An African Imam Breaks Ground In Mecca

 

 

 

 

 

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia

By ROBERT F. WORTH
Published: April 10, 2009

TWO years ago, Sheik Adil Kalbani dreamed that he had become an imam at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest city.

Waking up, he dismissed the dream as a temptation to vanity. Although he is known for his fine voice, Sheik Adil is black, and the son of a poor immigrant from the Persian Gulf. Leading prayers at the Grand Mosque is an extraordinary honor, usually reserved for pure-blooded Arabs from the Saudi heartland.

Read the full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/11/world/middleeast/11saudi.html?_r=1

My Sister Qamar Has Returned from Umrah and posted up her experience (and pics!!!)

Insh’Allah you can check it out here:

http://alqamardesigns.wordpress.com/

May Allah accept from her and her family and us all. ameen!

Vatican Offers Islamic Finance System To Western Banks

Vatican offers Islamic finance system to Western Banks

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601092&sid=aOsOLE8uiNOg&refer=italy

 

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/or/or_quo/text.html

 

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3819

The Vatican says Islamic finance system may help Western banks in crisis as alternative to capitalistm. Friday, 06 March 2009 15:10 World Bulletin / News Desk The Vatican offered Islamic finance principles to Western banks as a solution for worldwide economic crisis. Daily Vatican newspaper, ‘L’Osservatore Romano, reported that Islamic banking system may help to overcome global crisis, Turkish media reported. The Vatican said banks should look at the ethical rules of Islamic finance to restore confidence amongst their clients at a time of global economic crisis. “The ethical principles on which Islamic finance is based may bring banks closer to their clients and to the true spirit which should mark every financial service,” the Vatican ‘s official newspaper Osservatore Romano said in an article in its latest issue late yesterday. Author Loretta Napoleoni and Abaxbank Spa fixed income strategist, Claudia Segre, say in the article that “Western banks could use tools such as the Islamic bonds, known as sukuk, as collateral”. Sukuk may be used to fund the “‘car industry or the next Olympic Games in London ,” they said. They also said that profit share, gained from sukuk, may be an alternative to the interest. They underlined that sukuk system could help automotive sector and support investments in infrastructure area. Islamic sukuk system is similar to bonos of capitalist system. But in sukuk, money is invested concrete projects and profit share is distributed to clients instead of interest earned. Pope Benedict XVI in an Oct. 7 speech reflected on crashing financial markets saying that “money vanishes, it is nothing” and concluded that “the only solid reality is the word of God.” The Vatican has been paying attention to the global financial meltdown and ran articles in its official newspaper that criticize the free-market model for having “grown too much and badly in the past two decades.” The Osservatore’s editor, Giovanni Maria Vian, said that “the great religions have always had a common attention to the human dimension of the economy,” Corriere della Sera reported today.

 

Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)’s Sacrifice

From the Qur’an (in the English Translation of the meaning) Surah Saffat Ayats 82-112)

(82) And lo! of his (Nuh-Noah)’s persuasion verily was Abraham

 (83) When he came unto his Lord with a whole heart;

(84) When he said unto his father and his folk: What is it that ye worship?

(85) Is it a falsehood – gods beside Allah – that ye desire?

(86) What then is your opinion of the Lord of the Worlds?

 (87) And he glanced a glance at the stars

(88) Then said: Lo! I feel sick!

 (89) And they turned their backs and went away from him.

(90) Then turned he to their gods and said: Will ye not eat?

(91) What aileth you that ye speak not?

(92) Then he attacked them, striking with his right hand.

(93) And (his people) came toward him, hastening.

(94) He said: Worship ye that which ye yourselves do carve

(95) When Allah hath created you and what ye make?

(96) They said: Build for him a building and fling him in the red-hotfire.

(97) And they designed a snare for him, but We made them the undermost.

(98) And he said: Lo! I am going unto my Lord Who will guide me.

(99) My Lord! Vouchsafe me of the righteous.

 (100) So We gave him tidings of a gentle son.

(101) And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast.

(102) Then, when they had both surrendered (to Allah), and he had flung him down upon his face,

(103) We called unto him: O Abraham!

(104) Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good.

 (105) Lo! that verily was a clear test.

 (106) Then We ransomed him with a tremendous victim.

(107) And We left for him among the later folk (the salutation):

 (108) Peace be unto Abraham!

(109) Thus do We reward the good.

(110) Lo! he is one of Our believing slaves.

(111) And we gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac, a prophet of the righteous.

(112) And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do good, and some who plainly wrong themselves.

 

Recitation w/English subtitles by: Sheikh Salah Al-Hashem(Ayah 75-132): 

 

Video Lecture-The Sacrifice by Dr. Ibrahim Dremali:

 

Also check out this link for some great info. insh’Allah:

http://www.islamonline.net/English/Eid_AlAdha/1428/topic_02/index.shtml

 

Knit One, Save One

If you know how to knit or crochet then this may be a worthy cause for you to get involved in..

The idea is to knit a cap and save the children will make sure that it is given to a needy child in places such as:  Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and Mozambique.

 

A newborn baby can’t regulate its own body temperature. It loses lots of vital body heat through its head which makes it more prone to pneumonia – a disease which still kills around 2 million children each year.

The site also has a short message that you can put your name to and they will collect them all up and give to President Elect Obama’s transition team advocating for more aid to help women and children in developing countries.

You can check it out and get more details by clicking here:

http://www.savethechildren.org/programs/health/child-survival/survive-to-5/knit-one-save-one.html

Muslim Americans-To Vote or Not To Vote: My Experience

I just got home from voting for the 2008 Presidential Election. Normally, I don’t get into politics especially not on my blog. Let me just say………I am so glad this election is finally over.  It has been two years of constant back and forth dominating all the news stations and even making it’s way to dinner table discussions. I will just be glad to get back to normal once this thing is wrapped up.

There is a debate among some Muslims as to whether we should even be involved in politics and I respect the opinions of those who vote and get involved and those who don’t. I think it’s a very personal decison and one that should be weighed rather than handled with haste. Personally, I made my decison to get involved after much contemplation.  I feel that as a community in the United States if we all voted one way we could definatley sway the outcome. I believe that when we look at two candidates and see one who will be better for Muslims that we should act and vote for him or her. And yes, I would vote for a woman if I thought she would benefit the Muslims in this country and abroad. I think as Americans we should exercise our right to vote and give ourselves and our community a voice in politics. Otherwise, I believe that the misconceptions of Muslims and the ignorance will persist.  Our situation will never change unless we get out and do our part to change it ourselves. Individually one vote may not be the difference in the outcome of an election but it is estimated that there are nearly two million registered Muslim voters in the USA.  Subhan’Allah what a difference all those votes could make, especially taking into consideration that large Muslim communites exist in “battleground states” such as Ohio, Florida, Michigan and Virginia. 

But again, It is a personal decision. That’s the beauty of a democracy and free country. You can get involved or not.

To be honest, I was NOT expecting what I saw when I went to the poll. I come from a very small town and am accustomed to standing in line on election day…..there is one polling place for the entire community where I grew up (an old fire department).

But since I moved to a slightly bigger town, I was honestly not prepared for the influx of people. It was back to back traffic this morning and people lined up all the way outside. There were parents with children, elderly in wheel chairs, and an assortment of various races and religions…. the excitement and anxiousness was palpable.  I felt like I was part of something huge. And indeed, no matter which candidate wins this election will be one for the history books.  Either the first African American will be elected president of the United States or we will have the first woman to serve as vice president of the United States.

By tomorrow we will have reached a milestone in our history as a relatively young nation.  Alhamdullilah, I can say that I made sure that at least one Muslim American voice was heard and one Muslim American vote will be counted, Insh’Allah.

May Allah give us an outcome that will be the most benefitial to us and make us content with His Qadr (decree). ameen.

My question for other American Muslims is did you vote? Why or why not? And for the Muslims around the world……who would you like to see elected and why?

Eid Al Fitr 2008 Has Been Announced-Eid Mubarak!!

Assalaamu Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu,

Saudia Arabia has announced that the new moon was sighted and that Eid Al Fitr  will begin there on Tuesday September 30, 2008. These countries have also made that announcement:

1. Bahrain
2. Jordan
3. Kuwait
4. Lebanon
5. Libya
6. Philippines
7. Saudia Arabia
8. United Arab Emirates
9. Yemen

These countries have announced they will have Eid Al Fitr on Wednesday October 1st, 2008:

1. Australia
2. Indonesia
3. Malaysia
4. Norway
5. South Africa

In the United States  has announced we will be celebrating eid on Tuesday, Sept 30, 2008 also several masjids in England have announced they will be celebrating eid on Tuesday, Sept 30, 2008.

So, to all my brothers and sisters around the world regardless of when you are celebrating eid I wish you all Eid Mubarak!

May Allah accept our fasts and good deeds and forgive us for any shortcomings. ameen

Insh’Allah for a presentation all about eid check out:

Eid 101 (click the link then scroll down to the bottom and click on: Eid 101: What Am I supposed to do?):

The link:

http://www.fiqhflash.com/ 

 

The Rulings and Sunah of Eid:

https://southernmuslimah.wordpress.com/2007/10/07/the-rulings-and-sunnah-of-eid-muslims-holidays/

How Muslims In Various Countries Celebrate Eid:

https://southernmuslimah.wordpress.com/2007/10/11/eid-ul-fitr-around-the-world/

The Unfortunate Ramadan Display

I went to the local library and out of the corner of my eye noticed a banner over the top of a wooden table that read “Happy Ramadan!”. Mash’Allah, I thought. So, I took the kids over for further inspection and noticed a nice model of the Dome of the Rock in the center of the display with the Qur’an open in front of it. I noticed there were paper camels cut out and spread over the table. Then, I looked around at the other books displayed…..”books about Islam.” And my smile vanised immediately. All the books were speaking of Islamic extremism, terrorism, womens subjugation in Islamic law. Subhan’Allah. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Surely, there is one book here other than the Qur’an that speaks about Islam from an objective point of view…..but no. Every last book (save the Qur’an) was anti-Islam, anti-Muslim.

I mean this display is no different than putting up a Christmas display with books surrounding it about the Inquistion or children being molested by priests, the Crusades.

While I do appreciate the idea of trying to include the Muslim community and I commend the thought behind it. Subhan’Allah, the level of ignorance and intolerance still shocks me. Everytime that I think I have seen it all and have to be immune by now, I see something and it still effects me.  It makes me aggravated yes but more than that it just makes me tired and sad. Tired because I am tired of the blame being put on Muslims……”well why aren’t you speaking against it?” Honestly, we are! and we have been! Just listen…….to Muslims. Look around at the blogs, the articles, the books. Many have been written decrying terrorism and trying to explain the real essence of Islam. It is just a matter of what people choose to read and focus on.

I calmly explained that some of those books were offensive to Muslims being that it paints an unfair picture of Muslims and aren’t even written by Muslims. I am not one to get irate and emotional about things and I certainly hope that all Muslims react to such things with good manners, intelligent minds and calm hearts.

Insh’Allah I would like to take some positive Islamic books that I have accumulated to the library and donate them for the display specifically and also hand them a list of some suggested books to add to their list. Any book suggestions feel free to share them…

Getting It Together-Ramadan Diary 2008

I thought long and hard before making the decision to blog this Ramadan. Ultimatley, I decided to blog at least once a week. I think blogging about how I’m feeling during Ramadan isn’t really that original or different from probably a dozen bloggers doing the same.  Though, for me I see it as a way to forcibly sit myself down and evaluate where I am with my goals, to make adjustments, and later as a way to look back and see where I was in relation to where I will be then. hahaha does that make sense?  Alhamdullilah, Ramadan is a great time to build ourselves up and rejuvinate hopefully being a catalyst to stay motivated all year.  And Alhamdulliah during Ramadan all our good deeds are multiplied as many times as Allah wills.

Anyway, here are some tools that may help YOU stay motivated this Ramadan and give you some ideas of things you may want to accomplish:

Suggested Ramadan Checklist (sorry, i don’t know the source it was forwarded to me):

Ask Yourself!

Got up for Fajr on time and prayed Fajr with its Sunnah

Made my morning Dhikr

Prayed all prayers on time and on earliest time possible

Made the recommended Dhikr after every prayer

Prayed all the 12 rakah of Sunnah prayers

Made Dua for the Muslim Ummah in a prayer

Made Dua for my parents

Commanded one good

Forbade one evil

Prayed more than 1 fard prayer in a mosque (males)

Read the Tafsir of one verse of the Quran

Read one new Hadeeth and its meaning

Read 1 page of the Quran as a minimum

Attempted to increase in knowledge (Reading/Listening)

Attempted to practise one rare Sunnah of Rasulullah

Made one Muslim smile

Made my parents smile, hugged and kissed them

Did not argue, nor backbite with anyone

Did not harbour ill feelings in my heart against anyone

Did not do anything I was unsure about its permissibility

Tried my best to take care of my body

Gave charity (monetary)

Preserved or removed a harm from the environment

Made Dua for the Prophet (sallalahu ‘alayhe wasallam)

Make Tawbah and Istighfaar 100 times

Pondered 10 minutes about struggling for this Deen

Did a special deed that is secret between myself and Allah

Gave some of the extra food from Iftar to my neighbours

Made my afternoon Dhikr

Prayed my taraweeh prayers

Prayed the Witr prayer

Read Surah Mulk before going to sleep

Wrote down/updated my will

Pondered about my Death and of the Day of Judgement

Prayed absolute minimum 2 rakah Tahajjud prayer

Asked Allah for Jannah and refuge from Jahannam (X3)

Went to sleep in a state of Wudu

Went to sleep without ill feelings towards any Muslim

REQUIRED SPECIFICALLY ON FRIDAYS

Read Surah Kahf

Took extra care to groom and maintain myself

Attempted to pray Jumah earliest time & best gathering

Made Dua only for Rasulullah (saws)

Pondered 5-10 minutes about the khutbah & its message

WEEKLY REQUIREMENTS

Memorized minimum 1/4 page of the Quran

Fed/Clothed one needy person or gave a gift to one someone

Memorized 1 hadeeth of Rasulullah

Made Istikharah about an important matter

Memorized 1 Dua from the Sunnah

10 great goals to set for this Ramadan
8/22/2008 – Religious Family Interfaith – Article Ref: SV0808-3647 www.Islamicity.com

 

Eat, drink and be moderate
Almost all of us do it – once Iftar time hits, we just keep plowing food and drink into our mouths till it’s hard to move afterwards. And those of us who do it know this is totally contrary to the spirit of Ramadan, through which we’re supposed to learn self-control not self-indulgence. Let’s try to stick to the Prophetic rule on eating: fill our stomachs with one-third food, one-third water and one-third breathing space, even in Ramadan.

Give a dollar a day in charity…or five or ten
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was always generous but even more so in Ramadan. Let’s open our hearts and dig a little deeper in our wallets this year. Even less than a dollar a day adds up. Whatever you can give, it’s the intention that counts.

Memorize 4 new Surahs
Memorizing the Quran often seems like a daunting task. But the key is doing it in small bites. Since there are four weeks in Ramadan, try to memorize one new Surah a week. Start off with a short, easy one. Once you’ve started, you’ll build momentum and may even want to memorize a longer one the following week.

Go to Tarawih prayers
Post-Iftar, the first urge is to sleep after an exhausting day. But try your best to head out to the mosque for Tarawih prayers. Praying alone is wonderful, but doing it in congregation is fantastic. The community spirit is part of Ramadan’s blessings. Don’t miss it this year. If going every day is not possible, try going at least once week.

Attend the Tarawih prayer in which the recitation of the Quran will be finished
Call the local mosque and find out which day the Imam will be finishing the recitation of the Quran in prayer. Attend to not only hear part of the Quran’s recitation in prayer, but also participate in the heart-rending Duas that follow it.

Stop swearing and/or backbiting Ð with a special box

It’s hard not to shoot our mouths off when someone’s upset us. Whether we utter those four-letter words or backbite about someone to our family and friends, we know this isn’t the God-approved way of letting off steam. In Ramadan, when we want to build our spirituality, we’ve got to wage Jihad against our bad habits.
Try this: get a box and every time you catch yourself swearing or backbiting put some money in it. It could be a buck or less. The point is to choose an amount that makes it feel like punishment.
At the end of the month send the money to a charity or buy a gift for the person whom you’ve backbitten the most against.

Call/email your relatives
You’d think that given the easy access to email, competitive long-distance calling rates, phone cards, etc. these days, we’d keep in touch with family and friends more often. But the opposite seems to be the case, as we get caught up in life’s “busyness.”
Strengthening ties with family members and keeping in touch with friends is part of our way of life and an act Allah is very pleased with. This Ramadan, call family and friends or at least email them a Ramadan card and ask them how their fasting is going.

Go on a technology diet
Even if you work in the IT industry, you can do this. Avoid checking personal email and surfing the web during your fast. After Iftar, instead of plopping yourself in front of the screen, go to Tarawih. The same goes for the television. The point is to try to give our full attention to spiritual elevation this month.
Read 5 minutes of Quran a day…just five, not more, not less
Even if you feel you’ve got absolutely no time, set a timer or the alarm on your cell phone and find a relatively quiet place. You can read the first page of the Quran you open or follow a sequence. The choice is yours. The point is simply to connect with God through His revelation in the month of the Quran.

Forgive everyone who has hurt you
Still got a festering wound from the fight with your friend last year? Still upset about something your spouse said during a heated argument? Or are you still bitter about the way your parents sometimes treated you as a kid? Let go of the anger and pain this Ramadan and forgive those who have hurt you. Forgiving someone is not only good for the body, but it’s also great for the soul. And in Ramadan, ten days of which are devoted to Allah’s forgiveness, shouldn’t we lesser beings forgive too? 
If you find it very difficult to forgive everyone, forgive at least three people.
Happy Ramadan !!!

Start a journal.

A wonderful sister emailed me the link to this free downloadable printable Islamc  journal www.heartwheeljournal.com

Just some ideas insh’Allah to help jumpstart this Ramadan.  Insh’Allah lets get busy and make this Ramadan one that we can be proud of when we are standing before Allah(SWT) on the Day of Judgement knowing that we tried our best to positively utilize our time! Alhamdullilah Allah has helped us live to see the start of this most blessed month let’s not waste that precious gift!

History of Islam in America: Whither and Where – Yasir Qadhi

A comprehensive history of Islam in America. Yasir Qadhi explores the history of Islam and Muslims in the Americas from the beginning to the present day, discussing everything from the pre-Columbus era to theories about early Muslim exploration of the New World, to the Muslim Slave experience, the Nation of Islam, right through to the advent of both early and recent Muslim immigration. Coincidentally, from the same podium where Abraham Lincoln spoke a few hundred years ago, and Barack “Hussein” Obama, two days earlier. Along the way we learn the amusing story about Hajji Ali, also know as Hi Jolly, the Greek-Syrian convert from Constantinople who was hired to come to America and raise camels of all things.

Yasir Qadhi gave this speech at IlmFest 2008 in New York hosted by AlMaghrib Institute’s Qabeelat Tayyabah.

Notes from the lecture:

-Until we understand where we came from, we dont understand who we are and how Islam became so prominent in the Americas.

-Even during slavery Abu Bakr AsSiddique said that “The faith of our family is the faith of Islam” (1834)

-The money that financed Columbus came from the fallen Muslim caliphate of Grenada a few months prior to his setting sail in 1492.

-George Washington is quoted as saying that he would “even” have “Muhammadans” (ie: Muslims) come to Mt. Vernon if they are good workmen (citizens).

-The well documented slave, Ayyub ibn Sulayman wrote 3 entire Qur’ans from memory which are still present today. He went to England to see the king in the 1730s and when they wanted to paint him in his cultural garments, he said that he would describe them (for he did not have any).. to which the painter replied “how can I draw something I haven’t seen”… to which Ayyub ibn Sulayman said::

“How can you then draw pictures of God, Whom no one has seen?”

-One slave, Bilani Mohammad was owned by a just slave owner who allowed the slaves to practive Islam freely.

-Later, a book of Bilani Mohammad was found–this was a book of fiqh written from memory and changed for the situation of the slaves.

-Many of Mohammad’s descendants had memories of their great grandfather and other relatives practicing Islam. Among the many points, they said

“Aunty Hanna was mighty punctual about prayer”

-The Nation of Islam spread a pseudo-Islam in the African American community – but, sometimes bad things lead to good. i.e: Muhammad Ali (who made “Muhammad” a household name) and Malcolm X joined orthodox Islam after first going through the Nation.

-“Hadji Ali, a Greek born in Constantinople and later converted to Islam. His name was too complicated for people to pronounce, so if you wanna look him up you’ll have to search under the name “Hi Jolly”

He was buried in Quartzsite, Arizona, there’s a pyramid with a camel on top of his grave and it is the most popular tourist attraction in Quartzsite, Arizona. The question is, what else can be found in Quartzsite, Arizona?!

http://www.ilmcast.com