So what next after the conviction of Shaykh Ali al-Timimi?

We have ‘lost’ a man who was well known in the West for bringing the Deen to the masses in a practical and uncomplicated fashion; his insight, motivation and benefit will be sorely missed.

And now more so than ever before, the remaining scholars, students of knowledge and callers to the Deen have to stand firm and continue this blessed work.

For it is indeed blessed.

In fact one of the characteristics of the Ummah of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that puts it above all other nations is that our Prophet’s call and message is carried by the ‘Ulema, tullab, du’at and in fact all us general Muslims. The previous nations always had a further Prophet to come and amend or renew their Shari’ah, but not this nation. No, that job is our job, and it is honoured, blessed and helped – by the best of helpers Allah ‘azza wa jall.

And it’s not going to be easy. It never has been.

The current purge of the Muslims of its good people by their enemies, from both East and West is leading us to some new convenient form of modern ‘Islam’, a ‘Rand’ Islam, a neo-con Islam, a secular Islam – in reality a non-Islam.

Their Kristallnacht against our ‘Ulema will ultimately fail so long as we stick to our principles; promoting a true Islam not fearing the ‘blame of the blamer’, whether our final position upsets the ‘traditionalists’ or our current secularist enemies.

Islam does not pose a threat to the ‘West’, but it does indeed pose a threat to those who would want to make enemies with it. That’s because it is a religion of peace - not pacifism.

To recognise who our enemies actually are is half the battle. We have those who make it very easy for us, and then those amongst our own ranks who through their misguided secularist ideas are trying to effect change via the ‘back door’. The one who sees them and protects himself from them has been saved. As for those that have been beguiled, then only Allah is their Musta’an.

So from our own public arena we have lost those such as Rafil Dhafir, Ali al-Timimi and many hundred others. Likewise many greater but unknown tullab, du’at and ‘Ulema from the rest of the world have also been removed from the public arena of da’wah. But remember that they still have much to do preserving the ‘izza of our Deen. Practising Islam entails a continuation of their private ‘ibadah as well as da’wah to those in their immediate environments – the responsibilities never end for the carriers of knowledge; rather they increase, wal-hamdulillah ‘ala kulli haal.

They will know how to carry on with their work and responsibilities.

Do we?

May Allah give us all the Tawfeeq to stand firm, and do only that which he is pleased with, Ameen.

Finally, even though it should be you guys telling me this as opposed to the other way round, try and attend the Bank Holiday lecture organised by PG with the admirable Shaykh Haitham. The topic, keeping in mind the increasing difficulties we are facing in the West, is excellent and rather pertinent. The details:

Prophetic Guidance Presents:
Supporting Our Community

Advice from
Shaikh Haitham Al Haddad

Venue: Makki Mosque, 125 Beresford Road, Longsight, Manchester
Date: Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May 2005
Time: After Maghrib (8:45pm)
Contact: 07968 952 375 or email info@propheticguidance.co.uk

And here’s a nice little poster. Forgive the poor quality and the lady’s luscious nails – I found them a fitnah too…

;-)

Just heard about Shaykh Ali al-Timimi's conviction, wa Allahu Musta'an.

I hope and pray that Allah makes him strong, for we ask Allah not to take away the fitnah (trial) but to give us strength to bear it - for in fitan is immense reward, and indeed Allah 'azza wa jall chooses very secifically those deserving of such high status to join the illustrious names such as Malik, Ahmad, and ibn Taymiyyah et al from our history.

I hope and pray that Allah protects his family and that the community stand by them.

I'll be honest - I'm not worried for Shaykh Timimi.

I'm trying to look on the bright side - Masha'Allah he is a very strong and determined Da'ee and student of knowledge and so he'll know that is the from the perfect Divine Decree of our Lord; and know that there is always khayr in His Decree.

He was well aware of the risks we all face with what we say in our Da'wah to the Perfect Religion of Allah jalla wa 'alaa; the American brothers are having a more difficult time than we are, but in all honesty we're all just waiting for the door to be blasted down. Question is, who's going to stand and who's going to fall?

Finally, I'd much rather that any sentence be seen out in an American prison under the spotlight of the publicity of this case (despite the known threats and dangers within that system) as opposed to the Hell that one would go through as a 'ghost detainee', or in Iraq, or Jordan, or Egypt or Afghanistan. I wouldn't wish that kind of treatment on my worst enemy.

'Alaa kulli haal, life continues. For the Shaykh and for us. That's because, wal-hamdulillah, this is not his Deen or my Deen but Allah's Deen. Fal-Hamdulillah 'ala ni'matil Islam, wa kafaa bihi ni'mah.

May Allah have Mercy upon the Shaykh, his family, all those in incarceration and all the rest of the du'aat and tullab ul-'Ilm who will continue to stand strong and call to the salvation of our human race by their submittance to the only Deen that will be accepted - the Deen of Allah, al-Islam.

Ameen.

Have no doubt about it. Peshawar is very much still in ‘da house’.

And in every way possible. Think about it.

On a more lighter note, I’ve just returned from having a fantastic day with Sufi, the world’s second best driver (after me of course) who can return back to sunny Lancashire with his S‘Cabby’ honours still very much intact.

Only the very best can drive a clapped out ‘Mehran’ with no lights, no heater, one windscreen wiper and half a gearbox in the mad streets of Peshawar in one foot of flood water. Ay na’m.

What a day.

No need to bore you with the details except that Peshawar’s markets are still a dunyawi dream – I bought loads of CDs, cartoons and all sorts of computer stuff at crazy prices. And I don’t care what you Lahoris say (until I go there and check it out for myself) but ‘Shiraz’ is the best restaurant in the world. You have just got to try their honey wings boys…

:-)

Anyway, back to Mardan. You know who’s doing a tour of these parts at the moment?

Well you know how we have a few world celebrity Islami-stars? You know, the Middle East has du’at like Ustadh Amr Khaled and Mohammed Hassan, Ibrahim al-Duwaysh maybe as well. India has Zakir Naik. America has Shaykh Hamza. England has the Reef…

And Pak? Tariq Jamil. That’s DR Tariq Jamil to me and you. As in medical doctor.

Yep, this guy is just masha’Allah. The secret weapon of the TJs and what a secret weapon. His hifdh, hadith and eloquence are to the right standard, something which 50,000 weeping attendees pay testimony to.

This guy has like millions of tapes, and is totally adored by the Paks – cross madhab and cross political persuasions. Although not a scholar, his general acceptance with the people is quite remarkable, probably because he sticks to general apolitical themes with an emphasis on our need for worship, very strongly backed with a vast array of Qur’anic verses and Prophetic hadith.

Good stuff.

Oh and one more thing. I’ve worked out how to get over the ‘Flying Coach’ problem for those like me who can’t fit in their seats for love or money. Buy the whole four back seated row, lie down, close your eyes and hope for the best. Oh, and some Durud Sharif won’t go amiss. It worked for Inzamam!

I quote him from ‘The News’ daily newspaper as he recalls the final over he faced from Tendulkar in Ahmedabad with Pakistan requiring just three runs for a win:

“Honestly speaking I was under a lot of pressure when we needed to score one run off the final ball. I just kept of reciting Durud Sharif and hoped for the best, because I realized that if I didn’t get the run, what would be the reaction back home,” he recounted.

Too right! :-)

Picked up a lovely copy of Qurtubi's "al-Tadhkira fi Ahwal al-Mawta wa l'-Umur al-Akhirah" from a back street bazaar in Mingora - Pak print, published by Sa'eed Maktabahkhanah, bright yellow paper and a Mardan mobile phone number on the front cover for any enquiries. Absolute treasure masha'Allah - eat your hearts out boys.

I thought it'd be a good read on the way down to Mardan before I hit Peshawar tomorrow. Naturally I forgot about the mode of transport - the infamous 'flying coach'.

When you're going over the Malakand mountain range on the way out of Swat on one of these Hiaces, you can forget about reading. In fact, forget about everything. Just close your eyes and do big time dhikr. I'm not talking standard travellers kind of dhikr - no, I'm talking about the "I'm gonna die in a few minutes" type of dhikr.

Eyes closed remember. It's safer for your heart.

Anyway, got here to Mardan safe and sound alhamdulillah just in time to watch the welcoming reception to the Pakistan cricket team. Honest, it's like they've won the World Cup, the people are going bonkers and the country has pulled its 'finest' actors and actresses, singers and dancers and put on one of those celebrity kind of shows.

What a joke.

I just saw a bit of it on TV, and when I saw the players themselves cringing from the baistee performances of some of the celebrities as they mimicked the players themselves during elaborate dancing and signing scenes, I just gave up on this 'modern Pak middle class' and had to switch off.

And oh, Shahid Afridi was wearing some quality beige loafers. Very fetching.

And oh oh, I think we're getting somewhere on the da'wah front with young Danesh Kaneria our Pak Hindu leg spinner. Youhana seems to be holding out though, so we've got to get our TJ Sa'eed Anwar back in again to sort them out...

:-)

Have you ever seen a man descend down a well to fix the motor at the bottom?

Not something for the fainthearted.

This isn’t one of those James Bond films that have those drop-down tunnels and chutes with those metal rungs going all the way down the side. No, my man had to go all the way down balancing himself using the cracks in the brickwork. Absolutely amazing.

As he makes his way down, he checks his tools which he has tied into his naara (the draw-string you find on your shalwar). So that’s what those holes at the end of spanners were for…

When he resurfaced (we’ve run out of water and we’re trying to fix the motor on our well; pictures to follow once I fix my stinking camera), he gulps the fresh air. “I’m okay, I’m okay – but I nearly copped it the other day; I was so deep, I couldn’t get any oxygen in and didn’t have the energy to climb up, so they pulled me up! Thank God there were a few people at the top…” he says with a smile.

It’s not all good news like that though. A friend of his unfortunately was killed last week when he slipped climbing out of a well and hit his head on the way down. When they got the body out, his head has been almost split into, wa nas’alu Allahu al-‘aafiyah. May Allah have mercy upon him.

And for what princely sum is the risk undertaken? 150 rupees - just over a quid, wa Allahu Musta’an.

And so my somewhat eventful week continues. Having to ration water and make ablution with a cup of water reminds me of the good old days. That reminds me, did I ever show you guys (the Makki fiqh class I mean) how one does that whilst we did Bab al-Tahara?

And I have another mas’alah for you Makki guys. One of the regular Masjid attendees is now officially homeless and destitute, having been thrown out of the family home by his father (leaving his own wife and children inside) for dishonouring the family name.

I bring this up after all the shenanigans surrounding Hudud and mora-whatsits and God knows what else. If there was ever a place you’d have expected to have the Hudud established, it would be right here in Swat, NWFP. Honestly, you’ve never seen so many beards in your entire life. You’ve never seen as many mosques. You’ve never seen as many people for a jama’a prayer either. Yet the Hudud isn’t in force. I don’t know why but it isn’t.

Back to that bloke. You see, he owns a homeopathic medicine shop and four people (had to be four didn’t it?) from the local community swore that they saw a woman leaving his shop at 12am ‘midnight’ (all the shops are closed at 9pm) and he followed her straight out after.

Where is my involvement in all of this? Well, my father came to me for advice on what he should do as this guy (we’ll call him X) had asked him for charity due to his predicament. As my father said, he feels guilty if not helping him as X is going insane sleeping rough. But if he helps him then he’ll be labelled as someone making ta’awaun with criminals where the whole community is already boycotting him in the absence of the ‘Hadd’ being meted out to him.

Hmm. Tough one. Where are the scholars eh? You don’t want to be taking this kind of thing to your local Pathan maulvee I tell ya…

Anyway, after much deliberation I decided to tell my father to give him some sadaqah secretly, so as to not annoy those in the community. The issue is delicate because even though four statements have been collected, they never saw the actual act itself and there isn’t a Hakim meting out the Hudud anyway. Unfortunately though, X’s father seems to be convinced of X’s guilt, as well as the community at large. Maybe we’re mssing something and they know something we don’t?

Yet at the same time, whatever the case, this is a communal boycott which is not based upon admissible evidence and so as far as I’m concerned, he remains innocent until proven guilty and this is the Mercy of his Lord that has been shown to him. The twist of course is that the man himself is neither affirming or denying that the incident took place.

Who’d want to be a judge eh? Who’d want to be responsible for establishing the Hudud?

Allahu Akbar.

Just another day in the tribal lands, just another story in the myriad of tales to fill the books of life experience…

Anyway, I’m off to where it’s really at tomorrow – Peshawar. Once aptly described as the terrorism capital of the World. Now it’s another place in Pakland but they call it Londonistan I think…

;-)

One of my missions in Peshawar is to hunt down our old friend Sufi and see if we can nick his digital camera. Sufi, if you’re reading this before you get back to the UK, then of course that was a joke. If you’re reading this after you get back to the UK – well…gutted mate, you’ve been done. :-)

Yep, I’ve busted my all-wonder singing and dancing digi-camcorder stroke camera stroke MP3 player stroke USB storage device stroke webcam (£70 at Aria, absolute bargain) and I’ve got millions of pictures to take.

Then I’ve got to get some stuff from the infamous Karkhanu bazaars of smuggled stuff and then off to Lahore to eat, then eat some more, and then eat some more.

Needless to say, the diet’s on hold for a while…

You know how you look down and see people with their glasses, shawls, mobiles and wallets etc at their feet whilst they stand for jama'a prayer?

Course we do.

A Beretta 38mm with an extra magazine isn't usually the norm though. Kinda puts you off your ruku' if you know what I'm saying.

Especially when the guy whose feet it's at is my great uncle, touching 75 years and is half blind.

Ay na'm.

And another thing. I still haven't been able to get past, "Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een…" in any of my congregational prayers at our Masjid here.

I suppose when the combined age of the front row is like 46 million years old, a pretty unique kind of fiqh needs to be utilised. All I can say is thank God for the Hanafi Madhab.

:-)

Honestly, the amount of matai consumed over this weekend was just quality. Back in the UK, we can never appreciate the buzz of a cricket match between the two old enemies; as for when it's going well for the Paks – well, it can't be described!

I've been thinking about it; people like us (i.e. Paks born and bred in the UK) have a great showk for this kind of stuff because we like sport and we have some kind of link to the Homeland. But it's a whole different story for the people here where a victory for the national team is almost a measure of the self esteem of the Pakistani nation.

That's a bit sad isn't it?

It's not necessarily an inferiority complex, where "…we've got nothing else but cricket going for us…" but it's not too far off that. In any case, it's taken very seriously here and why not? As long as it doesn't cross the boundary when it starts to ruin peoples' Deen, Salah times, Tawwakul and other related things.

'Ala kullin, we're buzzing, the Pathans are in the house, we battered the Hindus, Man U battered the Geordies, hopefully the Blues will batter the Gooners and I can spend the rest of my day watching the blissfully blue sky and snow capped mountain range in front of our home thinking of other nouns to use 'batter' with.

:-)

Oh and isn't it just a classic when the Paks take the camera in the awards ceremony? Top marks to the team's religious advisers because you can just feel those billions of Hindus just physically squirm in their seats when our boys Afridi, Shoaib, Rana and Inzy get asked all the questions by Ravi Shastri and they respond:

"Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim. Firstly, all thanks to Almighty Allah…"

Aaaaah – you just can't beat it when first honours go to the right Recipient. Simple and naïve this introduction might sound, but boy does it hit the spot! Especially when every Pak who comes up to pick up his prize busts the same line again and again and again to the nation of Mushrikeen who must be fuming at our pure Tawheed.

:-)

And no repostes against sharaab drinking Pak players – we're being positive remember?

But I MUST take out PTV – Pakistan's state TV station that airs these cricket matches. Man, I never missed the BBC so much in my life! I mean you've heard of commercials here and there, and then you've heard it almost between every over right?

Well what about between every flaming ball?! What about during ever replay, shout, dismissal and every other possible significant piece of action that occurs on the field? Man, it is so infuriating, it actually made me turn on the radio instead!

So anyway, that was Pakistan's battering of the Gujis and good stuff it was too.

And that's coming from the arguably most ultra-religious and conservative piece of Muslim land in the East. Can you imagine what it was like in the other areas?

Being in the NWFP is a totally amazing experience. There is so much raw tradition, culture, history and honour on display, it can be quite overwhelming. The Islamic aspects of family, tribes, adab and honour really come to life in such a place. The Masjid takes on a whole other dimension to ones life. The surrounding environment, the beauty of the scenery, the simplicity of its people, the poverty of a nation, the often associated jahl of its people as well as their amazing attributes come to life and are accentuated.

It reminds me how important it is for us all to travel, for indeed it is a form of knowledge. The early salaf would consider a person's knowledge deficient if he had not had some form of travelling experience behind him. I can see why.

Hopefully I'll post some classic Pushto poetry from my tribe. My first cousin here of our tribe (Naser Kheil) is a well known Pathan poet with some excellent stuff which I'll try and translate and explain insha'Allah, for the collective benefit of us all.

Finally, a final request for all to make Du'a for our brother Ali al-Timimi on whom a conclusion is imminent. Allahumma farrijhu minal kaydil Kaafireen, Ameen.

Masha'Allah, wal-hamdulillah - it's great to be home.

Especially when the Pathan of the year is all the news. Oh, and then there's Shahid Afridi too...

;-)

I've been slobbered with kisses, dry and very very wet grandma style ones, hugged more people than at 'Eed, eaten more matai than I thought possible, refused pure cups of tea and and - I think I'm enjoying myself!

What a treasure this land is. What a people. What a future. It has its bad as well as its good, just like everywhere else. And you guys know that I moan enough as it is so lets be positive for a few days eh?

I really wanted to tell you a things about my little trip to Qatar as well before we get into details about the Caliphate of the NWFP - all in good time!

With the amount of this I've got to get done in a very limited time, I hope I'll be able to convey some of the beauty and warmth that is experienced when one returns home to the only people who truly love them - ones family.

Salams to all of course, Qadeer has my number, and I'll be in touch with a few fantastic pictures soon insha'Allah.

Now let's get back to battering those Indians...

:-)

Can I just say guys that you lot have exactly 5 hours to get me my laddoo (sugar-free of course) with ras-malai (skimmed milk naturally)...

And by Thursday, I'll be there cheering the Pathans home when we bring back the ODI series. I might cheer a Punjabi or two as well actually...

And which of you bigots keeps doing a Susan (soo-al-dhann i.e. having a bad opinion) about our Namazi Paks? So ok, our MCB might get us rights to pray in our work places, but it was us Paks who first established Namaz on the pitch throughout the game...




;-)

Today I realised that Winters – sorry, Winter – is properly over, and the Spring has started.

That’s because the garden got its lawn mown for the first time in 2005. And my goodness me it needed it, especially as Usama Hasan decided to read the entire Jawharah al-Tawheed all over it last night. It must have been knackered!

A glorious day, a very clever lawn mower and helpful little brats produced an excellent result masha’Allah…



Notice the air-brushing? It’s much smaller in real life folks…

And I tell you what – I was cleaning the water feature as well until I was shockingly reminded of what a certain Idris Smith did the last time he decided to help me gardening, He took his machete out of his bag and chopped off the heads of my beautiful mermaids!



Ha ha! :-)

So what else did I do today? Well, I was able to watch a copy of a documentary that was on Channel 4 a few months ago called Super Size me. Subhanallah, what a shocker.

If you get a chance to see it then do but it’s definitely not family viewing with a bit of crude language and some seriously sick scenes. The gist of it was that this guy was going to eat nothing but Mcdonalds three times a day for a month to see whether he’d be seriously physiologically affected. He was a young fit man before he started and my goodness me, he was a total obese wreck when he finished.

And the point of the programme? To bring attention to the facts that in the US:

- 60% of all Americans are overweight or obese
- Mcdonalds feeds more than 46 million people a day!
- Most kids recognise Mcdonalds before they can speak
- Kids watch over 10,000 food adverts every year on TV alone
- 1 in 3 children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes, with obesity a major cause

What an eye-opener. And this is all quite timely for me, as only a few days ago I received a Pharmaceutical brief from the Dept. of Health on a new Health and Diet campaign we are going to be pushing to the general public. An excellent bahth (research paper) has shown that in the UK (using confirmed figures from 2002 so what about now!):

- Obesity in adults has trebled in the past 20 years
- The lives of obese people has been shortened by 9 years on average
- 22% of men and 23% of women are obese
- 43% of men and 34% of women are overweight
- 50% of kids in 2020 will be overweight
- PAK women were 25% more obese than average
- Obesity is FOUR times more common in Asian children than white

Subhanallah folks! We’re getting battered out there man! Those paraathi, halwa puri and naan breads have GOT to go!

But seriously speaking, not only is this a global epidemic (as recently announced by the WHO) but the Muslims have to really start living up to this sad and very embarrassing fact. Very embarrassing in that:

- It is totally against the Sunnah
- It is often the more ‘practising’ Maulvis that are the fattest of the lot
- If not the ‘Maulvis’ then at least when next Pak starts ‘practising’ his Deen, their weight seems also to start practising! Fat payts galore!
- The Prophet (s) called the stomach the ‘worst vessel one can fill’
- The Prophet (s) reprimanded the fat ones from his companions
- The Prophet (s) saw the Hell Fire and recounted that there were many ‘sameen’ people in there (i.e. overweight and indulgent)
- The Prophet (s) told us that the strong and fit believer is more beloved to Allah than the weak one. Kinda difficult when you’re an obese paperweight.
- In Bahrain, 83% of women are overweight, 74% in the UAE and 75% in Lebanon! The Paks aren’t doing so bad after all…
- Houston in Texas is the fattest city in the States. Now I only know one guy in Houston, and I know that he loves Hardies more than I do - I hope one of you Abjadders can get to him before the burgers do...

By the way, I’m no Jodie Kidd myself but at least I can start now to get more active and conscious about what I should be and what I’ll be advising all others to be!

Anyway, I might as well start here and now. The causes for such a disaster are:

1. We eat too much
2. Lack of regular physical exercise.
3. Our increasingly sedentary lifestyles due to occupation, computers, cars and paranoia about safety for our kids to play outside etc
4. School meals being a disaster (go on Jamie!)
5. Increased snacking activities due to the increased number of retail outlets
6. High fat diets
7. Our mistaken belief that ‘studying’ Islam at the cost of keeping fit is somehow more ‘islamic’

A really interesting point to note is the social taboo still currently active at the moment of chastising someone who is obese (in public). This was also the case for smokers once upon a time, but we all publicly humiliate them and chastise them for their disgusting habit – and rightly so.

So when will it become socially acceptable – and Islamically acceptable – to openly criticse fat people? I’m ready to start guys…

This is interesting because many of the ‘Ulema ruled that smoking was haram due to the clear links it has to causing ‘preventable death’ such a lung cancer, heart disease etc etc.

Well, if that’s the case then get ready for a new fatwa coming your way that being fat will be haram too. Yep, that could be much sooner than you think guys. Considering that the world’s Health experts have stated that, ‘left unabated, obesity will surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in America.’ And whatever hits the States, hits the rest of the World not to long after.

There is no doubt whatsoever according to all health professionals that obesity is a major factor in:

Decreased life expectancy, Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, breast, endometrium and gall bladder cancer, osteoarthritis, gallstones, breathing difficulties, abnormalities of the reproductive system, sleeping problems and liver cirrhosis.

And that’s just for starters.

Anyway, the solution of course is to follow the Sunnah. Obviously.

Therefore, energy intake should not exceed your energy expenditure (about 2500 calories for a man, 2000 for a woman). Eat a ‘balanced’ diet based upon fruit and vegetables, but also those foods that have fat and sugar, but in small amounts and as a treat and not as a norm.

The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) never dieted and neither did his Companions. Some of the food that they ate was incredibly fatty and incredibly sweet – but they were from the thinnest and fittest of people. That’s because ‘sweets and meat were only a treat’ – a simple maxim for one to remember, making sure that one eats good healthy cereals, protein and vegetables as the staple aspect of the diet, in small amounts i.e. a third for food, a third for water and a third for air, and keeping meals to good regular times.

Fasting too helped to temper the desire for food. And likewise, not fasting all the time, for that is a very unhealthy thing to do and is totally against the Sunnah likewise.

Physical exercise is also a must, if not only as a preparation for Jihad as stated by all the traditional scholars as an obligation, but to keep fit for daily life too. Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned that one should walk at least 100-200 steps after the final meal before sleeping to keep in line with the Prophetic guidance. So no late eating then, increased exercise, and general awareness of the Sunnah and being balanced and not extreme about your diet – this is the solution that we need.

And Allah knows best.

Phew! That post was seriously hard work guys. I think I need a Kansas…

;-)

Oh and as you know, I’ll be in the good ole NWFP soon so insha’Allah my next blog will be from Pakistan towards the end of the week some time; blogging a few times a week has a mazaa, whilst commenting everyday seems more fun too. I think I’m enjoying this!

And so as a final treat to all you bloggeroos at the very end of this super post, I post a picture that has officially passed the ‘Usama Whitehouse’ test – so don’t complain to me!

This is just an all time classic…



:-)

I get nearly an email a week asking me about my experiences studying in Mauritania about 6-7 years ago, and I sense that people are getting frustrated with me for being so negative in my non-recommendation to study there.

Don't get me wrong folks. I've seen and witnessed miracles and barakah there that I fear we will never see the like of again. As we hurtle into the future, our Tradition is being left to fester and rot...

I met and sat with 'Ulema whom you were just in total awe of - words cannot describe the wonders.

But the fairy-tale ends right there. That was the 'Happily ever after' part. Done.

For at the same time, I experienced difficulties like I can never have imagined, from the basics of lack of water to intense heat, to lack of shelter to infected food...

I also experienced a backwardness, a poverty and a state hatred for Islam that freaked me out. My most terrifying moment if my life so far was being caught up in the middle of an attempted coup on the then corrupt government. Rioters were firing on passers-by and pulling innocent people off buses etc - which was exactly what I was on - and I seriously thought that it was all over.

'Ala kullin, we're talking about a country here which actually has - wait for it - an Israeli embassy??

Allahu Akbar.

I could go on and on, but I'll let the BBC drive the final nail into the coffin....

Row over Mauritania weekend move

Allahu Musta'an.

So it is this reason alongside many many others, that I advise you give up the dreams of scholarliness in 40 days in Mauri and go to Egypt instead.

:-)

So what news are you guys still trying to get over?

Ali al-Timimi's trial? That doesn't look too good...wa Allahu Musta'an.

That Shari'ah TV is worse than ever...wa Allahu Musta'an.

The Tariq Ramadan furore continues - I think he got what he wanted. Fitnah, more fitnah, and then a slice of fitnah at the end with a fitnah on top.

And Iraq! Allahu Akbar. How we fall from grace!

If it wasn't bad enough that they gave the Sunnis the token position of Spokesman, a total insult and disgrace of a position from which we can't do jack - well, the Rafidhis position themselves nicely to take over the rest of the Parliament...

Subhanallah - could they have possibly chosen a worse person for President? Jalal Talabani is one of the most clearest enemies of the Deen that we've seen in recent times, a Kurd Secularist who has the blood of Muslims on his hands.

And a Rafidhi at the top - Ja'fari as Prime Minister. What a dream combination. Allahu Akbar.

What? Me? A pessimist?!

Give over!

Someone give me some good news for crying out loud - like Pakistan are gonna whip those Indians 4-2...

:-(

A really excellent, well written piece this. Thanks to Shaykh Haytham for this...

A Woman's Reflection on Leading Prayer

You guys know me too well – I can never resist a challenge…

;-)

But seriously speaking (see yesterday's comments), the Pope was a guy who of course was chiefly responsible for propagating and leading some of the greatest deviations and crimes of disbelief in history. Subhanallah, I heard a quote of his on the radio today saying that he considered himself immortal! Undoubtedly he is branded a criminal in that sense for his crimes against God Almighty, by ascribing to Him partners - giving mere human beings a divine status which is deserving only to Allah the Creator of the Universe – the heinous and despicable crime of shirk.

Allah 'azza wa jall says:

لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ قُلْ فَمَنْ يَمْلِكُ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُهْلِكَ الْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ وَمَنْ فِي الأرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا يخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Those who say, "Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary" have indeed disbelieved. Say: 'Who possesses any power at all over Allah if He desires to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone else on Earth?' The kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth and everything between them belongs to Allah. He is our final destination." (al-Ma'idah, 17)

I mean, is like that an ayah or what?!

Have no doubt of course that the leaders and propagators of such kufr will be held even more accountable. And Allah is All-Wise in His decision.

Saying that, I can't help but ridicule the author of that Guardian article against John Paul. Honestly, what a load of liberal rubbish.

It's people like this that really make me hesitate when putting forward the Liberal Democrats as one of the main parties that should be supported in order to make as much of a political point as possible. Not wanting to get distracted into the voting issue at this moment, but it is clear to see that although yes, the Lib Dems provide the best 'rights' for practising Muslims in the UK and on a international stage – well other than that, we have absolutely nothing in common.

In fact, we are 'Conservatives' by nature. Think back to the Seerah and you'll see that the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) chose to send the first group of Emigrants to the 'Conservative' King Najashi of Abyssinia – 'Conservative' due to his religiosity (albeit kufr), strictness and moral justice. This was in stark contrast in leaving them behind in Makkah with the 'Liberal' Mushrikeen of the Quraysh – a group of people who wanted everyone to just enjoy themselves and do as they wished. 'Don't speak against us and we won't speak against you. You worship your gods and we'll worship ours.' Pure Secular humanists. Pure Lib Dems.

The decision for the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was an easy one, albeit made easier with the violence espoused by the Quraysh.

So how strange to see that the tables have turned! Now we long for the moral chaos of the Liberals due to the fact that they'd oppose war, give us more rights in our outwardly Deen and help our poor brothers a bit who are banged up in jail. Ajeeb, wallahi ajeeb.

Obviously I'm being very general here for one finds different levels of religious following in all the parties, just as one finds different level secularists in the different parties - but one can still find common patterns and creedal foundations in the main three political entities that are Labour, Conservative and the Liberal Democrats

In actual fact, we're much closer to the Conservatives or Labour today. If only they weren't so obsessed with destroying us first on an international level. It's similar to what Tariq Ali said, that they're more of a party for Muslim rights as such - we just have to get rid of all the pro-war MPs…

That's why we can only talk in general about the upcoming general elections. Whatever you decide to be the priority, we must exercise our power to make a point. Either we make a real difference and vote in as many anti-war MPs and get rid of as many pro-war MPs, or we try and get the Lib Dems up to the level of the main Opposition to Labour – something which is bound to have repercussions for Labour and all its cronies…

Anyway, back to that liberalist in the Guardian – his criticisms against the Pope are not only a load of bakwas, but if that were us being attacked, then we'd go down 100 times worse than the Pope, for we'd be even stricter on those issues for which the Pope was criticised for!

In any case, this could go and on. There is no doubt of his end as he died upon his Kufr. But during his life, we benefited from him immensely; he was a man of much good as well as his bad, and I certainly think we've lost a major figure for the Muslims – especially as I told you guys last time about how I sorted him out on the Da'wah table once upon a time…



I think his Catholic cronies must have got to him afterwards though…

;-)

As for how do we explain his position to other non-Muslims? Well, don't take on the burden! Just say that he was a nice and religious man who worshipped God, an act which is waning in the World and is desperately needed for the reformation of the West.

As for whether his actions will help him afterwards then there is an interesting discussion about this between some scholars, but the upshot of it of course is that one will not be wronged in the slightest – that is the promise from Allah jalla wa 'ala, in His perfect wisdom. In fact, that is why there will be a Judgement Day, an opportunity for all to witness the Supreme Justice, and exactly why different people will receive different rewards, even though Allah 'azza wa jall is under no obligation to have to 'prove' his wisdom to anyone!

لا يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْأَلُونَ

"He cannot be questioned for His acts, but they will be questioned (for theirs)." (al-Anbiya, 23)

There are some well known odd opinions attributed to some of the major scholars that support the position that some non-Muslims might be rewarded for some of their good deeds, despite the weakness of this position. Some even suggested that no-one would stay in the Hell fire for ever, invoking the fact that Allah's Mercy has preceded His Anger – and Allah knows best.

But we shouldn't confuse the scenarios where the above might be applicable – and those who were the leaders of Kufr, propagating exactly that which the Qur'an has been sent down to refute and clarify.

Wallahu A'lam.

And so ends the legacy of Pope John Paul II.

I feel sad to be honest - this was no ordinary man. On reflection:

1. He was someone that was considered the world's highest religious authority. This is probably true considering that he was a real religious authority for the Catholics and many Christians, and a reliable moral and ethical figurehead for the Jews and Muslims. In fact, he was also seen as a spiritual leader for the Mushrikeen and Atheists - no single man in recent times has wielded such power.

2. Everyone held him in immense respect mostly due to his 'presence' and 'holiness'. This was very important because in an increasingly cynical world, outwardly signs of strict religiosity (as displayed by John Paul II) are often ridiculed. Yet he was able to bring a real sense of respect and dignity to his actions and by that, the worship of 'God' itself. Religions the world over, and Muslims in particular have benefitted from this.

Muslims were often able to use the Pope to strengthen their calls for justice and higher ethical and moral behaviour in society today.

I think very few people will disagree that it has indeed been a loss for the world. The greater shame of course is that his actions were only of benefit to humanity during his life. As for the true reality of his actions, then…

قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِالأخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالا
الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا

"Say: 'Shall I inform you of the greatest losers in their actions?
People whose efforts in the life of the Dunya are misguided while they suppose that they are doing good.' (al-Kahf, 103-104)

Allahu Musta'an.

:-(

For some crazy reason, the old REM line has just come to mind...

"And everybody hurts...sometime."

And Subhanallah, there is a lot of grief at the moment from like everyone you can think of. Naturally for the Muslims, grief is just a part of our daily life in these times - the catastrophe in Indonesia hits the hearts again, the respective plights of those suffering in many Muslim countries and the list goes on and on...

And what of other non-Muslims? The Pope miskeen is about to give it his last and the world's Catholics are already a nation in mourning.

And what of Terri Schiavo? It's been amazing how much attention her case has received and the level of debate it has caused. And as for the emotion! It's so ajeeb how one can physically feel the pain of her family and her followers - we ask Allah for 'iffah and 'aafiyah from such trials and tribulations.

I'm glad that in the end she was allowed to die with 'dignity'. I appreciate this is a delicate and emotional issue, especially for those who may have close ones in similar situations, but at least our Shari'ah has the breadth and space to allow for the decisions taken by the American courts to go ahead.

Accepting that there is a valid opinion that allowing her to be deprived of her nutrition was an impermissible act, I'm glad to say that many of the scholars have proven that this is not the case, and is actually something permissible to do, albeit with a heavy heart, if only to put an end to the misery of the patient and their families.

May Allah allow us to face such challenges with courage and magnanimity.

Also, before the next SOS awards (which is gonna be a classic...), can I take the liberty of reminding you of the following:

1. Shaykh Ali al-Timimi's court date is on Monday and his defence requires much much more financial help. Please visit his campaign site and donate generously. Jazakumullahu kulla-khayr.

2. Those of you in Blackburn, make sure you get rid of Jack Straw at the impending May 5th election and replace him with Craig Murray, someone who has stood for justice for the Uzbeki Muslims, as well as exposing the crimes and corruption of the American and British governments. Mail atif_raja@hotmail.com for further info.

3. We need a brother to help out with some weekly Islamic classes for beginners in Longsight. There is already an excellent set-up present, so please help and contact ummyusuf@hotmail.com if you can assist.

4. Anyone who's waiting on me to get back to them on various issues then just bear with me - decreasing the frequency of certain things is helping me immensely but I'm going through major life re-structuring at the moment! Arghhh!

But boy - what an SOS coming soon...

:-)