VOL. XIX, NO. 24 SPECIAL RAMADAN ISSUE IN THIS ISSUE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR............................2 ISLAMIC WORLD NEWS............................4 HOW I EMBRACED ISLAM..........................4 LET’S MAKE A CHANGE............................8 A SAD PASSING.....................................10 ISLAMIC BELIEFS AND PRACTICES.................11 COMMON MISTAKES IN RAMADAN.............13 ISTIKAHARA.. FEELING CONFUSED?.............15 DU’A SUPPLICATION POSTER....................16 DAY OF JUDGMENT...............................18 HOW NOT TO MISS FAJR.......................20 YOU CAN DO IT...................................23 A LOVE STORY......................................24 COOK’S CORNER...................................25 WOMEN IN ISLAM.................................26 THE QUR’AN & SCIENCE.........................27 KIDS’S CORNER.....................................27 PARENT’S CORNER......................... ........ 28 A REQUEST..........................................29 THE ISLAMIC BULLETIN Published by the Islamic Community of Northern California A Non-Profit Corporation P.O. Box 410186 San Francisco, CA 94141-0186 E-Mail: info@islamicbulletin.org Website: http://www.islamicbulletin.org RAMADAN KAREEM! Ramadan— the most blessed month in a Muslim’s life. In this special month, Muslims are reminded of our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters who are suffering with poverty, starvation, war, sickness, and oppression. There are so many people throughout the world who do not have even the minimal amount of food to eat, shelter to live. Let’s be reminded to thank Allah (SWT) for our countless blessings that He (SWT) has given us. We are especially thankful for another opportunity to be given life and health and experience another Ramadan. During this peaceful month, we should find time to engage in more prayer, Quran recitation, dhikr, and du’a; while simultaneously letting go of some of our bad habits. For example, if you are quick to get angry, perhaps now is the perfect time to learn ways to control this anger. With the shaytaan locked up, it just seems so much easier to do. Ramadan is a time to do everything we can to get closer to Allah. Let’s make a change today! After all, we do not know if we will live to see the next Ramadan, or for that matter the next day. While driving on Interstate 580, we noticed a huge fire engulfing an area. To our shock and horror, we see an entire area on fire. The horizon is black, and it is broken by red puffs of clouds, almost like lit torches. With the sound of fire engines in the distance, my thoughts jump to the Day of Judgment and Hellfire. I just sit there thinking of Hellfire. What a HORRIBLE place to be— forever and ever. My kids say how ‘scary’ the fire looks. How scary indeed—especially for those who will not be shown Allah’s mercy. This is a great reminder for us. My dear friends and readers, let us be mindful of the fact that death can be very near. That special night, Lailatul Qadr is better than a thousand months. So let’s put our worldly affairs aside and really make the most of this month. Let’s seek Allah’s Forgiveness and His Mercy and Insh’Allah we will be far removed from the torment of the Hellfire. This issue of the Islamic Bulletin is full of inspiring stories! Somehow, my favorites tend to be the stories of the sahaba—it’s nice to learn about their sufferings and hardships and then realize that we got it pretty easy compared to them! There is the love story between Zainab (RA) and her husband, Let’s Make a Change, Day of Judgment, A Muslim flight attendant’s story, and a wonderful article on how to avoid missing Fajr. Also in this issue is our usual section Why I Embraced Islam—this time the spotlight is on Hamza Perez, a Puerto Rican rapper who accepted Islam. There is also an article, Islamic Beliefs and Practices, by the late Awad Elgarguri. We ask our Readers to join us in making dua’ for Brother Awad and that Allah (SWT) grant him the highest level of Jannah. Ameen Also in this issue you will find a pull-out, mini poster in the middle section. We sincerely hope that “Supplication After Obligatory Prayers” is beneficial to our readers. Concisely listed, this sheet tells you exactly what to say after your salat. There is the Arabic, the transliteration, and the meaning in English. If you need further help with the pronunciation of certain dua’as, please visit our website, www.islamicbulletin.com, where you will be able to listen to the audio version of the supplications. You can also download a larger-sized print version. The Islamic Bulletin invites you to visit our new and improved website. We took great pains to bring you a free, one-stop center for all your Islamic needs. The following list some of our features which we hope will benefit you – and others- as we hope our readers will print and share the resources. Hajj Guide – Like no other manual before it, this “cheat sheet” puts Hajj at your fingertips. Its conciseness permits Hajjis to actually fit it in the palm of their hand—no more bulky books to carry around the Kabah. Not making Hajj? InshAllah, you can still get the blessings by giving this pocket-size guide to someone who is. Give to family, friends, and hand them out in your local masjid. It is currently available in 13 languages. You may download a copy in Word or PDF. You have a choice of Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, Farsi, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, and Urdu, as well as the various sizes. May Allah (SWT) accept our fasting, our prayers, and our supplications. May He (SWT) guide us to the right path and help us become better Muslims. And may He(SWT) grant us the highest level of Jannah . Ameen The Islamic Bulletin Staff
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X IX No. 24 Page 2 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, Assalamu Alaikum, I just wanted to thank the writers of the Islamic Bulletin for publishing a beautiful and uplifting newsletter. I read the Ramadan issue and Alhamdulillah, as always, I learn something new every time. The articles provide plenty of interesting and informative topics that keep both young and old very satisfied. Although I enjoy every section of the Islamic Bulletin, my favorites are always “Why I Embraced Islam” and “Cook’s Corner.” I have read every single one of your issues since they first were produced in 1991. I read my first issue of the Islamic Bulletin at the Masjid in San Francisco. I was a young student at the time and SubanAllah, now 18 years later, I am a mother and have a wonderful family. The Islamic Bulletin continues to grow with me as I get older. Inshallah, I hope to see more issues of the Islamic Bulletin so I can share and pass them along with my children as they are growing up. Asma El Ghasseyn, Santa Clara, California Dear friend in Islam, It is very kind of you to write to me and reply also with the resources mentioned. I will also carefully read these. My wife and I talked more about Islam this evening. Sometimes when I care for our cats, I think of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), for I’ve read he loved animals and had a cat of his own. Had I know him, I think I would have loved him as a friend and brother. See responses in italics by Imam Taher I was raised Christian and went to Christian High School in USA. Am now 44 years old, and worked previously as a Christian radio announcer. Also lived in Christian and Messianic-Jewish type communal groups, seeking to more closely follow what is recorded of the teachings of Isa/ Jesus. I have been greatly troubled by some of the teachings of Isa , such as giving up everything to follow him and forsaking family and friends, even children, to obey him. I have friends in a communal group called the Twelve Tribes who believe this way, but I am not totally convinced about their life in seeking to be New Israel or what they feel Christianity should have been etc. It’s a long story. I find when I follow Christianity or a hybrid form of it, I have a tendency to pray and talk with Isa/Jesus, but I have always questioned this. Some people think he is God, I think this is false and agree with Islam that Allah is One and only One. Others think he is not God, yet still pray to him. Very very much confusion. Troubling. And for many Christians they feel much guilt to even question these matters. It also troubles me that after reading the Bible for years, I sense the Roman Christians may have edited heavily and censored. I cannot prove this, but something in me says yes, the whole story is not told, and Isa’s childhood and teenage years is mostly missing. For a time, I also prayed to a Heavenly Father and Mother, who are two but one. Have since stopped. So, Islam seems to want people to carefully question and examine to find Truth, and this seems good. I feel Islam can answer many of societies problems and abuses. It has something to say about government, and banking, and taking care of one’s family. I stand firmly with what I understand in Islam against the sale of drugs and alcohol and it is completely Satanic that pornography is allowed to flow to homes through the Internet. I also greatly respect the modesty in clothing by sincere Muslim women. Is Islam firm about the above matters? Islam is quite firm about such things, and has many teachings in each of these areas. On a personal spiritual prayer level, the daily prayer times seem very honorable to the Creator. No religion I have known does this, except some monastic groups. Very important, I feel idolatry is in most other religions. Very troubling. Islam takes special precautions it would seem to keep it out. But these concerns I also have. I realize you may be very busy. But if you wish to answer/comment, anything you say is very valuable to me: -It seems a daunting task for me to learn the language of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Does Allah accept prayers in English? Should I walk the Muslim path, I think I could very gradually learn with help, but it would be a challenge. Allah accepts prayers in ANY language. You will only be required to learn the (small) prayers done in ritual prayer (Salat), but you can take your time learning them. -I find it hard to know if the shedding of animal, or Isa’s blood is required by Allah so that human sins can be forgiven. Very troubling. I am not sure I understand. The only thing REQUIRED for forgiveness for ones sins, is to ask God (in any language), and we believe He forgives. -I have no real Muslim friends, and I wonder if in general, are Muslim men kind and loving to their wives, and are the women happy and live lives of meaning in Islam. Muslim men and women are generally very happy people. Of course, like all others, there are some troubled cases, but it is not even close to what the media portrays. Islam places great emphasis on good treatment of ones spouses (wives and husbands), so you’d be surprised how happy Muslim families are. -Human slavery concerns me, and I’ve heard in some Muslim countries that people buy and sell other humans. It doesn’t seem like the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) or Allah would want this to go on. Human slavery still exists in America and the west in many forms. In the pre-Islamic days, slaves were bought/sold and had NO rights. Islam came and gave them rights. The right to eat, religion, fair treatment, fair wage, etc. - Islam also encouraged the freeing of slaves, hence you will read that the companions of the Prophet bought and freed hundreds, if not thousands of slaves. - Gradually, slavery was eradicated. - Allah and the Prophet do NOT encourage slavery. Just placed rules for fair treatment. -I also wonder if I became Muslim if I would be accepted in other countries by Muslim men since I am American and becuse of what happened with Iraq. There are so many (white) American/British Muslim men who live,
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X IX No. 24 Page 3 work and tour the Middle East. They love it there, and the locals there are thrilled to see a westener to visit their country and choose to work/visit there. If they happen to be Muslim, you’ll be having dinner at a new home everyday!! -I cannot understand what day of the week is holy to Allah. Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Very confusing. Or none at all? All days are holy. No one is better than the other. But Friday is the one He chose for the congregational prayer. Well these are things that come to mind, and I am grateful for you reaching out to me in this way. It is obvious that we share a world in which evil dwells and affects humanity in very bad ways. I have hoped for a long time to find the right way to follow the Creator that goodness might be more full in me and in the world. The way society/culture is headed is extremely wicked, and what is coming will be far worse. Most disturbing is the destruction of a child’s natural innocence by the media and Internet. I have hoped that if Islam is the Truth, that I would know 100% and that Islam could truly change cultures to be more in line with Allah’s will and be more pleasing to Him. I should get a Koran sometime. I appreciate your help and any insights you wish to share. I did think of another question and that is how do Muslims relate to Jewish people and how will the Israel/Palestine issues ever be resolved to what is pleasing to Allah. They have no problems with the Jewish faith. They don’t have issues with Jews either. They only have issues with people who oppress, regardless of their faith. One final question, I feel bad for Hagar and Ishmael who were forced to leave their home with Abraham (pbuh). I feel sometimes that Jews and Christians have sometimes been against Ishmael and his mother. What actually happened in the home. Was it really justified for Abraham (pbuh) to ask them to leave? Did Ishmael really show great disrespect to Abraham’s wife Sarah and her son? We don’t believe they were forced, rather they left at the inspiration given to them by God. We dont believe that there was any disrespect. Thank you for your patience with me, I have no one to talk about these things. Most people I know have no interest in Islam. Why me? I do want to be a better person, to one day live with the Creator, and that the world would be a more holy place. I regret much of the life I’ve lived. I continue to be challenged in my heart concerning Islam. Perhaps you may say a pray for me that I would truly know the Truth and be set free by it. Thank you for your kind help, Eric Christopherson Syracuse, New York Dear Editors of the Islamic Bulletin, First of all I would like to say Assalamu Alaikum and may this letter reach you in the best of health. Second, I would like to thank all of you for an excellent newsletter. I subscribe to many magazines, but never has a newsletter such as yours made me feel so spiritually connected to Islam (my Deen) and Allah. When I read your newsletter, I feel so calm and at peace. I also love that you add stories about the Prophet(S) and his companions because I love learning more about our beloved Prophet(S). Writing this letter, in this month of Ramadan, I am grateful that Allah (SWT) has allowed me to experience another Ramadan. I am grateful that I can experience all the beautiful joys of Ramadan, such as fasting and Taraweeh. Another thing for which I am extremely grateful for is that my grandmother, who is Italian and was formerly Catholic, has Alhamdulillah embraced Islam at the age of 68. My grandmother used to be a very strict Catholic and had statues and pictures of Jesus and saints all over her house. In fact, she was as such a strict Catholic that not only would she go to church on Sundays, but she would go every day of the week. Once, I remember her getting extremely angry if I or my sisters ever started mentioning Islam to her. Even though we were maybe 10,11 years old at the time, we still tried to speak to her about Islam.But her religion was hers and mine was mine,Yet she was always respectful and loving. I knew that I could not ask for a more loving grandmother and I loved her very much (as I do today). Alhamdulillah, my grandmother started slowly asking more questions about Islam and one day announced that she wanted to become a Muslim. This Ramadan is extra special since both my grandmother and I will be fasting together and praying Taraweeh. I have been encouraging my grandmother and she has just started writing a story about why she embraced Islam. I was wondering when my grandmother has finished writing her story, if I could submit it to the Islamic Bulletin to be placed in a future issue? I would really like to share with your Readers my grandmother’s spiritual path to Islam. Salaams, RB, San Francisco, California Need to contact us? Web Address: www.islamicbulletin.org E-Mail: info@islamicbulletin.org Editor, Islamic Bulletin P.O. Box 410186 San Francisco, CA 94141-0186, USA IMPORTANT REMINDER The verses of the Holy Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet have been printed for the benefit of our readers. You are asked to ensure their sanctity. Therefore, they should be disposed of in the proper Islamic manner. ABBREVIATIONS USED PBUH; SAW; AS - Peace Be Upon Him, R.A.; R.A.A. - Allah was pleased with him/her Bukhari, Muslim, Sahih, Abu Dawoud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah are the names of the transmiters of the Prophet’s (pbuh) Hadith and Sunnah (words and lifestyle.) Response: Asalamu Alaikum, Thank you so much for your touching letter. We are happy to know that your grandmother found Islam.We always encourage all our readers to participate in our Newsletter.
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X IX No. 24 Page 4 ISLAMIC WORLD NEWS A CATHOLIC CHURCH BECOMES A MOSQUE ON FRIDAYS ACatholic Church turns into a mosque every Friday, to enable the Muslim believers to offer their Jumha prayers. In the parish of Our Lady of Assumption of Ponzano Veneto near Venice, the romantic ci ty of I taly, the main hal l is converted for use for Jumah prayers.The pastor of the parish, Don Aldo Danieli, 71, affirms, “It’s useless to speak of rel igious dialogue and then bang the door on their face. Pope John Paul II addressed them as, ‘dear Muslim brothers’. How can we close our church doors to them?” At Ponzano, there live some 11,500 people of whom 232 families are immigrants, making their number roughly 650. These are mainly immigrants from North African countries and Eastern Europe. Two years ago, Don Aldo decided to open the doors of the church to these Muslim immigrants and keep a portion of his own parochial house, including a kitchen at their disposal. On Fridays, an average of 200 Muslim believers gather in the church and offer prayers. But in the month of Ramadan, the number swells to 1000-1200. “They requested me and I said yes, moreover, the kitchen and hall were a home for spiders”. The decision of Don Aldo has disturbed the peace of mind of more than a few parishioners. The protests of even the local bishop and priests have reached his ears. “I haven’t asked the express permission of the bishop, because it’s an act of charity. No permission is needed to do charity. For the rest, I am older than the bishop and been his professor in the seminary too. Even if he had prohibited me, I wouldn’t be obliged to obey him,” Don Aldo is firm in his resolve. He does not hesitate to proclaim, “Better praying Muslims than non praying Christians. If you brand me a racist, you are wrong”. In the last two years DonAldo has received a number of emails and letters advising him to “remain with his own flock”. Don Aldo has taken into confidence the Parish Pastoral Council and is unrelenting. “The pope has exhorted to open wide the doors to Christ: Christ lives in Muslims too.” Italy, of late, has been a favorite destination for immigrants, especially for North African and Eastern European Muslims. The public opinion with regard to immigrants is divided. “At last, a tangible gesture of openness and acceptance”, comments one. “It’s useless to preach openness and then hold on to one’s own prejudices. This priest makes us trust in the future,” writes another. “The saddest thing is that the church of Our Lady of Assumption has a larger congregation on Fridays than Sundays”, comments another. “Hope one day the pastor does not convert himself to Islam”, quips another. Yet the majority is supporting the gesture of the pastor, Don Aldo. In the changed circumstances of globalization, Italy is slowly getting used to immigrants of religions and cultures other than Christian. Cases like Don Aldo’s give rise to regional and national debates on integration and immigration, which are so important to a country in which the Heart of Christianity is situated. SPI RI TUAL JO URN EY TO ISLAM Puerto Rican-American rapper Hamza Pérez moved from Massachusetts to Pittsburgh along with other Muslims to start a new religious community. Hamza Perez, born Jason, was a drug dealer on America’s mean streets. The child of Puerto Rican parents, he had two recurring competing dreams at night: in one he was in prison by age 21, and in the other he was dead. New Muslim Cool is the story of how, as Hamza laughingly puts it, “both [dreams] came true,” albeit in unpredictable ways. The death he experienced was “a death of all my past, the negative,” he says. He gave up drugs and the street life and converted to Islam. He then went further, becoming active in forming a community of Latino and AfricanAmerican Muslims, many of whom, like Hamza, were former street hustlers and drug dealers. The community ultimately moved from Massachusetts to Pittsburgh, Pa. As part of their efforts to build a community that would reconcile their heritage with their new faith, Hamza and his brother, Suliman, formed the rap group Mujahideen Team (M-Team). M-Team strives to use knowledge gained in the streets to put Islam’s religious message into a familiar context. Hamza and Suliman joke about the exotic hybridization their faith and community embody. “See, we don’t speak full Arabic,” says Hamza, “but we know Arabic Spanglish Ebonics.” Ultimately, Hamza would bring that message to prisons, fulfilling his other dream in a way he had never imagined. What makes Hamza so memorable is his ability to come across as completely relatable, a rarity in media depictions of Muslims. Just as comfortable in his Kufi and Jalabiya as in his oversized T-shirt and sideways cap, Hamza, an American PUERTO RICAN-AMERICAN RAPPER HAMZA PÉREZ’S
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X IX No. 24 Page 5 Muslim rapper, relates himself to many different types of people through his music. In the film, Hamza dedicates his personal struggle for self-improvement for the sake of Allah and declared jihad on his old ways. Jihad, he explains, is just a struggle and does not include any kind of violence. He considers himself a Mujahed, someone who is engaged in struggle, because he believes it to be his obligation to help other drug dealers through self-empowerment and education. Not only a hip-hopper, Hamza is also a spiritual counselor that gives Dawa for Islam. However, his main goal is to promote unity of humanity and human brotherhood. Bad habits such as drugs, anger, greed, jealousy, among many others cause people to become enemies. By studying and teaching the life of the Prophet (S), he believes we can all have more mercy towards one another and become better people. Though hip-hop is not the conventional way of Dawa, it seems to be the best way for him to reach his message to the people he is trying to help. Read his moving and touching conversion story in detail under “How I embraced Islam.” HOW I EMBRACED ISLAM PUERTO RICAN-AMERICAN RAPPER HAMZA PÉREZ’S JOURNEY TO ISLAM I personally went to see “The New Muslim Cool” screening in San Francisco, CA. Although I did not meet Brother Hamza Perez at this screening, I was honored to have met him previously at Latino Day in a San Francisco masjid—Masjid AlSabeel on Golden Gate Avenue. So naturally, I was very much looking forward to this awesome screening. I believe “The New Muslim Cool” is a first of its kind. Not only are we inspired by Brother Hamza’s spiritual journey to Islam, but with his life, his mission, and his music to reach Muslims and non-Muslims alike. My personal favorite quote from the trailer of “The New Muslim Cool”, “You are a single dad, now you’re married, so you’re a married man, you’re Muslim, you’re American, you’re Puerto Rican, you’re from the hood, you’re an artist, you’re a rapper…sounds like America’s worst nightmare!” For many American Muslims around the country, he is the exact opposite—Brother Hamza is on a mission for our future. Q: Could you tell us a little bit about yourself—where you were born and your background. A: I was born in Brooklyn, NY. I grew up in a housing project across the street from a Masjid. My mother began to raise me there. After I got a little bit older, we moved to Puerto Rico, and thereafter we moved back and forth between Massachusetts and Puerto Rico. Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your religious upbringing. A: Yeah, my mom was Catholic. But, my grandmother in Puerto Rico was Baptist. During my 1st and 2nd grades, I was in Catholic school. Q: Can you tell us about your conversion to Islam. A: I had an Ecuadorian friend named Louie. We grew up together, and then we got involved in selling drugs together. I kept searching for happiness as a young person but I couldn’t find it. I tried the life of the streets and drugs but that just made me more depressed Even though we made money, it did not give us the taste or satisfaction of happiness. So, you know, we came real like down. One day, he walked by the masjid, and he was sitting on the steps and began rolling up a joint, and a Muslim brother approached him and asked him what he was doing there and started talking to him about Islam. And he ended up becoming a Muslim. We knew this mosque because we grew up down the street, but, like I said, the Muslims never came out to our community, so the only thing we knew about them is that they killed goats. So, in the community, they were known as that’s the place where goats are killed. So we were familiar with the building but not really with what goes on inside. Louise ended up becoming Muslim and was missing for 40 days. He went with Tabligh Jama’a (the community of teachers of Islam). We were from the streets, you know. We were Latinos; we didn’t know anything about Tabligh Jama’a. All we heard was that some Pakistanis and Arabs had kidnapped him. What the heck was he doing with them anyways? We are all Latinos. Sometime later, I saw this Muslim brother I went to school with. He was African-American. I saw him in the store, and it was like, “Yo Yo man, you know my friend Louie?” He said, “No man, I don’t know any Louie. I know a Luqman.” I started laughing at him. I thought he was talking about some Jamaican stuff. So I told him to tell Luqman that I’m looking for him. So one day, I was smoking and I was with the people sell drugs with, and Luqman came dressed all in white with a sheikh named Iqbal. We were playing dices, drinking, smoking. He was with a Pakistani brother from Tabligh Jama’a. And I saw that both of them had nur (light). They had like this spiritual light. I could see the transformation in him. I knew that something seriously had happened in his life. So I left the other people who were drinking and smoking and walked towards them.So, right there, the sheikh asked me if I believed that there was only one God. I said, “Yes.” And then he asked me if I believed in the Prophet Mohammad (Salla Lahu ‘alaihi WaSalaam—Peace on him) was His Messenger. I had heard of the Prophet Mohammad (Salla Lahu ‘alaihi Wa-Salaam), but I saw the light in the character and face of my friend Luqman, so I believed it. So I took Shahada (testament to faith/conversion to Islam) right there in the middle of the street. My brother then took the Shahada. Q: How did your parents react to you accepting Islam? A: My family was initially upset. But it has been tempered by gratitude that my brother and my new faith has gotten us off drugs
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X IX No. 24 Page 6 and away from other dangerous pursuits. They loved it—I mean, my family loved it. My mom loved it. She thought it was very positive. I immediately begin to take care of her. I would help her out in the house. I would go out and do stuff for her. I wasn’t like that when I wasn’t a Muslim. And then, after I became Muslim, my brother became Muslim. Then one of my friends became Muslim. Over 55 people that we knew became Muslim. We went back to the same places we used to sell drugs and put up a sign that says, “Heroin kills you and Allah saves you!” So, you know, a lot of them were impacted by Luqman’s Shahada and the wave of Shahadas that took place. Q: Did you ever encounter any problems with your acceptance of Islam? A: At first, since I was a brand new Muslim, I thought I should listen to any Muslim and what they told me. I really had no direction. Some people taught me to look at other Muslims and to criticize other Muslims by the length of their beards and by the length of their pants. And then my criticizing of people became long, and my remembrance of God became short. I started to lose the sweetness that I had when I first became Muslim and a year of listening to certain Muslims examining the faults of other Muslims, and I had to go through, like, a big transformation. And it wasn’t ‘til I started sitting with traditional scholars that I began to spiritually heal myself from the disease of looking at people’s faults. Q: Do see any similarities between Islam and the other religions in your background? A: Yeah, of course. It’s all connected. The thing about my religion before is that it was really blind following. I knew who Jesus was, I saw images that were attributed to him, but I didn’t really know about Jesus besides Christmas, and the verses that we read were directed to us by the priests and the pastors. I became a way better follower of Christ when I became Muslim. Q: What impact has Islam had on your life? A: Islam has opened up my eyes to my own faults. Before, I had this thing called nafs. I didn’t know about nafs. Islam made me realize that, in the streets, you’re always looking for enemies who are out to get you. And Islam taught me that, in order to find my enemy, all I had to do was look in the mirror. I also began to reach out to prisoners, using my faith and struggles to inspire them. My work also leads me into surprising alliances with ministries of other religions that, like my own, seek to build a road to redemption from the nation’s jails. Q: What was the most difficult thing to change and how long did it take you? A: The most difficult thing to change… I think it would have been the whole woman issue. Yeah, because I went straight cold turkey—women, you know, marijuana, everything right overnight. Right after the Shahada, I went and took a shower, everything was cold turkey. I had a lot of girlfriends, and the next thing you know my girlfriends saw me walking down the street in a white dress. I was a good guy to them before becoming Muslim, and they just could not understand why they couldn’t touch me, why I could not talk to them anymore. I wish I could have been more educated back so that I could have maybe explained stuff better. But, Allah is The Best of Planners, you know. A lot of them respect it. The people I went to school with, I stay in contact with them on Facebook. I have like this daily class that I do with all of my non-Muslim acquaintances that I grew up with. Q: Did any of your friends or family members become Muslim? A: Over 55 people that we know became Muslim. My grandmother and my aunt took Shahada. My brother took Shahada. My cousin took Shahada. Then my aunt took Shahada on a Sunday and then she died on a Tuesday. My whole street crew that I rode with became Muslim, except for one person. Q: A: How did your mother react to your acceptance of Islam? My mother brought us up in Catholic schools. She worked two jobs to do that. ... It was kind of confusing for her, but she accepted it. They would ask her, why is your son wearing that dress?She would say, I don’t know, but just leave him alone. My kids are all drug free now, they don’t drink and they don’t smoke!” . They changed their life and they are doing good. Q: How are your holidays with your non-Muslim family? A: Of course, I don’t celebrate them. Certain holidays I choose to stay away, like Christmas. I give my family their respect for their holidays, and they really respect my holidays. So, my mother does not get my kids gifts for Christmas, she gets them gifts for ‘Eid. On holidays like Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving, I know they are not from the Sunna, but I look at it as … for my family, so I go to their houses, but I don’t get too caught up in the moment. I make sure I treat my mother good all year round. So, every day I see her, I treat her like it is Mother’s Day. My brother and I have learned to make traditional Puerto Rican halal food like arroz con pollo (chicken with rice) with halal chicken.There is a store in Pittsburg where we can get halal meat. I think we’ve figured out to make lots of traditional boricua dishes halal-style, even mofongo (fried green plantain mashed in a mortar and shaped into a ball. Traditionally it was seasoned with fresh garlic and pork cracklings. New versions are stuffed with seafood, chicken, or vegetables). Q: Has she seen a change in your way of dealing with her and your life? A: Yeah, big time. Before I did not have patience with her. I read a book about the rights mothers have over their children and I became really scared that Allah might Punish me if I don’t treat my mother right. There is a story of a Sahaba that he was dying and he “You are a single dad, now you’re married, so you’re a married man, you’re Muslim, you’re American, you’re Puerto Rican, you’re from the hood, you’re an artist, you’re a rapper…sounds like America’s worst nightmare!”
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X IX No. 24 Page 7 could not take his Shahada and the Prophet Mohammad (Salla Lahu ‘alaihi Wa-Salaam) asked him, you know, say it, say it. Then the Prophet Mohammad (Salla Lahu ‘alaihi Wa-Salaam) said, is there a problem between you and your mother. So, the Prophet Mohammad (Salla Lahu ‘alaihi Wa-Salaam) called for his mom, and they reconciled and then he was able to say the Shahada. So I fear that if I don’t treat my mother good and my grandmother good, and the woman in my family good, that Allah might block my tongue from saying the Shahada. Q: What do you think is the most important aspect Islam has to offer Americans and Latinos. A: The most important aspect Islam has to offer is the true connection with Jesus Christ and the conquest of self. Once you begin to recognize spiritual diseases, there are ways Islam provides for you to fix yourself. You can become a better father, and become a better person. And that is really big in Latino culture…family. Q: Exactly. Could you tell us a few things about your new movie and your plans for the future? A: “The New Muslim Cool” is a documentary about my life, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z0q3Yikuns after I made hijra from Massachusetts to Pittsburg. I learned to have a lot more respect and understanding for people who choose to follow organized religion, whether it’s Islam or Christianity or Judaism (or another path). And we all definitely changed by working so closely together for three years, learning to accept more and more that we can all be so different and yet have so much in common. All of us on the crew and production team – Muslim, Jewish, Christian, atheist, Latino, black, white, South Asian –gained new friendships and deep new levels of trust for each other. Maybe that can be on some microcosmic level what we could do as a society or even a world, if we could just be able to see each other as fully and completely human despite coming from different religions or cultures or economic classes. It is about the work that I do in the community with the young members and the work that I do in the jails. Our mosque was raided by the FBI. They never really gave an excuse why they raided it. Since we had given lots of Dawa in our neighborhood and treated our non- Muslim neighbors, good we did not even have to speak. Our neighbors came outside and spoke to the media on our behalf. So, it was very positive. We feel like the raid from the FBI was really fromAllah. Q: And your visits here in California, I heard that you had a great success on your visit to the school in Pacifica, could you talk about that? A: Oh, yeah, that was amazing. I have never experienced youth so open to change and so open to Islam. We just connected on a humanity level. That’s something that Islam has broken me out of the chains of. Latinos—we give lots of labels…If someone’s fat, we call them gordso, if someone is skinny, we call them flaco; if they’re black, we call them negro. We always have these titles and labels for people. Islam has allowed me to look past people’s skin and the physical and look at them as souls and opportunities to get closer to God. So we just connected on a humanity tip, on a young people level…from one young person to another young person, and it was an excellent vibe. Q: How about singing your music, how about your music career…could you tell us a little bit about it? A: Yeah, we got two new albums about to come out and one just came out in February. It’s available on iTunes. And, you know, we have nice non-Muslim fan base and a Muslim fan base. We try to do the music to address certain issues that we face as people, so our music has a positive message to it. I am trying to take my message of faith to other young people through hard-hitting hip-hop music. In Islam there are diseases of the heart like conceit, jealousy, envy, arrogance, hate, our pride. So, I wanted to explain this to the people who I grew up with in the streets. I knew these people in the streets, so instead of me saying their names, I put it in a poem; I said the diseases of their hearts. So, this is a story about them without saying their names but saying their diseases. So, it goes: There was this kid named Jealousy Who had gun weaponry Whoever lived life better than him, He was his enemy He walked the street like a centipede. Frustrated with his destiny Living life like a dark legacy He had a brother named Envy Whose pockets were empty He had a forty caliber with a clip that hold twenty They made a plan to rob a drug slanger They ran into a drug dealer named Anger Known for his short temper by gangbangers And new cars and new clothes on the hangers They shot anger and left him dead in the street They left a witness Anger’s girlfriend conceit Conceit picked up the phone and talked as she cried She called up a big drug dealer named Pride She told him that Anger had died And that she had seen Jealousy and Envy with her own 2 eyes Pride picked up the phone and called his main man Hate They looked for Jealousy and Envy ‘Til the night got late The found Jealousy and Envy coming out the liquor store They shot ‘em dead and left them bleeding on the floor These are the diseases of the spiritual poor And the Deen of Allah be the only true cure Q: Jaka-lahu Khair, Brother. Thank you for your time. May Allah Reward you. As—Salaamu ‘Alaikum. A: Wa ‘alaikum Salaam.
The Islamic Bulletin Shawwal/Zul-Qidah 1420 January/February 2000 Page 8 When it comes to the materialistic world, one should look to those who have less than them in order to be thankful to Allah for what he has given us. If perfection is your goal, then you have the lowest standards! Why the lowest? Because perfection cannot be achieved by any human being. Perfection belongs to Allah alone! Thus, if this is your standard, you will never achieve it, and then you will just give up. Instead, focus on what you are doing right, and keep growing that plant. And when, not if, you do something wrong, something displeasing to Allah, bounce back immediately in Tawbah to Allah. Quickly come back and make things better. Those people whom come back to Allah the fastest are the most blessed children of Adam. If one gets in their car and has no destination in mind, they will never arrive at the ‘nothing’ in their mind. You will never arrive if you don’t know where you are going or take actions to get there. Paradise is something that must be hoped for day and night. Because they hoped and prayed for it so much, they lived their lives striving towards it. Envision yourself entering the highest level of Jannah! And now.............work for it! It is said that a person will do more to avoid pain then achieve pleasure. Let’s say you don’t ‘feel’ like working for Jannah. Well then, let’s introduce ourselves to Hellfire. There are only two destinations. Everything in life is a gift from Allah, it’s not ‘ours’. It’s a test to see if we will truly be thankful to Allah, by doing what He commanded and staying away from what He forbids. All these commandments are meant to raise us to be humans in the greatest mold. Anything less is subhuman. Paradise or Hellfire? Your choice. We tend to not disobey Allah ‘until’ we think that no one is watching us. If only we knew. The angels of Allah are watching us all the time, writing everything that we do. Our very body parts that we use to obey or disobey are watching us and will testify on the day of Repayment. The earth that we walk on will bear witness to whatever we did. There is a book that records everything, small or large, that we do; if you read it you would be amazed! And above all, Allah is watching. You’re not alone. If anything on earth reaches a state of excellence, it is the promise of Allah that He will bring it back down to earth. Nothing on earth remains in the pinnacle state. And because of that, whenever we get something, when it’s our day to ‘boast’, we should instead humble ourselves to Allah. Imagine what life would be like if we loved each other, thought everyone else was better than us in some way, and sincerely sought to treat people good because we truly hoped for Allah’s pardon. Be humble. It feels so good. If you lose hope, you’ve already lost. The test of life is too hard for us to enter it wishy-washy. Be confident, strong, and determined in seeking Allah’s love, in seeking His paradise. This is what HE commands of us. It is not Allah that wishes to see us thrown in to Hellfire. Shaytaan is the one that wishes that end. Allah Ta’ala wants for us to be forgiven, wants for us to be protected from Hellfire, wants for us to enter His paradise. The question now is: what do we want? And what are we doing about it? Do you have full conviction that Allah has the power to guide your heart to achieve your goal here? If you are feeling a little doubtful, then silence the doubt, raise your hands, and make dua to Allah to grant you the favor of achieving your heart’s goal. Trust in Allah, following the footsteps of all the Messengers of Allah, and Allah will be all the strength you need. The no.1 reason that people enter hellfire? Open your mouth and stick out your tongue! Our tongues are the no.1 reason. How could such a simple piece of flesh be so destructive? It’s the backbiting, the slander, the lies, the mocking of nations, the name calling, and on and on, that we indulge our tongues in. Let’s watch our tongue today, and every day, and cultivate it to be a beautiful flower, only sweetness coming from it. And if there is nothing sweet to be said, then … silence. “Just as I, had I been the one to make the mistake, would wish to be forgiven, I forgive you.” This is one of the most powerful rockets to Jannah. Go to sleep every night without harboring any grudges or grievances against your Muslim brothers and sisters. I forgive you for the sake of Allah. And I pray that Allah will forgive me too. The snake bite doesn’t kill, it’s the venom that seeps through the blood that kills. Don’t let that venom of RAMADAN! LET’S MAKE A CHANGE “’The no.1 reason that people enter hellfire? Open your mouth and stick out your tongue!?”
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X IX No. 24 Page 9 grievance seep through your blood. Forgive people, for your own happiness is on the line. Do you ever get frustrated or stressed? Is it because, perhaps, you are focused on yourself at the moment? Probably. Focusing on oneself = stinginess = frustration = ingratitude to Allah. Instead of focusing on ourselves today, why don’t we focus on others? How is their health? How long have ‘they’ been waiting in line? Maybe their perspective is something valid that I haven’t considered before? Whatever it is, stress comes from focusing on ourselves. Happiness, on the other hand, comes from upright righteous character. Whenever there is a feeling of abundance, it tends to bring out the best in people to share. When one feels like there isn’t enough of something, it tends to bring out the miser within. Ask yourself today, hasn’t Allah given me total abundance? What can I share today? When the issue of ‘sharing’ comes up, just like when we were in grade school, when we were told to share, the fear of there not being enough would cause us to hold tightly. Not so with Sadaqah. The more we give, the more we shall receive. That’s Allah’s promise! Just as Allah is the most Merciful, He is also the most severe in punishment. This is not something that people like to focus on, but in order for a person to be saved, the hope in Allah’s Mercy must go hand and hand with massive fear of Allah’s punishment. How many nations before us were destroyed by that which their own hands reaped? How many arrogant tyrants had their thrones taken away from them because of their decision to turn their backs on Allah? Almost everywhere one goes these days, there is some sort of attack on our soul’s chastity. It might be a lewd magazine at the market, or not averting one’s gaze in public or it might be an internet banner ad. One must be extra vigilant to protect their heart. Cupid is not a chubby angel that strikes the hearts of men. That is the Shaytaan. Our glances are direct connections to our heart. Avert the glance, and you’ve just supported a tree of Eman in your heart. Indulge the glance and you are speared by Iblees. Our choice. The bigger the mission, the more one will have to prepare and train for it. So if the biggest mission of our lives is to worship Allah, then how do we train? How did Allah’s Messenger, SAW, train when Angel Jibreel came to him? The answer: with prayers in the night, Qiyam ul-Layl. There are few things on earth more valuable then to get up during the night, make wudu while others are sleeping, raise your hands, and begin worshipping your Creator. The purpose of Islam is to raise the human being to become the most noblest creation of Allah. Nobility comes from Taqwa and upright character. Allah’s Messenger, SAW, lived the Qur’an every single day through his actions. How much of the character taught in the Quran do we know? And how much of that are we living on a daily and hourly basis? The beautiful thing is that there is so much happiness that awaits in taking this path. When one thinks ‘charity’, what automatically comes to the mind is giving money. While money is a fundamental part of charity, it is not the end all. Charity is a much larger term that includes visiting the sick, speaking kind words to people, smiling to others, and so much more. There are two weapons, if you use them, no one and nothing can harm your emotions. They are: thankfulness and patience. Patience, true patience, is that time, as soon as the calamity befalls, that someone holds back, and praises Allah. Immediately they are blessed with a calm that carries them through the calamity, a gift from Allah. Not only is that moment blessed, but that which comes after it becomes even more blessed because of the patience. Imagine life as a truly patient servant of Allah. How do you take a good thing and make it better? Answer: by being thankful to Allah for it. Thankfulness is the secret ingredient to happiness on earth and in the hereafter. If you want to enjoy it all, be thankful. Thankfulness isn’t only an action of the tongue. Thankfulness is done in action as well: by following the commandments of Allah, desiring nearness to Him, and keeping far away from that which Allah forbade. Kufr, in its root meaning, means ungratefulness. It’s the root of disbelief. When people attempt to listen to music or watch TV, they are actually searching for one thing: peace of heart. The music and watching TV produces emotions that they wish to achieve and cannot in the everyday trials of the world. True peace of heart is found in a beautiful book sitting on your shelf: the Qur’an. In it are the stories of perished nations and prophecy of what is to come in the future. In it is hope for paradise and warning from hellfire. In it is contemplation of the heavens and earth, and all in between. You are searching for peace, right? It’s right here. Just when you thought it was over, it’s just begun. Worship of Allah does not end after 30 days. The Lord of Ramadan is the Lord of all months. Worship of Allah only ends at death. What awaits after that is the trial: is Allah pleased with me so that I may rejoice like no human has ever rejoiced? Or should I regret like no human has regretted, perhaps Allah is displeased with me? Perhaps my intentions weren’t for Him alone? It is with constant fear and hope, that we’ll find our way back to Allah! May Allah accept our noble work this month!
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X IX No. 24 Page 10 A SAD PASSING Brother Awad Mohamed Elgarguri, one of our very much appreciated Islamic Bulletin contributors passed away at the young age of 49. In this issue of The Islamic Bulletin, he has contributed Islamic Beliefs and Practices. He will be very much missed by his family, many friends, and the staff of at the Islamic bulletin. We would like to ask each of our readers to remember him in their Duas this Holy Month. May Allah grant him Paradise. Sheikh Awad was headed home shortly after Salat-ul Isha with his 16 year-old son. Shaikh Awad was a man in every sense of the word. He was calm, collected, and composed. I never remember him losing control of himself no matter what the situation. When he spoke, he spoke wisdom. No word was uttered aimlessly or in vain. He took personal care of those he came into contact with and built relationships with them, advising them how to navigate the problems of their life. The amazing thing was, no matter how many people were seeking his help; he attended to each one with the same level of attention and care. His reserves of patience at times seemed like they had no end. Sheikh Awad, who was a Microbiology Researcher, had finished his Graduate studies at the School of Microbiology at Oregon State University. As the Imam of his community in Corvallis, Oregon, he was the community. He received no salary from the mosque but genuinely cared for all people — family, friends and even strangers — whom he may have met once in a store or at the post office, for example. People from different backgrounds, religions, ages and nationalities have all been united by benevolent feelings toward the man who lived amongst them and interacted with them as a genuine and sincere friend for nearly three decades. As the Imam and religious leader of the Muslim Community in Corvallis, Awad dedicated his whole life to setting an example of true Islam to his community members both inside, and outside, of his Mosque. To him, Corvallis was his beloved hometown, and he was so proud of it as a city and as an ideal community. Islam means submission and peace. God created us from different nations and tribes, but we are all brethren in humanity. Diversity enriches and nourishes the growth and development of the human race and promotes peaceful collaboration and a coherent coexistence. This is the message Awad sought to exemplify. Brother Awad’s passing reminds me of a hadith of Rasululah (saw) in which it says that the passing of a scholar is greater with Allah than the passing of a village or entire tribe. He was a man of deep knowledge who practiced what he knew. I never once heard him mention degrees in deen or dunya, both of which he had. Yet, knowledge eminated from him in his words and demeanor. In fact, many of the youth of Corvallis were raised under his wings. Only they can fully describe their loss. As the Prophet (saw) explained that actions are according to their ending, and so was the life of Shaykh Awad. As was normal there was an Islamic lecture every night in the masjid. This series was devoted to the journey that everyone must take from this world. For four nights he brought death to life as a reality for all to see. The 5th Islamic lecture was to be completed with the khutbah of Jumha. Brother Awad prayed his Isha prayers Thursday night, and then proceeded home to finishing his Jumha Khutba. On his way home, an oncoming vehicle’s driver fell asleep and veered into the Shaykh’s car. The Shaykh swerved his car so that the full impact was on the driver’s side, saving his son from what was written for him. The Muslims in Corvallis who heard the news dashed out of their houses in shock to attend Jumha. Thinking that the news was not true, they filled the masjid, but without their influential leader and friend. Many cried and especially when they had heard the Jumha khutba that Sheikh Awad had prepared for that day dealt with death. And instead of Sheikh Awad delivering the Khutba, it was being read by another imam. And that day they cried as they had never cried before. How greatly they missed him. Especially a part that was in the khutba that spoke of Hazrat Bilal (RA) when he gave his last azan in Medina with a famous quote, to his wife, “How wonderful! Tomorrow I am going to meet with the beloveds, Muhammad and his friends!” At Jumha prayer that day, mosque members mourned the loss of their Imam outside the Salman Al-Farisi Islamic Center on Kings Boulevard in Corvallis. Awad Elgarguri was married and had seven children. Even after his death, his legacy manifested itself in his family. It was with full submission to Allah’s will and with absolute belief and trust in His Divine wisdom. Their reaction to the man who killed their father was to forgive him and pray that Allah guide him to Islam. They showed patience and complete resignation to the predestination of Allah. In this way Allah took back what belonged to Him— “Innalalilahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon.”“To Allah We Belong and To Him We Will Return.”
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