Saudi authorities carry out new campaign undermining foundations of Islam

www.kavkazcenter.com

Publication time: 17 October 2010, 13:30
Saudi authorities, for the first time in history, gave permission for a so-called children's beauty pageant for girls in Mecca, the Alquds website reports.

One of the Saudi public organizations in the city of Mecca started for the first time to organize a beauty contest for children, where "a child beauty queen" would be selected, which in itself is a provocative innovation in a conservative Saudi society.

An electronic newspaper, Al-Marsad, reported that more than 1000 visitors watched the process of crowning of "a child beauty queen 2010" at the festival in Mecca, called Makkah Khair.

The contest was organized by different organizations, including the Association of Regional Centers of Mecca and the National Company for Exhibitions.

In the presence of many journalists and photographers, 4 girls out of more than 800 participants received awards in 4 nominations: "the 3rd-degree child beauty queen 2010", "the 2nd-degree child beauty queen 2010", "the 1st-degree child beauty queen 2010" and "the child beauty queen 2010".

It is to be noted that this contest was conducted the first time in the history of Saudi Arabia. This action is a part of plan to undermine the foundations of Islam and to corrupt Muslims against the background of the closure of courses on the memorization of the Koran, the banning of Islamic channels and websites, the introduction of a co-education of boys and girls by creating a special University under the patronage of the King, where men and women, who are half-naked in a Western-style, are mixed together, as well as a retraining of imams of the kingdom into a so-called tolerant Islam, acceptable for the West, the promotion of colonization and terror against Muslims around the world.



Department of Monitoring
Kavkaz Center



SubhanAllah...this is quite sad. This is really going out of ones way to create fitnah. Honestly what benefit can one get out of this. I'm not perfect in the least, no one is, but this right here is ridiculous to allow. Again, I rather live in a country where I cant expect the same morals to be practiced as mine than live in a country that is "supposedly" based on Islam but totally goes the other way and have tons of baggage that comes along with their culture. Sorry Saudi but you're not looking too good for Muslims looking to migrate to Islamic countries. This isn't the most absurd thing they can do, no, but it shows you how progressive they are becoming in leaving the deen as social order and replacing it with fitnah in order to please one's ego and nafs. So pretty soon they'll start allowing a lot of other stuff to go on in public. Until they revert back to Islamic law and start to become more moral and fair in their laws and practices I'm not interested in moving there, Only there for hajj and maybe some shopping but besides that umm forget it.

The Story of Sara, the Australian Model.

This a true story that happened with a caller to Islam from Egypt called Amr Khalid, he said three days ago I received an e mail from a young lady from Australia, and the e mail reads as follows: and I quote:

I am a young Lebanese lady that has a Muslim father and a Christian mother, for the first ten years of my life I lived in Lebanon then we migrated to Australia which brought an end to my relationship to my connection with the Middle East.

I am currently 22 years of age and after migrating to Australia, my association with my religion also ended completely. The only thing I know is that I am a muslimah, thats it.

I dont know what the Quran looks like, I dont know how to pray and the religion plays no significance in my life. My mother and father separated each one re-marrying another person. I entered university, my mother and father left Australia living me behind alone with no family, no brothers and sisters, I know nothing about my ancestry in Lebanon, I lived alone and I had to work to spend on myself, I attended university in the morning and worked at the bar in the evening, I have a boyfriend and have not left out any haram except having done it without any shame.

I am fully westernised, I know a little bit of Arabic and because I am extremely beautiful, I joined the beauty competition in New Zealand and won in this competition, I am planning to join a beer competition in New Zealand and I am currently modelling for magazines.

During this time I used to visit a Lebanese family residing in Australia and I saw a Ramadan episode on television talking about modesty, the episode had its web addressed displayed. I went through a nervous breakdown; it was as though this episode was addressing me directly. I am sending you this e mail to ask, is it possible for Allah to accept me, in other words forgive me?

And this is where Sarahs e mail ends. Subhanallah!

No matter how long a persons imaan is, the soul of a person longs for its creator just as the stomach hungers for food so too does the soul long for Allah, this caller to Islam wrote back advising her about the conditions of repentance and that Allah will of course forgive her if she repents.

Two days later she contacts Amr Khalid and she says:

I have repented to Allah and I have left my boyfriend and promised never to see him again, after another two days she contacts him and she says: I want to learn how to pray, then another two days passed and she says: I would like some Quranic audio tapes, so he sends her some tapes via DHL Korea.

A week goes by and he doesnt hear from her until she contacts him and informs him that she has retracted her beauty title of that particular city, then came the surprise, she contacted him saying,

I have put on the hijab, however the story doesnt end here, two days after putting on the hijab she experiences a sharp pain so she goes to the doctor who diagnosis her with brain cancer and that her days are limited, she enters the hospital to be operated on, the success rate of this operation as informed by the doctors in Australia is 20 percent, this is what the doctor said. As for Sarah, listen to what she had to say, she said:

I am pleased to meet Allah, I am happy that I repented prior to finding out about my illness, I dont know whether my mother and father will know about my situation, If I live, I will support your website, for this website is my window to Islam.

To Allah we belong, and to him is our return.

May Allah have mercy on Sarah who died at the age of 22.

They buried her with the Muslims in New Zealand, prior to her death, she sent a short letter to Amr Khalid saying:

I lived far away from my lord for 22 years but I repented and turned back to Allah 3 weeks ago, I dont know many Muslims besides you and this internet forum, I urge you to make dua for me that Allah has mercy on me and to forgive me, make dua to Allah to guide my mother for she does not know anything about me.

- Signed Sara.

Never Despair You can still make it to Jannah

Assalaamu' Alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh,

While reading the Quran the other day (Quran published by Prince Al Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud- KSA)I came across a hadith related Surah Al- Baqarah. The reason I mention the particular publisher of the Quran is because not all Qurans come equipped with hadiths that are related to the Surah or ayat at hand. So I wanted to shed light on this beautiful addition to reading the Quran. I read Abdullah Yusuf Ali's translation and masha' Allah its good but it comes with more interpretation and personal views of what the ayat means as footnotes than having actual hadiths presented. Which I mean Alhamdulillah is good but having the hadith already there can clear up or give more information to what Allah azawajal is speaking of (hence specific stories or events). Anywho this hadith below is related to Riba (interest) but it had so much more than a lesson about Riba, I thought it was very thought provoking and gives hope to us that we can be one of the those granted Jannah.

Enjoy the Hadith :D.

Narrated Sumurah bin Jundub [radhi-yAllâhu 'anhu]: Allâh's Messenger [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] very often used to ask his Companions, "Did anyone of you see a dream?" So, dreams would be narrated to him by those whom Allâh willed to relate. One morning the Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] said, "Last night two persons (angels) came to me (in a dream) and woke me up and said to me, 'Proceed! Proceed!' I set out with them and we came across a man lying down, and behold, another man was standing over his head, holding a big rock. Behold, he was throwing the rock at the man's head, smashing it. The rock rolled away and the thrower followed it and took it back. By the time he reached the man, his head returned to its normal state. The thrower then did the same as he had done before. I said to my two companions, 'Subhân Allâh! Who are these two persons?' They said, 'Proceed! Proceed!'

So we proceeded and came to a man lying in a prone position, and another man standing over his head with an iron hook, and behold, he would put the hook in one side of the man's mouth and tear off that side of his face to the back (of the neck), and similarly tear his nose from front to back, and his eye from front to back. Then he turned to the other (second) side of the man's face and did just as he had done with the first side. He hardly completed that (second) side when the first side returned to its normal state. Then he returned to it to repeat what he had done before. I said to my two companions, 'Subhân Allâh! Who are these two persons?' They said to me, 'Proceed! Proceed!'

So we proceeded and came across something like a Tannur (a kind of baking oven, a pit usually clay-lined for baking bread)." I think the Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] said, "In that oven there was much noise and voices." The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] added, "We looked into it and found naked men and women, and behold, a flame of fire was reaching to them from underneath, and when it reached them, they cried loudly. I asked them, 'Who are these?' They said to me, 'Proceed! Proceed!'

And so we proceeded and came across a river." I think he said, "-- red like blood." The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] added, "And behold, in the river there was a man swimming, and on the bank there was a man who had collected many stones. Behold, while the other man was swimming, he went near him. The former opened his mouth and the latter (on the bank) threw a stone into his mouth whereupon he went swimming again. Then again he (the former) returned to him (the latter), and every time the former returned, he opened his mouth, and the latter threw a stone into his mouth, (and so on) the performance was repeated. I asked my two companions, 'Who are these two persons?' They replied, 'Proceed! Proceed!'

And we proceeded till we came to a man with a repulsive appearance, the most repulsive appearance you ever saw a man having! Beside him there was a fire, and he was kindling it and running around it. I asked my companions, 'Who is this (man)?' They said to me, 'Proceed! Proceed!'

So we proceeded till we reached a garden of deep green dense vegetation, having all sorts of spring colours. In the midst of the garden there was a very tall man, and I could hardly see his head because of his great height, and around him there were children in such a large number as I have never seen. I said to my companions, 'Who is this?' They replied, 'Proceed! Proceed!'

So we proceeded till we came to a majestic huge garden, greater and better than I have ever seen! My two companions said to me, 'Ascend up' and I ascended up." The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] added, "So we ascended till we reached a city built of gold and silver bricks, and we went to its gate and asked (the gatekeeper) to open the gate, and it was opened and we entered the city and found in it men with one side of their bodies as handsome as the most handsome person you have ever seen, and the other side as ugly as the ugliest person you have ever seen. My two companions ordered those men to throw themselves into the river. Behold, there was a river flowing across (the city), and its water was like milk in whiteness. Those men went and threw themselves in it and then returned to us after the ugliness (of their bodies) had disappeared, and they became in the best shape."

The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] further added, "My two companions (angels) said to me, 'This place is the 'Adn Paradise, and that is your place.' I raised up my sight, and behold, there I saw a palace like a white cloud! My two companions said to me, 'That (palace) is your place.' I said to them, 'May Allâh bless you both! Let me enter it.' They replied, 'As for now, you will not enter it, but you shall enter it (one day).'

I said to them, 'I have seen many wonders tonight. What does all that mean which I have seen?' They replied, 'We will inform you: As for the first man you came upon whose head was being smashed with the rock, he is the symbol of the one who studies the Qur'ân, and then neither recites it nor acts on its orders, and sleeps neglecting the enjoined prayers. As for the man you came upon, whose sides of mouth, nostrils and eyes were torn off from front to back, he is the symbol of the man who goes out of his house in the morning and tells lies that are spread all over the world. And those naked men and women whom you saw in a construction resembling an oven, they are the adulterers-fornicators and the adulteresses-fornicatresses; and the man whom you saw swimming in the river, and was given a stone to swallow, is the eater of Ribâ; and the bad looking man whom you saw near the fire kindling it and going around it, is Mâlik, the gatekeeper of Hell; and the tall man whom you saw in the garden, is Ibrâhîm (Abraham), and the children around him are those who die on Al-Fitrah (the Islâmic Faith of Monotheism).' " The narrator added: Some Muslims asked the Prophet ,"O Allâh's Messenger! What about the children of Al-Mushrikûn?*" The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] replied, "And also the children of Al-Mushrikûn." The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] added, "My two companions added, 'The men you saw half handsome and half ugly were those persons who had mixed an act that was good with another that was evil, but Allâh forgave them.' " [Sahih Al-Bukhâri, 9/7047 (O.P.171)].

* Al-Mushrikun: polytheists, pagans, idolaters, and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh and in His Messenger Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] .

So therefore from the Hadith, you can see that Allah will forgive those Muslims who try their best to do good even though they may have their shortcomings. So if you messed up in the past or recently and you feel like there is no hope for you, THERE IS HOPE! Make a change in your life, ask Allah for His forgiveness and follow up with good deeds, for they may be what keeps you from touching the Fire of Jahanam. Remember we're human, and we are created with fallacies so please remember that Allah knows us best and if we try to our best to please him then our work will never be lost.

Ok insha' Allah that was some green tea for your Iman for today. Takecare everyone. Peace!

Are There Toxins in Your Cosmetics?

Assalaamu' Alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh,

I received this email from Jillian Michael's website. *Side Note* If you are not familiar with Jillian Michaels, she is one of the top personal Trainers on the show The Biggest Loser. If you're looking for a challenging workout dvd I totally suggest purchasing one of hers. I'm use to Tae-Bo (Billy Blank's workout series) and yes he's tough but when I did Jillian's dvd I totally felt out of shape. So try her dvd if you're looking for a challenge beyond your norm.
So back to the email :).


From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Are There Toxins in Your Cosmetics?
Did you know that cosmetics and personal-care products are a huge source of endocrine-disrupting chemicals? "But wait," you're thinking. "If it's on the drugstore shelf, it must be proven to be 100 percent safe — right?"

Not necessarily. While the Food and Drug Administration regulates the safety of cosmetics, manufacturers don't have to seek approval before they bring a new product to market. Beyond an established list of prohibited or restricted substances, the FDA doesn't have the authority to regulate individual ingredients. As a result, all kinds of questionable chemicals are contained in the products that many of us rub into our skin every day. Here are some of the potentially harmful ones I want you to avoid:

Formaldehyde: This preservative may be found in moisturizers, facial cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, body washes, eye shadows, mascaras, and many other products. It's harmful to the immune system and is a known human carcinogen.

Parabens: Found in shampoos, conditioners, body washes, tooth whiteners, toothpastes, facial cleansers, sunscreens, moisturizers, and astringents, these preservatives have estrogenic effects on the body and have been linked to breast and prostate cancer.

Placenta: Used in some hair relaxers, moisturizers, and toners, placenta is also estrogenic and may increase the risk for breast cancer.

Triclosan: This antibacterial agent is found in a variety of products, including moisturizers, hand creams, shampoos, conditioners, antiperspirants, and toothpastes. It may interfere with the metabolism of thyroid hormone and contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Play it safe when you buy personal care products — first look them up in the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database, and buy from companies that have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.

So I decided to look up some of my daily use products on Comesticsdatabase.com to see whether my cosmetics were harmful or not. I suggest using this website and researching your personal products to see whether they are a risk factor or not to your health. I personally try to purchase organic or all natural products, but this new finding I think I'll be more on the fence of buying strictly organic and all natural products from now on. The products tend to be a little more costly but I rather spend the money on the "good stuff" to prevent causing harm to my body. This actually is related to price of food and how its made but that topic is for another time.

For next time....Assalaamu' Alaykum :D

Lesson of the Day- Follow!

Assalaamu' Alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh,

I wanted to help spread this sisters blog, who masha' Allah does a wonderful job of regularly posting "Lessons of the Day". Please follow her and insha' Allah we can benefit from her blog and may Allah reward her, Ameen.

Lesson of the Day1236
Ayahs of the Day:
When the sky bursts open and hearkens to its Lord and is given its due, and when the earth is distended and throws up what is in it and becomes empty and hearkens to its Lord and is given its due: O man, you are striving toward your Lord, and you will meet your Lord; then the one who is given his record in his right hand will be called to account for an easy reckoning and return to his people delighted. [84: 1 to 9]

Hadith of the Day:
Our Lord says: "Do not be misled by your egos, or you will be led away from the truth and into lies." [Hadith Qudsi]

Wise Quote of the Day:
Three things destroy a person: Persisting in sins with false hopes of repentance; delaying repentance with the delusion of long life; and despairing of His mercy. [Shaqeeq al Balkhi]

Guidance of the Day:
Buying or leasing a simpler car saves money and possibly trips to the mechanics. Having fewer things means less things to take care of, insure, think about, worry about, and keep clean. Each item you purchase on credit is more to pay for you, but is also one more bill to pay each month. I can go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. Voluntary Simplicity is not about giving up everything you own. To the contrary, there are obviously certain instances when obtaining (rather than getting rid of) something makes your life easier and simpler. For example, I can't imagine giving up my computer or fax machine. To do so would clearly make my life far more complicated and difficult.

Voluntary Simplicity is not about any single decision, nor is it about voluntary poverty. It's more of a direction, a series of conscious decisions that you make because you want to improve the quality of your life. The key is to take an honest look at what's truly important in your life. If you'd like a little more time, a little more energy, and a little more peace of mind, I encourage you to explore this topic a little more carefully. [Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff -- with your family]

Food for Thought:
Our minds can shape the way a thing will be because we act according to our expectations. All that a man does outwardly is but the expression and completion of his inward thought. To work effectively -- he must think clearly; to act nobly -- he must think nobly. The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts -- you cannot escape the results of your thoughts. You will become as small as your controlling desire, as great as your dominant aspiration.
Lesson of the Day

Coolness of Our Eyes

Assalaamu' Alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh

Here's a lecture that I found very inspirational by Nouman Ali Khan, the leader of Bayyinah Institute. Have you ever wondered what the phrase "coolness of my eyes" meant? How does this phrase relate to our lives in general? Watch the video and learn the beauty of the phrase. Enjoy.
*Video courtsey of Halaltube.com

Makeup and the Hijab: A Study with Seven Muslim Women Explores Possible Contradictions

Makeup and the Hijab:

A Study with Seven Muslim Women Explores Possible Contradictions
Written by Ruhi A.

For the majority of women across the globe, makeup has almost become a necessity for them. Samina Akhter, a Muslim businesswoman has launched UK’s first “halal makeup” meaning that it is 100% free of alcohol and animal products. After reading this article on Muslim Debates I was left with questions.

I noticed that the women who were modeling the makeup were Muslimah hijabis which puzzled me. Doesn’t makeup defeat the purpose of the hijab or the traditional Islamic headscarf?

Makeup is used to emphasize the eyes, lips, cheek bones, and so on which ultimately cause more attention to be drawn towards the subject – in this case, it’s the hijabi. Frankly, makeup even when use to its lowest minimum can make a huge difference in a person’s appearance. I have witnessed women who are covered from head to toe with eyes darkened by kohl or eyeliner, lashes thickened and lengthened, lips darkened to a sweet rouge tint, a shy blush whisked across the cheeks and so on and the majority of Muslims agree with that not being the proper form of the hijab.

When stating the points above, I was told by Muslims that no-makeup or minimal makeup with hijab is “a too strict interpretation of the hijab.” I have been misunderstood as a female misogynist! A controlling, misogynistic dictator of a woman’s life. It surprised me to be called all of these names. I am a person who stands strong for human rights.

I recognize women rights and speak in favor of it every chance I get and when I explained that makeup can do the reverse action of the hijab, I became an evil tyrant. Furthermore, I’ve been told to “butt out” of this whole debate because I don’t believe in all of this.

I have once covered my hair and my body as I felt it was a commandment from Allah. I am not against a woman who chooses to wear the headscarf. It is her choice and if she strongly feels that it is for her and what she stands for, then I too will stand by her side as I want to be respected for not wearing the hijab any longer.


WHY THE HIJAB?

I interviewed seven Muslim females of different backgrounds on the hijab to see why Muslimahs felt compelled to wear it. Read more here!

Tips for Ramadan!

Assalaamu' Alaykum,

Insha' Allah I hope everyone's Ramadan is going well, if not do not despair insha' Allah we have time to make it better :D. I listened to a lecture called Fasting and the Furious by Muhammad Al-Shareef an Islamic motivational speaker and founder of Al-Maghrib Institute, and here are few tips for Ramadan that I was able to gather (insha' Allah I'll post more soon).

*NOTE* these tips were inspired by Br. Muhammad but I have added my own input and thoughts into these tips, so all of this does not reflect his ideas.

Tips for Ramadan
1) Stay away from the opposite of Ramadan. Look forward to Ramadan so that you can have a successful one. Remove the negativity from your life.

2)Do not waste time, time is precious. The Quran was revealed during this month so lets use the time we are given to give much attention to the Quran and strengthen our iman and deen.

3) Fasting is not just physical, its also spiritual (main point). Instead of us making "new years resolutions" this is our time to make resolutions to become better Muslims and to keep these new habits/ character that we are trying to make during Ramadan for the rest of our life time.

4) Make goals that are actually practical and make a plan to achieve them. Ex: Go to the masjid early so that I can make my sunnah, limit television viewing, remove negative speech, be nicer to my parents, read more Quran, give charity more, make all my salaahs, make more dikhr, and etc.

5) Make sure to eat suhur right before Fajr. Do not neglect suhur for its neglecting the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhim wa salaam. Bring food and water to your bed side so as soon as you wake up you can start consuming food so that at least your able to get something in your stomach without having to head to the kitchen :P. Also eat properly, don't eat junk food which will not benefit your body and soon have you extremely hungry.

6) Have Taqwa- realize that Allah is always watching. By doing this insha' Allah you'll abstain from bad behavior and what you do is for yourself. Meaning that for all your actions there will be a consequence. Side note* Having Taqwa comes with being in tune with the Quran and surrounding yourself with which is halal. Your awareness can diminish when you keep company or surround yourself with things and people who are not following the straight path.

7)Pray right on time. Do not delay Maghrib because your still eating, bring food with you to where ever you are so that when its time to break fast you can do so and make your salaah on time. Insha' Allah you'll have time to eat more after maghrib and can actually take the time to chew and enjoy your food instead of scarfing it down your throat. Also do not over eat, during Ramadan we are not suppose to gain weight. We're suppose to actually loose some weight due to our fasting, just because we're fasting does not mean we can pack on the pounds at iftar, doesn't make sense.

8) Eat foods with fiber, foods high in fiber will keep your digestive system regulated and keep you fuller longer.

9) Realize that you'll be weak the first few days of Ramadan, your body is beginning to flush out all the junk and waste in your body the first few days. On the 4th or 5th day (if one is eating properly) your body will begin to become more energized, so be patient with your body.

10) Our hearts fluctuates quite often so we should check it often and see where we are with Allah. Go to and download your own 30 day heart tracker for free! Courtesy of Muhammad Alshareef.

Okay that's all for the moment, insha' Allah I'll post more soon. Ramadan Mubarak everyone!

Where do we go and who do we turn to?

Assalaamu Alaykum everyone,


I've had this on my mind for some time now. I think I thought about this more intensely when there was a possibility that I would move over seas to Kuwait or Saudi. At that time I thought more of how my rights and freedoms that I enjoy here in America would be drastically limited such as driving, being able to wear colors, having a career (that's not confined to one area of work) and other such. Now I'm not trying to bash those countries who have their laws and culture this way, this is what they are accustomed to and that it. Just like the US is accustomed to having nudity (look too much skin is called nudity even if you have bra and a thong on) be acceptable.

As I was thinking more I started to realize how corrupt the governments are that lead this predominate Muslim countries. How the majority of their laws are not following shariah but are following their cultural traditions and at times want to use shariah law to their benefit or convenience- hence pick and choose what part of Islam they like to enforce. Though that's not my major issue for we all have our short comings when it comes to following Islam all the way at all times, its our natural struggle whether we are fighting ourselves or fighting the atmosphere in which we live. My issue that we have these governments, leaders, armies and the whole shabang that are oppressing our own Muslims in their homeland. Here's an example:

Now maybe I'm not sure to this as many other Muslims who are raised in the west to see such behavior amongst Muslims. I always thought my brothers and sisters to be better in "Muslim" countries and not have this time of behavior amongst ourselves. Though maybe I'm just naive to think that since people live in a "Muslim" country that they would not have such evil take place. I spoke to one of my friends about this and I basically said to her "I rather be under oppression by Non-Muslims than my "own" people". Now I'm not sure if this is the right to say for Muslim (one who tries to implement Islam fully) though I think I would be more sadden if I were to be treated unfair and unjust by a government that is ran by Muslims than by others because we should not expect much from them (lets be real).

This type of behavior and condition is what keeps the ummah in shackles to shaytaan and his workers, whether it be an individual or a nation (*cough cough* US). We can never be a strong ummah unless we start following Islam and start selling our selves out to these nations and people who are only with us or using us to their benefit, not that they care about us sincerely. This is the same case with Iraq and Haiti, these "nations" will only help if they can get something out of it themselves, which is take power over the country and make them their new gloves in which they'll use to do their dirty work with and keep their hands clean. I'm not referring to all the people who sincerely want to help other countries during crisis but I'm taking about the people in charge who lead these movements, for they hardly are ever truthful in their agenda.

So if we can't look to our own Muslims for help or to be treated just who do we turn to? Where do me make hijrah too? Where can we honestly practice Islam without be subject to cultural laws that are burden for those who are not from those countries and are treated as second class citizens? This is question. All I can do at this time and others is just pray to Allah that our situation becomes better and that we can buckle down and rise against shaytaans whispers and stop selling ourselves out and become strong. But in the mean time where do we go?

Facebook Bye bye

Assalaamu' Alaykum everyone,

So here's an update. I left facebook for about two months with the sole purpose of strengthening my iman and having control over facebook instead of facebook controlling me. Well I did not get the results that I was looking for. Though I did become better with my time on facebook, but as for as the spiritual part that did not actually come till after getting back on facebook. Facebook made me realize how extremely overrated it is, and oddly enough it just strengthen my iman to want to leave it. It could be the Ramadan spirit, or just the annoyance of Facebook itself with his hypocrisy. Its way too popular for my liking with businesses asking you to become a fan on their FB page, its extremely a sellout scheme. Though I do see why some imams and students of knowledge would want to make a page in order to reach out to the ummah who use FB and insha' Allah be a good outlet for them instead of being bombarded with haram elements. I give credit to those brothers and sisters trying to educate the ummah through Facebook.

Plus it has become a Fitnah pool for many, who I believe have just become sucked into madness way deep and that the only way at this point in time for them to redeem themselves and trying to get their lives back on track is by leaving the Shaytaan (devil)ran Facebook, honestly there's more harm in it than good, yes the good is there at times but way more problems you occur than good.

So this Ramadan I encourage all or most of you to either delete/ deactivate or just limit your time on Facebook. Stay clear of looking at FB friend's pages that is not pleasing to Allah, and try focusing on the goal here. Which is gain as many blessings as possible, to be forgiven for our past sins (and not to repeat them), and to create a strong bond with Allah that shall last. Facebook is not worth loosing barakah over, unless your facebook is almost fully halal, in which maybe 1% of it may be iffy but the majority of it is halal substance. If so masha' Allah for the good work of keeping it clean and not letting dirt enter! :D. Anywho so bye bye Facebook, and hello again blogspot.

BILAAL: the Abyssinian who Yesterday was a Slave

**From Daily Reminders**

Whenever Umar lbn Al khattaab mentioned Abu Bakr he would say, “Abu Bakr is our master and the emancipator of our master.” That is to say, Bilaal.

Indeed, the man to whom `Umar would give the agnomen “Our Master” must be a great and fortunate man. However, this man – who was very dark in complexion, slender, very tall, thick- haired and with a sparse beard, as described by the narrators – would hardly hear words of praise and commendation directed at him and bestowed bountifully upon him without bending his head, lowering his eyelids and saying with tears flowing down his two cheeks, “Indeed, I am an Abyssinian. Yesterday, I was only a slave!”

So who is this Abyssinian who was yesterday only a slave? He is Bilaal Ibn Rabaah the announcer of the time of Muslim prayer and the troublemaker to the idols. He was one of the miracles of faith and truthfulness, one of Islam’s great miracles. For out of every ten Muslims, from the beginning of Islam until today and until Allah wills, we will meet seven, at least, who know Bilaal. That is, there are hundreds of millions of people throughout the centuries and generations who know Bilaal, remember his name, and know his role just as they know the two greatest Caliphs in Islam, Abu Bakr and `Umar!

Even if you ask a child who is still in his first years of primary school in Egypt, Pakistan, Malaysia, or China, in the two Americas, Europe, or Russia, in Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Iran, or Sudan, in Tunis, Algeria, or Morocco, in the depth of Africa and in the mountains of Asia, in every place on the earth where Muslims reside, you can ask any Muslim child, “Who is Bilaal, child?” He will answer you, “He was the muezzin of the Messenger (PBUH) and he was the slave whose master used to torture him with hot burning stones to make him apostatize. But instead he said, “One, One.”

Whenever you consider this enduring fame that Islam bestowed upon Bilaal, you should know that before Islam this Bilaal was no more than a slave who tended herds of camels for his master for a handful of dates. Had it not been for Islam, it would have been his fate to remain a slave, wandering among the crowd until death brought an end to his life and caused him to perish in the profoundest depths of forgetfulness.

However, his faith proved to be true, and the magnificence of the religion which he believed in gave him, during his lifetime and in history, an elevated place among the great and holy men of Islam. Indeed, many human beings of distinction, prestige, or wealth have not obtained even one-tenth of the immortality which Bilaal the Abyssinian slave gained. Indeed, many historical figures were not conferred even a portion of the fame which has been bestowed upon Bilaal.

Indeed, the black color of his complexion, his modest lineage, and his contemptible position among people as a slave did not deprive him, when he chose to embrace Islam, of occupying the high place which his truthfulness, certainty, purity, and self-sacrifice qualified him for. For him, all this would not have been on the scale of estimation and honor except as an astonishing occurrence when greatness is found where it could not possibly be.

People thought that a slave like Bilaal – who descended from strange roots, who had neither kinfolk nor power, who did not possess any control over his life but was himself a possession of his master who had bought him with his money, who came and went amid the sheep, camels, and other livestock of his master – they thought that such a human creature would neither have power over anything, nor become anything. But he went beyond all expectations and possessed great faith that no one like him could possess! He was the first muezzin of the Messenger and of Islam, a position which was aspired to by all the masters and nobles of the Quraish who embraced Islam and followed the Messenger. Yes, Bilaal lbn Rabaah.

Oh what valor and greatness are expressed by these three words Bilaal Ibn Rabaah!

* * *

He was an Abyssinian from the black race. His destiny made him a slave of some people of the tribe of Jumah in Makkah, where his mother was one of their slave girls. He led the life of a slave whose bleak days were alike and who had no right over his day and no hope for his tomorrow.

The news of Muhammad’s (PBUH) call began and reached his ears when people in Makkah began to talk about it and when he began listening to the discussions of his master and his guests, especially Umayah lbn khalaf, one of the elders of the Bani Jumah, of which Bilaal was one of the slaves. How often did he hear Urnayah talking to his friends for some time and to some persons of his tribe. Many times they talked about the Messenger with words that were overflowing with anxiety, rage, and malice!

Bilaal, on the other hand, was receiving between those words of insane fury and rage the attributes of this new religion. He began to feel that they were new qualities for the environment which he lived in. He was also able to receive during their threatening, thunderous talks their acknowledgement of Muhammad’s nobility, truthfulness, and loyalty. Yes indeed, he heard them wondering and amazed at what Muhammad came with. They said to one another, “Muhammad was never a liar, magician, or mad, but we have to describe him this way until we turn away from him those who rush to his religion.”

He heard them talking about his honesty and loyalty, about his manliness and nobility, and about his purity and composure of his intelligence. He heard them whispering about the reasons which caused them to challenge and antagonize him: First, their allegiance to the religion of their fathers; Second, their fear over the glory of the Quraish which was bestowed upon them because of their religious status as a center of idol worship and resort in the whole of the Arabian Peninsula; Third, the envy of the tribe of Bani Haashim that anyone from them should claim to be a prophet or messenger.

* * *

One day Bilaal Ibn Rabaah recognized the light of Allah and heard His resonance in the depths of his good soul. So he went to the Messenger of Allah and converted to Islam. It did not take long before the news of his embracing Islam was spread. It was a shock to the chiefs of the Bani Jumah, who were very proud and conceited. The devils of the earth sat couched over the breast of Umayah Ibn khalaf, who considered the acceptance of Islam by one of their slaves a blow that overwhelmed them with shame and disgrace.

Their Abyssinian slave converted to Islam and followed Muhammad. Umayah said to himself, “It does not matter. Indeed the sun this day shall not set but with the Islam of this stray slave.” However, the sun never did set with the Islam of Bilaal, but it set one day with all the idols of the Quraish and the patrons of paganism among them.

* * *

As for Bilaal, he adopted an attitude that would honor not only Islam, even though Islam was more worthy of it, but also all humanity.

He resisted the harshest kind of torture like all pious great men. Allah made him an example of the fact that blackness of skin and bondage would not decry the greatness of the soul if it found its faith, adhered to its Creator, and clung to its right.

Bilaal gave a profound lesson to those of his age and every age, for those of his religion and every religion, a lesson which embraced the idea that freedom and supremacy of conscience could not be bartered either for gold or punishment, even if it filled the earth. He was stripped naked and laid on hot coals to make him renounce his religion, but he refused.

The Messenger (PBUH) and Islam made this weak Abyssinian slave a teacher to all humanity in the art of respecting conscience and defending its freedom and supremacy. They used to take him out in the midday heat when the desert turned to a fatal hell. Then they would throw him naked on its scorching rocks and bring a burning hot rock, which took several men to lift from its place, and throw it onto his body and chest. This savage torture was repeated every day until the hearts of some of his executioners took pity on him. Finally, they agreed to set him free on condition that he would speak well of their gods, even with only one word that would allow them to keep their pride so that the Quraish would not say they had been defeated and humiliated by the resistence of their persevering slave.

But even this one word, which he could eject from outside his heart and with it buy his life and soul without losing his faith or abandoning his conviction, Bilaal refused to say. Yes, he refused to say it and began to repeat his lasting chant Instead: “One… One!” His torturers shouted at him, imploring him, “Mention the name of Al-Laat and Al-’Uzzaa.” But he answered, “One . . . One” They said to him, “Say as we say.” But he answered them with remarkable mockery and caustic irony, “Indeed my tongue is not good at that.”

So Bilaal remained in the melting heat and under the weight of the heavy rock, and by sunset they raised him up and put a rope around his neck. Then they ordered their boys to take him around the mountains and streets of Makkah. And Bilaal’s tongue did not mention anything other than his holy chant, “One… One.”

When the night overtook them, they began bargaining with him, “Tomorrow, speak well of our gods, say, `My lord is Al-Laat and Al `Uzzaa,’ and we’ll leave you alone. We are tired of torturing you as if we are the tortured ones.” But he shook his head and said, “One… One.” So, Umayah Ibn khalaf kicked him and exploded with exasperating fury, and shouted, “What bad luck has thrown you upon us, O slave of evil? By Al-Laat and Al-’Uzzaa, I’ll make you an example for slaves and masters.” But Bilaal answered with the holy greatness and certainty of a believer, “One… One.”

And he who was assigned to play the role of a sympathizer returned to talking and bargaining. He said “Take it easy, Umayah. By Al-Laat, he will not be tortured again. Indeed Bilaal is one of us, his mother is our slave girl He will not be pleased to talk about and ridicule us because of his Islam.” But Bilaal gazed at their lying cunning faces, and his mouth slackened like the light of dawn. He said with calmness that shook them violently, “One… One.”

It was the next day and midday approached. Bilaal was taken to the sun-baked ground. He was patient, brave, firm, and expecting the reward in the Hereafter.

Abu Bakr As-siddiiq went to them while they were torturing him and shouted at them, “Are you killing a man because he says, `Allah is my Lord?”‘ Then he shouted at Umayah lbn khalaf, “Take more than his price and set him free.” It was as if Umayah were drowning and had caught a lifeboat. It was to his liking and he was very much pleased when he heard Abu Bakr offering the price of his freedom, since they had despaired of subjugating Bilaal. And as they were merchants, they realized that selling him was more profitable to them than his death.

They sold him to Abu-Bakr, and then he emancipated him immediately, and Bilaal took his place among free men. When As- siddilq put his arm round Bilaal, rushing with him to freedom, Umayah said to him, “Take him, for by Al-Laat and Al-’ Uzzaa if you had refused to buy him except for one ounce of gold, I would have sold him to you.” Abu Bakr realized the bitterness of despair and disappointment hidden in these words. It was appropriate not to answer, but because they violated the dignity of this man who had become his brother and his equal, he answered Umayah saying, “By Allah, if you had refused to sell him except for a hundred ounces, I would have paid it.” He departed with his companion to the Messenger of Allah, giving him news of his liberation, and there was a great celebration.

After the Hijrah of the Messenger (PBUH) and the Muslims to Al-Madiinah and their settling there, the Messenger instituted the Adhaan. So who would become the muezzin five times a day? Who would call across distant lands, “Allah is the Greatest” and “There is no god but Allah”?

It was Bilaal, who had shouted thirteen years before while the torture was destroying him, “Allah is One… One.” He was chosen by the Messenger that day to be the first muezzin in Islam. With his melodious soul-stirring voice, he filled the hearts with faith and the ears with awe when he called:

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah

I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

Come to Prayer

Come to Prayer

Come to Success

Come to Success

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest

There is no god but Allah

* * *

Bilaal lived with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), witnessing all the battles with him, calling to Prayer and observing the rites of this great religion that took him out of darkness to light and from servitude to freedom. The stature of Islam along with the stature of Muslims was elevated. Every day Bilaal was getting closer to the heart of the Messenger of Allah, who used to describe him as “one of the inhabitants of Paradise.”

But Bilaal remained just as he was, noble and humble, always considering himself “the Abyssinian who only yesterday was a slave.” One day he was proposing to two girls for himself and his brother, so be said to their father, ” I am Bilaal and this is my brother, two slaves from Abyssinia. We were astray and Allah guided us. We were two slaves and Allah emancipated us. If you agree on us marrying your daughters, all praise is to Allah; if you refuse, then Allah is the Greatest.”

* * *
His melodious, welcoming, awe-inspiring voice did not call the Adhaan any more, because whenever he uttered in his Adhaan, “I bear witness that Muhammad (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah,” memories would stir him, and his voice would vanish under his sadness while the tears cried out the words.

His last Adhaan was during the days Umar, the Commander of the Faithful, when he visited Syria. The Muslims entreated him to persuade Bilaal to call one Adhaan for them. The Commander of the Faithful called Bilaal when it was time for Prayer and pleaded with him to make the Adhaan. Bilaal ascended and did so. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) who were with the Commander of the Faithful while Bilaal was calling the Adhaan wept as they never did before, and Umar the most strongly.

Bilaal died in Syria, fighting in the cause of Allah just as he had wanted. Beneath the dust of Damascus, today therlies the body of one of the greatest men of humankind in standing up for the creed of Islam with conviction.
source: Book: “Men Around the Messenger” ; by: Khalid Muhammad Khalid
http://www.kalamullah.com/

Green Tea for Fitness

Assalaamu' Alaykum,

I know I've been MIA, but Alhamdulillah I'm back and insha' Allah I plan on posting at least once a week. So lets get this popping, shall we? :)

Today's post is going to be on fitness. This is something I'm currently trying to make progress in and I wanted to share some advice which I found helpful.



1) Pick a time to workout that won't be affected normally, hence a time where you are usually not busy. --I found that after Fajr I'm not busy (unless Im sleeping which I need to try to lessen). So by doing my jog after Fajr (soon after fajr or an hour afterwards) I can insha'Allah keep a routine in my jogging. Set a time like such so you will not have an excuse to miss it; hence excuses of being "tied up".

2) Try to find a work out buddy. Workout buddies usually make things more enjoyable and usually you tend to work harder when working with someone, either by them encouraging you to work harder or you competing, either way you'll get a good workout insha' Allah.

3) DRINK MORE WATER! Water is essential to loosing weight. Water helps regulate bowel movement and purifies the body of wastes which in turn gives you a little boost of energy. Water is also essential for good moisturized skin.

4) Take small steps and build yourself up. Do not over load on the first week or you'll burn yourself out and not keep a regular workout routine. If you never exercised or haven't exercised in a long time then you should talk to your physician about whats the best for you in your exercise plan, but generally you should start off with working out twice a week and build yourself up along the way. For people who have exercised some, then you should do three times a week and build up to doing 5 days a week.

5) 30 mins a day of moderate exercise will insha' Allah help maintain your weight and physical health; improve blood flow, lungs, and heart.

Insha' Allah I'll do a follow up on Fitness. Happy healthy living!

Real footage of Israeli Attack on Mavi Marma

Assalaamu' Alaykum,

This is just a snippet of what happened on May 31st. SubhanAllah....

Allahu Akbar!

Israeli Attack on the Mavi Marmara, May 31st 2010 // 15 min. from Cultures of Resistance on Vimeo.

ISNA 2009

ISNA 2009 – Lawung – Trendy Islamic Clothing

Posted using ShareThis

My Sister- Must read story

*JazakhAllah Khair Hafeeza for posting this*

Asalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakathu

by Muhammad Alshareef


* Mohammad Alshareef translated the following story from the book "Azzaman Alqaadim" and gave it as his final speech at the MYNA East Zone conference. It is a very moving story which had the entire audience in tears. I hope that inshallah it moves you like it did me.
--------------------

Her cheeks were worn and sunken, and her skin hugged her bones. That didn't stop her because you could never catch her not reciting Qur'an. She was always vigil in her personal prayer room that our father had set up for her. Bowing, prostrating, raising her hands in prayer, was the way she was from dawn to sunset and back again; boredom was for other people.

As for me, I craved nothing more than fashion magazines and novels. I treated myself to videos until the trips to the rental place became my trademark. It’s a saying that when something becomes habit, people tend to distinguish you by it. I was negligent in my responsibilities and my salah was characterized by laziness.

One night, after a long three hours of watching, I turned the video off. The adhan rose softly in the quiet night. I slipped peacefully into my blanket.

Her voice called me from her prayer room. "Yes? Would you like anything Noorah?" I asked.

With a sharp needle she popped my plans. "Don't sleep before you pray Fajr!"

Agghh! “There's still an hour before Fajr. That was only the first adhan,” I said.

With those loving pinches of hers, she called me closer. She was like that even before the fierce sickness shook her spirit and shut her in bed. "Hanan, can you come sit beside me."

I could never refuse any of her requests; you could touch the purity and sincerity in her. "Yes, Noorah?"

"Please sit here."

"Alright, I’m sitting. What's on your mind?"

With the sweetest mono voice she began reciting:

Every soul shall taste death and you will merely be repaid your earnings on the Day of Resurrection.

She stopped thoughtfully. Then she asked, "Do you believe in death?"

"Of course I do,” I replied.

"Do you believe that you shall be responsible for whatever you do, regardless of how small or large?"

"I do, but Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, and I’ve got a long life waiting for me."

"Stop it Hanan! Are you not afraid of death and its abruptness? Take a look at Hind. She was younger than you but she died in a car accident. Death is age-blind and your age could never be a measure of when you shall die."

The darkness of the room filled my skin with fear. "I'm scared of the dark and now you made me scared of death. How am I supposed to go to sleep now? Noorah, I thought you promised you'd go with us on vacation during the summer break."

Her voice broke and her heart quivered. "I might be going on a long trip this year Hanan, but somewhere else. All of our lives are in Allah’s hands and we all belong to Him."

My eyes welled and the tears slipped down both cheeks. I pondered my sisters grizzly sickness. The doctors had informed my father in private that there was not much hope Noorah was going to outlive the disease. She wasn't told, so I wondered who hinted to her. Or was it that she could sense the truth?

"What are you thinking about Hanan?" Her voice was sharp. "Do you think I am just saying this because I am sick? I hope not. In fact, I may live longer than people who are not sick. How long are you going to live Hanan? Perhaps twenty years? Maybe forty? Then what?" Through the dark she reached for my hand and squeezed gently. "There's no difference between us; we're all going to leave this world to live in Paradise or agonize in Hell. Listen to the words of Allah:

Anyone who is pushed away from the Fire and shown into Jannah will have triumphed.

I left my sister's room dazed, her words ringing in my ears: “May Allah guide you Hanan - don't forget your prayer.”

I heard pounding on my door at eight o'clock in the morning. I don't usually wake up at this time. There was crying and confusion. O Allah, what happened?

Noorah’s condition became critical after Fajr; they took her to the hospital immediately.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon.

There wasn't going to be any trips this summer. It was written that I would spend the summer at home.

It felt like an eternity had gone by when it was one o'clock in the afternoon. Mother phoned the hospital.

"Yes. You can come and see her now." Dad's voice had changed, and mother could sense something had gone deathly wrong. We left immediately.

Where was that avenue I used to travel and thought was so short? Why was it so very long now? Where was the cherished crowd and traffic that would give me a chance to gaze left and right? Everyone, just move out of our way!

Mother was shaking her head in her hands crying as she made du'a for her Noorah. We arrived at the hospital’s main entrance. One man was moaning, while another was involved in an accident. A third man’s eyes were iced. You couldn’t tell if he was dead or alive.

Noorah was in intensive care. We skipped stairs to her floor. The nurse approached us. "Let me take you to her."

As we walked down the aisles the nurse went on expressing how sweet of a girl Noorah was. She somewhat reassured Mother that Noorah’s condition had gotten better than what it was in the morning. "Sorry. No more than one visitor at a time,” the nurse said.

This was the intensive care unit. Past the flurry white robes, through the small window in the door, I caught my sister’s eyes. Mother was standing beside her. After about two minutes, mother came out unable to control her crying. "You may enter and say salaam to her on the condition that you do not speak too long," they told me. "Two minutes should be enough."

"How are you Noorah? You were fine last night sister, what happened?"

We held hands; she squeezed harmlessly. "Even now, alhamdulillah, I'm doing fine."

"Alhamdulillah...but...your hands are so cold."

I sat on her bedside and rested my fingers on her knee. She jerked it away. "Sorry, did I hurt you?"

"No, it is just that I remembered Allah's words.”

Waltafatul saaqu bil saaq (One leg will be wrapped to the other leg [in the death shroud]).

"Hanan pray for me. I may be meeting the first day of the Hereafter very soon. It’s a long journey and I haven't prepared enough good deeds in my suitcase."

A tear escaped my eye and ran down my cheek at her words. I cried and she joined me. The room blurred away and left us two sisters to cry together. Rivulets of tears splashed down on my sister’s palm, which I held with both hands. Dad was now becoming more worried about me. I've never cried like that before.

At home and upstairs in my room, I watched the sun pass away with a sorrowful day. Silence mingled in our corridors. One after another, my cousins came in my room. The visitors were many and all the voices from downstairs stirred together. Only one thing was clear at that point – Noorah had died!

I stopped distinguishing who came and who went. I couldn't remember what they said. O Allah, where was I? What was going on? I couldn't even cry anymore.

Later that week they told me what had happened. Dad had taken my hand to say goodbye to my sister for the last time. I had kissed Noorah's head.

I remember only one thing while seeing her spread on that bed – the bed that she was going to die on. I remembered the verse she recited:

One leg will be wrapped to the other leg (in the death shroud).

And I knew too well the truth of the next verse:

The drive on that day will be to your Lord (Allah)!

I tiptoed into her prayer room that night. Staring at the quiet dressers and silenced mirrors, I treasured the person that had shared my mother's stomach with me. Noorah was my twin sister.

I remembered who I had swapped sorrows with, who comforted my rainy days. I remembered who prayed for my guidance and who spent so many tears for many long nights telling me about death and accountability. May Allah save us all.

Tonight is Noorah's first night that she shall spend in her tomb. O Allah, have mercy on her and illumine her grave. This was her Qur'an and her prayer mat. And this was the spring, rose-colored dress that she told me she would hide until she got married; the dress she wanted to keep just for her husband.

I remembered my sister and cried over all the days that I had lost. I prayed to Allah to have mercy on me, accept me and forgive me. I prayed to Allah to keep her firm in her grave as she always liked to mention in her supplications.

At that moment, I stopped. I asked myself what if it was I who had died. Where would I be moving on to? Fear pressed me and the tears began all over again.

“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar…” The first adhan rose softly from the masjid. It sounded so beautiful this time. I felt calm and relaxed as I repeated the mu’adhin’s call. I wrapped the shawl around my shoulders and stood to pray Fajr. I prayed as if it was my last prayer, a farewell prayer, just like Noorah had done yesterday. It had been her last Fajr.

Now, and in sha Allah for the rest of my life, if I awake in the morning I do not count on being alive by evening, and in the evening I do not count on being alive by morning. We are all going on Noorah's journey. What have we prepared for it?

--------------------
*Muhammad Alshareef's final speech at the 1999 MYNA East Zone Conference.

jazakillah sada qamar noor for finding this =]

Are We Truly Believers?

By British Political Prisoner Babar Ahmad

“So do not weaken and do not grieve, for you will indeed be superior if you are truly believers.”

[Al-Quran 3:139]

This verse was revealed to the Messenger (SAS) by Allah The Almighty from above the Seven Heavens, soon after the Muslims suffered a defeat in the Battle of Uhud and returned to Al-Madinah dejected and downtrodden. It was revealed as an encouragement to the believers after a victory that was in their grasp, was snatched away from them and turned into a defeat. And why should the Companions (RA) not have felt devastated at this defeat? Seventy of the best human beings on Earth at the time were killed and countless others were injured. Even the Messenger (SAS) himself was seriously wounded until blood flowed from his face and he said in great anguish whilst wiping the blood from his noble cheeks: “Allah’s Wrath is Great upon the people who besmeared His Messenger’s face with blood.”

However, this defeat was only a temporary setback so that the believers could reflect upon the reasons for the defeat, described in successive verses of Surah Ale-Imran. The mistakes and sins of a few believers had deprived the whole army of victory.

When Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA) despatched the army of Saad bin Abi Waqqas (RA) to the Battle of Al-Qadisiyyah, he advised him: “Fear your sins more than you fear the enemy as your sins are more dangerous to you than your enemy. We Muslims are only victorious over our enemy because their sins outnumber ours, not for any other reason. If our sins were equal to those of our enemy, then they would defeat us due to their superior numbers and resources.”

And so Saad (RA) proceeded to fight the Persians and, sticking to the advice of his leader, he imprisoned the alcoholic Abu Mahjan Ath-Thaqafi lest his presence in the army delays the victory. Until, Abu Mahjan lamented in his shackles and composed verses of poetry that touched the wife of Saad (RA) to temporarily release him so that he could participate in the battle with his brothers. Abu Mahjan thus went out riding the horse of Saad (RA) (as Saad (RA) was bedridden with fever) and performed unmatched feats of valour before returning to his cell in the evening and wearing his shackles back by himself. This continued for three days until, when Saad (RA) found out about the heroics of Abu Mahjan, he untied his shackles with the words: “By Allah! I will never imprison you again for drinking alcohol!” Upon this, Abu Mahjan replied, “By Allah! I will never again touch alcohol after this day!” The army was victorious and Saad (RA) appointed the ascetic Companion Salman Al-Farsi (RA) as the new ruler of Persia, who lived on a meagre salary of one dirham per day.

Victory and defeat, gains and losses, and successes and setbacks are not decided by money, resources, numbers or skills. Rather, they are decided by the balance of obedience and disobedience of Allah The Exalted. The more we obey Allah, both individually and collectively, the more we hasten His Victory. The more we disobey Allah, the more we delay the arrival of His Victory. One Muslim’s sins can delay the victory for everyone. It is very easy to blame Bush and Blair, the ‘West’, the ‘kuffar’ or simply ‘them’ for all our woes and worries. But it is not so easy to look in the mirror and point the finger at ourselves.

Look at us and our pathetic state. We have abandoned Salah or we delay it or rush through it. We are too stingy to give Zakah, let alone optional charity. We prefer to go on holiday than to go for the obligatory Hajj. We drink alcohol, we use and supply drugs (Muslims are amongst the biggest suppliers of drugs in the world today), we cohabit outside wedlock, we steal, we cheat. We eat haram, earn haram and sell haram. We beat our wives and force our daughters into marriages then use Islam to justify it. We are quick to spend on fashion and luxuries but slow to spend on orphans and the needy. We fail to utter a single word, let alone raise a finger, when we see our fellow Muslims imprisoned , tortured, house-arrested, extradited or slain for fear of being ‘linked’ to them. We waste our lives watching television and playing computer games then complain that we don’t have enough time to become better Muslims. We are too addicted to music to find time to listen to or memorise the Quran. We are too busy in fun and games to fulfil our responsibilities as vicegerents on Allah’s Earth. And after all this (and more), we have the audacity to wonder why Allah’s Victory has not yet arrived. With our paltry state, we should more likely expect Allah’s Wrath and Punishment rather than His Victory.

Every sin we commit delays the arrival of Allah’s Victory. Every Salah we delay extends the incarceration of a captive at Guantanamo Bay. Every drug we take allows another Quran to be flushed down the toilet. Every hour we waste watching TV allows another Muslim to be kidnapped and extradited into the hands of savage beasts. Every time we gaze at something forbidden, we place an obstacle in the path of Allah’s Victory. A sin is not a ‘private matter between me and Allah’ but one sin can make the difference between victory and defeat. Every sin we commit is one more reason why Allah should not grant us relief, safety and victory.

Allah has made us a Promise in the aforementioned verse: “So do not weaken and do not grieve, for you will indeed be superior if you are truly believers.” He promises us relief, assistance, superiority and victory on the condition that we are true believers. If we suffer defeats today then it does not mean that Allah’s Promise is false. Instead, the question we must ask ourselves is: are we truly believers?

Haia' (Islamic Modesty) - Get the REAL MEANING

*I originally got them from sis Sara, jazakhAllah Khair! Its amazingly useful!*
This is a lesson by Mr Amr Khaled (an Egyptian Preacher) BOUT Haiaa, it's so important now, tRY to read it till the end PLEASE :)

And please try to spread it :)


http://www.amrkhaled.net/acategories/categories24.html
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The manner that we’ll talk about today is “Islamic Modesty” or “al-Haia’”. Haia’ is always coupled with faith, the more of it we have the more faithful we are, and vice versa.



So, what is Haia’? And what does it mean when we say that this person has “Haia’”?


Haia’ is when your soul abstains from committing sins, transgressions or misdeeds. It is when your heart cannot tolerate sin because you can’t see your own soul being humiliated in front of Allah, in front of others or in front of yourself. It is when your soul becomes too dear to you, for all such ugliness.


This is the true Islamic modesty, like a passion that lifts your soul high above these base obscenities… How can I sin?? How can I steal?? How can I lie?? I can never do that because my soul is far too lofty for all that and I, myself, am far too noble for such things. I respect myself in front of Allah, in front of others and in front of myself.


The word Haia’ comes from “Hayah” which means “Life”. So when we say that a person has Haia’, it means that with every throb of the life inside him, he has abstained from obscenities and sins. That’s why there’s a firm relation between having Haia’ and between having a heart that’s beating with life. The more alive your heart is the more Haia’ you’ll have in you.

That’s why we always hear others saying things like, “The most vital are those who have more Haia’.” When the heart dies, nothing becomes obscene or ugly… and anything will be doable in that case.



* What’s the difference between shyness and Haia’?

Many people would mix both terms together, thinking that shyness or timidity is to have Haia’. They think that because they’re shy or timid, then they have Haia’, yet, as you will see, this is a misconception. To be shy is to be hesitant when facing someone who’s more learned than you, or when you’re placed under the limelight, or subjected to close scrutiny and hence you won’t be able to express yourself. In other words, shyness is a natural consequence of: cowardice, fear and a weak personality that doesn’t perceive its own true value.

Haia’ on the other hand is the exact opposite. With this trait in you, you’ll be appreciating yourself too much to stoop so low as to commit more sins. Someone is shy when he sees himself too small in his own eyes. But, someone has Haia’ when he goes high above such obscenities and refuses to humiliate his soul in front of Allah, in front of others and himself. As you can see the difference is so vast. This difference would give us more insight into many behaviors. For instance, you can’t leave what is rightfully yours and say, “I have Haia’”. This is not Haia’ because the latter is to abstain from ugliness. You abstain from insulting, you abstain from making passes at girls… etc.


*Some Ahadith for the Prophet (PBUH) about Haia’

It is narrated on the authority of Abu-Huraira that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Iman has over seventy branches, and modesty is a branch of Iman.”


In other words, Iman (faith) has more than seventy aspects and modesty is one of these aspects. The strange thing is that the Prophet (PBUH) did not mention these seventy or more branches! He only mentioned Haia’, why? Because this particular trait will simultaneously lead you to the others. If you administer enough Haia’ you will consequently secure all your other proper manners in addition to these seventy or more branches.


Complete your Haia’ and you’ll complete your Iman.


Another wording for the Hadith: It is narrated on the authority of Abu-Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path; and modesty is the branch of faith.”


So the Prophet has actually affirmed the fact that Haia’ is a branch of Iman!


Scholars have tried to seek out these seventy or more branches. Ibn-Shayban said that most of them could be classified under branches reflecting on the heart, branches reflecting on the tongue and branches reflecting on the body.

Those reflecting on the heart are: Believing in Allah, his angels, his books, his messengers, the day of judgment, resurrection, raising the dead, the jannah, hellfire, fearing Allah, repentance, being self-satisfied and thanking Allah.

Those reflecting on the tongue are: abstaining from fowl language, learning and educating oneself, reading Qur’an, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, Dhikr and supplications to Allah.

Those reflecting on the body are: praying, fasting, Jihad, Hajj, Umrah, calling for Allah and Islam… etc.

Yet, with all this the Prophet has never mentioned but Haia’, because, as we said, it will automatically lead to all the others.

I can never reach the stage of “gratitude and kindness to parents” unless I have Haia’ from them. I can never repent unless I have Haia’ from Allah. I can never perform Umrah or Hajj unless I have Haia’ that keeps me from sinning and at the same time propels me to seek purgation. All manners, somehow, reflect on Haia’.


The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Haia’ and Iman are intertwined, if one is lacking the other one will follow”.


It is narrated on the authority of 'Imran B. Hussein that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Modesty brings forth nothing but goodness.”

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Haia’ comes from Iman and Iman leads to Paradise, whereas obscenity is from antipathy and antipathy leads to Hell”.

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Once Allah wants to perish a servant, He would remove Haia’ from him. Once Haia’ is removed from him you’ll find him nothing but despicable. Once you find him despicable, honesty is removed from him. Once honesty is removed from him you’ll find him nothing but a treacherous person. Once you find him nothing but treacherous, mercy will be removed from him. Once mercy is removed from him you find him nothing but a damned and a cursed person.”


Don’t we meet such people as we go? Men or women, you’d be ashamed out of your wits from what they’re doing, as if they have no shame at all, then you look at their faces and you find them despicable. According to this Hadith, the first thing that was removed from them was Haia’.


In Malik’s Muwatta it has been mentioned, “Yahya related to me from Malik from Salama ibn Safwan ibn Salama az-Zuraqi that Zayd ibn Talha ibn Rukana, who attributed it to

the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “‘Every Deen has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty.’”


What does this Hadith mean? Does it mean that there’s no other innate character in Islam except Haia’? No, it means that the most magnificent character in Islam is Haia’.

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Out of what has survived of the past sayings of all preceding Prophets we have this, “‘If you have no Haia’, then you can do as you wish’”.


*What does this saying mean? It carries two meanings:

1. A threat: Do what you wish and you’ll be punished.
2. Look at what you’re doing; are you ashamed of it in front of Allah, others and yourself? If you’re not, then go ahead and do whatever you’re doing. Nothing can deter you from committing sins.



*Patterns for “al-Haia’”

From the Qur’an and the stories of the Prophet’s companions (RA), and their Haia’:


* “Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, reported, “Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was more modest than the virgin girl behind her curtain on the day of wedding, and when he disliked anything, we recognized that from his face.”(10) Can you imagine how modest and shy a virgin would be on her wedding day, can you seek any better examples? Where’s your modesty? Do you become so red with shame, when you see indecency that you have to look away?


· In Malik’s Muwatta it has been mentioned, “Yahya related to me from Malik from ibn-Shihab from Salim ibn-Abdullah from Abdullah ibn-Umar that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, passed by a man who was chiding his brother about modesty. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “‘Leave him. Modesty is part of Iman.’”(11)


* I present this Hadith to all my brothers and sisters here with us now. “Fatima Bint-Utba came to the Prophet (PBUH) to declare her Islam, Aisha (RA) was witnessing the incident when the Prophet (PBUH) asked Fatima to take the oath of fealty not to associate in worship any other thing whatsoever with Allah, not to steal and not to commit adultery… etc. At that last word the woman was so shy that she lowered her eyes and placed her hand on top of her head. The Prophet (PBUH) liked her Haia’ and Aisha (RA) told her, ‘take the oath Fatima, all the women have taken that oath’. So she took the oath.”(12) I just want you to compare this Hadith to what’s happening these days. Sometimes you’d turn red just listening to what girls say to each other. This lady felt so shy hearing just this word.

* Aisha (RA) said, “I used to go into my house, where the Prophet and Abu-Bakr were buried saying my husband and my father so I used to be free in what I was wearing. When Omar Ibn al-Khattab died and was buried next to them I felt too shy to be free about what I wore so I used to cover myself properly out of Haia’ from Omar, even though he was dead.”(13) Please compare this to what’s happening these days.


· Aisha (RA) reported, “Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was lying in the bed in my abode with his thigh or his shank uncovered and Abu-Bakr sought permission to get in. He was granted permission and he conversed in the same very state (the Prophet's thigh or shank uncovered). Then 'Omar sought permission to get in and it was granted to him and he conversed in that very state. Then 'Othman sought permission to get in; Allah's Messenger (PBUH) sat down and he set right his clothes. Muhammad (one of the narrators) said, “I do not say that it happened on the same day.” He ('Othman) then entered and conversed and as he went out, Aisha said, “Abu-Bakr entered and you did not stir and did not observe much care (in arranging your clothes), then 'Omar entered and you did not stir and did not arrange your clothes, then 'Othman entered and you got up and set your clothes right, thereupon he said: Should I not show modesty to one whom even the Angels show modesty.”(14)

I wonder which one of you the Angels would show modesty to? Is it that man screeching with his car, turning his car cassette on so loud and making passes at the girls? Or is it that lady wearing tight pants, revealing her figure that you’d wonder how she ever managed to put it on, not that just but she also wears it with a tight and short top! Could these be the sons and the daughters of Othman, Fatima and Aisha? Are we that far from Haia’ to be named the followers of these virtuous companions?


When we talk about Haia’ we always think about the girls since we expect it more from them. Look at the girl with whom Musa (Moses) met at Surat al-Kasass, “So he watered (their flocks) for them, then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me! Then there came to him one of the two women, walking shyly. She said: "Verily, my father calls you that he may reward you for having watered (our flocks) for us." So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said: "Fear you not. You have escaped from the people who are Zâlimûn (polytheists, disbelievers, and wrong-doers).” (TMQ, 28:24-25)(15).


There have been two readings reported for this particular verse. The first reading talks about the way she walked (as above) and the second one combined “shyly” with “she said” to denote that she spoke shyly. If that meant anything it would mean that she was a token of shyness in every part of her. I wonder, are our girls so keen on the way they walk? Are they keen on the way they speak? Honestly I have to tell you that many girls have lost all trace of modesty and decency these days.

The most supreme degree of Haia’ is that which we show towards Allah. All sins, minor or major, from
men or from women, from kids or from adults, share one basic feature: Having no Haia’ from the fact that Allah sees you while committing your sin. If you realized completely that Allah sees you, you would never commit any sins.


For that reason sometimes a person would commit a major sin, but with the Haia’ he feels afterwards it becomes a minor sin and sometimes a person commits a minor sin but feels no Haia’ whatsoever and hence it turns into a major sin… If you advice him against it, he would just tell you, “it’s none of your business”. Allah says, “When it is said to him, "Fear Allah," he is led by arrogance to (more) crime…” (TMQ, 2:206).


* Can you see now why this particular trait is important? A sin is considered to be either major or minor by the amount of Haia’ you feel afterwards. Listen to what Ibn al-Qayem said here, “Your happiness with committing a sin is far more condemned by Allah, than the sin itself, because of your lack of Haia’”. So the fact that you’re happy with your sin is more intense than the sin itself.


You might commit sins in fear and with great Haia’ without any real enjoyment, that’s why Allah would undoubtedly help you to repent and ask His forgiveness and hence He would forgive you. On the other hand, others would go seeking sins, wishing them, plotting for them and when they fail, they become depressed and sad. All this depression and sadness will be placed in their credit of bad deeds on the Day of Judgment and they’ll be even heavier than the sins themselves. These people deserve it, since they had no Haia’ from Allah.

Also, caring to hide from the eyes of people while committing a sin is even more intense than the sin itself. Are you so afraid that people might see you while you’re not afraid from Allah?


One man went to “Ibrahim Bin Al-Adham” and said, “O, Imam, I would like to repent and permanently stop all the sins that I have been committing. Give me advice that would help me never to disobey Allah and would protect me during any moments of weakness”. The Imam answered, “If you want to disobey Allah, then do not disobey him on his land”. The man asked, “Then, where would I disobey Him?” The Imam said, “Outside His land”. The man asked, “How can I do that if Allah, the Glorious, is the Master of all the lands?” So, the Imam answered, “Do you not feel ashamed, then, to disobey Him on his Lands! If you still want to disobey Him, then at least stop eating of his bounties.” The man asked, “How can I survive if I do not eat of his bounties?” The Imam answered, “Do you not feel ashamed, then, to eat of His bounties and disobey Him! But if you still want to disobey Him, do that in a place where He cannot see you.” The man asked, “How can I do that and He is with us wherever we are?” The Imam answered, “Do you not feel ashamed, then to disobey Him while He is with you wherever you are! But if you still want to disobey Him, then tell the Angel of Death, if he comes to get your soul, to wait until you repent.” The man asked, “And who has any power over that?” The Imam answered, “So, the Angel of Death will get your soul while you are sinning. But if you still want to disobey Allah, then tell the Angels who are the keepers of the Hellfire, when they come to take you there, “I will not come with you”, if you can. Do you not feel ashamed?”


And I am addressing you: You eat of Allah’s bounties, and disobey Him on his land while He can see you, while you can very possibly die while sinning. You have no power to reject Death or to stop the Angels of Hellfire from taking you there. Do you not feel ashamed? Yet, if, after all this, you still want to disobey Allah, I would like to remind you of His great mercy on you and His great protection to you, hoping that this might make you feel ashamed for disobeying Him.


In the Hadith Qudsi (Sacred Hadith), the Prophet (PBUH) mentioned that Allah (SWT) said, “Myself, Mankind and Jinn are in a great serious state. I create them, then they worship other gods that they make for themselves; I bless them with my bounties, then they thank someone else for what I sent them; My Mercy descends to them while their evil deeds ascend to Me; I endear them with my gifts even though I have no need to any of them while they alienate themselves from Me with their sins even though they are desperate for my help. Whoever returns to Me, I accept him no matter how far he is; and whoever turns away from Me, I approach him and call on him. Whoever leaves a sin for my sake, I reward him with many gifts and whoever seeks to please Me, I seek to please him. Whoever acknowledges My Will and Power in whatever he does, I make the iron bend for his sake. My dear people are those who are with Me (i.e. whoever would like to be with Me, let him supplicate to Me and remember Me). Whoever thanks Me, I grant him more blessings; whoever obeys Me, I raise him and endear him more. Whoever disobeys Me, I keep the doors of My Mercy open for him; if he returns to Me, I bestow him with My Love since I love those who repent and purify themselves for My Sake. If he does not repent, I still treat him by putting them in hardship to purify him. Whoever favors Me over others, I favor them over others. I reward every single good deed ten times over or seven hundred times over to countless times over. I count every single bad deed as one unless the person repents and ask for My Forgiveness in which case I forgive even that one. I take into account any little good deed and I forgive even major sins. My Mercy supersedes My Anger; My Tolerance supersedes My Blame; My Forgiveness supersedes My Punishment as I am more merciful with My slaves than a mother with her child.”(16)


Do you not feel ashamed after all that you have just read? Do you still look with lust at someone who is unlawful to you? Do you still eat the food that Allah has forbidden you to eat? Do you still refuse to wear Hijab (Muslim head cover for women)? Do you still lie? Are you still dishonest? Do you still not observe Allah in all your deeds? Are you still not performing the ritual prayers as you should? Do you still not pay Zakat? Do still refuse to live for Allah’s sake?


In another Hadith the Prophet (PBUH) told us that Allah (SWT) said, “ O, Dawood (David), if those (people) who stay away from Me know how much I love them and long for their return, they would have rushed back to Me flying (i.e. unable to wait). If this is My Desire towards those people who are not on My Path, how much do you think is My Desire towards those people who are steadfast on My Path?” Glory be to Allah the One.


*How could you still persist on disobeying Allah instead of loving Him and trying to please Him?

“Abu Mu'sa reported Allah's Messenger (PBUH) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, Stretches out His Hand during the night so that the people repent for the faults committed from dawn till dusk and He stretches out His Hand daring the day so that the people may repent for the faults committed from dusk to dawn.”(17) It is as if Allah is the one looking for you and calling you to return to Him.

If, after you learned all this about Allah’s Mercy, you still insist on not feeling ashamed of your sins, then how could you not, at least, show some Haia’ to Him with all the blessings and bounties he has bestowed on you? Allah is the one who created you as He said in Surat Qaf, “It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein.” (TMQ, 50:16). Allah is the one who created your eyes so you would see, your ears so you would hear, your heart which you are now using in keeping unlawful relationships and forgetting Him, He who bestowed these emotions and feelings on you. Allah is the one who created your brain which you are now using in taking the decision to disobey Him. Try to think of all these gifts as Allah instructed you in Surat Al-Infitar (The Cleaving), “O man! What has seduced thee from thy Lord Most Beneficent?- Him Who created thee. Fashioned thee in due proportion, and gave thee a just bias; In whatever Form He wills, does He put thee together.” (Qur’an, 8-6)

Allah instructed us again to think of his gifts in Surat Abasa (He Frowned), “Then let man look at his food, (and how We provide it): For that We pour forth water in abundance, And We split the earth in fragments, And produce therein corn, And Grapes and nutritious plants, And Olives and Dates, And enclosed Gardens, dense with lofty trees, And fruits and fodder, For use and convenience to you and your cattle. (TMQ, 80:24-32)

In order for you to learn Haia’ towards Allah, bring a paper and a pen and draw a line in the middle of it, then start to write Allah’s blessings in the first half (i.e. your eye-sight, hearing, hands, physical strength, emotions, feelings, beauty, ability to think, father and mother, Islam, …etc) and write in the second half your sins. Then, compare and think. I swear before Allah that the least thing that you can do then is to cry.

If you still cannot have Haia’ from Allah even though He is with you everywhere listening (to whatever you say) and looking (at whatever you do) as He said to Moses in Surat Taha, “He said: "Fear not: for I am with you: I hear and see (everything)” (TMQ, 20:46), then at least remember how submissive you will be before Allah on the Day of Judgment. Imagine how you will stand naked, weak and bare-footed, before Allah to be judged. You will be standing there holding your book (in which all your good and bad deeds are recorded). Many people are not even able to imagine this situation although it is closer to us than we think as the Prophet, (PBUH), said, “ The difference (in time) that is between my time and the Day of Judgment is as little as this (and he put two of his fingers close together).

Remember the shame you will feel before Allah as “there will be people on the Day of Judgment whose flesh will fall off their faces out of shame when their sins are presented before Allah” as Imam Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said.

On that Day, an announcer will call us one by one: such person (your name), the son (or daughter) of such person (your parent’s name). Frightened and ashamed, that person will not be able to move but the Angels will know him from the state of terror that will show on him. Then the Angels will take him and place him before Allah who will address him as the Prophet (PBUH) told us in the Hadith, “My slave, have you become so arrogant as to disregard me? Did you not think that you will meet me today or did you forget that? My slave, were you not ashamed when I was looking at you while you were gazing at forbidden pleasures, while you were walking to forbidden places, and while you were touching forbidden things? My slave, did you take me so lightly? Have I been so unimportant to you? Did you keep your best attitude for the people and come to me only with the ugliness of your sins?”

How will you respond when Allah asks you, “My slave, did I not bestow the gift of marriage on you? Did I not give you wealth? My slave, read your book.” And you take your book and start reading: you get to a good deed and your face brightens up, then you get to a bad deed and your face blackens, and you continue like this.

Would you believe that some people will not feel ashamed even on the Day of Judgment? Such a person will say to Allah: “I do not accept the testimony of any other person or the Angels; I do not even accept the testimony of this book.” Then, Allah will say, “So, what do you want?” That person will reply: “I only accept my own testimony.” Allah will say, “Yes, your own testimony will be good enough”. Then, Allah will seal this person’s mouth and He will order his eyesight, hearing, hands and feet to testify, as mentioned in Surat Ya-Sin: “That Day shall We set a seal on their mouths. But their hands will speak to Us, and their feet bear witness, to all that they did.” (TMQ, 83:65).

The same meaning is repeated in Surat Fussilat, “On the Day that the enemies of Allah will be gathered together to the Fire, they will be marched in ranks. At length, when they reach the (Fire), their hearing, their sight, and their skins will bear witness against them, as to (all) their deeds. They will say to their skins: "Why bear ye witness against us?" They will say: "Allah hath given us speech, He Who gives speech to everything: He created you for the first time, and unto Him were ye to return.” (TMQ, 41:19-21).

Imagine your own hands testifying to what you did with them; imagine your feet testifying to where you walked; imagine your heart testifying to what you wished! Will you be ashamed then? Then imagine Allah, with all his anger, telling you, “Go away you evil slave; my curse is on you and nothing will be accepted from you.”

*Have Haia’ from Allah before you hear these words when it will be too late.


Do you want to know how a good believer is treated on the Day of Judgment? The Prophet (PBUH) told us that Allah will command this person to come closer and closer to Him and He will cover him to conceal him from others and ask him, “Do you remember such and such sin? Do you remember such and such sin?” Until the person thinks that he is doomed but Allah, then says, “I did not disgrace or uncover you in the worldly life and today, I forgive you.”
Muslim scholars classified Haia’ from Allah into six types

1. Haia’ of the sinner: whoever commits a major sin, then feels ashamed as a result of this. Similar to Adam’s Haia’ when he ate of the forbidden tree and kept running in Paradise. Allah asked him, “Are you running away from me?” Adam replied, “No, Allah; I am running out of shame.” Did you ever experience this feeling after committing a major sin? Were you ever sleepless and kept running down the streets trying to find a poor person to give him the last couple of pounds in your pocket, hoping for Allah’s forgiveness? This is the sinner’s Haia’.

2. Haia’ of the person who feels that he is never doing enough: This feeling is experienced when someone realizes that, no matter how good his deeds are and no matter how steadfast he is on Allah’s path, he is still far from reaching the kind of worship that Allah deserves. This type of Haia’ is similar to that of the Angels; it continues even after hundreds of years of sincere worship to Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “The heavens became so heavy (i.e. full) and they have every right to be as such since there isn’t a single spot as small as a footstep except with an Angel prostrating, kneeling or standing in prayers to Allah. And when the Day of Judgment comes, they will get up and say, “Glory be To Allah, we have not worshiped you as we should have, befitting your Glory.”

3. Haia’ of the slave: you have to understand that you are a slave to Allah, and this compels you to completely submit to him and follow his commandments. This is similar to the type of Haia’ of the Prophet, PBUH. One example to illustrate this is when Allah ordered the Kiblah (where a Muslim directs his face for prayers) to be towards Bait AL-Maqdis (The Qubba Mosque in Jerusalem) while the Prophet (PBUH) wished for it to be towards Al-Haram Mosque (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah). Nevertheless, his Haia’ kept him from calling Allah to change the direction. Allah acknowledged this in the Qur’an in Surat Al-Baqara (The Cow): “We see the turning of thy face (for guidance to the heavens: now Shall We turn thee to a Kiblah that shall please thee. Turn then Thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque:” (TMQ, 2:144)

4. Haia’ of the grateful to Allah’s blessings: Again, the Prophet (PBUH) was an example of this type of Haia’ as expressed clearly in the following Hadith as he supplicated to Allah saying: “I could never thank You or describe Your kindness enough; You are as You described Yourself”. This Haia’ emerges from gratefulness of all the blessings Allah has bestowed on us regardless of the fact that we could never thank Him enough.

5. Haia’ out of love: If you love Allah so deeply, you would experience this type of Haia’ towards Him. Your eyes will overflow with tears, your heart will shake and all your body members will surrender to Him. This feeling could never be described; only the person whose love of Allah is so strong would know what it feels like. One touching supplication that the Prophet (PBUH) used to say is: “ O, Allah, bestow on me the ability to love You, love anyone who loves You and love everything that pleases You.”

6. Haia’ out of acknowledgment of Allah’s Glory and Power (the Master of the Worlds): This is similar to the Haia’ of Jibril “Gabriel” (PBUH) when he accompanied the Prophet (PBUH) in the Journey of Al-Isra’ and Al-Mi’raj(18). When they reached the seventh sky and approached Sidrat Al-Muntaha (the Lote tree of the utmost boundary beyond which no creation may pass), Jibril stopped. The Prophet (PBUH) turned towards Jibril who seemed to him like a worn rag (like a worn garment, indicating shyness and complete submissiveness) out of Haia’ to Allah. Jibril could not step any closer and he acknowledged Allah’s Glory and Power.


*Have you ever experienced any of these types of Haia’ that I just mentioned?

Muslim Scholars said: “Whoever shows Haia’ towards Allah rises to the level of “Awlia’ ” (righteous people whom Allah loves and protects).

I urge you to learn Haia’ towards Allah and observe the fact that He sees whatever you do and hears whatever you say.