VOL. XX, NO. 26 20TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE IN THIS ISSUE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR............................... 2 GIVING UP SINS ....................................... 3 THOMAS JEFFERSON’S QURAN...................... 4 FINDING ISLAM IN AMERICA................................... 6 THE WISDOM IN ISLAM.............................. 9 WOMEN IN ISLAM..................................... 10 HOW I EMBRACED ISLAM............................ 12 MECCA METRO STATION.............................. 14 HAJJ 3 D -”PULL OUT” SPECIAL................... 15 99 NAMES OF ALLAH................................ 17 SUPPLICATIONS AFTER PRAYER (ENGLISH) ........... 18 REMEMBERING ALLAH ................................. 19 STORIES OF THE SAHABAH .......................... 20 QURAN & SCIENCE ................................... 22 COOK’S CORNER ...................................... 24 ROOM 3B .............................................. 25 THE EXCELLENCE OF READING THE QURAN ........ 25 THE ARABIC ALPHABET ............................... 26 TAJWEED CHART ....................................... 28 ISLAMIC DIETARY LAWS ............................... 29 KID’S CORNER ......................................... 30 SUPPLICATION AFTER PRAYER (URDU) .............. 31 THE ISLAMIC BULLETIN A Non-Profit Corporation P.O. Box 410186 San Francisco, CA 94141-0186 E-Mail: info@islamicbulletin.org Website: http://www.islamicbulletin.org WELCOME TO THE ISLAMIC BULLETIN! We are celebrating a milestone and wish to thank our readers for making this success possible. When we started our very first issue, way back in 1991, we never imagined we would come so far. Allah (SWT) has been very generous with our publication and has blessed us every step of the way. We are very excited with so many new additions and developments in the works. The first new item on our agenda is the new Hajj guide. It is a detailed up-to-date Hajj guide meant to ease the trip for pilgrims making their way to Mecca. This Hajj guide holds a very special place in our heart—we have seen it evolve and translations into 21 languages, including Chinese, Farsi, Spanish, Tagalog, and Tamil make it even more endearing to Muslims throughout the world. We have also included information about the new Mecca metro train, which will transport pilgrims to and from Mecca, Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat. This Hajj guide was especially designed for this addition of the Bulletin to assist our readers when utilizing this new Mecca metro train. Just as the Hajj ministry is striving to make improvements in the transportation of their pilgrims, it is also our aim to do the same. That is why we are always striving to improve our readership and update our technologies. With that thought in mind, we have implemented barcodes for the Islamic Bulletin website. Readers who have an app to scan barcodes will be able to download newsletters, Hajj guides, ebooks, and much more. With all of this ‘new’ technology around us, it is a testament to our mission that we have remained true to our roots. Our main goal for our newsletter has always been, and still remains, to share with our readers relevant and uplifting articles about our peaceful religion. In this issue we are pleased to bring you so many exciting features. Do you know which president of the United States was first to include a copy of the Holy Quran in his personal library? Well, we didn’t know either until after reading the article. Also included in this issue is a fascinating story of a Muslim man who reverts back to Islam. In addition to our regular features such as Cook’s Corner, Kid’s Corner, Stories of the Sahaba and Quran and Science, our How I Embraced Islam with Rick Fenton is an inspiring story of how an American brother came into Islam. Like always, we thank you for making the Islamic Bulletin the wonderful publication that it is! Looking forward to celebrating more milestones together, The Islamic Bulletin Staff 20 YEARS OF SUCCESS
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X No. 26 Page 2 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 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 Dear Editor AsalamuAlaikum I wanted to share an exciting release with the readers of the Islamic Bulletin. On August 12, 2011, the U.S. Postal Service issued a new Eid Forever stamp. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate. So if you buy this stamp youwill still be able to use it in the future, (hence the name “forever”) even if the rates go up. The new background color and calligraphy on this stampwill help customers and postal clerks distinguish the Forever stamp from the original Eid stamp, which was first issued in 2001 with gold calligraphy on a blue background. The Eid stamp is an important stepping stone for the recognition of Islam in this country. Use them for yourselves or gift them to your friends or neighbors and encourage them to use on their greeting cards this season. You can order these stamps online at shop.usps.com. Type “Eid” under Search or call 1-800-stamp24. Your sister in Islam, UmmKalthoum South San Francisco, CA Dear Editor Salam I have recently read the articles on your website and I really think you are doing a great job and a good deed by letting people know more about Islam. I was touched when I read about the beauty tips for sisters. This website made me feel ashamed. May Allah please forgive me for not praying, fasting even though I reached puberty 4 years ago but thanks to you now I will try my best to follow Almighty Allah's Commands. Thank You S. from Uzbekistan. Dear Editor AsalamuAlaikum, I am a Muslim man from Chad. I recently visited China at the invitation of a seminar organizedby government officials hoping to establish cooperation and friendship with China. Before leaving formy trip, I was very concernedwithmaintainingmy prayer times as one ofmy religious obligations. Inparticular, yourwebsite, which looked like it was especiallymade forme. I found that yourMosque locator and Prayer section are alsoworldwide, MashaAllah. I really felt that it united Muslims from different countries. I was able to IMPORTANT REMINDER The verses of theHolyQur’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 Subhana Wa Tahala (SWT) - May Allah (God) be glorified and exalted Sallallahou alayhi wasallam (SAW); (or Alayhi Salam) AS; Peace Be Upon Him PBUH; = in Arabic these salutations are called Salawat - (Urdu: Durood)- this expression follows specifically after saying the name of the last prophet of Islam, Mohammad (Muhammed) R.A.; R.A.A. - Allah was pleased with him/her Allahu Yarhamu - May Allah pardon and forgive him Bukhari, Muslim, Sahih, Abu Dawoud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, IbnMajah are the names of the transmiters of the Prophet’s (pbuh) Hadith and Sunnah (words and lifestyle.) keep all my prayers and attend the Jumah salat. I also loved your newsletters! Listening to the live radio station “Radio Islam” from South Africa increasedmy faith while learning about a new country and people. May Allah reward all the people who made this possible and give you the highest level in paradise, Jannah Al Firdous. Adam Dear Editor Assalamu Alaikkum, I came across your web site and your bulletins and I can tell you I just sit at my desk reading them over and over again. I wish you could write more often. Keep it up and may Allah grant you paradise . Sadiq O Ebrahim Dawood Quatre Bornes, Mauritius Dear Editor Salamu-allaykum, while googling for Quran, I suddenly found the most complete and useful resource for everyone.Your web site is very informative and a pleasure to visit. Jazakumullah. Particularly, it will benefit my kids insha Allah. May Allah reward you. Salaam. A. Omar Rome, Italy
The Islamic Bulletin Volume XX No. 26 Page 3 There are many, many Muslim brothers and sisters throughout the world who, due to various negative influences and bad elements, find themselves ‘de-railed’ from Deen (Religion). Many others sit on the fence, wanting to enjoy or benefit from both sides of the fence – engaging in sins as well as being practical on certain teachings of Deen. However, deep in their hearts is the desire to get back on track, and once again become good, practical Muslims; to jump off the fence and enjoy the green pastures of Islam. A standard prescription that I give as a reply is as follows. Alhamdulillah, many who followed through with the prescription have found a whole new life – of peace, happiness, blessings and mercy. Once a believer tastes the sweetness that comes with obedience, there is no desire to return to any form of disobedience. As Muslims, we should: •Abstain from committing sins, out of love for Allah SWT. He has granted us so much – He has granted us everything and it is the nature of human beings that we love whosoever is kind and generous to us. Then what of Allah SWT who has provided us with everything? The sight, hearing, speech, the organs that are functioning in such an amazing manner, the limbs - all in our service – for eating, drinking, walking, sitting, etc. The gifts of wealth: the clothing, shelter, transport, food, drink, and so many other comforts. We use them all, but do we keep in mind, the Generous Benefactor? Do we give thanks for these bounties or show any appreciation to the Giver? •Develop the conscious awareness that Allah SWT is always with us: He watches us, He hears us and He knows all and everything about us. We cannot hide from Him and we cannot conceal our actions from Him. Then should we not feel ashamed that in His Presence, we are disobeying Him? Are we not showing ingratitude to the Benefactor, when engaging in sins in His very Presence? •Ponder over the fact that Allah SWT has blessed us with the gift of sight, hearing, health, wealth, etc. However, what He gives, He can also take away and stated that ingratitude for His Gifts will draw very severe punishment. •Keep in mind that the angels are also witnesses to all our actions; that the earth is recording our behavior and it is documented in our books of deeds. On the Day of Judgment we will all be held accountable to Allah SWT for the actions and deeds that that we have committed. •Muraqabah is meditating on the actions that we have engaged in during the day: We should reflect over our deeds for the day and seek forgiveness for shortcomings and resolve not to take part in reenacting the same bad deeds. We will develop shame and modesty which will make it easy to restrain from Haraam (forbidden) things. We should also express gratitude on good deeds and make dua to Allah SWT that we continue to do take part in carrying out those actions. •Ponder over the fact that the Angel of Death does not give respite. How would it be if while one were obeying the nafs (self, ego) in sinful pleasure, the Angel of Death visits and makes the departure not only a disgrace, but returns the human being to Allah SWT at a time when He is extremely angry. May Allah SWT protect us all from death in a state of transgression. •Death is inevitable – and often, unexpected. No true Muslim would want to be seized by the Angel of Death when Allah SWT is displeased. So many things on the market are instant (instant coffee, tea, noodles, etc.) very much like death. So any sin is too much of a risk in the face of the reality of death. The Hadith is explicit: We will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment as we have died and we will die as we have lived. Would any Muslim want to rise up on the Day of Judgment in sin, for all of mankind to witness what kind of life he led? Contemplating on the consequences of sinful behavior and putting a little bit of Mujahada (effort), which entails ‘not doing’, will Inshallah result in having our sicknesses are cured. Together with this: -Attend the talks of the learned Scholars of Islam whenever possible, and/or listen to recordings of their talks and read their books to benefit from pious, righteous company. -Make the effort to pray punctually. Men should make every effort to make their Salaah in Jamaat (congregation). -Read good, Islamic literature. Abstain from magazines or books that have filthy and indecent contents and pictures. -Give up television viewing. …90% of the content is Haraam (forbidden). If a person offers a full glass of clean and pure water, and mentions that there is just one drop of urine, would any sensible person, drink it? Then when the major content of television is Haraam, what should then say? When the gaze, heart and mind are consuming and digesting so much of Haraam viewing, what else would be the end result except indulgence in the same Haraam. -Lower the gaze from the opposite sex. -Dress as a Muslim should – A person with this appearance will think a hundred times before engaging in an open sin, when he is being recognized as someone who must be very pious. So this attire and appearance will offer a protection, Inshallah. By doing these few things, you have won more than half the battle. And it is not as difficult as Shaytaan and nafs whisper and try to pull you off of the right path. A little courage, a little effort and a little sacrifice are all that is required. May Allah SWT grant us His Love, such that it becomes easy to give up all sins and submit to His Obedience. May He protect us all from the mischief of Nafs and Shaytaan. May He fill our hearts with Love for this beautiful Deen and inspire us in being a practical and good Muslims and be true role-models to our community. GIVING UP SINS: AN EASY PRESCRIPTION
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X No. 26 Page 4 Written by Sebatian R. Prange a Photographed by Aasil Ahmad WHILE HE WAS A LAW STUDENT, THOMAS JEFFERSON BOUGHT A NEWLY PUBLISH ENGLISH RENDITION OF THE QUR’AN. WHAT CAN THAT PURCHASE TELL US ABOUT HIM? ABOUT HIS POLITICS, AS AN AMBASSADOR AND AS THIRD PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. OR ABOUT THE LEGACY OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND PLURALISM THAT HE LEFT TO THIS COUNTRY? Facing the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. stands the Jefferson Building, the main building of the Library of Congress, the world’s largest library. . . The stately building…is named after Thomas Jefferson, one of the “founding fathers” of the United States, principal author of the 1776 Declaration of Independence and, from 1801 to 1809, the third president of the young republic. But the name also recognizes Jefferson’s role as a founder of the Library itself…Among the nearly 6500 books Jefferson sold to the Library was a twovolume English translation of the Qur’an, the book Muslims recite, study and revere as the revealed word of God. The presence of this Qur’an, first in Jefferson’s private library and later in the Library of Congress, prompts the questions why Jefferson purchased this book, what use he made of it, and why he included it in his young nation’s repository of knowledge. These questions are all the more pertinent in light of assertions by some present-day commentators that Jefferson purchased his Qur’an in the 1780’s in response to conflict between the us and the “Barbary states” of North Africa—today Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. That was a conflict Jefferson followed closely— indeed, in 1786, he helped negotiate a treaty with Morocco, the United States’ first treaty with a foreign power. Then, it was relations with Algeria that were the most nettlesome, as its ruler demanded the payment of tribute in return for ending semiofficial piracy of American merchant shipping. Jefferson staunchly opposed tribute payment. In this context, such popular accounts claim, Jefferson was studying the Qur’an to better understand these adversaries, in keeping with the adage “know thy enemy.” However, when we look more closely at the place of this copy of the Qur’an in Jefferson’s library—and in his thinking— and when we examine the context of this particular translation, we see a different story. From his youth, Thomas Jefferson read and collected a great number of books… The collection he eventually sold to the Library of Congress comprised 6487 volumes… Jefferson not only cataloged his books but also marked them. The initials “T.J.” were Thomas Jefferson’s device for marking his books: On this page, the “T.” is the printer’s mark to help the binder keep each 16-page “gathering” in sequence, and the “J.” was added personally by Jefferson.It is his singular way of marking his books that makes it possible to establish that, among the millions of volumes in today’s Library of Congress, this one specific Qur’an did indeed belong to him. Jefferson’s system of cataloging his library sheds light on the place the Qur’an held in his thinking. Jefferson’s 44-category classification scheme was much informed by the work of Francis Bacon (1561-1626), whose professional trajectory from lawyer to statesman to philosopher roughly prefigures Jefferson’s own career. According to Bacon, the human mind comprises three faculties: memory, reason and imagination. This trinity is reflected in Jefferson’s library, which he organized into history, philosophy and fine arts. Each of these contained subcategories: philosophy, for instance, was divided into moral and mathematical; continuing along the former branch leads to the subdivision of ethics and jurisprudence, which itself was further segmented into the categories of religious, municipal and “oeconomical.” Jefferson’s system for organizing his library has often been described as a “blueprint of his own mind.” Jefferson kept his Qur’an in the section on religion, located between a book on the myths and gods of antiquity and a copy of the Old Testament. It is illuminating to note that Jefferson did not class religious works with books on history or ethics—as might perhaps be expected—but that he regarded their proper place to be within jurisprudence. Jefferson organized his own library, and he shelved religious books, including his English version of the Qur’an, with other works under “Jurisprudence,” which fell under “Moral Philosophy. “The story of Jefferson’s purchase of the Qur’ helps to explain this classification. Sifting through the records of the Virginia Gazette, through which Jefferson ordered many of his books, the scholar Frank Dewey discovered that Jefferson bought this copy of the Qur’an around 1765, when he was still a student of law at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. This quickly refutes the notion that Jefferson’s interest in Islam came in response to the Barbary threat to shipping. Instead, it situates his interest in the Qur’an in the context of his legal studies—a conclusion that is consistent with his shelving of it in the section on jurisprudence. Jefferson’s legal interest in the Qur’an was not without precedent. There is of course the entire Islamic juridical tradition of religious law (Shari’ah) based on Qur’anic exegesis, but Jefferson had an example at hand that was closer to his own tradition: The standard work on comparative law during his time was Of the Law of Nature and Nations, written by the German scholar Samuel von Pufendorf and first published in 1672. As Dewey shows, Jefferson studied Pufendorf’s treatise intensively and, in his own legal writings, cited it more frequently than any other text. Pufendorf’s book contains numerous references to Islam and to the Qur’an. Although many of these were disparaging—typical for European works of the period—on other occasions Pufendorf cited Qur’anic legal precedents approvingly, including the Qur’an’s emphasis on promoting moral behavior, its proscription of games of chance and its admonition to make peace between warring countries. As Kevin Hayes, another eminent Jefferson scholar, writes: “Wanting to broaden his legal studies as much as possible, Jefferson found the Qur’an well worth his attention.” “We the General Assembly of Virginia do enact that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities”(From the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, ratified 1786;drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1777). In his reading of the Qur’an as a law book, Jefferson was aided by a relatively new English translation that was not only technically superior to earlier attempts, but also produced
The Islamic Bulletin Volume XX No. 26 Page 5 with a sensitivity that was not unlike Jefferson’s own emerging attitudes. Entitled The Koran; commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed, it was prepared by the Englishman George Sale and published in 1734 in London. A second edition was printed in 1764, and it was this edition that Jefferson bought. Like Jefferson, Sale was a lawyer, although his heart lay in oriental scholarship. In the preface to his translation, he lamented that the work “was carried on at leisure time only, and amidst the necessary avocations of a troublesome profession.” This preface also informed the reader of Sale’s motives: “If the religious and civil Institutions of foreign nations are worth our knowledge, those of Mohammed, the lawgiver of the Arabians, and founder of an empire which in less than a century spread itself over a greater part of the world than the Romans were ever masters of, must needs be so.” Like Pufendorf, Sale stressed Muhammad’s role as a “lawgiver” and the Qur’an as an example of a distinct legal tradition. This is not to say that Sale’s translation is free of the kind of prejudices against Muslims that characterize most European works on Islam of this period. However, Sale did not stoop to the kinds of affronts that tend to fill the pages of earlier such attempts at translation. To the contrary, Sale felt himself obliged to treat “with common decency, and even to approve such particulars as seemed to me to deserve approbation.” In keeping with this commitment, Sale described the Prophet of Islam as “richly furnished with personal endowments, beautiful in person, of a subtle wit, agreeable behaviour, showing liberality to the poor, courtesy to everyone, fortitude against his enemies, and, above all, a high reverence for the name of God.” This portrayal is markedly different from those of earlier translators, whose primary motive was to assert the superiority of Christianity. In addition to the relative liberality of Sale’s approach, he also surpassed earlier writers in the quality of his translation. Previous English versions of the Qur’an were not based on the original Arabic, but rather on Latin or French versions, a process that layered fresh mistakes upon the errors of their sources. Sale, by contrast, worked from the Arabic text. It was not true, as Voltaire claimed in his famous Dictionnaire philosophique of 1764, that le savant Sale had acquired his Arabic skills by having lived for 25 years among Arabs; rather, Sale had learnt the language through his involvement in preparing an Arabic translation of the New Testament to be used by Syrian Christians, a project that was underwritten by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge in London. Studying alongside Arab scholars who had come to London to assist in this work, he acquired within a few years such good command of the language that he was able to serve as a proofreader of the Arabic text. “In this Qur’an, We have put forward all kinds of illustrations for people, so that they may take heed—an Arabic Qur’an, free from any distortion.” That quotation from Surah 39, Verses 27-28, of the Qur’an was rendered into English by Muhammad A. S. Abdel Haleem, Professor of Islamic Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. It emphasizes a basic yet far-reaching fact about the holy book of Islam: It was received and recorded in the Arabic language. Muslims believe that the Qur’an is inseparable from the language in which it was revealed, and for this reason, all Muslims worldwide recite it in Arabic, even though today the vast majority of Muslims are neither Arabs nor native speakers of Arabic. Many Muslims also regard the eloquence of the Qur’an as evidence of its divine provenance. A popular story recounts how, in the time of Muhammad, the most famous poet of Makkah converted to Islam after reading one of its verses, convinced that no human could ever produce a work of such beauty. Sale turned from translating the holy text of Christians into Arabic to rendering the holy text of Muslims into his native English. Noting the absence of a reliable English translation, he aimed to provide a “more genuine idea of the original.” Lest his readers be unduly daunted, he justified his choice of fidelity to the original by stating that “we must not expect to read a version of so extraordinary a book with the same ease and pleasure as a modern composition.” Indeed, even though Sale’s English may appear overwrought today, there is no denying that he strove to convey some of the beauty and poetry of the original Arabic. An inscription inside the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. quotes Jefferson’s 1777 statute on religious pluralism that inspired the constitutional right that “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust.” Sale’s aspiration to provide an accurate rendition of the Qur’an was matched by his desire also to provide his readers with a more honest introduction to Islam. This “Preliminary Discourse,” as he entitled it, runs to more than 200 pages in the edition Jefferson purchased. But did reading the Qur’an influence Thomas Jefferson? That question is difficult to answer, because the few scattered references he made to it in his writings do not reveal his views. Though it may have sparked in him a desire to learn the Arabic language (during the 1770’s Jefferson purchased a number of Arabic grammars), it is far more significant that it may have reinforced his commitment to religious freedom. Two examples support this idea. In 1777, the year after he drafted the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was tasked with excising colonial legacies from Virginia’s legal code. As part of this undertaking, he drafted a bill for the establishment of religious freedom, which was enacted in 1786. In his autobiography, Jefferson recounted his strong desire that the bill not only should extend to Christians of all denominations but should also include “within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan [Muslim], the Hindoo, and infidel of every denomination.” This all-encompassing attitude to religious pluralism was by no means universally shared by Jefferson’s contemporaries. As the historian Robert Allison documents, many American writers and statesmen in the late 18th century made reference to Islam for less salutary aims. Armed with tendentious translations and often grossly distorted accounts, they portrayed Islam as embodying the very dangers of tyranny and despotism that the young republic had just overcome. Allison argues that many American politicians who used “the Muslim world as a reference point for their own society were not concerned with historical truth or with an accurate description of Islam, but rather with this description’s political convenience.” “The style of the Koran is generally beautiful and fluent, especially where it imitates the prophetic manner, and scripture phrases. It is concise, and often obscure, adorned with bold figures after the eastern taste, enlivened with florid and Continued on page 25
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X No. 26 Page 6 I came to the United States from the Middle East in the 70’s. I already had two of my brothers living in America so naturally I wanted to join them and live ‘the good life.” I remember being so excited that I would have a chance to make it rich; unlike the simple, poor life that I had been accustomed to. I come from a large family and although there was much love and happiness in the home, I was young and wanted the wealth to buy material things. So, I came to Denver, Colorado and worked hard and saved my money. I eventually opened a big night club in Denver called Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves. I was on top of the world with my new business. I excitedly remodeled my nightclub, spending a great deal of money to include a huge dance floor, a stage for belly dancing, a bar, and a restaurant. Business was doing very well and my nightclub attracted many people from the Middle East. Once, a very wealthy Middle Eastern was organizing a private party and requested that Nagwa Fouad, a popular Egyptian singer, be brought over to perform for him. I told him he must be crazy; that would take a lot of money to do that. He told me that money was no object and that he would pay to see this singer perform live. Sure enough she, along with her entire group which consisted of 12 dancers, 35 musicians and singers, a choreographer, a costume designer, and a makeup stylist/hairdresser were brought from Egypt for this one grand party. To be perfectly honest, I was quite happy with my lavish lifestyle. I was married, happy, and making a very good living. I was not thinking about my Islamic responsibilities, nor was I thinking about what I should be doing to gain Allah’s pleasure. So, I was going about my busy life preparing for another evening at my nightclub. To my shock, a group of men, who were all dressed in long, Islamic-styled clothing, came into my nightclub. Even though they didn’t look like the kind who would come to a nightclub, I told them that the club wasn’t opened yet and to come back later. They told me that they did not want to come to the nightclub but instead were here to see and talk to me. I couldn’t imagine what they had wanted to speak to me about; there was nothing I wanted to talk to them about. Who told them about me or how they came to know of me was anyone’s guess. Anyway, they came to my night club and I was literally shocked. It was the first time I had encountered men dressed in long, white flowing robes. I mean, this was America, not the Middle East. The way they were dressed was overwhelming. And they came with a strong message. Of course they spoke to me about Islam, a Muslim’s duties to Islam, the importance of prayer, etc. Although all of the Brothers were so inviting and kind, I really did not feel comfortable talking to them. I mean, I knew what they wanted to talk to me about and I really did not want to listen. I remember one brother, Sheikh Mabruk, Allah Yarhamhu (May Allah have mercy on his soul), who did most of the talking. Anyways, he could tell that I was a bit uncomfortable so he invited me to go to the masjid with them. I said fine, that after closing tonight, I would meet them there. Frankly, I really didn’t want them hanging around the nightclub because I thought it wouldn’t be very good for customers to see these guys hanging around the place. I didn’t want these guys ruining my business. After closing the nightclub at 3 or 3:30 am, like I had promised, I went straight to the masjid, which was not a masjid but a small house. I didn’t think anyone would be awake. When I walked in the room, I remember seeing Sheikh Mabruk reading a book. When I said “Assalamu Alaikum,” he got scared and dropped his book. Sheikh Mabruk was so happy to see me; he hugged me. He made tea for me and we proceeded to drink tea and talk about many things. Soon it was time for Fajr salah. He did not ask me to join the salah, but instead told me to finish drinking my tea and that he would come back to join me after salah. Sheikh Mabruk led the prayer and about 20 people came to pray. I still remember the first ayah which was read many years ago: “Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (Ouran 25:70) I had never experienced anything like it before. In front of me, I saw a restroom and made wudu. I then joined the prayer. In the second rakat, the ayah was so powerful: Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Quran 39:53) When the Sheikh finished his salah, he saw that I had prayed. A big smile came across his face. I too felt very good inside. After so many years, this was the first time I prayed. As I was driving home, I was pondering over what had happened. Tears began streaming down my face. I went home and tried to go to sleep but I was still thinking. This experience left a huge imprint on my life. My passion for my business had begun to diminish. I no longer was feeling the same drive that I had once felt and I had begun to lose interest. I felt heaviness in my heart and a nagging feeling of different emotions, like sadness, guilt, and anxiety. My wife saw me in this distressing condition and she thought I was sick. Probably the most shocking was that I no longer was interested in ways on how to boost my business. For example, I used to have a Happy Hour in my nightclub, typically in the late afternoon between 4 PM and 7 PM; I no longer wanted to go. I had also been the one who was always in charge of everything at the nightclub. From making sure the speakers were working, the lighting was all set, the stage was looking good, the music was ready, the dancers well versed, I was the one who made sure that everything was running on schedule. I no longer enjoyed my work, nor did I feel in the mood to even show up at work. About two weeks after that visit to the mosque, I was in my nightclub staring out the window. The restaurant was slow that afternoon and there were only a few who were dining on lunch. Suddenly, I see 20 police cars surrounding my place. They rushed in and what seemed like a matter of seconds, the police officers handcuff two the men, arrest them, and take their briefcases. I was in shock as to what was happening before my MUSLIMS FINDING ISLAM IN AMERICA
The Islamic Bulletin Volume XX No. 26 Page 7 eyes. Later, I learn that one of the men had 2.5 million dollars in cash in his briefcase and the other had almost the same amount in heroin. During the 80’s, this was one of the biggest drug busts ever. The police then asked for the owner of the club. I told them that I was the owner, all the while scared to think of what was going to happen next. The police then ordered me to come with them. They informed me that my nightclub had to be permanently closed. Everything after this was happening like one big blur. I had to go to court and try to keep my nightclub opened. No matter how hard I tried, though, Allah always knows better. He knew that I was ready to make a change and lead my life as a practicing Muslim. As it says in the Holy Quran, “But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you know not.” (Quran 2:216) During this time, Brother Mabruk and the others still came to visit me. And I had begun frequenting the masjid more often. I still would not say that I was a perfect Muslim, but I was getting better. Occasionally I would accompany the brothers when they went to visit other Muslims. Once, I accompanied Sheikh Mabruk and a few other brothers who went to visit a Muslim grocery store owner. That day, the grocery owner, who was apparently in a bad mood, lost his temper and said, “Why are you bothering me?” and spit in Sheikh Mabruk’s face. I was so mad, I wanted to punch him. But the sheikh held me back and cleaned the spit with his hand. He did not use a napkin. The Sheikh told the owner Jazakullah khair that Allah has blessed me with a brother who has ‘la illahah illalah’ in his heart and we left. Those words had actually had an impact on me. It was heart whelming to actually see and witness how important it is for Muslims to visit and remind other Muslims of the importance of salah and other Islamic duties. My life changed after that visit. You can never know what simple act you may do that will affect another person’s life. Sheikh Mabruk had the best personality; I have never met a person who had such qualities like him. In fact, whenever I hear stories of the Sahabah, I always think of him. When we returned to the masjid I was still mad. I saw the Sheikh making dua, and was thinking to myself, “Good, the Sheikh is making dua that the man’s grocery business fails or something terrible.” At maghrib time, the store owner came and was looking for Sheikh Mabruk. When I saw him, my blood was boiling. I said this is my chance to take care of him, but Sheikh Mabruk stopped me. What happened next made me realize that there is hope for each of us. The man kissed the Sheikh’s head and told him to please forgive him for what he did. The Sheikh told the grocery owner that he had been making dua for his guidance. As the grocery owner was leaving, he could not find his shoes. Sheikh Mabruk found them, then bent down and placed them on the man’s feet. What a beautiful thing that happened before my eyes. To make a long story short, the grocery owner sold his business and moved to Toronto. He now lives a very pious and religious life. How I began joining and traveling around with these brothers to give dawah was purely accidental. Once I went to the masjid to offer my salah. Visiting there was a group of brothers from Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Mabruk was there, too, along with some of the local brothers. He told me that they were spending forty days traveling around the United States. Traveling around doing what, I asked? He explained to me that these brothers came from Saudi Arabia to help remind the Muslims of their Islamic responsibilities. All the way from Saudi Arabia, I thought. Now, that was a bit silly. I’m sure they could have found people a lot closer to have done that. Anyways, was there even a need to do this? Wow, what a serious waste of time, money, and loss of work. Something I would never do. Sheikh Mabruk said to me, “Why don’t you spend time with them?” I told the sheikh, “There is no way I can spend forty days.” He said that they needed brothers to help drive so how about 3 days. They were going to travel from Denver to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and then San Francisco. So I told him that I would drive these brothers a portion of the trip, to Las Vegas. My hope was that after driving them, I would stop and do a little gambling. My intention was not to spend time with them but to gamble. I called my wife and told her that I would be gone for about 3 days—that I would be driving a group of brothers to Las Vegas. To my surprise, she was fine with it. On our way from Denver, one brother sitting behind me was reading Surat Yasin from the Quran the entire way. After arriving in Las Vegas, we prayed fajr, ate breakfast, and rested in the masjid. At dhuhr time, one of the local brothers came and invited us to rest in a room of a local motel. The owner was a Muslim and he had a motel connected to a small casino. Many of the customers were Middle Eastern. Many times, Muslims have forgotten Islam. I sincerely and wholeheartedly wish hedayah would come to every Muslim. I wish that Muslims would realize the Power of Allah, the connection that one could have with Allah and the feeling of imam (faith) in his/her heart. This is something that every Muslim needs. As practicing Muslims, we should also be well-wishers for the entire humanity. As Muslims, more than anybody else, we should realize that they have a treasure in their hands (Islam) and they should take advantage of it. So, I went with two of the brothers to visit the Muslims in the casino. Before going in, one of the brothers told me to listen only. Since I was new, and not knowing what to do, I just stood there watching and listening. I was so involved watching a man gamble, I had not noticed that the brothers had moved on to talk to another person. Anyways, while watching this man play cards, the dealer dealt an initial hand of two cards and the guy I was standing behind had a total of 16, so I told him nam nam (stand), “Take no more cards.” He turned and looked at me; I was wearing a white thobe like the rest of the brothers. So he told the dealer, “One more card.” He ended up losing. I told him, “Didn’t I tell you ‘nam nam’?” The man played another turn and took 2 cards. This time his total was 15. So I told him “Take another card,” but he refused and would not take another card. His next card was a two. He ended up losing to the dealer. So I asked him, “Why didn’t you listen to me?” He said, “La hawla wa qwata illa billah. ” (Expression said by a Muslim when he is struck with ““Are you a Are you a sheikh or a professional gambler?”
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X No. 26 Page 8 calamity, or is taken over by a situation beyond his control). The man asked me, “Are you a sheikh or a professional gambler?” So I told him, “Do you want to win?” He answered “yes.” So I said, “Come and talk to 2 brothers about Islam. Then I swear to you that you will come back and win.” Instead of telling this man that gambling is prohibited in Islam, I’m telling him to go back in and he will win. The man then joked with me that whatever place I play at, he will make sure to not play against me. When I think about my early days and how far I have come in my religion, sometimes I blush from embarrassment. After returning to our room, some of the brothers had prepared lunch for the entire group. Another brother brought me coffee the way I liked it, with a splash of milk. They told me that I had a long drive back to Denver, so they wanted to make sure that I ate well. It was at this moment that I felt a complete change in my entire being—a feeling of humbleness engulfed me. I went outside, called my wife and told her I was going to spend 40 days with the brothers. When the brothers wanted to see me off, I told them I wanted to spend forty days with them. They were very happy about this and I had a different intention before I came to Las Vegas, but subhanallah it changed. We continued on our journey; stopping in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and beautiful San Francisco. I started growing a beard, and the brothers commented that my face had so much light. My entire life changed because of these 40 days spent. I now felt peace and tranquility. When I came back home, my wife was surprised by how I looked, for I had grown a beard. But even more surprising than that were my actions. She couldn’t believe that I had changed so dramatically. I was a better husband, more compassionate and caring. After returning home to Denver, there was a group of brothers who were planning to spend 4 months abroad, visiting India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They asked me to join them. I was a bit hesitant, not knowing what to expect, but after discussing it with my wife, we both agreed that it was something good for me to do. So, I spent the next 4 months of my life visiting Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. These were the best 4 months of my life! I was able to work on perfecting my Islamic qualities and especially becoming punctual with my salah. This was also the time that I reflected on my purpose of life and I became more God-conscious. The atmosphere allowed me to become a better Muslim; all the while contemplating on ways to become a better husband and father. In addition, the Islamic environment enabled me to totally work on bettering myself, listening to the lectures of the different scholars, and very importantly, sharing, talking and learning from my fellow Muslim brothers. The time that I was spending abroad was whizzing by and I had a lot of things to learn. Even though I was aware of many things before, I never really understood my Islamic duties nor did I realize that we, as Muslims, are responsible for the entire Ummah. Looking back on my life, I am thankful to Allah (SWT) that He has blessed me with His Guidance. For without Allah, we are nothing. After returning from my trip, I became even more successful in business. My two brothers became my business partners and Allah has blessed us with a successful and halal business. Guidance has also come to my two brothers; one of them became more religious than all of us. Alhamdullilah. Since I took Islam back, I feel like Allah (Suhanahu wa Ta’ala – Who is High and Glorious) is in control of my life…. my life feels in control again. I feel like I have Allah’s (Suhanahu wa Ta’ala) help now. It has been many years now since I’ve found my way back to Islam. Sometimes when people are born Muslim, we tend to take it for granted everything that Islam has to offer. When I now read different stories of converts and how they came to Islam, I get very touched by their stories. There are so many Muslims today who do not realize the beauty and peacefulness of this religion. We are so eager to search elsewhere and find happiness in other things—whether it be friends, partying, music, drinking, etc. Sometimes it takes something very small; in my case a much needed ‘wake-up’ call from some Muslim brothers who really cared about helping and reaching out to their Muslim community. Instead of division into separate groups, we should remember that we are all one Muslim Ummah (community). Each of us has a responsibility of reviving the effort of the Prophet Mohammed (SAW) and reminding the Muslims of their responsibilities and good qualities. That is why when I am now asked to give motivational talks to our Muslim youth, my message to them is to “fear Allah”. By choosing to practice a non-Muslim lifestyle, you are setting a bad example for Islam and Muslims. If the lifestyle you are living is an un-Islamic one, you are paying the price of hurting not just your own life, but you are also paying the price of blocking the hedayah for non-Muslims in this country. Living my life as an American, I feel obligated to stand up for Islam, and I would hope that other Muslims feel the same way, too. In a Muslim country you are able to kick back; you are a spectator, rather than a person who wants to take charge of things and take the initiative. America has been a blessing from day one. It gives us freedom of religion, and freedom to practice Islam and to prosper in Islam. America was created by immigrants from Europe who had escaped religious persecution. This is the same scenario for many of the Muslims in America today. They also had to escape their Muslim countries because of fear and persecution. And they found opportunity, compassion, and acceptance in America. To me, there is no such thing as a foreign country or this and that…everything is created by Allah and everything belongs to Allah. So it is not an ownership, nor a citizenship; wherever I land as a Muslim, it is my country and I work and strive to make a positive difference. I hope that September 11th has not changed that and that there is not a backlash; I hope that it doesn’t change the compassion that this country has. It is important for every Muslim to do their share to spread peace, love, and compassion in the world. Remember the words of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Remember the kindness that one should have towards human beings and all living things. Every Muslim, regardless of where they are, should carry this message. I cannot conclude my story if I do not give full credit to where credit is due. Of course, nothing happens without the will of Allah. And I know that Allah is the best of planners. However, I am also indebted to Sheikh Mabruk (May Allah have mercy on his soul) who so tirelessly and patiently affected so many Muslims lives. I for one would not be the Muslim man I am today without his efforts (and other brothers such as him). It had always been his dream to be buried in Medina. While performing the Hajj, Sheikh Mabruk died in Mecca and was buried in Medina. May Allah have mercy on him. BY CHOOSING TO PRACTICE A NONMUSLIM LIFESTYLE, YOU ARE SETTING A BAD EXAMPLE FOR ISLAM AND MUSLIMS.
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X No. 26 Page 32 “Wisdom In Islam” encompasses in its radiant words the true goals that all of us must strive for. Its bounty of mercy, forgiveness and guidance is stunning in its clarity. Imagine using this wonderful guidance on a regular basis? It is important to endeavor to practice and then to invite others to practice these beautiful words of wisdom. A Bedouin came one day to the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) and said to him,”O, Messenger of Allah! I’ve come to ask you a few questions about the affairs of this life and the Hereafter.” Ask what you wish. -I’d like to be the most learned of men. Fear Allah, and you will be the most learned of men. -I wish to be the richest man in the world. Be contented, and you will be the richest man in the world. -I’d like to be the most just of men. Desire for others what you desire for yourself, and you will be the most just of men. -I want to be the best of men. Do good to others and you will be the best of men. - I wish to be the most favored by Allah. Engage much in Allah’s praise, and you will be most favored by Him. -I’d like to complete my faith. If you have good manners you will complete your faith. -I wish to be among those who do good. Adore Allah as if you see Him. If you don’t see Him, He sees you. In this way you will be among those who do good. -I wish to be obedient to Allah. If you observe Allah’s commands you will be obedient. -I’d like to be free from all sins. Bathe yourself from impurities and you will be free from all sins. -I’d like to be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light. Don’t wrong yourself or any other creature, and you will be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light. -I’d like Allah to bestow His mercy on me. If you have mercy on yourself and on others, Allah will grant you mercy on the Day of Judgment. -I’d like my sins to be very few. If you seek the forgiveness of Allah as much as you can; your sins will be very few. -I’d like to be the most honorable man. If you do not complain to any fellow creature, you will be the most honorable of men. -I’d like to be the strongest of men. If you put your trust in Allah, you be the strongest of men. -I’d like to enlarge my provision. If you keep yourself pure, Allah will enlarge your provision. -I’d like to be loved by Allah and His messenger. If you love what Allah and His messenger love you will be among their beloved ones. -I wish to be safe from Allah’s wrath on the Day of Judgment. If you do not lose your temper with any of your fellow creatures, you will be safe from the wrath of Allah on the Day of Judgment. -What will save me from sins? Tears, humility and illness. -What are the best deeds in the eyes of Allah? Gentle manners, modesty and patience. -What are the worst evils in the eyes of Allah? Hot temper and miserliness. -What assuages the wrath of Allah in this life and in the Hereafter? Concealed charity and kindness to relatives. -What extinguishes hell’s fires on the Day of Judgment? Patience in adversity and misfortunes. “I have never heard a tradition more comprehensive of the beauties of religion, and more beneficial than this hadith. It collects all the good things of Islam.” (Related by Imam Ibn Hambal). The Islamic Bulletin www.islamicbulletin.com THE WISDOM IN ISLAM
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