Infused with an ambition to counter and unplug the incessant, ongoing harassment of Christian missionaries- a fed up Muslim retailer in South Africa, knowing very little of his own religion, was propelled to educate himself to close the curtains on the then Christian onslaught against Islam once and for all.
Equipped with his fondness of reading and his knack for story telling, he stumbled on a book, Izharul Haqq (The Truth Revealed), that set him well on his way in developing himself into a master of comparative religion and splendid debater successfully presenting the universal message of Islam vis-a-vis other religions.
For him, as should be the case for all Muslims, it was Allah who set the theme:
"Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.Surely, your Lord knows best who has strayed from His Path, and He knows best those who receive guidance." -An-Nahl v.125
From silencing pestering missionaries in his city of Durban to stumping scholars, clerics and evangelists of the Protestant and Catholic world throughout Africa and all over the Western hemisphere. He became extraordinary, inspirational, international, renown and some may say heroic in the field of da'wah. His efforts have earned him the Faisal International Award in 1986 and much reverence, but we pray his reward with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is infinitely greater and among the highest stations in Jennah. As these efforts have led several thousand during his lifetime, and possibly to this day, to Islam.
That man, Shaykh Ahmed Deedat rahimallahu anhu. The lecture I'll post of his entitled "Christianity and Islam" was conducted March 17, 1987 in Geneva, Switzerland. It serves as a wonderful introduction to Islam and historical lesson well-worth contemplating. "What was the actual religion called upon and followed by all the prophets (peace be upon them)?" appears to be the inquisition here. Enjoy and benefit, in'sha'Allah:
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Indeed, Allah is praised and may His peace and blessings eternally be upon His Messenger. All praise is for Allah; Lord, Creator and Sustainer of all worlds and existing things. Humbly, we praise Allah in all conditions, who has submerged us in His greatest blessing by making us Muslim- al Ummat Muhammadsalallahu 'alayhi wa salaam.
May He preserve us, keeping us firm upon His deen- the way of life of attaining peace through complete submission and obedience to Him (Islam) and may He have us only to remember Him and beseech His Forgiveness when we forget and we get distracted. Ameen. I pray all our brothers and sisters in Islam, young and old, new and emerging, that we all die only in the purest state of Islam. Ameen ya Rabbil 'alameen wa'iyaaka.
As-salaamu 'alaikum wa Rahmatullah,
What is to proceed is a talk from respected brother and British-revert to Islam, Abdur Raheem Green, that outlines the broad and very clear distinctions between what is Islam and what is culture. It serves effectively to rid the confusion about what is actually Islam, or what is in keeping to the Sunnah of our beloved Rasul salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam, and what is often mistaken or sometimes confused for Islam- namely the culture and traditions of a particular society or nation. He also delves a bit into some of the major etiquette of the Sunnah that are seemingly abandoned, their importance and purpose. A critical reminder I thought quite beneficial for the Ummah, in'sha'Allah ta'ala. Fi amani Allah.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Peace unto those who heed the righteous guidance and may such guidance reach those who sincerely seek it. I share now a compelling article by Graham E. Fuller published in the Jan-Feb 2008 issue of Foreign Policy Magizine that contemplates acutely the condition of our world had Islam never been.
Formally vice-chairman of the National Intelligence Council at the CIA and presently an adjunct professor of history at Simon Fraser University, Fuller intelligibly concludes the world would be in the same, if not, more disastrous state without Islam. Unraveling the heart of the worlds' struggles and conflicts lie in European imperialism and colonialism rather than religion (although having part) with his well-researched and thoroughly-considered hypothesis of an Islam-less world.
My only faultfinding is its omission to appreciate how Islam ultimately delivered Europe out the Middle Ages and into its Enlightenment, Reformation and Renaissance era(s). If only this fact had been merely glossed over this article would have easily earned from me five stars. Notwithstanding, Fuller manages still to drive this much ignored yet mammoth of a point home.
Of course for the Muslim, without Islam, there would be no world to ponder the idea to begin with. In fact, without submission to the will of God (i.e. Islam), there would be no 'alamin (i.e. everything in creation) altogether. Even so, let's indulge Mr. Fuller in this ruminative endeavor shall we?
In the Most Holy name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful to Whom all praise and gratitude ultimately belongs and may the peace and blessings of Allah eternally be upon His Messenger, Muhammad, his family and companions. Indeed, the best speech is the speech of Allah azza wa jall, al-Qur'an. And the best guidance is indeed the guidance of the Messenger of Allah, salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam, the (authentic) Sunnah. Indeed, the worst of affairs is bid'ah, that is, innovations or newly invented matters in the Deen. The Deen has been completed and perfected by Allah Himself and has been fully explained in words and actions by our beloved Rasul salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam. Any inclusion or exclusion in terms of principles, rulings or actions in or away from the Deen is a bid'ah; every bid'ah is a misguidance and every misguidance is already in the Fire. I pray that we strive firmly upon the sirataal mustaqeem (the pure and straight path) and that said path be made clear before the sight of all who seek it. Ameen.
In approaching this topic for the second time, and carefully so, I aim to have expounded on the reason we, Muslims, love Muhammad to the extent that he, salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam, comes second only to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and why all of humanity should admire him above everything else in creation. This hour talk delivered by our respected Brother Jalal ibn Sa'eed beautifully recapitulates the story of our beloved prophet, salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam, showcasing example after example of Muhammad's unsurpassed merciful, forgiving, charitable, kind, just and trustworthy nature, salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam.Concluding the reason he, salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam, is indeed the greatest man humanity has known, and the greatest man humanity will ever know.
As the missles continue to glide, mortar shells proceed to errupt, bullets still mist and bombs resume to descend upon Gaza, 531 civilizian deaths have been estimated yesterday, January 5th, and this number of confirmed casualties is of course steadily climbing.
Our beloved Rasul, Muhammad, salallahu 'alayhi wa salaam, has advised us:
"Whoever among you witnesses an evil, let them change it by hand, if they are unable to do so, then by the tongue, and if unable to do so, then with their heart; and that is the weakest of faith." [Sahih Muslim]
So in tradition of the spirit behind every righteous cause, in defiance of overwhelming odds and in stubborn refusal to be stagnated by cynicism, the movement against social injustice and the holocaustal strike in Gaza and abroad fuels and carries on. May our efforts; prayers, fasts, voices and actions all be received by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala that our dear brothers and sisters be granted ease and victory over His enemies and ours. Ya Rabb, Ameen!
One man's view I especially respect in regards to what's dubbed the "Israel-Palestine Conflict" and the Middle East crises (as he's made it his life's mission to specialize) is historian, political scientist, lecturer and author, Norman Finkelstein. A man whose bio, work, interviews and debates (most notably the one with Alan Dershowits on DemocracyNow) one should explore if not already familiar.
Finkelstein is one whose presence is much needed in mainstream Western media when such crises in Gaza take off. However, call me delusioned, but I sense that despiste the extreme media bias that much of the American public perspective is coming to terms with the grim reality corporate media spurns to represent.
Mr. Norman Finkelstein, champion exposer of the Zionist agenda, appeared recently on Press TV in Tehran, Iran to offer his take on the brutal situation in Gaza. He also speaks a little on Bush, some of what we can expect from Obama and his Administration and his thoughts on Hassan Nasrallah that even I had to gasp over. The following contains both appearances and will automatically proceed to the next, in'sha'Allah:
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.
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
