RADIO RAMADAN... lovin' it!

Asalamualaikum,

Ok, this radio show is truly a blessing from Allah during Ramadan, and I pray He accepts their efforts. I’ve been listening to it on and off the past few days and would highly recommend it to others… it actually makes me want to move to Leicester, heh. And a conclusion I reached is that the US or specifically certain cities would be so awesome here if we had well spoken English Hanafi Scholars taking initiative in various community projects. Insh'Allah this starts happening soon!

As for the speakers, aside from Mufti Muhammad and Sh. Riyadh, whom I both love, I’ve come to learn about and appreciate some new British Ulema: Sh Khalil Patel, Sh Umar Ghanji, and Sh Ibrahim Mogra, etc. Sh Ibrahim is actually part of the Muslim Council of Britain and does much good for Islam there Mash'Allah. He recently went to Darfur on behalf of the government with others such as Sister Fareena (Q-News) to find the truth and reach resolutions.

When should you check it out if you’re in the US? I’m 6 hours behind Leicester, so I catch Mufti Muhammad’s show at 12pm CST. Check out their discussion sessions too, yesterday it was about Islamic banking, and the day before they went into a lot of detail about the HMC and halal meat (which originated in Leicester).

http://www.fmo.org.uk/index.html

One million homeless in Pakistan

[Something you probably won't catch on FOX or CNN except for maybe 15 seconds air time which would promptly be preceded by a Paris Hilton interview or the like. Either way, may Allah give these people ease and open the hearts of the Pakistani people to go help their brothers and sisters.I would also like to note that this is a taaaad bit more important than the British Knighting Rushdie...]

One million homeless in Pakistan

Chiade O'Shea

Friday June 29, 2007

Guardian Unlimited

A Pakistani boy uses an inner tube as a flotation aid to cross a

flooded street in Lahore. Photograph: Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images

Pakistan struggled to provide disaster relief to one million people left homeless by Cyclone Yemyin today, as bad weather continued to ground many military rescue helicopters and aid planes.

Pakistan's normally arid Baluchistan province was the worst affected by the tropical storm, which has killed 500 people across south Asia this week, with some districts receiving four times their annual rainfall in 24 hours.

"It is almost impossible to move around by road and many of our choppers and aircraft can't fly because of the wind and rain," said Major General Waheed Arshad, spokesman for the Pakistani military.

For rest of article CLICK HERE

VIDEO: Sh. Hamza on The Creed of Imam Tahawi

Asalamualaikum,

I watched this last night and was astonished once again at Sh. Hamza’s bountiful insight on Islam. The topic of creed has become very controversial amongst many circles come 2007, to the point where you have the younger generation excommunicating and labeling Muslims as deviants due to their narrow understandings. In order to deter fitnah and unite on common ground, Sh. Hamza has recently released The Creed of Imam al-Tahawi. The talk below is from an interview done on the Islam Channel from a few days ago that EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH. I personally loved it and found it well worth my time.

“The important thing is to not increase your creed, but to increase your faith…”

Part 1: http://youtube.com/watch?v=lJlZeb_tdnY&mode=related&search=

Part 2: http://youtube.com/watch?v=6SE4_f7FyIU&mode=related&search=

Part 3: http://youtube.com/watch?v=h8xm9ndF_Yw&mode=related&search=

Part 4: http://youtube.com/watch?v=bWnV0XVoMS8&mode=related&search=

Part 5: http://youtube.com/watch?v=gBQhrxYeNGU&mode=related&search=

Part 6: http://youtube.com/watch?v=y3kyRCwYydo&mode=related&search=

Also, Mufti Abdur Rahman Ibn Yusuf will eventually be releasing Imam Tahawi's creed with commentary by al-Midani. But sooner than later Al-Fiqh Al-Akbar which is related to Imam Abu Hanifa with commentary by Allama al-Maghnisawi should be hitting. So keep an eye out for both of these on www.whitethreadpress.com Insh’Allah.

AUDIO: Zaytuna Mawlid an-Nabi 2007

Asalamualaikum,



Zaytuna Mawlid 2007

Not much to say here other than Mash’Allah, Mash’Allah, Mash’Allah. Sh. Hamza Yusuf talks first, followed by Imam Zaid Shakir. A very easy and nice listen. Personally, the best part is when Imam Zaid opens up his speech. :)

AUDIO: School of What? The History of Madhabs In Islam

Asalamualaikum,

DOWNLOAD: School of What? The History of Madhhabs in Islam

by Mufti Abdur Rahman Ibn Yusuf.

I still have the Following A Madhhab Starter Kit PDF available

HERE, but I found the lecture & Q/A above very beneficial as well Mash’Allah. Mufti Sahib even touches on the complications and deficiencies of anti-madhhabism. Personally, I still don’t understand how people “choose” not to follow a madhhab, or how people change from praying Hanafi stylee to the “Albani” way with the logic that the Hanafi salat is based on weak athar. It’s like waving byebye to Usul al-Fiqh and different methodologies the Ulema have worked on over the past 1400 years. Of course, there is no problem if you’re changing your madhhab as a whole or if you take dispensations when need be, but it’s an issue we need to be well learned on as well as careful not to cross the borders of talfiq (valid/invalid mixing). Fiqh is such a beautiful and intricate subject, and it stinks that we cheapen it the way we do. Khair, may Allah reward Mufti sahib and bring about more Mufti Abdur Rahman’s who try their best to educate the masses Insh’Allah.

Some more on what I was referring to above:

Objection to Following Another Madhab Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Wa’Allahu Alim

VIDEO: Loathe Thy Neighbor

Asalamualaikum,

Not much to say other than check out the clip below from The Jon Stewart Show. Insh’Allah the Masjid/Center will be erected. And I do pray that our fellow Ahul Kitab open their arms to the Muslim community in a way that shows love and compassion… and not gettin' some rope. Heck if our religious institutions could coexist throughout the past 1400 years in more rugged areas, why not in Katy? Yes, we have plenty of Masjids in Houston Alhamdolillah, but Katy seems to be growing and this would make it easier for the brothers and sisters in that region.

Allah have mercy on this Ummah.

Jummah, BAM!, and Reflection...

Asalamualaikum,



Daily we go through our usual actions, often neglecting to reflect on the magnificence of the Almighty. We’re all guilty of it, minus the ones who have tawajju ila ‘Llah at all times, but one seldom finds those people in our times let alone on the blogternetz. So started a casual day of Jummah as I drove through slightly rainy weather towards the Masjid. Got there right in time to do some dhikr, catch the first adhan, and get my four rakahs. The English talk was given by Brother Atif, and Shaykh Fayaz whom I believe is Hyderabadi (represent!) did the Khutba and lead Salat. I don’t really know anything about him other than he’s visiting our city, but he seems like a very righteous and noble individual Mash’Allah. As always, I finished up my Sunnah’s Hanafi stylee, and proceeded to my car. Since I was close to Hilcroft, I sat there and debated on whether I should grab something to eat, or get some groceries that I needed from Jerusalem Halal Meats… I battled it out in my head, and figured I’d grab some Pita and Halal Salami, which would come in handy for sammiches and the like through out the week.

The roads were still wet, and Hilcroft is possibly one of the crappiest streets in this town to drive on for various reasons, hence one has to be aware of his surroundings more than usual. As a side note, my mom always tries to bribe me with food so I drive her there. Anyhow, I take a fairly safer detour since I like to be careful (or maybe I’m a wuss), and while on the three-lane road, the car in front of me in the far left is signaling to get through incoming cars on the opposite side. Khair, I slow down thus coming to a complete stop with no cars behind me. I figured I’m in no rush, so why should I try to get into the middle or far right lanes amongst the crazies of Hilcroft on a wet road. While waiting I occasionally check my rearview for these crazies, and notice a car behind me in MY lane about 20+ feet away trying to get in the middle lane so she doesn’t have to stop behind me. I don’t really worry because there’s quite enough space between us for her either to stop or change lanes, and I look away. 5-7 seconds thereafter I hear slamming breaks, skidding, and BAM! After the instant jerk of getting rear ended, the first thing that went through my head was a thought faintly depicting the word “DAMMIT” followed by a “DAMMIT” facial expression. I turned off the car, stepped out, and checked if the car behind me was OK while inspectin’ the damage to my pop’s ride. Shukr Allah, everyone was OK Alhamdolillah. It turned out to be middle-aged Caucasian lady in an Xmas sweater with her son. A surprise for me, being on Hilcroft and all as I was expecting someone a bit more ‘ghetto’. We then pulled in front of Raj Sweets to do the exchanging of the info. My Spy Hunter themed paint job on the right depicts what happened at around 2pm on January 19, 2006.



As you can see in the pictures, the damage straight up sucks, but it could’ve been worse. Her car suffered similar dents/smashing on her front driver side. She felt really really really bad, and kept apologizing to which I kept telling her, “hota hai ama ji, hota hai” in English though. She accepted full responsibility, so there was no need to call the Chachoos, and the Insurance info was exchanged. She was literally the first person whom I was in such a situation with who was honest and sincere. For example, once an Indian lady hit me while in a Desi parking lot, and the hag had the audacity to exclaim, “You hit me!!” to me. Anyhow, this lady even called the Insurance Company and made the claim taking full liability by the time I came home and phoned it in. Subhan’Allah.

The crux of the story: As I was driving away, I started doing some spiritual contemplating on how things could’ve gone, and thanked Allah for everyone being OK. I then remembered something Shaykh Nuh said in a lecture once… that the rank of a believer is expressed by the two sole reasons for what Allah created the entire universe for: Dhikr and Shukr of Allah Subhana wahta’Allah in our hearts. The accident made me realize once again the importance of this Dhikr and Shukr, and that I need to strive more even if I do my 5 prayers and all that. Truly, it only takes a mere second, a different road, the seconds you sit in your deciding where to go, a traffic signal, and anything worse or minute could’ve happened. After all, He is all Knowing, and things come to be through His ultimate Will and Power. Alhamdolillah I had read the Ayatul Kursi as I began my trek to Jummah, and all of us are aware of the virtues of these beautiful and powerful ayats. Lastly, this also once again affirmed to me how horrible women drivers are… JUST KIDDING.

Walaikum Asalam