Sunday, September 28, 2008

Fighting a Winning Battle

For some the idea – hajis -- that Muslims could unite together into one unified Islamic State under the banner of a Khilafah is a distant pipe dream. But for us establishing the Khilafah is not a pipe dream. It is within the realm of qaba qawsayn, wait for that good time which is not so far.

To all Brothers & Sisters of Islam,

Firstly, we must all realize – tahaqquq -- that Allah (s.w.t) is not in any need of us. With Him lies all knowledge and power over all things. If we, the Muslims, embark on the mission to re-establish His deen in this world, we are indeed fighting a sure-win battle, for Allah (swt) will surely re-establish His deen on earth whether or not we contribute to the process. Hence, by taking part in this process, we are actually helping ourselves, and not helping Allah (s.w.t), for Allah only has to command "Be" and it is! -- kun faya koon. Hence, do not let shaytaan's whispers – waswas -- cast doubts in your hearts as to whether the caliphate is a practical reality, and let us place all our trust in Allah (s.w.t) and join in this process for which we already know the end result is victory to Islam. May Allah (s.w.t) reward us for our contributions and efforts.

Secondly, it might be of concern – himmah -- to some brothers & sisters as to how we can find a person who strictly leads an Islamic way of life and has the caliber to lead the entire Ummah in this time and age. Now, let's recall that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) was sent to the tribe of Quraish, and he (s.a.w) was sent during the period of Jahiliyah -- ignorance. Most of the Quraishi were known to be corrupt evil-doers, and no one at that time could have imagined that the Messenger of Allah, the chosen one, would emerge from this sort of tribe. Eventually, he (s.a.w) managed to establish Islam to the perfect state by the will of Allah (s.w.t). Similarly, today, we find it unimaginable to find a truly righteous person who will be capable of leading the entire Ummah politically, socially, economically, militarily, etc. Hence, once again, we must place all our trust in Allah (s.w.t) to provide us such a rightly guided Imam -- Imam Al-Mahdi, and knowing that He is the All Mighty; we will find that chosen person as long as He wills. And judging from the authentic Hadith found in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad ibnu Hambal which ends as ".... afterwards, there will be Khilafah according to the ways of Prophethood...." So, let us pray to Allah (s.w.t) to reward us with that rightly-guided Imam.

And Allah (s.w.t) knows best.

JazakalLah
Brotherhood of Believers

Saturday, September 27, 2008

How to increase our investment in Paradise?












gambaq ehsan kalamjauhari seqadar hiasan semata
We have only one concern: the Hereafter. We are all fear for Hell and all love for Paradise and its pleasures and joys -- trees, rivers, maidens and servants, and all that is there.

Al-Khalil ar-Rahman and the Father of the Prophets, Ibrahim (as) asked our Prophet Muhammad (saw) on the Night of the Journey to convey his greetings to his Ummah and to tell them the way in which they could increase their share of the trees of Paradise. The Prophet (saw) said: “I met Ibrahim… and he said, ‘O Muhammad, tell your Ummah that Paradise is a land whose soil is good and its water is sweet. It is an empty plain, which will be planted with SubhanalLah, al-HamdulilLah, and AlLahu Akbar.’”

The trees – shajarah -- and all that is there in Paradise are the fruits – thamarat -- of good actions. The Prophet (saw) said: ‘Paradise has no trees, plant them there.’ He was asked: ‘How to plant trees there?’ He replied: ‘By saying the glory (tasbih) of God, by telling His praises (tahmid), by hallowing His names (tamjid) and by exalting His majesty (takbir).’






That is, if we say, ‘Glory to God’ we plant one tree in Paradise; therefore, the tree in Paradise is the effect and result of our tasbih. As the excellences of glorification appear here in the form of the sound and words of this kalimah, they appear there in the form of trees.

And what is true of tasbih, is true of tahmid and true of others -- tamjid and takbir. Whatever is in Paradise is the fruit of good actions: the blessings of God that take the form of good words and right deeds, the same shall appear in the form of pleasure and joy in the Hereafter.

Friday, September 26, 2008

‘They are your libas and ye are their libas’












During the fast eating and drinking, after the whiteness of the day becomes distinct from the blackness of the night, is prohibited until night.

In the beginning cohabitation between man and wife was not allowed for those who observed fast, whether night or day, but the future second Caliph (ra) and some other Companions confessed to the Holy Prophet (saw) that they had transgressed this prohibition.

Our Lord! We have been unjust to ourselves; if You do not forgive us, and have mercy on us we shall be doomed.” [7:the Heights:23]

Through this verse [2:187] cohabitation between man and wife during the night was made lawful.

أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَى نِسَآئِكُمْ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ عَلِمَ اللّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَخْتانُونَ أَنفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنكُمْ فَالآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُواْ مَا كَتَبَ اللّهُ لَكُمْ وَكُلُواْ وَاشْرَبُواْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّواْ الصِّيَامَ إِلَى الَّليْلِ وَلاَ تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللّهِ فَلاَ تَقْرَبُوهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّهُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ

Permitted to ye, on the night of the fasts, to go in unto your women. They are your garments and ye are their garments.

Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves -- acted unfaithfully to yourselves & deceiving yourselves in this respect; so He hath turned in mercy toward you and forgave you and relieved your burden.

So now hold intercourse with them and seek that which Allah hath ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread becometh distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn, then strictly observe the fast till nightfall and touch them not, but be at your devotions in the mosques. Those are the limits imposed by Allah, so approach them not.

Thus doth Allah make clear His communications for mankind that they may guard against evil, learn self-restraint
.”

[2:the Cow:187]

Man's actions must follow certain patterns, starting with the gross, and gradually ascending to the subtlest of the subtle. There were very few truly obedient devotees of God who observed every command of Allah (swt), but the merciful Lord also takes into consideration the wishes of the "not so careful Muslims" – alhamdulilLah!







Praise be to God who has revealed this truth to us; we would not have got it had He not shown it to us. Verily, the messengers of our Lord have come down with truth.” [7:the Heights:43]

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

‘O ye who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere turning.’





The oft-forgiving Lord (swt) invites us to turn to Him with sincere repentance so that He may bestow His grace on us and forgive our sins.

The Holy Prophet (saw) said: "A sincere repentant never sins again as the milk drawn from the breast never can go back to its source."

Imam Ali (kwj) said: "A sincere repentant (i) is ashamed of his past sins, (ii) takes up the duties overlooked and fulfils them, (iii) makes good the willfully ignored conditions of a trust managed by him, (iv) forgives those who provoke him, (v) does not demand repayment of loans from those who are in financial distress, (vi) makes firm determination not to sin ever again, (vii) surrenders his self to the adoration, devotion and service of Allah when it had swelled to the point of exploding due to inordinate consumption of worldly pleasures, transgression and disobedience."

Sincere repentance implies giving up and discontinuing of evil in thought and action with a firm determination not to repeat it ever again. If it is done then Allah (swt) will efface our past sins and admit us to the eternal land of bliss and happiness, Sa’adah.

So, we can expect this kind of Sa’adah to happen on the 27th night’s, Lailatul Qadr:

Our Light will run forward before us and on our right hands, while we say, “Our Lord! Perfect our Light for us, and grant us Forgiveness: for Thou hast power over all things.”

Our greeting will be: "Good news for you this day! Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein ye are immortal. This is indeed the highest Achievement!"

We shall say: "Praise be to Allah, who hath revealed this truth to us; we would not have got it had He not shown it to us. Verily, the messengers of our Lord have come down with truth."

And we shall hear the cry: "Behold! The Garden before you! Ye have been made its inheritors, for your deeds of righteousness."

Now, we have made our object clear, so let us draw back upon the reins, try and see what is behind the curtains.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

927 Lailatul Qadr

Ummul Mu’minin A'ishah (ra) bertanya, "Apa pendapat kamu Ya Rasulullah jika aku berjumpa dengan malam Qadr?

Mengikut pengalaman – halan wa dhawqan, affective experience – waliwibowo, bahawa mengetahui akan malam Qadr itu merupakan ‘aqibat dari mendengar sesuatu – ilmul yaqin -- dan kemudian melihatnya – ainul yaqin. Dan menjumpainya pada diri sendiri – haqqul yaqin -- pula merupakan syarat untuk mendapat pahalanya.

Maka kita perlu mengetahui bahawa pada malam Qadr itu akan ada cahaya – Annur -- yang kuat dibuka kepada orang yang menunggunya. Dan kemudian orang yang menQiyamkan Lailanya akan mendapat Sa’adahnya.

Teruskan berQiyamullail sapertimana yang selalu diamalkan pada 10 terakhir bulan Ramadan terutama pada malam-malam ganjilnya – tumpukan pada 27.

“dan,” A’ishah (ra) terus bertanya, “apa yang hendak aku ucapkan?” Maka jawab baginda (saw), “Katakanlah : Ya Allah, sesungguhnya Engkau adalah Tuhan yang memberi kemaafan, Engkau mencintai kemaafan, maka maafkanlah aku."

Kefahaman dan amalan berdasarkan i’tibarat ‘ilmiyyah ada di website al-ahkam yang ditajukkan dengan pertanyaan: Apakah Lailatul Qadar bersifat khusus atau umum?

If you like you may mutala’ah it but bear this in mind: those ideal considerations -- i’tibarat ‘ilmiyyah -- may satisfy those scholars for whom the world exists in the realm of idea, and may account for the subsistence of ideal beings. But the world exists out there, kharij --- so understand.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Is Armageddon nigh?

Is the end of the world nigh? Doom-mongers fear the consequences of scientists replicating the Big Bang.

On Wednesday (Sep 10, 2008; 7.30 AM GMT), Dr Lyn Evans - the man behind the world’s biggest scientific experiment - will fire up the Large Hadron Collider, a 17-mile-long doughnut-shaped tunnel that will smash sub-atomic particles together at nearly the speed of light.

Built by the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), the collider lies beneath the French-Swiss border, near the institution’s headquarters in Geneva, at depths ranging from 170ft to 600ft.

The aim of the £4.4billion experiment is to recreate the conditions that existed just an instant after the Big Bang – the birth of the universe – and provide vital clues to the building blocks of life.

It will track the spray of particles thrown out by collisions in a search for the elusive Higgs Boson, named after the British physicist Peter Higgs (pix), a theoretical entity that supposedly lends weight, or mass, to the elementary particles. So important is this mysterious substance that it has been called the ‘God Particle’.

Scientists also hope to shed some light on the invisible material that exists between particles – dubbed ‘dark matter’ as no one knows what it really is – which makes up most of the universe.

But a handful of scientists believe that the experiment could create a shower of unstable black holes that could ‘eat’ the planet from within, and they are launching last-ditch efforts to halt it in the courts.

One of them, Professor Otto Rossler, a retired German chemist, said he feared the experiment may create a devastating quasar – a mass of energy fuelled by black holes – inside the Earth.

‘Nothing will happen for at least four years,’ he said. ‘Then someone will spot a light ray coming out of the Indian Ocean during the night and no one will be able to explain it.

‘A few weeks later, we will see a similar beam of particles coming out of the soil on the other side of the planet. Then we will know there is a little quasar inside the planet.’

Prof Rossler said that as the spinning-top-like quasar devoured the world from within, the two jets emanating from it would grow and catastrophes such as earthquakes and tsunamis would occur at the points they emerged from the Earth.

‘The weather will change completely, wiping out life, and very soon the whole planet will be eaten in a magnificent scenario – if you could watch it from the moon. A Biblical Armageddon. Even cloud and fire will form, as it says in the Bible.’

He said that attempts were still being made in the European Court of Human Rights to halt the experiment on the grounds that it violated the right to life. The court has, however, already rejected calls for a temporary delay in the project, and it is unlikely to come to a speedy decision about whether the CERN experiment should be halted for good.

Meanwhile Dr Walter Wagner, an American scientist who has been warning about the dangers of particle accelerators for 20 years, is awaiting a ruling on a lawsuit he filed a fortnight ago in his home state of Hawaii.

He fears the experiments might unwittingly create something he calls a ‘strangelet’ that could result in a fusion reaction that might ultimately turn the Earth into a supernova, or an exploding star.

But Dr Evans, the leader of the project, who has devoted 14 years of his life to building the vast particle accelerator, is dismissive of the doom-mongers.

In fact, he is so relaxed about the project; he even wears shorts to work.

He said that Prof Rossler was a ‘crazy’ retired professor who had invented his own theory of relativity.

‘We have shown him where his elementary errors are, but of course people like that just will not listen,’ said Dr Evans.

Meanwhile, Dr Wagner’s fears were ‘totally and completely’ unfounded. ‘There are thousands of scientists around the world who have been preparing this machine and they know what they are talking about, unlike these guys,’ he added.

Are we all going to die next Wednesday?

Dr Evans says his real nightmare is not that he will destroy the world but that, with the cameras rolling, the machine will break down. ‘This is not the first accelerator I have commissioned, but the first under the glare of the whole world,’ he said.

‘My main worry is that we’ve got a huge amount of equipment and it is new. If something trips off, we are down for hours and we have all these Press people sitting around.

We are not used to that. We are used to setting things up quietly and announcing it afterwards.’

mailonsunday’s full report: Meet ‘Evans the Atom’

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Direct Democracy: Islam will rulez the world, insha Allah!.. says Obamahdi in responze to Gaddafi’s kashf kawni and tasarruf

Yeah!.. nothing is impossible. This is something unique; it is the stage where one should look for the truth of aw adna.


Libya's Gaddafi promises wide political and economic reforms
AFP BENGHAZI, Libya, Mon.:
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi today promised wide political and economic reforms that he said would see ministries dismantled and oil revenues going directly into the pockets of the people.
The reforms would come into effect at the beginning of 2009, Gaddafi said in a speech marking the anniversary of the coup that brought him to power on September 1, 1969.
“Libyans should all be ready to receive a share of the oil revenues starting from the beginning of next year,” Gaddafi told the Popular Congress, which serves as Libya’s parliament, in the Mediterranean city of Benghazi.
All ministries except foreign affairs, defence, security and justice would be dismantled, he added in the speech, which he began delivering late yesterday and which continued into the early hours of today.
“You always accuse the popular committees (ministries) of corruption and poor management. These complaints will never end. So everyone (should) have their share (of oil revenues) in their pockets and manage,” Gaddafi said. - AFP

Gaddafi says Libyans should get oil cash directly
Reuters (Writing by Lamine Ghanmi; editing by Andrew Roche)
BENGHAZI, Libya, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Monday accused corrupt officials of looting the country's oil wealth and said its 5 million people should be given the money directly.
Gaddafi urged a sweeping reform of government bureaucracy, saying most of the cabinet system should be dismantled to free Libyans from red tape and protect the state budget from corruption.
"You have to be ready, each Libyan will get directly his share of the oil money," Gaddafi told a gathering of his supporters including ministers, top military and police officers and members of the General People's Congress, the country's top executive and legislative body.
"The implementation will start at the beginning of next year," he said, for the first time giving a date for the direct sharing of oil wealth. Gaddafi was speaking on the 39th anniversary of the army coup that brought him to power.
Tripoli's government wants to raise oil output to three million barrels per day by about 2012, from 1.6 million now.
Many Libyans say they have not benefited from rising oil revenues and foreign investment after Libya in 2003 abandoned prohibited weapons programmes and ended its international isolation.
"Corruption is linked to bureaucracy everywhere in the world. The solution to ending corruption is to end this administration which manages money spending, and put the money directly in people's hands," Gaddafi said in the speech, broadcast live on Libyan television.
PURGE
Gaddafi named justice, defence, interior and foreign ministries as the only ministries which would be spared the purge of bureaucracy.
"Corruption and theft of public money will remain if bureaucracy remains," he said, giving the example of state bank officials who had stolen millions in public funds and complaints by Libyans of corruption, misamanagement and nepotism.
Gaddafi said Libyans should not fear the consequences of changes which, he said, would encourage them to create a private sector that would make them healthier, richer and freer.
He said Libyans should decide for themselves how to spend the oil money, such as on better education for their children, healthcare and the freer import of goods to counter monopolies and fight price increases.
He warned that direct sharing of oil money and the dismantling of bureaucracy would unleash "chaos in the first stage", but added:
"Libyans, with oil money directly in their hands and bureaucracy dismantled, will set up a genuine popular administration and form a society of the masses ruled by a genuine direct democracy." - Reuters

Just AS the MOORS conquered SPAIN for 800 years. Does the US intend to become the next Islamo/Christian battle ground?” taraisastar asked...

Monday, September 1, 2008

Coca-Cola Joins Islamic Caliphate

"The Coca Cola bottling company will be displaying the same symbol that appears on the flag of every Islamic country in the world.
Coca-Cola celebrates with its consumers the joy of sharing, togetherness and acceptance throughout Ramadan. Coca-Cola consumers will feed orphans everyday during the holy month of Ramadan.
Muslims throughout the Muslim world celebrate the advent of Ramadan, that holy month of giving and sharing, and the important spiritual occasion for Muslims throughout the world. In Saudi Arabia, Ramadan is an excellent opportunity to strengthen relationships not only between family members, but also between all categories of the society.
Coca-Cola, in line with its social responsibility programs, is organizing a creative marketing campaign during the holy month of Ramadan for the benefit of “Insan” (Charity Committee for Orphans Care). The campaign will provide Coca-Cola consumers a unique opportunity to provide care to orphans during the blessed month of Ramadan. 10 % of Coca-Cola sold products (2.25L, 1.75L and 1L) carrying the campaign theme will go to “Insan”. Campaign proceeds will be dedicated to provide meals allowance to orphans during Ramadan.
“Insan” (Charity Committee for Orphans Care) is an organization that seeks to provide care and support to orphans. Insan receives support from all categories of the society, and is under the auspices of Prince Faisal ben Salman ben Abdul Aziz. Throughout the campaign, 10% of Coca-cola products purchased by Ramadan fasters will go to Insan to provide meals to orphans everyday during the holy month of Ramadan.
Expressing his appreciation to Coca-cola initiative, Prince Faisal ben Salman said, "Undoubtedly, Coca-Cola initiative to dedicate part of its sales returns for the orphans in Riyadh area is an obvious indication of the Company's interest to serve its community. We are proud with Coca-cola initiative and expect more from them."
Mr. Amer Ahmed Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Export ‎Corporation‎ said: "Coca-cola believes that contributing to social events an essential part of its strategies. We have already participated in several important events throughout Coca-cola history in the Kingdom, specially that Coca-cola product have become an important element of the Saudi beverages."
"Coca-cola commitment to the Saudi community is not limited to this initiative. Instead, it is an ongoing and long-term commitment. We have several plans to extend support to Insan and other charity organizations in the Kingdom," Amer Ahmed added.
© 2008 Al Bawaba (http://www.albawaba.com/)
"The company has now become part of the Khilafah and will be providing prayer rugs for all of its employees.
"Allahuuuuu Akbaaaaar COKE!" takbir Point Rider Republican.

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan Al-Mubarak
Fasting is one of the obligatory functions of the faith, next only to the prescribed 5 times a day prayers, in importance. It trains the Muslims to guard themselves against evil as well as conditions them to suffer physical affliction and exercise self control in the defence of faith and the faithful.
“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you, as it was prescribed to those before you, so that you may guard against evil.” [2:al-Baqarah:183]
Fasting is a means of restraining and controlling the nafs, so that contentment and all the other blessings of this great discipline may be experienced. The fasting of the ordinary man is to withhold only from food and drink. The fasting of the pious man is to curb sensory desires, to refrain from looking at the unlawful, hearing the harmful, and thinking about the distasteful, or about what stimulates the lower nature. The fasting of a true believer is to seal the heart from paying any attention to other-than-Allah (ghayrallah), and safeguard himself with thorough awareness of the Divine laws.
Fasting, although not as perfectly regulated and decisive as in Islam, was prescribed for the followers of the previous Prophets also, and was also in vogue, in varying forms, in different parts of the world. Among the Jews it was done in times of sorrow and affliction. Among the Hindus in India, fasting is undertaken as a penance or to achieve spiritual power. The Sabians were also prescribed fasting for one full month and the object of fasting among them was almost identical to Islamic fasting.
The month of Ramadhan al-Mubarak is that in which the complete Qur’an was revealed to the Holy Prophet (saw) in the night of Qadr (Qadr:1,Dukhan:3). Thereafter he was intimated to deliver it gradually to the people as and when Allah (swt) deemed it suitable.
“Ramadhan is the month in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind and clear proofs of the guidance and the criterion of right and wrong.” [2:al-Baqarah:185]
All schools of Islam agree that the whole Quran was sent to bayt ul-makmur and thereafter it was revealed to the Holy Prophet (saw) on suitable occasions during a period of 23 years. Bayt ul-makmur is said to be the celestial counterpart of the holy Ka’bah. It is an allegorical term used for the heart of the Holy Prophet (saw).
The Qur’an is a guidance to mankind, and the Holy Prophet (according to Nisa:9, A’raf:158, Anbiya:107) had been sent as a Messenger to all mankind; therefore, Islam is a universal religion. According to Matthew 15: 4 Prophet Jesus (as) had said: "I was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and to them alone."
Takbiir!.. Al-Laahu Akbar!