I Love You For The Sake of Allah Ya AbdAllah….

“Muhammad (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah. And those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves.”

Quran, 48.29

 

And this is what I wish to speak on today, this mercy between the believers, this mercy that is seen through loving for the sake of Ar Rauf.

Subhan Al Malik, we live in a time whereby the Muslims talk about one another, with not a care in the world. They are eager to destroy character, lie, and defame a fellow Muslim to build their own brands, to the extent now we find that not even the Ulema are spared.

However in this fitan we can appreciate something, more than we could without it, and do you know what that is? I share with you now, by Allah, that is loving for the sake of Allah.

Yes, as Allah says in the Quran,

“The Believers are but a single Brotherhood.”

Quran, 49.10

 

 

And despite many of us failing to realise the essence of this there are those who do. And they stand out like the moon in the night sky. And why is that, I tell you it is because of their faith. As narrated Anas,

The Prophet said, “Whoever possesses the following three qualities will have the sweetness (delight) of faith:

1. The one to whom Allah and His Apostle becomes dearer than anything else.

2. Who loves a person and he loves him only for Allah’s sake.

3. Who hates to revert to Atheism (disbelief) as he hates to be thrown into the fire.” Sahih Bukhari

Hence, they have a sweetness of faith which radiates, and like Misk, brightens up any surrounding, and I don’t know if you such people, but by Allah I do.

 

 

I have had the privilege to know some such people and it is those slaves of Allah I wish to make mention of today. One of these people is someone called Rayyan. Rayyan is a person that when you speak with them your heart is overcome by joy, and your face is eager to give Sadaqah with a natural smile. When you read an email from them you wish you were with them, as you know they do only but Good. When you think about them, you think about working righteousness, you think about things like being good to your parents; kissing your mother on the forehead, bringing your father his favourite food, and biting your tongue when they, well you know… And that is Rayyan, maybe you know a Rayyan, and those of you that do, you will know what I am saying.

My Rayyan is someone that enables me to focus on working for Allah, making Mercy Mission and IslamBradford the focus of every spare minute I have, and for that I say, JazakAllahkher.

 

 

If you don’t know a Rayyan, I pray Allah brings one to your life. Or if not a Rayyan, maybe a Abu Abdul Wahab (AAW). AAW is someone that when you see him he puts a smile on your face, someone who knows what your thinking, someone who inspires you to work for the Dawah as he seeks to match you in the work you do, while at the same time managing a range of family commitments, which are a distant vision for bachelors people like me. However his sincerity is something that transcends the day before you, as Subhan Ar Rahman, he will even dream about you. wAllah. I met him a couple days of ago and he told me how he saw our most beloved Shaikh, Ibrahim Al Fouzan (Hafiz Ullah Subhana), himself and I in a dream, and we were sat in the IslamBradford centre and remembering Allah. Subhan Allah, what kind of slave of Allah is this, that his hunger to please Allah, transcends even his consciousness. And moreover he will smile and tell you such things, and that is the kind of thing that makes him special; he loves for the sake of Allah, and open’s himself to you like we saw the ansaar open themselves to the muhaajiroon. And that is my Abu Abdul Wahab.

 

 

I draw this entry to a close now, and remind you of the obligation upon you to be merciful to the believers, and strive to be from those that love for the sake of Allah. Love others before yourself, love your brothers like you love your blood brothers, love your sisters, like you love your blood sisters, and remember what you forsake for them, is really what you give for yourself.

 

 

This is a love that transcends emotion, and is complete, as it involves putting the love for Allah and then his messenger in the paramount position in your heart, and this is proven through the righteousness you will work with the creation, with your parents first and foremost, and then me and all the believers. If you have had the privilege to meet people like Rayyan, Abu Abdul Wahab, Wajid, Abu Ubaydah or any of the Manchester Alkauthar team, you will know what I am talking about, and if you haven’t, be that person and I pray Allah brings such people to you.

 

 

In conclusion, remember the words of the amin of the creation, the most merciful from amongst the creation, the one who epitomised loving for the sake of Allah, Muhammad Ibn AbdAllah;

 

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is! You will not enter Jannah until you believe, and you shall not believe until you love one another. May I inform you of something, if you do, you love each other. Promote greeting amongst you (by saying As-salamu `alaikum to one another)”.
[Muslim].

 

Muharamaat…

Its been a long time since I was last here, and the repsonse this post gets, to be honest, will determine, when it is I return.

By the fadal of Allah, we have been back from Egypt now over three months, and have unfortunately settled back into life here. And today I wish to just spend a little time on the nature of time and how it is maximised only through the obedience of Allah.

Allah makes clear in the Surah many of us read many times a day, the Surah Al Asr.

In this Ar Rahman swears by time, and makes clear,

‘Verily All Mankind Is In Loss’ (Al Asr, Ayat 2)

Subhan Al Malik consider this statement for just one second. Allah makes explicitly clear all of mankind is in loss, and the mufasireen highlight that loss means heading for the hell fire. Now just look Allah does not say the kuffar here or the munafiqeen, i.e. all men and women. And this is a harrowing statement and one we should ponder on. Especially because of what it is followed up with, as Allah then goes on to say,

‘Except those who have Faith, AND work righteousness and stay on the Truth and are Patient’

Therefore Allah makes clear who is excluded from his opening statement, i.e. the destination of the hellfire. Therefore if we are not those who have faith, AND work righteousness, AND stay on the Truth AND Be Patient, we have had it. We are destined to the fire.

STOP then and notice Allah uses the word AND all the way through the exclusion to Ahl Naar, therefore it means to be in with an opportunity to win the mercy of Allah we have to fulfil all the exceptions, and therefore that says for all of those people who are MashAllah are practising, they too should listen up, and climb out of the ivory tower, as we need to realise the True nature of Ahl Jannah, and what are the entry criteria. Wake Up People. Jannah is not Cheap. It needs work.

And Subhan Allah I have found since returning from Egypt the reason this is so much harder, is that as we engage Dunya and take the 12hrs out to go to work, we reduce our efforts to win the pleasure of Allah, the working of righteousness, the steadfastness on the Truth and the patience. And hence, we loose the fruits that we were so happily eating from when we were out in the path of Allah.

This is no self affirmation, but just a simple recognition, when your away studying like Akh Al Karim, Ameer Al Manchester for example, you find you are constantly in the pursuit of the pleasure of Allah, working righteousness, steadfast, and patient, as that is the nature of the life of anyone in the path of knowledge. As Allah makes clear;

“Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (Surah Ra’d, 28)

We found that rest, and then we found an ability to work and do things with much barakah. A prayer outside the masjid would be bizzare, not studying Arabic/ Quran or its sciences for 10-12hrs a day would be unimaginable, and now, its simply reality.

Many of us have come back, and maybe are a little better informed, but have had to get back into dare I say it ‘dunya’, and this is why we find ourselves complaining we have no time. We have no time for this and no time for that. Or is it simply we are not giving ‘this’ time or ‘that’ time?

I entitled this entry Muharamaat, not because it is Muharam, but because I wanted to draw attention the haraam that have creeped into our lives living in the West. We have become emersed in a culture which is based in haraam, to the point we now find some haramaat acceptable, or if not acceptable, just fact of life.

For example, this evening I spoke with a brother about TV, and he expressed how the sales of Satellite TV maybe ok, as long as it were not Adult (I only use that word, as it is maroof, however I think the more appropriate word is filth, as there is nothing adult about such programming) TV programs. However, this made me think well is it? Isnt all TV be it the even the news we watch from the haraam, with the slick news readers and the music on queue? This is the most simple way to look at the situation, but I think its a fair reflection of how the muharamaat have penetrated ourlives, and effected our hearts.

The point I am trying to make is, many of us have fallen back into just going through a routine in our lives and are thus not making the effort to win the pleasure of Allah, and even some of those who are trying, increasingly fall into a false sense of confidence. Maybe taking the few hrs they dedicate to Islam, as a proof for themselves. By Allah, this in itself is a plot from Shaytaan, that of self-righteousness. We need to aware of this and turn to Allah. Allah says;

“I created the jinn and humankind only that they worship Me…”
[ad-Dhariyat, 56]

And therefore remember this. Be vigilant of your purpose and work to make all your actions sincere in seeking the face of Allah. When you commute to work, make it productive in the Hamd of Allah, when your at work/ college, make istigfaar, when your online, be careful with your time, and when you work for the sake of Allah, make sure you refresh your intention as much as you can.

Therefore this is just a reminder from us, (as you know when one of us speaks, he speaks for us both), that be careful of the haraam, and pursue the pleasure of Allah, which is something that is a complete package. Deficient by even one element being absent, lets be sincer, pursue Islam as it should be, and for those of us who have spent some time in an Islamic environment, lets rekindle that urge for righteousness we had not so long ago and the effort we put into realising it.

1. وَالْعَصْرِ

2. إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ

3. إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ

 

Taqabal Allah Minkum Ya Ahl Sunnah….

“Say (O Muhammad): ‘If you (really) love Allaah then follow me, Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

[Al-Qur’aan, 3:31]

Now this is a verse of the Quran you know and know well, but is one that we often fail to truly fathom, and this is what I seek to draw attention to today, on this blessed day of Eid, yes that’s right this, blessed Friday, 12th October, Eid Al Fitr.

The implications of this verse are clear, to walk the road of Al Islam to Ihsan, one need to acquaint oneself of the Sharia and its understanding in the Sunnah of the greatest man to ever walk this earth, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah. We need to return to this beutifal way of life, and do so in all that we do, from our belief to our appearence, to our work to our love, everything.

Now this is no easy task, but is one that needs a clear and calculated approach. The first step may simply be to ensure we make up any of the fasts we missed of Ramadan, or if we were fortunate to avoid such a calamity, keep the six of Shawaal, as our Imaam said;

He who fasts Ramadhaan, and six of Shawwaal, it will be (in terms of rewards) as if the fasted a whole year.”

[Reported by Muslim, at-Tirmidhee, Aboo Daawood, Ahmad, Ibn Maajah]

But more significantly it needs to be a deep rooted and well thoughout approach. An approach which leads to genuine change, and allows all to recognise you as someone of Sunnah, not that this is the driver, on the contrary, but so that the beuty of this way is made apparent.

We need to look deep into our lives, our relationships, our work, our efforts and start a process of reformation or enhancement and development. Regardless the point is, attention needs to be directed. However I believe this is important not just because of its natural status in Al Islam, but because of the times we are now living in. As despite our religion being easily recognisable there is a sadistic effort underway by the enemies of Al Islam to change this, and in the modern ’smoothie age’ fuse this religion with those that Allah has rejected. As despite Al Aziz making clear;

Behold, the only [true] religion in the sight of God is Islam; and those who were vouchsafed revelation aforetime ^[12] took, out of mutual jealousy, to divergent views [on this point] only after knowledge [thereof] had come unto them. ^[13] But as for him who denies the truth of God’s messages – behold, God is swift in reckoning! Asad(3,12) Asad(3,13)

[Al Quran 3: 19]

We are now seeking to repackage as Abrahamic and make friends with the deputy of Satan, no not the one who chokes on Pretzels, his Polish bro, yes you guessed it, Pope Benedict XVI. No Seriously.

Check this story, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7038992.stm and you will find that apparently, today this day of greatness, this day we celebrate the end of Ramadan, whereby we fast lillah, seeking the reward from Allah directly, More than 130 Muslim scholars have written to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian leaders urging greater understanding between the two faiths.

Now even though they are just lieing to the Christians with silly statements like, ‘ Christians and Muslims worship the same god.‘,

its still a step in the wrong direction.

We dont lie, we dont cheat, we dont give Allah a son, and last of all we are clear our religion is pure and in no need of any ‘fusion’, dont get me wrong I like fusion as a concept, the whole Thai-dian cuisine is a go-or, but fusion in religion has as much place as a peadophile on Earth. Therefore I sign off and wish you heartfelt Eid greetings and remind you stay firm on this religion in its true form as it was revealed, and love the believers, and hate disbelief, and remember what Allah Al Karim, Al Aziz, Al Alim, Ar Rahman, Al Muttaqabir, Al A’la, Ar Rauf, Al Awal, Al Akhir, says in his final revelation to mankind;

MUHAMMAD is God’s Apostle; and those who are [truly] with him are firm and unyielding Asad(48,43) ^[43] towards all deniers of the truth, [yet] full of mercy towards one another. Asad(48,44) ^[44]

[Al Quran, 48: 29]

And no, this sustained mentioning on Islam in its true form, i.e. the way of the Salaf and the headlining with the words of Ahl Sunnah, is not a reference to the infamous ‘Pledge of Mutual Respect’. Nevertheless, I think we all realise, on the street, its a different world. May Allah guide us all, and encourage our beloved du’at, those who are our future leaders to be clear on their position, both in open and in secret. HH, TC and YQ we love you for the sake of Allah.

 

Ya Ramadaan….

 “All of the actions of the son of Adam are for him except the fast for that is for me and I will reward it. Fasting is protecting sheild, so when it is the day when one of you are fasting, let him not behave or speak indecently; if someone tries to abuse him or fight him, let him say, ‘I am fasting’. By the one in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the smell emanating from the mouth of the one fasting is better with Allah then the smell of musk. The one fasting has two time of joy, when he breaks his fast he is happy and when he meets his lord he will rejoice at his fasting.” [Bukhari and Muslim]  

This is a hadith which surely makes the heart quiver, a hadith which enlightens one to the amazing relationship Allah has with his servants, and if the servant wishes, what he has with Allah. We have now been fasting for nearly one third of this blessed month, and what that means is that we have now lost one third of this blessed month and thus the opportunity for expiation it provides. I am writing here in between iftaar and Tarwea as a reminder to all of the neccisty to make the most of this month. Many of us know the value, but often put things off. We put off giving charity, we put off making dua, reading Quran or any of the great ibaadat we have the intention of doing. Maybe we think we will see the last ten days and are seeking to do many righteous deeds then, but I just wanted to say, lets not put it off. The simple reason, we may not see them days, and moreover if we see them, we maybe unable to do what we intended. 

I returned home from Egypt this week, with great vigour; a great desire to fast strongly, read many Qurans and truly enjoy my tarawea, but unfortuntaly, this hasn’t happened. I came home and within a few hours, fell sick. I have had a headache for five days, am lethargic and have a sneezing frenzy at random intervals, and you don’t know how much I wish I could just have the opportunity to be able to live this month with health, to be able to pick up a mus’haf and recite the words of Ar Rahman for more than a minute before my eyes go blurry….  

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are two blessings which many people do not make the most of and thus lose out: good health and free time.” Narrated by Al-Bukhaari, 6412.  

And this is something we are all guilty of, but we don’t have to be. I am just wishing to remind you all, Ramadan is short, it maybe your last, so please take the time to enjoy it. If your reading this blog, maybe make it the last thing you read on the net, maybe you can go now make wudu, read the Quran or pray some units of pray with sincerity seeking with face of Allah. Moreover maybe take the opportunity to remind your fellow Muslims of the reality and enormity of Ramadaan. Furthermore, if you are able, call those who are far from Islam, back to it. This is a month of mercy, and this is a month where those who have left Ahl Sunnah, will find it easiest to return to it.

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allaah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar: Allaah is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.”[Al-Baqarah 2:185] 

 

Ramadaan Karim………..

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن

شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ

بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ

تَشْكُرُونَ

5 2.18

 

Just Do It…

O Believers, enter completely into Islam and do not follow in the footsteps of Satan, for he is your avowed enemy. (2:208)

It has been some time since I was last here and was missing you all, so have decided to write a short entry before heading to Jummah. 

The last few days have been really interesting because I have had the privilege of experiencing some sincerity and genuine kindness by an Egyptian brother, the kind of thing, that being here you forget is essential between the Muslims.

Being a Muslim for the West in Egypt, over a number of months you forget about the genuine brotherhood you seem to find in the West. There are some brothers that I love like my own blood in the UK (Chill Out Khanny, Your Inc), and clearly would do anything for them, but I feel that equally brothers I don’t know, or if someone was new to my city, I would do everything I could do help them, and I don’t think I am alone in this. I have seen this amongst other brothers, in that they love the Muslims, for being Muslim, brothers like Abu Abdul Wahab, Abu Ubaydah, Abu Zaynab and Abu Yusuf reinforce in my mind that doing things for the sake of Allah is not confined to the few in the West. As this is our dean, As Allah makes clear; “The believers are but a single brotherhood” (49:9) But here subhanAllah everything always seemed to have an ulterior motive, to the extent until this week, I had just become accustomed to a different kind of brotherhood here. However this week a brother who accepted Islam last year, ‘AbdAllah’ sought to follow the sunnah of Khalil Allah, no, not offer his son in sacrifice, but to be circumcised as an adult. Now, I am sure the brothers can appreciate this would be a fitna in your twenty’s, but subhanAllah, this is what AbdAllah was to do this week, not with an Axe, but in a hospital, but I am sure you will agree, it is still a big deal.  As the above Ayat highlights, he realised that the one thing outstanding in his Islam at this moment was this sunnah, and being from Ahl Sunnah, he arranged for it to be done. But this episode, for me, not only showed to me his strength in doing it, but was the source of my restoration of faith in the Miseries. As an Egyptian brother was really amazing through this whole episode, and seem to remember that we are brothers, and that is something that is greater realised on the limbs than tongues. He took time from his work, spent money from his own pocket (Yes, I am serious for those of you who know Egyptian, An Egyptian Spent Money on a UK brother – No Strings; Send to reuters if you wish) and even cut short his weekend for Abd Allah, May Allah accept from him. This may seem like I am being racist by comments on Miseries, I am not, I love them for the sake of Allah, but until yesterday I had not seen the kind of brotherhood I am used to in the West or should I say in Abi Dunya; Bradford. I have to go, its close to Jummuah, stay well, make dua for us, and remember; ‘O human kind, We have created you from a single pair of male and female, and have divided you into nations and tribes, so that you shall recognize each other (not that you shall despise each other). Verily the most honoured in the sight of Allah (SWT) is the person who has Taqwa (who fears Allah and is Righteous). Allah is all-knowing and well acquainted with all things.’ (49.13)

 

Summer Time & The Return of Robin

Summer Time & Return of Robin 

The days are winding down ever so quickly and you can’t help but think “I don’t have enough”, I need more books in my head, and I need more words. I guess it’s too late to ponder, just make bold moves in the coming months and most importantly consolidate what you have.  

Studying at this time of the year is never easy especially if you’re experiencing weather as we have in Cairo, consistently in the 40c, but I would rather settle for the Sun than be drenched in the UK. No hard feelings for all those stuck indoors. 

You know its summer time in Cairo as the number of students coming here from the west just multiplies every time we step foot outside the house. Alhamdulillaah it’s good to see so many brothers and sisters having the zeal to learn the language of the Quran and making the sacrifice to come out fee sabillillaah. 

So what else? 

 Robin has finally made it back after attending to his ill mother. May Allaah Grant Her Shiffah and Reward Him for Fulfilling His Duty. Aameen Duas are requested from all our readers, as we head towards the home straight, it seems Yusuf will be winning this race! 

Fee Ammaanillahi   

 

Say: “Are they the same-those who know and those who do not know?” It is only people of understanding who pay heed. (Surat Az-Zumar: 9)

Isnt it bizzare how soon we forget? Many of us keep a genuine concern for the Muslims as remember the hadith; Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet – peace be upon him – said, “Allah will cover seven people with His shade, on the Day when there will be no shade but His: a just ruler, a youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allah, a man whose heart is attached to the mosques, two persons who love each other only for Allah’s sake and they meet and part in Allah’s cause only, a man who refuses the call of a beautiful and rich woman for illicit relation with her and says: I am afraid of Allah, a man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given, and a person who remembers Allah while he is alone and his eyes are flooded with tears.” (Al-Bukhari, Hadith 620) And therefore seek to love for the sake of Allah. However how soon is it that we fortget the plight of those less fortunate. Those who as we may be sat in our comfy chairs, with a tea in one hand and the mouse in the other, that right this very minute there are Muslims being tortured, raped, starved and humiliated across the world. Ergo right this minute one of our people is screaming out to Ar Rahman, where are the Muslims.

Now, my purpose of writing today, at 02.06 am is to just bring your attention to a people many of us have now forgotton since they and their orange jumpsuits stopped appearing on our 43″ LCD Plasma, yes, I am talking about the brothers of Guantanamo.

I would just like to remind you of two things you and only you can do.

1. Make dua for those who have returned to Al Ghafour, that he accept their ultimate sacrafice;

 http://www.cageprisoners.com/prisoners.php?id=40

2. Make dua for those who are still enduring torture and suffering for their affirmation of la ila ilal Allah, and make an effort to support their fight for freedom.

http://www.islamictube.net/view_video.php?viewkey=1661265401&page=&viewtype=&category=

We Praise Allah for giving us our freedom and not testing us in a way like the aforementioned.

 

Urine Anyone?

Now as bizzare as this may seem to anyone, this is a question that some Muslims who are still upon sunnah and turn to the sunnah for curing illnesses (rather than GSK) may ask. Yes, I am talking about the drinking of Camel Urine.

Narrated Anas; Some People from uraina tribe came to Medina and its climate did not suit them, so Allah’s Apostle, (PBuH) allowed them to fo the herd of camels (given as zakat) and they drank their milk and urine (as Medicine) Al Bukhari, 2855

Now subhanAllah, your probably thinking why is this nut talking about this, when there is bigger news in the world, such as our MC will be arriving in Cairo tmrw to continue with his studies (May Allah accept from him). Well the answer is simple, I am sure this hadith is something many of us dont think about, not because of the limited availability of Camel urine at Tesco or Asda, but because its something many of us cant see ourselves doing.

We live in an age of convenience, of NHS Direct of Clinics, Policlinics and Hospitals, and conventional medicine is king. When we are sick how many of us look to the sunnah for a solution, maybe the odd bit of honey or black seed, but that’s always a supplement, rather than the real solution we are looking for. And well, I think that is crazy!

This is a reminder first to myself and then to the few of you still reading this (which incidently is not good, where have all the eager readers gone?????????????????) that lets look back to the sunnah in a more practical way. Lets look to implement the sunah in all that we do and look to the book and the sunnah as our vehicle of life. Lets shed the constraints of western thinking and free our minds to hearing and obeying the commands and advice laid out in the sunnah.

Sure we say we love the Messenger, then lets show this loove in practical terms. Now, dont get me wrong, I am not saying we all have to start eating locust, and drinking urine, but what I am saying is that lets at least become more ‘Sunnah Conscious’ and start being more pragmatic with the sunnah of the mercy to mankind.

I hope this hasnt become a rant, if it has, sincere apologies, my only intention is to remind that we need to move closer to the sunnah, and make our very existance a real and practical dawah experience for those with whom we engage.

Its good night from Yusuf, Tehseen and Me.

The Journey Continues….

 

Is London To Be The Capital of Darussalam?

Is London’s future Islamic?

It’s the capital’s fastest growing religion, based on noble traditions and compassionate principles, yet Islam can still be tainted by mistrust and misunderstanding. Here Time Out argues that an Islamic London would be a better place.

Rather than fear the inevitable changes this will bring to London, or buy in to a racist representation of all Muslims as terrorists, we should recognise both what Islam has given this city already, and the advantages it would bring across a wide range of areas in the future.

Public health
On the surface, Islamic health doesn’t look good: the 2001 census showed that 24 per cent of Muslim women and 21 per cent of Muslim men suffered long-term illness and disability. But these are factors of social conditions rather than religion. In fact, Islam offers Londoners potential health benefits: the Muslim act of prayer is designed to keep worshippers fit, their joints supple and, at five times a day, their stomachs trim. The regular washing of the feet and hands required before prayers promotes public hygiene and would reduce the transmission of superbugs in London’s hospitals.

Alcohol is haram, or forbidden, to Muslims. As London is above the national average for alcohol-related deaths in males, with 17.6 per 100,000 people (Camden has 31.6 per 100,000 males), turning all the city’s pubs into juice bars would have a massive positive effect on public health. Forbid alcohol throughout the country, and you’d avoid many of the 22,000 alcohol-related deaths and the £7.3 billion national bill for alcohol-related crime and disorder each year.

Ecology
‘The world is green and beautiful,’ said the prophet Muhammad, ‘and Allah has appointed you his guardian over it.’ The Islamic concept of halifa or trusteeship obliges Muslims to look after the natural world and Muhammad was one of the first ever environmentalists, advocating hima – areas where wildlife and forestry are protected. So we could expect more public parks under Islam, but halifa also applies to recycling: in 2006, 12,000 Muslims attended a series of sermons at the East London Mosque explaining the theological evidence for a link between behaving in an environmentally sustainable way and the Islamic faith.

Education
Presently, Muslim students perform less well than non-Muslim students. In inner London, 37 per cent of 16 to 24-year-old Muslims have no qualifications (the figure for the general population of the same age and location is 25 per cent). When it comes to university education the picture is equally gloomy: 16 to 24-year-old Muslims are half as likely to have degree level or above qualification than other inner London young people.

Again, social factors rather than religion have led to this state of affairs. Young Muslims in London are often of south Asian origin and therefore more likely to live in households where English is not the first language, more likely to encounter racism (both intentional and unintentional) during their education, and more likely to suffer from poverty and bad housing conditions.

But Tahir Alam, education spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, claims Muslim children do better in their own faith schools than in the mainstream state sector: ‘Muslim schools have their own distinct ethos. They use the children’s faith and heritage as primary motivators to provide the backdrop for their education and behaviour. This ethos is consistent with the messages that children are getting at home, so it is a very coherent operation between the home and the school.’

If Islam became the dominant religion in London the same ethos could be applied to schooling across swathes of underprivileged and deprived areas of the city. This could have a revolutionary effect on educational achievement and, perhaps just as importantly, general levels of discipline and self-respect among London’s young people. While controversy rages over faith schools, there are 37 Muslim schools in London. As of 2004, only five were state schools, but there is growing pressure to bring more into the state sector which, according to Alam, will ‘help raise achievement for many sectors of the Muslim community. Many private Muslim schools are under-resourced and if they can be brought into the state sector this valuable experience can be extended to more children.’

Food
Application of halal (Arabic for ‘permissable’) dietary laws across London would free us at a stroke from our addiction to junk food, and the general adoption of a south Asian diet rich in fruit juice, rice and vegetables with occasional mutton or chicken would have a drastic effect on obesity, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorders and associated public health problems. As curry is already Londoners’ and the nation’s favourite food (see our Brick Lane food feature), it would be a relatively easy process to encourage the adoption of such a diet. Not eating would be important as well. The annual fasting month of Ramadan instils self-discipline, courtesy and social cohesion. And Londoners would benefit philosophically and physically from even a short period when we weren’t constantly ramming food into our mouths.

Inter-faith relations
In an Islamic London, Christians and Jews – with their allegiance to the Bible and the Talmud – would be protected as ‘peoples of the book’. Hindus and Sikhs manage to live alongside a large Muslim population in India, so why not here? Although England has a long tradition of religious bigotry against, for instance, Roman Catholics, it is reasonable to assume that under the guiding hand of Islam a civilised accommodation could be made among faith groups in London. This welcoming stance already exists in the capital in the form of the City Circle (see Yahya Birt interview), which encourages inter-faith dialogue and open discussion.

Arts
Some of the finest art in London is already Islamic. The Jameel Gallery at the V&A houses ‘ceramics, textiles, carpets, metalwork, glass and woodwork, which date from the great days of the Islamic caliphate of the eighth and ninth century’ up until the turn of the last century. Or take a free daily tour of the Addis Gallery of Islamic art (at the British Museum). London-based Nasser David Khalili, an Iranian-born Jew, has amassed what is considered to be the world’s largest private collection of Islamic art. Islamic influences have also flourished in other areas of the arts, with novelists, comedians (Birmingham-born Shazia Mirza was an instant hit on the London circuit), and music (from rappers Mecca2Medina on, to the less in-your-face Yusuf Islam).

Social justice
Each Muslim is obliged to pay zakat, a welfare tax of 2.5 per cent of annual income, that is distributed to the poor and the needy. If the working population of London, 5.2 million, was predominantly Muslim this would produce approximately £3.2bn each year. More importantly, everyone would be obliged to consider those Londoners who haven’t shared their good fortune. London would become a little less cruel.

Race relations
Under Islam all ethnicities are equal. Once you have submitted to Allah you are a Muslim – it doesn’t matter what colour you are. End of story.

Now as great an entry this is, shock horror, these are not my words, in fact they are the words of Micheal Hodges and they were on the first page of London’s famous Time Out Magazine (http://www.timeout.com/london/features/2993.html) last week.

They have caused a bit of a stir as last week saw one of London’s best known Magazine’s not only publish a front cover, posing the question, ‘Is London’s Future Islamic?’, but published it in Arabic. In a week where we have heard that Muhammad is the second most popular name registered in the UK in 2006, it seems that Islam, despite their best efforts is still getting the attention they hate, i.e. that which it desreves  – Nuff Respect. As Allah Says;

” They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths but Allah will perfect His light, though the unbelievers may be averse, Chapter 61, Verse 8.

Therefore I use this magazine as a simple reminder to first myself, then my buddies on this blog and then to the World, that Al Islam is something Muslims must be proud of, and be clear that the victory of this True dean is close. We live in a time where our every move is under scrutiny, both in Muslim and Non – Muslim lands, and thus many of us have fallen into extremism, and extremism unknown to times before and that is in Liberalism. In that we deny anything which doesnt conform to Western Values, and we disassociate ourselves from the people of Sunnah. However this serves no purpose, just see how we are attacked at every opportunity, turn on your tv, at any times on any day and you will see your faith under attack, or just visit;  http://www.ihrc.org/.

Therefore it is imperitive that we return to the book and sunnah, and stand firm upon our dean, bring the sunnah to our families and neighbourhoods, and say, We Are The Muslims, and like the disciples said to Jesus, the Son of Mary,

‘ We Are The Helpers of Allah’