Tonight is the night before Eid.

If you aren't going crazy with happiness, if aren't feel really festive because of personal reasons...

Just think....
 Eid isn’t about me, my problems, stress or burnout.

Eid is bigger than I.

Eid is about celebrating the guidance Allah sent us 1400 years ago.

It’s about thanking Allah for strengthening our will power and increasing our discipline in a notoriously selfish and consumerist culture.

It's realizing we are capable of intensive Ibaadah and righteousness.

It's hoping to receive Allah's pleasure. 

It’s about supporting the unity of Muslims. It’s about appreciating the fact that many Muslims who are hitherto strangers, pray Taraweeh side-by-side as if blood sisters, and share suhur together, hear the Qur’an, confess sins, take care of the elderly, poor and needy.

Eid is the smell of sheer-korma brewing the kitchen. 

It’s baking up a storm of recipes.

Eid is hitting the shops and buying presents.

Eid is mendhi.

Eid is churiyan.

Eid is embracing loved ones. 

Eid Mubarak!

TaqabalAllahu minna wa minkum aameen. 

(may Allah accept it from us and from you)

The Politics of 27th Night of Ramadan!

Please explain to me why...

1. Why do fundraisers hold Taraweeh hostage on the 27th night of Ramadan? The fundraisers are  overly patronising, rudely interrupting  people's spiritual aura. I know you are carrying out a worthy task, raising money for the Masjid but I am fully capable of making a donation through the website. Emotionally, I don't want the 27th night to become a brand to chug change. If the Masjid produced enough programs for the community, it would not need a fundraiser for support.  Maybe if the Masjid administrations were more kid-friendly and tried to accommodate women more often, people would volunteer their money without being ask. The Prophet (s.a.w) said something to the effect that when a person spreads his hands before others for help, Allah covers and overwhelms this person with poverty. When a person makes duaa, Allah suffices all his needs.

2. Why does the Masjid emphasis on the 27th night of Ramadan being Layl al Qadr? The Prophet (s.a.w) did not mention any specific date then why do we make a big deal only out of the 27th night? The Masjid does a Khatam Qur'an. Why not take advantage of every odd night during the last 10 days? People pile up with their 5 kids and carry-ons for one and a half hour prayer. I don't have space to stand, forget about space to make sujood  because of the sister sporting a chai thermus and a pillow in the row in front of me. I promise you, this is not a camping trip. Also, I promise you that Taraweeh does not mean group recitation. Just because the Imaam is reciting Surahs which you have memorized, please don't recite out loud. 

3. Why does the Imaam make Duaa alQunoot every night in Witr Salah after Tarweeh when the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) made this duaa only a select few times. I am not comfortable making duaa for their for bloodshed. Why can't the Imaam collectively make istighaar on the behest of the Ummah for our personal and communal sins? Destruction and indignity prevails by the permission of Allah when we sin. Sins translate into suffering. We need to stop sinning if we want the suffering to end. Why doesn't the Imaam make duaa to bless this Ummah with another Salahuddin?

4. I am really sad about the protests. Seriously what's the point of demonstrating in front of the Israeli consulate at 6 pm when it closes at 5 pm? And don't even get me started about the Palestinians taking pictures of the dead or maimed victims all day. If people don't have electricity and drinking water, how are they getting wifi? Why are they on social media all day anyway? Isn't a RPG or a bazuka or even a SR22 pistol better than a camera or a phone? Why don't they fight back? Stop calling the Americans and get your own freedom! Even in the United States, police is insulated from politics. People can have their opinions (even protests): they can vote if they like. But policy goes on its merry way, determined by other forces. 

I don't mean that social media is a sign of luxury which the Palestinians don't deserve or should not use. I just think that using electronic communications to overthrow the existing order may not play out like it did during the Iranian Revolution in 1979. When Komeini went to Paris and began recording cassette tapes and calling Iran via the direct telephone system, he reached a vast audience who quickly militarized against the Shah. Therefore, I am not undermining the fact that a lot can and has been said on facebook to spread awareness about the genocide in Palestine but unless words translate into action, the hundreds and thousands of  angry/sarcastic posts, graphic pictures and tweets do not achieve much.

I feel that a billion Muslim, stretching almost 10,000 miles from Morocco to Mindanao, in 53 sovereign states, under OIC (Organization of Islamic conference) are wasting their time on facebook! Why don't our businesses support Palestine like Coca cola, MacDonald's and countless other companies around the world finance the IDF?  Why don't we fight like dozens of Canadians have gone to Israel to take up arms for the Jewish State?

It is the 27th night of Ramadan, I am not going to fret over the internet any more. O Allah, I cry and take my grief to You. *sigh* 

Poem: Allah se Ta'aluq

Allah ki Taraf Aakar To Dekh

Allah Matwajah Na Ho To Kehna

Allah Rah Mein Chal Ke To Dekh

Allah Raahein Na Khol De To Kehna

Allah Se Sawal Kar Ke To Dekh

Allah Bakhshish Ki Had Na Kar De To Kehna

Allah ke Liye Beqadar Ho Ke Dekh

Allah Qadar Ki Had Na Kar De To Kehna

Allah Se Mang Kar To Dekh

Allah Rehmat Ke Khazane Na De To Kehna

Allah ke Liye Bik Ke To Dekh

Allah Anmol Na Kar De To Kehna

Allah ko Rab Maan Ke To Dekh

Allah Sab Se Be Niyaz Na Kar De To Kehna

Allah Khof Se Aansoo To Baha Ke Dekh

Allah Maghfirat Ka Darya Na Bahade To Kehna

Wafa Ki Laaj Nibha Ke To Dekh

Allah Ata Ki Had Na Karde To Kehna

Allah ke Naam Ki Izzat Kar Ke To Dekh

Allah Rehmat Ke Darwaze Na Khol De To Kehna

Allah ke Liye Apni Hasti Ko Fana Kar Ke To Dekh

Allah Jannat Ki Har Rah Teri Taraf Na Khol De To Kehna

Allah ka Ho Ke To Dekh

Allah Har Kisi Ko Tera Na Bana De To Kehna

Allah ki Taraf Aakar To Dekh

Allah Matwajah Na Hoon To Kehna

The Student of Knowledge - Wannabes

It is very frightening that a lot of young adults are studying Islam to diagnose other Muslims as deviants and to categorize into difference levels of misguidance; to be harsh and tire other people with debate. This kind of knowledge sows the seeds of dissension and weakens the Muslim community. Do we need to give the Islamophobs more ammunition? Who cares about the Muslims? They don't even like each other. While it is okay to advise others in private, it should be done in the spirit of adab and fraternity. 

The objective of studying Islam is to know our  Rabb, understand Him correctly and worship Him according to the way of the Prophet (s.a.w) and the early generations. If our study of Fiqh and Aqeedah does not make us: cry in front of Allah, be humble in the service of others, wanting to spread the truth with wisdom and mercy then we have failed to achieve the fruit of our knowledge. 

Oppression in Palestine and Oppression at Home

Al-Maghrib Institute partnered with Islamic Relief to raise

mashaAllah over $500,000 for Palestine. Islamic Relief has pledged $2.5 million in food and water, mattresses and medicine to the displaced and wounded Palestinians in need. Many mashayakh came online and spoke at a great length. From them I would like to especially thank Sr. Yasmin Mogahed for reminding the Muslim community of two really great points.

First, Sr. Yasmin said, “Palestine is in this state of oppression due to our love for this world and fear of death.” The Prophet (s.a.w) prophesized that a time will come when the world powers will invite each other to invade the Muslim countries, although Muslims are great in number, they will not defend each other out of love for this world and fear of death.

A vast number of Arab countries today pretend to be oblivious to the killing of children in Palestine. Even individual Muslims all around the world believe that as long as we are not directly occupied, we’d rather have as much fun as possible (granted we show our solidarity with Palestine on facebook).  There is no nation more extravagant and overindulgent than the Muslims. The only month of worship, Ramadan is the best example of our bloated gluttony. Its not like we are going to die or anything? The prophecy of Muhammad (s.a.w) has materialized, we do love our "dunya" more than Palestine and we are so scared of death that we don't really want to think about it that much.
Sr. Yasmin maintains that “if we want to help Palestine, [then] we [must]  change ourselves first:” change the way we think about life and live our personal life.

Second, Sr. Yasmin explains that “the oppression in

Palestine is a manifestation of oppression that lies inside of us.” We commit many acts of violence everyday against our family and against the people in our Masjid. We are a source of distress and nuisance for the people around us. We need to start our charity from home and then help people closest to our social circle. 

"Oppression in the home is not a private matter between a husband and wife that should be ignored. It can lead to the destruction of a Muslim family, which is already so fragile in the current Islamphobic environment. The destruction of one Muslim family is the destruction of one unit of the Muslim Ummah" - Abdul Malik Mujahid 

Summary: Qur'an Juzz 15

Summary of JUZ"15"

From Surah Banni israel Ayah 1-111 and Surah Al Kahf Ayah 1-74

CONTENT:
Surah Bani Israeel

▪Allah (swt) took the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) on a miraculous journey (field trip to strength his faith)
▪Different nations were tested (to teach them humility) and punished (as a result of their arrogance before Allah) through various trials
▪The intended audience of the Qur’an is humanity

▪Who are the ibaadi?
▪ Reciting the Qur’an after fajr, the benefits of reciting the Qur’an at any given time
▪The beautiful Names of Allah

Surah Kahf
▪Description of the Qur’an and the qualities of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)

▪What should be our priority?
▪Allah tests individuals with 4 things: faith (people of the cave who were persecuted because of their faith), wealth (the man with 2 gardens who became arrogant), knowledge (the assumption of Musa a.s that he knows everything) and power (the exercise of power and authority by Dhul Qarnain)

▪Allah Speaks

Brief Summary of JUZ"15"

Ayah1: Allah introduced the Prophet (s.a.w) to the Bani Israel with a unique miracle of ascension in the night, which was only given to him (s.a.w). Taking him to Jerusalem and having him lead behind all the previous Prophets further establishes his Messengership and the conclusiveness the revelation given to him (i.e. he is the leader of all the Messengers as he led them in Salah and the revelation given to him concludes everything that Allah revealed in the past)

Ayah 3-8: Israel disobeyed Laws of Allah swt out of arrogance and caused distress and violence upon the earth because of which Allah sent against them enemy forces (militaries) that uprooted and destroyed their entire civilization. Should the Muslims exercise the same level of arrogance and haughtiness against Allah, Allah will establish military forces against us as a form of punishment to destroy our homes and Masajid.

Ayah 11: A person is more likely to make duaa against himself out of anger.

Ayah 18-19: Allah will give you whatever you have worked hard for (working hard is a condition): dunya or akhirah

Ayah 23: Allah has decreed that parents should be treated with ehsaan (extra goodness).

-This is not a matter of personal choice: just as we worship Allah consistently because He is our Rabb whether He gives us blessings or tests us, in the same way parents should be handled with extra kindness regardless to whether or not they respect you, love you or are fair to you etc.

-lower yourself them physically, and soften your voice when speaking to them: don’t intimidate them with your size, speak to them in a dignified manner.

Ayah 25: Allah knows the type of people we are in public and private

-instead of being worrying about what people will think of you, think about how Allah feels about you after knowing all your ugliness

Ayah 27-28: wasteful are the brothers of shaytan

Ayah 30-33: Do not kill your children (abortion) out of fear of provision (Allah provides for you and will provide for them).

Ayah 34-38: Do not give children money until they understand its value (how to spend it)

Ayah 39: Wisdom is taking the right decision at the right time

Ayah 40-44: Everything in the heavens and the earth is doing Tasbeeh of Allah. There is nothing that is equal to him.  

Ayah 53: Shaytan sows the seeds of dissension among people by making us misconstrue what the other person has said

-shaytan will breaks your relations with people and make you argue with others by making you feel that they have said something wrong about you (disrespected you, backbitted about you etc)

-do not base your feelings about other people on what you “think” they have said about you, this is trap. Just go clarify your issue with the concerned person. If they did not insult you or put you down, then take it on face value. Do not over interpret  

-the Prophet (s.a.w) said on one hadith that shaytan comes to you at night in your bed before your family/spouse and throws things at you (thoughts) to make you angry with your family. So if you find yourself getting angry at night with your family, do not act upon that anger as it is from Shaytan.

Ayah 62: Shaytan’s personal mission is to consume our children

-this world is a battle ground for shaytan, his targets are children

-kids especially need to be protected from Shaytan through proper knowledge of Islam

Ayah 83: When Allah gives you goodness, you become proud but when Allah takes away the blessing you fall into depression

-it is necessary to have a balanced personality: do not be sensitive to material things, you are not defined by material things that Allah gives you. Your entire life is a story between you and Allah, everything is secondary. Stay focused on Allah.

Ayah 84: Do not blame your actions on others

-you do whatever that is inside of you, no one makes you do anything except whatever is inside of you comes out.

Ayah 85: Only Allah complete knowledge of the soul

-we are not allowed to make predictions or maintain theories outside of what Allah has revealed  

-the soul is from outside of this world, there is no way we can scientifically measure or mathematically explain it

Ayah 86: Qur’an will flee from us like a camel runs away from its owner if it is not tied down

Ayah 107-109: When people hear the Qur’an they fall on their faces in sujood.

-What is my relationship with the Qur’an?

Ayah 110-111: Learn the Names of Allah

Surah Al-Kahf

Ayah 1:  Allah gave the perfect Book to the perfect Slave

-Qur’an is not ordinary and the people who live it become extra ordinary

Ayah 6-8: The Prophet (s.a.w) was so sad over the people who did not become Muslim that it was near that the sadness would kill him.

Ayah 9-18: Story of the people of the cave

Ayah 10: Duaa of the people of the cave

Ayah 19-20: the purpose of resurrecting the People of the Cave was to strengthen the resolve of the nations at the time. They were questioning life after death so Allah gave them a visual presentation to repel their doubts. But people fell into another fitnah. They started arguing about the number of the people in the cave and the number of years they were dead. This was entirely useless and completely miss the point behind the miracle.

-some people argue more about the signs of Layl al Qadr (the size and colour of the moon and the sun etc) instead of worshipping Allah during the odd nights

-some people go too deep into the various fiqh opinions about Salah, Wudu and eating halal that they miss the essence of the act of worship.

Ayah 21: the nation wanted to construct a monument over their grave and make it a historic site.

-again reflection over the purpose of the miracle was completely lost, their live and death become a means of amusement and festivity for the people

-So many Muslims go for Umrah and Hajj, however all they do when they arrive in Makkah is eat and shop and take pictures. The value of the Holy Mosque is reduced to a tourist spot where people go for fun and vacation.

Ayah 23-24: Say “inshaAllah”

Ayah 28: What to look for in a friend

-Don’t be impressed by people who have a lot of material wealth: they neither deserve it nor have their earned it by their own accord. The luxuries in their life deludes them away from Allah

-choose someone who is righteous (good personality, an overall good person who does a lot of good)

-believes in Allah

-leaves sins out of respect for Allah

-remembers Allah morning and evening

Ayah 32: Wealth is a test, it deceives a person about Allah

- self righteous, holier than thou attitude

-say, “MashaAllah . la quwatta illa billah” (Allah has willed it , there is no power or might except Allah) whenever you experience or see a person with a lot of blessings

-a person who takes the favours of Allah and then forgets Allah is the worst slave

Ayah 45: Allah made the world really appealing, and this is what makes the test really hard.

Ayah 55: What prevents you from seeking forgiveness? Arrogance?

Ayah 58 Allah is still forgiving, you should repent some time.

Ayah 60-82

-Do not judge any given situation, Allah knows best – you do not

-humility and respect of teacher/seeking knowledge – ask questions at the end of class, do not disturb the teacher (cut them off) during class

-to learn great things, you need to dismiss what you already know (have an open mind) and patience

Ayah 83-98: Story of Dhul Qarnain and Yajooj Majooj.

-despite having a huge kingdom, a lot of wealth and armies, he did not frivolously sit around enjoying his life. He traversed to the ends of the earth helping people.

-we try to maximize our comforts while he employed everything he had to help people.

Ayah 109: If all the trees turned into pen and all the oceans turned into ink (many time over), we still would not be able to record the Speech of Allah

Ayah 110: The Prophet (s.a.w.) is human (granted his is perfect, but he does not share in any of he divine qualities of Allah, neither is he an angel), the only difference is that he receives revelation from Allah

Summary: Qur'an Juzz 14

Summary of JUZ"14"
From Surah AL HIJAR and Surah ANNHAL...

CONTENT
▪Quran contains clear evidences.
▪Arrogance can lead to disbelieve in Allah
▪Creation of Humans and Jinns.
▪Gates of Hellfire

▪Ibrahim (a.s) and his guests
▪the punishment dished out to the people of Lut (a.s)

 ▪The miracle of honey bee
▪Conversations from Barzakh

▪The role of the Prophet (s.a.w) in giving the tafseer (explanation) of Qur’an

Surah Hijr [1-99]:

Ayah 1: The message of the Qur’an is very clear and obvious, even a child can understand it.

-We assume that the Qur’an is a very challenging Book, one needs to be pious or at the very least, one has to have accepted faith in order to read the Qur’an. All of these are plots of shaytan to distance us from receiving guidance. Whoever you are and whatever part of life you are in, read the Qur’an, it will make sense. Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) read the Qur’an for the first time from a hospital bed where he was recovering from drug overdose.

Ayah 2: The one thing which people will regret after death is their lack of belief in Allah.

-Man predicts that the sun will rise every day, yet doubts the existence of its Creator. What good is our intelligence (education) if we don’t know the simple reality of life – Allah made this universe, you and I.

Ayah 3: People are too delusional with all the food and the satisfaction of their fantasies to take out the time to hear the message of Islam.

-What keeps you away from Allah? What are you wasting your time on?

Ayah 9: Allah has promised to preserve the Qur’an

Ayah 26: the origins of every human person are very trivial and pathetic.

-In case a person begins to feel significant and proud of himself then he should remember that he is made from nothing more than a drop of worthless water. There is no legitimate excuse for his arrogance

Ayah 33: Shaytan blamed everyone except himself for his downfall.

Ayah 39: Shaytan swore revenge

Ayah 40: Only the mukhlaseen(chosen by Allah) will not come under the influence of Shaytan

-guidance is a gift from Allah. It is a privilege to worship Allah.

Ayah 44: Hell has 7 doors.

Ayah 45-49: There will be a river before Paradise which will cleanse the feelings of rancour and enmity from our heart

-sometimes we cannot help feel the way we do, some injuries remain in our heart forever. Allah will expunge all those lingering sadnesses and stresses from our mind.

-a person will be psychologically free of every emotional burden before entering Paradise

-do not grieve over what is already past, Allah will take care of it in the Hereafter. Let it go for now

Ayah 91: Do not pick and choose from what you would like to practice from the Qur’an
Ayah 97 – 99: When people say mean things to you, do tasbeeh and perform nawafil

Surah AN Nahl: 1-128

Ayah 1-18: The blessings of Allah

Ayah 28-30: The death of an arrogant person

Ayah 36: Every Nation was sent a Messenger...there is no excuse for disbelief

Ayah 40: Everything is easy for Allah, He says “kun” and it is done

Ayah 48 : Everything in creation does Sajdah.

Ayah 52: Do not fear anyone except Allah

Ayah 53-57: Daughters are a gift from Allah

Ayah 66: How is milk produced?

Ayah 68:  miracle of honey bee
▪Bees make hive , sucks necter, converts it into honey and seals it with wax.
▪Honey bees show discipline, utmost almost unconditional labor, obedience, and team work

Ayah 69: honey is a healing agent

Ayah 70: Old age is a test

-many people become senile in their old age

-don’t bank on your old age to do good deeds

Ayah 98: seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan before reciting the Qur’an

Ayah 101: there were some verses that were abrogated and replaced with other verses.

-Allah can do whatever He wants with the Qur’an, it is His Book. The abrogation of verses does not negate the authenticity of the Qur’an

-no abrogation can be declared in the Qur’an after the death of Prophet (s.a.w) as the process of revelation is no closed.

Ayah 103: People accused the Prophet (s.a.w) for receiving dictation from a Roman (Christian) slave.

- Allah absolves him (s.a.w) of this by pointing out that the Roman slave they are referring to does not speak Arabic (the originals texts of the Bible were in Aramic and later translated into Greek and Latin) while the Qur’an is in pure Arabic language.

Ayah 108: There are some people who can never be convinced because Allah has sealed their hearts, hearing and sight.

Ayah 112: When a people are ungrateful to Allah and they deny the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w), Allah turns their wealth into poverty, their happiness into sorrow.

Ayah 115: Allah has forbidden (made haram for consumption): animals who died of natural causes before being slaughtered with the name of Allah, blood, the flesh of swine, any animals which is dedicated to gods besides Allah (sacrificed at an alter of an idol) or any animal on which the name of Allah is not taken upon slaughtering

Ayah 120: Ibrahim (a.s) was one man, but he did the work of an entire nation (equivalent to that of many people)