Youth Tarbiyah Conference

I just love this annual conference, InshaAllah I'll be there. I mean how can I miss Shaikh Sulaiman Mullah, Shaikh Ahmed Ali and Shaikh Riyadh ul-Haq?! InshaAllah, InshaAllah I'll be there for both days.

Click on the image to enlarge.

Links for more info.
Islamic Foundation
Jucanada

Lines Stuck in My Head

V: Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.
[carves V into wall]

V: The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.
[giggles]

V: Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.

Evey Hammond: Are you like a crazy person?

V: I'm quite sure they will say so.

---
V for Vendetta (2005)

BBC NEWS | Middle East | US braced for Haditha effect

BBC NEWS | Middle East | US braced for Haditha effect

Oilers

I saw this pic just now...It's crazy for Canada, since we don't have our team at FIFA. But don't get me wrong, I'm still a big of a football (soccer fan). I just want the Stanley cup home (the Stanley cup and Tim Hortons are both embedded in our Canadian blood)

http://www.canada.com/

Pieces from "Only Fools & Fools (Beautiful Stories about Fools)" by Shaykh Ahmad Ali

The following stories are taken from one of my favourite books, "Only Fools & Fools (Beautiful Stories about Fools)" by Shaykh Ahmad Ali

It's a brief summary of the work "Akhbarul Hamqa Wal MogFleen" written by Ibn-ul Jawzi Hafiz Jamal ud-Din Abdul-Rahman.

---

A storyteller informed the people, “Oh people, the Satan doesn’t eat the food and drink on which you have recited the name of Allah. So when you eat do not recite Bismillah, that way Satan will eat with you. Instead you should recite Bismillah when you drink water.” He assumed the failure of the Satan to share water with the person who recites Bismillah will cause the Satan to die of thirst.

Page20

A Bedouin in his prayer was saying “Oh Allah forgive only me”. Someone asked, why don’t you pray, “Oh Allah forgive us all?” He replied, "I do not want to burden my Lord too much.”

Page 17

A Bedouin called Mujrim (criminal/sinner) came and stood in the first saaf behind the Imam who was reciting Surah Mursalaat in salah. When the Imam recited the verse, “Did we not destroy the first” the Bedouin went into the last saaf. The Imaam then recited, “Then we shall destroy the later ones.” The Bedouin then moves on and joined the middle saaf. Finally, the Imam recited, “This is how We deal with the mujrims (sinners/criminal)”. The Bedouin left the salaat thinking the Imam was after him.

Page 14

Pics from Sunday's Trip at the Farm

That's Snuffles but my mum calls him another name which I might mention some other time.
This dog is super hyper, he's only 2 months old, a blood hound and he loves barking and jumping up and down when anyone comes near him. He's supposedly the guard dog.


Did I mention I have fear, a phobia of dogs?
I got chased by 3 dogs, well 4 including a chew wawa (if that's how it's spelt).
I think someone fed this dog's mum too much caffeine or weed maybe while she was pregnant.



Here are the spoiled sheep.


I cornered this one just to get a pic, then soon as I moved the phone away from it, it ran like hell.


My mum's chickens, they were all over the net while my dad cleaned the old barn.

Mary-Moo Cow, a new member to the farm. This one is the only one who gives milk. Don't worry my dad has a certificate (Alhamdulillah). So my dad's friend was over and he decided to milk the cow...






Preparing to milk the cow and also make tea.

Just joking we didn't make tea with it, but the brave men did drink it fresh.



Well there he goes. Then the ladies took over and even I tried...it's not that bad really.


Here are the two goats that made me laugh when I saw what they were up too.
See that white container on the right? Well that's full of corn, and they LOVE corn.







Then the little one joins in too.



















My little sister tried to sit on her and ride her since she really, really and I mean really wanted to ride her. Well all seemed to be okay until my uncle let go of the rope. My sister screamed, the horse ran and she fell. Alhamdulillah she's okay, she just won't be dreaming of horses for a while now.
























Our new puppy. She's a sheep dog who's terribly shy. And I touched her, yes I did. I actually adore her. She is so quiet that no one (in my family) has heard her bark yet.

A Beautiful Death

Prostrating in the dark, in front of her Lord, she praises Him with words so pure. Tears streak down like pearls on silk, she cries to her Lord for forgiveness. Merciful and Forgiving He is, but she still fears His disappointment, anger and wrath.

Her pearly tears roll down her cheeks as they cleanse her soul. With her forehead on the ground, and her breathing calm, she absorbs the humility that perfumes her soul. The Divine words that pour out of her lips and heart illumine her body and mind.

As she gets up and goes into her second prostration, the darkness is no more, but only light. The Earth, the Divine Book, and every cell in her body testify to be her witness as she is in her last prostration. Her heart yearns to see her Lord and His Beloved as it pumps the last few pumps. Then with her breathing still calm, she smiles and testifies as her heart takes the last permission from its Creator, to beat one last time.

Strange...But True

Failing Grade

What are they teaching kids in schools these days?

In the U.S., apparently not geography.

A poll conducted in the States for National Geographic found that six out of ten Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 can’t find Iraq on a map.

And if that isn’t bad enough, they also can’t identify their own states. Nearly one-third of respondents couldn’t locate Louisiana, and nearly half couldn’t identify Mississippi.

Hey, considering the President has problems pronouncing the world 'nuclear', maybe those results aren't half bad.

Taken from here.

Amira, The Horse

Okay, she's a horse, not a pony. Soon as I saw her I new she couldn't be a pony. Well maybe one of her grandparents was a pony or perhaps she's just a smaller horse.

So that's it for this post, I have nothing else to say because sadly my life is uneventful and no one really reads this blog which makes it even more sad.

Our New Pony

Yes we did have a pony before, but my dad sold it because that one had an attitude problem. He was kind of grumpy and he hated the sheep. Oh and it almost kicked my youngest sister to what could possibly been her grave.

Yeah so, this new pony is a female, very shy and pregnant that means we can't ride her. She's expecting in October, I was told and I cannot imagine what my parents will do then.

My mum named her Princess and so we call her Amira. InshaAllah this Sunday I'll finally get to see her. I'm not excited at all, it's just a pony, but knowing that's she's pregnant makes me want to see her. Ah maybe it's a "female" thing. Now if my dad bought a horse, I'd be super excited and InshaAllah he will get one or two this summer, along with a donkey (donkeys supposedly keep the sheep safe from other wild animals).

Anyways, this post is out of no where so that makes it a random post and therefore it qualifies for being on this blog, which no one hardly reads (so all is good).

I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned on this blog that my parents have a farm, well now you all know. My parents own a slaughterhouse (no they don’t slaughter the ponies, donkeys, horses, cats and the 2 month-old guard dog)

The link is somewhere on the links section of my blog. It’s Sanabil Halal Meat Farm.

The List

From Earth
Blood clot
Ruh
Warmth
Innocence
Play
Maturity
Love of Dunya
Desire
Lust
Sin
Guilt
Grief
Sorrow
Depression
Laziness
Unwillingness
No hope
Drunk in nothingness
No sincerity
No devotion
Forgetfulness
Restlessness
Lost
Darkness
Anxiety
Pain
Sickness
Realization
Purification
Cleansing
Repentance
Seek forgiveness
Forgive
Hope
Sincerity
Devotion
Gratefulness
Praising
Ilm
Love Allah (swt)
Salutation
Sunnah
Love for Rasulullah (s.a.w)
Hope
Faith
Sacrifice
Piety
Fear
Wisdom
Yearning for Paradise
Goodness
Mistake
Repentance
Forgiveness
Hope
Iman
Nafl
Joy
Happiness
Sukun
Haya
Noor
Simplicity
Strength
Wisdom
Experience
Steadfastness
Balance
Family
Home
Friends
Ummah
Dunya
Weakness
Old age
Grey hairs
Ibadah
dhikr
Warmth
Smile
Shahada
Last blink
Last breath
Last heart beat
Noor
Ruh
Purify
Cleanse
Prayer
White cloth
Grave
Questioning
Reality
To Earth

From Shamaa'il Tirmidhi

Jaabir bin Samurah (Radhiallahu Anhu reports that: "I saw the Seal of Prophethood of Rasullullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) between his two shoulders, which was like a red tumour (protruding flesh), the size of which was like that of a pigeon's egg".

Commentary
There are various and different narrations regarding the size and colour of the Seal of Prophethood of Sayyidina Rasullullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Qurtubi has reconciled these by sayimg that the size changed from time to time, as did the colour. According to this humble servant, this reconciliation may also be possible, that in reality all these are similarities, and every similarity is according to a person's understanding, which is an approximate state. There is no disagreement in explaining approximates. This is a more appropriate explanation.

Hadith 2, Chapter 2
---

Ibn 'Abbaas Radiyallahu 'Anhu says:
"Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam said: 'Use kuhl made of ithmid on the eye; it brightens the eyesight, and strengthens and increases the growth of the eye lashes'. (Sayyidina Ibn'Abbaas Radiyallahu'Anhu also used to say) 'Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallarn had a small container for keeping kuhl, from which he applied kuhl in each eye three times every night"'.

Commentary
Ithmid is a special type of kuhl which is reddish black in colour. It is obtained in the Eastern countries. Some of the learned say it is the Isfahaani kuhl, and other say it is the Totiya. Some 'ulama say, it means those who have good eyesight and it should be used by those with whose eyesight it agrees, otherwise a sick person's eyes will pain more by its use. It is more beneficial to apply kuhl at the time of sleeping as it will remain longer in the eyes, and will penetrate more into the pores. There are different narrations on the number of times it should be applied in each eye. In a few it is stated that it should be applied three times in each eye, as mentioned above. In other narrations it is stated that it should be put three times in the right eye and two times in the left eye. It is supposed that the variations are because of the different times of the narrations. At a certain time, Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi Wasallam applied it in one manner and at another time in the other manner. Haafiz Ibn Hajar, Mulla 'Ali Qaari and other 'ulama have preferred the first method (as given in the hadith under discussion). the first method has been narrated many times from Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu' Alayhi Wasallam, as will be seen in the narration that follow.

Hadith 1, Chapter 7
---

Hadith Number 3
It has been reported from Ummi Salamah Radhiyallahu 'Anha: "Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam preferred wearing, from among all clothing, the qamis (thowb)".

Commentary
Mulla 'Ali Qaari relates from Dimyaati that the qamis of Sayidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam was made of cotton and was not very long, nor were the sleeves long. Bayjuri has written that Sayidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam had only one qamis. It is reported from Sayyiditina 'Aayeshah Radhiyallahu 'Anha that: "Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam did not leave any of the morning food for the evening, nor any of the evening food for the morning. He possessed only one each, of a lungi, qamis, sheet ( body wrap), shoes or any other clothing. He did not have a pair of any of these".
Munaawi relates from Sayyidina Ibn 'Abbaas Radiyallahu 'anhu that, 'The qamis (thowb, kurtah) of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam was not very long, nor were its sleeves long. In another hadith of Sayyidina Ibn 'Abbaas Radiyalia anhu it is stated that the qamis of Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam was above the ankles. 'Allaamah Shaami says: 'It should reach halfway down the calf'.

Hadith 3, Chapter 8
---

Samurah bun Jundub (R.A) says: " Rasulullah (S.A.W) said, "Wear white clothing because it is more taahir (paak) and clean, and also clothe your dead in it."

Hadith 14, Chapter 8

From Shamaa'il Tirmidhi

Hasan bin Ali (Radiallahu anhu) reported:

"I inquired from my maternal uncle (Sayyiditina Fatimah Radiallahu anha's step brother) Hind bin Abi Haalah (Radiallahu anhu) about the noble features of the Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam). He had often described the noble features of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) in detail. I felt that I should hear from him personally, some of the noble features of Raulullah (Sallallahu alalihe wasallam), so that I could make his discription a proof and testimony for myself and also memorise them, and, if possible, try to emulate and adopt them. (The age of Sayyidna Hasan (Radiallahu anhu) at the time of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam)'s death was seven years. In view of his age he did not have the opportunity to realise fully the features of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam).

The uncle descirbed the noble features by saying: "He had great qualities and attributes in him, others also held him in high estemm. His mubarak face shone like the full moon. He was slightly taller than a man of middle height, but shorter than a tall person. His mubarak head was moderately large. His mubarak hair was slightly twisted. If his hair became parted naturally in the middle he left it so, otherwise he did not habitually make an effort to part his hair in the middle. (This is a more respected transaltion).

A question may arise that Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) habitually parted his hair as stated in Ahadith. The Ulama say that this was in the early periods where Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) did not make an effort to do so. According to this humble servant, the answer to this is bit difficult, because it was the principal of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) to oppose the ways of the non- beleivers, and agree to the ways of Ahlul Kitab, he did not part his hair in the middle. For this reason, according to some Ulama, the bets translation will be that he only parted his hair in the middle if it could be easily done, and when this could not be done easily, and a comb etc. was needed to do it, then he did not part his hair in the middle. Occasionally he used to part his hair in the middle with a comb etc. When the hair of Rasulullah (Sallallalhu alaihe wasallallam) was abundant, it used to pass over his ear- lobes).

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) had a very luminous complexion (colour), and a wide forehead. He had dense and fine hair on his eye brows. Both eye brows were seperate and did not meet each other in the middle. There was a vein between them that used to expand when he became angry. His nose was prominemt and had a nur and lustre on it. When one first looked at him, it seemed as if he had a large nose, but looking at it carefully showed that the lustre and beauty made it look large, otherwise in itself the nose was not large."

His beard was full and dense. The pupil of his eye was black. His cheeks were full and full of flesh. The mouth of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) was moderately wide. (He did not have a small mouth). His teeth were thin and bright. The front teeth had a slight space between them. There was a thin line of hair from the chest to the navel. His neck was beautiful and thin, like the neck of a statue shaved clean, the colour of which was clear, shining and beautiful like silver. All the parts of his body were of moderate size, and fully fleshed. His body was proportionately jointed. His chest and stomach were in line, but his chest was broad and wide. The space between his shoulders was wide. The bones of his joints were strong and large (denoting strength). When he removed his clothing, his body looked bright and had a lustre (or rather those parts of the body that were not covered by his clothing were also bright and shining, compared with those parts of the body that were covered by his clothing. According to this humble servant the latter translation is more appropriate).

Between the chest and navel there was a thin line of hair. Besides this line neither the chest nor the stomach had other hair on it. Both sides, the shoulders and the upper portion of the chest had hair. His forearm was long and palms were wide. The palms and both feet were fully fleshed. The fingers and toes were moderately long. The soles of his feet were a bit deep. His feet were smooth, because of their cleanliness and smoothness the water did not remain there but flowed away quickly. When he walked, he lifted his legs with vigour, leaned slightly forward and placed his feet softly on the ground. He walked at a quick pace and took rather a long step. He did not take small steps. When he walked it seemed as if he was descending to a lower place.

When he looked at something he turned his whole body towards it. He always looked down. His sight was focused more to the ground than towards the sky (A question may arise here that it is reported in Abu Daawud that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) usually looked towards the sky. Both are reconciled thus: His habit was to look down towards the ground, but he also waited for the wahi (revelation), therefore while waiting he often looked towards the sky. Otherwise he usually looked down towards the ground.

"Here the gaze of the killer hasn't lifted modestly. There the hand of the lover rest on the heart of the deceased"

His modest habit was to look at something with a light eye,i.e. he looked at a thing, with modesty and bashfulness, hence he did not stare at anything. While walking he asked the Sahabah (Radiallahu anhum) to walk in front, and he himself walked behind. He made salaam to whomsoever he met"

COMMENTARY

The Ulama say that Sayyidina (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) walked at the back because of his humbleness. According to this humble servant, if this is applied to his journeys it will be more appropriate. It was the noble habit of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) are described. Imam Tirmidi has mentioned this Hadith in many chapters where the speech and humility of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) are described.

---
Chapter 1, Hadith #7 Shamaa'il Tirmidhi

A Little Something from Shamaa'il Tirmidhi

When I was taught from Shamaa'il Tirmidhi, honestly it was my favourite part of the class. We all (my class) just loved this Kitab. Every hadith we did, we fell more and more in love with Sayyidinah Rasulullah (s.a.w), SubhanAllah. Okay, so since it's Rabi` al-Awwal, I thought I should post some of my favourite ahadeeth from Shama'ile Tirmidhi. One at a time though...

---

Hazrat Sheikh-ul Hadeeth Maulana Muhammad Zakaria (R.A.) writes in Khasa'Ile Nabawi -- in explanation of SHAMA'ILE TIRMIDHI:-

Imaam Tirmidhi has quoted in this chapter those ahaadith that have been narrated on the noble features of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam). It is impossible to accurately describe actual beauty and elegance of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam).
To draw a pen-picture of his appearance is beyond one's capability, but the Sahabah (Radiallahu anhum) have endeavoured, according to their capabilities, to preserve what little they could, of which some is written here. Qurtubi says: "The full beauty and elegance of Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) has not been made manifest, otherwise it would not have been possible for man to look at him". The Sahabah (Radiallahu anhum), have done the ummah an immense favour by conveying to them the perfect intrinsic knowledge, as well as the perfect conspicuous elegance and beauty of Sayyidina Rasullullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam).

When an unfulfilled lover is deprived of meeting the beloved then he stands in front of the beloved's house remembering the features of his beloved, in an attempt to gain some solace. It is from habits and features that the heart is appeased.

---

It is related from Ebrahim bin Muhammad (Radiallahu anhu) who is from the sons (grand sons of Ali radiallahu anhu, that whenever Ali radiallahu anhu described the nobel features of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam), he used to say:

"Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) was neither very tall nor short, but of a medium stature among people. His hair was neither very curly nor very straight, but had a slight wave in it. He did not have a big body nor a round face, but his mubaarak face was slightly round (meaning he did not have a fully round face nor a fully elongated face, bur in between the two). The complexion of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) was white with redness in it.

The mubaarak eyes of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) were extremely black. His eyelashes were long. The joints of the body (e.g. elbows and knees etc.) were large, likewise the portion between the two shoulders was broad and fully fleshed. There was no hair (more than normal) on his body. (Some people have profuse hair on their body. Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) did not have hair on the parts of his body, besides places like the arms and legs etc.) He had a thin line of hair running from the chest to the navel. The hands and feet of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) were fully fleshed.

When he walked, he lifted his legs with vigour, as if he were descending to a low-lying place. When he addressed a person he turned his whole body towards that person. (He did not only turn his face towards the person he addressed, as this is considered impolite, and sometimes, it even denotes pride. Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) faced the person he spoke to, with his chest and body. Some scholars have translated this as, when Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) addressed someone, he completely turned his face towards that person, and did not give a side glance. This is not a suitable translation).

The seal of Prophethood was situated between his shoulders. He was a last of all prophets. He was the most generous and the most truthful. He was the most kind-hearted and came from a most noble family. (It means his character, family back-ground and everything else was of the best).

Any person who saw him suddenly would become awe-inspired. Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) had such a great personality and dignity, that the person who saw him for the first time, because of his awe-inspiring personality, would be overcome with a feeling of profound respect. Firstly, there is a ro`b (awe) for physical beauty, with this when other Kamaalat are added what more could then be said of the ro'b (awe). Besides, the special attributes and qualities granted to Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) ro'b (awe) is also one of the special qualities granted to him).

Anyone who came in close contact with him, and knew his excellent character was smitten with the love of his excellent attributes. Anyone who described his noble features can only say: "I have not seen anyone like Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) neither before nor after him."

Chapter 1, hadeeth 6

We stand on guard for powerful against weak

We stand on guard for powerful against weak

Canada now in U.S.-Israel camp over Palestinians, says Haroon Siddiqui

Apr. 2, 2006. 01:00 AM

W e now know where the Harper government stands on the Arab-Israeli issue: squarely with Israel and the United States.

Early this month, Canada was the only nation to join the U.S. in voting against a resolution on Palestinian rights at the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Now it has become the first nation after Israel to cut off contacts with and aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.

We stand on guard for the powerful against the weak, for the occupier against the occupied.

Combined with our increasingly Americanized combat role in Afghanistan, we are abandoning Canada's traditional neutrality and recasting ourselves in a partisan role — in the service of the Bush administration...

To read more click here. (The link should work now...inshaAllah)

Jummah Mubarak

Beloved Nabi

Talib al-Habib

chorus
Salla Allahu `ala Ta Ha Allahuma salli `ala nabiyyina habibina

Beloved Nabi, my heart yearns to see
The laughter that dances in your eyes.
Heavy lay the burden of my grief
Until you came and gave me strength again
Beloved Nabi

Silently, the thought of you appears
Your love is like the touch of spring to me
And joyfully, my blossom-soul awakes
To remembrance that brings tranquillity
Beloved Nabi

Cord of moonlight, sunlight entwined
Cord of love, our lovesbond eternal.
Fire of yearning, light of hope
Cord of faith that binds me to you.

Light of my eyes, fragrance of my soul
I send my love on angel wings to you
Hear its cry, borne upon the wind
Calling you to lead me through the night
Beloved Nabi

So fear not, my heart, at times when you feel
Sorrowful and lonely in the cold
Soothe your pain, for through his love you’ll find
The solace and the comfort that you seek
Beloved Nabi.

Oh Allah! Send your blessings upon
Our Master Muhammad, our guide, our beloved
In every heartbeat, in every breath and sigh
Every teardrop shed
By those who yearn for the light of his beauty
Who pass days and nights seeking his company
From creation’s dawn, every moment, every hour
Until the rising of the Last Day will come

Beloved Nabi, how long will it be
Until I see the sunrise in your eyes?

Gift of Life

Gift of Life
sung by Talib al-Habib

(My favourite nasheed artist. Why? It's probably because his nasheeds increase my love for Allah (swt) and His Rasul (s.a.w) everytime I listen to them. May Allah (swt) make him amongst those who will drink the water of Kawthr by the mubarak hands of Sayyidinah Rasulullah (s.a.w). Ameen)

Track info

A song originally written by Nazima Cassim, it was transformed into a song in honour of one's teacher - in generic terms referring to anyone from whom one takes knowledge of God and His religion, but specifically the realised spiritual teacher who guides one along the path to Allah. The 'gift of life' refers to the awakening and deepening of faith, understanding, spiritual certainty and love that occurs in the transformative presence of one of the enlightened inheritors of the Blessed Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him and his family). It was written in tacit acknowledgement of the fact that traditional Islam has been transmitted not by books, but by teachers in every generation who have learnt, mastered and adopted the wisdom before passing it on to others. It is dedicated specifically to Talib and Nazima's shaykh, Hazrat Ghulam Muhyi ad-Din Kazi al-Habibi.

Gift of Life

chorus
Allahuma ’rzuqna murafaqat al-auliya Wa’j`al lana waliyyan murshida

I’m calling out your name
Oh hear me, guiding friend

Life was so deluding
In darkness I was drowning
There came a light so bright
Illuminated life.

Since first I saw your beauty
Your serenity and mercy
My heart has overflowed
With thanks to Allah

For all the love you gave me
And the wisdom that you taught me
And the kindness in your eyes
Gift of life

Allahuma’r’zuqna murafaqat al-auliya Wa’j`al lana waliyyan murshida
You gave me the gift of life
The yearning for paradise
The secret of how to love Allah

My heart in deepest wonder
Unfolds a mystery

The secret of existence
A life of love and giving
To strive and sacrifice
To guide the lost to light

Like the moonlight on the water
Like the sun of the mid-morning
Like the star-strewn field of heaven
You shine and guide

Like a mirror-glass, reflecting
In your soul shines the perfection
Of the chosen and beloved
Mustafa.

Allahuma’rzuq-na murafaqat al-auliya Wa’j`al lana waliyyan murshida Waffiq-na wa’hdina tariqat al-muqaddasa Tahdi ila jannatin wa rida’ik.

You gave me the gift of life
The yearning for paradise
The secret of how to love Allah
And my heart soars in gratitude
And prayer that Allah give to you
The shelter of his mercy and his peace.

Gift of Life.

----

Nur al-Habib Productions

Strange... But True

Potty Mouth Punishment

Long gone are the days of making a foul-mouthed child hold a bar of soap in their mouth as punishment.

Sixteen-year-old Jamal Wooten of Portage, Indiana was suspended from school for his filthy language, but his parents didn’t think that was harsh enough so they made him stand on a street corner wearing a sign to tell the world about his potty mouth.

People who saw the teen offered him words of encouragement and passing police officers even stopped to give him some hot chocolate. And after standing on the corner for several hours, Jamal said he finally learned his lesson.

It’s a good thing a passing motorist didn’t hurl insults at the boy. If he couldn’t use foul language he may have retorted with a strategically positioned middle finger.

Return To Sender?

This dealer apparently doesn’t like making his deliveries in person.

Steven Coburn was busted by California cops for allegedly mailing half of a pound of marijuana. So how did authorities manage to catch him? He put his return address on the package.

But even more short sighted was the fact that the Mill Valley man actually forgot to put the recipient’s address on the front of the parcel, police said.

In accordance with procedure, employees of the private shipping company the package was being sent through opened up the parcel to see if the label had been accidentally sealed on the inside.

When the workers spotted the weed they called the cops.

Sounds like this guy did a product quality test before allegedly shipping out the goods.

Taken from Here

Is the Mahdi mentioned in any authentic hadith--Answered by Shaykh Gibril F Haddad

Q. I have heard from some people that the hadith about the mahdi are weak , is this true? and what are the hadith that talk or give signs about the coming of the mahdi?
A.

As-Salamu `alaykum:

The hadiths about the Mahdi are so numerous that many of the Ulema consider the topic to be mutawatir in meaning, i.e. mass-transmitted and not possibly invented.

Following is a hadith of interest for the present time.

In the summer of 1990, at the time the words ALLAHU AKBAR first appeared on the flag of Iraq, Saddam Hussain declared he was a descendent of the Prophet Muhammad, upon him peace, and produced a family chart to prove it. This chart hangs in one of the heavily frequented Shi`i mosques in Iraq, next to the presumed grave of one of Ahl al-Bayt. Saddam also began to address King Hussayn of Jordan, a real 27-generation descendent, as "cousin."

Abu Dawud in his Sunan and Ahmad in his Musnad narrated that `Abd Allah ibn `Umar said - Allah be well-pleased with him:

We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah - upon him blessings and peace - when he mentioned the strifes. He spoke at length about many of them until he mentioned the "strife of the saddle-blankets" (fitnat al-ahlas). He said the latter was all flight and war. Then he mentioned the "strife of prosperity" (fitnat al-sarra').

He said, "Its heat and smoke (dakhan) would seep in from under the feet of a man from my family - he will claim that is descends from me but he does not descend from me. My relatives are only those who fear God."

Then [the Prophet said] the people will rally around a man like a rib-bone on top of a hip-bone [=a temporary, impermanent arrangement].

Then will come the "pitch-dark, blind strife" (al-fitnat al-duhayma'). "It will leave none of this Umma except it will smite him. When they think it is over it will linger some more. At that time, a man will rise a believer in the morning and will reach night a disbeliever. People will eventually take two sides - the rallying - place of belief which will contain no hypocrisy; and the rallying- place of hypocrisy which will contain no belief. When you see this, expect the appearance of the Anti-Christ (Dajjal) from one day to the next."

Was-Salam.
--

GF Haddad

Q&A from SunniPath

Life...

Life can be a living hell.

...

Ugly or Beautiful?

"However ugly a face may be, we can discover some beauty in it if we first experience wonder before it and then begin to understand it, too."

-Oskar Kokoschka

Article from The Toronto Star

ARTICLE WAS IN TODAY'S NEWS PAPER OF THE TORONTO STAR AND IT'S QUITE INTERESTING...

CIA used A-bomb plan as bait

U.S. gave flawed design to Iran: Author Goal to derail or delay Tehran's work

Mar. 4, 2006. 07:57 AM
Iran and EU officials failed yesterday to resolve a standoff over Iran's nuclear work before a United Nations atomic watchdog meeting Monday that may lead to Security Council action. In his book, State of War, James Risen includes the startling claim that the U.S. actually handed Tehran the blueprints for an atomic bomb in 2000. The CIA scheme was to introduce intentional flaws in the design plans that would delay or derail Iranian work. The following excerpt shows the poorly conceived plan and its easily identified flaws.

Risen is the reporter who revealed a secret domestic U.S. wiretapping surveillance program exists in the United States.

The Russian stood out like a poor eastern cousin on Vienna's jeweled cityscape.

He was a nuclear engineer who had defected to the United States years earlier and quietly settled in America. He went through the CIA's defector resettlement program and endured long debriefings in which CIA experts and scientists from the national laboratories tried to drain him of everything he knew about the status of Russia's nuclear weapons program. Like many other Russian defectors before him, his tiresome complaints about money and status had gained him a reputation within the CIA of being difficult to manage. But he was too valuable for the CIA to toss away...

So despite their disputes, the CIA had arranged for the Russian to become an American citizen and had kept him on the payroll, to the tune of $5,000 (U.S.) a month. It really did seem like easy money, with few strings attached. Life was good. He was happy to be on the CIA gravy train.

Until now. The CIA was placing him on the front lines of a plan that seemed to be completely at odds with the interests of the United States, and it had taken a lot of persuading by his CIA case officer to convince him to go through with what appeared to be a rogue operation.

The code name for this operation was MERLIN...

The Russian's assignment from the CIA was to pose as an unemployed and greedy scientist who was willing to sell his soul — and the secrets of the atomic bomb — to the highest bidder. By hook or by crook, the CIA told him, he was to get the nuclear blueprints to the Iranians. They would quickly recognize their value and rush them back to their superiors in Tehran.

The plan had been laid out for the defector during a CIA-financed trip to San Francisco, where he had meetings with CIA officers and nuclear experts mixed in with leisurely wine-tasting trips to Sonoma County. In a luxurious San Francisco hotel room, a senior CIA official involved in the operation walked the Russian through the details of the plan. He brought in experts from one of the national laboratories to go over the blueprints that he was supposed to give the Iranians.

The senior CIA officer could see that the Russian was nervous, and so he tried to downplay the significance of what they were asking him to do. He told the Russian that the CIA was mounting the operation simply to find out where the Iranians are with their nuclear program. This was just an intelligence-gathering effort, the CIA officer said, not an illegal attempt to give Iran the bomb.

At the case officer's urging, the Russian started sending messages to Iranian scientists, scholars, and even Iranian diplomats stationed at the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) in Vienna.

As he mingled with scientists and other academics, the Russian picked up business cards and email addresses. The Russian began to email his new contacts, sending intriguing messages explaining that he wanted to talk with them about his ability to provide materials of interest to Iran. Finally, at one conference, he hit pay dirt when he met a physics professor visiting from Tehran.

The Russian followed up his chance encounter with emails to the scientist back at his university in Iran. The Russian explained that he had information that was extremely important, and he wanted to make an offer. After some delays, the Iranian finally responded, with a wary message, asking what he had in mind. That was enough for the CIA. Now the Russian could tell Iranian officials in Vienna that he had been in touch with a respected scientist in Tehran before he showed up on their doorstep. The CIA had discovered that a high-ranking Iranian official would be travelling to Vienna and visiting the Iranian mission to the IAEA, and so the agency decided to take the next step and send the Russian to Vienna at the same time. It was hoped that he could make contact with either the Iranian ambassador to the IAEA or the visitor from Tehran.

The CIA sent him to Vienna without any backup...

Only a handful of CIA officers knew of the existence of MERLIN.

Better to let the Russian get lost and fumble his way around town than tell more officers about the operation.

He could not stop thinking about his trip to San Francisco, when he had studied the blueprints the CIA had given him. Within minutes of being handed the designs, he had identified a flaw. "This isn't right," he told the CIA officers gathered around the hotel room.

"There is something wrong." His comments prompted stony looks, but no straight answers from the CIA men in the room... After their trip to San Francisco, the case officer handed the Russian a sealed envelope with the nuclear blueprints inside. The Russian was told not to open the envelope under any circumstances. He was to follow the CIA's instructions to find the Iranians and give them the envelope with the documents inside. Keep it simple, and get out of Vienna safe and alive, the Russian was told. But the defector was more worried than ever about what kind of game the CIA was getting him into. And he had his own ideas about how he might play that game.

In Vienna, the Russian went over his options one more time and made a decision. He unsealed the envelope with the nuclear blueprints and included a personal letter of his own to the Iranians. No matter what the CIA told him, he was going to hedge his bets. There was obviously something wrong with these blueprints — so he decided to mention that fact to the Iranians in a letter. They would certainly find flaws for themselves, and if he didn't tell them first, they would never want to deal with him again...

The Russian slid his letter in with the blueprints and resealed the envelope.

After his day of floundering around Vienna, the Russian returned to his hotel, near the city's large Stadtpark. He did a computer search and found the right street address for the Iranian mission. His courage bolstered, he decided he would go back and finish the job in the morning.

He found 19 Heinstrasse...

The only proof that this was the right place was a mail directory, with three rows of tenants' names on the wall beside the building's front door. Amid the list of Austrian tenants, there was one simple line: PM/Iran." The Iranians clearly didn't want publicity.

The Russian slipped through the front door, and hurriedly shoved his envelope through the inner door slot at the Iranian office. The Russian fled the mission without being seen. He was deeply relieved that he had finally made the handoff without ever having to come face to face with a real live Iranian. He flew back to the U.S. without being detected by either Austrian security or, more important, by Iranian intelligence...

Just days after the Russian dropped off his package at the Iranian mission, the NSA (National Security Agency) reported that an Iranian official in Vienna abruptly changed his schedule and suddenly made airline reservations and flew home to Iran. The odds were that the nuclear blueprints were now in Tehran.

From STATE OF WAR by James Risen. Copyright © 2006 by James Risen. Reprinted by permission of Free Press, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., NY.

Steadfastness

Abu Malik al-Harith ibn 'Asim al-Ash'ari reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

"Purity is half of belief. 'Praise be to Allah' fills up the balance, and 'Glory be to Allah and praise be to Allah' fills up everything between the heavens and the earth. The prayer is a light. Sadaqa is a proof. Steadfastness is an illumination. The Qur'an is a proof for you or against you. Everybody goes out and trades with his own self, either setting it free or destroying it."

(Muslim)

Strange... But True

Art Appreciation

It might have been a 12-year-old’s idea of freedom of expression, but school officials were less than impressed.

During a school outing, the youth stuck a piece of chewing gum on a painting worth $1.5 million dollars at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The facility now has to figure out how to remove the sticky stain from Helen Frankenthaler’s 1963 abstract painting entitled The Bay.

The boy was suspended from school, but only after school staff chewed him out.

source

Offended? What Are You Going To Do About It?

Offended?

What Are You Going To Do About It?

Article by Shaykh Omar S. - Jami'yyatul Ulama Canada (CCMT)

"When living in a community a person comes across many people of different personalities and natures. While some people may be friendly to him others may not choose to be as courteous and instead be hostile towards him. Out of their hostility some maybe rude to him, swear at him and at times even may shout a racial slur at him (if he belongs to a different ethnic group). When being pushed into this type of situation a person tends to react. Sometimes he lets his emotions get the better of him and subsequently responds in an inappropriate manner while at other times he maintains his calm and either puts the whole incident behind him or counsels the offender in a friendly way. While the first mode of action generally produces a negative result, the second conduct, although it maybe difficult to adapt for many in the heat of the moment, eventually opens a new window of opportunity all the time.

As a series of derogatory cartoons depicting out beloved Prophet PUBH as a terrorist and supporter of terrorism was being published in a various European newspapers, Muslims throughout the world felt insulted, offended and became absolutely outraged over these publications. As a result thousands of Muslims in several countries decided to take to the streets and engage in rioting, arson and flag burning while shouting, “Destroy Denmark. Destroy Israel. Destroy George Bush. Destroy America!” and holding placards with typical slogans such as, “Kill those who mock Islam,” “Europe, you will pay, extermination is on the way,” “Europe your 9/11 will come!” Although many other Muslims held peaceful demonstrations and continue to do so in other areas of the world yet it is the improper actions of out people that catches the attention of the general public, leaving a sour taste in their mouths. One journalist wrote, “I am dismayed that a few publishers felt it necessary to give gratuitous offense to 1.1 Billion people. Just because you have the right to say a thing doesn’t always mean you should. Still, what’s more dismaying is the way some in the Muslim world have chosen to respond. At least 10 people have lost their lives in these riots, all over a series of cartoons. And you wonder: Are they so far removed from the realities of the world the rest of us occupy that they don’t’ see the damage they’re doing to their faith, their people, themselves?”

Another columnist wrote, “I’ve long been skeptical of the ‘Religion of Peace’ for at least 3,000 reasons right off the top of my head. I think the evidence is going my way this week.”

However, in the light of the mixed reaction witnessed around the world in recent weeks, one may ask, “How am I supposed to respond to these derogative cartoons which serve no rational purpose whatsoever?” Well, as Muslims, the fist place we’re supposed to resort, when looking for answers, is our manual and guide to life, the Qur’an. This is the book that out creator has described as, “a clarification for all things” (16:89) and is the book that always provides us with the best solution is every circumstance. Allah declares, “Indeed, this Qur’an guides to that which is most suitable…” (17:9)

In regards to how one should respond when being put in a difficult and challenging situation, Allah has instructed us to adopt one of three methods..."

READ MORE

Did You Know?

Did you know? In 2005, almost 5 million people worldwide were infected with HIV; that's 10 people per minute. Source


Did you know? Each year, 182,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 43,300 die. One woman in eight either has or will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. In addition, 1,600 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 400 will die this year. Source


Did you know? Cancer is the leading cause of premature death - or early death - in Canada: 954,000 potential years were lost in 2000 as a result of cancer. This represents 31% of the potential years of life lost resulting from all causes of death. Source

The Exercise of Pas Anfas

At a conference last year, a friend of mine showed me this piece written at the end of this book (which my sister bought that day). That piece has stuck with me and I can really say that it works. SubhanAllah, it’s a great joy for me to share this gift. I still have not read the entire book because I have so many to still finish, but I really recommend this book to everyone.

The Exercise of Pas Anfas

For strengthening presence of mind, increasing zeal, and improving memory, one of the simplest and most efficacious exercise known is Pas Anfas, or “Guarding the Breath”. This is a breathing exercise and its method is as follows:
Take a deep breath. When inhaling concentrate on the word Allah. When exhaling concentrate on the syllable hu. Do this repeatedly.
In the beginning, practice this exercise in solitude until you feel a warm sensation. Thereafter, perform it at all times: while walking, sitting and so forth. In all states, endeavor to establish this concentration. At first some effort will be required. However, after a short while one’s breathing will be so conditioned that it will become second nature and will happen spontaneously without one having to continuously strive to do it.
(page 132)

The Book: The Path to Perfection

An edited anthology of the spiritual teachings of Hakim Al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi

By Shaykh Masihullah Khan

To read more about to book or to order it online, click here

The Bedouin

A Bedouin once joined the Imam for Faajr Salat. He had an appointment after the prayer but the Imam decided to recite Surah Baqarah. As a result of the length of this Surah, the Bedouin was delayed and missed his appointment. The next day he arrived early and joined the Imam again, who this time began to recite Surah Feel (the Elephant). Completely angry, the Bedouin broke his prayer and left the mosque, shouting
“Yesterday you read the Cow and finished the Cow and today you are reciting the Elephant, you will probably finish at midnight”.

Al-Jumuah

" The people of Jannah can not wait for the arrival of al-Jumuah,
to fill their eyes more and more with the presence of the Almighty.
For this reason al-Jumuah has been named the day of more (increase)."

(At-Tabarani)

Advice from my Teacher

“Remember one thing, do not let Shaitan over power you. Sometimes it may happen that you are trapped in between what to choose- always choose the one that will take you to the right path…or that which is beneficial…”




Sister Mariam P.




Who is a blessing, gift, mercy and a source of guidance from Allah (swt) for my soul. For it was through her that I learned to love Allah (swt) and His Rasul (s.a.w). It was through her that I saw the Rope of Allah (swt)…May Allah (swt) bless this Ummah with more teachers like her, and May He (swt) raise her amongst the Ulema.

Desire, Lust and Sin

A month or two ago, I was searching for something in the Q&A section in SunniPath. I cannot remember what it was, but I ended up reading through the first page of the results. So I got to this article, and it was a really good article. There was this one part in particular that stayed with me and with all this "love in the air" it made me go back looking for the article today.

Ibne Qayyim Rahmatullah alaihi says:

"The reason for every loss, misfortune and evil in this world and the hereafter is sin and opposing the Laws and Commands of Allah Ta'aala. Moreover, sin destroys bounties and blessings as fire burns wood. It is possible to divide the harms of this vile act as follows: Shar'i (Religious) Harms The Shar'ee harms are many. Some of them are as follows: a decrease in taufeeq (success granted by Allah Ta'aala); corrupt ideas; hard-heardtedness, an aversion towards people, cheerlessness in the heart and to be deprived of knowledge.

The greatest spiritual harm caused by this evil act is the inability to remain steadfast on Deen. As long as a person is entangled in this evil habit, shaytaan will gradually remove him from his friends until he dislikes their company. Thereafter, shaytaan will draw him into the mud of desires until he is deprived altogether from remaining steadfast on Deen. How many youth have been deprived of Tahajjud, fasting, recitation of the Quraan, acquiring knowledge, associating with friends, etc. because of the commission of this evil.

A person who commits this sin becomes weak in front of shaytaan and his nafs-e-ammarah (lowly-self) instructs him to do evil. Hence, he will not have the ability to oppose his nafs in order to carry out the Commands of Allah Ta'aala. Hasan Basri Rahmatullah alaihi has said: "A person deprives himself of performing Tahajjud by committing sins."

Light Upon Light

When man falls into the darkest of corners and holes in the path, he thinks it’s all over, well that’s if he realizes where he is, because some stay blind.

After some time, he opens his eyes, it’s dark, and he only sees a few streams of light.
He suffers in pain, with heart ache and mental anxiety. He screams to the darkness,

“Ahhhh I hate life, I’ve fallen, and keep falling I can’t get up! Death if you are near, my life is no good and it isn’t about to get any better, life is a living HELL, why don’t you just take me now!”

He breathes hard and his brain tells him to lie down,

“Take deep breaths…in and out…Allah…hu…”

He sits up, and thinks,

“How did I get here?”

Contemplate is what he does, see now, he finally thinks. He thinks,

“What have I done, to get here?”

Oh and there is brighter light, a thought,

“I have forgotten my Lord and abandoned His ways. I have lost all sincerity in my prayers to Him, and when was the last time I sent salams, on angel wings to him, my Beloved Nabi (s.a.w)…I’ve forgotten him too. Oh my heart is that why you ache in so much pain? Or is it really death?”

Fear lashes the depths of his soul,

“No death, please don’t come now I’m not ready to die…”

He looks up with tears streaking his face; he blinks once, twice, and sees more light. There are streams of light shining so bright right down to him, warming him, filling him with hope.

“Oh Allah, is this your Noor? You are still with me, even though I ran away from you…not once, not twice but countless times. Oh Allah you are indeed the Most Merciful, and the Most Forgiving. Forgive me my sins and make me stronger so I can no longer disobey you, Oh my Lord.”

The light seems to get brighter and brighter, streaks of light pierce through the darkness like arrows.

He looks around, he was in no corner or hole, he was still on the path. When he had forgotten Allah, Allah removed all His Noor from the path only leaving some strings of light so that His servant might see where he is and stands.

It is when we the servants forget where we are, and get absorbed in the love of this dunya that we become blind. We become so blind that we can no longer see the reality. The reality is that this world, this life is a trial, a journey to the eternal home in Jannah, with Allah (swt) and our Beloved Nabi (s.a.w).

"And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am close. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he cries unto Me."

(Surah Al-Baqarah:186)

Ibn ‘Abbas (r.a) said that one of the du’as that Rasulullah (s.a.w) made during the night prayers was,

“O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light behind me, light in front of me, light on my right, light on my left, light above me and light below me; place light in my sinew, in my flesh, in my blood, in my hair and in my skin; place light in my soul and make light abundant for me; make me light and grant me light.”

(Transmitted by Muslim and others)
For full hadith in English and arabic click here

The Humility of Rasulullah (s.a.w)

Al-Kumushkhanawi:

“Know that humility (tawadu`) is among the greatest, most beautiful and most noble of praiseworthy traits. By humility the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was made superior to the first and last (of creation), for he was (Allah bless him and give him peace) the most humble of people. He was given the choice between being a king-prophet or a slave-prophet, and chose the latter… From his humility was that he used to ride a donkey, let others ride with him, he used to visit the poor, milk his own goats, raise his garments [for long garments were considered a sign of arrogance], fix his own sandals, serve himself, feed his animals, tidy his house, tie his donkey, eat with servants and workers, and carry his own provision from the market.”

(Jami` al-Usul fi al-Awliya, 31)

"Earth from Earth"

"Earth from earth"

Abu Musa al-Ash`ari - Allah be well-pleased with him - relates that the Prophet (s.a.w) said –

“ Truly, Allah Most High created Adam from a handful of earth He took from all the corners of the earth. Hence did human beings come according to the earth: among them the red, the white, the black, and those in-between; the plain and the arduous; the vicious and the good.”

It was narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi (who graded it hasan sahih) in their Sunan, and Ahmad in his Musnad - Allah Most High have mercy on them.


The closest we can get to Allah in this Dunya is in Salah, particularly in prostration. We lower our knees and forehead to the earth, to the dirt the lowest of all elements. Not only does it instill humility in the depths of our souls but it also reminds us where we are from.

We have been created from the earth, born in the wombs our mothers, taking the journey of life and soon to taste death, returning us to the depths of the earth. Where upon reality will become crystal clear…

"Life is short, time is precious, death near, and the distance to travel great, while the moment of standing before God to account for everything, however insignificant, is daunting and hard,"

Imam al-Haddad