Rant: Superstitious doctors

Read this today:

“Well, the sad thing about it is that obviously she has mental disorders or a jinn in her or something. The person that was taking the video was laughing at her. I guess with me being in the medical field, I really do not find these things funny.”

Are you serious? You’re in the MEDICAL FIELD and you still want to blame physical and/or mental health disorders on a jinn? I’m all for her empathy towards the mentally ill, but I seriously hope the ‘medical field’ position she’s in is called ‘secretary’. If not, could you imagine her prescription pad and insurance billing statement?

Article Share: Cultures clash in US mosques

Young Muslims steeped in American life are tuning out imams brought in from foreign countries to teach Islam.

By Tom A. Peter | Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor

from the May 17, 2007 edition

New york – Like any good Muslim, Ali Karjoo-Ravary went to mosque on Friday seeking spiritual inspiration. What the 19-year-old Iranian-American found, however, was something completely different.

At the head of a mosque in upstate New York, a foreign imam was leading the Friday service. Sitting on the floor with the other congregants, Mr. Karjoo-Ravary strained to understand the religious leader’s thick accent. Even as he made out the imam’s words, the message made little sense. “The entire sermon was about ‘Don’t let a girl pat your back. It can lead to things,’ ” Karjoo-Ravary recounts.

The imam’s disconnect with American culture shocked Karjoo-Ravary. Trying to gauge the reaction of other young congregants, he spotted a cluster of teen­agers and 20-somethings toward the back of the mosque. They were hunched over and appeared to be earnestly listening to the imam’s every word. But looking closer, he realized their attentive postures were meant to conceal cellphones. The entire group had tuned out the sermon and was texting busily.

For many American-born Muslims, experiences like Karjoo-Ravary’s are not uncommon. Over the past 40 years, hundreds of thousands of Muslims from around the world have emigrated to the United States, bringing their own cultural interpretations of Islam and electing imams who support their views. This practice worked well until recently, when large numbers of these immigrants’ Westernized children reached adulthood, creating a disconnect between faith and culture. Foreign imams are at the center of this fast-growing divide between immigrant Muslims and their American-born children.

When Muslim immigrants flooded into the US from the Middle East and South Asia in the 1960s and ’70s, their “first priority was to preserve their cultural integrity,” says Johari Abdul-Malik, an American-born imam in Sterling, Va., and president of the Muslim Society of Washington, Inc. “The need for an imam from their background is … to preserve the cultural authenticity of that community.”

Immigrant imams have served this purpose well, but the children of this immigrant wave – now adults – identify more with US culture than the one found in their parents’ homeland. As a result, they find themselves increasingly at odds with foreign imams, who lead 85 percent of non-African-American mosques in the US, estimates the Islamic Society of North America. A mosque’s imam is selected by its congregants, who often want someone fluent in Arabic, which is the language of the Koran. (continued..)

To continue reading, please visit the original article at:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0517/p13s02-lire.html

Question & Rant: Why do we never hear “Allah (SWT) loves you”?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

b-ismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm

“In the name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful”

Maybe it’s just a personal rant of mine, but I often ask myself the question, “why do we never hear that Allah (SWT) loves us?” Maybe it’s some kind of Christianity-hangover to even think about this.. We all know that Jesus supposedly loves us (we’re told this all the time, we see it on church billboards, bumper stickers, tee-shirts), and all Muslims are quick to proclaim that they love Allah (SWT) in much the same way – but why do Muslims never say that Allah (SWT) loves us back?

Some may argue that we don’t know for sure if Allah (SWT) does love us or not. Maybe we’re not worthy of His divine love, I mean, who are we to God? Instead, we are taught to FEAR Him – to quake in our boots at the thought of eternal damnation and Hell-fire. Why is this? No doubt, we should fear God, we should try to do well in this life, striving for the next.. But by playing up Allah (SWT)’s wrath, and downplaying His mercy, are we really sending the right message?

I’ve been told, and I strongly agree, that if you read the Qur’an, you will see the mention of God’s mercy and forgiveness FAR more than you hear about his anger and wrath.  We are taught to begin even the most mundane of activities with ‘bismillah’ – proclaiming God to be ‘the Most Beneficent’, ‘the Most Merciful’.  Even our beloved Prophet (PBUH) is also known as the ‘messenger of mercy’ (Mercy! Mercy! Not ‘messenger of casting all ye sinners to hell!’). Does anyone else notice a pattern? Does anyone else think that God is trying to tell us something? So where did all this ‘damning’ and fire and brimstone come from?

Is this some kind of innovation on the teachings of Islam? Were the imams frightened if they mentioned forgiveness more than eternal hell-fire, that Muslims would fall into some free-for-all orgy of decadence and evil? That we’d start copying the old-time Catholic church with selling ‘indulgences’ for our sins? Why is the mention of God’s forgiveness and mercy seen as ‘dangerous’, and if it isn’t, why do we only hear about it one time out of ten – the other nine times going to how we’re damned if we miss fajr or don’t have our hijab on correctly?

Anyway, long story short, I thought I’d include the text from a small pamphlet on Allah’s INFINITE, yes, INFINITE mercy and forgiveness.. Lord knows we don’t hear it often enough!

The Mercy of Allah (God)

“Limitless is your Lord in His mercy…”Qur’an 6:147

God Almighty is full of love and kindness to His creation. All blessings and goodness in this world and the next are clear proofs of His Mercy. Indeed, Islam teaches that God is more merciful toward us than our own mothers. How can it be otherwise, when some of God’s names and attributes include:

• The Acceptor of Repentance;
• The Compassionate;
• The Loving;
• The Forbearing One;
• The Most Gracious;
• The Most Merciful;
• The Source of Goodness;
• The Most Generous;
• The Bestower

These names all indicate that God is characterised by mercy, goodness and generosity. They testify to the vastness and perfection of His mercy, which He blesses all of His creation. This same creation is addressed by God, when He says, “O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as the earth.”

Examples of Allah’s Mercy & blessings

“Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you deny?”Qur’an 55:13

Throughout life, people continually receive Allah’s blessings, be it good health, sight, hearing, nourishment, clean air, children, wealth and countless others. Some use their Godgiven gifts of intelligence and reasoning to acknowledge these blessings, grasp the purpose of their existence, and thereby submit themselves to Allah. Others, however, do not appreciate the mercy of Allah toward their own selves, even though He feeds and sustains them despite their disobedience toward Him. They are given mobility, enjoyment, freedom of thought and action, despite their outright denial of Him. Their very existence would not be, were it not for the Mercy of Allah.

Ultimately, everyone has the free will to acknowledge their blessings, use them in a manner ordained by Allah (the Lord of mankind) and worship Him alone. Below, we have outlined a glimpse of such blessings, because “… if you were to try and count the favours of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” Qur’an 16:18

Guidance Through Divine Scriptures & Prophets

“It is He Who has sent down the Book (the Qur’an) to you (Muhammad) with truth, confirming what came before it. And He sent down the Taurah and the Injeel (the original revelations revealed to Prophets Moses and Jesus respectively).”Qur’an 3:3

From the beginning of creation, man was not left to face the struggles of life alone. Due to God’s mercy, man received revelation through Prophets, who conveyed and taught it to their people to guide and protect them. The most perfect and merciful of revelations was the Qur’an and the last of the prophets was Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The Qur’an – the final revelation – superseded and abrogated previous revelations, and is the ultimate mercy and guidance for mankind. Just as God sent Messengers in the past, He also sent mankind a living, perfect and practical example of how the Qur’an’s teachings of mercy and justice should be practically applied in our daily lives. This example was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) – a mercy to mankind.

“And We (God) have not sent you (Muhammad) except as a mercy for mankind.”Qur’an 21:107

Following are just some of the Prophet’s sayings which are indicative of his mercy, kindness, tolerance and beautiful teachings:

• “Kindness is not found in anything except that it adds to its beauty, and is not withdrawn from anything except that it makes it deficient.”
• “The most perfect of believers in belief is the best of them in character.”
• “He is not a perfect Muslim who eats his fill while his neighbour goes hungry.”
• “Allah will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy to others.”

How desperately do we, as a society, and in these times, need such beautiful advice?

Mercy Towards The Creation

The creation of human beings and all their faculties is a great mercy in itself. The fact that we can get out of bed, work, eat, play and sleep should make us grateful.

“And out of His mercy He made for you the night and the day that you may rest therein and [by day] seek from his bounty and [that] perhaps you will be grateful.”Qur’an 28:73

A spouse is one of the greatest of mercies, a means to tranquillity and affection.

“And of His signs is that He created for you, from yourselves, mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.”Qur’an 30:21

Another mercy is the fact that He created us sinless and will not hold us to account until the age of maturity and decision making. This is in stark contrast to the “Original Sin” concept in Christianity.

Forgiveness of sins is another example of Allah’s mercy, as Allah knows we are imperfect and commit mistakes. Allah knows we are imperfect and consequently commit mistakes throughout life. The fact that believers commit sins does not mean that we should lose hope of Allah’s mercy or that we have exhausted Allah’s forgiveness.

“O My servants who have transgressed against their souls! Do not despair of the Mercy of God: for God forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”Qur’an 39:53

Even animals are not exempt from Allah’s Mercy. They have faculties of hearing and sight, are provided with sustenance and offspring, and are granted many other blessings. Allah’s mercy envelops them to the point that because of one single portion of Allah’s mercy sent to earth, “…His creatures are merciful to each other, so that even the mare lifts up its hoof away from its baby animal, lest it should trample on it.” The Merciful Creator ensures that every creation is looked after – from the fish in the depths of the ocean, to the insects in the earth, and the birds in the skies – all are sustained by Him.

How to increase Allah’s Mercy upon us

“Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.”Qur’an 7:56

Due to God’s Mercy, He has promised to forgive and pardon whosoever follows the appropriate means as mentioned in the following verse:

“And surely, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them.”Qur’an 20:82

Part and parcel of having the correct belief is believing and obeying the final Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him).

In short, the people who receive more of Allah’s mercy are those who have acknowledged His blessings and favours; used them in a way which pleases God; spent their God-given wealth in charity and to look after the needy; employed their hands to care for orphans; utilised their gift of speech to speak good; and performed other honourable acts ordained by God.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allah will show mercy to those who show mercy to people. Show mercy to those who are on earth – the One Who is in Heaven will show mercy to you.”

Below, are some ways to attain God’s Mercy.

“Obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy.”Qur’an 3:132

By following the teachings of mercy and justice found in the Qur’an: “And this is a blessed Book We have revealed; therefore follow it and protect yourself (against evil), that mercy may be shown to you.”Qur’an 6:155

“Keep up prayer and pay the compulsory charity (to the needy) and obey the Messenger, so that mercy may be shown to you.”Qur’an 24:56

Sincerely asking for Mercy from God. “Our Lord! Make not our hearts to deviate after you have guided us aright, and grant us mercy from Yourself; surely You are The Bestower.”Qur’an 3:8

Mercy & Accountability

Alongside Allah’s attribute of Mercy is His attribute of Justice.

“Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord. Shall We then treat the People of Faith like those who do not believe? What is the matter with you? How do you judge?”Qur’an 68:34-36

Allah is the Most-Merciful, however, He is also Swift in Reckoning. One cannot try to deceive Allah and take advantage of His Mercy by constantly committing the same sins without sincere repentance or resolving never to go back to the sin again.

“And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: ‘Now I repent;’ nor of those who die while they are disbelievers.”Qur’an 4:18

Muslims are encouraged to have hope of reward for good deeds, while being concerned about sins they may perform. When they commit sins, they repent sincerely, and are hopeful of being forgiven. And finally, they feel content with the words of their Creator, and keep it close to their heart:

“Surely Allah is Most Gentle, Ever Compassionate to people.”Qur’an 22:65

All credits for the text above attributed to: http://www.iisna.com/pamphlets/

Rant: Jesus (AKA: Isa – PBUH) vs. ‘Jeezus’

This has always been one of my favorite cartoons, so I thought I’d share.

I’m not agreeing with everything in the cartoon, and I certainly have nothing against Christianity or Christians. It’s just interesting how the message of Jesus has become so politicized and marketed – that it’s sometimes vastly different from the original.

If you can’t read the text – click the link below to be taken to one of the original sources:

http://rynosseros.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/jeezus.jpg

** Hint – Click on the image in the link to enlarge to full-size  **

Article Share: Another ‘bad’ Muslim

Asra Nomani speaks about Muslim women’s rights, extremism, equality in mosques and an inclusive Islam.

Gotta’ love this lady!

Check it out at the link below:

http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Islam/2009/06/Searching-for-an-Inclusive-Islam-Asra-Nomani.aspx

Video Share: Wife Swap – Muslim vs. Atheist households

Part 1/5

Part 2/5

Part 3/5

Part 4/5

Part 5/5

Article Share: A surprise that’s not a surprise

Stumbled across an article today titled: ‘Secularism: Surprisingly More Popular in Turkey than in U.S.’.

Unfortunately, this is probably only surprising to anyone who doesn’t know anything about Turkey, and certainly to no one who has had the <ahem> ‘pleasure’ of viewing what passes as their online ‘newspapers’.

Anyway, check out the article below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-luce/secularism-surprisingly-m_b_212332.html

Rant & Question: Hypocrisy & Confusion over Islamic Jewelry

Below is a question I asked a while ago regarding Islamic jewelry. I always found it strange that even some of the most orthodox Muslims who would never dream of taking a Qur’an into the bathroom – the type that enter right foot first and say a du’a, still see nothing wrong in pinning nazar boncuk (evil eye pendants) on babies to ward of ‘the evil eye’, attributing similar powers to chamsas (hands of Fatima), or wearing Islamic jewelry with the name of Allah (SWT) to the toilet.

Now, I have no problem with people wearing Islamic jewelry – I actually want some myself! I think that people have their hearts in the right place, and are doing nothing more than (literally) wearing their love of God next to their hearts.. It’s more that I find it amusing that even the most pious people can overlook this and think nothing of it, but still want to rip someone’s head off if they see a sister with what they deem as ‘improper’ hijab, celebrating a birthday, listening to music or eating shrimp. Whatever they want to assert their assumed superiority and iman over.. Nevermind that they’re participating in bizarre superstitions that have nothing to do with Islam, themselves. Superstitions that may even be viewed as shirk.

Long story short – No one is perfect! As Jesus (PBUH) said:

“Matthew 7:2-5 declares, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” What Jesus was condemning here was hypocritical, self-righteous judgments of others.”

Amen to that!

Islamic Jewelry « on: Aug 08, 06:13 PM » Soo..  I notice they sell a lot of Islamic jewelry.. Man of these pieces have surahs from the Qur’an or the name of Allah (SWT) on them. Are these pieces halal? I can only think that most people probably don’t remember to take off such rings and/or necklaces (even earrings on some sisters) when they use the bathroom.. The same goes for some t-shirts they sell with Islamic sayings on them. So.. Is Islamic jewelry halal? If yes, what are the rules regarding it, or does anything go? Do we treat it with the same respect we treat anything with Qur’anic verse and/or Allah’s name on it? Also.. Would jewelry be considered a ‘charm’ or ‘talisman’ as some people believe these items are protective? If you are like me and you just think they are beautiful and also a sign of remembrance, are they still considered ‘talismans’? Or, is it only considered that if you give them that kind of power? (Because, sometimes you’ll see people driving with ‘protective’ verses hanging from their rear-view mirrors) Thank you in advance for any thoughts and suggestions, and also thank you for just reading this!

Abdurahman Bro Sr. Member Reps: 44 Gender: Posts: 387 Oh Allah, Guide us to the Straight Path.

Re: Islamic Jewelry « Reply #1 on: Aug 09, 09:34 AM » Asalamualaikum wrt wb, All praise be to Allah. It appears from your question that by your fitra you know the ruling on these pieces of jewelry, mashaAllah.  The scholars say: Firstly: It is not prescribed to write Aayat al-Kursiy or the name of Allaah on pieces of gold that are to be worn, because that is a kind of disrespect. It may also be an imitation of the Jews and Christians who hang up or wear things that they revere, such as the cross etc. There is a concession allowing writing names on rings, even if the name includes the name of Allaah, such as Abd-Allaah or ‘Abd al-Rahmaan. Similarly there is nothing wrong with writing useful words on a ring even if they include the name of Allaah, such as al-hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allaah), tawakkaltu ‘ala Allaah (I put my trust in Allaah) etc. Many such reports have been narrated from the Sahaabah and Taabi’een. The scholars were asked: We sell hearts in which the name of Allaah is written, which are bought by Arabs and non-Arabs of every kind. We may tell the Arabs that it is haraam to take them into the toilet. Please advise us on the ruling on selling them. They replied: Selling jewellery on which the name of Allaah is written is not permissible, unless it is erased from it. They were also asked: We attach with out letter some gold jewellery on which is written the name of Allaah. This jewellery is used by our Muslim women as an adornment only. A while ago our brothers told us that using this jewellery is haraam, because the name of Allaah is written on it. We tell you that this jewellery is only used by Muslims as an adornment, unlike the women of the Jews and Christians, as the Christians wear jewellery on which there are pictures of the cross and images of idols, and the Jews wear jewellery on which there are pictures of the star of David. We hope that you can explain this issue. They replied as follows: Since this jewellery has the name of Allaah written on it and is intended for Muslim women to wear around their necks, as Christian women wear a cross and Jewish women wear a star of David, and since things on which the name of Allaah is written may be worn to ward off harm or bring benefits, or for other purposes, and wearing it may expose it to disrespect such as if a person sleeps in it and rolls on top of it, or wears it in places where it is makrooh to take anything in which is written the words of Allaah or the name of Allaah, the committee thinks that it is not permissible to use this jewellery on which the name of Allaah is written, so as to avoid imitation of the Christians and Jews whom the Muslims are forbidden to imitate, and so as to block the means that may lead to evil, and so as to protect the name of Allaah from disrespect, and because of the general meaning of the prohibition on wearing amulets. And Allah knows best.

Rant: Nasty pigs?

There’s something I’ve been wondering lately, and maybe you guys can enlighten me..

What the HELL is up with this bizarre fear and disgust of pigs?!?

Okay, first off, I know that eating pork is haram, but so are lots of other things – eagles and foxes for example. All manner of carrion animals are deemed ‘unclean’, but none of them are near as remotely loathed as the poor pig. Some of them, such as the eagle, are even considered noble! Why is that?

Yeah, pigs smell and they’re nasty looking and fat.. But, you’d smell and be fat and nasty, too, if you were fed a diet the equivalent of McDonalds every day and left in room barely large enough to turn around in, nevermind exercise in, and without a toilet or shower. No doubt!

It just strikes me as ridiculous and beyond absurd to see some Muslims flip out when they see a pig or even hear of them mentioned. Suddenly you hear all kinds of exclamations of ‘filthy swine!’ and ‘astagfirallah!’. Are they serious? It’s not even the culturally-indoctrinated and brain-washed (regarding pigs)  ‘born-Muslims’, it’s the converts, too!

I remember reading somewhere that pigs are only ‘haram’ and ‘unclean’ when they’re DEAD. That if you touch them, you should just clean yourselves, but it’s not some kind of mortal sin.. So why the insane fear of pigs? I’ve even heard such nonsense as the children’s book ‘ The Three Little Piggies’ being banned in the UK because it ‘might offend Muslims’. WTF?!?

Does anyone else see this as laughably pathetic? Seriously.. How can anyone find this little guy offensive?

The thing I find offensive is when we shut down our brains and common sense and fall prey to these absurdities.

So, yeah, don’t eat them, I can agree with that (and the pigs are happy about that as well, I’m sure!).. Just don’t act like they’re the freakin’ spawn of Satan because that makes you look like fools!

Okay, rant over. 🙂

Confessions: To wear or not to wear? That is the question..

Lately, I keep struggling with whether or not I should continue wearing the hijab.

Part of me feels like a hypocrite for wearing it – seeing as I don’t represent the ‘average’ Muslim woman. Adding to that fact, I’m not even entirely sure that we have to wear it, versus simply covering our bosoms and dressing modestly.

The other side of me feels like saying a big, enthusastic “‘screw you!” to those that think I’m giving a bad name to other ‘authentic’ Muslim women by continuing to wear it, because I’m not wearing it for them and frankly, I don’t care what they think.. I feel like I’m wearing it ‘just in case’ it IS what God wants, and because it really isn’t a burden to me, so, why not? There’s also the sorry fact that most other Muslims won’t listen to a word you say unless you have the distinguishing feature of a piece of fabric on your head.

At the same time, I consider taking it off because it gives people pre-conceieved notions about me and almost boxes me into contrived ‘acceptable rules of behavior’ and ‘rules of thought’. It’s like I’m pushed towards more orthodox thinkers who I generally don’t agree with, and away from the more liberal thinkers which I do tend to agree with.

Lately, I feel that by wearing it, that I’ve put myself into a ‘no man’s land’ of my own creation. I’m feeling terribly conflicted as to where to go from here..