Recap on Islamic Awareness Week

Bismillah,

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

First let me apoligize for not posting in a while. Right after Islamic Awareness week, I got the flu, I think my immune system was low due to the lots of driving around and of course it rained in Montego Bay. But Alhamdullilah, I'm fine now, just been a little busy with some projects at work.

The seminars were excellent MashaAllah. Brothers Abu Khadeejah of salafipublications and Abu Hakim Bilal Davis are really vibrant speakers MashaAllah. This was the first event of this kind being held in Jamaica and InshaAllah there will be more to come.

They said they have never travelled to any country where the people were more open to dawah as here in Jamaica, they loved it here, and may be coming back to do more seminars in the near future InshaAllah.

There was good turnout at the seminars in Kingston, Montego Bay and Mandeville Alhamdullilah. They also held small classes in St. Mary but I was not able to attend those.

They spoke on various topics including Islam's solution to crime and violence and achieving security, death and the day of judgment and the importance of knowledge. The lecturers were inspiring, upliftibg, educational and especially in the case of the lecture on death and the day of judgement, heart wrenching. It really helped to put things in perspective for me and others who attended. MashaAllah all in all it was pretty good and I look forward to more InshaAllah.

In fact tonight (June 9th, 2009) there will be a recording of their Interview with Ian Boyne on the TV programme 'Religious Hardtalk' InshaAllah. All of you here in Jamaica, be sure to tune in to TVJ at 9:00 pm.

Rumour has it that another overseas speaker may be coming later in the Summer InshaAllah.

Islamic Awareness Week begins today in Kingston

UPDATED !

Happy Jumuah!

Brothers Abu Hakeem Bilaal Davis, and Abu Khadeejah Abdul Waahidalam from the UK are in Jamaica for a series of lectures and seminars starting today. The khutbah today at the masjid I attend, will be given by one of them InshaAllah and tommorrow there will be a seminar InshaAllah. The topics look interesting especially the one about 'Islam's Solution to crime and violence'. I think that one is very needed in our society, the crime rate here is terrible. I'll let you all know what I thought of the khutbah when I get back from Jumuah InshaAllah, and will keep you posted about the seminar tomorrow InshaAllah.


UPDATE ! The Khutbah was excellent MashaAllah. It was mainly about dawah, that all the Messengers of Allah (pbut) called to Allah first, they called to tawheed first and foremost. The rules and laws came afterwards. In the time of Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alaihi wa salam, none of the laws were revealed in Makka, they were revealed in Medina after the people had accepted tawheed (the oneness of Allah) and had a love for Allah in their hearts. Even the prohibition on alcohol came gradually, first they were told not to approach prayers while intoxicated. Then they were told not to come near to khamr (alcohol and intoxicants) whatsoever. So if someone had wanted to drink they couldnt drink at Dhur time because they would be intoxicated at Asr, and they couldnt drink at Asr time because they would be intoxicated at Maghrib, and they couldnt drink at Maghrib time because they would be intoxicated for Isha Prayer. So the only time they could drink without fearing that they would go to the prayer intoxicated was after Isha. So it was a gradual phasing out, then when the verse was revealed that they should not come near to alcohol, they discarded all their alcoholic beverages, their hearts had become attached to Allah and it was now easy for them to give up alcohol alltogether.

This reminded me of something I had read recently by Ibn Qayyim..

'...The smart one does not command people to abandon the dunya, because this is impossible for them. Rather, he has them abandon sins while they are established in their dunya. This is because abandoning the dunya is an optional virtue while abandoning sins is an obligation. So, how can he command them with something optional while they have not even fulfilled what is obligatory?

If it is difficult for them to abandon sins, he should then strive to get them to love Allah by reminding them of His signs, blessings, Kindness, perfection, and Loftiness. This is because the hearts are naturally designed to love Him, and if they become attached to loving Him, it then becomes extremely easy to abandon sins and to detach oneself from them.

Yahya bin Mu'adh said: 'The intelligent one seeking the dunya is better than the ignorant one abandoning it.'

The smart one calls the people to Allah from their dunya, and this makes it easier for them to respond to him. The zahid calls them to Allah by way of abandoning the dunya, and this makes it hard for them to respond, since it is very hard to pull someone away from the breast that he has developed his mind while suckling on...'

[al-Fawa'id; p. 233-234]

Sometimes when we give dawah (to Muslims and non-Muslims we dont realize the stage the person is at, one of the most important things we can do is to listen, not just speak, really listen and try to understand people. We need to start at the beginning, with love of Allah Subhana wa ta'ala, not associating partners with Him, whether it is other people, our job, money or whatever else we believe that we cannot do without, then and only then will we be able to accept and follow the 'rules'.

Leaving a legacy - Muahmmad AlShareef

Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon

The last sermon of the Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) is known as 'Khutbatul Wada'. It is mentioned in almost all books of Hadith. The following Ahadith in Sahih Al-Bukhari refer to the sermon and quote part of it, Hadith 1623, 1626, 6361. Sahih of Imam Muslim also refers to this sermon in Hadith number 98. Imam al-Tirmidhi has mentioned this sermon in Hadith nos. 1628, 2046, 2085. Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal has given us the longest and perhaps the most complete version of this sermon in his Musnad, Hadith no. 19774.

This Khutbah of the Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) contained much guidance and instructions on many issues. The Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) gave this sermon in front of a large gathering of people during Hajj. It is a great khutbah and we should all pay attention to its message and guidance. (excerpt from soundvision.com)

The following are the basic points mentioned in this khutbah:

This sermon was delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H. in the 'Uranah valley of Mount Arafat' (in Mecca).

After praising, and thanking Allah (Subhana wa ta'ala) he said:

"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your LORD, and that HE will indeed reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn 'Abd'al Muttalib (Prophet's uncle) shall henceforth be waived...

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before ALLAH and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, NO PROPHET OR APOSTLE WILL COME AFTER ME AND NO NEW FAITH WILL BE BORN. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QURAN and my example, the SUNNAH and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O ALLAH, that I have conveyed your message to your people".

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This khutbah is just as relevant now as it was then. Imagine if we all paid heed to this message. Let us pass it on, and may we all benefit from it, Ameen!