Think twice about it…

Is that which you are doing that you think is good, leading to a good end for everyone or will it cause a greater evil? Many people in this world look around and think that what they see is nothing but situations that need to be changed. So they take it in their own hands to organize and attempt to change these things. Many embark on these endeavors with the best of intentions. The one thing they are missing is a look at the whole picture. And because of this tunnel vision they end up causing a greater harm then good for many many people.

For those of you that know me, know that I am in the process of traveling. I see things from time to time that simply amaze me. Recently some people thought they were going to bring about a change so they started organizing “peaceful” protests, which lead to anything but peace, tranquility and solution.

First and foremost, what is a peaceful protest? Unless you have control over both sides of the protest you will never be able to guarantee a peaceful protest. Out of the crowd there is sure to be one person that will decide to take matters into his/her own hands. They will let their emotions over ride the greater cause and begin with threats, name calling, throwing objects, physical violence or even worse. From there things can not do anything but take a change for the worst. It will start between two people, the someone will come to defend the on their side, and someone will come from the other side (and I am sure you get the picture of what happens next). So what happened to this peaceful protest that you were trying to organize? Did you get what you wanted? Did you really think this would work?

Meanwhile, thousands upon thousands have lost access to the outside world. Now there is no internet

We don’t even have access to our cell phone usage. We looked up and it was shut down. Not just one of the companies, but all of them were off line. We all know that these days, when people trade numbers they usually trade their cell numbers and not their home numbers. Who really even used their home phone anymore for more then an internet connection. (Which as I mentioned before did us no good, as the internet was not working). So needless, to say many were not even able to connect with and check on their loved ones, due to the fact many people don’t have each others home numbers. Is this still that peaceful protest of which you were speaking?

I just wish people would think twice about how their decisions will affect others before they make moves. In conclusion, we see from all of this mess, sometimes the greater good is destroyed for individual and personal gains that only affect a few, and many don’t realize until it is too late.

Take a youngster and teach him/her what you know.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

I was just thinking about another way in which we could help out in our own communities. I figured I would share it with you all and get your ideas on this note. I see that there is something going seriously wrong in many of our communities in terms of uneducated youth. Many of our youth may not be interested in many of the opportunities that have be provided for them. So it is upon us as adults to provide other opportunities for them. There are also those from amongst our youth that have not been given the opportunity to begin with. Again, this is where we come in as adults.

What if each one of us from the Masjid, were to go by the Masjid and offer one of those young people an opportunity to work with us. It will afford them the chance to both make a few extra dollars, that would have cost you alot more to hire a different assistant. As well, it would allow them to learn a skill that could possibly end up providing them with all that they need for themselves and a family in the years to come.

Granted, you may be thinking that this will not work because many of us can not just come and take someone on a job site with us with out our bosses permission. You are absolutely correct. Not all of us can make the same moves in the same directions all of  the time. Some of us can make a difference in one way, and others in another way.

Although I do happen to know that there are many of you though that do work for yourselves doing this type of work, even if it is just part time. I know this because from this type of experience, I have learned what I learned about electrical work, plumbing, and carpentry. From time to time a brother would need someone to help them out with some work, and they would come by the Masjid and pick us up so that we could learn about their trade. These particular fields were not my person choice, so I did not stick with them. I do though know many have learned and built from them their own businesses.

Think about it, all it took was a brother to give them a chance. How about you take this time to go pick up one of our youth and give them a chance?

The 6 Days of Sha’waal

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

“من صام رمضان ثم أتبعه ستا من شوال كان كصيام الدهر”

“Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it up with 6 days from Shawaal, it is like fasting the entire year”

How many of us know what Shawaal is? Shawaal is one of the months in the Islamic Calendar, as is the Blessed Month of Ramadaan. In this month are its own virtues and worships that are done as in every other month in the Islamic Calender. We go through life with the misconception that the month of worship is Ramadan alone. The reality is that each and every month has its importance and its specific worships that are done, by way of them we seek to get closer to obtaining the Pleasure of Allah. May Allah make us of those that obtain His Pleasure. Allahuma ameen.

The point of this message is not to get into the different months and their virtues. We will try to have one of our writers try to summarize that for you in another article. What I wanted to discuss with you today is the importance of taking advantage of this tremendous reward that we can receive for this act of worship. Allah, out of His love for His worshipers, has made it easy for you to get the reward like as though we have fasted the whole of the year for adding 6 days onto our fast for the month of Ramadaan. Now do not get me wrong, we do not fast the day of  Eid. Rather we celebrate the Eid Feast with the people, and then we begin our fast.

Now next on the agenda is to take a second to remember the reward of fasting a day for the sake of Allah. We know from the Hadeeth narrated by both Bukhari and Muslim that “Whoever  fasts a day for the sake of Allah, He will remove him from the Hell Fire by the distance of 70 years”. Subhanna Allah, look at this mighty reward for fasting one day. Imagine being able to get the reward of fasting the whole year and you have only to complete six days of the month of Shawaal (this month) and Allah will reward you greatly. So, it is time that we get started with this and remind our families and friends about this benefit. We need to begin to work for our lives in the Here After the same way we strive for our lives on this Earth. May Allah make it easy on all of us. Allahuma ameen.

Not hiding your Islam is important!!!

Part of Allah’s love for the people is guiding them to the truth. This is done in several ways. You are one way in which that is done. Allah has put in everyone’s faces this beautiful religion of Islam. I don’t think there is one individual anywhere in the world that at this point in time that doesn’t know something about Islam. This is because Allah loves these individuals. Allah doesn’t force anyone to be Muslims, just as he has ordered that no one is forced to become Muslim, rather it is a choice that is made because the truth is desired.

One of these ways that people see Islam in their everyday lives is YOU. You are Muslim and have been guided to the TRUTH. Let your Islam be seen by the people. You would be surprised as to how many people want to know about Islam and just don’t know who to ask or where to begin. You don’t think that your friends would want to find out what the whole thing is about? Yes, you have your unfortunate ignorant individuals of the world that have their minds made up before they find out anything, but most people are not like that. Can you honestly tell me that people don’t ask you about issues surrounding Islam from time to time. I don’t mean the type of questions that a person comes up with spur of the moment, but rather the type of question that lets you know that they have actually thought and gave the issue some thought.

You say you love your friends and family. If love is what you truly have for them, how can you not be trying to let them see what this thing is all about that will cause them true happiness in both this life and the hereafter? By hiding, or not displaying your Islam to them, you are actually hurting them more then you are helping. You can’t force them to practice anything, but atleast afford them the opportunity to see for themselves what Islam is about and the opportunity to engage in a conversation about it. But if you are sitting around them, and they don’t know your are Muslim or even have forgotten that you are Muslim then what opportunity are you giving them to escape from something that you yourself are running from?

Riwayah Daily

For those of you who have not yet seen the addition that has been made to this blog, we have added a new section about other blogs and sites that are extremely beneficial. A brother has taken his time to put together something, which the likes of have probably not been seen by many of you, as a way to make learning your religion even easier from the comfort of your own homes.

The brothers have afforded us all the chance to have a direct connection with the Scholars. No more he say/ she say that he said and she said that the Sheikh said, but rather now you have a chance to get your questions asked and answered directly. As well, they have a library that will give anyone the information that they need about Islam and what the Scholars have to say about Islam. So take a look . The link is below as well as on the right side of the page. Click on it and show the brothers your support.

http://www.riwayah.com/

Raising children in Islam

“يا ايها الذين آمنوا قوا انفسكم و اهليكم نارا وقودها الناس و الحجارة “

“Oh you who believe save yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones.”

Allah has ordered us in the Quran to save ourselves and families from the Hell Fire. May Allah protect us all from it, Allahuma ameen. This particular Ayah covers alot of different issues and points that have been the discussion of scholars over time. What I wanted to bring your attention to with this, is the fact that it is important that we remember that one part of our families that we should be trying to save from the Hell Fire is our children. Many times as parents we get involved in trying to learn what we can learn from tapes, books and lectures. We are busy with discussing these thing with our peers and friends at work and seeing who is learning what new issues. We find ourselves correcting everyone we see on the streets. Meanwhile, our children are running wild. Does this make any sense?

We have to remember that Allah has entrusted us with taking care of and helping to push these children into the right direction so that they can become productive and successful adults. We can not leave them to be raised in their schools, especially those of them that go to Non-Muslim Schools. We can no longer leave them to be raised by these televisions and video games. Nor can we be leaving them at the hands and mercies of complete strangers because we are to busy to take care of what we have started. Think about it. In all of these aforementioned situations what kind of Islamic Morals and Values do you think that you child will learn? Do you think he/she will learn honesty,  respect and value for human life? We will not even get into the issue of understanding of how their relationship with Allah, His Messenger and the rest of creation should be. Do you really think your children are getting these things where they are at now? I very much doubt it.

It is time that we take part in our childrens lives. Could you possibly imagine how many parents really don’t really know their own children, because of the fact that they literally have no time for them. They haven’t got a clue about what they do and where they go. We as Muslim parents have got to do better then this. Even if we don’t do it for the good of our families, we must do it for the reason that Allah has commanded us.