As a result of the efforts of the Prophet Sheath (pbuh) some people began to believe in Allah. As the time passed they began to worship the statue of their prophet. They became polytheists, irreligious and faithless. They adopted indecent ways of life. Under such circumstances Allah sent the Prophet Idris (pbuh) for the reformation and guidance of those who had gone astray. The Holy Quran makes mention of him in the following Verse:
“Commemorate Idris in the Book, verily he was a man of truth and a Prophet and We raised him to a lofty station.” (Surah 19: Verse 56)
Preaching and Opposition
The Prophet Idris (peace be upon him) preached monotheism. He directed his people to abandon idol-worship. He emphasized them not to be captivated by the love of wealth and property. He advised them to abstain from drinking wine and other intoxicants. Only a few men paid heed to his teachings but majority of the people opposed him bitterly. The Prophet Idris (pbuh) did not lose heart and continued preaching with unshakeable constancy. He is appreciated for his firm faith and forbearance in the following Verses of the Holy Quran:
“All (Isma’il, Dhul-Kifl and Idris) were men of constancy and patience. We admitted them into Our mercy, for they were of the righteous ones.” (Surah 21: Verse 85-86)
Migration to Egypt
In spite of untiring efforts the Prophet Idris (peace be upon him) could not attain considerable success and felt disgusted with the indifferent attitude of the public. He was directed to migrate to Egypt and settle on the bank of the river Nile. He preached the religion of Allah among various tribes and admonished them to be good and civilized. Consequently he brought about a remarkable change in the moral and social life of the people.
The Learned Prophet
The Prophet Idris (pbuh) was born one hundred years after the death of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). He was the first man who learnt to write. It is said that thirty portions of Allah’s sacred scriptures were revealed to him. He was the inventor of the science of astronomy and arithmetic.
Death Event
The Prophet Idris (pbuh) was taken alive to Heavens at the age of 365 years. Ibn Jarir relates in Rauzatul Ahbab that the Prophet Idris (peace be upon him) was the special friend of one of the angels of heaven. The angel took him up into the heavens and when they arrived in the fourth heaven, they met the Angel of Death. The angel questioned the Angel of Death how many years there were remaining of the life of the Prophet Idris (pbuh). The Angel of Death said: Where is Idris because I have been commanded to end his life. The Prophet Idris (peace be upon him) then remained in the fourth heaven and he died in the wings of his angel friend who had taken him from earth. Mutwaslah was one of his distinguished sons who made his mark.
http://spreadislam.wordpress.com/prophet-idrispbuh/
The Night if Meraj (4th heaven):
Following this, we continued up to the fourth heaven. There I saw a person and asked Jibra'il, "Who is he?" He replied: "This is Idris, the one whom Allah the Great, brought up to a high station." I greeted him and prayed for his forgiveness; he too prayed for my forgiveness. In this heaven too there were Angels who like in the previous heavens gave me good tidings. I then saw another Angel who was leaning against a throne and had seventy thousand Angels under his command. In a loud voice, Jibra'il called out to him to stand - he obeyed and stood up and until the Day of Judgment, he will remain in that state."
From Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 18, p. 325, Bab 3 - Ithbaat al-Mi`raaj wa ma`anaahu wa kayfiyyatuhu wa sifatuhu wa ma jaraa feehi wa wasf al-buraaq, Hadith 34.
http://www.al-islam.org/al-miraj/ Chapter 14
Prophet Idris in the Quran:
"And tell (Oh Muhammad) the story of Idris mentioned in the Book (Quran).Verily, he is the man who loves the truth and a Prophet , and We raised him to a high station . "
Surah Maryam (verse: 56-57)
"And ( remember ) Ismail ( Ishmael ) , Idris ( Enoch ) , and Dzulkifl ( Isaiah ) . All of them were from among the patient ones. And We admitted them to Our Mercy. Verily, they were off the righteous. "
Surah Al-Anbiya' (verse: 85-86)
http://www.helium.com/items/1387202-idris
Quick points:
- Prophet Idris (pbuh) was the 5th Generation of Prophet Adam (as).
- He was the 3rd prophet of Islam
- It is reported that he was the 1st to invent the basic form of writing.
http://islamickids.tripod.com/id108.htm
- He migrated to Egypt and settled along the banks of River Nile.
- He taught the people there, about fasting, charity and praying, also told
them not to drink wine.
- Majority of the people didn’t listen to him.
- He was the inventor of sciences of astronomy and arithmetic.
- He died at the age of 365 yrs
http://ourseeds.tripod.com/ProphetIdrisStory.html
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Salaam alaikum everyone,
So the long wedding discussion has ended. Lets take our minds to something else that we deal with on a personal level. And to make it all interesting, I've decided to start a teeny tiny activity. But that I will mention later. Lets see whats on our menu for the day shall we?
Shopping! Yes! I said it, it's whats constantly on our mind, it' whats become the purpose of life, purchasing something. I will now share an experience:
My monthly grocery shopping list was ready, And I couldn't wait to get on the go with it. It was one of my first few grocery buys since the wedding. I'm still in the learning and adapting stage. And college work, plus husband, and family takes up allot of my time, grocery shopping is a savior!
But this time I tried to put a twist to it, I cut 1/4th of my budget off. Why? Just to see if I was actually overspending, and prioritize better. There were times I stood with a product in hand and kept it back, because I didn't need it as much as I thought I did, then there were times, I made sure I checked out the prices of every other product to get the one that satisfied my budget (keep in in mind the quality desired). It took allot of time, but in the end I was more than satisfied spiritually than anything else.
It made me feel, I could conquer anything, I guess before my marriage I was an evil person in this regard, I bought whatever I wanted, even if I had to spend ALL of my allowance. But I now I've learned even the littlest of what you have is allot. And to some one your "nothing" is everything!.
Okay so now you must be thinking, grocery is different from that black shirt at Zara! I understand, but if you actually sit and think before you buy, and understand the concept of need and want, everything becomes so simple. And you might reach home with lesser shopping bags, but allot more money saved, and a great deal of pride.
So lets go further and analyse the problem, I've pondered over this more than a zillion times.
The question is; How/Why do we develop the want for something we don't need?
My school mate back in the day had explained this concept. We were all new into our selected streams, I had taken Humanities and she on the other hand, chose commerce. One of her subjects was entrepreneurship. And she was explaining the concept of "creating a need" in the market to sell a product. That conversation made me realize so many things, my brain started to hurt. It all came together for me, It's not like we don't know this concept, it's just easier to understand when put into simple words.
We all know we don't need 3 pairs of shoes. We don't require an outfit for everyday. We don't require 10 lipsticks of similar shades! etc. We just don't need them. There always comes a point in everyones life, where they have to think twice before buying something because of it's cost. No matter how rich, or how poor you are, there's always something you can't afford, which drives you to work harder and earn more to spend on these wants.
These wants are mostly worldly, How many times have we sacrificed a shopping trip to help a poor kid get education?, or buying a family a weeks food?. In Ramadan? Or when you want to take out sadaqah? Is that all the humanity left in us?.
Now think why did our prophet and the imams live with the least of things? What was their aim? do You think they did that for time pass? NO! They showed us that for survival with happiness you don't need "things", Every time you think you cant live without anything, or compare your or your hubbys or dads bank balance with that of others,realize you're creating a problem for yourself a worldly one! which is highly dangerous and dissatisfying. You can be more than happy and die with iman, you don't need these things!. The purpose of life is not to collect as many things as you can, but to grow as a Muslim and work for a good akhira.
lecturer Hajj Hassanain Rajabali mentions in a lecture to fantasize; fantasize about the heaven, fantasize about the life of beauty, suddenly you'll feel you everyday wants are petty. You'd feel like walking in rags, you'll feel like eating bread instead of a full meal. And unfortunately soon you may also get over this feeling, but work to stick to it. It's this feeling that'll humble us in our hearts and souls, which will make us stop judging and pressurizing people to do worldly things. Lets make an effort to live a life of constant remembrance of what's important. Whats worth the hard earned money and whats not. Whats a need and whats a want.
We are answerable to our expenditure. The concept of the satanic world is to get you busy with, wanting, then feeling you need it, then earning (no matter how, halal or haraam), then buying, then liking something else, becoming arrogant with your worldly gains, and then wanting more, leaving you no time to actually derive full pleasure out of your purchase. It's a cycle of nothingness. If you force yourself to enjoy what you have, you'll be deriving pleasure that are sacred, this will make you thank the one who blessed you with it, instead of getting busy trying to pursue another worldly buy.
I hope I've made my idea clear, And I have a little activity for you:
I want all of you to make list of your latest purchases, and select minimum 5 items you could've gone without. And send me the list, with an estimate on the total expenditure (in whatever currency). I'll be sharing all the lists with everyone (as examples) in the coming editions and bring some points into perspective. This will be good fun, and very personal to everyone, so that all of you can relate to it. And what my brainy brain will conclude will make you feel and think positive, Inshallah. (I am also joining in on this fun activity!).
Now, what are you waiting for work those memory cells and scribble down a list and send it. And I will not be sending another mail till I get at least 5 lists. You can ask your friends and have their lists sent too. No ones name will be revealed.
Blog readers can leave their list in the comments or just e-mail.
Waiting for some interesting replies.
Take care everyone, and be wise, don't get fooled by the satanic world! I know you're all smarter than that.
Fatima
PS: reply with lists to: syeda715@hotmail.com
__________________________________
Written by Syeda
So the long wedding discussion has ended. Lets take our minds to something else that we deal with on a personal level. And to make it all interesting, I've decided to start a teeny tiny activity. But that I will mention later. Lets see whats on our menu for the day shall we?
Shopping! Yes! I said it, it's whats constantly on our mind, it' whats become the purpose of life, purchasing something. I will now share an experience:
My monthly grocery shopping list was ready, And I couldn't wait to get on the go with it. It was one of my first few grocery buys since the wedding. I'm still in the learning and adapting stage. And college work, plus husband, and family takes up allot of my time, grocery shopping is a savior!
But this time I tried to put a twist to it, I cut 1/4th of my budget off. Why? Just to see if I was actually overspending, and prioritize better. There were times I stood with a product in hand and kept it back, because I didn't need it as much as I thought I did, then there were times, I made sure I checked out the prices of every other product to get the one that satisfied my budget (keep in in mind the quality desired). It took allot of time, but in the end I was more than satisfied spiritually than anything else.
It made me feel, I could conquer anything, I guess before my marriage I was an evil person in this regard, I bought whatever I wanted, even if I had to spend ALL of my allowance. But I now I've learned even the littlest of what you have is allot. And to some one your "nothing" is everything!.
Okay so now you must be thinking, grocery is different from that black shirt at Zara! I understand, but if you actually sit and think before you buy, and understand the concept of need and want, everything becomes so simple. And you might reach home with lesser shopping bags, but allot more money saved, and a great deal of pride.
So lets go further and analyse the problem, I've pondered over this more than a zillion times.
The question is; How/Why do we develop the want for something we don't need?
My school mate back in the day had explained this concept. We were all new into our selected streams, I had taken Humanities and she on the other hand, chose commerce. One of her subjects was entrepreneurship. And she was explaining the concept of "creating a need" in the market to sell a product. That conversation made me realize so many things, my brain started to hurt. It all came together for me, It's not like we don't know this concept, it's just easier to understand when put into simple words.
We all know we don't need 3 pairs of shoes. We don't require an outfit for everyday. We don't require 10 lipsticks of similar shades! etc. We just don't need them. There always comes a point in everyones life, where they have to think twice before buying something because of it's cost. No matter how rich, or how poor you are, there's always something you can't afford, which drives you to work harder and earn more to spend on these wants.
These wants are mostly worldly, How many times have we sacrificed a shopping trip to help a poor kid get education?, or buying a family a weeks food?. In Ramadan? Or when you want to take out sadaqah? Is that all the humanity left in us?.
Now think why did our prophet and the imams live with the least of things? What was their aim? do You think they did that for time pass? NO! They showed us that for survival with happiness you don't need "things", Every time you think you cant live without anything, or compare your or your hubbys or dads bank balance with that of others,realize you're creating a problem for yourself a worldly one! which is highly dangerous and dissatisfying. You can be more than happy and die with iman, you don't need these things!. The purpose of life is not to collect as many things as you can, but to grow as a Muslim and work for a good akhira.
lecturer Hajj Hassanain Rajabali mentions in a lecture to fantasize; fantasize about the heaven, fantasize about the life of beauty, suddenly you'll feel you everyday wants are petty. You'd feel like walking in rags, you'll feel like eating bread instead of a full meal. And unfortunately soon you may also get over this feeling, but work to stick to it. It's this feeling that'll humble us in our hearts and souls, which will make us stop judging and pressurizing people to do worldly things. Lets make an effort to live a life of constant remembrance of what's important. Whats worth the hard earned money and whats not. Whats a need and whats a want.
We are answerable to our expenditure. The concept of the satanic world is to get you busy with, wanting, then feeling you need it, then earning (no matter how, halal or haraam), then buying, then liking something else, becoming arrogant with your worldly gains, and then wanting more, leaving you no time to actually derive full pleasure out of your purchase. It's a cycle of nothingness. If you force yourself to enjoy what you have, you'll be deriving pleasure that are sacred, this will make you thank the one who blessed you with it, instead of getting busy trying to pursue another worldly buy.
I hope I've made my idea clear, And I have a little activity for you:
I want all of you to make list of your latest purchases, and select minimum 5 items you could've gone without. And send me the list, with an estimate on the total expenditure (in whatever currency). I'll be sharing all the lists with everyone (as examples) in the coming editions and bring some points into perspective. This will be good fun, and very personal to everyone, so that all of you can relate to it. And what my brainy brain will conclude will make you feel and think positive, Inshallah. (I am also joining in on this fun activity!).
Now, what are you waiting for work those memory cells and scribble down a list and send it. And I will not be sending another mail till I get at least 5 lists. You can ask your friends and have their lists sent too. No ones name will be revealed.
Blog readers can leave their list in the comments or just e-mail.
Waiting for some interesting replies.
Take care everyone, and be wise, don't get fooled by the satanic world! I know you're all smarter than that.
Fatima
PS: reply with lists to: syeda715@hotmail.com
__________________________________
Written by Syeda
Friday, November 13, 2009
Fatimas Life 2.6
Salaam alaikum,
So here we are, at the last step of the wedding drill.
Walima, is any dinner party. And the walima after the wedding is NOT from the grooms side but the groom. At least that's how it's supposed to be.
Back home, Walima are generally short and sweet. There are very few people invited, and the food is very simple. Sometimes there's no walima. And people don't mind that. It's the wish of the groom, and it's Mustahab NOT wajib. Most people here don't even know that.
One wedding, there was only ice cream served, because the groom could afford only that. It's such a humble way celebrating a new phase of life (which by the way was served in the day of the nikah itself). For some it's the reminder of the practicality of Islam, and for some it's against the societal norms. The latter ideology saddens me. Whats the point in taking loans and doing a lavish walima, for people who don't even care about you. Because in the end of the day, if your family people are indirectly pressurizing you for anything, they don't, or are just way to ignorant to be called adults.
We don't know how many grooms trying to live up to their societal status subscribe to loans. It's so unnecessary. No one in the end of the day cares about the stress you've undertaken, no one cares about how hard you've worked to earn, no one cares about other ideas and places of investment in your mind, no one cares about anything but themselves. This is the harsh truth, this is the depth of each wedding, that we surprisingly don't find out.
We don't take enough time out to think, and ponder over the issues in our society. The society we're responsible for. The families we are growing up in, the ones that are molding our thinking, shaping our souls into being who we are. We don't think about the effect of these social standards on the next generation. We are way too busy making ends meet, satisfying our worldly wants, etc. Our brain was made to not just excel academically, there is something no education system teaches us. There is no religion that stresses on thinking as much as Islam. Because it's a religion of confidence, which wants you to dream, fantasize, think, work those brains to understand the depths each law, each part of the religion. And I know with practice that; it's not something you need to set a timetable for. Seriously, trust me. Think when you're speaking to someone, assess their words, think while listening to a lecture, think when you watch TV, what is it that is being processed into your head. Why are the things around you the way they are?. And marriage is a big part of our society that deserves allot of thought, AND practical application.
Here are few questions you should have answers to:
1. What importance does marriage hold in Islam?
2. What are the wajibaat in a wedding?
3. What is the aim of every tradition, included in the procedure of wedding?
4. How is the selection of groom and bride done?
5. How is the whole lengthy procedure helpful to everyone attending Islamically?
6. In what way is marriage helpful to individuals?
7. Am I as an attendee able to go through a wedding without compromising my religious duties?
8. Am I thinking enough and giving this issue due importance?
Those are just few, ask more, and you'd grow as an intellectual human being. And always keep in mind the big picture. I just can't help stress enough on it. Our responsibilities in this world and duties towards Allah is our goal in life, and that should be the basis of our decision making. Qurbatan Illallah (for the pleasure of Allah) That's our motto!
And don't think paying attention to this issue is not applicable in your situation because you're no where near the wedding phase of life. You will regret not having thought about it after committing mistakes. Should try putting yourselves in shoes of others and constantly try thinking beyond your maturity level. It will make life and lifes Jihad easy for you. There is no excuse to avoid empathizing. Whats the point in realizing things late when they the damage is done?.
This marks the end of the wedding series. And I have a fun activity coming up in my next post. I hope you're all interested in something interactive!. So stay tuned. and keep mailing me. I love to know about what you think.
Take care
KH
Fatima
So here we are, at the last step of the wedding drill.
Walima, is any dinner party. And the walima after the wedding is NOT from the grooms side but the groom. At least that's how it's supposed to be.
Back home, Walima are generally short and sweet. There are very few people invited, and the food is very simple. Sometimes there's no walima. And people don't mind that. It's the wish of the groom, and it's Mustahab NOT wajib. Most people here don't even know that.
One wedding, there was only ice cream served, because the groom could afford only that. It's such a humble way celebrating a new phase of life (which by the way was served in the day of the nikah itself). For some it's the reminder of the practicality of Islam, and for some it's against the societal norms. The latter ideology saddens me. Whats the point in taking loans and doing a lavish walima, for people who don't even care about you. Because in the end of the day, if your family people are indirectly pressurizing you for anything, they don't, or are just way to ignorant to be called adults.
We don't know how many grooms trying to live up to their societal status subscribe to loans. It's so unnecessary. No one in the end of the day cares about the stress you've undertaken, no one cares about how hard you've worked to earn, no one cares about other ideas and places of investment in your mind, no one cares about anything but themselves. This is the harsh truth, this is the depth of each wedding, that we surprisingly don't find out.
We don't take enough time out to think, and ponder over the issues in our society. The society we're responsible for. The families we are growing up in, the ones that are molding our thinking, shaping our souls into being who we are. We don't think about the effect of these social standards on the next generation. We are way too busy making ends meet, satisfying our worldly wants, etc. Our brain was made to not just excel academically, there is something no education system teaches us. There is no religion that stresses on thinking as much as Islam. Because it's a religion of confidence, which wants you to dream, fantasize, think, work those brains to understand the depths each law, each part of the religion. And I know with practice that; it's not something you need to set a timetable for. Seriously, trust me. Think when you're speaking to someone, assess their words, think while listening to a lecture, think when you watch TV, what is it that is being processed into your head. Why are the things around you the way they are?. And marriage is a big part of our society that deserves allot of thought, AND practical application.
Here are few questions you should have answers to:
1. What importance does marriage hold in Islam?
2. What are the wajibaat in a wedding?
3. What is the aim of every tradition, included in the procedure of wedding?
4. How is the selection of groom and bride done?
5. How is the whole lengthy procedure helpful to everyone attending Islamically?
6. In what way is marriage helpful to individuals?
7. Am I as an attendee able to go through a wedding without compromising my religious duties?
8. Am I thinking enough and giving this issue due importance?
Those are just few, ask more, and you'd grow as an intellectual human being. And always keep in mind the big picture. I just can't help stress enough on it. Our responsibilities in this world and duties towards Allah is our goal in life, and that should be the basis of our decision making. Qurbatan Illallah (for the pleasure of Allah) That's our motto!
And don't think paying attention to this issue is not applicable in your situation because you're no where near the wedding phase of life. You will regret not having thought about it after committing mistakes. Should try putting yourselves in shoes of others and constantly try thinking beyond your maturity level. It will make life and lifes Jihad easy for you. There is no excuse to avoid empathizing. Whats the point in realizing things late when they the damage is done?.
This marks the end of the wedding series. And I have a fun activity coming up in my next post. I hope you're all interested in something interactive!. So stay tuned. and keep mailing me. I love to know about what you think.
Take care
KH
Fatima
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Fatimas life 2.5
Salaam alaikum,
Today is the chohti. Which traditionally is supposed to be the day after the wedding. The groom along with immediate family comes to pick the bride up from her home (She left in the afternoon, to come to her parents place).
It's a tradition that the bride return home, the next day. It's totally illogical, in fact I personally find it very embarrassing. For a bride it's the day after she's actually had a 360 degree spin with life. Plus everyone knows now she's entered a whole different phase of life etc. To go and show your face to the whole world and announce it all, it's just embarrassing. I hope you are reading between the lines.
So anyway, this chohti dinner is supposed to be for those who pick her up, because out of manners how can you leave the grooms family to come home and not serve them food etc. basically for hospitality purposes.
But what has it become now? It's a whole dinner party all together. close extended family is also called, and the whole scene becomes a big deal. Forget about who's coming to pick the girl up, here people are invited!. It's totally blown out of proportion. Do we really have so much time to spare? then why not listen to a good lecture?, why not do research on a particular topic you've been confused about?, why not spend quality time with your family?, why not pray some sunnah prayers?. Nah! we don't need them, attending and hosting such parties is more important. It's not like if these things were avoided, you're showing no love to your family. As it is we have enough eids to meet up, and celebrate. Why add more?.
Notice: I can't help but bring a crucial observation to notice here. The women, AND men, who participate in these functions, and attend or host them, take allot of time and effort to getting ready. Yet, when it's eid, they're dressed like they couldn't care less. All the non-hijabi clothes are booked for weddings, and all the glossy makeup, and matching ties, and shoes are saved up for these petty functions. And when it's eid, they think twice to get something new, or take that much effort to get ready. Why? I won't answer that. Be truthful to yourself and ask your self.
Have worldly parties become our scale to measure where to make an extra effort?
Getting back, nothing exciting happens today, it's just the dinner and garland wearing ceremony. Mind you constant judging of the groom and brides clothes is going on, there are fashion police aunties at the party. They make a special effort in potentially having a girl wed, or screwing up her life. They judge the attenders of the party via their clothes. And then ruin their names behind their backs. If you're wearing sleeveless, you're gone, never to get married, because wearing half or even mega sleeves is great!. But NO sleeveless. Why? aren't they both haraam to be worn in front of na-mahrams?. This makes living in the society difficult. These, man made standards, which are different to each, these make or break your reputation. Why follow them? Don't we have Allah to follow? Don't we have His book?, His rules?, His granted freewill?. Or are you just choosing to ignore it?.
Fire crackers are a norm in these weddings, why not waste more money? cause pollution, and be smart. Won't get into detail about this. This particular topic, of wedding bands, and fire crackers is an open book. Just remember when you don't like something, stick to your opinion, and never support it no matter what.
Again just like any other function, hijab boundaries are broken, unnecessary convos take place, money's wasted, musics is played, enjoyment of every sort that is haraam is encourages (knowingly or unknowingly). And NOTHING productive happens.
Seriously, I think we should make it a point, to decide on making each day productive, not materialistically, but islamically. Something good should come out of our everyday activities. That way we'd gain clarity of what's useless to us and whats not. We are answerable to our time aren't we?
Hope there is something in this part that makes you think about your truthfulness to your creator and your responsibility towards Him.
This is Fatima signing off for the day. Last edition of the wedding series next, Walima!
take care
Fatima
Today is the chohti. Which traditionally is supposed to be the day after the wedding. The groom along with immediate family comes to pick the bride up from her home (She left in the afternoon, to come to her parents place).
It's a tradition that the bride return home, the next day. It's totally illogical, in fact I personally find it very embarrassing. For a bride it's the day after she's actually had a 360 degree spin with life. Plus everyone knows now she's entered a whole different phase of life etc. To go and show your face to the whole world and announce it all, it's just embarrassing. I hope you are reading between the lines.
So anyway, this chohti dinner is supposed to be for those who pick her up, because out of manners how can you leave the grooms family to come home and not serve them food etc. basically for hospitality purposes.
But what has it become now? It's a whole dinner party all together. close extended family is also called, and the whole scene becomes a big deal. Forget about who's coming to pick the girl up, here people are invited!. It's totally blown out of proportion. Do we really have so much time to spare? then why not listen to a good lecture?, why not do research on a particular topic you've been confused about?, why not spend quality time with your family?, why not pray some sunnah prayers?. Nah! we don't need them, attending and hosting such parties is more important. It's not like if these things were avoided, you're showing no love to your family. As it is we have enough eids to meet up, and celebrate. Why add more?.
Notice: I can't help but bring a crucial observation to notice here. The women, AND men, who participate in these functions, and attend or host them, take allot of time and effort to getting ready. Yet, when it's eid, they're dressed like they couldn't care less. All the non-hijabi clothes are booked for weddings, and all the glossy makeup, and matching ties, and shoes are saved up for these petty functions. And when it's eid, they think twice to get something new, or take that much effort to get ready. Why? I won't answer that. Be truthful to yourself and ask your self.
Have worldly parties become our scale to measure where to make an extra effort?
Getting back, nothing exciting happens today, it's just the dinner and garland wearing ceremony. Mind you constant judging of the groom and brides clothes is going on, there are fashion police aunties at the party. They make a special effort in potentially having a girl wed, or screwing up her life. They judge the attenders of the party via their clothes. And then ruin their names behind their backs. If you're wearing sleeveless, you're gone, never to get married, because wearing half or even mega sleeves is great!. But NO sleeveless. Why? aren't they both haraam to be worn in front of na-mahrams?. This makes living in the society difficult. These, man made standards, which are different to each, these make or break your reputation. Why follow them? Don't we have Allah to follow? Don't we have His book?, His rules?, His granted freewill?. Or are you just choosing to ignore it?.
Fire crackers are a norm in these weddings, why not waste more money? cause pollution, and be smart. Won't get into detail about this. This particular topic, of wedding bands, and fire crackers is an open book. Just remember when you don't like something, stick to your opinion, and never support it no matter what.
Again just like any other function, hijab boundaries are broken, unnecessary convos take place, money's wasted, musics is played, enjoyment of every sort that is haraam is encourages (knowingly or unknowingly). And NOTHING productive happens.
Seriously, I think we should make it a point, to decide on making each day productive, not materialistically, but islamically. Something good should come out of our everyday activities. That way we'd gain clarity of what's useless to us and whats not. We are answerable to our time aren't we?
Hope there is something in this part that makes you think about your truthfulness to your creator and your responsibility towards Him.
This is Fatima signing off for the day. Last edition of the wedding series next, Walima!
take care
Fatima
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Fatimas life 2.4
Salaam alaikum,
yes it's finally the BIG day. And trust me I was more excited to know what would happen just so I could share my experience with all of you!
Lets get going now shall we.....
So I'm here, surrounded by ladies with saris of various fabrics, chiffon, georgette, lace, net, yes ! I said it net!!, and the younger girls, (who strangely, aren't allowed to wear saris before their marriage), are all beautifully clad in shararas, and chudidaars, and peshwaas' etc. It was a whole glamorous scene.
And while I'm staring at this beauty I hear the loud salawaat, the bride has arrived! all the close sisters rush to the bride to welcome her in, everyones eyes are set on the aisle, to at a glance make 10thousand judgments, and also admire her. Beautiful in her red khada dupatta, she walks slowly as her video is being taken and flashes of cameras hit her face blinding her.
Hmm, reminds me of mine...anyway, she's then seated on the stage. Everything is great, everything is smooth, till.......some random brother from the grooms side walks in (thank god I'm in hijab), but what about the others?. No one cares, no one even notices this testosterone!. No wonder a sweet sister had warned me about this, the segregation of men and women is almost name sake.
So anyway, it wasn't just him, some other men also came in every now and then for god knows what reason. And all the ladies are enjoying themselves laughing out loud, in front of the camera guy, the brides make up is getting touches before her photo shoot starts. Wherein the camera guy gives her rather weird poses to make. Why would any one want to take orders from a random man?, to stand a certain way, to keep your leg in a certain angle, to move your hand, to put your ghoongat away from the face, etc. WHY?
I don't think I can ever get answers to these questions. I don't think I even want to. The camera guy's taking endless pictures, till his want, god knows what thoughts are running in his head reagrding this young, rather stupid girl. How do the fathers & mothers of the bride allow this?
Anyway, I've repeated the camera scene enough times for you to understand, it's dinner time. Dinner went smooth too, male waiters serving women, women bending forward to pick things up from the floor, or yelling and ordering for things, calling the waiters etc. Sari pallus slipping off, deep necked blouse....Wow how Islamic!.
After the dinner, allot of the extended family leaves. And only the close family stays back for the last few things like; family photographs, etc. Including some other quran reading, and viewing each other in the mirror thing, whose significance I'm not too sure of.
Lookie! namahrams coming, passing comments, joking around, teasing other sisters, the whole photograph session is a 1hr or so deal. And poor bride, having her feet sore, so tired ready since forever, is silently bearing through everything. She complaints to her sister, but the mom says she can't do anything she's some other familys now. So? Humanity gone? some brides I've known have even fainted in this long endless process.
some have had insane cramps, some have become weak ,and not eaten properly because of nervousness. Not to mention the emotional stress that's involved on such a day.
Immediate family is stressed too, with all the work, but also a little relieved that the day has come, the day for which they had been saving from her birth, just so they could live up to the expectations of the society, and give 3 varieties of chicken instead of 2, and so and so kg of gold, and 20 sets of clothing, the list goes on.....And it's sad to think. No wonder in the end of the day they don't have money or energy enough to save for her education, or even think about her career, or her emotional health while growing up.
Some families I've noticed, in fact most of them speak of marriage so much to their girls that they make them believe that getting hitched is the aim of their lives. Nothing else. When these girls have a bad ending, like a divorce, or death of a partner, or simply have a hard life. They end up feeling useless, and have suicidal thoughts. Why won't they? Some of these women don't even pursue their education, because their life plan is wedding (100% accepted by the society). I pose questions at this point. Where is this family, when she's in a situation of divorce?, who is searching or volunteering for marrying her?. Who is not making her feel like a burden. And if that poor lady has a kid! then her life is finished. No one will accept that baby, even though it's a halal one. Why? This is something beyond serious. It's is difficult to think differently for the girl, when all her life she's fed with weird ideologies, instead of the Islamic one.
somewhere down the line, we've all judged marriages that don't work. But have we helped a divorcee get married? have we helped her support her kid? have we counseled her? have we given double standards to male divorcee? have we volunteered to search for the prettiest girl for him? have we spoiled and disowned the woman who got divorced?. Many questions, many realizations, many emotions. Face them, and you'll grow as a Muslim, as a human being.
getting back!, she's gone, well gone, all have cried, soon this day would be a thought in her head to ponder over in between busy schedules, and kids....soon allot will change....soon....
Take care everyone......
walima coming up!
Fatima
____________________
Written by Syeda
yes it's finally the BIG day. And trust me I was more excited to know what would happen just so I could share my experience with all of you!
Lets get going now shall we.....
So I'm here, surrounded by ladies with saris of various fabrics, chiffon, georgette, lace, net, yes ! I said it net!!, and the younger girls, (who strangely, aren't allowed to wear saris before their marriage), are all beautifully clad in shararas, and chudidaars, and peshwaas' etc. It was a whole glamorous scene.
And while I'm staring at this beauty I hear the loud salawaat, the bride has arrived! all the close sisters rush to the bride to welcome her in, everyones eyes are set on the aisle, to at a glance make 10thousand judgments, and also admire her. Beautiful in her red khada dupatta, she walks slowly as her video is being taken and flashes of cameras hit her face blinding her.
Hmm, reminds me of mine...anyway, she's then seated on the stage. Everything is great, everything is smooth, till.......some random brother from the grooms side walks in (thank god I'm in hijab), but what about the others?. No one cares, no one even notices this testosterone!. No wonder a sweet sister had warned me about this, the segregation of men and women is almost name sake.
So anyway, it wasn't just him, some other men also came in every now and then for god knows what reason. And all the ladies are enjoying themselves laughing out loud, in front of the camera guy, the brides make up is getting touches before her photo shoot starts. Wherein the camera guy gives her rather weird poses to make. Why would any one want to take orders from a random man?, to stand a certain way, to keep your leg in a certain angle, to move your hand, to put your ghoongat away from the face, etc. WHY?
I don't think I can ever get answers to these questions. I don't think I even want to. The camera guy's taking endless pictures, till his want, god knows what thoughts are running in his head reagrding this young, rather stupid girl. How do the fathers & mothers of the bride allow this?
Anyway, I've repeated the camera scene enough times for you to understand, it's dinner time. Dinner went smooth too, male waiters serving women, women bending forward to pick things up from the floor, or yelling and ordering for things, calling the waiters etc. Sari pallus slipping off, deep necked blouse....Wow how Islamic!.
After the dinner, allot of the extended family leaves. And only the close family stays back for the last few things like; family photographs, etc. Including some other quran reading, and viewing each other in the mirror thing, whose significance I'm not too sure of.
Lookie! namahrams coming, passing comments, joking around, teasing other sisters, the whole photograph session is a 1hr or so deal. And poor bride, having her feet sore, so tired ready since forever, is silently bearing through everything. She complaints to her sister, but the mom says she can't do anything she's some other familys now. So? Humanity gone? some brides I've known have even fainted in this long endless process.
some have had insane cramps, some have become weak ,and not eaten properly because of nervousness. Not to mention the emotional stress that's involved on such a day.
Immediate family is stressed too, with all the work, but also a little relieved that the day has come, the day for which they had been saving from her birth, just so they could live up to the expectations of the society, and give 3 varieties of chicken instead of 2, and so and so kg of gold, and 20 sets of clothing, the list goes on.....And it's sad to think. No wonder in the end of the day they don't have money or energy enough to save for her education, or even think about her career, or her emotional health while growing up.
Some families I've noticed, in fact most of them speak of marriage so much to their girls that they make them believe that getting hitched is the aim of their lives. Nothing else. When these girls have a bad ending, like a divorce, or death of a partner, or simply have a hard life. They end up feeling useless, and have suicidal thoughts. Why won't they? Some of these women don't even pursue their education, because their life plan is wedding (100% accepted by the society). I pose questions at this point. Where is this family, when she's in a situation of divorce?, who is searching or volunteering for marrying her?. Who is not making her feel like a burden. And if that poor lady has a kid! then her life is finished. No one will accept that baby, even though it's a halal one. Why? This is something beyond serious. It's is difficult to think differently for the girl, when all her life she's fed with weird ideologies, instead of the Islamic one.
somewhere down the line, we've all judged marriages that don't work. But have we helped a divorcee get married? have we helped her support her kid? have we counseled her? have we given double standards to male divorcee? have we volunteered to search for the prettiest girl for him? have we spoiled and disowned the woman who got divorced?. Many questions, many realizations, many emotions. Face them, and you'll grow as a Muslim, as a human being.
getting back!, she's gone, well gone, all have cried, soon this day would be a thought in her head to ponder over in between busy schedules, and kids....soon allot will change....soon....
Take care everyone......
walima coming up!
Fatima
____________________
Written by Syeda
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Doing dawah?
Islam is the fastest growing religion in world today. And this is happening because of allot of reasons. One of them is dawah. The invitation and preaching of Islam to non-Muslims by Muslims. May Allah bless everyone who is guiding these people to the siraat al mustakeem.
I've been pondering over the concept of dawah, and realized that not everyone should do it. Especially when you're not aware of Islam as a whole. This is a very delicate topic that I'm touching, but equally important.
When the spirit of doing dawah ignites in your soul, ask yourself if you're 100% sure you're right. We all know that Islam will break into 73 sects and ONLY ONE will go to heaven. Meaning 72 sects of Islam are WRONG and will be going to hell. This is a very big thing.
What is my point?. If you are not aware, there are allot of differences between each sect. You might think 'the quran is the same, I can at least preach that' , You're very much wrong. Because there is a difference in translation and tafseer of quran in different sects. Even though the Quran is same, the translation differs. Now you can just imagine the issue of ahadith, and sunnah etc.
My point: Be completely clear of what sect is the one going to heaven, and only then start preaching. Because the minutest of info. delivered can effect negatively on that individual. I've made a list of effects that would occur if Islam was preached without clear info. from the side of the person doing dawah.
1. When you are for example from the other 72 sects you are preaching illogical Islam and to that person you would appear as a bad Muslim preaching illogical doctrines. Hence, driving that person AWAY from the whole of the Muslim community.
2. Reverts are especially very sensitive about the issue of dawah, because like them they want everyone else also to become Muslims and change their akhira. But reverts, reverted into a wrong sect will only be preaching wrong things. How much responsibility can you take?. It's better you plunge into the depths of the issue first.
3. If at all you realize after years or even hrs of dawah with a bunch of people that you've preached wrong, How many of them are you going to be able to get hold of to clear everything?
5.When you appear confused in the main area of sects, you project a negative and confusing image of Islam. As though it (Islam) hasn't even made clear what is to be followed, even after sending so many prophets.
6. There are many ulema of different sects doing large scale dawah via lectures etc. Mind you they're not infallible. They might all even me reverting people, but if they're preaching wrong, they're getting people into the wrong sect. Don't judge a sect being right, on the basis of how many people are reverting through their lecturers.
7. Never conclude that the number of any sect being large or small has anything to do with it being right. For all you know the biggest one could be the most wrong one!.We have examples in the history where the majority, turned out to be the kaafir.
8. Allot of the lecturers have many books, dvds etc of their work, that they ask you to refer to know better, before doing dawah, but whats the point if you're going to be knowing all wrong and then preaching all wrong.
9. understanding the delicateness of the effect of the tiniest hadith, is important. because that can make or break the belief in Islam by individual. If you don't know which sect is right there is no point in preaching, because you are most likely to take the person away from Islam with foolish logic and unreasonable beliefs. If Islam is a practical religion. then it should relate to the a non Muslim via logic. and not hadith or quran it's useless for one who doesn't believe in them both. They want logic and psyche more than anything.
If you have the spirit or intention to spread Islam make sure you're spreading the RIGHT Islam over fabricated Islam. Amr bil maruf, nahy anil munkar, are wajib on us; don't misuse them with lack of knowledge and say you're fulfilling your responsibility.
Understand that dawah is more than a fun project, it's a BIG responsibility,and the slightest of misinformation can make or break ones view towards Islam. Have constructive conversations with the Muslims around you, ignoring the issue of sects is a fools way of dealing with religion. It's complicated, and a very lengthy process, but it's also a Muslims responsibility to know the truth, and work hard at gaining knowledge.
Inshallah when you do realize the truth, you will focus not on only on people of other religions, but also Muslims who are in the wrong boat.
May Allah guide us to the right path, and increase our knowledge and fill our hearts with the noor of right information. Ameen.
This is just what I wanted to share as my responsibility. DON'T ignore this issue, it's the one that will send major of the Muslim community to hell!
Allah is with the patient ones.
Syeda Fatima, 20
I've been pondering over the concept of dawah, and realized that not everyone should do it. Especially when you're not aware of Islam as a whole. This is a very delicate topic that I'm touching, but equally important.
When the spirit of doing dawah ignites in your soul, ask yourself if you're 100% sure you're right. We all know that Islam will break into 73 sects and ONLY ONE will go to heaven. Meaning 72 sects of Islam are WRONG and will be going to hell. This is a very big thing.
What is my point?. If you are not aware, there are allot of differences between each sect. You might think 'the quran is the same, I can at least preach that' , You're very much wrong. Because there is a difference in translation and tafseer of quran in different sects. Even though the Quran is same, the translation differs. Now you can just imagine the issue of ahadith, and sunnah etc.
My point: Be completely clear of what sect is the one going to heaven, and only then start preaching. Because the minutest of info. delivered can effect negatively on that individual. I've made a list of effects that would occur if Islam was preached without clear info. from the side of the person doing dawah.
1. When you are for example from the other 72 sects you are preaching illogical Islam and to that person you would appear as a bad Muslim preaching illogical doctrines. Hence, driving that person AWAY from the whole of the Muslim community.
2. Reverts are especially very sensitive about the issue of dawah, because like them they want everyone else also to become Muslims and change their akhira. But reverts, reverted into a wrong sect will only be preaching wrong things. How much responsibility can you take?. It's better you plunge into the depths of the issue first.
3. If at all you realize after years or even hrs of dawah with a bunch of people that you've preached wrong, How many of them are you going to be able to get hold of to clear everything?
5.When you appear confused in the main area of sects, you project a negative and confusing image of Islam. As though it (Islam) hasn't even made clear what is to be followed, even after sending so many prophets.
6. There are many ulema of different sects doing large scale dawah via lectures etc. Mind you they're not infallible. They might all even me reverting people, but if they're preaching wrong, they're getting people into the wrong sect. Don't judge a sect being right, on the basis of how many people are reverting through their lecturers.
7. Never conclude that the number of any sect being large or small has anything to do with it being right. For all you know the biggest one could be the most wrong one!.We have examples in the history where the majority, turned out to be the kaafir.
8. Allot of the lecturers have many books, dvds etc of their work, that they ask you to refer to know better, before doing dawah, but whats the point if you're going to be knowing all wrong and then preaching all wrong.
9. understanding the delicateness of the effect of the tiniest hadith, is important. because that can make or break the belief in Islam by individual. If you don't know which sect is right there is no point in preaching, because you are most likely to take the person away from Islam with foolish logic and unreasonable beliefs. If Islam is a practical religion. then it should relate to the a non Muslim via logic. and not hadith or quran it's useless for one who doesn't believe in them both. They want logic and psyche more than anything.
If you have the spirit or intention to spread Islam make sure you're spreading the RIGHT Islam over fabricated Islam. Amr bil maruf, nahy anil munkar, are wajib on us; don't misuse them with lack of knowledge and say you're fulfilling your responsibility.
Understand that dawah is more than a fun project, it's a BIG responsibility,and the slightest of misinformation can make or break ones view towards Islam. Have constructive conversations with the Muslims around you, ignoring the issue of sects is a fools way of dealing with religion. It's complicated, and a very lengthy process, but it's also a Muslims responsibility to know the truth, and work hard at gaining knowledge.
Inshallah when you do realize the truth, you will focus not on only on people of other religions, but also Muslims who are in the wrong boat.
May Allah guide us to the right path, and increase our knowledge and fill our hearts with the noor of right information. Ameen.
This is just what I wanted to share as my responsibility. DON'T ignore this issue, it's the one that will send major of the Muslim community to hell!
Allah is with the patient ones.
Syeda Fatima, 20
Fatimas life 2.3
Salaam alaikum,
Mehendi has successfully arrived!...So what's the mehendi deal?. I've heard from allot of my Hindu friends that they too have mehendi. Wherein all the girls and the bride have mehendi applied to their hands, it's a celebration with music, and enjoyment etc.
In our place it's pretty different. We have mehendis applied on any day convenient, usually after the manja so that the it's well dark for the main day.
So what do we do?
We have this ceremony where the brides sister, closest in relation, if not blood sister applies mehendi on the little finger of the groom!. But it's not as simple as it sounds, its a whole war that takes place, the groom is supposed to not want to have it put, even though ultimately he is going to! How intelligent is that?!The bride is nowhere on site on this day. And all her sisters wear khada dupattas representing the brides team!.
Anyway, so the scene is like this, both the families of the couple are sitting opposite each other, or standing, or just falling over, in a joking protest to the act, while all the brides side are doing the same. There is a cloth held between the two teams. I fail to understand the purpose of! and the war begins, the brides side try to convince the groom to agree his enslavement to the bride; while the grooms denying it. You see all these people have no other interesting thing to do.
The whole thing, ends with the groom finally giving in to the whole mehendi scene, usually after the interference of the older people, when they get bored. This whole thing takes hours!...
Allot of other incidences happen, squirting water via syringes, spraying party sprays etc. Just for fun sake. You don't have to be a graduate in Islamic studies to notice the violation of Islamic rulings here.
So what violations have occurred, just in case you forgot:
1. Hijab! girls trying to get hold of the hand of a na mahram basically fighting for it!.
2. The application of henna, leading to touching of hands of two na-mahrams.
3. Aunts and uncles take no responsibility of being adult and instead promote this.
4. Allot of the people are without hijab
5. camera men and photographers present.
6. Extra intermingling of na mahrams, mind you all young and spirited getting to see each other and fight, and spray water (in some cases) etc. Also older people too.
This comes to a point I've been meaning to make for quite some time,Talking to your na mahrams unnecessarily is Haraam, period. There is no rebate when that person is closest in cousins, or is your husbands brother (young or old). It's the culture we've creating where the distance between two na-mahrams is ignored, but that doesn't make it right. Just cause you are way older/younger to someone doesn't mean you can chat your way to glory with him/her. This is something that is prevalent in the other religions, because not all religions have marriage permission to cousins like in Islam. For them it's a whole different story. But we have to follow OUR religion NOT theirs.!!
Also, another thing i wanted to share, Sari is not the most hijabi garment to sport especially in a mixed gathering. No matter if you're sleeves are full, and you're wearing a head cover. Sari is an invention by the Indian people for the curvy Indian woman for a reason. Any guesses?, it's insanely flattering on the Indian body type. Not to mention, the stomach and back being revealed.
It's clearly understandable why a young girl should especially avoid it if she intends to be dressed modestly. However, for some unknown and unreasonable reason older women don't consider themselves applicable to hijab in any way. Why? "we're old, no one looks at us". WHO ARE YOU KIDDING?!!.
Testosterone is almost a disease. It's stupid to think, that once you've attained a certain age you're not falling into hijab category (except for really aged women, refer taudhi). Allah didn't create women so that they'd be beautiful only for few years. Marriages would not last otherwise. And which ever woman thinks she's ugly enough to not do hijab should also consider herself ugly enough to cover everything she has init!?
Conclusion: It's all crap!. We've spent too much time fooling ourselves. As women the only way to being satisfied is understanding inner beauty and outer beauty too. When one says their 'niyyah is clean and that's what matters'; let them know that if you're niyyat would be clean, you'd preserve it with outward modesty.
I've also noticed allot of delusional women here. Who act so weird in gatherings that it puts all women to shame. Laughing out loud, bending down like an insane rukuh to pick something, it's almost like a dirty music video where the screen of the TV fills with the ass of the woman. Lets face it, ladies gain insane on their hips especially after kids, to not realize how big you are is another reason why observing hijab feels unnecessary. I've been having crazy ideas of taking pictures and showing these ladies what they look like, just to get a perspective on things. It's unreasonable to say you didn't know, if you don't know these things about yourself, then what else important do you do the whole day?
Humph..So how does it feel to read all this? Does it make sense to you? it should. If it doesn't now then there's something wrong. I ask for some time, again, just to reflect on these issues that we take so lightly. Hijab is not Islam, Islam is more than that, but everything in Islam is connected.
That was mehendi and an insight to a world of delusional living. I'm going to leave you all now with some thinking to do, have to go for a wedding....will let you know about it in the next mail inshallah. May Allah help us understand things through the big picture of His justice, and the day of qayamah.
take care everyone!
Khuda hafiz,
Fatima.
______________________________
written by Syeda
for feed back e-mail:
syeda715@hotmail.com
Mehendi has successfully arrived!...So what's the mehendi deal?. I've heard from allot of my Hindu friends that they too have mehendi. Wherein all the girls and the bride have mehendi applied to their hands, it's a celebration with music, and enjoyment etc.
In our place it's pretty different. We have mehendis applied on any day convenient, usually after the manja so that the it's well dark for the main day.
So what do we do?
We have this ceremony where the brides sister, closest in relation, if not blood sister applies mehendi on the little finger of the groom!. But it's not as simple as it sounds, its a whole war that takes place, the groom is supposed to not want to have it put, even though ultimately he is going to! How intelligent is that?!The bride is nowhere on site on this day. And all her sisters wear khada dupattas representing the brides team!.
Anyway, so the scene is like this, both the families of the couple are sitting opposite each other, or standing, or just falling over, in a joking protest to the act, while all the brides side are doing the same. There is a cloth held between the two teams. I fail to understand the purpose of! and the war begins, the brides side try to convince the groom to agree his enslavement to the bride; while the grooms denying it. You see all these people have no other interesting thing to do.
The whole thing, ends with the groom finally giving in to the whole mehendi scene, usually after the interference of the older people, when they get bored. This whole thing takes hours!...
Allot of other incidences happen, squirting water via syringes, spraying party sprays etc. Just for fun sake. You don't have to be a graduate in Islamic studies to notice the violation of Islamic rulings here.
So what violations have occurred, just in case you forgot:
1. Hijab! girls trying to get hold of the hand of a na mahram basically fighting for it!.
2. The application of henna, leading to touching of hands of two na-mahrams.
3. Aunts and uncles take no responsibility of being adult and instead promote this.
4. Allot of the people are without hijab
5. camera men and photographers present.
6. Extra intermingling of na mahrams, mind you all young and spirited getting to see each other and fight, and spray water (in some cases) etc. Also older people too.
This comes to a point I've been meaning to make for quite some time,Talking to your na mahrams unnecessarily is Haraam, period. There is no rebate when that person is closest in cousins, or is your husbands brother (young or old). It's the culture we've creating where the distance between two na-mahrams is ignored, but that doesn't make it right. Just cause you are way older/younger to someone doesn't mean you can chat your way to glory with him/her. This is something that is prevalent in the other religions, because not all religions have marriage permission to cousins like in Islam. For them it's a whole different story. But we have to follow OUR religion NOT theirs.!!
Also, another thing i wanted to share, Sari is not the most hijabi garment to sport especially in a mixed gathering. No matter if you're sleeves are full, and you're wearing a head cover. Sari is an invention by the Indian people for the curvy Indian woman for a reason. Any guesses?, it's insanely flattering on the Indian body type. Not to mention, the stomach and back being revealed.
It's clearly understandable why a young girl should especially avoid it if she intends to be dressed modestly. However, for some unknown and unreasonable reason older women don't consider themselves applicable to hijab in any way. Why? "we're old, no one looks at us". WHO ARE YOU KIDDING?!!.
Testosterone is almost a disease. It's stupid to think, that once you've attained a certain age you're not falling into hijab category (except for really aged women, refer taudhi). Allah didn't create women so that they'd be beautiful only for few years. Marriages would not last otherwise. And which ever woman thinks she's ugly enough to not do hijab should also consider herself ugly enough to cover everything she has init!?
Conclusion: It's all crap!. We've spent too much time fooling ourselves. As women the only way to being satisfied is understanding inner beauty and outer beauty too. When one says their 'niyyah is clean and that's what matters'; let them know that if you're niyyat would be clean, you'd preserve it with outward modesty.
I've also noticed allot of delusional women here. Who act so weird in gatherings that it puts all women to shame. Laughing out loud, bending down like an insane rukuh to pick something, it's almost like a dirty music video where the screen of the TV fills with the ass of the woman. Lets face it, ladies gain insane on their hips especially after kids, to not realize how big you are is another reason why observing hijab feels unnecessary. I've been having crazy ideas of taking pictures and showing these ladies what they look like, just to get a perspective on things. It's unreasonable to say you didn't know, if you don't know these things about yourself, then what else important do you do the whole day?
Humph..So how does it feel to read all this? Does it make sense to you? it should. If it doesn't now then there's something wrong. I ask for some time, again, just to reflect on these issues that we take so lightly. Hijab is not Islam, Islam is more than that, but everything in Islam is connected.
That was mehendi and an insight to a world of delusional living. I'm going to leave you all now with some thinking to do, have to go for a wedding....will let you know about it in the next mail inshallah. May Allah help us understand things through the big picture of His justice, and the day of qayamah.
take care everyone!
Khuda hafiz,
Fatima.
______________________________
written by Syeda
for feed back e-mail:
syeda715@hotmail.com
Friday, November 6, 2009
Prophet Seth (AS)
Prophet Seth/Shais (as)
Before Prophet Adam died and with Allah's guidance, Prophet Adam appointed Seth to be his successor, making him a prophet.
Seth was Prophet Adam's third son; he was born five years after the death of Habil. Prophet Adam (as) was very sad that Habil was dead. But Allah, in great mercy and kindness, gave Prophet Adam another beloved son. Allah told Prophet Adam (as) that he would have a son and from the descendants of this son would come Prophet Muhammad. This made Prophet Adam very happy. Allah's mercy was so great to Prophet Adam that Allah made Seth look like his father. Prophet Adam loved Seth very much. He taught Seth the hours of the day and night and told Seth of a flood that was to come.
Prophet Seth (peace be upon him) taught his people to believe in Allah and to live in peace with others. Prophet Seth said that mu'mineen, the people who believe in Allah, should:
* First of all know Allah
* Then should know the difference between right and wrong, good and bad
* They should do what their rules asks them to do
* They should know what the mu'mineen must do for their parents and they should take care of their parents
* They should be nice to their relatives
* They should not let their anger get to big and make them do wrong things
* They should give charity to the poor
* They should avoid doing bad things and be patient when they are having a hard time or struggling
* They should always be thankful for Allah's blessings.
Reference:
From Adam to Muhammad by Abdur Rehman Shad
Qissasul Anbiya translated by Badr Azimabadi
http://ourseeds.tripod.com/ProphetSheth.html
Prophet Seth’s (as) wife gave birth to Anush (Enos). Anush's wife gave birth to Qainin (Cainan). And his wife gave birth to Mihlayil (Mahalaleed) and his wife gave birth to Yard (Jared) and his wife gave birth to Khanoekh (Enoch) (Allaahu alim, according to many of the ulema the real name of the Messenger Idris a.s).
It is claimed that all the lines of descent of the children of Adam end at Sheath. All the other sons of Adam except Sheath disappeared.
The word "Sheath" means Allah grace (Rahma). Sheath was so named because he was born as a child of Adam and Hawwa' after Cain (Qabil) had murdered Abel (Habil).
The lesson is obedience to your father. Sheath didn't said "find someone else, I have better things to do"
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081219083904AAqoVCt
We know that Prophet Seth appointed prophet Idris (as) as prophet after him through this ayah from the Quran (Surah Maryam):
“And mention Idris in the Book; surely he was a truthful man, a prophet” (19:56)
Other links:
Book on prophets, ‘Men of God’
http://www.ezsoftech.com/ebooks/menofgod.pdf
Before Prophet Adam died and with Allah's guidance, Prophet Adam appointed Seth to be his successor, making him a prophet.
Seth was Prophet Adam's third son; he was born five years after the death of Habil. Prophet Adam (as) was very sad that Habil was dead. But Allah, in great mercy and kindness, gave Prophet Adam another beloved son. Allah told Prophet Adam (as) that he would have a son and from the descendants of this son would come Prophet Muhammad. This made Prophet Adam very happy. Allah's mercy was so great to Prophet Adam that Allah made Seth look like his father. Prophet Adam loved Seth very much. He taught Seth the hours of the day and night and told Seth of a flood that was to come.
Prophet Seth (peace be upon him) taught his people to believe in Allah and to live in peace with others. Prophet Seth said that mu'mineen, the people who believe in Allah, should:
* First of all know Allah
* Then should know the difference between right and wrong, good and bad
* They should do what their rules asks them to do
* They should know what the mu'mineen must do for their parents and they should take care of their parents
* They should be nice to their relatives
* They should not let their anger get to big and make them do wrong things
* They should give charity to the poor
* They should avoid doing bad things and be patient when they are having a hard time or struggling
* They should always be thankful for Allah's blessings.
Reference:
From Adam to Muhammad by Abdur Rehman Shad
Qissasul Anbiya translated by Badr Azimabadi
http://ourseeds.tripod.com/ProphetSheth.html
Prophet Seth’s (as) wife gave birth to Anush (Enos). Anush's wife gave birth to Qainin (Cainan). And his wife gave birth to Mihlayil (Mahalaleed) and his wife gave birth to Yard (Jared) and his wife gave birth to Khanoekh (Enoch) (Allaahu alim, according to many of the ulema the real name of the Messenger Idris a.s).
It is claimed that all the lines of descent of the children of Adam end at Sheath. All the other sons of Adam except Sheath disappeared.
The word "Sheath" means Allah grace (Rahma). Sheath was so named because he was born as a child of Adam and Hawwa' after Cain (Qabil) had murdered Abel (Habil).
The lesson is obedience to your father. Sheath didn't said "find someone else, I have better things to do"
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081219083904AAqoVCt
We know that Prophet Seth appointed prophet Idris (as) as prophet after him through this ayah from the Quran (Surah Maryam):
“And mention Idris in the Book; surely he was a truthful man, a prophet” (19:56)
Other links:
Book on prophets, ‘Men of God’
http://www.ezsoftech.com/ebooks/menofgod.pdf
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Fatimas life 2.2
Salaam alaikum,
So it's come down to day 2!
Saanchak....Traditionally saanchak is, from what I've understood; the day where gifts are exchanged from both sides (bride and groom). By gifts i mean the ones that society has made subtly obligatory on everyone. Endless clothes, shoes, jewelery, bags, bangles, furniture etc. followed by having the girl wear nath (A huge nose ring traditionally Indian) and jewelery, this is done by the mother of the groom.
The sad thing about this (other than money wastage) is,
1.most of these things are not even used, especially when the couple is going to settle outside their home country.
2. the couple usually grow out of size to fit into the clothes.
3. clothes go out of style! and shopping becomes a guilt with so much already there!
4. the most important i find, is that if it was a girl who didn't observe hijab when married, plans to start, it's very difficult for her to wear these. And these clothes are mostly expensive wedding wear only. And the pressure from family forcing her to wear them is even more.
pointer:This is something ANY girl who wants to start hijab faces. You have to have a major wardrobe change.
Ironically, as much as society pressures & expects both families to give more and spend more, they are also the first to criticize these things. Why? Because it's all worldly, no one is ever satisfied with anything worldly. And arrogance takes over the best of human beings isn't it?! Haven't we all come across such aunties ;)
This gift exchanging and jahez (dowry) scene, is very painful on allot of families.They don't realize that it's all made up!. If really want to get your daughter something fro her safety etc, ask for mahr! what did prophet Muhammad (as) do in bibi Fatima (as) wedding?.
Not everyone can afford to be giving so much not just to their daughters but also to the son-in-law. All leading to acquirement of loans. Families get drowned in them to get through a wedding especially that of the girls. and if they have more than one daughter! they also get sugar and Blood pressure along with the tension of repayment. The whole concept of marriage being a happy things turns upside down. Girls start to feel like liabilities instead of the rehmat that they are for the family.
This not only affects the middle class or the upper class of the society. The poor are human to aren't they? Why can't they also be excited by the thought of an expensive wedding? and allot of spending and lavishness?!
Point to note: This leads to one of the most disliked things. taking loans, asking for money. 'cos lets face it, we CAN do a wedding without endless clothes being gifted!. They CAN sleep on the floor with just the mattress they don't need a whole bed set!. The groom CAN do without 5 suits!, and endless grooming products! etc.
We have sadly been so exposed to the worldly life and the worldly gains that; to think of living at bare minimum is next to impossible for us. Just take a moment and think, and I suggested this to a couple of my sisters here too, can we live without a certain perfume? or a certain dress? will it take our life away will it beautify our akhirat? Just think. I'm trying to draw the big picture. You can live a happy life without being greedy for the best. It's human nature to want more, it's the way we're build. But use it in the right way, want more? then want more knowledge. Want to get the best? get the best of friends, want to be looking the smartest? look the smartest with Islamic education.
Anyway, coming back to this beautiful night of saanchak.....All the pretty young girls are having their hair open, women have the best clothes, make-up etc on. Even though the men are in a separate hall, there are like before male photographers and video people. And once in a while some testosterone will walk into the hall. I know some of my cousins who would walk in with an excuse just to eye girls!. NO joking!!.
Anyway I take a seat after meeting everyone. I look around and at the young girls and think 'Why are these girls doing this to themselves?, do they not realize how pretty they are, to be showcasing themselves in front of na-mahrams who don't even value their beauty?!. How can they not know those curves they have are actually magical in nature? the long beautiful hair, coloured, streaked, jeweled!. The face all contoured the right way with bronzer, looking like they've walked right out of a pro fashion shoot!. Is it cos they DON'T realize of that, or 'cos they DO!. How will they ever be able to satisfy their husbands at home dressing up like this when they save it up for these occasions for other men?!. Will they make a deliberate effort to wear a sari, or makeup or jewelry for their husbands and children at home?....I look at them like how these women would look at almost naked actresses, they think the same, for me what they're doing is the same....and.....' I was interrupted by my aunt, informing me that dinner was served.
That brings me to another point, money wastage on feeding ones who are capable of eating the best food, in fact overfeeding themselves. Not considering or considering very less the many Muslims hungry all over the world. It makes me sad, and food is wasted....I'm not saying i have never left anything uneaten, but i try my best not to at least.
This particular part has had allot of thoughtfulness, I can't help but share my views as a person who's so new to all this. I stress everyone to try looking at the BIG picture the REAL one. The accountability to Allah, His justice and His importance over society's stupid rules, and invalid expectations.
Join me as we explore the very exciting mehendi in the next part! .....Trust me it's going to be a different kind of fun!......
take care....Have a nice day everyone, do let me know about what you think of my weird experiences and thoughts....Have a nice day...
KH
Fatima
So it's come down to day 2!
Saanchak....Traditionally saanchak is, from what I've understood; the day where gifts are exchanged from both sides (bride and groom). By gifts i mean the ones that society has made subtly obligatory on everyone. Endless clothes, shoes, jewelery, bags, bangles, furniture etc. followed by having the girl wear nath (A huge nose ring traditionally Indian) and jewelery, this is done by the mother of the groom.
The sad thing about this (other than money wastage) is,
1.most of these things are not even used, especially when the couple is going to settle outside their home country.
2. the couple usually grow out of size to fit into the clothes.
3. clothes go out of style! and shopping becomes a guilt with so much already there!
4. the most important i find, is that if it was a girl who didn't observe hijab when married, plans to start, it's very difficult for her to wear these. And these clothes are mostly expensive wedding wear only. And the pressure from family forcing her to wear them is even more.
pointer:This is something ANY girl who wants to start hijab faces. You have to have a major wardrobe change.
Ironically, as much as society pressures & expects both families to give more and spend more, they are also the first to criticize these things. Why? Because it's all worldly, no one is ever satisfied with anything worldly. And arrogance takes over the best of human beings isn't it?! Haven't we all come across such aunties ;)
This gift exchanging and jahez (dowry) scene, is very painful on allot of families.They don't realize that it's all made up!. If really want to get your daughter something fro her safety etc, ask for mahr! what did prophet Muhammad (as) do in bibi Fatima (as) wedding?.
Not everyone can afford to be giving so much not just to their daughters but also to the son-in-law. All leading to acquirement of loans. Families get drowned in them to get through a wedding especially that of the girls. and if they have more than one daughter! they also get sugar and Blood pressure along with the tension of repayment. The whole concept of marriage being a happy things turns upside down. Girls start to feel like liabilities instead of the rehmat that they are for the family.
This not only affects the middle class or the upper class of the society. The poor are human to aren't they? Why can't they also be excited by the thought of an expensive wedding? and allot of spending and lavishness?!
Point to note: This leads to one of the most disliked things. taking loans, asking for money. 'cos lets face it, we CAN do a wedding without endless clothes being gifted!. They CAN sleep on the floor with just the mattress they don't need a whole bed set!. The groom CAN do without 5 suits!, and endless grooming products! etc.
We have sadly been so exposed to the worldly life and the worldly gains that; to think of living at bare minimum is next to impossible for us. Just take a moment and think, and I suggested this to a couple of my sisters here too, can we live without a certain perfume? or a certain dress? will it take our life away will it beautify our akhirat? Just think. I'm trying to draw the big picture. You can live a happy life without being greedy for the best. It's human nature to want more, it's the way we're build. But use it in the right way, want more? then want more knowledge. Want to get the best? get the best of friends, want to be looking the smartest? look the smartest with Islamic education.
Anyway, coming back to this beautiful night of saanchak.....All the pretty young girls are having their hair open, women have the best clothes, make-up etc on. Even though the men are in a separate hall, there are like before male photographers and video people. And once in a while some testosterone will walk into the hall. I know some of my cousins who would walk in with an excuse just to eye girls!. NO joking!!.
Anyway I take a seat after meeting everyone. I look around and at the young girls and think 'Why are these girls doing this to themselves?, do they not realize how pretty they are, to be showcasing themselves in front of na-mahrams who don't even value their beauty?!. How can they not know those curves they have are actually magical in nature? the long beautiful hair, coloured, streaked, jeweled!. The face all contoured the right way with bronzer, looking like they've walked right out of a pro fashion shoot!. Is it cos they DON'T realize of that, or 'cos they DO!. How will they ever be able to satisfy their husbands at home dressing up like this when they save it up for these occasions for other men?!. Will they make a deliberate effort to wear a sari, or makeup or jewelry for their husbands and children at home?....I look at them like how these women would look at almost naked actresses, they think the same, for me what they're doing is the same....and.....' I was interrupted by my aunt, informing me that dinner was served.
That brings me to another point, money wastage on feeding ones who are capable of eating the best food, in fact overfeeding themselves. Not considering or considering very less the many Muslims hungry all over the world. It makes me sad, and food is wasted....I'm not saying i have never left anything uneaten, but i try my best not to at least.
This particular part has had allot of thoughtfulness, I can't help but share my views as a person who's so new to all this. I stress everyone to try looking at the BIG picture the REAL one. The accountability to Allah, His justice and His importance over society's stupid rules, and invalid expectations.
Join me as we explore the very exciting mehendi in the next part! .....Trust me it's going to be a different kind of fun!......
take care....Have a nice day everyone, do let me know about what you think of my weird experiences and thoughts....Have a nice day...
KH
Fatima
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Fatimas Life 2.1
Salaam alaikum,
Yes so my life has been going hectic with all the weddings etc. And also acknowledging all the various "traditions" that have been adopted in these weddings.
I know Islam allows them, you can adopt them, but only to an extent. This is a very confusing matter too. I had a chat with a couple of my new family sisters here, and well, they in the end seemed to be confused with regard to what actually CAN be adopted.
I thought about it myself, I didn't have a polished answer. So I tried to fig out a way I could reach a conclusion.
I decided to go through the procedures of these acts and try deriving conclusions separately. This is strictly based on the kind of wedding we have in my place. (please excuse my sarcasm)
The wedding usually lasts for good 7 days.
day 1. manja. basically the point of a manja ceremony is for the families of both sides to get acquainted with each other. This takes place on different days in both houses. Which in totality would make the wedding for 8days!!
what happens?
A jashn, so that the beginning of this beautiful thing starts with the remembrance of Allah and the prophet and the ahlul bayt.
Traditionally the girl wears a yellow khada dupatta (hyderabadi traditional outfit). Which is usually half sleeved and the girls not wearing any head cover. This is only if the girl doesn't observe hijab. Actually even if she does, she's kinda forced to avoid it, since she's not going to be accounted for any sin this day! ha ha ha!.
I would take full liberty to blame such a bride though, we have to be strong in our iman and practices, religion is the only place you are allowed to rebel. REBEL GIRL REBEL!!
so whats wrong in this scene?
1. most women, are wearing saris, and are basically without hijab, and a video grapher mostly male is present. And since the jashn is read by women, the man gets to hear the voices of many ladies but also the voice of the particular one reciting.
2. Men waste their time on these occasions. they only come for the dinner, and useless talk. Not good. I don't understand how remembering the religion is not important for them before this great start! double standards!
When this manja ceremony is at the grooms place the groom is called into the ladies (mind u ladies are without hijab n most of them couldn't care less) all his brothers, also join him! and well the elder ladies have him wear a garland,feed him sweets, and one after the other the closest of the familys women come and give sadaqah off the groom (usually by holding the money in hand and moving it in circles above his head a couple of times) and kissing yes, kissing the boy on his cheek or head whatever.
this gets me to point:
3.total violation of the segregation of women and men. Getting young boys into the room where young girls are decked up!!! Wake up!!
4. kissing the groom?! just cos you're older doesn't mean rules have changed for you.
5. this makes the people lose clarity of mahram and non-mahrams. again video people present, mind you these videos are viewed by the whole family of the groom and bride after the wedding!!! not to mention the photographs.
these were only some of the thoughts, this was all followed by photography, food, etc. Where somewhere down the line men and women, especially young ones come into contact with each other more than needed.
Parents of these kids don't realize what they're doing by attending such functions. They are making their kids meet, and mingle, yet they try to stop their girls, and they expect nothing haraam to come out of it all.
Come on! grow up. This is the biggest example of not realizing the importance of responsibility and power. the power of freewill. If elders aren't going to realize it, how do they expect their kids to be of the utmost Islamic character?.
This has gotten long! with 6 days still left.. will cont. next time, stay tuned for the next episode......of saanchak!
Yes so my life has been going hectic with all the weddings etc. And also acknowledging all the various "traditions" that have been adopted in these weddings.
I know Islam allows them, you can adopt them, but only to an extent. This is a very confusing matter too. I had a chat with a couple of my new family sisters here, and well, they in the end seemed to be confused with regard to what actually CAN be adopted.
I thought about it myself, I didn't have a polished answer. So I tried to fig out a way I could reach a conclusion.
I decided to go through the procedures of these acts and try deriving conclusions separately. This is strictly based on the kind of wedding we have in my place. (please excuse my sarcasm)
The wedding usually lasts for good 7 days.
day 1. manja. basically the point of a manja ceremony is for the families of both sides to get acquainted with each other. This takes place on different days in both houses. Which in totality would make the wedding for 8days!!
what happens?
A jashn, so that the beginning of this beautiful thing starts with the remembrance of Allah and the prophet and the ahlul bayt.
Traditionally the girl wears a yellow khada dupatta (hyderabadi traditional outfit). Which is usually half sleeved and the girls not wearing any head cover. This is only if the girl doesn't observe hijab. Actually even if she does, she's kinda forced to avoid it, since she's not going to be accounted for any sin this day! ha ha ha!.
I would take full liberty to blame such a bride though, we have to be strong in our iman and practices, religion is the only place you are allowed to rebel. REBEL GIRL REBEL!!
so whats wrong in this scene?
1. most women, are wearing saris, and are basically without hijab, and a video grapher mostly male is present. And since the jashn is read by women, the man gets to hear the voices of many ladies but also the voice of the particular one reciting.
2. Men waste their time on these occasions. they only come for the dinner, and useless talk. Not good. I don't understand how remembering the religion is not important for them before this great start! double standards!
When this manja ceremony is at the grooms place the groom is called into the ladies (mind u ladies are without hijab n most of them couldn't care less) all his brothers, also join him! and well the elder ladies have him wear a garland,feed him sweets, and one after the other the closest of the familys women come and give sadaqah off the groom (usually by holding the money in hand and moving it in circles above his head a couple of times) and kissing yes, kissing the boy on his cheek or head whatever.
this gets me to point:
3.total violation of the segregation of women and men. Getting young boys into the room where young girls are decked up!!! Wake up!!
4. kissing the groom?! just cos you're older doesn't mean rules have changed for you.
5. this makes the people lose clarity of mahram and non-mahrams. again video people present, mind you these videos are viewed by the whole family of the groom and bride after the wedding!!! not to mention the photographs.
these were only some of the thoughts, this was all followed by photography, food, etc. Where somewhere down the line men and women, especially young ones come into contact with each other more than needed.
Parents of these kids don't realize what they're doing by attending such functions. They are making their kids meet, and mingle, yet they try to stop their girls, and they expect nothing haraam to come out of it all.
Come on! grow up. This is the biggest example of not realizing the importance of responsibility and power. the power of freewill. If elders aren't going to realize it, how do they expect their kids to be of the utmost Islamic character?.
This has gotten long! with 6 days still left.. will cont. next time, stay tuned for the next episode......of saanchak!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Fatimas Life 1
This is a series of experiences of Fatima (Who is a fictional character) which will come via e-mail. This is just my way of bringing to notice certain issues and sharing my views and views of others. I hope I am able to achieve my aim of bringing things into perspective. So, Lets not waste time and start getting to know her shall we?
Fatimas life
Salaam alaikum sisters, I am Fatima, just got married a few months back. Like every other girl it’s a total change. I am still continuing my graduation, in a co-ed college.
I come from a very religious family; actually I wouldn’t call it religious or even give a ‘very’ adjective. I come form a MUSLIM family. The way EVERY family who’s Muslim should be. But sadly, that’s not the case is it?!
Anyway, coming back to my life, since the wedding I’ve been facing allot of new and innovative things!. One of the first highlights was the “religious boy” label I came across,
when people were looking for suitors for their daughters. And I uncovered rather weird ideologies.
It’s really funny; everyone is having their own notion of “religious boy/girl”. And today I’m going to focus on this very idea. I will now site some very interesting examples:
For one who doesn’t even pray, a person who prays even one prayer a day is “very very religious”
For the one who prays; a person who fasts in Ramadan or just fasts the Sunnah fasts but misses his Ramadan fasts is “super religious”.
Some people are labeled as ’religious’ just because they give charity or do some good deed that is outwardly, even they are not even familiar with the Islamic laws. And they are sadly the most eligible bachelors in the community!
And the saddest is that person who doesn’t do anything and is regarded as the “best possible religious person” because every year in Muharram he’s the one standing outside the masjid/center when the majlis is going on smoking cigarettes or chit chatting with his buddies posing on bikes. Just because he’s a seasonal Muslim, whose face is seen only every Muharram (not jumah, not for aamaal, nothing) just Muharram He is great!!. Hurry get him married to a pretty girl who is praying and doing hijab and fulfilling all her duties because he is religious!
I’m sure you’re all aware of this ideology. Yes you may have the love of Ahlul bayt in your heart, but what’s that love without practicing what the loved one fought and died for?
Who are we kidding?; I am sadly surrounded by people who’ve made their own rules, their own ideologies, their own classifications of right and wrong as though the only duty of Allah was to create you. They don’t understand the responsibility of freewill.
It’s so difficult, back in my home someone if was specified as “very religious” would be a learned scholar, or mujtahid, or a student or ex of the hawza in Iran or something along those lines.
In Islam when considering someone for wedding, the first thing to look for is Iman. Iman doesn’t mean seasonal Iman; it means ‘Hardcore jihadi Muslim of today’s world Iman’.
Who is doing everything that he should and more, & most importantly STRIVING for better.
It pisses me off royally to see parents getting carried away listening to things like these regarding a potential son-in-law and getting their daughters married to them. They for some reason will not look beyond their own little circle of family. When Allah mentions is the Quran:
“O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes, that you may know one another [not that on account of this you may boast of being superior to others]. Certainly, the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the most God‑fearing among you ....”(49:13)
Here, people are so scared of the bad that would come if they married into another, new family that they’d stick to their impossible and unislamic rules and dwell in the crappiness of it all.
This particular marriage issue I’ve been getting acquainted to allot because the wedding season is just round the corner. And this is in the air I breathe.
All this is just a gist of how I feel about these issues, more is coming! Allot more. This is only the beginning! ;)
Let me know if you’ve come across similar or any new ideologies regarding this matter. I would love to know what happens in other families, and countries etc.
This is Fatima signing off for the day! Take care,
KH
Fatimas life
Salaam alaikum sisters, I am Fatima, just got married a few months back. Like every other girl it’s a total change. I am still continuing my graduation, in a co-ed college.
I come from a very religious family; actually I wouldn’t call it religious or even give a ‘very’ adjective. I come form a MUSLIM family. The way EVERY family who’s Muslim should be. But sadly, that’s not the case is it?!
Anyway, coming back to my life, since the wedding I’ve been facing allot of new and innovative things!. One of the first highlights was the “religious boy” label I came across,
when people were looking for suitors for their daughters. And I uncovered rather weird ideologies.
It’s really funny; everyone is having their own notion of “religious boy/girl”. And today I’m going to focus on this very idea. I will now site some very interesting examples:
For one who doesn’t even pray, a person who prays even one prayer a day is “very very religious”
For the one who prays; a person who fasts in Ramadan or just fasts the Sunnah fasts but misses his Ramadan fasts is “super religious”.
Some people are labeled as ’religious’ just because they give charity or do some good deed that is outwardly, even they are not even familiar with the Islamic laws. And they are sadly the most eligible bachelors in the community!
And the saddest is that person who doesn’t do anything and is regarded as the “best possible religious person” because every year in Muharram he’s the one standing outside the masjid/center when the majlis is going on smoking cigarettes or chit chatting with his buddies posing on bikes. Just because he’s a seasonal Muslim, whose face is seen only every Muharram (not jumah, not for aamaal, nothing) just Muharram He is great!!. Hurry get him married to a pretty girl who is praying and doing hijab and fulfilling all her duties because he is religious!
I’m sure you’re all aware of this ideology. Yes you may have the love of Ahlul bayt in your heart, but what’s that love without practicing what the loved one fought and died for?
Who are we kidding?; I am sadly surrounded by people who’ve made their own rules, their own ideologies, their own classifications of right and wrong as though the only duty of Allah was to create you. They don’t understand the responsibility of freewill.
It’s so difficult, back in my home someone if was specified as “very religious” would be a learned scholar, or mujtahid, or a student or ex of the hawza in Iran or something along those lines.
In Islam when considering someone for wedding, the first thing to look for is Iman. Iman doesn’t mean seasonal Iman; it means ‘Hardcore jihadi Muslim of today’s world Iman’.
Who is doing everything that he should and more, & most importantly STRIVING for better.
It pisses me off royally to see parents getting carried away listening to things like these regarding a potential son-in-law and getting their daughters married to them. They for some reason will not look beyond their own little circle of family. When Allah mentions is the Quran:
“O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes, that you may know one another [not that on account of this you may boast of being superior to others]. Certainly, the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the most God‑fearing among you ....”(49:13)
Here, people are so scared of the bad that would come if they married into another, new family that they’d stick to their impossible and unislamic rules and dwell in the crappiness of it all.
This particular marriage issue I’ve been getting acquainted to allot because the wedding season is just round the corner. And this is in the air I breathe.
All this is just a gist of how I feel about these issues, more is coming! Allot more. This is only the beginning! ;)
Let me know if you’ve come across similar or any new ideologies regarding this matter. I would love to know what happens in other families, and countries etc.
This is Fatima signing off for the day! Take care,
KH
Prophet Adam (as)
Prophet Adam (AS)
Prophet Adam (as) is the first human being and the first prophet of Allah. This alone stands as a vital reason for us to know him, and understand his existence, and purpose.
Prophet Adam (as) is the father of the human race. The entire being comes from him.
A man went to visit the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) one day. The prophet said "I have received news that you have a new baby", the man said "that is correct, messenger of Allah, he was born yesterday".
The prophet replied "this baby who was born yesterday, who does he look like, who does he resemble, does he resemble you or does he resemble his mother?” The man said "messenger of Allah, he will resemble one of the two. He will either resemble me or he will resemble his mother. Isn't that the way?
The prophet said:-
“No, do not say that. If the sperm falls into the womb, Allah (S.W.T) brings forth every characteristic between it and between Adam". (Meaning the embryo will inherit characteristics from as far back as Adam (PBUH)).
http://www.al-islam.org/about/contributions/humanreproduction.html
Description of the Creation of Adam
Allah collected from hard, soft, sweet and sour earth, clay which He dripped in water till it got pure, and kneaded it with moisture till it became gluey. From it He carved an image with curves, joints, limbs and segments. He solidified it till it dried up for a fixed time and a known duration. Then He blew into it out of His Spirit whereupon it took the pattern of a human being with mind that governs him, intelligence which he makes use of, limbs that serve him, organs that change his position, sagacity that differentiates between truth and untruth, tastes and smells, colours and species. He is a mixture of clays of different colours, cohesive materials, divergent contradictories and differing properties like heat, cold, softness and hardness.
Then Allah asked the angels to fulfill His promise with them and to accomplish the pledge of His injunction to them by acknowledging Him through prostration to Him and submission to His honored position. So Allah said:
"Be prostrate towards Adam and they prostrated except Iblis (Satan)." (Qur'an, 2:34; 7:11; 17:61; 18:50; 20:116)
Self-importance withheld him and vice overcame him. So that he took pride in his own creation with fire and treated contemptuously the creation of clay. So Allah allowed him time in order to let him fully deserve His wrath, and to complete (man's) test and to fulfill the promise (He had made to Satan). Thus, He said:
"Verily you have been allowed time till the known Day." (Qur'an, 15:38; 38:81)
Thereafter, Allah inhabited Adam (p.b.u.h.) in a house where He made his life pleasant and his stay safe, and He cautioned him of Iblis and his enmity. Then his enemy (Iblis) envied his abiding in Paradise and his contacts with the virtuous. So he changed his conviction into wavering and determination into weakness. He thus converted his happiness into fear and his prestige into shame. Then Allah offered to Adam (p.b.u.h.) the chance to repent, taught him words of His Mercy, promised him return to His Paradise and sent him down to the place of trial and procreation of progeny.
(Nahj Al balagha sermon 1)
http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul/1.htm
There are certain aspects of the life of Prophet Adam and certain issues we need to be aware of. Many topics would arise out of this education, which would help us further in increasing our knowledge of Islam. This would give us the capability of relating topics and incidents to one another when proving a point. As Muslims it’s our duty to know our prophets, and be able to answer doubts of people of the books.
The main topics I’ve tried to cover in this document are:
1. Misconception of Hawwa (Eve) being made out of Prophet Adams (as) rib.
2. Proving Prophet Adams (as) infallibility.
3. Hawwa was not the reason behind the fruit eating.
4. The story of Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain).
5. Nabi Adams appointment of a successor and importance of successor ship.
1. Misconception of Hawwa (Eve) being made out of Prophet Adams rib
One of the subjects explained in the Qur'an is that of the creation of man and woman. The Qur'an has not observed silence in this respect. It has left no opportunity to the philosophical meddlers to invent their own philosophy for the rules concerning man and woman, and to describe them as being based on Islam's contemptuous attitude towards the fair sex. Islam has itself given its views regarding woman.
To know the views of Islam on woman, we should see what the Qur'an says about her innate character. Other religions also have referred to this question, but it is the Qur'an alone which in a number of verses expressly says that woman has been created of the species of man, and both man and woman have the same innate character. While referring to Adam it says: He (Allah) made all of you from one being, and from that being He made its mate. (Surah an-Nisa, 4: 1)
With regard to mankind in general, it says: He made your mate from among you. (Surah an-Nisa, Surah Ali Imran and Surah Rum).
Unlike some other religious books, there is no mention in the Qur'an that woman has been created of some inferior material, or that she has any parasitic and leftist aspect. Islam does not support the notion of the people who suppose that the spouse of Adam was created of his left ribs. Islam has no contemptuous view of woman in regard to her nature and innate character.
http://www.al-islam.org/womanrights/4.htm
Another issue is the woman who is believed to have been created from Adam's rib. This is the result of a wrong translation of the Arabic word 'rib' into Persian. In Arabic and Hebrew 'rib' has an additional meaning which is 'nature.' Thus, instead of "Eve was created from Adam's nature," it came to mean "Eve was created from Adam's rib."
A great man like Nietzsche believed that man and woman were two different creatures. By and by they evolved and came to resemble each other. So they are thought of as two different races. Mind you that even those philosophers and scientists who believe that Adam and Eve are of the same race have always despised the female's nature. However, the position of the Qur'an is that man and woman are of the same nature.
http://www.al-islam.org/beliefs/philosophy/manandislam.html
2. Proving Prophet Adams (as) infallibility.
It is important for one to accept the fact that the people Allah chooses to guide us have to be infallible in order to execute their duties.
Understanding Infallibility
Definition of infallibility by Allama Tabatabai: ‘Presence of a quality in a person that prevents him from committing any impermissible act such as a sin is an infallible person.’
Infallibility is nothing difficult for us human beings also to attain. The area of infallibility is the point. Sheikh Safdar Razi in his lecture explains it beautifully. It is all about being consciously aware of the presence of Allah or anyone you fear. When one aware of the consequences of his actions and also that Allah is watching they will automatically refrain from committing any sin.
As ordinary human beings it is very difficult to reach that level of infallible realization. Now, if Allah was to choose any ordinary person to lead his ummah towards Him, then that person would undoubtedly fail. Hence, we come to an understanding that these people (prophets and the aimma) Allah chose were out of the ordinary.
Quran on Infallibility:
“Satan then said to God, 'By Your might, then I will surely mislead them all, except Your chosen servants among them [the messengers and imams].'” (38:82)
Notice Iblis mentions EXCEPT the chosen servants. That logically means that there ARE certain people chosen by Allah, who can’t be mislead by shaitan.
So who could these people be? They have to be out of the ordinary. They would hence, HAVE to be the prophets and the aimma. They are the only people who were chosen by Allah to carry on their duties to lead and spread the word of Allah.
Logically speaking, how could we follow one who mistakes, or is susceptible to sinning? It’s beyond the intellect of the man to be calling someone as the messenger/ representative of Allah on earth, when he mistakes. This is relevant in the Qur’an when Allah says:
“I swear by the star when it goes down.
Your companion does not err, nor does he go astray;
Nor does he speak out of desire. (Surah Najm, 53:1-3)”
Hence, proving that the prophets don’t speak out of their own desire, they lead by example, they are not just delivering books, or a message, they in a way are the message. Leading by examples and following Allah’s orders they are what Islam is about. The prophets have their importance because of that too, they don’t preach anything via words, actions out of their own desire.
Since, the infallibility aspect of the prophets and aimma- the chosen people of Allah is clear. There remains no doubt as to Prophet Adam (AS) being a sinner, and being sent down to earth as a punishment of his sin. Allah says in the Holy Quran BEFORE He created Adam:
“And when your Lord said to the angels, I am going to place in the earth a khalif, they said: What! wilt Thou place in it such as shall make mischief in it and shed blood, and we celebrate Thy praise and extol Thy holiness? He said: Surely I know what you do not know.” (Surah Baqara 2:30)
One can notice that Prophet Adam (AS) was going to be created as a khalifa on earth. That was the purpose even before his creation. So, to say he was banished from heavens because he sinned eating the fruit is unjustifiable.
Also, when the angels reacted to this announcement, Allah told them that He knows what they don’t. This signifies that there was a reason behind the creation of Adam. The mankind was an intended to be living on earth and submitting to Allah.
Another thing to note is that he was not just going to be the first human on earth but KHALIFA (leader), which signifies his need to be infallible. For, Allah would not want us to be lead by anyone but the best example of his creation.
Note: When we say prophets and the Aimma are infallible, we are not comparing them to Allah in anyway; this infallibility is a relative infallibility on earth. Just like any other characteristic comparison made between two people. There is no comparison to Allah in any attribute. He is what instills these characteristics in certain people, and that is the essence of this infallibility as well.
For example, Prophet Muhammad (AS) was known as ‘sadiq’ and ‘ameen’ that did not mean he’s more sadiq and ameen than Allah. It was a relative comparison between normal human beings and the Prophet of Allah. Allah can’t be compared to in any circumstance.
Links to lectures that focus on this particular topic of infallibility of the Nabi Adam (AS) and the “sin” of eating the fruit are mentioned in the foot notes.
3. Hawwa was not the reason behind the fruit eating.
There is another contemptuous theory which was current in the past, and has left some undesirable traces in the world literature. According to it, woman is the cause of all sins. Her very existence stimulates evil. Woman is a little devil. It is said that woman has had a hand in every sin and every offence committed by man. Men themselves are free from sin; it is the women who drag them to it. It is also said that the Devil cannot have direct access to men. It is through women that he lures them. He prompts woman with wicked suggestions, and woman in turn prompts man. Adam was thrown out of Paradise because of a woman. The Devil misled Eve, and it was Eve who misled Adam.
The Qur'an has narrated the story of Paradise, but it says nowhere that the Devil or the Serpent misled Eve and Eve misled Adam. It neither blames Eve nor exonerates her.
The Qur'an says: We said to Adam: 'Take residence in Paradise.' both you and your Spouse, and eat the fruits thereof, freely wherever you wish and go not near that tree else you become wrongdoers. (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:35). It puts the pro. nouns in the dual form. It also says: Then the Satan made a suggestion to them (both). Then he led them (both) on with guile. He swore to them (both): I am a sincere adviser to you (both). Surah al-A'raf, (7: 20 - 21)
Thus the Qur'an vehemently opposed the false notion which was current after the time of its revelation, and the echoes of which still resound in various parts of the world, It absolved woman from the charge that she was the prompter of sin, and herself a little devil.
Another contemptuous theory which has existed concerns woman's spiritual position. It was asserted that woman could not enter Paradise. She could not cover the spiritual and divine stages. She could not reach such a stage of proximity to God as man could. But the Qur'an, in a number of passages, has expressly said that the reward of the Hereafter and the proximity to Allah are not linked with sex. They depend on faith and deeds, and there is no difference between man and woman in this respect. In the Qur'an, side by side with every great and saintly man, a great and saintly woman has been mentioned. It has glorified the wives of Adam and Abraham and the mothers of Moses and Jesus. If it has mentioned the wives of Noah and Lot as unworthy of their husbands, it has not ignored the wife of the Pharaoh, and has mentioned her as a great woman who was in the hands of a wicked man. The Qur'an in its stories has maintained a sort of balance. Its heroes are both men and women.
http://www.al-islam.org/womanrights/4.htm
4. The story of Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain).
Allah narrates the story of the two sons of Prophet Adam in Surah Maida (5:27-30)
27. And relate to them the story of the two sons of Adam with truth when they both offered an offering, but it was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other. He said: I will most certainly slay you. (The other) said: Allah only accepts from those who guard (against evil).
28. If you will stretch forth your hand towards me to slay me, I am not one to stretch forth my hand towards you to slay you surely I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds:
29. Surely I wish that you should bear the sin committed against me and your own sin, and so you would be of the inmates of the fire, and this is the recompense of the unjust.
30. Then his mind facilitated to him the slaying of his brother so he slew him; then he became one of the losers.
From the above verses we get an idea of the incident of sacrifice that led to the murder of Qabil by his brother Habil.
Note: is that even though they were the sons of a prophet one of them was not obedient to Allah. This shows that there is no rule that a prophet’s child is always sincere and pure in his actions. We will further find these similarities in other stories of the prophets and the Aimma.
5. Nabi Adams appointment of a successor
“From his (Adam's) progeny Allah chose prophets and took their pledge for his revelation and for carrying His message as their trust. In course of time many people perverted Allah's trust with them and ignored His position and took compeers along with Him. Satan turned them away from knowing Him and kept them aloof from His worship. Then Allah sent His Messengers and series of His prophets towards them to get them to fulfill the pledges of His creation, to recall to them His bounties, to exhort them by preaching, to unveil before them the hidden virtues of wisdom and show them the signs of His Omnipotence namely the sky which is raised over them, the earth that is placed beneath them, means of living that sustain them, deaths that make them die, ailments that turn them old and incidents that successively betake them.”
Nahj Al balagha sermon 1 (Allah chooses His Prophets)
http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul/1.htm
Note: From the above sermon, we come to know the existence of other religions that came out of the prophets of Allah. Along the course of history we will notice many such instances where, the people disobey the command of Allah, and don’t take the chosen ones as the leaders to follow. This led to false beliefs and religions.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
"We did send messengers before thee, and appointed for them wives and
Children: And it was never the part of a messenger to bring a Sign
Except as Allah permitted (or commanded). For each period is an
Appointment. [13:38]"
From the above ayah one can derive these important points:
1. Whoever was a prophet was chosen by Allah and it was always through the permission of Allah that these appointments were made.
2. The fact that it was an appointment shows the importance of a leader being chosen by Allah. (And not be elected/chosen by fallible human beings)
3. There is an appointment of a leader for every period, hence, never leaving the ummah alone without guidance.
“O children of Adam! There shall come to you Apostles from among yourselves, rehearsing my signs to you; and whoso shall fear God and do good works, no fear shall be upon them, neither shall they be put to grief.” 7:35
"And We assigned from among them some Imams (Leaders) who guide by Our Authority since they were patient and believed firmly in Our Signs.
(Qur'an 32:24)
Allah chooses His Prophets
“Allah never allowed His creation to remain without a Prophet deputized by Him, or a book sent down from Him or a binding argument or a standing plea. These Messengers were such that they did not feel little because of smallness of their number or of largeness of the number of their falsifiers. Among them was either a predecessor who would name the one to follow or the follower who had been introduced by the predecessor.” Nahj Al balagha, Sermon 1
http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul/1.htm
The same concept applied even after Prophet Muhammad, he appointed who would lead after him and this has continued through all of the aimma till the present.
The Holy Prophet: “Whomsoever I am The Maula, (Lord, Master), This ALI is his Maula”.
http://www.al-islam.org/masoom/bios/infal.htm
So whom did Prophet Adam appoint as prophet after him?
Answer, Prophet Shais (Seth).
Prophet Adam (as) is the first human being and the first prophet of Allah. This alone stands as a vital reason for us to know him, and understand his existence, and purpose.
Prophet Adam (as) is the father of the human race. The entire being comes from him.
A man went to visit the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) one day. The prophet said "I have received news that you have a new baby", the man said "that is correct, messenger of Allah, he was born yesterday".
The prophet replied "this baby who was born yesterday, who does he look like, who does he resemble, does he resemble you or does he resemble his mother?” The man said "messenger of Allah, he will resemble one of the two. He will either resemble me or he will resemble his mother. Isn't that the way?
The prophet said:-
“No, do not say that. If the sperm falls into the womb, Allah (S.W.T) brings forth every characteristic between it and between Adam". (Meaning the embryo will inherit characteristics from as far back as Adam (PBUH)).
http://www.al-islam.org/about/contributions/humanreproduction.html
Description of the Creation of Adam
Allah collected from hard, soft, sweet and sour earth, clay which He dripped in water till it got pure, and kneaded it with moisture till it became gluey. From it He carved an image with curves, joints, limbs and segments. He solidified it till it dried up for a fixed time and a known duration. Then He blew into it out of His Spirit whereupon it took the pattern of a human being with mind that governs him, intelligence which he makes use of, limbs that serve him, organs that change his position, sagacity that differentiates between truth and untruth, tastes and smells, colours and species. He is a mixture of clays of different colours, cohesive materials, divergent contradictories and differing properties like heat, cold, softness and hardness.
Then Allah asked the angels to fulfill His promise with them and to accomplish the pledge of His injunction to them by acknowledging Him through prostration to Him and submission to His honored position. So Allah said:
"Be prostrate towards Adam and they prostrated except Iblis (Satan)." (Qur'an, 2:34; 7:11; 17:61; 18:50; 20:116)
Self-importance withheld him and vice overcame him. So that he took pride in his own creation with fire and treated contemptuously the creation of clay. So Allah allowed him time in order to let him fully deserve His wrath, and to complete (man's) test and to fulfill the promise (He had made to Satan). Thus, He said:
"Verily you have been allowed time till the known Day." (Qur'an, 15:38; 38:81)
Thereafter, Allah inhabited Adam (p.b.u.h.) in a house where He made his life pleasant and his stay safe, and He cautioned him of Iblis and his enmity. Then his enemy (Iblis) envied his abiding in Paradise and his contacts with the virtuous. So he changed his conviction into wavering and determination into weakness. He thus converted his happiness into fear and his prestige into shame. Then Allah offered to Adam (p.b.u.h.) the chance to repent, taught him words of His Mercy, promised him return to His Paradise and sent him down to the place of trial and procreation of progeny.
(Nahj Al balagha sermon 1)
http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul/1.htm
There are certain aspects of the life of Prophet Adam and certain issues we need to be aware of. Many topics would arise out of this education, which would help us further in increasing our knowledge of Islam. This would give us the capability of relating topics and incidents to one another when proving a point. As Muslims it’s our duty to know our prophets, and be able to answer doubts of people of the books.
The main topics I’ve tried to cover in this document are:
1. Misconception of Hawwa (Eve) being made out of Prophet Adams (as) rib.
2. Proving Prophet Adams (as) infallibility.
3. Hawwa was not the reason behind the fruit eating.
4. The story of Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain).
5. Nabi Adams appointment of a successor and importance of successor ship.
1. Misconception of Hawwa (Eve) being made out of Prophet Adams rib
One of the subjects explained in the Qur'an is that of the creation of man and woman. The Qur'an has not observed silence in this respect. It has left no opportunity to the philosophical meddlers to invent their own philosophy for the rules concerning man and woman, and to describe them as being based on Islam's contemptuous attitude towards the fair sex. Islam has itself given its views regarding woman.
To know the views of Islam on woman, we should see what the Qur'an says about her innate character. Other religions also have referred to this question, but it is the Qur'an alone which in a number of verses expressly says that woman has been created of the species of man, and both man and woman have the same innate character. While referring to Adam it says: He (Allah) made all of you from one being, and from that being He made its mate. (Surah an-Nisa, 4: 1)
With regard to mankind in general, it says: He made your mate from among you. (Surah an-Nisa, Surah Ali Imran and Surah Rum).
Unlike some other religious books, there is no mention in the Qur'an that woman has been created of some inferior material, or that she has any parasitic and leftist aspect. Islam does not support the notion of the people who suppose that the spouse of Adam was created of his left ribs. Islam has no contemptuous view of woman in regard to her nature and innate character.
http://www.al-islam.org/womanrights/4.htm
Another issue is the woman who is believed to have been created from Adam's rib. This is the result of a wrong translation of the Arabic word 'rib' into Persian. In Arabic and Hebrew 'rib' has an additional meaning which is 'nature.' Thus, instead of "Eve was created from Adam's nature," it came to mean "Eve was created from Adam's rib."
A great man like Nietzsche believed that man and woman were two different creatures. By and by they evolved and came to resemble each other. So they are thought of as two different races. Mind you that even those philosophers and scientists who believe that Adam and Eve are of the same race have always despised the female's nature. However, the position of the Qur'an is that man and woman are of the same nature.
http://www.al-islam.org/beliefs/philosophy/manandislam.html
2. Proving Prophet Adams (as) infallibility.
It is important for one to accept the fact that the people Allah chooses to guide us have to be infallible in order to execute their duties.
Understanding Infallibility
Definition of infallibility by Allama Tabatabai: ‘Presence of a quality in a person that prevents him from committing any impermissible act such as a sin is an infallible person.’
Infallibility is nothing difficult for us human beings also to attain. The area of infallibility is the point. Sheikh Safdar Razi in his lecture explains it beautifully. It is all about being consciously aware of the presence of Allah or anyone you fear. When one aware of the consequences of his actions and also that Allah is watching they will automatically refrain from committing any sin.
As ordinary human beings it is very difficult to reach that level of infallible realization. Now, if Allah was to choose any ordinary person to lead his ummah towards Him, then that person would undoubtedly fail. Hence, we come to an understanding that these people (prophets and the aimma) Allah chose were out of the ordinary.
Quran on Infallibility:
“Satan then said to God, 'By Your might, then I will surely mislead them all, except Your chosen servants among them [the messengers and imams].'” (38:82)
Notice Iblis mentions EXCEPT the chosen servants. That logically means that there ARE certain people chosen by Allah, who can’t be mislead by shaitan.
So who could these people be? They have to be out of the ordinary. They would hence, HAVE to be the prophets and the aimma. They are the only people who were chosen by Allah to carry on their duties to lead and spread the word of Allah.
Logically speaking, how could we follow one who mistakes, or is susceptible to sinning? It’s beyond the intellect of the man to be calling someone as the messenger/ representative of Allah on earth, when he mistakes. This is relevant in the Qur’an when Allah says:
“I swear by the star when it goes down.
Your companion does not err, nor does he go astray;
Nor does he speak out of desire. (Surah Najm, 53:1-3)”
Hence, proving that the prophets don’t speak out of their own desire, they lead by example, they are not just delivering books, or a message, they in a way are the message. Leading by examples and following Allah’s orders they are what Islam is about. The prophets have their importance because of that too, they don’t preach anything via words, actions out of their own desire.
Since, the infallibility aspect of the prophets and aimma- the chosen people of Allah is clear. There remains no doubt as to Prophet Adam (AS) being a sinner, and being sent down to earth as a punishment of his sin. Allah says in the Holy Quran BEFORE He created Adam:
“And when your Lord said to the angels, I am going to place in the earth a khalif, they said: What! wilt Thou place in it such as shall make mischief in it and shed blood, and we celebrate Thy praise and extol Thy holiness? He said: Surely I know what you do not know.” (Surah Baqara 2:30)
One can notice that Prophet Adam (AS) was going to be created as a khalifa on earth. That was the purpose even before his creation. So, to say he was banished from heavens because he sinned eating the fruit is unjustifiable.
Also, when the angels reacted to this announcement, Allah told them that He knows what they don’t. This signifies that there was a reason behind the creation of Adam. The mankind was an intended to be living on earth and submitting to Allah.
Another thing to note is that he was not just going to be the first human on earth but KHALIFA (leader), which signifies his need to be infallible. For, Allah would not want us to be lead by anyone but the best example of his creation.
Note: When we say prophets and the Aimma are infallible, we are not comparing them to Allah in anyway; this infallibility is a relative infallibility on earth. Just like any other characteristic comparison made between two people. There is no comparison to Allah in any attribute. He is what instills these characteristics in certain people, and that is the essence of this infallibility as well.
For example, Prophet Muhammad (AS) was known as ‘sadiq’ and ‘ameen’ that did not mean he’s more sadiq and ameen than Allah. It was a relative comparison between normal human beings and the Prophet of Allah. Allah can’t be compared to in any circumstance.
Links to lectures that focus on this particular topic of infallibility of the Nabi Adam (AS) and the “sin” of eating the fruit are mentioned in the foot notes.
3. Hawwa was not the reason behind the fruit eating.
There is another contemptuous theory which was current in the past, and has left some undesirable traces in the world literature. According to it, woman is the cause of all sins. Her very existence stimulates evil. Woman is a little devil. It is said that woman has had a hand in every sin and every offence committed by man. Men themselves are free from sin; it is the women who drag them to it. It is also said that the Devil cannot have direct access to men. It is through women that he lures them. He prompts woman with wicked suggestions, and woman in turn prompts man. Adam was thrown out of Paradise because of a woman. The Devil misled Eve, and it was Eve who misled Adam.
The Qur'an has narrated the story of Paradise, but it says nowhere that the Devil or the Serpent misled Eve and Eve misled Adam. It neither blames Eve nor exonerates her.
The Qur'an says: We said to Adam: 'Take residence in Paradise.' both you and your Spouse, and eat the fruits thereof, freely wherever you wish and go not near that tree else you become wrongdoers. (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:35). It puts the pro. nouns in the dual form. It also says: Then the Satan made a suggestion to them (both). Then he led them (both) on with guile. He swore to them (both): I am a sincere adviser to you (both). Surah al-A'raf, (7: 20 - 21)
Thus the Qur'an vehemently opposed the false notion which was current after the time of its revelation, and the echoes of which still resound in various parts of the world, It absolved woman from the charge that she was the prompter of sin, and herself a little devil.
Another contemptuous theory which has existed concerns woman's spiritual position. It was asserted that woman could not enter Paradise. She could not cover the spiritual and divine stages. She could not reach such a stage of proximity to God as man could. But the Qur'an, in a number of passages, has expressly said that the reward of the Hereafter and the proximity to Allah are not linked with sex. They depend on faith and deeds, and there is no difference between man and woman in this respect. In the Qur'an, side by side with every great and saintly man, a great and saintly woman has been mentioned. It has glorified the wives of Adam and Abraham and the mothers of Moses and Jesus. If it has mentioned the wives of Noah and Lot as unworthy of their husbands, it has not ignored the wife of the Pharaoh, and has mentioned her as a great woman who was in the hands of a wicked man. The Qur'an in its stories has maintained a sort of balance. Its heroes are both men and women.
http://www.al-islam.org/womanrights/4.htm
4. The story of Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain).
Allah narrates the story of the two sons of Prophet Adam in Surah Maida (5:27-30)
27. And relate to them the story of the two sons of Adam with truth when they both offered an offering, but it was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other. He said: I will most certainly slay you. (The other) said: Allah only accepts from those who guard (against evil).
28. If you will stretch forth your hand towards me to slay me, I am not one to stretch forth my hand towards you to slay you surely I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds:
29. Surely I wish that you should bear the sin committed against me and your own sin, and so you would be of the inmates of the fire, and this is the recompense of the unjust.
30. Then his mind facilitated to him the slaying of his brother so he slew him; then he became one of the losers.
From the above verses we get an idea of the incident of sacrifice that led to the murder of Qabil by his brother Habil.
Note: is that even though they were the sons of a prophet one of them was not obedient to Allah. This shows that there is no rule that a prophet’s child is always sincere and pure in his actions. We will further find these similarities in other stories of the prophets and the Aimma.
5. Nabi Adams appointment of a successor
“From his (Adam's) progeny Allah chose prophets and took their pledge for his revelation and for carrying His message as their trust. In course of time many people perverted Allah's trust with them and ignored His position and took compeers along with Him. Satan turned them away from knowing Him and kept them aloof from His worship. Then Allah sent His Messengers and series of His prophets towards them to get them to fulfill the pledges of His creation, to recall to them His bounties, to exhort them by preaching, to unveil before them the hidden virtues of wisdom and show them the signs of His Omnipotence namely the sky which is raised over them, the earth that is placed beneath them, means of living that sustain them, deaths that make them die, ailments that turn them old and incidents that successively betake them.”
Nahj Al balagha sermon 1 (Allah chooses His Prophets)
http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul/1.htm
Note: From the above sermon, we come to know the existence of other religions that came out of the prophets of Allah. Along the course of history we will notice many such instances where, the people disobey the command of Allah, and don’t take the chosen ones as the leaders to follow. This led to false beliefs and religions.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
"We did send messengers before thee, and appointed for them wives and
Children: And it was never the part of a messenger to bring a Sign
Except as Allah permitted (or commanded). For each period is an
Appointment. [13:38]"
From the above ayah one can derive these important points:
1. Whoever was a prophet was chosen by Allah and it was always through the permission of Allah that these appointments were made.
2. The fact that it was an appointment shows the importance of a leader being chosen by Allah. (And not be elected/chosen by fallible human beings)
3. There is an appointment of a leader for every period, hence, never leaving the ummah alone without guidance.
“O children of Adam! There shall come to you Apostles from among yourselves, rehearsing my signs to you; and whoso shall fear God and do good works, no fear shall be upon them, neither shall they be put to grief.” 7:35
"And We assigned from among them some Imams (Leaders) who guide by Our Authority since they were patient and believed firmly in Our Signs.
(Qur'an 32:24)
Allah chooses His Prophets
“Allah never allowed His creation to remain without a Prophet deputized by Him, or a book sent down from Him or a binding argument or a standing plea. These Messengers were such that they did not feel little because of smallness of their number or of largeness of the number of their falsifiers. Among them was either a predecessor who would name the one to follow or the follower who had been introduced by the predecessor.” Nahj Al balagha, Sermon 1
http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul/1.htm
The same concept applied even after Prophet Muhammad, he appointed who would lead after him and this has continued through all of the aimma till the present.
The Holy Prophet: “Whomsoever I am The Maula, (Lord, Master), This ALI is his Maula”.
http://www.al-islam.org/masoom/bios/infal.htm
So whom did Prophet Adam appoint as prophet after him?
Answer, Prophet Shais (Seth).
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Knowing our prophets
Knowing Our Prophets-Intro
Who are the prophets?
Prophets are individuals who received Divine revelation and guidance to lead humanity towards righteousness and recognition of God.
Since the inception of history, God sent numerous prophets and messengers to mankind. The messages of the prophets were of two types: regional or universal. While the local prophets were sent with specific messages to specific groups of people; the universal prophets were sent with messages and books for mankind and these were limited to five:
• The Book of Abraham, sometimes referred as the Booklet (LXXXVII:19).
• The Psalms given to David (IV:63 and XVII:55).
• The Torah granted to Moses (II:87, III:3 & 4, VI:91 & 154).
• The Evangel or the Gospel revealed to Jesus (V:46).
• The Quran revealed to Muhammad.
These Prophets are called the "ulu l-azm" prophets meaning those of great constancy.
Allah cannot be seen, He cannot appear Himself before human beings to give them His law. So how does He communicate to the people?
Allah appointed some chosen people to represent Him on the earth. That Viceregent of Allah is called "Prophet." As a mirror has a bright side to receive light and another side to reflect that light, so a Prophet has the highest spiritual purity which enables him to receive the divine message and a human body which enables him to communicate that message to his fellow human beings.
The purpose of Prophet hood is two-fold: First to bring people nearer to Allah and the Second to bring peace and happiness in the world.
How many prophets?
The total number of prophets that God sent to humanity was 124,000, and although they were sent to nearly all civilizations, the Quran only mentions twenty-five of them by name. The first of them was Prophet Adam, the father of humanity, and the last of them was Prophet Muhammad, the seal of the prophets.
Age of the prophets
Allot of the prophets had a life of more than 100 yrs. They lived and also had children till late, some had sons who took over prophet hood after them on the command of Allah whilst some had prophets in their latter generations.
Infallibility
A unique characteristic of all the prophets and messengers is that they were infallible. They committed no sins. To demonstrate the validity of this concept is to consider that humanity needed prophets and messengers to set an exemplary structured lifestyle to emulate and follow. If they had committed errors, then people might be obliged to exemplify and excuse their errors, thus making the prophets and messengers untrustworthy.
Infallibility means protection from error in teaching doctrine of faith and morals and is defined as a spiritual grace from God that enables a person to abstain from sins by his own free will. The power of infallibility and immunity from sins does not make a person incapable of committing mistakes; rather, he or she refrains from transgression by his or her own power and will, due to realizing the consequences of their actions.
Infallibility is essential since the mission of the prophets and messengers was not only to convey Divine scriptures from God, but also to guide humanity toward the right path [God]. Therefore, prophets and messengers had to be role models and perfect examples for humanity. The mention of infallibility is stated thirteen times in the Quran, and one such example is when God said to Satan, “Certainly you shall have no authority over My servants except those who follow you and go astray.” (15:42) In another instance in the Quran we read, “Satan then said to God, 'By Your might, then I will surely mislead them all, except Your chosen servants among them [the messengers and imams].'” (38:82)
When we look at the example of Prophet Muhammad, we see that he never committed any sin, nor was he ever harsh to any person or animal! God has stated in the Quran, “And by the mercy of Allah you dealt with them [people] gently, and had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from you.” (3:158)
Suppose that there is a man who, just like ourselves commits or can commit sins or wrongs, and then such a man claims that he has been sent by Allah as a Prophet to lead people on the right path. Naturally, the people cannot believe that what he says is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth; because his every word is liable to be wrong. So he cannot command unreserved respect and indubitable obedience from his people. Therefore, to carry out the mission of Allah, it was necessary that the Prophets be infallible and sinless
*Hence, logically also one can conclude that infallibility is a very important aspect of the leaders of Islam. And one can’t doubt the power of Allah in granting it to those He has chosen to convey His message and to lead the ummah.*
Unfortunately, many distorted stories and images about God's prophets exist. For example, stories in the present-day version of the Old Testament accuse Prophet David of adultery with Baath-Sheba; Prophet Noah of being drunk; Prophet Lot of having committed incest; and Prophet Moses of committing adultery! Islam adamantly opposes such unethical and immoral writings that have been attributed to the prophets of God. Shias (followers of the Prophet and Ahlul-bayt) believe in infallibility. However, not all Ahl-Sunnah schools subscribe to this belief.
Powers
The Prophets were given miracles as their credentials. Miracles, according -to our belief, are such performances which are not impossible, but which cannot be done without apparatus, medicine or practice. But the Prophet performs them without any practice and without any machinery. Curing the blind persons or lepers is not impossible. But Jesus Christ cured them without any medicine, and that was his miracle. Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) had innumerable miracles, but his greatest living miracle is the Qur'an.
Prophets all had a hard time
Another belief of the Muslims is that God preordained all of the prophets; but at the same time, they had to strive for prophethood. The foremost example of the vocational test that prophets had to endure is told in the life of Prophet Abraham, the father of all prophets.
References:
http://www.al-islam.org/begin/intro/rahim.html#3
http://www.al-islam.org/islam_rizvi/
http://www.al-islam.org/discovering-islam/
http://www.dartabligh.org/prophets/familytree.html
Who are the prophets?
Prophets are individuals who received Divine revelation and guidance to lead humanity towards righteousness and recognition of God.
Since the inception of history, God sent numerous prophets and messengers to mankind. The messages of the prophets were of two types: regional or universal. While the local prophets were sent with specific messages to specific groups of people; the universal prophets were sent with messages and books for mankind and these were limited to five:
• The Book of Abraham, sometimes referred as the Booklet (LXXXVII:19).
• The Psalms given to David (IV:63 and XVII:55).
• The Torah granted to Moses (II:87, III:3 & 4, VI:91 & 154).
• The Evangel or the Gospel revealed to Jesus (V:46).
• The Quran revealed to Muhammad.
These Prophets are called the "ulu l-azm" prophets meaning those of great constancy.
Allah cannot be seen, He cannot appear Himself before human beings to give them His law. So how does He communicate to the people?
Allah appointed some chosen people to represent Him on the earth. That Viceregent of Allah is called "Prophet." As a mirror has a bright side to receive light and another side to reflect that light, so a Prophet has the highest spiritual purity which enables him to receive the divine message and a human body which enables him to communicate that message to his fellow human beings.
The purpose of Prophet hood is two-fold: First to bring people nearer to Allah and the Second to bring peace and happiness in the world.
How many prophets?
The total number of prophets that God sent to humanity was 124,000, and although they were sent to nearly all civilizations, the Quran only mentions twenty-five of them by name. The first of them was Prophet Adam, the father of humanity, and the last of them was Prophet Muhammad, the seal of the prophets.
Age of the prophets
Allot of the prophets had a life of more than 100 yrs. They lived and also had children till late, some had sons who took over prophet hood after them on the command of Allah whilst some had prophets in their latter generations.
Infallibility
A unique characteristic of all the prophets and messengers is that they were infallible. They committed no sins. To demonstrate the validity of this concept is to consider that humanity needed prophets and messengers to set an exemplary structured lifestyle to emulate and follow. If they had committed errors, then people might be obliged to exemplify and excuse their errors, thus making the prophets and messengers untrustworthy.
Infallibility means protection from error in teaching doctrine of faith and morals and is defined as a spiritual grace from God that enables a person to abstain from sins by his own free will. The power of infallibility and immunity from sins does not make a person incapable of committing mistakes; rather, he or she refrains from transgression by his or her own power and will, due to realizing the consequences of their actions.
Infallibility is essential since the mission of the prophets and messengers was not only to convey Divine scriptures from God, but also to guide humanity toward the right path [God]. Therefore, prophets and messengers had to be role models and perfect examples for humanity. The mention of infallibility is stated thirteen times in the Quran, and one such example is when God said to Satan, “Certainly you shall have no authority over My servants except those who follow you and go astray.” (15:42) In another instance in the Quran we read, “Satan then said to God, 'By Your might, then I will surely mislead them all, except Your chosen servants among them [the messengers and imams].'” (38:82)
When we look at the example of Prophet Muhammad, we see that he never committed any sin, nor was he ever harsh to any person or animal! God has stated in the Quran, “And by the mercy of Allah you dealt with them [people] gently, and had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from you.” (3:158)
Suppose that there is a man who, just like ourselves commits or can commit sins or wrongs, and then such a man claims that he has been sent by Allah as a Prophet to lead people on the right path. Naturally, the people cannot believe that what he says is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth; because his every word is liable to be wrong. So he cannot command unreserved respect and indubitable obedience from his people. Therefore, to carry out the mission of Allah, it was necessary that the Prophets be infallible and sinless
*Hence, logically also one can conclude that infallibility is a very important aspect of the leaders of Islam. And one can’t doubt the power of Allah in granting it to those He has chosen to convey His message and to lead the ummah.*
Unfortunately, many distorted stories and images about God's prophets exist. For example, stories in the present-day version of the Old Testament accuse Prophet David of adultery with Baath-Sheba; Prophet Noah of being drunk; Prophet Lot of having committed incest; and Prophet Moses of committing adultery! Islam adamantly opposes such unethical and immoral writings that have been attributed to the prophets of God. Shias (followers of the Prophet and Ahlul-bayt) believe in infallibility. However, not all Ahl-Sunnah schools subscribe to this belief.
Powers
The Prophets were given miracles as their credentials. Miracles, according -to our belief, are such performances which are not impossible, but which cannot be done without apparatus, medicine or practice. But the Prophet performs them without any practice and without any machinery. Curing the blind persons or lepers is not impossible. But Jesus Christ cured them without any medicine, and that was his miracle. Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) had innumerable miracles, but his greatest living miracle is the Qur'an.
Prophets all had a hard time
Another belief of the Muslims is that God preordained all of the prophets; but at the same time, they had to strive for prophethood. The foremost example of the vocational test that prophets had to endure is told in the life of Prophet Abraham, the father of all prophets.
References:
http://www.al-islam.org/begin/intro/rahim.html#3
http://www.al-islam.org/islam_rizvi/
http://www.al-islam.org/discovering-islam/
http://www.dartabligh.org/prophets/familytree.html
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