Entries from March 2007

March 28, 2007

A New Website

salamu `alaykum
Excellent new website by some friends up at:
http://www.marifah.net
It deals with a number of “hot” issues. Even though, due to my manhaj, I dont encourage or agree with certain aspects the articles are all from reliable Sunni scholars.
Wasalam
Salman

March 26, 2007

An Invitation To Endorse The Amman Message Online

salamu `alaykum
The Amman Message is a crucial step towards tolerance and moderation in our community, which has been plagued by division and unrest. It was formulated after consultation with numerous Islamic figures, including major scholars like Mufti Taqi `Uthmani, Shaykh Nuh, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Shaykh `Abd al Hakim Murad, Shaykh Faraz, Shaykh Habib `Ali, Shaykh [...]

March 24, 2007

A Gathering Of The Fuqara

salamu `alaykum

This is a photo of some Tijani fuqara in the city of Meknes, Morocco. Taken in the year 1911 of the Gregorian calendar (1329 hijri). Very powerful…

March 18, 2007

Imitating Non-Muslim Dress: Is It Always Impermissible?

salamu `alaykumHave you ever seen a brother walking around with a t-shirt on? Someone wearing a tie? Dress pants? A sister wearing jeans, modestly covered by a lengthy upper-garment? If you have, then you have also probably seen someone mentioning the impermissiblity of doing so due to it being an imitation of the non-Muslims, something [...]

March 16, 2007

What Is Beneficial Knowledge?

salamu `alaykum
Ibn Ata’illah, the knower of Allah, stated in his Hikam:
“Beneifical knowledge is that which expands the breast with its rays, and by it the veils of the heart are lifted.”
Ibn `Abbad states in his commentary on the Hikam, entitled Ghayth al Mawahib al `Aliyyati:
“Beneficial knowledge is the knowledge of Allah, His attributes, His names, [...]

March 15, 2007

“If You Knew What I Know…”

salamu `alaykum
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
‏لو تعلمون ما أعلم لضحكتم قليلا ولبكيتم كثيرا
“Verily, if you knew what I know you would laugh less and weep more.”
(Bukhari, Kitab al Riqaq #6004)
Ibn Hajar `Asqalani (Allah have mercy on him) states in his Fath al Bari:
والمراد بالعلم هنا ما يتعلق بعظمة [...]

March 7, 2007

Dear Amir…

I remember walking into the union for my first jumu`ah prayer on campus. I saw this guyanese kid with a thin line-beard, dressed quite ghettoish, staring at the khatib, and I thought to myself, “Wow, he’s pretty dark.” Yes, that is a true story.
Either way, that was the first time we “met”. Not much of [...]

March 6, 2007

On Patience

salamu `alaykum
Interesting fact: One of the definitions given for “patience” by Abu `Ali al Daqqaq was that “it is like its name.” We all know the general definition of sabr to mean restraint (which in turn indicates patience), such as one saying “sabartu nafsi” or “I restrained my self”. Yet, sabr also means “aloe”, which [...]

March 3, 2007

Love Lost…

Sitting in a corner,
Reminiscing,
A heart is torn,
The eyes sob,
The self mourns.
 
Realizing now,
Mistakes that were made,
How could it slip from his hands?
No one answers,
No matter how much this lover demands.
 
She was the nur of his eyes,
The reason for his sight,
Without her he is blind,
Aimless,
His destination he cannot find.
 
What to do?
The murid asks the shaykh,
“Seek her out [...]