“Andrew gets the interviews, Muhammed doesn’t”

By Abu Ameer (no not Ameer of ISSM!)

As a recent graduate who learnt virtually nothing of any use in his three years of study, who also happened to choke a couple of exams and end up with a third class degree, I was devastated when I stumbled upon this article.

“Andrew gets the interviews, Muhammed doesn’t”

There it was. In big bold letters – what I’d suspected all along; I was doomed.

According to research by the Department for Work and Pensions; for every nine applications sent by a white applicant, an equally good applicant with an ethnic minority name had to send 16 to obtain a positive response. Great. As if the graduate market isn’t tough enough my name means I’m almost 50% less likely to receive a positive response than my non-ethnic counterpart. Throw in a fist length beard (which never seems to look neat on the day of an interview) and a mosque hat and a not-all-that-confident young man has got problems.

“Trick or Treat” or Trick and Deciet?

Dr Sumayyah

Unfortunately Muslims often engage in events and activities in which are incredibly detrimental to ones faith.  Halloween is one such example.

With the West’s obsession with everything demonic and magical (the “rituals” on MTV and children’s appetite for Harry Potter being but a couple of examples) it is not surprising that Halloween has its roots grounded in superstitious, paganistic beliefs which are totally and utterly alien to Islam.  Halloween is treated as a fun celebration, but in reality it is indeed a deception whose reality is far more darker than first thought.  Halloween originates from the pagan belief innovated by the Saxon and the Irish that the ghouls and ghosts roam about on the 31st of October.  They would regard them as supernatural powers controlling the process of nature.  However this is not all, as Halloween used to have a more sinister edge to it.  Shedding light upon the historical treatment of women in Britain,  which now parades itself as the liberator of the poor, imprisoned, Burka clad women across the world, Khalid Baig writes in his thought-provoking book,

Rise: Sons of the Ottomans

By CoolnessofHind

“We are speaking as the grandsons of Ottomans who treated your ancestors [Jews] as guests in this land [Turkey] when they were expelled from Europe“

Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Israel on the 2009/09 Gaza attack

For a very long time now, I have sat examining the shift in thought pattern and policy of the latter day Turks.  Having visited Turkey recently, I can say for sure, there is a strong popular support for the current ruling government and deep love for Islam and concern for the Ummah.  Of course, as ever they were the torch-bearers of the Muslim world for over five centuries.  With the likes of the legendary conqueror of Constantinople Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih being the stalwarts of justice, bravery intelligence and upholders of the flag of Islam, the sons of Othman Ghazi (the founder of the “Ottomans”) raised the head of the Muslim world high in the face of major disasters, such as the Crusades and the Tartar Mongol hoards.

After social degradation, militant secular enforcement and a loss of Islamic principles, it seems the “neo-Ottomans” again are showing the Arabs, and the rest of the Muslim world, how Allah is the only the Being worth fearing; no longer do the Turks wear bangles.  The beginning of something big, has begun.

Biceps, Triceps and… Takfir!?!?!

By Saiful Islam

What happens when you cut the pristine Deen of Islam across some masairs who don’t even know how to do isitinja properly? Mayhem that’s what.  These Mujtahid Mutlaqs* are the last thing this Ummah needs.  As if the Muslims aren’t splintered enough we get a new rising of the Masairiyoon (plural for Masair).  Let me break it down for you:

Masair A is a “Sunni”.  He himself does not know what a “Sunni” is.  Niether has he ever consulted the classical works to find the definition of “Ahlussunnah wa ‘l Jama”.  Nay, this tedious task is far too taxing on the minuscule masair minds. They can barely read the Kalima properly.  What he does know is that Scholar A put a fatwah on Scholar B and since Masair A feels connected to Hadhrat Shaykh Scholar A, he feels he has to defend him. Note, he cannot speak Arabic or Urdu to consult or verify the works, but his best friend who helped him knock out the Masairs in Masairhill told him so and hence that is the undeniable gospel Hujjah (proof) for everything he needs to know and Hujjah to declare everyone who doesn’t agree with them Kaafir.  Hence he is a Mujtahid Mutlaq number 1.

A Poem: Tides of Time

By Saiful Islam

I wrote this over a year ago, I was pretty down on that day, mainly because of the state of affairs of the Ummah.  But the poem has a change of attitude towards the end, inspired from the following Ayah:

“So indeed with hardship there is ease, verily after hardship there is ease.”  (94:5-6)

I am not much of poet, in fact I’m far from it!  If you understand it, then you’ll know the feeling. If you don’t then, urm well you don’t…

The Tides of Time

The battle of the riches and hegemony,
Continue to rage with unabated ferocity.
Despondence and despair are the states of mind,
Sadness and anger are the emotions one finds.

We are the shards of a shattered community,
Trying to bring the pieces back into unity,
The mind behind the hands are being gashed,
Every attempt made, away it is washed…

… By those whom affirm loyalty by the tongue,
Yet the Voices of Inspiration they have strung.
Deeper into darkness the community spears,
The external parties continue to prey on their fears,

But the community will stand firm with Belief, [Insha'Allah]
In the One Who Sees all suffering and grief,
For they know that after every suffering and trial,
Exists a reward, lightening sad faces with a smile.

The Unique Muslim in the West

By CoolnessofHind

In an age where “scholars” compromise there own understanding of Islam for the sake of external influences, it is sometimes important to stop and think about where one’s understanding of Islam is heading and how one fits in society.  It is important to understand the responsibility of a Muslim within the Western social contruct and one’s level of adherence to the Deen.

Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak about Imam Abu Hanifa

By Saiful Islam

May Allah have Mercy upon them both! Reading the lives of the pious scholars nourishes and enriches the souls so much subhanAllah… more so than the  “nasheeds” of today!

Imam Ibn Mubarak Rahimahullah was undoubtedly one of the greatest men of his day.  A contemporary of the famous Faqih and Imam, Nu’man bin Thabit Abu Hanifa Rahimahullah, he was pious ascetic, Hanafi scholar and Mujahid who would teach for 6 months, and wage Jihad for the sake of Allah on the borders for the remaining 6 months of the year, thus attaining the best of deeds throughout the year.  He is known as one of the few scholars who avoided any scholarly criticism about himself whatsoever.  The behaviour of such scholars was exemplary, and nothing demonstrates this fact more than how such scholars would talk about one another.  His words for his teacher, Imam Abu Hanifa Rahimahullah are a case in point.

Ya Ahl Al-Jannah!!!

An old video presentation with translation of the classical poem by Imam Ibn Qayim al-Jawziyyah Rahimahullah.  A deeply spiritual and uplifting presentation:

Eid Mubarak!!! A Poem on a Joyous Occasion

Assalamu Alaykum and

EID MUBARAK!!!!

SubhanAllah, such a beautiful feeling is reverberating throughout the Muslim community, and what’s more everyone is doing it on the same day! Masha’Allah, may Allah increase the unity in the Ummah. Ameen.

Enjoy Eid, but don’t unshackle yourselves from Islam, which in laymens terms means, don’t go Alum Rock Road with Pakistani flags, blasting out the B-boxes in your tight t-shirts showing your non-existent guns… and sisters, please, Hayah… yes on this day as well!

A poem I knocked up… hope you enjoy it.

EID MUBARAK FROM THE ISSM TEAM!!!

Wasalam

Saiful Islam

Its EID!!!

Its a joyous occasion people! Its EID!!!
Celebrate it! It’s part of our creed!

But don’t revert back to ignorance
After light which you attained
For what worth will be Ramdhan
If your pious actions wane?

Do eat the wonderful flavours and foods,
Till our hearts (or stomach’s!?!) contentment
But remember “whoever eats to their fill in this world
will starve on the Day of Judgment…”

Take your time out and visit your friends,
This will increase the brotherly love and peace
But do not waste time in loitering around
For Ramadhan is over and Shaytan has been released!

Love one another and enjoy your familial ties,
As this is what the Prophet maintained.
But do not forget our Ummah ,
Under oppression they are detained

And with all this said and done,
It’s that time of the year, time for some fun!
Its a joyous occassion people! Its EID!!!
Celebrate it! It’s part of our creed!

The Solution to Racism according to Malcolm X

EDL, BNP, and now even Obama is suffering the unrelenting brunt of racism.  So what is the solution to this problem?

Without further delay… Malcolm X: