By Tara Dooley,
Chicago Tribune
In retrospect, Carole Sturm traces her conversion to Islam to a prayer she uttered as a 15-year-old in a Roman Catholic church. It was the appeal of a spiritual teenager, raised in the church, the plea of a young woman who believed in God but struggled with the Catholic mysteries of faith and forgiveness. “I said, `God, show me what this means or show me something else,’” Sturm, 34, said, recalling an afternoon nearly 20 years ago in Tulsa, Okla. “After that, I figured I was going to hell. I mean, I was 15.” It took about five years, but God answered her prayer and showed her Islam, Sturm said. “It was a slow dawning,” said the Arlington, Texas, resident and computer systems analyst for Sabre Group, based in Ft. Worth. “It wasn’t like I woke up one night and said, `This is it.’” In converting to Islam, Sturm joined a growing number of Americans who switch to faiths that have been imported to the predominantly Christian United States. And like many others who convert, Sturm said she found that her new religion allowed her a spirituality and an understanding of God that previously seemed elusive.
National Islamic groups estimate that there are more than 6 million Muslims in the United States, placing the religion’s membership ahead of several of the nation’s mainline denominations. There is no formal or elaborate conversion ritual to the faith. Someone who becomes Muslim must simply declare a belief in one God and recognise Mohammed as a messenger of God, Sturm said. But like Christianity, attracting converts is important in the religion, especially as Muslims choose to live in non-Islamic states, said Yvonne Haddad, a professor of Islamic history at Georgetown University. “It is a missionary religion,” she said. “In the 20th Century, (conversion) has assumed a more important role.” In many places in the United States, the Muslim community consists of families from Islamic states worldwide as well as American converts.
For Cherie Lyle, the decision to convert to Islam from the Seventh- day Adventist Church was prompted in part by the assortment of races and ethnicities she encountered during Friday afternoon prayers at a mosque on Center Street in Arlington. “I saw this sea of Muslims that ranged from the blackest black to the whitest white, and what came to me was, This is what heaven must be like,” Lyle said. Lyle’s journey to Islam began when she happened on a television show about the five pillars, or basic tenets, of Islam: a declaration of faith in the absolute oneness of God, prayers five times a day, gifts to charity, fasting during the month of Ramadhan and a pilgrimage to Makkah. Lyle, who had taught Sunday school in her church, said readings of the Qur’an offered a believable way to understand God and an account of how to live as a Muslim. The Christian Bible, and especially the writings of the Apostle Paul, had confounded her with contradictions. “I had studied very deeply, but I always felt that the hard questions went unanswered,” said Lyle, who is trained as a lawyer but now teaches at Al-Hedayah Academy, an Islamic school in Ft.Worth. Although Sturm said that Islam once seemed a foreign faith to her, it became increasingly familiar as she pursued a degree in finance from the University of Oklahoma and met students from Islamic countries who shared their knowledge, including the man she eventually married, Shahzad Khan.
For Sturm, reading the Qur’an answered her questions of faith in a logical manner. Islam did not require her to make leaps of faith, such as accepting Jesus as the son of God and path to salvation, she said. “There is no way we can earn our way to heaven without God’s mercy, but there is more responsibility on the shoulders of the person,” she said of Islamic teachings. “That was important to me.” In addition to an emphasis on personal responsibility, teachings on the importance of the family and morality also appealed to her, she said. Watching his daughter convert to Islam did not feel right, said Sturm’s father, Charles Sturm. But he came to accept her decision when he saw how she, Khan and their two children lived their religion. “I would not have advised my daughter to do this,” Charles Sturm said. “When she followed the tenets of the Catholic faith, she was a good woman. (But) I have no doubt that she is a good woman now that she is following the religion of Islam.”
Although the teachings of Islam may feel instinctively right to Carole Sturm, following all of the customs is not always easy. Lyle and Sturm said they have struggled -to different degrees -with the Islamic requirement that women cover their hair. Once she made a declaration of faith, Lyle, 43, immediately took to wearing long, concealing clothing and to covering her hair. But after she broke the custom for her sister’s wedding, returning to the covering became more difficult. Now, she sometimes does not cover her hair for business meetings, she said. Similarly, Sturm does not cover her hair at work, where she often deals with Sabre’s clients, although she emphasized that the company offers a good working environment for Muslims. “I just haven’t been able to face the questions and the looks,” she said. “People do take you differently...It colours how seriously they take you and what you say.” Despite their difficulties with dress requirements, Lyle and Sturm underscored that the decision about what to cover and when is a woman’s to make. Both women objected to critics who say Islam is oppressive to women. Examples of extreme restrictions on women’s freedom to work or even walk unaccompanied outside in some Islamic countries are cultural or political impositions on Islam, they said. In fact, both said that Islam offers women reign over their money and names. Requirements of modest dress are for both men and women, and nothing prohibits sun dresses at home, Sturm said. For both Sturm and Lyle, Islam showed them a way to understand God. “It was like seeing God without all the baggage,” Lyle said.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Zaakira
From: www.thetruereligion.org
My name is Zaakira and I want to tell all how becoming a Muslim and accepting Allah has changed my life. I had been introduced to Islam about 6 1/2 years ago by my husband. At the time when we were married I was a Christian or so I claimed to be. He told me that he was not going to pressure me into changing my religion because whatever I decided to do I would have to make the choice for myself and not for anyone else.
It seemed at one point in my life I said I was going to become a Muslim and then I would change my mind I now know that was all work of Shatan. I would look at my so-called friends and see their pretty hair styles, the nice clothing, the fake nails and say now am I ready to give all of this up? I use to drink I really wasn't much of a partier but I had my fun. My husband use to try to tell me this is not the life for you to live. Short dresses and lots of make-up. He would also ask me who are trying to impress me or the rest of the world.
Of the many years we have been married we have seen some hard times and I couldn't see at the time but now as I look back I can now see that I was one the so-called Christians that the pastor would say spoke to God ony when I needed him and the times I felt like I didn't need him it was though he didn't exist at all.
I just recently got out of the military and that meant no more free living we had to pay rent. My husband and I both found jobs in Atlanta, GA but it still didn't seem like enough. We were still having hard times being able to provide for the kids and at times we still didn't know how we were going to pay rent. I worried constantly because I had not just my mouth to feed to two of my four children as well.
I met a sister and her children while we were out one day shopping and I told her that my husband was a Muslim and that he was looking to meet more Muslim brothers. She and I talked and her and husband invited my family over to dinner. I listened to them talk about Islam and I watched them pray but it still just did not seem that it was for me. On one particular occassion my husband and I had no money and our rent was due and I had no one I could turn to and neither did my husband I called the sister to see if she had any suggestion and she said that you and your family can come and stay with us until you can get on your feet. I felt bad because I was like we barely know them and that is the sure way to wear out your welcome. They took us in with open arms and treated us and I now know like family. Allah came to me and showed me how the way of being a Muslim was verses the way of a Christian. He showed me just how much love, support and respect the Muslim community have for each other. I looked at my life how is was at that time and said to myself is this how I want to continue to live my life. Instead of giving myself excuses as to why I haven't changed my life and why I couldn't accept Islam and the day I leave this earth I would leave here as Non-believer. Once I saw what Allah had reveiled to me I knew then that he was giving me another chance and doing the right thing and improving my life. I surprised the sister one day when I told her that I was ready to take my Shaheda and she asked me are you sure that no one is pressuring you and I made it clear to her that no one wasn't that I was making this decision on my own and that I was ready to accept Allah in my life and that I believed that he had no partners and that Prophet Muhammed was indeed his messenger. She was overwhelmed with joy. That night I told my husband and he had a look of shock and concern in his eyes he to wanted to make sure that I was making this decision on my own and that no one was pressuring me. After realizing how serious I was he congratulated me and so that taking of the Shaheda began and here I am. A changed woman a true woman of Islam. I am very happy and so very excited about my new found life that I share everything I know with anyone who wants to know. I can't explain how good I feel on the inside as well as the outside. I could try but I don't think I could fully explain without adding two more pages on to what I have now. I feel as though a ton of bricks have been lifted off my shoulders. I now see things and life totally different from the way I use to see it. So many positive doors and changes has taken place in my life and I have no one but Allah to thank for that. I do believe that everything in our lives happen for a reason and was the work of Allah to bring me to that sister that day and for her to open her doors to me and my family because she helped change my life. All I have to say to her is Mashaallah.
As salaamu alaykum
My name is Zaakira and I want to tell all how becoming a Muslim and accepting Allah has changed my life. I had been introduced to Islam about 6 1/2 years ago by my husband. At the time when we were married I was a Christian or so I claimed to be. He told me that he was not going to pressure me into changing my religion because whatever I decided to do I would have to make the choice for myself and not for anyone else.
It seemed at one point in my life I said I was going to become a Muslim and then I would change my mind I now know that was all work of Shatan. I would look at my so-called friends and see their pretty hair styles, the nice clothing, the fake nails and say now am I ready to give all of this up? I use to drink I really wasn't much of a partier but I had my fun. My husband use to try to tell me this is not the life for you to live. Short dresses and lots of make-up. He would also ask me who are trying to impress me or the rest of the world.
Of the many years we have been married we have seen some hard times and I couldn't see at the time but now as I look back I can now see that I was one the so-called Christians that the pastor would say spoke to God ony when I needed him and the times I felt like I didn't need him it was though he didn't exist at all.
I just recently got out of the military and that meant no more free living we had to pay rent. My husband and I both found jobs in Atlanta, GA but it still didn't seem like enough. We were still having hard times being able to provide for the kids and at times we still didn't know how we were going to pay rent. I worried constantly because I had not just my mouth to feed to two of my four children as well.
I met a sister and her children while we were out one day shopping and I told her that my husband was a Muslim and that he was looking to meet more Muslim brothers. She and I talked and her and husband invited my family over to dinner. I listened to them talk about Islam and I watched them pray but it still just did not seem that it was for me. On one particular occassion my husband and I had no money and our rent was due and I had no one I could turn to and neither did my husband I called the sister to see if she had any suggestion and she said that you and your family can come and stay with us until you can get on your feet. I felt bad because I was like we barely know them and that is the sure way to wear out your welcome. They took us in with open arms and treated us and I now know like family. Allah came to me and showed me how the way of being a Muslim was verses the way of a Christian. He showed me just how much love, support and respect the Muslim community have for each other. I looked at my life how is was at that time and said to myself is this how I want to continue to live my life. Instead of giving myself excuses as to why I haven't changed my life and why I couldn't accept Islam and the day I leave this earth I would leave here as Non-believer. Once I saw what Allah had reveiled to me I knew then that he was giving me another chance and doing the right thing and improving my life. I surprised the sister one day when I told her that I was ready to take my Shaheda and she asked me are you sure that no one is pressuring you and I made it clear to her that no one wasn't that I was making this decision on my own and that I was ready to accept Allah in my life and that I believed that he had no partners and that Prophet Muhammed was indeed his messenger. She was overwhelmed with joy. That night I told my husband and he had a look of shock and concern in his eyes he to wanted to make sure that I was making this decision on my own and that no one was pressuring me. After realizing how serious I was he congratulated me and so that taking of the Shaheda began and here I am. A changed woman a true woman of Islam. I am very happy and so very excited about my new found life that I share everything I know with anyone who wants to know. I can't explain how good I feel on the inside as well as the outside. I could try but I don't think I could fully explain without adding two more pages on to what I have now. I feel as though a ton of bricks have been lifted off my shoulders. I now see things and life totally different from the way I use to see it. So many positive doors and changes has taken place in my life and I have no one but Allah to thank for that. I do believe that everything in our lives happen for a reason and was the work of Allah to bring me to that sister that day and for her to open her doors to me and my family because she helped change my life. All I have to say to her is Mashaallah.
As salaamu alaykum
Friday, July 06, 2007
Latino Americans Embracing Islam
From: http://www.hispanicmuslims.com/
By Kenny Yusuf Rodriguez
The American MuslimVol. 4, no. 1, January, 2003
The call to prayer echoed throughout the corridors of the mosque when Jamil slipped off his shoes and entered the prayer hall. After exchanging greetings of "As salaam `alaykum," or peace be upon you, to his fellow Muslim brothers, he proceeded to offer his morning prayer. As he recited verses from the Qur'an in Arabic, his Spanish accent was clearly audible to anyone in listening distance. Upon appearance, many would assume that Jamil was a Muslim man of Middle Eastern descent. But no, in actuality, Jamil is a Puerto Rican Muslim.
This scenario is not so far-fetched. Many people often perceive Islam as a religion exclusively followed by people of Arab or Asian descent. However, Latino Muslims are breaking all conventional stereotypes of what Muslims "are" or "should be," proving that Islam truly transcends all racial, ethnic and language boundaries.
According to the American Muslim Council, tens of thousands of Latino Americans across the country have been accepting Islam. It is estimated that there are anywhere between 20,000 and 60,000 Latino Muslims in the United States, predominately in New York City, Chicago, Miami, Southern California, and Texas.
In her book, Islam in America, Islamic Studies professor Jane Smith states that Islam was first introduced into the Latino community during the 1970s in the inner-city barrios, or Spanish neighborhoods, of the northern East Coast. In the decades since, Islam has successfully spread across the country to members of all Spanish- speaking nationalities including Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, Mexicans and Colombians.
"Latinos have always had an interest in Islam," says a 22-year-old Latina convert from the Falls Church, Virginia area. The sister, who did not wish her name to be disclosed, continues by saying, "Islam has many values that Latinos hold, such as respect for others, closeness of family ties, and worship." Other similar themes, such as the emphasis placed on respect for the mother, the importance of education, and the central role religion has in society, remain as a common thread between Islam and Latino culture.
Juan Alvarado, a 32-year-old Muslim convert whose family hails from the Dominican Republic, marvels at how his Spanish-speaking grandmother, who is not a Muslim, would always cover her hair when going out in public. "It is amazing that my very own grandmother … used to never leave the house without wearing a pañuelo (scarf) on her head," he recalls. A New York City resident who changed his name to Shafeeq Abdullah Muhammad upon becoming Muslim, Alvarado reminisces on how his grandmother would always wear long skirts and dresses, and how "even in the summer she would cover."
The Legacy of Moorish Spain
This correlation between Islam and Spanish culture is not a new phenomenon. Islam has been deeply embedded in Spanish history since the early 8th century CE. As a result, many comment that this Latino movement toward Islam is nothing more than a return to their religious roots.
In 711 CE, less than a century after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Moorish general Tariq Ibn Ziyad set sail from present-day Morocco and landed on a rocky mount on the tip of Spain, which would later be renamed Gibraltar. Following this expedition, thousands of North African Moors began to flood into the region. Within in the next three years (711-714), the Muslim Moors would spread across southern Spain and penetrate into the borders of present-day Portugal. They renamed the land al-Andalus, or Andalusia, and for nearly eight centuries to follow, it would rise to become one of the brightest beacons of development and education in the Eastern Hemisphere.
By improving on the knowledge gathered from the diverse peoples whom they traded with, the Moors set precedents in the fields of mathematics, philosophy, geography, navigation, astronomy, botany and medicine. Agriculturally, for example, with the help of dry farming techniques and drainage systems, the Moors introduced a variety of new crops into the region including oranges, bananas, strawberries, dates, sugar cane and rice (Carew, 69). As a result, many Spanish words for foods and spices have Arabic origins, such as albahaca (basil), azucár (sugar), limónes (lemons), arroz (rice), naranjas (oranges), espinaca (spinach), and zanahorias (carrots). In an on- line article entitled "Spanish's Arab Connection," editor Gerald Erichsen comments that after Latin and English, Arabic is perhaps the biggest contributor of words to the Spanish language.
"There is no doubt that Islam influenced Hispanic culture," says Rafael Umar Miranda, a Puerto Rican brother who converted at the age of 21. "The very words we use when we speak Spanish are a testament to this." "I have an ongoing list of Spanish words that originally were Arabic," Miranda further explains, adding that his list is "already in the hundreds."
What is it about Islam?
So what exactly is it about Islam that is attracting so many Latino converts?
In a brief autobiographical essay, Juan Alvarado describes the long journey he took researching various religions, and how it ended with him ultimately accepting Islam. "Typically, like other Latinos, I was born into the Catholic faith," Alvarado explains. "I went through the motions of what it means to be Catholic … But by the time I was a teen, I was growing impatient with Catholicism and started exploring different forms of spiritualities." Alvarado, who considers himself spiritual since his childhood, explains how he used to visit various churches, but "just could not feel that sense of belonging." "I saw some things that I liked, but it just did not get a hold of my full interest," he says. After some years of searching, Alvarado stumbled upon some Islamic material and it appealed to him. After a little research, he decided to convert. "I am now 28 and I love to read, but I no longer am searching," Alvarado says, "I have found what the truth is."
"From what I have seen, [Latinos] are drawn to the pure monotheism where there is no trinity mystery and complex metaphors to explain how `three' equals `one'," explains Rasheed Cordero, an Argentinean brother who resides in Florida. "The emphasis on obtaining knowledge" also helps to attract Latino converts, he adds.
Struggles and Obstacles
Although content with their religious beliefs, many Latino Muslims who accept Islam often have many obstacles to overcome. Isa Lima, a 21-year-old brother from the Washington, D.C. area, recalls what it was like when he became a Muslim six years ago. "I was afraid about what others would do to me when I first converted," Lima says, "so I kept it a secret." Lima, whose parents are from the Dominican Republic and Guatemala, admits that he could keep his conversion hidden for only so long.
"After a while, my family knew I had accepted Islam because they noticed me making Wudu' (ablution), and they would hear me praying Fajr," Lima comments. "They considered my conversion to be a result of `brainwashing' by Muslim immigrants who gave me Da'wah," Lima says. But for the most part, he explains that his family has "accepted and liked some aspects of Islam and has rejected others."
Lima goes on to explain that there are many brothers and sisters who face even greater opposition. He relates the story of one brother he knows who was placed in a situation where he had to choose between his religion and his family. "His family gave him a strange ultimatum," Lima says. "Either be our son or be Muslim." In the end, the brother clung to his decision and was forced to move out of his parents' house.
Rasheed Cordero remembers certain instances outside of his home where he encountered his own problems. As a student at Florida International University, Cordero explains one incident when he and a few Muslim brothers were praying in an empty classroom. "We were praying and a couple of guys walked in for a meeting they had and they were like, `Hey!'" Cordero explains, "so the students went and got security." "By the time they came back, we were done," he continues. When the guards arrived, they asked if everything was all right, and Cordero answered with an affirmative "Of course." On the way out, one of the students who called security made a smart remark in Spanish assuming that they wouldn't understand him. One of the Muslim brothers responded, saying that he didn't have to go and call security. "The guy was shocked," Cordero says. He probably didn't expect a Muslim to be able to speak Spanish.
Cordero also recalls some annoyances that regularly occur to many Muslims, converts and non-converts alike. Sometimes "I'm home praying and the phone rings, or someone knocks," he mentions, but "they can wait," Cordero adds with a laugh.
Isa Lima says that, although converts to Islam at times endure difficult obstacles, the best examples to follow are those of the earliest Muslims. "The most amazing and heart-touching stories of Muslims being fought against because of their acceptance of Islam are concerning the Sahabah," Lima explains, referring to the righteous companions of the Prophet (pbuh). As far as his own problems, Lima boldly states, "I didn't meet opposition that couldn't be defeated easily with Allah (swt) as my protector."
Hopes for the Future
Samantha Sanchez and Juan Galvan, co-founders of LADO (Latin American Da'wah Organization), are currently in the process of compiling a book of Muslim conversion stories entitled Latinos Revert to Islam: What's Old is New Again. "We need to let the world know that Latino Muslims exist," Galvan states on the LADO website, www.latinodawah.com. Galvan goes on to illustrate the parallel between Latinos being the fastest growing group in the US, and Islam as the fastest growing religion in the world. "By 2050, one of out every four Americans will be Latino," Galvan mentions, "insha'Allah, with our book many Americans will wonder `Why are so many Latinos converting to Islam? What is it about that religion?"
At the same time, many Hispanic Muslims envision the message of Islam reaching populations in Central America and the Caribbean. "Latin America is ripe for Islam," Juan Alvarado comments. "It is incredible that despite everything, Islam is still growing which to me proves the veracity of Islam."
Isa Lima offers similar hopes for the future. "The message of Islam can be spread to Latin America," Lima says, mentioning that this is a part of the world that would greatly benefit from the principles of Islam, such as justice, discipline and education. "It's our duty as Muslims to give Da'wah," Lima explains. "This is an area that Muslims need to seriously reach out to."
But Lima mentions that ultimately, the success of Muslims is dependent on the will of Allah (swt). "Allah united the hearts of the Sahabah with Iman (faith)," he says, "and hopefully our communities will unite in a similar manner."
Notes and References
Carew, Jan. Rape of Paradise. A & B Books Publishers. New York: 1994.
Erichsen, Gerald, ed. "Spanish's Arab Connection: Language of the Moors is Major Contributor to Vocabulary." About.com. 24 Sept. 2001.
http://spanish.about.com/library/weekly/aa092401a.htm? (2 Feb. 2002).
Smith, Jane I. Islam In America. Columbia University Press. New York: 1999.
By Kenny Yusuf Rodriguez
The American MuslimVol. 4, no. 1, January, 2003
The call to prayer echoed throughout the corridors of the mosque when Jamil slipped off his shoes and entered the prayer hall. After exchanging greetings of "As salaam `alaykum," or peace be upon you, to his fellow Muslim brothers, he proceeded to offer his morning prayer. As he recited verses from the Qur'an in Arabic, his Spanish accent was clearly audible to anyone in listening distance. Upon appearance, many would assume that Jamil was a Muslim man of Middle Eastern descent. But no, in actuality, Jamil is a Puerto Rican Muslim.
This scenario is not so far-fetched. Many people often perceive Islam as a religion exclusively followed by people of Arab or Asian descent. However, Latino Muslims are breaking all conventional stereotypes of what Muslims "are" or "should be," proving that Islam truly transcends all racial, ethnic and language boundaries.
According to the American Muslim Council, tens of thousands of Latino Americans across the country have been accepting Islam. It is estimated that there are anywhere between 20,000 and 60,000 Latino Muslims in the United States, predominately in New York City, Chicago, Miami, Southern California, and Texas.
In her book, Islam in America, Islamic Studies professor Jane Smith states that Islam was first introduced into the Latino community during the 1970s in the inner-city barrios, or Spanish neighborhoods, of the northern East Coast. In the decades since, Islam has successfully spread across the country to members of all Spanish- speaking nationalities including Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, Mexicans and Colombians.
"Latinos have always had an interest in Islam," says a 22-year-old Latina convert from the Falls Church, Virginia area. The sister, who did not wish her name to be disclosed, continues by saying, "Islam has many values that Latinos hold, such as respect for others, closeness of family ties, and worship." Other similar themes, such as the emphasis placed on respect for the mother, the importance of education, and the central role religion has in society, remain as a common thread between Islam and Latino culture.
Juan Alvarado, a 32-year-old Muslim convert whose family hails from the Dominican Republic, marvels at how his Spanish-speaking grandmother, who is not a Muslim, would always cover her hair when going out in public. "It is amazing that my very own grandmother … used to never leave the house without wearing a pañuelo (scarf) on her head," he recalls. A New York City resident who changed his name to Shafeeq Abdullah Muhammad upon becoming Muslim, Alvarado reminisces on how his grandmother would always wear long skirts and dresses, and how "even in the summer she would cover."
The Legacy of Moorish Spain
This correlation between Islam and Spanish culture is not a new phenomenon. Islam has been deeply embedded in Spanish history since the early 8th century CE. As a result, many comment that this Latino movement toward Islam is nothing more than a return to their religious roots.
In 711 CE, less than a century after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Moorish general Tariq Ibn Ziyad set sail from present-day Morocco and landed on a rocky mount on the tip of Spain, which would later be renamed Gibraltar. Following this expedition, thousands of North African Moors began to flood into the region. Within in the next three years (711-714), the Muslim Moors would spread across southern Spain and penetrate into the borders of present-day Portugal. They renamed the land al-Andalus, or Andalusia, and for nearly eight centuries to follow, it would rise to become one of the brightest beacons of development and education in the Eastern Hemisphere.
By improving on the knowledge gathered from the diverse peoples whom they traded with, the Moors set precedents in the fields of mathematics, philosophy, geography, navigation, astronomy, botany and medicine. Agriculturally, for example, with the help of dry farming techniques and drainage systems, the Moors introduced a variety of new crops into the region including oranges, bananas, strawberries, dates, sugar cane and rice (Carew, 69). As a result, many Spanish words for foods and spices have Arabic origins, such as albahaca (basil), azucár (sugar), limónes (lemons), arroz (rice), naranjas (oranges), espinaca (spinach), and zanahorias (carrots). In an on- line article entitled "Spanish's Arab Connection," editor Gerald Erichsen comments that after Latin and English, Arabic is perhaps the biggest contributor of words to the Spanish language.
"There is no doubt that Islam influenced Hispanic culture," says Rafael Umar Miranda, a Puerto Rican brother who converted at the age of 21. "The very words we use when we speak Spanish are a testament to this." "I have an ongoing list of Spanish words that originally were Arabic," Miranda further explains, adding that his list is "already in the hundreds."
What is it about Islam?
So what exactly is it about Islam that is attracting so many Latino converts?
In a brief autobiographical essay, Juan Alvarado describes the long journey he took researching various religions, and how it ended with him ultimately accepting Islam. "Typically, like other Latinos, I was born into the Catholic faith," Alvarado explains. "I went through the motions of what it means to be Catholic … But by the time I was a teen, I was growing impatient with Catholicism and started exploring different forms of spiritualities." Alvarado, who considers himself spiritual since his childhood, explains how he used to visit various churches, but "just could not feel that sense of belonging." "I saw some things that I liked, but it just did not get a hold of my full interest," he says. After some years of searching, Alvarado stumbled upon some Islamic material and it appealed to him. After a little research, he decided to convert. "I am now 28 and I love to read, but I no longer am searching," Alvarado says, "I have found what the truth is."
"From what I have seen, [Latinos] are drawn to the pure monotheism where there is no trinity mystery and complex metaphors to explain how `three' equals `one'," explains Rasheed Cordero, an Argentinean brother who resides in Florida. "The emphasis on obtaining knowledge" also helps to attract Latino converts, he adds.
Struggles and Obstacles
Although content with their religious beliefs, many Latino Muslims who accept Islam often have many obstacles to overcome. Isa Lima, a 21-year-old brother from the Washington, D.C. area, recalls what it was like when he became a Muslim six years ago. "I was afraid about what others would do to me when I first converted," Lima says, "so I kept it a secret." Lima, whose parents are from the Dominican Republic and Guatemala, admits that he could keep his conversion hidden for only so long.
"After a while, my family knew I had accepted Islam because they noticed me making Wudu' (ablution), and they would hear me praying Fajr," Lima comments. "They considered my conversion to be a result of `brainwashing' by Muslim immigrants who gave me Da'wah," Lima says. But for the most part, he explains that his family has "accepted and liked some aspects of Islam and has rejected others."
Lima goes on to explain that there are many brothers and sisters who face even greater opposition. He relates the story of one brother he knows who was placed in a situation where he had to choose between his religion and his family. "His family gave him a strange ultimatum," Lima says. "Either be our son or be Muslim." In the end, the brother clung to his decision and was forced to move out of his parents' house.
Rasheed Cordero remembers certain instances outside of his home where he encountered his own problems. As a student at Florida International University, Cordero explains one incident when he and a few Muslim brothers were praying in an empty classroom. "We were praying and a couple of guys walked in for a meeting they had and they were like, `Hey!'" Cordero explains, "so the students went and got security." "By the time they came back, we were done," he continues. When the guards arrived, they asked if everything was all right, and Cordero answered with an affirmative "Of course." On the way out, one of the students who called security made a smart remark in Spanish assuming that they wouldn't understand him. One of the Muslim brothers responded, saying that he didn't have to go and call security. "The guy was shocked," Cordero says. He probably didn't expect a Muslim to be able to speak Spanish.
Cordero also recalls some annoyances that regularly occur to many Muslims, converts and non-converts alike. Sometimes "I'm home praying and the phone rings, or someone knocks," he mentions, but "they can wait," Cordero adds with a laugh.
Isa Lima says that, although converts to Islam at times endure difficult obstacles, the best examples to follow are those of the earliest Muslims. "The most amazing and heart-touching stories of Muslims being fought against because of their acceptance of Islam are concerning the Sahabah," Lima explains, referring to the righteous companions of the Prophet (pbuh). As far as his own problems, Lima boldly states, "I didn't meet opposition that couldn't be defeated easily with Allah (swt) as my protector."
Hopes for the Future
Samantha Sanchez and Juan Galvan, co-founders of LADO (Latin American Da'wah Organization), are currently in the process of compiling a book of Muslim conversion stories entitled Latinos Revert to Islam: What's Old is New Again. "We need to let the world know that Latino Muslims exist," Galvan states on the LADO website, www.latinodawah.com. Galvan goes on to illustrate the parallel between Latinos being the fastest growing group in the US, and Islam as the fastest growing religion in the world. "By 2050, one of out every four Americans will be Latino," Galvan mentions, "insha'Allah, with our book many Americans will wonder `Why are so many Latinos converting to Islam? What is it about that religion?"
At the same time, many Hispanic Muslims envision the message of Islam reaching populations in Central America and the Caribbean. "Latin America is ripe for Islam," Juan Alvarado comments. "It is incredible that despite everything, Islam is still growing which to me proves the veracity of Islam."
Isa Lima offers similar hopes for the future. "The message of Islam can be spread to Latin America," Lima says, mentioning that this is a part of the world that would greatly benefit from the principles of Islam, such as justice, discipline and education. "It's our duty as Muslims to give Da'wah," Lima explains. "This is an area that Muslims need to seriously reach out to."
But Lima mentions that ultimately, the success of Muslims is dependent on the will of Allah (swt). "Allah united the hearts of the Sahabah with Iman (faith)," he says, "and hopefully our communities will unite in a similar manner."
Notes and References
Carew, Jan. Rape of Paradise. A & B Books Publishers. New York: 1994.
Erichsen, Gerald, ed. "Spanish's Arab Connection: Language of the Moors is Major Contributor to Vocabulary." About.com. 24 Sept. 2001.
http://spanish.about.com/library/weekly/aa092401a.htm? (2 Feb. 2002).
Smith, Jane I. Islam In America. Columbia University Press. New York: 1999.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Being Nice Is Quite Nice.
By: Maged Taman
People debate about the idea of people being nice particularly holding higher jobs. Some people will tell you work needs meaner and tougher persons in management. This is the very same idea of Satan. That is why the world is full of bullies and tyrants in work places and they grow as more tyrants as their control and power expands to more people.
A rude boss can contribute to the economy of the country some but he can contribute to the stressed out and violent society that we have. Which costs a lot of money if our baseline is the dollar sign. The Dalai Lama has always considered the growth national product of his people is their happiness. We we can be a rich capitalistic society and we feel in the same time rude, stressed and unhappy.
You can be a good manager and make people happy. Motivating people and leading by example make them follow your lead of hard work and nice attitude. You can get angry for the sack of the work and business in rare times you show unhappy face that make the people try to please you and correct their mistakes. Words of encouragement, regarding the warfare of the people work with you and leading by example make you a nice and successful manager.
Jesus was very dissent as well as Muhammad. But it did not prohibit them from standing strong against evil and corruption. It is actually the only times you ought not to be nice when there is evil and injustices. As a boss in every place you can exhibit the rare outrage when something outrageous happen. For a worker not to do his work right is unjust to his work place. As a manger you can nicely get him to do a better job. Firing someone is a outrage and from my experience it is a persistent call of worker to fire him as doing the same mistakes over and over.
The first Khalifa of Islam Abu Baker when started his governing said " The strong of you is the weakest until I get the right of people from him and the weak of you is the strongest until I bring the right to him back from the strong." He has the power of the government behind him. He is ought to be strong against the bully. He comes to the bully or tyrant and let him know that he is weaker and he will get the right of the poor from him. He comes to the weak and make him feel he is strongest even more than the Khalifa himself that he is bale to have his right back.
Being mean for no good reason or for selfish reasons is a common misfortune in this world. Being mean and oppressor king or president creates the hierarchy of oppression and abuse in every work place. A nice and kind leader who has the ability to express a are face of anger without punishing people and the daily face of happiness as they excel in their work is what needed. A good government depends on a nice man who know how he can nicely lead his people to justice, love and happiness.
People debate about the idea of people being nice particularly holding higher jobs. Some people will tell you work needs meaner and tougher persons in management. This is the very same idea of Satan. That is why the world is full of bullies and tyrants in work places and they grow as more tyrants as their control and power expands to more people.
A rude boss can contribute to the economy of the country some but he can contribute to the stressed out and violent society that we have. Which costs a lot of money if our baseline is the dollar sign. The Dalai Lama has always considered the growth national product of his people is their happiness. We we can be a rich capitalistic society and we feel in the same time rude, stressed and unhappy.
You can be a good manager and make people happy. Motivating people and leading by example make them follow your lead of hard work and nice attitude. You can get angry for the sack of the work and business in rare times you show unhappy face that make the people try to please you and correct their mistakes. Words of encouragement, regarding the warfare of the people work with you and leading by example make you a nice and successful manager.
Jesus was very dissent as well as Muhammad. But it did not prohibit them from standing strong against evil and corruption. It is actually the only times you ought not to be nice when there is evil and injustices. As a boss in every place you can exhibit the rare outrage when something outrageous happen. For a worker not to do his work right is unjust to his work place. As a manger you can nicely get him to do a better job. Firing someone is a outrage and from my experience it is a persistent call of worker to fire him as doing the same mistakes over and over.
The first Khalifa of Islam Abu Baker when started his governing said " The strong of you is the weakest until I get the right of people from him and the weak of you is the strongest until I bring the right to him back from the strong." He has the power of the government behind him. He is ought to be strong against the bully. He comes to the bully or tyrant and let him know that he is weaker and he will get the right of the poor from him. He comes to the weak and make him feel he is strongest even more than the Khalifa himself that he is bale to have his right back.
Being mean for no good reason or for selfish reasons is a common misfortune in this world. Being mean and oppressor king or president creates the hierarchy of oppression and abuse in every work place. A nice and kind leader who has the ability to express a are face of anger without punishing people and the daily face of happiness as they excel in their work is what needed. A good government depends on a nice man who know how he can nicely lead his people to justice, love and happiness.
What Is Wisdom?
By: Maged Taman
In Quran: 2:269 He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message but men of understanding.
According to wordnet: The noun wisdom has 4 meanings:
Meaning #1: accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
Meaning #2: the trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight
Meaning #3: ability to apply knowledge or experience or understanding or common sense and insight
Meaning #4: the quality of being prudent and sensible.
I identify a wise person as the one whom when asked a question will use his knowledge, experience and common sense to give you the best answer. If he thinks he is not able to do that he would find to you the answer from the people who are wiser than him in this particular area of knowledge. His prudence makes him know his limited wisdom. A smart person is likely to give you an intelligent answer but a wise person will try to find to you the best answer even if he get it from someone else. A lot of proverbs and sentences of wisdom are human experience as well God inspired wisdom. The Bible and Quran are full of wisdom if you do not read and obey the righteousness of God you would be devoid of wisdom even if you are the smartest man in the world. If you meet God at the day of judgment with no good deeds, true faith and sincere heart you are in very serious situation. For someone to deny the Bible and the Quran would be extremely difficult. In order to prove no creator you have to bring with you at that day the intelligent design to show it to God.
In Quran: 2:269 He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message but men of understanding.
According to wordnet: The noun wisdom has 4 meanings:
Meaning #1: accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment
Meaning #2: the trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight
Meaning #3: ability to apply knowledge or experience or understanding or common sense and insight
Meaning #4: the quality of being prudent and sensible.
I identify a wise person as the one whom when asked a question will use his knowledge, experience and common sense to give you the best answer. If he thinks he is not able to do that he would find to you the answer from the people who are wiser than him in this particular area of knowledge. His prudence makes him know his limited wisdom. A smart person is likely to give you an intelligent answer but a wise person will try to find to you the best answer even if he get it from someone else. A lot of proverbs and sentences of wisdom are human experience as well God inspired wisdom. The Bible and Quran are full of wisdom if you do not read and obey the righteousness of God you would be devoid of wisdom even if you are the smartest man in the world. If you meet God at the day of judgment with no good deeds, true faith and sincere heart you are in very serious situation. For someone to deny the Bible and the Quran would be extremely difficult. In order to prove no creator you have to bring with you at that day the intelligent design to show it to God.
Our Values and Guiding Principles
From: www.islamway.com
Our Values and Guiding PrinciplesThere are a number of basic principles and moral values that govern our dealings with other nations. These were set forth fourteen centuries ago by the messenger of Islam, Muhammad. This was before human rights organizations existed and before there was a United Nations with its international charters.Let us look at some of these:
1. The human being is inherently a sacred creation. It is forbidden to transgress against any human being, irrespective of color, ethnicity, or religion. The Qur'ân says: "We have honored the descendants of Adam." [17:70]
2. It is forbidden to kill a human soul unjustly. Killing a single person is to God as heinous as killing all of humanity, just as saving a single person from death is as weighty as saving the lives of all humanity. The Qur'ân says: "If anyone killed a person except as recompense for murder or spreading havoc in the land, then it would be as if he killed all of humanity. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the lives of all humanity." [5:32]
3. It is forbidden to impose a religious faith upon a person. The Qur'ân says: "There is no compulsion in religion." [2:256] A person will not even be considered a Muslim if he or she accepted Islam under duress.
4. The message of Islam asserts that human relationships must be established on the highest moral standards. Muhammad said: "I was only sent to perfect good conduct."The Qur'ân says: "We sent aforetime our messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the scripture and the balance so the people could establish justice. And We sent down iron wherein is mighty power and many benefits for mankind." [57:25]We read in another place in the Qur'ân: "God does not restrain you with regard to those who do not fight you on account of your faith nor drive you out of your homes from dealing kindly and justly with them, for God loves those who are just." [60:8]
5. All the resources of the Earth were created for humanity. The Qur'ân addresses this when it says: "It is He who has created for you all that is on the Earth." [2:29] These resources were only created for human beings to benefit from them within the limits of justice and for the betterment of humanity. Therefore, spoiling the environment, spreading havoc on Earth, perpetrating violence against weaker nations and fighting to wrest from them their wealth and the fruits of their prosperity, is conduct that is reviled by God. In the Qur'ân we read: "When he turns his back, his aim is to spread mischief throughout the Earth and destroy crops and cattle, but Allah does not love mischief." [2:205] and: "Do not make mischief in the Earth after it has been set in order." [7: 56]
6. Responsibility for a crime rests solely upon the perpetrator of that crime. No one may be punished for the crimes of another. The Qur'ân says: "No bearer of burdens must bear the burdens of another." [35:18]
7. Justice for all people is their inalienable right. Oppressing them is forbidden, irrespective of their religion, color, or ethnicity. The Qur'ân states: "And whenever you speak, speak justly, even if a close relative is concerned." [6: 152]
8. Dialogue and invitation must be done in the best possible manner. The Qur'ân says: "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good preaching and argue with them in the best manner" [16:125]We believe in these principles, as our religion commands us to. They are the teachings of Muhammad. They agree to some extent with some of the principles that the American intellectuals put forth in their paper. We see that this agreement gives us a good platform for discussion that can bring about good for all of mankind.
Our Values and Guiding PrinciplesThere are a number of basic principles and moral values that govern our dealings with other nations. These were set forth fourteen centuries ago by the messenger of Islam, Muhammad. This was before human rights organizations existed and before there was a United Nations with its international charters.Let us look at some of these:
1. The human being is inherently a sacred creation. It is forbidden to transgress against any human being, irrespective of color, ethnicity, or religion. The Qur'ân says: "We have honored the descendants of Adam." [17:70]
2. It is forbidden to kill a human soul unjustly. Killing a single person is to God as heinous as killing all of humanity, just as saving a single person from death is as weighty as saving the lives of all humanity. The Qur'ân says: "If anyone killed a person except as recompense for murder or spreading havoc in the land, then it would be as if he killed all of humanity. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the lives of all humanity." [5:32]
3. It is forbidden to impose a religious faith upon a person. The Qur'ân says: "There is no compulsion in religion." [2:256] A person will not even be considered a Muslim if he or she accepted Islam under duress.
4. The message of Islam asserts that human relationships must be established on the highest moral standards. Muhammad said: "I was only sent to perfect good conduct."The Qur'ân says: "We sent aforetime our messengers with clear signs and sent down with them the scripture and the balance so the people could establish justice. And We sent down iron wherein is mighty power and many benefits for mankind." [57:25]We read in another place in the Qur'ân: "God does not restrain you with regard to those who do not fight you on account of your faith nor drive you out of your homes from dealing kindly and justly with them, for God loves those who are just." [60:8]
5. All the resources of the Earth were created for humanity. The Qur'ân addresses this when it says: "It is He who has created for you all that is on the Earth." [2:29] These resources were only created for human beings to benefit from them within the limits of justice and for the betterment of humanity. Therefore, spoiling the environment, spreading havoc on Earth, perpetrating violence against weaker nations and fighting to wrest from them their wealth and the fruits of their prosperity, is conduct that is reviled by God. In the Qur'ân we read: "When he turns his back, his aim is to spread mischief throughout the Earth and destroy crops and cattle, but Allah does not love mischief." [2:205] and: "Do not make mischief in the Earth after it has been set in order." [7: 56]
6. Responsibility for a crime rests solely upon the perpetrator of that crime. No one may be punished for the crimes of another. The Qur'ân says: "No bearer of burdens must bear the burdens of another." [35:18]
7. Justice for all people is their inalienable right. Oppressing them is forbidden, irrespective of their religion, color, or ethnicity. The Qur'ân states: "And whenever you speak, speak justly, even if a close relative is concerned." [6: 152]
8. Dialogue and invitation must be done in the best possible manner. The Qur'ân says: "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good preaching and argue with them in the best manner" [16:125]We believe in these principles, as our religion commands us to. They are the teachings of Muhammad. They agree to some extent with some of the principles that the American intellectuals put forth in their paper. We see that this agreement gives us a good platform for discussion that can bring about good for all of mankind.
Many Expatriates Embracing Islam
From: http://www.islamicity.com/
By: P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News
JEDDAH, 5 July 2007 — A large number of foreign men and women in the Kingdom are embracing Islam each year after learning more about the faith. According to one report, 4,285 expatriate women in the Eastern Province alone have become Muslim in the past five years.
Many Saudi and non-Saudi women are actively engaged in the propagation of Islam among non-Muslim women and compete with their male counterparts, believing that helping a person embrace Islam is one of the greatest achievements done by a Muslim.
Three dawa centers for women in the Eastern Province have encouraged over 3,000 foreigners to convert to Islam. An office in Al-Ahsa claimed the largest number, converting 1,298 women, followed by the Dammam office with 1,150 and the Alkhobar office with 1,100. An office in Jubail won 604 converts, Naeeriya 65, Abqaiq 50 and Ras Tanura 13.
“Women play an important role in dawa work. They propagate the teachings of Islam among foreign women working at homes, hospitals and commercial centers,” said Dr. Abdul Wahid Al-Mazroue, director of the Dawa Center in Dammam. He also emphasized the role of dawa centers in enhancing cultural and educational awareness.
Al-Mazroue called for the opening of women’s sections at all dawa centers across the Kingdom. “These sections will help our women set out their own plans and programs for the dissemination of the divine message in a manner suitable to them,” he said, adding that plans have been made to open new dawa offices for women in various parts of the region.
According to one Saudi preacher, the opportunity to learn about Islam is an extra advantage for non-Muslims living in the Kingdom. “They should make use of this golden opportunity, which would be the most valuable thing they earn,” he said.
Reports from dawa centers across the Kingdom indicate that Filipino men and women account for the majority of expatriates embracing Islam in recent years.
Muhammad Habeeb, director of the dawa center in Al-Salama district, said 2,490 people out of 3,230 that embraced Islam at the center were Filipinos. “A number of Americans and Europeans have also embraced Islam at our center,” he added.
“If you look at worldwide statistics of people embracing Islam, women represent the majority. But in the Kingdom the number of men is higher than women as they are large in number and are more exposed to Islamic programs,” Habeeb pointed out.
He noted that Saudis’ passion for dawa is inspired by the teaching of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who had said convey even a verse from the Qur’an.
“We’re not forcing anybody to embrace Islam but providing non-Muslims an opportunity to understand the beauty and noble teachings of this religion. Many people are attracted to Islam seeing the lifestyle and behavior of their Muslim co-workers. Above all, Islam’s inherent qualities are enough to win the hearts of people,” he said.
The Islamic Education Foundation (IEF) in Jeddah’s Al-Hamra district reported that 4,880 expatriates of different nationalities embraced Islam during the past 10 years as a result of the efforts of its preachers.
“Nearly 40 percent of these converts are women. It was the exemplary treatment received by non-Muslim expatriates from their Muslim employers and colleagues that encouraged them to embrace the faith,” said Badr Al-Olayan, director of the foundation.
Blogger Comment:
Muslim women from the first day of Islam worked in the propagation or Dawa to Islam. If you want a man to believe in something have his wife first to believe in. Muslim women have strong faith in Islam and many time stronger than men. Women have the intuition, the inner feeling and the higher spirituality than man to sense what is right. The first to believe Prophet Muhammad was his wife Khadija. When he was even doubtful himself at the beginning that he is being contacted by God she mentioned to him his high morals and God would not lead him astray. Women in early Islam when Muslims were persecuted suffered themselves and remained strong aid to their husbands. Women are liberated by Islam and new women convert to Islam are new free women. They are submitted to God and not the false God of capitalism. Women are empowered mentally and spiritually by Islam. They are not oppressed under Islam as they try to deceive her. She is a first class citizen in Islam and every Muslim woman is the first lady of her home. Women who spread Islam they did not know only their religions but knew also how to attract other women to Islam. They know how to communicate their message of Islam and how to touch other women hearts. Islam is moving fast to the west and Muslim women are taking the lead.
By: P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News
JEDDAH, 5 July 2007 — A large number of foreign men and women in the Kingdom are embracing Islam each year after learning more about the faith. According to one report, 4,285 expatriate women in the Eastern Province alone have become Muslim in the past five years.
Many Saudi and non-Saudi women are actively engaged in the propagation of Islam among non-Muslim women and compete with their male counterparts, believing that helping a person embrace Islam is one of the greatest achievements done by a Muslim.
Three dawa centers for women in the Eastern Province have encouraged over 3,000 foreigners to convert to Islam. An office in Al-Ahsa claimed the largest number, converting 1,298 women, followed by the Dammam office with 1,150 and the Alkhobar office with 1,100. An office in Jubail won 604 converts, Naeeriya 65, Abqaiq 50 and Ras Tanura 13.
“Women play an important role in dawa work. They propagate the teachings of Islam among foreign women working at homes, hospitals and commercial centers,” said Dr. Abdul Wahid Al-Mazroue, director of the Dawa Center in Dammam. He also emphasized the role of dawa centers in enhancing cultural and educational awareness.
Al-Mazroue called for the opening of women’s sections at all dawa centers across the Kingdom. “These sections will help our women set out their own plans and programs for the dissemination of the divine message in a manner suitable to them,” he said, adding that plans have been made to open new dawa offices for women in various parts of the region.
According to one Saudi preacher, the opportunity to learn about Islam is an extra advantage for non-Muslims living in the Kingdom. “They should make use of this golden opportunity, which would be the most valuable thing they earn,” he said.
Reports from dawa centers across the Kingdom indicate that Filipino men and women account for the majority of expatriates embracing Islam in recent years.
Muhammad Habeeb, director of the dawa center in Al-Salama district, said 2,490 people out of 3,230 that embraced Islam at the center were Filipinos. “A number of Americans and Europeans have also embraced Islam at our center,” he added.
“If you look at worldwide statistics of people embracing Islam, women represent the majority. But in the Kingdom the number of men is higher than women as they are large in number and are more exposed to Islamic programs,” Habeeb pointed out.
He noted that Saudis’ passion for dawa is inspired by the teaching of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who had said convey even a verse from the Qur’an.
“We’re not forcing anybody to embrace Islam but providing non-Muslims an opportunity to understand the beauty and noble teachings of this religion. Many people are attracted to Islam seeing the lifestyle and behavior of their Muslim co-workers. Above all, Islam’s inherent qualities are enough to win the hearts of people,” he said.
The Islamic Education Foundation (IEF) in Jeddah’s Al-Hamra district reported that 4,880 expatriates of different nationalities embraced Islam during the past 10 years as a result of the efforts of its preachers.
“Nearly 40 percent of these converts are women. It was the exemplary treatment received by non-Muslim expatriates from their Muslim employers and colleagues that encouraged them to embrace the faith,” said Badr Al-Olayan, director of the foundation.
Blogger Comment:
Muslim women from the first day of Islam worked in the propagation or Dawa to Islam. If you want a man to believe in something have his wife first to believe in. Muslim women have strong faith in Islam and many time stronger than men. Women have the intuition, the inner feeling and the higher spirituality than man to sense what is right. The first to believe Prophet Muhammad was his wife Khadija. When he was even doubtful himself at the beginning that he is being contacted by God she mentioned to him his high morals and God would not lead him astray. Women in early Islam when Muslims were persecuted suffered themselves and remained strong aid to their husbands. Women are liberated by Islam and new women convert to Islam are new free women. They are submitted to God and not the false God of capitalism. Women are empowered mentally and spiritually by Islam. They are not oppressed under Islam as they try to deceive her. She is a first class citizen in Islam and every Muslim woman is the first lady of her home. Women who spread Islam they did not know only their religions but knew also how to attract other women to Islam. They know how to communicate their message of Islam and how to touch other women hearts. Islam is moving fast to the west and Muslim women are taking the lead.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Islam Made Me a Better Citizen
From: www.islamicity.com
By: Corey Saylor
Islam made me a better citizen and patriot. The Prophet Muhammad's teachings strengthened my belief in freedom and democracy. Independence Day once meant nothing more to me than an excuse to party. Prior to my acceptance of Islam, my personal behavior demonstrated all too well why July 4th ranks as the holiday most associated with alcohol-related deaths. When I first read the Quran, Islam's revealed text, and the traditions (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad I expected to find something totally alien to American ideals. Instead, I found many of the same democratic principles that emerged from the Continental Congress in that summer of 1776. Democracy - The Quran promises rewards for those "who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation." (Quran, 42:38) Political Activism - The Prophet Muhammad said, "The best jihad in the path of God is (to speak) a word of justice to an oppressive ruler." (Sunan of Abu-Dawood) Justice - "O believers! Stand firm for justice and bear true witness for the sake of God, even though it be against yourselves, your parents or your relatives. It does not matter whether the party is rich or poor - God is well wisher of both. So let not your selfish desires swerve you from justice. If you distort your testimony or decline to give it, then you should remember that God is fully aware of your actions." (Quran, 4:135) The Burden of Political Authority - The Prophet Muhammad said, "He who has been ruler over (even) ten people will be brought shackled on the Day of Resurrection until justice loosens his chains or tyranny brings him to destruction." (Sahih Muslim) Islam's lifestyle of self-restraint, abstinence from drugs and alcohol, respect for the institution of marriage, concern for neighbors regardless of their faith, duty to parents, and respect for the rule of law resulted in my becoming a better person and a better American. Thomas Jefferson once said, "Dissent is the greatest form of patriotism." On July 4th, we celebrate one of history's great acts of dissent: the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The men who put their signature on that document literally put their lives and property on the line to voice their disagreement with British government policies that they believed to be tyrannical. This July 4th offers an opportunity to renew our commitment to the patriotic nature of political dissent. I and many other Americans are deeply disturbed by events in Iraq, by reports of torture and desecration of the Quran in Guantanamo Bay, by Patriot Act abuses, by the rising tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in our society, and by domestic and international policies that seem to create more problems than they solve. But my love for America is not diminished because it is sometimes flawed. I love my nation because, despite its flaws, the majority of its people remain committed to tolerance and respect for one another, whatever their faith or viewpoint. After the 9/11 attacks, my neighbors could have turned their anger on me as a Muslim. They did not. They came to me and offered both support and their horror that someone would twist my faith in such an evil manner. But of greatest inspiration to me are the words written in 1998 by a Muslim 10th grader living in California. Following the attack on the USS Cole, he wrote a letter to Osama bin Laden. In that letter he wrote: "If you are keen to murder Americans, kill us before you kill non-Muslim Americans. Bomb our mosques and Islamic Centers. We are Americans as much as others." This July 4th, let us all remember that we love this nation and will heed Jefferson's advice by offering a word of justice to any of our representatives who stray from the ideals set forth in that revolutionary document signed 231 years ago in Philadelphia.
Corey Saylor is government affairs director for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
By: Corey Saylor
Islam made me a better citizen and patriot. The Prophet Muhammad's teachings strengthened my belief in freedom and democracy. Independence Day once meant nothing more to me than an excuse to party. Prior to my acceptance of Islam, my personal behavior demonstrated all too well why July 4th ranks as the holiday most associated with alcohol-related deaths. When I first read the Quran, Islam's revealed text, and the traditions (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad I expected to find something totally alien to American ideals. Instead, I found many of the same democratic principles that emerged from the Continental Congress in that summer of 1776. Democracy - The Quran promises rewards for those "who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation." (Quran, 42:38) Political Activism - The Prophet Muhammad said, "The best jihad in the path of God is (to speak) a word of justice to an oppressive ruler." (Sunan of Abu-Dawood) Justice - "O believers! Stand firm for justice and bear true witness for the sake of God, even though it be against yourselves, your parents or your relatives. It does not matter whether the party is rich or poor - God is well wisher of both. So let not your selfish desires swerve you from justice. If you distort your testimony or decline to give it, then you should remember that God is fully aware of your actions." (Quran, 4:135) The Burden of Political Authority - The Prophet Muhammad said, "He who has been ruler over (even) ten people will be brought shackled on the Day of Resurrection until justice loosens his chains or tyranny brings him to destruction." (Sahih Muslim) Islam's lifestyle of self-restraint, abstinence from drugs and alcohol, respect for the institution of marriage, concern for neighbors regardless of their faith, duty to parents, and respect for the rule of law resulted in my becoming a better person and a better American. Thomas Jefferson once said, "Dissent is the greatest form of patriotism." On July 4th, we celebrate one of history's great acts of dissent: the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The men who put their signature on that document literally put their lives and property on the line to voice their disagreement with British government policies that they believed to be tyrannical. This July 4th offers an opportunity to renew our commitment to the patriotic nature of political dissent. I and many other Americans are deeply disturbed by events in Iraq, by reports of torture and desecration of the Quran in Guantanamo Bay, by Patriot Act abuses, by the rising tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in our society, and by domestic and international policies that seem to create more problems than they solve. But my love for America is not diminished because it is sometimes flawed. I love my nation because, despite its flaws, the majority of its people remain committed to tolerance and respect for one another, whatever their faith or viewpoint. After the 9/11 attacks, my neighbors could have turned their anger on me as a Muslim. They did not. They came to me and offered both support and their horror that someone would twist my faith in such an evil manner. But of greatest inspiration to me are the words written in 1998 by a Muslim 10th grader living in California. Following the attack on the USS Cole, he wrote a letter to Osama bin Laden. In that letter he wrote: "If you are keen to murder Americans, kill us before you kill non-Muslim Americans. Bomb our mosques and Islamic Centers. We are Americans as much as others." This July 4th, let us all remember that we love this nation and will heed Jefferson's advice by offering a word of justice to any of our representatives who stray from the ideals set forth in that revolutionary document signed 231 years ago in Philadelphia.
Corey Saylor is government affairs director for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Why Hundreds of Ordinary West Aussies Convert to Islam
By Paul Lampathakis
Source: The Sunday Times
http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,17822298%255E2761,00.html
With defined rules for life and a strong sense of community, Islam is attracting many Perth converts.
Axel Cremer used to turn heads when he'd roar up to prayer time at the Rivervale mosque on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
"When I first turned up, I freaked them out," the 50-year-old reticulation company director said.
"They'd see someone in black leather flying down the road, who stopped, then all of a sudden took all the leather off and walked into the mosque in Islamic clothing. Now they know me and miss me when they don't hear the bike."
Mr Cremer, whose Muslim name is Mohammed, is one of hundreds of West Australians who have converted to Islam in recent years, despite the stigma surrounding the religion that has grown since the 9/11 terror attacks.
Local converts say they number about 200, among about 20,000 Muslims in WA from more than 70 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and eastern Europe. Nationwide, numbers increased about 40 per cent between 1996 and 2001, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, mainly because of migration.
Converts say that in Islam they have found clearer answers to questions of spirituality than in Christianity, a stronger sense of community and rules to live by.
"There are guidelines for everything. It shows you how to do the right thing, to be nice to people," said Mr Cremer, a former Catholic. "The Bible does this as well, but it has been translated too much, it has been tampered with too much.
"And one major difference with Islam is there is no hierarchy above me, no priests, no bishops, no Vatican.
"Imams (holy men) lead you in prayer. But beyond that it's just you and Allah. You're talking directly to God, that simplifies things."
Mr Cremer was also attracted to rules such as Muslims donating a percentage of their annual income to the poor.
The fact that Islam was a lifestyle rather than a weekend event was appealing too, because it advocated morality in all areas, including politics and work, where he believed morality was sorely needed.
The southern suburbs father of four, who migrated to Australia from Germany 22 years ago, said his Indonesian wife triggered his "reversion" in Jakarta seven years ago. Muslims believe people revert, not convert, because they say everyone is born Muslim.
But Mr Cremer said he became enthusiastic about Islam while researching the religion before his marriage – after years of questioning other faiths.
Mother-of-two Nicole Banks, 36, said non-Muslim women were not compelled by the religion to switch to Islam if they married a Muslim and were allowed to keep their maiden names.
But the former Church of England follower chose to convert in 1999, two years after marrying her now-estranged Egyptian husband. She had admired aspects of the religion, such as its focus on family and respect for elders, which she saw while travelling in the Middle East in 1996.
"For instance, you wouldn't send your parents off to a nursing home. They're looked after in the home by their kids," she said. "(In Muslim homes) wives are doing the chores, while grandmothers are looking after the younger children. Whereas here, you might not see your family from one week to the next.
"If someone's sick within the community, the other girls will bring food to the house. If somebody has a baby, people will bring food and help clean the house.
"That feeling of closeness is very much missing in Australian society."
The former optician/retail manager said the religion taught her not to be so materialistic and to be thankful for God's blessings, such as good health.
"Before, I was a workaholic, six days a week, 10 hours a day," she said. "I drank alcohol . . . smoked cigarettes, about a pack-plus a day, partied very hard. Now my days are spent looking after my kids, helping the community, still taking Arabic, Koran and religion classes twice a week."
Ms Banks's family was apprehensive about her conversion, but she had subsequently grown closer to her parents.
Comments on the street about her hijab (head scarf) had sometimes been a problem, but most people were just curious.
She said people should not connect Islam with terror because suicide and hurting innocents, particularly women, children and the elderly, were forbidden by the Koran.
Perth banker Maariyah, 62, converted from Catholicism last February after reading books presenting evidence against the claim that Jesus was the son of God.
She preferred Islam's belief that Jesus was a prophet.
"And I like the feeling of one big family. We call each other brother and sister and we mean it," she said. "I also like the idea of kneeling five times a day and talking to God rather than once a week or once a year – we see praying as a privilege, not a duty."
Her husband was not a Muslim and neither he nor other family members understood her move to Islam.
Carlisle trainee English teacher Jeremy Meredith, 33, became a Muslim in Jakarta in 2003 because he also liked the sense of community and the guidelines.
"People say they want freedom, they want liberty," he said. "But the bottom line is people want to know what they can and can't do. They want rules, they want guidelines, something to believe in, something to follow.
"In Islam, there's a rule for absolutely everything – how I eat my food, how I go to the toilet, how I get married, how I lend money."
He said Muslims should not be lumped with extremists because that was as stupid as saying that because Hitler was a Christian, all Christians were genocidal maniacs.
Eliza-Aisha, 26, switched from Catholicism about four years ago before marrying her Pakistani husband, whom she met in university.
In the northern suburbs home she shares with her Catholic mother and Muslim husband, she said she had researched different faiths from the age of 13 and had never been content with Catholicism. She liked the clarity of Islam; that you prayed just to God, not saints or others.
Eliza-Aisha said she had met converts from areas including Walpole and Bunbury, and they shared common reasons for changing.
"They want to know the purpose of their life. They don't just want an empty life filled with material things, a great house and a car. They want to know more," she said.
"Every week you hear about converts, people in the country, in the local area. A university professor, I heard, recently became a Muslim."
She disagreed with the assumption that women were repressed under the religion. If so, why did so many change, because she had heard about 80 per cent of converts were female.
Other converts said they disliked Christianity's hypocrisy in preaching peace and love while being responsible for many atrocities, including the Crusades and Inquisition, and playing a big role in Northern Ireland's bloody conflict. They also believed the Bible had been edited so much it was no longer the true word of God, while the Koran had not changed.
But Father Brian O'Loughlin, Vicar-General for Perth's Catholic Archdiocese, said he did not accept that Islam offered a "simpler" way to God. There were imams and ayatollahs (religious leaders), and in most Islamic countries it was a state religion with a structure that went much further than Christianity.
He said tolerance was lacking in Islam because it wanted to be the one and only religion. For instance, Saudi Arabia had built mosques worldwide, including in Rome, but would not allow churches in its boundaries.
He said many of the admired aspects of community in Islam were also present in southern European culture. But he conceded that such values might have been eroded in Western culture.
Regarding charity, he said Christians had been outstanding for living the commandment of love that Jesus had taught, to include not just Christians.
"And let's go back to the Boxing Day tsunami. Wealthy countries like Saudi Arabia had to be embarrassed into contributing some substantial amount," he said.
Father O'Loughlin said a worrying aspect was Islam's concept of education, which in many cases was breeding fanaticism.
Peter Rosengren, editor of Catholic newspaper The Record, said it was not surprising that ordinary Australians were attracted to Islam.
A major phenomena of the past 40 years in developed areas such as the US, Australia and Europe had been an intensifying secularisation.
"But human beings are fundamentally religious. When you reject belief in God as a society . . . people still search for the meaning of their lives. Where do I come from? Where am I going? What is my life all about?" he said.
While he was a convinced Christian, he admired the fact that converts to Islam were going against the general trend and trying to put God first and he felt the same about Christians who were doing the same.
Source: The Sunday Times
http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,17822298%255E2761,00.html
With defined rules for life and a strong sense of community, Islam is attracting many Perth converts.
Axel Cremer used to turn heads when he'd roar up to prayer time at the Rivervale mosque on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
"When I first turned up, I freaked them out," the 50-year-old reticulation company director said.
"They'd see someone in black leather flying down the road, who stopped, then all of a sudden took all the leather off and walked into the mosque in Islamic clothing. Now they know me and miss me when they don't hear the bike."
Mr Cremer, whose Muslim name is Mohammed, is one of hundreds of West Australians who have converted to Islam in recent years, despite the stigma surrounding the religion that has grown since the 9/11 terror attacks.
Local converts say they number about 200, among about 20,000 Muslims in WA from more than 70 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and eastern Europe. Nationwide, numbers increased about 40 per cent between 1996 and 2001, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, mainly because of migration.
Converts say that in Islam they have found clearer answers to questions of spirituality than in Christianity, a stronger sense of community and rules to live by.
"There are guidelines for everything. It shows you how to do the right thing, to be nice to people," said Mr Cremer, a former Catholic. "The Bible does this as well, but it has been translated too much, it has been tampered with too much.
"And one major difference with Islam is there is no hierarchy above me, no priests, no bishops, no Vatican.
"Imams (holy men) lead you in prayer. But beyond that it's just you and Allah. You're talking directly to God, that simplifies things."
Mr Cremer was also attracted to rules such as Muslims donating a percentage of their annual income to the poor.
The fact that Islam was a lifestyle rather than a weekend event was appealing too, because it advocated morality in all areas, including politics and work, where he believed morality was sorely needed.
The southern suburbs father of four, who migrated to Australia from Germany 22 years ago, said his Indonesian wife triggered his "reversion" in Jakarta seven years ago. Muslims believe people revert, not convert, because they say everyone is born Muslim.
But Mr Cremer said he became enthusiastic about Islam while researching the religion before his marriage – after years of questioning other faiths.
Mother-of-two Nicole Banks, 36, said non-Muslim women were not compelled by the religion to switch to Islam if they married a Muslim and were allowed to keep their maiden names.
But the former Church of England follower chose to convert in 1999, two years after marrying her now-estranged Egyptian husband. She had admired aspects of the religion, such as its focus on family and respect for elders, which she saw while travelling in the Middle East in 1996.
"For instance, you wouldn't send your parents off to a nursing home. They're looked after in the home by their kids," she said. "(In Muslim homes) wives are doing the chores, while grandmothers are looking after the younger children. Whereas here, you might not see your family from one week to the next.
"If someone's sick within the community, the other girls will bring food to the house. If somebody has a baby, people will bring food and help clean the house.
"That feeling of closeness is very much missing in Australian society."
The former optician/retail manager said the religion taught her not to be so materialistic and to be thankful for God's blessings, such as good health.
"Before, I was a workaholic, six days a week, 10 hours a day," she said. "I drank alcohol . . . smoked cigarettes, about a pack-plus a day, partied very hard. Now my days are spent looking after my kids, helping the community, still taking Arabic, Koran and religion classes twice a week."
Ms Banks's family was apprehensive about her conversion, but she had subsequently grown closer to her parents.
Comments on the street about her hijab (head scarf) had sometimes been a problem, but most people were just curious.
She said people should not connect Islam with terror because suicide and hurting innocents, particularly women, children and the elderly, were forbidden by the Koran.
Perth banker Maariyah, 62, converted from Catholicism last February after reading books presenting evidence against the claim that Jesus was the son of God.
She preferred Islam's belief that Jesus was a prophet.
"And I like the feeling of one big family. We call each other brother and sister and we mean it," she said. "I also like the idea of kneeling five times a day and talking to God rather than once a week or once a year – we see praying as a privilege, not a duty."
Her husband was not a Muslim and neither he nor other family members understood her move to Islam.
Carlisle trainee English teacher Jeremy Meredith, 33, became a Muslim in Jakarta in 2003 because he also liked the sense of community and the guidelines.
"People say they want freedom, they want liberty," he said. "But the bottom line is people want to know what they can and can't do. They want rules, they want guidelines, something to believe in, something to follow.
"In Islam, there's a rule for absolutely everything – how I eat my food, how I go to the toilet, how I get married, how I lend money."
He said Muslims should not be lumped with extremists because that was as stupid as saying that because Hitler was a Christian, all Christians were genocidal maniacs.
Eliza-Aisha, 26, switched from Catholicism about four years ago before marrying her Pakistani husband, whom she met in university.
In the northern suburbs home she shares with her Catholic mother and Muslim husband, she said she had researched different faiths from the age of 13 and had never been content with Catholicism. She liked the clarity of Islam; that you prayed just to God, not saints or others.
Eliza-Aisha said she had met converts from areas including Walpole and Bunbury, and they shared common reasons for changing.
"They want to know the purpose of their life. They don't just want an empty life filled with material things, a great house and a car. They want to know more," she said.
"Every week you hear about converts, people in the country, in the local area. A university professor, I heard, recently became a Muslim."
She disagreed with the assumption that women were repressed under the religion. If so, why did so many change, because she had heard about 80 per cent of converts were female.
Other converts said they disliked Christianity's hypocrisy in preaching peace and love while being responsible for many atrocities, including the Crusades and Inquisition, and playing a big role in Northern Ireland's bloody conflict. They also believed the Bible had been edited so much it was no longer the true word of God, while the Koran had not changed.
But Father Brian O'Loughlin, Vicar-General for Perth's Catholic Archdiocese, said he did not accept that Islam offered a "simpler" way to God. There were imams and ayatollahs (religious leaders), and in most Islamic countries it was a state religion with a structure that went much further than Christianity.
He said tolerance was lacking in Islam because it wanted to be the one and only religion. For instance, Saudi Arabia had built mosques worldwide, including in Rome, but would not allow churches in its boundaries.
He said many of the admired aspects of community in Islam were also present in southern European culture. But he conceded that such values might have been eroded in Western culture.
Regarding charity, he said Christians had been outstanding for living the commandment of love that Jesus had taught, to include not just Christians.
"And let's go back to the Boxing Day tsunami. Wealthy countries like Saudi Arabia had to be embarrassed into contributing some substantial amount," he said.
Father O'Loughlin said a worrying aspect was Islam's concept of education, which in many cases was breeding fanaticism.
Peter Rosengren, editor of Catholic newspaper The Record, said it was not surprising that ordinary Australians were attracted to Islam.
A major phenomena of the past 40 years in developed areas such as the US, Australia and Europe had been an intensifying secularisation.
"But human beings are fundamentally religious. When you reject belief in God as a society . . . people still search for the meaning of their lives. Where do I come from? Where am I going? What is my life all about?" he said.
While he was a convinced Christian, he admired the fact that converts to Islam were going against the general trend and trying to put God first and he felt the same about Christians who were doing the same.
Anger, How a Muslim Deals With It
From: www.muslimaccess.com
Anger is one of the evil whispers of Shaytaan, which leads to so many evils and tragedies, of which only Allaah knows their full extent. For this reason Islam has a great deal to say about this bad characteristic, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) described cures for this "disease" and ways to limit its effects, among which are the following:
(1) Seeking refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan:
Sulayman ibn Sard said: "I was sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and two men were slandering one another. One of them was red in the face, and the veins on his neck were standing out. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, `I know a word which, if he were to say it, what he feels would go away. If he said "I seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan," what he feels (i.e., his anger) would go away.'" (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 6/337)
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If a man gets angry and says, `I seek refuge with Allaah,' his anger will go away." (Saheeh al-Jaami' al-Sagheer, no. 695)
(2) Keeping silent:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent." (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, al-Musnad, 1/329; see also Saheeh al-Jaami', 693, 4027).
This is because in most cases, the angry person loses self control and could utter words of kufr (from which we seek refuge with Allaah), or curses, or the word of divorce (talaaq) which would destroy his home, or words of slander which would bring him the enmity and hatred of others. So, in short, keeping silent is the solution which helps one to avoid all that.
(3) Not moving:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If any of you becomes angry and he is standing, let him sit down, so his anger will go away; if it does not go away, let him lie down."
The narrator of this hadeeth is Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him), and there is a story connected to his telling of it: he was taking his camels to drink at a trough that he owned, when some other people came along and said (to one another), "Who can compete with Abu Dharr (in bringing animals to drink) and make his hair stand on end?" A man said, "I can," so he brought his animals and competed with Abu Dharr, with the result that the trough was broken. [i.e., Abu Dharr was expecting help in watering his camels, but instead the man misbehaved and caused the trough to be broken]. Abu Dharr was standing, so he sat down, then he laid down. Someone asked him, "O Abu Dharr, why did you sit down then lie down?" He said: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: . . ." and quoted the hadeeth. (The hadeeth and this story may be found in Musnad Ahmad, 5/152; see also Saheeh al-Jaami', no. 694).
According to another report, Abu Dharr was watering his animals at the trough, when another man made him angry, so he sat down . . . (Fayd al-Qadeer, al-Manaawi, 1/408)
Among the benefits of this advice given by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the fact that it prevents the angry person from going out of control, because he could strike out and injure someone, or even kill - as we will find out shortly - or he could destroy possessions and so on. Sitting down makes it less likely that he will become overexcited, and lying down makes it even less likely that he will do something crazy or harmful. Al-'Allaamah al-Khattaabi, may Allaah have mercy on him, said in his commentary on Abu Dawud: "One who is standing is in a position to strike and destroy, while the one who is sitting is less likely to do that, and the one who is lying down can do neither. It is possible that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told the angry person to sit down or lie down so that he would not do something that he would later regret. And Allaah knows best." (Sunan Abi Dawud, with Ma'aalim al-Sunan, 5/141)
(4) Following the advice of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):
Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that a man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), "Advise me." He said, "Do not become angry." The man repeated his request several times, and each time the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told him, "Do not become angry." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath al-Bari, 10/456)
According to another report, the man said: "I thought about what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, and I realized that anger combines all kinds of evil." (Musnad Ahmad, 5/373)
(5) Do not become angry and Paradise will be yours (a saheeh hadeeth, see Saheeh al-Jaami', 7374. Ibn Hijr attributed it to al-Tabaraani, see al-Fath 4/465):
Remembering what Allaah has promised to the righteous (muttaqeen) who keep away from the causes of anger and struggle within themselves to control it, is one of the most effective ways of extinguishing the flames of anger. One of the ahaadeeth that describe the great reward for doing this is: "Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allaah will fill his heart with contentment on the Day of Resurrection." (Reported by al-Tabaraani, 12/453, see also Saheeh al-Jaami', 6518).
Another great reward is described in the Prophet's words: "Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allaah will call him before all of mankind on the Day of Resurrection, and will let him choose of the Hur al-'Iyn whoever he wants." (Reported by Abu Dawud, 4777, and others. It is classified as hasan in Saheeh al-Jaami, 6518).
(6) Knowing the high status and advantages offered to those who control themselves:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The strong man is not the one who can overpower others (in wrestling); rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he gets angry." (Reported by Ahmad, 2/236; the hadeeth is agreed upon). The greater the anger, the higher the status of the one who controls himself. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The strongest man is the one who, when he gets angry and his face reddens and his hackles rise, is able to defeat his anger." (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 5/367, and classified as hasan in Saheeh al- Jaami', 3859)
Anas reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed by some people who were wrestling. He asked, "What is this?" They said: "So-and-so is the strongest, he can beat anybody." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, "Shall I not tell you who is even stronger then him? The man who, when he is mistreated by another, controls his anger, has defeated his own shaytaan and the shaytaan of the one who made him angry." (Reported by al-Bazzaar, and Ibn Hijr said its isnaad is saheeh. Al-Fath, 10/519)
(7) Following the Prophet's example in the case of anger:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is our leader and has set the highest example in this matter, as is recorded in a number of ahaadeeth. One of the most famous was reported by Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said: "I was walking with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and he was wearing a Najraani cloak with a rough collar. A Bedouin came and seized him roughly by the edge of his cloak, and I saw the marks left on his neck by the collar. Then the Bedouin ordered him to give him some of the wealth of Allaah that he had. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) turned to him and smiled, then ordered that he should be given something." (Agreed upon. Fath al-Baari, 10/375)
Another way in which we can follow the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is by making our anger for the sake of Allaah, when His rights are violated. This is the kind of anger which is praiseworthy. So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) became angry when he was told about the imaam who was putting people off the prayer by making it too long; when he saw a curtain with pictures of animate creatures in `Aa'ishah's house; when Usaamah spoke to him about the Makhzoomi woman who had been convicted of theft, and he said "Do you seek to intervene concerning one of the punishments prescribed by Allaah?"; when he was asked questions that he disliked, and so on. His anger was purely for the sake of Allaah.
(8) Knowing that resisting anger is one of the signs of righteousness (taqwaa):
The righteous (al-muttaqoon) are those praised by Allaah in the Qur'aan and by His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Paradise as wide as heaven and earth has been prepared for them. One of their characteristics is that they (interpretation of the meaning) "spend (in Allaah's Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, [they] repress anger, and [they] pardon men; verily, Allaah loves al-muhsinoon (the good-doers)." [Aal `Imraan 3:134]
These are the ones whose good character and beautiful attributes and deeds Allaah has mentioned, and whom people admire and want to emulate. One of their characteristics is that (interpretation of the meaning) ". . . when they are angry, they forgive." [al-Shooraa 42:47]
(9) Listening to reminders:
Anger is a part of human nature, and people vary in their anger. It may be difficult for a man not to get angry, but sincere people will remember Allaah when they are reminded, and they will not overstep the mark. Some examples follow:
Ibn `Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that a man sought permission to speak to `Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him), then he said: "O son of al-Khattaab, you are not giving us much and you are not judging fairly between us." `Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) was so angry that he was about to attack the man, but al-Hurr ibn Qays, who was one of those present, said: "O Ameer al-Mu'mineen, Allaah said to His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) (interpretation of the meaning): `Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish' [al- A'raaf 7:199]. This man is one of the foolish." By Allaah, `Umar could go no further after al-Hurr had recited this aayah to him, and he a man who was careful to adhere to the Book of Allaah. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 4/304).
This is how the Muslim should be. The evil munaafiq (hypocrite) was not like this when he was told the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and one of the Companions said to him, "Seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan." He said to the one who reminded him, "Do you think I am crazy? Go away!" (Reported by al- Bukhaari, al-Fath, 1/465). We seek refuge with Allaah from failure.
(10) Knowing the bad effects of anger:
The negative effects of anger are many; in short they cause damage to one's own self and to others. The angry person may utter words of slander and obscenity, he may attack others (physically) in an uncontrolled manner, even to the point of killing. The following story contains a valuable lesson:
`Ilqimah ibn Waa'il reported that his father (may Allaah be pleased with him) told him: "I was sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when a man came to him leading another man by a rope. He said, `O Messenger of Allaah, this man killed my brother.' The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked him, `Did you kill him?' He said, `Yes, I killed him.' He asked, `How did you kill him?' He said, `He and I were hitting a tree to make the leaves fall, for animal feed, and he slandered me, so I struck him on the side of the head with an axe, and killed him.' . . ." (Reported by Muslim, 1307, edited by al-Baaqi).
Anger could lead to less than killing, such as wounding and breaking bones. If the one who caused the anger runs away, the angry person turns his anger in on himself, so he may tear his clothes, or strike his cheeks, or have a fit, or fall unconscious, or he may break dishes and plates, or break furniture.
In the worst cases, anger results in social disasters and the breaking of family ties, i.e., divorce. Ask many of those who divorced their wives, and they will tell you: it was in a moment of anger. This divorce results in misery for the children, regret and frustration, a hard and difficult life, all as a result of anger. If they had remembered Allaah, come to their senses, restrained their anger and sought refuge with Allaah, none of this would have happened. Going against the sharee'ah only results in loss.
The damage to health that results from anger can only be described by doctors, such as thrombosis, high blood pressure, tachycardia (abnormally rapid heartbeat) and hyperventilation (rapid, shallow breathing), which can lead to fatal heart attacks, diabetes, etc. We ask Allaah for good health.
(11) The angry person should think about himself during moments of anger:
If the angry person could see himself in the mirror when he is angry, he would hate himself and the way he looks. If he could see the way he changes, and the way his body and limbs shake, how his eyes glare and how out of control and crazy his behaviour is, he would despise himself and be revolted by his own appearance. It is well-known that inner ugliness is even worse than outer ugliness; how happy the Shaytaan must be when a person is in this state! We seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan and from failure.
(12) Du'aa':
Du'aa' is always the weapon of the believer, whereby he asks Allaah to protect him from evil, trouble and bad behaviour and seeks refuge with Him from falling into the pit of kufr or wrongdoing because of anger. One of the three things that can help save him is: being fair at times of contentment and of anger (Saheeh al-Jaami', 3039). One of the du'aa's of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was:
"O Allaah, by Your knowledge of the Unseen and Your power over Your creation, keep me alive for as long as You know life is good for me, and cause me to die when You know death is good for me. O Allaah, I ask You to make me fear You in secret and in public, and I ask You to make me speak the truth in times of contentment and of anger. I ask You not to let me be extravagant in poverty or in prosperity. I ask You for continuous blessings, and for contentment that does not end. I ask You to let me accept Your decree, and for a good life after death. I ask You for the joy of seeing Your face and for the longing to meet You, without going through diseases and misguiding fitnah (trials). O Allaah, adorn us with the adornment of faith and make us among those who are guided. Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds."
Anger is one of the evil whispers of Shaytaan, which leads to so many evils and tragedies, of which only Allaah knows their full extent. For this reason Islam has a great deal to say about this bad characteristic, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) described cures for this "disease" and ways to limit its effects, among which are the following:
(1) Seeking refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan:
Sulayman ibn Sard said: "I was sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and two men were slandering one another. One of them was red in the face, and the veins on his neck were standing out. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, `I know a word which, if he were to say it, what he feels would go away. If he said "I seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan," what he feels (i.e., his anger) would go away.'" (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 6/337)
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If a man gets angry and says, `I seek refuge with Allaah,' his anger will go away." (Saheeh al-Jaami' al-Sagheer, no. 695)
(2) Keeping silent:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent." (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, al-Musnad, 1/329; see also Saheeh al-Jaami', 693, 4027).
This is because in most cases, the angry person loses self control and could utter words of kufr (from which we seek refuge with Allaah), or curses, or the word of divorce (talaaq) which would destroy his home, or words of slander which would bring him the enmity and hatred of others. So, in short, keeping silent is the solution which helps one to avoid all that.
(3) Not moving:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If any of you becomes angry and he is standing, let him sit down, so his anger will go away; if it does not go away, let him lie down."
The narrator of this hadeeth is Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him), and there is a story connected to his telling of it: he was taking his camels to drink at a trough that he owned, when some other people came along and said (to one another), "Who can compete with Abu Dharr (in bringing animals to drink) and make his hair stand on end?" A man said, "I can," so he brought his animals and competed with Abu Dharr, with the result that the trough was broken. [i.e., Abu Dharr was expecting help in watering his camels, but instead the man misbehaved and caused the trough to be broken]. Abu Dharr was standing, so he sat down, then he laid down. Someone asked him, "O Abu Dharr, why did you sit down then lie down?" He said: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: . . ." and quoted the hadeeth. (The hadeeth and this story may be found in Musnad Ahmad, 5/152; see also Saheeh al-Jaami', no. 694).
According to another report, Abu Dharr was watering his animals at the trough, when another man made him angry, so he sat down . . . (Fayd al-Qadeer, al-Manaawi, 1/408)
Among the benefits of this advice given by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the fact that it prevents the angry person from going out of control, because he could strike out and injure someone, or even kill - as we will find out shortly - or he could destroy possessions and so on. Sitting down makes it less likely that he will become overexcited, and lying down makes it even less likely that he will do something crazy or harmful. Al-'Allaamah al-Khattaabi, may Allaah have mercy on him, said in his commentary on Abu Dawud: "One who is standing is in a position to strike and destroy, while the one who is sitting is less likely to do that, and the one who is lying down can do neither. It is possible that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told the angry person to sit down or lie down so that he would not do something that he would later regret. And Allaah knows best." (Sunan Abi Dawud, with Ma'aalim al-Sunan, 5/141)
(4) Following the advice of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):
Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that a man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), "Advise me." He said, "Do not become angry." The man repeated his request several times, and each time the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told him, "Do not become angry." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath al-Bari, 10/456)
According to another report, the man said: "I thought about what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, and I realized that anger combines all kinds of evil." (Musnad Ahmad, 5/373)
(5) Do not become angry and Paradise will be yours (a saheeh hadeeth, see Saheeh al-Jaami', 7374. Ibn Hijr attributed it to al-Tabaraani, see al-Fath 4/465):
Remembering what Allaah has promised to the righteous (muttaqeen) who keep away from the causes of anger and struggle within themselves to control it, is one of the most effective ways of extinguishing the flames of anger. One of the ahaadeeth that describe the great reward for doing this is: "Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allaah will fill his heart with contentment on the Day of Resurrection." (Reported by al-Tabaraani, 12/453, see also Saheeh al-Jaami', 6518).
Another great reward is described in the Prophet's words: "Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allaah will call him before all of mankind on the Day of Resurrection, and will let him choose of the Hur al-'Iyn whoever he wants." (Reported by Abu Dawud, 4777, and others. It is classified as hasan in Saheeh al-Jaami, 6518).
(6) Knowing the high status and advantages offered to those who control themselves:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The strong man is not the one who can overpower others (in wrestling); rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he gets angry." (Reported by Ahmad, 2/236; the hadeeth is agreed upon). The greater the anger, the higher the status of the one who controls himself. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The strongest man is the one who, when he gets angry and his face reddens and his hackles rise, is able to defeat his anger." (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 5/367, and classified as hasan in Saheeh al- Jaami', 3859)
Anas reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed by some people who were wrestling. He asked, "What is this?" They said: "So-and-so is the strongest, he can beat anybody." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, "Shall I not tell you who is even stronger then him? The man who, when he is mistreated by another, controls his anger, has defeated his own shaytaan and the shaytaan of the one who made him angry." (Reported by al-Bazzaar, and Ibn Hijr said its isnaad is saheeh. Al-Fath, 10/519)
(7) Following the Prophet's example in the case of anger:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is our leader and has set the highest example in this matter, as is recorded in a number of ahaadeeth. One of the most famous was reported by Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said: "I was walking with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and he was wearing a Najraani cloak with a rough collar. A Bedouin came and seized him roughly by the edge of his cloak, and I saw the marks left on his neck by the collar. Then the Bedouin ordered him to give him some of the wealth of Allaah that he had. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) turned to him and smiled, then ordered that he should be given something." (Agreed upon. Fath al-Baari, 10/375)
Another way in which we can follow the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is by making our anger for the sake of Allaah, when His rights are violated. This is the kind of anger which is praiseworthy. So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) became angry when he was told about the imaam who was putting people off the prayer by making it too long; when he saw a curtain with pictures of animate creatures in `Aa'ishah's house; when Usaamah spoke to him about the Makhzoomi woman who had been convicted of theft, and he said "Do you seek to intervene concerning one of the punishments prescribed by Allaah?"; when he was asked questions that he disliked, and so on. His anger was purely for the sake of Allaah.
(8) Knowing that resisting anger is one of the signs of righteousness (taqwaa):
The righteous (al-muttaqoon) are those praised by Allaah in the Qur'aan and by His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Paradise as wide as heaven and earth has been prepared for them. One of their characteristics is that they (interpretation of the meaning) "spend (in Allaah's Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, [they] repress anger, and [they] pardon men; verily, Allaah loves al-muhsinoon (the good-doers)." [Aal `Imraan 3:134]
These are the ones whose good character and beautiful attributes and deeds Allaah has mentioned, and whom people admire and want to emulate. One of their characteristics is that (interpretation of the meaning) ". . . when they are angry, they forgive." [al-Shooraa 42:47]
(9) Listening to reminders:
Anger is a part of human nature, and people vary in their anger. It may be difficult for a man not to get angry, but sincere people will remember Allaah when they are reminded, and they will not overstep the mark. Some examples follow:
Ibn `Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that a man sought permission to speak to `Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him), then he said: "O son of al-Khattaab, you are not giving us much and you are not judging fairly between us." `Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) was so angry that he was about to attack the man, but al-Hurr ibn Qays, who was one of those present, said: "O Ameer al-Mu'mineen, Allaah said to His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) (interpretation of the meaning): `Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish' [al- A'raaf 7:199]. This man is one of the foolish." By Allaah, `Umar could go no further after al-Hurr had recited this aayah to him, and he a man who was careful to adhere to the Book of Allaah. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 4/304).
This is how the Muslim should be. The evil munaafiq (hypocrite) was not like this when he was told the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and one of the Companions said to him, "Seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan." He said to the one who reminded him, "Do you think I am crazy? Go away!" (Reported by al- Bukhaari, al-Fath, 1/465). We seek refuge with Allaah from failure.
(10) Knowing the bad effects of anger:
The negative effects of anger are many; in short they cause damage to one's own self and to others. The angry person may utter words of slander and obscenity, he may attack others (physically) in an uncontrolled manner, even to the point of killing. The following story contains a valuable lesson:
`Ilqimah ibn Waa'il reported that his father (may Allaah be pleased with him) told him: "I was sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when a man came to him leading another man by a rope. He said, `O Messenger of Allaah, this man killed my brother.' The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked him, `Did you kill him?' He said, `Yes, I killed him.' He asked, `How did you kill him?' He said, `He and I were hitting a tree to make the leaves fall, for animal feed, and he slandered me, so I struck him on the side of the head with an axe, and killed him.' . . ." (Reported by Muslim, 1307, edited by al-Baaqi).
Anger could lead to less than killing, such as wounding and breaking bones. If the one who caused the anger runs away, the angry person turns his anger in on himself, so he may tear his clothes, or strike his cheeks, or have a fit, or fall unconscious, or he may break dishes and plates, or break furniture.
In the worst cases, anger results in social disasters and the breaking of family ties, i.e., divorce. Ask many of those who divorced their wives, and they will tell you: it was in a moment of anger. This divorce results in misery for the children, regret and frustration, a hard and difficult life, all as a result of anger. If they had remembered Allaah, come to their senses, restrained their anger and sought refuge with Allaah, none of this would have happened. Going against the sharee'ah only results in loss.
The damage to health that results from anger can only be described by doctors, such as thrombosis, high blood pressure, tachycardia (abnormally rapid heartbeat) and hyperventilation (rapid, shallow breathing), which can lead to fatal heart attacks, diabetes, etc. We ask Allaah for good health.
(11) The angry person should think about himself during moments of anger:
If the angry person could see himself in the mirror when he is angry, he would hate himself and the way he looks. If he could see the way he changes, and the way his body and limbs shake, how his eyes glare and how out of control and crazy his behaviour is, he would despise himself and be revolted by his own appearance. It is well-known that inner ugliness is even worse than outer ugliness; how happy the Shaytaan must be when a person is in this state! We seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan and from failure.
(12) Du'aa':
Du'aa' is always the weapon of the believer, whereby he asks Allaah to protect him from evil, trouble and bad behaviour and seeks refuge with Him from falling into the pit of kufr or wrongdoing because of anger. One of the three things that can help save him is: being fair at times of contentment and of anger (Saheeh al-Jaami', 3039). One of the du'aa's of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was:
"O Allaah, by Your knowledge of the Unseen and Your power over Your creation, keep me alive for as long as You know life is good for me, and cause me to die when You know death is good for me. O Allaah, I ask You to make me fear You in secret and in public, and I ask You to make me speak the truth in times of contentment and of anger. I ask You not to let me be extravagant in poverty or in prosperity. I ask You for continuous blessings, and for contentment that does not end. I ask You to let me accept Your decree, and for a good life after death. I ask You for the joy of seeing Your face and for the longing to meet You, without going through diseases and misguiding fitnah (trials). O Allaah, adorn us with the adornment of faith and make us among those who are guided. Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds."
Monday, July 02, 2007
Muhammd In Breif.
From: www.prophetofislam.com
Do You Know This Man? Man And Prophet That Prophet? [Bible - John 1:20] Muhammad In The Bible
You may be a Christian Protestant, Catholic, Jew, an atheist or an agnostic; or you may belong to any of many different religious denominations existing in today's world. You might even be a coummunist or believe in man's democracy as the rule on earth.Whoever you are and whatever ideological or political beliefs, social habits you may hold, there is no doubt -You Must Know This MAN - MUHAMMAD (peace be upon him).
He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numerous social and political reforms, established a powerful and dynamic society to practice and represent his teachings and completely revolutionized the worlds of human thought and behavior for all times to come."HIS NAME IS MUHAMMAD" May Peace of God Be Upon Him (PBUH)He was born in Arabia in the year 570 C.E. (common era), started his mission of preaching the religion of Truth, Islam (submission to One God at the age of forty and departed from this world at the age of sixty-three.During this short period of 23 years of his prophethood, he changed the complete Arabian peninsula from paganism and idolatry to worship of One God, from tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion, from drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and piety, from lawlessness and anarchy to disciplined living, from utter bankruptcy to the highest standards of moral excellence.
Human history has never known such a complete transformation of a people or a place before or since - and IMAGINE all these unbelievable wonders in JUST OVER TWO DECADES.The world has had its share of great personalities. But these were one sided figures who distinguished themselves in but one or two field, such as religious thought or military leadership. The lives and teachings of these great personalities of the world are shrouded in the mist of time. There is so much speculation about the time and place their birth, the mode and style of their life, the nature and detail of their teachings and the degree and measure of their success or failure that is impossible for humanity to reconstruct accurately the lives and teachings of these men. Not so this man. Muhammad (PBUH) accomplished so much in such diverse fields of human thought and behavior in the fullest blaze of human history.
Every detail of his private life and public utterances has been accurately documented and faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of the records so preserved are vouched for not only by the faithful followers but even by his prejudiced critics. Muhammad (PBUH) was a religious teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father - all in one. No other man in history ever excelled or equaled him in any of these different aspects of life - but it was only for the selfless personality of Muhammad (pbuh) to achieve such incredible perfection.
Muhammad (PBUH) was nothing more or less than a human being. but he was a man with a noble mission, which was to unite humanity on the worship of ONE and ONLY ONE GOD and to teach them the way to honest and upright living based on the commands of God. He always described himself as, 'A Servant and Messenger of God' and so indeed every action of his proclaimed to be.Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries, the life and teachings of Muhammad (PBUH) have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer the same undying hope for treating mankind's many ills, which they did when he was alive. This is not a claim of Mohammed's (PBUH) followers, but the inescapable conclusion forced upon by a critical and unbiased history.
The least YOU can do as a thinking and concerned human being is to stop for a moment and ask your self: Could these statements sounding so extraordinary and revolutionary really be true? And supposing they really are true and you did not know this man MUHAMMAD (PBUH) or hear about him, isn't it time you responded to this tremendous challenge and put in some effort to know him? It will cost you nothing, but it may prove to be the beginning of a completely new era in your life. By Eng. Husain Pasha.We invite you to make a discovery of this wonderful man, MUHAMMAD (PBUH), the like of whom never walked on the face of this earth.
On Faith: Hadia Mubarak
From: www.msnbc.com
Hadia Mubarak
Researcher, is a senior researcher at Georgetown University's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding.
No One is Guaranteed a Free Pass into Heaven:
My unwavering belief in humanity’s ultimate accountability before God is the driving force of my everyday existence. The importance of believing in an afterlife, for me, is not about assuming – rather foolishly – that one group of people have some exclusive monopoly over heaven because of the religion to which they belonged, regardless of their inner faith or works. Nor is it about naively thinking that I am “saved” because of a certain proclamation I’ve made at some point in my life regardless of my behavior.
The importance of believing in an afterlife, for me, is about understanding that God is going to hold me accountable for every single action I’ve ever committed in this transient thing called life. It is about realizing that God will ask me why I threw away my leftovers when I know for a fact that there are hungry, homeless people on the corner of 9th & F St. where I work. It is about realizing that God will ask me why I wasn’t willing to sacrifice my time or money to help someone who really needed the help. It is about realizing that God will ask me why I raised my voice at my mother, even though He commanded that we show utmost respect and reverence to our mothers.
Believing in the afterlife regulates my behavior, puts my ego in check, and restrains my anger when I feel like telling someone off. Being conscious of God and of my ultimate accountability to Him forces me to be ethically and morally consistent whether in public or private, because even when others can’t see me, I know that God still does. My conviction in the reality of heaven and hell motivates me to make certain sacrifices for God even if they might make me unpopular or elicit ridicule by others. For example, I continue to overcome stereotypes associated with the headscarf I wear for one reason only: hoping that God will be pleased with me when I stand before Him on the Day of Judgment. Even if others perceive me as a victim of patriarchy, oppressed, uneducated, or backwards, I recognize that God alone controls my happiness, my success and my destiny in this world and the next.
When one internalizes the reality of heaven and hell beyond mere rhetoric or theory, it completely transforms the way one approaches life and the way one perceives and treats others; it unleashes a new paradigm through which to view the world. I think it ultimately makes one live a more moral and upright life. There are some people who will act in goodness for no other reason than the fact that it’s the right thing to do. But the majority of people need incentives. The belief in heaven and hell is one of the greatest incentives to do good acts and avoid evil, because the belief in an afterlife implies consequence; it implies human accountability.
Describing the Day of Judgment, the Quran says, “That day, people will proceed separately to be shown their deeds. Whoever has done even an atom’s worth of good will behold it. And whoever has done even an atom’s worth of evil will behold that.” (Quran, 99: 6-8).
This belief is central to my life and shapes my behavior, from what I decide to wear or not to wear to the way that I treat others around me. Before taking any step or action, I reflect on where this would make me stand in the eyes of God. I think to myself, ‘’is it going to help me reach my ultimate destination – which is to be with God in eternity?’
No individual is guaranteed a free pass into heaven (except for the Prophets and Messengers, according to Islamic theology). Only God decides who enters heaven or hell or who enters hell for a short period of time until he/she is transferred into heaven. According to the teachings of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), a person who spent his/her whole life in the mosque or church, but was insincere and hypocritical about it could end up in hell, whereas a prostitute who poured water for a dog dying of thirst might end up in heaven for that act of compassion and mercy.
According to Islamic theology, God will evaluate all individuals based on their actions and faith. Both are critical. God says in the Quran, “Surely, the believers and the Jews, the Christians and the Sabians – whoever believes in God and the Last Day and works righteousness – shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” (2:62).
Hadia Mubarak
Researcher, is a senior researcher at Georgetown University's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding.
No One is Guaranteed a Free Pass into Heaven:
My unwavering belief in humanity’s ultimate accountability before God is the driving force of my everyday existence. The importance of believing in an afterlife, for me, is not about assuming – rather foolishly – that one group of people have some exclusive monopoly over heaven because of the religion to which they belonged, regardless of their inner faith or works. Nor is it about naively thinking that I am “saved” because of a certain proclamation I’ve made at some point in my life regardless of my behavior.
The importance of believing in an afterlife, for me, is about understanding that God is going to hold me accountable for every single action I’ve ever committed in this transient thing called life. It is about realizing that God will ask me why I threw away my leftovers when I know for a fact that there are hungry, homeless people on the corner of 9th & F St. where I work. It is about realizing that God will ask me why I wasn’t willing to sacrifice my time or money to help someone who really needed the help. It is about realizing that God will ask me why I raised my voice at my mother, even though He commanded that we show utmost respect and reverence to our mothers.
Believing in the afterlife regulates my behavior, puts my ego in check, and restrains my anger when I feel like telling someone off. Being conscious of God and of my ultimate accountability to Him forces me to be ethically and morally consistent whether in public or private, because even when others can’t see me, I know that God still does. My conviction in the reality of heaven and hell motivates me to make certain sacrifices for God even if they might make me unpopular or elicit ridicule by others. For example, I continue to overcome stereotypes associated with the headscarf I wear for one reason only: hoping that God will be pleased with me when I stand before Him on the Day of Judgment. Even if others perceive me as a victim of patriarchy, oppressed, uneducated, or backwards, I recognize that God alone controls my happiness, my success and my destiny in this world and the next.
When one internalizes the reality of heaven and hell beyond mere rhetoric or theory, it completely transforms the way one approaches life and the way one perceives and treats others; it unleashes a new paradigm through which to view the world. I think it ultimately makes one live a more moral and upright life. There are some people who will act in goodness for no other reason than the fact that it’s the right thing to do. But the majority of people need incentives. The belief in heaven and hell is one of the greatest incentives to do good acts and avoid evil, because the belief in an afterlife implies consequence; it implies human accountability.
Describing the Day of Judgment, the Quran says, “That day, people will proceed separately to be shown their deeds. Whoever has done even an atom’s worth of good will behold it. And whoever has done even an atom’s worth of evil will behold that.” (Quran, 99: 6-8).
This belief is central to my life and shapes my behavior, from what I decide to wear or not to wear to the way that I treat others around me. Before taking any step or action, I reflect on where this would make me stand in the eyes of God. I think to myself, ‘’is it going to help me reach my ultimate destination – which is to be with God in eternity?’
No individual is guaranteed a free pass into heaven (except for the Prophets and Messengers, according to Islamic theology). Only God decides who enters heaven or hell or who enters hell for a short period of time until he/she is transferred into heaven. According to the teachings of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), a person who spent his/her whole life in the mosque or church, but was insincere and hypocritical about it could end up in hell, whereas a prostitute who poured water for a dog dying of thirst might end up in heaven for that act of compassion and mercy.
According to Islamic theology, God will evaluate all individuals based on their actions and faith. Both are critical. God says in the Quran, “Surely, the believers and the Jews, the Christians and the Sabians – whoever believes in God and the Last Day and works righteousness – shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” (2:62).
Words not spoken, kisses not delivered!
From: www.islamicity.com
By: Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq
There are times when it seems that things are moving so slowly. We want to rush and move on. At other times, we feel like doing something good, but we procrastinate. In fact, time is moving at its pace, usually much faster than sometimes we like or realize. Any of you can look back and try to remember those slow moving moments. But now in reminiscence we see that a good part of our life is already spent. Many of us don't have a whole lot to account for what really have we accomplished for our journey toward the eternal life over those years.
"I swear by the Time; Indeed, mankind is in loss; except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and enjoin each other to follow the Truth, and enjoin each other to be steadfast."(Qur'an - Al Asr 103:1-3)
This is the Qur'anic reality about time and life. Our precious moments of aakhirah (hereafter)-bound life are fleeting by the second, even though we often don't realize.
Furthermore, the notion that there is more time ahead might be no more than an illusion. There might be more time - the next hour, the next day, month or year - or, there may not be, especially for all the good things we want to do and good words that we want to say! Have you heard some sad stories like the following?
A person had an argument with one of his friends in the evening and felt very bad. He wasn't able to sleep through the night. Next morning, he called his friend to say that he was sorry about the argument, and that he loved him. But the friend was already gone to work. He thought he would call the friend later that day. He did call, only to find out that his friend went to the Post Office that day and was killed in a shooting that took place at the Post Office. The friend passed away. The living friend always regretted that he did not have the time to say that he was sorry and that he loved him. What was unspoken remained unspoken!
The Prophet (s) said: "Value five things before five things: youth before senility, health before illness, solvency before poverty, free time before getting busy, and life before death." (Al-Haakim's Al-Mustadrak: 4-306)
A father had a rough time with his teen-age son. One day he rebuked his son for his action. In the morning the father woke up late. He wanted to hug his son and tell him that even though he rebuked him last night, he loved him so much. The son woke up early and was gone to school. On the way back from his office, the father bought a present for his son. However, even before he reached his home, he received a call in his car that his son had a terrible traffic accident and died instantly. The father did not have the chance to present the gift or give the hug or a kiss, or say what he wanted to say. What was unspoken remained unspoken!
'A'isha reported that there came a few desert Arabs to Allah's Messenger and said: Do you kiss your children? He said: Yes. Thereupon they said: By Allah but we do not kiss our children. Thereupon Allah's Messenger said: Then what can I do if Allah has deprived you of mercy? (Sahih Muslim, 5735)
Abu Huraira reported that al-Aqra' b. Habis saw Allah's Apostle kissing Hasan (grandson). He said: I have ten children, but I have never kissed any one of them, whereupon Allah's Messenger said: He who does not show mercy, no mercy would be shown to him. (Sahih Muslim, 5736)
A person felt regret about an action toward his parents. He wanted to seek forgiveness from them and also make repentance before Allah and seek His mercy and forgiveness. He did repent but could not speak to his mother, because she passed away overnight due to a heart attack. What was unspoken remained unspoken!
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: A man was with the Prophet and a man passed by him and said: Apostle of Allah! I love this man. The Apostle of Allah then asked: Have you informed him? He replied: No. He said: Inform him. He then went to him and said: I love you for Allah's sake. He replied: May He for Whose sake you love me love you! (Sunan Abu Dawood, 5106)
The above hadith is about loving someone among the fellow believers. This hadith, of course, is about anyone who is dear and beloved to us, about anyone to whom we feel a special affinity. While saying "I love you" is not a substitute for showing our love and action through our actions and conducts, it is also important that we communicate verbally. Let us not be among the hapless ones who have never said "I love you" to our beloved ones, whether our spouse, parents, children, and fellow believers, of course, if we feel special about someone.
Thus, let our bad thoughts, unworthy deeds, or unkind words wait until tomorrow, while may our good thoughts bloom, good deeds be acted on, regrets expressed and forgiveness sought, unspoken words of kindness and love be said, and undelivered kisses and hugs be rendered, not tomorrow, but today!
Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq is an associate professor of economics and finance at Upper Iowa University.Homepage: http://www.globalwebpost.com/farooqm
By: Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq
There are times when it seems that things are moving so slowly. We want to rush and move on. At other times, we feel like doing something good, but we procrastinate. In fact, time is moving at its pace, usually much faster than sometimes we like or realize. Any of you can look back and try to remember those slow moving moments. But now in reminiscence we see that a good part of our life is already spent. Many of us don't have a whole lot to account for what really have we accomplished for our journey toward the eternal life over those years.
"I swear by the Time; Indeed, mankind is in loss; except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and enjoin each other to follow the Truth, and enjoin each other to be steadfast."(Qur'an - Al Asr 103:1-3)
This is the Qur'anic reality about time and life. Our precious moments of aakhirah (hereafter)-bound life are fleeting by the second, even though we often don't realize.
Furthermore, the notion that there is more time ahead might be no more than an illusion. There might be more time - the next hour, the next day, month or year - or, there may not be, especially for all the good things we want to do and good words that we want to say! Have you heard some sad stories like the following?
A person had an argument with one of his friends in the evening and felt very bad. He wasn't able to sleep through the night. Next morning, he called his friend to say that he was sorry about the argument, and that he loved him. But the friend was already gone to work. He thought he would call the friend later that day. He did call, only to find out that his friend went to the Post Office that day and was killed in a shooting that took place at the Post Office. The friend passed away. The living friend always regretted that he did not have the time to say that he was sorry and that he loved him. What was unspoken remained unspoken!
The Prophet (s) said: "Value five things before five things: youth before senility, health before illness, solvency before poverty, free time before getting busy, and life before death." (Al-Haakim's Al-Mustadrak: 4-306)
A father had a rough time with his teen-age son. One day he rebuked his son for his action. In the morning the father woke up late. He wanted to hug his son and tell him that even though he rebuked him last night, he loved him so much. The son woke up early and was gone to school. On the way back from his office, the father bought a present for his son. However, even before he reached his home, he received a call in his car that his son had a terrible traffic accident and died instantly. The father did not have the chance to present the gift or give the hug or a kiss, or say what he wanted to say. What was unspoken remained unspoken!
'A'isha reported that there came a few desert Arabs to Allah's Messenger and said: Do you kiss your children? He said: Yes. Thereupon they said: By Allah but we do not kiss our children. Thereupon Allah's Messenger said: Then what can I do if Allah has deprived you of mercy? (Sahih Muslim, 5735)
Abu Huraira reported that al-Aqra' b. Habis saw Allah's Apostle kissing Hasan (grandson). He said: I have ten children, but I have never kissed any one of them, whereupon Allah's Messenger said: He who does not show mercy, no mercy would be shown to him. (Sahih Muslim, 5736)
A person felt regret about an action toward his parents. He wanted to seek forgiveness from them and also make repentance before Allah and seek His mercy and forgiveness. He did repent but could not speak to his mother, because she passed away overnight due to a heart attack. What was unspoken remained unspoken!
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: A man was with the Prophet and a man passed by him and said: Apostle of Allah! I love this man. The Apostle of Allah then asked: Have you informed him? He replied: No. He said: Inform him. He then went to him and said: I love you for Allah's sake. He replied: May He for Whose sake you love me love you! (Sunan Abu Dawood, 5106)
The above hadith is about loving someone among the fellow believers. This hadith, of course, is about anyone who is dear and beloved to us, about anyone to whom we feel a special affinity. While saying "I love you" is not a substitute for showing our love and action through our actions and conducts, it is also important that we communicate verbally. Let us not be among the hapless ones who have never said "I love you" to our beloved ones, whether our spouse, parents, children, and fellow believers, of course, if we feel special about someone.
Thus, let our bad thoughts, unworthy deeds, or unkind words wait until tomorrow, while may our good thoughts bloom, good deeds be acted on, regrets expressed and forgiveness sought, unspoken words of kindness and love be said, and undelivered kisses and hugs be rendered, not tomorrow, but today!
Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq is an associate professor of economics and finance at Upper Iowa University.Homepage: http://www.globalwebpost.com/farooqm
Sunday, July 01, 2007
CAIR Condomns Barbaric London Terror Attacks.
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/7/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today condemned this morning's bomb attacks in London as "barbaric crimes." In its statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said: "We join Americans of all faiths, and all people of conscience worldwide, in condemning these barbaric crimes that can never be justified or excused. American Muslims offer their sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured in today's attacks and call for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators." The Muslim Council of Britain and other British Islamic groups issued similar condemnations of the attacks and urged Muslims to help in the recovery effort. In 2004, CAIR launched an online petition drive, called "Not in the Name of Islam," designed to disassociate Islam from the violent acts of a few Muslims. SEE: http://www.cair-net.org/asp/article.asp?id=169&page=AAThe "Not in the Name of Islam" petition states: "We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who commit acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the faith they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam. We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group or individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to allow our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority acting outside the teachings of both the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him." CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to: http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
Blogger Comment:
1- Muslims have a rationalized anger against the west for unjust policies around the globe.
2- Violence creates counter violence and harm our case in pursuing justice and freedom in the world.
3- This old London attacks or the new one that was aborted would take us no where.
4- Muslim are and should be a strong political force around the globe.
5- Muslims have to unite to create this political force and wait for Imam Al Mahdi or some leader that we can trust.
6- No doubt if there is Imam Al Mahdi today a lot of people will conspire against him, the Arab tyrants and other dark forces. However, God would guide him and he would help him accomplish his mission. I personally would do every thing to help him when he rises up.
Blogger Comment:
1- Muslims have a rationalized anger against the west for unjust policies around the globe.
2- Violence creates counter violence and harm our case in pursuing justice and freedom in the world.
3- This old London attacks or the new one that was aborted would take us no where.
4- Muslim are and should be a strong political force around the globe.
5- Muslims have to unite to create this political force and wait for Imam Al Mahdi or some leader that we can trust.
6- No doubt if there is Imam Al Mahdi today a lot of people will conspire against him, the Arab tyrants and other dark forces. However, God would guide him and he would help him accomplish his mission. I personally would do every thing to help him when he rises up.
Apostacy in Islam: through the eyes of a former apostate
From: http://www.toledomuslims.com/
Dr. T. O. Shanavas Opinion
A Few years ago, during question-answer session in the Islamic Center of Greater Center, a member inquired about the punishment for apostasy in Islam. It is an unfortunate common belief among many Muslims that Shariah prescribes death for the apostate!I was once an apostate and openly declared I did not believe in Islam and rejected even the existence of God. Thank God! I was then living in a country, India, where people did not execute apostates. I thank God for giving me a chance to repent and return to the fold of Islam. I, being an apostate once, became free from the cultural and ethnic Islam to study true Islam with an open mind. "Islamic scholars" and imams do not anymore control my mind and beliefs unless their decrees (fatawa) are (1) in conformity with the Qur'an, (2) the hadiths that they quote do not contradict the Qur'an. Many Muslims today practice an ironic form of idolatry (in Islamic terminology, shirk, the one sin Allah does not forgive). We, Muslims, criticize other religions for not being truly monotheistic, yet so many of us are guilty of another, more subtle form of shirk: we worship our scholars instead of Allah! We commit the sin for which other people are condemned by God in the Qur'an: "They have taken as lords besides Allah their rabbis and their monks and the Messiah son of Mary, when they were bidden to worship only one God. Be He glorified from all that they ascribe as partner unto Him!” [9:31] Now, most classical commentators of the Qur'an agree that the grave transgression alluded to here is not the literal worship of the learned people. According to Tirmidhi, the Holy Prophet was asked to explain this verse by Adi ibn Hatim, a convert (or apostate) from Christianity, and he confirmed that the sin was the people, "considering lawful what their priest declared lawful, even though it was forbidden by Allah." (Al-Jami, 44:9;IJ). I believe that many Muslims are reluctant to speak up because many "Islamic" cultures today encourage docility and teach to unquestioningly accept the decisions of "qualified" scholars. This is a new phenomenon; in the time of Muhammad (s), ideas were only supported after they had been proven to be in harmony with the Qur'an. Scholars could not just pull rank, as they were expected to be able to argue their cases. In fact, in a famous incident of Islamic history, a humble woman of Medina publicly corrected the Caliph. One day, Hazrat Umar (RA) was announcing a change in the rule mahr, when the woman in the crowd suddenly stopped him in his track by loudly quoting a verse of the Qur'an which contradicted his proposal. He had to relent, saying, "The women of Medina know the Qur'an better than Umar." So, it is time for Muslims to question the imams and scholars if they deviate from the Qur'an and hadiths that do not contradict the Qur'an. We must not only be satisfied by the answer of the scholars, but we must verify the source of their references. Remember, if Hazrath Umar (RA) can make a mistake, ordinary scholars and ordinary people like us also can make greater mistakes. The Qur'an and the sayings of the Prophet (s) require Muslims to think critically. Pagans are repeatedly berated for not questioning, for not using reason, even being compared to dumb animals on several occasions! "When it is said unto them: 'Follow that which Allah has revealed:' they say: 'Nay! We shall follow the ways of our fathers.' What! Even though their fathers were void of wisdom and guidance?....Deaf, dumb, blind, therefore they have no sense.” [2:170-171] "He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: In it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book.....” [3:7] "Will they not then ponder on the Qur'an? If it had been from other than Allah they would have found herein much incongruity.” [4:83] So, the principle established here is that (1) Muslims are required to think critically and not blindly accept the authority of their scholars, and (2) that the clear message of the Qur'an is to be preferred to any isolated law interpretation which contradicts the Qur'an's clear spirit. The Qur'an teaches that human beings are individually responsible. So, I believe that Allah would not forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment even if my sins were the result of following the advice of a certain Imam. I would not be able to hide behind any Imam or behind his fatwa even if coming from the most respected and revered Imam of any time. Therefore, views expressed here are my opinions based on the references given. I do not claim to be a scholar, but there are sometimes cases where the violation of the Qur'an is so self-evident that all Muslims can see them. I believe that inhuman law of apostasy has nothing to do with Islam of the Prophet (s) and it is an interpolation into Islam by fanatics among us and the selfish rulers. There are many reasons for me to believe that execution for apostasy is a manufactured law rather than divine law. Holy Prophet (s) spent his entire life fighting in defense of fundamental human rights that everybody should be free to choose his religion; no one must be physically forced to change religion. Prophet (s) struggled with the Meccan establishment to have the freedom to invite non-believers to Islam. This was consistent with the practices of all other Prophets. The Qur'an states: "...There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is here forth distinct from error...”[2:256] In the light of the above verse, a person has to be insane to belief that Islam prescribes execution for apostasy. The Qur'an further states: " Say (Muhammad it is) truth from Lord of all. Whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, LET him disbelieve.” [18:29] In no uncertain terms, Allah commands Prophet to allow people to believe and disbelieve. If the Shariah recommends to kill an apostate, this law cannot be Islamic because it contradicts the above two verses. The Qur'an further states: "And so, O Prophet, exhort them, thy task is ONLY to exhort; thou canst NOT compel them to believe.” [88:21-22] "Thy duty is to make the message reach them; it is OUR PART to call them to account." [13:40] "Call thou (all mankind) unto thy Sustainer's path with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in MOST KINDLY MANNER...” [16:125] While the Qur'an commands the Prophet (s) not to compel people to believe in Islam and invite people with the most kind manner and words, fanatics among us threaten people with death mercilessly to keep them in the Muslim Ummah as hypocrites as if the dishonest hypocrites are better than honest apostates. It is a most heinous crime against Islam and Prophet (s) to manufacture inhuman law of execution of apostate. If the Qur'anic verses tell the Prophet not to compel people to believe in Islam (88:22) and the responsibility to call disbelievers to account rests with God only (1:40), the law of execution of apostates is of human origin. Initial reluctance of the people of Arabia to accept Islam disturbed Prophet (s). Then the following verse was revealed: "And had your Lord willed, whoever in the earth would have believed all together, will you then coerce people to become believers?” [10:99] According to the above verse, even God will not coerce people to become Muslims or remain as Muslim once a person accepts Islam. So, Muslims must condemn the law of apostasy and save innocent Muslims becoming intolerant and violent by the heinous indoctrination by fanatics among us because Allah says: "Who can be more wicked than the one who invent a lie against God,...” [6:93] So, religious belief is a personal matter. It is God alone --not the state or religious authorities--who know what is in the heart of the people. If the highest human authority, Prophet (s), cannot call anyone to account for belief or disbelief, no sane person can believe that religious scholars and the state have the authority to execute people for their personal belief. The Qur'an states: "A section of the People of the Book say: 'Believe in the morning what is revealed to the believers, Bur reject it at the end of the day; perchance they may (themselves) turn back." [3:72] A section of People of the Book used a tactic to create doubt among the Muslims in the hope that some of them might thereby be beguiled into repudiating Islam. How could it be possible for non-Muslims to have enacted this plan to entice Muslims to believe one day and reject next, if death was the penalty for apostasy? This tactic of a group of People of the Book mentioned in the Qur’an exposes apostasy law of the Muslim fanatics as un-Islamic. In spite of the deceptive behavior, the above verse cautions Muslims that “perchance they may themselves turn back” truly to Islam. The Qur’an does not rule to kill the apostates. Abdullah b.Ubayy b.Salul was the leader of the munafiqun (hypocrites). But Prophet (s) took no action against him. Prophet prayed for him and stayed at the grave until he was buried. Those fanatics among us must explain the reason for Prophet (s) not executing the known hypocrites like Abdullah b.Ubayy. Ubbay lived until death plotting to destroy Islam and Prophet knew it. He was not executed for apostasy. This suggests that apostasy law is not a divine law but interpolation by fanatics among us. Another verse states: "Those who believe, then reject Faith, then believe (again) and again reject Faith, go on increasing in Unbelief--God will not forgive them nor guide them on the Way.” [4:137] An apostate cannot enjoy the repeated luxury of believing and disbelieving if punishment is death. A dead man has no further chance of again believing and disbelieving. Furthermore, if taken at face value, this verse indicates that God will only withdraw His guidance after repeated rejections. It does not tell Prophet (s) to kill these apostates. So, what right do these religious authorities and imams have to deprive a person of access to the divine guidance after the first? The Qur'an states: "How shall God guide those who reject Faith after they accepted it and bore witness that the apostle was true and that clear signs had come unto them? But God guides not a people unjust. Of such the reward is that on them (rests) the curse of the God, of His Angels, and of all mankind;--In that will they dwell; nor will their penalty be lightened, nor respite be their lot;--except for those that repent (even) after that, make amends; For verily God is oft-forgiving, most merciful.” [3:86-89] It is obvious from these verses that no punishment is to be inflicted by one man or another for apostasy. By no stretch of the imagination can the phrase, "curse of Allah," be interpreted to be a license to murder anyone who he considers to be an apostate. If any such commandment was prescribed it would have been clearly defined as all other punishments are in the Holy Qur'an. The fact is that the Qur'an even mentions that apostates can be forgiven if they amend and repent. How could they repent if apostates are killed? By forced repentance? Then, does not Qur'an state that there is no compulsion in religion? The one verse that states that there is no compulsion in religion should be enough for a fair minded person to realize that Islam does not teach death to apostates. Finally, can any one hadith suggesting to kill the apostate invalidate all the Qur'anic verses quoted earlier? We, Muslims, blame the West for anti-Muslim reporting. What do you expect from the West if we provide the sticks to beat us up? Will Muslims object the persecution of the new Muslim convert for his/her apostasy by his/her erstwhile co-religionists? If we believe that it is injustice to kill a new Muslim by non-Muslims for his/her apostasy from his/her former faith, you must give the same just treatment to Muslims who become Christians, Jews, Hindus, atheists, etc. Let Allah call to account those people who left Islam. I, like many Muslims, am still bitter over smear jobs done on my religion by Western media over the Gulf war, and the Rushdie affair. So, the last thing that I want is to see Islam slandered all over again because of the barbaric and un-Islamic apostasy law. Ask yourselves: what kind of religion kills people for simple choice of faith, a change of heart? Not a religion of love and peace, not a religion worthy of respect! Perpetuation of the law to kill apostates can only increase or create doubts in the heart of the Muslims and potential Muslims, as people everywhere are already bombarded by negative images of Islam. My message to those Muslims who, like me, yearn to project true compassionate face of Islam is that Dawa will never be successful in the West as long as crazy nonsense of law of apostasy is unchallenged by Muslims. If Muhammad Ali, Cat Stevens, and Murad Hoffman were harassed by a reactionary Christian group, the Muslims will be up in arms! We must be consistent in our attitude and compassionate to those Muslims who want to leave Muslim community. "Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil....” [9:71] Therefore, let us protect the rights of all people to have freedom to believe and disbelieve. In closing, Islam is only vulnerable when Muslims abandon its clear teaching of reason, religious freedom, tolerance, and peace.
Blogger comment:
1- The verses are very clear and unequivocal about the freedom of worship in Quran.
2- The hypocrites who were the worst of apostate since they declare their Islam and fight Islam and spread rumors and suspicion were not killed though they were the worst enemies of Islam.
3- If there is hadith that does contradict the Quran its narration should be questioned even if in Bukhari and Muslim.
4- God promised us at certain time in history all the world will convert to Islam. We have all reasoning to make our case to the world to convert people to Islam including this great article.
Dr. T. O. Shanavas Opinion
A Few years ago, during question-answer session in the Islamic Center of Greater Center, a member inquired about the punishment for apostasy in Islam. It is an unfortunate common belief among many Muslims that Shariah prescribes death for the apostate!I was once an apostate and openly declared I did not believe in Islam and rejected even the existence of God. Thank God! I was then living in a country, India, where people did not execute apostates. I thank God for giving me a chance to repent and return to the fold of Islam. I, being an apostate once, became free from the cultural and ethnic Islam to study true Islam with an open mind. "Islamic scholars" and imams do not anymore control my mind and beliefs unless their decrees (fatawa) are (1) in conformity with the Qur'an, (2) the hadiths that they quote do not contradict the Qur'an. Many Muslims today practice an ironic form of idolatry (in Islamic terminology, shirk, the one sin Allah does not forgive). We, Muslims, criticize other religions for not being truly monotheistic, yet so many of us are guilty of another, more subtle form of shirk: we worship our scholars instead of Allah! We commit the sin for which other people are condemned by God in the Qur'an: "They have taken as lords besides Allah their rabbis and their monks and the Messiah son of Mary, when they were bidden to worship only one God. Be He glorified from all that they ascribe as partner unto Him!” [9:31] Now, most classical commentators of the Qur'an agree that the grave transgression alluded to here is not the literal worship of the learned people. According to Tirmidhi, the Holy Prophet was asked to explain this verse by Adi ibn Hatim, a convert (or apostate) from Christianity, and he confirmed that the sin was the people, "considering lawful what their priest declared lawful, even though it was forbidden by Allah." (Al-Jami, 44:9;IJ). I believe that many Muslims are reluctant to speak up because many "Islamic" cultures today encourage docility and teach to unquestioningly accept the decisions of "qualified" scholars. This is a new phenomenon; in the time of Muhammad (s), ideas were only supported after they had been proven to be in harmony with the Qur'an. Scholars could not just pull rank, as they were expected to be able to argue their cases. In fact, in a famous incident of Islamic history, a humble woman of Medina publicly corrected the Caliph. One day, Hazrat Umar (RA) was announcing a change in the rule mahr, when the woman in the crowd suddenly stopped him in his track by loudly quoting a verse of the Qur'an which contradicted his proposal. He had to relent, saying, "The women of Medina know the Qur'an better than Umar." So, it is time for Muslims to question the imams and scholars if they deviate from the Qur'an and hadiths that do not contradict the Qur'an. We must not only be satisfied by the answer of the scholars, but we must verify the source of their references. Remember, if Hazrath Umar (RA) can make a mistake, ordinary scholars and ordinary people like us also can make greater mistakes. The Qur'an and the sayings of the Prophet (s) require Muslims to think critically. Pagans are repeatedly berated for not questioning, for not using reason, even being compared to dumb animals on several occasions! "When it is said unto them: 'Follow that which Allah has revealed:' they say: 'Nay! We shall follow the ways of our fathers.' What! Even though their fathers were void of wisdom and guidance?....Deaf, dumb, blind, therefore they have no sense.” [2:170-171] "He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: In it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book.....” [3:7] "Will they not then ponder on the Qur'an? If it had been from other than Allah they would have found herein much incongruity.” [4:83] So, the principle established here is that (1) Muslims are required to think critically and not blindly accept the authority of their scholars, and (2) that the clear message of the Qur'an is to be preferred to any isolated law interpretation which contradicts the Qur'an's clear spirit. The Qur'an teaches that human beings are individually responsible. So, I believe that Allah would not forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment even if my sins were the result of following the advice of a certain Imam. I would not be able to hide behind any Imam or behind his fatwa even if coming from the most respected and revered Imam of any time. Therefore, views expressed here are my opinions based on the references given. I do not claim to be a scholar, but there are sometimes cases where the violation of the Qur'an is so self-evident that all Muslims can see them. I believe that inhuman law of apostasy has nothing to do with Islam of the Prophet (s) and it is an interpolation into Islam by fanatics among us and the selfish rulers. There are many reasons for me to believe that execution for apostasy is a manufactured law rather than divine law. Holy Prophet (s) spent his entire life fighting in defense of fundamental human rights that everybody should be free to choose his religion; no one must be physically forced to change religion. Prophet (s) struggled with the Meccan establishment to have the freedom to invite non-believers to Islam. This was consistent with the practices of all other Prophets. The Qur'an states: "...There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is here forth distinct from error...”[2:256] In the light of the above verse, a person has to be insane to belief that Islam prescribes execution for apostasy. The Qur'an further states: " Say (Muhammad it is) truth from Lord of all. Whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, LET him disbelieve.” [18:29] In no uncertain terms, Allah commands Prophet to allow people to believe and disbelieve. If the Shariah recommends to kill an apostate, this law cannot be Islamic because it contradicts the above two verses. The Qur'an further states: "And so, O Prophet, exhort them, thy task is ONLY to exhort; thou canst NOT compel them to believe.” [88:21-22] "Thy duty is to make the message reach them; it is OUR PART to call them to account." [13:40] "Call thou (all mankind) unto thy Sustainer's path with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in MOST KINDLY MANNER...” [16:125] While the Qur'an commands the Prophet (s) not to compel people to believe in Islam and invite people with the most kind manner and words, fanatics among us threaten people with death mercilessly to keep them in the Muslim Ummah as hypocrites as if the dishonest hypocrites are better than honest apostates. It is a most heinous crime against Islam and Prophet (s) to manufacture inhuman law of execution of apostate. If the Qur'anic verses tell the Prophet not to compel people to believe in Islam (88:22) and the responsibility to call disbelievers to account rests with God only (1:40), the law of execution of apostates is of human origin. Initial reluctance of the people of Arabia to accept Islam disturbed Prophet (s). Then the following verse was revealed: "And had your Lord willed, whoever in the earth would have believed all together, will you then coerce people to become believers?” [10:99] According to the above verse, even God will not coerce people to become Muslims or remain as Muslim once a person accepts Islam. So, Muslims must condemn the law of apostasy and save innocent Muslims becoming intolerant and violent by the heinous indoctrination by fanatics among us because Allah says: "Who can be more wicked than the one who invent a lie against God,...” [6:93] So, religious belief is a personal matter. It is God alone --not the state or religious authorities--who know what is in the heart of the people. If the highest human authority, Prophet (s), cannot call anyone to account for belief or disbelief, no sane person can believe that religious scholars and the state have the authority to execute people for their personal belief. The Qur'an states: "A section of the People of the Book say: 'Believe in the morning what is revealed to the believers, Bur reject it at the end of the day; perchance they may (themselves) turn back." [3:72] A section of People of the Book used a tactic to create doubt among the Muslims in the hope that some of them might thereby be beguiled into repudiating Islam. How could it be possible for non-Muslims to have enacted this plan to entice Muslims to believe one day and reject next, if death was the penalty for apostasy? This tactic of a group of People of the Book mentioned in the Qur’an exposes apostasy law of the Muslim fanatics as un-Islamic. In spite of the deceptive behavior, the above verse cautions Muslims that “perchance they may themselves turn back” truly to Islam. The Qur’an does not rule to kill the apostates. Abdullah b.Ubayy b.Salul was the leader of the munafiqun (hypocrites). But Prophet (s) took no action against him. Prophet prayed for him and stayed at the grave until he was buried. Those fanatics among us must explain the reason for Prophet (s) not executing the known hypocrites like Abdullah b.Ubayy. Ubbay lived until death plotting to destroy Islam and Prophet knew it. He was not executed for apostasy. This suggests that apostasy law is not a divine law but interpolation by fanatics among us. Another verse states: "Those who believe, then reject Faith, then believe (again) and again reject Faith, go on increasing in Unbelief--God will not forgive them nor guide them on the Way.” [4:137] An apostate cannot enjoy the repeated luxury of believing and disbelieving if punishment is death. A dead man has no further chance of again believing and disbelieving. Furthermore, if taken at face value, this verse indicates that God will only withdraw His guidance after repeated rejections. It does not tell Prophet (s) to kill these apostates. So, what right do these religious authorities and imams have to deprive a person of access to the divine guidance after the first? The Qur'an states: "How shall God guide those who reject Faith after they accepted it and bore witness that the apostle was true and that clear signs had come unto them? But God guides not a people unjust. Of such the reward is that on them (rests) the curse of the God, of His Angels, and of all mankind;--In that will they dwell; nor will their penalty be lightened, nor respite be their lot;--except for those that repent (even) after that, make amends; For verily God is oft-forgiving, most merciful.” [3:86-89] It is obvious from these verses that no punishment is to be inflicted by one man or another for apostasy. By no stretch of the imagination can the phrase, "curse of Allah," be interpreted to be a license to murder anyone who he considers to be an apostate. If any such commandment was prescribed it would have been clearly defined as all other punishments are in the Holy Qur'an. The fact is that the Qur'an even mentions that apostates can be forgiven if they amend and repent. How could they repent if apostates are killed? By forced repentance? Then, does not Qur'an state that there is no compulsion in religion? The one verse that states that there is no compulsion in religion should be enough for a fair minded person to realize that Islam does not teach death to apostates. Finally, can any one hadith suggesting to kill the apostate invalidate all the Qur'anic verses quoted earlier? We, Muslims, blame the West for anti-Muslim reporting. What do you expect from the West if we provide the sticks to beat us up? Will Muslims object the persecution of the new Muslim convert for his/her apostasy by his/her erstwhile co-religionists? If we believe that it is injustice to kill a new Muslim by non-Muslims for his/her apostasy from his/her former faith, you must give the same just treatment to Muslims who become Christians, Jews, Hindus, atheists, etc. Let Allah call to account those people who left Islam. I, like many Muslims, am still bitter over smear jobs done on my religion by Western media over the Gulf war, and the Rushdie affair. So, the last thing that I want is to see Islam slandered all over again because of the barbaric and un-Islamic apostasy law. Ask yourselves: what kind of religion kills people for simple choice of faith, a change of heart? Not a religion of love and peace, not a religion worthy of respect! Perpetuation of the law to kill apostates can only increase or create doubts in the heart of the Muslims and potential Muslims, as people everywhere are already bombarded by negative images of Islam. My message to those Muslims who, like me, yearn to project true compassionate face of Islam is that Dawa will never be successful in the West as long as crazy nonsense of law of apostasy is unchallenged by Muslims. If Muhammad Ali, Cat Stevens, and Murad Hoffman were harassed by a reactionary Christian group, the Muslims will be up in arms! We must be consistent in our attitude and compassionate to those Muslims who want to leave Muslim community. "Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil....” [9:71] Therefore, let us protect the rights of all people to have freedom to believe and disbelieve. In closing, Islam is only vulnerable when Muslims abandon its clear teaching of reason, religious freedom, tolerance, and peace.
Blogger comment:
1- The verses are very clear and unequivocal about the freedom of worship in Quran.
2- The hypocrites who were the worst of apostate since they declare their Islam and fight Islam and spread rumors and suspicion were not killed though they were the worst enemies of Islam.
3- If there is hadith that does contradict the Quran its narration should be questioned even if in Bukhari and Muslim.
4- God promised us at certain time in history all the world will convert to Islam. We have all reasoning to make our case to the world to convert people to Islam including this great article.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)