Worship Has Been Divided Between Allah’s Servants

Published on September 2, 2010 — 2 Comments
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A Lecture by Suhaib Webb | Transcribed by Fuseina Mohamad

ConfusedSurat al-Fatiha Series

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part VIIII

When I first became Muslim in 1992, alhamdullilah may Allah accept it from me, in that time when Allah took me from the darkness of being a member of the Bloods to being a member of the sunnis, I went to a masjid. Now, this is not to offend anyone, please don’t take this the wrong way. I went to a masjid and I didn’t know anything, because as a new Muslim really whatever you see, you take. So I walk into the masjid and suddenly this one chacha (uncle) he grabs me and he tells me, “Let’s go pray, my son.”

So I agreed and I went and prayed with these brothers. After the Imam finished the prayer, I heard the adhan (call to prayer) being announced again. I realized there was another jama’ah (group for prayer) in the same masjid. I was surprised, I hadn’t read this in Maududi’s “Towards Understanding Islam.”

I asked if there was something else going on and they told me, “No brother, those are the non-MQM Muslims.”

“MQM? What’s MQM? I know of ABC, CBS, ESPN, MTV. But MQM?”

So they explained, “MQM is a political party founded in Karachi by Altaf Hussain, an ex-taxi driver from Chicago who is seeking to free the people who migrated from India, who have the true right to be in Pakistan, from the yokes of the Punjabi.”

I don’t know what that is. I’m a new Muslim. In this masjid, subhan Allah, they were all praying their five prayers, but because of political differences they had different groups.

So if you were to ask them, “Brother what are you doing?” They would say, “We’re worshipping Allah, we’re praying.” But look at the mu’amalat (behavior). They had two different salah and they didn’t feel ashamed to be doing this in front of a new Muslim. Why? Because their understanding of `ibadah was limited to the fact that they prayed. It is assumed that how we treat each other has no consequence on our worship. This is not correct. It’s not correct at all. I told them, “Well what if I’m a Democrat? Should I have my own salah for Democrats?”

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Cell Phones vs. Qur’an

Published on September 2, 2010 — 13 Comments
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By Umm AbdelRahman Murphy

I wonder what would happen if we were to treat the Qur’an the same way that we treat our cell phones.

What if..
…we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
…we made sure to go back to get it if we forgot it?
…we flipped through it several times a day?
…we used it to receive messages from the text?
…we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?
…we gave it to our kids as gifts?
…we used it as we traveled?
…we used it in cases of emergencies?

Hopefully this short reminder makes us stop and think, “Where is my Qur’an?” Remember to use your time in Ramadan for Qur’an, insha’Allah (God willing)!

Avoiding Failure: the Worst of Ends

Published on September 1, 2010 — 8 Comments
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By Yahya Ederer

747229003_94653c1f4e_bBecoming Servants of the Most Merciful Series

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI

As a secular society we all accept the concept of individual accountability for our actions; as a spiritual community we see that many people do not believe in punishment for sins and heedlessness.  When we read the Qur’an and Sunnah, we see that God is not guaranteeing anyone heaven as a result of their being labeled ‘Muslim’. Similarly, no one is guaranteed Hell for being labeled a Christian, Jew or otherwise. The fifth pillar of faith is that one believes in the individual accountability of everyone for their chosen faith and actions and that the decisive factor in this is our state upon death. This should motivate believers to live “one day at a time,” treating everyday as the day we might meet our Maker.

The fact is we were created by the Creator who has given us innate spiritual and intellectual awareness. He then sent chosen men supported by miracles and divine law to guide us. The test of life is about who shows gratitude to their Creator and use their inherent faculties of spirituality and intellect to seek out the divine and live according to His will. Some will choose to pass this test and become metaphorically one with their Creator in this life and then physically be in the presence of God for eternity. Others, who are sadly the majority, will choose to reject God’s blessing and see life as a pointless enjoyment of one’s desires.

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Good Character Series, Part 3: Class with Imam Suhaib

Published on August 31, 2010 — 7 Comments
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Part I | Part II | Part III

VIDEO

NOTES

by Suhaib Webb

To recap from last time, we noted, as mentioned by Imam al-Maqdisi, four ways to uncover one’s mistakes:

  • Taking a trustworthy sheikh as a guide.
  • Having sincere friends who can remind you.
  • Benefiting from the words of your enemies.
  • Mixing with people.

Tonight we address the following:

  • The proper approach towards desires
  • The signs of good character
  • The condition related to training the soul
  • Cutting off two important desires (eating and sexual relations)
  • The dangers of the tongue

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The Stab

Published on August 31, 2010 — 8 Comments
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by Yasmin Mogahed

4105684226_b76736b5d1_bDon’t grieve at the stab.
It’s only meant to free you.
From the chains that bind you to the earth
and shackle you to the shadows of people.
The mirage of water cannot quench.
But is so beautiful to the thirsty.
I’m afraid. Of never knowing another life.
Different. So different.
If I let go, will You take me higher?
Above grief, want, loss.
Above all that I’ve ever known.
Take me higher. Unbind me from the earth.
Like a vaccine, it sickens, to make you stronger.
The stab is temporary. The freedom, eternal.

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