Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
When a film about the life of Jesus (Essa as) was placed on the circuit, it portrayed Jesus (pbuh) as a gentle, kind, loving, saintly man - more even, it portrayed him as the bible portrays him. And even so, there were certain religious groups who took great offense, saying that the Jews were portrayed badly. Never mind the fact that it was all "true" since the movie conformed to what most of the scriptures in the bible say..
No-one was outraged at the Jewish outcry. Mel Gibson took a lot of flack for participating in this film, and still does today. Christians the world over stood up for their "movie" and that was seen as laudable and yet the jews were "understood" in their feelings and in some instances this multibillion dollar movie was stopped.
But along comes a "mystery director" and makes a film based on NO facts, with the pure intent of mocking and denegrating the Prophet (pbuh) of a faith which so many have called a man of integrity and grace. (See a previous post, or read a Quran if in doubt) and suddenly its "wrong" when muslims protect. When they are not heard, some (rightly or wrongly) are so incensed at the lack of action that they take matters in their own hands. I'm not saying that is right, either, but WHAT WILL IT TAKE for people to simply respect one another?
I ask the christians out there to look at their arms - many of them wearing "what would Jesus do" bracelets. Even if you do not believe in the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would Jesus (Essa as) promote the character assination of ANYONE?
It seems as if muslims just can't seem to obtain any level of respect nowadays - ALL we want to do is pray 5 times a day, go on Hajj and keep our fast and our faith. It seems the rights of everyone are attended to - the rights of gays, the rights of transexuals, the rights of races, the rights of every religion - but when it comes to Islam, suddenly its okay to mock, to contrive such corrupted lies as 9/11 and sell this as an "Islamic attack" - and now, it seems okay for Google to keep this movie on You Tube which denegrades someone who Ghandi himself said is one of the greatest men who ever lived!
I wonder what the ZIONISTS would do if such a movie were made of Moses (peace be upon him). I wonder what the christians would do if such a movie were made of Jesus (peace be upon him). I wonder why its okay for the world to accept this crap about ISLAM.
It's certainly great advertising for You Tube, great advertising for google - what the billions aren't enough, they now need to go forth and promote the denegration of a holy man? It's kinda like the Bully on the playground muscling in on the guy who's sitting quietly saying a prayer, and the rest of the kids looking on and laughing or doing NOTHING.
Shame on you! Shame on the maker, shame on Google for allowing this garbage, shame on those with ANY faith who want theirs respected but won't bat an eyelid when Islam is attacked this way.
Shame on you. Maker of this film, and silent "sheep" who don't even bleat when injustice occurs. Shame on you. If you sleep well now, and you have any faith in you, then you must know that you won't sleep well forever, because there is a judgement day in your bible, in your holy books, and that day will come when all of us least expect it. Not at the hand of a muslim, not by the means of anything man can contrive muslim or otherwise - But as sure as the sun rises God will ask you "what did you do when you saw this injustice towards a man who taught only SUBMIT TO GOD" Because HE WILL ASK - and we will, all of us, be listening to the answer..
SHAME on you.
La Illaha Il Allah, Muhammad u Rasoolulah. There is no God but ONE GOD, and Muhammad is his final messenger. This is a statement of faith. When I die someday, when you die someday, all you will have is your statement of faith. Faith without actions, is DEAD.. How will you answer on that day?
SHAME on you!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Friday, September 14, 2012
Who demolished the towers, and why?
Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem.
There's a lot of questions left to have answered about 9/11. Visit http://911research.wtc7.net
The truth is out there.. sooner or later someone will find it, insh'Allah. The question is, will enough anti-islamic feeling have been generated by then to close the minds to the truth of the peacefulness of this faith and this deen.
Insh'Allah not - Insh'Allah it will never be too late for the beauty of Islam to be seen..
Ameen.
There's a lot of questions left to have answered about 9/11. Visit http://911research.wtc7.net
The truth is out there.. sooner or later someone will find it, insh'Allah. The question is, will enough anti-islamic feeling have been generated by then to close the minds to the truth of the peacefulness of this faith and this deen.
Insh'Allah not - Insh'Allah it will never be too late for the beauty of Islam to be seen..
Ameen.
Men hurt too
Today, I want to shine some light on a topic which in some ways is given so much press and in another is SUPRESSED so much. I ask Allah to guide me and I ask readers to understand that I write from a place of compassion.. The thing about wearing muslim garb (as a women) is that people have this notion (thanks to Hollywood and the media) that muslim women are oppressed and forced to cover. Covering is not the topic for this post.
The topic today is abuse. Spousal abuse. And I'm not talking about abuse on women, I'm talking about abuse on MEN. You read right, sister. Abuse of women on MEN. Wives, on husbands. Those meek, quiet, socially loved sisters who turn into Medusa when the front door shuts and drag everyone into a conspiracy of silence.
There are many husbands out there who live lives of quiet desperation, torn between their desire to run and their drive to protect. Protect themselves, their family, their children. This article would go on for days if I began to quote all the hadith and ayats about how a man should be in Islam; the protector, the guide, the shepherd, kind, understanding, tolerant, a covering for the wife, hiding her sins from the world (as she should hide his). Women are supposed to be the heart of the home, the comforter, the nourisher, the uplifter, the covering for the man. But in many instances the abusive wife will not miss an opportunity to run her man down in private, and eventually it becomes public. This is abusive and disrespectful. From there, the shouting begins, the running him down in front of children (if there are any) and hiding behind "joking" attitudes until they are simply openly vicious. Always, it's excused. It's PMS, its STRESS, its THE CHILDREN, its PRESSURE FROM OUTSIDE. Every justification can be saught and found when one desires, and the man who is abused, desiring peace, finds these quite easily without help. What he doesn't realise is that he ends up sinking deeper and deeper into the web of this black heart who, if she gets her way, will become the black widow as the man withers away. To everyone on the outside, they are fine. She is fine. He is fine. He may be competent in the corporate world and she may be dynamic at the PTA; she may speak out against abuse and even be well loved. That's the thing about abuse - the monster in the cupboard waits until the door is closed on the outside world..
So the sad fact is that too many women living in abuse get told to "make subr, sister". But what happens to the MEN who are living under abuse? You heard me. The MEN. Studies have shown that husband abuse is on the rise. The quran has given warnings against the evil in women. Now this doesn't women are all evil or that all women are evil. But AS a woman I can tell you that of all the people I've known, the most vicious physical abuse towards a wife that I've ever seen has come from a man, and the most vicious, cruel and hateful psychological and emotional and even spiritual abuse has come from A WOMAN.
The men, husbands and fathers, are supposed to be pillars of "Sabr" or "Subr", examples of society, "pious" men who would never abandon a home! Spousal abuse on women has received so much press (rightly so) that the oppression of men has all but disappeared into mythology (wrongly so). SUBR is an arabic word means many things in english. There isn't one word to describe it. Sabr means patience with endurance, it means perseverance, and consistency. It deals with being able to be silent when silence is needed. So all too often, muslims (men and women) in abusive situations hide behind the word "subr" so as to not do something about oppression or abuse. They can't do anything because they feel powerless and also because they believe in the concept of the family. (Abusers typically pick their victims that way, years before the abuse begins.) But subr doesn't mean you become passive, you loose your voice, or you remain hog-tied into abusive relationships forever, hiding behind the banner of Subr as though that is what the Nabi (saw) wanted, because he ALSO said that oppression of any kind is NOT permissable in Islam. It is not permitted by ALLAH himself, who has made oppression taboo even for HIM, much less for us humans!
Remember back when rape was something that was turned against the victim? Remember when she didn't report it because people would say that she had somehow 'asked' for it? Well, that's what many men go through with emotional, verbal and psychological abuse from their wives, particularly when they (the men) are supposed to be the shepherd.. - that same victimisation as though they must've done something to "ask" for the wife to be as she is - abusive, violent, explosive, demeening, degrading and causing shame. People who eventually are allowed into the circle of trust by the man may even react with "oh but you're a MAN how can you allow that?" of "But such a pillar of society, how do you let a woman do that!" or "Nah, she doesn't strike me as the type, you must've done something to provoke her, brother." One must understand how hurtful it is, and they just don't GET that a man can feel just as TRAPPED as a woman.
There are many husbands out there who live lives of quiet desperation, torn between their desire to run and their drive to protect. Protect themselves, their family, their children. This article would go on for days if I began to quote all the hadith and ayats about how a man should be in Islam; the protector, the guide, the shepherd, kind, understanding, tolerant, a covering for the wife, hiding her sins from the world (as she should hide his). Women are supposed to be the heart of the home, the comforter, the nourisher, the uplifter, the covering for the man. But in many instances the abusive wife will not miss an opportunity to run her man down in private, and eventually it becomes public. This is abusive and disrespectful. From there, the shouting begins, the running him down in front of children (if there are any) and hiding behind "joking" attitudes until they are simply openly vicious. Always, it's excused. It's PMS, its STRESS, its THE CHILDREN, its PRESSURE FROM OUTSIDE. Every justification can be saught and found when one desires, and the man who is abused, desiring peace, finds these quite easily without help. What he doesn't realise is that he ends up sinking deeper and deeper into the web of this black heart who, if she gets her way, will become the black widow as the man withers away. To everyone on the outside, they are fine. She is fine. He is fine. He may be competent in the corporate world and she may be dynamic at the PTA; she may speak out against abuse and even be well loved. That's the thing about abuse - the monster in the cupboard waits until the door is closed on the outside world..
So the sad fact is that too many women living in abuse get told to "make subr, sister". But what happens to the MEN who are living under abuse? You heard me. The MEN. Studies have shown that husband abuse is on the rise. The quran has given warnings against the evil in women. Now this doesn't women are all evil or that all women are evil. But AS a woman I can tell you that of all the people I've known, the most vicious physical abuse towards a wife that I've ever seen has come from a man, and the most vicious, cruel and hateful psychological and emotional and even spiritual abuse has come from A WOMAN.
The men, husbands and fathers, are supposed to be pillars of "Sabr" or "Subr", examples of society, "pious" men who would never abandon a home! Spousal abuse on women has received so much press (rightly so) that the oppression of men has all but disappeared into mythology (wrongly so). SUBR is an arabic word means many things in english. There isn't one word to describe it. Sabr means patience with endurance, it means perseverance, and consistency. It deals with being able to be silent when silence is needed. So all too often, muslims (men and women) in abusive situations hide behind the word "subr" so as to not do something about oppression or abuse. They can't do anything because they feel powerless and also because they believe in the concept of the family. (Abusers typically pick their victims that way, years before the abuse begins.) But subr doesn't mean you become passive, you loose your voice, or you remain hog-tied into abusive relationships forever, hiding behind the banner of Subr as though that is what the Nabi (saw) wanted, because he ALSO said that oppression of any kind is NOT permissable in Islam. It is not permitted by ALLAH himself, who has made oppression taboo even for HIM, much less for us humans!
Remember back when rape was something that was turned against the victim? Remember when she didn't report it because people would say that she had somehow 'asked' for it? Well, that's what many men go through with emotional, verbal and psychological abuse from their wives, particularly when they (the men) are supposed to be the shepherd.. - that same victimisation as though they must've done something to "ask" for the wife to be as she is - abusive, violent, explosive, demeening, degrading and causing shame. People who eventually are allowed into the circle of trust by the man may even react with "oh but you're a MAN how can you allow that?" of "But such a pillar of society, how do you let a woman do that!" or "Nah, she doesn't strike me as the type, you must've done something to provoke her, brother." One must understand how hurtful it is, and they just don't GET that a man can feel just as TRAPPED as a woman.
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MEN HURT TOO!
A [true] Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand other believers remain safe
(Bukhārī, Muslim).
The greatest force of a ship is its rudder, yet it is the smallest part. Similarly with the human being, the greatest force is the tongue; the strongest muscle, but the smallest. "Sticks and stones will break my bones but words can never hurt me." they sang at school. But no, they do more - words break you, twist you inside out, leave you hanging, leave you hopeless, leave you screaming inside with no escape and leave you (at the same time) convinced you simply cannot leave because of "the children", "the community" and "you will be blamed" . Words can do more than break bones; they are the force that can break the human spirit, irrevocably damage the psyche and forever taint the way that person sees his/her relationships in the future - always waiting for the "other shoe" to drop.
This is no joking matter and it is no shame on a man that he is abused. The shame is on the woman doing the abuse. The sin is not on the man for being "not quiet enough, not cooperative enough" - some men will simply NEVER BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING RIGHT regardless of what they do, in the eyes of the wife. Often, the abusive wife is perceived as a lovely person by outsiders, a gentle soul, even a pillar of the community or family. You see, abusers are often (although not always) highly intelligent individuals who can paint your own words into arrows and shoot them straight through your soul and heart faster than a deadly shot in an execution chamber. They can also be straight forward selfish individuals who really don't give a hoot about anyone but themselves. Egotistic, medically bipolar, and even a touch psychotic.
Righteousness is good character, and sin is what causes uneasiness in your heart and what
you dislike others to become aware of (Muslim, Tirmidhī).
When it comes to wife abuse, there are alhamdolilah resources for women being abused; there are places of safety, there are counseling venues. Every heart softens when a woman speaks of being abused (unless you're just plain heartless!) But what of the man? What does a MAN being abused come up against? He's told to "man up" or to "make subr". But only he knows what suffering goes on behind closed doors and there are many men who end up dead because of the abuse - what good are they to anyone, then? It is just as hard for a man to walk out of an abusive relationship as it is for a woman, so why not support the brother who is quietly screaming on the inside? And if and when the time comes for him to walk out, don't judge the brother who has, but walk alongside him and the little ones if there are any. Somehow the man is expected to just know what to do, but its high time that IF he choses his right to walk out, we as an Ummah should not pin him as a bad father, as a bad community member, or as looked down upon as the sinner when in fact he is the victim.
The Quran gives the man clear guidance regarding Talaq (divorce) and how it should be used if and when the time comes. Although the Arsh of Allah shakes when talaq is mentioned, it is nonetheless permissable because Allah does not wish to see opression for either husband or wife. In Surah An Nisa, (Chapter 34) of the Quran, as well as in various hadith, it is made clear how a man should deal with abuse from a wife and indeed divorce IS a choice he has; although it is a difficult one to make if he does not consider that the abuse that children see today may be the abuse they suffer or perpetrate tomorrow. It is a heart-wrenching and difficult choice to make - keep the family but teach abuse or walk away but then the family is dismantled. An emotionally and psychologically abusive wife does not change, it's character, not a learned behaviour. Physical abuse is in some ways easier to control and change than emotional and psychological abuse because these come from the character make-up of the individual, and character is the proverbial spots on the leopard.
In islamic teaching, dealing with wife abuse has stages - of admonishen, stages of separation, and stages of complete cutting of the chains that hold the abuse in place (open to choice of course). There are some misconceptions regarding means of correction but for the one with the right intention and a clean heart it is pretty clear that "BEATING UP THE WIFE TO TEACH HER A LESSON" is not permissable for then one simply becomes the abuser and that further destroys the fabric of the home.
In islamic teaching, dealing with wife abuse has stages - of admonishen, stages of separation, and stages of complete cutting of the chains that hold the abuse in place (open to choice of course). There are some misconceptions regarding means of correction but for the one with the right intention and a clean heart it is pretty clear that "BEATING UP THE WIFE TO TEACH HER A LESSON" is not permissable for then one simply becomes the abuser and that further destroys the fabric of the home.
It doesn't take a pious person to following Quranic process or to stand by someone who is doing so - it takes a muslim. It takes a muslim not to back bite him or her in the outcome, if he or she chooses to leave. Deen first, culture second. Allah first, opinions second.
Essentially, why its harder for a muslim man to deal with a wife's abuse than a man, say, from any other faith, is that in Islam, the more civil and the kinder is a Muslim to his wife, the more perfect of faith he has; a man is taught to fear God with reference to two meek beings, woman and orphan. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, stressed kindness and good treatment of wives.
BUT the Holy Quran also says:
“keep them in good fellowship, or let them go in kindness (2:229) so if there is no good fellowship, what then?Follow the steps. Then decide:
“keep them in good fellowship, or let them go in kindness (2:229) so if there is no good fellowship, what then?Follow the steps. Then decide:
“Retain them in kindness, or set them free in kindness, and retain them not for injury.” (2:231)
In other words, brothers, “Retain them in kindness" do what you can to maintain the ties, follow the quranic injunctions and processes. BUT IF you've done all you can - followed the processes in Shariah, made your sabr, done your "time" and kindness is still a vague thing left for the cycle of abuse under "happytimes" then you HAVE THE CHOICE “set them free in kindness, and retain them not for injury.” (2:231) - for surely Allah does not like the wrongdoers and it may be that he has something better in store for you.
Things are slowly changing as people perceive the abuse of men; there IS hope out there for brothers living in abusive situations and the resources are growing. If you know of a brother going through abuse, or suspect it, then modesty and haya will dictate how you handle that but IF you can, IF your relationship is close:
“If you see something wrong, try to change it with your hand. If you cannot, speak out against it. And if you cannot, then at the very least feel that in your heart and this is the weakest level of Iman (faith).” (Muslim)
Brothers, sisters, when did "making subr" become equated to "doing nothing"? Silence is the tool of the abuser. If silence wins, abuse wins. When did Allah make being "passive" the solution? When did Allah say that you have to BE abused, that someone - anyone- has the right to take away your rights, has the right to denegrade or oppress you, has the right to torture you? When did Allah say that, having done all, you need to simply endure, forever? When did Allah give ANYONE the right to be your ALLAH over HIM to dictate how you should live, where you should go, what you should eat, what you can say or not say, how you should sit or stand or walk (because abusers will try to do this saying they aren't controling you, they are just trying to better you). When do we take give ALLAH his rightful place in our homes.
There comes a time when an abused man walks away - either out of the house, or into the grave. Hopefully, he takes counsel and sees an Aalim for advice. Because, Allah doesn't sleep, and He also says you should help the oppressor by stopping the oppression which piles sin upon his/her head. I believe passivity only extends the pain of the innocent ones involved in these abusive relationships. Men who have overcome abuse testify to the fact that it was breaking the silence that helped them to overcome the problem or walk away into a happier time. Physical scars go away. Psychological scars sometimes never heal.
There comes a time when an abused man walks away - either out of the house, or into the grave. Hopefully, he takes counsel and sees an Aalim for advice. Because, Allah doesn't sleep, and He also says you should help the oppressor by stopping the oppression which piles sin upon his/her head. I believe passivity only extends the pain of the innocent ones involved in these abusive relationships. Men who have overcome abuse testify to the fact that it was breaking the silence that helped them to overcome the problem or walk away into a happier time. Physical scars go away. Psychological scars sometimes never heal.
The most virtuous
jihād is when one speaks a word of truth before an unjust ruler (Abū Dāwūd, Tirmidhī, Ibn Māja). So to all the sisters out there (or brothers)who may be these "Silent abusers", I say to you ALLAH IS WATCHING YOU. He sees what you do and he has seen the blackness in your heart to which you have given in as though it were food. Beware, for what you have today you may lose tomorrow, by your own hand and your own tongue and through nobody's fault but your very own.
And to all the brothers (or sisters) out there who may be these "silent victims", I say to you that YOU are not alone. ALLAH IS WATCHING YOU and whilst he asks you to make subr, you have a duty to protect those you bring into this world from learning that "He who shouts louder /hurts better/ fights dirtier reigns" - the lesson the abuser teaches.
Essentially, brothers and sisters, Allah has no partners. No wife is more important than Allah and no husband is more important than Allah. If you do his/her will above your duty to Allah, consider who you are serving.. is it fear, is it subr, is it your spouse?
There are more of you abused than you imagine. For interest sake, statistics show that in 90% of cases of emotional and psychological abuse, the MAN is the victim, not the woman. You don't get to hit back, you don't get to strike back - that's the subr bit. But you DO get to rally the troops, seek your own mental stability, and even walk away if it continues, to walk in the path of Allah unhindered by a "demigod".
Allah has not made you a slave to anyone but HIM. LA ILAHA IL ALLAH
Silence is the tool of the abuser - to silence the abused, to make them conform, to eventually erode them to the point where they will not dare leave for the fear that all her threats become reality.
But they ARE just that - fear. And ALLAH is the greatest Helper.
Studies have shown that emotional and psychological abuse eventually, in 98% of cases, becomes physical. And then, it escalates. The cycle of abuse is that all is well, apart from the subversive eroding of your image first in private then in public - then there is an explosive situation, and the abuse kicks in full force - often escalating from the previous incident.
RESOURCES FOR ABUSED MEN
FREE EBOOKS:
For an ebook on spousal abuse, download the FREE RESOURCE "Heart2heart for men" or "heart2heart for women" on http://www.heart-2-heart.ca/ This is the single most valuable site I can recommend, with chat groups and forum discussions for men.
http://dahmw.org/ - booklet on emotional abuse of men in intimate relationships
WEBSITES:
Websites that provide many valuable articles and assistance to men in abusive relationships:
http://shrink4men.wordpress.com
www.safe4all.org
www.themenscenter.com
www.batteredmen.com
www.mensadviceline.org.uk
ARTICLES AND HELPFUL INFORMATION:
- Healthy Relationships - Information Sheet
- Know Your Rights: Alberta's Protection Against Family Violence Act (PAFVA) - Information Sheet
- Child Abuse/Children Exposed to Family Violence - Information Sheet
- Child Abuse/Children Exposed to Family Violence - Booklet
- Women Abused in Intimate Relationships - Information Sheet
- Women Abused in Intimate Relationships - Booklet
- Men Abused by Women - Information Sheet
- Men Abused by Women - Booklet
- Abuse in Same Sex and LGBTQ* Relationships - Information Sheet
- Abuse in Same Sex and LGBTQ* Relationships - Booklet
- English Express Family Violence Insert
- Aboriginal Journey to Healing - Information Sheet
- Translated Resources
- Supports for Albertans Fleeing Abuse
- Dr Claudia Carnell on the emotional abuse of women BY women - http://www.theupperdeck.com/?p=641
I make duah that you never have to deal with an abuser, never suffer abuse. I make duah that if you do, you are able to do what the Quran and the Nabi says, and I make duah that La Ilaha prevail in your heart, and in your life.. insh'Allah Ameen.
THIS IS DEDICATED TO THE BROTHERS WHO STRUGGLE WITH ABUSE - BECAUSE MEN HURT TOO
Review: Al Imdaad Foundation
Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem.
Jummah Mubarak.
Firstly may I say that I am not affiliated to this agency in any way. However, I came across it this morning via an email subscription to an unrelated newsletter and my curiousity was tickled. So I looked them up, and it really touched this human and muslim heart to see that charity, compassion and kindness are not dead. For all that we go through as human beings regardless of race or creed, for all the violence and suffering that washes onto the shores of each of our lives, there are buffers of pain such as this organisation. I felt it important, if not an absolute duty, to showcase them however I can. This blog seems to be a good place to start. If any good work is out there, and anyone can further contribute to such good work, I feel its important to speak about it. Al-Imdaad is not the only organisation out there, and I will review islamic organisations that do such work as I believe it would make our Nabi (saw) smile to know they are doing it, Insh'Allah. May Allah keep them from pride and give them the right Niyat in what they do, and bless their endeavours, Insh'ALLAH!
Al Imdaad can be found on: www.alimdaad.com
As their website says: The Al-Imdaad Foundation is a non-profit humanitarian aid relief organisation (NGO) registered in the Republic of South Africa, dedicated to providing humanitarian services in crisis and non-crisis situations to most needy orphans, widows and destitute, irrespective of race, religion, culture, creed and geographical boundary.
Al Imdaad is active right around the world, in fact in every continent!
Some of their services: Al Imdaad can be found on: www.alimdaad.com
1) They provide emergency relief for natural and manmade disasters, for example:
Besides these, Al Imdaad cater for Islamic programmes, orphans and child welfare projects, water and sanitation projects, health and medical projects, health and nutrition programmes, education programmes, social programmes, widow care programmes, and the list goes on.
So the next time you see something devastating on the news or hear about it in the press and you wonder "why doesn't someone DO something" - know that someone IS. And when you then ask yourself "what could I POSSIBLY do to help, little old ME?" know that there is always something you can do - be it to spread the word, physically contact them, donate, or make duah..
Al Imdaad can be found on: www.alimdaad.com
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Whoever of you sees something wrong should change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest form of belief.'" [Muslim]
(with his heart - in other words, with duah (prayer))
Pictures - please note: All the pictures below are available from Al Imdaad website, courtesy of various newsbroadcasters - please visit the site for proper credit to copyrights.
Please visit Al Imdaad's website and view their galleries, from where these pictures have come. Only someone with no compassion would not be moved. Al Imdaad can be found on: www.alimdaad.com
Jummah Mubarak.
Firstly may I say that I am not affiliated to this agency in any way. However, I came across it this morning via an email subscription to an unrelated newsletter and my curiousity was tickled. So I looked them up, and it really touched this human and muslim heart to see that charity, compassion and kindness are not dead. For all that we go through as human beings regardless of race or creed, for all the violence and suffering that washes onto the shores of each of our lives, there are buffers of pain such as this organisation. I felt it important, if not an absolute duty, to showcase them however I can. This blog seems to be a good place to start. If any good work is out there, and anyone can further contribute to such good work, I feel its important to speak about it. Al-Imdaad is not the only organisation out there, and I will review islamic organisations that do such work as I believe it would make our Nabi (saw) smile to know they are doing it, Insh'Allah. May Allah keep them from pride and give them the right Niyat in what they do, and bless their endeavours, Insh'ALLAH!
Al Imdaad can be found on: www.alimdaad.com
As their website says: The Al-Imdaad Foundation is a non-profit humanitarian aid relief organisation (NGO) registered in the Republic of South Africa, dedicated to providing humanitarian services in crisis and non-crisis situations to most needy orphans, widows and destitute, irrespective of race, religion, culture, creed and geographical boundary.
Al Imdaad is active right around the world, in fact in every continent!
Some of their services: Al Imdaad can be found on: www.alimdaad.com
1) They provide emergency relief for natural and manmade disasters, for example:
- the floods in India
- the genocide in Burma
- Flash flood relief in Comoros
- Humanitarian Crisis in Syria
- Cyclones Giovanna & Irina (Madagascar)
- Xenophoibic attacks in Welkom
- Turkish airquake
- Floods in Pakistan
- Droughts in the Horn of Africa
- Japanese Tsunami
- The Lybian Crisis
- New Zealand Earthquake
- Mount Merapi Volcano - Indonesia
- Haiti Earthquake
- Padang Earthquake
- Gaza Crises
- Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh
- Many problems right around South Africa, from floods to fires
Besides these, Al Imdaad cater for Islamic programmes, orphans and child welfare projects, water and sanitation projects, health and medical projects, health and nutrition programmes, education programmes, social programmes, widow care programmes, and the list goes on.
So the next time you see something devastating on the news or hear about it in the press and you wonder "why doesn't someone DO something" - know that someone IS. And when you then ask yourself "what could I POSSIBLY do to help, little old ME?" know that there is always something you can do - be it to spread the word, physically contact them, donate, or make duah..
Al Imdaad can be found on: www.alimdaad.com
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Whoever of you sees something wrong should change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest form of belief.'" [Muslim]
(with his heart - in other words, with duah (prayer))
Pictures - please note: All the pictures below are available from Al Imdaad website, courtesy of various newsbroadcasters - please visit the site for proper credit to copyrights.
Please visit Al Imdaad's website and view their galleries, from where these pictures have come. Only someone with no compassion would not be moved. Al Imdaad can be found on: www.alimdaad.com
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| Flooding in the Comores |
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| Devastation caused by the Cyclone in Madagascar |
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| Relief packs for Drought in Horn of Africa |
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| A Man observes the damage after the Japanese Tsunami |
Thursday, September 13, 2012
A tale without a name
A SUFI TALE WITHOUT A NAME
There was once a Sufi who was approached by a youth, who said to him:
-'Why do the wise not give good advice to all so that we could all act in accordance with it, and prosper? If there are so many illuminated ones who can he al the sick, why do they not do it for everyone, so that we might banish disease from the earth?'
The Sufi said:
-'Come with me on a journey, and I will show you how matters really stand, for they are otherwise than you think.'
So the two set off on their travels. They arrived at a village where a man was trying to milk a miserable goat, but could hardly get any milk from her.
The Sufi said to him:
-'What would you like most of all?'
The man answered:
-'I would like a herd of good goats, so that I could hold up my head up high, feed my family, and be content.'
The Sufi said:
-'Would you not rather be worthy of all this first?'.
But the poor man shook his head:
The Sufi said:
-'Come with me on a journey, and I will show you how matters really stand, for they are otherwise than you think.'
So the two set off on their travels. They arrived at a village where a man was trying to milk a miserable goat, but could hardly get any milk from her.
The Sufi said to him:
-'What would you like most of all?'
The man answered:
-'I would like a herd of good goats, so that I could hold up my head up high, feed my family, and be content.'
The Sufi said:
-'Would you not rather be worthy of all this first?'.
But the poor man shook his head:
- 'No,' he replied 'because poverty produces misery and plenty is a blessing which produces benevolence.'
The Sufi waved his hand, and suddenly the poor peasant found that he was the owner of many flocks of beautiful goats.
The two travellers proceeded on their way.
The Sufi waved his hand, and suddenly the poor peasant found that he was the owner of many flocks of beautiful goats.
The two travellers proceeded on their way.
The next person they met was a woman, who was sitting disconsolately beside a well. The Sufi asked her what was wrong, and she said:
-'I am ugly and nobody will marry me, which means that I am doomed to pass the rest of my life in misery, since hereabouts it is considered undesirable to be unmarried.'
The Sufi said:
-'Would you rather be beautiful or really useful in this world, and able to serve other people?'
-'I would rather be beautiful,' she said, 'because if I were, it would not be hard to do good. As it is, others do evil to me.'
The Sufi waved his hand, and by his knowledge of the superior realms, the woman was transformed into a ravishing beauty.
The two went on their way.
-'I am ugly and nobody will marry me, which means that I am doomed to pass the rest of my life in misery, since hereabouts it is considered undesirable to be unmarried.'
The Sufi said:
-'Would you rather be beautiful or really useful in this world, and able to serve other people?'
-'I would rather be beautiful,' she said, 'because if I were, it would not be hard to do good. As it is, others do evil to me.'
The Sufi waved his hand, and by his knowledge of the superior realms, the woman was transformed into a ravishing beauty.
The two went on their way.
The next man they met was a scholar, dressed in sumptuous robes.
After same conversation, the Sufi asked him:
-'Is there anything which you need? It appears not, since you have been blessed with so much. You have cattle, houses, the respect of your students...'
The scholar said:
-'None of these is of any account. What I really need is that I should be regarded as the greatest scholar in the world.'
-'But,' said the Sufi, 'would you not rather be known as the most useful man in the world?'
-'I do not think so,' said the scholar, 'for nobody can decide whether anyone really is useful: they can only believe it.'
The Sufi waved his hand, and, in a trice, the scholar was transformed into the most famous and distinguished sage in the world.
After same months of travelling, the Sufi changed his dress and appearance, and those of the disciple, so that they looked entirely different. Now he said:
-'Let us retrace our steps and see how our advice and actions have taken effect.'
In due time they came upon the man with the goats, and found that he had become a tyrant, whom everyone feared.
In due time they came upon the man with the goats, and found that he had become a tyrant, whom everyone feared.
-'People,' said the Sufi, 'imagine that they need affluence to be good, whereas it may make them worse, for it can give them opportunities which they did not have before.'
Then they saw the woman, who was now married but spent all her time titivating herself.
-'If she had been told to make herself better before becoming beautiful, she would not have taken any notice,' said the Sufi.
Finally they arrived at the house of the teacher, who was so surrounded by admirers that they had difficulty in gaining an audience.
-'Tell me,' said the Sufi, 'did you attain this importance by yourself, or was it perhaps through the wonder-working of one of those wise men?'
-'Wise men?' said the scholar; 'there is no such thing. Wonderworkers, indeed! Be off with you!'
Now the Sufi waved his hand again, and all the people returned to where they had been at the beginning.
-'The advice which people need before they can improve and make use of healing and of good counsel, and of good fortune,' he told his pupil, 'is already available to them, and has been repeated for centuries.
The Stone & the Tree
THE STONE AND THE TREE
There was once a dervish in Abadan, whose cell was always surrounded by disciples, people who had come from far and near to hear his wisdom and try to achieve knowledge and spiritual fulfilment. Sometimes he spoke to them, sometimes he did not. Sometimes he read from books, and sometimes he made them perform various tasks. The disciples tried, for decades, to understand the purport of his words, to fathom the depth of his signs and symbols, and in every way possible to get closer to his wisdom.
Those who understood what he taught, were the ones who did not spend time trying to puzzle out things. They cultivated patience and attention, and refrained from looking for verbal associations from books and from what others had told them. The majority, however, as is the way of the world, were sometimes elated, sometimes sad, and always covetous, even if it was only for wisdom and their well-being. They had all kinds of explanations for this way of thinking except the real ones.
At long last, after many years had passed, one of these disciples plucked up enough courage to approach the master directly and said:‘There are a number of us, o wise one, who have been trying to follow the path of knowledge for most of our lives. Now, as some are old and others are getting older, we feel that we have to open our hearts to you, saying that we need a further indication of how we should proceed’.The dervish gave a long sigh and answered:‘Come with me to the seashore and I’ll show you something which tells you everything, if you can only hear it’.
At the pebble-strewn beach, the dervish took a stone from the water and asked a disciple: ‘How long has this stone been here?’
The man said: ‘It is worn smooth, so it must have been rolled back and forth, under the surf, for perhaps several thousand years’.‘Now’, said the dervish: ‘Take this wet stone and crack it open, then tell me what you find’. They smashed the stone and saw that it was very much the same inside as it was out.
‘You observe’, said the dervish, ‘that although submerged in the sea for accounted ages, the innermost part of this stone is as dry as if it had never been near water. You people are like the stone. Surrounded by wisdom, you do not allow it to penetrate. Unlike the stone, there is a talisman, which will let the transforming quality suffuse you, to your innermost being. That quality is patience, forbearance and openness, things which you call three qualities, but which are in reality only one’.
Next the dervish took his followers onto a hill overlooking the sea, where in spite of the aridity of the place, a magnificent tree grew.‘This tree’, he said, ‘can live and grow tall and fruitful where nothing else can. This is possible to it only because it has made worthy efforts, signalled by the inner quality of the seed which gave it birth, to penetrate deep into the earth to find water. ‘Learn the lesson, my friends’.
At long last, after many years had passed, one of these disciples plucked up enough courage to approach the master directly and said:‘There are a number of us, o wise one, who have been trying to follow the path of knowledge for most of our lives. Now, as some are old and others are getting older, we feel that we have to open our hearts to you, saying that we need a further indication of how we should proceed’.The dervish gave a long sigh and answered:‘Come with me to the seashore and I’ll show you something which tells you everything, if you can only hear it’.
At the pebble-strewn beach, the dervish took a stone from the water and asked a disciple: ‘How long has this stone been here?’
The man said: ‘It is worn smooth, so it must have been rolled back and forth, under the surf, for perhaps several thousand years’.‘Now’, said the dervish: ‘Take this wet stone and crack it open, then tell me what you find’. They smashed the stone and saw that it was very much the same inside as it was out.
‘You observe’, said the dervish, ‘that although submerged in the sea for accounted ages, the innermost part of this stone is as dry as if it had never been near water. You people are like the stone. Surrounded by wisdom, you do not allow it to penetrate. Unlike the stone, there is a talisman, which will let the transforming quality suffuse you, to your innermost being. That quality is patience, forbearance and openness, things which you call three qualities, but which are in reality only one’.
Next the dervish took his followers onto a hill overlooking the sea, where in spite of the aridity of the place, a magnificent tree grew.‘This tree’, he said, ‘can live and grow tall and fruitful where nothing else can. This is possible to it only because it has made worthy efforts, signalled by the inner quality of the seed which gave it birth, to penetrate deep into the earth to find water. ‘Learn the lesson, my friends’.
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Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Salaams to any muslim readers out there, and hello to anyone else;
After my last 2 blog posts which covered all the inconsistencies of some of the books, Allah has kindly provided us all by his love and mercy with a refresher from someone who is truly in the know. Any readers out there who know about Harun Yahya will know that this writer is an incredibly straightforward, easy to read writer with sound islamic references. If you've never read Harun Yahya, today is a mubarak day for you!! I was not aware until a few seconds ago of this download resource and want to share it.
This is a link to the website where you may download one of many of his books;
"The Qur'an, the Torah, the Psalms and the Gospel".
Click here to get your FREE E-book now, no questions asked, no catches, hitches , no ifs ands or Buts.
Read or download Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) in the Qur'an, the Torah, the Psalms and the Gospel
Or, as a special bonus, download or read ANY of his books as below... now THAT is provision of knowledge. I can't WAIT to get started!
http://harunyahya.com/list/type/1/name/kitaplar
There is no end to knowledge. Knowledge for knowledge's sake is empty - but when knowledge is saught so that we may draw nearer to Allah, that He may grant us wisdom, then knowledge is priceless!
ENJOY, Insh'Allah!!
Salaams to any muslim readers out there, and hello to anyone else;
After my last 2 blog posts which covered all the inconsistencies of some of the books, Allah has kindly provided us all by his love and mercy with a refresher from someone who is truly in the know. Any readers out there who know about Harun Yahya will know that this writer is an incredibly straightforward, easy to read writer with sound islamic references. If you've never read Harun Yahya, today is a mubarak day for you!! I was not aware until a few seconds ago of this download resource and want to share it.
This is a link to the website where you may download one of many of his books;
"The Qur'an, the Torah, the Psalms and the Gospel".
Click here to get your FREE E-book now, no questions asked, no catches, hitches , no ifs ands or Buts.
Read or download Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) in the Qur'an, the Torah, the Psalms and the Gospel
Or, as a special bonus, download or read ANY of his books as below... now THAT is provision of knowledge. I can't WAIT to get started!
http://harunyahya.com/list/type/1/name/kitaplar
There is no end to knowledge. Knowledge for knowledge's sake is empty - but when knowledge is saught so that we may draw nearer to Allah, that He may grant us wisdom, then knowledge is priceless!
ENJOY, Insh'Allah!!
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