THE ISLAMIC BULLETIN VOL. XXII, NO. 27 IN THIS ISSUE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ............................. 2 HOW TO EXCEL THIS RAMADAN.................. 3 LOOKING INTO YOUR HEART ...................... 4 FOUR YEARS IN PRISON........................................ 6 ANGER ................................................... 7 HABITS FOR SUCCESSFUL MUSLIM YOUTH...... 8 HOW I EMBRACED ISLAM ........................... 10 SHED CRAZY FROM YOUR LIFE .................... 12 PROPHET ZAKARIYA (AS) ............................ 14 REMINDER FROM THE ISLAMIC BULLETIN STAFF .... 14 EVERY DAY DUAS ”PULL OUT” SPECIAL ............. 15 SUPPLICATIONS AFTER PRAYER...................... 19 ONE PAGE HAJJ GUIDE.............................. 20 CALIFORNIA PRAYER LOCATIONS................... 23 PRAYER TIMES FOR THE BAY AREA................ 25 NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION.................... 27 THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN HISTORY.. 19 COOK’S CORNER ...................................... 30 KID’S CORNER-EID CARDS, GAMES ................ 31 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 Dear Readers, The Islamic Bulletin is celebrating another year of providing uplifting and inspirational news and information to Muslims throughout the world. We are happy to be publishing an issue just in time for Ramadan. As we fast, the long and hot days of summer are truly a test of our strength and devotion to Allah. Just as fasting was strenuous for Muslims who lived before us, there is indeed a most wonderful reward for the believers who obey Allah (SWT). Salman Al Farsi (R) reports: “On the last day of Sha’baan, the Messenger of Allah (S) addressed us and said: “O people, there comes upon you now a great month, a most blessed month, in which lies a night greater in worth than one thousand months. It is a month in which Allah has made compulsory that the fasting should be observed by day; and He (SWT) has made the Taraweeh by night a Sunnah. Whosoever tries drawing nearer to Allah by performing any virtuous deed in this month, for him shall be such reward as if he had performed a Fardh (obligatory observance) in any other time of the year. And whoever performs a fardh, for him shall be the reward of seventy fardh in any other time of the year. This is indeed the month of patience, and the reward for true patience is Jannah (paradise); it is the month of sympathy with one’s fellowmen; it is the month wherein a true believer’s rizq (provisions) is increased. Whosoever feeds a fasting person in order to break the fast (at sunset), for him there shall be forgiveness of his sins and emancipation from the fire of Jahannam (hell), and for him shall be the same reward as for him (whom he fed), without that person’s reward being diminished in the least.” In this issue of the Islamic Bulletin, there are many wonderful and heart whelming stories, such as how a person’s heart can be changed in the story of Arnoud Van Doon in Letters to the Editor. There is also the inspiring story of Prophet Zakariya (AS), who remained steadfast and never gave up hope in asking Allah for an offspring. Another beautiful and touching article is about the human body’s miraculous heart—created and perfected so perfectly by Allah. Included in this issue is a pull-out section of everyday dua’s—made easy for you to memorize. There is also a Hajj pullout for those readers who are intending to make the Hajj. And our personal favorite are the sayings of our Holy Prophet (S), uttered more than 1400 years ago, yet remain ever-so powerful, beneficial and heart-felt today as they did then. Inshallah, we at The Islamic Bulletin pray that our readers have a most blessed and peaceful Ramadan. We also ask Allah to accept our fasting this Ramadan and forgive us of our sins and shortcomings and most importantly, grant us Paradise. Ameen. Wishing you peace and blessing always, The Islamic Bulletin Staff
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X II No. 27 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, AssalamuAlaikum, I heard that Arnoud Van Doorn, who was one of the men involved in the Dutch movie that made fun of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S) became Muslim. Is this true? Or is this another fake story going around? JAK, Muhammad Abdul-Azeez Assalamu Alaikum Brother, Subhanallah and Allahu Akbar! Allah (SWT) has indeed placed the seed of Imam into the heart of Brother Doorn. In fact, the Saudi Gazette has written and published an article, “ I am sorry, O Prophet....” on the conversion of Arnoud Van Doorn. I have attached the article for you to read. When this blasphemous movie was being distributed throughout the world, how many Muslims made dua for any of the producers of this film? I found it very interesting that when the Muslims conquered Makkah more than 1400 years ago, it is recorded that when entereing his beloved city, our Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (S) head was hung low due to complete humbleness and humility; in praise and respectfullness of his Creator, to thank Him for his peaceful victory. Although this was a huge victory for the Muslims, he (S) showed no pride or joy in this triumph. The Prophet’s (S) life should be greatly reflected upon so that both Muslims and non-Muslims may understand the lessons that it teaches to society. The reality of life as human beings is that people can change. This teaches Muslims to always be faithful to Allah and be aware that the All-Mighty is the One who can give victory and loss. So Muslims should remember his Creator in all humility, just like the Prophet (pbuh) did. The greatest lesson we can learn from this story is forgiveness and that it is a valuable means of achieving peace. Salams, The Islamic Bulletin Staff “ I am sorry, O Prophet....” Dutch politician Geert Wilders’ party Arnoud Van Doorn visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah to pray and say sorry for becoming part of a blasphemous film. Doorn was among the Freedom Party leaders who produced the blasphemous film, Fitna. Last month he reverted to Islam after an extensive study about the religion and the Prophet (peace be upon him). He said that the worldwide outrage against the film made him study about the Prophet (pbuh) and that eventually led to his conversion. He headed for Makkah to perform Umrah after meeting the two imams of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Ali Al-Hudaifi and Sheikh Salah Al-Badar, who enlightened him on how to lead the life of a good Muslim. A member of the Dutch parliament and The Hague City Council, Doorn announced his decision to accept Islam on his Twitter profile. He also posted a tweet in Arabic declaring that “there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet.” At first, other users took the news as a joke. After all, an active supporter of a notorious Dutch hater of Islam, Wilders, he repeatedly approved Islamophobic statements and public actions, and personally participated in them. But Doorn, who now serves as a regional adviser at the City Hall in The Hague, personally confirmed his decision to practice Islam in an official letter to the city mayor. Most recently, the politician filed a formal application to the mayor of the city to allow him to perform prayers obligatory for Muslims during his working hours. “I can understand people are skeptic, especially that it is unexpected for many of them,” Doorn told Al-Jazeera English satellite channel. “This is a very big decision, which I have not taken lightly.” “In my own close circle people have known that I have been actively researching the Qur’an, Hadith, Sunnah and other writings for almost a year now,” he said. “In addition, I have had numerous conversations with Muslims about the religion.” Driven by his party’s anti-Islam discourse, Doorn decided to dig in for the truth about the religion himself. “I have heard so many negative stories about Islam, but I am not a person who follows opinions of others without doing my own research,” he said. “Therefore, I have actually started to deepen my knowledge of Islam out of curiosity.” The 46-year-old has continued on The Hague Council as an independent candidate since splitting from Wilders’s party. Doorn’s decision to embrace Islam has won mixed reactions in the Netherlands. “According to some people I am a traitor, but according to most others I have actually made a very good decision,” he told AlJazeera. “The reactions are generally positive and I also received quite some support via twitter. “It feels good that people who do not know me personally have understanding of my situation and support me in my choice.” Asked if he now regretted joining the Freedom Party, he replied: “I have learned that every experience in life has a purpose. However, with the knowledge I have today, I would have undoubtedly made a different choice.” For the Dutch politician, finding Islam was finally guiding him to the true path in his life. “I have made mistakes in life as many others. From these mistakes I have learned a lot,” Doorn said. “And by my conversion to Islam I have the feeling that I finally found my path. I realize that this is a new start and that I still have much to learn as well.”
The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXII No. 27 Page 3 Ramadan is truly a gift, a blessing from Allah during which the doors of Jannah (Paradise) are open while the doors of Jahannam (Hellfire) are closed. Ramadan gives us the opportunity to renew ourselves, recharge our iman, purify our hearts, and set our goals and priorities – to improve and excel insha’Allah. Ramadan is the time for us to redirect our focus to the akhirah, and join the race to Jannah, as reflected in the verse below: “And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the Muttaqeen (righteous). ” (Quran 3:133) So how can we can reap the benefits of this blessed time? How can we ensure that we come out of Ramadan more righteous and pious than we began? Here are some tips: Make the intention to change for the better in Ramadan. Decide which habits you would like to drop and which you would like to adopt. Be specific, ambitious and realistic. You may wish to keep the following categories in mind when it comes to forming habits or improving your acts of worship: prayer, charity, Quran, community work, family ties, dhikr, and dua. Start forming your good habits and increasing your good deeds from now. Be aware of distractions before or during Ramadan – turn off or minimize the TV, Facebook, and other social media. Prioritize your commitments so you can get the best out of the few days of Ramadan. Also remember Ramadan is not a month to spend all our time at elaborate iftar/dinner parties, but rather it is intended to be a month of worship and drawing closer to Allah (SWT). Maintain the intention that you will continue to do the good deeds and habits you began to do after Ramadan. In fact, continuing to do those good deeds is one of the indications that your good deeds have been accepted, Inshallah. If you do slip, just renew your intention and get back up and on track again! There are so many things that you could do to increase your connection at this time, from acts of worship to good deeds. Determine which deeds you need to begin to practice or improve on that will please Allah the most. Have a good look at your current practice and pick two or three areas to concentrate on during this month. It may be that you choose to look at your prayers; read the Qur’an; attend the mosque; give of your time, money or effort to assist others; or practice controlling your anger or your tongue from idle gossip and backbiting. Whatever two or three you choose, focus on perfecting them as much as you can during this month. This will help you to establish them as habits and make it easy to continue them after Ramadan has finished. What if you knew of a way that will ensure that all of your prayers are answered, that none of your Du’aas will be rejected and anything that you ask for will be granted? Wouldn’t you like to know what that way is? Wouldn’t you jump at the chance to avail that? So, how can we achieve all this and more? The answer to that isn’t anything secret or hidden. The answer has been there for ages. Actually, it has been there for the last 1400 years. We just didn’t look hard enough. We just didn’t pay much attention to it. It is what Allah (SWT) has promised His slaves every single day….every time he sits down to break his fast. The answer lies in the hadeeth of the Prophet (S) when he said: “Indeed the fasting person has at the time of breaking the fast a supplication, which is not rejected.” (lbn Majah, Saheeh) “Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father (parent), the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler.” (alBaihaqi, Saheeh) “There are in the month of Ramadan in every day and night those to whom Allah grants freedom from the Fire, and there is for every Muslim a supplication which he can make and will be granted.” [Ahmad, Saheeh] Allah answers the Du‘aa of the fasting person at Iftaar time. But, alas, most of us are either unaware of this great blessing of Allah or are too busy thinking about food at this time. Some of us are frying ‘samosas’ till the last minute, setting the table and preparing ‘hot’ food. Some are too busy talking, arguing about the exact time to break the fast, or watching television. Others may be reading, surfing the internet and some are even sleeping until after the Maghrib adhaan has been called! And some are busy filling up their plates even before the time to break the fast has entered! One of the greatest pieces of advice given by our Prophet (S) was: “The most beloved actions to Allah are those performed consistently, even if they are few.” (Sahih AlBukhari) During Ramadan, it’s very tempting to work hard on improving yourself and perform lots of extra acts of Ibadah, but how beneficial is that if once the month ends you slip back into your old pattern? There are some acts of worship, such as Tarawih and Zakat Al-Fitr that are specific to Ramadan, but everything else can be carried on afterwards. There’s no need to feel overwhelmed by Ramadan; decide to use the time in the best way you can to gain a positive spiritual result from this month. Keep in mind the purpose behind every act of worship or good deed that you do, concentrate on two or three priorities for the month, and then perform them with consistency. Inshallah doing this will help you achieve a positive spiritual result and bring you closer to Allah. HOW TO EXCEL THIS RAMADAN
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X II No. 27 Page 4 L Written by Sebatian R. Prange Photographed by Aasil Ahmad Before birth all human beings spend nine months in their mother’s wombs. At the beginning of its development, each human being consists of a tiny collection of cells just starting to divide and develop. One day, a small node of cells in the center of that assemblage receives a command and suddenly starts pulsating. All the other cells in the body lie quiet. But this group is in constant motion, and never stops for as long as the person will live. The embryonic heart begins during pregnancy, and works as a single pump for the embryo’s blood, which circulates only in the baby’s body and the placenta. After birth, however, since oxygen is inhaled directly by means of respiration, the embryonic heart needs to possess four chambers. This physiological dichotomy has been resolved thus: Two holes in the chambers of the heart enable blood to be retained in these chambers and the as-yet-undeveloped pulmonary veins are protected. When the baby takes its rst breath and begins crying, these holes automatically close and cease their function. This marvel of creation once again shows to us the awlessness of Allah’s creation. By beating an average of 70 times a minute, the heart moves blood around the body some 1,000 times a day. This means that blood visits every cell in the body 1,000 times a day, carries to them the necessary nutrients, gives oxygen and takes back carbon dioxide, repairs damage, makes good defects and collects wastes. Every cell in the body is “inspected” 1,000 times a day. The heart pumps 2,113 gallons of blood every day. The heart of an adult pumps 89 gallons of blood an hour even while sleeping. At that same rate, one could easily ll a car’s gas tank in just seven minutes. In one single day your heart can pump enough blood to ll a good sized oil truck. This magni cent pump works 24 hours a day for your entire lifetime without stopping. This extraordinary pump seldom misses a beat from its rhythm, and never goes wrong and becomes old. Every cell making up the heart is literally a living battery. It never loses its ability to pump blood throughout the body until the death of its owner. That is because this is an extraordinary miracle of Allah, who is able to create a superior artistry, awlessness, an incomparable balance and magni cent intelligence all at once. The heart is a piece of muscle the size of a st, consisting of water, fat and protein, but possessing a far more perfect and complex system than even the most advanced pump that has yet been developed by experts working with computers. This incomparable piece of esh is powerful enough to squirt blood 6 feet high into the air, and can determine the body’s needs and pump just as much blood as it requires. In a person at rest, the heart pumps just 1.057 to 1.585 gallons of blood a minute. That quantity is enough because the resting body’s cells don’t require too much oxygen. If someone is exercising, however, the need for oxygen rises, and it needs to be transmitted to the cells faster. The heart immediately identi es this need and begins beating faster. To see the perfection of these features of the heart, imagine a machine that pumps water at least once in a second, on an average of 65 to 70 times a minute. Let that water be carried to a hundred trillion homes every second by means of that pump, under the same pressure. At the same time, let that plant determine how much water each house needs and send the requisite amount to each one. In addition, make this system be able to function for at least 70 years, never develop the slightest defect, never rust, and never neglect a single pipeline leading to any of the homes in question. There is no doubt that the establishment of such a plant is impossible in a great many regards. Yet inside the body there is a network system incomparably more complex than this example. The vascular network, capable of reaching every cell in the body, is another proof that the body’s distribution system is awless and conscious. A machine that works at such high speed and to such an unchanging rhythm cannot last any longer than 10 or 15 years. Even before then, it will have to undergo maintenance many times to x any defects. It is impossible for such a machine to function for long years without any mistakes. It is totally illogical to claim that an ordinary piece of equipment can determine needs in houses, evaluate the situation and send the right amount of water where required. Never does it feel the need to stop for even a moment’s rest—not until the day when it receives the ultimate command to stop. Who establishes the cells that comprise you—and thus, this system that keeps you alive? And what have you done to ensure the existence of this circulatory system that maintains your very existence? There was absolutely nothing you could do to have formed such a system, because before you even opened your eyes, your body was prepared for you in a awless manner. For example, a perfect pair of eyes was created for you to be able to see your surroundings clearly. Although you had never encountered the air in the external world until the moment you were born and took your rst breath, the respiratory system that enables you to breathe was formed while you were still in your mother’s womb. You were born with a ready-made digestive system that would eventually digest foods of all kinds. Your body came with eyelids and lashes to protect your eyes from foreign bodies, and countless other such organs and distinctive features. Some persons argue that there’s no proof of any divine origin, there’s no truth that there is a God, there’s no truth that this universe has come about through any divine purpose. They say that perhaps this world has come about by chance. A big bang and this whole great world, with all of its orchestrations, just came together. They argue that life doesn’t have any de nite purpose, and there’s nothing that can be proven through either logic or science that there’s a God, or a purpose, or any divine reason behind this world. A few verses from the Quran address this subject: “Our Lord! You have not created all this without purpose, glory to You! Grant us salvation from the torment of the Fire.” (Quran 3: 190-191) Allah draws our attention that He has not created all of this for any foolish purpose. When you see the design of it, you know that the design of it is very powerful and very precise. And something very powerful and very precise that is beyond your own calculations and imagination; it cannot be foolish. It cannot be just thrown together. For instance, if you took ten marbles, and numbered then one through ten, and all LOOKING I NTO YOUR HEART
The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXII No. 27 Page 5 of them were different colors, and you put them inside of a bag, and shook the bag, and closing your eyes, reached inside that bag. And I told you to pull out marble number one and pull out marble number two and marble number three in order. What is the chance that you will pull out the ten marbles in order? Do you know what the chances are? 26 million in one. So what are the chances of the heaven and earth being thrown in a big bang; and orchestrated like they are. What’s the chance of that? We have to ask ourself a further question. When you see a bridge, or a building, or an automobile, you automatically consider the person or the company that constructed it. When you see an airplane, a rocket, or a satellite, or a large ship, you also think about how incredible an invention it is. When you see a nuclear plant, an orbiting space station, or a super international airport, you have to be thoroughly impressed with the engineering dynamic that are involved. Yet, these are just things that are manufactured by human beings. Then what about the human body; with its massive and intricate control systems? Think about it. Think about the brain; how it thinks, how it functions, how it analyses, how it stores information, retrieves information, distinguishes and categorizes information in a millionth of a second! And does it constantly. Think about the brain for more. This is the brain that made the automobile, the rocket ship, the boats, and so and so; think about the brain that makes everything. Think about your eyes. The human camera; that adjusts, focus, interprets, evaluates, applies color automatically; the natural reception and adjustment to light and distance. The eye is the world’s best camera. It can take flawless pictures and transfer them to the brain without any blurring. Six large powerful muscles control the eye and allow it to move in any desired direction. The focusing muscles of the eye move about 100,000 times a day. To give the leg muscles the same exercise would involve walking 50 miles a day. The delicate parts of this precision instrument are kept clean by the eyelids which act as window wipers. The retina can take ten different pictures each second or 800,000 pictures a day. You blink about 15 times a minute. Who created that? Who has mastered that? Who plans that? And who regulates that? Human beings? No of course not!! What about your eyes, your kidneys, your brain, your life, your breath, your children...what about that? Who gave you that? Is He not worthy of praise and thanks? Is He not worthy of your worship and recognition? Allah (SWT) has said to us in the Quran: ”I have not created the jinn, the spirits, nor the human beings, for any other purpose except to worship Me.” (Quran 51: 56) Our purpose in life is to recognize the Creator, to be grateful to the Creator, to worship the Creator, to surrender ourselves to the Ceator, and to obey the laws that He determined for us. In a nutshell, it means worship. This is our purpose in this life. What is the State of Your Heart? The Prophet (S) said, “Allah does not look at your outward appearance and your wealth, rather He looks at your hearts and deeds.” [Muslim] The Prophet (S) also said about your heart: “Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it be sound, all the body is sound and which, if it be diseased, all of it is diseased. Truly it is the heart.” [Al-Bukhari, Muslim] Sins have an effect on your heart; they can cause your heart to be sealed so that the light of knowledge does not reach it anymore and the word of Allah do not affect you anymore. There are many diseases we find in our hearts, like jealousy, envy, greed, lust, and showing off. Our aim should be to strive to purify our hearts and turn back to Allah with a sound heart. The Heart and the Mind When you say the word “Think!” most of us point to our heads, right? How many of us point to our hearts when we say “Think?” The Messenger of Allah (S) said, “Taqwa is here,” and he pointed to his chest. [Muslim] Subhanallah, one of the functions of the heart is ta’aqqul (understanding). Allah (SWT) gave us a heart to comprehend, to reflect, and to reason. Different Names for “Heart” in the Quran In the Quran, Allah (SWT) uses different words to describe the heart: qalb, fu’aad, and sadr. Qalb is the general word for heart and the root word means something that turns around, something that changes easily. When Allah (SWT) refers to emaan (faith) and the diseases of the heart, He uses the word qalb. Fu’aad comes from a root that means “burning” or a flame and is used when the heart is inflamed with emotion. A beautiful example is when Allah describes the state of the heart of the mother of Musa (A): “But there came to be a void in the heart (fu’aad) of the mother of Musa (Al-Qasas, 28:10) Imagine how her heart was inflamed with emotions while she put her newborn son into a river! Sadr means “chest.” When Allah (SWT) refers to secrets or motives, He uses the word sadr, like in Surah AlMulk: “He knows what is in every heart.” (Al-Mulk, 67:13) Subhanallah! Understanding and seeing the different word choices of the Quran open a door to a whole new world of meanings. Now the question is, what is your heart attached to? Is it attached to your house, money, favorite TV show, or to those special moments you spend with the Quran and reading about the Prophet? Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran: “…when the only one who will be saved is the one who comes before Allah with a heart devoted to Him.” (AshShu’ara, 26:89) How can you train your heart to become devoted and sound? First take this extremely important step and ask Allah by His beautiful names to purify your heart. He is Al-Wahhab (The Giver), so ask Him to give you a pure heart. He is AlQareeb (The Close One), so ask Him to make your heart close to Him. He is Al-Wadood (The Ever-Loving), so ask Him to fill your heart with love for Him. So let’s practice during the Holy month of Ramadan ways to make our hearts more devoted to Allah. With the Shaytaan chained during Ramadan, this month is the perfect time to make changes in our lives. Let us stop our bad traits this Ramadan and make a conscious decision to purify our hearts and our lives.
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X II No. 27 Page 6 Fear is a disease that consumes the soul of the one who embraces it. Man’s total capacity to fear is fixed: the more he fears one thing the less he fears another. People fear standing up to a tyrant because they are afraid of some harm that he ‘may’ cause them, even though that harm is limited to the life of this world. Such people have little or no fear for any harm that Allah will cause them in the Hereafter. However, if these same people were to fear the Day when they shall return to stand before the Lord of the Worlds, they would not fear any tyrant on the face of the Earth. “Do they fear them? Allah is more worthy for you to fear if you are indeed believers.” (Quran 9:13) We survive in life by wearing a variety of faces that disguise our true inner selves. We have one face for our families, a face for our friends, a face for our colleagues, and a face for strangers. Since we are always switching between faces others hardly get to see who we really are. Sometimes we ourselves forget who we are. The harsh reality of prison life relentlessly files away at your external faces and persona to reveal the true you. There are no secrets in prison. Sincerity, hypocrisy, bravery, cowardice, good, evil—all are laid bare. Prison brings out the best, and worst, in people. Prisoners undergo such a concentrated experience that they develop intensely deep personalities. We interact with each other heart-to-heart, not face-to-face. Our conversations frequently revolve around hope. No man, let alone a prisoner, can live without hope: hope that there is indeed a dawn at the end of this long, dark night. What else do you say to a man facing life in prison? People are like “metals.” Some people are like a cheap bracelet plated in gold: the smallest crisis files away the fake gold to reveal the cheap metal underneath. Others are like a gold bracelet covered in rust: hardship rubs away the rust to bring out the gold below to the surface. And a third type are solid gold, inside and out: calamity just polishes the gold so it sparkles from near and far. During the last four years I have personally witnessed the worst of men turn into the best of men. I have seen gangsters, drug barons, armed robbers and murderers, of all faiths and races, convert to Islam in prison. Only the true religion is able to cause genuine, lasting change in an individual in a short space of time. The first word revealed in the Quran was “Read!” There is no life without reading. Reading beneficial writing is one of those pleasures that makes you forget you are in prison. During the last four years in prison I have travelled back in time and all over the world. I have visited Jerusalem during the Crusades. I have lived in Muslim Spain. I have accompanied African slaves as they were kidnapped by European slave masters. I have shared in the suffering of the Native Indians in North America. And I have lived with leaders, hostages, death row inmates and journalists as their writing narrated to me their stories. Yet all of these writings amount to nothing compared to the one book that has helped me through my ordeal the most: the Glorious Quran. It is my breakfast, lunch and dinner. If I do not read my daily portion at dawn, my heart feels heavy by mid-morning. The Quran is not just a book that mentions stories which are centuries old: it is a book that mentions the present. “We have certainly sent down to you a Book in which is your mention. Will you then not reason?” (Quran 21:10) Whosoever reads the Quran and reflects on it will find himself and his situation mentioned therein. This is only one of its many miracles. Prison has taught me that there is a part of you that no-one can ever take from you, and that is your heart. For the heart is where true happiness resides. When you reach the stage where you are content with your destiny you have defeated your captors and become the most powerful prisoner in the world. This is what belief in the Divine Destiny is all about. It is to be happy with whatever Allah has decreed for you: to be happy with your life, to be happy whether you are rich, poor, tall, short, dark or fair. When you are satisfied with your lot in life, you have won. Every hardship is like being in prison. People feel imprisoned by ill-health, marital discord, financial insecurity, family disputes and other problems. To anyone who feels imprisoned by life’s problems I would say: be content with what you already have and never lose hope of things getting better. Be happy with your share because this is a quality of someone who truly loves Allah. When the Companion Muadh ibn Jabal (R) was undergoing the pains and agonies of death, he cried out, “O Allah! Bear witness that I love You, so do with me whatsoever You wish!” Patiently persevere in the face of hardship hoping for a good outcome because you never know how many dead hearts you will bring to life in the process. No hardship lasts forever. There is always an end. FOUR YEARS IN PRISON By: Babar Ahmad
The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXII No. 27 Page 7 The Messenger of Allah (S) said: “The strong man is not the one who can overpower the people by his strength, but the one who controls himself while in anger.” In this blessed month of Ramadan we have the unique opportunity to renew our intentions, correct our behavior, and gain forgiveness of our sins. This is also a time in which the believer must restrain himself from his passions and suspend ful llment of his most basic needs of food, drink, and physical intimacy. Though Allah (SWT) has provided us with these life changing opportunities, it does not, and will not, come without its challenges. There will be times when our hunger, our fatigue, combined with the daily routines of providing and caring for our families may feel overwhelming and our patience is tasked by those around us. Despite the fact that it is the month of Ramadan we are expected to carry on with our daily routines, pursuing our provisions, caring for our children, cooking, cleaning, and all the other tasks, we must do all year round. There may come times when we may feel the urge to lash out in anger. These may be areas in which we have developed unhealthy coping skills to deal with our frustrations, areas which we need to be working on in order to draw closer to Allah. These times o er further opportunities for us to not only gain the Baraka of Allah through restraint, but to also train ourselves in good adab (manners) within the prophetic model of human behavior. The Prophet (S) described cures for this “disease” and ways to limit its e ects, among which are the following: Seeking refuge with Allah from the Shaytaan: The Prophet (S) said: “If a man gets angry and says, ‘I seek refuge with Allah,’ his anger will go away.” Sulayman ibn Sard said: “I was sitting with the Prophet (S), and two men were slandering one another. One of them was red in the face, and the veins on his neck were standing out. The Prophet (S) said, “I know a word which, if he were to say it, what he feels would go away. If he said ‘I seek refuge with Allah from the Shaytaan,’ what he feels (i.e. his anger) would go away.” (Bukhaari) Keep Silent: The Messenger of Allah (S) said: “If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent.” This is because in most cases, the angry person loses self-control and could utter words of kufr/disbelief, or curses, or the word of divorce (talaaq) which would destroy his home, or words of slander which would bring him the enmity and hatred of others. So, in short, keeping silent is the solution to help one avoid these mistakes. Do Not React: The Messenger of Allah (S) said, “If any of you becomes angry and he is standing, let him sit down, so his anger will go away; if it does not go away, let him lie down.” Among the bene ts of this advice given by the Prophet (S) is the fact that it prevents the angry person from going out of control, because he could strike out and injure someone. Sitting down makes it less likely that he will become overexcited, and lying down makes it even less likely that he will do something harmful. Anger is one of the evil whispers of Shaytaan, which leads to so many evils and tragedies, of which only Allah knows of the full extent. For these reasons, it is important that we learn how to control our anger. The di erent ways that each of us takes to ght anger is a bene cial quality to possess. ANGER So the next time an impatient driver cuts you o or honks, remember the words of our Holy Prophet (S) and remain calm. For then we will have possessed a greater strength than the one who loses his/her cool. For the real test of strength is the one who controls himself in anger. Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” Mark Twain ”For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.” Ralph Waldo Emerson “Do not teach your children never to be angry; teach them how to be angry.” Lyman Abbott “Anger and negativity are like cancer. They eat away at you and drain you of your life force.” Jennifer J. Passmore “Every time you get angry, you poison your own system.” A. Montapert “Anger is a killing thing: it kills the man who angers, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before—it takes something from him.” L’Amour “Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.” Benjamin Franklin “Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.” Lucius Annaeus Seneca “Fair peace becomes men; ferocious anger belongs to beasts.” Ovid “He who angers you conquers you.” Elizabeth Kenny “If a small thing has the power to make you angry, does that not indicate something about your size?” Sydney J. Harris “There is nothing that so much grati es an ill tongue as when it nds an angry heart.” Thomas Fuller “There is nothing more galling to angry people than the coolness of those on whom they wish to vent their spleen.” Alexandre Dumas “Anger: One Letter Short Of Danger!.” Author Unknown “Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding.” Gandhi “Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind.” Robert Ingersoll “No man can think clearly when his sts are clenched.” George Nathan ”If you kick a stone in anger, you’ll hurt your own foot.” Korean Proverb “People who ght re with re usually end up with ashes.” Pakistani Proverb “I don’t have to attend every arguement I’m invited to.” Author Unknown
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X II No. 27 Page 8 Falsehood leads to al-fujur [wickedness, evil-doing], and alfujur leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is witten before Allah, a liar.” Ultimate success is therefore achieved by living one’s entire life — the youthful years, the adult years, and the elderly years — being truthful. Be Trustworthy Who do you rely on? Of course, Allah. He is indeed the Most Trustworthy. But among humans, who do you rely on? Who can you trust to come through for you all the time? Do people rely on you? Are you considered trustworthy? Moving ahead in life, achieving ultimate success, requires that people consider you trustworthy and reliable. Being trustworthy should not be an arbitrary activity but rather a habit so that you can be relied upon in all instances, big or small, convenient or inconvenient, easy or di cult. In colloquial terms, we often hear “I’ve got your back,” implying, in the most literal sense, that people cannot see what is behind them so they need to rely on their friends to cover that angle, just in case a threat occurs from the back. Just imagine what it would be like if a friend were climbing a tree and was heading out onto a very thin branch to get a kite that got stuck there. She asks you if you “have her back.” In this instance, she is relying on you entirely to hold on to her in case the branch breaks. There is no room for joking around or for being distracted: your friend is trusting you with her life. When we say Allah is the Most Trustworthy, we are coming to terms with the fact that Allah Most High will never let us down, will never leave our side. He (SWT) says about someone who willingly accepts Islam: “Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah Heareth and Knoweth all things.” (Al-Baqarah 2:256) Indeed, the prophets of Allah were all trustworthy people and Allah attested to the trustworthiness of those who were doubted by their communities. Prophet Hud (AS) appealing to his community, declared to them: “I but ful ll towards you the duties of my Lord’s mission: I am to you a sincere and trustworthy adviser.” (Al-A`raf 7:68) Practice daily developing the habit of being trustworthy. Accept responsibility and then ful ll it. When others trust you, do not betray their trust. You can read in the beautiful biography of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) how people used to entrust him with their valuables, knowing that upon their return they would nd their valuables safe and unharmed. His personal and business practices were commendable to the degree that he was known for it in his community, even before he became aware that he was the Prophet of Allah, literally one who is most truthful and trustworthy. Have Self-Restraint and Be God-Conscious Perhaps the most di cult challenge while navigating Habits For Highly Successful MuslimYouth You cannot escape it. The discussion about habits is all around you: Mom and Dad are constantly telling you to break your bad habits; your teachers are telling you to develop good habits; your friends are pressuring you to adopt their habits; and the television and media are in uencing you to explore new and supposedly cool habits. “You will never be successful,” the constant refrain goes, “unless you drop your bad habits and develop some good habits.” In the end, it’s all up to you. You have to decide what your habits are going to be. Have you given this matter some thought? If you are alive and breathing, you should constantly be engaged in an inner struggle to develop habits which draw you closer to Allah Most High. Success in this world is directly related to the strength of your relationship with Allah. The farther one is from Allah and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the less likely one is to achieve success in this world and, for sure, even less likely to achieve success in the hereafter. Is it not time for us to re ect upon Islamic teachings to discern the necessary habits of highly successful Muslim youth? Here are some habits indispensable for highly successful Muslim youth, derived entirely from the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Be Truthful Being truthful is not always easy, especially when we make a mistake. We fret over whether or not to disclose exactly what happened. We sweat, we are afraid, we feel nervous and anxious. We are often afraid that if we tell the truth about what we have done or said, we will be in trouble with our parents or friends. What we forget is that whether we tell the truth or not, Allah Most High knows exactly what took place, even those things that were never visible to people around us. Despite how burdensome telling the truth might seem, all of us are aware of the feeling of relief we experience when we tell the truth, even if the consequence of telling the truth is punishment. Casting the telling of truth and the fate of the truthful in terms of pro t and loss, Allah Most High tells us in the Qur’an: “This is a day on which the truthful will pro t from their truth: theirs are gardens, with rivers owing beneath — their eternal Home: Allah well-pleased with them, and they with Allah. That is the great salvation, (the ful llment of all desires).” (AlMa’idah 5:119) So much is to be gained from being truthful as opposed to escaping punishment or blame because of not being truthful. Not being truthful, in fact, leads us down a slippery slope, guaranteeing that with one lie, more lies must be told. Being truthful is not an option for Muslims, but rather an obligation, because our goal in being truthful is Paradise. The beloved of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), said, as narrated by ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), “Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. By Altaf Hussein
The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXII No. 27 Page 9 adolescence is to restrain oneself from falling victim to one’s desires — especially one’s lower desires. Our success in life depends to a great extent on how well we are able to restrain ourselves and to be moderate in what is permissible, as well as how capable we are of distancing ourselves from what is impermissible. Why is self-restraint so critical? Satan’s goal is to make you a slave of your desires to the extent that you eat until you are actually uncomfortable; that you consume without restraint beverages made of caffeine, sugar, and artificial flavors; that you find yourself longing for sleep more than prayer; and that you yearn to satisfy your sexual desires. Developing selfrestraint as a habit entails making self-restraint your second nature — something which is done almost without thought, without too much effort. We are reminded by Allah Most High: “And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, — none but persons of the greatest good fortune.” (Fussilat 41:5) In seeking to be highly successful Muslim youth, that is, youth deserving of the greatest fortune, it is imperative that you develop self-restraint. An interesting parallel is that, throughout his Qur’an translation, the late Abdullah Yusuf Ali translates taqwa as selfrestraint. While taqwa is most commonly translated as “Godconsciousness,” one realizes without much effort that the height of self-restraint is full and complete understanding that one is indeed conscious of one’s duty to one’s Lord. How awesome will it be if you can look back at your life and say to yourself, all praise is due to Allah that I did not succumb to my lower desires and instead exercised self-restraint consistently! Be Thorough Look around your room. How many unfinished projects do you have? When you work on homework, are you likely to rush through the assignment just so you can be done with it or are you more likely to take your time, to check your work, and most importantly, to be thorough? Often teachers will grade a report based on how well and to what extent the student covered the topic at hand. Being thorough is not a habit that is developed overnight. The opposite of being thorough is being incomplete, being rushed, and working in haste without any regard for accuracy or quality. The most perfect is Allah Most High, Who perfected creation, Who perfected our religion, and Who guided His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to be the most perfect among humans in behavior and in character. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace said, “I was sent to perfect good character.” To be thorough stems from a desire to be perfect to the extent that this is humanly possible. Seeking perfection in our actions and speech from an early age helps us to develop a keen eye, not only for thoroughness in our own life, but also for thoroughness in the lives of those around us. Being thorough in prayer, for example, teaches us to be patient and to concentrate upon the words we are reciting and the different positions of the prayer. Be Focused One thousand ideas go through your head the moment you stand up for prayer. Is that you? Really? What do you make of those ideas? Do you process them? What about when you are sitting in class? Do you find your mind wandering, daydreaming, and unable to focus on the lecture at hand? Are you likely to use any excuse whatsoever to leave what you are doing? Developing the habit of being focused ensures that you are awake, alert, and totally motivated to work on and complete the task at hand, whatever it may be. Being distracted early on in childhood by video games, fast-paced imagery, and constantly changing scenes on television shows contributes to an inability to concentrate, to focus. Among the best ways to develop focus is to practice praying with deep concentration. Allah (SWT) tells us in the Qur’an that the believers are: “Those who humble themselves in their prayers.” (Al-Mu’minun 23:2) The humility referred to here results from total focus and concentration on the fact that one is in the presence of Allah, standing before Him, Most High. Do your best to develop focus, no matter what activity you are engaged in — whether in prayer, in academics, in athletics, or some other pastime. Be Punctual Stop saying over and over again that you are late because of “Muslim standard time,” or the “standard time” of your particular ethnicity. The last thing we should attribute to Islam is the notion that its teachings somehow make us late, slow, slugging, and anything but punctual. What a sad state of affairs, indeed, that we attribute our own weaknesses to our religion or ethnicity! Highly successful individuals, be they Muslim or not, understand and appreciate the value of not only their time but the time of everyone else with whom they interact. Keeping people waiting for hours on end is neither something to be proud of nor a habit that has a place in the mindset of a person who tries to be successful. One of the central pillars of Islam is prayer, and Allah (SWT) and the Prophet Muhammad (S) have given us clear reminders that we are to establish prayers at their due times. Hadrat Abdullah (RA) asked, “Which deed is the dearest to Allah?” The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times.” If indeed your day is to be considered successful, you must have prayed all the obligatory prayers at their established times and as many voluntary prayers as possible. Being punctual is a habit which, when perfected, demonstrates to others the tremendous value that Islam places on time — not only ours but that of everyone else with whom we interact. “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation will be under the protection of Allah” Prophet Mohammed (SAW)
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X II No. 27 Page 10 HOW I EMBRACED I SLAM This issues’s “How I Embraced Islam” describes a woman’s journey to Islam. May Allah (SWT) continue to bless her and her family and reward them with the highest level of paradise. Q: Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? Where were you born and your background? My name is Sarah; I was born in 1975 in the United States of America. I am one of 3 children and grew up in middle class neighborhoods. My parents are teachers; my dad has a Master’s in Education and my mom a BA in English. My great-grandfather came from Russia on a boat to New York. He was a physically small man (due to lack of food), maybe 5ft 3 in. When he came to New York he was a young teenager without a sponsor and had no money, so they were going to send him back to Russia on the boat. Then a nice lady saw him crying and said that she would be his sponsor which allowed him to enter America. My dad used to tell me this story a lot. My great-grandpa was a glass maker and because immigration o cials couldn’t pronounce his Russian last name when he got o the boat, they changed his name according to his occupation. They did this to all the Jews that got o the boat. If you notice the last names of a lot Jews they are Corn eld, Shoemaker, Glasser, etc… Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your religious upbringing? We were Jews by name. We were brought up with the belief that being Jewish was more of a nationality than a religion. In fact, we weren’t o cially practicing until I turned 17 and my dad became the president of an Orthodox temple. We had a mezuzah which is a small parchment inscribed with short Torah passages in Hebrew. The parchment is rolled up, placed in a decorative case, and attached to the doorpost of Jewish homes. We never had a Christmas tree and mocked Jesus Christ; we were led to think Christians were the “blind” followers. Yet we never prayed or went to a temple ourselves. My dad was rst an active communist who was arrested for attending protests. He then became a rallying socialist and ran a socialist paper. He then became an atheist. It wasn’t until I moved out and years after I became Muslim that I found out that he was a Zionist and had been subscribing to a Zionist paper for years. Q: Can you tell us about your conversion to Islam? The rst time I saw a Muslim was when I was in middle school. We had Palestinian neighbors who went to the same school as us. The girls wore hijab by 8th grade and in gym class when we all wore short shorts they wore sweats under their shorts. I remember thinking they were poor and oppressed girls. My brother made friends with their brother and used to go to their house. When their grandfather found out my brother was a Jew he forbade him from coming into their house. So my dad in exchange forbade my brother’s friend from entering our house. I remember my dad explaining to my brother he didn’t care they were Muslims but since he was banned from their house for the sake of principle he had to do the same. When I entered college I enrolled in an acting class for General Education. The class was divided into teams to complete a skit together. My partner was a Muslim Palestinian guy. He would talk a lot about Islam. I was young (19 years old) and was not looking for religion. Since we were doing a skit together I had to frequently see him. He would just babble on and on about Islam. I told myself since I am stuck with him, I would try to ignore it. But he wouldn’t stop talking! I would then go home and tell my dad what he was saying. My dad is educated and knows a lot about other religions. I gured my dad would know how to corner him and then maybe this guy would stop talking about religion. I continued to go back and forth between my dad and my acting partner. It wasn’t until I got tired of being a middle man that I invited him over to have a discussion with my dad. They talked for hours. This triggered more questions for me. I went to a lecture on Judaism in the temple and was asking questions that Islam had the answers to. For example, Jews believe that Adam is not a Jew. I asked the Rabbi didn’t Adam (AS) have an interaction with God? He said Yes, but he was not a believer. I asked how someone could talk to God but not believe in Him. He replied he just wasn’t a believer. The whole class was impressed with this question and they were all ba ed with the Rabbi’s answer. They asked my dad if I was studying Kabala. After a year of thinking and learning about Islam I decided to convert. I went to the mosque on Divisadero St. in San Francisco and took my Shahada. I remember after I took my shahada all the women came up to me and hugged me. I was so embarrassed. As Americans we don’t usually hug each other so the concept was weird. That was about 18 years ago. I ended up marrying my Palestinian acting partner. We have been married for 17 years and have 5 wonderful children, Alhamdulilah. We left the States about 10 years ago to raise our children in an Islamic country and to teach our children Arabic. We lived in Jordan for 3.5 years and now reside in Egypt. My family became distraught with my relocation to the Middle East. My parents took it as I was falling deeper in my Islam (which was true). They wanted to save my younger brother before he lost his “Jewish identity,“ so they moved to Israel to try to get closer to their roots. I don’t really know what happened to my younger brother other than he became a religious Jew and doesn’t want me to know anything about him since I am a “traitor.” My mom contacts me from time to time and tells me that my brother doesn’t use the computer or cameras due to religious reasons. She says she doesn’t want to betray him by telling me anything else about him. Alhamdulilah how lucky I am to be Muslim and have a clear picture of life. Q: How did your parents react to you accepting Islam? When I told my dad that I was interested in converting to Islam, he looked very hurt. I told him I had saved my money from work and would be willing to go to Israel and check it out to be fair before I converted. He told me if I went to Israel I would come back bad-mouthing Judaism and I had better use the money instead to move out.
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