Isn't it strange how our celebrations at even the most insignificant event of a desi victory against the Indians is thrown into immediate perspective with the catastrophe in Indonesia?

As I was driving and heard of the news, all I could think of was how we must have failed again. We still are not learning our lessons. We are still not heeding the warnings. What am I still doing wrong?

That has to be the immediate lesson for all of us right now. What are we still messing up on? Why are we missing the mark? Why are we failing the standard?

And we have to learn and accept the following: if we continue to fall short of the minimum conduct in this life, we can only expect more, and more, and more…

'Aafiyah Ya Allah. Forgive us.

So many things to do, so many things to plan, so many things to get happy at, so many things that sadden us…

Returning to something from the comments in the last post, can I show my solidarity with the miskeen dying brand of '…tolerant Sufi-minded Barelvi form of Islam…' which '…is now deeply out of fashion…'!

Can I reassure all bloggerists that I will be standing side by side with my poor brothers in my planned trip back to the homeland in a few weeks time. It's about time we redressed the balance and brought some nice simple forms of tolerance back to the Frontier…

Donations for our new combined-effort-madressah of tolerance to the normal email address. Shukran.

:-)

I'm enjoying writing every few days you know. Only problem though is that three days in 2005 is like 100 relevant news stories, 6000 questions and only Allah knows what else! Having to filter all that and controlling your thoughts is honestly the most difficult thing to do. As one of the wise ones said:

"Sorry, didn't have the time to be brief…"

Anyway, for the Hanbali fiqh class, considering that we’re doing the chapter of Hudood at the moment, check out this article by Tariq Ramadan.

We must not accept this repression

This article has caused a lot of controversy as is to be expected from Mr Ramadan, a really talented man with a high degree of academic achievement. It's just such a shame that he is wasted with his totally modernist bias; a product one feels of his culturing in the halls of European colonialism.

Saying that, I do think he's on the 'safe' side of an incredibly thin line. I've read this article a few times and I'll need to be pushed further to find a statement which proves that he denies outright the application of hudood in the Shari'ah

He has quite a few valid points in that Hudood are hardly ever implemented. That's a Shar'i precept in the Deen, whether or not it is a kalimatul haqq wa yuridu bihi batil.

It is also agreed that we find many cases are indeed cases of oppression against the weak and poor, "…the application of the sharia today is used by repressive powers to abuse women, the poor and political opponents within a quasi-legal vacuum." And how many cases are we aware of where the rich and politically powerful get away with murder – often literally.

Finally, it is also unfortunately and rather sadly true that many Muslims do indeed believe that, "…that devotion to Islam requires a strict and visible display of punishment, partly an opposition to "the west"..."

This somewhat endemic attitude has been a characteristic found in Muslims from the very early days until the very present day. Our Deen is very much based upon the concept of Rahmah. Mercy emanates every single aspect of our Shari'ah; it's worship as well as it's penal system.

We don't bay for blood but we beg for tawbah and pardon. We don't want to see the weak and guilty hauled in front of thousands, rather we want people to be bigger and take the higher road of forgiveness. One can see this very clearly from the personal conduct of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) in every single case of someone bringing a case to him. Every SINGLE incident. Bar none.

It was only when the public were made aware, when the state had been informed in a formal fashion did we then see the Hudood being enacted out. This is what our scholars have taught us and left with us a legacy of the compassion of the Prophet, a Mercy to all the Universe.

Anyway enough of my own rambling, going back to the article, this does not justify the very strange and weak methodology adopted by Mr Ramadan, trying to create a marriage between our classical tradition and his Western detractors. His article rather betrays his modernist tendencies, which I wish he'd just come out and admit instead of trying to hide between the (semi-respectable) Ikhwan movement.

Ramadan is really pushing it - he misuses the temporary suspension during 'Umar's Khilafah in the hadd for stealing, and also confuses the call for political reform and justice, and a renewed vigour that he displays in trying to reintepret textual sources on the Hudood.

Man, what is it these days? Hasn't anyone got any good news for once?

Well well.

Actually, let me not spoil this moment with lame speech.

Let the pictures of my kinda maulvees do the talking...




:-)

Man, there has been just SO much happening over the last week...

Firstly, can I say that 'weekly' awards can mean two and three weekly. Likewise, 'daily' posts can also mean every three to four days.

Thats a given in the blogging world right? Right?

Alhamdulillah. Good.

:-)

The political battle for the 5th of May is well under way - there is much to get through from the permissibility of voting to our aims and objectives to why we should be voting Lib Dems in general.

As I mentioned a week back, the opening salvo has been fired. Now, here is quite a nice and relevant introduction to what I was going to write soon, just to start us all thinking in the right mode and about the relevant concerns that we should have. I'd like to hear your ideas and feedback.

For one day only, I'm a Lib Dem

After that, can we just concentrate on what seems to be Pak's best chance of finally beating the Indians?

That's Kaneria clearing up the Indian batting line up by bowling his brand new doosra ball - otherwise known as the F-16...

;-)

A pertinent point from one of our tullab-ul-'ilm, brother Hood in Madinah:

As-salaamu alaikum

I am sure you have heard of the terry Schiavo case in the news lately, if not here is a link:http://slate.msn.com/id/2115208/

Would it not be good publicity for the "humanity" of Islam and its mercy to give a statement concerning the terry Schiavo case, one which Islam is clearly against, i.e. pulling her feeding tube so that she can die of starvation?

There is no doubt that this type of Euthanasia is forbidden in Islam, "Whoever kills one innocent life then it is as if he has killed all of humanity, and whoever saves one life then it is as if he has saved all of humanity."

Speaking out about it, especially from an "Official" pulpit, may lend support for those who are fighting to save this poor woman's life as well as give many people insight into Islam and the kinder face that should be shown to the west especially in these times. Even a call of support to her parents would be a good idea.

I would encourage all of those that have access to any media outlet to make a educated statement about the case, as well as request the authorities to return her feeding tube and allow her to live until her time of natural death.

was-salaam

Hood


Also, a rather worrying development in Babar's case. True, it doesn't compare to the goings on around the world we were reading about in that excellent Guardian article, but this is something in our own back yard which we can really do something about, however little. It will not be forgotten. Thanks to Abu Muntasir for this one...

Sent by Abu Ayub Al-Ansari <shuraim19@hotmail.com>

On Tuesday 22nd March 2005, Babar rang his family briefly to inform them he was being transferred. He did not know where to or why. First thing in the morning, he was just told to pack his things. Babar was not even given the chance to say goodbye to his fellow inmates. His family were due to visit him later that day at Woodhill Prison. The Prison staff would not comment on the transfer for security reasons.

After much anxiety and many phone calls, it finally emerged in the afternoon that Babar had been moved to Belmarsh High Security Prison in Woolwich, South East London. This has occurred two days prior to his remand and review hearing. We cannot help but wonder what the authorities are up to this time. Nevertheless, Babar and his family are positive about the whole ordeal.

For those who wish to write to Babar, his new address is:

Babar Ahmad MX5383
HMP Belmarsh
Western Way
Thamesmead
London SE28 OEB

Note that the prisoner number has not changed.

Visit Free Babar Ahmad http://www.freebabarahmad.com/

Deen Therapy....

Sigh.

Where are the Therapists? Where are the Doctors?

In any case, how can the one in need of therapy give therapy to others?

My DT for tonight? Reflect upon these words I found in Bayhaqi's 'al-Jami' li-Shu'ab al-Iman' of 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz (radhy Allahu 'anhu), the 'fifth' khalifah of Islam...

He wrote a letter of condolence to 'Awn ibn 'Abd Allah on the death of his son, saying:

"As-salamu 'alaykum.

As for what follows:

We are people of the Hereafter, placed in this Dunya; dead, sons of the dead.

So how strange it is that the dead one writes a letter to his fellow dead one, giving him condolences of his dead one...!

Wa-Salam."

Simple and straight to the point, but just full of meaning and wisdom.

And with that - time for me to die, for indeed in sleep is the minor death...

For those who of you who may be interested, here's a question from earlier today:

Can you check on a Hadith related by Ibn al-Sunni, whose authenticity i am unaware of? ( i think, i have come across Imam al-Nawawi(r) using him as a reference in Kitab al-Adhkar)

[A]the Hadith in question mentions that recitation of Sura al-Ikhlas al-Sharif 200 times will remove 50 years of the individuals sins.
[B]Another Hadith from Ibn al-Sunni mentions 100 times recitation of Sura al-Ikhlas al-Sharif after Fajer before talking to anybody for the forgiveness of sins.

Sidi could you check how authentic are the Ahadith in [A] and [B]?what have the Ulama said about them? [b]are they weak?


This was what I was able to find:

1. This first hadîth has been narrated in many ways, with very similar wordings. The version narrated by ibn al-Sunni (rahimahullah) is:

Narrated by Anas ibn Malik (radhy Allahu 'anhu) that he said, 'I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallâhu 'alayhi wa sallam) say, "No Muslim, male or female, recites two hundred times in a day and night 'Qul Huwa Allahu al-Ahad, Allahu al-Samad…' except that fifty years of his sins are forgiven."'

Reported by ibn al-Sunni in 'Amal al-Yawm wa 'l-Laylah' (#694) and similarly (#695).

The more popular version is narrated by Imâm al-Tirmidhi (#2898) on the authority of Anas ibn Mâlik on the authority of the Prophet (sallallâhu 'alayhi wa sallam) that he said, "Whoever recites 'Qul Huwa Allahu al-Ahad…' two hundred times everyday, will have fifty years of sins removed from him unless he is in debt."

Imâm al-Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) graded it ghareeb. Ibn Katheer said in his 'Tafseer' (4/568), "It's chain is weak." Ibn Hibban graded it weak and ibn al-Jawzi narrated in 'al-Mawdu'ât' indicating its weakness. This is largely due to the presence of Hâtim ibn Maymûn who was considered a rejected narrator by Imâm al-Bukhari, ibn Hibban (Al-Du'afâ, 1/270) and ibn-al Jawzi as well as many others.

Other variations of the hadîth have, "…fifty times, will have fifty years of sins removed," and "…will have two hundred years of sins forgiven…" etc. All of these chains are Dha'if.

To conclude then, this hadîth is weak and is not to be acted upon (see al-Dha'îfah, 300).


2. Ibn al-Sunni (rahimahullah) also narrates:

Wâthila ibn al-Asqa' said, 'I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) say, "Whoever prays the Fajr prayer and then recites, 'Qul Huwa Allahu al-Ahad…' one hundred times before he speaks to anybody, will have a year's sins forgiven."'

This is reported again in his 'Amal al-Yawm wa 'l-Laylah' (#143) and also by al-Hâkim in his 'Mustadrak' (#6486). It is also narrated by at-Tabarani in 'al-Kabîr' (22/232) and by al-Haitami in 'Majma' al-Zawâ'id' (10/109) who added, "The chain contains Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Rahmân who is matrûk (rejected)."

In conclusion, this hadîth also seems weak. And Allah knows best.

I don't normally go round blaming Western politicians for their lies, corruption and oppression - it is our collective weakness that has allowed them to get away with their murder and pillage; our inability to defend ourselves has led to our subjugation and capitulation on an unprecedented scale.

But everyone likes to blame others, myself included, so if anyone saw last night's Panorama, then you'll all agree how damingly Tony Blair was indicted as being an unadulterated liar.

Considering that the general election will be upon us soon and all the issues concerning voting, political parties and permissibility of elections etc will be doing the rounds, let me at least fire the first salvo...

So there I am, all revved up for my first ever proper run – Sunday's 'Wilmslow Half Marathon', a 13 mile run through the gorgeous villages of Wilmslow in Cheshire.

I thought I'd better have a trial run so off I went to the gym last night and spent two hours killing myself as I struggled to the ten mile mark (!), just to fall off spluttering, bleeding, and cramped in agony. 'This bodes well', I thought…

Anyway, to my utter disgust and disappointment, I've just been informed that I have to register properly for the run and it's too late now, apparently closing off to new entries 4 weeks ago! And not just that, but even my desi plans of trying to blag it behind them hidden in a hooded jogging top have been thwarted by the strict security hired in for the day.

Doh!

Sigh. Oh well, it looks as if I'll have to settle for the next best thing – the Wilmslow (Rd) Dash. This is where a group of Paks get together on Wimmie Rd around Sunday lunchtime and dash from Kebabish, up to the end to Subways, and back down again to Kansas Chicken at this end and then repeated a few times, restricted solely by the amount you can scoff at each stop…

:-)

So now that I've got the Sunday off, I've realistically got to start cleaning up the garden to allow the kids to play and the flowers to bloom, especially as none of the other lazy whatsits at home can be bothered. Love munching barbecues and hanging out the washing in it but looking after it? Oh noooooo.

Subhanallah, isn’t Spring just the most beautiful time ever? The skies get brighter, the trees start to blossom, the daffodils are flowering and at last, at long long last, Salatul 'Asr has decided to behave and allow itself to be performed at a physically possible time and not be the nightmare mission it becomes in the Winter months! Allahu Akbar!

And what about leaving work in actual daylight!

And what about the sunglasses going back in the glove compartment!

And what and what and what…sigh…don't you just love Spring?

As for tomorrow's final day tussle between the Paks and the Hindus from Eden Gardens – my goodness me, what a days cricket that's going to be! So who's inviting me round to watch it then…

What's happening with the Paks? Have we actually got the Gujis on the back foot?

Also, please refer back to the comments section on the previous post where some valuable bahth notes have been added by two elect students of sacred Islamic Law; Tawfique Chowdhury and Imtiaz Damiel – yes, good old 'BlogSharif' himself.

It's interesting how much fitnah the stupidity of the modernists is causing. That female 'professor' was an absolute nobody until we started to talk about her rubbish! Damned if you do, damned if you don't!

Anyway, I have just received an email from a dear old friend and teacher concerning the abortion issue. Here is what he said:

I just wanted to ask your reference (i'm sure its correct) for your quote that the majority of scholars hold the life to be blown in the feotus after 120 days. The reason i ask is that the hadeeth on ibn Masood you quoted as the proof is actually wrongly quoted by An-Nawawee and others and after (very basic) research it seem that the source books of hadeeth suggest that life is blown in at 40 days (and not 140) which seems to concur with medically in terms of the heart beating..etc
Anyway I'd be interested what you have to add.
Please also refer to Zarabozo's explanation to the hadeeth of Ibn Masood.

I think I need to clarify a few points from the previous post (which is going to be difficult because this issue is very detailed and requires a separate paper on it):

- It is indeed one of the well known facts that Imam an-Nawawi incorrectly narrated his famous hadeeth on this issue and indeed, anyone can refer to Zarabozo's excellent commentary on this hadeeth in Forty Hadeeth of Nawawi.

- There is much tahqeeq to be done of this hadeeth, fiqhi point and mas'alah. Zarabozo strongly disagrees with the opinion that the soul enters the foetus at 120 days thus giving it life. He favours the opinion that it starts after 40 days, which I alluded to in my previous post. As for what I said though previously, which was, "The overwhelming majority of 'ulema accept that after 17 weeks and 1 day (based on the hadith of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud on life after 120 days), the soul is passed into the foetus and life officially starts…" then I have never heard any different to this. In fact, the greatest proponent of the other opinion, Sheikh Zarabozo himself, says in his commentary for example, "However, it seems to be the opinion of the majority of the scholars – if not a consensus – that the breathing of the rooh implies the creation of a new human being..." and then "...Of course, the majority of the scholars also say that the rooh is breathed into the foetus after 120 days." This linked to his statement that, "The vast majority of scholars and commentators of hadith understand this hadith to mean that the three stages of the foetus takes place over a period of one hundred and twenty days..." shows that there is almost a consensus amongst the 'Ulema that they believed life to start after 120 days. (see pages 390-429, vol. 1)

- Leaving what the Sheikh said for a moment as his statements are obviously not an intrinsic evidence, one can find in various books of Fiqh references to 120 days being the start point of life itself. Any student of Fiqh will know this from a cursory study of Kitab al-Janaa'iz in all the Madhabs; see Zad al-Mustaqni' as an example, where the Salah is offered for the foetus over four months old only, simply for the reason that life is judged to have started at this point. Also see the Fatawa Lajnat al-Da'imah (21/434). The other Madhahib don't necessarily pray over the foetus such as the Hanafiyyah but as I mentioned before, this number is really only to determine the right for a funeral prayer, or inheritance rights and other issues for the foetus if it is killed after this period. Likewise, the one who carries out the abortion will be charged with a felony, unlike before 120 days according to again, the majority of the Fuqaha.

Again, as I said before, that doesn't mean it is allowed in anyway to abort before 120 days. In fact, there is much discussion that after 40 days, the process of life and function has started. Personally, I follow the Hanbali opinion that it is totally haram after 120 days to abort but also at 40 days, the life process has started as per the opinions of other Muhaqiqeen and I will never administer any pill or device that will cause an abortive end. I discussed this a few months back or so in our comments on contraception in the Pharmacy.

In ANY case, this topic really could go on and on. What I was really trying to establish first time round was how we can contribute to the current debate in a positive way in that the Politicians are clamouring for a 20-odd week limit whereas we already have a well known defined 17 week limit. If the discussion allows itself, one should also explain that Islam recognises that there is major foetal development after 40 days and that is why scholars didn't allow abortions after this period either. This indeed does put us in good stead with the continuing scientific advances that show strong signs of life at very early stages, without us having to be commital to an early limit as such, and certainly not discounting in further discoveries that may come to light.

But as for life itself, then yes, the majority still hold it at 120 days, whatever Sheikh Jamal claims, although I am sure that a deep study of the mas'alah could provide very strong evidence for it being a lot earlier, and I for one will be the first to review my opinion if someone takes the time to look into it further.

Until then, I'll stick to the golden principle: What was good for the Salaf will be fine for us masakeen Khalaf...

:-)

Just putting the fun and games of BBC2 last night to the side, one shouldn't miss the importance of the two current religious debates in the media involving primarily the Catholics:

Abortion and the Da Vinci Code.

As for the furore over the limit for legalising abortion continues, it's interesting to see how clearly secularism fails spectacularly in trying to regulate issues of nature within it's own utterly flawed 'democratic' system – a system where mere men sit around tables and decide to 'play God' and determine the reality of things for which they have no right or authority.

The call to decrease the limit from the current 24 week mark, to somewhere around 20 weeks is a classic example of how the Christians totally ruined their ruling system, allowing God to be divorced from those such issues of mu'amalaat or societal issues and allowing themselves to work out what was best for them. Once upon a time in this country, very interestingly, Christian Law determined that life started in the fifth month – when the soul was given to the foetus (as per Islamic law) – until continued meddling and pressure from the liberals had that increased to 28 weeks and then reduced to the current 24 weeks.

There are many lessons to be learnt from this whole episode but for the Muslims, it is paramount to realise that the Shari'ah is unequivocal about these issues in as much as Science is restricted to the Deen and not the Deen restricted by Science.

This whole area of debate in Islam is a very delicate and confusing one – especially to those who have been unfortunately misguided by their beliefs that certain Islamic concepts have been nullified or abrogated due to scientific 'proof' or 'advances'.

The overwhelming majority of 'ulema accept that after 17 weeks and 1 day (based on the hadith of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud on life after 120 days), the soul is passed into the foetus and life officially starts. The significance of this time period is that it will not change to the whims and desires of new developments in science – it has been fixed by Allah 'azza wa jall, who indeed in more knowledgeable about His creation than we are. We hear and we obey.

Not to say that it is not permissible to have an abortion after 120 days – there are scenarios in the Deen that allow for this according to a relevant fatwa from a Mufti. Likewise, this doesn't necessarily mean that abortions are allowed before 120 days either. This area of fiqh is both detailed and based upon the maslaha at the time – something which our 'ulema have gone into great detail about. Here we are just stating where life itself starts in the foetus, when the soul or rooh enters the body. As we discussed before briefly, many scholars do not allow any meddling during the 'alaqah and mudghah stages which is basically between 40 - 120 days, for more than one reason.

But as for this debate itself, our position following that of Imam Ahmad (see al-Mughni) is that anything after 120 days would actually need to be buried and even prayed over - due to the sanctity of the life given to it by it's Creator. How far this is from the shameful and disgraceful actions that occur in abortion clinics where the home for a post 120 day foetus is in the dustbin after being shredded into pieces by a medical vacumn cleaner wa hasbunAllah wa ni'mal wakeel.

And Allah knows best.

Certainly, we should add our voices to the Catholics in this and promote the position of justice and pro-life – the Islamic position – in the media as far and wide as possible.

As we should also do about the downright slander and lies against 'Eesa ('alayhis-salam) espoused in the filth of the 'Da Vinci Code' – a 'book' which describes the relationship between Jesus and Mary of Magdalene. Although claimed to be fictional, the author tries to find some historical basis for his rubbish, even though he almost gets it right about Constantine's involvement in developing the falsehood of the Trinity – still, it is a total load of bakwas and we should definitely make ourselves heard in as many public forums as possible, joining in it's condemnation alongside the Catholics and others who care about the Anbiya (may Allah have peace upon them all).

True, there is much filth and slander out there that we have to deal with, but those stories in the public eye take added significance, and our silence at such times is even more pronounced as is our condemnation. Think about it.

Subhanallah – where on EARTH does one start?!

My head is just spinning from BBC2's Aunty Seema and then our boy Kaki and his marriage to the love of his life – not.

Anyway, at this late hour, let me make the following observations and then reserve the rest of the serious stuff to the comments tomorrow…

- That sister Ayesha Sharif is just taking over the BBC! Watch this space…

- Hey, at least us Maulvis have still got hope writing out all these nikah ceremonies. The Future is Bright. The Future is Henna.

- "Ha Jee Aunty Seema, vat a vunderful Muslim Vuman rawl maadel you are…"

Anyway, especially after such another depressing night's TV, at least we got to see Azhar Usman Saab in action; the guy is a SCREAM. It is exactly what I needed upon before we look at some of the more serious points that have been raised this evening. Two Usman classics:

"Man, can you believe these guys? Can you? I mean…they look at me as if it was ME responsible for 9/11! Can you believe that?! 9/11! Me?! I mean…7/11 maybe, but 9/11??"

"They claim that we're not patriotic enough – that we wouldn't sacrifice for the USA, that we wouldn't die for the USA. Oh man, we are SO patriotic, we'd die alright. We just blow ourselves up that's all…"

:-)

I've always wanted to be start a weekly award ceremony and I've decided to call it…

'The Sweet Onion Sauce Awards'

So without further ado, here goes:

Shaheed of the week – Aslan Maskhadov (rahimahullah)

Lad of the week – Adnan (may Allah protect him), for battering that little runt Kaiser from the 'Pit Bull Crew'. More like 'Pit Puppy crew'…

Baistee of the week – Man stinking Utd of course. And no, the FA Cup isn't a consolation.

Fluke of the week – The Scousers getting through.

Joke of the week – Discussions that the Scousers could block Everton getting into the Champions League because Liverpool might win it! LOL!

Hero of the week – Kamran Akmal of course. Don't you just love it when the Paks come good?

Most proscratinated article of the week - My Hajj account. I might get round to it for next year...

'Deserves most beats' of the week - Yasir Qadhi for not coming to Manchester and thinking that only London and Birmingham are the Deen Capitals of the UK...

Shaykh of the week - Abdul-Sattar Abu Ghuddah

Ayah of the week – Surah al-Hadid, Verse 16.

أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَطَال عَلَيْهِمُ الأمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

'Has not the Time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them), and that they should not become like those to whom was given Revelation aforetime, but long ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among them are rebellious transgressors.' (al-Hadid, 16)

Worry of the week – The new 'Control Order' bakwas from Blair…

T-Shirt of the week – White, with the red rose of Labour, with the word BLIAR.

Dish of the week - 'Butter Chicken' at Kebabish

Condiment of the week – Sweet Onion Sauce of course!

Dessert of the week - Garam Gulab Jaman with ice-cream :-)

Book of the week – The 'Majma' Fiqh al-Islami' volumes.

Offer of the week – Coco Pops 600g at £1.66 a box at Kwik Save!

Hadeeth of the week – The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) used to recite after Salatul-Fajr, "O Allah, I ask you for good provision, for actions that are accepted and a beneficial knowledge." (at-Tabarani with an authentic chain)

اللهم إني أسألك رزقا طيبا وعملا متقبلا وعلما نافعا

Car of the week – Mine. Cos' it's on sale!

Most depressing thing of the week - Rival Palestinians kicking the life out of each other. Sigh.

'I hate to say I told you so but I told you so' of the week – 'Dodgy' hadeeth making the use of riba worse than zina.

Biggest lost cause of the week - Me returning to Universities!

Biggest waste of Muslim money of the week – The Emirates Palace 7 Star Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

'American shocker' of the week – A 4 year old black American shot his 2 year old brother in the head after an argument over a toy. Subhanallah.

Business investment of the week – ANY land in Pakistan ANYWHERE!

Game of the week – Billiards over MSN Messenger. I have an amazing knack for 'scratching' the cue-ball every time I pot the black ball…

And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes this week's SOS Awards.

:-)

When you're stuck with nothing to do in a place called Beverley (yes, it IS a real place and not some next woman...) and musing away to yourself, the following points have come to mind:

1. One word for all you Indians - Gutted.

2. Why on Earth did they stop making Signal toothpaste?

3. And HOW on Earth did Subway's Sweet Onion sauce taste so nice??

4. Atif Taher Saab not only has a talent for Fiqh but his secular legal mind is excellent too masha'Allah. Pity it's wasted on him though - he's a lawyer...

5. A sign in a shop reads, "We'll process your Visa quicker than David Blunkett."

:-)

I've had a hard week guys - I'm not ready for anything remotely serious...

Is this true? Is this possible?

Pakistan's baistee is being spared for another day?!

Ya salam!

And what of the release of AQ? If this has not been one of the most ajeeb weeks in UK politics then what is??

When you haven't got time to write, it's always best to post a few links (especially 'controversial' ones) and keep things going like that for a few days...

So here goes:

'Muslim Boys' Gang spreading...

HSBC's Response to Sheikh Haitham


:-)

When you haven't got time to write, it's always best to post a few links (especially 'controversial' ones) and keep things going like that for a few days...

So here goes:

'Muslim Boys' Gang spreading...

HSBC's Response to Sheikh Haitham


:-)

My dear friend Saifullah Saab from Islamic Awareness (fantastic recent additions in the manuscripts section by the way) is asking for some more Garam Masala on the blog.

Sorry bro - no can do for the time being. Here's ten reasons why:

1. Man Utd are just pure lame. My baistee has been done.

2. The dirty Scousers are through which makes it doubly worse. Unbelievable.

3. Chelsea are through as well which makes it triple worse. Saying that, I've heard that Reds can become Blues quite easily so I might try that one...

4. The Paks are getting battered by the Gujis again. Even our Istisqaa duas can't help us...

5. Whilst I'm sitting here dispensing bakwas everyday, property prices in Pakistan are spiralling way out of control. There goes my exit strategy plan...

6. And if I go, they want over £500 for a ticket! What happened to the £350 days?!

7. Shahbina Begum gets her baistee done on Radio 5. Why can't HT learn how to speak properly on the spot, and when will they stop saying, "...the reality is..." and think of a new catchphrase??

8. I am currently so busy, I don't even know whether I'm coming or going. And I think I killed a bird on the motorway back from Wales today so that doesn't exactly make me feel any better!

9. All of the above are petty things which I thought of in 20 seconds and are all invalid and totally pointless except the last point...

10. Which is Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon. With the martydom of Aslan Maskhadov, we've suffered another setback in our quest for freedom and human rights. Hopefully, another of the oppressed will stand and swiftly lead our people to safety and security based upon knowledge and wisdom, Ameen.

http://www.stoppoliticalterror.com/sptsingle.php?id=715

So what about 'Pak Night' on BBC 2 yesterday? An absolute scream.

Got to be said though, the latter programmes have shown us naïve ones how little we've done for our community. In fact, after watching that Pak give it,

"My father never used to fast, but I did! Well, until my exams started anyway…"

And what about Atta-boy, the Pak 'model' who bumbled his way through girls and gay kisses in order to reach his ultimate goal – Hollywood.

Miskeen.

What was worse? 'Pak night' or 'Guantanamo Guidebook'? Hmm.

Anyway, just received an interesting call from one of the cabbies telling me about the rush on all the cemeteries in the cities. The reason? Mother's Day.

'Mother's Day?! Why's that then?' I hear you ask (as I did).

Apparently, today is one of the days when the non-Muslims visit their dead, whether mothers or not. Interesting.

Interesting only because if you were to ask me one reason why we are so lost in our daily affairs, I'd say because we've left the Sunnah of visiting the graves. When was the last time YOU went to the graveyard, sent your salams upon it's inhabitants, made Du'a for them, told them that we were coming to join them soon – and then reflected upon the whole experience?

Yeah, exactly.

Which reminds me – I haven't told you about Madina or even finished off the Hajj blog! Ok let me see if we can get that finished off…

It would be total injustice to football, history and British culture if I didn't remind everyone that today is another famous day: Cantona Day.

Yes, it is the tenth anniversary of that moment when Man Utd's greatest ever player (don't even bother arguing) battered that scum fan at Crystal Palace after he was sworn at.

For all you guys who've forgotten this classic of all classics, here is the kick in all it's glory.

Ya Salam!

Naturally, when one reminisces of the good old days, I might as well remind you all of one of my favourite Nike adverts…



;-)

Kenny Ken be in da house...

Ken calls for Sharon's imprisonment

After an excellent day at the courts where our honour has been defended so well, is it too early to get the matai out?

Just before anyone does, I've been asked to make a few announcements:

1. One of the brothers is organising charity boxes to be distributed amongst our circles and lessons (as the sisters masha'Allah have already done) in order to help raise funds for our brother Ali at-Timimi. If you are interested in making a donation or helping with the distribution of boxes then please contact Idris on idriss_smith@hotmail.com.

2. Manchester Islamic Prep School is selling 2003 versions of the Encyclopaedia Brittanica DVD for only £5. From that, £3 will go to the school fund. So everyone wins wal-hamdulillah. To get your copy, contact Qadir on Qadirmunawar@hotmail.com.

3. Finally, I'm collecting donations from anyone and everyone solely for my retirement. I can't be bothered to work anymore and I want to go on a permanent holiday. Don't bother with any stuff that jingles…

:-)

Anyway, I had to mention today before World Book Day finishes on what a travesty it is that Enid Blyton or Roald Dahl didn't make the top ten. I mention this only because the latest studies show that literacy rates amongst the young in the UK are at the lowest levels ever.

No-one loves to read anymore – especially in our Britpop Playstation society that we live in today.

Subhanallah, what a loss to the current generation of kids to have no Famous Five! Or the Witching Hour! Or all those fantastic ingredients in George's concoction! How does one survive without all that…

What's really interesting is that the new method being suggested to improve literacy, the 'synthetic phonic' method is just another plagiarism of the time-old proven Pak method of qaydah training.

That's qaydah by the way MI6 before you close my miskeen blog down – not al-Qa'idah.

If you want more info on it, do a google search cos' I haven't got the time right now for anything else other than to leave you with someone who seems to be enjoying the matai already.

Yes, our boy Inzy is showing us all that the only desi way to eat a laddoo properly is to yam it all in your gob in one go – thatta boy!




Tell you what though son, if you guys don't absolutely whitewash the Indians over there, you can even forget about coming back to the homeland…

Next time I'll make sure I'm fully awake when a write a post - last night I wasn't.

For those who read it, many points remain but they need to be articulated for another time.

Anyway, make sure you all read this account very carefully.

It is truly excellent. A defence based upon truth and justice, and not upon excuses and moaning. It allows the Muslims to walk with 'izza and honour, may Allah increase all those who are under incarceration in 'izza, ameen.

Our QC seems a quite capable chap masha'Allah - may Allah allow the truth to be manifest upon his tongue.

Just from my brief overview of the day's accounts, a few important lessons to be learnt are:

1. The liberal lobby is the only one who can really help us at this time. We must strenghten our links with them all over the country.

2. At the same time, we must not lose our own principles and standards whilst dealing with the liberalists and secularists. They are the best of a very very poor group of people.

3. Don't embarass yourself or your Deen. A certain member of Babar's campaign team made a disastrous comment on the radio where he claimed that Babar had never used his PC for any sort of website whatsoever.

On the contrary, this was not denied in court; what was denied was promoting terrorism and the like. The legal team are attempting to prove that Babar has done nothing but uphold the religious tenets of his Deen, and if there is something wrong with that then it should be dealt with in a fair manner in the UK.

Subhanallah, I am so glad that they took this route instead of the previous one. It maintains the honour for the believers and protects us from accusations of hypocrisy and double standards.

4. It just goes to show that to water down the Deen is not always going to get you your desired result. By that, you gain a grevious punishment in the next Life, alongside subjugation and humiliation in this life. It is clear that the defence QC's approach is logical, rational, appealing and persuasive to all people. If he wins, it will be because of the falsehood of the counter-claim. If he loses, it will be a victory for Islamic standards. Alhamdulillah 'ala kulli haal.

We MUST stick to our religious principles because this was exactly what gave our Deen it's respected image in the first place. Once we lose this, we have become like the Christians, in fact there will be nothing left for us. Those who stand firm now, remain as beacons for the future.

There were only four Imams. Only Imam Ahmad has 'Ahlus-Sunnah' after his.

Think about it.

Just returned from Irfan's house after just watching you know what.

Subhanallah.

Is there anything else one can say?

And this was the tame version? The fake version? The television version?!

Subhanallah, Subhanallah.

I mean I don't even know if it was permissible to watch all that! And I don't even know whether it was even permissible for those Muslims to put themselves through that humiliation as volunteers! And what about all that miskeen Chris from Oxford put himself through?

But what ever the hukm, how can one deny the huge public awareness that will be created of American oppression and current 'justice' based foreign policies. Naturally, we have to leave it to the Brits and John Snow to do it for us - how small and pathetic I feel sitting here writing that...

So how can we possibly forget making du'a for our brothers in Cuba, Abu Ghraib and even right here in Belmarsh! And what of other prisoners all over the world from the other nations?!

Isn't it time we stand up for Justice? Isn't it time for action? Are we going to let them extradite Babar just like that? Are we going to let them lock up Ali Timimi just like that? Are we going to just let SPT and CP fight it out by themselves?!

All I can say is that we ask Allah 'azza wa jall for 'Aafiyah. 'Aafiyah Ya Allah, 'Aafiyah.

Allahumma farrij ikhwanana minal kaydil-Kafireen.