It’s Only Sunnah Bro!!!

By Saiful Islam

“It’s only Sunnah bro…!”

That is the statement often made by those who when encouraged towards a Sunnah, pull out as an excuse to justify the non-adoption of a particular act, dress code or method which was conducted by the beloved Messenger of Allah, Muhammad.

Here is a tangible example.  Coming out of a shop, a brother wearing jeans half hanging down and a D&G t-shirt came out “bopsing” awkwardly and poorly imitating the 50 Cent et al.  It just so happened that I knew him from our younger days at school.

“SALAAAAAAAMALAIKUM CUZZZIEEEEEE, WA GOWAN!!!”

Standing there, I looked at his state, and thought, MashaAllah, the salam (greeting) is still there!  ”Walaykum salam bro”, I said.  After the usual catching up phase of our discussion where the obligatory “hows it goin”, “you married yet” questions are asked, I shifted the conversation to his state.

“Bro your trousers are falling down”, I said laughingly.  With a smirk on his face he replied, “bro its style man, I can’t be seen with my trousers up, it’s just weird.”  Excuse me?! Was I hearing right?  I knew he was into his rap music, so I deliberately asked, “is that some rap culture style?”, to which he responded, “yeah man”.  The following conversation then ensued:

HOWAZATT!?

By Farooq Bayyin

After weeks of cricket it boiled down to the fiercest rivalry in cricket, Pakistan vs. India, in the world cup semi-final. For all the Pakistanis watching it left a very sour taste after watching their side drop four catches and practically throw the game away. The normal thing to do after Pakistan lose would be to discuss the possibilities of match fixing and the likes. But upon reflection something which was even more saddening and sickening was not the possibility of match fixing nor the loss itself but everything that surrounded the game.

The game and possibility of reaching the final but even more so the chance of beating India took Pakistan by storm. Media coverage showed many who had fasted on the day in order that Allah accepts their Duas (prayers) and a molvi praying in aid of the game. And just to ensure all of Pakistan got behind the team the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, declared it a government half day and flew out (accepting the invitation from the Indian PM) to India to show his support.

Give, take… and have sabar

By Mizan al-Haq

*Al-hamdulillah, we have another addition in our authors – brother Mizan al-Haq.  al-Haq is a second year law student at a university in the West Midlands.  He brings his legal eye to diverse matters affecting the Muslim Briton of today.

We live in a society today based on a notion of give and take; this has subconsciously affected our hearts and is picking away at our Iman. As Muslims we need to learn to supress the nafs (the self) for the sake of Allah , and not become deluded by this Dunya and acknowledge that as Muslims the reality of being raised on the Day of Judgment is an undisputed end.

Compassion for All Creation

Saiful Islam

Messenger of Allahwas a balanced human being, who had all the perfect qualities a man could ever possess. He took each positive quality and exemplified them to its epitome.  Be it a husband or neighbour, a general of an army or a businessman, our master Muhammadwas exemplary in each of his duties and roles and was an all-round master.

One of his qualities was that of compassion.  The Messenger ofhad immense compassion and mercy for not only man, but for all creation.

Quilliam Uprooted

By Saiful Islam

The efforts of Quilliam seem to have had little to no impact on Muslims with universal disapproval from Muslim communities and organisations.  The only thing it has achieved it proving that sell outs have a limited sell-by date. And just like vegetables which have been genetically modified in order to increase the shelf life, the sheen eventually wears off and the artificiality fails to convince and the inevitable rotten outcome if not consumed by the target buyer becomes a reality.  And this what has happened here. The Muslim community remained firm, contended with the tides of difficulty caused by organisations like Quilliam, and believed in the eternal Words of Allah Most High:

“The steadfast will be paid their wages in full without any reckoning.” (Surah Zumar:10)

Attack on Arabic: an Attack on the Qur’an

CoolnessofHind

I came across an item over the BBC news website purporting as fact that “arabic is hard for the brain”. The item then had little Muslim girls shown in an image.  The overall impression I got of the “research” was of extreme bias, especially in the face of millions of children around the globe fluently reading Arabic in the best of books that is the Qur’an.  For me this latter point was sufficient to annihilate the so-called findings by Israeli “Professors”.   I would have written on this topic until I was forwarded the following enlightening piece, which refutes and exposes the blinding fallacies in the BBC report and the study therein in a comprehensive  and academic manner.

O Ungrateful Ummah!

Saiful Islam

It has been the Month of Ramadhan and contributions to the blog have been minimal. For this I must apologise.  Nevertheless, I hope the following inspirational words make up for the hiatus…

I pray to Allah Almighty that he makes this Month a spiritually beneficial Month for all Muslims. Ameen.

Preparing for Ramadhan – A lecture

By Saiful Islam

It has come to that time of the year which will (Insha’Allah) rejuvenate our souls for the coming year.  A month-intensive recharge of the Iman which has been depleted over the year due to distractions and lapses in practising our Deen.

It is important that we prepare well for Ramadhan so that we may derive maximum benefit from it, and not be the losers who merely empty their bellies and gain only starvation from it.

Below is an audio lecture of the erudite scholar Shaykh (Dr.) Riyad Nadwi who brings unique perspectives and dimensions on a topic most important to us all.

Shaykh Riyad Nadwi – Preparing for Ramadan

Also viewable at Halal Tube.

Muslims in the West: Challenges and Opportunities

By CoolnessofHind

I wrote on the topic of the unique Muslim in the West previously on the ISSM blog.  Since then I came across a very insightful interview with a thinker and scholar on a topic most pertinent to the Muslims living the West.  I pray it is of benefit to the readers. Ameen

Source: www.ilmgate.org

Muslims in the West: Challenges and Opportunities – An Interview With Mawlana Khalil al-Rahman Sajjad al-Nu’mani al-Nadwi

[Mawlana Khalilul Rahman Sajjad Nu’mani Nadwi is from Lucknow, India and is a prolific scholar and thinker of Islam. He is the son of the distinguished Muslim scholar Mawlana Muhammad Manzur Nu’mani. He studied at the famous educational establishments of Dar al-'Ulum Nadwat al-‘Ulama’ and Madinah University. He is a renowned mufassir of the Qur'an and travels widely for the purpose of da‘wah. Recently, he was invited to South Africa to visit the leading Islamic and educational establishments. Sulaiman Kazi from Batley, West Yorkshire joined him for a week and interviewed him in Cape Town on 20th October 2002. Below is a transcript of his advice for Muslims living in the West.]

Question: What advice would you give to Muslims in the West following the events of September 11, 2001?

Do you Love the Prophet (peace be upon him)?

By Saiful Islam

We, the Muslims, treat the Deen of Allah like America treated the black people: second class citizens or twentieth century slaves in the words of Malcolm X. How? Let me explain.

In the dunya we aspire to achieve the greatest, earn the most, and reach the highest position in the company in which we slavishly work.  We spend effort and time, often at the sacrifice of our family to get a promotion. We will aspire to reach the peak in the dunya… if we’re not practising we’ll avoid the question about praying, about chatting up women, womanising, wining and dining. ‘It’s for the molvis’ we’ll say.