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  • Plight of the Rohingya Muslims

    nuzrat reblogged your video: We keep seeing the plight of the Rohingya Muslims…

    How can Bangladesh help…Rohingya? Bangladesh has big problems

    With respect, who doesn’t have big problems? When we see our problems as being bigger than the problems of those around us, we become self-absorbed and lacking in compassion. 

    The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

    “Every Muslim has to give in charity.”

    The people then asked: “(But what) if someone has nothing to give, what should he do?”

    The Prophet replied: “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).”

    The people further asked: “If he cannot find even that?”

    He replied: “He should help the needy who appeal for help.”

    Then the people asked: “If he cannot do (even) that?”

    The Prophet said finally: “Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds, and that will be regarded as charitable deeds.” – Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 524 

    Here’s another hadith that confirms the importance of charity:

    The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Save yourself from hellfire by giving even half a date-fruit in charity.” – Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 498

    I’m sure that the issue is not as simple as can be described in a single post, but to have that kind of attitude from a supposed leader of a Muslim nation when talking about what is acknowledged to be the most persecuted group of ethnic minorities in the world, is just arrogant beyond belief. There are countless NGO’s that would assist Bangladesh in their support of the Ronhingya Muslims if requested, including non-Muslim NGO’s, so I find it difficult to accept the position of the Bangladeshi PM in this issue. 

    Edit: I just read the full text of your note after you reblogged that video. The house of Saud are pathetic beyond belief. They’re probably one of the biggest usurpers of the wealth of the Ummah, and are known to treat even their own citizens despicably. So it’s amazing how so many can insist that they’re beyond reproach. I guess, as much as this may sound idealistic, I’m sure there are many that can testify to the fact that when we give to others in need, Allah increases our own sustenance from sources we never imagined. Perhaps the Rohingya are a test to the Muslims of Bangladesh, and if treated correctly, could attract the mercy of Allah for themselves? This reminds me of the hadith where the Prophet (SAW) used to offer what little he had to his guests even though he himself was starving. 

  • Question – Living Selflessly

    84thlife replied to your post: The more I engage with others, the clearer becomes…

    I really disagree where you said a selfless life is impossible and altruism is a lie; all people have bouts of selfishness from time to time but that doesn’t mean they don’t have bouts of selflessness, too. I say we agree to disagree. 🙂

    I know where you’re coming from with this, but perhaps my jadedness makes me see things differently. To me, we do things for either one of the following key reasons:

    1. We desire appreciation
    2. We desire affirmation
    3. We desire inclusion
    4. We desire admiration
    5. We desire respect
    6. We desire divine reward

    There’s probably one or two more reasons that motivate people to do things for seemingly selfless reasons, but that’s all that comes to mind right now. This is what I was referring to in my original post about some of the motivations being honourable, commendable or noble,  because there’s always an expectation of something in return, even if that something is not materialistic or socially quantifiable in this lifetime. Point 6 above is probably the most noble of them all because it seeks recognition from other than man. But it still indicates a desire for personal gain of some sort.

    If I haven’t convinced you yet, then I’m happy to agree to disagree. 🙂

  • Living Selflessly

    The more I engage with others, the clearer becomes my view of my own dysfunction. Surviving abuse at so many levels across such a broad spectrum of my life while still maintaining my sanity comes at a cost. Only, the cost is rarely discernible by any around me, and often, not even me. 

    I could write volumes about my coping mechanisms and my insane ability to still believe in people and having hope in humanity, but it will make me vomit. And if that is the response it will elicit from me, I’d hardly want to put anyone else through a similar trial.

    People will disappoint and betray as long as there’s stars in the sky and a sunrise tomorrow morning. We’re designed to collide in our needs versus the expectations of others. The more we need, the greater our disappointment. The more we expect, the greater our pain. 

    A selfless life is impossible, because by design, everything we do is motivated by a selfish desire. While those desires may be honourable, noble, or commendable, they’re nonetheless selfish. Altruism is a lie, and philanthropists are just people that trade wealth for respect and appreciation. So it stands to reason that our value must be judged not by our apparent intent, nor our vested interest, but instead it should be judged by the impact we have on others. Regardless of what my selfish motives may have been, if the outcome is positive, it makes no difference what drove me to achieve it. 

    I’ve often realised that even my conscious efforts at maintaining a specific focus in intent or motivation later revealed a less honourable desire lurking beneath. And so I abandon my self-hate and self-loathing so that I can one day be judged more fairly by the one Who created me. Until then, everyone else is just wasting good oxygen offering their opinions about who I am and why I do what I do. They’ll forever be wrong, even more wrong than I.

  • Why The Hurry, Imam?

    I prayed today behind an Imam that appeared to be in a rush to do something better than leading the congregation. Last I heard, it was supposed to be one of the highest honours to lead the congregation in salaah, but it appears as if such honours are taken for granted when endowed for an extended period of time. Only, this Imam that I followed in salaah today is not the regular Imam, yet he read as if he was late for a more important appointment.

    One of the basic conditions of salaah is that it should be read calmly and unhurriedly. The emphasis on this is so great that there is a hadith that says:

    Sayyiduna Ubada bin Saamit radi Allahu anhu narrates that the Merciful Prophet sallallahu alaih wasallam said, ‘The one who does Wudhu well and then stands for Salaah and completes the ruku’, sujood and recitation, his Salaah says, ‘May ALLAH protect you the way you have protected me’. The Salaah is then elevated to the sky and it sparkles with light. The gates of the skies are opened for it so it reaches the court of ALLAH and then it intercedes for the one who prayed it. But if he does not do ruku’, sujood and recite well then it says, ‘May ALLAH abandon you the way you have ruined me’. That Salaah is then taken to the skies and is shadowed by darkness. The gates of the skies are closed for it. It is then folded up like an old piece of cloth and thrown onto the persons face’. (Kanz-ul-Ummal, V7, P129, Hadith 19049)

    Another condition of salaah that emphasises the above point is that in each posture of salaah, the bones must come to a rest. Therefore, there cannot be any fluid movement without rest between the rukhu and proceeding to sajdah, nor can there be any fluidity of movement between the two sajdahs, etc. 

    So it’s extremely disconcerting to find that when in rukhu, there is barely enough time to recite ‘Subhana Rabbiyul Adheem’ three times, and the same being true for its equivalent in sajdah. At such a blistering pace, how can anyone achieve a state of khushu in salaah? 

    If you have something better to do, please allow someone else with more patience, conviction and presence of mind to lead the salaah so that the enjoyment of salaah is not tainted for the rest of the congregation that actually look forward to achieving a state of composure in the presence of their Lord. 

  • It’s one of those evenings where the reality of mankind causes the bile to foam at the back of my throat threatening to suffocate any peace from my being.

  • Plight of the Rohingya Muslims

    cynicallyjaded:

    We keep seeing the plight of the Rohingya Muslims being publicised, but it doesn’t show one really despicable side to the entire tragedy. Look at this video, and you’ll be hard pressed not to want to spit in the face of the PM of Bangladesh, whom I’m inclined to believe is a Muslim as well, given her name, and given that Islam is the religion of 90.4% of the population according to statistics from 2010. 

    So here’s the question…how can we expect Muslims to be treated like human beings anywhere in the world, if we can’t see fit to fulfil our own responsibilities towards them in our own back yards? Look around the world and see how many conflicts involving Muslims have proclaimed Muslims on both sides of the conflict? Then look at those where the Muslims are being attacked by non-Muslims and see how many Muslim states are intervening or overtly providing assistance to the Muslims? 

    Muslims should hang their heads in shame. We’re the biggest preachers and biggest critics, with the best debating skills at exposing the flaws of our fellow Muslims and finding the most petty bullshit to argue about and find reason to create sects and divisions, but ask us to unite behind a common enemy and even then we’ll get into a debate about whose responsibility it is. 

    Please correct me if I’m wrong in anything I’m saying here, but watch the video first and then tell me how much compassion exists amongst the Ummah for fellow Muslims. The compassion of the layman is irrelevant when the governments that we support and vote into power don’t give a damn about our collective responsibility, while we’re powerless and impotent to change any of it. 

    Like the Arabs say, your leaders are as you are. We’re even pathetic enough to find reason to compete between our own charitable organisations instead of joining forces at the most basic level of civil assistance. Astaghfirullah!

    (Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

  • Random thoughts about scholars, Islam and Ramadaan

    The Imam that gave the khutbah on the Friday before Ramadaan started said something that was really concerning. It came across as his interpretation of what was being stated in the verse or hadith that he referenced, and has left me feeling uneasy ever since. Even more so because I spent the better part of the first week of Ramadaan unable to fast due to illness.

    He claimed that those people who did not fast, or at least did not observe the benefits of the month of Ramadaan, it was Allah’s way of excluding them because Allah didn’t need their contributions. This concerns me because it seems to go against the principle that Allah will guide anyone who chooses to be guided. If we disagree with this view, it would imply that Allah will actively misguide someone, and if that happens, then two key issues arise. Firstly, what chance has a person got of achieving Jannah if they are being misguided by Allah? None. Secondly, if Allah is misguiding them, then how can they be held accountable for being misguided? They can’t, since they have no power against Allah’s will. 

    So, logically, I cannot accept that interpretation to be true. It further got me reflecting on the benefits that I may be losing out on because I was unable to fast. Was I being deprived of Allah’s mercy for a fasting person, or was I in fact being blessed with having my sins expiated during a month where every good is increased tenfold? Trusting that Allah’s mercy precedes His anger, I am inclined to believe the latter. 

    The ‘fire and brimstone’ approach of encouraging people towards good was never a hallmark of the advice given by Rasulullah (SAW). This is something that I most often notice from ‘scholars’ (and I use that word lightly) that mimic their non-Muslim counterparts, and often, it stems from the cultural tendencies of the East where kids are raised by fear of repercussions rather than love for compliance. I am of North Indian descent, so this is my first hand experience, and not conjecture. I’ve witnessed many rituals being contaminated by this same mindset, especially where the issues border on mysticism, or include the jinn. The amount of cross cultural contamination of Islam amongst Indians and Pakistanis is extremely concerning. And I guess the words of the Imam on that Friday just raised all those alarm bells again for me. 

    This is not a generalised swipe at all Muslims of Indian or Pakistani descent. There are many that are actively involved in clearing the misconceptions about what is Islam versus what is cultural baggage. I guess I just despise the approach to Islam that seems to focus on the potential punishments behind every non-compliance rather than focusing on the beauty and benefit that can be gained from complying. The mind set is vastly different between the two, and chances are we’ll see a lot less rebellion in teenagers and adults alike when they eventually grow old enough to be immune to the threats of their parents and teachers if they don’t do what is expected of them. 

  • The Odd One

    One of the problems of assuming familiarity with people too easily, especially online, is that I tend to volunteer my opinion on very personal and sensitive issues without realising that I’m probably still a stranger to them, or at best, an acquaintance. My ability to sometimes grasp the essence of people’s current state, especially emotionally, often leads to me feeling more deeply concerned for their well being than would ever be considered normal. As a result, I tend to freak people out when I formulate an opinion about what they’re experiencing and how they should deal with it, despite them hardly having discussed the details with me. 

    I feel like a weirdo at times. Perhaps I am. But it seems to work for me, most of the time anyway. Perhaps I’ve just grown comfortable with being the odd one out, and as a result, I’ve had enough time and a really good vantage point to see the tediousness of being normal and fitting in. Conformance has rarely appealed to me, and given that conformance most often leads to complacency, I tend to loathe it, quite visibly at times as well. But it’s not just loathing it to be difficult, but because I see how lethargic people become about life when they grow complacent and try so hard to fit in and be accepted. They give up everything that makes them beautifully unique and only hold onto that which is overtly celebrated by others. 

    Ramblings of a madman indeed.