Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Are we doing it for Allah?...


Quote: "Perhaps a great deed is belittled by an intention. And perhaps a small deed, by a sincere intention, is made great." (Abdullah Ibn Mubarak)
"Never underestimate the importance of intentions. When the Muslims of Al Andalus (Spain), desired to please Allah , they had the greatest cities on earth and when they desired materials and pleasures, they were destroyed. The choice is in front of us today. May Allah help us to choose Justice in this world and the Paradise in the Hereafter."





Monday, February 25, 2013

Follow the TRUTH!

So whatever is true, even though a minority of the people or no one is upon it – so long as it is the truth – it must be adhered to, for indeed it is salvation."

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The Majority is Not a Proof that Something is Correct – Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzan (hafidhahullaah)

 
 
 
 
 
 
6 Votes

Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu ‘ala rasulullaah
Amma ba’d
From the characteristics of the people of the Days of Ignorance is that they would view the majority as proof that something was true and the minority as proof hat something was false. So according to them, whatever the majority of the people was upon, that was the truth. And whatever the minority was upon, that was not the truth. In their eyes, this was the balance used to determine truth from falsehood.
However, this is wrong, for Allah says: And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah’s path. They follow nothing but conjecture, and they do nothing but lie.[Surah Al-An'aam, ayah 116]
And He says: But most of mankind doesn’t know. [Surah Al-A'raaf, ayah 187]
And He says: And most of them We found to be not true to their covenant, but most of them We found indeed to be evil sinners. [Surah Al-A'raaf, ayah 102]
So the balance is not the majority and the minority. Rather, the balance is the truth. So whoever is upon the truth – even if he is by himself – he is the one who is correct and deserves to be emulated. And if the majority of the people are upon falsehood, then it is obligatory to reject them and not be deceived by them. So consideration is given to the truth. This is why the scholars say: “Truth is not known by way of men, but rather men are known by way of the truth.” So whoever is upon the truth, then he is the one we must follow and emulate.
In Allaah’s stories about the prior nations, He informs us that it is always the minority that is upon the truth, as Allah says: And no one believed with him except for a few. [Surah Hood, ayah 40]
And in a hadeeth in which the nations were presented to the Prophet, he (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said that he saw a prophet who had a small group of followers with him, and a Prophet who had a man or two men following him, and another Prophet who had no one with him. (Sahih Al-Bukhari).
So consideration is not given to which opinion or view has the most followers. Rather, consideration is given to its being either true or false. So whatever is true, even though a minority of the people or no one is upon it – so long as it is the truth – it must be adhered to, for indeed it is salvation. Falsehood is not aided by the fact that it has a majority of people following it – ever. This is a determining measure that the Muslim must always abide by.
The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Islam began strange and it will return back to being strange as it began.” (Saheeh Muslim)
This will occur at the time when evil, calamities and misguidance increase. So no one will remain upon the truth except for the strange ones amongst the people and those who extract themselves from their tribes (for the sake of their religion). They will become strangers in their society.
The Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was sent while the whole world was submersed in disbelief and misguidance. And when he called the people, only one or two answered his call. It was only until later on that they grew to be many. The tribe of Quraish, not to mention the whole of the Arabian Peninsula and the whole world, was upon misguidance. And the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was the only one calling the people. So those who followed him were few with respect to the entire world.
So consideration is not given to the majority. Consideration is only given to what is correct and to achieving the truth. Yes, if the majority of the people are upon correctness, then that is good. However, the way of Allaah is that the majority of the people is always upon falsehood.
And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly. [Surah Yoosuf, ayah 103]
And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah’s path. They follow nothing but conjecture, and they do nothing but lie. [Surah Al-An'aam, ayah 116]
* [In his sharh (explanation) of Imam Muhammad ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab's (rahimahullaah) statement: From the greatest of their principles was that they would be deluded by the majority, using that to determine the correctness of a matter. They would also determine the falsehood of something if it was strange and that its adherents were few. So Allaah brought them the opposite of that, clarifying this in many places of the Qur`an.]
Source: Sharh Masaa’il-ul-Jaahiliyyah (pg. 60-62) of Shaikh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab (rahimahullaah), via al-Ibaanah.
Al Fudayl ibn ‘Iyyad (rahimahullaah) said:
Upon you is the path of guidance and don’t worry about the few people on it. And beware of the path of misguidance, and don’t be deceived by the many people [on it].

http://salaf-us-saalih.com/2011/05/21/the-majority-is-not-a-proof-that-something-is-correct/

Thursday, February 21, 2013

FIRE

The army of the Shayateen are getting stronger
It's no wonder, the sins of man are getting deeper
Jinn travelling through men, like blood through veins
Penetrating the mind every time they sit like zombies; controlling their brains
Ejecting itself within the physical, when sins become typical 
It's an easy win, when man sits like waiting ducks - we're our own hypocritical
Time wasted, I'm first to admit to this
Thereafter in our laze whispers become part of our days
If we don't fight it, eventually we succumb to it
This is why controlling the mind is half the battle
The other half is using time wisely - we're being herded like cattle
The day will come when we all point fingers
The devil will deny every allegation
Saying he had no control or power over our being, except he called and we went crawling
Back to our lowly desires
Searching for ease upon ease, until neglect sinks in and we're surrounded by our fires
We're against an army who has finally gained their momentum
But victory always comes to the believers, except how many of us are truly believing?
We're weak, falling, slipping, drowning in our self contained deceit
Ya Allah SAVE US!!.. show us the path to our seat.. 
Ya Allah let us be a witness to Wahj Allah
Ya Allah strengthen us, make us firm, ya Allah Protect us, Guide us, and do not test us hard for we are weak...Ameen 


Dr. Bilal Philips via Facebook Status Update :
The evil of minor sins when gathered can destroy the perpetrator as the Prophet (saw) said: “Beware of the scorned sins for they are like a people who encamp in open land…” He will continue to make the minor sins seem trivial until he ignores them until one doing a major sin but afraid of it becomes better than him

Every human has an individual Jinn accompanying him referred to as a Qareen (i.e. companion). This is a part of man’s test in this life. The Jinn encourage his lower desires and constantly try to divert him from righteousness. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه Ùˆ سلم) referred to this relationship as follows, “Every one of you has been assigned a companion from the Jinn.” The companions asked: “Even you, O Messenger of Allaah?” And the Prophet replied: “Even me, except that Allaah has helped me against him and he has submitted. Now he only tells me to do good.”
(Muslim)


Monday, February 18, 2013

Please everyone watch this, and everyone share



Changing the Discourse on Islamic Personal Finance


There is no discourse in our communities about Islamic personal finance. None.
When we discuss Islamic finance at conferences, classes, dinner parties, and gatherings with friends, it's always the same. Which company did you use to buy your house? Is buying a car on 0% halal or not?
The problem with those discussions is that they ignore the stark reality of personal finance faced by many families and individuals. Before I get to the point of even buying a house, how much should I have saved? What percentage of my monthly income is reasonable for a house payment?
Before even that step, there should be consideration for things like how to make a budget for your household. How do you get out of debt?
As I've personally delved into reading about personal finance, I've come to realize this aspect of education is missing from our communities. We're content to discuss terms like “musharakah” and “murabahah” and “ijaara” but we have yet to figure out a way to make higher education without student loans a reality for the majority of our ummah.
What is the point of a husband and wife buying a house through a halal mortgage, if they're going to fight every month about how to spend the money they make?
While we educate ourselves on the fiqh of things such as a woman's right to her own wealth, the responsibility of a husband to provide, and so on – we overlook the nuts and bolts that are required to run a household. How do a husband and wife figure out where their money is going? How do they resolve disagreements about what to spend money on? How do they prioritize their spending? How do they make sure they have a realistic plan to save for things like hajj?
How does an individual plan ahead for expenses such as buying a car, or dealing with home repairs without having to rely on a credit card as their emergency fund?
The reality is, while we are an educated ummah – both secularly and religiously – we tend to have a false sense of confidence when it comes to finances. Many households are struggling with debts – student loans, car payments, credit card payments, furniture purchases, computer purchases, and sometimes even a mattress payment of $10 a month stretched out over a few years.
It's time we reassess our attitudes toward finance and gain control of our wealth. Changing the discourse on finance allows us to learn how to budget – which tells us both how we earn our money, and where we spend our money. We cannot account for this in the Hereafter if we have no idea where our money goes now.
Our community also needs to change the discourse when it comes to debt. We've let society make us think that debt is a tool, something we leverage. If the recession and collapse of the banking industry haven't taught us that this is playing with fire, at the least we should heed the warnings in our own sacred texts about staying away from debt. Our communities need proper financial counseling and help to get individuals and families out of debt.
Please also check out a series from our archives on debt and money management: Intro | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
As we work to change this discourse, we'd like to hear your stories.
Have you ever been in debt? How much debt?
What did it feel like to be in debt?
Have you been in debt and gotten out of it? How much debt did you have, and how did you pay it off? 

Beautiful Reminder!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Ponder


A scholar once said: The greatest grief and the biggest calamity is finding our happiness and comfort when we sin and disobey Allah!

Saturday, February 09, 2013

"Broken Home"

I'm going re-define "broken home"
Often it's a label that comes pasted on the child that doesn't have both mother and father, side by side
I don't think that's a fair description
Call it denial but here's my definition 
A home without mom and dad together
By default doesn't result in broken forever
It just means a little more effort needs to go in
A little more love and a little less judging
My own three have both mother and father
Both loved by their own just on different levels
There is no such thing as ex-father, just ex-husband
If the man shows love to his capacity 
And the mother reinforces the concept of his love for the child's unity
Then by His Grace the young will not be "broken"
The home is not broken merely because two could not see eye to eye
The home is broken when there's neglect on either side
I make a point in raising mine to understand they are loved strong on both sides
A parent does great injustice to throw their children in the midst of their childish fights
Innocence should not be in the mix of peoples emotions, anger and the like
Leave the child out - let them grow up knowing and seeing what's right
So yes, on that note I say this with certainty....my children don't come from a  broken home
They come from love, faith, rules, play and garden of support for them to grow (Alhamdulilah)
My children don't live the ideal I grew up with, but that doesn't mean love is any less
Nor does it mean their mental state will be filled with stress
No... I refuse to accept that mentality
By the Will of the Almighty, they will grow up responsible, loving, encompassed by piety
"Broken" is forged by dysfunction, whether together or not
If there's no peace or love in the home, there's anger and hurt - that's the creation of 'broken'
Perception is our reality...
For me, I choose to see it differently

Thursday, February 07, 2013

It's Upto You

Everyone goes through their ups and down
The cycle of any relationship entails that some days walls will be hit
Doesn't mean they're locked doors, steel roofs , barred and hammered shut
No, that's only the response to the hurt at its peak and ego making you weak
It's easy to shut out, it's never easy to let in
It takes the heart to soften and the soul to understand the real 'win'
Not everything is meant to last, not everything is good for you
But somethings just take time, and somethings are a direct result of what we do or don't do
It's really a matter of priority and goals
I don't suppose it's the best situation if the one you're with is walking a different path than you
But I do say, it'll take time before that's determined
When it's clear then whatever you do becomes an easier move
But when you're battling your own insecurities, weakness and level of arrogance
You'll find no matter your move, you'll be broken in two
Every relationship goes through it's up and downs
That's how we build castles - one brick at a time
When we mess up; it takes knocking it down to start it up again
Construction needs cooperation; one lays the cement, the other places the brick
It's upto you if you want it to be made of gold and silver
Or if you're fine with rock and mud
Either way, roles will always differ
But the idea is that each job supports one another
In the end, we're designed to preserver
Eventually you'll realize wallowing in your own anger or emotional clatter, only makes you the loser...

Saturday, January 19, 2013

To the STRANGER...

We are never in a constant state
Always changing from love to hate
From strong to weak
From fallen to upbeat
We are never in a constant state
Changing as does the phase of the moon
Night and day - from darkness to noon
None the less if we don't recognize one slip
We'll be drowning in our self-made pit
Too many holes make it a ditch
If we keep an eye on our state we'll better handle the glitch
Supplication to the One who Changes our Hearts
Sincere in our efforts to maintain, without breaking us apart
The time is upon us, that we go to sleep a believer and awake without belief
What does that say of our state? We are in need of urgent relief ...
Purification and prayer, checking ourselves daily
For we are dealing with an open enemy
The plot of the devil doesn't get lighter
It's the heart of a stranger that makes the right fighter
None of us are safe from the fall 
It's all too easy, morals and values are made less to all
The choice to cheat, deceit, adultery or conceit
Have been replaced with a new name, they label it "game" 
Our state is constantly in change
Let's keep it in check - not much longer we'll be hearing our name
The call of the caller, let's rise and prioritize 
Just a 'lil more, pray we're granted entrance through Heaven's door
.....Thereafter we're free to roll
No worries, we've attained our goal! Insha'Allah!!!!

May Allah give us all the strength to rise above that which surrounds us and be blessed with the knowledge of right and wrong, may He the Most Merciful take us in the state of His Pleasure and grant us Jannatul Firdos.. Ameen. 

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Boo!




How'd Halloween land on everyday of the week?
It's like the only costume on sale is the prostitute type
When did society make this alright..?
Am I missing something?
Can no else see the half naked walking around?...
Leaves no room for anyone's imagination
It requires absolutely no thought, but isn't it all for attention?
Both genders don't seem to know their size
What happened to the people in stores that help you get the right fit?
Not the tight fit, or the high slit, or low hip with a short "shirt" to show it...
How'd that happen, where was I when this all became "normal"?.. 
This was the punishment for Adam and Eve
They got stripped before they were sent down for eating from the forbidden tree
So, it's a self inflicted punishment?
Is our self esteem, and self worth so down
That we punish ourselves before our chances are up and we're in the ground
How does this all makes sense?
It defies logic and everyone seems to think I'm being dense....
.. Help me out, 'cause no matter which way I cut up
It's just messed up!! 

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Oh Sister!



How did you get to the point where you convinced yourself sin is better?
You've made the option of halal difficult, so haram is easier
Are you so oblivious to human nature?
Can you not see what surrounds society?
You made slander appear as though it's part of piety
In the hopes to support and defend one by gossiping, spying and character defiling another
Would this be the qualities exemplified by a true believer?
Oh sister, stop for a moment and hear Shaytaan's whisper
He's travelling through your veins, recruited you; his unsuspecting solider
You're only marching to his beat
Question the wisdom in how you choose to plant your feet
Your ways of freedom and liberation have only created a warm bed for arrogance
Find it hard to hear? Then know your desires have put up a resistance
I speak to you - woman to woman
It's not meant to be an easy reality , but that's part of our existence; it's designed to increase us in piety
How you ask?.. Simply, submit to that which you cannot quite grasp and understand it's not your position to task
Who's to determine whose wants and desires are more important?
Is it the he that wishes to partake in extra responsibility by including another she?
Or is it we, who can't accept the thought of not being one and only, afraid of cold and lonely?
If you're a believer, then the first question is, what is the command of our Creator?
Surely He, the All Knowing is aware of our state of affairs
Ask yourself, does true submission mean we dismiss the permissible, because of our own insecurities?
Question your actions, what is your objective?
I keep asking because if you keep masking your moves 
You'll only wake again to regret that your "hurt" caused you to lose
We walk our path individually 
Love isn't an indication of our sincerity 
It's a tool utilized to exercise compassion and humility
On a final note, if you're trying to earn respect or be honored in your home
Start with rising above your emotional turmoil, consistent in appreciating and supporting what's already yours on loan


Monday, January 07, 2013

Dice

We can't roll if you can't catch my flow
Even if you box me, a cube is 3-dimensional
I've got sides that don't fit the script
Don't get it twisted I don't suggest I submit and then just flip
No, that ain't my standing - my boundaries are marked (Insha'Allah)
With faith and sincere conviction of the truth, firm in my heart (Insha'Allah)
I'm referring to my personality
I can analyze, split and spit you into bit size pieces
Or can appear to be iron fitted
Maybe so serious that you think I define stress
Or maybe just a jelly bean, colours of flava in an everyday solja
Each has it's place, marking the dice
But I've been dented having be rolled wrongly twice
Not sure how much is left before I knock out my nice
If you can't catch my flow you ain't my type
Don't judge me unless you come to know
I'm best appreciated in a package form
Even though cubes tend to get stepped on
My nature won't change - so bring it on!
Let's play the game..
It only makes me sharper so I can learn faster when to ditch the lame!


Sunday, January 06, 2013

Resonates so loud..

This here.. just hits home in so many, many ways ....  I'm not sure if that's what the reality of my life circumstances are. Either way, this speaks to me .....

Saturday, January 05, 2013

Action speaks...


Quote:" When a young man is devout, we don't recognize him by his speech. We recognize him by his actions. That is beneficial knowledge." (Al-Hasan Al-Basree)

"This should be a year of actions and not words. There are too many names being called and claims being made. If a person claims to be spiritual, than be spiritual. If a person claims to be on the truth, than establish the truth. We are in need of "real leaders" and not good public relations people!!! Surely Almighty Allah is a witness to all affairs."

Oh Brother!

Though this may sound harsh: it seems so necessary
Each gender has it's issues, but I'm digging in the root
Brothers your condition in today's world is nothing but weak
You are the Shepard being herded by it's sheep
How many have succumb to the ways of the bent rib
Emotions are explosions of desires with no heed
You are the leaders of your flock
But you forgot,  now you're just concerned for what you bought 
Your worth downgraded to the billz in your pockets
It's not about how you rock it
Your accountability remains the same, even if you can't seem to see it
You stand before your Creator having to answer the same questions; generations before feared it
Talk is cheap as I keep saying
Look at the condition of your people; your soul is paying
It's so backwards I can't even find the words
Whipped ain't even the half of it
'Cause that entails being molded in a way you don't desire
That's the past, men are now happier being the 'dog' and that's his power
How'd it happen like this?
Goals are stolen for desires and homes are broken by liars
Even the "pious" have lowered their standard of righteous
Now it's enough to pray five times a day
What happened to the maturity and understanding of dealing with our condition on Judgement Day... ?
It's a weak state of affairs
There's no obedience in disobedience, so don't be deluded by your 'patient, compassionate' ways
Be a man, grow up and stand 
Guide your flock to the blissful, eternal land
Not lowering the standard to the weakness of man!






Thursday, January 03, 2013

Walking Your Path


A teacher can't teach you what experience can

It's a matter of walking through it to understand 

No books, papers or pens on hand

It's just you, and the course pre-ordained by His Command

Words can do no justice in experiencing experience

It's a do or die situation - faced with the consequences of your decision

Falling down being part of the equation

For that's the first step of preparation 
"Accidents" are areas where we can draw on strength and determination 
It's the unknown that leaves us anxious, with a dreaded antiscipation 
When the cookie crumbles we come to the realization
We form the correct understanding, for the truth of every situation becomes apparent
No teacher can teach this, not even your first ; your parent[s]
It's a course that may seem ugly at first
But thereafter it in fact serves as a means of comfort
Can't quite express it, even if we digress in our dark moments it makes it hurt less
It comes with knowing that just 'cause it's not quite rolling, doesn't mean we'll be broken
Every fall makes you a tough nut, not ready to give up
Makes you numb to the fear of what may or may not come
There's beauty in all, just have to look for it
There's lessons in life, just gotta have faith in it
Just keep it going like a solja ... 
Though I know you won't quite really know, until it molds you into your own, heh!

__________________________________________________________________________________________
The purpose for the creation of human beings in this world is to test their conduct. This world of life and death, wealth and poverty, sickness and health, was created to sift out the righteous souls from the evil souls. Human conduct in this world is the measure of faith. As The Almighty mentions this in Quran: “Surely I have created all that is on earth as its ornaments that I may test which of them is best in conduct.” Qur’aan, 18:7

Friday, December 07, 2012

AFRICA - The Continent

AFRICA - The continent, not the country
Everyone speaks of it like it's all the same glory
So let me set the record straight..
It's not!
Dessert and dry lands mask the North
Arabic spoken; vivid through its roots
South is ocean and grass - the red earth of the 'mother land'
Center point you have the best of nature
Then there's the West, where knowledge rose to it's best
Take it East and you'll know how to feast
Except now its worn, stricken and in drought
Higher up flourishes the art of 'stealing from the assumed rich and still staying poor'
In the midst is AIDS plaguing the villages 
Raids and tribal wars - you know , divide and conquer
Education a commodity of the affluent
To find crime and bribery a normal day-to-day occurrence
This is AFRICA a land that became infested by uninvited savages 
Who enslaved, divided and tore apart only for their own advantages
This is why today, an entire land mass is unappreciated, as it's known only as "Africa" ...
Where the lions roam among mud and brick homes?
Yet its a land that has every precious stone and all of natures own
Once the best of beauties, now tainted and ruined
Left as the beast, brainwashed upon release
Downsized to one word, though it consists of 57 unions
'Africa' they say - a land stolen in the night and forgotten in the day