.:Bullet Proof Read:.

I’d wanted to comment on Fiqh & King-Kong (a must-read) by Shaykh Tawfique Chowdhury but eh, since it came up to a novel-ish entry, I shall post my own thoughts here…

Great article. Precisely pinpoints the problem. A brother once aptly put it as that we’ve become “victims of specialisation”. Where we not only ridiculously separate the “deeni” from the “worldly” studies and pursue only one or the other, but even when we do choose, we confine our scope to such a small area that we hardly function to society’s true benefit. For example, a brother returns from one of the renown Islamic centres having “majored” in Hadith sciences, “specialising” in sanad. Kudos and hats off, masha Allah, but when we look up to such brothers and sisters for inspiration, we see a pending specification beyond our own reach.

This condition isn’t limited to our section of society, in fact the secular academic institutions are perhaps the major perpetrators (get it?). Instead of a quick fix “let’s encourage people to add variety to their education”, there of course needs to be further research into what’s already been tried and tested. The Islamic schools here, for example, try to include and emphasise “secular” subjects in their curricula. But word on the ground is always that it’s such a burden upon the students, with many struggling to cope.

So uhh, do we revamp the whole education system then? Again, you’d find education agencies across the globe have brought up the issue in similar form before. Locally, it’s been generally to inculcate a sense of sports and a love for the arts in children - to help develop such talents beyond pure academics. It’s always a matter of the extent of such policies actually being implemented, and how successful they are in today’s context. My point though is that, let’s not fancy ourselves overnight heroes to bring about change with just simple discussion. In the end, an effective solution still has to come at some sort of authoritative level and definitely with hard teamwork.

Unity in diversity. I think that was the other issue I saw in Shaykh Tawfique’s article. Of course the brother in example was doing his own dissertation and therefore work for the most part, alone. But generally speaking, instead of having to individually delve into different fields ourselves, how about bringing our expertise together? After all, we do often boast about having too many doctors and engineers and such. Rather than simply interviewing them for expert opinion, engage them to actively partake in Islamic research too. Such collaborations have been done before, for sure… But is it an exploited enough method?

Educate thyself. Other than that, on an individual level, as I inferred from the original article, we can of course take it upon ourselves to study further. I know what I just said in the last para, but this is if you’re able, have the means to and care enough (for the living, make it a better place for you and for me. muahaha.).

No excuses eh. Mind over (muslim)matter. The only barrier is your own self. Check out this lovely list 7 Deadly Mindsets that Hold You Back From Learning Effectively which includes the lame excuse of “I’m too old to learn”. Learning stops at the grave innit.

Help others in the quest. In the least, encourage those whom you know can. More than words, financing helps a great deal. Unfortunately, the eighth deadly mindset amongst us is often “I can’t afford this”, when true rizq comes from Allah. Perhaps taking a break from stable income is understandably too risky at this moment, what with responsibilities of a new family and all. BUT you can still spare some for someone else in a better position to take on the “academic challenge”. I’m sure many already sponsor studies for orphans and needy children, but how about our own scholars? Facilitating the path itself would be just as rewarding, insha Allah.

For the mama and papa bears. And finally, as parents, ourselves educators, we could always set our children on that path to being the gloriously multifaceted minds of the future. No simple feat either, but may Allah give us strength. Certainly, we could do better than recheck the classical works and instead reexamine the way of the classical scholars themselves, whose erudition went far beyond religious sciences.

“Even *I* can blog!” said Moose.

You must’ve read blog posts where a fellow brother/sister complains of or advises against the notion that just about anyone and everyone can talk/write about Islam as they so please. Brother Ali illustrates this problem well in his latest video The Haram Police. I especially love how he points out (around 2:10) that copy-pasting an English translation of a ‘hadith’ found on some obscure website cannot pass off as a ruling. But as much as we laugh along at how well we can relate to such encounters, it is a serious issue - that of qualification.

What I’d like to emphasise here is the oft undermined basic requisite of knowing Arabic. Does this then mean that any Tahir, Dawud and Harith of Arab descent is qualified simply because they know the language of the Qur’an and the Sunnah? Of course not, the true mark of a scholar goes far beyond that.

What we do often find though, is the average layman when he delves into studies of the Arabic language - that is, learning, understanding and appreciating its very linguistics - his nature in approaching any matter or argument becomes refined. His perception is sharpened because now he comprehends the mechanics (if you will) of the revealed Message. And as he marvels in the beauty of it all, everything else is placed in the right perspective - the important are prioritised, and the petty, left behind.

So yes, knowledge in this core Islamic field itself makes a whole lot of difference. A mere introduction to Arabic can blow you away. What more, if we were to properly educate ourselves of it.

“Whoever recites Qur’an, his value is amplified. Whoever records hadith, his proof is strengthened. Whoever learns jurisprudence, his status is ennobled. Whoever learns Arabic, his disposition becomes gentle. Whoever learns mathematics, his opinion will be copious. And whoever fails to defend his honor will not benefit from his knowledge.”
Imam al-Shafi’i*

Spoken like a true master of knowledge, and specifically, the language. Therefore, we should strive to acquire this path to a gentle disposition. If anything, take it upon ourselves as a crucially important step towards reviving the spirit of this ummah. Bi idhnillah…

* quoted in The Heirs of the Prophets.

This Northern Saw-Whet owl is too cute. Awww. Got it here.

I was just reading an article about keeping the flame alive in relationships and not getting too complacent - where one of the recommended acts was to regularly compliment each other, even on mundane matters. It said we could never hear enough good about ourselves. True that.

And praising someone is generally good, as long as you avoid excessiveness, and you know it’ll have a positive effect upon the person. See the following reconciliation between the two extremes:

Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (PBUH) heard a person lauding another person or praising him too much. Thereupon he said, “You killed the man,” or he said, “You ruined the man.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

[source]

Salim bin `Abdullah bin `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with them) reported, on the authority of his father, that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “What an excellent man `Abdullah is! If only he could perform optional prayers at night.” Salim said that after this, (his father) `Abdullah slept very little at night.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith points out the excellence of `Abdullah bin `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) as well as the merits of Qiyam-ul-Lail. It also tells us that it is permissible to praise someone in his presence if one is sure that he will not become proud due to that praise. Another aspect of this Hadith is that it induces one to wish for others’ welfare and happiness.

[source]

What happens these days is that a lot of hard work, skill and talent goes unrecognised and unappreciated, whereas the undeserving receive praises ad nauseam. Unfortunately this creates the imbalance between layperson and authority. It’s like what Hawkings said: The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. But this is a different subject for a different someone to dwell upon eh.

So give credit where credit is due, but with caution. After all, we ourselves know that the finest form of flattery is that heard via a third party. So-and-so said you’re lovely, great, wonderful, marvellous. They absolutely adored your work, thought it was excellent, magnificent! Ahh, how sweet to the ears. We’d be on cloud nine instead of on our feet, working.

But tell me, seriously, who ultimately would be best to receive mention from? Whose utterance is actually worth it? Who should we really desire to say our names? That’s right, smartykins, only our Lord, Most High. And He, subhanahu wa ta’ala, has promised us such in a hadith qudsi:

I come up to the expectations of My servant. I am with him when he remembers Me. When he makes mention of Me in his heart, I make mention of him to Myself. When he mentions Me in a gathering, I mention him in a better gathering (of the angels).
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

When you *try* measuring that against worldly compliments from insignificant human beings… Whoa. A world of a difference. Pales beyond comparison. And what’s really special here is that you’d know very well that to fit into the above description, you need to not only observe the quantity but more importantly, the quality of your dhikr.

And ’tis the lesson for today, my friends.

So erm what does the poor owl have to do with anything eh? Well, uhh, be wise in how you view things. If previously, I’ve mentioned to look to what’s being said and not who’s saying it. Now, I shall advise to look not to what others are saying (about you), but to what you are saying. Especially in such a dark time as ours. ;-)

Spectacular scenery from Saif-ul-Malook lake found in this flickr photo collection.

Subhan Allah. Such splendour makes you think eh. I chose a similar photo - lush mountains beyond a scenic meadow - as the print background for the following quote. You might have a mountain of an issue to overcome but with the right intention, proper preparation, focused effort, and most importantly, sincere supplications, you’d find Allah’s Help there with you on your uphill task…

“The degree to which a person is helped and aided by Allah depends on the degree of his intention, drive, aim and hopes. Help from Allah comes to people in proportion to their drive, intention, hopes and fears, and failure comes to them in like manner.”
Ibn al-Qayyim

Cut off from the source of hope, could beauty linger on?

Pending a difficult situation over which I had no control whatsoever, I was advised to make the dhikr of “la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah”

لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّهِ

before making du’a for the most favourable outcome. It’s a powerful reminder of Who is truly Able and All-Powerful, and this sinks within you with repetition, giving you certainty when seeking His help. Try it when you’re faced with a case whereby you do not (ostensibly) have the power to influence or change the end result.

If you’ve read the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People you’d have learnt about the relevant circles of concern and control/influence. For the uninitiated:

There are many concerns in our lives, but we do not always have control over them. One can draw a circle that represents areas of concern, and a smaller circle within the first that represents areas of control. Proactive people focus their efforts on the things over which they have influence, and in the process often expand their area of influence. Reactive people often focus their efforts on areas of concern over which they have no control. Their complaining and negative energy tend to shrink their circle of influence.

In our area of concern, we may have direct control, indirect control, or no control at all. We have direct control over problems caused by our own behavior. We can solve these problems by changing our habits. We have indirect control over problems related to other people’s behavior. We can solve these problems by using various methods of human influence, such as empathy, confrontation, example, and persuasion. Many people have only a few basic methods such as fight or flight. For problems over which we have no control, first we must recognize that we have no control, and then gracefully accept that fact and make the best of the situation.

This resonates well with any right-minded individual striving for the best in everything. The added bonus for the believer then, is that while he acknowledges that he has no control over a certain area, he still has to make efforts wherever he can, even if that effort be simply a strong appeal to His Lord, whom he recognises to be The Possessor of Power. A believer has genuine hope in this regard.

All this brings about a deep sense of realisation of the complete surrender to Allah. It instills the balanced purpose of will and submission in life.

As an end-note, it’s interesting how the phrase la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah is often translated as “There is no might or power except with Allah”. While “might” and “power” are the closest meanings for “quwwah”, “hawl” more correctly signifies change or transformation. Just this seemingly-small-but-really-important difference changed my perspective whenever I now make the dhikr.

Another one of those lost in translation scenarios that make you realise the disadvantage of not possessing the most beautiful tongue of them all, the language of the Noble Qur’an, Arabic.

No, brother, hands are raised in du’a!

We’ve all heard the hadith that the du’a is worship right. See, the thing about du’a is that you could plan on making a few after a fardh salah or in the third part of the night, but it’s when you actually make the du’a that you feel an immediate effect. That’s why sometimes the quiet, urgent du’a you make on the move is the most moving.

Take the regular istighfar for a simple example. It’s when you seek forgiveness from Allah sincerely that you realise the extent of your sins and that you have a whole lot more to be sorry for. At the same time, you start feeling the true magnitude of Allah’s Mercy. It’s amazing how a du’a so ingrained in us can take on a new meaning everytime we say it in different circumstances. We should strive to prevent the du’as we make from reaching a monotonous state.

Anyway, there’s this powerful du’a that I was reminded of and shared with a few people in the last couple of weeks.

اللهُمَّ لا تجعل من الدنيا أكبرهمنا
Allahumma la taj’al min al-dunya akbara hammina.
Oh Allah, do not make from this dunya the greatest of our worries.

It gives great perspective just by saying it. Like, wait a second, this matter that’s causing me so much stress is merely part of this world, why am I making it my biggest concern? And the lesson it brings is moderation.

So folks. With du’a comes great perspective. You could creatively craft a personal du’a or memorise a super long du’a, but essentially it has to have that internal effect. That’s when you truly believe your du’a will be answered.

I remember how Sas always said a song from Tool first got him into the deen. It’s kinda strange in a whimsical way, but I’m sure we’ve all heard weirder cases of how Muslims and non-Muslims alike reverted to the true path.

Some of us just relate well to poetry (of which, lyrics can be a part). While we decipher what the writer originally intended, we also interpret our own meanings, personalising them to suit our thoughts and experiences. Kinda like how Natalie Merchant’s Beloved Wife would remind me of my dad.

Anyway, the point is I started to see more significant points in the following lyrics (Home by Chris Daughtry) that I thought I’d share. :D

I’m going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
Going back to the moment where you realised Allah’s love suffices.

I’m not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don’t regret this life I chose for me.
It’s not a literal, physical move. More like a metaphorical hijrah. You’ve been doing OK but something is still lacking inside…

But these places and these faces are getting old
So I’m going home.
Well I’m going home.
When things become so routine and everything starts sounding the same, when you feel like nothing more than “a wasp in a swarm”… And perhaps your environment and company have stopped benefitting you. You know you just have to change something. Surely there was a moment when your iman was at its peak. So you want to get it back.

The miles are getting longer, it seems,
The closer I get to you.
The closer you get to Allah, the more humility you attain, you would realise how much further you actually are from Allah.

I’ve not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love, remains true.
And I don’t know why.
You always seem to give me another try.
You haven’t been the best slave. But Allah keeps guiding you. You continually sin, yet Allah saves you. As is said, Allah’s love is the true love (haqiqi).

Be careful what you wish for,
‘Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all,
And then some you don’t want.
Your du’as for the dunya might all come true but with all its excesses. Meaning all the trials that accompany a “good” worldly life might befall you. And this is what you’ve come to realise the hard way. And this is why, you want to return to the best moments spiritually. To be homebound. Where the heart is.

Well. That was pretty straightforward. But yeah, that was that.

Please do share any wicked interpretations (besides the apparent) you may have of poems/lyrics. Thanks!

“Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides.” - Andre Malraux

Everybody’s got their own secrets. Secrets they guard with their lives. So… why do secrets destroy us internally?

As Muslims, a lot of our secrets exist in the form of our vulnerabilities, weaknesses, evil desires and acts of sin. But let’s face it, we SUCK at keeping our secrets. I agree that most times people are well able to hide what they’re ashamed of. But what I mean is how they handle these secrets privately. Such a concealment can sometimes affect their whole lives! Eating them up inside. Killing them softly, if you will. You’d find some lives revolve around a single wrongdoing.

Yes, one should resist, regret and repent. And it’s hard to simply get over it. We should never treat any sin lightly. Consider the Greatness of the One whom we’ve disobeyed. Give thanks that He still guides you to overcome your mistakes. And once you’re out, remember to leave it in the past.

Seriously, stop beating yourself silly over it. Be practical. Do good deeds to cancel out the bad one. Increase in good deeds to prevent a recurrence. Beware of deluding yourself that your tears are directed towards your Lord and that your tears alone should suffice. We read stories of exemplary Muslims from amongst the sahabah and imams weeping bucketfuls. And how we’re encouraged by the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam to make ourselves cry even if we can’t. But the sort of crying we eventually do is shameful. I can’t describe it - but I’m sure you know just what I mean. It’s just… wrong.

We’re practical about direct ‘ibadah. But we don’t realise the many gems of Islam that tell us how we should treat the secrets we lock up inside. That there is always an explanation - cause and effect - but at the same time, there is always a solution.

Please protect yourself from letting your secrets overwhelm you and shape who you are. Life is much more bigger than that.

You know the 5 stages of grief? Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and finally, Acceptance.

I came across these lyrics which make a lot of sense for that final stage…

When what’s written for me
Is the best for you
I will make you
the most wonderful memory
In my life

To accept a loss of any sort, you need to have the perspective of how the same qadr affects the other party. When you reflect upon how they are or will be better off, it helps ease the hurt. Just like in the case of death. When you realise they are free from the sufferings of this inane world - and you truly love them - you will see that silver lining behind the cloud. And you will cherish the memories.

It’s always hard to let go. But having that right perspective makes it a tad easier to go on…

What affects us most is always when it involves someone else right? But even in a materialistic sense. For example job placing. When your application is rejected, not only could it be that it’s better for you and your family, or that something better might come along. But think about the one who does get the job… It might be better for them too. They might be more in need of the job. And so on.

Think positive eh. Balance of hope and fear. Only seek the pleasure of Allah.

Sigh. If only we could remember that always.

Mind awanderin’? Work with what you do know.

Someone recently posed the question of “Dont you wish, that we can purchase a one way air ticket to paradise.” Islamically, of course, there are endless ways for you to make that “purchase”. So if asked metaphorically, the enquiry’s fine.

But had the questioner meant for a literal shortcut, even then (although we know that’ll never happen), one would have to work in this world to earn the money for that priceless pass (irony alert). Right? So it’s hard efforts either way. Realistically or daydreamingly.

Personally, if I found myself thinking of the matter as an easy escape, I’d know my iman is dwindling. Because essentially there needs to be appreciation of this life to truly appreciate the end, to anticipate Jannah. Our blessed life - as opposed to any inanimate object, just have a look-see at their lifelessness - is the very reason why we even desire Jannah. When we start overtly wishing for life to be over (”Ok ok just give me the prize already!”), it’s clear how we’re losing the plot to our own lifestory. We need to be thankful to the One who gives life, the Ever-Living.

On the other hand, one can never be too fixated on life in this world. So there needs to be balance, moderation in how we view life.

My perspectives on it:

1. God - If we could see Allah, life would be so different eh. But what we do know is that He exists (la ilaha illa huwa). We see this in His Word the Qur’an, in His Signs all around us, our environment, ourselves, everywhere. And we do know that the best reward will be to see Him in the Hereafter.
2. Death - If we knew when we were to die, life would be so different innit. But what we do know is that death will happen. We know this again from the Qur’an, from witnessing others dying, from experiencing minor death ie. sleep, from mankind’s history of mortality, etc.
3. Tomorrow - If only we could look into the future, life would be so different yeah. But what we do know is that we can plan and work for it, towards it. And, if you put points numbers 1 and 2 into this equation, it all makes sense… We plan, we make the efforts, but Allah may Will the next day to go a completely different way. Death may suddenly overtake you. So life always revolves around these very notions.

With all that, and when you look to the hadith Qudsi where Allah says (trans.):
“…I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him.”

You can’t help but wonder, why’re you wishing for the end so much then? What makes you different from what has been described in the above hadith qudsi? What is it that you’re missing out on? Fear the useless remorse of the disbeliever on the Day of Judgement that he had rejected the Message. Think about the regret even the successful believer has on the Last Day that he did not perform more good deeds while on this earth. Consider the martyr who wishes to be sent back just to be killed in the Path of Allah time and again.

While death is relief for the hardworking believer, and Jannah his sweetest reward, his firm faith gives him the best realistic outlook on life. And this, gets him through any day.

On a final note though, hypothetical questions such as the initial one can sometimes be detrimental especially to the idle mind. Just stick to what is known from the authentic sources. You’ll be fine. Insha Allah.