Jamaican-Palestinian calls for end to Israeli hostilities in Gaza

Published: Wednesday December 31, 2008


As Israel continued to pound the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip with bombs yesterday, a Jamaican of Palestinian descent called on the world to force the Israeli government to end hostilities in the region.
By the end of yesterday, that call by Robert Dabdoub, a businessman, seemed to be heeded as, according to the BBC, foreign ministers from the Middle East Quartet, the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia called for "an immediate ceasefire that would be fully respected".

Contemplating proposal

Indeed, at the end of the day, it was reported that Israel was contemplating a French proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire which would require Hamas to stop its rocket fire and allow humanitarian relief into the Gaza Strip.

Dabdoub described the air strikes, which started on Saturday, as a shame and said he believed the world should follow its conscience and force Israel to stop its aggression.

"It is a disgrace, it is totally inhumane, and it is breaking the Geneva Convention with its use of excessive force," Dabdoub told The Gleaner. He said he believed the long history of conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians has been unfair to the Palestinians and that the latest move by the Israelis was an attempt to gain more land.

While Dabdoub believes an immediate ceasefire is needed, he says more needs to be done to rein in Israel.

"Terror is terror whoever is committing it, whether it is a state such as Israel or an individual," he said.

Israeli attacks on Hamas-controlled Gaza have so far resulted in at least 360 deaths and more than 1,400 people wounded.

Source Jamaica Gleaner

Dr. Mashooq balances business and worship

Dr. Mashooq balances business and worship

Qualities of the people of Taqwaa

Hamman ibn Shuraih – a companion of Ali (RA) – asked him to narrate the qualities of the people of Taqwa so that he would be able to see them in front of him. Ali (RA) said:

“When Allah created His creation, He did so while He was completely independent of their obedience towards Him and of their disobedience towards Him. No disobedience can hurt Him and no obedience can benefit Him. Then He distributed amongst them (the creation) their means of sustenance and placed them on earth. The people of Taqwa on earth are those of virtue: their speech is correct (true); their garments are of moderate nature and their walk is one of humility. They lower their gaze when they see something that Allah has forbidden them to see and they give ear to beneficial knowledge. They maintain their integrity in both adversity and prosperity.

Had it not been for the appointed time that Allah has written for them (death), their souls would not remain an extra second in their bodies out of yearning for reward and fear of punishment. The Creator ranks Supreme in their eyes, so everything else becomes immaterial to them. They are with Paradise as if they had already witnessed it and enjoyed its presence. They are with Hell as if they have already seen it and tasted its torment. Their hearts grieve and their evil (if any) is non-contagious. Their bodies are lean, their needs are few and their souls are chaste.

They observe patience for a few days and experience everlasting comfort. This is a profitable exchange that their Lord has made pleasant for them. The world tempts them, but they do not succumb. It imprisons them, but they ransomed themselves in exchange.

During the nights they stand in rows and read portions of the Quran. They recite with proper recitation which grieves their hearts and drink it (the Quran) like medicine. If a verse of yearning comes along, they reach for it and believe it is their destination. If an intimidating verse comes along, they pour their hearts towards it and believe that Hell and its screams are in their ears. They sleep on their foreheads and elbows (i.e. they engage in prayers so much that it is as if they sleep in those postures) and implore Allah to deliver them.

In the day, they are tolerant and learned, kind and God-fearing. Fear has chipped away at their bodies as if they were arrows. Anyone looking at them would think that they were sick. But they are not sick. Some will say that they are confused. A great fear has made them look like that. They are never content to do only a few actions (during the day), nor do they ask for a great deal. They condemn themselves and are apprehensive about their deeds.

If one of them is called “pious”, he fears what will be said of him and says: “I know myself better than you do. My Lord knows me better than I do. O Allah! Do not take me to task for what they are saying about me and (O Lord) make me better than they think. Forgive my sins which they do not know about.” Their signs are that they are strong in Islam, resolute in their softness; firm in their belief. They crave for knowledge and are knowledgeable with tolerance; moderate in richness; pleasant in hunger; forbearing in distress; seeking Halal; active in (pursuing) guidance and they abhor greed.

They perform good deeds in fear (of rejection). They spend the evening in gratitude and the morning in remembrance. They sleep in alarm and they awake in joy. If their carnal selves make it difficult for them to fulfil that which they dislike they deprive them (their selves) of that which they like. The apple of their eyes is in what does not perish and their abstemiousness in what disappears. They combine knowledge with tolerance and speech with action.

You will find their hopes are realistic, their mistakes few; their hearts humble, their selves content; their diet meagre, their matters simple, their Deen safe-guarded, their desires killed and their anger subdued. Goodness is expected from them and evil is shielded against them. If they are among those who are oblivious, they are counted amongst those who remember (Allah). If they are among those who remember, they are not written among the oblivious. They pardon those who wrong them; they provide for those who deprive them, and meet those who severe ties with them. They are never profane and always lenient. Their wrong doings are almost non-existent and their good deeds are always present. They are resolute when the earth quakes, steadfast in calamities and grateful in prosperity.

They are no prejudiced against those they dislike nor do they favour those they love. They acknowledge the truth before it appears and do not lose anything they are entrusted with. They do not call anyone names nor do they hurt their neighbours. They do not curse at the time of difficulties nor do they venture into falsehood.

Silence does not bother them and if they laugh, they do not raise their voices. If they are treated with injustice they remain patient until Allah vindicates them.Their own selves live in toil while others are comfortable around them.

Their abstinence from those who stay away from them is their exoneration (from malice). Their proximity to those who are close to them, is a means of mercy (for those who are close to them).

Their remaining aloof is not out of pride and arrogance and their being close is neither a ploy nor a scheme.

Oppression

As the news unfolds of the continued oppression of our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters, let us not forget the following two hadiths

Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever has oppressed another person concerning his reputation or anything else, he should beg him to forgive him before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on him."
Bukhari :: Book 3 :: Volume 43 :: Hadith 629


Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
The Prophet sent Mu'adh to Yemen and said, "Be afraid, from the curse of the oppressed as there is no screen between his invocation and Allah."
Bukhari :: Book 3 :: Volume 43 :: Hadith 628

The Oppressors may think they are safe and secure and in control, but they only fool themselves, ALLAH subhana wa ta'ala knows all that they do.

TGIF !!

Bismillah,

Thank God its Friday. Not only because it is the day of Jumuah but because the Christmas madness is OVER. Yesterday Alhamdullilah I escaped the madness and attended Muslim camp, it goes on until Sunday InshaAllah, and I may attend again today or tommorrow InshaAllah.

It was so refreshing...until I got back (it was out of town), and I could feel the difference in attitude from some Muslims who took part in Christmas celebrations. I met with one disappointment and then another. It was like I was being egged on to get angry by their comments, but I know it was just whisperings from the shaytaan the accursed.

Instead of getting angry, I just felt a little sad :-(. The day then became 'mixed emotion day'

Maybe next year..they wont take part InshaAllah.

On another note....if you are ever feeling taken advantage of, or that people are being selfish, remember this hadith

Narrated Abdullah:
Allah's Apostle said to us, "You will see after me, selfishness (on the part of other people) and other matters that you will disapprove of." They asked, "What do you order us to do, O Allah's Apostle? (under such circumstances)?" He said, "Pay their rights to them (to the rulers) and ask your right from Allah." (Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 88 :: Hadith 175 )

Sometimes its hard to think like this, especially when people seem to take you for granted, but we should focus on doing things for the pleasure of ALLAH Subhana wa ta ala and seek our reward from HIM alone. HE will never disappoint us, if we focus on pleasing people, they will always disappoint, so we should help people and do good deeds seeking ALLAH's reward and not theirs, and Alhamdullilah contentment will follow.

So we should ALWAYS give people their rights, no matter what, and try to control ourselves from 'reacting' negatively to their attitude.

Should Muslims attend Christmas celebrations?

Being one of the few people NOT attending my family Christmas dinner, I had to look for the rulings on this , here is what I found on Islam QA.

Attending the festivals of the mushrikeen and congratulating them
Is it permissible to attend the celebrations of Christian festivals and congratulate them?

Praise be to Allaah.

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: it is not permissible for the Muslims to attend the festivals of the mushrikeen, according to the consensus of the scholars whose words carry weight. The fuqaha’ who follow the four schools of thought have stated this clearly in their books…

Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a saheeh isnaad from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab that he said: “Do not enter upon the mushrikeen in their churches on the day of their festival, for divine wrath is descending upon them.” And ‘Umar also said: “Avoid the enemies of Allaah on their festivals.”

Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a jayyid isnaad from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr that he said: “Whoever settles in the land of the non-Arabs and celebrates their new year and festival and imitates them until he dies in that state, will be gathered with them on the Day of Resurrection.” (Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah, 1/723-724).

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Can she attend Christmas celebrations in order to greet her relatives?
She says: I want to become Muslim, but my family gather to celebrate Christmas, and I want to go and greet them. This is not with the intention of celebrating or joining in, but simply to make the most of the opportunity of my relatives getting together. Is this allowed?

We put this question to Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen,who answered as follows:
No, it is not permitted. If Allaah blesses her with Islam, then the first thing she must do is to distance herself from her former religion and its festivals.

And Allaah knows best.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen

It is not permissible to eat foods that are prepared by the kuffaar for their festivals
Is it permissible for a Muslim to eat the foods that the people of the Book or the mushrikoon prepare for their festivals or accept such foods if they are given on the occasion of their festivals?.

Praise be to Allaah.

t is not permissible for the Muslim to eat foods that the Jews, Christians and mushrikoon make for their festivals. It is not permissible either for a Muslim to accept such things that are given to them on the occasion of their festivals, because that implies honouring them and cooperating with them in manifesting their symbols and propagating their innovations and sharing their happiness on the days of their festivals.

That may also lead to taking their festivals as festivals for us too, or to exchanging invitations to meals or to give gifts on one another’s festivals at the very least. This is a kind of deviation and innovation in religion.

It was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it, will have it rejected.” And it is not permissible to give them anything on the occasion of their festivals.
Al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 22/398.

Ruling on celebrating non-Muslim holidays and congratulating them
Can a muslim celebrate a non muslim holiday like Thanksgiving

Praise be to Allaah.

Greeting the kuffaar on Christmas and other religious holidays of theirs is haraam, by consensus, as Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy on him, said in Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah: "Congratulating the kuffaar on the rituals that belong only to them is haraam by consensus, as is congratulating them on their festivals and fasts by saying ‘A happy festival to you’ or ‘May you enjoy your festival,’ and so on. If the one who says this has been saved from kufr, it is still forbidden.

It is like congratulating someone for prostrating to the cross, or even worse than that. It is as great a sin as congratulating someone for drinking wine, or murdering someone, or having illicit sexual relations, and so on. Many of those who have no respect for their religion fall into this error; they do not realize the offensiveness of their actions. Whoever congratulates a person for his disobedience or bid’ah or kufr exposes himself to the wrath and anger of Allaah."

Congratulating the kuffaar on their religious festivals is haraam to the extent described by Ibn al-Qayyim because it implies that one accepts or approves of their rituals of kufr, even if one would not accept those things for oneself.

But the Muslim should not aceept the rituals of kufr or congratulate anyone else for them, because Allaah does not accept any of that at all, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"If you disbelieve, then verily, Allaah is not in need of you, He likes not disbelief for His slaves. And if you are grateful (by being believers), He is pleased therewith for you. . ."[al-Zumar 39:7]

". . . This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion . . ." [al-Maa’idah 5:3]

So congratulating them is forbidden, whether they are one’s colleagues at work or otherwise.If they greet us on the occasion of their festivals, we should not respond, because these are not our festivals, and because they are not festivals which are acceptable to Allaah.

These festivals are innovations in their religions, and even those which may have been prescribed formerly have been abrogated by the religion of Islaam, with which Allaah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to the whole of mankind.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Aal ‘Imraan 3:85]

It is haraam for a Muslim to accept invitations on such occasions, because this is worse than congratulating them as it implies taking part in their celebrations. Similarly, Muslims are forbidden to imitate the kuffaar by having parties on such occasions, or exchanging gifts, or giving out sweets or food, or taking time off work, etc., because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them."

Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah said in his book Iqtidaa’ al-siraat al-mustaqeem mukhaalifat ashaab al-jaheem: "Imitating them in some of their festivals implies that one is pleased with their false beliefs and practices, and gives them the hope that they may have the opportunity to humiliate and mislead the weak."Whoever does anything of this sort is a sinner, whether he does it out of politeness or to be friendly, or because he is too shy to refuse, or for whatever other reason, because this is hypocrisy in Islaam, and because it makes the kuffaar feel proud of their religion.Allaah is the One Whom we ask to make the Muslims feel proud of their religion, to help them adhere steadfastly to it, and to make them victorious over their enemies, for He is the Strong and Omnipotent.

Majmoo’ah Fataawa wa Rasaa’il al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 3/369)

Muslim woman jailed for wearing headscarf

And this happened in America... not in some mixed up secular-muslim-majority country

"ATLANTA – A Muslim woman arrested for refusing to take off her head scarf at a courthouse security checkpoint said Wednesday that she felt her human and civil rights were violated. A judge ordered Lisa Valentine, 40, to serve 10 days in jail for contempt of court, said police in Douglasville, a city of about 20,000 people on Atlanta's west suburban outskirts"

Read entire story here

Tagged !

I've been tagged by Sister Hijabee

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago

• Studying for A-Level Exams
• Trying to decide on a career
• Watching Dawson's Creek
• Taking care of a pet cat
• Moving

5 Things On My To-Do List

• Memorize Juz 30
• Complete reading 'Evolution of Fiqh'
• Exercise
• Spend more time with relatives
• Start a home business

5 Snacks I Like

• M&Ms
• Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Snickers
• Plantain Chips
• Honey Roasted Cashews

5 things I would do if I was a millionaire

• Retire
• Build a Masjid
• Build a Muslim School
• Sponsor Orphans
• Start an Islamic Riba free revolving loan fund

5 places I have lived ( for various lengths of times)

• Jamaica
• USA
• Japan
• .......thats it :) , I only have 3

5 Jobs I have had

• IT Lab Technician
• IT WebMaster
• Junior Programmer
• Programmer Analyst
• Senior Systems Analyst

5 people I Tag

• Nourah
• Sacrifice4Allah
• Malizea
• ...
• ...

Shaytan's Deception

59:16 (Their allies deceived them), like the Evil One, when he says to man, "Deny Allah.: but when (man) denies Allah, (the Evil One) says, "I am free of thee: I do fear Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!" (Holy Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation)

There were three brothers from Bani Israel who were called upon to go on Jihad. These three brothers had a sister who did not have any one else to be taken care other that by them. They did not know under whose care could they leave the young woman. Then they thought that the most reasonable place to leave her was with the Abid (worshipper) because he was the most trusted man in town. Barsisa, the Abid was a man who used to be in a monastery devoted to worship of ALLAH.

So they went to him and said, ” We are being enlisted to go on Jihad and we want to leave our sister with you. We trust no one in town but you.”
Barsisa replied “Audhu billah, get away from me.” This was an Abid who was not married and he did not want to deal with these problems.
The brothers said, “We have no where else to leave our sister but with you. We don’t trust anyone else.”
So Shaytan came to Barsisa and said, “If u don’t accept, she might be left with somebody who might not be trustworthy.You have to step-up and take this responsibility.”
So Barsisa told the brothers, “Leave her in the empty house.” (which was seperate from the monastery where he was staying).

The brothers then left her there and went on Jihad.
After that, Barsisa the Abid used to leave food at his doorstep and the young woman had to come out of her house and walk all the way to take the food from his doorstep. Barsisa never used to leave from his monastery. Barsisa had never met her and they were not seeing each other. Days passed by like this.

One day, Shaytan came to Barsisa and said, “Somebody might see her when she is walking out. So rather than have her leave from her house. You need to carry it and leave at her doorstep.” So he started leaving the food at her doorstep. This happened for many days.

Again one day, Shaytan came to Barsisa and said, “You can’t just leave the food at her doorstep. Somebody might see her when she opens the door and she is very beautiful. You would have to take the food and leave it inside her room.” So Barsisa would go and knock on the door. She would open and he would walk inside and leave the food there.

That continued for a while. Then again one day Shaytan said, “You can’t leave this poor woman alone without giving her any company. Nobody is speaking to her. So she may be feeling very lonely and that might lead to haram. So why don’t you go and talk to her from behind the door.” Barsisa liked the idea and so for a while he would sit outside and just talk to her for HOURS. Slowly and slowly the relationship was building up and Shaytan was finding it easier to drag him to the next step.

Shaytan then came and said, “You can’t just sit there talking to her, people might see you. You need to go inside, just sit in another room without looking at her and talk to her.” So for sometime that is what he did. Slowly she started getting closer to him and everytime they got more and more close to the extent that eventually he comitted zina (fornication) with her.
So the Abid, the worshipper who devoted his life to service in the monastery comitted zina. Because of that, she became pregnant and delivered a boy.

Then Shaytan came to Barsisa and said,”Now when the brothers come back and find out that their sister has a child you are going to be in big trouble. The only way for you to put an end to this issue is to kill the baby.” Barsisa followed the advice of Shaytan and killed the child.
But it didn’t end there. Shaytan came to him and said, “Do you think that this woman will keep the secret after you kill her own child? The only way out is to kill her.” So Barsisa killed her and burried both mother and child in a certain location inside the house.

Later the brothers came back and inquired about their sister. Barsisa gave some reason and said, “She had passed away and this is where she is burried.” Saying that he pointed to a false grave.

Then Shaytan went to the brothers and made them see a dream. In that dream they were told that Barsisa killed their sister and the proof was that she was burried in a different location (i.e. under the rock inside the house). When the brothers woke up they started talking to each other and found out that they all had seen the same dream. They thought that there must be some truth in it. So they went and uncovered the grave which Barsisa had pointed to and found it empty. Then they went inside the house and found the rock as mentioned in the dream. On digging underneath the rock they found their sister’s dead body along with that of the child.

So they went to Barsisa and forced him to disclose the secret of what happened. He went ahead and told them the whole story. The three brothers took Barsisa to the king’s court and he was given punishment of execution. While Barsisa was being dragged to his execution spot, Shaytan came to him and said, “Listen Barsisa I am Shaytan and it was me who was in communication with you since this whole thing started and not your inner thoughts. Now I can get u out of this trouble if you want. I am the one who put you in this trouble in the first place and I can get u out of it.”

Barsisa asked, “What should I do?”
Shaytan said, “Do sujood to me and I will save you.”
Barsisa did sujood to Shaytan (i.e. committed shirk) and as soon as he did so, Shaytan ran away and Barsisa was executed.
(Taken from Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki’s lecture set “Hereafter”)

31:33 O mankind! do your duty to your Lord, and fear (the coming of) a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father. Verily, the promise of Allah is true: let not then this present life deceive you, nor let the chief Deceiver deceive you about Allah (Holy Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation)

This is pretty scary, we all should be wary of whisperings from the Shayateen, and stay away from small sins, these could eventually lead to large sins. Let us always keep in mind that we are being tested and not willingly put ourselves in potentially distructive situations.

Alcohol Shortage? Isn't that a good thing?

5:90 O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper. (Holy Quran - Yusuf Ali Translation)

Pretty straightforward don't you think?

One would think that in a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, a shortage of alcohol should be a good thing. In fact what the heck are they doing selling alcohol there in the first place? Why can't the government get gutsy and just BAN alcohol sales outright and stop pandering to tourists?

The article below is from BBC


Indonesia drinkers face alcohol shortage
By Lucy Williamson BBC News, Jakarta

They call it "the Bitching Session". Once a week, in the hushed cocktail lounge of Jakarta's Dharmawangsa Hotel, Miranti and her girlfriends gather.
They come for a proper gossip, and several glasses of the hotel's legendary chocolate martini.
We can bitch about work, boys, whatever we feel like, Miranti explained. But it is always at the Dharmawangsa because of that delicious chocolate martini.

Miranti is part of a growing class in Indonesia. She is 34, single, an architect.
Like her friends, she knows how to run a business, deal with jet-lag, and how to mix a margarita.
What she does not know is that she is at the heart of a battle being fought here in Jakarta - over alcohol.

Mostly, it is a battle that has been fought out of sight. But now the wounds are appearing.
On the shiny tables of the capital's five star hotels, little cards have appeared next to the silver dishes of peanuts, delicately warning guests of an embarrassing lack of alcohol.

Menus at some of the best-known cocktail bars on the tourist island of Bali have shrunk to a single page. And the country's top Japanese restaurants are reported to have run out of sake.
Indonesia is facing a nationwide alcohol shortage.
As the bar manager of one international hotel put it: "We'll be dry by the weekend."

'Crisis manager'
At first glance, the reason is an anti-corruption drive. A few months ago, the government decided to clamp down on the huge black market in alcohol, and to stop companies bribing their way through customs. That left the country's sole legal importer trying to meet a demand that is more than four times the size of its legal quotas. And the company's chief executive, Ketut Arnaya, is taking the offensive. On the wall of his office, next to a vast painting of galloping horses and several golf trophies, hangs a certificate. Ketut Arnaya, it says, is the best CEO in the country at "crisis management".

He flicks through a proposal, thick with data, that he handed to the government last month, asking them to increase the quotas on alcohol, and also to cut its import taxes.
A bottle of spirits carries taxes of up to 400% its original price - almost twice as much, Ketut says, as anywhere else in the region. The government stands to make a lot of money from relaxing the rules on alcohol. And to lose it, if it does not.

Controversial customers
The head of Bali's tourist board says his members are getting increasingly worried as the Christmas high season approaches. But the head of fiscal policy at the finance ministry was wary. The government was considering letting more legal alcohol into the country he said, but it was worried about the consequences of doing so. And part of that worry is down to the simple fact of who is drinking the wine and the cocktails served up here. Foreign tourists in Bali, yes. Foreign businessmen in Jakarta too. But as a manager at one five star hotel explained, that is not the whole story. "I have a wine bar here," he told me, "in which I would say 80% are Indonesians. These are the people who are ready to spend good money on alcohol and wines - the local Indonesians."

In a largely Muslim country, that is controversial. One reason, he said, why he believes the government has not accepted it yet, and also why they are unwilling to increase the quotas.
Government officials admit they want to discourage consumption; that they are worried about Indonesians drinking more; that it needs strict regulation.

Miranti - Indonesian and Muslim - disagrees.

"I think it depends on the person themselves," she told me, "because I haven't seen many people staggering out of a bar or restaurant, blind drunk, or throwing up on the street. We don't drink to get drunk."

"But then," she admitted, "I don't know about the younger generation, because when we were younger we were only allowed a very limited stipend."

Was it money that stopped you getting drunk before? I asked her. "Oh totally," she said, "totally."

Indonesia is always treading a fine line on these sorts of issues.
In a non-Muslim state that is home to the world's largest population of Muslims, the answers are never clear. This debate pits the country's economic need against some of its most deeply held social values. It is a debate that is likely to grow - at least while there are still a few bottles in the country's cellars to fuel the discussion.

Half our deen, the search continues.....

Yes, Yes..I know I know I know........this marriage topic is all played out, we have heard it all before. The worldwide shortage of eligible Muslim men, the overwhelming number of Muslim sisters who can't find a suitable husband, and of course the divorce horror stories.

Here is a summary of a few of my search experiences,

The guy who chatted with me on webcam, but paid more attention to CSI Miami...DURING our conversations, so I mostly just saw the side of his head as he watched TV. Him belching loudly into the microphone and telling me to "get used to it".....NEXT

The guy who dissed me because I was not interested in wearing niqaab (although it is NOT compulsory) .......NEXT

The guy whose first question was "what is your profession?" , and he has no place to live and no stable job....NEXT

The guy who said "I would marry her if she was a little bit younger" ....NEXT

The guy who sounded so desperate, and wanted to get married after speaking to me for a week, he freaked me out .....NEXT

The guy who did not Fast and Pray but said "At least I am Muslim".....NEXT

The guy who was old enough to be my father ...and he already has two other wives (not that theres anything wrong with Polygamy)..but yes...NEXT

The guy who is a 'Practicing Muslim' but plays Guitar (we all know the music debate)....NEXT

The guy who was insistent on his wife covering (and I Do wear hijab) ...but yet he sent me a pic of him wearing shorts and having his arm around the waist of Eryka Badu (who is NOT related to him) and another woman..........NEXT

The guy who divorced his wife (with 5 kids) and refused to tell me the reason...I later found out quite by accident that he had cheated on her......NEXT

The cute guy who could not have an intellectual conversation with me and got into temper tantrums whenever it seemed like I was gonna end our communication.....NEXT

The guy who practically cussed me off, because I have a problem with the Nation of Islam ......NEXT

The guy whose entire conversation was regarding polygamy even though he was NOT married and I had switched the subject numerous times.....NEXT

But at the end of the day.....I don't want to be saying NEXT forever....and although I know there is no one that is perfect, I am yet to find someone I am compatible with. I will continue to make Dua and continue to search..online and offline.

Allah subhana wa ta'ala is the Doer and Istikhara has made things clear for me several times, Alhamdullilah.

I will be patient and content with where I am at but trust me , I'm not putting up with anybodys ignorance and foolishness....so NEXT


The happiness of the son of Adam depends on his being content with what Allah has decreed for him, and the misery of the son of Adam results from his failure to pray istikharah, and the misery of the son of Adam results from in his discontent with what Allah has decreed for him.

Hadith - al-Tirmidhi # 2151. [Classed as saheeh by al-Haakim, 1/699, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him. It was classed as hasan by al-Haafiz ibn Hajar in Fath al-Baari, 11/184]

Changing the condition, one dua at a time

Bismillah,

Today on the day of Arafat, I sat and I reflected on my condition, I feel like I am at a standstill, and I need to move forward or I will fall into complacency. We all know that Allah subhana wa ta ala will not change the condition of a people until they change themselves.

13:11 For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah. Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls). But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.
(Holy Quran , Yusef Ali Translation)

A friend called me today and being my mirror as she always is, MashaAllah, she pointed out some of my faults.
“A believer is a mirror to his brother. A believer is a brother of a believer: he protects him against any danger and guards him from behind.” (Related by Al Bukhari and by Abu Dawood.)

After that lengthy discussion, and having been told bluntly what I was doing wrong, I acknowledged my wrongs and made a conscious decision to change InshaAllah.

So this is my dua of this day of Arafat, may Allah subhana wa ta ala accept it.

Oh Allah,

I have been selfish,
I have been arrogant,
I have been proud,
I have been envious,
I have been jealous,
I have been angry and not controlling of my speech under these conditions,
I have been neglectful of the feelings of others,
I have been dis-content with what you have provided for me,
I have wrongly judged others when You alone are the Judge,
I have not been patient,
I have wrongly said I will never do such and such, when I nor anyone else know what the future holds and only You are the Knower of the unseen,

Oh Allah, please forgive me of my faults,
forgive me of my transgressions,
forgive me of that which I associate with You knowingly and unknowingly,
rid my heart of arrogance, pride, boastfulness, haughtiness, jealousy, envy, greed, selfishness, anger and the multitude of other faults that I exhibit at times due to my lack of self control,
Oh Allah, Increase me in Eeman (faith), and Yaqeen (certainty),
Oh Allah, Increase me in Ridaa (contentment and pleasure with what Allah has decreed for me),
Oh Allah, fill my heart with generosity,
Oh Allah, fill my heart with humility,
Oh Allah , Increase me in Ilm, Increase me in knowledge of You,
Increase me in love of You,

Oh Allah without You, without Your forgiveness I will be truly lost.
Please forgive me Allah.

Ameen, Ameen, Ameen, Ya Rabbil Alameen

Back to basics

Reminder on Tawheed


This book gives a clear understanding of what Islamic Monotheism means.
"Tawheed, the oneness of God, is the core of the Islamic faith" It is the basis of the religion of Islam expressed by 'La ilaha illallah' (There is no god but Allah subhana wa ta'ala), there is only one true God and He alone is deserving of worship.

Tawheed was taught by all the Prophets and Messengers to mankind.

There are three categories of Tawheed

Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah - Maintaining the Unity of Lordship, affirming that Allah is one, without partners in His sovereignty. "Allah alone caused all things to exist when there was nothing. He sustains and maintains creation without any need from it or for it, and He is the sole Lord of the universe..." "Nothing happens in creation except what He allows to happen.

"Allah created all things and He is the agent on which all things depend." (Holy Quran 39:62)

"And Allah created you and whatever you do." (Holy Quran 37:96)

"And no calamity strikes except by Allah's permission..." (Holy Quran 64:11)

Tawheed al-Asma was-Sifaat - Maintaining the Unity of Allah's Names and Attributes, belief that Allah is uniquely one in His names and attributes without similitude and comparison. "Allah must be referred to according to how He and His Prophet (peace be upon him) have described Him, without explaining away His names and attributes by giving them meanings other than their obvious meanings." It also involves referring to Allah as "He has referred to Himself without giving Him any new names or attributes", "referring to Him without giving Him the attributes of creation" and "requires that man must not be given the attributes of Allah"

"..There is nothing like Him and He is the hearer and seer of all." (Holy Quran 42:11)

"Nor is there to Him any equivalent" (Holy Quran 112:4)

Tawheed Ulooheeyah/ Ibaadah - Maintaining the Unity of Allah's Worship, the belief that All is uniquely one in His worship or divinity without rival. "Firm belief in the first two categories alone is not sufficient.." "the idolators of the Prophet's time confirmed many aspects of the first two forms of Tawheed" and "Many disbelievers knew of Allah's sovereigntity, dominion and power"

"Say: 'Who is it that gives you sustenance from the sky and earth, Who governs sight and hearing, and Who brings forth life from dead(matter) and death from the living; and plans the affairs of man?' They will all say 'Allah'..." (Holy Quran 10:31)

"If you asked them who created them, they would surely say 'Allah'..." (Holy Quran 43:87)

"Most of them do not believe in Allah except while joining partners to Him." (Holy Quran 12:106)

"All forms of worship must be directed only to Allah because He alone deserves worship, and it is He alone who can grant benefit to man as a result of His worship." "There is no need for any form of intercessor or intermediary between man and God." The main purpose of man's creation is to worship Allah.

"I did not create jinn and mankind except for My worship." (Holy Quran 51:56)

"Verily, We have sent to every nation a messenger [saying], 'Worship Allah and avoid false gods'..." (Holy Quran 16:36)

"You alone do we worship, and from You alone do we seek help" (Holy Quran 1:5)