The Disputations

Chapter twenty nine

1.  If we can't trust politicians to tell the truth about their expenses; how can we expect them to tell the trust about international affairs!??! Wake up you are being lied to by someone who is convinced of his lies! 

2.  It does not matter how hard you try if its not meant to be - its not meant to be.

3.  Sins weight someone down, repent and lose weight!

4.  One of signs of a disbeliever is that he places a barrier in the path of Allah. They do not like people to teach the deen nor learn. So when a believer has this he is closer to disbelief that belief.

5.  A beard is not a political statement its just hair!

6.  Knowledge makes sure your actions valid, even if little. Ignorance makes actions invalid even if a lot...

7.  Saying Bismillah over something thats haram does not make it halal. Please try to understand!

8.  Never thought that I would see people jealous of Ahl Al-Bayt but when I did it was nothing short of ugly. Check your iman!

9.  When you fear something other than Allah then you come to face to face with your fears. When you fear Allah alone then you are safe from everything

10.  Going to Mekka or Medinah or a grave of a wali is not a chance to pose...

11.  Allah knows what you are so why are pretended before people?

12.  The greater you hold onto this world, the greater your pain will be when it leaves you.

13.  Accustom yourself to humiliation and you won’t be disappointed.

14.  Most people are not what they say they are.

15.  Most people do not do what they say.

16.  Do not have pride in repentance.

17.  People have different ranks and are tried differently. They are not the same.

18.  One of the awilyah said words to the effect that the spirits of the four caliphs are in the four madhabs. Abu Bakr in Hanafi, Umar in Maliki, Uthman in Hanbali and Ali in Shafi (may Allah show them all mercy and be pleased with them)

19.  Why is it only Muslims who are pressured to condemn terrorism? When other countries who perform state terrorism are not asked to condemn their own actions of indiscriminate violence upon civilians? It is not time that everyone condemn anyone who is killing/murdering civilians.

20.  Ibn Daqiq Al-'Id (may Allah show him mercy) said that excellent character is bearing harm from people.

21.  True sincerity is that one performs an action for Allah, not for anything or anyone and not for recognition even if it works out or does not. That's sincerity.

The Disputations

Part thirty

1. Its funny when we have time to destroy something but do not have time to help build something...
2. Do not allow to be distracted by your worldly problem from Allah the Exalted
3. When you feel haughty when people praise you and despondent when people curse you then you have missed the point...
4. What's the point trying to be some super sufi when you can't even stay away from haram and avoid the halal?
5. All the problems in your life are summed up here.
   
   Abu Hassan As-Shadhali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Love entails Allah taking his servant's heart away from everything but Him."
   
   So when you understand it then you'll be free.
6. If what you are doing does not bring you closer to Allah (the Exalted) then its a waste of time and deserving punishment.
7. Sometimes people distract us from Allah. so Allah removes them from our lives.
8. One of ways Allah calls a person to him is by turning people against him - so he turns whole heartily to Allah.
9. One of the awilyah of maroc said words to the effect When Allah (the Exalted) wishes to destroy something. It is raised up then smashed to the ground.
10. On the internet you can be anyone you want, quote anyone you want and pretend to be whatever you make others think. But Allah (the Exalted) knows what you are so who are you fooling?
11. When you think the world is black and white then you have lost your humanity...
12. When you follow your desires you make your desire your idol...
13. The spiritual path is about being displeased with yourself so you change yourself. Not being pleased so you stay the same or become worse.
14. If the masjid is just for committee members and their activities then its just a social club and there is no reward for social club.
15. When you fear something other than Allah then you come to face to face with your fears. When you fear Allah alone then you are safe from everything.
16. By the time of Imam Al-Darqawi's passing he had walked 40,000 men through the spiritual path and they were all qualified as spiritual masters. What was his secret of his path? Give away all your possessions and that is your starting position.
17. Imam Al-Darqawi recited the Quran sixty times at the grave of Idris al-Thani in Fez for assistance to find a Sheikh. And with the help of Syed Hamid he found the great wali Sidi Ali Al-Jamal (may Allah show them mercy).
18. Those scholars who say we should speak Urdu only should not be allowed to preach in the UK. It should be mandatory for each masjid to have at least one speaker in English and do not come to me complaining that the youth are not interested in Islam. Of course they are not because you speak a language they do not understand!
19. True sincerity is that one performs an action for Allah, not for anything or anyone and not for recognition even if it works out or does not. Thats sincerity.
20. Part of our belief in the day of judgement is that the oppressed will be avenged on that day. So do be aggrieved when you do not see it now. Man's ability for justice is limited and the justice of Allah is absolute.

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

A Green Road

Syria: not anymore

Story of revolution

Remember something no oppressor in the history of the world has died without tasting the punishment that they gave to their people. Bashar is no different - he will taste the punishment that he gave innocent civilians.

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

 Wishing Merry Christmas to Non Muslim Christians

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Bani Qurada

Sheikh Samir Al-Nass

Prohibitions in the Quran

Dr Jonathan Brown

Abiding Stereotypes About the Prophet Muhammad in the Medieval and Modern West

Sheikh Yahya Rhodus

Virtues

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Milad speech at fazain Islam

The Unislamic nature of Islamic businesses

Never thought that I would be writing about this subject but I feel compelled to do so. My experience with so called ‘Islamic’ institutions has been overwhelmingly negative. It does not matter what type of business it is; schools, madrasas or Masjids. The people can be from almost any group affiliation that you can think of. The experience is the same. From here on in we shall call them 'businesses' because that’s all that most of them are. 

There is a real sense that some are misleading the public. They have large banners of the name of the institution in which you would assume that things are being run with Islamic ethics. Often this is not the case and almost all my experience has affirmed this reality. Only Ronseal does what it says on the tin!

The names of the businesses are often derived from names or terms in Arabic. But the owners of the business do not realise that because of their bad actions some people curse the institutions. Which means something religious has been cursed and that is why I advise people to be careful when they are naming their institutes.

Many places are full of partisanship that makes the bricks cringe and yet they do not see it themselves. How? Only when one looks in the mirror can they see their big nose even though everyone else can see it all the time!

Often they are run in a ruthless manner by people who would sooner curse you in the streets than help you. As long as you are giving them money and funding their bank accounts they are unconcerned. Their houses and cars get bigger but they are not bothered if they have broken promises to the public that they claim to serve.

Instead of supporting scholars they chase them out of the community. But all the while desire acclaim for their presence even though they did not bring them there in the first place.

They like people to think that they are doing good but really they are forcing every issue to their advantage. They twist the religion when it suits them to attack you and offend you. Aren’t they so good?

Especially evil is when some of them see students who are progressing faster than they are so they put a stop to classes. Or do their best to disrupt the classes as much as they can until the attendance dwindles.

The sad fact is that some of you are sending your child to a 'business' in which the head of the school is the biggest bully. Many pay wages that are illegal but because the employee has accepted the contract it becomes law. If it was not for this illegal wage structure most of these businesses would have one teacher because that’s all that they could afford. That is why many places employ ‘uncles’ who are retired because they do not need to work to earn money! Pay peanuts and you get monkeys! Do not expect your children to learn anything from a monkey!

We have charities who raise funds for projects that never get off the ground and even worse than that the money never reaches the intending source! Someone has instead brought a flashy car with your zakah money!

When you speak to them they are rude and arrogant. To the point that they will reject advice. Rejecting advice is a trait of a disbeliever.

Masjids that are only interested in doing their own activities are mere big boys clubs. Most if not all masjids are big boys clubs who say what goes on in their masjids. The masjid serves them and has nothing to do with Allah (the Exalted). So do not expect any reward from something that is not done for Allah (the Exalted).

Is there a solution?

Well the sad fact is that many of these new institutions are carrying out work that no one else is doing. Then you ask yourself is it worth the risk? I’ll let you be the judge of that. You could, of course, take what you need and leave. As for exposing such people it is not worth the effort because they are so embedded in their way of thinking that they cannot even begin to consider that they are wrong.

Even though they think nothing of going onto websites to attack you but you should not that because that’s unIslamic! They expect you to have morals yet are devoid of any themselves! They lie and cheat but expect you to tell the truth!

All these types of businesses must be accessible to public scrutiny. They must publish all records of funds that enter the businesses and what funds exit. If they are to serve the public they must be held to public analysis.  And to be held accountable to where funds are going. Some legal enforcement may be necessary but unfortunately many charities operate in a backhanded manner.

If the public question the institution they need to have prepared answers. Rather than scream, shout and blame others. Often when you squeeze something you find out what is inside it.

Here we find that there is nothing but insults because you question their methods. The people running these businesses should realise that they are under the public spotlight yet how few of them care!

There is no real solution and that is scary. At the same time there are very good new institutions being founded. So we need to support those who are free from partisanship of any type that favours relatives because if we do that then we have simply become a party to the futile pursuits of serving our egos, rather than serving Islam.

Apologies to someone who is reading this by mistake and those that this does not concern. It really annoys me that these businesses continue but what is the alternative?

Or are we asking for too much to expect a level of professionalism that we have been accustomed to in non muslim organisations? This is not asking too much we should be better, much better but the opposite is true.

How awful is it that we turned something of value into something that is cheap and worthless.

Burden of blame

The current political situation looks very bleak particularly in some regions of the Muslim world. 

There were few Muslim countries that escaped the colonial tyranny that began in 1798. Yet decades after their disappearance their influence remains. The colonised have yet to reassert their Muslim identity.   

Now someone could say why have non Muslims been given authority over us? This is the same the idea that was explored by different minds particularly over the last hundred years. 

We now enter a radical second colonial period which is now stemming from more than one country. It’s almost as if there are big bullies of the world who murder innocent people on the pretext of preventive terrorism. Millions of innocents have been killed since 9/11. Why is it that they remember the anniversary of 9/11 and fail to realise there is a 9/11 everyday in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Complain

We could listen to complaints that many Arabs use which is a cop out, frankly. They blame the Jews and in particular the presence of the state of Israel in the occupied territories. Others lay the blame on the understanding of Islam which has caused failure. Others blame the fact that there is no caliphate in place. Etc.

All these sound like scapegoats and attempts to blame others when there is blame to taken. By who? By us. Why? Because of this verse.

وَلَن يَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلاً

Nisa 4:141

“Allah does not allow disbelievers a way to the believers.”

There are a few opinions on the meaning of this verse but literally it means that Allah (the Exalted) does not allow disbelievers a way to harm believers. So how do we answer the cause of the harm we see in the Muslim world now? We will answer this later but let’s now look at the possible meanings. 

Ibn Ajeebah (may Allah show him mercy) said in Bahr al-Madeed

، { ولن يجعل الله للكافرين على المؤمنين سبيلاً } أي: حجة، أو غلبة في الدنيا والآخرة، وفيه دليل على عدم صحة ملك الكافر للمسلم، فيباع عليه إن اشتراه، ويفسخ نكاحه إن تزوج مسلمة. والله تعالى أعلم.

“Meaning proof or being overcome in the world or afterlife. In it a proof that: (1) there is no valid disbeliever king over the Muslims, (2) in selling or buying, (3) invalidity of a non-Muslim marriage to a female Muslim. And Allah (the Exalted) knows best."

Imam Al-Razi in Al-Mafitah Al-Ghayb

ثم قال: { وَلَن يَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلاً } وفيه قولان: الأول: وهو قول علي عليه السلام وابن عباس رضي الله عنهما: أن المراد به في القيامة بدليل أنه عطف على قوله { فَٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ } الثاني: أن المراد به في الدنيا ولكنه مخصوص بالحجة، والمعنى أن حجة المسلمين غالبة على حجة الكل، وليس لأحد أن يغلبهم بالحجة والدليل الثالث: هو أنه عام في الكل إلا ما خصه الدليل، وللشافعي رحمه الله مسائل: منها أن الكافر إذا استولى على مال المسلم وأحرزه بدار الحرب لم يملكه بدلالة هذه الآية، ومنها أن الكافر ليس له أن يشتري عبداً مسلماً بدلالة هذه الآية، ومنها أن المسلم لا يقتل بالذمي بدلالة هذه الآية.

There are two opinions: the first from his speech (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) and Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), “It means on the day of judgement as a proof that it was linked to the speech, “Allah judges between them on the day of judgement.” The second: meaning in the world and not specific to a proof. Meaning a proof that the Muslims will overcome the proofs of all others and none can over them by proof or evidence. The third: this is general in all except that what is specified as a proof. Imam As-Shafi derives an issue, “From it is that the disbeliever if he takes the wealth of the Muslim and flees to a non Muslim land does not own by the proof of this passage. From it is that the disbeliever cannot buy a Muslim slave by the proof of this passage. And from it is that Muslim cannot be killed for a protected minority by the proof of this passage."

So what are you saying?

When the Saudis invited the Americans to expel Sadaam Hussain from Kuwait in 1990. It was the first time in history that an outside army was invited against another Arab county. So who is busy with innovation now?

This actually laid the foundations of the current invasion of Iraq because they researched about the desert terrain unlike ever before. This made their war so much easier thanks to the Saudi's!

The invasion of Iraq was due to the oil because of the reliance of the world economy on this energy source.   

If it was due to weapons of mass destruction then why are bombing those who purchase them and being silent about those who manufacture them? Those who manufacture weapons of mass destruction are equally to blame if not more so.

Before the invasion, certain political parties of Iraq were invited (into summits in Europe etc) and they agreed on certain measures that would be put into place after the invasion. It’s almost safe to say that all these promises have been broken. The invasion has also caused sectarian violence. Even though after centuries of Muslim rule there was very little sectarian violence and it was limited to certain periods of time. Sunni's and Shia's lived side by side for most of the time. Yet if you pit both sides against each other it keeps them busy so the thieves can do more thieving!  

I remember Habib Ali Al-Jifri saying that the fall of Baghdad (at the hands of the Mongols) in 1260’s was due to the treachery of one minister. Also the invasion of the Mongols into the Muslim world was due to Ismailis murder of a Mongol messenger.

The fall of Spain was due mostly to Muslim kings paying Christian Kings tributes to protect them from other Muslim kings! This gave the Christians money to kill their common foe and then kill those who were paying the tribute! Also the final nail in the coffin of Muslim Spain was the treachery of Boabdil who, on the pretext of seeking leadership, sold out the king.

The war between Russia and Chechnya was ended until the Saudis came in with their extremism and re-ignited the war. Something similar happened in Afghanistan before it was invaded. Also Afghanistan was invaded by the collusion of other local countries. Pakistan being one of them and it’s by their aid that Afghanistan was invaded.

So what am I saying? 

I say that we have given the non Muslims an open door to kill our fellow brethren.

Who is paying the Syrian rebels to do what they do? How can they fund a war effort for a long time? Someone must be paying them. Its haram to rebel against a Muslim leader.

It’s our fault

We cannot blame the non Muslims for what they are doing in the Muslim world. When we are ourselves taking their money (invisible funding) and opening doors for them to kill people.

Allah (the Exalted) has not caused the disbeliever to subjugate us rather we have submitted ourselves to money and riches. We have sold out and we take to take some responsibility.

Solution?

Well that depends on the way you view the situation. It seems like we are moving towards the end of the world as corruption is widespread. The developed world oppresses their people by making them servants to their desires and those of the developing world are oppressed by remnants of colonial governments. Widespread corruption is a sign that the Mahdi's time is close. 

The main point that I am trying to make is that the Muslims should help each other. We do not have a caliph and in its absence Muslim presidents should help each other. The Arab and Muslim leagues have proven to be ineffective. Their ineffectiveness was exposed when they sent observers to Syria who seemed to have their eyes closed during killings. 

Why are we looking to others to clean up our mess? We need to take some responsibility and work together to support each other’s economies and as well as other types of assistance. 

When things are going wrong in a country then we must come together forward a resolution for the greater good of those involved. Instead of looking on in silence as people are killed. We should do something for the greater good of our brethren.

The state of the Muslims could be changed overnight if we chose to come together and work together. I am not talking about unity rubbish rather I am talking about working together, that’s what we need. The trade of oil to the west strengths their oppression upon the countries that they have invaded. Its unlawful to trade anything to a non-Muslim that allows him to harm other Muslims. So who is to blame? Look at the oil dealers first.

So we do not have anyone to blame but ourselves. Of course the normal person cannot do much but he can make others aware that we will not stand for our leaders to be corrupt.

We have to apply fresh thinking and that does not include putting ourselves or others into danger. We need to be able to sort our own problems out and not allow countries to invade our lands.

Muslim countries must come together, help and support each other. This could happen and we could see a greater change in a short time. Who is going to have the guts to stand up and fight oppression in a positive manner without bloodshed? 

Is it not high time that we came to a peaceful resolution to our problems instead of letting fools dictate the discourse? I wonder which of the current Muslim leaders have some guts and stand against oppression? We need and seek a peaceful solution NOT a violent one.