Irreligulous

"And now they reject the truth when it reaches them, but soon shall they learn the reality of what they used to mock at." -Holy Qur'an 6:5

In reaction to the forthcoming documentary starring Bill Maher entitled "Religulous", I've learned about through his interview with Larry King on Larry King Live last week, do I share these thoughts. Should this concocted term, "religulous", imply that religion is ridiculous, my allegation is that not only is it ridiculous, but irregular to be irreligious, hence, the invented portmanteau of my own, "Irreligulous".

Maher's objective is to induce his audience to the idea that religion is, in addition to imaginary, responsible for the violence, wars and atrocities committed in the world. Let's ignore man's desire for wealth, power and control sought after under the banner of "the ends justify the means", and his relentless ego and ambition for global domination throughout history. Never mind the violent, blood-splashing debates over who's political system or form of government should be implemented. Certainly, wars, most notably the Crusades, have been fueled by religion. But let's not turn our backs and walk away from the greater crimes and bloodshed wrought in the name of secular fanaticism when discussing the topic.

As to why I assert that a state of irreligiosity is absurd and abnormal, I use as a point of reference an individual Maher attempts to further convince us through that religion is ridiculous in his new film; neuroscientist, Andrew Newberg. Newberg performs brain scans and analysis on people who engage in religious/spiritual practices such as praying, meditating or by some means or another communicate to an immaterial supreme being. This sort of neurological research is intended to improve our understanding on why people, generation to generation, continue to believe in God. In a nutshell, the conclusion ever-present in all his books recording and interpreting his scientific findings is that "the human brain is wired to God". And because two of the human brain's primary functions, self-maintenance and self-transcendence, are precisely the same primary functions of religion people naturally seek after one in order for the brain to perform these functions. This, of course, is strictly from a neurological standpoint.

A few statements from different lenses on the subject of religion that inadvertently support my case are:

• "Belief in God is biologically natural." -Andrew Newberg, MD.

• An idea commonly shared among Atheist could be explicated in this single statement: "Being that 'having faith' is ingrained in our brains, it takes quite an effort to liberate ourselves from these beliefs."
  

• And finally, a saying from the last messenger to mankind, our Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa salaam: "Every child is born upon the pure fitrah."

Instantly, the Muslim or anyone familiar with aqeeda (Islamic theology) has made the connection between these statements and how they all, despite being from drastically different mindsets, ironically agree with one another. And how ultimately they prove God is as unseen a reality as air.

Everyone ranging from Western philosophers, Eastern mystics to even scientist of today try to reach God in some way. Mystics teach God resides in His creations (i.e. nature) and can be contacted through spiritual experiences. And while there are one side of philosophers who argue the reality of God can be proven through reason; portraying God as a sort of removed Watch Maker uninterested in His creation, another side of philosophers standing on agnosticism argue that God can neither be proven or disproved and they must have material confirmation in order to have faith.

For the Muslim, Allah's existence is self-evident. The very purpose of His creation, aside from obeying Him and being for the use of mankind, is to serve as a sign of His power and goodness... a blatant testament to His presence. Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, is the only one with the ability to create while we can only manipulate what's already available. Allah (swt) has challenged that nothing else could create even a fly. And if a fly were to take something from them they would not be able to get it back (Holy Qu'ran 22:74). There are many evidences to establish the presence of a Creator, all of them examined in the Qur'an, but the one I'll mainly be dealing with revolves about Newberg's statement that "we are wired to God" and that to believe in Him is all but "biologically natural."

What was meant by our prophet, Muhammad, peace be upon him, that every child is born upon the pure fitrah is that everyone is born with the awareness of God. And so, in this respect, Newberg is exactly right that it is in our primordial nature, that it is only instinctive for us to accept that our universe, all it's laws and entities, has a Creator. And the Atheist too is right that one cannot remove this idea without extreme difficulty. Which, in reality, no one can never successfully remove or liberate themself from the fitrah. The fitrah will unresistingly express itself in other ways even when one denies God. Exempli gratia the commission of what in Islam is called shirk, or giving rights belonging only to God to something other than God. In this case, they would make chance or coincidence their God or to what they owe the existence and evolution of things. They'll place their faith in "luck"; perhaps reserving for themselves a "lucky" suit they happened to be wearing when they got that great job they've been looking for. Crediting any good or satisfaction to this "luck" deity and any evil or undesired occurance to the "bad one". They may place their heart and trust in something, such as astrology, fortune tickets or a cherished item, to a height that only God is rightfully worthy (lest disaster befalls them will they invoke the one true God). All this, indeed, is the result of containing a distorted concept of God. Which is why He has sent prophets and messengers, all their teachings culminated and finalized through Muhammad (saws), to reveal the proper concept of God and the proper method of acknowledging and serving Him. So by denying God, they deny a vital part of their nature. And just because you deny one of your legs does not make you incapable of walking on both.

The reason for this fitrah or innate awareness of a Creator, is as Allah (swt) revealed in the Qur'an about the covenant He established, spiritually, with all the descendants of Adam including me, you, everyone who existed, exist and everyone who will exist. In this covenant, before we inhabited earth, Allah (swt) asked us all: "am I not your Lord?" and we all confirmed: "Yes, we all bare witness..." (Holy Qur'an 7:127). And what such non-Muslims as Newberg and Eugene D'Aquili of the University of Pennsylvania have inadvertently proven in their neurological research is that echoes of this "yes" are carried by every human being even if deeply in their souls. Should they dismiss it, it is just as Muhammad (saws) explained, that it is due to outside influences over a passage of time that conduce to unbelief or denial of this natural inclination we know as al-fitrah. And when considering the number of Atheist and Agnostics in the world vis-a-vis the believers of God, it only further stresses the abnormality and absurdity of these ideologies.

The remedy? The right concept of God. Recognizing the absolute and unique oneness of God. The remedy? Realizing the purpose God has created us, thereby acknowledging and supplied the opportunity of serving God the right way. The remedy? Islam. Nothing a little deductive reasoning, intellectual research and most importantly, the application of good old-fashioned common sense can't figure out. Responding to the call of your true nature is the greatest favor you can do unto yourself.

Peace be unto those who follow the righteous guidance.

Open Book Exam

Bismillah, wa'salaatu wa'salaam 'ala Rasoolullah.

Indeed, Allah is praised whether we praise Him or not. Yet, humbly we praise Him and seek His aid. We are penitent to Him. We seek refuge in Him from the evil of ourselves, of our egos, our own arrogance and desires and from the evil consequences of our deeds. Whomever Allah Guides, NONE can misguide and whoever is left to their own path will always go astray.

Verily, the best of speech is the speech of Allah, The Qur'an.
And the best of guidance is the guidance of Rasoolullah (the Messenger of Allah), salallahu 'alayahi wasalaam.
And the most evil of affairs are innovations in the religion.
And every innovation is a misguidance and every misguidance is in the Fire.
May Allah Gaurd us from these newly invented matters in His deen and keep us firm on the sirataal mustaqueem (straight and pure path).

As-salaamu 'alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.

It is revealed to us, by Allah (swt) Himself, that He has created us, mankind, with a physical composition, our body and all its intricate systems which still we haven't unraveled in whole. Anatomically, biologically, biochemically and psychologically we remain mysteries to even ourselves. Our bodies, like the television to the average man, is designed such that we could never replicate or produce one ourselves, yet it is made such that any idiot can use it. And barely so considering we trip over our own feet.

In addition to the body, Allah has instilled in us something of His Spirit -our soul. We can hardly imagine how much about the soul we've discovered, when we haven't even figured the body that is visibly apparent to us.

"They ask thee concerning the soul. Say: 'the soul cometh by the command of my Lord; of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, o men!" -Qur'an 17:85

The soul, like the body, has needs and a hunger that must be satisfied lest from negligence it is starved. It is but spiritual suicide should one go on ignoring its exigencies. The weakness and withering of one's soul is characterized by easy despair, lack of patience and optimism. Strong susceptibility to compromising habits and complete apathy. So what better to tell us, to instruct us how we should use, treat and apply our bodies and souls than the very Creator of these entities? What better source to learn about a product than from the manufacturer itself?

Not so in Islam is the idea that the body and soul are antagonistic. There is no conflict in satisfying the needs and desires of the body while fulfilling the soul. In fact, it is impossible to consummate one of these whilst neglecting, denying or even harming the other. Both are from Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, so that we'd exist. Therefore both should be managed and developed carefully. How we do so is explained in the instruction He has revealed to us, The Qur'an and the guidance He has demonstrated and exemplified based on it through His last Messenger, Muhammad, salallahu 'alayhi wasalaam.

Should this life be an examination deciding the most responsive to Allah's Signs and instruction; then this life, this exam... is indeed open book.

"That which is on earth We have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them -as to which of them is best in conduct." -Qur'an 8:7

Only by truly satisfying and pleasing ourselves in ways circumventing evil or damaging side effects and consequences, with the respective intent, do we satisfy and please our Lord. There is no greater justice one can do themselves. Questions concerning our Lord, our purpose, our salvation, our destiny and our very being are explained in detail in the one book, The Qur'an.

"This is the Book whereof there is no doubt, a guidance unto those who ward off evil." -Qur'an 2:2

For those of us who heed His Signs, desiring His pleasure, the path is made clear to us. Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, guides those who earnestly beseech His guidance. Alternatively, those who deny Him and His signs who wish not to be guided, are not. Those left to follow their own desires. Those who are helplessly bent on turning away from faith and who, out of arrogance, persistently reject faith, ignoring the yearns of their very soul in that they might endure true success on every level will remain misguided. Left to tread a meaningless and staggering path. The further one strays from the path of truth and righteousness, the more difficult and less probable it is they should return to it.

"As to those who reject Faith, it is the same to them whether thou warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe. Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing; and on their hearts is veil; great is the penalty they incur." -Qur'an 2:6-7

It is not so that Allah controls our lives in the sense that He has preordained our ultimate outcome. Rather, we have options and Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, will only prepare for us what we prepare for ourselves. Consider the example of the teacher who foresees the scholastic failure of the redundantly mischievious student who makes no effort to study and the success of other students based on their performance and upstanding reputation. And as hopeful and optimizing it is for a devout believer to ponder their rewards the truth we must bare in mind, brothers and sisters, is that Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, wants Jannah (i.e. Paradise, Heaven) for us more than we can possibly want it for ourselves.

We were told from Allah's Messenger and final prophet, Muhammad, salallahu 'alayhi wasalaam, that "every child is born upon the pure fitrah." Meaning, we all our born with the awareness of one God as our natural disposition. Innately, we all are aware of Allah, our Lord and Creator who is pure and exalted from having any partners or offspring. The evidence would be the example Allah has revealed to us in the Qur'an about those who even later deny Him, in times of dire need or distress, invoking Him in secret. Further showing us His unfaltering Mercy over us. Not only is His test to us "open book", not only has He sent prophets and messengers to every people and every nation, but He has designed us such that our inclination towards Him is natural. Those whom deny are in actuality denying themselves. If only they but knew.

Peace be unto those who follow the righteous guidance and may Allah continue to guide those who do. May Allah make better perceptible the siraatal mustaqueem to the totality of mankind. And for those of us who once followed His Deen and have gone astray, may they return to the right path, O Allah. In'sha'Allah. Ya An-Nur. Ya Al Hadi. Alhamdulillah! Subhanallahu akbar!

Ameen.

Increasing Iman

Bismillahi Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem. Verily, all praise and thanks are for Allah. As such, we praise Him, seek His aid and His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of ourselves and the evil consequences of our actions. Whomever Allah guides, none can misguide, and whoever Allah leaves astray, none can guide. I bare witness there is none worthy of worship except Allah, without any partner or intercessor, and I bare witness that Muhammad is His servant and final Messenger.

As-salaamu 'alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakathu,

I felt compelled to post at least one blog before this month soon expires. Particularly, revolving about a topic I've been contemplating to touch on since the month began. It's quite imperative that we, as Muslims, strive in using every opportunity and circumstance we can to increase in faith. Even in the event of trials, as Allah, azza wa jall, says what means:

"Does mankind think they will be left alone on saying, "we believe", and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false." -Holy Qur'an 29:2

It is here we understand the purpose of trials, much like gold being placed into the furnace to separate the impurities from the solid gold, to expose those true in faith and those who are false or hypocrite. Most importantly, they serve as opportunities for those weak in faith to increase in it. Even the rewarding moments in our life are trials from which we should use to boost our iman (faith).

There are countless methods one can engage to increase in iman. I will, in'sha'Allah, discuss the very conditions of our faith itself, which I believe, encompasses all these methods without having to illustrate them.

La ilaha ill Allah, there is no god (none worthy of worship) but Allah, is unquestionably the perfection and pinnacle of faith in God. It is the statement which enters one into Islam. Only through the allegiance and implementation of "la ilaha ill Allah" does one excel in the ranks of iman. This statement is the essence of tawheed. Tawheed is the confirmation of the absolute and unique oneness of God. God is a title given to anything deserving worship, the most beautiful name of our Rabb (Lord, Cherisher, Sustainer...) is Allah. Allah, translated "The God" or linguistically, "the only one deserving worship", affirms tawheed.

The Qur'an itself, as the mission of every prophet and messenger appointed by Allah, is but an invitation to tawheed. The conditions of tawheed, our Kalima, are ultimately what must be tended to in order to increase in iman. These conditions, summarize into these 7 points:

1. Knowledge (of tawheed, our purpose, our deen, Qur'an, the dunya or world, etc.)
2. Certainty (assurance that tawheed, the message of Islam, is the truth)
3. Acceptance (accepting or embracing the truth)
4. Submission (submitting to the truth, i.e. Allah's Will)
5. Truthfulness (being true to our allegiance to tawheed, remembering Allah, etc.)
6. Sincerity (being sincere in our devotion, our allegiance to "la ilaha ill Allah")
7. Love (for the deen of Allah, Islam, brothers and sisters in faith, etc.)

Each of these conditions consist of levels and the more one increases in either of these conditions the more they raise in iman and their allegiance to "la ilaha ill Allah". Similarly, the more one decreases in any one of these conditions, the more they weaken in iman and their commitment to "la ilaha ill Allah". Muhammad, salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam, had responded in the affirmative that "la ilaha ill Allah" is the key to Paradise, but went on to mention that every key has ridges. The aforementioned conditions are those ridges which we must perfect.

If we are to examine our ibad'ah (worship), we acknowledge there are conditions to be met with this as well. Conditions to be met in ibad'ah:

1. Ikhlas (sincerity)
-Worship of Allah alone (iyyaka na'budu)

2. Mutaba'ah (in accordance with the Sunnah or prophet's example)
-Major acts of worship must be based on the way of Allah's last messenger. Any act not found
in the Qur'an or Sunnah, an act one has perhaps thought up, is bid'ah (an innovation) and will not
be accepted of them (by Allah).

Also, our motivation to worship Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, basically comes down to three factors. Factors which we find circumscribed in the first three ayat (verses) of the first surah of Allah's Kalaam (word), that we (hopefully) recite daily in our salah (prayers). These motivational factors of ibad'ah are:

1. Love (for Allah and everything Allah Loves)
-Alhamdulillahi rabbil ala'meen (all praise belongs to Allah, Lord, Cherisher and Sustainer of
the worlds)

2. Hope (for Allah's Grace, Mercy and Blessings)
-Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem (Most Gracious, Most Merciful)

3. Fear (of Allah's punishment, evil consequences of our deeds)
-Maliki yawmid deen (Master of the Day of Judgement)

If only one of these three factors would be the motivation behind one's worship, for example, only out of fear of Allah's wrath, their faith is then incomplete. The combination of these factors must simultaneously motivate us for our faith to be complete and sincere.

None of what I discussed here is expected to be known by the common Muslim nor is it (necessarily) required they know. However, these are all principles occurring naturally in our worship whether acknowledged or not. And by constantly nurturing these principles, conditions and so forth will we constantly increase in our iman.

All this may possibly go without saying, but by actually laying out these basic details, it both purifies and elevates our understanding. We instill, with a deeper understanding, a deeper compassion to move forward; treading the path of truth and righteousness with assurance, heart and gladness.

It is my prayer that this benefits the believers as I feel it has truly benefited myself. Any truth contained herein, I bare witness is from Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala. And should there be any mistakes, any errors, it is from my own self, from which I say "audu billah" that we might seek refuge from them and I ask that Allah forgive me for them.

"For, Believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts, and when they hear His Signs rehearsed, find their faith strengthened, and put all their trust in their Lord." -Holy Qur'an 8:2

Portrait of A Prophet

You Alone Do We Worship

Bismillahi ar-Rahman ar-Raheem. All praise, indeed, belongs to Allah. As such, we should praise Him, seek His Help and beseech His Forgiveness. Seek refuge in Allah from the evil within this world, ourselves and the evil resulting from our deeds. Whomever Allah guides, there is none that can misguide. Whomever Allah allows to be lead astray, none can guide. I bare witness and testify that there is no God, diety, object or entity worthy of worship except Allah. And I bare witness and testify that Muhammad is the servant and final Messenger of Allah.

"And remind, for the reminder benefits the believers. I have not created the jinn and mankind except to worship Me." -Qur'an 51:56

The absolute perfect (Al Quddus), exalted (Al Aliyy), highest and greatest (Al Kabir) is the Creator (Al Khaliq) and Fashioner of all Forms (Al Musawwir), Allah, subhana wa ta'ala (pure is He, without partners and Exalted). The only one (Al Ahad) deserving of praise (Al Hamid) and the only one worthy of worship.

As Muslims, we are well aware (or atleast should be) that Allah hasn't created us but for one noble purpose and that is to worship Him. Allah has also bestowed us the faculty of thought; inclining us to be inquistive. As such, we cannot resist to question: "why should we worship Allah?" It, of course, ties back to the first clause of the first Kalima: "la ilaha ill Allah" meaning "there is nothing (and no one) worthy of worship but Allah". The operative word of the aforementioned is "worthy". For certainly there are other objects, people and things that are worshipped, venerated or regarded as only Allah should be regarded in this world. But Allah, the Lord and Creator of the heavens, earth and all else is the only one WORTHY of worship. Every prophet of Allah, from Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Issa (Jesus) to Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon them all, was called to summon people to the right path; to the obedience and worship of Allah and Allah alone.

"For We assuredly raised in every nation a messenger (prophet, warner) with the command: 'Serve Allah and shun false gods', of the people were some whom Allah guided and some on whom error was inevitably established. So travel through the earth and see what was the fate of those who denied the Truth." -Qur'an 16:36

For those whose strife is a journey unto the right path, have firm enough understanding that it is not through anything or anyone, no intercessor, no intermediary, that we worship our Lord. Regardless to how beautiful or alluring an object or design, it has no power except what Allah permits. Regardless to how wise, knowledgable, successful, pious or devout a prophet, imam, priest, saint, man or woman is or once was, remember, Allah is the source of all knowledge (Al Alim), the source of all truth (Al Haqq), and no one has acquired in intellect, honor or prestige except what Allah allowed. There is nothing that occurs outside of His Will or without His Leave. And so to Him, Allah, do we owe all praise and worship DIRECTLY. Shameful is it to think that your Lord is not compassionate (Ar Ra'uf) enough, loving (Al Wadud) enough, forgiving (Al Ghafur) or caring (Al Barr) enough to accept your worship, your prayers, your supplications (du'a) and pleas for forgiveness directly.


"O My servants who have trangressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins. Lo! He is Oft-Forgivng, Most Merciful." -Qur'an 39:53

In having the proper concept of Allah, thereby we can enjoin the proper worship of Allah. We realize continual worship and continual remembrance of Allah, the transitoriness and triviality of this world and the concernment of the Hereafter go hand in hand. With the correct awareness, worship works to keep one in line and is a means to purifying our very souls. We accrue blessings and shall, in'sha'Allah, be rewarded for our sincere devotion and implication.

Allah has designed us such that our comprehension must (eventually) advance beyond "because God said so." The question, then arises, in acknowledging Allah is worthy of worship, what makes Him so? Why is He worthy of our worship, our servitude?

Commonly, one might respond in listing the literally countless good, favors, blessings and wonders He has done. These are all indeed reasons to venerate our Lord, but anything Allah has done is but a secondary reason deserving Him of any worship. Primarily, we (should) worship Allah because of Who He is, not for what He does. Our worship certainly isn't for His benefit. Allah will be Allah with or without our servitude. Every attribute, every quality I've mentioned and those I haven't will remain regardless. He Was before we were and shall eternally (As-Samad) remain. It is the worshipper who benefits, not Allah. And there was no better worshipper of Allah than His final messenger, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam, who has left with us his example, his footsteps. Wise are those to follow if it is the pleasure of their Lord they seek.

Islam is so extraordinary, so beautiful in that it enables the Muslim to convert the most trivial and commonplace of actions into an act of worship. By merely preposing the right intention can we make reading, working, speaking, playing, eating, walking and even sleeping constitute as worship. Activities like raising properly and feeding your family is serving Allah, being that He has commanded we do so. This includes playtime with our children, caring and looking after our parents, intimacy with our spouses. ANY act we set forth that benefits, aides, assist and/or prepares us in fulfilling our most noble purpose can be worship itself; so long as we acknowledge it before engaging the act. And, of course, avoid those fruitless acts which will hender or distract us from the reason of our existence.

I pray all my brothers and sisters in Islam realize the religion, or more appropriately, the way (deen) of God is not merely a matter of "do this but don't do that". Islam is not merely tradition, there are blessings involved in not only enjoining the rights but even moreso in understanding why we should do them. Allah, in the Qur'an, urges us in a so many places to think and use reason. Never should we hesistate to take that advice and inquire and investigate so that we might constantly excel in faith (iman), wisdom (hikma) and the conciousness of Allah (taqwaa). Bare in mind that each desire, effort and step towards learning about Allah and His Way is an act of worship. And in knowing the reasons and blessings behind each splash and wipe of our wudu, our salah, our sujood, our every prostration, our du'a, our zakat, our hajj, our smile, it is practically impossible to do any of the like with the same attitude or mindset we had prior to knowing.

Iyyāka na'budu wa iyyāka nasta'īn!

Springing Into Action

As-salaamu 'alaikum Rahmatullahi wa-Barakathu. May the Peace, Mercy and Blessings of our Creator and Lord be upon you all. Tis the season of Spring and this year I'm fortunate enough to suffer through the associated allergies. It wasn't until moving in this particular area, 3 years ago, that I've experienced anything remotely resembling of an allergic reaction. It must be something in the air around these parts. Thankfully, my symptoms have gradually degenerated from severe to mild; my eyes were swollen, moist and precipitating. I would want to communicate verbally, but it seemed anytime I'd open my mouth it was either to cough or sneeze. In fact, the language I involuntarily spoke for nearly a week was Cough-n-sneeze. And my throat. Ya Allah. It felt like I had just inhaled two woolly scarves bind together by a lumpy knot. Or worse yet, that mercilessly scratchy tan Mammothus hide my grandmother would dare toss over me while staying the night at her house when I was little. I'm left now to deal only with the watery, itchy eyes, sniffling and a very occasional sneeze fest.

I was ecstatic over my wife having the whole entire Monday through Thursday off last week. We went out and discussed our Deen, our family, investment plans, things to be grateful over, things to be disappointed over, things we can obtain by certain durations and so-forth over a cup... well... cups of coffee. We gone out to get flowers and plants to embellish the side and backyard of our home with. We planted them together. We embraced and enjoyed each other's company as though we wouldn't have the same luxury the succeeding week as this would indeed be the case.

This luxury or situation, I realized, was but a microcosm of the whole picture. That this world, like our lives, are more transitory than we know. And we must strive to make the best of every moment. Even during relaxation should we not do so unless in a state of Islam, in a state of remembering Allah, in a state of challenging ourselves and thereby reaffirming why we are here and why we are Muslim. Our optimism depends heavily on our intending, our planning and finally, our acting. No soul is exempt from trials, from mistakes, from sadness, from success, from happiness. No soul is immune to devastation or surprise.

"On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns..."

A believer should never mistake any trial as a misfortune or a curse. Every trial and even those easily ignored, quickly pass instances where it seems "nothing happened", is indeed a blessing. We should be thankful, give praise and move along with Allah constantly in mind.

"Pray: "Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have Mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; HELP US AGAINST THOSE WHO STAND AGAINST FAITH." -Qur'an 2:286

Along with the springing plantlife, the springing allergies, the springing romantic interactions, have my vision and will also sprung up to the truth that my aspirations, whether microscopic, short term, long term, gargantuan or hardly significant, all require action. Don't get me wrong. I've always had a firm grasp on this concept, but this reality sets in deeper with the surpassing of every growth-inducing experience, every testing circumstance, every achievement, every trial, every fitnah. With each passing year. Each passing month. Each passing day, hour, minute, second, moment and glimpse my understanding excels to a new altitude that anything I desire done or avoided demands my effort.

Among the most basic of principles. Probably the only principle that remains with every human from the instant they picked up on it. A principle that is best growing as rapid or even more rapidly than we ourselves are growing. A principle, as is the case for all knowledge, that is best acted on. Which if a person has no reason or sees no benefit in pursuing something, they will have no motivation. It all depends on what the individual values that will boost them forward. The less a person believes and the less a person values anything, the more apathetic and spiritually defunct a person becomes.

For some, time is money. And for this reason do they move any muscle at all.

"These are the people who buy the life of this world at the price of the Hereafter..." -Qur'an 2:86

For me, and certainly any pious Muslim, time is a term of chances we have to worship Allah (and ask His Forgiveness). Stop me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Islam is the most God-centered faith on the face of this planet. Everything we do is to be in the name of God (Bismillah), and if there is an endeavour or act we have in mind we feel the least ashamed to do in God's Name, we are encouraged to think twice or avoid it altogether.

Perhaps in my next journal I will focus on how everything the Muslim does, whether praying/performing salat, prostrating, making dua/supplication, bathing, communicating, eating, going to work, going to school, playing at the park, posting a blog, even sleeping constitutes as an act of worship, in'sha'Allah. But the reason I bring this up now, and how it is relevant, is that action is vital to achieve any means. And what better way to act than as an act of worship to achieve the ultimate goal in the Hereafter?

Doing for the sake of God is not restricted to getting done those activities which we loathe. For God's sake and in God's Name we can do practically anything that is intellectually, emotionally, physically or spiritually profitable. And we do so by patterning our ways after the examples of the prophet (salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam) and those who were around him, his companions. Neither the prophet (saws) nor his companions retreated from their society to a distant, remote land to practice Islam. On the contrary. They remained in their society. They all shopped, married, had families with children, had homes, had jobs and so forth all while exercising Islam to the most integral extent.

Some get by doing as the phrase, "keep your eyes on the prize", suggest. But by focusing only on the end result, really there are no holds bar, you could pretty much achieve any ends at the expense of loved ones and innocents. However, when it comes to the phrase, "remember Allah", you are engaged to achieve any desired end, but through regulated means. And surely, we can overcome anything through the remembrance of Allah, knowing every joy and every trial we're presented with is for a reason. Whether we, at the moment, understand that reason or not.

"Does mankind think they will be left alone on saying, 'We believe', and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false." -Qur'an 29:2-3

So before handling any issue or engaging in anything the Muslim should always remember Allah. This will benefit us more in this life over anything else and most certainly, the Hereafter.

AAAAANNNNNND...


ACTION!!!

7 Random AV Facts

And so it was that I was tagged by my sister, Mega, to produce a short series of little known, awkward or otherwise interesting fun facts about yours truly. I've been unintentionally out of the loop lately, returning only to discover I've been served such a friendly callout. Not to mention an intimidating load of new, unread messages in my electronic inbox. None of which were junk I realized in disbelief before gauging my impulse to delete the bulk of them. Proceeded by an audible exclamation to myself: "you mean I have to read all of that!!??!" This, certainly, is not to suggest I don't enjoy them. I was obviously overwhelmed by the love.

First, Meghan, I extend to you a well deserved and sincere shukran for supplying me the idea of what to write with regards to next. Second, be aware that I have a LEGION of random facts about myself, but I will, in'sha'Allah, limit my list to the ascribed number. And lastly, with respect to the topic, behold my 7 randoms:

1. I never peel the gentle brown, fuzzy skin of a kiwi. I eat them as they are. The what-would-seem-to-be discording combination of dry, bitter, rough and wet, sweet, gushy I find profusely delectable. (NOTE: I am not trying to be insinuative in the least.)

2. I seldom experience sleep paralysis. Perhaps a sleeping disorder commonly associated with narcolepsy. You see, during the REM phase, the brain naturally restricts all skeletal muscle movement as precaution to prevent physical reactions while dreaming. Hence, wherever this response is defective, you have your sleepwalkers, sleepkickers and/or sleepfighters, etc. Anyway, in the event you become conscious or break from sleep while the body remains in (partial) REM mode, you are awake but your body is temporarily paralyzed (you can also hear and sometimes even see faint remnants of what you were dreaming). Your eyes can scan the room, but you can't move a single muscle and the pressure you feel on your chest is as though something (or someone) is sitting on top of it. I said "seldom" experience, because I seldom achieve REM with the limited hours of sleep I get these days. The "condition" doesn't alarm or frighten me, it's just frustrating.

3. I've been married for nearly 6 years, have 2 children, and to this present day I'm shy around my wife when she flirts with me.

4. I thoroughly enjoy viewing the commentary feature on DVDs. A couple of my favorites are from Crash and The Incredibles.

5. My eyes never leave the plate while eating. I keep my food in sight at all times until I've completed consuming it. I don't eat savagely, but I do appear deeply concentrative. My focus fixates on the platter as though I'm going to make sujood on it. Take away my fork and you'd swear I'm about to supernaturally vacuum it into my mouth. Even worse, when I'm finished, I'm reluctant to look up in suspecting that everyone is staring at me in the same manner I was just staring at my plate.

6. Whenever vacant I always use the handicap stall in public restrooms. I'm claustrophobic and those areas are usually so delightfully spacious.

7. I honestly don't believe O.J. Simpson did it. I'm telling you, I've read his book "If I Did It..." and based on it's literary eloquence, grandiloquent word usage and vivid imagery countering the charges, surveillance footage wouldn't even convince me that O.J. Simpson authored this book. No way!

7. The previous numbered 7 "fact" was obviously a joke. So with this second 7th point, I'll confide in you all an honest random: I cannot fathom why calamari is not a popular pizza topping. This, to me, is inexcusable.