Archive for August, 2006
08.09.06
Posted in Personal at 12:50 pm by Abbas
Most of us love to make assumptions about matters and affairs of others and issues. We tend to make assumptions, so we may justify a particular idea, though it may be wrong, in our heads and spread that idea to whom we are close with. A great majority of us fall victim either intentionally or unintentionally.
Making assumptions is not only wrong, but it is forbidden according to the principles set forth by the religion of Islam. In regards to suspicion (not assumptions), the Quran (49:12) says,
“O you who believe, you shall avoid any suspicion, for even a little bit of suspicion is sinful. You shall not spy on one another, nor shall you backbite one another; this is as abominable as eating the flesh of your dead brother. You certainly abhor this. You shall observe God. God is Redeemer, Most Merciful.”
Suspicion leads to assumptions and assumptions lead to gossip and backbiting. No one wants to eat the flesh of their dead brother! Here are two important sayings that relate to us the danger of backbiting.
Imam Ali [a] said: “The most vicious person is he who looks for other people’s defects while he overlooks his own faults.” (Tara’if-ul-Hikam).
The Holy Prophet [s] said: “The abandoning of backbiting is more valuable to Allah, Almighty and Glorious, than the performance of ten thousand rak’at of recommended prayers.” (Bihar ul-Anwar).
Most of our problems we have in our societies, and the greater Ummah stem from the simple fact that we backbite and gossip in order to further our means. We make wild assumptions, so whatever we think is justified. But the reality of the matter is much different. Based on the assumptions or suspicions we have, individuals start backbite, badmouth, gossip and slander.
Our happiness is everyone’s happiness, and our efforts is everyone’s efforts. We are always right and everyone else is wrong. Our way is the only way.
Even if the assumptions made are correct there are proper ways to “forbidding evil.” And gossiping is certainly not one of the proper ways laid down to us by the Prophet (saw) and the holy Ahlul Bayt (as). If positive results do not come about when “forbidding evil” then we are commanded to find an alternative (see: http://thenlightenment.whatheblog.com/?p=55#comment-387).
I pray to Allah (swt) that we all stop backbiting, bashing, insulting, slandering, and gossiping, so our societies and communities became stable and strong. We need to prepare for the return of Imam al-Hujjah (a), the last of our Imams (a), and one practical way to do that is to control our tongues.
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08.07.06
Posted in Personal, Current Events at 10:43 pm by Abbas
Today is the birthday (13th Rajab) of the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet (saw). The first male to accept Islam after the Prophet (saw). I went to the masjid and heard some nice poetry about his virtues and character. Imam Ali (a), the spiritual master of the Ummah has numerous merits. He is known as the Gate to knowledge. The Prophet (saw) has said,
“Whoever I am the master of, Ali is also the master of.”
And he also has stated,
“Ali is onto me as Aaron was onto Moses, except there is no Prophet after me.”
May Allah grant us the Imam’s intercession on the Day of Resurrection, so He may forgive our sins. May Allah bless the righteous and curse the oppressors. In one of his sermons contained in Nahjul Balagha Imam Ali (a) describes Allah.
Read the rest of this entry »
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08.05.06
Posted in Current Events at 1:47 am by Abbas
I urge everyone to try to come. It is really important, not only because of whats happening in Lebanon but this will be decisive event for the Anti War Movement. The anti war movement is heading towards a pro-Israeli position (they are set for elections soon, and a lot of them are considering to lean towards pro-israeli candidates) in order to get more democratics involved. Those who are opposed to this are really hoping for a huge Muslim, pro-Palestinian crowd, so the movement is steered towards the right direction. So, please try to make an extra effort to come if you can.
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http://answer.pephost.org/site/News2?abbr=ANS_&page=NewsArticle&id=7875&news_iv_ctrl=2981
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08.04.06
Posted in Personal, Current Events at 2:12 pm by Abbas
Someone left a comment on a friends blog supporting the Zionist State and we “debated” back and forth, but instead of hijacking my friends blog, I thought it would be better to post it on mine. This person, I will exclude the name, said -
I don’t want to pick a fight, so don’t take this the wrong way. Can I just point out that lots of Muslims live in Israel, as well as Christians and Jews, and that the reason they’re fighting is because the Arabs (not to generalize here) want to take Israel away from these people and make it an “all Arab” country? They have their own countries…if they can share Israel with the rest of them they wouldn’t need to fight. This seems to be the basics of what it’s all about. Just a thought….
This person makes a very dangerous assumption, probably unintentionally. They imply that “Israel” is not at an Arab country. Then what is it? Even going back to old scripture, the Bani Israel or the tribe of Israel was Arab (or semites), whether we like it or not. This person stated, “They have their own countries…if they can share Israel with the rest of them they wouldn’t need to fight.” Umm… there are over a million Palestinians, whom still have deeds to their homes, whom have been displaced due to the creation of the Zionist state. They are currently refugees. They have no home-land to go to. Their home-land is what is being occupied! So what should they share? Please tell me. This person continues on saying,
…But looking at the big picture, and looking at history, especially between Jews and Arabs, this seems to be a pretty simple war that’s been going on for a VERY long time. The little children are fighting over the toy…cut it out. And everyone else should know better than to “take sides” and “point fingers”, because that’s NOT going to bring peace to anyone.
What does he or she me by “Jews and Arabs?” There are many Jewish Arabs. Judaism is a religion and Arab is a race. How does one make the comparison? Yes, it has been a long time starting since the creation of the Zionist state and the displacement and slaughtering of an indigenous people. In order to bring peace to the region, we must first identify the obstacles to peace. Once that has been defined, we can move forward, inshaAllah.
This is a prime example of someone who has been brainwashed by the mainstream media. May God protect us from danger and ignorance. May God help us all and bring peace to all of humanity. Ameen.
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Posted in Personal at 12:45 am by Abbas
Imam Sadiq [a] said:
“If there be a stream at the house of one of you in which the one washes himself five times a day, will there remain anything from the dirt over his body? Verily, the likeness of prayers is the same as the stream. The person who establishes ritual prayers clears out his sins thereby, except for the sin that takes him out from Faith he believes in.” (Bihar ul-Anwar)
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08.03.06
Posted in Personal at 2:01 am by Abbas
Many of us try to strive to please Him and many of us unfortunately fail. But we need to get back up and try again. True success is actually a measurement of how many times we get back up after we fall down. We may want to regress to our old ways and become impatient during our struggles and tribulations, but just the simple fact of wanting to revert back is the initial sign of success.
We need to continue and be persistance. We will feel the urge to go back to our old ways because the Devil is trying to lure us in to his dominion. We must liberate our souls from this type of hideousness. At times it will be very challenging and difficult, but we must fight. We need to cleanse and feed our souls, like we feed and cleanse our bodies. Satan will tempt us with his bait, and we would want to go for it, but we must find the faith and courage to resist. We exist in order to resist.
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08.02.06
Posted in Personal, Current Events at 10:36 pm by Abbas
I am pasting to you what Lady Zaynab (a), daughter of Lady Fatimah (a) and Imam Ali (a) told those that committed the heinous crime against the noble Ahlul Bayt at Kerbala.
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“O Yazid! Do you think that we have become humble and despicable owing to the martyrdom of our people and our own captivity?
As you have blocked all the paths for us, and we have been made captives and are being taken from one place to another, do you think that Allah has taken away his blessings from us?
Do you think that by killing the godly persons you have become great and respectable and the Almighty looks at you with special grace and kindness?
For this reason and on account of this wrong thinking you have become elated and arrogant.
You have become boastful because you have seen that the matters have taken a turn in your favour. You have, however, forgotten what Allah says,
“The disbelievers must not think that Our respite is for their good We only give them time to let them increase their sins. For them there will be a humiliating torment.” (Quran - 3: 178)”
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08.01.06
Posted in Personal at 10:21 am by Abbas
My younger brother will have his nikkah recited this weekend! I am so very happy for him and I wish him and his wife a blessed life together. Ameen.
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Posted in Personal, Essay at 1:30 am by Abbas
Due to popular demand I am pasting the link to an entry I wrote concerning respect and compassion while defending the Sufi master of the Naqshibani Order, Shaykh Nazim Haqqani. If one has comments please comment on this entry and not the old one.
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http://thenlightenment.whatheblog.com/?p=16
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