However, just last week I was rudely awakened by a fact that compelled me to venture out again – to explore a terrain more horrid than the wars that have rocked the world! I discovered about Safar, evil omens and bad luck! And how dear-and-near are still caught in the web Shaytan so carefully and cunningly weaves around us! The web of “tou-iss-main-kya-harj-hai?” (so-what’s-the-harm-in-it web!)

I found out in conversation with my mother, that a very near relative (who has mashAllah left a lot of her bida’as since she has found the deen), sacrifices a goat the 13th of every Safar in order to ward off evil and bad luck. “Whaa?!” was the syllable that emitted from my mouth on hearing something so ridiculous! My mom gave me a puzzled look and repeated what she had said, commenting, “You know that people believe Safar to be a month of bad omens, right?” Well, I didn’t, so it was time to go knocking at some doors!

Here is what my limited research revealed: The month of Safar is considered to be full of misfortune and calamities and one must recite Surah Muzammil 313 times in order to be saved from them. The first to the thirteenth of Safar is ill-fortune and evil; however, the person who distributes food or money on the 13th of Safar will be saved from its ill-fortune. Also, whoever commences any important venture, business etc. during this month will have bad luck. One must instead make 365 balls of flour and toss them into the sea or rivers in order to counter bad omens and to increase Rizq! Also, a nikah performed in this month would not be successful or result in an unhappy marriage. The list goes on, but here’s enough to fuel your imagination! It almost sounds like a bad chain letter, only a million times more dangerous as it can destroy our Iman and Aqeedah!

Now, you’d wonder why Safar has been singled out so? A little more research revealed that this concept actually goes back to the days of Jahiliyya! The Arabs were a warring nation; small arguments and disputes would turn into feuds and wars that lasted not only for years, but sometimes spanned even generations. However, even back then, the Arabs observed the sacred months of Rajab, Dhul Q’ada, Dhul Hijja, and Muharram, and would abstain from fighting in them. They would however be waiting impatiently for Safar; for as soon as Safar rolled about, the men would proceed to settle scores with their rivals, heading out for battles while leaving their houses empty (hence the name Safar as the word Safar means empty or vacant). As a result of the resumption of killings and fighting in the month of Safar, the Arabs started regarding it as a month of ill-fate and bad luck. History, sadly, reveals that man loves to blame, and even though the Arabs went off in a killing-spree, it was poor Safar which bore the brunt of the blame!

The advent of Islam however changed this mind-set. Allah Subhana Wa Ta’la told the Arabs and the entire Muslim Ummah that “…whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” (Surah Ash-Shura, Ayah 30). No person, animal or object, no day, month or year can cause harm to anyone! We are responsible for whatever happens to us, ourselves!

Also, how can any day or month be unlucky or be a portent of bad omens when in fact months and years are formed by the alternation of days and nights which Allah has appointed for our convenience and to help us organize ourselves?
“And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayat (signs etc.). Then, We have obliterated the sign of the night (with darkness) while We have made the sign of the day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning. And We have explained everything (in detail) with full explanation.” (Surah Al-Isra, Ayah 12)
Considering any time, hour, day, month or year to be unlucky is a great sin as Allah the Exalted says: “ The son of Adam hurts me for he abuses Time though I am Time: in My Hands are all things, and I cause the revolution of day and night.”(Sahih Bukhari)
The Prophet (SAW) also negated all superstitions and beliefs of the Jahiliyah period concerning the month of Safar. Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “(There is) no ‘Adwa (no contagious disease is conveyed without Allah’s permission), nor is there any bad omen (from birds), nor is there any Haamah, nor is there any (bad omen in the month of) Safar… ” (Bukhari and Muslim).
What is really sad now is that despite having the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet before us, such sentiments of superstitions have crept back into our society. And this is where you and I come in. As conscious Muslims we need to make it a point to shun all superstitions that we come across and direct others to do so too, not only regarding the month of Safar but also otherwise. We must understand that all conditions which befalls us, good or bad, favourable, or unfavourable are from Allah (as a result of our actions).
We need to remember that the most unfortunate person is actually he who disobeys Allah’s commandments such as one who does not perform the five daily Salah, not someone who has his path crossed by a black cat or one who weds in the month of Safar. We must not let unimportant and baseless matters of superstitions occupy us so much that we forget to do what Allah has commanded us. Rather, we should remember to keep things in perspective and follow and believe only that which has been revealed by Allah and taught by our Prophet, in order to gain success in this world and the next.

“Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself…” (Surah An-Nisa, Ayah79).

May Allah grant us the courage and perseverance to follow what is right and reject what is wrong! Ameen!

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The Islamic month of Muharram is a very blessed and important one. Muharram literally means ‘sacred’.  It symbolizes the first month of the lunar, Hijri calendar. The Hijri calendar denotes the years from the time of the Prophet’s migration with his companions from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE by the Gregorian calendar. Though it marks a significance that Muslims finally were able to establish their own identity in Madinah it is not celebrated in either the Islamic sense of a holy day nor the Western style secular celebration of ‘New Years’ (for more details as to why not click here).   

Instead it serves as a time of reflection on the year past of a believer and is a hope that the following year will be better (Insha Allah). It is also a time to remember the hardships faced by  the Prophet (pbuh) and the early Muslims before and during their migration.

Muharram is amongst the four sacred months as Allah states in the Quran:

“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein.” (At-Tawbah 9: 36)

The four months, according to authentic Ahaadith, are the months of Zhul-Qa`dah, Zhul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab.

 “The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumad (ath-Thani) and Sha’baan.” (Bukhari).
It is unlawful/haram to fight during these months and since Allah has increased their sanctity, they are very good times for one to reach out and begin bonding with Allah, to seek His forgiveness and His Love from Him. It was reported that Ibn `Abbas said regarding the above verse that these four months were singled out and made sacred. Sins in these months are more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward.

During this month it is great to fast and very much encouraged since the fasts of Muharram were ones Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) looked forward to.

The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadan is the fast during Allah’s month of Muharram and the best of Salaats (prayers) besides the Fardh (obligatory Salaat) is the Tahajjud Salaah (voluntary night prayers). (Sahih Muslim).

It is voluntary if a person wants to fast on the 9^th and 10^th or 10^th and 11^th of Muharram since on the 10^th with regard to the blessing of this fast, Muhammad (pbuh) was asked regarding its virtue. He answered; ‘It is a compensation for the sins of the past year.’ i.e. the sins of one year that has just gone by will be forgiven. (Muslim, Vol. 1).

Note: Only minor sins are forgiven. For the forgiveness of major sins, Taubah (repentance) is a requirement.

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I found myself breathing the crisp autumn breeze as I stood there in awe, smiling at the lush greens, bright oranges, crisp yellows, and dark reds that surrounded me.  Glory be to Him, it was a moment I did not want to let go of. I love autumn. I love everything about this particular season. The changing colors, the air and the ambiance of this time of the year. It wasn’t long before it was time for me to leave the park and get going. Though if I could, I would stay there forever. Forever. Such sheer, ultimate bliss.

And suddenly, it hit me.  This was just a fleeting moment albeit picturesque and serene. What is it that is going to last forever?  Is there anything, anything, thatcan transcend the laws of the world? Except the One,the Waahid al Qahaar (the One/the Indivisible, the Irresistible) Allah says in the Qur`an 55:25

“And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.”

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Hence the only thing to last forever, literally, is His Majesty, His Grandeur. His is the Dominion. Forever.

And there in, it reminded me of perhaps what I would call my biggest fear. A fear so big. So real. So scary, so true, and yet utterly inevitable. A fear that makes it hard for me to breathe. A fear that brings me back to my reality (haqeeqat) and insignificance.

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And it wasn’t death.Instead, it was the fear of parting from this world in a state that’s not pleasing to Him. A wakeup call.A state that cannot render us any good here or in the Hereafter.  A state with no relief.  A state of utter loss. A state too full of agony and pain-indescribable, sharp, unbearable,eternal. Granted, He is the Most, Most, Merciful and it’s only and only by His limitless mercy that we, God-willing, can enter Jannah.And we ask Him, The (Al-’Afuww)The Pardoner, the Effacer of Sins, the(Muqalibal Quloob) the Turner of hearts, to forgive us, turn our hearts toward Him and to grant us, through His infinite mercy, beautiful company and homes in Jannah. Ameen.

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But, that in no way gives us the license to show ingratitude, love everything but Him? To basically do as we please.  Therein lies our tragedy. We do not call on Him until we lose sight of that which matters. That which matters most.We seek shelter, home, peace, refuge in everything other than Him. When all our avenues are exhausted, we call on Him. We get so lost in the means. The means that are given to us by Him in the first place to make this journey toHim, the Ever-lasting. We lose sight of the bigger picture. He and He alone is the path to a sound heart. It’s up to us as to how we take up on this journey and choose to have this inevitable, irresistible meeting with the Lord.

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There has to be struggle. Struggle to get there. A longing. A desire so strong it transcends everything and beyond.

But really, where we stand is the very reason for why I felt that block of ice in my throat. The very reason for why I couldn’t bear the thought of standing before the Lord in front of His entire creation. Alone. On my own.  My deeds as my witness. For or against me. The good, the bad-right in front of everyone. Literally. Nothing hidden from Him. Absolutely nothing. Who knows what’s hidden inside­­ the chest? Who else knows the secrets of the heart, the treachery of the eyes? Who? None other than Him. He is the Al khabir -The All-Knower/Aware.  The Al Basir the All-Seeing; acquainted with all hidden secrets; knows all that conscience does conceal.

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It is only befitting that we worship Him because He alone is worthy of worship. To surrender to Him. To thank Him for each breath we take. To Go before Him with a heart that’s whole. A heart that belongs to­ Him. That seeks Him, alone. That yearns for Him. Since, verily, the heart was created to know Him. And not to habitually yield to the demands of our lower nature. Not to carry a heart where the evil overrides the good each time, everytime. Like Ibn-e- Qayim beautifully put it: “The one who is (truly) imprisoned is the one whose heart is imprisoned from Allah and the captivated one is the one whose desires have enslaved him.”To empty our hearts; the vessel of all evils, since “every vessel drips that which it contains.” A heart that’s full of goodness will only give out that. Goodness (khair). The heart will reflect only that which it carries. And Subhan’Allah He will not let go of even an atom’s weight of good.  God says in the Qur`an (55:60):

“Is the reward for good [anything] but good?”

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How beautiful is that statement. How true is His word.  Is there any reward for good other than good?Goodness in deed, in act, in word.  Goodness that takes you to Him in a state that He is pleased with. And so to be more generous, kind, forgiving, tolerant, to control anger and the desires of the lower self(nafs), to smile more often for His sake, to give for His sake, to love for His sake for that love is never depleted, to follow His word and fulfill your covenant. To see the Creator in all of His creation. To see the Provider in all provisions- the paramount purpose. To really be amongst those whose souls when being taken out are called as ‘the soul at rest’ (al-nafs al- mutma’innah) ( Quran 89:27-30)

To the righteous it will be said], “O reassured soul,

Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him],

And enter among My [righteous] servants

And enter My Paradise.”

The transient nature of seasons and their temporariness serves as a stark contrast to what real bliss is supposed to be like. Real and pure bliss is a state that’s eternal. Forever. If it’s anything less than that is not to be equated with pure bliss. Just bliss?

Probably. Alhamdulillah. But it’s always changing. Just like the changing seasons. Just like the attitude of people around us and the feelings they have for us. Never constant. Not to be relied upon. This bliss is flawed. A flaw that is inevitable here, in this flawed dunya. The kind that is incapable to fill the void, the emptiness in the heart, on its own.

So that feeling that chokes me each time is a reminder to do good. More good.To strive harder.To purify that which lies in the heart and governs the soul therewith.

Wouldn’t we want to choose the path to success (falah)? Success that brings back to us that bliss.That perfection.That wholeness.That warm feeling inside that just never really seems to last here for long enough. It being eternal.Forever, in the truest sense of the word.For the soul to return safely to its blissful home.To return to Him as pleased souls? (al -nafs al-mutmainah)

There’s still time. He will never give up on us, so we cannot give up on ourselves. We will always be the apple of His eye. He can never abandon us. It’s we who move away from Him and feel so hollow. So lost. Isn’t it time to regain back our hearts? To secure this fortress. Nothing , absolutely nothing, is difficult once you hold tightly to His rope.

I pray and long to feel and experience the blanket of serenity I wait for each autumn. Only this time it would be forever.

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You are probably familiar with the excellence of the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Well, let us introduce you to 10 days that are even MORE virtuous, yet many people are not aware of it. They are the first ten days of the Islamic calendar month of Dhul-Hijjah.

But the last ten nights of Ramadan are better than the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah, because they include Laylat al-Qadr, which is better than a thousand months. {Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 5/412} 

The Prophet (SAW) said: “There aren’t any days greater, nor any days in which deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah, the Most High, than these ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah). So, increase in them the saying of Tahlil (La Ilaha illa Allah), and Takbir (Allahu Akbar) and Tahmid (al-Hamdu li-llah)”. {Musnad Ahmad}

The Prophet (SAW) said concerning the fast observed on the Day of Arafah: “I have full confidence in Allah for the one who observes a fast on the day of Arafah that his previous year’s sins and the proceeding year’s sins are forgiven”. {Muslim}

SubhanAllah! Our Rabb- in His infinite compassion ends the Islamic year with a parting gift for us-a fresh start, by wiping out our ‘previous year’s sins and the proceeding year’s sins’ inshaAllah.  Better than any Gregorian New Years’ eve’s offering!

In these first 10 days of the Month of Dhul-Hijjah we find:

•  the 9th day is the day of Arafah,
•  and the 10th day is Eid ul Adha.  The Prophet (PBUH) said: ‘For every nation there is a feast and this is our feast.’ {Bukhari}

Even if you are not going for Hajj, you can put in extra effort to do good deeds.

What extra good deeds can you do?

• Trim hair and clip nails before 1st Dhul-Hijjah and not cut them again until after the sacrifice (qurbani)
• Fast the first 9 days especially on Youm-e-Arafah (The Day of Arafah in Saudi Arabia) – can’t fast on our Eid day.
• Give more charity.
• Strengthen ties of kinship (visit family, say kind words to them, etc).
• Perform extra voluntary prayers.
• Read more Qur’an, contemplating on the meanings.
• Do additional Dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
• Ask Allah for forgiveness repeatedly(Do a lot of Astaghfaar).
• Say the “Eid” Takbeers aloud wherever you go. (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Laa ilaaha illa Allah. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Walillaahil hamd.) especially after every salah.

May Allah (SWT) help and guide us in these days (and all others) & may He be pleased with us, ameen.

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*Warning: Keep away from reach of narcissists.

How many times do we look in the mirror and sigh/whine/dream for flawless skin, perfect hair, and hour-glass figures? All that stares back at us (or so we think) is fat that we like to call love-handles, pimples we try to convince ourselves are normal signs of puberty and hair that never quite looks like the ad promised.  Quick peek at what the Prophet (S) saw when HE looked in the mirror:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ حَسَّنْتَ خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي

“O Allah, just as You have made my external features beautiful, make my character beautiful as well”.

Subhan Allah! Just imagine for a second, the self-assurance and contentment of a man who says this when he looks in the mirror (yes, the mirror!). And add to that the fact that the very next second he is praying for beauty within. Goes to show how little importance he placed on it. (I can almost see the accompanying shrug: “beautiful, so what?”) . He knew that beauty should not be skin-deep only, that handsome is as handsome does. And what has Disney taught us:

“Mirror Mirror on the wall! Who is the fairest of us all?” (and poison anyone fair-er than you:P)

And lets not even start on the “Fair & Lovely” commercials and whatthey taught us.

So basically yes I know the media and society and the rishta-wali auntis have these un-realistic expectations (read demands) on what the ideal woman looks like (read tall, fair 19-year old Doctor whowants to give up her career to raise your son AND his kids  ). But its time we told ourselves (and a lot of other people too) that we are notputting up with this anymore! We are not dolls to be ogled at, at whim or ornaments for bike commercials. We have dreams, aspirations, careers and homes. But most of all, we have a higher purpose in life:

“Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned?”

(Surah Al Muminun Verse 115)

“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding – Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”

(Surah Al e Imran Verse 191)

Besides we ought to be happy with the way we look and not let others decide what being beautiful entails. Why conform when you can be unique? Who decides these stats anyway? Allah made each one of us beautiful in our own special way and Allah said to me:

“… and (He) has given you shape, and made your shapes beautiful…”

(Surah Taghabun Verse 3)

Allah told me I am beautiful! Why would I need OR heed anyone telling me the same or otherwise after that? Better than that naked blue guy in the snow crooning (OR Tariq next door for that matter): “I saw your face…you`re beautiful its true”. I know they say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder but beauty is also in the mind. It’s a figment of our imagination. Trust me! If you believe you are beautiful, no power on earth can convince you otherwise. And if you feel ugly, NOBODY can convince you that you are not.  So stop being over-critical of yourself when you look in the mirror and start working on the thought process instead:

“If our sense of self-worth comes from any place other than our relationship with Allah, Wallah we`re in deep trouble” – Sh. Yassir Fazaga

Here`s a quick tip

Mental Exercise:

Look in the mirror and tell yourself “I`m not JUST a pretty face”. Now remind yourself of some personality flaw you know you have and need to work on, and watch those pimples disappear:P

P.s Did you know that they say  if Barbie were real she would be 7 feet tall and she would have to walk on all fours due to those “proportions” of hers

(Originally posted in http://malonama.com/)

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Today I would like for you to play a little game with me. One of my teachers made me understand the essence of Surah Al Asr through imagery and boy did I understand the gravity of this tiny surah after the class was over.

Insha’Allah that is exactly what I intend to share with you. Of course you cannot close your eyes but you can imagine these things as you read.

Imagine that you are drowning and you’re unconscious.

The fact that you’re drowning and are unconscious is a state of emergency because you’re out of time and you may die. The term used in the Qur’an to explain such a state of emergency, when you’re running out of time is Al Asr.

Now, what’s the first thing you need to do in order to survive? … Wake up!

Of course, without waking up, you’ll remain unconscious and die. You’ll be finished. So you need to… wake up.

Let’s suppose that whilst you were unconscious, you were having this amazing dream. You were driving a Porsche down Beverly Hills with palm trees as tall as the sky, amazing breeze, lots of cash for shopping or through beautiful mountain tunnels, enjoying life, enjoying the ride, taking whatever comes your way without discontentment. But when you wake up, what do you realize?

That you’re drowning.

Now if you wake up and say, ‘Oh man, this reality is bitter, I enjoyed my dream better, let me just go back to sleep’, what kind of a person would you be? Do I need to say it?

Yes, insanely stupid.

Could you blame anyone else for your stupidity? Of course not! You’re the one who chose to go back to sleep. You preferred that dream to reality.

Now, let’s imagine that you’re not insanely stupid and you decide to wake up. What do you need to do? You need to survive. You need to get your little drowning self to swim up to the top so you can live reality. Even if you don’t know how to swim, will you not flex every muscle in your body to make it to the top so you can breathe?

Finally, you get to the surface, you breathe in a fresh breath of air but unexpectedly, you get pulled down.

Again!? *Grr* Yes, again. Oh no, how come?

You realize that there’s a chain around your foot and Taha (your cousin, friend or some relative) is sleeping. He, too, is unconscious. This time you’re not drowning because of yourself, but thanks to your sleeping beauty, you cannot manage to get to the top.

So what do you have to do? Wake him up!

So now, you’re not waking him up so you can save him (though that can be a reason too) come on, be honest. You are waking him up so you can survive! At the moment, you’re worried more about yourself and rightfully so. Your priority is to help yourself first.

Now, as you try to wake difficult, heavy, extra-burden Taha up (no, kicking is not polite), he shoves you off, ‘Oh man, I was driving this Ferrari and eating gourmet food. Go away, let me sleep a little while longer, don’t wake me up for no reason.’

Can you say, ‘Fine, I didn’t like you anyway, sleep!’?

Can you afford to do that, even if you’re literally ‘dying’ to do it? No way and how come?

Because if he goes back to sleep, who’s going to die along with him?

Of course, in such a state of emergency, you will be more arrogant than Taha and want things your way and so you try again. You wake him up and try to give him a whiff (or in this case a gulp) of reality. And you’re going to keep trying and trying until he wakes up.

FINALLY! He wakes up with a grumpy attitude, ‘Ok I’m up, now what do you want me to do?’

And you say, ‘Let’s swim together up to the surface.’

Now, the two of you, go up to the surface and begin to breathe again until… *gasping*… you’re pulled down again by your father/brother/husband/sister/uncle/grandparent/childhood friend/someone!!

And this process continues. For how long?

Forever.

Such is the reality of life.

To sum this up, to survive you need to:

1. Wake up yourself because you’re running out of time and facing personal loss.

وَالْعَصْرِ

 ”By Al-’Asr (the time).”

 إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ

“Verily! Man is in loss”

     2.    Once you realize your life is at stake you try to swim yourself to the surface by performing certain actions (swimming/floating/air kicks/froggy leaps/something!).

 إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ

“Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds…”

     3. Tell the people you’re tied to, the truth, the reality and make them swim up.

 وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ

“…and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma’ruf) which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar)which Allah has forbidden)…”

     4. Even if one of them gets tired, you keep on pushing, encouraging and persuading them to swim up and survive together. This is something you have to do, over and over again. It can happen that you get very tired but you’ve got to remain on course and you need to keep doing this because your own survival depends on this.

وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ

“…and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah’s Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad, etc.).”

In the end if you give up, every effort of yours goes down the drain multiplied by zero. You and the rest of your sleeping beauties may be made to wake up to an uglier reality.

Remember: In an army when there’s a man down or he’s tired and has lost hope, others pick him up and move on. Why? Because their survival depends on each other. There’s no man left behind.

Surah Al-Asr is a Makki surah. It’s interesting how we read it in our Salah (prayers) without even knowing the gravity behind it. This surah is amongst the shortest surahs of the Qur’an but it is so complex in nature. These 3 ayah’s (verses) teach us lessons which can change the whole meaning of one’s life. Imam Ash-Shafi’i said that if Allah had revealed only this surah to His Creation, it would have been enough for them.

The tragedy and the irony is that we know this surah by heart and we do recite it in our Salah (prayers) but usually only if we are running late for something like the movies/shopping. When Salah (prayers) is coming in the way, we tend to do a hit-and-run Salah by reciting this surah. Or maybe we’re watching TV and behind the TV there’s  this Surah in calligraphy hanging while we’re flipping through the channels for hours and hours. And what is said in Salah or written on the portrait hanging on your wall?

 وَالْعَصْرِ

“By Al-’Asr (the time).”

 إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ

“Verily! Man is in loss.”

 إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ

“Except those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma’ruf) which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar)which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah’s Cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad, etc.).”

Satan rejoiced when Adam (as) came out of Paradise, but he did not know that when a diver sinks into the sea, he collects pearls and then rises again.
~Ibn al-Qayyim

Audio: Surah Al Asr

-Alhamdulillah and special thanks to my wise teacher for helping me understand this surah in such a way.-

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Aristotle and How Music Effects Emotions:

“Music directly imitates the passions or states of the soul…when one listens to music that imitates a certain passion, he becomes imbued withthe same passion; and if over a long time he habitually listens to music that rouses ignoble passions, his whole character will be shaped to an ignoble form.^”

“Any musical innovation is full of danger to the whole state, and ought to be prohibited. When modes of music change, the fundamental laws of the state always change with them.^”

Plato and Moral Decline of Greece:

“They were men of genius, but they had no perception of what was just and lawful in music…And by composing licentious works, and adding to them words as licentious, they have inspired the multitude with lawlessness and boldness, and made them fancy that they could judge for themselves about melody and song…in music there first arose the universal conceit of omniscience and general lawlessness; freedom came following afterwards, and men, fancying that they knew what they did not know, had no longer any fear, and the absence of fear begets shamelessness. For what is this shamelessness, which is so evil a thing, but the insolent refusal to regard the opinion of the better by reason of an over-daring sort of liberty?”

Socrates and the Instrument of Indoctrination:

“Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul, on which they mightily fasten, imparting grace, and making the soul of him who is rightly educated graceful, or of him who is ill-educated ungraceful.”

And Finally:

Sixth-century Chinese philosopher Shu Ching:

 “For changing people’s manners and altering their customs there is nothing better than music.”

(Originally posted in http://malonama.com/)

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Pakistani men are, by and large, oafs! Okay fine there`s … well you get the point. You don`t? When was the last time you visited a Pakistani Bazar? And I mean Bazar not some high-end mall or super-store where you look at the price tag and ask the salesperson “sale kab lagegi?” and when finally the much-awaited “SALE” sign goes up, you rush inside all excited, only to ask : “Ye sale price hai?” But I digress, when was the last time you went to a Bazar in Pakistan:

So whats the usual scenario? You feel like Ashwariya Rai or atleast you would if the hundred or so men oggling you were emm, well what the heck who really wants to feel like Hindustan ki Bahu anyway. And ofcourse this does not in any way imply that the average paki woman is actually more than just that, average i.e. , nope in The Land of the Pure you do not have to be hot or semi-dressed to be oggled. In fact Paki women can never suffer from low self-esteem, since Bashir, Tariq AND Rasheed are all staring (and I use the term very loosely here) at you like you are the only woman for miles around. Ah if only they stopped there! Nope dear ole Basheer (and I mean literally pot-belly, bald-headed, 40- year old basheer with a wife and kids in tow) wants more!

So he`ll accidentally brush against you, or crash into you (of course accidentally) or if he can manage it grope or if its his lucky day…. The ironic part is that this is not a once-in-a-blue -moon thing, or even a once-in-every-visit thing, its so wide-spread and so common that women have actually resigned themselves to it, and do not even discuss it any more! Its as common as paan streaks and wall-chalking. Don`t believe me? Go ask the females in your house.

Seriously did they miss out on this when reading the word of God?:=
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.”

(Surah An-Nur: 30)

The Arabic word used is which means more than just “all they do”. It encompasses everything men do when they “check out” a woman, so basically the verse means that Allah (s.w.t) knows well <*shudder*> what they “fantasize”. Lets not even go down that lane, the fact that Playboy sold SEVEN MILLION copies at its peak is enough of an indicator for the intelligent.

And they justify it by “ey she was asking for it”. No she was not, not unless you are her knight in shining armor, or her majazi khuda dude (basically the hot guy she fell in love with, married and who pays her bills:-P). So unless you`re him we DO NOT wish to be X-Rayed or Gamma Rayed or whatever it is that your oh-so-k3wl glasses emit when you stand on the gali ka nukar thinking you are God`s gift to woman-kind, seriously you kinda look like this:

And all we want to do is this:

In a hadith, the Prophet (s.a.w) is reported as having said: “And the eyes commit zina (adultery). Their zina is gazing.”

The Bible seems to agree:

“With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed–an accursed brood!”-Peter 2:14

The Prophet (s.a.w) commanded Ali (r.a) : “Ali! Do not look once after another, for the first look is for you (since it happens accidentally) while the second is against you.”

Note to Dads: Do not smile indulgently at your sons when they talk about their latest “excursion in the field”. Please do not sigh and start reminiscing  about  your days saying “boys will be boys” or at least if you are going to do that, do not kill your daughter for the same in the name of some misplaced sense of “honor”. If you have not noticed qualities like honor, liberty and justice are kinda same across the board!

Note to women: Whenever you are harassed in the work place, study place or the market, know that at some point somewhere a woman failed in her duty as a mother. Do not repeat the same mistake. Teach your son (s) manners and do us all a favor.

Some useful information:

1. Sexual harassment is defined as “any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature…”

2. The National Assembly of Pakistan has unanimously passed a bill to provide for a higher punishment for sexual harassment increasing the punishment for the crime to up to three years inprison and a fine of up to Rs 500,000 from up to one year and unspecified fine already provided in the PPC for a vague ‘insult (to) the modesty of a woman’.

And Finally:
“Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal.”   - (Surah Ghafir:19)

(Originally posted in http://malonama.com/)

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“Omg! Guess what?! I heard from Ayesha, who heard from Amna whose maid works for this teacher who hears all sorts of stuff in the faculty room and she heard it with her own ears that that you know the Dars wali Auntie?Her daughter was talking on the phone with a guy! Astaghfirullah O_O”

How many times have we gotten pulled into such conversations (little gossipers aren`t we)? Lets examine the case with “clinical perfection”.

Firstly, HOW do you know for sure? Spreading rumors are we Bushra, tch tch:

“O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.”

(Surah Al-Hujurat: 6)

Secondly you are casting doubt on someone`s character:

“O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin.”

(Surah Al-Hujurat: 12)

Third, you are either falsely accusing someone (slander) OR backbiting:

“Do you know what backbiting is?” They said, “God and His Messenger know best.” He then said, “It is to say something about your brother that he would dislike.” Someone asked him, “But what if what I say is true?” The Messenger of God said, “If what you say about him is true, you are backbiting him, but if it is not true then you have slandered him.”

(Muslim)

“…neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting).”

(Surah Al-Hujurat:12)

“Those who accuse chaste, honorable women (of illicit sexual relations) but do not produce four male witnesses (who will witness that they personally saw the act being committed): flog them with eighty stripes, and do not accept from them any testimony ever after. They are indeed transgressors”

(Surah An-Noor:4)

Lastly Bushra you need a life, seriously.

And then there`s the unique Paki celebrity culture. Just because they are public figures does not make it alright:

“O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent – then it is those who are the wrongdoers.”

(Surah Al-Hujurat: 11)

So stop posting all those  Meera, Veena, Amir Liaquat, Ch. Shujaat videos and for God`s sake enough with Zardari too. Oh! Here`s a revolutionary idea: Don’t vote for him!

Why are we so quick to judge others? In fact who are we to judge others? And that too by our own set of rules or the standards that society sets for what is “acceptable” and what is not. We get petty and mean and end up missing the bigger picture ourselves:

-You know those Saudis they`re such bad people, you should see what they wear underneath those Burqas.

-The Molvi sahib you know, he just married again, how come he gets all those beautiful Auntis.

-Haye Allah!Why is she praying in public?! Or why is she praying when she does not do Hijab?

-Why is she so fat? (huh?)

Sigh!
“Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not a religion”-Charlotte Bronte

Its just sad when people take their self-righteousness and bring Islam into the picture, when Allah (swt) says categorically:

Enjoin you Al-Birr (piety and righteousness and every act of obedience to Allah) on the people and you forget (to practise it) yourselves, while you recite the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah)]! Have you then no sense?”. (2:44)

“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do”. (61:2,3)

“(Shu`aib said:) I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you.’‘ (11:88)

Finally: There`s a time and place for Amar Bil-Maroof Wa nahi Anil-Munkar and its not behind the back! No Bushra it just ain`t, sorry!

(Originally posted in http://malonama.com/)

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