Most of the personal stress that average Muslims face in their everyday life does not come from work, school, family relations or self-esteem issues but rather from a more nuanced, often overlooked source. Simply put, Western Muslims struggle with balancing the demands of religious and secular life. Of course, this struggle also extends to people of other faiths but this column's focus lies specifically with Muslims.
Individual examples are plentiful. "Is this outfit too revealing or immodest?" "How can I politely ask the waiter if the food has anything haraam in it?" "Should I shake the hand of the co-worker of the opposite sex?" "Where can I make salat without attracting too much attention or getting distracted?" Often, these moments become so frequent that we learn to ignore them and forget to see them for what they really are — tests of faith.
The central problem we all face is: how can one stay true to one's inner faith and beliefs while adapting to the external demands of culture and society? Should one even try to compromise one's beliefs in order to accomodate what Muslims consider the shallow, vain and materialist nature of modern life? This line of questioning holds the answer within itself.
We as Western Muslims deal with the very real problem of living in the midst of a dominant culture that doesn't share our views. Not only is it not easy but it can also be fairly aggravating having to constantly explain to others why you have to pray, why you wear a hijab, why you don't eat pork...the list goes on.
Yet at the same time, the vast majority of us finds it awkward and rather extreme to try avoiding society altogether. Modern humans weren't meant to stay at home all the time except for Friday trips to the mosque. We have jobs, we like movies and music, we go shopping and attend school. We eat at restaurants and hang out with our friends. Heck, some of us even feel a need to contribute to society (gasp!). With the benefit of full bellies, free primary education, internet access (if you don't have internet access, I'd like to know how you're managing to read this blog) and freedom from oppression, us Western Muslims happen to prefer the advantages of living here as opposed to "over there."
Striking the right balance between avoiding sin and not completely alienating ourselves from the rest of society is a touchy matter. It is not as easy as some shakyhs think (nor as difficult as some friends think) to refuse an invitation to an after work get-together at a bar with co-workers. Nor is it easy to find one's self in the MSA room longing for some peace after a hard day of studying receiving criticism about one's choice of outfit for that day. No-one is exactly alike in the personal lines we draw for ourselves. Some of us choose to eat non-halal food. Others won't even bother to explain themselves to others questioning them about their beard or why they put their feet in the bathroom sink.
When it all comes down to it, what we are essentially trying to do is please two masters. One is Allah swt. We know we should definitely obey Him. The other is "society," a concept that in Western intellectual thought is still relatively new. Merely proving the existence of something as abstract and undefinable as society would be a difficult task. Do the people who live on the other side of town whom you will never meet or interact with have any effect on your life? Maybe in the slightest most indirect of ways, but realistically, no.
As all of us have had strummed into our heads from an early age the truth that there is one God. Not two, not one-and-a-half, not zero. One. It's the fundamental truth of not just Islam, but , well, everything. Diverting our absolute focus away from God in this temporary life would be like trying to drive a car while painting your nails. You're asking for trouble. Muslims in general have got to resist the temptation to compromise our inner taqwa, our most valuable gift, for society's benefit because any attempt to divide our minds, hearts or souls would be at our own loss.
Anyone with a brain can tell you that we are living in difficult times. This generation is challenged with poverty, debt, conflicted identity and ever-changing political and social realities. Often, these hardships bring us to the breaking point. Relationships with others can seem out of reach. Alienation and depression cloud over our view and the light on the horizon becomes dim. Nevertheless, we as Muslims must keep faith. Though the phrase may seem naive and narrowminded, understand this: God knows what you know not.
To sum up, you will not be cursed to the depths of Hell for moderation or reasonable compromise in your daily activities. That reality does not represent carte blanche to run amok and commit tons of sins. There are very real and specific lines that should not be crossed if your religion means anything to you. Above all is your belief in tauhid. Strengthen this belief, maintain your salat and stay away from the major sins and you will surely begin to see the struggle between East and West in its proper context. Enduring this facet of this temporary dunya is a small price to pay for the eternal pleasure of Allah swt.
=//Turnquest
Friday, May 2, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Journey After Death
Excerpted from http://www.lutonmuslims.co.uk/kdeth.htm :
It is reported that al-Bara 'bin 'Azib said: "We went out with the Prophet SAW in order to participate in the funeral rites of a man from the Ansar. We arrived at the grave, but the inner chamber had not been prepared yet; so Allaah's Messenger SAW sat down facing the direction of the Qiblah, and we sat around him so attentively that it was as if birds were sitting upon our heads. He had a stick in his hand with which he sketched upon the ground. Then he began looking alternately to the heavens and to the earth, raising his gaze and then lowering it. Finally, he said two or three times, 'Seek refuge in Allaah from the torment of the grave.' Then he said, 'O Allaah, verily I seek refuge in You from the torment of the grave.' He repeated it three times, then he elaborated,
'Verily, when the believing servant is leaving this world and entering the next, angels from the heavens descend to him - their faces white with brightness like the sun and carrying with them burial sheets and scents from Paradise. They sit before him at a distance as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death (upon whom be peace) comes to the person, sits at his head and says, "O good soul [and in another narration "O confident soul"], come out to your Lord's forgiveness and pleasure. "' [The Prophet SAW continued],
'There upon the soul flows out of the body like water flowing from the mouth of a water skin, and all of the angels between the skies and the earth supplicate for Allays blessing upon him. The doors of the heavens are opened for him, and the keepers of these doors [i.e., the angels all plead with Allaah that this soul might pass in front of them as it is being carried upward. The Angel of Death barely receives the soul in his hands, whereupon the other angels take it from him and wrap it with fragrant winding sheets. This is what is meant by Allaah's saying,
"Our messengers [i.e., angels] seize his soul, and they do not fall short of their duty."'
Then the Prophet SAW said, 'There exudes from the soul a scent like the most beautiful fragrance of musk that one could find on the face of the earth. The angels ascend with the soul never passing a host of angels without hearing them ask, "Who is this wonderful soul?" They reply, "So and so, the son of so and so," addressing him with the best names he was known by during his earthly life.
Upon reaching the first heaven, the angels request that it be opened for the soul - which is granted The soul is then accompanied by the angels of each heaven until it reaches the one above it and finally arrives at the seventh heaven. Then Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says [to the angels], "Place the record of My servant in 'illiyyun."'
"And what will explain to you what 'illiyyun' is? [it is] a written record, witnessed by those brought near to their Lord." (83:19-21)
The person's record is then placed in 'illiyyun, whereupon a command is heard: "Return him to the earth, for verily I have promised mankind that having created them from the earth, I will return them to it. And l will make them come out of it, yet another time. " Then the soul is returned to the earth back into its body. Verily, the deceased hears the shuffling feet of his companions who attended his burial as they tam away and leave his grave.
Thereupon, two angels, severe in interrogation come to him, and sitting him up, they begin to ask him questions. They say, "Who is your Lord?" He replies, 'Allaah is my Lord. " They continue, "What is your religion?" He answers, 'Islam is my religion " They proceed with the questioning, saying, "Who is this man that has been sent to you?" He responds, 'He is the Messenger of Allaah SAW." Finally, they ask him about his deeds, to which he replies, 'I read Allaah's Book and believed in it."' (In another narration the Prophet SAW indicated that the angels ask, "Who is your Lord, what is your religion and who is your prophet?" [Allaah's Messenger SAW explained that] this was the believer's last test, and it is what is meant when Allaah says,
"Allaah strengthens those who believe with a firm testimony in this worldly life and in the Hereafter."
The deceased answers, "Allaah is my Lord, Islam is my religion, and my prophet is Muhammad."
[The Prophet SAW then indicated, 'Upon the believer's answer to these questions], a voice is heard in the heavens, saying, "My servant has told the truth, so clothe him in the clothing of Paradise, spread for him the furnishings of Paradise, and open for him a window with a view of Paradise." Thereupon, he is engulfed by a breeze of fresh air and fragrance, while the expanse of his grave is extended before him as far as the eye can see.
There appears before him a man with a wonderful face and beautiful clothing, emitting a splendid fragrance. He says to the soul, "Rejoice at the news which will gladden you! Rejoice at Allaah's pleasure and His Paradise, whose joys and delights never end. This is the day which you were promised."
The deceased says to him, "And who are you, for your face bears glad tidings.?! " The figure answers, "I represent your good deeds; by Allaah, I've always known you to be quick in obedience to Allaah and slow to His disobedience. So may Allaah award you with good."
Then a door to Paradise is opened, and a door to the Fire is opened, whereupon his said to him [regarding the Hell fire], "This would have been your final abode had you disobeyed Allaah; however, it has been exchanged for this other abode [i.e., Paradise]. " When the soul sees what is in Paradise, he cries, "My Lord, hasten the arrival of the Hour [i.e., the Resurrection] so that I may be joined with my family and wealth."
There upon it is said to him, "Rest in tranquillity. "'
=//Turnquest
It is reported that al-Bara 'bin 'Azib said: "We went out with the Prophet SAW in order to participate in the funeral rites of a man from the Ansar. We arrived at the grave, but the inner chamber had not been prepared yet; so Allaah's Messenger SAW sat down facing the direction of the Qiblah, and we sat around him so attentively that it was as if birds were sitting upon our heads. He had a stick in his hand with which he sketched upon the ground. Then he began looking alternately to the heavens and to the earth, raising his gaze and then lowering it. Finally, he said two or three times, 'Seek refuge in Allaah from the torment of the grave.' Then he said, 'O Allaah, verily I seek refuge in You from the torment of the grave.' He repeated it three times, then he elaborated,
'Verily, when the believing servant is leaving this world and entering the next, angels from the heavens descend to him - their faces white with brightness like the sun and carrying with them burial sheets and scents from Paradise. They sit before him at a distance as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death (upon whom be peace) comes to the person, sits at his head and says, "O good soul [and in another narration "O confident soul"], come out to your Lord's forgiveness and pleasure. "' [The Prophet SAW continued],
'There upon the soul flows out of the body like water flowing from the mouth of a water skin, and all of the angels between the skies and the earth supplicate for Allays blessing upon him. The doors of the heavens are opened for him, and the keepers of these doors [i.e., the angels all plead with Allaah that this soul might pass in front of them as it is being carried upward. The Angel of Death barely receives the soul in his hands, whereupon the other angels take it from him and wrap it with fragrant winding sheets. This is what is meant by Allaah's saying,
"Our messengers [i.e., angels] seize his soul, and they do not fall short of their duty."'
Then the Prophet SAW said, 'There exudes from the soul a scent like the most beautiful fragrance of musk that one could find on the face of the earth. The angels ascend with the soul never passing a host of angels without hearing them ask, "Who is this wonderful soul?" They reply, "So and so, the son of so and so," addressing him with the best names he was known by during his earthly life.
Upon reaching the first heaven, the angels request that it be opened for the soul - which is granted The soul is then accompanied by the angels of each heaven until it reaches the one above it and finally arrives at the seventh heaven. Then Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says [to the angels], "Place the record of My servant in 'illiyyun."'
"And what will explain to you what 'illiyyun' is? [it is] a written record, witnessed by those brought near to their Lord." (83:19-21)
The person's record is then placed in 'illiyyun, whereupon a command is heard: "Return him to the earth, for verily I have promised mankind that having created them from the earth, I will return them to it. And l will make them come out of it, yet another time. " Then the soul is returned to the earth back into its body. Verily, the deceased hears the shuffling feet of his companions who attended his burial as they tam away and leave his grave.
Thereupon, two angels, severe in interrogation come to him, and sitting him up, they begin to ask him questions. They say, "Who is your Lord?" He replies, 'Allaah is my Lord. " They continue, "What is your religion?" He answers, 'Islam is my religion " They proceed with the questioning, saying, "Who is this man that has been sent to you?" He responds, 'He is the Messenger of Allaah SAW." Finally, they ask him about his deeds, to which he replies, 'I read Allaah's Book and believed in it."' (In another narration the Prophet SAW indicated that the angels ask, "Who is your Lord, what is your religion and who is your prophet?" [Allaah's Messenger SAW explained that] this was the believer's last test, and it is what is meant when Allaah says,
"Allaah strengthens those who believe with a firm testimony in this worldly life and in the Hereafter."
The deceased answers, "Allaah is my Lord, Islam is my religion, and my prophet is Muhammad."
[The Prophet SAW then indicated, 'Upon the believer's answer to these questions], a voice is heard in the heavens, saying, "My servant has told the truth, so clothe him in the clothing of Paradise, spread for him the furnishings of Paradise, and open for him a window with a view of Paradise." Thereupon, he is engulfed by a breeze of fresh air and fragrance, while the expanse of his grave is extended before him as far as the eye can see.
There appears before him a man with a wonderful face and beautiful clothing, emitting a splendid fragrance. He says to the soul, "Rejoice at the news which will gladden you! Rejoice at Allaah's pleasure and His Paradise, whose joys and delights never end. This is the day which you were promised."
The deceased says to him, "And who are you, for your face bears glad tidings.?! " The figure answers, "I represent your good deeds; by Allaah, I've always known you to be quick in obedience to Allaah and slow to His disobedience. So may Allaah award you with good."
Then a door to Paradise is opened, and a door to the Fire is opened, whereupon his said to him [regarding the Hell fire], "This would have been your final abode had you disobeyed Allaah; however, it has been exchanged for this other abode [i.e., Paradise]. " When the soul sees what is in Paradise, he cries, "My Lord, hasten the arrival of the Hour [i.e., the Resurrection] so that I may be joined with my family and wealth."
There upon it is said to him, "Rest in tranquillity. "'
=//Turnquest
Saturday, January 12, 2008
On the question of saying "Ya Ali Madad"
Bismillahi-rahmani-raheem.
It is quite common amongst followers of the Shia school of thought to make the statement "Ya Ali Madad." The meaning of this phrase is literally "Oh Ali, help." A simple, oft-used statement like this can seem harmless and not unusual. Unfortunately, the implications of such a statement, when analyzed, can lead down a dark road.
Let us examine its intent. The person saying "Ya Ali Madad" in most circumstances will be in some moment of difficulty or dilemma and by saying such a statement requests help and relief for their dilemma. One may often say it absent-mindedly or without too much purpose, mostly because the phrase is so commonplace and easy to say. Think of a person stretching after waking up; they may say anything from "Allah akbar" to "Oh my God" or simply remain quiet during their stretch. Most likely though, they are not thinking about what they are saying, let alone Allah or anything spiritual. They just say it.
Yet a phrase such as the one we are examining has more than a meaning than simply a verbal reminder of someone or something. It does not simply include "Ya Ali", but adds the important verb "help." The meaning becomes a cry for help or, in other words; a prayer.
Of course, when one asks for something, whether it be a tissue paper or help from beyond, there must be two parties involved: the asker and the giver. The asker's existence and motivation is not disputed. The problem here lies with the target of the request, the giver.
Hazrat Ali RA was one of the greatest and most important Sahabi. He lived an exemplary life and remains renowned for his piety, courage, valour in battle, eloquence in speech and wisdom. He was the first male and first child to accept Islam and his list of accomplishments and triumphs as scholar, warrior and Khalifa are too numerous to list here in their entirety.
Yet the undeniable fact remains, amongst Shias, Sunnis, historians and scientists: Hazrat Ali is dead, and has been dead for 1400 years. He cannot really do anything, much less help the living, more than say, a tree or a light bulb. Hazrat Ali was a man, and men are not immortal but have set lives, determined by the Divine One. Beyond that period, their influence and actions are no more. It is well-known that a person's book of deeds is closed upon their death. After that, nothing is written in them because, frankly, the person does not and cannot act anymore. Indeed, such is one of the aspects of death.
So why, the question begs, would one ask for help from Hazrat Ali RA if he cannot help? A common reason given by Shia scholars is the power of intercession inscribed to Hazrat Ali RA. They suggest that notable Sahabi and members of the family of the Prophet SAW can intercede or pray on our behalf to Allah SWT, and that Allah SWT may listen and respond more readily to their prayers and du'a. Though this premise is rendered false by the previous argument, let us take a closer look at an example.
A well-known saying amongst Shias is the story of one of Hazrat Ali's RA companions falling sick. The story is quoted as follows:
As can be seen in this story, in a time when Hazrat Ali RA was alive and walking amongst people, they did not praise him, worship him or even ask him to pray to Allah SWT on their behalf. He himself, through his own words, called upon his companions to ask Allah SWT for help and aid. If when Hazrat Ali RA was alive and totally able to make du'a for a sick person's behalf, why did he in fact tell the person to ask Allah SWT themselves directly instead of offering to act as an intercessor?
The answer is simple, as all noble truths in this deen are. Hazrat Ali RA understood this truth. It is the very foundation of this creed, that is, the belief in One God Almighty. Lo, the entire creation and dunya, the Earth and the Cosmos, flows from this truth, rests on this truth and is sustained by this truth.
Let's be clear. Imam Hasan RA and Husayn RA, when both were suffering incredible punishment, persecution and hardship in their life, did they ever once say "Ya Ali"? Did they call upon their supposedly divinely-guided, divinely-powered father?
No.
Did Hazrat Ali call upon himself in times of battle and suffering?
No, of course not.
Did he call the next most obvious human candidate for aid, the Prophet SAW?
No.
All four persons mentioned called upon the same source for help and assistance in their trials...the same source from whom which all Muslims call upon, the source of all things:
Allah SWT.
The Enemies of Allah, including the hypocrites and the ignorant, have always tried to actively dissaude others from accepting this truth. They have tried to "muddy the waters," to create debate and turmoil when before there was none.
Let other religions and peoples bicker about the existence of God, how many gods, and other irrelevant questions. Amongst Muslims, there is and can only be one common truth, a stronger than any other tenet of belief in our faith: La illaha il Allah.
And Allah knows best.
It is quite common amongst followers of the Shia school of thought to make the statement "Ya Ali Madad." The meaning of this phrase is literally "Oh Ali, help." A simple, oft-used statement like this can seem harmless and not unusual. Unfortunately, the implications of such a statement, when analyzed, can lead down a dark road.
Let us examine its intent. The person saying "Ya Ali Madad" in most circumstances will be in some moment of difficulty or dilemma and by saying such a statement requests help and relief for their dilemma. One may often say it absent-mindedly or without too much purpose, mostly because the phrase is so commonplace and easy to say. Think of a person stretching after waking up; they may say anything from "Allah akbar" to "Oh my God" or simply remain quiet during their stretch. Most likely though, they are not thinking about what they are saying, let alone Allah or anything spiritual. They just say it.
Yet a phrase such as the one we are examining has more than a meaning than simply a verbal reminder of someone or something. It does not simply include "Ya Ali", but adds the important verb "help." The meaning becomes a cry for help or, in other words; a prayer.
Of course, when one asks for something, whether it be a tissue paper or help from beyond, there must be two parties involved: the asker and the giver. The asker's existence and motivation is not disputed. The problem here lies with the target of the request, the giver.
Hazrat Ali RA was one of the greatest and most important Sahabi. He lived an exemplary life and remains renowned for his piety, courage, valour in battle, eloquence in speech and wisdom. He was the first male and first child to accept Islam and his list of accomplishments and triumphs as scholar, warrior and Khalifa are too numerous to list here in their entirety.
Yet the undeniable fact remains, amongst Shias, Sunnis, historians and scientists: Hazrat Ali is dead, and has been dead for 1400 years. He cannot really do anything, much less help the living, more than say, a tree or a light bulb. Hazrat Ali was a man, and men are not immortal but have set lives, determined by the Divine One. Beyond that period, their influence and actions are no more. It is well-known that a person's book of deeds is closed upon their death. After that, nothing is written in them because, frankly, the person does not and cannot act anymore. Indeed, such is one of the aspects of death.
So why, the question begs, would one ask for help from Hazrat Ali RA if he cannot help? A common reason given by Shia scholars is the power of intercession inscribed to Hazrat Ali RA. They suggest that notable Sahabi and members of the family of the Prophet SAW can intercede or pray on our behalf to Allah SWT, and that Allah SWT may listen and respond more readily to their prayers and du'a. Though this premise is rendered false by the previous argument, let us take a closer look at an example.
A well-known saying amongst Shias is the story of one of Hazrat Ali's RA companions falling sick. The story is quoted as follows:
"One of the companions of Imam fell ill. Imam Ali called upon him and thus advised him: "Be thankful to Allah. He has made this illness a thing to atone your sins because a disease in itself has nothing to bring reward to anyone, it merely expiates one's sins and so far as reward is concerned, one has to earn it with his good words and good deeds. The Almighty Lord grants Paradise to his creatures on account of their piety and noble thoughts".
As can be seen in this story, in a time when Hazrat Ali RA was alive and walking amongst people, they did not praise him, worship him or even ask him to pray to Allah SWT on their behalf. He himself, through his own words, called upon his companions to ask Allah SWT for help and aid. If when Hazrat Ali RA was alive and totally able to make du'a for a sick person's behalf, why did he in fact tell the person to ask Allah SWT themselves directly instead of offering to act as an intercessor?
The answer is simple, as all noble truths in this deen are. Hazrat Ali RA understood this truth. It is the very foundation of this creed, that is, the belief in One God Almighty. Lo, the entire creation and dunya, the Earth and the Cosmos, flows from this truth, rests on this truth and is sustained by this truth.
Let's be clear. Imam Hasan RA and Husayn RA, when both were suffering incredible punishment, persecution and hardship in their life, did they ever once say "Ya Ali"? Did they call upon their supposedly divinely-guided, divinely-powered father?
No.
Did Hazrat Ali call upon himself in times of battle and suffering?
No, of course not.
Did he call the next most obvious human candidate for aid, the Prophet SAW?
No.
All four persons mentioned called upon the same source for help and assistance in their trials...the same source from whom which all Muslims call upon, the source of all things:
Allah SWT.
The Enemies of Allah, including the hypocrites and the ignorant, have always tried to actively dissaude others from accepting this truth. They have tried to "muddy the waters," to create debate and turmoil when before there was none.
Let other religions and peoples bicker about the existence of God, how many gods, and other irrelevant questions. Amongst Muslims, there is and can only be one common truth, a stronger than any other tenet of belief in our faith: La illaha il Allah.
And Allah knows best.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Mission Statement
I begin with the traditional Islamic greeting, Asalaamwalaikum.
For newcomers, that means "peace be upon you."
I'll start this blog with its mission statement and purpose. As a young Muslim in Canada, one quickly runs into the problems of Muslimkind in this most Western of states. Primarily, I think there is a dearth, almost a complete absence of leadership for our community. I'm not saying that your local Imam is not a leader, nor the President of _insert small-time Muslim organization_ here. They do their work and we should be thankful to them for that.
What I'm writing about is the lack of vision, charisma, communicative skills and humble integrity missing in so many of the men who claim to represent Islam to our fellow Canadians and Westerners in general. I may stray into bluntness in my posts from time to time, so if I hurt anyone's feelings, remember, this is the Internet and it is a two-way street for communication.. So frankly, we as Muslims in the West do not need anymore angry, heavily-accented bearded middle-aged men wearing Jilbābs shouting about "racial discrimination" and hijabs. We don't need maulwis and self-appointed shaykhs "admitting" that adultery carries capital punishment or the death penalty by stoning. We don't need men who can barely speak English or French on TV defending Islam. In fact, we shouldn't have to be defending anything at all. But I'll save that for another day.
What I'm saying is that, for the majority of us, we are second-generation immigrants meaning we were most likely born in Canada or brought here at an early age. We're also relatively young, between 13 and 30. We speak the local language fluently, though some of us still struggle witht he "back-home" accent (I'm looking at you, my Mississauga brothers ; ) We grew up here, we went to school here. Many of us have never been to our countries of origin. By and by, on every account, we are Canadians. And yet, somehow, we don't feel like it sometimes. To so many fellow citizens, we are still "them," or "those Moslems." And this is because domestic Canadians don't think of us, the second generation, when they talk about Islam. They think of our "leaders".
And that must change.
We need new leaders. We need new voices, who can defend Islam when it is attacked, promote it when it should, and establish regular communication within and outside of our Ummah. The rest of society needs to know who we are and what we believe in before they decide if they want to attack our faith.
This blog will offer a space where any young Muslim, Canadian or not, can express their beliefs and opinions, unfiltered. You can write an article, cover a story happening in your neighborhood, share a personal experience. You can post photos or videos, poetry, fiction or illustrations, or even something as simple as a link to a website. Or you can just sit back and take it all in. Myself, I will be covering topics ranging from societal and political issues facing us, to strictly religious and spiritual topics. Though I am not a shaykh or Ālim, I will try to offer the more prominent opinions and different sides of key matters facing us.
Censorship or limits on opinion will not be an issue. Are you a Shi'a or Sunni? Doesn't matter. Want to spend an article talking about puberty or alcohol? Go ahead. Current political issues? Iraq? Usama? Go right ahead.
All I ask, like any teacher or professor might also do, is for clear expression, decency, respect for others and backing up your claims with facts. Inshallah, we will all come away having learned something useful or become aware of issues we never knew existed.
Asalaamwalaikum and Ramadan Karim,
Hamza
// And that those who have been given knowledge may know that it is the truth from thy Lord, so that they may believe therein and their hearts may submit humbly unto Him. Lo! Allah verily is guiding those who believe unto a right path. // (Qu'ran 23:54)
For newcomers, that means "peace be upon you."
I'll start this blog with its mission statement and purpose. As a young Muslim in Canada, one quickly runs into the problems of Muslimkind in this most Western of states. Primarily, I think there is a dearth, almost a complete absence of leadership for our community. I'm not saying that your local Imam is not a leader, nor the President of _insert small-time Muslim organization_ here. They do their work and we should be thankful to them for that.
What I'm writing about is the lack of vision, charisma, communicative skills and humble integrity missing in so many of the men who claim to represent Islam to our fellow Canadians and Westerners in general. I may stray into bluntness in my posts from time to time, so if I hurt anyone's feelings, remember, this is the Internet and it is a two-way street for communication.. So frankly, we as Muslims in the West do not need anymore angry, heavily-accented bearded middle-aged men wearing Jilbābs shouting about "racial discrimination" and hijabs. We don't need maulwis and self-appointed shaykhs "admitting" that adultery carries capital punishment or the death penalty by stoning. We don't need men who can barely speak English or French on TV defending Islam. In fact, we shouldn't have to be defending anything at all. But I'll save that for another day.
What I'm saying is that, for the majority of us, we are second-generation immigrants meaning we were most likely born in Canada or brought here at an early age. We're also relatively young, between 13 and 30. We speak the local language fluently, though some of us still struggle witht he "back-home" accent (I'm looking at you, my Mississauga brothers ; ) We grew up here, we went to school here. Many of us have never been to our countries of origin. By and by, on every account, we are Canadians. And yet, somehow, we don't feel like it sometimes. To so many fellow citizens, we are still "them," or "those Moslems." And this is because domestic Canadians don't think of us, the second generation, when they talk about Islam. They think of our "leaders".
And that must change.
We need new leaders. We need new voices, who can defend Islam when it is attacked, promote it when it should, and establish regular communication within and outside of our Ummah. The rest of society needs to know who we are and what we believe in before they decide if they want to attack our faith.
This blog will offer a space where any young Muslim, Canadian or not, can express their beliefs and opinions, unfiltered. You can write an article, cover a story happening in your neighborhood, share a personal experience. You can post photos or videos, poetry, fiction or illustrations, or even something as simple as a link to a website. Or you can just sit back and take it all in. Myself, I will be covering topics ranging from societal and political issues facing us, to strictly religious and spiritual topics. Though I am not a shaykh or Ālim, I will try to offer the more prominent opinions and different sides of key matters facing us.
Censorship or limits on opinion will not be an issue. Are you a Shi'a or Sunni? Doesn't matter. Want to spend an article talking about puberty or alcohol? Go ahead. Current political issues? Iraq? Usama? Go right ahead.
All I ask, like any teacher or professor might also do, is for clear expression, decency, respect for others and backing up your claims with facts. Inshallah, we will all come away having learned something useful or become aware of issues we never knew existed.
Asalaamwalaikum and Ramadan Karim,
Hamza
// And that those who have been given knowledge may know that it is the truth from thy Lord, so that they may believe therein and their hearts may submit humbly unto Him. Lo! Allah verily is guiding those who believe unto a right path. // (Qu'ran 23:54)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
