By Br. Shane Yoder
July 29th, 2008
Assalamu alaikum,
I work with the Sacramento Chapter of WhyIslam and wanted to take this
opportunity to let the readers of Imam Suhaib’s blog know about a huge
upcoming dawah project in Sacramento, CA.
Asalamu alaykum,
In that past I made some terrible mistakes with a guy I knew. Nothing too out of line, but mistakes. After some time we both woke up and repented to Allah. However, till this day I feel guilty and worry that I might slip or that my sins are not forgiven? What steps do I take to being a better Muslimah? How do I properly repent to Allah?
The Answer:
Lo! In the difference of day and night and all that Allah hath created in the heavens and the earth are portents, verily, for folks who ward off (evil). [10:6]
Of course everything is supposed to keep one going, keep one busy. Thus is why life is such a way—a sinusoidal graph, with its ups and downs. Fixations are the most prominent syndromes with varying manifestations in each of us. Some are still living the memory of the past, some lost in dreams, some overwhelmed by the present. But then I’ve always wondered about how in the world would one be able to keep all the cherished from the past, hope for the future but live the present decently. I am sure most of us are engaged in such thinking, so I would like to share what I have thought of and is helping.
Question:
“Is it allowed for our MSA board to meet even though we have different genders on our board?”
The Answer:
All praise is due to Allah [alone]. May His prayers and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, His family, companions and those who follow him.
The scholars stated that If a gathering between the sexes follows Islamic guidelines, then such a gathering, God willing, is permissible because Islamic law does not forbid general gatherings between males and females. The only thing that is explicitly forbidden is being alone with [a person eligible for marriage] where both are together, alone, in a place which no one could see them, not aware of what they are doing.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (July 28) — An unemployed man accused of opening fire with a shotgun and killing two people at a Unitarian church apparently targeted the congregation out of hatred for its liberal social policies, police said Monday.
‘A Horrible Act of Violence’. A policeman said shooting suspect Jim D. Adkisson opened fire on a church in Knoxville, Tenn., because he was angered by its liberal views. Two people were killed in Sunday’s rampage. Adkisson has been charged with first-degree murder.
(more…)
Asalamu alaykum,
When I landed in the USA in Newark New Jersey for the al-Maghrib course, the first thing that popped in my mind was Masjid al-Taqwa! You see, for many of us 90’s MSA’ers, Masjid al-Taqwa was our spiritual umbilical cord. In those days, 1000 tapes landed somehow, in everyone’s cars and homes. The voice on those tapes was a spark of light, a gift of hope and the sound of reason and unity. It was Imam Siraj. Siraj means sun and by Allah he is a sun that walks on the face of this earth. The rays that came from him have brought light and warmth to our communities and protected us from the bitter cold of our enemies. I asked our Qabila leader, Uzair the balla, to take me to Imam Siraj. We called his masjid and a sister said, Mothers of the Believer! Come over tomorrow before dhur.
We left around 11 and all the while I was thinking, “this is my first visit to the Imam. How many times has he visited the communities I’ve lived in?”
An Imam Siraj Moment
Once, around 10 years ago, I was asked by the Malaysian Islamic Studies Group, who were having a gathering in Missouri, to go to the airport and pick up the Imam. It was cold, snowy and most importantly it was “The Night Before Christmas.” I was so excited and raced to pick up the Imam.
As we drove back to the gathering (a good hour away) the Imam began to ask me questions and get to know me. Allah says, “We created you to know one another.”
The Prophet (sw) said “Give gifts, it will increase love” (Bukhari)
I was at the local grocery when I noticed an uncle from the mosque shopping there. As I finished my shopping, I began to queue at the till. The uncle was in front of me. He acknowledged me as I did him and that was it, nothing more until he turned around, grabbed a chocolate bar, and offered it to me. I was dumbstruck, I hesitated, he insisted and I accepted. This was to be the start of a loving bond between two Muslims. I went home and couldn’t get the uncle out of my head and had to inform my family.
A few days later while in Makkah, I went to buy some gifts for my family, when the uncle came to my mind. I felt compelled to buy him something. So I bought something I thought was suitable for his age. Throughout my stay, he came in and out of my thoughts, especially the special places for making dua.
Appreciating Jahiliyah - Having The Words of Popstars To Give Me Hope???!
In The Name Of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
Ever had them moments, where you hear a song, and it brings back all those memories of a certain time period, from the smell, atmosphere of that particular time.. whether it be the summer days where you’d be cruising in your cars, wind brushing through your hair, and that great summery feeling where you begin to miss it, Or maybe the hard times you had been through, that bring you back all those sad feelings, and it rushes back to you?
It’s said, you can’t fully appreciate faith unless you’ve experienced jahillyya.
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