Why am I so confused?----Part-2

I had an eye operation in April 2008. Last week, my eye surgeon, Dr. Shakaib Anwar , a very fine surgeon, who listens to his patients carefully, and a very fine man, advised me three test to be conducted at the Shifa Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi. I was fascinated by the electronically operated equipment both at the doctor’s clinic as well as at the hospital.  The results containing measurements, which were Greek to me, were given by hand within two hours. I showed them to the doctor the next day. The entire experience was fascinating for me. I wished that the inventors were Muslims.

Inventions viz. fiber optic, television, the internet made in the west have brought the world in to the living room. One can read the newspapers of the world or shop over the internet. However, for Pakistanis, they can shop against cash only because they have cheated again.

My previous essay ‘Why am I confused ‘and this one are not meant to cast adverse reflection on individual Muslims. Indeed, there are many individuals who do good deeds without anyone else knowing. It is a small effort to make the Muslims realize that many bad customs and human failings that have crept into our society are totally alien to the spirit to Islam. And we care more about Haqooq ul Allah than Haqooq ul Abad. 

As regards inventions, there was a time when the Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was conferred Prophethood, he started his mission among the pagan Arab . However, at his death, Muslims became scientists, academicians, mathematicians, astrologers, astronomers, philosophers. Diplomats visiting the courts of great emperors like the Roman Empire and the Iranian Empire. They learnt to live by  following the Holy Quran. The presence of the Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) played a vital part in this transformation. 

I have repeatedly told my friends or my readers that I am a cynic and I do not trust anyone: extended family and friends; nor the successive Governments. Many have deceived me or played foul with me. A couple friends and family members behaved positively rude with me. Both are loyal till their interest demand. Friends are fellow travelers going in the same direction up to a limit.

Imagine driving thirty kilometers in each direction to Rawalpindi to meet an old class fellow only to be told that he was busy in reciting the Holy Quran. Thus he could not meet me. Similar incidents happened again with me twice.

A noted news columnist was telling the compare in a TV talk show the other day that each person from a population 180 million has his hand in the other person’s pocket. To which I add, or in the till. I cannot justify our claim that we are Muslims with reports of various sources that Pakistan is one of the most corrupt countries across the globe. Yet I was amazed when I see innocent faces of young girls on the Universities’ campuses. 

I do not want to write on politics in the country. However, despite my ardent wish, I have to perforce write on it. I have been frequenting the Parliament since my joining the Government as a public servant. Hardly had the quorum been full. Oh yes; when the bill for perks and privileges of the Parliamentarians, the quorum was always full. I cannot reconcile this with the Caliphate of Hazrat Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).When there was a famine in Medina, the Caliph vowed not to eat meat till the famine was over.  And yet we claim that Pakistan is a citadel of Islam.

Pakistan had two parts; east and west Pakistan. What happened to the Eastern part is history. But in the war of 1971, atrocities were allegedly committed by the Pakistan army, a Muslim army. The world media graphically portrayed these .We were rudely awakened when I read on the internet the Hamood-ur-Rehman Commission Report  to know the truth. We are rudely awakened what is happening in Karachi where Muslims are killing other Muslims. And what happened to two teenagers in Sialkot? What happened to Sarfaraz Shah? What is happening in the courts in Pakistan, in the markets, or the educational institutions where the poor and innocent fell prey to exploitation. I cannot justify these. And yet we are all Muslims. I can’t imagine these.

When the first part of the essay was posted on Facebook, a reader referred to the Holy Quran which provides salvation. I wrote back that given the literacy rate in Pakistan, imagine the required time for full literacy. We venerate the Holy Quran by keeping on high place .We recite it by rote without understanding and practicing it.

I recommend reading Allama Iqbal’s ‘Jawab e Shikwa’ to know what I mean. I also recommend an Urdu book ‘Talaash’ (Search) written by Mumtaz Mufti .The theme of the book was the author’s search for Allah and the truth . I disagree with parts of the book .

Despite our tall claims that we are the chosen people of Allah because we are Muslims, the world sees us differently particularly during the past few years. The world sees us as illiterate, boorish, crude, barbarians especially killings in suicide bombings and the repeated blood baths in Karachi. Undoubtedly terrorists have no religion. But how do we explain to the world when those who are responsible for these acts of barbarity bear Muslim names. 

For the last years, Pakistan passports are looked down upon. After one bad experience at Jeddah, I prefer to travel abroad on non PIA airlines. And after another bad experience, I have stopped to travel on domestic PIA flights.

While travelling in Saudi Arabia once, I frequently heard that the people of Pakistan are lies and cheats. An example of cheating is the kunda (hook) connection for stealing electricity in Karachi. Stealing office stationery for children is a common phenomenon in Pakistan Government offices. Similarly there are massive misuses of petrol, electricity in Government offices. Water taps once opened are seldom closed unless there are in their private homes. We can making an enormous savings by using those resources discreetly.  

I drove to my office in my own car while my junior used an official transport which he parked in his house. He never missed any prayer. Office drivers submit inflated repairs. When a minister of General Musharraf’s Government wished for a new seven seater sofa set for his office, it was made by a firm located on Murree Road, Rawalpindi at a price of Rs 35000/-  whereas I got a similar seven seater sofa set from the same shop at Rs 24000/-.When I challenged the concerned officer, he made lame excuses. Admittedly this amount is notional. But sin big or small is a sin.

I was overworked once. I had to prepare four or five summaries or briefs for the Minister or the Secretary to be submitted the same day. I waited uptill eleven for my junior to share a part of the work. At that time, I learnt that he had gone to a religious congregation which was being held in town. Many years have passed since, I could not reconcile with this kind of behaviour.

Mahfooz ur Rahman

rahman.mahfooz.pk@gmail.com

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Why am I so confused?----Part-1

We are taught the basic principles of Islam both at home and at school. But when I grew up and started looking around, I began to realize that there is a wide dichotomy between what we were taught and our deeds. I am not talking about the world, this essay is confined to Pakistan, the land of the pure .. We are taught that there are two kinds of obligations:

• Obligations of man towards His Creator, and
• Obligations of man towards his fellow human beings.
  
  

I read somewhere an incident in the life of Hazrat Hassan Basri (May Allah be pleased with him). Once he was trying to persuade a Jew to embrace Islam. The latter promised to let the former his decision on the morrow. The next day the Jew came to Hazrat Hassan Basri and announced that he would not become a Muslim. The latter asked him why? The Jew replied if Islam meant what Hazrat Hassan Basri was following, it was difficult for the former to practice. If Islam meant what the others were doing, he was better off being a Jew.

Once I was discussing with my Mathematics Professor (the late Mr. M.H.Siddiqui) at the Cadet College, Hasan Abdal that we were taught at school about King Arthur and his twelve knights, each knight representing a particular quality eg. humility, bravery. I asked my honorable teacher why is it that these qualities were not found in the society. I put the same question to some others, including one of my bosses, retired Brigadier M.A. Abbasi, a very fine gentleman. But they could not give me a satisfactory reply.

Indeed Islam has answers to all my questions. The qualities read about King Arthur’s knights were found in deeds of valour in lives of the early Muslims eg. Hazrat Ali , his sons , his progeny, in Hazrat Saad bin Abi Waqqas, Hazrat Khalid bin Walid (May Allah be pleased with them). Indeed, Islamic history is replete with such examples.

However, I am talking about modern Pakistan. I was talking with a neighbour, a retired senior officer of the armed forces. He was telling me that for every work dealing with the public, he has kept a portion of his income for giving it as haram ka maal otherwise no work is done. I referred him to one of my cases which is pending. He replied that my work would not be done according to my wishes unless I grease the palms of the concerned authorities. All persons working in departments which deal with the public are Muslims.

We have been taught that Allah may or may not forgive us for neglecting our obligations to Him. But He would not forgive us for neglecting our duties to humanity. But be they butchers, or milkmen, or grocers, or fruit sellers, they are liable to defraud the innocent by their cheating. For eg. there are often news reports of butchers selling meat of dead animals or dog meat. The foodstuff sold in the markets have impurities, including deadly chemicals, injurious to health. The poor innocent consumer is paying through his nose. An overwhelming majority of Pakistanis are Muslims. I find it difficult to reconcile that.

Islam teaches us humility. But we find that we are proud and aggressive. Even some clerics are not free from this disease. We find them vain and conceited. We have before us the Holy Prophet’s (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) example and the example of his blind companion. Imagine his patience and perseverance with the pagans of Mecca and hypocrites and the Jews of Medina. Again Imagine we were living and one of us approached him with a problem. The Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) would have listened to us patiently and tried to solve our problem to our satisfaction. Again I find it difficult to reconcile the preachings of the clerics with their vanity.

Once I attend a memorial service in the Jubilee Hall of Gordon College, Rawalpindi for the father of two class fellows, brother and sister, who were my dear friends. I saw plenty of grey heads sitting; a triple PhD, a double MSc. etc. But I admired their humility while was at the college. Each person spoke in Urdu for the benefit of those not knowing English.

Many of us tend to sell our souls to the devil for fame, for promotion and other worldly pleasures. While we are at it, we forget the pure teachings of Islam.

In the west, every shop from super markets to the smallest shop arranges sales from October to April so that everything is within of the meanest to enable everybody to enjoy the Christmas, Easter and the season’s pleasures. Whenever I get an opportunity, I do my shopping there. While in Pakistan, sales are meant to sell the condemned things at a higher price.

Already the prices of foodstuff are beginning to rise before Ramazan to enable the shop keepers to harvest a windfall. This happens every year. And yet they are all Muslims.

Imagine driving on Murree Road, Rawalpiindi. The road from one end to the other are covered by shops. But hardly any of the shopkeepers are tax payers. In the west the people don’t cheat on their taxes. No wonder the west is advanced.

We, in Pakistan , have customs that are vile and alien like honour killing, vani , child marriages, domestic violence that are abominable to Islam . But that is because of a lack of knowledge of Islamic teachings.

Pakistan is a place where nuisance value reigns regardless what a person does for his vocation or otherwise. Again I am referring to the west where society strives to make life easier for the people regardless their income. Despite the fact that Islam teaches to make life easier for the citizens of an Islamic state irrespective of their religious learning, the Pakistani society has yet to learn the fundamental precepts of obligations towards mankind . We have all kinds of Islamic books and more are being published annually, but the west has learnt the secret of bringing the good governance at the door step of the meanest person in society without a conversion to an Islamic way of life.

Mahfooz ur Rahman

rahman.mahfooz.pk@gmail.com

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What Islam says about Social Relations?

21st century is the century of globalization. The interaction among civilizations and different beliefs is being increased day by day. After the incident of 9/11, misunderstandings were created among believers of different religions, especially, the religion Islam faced heavy criticisms, because the terrorists were labeled as Muslims.

After this, different terms like radical Islam, moderate Islam, and political Islam etc came into being. The dilemma is that, the inventors of such terms and concepts are totally unaware of the teachings of Islam, and they are creating a negative image of Islam in front of the world, because when they talk about a radical Islam or a political Islam, the general public supposes Islam to be an ideology of racism, radicalism etc. On the other hand, the terrorists who associate themselves to Islam are causing a huge destruction of not only the world but also the image of this peaceful religion.

At this stage, where inter-cultural and inter-faith relations` state is not satisfactory, it is extremely essential to bring in front of the world the true commands of Islam about social relations, so that people may become able to decide for themselves about what is rightly and what is wrongly said about Islam.

I have tried to put some of the sayings of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon Him), which are the commands for Muslims and a guidance for the whole world. These sayings are about forgiveness mercy and for reconciliation of hearts. And these characteristics are opposite to terror and hatred. One must know the true values of Islam so that he can make a true and fair opinion on this sensitive issue.

Following are some of the worthy Sayings of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon Him):

A. Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) said, "Whoever has three things, Allah (God) will take his account with ease and will enter him in Paradise} (with His mercy):

1. Mend relations with those who try to break off ties with you.

2. Endow those who deprive you; and

3. Forgive those who are unjust towards you.

B. Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) said, "charity does not lessen the wealth and if a person forgives someone`s mistake, then Allah (God) increases his honor and respect." Whoever adopts humbleness for Allah, Allah elevates his ranks. "

C. Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) said, Whoever is not merciful to others, will not receive mercy; whoever does not forgive, will not be forgiven. "

D. Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) said, "The best manners of the world and the Hereafter are that you associate with those who disassociate with you, and forgive those who do injustices to you and whoever wishes for an extended life and abundance of sustenance should treat his relatives with kindness. "

E. Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) said, have mercy on others and you will be showered with mercy and adopt forgiveness and Allah (God) will forgive you. "

Islam does not teach terrorism or radicalism, rather it negates hatred and conflicts. Islam came here in this world not to kill but it prevents to kill. It reveals to create a strong harmony, to teach mercy, to promote forgiveness. I appeal to the opinion makers, please first study and then make an opinion. Discussion, debate and research are the only ways through which we can join each others` hands to move forward towards a peaceful society in which a gun is not a solution.

Syed Talal Hassan Bukhari

talal.hassan5@gmail.com

   
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Medina: Saudis take a bulldozer to Islam's history

Three of the world’s oldest mosques are about to be destroyed as Saudi Arabia embarks on a multi-billion-pound expansion of Islam’s second holiest site. Work on the Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, where the Prophet Mohamed is buried, will start once the annual Hajj pilgrimage ends next month. When complete, the development will turn the mosque into the world’s largest building, with the capacity for 1.6 million worshippers.

But concerns have been raised that the development will see key historic sites bulldozed. Anger is already growing at the kingdom’s apparent disdain for preserving the historical and archaeological heritage of the country’s holiest city, Mecca. Most of the expansion of Masjid an-Nabawi will take place to the west of the existing mosque, which holds the tombs of Islam’s founder and two of his closest companions, Abu Bakr and Umar.

Just outside the western walls of the current compound are mosques dedicated to Abu Bakr and Umar, as well as the Masjid Ghamama, built to mark the spot where the Prophet is thought to have given his first prayers for the Eid festival. The Saudis have announced no plans to preserve or move the three mosques, which have existed since the seventh century and are covered by Ottoman-era structures, or to commission archaeological digs before they are pulled down, something that has caused considerable concern among the few academics who are willing to speak out in the deeply authoritarian kingdom.

“No one denies that Medina is in need of expansion, but it’s the way the authorities are going about it which is so worrying,” says Dr Irfan al-Alawi of the Islamic Heritage Research Foundation. “There are ways they could expand which would either avoid or preserve the ancient Islamic sites but instead they want to knock it all down.” Dr Alawi has spent much of the past 10 years trying to highlight the destruction of early Islamic sites.

With cheap air travel and booming middle classes in populous Muslim countries within the developing world, both Mecca and Medina are struggling to cope with the 12 million pilgrims who visit each year – a number expected to grow to 17 million by 2025. The Saudi monarchy views itself as the sole authority to decide what should happen to the cradle of Islam. Although it has earmarked billions for an enormous expansion of both Mecca and Medina, it also sees the holy cities as lucrative for a country almost entirely reliant on its finite oil wealth.

Heritage campaigners and many locals have looked on aghast as the historic sections of Mecca and Medina have been bulldozed to make way for gleaming shopping malls, luxury hotels and enormous skyscrapers. The Washington-based Gulf Institute estimates that 95 per cent of the 1,000-year-old buildings in the two cities have been destroyed in the past 20 years.

In Mecca, the Masjid al-Haram, the holiest site in Islam and a place where all Muslims are supposed to be equal, is now overshadowed by the Jabal Omar complex, a development of skyscraper apartments, hotels and an enormous clock tower. To build it, the Saudi authorities destroyed the Ottoman era Ajyad Fortress and the hill it stood on. Other historic sites lost include the Prophet’s birthplace – now a library – and the house of his first wife, Khadijah, which was replaced with a public toilet block.

Neither the Saudi Embassy in London nor the Ministry for Foreign Affairs responded to requests for comment when The Independent contacted them this week. But the government has previously defended its expansion plans for the two holy cities as necessary. It insists it has also built large numbers of budget hotels for poorer pilgrims, though critics point out these are routinely placed many miles away from the holy sites.

Until recently, redevelopment in Medina has pressed ahead at a slightly less frenetic pace than in Mecca, although a number of early Islamic sites have still been lost. Of the seven ancient mosques built to commemorate the Battle of the Trench – a key moment in the development of Islam – only two remain. Ten years ago, a mosque which belonged to the Prophet’s grandson was dynamited. Pictures of the demolition that were secretly taken and smuggled out of the kingdom showed the religious police celebrating as the building collapsed.

The disregard for Islam’s early history is partly explained by the regime’s adoption of Wahabism, an austere and uncompromising interpretation of Islam that is vehemently opposed to anything which might encourage Muslims towards idol worship.

In most of the Muslim world, shrines have been built. Visits to graves are also commonplace. But Wahabism views such practices with disdain. The religious police go to enormous lengths to discourage people from praying at or visiting places closely connected to the time of the Prophet while powerful clerics work behind the scenes to promote the destruction of historic sites.

Dr Alawi fears that the redevelopment of the Masjid an-Nabawi is part of a wider drive to shift focus away from the place where Mohamed is buried. The spot that marks the Prophet’s tomb is covered by a famous green dome and forms the centrepiece of the current mosque. But under the new plans, it will become the east wing of a building eight times its current size with a new pulpit. There are also plans to demolish the prayer niche at the centre of mosque. The area forms part of the Riyadh al-Jannah (Garden of Paradise), a section of the mosque that the Prophet decreed especially holy..

“Their excuse is they want to make more room and create 20 spaces in a mosque that will eventually hold 1.6 million,” says Dr Alawi. “It makes no sense. What they really want is to move the focus away from where the Prophet is buried.”

A pamphlet published in 2007 by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs – and endorsed by the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz al Sheikh – called for the dome to be demolished and the graves of Mohamed, Abu Bakr and Umar to be flattened. Sheikh Ibn al-Uthaymeen, one of the 20th century’s most prolific Wahabi scholars, made similar demands.

“Muslim silence over the destruction of Mecca and Medina is both disastrous and hypocritical,” says Dr Alawi. “The recent movie about the Prophet Mohamed caused worldwide protests... and yet the destruction of the Prophet’s birthplace, where he prayed and founded Islam has been allowed to continue without any criticism.”

Mecca and Medina in numbers

12m The number of people who visit Mecca and Medina every year

3.4m The number of Muslims expected to perform Hajj (pilgrimage) this year

60,000 The current capacity of the Masjid an-Nabawi mosque

1.6m The projected capacity of the mosque after expansion

Source: www.independent.co.uk

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Maryam Jameelah’s Open Letter to Her Parents

Maryam Jameelah (Margret Marcus), born in New York to a Jewish family explored Judaism and other faiths, converted to Islam in 1961 and emigrated to Pakistan. She is an author of over thirty books on Islamic culture and history and a prominent female voice for Islam. Below is her letter that she wrote to her parents from Pakistan:


“Dear Mother and Father,

I have now been living in Pakistan for more than twenty years during which time you have acquired an entire additional family of loved-ones there, adding much to your happiness. You have reached a ripe age, thank God, living longer in good health than I had ever expected. You have read all my books and Islamic literature I have sent you with a broad and open mind. Therefore you need no introduction to the subject I wish to discuss with you now and nothing I have to say will seem strange and new to you.

I wonder if you realize fully how very fortunate you are. So long as you can keep in reasonable health and are able to take care of yourselves, you can continue to enjoy a pleasant life. But do you ever think of the tragic faith of those hundreds of thousands of other older Americans, the victims of chronic illness and infirmities, who crowd to over-flowing hospitals and nursing homes (which are really charnel houses), the old-age homes and the senile wards of mental institutions? And do you ever think of those still greater numbers of older people who are widowed and live their lonely lives confined to their dingy rooms in constant fear of muggings, physical attacks and robberies by juvenile delinquents who prey on the old and infirm with no remorse or fear of punishment? The maltreatment of older people is a direct result of the collapse of the home and extended family. Does your elder sister – my aunt Rosalyn, a great-grandmother lovingly sheltered in a close and adoring family and a happy home, ever think how lucky she is and how few of her advanced age in America are left like her?

You must know that society in which you were brought up and have lived all your life is in a state of rapid disintegration on the brink of collapse. Actually the decline in our civilization was evident as far back as World War I but at that time few people except some intellectuals and artists were aware of what was happening. But since the end of World War II and especially during the last two decades, the rot has reached such a stage of advanced decay that nobody can any longer ignore it.

The moral anarchy in the absence of any respected, fixed standards of behavior and conduct, the obsession with perverted sex over the entertainment media, the mistreatment of older people, the divorce rate which has climbed so high that among the new generation, an enduring, happy marriage is becoming rare, child abuse, the destruction of the natural environment, the prodigious waste of scarce and valuable resources, the epidemic of veneral diseases and mental disorders, drug addiction, alcoholism, suicides as leading cause of death, crime, vandalism, corruption in the government and contempt for the law in general – all of this has a cause.

The cause of this is the failure of secularism and materialism and the absence of absolute, transcendental theological and moral values. Deed does in the final analysis depend upon creed because if the intention is wrong, the work always suffers.

No doubt that it may bore you to read this. You will protest that if you are not theologians, philosophers or sociologists, then why bother about such “deep” matters when they do not seem to be of any direct concern to you? After all, you are happy and content living just as you are. You only wish to enjoy life right now, live entirely in the present and accept each day as it comes. If life is a journey, is it not foolhardy only to be concerned with pleasant and comfortable accommodations along the way and never to think about the journey’s end? Why were we born? What is the meaning and purpose of life, why must we die and what will happen to each of us after death?

Father you have told me more than once that you cannot accept any traditional religion because you are convinced that theology conflicts with modern science. Science and technology have indeed given us much information about the physical world, provided us with abundant comforts and conveniences, increased efficiency and discovered remedies for many diseases that used to be fatal. But science does not and cannot tell us about the meaning of life and death. Science tells us “how” but it never answers the question “why”?. Can science ever tell us what is right and what is wrong? What is good and what is evil? What is beautiful and what is ugly? And to whom are we accountable for what we do? Religion does.

Today America is in many ways a repetition of ancient Rome in the terminal stages of her decline and fall. Thinking people know that secularism has failed to be a sound foundation of our social order. They are anxiously searching in other directions for a solution to the crisis but do not know yet where to find it. This is not of concern only to a few sociologists. The disease of national disintegration directly affects you and me and each one of us.

During its most critical period, ancient Rome adopted Christianity as its salvation and henceforth the Church dominated Europe for more than a thousand years. This put an end to many of the worst social and moral evils of decadent Rome and greatly raised the moral and spiritual standards of the people. Unfortunately during the formative period of its history, the Church compromised with paganism and secularism, adopting an elaborate priesthood and incomprehensive theology which could not resist the impact of the renaissance, the revival of the natural sciences and the radical secularism of the French Revolution. While Christians in Europe and America have deserted their faith wholesale leaving the churches almost empty, the missionaries continue to represent the vanguard of western imperialism and exploitation in Asia and Africa.

After Christianity, the Jews comprise the second largest religious group in America who dominate politically, and economically, as well exercising considerable control over the media. But Judaism has always been parochial and tribal, seldom welcoming converts. It is not and has never been a universal faith. The Zionist movement which resulted in the establishment of the state of Israel, is the secular expression of Jewish nationalism and tribalism. The dreadful atrocities committed by the Israelis in occupied Palestine, the unprovoked aggression in Lebanon and adjacent areas and attempted genocide of the Palestine Arabs, depriving them of all human and political rights, is the logical result of this same narrow parochial outlook. This is the reason why even the most orthodox of the rabbis refuse to believe that Israel can do any wrong and uncritically support everything she does. These glaring moral and spiritual defects automatically disqualify Judaism as the faith of the future.

The Muslims comprise the third and fastest growing faith in America today. No longer is Islam confined to remote regions of the deserts and jungles of Asia and Africa. No longer is Islam foreign to the American scene. There are more than three million Muslims in America today and their numbers are increasing fast. There are thousands of students from all Muslim countries studying in American universities, and well-educated, highly-trained Muslims are busily at work in all professions. In the last two decades, hundreds of native-born American converts have swelled their ranks. At first most of the converts were black people who found in Islam, dignity, honor, self-respect and racial brotherhood as did Malcolm-X, but in recent years more and more white converts of European origin, searching for guidance in all the affairs of their formally chaotic lives, have also embraced Islam, making many sacrifices and enduring much hardships to do so. Few of them are fortunate as I am to have loving parent like you. Most of them suffer severe frictions with their non-Muslim parents and relatives. Today churches and synagogues are almost deserted but the newly-built mosques and Islamic centers, springing up in every important American city and town, are attracting rapidly growing numbers. Most of the new Muslims in America are young, intelligent and well-educated. What attracts so many young Americans to Islam?

Americans today, both young and old, are desperately searching for guidance. They know from bitter experience that the personal freedom and opportunities they as Americans enjoy are meaningless and self-destructive without reliable guidance, direction and purpose. Secularism and materialism are powerless to provide any positive or constructive moral values for Americans either individually or collectively. That is why after Christianity and Judaism have failed them, more and more people in America today are turning towards Islam. In Islam as new Muslims, they find a sane, healthy, clean and honest life. And for Muslims, everything does not come to an end at death. They look forward to an Eternity of bliss, peace and perfect happiness (in the Hereafter).

This Guidance found in the Holy Qur’an and the recorded words and deeds of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be peace, is not only for foreign races in some far-away corner of the East, centuries ago. Here are to be found the solutions to all economic, social, moral and political problems which face us right here in the West today. Furthermore, Islam is not cold, remote and impersonal. Muslims have complete faith in a very personal God who not only created, sustains and rules the universe but also loves and deeply cares about the fate of each of us. The Holy Qur’an tells us that God is nearer to everyone of us than our jugular veins!

Since the Holy Qur’an is divine revelation, it cannot and will never be changed. Because it is perfect, it cannot be improved, revised or reformed. Since Muhammad, upon whom be peace, is the final Prophet, his guidance can never be superseded by any other. The Qur’an and Sunnah are addressed to all peoples, in every country of the West as well as the East. Since it is relevant for all times, in all places, it can never become obsolete or out-of-date.

You are both of very advanced age and there is so little time left. Yet it is not too late if you act now. If your decision is positive, your ties with your loved ones in Pakistan will not only be by blood but also in faith. You cannot only love them in this world but be all together with us forever in eternity.

If your decision is negative, I am very much afraid that your happy, comfortable and pleasant life will very shortly come to an end. As soon as the inevitable occurs, it is too late for remorse and regrets. The punishment will be terrible from which there is no refuge and no escape.

It is as your daughter who loves you and hopes to the end that you will be spared this fate. But the decision rests entirely with you. You have complete freedom to accept or reject: Your future depends upon the choice you make now.

All my love and best wishes.

Your devoted daughter,

(Maryam Jameelah).

Source: My Bit For Change

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Saudi Arabia to raze Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)’s tomb to build larger mosque

The key Islamic heritage site, including Prophet Mohammed’s shrine, is to be bulldozed, as Saudi Arabia plans a $ 6 billion expansion of Medina’s holy Masjid an-Nabawi Mosque. However, Muslims remain silent on the possible destruction.

Work on the Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, is planned to start as soon as the annual Hajj pilgrimage comes to a close at the end of November. 

After the reconstruction, the mosque is expected to become the world’s largest building, with a capacity for 1.6 million people.

And while the need to expand does exist as more pilgrims are flocking to holy sites every year, nothing has been said on how the project will affect the surroundings of the mosque, also historic sites.

Concerns are growing that the expansion of Masjid an-Nabawi will come at the price of three of the world’s oldest mosques nearby, which hold the tombs of Prophet Mohammed and two of his closest companions, Abu Bakr and Umar. The expansion project which will cost 25 billion SAR (more than US $6 billion) reportedly requires razing holy sites, as old as the seventh century.

The Saudis insist that colossal expansion of both Mecca and Medina is essential to make a way for the growing numbers of pilgrims. Both Mecca and Medina host 12 million visiting pilgrims each year and this number is expected to increase to 17 million by 2025.

Authorities and hotel developers are working hard to keep pace, however, the expansions have cost the oldest cities their historical surroundings as sky scrapers, luxury hotels and shopping malls are being erected amongst Islamic heritage.

A room in a hotel or apartment in a historic area may cost up to $ 500 per night. And that’s all in or near Mecca, a place where the Prophet Mohammed insisted all Muslims would be equal.
“They just want to make a lot of money from the super-rich elite pilgrims, but for the poor pilgrims it is getting very expensive and they cannot afford it,”

Dr. Irfan Al Alawi of the Islamic Heritage Research Foundation, told RT.

A general view of the Prophet Mohammed Mosque in the Saudi holy city of Medina (AFP Photo / Mahmud Hams)

Jabal Omar complex – a 40 tower ensemble – is being depicted as a new pearl of Mecca. When complete, it will consist of six five star hotels, seven 39 storey residential towers offering 520 restaurants, 4, 360 commercial and retail shops.

But to build this tourist attraction the Saudi authorities destroyed the Ottoman era Ajyad Fortress and the hill it stood on.

The Washington-based Gulf Institute estimated that 95 percent of sacred sites and shrines in the two cities have been destroyed in the past twenty years.

The Prophet’s birthplace was turned into a library and the house of his first wife, Khadijah, was replaced with a public toilet block.

Also the expansion and development might threaten many locals homes, but so far most Muslims have remained silent on the issue.

“Mecca is a holy sanctuary as stated in the Quran it is no ordinary city. The Muslims remain silent against the Saudi Wahhabi destruction because they fear they will not be allowed to visit the Kindom again,” said Dr. Al Alawi.

The fact that there is no reaction on possible destruction has raised talks about hypocrisy because Muslims are turning a blind eye to that their faith people are going to ruin sacred sites.

“Some of the Sunni channels based in the United Kingdom are influenced by Saudi petro dollars and dare not to speak against the destruction, but yet are one of the first to condemn the movie made by non Muslims,” Dr. Al Alawi said.

Muslim pilgrims walk in the courtyard of the Prophet Mohammed Mosque in the Saudi holy city of Medina (AFP Photo / Mahmud Hams)

Source: www.rt.com

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Why unequal treatment for the same crime?

The west does not lose any opportunity to blow things out of proportion if things go wrong in the Muslim world. The latest example is that of a poor and sick Christian girl who has been accused of blasphemy for burning pages of the Holy Quran, a sacred book for the world Muslims. This case is sub judice. There are more avenues open for the Christian community up to the Supreme Court. This Court and the Provincial High Courts are independent. However, a campaign is on the way to seek the signatures on a petition for forwarding it to the President of Pakistan. Until this moment a million, including many Muslims, have signed it.

From the days of President Reagan, the west has been haunted by ‘Islamophobia’. No one knows its origin. Islam means ‘PEACE’.  However, no religion in the world has been badly as maligned as Islam. And no other religion has been as widely discussed as Islam. Discussion on Islam is high on the agenda for US Congress debates. The case of the poor and under privileged Christian girl might become the number one topic of the US Presidential debates. Americans such as Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Newt Gringrich, Pat Robertson, Jimmy Swaggart etc. are rabid Islam haters. Not only that a woman in the USA ran away from the hospital shouting that Muslims are found everywhere in the country. 

But why the west is provoking the Muslims by attacking them, their Holy Quran, their Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), the rites and symbols. The latest is the judgment of the American court of acquitting American forces of defiling the Holy Quran. Incidents of burning the Holy Quran had taken place last year and this year. Caricatures of the Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) were made in Denmark and a movie was made on him in the Netherlands.

Mahfooz ur Rahman

rahman.mahfooz.pk@gmail.com

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Devil's Objective in this World till The Doomsday (Hadith)

One day, a congregation was gathered at the home of one of the Ansar around the Prophet (peace be upon him), (According to Anas (Blessing of Allah), it was Hazrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (Blessing of Allah). In the middle of a wonderful discourse, an ugly voice from the outside was heard saying, "O Messenger of Allah would you permit me to enter? I have business with you!"

All looked at the Prophet (peace be upon him), who said to the ones present, "Do you recognize the owner of this voice?" The companions answered, "Allah and His Messenger know best" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "It is Satan, the Accursed."

On hearing that, Hazrat Umar (Blessing of Allah), who was present, pulling his sword, asked, "O Messenger of Allah permit me to go and cut off his head. Let me smash his skull and free the people from his trouble"

The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "No, Umar, don't you know that you cannot kill him? He has permission to exist until Doomsday."

Then he added, "Open the door and admit him, as he did not come on his own, but on Allah's orders". Otherwise, he would not come here. Listen to what he says, and try to understand."

The Hazrat Rawi (Blessing of Allah), one of the companions, relates the tale. "They opened the door and he appeared in front of us as an old man cross-eyed (or blind in one eye) and scant of beard, with only six or seven long hairs from his chin. He had a very big head, his crossed eyes close to the top of his head, high on his forehead, with big thick hanging lips, like those of a water buffalo. He saluted the Prophet and the Companions, to which the Prophet (peace be upon him) responded.

'O Accursed, the salaam and salutations belong to Allah Most High 'Then he said, 'I heard you are here on business. What is it?"Satan said, 'I did not wish to come here, I was forced to. An angel came to me from your Lord, who honors whom He wishes, and said, "Allah Most High orders you to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon you): but you will go to him in humility and abasement, and be submissive and tractable. You will tell him how you seduce and mislead humankind. You are going to answer all his questions truthfully, without a single lie." And Allah said that if I lied to you, He would turn me into ashes and blow me away in the wind, and my enemies would laugh at me. I come with such orders, O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon you).'

Q: "Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked the Devil, 'Tell me, who in the creation you hate most?'

A: The Devil answered: "You O Muhammad (peace be upon you)! And all the prophets, there is no one in the whole creation that I hate more than you or another like you."

“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) confirmed that the Devil was his (and all the prophets') greatest foe.

Q: He (peace be upon him) asked, “whom else do you hate, besides me?"

A: "Satan said,

1.       The young ones who have given up their pleasures and themselves for Allah's sake;
2.       The men of knowledge who act upon their knowledge and who decline all that is doubtful;
3.       The ones who are clean, so clean that they wash thrice that which they wish to cleanse;
4.       The patient poor who neither ask from others the things they need, not complaining;
5.       The thankful rich, who give alms lawfully;
6.       The knowledgeable who act on what they know;
7.       The readers of the Quran who pattern themselves on it;
8.       Those who call to prayer on time;
9.       Advisers and reformers;
10.   Abstainers from unlawful food and banned
11.   Those who place their trust in Allah;
12.   Benefactors of the poor;
13.   The devout busy in Allah's service.

Q: Who are your friends?

A: There are ten groups:

·         Unfair judges,

·         The arrogant rich man,

·         Dishonest tradesmen,

·         Drinkers of alcohol,

·         Those who break relations/brotherhood,

·         Dealers in fraud,

·         Those who consume rights of orphans,

·         Those who are often absent from prayers,

·         Those who are unwilling to donate,

·         Those who always fantasize with no use.

Q:"Then, the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, 'What happens to you, O Accursed One, when my people do their prayers?'

A:"I shake and tremble as if stricken with malaria, because I see your people raised in blessing and power each time they prostrate."

Q: "'What happens to you, O Accursed, when my people fast?"

A: 'I have my hands and feet tied until they break their fast....’

Q: 'What happens to you when they all meet on the Pilgrimage at the house of their Lord?'

A: 'I lose my mind, I go mad."

Q: 'What happens to you when they recite the Holy Qur'an?'

A: 'I melt, like lead turning to hot liquid in the fire.'

Q: 'And when they pay alms?'

A: I am torn to pieces, as if the generous donors took a saw and sawed me into four pieces, because there are four rewards which the donor receives: the blessing of abundance, love and respect from Allah's creatures, a shield from Hell fires, and relief from distress and troubles.'

Q: "Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked the Devil what he thought of his beloved Companions.

A: About Abu Bakr (Blessing of Allah) he said, 'I hate him. Even before Islam, he refused to obey, nay! Even to hear me. How can he now listen to me?' About Umar Ibn Khattab (Blessing of Allah) he said, 'I run away whenever I see him. And about Ali Ibn Abu Talib Blessing of Allah he said, 'Oh, if I could just be safe from him, if he would just let me be, I would let him be. But he will not leave me alone!'

"Having heard the answers of the accursed Satan, the Prophet (peace be upon him) thanked Allah said, 'Praised be to Allah, who has blessed my people with such talent and cursed you with such negativity until that appointed time.

"When the Devil heard that, he said, 'Alas for you, what talent for your people? How can you feel there is safety for them as long as I exist? I enter their very veins, their very flesh, and they cannot even suspect, let along see or feel me. I swear by Allah Who has given me time until Doomsday, that I will seduce them all, the intelligent and the simple minded, the learned as well as the ignorant, the devout as well as the sinner. None will be safe from me, except the true servants of Allah.'

Q: 'Who are the true servants of Allah, according to you?'

A: 'You know well, O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon you), that whoever loves his money and his property, Allah does not count among His servants. Whenever I see someone who does not say "mine" and me, who does not love either money or flattery, I know he is truly a servant of Allah and I run away from him. As long as one loves money, property, flattery, he obeys me, he is my servant. I need many servants and I have servants. I am not alone. I have 70,000 children, each of them with his assigned duties. Each of my 70,000 children has 70,000 Satans serving under him, all assigned to different posts. Many are with the young, and the older women, and with the theologians and preachers and sheikhs. There is almost no difference of opinion between your young children. And some of the devout and some of the pious get along very well with my people! My devils lead the imagination of the sincerity of their devotions. Soon, they fight with each other and they don't even know what is happening to them. Then, I whisper to them, "Disbelieve", but when they disbelieve, I say,

"...I am free of you. Surely I fear Allah, the Lord of the Worlds." (Surah 59 al-Hashir, Ayat 16.)

"Then, the accursed Devil told how he profited from habits of man, which he liked. About lying, he said, 'do you know, O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon you), that lying is from me and that I am the first liar: Whoever lies is my best friend; whoever swears to the truth of Allah and lied to Adam and Eve.

I swore to them both, "Surely I am a sincere advisor to you." (Surah 07 Al A`raf, 7:21).

I also hate loving families. If they think of rejecting each other once, the marriage bond in Allah's view is dissolved. The wife will be unlawful to the husband. When they sleep together, they will be adulterers. If they have a child, he will be a bastard. I love that.'

'O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon you), let me tell you about my friends who abandon prayers or delay them. When it is time for prayer, I make them imagine that there is still time, that they are busy. They should enjoy what they are doing, they can always pray later! I hope they will die before doing their next prayer. If I don't succeed again, I enter into their prayers. I tell them, "Look to the right, look to the left! Think of the past, plan your future!" And when they do, I touch their cheeks and kiss their foreheads and take the peace from their hearts...

You know, O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon you), that the prayers of those whose attention is outside of them or who are imagining things, which do not belong in the presence of Allah, are also rejected and thrown in their faces. And, if I am not successful in that, I order them to do their prayers fast and they look like hens picking at grain.

If I still don't succeed, I follow them to the (Jamat) congregational prayers and put bridles on their heads. I pull, and lift their heads from the prostration before the Imam, and I push their heads down before the Imam touches his head to the ground and I am overjoyed to remember that Allah will turn those disobedient heads into donkey’s heads on the Last Day of Judgment...

If I am still not successful, I try at least to make them crack their fingers while they are making prayers. Then, they will be among those who make my remembrance, instead of Allah's remembrance. Or at least I will blow into their noses and make them yawn and, if they open their mouths, a little devil will enter into them through their mouths and increase their love and ambition of this world. The one who loves and is ambitious for this world becomes my soldiers; he obeys me and does as he is ordered.

'O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon you), how can you hope and be peaceful about your people's salvation and talent? I have a trap at every corner for them. I go to the poor and tell them, "What has Allah done for you? Why do you pray to Him? Prayer is for those to whom He has given in abundance." Then, I go the ones who are sick and tell them to stop praying, and remind them that even Allah said, "There is no blame on the sick" (Surah Nur, 24:61)

I hope that they will die having abandoned their prayers, so that Allah will meet them with anger in the Hereafter.

'O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon you), if I have told a single lie, may scorpions bite me, and ask from Allah that He turn me into ashes. O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon you), do not be sure of your people. I have already converted a sixth of them, who have left their religion.'

Q: 'O Accursed One, with whom do you most like to spend your time?'

A: 'The usurer

Q: 'And your best friend?'

A: 'The adulterer.'

Q: With whom do you share your bed?'

A: 'The drunkard.'

Q: 'Who are your guests?'

A: 'The thieves.'

Q: 'Who are your representatives?'

A: The magicians and soothsayers.'

Q: 'What pleases you most?'

A: 'Divorce.'

Q: 'Whom do you love most?'

A: 'Those who abandon their Friday prayers.'

Q: "What breaks your heart, O Accursed One?

A: 'The determination and the firm footsteps of those who march against the enemies of Allah for Allah's sake.'

Q: 'What gives you pain?'

A: 'The repentance of the penitent.'

Q: 'What makes you grimace?'

A: 'The alms given in secret.'

Q: 'What makes your eyes blind?'

A: 'The tahajjud prayer (late night prayer) in the middle of the night.'

Q: 'What makes you bow your head?'

A: 'Prayer done in congregation.'

Q: 'O Satan, according to you, who are the happiest among people?'

A: 'The ones who purposefully abandon their prayers.'

Q: 'And the best among people?'

A: 'The miser.'

Q: 'What prevents you from doing your job?'

A: 'The gathering of men of knowledge and their conversations.'

Q: 'How do you eat your food?'

A: 'With my left hand and the tips of my fingers.'

Q: 'When the sun is hot, where do you seek shade?'

A: 'Under people's dirty fingernails.

"I asked Allah to give me a house, and He gave me the public baths.

I asked Allah to give me a temple, and He gave me the marketplace as my temple.

I asked Allah to give me a book, and He gave me the book of poetry as my book.

I asked for a call to prayer, and He gave me the dancing music.

I asked for someone to share my bed, and He gave me the drunkard.

I asked Allah for helpers, Allah gave me those who believe in free will.

I asked Allah to give me brothers and sisters, and Allah gave me the squanders, who spend their money on evil things."

Allah said, “surely the squanders are the Devil's brethren" (Surah Bani Isr'ail, Ayat 27).

Then I asked Allah to be able to see the children of Adam while they are unable to see me, and He accorded that to me. I wished that the very veins of the children of Adam be my routes, and it was given to me. So, I flow in their veins as I wish and enter their flesh. All these were given to me, and I am proud of what I have received. And, let me add, O Muhammad (peace be upon you), that there are more with me than there are with you.'

"Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'If you had not proven what you said with the verses of Allah's Book, it would have been hard for me to confirm what you say."

"The Devil continued, 'Do you know, O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon you), that I have a son whose name is Atam? He urinates in the ear of the people who go to sleep without performing their night prayers. His urine puts them to sleep; otherwise, no one could have gone to bed without finishing their prayers."

"Then, I have a son whose name is Mutaqadi. His duty is to publicize the prayers, the devotions, and the good deeds done in secret a hundred fold. When deeds are publicized and receive credit and praise from the creatures of Allah, Allah takes away 99 of the promised one hundred rewards."

"Then, I have a son whose name is Kuhayl. His duty is to put kohl on the eyes of those in the presence of wise men or preachers. The ones whose eyes he has touched start falling asleep. They are, thus, prevented from hearing the words of Allah or receiving any benefits from them."

"The Devil talked about women. He said, 'whenever a woman leaves her seat, a Devil sits in her place. On the lap of every woman sits a Satan who makes her desirable to whoever looks at her. Then, he orders the woman to open and show her arms, her legs, and her breast and with his claws, tears her veil of shame and decency."

"Then the Devil started to complain. He said, 'O Muhammad (peace be upon you), in spite of all this, I have no strength to take away the faith of the faithful. I only take away their faith when they throw it away. If I were able, there would be no one on the face of this world who could say: LA ILAHA ILLALLAH, MUHAMMAD UR RASULULLAH (There is no god by Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) I would not leave a single one to pray or fast.

All I can do is to give the children of Adam imaginations, illusions and delusions, make the ugly appear beautiful, the wrong, right; and the bad, good. Neither do you have the power to give faith. You are only a proof of the Truth, because I know that, if you were given the power to give true faith, you would not leave a single non-believer on the face of this world. The fortunate one who is a believer is fortunate in his mother's womb, and the rebellious sinner is a rebel in his mother's womb. As you are the guide of the fortunate, I am only the cause of sin of the ones who are destined to sin.

Allah is He who renders one fortunate and another rebellious.' Then he recited from Surah Hud,

"And if thy Lord had pleased He would have made people a single nation, and they cease not to differ, except those upon whom thy Lord has mercy, and for this did He create them. And the word of them
altogether" (Surah Hud, Ayat 118-119.).

He recited from Surah Ahzab, Ayat 38: "And the command of Allah is a decree that is made absolute."

Then, the prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) told the Devil, 'O Father of All Bitterness, I wonder if it is at all possible for you to repent and return to your Lord. I promise I would intercede for you.'

"The Accursed One answered, 'O Messenger of Allah, it is Allah's justice. The ink on the pen, which wrote the judgment, is dry. What will happen until Doomsday. The One who made the master of all prophets, the speaker for the inhabitants of Paradise, the One who chose you to be the beloved amongst His creation, chose me to be the master of sinners and the speaker of the inhabitants of Hell. He is Allah. O Muhammad (peace be upon you), this which I have told you is my last word to you, and I have told nothing but the truth."

(This was a Hadith from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (Blessing of Allah), as related by Mudh Ibn Jabal and contained in Shaik-e-Akbar sheikh Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi's book, 'Shajarat al-Kawn', (The Tree of Being). This is by information from another Hadith by Anas Ibn Malik (Blessing of Allah).)

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