Thursday, December 28, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
First day back at work after the long Xmas - holiday weekend. On my way to the office , I stopped at the Timothy's www.timothys.ca . The girl serving coffee was in a happy mood and wanted to talk a bit. She asked me how was my Christmas, I smiled and said it was great. I didn't want to tell her that I don't celebrate Christmas. Maybe this way she will be able to enjoy her moment. I asked her how she celebrated Christmas. She told me she doesn't celebrate Christmas. Then she told me she is Jehovah Witness. I said that I thought all Christians celebrated Christmas. She said no, Jehovah Witness don't. She said they don't believe in celebrating and also they believe Jesus was born on October. They observe his death which they believe is the April 4th.
I have to call her the Jehovah Witness girl, because I was so involve in the conversation I forgot to get her name. I told her I don't celebrate Christmas too ,that I am Muslim. Manju is Muslim she said. Monju is the boy that also serves coffee. Moanju came to the milk/sugar area to clean up. I said you are Muslim Monju, "Assalamu Alaikum". He had this huge grin on his face . Walaikum Assalam and started to bow slightly with respect.
Manju said he is Mohamed. Mohamed has lots of passion for his job, always smiles at everyone. He must be in his late teens or early 20's. He said he also is celebrating Eid on Dec 31st. He is from Bangladesh. I hope one day Allah helps him and he will own his own Timothy's World Coffee.
I have to call her the Jehovah Witness girl, because I was so involve in the conversation I forgot to get her name. I told her I don't celebrate Christmas too ,that I am Muslim. Manju is Muslim she said. Monju is the boy that also serves coffee. Moanju came to the milk/sugar area to clean up. I said you are Muslim Monju, "Assalamu Alaikum". He had this huge grin on his face . Walaikum Assalam and started to bow slightly with respect.
Manju said he is Mohamed. Mohamed has lots of passion for his job, always smiles at everyone. He must be in his late teens or early 20's. He said he also is celebrating Eid on Dec 31st. He is from Bangladesh. I hope one day Allah helps him and he will own his own Timothy's World Coffee.
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Why do we read Quran, even we can't understand Arabic?
Why do we read Quran, even we can't understand Arabic?
This is beautiful story
An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern
Kentucky
sitting at the kitchen table reading his Qur'an.
His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every
way he could.
One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa, I try to read the Qur'an just
like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget
as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?"
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied,
"Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of
water."
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he
returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.
The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of
water. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to
watch the boy try again.
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his
grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak
out before he got back to the house.
The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he
reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.
Out of breath, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!"
"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the
basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.
"Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an.
You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives." The best way to learn is to share what you have learned and practice it in your life
This is beautiful story
An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern
sitting at the kitchen table reading his Qur'an.
His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every
way he could.
One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa, I try to read the Qur'an just
like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget
as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?"
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied,
"Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of
water."
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he
returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.
The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of
water. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to
watch the boy try again.
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his
grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak
out before he got back to the house.
The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he
reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.
Out of breath, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!"
"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the
basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.
"Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an.
You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives." The best way to learn is to share what you have learned and practice it in your life
Friday, November 3, 2006
Ancestry
"Whoever does not inform his children of his grandparents has destroyed his child,marred his descendants, and injured his offspring the day he dies.
Whoever does not make use of his ancestry, has muddled his reason.
Whoever is unconcerned with his lineage, has lost his mind.
Whoever neglects his origin, his stupidity has become critical
Whoever is unaware of his ancestry his incompetence has become immense.
Whoever is ignorant of his roots his intellect has vanished.
Whoever does not know his place of origin, his honor has collapsed."
-Ibn Junayd
Whoever does not make use of his ancestry, has muddled his reason.
Whoever is unconcerned with his lineage, has lost his mind.
Whoever neglects his origin, his stupidity has become critical
Whoever is unaware of his ancestry his incompetence has become immense.
Whoever is ignorant of his roots his intellect has vanished.
Whoever does not know his place of origin, his honor has collapsed."
-Ibn Junayd
Thursday, November 2, 2006
Misfortune
When you see the misfortune of your brother, do not rejoice, for Allah may save him and afflict you with the same misfortune.
-The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as reported by Wa'silah bin al-Asqa'a
-The Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as reported by Wa'silah bin al-Asqa'a
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
A Midwestern Muslim
Hesham A. Hassaballa
Finding the "Light in Your Eyes"
How Sheryl Crow brought me closer to Allah.
No, Sheryl Crow has not converted to Islam. In fact, I have never met Ms. Crow in my life. Yet, she nevertheless has taught me a very important lesson about Allah. I recently downloaded (legally, thank you very much) her song "Light In Your Eyes" and burned it on a CD. I absolutely love it. I can listen to it four or five times in a row without even beginning to get bored. In fact, I am listening to it right now as I write this. It is such a wonderful, uplifting, and soothing song.
In it, she says: "You gotta talk to the One who made you/Talk to the One who understands/Talk to the One who gave you...All the light in your eyes." I almost always cry when she says, "Talk to the One who understands." It makes me think of Him and how He has always understood me and has been there for me, even though I have forgotten Him on too many occasions. He truly understands the hypocrisy of the human condition, and yet He doesn't slam His door in my face, even though I deserve it. His door is always open to me, and I love Him for it.
The main message of the song, "You gotta talk to the One who made you," is a concept of such vital importance in our lives today. It is one about which I frequently preach in my Friday prayer sermons. And it is one which eluded me for a very long time in my life. When I was growing up, my mother (bless her heart) raised me to always be fearful of God's punishment. She would always tell me that if I sinned, God would punish me here and now (and then let her find out about it). Frequently, amazingly enough, this exact scenario would come true.
And it largely worked for me: I more or less kept out of trouble as a young Muslim growing up in America. Yet, I can see how such a tactic can backfire for a lot of young kids. It can conjure up an image of a vindictive, spiteful God who continually waits in the wings for us to sin so He can slap us down with His mighty stick of justice. That is not the God that I know. The God that I know is a loving, soothing, merciful Lord who always is there when we need Him. He understands that we are not perfect, and He continually waits for us to come back to Him so He can shower us with His soothing mercy.
And He loves it when we talk to Him. Growing up, I used to pray to God for a lot of things: good grades, a good college, a good wife, a career in medicine, etc. Yet, the relationship I had with God was one of a towering, powerful Lord--which He is--and a humbled, frightened servant. As I got older, however, this gradually changed, and I began to see God differently. Now, I feel I do the things He wants me to do because I love Him. Don't get me wrong: I am always afraid of being punished by God, but it is different now. I see the Lord as my friend, something which was developed during my hajj in 2003.
Listening to Sheryl Crow's song continues to remind me of how wonderful and important it is to talk to God. We really do have to talk to the One who made us, because He truly understands. Whenever we slip up--something we are bound to do--we have to talk to Him, tell Him we are sorry, and vow not to do it again. We have to ask Him never to close His door on us, even though we may have stayed far away from Him for an entire lifetime. Talking to God on a regular basis fills our heart with a feeling that is almost indescribable, and listening to her song gives me a little bit of that feeling each and every time. That's why I love it so.
Moreover, I find the message of her song in the Qur'an: "When My servants ask you [O Muhammad] concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me: Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way" (2:186). God also says: "And your Lord says: 'Call on Me; I will answer your (prayer)..." (40:60). God is just waiting for us to talk to Him; so, why don't we?
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would also always talk to God. Many of the Prophet's biographers called his conversations with God "prayers," such as this one:
"O God, to Thee I complain of my weakness, my lack of resources and my lowliness before men. O most Merciful! Thou art the Lord of the weak and Thou art my Lord. To whom wilt Thou relinquish my fate? To one who will misuse me? Or to an enemy to whom Thou hast given power over me? If Thou art not angry with me, then I care not what happens to me. Thy favor is all that counts for me. I take refuge in the light of Thy countenance, by which all darkness is illuminated. And the things of this world and next are rightly ordered. I wish to please Thee until Thou art pleased. There is no power and no might save in Thee".
The Prophet had said these words after being violently expelled from the city of Taif, a city to the south of Mecca. When I examine this "prayer" much more closely, I realize that it is more a conversation than a prayer. The Prophet is telling God about his feelings; he is bearing all to the Lord. And the Lord was listening. In fact, the Lord is always listening, and He is just waiting for us to talk to Him; so, why don't we?
Some Muslims may find it objectionable that I find God in a rock song, especially one sung by a woman with musical instruments. Yet, the Prophet (peace be upon him) once said that wisdom is the "lost animal" of the believer: wherever it may be, he should seek it. One of the places I have found such wisdom is Sheryl Crow's song. Every time I hear the song, it reminds me of God and how wonderful He is. I'm not saying that her song replaces the Qur'an, or the Prophet's sayings, or the writings of Islamic scholars. Absolutely not. But, sometimes I just like to kick back and groove to some music. And when I hear "Light In Your Eyes," it makes me think of my Best Friend. What's so wrong with that?
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/161/story_16175_2.html
Something is happening
Everything's different but everything is fine yeah
This is the good stuff
Yesterday's only what you leave behind
It's only in your mind
You gotta talk to the One who made you
Talk to the One who understands
Talk to the One who gave you
All the light in your eyes
All the light in your eyes
No use pretending
You never existed until you saw the light yeah
You're just beginning
You haven't missed it-it's all ahead of you
And you know what to do
You gotta talk to the One who made you
Talk to the One who understands
Talk to the One who gave you
All the light in your eyes
All the light in your eyes
Here comes the world and she is beautifully mysterious
She's got it all and you say "Give it to me"
Nobody's happy
That's not the world I know inside
Where everybody hides
You gotta talk to the One who made you
Talk to the One who understands
Talk to the One who gave you
All the light in your eyes
All the light in your eyes
You gotta talk to the One who loves you
Talk to the One who understands
Talk to the One who gave you
All the light in your eyes
All the light in your eyes
Yeah, thank you thank you!
Yeah, everything great and small
Yeah, thank you thank you
For the light in your eyes
For the light in your eyes
Yeah, thank you thank you!
Yeah, everything great and small
Yeah, thank you thank you
For the light in your eyes
For the light in your eyes
Hesham A. Hassaballa
Finding the "Light in Your Eyes"
How Sheryl Crow brought me closer to Allah.
No, Sheryl Crow has not converted to Islam. In fact, I have never met Ms. Crow in my life. Yet, she nevertheless has taught me a very important lesson about Allah. I recently downloaded (legally, thank you very much) her song "Light In Your Eyes" and burned it on a CD. I absolutely love it. I can listen to it four or five times in a row without even beginning to get bored. In fact, I am listening to it right now as I write this. It is such a wonderful, uplifting, and soothing song.
In it, she says: "You gotta talk to the One who made you/Talk to the One who understands/Talk to the One who gave you...All the light in your eyes." I almost always cry when she says, "Talk to the One who understands." It makes me think of Him and how He has always understood me and has been there for me, even though I have forgotten Him on too many occasions. He truly understands the hypocrisy of the human condition, and yet He doesn't slam His door in my face, even though I deserve it. His door is always open to me, and I love Him for it.
The main message of the song, "You gotta talk to the One who made you," is a concept of such vital importance in our lives today. It is one about which I frequently preach in my Friday prayer sermons. And it is one which eluded me for a very long time in my life. When I was growing up, my mother (bless her heart) raised me to always be fearful of God's punishment. She would always tell me that if I sinned, God would punish me here and now (and then let her find out about it). Frequently, amazingly enough, this exact scenario would come true.
And it largely worked for me: I more or less kept out of trouble as a young Muslim growing up in America. Yet, I can see how such a tactic can backfire for a lot of young kids. It can conjure up an image of a vindictive, spiteful God who continually waits in the wings for us to sin so He can slap us down with His mighty stick of justice. That is not the God that I know. The God that I know is a loving, soothing, merciful Lord who always is there when we need Him. He understands that we are not perfect, and He continually waits for us to come back to Him so He can shower us with His soothing mercy.
And He loves it when we talk to Him. Growing up, I used to pray to God for a lot of things: good grades, a good college, a good wife, a career in medicine, etc. Yet, the relationship I had with God was one of a towering, powerful Lord--which He is--and a humbled, frightened servant. As I got older, however, this gradually changed, and I began to see God differently. Now, I feel I do the things He wants me to do because I love Him. Don't get me wrong: I am always afraid of being punished by God, but it is different now. I see the Lord as my friend, something which was developed during my hajj in 2003.
Listening to Sheryl Crow's song continues to remind me of how wonderful and important it is to talk to God. We really do have to talk to the One who made us, because He truly understands. Whenever we slip up--something we are bound to do--we have to talk to Him, tell Him we are sorry, and vow not to do it again. We have to ask Him never to close His door on us, even though we may have stayed far away from Him for an entire lifetime. Talking to God on a regular basis fills our heart with a feeling that is almost indescribable, and listening to her song gives me a little bit of that feeling each and every time. That's why I love it so.
Moreover, I find the message of her song in the Qur'an: "When My servants ask you [O Muhammad] concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me: Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way" (2:186). God also says: "And your Lord says: 'Call on Me; I will answer your (prayer)..." (40:60). God is just waiting for us to talk to Him; so, why don't we?
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would also always talk to God. Many of the Prophet's biographers called his conversations with God "prayers," such as this one:
"O God, to Thee I complain of my weakness, my lack of resources and my lowliness before men. O most Merciful! Thou art the Lord of the weak and Thou art my Lord. To whom wilt Thou relinquish my fate? To one who will misuse me? Or to an enemy to whom Thou hast given power over me? If Thou art not angry with me, then I care not what happens to me. Thy favor is all that counts for me. I take refuge in the light of Thy countenance, by which all darkness is illuminated. And the things of this world and next are rightly ordered. I wish to please Thee until Thou art pleased. There is no power and no might save in Thee".
The Prophet had said these words after being violently expelled from the city of Taif, a city to the south of Mecca. When I examine this "prayer" much more closely, I realize that it is more a conversation than a prayer. The Prophet is telling God about his feelings; he is bearing all to the Lord. And the Lord was listening. In fact, the Lord is always listening, and He is just waiting for us to talk to Him; so, why don't we?
Some Muslims may find it objectionable that I find God in a rock song, especially one sung by a woman with musical instruments. Yet, the Prophet (peace be upon him) once said that wisdom is the "lost animal" of the believer: wherever it may be, he should seek it. One of the places I have found such wisdom is Sheryl Crow's song. Every time I hear the song, it reminds me of God and how wonderful He is. I'm not saying that her song replaces the Qur'an, or the Prophet's sayings, or the writings of Islamic scholars. Absolutely not. But, sometimes I just like to kick back and groove to some music. And when I hear "Light In Your Eyes," it makes me think of my Best Friend. What's so wrong with that?
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/161/story_16175_2.html
Something is happening
Everything's different but everything is fine yeah
This is the good stuff
Yesterday's only what you leave behind
It's only in your mind
You gotta talk to the One who made you
Talk to the One who understands
Talk to the One who gave you
All the light in your eyes
All the light in your eyes
No use pretending
You never existed until you saw the light yeah
You're just beginning
You haven't missed it-it's all ahead of you
And you know what to do
You gotta talk to the One who made you
Talk to the One who understands
Talk to the One who gave you
All the light in your eyes
All the light in your eyes
Here comes the world and she is beautifully mysterious
She's got it all and you say "Give it to me"
Nobody's happy
That's not the world I know inside
Where everybody hides
You gotta talk to the One who made you
Talk to the One who understands
Talk to the One who gave you
All the light in your eyes
All the light in your eyes
You gotta talk to the One who loves you
Talk to the One who understands
Talk to the One who gave you
All the light in your eyes
All the light in your eyes
Yeah, thank you thank you!
Yeah, everything great and small
Yeah, thank you thank you
For the light in your eyes
For the light in your eyes
Yeah, thank you thank you!
Yeah, everything great and small
Yeah, thank you thank you
For the light in your eyes
For the light in your eyes
"Why do the affairs of Tie Domi get more attention than rebel violence in DR Congo....the gap between the haves and have nots is huge. These inequalities get under my skin. I often ask myself: why do many people in this world wear $200 jeans , while others lack clean drinking water and access to health care".. Julia Dimon
thetraveljunkie.ca
thetraveljunkie.ca
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Defender of the Flag: In Memory of Alia AnsariBy Imam Zaid Shakir
http://www.zaytuna.org/articleDetails.asp?articleID=108
http://www.zaytuna.org/articleDetails.asp?articleID=108
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