Allah face?’ ‘What is Allah engaged in at this moment?’
The great assembly of people were silent. (Can you think of answers to these questions?) In the midst of these brilliant scholars and students of Islam, there was a man looking on with his young son. “O my dear father! I will answer him and silence him!” said the youth. So the boy sought the permission of the Khalifah to give the answers and he was given the permission to do so.
The Roman addressed the young Muslim and repeated his first question, “What was there before Allah?” The boy asked, “Do you know how to count?” “Yes,” said the man. “Then count down from ten!” So the Roman counted down, “ten, nine, eight, …” until he reached “one” and he stopped counting. “But what comes before ‘one’?” asked the boy. “There is nothing before one – that is it!” said the man. “Well then, if there obviously is nothing before the arithmetic ‘one’, then how do you expect that there should be anything before the ‘One’ who is Absolute truth, All-Eternal, Everlasting the First, the Last, the Manifest, the Hidden?”
Now the man was surprised by this direct answer which he could not dispute. So he asked, “Then tell me, in which direction is Allah facing?” “Bring a candle and light it,” said the boy, “and tell me in which direction the flame is facing.” “But the flame is just light – it spreads in each of the four directions, North, South, East and West. It does not face any one direction only,” said the man in wonderment. The boy cried, “Then if this physical light spreads in all four directions such that you cannot tell me which way it faces, then what do you expect of the Nur-us-Samawati-wal-’Ard: Allah – the Light of the Heavens and the Earth!? Light upon Light, Allah faces all directions at all times.”
The Roman was stupefied and astounded that here was a young child answering his challenges in such a way that he could not argue against the proofs. So, he desperately wanted to try his final question. But before doing so, the boy said, “Wait! You are the one who is asking the questions and I am the one who is giving the answers to these challenges. It is only fair that you should come down to where I am standing and that I should go up where you are right now, in order that the answers may be heard as clearly as the questions.” This seemed reasonable to the Roman, so he came down from where he was standing and the boy ascended the platform. Then the man repeated his final challenge, “Tell me, what is Allah doing at this moment?” The boy proudly answered, “At this moment, when Allah found upon this high platform a liar and mocker of Islam, He caused him to descend and brought him low. And as for the one who believed in the Oneness of Allah, He raised him up and established the Truth. Every day He exercises (universal) power (Surah 55 ar-Rahman, Verse 29).” The Roman had nothing to say except to leave and return back to his country, defeated.
Meanwhile, this young boy grew up to become one of the most famous scholars of Islam. Allah, the Exalted, blessed him with special wisdom and knowledge of the Deen (religion). His name was Abu Hanifah (rahmatullah alayhi – May Allah have mercy on him) and he is known today as Imam Abu Hanifah (Imam-e-Azam), the Great Imam and scholar of Islam.
"I have come with three questions. If you answer them, then I will leave with you a great amount of wealth which I have brought from the king of Rome.” As for the questions, they were: ‘What was there before Allah?’ ‘In which direction does Allah face?’ ‘What is Allah engaged in at this moment?’
The great assembly of people were silent. (Can you think of answers to these questions?) In the midst of these brilliant scholars and students of Islam, there was a man looking on with his young son. “O my dear father! I will answer him and silence him!” said the youth. So the boy sought the permission of the Khalifah to give the answers and he was given the permission to do so.
The Roman addressed the young Muslim and repeated his first question, “What was there before Allah?” The boy asked, “Do you know how to count?” “Yes,” said the man. “Then count down from ten!” So the Roman counted down, “ten, nine, eight, …” until he reached “one” and he stopped counting. “But what comes before ‘one’?” asked the boy. “There is nothing before one – that is it!” said the man. “Well then, if there obviously is nothing before the arithmetic ‘one’, then how do you expect that there should be anything before the ‘One’ who is Absolute truth, All-Eternal, Everlasting the First, the Last, the Manifest, the Hidden?”
Now the man was surprised by this direct answer which he could not dispute. So he asked, “Then tell me, in which direction is Allah facing?” “Bring a candle and light it,” said the boy, “and tell me in which direction the flame is facing.” “But the flame is just light – it spreads in each of the four directions, North, South, East and West. It does not face any one direction only,” said the man in wonderment. The boy cried, “Then if this physical light spreads in all four directions such that you cannot tell me which way it faces, then what do you expect of the Nur-us-Samawati-wal-’Ard: Allah – the Light of the Heavens and the Earth!? Light upon Light, Allah faces all directions at all times.”
The Roman was stupefied and astounded that here was a young child answering his challenges in such a way that he could not argue against the proofs. So, he desperately wanted to try his final question. But before doing so, the boy said, “Wait! You are the one who is asking the questions and I am the one who is giving the answers to these challenges. It is only fair that you should come down to where I am standing and that I should go up where you are right now, in order that the answers may be heard as clearly as the questions.” This seemed reasonable to the Roman, so he came down from where he was standing and the boy ascended the platform. Then the man repeated his final challenge, “Tell me, what is Allah doing at this moment?” The boy proudly answered, “At this moment, when Allah found upon this high platform a liar and mocker of Islam, He caused him to descend and brought him low. And as for the one who believed in the Oneness of Allah, He raised him up and established the Truth. Every day He exercises (universal) power (Surah 55 ar-Rahman, Verse 29).” The Roman had nothing to say except to leave and return back to his country, defeated.
Meanwhile, this young boy grew up to become one of the most famous scholars of Islam. Allah, the Exalted, blessed him with special wisdom and knowledge of the Deen (religion). His name was Abu Hanifah (rahmatullah alayhi – May Allah have mercy on him) and he is known today as Imam Abu Hanifah (Imam-e-Azam), the Great Imam and scholar of Islam.
The Story of Abu Hanifa and the Three Questions
There was a young man who went overseas to study for quite a long time. When he returned, he asked his parents to find him a religious scholar or any expert who could answer his 3 Questions. Finally, his parents were able to find a Muslim scholar.
Young man: Who are you? Can you answer my questions?
Scholar: I am one of Allah (SubHana Wa Ta’ala)'s slaves and Insha-Allah (God willing), I will be able to answer your questions.
Young man: Are you sure? A lot of Professors and experts were not able to answer my questions.
Scholar: I will try my best, with the help of Allah(SubHana Wa Ta`ala).
Young Man: I have 3 questions:
1. Does God exist? If so, show me His shape.
2. What is taqdir (fate)?
3. If shaitan (Devil) was created from the fire, why at the end he will be thrown to hell that is also created from fire. It certainly will not hurt him at all, since Shaitan (Devil) and the hell were created from fire. Did God not think of it this far?
Suddenly, the Scholar slapped the young man's face very hard.
Young Man (feeling pain): Why do you get angry at me?
Scholar: I am not angry. The slap is my answer to your three questions.
Young Man: I really don't understand.
Scholar: How do you feel after I slapped you?
Young Man: Of course, I felt the pain.
Scholar: So do you believe that pain exists?
Young Man: Yes.
Scholar: Show me the shape of the pain!
Young Man: I cannot.
Scholar: That is my first answer. All of us feel God's existence without being able to see His shape... Last night, did you dream that you will be slapped by me?
Young Man: No.
Scholar: Did you ever think that you will get a slap from me, today?
Young Man: No.
Scholar: That is taqdir (fate) my second answer........ My hand that I used to slap you, what is it created from?
Young Man: It is created from flesh.
Scholar: How about your face, what is it created from?
Young Man: Flesh.
Scholar: How do you feel after I slapped you?
Young Man: In pain.
Scholar: That's it. This is my third answer, Even though Shaitan (Devil) and hell were created from fire, if Allah wants, insha-Allah (God willing), the hell will become a very painful place for shaitan.
The scholar was Imam Abu Hanifa (Rahmatulla Alai) and the man was a famous Jewish scholar of that time. After this incident, it is told that he became Muslim...
Young man: Who are you? Can you answer my questions?
Scholar: I am one of Allah (SubHana Wa Ta’ala)'s slaves and Insha-Allah (God willing), I will be able to answer your questions.
Young man: Are you sure? A lot of Professors and experts were not able to answer my questions.
Scholar: I will try my best, with the help of Allah(SubHana Wa Ta`ala).
Young Man: I have 3 questions:
1. Does God exist? If so, show me His shape.
2. What is taqdir (fate)?
3. If shaitan (Devil) was created from the fire, why at the end he will be thrown to hell that is also created from fire. It certainly will not hurt him at all, since Shaitan (Devil) and the hell were created from fire. Did God not think of it this far?
Suddenly, the Scholar slapped the young man's face very hard.
Young Man (feeling pain): Why do you get angry at me?
Scholar: I am not angry. The slap is my answer to your three questions.
Young Man: I really don't understand.
Scholar: How do you feel after I slapped you?
Young Man: Of course, I felt the pain.
Scholar: So do you believe that pain exists?
Young Man: Yes.
Scholar: Show me the shape of the pain!
Young Man: I cannot.
Scholar: That is my first answer. All of us feel God's existence without being able to see His shape... Last night, did you dream that you will be slapped by me?
Young Man: No.
Scholar: Did you ever think that you will get a slap from me, today?
Young Man: No.
Scholar: That is taqdir (fate) my second answer........ My hand that I used to slap you, what is it created from?
Young Man: It is created from flesh.
Scholar: How about your face, what is it created from?
Young Man: Flesh.
Scholar: How do you feel after I slapped you?
Young Man: In pain.
Scholar: That's it. This is my third answer, Even though Shaitan (Devil) and hell were created from fire, if Allah wants, insha-Allah (God willing), the hell will become a very painful place for shaitan.
The scholar was Imam Abu Hanifa (Rahmatulla Alai) and the man was a famous Jewish scholar of that time. After this incident, it is told that he became Muslim...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Drinking Your Way to Health? Perhaps Not
By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter by Dennis Thompson
healthday Reporter – Sun Oct 18, 11:48 pm ET
SUNDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Just about every month -- if not every week -- a new study emerges touting the health benefits to be gained from a daily glass of wine or a pint of dark beer.
The benefits related to cardiovascular health have become well-known. A study released in mid-July, for instance, found that moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in women by increasing the amount of "good" cholesterol in the bloodstream and reducing blood sugar levels.
But other studies have linked a daily drink, most often wine, to reduced risk of dementia, bone loss and physical disabilities related to old age. Wine also has been found to increase life expectancy and provide potential protection against some forms of cancer, including esophageal cancer and lymphoma.
But don't invest in that case of Pinot noir just yet.
Experts with the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association say that though these studies do show some benefits to moderate drinking, the health risks from alcohol consumption far outweigh the potential rewards.
Drinking any alcohol at all is known to increase your risk for contracting a number of types of cancer, said Susan Gapstur, vice president of epidemiology for the American Cancer Society. These include cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon/rectum and breast....
"They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." (Qur'an, 2:219)
HealthDay Reporter by Dennis Thompson
healthday Reporter – Sun Oct 18, 11:48 pm ET
SUNDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Just about every month -- if not every week -- a new study emerges touting the health benefits to be gained from a daily glass of wine or a pint of dark beer.
The benefits related to cardiovascular health have become well-known. A study released in mid-July, for instance, found that moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in women by increasing the amount of "good" cholesterol in the bloodstream and reducing blood sugar levels.
But other studies have linked a daily drink, most often wine, to reduced risk of dementia, bone loss and physical disabilities related to old age. Wine also has been found to increase life expectancy and provide potential protection against some forms of cancer, including esophageal cancer and lymphoma.
But don't invest in that case of Pinot noir just yet.
Experts with the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association say that though these studies do show some benefits to moderate drinking, the health risks from alcohol consumption far outweigh the potential rewards.
Drinking any alcohol at all is known to increase your risk for contracting a number of types of cancer, said Susan Gapstur, vice president of epidemiology for the American Cancer Society. These include cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon/rectum and breast....
"They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." (Qur'an, 2:219)
Friday, October 09, 2009
Islam: Work and Surrender
God says, “Walk and work for Me.” He wants you to work and to surrender at the same time. He does not want you to stay at home like the person who says, “I stay at home and do not work and Allah sends me everything.” The Khalifah ‘Umar came to a man in the mosque and said, “Why are you still here?” He said, “I want to always be praying.” ‘Umar asked him, “Who gives you food and who brings food to your children?” The man answered him, “God.” ‘Umar said, “But who told you to always be in the mosque and to not work and to leave your children? This is not praying.”
The deep praying is to know Him in every face and in every job. ‘Umar took a stick and hit him, “Wake up God, and find work to feed yourself and your children, and feed the animals and everything. Go to know how to help people. This is the deep praying for you! Do not leave your religion to die. It is important to not call yourself a Muslim.” This is the meaning of the real surrender, to work and when you work you know with Whom you work. You work with God. You follow His Order. Allah wants you to be very careful with the earth. This is the meaning of the surrender, trust - trust God.
Many Dervishes or Sufi people speak about themselves as Sufi and say that the Sufi Way is to keep your self inside the Zawiyah and to pray. This is the understanding of the Sufi for himself, but this is not the way. Allah does not like to see any one of His beloveds weak. He likes to see His beloveds strong in the perfect way, to know how to give and how to work. You see many who say they are Sufi and who keep themselves inside praying. I tell them this is not the right kind of praying. You are praying for yourself, but God wants you to pray for another and to give to others. This is praying and this is the meaning of al-Islam.
Where is this religion from? The Prophet, may peace be upon him, worked. He carried the message but at the same time he had a business. He traveled often from Mecca to Damascus bringing things everywhere. This is because he searched about the right life. You can know the Beloved of Allah (the Prophet, may Allah bless him) when you live between the people. How can you know how to help people if you do not live between them? If you do not have a business, how can you be honest? And when you have work, you learn how to give, how to take, and how to care about everything, even animals and plants. The Prophet, may peace by upon him, had many sheep and cared for them. And he cared about himself because he wanted to feed the people. He helped himself and, others. This is al-Islam. Islam does not like weakness. If you are healthy in body and mind, then it is important to go and work but to be straight in everything, to see how to work, to follow when you work, and to change everything, beloved, because the teaching comes through you when you walk straight and follow the teachings of Allah.
- Sheikh Sidi Muhammad al-Jamal
The deep praying is to know Him in every face and in every job. ‘Umar took a stick and hit him, “Wake up God, and find work to feed yourself and your children, and feed the animals and everything. Go to know how to help people. This is the deep praying for you! Do not leave your religion to die. It is important to not call yourself a Muslim.” This is the meaning of the real surrender, to work and when you work you know with Whom you work. You work with God. You follow His Order. Allah wants you to be very careful with the earth. This is the meaning of the surrender, trust - trust God.
Many Dervishes or Sufi people speak about themselves as Sufi and say that the Sufi Way is to keep your self inside the Zawiyah and to pray. This is the understanding of the Sufi for himself, but this is not the way. Allah does not like to see any one of His beloveds weak. He likes to see His beloveds strong in the perfect way, to know how to give and how to work. You see many who say they are Sufi and who keep themselves inside praying. I tell them this is not the right kind of praying. You are praying for yourself, but God wants you to pray for another and to give to others. This is praying and this is the meaning of al-Islam.
Where is this religion from? The Prophet, may peace be upon him, worked. He carried the message but at the same time he had a business. He traveled often from Mecca to Damascus bringing things everywhere. This is because he searched about the right life. You can know the Beloved of Allah (the Prophet, may Allah bless him) when you live between the people. How can you know how to help people if you do not live between them? If you do not have a business, how can you be honest? And when you have work, you learn how to give, how to take, and how to care about everything, even animals and plants. The Prophet, may peace by upon him, had many sheep and cared for them. And he cared about himself because he wanted to feed the people. He helped himself and, others. This is al-Islam. Islam does not like weakness. If you are healthy in body and mind, then it is important to go and work but to be straight in everything, to see how to work, to follow when you work, and to change everything, beloved, because the teaching comes through you when you walk straight and follow the teachings of Allah.
- Sheikh Sidi Muhammad al-Jamal
Thursday, October 08, 2009
In the Presence of the Mightiest of Emperors...
Imagine yourself entering the presence of a mighty emperor. You are overwhelmed with awe at his power, and with a sense of your own insignificance. Your entire attention is absorbed by the emperor's greatness, so you are utterly unaware of his physical presence and of the other people around him. When you leave his presence, people ask you about the other people, about his physical appearance, and about your own experience of being in his presence. But you are unable to answer.
This is a parable for losing the sense of self.
- Qushayri, "Risalah"
This is a parable for losing the sense of self.
- Qushayri, "Risalah"
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Supplication of Love
Lord, the night is gone. The dawn has lighted the sky. How I long to know if You accepted or rejected my prayers. Comfort me, Lord, for only you can comfort this state of mine. You gave me life and nurtured me; Yours is all the praise. If You would ever drive me away from Your door, I would never abandon it for the sake of Your love, which I carry in my heart.
- Rabi'a, "Rabi'a the Mystic"
- Rabi'a, "Rabi'a the Mystic"
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Moulding Students to Think.... Go IKIM!
Tuesday September 29, 2009
Moulding students to think
IKIM VIEWS
By NIK ROSKIMAN ABDUL SAMAD, Fellow of Centre for Consultancy and Training,IKIM
The rote-based education system only churns out students with data and information but without the means to convert them into knowledge. We need to move on to producing thinking students
IT WAS with great relief that we heard the Government’s announcement to revamp our educational system for the better.
We have discussed this issue before, that our national education system should start focusing on producing thinking students rather than memorisers of data.
The move to reduce the number of subjects taken at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level is commendable. But that will not have much significant impact on the student population as a whole if the primary school level is not put through a serious revamp as well.
Developing students’ minds should begin as early as possible.
During my stay at Edinburgh a few years back, my six-year-old son came home from school one day with a question following a nativity programme organised by his school.
He asked me: “Can God have a son?”. I replied: “No, in Islam we do not believe that God can have children. Since He is God and not a human being like us, he cannot have a child. Only a human being begets, not God”.
Then he replied: “Yes, my thoughts too, because God is not human like us. He is an alien!”
I was amused, yet shocked. The premises that I laid down for him in order to develop his thinking mind, had led him to a wrong conclusion, unfortunately. His logic was correct but the conclusion was erroneous.
I bring up this anecdote to share with readers the importance of developing students’ minds at an early age. It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to guide the children on the correct use of logic and reason to arrive at the right conclusion.
Logic (or dialectic as it also called) is one important tool taught by the Greek at an early age at the trivium level to develop minds. Logic is not a subject but rather the art of understanding things and arguing correctly.
That practise during the Greek ages in the form of trivium and quadrivium can be emulated and improved on to suit the modern age. This has been done by many scholars trying to bring back the classical spirit, but with a modern scent.
Havard Professor Howard Gardner, for example, mentions in his work Five Minds for the Future that there are five minds to be cultivated for an individual to excel – the Disciplined Mind, Synthesizing Mind, Creating Mind, Respectful Mind and Ethical Mind.
His emphasis on “minds” and “intelligence” has great thoughts and ideas that can be incorporated into our educational system.
A similar stress on developing the mind has in fact been espoused by classical Muslim scholars of the past who Islamised the Greek logics, in the introduction of ilm al-mantiq (logic) in the classical curriculum of madrasahs all over the Muslim world during that period.
The Disciplined Mind of Gardner is in reality the Socratic method of teaching logic to students.
The teacher raises questions and the students discuss them in class. By controlling the pace, the teacher can keep the class lively and at the same time stimulate the students’ thinking in a disciplined manner. Furthermore, the discussion is not bound by any textbook or syllabus that needs to be completed.
In other words, during the Classical period, students were taught the tools of learning at an early age. And, only later, at quadrivium level, were they taught such subjects as arithmetic, astronomy geometry and music.
The early stage is the foundational stage to develop the mind, to create the framework and logical foundation of the children’s mind, so that the real subjects could be fitted into the mind without any difficulty or incoherency.
I liken this to a computer that needs to be formatted and installed with an operating system – be it Windows, Linux, Apple or others – before software applications can be installed.
Our minds work in the same manner. What we have been doing in the past 50 years was “installing” various “software applications” (subjects) in our minds, but not the operating system for the mind.
At the end of the day, our students have huge data and information but their “non-formatted minds” are incapable of converting them into knowledge beneficial to them and society.
These “non-formatted minds” also, at times, come up will illogical and nonsensical ideas and arguments out of ignorance and the inability of the minds to synchronise and link scattered information coherently and logically.
In other words, we added new subjects to be studied without developing students’ minds. For that reason, we find certain people are now talking about an unlearning process, realising that what we have been practising or advocating or believing all this while appears not right.
This is also what Gardner lamented: The inability of “teachers, students, policymakers and ordinary citizens to sufficiently appreciate the differences between subject matter and discipline”.
Most individuals in most schools study subject matter - memorising facts and formulas, figures, dates etc, according to him. But discipline is rather a different phenomenon. Gardner says “it constitutes a distinctive way of thinking of the world”.
This disciplined mind is what is lacking in today’s modern education system.
While Islam does not view any dichotomy between the world and the afterworld (al-akhirah), the disciplined mind of a Muslim constitutes the ability to distinctively view not just the physical world but also existence (al-wujud) and reality (al-haqiqah) in its totality, which is encapsulated in the Worldview of Islam (ru’yat al-islam lil-wujud), the concept propagated by Professor Dr Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas.
It is therefore imperative for our policymakers to now come up with an education system which concentrates more on developing and nurturing students’ minds rather than bombarding them with subject after subject.
And, it should begin not only at the secondary level or SPM, but at the primary and pre-school stages.
Moulding students to think
IKIM VIEWS
By NIK ROSKIMAN ABDUL SAMAD, Fellow of Centre for Consultancy and Training,IKIM
The rote-based education system only churns out students with data and information but without the means to convert them into knowledge. We need to move on to producing thinking students
IT WAS with great relief that we heard the Government’s announcement to revamp our educational system for the better.
We have discussed this issue before, that our national education system should start focusing on producing thinking students rather than memorisers of data.
The move to reduce the number of subjects taken at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level is commendable. But that will not have much significant impact on the student population as a whole if the primary school level is not put through a serious revamp as well.
Developing students’ minds should begin as early as possible.
During my stay at Edinburgh a few years back, my six-year-old son came home from school one day with a question following a nativity programme organised by his school.
He asked me: “Can God have a son?”. I replied: “No, in Islam we do not believe that God can have children. Since He is God and not a human being like us, he cannot have a child. Only a human being begets, not God”.
Then he replied: “Yes, my thoughts too, because God is not human like us. He is an alien!”
I was amused, yet shocked. The premises that I laid down for him in order to develop his thinking mind, had led him to a wrong conclusion, unfortunately. His logic was correct but the conclusion was erroneous.
I bring up this anecdote to share with readers the importance of developing students’ minds at an early age. It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to guide the children on the correct use of logic and reason to arrive at the right conclusion.
Logic (or dialectic as it also called) is one important tool taught by the Greek at an early age at the trivium level to develop minds. Logic is not a subject but rather the art of understanding things and arguing correctly.
That practise during the Greek ages in the form of trivium and quadrivium can be emulated and improved on to suit the modern age. This has been done by many scholars trying to bring back the classical spirit, but with a modern scent.
Havard Professor Howard Gardner, for example, mentions in his work Five Minds for the Future that there are five minds to be cultivated for an individual to excel – the Disciplined Mind, Synthesizing Mind, Creating Mind, Respectful Mind and Ethical Mind.
His emphasis on “minds” and “intelligence” has great thoughts and ideas that can be incorporated into our educational system.
A similar stress on developing the mind has in fact been espoused by classical Muslim scholars of the past who Islamised the Greek logics, in the introduction of ilm al-mantiq (logic) in the classical curriculum of madrasahs all over the Muslim world during that period.
The Disciplined Mind of Gardner is in reality the Socratic method of teaching logic to students.
The teacher raises questions and the students discuss them in class. By controlling the pace, the teacher can keep the class lively and at the same time stimulate the students’ thinking in a disciplined manner. Furthermore, the discussion is not bound by any textbook or syllabus that needs to be completed.
In other words, during the Classical period, students were taught the tools of learning at an early age. And, only later, at quadrivium level, were they taught such subjects as arithmetic, astronomy geometry and music.
The early stage is the foundational stage to develop the mind, to create the framework and logical foundation of the children’s mind, so that the real subjects could be fitted into the mind without any difficulty or incoherency.
I liken this to a computer that needs to be formatted and installed with an operating system – be it Windows, Linux, Apple or others – before software applications can be installed.
Our minds work in the same manner. What we have been doing in the past 50 years was “installing” various “software applications” (subjects) in our minds, but not the operating system for the mind.
At the end of the day, our students have huge data and information but their “non-formatted minds” are incapable of converting them into knowledge beneficial to them and society.
These “non-formatted minds” also, at times, come up will illogical and nonsensical ideas and arguments out of ignorance and the inability of the minds to synchronise and link scattered information coherently and logically.
In other words, we added new subjects to be studied without developing students’ minds. For that reason, we find certain people are now talking about an unlearning process, realising that what we have been practising or advocating or believing all this while appears not right.
This is also what Gardner lamented: The inability of “teachers, students, policymakers and ordinary citizens to sufficiently appreciate the differences between subject matter and discipline”.
Most individuals in most schools study subject matter - memorising facts and formulas, figures, dates etc, according to him. But discipline is rather a different phenomenon. Gardner says “it constitutes a distinctive way of thinking of the world”.
This disciplined mind is what is lacking in today’s modern education system.
While Islam does not view any dichotomy between the world and the afterworld (al-akhirah), the disciplined mind of a Muslim constitutes the ability to distinctively view not just the physical world but also existence (al-wujud) and reality (al-haqiqah) in its totality, which is encapsulated in the Worldview of Islam (ru’yat al-islam lil-wujud), the concept propagated by Professor Dr Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas.
It is therefore imperative for our policymakers to now come up with an education system which concentrates more on developing and nurturing students’ minds rather than bombarding them with subject after subject.
And, it should begin not only at the secondary level or SPM, but at the primary and pre-school stages.
The Road to Success
Revelation is to be believed. This is why we are called believers. But it also reveals what is to be believed, the "truth", so to speak, that by it falsehood, which abounds in this world, may be discerned and eschewed. When "the faith", that which is to be trusted as true, has entered into the heart, then that heart is guided by it, and the person is considered to be "rightly guided", and a guide to others. This is the Essence, a Free and Clean (Sufi) Muslim, surrendered and guided by the Masters of the Way. This is the goal for which we strive. For then you are free, free of your burdensome, tiring self, free of false responsibilities and concerns - clean, innocent and forgiven, teaching and living by the Religion of Choice, Surrendered to the God in Whom we all believe and guided by Religion in the right way.
What more could be asked for. It is then and only then that the ways of true success in the world will be opened for you, for it is no longer coming from your will but from Alllah's will, which must come to pass, and to which you are completely surrendered.
So now let me "reveal" to you the nature of your religion:
"I am the Lord thy God. Your lives and provision have been decreed. I want only of you recognition, not that you provide for yourselves. Let Me provide for you, and you worship Me. I have created you for this recognition. There is no way that you "can't" do it, I have built it into the depths of your very being. But there are created many distractions for you that will test your will and improve your strength and insight, so many of you "won't", for now. And it is for that choice that I have given you a free will.
"Knowing me is as simple as leaving your desires. To guide you in my direction I have sent you a revelation through a prophet perfect in character and understanding, yet human, that you be not discouraged. He describes for you that which you should practice and that in which you should trust, and exemplifies in his being the balance between them, the holding of them both in perfect harmony. He describes for you the religion of Surrender, which is the direct way of knowing Me for each one of you. He describes for you your faith. And He shows you the way to outer peace through inner peace. So believe now in Me and follow the way of Surrender I have revealed for you. It will lead you out of the suffering of your mortal illusions and into the true life that I have created for you."
- Ali Ansari
What more could be asked for. It is then and only then that the ways of true success in the world will be opened for you, for it is no longer coming from your will but from Alllah's will, which must come to pass, and to which you are completely surrendered.
So now let me "reveal" to you the nature of your religion:
"I am the Lord thy God. Your lives and provision have been decreed. I want only of you recognition, not that you provide for yourselves. Let Me provide for you, and you worship Me. I have created you for this recognition. There is no way that you "can't" do it, I have built it into the depths of your very being. But there are created many distractions for you that will test your will and improve your strength and insight, so many of you "won't", for now. And it is for that choice that I have given you a free will.
"Knowing me is as simple as leaving your desires. To guide you in my direction I have sent you a revelation through a prophet perfect in character and understanding, yet human, that you be not discouraged. He describes for you that which you should practice and that in which you should trust, and exemplifies in his being the balance between them, the holding of them both in perfect harmony. He describes for you the religion of Surrender, which is the direct way of knowing Me for each one of you. He describes for you your faith. And He shows you the way to outer peace through inner peace. So believe now in Me and follow the way of Surrender I have revealed for you. It will lead you out of the suffering of your mortal illusions and into the true life that I have created for you."
- Ali Ansari
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Conversation with Sheikh Hajj Gibril on Issues Related to Non-Muslim Friends...
Far from the overly simplistic rhetoric we often read about in regard to how Muslim teachings view relations with non-Muslims, here is a short conversation between Sheikh G.F. Haddad and a questioner about his or her non-Muslim friends. It's a very interesting dialogue...
Q: Some of my non-Muslim friends are very nice people, and follow their religion well. Now here is my question, if they believe in God, and follow their religion, why would they be sent to hell and punished?? Didn't Allah create them as well, and wasn't he who placed them in a non-Muslim family? It's so sad to know what would happen to these innocent people!
A: Islamic Law considers them Ahl al-Fitra until the authentic message of Islam reaches them. Allah does not punish a people until He sends them a messenger and they reject him. In fact you may be that messenger for some of them, and your responsibility as a representative of Islam before non-Muslims is immense.
Q: Just like us, they are too strong believers in their own faith. They have been brought up in that religion, and it is impossible for them to even think of another religion to convert to.
A: Yes, there was a time I would have thought this the height of absurdity also, but little by little it changed until conversion became the height of logic and the right thing to do. At that point the terms "another religion" became superficial and only those of "the completion of religion" made sense. I also realized that belief in Islam in comparison to other beliefs is like maturity in comparison to childhood. So they may be "strong believers just like us" in the sense of one's emotional ties and conscientious adherence to one's convictions, but never in the sense of knowledge.
Q: Now think about it, we know that Islam is the correct path. We know this from reading the Quran, and other books. We know this from being told so. And most importantly we know so because we were blessed to be born in a Muslim family.
A: Are you being rhetorical? None of the above shows true knowledge, as I am sure you know. Knowledge in Islam is the upholding of Divine Oneness, then everything else that follows, to which reading and birth may or may not lead. It is different from merely being Muslim and imitating other Muslims, which is what you have described.
Q: Now let's look at the Christian culture, and the same can be said for them.....they also read their Bible, and learn more from their weekly church visits, so how can they (the faithful one's) even think of converting. I, like most Muslims would rather die, then even think of conversion, but then again the same can be said about people from other religions.
A: The comparison holds only if one is indeed a superficial Muslim who follows Islam out of some inherited habit or cultural notion of belonging, or purely material circumstance, which I am sure, or hope you do not.
There is no comparison. Islam imparts a knowledge that all of mankind was honored by the Creator, and that the Creator likes to be known for this and worshiped on the basis of truth-imparting knowledge. They have to focus on the person of the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur'an and Law he brought, and ask themselves whether he was acting with divine sanction or out of his own human will.
Q: So why would this happen? Is it really their fault? Would Allah really punish them?
A: We are all answerable at different degrees. I have non-Muslim relatives who are just as dear or dearer to me than your Toronto friends are to you. Allah will grant success to those who repent to him sincerely and ask for dear guidance with true broken hearts, and He will not look at names and titles such as Christian, Muslim, Jew, Protestant, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, Sikh, Buddhist....
Hajj Gibril
GF Haddad ©
[2000-11-04]
Q: Some of my non-Muslim friends are very nice people, and follow their religion well. Now here is my question, if they believe in God, and follow their religion, why would they be sent to hell and punished?? Didn't Allah create them as well, and wasn't he who placed them in a non-Muslim family? It's so sad to know what would happen to these innocent people!
A: Islamic Law considers them Ahl al-Fitra until the authentic message of Islam reaches them. Allah does not punish a people until He sends them a messenger and they reject him. In fact you may be that messenger for some of them, and your responsibility as a representative of Islam before non-Muslims is immense.
Q: Just like us, they are too strong believers in their own faith. They have been brought up in that religion, and it is impossible for them to even think of another religion to convert to.
A: Yes, there was a time I would have thought this the height of absurdity also, but little by little it changed until conversion became the height of logic and the right thing to do. At that point the terms "another religion" became superficial and only those of "the completion of religion" made sense. I also realized that belief in Islam in comparison to other beliefs is like maturity in comparison to childhood. So they may be "strong believers just like us" in the sense of one's emotional ties and conscientious adherence to one's convictions, but never in the sense of knowledge.
Q: Now think about it, we know that Islam is the correct path. We know this from reading the Quran, and other books. We know this from being told so. And most importantly we know so because we were blessed to be born in a Muslim family.
A: Are you being rhetorical? None of the above shows true knowledge, as I am sure you know. Knowledge in Islam is the upholding of Divine Oneness, then everything else that follows, to which reading and birth may or may not lead. It is different from merely being Muslim and imitating other Muslims, which is what you have described.
Q: Now let's look at the Christian culture, and the same can be said for them.....they also read their Bible, and learn more from their weekly church visits, so how can they (the faithful one's) even think of converting. I, like most Muslims would rather die, then even think of conversion, but then again the same can be said about people from other religions.
A: The comparison holds only if one is indeed a superficial Muslim who follows Islam out of some inherited habit or cultural notion of belonging, or purely material circumstance, which I am sure, or hope you do not.
There is no comparison. Islam imparts a knowledge that all of mankind was honored by the Creator, and that the Creator likes to be known for this and worshiped on the basis of truth-imparting knowledge. They have to focus on the person of the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur'an and Law he brought, and ask themselves whether he was acting with divine sanction or out of his own human will.
Q: So why would this happen? Is it really their fault? Would Allah really punish them?
A: We are all answerable at different degrees. I have non-Muslim relatives who are just as dear or dearer to me than your Toronto friends are to you. Allah will grant success to those who repent to him sincerely and ask for dear guidance with true broken hearts, and He will not look at names and titles such as Christian, Muslim, Jew, Protestant, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, Sikh, Buddhist....
Hajj Gibril
GF Haddad ©
[2000-11-04]
Thursday, September 17, 2009
'Allahu Akbar' and the Purification of the Mind
In prayer, the words 'Allahu Akbar' are said over and over. The words mean 'God is great' or 'God is greater', or, God is greater than anything, even that which is conceived of in the mind. As such, when the mind becomes preoccupied with other-than-God we say Allahu Akbar to take us back to that state of remembrance, that place where God (i.e. remembrance of His name) is greater than whatever it is that we are thinking about at that moment. It's the fastest and most effective way to reclaim that state of clarity and mental precision.
So the next time you feel your mind overwhelmed with mental noise and endless chatter, use the greatest weapon that Allah has armed us with - His remembrance. Make it constant, then observe yourself...
"...Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest(13:28)"
Tafsir al-Tustari:
His words, Exalted is He:
…Truly, it is in the remembrance of God that hearts find peace.
[In] remembrance (dhikr) with knowledge ('ilm) there is tranquil repose (sukūn), and [in] remembrance with intellect ('aql) there is profound peace (ṭ uma'nīna).
He [Sahl] was asked, 'And how is that?' He replied:
If a servant is maintaining [true] obedience to God, he will be in a state of remembrance (dhākir), but when something occurs to his mind, he will be in a state of severance (qāṭ i') [from God]. If he is involved in an act [motivated by] his lower self, and something comes to his heart which guides him to remembrance and obedience, this is the role played by the intellect (mawḍi' al-'aql).
So the next time you feel your mind overwhelmed with mental noise and endless chatter, use the greatest weapon that Allah has armed us with - His remembrance. Make it constant, then observe yourself...
"...Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest(13:28)"
Tafsir al-Tustari:
His words, Exalted is He:
…Truly, it is in the remembrance of God that hearts find peace.
[In] remembrance (dhikr) with knowledge ('ilm) there is tranquil repose (sukūn), and [in] remembrance with intellect ('aql) there is profound peace (ṭ uma'nīna).
He [Sahl] was asked, 'And how is that?' He replied:
If a servant is maintaining [true] obedience to God, he will be in a state of remembrance (dhākir), but when something occurs to his mind, he will be in a state of severance (qāṭ i') [from God]. If he is involved in an act [motivated by] his lower self, and something comes to his heart which guides him to remembrance and obedience, this is the role played by the intellect (mawḍi' al-'aql).
Friday, September 04, 2009
Words of Wisdom from the Imam...
Imam Shafi`i said: 3 things in this world have been made lovely to me: avoiding affectation, treating people kindly, and following the way of tasawwuf.
He also said: I accompanied the Sufis and received from them but three words:
their statement that time is a sword: if you do not cut it, it cuts you;
their statement that if you do not keep your ego busy with truth it will keep you busy with falsehood;
their statement that deprivation is immunity.
[-Al-Shafi`i]
He also said: I accompanied the Sufis and received from them but three words:
their statement that time is a sword: if you do not cut it, it cuts you;
their statement that if you do not keep your ego busy with truth it will keep you busy with falsehood;
their statement that deprivation is immunity.
[-Al-Shafi`i]
Sunday, August 30, 2009
More Than
This is a beautiful song about one man's love for His Prophet (SAW)....
More Than
by Kareem Salama
Since when did a man need to be free of his sin
To see the face of the moon and feel the warmth of a friend
I come from miles and miles away from a far and distant place
But I pray every night to dream of the light of your face
The more I know you I love you
Chorus
More than mountains of jewels
More than months of honeymoons
More than gold loves a fool
I love you
VERSE 2
I’d give up everything I have which isn’t much to say the most
But if you’d be my honored guest then I’d be a gracious host
If you’re the paradise I seek then I was born in hell
If you’re the garden where we sit then I sit on land untilled
The more I know you I love you
More than mountains of jewels
More than months of honeymoons
More than gold loves a fool
I love you
More than shade under a tree
On a summer day in Tennessee
More than I love me
I love you
VERSE 3
Wish all the people throughout time knew what I know about you
How they harmed the ones you loved and how they tried to harm you too
But you repelled hatred with love and you invited friend and foe
And though the lies they speak pain me it’s that you’re gone that hurts the most
The more I remember you I love you
Chorus
More Than
by Kareem Salama
Since when did a man need to be free of his sin
To see the face of the moon and feel the warmth of a friend
I come from miles and miles away from a far and distant place
But I pray every night to dream of the light of your face
The more I know you I love you
Chorus
More than mountains of jewels
More than months of honeymoons
More than gold loves a fool
I love you
VERSE 2
I’d give up everything I have which isn’t much to say the most
But if you’d be my honored guest then I’d be a gracious host
If you’re the paradise I seek then I was born in hell
If you’re the garden where we sit then I sit on land untilled
The more I know you I love you
More than mountains of jewels
More than months of honeymoons
More than gold loves a fool
I love you
More than shade under a tree
On a summer day in Tennessee
More than I love me
I love you
VERSE 3
Wish all the people throughout time knew what I know about you
How they harmed the ones you loved and how they tried to harm you too
But you repelled hatred with love and you invited friend and foe
And though the lies they speak pain me it’s that you’re gone that hurts the most
The more I remember you I love you
Chorus
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
You Should Observe Yourself Closely...
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
- Razi: Kitab al-Muluki
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