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Guidance Media Videos
The Prophetic Mirror

Al Habib ‘Ali al Jifri gives a very emotional lesson about
mankind representing the message of the Beloved Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

 

Zaytuna Institute & Academy - The Ethical Standard of the Prophet Muhammad
by Imam Zaid Shakir


(Click here to download a print-friendly PDF of this article)

The ongoing “Cartoon Crisis” raises several issues. One of
the most important is the incumbency of seeing the ongoing crisis as an
opportunity to educate people in the West about our blessed Prophet, .
Along those lines, one of the greatest things we can do is teach about
the exalted ethical standard introduced by our Prophet, . That ethical standard is the bedrock of his mission and message.

read more

 

In India, Going Global Means Flaunting It - New York Times

THIRTY years ago, luxury in India meant having a phone connection at
home, an Indian-made Ambassador car parked out front, a bar of
Toblerone chocolate carted home by an uncle visiting from abroad.

In
the India that President Bush will visit this week, an extravagant
ethos of bling has arrived. Gone is a half-century legacy of
independent India — stubbornly socialist, avowedly nonaligned,
deeply anti-American — in which the consumer culture was largely
home-produced. A new euphoria can be tasted, on the lips of the small
but growing upper crust, as India’s new rich begin to welcome the
priciest products from abroad, as well as designer brands made at home,
and flaunt them, too.

 

Sunday 26 February 2006

Benjamin Franklin: The 13 Virtues

Posted by Faraz at 3:42 pm

Benjamin Franklin -  The 13 Virtues

Benjamin Franklin signed the founding documents of the United States, including both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution itself. When just 20, he had come up with a plan of life: 13 virtues he sought to uphold to the end of his life:

1. Temperance: Eat
not to dullness and drink not to elevation.

2. Silence: Speak
not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.

3. Order: Let all
your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its
time.

4. Resolution: Resolve
to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

5. Frugality: Make
no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.

6. Industry: Lose
no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary
actions.

7. Sincerity: Use
no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak
accordingly.

8. Justice: Wrong
none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. Moderation: Avoid
extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness: Tolerate
no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.

11. Chastity: Rarely
use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or
the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.

12. Tranquility:
Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

13. Humility: Imitate
Jesus and Socrates.

He committed to giving
strict attention to one virtue each week so after 13 weeks he moved through
all 13. After 13 weeks he would start the process over again so in one
year he would complete the course a total of 4 times.

He tracked his progress
by using a little book of 13 charts. At the top of each chart was one
of the virtues. The charts had a column for each day of the week and thirteen
rows marked with the first letter of each of the 13 virtues. Every evening
he would review the day and put a mark (dot) next to each virtue for each
fault committed with respect to that virtue for that day.

Naturally, his goal
was to live his days and weeks without having to put any marks on his
chart. Initially he found himself putting more marks on these pages than
he ever imagined, but in time he enjoyed seeing them diminish. After awhile
he went through the series only once per year and then only once in several
years until finally omitting them entirely. But he always carried the
little book with him as a reminder.

Ben Franklin’s 13
virtues are unique and obviously served him well since he is one of the
most respected and most accomplished men in the history of the United
States.

Source: Flamebright

 

Abu’l Joud - `Ala Ma Unadi Bi Anni Muh

On basis do I say that I’m a lover
And that I’m constantly enraptured by Taha?

Claims of love require the proof of action, and those enraptured need to establish that through following their Beloved….

Ustadh Abu’l Joud is one of the most respected munshids alive, and a respected poet himself…

 

Posted by Faraz at 6:06 am


Enroll for this courseEnroll for this courseImmerse Yourself in Arabic, the Language of the Qur’anEnroll for this courseEnroll for this courseEnroll for this courseEnroll for this courseEnroll for this courseEnroll for this course

 

The Danish Cartoon Crisis - Declaration on behalf of Muslim Religious Leaders

Basmala

All praise is due to God, and may He send His blessings and salutations upon our master, Muhammad, as well as upon his kin and companions.

The events in Denmark concerning the Messenger of God represent an aggressive act that has violated the highest sanctities of the Muslim people. Moreover it is devastating to the ideal of convivial dialogue between peoples, as enjoined in the Quranic verse which reads, ‘And We created you as nations and tribes that you might know one another’.

In consequence, we affirm the following:

1. We hold up the hand of the nation that has come to the aid of the Messenger of God, as this response on their part demonstrates that it is a nation that is still very much alive. We also point out that this “aid”
should mirror the moral code of the Prophet as reflected by the actions of his followers.

2. We call upon the Danish government and the Danish people to yield to the large number of objective and sincere voices emanating from within their society, by apologizing, and condemning and bringing an end to this attack. This is to ensure that Denmark is not isolated from the global community, a community that upholds the kind of freedom that prevents it from attacking and desecrating religious symbols or provoking animosity and antagonism towards any religion or race. We also extend this call to the countries that defended this attack, as there is no society today that advocates an unaccountable freedom without putting in place measures of regulation so as to prevent harm to come to others. Of course, societies differ in their levels of regulation.

3. We affirm here that freedom of ideas is a right guaranteed by the teachings of our noble religion to those who seek clarification or desire to engage in dialogue provided that no abuse is intended, in consonance with the Quranic directive: ‘And argue with them in the most courteous way’. This point has been agreed upon by all rationally-minded people and is stated clearly and categorically in the agreements on human rights.

4. We appeal to all Muslims to exercise self-restraint in accordance with the teachings of Islam and we reject countering an act of aggression by acts not sanctioned in Islam, such as breaking treaties and breaching time-honoured agreements by attacking foreign embassies or innocent people and other targets. Such violent reactions can lead to a distortion of the just and balanced nature of our request or even to our isolation from the global dialogue. The support that we give to our Prophet will not be given by flouting his teachings.

5. We highly esteem the unprejudiced stance taken by some religious authorities who have condemned this heinous assault. We also emphasize not holding non-Muslims accountable, whether in Muslim countries or elsewhere, for the crime committed by those who have insulted the Prophet. This principle finds its roots in the Quranic verses: ‘And no soul shall bear the burden of another’ and ‘Is the reward for good anything but good?’

6. We call upon the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) as well as Muslim countries and governments and the international community to press the United Nations to issue a declaration criminalizing any insult to Muhammad, Jesus or Moses or to any other revered prophetic figure.

7. We also take this opportunity to remind the Muslims about the necessity and importance of reviving their connection with the beloved Prophet by loving him, following his example, and embodying his moral character and noble guidance. This rising-up by the Muslims in support of the Prophet should not constitute a mere reflex that ends when the occasion ends. Rather, this vocation should forever remain alive within the Muslim people.

8. We further emphasize that it is our duty and responsibility to carry on the global dialogue and acquaint others with our Prophet by disseminating and making known his character traits, noble qualities and high moral standards. This dissemination should be manifested in both oral and written form, but most importantly it should be manifested in our conduct and interaction with others. It is also imperative that the relevant institutions as well as people of means fulfil their responsibility by supporting these efforts.

We ask God to enable us to successfully carry out that which He loves and that which pleases Him.

The Declaration in Arabic

 

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Interview on Danish TV - The Cartoon Crisis - Video

May Allah Most High preserve Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, and make his voice and views heard ever-increasingly in these times of trouble and distress.

 

Posted by Faraz at 4:22 pm

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

Insh’Allah, Sheikh Nuh Keller will be speaking in Pakistan on March 10-12th (Fri-Sun) at the Avari Hotel in Lahore.

Admission is free of charge but by invitation only. The good news for those people we had previously turned away due to space considerations is that the new venue accommodates more people. Please confirm your interest as soon as possible because space is still limited.

In order to attend the talks or invite friends and family (to whom you have permission to forward this email), please: Read the rest of this entry »

 

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iraq curfew aims to curb violence

Iraq’s government has put Baghdad and three provinces under curfew for much of Friday as it tries to curb violence sparked by an attack on a Shia shrine.

At least 130 people have died in sectarian attacks on Sunnis since the shrine was bombed on Wednesday.

 

Posted by Faraz at 1:21 am

Nasheeds sung by Ustadh Muti` al-Kabbani - Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah

Song Name
 REAL
AUDIO		 MP3

Allahumma Solli Ala Muhammad

[2.97 mb]

Allahu Allah
[2.71
mb]

Maalana Maulan Siwallah
[2.71 mb]

Solatuna Alan Nabi
[2.89
mb]

Man Anzalal Amtar
[3.09 mb]

Allahu Rabbi
[2.63 mb]

Ya Kitab Al Ghuyub
[2.87
mb]

Ya Imama Rusli
[2.95
mb]

 

SunniPath Answers (http://qa.sunnipath.com):
I’m a woman in my early 40’s and I feel sexually frustrated

 

Posted by Faraz at 4:54 pm

Umar (aged 4 1/2) tells Mother:

“If the Shaytan emails me, I’ll tell him: ‘Go away! I won’t listen to you!’”

 

What kind of stone was on the Prophet’s ring? (Allah bless him and give him peace)
Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Karim Yahya
SunniPath Answers (http://qa.sunnipath.com)

 

Avari.Nameh: you are not here (but i might be happy for you)

How long do we mourn? How long are we supposed to feel sad? Is it wrong to feel a sense of contentment, even dare I say happiness?

 

Posted by Faraz at 1:38 pm

My mind has gone dull

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Karim Yahya
SunniPath Answers (http://qa.sunnipath.com)

 

Posted by Faraz at 1:31 pm

Can we weep when in grief?
Answered by Wajihah Gregor
SunniPath Answers (http://qa.sunnipath.com)

Allah Almighty sends us trials and
tribulations for an outstanding wisdom, of which we will never
completely understand the reasons for, and the effects of, until the
hereafter.

Allah Most High says, “Blessed is He in Whose hand is the
Sovereignty, and, He is Able to do all things. Who hath created life
and death that He may try you which of you is best in conduct; and He
is the Mighty, the Forgiving.” (67: 1-2. Trans. Pickthall)

Through this exalted and merciful speech, we understand that Allah
sends us trials and tribulations in order to test our actions and
behavior.

We may be tested with death, sickness, oppression, a broken heart,
or confusion about the world around us. These experiences can inspire
feelings of shock, fear, pain, and sorrow. Such strong emotions may
cause us to weep.

Weeping is a natural response the powerful emotions we feel during
trial and tribulation and do express our complete neediness and
dependence to the Lord Almighty, when accompanied by the attitude of
submission to the Will of Allah. In this way, weeping certainly does
not contradict the act of patience.

 

Posted by Faraz at 7:29 am

Legalwriting.net: Plain English: using you

…. you is widely recommended in guides for writing in plain English. Besides the website mentioned, I offer these sources:

How to Write Plain English by Rudolf Flesch:

  • “I consider the you style as absolutely indispensable for Plain English.”

Writing Readable Regulations by Thomas Murawski:

  • “The most important word in regulatory writing is you.”

Writing for the Legal Audience by Wayne Schiess:

  • “[U]sing you . . . is the single most important technique for making the text readable and effective.”

 

Posted by Faraz at 2:43 am

Marginal Revolution: Monsters

 

Posted by Faraz at 2:04 am

The Stealth Crusade

Inside one Southern university, Christian missionaries are being trained to go undercover in the Muslim world and win converts for Jesus. Their stated goal: to wipe out Islam.

 

Posted by Faraz at 11:21 pm

9 tips for running more productive meetings | 43 Folders

1. Circulate an agenda
2. Have a theme
3. Set (and honor) times for beginning, ending, and breaks
4. No electronic grazing. Period
5. Schedule guests
6. Be a referee and employ a time-keeper
7. Stay on target
8. Follow up
9. Be consistent

[read the details]

 

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iraqi blast damages Shia shrine

A bomb attack in Iraq has badly damaged one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, sparking furious protests.


Thousands of Iraqis have gathered at the al-Askari
shrine in Samarra, north of Baghdad, where two men blew up the famous
golden dome in a dawn raid.

The al-Askari shrine, part of the Imam Ali al-Hadi mausoleum, is one of Shia Islam’s holiest sites.

The compound contains the remains of the 10th and 11th imams, reputed to be direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.

Imam Ali al-Hadi died in 868 AD and his son, Hassan
al-Askari, died in 874 AD. The golden dome topping the al-Askari shrine
was finally completed in 1905.

The spiral minaret on top of one of the city’s other holy sites, the Sunni Great Mosque of Samarra, was damaged in April 2003.

la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah

This isn’t just an attack on a “Shia shrine.” It is an attack against Islam itself, as love and reverence for the Family of the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) is central to our faith. As Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) said, “Be mindful of Muhammad in his Family.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

 

Posted by Faraz at 11:14 am

BBC NEWS | South Asia | India’s feisty untouchable woman

 

Posted by Faraz at 3:05 am

TIME: Life in the Googleplex Photo Essay

 

Misunderstanding Muslims

Commentary: The West doesn’t seem to see what’s behind the rage over the cartoon controversy.

 

Akram’s Razor - Svend White’s blog on Islam, Muslims & America: Jyllands-Posten’s acrobatics & Salon piece

Salon has a great piece, aptly entitled “Rotten judgment in the state of Denmark”, by an American-based Danish academic, Jytte Klausen.

Here’s an excerpt

 

Posted by Faraz at 8:54 pm

SunniPath Academy: Learn the Essentials


 

Islam Online- Mecca Cola Sales Reportedly Surge Over Cartoon Row

The sales of Mecca Cola, an Arab type of cola, have been reportedly surging since the furor sparked by the publication of cartoons lampooning Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) by several European newspapers.

 

hikm: an attempt at wisdom :حكم » Blog Archive » The Middle East and the West: A Troubled History

In a special six-part series, NPR’s Mike Shuster examines the long and
turbulent history of Western inovolvement in the Middle East, from the
Crusades to the wars in Iraq.

 

hikm: an attempt at wisdom :حكم » Blog Archive » The Middle East and the West: A Troubled History

In a special six-part series, NPR’s Mike Shuster examines the long and
turbulent history of Western inovolvement in the Middle East, from the
Crusades to the wars in Iraq.

 

Posted by Faraz at 12:42 am

the (new) legal writer: American Heritage Book of English Usage

“This book is designed to inform you about current
problems in English usage so you can make intelligent decisions when
communicating.” Included are chapters on grammar, style, word choice, and gender (sexist language and assumptions). It even has a chapter on e-mail, which includes tables of commonly used abbreviations and emoticons.

 

Posted by Faraz at 10:57 am

copenhagen interpretation: Labbayk

And so the day nears
thou wondrous
bring back all I thought lost

not one day without prayer

I want for naught nor miss
thy kindness
thy humble warmth, my Yemeni
[read more: copenhagen interpretation: Labbayk]

 

Muslim WakeUp! Consent? What consent?

A critique of SunniPath Answer on sexual rights in marriage….
[Note: only one small part–the legal ruling–of the answer was given, taking out a lot of religious counsel. See:

Is it not a form of sexual abuse for a husband to be able to force his wife to have sex?
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=1830&CATE=117

And compare with the quoted answer at:

Muslim WakeUp! Consent? What consent? ]

I’m going to work on a clarification, insha’Allah, but a few points are worth contemplating:

(1) The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized this “right to insist” in rigorously authenticated hadiths.

(2) These hadiths must be understood in light of the Qur’anic command and Sunna guidance to live one’s marriage with excellence, mercy, love, a spirit of giving, and empathy.

(3) Someone aware of marital issues realizes the harm of husbands or wives refusing to fulfill their spouse’s sexual rights. There are many related answers–offering not only the legal ruling, but also giving religious guidance–on this at SunniPath Answers (http://qa.sunnipath.com). There are many answers on wives refusing to consummate their marriage (in one answer, eight months into the marriage and living together), but at no time do SunniPath Answers counsel anything other than resolving marital differences on the basis of excellence, mercy, and love that are the essence of the guidance of the Qur’an and Sunna.

(4) Both the husband and the wife have the full religious right to seek the fulfillment of their sexual rights within marriage. The difference–established clearly from the guidance of the Beloved Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)–is the husband’s right to insist.

(5) This right to insist does not mean in any way that the husband can “rape” this wife or use physical aggression (or even emotional coercion) to seek his right.

(6) Means take the ruling of ends. Some of the rulings of the Shariah are means to fulfillling higher objectives. The objective here in the rulings on “the right to insist” on sex in marriage is to establish the practical means for marriages to stay today, rather than drifting off in sexual or emotional infidelity–a problem all too common in contemporary marriages.

More on this soon, insha’Allah.

One good thing out of this, insha’Allah, is that SunniPath Answers will have a disclaimer that all legal rulings have to be understood and applied in the spirit of the sunna of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); and that people need to understand the difference between a legal ruling (hukm) and religious counsel (irshad).

And Allah alone gives success.

 

حياتي في الأزهر الشريف » Reflections On The New Hijri Year - from Imam Hasan al-Banna

“I asked one standing at the gates of a dawning year, give me light to see through this vast unknown, for in my confusion I see nothing. He answered me,” Rest your hand in the Hand of Allah, for He will lead you to the straight path.” At the crossroads pauses a weary traveler, gazing back at the procession of time, remembering the journey’s sweat and toil, peering ahead to catch a glimpse of the milestones that remain ahead. You are the traveler at the crossroads, and as a new hijri year is born it simultaneously opens and closes a chapter of your life. Where will this year take you? To those standing perplexed during the stirrings of a new year, how long wills the uncertainty last? How can you be confused, when between your hands you hold a shimmering light?… [read more]

 

Muslim WakeUp! Consent? What consent?

A critique of SunniPath Answer on sexual rights in marriage….
[Note: only one small part–the legal ruling–of the answer was given, taking out a lot of religious counsel. See:

Is it not a form of sexual abuse for a husband to be able to force his wife to have sex?
http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=1830&CATE=117

And compare with the quoted answer at:

Muslim WakeUp! Consent? What consent? ]

I’m going to work on a clarification, insha’Allah, but a few points are worth contemplating:

(1) The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized this “right to insist” in rigorously authenticated hadiths.

(2) These hadiths must be understood in light of the Qur’anic command and Sunna guidance to live one’s marriage with excellence, mercy, love, a spirit of giving, and empathy.

(3) Someone aware of marital issues realizes the harm of husbands or wives refusing to fulfill their spouse’s sexual rights. There are many related answers–offering not only the legal ruling, but also giving religious guidance–on this at SunniPath Answers (http://qa.sunnipath.com). There are many answers on wives refusing to consummate their marriage (in one answer, eight months into the marriage and living together), but at no time do SunniPath Answers counsel anything other than resolving marital differences on the basis of excellence, mercy, and love that are the essence of the guidance of the Qur’an and Sunna.

(4) Both the husband and the wife have the full religious right to seek the fulfillment of their sexual rights within marriage. The difference–established clearly from the guidance of the Beloved Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)–is the husband’s right to insist.

(5) This right to insist does not mean in any way that the husband can “rape” this wife or use physical aggression (or even emotional coercion) to seek his right.

(6) Means take the ruling of ends. Some of the rulings of the Shariah are means to fulfillling higher objectives. The objective here in the rulings on “the right to insist” on sex in marriage is to establish the practical means for marriages to stay today, rather than drifting off in sexual or emotional infidelity–a problem all too common in contemporary marriages.

More on this soon, insha’Allah.

One good thing out of this, insha’Allah, is that SunniPath Answers will have a disclaimer that all legal rulings have to be understood and applied in the spirit of the sunna of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); and that people need to understand the difference between a legal ruling (hukm) and religious counsel (irshad).

And Allah alone gives success.

 

hahmed.com » Blog Archive » Shaykh Hamza Yusuf on the Danish Cartoons; in the media

In a time where we need proper and traditional Islamic voices being heard by the world, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf is finally being recognized and interviewed in the press/media for his stance on the Danish Cartoons. And I feel like its about … time!

 

Friday 17 February 2006