One Relationship
It is the universal understanding that our life is comprised of a cast series of relationships: relations with spouse, children, parents, relatives, colleagues, customers, supervisors, acquaintances, and all kinds of people you deal with on a continual period, transient or casual.
My understanding of Islam however, leads me to the conclusion that all these are but branches of a single relation that is the only one Islam recognizes and cares for. This is the relation between the individual and the Creator (S.W.T.)
When your spouse for example makes you mad and you respond with tranquil patience, it is not the quest for victory that motivates you, but your longing for the pleasure of Allah (S.W.T.)
When you have the opportunity of making a fortune out of dishonesty even though you are safe from being found [out], you refrain, just knowing that God is watching you.
When someone harmed you unjustly and you forgive, this is a manifestation of your relationship with God rather than with people.
When you are wronged and you forgive, it is in the hope that when the day comes if you need forgiveness, Allah will grant it to you.
IF people become conscious that all our dealings in this world are actually dealings with our Creator, it will become a better world.
Those who care for the betterment of the world should know that this is the key.
To The People of
Our hearts were with you in your dark times and our hopes yearn to see your happy tomorrows. You are now living a critical time of your history and we certainly pray for your success.
However we are perturbed to hear
some voices emanating from
A chain reaction of divisiveness that will never breed any good,
We suggest that the call you should respond to is that of Allah (S.W.T.) saying: “Take hold all of you of the rope of Allah and do not split.”
The call of Allah should eclipse all other calls.
On Preachers and Preaching
A colossal volume of preaching is poured away every week in various houses of worship.
Sometimes I feel it is unfortunate much of it is forgotten
Sometimes I feel that this is fortunate.
Happy Birthday
My dear little one:
You looked like a shining star on you birthday. You were the focus of attention and your face shone with happiness as each one congratulated you. You received lots of gifts as wall as prayers and good wishes.
That was your day?
OR was it?
On your birthday, who really did the birth?
Was it you or your mother?!
Who bore the burdens and went through the hurdles before that day materialized?
And who bore the responsibilities of caring and catering for you since?
I wish you many happy birthdays but I never forget that your birthday is in reality your mother’s birthday.
To Be A Human Being
I am not an animal!
Even if they lure me by giving me the title of the Head of the Animal Kingdom…
I am not an animal.
Even if science tells me that I have the same anatomy and biology as animals…
I don not agree that I am an animal.
My structure and function do not define me.
Have you ever seen a hungry animal finding food but not eating? Or a thirsty animal offered clean cold water but refraining from drinking? Or absconding the drive for sex when tempted? Or angered but responding with a cool quiet smile?
This is how we behave in Ramadan: Thank you Allah for making us human.
Thank you for reminding us of the difference between being human and being only an animal.
Thank you for Ramadan.
Islamic Marriage
At a wedding ceremony, a young man asked me, “They went to the City Hall this morning and had [got] their marriage certificate. Isn’t it superfluous therefore to do another Islamic contract? Isn’t the legal contract at the city [hall] enough?!
In fact the contract at the city [hall] covers the legal aspect but Islamic marriage is more than that and there are some differences:
At the City [Hall} is a contract between two person; Islamic marriage is a contract between three because Allah is party to it and even a witness there too.
Marriage conducted at the city [hall] does not specify a way of life, whereas Islamic marriage specifically entails the criterion of “building a family upon the Book of Allah and the Sunna (traditions) of His Prophet.”
A civil marriage leaves authority to be a subject of mutual agreement and often mutual competition, whereas in Islamic marriage, the mastery is to Allah and both parties have to cede His instructions.
The city [hall] marriage however satisfies the criterion of documentation with the law of the land, and this is also an Islamic requirement.
Terrorism
The main victims of modern terrorism are Muslims. As I follow the news in the media, I realize that the majority of those killed and injured were Muslim men, women, and children.
On
the some day of the
The term “Islamic terrorism” is a misnomer because terrorism is the antithesis of Islam, even if terrorists try to camouflage as Islamic and raise Islamic banners and quotations. Everyone knows that what they do runs against the basic teachings of Islam. The encompassing message in the Qur’an is God’s saying to the Prophet Muhammad, “We have sent you for nothing else but to be mercy to the world.”
Terrorism is an illness even if it dons religious garb. It appeared amongst people belonging to all religions as any student of modern or old history will knows. Instead of listening to the voices bashing Muslims through shallow emotionalism or ignorance, or being deceived by hidden sinister agendas, it behooves all people who care for humanity and believe in love whether Christians, Jews, Muslims, or otherwise, to join forces to combat terrorism.
The combat of terrorism should neither be short term nor just symptomatic. Policing the world to curb and strike at terrorists is an essential emergency measure but a deeper study of the etiology of terrorism is as essential, if we want to achieve durable results.
Like most illnesses, terrorism has its predisposing factors and exciting conditions and these have to be discovered and met with. These military actions although beneficial to the military industry, will be just an intermission but not a cure.