Tawheed Expounded Upon in Aayatul-Kursee

Allaah says in Aayatul-Kursee [1]:
( Allaah, there is none deserving worship otherthan Him, the
Ever-Living, the Sustainer of everything. Neither slumber nor sleep
overtake Him. To Him belongs all that is inthe heavens and all that is
on earth. Who can intercede without His Permission? He knows thier
past and what is coming for them. They will never comprehend anything
from His Knowledge except what He allows them to. His Kursee [2] is
more expansive than the heavens and the earth, and He does not grow
tired of protecting them both (the heavens and theearth) , and He is
the Highest and the Greatest. )
This is the greatest verse in the Book of Allaah [3], the Mighty and
Majestic. It contains the three categories of tawheed - ruboobiyyah ,
uloohiyyah , and asmaa' was-sifaat . Allaah gathered them all in this
verse, using negation and affirmation, where He negates shortcomings
and deficiencies for Himself, and affirms completeness for Himself,
Most Glorified and Exalted.
In the first part of the verse is the mention of tawheed al-uloohiyyah :
( Allaah, there is none deserving worship otherthan Him )
Then Allaah mentions tawheed al-asmaa' was-sifaat :
( The Ever-Living, the Sustainer of everything )
This affirms for Allaah the attributes of life and that He sustains
others [4]. Then Allaah says:
( Neither slumber nor sleep overtake Him )
This is a negation. Allaah negates that these deficiencies, slumber
and sleep, could be attributed to Him. Then Allaah says:
( To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth )
This is an affirmation of His Ruboobiyyah , that He owns the heavens
and theearth and all that is in them. Then He, Most Glorified, says:
( Who is the one who can intercede without His Permission? )
This is a negation. Allaah negates that anyone couldintercede without
His Permission, due to His complete Greatness, may He be Glorified and
Exalted. No one could possibly intercede with Him, except after He
allows them. Then Allaah says:
( He knows what is in front of them and what is behind them )
This is an affirmation establishing the complete Knowledge of Allaah,
the Mighty and Majestic, the One who knows everything from the
affairsof the past, present, and future. Nothing is hidden from Him,
as His Knowledge is vast and encompasses everything. Then He, the
Mighty and Majestic, says:
( They will never comprehend anything from His Knowledge
except what He allows them to )
This is a negation. Allaah nullifies the idea that His Creation could
gain some of His Knowledge without Him giving them access to it. So if
He does not allow them to have knowledge of something, then it is
considered ghayb (unseen), and no one knows the ghayb except Allaah.
Then Allaah says:
( His Kursee [2] is more expansive than the heavens and the earth )
The Kursee is a created thing from Allaah's Creation, and indeed it is
agreat creation! The heavens and the earth in relationship to the
Kursee are like seven coins tossedinto am open plain of earth [5], or
like seven coins tossed onto a large plate [6]. What would seven small
coins look likein this situation? So Allaah's Kursee is bigger than
the heavens and the earth. His Kursee is not His Throne, as these are
two separate things. The Throne is even greater than the Kursee .
And the Kursee is nothing in comparison to the Throne, except like an
ironring tossed into a spaciousplain of earth [7]. So if the Kursee is
like this, then what about the Throne of Ar-Rahmaan , Most Glorified
and Exalted?!
Therefore, all of the creation in relationship to Allaah is very small
and nothing in comparison to Him. If only one thing from Allaah's
Creation, the Kursee , is bigger than the heavens and the earth,
butstill smaller than the Throne, then Allaah, the Mighty and
Majestic, is greater than everything.
Allaah then says:
( And He does not grow tired of protecting them both
(the heavens and the earth) )
This is a negation, meaning that nothing is difficult or burdensome
onHim, Most Glorified. Protecting and preserving the heavens and the
earth from corruption and distortion does not tire Him, nor does His
holding them in place cause Him any fatigue [8]:
( And He holds up the sky so that it does not fall
upon the earth, except with His Permission )
And Allaah says [9]:
( And He raised up the heavens
without any support that you can see )
And Allaah also says [10]:
( Verily Allaah holds up the heavens and the earth
so that they do not slip from their places )
And Allaah the Glorified is not in need of the heavensnor the earth,
nor the Throne nor the Kursee , nor is He is need of anything from the
things He created.

Ali Ibn Talib and his Love for Abu Bakr – Farewell Speech

"The city of Al-Madeenah literally trembled on the day that Abu Bakr
(radi Allaahu 'anhu) died; in fact;other than the day of the Prophet's
death the peopleof Madeenah had never witnessed a sadder day, nor a
day upon which they had shed more tears. Upon hearing the sad news,
'Ali ibn Abi-Talib (radi Allaahu 'anhu) hurried towards AbuBakr's
house, all the while saying, "Verily we belong to Allah, and to Him is
our return."
'Ali (radi Allaahu 'anhu) then stood outside the house in which Abu
Bakr (raadi Allaahu 'anhu) had died, and made the following long
speech, which he addressed to Abu Bakr (raadi Allaahu 'anhu) himself:
"O Abu Bakr, may Allah have Mercy upon you. You were the closest
companion and friend of the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam); you were a comfort to him; you were the one he trusted most.
If he had a secret, he would tell it to you; and if he needed to
consult someone regarding a matter, he would consult you. You were the
first of your people to embrace Islam, and you were the most sincere
of them in your faith. Your faith was stronger than any other
person's, as was the degreeto which you feared Allah. And you were
wealthier then anyone else in terms of what you acquired from the
religion of Allah 'Azza Wa-Jall (The Posessor of Might and Majesty).
You cared most for both the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam) and Islam. Of all people, you were the best Companion to the
Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam); you possessed the
best qualities; you had the best past; you ranked the highest; and you
were closest to him. And of all people you resembled the Messenger of
Allah (salAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) the most in terms of his guidance
and demeanor. Your ranking was higher than anyone else's, and the
Prophet (salAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) honored you and held you in
higher esteem than anyone else. On behalf of the Messenger of Allah
and Islam, may Allah reward you with the best of rewards. When the
people disbelieved in the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam) you believed in him. Throughout his life, you were both his
eyes with which he (salAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), and his ears with
which he heard. Allah has named you truthful in his book when He said:
"And he (Muhammad (salAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) who has brought the
truth (this Qur'an and Islamic Monotheism) and (those who) believed
therein (i.e. the true believers of Islamic Monotheism), those are
Al-Muttaqun (the pious andrighteous persons)" (Qur'an39:33)
When people were stingy in their support for the Messenger of Allah
(salAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) you comforted him.And when people sat
still, you stood side by side withthe Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu
'alayhi wa sallam), facing the same hardships that he faced. In times
of hardship, you were truly a good and noble Companion of his. You
were the 'second of two', his Companion in the Cave; and the one upon
whom As-Sakeenah descended. You were his Companion during the
migration and you were his successor regarding the religion of Allah
and His nation. And truly good sucessor you proved to be when the
people apostatized.
You did what no other Khaleefah of a Prophet did before you. You stood
up firmly and bravely when his other Companions lost their resolve and
became soft. And when they became weak, you adheredto the methodology
of the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam). You truly
were as the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:
weak in your body, but strong regarding the commands of Allah; humble
in yourself, but lofty in your ranking with Allah; well-esteemed in
theeyes of people, honored and great in their hearts. Not a single one
of them had any reason to dislike you, to be suspicious of you, or to
hold you in contempt.
The weak and humble you have always treated as strong and honorable,
making sure you gave them what was rightfully theirs. And in this
regard, you have treated relatives and strangers equally. Of all
people, you respect those who are most obedient to Allah and who fear
Him the most. In your overall character, you embody truth and
compassion. Your speech has always been characterized by the qualities
of wisdom and decisiveness. And you have always struck a noble balance
between gentleness and firmness. You have always based your decisions
on knowedge, and once you have made your decisions, you have always
kept a firm resolve to execute them.
Verily to Allah do we belong, and to Him is our return. We are pleased
with, and we submit to, Allah's decree. And by Allah,other than the
death of theMessenger of Allah (salAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) Muslims
have neverbeen afflicted with a greater calamity than the calamity of
your death.

Tourist place - INDIA - Ajmeer. - Hazrat Khawaja Gharib Nawaz r.a

We feel happy to announcethat from now on you can send your offerings
direct to dargah Sharif by clickinga mouse via cridet card or debit
cards. Now you can offer flowers, chaddar, Attar and Insence in the
Dargah sharif of Hazrat Khawaja Gharib Nawaz r.a. Also you can feed
people , we can arrange the cooking in behalf of you and distribute to
the people in dargah sharif. If you wants to visit dargah sharif we
arrange for your Hazree hassel free on a nominal charges. If you
wants to do any Mannat and you cannot come personally , we can do the
offering of your mannat onyour behalf.
If you need Taweez for blessing we have taweez for the protection of a
house from nagative energy like evil eye, black magic and health
related problem, and a taweez for blessing for work and business.
We will update latest information from Khawaja Gharibnawaz (R.A)
Darbar time to time on our social media channels viz. facebook,twitter
and youtube.
URS 2012
*. On 17th of May 2012 [25th Jamdul Sahani] flag hosting ceremony
after Asar Namaz 6:00 pm.
*. On 22nd of May 2012 [ 1st of rajab] the URS starts, the first gusal
will star and the mehfil-e-sama will start in the Dargah Sharif.
*. On 29th of May 2012 [6thof rajjab chatte sharif] themain day of Urs
Sharif, the coul fathe will be at 1:00 pm before zohar prayer.
*. On 1st of June 2012 [9th rajjab] the last day of urs which is call
bara qoul,the main fathe and dua will be at 9:00 am. And the devotee
of Hazrat Khawaja Gharib Nawaz r.a will wash the entire Darah Sharif.
From 4th of June [1st of rajjab] till 9thof June[ 6 rajjab] the Dargah
Sharif will remain open 24 hours except for some hour they will
closefor the urs ritual [ ghusal sharif]

HEALTH - ~ The benefits of garlic

>Garlic has been referred toas 'nature's antibiotic'.
>It is a powerful cleanser of the body and regular ingestion promotes a healthy heart and circulation by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
>It also helps fight infection and can boost immunity.
>There is strong evidence to suggest that garlic helpswith the prevention of cancers of the digestive system, including the oesophagus, stomach, colon and rectum.
>Those who don't like the taste of garlic should try the odourless supplements that are available.

Five minutes of health

"Five minutes of health comfort the ill one." – Bengali proverb.
In other words, a person who is ill would get comfort and relief from
justfive minutes of health.
This reminds me of my friend Hisham, who has an autoimmune disorder
and has been confined to a wheelchair for many years. He is the same
age as me, and we grew up riding our bicycles together. He was an avid
cyclist and even participated in a ride all theway across the United
States and back. In his twenties he was diagnosedwith MS, and his
health began to go downhill.
Recently a physical therapist has been workingwith him, and last week
hestood on his feet and took five steps for the first time in three
years, Alhamdulillah! He said he felt very tall, being on his feet
again. It was an inspiring moment for him…SubhanAllah. He literally
got comfort from "five minutes of health."
That's really something to think about, for those of uswho have our
health and fitness and take them for granted as if they were nothing.
We moan and complain about small things, while ignoring the huge
blessings in our lives. "Then which of the favors of your Lord will
you deny?" – Surat Ar-Rahman. Allah has givenus so much, so much.
And let me add that although I used my friend Hisham as an
illustration ofthe proverb, that does not mean that I pity him. He
also has many gifts, for example he is highly intelligent and
articulate, and he has accomplished a lot in his life. I am overjoyed
for him that he was able to stand again. Allahu Akbar!
Of course we must be grateful for every blessing, and thank Allah from
the bottom of our hearts. But it's important to understand that
gratitude is not just a feeling in the heart. It is expressed through
action.
*. Are you grateful for your healthy body? Then use itto bow down in prayer.
*. Are you grateful for the ability to see? Then look at that which is
beautiful and halal.
*. Grateful for the ability to speak? Then praise Allah, recite Quran
and spread the message of Islam.
*. Grateful that you are mentally and emotionallyhealthy? Then use
your gifts to do good in the world. Show love to those who are grief
stricken, and kindness to those in pain. Spend your money in Allah's
cause, don't hold on it it until it can do you no good!
That's why the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, in the famous hadith
that we have all heard:
"Take benefit of five before five:
your youth before your old age,
your health before your sickness,
your wealth before your poverty,
your free-time before your preoccupation,
and your life before your death."
( Narrated by Ibn Abbas and reported by Al Hakim)
Right? He didn't only say, "be grateful," he said, "takebenefit"! That
means USE what you have been given,while you still can, before the end
of this brief life that is but a moment between a sleep and a sleep,
or a desert flower blooming and then fading away.
Glory to Allah the Most High.

Shoot with your eyes open

No, I'm not talking about guns. I'm talking about pursuing your
dreams, taking chances on good things, and trusting in Allah.
"We miss all the shots that we don't take… so stop fearing the
unknown. God knows best… trust and believe…. When we let go and let
God, everything willbe alright. So shoot with your eyes open."
- Hanan K Bilal
"If we put our whole trust in Allah as we ought, He most certainly
will satisfy our needs, as He satisfies those of the birds. They come
out hungry in the morning, but return FULL to their nests."
- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), related in At-Tirmidhi

Islamic Meditation for Relaxation and Spiritual Comfort

This is a meditation that a Muslim can use to relax and recover from
stress. It is not a substitute for prayer and duaa, or a replacement
for dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Salat in particular is the first
duty and refuge of the Muslim. This is just a simplerelaxation
technique that one might use either alone or share with a spouse, to
relax the body and release some of the worries of the day. It also
functions as an affirmation, reminding the reader of the love and
peace that Allah offers us, and of each person's pure nature.
Settle yourself in a quiet place, in a comfortable position. Imagine
yourself to be in the most relaxing, secure, peaceful place you have
ever known. Breathe deeply in and out, breathing into your stomach.
Recite the following to yourself, with a quiet voice, very slowly, but
imagine it is being spoken to you by a voice outside yourself, by a
voiceof love. If you do this with your spouse, let one read and the
other close his/her eyes and listen:
***
Your breath is warm and soothing. As it spreads through your body it
makes you warm. It brings peace and tranquility to every cell in your
body.
Let every cell in your body know and feel that you are loved. Allah
lovesyou. Many people love you. You are surrounded by love and caring.
The love is all around you likewarm light, comforting you, taking away
all your pain.
The air that you are breathing in is warm and soothing. That warmth is
spreading all through your body. As it spreads throughyour body, it
causes your muscles to relax.
Now the warmth spreads to your head. Relax the topof your head. Relax
your mind. There is nothing to think about right now, nothing to worry
about. Release the burdens that you carry in your mind.
As you breathe deeply, the warmth spreads to your face. Let your face
relax. Relax your eyes. Whatever your eyes have seen that isunhappy or
that causes you pain, let it go. Release it with your breath.
Relax your cheeks and yourmouth. Whatever you havespoken that you
regret, letit go, release it with your breath. It's in the past and is
gone now with your breath.
Relax your ears. There is nothing for you to listen toright now except
the peacefulness of your own breath. Whatever you haveheard that has
hurt you, at any time in your life, let it go now. You don't need it
anymore. Release it with your breath.
Relax your jaw. Any tension that you are holding in your jaw, let it
go, release it. Feel the warmth spread through your mind, your face,
your neck. Relax your neck.
Know that you are safe. You are protected. You are in a place of
shelter. You are in Allah's care. You are in a safe place, a good
place. You have nothing to fear, nothing to regret. The past is gone,
and the future has not arrived. All that existsis this peaceful
moment, this safe place where youare protected and warm.
Continue to breathe deeplyand softly. Your breath warms you. The
warmth spreads now into your shoulders and relaxes your shoulders.
Whatever burden you have been carrying on your shoulders,let it go.
Give to Allah, and He will hold it for you until you are ready to take
it back. For now, let it go with your breath. Relax your shoulders.
Let go of your fear and your worry. You are following Allah's guidance
and that is peaceful. You are at harmony with the entire universe and
that is peaceful.
Breathe deeply and softly. The breath spreads now into your back and
warms your back. Relax your shoulder blades, and the middle of your
back. Relax your lower back. As you breathe out, release the burdens
that you have borne on your back. All the troubles, all the weight on
your back, release them with your breath, and let them disappear. You
don't need them anymore.
Allah is on your side and He will always be with you. You have the
strength of Imaan. Know that whatever challengesyou face in life, you
are strong and capable.
As you breathe, warmth continues to spread through your body, now
moving into your chest andyour stomach. Relax your chest. Whatever
fears you have for the future, let them go. Release them with your
breath. Trust in Allah; He is with you right now, at this moment, and
He will protect you. Relax your stomach. Whatever tightness you have
in your stomach, whatever tensionyou carry there, release it, let it
go with your breath.
Know that Allah created you pure, with the purity of fitrah. That
purity is always inside you, like a light. Allow yourself to feel it,
to be in touch with it; let that purity come out, and with it comes
peace.

“I Want” – a poem

Center of the Milky Way galaxy, as seen from Cherry Springs State
Park, one of the darkest places in the eastern USA. The Milky Way is a
vast collection of more than 200 billion stars, planets, nebulae,
clusters, dust andgas. Our own Sun and solar system are also part of
the Milky Way galaxy. Brilliant Jupiter is the brightest "star" in the
image, seen at left.
I Want
I want to travel back in time
and prevent my daughter
from jamming her toe in the shopping cart
and getting a blood bruise.
I want her to laugh so hard
she sprays her cereal and milk.
I want her never to shake her head
in shame or regret.
I want her to love Allah,
to raise hands in duaa,
to feel the deen in her veins
like a pulse.
I want my father
to be given the heart of a mustang,
and barring that
to welcome his Qadr with ease,
not squeezing his hands into fists
or cursing in pain.
Never mind what he thinksof me.
I want him to call on Allah
with joy and relief,
to find sweetness in the dusk of his life.
I want peace for him Yaa Allah;
caress him with endless rahma.
I want the Muslim people
to find their power, art,
science; and the quiet joy
of 'ibadah and Allah's love.
Let them step into the century
free from tyranny, standingtall
with Islam as hope and heart.
Let them drink from the bubbling spring
of the Quran.
Let them breathe.
Let them free themselves
and transform the world.
For myself, who knows?
Still I shake my head and laugh,
wondering who I am,
and when I'll find my secret name.
I say with truth
that I don't flinch,
no snarl crosses my face,
and I don't lie about my past.
No acid fills my mouth. No fear,
no hate, no shame.
Instead, I want…
I want
to leap into the night sky
and grab a bushel of stars,
bring them to earth burning in my hands.
Once, in Tucson,
the morning sun turned everything
- the desert, the buildings,
even the men standing in line to eat -
yellow as an egg yolk.
I want to bottle that pure yellow
and drink it into my veins
until I'm hot and glowing
from heart to fingernails.
Laugh, I don't care!
Yes I am a crazy man.
Let me tell you, somewhere
in a dingy cell a man is being beaten
and starved; somewhere
a sister is being raped;
I want to give my life
to put a stop to it,
and I offer it to Allah:
take it. I understand my words.
Use me for a purpose
and let me be remembered
for saving one life,
making one person weep in relief,
rescuing one soul from pain.
For myself I ask so little:
to be held in loving arms
and a sweet voice in my ear.
Is that too strange a dream?
To take a wife and hug her fiercely,
see my daughter learn the deen,
to graduate to black belt
after all these years.
To bring relief to pain…
For myself, so little.
In the end I forfeit all.
Yaa Allah, I surrender all
but your love! I give up
the stars and sun,
the run of time and coin,
and the embrace of love…
But for others:
my father, Salma,
and those I've lost; for the hurt and hungry
praying for relief… for them
I want, I want, I want.

Dua if you stir during the night

You are trying to sleep but you are restless. You wake up, and turn
onto the otherside. You can't get comfortable. You wake up because you
are too hot or too cold. There is some vague worry or uneasiness
keeping you awake… Did you know there is a dua forthose moments when
you wake up in the dark, stirring restlessly?
Laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahul-Waahidul-Qahhaaru, Rabbus-samaawaati
wal'ardhi wa maa baynahumal-'Azeezul-Ghaffaaru.
There is none worthy of worship but Allah, the One, the Victorious,
Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, the
All-Mighty, the All-Forgiving.
See the Arabic version here. (Reference: This is to be said if you
turn over in bed during the night. Al-Hakim graded it authentic and
Ath-Thahabi agreed 1/540. Also see An-Nasa'i, 'Amalul-Yawm wal-Laylah,
and Ibn As-Sunni. See also Al-Albani, Sahihul-Jami' As-Saghir 4/ 213).
Isn't that beautiful? Islam has a dua or prayer for every occasion. If
anyone sees that fact as a burden, he is missing the point. These duas
are not a requirement or a burden, they are gifts. They are little
gems, powerful invocations to bring your mind closer to Allah, ease
your heart, and bring peaceto your spirit.
A dua like this is a mercy from Allah, as if He is saying, here is a
way to contact me when you are in need, here are beautiful words to
comfort your soul.
SubhanAllah.

Help Others and Help Yourself

The Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said,
"Whoever relieves a believer of a hardship from the hardships of this
world, then Allah willrelieve him of a hardship from the hardships of
theDay of Resurrection… Allah is helping the servant as long as the
servant is helping his brother, " [Hadith Tirmidhi /Muslim].
Do you need help? Help others, and Allah will help you.
Helping others doesn't have to consist of anythinggrand. Even a smile
is sadaqah. Removing a harmful thing from the road is sadaqah.
Speaking gentle words to someone in distress, or feeding a meal to
someone who is hungry, or making a donation to help an orphan… or
donating blood, or working a few hours a month for a charity, or
visiting someone who is sick… all those things are valuable. They are
not nothing. They are important and worthwhile acts.
Changing the world starts with every person doing one small thing. And
in the process, you help your ownsoul, and you bring happiness to your
own heart, and you get the blessings and barakah of Allah. What a
deal!

When times are hard, and you’ve fallen down…

When times are hard, when your spirit is low, when you've been
knockedto your knees, or maybe just one knee… use that moment of
humility to praise Allah, the Most Glorious. Then find something in
your life to be grateful for.
Maybe you are grateful for your children, or your goodhealth, or the
plentiful foodon your table, or having good clean drinking water that
doesn't give you diseases, or a friend who makes you laugh, or the
fact that Allah has blessed you with Islam when so many are wandering
in darkness and despair. Or even just sitting on the grass feeling the
breeze, or a cat that sits in your lap and purrs… Find the many
blessings in your life, the hidden sources of happiness, and stand up,
and thank Allah.
Move forward with your head up, keeping your focus on Allah's gifts to
you, and your gratitude. Step, step, step with a grateful heart, and
that's how it's done.

Speak of Allah’s Kindness

"Do not become proudof your position. Do not become harsh toward those
weaker than yourself. And always speak of Allah'skindness to you."
- Ibn Isaq, "The Life of Muhammad"

Springtime: a poem

Springtime…
ocean air blows in fresh.
So much ahead:
green fields and blue skies…
Allah is kind
and He is still guiding you.
So be at peace, sister,
don't you cry.
Innocent eyes watch you
and small hands seek yours;
they love you so much,
not knowing how you try;
but Allah knows all.
He sees your struggle,
and your sapphire soul
shines in His eyes.
One bright spring morning
you're going to wake up singing
your heart so light
you could take off and fly.
You'll walk up the hill
and come home to your true love;
you'll dance and pray
and on life you'll be high.
Until that morning
Know that you are precious:
a strong Muslim queen
with dignity and pride.
So hold up your head
and don't fear tomorrow.
Be at peace, sister,
don't you cry.

Door of Mercy is Open at Dawn

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who
said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
Our Lord (glorified and exalted be He) descends each night to the
earth's sky when there remains the final third of the night, and He
says: Who is saying a prayer to Me that I may answer it? Who is asking
somethingof Me that I may give it him? Who is asking forgiveness of Me
that I may forgive him?
It was related by al-Bukhari (also by Muslim, Malik, at-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud).
In a version by Muslim the Hadith ends with the words:
And thus He continues till[the light of] dawn shines.
***
A poet wrote about this with the following couplet:
At every early dawn I hear this call:
the door of mercy is open, come one, come all.

JEWS CHRISTIANS MUSLIMS TEN COMMANDMENTS We’reall God’s children What the hell are we killing each other for

GREAT RELIGIONS," a book promoting respect, honor, peace, and love.
Mazzeo who served in the Army AirForce during World War II , believes
that this is a "Last Wake Up Call" and "We are Really Stupid" not to
believe. He hopes to get booksellers Barnes & Nobleand Borders to
stock it on their shelves. Frank Mazzeowas disappointed with the
designs of the Ten Commandments at the religious stores he visited, so
he decided to make his own. He also calls this book, "The Religious
Constitution of Life," Mazzeo has already sent copies to religious
leaders across the USA. Some of thepeople who received Mazzeo's Ten
Commandments and bookssaid: "I thought it was verynice of him," said
Edith Feiger, Mazzeo's Jewish neighbor. "I put it on my bedroom wall,
so when I wake up in the morning I can look at it." Shafayat Mohamed,
spiritual leader and principal at the IslamicDarul Uloom Institute in
Pembroke Pines , in a letterto Mazzeo, wrote, "This truly demonstrates
the commonalities in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Everyone that
visits my office, always make positive comments on yourposter. They
are amazed and admire the design and verses." The Rev. Thomas Goodhue,
of the Long Island Council of Churches in New York/

HEALTH - ~ “Doctor, What Is Wrong with Me?

I am in practice in the area of Psychosomatic (Mind/Body)Medicine. I
see patients with unexplained symptoms and negative lab work. Every
day I hear the question "Doctor, WhatIs Wrong with Me? Doctor, What Is
Wrong with Me would be the article's title. Every day people rush to
emergency rooms and doctor's offices with alarming and frightening
physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, chest pains, dizziness,
difficulty in breathing, nausea, choking sensations, hot-cold flashes,
faint feeling, fear of dying, losing one's mind, or having a heart
attack. The tests come back and the diagnosis – nothing! "There is
nothing wrong with you" the patient is told. "It's all in your head".
I have discovered the mystery surrounding this unseen, undetectable
but very real disease – CHEMICAL IMBALANCE IN THE BRAIN. Physical
symptoms such as chronic headaches, chest pain, sleep and sex
disorders canbe caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Moreover,
emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, panic disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc. can be triggered by this chemical
imbalance. It is due to too much activity in the brain from lack of
glucose, lack of sleep, and stress. Genetics play a big role.
I practice common sense medicine. I advocate fruit juice versus nerve
pills whenever possible! Most people don't realize the importance of
fruit juices inmaintaining good health. Shakiness, tremors in the
hands, developing a "foggy" or dizzy feeling is asign that the brain
is requiring fuel. Brain function depends on glucose. Fruit juices are
an instant source of glucose for the brain and for renewed energy.
Interestingly, 50% or moreof whatever we eat goes into the brain as
glucose and the rest goes into other parts of the body to supply
energy. Fruit and vegetable juices are a source of carbohydrates,
vitamins, and minerals. Fresh juice and vegetables are needed, but it
will take larger quantities. The juice is an instant source of
glucose. Fruit juice is a nutritional support for the elderly, during
illness and at times of stress. Water, along with juices is vital
also. In regards to which juice to drink, I say whatever you can
tolerate without having problems such as heartburn, stomachupset or an
allergic reaction.
When a patient comes to see me, I give them a list offoods and drinks
to avoid. Irecommend that they drink four to six ounces of juice
(Pomegranate, Grape, Apple or Cranberry), or a 50/50 mixture of juice
and water, every three to four hours. I tell my patients, "when you
first get anxious or nervous, drink fruit juice rather than taking
nerve
pills". Amazingly, those who were reluctant about drinking juice most
often are the very ones who tell me "Doctor, fruit juice works! I just
can't believe it."
Because this sounds so simple, many physicians hardly pay attention to
what patients eat or drink or how they live. They don't tell the
patients whatto do. I believe in "common sense" medicine.Over 30 years
in practice has shown this to be a proven fact.
I always tell my patients 5 things – REMEMBER: 1) eat good food that
grows fromthe ground, swims or flies; drink plenty of fruit juice and
water; 2) think good thoughts; 3) pray to keep your connection with
God; 4) do good for yourself andothers any time you can; 5)prepare for
the hereafter and for eternal life. To helppatients who are
searchingfor answers to baffling andunexplained symptoms, I wrote a
book titled "Doctor, What Is Wrong with Me?" I attempted to clarify
some of the mysterysurrounding the unseen, undetectable but very real
disease – Chemical Imbalance in the Brain. I urge anyone experiencing
perplexing conditions or symptoms to read this book and find the
answers to a better life.

ISLAMIC ARTICLE :- ~

Here are some duas you can read and encourage your child to read also:
"And [God] shall heal thebreast of the believers." (at-Tawba, 9:14)
"Mankind there has come to you a guidance from your Lord and a healing
for (the diseases) in your hearts, and for those who believe a
guidance and amercy." (Yunus, 10:57)
"There issues from within the bodies of the bee a drink of varying
colors wherein is healing for mankind." (an-Nahl, 16:69)
"And We sent down in the Quran such things that have healing and mercy
for the believers." (an-Najm, 17:82)
"And when I am ill, it is [God] who cures me." (ash-Shu`ara, 26:80) (A
supplication of Prophet Abraham [as])
"And declare (O Muhammad) that [the Quran] is a guidance andhealing
for the believers." (al-Fussilat, 41:44)
Also try to make the Morning and Evening Dhikr a part of your daily
ibaadah, as did Rasul(sws).

“O Allah, suffice me with what You have allowed instead of what You have forbidden , and make me independent of all others besides You.”

(Reference: At-Tirmithi 5/560. See also Al-Albani, Sahih At-Tirmithi 3/180.)
~
This dua against debt is really brilliant, because the dua contains
within itself the solution to the problem. "Suffice me with what you
have allowed." Inother words, let the halal be enough for me. Don't
letme get myself into debt because of haram mortgage loans or
excessive material desire, or out-of-control consumerspending. Let me
be satisfied with a simple, halal life, so that I don't getinto debt.
If you repeat this often enough it becomes a part of your thinking and
awareness, and you modifyyour own behavior, which leads to: "make me
independent of all others besides You." You become your own man or
woman, not owing money to anyone, independent, relying only on Allah.
I'm not saying the dua is just an affirmation, I'm saying it works on
both levels, as an affirmation and as a prayer to Allah to help you
achieve that affirmation. It's a subtle and amazing dua.
Three Excellent Dua's Against Debt:
(note that #2 is the sameas the one above)
1) "Oh Allah, I take refugein You…"
Narrated by Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (ra):
One day the Messenger of Allah (saw) entered the mosque. He saw there
a man from the Ansar (a resident of Madinah) called Abu Umamah and
said to him: "What is the matter that I am seeing you sittingin the
mosque when there is no time of prayer?" Abu Umamah said: "I am
entangled in sorrow and debts." The Prophet Muhammad (ra ) replied:
"Shall I not teach you words by which, when you say them, Allah will
remove your sorrow, and settle your debts?" Abu Umamah said: "Yes,
Messenger of Allah." The Prophet Muhammad (ra ) said: "Say in the
morning and evening: Allahumma inni 'auzu bika min alhamma wal 'huzn,
wal 'ajzi wal kasali wal bukhli wal jubn, wa dhala'iddini wa
'galabatir rajaal." (See here for the arabic text).
'O Allah, I take refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and
laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from
being overpowered by men.'
Abu Umamah said: "When Idid that Allah removed my distress and settled
my debt." [Abu Dawood]
2) "O Allah, grant me enough…"
Ali radi Allahu `anhu said that a slave, who had made a contract with
his master to pay for his freedom, came to him and said, "I am unable
to fulfil my contract, so help me." He said, "Shall I not teach you
some words which Allah's Messenger (ra) taught me, and which evenif
you had a debt as large as a mountain Allah would pay it for you?":
Allahumma akfini bihala lika an haramika wa aghnini bi fadhlika am-man siwak.
"O Allah, grant me enough of what You make lawful that I may dispense
of with what You make unlawful, and make me independent, by Your
bounty, of other than You." [At-Tirmidhi]
3) "O Allah, Sovereign of all…"
The Prophet (saw) said to Muadh radi Allahu `anhu, "Should I not teach
you a supplication which, when used to implore Allah, Allahshall pay
your debt, even itbe as huge as Mount Uhud?He then mentioned:
Allahumma Maalik al-mulkitu'til-mulka man tasha' u wa tanzi'ul mulka
mimmantasha', wa tu'izzu man tasha' u wa tudhilu man tasha', bi yadika
al-khayr, innaka 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer,
Rahmaan-id-dunyawa'l-aakhirah wa raheemahuma, tu'teeyahuma man tasha'
wa tamna' minhuma man tasha', irhamni rahmatan taghnini biha 'an
rahmati man siwaak.
"O Allah, Sovereign of all, You give dominion to whomsoever You will
and You take dominion away from whomsoever You will, You exalt
whomsoever You will and You bring low whomsoever You will. In Your
hand is all goodnessand You are able to do allthings. Most Merciful
and Most compassionate in this world and in the Hereafter, You give
them to whomsoever You will and withhold them from whomsoever You
will. Bestow mercy upon Me in such a manner that I have no need of the
mercy of anyone but You." [Tabarani]

NEWS - ~ Spanish bank bailout request welcomed

Spain's decision to request a loan of up to 100bn euros ($125bn;
£80bn) from eurozone funds to help shore up itsstruggling banks has
won broad support.
The International MonetaryFund (IMF) said the bailout was big enough
to restore credibility to Spain's banks.
Washington welcomed the measure as a vital step towards the "financial
union" of the eurozone.
The move was agreed during emergency talks between eurozone finance
ministers on Saturday.
IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said the plan for Spain should
provide "assurance that thefinancing needs of Spain's banking system
will be fully met".
"I strongly welcome the statement by the Eurogroup, which complements
the measurestaken by the Spanish authorities in recent weeksto
strengthen the banking system," she said.
"The IMF stands ready, at the invitation of the Eurogroup members, to
support the implementation and monitoring of this financialassistance
through regular reporting."
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner welcomed the latest movesas
"important for the health of Spain's economy and as concrete steps on
the path to financial union, which is vital to the resilience of the
euro area".
Crisis jargon buster
Use the dropdown for easy-to-understand explanations of key financial terms:
Capital
Capital
For investors, it refers to their stock of wealth, which can be put to
work in order to earn income. For companies, it typically refers to
sources of financing such as newly issued shares.
For banks, it refers to theirability to absorb losses in their
accounts. Banks normally obtain capital either by issuing new shares,
or by keeping hold of profits instead of paying them out as dividends.
If a bank writes off a loss on one of its assets - for example, if it
makes a loan that is not repaid - then the bank must also write off a
corresponding amount of its capital. If a bank runs out of capital,
then it is insolvent, meaning it doesnot have enough assets torepay
its debts.
Glossary in full
France's Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said the deal would
"contribute to restoring confidence in the eurozone".
'Not a rescue'
Earlier, Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos announced that his
countrywould shortly make a formal request for assistance.
He said the help would be for the financial system, not the economy as
a whole. "This is not a rescue," he said.
Mr De Guindos said the aid would not come with new austerity measures
attached to the economy. Spain has already imposed strict economic
reforms in a bid to tackle its debt problems.
The loan will bolster Spain's weakest banks, left with billions of
euros worth of bad loans following the collapse of a property boom and
the recession that followed.
Some banks borrowed large amounts on the international markets to lend
to developers and homebuyers, a riskier strategy than funding it with
deposits from savings.
The exact amount that Spain will receive will be decided after the
completion of two audits of its banks, due to be completed by the end
of June.
The money will come from two funds created to help eurozone members in
financial distress - the European Financial StabilityFacility (EFSF)
and the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), which enters into force
next month.
Investors have recently demanded higher and higher costs to lend to
Spain, making it too expensive for the country to borrow the money
needed for a bank rescue from the markets.

Tips for - Independace Day

Those who expect to reap blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo
the fatigue of supporting it. Happy Independence Day
@
Life is ful of vibrations,not of bombs But of harmony n happiness njoy
vth ful masti,spirituality n rhythm. Happy Independence Day
@
God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to
guard it and defend it.
@
we live in a funny nation, where pizza reaches homefaster than the
ambulance or police.. . . . . . Happy Independence Day
@
CARRIED VTH CARE. COATED VTH PRIDE. DIPPED IN LOVE. FLY IN GLORY.
MOMNTS OF FREEDOM P R OU D 2 B Indian Happy Independace Day
@
On Independence Day Here`s wising our dreams of a new tomorrow come
true for us... NOW AND ALWAYS!

Tell the truth and watch your relationships shine

"O you who believe! be careful of (your duty to) Allah and be with the
true ones." – Quran 9:119
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said,
"You must be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and
righteousness leads to Paradise. A man will keep speaking the truth
and striving to speak the truth until he will be recorded with Allah
as a Siddeeq (speaker of the truth). Beware of telling lies, for lying
leads to immorality and immorality leads to Hellfire. A man will keep
telling lies and striving to tell lies until he is recorded with Allah
as a liar." (Muslim)
Ali Ibn Abi Talib (ra) said: "The truth teller achieves three things:
trust, love, and respect."
You know the expression, "The truth shall set you free?" It might be
amended to say, "Telling the truth shall set you free."
Being honest is liberating. It might be difficult or emotionally
uncomfortableat times, but it's so much more freeing to the spirit
than lying, or living a lie. We don't have to remember what lies we
told to whom, or whether someone will uncover something from our
pasts. We don't have to feel like hypocrites for speaking words we
don't really mean.
The Body Tells the Truth
Did you know that a liar is betrayed by his own body?We all know about
the obvious signs that are monitored by lie detectors, such as
increased body temperature (manifested visually as sweating), and
raised blood pressure. But there are many other signs that are
detectable visually.If you live in the USA you may have seen the
television drama "Lie to Me", about a scientist who acts as a human
lie detector by studying body language and facial "micro-expressions".
This is based on real science.
For example, when people are lying, they generally avoid eye contact.
Frequently, liars will gaze downward and to the right. Another sign is
that liars often fidget, moving hands or feet, drumming fingers, or
adjusting clothing. Also, liars may subconsciously try to "hide" the
lie by covering their mouths, or making a motion that is symbolic of
covering the face, such as touching the nose or an eye. These are all
attempts to cover up the lie, and are a subconscious expression of
shame. Lastly, the liar may fold his arms or cross his legs, which are
defensive gestures, as if he is trying to cover himself up.
SubhanAllah. Even when a person's mind is willing to lie, the body is
not. It's as ifa part of him is adhering to fitra , the pure nature of
every human being, and is unwilling to go along with the sin.
After all, the body is alwaysin a state of submission to Allah. The
heart beats as Allah made it to do, the blood flows, the nerves fire,
the cells generate energy, carry oxygen or process waste, white
bloodcells attack invaders… all these autonomous processes go on
without conscious thought, obeyingthe imperatives given to them by
Allah. This is an expression of Islam at the most basic level. So even
when a person's tongue may commit a sin by lying, on a deeper level
the body is still in submission.
In fact, everything in existence submits to Allah and praises Him, and
functions as a sign of His power. Allah says,
"Do you not see that Allah is exalted by whomever is within the
heavens and the earth and [by] the birds with wings spread [in
flight]? Each has known his [means of] prayer and exalting [Him], and
Allah is Knowing of what they do.
And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to
Allah is the destination.
Do you not see that Allah drives clouds? Then He brings them together,
then He makes them intoa mass, and you see the rain emerge from within
it. And He sends down from the sky, mountains [of clouds] within which
is hail, and He strikes with it whom He wills and averts it from whom
He wills. The flash of its lightening almost takes away the eyesight.
Allah alternates the nightand the day. Indeed in that is a lesson for
those who have vision.
Allah has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are
those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on
two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allah creates what
He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent." ( Quran 24:
41-45)
All of the things described in these verses exist in submission to
Allah. Only we, children of Adam (and the jinn), have been given the
ability to disobey. When we rebel – and that includes lying – we come
into conflict with Allah, with society, with all other living
creatures, with the weather that surrounds us, and even with the night
and day!
Last but not least, we comeinto conflict with our own bodies. How
could that be anything but harmful? Isn'tit a sign to us that lying is
wrong on a very deep level?

The Word “Muslim” – What it Means to Me

The word alone triggers such different reactions in different people.
The literal definition of the word Muslim is "one who submits,"
meaning one who submits to Allah, believing in Him and obeying His
commandments.
More specifically, the word Muslim is the participle of the same
Arabic verb of which Islam is the infinitive. The feminine form is
Muslimah , though afemale Muslim is often referred to as simply a
Muslim.
There are many false stereotypes about Muslims in the West, or one
might say in the non-Muslim world in general, and also many
misconceptions among Muslims themselves; but I will not go into those
in this article.
Instead, I'd like to share mythoughts and feelings on hearing the word
Muslim and contemplating its meaning. I am using the word in a
gender-inclusive sense.
Muslim
Faithful. Allah is his Master,and the Quran is the wellspring of his
life. Muhammad ibn Abdullah (pbuh) is his beloved Messenger, and all
the Sahabah * (see glossary at bottom for explanations of many terms)
are his guiding stars. Tawheed is his creed, taqwa his garment, imaan
his cool summer rain, and ihsaan his aspiration.
Muslim
Harmonized. She has chosen to live as Allah created us to live, in
harmony with all around us, including nature, human beings, and the
earth itself. She is plugged into the reality of the universe.
Muslim
Peaceful. His manner is gentle. He is not angry or violent. He would
never raise his hands except to defend himself, his family, or other
innocents.Muslim
At home in Allah's house. He can walk into a masjid anywhere in the
world andfeel at home. He can perform wudu' , prostrate himself to
Allah, take a copy of the Quran off the shelf and read it, stand
shoulder to shoulder in prayer with strangers, and feel a sense of
rightness and belonging.
Noha Abd Rabo of Egypt reacts after her fight against Sarah Stevenson
ofBritain in their women's + 68 kg taekwondo bronze medal match during
the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on August 23, 2008.
Muslim
An Islamic worldview. Sheshares my world view and cultural
understanding, no matter her nationality or race. She knows that this
life is only a test, a moment of frenzy betweena sleep and a sleep,
like a desert flower blooming and wilting in a single afternoon. She
knows that the aakhirah is the home that calls; her heart is filled
with hope and fear of Judgment.
She steps out of her door each day and does the right thing, because
that is her covenant with Allah, and because she loves to do good. She
sees the signsof Allah in the miracle of a hummingbird or the majesty
of Mt. Kilimanjaro; in the swirls of her fingertips, and in the
knowledge of Allah that lives in her heart.
Muslim
Pursuing excellence. Doctor, teacher, farmer, engineer, human rights
worker, taxi driver, tour guide, seamstress, Olympic athlete. Striving
for excellence in all things as a matter of worship and a way of life.
Truth-telling, fair, sincere in business andin love.

Dreamers of

"All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty
recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity;
but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their
dream with open eyes to make it possible."

HADEES - ~ Let go of anger and replace it with forgiveness

A man said to the Messenger of Allah, (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam–
peace be upon him): "Advise me! "The Prophet said, "Do not become
angry and furious." The man asked (the same) again and again, and the
Prophet said in each case, "Do not become angry and furious."
[Al-Bukhari; Vol. 8 No. 137]
Resolve to give up anger, even if only for today. Whatever anger you
are harboring against others, let it go. Whatever anger you have
against yourself for mistakes you have made, or for wrongs you have
done, let it go. It's nothelping you, it is only damaging your own
spirit.
Remember that we are human; we are all imperfect. From the very
beginning, starting with Adam and Hawaa (Adam and Eve) we humans made
mistakes.
Other people have made mistakes and harmed you in the past because
they are human; forgive them. You have made mistakes because you are
human; forgive yourself, and turn to Allah in tawbah (repentance).
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has taught us some strategies for dealing
with anger. For example, he said:
"I know a word, the saying of which will cause him to relax, if he
does say it. If he says: 'I seek Refuge with Allah from Satan' then
all his anger will go away." [Al-Bukhari; Vol. 4, No. 502]
And he said,
"Anger comes from the devil, the devil was created of fire, and fire
is extinguished only with water; so when one of you becomes angry, he
should perform ablution." [Abu Daud; Book 41, No. 4766]
Abu Dharr narrated: The Apostle of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam,
said to us: "When one of you becomes angry while standing, he should
sit down. If the anger leaveshim, well and good; otherwise he should
lie down." [Abu Daud; Book 41, No. 4764]
In another hadith, the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, said:
"If one of you becomes angry then he should be silent."
Narrated 'Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakra: Abu Bakr wrote to his son who
was in Sijistan: Do not judge between two persons when you are angry,
for I heard the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam,saying: "A judge
should not judge between two persons while he is in an angry mood."
[Al-Bukhari; Vol. 9, No. 272]
So the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam , has given us
several strategies to deal with anger:
1. Seek refuge with Allah from Shaytan. This reminds us that fury and
rage are not good things;they are evil forces that we need to get rid
of before they take us over. Seeking refuge with Allahreminds us that
Allah is near, watching us; also it reminds us to turn the matter over
to Allah, so that we can let go of our anger.
2. Perform wudu' (ritual washing for purity). SubhanAllah, what a
beautiful thing. The wudu' is a source of blessings and barakah forus.
It also has a powerful symbolic value, washing away our anger and
making us peaceful and pure.
3. Sit down, or even lie down. Modern science has learned that the
bodyinfluences the emotions as well as the other way around. So
assuming a peaceful posture leads to peaceful emotions. Sitting down
or lying down are non-threatening positions. This helps to defuse any
conflict beforeit escalates.
4. Stay silent. This is very important. All too often spouses or
family members say things to each other in anger, and later they
deeply regret their words. By then it's too late: the words have been
uttered and the damage is done. When you are most angry is precisely
the time to remain silent. Seek refugewith Allah, make wudu, pray, go
for a walk, go to the masjid… allow yourself time to calm down and
reflect.
5. Do not judge between people (in other words make important
decisions). Obviously making important decisions out of anger is a
formula for disaster.
These are all wonderful points for dealing with anger in the moment.
However, in todays "Islamic Sunray" I am also speaking about past
anger.We all have old emotional wounds that we carry around like
scars. We have old resentments and hurts.
If you hold on to these hurts, they will destroy your marriage, or at
least make it an unhappy, chafing relationship. Holding on to
resentments and grudges will destroy your friendships, leaving you
isolated. These persistent negative emotions will eat into yourown
soul, leaving you bitter and unhappy.
Let them go. Modern medicine tells us that carrying around these old
resentments and anger is bad for the health.

From a state of darkness to one of light

I changed from worrying to praying; from complaining to problem
solving; from boredom to having good clean fun; from a state of
darkness to one of light; from selfish love to love of self and
others; from independence to interdependence; from winning or losing
to learning, and growing; from telling to asking; frombeing aggressive
to being assertive; from being reactive to being proactive!

Be true, and be you

Listen to the quiet voice inside yourself. The persistent voice that
tells you that there's somethingmore to life, that calls you to do
something meaningful, to experience the world in a profound way. So
many of us dismissthat voice and suppress it. We are told that our
dreams are not realistic or practical. We are told that we should
settle for what is reliable, and will pay the bills, and garner us the
respect of our peers.
But if we do not listen to that quiet voice, then who will? There is
no external advocate who can read theyearnings of your heart and speak
up on your soul's behalf. You must be the champion of your own soul.
On the authority of Abu Malik Al-Harith bin Asim Al-Ashari said that
the messenger of Allah said:
"Purity is half of faith. alhamdu-lillah [Praise be to Allah] fills
the scales, and subhana-Allah [How far is Allah from every
imperfection] and alhamdu-lillah [Praise be to Allah] fill that which
is between heaven and earth. Prayer is light; charity is a proof;
patience is illumination; and the Quran is an argument for or against
you. Everyone starts his day and is a vendor of hissoul, either
freeing it or bringing about its ruin."
(Related by Muslim).
You are the vendor of your soul: either freeing it or bringing about
its ruin. Youfree it by worshiping Allah in love, gratitude and fear;
keeping the praises of Allahon your tongue and in yourheart; praying
and fasting and living righteously (as opposed to self-righteously);
by showing love and concern for other human beings; and by being true
to yourself.
Allah created you with a unique nature. Do you think it's only your
fingerprints that are unique? Or your retinal scan, palm print, voice
printand DNA? Do you believe that your uniqueness is encapsulated by
measurable biometrical data? No, your uniqueness extends to your own
wonderful thought patterns, your special heart, and your soul. You are
you, not anyone else.
You are not an assembly-line robot, or a machine put here to consume,
produce and expire. You are different from everyone else in the world
because you are you. Respect that, and don't try to force yourself
into an uncomfortable or even impossible mold that someone else has
dictated for you. Be true, be you , and free your soul.
I'm not talking about sinfuldesires. I am speaking of the quiet and
inspired urgings of your heart. Maybe you dream of working in disaster
relief, helping all those poor soulswho suffered after the Indian
Ocean tsunami, or from the earthquake in Haiti. Maybe you have an
inner artist and you'd like to pursue that passionatelyand see where
it takes you.Maybe you love children and would like to teach; maybe
you are not satisfied with current school curricula and you have an
idea of starting your own school. Maybe you've always fantasized about
being a karate black belt, or helping poor villages in Africa become
self-sustaining, or campaigning for human rights.
Maybe you're single and you have feelings for a certain person, or
just an undercurrent of admirationand respect, but you fear rejection
if you come forward with a marriage proposal; or maybe the person
comes from a different cultural background and you worrythat your
family or your peers would not approve.
I could go on, but you get the point. The fact that each of us is
utterly unique is a blessing, because each of us brings a new
imagination to solving the world's problems, and eachof us beautifies
the world in a new way. Each of us has something important to teach.
Each of us has a different voice, not so that we can win "American
Idol", but so that we add tothe universal chorus that praises Allah.
Don't fear your dreams: cherish them, nurture them, and do your best
to live them. Let's face it, life is short; it passes so quickly, much
sooner than we expect, and when we get to the end of the road we will
regret only that wesuppressed our hearts, and shoved them down into
silence, and failed to live up to our potential as believers and as
unique individuals, with our own God-given gifts.
Sister Sara, author of the Sweet Serenity blog, pointed out, "Often
while in search for who we truly are, we are dictated by the world
around us, and thereby lose ourselves. Thewords of the Qur'an and
example of the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alayhi wasallam) should be our
guides and inspiration, reaffirming that we need to patiently
persevere, following the calling in our hearts and Insha'Allah, we
will be able to make our dreams a reality."
One person pointed out that following his dreams is impractical for
him due to his family obligations. That is a valid objection. We have
realities of family to deal with, and that oftenrequires compromise.
Our duties to our family are a part of our deen.

Allah knows every fallen leaf, and He knows you

"With Him are the keys ofthe unseen, the treasuresthat none knows but
He. He knows whatever thereis on the earth and in thesea. Not a leaf
falls but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in thedarkness (or
depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered),
but is (inscribed) in a record clear (to those who can read)." – Quran
6:59
SubhanAllah, Glory to God. Imagine, brothers and sisters. Allah knows
every fallen leaf in your yard, in the gutter, drifting on the wind,
or compacted layers deep in the depths of the darkest forest.
To us fallen leaves may be trash to be swept away, or food for worms,
or mulching material. Perhapsto a child they are a source of amusement
by scoopingthem into a pile and jumping in (I used to do that while
waiting for the kindergarten bus in autumn, when I was growing up in
Davis, California).
But Allah knows every leaf:its history, its individual veins and
ragged edges, even its microscopic cells.
Don't you think then that Allah knows your own pain, and fear, and suffering?
"And indeed We have created man, and We know whatever thoughtshis
inner self develops, and We are closer to him than (his) jugular
vein." (Quran 50:16). This does not mean that Allah is physically
closer than your jugular vein; rather it refersto His knowledge,
understanding, and power. And it could refer to the angels appointed
to you, who sit on your right and left, noting everything you say and
do.

Surely in Allah’s remembrance do the hearts find peace

When we remember God, we also realize that we are constantly in His
presence, and thus we are liberated from the self-destructive habits
that consume us.
So often in life we are wronged by others, and the temptation to
respond in a demeaning and un-Islamic manner is very strong.
Fortunately, we canavoid wrong responses in the case of mistreatment
by relying on Allah and knowing that He is the All-Knowing. When we
take part in wrong responses, we fall victim todisobediences that lead
thesoul away from righteousness, and into thepits of retaliation and
cruelty.
"Surely in Allah's remembrance do the hearts find peace." (13:28)
Those who seek God and remember Him will find contentment and joy in
their lives with the knowledge that they are under the protection of
Allah. When we utter praise to the Almighty and thank Him for his
countlessbounties, our hearts are filled with inner peace and
reflection. How happy and blessed are those who seekrefuge in their
Lord, the Most Beneficent and Most Merciful Allah.

What does it mean for us?

So what does that mean for me and you to see ourselves as perfect? I
am asking seriously and rhetorically. What does it mean when we can't
fall back on self-pity? What does it mean when we are no longer
allowed to view ourselves as flawed?
What does it mean when we have to accept that we can achieve any
"crazy dream" that may smolder in our hearts? What does itmean when we
look at ourselves in the mirror andsee perfect, beautiful faces, no
matter the shape of our features? What does it mean when we realize
thatwe have within ourselves the capacity to reach the same heights of
imaan (faith) as the sahabah, or the same level of intellectual rigor
as Imam Al-Bukhari or Sheikh ibn Taymiyyah, or the same purity and
unwavering trust as Sayyidna Maryam? (may Allah be pleased withher).
Do we begin to see that they were simply human beings who acknowledged
the perfection with which Allah created them? They strove their utmost
to live up to that perfection, placing no boundaries or limitations
upon themselves. They were not extraordinary people in their creation;
they were only extraordinary becausethey accepted Allah's words and
thrust themselves utterly into theriver of the Quran (or in Maryam's
case, immersed herself completely in tawakkul [trust in Allah], and
taqwa [consciousness of Allah], allowing themselves to expand to fill
the capacity of the flawless mold that Allah created them in, and
refusing to allow themselves to be defined or demeaned by anyone
else's opinion. Nor did theyallow themselves to be mentally or
spiritually diminished or damaged by the harsh circumstances of life.
We have the same option. You, me, all of us.
You are perfect, whether you admit it or not. Go with it. Live up to
it. It's nota burden but a liberty. It is the freedom to be who Allah
put you on this earth to be. It's the freedom to dream and achieve
withoutthe chains of self-doubt or self-deprecation. It's the freedom
to accept yourself,love yourself, and allow yourself to love others
fee-sabeel-illah, in Allah's cause, and to live a full life of meaning
and worth.

Happy Alive Day

If today were your birthday, would you be happy and excited?
Well, guess what? Today is your "Alive Day"!
You are alive today. You have the opportunity to earn huge rewards by
praying, being kind to people, giving charity, loving your family,
helping your neighbors, and just looking around and appreciating the
beauty of Allah's creation.
Oh, that's not good enough? Okay, get yourselfa cupcake and stick a
candle in it; then blow out the candle, and enjoy this song: "Happy
Alive Day to you, Happy Alive Day dear reader…"
After you've had that cupcake, visit one of your friends, maybe
someone you love but haven't seen in a while. Catch up on each others'
lives, go out toeat or to the park, or stay home and play a game of
cards. Make sure you spendat least a few minutes talking about Allah,
because that's what brings life and blessings to any visit.
Every day is an opportunity. Happiness is where you find it. Sometimes
all it takes is a candle in a cupcake, and a call to a friend.
Happy Alive Day.

In a season of consumerist madness, let’s be grateful, and give

At this time of year the stores are pushing their sales at us.
Advertising is everywhere. There if a frenzy to buy, buy, buy. Let's
realize that this is not a spiritual way of life. It's not an
appropriate lifestylefor someone who is dedicated to God. The
consumerist madness is a deception. There's no joy orpeace attached to
it. It's a shallow illusion.
Look at what society has done to itself in the name of consumerism. A
day of thanks (Thanksgiving) has become the prelude to "Black Friday",
the biggest shopping day of the year. Itused to be that Black Friday
did not begin until Friday morning, out of respect for Thanksgiving.
Then the starting gun was moved to midnight, and now it has crept into
Thursday evening. Nothing is sacred.
The Prophet 'Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus the son of Mary), peace be upon
him, has been turned into a marketing strategy. His purported birthday
has become a month of shopping insanity, presidedover by a mythical
sub-deity named Santa. People go into debt, they fight over sale
goods… no mention is made of faith.
We Muslims fall prey to thesame consumerist lifestyle. Sometimes the
holy monthof Ramadan becomes a month of shopping, sleeping and binge
eating, astaghfirullah.
Let us – Christians, Muslims,Jews and all people of God – not follow
this path. Let'shew to a way of sacrifice, zakat (purification),
sadaqah (charity), zuhd (giving up material luxury).We don't have to
be monks, but we must focus on the things that matter: faith and
family.
There are movements that advocate a simple living, back-to-nature,
low-impactlifestyle. In Islam this is called zuhd , which could be
translated as detachment or asceticism. Zuhd is a choice that a person
makes to give up the hunger for material possessions and transgressive
carnal experiences, and live a simple lifestyle dedicated to God.
That's what we need.
The faith in our hearts is more important than the brand name of the
clothes we wear. Where our feet carry us – to someplace good or bad –
is more important than the cost of our shoes. The sincerity in our
hearts is more important than any gift. May Allah help us to see what
is important in life.
The Enjoyment of Delusion
There's a powerful verse from the Bible, Proverbs 30:8-9:
Give me neither poverty nor riches,
grant me only my share of bread to eat,
for fear that surrounded byplenty, I should fall away
and say, "Yahweh – who is Yahweh?"
or else in destitution, take to stealing
and profane the name of my God.
(Yahweh is an ancient Hebrew name for God).
If you visit the shopping malls at Christmastime, andread the news
stories of people lining up from the night before and huddling in
sleeping bags in order tobuy the latest gadgets, then trampling each
other in the rush; if you turn on the TV to the usual Christmas
comedies and "Frosty the Snowman" cartoons, you see that God has been
forgotten, and has even become taboo. It's not politically correct
tospeak of God. Just watch what we broadcast, be hypnotized by our
Christmas elevator music, buy and forget…
Allah says about this:
"Know that the life of thisworld is but amusement and diversion and
adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of
wealth and children – like the example of a rainwhose [resulting]
plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned
yellow; then it becomes debris. And in the Hereafter is severe
punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the
worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion." – Quran, Surat
Al-Hadeed, 57:20
This theme is struck repeatedly in the Quran. The amusement and
adornment of the dunya is an illusion that dries up and crumbles like
a corn stalk, and becomes dust. It is empty, the enjoyment of delusion
. Wow. That phrase, "enjoyment of delusion", makes me think of a
madman alone in a room, tied in a straight jacket, engaged in a
pleasant delusion playing only in his mind.
I know people who have a bedroom devoted to all thejunk that they have
boughtbut do not use. They never enter that room and the door is kept
locked. Isn't that a kind of mental illness?
Gratitude
How do we resist the onslaught of the season? How do we remember Allah?
The greatest tool in our toolbox is gratitude. By looking at what
we've been blessed with, our hearts become content. Socrates commented
that contentment is natural wealth, while luxury is artificial
poverty. Contentment does not mean complacency or passivity; it refers
to a stateof awareness of our blessings, and gratitude forthe smallest
to the greatestprovisions – the tiniest cellsin our bodies, to the
grand earth itself.

Here’s a true story about the power of persistence:

Once, many years ago, I arrived in San Francisco on a warm July day
with no friends, no contacts and only a little money in my pocket. I
needed work. What I did have was confidence. I had been through some
very hard times, and had learned to fight for what I wanted, and not
to accept "no" for an answer.
I met a fellow who was a courier and he suggested that I try it. He
gave me thenames of some courier companies. I visited severaland
filled out applications, but there was one company in particular that
I liked. It seemed well outfitted and professionally run. I spoke to
the human resources manager and he told me that they did not need
anyone but that I should check back in several months. "Summertime is
slow here," he said. "Try us in fall."
I came back early the next morning. I couldn't wait until autumn, and
I wasn't interested in sitting aroundand hoping for someone tolook at
my application and call me. I knew they had stacks of applications in
filing drawers. I had decided where I wanted to work, and all that
remained was for them to accept my reality.
The HR manager said, "Weren't you here yesterday and I told you we
don't need anyone?" I said yes, but I thought maybe someone might
callin sick and they could use me just for the day. The HR manager
gave me an appraising look and said, "No, nothing like that. Whydon't
you come back in a month?"
I came back the next day. This time the HR man smiled and said, "I'll
tell you what, come back in one week."
I came back the next day. Itwas a Thursday. The HR man rolled his eyes
in exasperation and said, "Listen. Come back on Monday and I'll see
what I can do."
I came back the next day, Friday. He gave me a job starting that day.
I worked for that company for five years and got promoted twice.
That's a true story.
I know it's harder nowadays with the economy in shambles. I'm not
guaranteeing that you can get a job by following these tips. But it
will certainly help your chances,Insha'Allah. And if you take that
same persistence and apply it to every endeavor in your life, I
believe you will find that even mountains will crumble before you.
And Allah knows best.
I'm really not a fan of Madison Avenue's ubiquitous ad messages, but
there was a Nike ad that I saw once that really resonated for me. In
fact I tore it out of the magazine and pasted it up on the wall, right
beside my bed. It said:
All your life you are told the things you cannot do.All your life they
will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough;
they will say you're the wrongheight or the wrong weight or the wrong
typeto play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a
thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your
life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly.
AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES.
May Allah help all of you and provide for you and your families.
(O Allah), Guide us to the straight path; The path ofthose whom you
have favored; Not those with whom you are angry; Northose who go
astray.

Expecting Great Things, and Doing My Part

"Holding on to the rope of the LORD, believing in the power of
prayers, faith andgood deeds. Expecting great things from GOD. I am
ready and willing to put in the work and do my part to make it happen…
faith without works equals nothing but false hope… wanting without
striving and struggling is like dreaming. I gotta get busy putting in
more work!"

What’s Your Legacy?

"Who are you? What makes you special? What isthe legacy that you've
builtand shared with others (self, family, community and the world)?
If we died today, what would our obituaries say? What have we done for
GOD and GOD'speople lately? What is our mission and vision, and arewe
living it? If we died today, what would our obituaries say?" – Hanan
K. Bilal
This is what it's all about. I heard someone say recently that only
two things can happen with thewealth you accumulate in this life:
either it leaves you, or you leave it. Wealthis not a legacy. Having
fun is not a legacy. Helping a company to sell useless products is not
a legacy.
Making a difference in the lives of human beings, relieving the
suffering of even one person, raising righteous and happy children,
leaving behind knowledge that benefits people, making the world
abetter place, those are legacies.
I have not met the sister who is quoted at the top, but I have read
some of her writings. Whenever I hear her name I think of being
responsible, taking care of my family, loving my children and bringing
them up right, making a difference in the community, following my
dreams… that is a legacy. She has already created a vital legacy.
I have another friend whose name is Ismail. He isso humble
ma-sha-Allah, and as a friend he is the most discreet and
closed-mouthed person I know, by which I mean he never speaks badly
about anyoneelse, and never reveals anyone's secrets or violatestheir
trust. When I think of him, I am inspired to emulate him. That is his
legacy, and it's an important and valuable one.
More than twenty years ago I knew a brother named Qawiy. His life was
hard, but every time I met him he'd give me a big smile and an
enthusiastic handshake. He wore a kufi and carried a folded musalla
(prayer rug) on his shoulder, so he could pray whenever salat time
arrived, no matter where he was. Kind of quirky, but also inspiring.
All these years later, just the thought of Qawiy brings a smile to my
face, and reminds me of the importance of doing salat on time. That's
a legacy! SubhanAllah.
I could name many more people who have affected me in positive and
critical ways. I will always remember them, even afterthey are gone,
Insha'Allah. They have created lasting legacies.
Of course we don't even have to speak of the Prophets (peace be upon
them), and the Messenger of Allah (sws), and the Sahabah (may Allah be
pleased with them). Their legacies shine like the moon and stars and
will illuminate human history for all time.
What's your legacy? What do people say about you, and what will they
say when you're gone?

Keep Your Head Up and Smile

Keep your head up, smile, and look to the future. You have much yet to
do in thislife. Ask Allah for guidance, then do what your heart tells
you, speak the words that you've always held back, and be yourself.
Don't let the past freeze you in place, and don't punish yourself for
things you cannot change. Everything you've experienced: the happy
times, loneliness, laughter and tears, all have meaning, and have all
gone into making you whoyou are. If you have any wisdom or insight, it
is probably a result of hardship you've experienced in the past.
"The most beautiful peoplewe have known are those who have known
defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found
their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a
sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with
compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do
not just happen." — Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Everything that you do today has meaning. The caress you give a child,
the help you give a stranger, the quiet charity, all matterand make a
difference, even when you don't see it.It's all worth it. Your love
maters, your work matters,your life matters.
Keep your head up, and forge forward fee-sabeel-illah. Accept yourself
and be at peace. Look ahead and smile. Stand up straight, and don't
bow your head except in prayer.Keep praying, learning, thinking,
following your dreams, and loving the people in your life. You are my
brothers, my sisters, myheroes.

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيم