Loving Others

Assalamu aleykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh,

We must come together as Believers and stop squabbling about our differences. We are all at different levels in our path to God and only God knows where we stand. God's plan for us is to love each other and show that love.

“Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others. Why, then, do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye?" ~Matthew 7:1-3

"For behold, unto God will be their return, Then it will be for (only) God to call them to account." ~Quran 88:25-26

"Those who believe in the Qur'an, those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians, Christians, Magians, and Polytheists,- God will judge between them on the Day of Judgment: for God (alone) is witness of all things." ~Quran 22:17

"And those who strive in Our paths to find God,- God will certainly guide them to our Paths: For verily God is with those who do right." ~Quran 29:69

"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things." ~Quran 49:13

May Allah, subhanna wa ta'alla, guide us on the right path. Ameen.

Using the Last Pillar to Solve the Third

Assalamu aleykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh,

I pray you’re in the best of health and iman. Ameen.

I’ve been thinking lately about the Hajj. Naturally, I would love to go. I hear it is quite an amazing and life-changing experience. Hajj season is coming.  As we get older, those who have not gone may be feeling the pressing need to fulfill this part of our faith. I wonder, however, if we are really required to attend in this day and age.

In Islam, there are five pillars of faith:
1. Declaration of Faith  (Shahada)
2. Prayer  (Salat)
3. Charity  (Zakat)
4. Fasting  (Sawm/Ramadan)
5. Pilgrimage to Mecca  (Hajj)

At the masjid, I heard one of the brothers explaining these articles of faith to the children.  He said the order of these articles was of their importance. This seems very logical to me. What good are any of them if we do not have Faith? First we must BELIEVE, then we must WORSHIP.  Otherwise, why would we worship if we didn’t have faith? In the same respect, what good is our fasting if we are not praying?  Of course, God accepts and forgives what and whom He wishes. However, we must also work to develop our faith and practice.  So, if this argument has any truth to it, it makes sense to think that working to help others with our charity is of higher importance that going on pilgrimage.

In today’s world, there are millions of people in need of our charity. So, when I think of going to Hajj, I also think of those who are hungry and wonder… 

The price of Hajj varies according to where in the world you are originating from, how long your stay, and your accommodations. This could probably range from $2500 to $15,000. (I did not do extensive research to determine these numbers, so they may vary even more.) For ease of discussion, let’s just say it costs $5,000 per person to attend Hajj.  Now, how many attend every year?... An estimate of two to three million people. Let’s be conservative and say two million.  Now then, let’s take the $5,000 per person cost and multiply that by those two million.  Now we’ve collected $10,000,000,000… and it’s repeated each year… and does not include those attending Umrah.

Now I wonder… what would happen to our world of hungry, homeless and suffering if all those who are performing Hajj gave their money to the needy instead of going on pilgrimage.  As Muslims, are we supposed to feed the hungry before we perform our Hajj? What would it be like to give a $10 billion check to the world, each year? To Syria? To Rohingya? To a multitude of countries who are crying desperately for help? What if we showed the world what Islam is really about? What if the armies helped fight suffering instead of creating it?

Think of how Muslims could change the world if we provided food, housing and education to those in need.

May Allah, subhannahu wa ta’alla, forgive anything I do or say in error.  Ameen.
May Allah, subhannahu wa ta’alla, guide us on the right path. Ameen.
May Allah, subhannahu wa ta’alla, grant peace, strength and wisdom along the way. Ameen.
~ © August 21, 2013

Change is Within You

If you want something to change, you have to look into your own hands.
The answer is there… within you.
Change yourself.
Reflect your changed self onto the world around you.
Only then can you change your world.
As Ghandi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Radiate Confidence

Be confident!
If you are shy and withdrawn, then others also may not know how to approach you.
If you stand tall and be yourself, others will be receptive.
Don't let negativity bring you down- that's their issue to solve.
Be confident within yourself to grow.
If you cannot find true confidence, then pretend.
If you don't know how to pretend, then smile.
Be open to receive the world around you.
Little by little, your smile will grow into confidence and strength.
It will empower you to be who you are and want to be.

Expectations

There is comfort when we approach life without expectation.
Accept what is given, as it is.
Respect those giving it, as they are.
Absorb the environment, as it is.
Let it penetrate your heart to change you for the better.

Assalamu aleykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh,

I pray you are in the best of health and iman. Ameen.

Do you ever lose or forget your direction? Knowing you used to be in a better place and wondering how to get there again from where you are?

This is my thought lately, I suppose. I need to find a way to get where I was from where I am today because although I cannot go backwards, I must move forward.

May Allah, subhnnahu wa ta'alla, guide us on the right path and grant strength, peace and wisdom along the way. Ameen.

What Draws You ~Rumi

There are two types on the path, those

who come against their will, the blindly religious,

and those who obey out of love.

The former have ulterior motives.

They want the midwife near because she gives them milk.

The others love the beauty of the nurse.

The former memorize the prooftexts of conformity

and repeat them. The latter disappear

into whatever draws them to God.

Both are drawn from the source.

Any motion is from the mover.

Any love from the beloved.