A Muslim Viewpoint on Why Juan Williams Should Have Been Fired

Juan Williams, a long time NPR and Fox contributor was recently fired by NPR because of a comment he made on the O'Reilly Factor.

He told O'Reilly, "When I get on a plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they're identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

The whole ignoramus establishment of pseudo-conservative opportunistic washed out Republican imitation-tea-product Fox-people has started to wail and scream so much that the US media sounds like a room full of 8 year old children whose puppy got ran over by a car.

Firstly, this is not a free speech issue. The man basically got fired for going on record for being a bigot. No one arrested him, fined him, or took any legal action against him; in fact, it was he who broke the rules of his contract with NPR through these comments as well as other offensive and bigoted comments which he made in the past in which he said that the first lady was like "Stokely Carmichael-in-a-designer-dress," as well as a long history of being smugly anti-Muslim.

Why was his comment bigoted? Why do I call him a bigot?

His comment was bigoted because it demonstrated that he was prepared to judge individuals from a very non-homogeneous group based on the actions of an overwhelming fringe minority. This is something that any ten-year old child can tell you is wrong.

To then smart off and act like its okay because he somehow believes that the "world" is at war with Islam and that is a "fact," is like me saying that:

Black people make me uncomfortable as they are mostly criminals. Black people make up a disproportionate amount of the prison population, and that is a "fact."

White people make me uncomfortable as they are probably meth addicts. White people make up a disproportionately high percentage of crystal met addicts, and that is a "fact."

Jews make me angry as they manipulate the economy to make money at the expense of regular Americans. Jews make up a disproportionately high percentage of Wall Street executives and are disproportionately richer than normal Americans, and that is a "fact."

Asian drivers make me nervous on the road because they don't know how to drive. The average Asian man will get into more accidents than the average American driver, and that is a "fact."

OBVIOUSLY THIS IS ALL NONSENSE AND ANYONE PREPARED TO BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF REASONING IS NOT BIGOTED IS A TOTAL MORON.

I WOULD NEVER IN A THOUSAND YEARS SAY ANY OF THESE HORRIBLE THINGS.

So fine, Juan Williams said something bigoted. Why do I believe that he is a bigot as a person? I believe he is, because these are exactly the kinds of things that people have been saying about black people, Jews, etc., for decades, and we as a nation have grown to recognize that it is wrong; however, Mr. Williams, despite knowing all of this, has not come clean and apologized for comments that were just plain mean. Note, he has made the defense of claiming that he was only expressing what he honestly felt. I say that not every feeling in your heart is something that you should be socially forgiven for expressing; knowing which feelings to suppress is a skill most people learn when they are children. This skill saves a person from many racist, bigoted, sexually inappropriate, and just plain stupid comments.

Note that most racists nowadays, before they make racist comments will say something like: "I have no problem with Black people. I'm not racist. Its not my fault that they are all drug dealers."

Had the man just apologized, I would have not been so annoyed. But no, he is riding the wave, he signed a two million dollar a year contract with FOX, and what is more, people like Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, and Newt Gingrich are now trying to claim that this is somehow a free speech issue. If it were really a free speech issue, where were these big defenders of free speech when Rick Sanchez, Octavia Nasr, and Helen Thomas were fired for expressing their views? Note, I am not claiming to agree with any or all of the aforementioned people and their different views on different issues, but I will say that their gaffes, in my book, were at about the same level as Mr. Williams. The only difference between them is that they offended a politically more enfranchised, powerful, well-financed and established group, and Mr. Williams took a cheap shot at a demographic which is already down for the kicking.

The most depressing and frustrating part of the "far-right" anti-Islam frenzy is that practicing Muslims are the most socially conservative, staunchly God-believing, natural set of allies that the Republican party could have. If this was really about ideas, values, beliefs and morals, then Republicans would try to forge alliances with Muslims, the demographic, which before 9/11 was the most consistently republican voting bloc in the USA after white males, rather than try to gain cheap mob-frenzy points by exploiting the uneducated working class's lack of information about Islam, fear of terrorism, and the human tendency to act tribalistic when faced with fear.

Days of Veneration and Sacrifice: Thawr Institute's Comprehensive Guide to Dhul Hijjah

Ramadan of the Saintly Elders

For those of us who have never had the rare opportunity to spend Ramadan in the company of the people of Allah, this article is a glimpse into a world that is different than ours...

Such people as are described in the below article are real. Their students, students' students, and students' students' students are alive and carrying on the practices, exercises, mujahadat, and traditions of the mashayikh to this very day. I have met many of them. Not only that, but Allah has made, in this ummah His awliya' who stand guard at every out post of the dar al-Islam so that such people are spread throughout the earth.

Anyone who doubts that such people exists, needs to step out of the office and see the world, for I testify, that Allah has made many wonders greater, more elegant, graceful, and powerful than Microsoft, Boeing, and Wal-Mart. However, be cautioned that in order to find them you may have to search some hard-to-reach places. You might not find them at the mall, and they might not have enough money to buy a ticket to go to a big "Islamic" convention in Chicago, DC, Toronto, or LA.

Such people eo exist. To carry their shoes is sainthood. To meet them is to be of the elect. To keep relations with them is to make tawbah to Allah. To see them is to be a muslim.

By Allah, the treasures of this ummah are not in its museums, bank vaults, building, arts, sciences, institutions, armies, weapons, music, paintings, or literature. The treasures of this ummah are the hearts of the awliya', and the radiant eyes which act as their windows, may Allah let their lights shine on us, even though we don't deserve it.

The Ramadan of Imam Rashid Ahmad Gangohi

By Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya al-Kandhalawi

I have written in Aap Beeti Vol. 6 under the heading of spiritual exertion that while dictating the practices of Hadrat Rashid Ahmad Gangohi in Ramadan, I wanted to note it down because of its relevance to the subject. There I wrote:

“His extreme exertion in spiritual exercises was such that onlookers felt pity for him. Such was he that in Ramadan, even when his age had advanced beyond seventy, he fasted the whole day. Then in awwabin, instead of six rakats he used to perform twenty rakats during which he never recited less than approximately two juz. So long did he stay in ruku’ and sujud that onlookers thought that he had forgotten himself. Upon finishing this salat, he proceeded homeward to partake of the evening meal. Even during this time he would not remain idle, but en route and waiting for the food etc…, he also finished reciting several juz.

Soon he would commence ‘isha salat and tarawih, which did not take less than an hour or an hour and a quarter at least. Thereafter he would lie down at about half past ten only to rise again at about two o’clock or half past two for tahajjud. At times his attendants and assistants found him performing wudu’ at one o’clock. At this time of the night he used to spend 2 ½ hours to three hours in tahajjud. Sometimes it happened that an attendant would go to him at five o’clock to join him for suhur and would find him in prayer.

After fajr he remained busy reciting wazifas, wirds and engrossed in meditation until eight o’clock or half past eight. Then it was time for the ishraq prayer. Thereafter, for a few hours he would rest.

During this time the mail would arrive and he would begin answering letters and writing fatwas or dictating them. Thereafter it was time for rashid al-duha (chasht), and on performing this salat, he would have his daytime siesta.

After zuhr salat he usually closed the door of his private room and busied himself with the recitation of the Quran until ‘asr. Note that in the year for which this was his practices, he was suffering from extreme old age and various other sicknesses to such an extent that to walk from the toilet to his room – a mere fifteen paces – he became so tired that he had to sit down somewhere along the way to rest. In spite of this condition he never performed fard nor nafl salats sitting down, but remained standing for hours. On several occasions attendants implored him: “Hadrat, today you should perform tarawih while sitting. It seems appropriate.”

He always replied: “No! It is a sign of a lack of courage and perseverance.”

All I can say is this that it is no easy task to be a true follower of him who is reported to have answered:

“Shall I then not be a grateful slave?”

During Ramadan there was a marked increase in his ‘ibadah and exertion especially as far as his recitation of the Quran was concerned. Even when going to and from his house he never spoke. If an estimate of the total amount of his daily recitations in and out of salat is made, it comes to about half a complete recitation of the Quran daily. On the morning of the first day of fasting he used to say:

“From today all noises of conversation shall cease. If any man allows Ramadan to be wasted, it is a great sorrow indeed.”

Now, what was his diet for such severe efforts? So little did he eat for the whole of Ramadan that the total of it all amounted to less than five kilograms of grain. In his biography, Tazkirat Rashid written by his successor (khalifah), Hakim Ishaq, his Ramadan habits are discussed:

“During Ramadan he used to emerge from his private resting place late in the morning. In summer he generally came out about ten o’clock because he used to greatly increase his nafl salat, tilawah of the Quran, and his moments of silence and meditation as compared to other months. In this time he slept very little, spoke very little, only retiring after maghrib for a while to eat something. Initially he himself used to lead all twenty raka‘ahs of tarawih salat and later performed it behind his son, Hafiz Hakim Muhammad Mas‘ud Saheb. After that he performed two long raka‘ahs of nafl salat, sometimes standing up and sometimes sitting down, thereafter remaining seated for a long time facing the qiblah and reciting. Thereafter he performed one sajdat al-tilawah and stood up. From hearing some of the words that he recited softly, I deduced that he would recite Surat al-Mulk, Surat al-Sajdah and Surat al-Dukhan. He usually fasted the ten days of Dhu ‘l-Hijjah, the days of ‘ashurah, and the middle of Sha‘ban.” [Tadhkirat Rashid]

My late father (Mawlana Muhammad Yahya al-Kandhalawi) on many occasions told the following story:

“During Hadrat’s last Ramadan I led the tarawih prayers (for him and his attendants). It so happened that because of some reason or the other, Hadrat’s son, Hakim Muhammad Mas‘ud was unable to perform it.”

For quite some days before the commencement of Ramadan Hadrat told us:

‘Mas‘ud Ahmad Sahib is indisposed and not available to lead the tarawih prayers. Who then is going to recite the Quran for us in tarawih?’

On every occasion I wanted to offer my services and declare my readiness, but out of respect I refrained from doing so. Two days before Ramadan, Hadrat said:

‘Maulwi Yahya Sahib, are you not also a hafiz of the Quran?’

I replied: ‘Yes Hadrat, I am. But I recite the Quran in a Persian tone. You are used to hearing the recitation of Hakim Mas‘ud Ahmad Sahib, who is indeed a fine Qari.’

Hadrat replied: ‘No, I have already heard your recitation. You shall lead in tarawih.’

My father says: “On the first day it was a great burden for me. By way of preparation, I had to recite one and a quarter juz by looking into the Quran. I had memorized the Quran at the age of seven. Thereafter for six months I had to look into the Quran and daily recite one full khatam. And since then I had never looked into the Quran to recite it. The first day, in order to prepare myself properly, I recited 1 ¼ juz from the Quran, but from the second day onwards the fear, nervousness and anxiety disappeared. Thereafter there was no further need to look into the Quran.”

My late father (may Allah fill his resting place with light) was indeed a very good hafiz with tremendous energy to recite the Quran by heart. He had a bookshop where he himself made up the parcels to be posted and wrote the addresses himself. While doing that he was all the time reciting the Quran in audible fashion without ever becoming confused or struggling over the mutashabihat.

Mawlana ‘Ashiq Ilahi writes about him in Tadhkirat Khalil:

“Once upon my request he was invited to Meerut to lead tarawih prayers and recite the Quran in Ramadan. I saw that wherever he went, he was always busy reciting by himself so that he finished a whole khatam daily. When it was time for iftar, he would be reading: qul a‘uthu bi rabbi al-nas…”

When he arrived by rail at Meerut it was ‘isha time. Being one continuously in a state of wudu’, he entered the masjid and immediately proceeded to the prayer area to lead the prayers and in three hours recited ten juz so clearly and without any struggle over difficult patches that it was as if the Quran was an open book in front of him. So comfortable was his pace of recitation that he completed a full khatam of the Quran in three nights and departed. So good a hafiz was he that there was no need to revise his reading beforehand; neither was there any need for someone to stand behind him and listen with a view to correct if needed.”

My father also used to say about this visit to Meerut: “When the word got around in Meerut that a certain man was coming to complete a full khatam of the Quran in salat within three days, thirty or forty huffaz arrived from far and wide to stand behind him and test him.”

My late father never had trouble with fever in Ramadan like myself. On the invitations and insistence of friends, he often went to their places to finish a khatam in two or at the most three nights before returning home. In masjids he generally did it in three nights and in other places of worship he generally did so in two or even in one night. Once on the invitation of the late Shah Zahid Husayn he completed a khatam at Shah Sahib’s house in two nights.

I can still remember his recitation in the Nawab Wali Masjid in Qasabpura, Delhi. A certain Maulwi Nasir al-Din was busy performing tarawih in the Hakim Ishaq Masjid. At that time my father arrived in Delhi from somewhere. He went to rest a little at the resting place of Hakim Ishaq attached to the masjid. It so happened that Mawlvi Nasir al-Din was reciting the 14^th juz and making heavy weather, so that he had to be corrected time and again. My father went into the masjid and as soon as Maulwi Nasir al-Din performed the next salam, he asked him to vacate the spot, and he himself took over. In the next sixteen raka’ahs he recited sixteen juz. No doubt, the musallis must have found the going tiring and exhausting. But it is a fact that people are more pleased with finishing the Quran quickly than they are worried about a bit of hardship. To have been able to finish the Quran on the 12^th night made them forget their exhaustion.

I can also remember his recitation of the Quran in the house of Ammi Bi in Kandhla. She is Amat al-Rahman, the daughter of Mawlana Muzaffar Husayn, my father’s maternal grandmother who became known as Ammi Bi. In answer to a special request he remained reciting the Quran throughout the night in nafl prayers. Because of the fact that according to us (Hanafis) it is not permissible to have more than four muqtadis in nafl prayers, the ladies behind him had to be changed continuously, while my father continued reciting.

My late uncle (Mawlana Ilyaas) also used to visit Kandhla in Ramadan because of the presence there of Ammi Bi. At such times the Quran khatam used to be completed in a single night. At such times he performed ‘isha salat in the masjid and thereafter go to the house of Ammi Bi to perform tarawih there from after ‘isha until suhur time, thereby completing fourteen or fifteen juz. Mawlana Ra’uf al-Hasan Sahib is the uncle of my late father and the father of my late wife. His story has already been mentioned in Aap Beeti under the heading “Taqwa”. On the 30^th of Ramadan he recited from alif lam mim until qul a‘udhu bi rabb al-falaq in one single raka’ah and in the second raka’ah he recited only Surat al-Nas! Then at suhur time he told his mother Ammi bi:

“I have now performed two raka’ah. Will you now perform the other eighteen?”

During all that time his mother listened to the Quran while standing behind him in the salat!

Thawr Institute's Comprehensive Guide to Ramadan

Thawr Institute Presents

Thawr Institute’s Comprehensive Guide to Ramadan

Saturday, July 31^st Dhuhr - `Isha’

At Thawr’s New Full-Time Location:

4033 Aurora Ave, Seattle, WA 98103

A Day-Long Session Covering the Legal and Spiritual Traditions of the Month of the Qur’an

Guest Speakers Include:

‘Alim, Hafidh, and Master of the Ten Cannonical Recitations of the Qur’an

Qari Suhayl bin Yusuf Mangera:Detroit, MI

The Walking Madrasah

Shaykh Junayd Kharsani Los Angeles, CA

Local Speakers Include: Shaykhs Fadhl Hasan & Hamzah Maqbul

Sisters are Welcome * Admission is Free * Registration is Required

Register at thawr.org

Speaker Bios:

Qari Suhayl bin Yusuf Mangera

Qari Suhayl Mangera grew up in the United Kingdom. He completed the memorization of the entire Qur’an at Darul-Uloom al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Bury, England. After completing his secondary education, he then travelled to Gujrat, India where he enrolled at the famed Islamic learning institute, Darul Uloom Falah al-Darayn. There, he completed a six-year course in advanced Islamic Studies, culminating in a study of the Sihah Sittah in Hadith.Qari Suhayl graduated in 2005. He was also granted Ijazah in the Qira’at Sab’ah (Seven Recitations) by the world renowned Qari Siddiq (may Allah preserve him).He currently resides in Farmington Hills, MI with his family and three children where he serves as the head Imam and Director of Islamic Studies at the Tawheed Center of Farmington Hills. Shaykh Sohel is also an active member of the UCD (Ulama Council of Detroit).

Shaykh Junayd Kharsani

Shaykh Junaid was born in South Africa in 1975. He memorized the Holy Qur’an at age of 15. His higher studies began at the Madrasah ‘Arabiyyah Islamiyyah in Azaadville, South Africa where he immersed himself in the study of Arabic, fiqh, hadith, the Qur’an, and related sciences. Soon after graduating in 1996, he began teaching hadith and tafsir at Islahul Muslimeen a seminary in Durban. Shaykh Junaid has long been involved in the work of da’wah and has served as a social worker and leader for a number of communities. He is currently Imam at Masjid Jamat Islam in Inglewood, California. He is also the founder of the Riyadhul Uloom Institute in Torrance, CA.

Shaykh Fadhl Hasan

Shaykh Fadhl studied at the Madrasah Arabiyyah Ash-Shafiyah in Gujrat, India for 7 years. He also completed his Hifdh in South Africa. Shaykh Fadhl is distinguished by having met some of the shining luminaries of Islamic knowledge and learning of the past century, including Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Zakariyya Kandhelwi and Shaykh Masihullah Khan of Jalalabad. Being Imam in Bellevue for the better part of a decade, Shaykh Fadhl is one of the senior `Ulama’ in Washington State. As the Imam of the Bellevue Masjid, he teaches Qur’an and tajweed classes in addition to teaching at the Medina Academy. He has worked closely with MSA’s and the community at large. In addition he has been the forefront in leading the Seattle community towards a better understanding of Islam by conducting workshops, lectures, and courses of `ilm.

Shaykh Hamzah Maqbul

Shaykh Hamzah was born in Whittier, CA. He graduated from the University of Washington with a BS in Biochemistry and a BA in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. After graduation, Shaykh Hamzah went on to pursue traditional Islamic studies, which took him to Syria and Egypt where he studied the Arabic language; Morocco, Mauritania, and the UAE, where he studied the madhab of Imam Malik, grammar, usul al-hadith , and the two renditions of the qira’ah of Imam Nafi ‘, Warsh and Qalun; and Pakistan where he had the opportunity to study tafsir, usul al-hadith, hadith, ‘ilm al-rijal and Hanafi fiqh. All of these studies culminated in him receiving an ijazat al-tadris, literally meaning “a license to teach” the classical texts such as the hadith of such books as the Muwatta’ of Imam Malik, the Sihah al-Sittah (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah), and the Sharh Ma’ani al-Athar of Imam al-Tahawi. After his return Shaykh Hamzah has served as an Imam in various localities in the Washington and California areas. These endeavors have lead him to the realization of dispersing Islamic Traditions which have resulted in the establishment of Thawr Institute.

The Companions of the Messenger of Allah

There are those whose sole purpose in their claims is to introduce doubt in the beliefs of the Muslims in order to draw them away from their iman toward a twisted heart and twisted mind, full of doubts, suspicions, and negative feelings. It is a quality of the Haqq that it has no likeness and is established on its own qualities and its own consistency. After much study and exposure to different people, I have come to the conclusion that the attack-point of choice for misguiding people, in order to separate them from the din, is the sahabah.

Why the sahabah, may Allah be pleased with them? Because to attack the worship of One Allah is something that will never be successful, neither in the hearts of Muslims or many non-Muslims. To attack the messenger of Allah, sallallahu'alayhi wa sallam, is pointless also, as his love is connected to the love of Allah, in as much as if one were to not love him, he wouldn't be amongst the ranks of the Muslims in the first place; furthermore, if any Muslim were to know of his mubarak sirah they would only increase in their love, until he became more dear to them than life itself.

In fact, to directly attack either of the two would be to inflame the ghayrah of a Muslim. An attack upon either would suddenly and clearly flag one as being a person of misguidance in the eyes of Muslims. It used to be that attacking the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, would be much of the same. However, a combination of a lack of knowledge as well as a lack of the companionship of the people of knowledge, coupled with an age in which anyone who considers anything as sacred is considered 'backwards' have all joined together to allow the poor and unsuspecting and unlearned lay-Muslim to let down his guard when an attack on the sahabah is near.

Once one allows poison to enter his or her heart about the companions of the messenger of Allah, sallallahu'alayhi wa sallam, know that to indict them is to cast a charge against the prophet, that his friends, followers, disciples, wives, children and family. It is really a charge against the prophet himself, may Allah save us from such a blasphemy and misguidance, because you can most surely know someone by knowing who they keep as company. This a stepping stone to the atheism that will surely follow, as one who doesn't believe in Muhammadun Rasulullah, cannot believe in La ilaha ill-Allah.

I know it may sound like a trite and bland topic, but had I not seen and heard of people losing their iman on the road of disrespecting the sahabah I would not make a point of writing this. The article below is a wonderful short essay written by Shaykh Taha Karan in Cape Town. Shaykh Taha graduated at the top of his class in Dar al-Ulum Deoband in India. He also spent time studying afterward in Egypt, and he runs one of the most intellectually active seminaries in South Africa, possibly the world. He shows by it, how, using a little bit of common sense, one can navigate through the strange and unbelievable types of doubts and whisperings that the people of misguidance throw at the people of belief in order to shake their sound faith in the teachings of Allah and His messenger, sallallahu'alayhi wasallam.

My request to my brothers and sisters in Islam is as follows. Firstly, you should try to read a book which tells about the companions, like The Men Around the Messenger of Allah and Shaykh Yusuf Kandehlawi's masterpiece work (which has been translated into okay English) Hayat al-Sahabah. Secondly, if anyone should whisper any sort of poison regarding even the smallest of matters regarding the sahabah into anyone's heart, then please call upon one of the noble people of learning or even this faqir in order to seek an antidote for the doubt that may linger after hearing something bad; maybe a God-fearing person can administer an antidote for whatever ails the hearts, as is the task with which Allah, Most High, dispatched them.

Finally, I would like to say that my comments are not aimed at any specific group or sect, rather towards the generality of people who don't have the utmost of love and respect for those who Allah, Himself, witnessed in His book, that He is pleased with them, in Surat al-Fath and other places. If anyone feels that this post or its attached article is aimed unfairly at them or their group, then let them ask themselves, "Do I love the companions of the messenger of Allah for the sake of Allah?" if the answer is yes, then rest assured that you are not the target of this article.

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Understanding Sayyiduna ‘Ali’s Absence from the Campaigns of the First Three Khalifahs

By Shaykh Taha Karaan

Question: Why did Hadhrat Ali (Radhiallaahu Anhu) not participate in the wars during the ruling of the first 3 Caliphs? If Hadhrat Ali had no differences with the first three Khalifas, why did he not participate in any battles that took place during their reigns, particularly when Jihaad against the Kuffaar is deemed a major duty upon the Muslims?

Was salaam

Answer:

Respected Brother-in-Islam

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakaatuhu

The assumption underlying the question is that since Sayyidunah Ali (Radhiallaahu Anhu) did not participate in the campaigns of the first 3 khulafa, it can only mean that he was averse to their rule, perhaps even to the point of not recognising the legitimacy of their rule.

However, this assumption can only be accepted if one is prepared to ignore the existence of several historical facts which glare at the objective observer from the pages of history. Some of these are given here:

1. While Sayyiduna ‘Ali (Radhiallaahu Anhu) might not physically have joined the campaigns, he was at the side of the khalifah in Madinah as a valued and trusted advisor – a position that is by no means less important than being at the battlefront. This is a fact documented in both Sunni and Shi`i sources. “Nahj al-Balaghah”, for example, records the advice given by Sayyiduna ‘Ali to Sayyiduna ‘Umar on two occasions. The first one appears as Sermon no. 133 and carries the heading “In reply to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab who consulted him about taking part in the battle against Byzantine”. The second is numbered Sermond 145 and appears under the caption “Spoken when ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab consulted Amir al-Mu’minin about taking part in the battle of Persia”. In both instances the advice given can clearly” be seen to be aimed at the success of the campaigns.

2. It is also significant to note that although Sayyiduna ‘Ali did not personally join the armies on their expeditions, he duly received his share of the spoils of war. Abu Ubayd has recorded that Sayyiduna ‘Umar fixed Sayyiduna ‘Ali’s share at 5000 dirhams, and gave both his sons Hasan and Husayn a similar share of 5000. (“al-Amwal” p. 237) Another son of Sayyiduna ‘Ali, namely Muhammad, was born to him from a woman from Banu Hanifah who was brought to Madinah as a war captive by Khalid ibn al-Walid after his expedition against her tribe that had turned apostate with Musaylamah. This woman was given to Sayyiduna ‘Ali by Sayyiduna Abu Bakr. (“Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d” vol. 5 p. 67) and this Muhammad is known in history as Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah.

3. If Sayyiduna ‘Ali’s not joining the campaigns of the three khulafa means that he was averse to their rule, how is one to interpret the fact that Sayyiduna Hasan and Sayyiduna Husayn both took part in the conquest of Tabaristan during the rule of Sayyiduna ‘Uthman under Sa’id ibn al-’As in 30 AH? (See “Tarikh at-Tabari” vol. 5 p. 103, “al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah” vol. 5 p. 237)

4. Furthermore, what is one to make of the fact that those of the Sahabah upon whom the Shi’ah took favourably as devotees of Sayyiduna ‘Ali and the Ahl al-Bayt unreservedly took part in the campaigns of Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman? Here one may speak of the following by way of example:

SALMAN AL-FARISI took part in Sayyiduna ‘Umar’s Persian campaign and played a crucial role in the conquest of Mada’in (“al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah” vol. 5 pp. 135-140). He had also acted as governor of Mada’in for Sayyiduna ‘Umar (“al-Isabah” vol. 3 p. 113) and used to actively encourage the military campaigns in Syria by narrating ahadith on the virtues of jihad (“Ansab al-Ashraf vol. 1 p. 488)

HUDHAYFAH IBN AL-YAMAN had played a leading role in the conquest of’Iraq. Like Salman, he too had acted as governor for Sayyiduna ‘Umar (“al-Isabah” vol. 1 p. 332), and later joined military expeditions during the reign of Sayyiduna ‘Uthman. He is described by the Shi’i scholar, al-’Allamah Ibn Mutahhar al-Hilli, as “one of the four pillars amongst the companions of Amir al-Mu’minin.” (“Jami’ ar-Ruwat” vol. 1 p. 182)

BILAL AL-HABASHI joined the campaign in Syria, either during the time of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr or Sayyiduna ‘Umar. He died in Syria during the reign of the latter Umar. (“al-Isabah” vol. 1 p. 171)*

‘AMMAR IBN YASIR took part in the campaign against Musaylamah in the time of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr. He fought valiantly, spurred on the Muslim forces, and lost his ear in this battle. Later, during the reign of Sayyiduna ‘Umar, he accepted an appointment as the governor of Kufah under him. (“Tarikh al-Islam” vol. 2 p. 581}

ABU AYYUB AL-ANSARI is well known for his participation in several battles, not least amongst which was the expedition against Constantinople led by Yazid in the time of his father Mu’awiyah. Abu Ayyub was martyred during this expedition, and was buried under the walls of the city. (“al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah” vol. 5 p. 518)

5. Apart from the above considerations, one also needs to keep in mind the sort of relationship that existed between Sayyiduna ‘Ali and the khulafa before him. This relationship is best expressed in the fact that he named 3 of his sons Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman. This is confirmed even by an avowedly Shi’i source such as Shaykh Mufid’s “Kitab al-Irshad” (pp. 268-269); and the fact that he married Umm Kulthum, his daughter from Sayyidah Fatimah, to Sayyiduna ‘Umar. (For a more detailed discussion of the marriage of Umm Kultnum, see http://www.ansar.org/english/marriage.htm)

All things considered, the assumption that Sayyiduna ‘Ali did not take part in the campaigns of the three khulafa on account of his differences with them, diminishes into an incongruous aberration of ridiculous proportions.

Dance

نمی دانم کہ آخر چوں دمِ دیدار می رقصم
مگر نازم بایں ذوق کہ پیشِ یار می رقصم

تو ھر دم می سرائی نغمہ و ھر بار می رقصم
بہر طرزِ كہ می رقصانیم اے یار می رقصم

کہ عشقِ دوست ہر ساعت دروں نار می رقصم
گاہےبر خاک می غلتم , گاہے بر خار می رقصم

بیا جاناں تماشا کن کہ درانبوہ جانبازاں
بصد سامانِ رسوائی سرِ بازار می رقصم

خوش آ رندی کہ پامالش کُنم صد پارسائی را
زہے تقوٗی کہ من با جبّہ و دستار می رقصم

تو آں قاتل کہ از بہرِ تماشہ خون من ریزی
منم بسمل کہ زیرِ خنجرِ خونخوار می رقصم

منم عثمان مروندیؔ كہ یارِ شیخ منصورم
ملامت می کُند خلقِ و من بردار می رقصم

كلام حضرت لعل شہباز قلندر

Islam Trashes Freedom of Speech ?

There was a lot of fuss recently about Comedy Central censoring an episode of South Park for disrespecting the messenger of Allah, Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

People whose hearts are filled with the hatred of Islam immediately jumped on this as an example of Islam's supposed killing of free speech. This is despite the fact there is almost nothing useful to be gained by blashpemy; indeed it is outlawed in many countries, including Denmark, where the courts quite hypocritically said that making offensive drawings of the sayyid al-kawnayn is not blasphemy, even though mocking the messenger of Allah is a crime more offensive than demolishing the ka`bah.

At any rate, hypocrisy is usually quite thinly veiled. It seems that one of the lines regarding freedom of speech is drawn quite defiantly at criticizing Israel. Please read the following news article and tell us who is a bigger enemy of free speech, Muslims in America, or the Israeli lobby...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Helen Thomas went over the top, but why is she gagged in the land of the free?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/jun/08/freedom-of-speech-usa

Helen Thomas. Photograph: Hyungwon Kang/Reuters

Whatever one thinks of the views propounded by the (former) doyenne of the White House press corps, Helen Thomas, one of the series of punishments administered to her seems disproportionate.

Soon after the 89-year-old journalist was filmed saying that Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine" and go "home" to Germany and Poland, she lost her job. (See the video here).

As Michael Tomasky points out, it was her reference to Germany and Poland that did for her. It was, quite simply, a disgraceful, thoughtless and indefensible statement. She went way over the top.

So, despite her having issued an apology on her website, it was probably no real surprise that Hearst newspapers announced her immediate "retirement". She has had a long run, after all.

But it's the next bit of the story that concerns me. She was also dumped by her speaking agency, which issued a statement: "In light of recent events, Nine Speakers is no longer able to represent Ms Thomas, nor can we condone her comments on the Middle East."

The agency's president, Diane Nine, later emailed HuffPost to say: "We no longer represent Helen for books or lectures or anything else."

So, in the land of the free, where freedom of speech is guaranteed under the constitution, a person who expresses what are deemed to be controversial views is effectively gagged. Has Ms Nine never heard of Voltaire?

I note that Thomas was also required to step down from delivering a high school graduation speech.

I imagine it's just the beginning of a process of public, and media, exclusion for Thomas. That may be a personal problem for her (though, at her age, she may not care). But, as she would be the first to grasp, it has wider implications.

It is one of those rare occasions in which one can see clearly how people in America who are willing to express anti-establishment opinions are demonised, marginalised and finally excluded from public debate.

Did I say "people"? I mean, of course, those who are identified as liberals. Right-wing TV and radio hosts can say what they like, however outrageous. Some iconoclasts are obviously freer than others.

Posted by Roy Greenslade Tuesday 8 June 2010 09.18 BST guardian.co.uk

Piggie Piggie: The Saga Continues

I always knew that smoking was haram...

___________________________________

Cigarette filters contain pig’s blood

1. April 2010 05:25

By Candy Lashkari

The next time you light up a cigarette you may be puffing on a filter which contains pig’s blood. Recent Dutch research found that pig hemoglobin was being used to make filters of cigarettes more effective in blocking harmful chemicals before they enter the smoker’s lungs.

Simon Chapman, a professor at the University of Sydney said that this was one of the 185 industrial uses of a pig that the Dutch research had identified. Chapman was quoted by Australian AAP news agency saying “I think that there would be some particularly devout groups who would find the idea that there were pig products in cigarettes to be very offensive”

"The Jewish community certainly takes these matters extremely seriously and the Islamic community certainly do as well, as (so) would many vegetarians. It just puts into hard relief the problem that the tobacco industry is not required to declare the ingredients of cigarettes ... they say 'that's our business' and a trade secret." said Chapman.

One cigarette brand in Greece was a confirmed user of Pig Hemoglobin in its production process. Considering that the Jews and Muslims consider the consumption of pork opposed to their core beliefs this new research finding is sure to shake a few feathers.

As a smoker of the Jewish or Islamic faith you would like to know if this ingredient is used in processing your cigarette, but tobacco companies do not provide these details. In voluntary disclosures of contents of their products they include “undisclosed processing aids” and these are said to be, “not significantly present in, and do not functionally affect, the finished product"

So in effect there is no way for you to know what really goes into the production of your cigarette.

Piggie Piggie

Where can I get a box of these? Dubious 'halal' takeouts, beware...

Pork test to bust cheats

(Reuters) - Scientists in mainly Muslim Kazakhstan have come up with an instant test for the presence of pork in food, a popular newspaper reported on Monday.

Oddly Enough

The plastic-stick test detects food molecules that are found only in pork, which is forbidden by Islam but is easily found in the Central Asian state, Megapolis weekly said.

"It's no secret that some chefs cheat and add pork to beef to make the dish cheaper," the newspaper wrote on Monday, saying the practice was widespread in Kazakhstan.

"When you get your beef patty, cut off a couple of small pieces and drop them in a glass of water. Stir, shake, put the test stick in ... In a minute or two you will see the result."

Megapolis said it was unclear when the test, in which the stick changes color as in a pregnancy test, would become widely available.

(Writing by Olzhas Auyezov, editing by Tim Pearce)

Rabi' al-Awwal

The month of Rabi` al-Awwal is upon us. This is the month, by the opinion of the majority, if not the consensus, of the `ulama in which the messenger of Allah, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam, was born. I have always maintained, and continue to maintain that the celebration of the birth of the prophet, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam, is not only obligatory, but one who does not celebrate it, or does not feel genuine happiness about it is outside of the fold of Islam.

Many of the pious and righteous of the Muslims through the centuries would have gatherings to celebrate the birth, life story, meritorious qualities, and sunnah of the messenger of Allah, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam. Such gatherings are typically colored by the reading of chapters from his mubarak life story, the singing of poetry about his beautiful personality, and the frequent invocation of benedictions and salutations upon his pure essence, `alayhissalatu wassalam. I have always maintained and continue to maintain that such gatherings, despite not having any fixed form that comes down from the times of the Sahabah, or the Tabi`un, may Allah be well pleased with all of them, are blessed, not in the sense that they themselves are a legislated part of the deen in any specific form, but because they are a means to an end: that end is to have the love, respect, and longing for the sunnah of the messenger of Allah, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam. That without that achieving that state in the heart, one cannot be counted as a Muslim, and one's Islam is only as strong as that state is strong in one's heart. Having said this, if one has such a state in one's heart, through means other than attending such gatherings, then the gatherings are just a means, and would thus be dispensable to such a person.

Many of the Muslims have chosen to increase the frequency, scale, and scope of such gatherings in the month of Rabi` al-Awwal or a particular day in it. I have always maintained that, and continue to maintain that such an increase, if it is done because the Nabi, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam, was born in this month or day, than such a specification of date for such a gathering has no basis in the shari`ah. Thus it is not so problematic that such gatherings take place in this month or day: what is problematic is the belief that this month or day is somehow more appropriate for such gatherings than others. It is problematic because it adds something to the belief of the Muslims that was not there from before.

Many of the Muslims have inflated this observance to the point where it becomes an `Id to them. By `Id, I mean it becomes a religiously mandated holiday, whose mandate takes its place in the realm of `aqidah. This is despite the fact that the messenger of Allah, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam, had already specified what the holidays of the Muslims are; namely `Id al-Fitr, `Id al-Adhha, and Fridays. One who takes such gatherings, as those mentioned above, as an `Id, and then proceeds to accuse those who don't attend or believe what they believe about them as somehow being deficient in their love for the messenger of Allah, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam, or being hard-hearted or the like, is an ignoramus. There have been many `ulama' and righteous ones who have not attended such gatherings, and amongst them are great fuqaha', muhaddithin, and awliya' from all four madhhabs.

This leads me to my last point which is probably the most important one; that is that the highest and most meaningful expression of love of the Nabi, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam, is to follow his sunnah inwardly and outwardly, and to make his life work, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam one's own life's work, rather than to live a life full of TV, music, mortgages, disrespect for family ties, the `ulama', awliya', and those who serve the deen, cold relations with the masjid, the outward appearance of a non-Muslim, lying, cheating, cheapness, selfishness, and a heart filled with longing for material pleasures and goods, or the company of such people. Where are those who are ready to sacrifice their comforts and pleasures and trade everything they have to advance the deen of Allah Most High, and please His messenger, sallallahu`alayhi wa sallam? Note that actually giving everything away is not what is demanded, rather the constant state in the heat of being prepared, rather happy to do so, if the need arises. If such a state enters the heart of a Muslim, every moment of every day of life and death will become an `Id, I assure you.

Below, I have cut and paste an article written by the erudite Shaykh and Mufti, `Allamah Muhammad Taqi `Uthmani, may Allah keep him in a good state, about the status of Rabi` al-Awwal in the shari`ah. I hope that readers find it beneficial.

Humza

Rabi'ul-Awwal

By Mufti Taqi Usmani

- From Superstitions into Light
- Islamic Celebrations
- No Birthdays
- The Origins of Christmas
- Original Islamic Resources
- What is Wrong with These Celebrations
- The Transformation of Christmas
- The Religion is Complete
- Disagreement About Date
- Contemporary Seerah Meetings and Shariah
- Real Message of Seerah

From Superstitions into Light

Rabi'ul-Awwal is the most significant month in the Islamic history, because humanity has been blessed in this month by the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. Before the birth of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, not only the Arabian peninsula, but also the so-called civilized nations of Rome and Persia were drowned in the darkness of ignorance, superstitions, oppression and unrest. The Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, came with the eternal truth of Tawhid (Oneness of Allah), the only faith which provides a firm basis for the real concepts of knowledge, equity and peace. It was this faith which delivered humanity from ignorance and superstitions and spread the light of true knowledge all over the world.

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Islamic Celebrations

Thus the birth of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, was the most significant and the most remarkable event in human history. Had there been room in Islamic teachings for the celebration of birthdays or anniversaries, the birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, would have undoubtedly deserved it more than the birthday of any other person. But that is against the nature of Islamic teachings. That is why, unlike Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism, there are very few festivals in Islam, which provides for only two Eids (Eidul-fitr and Eidul-Adha) during the whole year. The dates of these two Eids do not correspond to the birthday of any of the outstanding persons of Islamic history, nor can their origin be attributed to any particular event of history that had happened in these dates.

Both of these two Eids have been prescribed for paying gratitude to Allah on some happy events that take place every year. The first event is the completion of the fasts of Ramadan and the second event is the completion of Hajj, another form of worship regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam.

The manner prescribed for the celebration of these two Eids (festivals) is also different from non-Islamic festivals. There are no formal processions, illumination or other activities showing formal happiness. On the contrary, there are congregational prayers and informal mutual visits to each other, which can give real happiness instead of its symbols only.

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No Birthdays

On the other hand, Islam has not prescribed any festival for the birthday of any person, however great or significant he may be. The prophets of Allah are the persons of the highest status amongst all human beings. But the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, or his noble companions never observed the birthday or anniversary of any of them. Even the birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, which was the most happy day for the whole mankind was never celebrated by the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, himself, nor by his blessed Companions.

The Companions of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, remained alive after him for about a century, but despite their unparalleled and profound love towards the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, they never celebrated the birthday or the death anniversary of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. Instead, they devoted their lives for promoting the cause of Islam, for bringing his teachings into practice, for conveying his message to the four corners of the world and for establishing the Islamic order in every walk of life.

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The Origins of Christmas

In fact, commemorating the birth of a distinguished person has never been prescribed by any religion attributing itself to divine revelation. It was originally a custom prevalent in pagan communities only. Even Christmas, the famous Christian feast commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ finds no mention in the Bible or in the early Christian writings. It was only in the 4th century after the ascension of Jesus Christ that Christmas was recognized as a regular Christian feast. To quote the Collier's Encyclopedia:

"It is impossible to determine the exact date of the birth of Christ, either from the evidence of the gospels, or from any sound tradition. During the first three centuries of the Christian era there was considerable opposition in the Church to the pagan custom of celebrating birthdays, although there is some indication that a purely religious commemoration of the birth of Christ was included in the feast of Epiphany. Clement of Alexandria mentions the existence of the feast in Egypt about the year A.D. 200 and we have some evidence that it was observed on various dates in scattered areas. After the triumph of Constantine, the Church at Rome assigned December 25 as the date for the celebration of the feast, possibly about A.D. 320 or 353. By the end of the fourth century the whole Christian world was celebrating Christmas on that day, with the exception of the Eastern Churches, where it was celebrated on January 6. The choice of December 25 was probably influenced by the fact that on this day the Romans celebrated the Mithraic feast of the Sun-god, and that the Saturnalia also came at this time." (Collier's Encyclopedia 1984 ed, v. 6, p. 403).

A similar description of the origin of Christmas is found in-the Encyclopedia Britannica with some more details. Its following passage will throw more light on the point:

"Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church, and before the 5th century there was no general consensus of opinion as to when it should come in the calendar, whether on Jan. 6, March 25 or Dec. 25. The earliest identification of Dec. 25 with the birthday of Christ is in a passage, otherwise unknown and probably spurious, of the philos of Antioch (c.180), preserved in Latin by the Magdeburyg centuriators (i, 3, 118), to the effect that the Gauls contended that since they celebrated the birth of Lord on Dec. 25, so they ought to celebrate the resurrection on March 25. A passage, almost certainly interpolated, in 'Hippelates' (c. 202) commentary on Daniel iv, 23, says that Jesus was born at Bethlehem on Wednesday, Dec. 25, in the 42nd year of Augustus, but he mentions no feast, and such a feast, indeed, would conflict with the then orthodox ideas. As late as 245, Origin (hem. viii on Leviticus) repudiated the idea of keeping the birthday of Christ "as if he were a king Pharaoh". (Britannica, 1953 ed. v. 5, p.642)

These two quotes are more than sufficient to prove the following points:

1. The commemoration of birthdays was originally a pagan custom, never recognized by a divine scripture or prophetic teaching.

2. The exact date of the Birth of Sayyidna 'Isa is unknown and impossible to be ascertained.

3. The commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ was not a recognized practice in the early centuries of the Christian history.

4. It was in the 4th or 5th century that it was recognized as a religious feast, and that, too, under the influence of the pagans who worshipped Sun-god.

5. There was a strong opposition against the commemorating of the birthday by the early Christian scholars like Origin, on the ground that it is originally a custom of pagans and idolaters.

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Original Islamic Resources

In original Islamic resources, also we cannot find any instruction about the celebration of birthdays or death anniversaries. Many Companions of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, passed away during his life-time. His beloved wife Sayyidah Khadijah, Radi-Allahu anha, passed away in Makkah. His beloved uncle Sayyidna Hamzah, Radi-Allahu anhu was brutally slaughtered during the battle of Uhud. But the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, never observed their birthday or their death anniversaries, nor did he ever advise his followers to celebrate his own birthday in Rabi'ul-Awwal.

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What is Wrong with These Celebrations

The reason for abstinence from such celebrations is that they divert the attention of people from the real teachings of Islam towards the observance of some formal activities only. Initially, these celebrations may begin with utmost piety and with a bona fide intention to pay homage to a pious person. Yet, the experience shows that the celebration is ultimately mixed up with an element of merrymaking and rejoicing and is generally confused with secular festivals and the secular, and often sinful, activities creep into it gradually.

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The Transformation of Christmas

The example of Christmas will again be relevant. This Christian feast was originally innovated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ and, of course, to remember his teachings. But once the occasion had been recognized as a feast, all the secular elements of public festivals crept in. The following quotation from the Encyclopedia Britannia is worth attention:

"For several centuries Christmas was solely a church anniversary observed by religious services. But as Christianity spread among the people of pagan lands, many of the practices of the winter solstice were blended with those of Christianity because of the liberal ruling of Gregory I, the great, and the cooperation of the missionaries. Thus, Christmas became both religious and secular in its celebration, at times reverent, at others gay."

Then, what kind of activities have been adopted to celebrate Christmas is mentioned in the next paragraphs of which the following quote is more pertinent here:

"Merrymaking came to have a share in Christmas observance through popular enthusiasm even while emphasis was on the religious phase. ... In the wholly decked great halls of the feudal lords, whose hospitality extended to all their friends, tenants and household, was sailing, feasting, singing and games, dancing, masquerading and mummers presenting pantomimes and masques were all part of the festivities." (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1953 v. 5, p. 643)

This is enough to show as to how an apparently innocent feast of reverence was converted into a secular festival where the merrymaking and seeking enjoyment by whatever means took preference over all the religious and spiritual activities.

Being fully aware of this human psychology, Islam has never prescribed, nor encouraged the observance of birthdays and anniversaries, and when such celebrations are observed as a part of the religion, they are totally forbidden.

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The Religion is Complete

The Holy Qur'an has clearly pronounced on the occasion of the last Hajj of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam: "Today, I have completed the teachings of your religion." [Al-Maida 5:3]

It means that all the teachings of Islam were communicated to the Muslims through the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. No one is allowed after it to add any thing to them as a part of religion. What was not a part of religion during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, can never become part of it. Such additions are termed by the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, as Bid'ah or innovation.

Thus, the observance of the 12th of Rabi'ul-Awwal as a religious feast is not warranted by any verse of the Holy Qur'an or by any teaching of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. Had it been a part of the religion it would have been clearly ordered or practiced by the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, and his blessed companions or, at least, by their immediate pupils. But no example of the celebration of the occasion can be traced out in the early centuries of the Islamic history. It was after many centuries [Albalagh Note: According to Maulana Yusuf Ludhinavi it was in the year 604 A.H.] that some monarchs started observing the 12th of Rabi'ul-Awwal as the birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, without a sound religious basis, and the congregations in the name of Maulood or Milad were held where the history of the birth of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to be narrated.

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Disagreement About the Date

The observance of the 12th of this month as the birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is not only an innovation having no basis in the Islamic teachings, but the accuracy of this date as the real birthday of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is also very much doubted. There are different dates suggested in different traditions, and the majority of the authentic scholars is inclined to hold that the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, was born on the 9th of Rabi'ul-Awwal. This difference of opinion is another evidence to prove that the observance of the birthday is not a part of the religion, otherwise its exact date would have been preserved with accuracy.

The life of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is, no doubt, the most important source of guidance for all the Muslims, and every Muslim is under an obligation to learn and study the events of his life, and to follow the practical example set by him in every sphere of life. The narration of his pious biography (the Seerah) in itself is a pious act, which invites the divine blessings, but the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah have not prescribed a particular time or method for it. This pious act should be performed in all the months and at all the times. The month of Rabi'ul-Awwal has not been designated by the Shariah as a special season for holding such congregations to commemorate the birth or life of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. It is thus an innovation (Bid'ah) to restrict the Seerah meetings to the month of Rabi'ul Awwal only, or to believe that the meetings held in this month are worthy of more reward than the meetings held on any other date during the year. In fact, the Companions of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to commemorate the life of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, throughout the year, not only by studying and conveying his message to others, but also by following his way of life and acting upon his teachings in each and every branch of their activities, and this is exactly what a Muslim is required and supposed to do.

By this we do not mean that the Seerah meetings should not be held in the month of Rabi'ul-Awwal. The point is only that they should not be restricted to it, nor should it be believed that the Shariah has laid any kind of emphasis on holding such meetings in this particular month.

Another point that should always be kept in mind while holding such meetings is that they must be in complete conformity with the rules of Shariah. A Muslim is supposed to abide by the rules of Shariah in all his activities. But at least the meetings held in the memory of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, should be free from all the acts forbidden by the Shariah.

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Contemporary Seerah Meetings and Shariah

It is often observed, especially in the Western countries, that the people hold the Seerah meetings where men and women sit together without observing the rules of hijab prescribed by the Shariah. The teachings of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, are obviously against such mixed gatherings. How can a Seerah meeting bring fruits where such fundamental teachings of the Shariah are openly violated?

In some meetings the Na'ts (poems) in the memory of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, are recited by the women before the male audience, sometimes with music, which is totally against the instructions of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. It is clearly prohibited by the Shariah to hold such meetings or to participate in them, because it is not only a violation of the Shariah rules, but it is an affront to the sanctity of the Seerah of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam.

All other activities, often practiced on the twelfth of Rabi'ul-Awwal, like holding processions, constructing the mock tombs of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, and illumination of the buildings and the roads are not warranted by any rule of the Shariah. Rather they are based on conscious or unconscious imitation of certain other religions. No example of such activities can be traced out from the earlier Islamic history.

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Real Message of Seerah

What is really important with regard to the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, is, first, to follow his teachings, and second to make his pious Seerah available to every Muslim, to preserve it in the hearts of the Muslims from the very childhood, to educate the family members to run their lives according to it and to hold it as the most glorious example of the human conduct the universe has ever witnessed -- and all this with utmost love and reverence, not manifested by some formal activities only, but also through actual behavior of following the Sunnah. This cannot be done by merely holding processions and illuminating the walls. This requires constant and consistent efforts and a meaningful program of education and training.

Imams Zaid and Tahir In Seattle!

The Forgotten Generation

Challenges Facing Muslim Youth in the West

Sunday, February 7th, UW Kane Hall

With Imam Zaid Shakir and Imam Tahir Anwar

Register now at Mihraab.com

Ever wonder how to maintain your Islamic identity living in the West? Or as parents how to help your children deal with everyday challenges? As Muslims in the West, we not only face challenges in creating an authentic American Muslim Identity, but we also have to cultivate a balance between our faith and daily lives.

We welcome you to come listen and learn from two of the leading Western Muslim scholars, Imams Zaid Shakir & Tahir Anwar as they advise the youth, parents and community members through the Prophetic Model and share their personal experiences in a one day seminar.

Conference details

The Forgotten Generation - Challenges Facing Muslim Youth in the West

Speakers:

Imam Zaid Shakir - Zaytuna Institute,

Imam Tahir Anwar – South Bay Islamic Association

When: 1:00 pm – 8:00pm, Sunday, Feb 7th 2010

Where: University of Washington – Kane Hall

Free babysitting available!

Mihraab.com

Blueprints: Building a Society on Prophetic Guidance

Thawr Institute Presents:

Blueprints: Building a Society on Prophetic Guidance

Friday, January 15th:
Jumu’ah at Old Redmond Schoolhouse - Imam Abdullah Madyun I’tikaf Program for Brothers Starting at 7:30 pm

Saturday, January 16th:
Lectures 10 am - 10 pm

All events at Islamic Center of Redmond
18080 NE 68th St, Bldg. D
Redmond, WA 98052

All lectures will be in English
Brothers & Sisters welcome
Entry is Free

Guest Speakers:

SHAYKH JUNAID KHARSANY
Shaykh Junaid was born in South Africa in 1975. He memorized the Holy Qur’an at age of 15. His higher studies began at the Madrasah ‘Arabiyyah Islamiyyah in Azaadville, South Africa where he immersed himself in the study of Arabic, fiqh, hadith, the Qur’an, and related sciences. Soon after graduating in 1996, he began teaching hadith and tafsir at Islahul Muslimeen a seminary in Durban. Shaykh Junaid has long been involved in the work of da’wah and has served as a social worker and leader for a number of communities. He is currently Imam at Masjid Jamat Islam in Inglewood, California. He is also the founder of the Riyadhul Uloom Institute in Torrance, CA.

IMAM ABDULLAH YUSUF MADYUN
A Chicago native, Imam Abdullah Yusuf Madyun pursued the Higher Islamic Sciences and Arabic studies at Madinah University. He also spent time in the UAE advancing his Islamic education and living with scholars of varying cultural and educational traditions during his time there. Imam Abdullah is active in delivering lectures at universities throughout the US, da’wah programs, and Social Service activities throughout the Chicago area. Previously, he served as imam at Masjid al-Amin in Gary, Indiana for over five years and was the first ever Muslim chaplain in the state of Indiana. He is
currently serving his fourth year as imam of Masjid al-Ihsan.

SHAYKH AHMED PATEL
Shaykh Ahmed completed his memorization of the Qu’ran and higher Islamic studies at Darul-Uloom Bury, England, graduating in 1993. After graduation, he accepted the posi-tion of imam at the Islamic Center of Elizabethtown in Kentucky until 2004. Currently, he is the imam of the Islamic Center of Conejo Valley in Thousand Oaks, CA.

Local Scholars include:
Shaykh Hamzah bin Maqbul
Shaykh Fadhl Hasan


For more information:
http://thawr.org
info@thawr.org
(425) 248 0560