State of the Ummah

Bismillah wa-Saalat wa-Salaam 'ala Rasulillah,

As-salaamu 'alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu:

The toppling causalities and devastation our dear Muslims in Gaza have been met with during the brutal air strike by the illegitimate state of Israel has wrought upon us much grief, frustration and reflection. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala increase us in our patience and gratitude in these trying and most cruel times. The call for us, as Muslims, to unite under one banner, "la ilaha ill Allah Muhammad-ar Rasulillah" trumpets louder and louder it seems with every passing moment. To speak and act against the injustices committed by the enemies of Islam, not merely as Gazans, Palestinians, Somalis, Kashmiris or any other superficial, nationalistic reason. But because we are Muslim. Period. May there not be a single Muslim upon a single square inch of this planet where this call is not received and properly comprehended. Ameen!

There is nothing more noble, more rewarding, more honorable, more fulfilling than obedience to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And there is nothing more repugnant, more vile, more demoralizing, more destructive, more compromising than disobedience to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. A point that is critical we ponder as Allah will not change the condition of a people until they have changed what's within themselves (Surah al-Rad ayah 11).

What best summarizes my ultimate point is addressed in a letter from the Amir ul Mu'mineen, Umar ibn Al-Khattab radiallahu anhu to to his commander Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas radiallahu anhu who was the commander of the Muslim Army during the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah around the year 636.

In light of these times, the message in this letter from this great sahabi, whom our beloved Rasul salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam said of him:

"Among the nation of Bani Israel who lived before you, there were men sent who used to be inspired through guidance though they were not Prophets, and if there is any of such persons amongst my followers, it is Umar."

I believe it's significance and warning remains applicable to our situation today. We truly need to evaluate ourselves and commit earnestly and entirely to the guidance of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. There then would be no doubt Allah will make us victorious. In'sha'Allah!

Umar the Great radiallahu anhu writes:

"…Then after, I order you and all troops that are along with you to be obedient to Allah, in all circumstances, as this is better than the weapons against the enemy and a strong stratagem in the war. I order you and the soldiers who are with you to be more cautious and afraid of your own crimes and sins than your enemy, as the crimes and sins of the soldiers are more dangerous to them than the enemy.

The Muslims are victorious only because their enemies are disobedient to Allah and had it not been so, we have no power over them, because neither our number is equal to their number, nor are our weapons like theirs. If we commit crimes and sins as they do, then they (our enemies) will have superiority over us in power and we will not gain victory over them. WE DO NOT OVERPOWER THEM WITH OUR STRENGTH.

And you should also know that in this marching of yours, there are guards upon you from Allah and they all know what you do. So be shy from them and do not commit Allah's disobedience while you are going in Allah's Cause and do not say: ' Our enemy is worse than us, so they will not overpower us.' Perhaps some people who are worse than the others may overpower the others as the (disbelievers) Magians overpowered the Children of Israel when they (the latter) involved themselves with disobedience to Allah. So they (disbelievers) entered the very innermost parts of their homes and it was a promise fulfilled.

And ask Allah the assistance over your own selves, just as you ask Allah for the victory over your enemies. I ask Allah for that, both for you and for us."

Watch the nasheed here:


May we all take from this its maximum worth. May Allah grant ease to the surviving victims and families of our brothers and sisters in Gaza; aid them and grant them victory. Ameen.

Food For Faith

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Indeed Allah is praised whether we praise Him or not. Yet humbly we praise Him seeking His aid, guidance and mercy. We are penitent to Him. We seek protection in Allah from the evil in ourselves and the evil resulting from our deeds. Among us whom Allah guides, none can misguide and whomever Allah allows to tread their own path, no one among us can guide. Outwardly, inwardly, publicly and privately do I declare that there is nothing worthy of our worship, our du'a, our raka'at, our sajdah, our tawbah, our veneration except Allah, independent of all while all are dependent on Him. And inside my heart and outside my mouth do I testify that the final Messenger of Allah and perfect personification of Allah's Message whom which all of mankind should strive to emulate is Muhammad ibn Abdullah, may Allah's peace and blessings eternally be upon him.

May we continually increase in our iman, our taqwa and tawakul. May we become increasingly aware that all knowledge and ability is granted by Allah alone and that we cannot attain in knowledge beyond what Allah has made accessible. May we remind ourselves that we are not the guides of ourselves. That guidance comes only from Allah. As such, we should beseech His Guidance. And for the errors in our ways and ibadah, individually and collectively, may Allah make them apparent to us so we might have the option of turning away from them and sticking to that which is pure and straight. May we strive in adhering to al-Deen ul-Haqq purely as Allah decreed and His Messenger exemplified and not as Shaitan or our desires would influence, sway, mislead and deceive us into thinking it is. And may we act upon it sincerely and solely for the sake of Allah and His Mercy. Ameen!

Have in mind that I am not at all excludible to a single observation I should point out herein. But let's consider just how easily and comfortably we will leave what is clear and engage in that containing much doubt. Sometimes we forget that Muhammad salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam lived in a time were he was enveloped and confronted by all the vices, festivities, harassment, discrimination, temptations and pleasures we witness and experience in our contemporary societies. Tenfold even. So all matters have been covered, what Muhammad ordered, did and/or would do is clear and readily accessible especially in this internet age for those sincerely seeking guidance. Yet many of us still make lousy excuses for not wearing hijab, not wearing the beard, for listening to music, for neglecting the salat, for not taking the time to advance our knowledge in this beautiful Deen, etc. Is it that we don't see by doing so we are abandoning the Sunnah? What help, forgiveness or guidance are we worthy to receive from Allah when we aren't responding to the very purpose Allah placed us here in the first place?

We say our intentions are good, fooling ourselves to thinking Allah will judge the intention and negate the action. If the act was doubtful or worse, clearly haraam, then just how good are our "good" intentions really? Instead, we should concentrate on placing our good intentions behind good deeds and leave that which is doubtful. Fear Allah and concern ourselves with only looking good in His Sight. And turning to Him in repentance when we forget. For we all forget. We all sin. But may we be among those whom Muhamamd salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam described as the BEST of those who forget and the best of sinners. Ya Rabb, Ameen!

None will attain happiness from any source other than Allah except that they will also experience displeasure and unhappiness from that very source. Even loved ones and family will at times dissatisfy or displease us. Spouses and children will disappoint us and likewise we will disappoint them. It is ONLY through the remembrance of Allah and the steadfast commitment to that which Allah called us to that we will achieve perpetual, unceasing peace and happiness. May Allah azza wa jall improve and purify our living, our affairs and conditions. May He improve us as His servants thereby enhancing in our roles and responsibilities in this life. Ameen.

We can reach but so far, so fast in satisfying the needs and desires of our bodies, but how long before we despair and border ourselves to the brink of complete mindlessness and suicide when we've neglected to satisfy the needs of our souls? Allah says of such people what means:

"Have you seen such a one who takes for his god his own passion and impulse?... They are but as cattle; nay, they are worse astray in path." Surah al-Furqan ayat 43-44

Worse than lesser animals Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala describes them. Worse because they reject and turn away even after knowledge has reached them.

"...but of NO profit to them were their faculties of hearing, sight, heart and intellect when they went on denying the revelations of Allah; and they were completely encircled by that which they used to mock!" -Surah al-Ahqaf ayah 26

What else differentiates between the Believer and rejector besides that the Believer rightfully and naturally worships Allah, Lord and Creator, alone without partners, equals or opponent? What separates them except that one loves what Allah loves and despises what He hates? Enjoins what He deems good and avoids what He warned is evil?

We tuck ourselves in bed to meet morning appointments. How many of us are waking in time for Fajr to actually pray salaat ul-Fajr? We disappoint and worry ourselves when we're late on appointments, such as work or some other engagement. How many of us experience this kind of concern when we're late or have missed the time bracket for a particular obligatory salaat? We study and prepare for school tests. How many of us, with mathced intensity, are preparing for Akhira? Have we made dunya our ultimate goal? Have we slipped into valuing dunya beyond its worth?

I think among the main, cursed habits we have to break out of is this whole "in'sha'Allah" syndrome. We keep saying "in'sha'Allah, I'll start praying", "in'sha'Allah, I'll start this", "in'sha'Allah, I'll stop doing this and start doing that." Let's be honest with ourselves, because in reality, with such an attitude, we'll only end up in our graves never having doing what we always promised to do tomorrow.

"O you who believe! Answer the call of Allah and His Messenger when He calls you to that which will give you your life." -Surah al-Anfal ayah 45

Al-Shabab... Salute!!!

A'udu billahi mina'shaitanir rajeem
Bismillahi ar-Rahman ar-Raheem
Inna walhamdulillah wa-Salaatu wa-Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
amma ba'd

As-salaamu 'alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu ya Muslimeen!

Where to begin on the degree of elation I felt upon learning of the current situation in Kismayu, Somalia as it has been established by our dear struggling ikwan, Al-Shabab! What would make us to understand the sort of delight and enthusiasm that should flow strenuously throughout our bodies as Muslims in light of this blessed news?

In a grimly improvished land overtaken by every kind of corruption you can imagine, armed with resources as few as the Panthers in the 60's and the Pleasure and Grace of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala have our brothers restored peace and order in the way of Allah. Alhamdulillah. They have denounced the shirk by destroying the graves and tombs once visited and venerated by misguided Muslims, they've denounced and done away with the bid'ah introduced by Sufism in the lands, pouring out and burning all the khamir and intoxicants they can find and Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has ammended them by establishing for them, for us, the beginning stages of solidifying a Khalifah. Under our beautiful Shari'ah do they provide the people safety, security and wages equal to their output of work that prosperity be easy for them. Alhamdulillahi rabbil'alameen!

I pray that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala continue to Guide and Bless the efforts of Al-Shabab that the Shari'ah might persevere and expand in those areas and beyond. I pray that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala outshine the propaganda and slander hurled against it by the reality of the situation. I pray that the world at large bare witness the undeniable beauty of Allah's Shari'ah on Earth. Ameen ya Rabb. Surely, what we see here is the manifestation of complete tawakul of Allah at work. Allah quotes prophet Hud alayhis salaam as saying what means:

"So plot against me all together, then do not give me respite. Indeed, I have relied upon Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature except that He holds its forelock. Indeed, my Lord is on a path that is straight." -Surah Hud ayat 55-56

Allah also tells us what means:

"And whoever relies upon Allah- then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose."-Surat al-Talaq ayah 3

For any Muslim to deny the beauty or superiority of Allah's Shari'ah is undoubtedly a manifestation of kufr. Those who believe on and prefer man-made systems like Democracy, Communism or Socialism over the Shari'ah. Not that by merely living under these governments is kufr, but to actually believe and accept that what they are doing is permissible or approved by Allah is kufr. May we and the rest of the world recognize the excellence of Allah's Shari'ah provided our brothers of al-Shabab pursuit it purely as it is decreed by Allah azza wa jall. May we keep their efforts in our du'as and support them by any means which we possibly can, in'sha'Allah ta'ala. By Allah, Ar-Razzaq, may they be victorious. Ameen!

Muslimah Jailed Over Hijab

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Yesterday, December 17th in Douglasville, Georgia, Miedah Valentine, accompanying her nephew to a traffic citation hearing, was read her rights and placed under arrest after refusing to remove her hijab.

Local news outfit, WSBTV, published article here:
Muslim Arrested Over Headscarf In Courtroom

When I consider the multitude of discriminatory occurrences reported in this State and abroad, the story itself isn't all that shocking. I would be taken aback, however, if this State went a single year without legal authorities or establishments bound by strict rules committing such violations. What does amaze me about this story, and others like it, is how the news portrays the story as though she was in fact breaking a law. In this case the prohibition of headgear in Georgia courtrooms. However, they conveniently fail to list the conditions under which said law is to be enforced. Hence you get comments as you see below the article I provided above. Most which accuse Valentine of arrogantly violating these country's laws and getting what she deserved. I'm sorely curious though of these same individuals' reaction had it been someone jailed for wearing a Confederate Flag tie to court. It's not hate, it's heritage, right? As my wife would say: "it's a heritage of hate." I digress?

So yes, while court dress code laws in Georgia prohibit head gear, it is of course not without exception, that being for medical or religious reasons. And according to Georgia's own Court Conduct Handbook officers at the court's security checkout are lawfully obligated to have handled such a matter as described:

"As communities become more diverse, some of the traditional
notions about what is acceptable court attire may be outdated.
For example, court personnel may first wish to inquire
discreetly whether certain headwear has religious and/or cultural
significance (when someone is dressed in non-western traditional
clothing), rather than simply directing that person to
remove such headwear in open court."

It are these little details going unmentioned in the broadcasted and published reports that uproots most of my frustration. They only go so far as to make a violation of religious rights seem like a matter of opinion when in fact it's according to both State and Federal law. I suppose it's sort of like The Constitution or Prophet Jesus alayhis salaam, they admire them to the point of worship, but never seem to actually follow them.

Personally, I think once Valentine is released she should be presented with an Rosa Parks Award. Which would further show just how far the State of Georgia has come along since the Civil Rights Movement.

Ya Muslimeen, may we pray Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant ease to Sister Miedah Valentine and her family. May Allah grant her justice and may our nation's courts, corporations, schools, businesses and so forth either revise their laws as they honestly desire to carry them out or submit to the ones they've created and sworn to submit to. May we admit our sincerest du'as to our Brothers and Sisters in Islam unjustly scandalized and incarcerated, those like Imam Jamil al Amin, Dr. Ali al-Timimi and Tariq Mehanna that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala grant them refuge from physical and mental harm and a speedy victory.

Ameen Ya Rabb'al-ameen!

Virtues of Arafah

A'udu billahi mina'shaitanir rajeem
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
Alhamdulillah subhana wa ta'ala wa-Salaatu wa-Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
amma ba'd

It is Sunnah to fast the day before the Eid which is known as Yaum ul Arafah, I encourage all of you to take advantage of it and this is a message.

The messenger of Allah, salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam, was asked about the fast on the day of Arafah. He said, "It compensates for the sins of the past and the coming year." (narrated by Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari)

VIRTUES OF ARAFAH

It is the day on which the religion, the Deen was perfected and Allah's Favor was completed on the entire humanity. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has sent down what means:

"This day have I perfected your way of life (deen) for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your way of life." (Qur'an 5:3) -this verse was revealed to the Prophet salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam when he was standing at Arafah on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah.

This is the day that pilgrims from all over the world stand at Mount Arafah and ask Allah's Forgiveness.

In Sahih Muslim, it was narrated from ‘Aa’ishah radiallahu anhu that the Prophet 'alayhi wa-salaatu wa-salaam said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of ‘Arafah. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?’”