The dogs bark...

"Dogs bark, but the caravan moves on."

C.S. Lewis: We Have No "Right to Happiness"

A great article by C.S. Lewis:

"It is part of the nature of a strong erotic passion—as distinct from a transient fit of appetite—that it makes more towering promises than any other emotion. No doubt all our desires make promises, but not so impressively. To be in love involves the almost irresistible conviction that one will go on being in love until one dies, and that possession of the beloved will confer, not merely frequent ecstasies, but settled, fruitful, deep-rooted, lifelong happiness. Hence all seem to be at stake. If we miss this chance we shall have lived in vain. At the very thought of such a doom we sink into fathomless depths of self-pity.

Unfortunately these promises are found often to be quite untrue. Every experienced adult knows this to be so as regards all erotic passions (except the one he himself is feeling at the moment). We discount the world-without-end pretensions of our friends' amours easily enough. We know that such things sometimes last—and sometimes don't. And when they do last, this is not because they promised at the outset to do so. When two people achieve lasting happiness, this is not solely because they are great lovers but because they are also—I must put it crudely—good people; controlled, loyal, fairminded, mutually adaptable people."

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Abdul Hakim Murad on Muslim Youth in the West

We were listening to a recent interview of Shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad on the the BBC. He said something about muslim youth in the west which really struck a cord with us:

Abdul Hakim Murad: "The Problem that one faces with a lot of young people is that they say 'Why should we integrate into a society that obviously hates us so much? They don’t respect anything that is distinctive about Islam, so why should we (integrate)?'  Thats a good argument."

The BBC Presenter: "So whats the answer?"

Abdul Hakim Murad: " The answer is never mind what they think about you, trust in God. Islam is a religion which wants it's members to succeed, to be positive neighbors, to be part of the national endeavor.   And whether or not people like you at the workplace, whether or not they bully you in the police or the armed forces, you just have to trust in God and your faith in God. If it's real faith in God, (it) should enable you to deal with any obstacles that might come your way."

Knowledge and understanding

"Perhaps we know more about the world then we used to and insofar as knowledge is prerequisite to understanding, that is all to the good. But knowledge is not as much a prerequisite to understanding as is commonly supposed. We do not have to know everything about something in order to understand it; too many facts are often as much of an obstacle to understanding as too few.  There is a sense in which we moderns are inundated with facts to the detriment of understanding." 

Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren in "How to Read a Book"

Balance

We were at a seminar on Balance recently. Before the seminar began, the moderator asked us to stand on one foot. First on our right foot and then on our left foot. 

After we finished, we were asked what we needed to keep our balance while standing on one foot. Most answers form people related to two things: 1) Focus and 2) Support.

i.e. One needs to focus on what one is doing to keep balance. If one loses focus of what one is doing then one may fall out of balance.  This shows the importance of intention and a goal in every day actions and tasks.  This may require self knowledge and reflection.

One may need the support of a table or a peer to keep standing on one foot. Same is true in real life. We need to kepp the company of people who help us in our balance and who provide us support. We should not be around people who move away just when we need thier support. Plus we need to be the support to others when they need us. It is important to keep good company.

Chinese Proverb: To know...

" To know and not to do is not to know"

Chinese Proverb

Shaykh Faraz on memorizing sunnahs

Shaykh Faraz once said:

" The best way to memorize a Sunnah is to apply it in your life"

Subhanallah!

Shaykh Hamza at RIS

At RIS last year, Shaykh Hamza asked us to ask ourselves this question:

"What would the Prophet ( peace and blessings be upon him) be displeased with, if he entered our house?"

Gaza...Put your money where your mouth is

Needless to say the situation in Gaza is desperate beyond belief.  Alhamdaulillah, for  the few media outlets who are honest and for the indpendent media ( blogs, etc.) that we are able to get some picture of the reality of live in Gaza.

Here is a blog post by Sister Kelly which is a series of text messages from a medic in Gaza.

Two things ( inshahallah) which we should immediately do is to constantly make dua ( Shaykh Faraz reccomends Dua Nasri) and to donate as much as we can.  I am sure there are many others but for now I  am posting these links to charities which we can donate to.

Care Canada

UNRWA

Also take 30 secons to do the following:

30 seconds to tell our politicians how wrong they are...

 

Last week, each of Canada's major national political parties made a statement on Israel's violence in Gaza.  None of them were acceptable.  Please click on the links below to express your disappointment and anger at their largely one-side positions.

Click here to express your frustration with the Conservatives

Conservative Party Statement
- Ignores the unending armed occupation of Palestine by the

  Israeli army and the suffocating blockade of Gaza
- Gives Israel carte blanche in its self-styled "self-defence" and

  asserts that "first and foremost" Hamas' rocket attacks must stop

Click here to express your frustration with the Liberals

Liberal Party Statement - almost identical in message to that of the Conservatives
- Ignores the unending armed occupation of Palestine by the

  Israeli army and the suffocating blockade of Gaza
- Gives Israel carte blanche in its self-styled "self-defence" and

  "unequivocally condemns" Hamas' rocket attacks. 
- Affirms the right to "exist in peace and security" for Israel alone.

  Says nothing of a viable Palestine's right to exist

Click here to express your frustration with the Bloc Quebecois

Bloc Quebecois Statement
- Ignores the unending armed occupation of Palestine by the

  Israeli army
- Approves Israel's devastating attacks in its self-styled "self-

  defence", and faults Hamas for the longstanding violence from

  rocket attacks
- Faults Hamas for not recognizing Israel's "right to exist" and

  ignores a viable Palestine's "right to exist" 

Click here to call the NDP to go further

NDP Statement 
- The NDP statement condemns the violence of both sides, and

  calls for an end to Israel's siege of Gaza, but does not mention 

  Israel's unending armed occupation of Palestine

Dhikr

"Whoever loves something mentions it in abundence"

An Arab saying

A "70 excuse" exercise

The other day a friend and myself were waiting for someone near a subway station. The two people we were waiting for were late by quite a bit.  While waiting, we decided to count 70 excuses for the people being late.  Making 10 excuses was easy, but it was struggle after that and we were having to be very creative. By the time we got to 21, the individuals we were waiting for arrived.  It turned out one of the excuses we made was actually true.  The struggle to make so many excuses made one reflect on how much benefit of doubt one has to give other people. The teaching of making 70 excuses is sourced from what follows:

Hamdun al-Qassar, one of the great early Muslims, as narrated by Imam Bayhaqi in his Shu`ab al-Iman [7.522] said: exercise

"If a friend among your friends errs, make seventy excuses for them. If your hearts are unable to do this, then know that the shortcoming is in your own selves[ibid]"

Shaykh Faraz comments:

This is because the default assumption about all humans and their actions is that they are sound and free of error. This is considered our operating certainty.

After this, if we find something that makes us doubt about them, we are not permitted to leave this operating certainty that they did not err for mere doubts or misgivings.

Allah Most High commanded us:

"O you who believe! Shun much doubt; for lo! some doubt is sinful." [Quran, 49.12]

The doubts and misgivings about others that are sinful are those that do not have a sound basis that would be sufficient to leave our operating assumption about others that they are upright and their actions free of error.

Amazing new Nasheed Artist: Nader Khan singing at RIS-2008

A new nasheed artist from the Toronto area-alhamdulillah. He will be singing at Reviving the Islamic Spirit Bazaar stage. His CDs will be on sale at different booths as well. 10 signed copies of the CD will also be available at RIS.

Nader Khan-He sings with his voice and heart. Mashahallah.

Clips of his nasheeds from his upcoming album on his facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nader-Khan/35891137163

His website:

http://www.naderkhan.com/

Nader Khan is a Canadian Muslim singer/songwriter, who grew up in India and Saudi Arabia. He's been performing in the GTA since he first arrived in Canada in the early nineties. His first album is scheduled to release later this month (Dec 2008) at the RIS 2008 Convention in Toronto.

Nader produces his albums through Relief Works, a unique initiative that promotes local and international relief efforts via Islamic music and arts, in pursuit of Divine pleasure through beauty, excellence, and service of His creation.

Book Review: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Outliers is an insightful, thought-provoking and engaging book. It answers questions and dispels myths about success which often boggle our minds.

The book's core theme is that while skill and talent is an important ingredient for success , it is just one among many ingredients. Other important factors for success are things like opportunity, luck (in being placed in circumstances that were just right for success), lineage (!) and hard work.

Gladwell backs his arguments with concrete examples and research which helps one being convinced of what he is saying.

A must read book for sure. Read his interview about the book here in which he says:

"When outliers become outliers it is not just because of their own efforts. It's because of the contributions of lots of different people and lots of different circumstances— and that means that we, as a society, have more control about who succeeds—and how many of us succeed—than we think. That's an amazingly hopeful and uplifting idea."

You can read a book extract here.

As a Muslim, one reads this and really starts believing success is not of one's own doing-it is Allah placing us in the right place at the right time with the right people-though his mercy.

And Allah alone gives success.

Jemal Jelil: The Top 3 Reasons Why Marriages Fail For Men"

Jemal Jelil from JustHusbands.com:

The Top 3 Reasons Why Marriages Fail For Men"

Before I list why marriages fail for men, lemme define what I mean by a man's marriage failing.

What I mean here when I say that a marriage fails is that your wife has lost interest in you. Or at least, she's not as interested in you as you'd like.

If it gets bad, she eventually expresses her disinterest in you by either: a) wanting to leave you, or b) cheating on you.

And it may happen in degrees, but to whatever extent she's disinterested, the marriage is failing.

So if you want to keep her interest, don't let these 3 reasons why marriages fail happen to you:

READ HERE

Just Husbands dot com

A local friend who has been married for many years has started a blog/website for husbands ( or those preparing to be husbands). He gives a lot of practical advice. I would encourage you all to check his website out:

website: www.justhusbands.com
blog: http://www.happy-marriage-for-men.com/happy-marriage-blog.html

Hatim al-Assamm on the Prayer.

It is related of Hatim al-Assamm, may God be pleased whim, that he said, in answer to a question about Prayer: ' When the time of prayer is at hand, I make a proper ablution, go to the spot where I intend to pray and sit there till all my limbs and organs are in a collected state. Then I stand to preform my Prayer, placing Ka'ba between my brows, the Bride-over-Hell beneath my feat, Paradise to my right and Hell to my left, and the Angel of Death behind me, thinking all the while that this is my final Prayer. Then I stand between hope and fear, I carefully pronounce " Allahu Akbar!" Then I recite the Quran harmoniously, bow in humility and prostrate myself submissively. I then sit on my left haunch, spreading out the top of my left foot and raising my right foot on the toes. I follow this with sincerity. Then I wonder whether or not my Prayer has been accepted.'

Taken from Imam Ghazlai's Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship translated by Mukhtar Holland.

Sacred Knowledge is like food...

We love to compare food with Sacred Knowledge and see how we can understand the intake of Sacred Knowledge better:

Food has to be taken in the right proportions from the hands of the right people (cooks).
Sacred Knowledge has to be taken in the right proportions from the hands of the right people (scholars).

Overeating of food can harm one if one does not have the capacity at the time one eats it.
Over-intake of Sacred Knowledge can harm one if one does not have the capacity at the time one learns it.

The best food is the healthy food which your body can use in the most useful way.
The most suitable Sacred Knowledge is that which you can use in the most useful way (i..e. apply it).

Different methods of cooking foods may have the same base ingredients but the skill of the teacher is in combining these sources in a way that it becomes easy to eat.
Different methods of teaching Islamic Sciences may have the same base sources but the skill of the teacher is in combining these sources in a way that it becomes easy to learn.


If you were eating food, you need to know what you are eating to know the the real blessing it is.
If you were learning Sacred Knowledge, you need to know (the value of) what you are learning to know the the real blessing it is.

There is a right time for everything. Desert always comes after the main dish.
There is a right time for everything. Complicated sciences are learnt after one's foundations


Best food is that which you can actually digest not one that you just stare at.
Best Sacred Knowledge is that which you can apply not one that you just "awe" at.

Food needs enzymes.
Sacred Knowledge needs Scholars.

Some food can harm you if you don't eat it properly
Some Sacred Knowledge can harm you if you don't learn it properly.

Parents worry about your food.
Teachers ( your spiritual parents) worry about your Sacred Knowledge.

Put your money where your mouth is. You have to make spend to get good food.
Put your heart where your akhira is. You have to expend yourself to learn Sacred Knowledge.

You have too love and revere the cooks who cook for you.
You have to love and revere the teachers who teach you.

Be thankful to Allah for access to food. There are many who don't have it.
Be thankful to Allah for access to Sacred Knowledge. There are many who don't have it.

Actions are by their intentions. Intend highly when you eat ( i.e. for the sake of Allah).
Actions are by their intentions. Intend highly when you learn (i.e. for the sake of Allah).

(Roti)

Shaykh Faraz on the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)'s example and state

Shaykh Faraz quoted Sahl ibn Abd Allah al-Tustari who said:

"Reliance on Allah was the state of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and taking the means was his example. So whoever claims his state should follow his example."

Punjabi Wise Says 8: Teeth and Grain

Jeney Dand ditey neyn
oh chaban laee danay vee deysi

He who has given us teeth
will also give us grain to eat

This saying tells us about the unmeasurable power of our Creator and our need of reliance on Him. Our job is to try (i.e. take the means) and have hope up in him ( not have hope in ourself). We should not think that He has lack of anything that we need. He knows our needs and knows how/when/where to fulfill them.

"..Hasbi Allaah wa ni 'am al-wakeel"
"For us Allah sufficeth, and He is the best disposer of affairs." (Quran 3:173)

Shaykh Zahir: On Ignorance

Alhamdaulillah, Shaykh Zahir defined ignorance while covering Hikam 35 today . He said:

"Ignorance is satisfaction with one's own ignorance"

Subhanallah.