Latest Tweets:
I have quite a difficult time sifting through the judgmental tendencies of people though most people are guilty of that sometimes (I’ve done it), but I often think that the speed, anonymity and false sense of ‘space’ online makes it easier for some people to attack one another.
Its so easy to say that stuff to another Muslim online but would you do it in the more tangible community that includes your family, friends and colleagues right to his or her face?
Do you honestly care as to whether or not they will be affected by your “advice” or are you blowing off some steam? Its not going to make you feel much better. At the end of the day, no matter how much time you waste here, these exercises are futile. The most they can do is hurt you.
These sort of webs that we create for ourselves and ensnare one another in are not often the most accurate representations of reality, let alone sources of pertinent and nuanced information that we can actually apply to our own contexts and practical affairs.
Lots of truth in that. I’ve often pondered much on the same issue. People that are so proud and arrogant in their proclamation of who is or is not deviants, which scholars are misguided, and who’s kafir would barely say a word if they came face to face with the people they so easily accused of all these things online. The anonymity of the url has bolstered some people’s egos to the point where they believe that if their url is known, and they’re not deliberately anonymous, then it makes them sincere.
What a delusion. Sincerity can only ever be truly tested face to face, if then also. The manners and etiquette that many display online would land them in fist fights and well-deserved beatings in real life if they displayed such gall or callousness to their adversary’s face. Tumblr, if nothing else, is a good litmus test of your iman. Act with impunity under the guise of standing up for what is right without due consideration for the feelings of a fellow Muslim, and it will be a very real reflection of the void in your soul that should have been filled with the love for Allah and what He loves.
We delude ourselves all the time, while Shaytaan sits behind us giggling his butt off watching us plot and plan his next move because he has so successfully made us believe that our arrogance is in fact rooted in piety. What a disappointing joke.
Going on a Tumblr hiatus soon. Starting tomorrow, I should be away for a while. It will be interesting to see what life can be like without Tumblr and whether or not I’ll have a need to return in search of a ventlet to express myself creatively and otherwise.
Time will tell if I return or not, Insha-Allah.
Beautiful Tajweed by a man in Hamra street (Beirut, Lebanon).
So beautiful, but so sad at the same time. The Youtube comments sum it up the best: “Prophet pbuh said Islam will return to this state. It will become “ghereeb” (strange). Islam started strange and it will end strange…” and “Is this what our ummah has come down to? A poor man reciting Qur’an on the side of a street for money, while everybody walks pass him?”
This is beautifully recited, but it reminded me of the following hadith from Bukhari:
Narrated Abu Huraira: Once while I was in a state of fatigue (because of severe hunger), I met ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab, so I asked him to recite a verse from Allah’s Book to me. He entered his house and interpreted it to me. (Then I went out and) after walking for a short distance, I fell on my face because of fatigue and severe hunger. Suddenly I saw Allah’s Apostle standing by my head. He said, “O Abu Huraira!” I replied, “Labbaik, O Allah’s Apostle, and Sadaik!” Then he held me by the hand, and made me get up. Then he came to know what I was suffering from. He took me to his house, and ordered a big bowl of milk for me. I drank thereof and he said, “Drink more, O Abu Hirr!” So I drank again, whereupon he again said, “Drink more.” So I drank more till my belly became full and looked like a bowl. Afterwards I met ‘Umar and mentioned to him what had happened to me, and said to him, “Somebody, who had more right than you, O ‘Umar, took over the case. By Allah, I asked you to recite a Verse to me while I knew it better than you.” On that Umar said to me, “By Allah, if I admitted and entertained you, it would have been dearer to me than having nice red camels.
The condition of Muslims was dire even during the time of Rasulullah (SAW). For me, the good in this is that his recitation was still appreciated by many that passed him and many that even stopped to greet and assist him. His choice of Surah is also very touching, since Surah Duha has a profound meaning for someone in his condition:
By the forenoon (after sunrise).
By the night when it darkens (and stand still).
Your Lord (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) has neither forsaken you nor hates you.
And indeed the Hereafter is better for you than the present (life of this world).
And verily, your Lord will give you (all good) so that you shall be well-pleased.
Did He not find you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) an orphan and gave you a refuge?
And He found you unaware (of the Qur’an, its laws, and Prophethood) and guided you?
And He found you poor and made you rich (self-sufficient with self-contentment)?
Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression.
And repulse not the beggar.
And proclaim the Grace of your Lord (i.e. the Prophethood and all other Graces).
(via ireallyamtrying)
A request.
I ask you to not belittle nor attack any of your brothers and sisters because of what they preach. I ask you to avoid swearing. I ask you to control your anger. I ask you to approach people in a peaceful manner. I ask you to not discredit the intellect of any of your brothers and sisters because God only knows what is in the hearts of His servants. I ask you to leave aside what does not concern you. Finally, I ask you to pay attention to every single words in the following verse:
But as for those who strive hard in Our cause - We shall most certainly guide them onto paths that lead unto Us: for, behold, God is indeed with the doers of good. (29:69)
There is no unique way to reach Islam and I want you to respect that. If someone found Islam through a speaker who preached peace but whose speech demonstrated an affiliation with a specific party then leave him alone; his personal experience will ultimately shape his understanding of the religion. Also, do not dictate lessons from what you have lived for everyone is fighting different battles. Thank you.
I couldn’t agree with this more. People that find it easy to be disparaging towards others have a selective memory. Recently I’ve often been reminded of how I behaved earlier in life. I recall some of the grave errors of judgement on my part, and I recall indulging in actions that make me cringe with shame at the thought of it. Reading this, and again watching the usual drivel on Tumblr about whose sect is more correct and whose sheikhs are more authentic, it reminds me that such sentiments are indicative of arrogance and elitism and has nothing to do with sincere advice.
Sincere advice cannot be based on insults, dismissiveness, or condescension. The only exception I would make to this rule would be the use of arrogance against one who is arrogant. And then also, assuming that a measured and humble approach didn’t work in the first place.
The point is simple, if you believe you’re sinless, and if you believe that your iman and your knowledge is pristinely pure, then go ahead and treat others as if you’re superior. But if you’re true to yourself, and sincere in your interactions, you’ll quickly realise that taking such a harsh and abrupt tone with anyone under the self-deception of hating for the sake of Allah is in fact making a mockery of what Allah has commanded of us, let alone making a mockery of the Sunnah that we profess to be upholding.
Tumblr is certainly not a place I turn to for Islamic inspiration blindly…there are very few blogs that have a deliberate Islamic focus that I would consider as a reasonable source for obtaining some advice or comfort about my journey as a Muslim. The vast majority are unfortunately disappointing examples of bad da’wah.
"These are the words of someone who fully understood singing and its effects, for no one regularly sings or listens to song except that his heart falls into (nifaq) Hypocrisy without him realizing. If such a person understood the reality of nifaq and its end he would see it in his own heart. Never do the love of song and the love of Qur`an come together in a person’s heart except that one expels the other. I and others have witnessed how heavy the Qur`an feels to singers and song-listeners; how they coil when it is recited and how they get angry with a reciter when he recites too long for them (in prayer etc); and how their hearts do not benefit from what he recites: they are not moved to do anything by it. But when the Qur`an of Shaytân comes, la ilaha illallah! How they lower their voices and settle down! How their hearts feel at peace and how the crying and emotions start, how moved they are inwardly and outwardly and spend on clothing and perfume and staying up hoping for a long night ahead. If this is not nifaq then it is certainly the way to it and its foundation."
Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) [Madaarij Al-Saalikeen] (via byyourmercyallah)
(via a-heart-revitalized)
This nasheed by Ahmad Bukhatir has often played in my head since I first heard it. For some reason, I always sub-consciously substituted his words of ‘Ya Akhi’ with ‘Ya Allah’, but now that I’ve finally seen the English translation, I realise that it may not be entirely appropriate. I’m not exactly certain as to who he refers to in this nasheed, but I could draw many parallels with the way in which Rasulullah (SAW) is a source of comfort through his teachings and guidance that he left for us.
The melodious and soothing tone of this nasheed appeals to me. It doesn’t by any means serve as a prayer or religious icon in any way, it just is a nasheed that I’ve grown fond of since the first time I heard it.
Sheikh Google
Many take a condescending tone when referring to ‘Sheikh Google’ but from what I can tell, Sheikh Google is exposing more disbelievers to Islam, and facilitating more reversions than any real life sheikh I’ve heard of. The risk of misinformation is no different than the potential of interested parties innocently contacting misguided scholars or imams in their search for Islamic knowledge. But again, it’s more a clever twist of words that makes it an attractive phrase rather than its genuine appeal to intellect and wisdom.
Yet another example of the ‘scholars’ or students of knowledge misconstruing the medium for the content that is available through it. Also a really good example of extremism by dismissing an entire channel for education simply because some abuse it. That’s like saying that knives should be made haraam because some people kill and injure and rob others with it.
An absence of logic in the pursuit of scholarly titles is in fact a major disservice to the Ummah rather than a fulfilment of a calling to Allah’s path.
"We are like firemen, fighting about which hose to use, while the house burns down."
Suhaib Webb (via thetruthsiren)
(via cynicallyjaded)
Religious Elitism
Watching the monotonous swipes between differing religious groups and sects constantly being exchanged on Tumblr is the most tedious and uninspiringly brain numbing exercise ever. Maintaining an arrogance about your belief system invariably undermines your spirituality, regardless of religious persuasion. It’s a constant tit-for-tat let-me-see-you-better-that contest seldom with good intention, but most often with intent to protect turf and nothing else.
When we engage in harsh tones and condescending remarks, I’m reminded of this hadith narrated by A’isha (RA) recorded in Sahih Muslim:
“Gentleness does not enter anything except that it beautifies it and harshness does not enter anything except that it disfigures it.”
And if for some reason you’re inclined to deny the words of A’isha (RA), then here’s supporting sentiments from Rasulullah (SAW) as well:
“Whoever is deprived of gentleness is deprived of good.”
Recorded in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Jarir bin ‘Abdullah (RA)
Yet another hadith that I am reminded of on this matter is:
“Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded.”
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 38
And finally, if you honestly and sincerely find reason to doubt the authenticity or contextual relevance of the above ahadith, then here’s some words directly from Allah that further substantiates how we should approach matters of deen:
So by mercy from Allah , [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah . Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].
Surah Al-Imraan (3:159) - Sahih International
It’s unfortunate that most are inclined to justify their harsh and abrasive tones under the pretense of hating for the sake of Allah, but choose to conveniently dismiss the above advice, and so much more in the Qur’an and hadith, that advises us to engage sincerely, in a measured tone, speaking gently, and inviting towards good. The amount of in-fighting over matters that do not take one outside the fold of Islam is disappointing. I can think of no other reason but the fact that those that engage with such unrestrained harshness about trivial matters do so driven by their egos rather than any desire to uphold what is right and forbid what is wrong.
Beautiful story. Inspirational enough to want to share it. They don’t make love stories the way they used to. Hollywood / Bollywood pales in comparison.
(Source: eatandbeawesome)
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Surat Ash-Sharĥ (The Relief) - سورة الشرح
1. Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast?
2. And We removed from you your burden
3. Which had weighed upon your back
4. And raised high for you your repute.
5. For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
6. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
7. So when you have finished [your duties], then stand up [for worship].
8. And to your Lord direct [your] longing.
In trying to maintain my focus in salaah, I often find myself trying to picture myself standing directly in front of Allah. But given my lack of knowledge regarding what image should be conjured in my mind from such a thought, I’m left with a feeling that me, being a minuscule molecule on a dust ball in the middle of a universe that teems with magnificence well beyond our arrogant imaginations, am not able to present myself before Allah, but only to Allah; whilst Allah, in His infinite grandeur and majesty, is greater than what we can grasp of this universe while others debate what His true form is. Since this universe is part of the created, how much greater must the Creator be?
I consider the scale of creation that allows me to observe the tiniest known particles of creation, and then I consider how much unimaginably greater the scale must be between me and Allah. My nafs will always prevent me from grasping the true meekness of my existence, yet despite this, I have the promise of bliss that even the most elaborate of imaginations will fail to grasp.
I’m often reminded of the description of just the dust of Jannah the beauty of which will leave us standing and marvelling at it for 40 years. That’s just the dust. I cannot imagine myself beholding a piece of dust with such amazement that I would be entranced by it for 40 earthly years, let alone 40 heavenly ones. How futile must it be then to attempt to contemplate the beauty of Jannah or the magnificence of Allah?
