Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a)

The following is a homework assignment for Grade 7. 

Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) was an Ethiopian slave. He belonged to some people from the tribe of Banu Jumah. He was known for his hard work and loyalty to his master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, a leader of his tribe. Bilal was one of the very early converts to Islam. Hew as tortured mercilessly by his master until Abu Bakr (r.a) bought his freedom.
When the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) began preaching Islam, Bilal so deeply moved by the wonderful character of the Prophet (s.a.w) and the remarkable teachings of Islam - universal human equality, fairness, kindness, submission to the God - Creator alone, that Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) decided to embrace this new religion. In fact, he was the first slave in Makkah to become Muslim.

His master Umayyah was a cruel man who hated Islam and subjected Bilal to different kinds of torture to make him give up the faith. A slave was to obey the religion of his master. He did not have permission to think for himself. Bilal however remained steadfast in his belief in Allah, the One. Umayyah would order his men to take him to the desert at the hottest times of the day and throw him on the scorching sand. He would also order them to put a heavy, burning rocks on his chest to crush his ribs and melt his skin. Still Bilal (r.a) did not reject his belief in Allah. Every time he felt pain, he could call out, "Ahad, Ahad" which means Allah is One. Sometimes, Umayyah would also put a rope around his neck and the street boys would drag him through the alleyways and even across the hillocks of Makkah. Bilal (r.a) endured this suffering patiently as a test of faith. His convictions proved unshakable. Abu Bakr (r.a) could not bear the sight of him being tortured to this extent and finally bought his freedom.

Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) emigrated to Madina where he immediately received a warm welcome from
Sa'd bin Khaithmah (r.a). Afterwards he lived in the house of Abu Bakr (r.a). It was Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) who was the first companion to call adhan in Islam. The Prophet (s.a.w) appointed him his mua'dh-dhin.

Bilal (r.a) became one of the closet companions to the Prophet (s.a.w) who took part in all the military campaigns. Once in the Battle of Badr, he came face to face with his former cruel master Umayyah ibn Khalaf and challenged him. They fought fiercely, and finally Bilal overpowered him. He remained with Abu Bakr (r.a) until the latter's death. Then he took part in the campaigns to bring Islam to Syria. He died of plague, at the age of 60+ years old.

Once Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) said to Abu Bakr, "If you have bought me for your own sake,then keep me for your service; but if you have bought me for the sake of Allah, then allow me the freedom to work in the cause of Allah." Bilal made this request after the Prophet's death (s.a.w). He wished to go forth to bring Islam to Syria, but Abu Bakr implored him not leave Madinah, as Abu Bakr was old and the Islamic state was in its infancy, he needed Bilal's help. So Bilal (r.a) remained in Madinah until Abu Bakr (r.a) died. Afterwards, he requested Omar (r.a) to let him go. In the beginning, Omar (r.a) was reluctant to give him permission because he considered Bilal's services to the Muslim state indispensable. So Bilal suggested another companion as his successor. Omar (r.a) accepted this and allowed him to go.
Omar (r.a) used to say about Bilal, "Abu Bakr is our master and he freed our master."

Questions

A. Fill in the blanks:
1. Bilal ibn Rabaah (r.a) was an ____________ slave.
2. His master was ______________. 
3. ______________ bought him for the sake of Allah and freed him. 
4. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) appointed Bilal to _______________. 

Abu Ubaidah ibn al Jarrah (r.a)

The following is a homework assignment for grade 7

He was Abu Ubaidah Amir ibn Abdullah al-Jarrah (r.a). He embraced Islam at an early period of the Islamic mission. He was popularly known as Abu Ubaidah. He was a tall and thin man with a wonderful face. He was very sensitive, modest, and full of life and vigour. He was not boastful but was fiercely courageous. He was bright and sharp like the blade of a sword.
He embraced Islam after Abu Bark as-Siddeeq (r.a) Abu Bakr himself invited Abu Ubaidah to Islam. In fact, he was among the first people to follow the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).

Abu Ubaidah (r.a) went through the cruel and painful experiences of embracing Islam in the early days of the Prophet's mission in Makkah (s.a.w). He suffered injustice, pain and rejection at the hands of the pagan Makkans, yet he remained firm and loyal to Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w).

Abu Ubaidah (r.a) was a man of youthful vigour and utmost sincerity. he had qualities of

leadership. he was the 8th person to embrace Islam. he spent most of his time in the company of the Prophet (s.a.w) and learnt a great deal about Islam from him directly.
He migrated to Ethiopia when life in Makkah became very hard for the Muslims. He returned to Madinah along with other believers when they heard of the Prophet's emigration. Abu Ubaidah (r.a) was very happy to be with the Prophet (s.a.w) again.

In the beginning of Ramadan 2 AH, the Prophet (s.a.w) set out from Madinah at the head of 313 companions, assisted for the first time by warriors from the Ansaar. His intention was to attack the Makkan trade caravan led by Abu Sufyan, which was on its way back to Makkah from Syria. When informed of the Muslims' approach, Abu Sufyan turned off his caravan toward the seacoast. He then sent a courier to Makkah with an urgent request for reinforcements. His own forces were between thirty to seventy men. An armed force of the Quraysh set out from Makkah, under the leadership of Abu Jahl, to the help of their caravan.

The Muslim army had not expected to be faced with so strong an army. On the 17th of Ramadan 2AH, the two armies met up near the Wells of Badr. Badr was a few days' journey south of Madinah, and about one day's distance from the coast. The Muslims were greatly inferiro in umber and in equipment - there were for example only two horses in their army, and only a limited number of camels. But these drawbacks were more than set off by their boundless courage and readiness for self-sacrifice. The Makkan forces were completely routed and several of their most prominent chiefs were killed.

Abu Ubaidah (r.a) took part in this battle. He was so fierce and fearless that the Quraysh horsemen
were too afraid to confront him. Only one man continued chasing Abu Ubaidah (r.a), and every time Abu Ubaidah tried to avoid him. This man was Abdullah Al-Jarraah, his own father who was an idol worshipper and on the side of the enemies of Islam. Over and over again, Abdullah blocked his son's path and wanted to kill him. Finally, when Abu Ubaidah lost patience, he struck a fierce blow on his head with his sword and killed him. Abu Ubaidah (r.a) did not kill his father rather an enemy of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).

Abu Ubaidah (r.a) had a great deal of faith in Allah. He was deeply devouted to Islam. he had a sense of responsibility towards the Muslim community. When the Muslims were defeated in the Battle of Uhud, Abu Ubaidah (r.a) was one of the 10 companions who surrounded Allah's Messenger (s.a.w) and bore all the arrows, spears and blows aimed to attack him (s.a.w).

Because of Abu Ubaidah (r.a) sense of modesty and loyalty, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said about him, "Every namtion has an Ameen - trustworthy man, and the Ameen of this nation is Abu Ubaidah" - Al Bukhari.

Umar ibn al-Khattab (r.a) appointed him as Commander in Chief of the army and he conquered
Syria. Later he became the governor of Syria. He died there from plague in 18th AH at the age of 58. He was one of the 10 to whom the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) had announced in their lifetime that they would enter Paradise.












Questions

A. Fill in the Blanks:
1. _______________ invited Abu Ubaidah (r.a)  to Islam. 
2. Abu Ubaidah (r.a) was one of the 10 companions who defended the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) from enemy onslaught during the Battle of _____________. 
3. Umar (r.a) appointed Abu Ubaidah (r.a) as the leader of __________ conquest and its governor. 

B. Answer the following questions:
1. What are some of the noble qualities of Abu Ubaidah (r.a) ?
2. Who was Abu Ubaidah (r.a) avoiding during the Battle of Badr? Why?
3. What are some of the achievements of Abu Ubaidah (r.a) ? 

Abu Dhar al-Ghifaaree (r.a)

The following is a homework assignment for Grade 7 

He was Abu Dharr Jundub ibn Junadah al-Ghifaaree (r.a). He was one of the early converts to Islam. He was probably the 5th Muslim from among the freeborn men to become Muslim.

During his early life, he achieved fame as a daring raider. The Ghifaar tribe to whch he beloved lived in the Waddan valley. The Makkan caravans, laden with their many goods and riches, had to pass through this valley, and Abu Dharr used to lead the youths of his tribe in raids on the trade caravans. The tribe members lived by what these caravans gave in return for protection. If they refused to pay the price, Abu Dharr with his company of youths would attack them and cause great damage.

Abu Dharr (r.a), the Seeker of the Truth
With all this, Abu Dharr (r.a) appears to have been a seeker of the truth from his early youth. He may well be classed together with those righteous men who prayed to the One God and were known before Islam as al-Hunaffaa (plural of Haneef).

When he heard about the description of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) and especially his excellent Ride to this valley of Makkah and try to find out the truth about this man who claims to be a prophet - who receives news from above the Heavens; listen to what he says and come back to me." So his brother set off to Makkah, went to the Prophet (s.a.w) and listend to him attentively. Upon his return, he said to Abu Dharr, "I have seen him enjoining good conduct and saying something that is certainly not poetry."
 character, he was greatly impressed and intrigued. So he said to his brother, "

Abu Dharr's thirst for the truth was not satisfied, so he decided to go and see the Prophet (s.a.w) in person. When he arrived at Makkah, he went straight to the Ka'bah - where travelers from faraway places often went to find shelter. He searched for the Prophet (s.a.w) but no one responded to his call. Eventually a young boy in his teens came around. He was Ali ibn Abee Talib (r.a) who took interest in Abu Dharr and invited him to Darr al Arqam, the first study center of Muslims in Makkah.

Abu Dharr need only meet the Prophet (s.a.w) in person and hear a few ayaat of the Qur'an from him that he immediately accepted Islam. The Prophet (s.a.w) advised him to go back and call his tribe to Islam. Abu Dharr (r.a) said, "By Him in whose Hand my soul is, indeed I will proclaim my conversation among the idol worshippers loudly." Abu Dharr then returned to the Ka'bah and called out at the top of his voice, "I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)."

The people of Makkah fell upon him like hungry hounds and beat
him very brutally. When Al-Abbas, the Prophet's uncle (s.a.w) saw Abu Dharr being punished, he rushed to his rescue and said to ward off the mob, "Woe to you! Don't you know that he belongs to the tribe of Ghifaar, and that that your business road to Syria passes through his city!" The next day Abu Dharr did the same thing and was beaten badly by the Makkan crowds. It was only Al-Abbas who was able to save him.

Abu Dharr (r.a) eventually went back home, within a short time, with his courage and outspokenness, he converted all the other members of his Ghifaar tribe to Islam. Later, he joined the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) in Medina after migration after the Battle of the Trench. He died in Rabadhah, near Madinah in 32 A.H.










Questions

A. Fill in the Blanks:
1. Before Islam, Abu Dharr achieved his fame through ______________. 
2. From his early youth, Abu Dharr was __________________________. 
3. Abu Dharr went to Makkah to find ____________________________. 
4. The first center of learning for early Muslims in Makkah was ________. 

B. Answer the following questions:
1. How did the members of the Ghifaar tribe earn their living?
2. Why was Abu Dharr impressed by the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)?
3. What caused Abu Dharr (r.a) to become a Muslim? 
4. Give two examples of Abu Dharr's courage and determination (r.a). 

Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (r.a)

The following post is a homework assignment for Grade 7:

Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (r.a) was the daughter of Khuwaylid ibn Asad ibn Abdul Uzzaa ibn Qusaayy. Khadijah (r.a) was from the Quraysh. The lineage of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) meets with her in the celebrated Qusay. Qusay was the great founder of Makkah and was the famous patriarch of the Quraysh.

When Khadijah (r.a) heard of the Prophet's wonderful moral conduct (s.a.w), she requested him to head her trading caravans. When he went on a business trip to Syria along with her trusted slave Maisarah, this trip proved extremely profitable. During the journey, Maisarah noticed wonderful qualities in the Prophet (s.a.w) such as honesty, adherence to noble principles, agreeable dealings and business skills. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) succeeded very well in his business mission. The profits were unusually high.

Khadijah (r.a) was very wealth and had a strong independent will. She had repeatedly declined

marriage proposals made by some of the most prominent men of the Quraysh. However, when the Prophet (s.a.w) returned back home and Maisarah reported all that he had seen during the trip, Khadijah (r.a) was deeply impressed by the Prophet's fantastic character (s.a.w). She expressed her wish to marry him through her friend Nafeesah, and he agreed. His marriage to Khadijah (r.a) took place about 15 years before he received his first revelation from Allah. The Prophet (s.a.w) was 25 and Khadijah (r.a) was 40 years old. She understood the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) and remained deeply devoted to him and morally supported him throughout his life.

When the Prophet (s.a.w) married her, he was in the prime of his youth. The marriage proved to be one of affection and happiness. Khadijah (r.a) bore the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) all his children except Ibrahim, whose mother was Maariyah (r.a). His sons from Khadijah were - Al Qaasim, Abdullah, Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthoom and Fatimah (r.a). All the sons died very young in their infancy. This hurt Khadijah (r.a) but she was always patient and content with Allah's decision for her.

During his (s.a.w) solitary retreat in the cave of Hira during the month of Ramadan, the Prophet (s.a.w) used to be quiet and away from home. The appearance of Jibreel (a.s) at Hira and the subsequent revelation of the Qur'an took place at the time when Prophet (s.a.w) was 40 years old. He returned home with his heart trembling. He told Khadijah (r.a), "wrap me!" and "cover me!" as he was scared for his life. He (s.a.w) told her the unusual sighting of an angel at the cave and she rose to comfort him. She said, "Allah will never humiliate you. You fulfill the duties of kinship; you support the weak, you help the poor and the needy; you honour your guests and endure hardships in the path of truthfulness." Her words restored the Prophet's confidence (s.a.w) and strengthened his resolve. Khadijah (r.a) was always a pillar of support in the life of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).

She then took him to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who was a Christian and had the knowledge
of the previous Divine Books of Allah. Waraqah told the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) that he saw Jibreel (a.s), the angel of revelation, who contacted Musa (a.s) and Esa (a.s) before him. Waraqah also told the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) that his people would drive him out of the city because every prophet who came with the message of Islam was treated with hostility from his people.

Khadijah (r.a) was the first woman to accept Islam. She never gave up the side of her husband (s.a.w). The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said about her, "The best women of her time was Maryam, and the best woman of her time is Khadijah" - Bukhari. The Prophet (s.a.w) loved her very much. On one occasion, when she was still alive, Jibreel (r.a) came to the the Prophet (s.a.w) and said, "Give Khadijah greetings of peace from Allah and from me, and give her the good news of a palace of jewels in Paradise, where there will be neither nose nor any tiredness."
The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) often mentioned Khadijah's outstanding merits. He (s.a.w), used to say, "She belied in me when no one else did; she accepted Islam when people rejected me; and she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand."

Khadijah (r.a) died about 3 years before immigration to Medina. This incident affected the Prophet (s.a.w) so much that his companions always referred to that year as the year of sorrow.

Questions:

A: Name the Following: 
1. Khadijah (r.a)'s full name __________
2. Khadijah's cousin ______________
3. Her tribe ________________
4. The founder of Makkah ___________
5. The children of Prophet (s.a.w) with Khaijdah (r.a) _______________

B: Fill in the Blanks: 
1. At the time of marriage, Khadijah was  ___ years old and Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) was __.
2. The first revelation came in the cave of ________.
3.  ________ is the angel of revelation. 
4. Two Prophets who received revelation and Divine Books from Allah before the Prophet (s.a.w) are ____________ and _____________. 
5. Two of the best women of their time are ______________ and _____________. 

Book Review - 1000 Sunnah per day and night

I have been meaning to read this book for a very long time but never actually came around to it. The detail with which the book describes the Prophet's Salah - (s.a.w), is as though his entire life was about Salah. He prayed so much, for so long and so beautifully as if that is all he did his entire life.

When we think of religion, what comes to our mind are a set of rules, regulations and obligations. I have to wake up and do my morning adhkaar, pray Fajr, recite the Quran. In total, offer 12 rakaat. Make wudu 5 times. Eventually, the routine becomes tedious and loses its novelty. But the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) didnt have a routine - he (s.a.w) had an intimate relationship with Allah. How can we make our standing and bowing more like his (s.a.w) - more meaningful. The first thing on his mind (s.a.w), when he woke up was Allah. When he (s.a.w) entered the bathroom, he thought of Allah. He (s.a.w) brushed his teeth for the pleasure of Allah. The way he wore his clothes, his shoes - the way he walked out of the house - all connected back to Allah. His entire life (s.a.w) was centered around Allah. How did Allah become His greatest aspiration. Allah was the Light of his life (s.a.w), the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) behaved as though he could see Him, Allah was with him and in front of Him every moment of his life. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) didnt treat Allah, as many of us do, as some some invisible God - out of sight, out of mind. Allah was his overwhelming joy and permanent essence of deeds.

This book has really made me yearn to develop such respect for Allah that I am never distant from Him. I dont want my day to day life to become merely a collection of physical movements - meaningless rituals, like a rodent running without volition on a hamster wheel. I want my work, my habits, my personality and my thoughts to be an expression of my need and dependence upon Allah. I want my entire life to appertain to the  adoration, warmth, ardor, awe and repentance to Allah alone. This state cannot be achieved except with first perfecting my Salat.

Jamal al Din Zarabozo writes in He Came to Teach You Your Religion:

The importance of prayers lies in the fact that no matter what actions one performs in his life, the most important aspect is ones relationship to Allah, that is ones faith (imaan), God-consciousness (taqwa), sincerity (ikhlaas) and worship of Allah (ibaadah).This relationship with Allah is both demonstrated and put into practice, as well as improved and increased by the prayer (41). 

Similarly, Abdul Hasan Nadwi explained in The Four Pillars of Islam:

Its aim is to generate within the subliminal self of man such spiritual power, light of faith and awareness of God as can enable him to strive successfully against all kinds of evils and temptations and remain steadfast at times of trial and adversity and protect himself against weakness of the flesh and the mischief of immoderate appetites (24). 

I spoke to my husband recently about this book and asked him how a person can achieve a state where she is able to think of ibaadah as something other than a daily chore. Alhamdulillah it sparked an interesting conversation. He told me about ABCs Prime Time TV show, What would you do with John Quinones. The psychological effect of this show on the American public is that people are actually more conscious of videotapes and hidden cameras recording their moral conflicts and illegal activities. The show started of as a social experiment; the knowledge of someone watching them has changed the way people react; it has made them more responsible. To a much greater extent, the knowledge of Allah Watching us should inspire faithfulness to Him, honesty and good communication with Him. If we could envision seeing Allah, our Salah will overflow with gratitude, hope, supplication and repentance. Just as seeing someone we love naturally fills us with gentleness and love, the knowledge of Allah Watching should make us soft and humble, continually subservient to and obsessive about the Divine.

Sometimes in the morning when I wake up in bed, I am overcome by  the thought of being alive. I could have opened my eyes in my grave - alone, deserted, enveloped in dirt and darkness. The scene I envision of myself inside the grave is so scary and ghostly that I cannot help but say alhamdulillah lilélahil ladhee ahyaana ba-da maa amaatana wa ilayhin nashoor. 

Too often we cannot remember Allah because our minds are with useless fantasies and dreams about trivial things. I will have an unpleasant conversation with someone and to make matters worse, I will replay the dialogues in my head over and over again. I will be cooking but my mind will be completely zoned out and buried in ideas about an upcoming assignment, an overdue book, how long it has been since I vacuumed. Or I will be writing something and then my eyes will aimlessly shift to the window at the parking lot outside, paved with asphalt. The multiple lanes with rows of parking spaces marked with lines, similar to center lines on the streets. There are no no stop signs or crosswalks for pedestrians in this parking lot, just large garbage bins and tall overhead lights for night. It is a Sunday so the only movement in the parking lot is that of three Canadian flags fluttering on large poles by the ticket office. See! Our heads are swamped by useless images and information. We need to deliberately and diligently force ourselves to feel the presence of Allah. We need to accept that more than we can see or hear anything, Allah can and He is Watching us. This reminds me of the hadith of the best way to come closer to Allah is by performing extra voluntary good deeds. The more longer, frequent and beautiful our Salah, the deeper, constant and meaningful will be our connection with Allah, inshaAllah.

اللهم اقسم لنا من خشيتك ما تحول به بيننا وبين معاصيك، ومن طاعتك ما تُبلِّغنا به جنَّتك، ومن اليقين ما تهوِّن به علينا مصائب الدنيا، اللهم متِّعنا بأسماعنا، وأبصارنا، وقوَّاتنا ما أحييتنا، واجعلهم الوارث منا، واجعل ثأرنا على من ظلمنا، وانصرنا على من عادانا، ولا تجعل مصيبتنا في ديننا، ولا تجعل الدنيا أكبر همِّنا، ولا مبلغ علمنا، ولا تسلِّط علينا من لا يرحمنا”

Reflection: Masjid Adminstrations

In all honesty, I don't think there is a single person in all of Canada who would sincerely vouch for loving the administration of their Masjid. This article is not a scathing generalization of Masjid administrations at large, without any consideration for exceptions and without any hope for change. This article is about admitting the sad reality that many Masajid admins are emotionally manipulative, psychologically deceptive and in some cases, spiritually (or religiously) abusive. Again, this may not happen in every Masjid or it may not play out to the same extremes. Many Muslims working under Masjid administrations often cannot comprehend the oppression in which they exist or the abuses they have deadened themselves to tolerate.

Masajid are not about tolerating manipulations, abusive administrations, sideshow behaviours or restrictive legalism - it is about expressing our love for Allah, receiving spiritual nourishment and above all, feeling safe and feeling a sense of belonging. How can anyone do ibaadah or feel loved when they are constantly in fear of being yelled at by the administrators for everything under the sun, throw out and losing their voluntary position. Many people will say that Masjid administrators are humans and as humans, they are allowed to fall a little short of virtue. Yes, to fall a little short is okay but to be the furthest away from any kind of religious propriety is not!
Masajid administrators have no management education yet they hoard pandemic religious power and authority over the Masjid. They rule like virtual dictators, having boards filled with yes-men to satisfy tax authorities. In reality, they answer to no one - to no committee, not to the congregation at all, not even to the Imaam. They are self-employed and self-credentialed. They literally believe that their words uttered in announcements and meetings are equivalent to the Words of Allah and should be accepted with the same devoution as the Quran.

It can be countered that the administration rules are consistent with what benefits the organization and functionality of the Masjid. If this is true, then why are almost all administrators devoid of any professional training. It may be a surprise to learn that Masjid administrations are usually run by a single family. Though they may use reams of papers to justify who they hire and fire, it is obvious that they are in the business for making money. By dishing out administrative position to their own family, they will enjoy absolute access to all Masjid finances and management. Their sons and daughters come to the Masjid once a month, only to collect their $500 to $900 cheques while other members are pressurized to volunteer for the Masjid all week, from 9 am to 5 pm without a dime (fi sabilAllah). They have parties and weddings at the Masjids expense. They do not consult the donors for any of their major purchases. They enjoy a blank check to control all classes and programs in the Masjid.
Any member volunteer who has reformation ideas is quickly disposed. The mildest form of dissent and inquiry is silenced. In these Masajid, the administration will stop you from giving adhaan and reject your resume for teaching only because you are not from their family. Your ijazah, degree and natural talents from Allah, will never be accepted by them because it threatens their sole control over the Masjid. And they will do anything to protect their authority and wallets. This not only leads to corruption, but also evasion of emaan.

This unchecked power can and does corrupt many administrators who feel the Masjid can be used as a platform for personal gain, the congregation is abused and controlled by tactics intended to create obedience and loyalty, ayaat from Quran and ahadith are contorted to bend the administrators personal opinions - and those that question or stand up to such abuses face public humiliation and ostracism. So, a system that was intended to revive Islam in Canada has devolved into a corrupt system that manipulates people for wealth, leaving emotional and psychological scars on individuals and families for the rest of their lives. They may love Allah but they will never return to the Masajid where they experienced so much stress, strain and abuses by the administration.

I am saying all this because as a Muslim who has been part of Masajid all her life, I am really hurt. I gave so much to these Masajid and in return got nothing back. As a teacher, I do not want to lose a generation of Muslim children who do not have a place to grow up and learn Islam. I want Masajid to have administrative accountability and financial accountability. To hire Islamic teachers for their credential and not their bloodline. To allow the congregation to represent its needs and have them satisfied. I am not asking for a whole lot. I am only asking for what is fair. There are so many ways to make money, you dont have to use the Masjid.

Bookreview - Burned Alive

"I hate tyranny and oppression wherever practiced, more especially if practiced by my own Government, for then I am in a measure responsible" - M.P. Alfred Webb

 Before I say anything, I just want to clarify that gender relations in Islam does not perpetuate female bondage and suffering. This is not another article creating hatred and paranoia against Muslim men. Personally I do not give credence to any rhetoric that evenly remotely suggests that the Qur'an says that it is a part of faith to let someone abuse you. Islam does not condone submission to any abusive authority, whether male or female. However, I find it telling that the issue of obedience always arises in specific sects from back home, subtly reminding women of their duty to their husbands.

According to Burned Alive, every year, more than 6,000 women, who fail to obey their male counterparts, are murdered in the rural villages of West Bank, Jordan, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, India and Pakistan. In Jordan, a man who has killed his wife/daughter/sister in a state of rage is entitled to the judge's clemency; the same law applies to a man in Palestine, who kills his wife simply because he suspects her of adultery. It is increasingly common in Pakistan and Afghanistan to mutilate or burn alive, girls who have "disgraced" their families.

I have often wondered why Muslims activities have never unpacked the complex reality of violence against women back home. Why is the only issue pressed and loudly proclaimed in our countries is that of human rights violations by Israel or conspiracies by United States. Is it because a crime is only when men die or when missiles are fired? Controlling, isolating and threatening women is in fact, a deep wound that routinely damns our countries. We decry the political situation in the Middle East yet ignore the domestic degradation of women. It is inconceivable for me how we find political violence more harrowing than domestic violence.

Our hearts pound against our rib cages and our neck hair feels like pins every time a headline rips through CNN or BBC about a political "crisis" in the region. Tragically, our blood doesn't thunder and bellow in the same way when Souad points out in this book that,  'a girl is called a charmuta, a prostitute if a man catches her eye or when she is married at the age of 14 or when her brothers go to school but she does not. When being born a girl is a curse, when a wife must first produce a son - at least one - and if she gives birth only to girls, she is mocked, even beaten. A day without beating is unusual. She is pulled by the hair, dragged, hands tied behind her back, legs bound and scarf over her mouth to muffle the sound of her screams. At most, only two or three girls are needed to help with the housework, to work on the land and tend the animals. The rest are suffocated to death in carpets and large blankets after birth.' When gasoline is poured over her body. When her nose and ears are carved out of her face. How can men who do such carnage in their homes complain that Israelis are annexing their land or the Americans are policing the world? Our conscious should roar against this hypocrisy.

The effluvium of terror is all around us. We only choose to see check points, sometimes disputed territories and streets as battlefields when our attention should really be in living rooms baptized in blood,  where mordant perfume of women's tears emanates. The hell-hounds who burnish women s  bodies black and blue and rapture their spirits, think they are performing some sort of religious service in resisting the Israeli/American occupations. If I didn't know any better, I would say they deserve every single punishment, war and sanction from the international arena for what they do to their women. How can these monsters hope for any mercy from Allah when they are themselves murderers? The previous nations were destroyed because they were unjust. Ibn Taymiyyah rahimaAllah deduced that a kaffir state will thrive and succeed if it is just, but Allah will never give victory to an unjust nation-state, even if its rulers/inhabitants claim to be Muslims. This is because Allah has forbidden injustice.

All Islamic texts are self-explanatory: the curse of Allah is on the dhalimoon. Allah hates the dhalimoon! The angels curse the person who points a weapon at a Muslim until he puts the weapon down. These men are not even Muslim if they are harming other believers with their words and hands. And if they think their odious behaviour with women is not dhulm then explain why the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) forbade a person from eating two days together at a time without taking permission from his companion? When eating an extra date is an heinous act of dhulm then clubbing a little girl with a shoe - belt or crowbar is certainly not piety!
Umar (r.a) used to weep in Medina, thinking that Allah will hold him to account if a baby goat died by the Euphrates river. Today, all over the Middle East women are slaughtered worst than cattle and there is no public expression of protest or indignation. Even if women are freed from Israeli occupation, who will free them from their husbands and fathers who stifle them at home.

One can argue that there are human rights organizations fighting for the protection of women in our countries. Yes, but these organizations are secular. Because Masjid Imaams and Scholars do not offer any solution, Muslim women have no choice but to turn to these groups. These groups offer them everything from money, surgery to immigration - in exchange for leaving Islam. Resistance among women to wear the hijab is not a coincidence. It is the result of years of abuse they have suffered by men who represent Islam. I ask all men, from Palestine to Pakistan: what is the point of your tahajjud, siyam, hifdh, sadaaqat and hajj if you inflict your own daughters and wives with rape, molestation, beatings and threat of divorce or homelessness everyday. The true measure of your masculinity is not how long your beard is or even how badly you want to go for jihad against the Israelis and Americans but how benevolently you treat your women. If we want Allah to change our political conditions, we should change our conditions at home with our women.

It is also possible that the political environment in these countries have made men violent and so they take out their frustrations at home. It is not easy being humiliated everyday at checkpoints or being fired from work because of your sect, the colour of your skin or nationality. Men can only take so much despotism. Still, I insist that the liberation of Palestine or any other Muslim country from non-Muslim invaders is not worth the persecution of women by their own families. We should not be deceived into believing that liberation of Palestine lies in the achievement of political power and strategic domination over the Middle East. No liberation is possible without the liberation of women. We cannot talk about freedom without talking about the freedom for all people, including Muslim women from family systems that perpetuate violence against them, marginalizes them and oppresses them.

Vive le Palestine, Vive le Femmes!

Adult: Beti, shadi ke baad apne sare khawab pure kar lena
Me: Yes, sare masiyoon wale khawab

Why are the nights so lonely?
To remind me that I will sleep alone in my grave.

Fadhaail al Aamal

This year I am kind of on a mission to read new books on Seerah and ahadith .... there is subhanAllah so much to learn from and learn about the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) ...

Prophet’s ﷺ reality was that he was an orphan, no brothers or sisters, with a handful of relatives, who harassed and abused him for 13 years of his life. They ostracized him from their lives, launched accusations against him and made sure he would not find any following in the wider community. They made at least 17 attempts against his life. This was his sad reality. Prophet ﷺ could have allowed himself to drown in his grievances. But he kept going. He ﷺ went to Taif. He went to Aqabah. Finally he went to Madina ﷺ. He consoled himself with Tahajjud and descriptions of Paradise. He was positive genius.

The Prophet s.a.w did not give into rage. 
Revenge could have easily been his, but this was not the way of the Prophet s.a.w at Taif. 
Though cursed out of a home and a city, disrespected, violated, betrayed and hurt the Prophet s.a.w placed his hope in the people of Ta'if - their future being better than their present. He s.a.w placed hope in their children being better than their parents. He s.a.w had placed hope in them.

One book which does not do Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) justice, is Fadaail al Aamal.

It is a crime against Seerah and ahadith.

It violates our Deen.

It is a lie against Allah.

Growing up ... I have heard pretty polytheistic concepts. I had no idea that the root of shirk surrounding the persona of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is Fadaail al Amal.

Problem # 1 

In Fadhaail Durood p.97, incident no 35: The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) allegedly said, “Whoever wants something from anyone should go to his grave and supplicate to Allah for it”

On p.109, incident no 48: “Sh. Abu Akhair Qattah said that, “I went to Madeenah and stayed there for five days but did not achieve the pleasure and satisfaction. I went to the graves of the Prophet (s.a.w), Abu Bakr and Umar said, “Messenger of Allah, I am your guest tonight.” Then I left the place and slept behind the minbar. I saw in my dream that the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w) with Abu Bakr on his right side and Umar on his left and Ali in the front. Ali then shook me awake and said that, ‘Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) has come to visit me.’ I got up and kissed the Prophet (s.a.w) between his eyes. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) then gave me a piece of bread which I ate half and when I woke up, the other half was in my hand.”

What is the author, Muhammad Zakaria Kandalvi insinuating from this fabrication? That we should go on the Prophet’s grave (s.a.w) and that of the sahaba to make duaa to them?

Allah commands, “And And do not invoke besides Allah that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you did, then indeed you would be of the wrongdoers.” [10:96]

Aisha (r.a) narrated, “When a righteous man or a pious worshiper among them dies they build a place of worship over his grave and set up all kinds of pictures and statues. They are the worst all creatures before Allah. They combine two evil: worshiping at graves and making graven images and statues.” Bukhari and Muslim

When of the last things the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said before his death was, “Allah’s curse be upon the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.” Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Making duaa is a an act of worship. Directing this act of worship towards the Prophet (s.a.w) or his grave is evil! Profane! Doom! Injury and destruction to the religion! 

This is just a one example of blaspheme, the entire book is full of Shirk!

Problem # 2

In p.109, incident no 46: Abu Na’eem reports from Sufyaan ath-Thawree saw a man who said, “I went along with my mother for Hajj and my mother died there; her face became black and her stomach swelled, to which I realized that she had committed some very serious sin. I raised my hands to make duaa to Allah when I saw that from the direction of Hijaz a cloud appeared from which emerged a man. He placed his hand on my mother’s face and it became enlightened and rubbed his hand over her stomach and the swelling disappeared. I asked him who he was and he replied that he is Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) and he instructed me to send durood on him on every step.”

This horrendous story wants us to believe that (a) the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is omnipotent and omnipresent – alive and everywhere (b) the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)  in need of us to send him as-Salat as-Salam, which is why he goes around helping people (c) he massages women’s stomachs? You have got to be kidding me!

Not only the Prophet (s.a.w) but according to Fadhail al Amal, even saints are omnipresent Moosa Darir travels 2700 miles in one night to pray in Makkah. Even a F-16 Falcon cannot fly this fast (p. 223 Fadhail Hajj). 

We can even make duaa to people besides Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w): a person made duaa to Junaid Baghdadi in a jungle for water - p.242-243 Fadhail Hajj, Fadhail Amal vo. II

Is this Islam or Hinduism?

Problem # 3

On p.102, incident no 42 – Zakaria Kandalvi says Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) kissed an insane Sufi.

p.110, incident no 48 – Muhammad (s.a.w) descends from the sky on a cloud with a piece of bread in his hand in order to feed his pious followers. Then the Prophet (s.a.w) plucks hair from his beard and gives it to a dying man in order to cure him. 

Ali (r.a) and Abdullah bin Zubayr (r.a) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, “Do not lie upon me, for whoever lies upon me, let him enter the Fire” Bukhari and “Whoever intentionally lies upon me, let him find his seat in the Hellfire” Bukhari. 

In Fadha’il Hajj, p. 138 says, ‘When you see the green then it should be with awe and reverence....the place of the holy grave is superior than any other place and that place which touches the holy body of the Prophet (s.a.w) is superior to the Ka’bah, superior to the Throne of Allah and superior than everything in the heavens and on earth.”

 Zakaria Kandalvi is saying that the Prophet (s.a.w) is greater than Allah.

Problem # 4

On p. 141 Fadha’il Amal, Fadhail Hajj Vol II it says, “When you visit anyone’s grave...Allah has given the dead the power of Kashf then it is easy for him to see you because when the dead turns to his right in his grave then his sight falls towards your feet.”

If the dead are alive in their grave tossing and turning, shouldn't we take them out? I don’t want go to no creepy grave with people buried alive inside! 

Problem # 5

Fadha’il Hajj p.164 Fadhail Amal Vol I, Kandalvi says there is a no name saint, who taught Khidr his knowledge. Didn’t Mirza Ghulam Qadiani claim the same thing?

On p.241, Fadhail Hajj, Kandalvi writes that saints know of the feelings of our hearts, share Allah’s Knowledge of the unseen and they can tell the righteous of the wicked. This is the Aqeedah of the Shi’a.

p.290, Fadhail Hajj, Imaam Ghazali is allegedly quoted to have said when one reaches the third level of Tawakkul, he is no longer required to ask anything from Allah.

He is no longer required to worship Allah?

Problem # 6

Did you know on p. 105, Fadhail Hajj, Fadhail Amal Vo1 I - an Ajmee (non-Arab) was slapped from a hand that emerged from the Ka’bah’s Yemni Corner.

Where was the hand of the Ka’bah when the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) was being tortured and persecuted in its courtyard?

On p.111 Fadhail Hajj, Fadhail Amal, Kandalvi informs us that, “some people live in Khurasaan but are close to the ones who perform the Tawaaf. And yet there are some to whom the Ka’bah itself goes to visit them.” 

I can continue quoting more problems with Fadhaail al Amal but my evidences will not do justice. See the following video for more correction (Note - Video is not for faint of heart):

Jews in Medina

Jews were already well established in Medina two centuries before Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)'s birth. Influential, the Jews were expert jewelers, weapons and armour makers. There were many Jewish clans, up to more than twenty. The most prominent were Banu Nadir, Banu Qaynuya and Banu Qurayza. Jewish clans were aware of the coming of the final Prophet so following the traditions within the Talmud, they had moved to Medina to welcome the final Prophet.

Following are some videos which discuss the prophesy of the final prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) in the Torah and the Bible. The first two are a bit sensationalist, the final video is a lecture presentation by Shaykh Abdur Raheem Green, a Christian convert to Islam. Alhamdulillah, he offers a two part lecture to explain in detail the many incidents were the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is mentioned in the Bible.

Enjoy :)

Tufay bin Amr and Dhimad Azdi

What's so scary about Muslims?
Some people are frightened about Islam ... fundamental Islam...extremist Islam...
We have allocated all sorts of scary names to Islam.
For an average person who reads the Toronto Star or watches Fox News, Islam is an aggressive, violent and intolerant religion. For an average, second-generation Muslim teenager, Islam is the most boring, the most restricted and archaic religion on the face of the earth.

To both I say, be receptive to ideas and opinions outside of yourself. In other words, open your mind a little. Muslims were involved in, led and participated in many of the greatest accomplishments which developed the Western civilization. Muslims not only believe in living with tolerance of one another, but we live with the fundamental fact that we are all humans and count just as much as the other. We do not ascribe a dollar value or a racial demarcation or sexual worth to any individual. We have always served God and all of humanity. If the mainstream public cannot comprehend these facts, then it is because of their lack of knowledge of Islam.

The following are stories of three individuals who were not willing to give Islam a chance:

Tufayl bin Amr Dausi was a poet and a chief of the Daus tribe that lived on the outskirts of Yemen. Eleven years after the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) began his mission, Tufayl visited Makkah only to be warned by the Quraysh about the danger of Muhammad's (s.a.w) bewitching words. Tufayl went ot the Ka'bah with cotton stuffed in his ears asa precaution against Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)'s preaching. He arrived at the Ka'bah to find the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) performing Salah nearby. Overcome by curiosity, Tufayl decided to listen to Muhammad's (s.a.w) recitation. "I am a poet with a trained ear. I can determine of what Muhammad says is true poetry or not. I shall accept what he says if his words are good." Prophet Muhammad's (s.a.w) recitation was really amazing. Tufayl then followed the Prophet (s.a.w) home and asked him to explain Islam to him and thereafter he embraced Islam. Tufayl returned home and brought seventy to eighty families from his tribe to Islam.

What would happen if you heard about Islam from its original source?
What if I told you in real life today ... people cry with happiness when they find Islam? They leave drugs, drinks ... they leave Hollywood for the peace that Islam gives them.

Dhimad Azdi was a skilled exorcist, he hailed from Azd Shanwah tribe of Yemen. When he came to Makkah, he heard a rumour that Muhammad (s.a.w) was insane. He then approached the Prophet (s.a.w) and offered to cure him. The Prophet responded (s.a.w) by saying, "All praise be to Allah. We glorify Him and see His help. He whom Allah has guided cannot be misled, and he whom Allah has lead astray cannot be guided. I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger." Dhimad was so impressed with the Prophet's speech (s.a.w) that he repeated it thrice and said, "I have heard the speeches of sorcerers, soothsayers and poets, but never before have I heard anything like this." He then asked the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) to extend his hand so that he could pledge his allegiance to him."

One can argue that we cannot find the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) like Tufayl and Dhimad to speak with directly. So then how can we know the truth about Islam. We can read the Qur'an, the message of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is intact 100% Even if you cannot read or understand Arabic ... people as far as Australia and from beliefs as opposing as Jewish agnosticism are falling in love with Islam through the Qur'an.

We would like to believe that we are open-minded people. However, if we have really strong views about topics that we have never learned about and refuse to be persuaded to sway from those views then we are deliberately shutting our minds off to the possibilities that could exist. 

A mind is like a parachute, it does not work if it is not open. 

http://quran.com/

A Real Man

There is no man in this universe who was can be as magical and as wondererous as the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). My, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), he was the only man and he will be the only man who lived like powder keg giving off sparks. He could race his horse like thunder. The enemy could feel the heat of his presence from a distance of two month's journey. He was better than superman, a complete hero ... not just in battle but also in the bedroom. Don't mistake his strength and speed for abuse. He never made Aisha (r.a) cry. A man who was able to smash mountains with a single command, who could cut the moon in half ... never crushed his wife's heart. That man was Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). No one after him.

Burn It!

utho meri dunya k "ghuraba" ko jaga do
khak-e-ghustaakh ke dar-o-diwaar hila do

ujala karo ghafiloon ke qalb  mein soz-e-Qur'an se
kaffiroon ke makar ko tawheed ke dalail se lara do

iss zamane mein ejaad kar liye logoon ne bohat se ma'bood
jo naqsh-e-shirk ke andhere tum ko nazar aye mita do

jis darga se mayyassar nahi koi rozi
aus darga ke har goshe ko jala do

ta ke makhluq mein qayim rahe sirf ek Allah keliye khushu' aur tazalul
adab-e-ibadaat mushrikeen ko sikha do

utho meri dunya k "ghuraba" piran-e-kalisa ko kalisa se hata do
iss dunya ko لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله ki sada se sajaado

New Year's Book List

Years ago books mattered more in provoking change. It is up to readers today not to be distracted by information overload, to be selective and make knowledge matter again.

1. How the world works by Noam Chomsky (New Society Publishers)
Collection of interviews by Chomsky who brings his vast knowledge to comment on subjects like how the U.S. government really works, imperialism, democracy, and economics. If you are critical of the modern corporate security state then this book is for you.

2.  1000 Sunan of the Prophet (s.a.w) day and night 
You need daily morals and encouragement to live by and this is a good book to get you started.

3. Fiqh of Seerah - by shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali 

I have read and taught the seerah many times. I am looking for something that would go a little bit more in depth, provide reasons and explanations for Divine Providence throughout the Prophet's life (s.a.w). I am looking for something that lends modern analysis to ancient details. Something that argues for faith and purity. Islamic Online University uses this as a Seerah textbook in their BA program. InshaAllah I'll give it a try. 

4. Women around the Messenger (s.a.w) 

Meet my comrades in faith? My worthy predecessors who sparked  the application of women's rights in Islam. Let's put a face to the name.

5. Salah Ad-Din Al-Ayyubi

6.Raid of the Mongols 

7.Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy 

8.History of Palestine

9.Crusade War

10.Life of Abdul Wahab