Asslamo Aleykum ....an untitled poem by an Anon ...but its awful
Learn to call on Allah,
In the dark,
While Riding on a bus,
Or sitting in a park
Learn to do it when,
Alone in a room,
Or staying up late,
Staring at the moon
And if someone boasts about,
What he did for Allah,
And asks you to tell him,
What you did for Allah
Just Say, "Why should I tell you"
If I did it for Allah?"
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Main Apnay Saray Gunahoon Peh Yoon Sharmindaa Hooon
Main Apnay Saray Gunahoon Peh Yoon Sharmindaa Hooon
Jou Udd Naan Paaa Aiy Fizaa Main Main Wooh Parindaa Hooon
Ilahi Taqat Day Parwaz Kar Ataa Mujh Koo
Abhii Hayat Hay Baqi Abhi Main Zindaa Hoon
Yeh Manaa Sab Hii Gandoon Main Sab Seh Gandaa Hooon
Magar Yeh Sach Keh Nabo Jehal Saa Darindaa Hoon
Rasool-e-Pak Peh Iman Dil Seh Layaa Hooon
GunahGaar Hooon Laikin Khudaa Kaa Bundaa
Jou Udd Naan Paaa Aiy Fizaa Main Main Wooh Parindaa Hooon
Ilahi Taqat Day Parwaz Kar Ataa Mujh Koo
Abhii Hayat Hay Baqi Abhi Main Zindaa Hoon
Yeh Manaa Sab Hii Gandoon Main Sab Seh Gandaa Hooon
Magar Yeh Sach Keh Nabo Jehal Saa Darindaa Hoon
Rasool-e-Pak Peh Iman Dil Seh Layaa Hooon
GunahGaar Hooon Laikin Khudaa Kaa Bundaa
The Value of Words
a very good article; with so many thanx to Albalagh.
By Khalid Baig
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say something good or keep quiet." [Bukhari]
Famous companion, Sayyidna Muaz ibn Jabal, Radi-Allahu anhu, once asked the Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, "Tell me about an act that will cause me to enter Paradise and be protected from the Fire." "You have indeed asked something profound," responded the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, "But it will be easy on whom Allah makes it easy. Worship Allah and do not associate any partners with Him. Establish regular Salat, pay Zakat, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj." Then he asked "Shall I not tell you about the doors of good: fast is a shield (against sins and against Hell-fire), charity extinguishes sins like water extinguishes fire; and the midnight Salat (the voluntary Tahajjud Salat)." Then he recited this verse: "Their limbs do forsake their beds of sleep, while they call on their Lord, in Fear and Hope: and they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them." [As-Sajda 32:16]
Then he continued: "Shall I tell you about the beginning, the mainstay and the high point of this? The beginning is (acceptance of) Islam; It's mainstay is Salat; it's highest point is Jihad."
Then the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, asked: "Shall I tell you about the thing on which all this depends?" He, then held his tongue and said "Guard this." Sayyidna Muaz ibn Jabal, Radi-Allahu anhu, asked: "Shall we be questioned about our utterances?" On this the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "Most people will be thrown into Hell---face down---because of the transgressions of their tongues."
The ability to speak and express themselves separates human beings from animals. The proper use of this great gift---or its absence---separates the good and successful people from the bad and unsuccessful ones.
Sayyidna Mu'adh's question was about eternal success. In response, the hadith mentions both mandatory and voluntary good deeds that cover a person's entire life. But then we are reminded that the outcome of all these depends upon guarding our tongue. In other words carelessness with the tongue can poke holes in all of our good deeds.
Another hadith highlights the same issue in a different way: "Every morning all the limbs of a person plead with his tongue: 'Fear Allah for our sake, for our fate is tied to yours. If you follow the straight path so shall we. And if you go astray so shall we.'"
Yet another hadith reminds us about the far reaching consequences of the words we utter. "Sometimes a person says something good but he does not realize how far will his words go. Yet it earns him the pleasure of Allah till the day he will meet Him. On the other hand sometimes a person says something bad, although he does not realize how far his words will go. Yet it earns him the wrath of Allah till the day he will meet Him." [Tirmizi, Ibn Maja, Muwwata Imam Malik].
The pre-Islamic Arab society was a very vocal society. While reading and writing were not that common, people did pride themselves in their facility with words---both prose and poetry. A person commanded respect based on his command over words. Using power of words only, they could sink reputations, start wars, and impact life in a similar fashion as modern media has come to demonstrate on a much larger scale. Then, as now, it was raw power like the power of the beasts of the Jungle.
Islam tamed this beast. It reminded us that each and every word we utter is being recorded by the angels and one day we will have to stand accountable for all this record. It reminded that a person's greatness lies not in how powerful he is with words but in how careful is he with them. It reminded that it is better to keep silent than to say something bad. And it is better to say something good than to keep quiet.
The social revolution it engendered was unprecedented. It produced a people who truly understood the value of words and who were as pious with them as they had been powerful. Their silence was the silence of quiet reflection. And they spoke only when they could improve the silence. Is it any wonder that even their extempore statements were pearls of wisdom.
Today, everywhere there are schools that can teach one how to read, write, and speak a language. But their students would never learn how to civilize this raw power; to use it only in promoting truth and spreading virtue; to never use it for promoting falsehood or spreading evil.
There is a lot of unlearning we have to do if we want to get out of this. It is a costly mistake for a believer to think that talk is cheap; that you can say whatever is expedient without any concern for any consequences beyond the immediate ones.
Such attitudes, prevalent today, lead to all kinds of sins: vain pursuits, gossip, dishonesty, insincerity, arrogance, belittling others, backbiting, spreading scandals and corruption, telling lies. Each of these has been clearly defined as a deadly sin by the Qur'an and Hadith. The treatment for each of these sins begins with learning the Islamically responsible use of the tongue. Then there are secondary problems caused in turn by these. In fact most of the problems in the family, in the society, and even between countries are either created or augmented by the irresponsible use of the tongue.
Modern communication technologies have made it possible for messages to be transmitted instantaneously all over the globe. But as the world marvels at these achievements, it continues to confuse the speed of a message with its quality and value. We pride ourselves on the ability to spread trash around the world at the speed of light. Witness the rubbish that continues to dominate the Internet alone. We are amazed by the sophisticated techniques of telling lies in a convincing manner. Witness the modern mainstream media machine and its hold on our thoughts and actions.
The "information age" is begging for the moral guidance of Islam.
By Khalid Baig
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say something good or keep quiet." [Bukhari]
Famous companion, Sayyidna Muaz ibn Jabal, Radi-Allahu anhu, once asked the Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, "Tell me about an act that will cause me to enter Paradise and be protected from the Fire." "You have indeed asked something profound," responded the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, "But it will be easy on whom Allah makes it easy. Worship Allah and do not associate any partners with Him. Establish regular Salat, pay Zakat, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj." Then he asked "Shall I not tell you about the doors of good: fast is a shield (against sins and against Hell-fire), charity extinguishes sins like water extinguishes fire; and the midnight Salat (the voluntary Tahajjud Salat)." Then he recited this verse: "Their limbs do forsake their beds of sleep, while they call on their Lord, in Fear and Hope: and they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them." [As-Sajda 32:16]
Then he continued: "Shall I tell you about the beginning, the mainstay and the high point of this? The beginning is (acceptance of) Islam; It's mainstay is Salat; it's highest point is Jihad."
Then the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, asked: "Shall I tell you about the thing on which all this depends?" He, then held his tongue and said "Guard this." Sayyidna Muaz ibn Jabal, Radi-Allahu anhu, asked: "Shall we be questioned about our utterances?" On this the Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "Most people will be thrown into Hell---face down---because of the transgressions of their tongues."
The ability to speak and express themselves separates human beings from animals. The proper use of this great gift---or its absence---separates the good and successful people from the bad and unsuccessful ones.
Sayyidna Mu'adh's question was about eternal success. In response, the hadith mentions both mandatory and voluntary good deeds that cover a person's entire life. But then we are reminded that the outcome of all these depends upon guarding our tongue. In other words carelessness with the tongue can poke holes in all of our good deeds.
Another hadith highlights the same issue in a different way: "Every morning all the limbs of a person plead with his tongue: 'Fear Allah for our sake, for our fate is tied to yours. If you follow the straight path so shall we. And if you go astray so shall we.'"
Yet another hadith reminds us about the far reaching consequences of the words we utter. "Sometimes a person says something good but he does not realize how far will his words go. Yet it earns him the pleasure of Allah till the day he will meet Him. On the other hand sometimes a person says something bad, although he does not realize how far his words will go. Yet it earns him the wrath of Allah till the day he will meet Him." [Tirmizi, Ibn Maja, Muwwata Imam Malik].
The pre-Islamic Arab society was a very vocal society. While reading and writing were not that common, people did pride themselves in their facility with words---both prose and poetry. A person commanded respect based on his command over words. Using power of words only, they could sink reputations, start wars, and impact life in a similar fashion as modern media has come to demonstrate on a much larger scale. Then, as now, it was raw power like the power of the beasts of the Jungle.
Islam tamed this beast. It reminded us that each and every word we utter is being recorded by the angels and one day we will have to stand accountable for all this record. It reminded that a person's greatness lies not in how powerful he is with words but in how careful is he with them. It reminded that it is better to keep silent than to say something bad. And it is better to say something good than to keep quiet.
The social revolution it engendered was unprecedented. It produced a people who truly understood the value of words and who were as pious with them as they had been powerful. Their silence was the silence of quiet reflection. And they spoke only when they could improve the silence. Is it any wonder that even their extempore statements were pearls of wisdom.
Today, everywhere there are schools that can teach one how to read, write, and speak a language. But their students would never learn how to civilize this raw power; to use it only in promoting truth and spreading virtue; to never use it for promoting falsehood or spreading evil.
There is a lot of unlearning we have to do if we want to get out of this. It is a costly mistake for a believer to think that talk is cheap; that you can say whatever is expedient without any concern for any consequences beyond the immediate ones.
Such attitudes, prevalent today, lead to all kinds of sins: vain pursuits, gossip, dishonesty, insincerity, arrogance, belittling others, backbiting, spreading scandals and corruption, telling lies. Each of these has been clearly defined as a deadly sin by the Qur'an and Hadith. The treatment for each of these sins begins with learning the Islamically responsible use of the tongue. Then there are secondary problems caused in turn by these. In fact most of the problems in the family, in the society, and even between countries are either created or augmented by the irresponsible use of the tongue.
Modern communication technologies have made it possible for messages to be transmitted instantaneously all over the globe. But as the world marvels at these achievements, it continues to confuse the speed of a message with its quality and value. We pride ourselves on the ability to spread trash around the world at the speed of light. Witness the rubbish that continues to dominate the Internet alone. We are amazed by the sophisticated techniques of telling lies in a convincing manner. Witness the modern mainstream media machine and its hold on our thoughts and actions.
The "information age" is begging for the moral guidance of Islam.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Message of Ramadan
Asslamo Aleykum ppl...Aay Dee here...yes in Ramadan its very hard to find time slot for blog...yep, its easy to put some good articles :-)..so here is one good article from Albalagh.
JazakAllah!
By Khalid Baig
We observe Ramadan every year. Do we also listen to it?
Ramadan is the most important month of our calendar. It is a tremendous gift from Allah in so many ways. In our current state of being down and out, it can uplift us, empower us, and turn around our situation individually and collectively. It is the spring season for the garden of Islam when dry grass can come back to life and flowers bloom. But these benefits are not promised for lifeless and thoughtless rituals alone. They will be ours if our actions are informed by the message of Ramadan.
Today the message of Ramadan tends to get drowned out by much louder voices of the pop culture that have an opposite message. We have become so accustomed to them that many of us remain enslaved to them even during Ramadan.
The most important message of Ramadan is that we are not just body. We are body and soul. And that what makes us human beings and that determines our value as human beings is the soul and not the body. During Ramadan we deprive the body to uplift the soul. This is all simple and familiar. But we can understand its significance if we remember that the message of the materialistic hedonistic global pop culture that has engulfed every Muslim land today --- just like the rest of the world--- is exactly the opposite. It says that body is everything. That the materialistic world is all that counts. That the greatest happiness -- if not virtue-- is in filling the appetites of the body. This message produces endless appetites and consequently endless wars to fill those endless appetites through endless exploitation. It produces endless frustrations since the gap between desires and achievements can never be filled. It produces endless chaos and endless oppression. Yet this trash comes in such beautiful and enticing packages that we can hardly resist it. We equate this slavery with freedom. We consider this march to disaster as progress. And with every movement, we get further and deeper into the mire.
The message of the materialistic hedonistic global pop culture that has engulfed every Muslim land today is exactly the opposite of the message of Ramadan.
Ramadan is here to liberate us from all this. Here is a powerful message that it is soul over body. Take a break from the pop culture. Turn off the music and TV. Say goodbye to the endless and futile pursuit of happiness in sensory pleasures. Rediscover your inner self that has been buried deep under it. Reorient yourself. Devote your time to the reading of the Qur'an, to voluntary worship, to prayers and conversations with Allah. Reflect on the direction of your life and your priorities. Reflect on and strengthen your relationship with your Creator.
On the last day of one Sha'ban, Prophet MuhammadSall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, gave a Khutbah about the upcoming month of Ramadan. It is a very important Khutbah that we should carefully read before every Ramadan to prepare ourselves mentally for the sacred month. It begins: "Oh people! A great month is coming to you. A blessed month. A month in which there is one night that is better than a thousand months. A month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer to Allah by performing any of the voluntary good deeds in this month shall receive the same reward as is there for performing an obligatory deed at any other time. And whoever discharges an obligatory deed in this month shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of Sabr (patience), and the reward for sabr is Heaven. It is the month of kindness and charity. It is a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without the latter's reward being diminished at all."
The hadith continues and contains many other very important messages. However let us take the time to highlight two of the statements contained above. First, that Ramadan is the month of sabr. The English translation is patience but that word has a very narrow meaning compared to sabr. Sabr means not only patience and perseverance in the face of difficulties, it also means being steadfast in avoiding sin in the face of temptations and being persistent in performing virtues when that is not easy. Overcoming hunger and thirst during fasting is part of it. But protecting our eyes, ears, minds, tongues, and hands, etc. from all sins is also part of it. So is being persistent in doing good deeds as much as possible despite external or internal obstacles. Ramadan requires sabr in its fullest sense and provides a training ground for that very important quality to be developed and nurtured. Here is a recipe for the complete overhaul of our life, not just a small adjustment in meal times.
The highest point of Ramadan is itikaf, an act of worship in which a person secludes himself in a masjid to devote his time entirely to worshipping and remembering Allah. Some in every Muslim community must take a break and go to the masjid for the entire last ten days of Ramadan. Others should imbibe the spirit and do whatever they can.
But we must differentiate between worldly pleasures and worldly responsibilities. We take a break from the former and not the latter. Syedna Abdullah ibn Abbas, Radi-Allahu unhu, was performing itikaf, when a person came and sat down silently. Sensing his distressed condition Ibn Abbas enquired about his situation, learnt that he needed help, and proceeded to leave the masjid to go out and help him. Now this action does nullify the itikaf, making a makeup obligatory. So the person, though grateful, was curious. Explaining his action, Ibn Abbas related a hadith that when a person makes efforts to help his brother, he earns the reward for performing itikaf for ten years.
This brings us to the second statement to consider: that Ramadan is the month of kindness and charity. With those in distress in the millions in the world today, the need for remembering this message of Ramadan cannot be overstated.
Unfortunately, today another scene seems to be dominant in some parts of the Muslim world. Here Ramadan is the month of celebrations, shopping, fancy iftars at posh restaurants, entertainment and gossip. People stay up at night but not for worship; they while away that time watching TV or wandering in the bazaar. Ramadan here is more a month of feasting than fasting.
No one can take away our Ramadan from us; we just give it away ourselves. And if we realize the utter blunder we have made, we can take it back.
JazakAllah!
By Khalid Baig
We observe Ramadan every year. Do we also listen to it?
Ramadan is the most important month of our calendar. It is a tremendous gift from Allah in so many ways. In our current state of being down and out, it can uplift us, empower us, and turn around our situation individually and collectively. It is the spring season for the garden of Islam when dry grass can come back to life and flowers bloom. But these benefits are not promised for lifeless and thoughtless rituals alone. They will be ours if our actions are informed by the message of Ramadan.
Today the message of Ramadan tends to get drowned out by much louder voices of the pop culture that have an opposite message. We have become so accustomed to them that many of us remain enslaved to them even during Ramadan.
The most important message of Ramadan is that we are not just body. We are body and soul. And that what makes us human beings and that determines our value as human beings is the soul and not the body. During Ramadan we deprive the body to uplift the soul. This is all simple and familiar. But we can understand its significance if we remember that the message of the materialistic hedonistic global pop culture that has engulfed every Muslim land today --- just like the rest of the world--- is exactly the opposite. It says that body is everything. That the materialistic world is all that counts. That the greatest happiness -- if not virtue-- is in filling the appetites of the body. This message produces endless appetites and consequently endless wars to fill those endless appetites through endless exploitation. It produces endless frustrations since the gap between desires and achievements can never be filled. It produces endless chaos and endless oppression. Yet this trash comes in such beautiful and enticing packages that we can hardly resist it. We equate this slavery with freedom. We consider this march to disaster as progress. And with every movement, we get further and deeper into the mire.
The message of the materialistic hedonistic global pop culture that has engulfed every Muslim land today is exactly the opposite of the message of Ramadan.
Ramadan is here to liberate us from all this. Here is a powerful message that it is soul over body. Take a break from the pop culture. Turn off the music and TV. Say goodbye to the endless and futile pursuit of happiness in sensory pleasures. Rediscover your inner self that has been buried deep under it. Reorient yourself. Devote your time to the reading of the Qur'an, to voluntary worship, to prayers and conversations with Allah. Reflect on the direction of your life and your priorities. Reflect on and strengthen your relationship with your Creator.
On the last day of one Sha'ban, Prophet MuhammadSall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, gave a Khutbah about the upcoming month of Ramadan. It is a very important Khutbah that we should carefully read before every Ramadan to prepare ourselves mentally for the sacred month. It begins: "Oh people! A great month is coming to you. A blessed month. A month in which there is one night that is better than a thousand months. A month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer to Allah by performing any of the voluntary good deeds in this month shall receive the same reward as is there for performing an obligatory deed at any other time. And whoever discharges an obligatory deed in this month shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of Sabr (patience), and the reward for sabr is Heaven. It is the month of kindness and charity. It is a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without the latter's reward being diminished at all."
The hadith continues and contains many other very important messages. However let us take the time to highlight two of the statements contained above. First, that Ramadan is the month of sabr. The English translation is patience but that word has a very narrow meaning compared to sabr. Sabr means not only patience and perseverance in the face of difficulties, it also means being steadfast in avoiding sin in the face of temptations and being persistent in performing virtues when that is not easy. Overcoming hunger and thirst during fasting is part of it. But protecting our eyes, ears, minds, tongues, and hands, etc. from all sins is also part of it. So is being persistent in doing good deeds as much as possible despite external or internal obstacles. Ramadan requires sabr in its fullest sense and provides a training ground for that very important quality to be developed and nurtured. Here is a recipe for the complete overhaul of our life, not just a small adjustment in meal times.
The highest point of Ramadan is itikaf, an act of worship in which a person secludes himself in a masjid to devote his time entirely to worshipping and remembering Allah. Some in every Muslim community must take a break and go to the masjid for the entire last ten days of Ramadan. Others should imbibe the spirit and do whatever they can.
But we must differentiate between worldly pleasures and worldly responsibilities. We take a break from the former and not the latter. Syedna Abdullah ibn Abbas, Radi-Allahu unhu, was performing itikaf, when a person came and sat down silently. Sensing his distressed condition Ibn Abbas enquired about his situation, learnt that he needed help, and proceeded to leave the masjid to go out and help him. Now this action does nullify the itikaf, making a makeup obligatory. So the person, though grateful, was curious. Explaining his action, Ibn Abbas related a hadith that when a person makes efforts to help his brother, he earns the reward for performing itikaf for ten years.
This brings us to the second statement to consider: that Ramadan is the month of kindness and charity. With those in distress in the millions in the world today, the need for remembering this message of Ramadan cannot be overstated.
Unfortunately, today another scene seems to be dominant in some parts of the Muslim world. Here Ramadan is the month of celebrations, shopping, fancy iftars at posh restaurants, entertainment and gossip. People stay up at night but not for worship; they while away that time watching TV or wandering in the bazaar. Ramadan here is more a month of feasting than fasting.
No one can take away our Ramadan from us; we just give it away ourselves. And if we realize the utter blunder we have made, we can take it back.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Answer to a recent blog
Answer to a recent blog at
http://www0.bbc.co.uk/urdu/blogs/articles/1097519517.shtml?thanks=1
Assalaam-O-Alaikum,
Janab! You said the word Molvi and mentioned that it means someone who thinks, his lame knowledge is the last word to stand. Well, you used this word as Satan used a drop of honey to start a fight. What I have observed from your blog is that you are one of those who think of your self out of any restrictions. My friend, the way you have used word Molvi, It looked to me that one day you would use some prestigious personality of Islam in twisted brand of statements.Bhai Meray, It is good to tell the truth without any fear i.e. Amar Bil Maroo Wa Nahee Anil Munkar. But would have to take care that we should not blame somebody with what he is not. I have seen people saying to every person having beard, Assalaam-O-Alaikum, Molvi Sahab. Bhai, people now-a-days have become so repetitive in saying things that they don’t even think while they are saying. I agree with Zubair bhai, keh Molvi is the person who is Alim (Scholar). People don’t think what they are supporting and I see Fidaa bhai congratulating for using this word for short sightened people. While I was thinking to defend this thing against you I see Abbas sahib giving one more definition of word molvi. Aray bahi, you can’t tackle each and every person with same attitude only because you guys had some mishaps or didn’t have a good experience.
Religion related stuff is not like keh you say 2+2 = 4. It is much more complex, so, please avoid using such statements which you educated but seemingly illiterate person don’t know what it really means.
http://www0.bbc.co.uk/urdu/blogs/articles/1097519517.shtml?thanks=1
Assalaam-O-Alaikum,
Janab! You said the word Molvi and mentioned that it means someone who thinks, his lame knowledge is the last word to stand. Well, you used this word as Satan used a drop of honey to start a fight. What I have observed from your blog is that you are one of those who think of your self out of any restrictions. My friend, the way you have used word Molvi, It looked to me that one day you would use some prestigious personality of Islam in twisted brand of statements.Bhai Meray, It is good to tell the truth without any fear i.e. Amar Bil Maroo Wa Nahee Anil Munkar. But would have to take care that we should not blame somebody with what he is not. I have seen people saying to every person having beard, Assalaam-O-Alaikum, Molvi Sahab. Bhai, people now-a-days have become so repetitive in saying things that they don’t even think while they are saying. I agree with Zubair bhai, keh Molvi is the person who is Alim (Scholar). People don’t think what they are supporting and I see Fidaa bhai congratulating for using this word for short sightened people. While I was thinking to defend this thing against you I see Abbas sahib giving one more definition of word molvi. Aray bahi, you can’t tackle each and every person with same attitude only because you guys had some mishaps or didn’t have a good experience.
Religion related stuff is not like keh you say 2+2 = 4. It is much more complex, so, please avoid using such statements which you educated but seemingly illiterate person don’t know what it really means.
Saturday, October 16, 2004
The Meaning of Ramadan
By Khalid Baig
Fasting during Ramadan was ordained during the second year of Hijrah. Why not earlier? In Makkah the economic conditions of the Muslims were bad. They were being persecuted. Often days would go by before they had anything to eat. It is easy to skip meals if you don’t have any. Obviously fasting would have been easier under the circumstances. So why not then?
The answer may be that Ramadan is not only about skipping meals. While fasting is an integral and paramount part of it, Ramadan offers a comprehensive program for our spiritual overhaul. The entire program required the peace and security that was offered by Madinah.
Yes, Ramadan is the most important month of the year. It is the month that the believers await with eagerness. At the beginning of Rajab --- two full months before Ramadan --- the Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to supplicate thus: "O Allah! Bless us during Rajab and Sha’ban, and let us reach Ramadan (in good health)."
During Ramadan the believers get busy seeking Allah’s mercy, forgiveness, and protection from Hellfire. This is the month for renewing our commitment and re-establishing our relationship with our Creator. It is the spring season for goodness and virtues when righteousness blossoms throughout the Muslim communities. "If we combine all the blessings of the other eleven months, they would not add up to the blessings of Ramadan," said the great scholar and reformer Shaikh Ahmed Farooqi (Mujaddad Alif Thani). It offers every Muslim an opportunity to strengthen his Iman, purify his heart and soul, and to remove the evil effects of the sins committed by him.
"Anyone who fasts during this month with purity of belief and with expectation of a good reward (from his Creator), will have his previous sins forgiven," said Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. "Anyone who stands in prayers during its nights with purity of belief and expectation of a reward, will have his previous sins forgiven." As other ahadith tell us, the rewards for good deeds are multiplied manifold during Ramadan.
Along with the possibility of a great reward, there is the risk of a terrible loss. If we let any other month pass by carelessly, we just lost a month. If we do the same during Ramadan, we have lost everything. The person who misses just one day’s fast without a legitimate reason, cannot really make up for it even if he were to fast everyday for the rest of his life. And of the three persons that Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam cursed, one is the unfortunate Muslim who finds Ramadan in good health but does not use the opportunity to seek Allah’s mercy.
One who does not fast is obviously in this category, but so also is the person who fasts and prays but makes no effort to stay away from sins or attain purity of the heart through the numerous opportunities offered by Ramadan. The Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, warned us: "There are those who get nothing from their fast but hunger and thirst. There are those who get nothing from their nightly prayers but loss of sleep."
Those who understood this, for them Ramadan was indeed a very special month. In addition to fasting, mandatory Salat, and extra Travih Salat, they spent the whole month in acts of worship like voluntary Salat, Tilawa (recitation of Qur’an), Dhikr etc. After mentioning that this has been the tradition of the pious people of this Ummah throughout the centuries, Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi notes: " I have seen with my own eyes such ulema and mashaikh who used to finish recitation of the entire Qur’an everyday during Ramadan. They spent almost the entire night in prayers. They used to eat so little that one wondered how they could endure all this. These greats valued every moment of Ramadan and would not waste any of it in any other pursuit…Watching them made one believe the astounding stories of Ibada and devotion of our elders recorded by history."
This emphasis on these acts of worship may sound strange --- even misplaced --- to some. It requires some explanation. We know that the term Ibada (worship and obedience) in Islam applies not only to the formal acts of worship and devotion like Salat , Tilawa, and Dhikr, but it also applies to worldly acts when performed in obedience to Shariah and with the intention of pleasing Allah. Thus a believer going to work is performing Ibada when he seeks Halal income to discharge his responsibility as a bread-winner for the family. However a distinction must be made between the two. The first category consists of direct Ibada, acts that are required for their own sake. The second category consists of indirect Ibada --- worldly acts that become Ibada through proper intention and observation of Shariah. While the second category is important for it extends the idea of Ibada to our entire life, there is also a danger because by their very nature these acts can camouflage other motives. (Is my going to work really Ibada or am I actually in the rat race?). Here the direct Ibada comes to the rescue. Through them we can purify our motives, and re-establish our relationship with Allah.
Islam does not approve of monasticism. It does not ask us to permanently isolate ourselves from this world, since our test is in living here according to the Commands of our Creator. But it does ask us to take periodic breaks from it. The mandatory Salat (five daily prayers) is one example. For a few minutes every so many hours throughout the day, we leave the affairs of this world and appear before Allah to remind ourselves that none but He is worthy of worship and of our unfaltering obedience. Ramadan takes this to the next higher plane, providing intense training for a whole month.
This spirit is captured in I’tikaf, a unique Ibada associated with Ramadan, in which a person gives up all his normal activities and enters a mosque for a specific period. There is great merit in it and every Muslim community is encouraged to provide at least one person who will perform I’tikaf for the last ten days of Ramadan. But even those who cannot spare ten days are encouraged to spend as much time in the mosque as possible.
Through direct Ibada we "charge our batteries"; the indirect ones allow us to use the power so accumulated in driving the vehicle of our life. Ramadan is the month for rebuilding our spiritual strength. How much we benefit from it is up to us.
Courtesy:
Fasting during Ramadan was ordained during the second year of Hijrah. Why not earlier? In Makkah the economic conditions of the Muslims were bad. They were being persecuted. Often days would go by before they had anything to eat. It is easy to skip meals if you don’t have any. Obviously fasting would have been easier under the circumstances. So why not then?
The answer may be that Ramadan is not only about skipping meals. While fasting is an integral and paramount part of it, Ramadan offers a comprehensive program for our spiritual overhaul. The entire program required the peace and security that was offered by Madinah.
Yes, Ramadan is the most important month of the year. It is the month that the believers await with eagerness. At the beginning of Rajab --- two full months before Ramadan --- the Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to supplicate thus: "O Allah! Bless us during Rajab and Sha’ban, and let us reach Ramadan (in good health)."
During Ramadan the believers get busy seeking Allah’s mercy, forgiveness, and protection from Hellfire. This is the month for renewing our commitment and re-establishing our relationship with our Creator. It is the spring season for goodness and virtues when righteousness blossoms throughout the Muslim communities. "If we combine all the blessings of the other eleven months, they would not add up to the blessings of Ramadan," said the great scholar and reformer Shaikh Ahmed Farooqi (Mujaddad Alif Thani). It offers every Muslim an opportunity to strengthen his Iman, purify his heart and soul, and to remove the evil effects of the sins committed by him.
"Anyone who fasts during this month with purity of belief and with expectation of a good reward (from his Creator), will have his previous sins forgiven," said Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. "Anyone who stands in prayers during its nights with purity of belief and expectation of a reward, will have his previous sins forgiven." As other ahadith tell us, the rewards for good deeds are multiplied manifold during Ramadan.
Along with the possibility of a great reward, there is the risk of a terrible loss. If we let any other month pass by carelessly, we just lost a month. If we do the same during Ramadan, we have lost everything. The person who misses just one day’s fast without a legitimate reason, cannot really make up for it even if he were to fast everyday for the rest of his life. And of the three persons that Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam cursed, one is the unfortunate Muslim who finds Ramadan in good health but does not use the opportunity to seek Allah’s mercy.
One who does not fast is obviously in this category, but so also is the person who fasts and prays but makes no effort to stay away from sins or attain purity of the heart through the numerous opportunities offered by Ramadan. The Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, warned us: "There are those who get nothing from their fast but hunger and thirst. There are those who get nothing from their nightly prayers but loss of sleep."
Those who understood this, for them Ramadan was indeed a very special month. In addition to fasting, mandatory Salat, and extra Travih Salat, they spent the whole month in acts of worship like voluntary Salat, Tilawa (recitation of Qur’an), Dhikr etc. After mentioning that this has been the tradition of the pious people of this Ummah throughout the centuries, Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi notes: " I have seen with my own eyes such ulema and mashaikh who used to finish recitation of the entire Qur’an everyday during Ramadan. They spent almost the entire night in prayers. They used to eat so little that one wondered how they could endure all this. These greats valued every moment of Ramadan and would not waste any of it in any other pursuit…Watching them made one believe the astounding stories of Ibada and devotion of our elders recorded by history."
This emphasis on these acts of worship may sound strange --- even misplaced --- to some. It requires some explanation. We know that the term Ibada (worship and obedience) in Islam applies not only to the formal acts of worship and devotion like Salat , Tilawa, and Dhikr, but it also applies to worldly acts when performed in obedience to Shariah and with the intention of pleasing Allah. Thus a believer going to work is performing Ibada when he seeks Halal income to discharge his responsibility as a bread-winner for the family. However a distinction must be made between the two. The first category consists of direct Ibada, acts that are required for their own sake. The second category consists of indirect Ibada --- worldly acts that become Ibada through proper intention and observation of Shariah. While the second category is important for it extends the idea of Ibada to our entire life, there is also a danger because by their very nature these acts can camouflage other motives. (Is my going to work really Ibada or am I actually in the rat race?). Here the direct Ibada comes to the rescue. Through them we can purify our motives, and re-establish our relationship with Allah.
Islam does not approve of monasticism. It does not ask us to permanently isolate ourselves from this world, since our test is in living here according to the Commands of our Creator. But it does ask us to take periodic breaks from it. The mandatory Salat (five daily prayers) is one example. For a few minutes every so many hours throughout the day, we leave the affairs of this world and appear before Allah to remind ourselves that none but He is worthy of worship and of our unfaltering obedience. Ramadan takes this to the next higher plane, providing intense training for a whole month.
This spirit is captured in I’tikaf, a unique Ibada associated with Ramadan, in which a person gives up all his normal activities and enters a mosque for a specific period. There is great merit in it and every Muslim community is encouraged to provide at least one person who will perform I’tikaf for the last ten days of Ramadan. But even those who cannot spare ten days are encouraged to spend as much time in the mosque as possible.
Through direct Ibada we "charge our batteries"; the indirect ones allow us to use the power so accumulated in driving the vehicle of our life. Ramadan is the month for rebuilding our spiritual strength. How much we benefit from it is up to us.
Courtesy:
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Incredible Informations..
Assalam-O-Alaikum,
I went to UIT yesterday at 1:08 and went to Chinyoot Mosque but the door was locked. So, I went back to UIT and had to wait till the end of lunch hour to get some document signed.
I decided to go to Canteen to have something to eat. I approached there and ordered a beef burger and pakola. I don't know why, but it seems to me as cows are too much onion and myoneez now-a-days. Cuz, both were in access in the burger. I am sure it’s not the fault of the Canteen men. Anyhow, some students started song:
Choli keh peechay kiyaa hay Cholii keh peechay
Chunrii keh neechay kiyaa hay Chunrii keh neechay
Khair, Then all the other students around him starting clapping. Khair, I just looked at them and remembered my times then thought keh yaaar, Garam khoon hey Garmii nain Taliyaan bajanay per majboor kar diya hay. Abb when I looked on the other side of the wall segregating boys and girls section and you know what got to know a weird knowledge. Aray bhaya, I had heard sometimes back keh, having mustache is becoming a fashion between girls. After sometime from the boys section someone from boys section called the girl I was talking about with a boy like name (I guess it was Waheed, Saleeem, or something) and I got astonished. Not only mustache but also her name is like boys.
Khair, I shooked my head and thrown all that new info in my mind and went to the office from where I had to take some certificates. Khair, Allah Allah kar keh, I got all the work done and went back to my office.
Uff! I am too tired now.
Insha-Allah, I’ll see you guys again.
Allah-Hafiz.
I went to UIT yesterday at 1:08 and went to Chinyoot Mosque but the door was locked. So, I went back to UIT and had to wait till the end of lunch hour to get some document signed.
I decided to go to Canteen to have something to eat. I approached there and ordered a beef burger and pakola. I don't know why, but it seems to me as cows are too much onion and myoneez now-a-days. Cuz, both were in access in the burger. I am sure it’s not the fault of the Canteen men. Anyhow, some students started song:
Choli keh peechay kiyaa hay Cholii keh peechay
Chunrii keh neechay kiyaa hay Chunrii keh neechay
Khair, Then all the other students around him starting clapping. Khair, I just looked at them and remembered my times then thought keh yaaar, Garam khoon hey Garmii nain Taliyaan bajanay per majboor kar diya hay. Abb when I looked on the other side of the wall segregating boys and girls section and you know what got to know a weird knowledge. Aray bhaya, I had heard sometimes back keh, having mustache is becoming a fashion between girls. After sometime from the boys section someone from boys section called the girl I was talking about with a boy like name (I guess it was Waheed, Saleeem, or something) and I got astonished. Not only mustache but also her name is like boys.
Khair, I shooked my head and thrown all that new info in my mind and went to the office from where I had to take some certificates. Khair, Allah Allah kar keh, I got all the work done and went back to my office.
Uff! I am too tired now.
Insha-Allah, I’ll see you guys again.
Allah-Hafiz.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
UIT: I have no feeling for you.
Assalam-O-Alaikum,
Hmmm..., Didn't hear any clapping from you guys while I entered the blog. Khair, I will have to get use to it as I shouldn't be expecting much from some bunch of _________ ( you can fill it as it suits you).
Read Aay Dees blog, and I investigated myself to find out whether I am also in love with UIT as stated by my two dear x-fellows. But guys found a discouraging information for you guys. I have no feelings attatched with UIT. Now, please don't start I don't have time for you people's lame logics, I am better off with my feelings for things that can respond as well. For your information, I do have feelings about my teachers and I do thank them in my heart. But as far as UIT is concerned there is nothing that I feel about it. Can't answer to you people that why the things are so? because I would have to accumulate the reasons for that.
Hmmm..., nothing much is comming in my mind right now, so, I'll take a hike now.
Allah-Hafiz.
Hmmm..., Didn't hear any clapping from you guys while I entered the blog. Khair, I will have to get use to it as I shouldn't be expecting much from some bunch of _________ ( you can fill it as it suits you).
Read Aay Dees blog, and I investigated myself to find out whether I am also in love with UIT as stated by my two dear x-fellows. But guys found a discouraging information for you guys. I have no feelings attatched with UIT. Now, please don't start I don't have time for you people's lame logics, I am better off with my feelings for things that can respond as well. For your information, I do have feelings about my teachers and I do thank them in my heart. But as far as UIT is concerned there is nothing that I feel about it. Can't answer to you people that why the things are so? because I would have to accumulate the reasons for that.
Hmmm..., nothing much is comming in my mind right now, so, I'll take a hike now.
Allah-Hafiz.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
no more UITian
Asslamo Aleykum…its 1130 PM (PST)….n this is Aay Dee reporting from his world! hey there!...
Well, ….o o!
DELLLLLLLLLLLLLL…again my laptop’s keys are not working fine….anywayz…
almost a week back I found Qazi and Ammar having their UIT roll number as a nick on MSN…moreover after few hrs also find Imran joining the two comrades n put same sort of nick as well, yep a roll number…lolz….whatever but this thing (to spell 99A ) seems to me very sexy at that time… Wow….yes, n I mean a big loud WOW….hey boy, i wan my UIT days back….i want Sir Tauseef Rajput to call for attendance ..ah!...how sweet it was to hear 09CS from TR….really missing ….yes yes i want Sir Ather to roar for assignments…n offcourse never forget Haroon comments on it …..ah…nothing I have now…only memories, must to named golden memories, anyways….when all these guys reflecting their roll number as a nick then just to have fun I put my nick ‘no more UITian’….. suddenly one patriotic uitian jump on me and …..see what happen then:
(I m putting the chat as it is)
Baila... says:
assalam o alaikum...
Baila... says:
kyun dear why is it so
no more UITian says:
wslam
no more UITian says:
yes it is
Baila... says:
but y
Baila... says:
kia kia hai becharay uit nay
Baila... says:
aur uit is our pechan u should never forget that
Baila... says:
be a proud uitian
Baila... says:
no more UITian says:
nops....
no more UITian says:
now i totally forget the uit
no more UITian says:
zara bhee yaad nahee ati ab uit
Baila... says:
koi baat nahi
Baila... says:
yaad na ayay beshuk...
Baila... says:
but it can never b out of ur life
Baila... says:
kyun k us ka naam tau jur gaya hai abb aap k sath
no more UITian says:
hahaha....
no more UITian says:
btw i love uit
no more UITian says:
nick does not mean i forget
Baila... says:
hunn yeh hui na baat
no more UITian says:
asee hee tafreeh main rakaha hay nick
Baila... says:
u know i am very much devoted to uit
Baila... says:
aur mujh se bardasht nahi hota k koi uitian
Baila... says:
uit k liay aisa sochay ya uss se lataluq ho
Baila... says:
i think i am extra passionate about uit
no more UITian says:
yes...its better if u put cube with EXTRA
Baila... says:
Baila... says:
waisay bhi mai waha ki future lecturer hun
Baila... says:
i ought to think this way
no more UITian says:
acha?....u willing to see this un painted building more????
Baila... says:
yes... i do... n i do wish to see it being done in front of my eyes
Baila... says:
jub uss ki tameer humaray samnay rukhi gai haitau payay takmil bhi humaray samnay hee kyun na ho
no more UITian says:
then u have to have a big bag of patience with u...coz i guess its still need time to complete
no more UITian says:
no more UITian says:
wasay app ka uit say khloos dekh ker khusi hoi
no more UITian says:
ok jeeee
Baila... says:
no more UITian says:
takecare
no more UITian says:
app abhee topi main hain na?
Baila... says:
ya i am in topi
no more UITian says:
MS kitna baqi hay app ka?
Baila... says:
will end in 2005 may inshallah
Baila... says:
hey one good news.....
no more UITian says:
inshAllah
no more UITian says:
yes
Baila... says:
i got my research accepted internationally
no more UITian says:
Wow...well done dear uitian
no more UITian says:
bravo
no more UITian says:
mashAllah
Baila... says:
thnx
no more UITian says:
thats great
no more UITian says:
ok jee leaving
Baila... says:
oh sure
*********END************
hello….u see how much uitians love uit…:)….also u guys are update to congrats this uitian for doing well …mashAllah….anyways…..i m bit sleepy …c ya ppl later!
Okay gear up guyz.. and tune ur voice in thunder tone..shout "LOVE u UIT!":-)
tata
Well, ….o o!
DELLLLLLLLLLLLLL…again my laptop’s keys are not working fine….anywayz…
almost a week back I found Qazi and Ammar having their UIT roll number as a nick on MSN…moreover after few hrs also find Imran joining the two comrades n put same sort of nick as well, yep a roll number…lolz….whatever but this thing (to spell 99A ) seems to me very sexy at that time… Wow….yes, n I mean a big loud WOW….hey boy, i wan my UIT days back….i want Sir Tauseef Rajput to call for attendance ..ah!...how sweet it was to hear 09CS from TR….really missing ….yes yes i want Sir Ather to roar for assignments…n offcourse never forget Haroon comments on it …..ah…nothing I have now…only memories, must to named golden memories, anyways….when all these guys reflecting their roll number as a nick then just to have fun I put my nick ‘no more UITian’….. suddenly one patriotic uitian jump on me and …..see what happen then:
(I m putting the chat as it is)
Baila... says:
assalam o alaikum...
Baila... says:
kyun dear why is it so
no more UITian says:
wslam
no more UITian says:
yes it is
Baila... says:
but y
Baila... says:
kia kia hai becharay uit nay
Baila... says:
aur uit is our pechan u should never forget that
Baila... says:
be a proud uitian
Baila... says:
no more UITian says:
nops....
no more UITian says:
now i totally forget the uit
no more UITian says:
zara bhee yaad nahee ati ab uit
Baila... says:
koi baat nahi
Baila... says:
yaad na ayay beshuk...
Baila... says:
but it can never b out of ur life
Baila... says:
kyun k us ka naam tau jur gaya hai abb aap k sath
no more UITian says:
hahaha....
no more UITian says:
btw i love uit
no more UITian says:
nick does not mean i forget
Baila... says:
hunn yeh hui na baat
no more UITian says:
asee hee tafreeh main rakaha hay nick
Baila... says:
u know i am very much devoted to uit
Baila... says:
aur mujh se bardasht nahi hota k koi uitian
Baila... says:
uit k liay aisa sochay ya uss se lataluq ho
Baila... says:
i think i am extra passionate about uit
no more UITian says:
yes...its better if u put cube with EXTRA
Baila... says:
Baila... says:
waisay bhi mai waha ki future lecturer hun
Baila... says:
i ought to think this way
no more UITian says:
acha?....u willing to see this un painted building more????
Baila... says:
yes... i do... n i do wish to see it being done in front of my eyes
Baila... says:
jub uss ki tameer humaray samnay rukhi gai haitau payay takmil bhi humaray samnay hee kyun na ho
no more UITian says:
then u have to have a big bag of patience with u...coz i guess its still need time to complete
no more UITian says:
no more UITian says:
wasay app ka uit say khloos dekh ker khusi hoi
no more UITian says:
ok jeeee
Baila... says:
no more UITian says:
takecare
no more UITian says:
app abhee topi main hain na?
Baila... says:
ya i am in topi
no more UITian says:
MS kitna baqi hay app ka?
Baila... says:
will end in 2005 may inshallah
Baila... says:
hey one good news.....
no more UITian says:
inshAllah
no more UITian says:
yes
Baila... says:
i got my research accepted internationally
no more UITian says:
Wow...well done dear uitian
no more UITian says:
bravo
no more UITian says:
mashAllah
Baila... says:
thnx
no more UITian says:
thats great
no more UITian says:
ok jee leaving
Baila... says:
oh sure
*********END************
hello….u see how much uitians love uit…:)….also u guys are update to congrats this uitian for doing well …mashAllah….anyways…..i m bit sleepy …c ya ppl later!
Okay gear up guyz.. and tune ur voice in thunder tone..shout "LOVE u UIT!":-)
tata
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