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| I had promised to make the migration to the new blog before, but now I'm finally doing it and actually putting stuff up.
http://www.abdulsattar.net
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| On Friday, April 13, 2007
Young Muslims
presentsTrusting in Allah: The Rope that Never BreaksAn Evening of Reminding and Reflection
Mufti AzeemuddinBr. Omar Attiya
Br. Arif Hussain
Do you want to place your trust in Allah (swt) but don't really know how?
Are you worried about the final exams that are coming up?
Are you worried about family, school, or even the situation of the Muslims - and wonder what Allah has planned?
"Certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust in Him."
(Quran: 3:159)
WHERE
Islamic Community Center of Des Plaines - Prayer Hall
480 Potter Road, Des Plaines WHEN
Friday, April 13, 20077:30 PM - After Maghrib
Brothers AND Sisters Welcome
For More Information:Brothers: Iqbal Shariff - 847.644.3712
Sisters: Sr. Safiya - 773.510.3786Young Muslims Chicago (YM)
of
Young Muslims of North America
www.ymsite.com
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| Imam Ghazali (Allah bless him
him) writes the Prophet used to squat down on his knees and
sit on his heels for the meal. At other times, he would raise his right leg and
sit on his left. He used to say, ‘I do not eat while reclining…for I am but a slave;
I eat as a slave eats and sit as a slave sits.’
I don't know why, but that just made me shiver when I read it. Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammad.
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| I know there's been a huge delay on Part II. For some reason, I'm really bad at sequels. It's mostly done but not ready yet.
In the meantime - no flashy quotes or cool stories for today, I thought perhaps this simple verse might remind all of us of some much needed advice:
O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter are better than the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are committing injustice. (The Quran 49:11)
Whew. May Allah forgive us for the faults of our tongues.
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| How To Survive (and Enjoy and Benefit from) The Repetitive, Terrible, Depressingly BORING, Irrevelent Khutbah - Part I
Disclaimer: I am qualified to write this post because alhamdulillah I've given the type of khutbahs described above in the past. So if the title offends you, just imagine I'm talking about one of those! If you can think of other khutbahs that fit the description, kudos to you!
So there you are. Sitting in the first, second (or fiftieth row). Ready for that dose of Islamic knowledge, enlightenment, and energy that will recharge you and empower you for the seven days to come. Your head is up. Who will it be? Will it be that young hafiz kid you love listening to because he's always full of sincere energy and emotion? Will it be that scholar who's knowledge is so deep that each sentence could be a khutbah on its own?
No.
Its uncle.
Yes, that one.
And he has a lot of papers in his hand.
And he plans to read it.
And you will have to listen.
And the khutbah is about Iman.
The first 15 minutes will be spent on telling you that Iman means faith, belief.
The last 10 will be spent telling you that you need more of it.
The last 5, telling you, you suck for not having enough.
Khateeb sits, after a 2 seconds in which you couldn't finish saying bismillah.
He stands.
Aqeemus-Salah.
You aren't sure if the pronounciation of Surah Fatihah qualifies this Salah as valid.
You walk out feeling :(
or..
The khutbah is filled with reflections about everything except Allah.
Words that even Al-Hajj al-Malik ash-Shabaaz (Malcolm X) didn't know when he copied the dictionary.
More letters that you can count.
And you walk out not knowing if you just attended a prayer or if the university was holding an Existential Philosophy 505 class in the masjid...during prayer time.
What Do You Do?
A. First, a quote from Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah, one of the Shuyookh al-Hadith of the 20th century, and one of the greatest scholars of our time, May Allah enlighten his grave and enoble his face:
"If a person started telling you or your group something that you know very well, you should pretend as if you do not know it. Do not rush to reveal your knowledge or to interfere with the speech. Instead, show your attention and concentration. The honorable follower Imam 'Ata ibn Abi Rabah said: 'A young man would tell me something that I may have heard before he was born. Nevertheless, I listen to him as if I have never heard it before.'
Khalid bin Safwan Al-Tamimi, who was with the two caliphs Omar bin Abdul Aziz; and Hisham bin Abdul Malik, said: 'If a person tells you something you have heard before, or news that you already learned, do not interrupt him or her to exhibit your knowledge to those present. This is a rude and an ill manner.' The honourable Imam 'Abdullah bin Wahab Al-Qurashi Al-Masri, a companion of Imam Malik, Al-Laith bin Sa'd and Al-Thawri, said: 'Sometimes a person would tell me a story that I have heard before his parents had wed. Yet I listen as if I have never heard it before.' Ibrahim bin Al-Junaid said: 'A wise man said to his son: 'learn the art of listening as you learn the art of speaking. Listening well means maintaining eye contact, allowing the speaker to finish the speech, and restraining yourself from interrupting his speech.'
Al-Hafiz Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi said in a poem:
A talk never interrupt
Though you know it in and out"
B. Do not assume this khateeb has nothing to say that you don't already know. I have been surprised many times, where in my arrogance I thought that this khateeb would simply repeat what I'd already known, when he would surprise me with something out of left field that left me shocked and awed. This will happen all the time. Especially to us laymen who have no actual knowledge. Keep your ears open and I promise, you WILL LEARN SOMETHING. But how..you ask. How? Especially if the khutbah fits the next description:
C. Now supposes it IS really bad. He's repeating a khutbah you heard before, a khutbah you GAVE, or a book you just finished reading. And he is not doing the topic justice. What do you do?
Stay tuned (part II in a few days)....
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