`ilm…witness for or against you?

‘Atâ’ narrates that there used to be a young man who used to go to Mother of the Believers ‘Â’ishah to ask her questions and she would narrate to him. One day, he came to her to ask her some questions. She said, “Son, have you put into practice what you hear from me yet?” He replied, “No mother, I have not.” So she said, “Son, why do you them seek to increase Allah’s proof against us and you?!”

Al-Khatîb Al-Baghdâdî in Iqtidâ’ Al-’Ilm Al-’Amal no. 92.

http://www.sayingsofthesalaf.net/index.php/tag/aishah/

Good Dawah Websites

The BEST resource is the Quran, and for those who cannot understand Arabic, a translation of the Qur’an.

Here is a website with a translation of the entire Qur’an:
http://islambasics.com/view.php?bkID=120

Here are other websites which you might find useful:

Covers a ton of various topics:
http://www.themodernreligion.com/index2.html

Scientific Miracles in the Qur’an
http://www.miraclesofthequran.com/scientific_index.html

Sheikh Yusuf Estes’s site:
http://www.islamtomorrow.com/

Amazing Quotes

“When you’re tested really hard…its because you’re meant for something bigger. stop focusing on your test/trial and start looking for your real purpose…”

Subhan Allah, only Allah knows how hard it is not to be in Egypt after spending almost a year there, Alhamdullilah. Alhamdullilah, so much time to just study the deen, to work on Qur’an…to hear the adhan, the iqama, pray in masajid everywhere…Allahu Akbar…I miss the people on the streets, the kids sitting in front of the masajid…subhanAllah I miss everything. But now I’m back, walHamdullilah…and only Allah Knows what’s best.

—————————————————————-

“Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you.”

Umar ibn Abdil-’Aziz(rahimahullah) said: Become a scholar if you are able. If you are not able, then be a student. If you can not,then show love for them. If you are unable to do that, then (at least) do not hate them.

“Poverty is pushing our people into doing desperate things just to get through one more day,” he said during a visit to victims of the blaze.

News Africa – english.aljazeera.net

Rescuers scour Kenya crash site

About 100 people were killed when the tanker overturned and caught fire [Reuters]

Rescue workers in Kenya have combed the crash site of a petrol tanker, which killed about 100 people when it overturned and caught fire.

At least 111 people, many of them having crowded around the vehicle to collect spilled fuel, died in the blaze in the central Kenyan town of Molo, officials said on Sunday.

“Certainly this is a national tragedy,” George Saitoti, Kenya’s interior minister, said as he inspected the scene of the blaze, which occurred on Saturday evening on a road near Molo, a town in the central Rift Valley.

“We have just been informed that more succumbed to injuries in hospitals. The total number is now 111.”

But there was some disagreement over casualty figures.

The Red Cross relief agency said that up to 110 people had died and local officials said that 94 people had died.

“We counted 89 bodies last night and five [more people] have died this morning,” Hassan Noor Hassan, the Rift Valley provincial police commissioner, said.

‘Dropped cigarette’

Rescuers said someone may have accidentally dropped a cigarette, although there was also suspicion someone angered at being blocked by police may have started the fire on purpose.

Titus Mungou, the Kenya Red Cross spokesman, said: “The people went to scoop up the oil, then something lit the fire, maybe someone dropped a cigarette.”

According to witnesses and rescue services, the tanker overturned after being involved in an accident.

When the oil tanker careered off the road, hundreds of locals came to the scene with containers to try to scoop up some free fuel, witnesses said.

But the oil caught fire and the blaze engulfed the crowd.

Bodies charred beyond recognition were strewn across the road as emergency services struggled to cope with the casualties.

Raila Odinga, Kenya’s prime minister, said the disaster showed the desperation of poor Kenyans and the nation’s lack of preparedness for accidents.

“Poverty is pushing our people into doing desperate things just to get through one more day,” he said during a visit to victims of the blaze.

“This being a rural area, there was no response by any disaster team because there is no such team.”

The fire followed the deaths of at least 25 people in Nairobi when a supermarket caught fire earlier this week.

Advice on gaining knowledge- from almaghrib forums

One of our teachers when we studied the life of ‘Abdullah ibn Al Mubaarak (rahimahullah); he emphasized something – practicality of gaining knowledge and including

analytical knowledge as well.

Since we live in the west;

I, personally, have not seen a book that comprehensively discusses how WESTERN students of knowledge can gain knowledge (outside of programs such as Arees Institute and other institutes, in general).

Memorization – though, a key in becoming a student of knowledge; by no means is it an impediment in being a student of knowledge. And so many of the books these days focus on this aspect, where as lacking in other important aspects.

The key is a lot of the books discuss how to systematically become a dedicated full time student of knowledge…. in the east. I am regretful that a lot of students in the west take so much out of context and begin to dwell on this “forget the dunya studies” aka “madinah university syndrome” dream of leaving off ‘everything’ to ’study.’ They end up milling around, with wrong intentions, wrong syllabus, and no more a pragmatic solution – and end up in 2-4 years doing nothing and achieving nothing in terms of study.

As we LIVE in an environment that does not alott us the rigorous schedules of Fajr till ‘Asr studying and memorizing;

I believe, living in the WEST, we need to be practical.

Does that entail we cannot memorize Sahihayn? Of course not. And i know some, (meaning: few) students who have memorized books such as

Riyadus Saaliheen
Bulugh al Maram, even Sahihayn. etc.

What I am suggesting is fully taking in our situation and being pragmatic in terms of how to use our time MOST effentially.

This is from what I personally have gathered. M

1. Memorizing the Qur’an is the CRUX. No matter you are in the east, west, north, or south. The issue is Not to be engrossed in so many classes and etc. that one forgets the book of Allah – i firmly believe this is one of the MAIN PROBLEMS that western students face.

LEARNING PRIORITIES. And this was a problem we had to get over, and we see in many students they leave off memorizing the book of Allah for things that shaykhul islam ibn taymiyyah rahimahullah mentioned as, “in the outside looks like they are beneficial, but in reality people are engrossing themselves in that which will ultimately have no benefit.”

2. Knowledge of Arabic.
No more excuses.
You are not a (proper) student of knowledge if you do not know arabic.
Sorry to be harsh, but we’re all ‘wannabes’ until you know and learn arabic.
One’s depth of understanding is expanded million fold once we learn arabic.

And our knowledge is expanded to past ‘oh x publishing company just translated the new y book by the famous shaykh z.’

Does that mean you cannot traverse on becoming a student of knowledge in the meantime while you learn? of course not.

The objective here is optimism. You can do SO much while you’re learning arabic!

One of them is see number 1. Memorize Qur’an. and we will also mention others below..

3. Having studied primers in each field of the sciences-
by study we mean with a shaykh, an institute, or otherwise some kind of formal study.. There is also many commentaries available online in audio that a real student has the time to listen to all

Fiqh – al-Majmu’ sharh al-Muhadhdhab or Al maqasid (being wary of the appendices if it’s the english translation) for example by An Nawawi in Shaf’iee Fiqh. and Fiqh us Sunnah by Sayyid As-Sabiq in Comparative. When one increases in Arabic

can move towards, ‘Umdat al Fiqh, and ‘Umdat al Ahkam, etc.

Also emphasizing in some works like The Book of Pre requisites, Pillars, and Recommendations of the Prayer by ibn AbdulWahhab, etc.

‘Aqeedah – Usool ath thalatha, Kitaab at Tawheed, Al Qawaa’id ul Arbaa’ah, An Nawaaqidul Islam, Kashf ash shubuhaat all by Ibn ‘Abdul Wahhab. Al ‘Aqeedatul waasitiyyah, hamawiyyah, tadmuriyyah by ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah, and many many others (see the ‘Aqeedah folder for a comprehensive list here)

etc.
(The lists in what to cover in Usool ud deen, Usool ul fiqh, mustalahul Hadeeth, ‘Uloom ul Qur’an, arabic, etc. can be overwhelming for this post so i will leave it off; as it has been also mentioned in some posts above, etc.).

4. In hadeeth specifically. A student needs to memorize 40 hadeeth an Nawawi. This is essential and covers so many principles in Usool ud deen that are VITAL, i mean ABSOLUTELY vital for western sense! I mean anything from the ‘meat issue,’ to prayer, to intention, to ‘aqeedah, fiqh, etc. Covers masha’aAllah a lot.

Get your hands on every explanation and audio on it. Heavenly Pearls by Abu Abdis salam. Ibn al ‘Utheimeen rahimahullah’s explanation. J. Zarabozo 3 volume set. the Almaghrib class coming up. Memorize it and study it in depth. It will GROUND you so well in the study.

Also notice how steps 1-4 all are cohesive? They help build one another?

While you memorize qur’an it builds arabic.
When you memorize hadith it builds arabic.

When you study arabic it builds your understanding of Qur’an and Hadeeth.

When you study fiqh and ‘aqeedah exposes you to new vocabulary and you can incorporate your knowledge of Qur’an and Hadeeth and your study of Arabic.

This is practical.

The point is how can one go about achieving this?
WHAT DOES A WESTERN STUDENTS SCHEDULE LOOK LIKE?
After being GRILLED about memorizing Qur’an.. how do I go about studying the other fields? What should I Give priority to?

etc. answering all these important questions

Utilizing Fajr and off time; between uni studies, and specific days to study – or extracurricular activites and ‘general lectures’ and choosing how to prioritize and make ones schedule, etc.

I could write more but I hope insha’aAllah we students come together and WRITE up a PIECE with the approval of instructors and publish it. As we all can help with something tangible to give,

when someone asks next time..

“ya akhi/ya ukhti HOW can i be a student of knowledge here?”

We can have a different answer other than “dude go to madinah,

or read x book written by famous shaykh” – which is not practical for that person.

We can hand them

an AlMaghrib Institute Teacher Approved and Published- Student prepared Guide and Syllabus.

- How to be a successful memorizer of Qur’an in the west
- Pitfalls in steps to knowledge
- Perfecting one’s niyyah
- how to pracitcally achieve study habits alongside Uni studies!
- finding balance
- the practical aspect of knowledge in the west.
- how to make a proper schedule
- how to avoid distractions
- Fiqh of Priorities (fiqh al awlawiyaat)

etc
(all this in addition to any institutes, we attend of course)

I know this will be covered insha’aAllah as well in ‘Ilm Summit. So insha’aAllah those students who Allah blessed them to go, take good notes!

And we can compile insha’aAllah something for Ummat Muhammad and so many can benefit from..

wAllahu ‘alam
http://forums.almaghrib.org/showthread.php?t=26253&page=2&pp=10

Making a positive impact on society

“Meet people in such a manner that if you die, they should weep for you, and if you live they should long for you”- Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, the cousin of the Prophet sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallama

Reflection on Obama: Sr.Alaa

Salams,

On Nov. 4th, 2008, Barack Hussien Obama was elected as the 44th president of the United States of America! The First African American President who won the overwhelming majority of the votes which since 1964, nobody was able to get as many votes as he did. This is a historic moment indeed, and we’re living it!

I don’t know about you all and i honestly did not expect that this would happen to me, but for some reason, i find myself getting too emotional about this election. I’m not going to talk about whether Obama is the solution to the U.S. problems or whether or not he is actually going to change the world, but i think i’m touched by the fact that Americans voted a Black man into the office. Maybe some of us might not really see this incident as a “big deal”, but if we really look back in the history of this country, then we would understand. This is an unprecedented event indeed and i can only imagine how the African American communities are feeling right now. The same people who, less than a 100 years ago, were not treated as humans, now have one of them lead the same country that enslaved them.

Obama’s victory is not only his. It’s a victory that belongs to all those before him who paved the way for him. Those who stood up for their rights, fought the injustice and died for their civil rights. If it weren’t for them, Obama would not have achieved a fraction of what he did today. But that obviously doesn’t take from what he as an individual did. At a time when life is cruel and harsh, he believed in himself and his ideals…When everyone around him and all the situations were telling him that he can’t do it, he focused and worked hard and that’s why he went all the way. Obviously, as Muslims, we know there’s a divine aspect and that Allah (swt) was the one who willed for him to become the president.

I have heard and studied about so many great people in the past who achieved so much and touched so many lives, but witnessing the event is definitely different than reading about it. This election in and of itself is an inspiration for me and i hope we can all insha’Allah live with the spirit of “Yes we can”. That motto will insha’Allah help me personally and will motivate me to go after my goals and dream high even if i don’t think it’s realistic at the time. (I really don’t think Obama grew up thinking for a single second that he could run to be the president, let alone be one).

I pray that Obama does not let the Americans (or the entire world) down. I pray that he’s able to make the change he preached for or at least work towards it and not get corrupted with the system and the people around him. May Allah (swt) allow him to do what’’s good for all of humanity and protects us from his mistakes…Ameen.

Alaa

p.s. sorry for the random email. WaAllahu `3lam, these are just my personal thoughts, and i wanted to share them with you all. please share yours too, if you have any

The Return to the Qur’an

After two hours of taraweeh, and up to four hours of tahajud, the Shaykh was bawling to Allah in his sujood, pleading with Allah to turn to him in repentance.

This Shaykh, hafidhahullah, would recite the Qur’an and he would have to stop reciting because he was weeping so much. He would recite verses of the hellfire and you felt that he was witnessing the hellfire, verses of Paradise and it was as if he was in Paradise, he would recite a duaa in the Qur’an and beg this duaa as if he was the very one, amongst thousands of people, making it for his own soul. And then, after losing his voice from hours of recitation and crying, he would go into sujood, and we could hear him over the microphone weeping, making tawbah to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.

Why was I not feeling the weight of the Qu’ran like he was? Why was I not feeling the weight of my shortcomings like he was? And who could possibly have more shortcomings between the two of us? Clearly, the most overwhelming feeling that I experienced, was that he, hafidhahullah, may Allah reward and preserve him, is one who knows, and I am one who does not know. And indeed Allah ‘Azza wa Jall says, “Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge” (surah Fatir, 35:28). And he recited this verse over and over.

And so after Ramadan, I went to his masjid and Alhamdullilah I was blessed with being able to ask him, “Shaykh, I was here in Ramadan… When you recited the Qur’an, I felt that you really understood it…sometimes you would recite a verse over and over, sometimes you would cry and cry. And even if I understood the meaning of the verse, I would not cry like you would cry. And so I felt you don’t just know the meaning, but you KNOW the meaning. How can I be of those who know?”

“All humans are dead except those who have knowledge. And all those who have knowledge are asleep,
except those who do good deeds. And those who do good deeds are deceived, except those who are sincere. And those who are sincere are always in a state of worry.” [Imam Shaf'i]