Who made you a Qadi/Judge?

We have a lot of sectarian problems at the moment and these are adding
to the confusion of this time. Just imagine that you are an outsider
and you see groups of Muslims attacking each other. It's certainly not
a pretty sight nor does it attract one to the religion.
I am criticised a lot for stepping back and not involving myself and
sometimes not even voicing my opinion. I simply do not wish to be
involved in fighting people or even refuting people unnecessarily.
There are times when people need tobe refuted because they are causing
tribulation. But does that have to be done every time we speak? In
every Khutba? Even during Ramadan when we need spiritual advice
instead we a treated to a barrage of abuse aimed at particular groups.
I for one agree with the reliable opinion of the Hanafi school and the
reliable opinions of the Maturdi and Ashari school of doctrine. (Most
people are a mix of these schools of doctrine even thought they claim
to be otherwise!) Yet within these schools sectarianism has occurred
and I refute those who insult their Prophet whether intentional or not
but I do not make it my lives work!
I prefer taking a step back from all this tribulation andrefrain from
comment. The average person is now repeating the mistakes of their
Imams and purposely chasing those people who they think are wrong. It
is almost relentless and the zeal in which these average people are
chasingscholars for their 'errors' is something repugnant. They also
attack people who know the scholars andtheir students. In the most
Unislamic way imaginable with swearwords and speech full of hate.
Where has their Islamic manners gone?
No one likes to be told thatthey are doing a bad job orthat they do
not know what to do. Yet groups of people who do not know their own
Aqida correctly are attacking those who know their doctrine much
better than them.
Some groups claim that some things are disbelief when they are clearly
not and it is only their group who think it is! This is problematic
because the Awwam (the average person) should not be doing anything
but concentrating on their worship. This basic fact is something they
have failedto do. Many do not know what breaks their ablution nor do
they know what breaks their prayer but because they are Muslim they
think this gives them a divine right to correct scholars.
Who made you a Qadi?
If someone pronounces a word of disbelief then the case is brought
before a Qadi/Judge who asks the person if he realises the
ramifications of his words. If he does not recant then he is
imprisoned a scholar is brought to him to explain the issues and he
isgiven time to reconsider. Only when he does not after a given period
is the apostate killed. Just like if someone committed treachery to
the Crown who that person be killed ifconvicted. Now that we do not
have judges we have people who do their own vigilante style court in
which they apostate who they hate and give excuses to those they love!
So when one of their own imams commits apostasy on the pulpit because
he has tried to respect the Prophet (may Allah bestowpeace and
blessings upon him) by disrespecting the other Prophets. He is given
an excuse but when others do the same, then that person is attacked
and hounded. This happens in more instances than you can imagine.
We have misguided loyalties in that we think we are defending Islam
butinstead we are defending the politics of our group and not Islam at
all. We also think that everyone is astray except our group and we
claim to be Ahl-Sunna wa Jammah. Well, your group has only been around
for a hundred or so years, how can it just be you that are right? So
does that mean that there was no Ahl-Sunna until your group came? How
canthat be right? The Ahl-Sunna wa Jammah wasnot a specific group of
people from a certain place. Rather is it the corpus of rulings and
the followers of the scholars from the beginning of Islam until its
end. Those that fit into the four schools of Fiqh and the Ashari and
Maturdi schools of doctrine.
A popular singer once wrote love is blindness andit truly is when
people are not willing to look at their own errors yet jump upon the
errors of others like lions after their prey. Our love has made us
blind andthis misleading others.
What do we do then?
Overlook, like we used to and we refer case or situations to scholars
who will correct scholars. When this is done then the scholar who
corrected him should not make the discussions public. They should
discuss the problemand come to a resolution then put the issue to bed.
...

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Quraishi Women Praised

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "How excellent are the
women of the tribe of Quraish! They are most affectionate towards
children and most efficient guardians of their husbands' homes."
[Bukhari]
Safeguard the home, property, goods and reputation of your husband.
After marriage consider your husband's home as your own and spend the
wealth of your husband wisely and economically. Your prestige is based
on your husband's prestige.
Shower your children with love and affection. Make your home a warm
and secure place for them.

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The Fourth Caliph, Ali (656-661 A.C.)

"You [Ali] are my brother in this world and the next." (Hadeeth)
Ali's Election
After Uthman's martyrdom, the office of the caliphate remained
unfilled for two or three days. Many people insisted that Ali should
take up the office, but hewas embarrassed by the fact that the people
who pressed him hardest were the rebels, and he therefore declined at
first. When the notable Companions of the Prophet (peace be on him)
urged him, however, he finally agreed.
Ali's Life
Ali bin Abi Talib was the first cousin of the Prophet (peace be on
him). More than that, he had grown up in the Prophet's own household,
later married his youngest daughter, Fatima, and remained in closest
association with him for nearly thirty years.
Ali was ten years old when the Divine Message came to Muhammad (peace
be on him). One night he saw the Prophet and his wife Khadijah bowing
and prostrating. He asked the Prophet about the meaning of their
actions. The Prophet told him that they were praying to God Most High
and that Ali too should accept Islam. Ali said thathe would first like
to ask his father about it. He spent a sleepless night, and in the
morning he went to the Prophetand said, "When God created meHe did not
consult my father, so why should I consult my father in order to serve
God?" and he accepted the truth of Muhammad's message.
When the Divine command came, "And warn thy nearest relatives"
[26:214], Muhammad (peace be on him) invited his relatives for a meal.
After it was finished, he addressed them andasked, "Who will join me
in the cause of God?" There was utter silence for a while, and then
Ali stood up. "I am the youngest of all present here," he said, "My
eyes trouble me because they are sore and my legs are thin and weak,
but I shall join you and help you in whatever way I can." The assembly
broke up in derisive laughter. But during thedifficult wars in Mecca,
Ali stood by these words and faced all the hardships to which the
Muslims were subjected. He slept in the bed of the Prophet when the
Quraish planned to murder Muhammad. It was he to whom the Prophet
entrusted, when he left Mecca, the valuables which had been given to
him for safekeeping, to be returned to their owners.
Apart from the expedition of Tabuk, Ali fought in all the early
battles of Islam with great distinction, particularly in the
expedition of Khaybar. It is said that in the Battle of Uhud he
received more than sixteen wounds.
The Prophet (peace be on him) loved Ali dearly and called him by many
fond names. Once the Prophet found him sleeping in the dust. He
brushed off Ali's clothes and said fondly, "Wake up, Abu Turab (Father
of Dust)." The Prophet also gave him the title of 'Asadullah' ('Lion
of God').
Ali's humility, austerity, piety, deep knowledge of the Qur'an and his
sagacity gave him great distinction among the Prophet's Companions.
Abu Bakr, 'Umar and Uthman consulted him frequently during their
caliphates. Many times 'Umar had made him his vice-regent at Medina
when he was away. Ali was also a great scholar of Arabic literature
and pioneered in the field of grammar and rhetoric. His speeches,
sermons and letters served for generations afterward as models of
literary expression. Many of his wise and epigrammatic sayings have
beenpreserved. Ali thus had a rich and versatile personality. In spite
of these attainments he remained a modest and humble man. Once during
his caliphate when he was going about the marketplace, a man stood up
in respect and followed him. "Do not do it," said Ali. "Such manners
are a temptation for a ruler and a disgrace for the ruled."
Ali and his household lived extremely simple and austere lives.
Sometimes they even wenthungry themselves because of Ali's great
generosity, and none who asked for help was ever turned away from his
door. His plain, austere style of living did not change even when he
was ruler over a vast domain.
Ali's Caliphate
As mentioned previously, Ali accepted the caliphate very reluctantly.
Uthman's murder and the events surrounding it were a symptom, and also
became a cause, of civil strife on a large scale. Ali felt that the
tragic situation was mainly due to inept governors. He therefore
dismissed all the governors whohad been appointed by Uthman and
appointed new ones. All the governors excepting Muawiya, the governor
of Syria, submitted to his orders. Muawiya declined to obey until
Uthman's blood was avenged. The Prophet's widow Aisha also took the
position that Ali should first bring the murderers to trial. Dueto the
chaotic conditions during the last days of Uthman it was very
difficult to establish the identity of the murderers, and Ali refused
to punish anyone whose guilt was not lawfully proved. Thus a battle
between the army of Ali and the supporters of Aisha took place. Aisha
later realized her error of judgment and never forgave herself for it.
The situation in Hijaz (thc part ofArabia in which Mecca and Medina
are located) became so troubled that Ali moved his capital to Iraq.
Muawiya now openly rebelled against Ali and a fierce battle was fought
between their armies. This battle was inconclusive, and Ali had to
accept the de facto government of Muawiya in Syria.
However, even though the era ofAli's caliphate was marred by civil
strife, he nevertheless introduced a number of reforms,particularly in
the levying and collecting of revenues.
It was the fortieth year of Hijra. A fanatical group called
Kharijites, consisting of people who had broken away from Ali due to
his compromise with Muawiya, claimed that neither Ali, the Caliph, nor
Muawiya, the ruler of Syria, nor Amr bin al-Aas,the ruler of Egypt,
were worthy of rule. In fact, they went so far as to say that the true
caliphate came to an end with 'Umar and that Muslims should live
withoutany ruler over them except God. They vowed to kill all three
rulers, and assassins were dispatched in three directions.
The assassins who were deputed to kill Muawiya and Amrdid not succeed
and were captured and executed, but Ibn-e-Muljim, the assassin who was
commissioned to kill Ali, accomplished his task. One morning when Ali
was absorbedin prayer in a mosque, Ibn-e-Muljim stabbed him with a
poisoned sword. On the 20th of Ramadan, 40 A.H., died the last of the
Rightly Guided Caliphs of Islam. May God Most High be pleased with
them and grant to them His eternal reward.

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History The Brindavan Gardens, a celebrated beauty spot in this part of India is world famous for its symmetric design. It is one of the most beautifully laid out terrace gardens in the world. Thecreation of this garden in the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam s

History
The Brindavan Gardens, a celebrated beauty spot in this part of India
is world famous for its symmetric design. It is one of the most
beautifully laid out terrace gardens in the world. Thecreation of this
garden in the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam site has been the achievement of
Sir MirzaIsmail, the then Dewan of the princely State of Mysore. The
beautification of the whole dam complex was conceived by Sir Mirza
Ismail. Modeled on the design of the Shalimar Gardens ofKashmir in the
Mughal style, the garden is enriched with a number of terraces,
parterres, fountains, running and cascadingwaterchannels, water
chutes, lush green lawns, flower beds, shrubs and trees. Today, the
Brindavan Gardens is world famous for its ethereal beauty, grandeur
and illumination/ musical fountain.
Located in the Krishnaraja Sagar dam site in Srirangapatna taluk of
Mandya district, the Brindavan Gardens is at a distance of 24 Km.from
the famous cultural heritage centre of Karnataka � the city of Mysore,
and 143 Km. from Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka. The
Krishnaraja Sagar dam is built across the riverCauvery, one of the
principal rivers in South India. The Cauvery rises in the hills of
Brahmagiri � in Talacauvery, Kodagu District in the Western Ghats and
traverses Eastwards in Karnataka for about320 Km. before entering
Tamil Nadu and finally joining the Bay of Bengal. The dam is named
after Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV during whose rule the Chief Engineer, Sir
M. Vishveswaraya engineered the construction of the dam. The River
Cauvery belowthe giant dam divides the garden into two parts.
The Garden
The Brindavan Gardens, primarily a terrace garden is laid out
immediately behind the Krishnaraja Sagar dam site. The Department of
Horticulture in 1927 started the work of laying out this garden, then
called the Krishnarajendra Terrace Garden. Today, the garden extends
over an area of 60 acres and it is laid out in the three terraces,
which ends in a horseshoe shape. The slopes are planted with colourful
Bougainvilleas and ornamental plants. This garden is a public park and
it is one of the important tourist spots of India. The garden is
enriched with innumerable fountains decoratedwith coloured lighting.
The illuminated running waters and fountains with changing colours of
lights is an event that the tourists can look forward to in the
evenings. The garden has many open spaces, lawns, illuminated flower
beds and ornamental plants. It also has well laid out roads and
pathways.The Brindavan Gardens is the best-illuminated terrace garden
in India. The boating pond in the midst of the garden is a location
where the visitors can enjoy a boat ride. The whole garden when
illuminated is an enchanting site to see.
Fountain
The Musical and dancing fountain, is the main attraction of the
visitors. The water, coloured light and music are harmonized in the
fountain to create a water ballet controlled by an aquatic organ
operated through a controller. Water is pumped to the fountain and the
operation is computerised. All the other fountains run due to the
water pressure from the dam. A laser vision has also been developed
for visitors� attraction The illumination timing is the same as that
for the garden. The musical and dancing fountain is located in the
North Brindavan Garden. A gallery and rain shelter are provided for
the viewers.

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