The best charity is to satisfy a hungry person.
-The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as reported by Anas bin Malik
Please remember this the next time you walk by someone who looks like they could use some assistance.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Hard Times ...
If misfortune befalls you, it is the consequence of your own actions. Yet God forgives much. On this earth you can not escape God; and there is no one apart from God who can protect or help you.
-Qur'an (42:30-31)
I haven't written much lately and for that I apologize to the few readers (if you're still out there) that I have. I have befallen on some emotionally rough times and it is hard to write positively when you're feeling bitter.
Our country is in the middle of a "presidential operation" aka a war. I've established in my writings that I grew up in Texas, which is a state full of wonderful people who have a deep relationship with honor & duty. The state has some of the largest bases in the armed services and I have had the priveledge to call many of those, who serve our country, friends.
However, their jobs can be dangerous. I've lost 3 friends in the uniformed services in the past 5 years. I still have a few more that are still in Iraq and one headed to Afghanistan shortly. Please pray for their safe returns.
I thought about the verse above and it is our actions that directly place us or remove us from harms way. As much as I, or other friends, or their family wish and try to protect them, we cannot. God truly is the only protector.
While I find their sacrifice for their country honorable, noble, and admirable it is no secret that I oppose this war. And for those who might be on the "right" side of the political spectrum - you can believe both. You can support your troops, but oppose with the war. You can respect those who serve and fight for their return at home. You can be patriotic and disagree with your government.
I apologize, as this blog is supposed to help educate people on Islam and religion in general ... I have been trying to stay away from politics here ... but today ... I just cannot.
Please, do what you can, to get our troops home safely while still assisting the Iraqi's to re-build their war-torn country. Please pray for all involved in this conflict and pray for peace. If we start to act like the ideal human being it might just rub off on others until we actually live in an ideal world instead of this mess we've made on God's Earth.
Salaam/Shalom/Peace,
Broken-Hearted Human Being
-Qur'an (42:30-31)
I haven't written much lately and for that I apologize to the few readers (if you're still out there) that I have. I have befallen on some emotionally rough times and it is hard to write positively when you're feeling bitter.
Our country is in the middle of a "presidential operation" aka a war. I've established in my writings that I grew up in Texas, which is a state full of wonderful people who have a deep relationship with honor & duty. The state has some of the largest bases in the armed services and I have had the priveledge to call many of those, who serve our country, friends.
However, their jobs can be dangerous. I've lost 3 friends in the uniformed services in the past 5 years. I still have a few more that are still in Iraq and one headed to Afghanistan shortly. Please pray for their safe returns.
I thought about the verse above and it is our actions that directly place us or remove us from harms way. As much as I, or other friends, or their family wish and try to protect them, we cannot. God truly is the only protector.
While I find their sacrifice for their country honorable, noble, and admirable it is no secret that I oppose this war. And for those who might be on the "right" side of the political spectrum - you can believe both. You can support your troops, but oppose with the war. You can respect those who serve and fight for their return at home. You can be patriotic and disagree with your government.
I apologize, as this blog is supposed to help educate people on Islam and religion in general ... I have been trying to stay away from politics here ... but today ... I just cannot.
Please, do what you can, to get our troops home safely while still assisting the Iraqi's to re-build their war-torn country. Please pray for all involved in this conflict and pray for peace. If we start to act like the ideal human being it might just rub off on others until we actually live in an ideal world instead of this mess we've made on God's Earth.
Salaam/Shalom/Peace,
Broken-Hearted Human Being
Transitions ...
I swear by the glow of the sunset, by the night and all that the night brings to life, and by the full moon, that you will move from your present existence to a different existence.
-Qu'ran (84:16-19)
-Qu'ran (84:16-19)
Monday, June 23, 2008
Friends ...
"Firmness of heart is needed for achievement, but a firm friend does not lack friends. Be a firm friend, that you may find friends innumerable; for without friends you will be left helpless. Generally the wolf seizes his prey at the moment when a year-old sheep has strayed alone from the flock."
-Mathnawi [VI 497-498;500]
From "Jewels of Remembrance," by Rumi
-Mathnawi [VI 497-498;500]
From "Jewels of Remembrance," by Rumi
Patience is a Virtue
"Do not lose hope in Allah, for He is the Creator. He will create another way for you. Do not flee from your trials; patience in adversity is the foundation of all virtue, of compassion and sainthood. Patience is the foundation, and without a sound foundation you cannot build a monument."
-Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani, "Fayuz E Yazdani"
From "The Bounty of Allah," translated by Aneela Khalid Arshed
-Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani, "Fayuz E Yazdani"
From "The Bounty of Allah," translated by Aneela Khalid Arshed
Monday, June 16, 2008
He knows ...
It was God who created you; yet some of you refuse to believe, while others have faith. He is aware of all your actions. He created the heavens and the earth to manifest the truth. He fashioned each one of you--and each one of you is beautiful. To God you will all return. He knows all that the heavens and the earth contain. He knows all that you hide and all that you reveal. He knows your deepest thoughts.
-Qur'an (64:2-4)
-Qur'an (64:2-4)
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Answers to Life ...
Chaim Gravitzer said...
I am a hassidic Jew. I am dissatisfied with my life. I would like to speak to a Muslim clergyman in person. Could you help arrange this? I am having all comments left on this post forwarded to me, so you can contact me by leaving a comment here. If you are able to see my e-mail address, then please e-mail me directly. Thank you very much. I hope to hear from you.
Chaim, I'll do what I can to assist you. Please email me at askamuslimnow@gmail.com and we'll see what we can't come up with together.
In the mean time, I am sorry to hear you're dissatisfied with your life. We all have difficult periods in life. It is the Islamic view that life on Earth is nothing but a test. This philosphy usually helps remind me that its not all fun and games and things here are not supposed to always be easy. God tests all of us and we can only hope and pray that we're doing a good enough job to pass this LONG exam called life.
You might speak with an Imam and decide that Judiasm or your faith in general is not what is making you unhappy, but rather something else. Whatever you find on your quest might actually uphold or restore your faith in your current religion. OR you might find that you've been looking for something else all along.
As a Muslim, I am always happy to have people "come" to Islam but as I've quoted before:
Qur'an (2:256) "There is no compulsion in religion, for the right way is clear from the wrong way. Whoever therefore rejects the forces of evil and believes in God, he has taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way, for God is All Hearing and Knowing."
I encourage you to find your own path ... whatever that might be. Here is another, hopefully, encouraging quote:
Once Ibrahim bin Adham saw a stone with the inscription, "Turn me over and read!" When he did an inscription appeared: "You do not practice what you know. Why do you seek what you do not know?"
-Al-Hujwiri, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"
As difficult as things might seem for you at the moment, please remind yourself that at the very least you are asking questions and "... [seeking] what you do not know."
All the best, my brother.
I am a hassidic Jew. I am dissatisfied with my life. I would like to speak to a Muslim clergyman in person. Could you help arrange this? I am having all comments left on this post forwarded to me, so you can contact me by leaving a comment here. If you are able to see my e-mail address, then please e-mail me directly. Thank you very much. I hope to hear from you.
Chaim, I'll do what I can to assist you. Please email me at askamuslimnow@gmail.com and we'll see what we can't come up with together.
In the mean time, I am sorry to hear you're dissatisfied with your life. We all have difficult periods in life. It is the Islamic view that life on Earth is nothing but a test. This philosphy usually helps remind me that its not all fun and games and things here are not supposed to always be easy. God tests all of us and we can only hope and pray that we're doing a good enough job to pass this LONG exam called life.
You might speak with an Imam and decide that Judiasm or your faith in general is not what is making you unhappy, but rather something else. Whatever you find on your quest might actually uphold or restore your faith in your current religion. OR you might find that you've been looking for something else all along.
As a Muslim, I am always happy to have people "come" to Islam but as I've quoted before:
Qur'an (2:256) "There is no compulsion in religion, for the right way is clear from the wrong way. Whoever therefore rejects the forces of evil and believes in God, he has taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way, for God is All Hearing and Knowing."
I encourage you to find your own path ... whatever that might be. Here is another, hopefully, encouraging quote:
Once Ibrahim bin Adham saw a stone with the inscription, "Turn me over and read!" When he did an inscription appeared: "You do not practice what you know. Why do you seek what you do not know?"
-Al-Hujwiri, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"
As difficult as things might seem for you at the moment, please remind yourself that at the very least you are asking questions and "... [seeking] what you do not know."
All the best, my brother.
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