Muslim Kid

7:24 AM (A creating writing piece for you!)

2012-01-07T07:24:00.008-06:00

It's Saturday morning, 7:24 AM. The sun is coming up but the weather isn't too bad. Its an interesting morning. I haven't experienced a morning like this in a long time. It reminds me of the days of my childhood when I would wake up on Saturday mornings and go in the living room and watch cartoons. Life was so peaceful back then. I didn't have this notion of working 24.7 and television wasn't even that bad (at least however bad Arthur gets, that is.)

I haven't slept all night and its been an interesting night actually. Perhaps I've learned something about myself from it. The fuller picture actually goes back to when I woke up yesterday. I don't know how the day passed by but I got nothing done. With tens of essays looming over my head, either to be written or to be edited, an unproductive day, especially the few left of my now nearing-end winter break, was not a good thing. It kind of sent me in a frenzy.

Part of the reason I may have not gotten anything done was because my friends ALL seemed to have disappeared. Essentially each day of the past two weeks, certain friends have been online. We talk about random stuff, go over college essays, and take short breaks. It was a cycle, a constant cycle, and thus, I expected these friends to be online. They weren't though. Out of a weird anxiety, I kept going back to my gmail, waiting, staring at the gchat. C'mon, where are these guys? Are they still sleeping in? Did they forget about college essays? Whats wrong with them!

Tick tock, its eleven o'clock. Holy crap, I realize I haven't done anything. I was actually suppose to double up my work yesterday but I ended up not even doing my regular amount. I don't like being unproductive. I take breaks because I feel guilty or not normal if I don't. I like taking breaks to sleep because sleep is good for my brain but this time, I was taking breaks chatting with other random friends on Facebook and watching an episode of House MD (Remind me to one day discuss the deception of that show! I think I can actually learn anything about medicine from it, Ha!).

Its 1:00 AM and I'm sitting there thinking, I've wasted my whole day and I'm going to waste the next few hours. I don't know what to do. I keep refreshing my facebook page, hoping something will change. Some new interesting feed - actually I'm not even looking for that. I have no idea why I keep going on Facebook. I use it like I'm a criminal doing committing a crime. I go on it with the notion that I must get off ASAP.

One of my two good friends comes online. I tell her that I've wasted my whole day and now I'm having an anxiety attack basically. There's already so much to do. I was supposed to do twice the amount of work and yet I did nothing. She tells me that I should take a break. No! that's what I've been doing the whole day. A dang break. Its 3AM and she has to go to sleep but since shes a good friend, she says that if I really need something, if perhaps I'm dying out of my boredom and lack of ability to be productive, I can text her.

Now I'm on my own. If I was feeding my anxiety with chats with people I normally don't talk to and by refreshing the facebook page and by starring at my gchat, now I'll go hungry. Practically everyone is gone. I sort of feel sleepy but I can't go to sleep feeling as if I did nothing the whole day. Its not even that I don't like taking breaks, but I need to have made the intention of taking that break. "I'm going to go to my friend's house today." That sort of thing, where I know I will not be doing work because instead I'll be doing this fun activity instead. I have to plan my breaks, or else there not that fruitful.

I go make some chai at 3:30 AM! I actually made it at midnight but forgot about it, so I just rewarm it. I wash my fash with cold water and do wudu. I come back in my room, put on a talk about reforming one's self by Shaykh Omar, and get cracking at those Coca Cola Semi finalist essays. Slowly but surely I'm making progress. As I'm listening to Shaykh Omar's soothing voice and his extremely valid points, I'm remembering Ramadan and Itakaf.

I think to myself: self, what are you doing with you life? The talk ends and I put on some Quran. I happen to come across a Youtube video of Maulana Iliyas, the Imam of the Des Plaines masjid that I occasionally go to. I enjoy his recitation so I start playing that video. The video is just showing pictures and clips of the mosque.

And then it all comes to me.

I'm so naive. So, So, So naive. As smart or wise as I think I am, I am not. A few days ago, I was listening to a talk about the "nervous breakdown of Pakistan" by Fatima Bhutto. Quite interesting and though provoking. I decided that, indeed, I would major in political science in college. Politics, humanities and social sciences, those are my strong points. I should focus on them. Then when I was watching those House MD episodes, I wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to be a doctor so bad seeing House do his pathological diagnoses; it seemed so cool to be brilliant and to be a doctor. After watching that show, I made a resolve: I would major in biology and since I like the brain so much, perhaps neurobiology or cognitive science.

And then when I was watching that video of the mosque, I remembered who I was. I remembered that I actually wanted to stay instate for college because of the conservative environment. I didn't care to be a political junkie or a big time lawyer, those were my old-days aspirations that I had grown too pragmatic for. I remembered that yes I do want to go into medicine, perhaps a pathologist too, but not like House. I don't want to be a hot shot doctor who is brilliant and makes a lot of money. I remembered that, just like my role models, I want to be A doctor, and I want to be A practicing Muslim.

I am naive because I am still a kid. I am still easily influenced by all the pressures, all the speakers, all the talks, all the lectures, all the classes, all the books, and all everything else, around me. And while I wonder if this will ever change, I figure it must.

There must come a time when the MuslimKid can call himself the MuslimAdult. Is that time yet to come or has it come? Will it come? What does it mean to be grown up? To not be naive?

I actually have NO clue why I felt the strong urge to write this, all without any edits or having read it twice, and post it. Perhaps, I want someone to read it and tell me that yes, you are just a kid. I want them to tell me that this whole post makes no utter sense and I should go see a neurologist. Actually though, I don't think it is the realization that I am naive that makes me feel different than I was hours ago.

I think it is the realization that I am human. I can try to plan every moment of my life and be as productive as possible - and that will always be the goal - but if I fall short, then I must let it be. Perhaps that is a lesson every over achiever must learn at some point in their life: we are all human.

It feels good to know that I am human! Tomorrow I will go play soccer. And disclaimer, I may have jumbled around some of the order of the events. Right now, everything's a blur.

I already KNOW that I will delete this later and that I am making a bad decision posting something so ridiculous as this but what the hey. I'm a kid, I can make mistakes.

Enjoy it while ya can suckers!

...Like talking to an old friend

2011-11-11T13:54:00.005-06:00

Assalamu Alikeum,

Blogging after more than a year of latency is like trying to muster up the courage to talk to old friend you don't associate with anymore. Once you decide to communicate with the friend, you can't decide what to say and how to say it. But once you get over this, you talk to the friend as if no time had elapsed since the last time you talked. I hope the same can be said for my blogging.

I have an idea. I will share 10 points.

1. I've become pretty introverted. I think in my pursuit of trying to follow the Sunnah, I became a quieter person, which may or may not be a good thing. Undeniably, there is virtue in silence, and being a shy person means less interaction with people. As Shaykh Husain once said, how long can you really talk to someone before your talk become heedless? Hi. How are you doing? How is your family? etc. After five minutes, there is little to talk about that isn't useless talk - at least that is what holds true for the majority of people. People start talking about movies, sports, celebrities, the latest scandal, gossip, politics, etc. are all pretty useless. You might disagree about the value of the previous topics, especially politics, but to each his own opinion.

2. I'm a senior in high school! I still don't know what to make of this. Should I be happy that I'll be moving on to the "next" step in life - or should I be sad that my high school days are fleeing? I am applying to colleges and will share what college I end up going to when I get in, iA.

3. I used to be into law (lol). It was my life's ambition to get a JD and be a big time lawyer. However, after being bombarded with biology and neuroscience through AP Psychology and AP Biology, I developed an interest in neurology. My new passion is to become a neurosurgeon slash cognitive neuroscience-person. I conducted research at a local university this past summer and it made me realize that research is not for me. It is an extremely boring line of work (no offense to scientific researchers) and working with rats (95% of all neuroscience research is done on rodents) was not enjoyable. However, during my eight weeks, I was able to perform brain surgery on some rats and that seemed pretty cool. I think what I enjoyed about it was the fact that it was an art. It was something you got better at with time. It was technical, not intellectual. That plus the fact that you are directly saving lives sounds great to me. Secondly, cognitive neuroscience is the part of neurology that I do like the intellectual aspect of. How do we think? What are the mechanisms behind it? I also really like a philosophical approach to the brain, that is, looking at the relationship between the mind and the brain.

4 years B.A + 4 years M.D. + 3-6 residency = 11-14 years. I'll be 28-31. And that is just to be a qualified neurosurgeon - not including years of experience necessary to get one's feet wet in the field. And, unfortunately, science isn't among my strengths. If I went into a humanities-related field, I would enjoy it and be top 5-10% of my class with effort. In the biological sciences, even with all my effort, I'd be bottom half of my class. But what about the desire to be something? Can't anyone put their mind to something and accomplish it if they are willing to work hard? Before people begin to say do what your heart tells you and all that mumbo jumbo, I am doing what my heart says. My heart says that I want to live a life where my life's work would be to 1) save the lives of God's creation, 2) glorify God by learning of his majestic and beautiful design of the human body, 3) I respect doctors a lot - probably because many of my role models are doctors. In the end, Allahu Alim. Allah knows all. I will become whatever He has determined for me. For now, I have my heart set on neuroscience.

4. So far in high school, I've been to Washington DC, New York City, Richmond, and Fargo. The first one for journalism, the second for community service, and the last two for Classics conventions. This summer I will go to Seattle, and next summer GUATEMALA! Most of these have been free except for the Latin conventions. I love traveling but as I mentioned above, I've become an introverted person so I have a hard time meeting new people. By that I mean, I have to consciously be socially awkward by being shy and reserved. Maybe this isn't the right way to go about things. I think the problem is I'm too afraid of being expressive that as a Muslim, I follow these certain rules. Instead, I just remain quiet. Regardless, traveling is the best!

5. I am the worst student of tasawwuf to walk this earth. I'm so blessed to live in Chicago, have access to Shaykh Husain and all the other amazing ulema here and yet I do not take full advantage of my access to these individuals. When Allah wants something good for us, he puts us in the company of the righteous. How unlucky of a person I am to live among the righteous and not benefit from them. It reminds me of a person who prays in his house when he lives outside the Kabah! SubhanAllah, somethings we do in life are strange.

6. I'm musically challenged. I'm taking Band in school right now because it is a required class and I play the clarinet. I behind the whole class by maybe 7-8 lessons! It is too hard for me to 1. Look at the note and remember which one it is, 2. Press the right button the right way, 3. Tap my feet, 4. Count in my head, and 5. Do all those things at the same time. Fortunately, I don't think I will fail band even though I such at music. Conversely, I think I am pretty good at art! By art, I mean working with clay. I love it. Art is also another required class and I am taking it this year. We are making teapots and mine is a flowering can. Art is so much fun, I look forward to each class. Oh and I'm also taking Web Design and I love it to the max. I love it so much because making website is also an art. You have to learn the coding, yes, but you have to learn to lay out pages in a way that will appeal to viewers. Not to mention that knowing how to make a website is a super important skill nowadays!

7. This past year, some friends and I helped organize a service project where we collected old used prescription glasses. We are basically a student non-profit and do one major service project each year. This year we got a bunch of high school student volunteers to set up collection boxes throughout Chicago. After months of the students advertising and publicizing the boxes, we brought our collection together. We then cleaned and packed these glasses. We partnered with Al Shifa Foundation to transport these glasses to their clinics in Pakistan! Alhumdulillah, it all worked out and we are done with the project.

8. This post is not how I want to continue blogging. This post is pretty much about me, which is not how it should be. InshaAllah, in the future, I'd like to make posts based on what I learn in Shaykh Husain's company. They will basically be summaries of his general talks on SacredLearning.org. Since I go to the event, I might be able to share something that wasn't recorded and people can benefit, InshaAllah.

9. Listen to Fundamental of Tasawwuf on SacredLearning. It is a six piece lecture series by Shaykh Husain and mashaAllah, it is life changing.

10. Make dua for me!

There. I did it. I made a post. Hopefully next time it won't feel as weird to post.

Wsalam
MK

Point of No Return

2010-10-05T21:06:00.008-05:00

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem

Assalamu Aliekum,

Last year at our school's Muslim Club's annual dinner, we had a debate over whether or not to have partitions. I won't propagate my view but there was one thing that I strongly felt that needed to be brought up in the discussion. There is a such thing as a point of no return, that is, once we had put up the partitions one year, it would be going backward to take it down. It would be unethical and really bad. That isn't to say if we made a serious mistake we couldn't fix it but partitions are not a mistake but a positive step. That point of return is an interesting concept within the Deen.

Hadrat (Shaykh Husain), who I recently gave Bayah to, must have said multiple times that the shaytan of an Alim is an Alim. This statement basically refers to the fact that depending on your level in the Deen, the shaytan who will try to lead you astray will be just as strong. For an Alim, even though he has knowledge of the Deen, he might be fooled into justifying his wrong deeds through his knowledge.

Once you realize a mistake or bad habit of yours, you make tawbah, you can't go back to it. There is one thing to slip, which happens, we are humans. Allah (SWT) made Insan weak, it is in our nature to sin. We slip, we don't get obsessed over our deeds, no matter how good or bad. But it is a horrible thing to be dishonest to yourself and tell yourself you slipped when you were well aware of your sins.

I'm saying this because the meaning of tawbah has really changed for me over this past Ramadan. I don't know if I am suppose to blog about my Tasawwuf experience, I feel like the obvious answer is no. (Who am I to be saying anything about any topic? What ilm do I even have? The more ilm you have, the less you talk!) Anyway, it is so easy to sin, ask for forgiveness and think we are a-okay.

One of the underlying pricipals of spirituality that Hadrat always mentions is that the heart is like a white sheet of paper. You do a sin and a black dot is formed; enough sins turn the paper black. A black heart is a dead heart. This sin takes away from your spiritual state. When your heart has stains over it and you pray, your thoughts will reflect those blobs of darkness. Therefore, once you taste the cleanness and bliss of a clean heart, you'll never want to go back to anything else. That is the motivation behind tawbah in Tasawwuf. You've felt something so great when your heart was clean, that whatever sin you do, you get disgusted by it and immediately seek forgiveness. You can't stand any changes from that state that you desired. It is really amazing to read about but as Hadrat says, its a very experiential science.

I can't make the same mistakes that I might have made before now that I know they are mistakes. Duh, everyone knows that. But really, when you figure out that the slightest things we say can be used against us, the situation becomes more serious. In one anecdote, Hadrat was talking about his own Shaykh, Shaykh Zulfiqar, whom he was with when this occurred. Hadrat told someone on the phone one second and spend a minute or some period of time more than a second making the person wait. His Shaykh told him that he said one second but it was clearly longer than one second - we should be cognizant of these types of blunders. We will be held accountable for everything. So, once you hear/read that, you look into your life and see that everything you do is filled with these types of mistakes and you need to fix them because now you know they are bad. If you don't fix them, they become dots on your heart that can turn into blobs and eventually turn a clean heart into a dying one. Again, this is the point of no return, once you know how something that most people don't even think about can be bad, you can't go back to living ignorant or else it will impact you negatively. As they say, ignorance is bliss, which is not necessarily true but speaks well the point being made.

I don't know if anything I wrote above makes much sense, I feel guilty writing anything at all but this whole no return concept is intriguing to me. It is pertinent to all our lives. So my dear friend who I wrote this for: there is no return. There is a fork in the road ahead and we must take differing paths. Our destinations may one day meet, Allahu Alim.

Wa Akira Tawana Anilhumdulillahi Wa rabil Alameen

Muslim Kid

Itakaf 2010: Interations with Zakariya

2010-09-18T13:11:00.012-05:00

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem

Assalamu Aliekum,

Itakaf 2010 was as expected amazing. Yesterday I was remembering how before Ramadan I thought to myself, I've transgressed so much that there is no fixation for me. SubhanAllah, here I am clinging on to my post-Ramadan spiritual-high. I'm satisfied with life, inshAllah, Allah lets me remain steadfast with my Deen.

There are so many ways to talk about Itakaf. I could talk about the different lectures, the different scholars, the midnight talks that just make you depressed once Itakaf is over, the cool things you learn about our Deen, etc. There are just so many ways to blog about Itakaf because it is such a rich experience.

However, I have a way of talking about it (part of it) that might sound a little weird but I think its awesome! So here it is. The following is about my interactions with Zakariya, Shaykh Husain's son, during Itakaf.

I'm sitting against one of the pillars in ICC trying to study without any effect. Its about 8:30 PM, magrib finished a while back and people are still eating their main meals a few feet behind me. The main praying area is sparsely populated minus three four kids playing around making a bunch of noise. Oh, and in the left corner is Shaykh Husain sitting talking one on one with one of his murids. I try my best to study but how can I know with the noise behind me and Shaykh Husain in front of me! So I closed my book and went to join the little kids.

"Hey Abdur-Rahman, what are you upto?" I say to one of the three kids playing. This kid is amazing, he is uber cute and loves to smile and laugh. I can't imagine him doing anything but laughing. I made friends with him through another older friend who knew him. That first day, I gave him a piece of gum and he kept swiveling his friend in a chair and laughing ridiculously that I was really worried he might start choking. He says the most random things like, "my dad is Shazad. He's in Noor Masjid doing Itakaf." Eventually, we became good friends. He would come running into the masjid after Magrib and look at me then turn toward a group of my friends and say, "Where's fike? Where's fike? Fike Spike!" Haha, then I would like, Abdur-Rahman, you just looked at me then turned toward them but he would quickly change the subject. Oh yea, Abdur-Rahman is four and a half.

"I'm playing with my friend Zach Attack" He said talking about Zakariya, Shaykh Husain's son, but of course, I didn't know that yet.

"Hey! My name is not Zach Attack!" Zakariya responds smiling with a tooth missing. He's about six or seven years old.

"Your name is Zach Attack" Abdur Rahman says again before he started dying from laughter.

I go toward Zakariya and ask him what his name is.

"My name is Zakariya" then I told him my name and asked him how old he was.

"Zakariya, come here." Suddenly Shaykh Husain calls him -- O.M.G? This kid is Shaykh Husain, thee Shaykh Husain's son? Looks like I have to make a new friend

Later as the night passes. Isha and Tarawih have been read and the following Tafsir is over too. Its 3 nights before school is about to start and I've yet to cover about 60 pages in my AP Biology mega-textbook. Ahhhh.

I go outside to where there is a small desk with some chairs nearby in the shoe-area. Its about 11 o'clock and all the coming and going has pretty much ended. Only the people performing the full 10 days of Itakaf are inside and some people who stay after Tarawih till Fajr. Where I am sitting, it is pretty quiet.

I get through 5-10 pages before Zakariya comes and sits in a chair nearby.

"What are you doing?"

"Well, I should be studying. I came out here to avoid people and so that it would be quiet but now that your here" Well I couldn't miss a chance to bond with Zakariya, so I decided to close my book.

"Now that your here, lets talk!"

"So where do you go to school?"

"What do you mean? I go here! I go to ICC."

"Oh I see, so how is your sister now?"

"I have two sisters"

"I'm talking about [little sister's name]"

"Hey! How do you know my little sister's name?"

"I know a lot Zakariya" I said laughing at how amazed he was - this was only the beginning. This was going to be a fun chat.

"What school does your older sister [older sister's name] go to?" I asked him just to amaze him more that I know stuff about him.

"Hey! How do you know this stuff?"

"Well, its a long story but...Oh wait wasn't there an iftar at your house last thursday?" I only knew that because a friend of mine who is a murid of Shaykh Husain was invited.

"Hey. how do you know all this?" He was really getting amazed, his tooth-missing smile was just getting bigger. It was pretty funny but here was the best one.

I had taken out my wallet and put it right next to my pencil while studying. I opened my wallet and remember that I had a UChicago ID. I pulled it out a bit to show that maroon "University of Chicago" part and showed it to Zakariya.

"Zakariya, doesn't your dad have an ID like this?" Shaykh Husain definitely has to have one considering that he works at the Pritzker school of Medicine, UChicago's Med school.

"Oh my God. How do you know you that and why do you have one too!" He was just blow away. It was hilarious. Eventually, I asked him more questions about his daily life. I felt a bit weird asking him questions about his life but there is this huge curiosity to know ...how Shaykh Husain's son's daily life must be, the day to day activities you know. If you fall in love with a Shaykh, that love definitely extends to the Shaykh's teachers, his peers, his murid and his kids too. Speaking of Shaykh Husain's murids, I'm friends with so many of them that some of them thought that I was actually Shaykh Husain's murid myself. InshAllah, pretty soon, I will be! I've made a decision to give bayah now its just a matter of giving the bayah.

Eventually as more and more people came (my friends) to the shoe area, I realized there was no way I could possibly study. Zakariya went inside too so I went inside too.

Eventually, it was Sahoor time, we ate. It was Fajr time, we prayed. It was time for Shaykh Yusuf's daily speech after Fajr, that happened too. Finally, the lights were out and sleeping bags populated the majority of the Masjid floor. I could finally study in serenity ( I had a little book light with me). However, I realized that going back to my shoe place might be a smart idea. I sat there just pondering for a while until I heard someone sneeze. I raise my head up (I was lying down) and saw that Zakariya laying next to Shaykh Husain had just sneezed. The fan was on nearby him and so I thought to myself, maybe I should turn off the fan, Zakariya might get sick. But then I counter that idea thinking that Shaykh Husain and all those being cooled by the fan would be disturbed in their sleep - I wasn't sure what to do, so I did nothing.

Eventually I leave to the shoe area again. This time it should be a lot better considering that there is a lot of Baraqa in the time after Fajr and that there is none in the time after Isha! Guess who comes into the room again?! Yup, Zakariya!

This time we talked a bit more and I learned about his weekends. He said he usually wakes up early and goes out to play basketball. The basketball hoop is in his backyard and it is ten feet high (he himself is like 2-3 feet tall, haha). He said that his dad said to make is 8 feet tall but he said he wants it at 10 feet! Then he told me that after he plays basketball, he comes home and play computer games for a while. Then he plays on his Nintendo DS (its appropriate that if Shaykh Husain bought his son a video game thing that it would be a DS since the games available are mostly kids appropriate, i.e. Pokemon) Then he said he goes out to play more basketball and sports. It seems to be one of his favorite past times, alhumdulillah that's great.

I asked him if has a TV in his house and he seemed a little sad and said no. He said that that's why he likes going to his grant parent's house, lol. I told him that one day, when he grows up, he'll be so happy that his dad didn't allow him to watch TV. He responded that, "everyone says that" haha.

Next, I let him play on my iPhone and he was a smart kid. He asked me if I could download more games but I told him there was no wifi available here - he was comprehending what I was saying. He was very mature and understanding.

Eventually, Shaykh Husain himself came out into the shoe area and is like "Zakariya, I've been looking all over for you." I apologized and he said no it was okay. He took Zakariya home to eat breakfast.

It was great to talk to Zakariya through out my last few days of Itakaf. I hope Zakariya remembers me the next time I see him, inshAllah. Overall, it was a very pleasant Itakaf. If your interested in hearing about some of the things that Shaykh Husain talked about, check out the Fajr reflections. Shaykh Yusuf sang an awesome nath which is also posted in the post prior to this.

When they said that these days are limited - they weren't joking. Ramadan came and it went. SubhanAllah. Ya Allah make the time between this past Ramadan and next Ramadan shorter for us so that once again Your house can be flocked with believers. Ya Allah, help us remain steadfast on our Deen as much as during Ramdan if not more. And finally, help us remain in the company of the righteous. (Allow me to become one of Shaykh Husain's murids).

Wa Akira Tawana Anilhumdulillahi Wa rabil Alameen

Muslim Kid

Al-Widaa (The Departure)

2010-09-12T18:04:00.008-05:00

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem

Eid Mubarak Friends!

The above nasheed entitled Al-widaa, (The departure) is about Bilal (R), a companion of the Prophet(S), remembering the words of our beloved Prophet(S) while on a journey from Madina to Damascus. His feet are swollen and he is tried but he continues walking remembering the words of the Prophet (S) who has by then passed away. These words are so powerful and to think, SubhanAllah, who is saying it to who? Our amazing Prophet (S) to an amazing companion, Bilal (R).

Let me translate the above hadith before I provide the comments Shaykh Yusuf provided. The translation is probably pretty bad but the commentary should make up for it.

The steps of Bilal. Today, weary from walking.
The steps of Bilal. Today, weary from walking.
Lo, here is our depature. Lo, here is our departure.

Here, take my Quran and my Sunnah.
Here, take my Quran and my Sunnah.
They will lead you to Jannah
They will lead you to Jannah
Whatever misfortune falls upon you,
take refuge with patience.
Whatever misfortune falls upon you,
take refuge with patience.
But don't hurt anyone's heart
But don't hurt anyone's heart

Just remember this, my naseehat.
Just remember this, my naseehat.
Lo, here is our departure.
Lo, here is our departure.

I'll meet you at pul-Sirat myself.
I'll meet you at pul-Sirat myself.
I won't let my Ummah fall below
I won't let my Ummah fall below
There I will instigate on your cause.
Lo, here is our departure.
Lo, here is our departure.

If I am not there, I'll meet you at the fountain of Kauther
If I am not there, I'll meet you at the fountain of Kauther
I won't let my Ummah go thirsty.
I won't let my Ummah go thirsty.
I will extinguish the thirst from your lips.
I will extinguish the thirst from your lips.
Lo, here is our departure.

If I am not there, I'll meet you at Mizan
If I am not there, I'll meet you at Mizan
I won't let your good deeds lessen
I won't let your good deeds lessen
I will try to lessen your sins
I will try to lessen your sins
Lo, here is our departure.
Lo, here is our departure.

If I am not there, I'll meet you at the Ursh of Allah
If I am not there, I'll meet you at the Ursh of Allah
I'll cry and cry and make dua to Allah
I'll cry and cry and make dua to Allah
There, I will try to free you.
There, I will try to free you.
Lo, here is our departure.
Lo, here is our departure.
Lo, here is our departure.

SubhanAllah. What a beautiful beautiful beautiful narration about the Prophet(S)! Shaykh Yusuf, a very young shaykh who works in prisons in the UK, came to ICC for Itakaf. He went to Darul Uloom Bury along with Maulana Mobeen and Mufti Kamani; they were all peers and are all in mid twenties. The Shaykh sang the nasheed then read it again commenting after each stanza for those who didn't know urdu well. Alhumdulillah, it was after a fajr salah in the last five days of Itakaf - the whole audience was in tears. I'll try to rewrite his amazing commentary.

The steps of Bilal. Today, weary from walking.
The steps of Bilal. Today, weary from walking.
Lo, here is our depature. Lo, here is our departure.

Bilal (R) was one of the most dear companions to the Prophet(S). He had told him these words once referring to a time when he won't be here, thus he reminds him of the departure.

Here, take my Quran and my Sunnah.
Here, take my Quran and my Sunnah.
They will lead you to Jannah
They will lead you to Jannah

SubhanAllah. Such simple words, take my Quran and Sunnah, they will lead you to Jannah. If only we could implement this advice to the full extent.

Whatever misfortune falls upon you,
take refuge with patience.
Whatever misfortune falls upon you,
take refuge with patience.
But don't hurt anyone's heart
But don't hurt anyone's heart

This was the heart of our Prophet(S), he would never hurt anyone. He would be patient and endure any hardships himself but never let anyone else taste hardship because of him. How can we not admire and love such a person?

Just remember this, my naseehat.
Just remember this, my naseehat.
Lo, here is our departure.
Lo, here is our departure.

Naseehat possibly means advice. I feel like that makes sense. Here is where it gets really good - where its hard to control the tears. It does mean advice*

I'll meet you at pul-Sirat myself.
I'll meet you at pul-Sirat myself.
I won't let my Ummah fall below
I won't let my Ummah fall below
There I will instigate on your cause.
There I will instigate on your cause.
Lo, here is our departure.
Lo, here is our departure.

Ya Allah. On that day, when we will have to walk across the hair-thick pul-Sirat, we will surely fall down. Below us will be Hell and in front of us a getaway. We've heard of this but how many of us understand one simple thing, it is really going to happen. One day, once this illusion of a life ends, one day, that day, the Day of Judgment, when all the creatures are brought back to life to be judged for every single na'ehmah, every single heartbeat and moment of our lives, it will be a difficult day. How are we going to cross this path as thin as a piece of hair? How? Here the Prophet(S) is saying that I will meet you there, I will follow behind you and make sure you cross it safely. I won't let my Ummah fall below. Below us the fire of Jahanam will be raging, the fire that was created to consume evil doers and those who sin, we sin. It is said that that the best time to live would be during the Prophet(S)'s time - imagine seeing the blessed beautiful face, that face which was more beautiful than the moon, however it was just that difficult too. Bilal (R) was made the Adhan giver because his "ahad" (one) used to be heard through out Makkah when the Kufar used to torture him for his belief in one God. That was the difficult that these companions faced but they got to see, hear, touch, and be in the companionship of the Prophet(S). That is what made them Sahaba, anyone today could practice every tenet of Islam but they wouldn't be a Sahaba because their defining characteristic was that they saw the Prophet(S) himself! SubhanAllah. However, we should realize that we are in the second best time possible - we are part of the Ummah of the Prophet (S). The Ambiya, the Prophets of God, used to make dua that they could be in the Ummah of our Prophet(S) - one Prophet's dua, Isa (A) or Jesus, did come true as he will return to be a part of the Ummah of our Prophet(S).

If I am not there, I'll meet you at the fountain of Kauther
If I am not there, I'll meet you at the fountain of Kauther
I won't let my Ummah go thirsty.
I won't let my Ummah go thirsty.
I will extinguish the thirst from your lips.
I will extinguish the thirst from your lips.
Lo, here is our departure.

The fountain of Kauther is something that is mind-blowing. On that day when there is no shade but the shade of Allah(SWT)'s ursh, when the sun is in your face, literally, the Prophet(S) will be handing out water to his Ummah at the fountain of Kauther. We can't take the heat of the Masjid when it is crowded, we can't take the heat of this duniya's summer seasons, how in the world can be even bear to smell or hear the heat of the sun in our faces? The Prophet(S) says that if he can't meet us at pul-sirat, he will meet us at the fountain of kauther. On that hot day, there will be no shade and no water except the shade of Allah for those seven people and water for the Ummah of the Prophet(S). But, to be qualified for that life-saving water, you need to be a part of the Ummah of the Prophet(S). We will see the fountain and go toward it and wait in line. We will tell the angels that yes we are part of the Ummah of the Prophet(S) but when the Prophet (S) sees us and looks at our state, that we have abandoned his Sunnah, what if he says, hey your not part of my Ummah. Ya Allah, save us from that horrible fate. Make us the recipients of water by the hands of the Prophet(S) on that fateful day. Make us exactly like the Prophet(S) so that on that day he recognizes us and smiles at us instead of frowning and wondering if we are really part of his Ummah.

If I am not there, I'll meet you at Mizan
If I am not there, I'll meet you at Mizan
I won't let your good deeds lessen
I won't let your good deeds lessen
I will try to lessen your sins
I will try to lessen your sins
Lo, here is our departure.
Lo, here is our departure.

Mizan is the part of the Day of Judgement where we will literally be judged. Our good and our bad will be put on a balance and tested - which is heavier and more abundant? The Prophet (S) says that he will meet us there if he cannot meet us at pul-Sirat or Kauther. He won't let our good deeds be pushed away and instead he will lessen our bad deeds. Ya Allah, how lucky we are that we are in the Ummah of the Prophet (S), the only Prophet given the ability to intercede on behalf of the members of his Ummah. The Ummah of the Prophet(S), we, will be the first to enter Jannah from all the Ummah because the Prophet (S) is the most dear Insan, man, to Allah(SWT). It is such that, whenever someone says, La-illaha-ilallah, they follow it with, Muhammad-ur-RasoolaAllah. SubhanAllah. Someone once asked the Prophet (S), when is the Day of Judgment coming? The Prophet (S) replied by posing a question, what have you prepare for it? The man replied, nothing except that I have great love for you and Allah. The Prophet replied that on the Day of Judgment, man will be raised with those he loved. Ya Allah, help us fall in love, become ashiqs, lovers, of the Habib of Allah, the Prophet (S) and consequently inhabitants of Jannahtul Firdos, the highest Heavens.

If I am not there, I'll meet you at the Ursh of Allah
If I am not there, I'll meet you at the Ursh of Allah
I'll cry and cry and make dua to Allah
I'll cry and cry and make dua to Allah
There, I will try to free you.
There, I will try to free you.
Lo, here is our departure.
Lo, here is our departure.
Lo, here is our departure.

Alhumdulillah, Alhumdulillah, wAlhumdulillah. If the Prophet (S) can't meet us at pul-Sirat, Kauther, or Mizan, he will meet us directly at the Ursh of Allah (SWT). He says he will beg and plead and cry - for our sake! Who are we that the Prophet(S) cry for us? We've abandoned his Sunnah, we think its weird and unfashionable. Even then, the Prophet(S) loves us more than anyone ever could. We are suppose to love Allah(SWT) the most, second to Allah is the place of the Prophet(S) - more than our mothers and fathers. Why? This is why. The Prophet (S) has the ability to intercede on our behalf on that day. That day when everyone will be running around like crazy screaming Nafsi, Nafsi, only thinking of themselves and not anyone else, their mother, father, spouse, children, no one will matter. Our beloved Nabi (S) will be saying, "Ummati, Ummati" My Ummah, My Ummah! If your not in tears thinking of what the Prophet (S) is saying to his Bilal and subsequently his Ummah, there is something not right here.

With that being said, we make dua that Allah (SWT) make us exactly like the Prophet (S). Make it so that the Prophet (S) helps us cross pul-Sirat, that he quenches our thirst from the fountain of Kauther. May the Prophet help our scales of good and bad deeds on the event of Mizan. InshAllah, we are not even accounted for our deeds and instead we enter Jannahtul Firdos directly. Ameen.

Wa Akira Tawana Anilhumdulillahi Wa rabil Alameen

Muslim Kid

Fajr Reflections! - Day 6 and 7 (Following Allah's Commands)

2010-08-25T17:29:00.010-05:00

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem

I will combine two days because it doesn't make sense to do two different posts when I have other important work awaiting me.

Following Allah's Command

From yesterday -

The hadith basically was a man asking the Prophet(S) , "Tell me more about Wudu" and so the Prophet offered him some advice which is important for us as it serves as a good reminder. First he said, do not hasten, that is, take your time and do it well. Secondly, don't forget the area between two fingers and clean that by rubbing it against the opposite area on your other hand. So interlocking your hands through your fingers then rubbing it under water. Be sure to clear out the nostrils well but be sure water doesn't enter it when you are fasting.

Shaykh Hussain made some wise comments about this basic hadith. First, it is interesting to note that Wudu is probably the only thing in the Quran that is actually outlined fully. The Fard steps of Wudu are stated in the Quran:

O ye who believe! when ye prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; Rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles (5:6)

So Wudu is very important by that virtue alone. Above that, the Prophet and the companions didn't consider the Wudu as a requirement before praying Salah. I mean it was that but not just that, beyond that, it was an act of worship itself!

Shaykh Hussain basically re highlighted what the hadith was saying in terms of how to better your wudu, that is, he showed us what exactly the requirements were saying. Then he made a very interesting point that I can't imagine anyone else making.

The hadith highlights two specific parts of wudu. 1) Washing your hands carefully and 2) Being careful when washing your nose. The first mentioned step, is Fard and mandated by Quran and the second step is a Sunnah of the Prophet(S). Essentially, this shows that the Prophet didn't give preference to one over the other since they were both part of life.

This initiated a conversation on Sunnah and Fard. Sadly, we as Muslims now make a distinction between Fard and Sunnah. The Prophet and the Sahaba didn't make a distinction between these two. It wasn't that because washing out your nostril is Sunnah that I don't have to do it - if the Prophet(S) did it, then you had to do it too. There literally was no Sunnah and Fard back then, Follow the messenger, then you are obeying Allah. That was the basic principal, they did whatever the Prophet did.

The distinction between Sunnah and Fard came later after the Prophet's death when people would come to the scholars and ask questions. If someone asked, I forgot this step while doing Wudu, did it still count? Then the scholars would have to look into what was mandated by the Quran and what the Prophet did - they could only make what the Quran says Fard. But the point remains that Sunnah is just as essential as Fard if we wish to live a life abiding by the Sunnah and thus the Quran.

From Today -

I am hesitant to write the hadith again because I am not using the exact words. The hadith is a
hadith Al-Qudsi, which means that is something that Allah has said Himself. Please take this, cum grano salis, with a grain of salt.

The Prophet (S) said that Allah said the one most favorable to Allah is the one who breaks his fast quick.

The first thing to understand is that this hadith is saying that we should break our fast as quick as possible. We shouldn't wait longer than necessary. It highlights an important rule about Islam, that again, we are the servants of Allah and we do exactly as he has commanded us. The purpose behind fasting is to please Allah by doing what he said.

Many times, we may think that by virtue of waiting maybe 10 minutes, we might be doing a good deed by waiting a bit longer but this is against what Allah has commanded us. Shaykh Hussain provided an example that, imagine if one morning you woke up and felt more righteous than you usually do and so you decided to pray 4 rakah for Fajr instead of 2 rakah Fard. This would be a grave violation against Shariah. Also, the term Deen, actually means the religion as set forth by the Prophet so since the Prophet prayed 2 rakah Fard and 2 rakah Sunnah, that is what we must follow. Deen isn't how we interpret Islam but how the Prophet practiced Islam.

This prayer example seems silly because we have an understanding of Salah and if one morning someone suggested that we pray 4 rakah instead of 2 rakah at the Masjid - we would strongly object. However, in other matter, that we don't fully understand what the Quran and Sunnah say, we often lack sufficient knowledge but assume that our cultural views on the issue are consistent with Sunnah. Shaykh Hussain said that an example of this was gender interactions, that we don't know what our Deen says about it but the Desi-culture often becomes our position because we confuse culture with Deen.

So this talk was kind of surprising to me honestly because you know, actions are based on intentions. If the purpose of our fasting is to please Allah, if we wait ten minutes just to make sure that the time is right, aren't we being proactive and preventing ourselves from breaking the fast too early? I guess not. See this is why knowledge is so important, being ignorant of this principle, most of us probably do break our fasts a little past the correct time.

Shaykh Hussain made an interesting point about another topic that we don't have enough knowledge on sadly and so we fail to go through with it the way we are suppose to: Zakah. Zakah is 2.5% but because we get confused about what counts, what doesn't count, how much we have, we just donate a certain estimation plus a bit extra in case. So the example Shaykh Hussain gave was that imagine that someone owed Zakah. This person usually just gives 2500 which is a lot more than he has to but figuring out exactly 2.5% is a hassle for him. This is actually not a good way to go about it.

Lets say that the amount the person actually owed was 2100.47, he should sit down and calculate that amount to the best of his ability. Then after, after giving that under the name of Zakah, he should give a certain amount like 500 more just to make sure in case he forgot anything. That is the correct method of calculating and giving Zakah. Shaykh Hussain wisely said that, "Zakah is a means to count our blessing from Allah. If we just give any amount, we are losing that aspect of it."

Shaykh Hussain made an awesome point where he said that we as Muslims never give up. This life is non-stop Ibadah. You would think that after Ramadan, a month in which many who people who don't pray at all force themselves to pray at least a little bit - there would be a break. I mean if you pray Tarawih, 20 rakah, every night, try to go to the Masjid as much as possible for Salah, and many people also do ten days of Itakaf (staying at the Masjid, isolating yourself from the outside world) , by the end of Ramadan, you are dead tired.

But SubhanAllah, the day after Ramadan ends, Eid is a day when instead of worrying about five Salah, you have the Eid Salah, that is, six Salahs! Additionally, after Ramadan, the day after Ramadan ends, is the official beginning of the days of Hajj. SubhanAllah.

To this Shaykh Hussain related a conversation between him and Shaykh Zulfiqar, his own Shaykh and teacher. He said that once he went to Shaykh Zulfiqar and said that he wanted to retire. Shaykh Zulfiqar said Oh no, we Muslims retired and relax in our graves. SubhanAllah, I've heard that before in his lectures. Actually I'm going to link that lecture below because it was a great lecture about working hard that we can all benefit from. (2 parts 10 minute each on Youtube, nothing intense!). But seriously, while Shaykh Hussain was telling us this, he was smiling and laughing as if he was recalling the best times of his life. Can we say SubhanAllah? Our Ulema have so much Baraqa in their lives that for Shaykh Hussain, he smiles about his conversations with his teachers from the past. We smile and laugh at the most ridiculous things ever - things we shouldn't!

So with both of these somewhat related topics being written about, let us close with a dua. Ya Allah, make us among the people who correctly and thoroughly perform our Wudu and see it as an act of worship itself. Let us be among those individual who do not distinguish between Sunnah and Quran and see both as a means to become the beloved of Allah. Let us be among those who break their fast quickly and be those favored by Allah for following his commands as exact as possible. Let us attain knowledge so that we may extinguish our ignorance and follow Allah's command in its truest form. Let us be as exact as possible in our Zakah and truly get the most out of every aspect of our Deen. Let us emulate our Ulema when their everything is connected to Islam - where their jokes, their worries and their desires are all righteous - let mimic them.

Wa Akira Tawana Anilhumdulillahi Wa rabil Alameen

Muslim Kid

Fajr Reflections! - Day 6 (The Supremacy of Wahi)

2010-08-24T01:14:00.010-05:00

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem

You thought I forgot or was unfaithful to my promise of writing this everyday until August 27th (and InshAllah after that too!)? Shame on you for giving up on a brotha so easily. Sorry it has been a hectic day and it has been more than 20 hours since Shaykh Hussain talked at Fajr yesterday/today? I've slept less than 4 hours in the past 24 hours because of so much work. Stupid journalism articles but in the end, it will be worth it, inshaAllah.

So Shaykh Hussain was absent yesterday, remember "No Reflections! - Day 5" but guess what? He's back! The man is up and spitting genius as he always does, Alhumdulillah. I found today's short talk excellent. He used a very simple hadith to say some big statements that really define our Deen. InshAllah I can try to shed some light on what he said.

The Supremacy of Wahi

I think if Shaykh Hussain wrote this, its focus would be a little different. Personally, his talk today, the main point I gathered from it was what I am going to talk - but maybe that wasn't the main point per se.

That being said, the hadith, I have so much work to do that I will not look it up online instead just write it myself.

The Prophet basically said that anything that goes beyond the throat during one's fast invalidates the fast. However, if something does enter the throat while the person is fasting but forget that they are fasting - the fast isn't broken. However, if something enters the throat accidentally but they are aware that they are fasting, their fast does break.

The first thing to understand is what exactly the hadith is saying and then another larger lesson from it. If you are fasting and someone enters the room with your favorite candy bar and you grab it and eat it. After you've consumed it, you realize you were fasting - your fast doesn't break. That was Shaykh Hussain's exact example; the next example gets even better. Next, imagine if you are going ghusl and you know you are fasting but accidentally some water enters your throat. Shaykh Hussain made a funny mistake here. First he said imagine you are making wudu then said no ghusl because you'd be dealing with a more extreme amount of water that it would be easy to consume just a little. However, in his example he said, "imagine while your doing this, some little kid comes and pushes you from the back and you gulp the water in your mouth as you were gargling." That's is funny - a kid can push you while your doing wudu, no biggie but while your doing ghusl! LOL.

This reminds me of a statement about our scholars and Ulema, that their mistakes, their jokes, their worries, etc. even involve righteous things. Shaykh Hussain's blunder was confusing wudu and ghusl during a talk, wow. Just wow, our blunder might be confusing a song artist with another artist.

So obviously this hadith establishes that anything entering beyond the throat of a fasting person will break his fast. It also establishes that even thought that rule is firmly established, that if a person does so in forgetfulness he doesn't break his fast. Finally, if he is aware that he is fasting and accidentally consumes something, his fast is still broken. Here is where he started spitting out his usual genius.

This hadith highlights a very important aspect of the Dean. There are levels of knowledge. The first is the knowledge we can gain from our sense. So Shaykh Hussain touched the microphone and said I touch it and through my senses I can tell you it is metal. That is the simplest form of knowledge, next is aklq or intellect. So you gather data through your senses then using your intellect you can reason with yourself. This is now a days called science, that is, using your senses and reasoning abilities.

For most people, this is the pinnacle of their knowledge. However, subhanAllah, Allah has blessed Insan with Wahi, revelation, too. That is the highest form of knowledge for a Muslim, the knowledge, the guidance, the wisdom, the hikmah, that was given to man directly from Allah through the Prophet.

If someone asked us why we fast, we would start listing the health benefits and the purpose and all the reasons behind it. Notice the key word, reason. We don't fast because our reason allows us to understand its benefits because if that were true, couldn't we fast any month of the year? We fast simply because we are servants of Allah(SWT) and our master has commanded us to fast. We don't question our master. SubhanAllah, SubhanAllah, SubhanAllah.

Everything doesn't have to make sense. Ever heard of the hadith of doing wudu when you are wearing socks, you put water on the top of your foot. Logically, this doesn't make sense, such that washing the bottom of your feet (barefooted) which does make sense. The wisdom of this lies with Allah and our duty is just to act upon what has been revealed to us.

Think about it. Now a days, we as Muslims shy away from certain topics because we think they are Audubillah, 'weird' or 'backward'. For example, as Muslims, we tend to not discuss homosexuality because if you can't really tell someone that Islam condemns it. That Islam isn't 'accepting' of such a sin. Right? We are all afraid. Essentially, anything that we can't reason with, we put it aside. Recently with the whole Ground Zero mosque (My friend suggested that is what he might be addressing very generally), Muslims are degrading Islam to however people in the America might want to view it. Here is a perfect example of this:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/feature/2010/08/19/patriotic_muslim_american_on_the_mosque_mess

Islam isn't a class that you take on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It is a bunch of servants doing as their master says because they seek the pleasure of their master. Again, a lot of things in the Deen are explainable and understandable through science and we accept those but we also accept those things that science doesn't seem to fully grasp yet. I really like this line by Shaykh Hussain:

I mean if the creator of this universe gave us this Quran then it makes sense that the Quran is consistent with how the universe works.

So inshaAllah, let us be among the more wise Muslims who are able to accept Wahi as the highest form of knowledge. Let us be faithful to the words of the Holy Quran and accept and share what it says, how it says it and exactly how it says it. Additionally, as obviously pointed out by the hadith, let us not ever break our fasts accidentally such that it gets negated or forgetfully eat and have to make up our fast. Let us stay away from academics in our Dean as much as possible. Finally, being the month it is, let us take full benefit of this month. Specifically, let these ten days not finishing without each and everyone of us having gained forgiveness for our past sins. Ameen.

Wa Akira Tawana Anilhumdulillahi Wa rabil Alameen

Muslim Kid

No Reflections! - Day 5 (Achieving Forgiveness)

2010-08-22T06:14:00.003-05:00

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem

Why hello there friends. Its so interesting to know that people come here even though the title said "No Reflection". Anyway, Shaykh Hussain was absent today - I'm sure he had some amazing reason. I was bummed but then I mean give the man a break. Imagine the sacrifice he and his family must make to serve the community. Imagine how much time he could spending with his wife and kids that he spends at the Masjid for people like us.

Nevertheless! Here's some food for thought that Maulana Mobeen offered today at the midnight talk for youths.

Achieving Forgiveness

"A real man never backs down. You know when you play Xbox 360 or PS3 and you have these achievements. Usually they are easy but every once in a while you come across one that is hard to achieve so what do you do? You step it up a notch! Sometimes it is super hard and so we spend all night and maybe even play after Fajr. We lay down and play because we are so tired, we just won't stop until we complete it. We forget when it is day and when it is night, we can only see that we need to achieve this goal. My dear brothers, we should realize that this whole life is trying to get this one achievement, to enter Jannah.

When I was younger, I got a job at a call center. Everyday I would receive 200 calls from people who hated me (why else do you call customer service?) and by the time I got home, I hated myself. I hated the job but I decided I would not back down from it. I did the job for six months. Finally, I was offered the post of assistant supervisor. I said no keep your job and I quit. The purpose was to achieve that sense of worth and knowing that if I put my mind to it, I can do anything. That is one of the unique characteristics of Insan, he has will power. He can do whatever he wants if he allows himself.

That being said, we can do whatever we want. We can enter Jannah, all we need to do is be determined and remind ourselves this is what we truly want. Brothers, the first ten days of Ramadan have passed, subhanAllah, where have these days gone by? The days of Mercy are gone and day of Forgiveness have just begun. Let us make it our goal, that we will forget when it is day and when it is night, all we need to do is get that achievement, that is, get that forgiveness. Let us take advantage of these next ten days and complete this achievement so that on the Day of Judgment, we will be among those who are given their book of deeds on their right hand. Ameen."

Haha, his video game example was a bit extreme I think but then again I never played video games so I wouldn't know the isqh of playing video games, lol. Speaking of Isqh, yesterday Qari Mannan used a line that I thought was alhumdulillah very beautiful. "Once you've tasted the isqh of reading Quran, there is nothing more sweet. All we want is to be left alone. Us and the Quran, nothing else." Isqh, for those who might not know, can be roughly translated as craziness, love or extreme devotion.

MashaAllah, the midnight session was pretty cool. First Maulana Mobeen talked for about forty-five minutes, then there was pizza. Next, four different Hufaz (plural of Hafiz) led 2 rakah Nafls for Qiyam-al-Layl (Literally standing at night). Alhumdulillah hearing their voices was amazing since all the lights except were closed except one dimly light green lantern. Next, Abdul Hadee, who has the most beautiful soft spoken voice ever, made an awesome dua. In that group of 30-50 male youth, no one could have been left with dry eyes. After that for an hour it was quiet Ibadah time then Sahoor and Fajr.

It should have been called a hufaz fest. Let me seriously try to name all the hufaz that I personally knew there. Tariq. Owais. Abdur Raheem, Nasir, Muztaza, Abdullah, Abdul Hadee, Hamza Khan and a few who are currently doing Hifz: Abdur Rahman and his 3-4 buddies! that doesn't include the 20 or so people who I didn't know at all. Alhumdulillah, what better company can you find than a group of people with the Quran firmly in their heart with some pursing Alim courses too.

Finally, because Shaykh Hussain wasn't here, Hafiz Sohail (Abdul Hadee) read a few hadiths. The second was particularly interesting. It went something like: The person who fasts, Allah furthers him a 70 years-worth journey away from the hellfire. So when you fast, Allah removes you from the hellfire by such a distance that it would take you 70 years to travel there again.

With that being said, let us be among the people who are able to achieve forgiveness in the next ten days. Let us fall in love with the Quran and may our fasts be accepted so that we are furthered away from the Hellfire. Ameen.

Wa Akira Tawana Anilhumdulillahi Wa rabil Alameen

Muslim Kid

Fajr Reflections! - Day 4 (Fasting for Paradise)

2010-08-21T05:49:00.005-05:00

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem

Everyone who I tag and others who I haven't been tagging, thank you. I did this for myself because I like to write and wanted to preserve what I was learning throughout the month for later. Alhumdulillah, people are really benefiting from this and its amazing. As Shaykh Hussain would say, we don't have faith in our deficient deeds but we have hope in the good deeds of others that we bring them to. I hope you really enjoy these as much I enjoy writing it. Better than reading this, come to ICC yourself! InshaAllah!

Everyone was super tired at Fajr today and by chance his talk was very short today. Before I even begin on that, I want to talk about Noor Masjid a bit. While I usually go to ICC for Tarawih, I asked my friend to go to Noor Masjid to hear Qari Mannan's voice. Qari Mannan has an amazing voice so its easy to stand for almost three hours to listen to 3 Juz a night. Thus, they finish every ten days, today being the first of three katams (finishings). He gave a short speech in urdu then a dua. The speech had some great points that are worth sharing.

He started off by reminding us of the blessing of what had just happened. We just finished the Quran, Allah's greatest gift to Insan. He said something following this which is also another statement we take for granted. "He gave us this book and he allowed it to enter into our hearts." When he said that, I began thinking, imagine if the Quran was impossible to memorize. It would be a different religion, subhanAllah.

Next he said some very eloquent lines in Urdu and the translator guy did a horrible job, no offense to him. His statements were regarding the effect of the Quran being revealed on different things:

"The Quran was revealed in this month and so Allah made this month the Sardar, the king, the best, the most noble of the months. The Quran was revealed on the Night of power and so Allah made that night the most noblest and greatest of nights. The Quran was revealed through Muhammad(S) and so he is the king of righteous men. and the time when the Quran was revealed, that generation is the best of generations. SubhanAllah, look at the power of the Quran."

He said it very nicely in urdu. Anyway, I'm so tired that I won't bother to find the exact text of the hadith that Shaykh Hussain read toady but I should remember it pretty well. If I say anything wrong and you were there, correct me please.

Fasting for Paradise

Someone asked the Prophet a question possibly and the Prophet started talking about Raiyan, the door of Jannah for the fasting people. The door will call out to the people who fast and only those who fasted. Once everyone enters, it will close forever.

From this we learn a lot of things. One, Jannah has gates. These gates again, are literally excuses put forth by Allah's mercy to allow Insan to enter Jannah. Thus, of the gates of Jannah, one is Raiyan, the gate of fasting. This door is for people who fasted and only those people who fasted. Finally, once all the fasting people enter it, it will close.

To put all this in context, Shaykh Hussain spoke about the Day of Judgment. On that day everyone will run around in utter chaos because they will know that it is time for judgment and that they will be taken into account. Everyone will be running and screaming, not knowing or remembering anyone from this world. Before them will be Jannah and Jahanam (Heaven and Hell).

You know if you go on a trip with a huge group, most likely the tour group will have different group leaders within that giant group. Similarly, to organize this chaos on that day, these gates of Jannah are going to be the leaders and they will call to their selected people. This specific door will call to the people who fasted.

Now imagine, anyone who fasted, this door will call out to them and they will remember that yes we are the people who fasted and head towards the gate. SubhanAllah, next Shaykh Hussain started talking about what a bargain this is. We are being given a ticket into Jannah, for what? Think of it this way, we are being offered entry into Jannah through this specific gate - for doing nothing.

Yes, nothing. Fasting requires nothing. It is in a way a negative deed, a deed where you don't have to go out of your way to perform a deed. To fast, all you need to do is abstain from food, drink and relations. Essentially, one could sleep through most of his fast and it would be perfectly valid. How easy is it to fast, such that, so long as you intend to fast - once the clock ticks Fajr time, you are automatically fasting unless you go out of your way to break your fast. What a sweet deal!

So with that being said, let us not think of fasting as a burden but as a opportunity to find some relief on that day when all will chaotic. Let us be among the people who are called by and enter the gates of Raiyan because we were the people who fasted. Ameen.

I feel like I'm missing some stuff but that's alright. It was a good talk Alhumdulillah. I just wish it had been longer! :P

Notice, I'm going to give each talk a short title so I can remember which day was which discussion. Also, I started with Bismillah and ended with this short dua, exactly how Shaykh Hussain starts and ends. I'm sure there is Baraqa in it or he wouldn't start and end with these words.

Muslim Kid

"Wa Akira Tawana, Anilhumdulillahi Rabil Alameen."

Fajr Reflections! - Day 3

2010-08-20T05:56:00.006-05:00

I'm so tired because I had to go to Columbia college for this meeting and so I had to wake up early. Already sleep deprived, I have to leave at 11 today for junior year orientation. I still have to finish the stupid CSP essay that is due Friday, err, today.

So I will be super concise, actually concise, not like yesterday. Today Shaykh Hussain worked some magic again where he actually used the same Hadith, for a fifth time! Each time he has commented on a different aspect of it. To be honest, when I first heard the Hadith for today, I thought to myself, "c'mon Shaykh Hussain, stop trying to pull things out the Hadith when you know its time to move on to a different Hadith". Alhudulillah, he proved me wrong. He talked about asking questions, that is, when you should and should not ask questions and what type of questions are permissible.

He recited the Hadith which is pasted below:

Abu Hurairah (Radhiallaho anha) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said,

"He who spends a pair in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Jannah:

`O slave of Allah! This gate is better for you' and one who is constant in Salat (prayer), will be called from the Gate of Salat;

and whoever is eager in fighting in the Cause of Allah, will be called from the Gate of Jihad;

and who is regular in observing Saum will be called from Ar-Raiyan Gate.

The one who is generous in charity will be called from the Gate of Charity.''

Abu Bakr (Radhiallaho anha) said:"O Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam)! May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! Those who are called from these gates will stand in need of nothing. Will anybody be called from all of those gates?'' He replied, "Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them.''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

After the Prophet(S) shared this tidbit about how merciful Allah is, that he finds five different excuses for man to enter into heaven, Abu Bakr asked a question. Abu Bakr was a man of few words and so him asking a question was already extraordinary. The way in which he asked the question shows his sincerity in asking this question.

As Shaykh Hussain said, it is more so like the Prophet(S) telling the people of Allah's great mercy and upon hearing this, Abu Bakr sincerely asks, while those who are called from anyone of these gates won't need anything, will anyone possibly be called from all five because Allah's mercy is so great that our poultry deeds are acceptable to him even though he has no use for worship that is lacking and deficient such as ours? The Prophet replied yes, such is the mercy of Allah. In fact, the question was so sincere that Allah put that dua, "I hope you are one of them." in the heart of the Prophet for Abu Bakr at the moment.

So now using this as a exposition, Shaykh Hussain talked about when to ask questions, and when not to ask; and what questions are appropriate and what questions are not. It was honestly very useful and I hope many people benefit from this specific post.

He began by talking about the Sahaba were very cautious of asking questions. They rarely ever asked questions and so whenever a Bedouin would come, they would be really happy because they knew they would ask the Prophet questions. This is highlighted in the Quran in the "Ya-a-loo-na-ka" ayahs which translates to, they ask you referring to the Sahaba. This occurs few times in the Quran showing that while the companions of the Prophet(S) asked few questions, these questions were so sincere that Allah preserved them and their answers in his Holy Book.

And We sent not before you, [O Muhammad], except men to whom We revealed [the message], so ask the people of the message if you do not know. --- Quran 21:7

In the Quran, the above ayah it tells the believers to ask the people of remembrance if they do not know. While Shaykh Hussain didn't mention this specifically today, in the past he has mentioned that this ayah refers to the idea that there will always be people of knowledge and remembrance around till the end of times or else Allah would tell believers to resort to them in times of need. (Horrible run on sentence but oh well my eyes are half closed.) Additionally, this ayah reveals that when one has a question regarding practicing the Deeen, ask our Ulema.

Now. Notice what I wrote above because it is a distinction that Shaykh Hussain clearly pointed out. You ask a question when it is necessary for your practicing of the Deen, not an academic question. When you ask trivial questions and do not rest until every 'if, then, so, maybe' question is answer - you make Islam harder upon yourself. The Quran also says not to ask questions because it can make Islam harder for you. It reminds me of the narration about Bani-Israel where they need to sacrifice a cow but they keep asking Musa(A) to find out which specific cow until eventually the only cow is owned by a group of orphans. They make the need to fulfill the requirement really hard for themselves.

The example Shaykh Hussain cited was someone asked a mufti, Can you talk about the using of the American Dollar? If under some principal using the American Dollar can be denied in a fatwa, what will someone who lives in America do? However, it was you who asked and made it difficult for yourself because once you find out that you can't use it for whatever reason, you would be in a conflict.

These academic questions are not sincere. They do not affect how we practice our Deen and live Islam. Living as a Muslim, that is, following the Quran and Sunnah is easy; it is these academic questions that make it hard. Again, as the Ayah says to ask the people of remembrance, our scholars - it also establishes a protection for the one who asks. If Allah(SWT) told us to ask a mufti for when we have a question on a legal matter, then we are protected by that command of Allah's. That is pretty easy to understand. However, Shaykh Hussain said something very interesting which I didn't ever think about.

While the questioner is under Allah's protection, so is the mufti granting the fatwa so long as he is sincere and true to what he thinks is right - not the most convenient and acceptable fatwa. How can the mufti be under Allah's protection too? What if he answers the question wrong and basically just mislead someone? Well, Shaykh Hussain provided another narration, that is, that the mufti who issues a correct fatwa gets two rewards and the one who issues a wrong fatwa sincerely gets one. So, even the mufti is under the protection when he answers a question.

So basically sum up everything in a short paragraph, ask questions out of sincerity and because you need to know the answer to be able to practice Islam - not because you have an academic interest such as debating an issue or proving your point. Islam isn't a class and its laws aren't meant to be food for thought. We as Muslims are commanded to ask questions if we don't know something that we need to know. We are commanded to ask the people of righteousness and remembrance. At the same time, our Ulema discourage asking questions for the sake of asking questions, so let us refrain from that. Ameen.

Sorry if this is really crappy, the talk was honestly very good.

Muslim Kid

Fajr Reflections! - Day 2

2010-08-19T06:31:00.002-05:00

So I am dead tired right now so I will attempt to be as brief as possible even if that means overlooking some minor points. I will be consistent with this "Fajr Reflections" thing. Whenever I have tried to do some sort of series before, I always fail big time, not this time!

Before I begin with today's points from Fajr, Mufti Mobeen, who gives a Tafseer of what was read after Tarawih, had some great points in his Tafseer today that I would like to highlight. They were also talking about Abu Bakr(R) so it is related to yesterday's reflection.

He began by talking about the Hijah from Mecca to Medina when the Prophet migrated with Abu Bakr. At one point, Abu Bakr offered to carry the Prophet on his back up up a mountain and the Prophet accepted. Abu Bakr carried the Prophet up the mountain on his back then they entered a cave. Abu Bakr made sure that all the holes in the cave were covered by stuffing it with pieces of his cloth but one hole was left uncovered and so he covered it using his foot.

When the Prophet came in, Abu Bakr offered him sleep while he kept watch. The Prophet put his head on the head of Abu Bakr and went to sleep. From the one hole that Abu Bakr had covered with his leg, a spider began to bite him. Eventually it bite him seventeen times, such that his body was overtaken by poison. He refused to move even in this state of extreme pain and instead a drop of water fell from his eye and on to the Prophet's blessed face. After this the Prophet awoke to see the situation Abu Bakr was in and relieved him of the pain.

Relative to the fact that the Prophet let Abu Bakr carrying his whole body up a mountain - during a battle Ali (R) asked the Prophet if the Prophet could step on his back to get some height and destroy an idol that was elevated and hard to reach. The Prophet told him that he could not carry the weight of the Prophet because he carried the weight of the message. Ali(R) was a Sahabi who was known for his strength such that in one battle, he was the flag bearer and seeing this the enemies tried to rid him of his shield so that he would be easy to annihilate. They were successful in taking his shield away but as they did that, he went to a nearby fortress and pulled away the door and used it as a shield. This gate was so huge that it would take four strong men to even lift it up now.

Finally. There was a point where the Muslims needed fund and so everyone was asked to bring whatever they could. This is different than the narration from yesterday. So Abu Bakr went to his house and saw that he had nothing at all to give. He then took off his nice cloths, and wore some rough cloths and sold his nice cloths. When he came to the Prophet, the Prophet exclaimed, Abu Bakr, you used to be a cloths merchant, now your wearing rough clothing! What has happened? However, when the Angel Jibrael visited the Prophet, he was wearing the same type of rough clothing and the Prophet(S) asked him why he was also wearing the same type of clothing. Angel Jibrael responded that it was not just him but to look above and that all the Angels were wearing the same cloths. Allah(SWT) had fallen in love with this act such that he made all the Angels wear the same cloth as Abu Bakr.

Here is the killer part: Then Angel Jibrael asked the Prophet to ask Abu Bakr, "Are you pleased with Allah(SWT)?" ...Can you imagine being asked if you are pleased with God? We live our lives to please God, that is the reason behind our existence and here Abu Bakr is being asked if he is pleased with Allah!

The above narrations again speak to Abu Bakr's sacrifice for the Deen that he was able to be elevated to such a high spot. This brings us to what Shaykh Hussain talked about this Fajr! He actually read the same Hadith:

Abu Hurairah (Radhiallaho anha) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said,

"He who spends a pair in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Jannah:

`O slave of Allah! This gate is better for you' and one who is constant in Salat (prayer), will be called from the Gate of Salat;

and whoever is eager in fighting in the Cause of Allah, will be called from the Gate of Jihad;

and who is regular in observing Saum will be called from Ar-Raiyan Gate.

The one who is generous in charity will be called from the Gate of Charity.''

Abu Bakr (Radhiallaho anha) said:"O Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam)! May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! Those who are called from these gates will stand in need of nothing. Will anybody be called from all of those gates?'' He replied, "Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them.''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

I guess this is the forth day he has read this same Hadith and given a talk based on it. SubhanAllah, he is such a Baraqa-filled person that he can just open up to a page, read a Hadith, and talk about it as if he had prepared for ages.

He said one of the many things to gain from this Hadith was the fact that the Prophet(S) made a dua for Abu Bakr when he said, "Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them." He then engaged in a discussion about duas.

The first type of dua is one that you ask for yourself. We've all heard the famous narration that so long as what you are asking for is legit and sincere, it will be granted on accordance to a time and form set by Allah, not us. So your dua may come true, it may come true at a later time, it may come true in the form such that you are saved from a calamity equal to it (imagine asking for a Lexus and instead of receiving that you just don't get into a car accident). Finally, lucky are those individuals whose duas are not answered in this world because it will be rewarded in the hereafter. A Hadith goes that, on the Day of Judgment, people will wished their duas had not been answered in this world because it is much greater and more permanent of a reward later in the hereafter.

However, there are more types of duas too; that is just the first most basic premise. You know when you make dua, they say you should make dua for someone else too. This is true and we have all heard it but Shaykh Hussain elaborated on this which was the most interesting thing for me. You see, when we made dua for someone else, there is an Angel that says, "Ameen, walak" (I hope I have the Arabic right! Someone correct me if I'm wrong.) which translates to, "May your prayer come true, and the same for you." So the paradigm is that when you make dua for someone, you make dua for yourself! SubhanAllah, such is the Mercy of our Lord!

Next, you can always ask someone to make dua for you. You know people always say, "Just keep me in your duas" or, "All I want is your duas." Well the reasoning is that certain people's dua is more acceptable to Allah. So an example is the dua of a mother for her child. As Shaykh Hussain said, "there is less Hijab between Allah and a mother when she is praying for her child." So, technically, someone could want a job and go to their parents and be like, "Mom, Dad, pray for me to get this job." and they have some pretty good odds of getting the job!

Finally, above all these is the dua that naturally comes out of one person for another person because that person is such a great person. When we serve our parents as they should be served, our parents will make dua for us, without us even asking. That is the best of duas, the essence of duas. To wrap up, that was the relationship that the Prophet (S) had with Abu Bakr, that the Prophet of Allah, gave duas to Abu Bakr from the bottom of his heart without Abu Bakr even asking. There are many recorded instances of people coming to ask the Prophet for duas for themselves or sometimes for a child or such. The Prophet of Allah made dua from the bottom of his heart for this companion of his, that he be one of the individuals who will be called from all five gates of Jannah. SubhanAllah.

Finally (seriously), there is a narration that goes that the Prophet said, I have repaid my debt to everyone except Abu Bakr. That being said, imagine the sacrifice that the sahaba gave for the sake of Islam and the Prophet. To think that the Prophet managed to repay them is crazy but he was able to repay them. However, he was unable to repay Abu Bakr, imagine the sacrafice one must have made to reach that level. The Hadith finishes as:

I have repaid my debt to everyone except Abu Bakr. Allah will repay him on the Day of Judgement.

Alhumdulillah, Alhumdulillah, wal Alhumdulillah!

Muslim Kid

Fajr Reflections! - Day 1

2010-08-18T05:55:00.011-05:00

Sorry about bad grammar, awkward sounding sentences and anything that doesn't make sense. I have yet to sleep and it is 7AM! Alhumdulillah. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Last Ramadan, I would always visit ICC (Islamic Community Center) and garner some new token of wisdom from the righteous individuals who were there. I wanted to share these narrations and experience but it was such a busy time that I could not do so. So this Ramadan, I will be more dedicated to it. Shaykh Hussain gives a little short talk after Fajr salah where he picks a hadith and discusses it. Today was my first day going for Fajr at ICC and I was, as usual, left speechless. What is there to say after Shaykh Hussain has spoken? Who can shed new wisdom after Shaykh Hussain talks?! I've yet to find someone whose appearance, words and life might be filled with more Baraqa than Shaykh Husain. With that, I present to you:

Fajr Reflections!*

Day 1. Today is the sixth day of Ramadan and my first day going to ICC for fajr. InshAllah I will try to relate in words what Shaykh Hussain discussed. He picked up a hadith book and read a Hadith. Here is the Hadith:

Abu Hurairah (Radhiallaho anha) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said,

"He who spends a pair in the way of Allah will be called from the gates of Jannah:

`O slave of Allah! This gate is better for you' and one who is constant in Salat (prayer), will be called from the Gate of Salat;

and whoever is eager in fighting in the Cause of Allah, will be called from the Gate of Jihad;

and who is regular in observing Saum will be called from Ar-Raiyan Gate.

The one who is generous in charity will be called from the Gate of Charity.''

Abu Bakr (Radhiallaho anha) said:"O Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam)! May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! Those who are called from these gates will stand in need of nothing. Will anybody be called from all of those gates?'' He replied, "Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them.''

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Apparently he has been discussing this same hadith for three days now highlighting a different aspect of it each day. Today he discussed the status and stature of Abu Bakr (R) in Islam.
When I first heard that, like many people who might have gone through basic Islamic Sunday schooling, I thought "I know about this." Boy was I wrong!

He started off talking about Abu Bakr's name. It comes from the root letter, ba ka and ra. In Arabic, a set of three letters (like, ba ka and ra) usually have some sort of related meaning. For example, kaf-ta- and ba form kitab meaning book, and maktub meaning letter, etc. So ba ka and ra, those roots refer to 'the first'. So the first fruit of the season is called something that is made from the roots of ba ka and ra. So the roots of Abu Bakr's name is 'the first' and so Shaykh Hussain spoke of how Abu Bakr was the first free male to convert to Islam without a moments hesitation. While we all think we know this, he reminded us that it is easy to accept something when many people around you have accepted it - but it is a different experience being the first.

Next he talked about how scholars say that the life of the Prophet (S) can be summed up in two journeys: Isra and Miraj and the Hijrah from Mecca to Medina. During the former, he was given the gift of Salah and during the second, once the Prophet moved to Medina, Islam began to flourish. To this day, the city is sacred, "we visit, Mecca and Medina, not just Mecca."

In both journeys, there was one individual who accompanied the Prophet on his voyage. In the first it was Angel Jibrael (A), the king of the Angels, in the second, it was Abu Bakr(R)! When the Prophet (S) was sending people off to Medina to migrate, Abu Bakr knew he would be up soon. When it was his turn, the Prophet asked him if there was anything that he wanted for his journey. Abu Bakr responded that the only thing he wanted was the Prophet's accompaniment. Therefore, the two migrated to Medina together.

Once they arrived there, an interesting scenario occurred. Since so many Muslims had begun mirgrating to Medina, there was a strong established presence of them by this time. At the same time, the Jews of Medina did not like the idea of the two Arab tribes reconciling and working under a mediator; they wanted to kill him. As a result, the Muslims would send someone to look out in the morning if anyone was arriving. One day they finally saw two men coming toward the city. They all went to greet the Prophet(S).

Instead of shaking hands and hugging and greeting the Prophet(S), they started shaking hands with Abu Bakr(R) thinking he was the Prophet(S)! Imagine that the people of Medina thought you were the Prophet of Allah and to the side stood the Prophet (S) tired. Because he was tired, Abu Bakr(R) did not want to tell everyone and have them rushing toward the Prophet(S). However, soon the clouds moved and the sun shone directly on the Prophet. Abu bakr(R) took a leaf and covered the Prophet from the sun's rays and seeing this everyone knew who the Prophet(S) was.

The essence of this narration is that, imagine being mistaken for the messenger of Allah. SubhanAllah! Abu Bakr(R)'s way of carrying himself and the extent of how much he emulated the Prophet, such that, the people of Medina could not differentiate between the Prophet and Abu Bakr(R). Imagine the level of respect Allah(SWT) bestowed upon him for him to experience such an incident.

Next, he mentioned a hadith that a good amount of us have probably heard. It goes something like

If the Iman of the Ummah were on one side and Abu Bakr's on the other side, Abu Bakr would have weighed heavier.

This doesn't make sense. How can Abu Bakr's Iman be greater than that of the whole Ummahs? Eventually, you just come to accept that there is something being said that is beyond your understanding, or that is what I did at least. Shaykh Hussain shed some light on this and left me amazed.

Abu Bakr was the first free-male to convert. Additionally, he brought lots and lots of people to the Prophet(S) for conversation. He basically brought most of the Ashara MuBashara to Islam who then later converted the masses to Islam. With that being said, the Mercy of Allah is such that when one person does a good deed because of another person, they both get the reward for it. Today me and you might as well be Muslim because of Abu Bakr having converted one of the Ashara Mubashara who converted a companion until eventually you and me are that conversations offspring. SubhanAllah. It is now understandable to see how on earth Abu Bakr's Iman, his deeds and his righteousness, could be greater than that of the whole Ummah. He has his own magnificent deeds and plus that of the Ummah!

Next he started closing by talking about Umar in relation to the Prophet's relationship with Abu Bakr. Umar understood this relationship, that Abu Bakr was the Prophet's closest companion and he would always be beat by Abu Bakr in the level of sacrafice. Then he referenced a hadith that talks about how the Muslims were about to go to battle and were short on funds. The Prophet(S) asked everyone to bring whatever they could and so everyone did. Umar(R) thinking that this was his chance to beat Abu Bakr's sacrafice, asked his family to divide everything in half. One half he kept and the other half he brought to the Masjid. (Imagine bringing half of your bank account and giving it to the Masjid if the need arose!). When he got there, he saw the Prophet(S) in shock at what Abu Bakr had brung! The Prophet(S) knew how much ABu Bakr had and seeing how much he had brought, the Prophet was amazed and asked, "What have you left for your family?" Abu Bakr responded, "Allah and his Rasool" In response to that, Umar said that, "After that day, I knew that I would never be able to match Abu Bakr's sacrifices for this Deen."

Shaykh Hussain ended by first commenting on this concept of sacrificing for the deen. Just because we are born Muslim doesn't mean that we will get these rewards that are promised to Muslims. We have to sacrafice for this Deen. Whether it be giving your free time, your money, your resources, anything. He added that only we know how much we are capable of giving and how much we truly do. I guess the obvious idea is wealth, how much you can afford to give and how much you give but I found that especially interesting in terms of giving your free time. A lot of times, we give a little free time for the sake of Allah(SWT) and it seems as if we do a lot but inside we know we could be doing a lot more!

Also, he mentioned a hadith by Aisha(R) where she commented that she cannot remember a day in her childhood where the Prophet(S) didn't come to her house at least twice a day. SubhanAllah. Imagine how lucky we would think of ourselves as if we had even seen the Prophet once, that is, if we had gone to see him. Now imagine, if he had just once come to see us! We would never live it down, we would tell the world over and over. SubhanAllah, imagine, just imagine, the Prophet(S) visited Abu Bakr's house twice everyday. As he said this, he laughed and smiled. I also started smiling and look around the room, everyone was smiling. We were left speechless and dumbfounded.

Finally, his last last comment (seriously) was that we judge things by their ends. For example, when people say the housing bubble going up, everyone was happy but now look at the results. Everyone is miserable and thus the housing bubble was a bad thing! Similarly, we look at the end of Abu Bakr(R) to understand how great he truly was and how much he gave for this Deen. When people go to say Salah to the Prophet(S)'s grave in Medina, the only other person they also say Salam to is the Prophet(S) as his body is buried next to the Prophet(S)'s. SubhanAllah, what more could you ask for than to be buried next to the Prophet(S) and receive Salahms from everyone who came to say Salam to the Nabi (S)!

SubhanAllah, SubhanAlah, SubhanAllah. I need some sleep, InshAllah I will do this tomorrow too and until August 27th for sure.

*Why August 27th? My friend Hammad, the one who takes me to the Masjid is going to Med school in the Carribeans. Make dua for him that he stays safe and does well in his studies. Ameen.

Muslim Kid

Ramadan 2010!

2010-08-07T11:18:00.013-05:00

It feels like it has been a long time since I last posted, a lot longer than twenty days at least. Some quick things about NJCL, CSP, etc. :

NJCL Certamen - My novice Latin 1 team made Illinois History by being the first team to get into nationals from Illinois and getting second in the country! Hooray. We were beaten my Florida. Interestingly, as my teacher had said, the team with the student who gets first place History will usually be the first place team - he was right. Two Florida students beat my score in history! I got 75/100, with third place, another kid got 77/100 and another kid got 92/100! I wanted to get first but I could careless because 75/100 on that test is insanely good. Besides, third place in the country isn't that bad.

I placed on a bunch of other tests too and a few art projects I had made. Oh and there are lots of oratory competitions available and well I hadn't memorized my lines or anything. I barely knew them, even with that, after opting out of two of them, I forced myself to do the third one and I got 10th place on that. Anything up to 10th place is remarkable considering the amount of kids. The point is, you really should try at everything - "you never know till you try."

Collegiate Scholars is FINALLY OVER. SubhanAllah, I don't think I could have survived another ACT Math Prep session with those kids. No more having to wake up at 6:30 to take the bus for a long time.

However, the College Tour remains. We will be visiting: Johns Hopkins University; Howard University; Georgetown University; George Washington University; University of Pennsylvania; Swarthmore College; Villanova University; Princeton University; Columbia University; and Fordham University. Which means we will be visiting Baltimore (Maryland), Washington DC, Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), New York City (New York), and Williamsport(Pennsylvania). Some fun events are going to a bunch of fancy restaurants on the way there, A baseball game between Philadelphia Phillies vs Los Angeles Dodgers, and touring the White House.

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.

RAMADAN IS HERE! - Fireworks -

I could say Alhumdulillah a million times but it wouldn't be near enough. Ramadan is one of my favorite aspects of Islam. After the spiritual awakening I had last Ramadan, I learned that no period of time is sweeter than Ramadan - except the next Ramadan!

I'm pretty involved in school and academic pursuits as you can see from above. Constantly being bombarded with worldly matters makes you depressed and yearn for a month like Ramadan. Finally, I can clear my mind of all the useless garbage that may have accumulated over the past year and start fresh. The feeling that you get towards the last few days of Ramadan, the purity you feel after the Lailatul-Qadr night, and satisfaction of praying Tarawih prayer is incomparable. There is nothing in this world more valuable than Ramadan - (maybe Hajj but I wouldn't know about that).

I remember last Ramadan, in the Lailatul Qadr Dua, Shaykh Hussain said something like:

Ya Allah, we praise You, we thank You, for only You could have moved the earth and the sun and the stars and the planets in this configuration that finally this blessed month of Ramadan came about us. We had spiritually died a long time ago, we need this month and you provided it for us. You are so majestic and exalted that Your praise can never be complete. It it wasn't for this month, we would have surely been knocking on the gates of Heaven but the Angels would not have let us in. Ya Allah, do not let that happen to any of us, we are Your faithful servants. Some of us were so gone that if people could see our sins, our faces would be black and no one would look at us. Ya Allah, You let us clean ourselves through Your holy blessed month. O Merciful one, Your blessed messenger told us that if we sought to rectify ourselves, if we took a step toward You, You would run toward us. Ya Allah, we can never praise You enough but here we are, Your humbled servants beseeching You for Your infinite mercy.

Those words still ring in my head because that hour or so - was one of the most precious and sincere in my life. The lights were closed and everyone self-absorbed in reflecting and crying over how great the mercy of Allah is. I had wished that Shaykh Husain would never stop talking and we could remain in this sincere state forever.

It was even more remarkable because I went into the Ramadan thinking that I am beyond this month - that my sins could not be cured with 30 days. The first few days, I was still miserable but when those last ten days come around, something in the air changed me. By Lailatul Qadr, the month had overpowered me and there I sat listening to the dua in tears.

I hope that this Ramadan is just as great if not greater. I hope that we are not like the losers and the unfortunate people that the Prophet mentioned who are not sinless even after Ramadan. I hope we can all take full advantage of the month that awaits us. I hope we are able to eat Sahoor as the Prophet said there is surely blessing in the meal. I hope that we able to forgive the people we have not yet forgiven during this month. I hope that if we at some point made some mistakes, that we do our best to correct ourselves this month. And finally, let us all come out of the month purer than Angels and righteous Jannah-destined servants of Allah Almighty. Ameen.

(Finally, keep me in your dua's, making supplication for yourself is one thing, others making it for you is another story. InshaAllah.)

-The Muslim Kid-

Khalas Misery!

2010-07-02T22:08:00.005-05:00

For truly with hardship comes ease; truly with hardship comes ease. (Surat al-Inshirah: 5-6)

I have my own way of understanding this wisdom of this ayah. It seems to me that if one is in hardship, they can at least take solace in the fact that good times are yet to come. However, if you are living a period of ease, who knows how long it will last? How much time will elapse before another tribulation arises? Only God knows. I’d rather live in a time of distress and look forward to things getting better than wait for things to mess up when everything is fine. I'm very pessimistic when it comes to 'messing up'. In the long range, you have to mess up somewhere. Things only go perfect for so long. Driving is a scary prospect because you will have an accident one day, but hopefully not.

Anyway, I can legitimately say that my period of hardship is over. Alhumdulillah. If you read this post, Allah Resides in Broken Hearts, you can see this period of hardship. I feel extremely silly labeling a few minor incidents as “hardship”. For example, what is my hardship in comparison to Omer Bhai’s hardship at the moment?

I wrote my last column of the school year (Faique: My Life “FML” for my High school newspaper on a similar topic. It was called “When life gives you big and nasty lemons…” A lot of my teachers appreciated it saying they really liked my outlook on screwing up on my AP test.

The students in my school, in general, are very hardworking and ambitious. Students get upset when they fall short of achieving an A, which they should be of course. However, getting a B isn’t something to kill yourself over. Students here can get teary over a bad test. All this is understanble (being upset over a bad test), but to an extent. In my column, I sort of talked about how to quickly get over a screw up; like if you pull a ‘Faique’ on your AP test. (Leaving 44 out of 80 questions blank)

You were probably thinking at some point, who is this Muslim kid? I just see a miserable kid. So here I am, ready to shower you with great news about an array of different things.

1. Eagle Scout. I already mentioned this but I finally learned how to swim for the sake of advancing in my path of becoming an Eagle Scout! When I first joined Boy Scouts, I felt that I would never become an Eagle Scout because you have to learn how to swim which didn’t seem like something I could ever learn. Fortunately, I was wrong. This is one of those experiences where I can truly say hard work pays off.

2. Editorial Section Editor. Speaking of some silly FML column, I’ve been promoted. I am now the Editorial Section editor for the upcoming semester. So I have become my own boss literally. I used to report to the editorials editor since I had an editorial column, now whoever is the columnist, will report to me. We are switching advisers this year so everything has been altered in terms rules, layout, images, writing style, look, published content, everything basically. It means a lot more work but at the same time, a lot more independence and room for creativity. I’m on path for Editor in Chief for senior year, InshaAllah.

3. Latin NJCL! I really have to write a detailed account of my love for Latin, precisely looking at the ‘why?’ It is hard to explain why I have become so attached to Latin but maybe I’ll add that to my list of future posts. So in less than 25 days, I will be taking a trip to North Dakota for the 2010 National Junior Classical League convention! I am the history nerd on the certamen team at the Latin 1 level and so I’ve been intensely studying and attending practices. The Illinois team for Certamen has never made it into the top 3 teams; we are lacking in history. However, this year, we actually have someone who specializes in history, me. So we have a good chance at getting into the Top 3 teams. At the same time, the convention includes over 16 tests ranging from a hundred questions to five questions. There is a Roman History test which is what I have been studying for like a freak. I need to score something like 80% on a hundred question multiple-test. So what’s the good part about all this? If all goes well, InshaAllah it will, then I will be on the xth place national certamen team and be the xth best at Roman history in the country at my level. (e.g. 2nd would entitle me to second best in the country).

4. AP Biology. So since I am taking Latin, I have dropped Mandarin. They made journalism into an in school class as opposed to it being after school before, which has kind of screwed me over. As a result, my spots for elective classes are limited. So when I was offered AP Biology even though I had never taken the required Honors Biology, it seemed like a golden opportunity. It is a golden chance but it will be a really hard class. Oh well, I will learn to manage my classes. My classes for junior year will be: AP biology, AP European History, AP Psychology, AP Language, Journalism III, Latin II, and Pre-Calculus. The only concern I have is that the first three are super reading extensive (1 chapter a night) and so having to read that much material will be very difficult. I will learn to manage even if it means becoming a social outcast for a year! I’m just excited because all these classes are amazing in the respect that you really learn so much, especially AP Biology and AP Psychology!

5. Peer mentorship. I have a pretty nice relationship with my counselor. She thinks I’m a really good kid and morally different than many other teenagers. She has a very ideal picture of me as many other people do but in this case it’s a really good thing. So there is this Peer Mentorship program at my school where upperclassmen help nurture and mentor. The current peer mentors get to nominate a peer mentor to succeed them but no one picked me. However, because my counselor thinks I would be good with this, she picked me herself! She’s the coordinator of the program. So I will get service hours but more importantly, I’ll find the focused freshmen and give them sincere advice that the goofy mentors I once had never offered to me. It will be fun I hope.

6. Collegiate Scholars. I never fully wrote about Collegiate Scholars but it’s a three program and this summer I’m taking classes with them at the University of Chicago. I was trying to initially get out of the classes and pursue other things but they refused to give me the summer off because they didn’t find my alternate activities worthy. I was initially so pissed and ready to quit but I didn’t only because my mom wouldn’t let me. In the end, right now I’m enrolled in an ‘ACT Math Prep’ class and a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ class which basically examines the history of piracy. The first class, I really enjoy it because my school has a ridiculous math program called IMP which involves more writing and understanding than actual computation. I haven’t done traditional arithmetic in 2 years, this course is pretty fun. My instructor is this math major who is currently pursuing a PhD in mathematics. He’s super smart and I like the shortcuts he teaches us. The other class involves a lot of reading so I didn’t like it – until I read the material. It was pretty interesting. The class includes a writing seminar section which is supposed to make our writing more analytical. More than that, both of my classes are filled with morons and so I love watching them act stupid and rude. The classes are very entertaining. Additionally, being on a college campus, University of Chicago too that is, is pretty neat.

So there it is folks! Who is the 'Miserable Kid' now? I feel a little overworked since it is summer but nevertheless I am enjoying my summer. Finally, I realized something about my writing. Ever since I came in APUSH, my writing has shifted in a way I don’t like. I look at my post and I realize I have a problem of starting my sentences with ‘I realized,’ ‘I think,’ ‘I feel,’ etc. This happened because my APUSH teacher always made us claim our statements. So if I started commenting on something we read in the text for homework, we naturally began to say, “Well, I feel that…” Since I write like I speak on my blog that caught on! Very amateurish, I think. Haha, I need to stop that!

Finally, Ya Allah make it easier for Omer Bhai and his family. Ameen.

-The Muslim Kid-

"Please keep Sofia in your duas"

2010-06-12T11:39:00.013-05:00

Here is a video that I promise will bring you to tears if you have a heart: Missing Girl’s Family Pleading for Help. Even if you don't read my post, watch this video!

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I've been meaning to write a very short post on something really important I keep putting it aside because it is finals week. Even though it might seem like common sense for me to stay away from anything not academic related, I feel like if I don't write this post (quickly), I am being selfish. This needs to be read.

I'm almost sure I've mentioned Omer Khan before, he is the vice principal of my Sunday school. He is such a nice guy and everyone loves him, the uncles and even the kids. Last Sunday, we had our MCC Annual Picnic and I saw him there. He was running around doing errands as usual and eventually, for a few minutes he played football with me. He's a very athletic guy so he can throw it really far making it fun to play with him. After that, I heard someone say, "Omer is leaving" and I thought to myself, this early? The picnic had barely begun. Later I found out that he went with his family to Wisconsin for vacationing. I heard one of the MCC teachers saying how someone was lecturing Sofia about running around without a scarf on at the picnic.

Days later (a few days ago), I come home from school and my mom tells me "Omer's daughter has been missing for five hours" I go online to look her up and find little information on it. However from what I could understand, this is what happened:

They where at shore on a beach that weren’t much occupied. He was teaching is two sons, his daughter, and two other kids of relatives how to kayak. Because his kids are so athletic and as one article described Sofia, "an avid swimmer," they weren't wearing life jackets. Sofia started paddling away from shore when he yelled for her to stop. Suddenly strong winds pushed her away from shore very intensely. He started swimming after her to stop her but the wind had gotten so strong.

They started looking for her with different agencies helping. After a day or two, the search on water was called off. The police and enforcement agencies have stopped helping but the family and community residents and others who have come to help are still looking. A lot of people I know who are either related to Omer or people (teachers, family, personnel) from my Sunday school are going to Wisconsin to help monitor the shoreline. My mom, who helps teach at my Sunday school, wants to go and we are going to try and go. I want to go with too.

She was precious to the whole MCC community, imagine how precious she must be to Omer! Here is a picture of her.

Where do I begin? I don't know Sofia well but I must have seen her a hundred times walking around MCC halls. I know her brothers and most of all, I know her father. He's the nicest guy ever. When he first became the vice principal, I didn't like him but he's not someone you can dislike for a very long time.

This past year, I had to collect funds for this trip I will go on to visit different colleges as part of a summer program I am in. I had collect donations but the highest I had gotten was $10 from someone. We were in groups of 5 and had to collect $200 each. One of the suggestions the program had given us on how to collect money was to ask people you know to ask their clients for donations at work.

When I asked Omer if he could ask his clients, he said it would be too complicated. Instead, he gave me a check for $200 the next week out of his own pocket. I asked him if he was serious and he said, "Just keep me in your duas [prayers]".

Later, when my friends and I restarted our work with Project ARC, I came to him to ask to be our sponsor for the current project, raising money for Haiti. He accepted gladly, he offered advice, he had his wife proofread our website content and he even brought his son, Zain, on the day of the event. Forget helping me, I can't count the number of times I have seen him help others.

I recently read this post by BrNaeem about Furkan Dogan, the American activist who was killed on the Gaza Flotilla. I was touched that, half way across the world, someone died and how normally many of us would consider it something that just happens. We take it for granted, hearing of all these killings, these catastrophes and children going missing, because our hearts have been desensitized to the chaos. Sofia hasn't been found, but InshaAllah, she will. God is the best of protectors. In the words of Omer himself, ""Whether or not you can participate in the search, please remember my Sofia in your prayers." Please keep Sofia in your duas. If there is a man in this world who doesn't deserve this, it is Omer. If there is ever a time to repay him for the money he gave me for my trip – it is now.

Here is a video that I promise will bring you to tears if you have a heart: Missing Girl’s Family Pleading for Help.

Lastly, some ayahs from the Quran that really have significance here:

Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. (2:155)

On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear” (2:286)

Hang in there Omer. Please make it easy for him Allah and everyone make dua for Sofia. InshAllah, she will be found.

Allah resides in broken hearts

2010-05-19T17:28:00.028-05:00

Life can get frustrating at times because you go through times of confusion where you almost forget the meaning of life. Most people search for it their whole lives, luckily as a Muslim, I feel like I know what I am suppose to be doing and why. Its like I read the events of my life in a different manner. If someone were to degrade me publicly, in the end, I hope I would realize that there is some hidden gain from Allah in such an event.

Recently I've gotta say that I became stupid for a while. You loose track on your salah and life plummets downward slowly, then steeply. I was warned many times by many people too, not that anyone should be needed to be reminded of this facet.

A few people might have read my blogpost about losing the Jama'ah Club (my high school's Muslim Student Association chapter basically) elections. The post was totally out of hand and very immature. I reacted negatively to a negative incident, for anyone who read it, I apologize. I was the current PR which was a position I got elected for about a year ago. I did my job fairly well, and established myself as a leader in the club. I was pretty sure I would win if I ran for president but I convinced my friend, who was also able for the position, to run against me. The junior class decided to be funny and vote for a third candidate (a junior) as a joke because he was not going to win. I lost a big chunk of votes from that section of the club, changing the expected outcome. Did that just really happen? Oops, we didn't know screwing around would alter two positions. (President and Treasurer were both candidates who had less of a chance than their counterparts, both which were screwed up by the junior class's inability to take the election seriously.)

Oh well. It was alright. The next week we had our Annual End of the Year Dinner and even though I wasn't necessarily the president, I was still able to actively contribute in crucial decisions. What a bummer kiddo but how long can expect the mercy of Allah to stick with you when you don't have your salah's solid?

About two weeks later, I took my Advance Placement test for United States History, a class I took this year. The class required ultimately reading hundreds of pages of textbook material covering early colonial history to contemporary American history. I enjoy history even though the reading was a pain and I was often behind. In the end, the weeks before the test as we reviewed, I realized how much I had learned. I had learned a lot. I knew my stuff and I was ready to ace this AP test.

On the test day, I had no watch with me but my friend generously lent me an analogue watch to keep track of time. I also forgot my glasses and sat in a giant lecture room as far away possible from the digital clock and board with the end time scribed on it. My test-taking strategy is to go through the booklet and circle the answers then copy them on to the answering sheet, which ever answers I pick as my final answer. It has always worked before but I felt that it would screw me over one day. That unfortunate day was the day of my first AP test, one that I was well prepared for. As I was copying the answers from the booklet to the answering sheet, time was called -- I had 44 more questions to bubble in. Out of 80 questions, not answering 44 is a pretty heavy screw up. The multiple choice part of the test is worth half your score, while the essays (which I did decent on) are the rest half. Technically, if I got 9, 9, 9 on my three essays, I could get a 5/5 on the AP test. However, there are very slim chances of that happening, I will probably get a 4 if I'm lucky and if not a 3. If I got a 2, it would be pathetic even though I left more than half empty.

Why should God be merciful and let you succeed when you've forgotten why you were created kid?

Just recently, yesterday, I found out I was denied acceptance into my school's chapter of National Honor Society. I don't even know how that happens. I don't pride in being a genius, or having perfect grades but I do take pride in the effort I put into my interests and my leadership skills. I was just rejected with a automatic letter without any specification as to why. It doesn't make a lot of sense really. You would think that I would be an excellent canididate. In one part of the application, you needed to describe a service activity that meant a lot to you. I described how I raised over 3000 dollars for Gaza last year with my friends. I also mentioned our 'next event' which was to be to raise money for Haiti. We did it after I turned in my application and managed to raise $290.05. I can't imagine stronger displays of commitment to service than to independently lead an initiative to raise money for people half-way across the globe without any adult interference. I'd like to see the applications of my peers, who were accepted, wonder what they did!

You do realize that NHS is a big game, so many people who were qualified didn't get in without any reason. Of the teachers council who select the members, the word is, if even one objects to your entry, you are denied. Well that is just another bummer I guess, you have some bad luck kiddo. Maybe if you prayed your salah this wouldn't have happened!

Finally, I'm in a program called University of Chicago Collegiate Scholars which spans over three years. It basically takes up my summers for six-weeks taking classes at the university and fulfilling other requirements. I'm also a Boy Scout and on track to becoming an Eagle Scout, a nationally recognized prestigious honor. However, to continue on this path on becoming Eagle, I have to go camping for one week this summer. Similarly, I also am going to a one-week long convention in North Dakota, the National Junior Classical League convention. Its a one-week long event filled with Latin competitions, academic tests, oratories, art projects, certamen, and spending time with your friends. It’s like Heaven for me since I am a Latin-obsessed freak. Well anyway, I applied for an excused summer with Collegiate Scholars. I received my response pretty late. I kept emailing my academic advisor but she was busy with the new application process for the class of 2013 so she didn't reply. I had to pay the few-hundred dollar deposit for camping and so I took my chances. I also paid for NJCL which was also another couple of hundred dollars. I found out that I got okay'ed for NJCL but not camping. I had to take classes at the university for 5 weeks and had a leave for one week.

If I decide to go against this, that is, if I still go camping, missing a week (aside from my excused week), I will miss more than 3 days and automatically fail my classes. That will lead me to being dismissed from the program. I emailed the Director of the Program who is very nice and a compassionate person because I thought she could help me out. She was my teacher for one of my classes the first summer. She emailed me back saying that she will stick with the Academic Advisors decision.

Now what? I had to make a choice--do I want to become an Eagle Scout or do I continue with CSP? The people at CSP has constantly been extremeley difficult but the program itself seems very prestigious on college applications because its super selective. Seeing that I was dismissed or that I left would be a big stain on college apps. However, I have put four years of work into my scouting endeavor and not becoming an Eagle Scout is not an option. My scoutmaster today made a very valid point. "I don't know how good this program is but after your freshmen year in college, it'll be meaningless. Eagle rank will carry with you for the rest of your life."

To complicated this already complicated issue: this year with CSP, I am signed up to go on this East Coast College Tour trip after the six weeks of classes in the summer. It is also one week long and costs approximately $300 on my part and fundraising over $200; the program covers the rest $800. If I got dismissed, or if I resigned from the program, what would happen to this trip? I've already paid some of the $300. The $200 we were suppose to fundraise, my vice principal of my Sunday school, just handed me a $200 check the minute I told him about it. He blew my mind away but he gave me the check and all the money I had raised before that, I distributed it among friends.

My portion of the money I've paid could be easily forgotten but what the HELL would I say to my vice principal whose $200 would go to waste. He was so willing to give me the money and all he asked was to make Dua for him. I told him I'll take pictures while I'm in the big east coast cities for him. At this point, there still is no solution to this problem. I don't know what the next step should be. I was really hoping that the director would help me out but she failed me and I'm disappointed.

I was on the verge of collapsing after the losing the elections and messing up my AP test but after NHS, oh boy. Actually, that's not true, I was just 'living'. Life kept going on, I didn't even feel that something was wrong. I just felt bad was for my mom who was the bearer of all this failure in such a concentrated time period. Coming home and telling your mom that you lost the elections after telling her that you'd win for sure must have been upsetting. Then to hear that I messed up my AP test must have also been discouraging. Finally, to hear that I didn't get into NHS, must have been heartbreaking for her. To be presented with the option of Eagle Scout or Collegiate Scholars ... what sort of test is this?

Now, after this concentrated failure, unlike anything I've ever experienced before, I'm on my knees. (What better time to pray then when the world brings you to your knees and you are in the perfect position to pray?) I always thought something odd about myself that I seek God when I'm happy and sufficient thanking him but forget him in times of misery. Today I found this to be untrue as I just started crying sincerely remembering how good it feels to put your head on the floor and praise God. I've been praying for the last two days and in these two days I've received the NHS rejection letter and the director’s response which seems discouraging. I don't care; my heart is at rest, which is what I was missing for the longest time.

I have to figure out the Collegiate Scholar situation. I'm sure Allah will help me find a solution now. I'm not worried at all. The fact that these things, which in the context of my life overall are so minor, mean so much shows how blessed I am. I get unlucky at four things and I am ready to jump off a building. Then my friend also mentioned a point to me that blew my mind away and showed how merciful Allah truly is to me:

Jamaah Club, I can run and WILL win president next year. AP test, I could technically take it over again, which I will do if I don't get a four. Getting a five is pretty easy with some reviewing before the test next year. Finally, I can also apply for NHS next year and get in. Wow. All these things I 'screwed up' on were success that even if they become a bit bitter, they are still very sweet. I've had a bad semester but its not over yet and things could change tomorrow. InshaAllah I keep up my salah and have this peace at heart feeling that we all live for.

Finally, to end on a cheery note! I advanced a rank in Boy Scouts today! I needed to learn to swim and I learned it over the past semester. I performed the only requirement which was very difficult for me, the BSA swimmer test, but I did it! It was the only thing holding me back and I felt like I would never ever get it done. Let me just say it again, I did it!

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Here is some related stuff that is worth reading/checking out:

Allah resides in broken hearts

Excerpts:

“On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear” (2:286).

The heart of a man receives shocks in many ways, e.g. anxieties, troubles, accidents, casualties, thus the heart is broken, but why? Just to make it a target for Allah’s mercy and bounty.

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-Muslim Kid-

Sources for Islamic Law

2010-03-01T01:03:00.009-06:00

Vocabulary -

Shirk (شرك) is the Islamic concept of the sin of polytheism specifically, but in a more general way refers to worshipping other than Allah. This can also mean following another set of laws over Islamic Law thereby equating that set of laws with Islamic Law.

Qur’an (القرآن‎) is the central religious text of Islam. It is the Bible of the Muslims and an unchanged scripture over 1400 years old. It is considered a message directly from Allah (God) Himself rather than commentaries by apostles.

Sunnah (سنة) is an Arabic word that refers to the practices and way of life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). It is considered a manifestation of the Quran and an impeccable example for all Muslims. His words, actions, and approvals are all written down, this collection is called Hadith.

Hadith (الحديث) are narrations originating from the words and deeds of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Each Ahadith (singular) has a chain of narrators going back to the Prophet and then the actual narration. (e.g Bob heard from Jane who heard from David that Tarzan said its okay to eat bananas from the jungle. "Bob heard from Jane who heard from David" is the chain and the "Tarzan said its okay to eat bananas from the jungle." is the actual text. It is important to note that the Hadith are the medium in which the Sunnah is conserved. The Sunnah is the body of Hadith from which Muslims are able to determine the way of the Prophet lived.

Sharia ('شريعة ; ) is an Arabic word meaning ‘way’ or ‘path'. It is Islamic law, derived from Quran and Sunnah.

Fiqh (فقه, ) is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the Sharia Islamic law which provides answers on how to practically follow Shariah. Only scholars who have attained a degree of Islamic knowledge are certified to issue rulings called Fatwas.

Taqlid (تَقْليد) is an Arabic term meaning "imitation" and is the practice of following someone of higher religious authority due to a lack of understanding in religious affairs.

Qiyas (قياس) is the process of a logical reasoning in which the teachings of the Quran are compared to derive a ruling about an issue. Only scholars with official certifications can do this.

Ijmā' (إجماع) is an Arabic term referring ideally to the consensus of the community of Muslims. It traditional refers to the consensus of the scholars.

Fatwā (فتوى) in the Islamic faith is a religious opinion concerning Islamic law issued by a Mufti, an Islamic legal scholar.

Modernist - someone who rejects Taqlid, instead they endorse using one's own rational to decide the right course of action rather than conforming to a school of Fiqh.

N.B - A lot of my friend have started reading my blog and inquire what certain words mean while reading. To make it easier upon myself and my readers, I will make a quick vocabulary list for reference in posts that require it.

"Today, I have completed your religion, perfected My blessing upon you, and I have decreed Submission as the religion for you." (Quran 5:3)

The religion of Islam is complete and perfect. It differs from many other belief systems by virtue of its extent of control on all aspects of life. The Quran provides laws and regulations regarding religious beliefs and rites, social life, political dealing, economic transactions, crimes and punishment, legal issues, dietary concerns, and addresses the rest through general established morals.

While the Quran covers every aspect of life, it does not cover every issue in detail. The practicality of something established in the Quran can be sought from the Sunnah, the way of life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). (e.g. the Quran says to establish prayer five times a day yet how to pray is not mentioned; rather this is found in the Sunnah). Similarly, even the vast collection of Hadith does not cover every possible topic.

Therefore, the schools of thought were established. Great scholars with tremendous knowledge used Quran and Sunnah to form Shariah, Islamic Law. It could be argued that Shariah was already set in stone at the Prophet's (PBUH) time but while it was practiced during the Prophet's time, it wasn't necessarily written down and established. These scholars established Shariah and for the unanswered questions, fiqh was developed.

In the initial days, there were many learned people forming their own fiqh because they had the credentials. Others merely practiced taqlid, following someone who does have the credential to extract rulings. In modern times, the majority of Muslims practice Taqlid, that is, they follow one of the four mainstram schools of Fiqh. The justification behind this is stated in the following verse:

"Question the people of remembrance if you do not know." (21:7)

Thus, those who do not know what the Quran and Sunnah say regarding a certain topic, they seek counsel from those who do. This is like the man who receives a letter but never learned how to read. He can be blamed for being illiterate but practically speaking, is it not wise to seek the knowledge of someone who does know how to read? That person can read it to them to the best of their ability knowing how to read. Thus, as Islamic knowledge-deprived illiterates, Muslims conform to the standards and rulings set by their knowledgeable people as instructed in the Quran.

However, in the past century there has been a new mentality of 'Modernism' that refutes the traditionally practiced Taqlid. It instead advocates using one's own rational to derive rulings that are not laid out in Quran and Sunnah. According to modernists, there is no need to conform to what an Islamic legal scholar doctor might say.

Of the four mainstream schools of Fiqh, all are accepted with the idea that all these jurists derived their principals from Quran and Sunnah. Therefore, Imam Shafii's school of Fiqh, the Shafii School is as correct as the other three: Hanafi, Malik and Hanabali.

With this in mind, it is pertinent to study how exactly Imam Shafii extracted his rulings. While some Modernists simply claim that it is permissible to follow your own rational rather than of someone more learned, others go as far as to label those following a school of fiqh as committing Shirk.

Imam Shafii's method of forming Shariah includes four means.

Quran - If the Quran is clear on an issue, there is no need to look beyond it.
Sunnah - If the Sunnah is clear that the Prophet (PBUH) did something one way, there no confusion beyond it.
Ijma -The consensus of the scholars meant that all the scholars agreed on an issue. This was important because many hadith support this.
"My community will never agree on error." The content of this hadith is so well-known that it is impossible to lie about it [mutawatir] simply because it is produced in so many narrations, for example: "My community will not come together on misguidance"; "A group of my community will continue on truth until the coming of the Hour."; "The hand of Allah is with the congregation"; "Whoever separates from the congregation..."; "Whoever leaves the community or separates himself from it by the length of a span, dies the death of the Jahiliyya (period of ignorance prior to Islam)" etc.

`Abd Allah ibn Mas`ud said:
Whatever the Muslims deem to be good is good in the eyes of Allah and whatever they consider bad is bad in Allah's view." (Sunnah.org)
Qiyas - If the Quran and Sunnah are unclear on an issue and there is no consensus on an issue, Imam Shafii would make a comparison with something that is mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah to indicate the permissibility of something.

A common modernist argument is that following Fiqh is blind acceptance of human addition to Shariah. The Shariah, they maintain is just the Quran and Sunnah. Since Islam is complete and perfect, there is no need for a Muslim to follow the rulings of someone of higher religious authority. If the Quran is meant for all of man, then should a layman not be able to make his own judgments using his own rational - so long as they are inline with the Quran and Sunnah? Is that not what the jurists themselves have done? On the other hand, an argument could be developed that since Fiqh was derived from the Quran and Sunnah, it is still valid. The modernist would respond that the usage of human rational in deriving these laws is equating God's laws with human rational and thus a form of shirk.

That is underlying basis for all Fiqh-related debates. There are two issues that need to be addressed for those who do accept Fiqh.

1) Is Fiqh (Ijma and Qiyas) a valid source for Shariah since the majority of scholars use Fiqh and Shariah interchangeably?

2) Is it permissible to follow Fiqh (i.d. practicing Taqlid) or can it be seem as shirk?

What do YOU think?

The Beggining and End of Science

2010-01-09T21:36:00.002-06:00

In chemistry class, when I presented my project "Chemistry in the Islamic Golden Age" to the class, my teacher was interested in knowing what I thought of Islam and science today. He asked whether I thought that the attitude of Muslims today reflects the mentality of the polymaths of that era to which I responded: no. While any statement made without a minute of thought can be horribly wrong, I stand with that statement. Yet I added something to my answer of no.

"I think that in general, throughout the world, science is being taught as a purely rational concept and that severely limits people's understanding of the universe."

With that in mind, today I was thinking about Surah Ikhlas. Its one of those easy surahs that every Desi child learns before turning 10 and the meaning is alhumdulillah very beautiful. "Say: Allah is One ... He begets not, nor was He begotten." Allah has no end or beginning for He is the end and beginning himself.

With that in mind, imagine if any cosmologist accepts that understanding. That individual, blessed with an understanding of a timeline of the universe would actually know that before the universe was God and after the universe will be God.

Isn't that mind-blowing? Honestly I don't understand how people can 'logically' deny God! I asked a friend of mine who refuses to believe in God (A'udu'billah) if he believes in gravity and he said of course. I asked him to prove the existence of gravity to which he said it is observable anything you throw up will come down with a force of about 10 Newton. Is it really that simple? Is there not a possibility that every time you throw something up, there just by chance happens to be a force there so we label it gravity and call it a day? Interestingly, there are theories for why gravity exists yet theories are not laws and often prove to be wrong.

Yet how many people deny gravity? Very few. Why--because there is an extreme amount of evidence, proof, and data for its existence. Yet are we not making a conclusion that because this principal is true a billion out of billion times, it is always true? What if the next time you throw an apple, it doesn’t come down? Is that tearing at the fabric of science, that laws are merely conclusions based on what is observable?

Okay, the above statement is kind of silly. Of course laws are conclusions based on what is observable yet why does the same principal not apply to God? As Muslims, we are told to seek the signs of Allah and they are everywhere. I saw this documentary that really opened my mind to the impossibility of there not being a God. Think about this:

Had the universe's creation taken place in any different form within the first few seconds it was created, had the earth been a little bit closer to the sun, had the earth been a little farther from the sun, had the conditions for liquid water never existed....man would not exists today.

That amazes me. Is that not evidence, proof, and data for the existence of God? Everything proves that to deny gravity would be foolish even though we cannot explain it, similarly, we cannot explain God yet His signs are visible! It is my understanding that science has neither beginning nor end. For example, science can never supply the 'why' in regards to the beginning and end of time (e.g. "Why did the big bang occur?"). Science is seriously incomplete without God.

What do you think?

Trying out for Heaven

2009-12-31T00:09:00.004-06:00

LINK TO LECTURE

NOTES:

-Life is filled with Try outs.

-We do our best in school to get into the best high school then try our best to get into the College then do our best to get into the best graduate school then do our best to get a job then do our best to get promoted, etc. We are so caught up with our attempts to get into the next level that we spend our whole lives trying out for the next level. This applied to every aspect of our lives: academic, careers, athletic, etc.

-There are 'cut offs', a limit on who can be accepted into the next level. These worldly cut offs are very harsh. You can be good at basketball enough to be the best amongst your friends yet maybe not good enough to join your High school junior-varsity team. If your good enough for that, maybe your not good enough for the Varsity team, etc. Life's cut offs are very strict.

-This world is a try out to enter Janaah (Heaven).

-When people try out, they are totally focused. If someone is trying out for the basket ball team, he won't be thinking of news in Palestine while dribbling the ball. You must be focused to do your best so that you may proceed to the next level. Therefore, If you desire to get to the next level, you must be fully focused.

-Doing well academically is a matter of being focused. In a class of 500 students, 400-450 are automatically unfocused. Of those remaining students, getting into a good college is not a challenge considering the range of spots.

-"Inna Sa' yakum lashatha" -Verily your efforts are dispersed. This is a criticism of man, that he is too unfocused to produce his best.

-We have the desire, ability and means. All we need in life is to focus ourselves so that we may achieve the best results.

- "From the beauty of the Islam of the individual is that he leaves that which is not related to him" This Hadith outlines how to beautify our dean, that is, we need to stop doing bad (leave that which has nothing to do with us). Instead of stressing doing good deeds, a stress is placed on just focusing ourselves. We have the natural ability to be good servants of God.

-We are likes roses in that you have a seed and you plant it. The rose bush will grow, its in its nature, all its needs is a little water and sunshine. Yet, more importantly, it needs to be ensured that no other plant is in its way preventing growth. More has to be left then given. We need to leave our bad and the good will arise from us.

-The only thing that comes out of this life is that people live and they go. Most people probably don't know much about thier great great grandparents. They also lived in a time where they thought they were 'it' as we might think we are 'it'. We think of life as a concept surrounding us rather than us being a part of life. The people of the past also foresaw long lives ahead of them and they lives it and then their time came and they passed. We will also have the same fate.

-Who will remember a gathering from 150 years ago? What of a gathering right now, this moment, who will remember it 100 years from now? Maybe one person who is alive still who might remember this gathering yet aside from that what significance will this gathering have? None, just as all our lives won't either for the generations after us. Every face in a gathering today will be different tomorrow.

-Think of highschool. Every four years, there are totally different faces and there is nothing we can do it about. Life changes, people move on.

-With the fact that this life is a try out, we must realize the need to focus ourselves.

-All the above conditions put forth apply only to try outs of this world. The try out for the hereafter (the next life) is very different.

-In life, people look at all your qualities and look at what might prohibit you from advancing. "Oh so and so is bad at shooting so he should not be on the varsity team"..."Oh so and so is very bad at organization, he should not be promoted to Manager"

-God works the opposite. He looks for one quality in us and wants to promote us.

-Once Shaykh Husain's teacher gave his students a test after listening to 16 lectures. All the students got worried. The teacher (Shaykh Zulfiqar) said, "It will be really hard for you to fail"

-That is how life is made. We have been given every reason to go to Heaven yet we are the ones trying out for Hell with what we do.

-The prophet once said to a companion that "Anyone who says La-ilaha-ilalah will enter heaven" and that companion said give me some proof so that I may tell everyone else. The Prophet(S) gave him his sandle which the companion left with to show tell everyone and show the sandle as proof. He met Umar(R) on the way and told him and Umar took the sandle and stopped him. He told the prophet that if people were to find out the vastness of the mercy of Allah, they would stop thier good deeds and instead rely on Allah's Mercy. The Prophet still did not take back his statement though but he agreed with Umar(R) so it was not said. When the companion was about to die, he told everyone so that it may be passed down as knowledge.

-We have to work to get into Hell. We don't have to work to go to Heaven.

-Don't get caught up with out good deeds, yet it is leaving our bad deeds (avoiding sin).

-Never let an oppurnity go for doing a good deed. It might be the small deed that might be sufficent to allow you to enter Heaven.

-Never feel despair because getting into Heaven is super easy.

-This life is set up to eliminate the competition, Allah set up hell to eliminate the people while Heaven is very accepting.

-If every creation was put into Heaven, if would not affect Allah in anyway.

-Making Wudu, Praying Salah, Praying Jumaah, etc, all clean us and make us pure for Heaven.

-If it was pouring rain and anyone whot got a drop of rain on them would enter Heaven, that is how life is set up. You would have to get an umbrella and change its angle constantly to make sure you don't get wet!

Subhanallah, what a good use of 30 minutes. I suggest everyone listens to it. I also liked the Dua he made in the end. "May Allah make us all wet with the rain of his infinite mercy" Ameen.

LINK TO LECTURE

-Muslim Kid-

The Irrational Baraqa Factor

2009-12-23T14:28:00.006-06:00

"Why do you talk so much about spirituality now-a-days? Every post directly or indirectly talking of same thing. My friend who has read tafsir of Quran completely and knows a lots of hadith, a deeply religious chap, says it's not recommended (not in shari' terms) or 'healthy' to talk of just one thing, be it our own code of life, Islam."

-Umer Toor**

The above comment is something I seem to be getting asked and told over and over. Looking back at the past few days, the topic of my discussions with: Hammad, Aisha, Imran, Masood, Vivian, Nelson, and Myself, have been regarding the concept of rationalizing and redefining the extent spirituality should play in our lives.

Once upon a few years ago, there was a kid who was horribly unaware of the true meaning of Islam. Thank God his mother sent him to Sunday School, so while he was only 12 years old, he knew basic Seerah of the Prophet, basic creeds of Islam, parts of Salah, and the orthodox views of wrong and right in the Hanafi madhab. He was in 'love' with some silly girl, a really good friend of his; luckily that didn't lead him too astray. Behind this silliness was the deceitful Bollywood that would guide his aspirations for the future, if only someone could guide him otherwise. As he grew up, witnessing the wrongs of this world in context of his given beliefs, a natural curiosity for 'proof' and 'rationality' behind these beliefs sprung. He would always read articles online about different Islamic rulings, seerah of the companions and anything that might have included the words: Palestine, Gaza or Israel.

In this odyssey prompted by a thirst for knowledge, he came across a blog and it introduced a whole new section in his own Iliad. Here, in the world of blogs, he found something amazing: endless knowledge related through other individual's experiences. This was all good and bad, he became like a piece of grass, swaying with the stronger wind and constantly changing.

Then one day, some more elements where introduced in the story: High school, Shaykh Husain and maturity. In High school, he saw both, lots of good and lots of bad. He saw those kids who were destined to become 'great' people in society one day who would benefit mankind and live comfortable lives because they 'knew what they were doing'. And he saw others too, who enslaved by their immaturity and lack of care for their futures --he decided to be of the former group. This was the exposition of this blog. Next he met a blessed individual named Shaykh Husain who gave meaning to every Islamic term tossed around in the halls of his Sunday school. He started praying, started a blog that followed his religious development, and he began to define 'the meaning of life' for himself.

As time passed, his confidence in Shaykh Husain's teachings exponentially increased. Every little question he had was answer by Shaykh Husain. Whenever Shaykh Husain would give a lecture, it was as if he was talking to him personally and only him. He crossed out the possibility of any other more-liberal way of life, anyone who was not as conservative as Shaykh Husain, in mentality at least, was yet to be given Hidaya (guidance).

He slowly left all that Shaykh Husain might have disapproved of except a few things. He limited his 'friends' who were more so associates and peers who disillusioned by facebook seemed to really be 'friends'. Islam became the verbatim of his heart. The many fellow friends he knew began altering their views on him, this dude was an extremist. Running away from any secularist ideas and resorting to a purely religious dogma. Of the few really close individuals he chooses to befriend, a friend turned sour.

If that friend knew that he was a freaking extrovert attempting introversion, they might not have abandoned him. Yet this absence of a very close friend and confider, someone he related every thought and anecdote to greatly damaged him emotionally. It might have been helpful, he put him on a path of truly become an introvert. This event caused much hardship for him and still left him confused on what if this ever happens again?

It should have brought but it did the opposite. He realized that he had taken this whole spiritual journey with someone. He made a fatal mistake! He stopped watching TV, stopped talking uselessly, he was 'isolated' yet with this person. He had come to a false conclusion that this friend was able to understand his thoughts, his mentality and he had someone to forever rely on. When this person changed so radically and there was nothing he could do, he learned the hard way to stop putting hope in creation and rather to put hope in the Creator, God Almighty.

Already kicked to the ground and needing someone to help him up, instead another calamity came about! Out of nowhere another storm came his way, Masood. While some conflicts we can choose to ignore and hope with time they resolve themselves, he had no option but to listen to these liberal teachings. Hammered by a 'rational' approach to his current beliefs, he was shaken up. While Masood never questioned his core Islamic beliefs, he did question the organized structure and set way of life he had been presented and so strongly believed in. This had a profound affect which rather than just making him attempt to 'rationalize' the interpretation of Sunnah he supported; it forced him to go back to the root of everything.

I'm discussing what if this method of life is lesser than what Masood preaches, using my own rational to come up with how I should live. But, what about a whole another religion, if I'm attempting to sincerely find which way of life is correct, then shouldn't I look to other religions too? Wait, wait, if your looking at religion, then why not think if there is even a need for religion? Now that you've gone beyond all limits and picked at the foundation of all your beliefs, give me proof that God exists and why he is one.

Now that I have related to you the thus-far journey of the Muslim Kid, now you know. That my friends, has been bothering the Muslim Kid for the greatest amount of time. This whole idea of rationalizing everything. Also, a misconception that everything is rational under Islam, that I can look for answers and I will find answers that will satisfy me. After many dangerous discussions, restless days and reading some wise blogposts , I've come to a conclusion that the dangerous approach Masood has taken is not one I want to go near.

Even if some of the points Masood make sense, they are not worth losing peace of mind and soul. The first day of class Masood made a point about 'blind faith'. He said that all of Shaykh Husain's teachings are me following 'blind faith' putting trusts into his words. My friend, I agree yet want to know what is wrong with that? Think about this, I accept God and his book, on faith for what concrete rational do I have that might justify God? Similarly, everything Shaykh Husain says is logical and so I accept it, yes on faith but also on reason too. All of this is Faith, with just a little bit of rational that God has blessed us with. If I were to rely on just my own intellect, there would be many unanswered questions so I rely on faith. Yes, you may argue, rely on the Quran and Sunnah and your reason and you'll be fine yet I disagree. I put faith in the words of the scholars, as I see it, they are the ones who have progressed Islam through the centuries! Sprituality and company of the scholars goes into a realm of baraqa, which is not bound by any form of rational.

I think Masood lacks an understanding in the irrational realm of baraqa. I read an amaznig comment by someone named Yursil on just reciting the Quran.

"Who are we kidding when we talk about being guided by Quran by our physical and lexical reading? Understanding the meaning doesn't come from its lexical interpretation, it comes from using it as a means to connect to Allah. Spiritual reading and spiritual understanding is far more important."

This answer suffices me. Yet I understand it won't suffice the person who looks at it critically and put his 'rational' into it. It requires the presense of faith and only God can grant that.

BrNaeem, always has to be the powerpuff girls-type person saving The Muslim Kid with his wise guy words! "For the heart moves at a pace which the brain can simply not maintain" Subhanallah. Thank you for returning this statement of mind to me.

I don't need to justify anything to the world. Shaykh Husain's teachings are consistent with Quran and Hadith. Don't get me wrong, I've learned something from this whole ordeal. There ARE grey areas in life. I think it was my naive childish nature to conceive life in only black and white. Masood is wrong or he is right. Shaykh Husain is right or he is wrong.

I see a lot of good in Masood's efforts, his purpose as he said is to "force our minds" to think. He has done exactly that and I'm glad that this whole questioning period is beggining to close. I don't think he realizes that the teachings of Shaykh Husain have such a powerful effect on me only because they are so rational (to an extent) and make sense. There are some things I disagree on with Shaykh Husain with. For example, right now, I feel that it is okay to not follow a school of thought. All the schools of thought are okay, including if you don't follow one. I say that because who am I to say Masood is wrong to not follow a school of thought, how sure am I that what I follow is correct?

I won't go as far as to say that I'm sure that Masood is out right wrong. But I will say, "Masood is wrong and possibly right. Shaykh Husain is right and possibly wrong", as Imam Shafi similarly said about him and his opponents.

Forgive me if I have made any mistakes. If I'm misguiding myself then help me Allah. And if I am on the right path, then do let my heart deviate once you have guided it. Ameen.

-The Muslim Kid-

**Umer, I think you'll be happy to know that this is the 'end' of these disturbed posts for a while, Inshallah.

And there he goes...

2009-11-25T19:22:00.002-06:00

The other day I went for Isha at ICC after a long time, a few weeks at least. At first it was very quiet and uncrowded but slowly people started coming in and we actually were able to have two full rows Mashallah.

A few or maybe one sister (maybe a middle aged woman) actually came. The people divided the masjid with this curtain and it made me so happy that ICC had arrangements for the sisters too. I know they have facilities upstairs for when they have lectures but have always wondered if only a one or two sisters came to pray, then what? Thank you ICC, you never disappoint. (But then again, if you have Mufti Kamani and Shaykh Husain as the leading members of the community, what else can you expect?)

Speaking of Shaykh Husain, I saw him there. Though, right when I saw him the jamaah started praying four fard and so I could not greet him then. As the namaz finished, I wanted to greet him and waited for the end of the dua and everyone doing thier short dikrs. And then out of nowhere he left! He just got up and walked out.

"It is actaully the Sunnah of the Prophet(S) to pray Fard in the masjid and the Sunnah in the house so that the Baraqa may be shared. Its like doing your spritual shopping, you need to come and shop for sprituality at the masjid and take it home and feed your family. Its hard but if because when we get home we get lazy but that is something we should all try to achieve"

Subhanallah. Ya Allah bless us with more like him who say what they preach and preach what they say. Little things like that make me very happy.

-Muslim Kid-

Self-Critical Reflection.

2009-11-20T22:08:00.002-06:00

Copied from Facebook.

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Every little conflict in life, or everything we perceive as a conflict, we have a hand in getting to that situation. If you can't understand why your friend hates when you haven't done anything, more likely than not, you have done something wrong. I've always been told--you know one of those wise, really-smart, and practical advices the intellectual people in mankind have passed on, yet we just call it foolish, stupid and unpractical. You know what I'm talking about, don't you? Well the ability to look at every conflict as partially due to your own faults--its really useful. It will humble you and force you to accept your mistakes.

1. Academic Standing - Hmm, I wish I got all A's. My parents would never complain about anything and life would be set. Why don't I get straight A's? Teachers, too much work, not enough time, or is that material just that hard? Nope, its me. For example, if right now If I wasn't on Facebook I could read my Chapters 18 and 19 in Bailey and get it out of the way. It always IS my fault. I waste time doing stupid stuff that if I didn't, I could do even MORE in life. If I had more free time I could read books, something I never seem to have time to. I could sleep and then not fall asleep (once) in APUSH and get yelled for it in front of my mom and being told how it is unacceptable. Just kidding, Ms. Park's doing her job, I really should not have fallen asleep in class. If she keeps bringing it up, then that's good, shes making sure I won't ever again. If I was able to think more clearly then I could harvest the material in Chemistry so that I didn't make little mistakes on tests. And If I put more effort in my homework, I would not have a B in American Lit. Faique, all these B's are reflective of you and no one else.

2. Family - I'm so blessed to have understanding, providing, and reasonable parents. Luckily, my parents are an essential part to the "push" that motivates me, but even then why do I get into minors arguments with my siblings? Okay, those of you guys reading this thinking, whats the big deal about arguing? It is a big deal knowing you could have prevented it! If my little brothers comes in my room and I just tell him to get out and he gets upset, its all my fault. Even if its his fault, its my fault for not making him understand and for not being understanding.

3. Friends - I love you guys, my "real" friends. You guys don't give me the strength to do anything, you do something even more important, you keep me going! Thank you. Where do I fail with my friends? I think often the spotlight is on me rather than my friend who I might be talking to. If I talk too much, just tell me. I need to learn to talk less and listen more. I'm sorry for not being a friend sometimes, I really do try (but I guess not hard enough at times).

4. Religion - "Remember me and I will remember you" If I can't establish my Salah how do I ever expect any form of success in life? You established yourself before, why are you going back? This is pathetic. You don't even need to verbalize your mistakes in this category, just leave the bad and the good will come. But understand that you can't blame the "cards" its not about what cards your getting because in that case you've been getting Royal Flushes with those teachers, your parents, your friends, and everything else too; just play the cards right! Allah (God) is giving you so many chances to become somebody--something amazing! We hear about these amazing people who we call our role models, whats their secret? They all took advantage of their youths! Stop wasting your time kid.

5. Life - Whats the general conflict of life for me? Like I said, I'm getting some amazing cards, why are you playing them so bad? I learn something interesting everyday. Today I leaned two! I keep thinking to myself, don't be too happy because then you will become too sad and don't be too sad because then you will become too happy (and then too sad again). True that. It reminded me of a narration of Imam Abu Hanifa ( I think) that goes something like this: Imam Hanafi was informed of his merchant ships recent economic activity, that his ships had made a higher than expected profit. Imam Hanafi said, "Alhumdulillah" which means like Thank God. Then later he was informed that his ships had not made a hefty profit and instead made a hefty lost. He still said "Alhumdulillah" and then the man asked him why he was saying Thank God to a bad thing? He responded: "The first time I was told that I made a gain in this world, I looked at my heart and was happy that It didn't make me too happy and then when I was told I got a lost, I was just glad that Thank God a loss in this world didn't make me too sad" Subhanallah (Praise be to God) These people were so amazing! Why can't you be like them!? Independent of the ups and downs of this world. But no, one day that person says this to you and next day they say that to you and one day your happy and the next day your sad; stop. The second thing I learned was ... well I can't remember.

Just, like Ms. Park said. You KNOW what your doing wrong, so then stop saying, "yes, yes" and get to it. Pray for me friends.

Putting things into Prespective

2009-10-19T20:02:00.009-05:00

As time plays its role, my dad continues to age and I continue to "mature". If I was given a dollar for every time I thought I was "mature" and knew the meaning of life and really I didn't, I'd be seriously rich.

This blog used to play a very different role in my life, but as I just mentioned, that was the meaning of life, before. Now, blogging just seems like someone sharing their experiences for others to read--well it was always just that--but the function it serves is different. Before, blogging was where my thoughts met paper (or electrolytes in the case of computers) but now I view it differently. I'm wasting my time blogging my life away.

Paper is meaningless, as it should be, it’s just a means, and I guess that's the new function of my blog. I blog when necessary, to get through life. Before, I think I was seriously blogging, for the sake of blogging.

Anyway.

Shaykh Husain in a very old lecture mentioned a very comprehensible analogy of what life should be for the Mu'min. Here is the scenario: Imagine if Starbucks said they will give free coffee to the first hundred people in line and then whoever brings it back the next day, in the same condition (it'll cool down of course) will get one million dollars!

We would run to Starbucks to make sure we were one of the first hundred to get the coffee to begin with. Then once we got it, we would let nothing disturb that coffee. We would make sure it remained intact and as preserved as possible. If you dropped a little bit, you would not be able to claim that one million dollars and no way would we trade it in for a few, a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars! Who would give you that much money for coffee anyway?

Well that coffee represents our Iman, our status as Muslims. And this one day period, between getting the coffee and keeping it in the same condition till you get that million dollar check, represents the Duniya. The reality of this scenario is not the that less than twenty four hours time period, but after you get that money--only then you can fully enjoy the benefits of your toils, right? Similarly, that check represents our ticket to Jannah (Heaven), we will trade in our Iman, that which as Muslims have perserved and in return be giving the best of rewards: Jannah.

Luckily for us! Life isn't even that hard. Yep, you read that right! Life isn't that hard, Allah (SWT) is much more merciful than the factors present in the anecdote. Allah (SWT) gives us the chance to refill our cup and clean it, outside in case the cup is dirty, and inside incase a bug or something secretly crept in! What is this chance, a chance that we are given five times everyday!? Imagine Starbucks telling you that if you come to the store during a certain time they will refill the cup for you, practically give you a new one! It would be super easy then to get that million dollar check, right?

Above all this, what if Starbucks was even more generous and said that they would give opportunities for people to fill up their cups more than they needed, incase some coffee dripped. Then we would be set so that even if some coffee fell, we would still be safe. By the mercy of Allah, we have this too! Allah gives us Salah, a continual chance to redeem our Iman, if that wasn't merciful enough, he offers us the ability to boost our Iman beyond what is necessitated: we fast, we do Hajj and we pay zakah!

Of course, even with all this--it’s easier said than done. What if Starbucks published--and gave out for free, a guide, "How to get a million dollars from Starsbucks for Dummies"! Then which one of those 100 people shouldn't win? Only those without brains and any common sense, those living in ignorance and stupidity. Allah is amazing that he gave us this guide, the Quran!

You might complain to Starbucks, "this book is just too hard to understand" and so they tell you, "don't worry, look at the footnotes and commentary. It will set you straight" and Subhanallah, Allah gave us this too: the Sunnah of the Prophet(S).

The reality is of the story is that Starbucks would never do this; it’s the biggest joke ever. Yet this is OUR reality, as Muslims. As Muslims, we have been blessed with Iman, and are fortunate enough that our Lord is so merciful that he is in essence dragging us back on the right path. Every time we stray too far from the right path, we are re-guided through means of our Salah. For the rust that accumulates for a year's worth of sinning and hardening, Allah blesses us with even more powerful tools: zakah and fasting. And the Mercy of our Lord doesn't end there! For those who spend a lifetime sinning and living in heedlessness; for them there is Hajj!

And yet there is more! Imagine is Starbucks said: "Okay so whoever came here with their coffee cups even if the coffee is gone or if you have a drop of coffee in your cup, we will give you a million dollars for trying" then, THEN which one of those people would not get the million dollars? Only those who were such idiots that it is beyond comprehension. Similarly, as a reoccurring theme in the Quran states, Intentions are based on intention! If you intended to have your coffee in the morning perfectly in the same condition (if not better) than it was given to you, then star bucks would give you the million dollars. Yea right! But Subhanallah that is the mercy of our Lord that if we intend to do well on this earth, he will reward us with our intentions.

Think of this: For those who do good deeds for 40 years of your life then before you die you renounce Allah and die in disbelief (Audubillah, may it happen to no one), then they're fate lies in the hands of Allah, hopefully they receive his mercy but we cannot say because they didn't believe. Subhanallah isn't it unfair that this person will go to hell forever, yet he only sinned for so long. On the contrary: Imagine a person who has sinned for 40 years of his life and before he dies, he accepts Allah, prays one Salah, dies with Iman. That person, while only doing good deeds for such a small amount of time, is granted Falah! Falad is everlasting success, that which cannot be lost! Such is the mercy of Allah, you are judged on your intentions. Such that if you were kept on that earth for another hundred years, you would commit that which you intend.

So then how exactly do you get from a cup of coffee to a million dollars? You give them the cup and they will give you the check! And in reality, for us, how do we get from this Iman we have been bestowed with and trade it in for Jannah? This is the essence of this story. The one focus of our lives: to die in belief. To die saying the words La-ilaha-ilalla. And that my friends, is the One Focus of our lives Put into Perspective.

Now imagine, what if Starbucks NEVER even did this whole thing? Imagine if you weren't part of those 100 people. What if you just weren't smart enough to bring the coffee back in the morning! Alhumdulilah, if you are reading this, you are probably one of the blessed people who has been one born, two born Muslim, and three given Hidaya, Guidance, by Allah so that DO care about their religion. Alhumdulillah, what else can we say?
--------------------------

I think that is definitely the most amazing concept I have ever read, understood, or wrote about. Shaykh Husain is so amazing, May Allah shower him with Happiness. This is something we really need to think about. I really enjoyed listening to those lectures. (The Starbucks example is from the second Lecture) Its really long, Puting things into Prespective. Enjoy.

P.S. Please make Dua for me. I really need it at this point in life.

-The Muslim Kid-

Law Camp Reflections.

2009-08-06T00:48:00.007-05:00

I want to be a lawyer. That is one of the first things you should know about me, if you already don't. I applied to this law camp program (2 weeks long), Summer Legal Institute, and I got in. I am actually doing another program which is concurrent with this. Basically, the first program (6 weeks long) ends this week while the law camp just started this week. The first program, Collegiate Scholars, you take class's over the summer for three years and I happened to get the director of the program as one of my teachers. I somehow persuaded her to let me be excused a few days from Collegiate Scholars to attend the law program.

So yesterday was the first day and I didn't go and went to Collegiate Scholars, today it was the exact opposite. I went to law camp and I feel as if I need this reflection to just think about what I did today--bad and good.

We had to dress up in formal business attire and my dress pants were too loose; it didn't feel right. Bad way to start your day, actually I was late too. I was knowingly late and didn't make a big deal out of it just because there wasn't any point in doing so, it wouldn't make the bus go any faster. So I arrived late on the second day after not even coming on the first day, great!

We talked about some famous cases in Supreme Court then we all got ready and walked a few blocks to the 7th circuit court of appeals. We went in the actual courtroom and it was cool. We go to sit in the judge panel seats and in the lawyer seats; nothing super fun but interesting nevertheless. Then one of the program's sponsors, Ron Safer, gave a short intro of himself. Let me say, he is an AMAZING PERSON. He talked about how he came from a bad neighborhood where there were drug dealers and whatnot. (Sadly, I can relate to that sort of environment, but Alhamdulillah my mom has kept me in a bubble from all that shady stuff) He talked about how he went to undergrad school majoring in business and was somewhat laid back. He didn't do much and when he entered Georgetown University, he was nothing compared to the other overachievers around him. Yet, he graduated top of his class magna cum laude; very nice guy. He talked about how his neighborhood influenced him. He mentioned how he never was a great speaker or super smart just was really passionate about the field of law he practiced and that made all the difference. Something about him singled sincerity. Before, I would hear people say a speech on stuff like this and I would just think, bullshit, but you could tell he was very sincere and real.

Then we met an even MORE AMAZING PERSON: the honorable Judge Ann Williams. She truly is an extraordinary woman. She talked about her dad being a bus driver for over twenty years because he couldn’t get a job in his field. She told us how she asked him one day while in college, "How did you stand such a job while being educated with a law degree?" She said he told her, "Being a bus driver is a very decent work. I earn my money and I have to feed my family. Besides, my education and knowledge is in my brain, no one can take that away from me." I second that, I know too many people who have sacrificed their foreign degrees when moving to America and end up becoming something "low class".

Then we went to a law firm. The name is like Brinks something and something LLP. It is an intellectual property law firm, one of the top in the nation. We had lunch there with a panel of lawyers and associates for the company; good stuff. We were able to sit with some of their associates and lawyers at our lunch tables and I got to sit by this pretty blond lawyer. It was hard to make eye contact while talking especially considering that she was indeed very attractive. Also, eating and trying to present you in a professional manner is hard.

I learned that there are two types of lawyers. Transactional and I forgot the other one. The other one is, I think, litigation. Transactional is more about staying in your office or traveling, making deals, doing paperwork, etc. On the other hand, litigation is going to court and a lot of center-stage talking in front of judges; things of the sort. I like litigation because it seems like more fun but I think transactional is better lifestyle. Come on, wouldn't it be awesome to be a lawyer and have to go meet a client in Tokyo, you take your wife along and stay in a hotel for a few days; that is totally me.

Then we went back to the original class place, (DePaul Law School) and had a two hour long session on business etiquettes. This was probably the most interesting part of the day. I noticed a problem with myself. Whenever I am with some small group of people and we are discussing our individual credentials; I end up saying things that make me seem arrogant. On the other hand, when in a big group (like the class) I humble myself. I need to reverse this because in front of normal down to earth people I seem arrogant while in front of a group of other students who are around and above my achievements, I seem like nothing. If I say it to a bunch of down to earth people, its automatically, "overachiever!", I dont mind at all. I believe in total productivity, something I'll regret decades from now(if I live that long) and think I should have enjoyed life more. On the other hand, if you meet a bunch of students who are overachieves themselves, you better say every club position you hold and every award you have recieved in your high school career.

We were taught some ways of carrying on a conversation and basically we had to then introduce ourselves. So it was my turn and I had barely gotten sleep last night, I was dead tired. I stood up and said my name, my school and my grade. Right when I said my school name, I think people expected me to be some sort of super star just because my school is known for that yet I just said a few things. I said I want to be a civil rights lawyer (I'm rethinking that whole idea, I still want to be in Civil rights, but not just a civil rights lawyers), how I love writing, that I have an Editorial Column on my school newspaper for the following academic year. I actually said that, "I didn't get enough sleep last night so I'm not as energetic and loud as I usually am but tomorrow hopefully I'll be louder".

But the other kids oh snap. One of them had his own Graphite Company whatever that exactly means, another had music business where he played the instrumentals for famous artists and got paid a share of the profits. The first girl said that this was her 17th mock trial (seriously wth?). There were some very loud and intricate people there; I felt as if my voice was like a little bird singing while their voices were giant machines producing loud noises.

It was fun to hear about all these magnificent students. The next thing that entailed was very controversial for me. We went to a law firm, Perkins Coie LLP and we were able to intermingle with all these lawyers and professionals from the legal field--male and female. Every time there was a female and I had to bring forth my hand to shake it, I didn't know what to do. The world around me stops and its like, "Faique, hey kid, wait up, say something! Your Muslim remember, Islam, Allah, remember all this?" and then baam life comes back into perspective and I freak out with the person staring at me with that lawyer etiquette smile; you give in. I was being smart in trying to not to mingle with the female lawyers but sometimes it was unavoidable.

In general, I feel like I definitely do want to be a lawyer. Ameen to people like Ron Safer and Judge Ann Williams and hopefully we can get more Muslims in the field of law. (There are three desi / Muslim girls in the camp too. I've talked with one who is my age and the other two are older.) I think Muslims need to become lawyers and then we need to form Muslim LLP. My only concern is that the legal profession seems too touchy, with all the handshakes, hugs and cheek kissing.

Finally, I want to that that I love how lawyers interact. Everyone is very gregarious and outgoing. People know how to carry a conversation and are quite well mannered. I like that environment with all educated people but I feel that if anything in an environment likes that, I would be the joker. I need to learn to be a more intricate speaker and suck it up when I'm tired.

That’s about it I think. It was definitely an interesting day and tomorrow will be interesting also, (going to both, first Law camp and then later Collegiate Scholars).

-The Muslim Kid-

Kithab - Novel in the Making

2009-07-09T23:43:00.004-05:00

If you don't know, I'm trying to write a novel/story. Here's an intro of it.

--

How do you tell the story of the mouse who ate the cat--you don't. Somethings are seriously never meant to be told, just experienced, traumatized and forgotten. The story I am about to tell you, you wouldn't believe it; I wouldn't either. This story--my story, is a one of those crazy cases you'd hear on CNN or read in The New York Times but not this time. I was like you, hearing about these instances one day and forgetting about it the next; continuing about my life, until it was me who was the victim.

My name is Amir, I'm 22 years old and I am an American Muslim. Being Muslim is my first form of identification, something life has made me regret at points, nevertheless, I am a Muslim. My story starts in spring 2009 with just a quarter of my senior year at Harvard remaining. I was content with myself, I lived a pretty ideal life. I had two of the most amazing friends ever, I was President of the Harvard Crimson, and had recently been accepted into Harvard Law School. Life was good; or at least as good as life can gets for practicing Muslims in America.

My two friends, Ahmad and Aminah, both also Muslim, they too were living ideal lives. We were on track to be future leaders of our the next generation of American Muslim community. Ahmad and I had both been accepted into Harvard Law School and Aminah planned to enrolled in John Hopkins to become a neurologist. We were practicing Muslims: we didn't just fulfill the bare pinnacles of Islam, we took our religion to heart and were Islamically-consistent in every aspect of our lives. We had refused to be like those who identified themselves Muslims yet their actions were contradictory.

That's how four years in Harvard had passed: studying, praying, going to the Masjid for lectures, and the occasional 'hanging out'. We had worked hard these four years and we planned to continue to work hard, we believed working hard was mandated in Islam. Time played its course and before we knew it, we were Harvard graduates.

Within the span of twenty plus years we had lived, our lives had stayed within certain boundaries; somethings were practical and others were not. The three of us were very strong willed yet we knew what was possible and what wasn't; we didn't believe in, "everything is possible". This was all about to change.

The summer began and thus began our misadventures. What began as a simple airplane flight ended as a fifty-five million dollar lawsuit against the United States government.Reading this journal is not something you should do, it is something you need to do. It's not just my story, it’s our story.

--

Here's a link to the first entry to the book: LINK

Please comment on what you think. Probably has grammatical mistakes and awkward sounding sentences. If you think it sounds not-like-a-novel, then that's the point, it supposed to sound like a dairy. Thanks!

-The Muslim Kid-

Perfect Advice : "Just Don't Think About Marriage Yet!"

2009-06-25T20:45:00.010-05:00

Its funny this is something that is on my mind a lot, yet I've barely ever talked about it on my blog. All my life, I've been watching Bollywood movies; this compromises a huge chunk of my perception of marriage and love. It's Sad and one day it'll be depressing when I find out this is the farthest thing from the truth.

Sometimes I wish life was like movies, or maybe just a bit like movies. Ya I wish I could go to college, get that Yale Law Degree, the perfect girl comes about and tralala: Love. Of course, by love I mean, marriage, and then happily ever after. All those hormone-backed desires go away. Seriously, my wife will resemble half Katrina Kaif, and half Aishwarya Rai; perfect fair skin, awesome sense of style and very fashionable. A doctor with a degree from the top medical school in the country, John Hopkins summa cum laude sucka! And she'll be working on finding the cure to cancer. Oh yea and her dad's a really rich award-winning professor, and her mom knows how to carry and intellectual conversation, her brothers really cool [One won the Nobel peace prize for establishing peace in the Middle East, another is the first non-Arab Imam of Masjidal-Haram], the whole family is religious! She wears full niqaab; she’s an alimah and most importantly a humble practicing Muslim. She's the perfect daughter-in-law too; her parents taught her great ethics.

We go to a fundraising dinner, she anonymously donates a large sum of money only to later tell me and ask for me not to tell anyone; how blessed I am to have such a humble wife? Were leaving the fundraiser, I forget my jacket. "I'll be right back, I forgot my jacket" shell smile and say, "Its right here". I'll be working on article for the New York Times; I'll have her check it out only to find tons of grammatical mistakes even though I claimed there were none. She'll be an amazing cook, come home after Jummah to the best biryani in the world.

Seriously, what else could you want, beautiful, genius, religious, humble, great cook and a good editor. She's...in one word...perfect! That is my future wife [in BollyLand at least].

[HA-HA](Strong)-[HA-HA](Stronger)-[HA-HA](Even Stronger).

Stop dreaming kid. Seriously, all those years of Bollywood movies have filled your brain with fantasies and now it’s been cemented; you actually believe this crud?

No matter how hopeful, ideal someone is, why should you hope or wish for the impossible? I mean, you’re not going to get a wife with three of those qualities, let alone all of them. It sucks to realize the truth; wait this is the truth?

To be completely honest, no I don't believe so. You are the controller of your actions. Allah(SWT) gives you the cards, you play them however you will. I believe that you can easily live an amazing life, all you need is a good intentions and a little bit of compromise. But I do believe a lot of the things every other married person tells. They laugh and tell you, "Haha, I thought marriage was going to be...but, it wasn't". I believe you. It must be tough living with a person having to compromise, having to do this and that. It is so important for people to realize that, the people older and wiser than us, they tell us stuff and we think, "oh that doesn't apply to me" or "my case is/will be different". No, it won't, that’s what they thought too. Just start listening to them now so you won't be like them regretting the mistakes they are warning you about!

If Muslims took the prophets behavior towards his wives seriously, if we implemented it in the Ummah today; subhanallah!!! It would be awesome. I'm a person that believes in compromising with your partner, contrary to what many desi people think. "Don't lets you wife be your slave master"--this is a loose translation of an Urdu saying; I totally disagree. Desi's are often oppressive to their wives, often very unjust in simple rights. Don't get me wrong, I am anti-Feminist too. I hate females, "I want unconditional rights! I want this and that but not that." Stop cherrying picking you loser.

If there was an Islamic state today [forget those corrupt Muslim countries. Right now, they don't exist] would younger people we getting married? Marriage is half of faith! I don't think it makes sense for people in this society to get married at young ages, there is no system to support this. What about in a Muslim society, Muslims are recommended to get married as soon as possible. In this society that is once you’re past thirty-five, financially established, and having committed zinnah with at least ten women. Okay, being practical, even Muslims have problems getting married young. Desi weddings, cost tens of thousands of dollars, and you need to find the perfect girl according to your parents. Does it always come back to being desi, is that the root of all my problems? Here's a quote from my dad highlighting the practicality of what I'm saying. "You can get married once your sisters get married and you pay for their weddings, fifty thousand dollars each" --Yes, he said that.

By the end of high school, every fifth person has committed zinnah, twice. Everyone, discarding the 1 in 100, has kissed. Every third person has done something between kissing and zinnah. THIS IS REALITY. You are considered a loser, you’re ridiculed for not having lost your virginity by the time your old enough to drive. You have girls walking in cloths that make you think, "Why are you even wearing cloths, what’s the point now?” If this doesn't spark your desire then nothing will. You need hope, something at the end of the train; the only halal solution: Marriage. Thus, marriage is at the end of the line, the light that makes you think, "One day, but not right now".

A major problem I have is the realization that against all these factors, you marry someone for one reason and only one reason, for the sake of Allah (SWT). That’s it! No other reason. Thus you should, strictly speaking, be able to marry anyone! I think a lot of marriages end up in divorces because people don't have the right intentions when getting married.

Sure you can marry someone just cause you can and you want to, you want to fulfill your desires, go on that honeymoon, have kids, start a family, buy a house; be 'normal'. That wedding will be a miserable disaster unless somewhere along the way you realize what you’re doing. You might be happy for the first six months before that 'honey-moon period' is over. Then it is all downhill my friends. Don't fall into that, "I want someone special, to spend time with, to love me, to...” it’s all simply put: bullshit.

Sigh, this post was a bad idea. Half hopeful of the one day future [and yet, who knows when my time will come? When I'm 20, next year, tomorrow, today, right now...?..Now?...okay Now?]. I think my friend's mom's advice to her son and me is great. "Just Don't Think About Marriage Yet!"

Your thoughts? Any married Bangladeshi wives in the audience?[You see why I love your blog, I love your insight on the practicality of marriage and your desi] Lol. What about others about my age, do you feel the same about this topic; completely opposite and I'm just going crazy here, maybe?

-The Muslim Kid-

87 Posts Later

2009-06-05T19:25:00.004-05:00

Dear Blog,

First and foremost, thank you. You have helped me grow mentally, religiously and academically. It has been one year and one day now. I dont know where to begin, how much you have helped me in so many situations. Look at this first post. What foolish kid authored that post, he writes like an amateur!

Lets take a look how my life has changed because of you.

Recently, I got an editorial column on the school paper. Oh yea. 10 months, 10 columns of pure opinionated, bias writing. -tear- . The editors who awarded me this extremely awesome position as a columnist, they were geared towards giving it to me cause they know that I have a blog. Amazing... or Amazing? Thank you so much.

My grammar has dramatically improved! Ferreals, who wrote this super grammatically-incorrect post? I'm gonna need this good grammar for the SAT and ACT, so hopefully this will continue. Oh ya, props to journalism for making my grammar a lot better too.

My views on a lot of topics have changed! I feel like I understand the world more now, I understand people's mentality. It helps in practical situations so much, when you know how the other person is viewing the situation; put yourself in their shoes. So for all that, thank you.

But probably the most important thing I feel you have given to me is -drum roll- my readers. Seriously, the input I receive from my readers, its amazing. In fact, before I made you, I used to comment on other blogs. When I read this post, I was convinced I needed to make you; bloggers are genius's(or at least this one).

Seriously, I got to meet two sisters, both around my age, it was so cool. Ya ya, Brother Naeem is a genius, but Zainab and Saeeda, there like my age. Then I started reading so many of your friends (other blogs) that I decided I needed to store them in an organized manner, thus I began using Google Reader. Its been a revolution. Heck! You became such a big part of my life that I ended up getting a friend to make a you for herself! Even some other friends!

You have become a symbol of me. The other day at the Jamaah Club End of the year dinner (Article about it from my co-PR), some of the alumni knew me. Im standing accross from them getting food in line and there all talking with the seniors and the president introduces them to me. "He's the kid with the blog?!" I just smiled! Yup, thats me! It was pretty cool, I felt famous for a while.

Hmm, really, Ive grown so much with the time I've spent with you. Seriously, thank you. I look forward to a long healthy relationship.

Signed,
Your faithful Author.

[P.S. I'm thinking of naming my column, "Faique It!" Whachathink?]
Oh and I hope you guys noticed that the content is true but the personifcation of the blog, not so much. Lol

Peace at Last.

2009-02-11T20:27:00.005-06:00

Days like today don't happen much.

So first of all, I have two bucks, my dad asks me if i have money and I just tell him that it would be great if he gave me 3 bucks, I had been asking him for money for like the last three days in a row, so yes. Now I had 5 dollars.

I had worn this light red jacket from a LONG time ago, I hadn't worn it in a long time. I get to school and put my hands in the pocket..Woah, five bucks! Oh man, its good to be careless and lose ur stuff and find it later mhm? Now I had 10 Dollars.

As the day started, I had a math test, it wasn't too hard and yea, took off a lot of stress because I was scared I would FAIL the test. It went well, took off a lot of stress.

I go to chinese later in the day, and Dr. Fu (I must write a post on her later) gives me a package, I open it, it has my WALET! I had lost it in the locker room almost 2-3 weeks ago. It had my ID which the person had found and returned to the address, I also had five dollars in there. The person returned it with a small note: "I found it in a yellow taxi, Please return to whoever it belongs to" Oh man, I was so happy, it wasnt the money or ID. The lunch lady had been so polite as to make me an ID after I lost it because I had come to know her and it cost students 5 dollars to make an ID, she got me one for free after I told her I lost it. Oh man, and that Wallet, I have memories, it is my one possesion i've had for more than 4 years, its the best. So now I have my favorite walet, 2 IDS, and 15 Dollars. *Oh yea, the guy who returned it, his name was: Jerry Smith.

The day passes by and its the last class of the day: journalism. One of my favorite classes! I had already turned in my two articles for the month and I just sat there playing games/checking email/chatting on the computer. I get a call on my cellphones, Mr. Tylinski and the editors are having a meeting, no biggie. I pick up,

"This is Babette from CPS in Downtown,"
Me: "yes?"
"You have won the CPS Martin Luther King Essay contest as second place in the 9th grade competiton. You will win a digital camera and a photo printer with it"
Me: *Dead tired, its the end of the day* "Cool"
"I will give you some information about you attending two dinners, one at _______ and one at _______, this is where you will be given your prize.
"ill be there"
"Oh and please dress up for the first dinner, it is very formal. and we will be sending official invitations to your school soon."
"oh i see"

and then I thanked her and she congradualated me and we hung up.

Today is wednesday, tommorow is thursday, then friday. then saturday, sunday and monday.
NO SCHOOL.

OH MAN LIFE IS GOOD. Life hasnt been this good in a while. THANK YOU Mr. Jerry Smith and CPS.

Sorry about your phone Organica. Hope this somehow cheers you up!

-The Muslim Kid-

The Influence of Dr. King on Contemporary Society

2009-01-26T07:55:00.002-06:00

The Influence of Dr. King on Contemporary Society

The efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. have had an everlasting mark in history and have become a primitive example of what every American should strive to be. In his speech, “I Have a Dream,” potentially one of the greatest demonstrations of American history, he said, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”. He once again established that as Americans we must live up to the Constitution we hail our supreme doctrine. He attempted to re-secure equality for all, disregarding color, religion or any other factor that may handicap one. His life is an inspiration for contemporary society, and in particular it is the ideal life that I myself endeavor to achieve in this world.

Living in a predominantly minority neighborhood, I have grown up with African Americans and Latinos. I have grown up seeing violence, guns and drugs; the downfall of minority society. I see young kids my age wasting their life by bringing weapons to school. I hear about teens going to jail for assaulting other students. I am no stranger to these handicaps that are still alive in the post-Dr. King era. I have witnessed the behind the lines limitations imposed in terms of salaries, public services and education within the minority population.

Yet, along with the cons of society, I have also seen the fierce power of one person wanting and leading to change just like Dr. King. I have seen kids rise above their environment and conditions to become someone extraordinary. I have seen the wall of white supremacy torn by another revolutionary man: Barack Obama, the forty-fourth president of the United States of America. I myself can compare with Dr. King. He had overcome the challenges that society had so powerfully held on to--such as discrimination and segregation--and I too face similar challenges. Due to my sub-continental origins and beliefs as a Muslim I also face the prejudices of society.

If Dr. King were alive today, he would cry. He would cry at the thought that because a minority president was elected, two-thirds of African Americans believed his vision were complete. He would be furious that people think that this is the end, that all is well in society. Dr. King once said, “If a man hasn’t found something to die for, he isn’t fit to live”. Society isn’t fit to live if it believes that Dr. King would suffice seeing Obama become president. I believe that in my case, it is time for the minorities to continue the vision of Dr. King and further establish equality. In terms of religion, I think it is time for the Muslims to stand up for themselves and break away from the stereotypes of society.

Society has shown that one mans effort can change the world, whether it is Dr. King, Obama or Malcolm X. These activists have exemplified great courage against the trends of society to promote peace, justice and equality. Dr. King is in a sense a continuation of the great founding fathers, as his whole life is centered on the statement that indeed, “All men are created equal.”

Dr. King has inspired me directly and indirectly. He taught me to stand up for my beliefs, to stand up for equality and justice. When I see the intolerance of society, I am once again reminded of the vision Dr. King and I both share--a vision to bring equality to this world.

Chicago Palestine Protest

2009-01-02T23:32:00.007-06:00

The least we as Muslims can do is speak out against injustice. That is exactly what happened today; Jan 2, 2009 in Chicago at Tribune Plaza in front of the Israeli Embassy. The turnout was three, four thousand people, Muslims, Palestinians, Arabs, Desi's, Male, Female, Old, Young, any anyone against what is morally-wrong.

The Protest in Chicago against injustice, occupation, human rights abuse, Israel's oppression and crimes against humanity.

Pictures I took.

Live the Full Potential of Your Life

2008-12-24T01:17:00.004-06:00

Today, I begin a new life.

Yes I made a list of things I wanted to abide my life by. It was general. Here is the list. I will add along to it as life goes on. I have been adding to the other life just need to update it.

Live the Full potential of your life

Pray all five Salah. Pray on time. Perfect the Salah.

Stop listening to music.

Stop looking at thing you shouldn’t.

Stop hearing things you shouldn’t.

Stop saying things you shouldn’t. No derogatory terms what so ever, even in the slightest way.

No soda, not too much junk/unhealthy foods.

Don’t put yourself in a bad environment that you can’t fight; you’ll get run over by the truck eventually.

Do something good, say Subhannullah and move on; no good deed is too great.

Do something bad, say Astagfurillah and move on; just repent, Allah is Ar-Raheem.

Work on that grammar!

Say Salam, Just do your part.

Never hesitate to do anything good, even if you don’t do it the first time.

Be humble, remain humble.

-The Muslim Kid-

Shaikh Hussain

2008-12-14T19:18:00.000-06:00

Shaikh Hussain had given me his number; I just didn't have the guts to talk to him in person. I dont know why. It was like, this man is so pious, I dont even think I could ever talk to him face to face; his voice seems so authoritative; a person affirmative with his beliefs and actions. So I call him; no one picked up, I left a message. Today he returned my call but I myself was unavailable being in Sunday School; thus I called him a couple of minutes ago and finally we were able to talk.

I introduced myself briefly, asked how he was doing; formal greeting stuff. I said that I had come across some very hard questions that no one I had yet asked had given me a satisfying answer, and I hoped he could give me that answer.

Me: So someone asked me, why do read the Quran's interpretation over the Quran's actual translation? I did not have an answer really, why do we?

He responded something like this:

"Well faique, you should read the Quran for its meaning and just cause its the word of god(the Arabic). Some people just say to read the Quran, that is wrong, but some people just read the Quran that is incorrect. They are hand in hand. You must read the translation within context to fully understand the meaning that is what interpretation is. When you read the commentaries, just keep in mind this is what someone else thought of it, someone with great Islamic Knowledge. Also, we can't forget to read the Quran itself because there is much reward in reading the Quran, a Hadith follows, "you will recieve 10 rewards for every letter" thus there are some letter we cant understand that we get reward for reading like "Alif-Lam-Meem"."

Very interesting! I mean I know there is reward in just reading the Quran, but that right there is some solid proof, that you get reward for reading letters you cant even understand.

I continued,

How do we accpet Hadith as so authentic(the authentic ones) but yet the Bible also has that sort of authencity. Both written on paper after the deaths of Isa(A)/Muhammed(S). So if we argue the authencity of the bibles what hold the authencity of the similar formed Hadith?

He responded something like this:

"The Hadith are accurate, this is proven by the Scholars, the words are still the same. The bible isnt authentic at all, it isn't the words of Isa(A) it is merely the reflections of people, thier intepreations of what they think Isa(A) meant. This is something very simple, the whole bible is a collection of the different interpretations of different people. The Hadith on the other hand is a bringing together of the different sayings of the Prophet. They are all authentic, every person in the chain is recorded, the narraters have thier biographies if they are good people, with good memories, its just too much to be considered unauthentic."

The last thing I asked him about was Music:

I've heard your lecture on music and how its bad for you and in no way possible good. When I had first heard it, I stopped listening to it. But slowly I came back to listening to it. I mean, what can I do now, I mean if I listen to that speech it doesnt really motivate me the same way?

He said:

"What you expierienced is very common, people just hear a lecture and think they can stop listening to music over night, but it doesnt work like that. Once you have a standpoint, you need to move forward. If you heard a lecture, soon that lecture will wear off unless you supplemtn it, support that foundation, come to the Mosque, listen to more lectures. Become more involved. "

I thanked him for his time and his wise words; he truly is a busy man. Very good role model too. :D.

NOTE: Those questions and answers are TOTALLY paraphrased.

So here is something I thought about, I never really discussed the issue of music on my blog.

I know some people will come outright and say it is Haraam. Yet, I dont think we can say its Haram, but of course there is no good in it, it is a waste of time. I think we should stay away from it..

Shaikh Hussain:

One of the most well known is Shaykh Husain Abdul Sattar (also University of Chicago Medical School graduate, physician, pathologist). MashaAllah he is very intelligent and great speaker!--Stolen from riccashade2's Youtube Channel.

Shaikh Hussain's Lectures:
Shaikh Hussain Lectures

-The Muslim Kid-

Prompt: You have just finished authoring you 300 page autobiography. Please Submit page 217.

2008-12-07T21:21:00.000-06:00

Haha, I don't know what my readers will think of this; but take a look at the following. I am applying for this program that if accepted I will get, "advanced academic enrichment for the next three years". Take a look at the Prompt and my response, please be strict on your reviews.

--------------------------

Prompt: You have just finished authoring you 300 page autobiography. Please Submit page 217.

I stood face to face with this skeptic girl, everything I said she mocked me.
"You’re joking right?” It’s true when they say it’s always the last person you’d expect. At that point I would never have guessed that the girl sitting across from me, shattering all my life long dreams, would be my future savior, my wife.

“You think you can be anybody in this world? Welcome to reality honey, I’m sorry but the truth hurts. Being at the top doesn’t mean much because there’s always someone better than you” she said.

“Wow, are you always so optimistic?” I asked sarcastically.

I had a habit of planning out my life, and I shared my dreams with people. Some people were supportive saying, “you can do it!” but some were like this girl. Her point was valid; there is always someone better than you but I believed that you didn’t have to be the best. Just pretty close.

“I think you’d make a great doctor or lawyer, but seriously, politician?” she said. We had always been friends even though we were so different; but our similarities overrode those differences. Besides, there was something special about her.

“Do you really think you have what it takes to become elite?” She asked. "You’re so clumsy; you’re so naïve sometimes. Besides you have to be a genius.” We were both determined; she would not quit her skepticism, yet I refuse to abandon my dreams.

“I think the fact that I’m clumsy and naïve sometimes, well that’s what makes me viable for office. I have something that the American people can relate too. You’re right. I’m not perfect. There is someone out there better than me, yet I keep trying; but that’s the American Endeavor.” I said.

“Don’t worry you’ll make it at least half way through,” she said smiling; she did have hope in me. I’m going all the way! I thought.

* * *

That was too-many-years-to-count ago, but now I look at this same girl; wow! It’s hard to believe that this is the same girl who told me to keep trying when I was ready to stop.

When we had first married, the economy was down and getting a job was difficult, even with my Law degree from Harvard Law School. After months of searching, I was ready to quit, facing rejection after rejection because someone was more eligible than me. She kept me going and next thing I know, I was hired by William and Connolly Law firm. Soon I become one of the top civil rights lawyers in the country.

This was the same girl who made me run for the Senate again after I lost my at first attempt. She was the one who kept me strong through this epic of life, through all the media pressure and through the pressure of Washington’s lobby. If I had been proclaimed as columns of a new American government, then she was the adamant metal holding it up.

--Excerpt from "The American Endeavor: As seen through the eyes of America’s 49th President"--

--------------------------

Haha, I think this is very reflective of my true self, I do see this to be a page in my autobiography if I were to write a lifetime from now. Of course, the "her" part is no one but just this ...figure I have grown up believing in, my wife that one day I'll marry and live a happy life; too many Bollywood movies. But yes, I do plan to go to Harvard, high expectations? You can only set the bar as high as you want to go. Well anyways, I do want to go into politics but to honest not as far as President, Maybe a Foreign Policy Cabinet member (straighten things up a bit).

Yea, I'm pretty optimistic about my future, it wont be easy getting where I want to be with many things in the way but I think its possible. Keep me in your Dua's and dont forget me my wonderful readers. =]

NOTE: EDITED VERSION. SHOULD BE SUPER NOW.
Thanks for your help CookiesandCream :D!

Just cause your so great, Lol, could you possibly find any mistakes in this?
SORRY IF YOUR GETTING ANNOYED, "WHATS WRONG WITH THIS KID, TRYING TO GET ME TO CHECK HIS STUFF FOR GRAMMATICAL ERRORS, PROOFREAD YOUR OWN STUFF!" I'm sorry if that's the case, ignore this and just accept my gratification. =]

1. Tell us about a topic that you are currently studying in one of your high school classes. How as this topic affected your view of the world? (Be specific as you can)

Currently in world studies class we are discussing the Enlightenment and its effect on modern society. One philosopher, Immanuel Kant, wrote a piece called, “What is Enlightenment?”He says that “Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-imposed nonage.” In this context, Nonage means “inability to use one’s own understanding without another’s guidance.”

Nonage is an interesting concept; Kant claims that we are sheep roaming in a field. We must break our nonage by roaming out the field for ourselves.

We discussed how modern society imposes nonage on us. This discussion has dramatically affected my views as we were presented with the idea of questioning moral, political or any other form of higher authority. Still, I think that we cannot have everyone going around “breaking their nonage” because then there would be no order and society would not function. Thus, it is very important for us to stay within our nonage.

2. You are running for class president. What is your campaign slogan and platform?

“For you and us” I would say to the class, “for you and us.” Not just for us, but you; and not only for you, but for us. That would be my slogan; my platform would be to help the individual student, at the same time I would help the whole class. I think this is a very well-thought, research, reasonable platform; it states that we must help the members of society at the same time, society itself. For example, I would advocate better schedules for students, helping the individual student but at the same time, I would work towards changing the content taught to better fit the needs of the class as a whole. This model of government would be an ideal platform for current day politics.

3. If you are accepted, the collegiate scholars program will offer you three years of advanced academic enrichment and college preparations as well as arts, culture, and community service opportunities. We know your smart, gifted and a leader, we know you want to go to college. Tell us something we don’t know.

I rewrote this answer multiple times before I finally knew what I wanted to tell the committee about me. Nothing; that is what I would like to tell the committee, but there is something I would like to show. I would like to show to not just to the committee but the world what I can do, what I will do. All my life I have been taught by my parents that you should put others before yourself and so far this has served me well. Many years from now I can see myself walking into Washington with this theory; I can see the people happy, satisfied and glad someone is willing to put the people before themselves. I wish to one day run for political office; and I do not think I can continue on this hard epic journey without the help of the wonderful Collegiate Scholars Program.

Thoughts on being a Political Somebody...

2008-11-24T01:12:00.000-06:00

the AUDACITY of HOPE, by President Obama.

It truly is an amazing book, I can say I've only read the introduction and the first few pages but I'm hooked. I will be writing on that.

---------------------------------------

Going into Politics:

Is it really worth going into politics with intentions to do good? Sure, you might want to do some good but there are just so many barriers and odds against you. First and foremost, power corrupts even the best of amongst us, we will ruin ourselves with the money that is there ready to come into your pockets by supporting the wrong groups. Any of Chance of Politics in the western world would mean a compromise with your Islamic ideals; and some other things too.

For example, you can not expect to become president by not supporting the state of Israel. This great free country is run by hardcore Evangelical Christians to whom the creation of the Greater Israel is necessary. This means that, if someone basically ever ran for president in a predominant christian nation like America, you would have to support Israel, unconditionally.

Why? Because, those voters will not vote for you if you are against Israel, you will be shunned by the Jewish, Evangelical and Hardcore Christian societies. Besides, where could you possibly get all that campaign money? You want power, you need to be aligned with the Jewish Lobby; AIPAC.

As a Muslim, you cannot support the State of Israel. Israel has continuously attacked Muslim civilian populations and has become oppressors to the people of Palestine. They have illegal occupation of the land they call "Israel." So what does that mean?

Simple, you cannot be anti-Israel and go into politics. You can even say that a word against Israel, unless you want calls from the Pro-Israel Lobby. If you mention one bad thing, excommunicated. You are labeled as an anti-semetic.

What to do?

Gays, as a Muslim, you cannot be in your right state of mind and support gays. But to what I see, the older generations are the ones that are intolerant towards gays. The younger generation is ready to accept the gays, "who cares, let them live, its a free country." Those are the words of my peers, my generation of kids. So, by the time any one from our generation is willing to go into politics, you might as well forgot being anywhere near a public office being anti-gay.

--------------

Those are the actual "Issues" that are conflicting with Islamic values. What of your Muslim lifestyle? You pray five times a day, I'm sure that the Congress wont mind you going, "Oh Hey guys, its Asr now, Lets take another break, please?" Don't be surprised when you hear a Democrat say, "Stupid Muslim, he's always wasting our time, why is he even in the senate, why doesnt he go lead his local mosque of go join the Saudi Parliment?".

And what about Jummah, You gotta pray that. A hadith narrates that if you don't pray Jummah three times consequetivley in a row, your status becomes that of the Kaffir. Imagine, Congress getting in your way to pray Jummah, Uh oh, now your a Kaffir.

Is it really worth it?

Lets take a look at an analysis.

Yes, I am interest in Politics.

Well, what do you think?

-The Muslim Kid-

------------------------------

PART 2

So let me add to this;

It was stupid to say that Salah would be conflicting with the schedule because you have those secretaries who organize for your to have meetings in between Salah times. So that should not be a major problem but still, I think it would conflict sometimes, but in those situation you should go with praying Salah. An example, you might have a meeting with another Politician whom you need to talk too, the only period you are able to talk to another Senator/Representative is somewhere between four to six, and you need every minute of that 2hrs. Yea I guess you could take a quick break, very practical answer. But of course, you know, there are people...

People that aren't so accepting/Tolerant. I'm in Boyscouts, Yes, haha I'm a boyscout. So we went for a Bike-a-thon in Michigan. All the different troops in the Boys scout spirit hosted a Jamboree. They had like chicken noodle soup and it was not Zabiha Halal. So of course, I had expected this, brought my own pack of noodle as I had been told. So I asked the man in charge of the event, "Where can I get a pot to boil water for my noodle's and where can I boil it?" He said, "Hey, theres no need for that, just eat the chicken noodle soup, trust me it taste good." I explained to him that I was Muslim and we I would rather eat my own noodles due to religious restrictions.

Of course, he said, "oh sure sure, the pots are right there, you can cook on that fire, water right there" but you know there was this thing in his voice, "Gosh, someone always has to ruin something somehow."

Don't get me wrong, my experience with the Boy Scouts of America has been very positive, my troop leaders are some of the nicest people I know.

But yea, you know I'm sure that its hard to be so tolerant, you know yea maybe you could say the Boyscouts wasnt meant for me. So I dont blame these people, and see where there coming from. There is this real sort of dislike for someone who just comes along when everything is going fine and "has to have it thier way" verses the "way it should be." Don't know if I'm complete sense right now but I understand these people.

My point is, there will always be people like that.

How would you fulfill your obligation as a Muslim Ruler?- someone said.

I think that the Chart-Cons section address's that. I think actually, I could consider myself a Muslim ruler, but more of a Ruler who is Muslim. I am not the ruler because I am Muslim but kind of a ruler who happened to be a Muslim.

For example, one could ask any of the previous presidents, How did you fulfill your obligations as a Christian ruler? See I dont think that the President of the United States or really any politician should have religious obligation as it a "free" country as in no association to a religion but of course, as a Muslim, i would do my best to improve the lives of Muslims. Of course, not neglecting non-Muslims.

Does that address the question?

-The Muslim Kid-

This is the Story of Zyad, the Muslim Kid who once led a Double Life.

2008-11-15T11:34:00.000-06:00

Behold the story of Zyad, a Muslim Kid. The story is by Organic Muslimah.
Her version begins with Zyad a good kid turning bad and eventually takes the wrong path and leads a double life. A bit depressing I thought, so upon Organic's permission, Here is my version.
The story changes after the part in red.

Here is the original if you want to read that first:
http://organicmuslimah.blogspot.com/2008/11/muslim-teens-living-double-life.html

Enjoy.

PS. DONT MIND MY MILLIONS OF GRAMMAR MISTAKES. NOT THE SMARTEST KID IN GRAMMAR.

------------------------------

Zyad is 17 year old Muslim boy. His parents are devout Muslims who are active and well-respected in their community. Every Saturday Zyad's family attends special halaqahs at the mosque. He's been attending Quran and Arabic classes on Sundays for the past 10 years. Zyad is well-versed in the Quran, and due to his upbringing, he is comfortable giving impromptu talks about Islam when requested. When Zyad's name is mentioned in the community a "MashAllah" always must follow because they are proud.

This year Zyad will be a junior in high school. He's joined varsity football and hangs out with his teammates regularly after practice. He's finding it challenging to retain his Muslim identity around his new friends. He ignores prayers when they are due because he is too embarrassed to ask his coach for a break. One of the junior cheerleaders has shown interest in him. His teammates have pushed him numerous times to "ask her out." According to them "she's hot!"

Zyad can't talk to his family openly about these issues. His father's response would be, "if you do haraam, you are going to hell!" His mother will most likely scream at him for missing prayers and start calling him during practice to make sure he finishes all his prayers on time.

Zyad is starting to slip. He no longer finds joy in prayer. Prayer is more of a burden. Why can't he be free to do as he pleases? Why is it haraam to have a girlfriend and be like everyone else: normal. Who cares about Islamic history and rules of tajweed when he could be down at the shore with his buddies showing off his six pack and hitting on tanned girls in bikinis?

Zyad can't wait to leave for college. He is picking the farthest University from home. He wants freedom from his parents' shackles. He wishes to enjoy life to its fullest!

Fast forward 2 years later.

Zyad has almost completed his freshman year of college. He lives 5 hours away from home and visits on holidays. His mother calls him daily to make sure her "baby" eats all three meals. Someone had told her that kids in college forget to eat real food and she couldn't stop worrying.

Zyad had taken the wrong path. He stopped praying, slowly, until it became a complete halt, he started hanging out with the wrong group, and was committing sins he could never imagine himself even thinking of.

The University has a large Muslim population and after many request and many fundraisers a small Mosque was built on campus; an Imam was hired who led the MSA (Muslim Student Association). The Imam was old very traditional and couldn’t relate to the students much; no one came to him for advice. At first he joined the MSA because of his mothers continued insisting that he join.

He began making excuses as to why he could not attend regularly and that the members weren’t good practicing Muslims and instead were “shady Muslims”. He didn’t like the group as he did not fit in very well. On top of all this, the only Muslim kid he did hang out with was his roommate, Mo, whom was even worse of then Zyad.

One day Zyad was in his car going to a party, his attention was somewhere else and he accidentally hit the car in front of him while trying to get out of the University’s parking lot. He got out of the car and expected the driver to yell at him. Zyad began to apologize; “I’m so sorry man, I’m really sorry, I’m such an idiot.” The driver was a young man in his late twenties; “Its okay man, mistakes happen, as long as we repent those mistakes and mean it, it should be okay. Chill Bro! Thanks for apologizing though. You can go; I’ll take care of it” He said smiling.

Zyad left in his car and was just amazed; this man whoever he was someone; someone of great character. This man must have had a lot of patient to be that cool about Zyad hitting his car. Zyad would have been pretty mad. You don’t come across people like that a lot, he thought as he reached the party.

The next day, Zyad was studying when all the students of the MSA were gathered in a group talking about something that had just happened; Zyad came to see what the news was. It turned out that a new Imam was hired. This one was younger, he had been born and raised in West and everyone was just excited. The new Imam was going coming over in half an hour to introduce himself to the MSA.

Oh great another one, Zyad thought.

Half an hour passed, the new Imam didn’t come, Zyad was leaving when he bumped into a stranger. It was the same stranger from yesterday whose car he had hit. “I’m so sorry” he began, “Oh, you! I don’t know what to say, I’m sorry about hitting your car and really thankful for you being so cool about it, who are you though, I’ve never seen you at the campus before?” He smiled and said, “Follow me,” Zyad followed baffled.

The man walked up to the bunch of MSA students and everyone looked at him. “Hey everyone, Assalam Waelikum, I am Imam Umar Hakeem, you can just call me Brother Umar or Umar. I’m going to be the new Imam at this wonderful University and I’ll be leading your MSA. You guys got any questions, comments, anything, just want to talk, I’ll be at the Mosque.” He finished smiling at Zyad. Zyad was truly amazed, this Umar guy, he was the new Imam.

No way, he thought. He seemed so cool. Most of the Imam’s he new were usually old, traditional minded people whom he could not relate to at all. This guy seemed so cool, someone whom Zyad could see himself befriending. Someone he could talk to about his problems; a role that his parents could not fulfill. Zyad left happy that day.

Soon Zyad began visiting the Mosque in his free time talking with Brother Umar. He re-established his prayers and started hanging out with the MSA guys more. He stopped going to all the parties, he dropped his jerk-jock friends. Instead he joined the Muslim kids in playing basketball at the local park district, a tradition of the MSA. He had a lot more fun knowing that he could stop and pray when it was time, knowing that he would not have to face pressure from the other guys about going to a party or drinking. He felt good with his new friends, and best of all he had become close to Allah and Muhammad(S). Soon he was the good Muslim his parents and everyone at home thought him to be.

Zyad had first been influenced by Mo, his roommate but now he was influencing his roommate. Mo told everyone to call him, Muhammad, saying it was the proper way. He began to attend the MSA meetings with Zyad and he also became close to Imam Umar. Zyad and Muhammad were two of the smartest students in the University, both wishing to be doctors. They became good friends; they had a bond tighter than brothers.

Zyad finished his studies, he became a successful doctor as he and his parents had dreamed. He was proud of himself but his parents were proud of him the most. His whole community was proud of him, he previous Sunday school teachers would say, “Yep, I know Zyad; I taught him in second grade, I was his favorite teacher!”

Zyad got a job at the University’s collaborating hospital with Muhammad. He still visited brother Umar often. One day Brother Umar announced that it was time for him to leave, “It seems like I’ve done my work here. My wife got a job in another state and well be moving soon. I hope this school and its students the best. Remember Allah is with those who are with him,” he finished his goodbye speech.

Umar walked over to Zyad and told him a little tale, “Zyad, I used to be the star Muslim kid, my parents thought of me as the perfect son, everyone loved me. I began slipping and when I moved to my university it was just hard to not slip. I got engaged in things that I could not even imagine myself doing. Then one day I met Brother Ali , he changed my life; he made me who I am today. He was the one who gave me advice that I needed on things that I couldn’t talk to my parents about. From that day, I swore to pass on what brother Ali gave me, guidance. If all my time here I have at least revered you even a little towards being a better Muslim then I’m happy. May Allah keep you guided” Zyad had tears in his eyes. He hugged brother Umar and promised himself he would pass this guidance on to someone else too.

Today Zyad is Imam at the University Mosque offering advice to young students; students that resemble his past. He has joined the ranks of great role models like Brother Ali, Brother Umar and the best of them all, Muhammad(S).

This is the story of Zyad, the Muslim Kid who once led a double life.

-The Muslim Kid-

Is there any Man Greater than He?

2008-09-30T19:43:00.000-05:00

"If greatness of purpose, smallness of means and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad? The most famous men created arms, laws and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes. This man moved not only armies, legislation, empires, peoples and dynasties, but millions of men in one-third of the then inhabited world; and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and souls....his forbearance in victory, his ambition, which was entirely devoted to one idea and in no manner striving for an empire; his endless prayers, his mystic conversations with God, his death and his triumph after death; all these attest not to an imposture but to a firm conviction which gave him the power to restore a dogma. This dogma was two-fold, the unity of God and the immateriality of God; the former telling what God is, the latter telling what God is not; the one overthrowing false gods with the sword, the other starting an idea with the words."

"Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior,conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images, the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all the standards by which Human Greatness may be measured, we may well ask, Is there any man greater than he?"
(Lamartine, HISTOIRE DE LA TURQUIE, Paris, 1854, Vol. II, pp 276-277)'

-The Muslim Kid-

Contact Me

2008-07-23T22:16:00.000-05:00

You can contact me for anything: comments, questions, concerns, or just "hey you" at

themuslimkid@gmail.com. [Email]
or
fiker94[AIM]

If you didn't know my name is Faique (pronounced fike). Also, please write "blog" or "themuslimkid" in the subject line.

Thank you very much.

-The Muslim Kid-

Let me Introduce myself...

2008-06-04T16:31:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone, my name is Faique.*Pronounced Fike* I'm an American Muslim from a orthodox Sunni Muslim Pakistani household. I know a lot about Islam; I stay up reading articles on Wikipedia, and yea Politics's makes me feel dumb and powerless. Fourteen years ago, I was born in Chicago's Ravenwoods Hospital and have since then resided in Chicago. Ive got three siblings and I'm the second eldest.

So, to describe myself, I like Math, very logical person, at the same time I like writing. I use to read a lot of books but I guess I kind of stopped(Need to start that habit again). If you Google my name You'll find a lot of links to a lot of poorly written articles on Islam. Only a few of my articles are worth mentioning.

I hate kids around my age (or younger or older) who don't respect their parents. I really dislike politics, no let me rephrase that, I really dislike Politicians. My biggest dislike is unfair media reporting, no wonder I get my information online. I really like knowledgeable people and try to stay with them and have a great deal of respect for my teachers (In the public school systems, Sunday schools, madrassa's) I was raised in that, "Teachers deserve respect like parents if not more" households.

I'm in eight grade right now, going through the graduation ceremony practices at the moment. Class of 2008. I am one of those kids that everyone thinks is really smart and can trust their word on something. Don't get me wrong, I am very social and easy to get a lot with. When I grow up, I don't want to be a doctor (Sorry to break the stereotype) but actually I want to be something along the lines of a Businessman/Lawyer type of guy. I want to go into the field of finance and make big money. I want to live a comfortable life, not to luxurious but not too rationing. I want to help people when I grow up (i.e. orphans, poverty, Palestinians, all sorts of people :] ).

Oh yea, I'm going to end it off with my view on politics. I think politics is a very respected field but one that is not for me. I'm Muslim, I live in an Post-9/11 America, politics is very dirty business in this country at the moment. I just say, stay out of politics and keep yourself under the law and more importantly under the Islamic way. I don't want to bore my few readers, so I'll end it here. Salams -KidMuslim-

First Post

2008-06-04T16:24:00.000-05:00

So, I've been reading all these blogs, (Naeem's Blog, Organic Muslimah, and a whole list of other bloggers). I find it pretty neat how most of these bloggers know each other and read each others blog so theres always someone commenting on something. Well anyway. The twist in my story is that I'm only 13, almost 14. I'm going to be posting blogs, I think I'm pretty mature for my age, I can understand most of the blogs and I actually find them very interesting. So yea, I'm going to blog about my experiences and Hopefully people will enjoy my posts.

Just don't mind my grammar, very bad grammatically.

Salam
-KidMuslim-

Quotes Page

2007-12-19T10:07:00.011-06:00

me: haha
alright
so yea
for jayce's childish behavior today
David, ur gonna be witness
I PROMISE TO KISS HIS ASS AT THE NJCL ROMAN HISTORY ACADEMIC TEST.
David, you've been sworn as a witness now, there is no going back
David: um
rofl
i think u mean "KICK"

Jane: do you know why we don't have school today?

me: memorial DAY

DUR

w/e that is

lol

Jane: isn't that in september??

me: haha..uhh

U CAN MEMORIALIZE more than once a year?

Jane: ohh, nvm that's labor day

me: silly Jane

or that

lol

Jane: lmao

nooo, i'm pretty sure your explanation made more sense

- Funny conversation!

Aisha: so im about to yel at saad

me: no

lol

i already did it!

me: saad
im gonna have to slap u

Aisha: Saad: im receiving a shouting from faique atm

me: lol

good team work partner

Aisha: lol
me: err i mean teacher person

- Another funny converation

"You were born to study"

"You will get married after both of your sisters get married and you pay for their weddings, 50,000 a piece."

~ My dad

Zareen (1:07:00 AM): what exactly is the persona of a wife..?
Me (1:09:11 AM): a wife is a partner
Me (1:09:13 AM): like
Me (1:12:13 AM): yo
Me (1:13:20 AM): its like
Me (1:13:34 AM): oh yea wait i agree with that
Me (1:13:41 AM): but not all friends are wives!
Zareen (1:14:05 AM): lmao

Zareen (11:24:30 PM): fail = F
Zareen (11:24:37 PM): just reminding you..
Me (11:24:53 PM): fail = B
Me (11:24:57 PM): -mom
Me (11:25:11 PM): fail
Zareen (11:25:23 PM): lol
Zareen (11:25:34 PM): damn
Zareen (11:25:38 PM): sucks for u
Me (11:25:38 PM): thats my grading scale

Vivian: so you spend your excess time being depressed?
Me: HAHA YES
Vivian: thats pretty depressing

Me: i will continue on my path to Han yu excellent

lol

excellence*

as in..

I WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK THE WAYS OF THE HAN !

OF THE HAN REN

xie xie.

Vivian: so self study?

Me: haha nah

Vivian: determination

Me: just asking u questions

lol

and bothering fu lao shi every so often
Vivian: what you taking in place of it?

Me: my true love

Latin 2

Jennie: im going to bed
Faique: zai jian! umm, the closest thing
Jennie: ttyl
Faique: i can think of to sweet is..
Faique: piao liang dreams
Faique: lol
Faique: cute dreams lol

Vivian: After this initial round of success, we determined become an organization party would be most beneficial for future projects.
you see it?
me: were determined?
plural imperfect passive (maybe active) :D
nah its active
Vivian: what the freak did you just say?
hahahahaha
me: lol
Latin <3

~ AIM conversations with friends

The world is held by four pillars: The wisdom of the learned, the justice of the great, the prayers of the righteous, and the valor of the braves.

~ Written on every University's Entrance during the Ummayad Rule in Spain

"The longer I live, the more beautiful life is"

~ Frank Lloyd Wright

"We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.”

-Fydor Dostoevsky

"I'm just going to say this and you probably wont accept or appreciate it. While opposites do attract, they do not last long together."

"Her love was a drug. After she left, he suffered from a withdrawal"

~ Aisha

It’s very easy to dream. It’s hard to make those dreams come true. Dreams, while functioning primarily as the destination, are a means to get somewhere. You need to dream something for it to come true but don’t get distracting dreaming that you forget to work your hardest for those dreams.

~ Me to Nelson

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle.

~ Albert Einstein

"You love once...the rest is life."

~ Indian movie

"You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way again."

~ Azhar Nafisi

"Long ago," he said, "long ago, there was something in me, but now that thing is gone. Now that thing is gone, that thing is gone. I cannot cry. I cannot care. That thing will come back no more."

~ Fitzgerald - Winter Dreams

"The reality of this relationship is bleak, but the idealistic vision of what it could be enables it to limp along. " "The reality of this relationship is bleak, but the idealistic vision of what it could be enables it to limp along. "

~ Winter Dreams - SparkNotes

"People do nothing in the world but they keep their tongues clean so they seem like good people. You do everything but you say things so bluntly, things that don't need to be said and seem bad"

~ My Mom to my Dad

Muslim Kid

7:24 AM (A creating writing piece for you!)

...Like talking to an old friend

Point of No Return

Itakaf 2010: Interations with Zakariya

Al-Widaa (The Departure)

Fajr Reflections! - Day 6 and 7 (Following Allah's Commands)

Fajr Reflections! - Day 6 (The Supremacy of Wahi)

No Reflections! - Day 5 (Achieving Forgiveness)

Fajr Reflections! - Day 4 (Fasting for Paradise)

Fajr Reflections! - Day 3

Fajr Reflections! - Day 2

Fajr Reflections! - Day 1

Ramadan 2010!

Khalas Misery!

"Please keep Sofia in your duas"

Allah resides in broken hearts

Sources for Islamic Law

The Beggining and End of Science

Trying out for Heaven

The Irrational Baraqa Factor

And there he goes...

Self-Critical Reflection.

Putting things into Prespective

Law Camp Reflections.

Kithab - Novel in the Making

Perfect Advice : "Just Don't Think About Marriage Yet!"

87 Posts Later

Peace at Last.

The Influence of Dr. King on Contemporary Society

Chicago Palestine Protest

Live the Full Potential of Your Life

Shaikh Hussain

Prompt: You have just finished authoring you 300 page autobiography. Please Submit page 217.

Thoughts on being a Political Somebody...

This is the Story of Zyad, the Muslim Kid who once led a Double Life.

Is there any Man Greater than He?

Contact Me

Let me Introduce myself...

First Post

Quotes Page

Jennie: im going to bedFaique: zai jian! umm, the closest thingJennie: ttylFaique: i can think of to sweet is..Faique: piao liang dreamsFaique: lolFaique: cute dreams lol

Jennie: im going to bed
Faique: zai jian! umm, the closest thing
Jennie: ttyl
Faique: i can think of to sweet is..
Faique: piao liang dreams
Faique: lol
Faique: cute dreams lol