Tag: Muslims

  • Goodness lies in the person who doesn’t see goodness within himself.

    Imām Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal

  • Withdraw from the opinions of people and seek to find the beauty in it all by exploring the truth yourself. If we allow the opinions and tainted excesses of others to shape our thinking, it is inevitable that we will feel suffocated and disheartened because excess goes against our nature, whereas what Allah has deemed fit for us is closest to our nature. Excess in anything, good or bad, will lead to more harm than good. Therefore, choose a path of moderation and awareness. 

    Don’t be tainted by man and assume that they are a reflection of Allah. That is a flawed perspective on which to approach life. Instead, reflect on Allah and see the true nature of man. The more you seek closeness to Allah, the greater your success at understanding man. The more you understand man, the greater your appreciation of the magnificence of Allah. 

  • Some Muslims on Tumblr…Disappointing :'(

    I’ve found, disappointingly so, that many of my fellow Muslim bloggers have turned out to be insincere and arrogant. Especially many of those that are outwardly and in-your-face religiously pious. I genuinely try to engage with many of them in a meaningful manner so that we can really dissect some important issues and perhaps expose a different perspective on things, but instead, the moment I go against the norm and question sacredly-held scholars, I’m dismissed or just totally ignored.

    On the contrary, I’ve found that my engagements with non-Muslims are often more sincere since they would often extend themselves to really heartily debate an issue, and only after some interesting exchanges would we tend to agree to disagree, or arrive at a point of understanding. And this is on contentious issues like atheism versus theism, morality, homosexuality, premarital relationships, religion, politics and the like.

    Unfortunately we lack maturity needed to engage meaningfully amongst Muslims, because every debate is hinged around a single focal point. i.e. You’re either in agreement with my scholar, or you’re a deviant. This is disheartening, because a few months ago I made a decision to try to engage more with Muslims on Tumblr, and instead of finding solace and familiarity, I found bickering and condescension.

    Really sad state. 🙁

  • Debate About Sunnis and Shias Hating Each Other

    Beautiful Struggle: Anonymous asked: do you pretty much hate all sunnis?

    <a href=”http://remorsecode.tumblr.com/post/17044553106/beautiful-struggle-anonymous-asked-do-you-pretty-much”>remorsecode</a>:<blockquote><a href=”http://the72sects.tumblr.com/post/17042519292/beautiful-struggle-anonymous-asked-do-you-pretty-much”>the72sects</a>:<blockquote><a href=”http://remorsecode.tumblr.com/post/17039769889/do-you-pretty-much-hate-all-sunnis”>remorsecode</a>:<blockquote>Okay I might as well talk about this more in depth since I’m worried people might get a misconception that the Shia somehow hate all Sunni people. This is not true whatsoever. As the saying goes, hate the sin, not the sinner. This is all just my personal beliefs. I don’t have…</blockquote>

    The number of generalisations in this post is in stark contrast to the very same intellectual pursuits that the original poster talks about. But set aside all the generalisations and whether there is or isn’t truth to the aspersions against Sunni’s, or whether it even cements the argument that Shia’s are supposedly on the right path, or not. The lingering thought I have in my head, the same way I think about every other ridiculous post about these Sunni/Shia differences is simply this…how does any of the facts contained in the post actually strengthen your Imaan? If Imaan is purely about your sincerity of belief in the oneness of Allah, and not ascribing any partners to Him, and accepting His decree, then what does it matter what historical facts have been perfectly preserved or horribly twisted?

    If we weren’t there to witness it, and the available knowledge has contradictions, then let it be. It has no impact on who we are as Muslims right now, because in Islam right and wrong is clear. Anything that causes doubt in between should be avoided. Simple. Why complicate  beautiful way of life with these annoying attempts to convince everyone about whose history is more accurate?

    </blockquote>I truly don’t like participating in “debate” however you’ve asked questions and I feel like I should answer them, despite the fact I sense a lot of rhetoric and sarcasm contained within them.<strong>“how does any of the facts contained in the post actually strengthen your Imaan?”</strong>Because I am of the belief that knowledge is what leads to certainty and through gaining knowledge, my Imaan increases. History is also a branch of knowledge I am fond of.<strong>“If Imaan is purely about your sincerity of belief in the oneness of Allah, and not ascribing any partners to Him, and accepting His decree, then what does it matter what historical facts have been perfectly preserved or horribly twisted?”</strong>As I’ve implied many times throughout that post and on my blog in general, Imaan is gained through knowledge. I don’t understand why people hold this belief that somehow history is history and you should leave and let die.

    Do you know how many prophets are mentioned in the Qur’an? 25 and all of them with their relevant story and history. It’s a strange phenomenon that people imply history should just be left alone yet the very book we all turn to for guidance is for the vast majority, history. The lesson? History repeats itself and nothing is a greater teacher than the knowledge of the past. That’s why historical facts are necessary and required to be fully understood, weaved away from the falsehood.<strong>“It has no impact on who we are as Muslims right now, because in Islam right and wrong is clear.”</strong>I find no other word to describe what you are saying as other than completely ironic. The history of Islam has absolutely everything with who we are as Muslims today because history is what defines the current events.It is even more absurd that you claim “right and wrong is clear” yet your very own blog title is called “The 72 sects” ??? I’m sorry for my ignorance, maybe I just do not understand what you’re trying to say, but I see nothing but double standards in what you’re telling me.

    </blockquote>In light of your ‘rebuttal’, please allow me to clarify my views. Whilst there may have been a healthy dose of rhetoric in some of what I said, sarcasm was certainly not intended. I respectfully disagree with your view that the stories contained in the Qur’an are intended to hold historical value. Allah states several times that it is through parables that Allah guides us so that we may understand. A lot of the historical evidences in the Qur’an was intended to confirm what was revealed before, and not simply as a history lesson. Also, your assumption about my views on history ignores another statement of mine in the same post that said:<blockquote>If we weren’t there to witness it, <strong><em>and the available knowledge has contradictions, </em></strong>then let it be<strong><em>.</em></strong></blockquote>

    The Qur’an does not contain such inaccuracies or contradictions, and therefore cannot be used as an example to substantiate your objection to my statement. Again, with due respect, Imaan is not dependent on what our views are of historical events, or respected personalities. Imaan is about our belief and reliance on Allah alone. The only unforgivable sin is Shirk, and the belief in questionable historical facts has no bearing on this. Let’s assume for a second that your statement about history is correct relative to Imaan. Would you then please explain how the knowledge of A’isha (RA)’s age at the time of marriage strengthens your Imaan?

    As for my blog url, it relates to the hadith that reminds us of the 73 sects that will form amongst the Muslims of which only one will be rightly guided. So my url is a reminder to me about the fact that the vast majority of sectarians are misguided. I’m not sure how that is supposed to reflect irony or double standards. Like I said above, not just to you but to everyone that engages in these types of debates, how has it strengthened your Imaan? Has it established or encouraged unity in the Ummah? Has it brought you closer to Allah? Or has it simply filled a gap of knowledge that was being fed by curiosity, or dare I say ego?

    Edit: After a final exchange via ‘Ask’ with the OP, let’s just say we agreed to disagree. This debate was going nowhere fast, so it’s best to leave it at that, iA.

  • Islam Is NOT a Cult!

    We’re so prone to deferring all questions or concerns about the interpretation or implementation of Islam in our lives to the scholars that we’re actively stifling any intellectual or meaningful engagement in the process. It’s as if we’ve been indoctrinated to believe that questioning the ‘elders’ is tantamount to disbelief!

    But in all this to-ing and fro-ing between the questioners and the followers of the scholars, we fail to ask what qualifies one as a scholar to begin with. We assume that in the present day if someone completes the mandatory 5-7 year course at an Islamic institute to earn the title of Sheikh, or Aalim, or Maulana, it automatically makes them a scholar and because they studied the Hadith in a formal and rigorous setting, under informed instruction, they’re automatically empowered to make fatwas and decide who is being a heretic or a kaafir, and who is a sincere Muslim on the path of the righteous. 

    Unfortunately my personal experiences with men and women of such ilk has proven otherwise. I’m often reminded of the words of another admired scholar that says, “of what use is it to acquire more knowledge if we don’t practise on the knowledge we have?” Another point I’m constantly reminded of, and the irony of this is that this reminder is a result of the very same people that blindly quote what the ‘scholars’ proclaim, is that every single Hadith, without fail, has never once made mention of any sahabi via a title like the ones that we have endowed on our own scholars! Not once have I seen a hadith narrated by Mufti so-and-so, or Sheikh so-and-so, yet these were the stars of the Ummah by which we can accept guidance! So are our scholars suddenly more meritorious than the illustrious companions of our beloved Nabi (SAW) that we have to refer to them by titles? Obviously not. 

    Coupled with this is the fact that our scholars have gotten it wrong several times…’several’ being a substantial understatement. We’re so busy trying to prove whose version of Islam is more correct that we forget the simple principles that made Muslims great on this earth when they followed the principles and not the rituals! We have great scholars recognised by their peers and other blind followers as being great scholars who write great big kitaabs and produce other magnificent literature and content to educate the Awwaam (the masses) while they still believe that preventing women from going to the masjid is acceptable, and that the moon and star is not a significant bid’ah that needs to be dealt with decisively. 

    These are the same scholars that I’m supposed to trust blindly when they first issued fatwa after fatwa that TV was haraam, and then established and/or supported Islamic TV channels, and also issued fatwas that suicide bombings are acceptable, yet cannot show a single shred of evidence that suicide under any circumstances is permissible in Islam, let alone the indiscriminate killing of women, children, the elderly and unarmed civilians under the guise that they may take up arms against the Muslims at some point in the future, and other whimsical excuses!

    We have a clergy that lacks back bone. One of the signs of the hour is that the Ulama will be despised, and the usual assumption is that this will be because of a lack of understanding or humility amongst the Awwaam! I believe it’s because the Ulama will lose credibility because of their double standards and ignorance in defining fatwas due to their ignorance of present day realities, let alone their contempt for western technology. 

    It amazes me to see how many times we are so ready to reminisce about the great days of the past when Muslims contributed so magnificently to science, medicine, technology and almost every field of engineering and other intellectual pursuits, yet we don’t question the overwhelming ignorance and impotence of the Ummah in all these fields today. Exceptions exist, but that’s all the Ummah has offered in recent decades/centuries. Exceptions! Muslims were the leaders in all these fields as the norm, not the exception. But then we became arrogant and turned Islam into a cult rather than a way of life. We created hierarchies that prevent an ordinary Muslim from standing close to the Imam around the Haram in Makkah because those places are reserved for royalty or those close to them! (I have experienced this first hand!) We’ve created clerical structures that are not dissimilar to the structures of the grossly misguided Catholic Church and we revel in the order and pomp and splendour that exists in these structures. 

    I’m constantly reminded of the Hadith that encourages us to share our knowledge even if it is only a single verse, yet if scholars today are to be believed, then you’d be obliged to check with them before you quote anything or provide any advice unless of course such advice or quotes are in fact a re-quote of their words. The Ulama are disconnected from the Ummah, and the Ummah is disconnected from the Ulama. We’re in a sad state, yet we persist in excessive debates and interpretations of matters that are simple and straight forward. Matters that don’t affect the Iman of a person, but in fact, are only compromised by the intention of the believer, the sincerity of which can only be determined by Allah alone. 

    Nonetheless, there is never a shortage of Ulama ready to proclaim who is kafir and who is not. I shudder at the thought of making such a statement even with people I know well, and whose outward appearance is blatantly un-Islamic, because again, I’m reminded of the hadith that teaches us that if one person claims that another is a kafir, then one of them is. We’ve lost our way. That is why people are turning to Islam in droves, not because we’re setting a great example, but because Allah is raising a nation to protect His deen like He promised He would. 

    Islam is NOT a cult. It is not about ritualistic ideals and blind faith! And it certainly is not about an elite group of self-proclaimed scholars who rarely demonstrate the principles of Islam in their lives, other than what is obvious in their physical appearance. Many sincere believers who are knowledgeable and well-read on many aspects of Islam have been demonised and ostracised because they didn’t subscribe to this cult-ish version of Islam, yet those individuals have demonstrated a greater commitment to the true values of Islam than the scholars that compete for attention on a daily basis.

    The day our Ulama have the courage to openly condemn the spineless acts of suicide bombings, the unfathomable atrocities of killing innocent women and children, the disgusting embellishment of the houses of Allah with those pagan symbols of the moon and star, and so many other blatantly haraam issues, that is the day that they may enjoy the respect and loyalty of the Awwaam. 

    For the record, as I stated previously, I despise this term ‘Awwaam’, but I use it to remind myself of the condescension with which the Ulama refer to those people that are not part of their circles or their structures. I doubt very much that Rasulullah (SAW) ever used such a condescending or derogatory term on even the most unkempt of Bedouin that may have approached him for advice. 

  • newsflick:

    Muslims to NYPD: ‘Respect us, we will respect you’

    Hundreds of Muslims prayed in a lower Manhattan park and marched to New York Police headquarters Friday to protest a decade of police infiltrating mosques and spying on Muslim neighborhoods.

    Bundled in winter clothes, men and women knelt as the call to prayer echoed off the cold stone of government buildings. 

    “Being Muslim does not negate our nationality,” Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid told the crowd of about 500 gathered in Foley Square, not far from City Hall and local courthouses. “We are unapologetically Muslim and uncompromisingly American.” (source)

    Alhamdulillah…this is encouraging to see that Muslims are finally snapping out of that apologetic and victim state of mind, and finally starting to stand up and prove to the world that we’re not the sum total of the propaganda in the western media, nor are we accurately reflected in the actions of those that use Islam to pursue their own political and personal interests. 

  • Purpose of Debate

    I once heard that the point of a debate should be to arrive at the truth and not to prove you’re right. This is something I fully subscribe to, but also forget often. After reflecting on some of my posts recently, especially in this blog, I believe that I have been blurring these very same lines in my tone and focus. I sometimes try to prove why others are wrong or why I’m more right, when in fact the focus of this blog, as my first post suggested, was to be an articulation of my struggle to come to terms with what I find distasteful around me, and in turn to formulate my own views based on principles that I subscribe to, and not views that may have been indoctrinated into me. 

    Whether or not I agree with the atheistic views, or even what exception I take to the traditional/ritualistic Muslims should remain a point of reference as to why I choose the views and opinions that I hold, but should not go as far as trying to convince them that they’re wrong. The Qur’an sums it up beautifully in Chapter 17, verse 81:

    And say: Truth has come and falsehood has vanished away. Lo! Falsehood is ever bound to vanish.

    Some may interpret this to be Muslim arrogance, yet others, if seen objectively, would acknowledge it as confirmation that whichever party is on the true path, this will become self-evident, and therefore there should be no need to shove our views down anyone’s throats. 

    So I hope that I will remain focused in presenting my views not at the expense of others, but rather relative to others only. Context is important, but it should never be used as an excuse to bash any other religion, philosophy, or personal perspectives. Which reminds me of another pertinent verse from the Qur’an in Chapter 18, verse 10:

    Our Lord! Send upon us Your mercy, and show us the solution to our problem in the right way.

    Sincerity of intention and resolve in purpose are always extremely difficult to maintain because of the trappings of the ego. 

  • Some stray thoughts

    I’ve often read about incidents where strangers approached a gathering looking for the leader of the Muslims, including the Prophet (SAW) and some of the Caliphs after him, and often they would not be able to determine who he was because he would appear as ordinary as the rest of them.

    Today I wondered about the context of this and how it may apply to what I’m doing in my life. The dress code and appearance of these blessed leaders was similar to the common people around them, not different. They didn’t appear to be more pious, or more religious, or more anything; they must have appeared to be as common as the rest. So I considered this in line with the obvious difference in appearance between the present day scholars, especially those living in western societies with no ties to the Arabian culture, and the common people of those same areas. 

    While I can accept that there is sincerity among many that choose to dress according to what is interpreted to be the Sunnah, I once again wonder how much of the principles of this simple Sunnah have been forgotten or overlooked, and how much of the practice is just a custom. For me, the Sunnah is about establishing your appearance based on modesty, not extravagance. Which leads me to question whether a man dressed in a casual jeans, with a casual top that covers his body appropriately to perform Salaah is in fact more modest than a man dressed in a cloak designed in the style of the Sunnah, made of the finest non-crease fabric, and with a recognised label from a prominent designer house with just the right combination of expensive pens sticking out from his top pocket, and an equally elegant watch to match. 

    I don’t know…that’s a pretty long winded way of trying to make sense of this. But the lingering thought in my head is still whether or not attention to detail in appearance taints our intentions or not? I think it does. And some may accuse me of extremism or impracticality in my views on this, but given the stigma that is attached to appearance being a measure or at least an indicator of piety, dressing according to the Sunnah, knowing about this stigma, surely must introduce a significant distraction about conformity of appearance with those social circles we aspire to be a part of, rather than establishment of modesty? Incidentally, one of the common traits in appearance of these pious predecessors was that it was often possible to count the number of patches on their clothes. I can barely recall the last time I saw a scholar walking in clothes that had any signs of excessive wear on it, let alone patches.