VOL. XX, NO. 25 SPECIAL ISSUE IN THIS ISSUE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR............................... 2 ISLAM IN COLOMBIA................................... 4 THE PURPOSE OF LIFE................................. 5 INNA LILAHI WA INNA ILAYHI RAJIOON............. 7 ASK AND HE GIVES ............................................... 7 HOW I EMBRACED ISLAM............................ 8 THREE SPECIAL INDIVIDUALS ......................... 10 SALAAH TUL JANAZAH - SHAFI’I .................... 12 SALAAH TUL JANAZAH - HANAFI .................... 13 SALAAH TUL TASBEEH................................. 14 PRAYER LOCATIONS-”PULL OUT” SPECIAL ......... 15 Duas AFTER PRAYER Spanish & English........ 19 PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAW) LAST SERMON .. 20 KID’S CORNER- PROPHETS QUIZ ..................22 COOK’S CORNER- KHAMEER ........................23 SECRETS OF SURAH KAHAF.......................... 24 CONTEMPLATIONS OF SURAH AL ASR............. 26 THE PAST IS GONE FOREVER ........................ 27 SPEAKING OF TIME .................................... 27 OLIVE OIL .............................................. 28 STORIES OF THE SAHABAH - KHADIJA ............ 30 SAYINGS OF THE PROPHET (SAW) ................ 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: www.islamicbulletin.org Asalamu Alaikum and Welcome to the Islamic Bulletin! Ramadan is a time when Allah’s mercy is directed towards us in full measure. We are truly fortunate that Allah has really blessed us by allowing us to again witness this holy month of Ramadan. So let us pledge that this Ramadan will make up for all sins and shortcomings that have been committed since the previous Ramadan. Ramadan is the month that unites the Ummah, brings happiness and joy, excitement and relief! The month that Allah has chosen for us to get back on track, repent from our sins, replenish our record of good deeds and increase our Iman. During the month of Ramadan, let us draw up a plan for the remainder of our life. Resolve that from this time we will become more regular with our salah than ever before. In addition, we should make a commitmet to be more regular with performing salah with jamat. Make it a firm intention! Furthermore, Ramadan is the time of the year when we return to silent and verbal introspection and recharge our spiritual batteries, and make a firm resolution to take the advice and apply it to our lives. Only then will this Ramadan become a turning point in our lives and induce us to change. May Allah grant us the ability to appreciate this Ramadan. May He also bless us with many more Ramadans. We should not think, “Well, we can make the change next year.“ We should treat every Ramadan as if we do not know if we will ever be given another opportunity after this one. It is not just a question of whether we will live until next Ramadan, but there is also the question of good health, or the prospect of some misfortune, etc. befalling us! Abu Huraira (R) reported the Prophet (SAW) saying, “The time between the five prayers, two consecutive Friday prayers, and two consecutive Ramadans are expiations for all that has happened during that period, provided that one has avoided the grave sins.” [Muslim] So let us take full advantage of this beautiful opportunity that awaits us! In this issue of the Islamic Bulletin, we have included all of the favorites and so much more.We especially hope you enjoy this issue’s How I Embraced Islam—a 70-year-old grandmother’s conversion to Islam. This issue’s special delicacy to try out is a yummy dessert, Khameer, from Hadramout that we hope you will enjoy. And what better time to enjoy this dessert than during Ramadan! Also included in this issue are great freebies for you to use in the years to come: - A prayer chart , Dua poster and other guides for children and adults. - A guide to Salatul Janazah (in both the Shafi’and Hanafi mathhab)--So the next time you will know how to follow the imam leading the prayer. Take the time to learn this prayer because one day others will be praying it for you. - The 11th edition of California Prayer Locations. We hope you enjoy and find our pull-out color center pages useful. The website version has Google maps and Google Earth which allows you to get driving directions to the mosque and be able to see the masjid. Remember to take the listing with you so you do not miss your prayers. Happy Ramadan, Eid Mubarak and Happy Reading!! The Staff of The Islamic Bulletin
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X No. 25 Page 2 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor I found this very touching piece about the relationship between a father and his child. I hope you include it in your next newsletter. Farid Mirza Fairfield, CA Dear Farid, Asalamu Alaikum. Thank you so much. The editors also found this article very touching. We are sure that our readers will enjoy it too. When I was 4 Yrs Old : My father is THE BEST When I was 6 Yrs Old: My father seems to know everyone When I was 10 Yrs Old: My father is excellent but he is short tempered When I was 12 Yrs Old: My father was nice when I was little When I was 14 Yrs Old: My father started being too sensitive When I was 16 Yrs Old : My father can’t keep up with modern times When I was 18 Yrs Old : My father is getting less tolerant as the days pass by When I was 20 Yrs Old : It is too hard to forgive my father, how could my mom stand him all these years When I was 25 Yrs Old : My father seems to be objecting to everything I do When I was 30 Yrs Old: It’s very difficult to be in agreement with my father, I wonder if my grandfather was troubled by my father when he was a youth When I was 40 Yrs Old: My father brought me up with a lot of discipline, I must do the same When I was 45 Yrs Old: I am puzzled, how did my father manage to raise all of us When I was 50 Yrs Old : It’s rather difficult to control my kids, how much did my father suffer for the sake of upbringing and protecting us When I was 55 Yrs Old: My father was far looking and had wide plans for us, he was gentle and outstanding. When I became 60 Yrs Old: My father is THE BEST Note that it took 56 Yrs to complete the cycle and return to the starting point “My father is THE BEST “ Let’s be good to our parents before it’s too late and pray to Allah that our own children will treat us even better than the way we treated our parents. Allah(SWT) says: “Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and show kindness to parents. If one or both reach old age with you then do not say uff! to them nor repulse them, but speak graciously to them.” {Quran: Surah Al-Isra 17 : Ayah (verse) 23} “O our lord, forgive me and my parents, and (all) believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established! ” Quran: Surah Ibrahim 14: Ayah 41} “O my Lord, have mercy on them (parents) just as they nourished me when I was small . ” {Quran: Surah Al-Isra: 17 ayah (verse) 24} Dear Readers, 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 Our aim is to bring you relevant articles and uplifting messages on Islam, and it is intended to remind you what a beautiful and peaceful religion Islam really is. With all the published negativity about our religion, it is oftentimes easy to feel daunted; we desire to do the opposite. If you’re a first time visitor to Islam, we hope to tweak your interest so that you can discover the beauty and truth of this religion yourself. If you are a Muslim who needs to find yourway ‘back’ to Islam, we hope something in this issue entices you to recall the peace that Islam can offer. Thank you all for making the Islamic Bulletin the wonderful publication that it is! On a final note, the message team is always looking for ‘new blood’ to help the magazine continue to grow, Inshallah. So if you’re willing to donate some time in seeking the pleasure of Allah, then contact us. Let your skills benefit an entire community! With your help, Insha’Allah, the Bulletin can grow to be even more successful and reach more people. We have dedicated a video hymn in English and Arabic . Go to www.islamicbulletin.org click on enter here, Islamic Last Will , and then Your First Night in the Grave . ‘ Watch this video and ponder on the words. Inshallah we must all take a good look at the lifestyles we are leading. The Prophet (SAW) explained that actions are according to their ending, so be careful on how your ending will be. None of us have any guarantee that Paradise awaits for us. Now is the time, especially during Ramadan, to repent to Allah and begin to lead true Islamic lifestyles, Insha’Alla. On page 20, we conclude this issue of “The Islamic Bulletin” with the Prophet‘s (SAW) last sermon before his death. In it, the Prophet (SAW) addressed several issues: · Freedom & Justice for all · Exploitation & Monopoly · Sanctity of life, wealth, & property · Rights of others · Women’s rights & obligations · Equality of all races. The Prophet (SAW)directed his Speech to all humankind. He used the term “O People” seven times. He used the terminology “O Men” once. In the farewell address, the Prophet (SAW) did not use the terminology “O Muslims” or “O Believer). The Prophet (SAW) addressed all people regardless of their religions, colors or times. It contained advice for all future generations to come…Us! We are grateful to the volunteers for all their help with “The Islamic Bulletin”. They wanted to remain anonymous so we ask our readers to remember them in your duas this Holy Month. May Allah grant them Jannatul Firdous (The highest level of Paradise ). Happy Ramadan, Eid Mubarak and Happy Reading!!
The Islamic Bulletin Volume XX No. 25 Page 3 ISLAMIC WORLD NEWS ISLAM IN COLOMBIA BY SAN FRANCISCO GROUP Over the years we have traveled to different countries throughout the world to revive the effort of the Prophet Mohammed (SAW) and remind the Muslims of their responsibilities and good qualities. The word ‘dawah’ (invitation) is actually a term that originates way back to all prophets of mankind and to our beloved Prophet Mohammed (S). Many times, Muslims who have relocated to other countries have forgotten Islam. So, by our visiting these countries we hope to correct ourselves, remind the local Muslims to establish 5 amals (activities) and reintroduce the essentials of Islam, and be better Muslims and establish the local effort. Although many brothers representing a vast array of ethnicities have been fortunate to take part in this dawah effort of visiting and spreading the Word of Allah, I was part of the group travelling to Colombia, which consisted of 7 brothers from the Bay Area. For the next 40 days, these brothers and I would form a bond together; we would share the same small living space, we would cook together, eat together, experience the same hardships and tribulations and along the way, forge a friendship and brotherhood that many times can last a lifetime. So, when we finally got our visas and scheduling taken care of, the brothers and I said our goodbyes to our families. We departed from San Francisco to Mexico and arrived in Colombia. We were the first group ever from the Bay Area to have visited Colombia so we were a bit apprehensive. Not having any contact information or prior routes to our destination, we were quite aware of the fact that Colombia has a huge drug cartel that patrols the streets. Our looking different was sure to take notice. But we put our trust in Allah that everything would go well. Being that we have had our share of discrimination in the United States, we were not quick to condemn a people by the actions of a few. Judging the country of Colombia by the drug cartels was wrong, and we would not permit ourselves to become prejudiced with fear. The statistics for Islam in Colombia estimates a total Muslim population of 10,000, representing 0.02 percent of the population. There are a number of Islamic organizations in Colombia, including Islamic centers in San Andrés, Bogotá, Maicao, Guajira, Nariño, and Santa Marta. There are also primary and secondary Islamic schools in Bogotá and Maicao. Maicao plays host to the continent’s second largest mosque, the Mosque of Omar Ibn AlKhattab. The Muslim presence in Colombia is vast and varied. A large wave of immigrants came from the Middle East in the 1940s, making their permanent home in the town of Maicao in northern Colombia. These immigrants were mostly Muslim and were attracted by the thriving commerce of the town, which was benefiting from the neighboring Venezuelan oil bonanza. It is estimated that Colombia has a population of 840,000 Lebanese immigrants. After arriving at 11pm in Bogata, we took a taxi and proceeded to go to the local masjid. To our dismay, we found the masjid closed. The mosque in Bogota is actually a converted 4th floor retail area in the downtown, busy shopping district. With the masjid being closed and having no way of gaining entrance, we found a local hotel and stayed the night; thankful that the first part of our journey had gone so smoothly. The next morning we went to the mosque. It was here that we spent the next 5 days of our trip. The days here were busily involved visiting the local Muslim community. In addition to Colombian Muslims who were of Middle Eastern descent, there were also Indo-Pakistani Muslims and Muslims who were native Colombian. We were fortunate to meet and befriend Brother Nelson, a Colombian convert, the President of the Islamic Center in Bogata. Brother Nelson was an extremely hospitable host, showing us around the city and taking us to visit the Muslims that he knew. Another Colombian convert, an English teacher named Brother Luis, was our guide throughout the rest of our stay in Colombia. When news spread throughout the community that visitors had arrived, Muslims from America, Muslims from near and far were eager to come and listen to talks about Islam and the reviving of the effort of the Prophet (S). Other Muslims from neighboring cities invited us to visit them. So we rented a large van and decided to travel to Medellin. It was decided that Brother Nelson and three other local Colombians would join us on our trip; we were appreciative of having Brothers who were familiar with the country to navigate our way around. The local brothers cautioned us that the problem of guerrillas was very real, that we would need to travel by day to avoid any danger, and that the government would close many of the roads and highways at dusk to further protect the citizens. We prepared ourselves to be leaving the next morning after prayer. In all, we felt very successful of our short time spent in Bogata. In addition to meeting and befriending a great Muslim community, four Columbians converted to Islam, including a Flamingo band leader David (Dawud) and a 70 year old grandmother. Just before leaving, a young Colombian man who had recently accepted Islam came to the mosque accompanied by his father. This father said that since his son had converted to Islam, his son started respecting him and behaving differently—kinder and more thoughtful. The father mentioned that he had wanted to see for himself the reasons behind this change in his son. This young man ended up traveling with us on our journey and by the end of our trip, he was so thankful for the knowledge that he had gained and for the experience that made him a more patient person—qualities he said were sure to please his father. Now accompanying our group as we traveled was Nelson and four other Colombian brothers. We were now a group of 12 brothers traveling by van to the city of Medellin. Although we drove as fast as we could, we were unable to make it to the city limit by sunset and were forced to sleep the night on the outskirts of town. Since we had not planned on doing this, we were unsure where to sleep the night. It was dark so we parked outside a nightclub. Some brothers slept in the van while others put their sleeping bags outside and slept. When we woke up and were preparing to leave, a customer came up to us and told us that we had scared him out of his wits—he thought that we were angels and were here to take his life. We continued on our journey and saw a sign that said San Francisco. Being from the Bay Area, we all agreed that the city of San Francisco was where we wanted to stop to pray and have a bite to eat. Upon seeing a few of the brothers dressed all in white, the restaurant owner explained to us that his wife, who was almost 9 months pregnant, were making her uncomfortable and they preferred us not to eat there. We were told that we could pray outside. We prayed outside and when we finished the Mosque of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, Micao, Colombia
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X No. 25 Page 4 restaurant owner came and told us that his wife felt so much peace watching us pray. We were about to leave but they insisted that we have café con leche (coffee with milk) and apologized for their prior behavior. San Francisco, a small town in the mountains, had never encountered Muslims nor heard about Islam. Alhamdullilah, Brother Nelson gave an introductory talk about Islam and then talked about Mary’s (Maryam’s) pregnancy in the Quran. We had distributed dates, brought from the States, and offered them to the locals. Nelson donated the Spanish Quran to the owner of the restaurant who had expressed interest in reading it. His wife ate some of the dates and wanted to choose a name from the Quran for their newborn. They asked us to return to their city in several years so we could talk to their child to explain the importance of the name they chose. We drove to another town as we saw a sign for delicious fresh fish. We stopped to eat at this restaurant near a lake. After eating a delicious meal of fried fish and salad, we decided to make our prayers there. After praying, the locals asked us to pray for them. We told them that we pray to God directly and that they, too, can do the same. One parent insisted that we pray for her sick child who had been ill for many days. We weren’t prepared for this but our amir (leader) told us that we could all collectively make dua’a for this child. We made dua’a and read Surat al Fatiha as there is shifa (cure) in this surah. By the time we finished making dua’a, other people had gathered around us asking us to make prayers for them, too. We told them that we were normal people who were seeking help from God. We explained to them about the oneness of Allah and the basic principles of Islam. Two people wanted to take their shahada. We gave them some Islamic materials in Spanish and directed them to the closest Muslim community. We finally arrived in the city of Medellin. Our stay in Medellin was a very pleasant memory for many of the brothers. We were warmly welcomed by the local Muslims who were so excited to have a foreign group visiting them. We bid farewell to Brother Nelson who had to get back to his job and family. Our stay in Medellin was busily spent visiting the Muslim community which consisted of families from the Caribbean and some native Pakistanis, in addition to native Colombians. The community in Medellin is very active. During our stay here, a Colombian converted to Islam and the next day he brought his wife who was also ready to convert, Alhamdulillah. We continued by van on our way to Cartagena and while stopped at a traffic sign in the city of Bucaramanga, people were selling what looked like roasted peanuts. The local Colombians who were traveling with us wanted to stop and buy these snacks, excitedly offering them to us. We were told they were yummy so naturally we were eager to try this roadside snack. However, upon closer examination, they didn’t look like peanuts; they looked darker than the ones we have in the US. They invited us to go ahead and taste them. We asked what they were. They then laughed. “If we tell you what they are, you will never eat them.” That was our clue to not eat them! “Go ahead, take a bite and let us know what you think?” They told us that the delicious snack tastes like burned popcorn and is super crunchy. With each bite, there is a crackle sound. Realizing that we were not going to join them in the eating of this snack, they finally told us what they were eating, “hormigas culonas” (toasted queen ants)!! We decided to pass on this delicatessen, while our fellow local Muslims munched on—the cracking sounds evident with each bite. It seems that Colombians have been eating ants for centuries. We finally arrived in Cartagena and then took small canoes to the nearby island of Playa Blanca, which was inhabited by Muslim fishermen. We were surprised to see how Islam had reached this island in Colombia. The island was beautiful, with the reflection of the brilliant sun shining on the sand and sea. The ocean had the most striking colors of blue you had ever seen. Located on this island, there was a small house that had been converted to a mosque. The local imam there was a Colombian convert who had donated his house for a mosque. Brother Carlos was so strong in his dawah efforts that he had introduced forty houses in a radius around the mosque to Islam. He had even been interviewed by the local TV station; Brother Carlos said that the way he attracted people to Islam was how he dealt with his neighbors. And if a person had good qualities and was honest and generous, then your friends and neighbors will look to those qualities and want to emulate them. His house got too small to accommodate the growing population of Muslims so he built a larger prayer place (musala). We visited the local Muslim fishermen and they were so happy to see us; the fact that we had come to visit them from so far had truly touched them. They constantly supplied us with fresh coconuts and other delicious tropical fruit. We passed the warm evenings gathering with the local Muslims, sipping delicious coconut juice and reminding the Muslims about their duties and obligations to keeping Islam active. Most of the people on this island were fisherman by profession and very humble people. Their main diet consisted of fish. Since we were considered their special guests, they crossed the island just to bring back halal meat so as we would not tire from eating fish. As a special treat for the brothers, the amir (leader) of our group allowed us to go swimming in the clear blue ocean. He must have seen us sweating in the hot weather and without cold, icy drinks. This has been an experience that we’ll never forget. Just before leaving the island, a Muslim brother donated an electric water cooler, either as an encouragement to stay longer San Francisco, Colombia Cartagena, Colombia
The Islamic Bulletin Volume XX No. 25 Page 5 or for the next group that comes by to visit. When we were leaving the fishermen were in tears and asked us to stay longer, but our remaining days were few and we had already extended our stay on the island of Cartagena. We said, “Ojalá we will come back.” “InshAllah we will return.” Ojalá is a term used in the Spanish language which was originated by the Muslims of Spain about 800 years ago. The Spanish phrase, ojalá (que) , and the Portuguese phrase, oxalá (que) , both meaning “I hope (that),” “would (that),” “would to God (that),” etc., are both derived from the Arabic insha’ Allâh. When asked why they use the word “Ojalá,” they will say that they use it as an expression for something in the future. “Ojalá, I get the job, house, car, etc.” When the Spaniards shout olé at the bullfighter or the flamenco dancer, they echo the Muslim invocation of God, Allah! In fact, thousands of Spanish words have their origins in the language of the Muslims whose stay in Spain lasted eight centuries. Examples which can be easily appreciated without much knowledge of Spanish are sugar, azúcar , originally assukar ; and cotton, in Spanish algodón, from al-qutun. Olive in Spanish is aceituna, and olive oil aceite, from the Arabic for olive, alzeitun. When Spaniards bid one another farewell and say “Hasta mañana” they are, quite unconsciously as with most of these words, using the Arabic hattá which still means what it did in the Middle Ages when it entered Spanish – “until”. Many of the brothers were surprised to discover that the people of Colombia were using so many words as part of their language. From Cartagena, we were expected to visit the Muslims in Maicao. There are about 10,000 Arabs, both Muslims and Christians in this city. However, due to limited time we would not be able to visit them. We had to think of getting back to Bogota, which was about 1046 km from where we were. We had limited daytime travel and police blocks, so we made mashura (consultation) and decided to head back south and stopped in Barranquilla. We went through security checkpoints; the government has set up these programs aimed at eradicating drugs. Although 90% of the cocaine entering the U.S. is processed in Colombia, Colombia has made real progress to weaken drug trafficking organization. Throughout our trip the Colombian Muslims were beautiful people to meet—friendly and hospitable. The Islamic quality of honoring the guests has surely not been lost in this beautiful country. We were welcomed, embraced and made to feel at home. From our wonderful experience in Colombia, we now have a love and attachment to Colombia and can’t wait to come back! This is an advice to all about the purpose of life. I request you to think of what I’m about to say to you as advice; not a lecture. The information that I wish to share with you may seem a bit extensive. When you consider the capacity of the human brain and the amount of information that it can store and decipher, then a few pages of information, I’m sure, will not overwork you. It is my responsibility to address the topics of our discussion, “What is the purpose of our life?” and also ask a question, “What do you know about Islam?” I mean what do you really know about Islam? Not what you’ve heard about Islam, not what you’ve seen in the actions of some Muslims, but what do you know about Islam? I would like to begin by saying that all of you have an equal responsibility. And that responsibility is to listen with an open heart and an open mind. In a world filled with prejudice and cultural conditioning, it is very hard to find people that are able to take a moment to think. To think about life objectively. And try to arrive at the truth about this world and the real purpose of our lives. Unfortunately, when you ask most people the question, “what is the purpose of our life?” such a fundamental and important question, they will not tell you what they have concluded through observation or analytical reasoning. Rather, in most cases, they will simply tell you what someone else said. Or they will tell you what is commonly presumed by others. What my father said what the purpose of life is, what the minister of my church said the purpose of life is, what my teacher in school said, what my friends said. If I ask anyone what’s the purpose eating, why do we eat? Most people will say, in one way or another, it’s for nutrition; because nutrition sustains life. If I ask people why they work, they will say because it is a necessity in order to support themselves and to provide the needs of their family. If I ask people why they sleep, why they wash, why they dress, etc. they will answer this is a common necessity for all human beings. We can follow this line of questioning with a hundred questions and receive the same or similar answers from people, in any language, in any place in the world. Simple. Now I ask you the question, “What is the goal and purpose of our life?” and we get so many different answers. That’s because people are confused. They don’t really know. They’re stumbling in the dark. And rather than say, “I don’t know”, they just offer any answer that they’ve been programmed to answer. Well, think about it now. Is our purpose in this world simply to eat, sleep, dress, work, acquire some material things and enjoy ourselves? Is this our purpose? Why are we born? What is the object of our existence and what is the wisdom behind the creation of man and this tremendous universe? Think about that question. THE PURPOSE OF LIFE
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X No. 25 Page 6 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 definite 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. I would like to mention a few verses from the Quran that addresses this subject. “Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding, who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and conclude), “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) Now hearing these verses, Allah has mentioned very clearly to us by first drawing our attention to the creation of ourselves, to different postures of the human body, the different attitudes of the human psychology. He draws our attention to the heavens, the alternation of the night and day, the firmament, the stars, the constellations, and then He says to us 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 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 that 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? My dear respected readers, 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, like what exists here in this country, 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 the heart. This magnificent pump works 24 hours a day for your entire lifetime without stopping. It pumps 100,000 beats in a day, while sending five liters of blood circulating through your body in just 13 seconds. In one single day your heart can pump enough blood to fill a good sized oil truck. How it pumps continuously for 60 or 70 years; in taking and discharging blood throughout the body and maintaining a steady precision throughout the life of that person. Think about it. Think about the kidneys; what kind of function do they carry? The purifying instrument of the body; which performs hundreds of chemical analysis simultaneously. And also controls the level of toxicity in the content of the body…and it does this automatically. 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? Themselves? No of course not!! What about this universe? Think about this. This earth is one planet in our solar system. And our system is one of the systems in the Milky Way. And the Milky Way is one of the constellations in that galaxy. And there are millions of galaxies like the Milky Way. Think about that…and they’re all in order. They’re all precise. They are not colliding with each other, they are not conflicting with each other and they are swimming along in an orbit that has been set for them. Have human beings set that into motion, are human beings maintaining that precision? No, of course they’re not. Think about the oceans, the fish, the insects, the birds, the plants, bacteria, the chemical elements that have not been discovered and cannot be detected even with sophisticated instruments. Yet each one of them has a law that they follow. Did all of this synchronization, balance, harmony, variation, design, maintenance, operation, and infinite operation; did all of this happen by chance? And also, do these things function perpetually and perfectly also by chance? And do they keep on reproducing themselves and maintaining themselves also by chance? No, of course not!! That would be totally illogical and foolish to think and in the least it would indicate that however it came to be, it is totally outside the realm of human capabilities; we would all agree to that. The Almighty Power, God…the Creator who has the knowledge to design and to proportion; who has created all of this and is responsible for maintaining all of this is the only one who is deserving of praise and gratitude. If I gave each one of you $100 for no reason, you would at least say thank you. 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? My readers, that in a nutshell, is the goal and purpose of this life. 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) This is what the Almighty said. So 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. And whatever our system…the eating, the drinking, the dressing, the working, the enjoying between the life and the death…all of this is just coincidental. We have been created for worship and that is the purpose of our life. I don’t think that anyone can have much argument with that purpose.
The Islamic Bulletin Volume XX No. 25 Page 7 Allah says: “Innalilahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon” To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.” (Quran Surat Al Baqarah 2:156) “Every soul shall have a taste of death, then to us you will be ultimately returned.” (Quran Surat Al Ankaboot 29:57) We say this statement, “Innalilahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon” “To Allah We Belong and To Him We Will Return” when someone dies, when we lose something, or suffer a setback or harm. But………..do you know what it really means? In a nutshell it means that whatever we have is not really ours. It belongs to Allah. Take a look around you; everything you see, all that you have and all that there is….in you, on you, around you….belongs to Allah alone. It is Allah who has given you all the property and goods you possess, the cars that you own, the house that you live in, the kids that He blessed you with, the health that He gave you, the time that He has allowed you to live on this earth are all Allah’s property. Even the bodies we live in and the life that we have belongs to Allah alone. He is the true Owner of them all. “And to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth…..” (Surah Aal-Imraan: 3:180) “The kingdom of the heavens and the earth and everything in them belongs to Allah. He has power over all things.” ( Surat al-Ma’ida: 5:120) Now, since everything belongs to Allah, then we have to include even our souls in that list. The very souls that we think of as our “self”; our “nafs”; our “being” — whatever you want to call it — that very thing that distinguishes you from the rest of the world, belongs to Allah. And this is the essence of the concept of submission to Allah in Islam. Since He is the true Possessor of everything, and everything is His property, He allots what He wills to whomever He wills…….and then He takes it away. Just like a friend who lends you his book. And then after a few days, he wants it back and you give it back to him…no regrets…..no sorrow….no questions asked. After all, it was Allah’s to begin with. So He may give you something and then take it back after a while. He will bless you with a precious child that you love dearly…and then He may take it away. He will grant you money, honor and status….and then He may take it away. He may give you youth, vitality and health and then surely He will take it away. Remember….man enters into this world empty handed… and leaves it empty handed. Each day that passes, each day we breathe, each day we go about our lives, and it is but a day closer to our end, closer to our return to our Creator. In many cultures Death is something you don’t talk about. In fact if you visit most cemeteries, they are so beautiful with grass and decorations that they deviate you from the reality of the occasion. In this issue of the Islamic Bulletin we describe how to pray Salat al Janaza on page 11 and 12. And while you are standing praying for that deceased person, remember that the day will come when you will be laying down helpless while others pray for you. Have you thought about your death? When your time is up and you can do nothing more than what you had done? Every time you hear of someone dying, know that your turn is getting nearer and one day it’ll be your turn. Think really hard when you are praying and ask for forgiveness. I look at the whole thing as a reminder. Death is a fact that is hard to comprehend because we think it is not for us. Some people think they will go to Allah when they are older. But how can we be so sure that we will even live an additional day? The Prophet Muhammad (S) used to remember his death every day many timesAfter death has come - those who did wrong in this life, will surely wish they could come back to this life and to have another chance to do good, and by this time, it will be too late. Now is the time to change our lifestyle and obey Allah. Before it’s too late, let us be one of those who will be under the shade of Allah. “INNALILAHI WA INNA ILAYHI RAJIOON” Ask and He Gives I asked for Strength........ And Allah gave me Difficulties to make me strong. I asked for Wisdom........ And Allah gave me Problems to solve. I asked for Prosperity....... And Allah gave me Brain and Strength to work. I asked for Courage..... And Allah gave me Danger to overcome. I asked for Love....... And Allah gave me Troubled people to help. I asked for Favors....... And Allah gave me Opportunities. I received nothing I wanted I received everything I needed Allah answers my prayers.
The Islamic Bulletin Volume X X No. 25 Page 8 MY INCREDIBLE DISCOVERY OF ISLAM When someone asked me recently how I came into the fold of Islam, I was taken aback and a bit surprised. For I have never thought of my coming into Islam as having one critical turning point. When did I first question Catholicism? When did I first want to become a Muslim? The answers to these questions and many others require more thought than I could have ever imagined. To really anwer these questions I have to start at the very beginning so that you understand the point to where I got in my life that led me to finally accept the truth of Islam. I became a Muslim at the age of 67, and I thank God that He has blessed me to become a believer in Islam. “Those whom Allah (in His plan) wills to guide,- He opens their breast to Islam; those whom He wills to leave straying,- He makes their breast close and constricted, as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus does Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.” (Quran 6: 125) I was raised in a strict Roman Catholic home, the middle daughter of three children. My father worked hard and long every day. He would leave early in the morning each day and would return late at night. All of this so that my mother could stay home and take care of my sisters and me. One very sad and unfortunate day my mother told us that my father had been in a car accident. He passed away suddenly and our whole world turned upside down. With all the changes that were taking place, my mother told us that she would now have to go back to work. My mother, who had once been a nurse, was now forced to work to support us. She found a job in the local hospital, many times working two shifts. But with this newfound responsibility, my mother was no longer able to oversee our upbringing. And although she sent us to Catholic school, her job kept her from keeping a watchful eye on her daughters. So, with much time to pass and spend, I found myself spending time with my friends at the local cafes. It was there that I met a very nice Musliman man who later became my husband. My mother did not know that I was spending time with this man. In fact, when I told her that I was in love and wanted to get married, she warned that we were from different backgrounds and that we would eventually have problems. She stated that if there were ever children in our future, problems over religion would undoubtedly develop. At twenty years old, I could not imagine that we would have any problems in our marriage. I was so in love and felt so happy that someone would be taking care of me. My husband was not a very religious man at that time, and deep down I felt that I would be able to get him to convert to Catholicism. As for us not having the same ethnic background, I considered myself more open-minded and was excited to be embracing a new culture. Everything seemed to be going along so perfectly for the next several years. We were happy and not once did culture or religion ever cause us any problems. God blessed us with a beautiful son and then several years later with a beautiful daughter. Still, we went along with our lives and I even began taking my children to church with me. My husband never prevented me from attending weekly Sunday mass. However, after a few times of my taking our children to church, that is when he spoke to me about his not wanting the children to attend church. Frankly, I was angry and upset. “But why not,” I objected. “Any religion is better than none,” I argued. I really could not understand the harm in taking them to church. Up until this point, we had never even discussed religion. In fact, I had never even questioned that there could even be a different religion than Catholicism. I was born a Catholic and thought that Catholicism was the right religion. For explanations that I can’t even put a finger on, it seemed like from this day on, so many problems were now evident. We argued all the time— about everything and everyone. Now, little things became a big deal. Religion became an arguing point between us. The differences in our cultures became something to argue about. We argued about in-laws and most unfortunately, we argued on the upbringing of our children. Everything that my mother warned us about was now coming true. The only peace and harmony that was now between us was the wisdom, sincerity, concern and love my husband’s father, my father-in-law, had for our marriage. My father-in-law loved his son and grandchildren, yet also genuinely loved me as a daughter. He was a very religious and devout Muslim and was a very wise man. At that time, because I was not surrounded with Islam, my father-in law was the first introduction into Islam I had. He prayed every prayer, fasted during the month of Ramadan, and was very generous to the poor. I could feel his connection to God. In fact, my father-in-law was so kind to the needy that every day after coming home from the dhur prayer at the mosque, he would invite any needy person home to eat lunch with. This was every single day. Up until his death at the age of 95, relatives remembered that he had continued with this habit. My father-in-law did not like the arguing between my husband and me and counseled us to find a solution before the children suffered as a result of our fighting. He tried desperately to help us find a solution. He warned his son to allow me room to practice my religion, but it was no longer about religion anymore. I felt frustrated and desired to take a break. When I asked my husband for a separation, he agreed that perhaps it was the best thing for our marriage. You know the saying, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Well, not in our case. In fact, the absence made our hearts grow further apart. After the separation, we both wanted a permanent separation and agreed on a divorce. Although I desperately wanted my children to live with me, we both felt that it would be better for the children to be raised by their father. He was in a much better position, financially, to raise them and give them many comforts; something I was not prepared to give. How I longed for them every night. I moved back with my mother and continued seeing my children every weekend. My ex-husband would drop off our children on Friday afternoons and pick them up early Sunday mornings. Although this arrangement hurt, it was better than nothing. Each night before going to bed, I would read from the Bible. When my children were visiting me, I would read them a passage regardless of whether my children understood or not. After reading a passage, one night I would seek help from Jesus, the next night from the angels, the next night from the different saints, the next night from the Virgin Mary. But one night we had no one else to ask, I had run out of Saints. So I said ‘ now we’re going to ask God’. He said ‘Okay, now who is God?’ I said ‘He’s the one who created you, who created me. He is forever our neighbor’. So he was pondering, he was thinking about those words. To my explanation, I rubbed my cross again. I said ‘now thank God’. He looked at the cross and said ‘Mamma, who is this?’ I said ‘This is God. He’s the son of God’. He said ‘You just told me a minute ago that God is forever. How come this one is dead?’ I never, never in my whole life realized that fact. He asked me where does this god come from? And I said, he came from the womb of Mary, of the Virgin Mary. He said ‘Oh, so he was born sometime before’. I said ‘well, yes’. But then he said ‘But you told me that he’s forever. He never dies and he’s never born. My son, who was now about eight, asked me directly, “Mama, why don’t you just ask God for help?“ I was surprised and stunned and remember feeling a bit shocked that he would question my religion. I told him that I also ask God. Little did I know that this son of mine would grow up to be a constant thorn in my side, always reminding me about the need to worship the One, True God. Thank God. HOW I EMBRACED ISLAM
The Islamic Bulletin Volume XX No. 25 Page 9 I ended up remarring a few years later and relocated to Australia with my new husband. My ex-husband, who had also remarried, moved his family to Saudi Arabia. I longed to see my children but eventually it was in Italy where I started a new family and became the mother to three more daughters. Still, every single night I would pray, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.“ The years passed quickly and busily. I was so excited one summer; my son and daughter would be coming to visit me. So many things raced through my mind. Would they be happy to see me after such a long absensce? What would we talk about? I prayed for help. All of my fears evaporated the first time I laid eyes on my children at the airport. There was an instant bond between mother and children and it was if little time had elasped. My son was the more vocal of the two. He made sure to remind me that they do not eat pork, nor could they eat foods that contained alcolhol. I told him that I remember that about his religion. I also told him that I also do not eat pork, nor drank alcolhol, a habit that remained from the time I was married to his father. As for the wine, well, I would make sure to stop cooking with it while they were home with me. We had a beautiful summer, getting to know each other, them getting to know their new sisters, pickinicking, going on outings, swimming. I did not want it to end. But I knew that they had their life back in Saudi Arabia and they needed to get back. I asked my daughter the dreaded question of how her stepmother treated her, and I honestly felt happiness when she said she was treated like a daughter. My children visited me together two more times after that summer. When my son turned 21, he came to live with me for 6 months. We would argue religion—boy, would we argue religion! My son and I are somewhat similar in personality, but we do have our differences – and very obvious ones at that! Whilst I’m very hot tempered in disputes, my son is a lot cooler, so he tends to maintain a sense of calm while I’m borderline crazy! Despite this clash, I believe it works in our favor in that we can find balance within our discussion. We’re very much alike in that we are loving, generous and helpful people. What I admire most about my son is his dedication to almost everything he does. He is a sweet, gentle person, but has strong ethics and aims to achieve whatever he puts his mind to, which I respect a lot. I admire his ability to keep a level head in the most stressful of situations. He’s very logical and won’t dwell too long over a problem. He just attempts to find solutions and neutralize situations as much as possible. I continued to pray that my son would find it in his heart to convert to Catholicism. I so badly wished that he would become a priest—I felt he would make a fine preacher. He was a good boy, and God-fearing at that. Good qualification for the Priesthood. When I once told him that he would make a wonderful priest, my son smiled and replied that it would be more likely that I would become a Muslim rather than he become a Catholic priest. After 6 months, though, my son expressed desire to leave for the United States. He eventually settled in America and made a home in Miami, Florida. Meanwhile, I became a widow with one teenager daughter left in the house. My son really wanted for me to join him in America, so I left to the States with my 17year-old daughter. We very much liked it in America and my daughter quickly started to make a life for herself. Nothing had changed for my son and me—we continued talking about Catholicism and Islam and neither one of us would ‘give up‘. Sometimes, when the subject of the Trinity came up and I could not find any answers or rebuttal to him, I would just put up my hand and walk away. I would get very angry for what I saw was his attacking my religion. “Why can’t you be like everyone else,“ I asked. “Other Muslims accept me and do not try to convert me.“ “I’m not like everyone else,“ he answered. “I love you. I am your son and I want you to go to Paradise.“ I told him that I am going to Paradise—I am a good, honest woman, who doesn’t lie, steal, or cheat. He begged me to read and learn and discover Islam. Books were brought so that I might open my mind. I refused. Born a Catholic, I will die a Catholic. For the next 10 years, I remained living near my son, his wife, and family. I desired, though, to also spend some time with my daughter, who was still living in Saudi Arabia. It wasn’t easy to get a visa. My son joked that if I just accepted Islam, I would be able to get an Umrah visa. I told him sternly that I wasn’t a Muslim. After much hard work and a few connections, I was given a visitor‘s visa to visit my daughter, who was now the mother of three children. Before leaving, my son held me in a bear hug, and told me how much he loved me, how badly he wanted Paradise for me. He then went on to say how he had everything he had wanted in this life, except for a Mother who was a Muslim. He told me that he prayed to God (Allah) every single day that He (SWT) would change my heart to accept Islam. I told him that that would never happen. I visited my daughter in Saudi Arabia and fell in love with the country, the weather, and the people. I didn’t want to leave after the 6 months so I requested an extension. I would hear the athan (call to prayer) 5 times a day and would see the faithful ones close their shops and walk off to prayer. Although that was very touching, I continued reading from my Bible every morning and evening and would constantly say the rosary. Not once did my daughter or any other Muslim person ever speak to me about Islam or try to get me to convert. They respected me and allowed me to practice my religion. My son was coming to Saudi Arabia to visit me. I was so happy—I had missed him so. No sooner did he come was he again after me, talking religion and the Oneness of God. I was angry. I told him that I have been in Saudi Arabia for over one year and no one, not once has anyone ever spoken about religion to me. And he, on his second night here, is so quick to begin the preaching. He apologized and told me that he wanted for me to accept Islam. I again told him that I would never leave Christianity. He asked me about the Trinity and how could I believe in something that just did not make any logical sense. He reminded me that even I had questions about this. I told him that everything does not have to make sense—you just have to have faith. He seemed like he accepted this anwer and I was happy that I finally won a discussion on religion. My son then told me to explain the miracle of Jesus to him. Aha, I thought! I am finally getting somewhere. I explained the miracle birth of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, Jesus dying for our sins, God breathing His Spirit in him, Jesus as God, Jesus as the Son of God. He was quiet the entire time I was talking—no rebuttal—my son, quiet? He then quietly asked, “Mamma, if Jesus died for our sins on a Friday, and then as you say, he was resurrected three days later on a Sunday, then who ruled the world for those three days? Mamma, explain that to me?” I thought about the logic to this question and at that moment, I knew that it did not make any sense. I said, “Jesus was the son of God. Jesus and God are one and the same. My son replied, “Cows have calves; little cows. Cats have kittens; little cats. Humans have children; little humans. When God has a son, what is he? A little God? If so, then do you have two Gods?” Then he asked, “Mama, can you ever become a God?” What a ridiculous question I told him. Humans can never be a God. (Now, I was really getting angry) He then asked, “Was Jesus a human being?” I replied, “Yes.” He then said “Therefore, he could never be God.” The claim that God became man is also an absurdity. It is not befitting of God to take on human characteristics because it means that the Creator has become His creation. However, the creation is a product of the creative act of the Creator. If the Creator became His creation, it would mean that the Creator created Himself, which is an obvious absurdity. To be created, He would first have to not exist, and, if He did not exist, how could He then create? Furthermore, if He were created, it would mean that He had a beginning, which also contradicts His being eternal. By definition creation is in need of a My father-in-law loved his son and grandchildren, yet also genuinely loved me as a daughter.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjQ1