Fear Oppression ...

Fear oppression, because oppression will be intense darkness on the Day of the Resurrection.

- The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as reported by Ibn Umar

True Friendship ...

The sign of the friend of God is that he has three qualities: a generosity like that of the ocean, a compassion like that of the sun, and a humility like that of the earth.

- Bayazid in 'Attar, "Tadhkirat"

Only He ...

Bereft of life, bereft of knowledge, bereft of power and will, how shall I describe my state? For I do not exist, only He exists.

I am deaf; the bearer is He.
I am blind; the seer is He.
I am mute; the orator is He.
I do not exist; only He exists.

-Shah Kamal, "Islamic Sufism"

Addressing a Comment ...

Comment:
I would appreciate this quote more if he'd said "an obligation laid on every person." There is no need to be exclusive.
February 3, 2009 12:13

I understand what you mean, but he was speaking to his followers, so it is understandable. There are several verses in the Qur'an that talk about knowledge and it addresses "believers" which is not exclusive to Muslims. It is a term that, when translated, eludes to all those who believe in a God.

If you every have a moment and research the Prophet Mohamed's (pbuh) life, you will see he was far from "exclusive." Actually, if you research the lives of ANY of the prophets (pbut) you'll find that they spoke with the sick, the poor, the uneducated, and even criminals in order to get out their message.

We all have choices to make - we can be good or bad - good v. evil - educated v. uneducated - nice v. mean, etc. We, as human beings, tend to make better choices when we are better informed allowing us to maintain perception and therefore balance. Reason and logic = "higher brain function" which essentially is the only thing that seperates ourselves from the remainder of the animal kingdom. Yet viewing reality TV these days will really make you wonder if we're all that much better than fluffy the housecat. :)

Thank you for your comment; I hope the circumstances help convey that it is not meant to be divisive.

The Seal of the Prophethood ...

God now said to Muhammad(pbuh): 'I gave my past messengers many wise words to convey to the people; and these words were written down to guide future generations. Each of these messengers knew that I would send a further messenger to confirm the message I had given them. Do you accept this? Will you take up this burden?'

Muhammad (pbuh) answered: 'I accept.'

-Ibn Ishaq, "The Life of Muhammad"

Here, Now, and the Hereafter ...

A wise man works modestly toward the hereafter while a foolish man follows his low desires yet expects blessings from Allah.

-The Prophet Mohamed (pbuh), as reported by Shaddad bin Aus

Attaining Eternal Bliss ...

Yet I realized that my only hope of attaining eternal bliss was by detaching myself from all worldly desires, and by honouring God in every aspect of my life. I knew that I had to leave the mansion of deception, and set out with all vigour towards the house of God. I had to turn away from wealth and position, and flee from all the worldly obligations that consumed my time.

-Ghazali, “al-Munqidh min ad-Dalal”

Bounty of Blessings ...

Blessed are the ones who rely on Allah and have surrendered themselves before His will, who are grateful in prosperity and patient in adversity.

-Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as reported by Shu'aib bin Se'nam

Human Nature ...

Since man is made of clay, he can never be completely pure. Since clay is basically foul, how can humans escape their basic nature? Purity does not lie in rituals, nor can human nature be changed by effort. Those who love God and remain conscious only of their Beloved to attain purity.

-Al-Hujwiri, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"

Patience is a Virtue ...

Your pleas shall be answered, but wait patiently for the Lord to respond. Do not lose hope and begin to complain, "I beseeched the Lord, but He never responded."

-The Prophet Muhammad, as reported by Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith)

Ramadan Mubarak to all ...

Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (Should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

-Qur'an (2:185)

God is the Real Provider ....

Do not seek sustenance from people. God is the real Provider. If He wills a certain person to be the means of your livelihood, do not consider that person to be in control of your destiny. Have faith and be certain in the knowledge that your daily bread does not depend upon any mortal, but upon God who created all.

-Al-Hajwiri, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"

Two kinds of people ...

Allah exalted two kinds of people above others: those who spend in the cause of the Truth, and the judicious who impart their wisdom to others.

-The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as reported by Nayeem bin Mas'ud

Charity ...

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.

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

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

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)

Friendship is Everything

"Friendship takes many years to establish; so do not fall out with a friend over a single disagreement."

-Sadi, "Gulistan"

From "366 Readings From Islam," translated by Robert Van der Weyer. Copyright 2000. All rights reserved. 

Sound advice, no?  God created us as rational, and yet emotional beings.  We need companionship.  We need friends and partners.  We get angry with one another from time to time, but it is not worth the years of memories to walk away over a little disagreement that can be talked out logically.

If we could all master this on an individual level, there would be no need for lawsuits, for courts, for divorce, for war.  We have to learn to rise above our emotions and remember the bigger picture - the reason why we are all here.  Perspective is everything!

Give each other the benefit of the doubt.  Strive to understand one another.  Long to love one another.  Forgiveness is, truly, next to Godliness.

Jesus (PBUH) in Islam ... Part 1 of ?

"I heard the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) narrate the story of another Prophet, Jesus (PBUH), before him, whose people beat him and cause him to bleed.  Even as he wiped the blood off his face he said, "Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do!"

- Reported by Nayeem bin Mas'ud, Shaih al-Bukhari

Does this come to a surprise to most non-Muslims, that Jesus (PBUH) is recognized as a Prophet and Messenger of Islam?  In my personal experience, the answer is an astounding and deafening, YES!

If we compare the stories (as an outline) of the Prophet Jesus (PBUH) from the Bible of today and the Qur'an, there are a remarkable number of similarities.  Here are a few:

Jesus (PBUH):

- The son of the Virgin Mary

- By the grace and permission of God, cured leprosy, blindness, general illness and raised the dead

- Preached the word of God in an effort to remind people of the right path and return them to the ways and laws of Moses (PBUH)

- Spent time in the desert, being tested by the devil

- Had disciples (though the Qur'an is not specific as to how many)

- Was betrayed by one disciple (though the Qur'an doesn't name him)

- Was beaten and battered

- Faced a trial or a court

- Was "sentenced"

- Is the Messiah

- He shall return (the second coming)

- He will make his first prayer in Jerusalem upon his return and rid the world of the anti-Christ

Sound familiar?  The Qur'an even gives Jesus (PBUH) the miracles of speaking as an infant to defend his mother Mary's honor and the only prophet to know of his purpose on Earth at birth (other prophets received their "calls" later in life).

Muslims and Christians differ on the subject of crucifixion and the idea of a "Trinity" (though not all sects of Christianity have this concept).  The Islamic view is that God rose Jesus (PBUH) to heaven to "sit on the right hand of God" (as both the Bible and the Qur'an state) before the crucifixion and while a man, who resembled Christ, took his place on the cross.

If you read the Gospel of Barnabas, he states that the "face of Jesus (PBUH) turned into that of Judas" on the cross.  Interesting, no?  From my perspective, it makes more sense, given that in the Gospel of Luke the man on the cross says, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  Why would Jesus (PBUH) say that of his Lord if it was all part of the plan for him to die in place of our sins?  Or, if Jesus (PBUH) is a part of God (as the trinity represents) why would he talk to himself?

Perhaps, I'm taking a very literal view of the Gospels, but these statements never agreed with me from a logical perspective.

I would love to turn this into a "discussion" ... if anyone can offer me some clarity, I would appreciate it.  Again, I feel that through education we achieve understanding and even, if in the end we do not agree with one another, at the very least we can tolerate one another's beliefs.

We are not as different as those who have the megaphones of the world would like us to believe.  Jesus (PBUH) is an extraordinary man, who is actually mentioned by name in the Qur'an to that of Mohamed (PBUH) at a ratio of 26:1!  Another surprise, no?

As always, I write with the purest of intentions.  Should there be any faults here, they are my own and do not reflect Islam or God's word.