Several Muslim leaders in the UK have come out to condemn the actions of two individuals who attacked and killed a British soldier in Woolwich, London.

In a video recorded by an eyewitness and broadcasted by ITV news, one of the attackers, identified by The Guardian as British citizen of Nigerian descent Michael Olumide Adebolajo, said that the attack was revenge for the deaths of Muslims by British soldiers.

The Muslim Council of Britain released a statement on its website strongly condemning the attack:

“This is a truly barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn this unreservedly. Our thoughts are with the victim and his family.”

“We understand the victim is a serving member of the Armed Forces. Muslims have long served in this country’s Armed Forces, proudly and with honour.”

“This attack on a member of the Armed Forces is dishonourable, and no cause justifies this murder.”

The council also urged vigilance and for Muslim and non-Muslim communities “to come together in solidarity to ensure the forces of hatred do not prevail.”

Paul Salahuddin Armstrong, Co-Director of The Association of British Muslims also published a statement on its website offering their “sincerest condolences” to the family and friends of the victim, recently identified as 25-year-old Lee Rigby.

Armstrong also stated, “Neither Islam nor any other religion sanctions what these evil men have done.” and that “Islam totally and utterly condemns murder and terrorism.”

He further said that there is nothing Islamic about the attackers and that the association hopes that “these murderers will be given the maximum possible sentence under British Justice.”

UK newspaper The Voice spoke to the secretary of the Muslim Association of Nigeria UK who condemned the actions of the attackers and added that “Muslim Nigerians are not like that. Islam is a religion of peace.”

In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s World at One, Minister for Faith and Communities, Baroness Warsi, said that she has been impressed with the manner in which the Muslim communities in Britain have spoken out against the attack.

Many more Muslim leaders from the UK and worldwide are coming out to condemn the horrific attack that occurred on Wednesday 23rd May at around 10pm Singapore time.

The victim, Lee Rigby, was reported to initially been run over by a car driven by the attackers who then set upon him in what eyewitnesses said to be a horrifyingly grizzly attack that left Rigby lying on the ground bleeding profusely.

Several witnesses also claimed that the victim was beheaded although authorities have yet to confirm it.

In the video, Adebolajo, while still holding on to what looked like a meat cleaver in his bloodstained hands, attempted to justify the attack as revenge for the deaths of Muslims in the hands of British soldiers.

“We must fight them as they fight us. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, Adebolajo said as he continued his rant against the British Government and politicians and how the “average guy like you, and your children” would be the ones to die in conflict.

Adebolajo and his accomplice then charged at the police when they arrived around 20 minutes later but were shot down and placed under armed guard in separate hospitals.
(573 words)

Sources:

(http://www.mcb.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2333:pr-template&catid=40:press-release) – Muslim Council of Britain

(http://www.aobm.org/) – Association of British Muslims

(http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/woolwich-attack-nigerian-muslims-condemn-barbaric-murder) – The Voice article

(http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/23/woolwich-attack-muslim-groups-condemn-lee-rigby-murder_n_3328374.html?utm_hp_ref=uk) – Baroness Warsi interview

(http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/23/woolwich-attack-suspect-michael-adebolajo) – The Guardian identification of the suspect.

(http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-05-22/exclusive-video-man-with-bloodied-hands-speaks-at-woolwich-scene/) – ITV video of suspect

Muhammad Ilham Othman
An aspiring writer currently studying Journalism and Media Studies. One who is also constantly trying to better himself for Allah SWT.

The 5^th run of Youth aLIVE Discourse certainly lived up to its promise of inspiring its audience through Islam’s colourful past with its three truly inspiring lectures that brought the audience on a journey that began from the introduction, spread and influence of Islam in the Malay world to a brief historical lesson on the different Islamic empires and their influence on the world and finally culminating in a lesson on how to truly appreciate the message behind Islamic art and architecture that can be easily found in our present time.

The Geniuses Who Gave Us Islam: The Spread of Islam in the Malay Word and What We Can Learn From It

by Dr Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljuneid

The discourse began with its Keynote speech by Dr Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied titled “The Geniuses Who Gave Us Islam: The Spread of Islam in the Malay World and What We Can Learn From It.

Dr Khairudin, an Assistant Professor from NUS who is also actively involved in projects for social reform and development of youth, stunned the audience by opening his lecture with the statement:

“Bodoh tak boleh jadi orang Islam.” (The stupid cannot be Muslims)

He explained that in order to be a Muslim, one has to have the intelligence to learn and understand the commandments that has been set by Allah SWT which includes:

1. Law – through the recitation of the shahadah and to differentiate between halal and haram.
2. Cleanliness – through wuduk.
3. Geography – through locating the direction of the kiblat, thereby teaching Muslims the understanding of the world.
4. History and Civilisation – through the stories in the Quran.

The problem of the present is that people value things that are unimportant and a way to fight this problem is for people to be Geniuses.

But what exactly is a Genius?

According to Dr. Khairudin, a Genius is someone who is made up of three important characteristics:

1)     One who displays exceptional intellectual and creative abilities.

2)     One who uses his or her God-given gifts to benefit others.

3)     One who creates positive and wide-ranging changes in society.

Dr. Khairudin further explained that it was only through the hard work of five types of Geniuses that Islam was spread, accepted and had elevated the status of the Malays who, prior to Islam, had been Animists for about 35000 years and Hindu-Buddhists for around 1300 years after that and then climaxed with the Golden Age of Islam in the Malay world from about 1400AD to 1800AD.

This also resulted in Muslim-Malays/Indonesians making up 88.2% of the entire Muslim population of the world.

That is not to say that there may not be another Islamic Golden Age in this region, InsyaAllah.

The five Geniuses that Dr Khairudin mentioned are:

-          The Culture Genius

-          The Entrepreneurial Genius

-          The Spiritual Genius

-          The Intellectual Genius

-          The Visionary Genius

The Culture Genius

The first Muslims to reach land of the Malays discovered that Hindu-Malays were a highly cultured people who were very fond sports and entertainment and had also cultivated and defined their own brand of manners.

The Culture Geniuses decided that instead of replacing the Hindu-Malay culture wholesale with theirs, they learned and studied the Malay culture and eventually infused aspects of Islam into it.

Examples of these are the telling of the stories of Prophet Muhmammad (S) and his companions through the extremely popular wayang kulit (shadow puppets) and syairs (the Malay version of spoken word poetry). Also through these forms of cultural entertainment did the Cultural Geniuses manage to gradually introduce the Islamic concept of modesty.

Some of the Culture Geniuses are better known as the Wali Songo whose efforts of integrating and infusing Islam into Malay culture truly helped the rapid spread of Islam throughout the region.

The Entrepreneurial Genius

An Arab by the name of Abu Hamid Ibnu Fadlan introduced soap to the Russian Caucasus after discovering that the people there did not have a very good sense of hygiene. This simple act resulted in many of them converting into Islam.

When the Arabs first arrived, they discovered that the Malay world was an important place of commerce where traders and businessmen were held in high respect.

But the fascinating aspect about business in the Malay world is that women were the ones who controlled these businesses and in order to trade with these women, a foreign trader had to establish relations with them, usually through marriage.

The Entrepreneurial Geniuses, being successful businessmen themselves, assisted in the spread of Islam by explaining the religion to the Malays while dealing with them. They also intermarried with the Malays, which is why the Malays at present tend to look quite different from one another.

Malay businessmen of the past soon converted into Islam as they tried to emulate the successes of these Entrepreneurial Geniuses.

Dr. Khairudin then showed a video on YouTube titled “Spread of Islam” which showed the increasing population of Muslims throughout the western world. It is definitely worth watching.

The Spiritual Genius

“When you simplify your life, you become powerful people.”

The third type of Genius was the Spiritual Genius who discovered that the Malays held on to a lot of strange and spiritual beliefs.

They introduced Islam to the Malays as a way of simplifying their beliefs:

-          Belief in Tuhan Yang Maha Esa, God the Greatest.

-          Belief in Djinn and Syaitan instead of spirits and ghosts.

-          Introducing Dzikir to Allah SWT instead of Buddhist-Hindu chanting.

-          Introduced the belief of karamah or keramat, which is to visit the graves of once important Muslims, to appreciate the effort that these people had put in to spread Islam.

With these simplified beliefs, the Spiritual Geniuses managed to remove the culture of fear and excess from the Malays that enabled them to live life simply and focus only on Allah SWT.

The Intellectual Genius

“Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita roboh.”

Then there were the Intellectual Geniuses in the form of Muslim scholars who discovered that Malays had their own philosophy, or falsafa, that can be found in the Malay language.

As the Geniuses learned and mastered the Malay language, they introduced Islamic Arabic words such as Akal, Roh and Ilmu to influence the Malay mind towards Islamic thinking.

The Malay language kept evolving as it incorporated more Arabic and Persian words till the point that the Malays themselves developed writing Malay in Arabic script known as Jawi that served to bridge the gap between Arabic and Malay.

This raised the status of Malays in the intellectual field which produced many scholars who themselves travelled to various parts of the Muslim world to learn and teach.

The Visionary Genius

“If you want to spread Islam, be a politician.”

Arguably the most important Genius was the Visionary Genius and they were the Kings and Rulers of the Malay world who, after embracing Islam, used their vision, power and influence to spread the Deen throughout their kingdoms and territories.

These rulers, such as the Kings of Aceh, Terrengganu and the powerful women Rajas of Pattani also build and supported mosques, which became community centers and hubs of Islamic activities and Pondoks, places where people went to study Islam.

Why were they successful?

Spreading Islam in a region that is very proud of their current beliefs and culture is no walk in the park. But the Geniuses were successful due to several important values that they held on tightly to and which every Muslim should look to learn from and emulate.

Allah SWT

Firstly, the Geniuses always had Allah in their minds. They lived and breathed the Quran and strived with pure sincerity to spread the Word of Allah SWT.

Awareness

The Geniuses knew the importance of being sensitive and aware of the developments of their surroundings. They incorporated the laws of Islam into the culture of the Malays instead of replacing it wholesale that would have been met with fierce resistance.

Alliances

Working hand in hand, the Geniuses tapped on each other’s specialties and expertise to help their cause.

Creativity & Courage

Various creative ways and means were used to incorporate Islam into the Malay culture. The Geniuses were also patient and would use different strategies whenever something did not work. They travelled far and wide and took many years to achieve their goal of spreading Islam.

Commitment

The Geniuses were highly specialized in their own fields. They were committed to improving themselves in those fields and eventually used it in their work to great benefit.

Conclusion

Dr. Khairudin concluded by stating that in order to be truly successful in the world and hereafter, it is very important for Muslims to learn and understand their heritage and history and by appreciating the efforts that their Muslim forefathers did to spread the Islam while history being a prime example of how Islam can elevate and inspire anyone through intellect, strength and culture.

Bio of Speakers

-         Dr. Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied

• Assistant Professor in Department of Malay studies, NUS
• PhD from School of Oriental and African Studies
• Actively involved in various projects for social reform and youth development.

-          Ustaz Muhammad Fizar Zainal

• Left secular education after GCE ‘O’ Levels to pursue Arabic Literacy in Yemen and Syria
• Previously a trainer of Youth aLIVE trainers
• Head of Education, Research and Training, Safinah Institute

-         Ustaz Muhammad Nasir Johari

• Holds a Bachelor’s degree in comparative religion from the International Islamic University of Malaysia
• Youth aLIVE Trainer

Attendance: Approximately 98 pax.

Comments by Attendees

Syazwan, 14, Secondary 2 student in Raffles Institution:

“I learned to appreciate Islam architecture more and can see that Islam is growing.”

Zahara, 22, Student

“I felt that Dr Khairudin’s talk was really engaging and influential.”

Added that she now knows more about how the Malay Islamic Empire was formed.

Muhammad Ilham Othman
An aspiring writer currently studying Journalism and Media Studies. One who is also constantly trying to better himself for Allah SWT.

On the back of a very successful Mawlid Festival 2012, Simply Islam’s Mawlid Festival 2013 – A Spiritual Symphony of Love saw a congregation of nearly 5000-strong braving the rain and muddy terrain to attend the festival dedicated to the remembrance of Allah SWT and His beloved Prophet Muhammad (S) through Qasidahs, Salawats and a speech by Shaykh Hisham Kabbani.

Hosted by Ustaz Fizar Zainal of Safinah Institute, who with his bubbly personality, wit, knowledge and spiritual advice, effortlessly linked up the different acts that had been lined up for the festival.

The event was also broadcasted through live streaming on www.sufilive.com.

Singapore Haqqani Ensemble

First to perform is the well-known local Qasidah group, the Singapore Haqqani Ensemble.

No stranger to Mawlids around the region, The Naqsh Band as the ensemble is also known as, filled the cool night air with beautifully recited praises to Allah SWT and salawats to Prophet Muhammad (S) which were accompanied with catchy and electrifying drum beats.

The audience, most of which are familiar with the ensemble’s performances recited along to various dzikir and salawat that filled the hearts and minds of everyone present.

The ensemble ended their performance with a medley of two songs, titled Nur ul-Anwar and Allahumma Solli-ala Muhammad, both available in their new album also titled Nur ul-Anwar.

Nurul Huda Islamic Ensemble

Adding much needed spice and tempo to the mood were the brothers from Nurul Huda Islamic Ensemble who preformed next. Their nasyeed, with the accompaniment of Indian-style drums and an accordion, soon got the audience clapping along and following the recitation of the glorious praises to Allah SWT and His Prophet (S).

Art Fazil

Well-known singer-songwriter Art Fazil went next with his own contemporary rendition of Thola’al Badru Alayna. But, as a testament to his wit and humour, he first conducted a mike test with “alif, ba, ta”, which drew much laughter from the audience.

Together with local drumming entourage Perfusion, he then strummed and sang a high tempo Thola’al Badru Alayna to which the audience happily joined in and clapped along.

Habib Syech Assegaf

Although invited to give his speech first, Shaykh Hisham Kabbani requested for Habib Syech Assegaf and his qasidah group Ahbaabul Musthofa to perform first. The reason behind his request was that the Kalimah Syahadah and Salawat Nabi that are mentioned in the qasidah verses is said to travel straight to Allah’s ‘Arash whenever it is recited.

Habib bin Abdulkadir Syech Assegaf, son of Islamic scholar Habib Abdulkadir Bin Abdurrahman Assegaf, is a highly popular teacher of Islam and together with his group the Ahbaabul Musthofa have organized many Mawlid and Salawat events in the region.

Also known as the man with the golden voice, Habib Syech Assegaf and the Ahbaabul Musthofa then proceeded with their spirited, tireless and melodious hour-long performance.

Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

The highlight of the festival came in the form of a short but noteworthy speech by Shaykh Hisham Kabbani.

Shaykh Kabbani began by sharing with the audience that Allah SWT created the nur of Prophet Muhammad (S) from His light and decreed it Muhammad (S). There will be no light, no universe and no heavens without the light of the Prophet (S). Such is the importance of our beloved Prophet (S).

A Period of Confusion

Shaykh Kabbani then reminded the congregation with a message that seemed to have been lost amidst all the fitnah that has been plaguing the Muslim world at present.

His reminder is that Muslims are a people of justice, peace, tranquility and a people who do not want to hurt anyone.

He then related a few hadeeth where our Prophet (S) had warned Muslims that there will be a period of great confusion in the Muslim world and that Muslims should stay away from such confusion and from anything that will destroy the belief of Mu’mins.

During this period of confusion, Muslims should destroy or throw away their weapons so as to not end up hurting anyone and should not get involved as it will only bring danger upon themselves and others.

Allah’s SWT Greatness

Shaykh Kabbani then related the Greatness of Allah SWT to the audience through a series of questions:

How is it possible for Rasulullah (S) to send back salawat to every single person reciting salawat to him at the same time by himself?

How is it possible for the souls of each person to reach the womb that had been written for it?

How is it possible for Prophet Muhammad (S) to go through the Isra’ Miraj and then return with his bed still warm?

These occurrences are obvious testaments to the Greatness of Allah SWT.

The Blessings of Salawat

Shaykh Kabbani then reiterated the importance of salawat.

Each salawat will reach Rasulullah (S) immediately and Allah SWT will send 10 salawat to the person in return. But the difference between the salawat that we give and the salawat that we will receive is that our salawat will be from the dunya, from our tongues that are filled with sins while the salawat that we will receive will be from Allah Himself.

Allah’s SWT angels are also constantly roaming around the streets looking for groups of Muslims doing dzikir.

It is important for Muslims to do salawat and to do dzikir together in masjids as much as they can.

Mawlid Festival 2013 concluded with a du’a by Shaykh Hisham Kabbani. It is a new experience for me and it has certainly filled me up with more love for Allah SWT and His Prophet (S) and I am sure that everyone who attended would feel the same.

Muhammad Ilham Othman
An aspiring writer currently studying Journalism and Media Studies. One who is also constantly trying to better himself for Allah SWT.

The 5^th run of Youth aLIVE Discourse certainly lived up to its promise of inspiring its audience through Islam’s colourful past with its three truly inspiring lectures that brought the audience on a journey that began from the introduction, spread and influence of Islam in the Malay world to a brief historical lesson on the different Islamic empires and their influence on the world and finally culminating in a lesson on how to truly appreciate the message behind Islamic art and architecture that can be easily found in our present time.

Interactions with Ustaz Nasir Johari: “Islamic History & Civilisation”

It is an almost impossible task to explain a vast, rich and colourful history of a 1400-year-old civilization into two hours. But that did not deter Ustaz Nasir Johari as he brought the audience on a roller coaster ride through Islam’s glorious past and the many revolutionary inventions and philosophies that it had produced.

A graduate from the International Islamic University of Malaysia with a Bachelor’s degree in Comparative Religion, Uztas Nasir likened Islamic history to the concept of the stand up comedy program “Whose line is it anyway?”

In the program, a group of actors and a host would act out different scenarios, many times to the embarrassment of the actors themselves, so as to provide endless laughter and entertainment for the audience.

Ustaz Nasir explained that the history of Islamic Civilization is somewhat similar as although it was fraught with murders and wars, the inventions and perfections that were produced were of profound benefit to the world.

He then took the audience through a brief history of Islam that began with the reign of the four Righteous Caliphs and ended with the downfall of the Ottoman Empire.

Khulafa Arrasyidin (632 – 661 AD)

The four Righteous Caliphs Abu Bakar RA, Umar RA, Uthman RA and Ali krwj had to wage campaigns against apostate tribes, external threats from other kingdoms and internal political strife. Umar RA was the first to set up the Registry Office and Office of Law & Enforcement while Ali krwj dispatched several of the Sahabahs to various parts of the world to spread the message of Islam.

Ummayyah (661-750 AD)

Muawiyah, the first Ummayyah Caliph, moved capital of the Islamic Caliphate from Madinah to Damascus in Syria. The Ummayyahs also built the present structure known as the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem in 691 AD and established the Muslim rule of Andalusia, Spain in 756 AD.

In Andalusia, the Ummayah Amir or leader, build the La Mezquita mosque in 785 AD which is famous for its interlinked arches which were designed to look like date trees. The architecture of many buildings in Andalusia also displayed the concept of symmetry and balance in Islam.

Andalusia eventually fell to the Catholic Reconquistas that began with the fall of Toledo in 1085 AD and ended with the fall of Granada in 1492AD.

Abbasiah (749-1258 AD)

Founded by a man named Abu Abbas As-Suffah, the Abbasiah Dynasty began with the dark agenda of the extermination of the Ummayyahs. The Abbasiah rule however did give birth an Islamic cultural and intellectual renaissance, especially in the city of Baghdad, when it was under the rule of the Harun Al-Rashid. The Bayt al-Hikmah or House of Wisdom was built and housed a plethora of academic books and the academics themselves who were vital in the invention and perfection of many tools, systems and philosophies before it was burned down by the Mongols.

Shii Fatimis (969 – 1171 AD), Seljuks (1038 – 1194 AD), Ayyubiah (1169-1260 AD) & Mamluks (1250-1517 AD)

The Shii Fatimis came to power in 969 AD and established their capital in Cairo, Egypt and were responsible for the construction of the Al-Azhar mosque and university.

The Sunni Ayyubiahs defeated the Fatimis in 1169 AD and converted many of the conquered regions into Sunni. A famous individual of the Ayyubiah dynasty was Salahuddin Ayyubi who restored Jerusalem to the Muslims in 1187AD.

The Mamluks defeated the Mongols in 1260 AD, which resulted in many of the Mongols converting into Islam.

The Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantines and established themselves in Anatolia in 1071 AD.

Uthmaniah (1281 – 1924 AD)

In 1288 AD, a Turk by the name of Uthman dreamt of a huge tree with a lot of branches and took it upon himself to create his own Muslim empire, which is known as the Uthmaniah Dynasty, or more commonly, the Ottoman Empire.

The Uthmaniah Dynasty was responsible for the conquests of Constantinople (present day Istanbul) from the Byzantines and Egypt and Syria from the Mamluks. They also set up embassies in European capitals but started to decline when they became bankrupt as a result of foreign loans and ended with the setting up of the Turkish state by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923 AD.

Ustaz Nasir. Credits: Youth Alive Discourse Facebook

Your CV, My CV

Ustaz Nasir then conducted an exercise called Your CV, My CV where the audience had to go around asking each other several questions that were provided such as “Who likes to eat cheese?” and “Who still uses bar soap?”

He then explained that the items and subjects of these questions owe their existence to Islamic Civilizations and the intellectuals who discovered them.

Several of these discoveries include:

1)     Fountains & Gardens

-          There were widespread construction of fountains and walled gardens throughout the Muslim world such as in the Alhambra in Spain, Taj Mahal in India and buildings in Persia.

2)     Hospitals

-          Muslims were reported to be the first to use mobile hospitals during the Battle of Badr where Muslim women would attend to the sick and injured.

-          The first hospital was built in Damascus under the orders of Caliph al-Walid in 706 AD.

3)     Sherbert drinks

-          Derived from the Arabic word ‘Shariba’, it is made from fruit juices and flower & herb extracts that would be mixed with sugar and water to form syrup. This syrup would then be mixed with water, ice or snow.

4)     Coffee

-          Coffee was reported to have been discovered by an Ethiopian goat herder who noticed that his goats would turn restless after eating a certain type of bean.

-          It became popular amongst the Yemeni Sufis who drank it to help them perform their Dzikr.

5)     Ziryab

-          A polymath whose real name is Abu al-Hasan Ali Ibn Nafi.

-          He introduced the concept of fine dining through a three-course menu of soup, the main meal and dessert.

-          He also refined dining further by introducing the use of clear, crystal cups where the colour and consistency of drinks are visible.

-          He also played a fundamental role of establishing Muslim fashion and music.

6)     School and Education

-          Libraries owe their origins to the Bayt al-Hikmah while the term Bachelor’s degree is actually a degenerate form of the Arabic word Bihaqq al-Riwayah.

-          Muslim scholars such as Al-Khwarizmi and Jabir Ibn Hayyan introduced several theories of Mathematics and Chemistry.

To conclude, Ustaz Nasir stressed the need for Muslims to look upon the everyday instruments that we use and see the link that it has to Islamic Civilization so as to appreciate its origins and emulate its inventors who strived to improve and benefit society through their work.

Bio of Speakers

-         Dr. Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied

• Assistant Professor in Department of Malay studies, NUS
• PhD from School of Oriental and African Studies
• Actively involved in various projects for social reform and youth development.

-          Ustaz Muhammad Fizar Zainal

• Left secular education after GCE ‘O’ Levels to pursue Arabic Literacy in Yemen and Syria
• Previously a trainer of Youth aLIVE trainers
• Head of Education, Research and Training, Safinah Institute

-         Ustaz Muhammad Nasir Johari

• Holds a Bachelor’s degree in comparative religion from the International Islamic University of Malaysia
• Youth aLIVE Trainer

Attendance: Approximately 98 pax.

Comments by Attendees

Syazwan, 14, Secondary 2 student in Raffles Institution:

“I learned to appreciate Islam architecture more and can see that Islam is growing.”

Zahara, 22, Student

“I felt that Dr Khairudin’s talk was really engaging and influential.”

Added that she now knows more about how the Malay Islamic Empire was formed.

Muhammad Ilham Othman
An aspiring writer currently studying Journalism and Media Studies. One who is also constantly trying to better himself for Allah SWT.

The 5^th run of Youth aLIVE Discourse certainly lived up to its promise of inspiring its audience through Islam’s colourful past with its three truly inspiring lectures that brought the audience on a journey that began from the introduction, spread and influence of Islam in the Malay world to a brief historical lesson on the different Islamic empires and their influence on the world and finally culminating in a lesson on how to truly appreciate the message behind Islamic art and architecture that can be easily found in our present time.

Ustaz Fizar Zainal. Credit: Youth Alive Discourse Facebook Page

Interactions with Ustaz Fizar Zainal: “The Science of Arts”

The 5^th edition of Youth aLIVE Discourse concluded with a talk titled “The Science of Arts” by Ustaz Muhammad Fizar Zainal who had studied Arabic in Syria and currently heads the Education in Research & Training department of Safinah Institute.

“What (the heaven) is Islamic Civilisation?”

According to Ustaz Fizar, Muslims fail to look at the finer things in Islamic Civilization, something that most of us see as this great and big element.

The term Islamic is not only anything that has to do with Islam, but every single thing that comes under the scope and influence of the religion.

Without looking back into our past, Muslims would find themselves as wayfarers in the world, unable to retrace our steps whenever we get lost in our direction in life.

Artchitecture

A combination of Art and Architecture, it is the ability to think and act while bound by the wisdoms that Allah has given us. It is also having the ability to see the beauty and message that Allah has created behind every single creation as according to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S), “Allah is beautiful and he loves beauty.” (Muslim)

The beauty behind a person is his or her soul or Ruh, and it is through this beauty can a message that connects mankind to Allah be found.

The Adab of Learning & Understanding

“Appreaciating Islamic Art-Chitecture not through the lens of the eyes but through the eyes of your heart.”

In order discover the beauty and message behind any of Allah’s creation, we have to look at them with our hearts in order to see what Allah is conveying through it. Only with that can we use the knowledge of the message and focus to create devices to help the Ummah, just as how the brilliant scholars of Islam once did.

Even Prophet Muhammad encompassed this value with an example of him perfecting the adab of eating a date. He respected the date by eating it as though it would be the last date that he would ever eat, leaving only the seed and not wasting any edible portion it when he was done.

The Artful Quest of Chisels & Saw

The audience was then divided into two groups, led by Ustaz Fizar and Ustaz Nasir respectively to go around Masjid Mahijirin and Madrasah Al-Irsyad to learn the various meanings behind mosque design and Islamic architecture.

The two ustaz explained that there is actually no concrete definition of mosque architecture although it would usually follow certain common elements of Islamic architecture and Arabesque design which are then combined with architectural elements unique to the local culture.

Due to space constraints in Singapore, mosques here are usually built with multiple floors but to emulate the big spaces in more traditional mosque designs, the prayer halls of the second floors and above are usually cut away to expose the high ceiling and the first floor. The design is to have as big and wide spaces as possible to give the Muslim more khusyuk during his or her prayers.

More recent mosque designs tend to do without traditional domes as they are very expensive to maintain are easily susceptible to leaks especially in Singapore’s rainy climate while the carpeted areas of the mosque are the designated I’tikafareas.

The concept of balance and symmetry holds high importance in Islamic architecture in design and one could easily draw a straight line down a mosque or items of Islamic design and would find that the two sides are identical.

The Power of Writing

Ustaz Fizar recalled one of his Arabic teachers telling him bring along a pen and notebook everywhere he goes and to sketch every idea that he has into the notebook. He then shared with the audience his own experience of learning the importance of writing when he first went to Yemen to enrol himself into an Arabic school.

Ustaz Fizar failed the entrance examination, as he had no idea on how to write Arabic and even wrote his name wrongly. But by the Grace of Allah SWT and with the help of a friend, he was eventually placed into a basic learner’s course. From then on, he would write any Arabic word that he saw and managed to learn basic Arabic in a month.

Science is part of Islam

“It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the day: each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to Law).” – Surah Yaseen Verse 40.

Ustaz Fizar asked the audience a very interesting question, “Has anyone looked upon a cloud and said (that) the design is wrong?”

Through the learning of science can one discover that behind everything is a Creator but in order to truly see His Signs, one has to look with the eyes of one’s heart.

An example of this, according to Ustaz Fizar, is to ‘talk’ to the moon, to appreciate its beauty and the science of astronomy and to understand the reason why Allah SWT has blessed humankind with its creation.

What type of seeker are you?

To end off, Ustaz Fizar asked the audience to decide between the Ant, the Bee and the Spider to represent the type of seeker of knowledge that a he or she is.

Ant – Someone who simply collects data without getting to know what it is and would not find the unifying structure that would bind it with other types knowledge.

Spider – Someone who spins out ideas in solitude but ends up trapping others in its own endless web of ideas that does not result in advancement.

Bee – Someone who gathers together in a community to share and evaluate each other’s ideas and data which results in something that is very tasteful and beneficial to everyone.

Bio of Speakers

-         Dr. Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied

• Assistant Professor in Department of Malay studies, NUS
• PhD from School of Oriental and African Studies
• Actively involved in various projects for social reform and youth development.

-          Ustaz Muhammad Fizar Zainal

• Left secular education after GCE ‘O’ Levels to pursue Arabic Literacy in Yemen and Syria
• Previously a trainer of Youth aLIVE trainers
• Head of Education, Research and Training, Safinah Institute

-         Ustaz Muhammad Nasir Johari

• Holds a Bachelor’s degree in comparative religion from the International Islamic University of Malaysia
• Youth aLIVE Trainer

Attendance: Approximately 98 pax.

Comments by Attendees

Syazwan, 14, Secondary 2 student in Raffles Institution:

“I learned to appreciate Islam architecture more and can see that Islam is growing.”

Zahara, 22, Student

“I felt that Dr Khairudin’s talk was really engaging and influential.”

Added that she now knows more about how the Malay Islamic Empire was formed.

Muhammad Ilham Othman
An aspiring writer currently studying Journalism and Media Studies. One who is also constantly trying to better himself for Allah SWT.

The tickets for this event at the Max Atria with an approximate capacity of 1000 people were sold out within 4 hours of the ticket sales window. It’s no surprise as to why this was so as the speaker was none other than the author of “Reclaim Your Heart”, Yasmin Mogahed. Many of her readers, myself included, have been touched by her eloquence in helping us deal with the turmoil in our hearts.

In an age where so many things are affecting us; the recurring experience of hardship, pain and loss, we all yearn to find peace. Not just externally but internally as well. The topic “Seeking Solace” aptly states that. Why does Allah test us so? How do find solace?

Why do we seek solace?

We are constantly faced with hardships, tests or adversities. We experience anxiety because of the uncertainty that comes with our endeavours. We could have put a lot of effort into something but still not get the results we want. The feeling of bliss comes and goes sporadically. This seemingly unending wave of trials and glimpses of serenity takes a toll on us. We want to remove ourselves from the trials of dunya and just be in a state where all is well.

The nature of Dunya

We need to realize that dunya and everything in it is imperfect. This isn’t our true home. Our real home is the life that comes after this one. Here, we’re only getting a sample of it. It gives us an idea of what awaits. Sister Yasmin used a perfume metaphor to illustrate this; it’s like getting to smell a drop of perfume and it makes us want to get the whole bottle. The suffering or the happiness that we’re experiencing are previews of what Jahannam and Jannah have in store so that we strive to avoid going to the former and attaining a place in the latter.

Why are we tested?

Allah’s most emphasized attribute is that He is Most Merciful. He does not test His servants to destroy them but to purify them instead. Just as how gold in its raw form is put through intense heat to remove its impurities, we are purified after being put through trials. The “impurities” that exists within us are that we are used to feeling safe but when we are in trouble, we go to the creations for help. Only when all else fails do we seek His help.

The trials teaches us humility. They teach us to go to Him for help. Tests from a students’ perspective is that he or she needs to rely on him or herself to get through it and asking the teacher or professor for help would be considered cheating. Such is not the case with Allah. When Allah gives us tests, He wants us to ask Him; He’s always waiting for us to.

Sometimes He keeps closing us off from the aid of His creations until He becomes the only option left just so that we would humble ourselves in the realization that nothing can help us, not even ourselves without His aid. This removes our dependence on the creations and rely solely on the Creator.

Real ownership

“To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.”

This isn’t just something that we say when people pass away, it is a worldview. Everything is owned by Allah; our wealth, health, possessions, our very bodies and even the people we love. When He takes it back, we are comforted by the fact that they weren’t truly ours to begin with; we were only borrowing them.

Seeking Solace

• Be patient

  The only constant is Allah. Everything else comes and goes. Finding that inner peace we’re all looking for lies in holding on to that constant. Have patience when facing adversities because they too will eventually disappear. Being patient however, does not mean we be passive; just accepting things as they are while hoping that it will end. On the contrary, we should take action to get ourselves out of the situation with the faith that Allah will show the way.

  Instead of complaining of Allah, complain to Him. Cry to him if we feel like it’s too much. Doing these things doesn’t mean that we’re not being patient. We’re not being patient when break the connection to Allah. With patience comes something that is priceless; the blessings and mercy of Allah.

• Know that no one is free from being tested
  Not a single servant of Allah has never been tested. It comes with the territory of having faith in Him. In Surah Al-Ankabut, the 2^nd ayah it states:
  “Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried?”
  There is no exception to this, not even the prophets. All of us have and will be tested just as the people who came before us. Nabi Yunus was swallowed by a whale, Nabi Ayub lost everything; his wealth, his family and Nabi Nuh spent over 950 years doing da’wah. The trials that we are afflicted with is actually a prerequisite to attaining Jannah. In Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 214 it states:
  “Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, “When is the help of Allah?” Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.”
  Though this is a reality, Allah comforts us by telling us in Surah   Ash-Sharh, ayat 5-6 that:
  “Verily, with hardship there is ease. Indeed, with hardship there is ease.”

• Redefine “good” and “bad”

  For most of us, good and bad are defined by how we view something in relation to how it directly affects us. For example, obtaining wealth and possessions are “good” because they make our lives easier and losing them is “bad” because our lives would become more difficult. We need to change our perception of those two concepts so that they are in relation to our relationship with Allah.

  Whatever that makes us closer to Him is ultimately good; even if we are saddened by the loss of something or someone dear to us. We can have all the riches in the world but if they distract us from Him to the point that we become myopic in the sense that wealth is all that we see then it is bad for us.

  For a believer, when we realize that all the trials along with the pain and suffering that comes with it is ultimately for our own benefit, the trials then become gifts.

• Give the heart back to Allah

  This was the theme of Yasmin Mogahed’s book and was reiterated in this discourse.  We give our hearts to the creations; imperfect and temporary. It is our attachments to them that causes us such pain because we’ve put them in a place where Allah should be. We need to make Allah the basis of our love; loving what lies in dunyathrough Him. Therein lies solace.

Below are what some an attendee had to say about the discourse:

Shiffa Khumaira, 22, student:

Bio of Speaker:

Yasmin Mogahed is currently a freelance writer and international speaker. She has a in B.S. Degree in Psychology and a Masters in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has taught Islamic Studies and worked as a writing instructor for Cardinal Stritch University, and was a staff columnist for the Islam section of InFocus News as well as host of “Serenity” at the now defunct One Legacy Radio.

Fadhuli Taufek
Fadhuli is an aspiring writer and believes in putting in the time and effort into meaningful causes. He strives to improve himself as a person and as a Muslim.

I sat down with three of the ensemble for an interview and here’s what they had to say. Made up of four full-time staff members, Keelat Theatre Ensemble’s founding artistic director is Mr. Gene, it’s executive producer is Ms Adila Mohckeram, Ms Aiida Tubiman is the business manager and Mr Isyafii is it’s tech manager.

The four of them work full time in the ensemble and they all perform in the productions that Keelat produces. The first production staged was called Al- Ikhlas. I am no theatre specialist (or whatever it is the term is for a theatre enthusiast) so I apologize in advance if I get any of the terms wrong.

Now, without further ado, here it is.

Q: What is Keelat Theatre Ensemble all about?

If we had to give keelat a definition then it’s more descriptive than definitive. In the sense that, we want to look at Islamic perspectives of common issues and common perspectives of Islamic issues. We want to transcend barriers of economic status, intellectual capacities etc. We want to show this not by dictating it or telling but through the theatre itself. All this governed by the Qur’an and Hadeeth, so basically, its theatre through the prism of Islam but we are not restricted only to Islamic plays.

Q: Who founded Keelat and when was it formed?

I (Gene) founded it in 2008 but the idea was conceived way before. I had approached others that would understand this idea. A couple of them came on board but they slipped off because of family commitments and such. They remain supportive although they are not active in the ensemble. Initially, it was a one man show. I was driving it myself and the pace that I was going was 1 show per year. The first show that was produced was “Al- Ikhlas” Yet, it convinced enough of the right people of its significance and in 2010, sisters Adila and Aiida came on board.

So Keelat Theatre Ensemble was officially formed as a society in 2010 with 11 members in the advisory board. They do not participate actively but ask questions and give feedback wherever they can.

Check out the video of their first play “Al-Ikhlas” monologue:

Q: What drove you to form it?

It was because of years and years of frustration that I saw through the theatres that were taking place. At its most extreme, it was anti-theistic and at the very best, it was very preachy. It was not following or developed from what was developed from the Qur’an and Hadeeth. We kept looking at it through a place where Allah is removed from the picture. It was a very secular perspective and we had to come back and return to theatre that embraced our faith. So we take the same issue, rethink it and put it across with Islamic values.

Q: This is theatre and although a lot of people might know what it is, theatre enthusiasts remain a minority. Why is it so important that you get the awareness of theatre out there?

Only 10% of every population are involved with theatre and yes, it is not a popular art. This is because I would consider it as being elitist in a way. Because the skills that are involved in theatre are life skills. If you educate people through theatre, you are elevating them and they become effective members of society.

Islam is a religion of action and in that way, theatre is in line with it. Our mission to reach the remaining 90% of the population is through moving people with the plays. When they are moved, they will be inclined to learn about it. We do theatre but at the core of it is Islam and the best way to do da’wah is to live Islam.

Islam is a very forward-thinking religion, it’s more than a religion actually, it’s a way of life. The problem with Muslims now is that we are always telling others and being told what is forbidden, bid’ah and the likes that we get this illusion that Islam is very restrictive when it is not. We should focus on what is permissible because that is the majority.

Q: Speaking about bid’ah, have you ever gotten complaints about what you are doing being bid’ah?

Not really. Bid’ah is usually related to ibadah and theatre is more along the lines of culture. If the cultural practices are in line with Islam, then it should be alright. Da’wah is not just done in one way, it is through everyday life. Although, there has been issues where it got a bit complicated because our performances were conducted in mosques.

Q: Funding wise, how do guys manage?

We are funded by God and I say this only half jokingly. We receive no support from the National Arts Council as they view us as a religious body. Although that, we have had sponsorship in terms of time, effort and products. Now that I think about it, the lack of support from the NAC is probably for the best because it is made up largely of tax dollars which come from alcohol and cigarettes among other things.

So, we get sustenance from jobs that are offered and our workshops. One of our programmes right now is called Living Iqra’. It teaches theatre skills and aims to produce “people who will crawl over ice to fight with the army of the black flags.” The army of the black flags here refer to the army that will be led by Imam Mahdi.

Here are some links to videos of the sessions conducted in the Living Iqraa’ program:

Story of Abraham: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR-7jwlEQg4

Story of Noah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVXakPar4UM

Story of Moses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H93CVt00FOQ

Q: Future plays?

Sisters Adila and Aiida: The upcoming play is called Women of Peace. It is a 6 member ensemble that is based on the roles of women in Islam. The women that are going to be portrayed are Siti Maryam, Balqis, Zulaikha and Asiah. At this time, a few mosques have expressed interest but it still being deliberated and it is a constant struggle to get approval.

Q: How different is it to perform this upcoming one as compared to your previous works?

Sisters Adila and Aiida: When we did Cakap Pasal Remaja, it was a different filming experience. The concept and ideas were different and we felt more accountability for it because we were in charge of coming up with it, filtering the ideas, and putting it together. Women of peace is essentially a play that gives the audience values that they can apply in their daily lives.

Q: So what is/are the goal(s) for Keelat Theatre Ensemble?

We want to make it understood that it is not the fire of talent that is important but the nur of Imaan. We aim to create Ihsan (compassion) and to break stereotypes. You’ll see the poster for Women of peace and it shows the sisters in niqab. This is to show that women who cover up are made of tough stuff and are not weak and oppressed as often depicted.

Q: Alright then, any last words or advice for Muzlimbuzz readers?

The key to unlock the floodgates of ideas is the first revelation that came to Nabi Muhammad (S), which is “Iqra bismi rabbikal ladzi khalaq”. Hence, it teaches us to represent Allah in doing anything. In any situation, we should submit and accept that Allah has a plan because there is none victorious other than Allah. Also, our motto is “and your Lord, do magnify” which is the fourth verse from surah Mudathhir, therefore, glorify God in all that we do.

You can check Keelat Theatre Ensembles facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keelat-Theatre-Ensemble/208015109229304?fref=ts

Radhiatul Mardhiyah Mustaffa
Mardhiyah graduated from Temasek Polytechnic with a Diploma in Applied Food Science and Nutrition. She’s an aspiring writer trying to find peace and serenity that comes solely from feeling Allah’s love.

Breathing, still able to breathe

Yet so cold, the chill of all evil has enveloped me

It is almost near.

Whispering almost soothingly in my ear

Ants crawling inside my skin

This is it, no wealth to save me now and no kin

With the sense of my hearing I detect the demanding beeping machines

And another demanding caller calls out my name but do they assume I can speak?

Fools! Unaware that you may be next on your deathbed

Unaware of how short life is and it’s beauty being only an illusion

Please! End the sounds of the fake hope of beeping and switch off the life system

My time has come, whilst I the fool was unaware.

Submission by Salma Ibrahim

There is no doubt about money being a very influential part of a person’s life especially when many people are already struggling with bills, and some even resorted to taking loans and a few even ending up homeless.

When we talk about children and education, we also mean the need to allocate a great investment to place our kids in school and to make sure they are entitled to good education.

We also need to have enough financial reserves, to help us when we are sick, and when we have no medical insurance, yet the medical expenses are soaring.

These reasons are valid enough as strong motivators for a person to put a lot of emphasis on his or her job. But how far are you willing to sacrifice a fraction of your time from work to focus on the one most important aspect of life?

Some of you might ask, “What is it?”

The most easily overlooked aspect of life, which many will miss and by then will be too late to regret – spiritual development. Why aren’t most of us putting this in the right perspective? The answer is easy: because we are just blinded by the instant gratification we enjoy from our career (salary, bonuses, promotions) versus the eternal rewards promised by Allah which we can’t see.

When the week days are almost filled to the brim with work responsibilities, and the weekends are taken over by family outings and activities like shopping and watching movies, this leaves little time left for spiritual activities like learning more about the holy Quran or stories of the Prophets.

Or perhaps it’s not about not having enough time. It’s about the willingness and motivation to improve one’s quality of life – to be a step closer to Allah SWT.

The Pull of Wealth

Quality of life should not be based solely on money and status. It is the spiritual strength that determines whether you will succeed in life or not.

People of the past, in the time of the Prophet SAW, might have no money or lost their family in a battlefield, but they were not feeling demoralised and would not wail or complain because they knew that Allah SWT was with them. They felt peace in their hearts. Allah SWT sufficed to them, and when He permits it, all problems of the poor or the sick vanished. And they were also guaranteed a place in Jannah – this is the real success in life.

In the modern society, money has become too powerful and has turned some people to become inhuman. For example, people get embroiled in backbiting and office politics. People are just getting too much pressure to earn high salaries and climbing the corporate ladder because others are earning more and affording more.

To compare one’s self with someone wealthier is sheer stupidity. The faster you try to chase wealth, the more money you will lose. It’s like playing soccer, said my late teacher. The faster you run for the ball, the further the ball rolls away from you. And in the end you just end up breathless.

We should step back and reflect on the less fortunate. Then we will really start to count our blessings. There are so many needy people out there, but we don’t notice them unless their life stories are featured on TV programmes. Or perhaps we are just too busy to notice. So we don’t realise how perfectly blessed we are, and everything that we now own should be enough and may be more than enough for us.

As Muslims, we have our prayers to start and end the day. With deep realisation and appreciation of the meaning of our prayers, we will not be too easily stressed by problems in life.  Allah has planned our days with breaks (our solat times), and in our solat, at the sujud – the moment our forehead touches the ground – all the extra electrostatic charges in our brain (that we accumulate from our daily activities and cause harm/stress to the body) will be discharged. This leaves the sense of peace and being mentally revived.

On top of the five daily prayers, those who are disciplined to perform the sunnah will be duly rewarded on the Earth and in the Hereafter. This is the promise of Allah SWT. The most obvious result of such discipline is having peace in life. The heart is in peace and this cannot be bought by money.

Entertainment such as favourite TV programmes, music and games is not an escape from a problem or a means to relax from life stresses. You might temporarily forget that problem, but you won’t get over it. The best way to seek a way out is to perform the solat and read the holy Quran.

You will experience the intangible benefits when these are done properly and with sincerity. This is when Allah SWT is closest to you and He will never fail to listen to His servant who recites His Words. Subconsciously, you are actually going through soul cleansing, as Allah erases the “dirt” in your heart and forgive your sins. Thus, it is more than a 2-in-1. And the effects are more long-lasting than the entertainment you get from the media.

It is the soul that needs to be fed, not the nafs (the desires) which can be likened to false hunger. As we all know, but often forget, our nafs is never satisfied.

Allah wants us to work and then invest the money wisely for the benefit of mankind. Sometimes Allah gives you a high status, but remember that having this means more accountability especially when these have to answered for in akhirah. But whatever role you play, your intention must be pure – not to seek popularity, or claim authority. In time, Allah will reward you.

Even at work, where we spend a third or more of our 24 hours, we can turn our tasks into a form of ibadah. How? Simply by telling ourselves the aim of our task is to help others and make them happy. By making others happy, insyaAllah, Allah will be pleased with us too.

Tips to Overcome Work Challenges:

1. Seek to solve problems. Be the caring one, who puts others before self.
2. Think of strategic approach to problems, and ask Allah to help you in every step.
3. When your work is recognised, thank Allah for giving you the chance to help others.
4. When your work is rejected, accept that it is Allah’s way of showing you alternative paths to success and Allah wanted to protect you from an unforeseen harm. When one door closes, other doors open.
5. Do something small that will please Allah, but do it consistently.
6. Know that you have greater potential, than what you think you do. Because when Allah SWT tests you, it is something that you should be able to pass.
7. If you are a mother, your number one responsibility is to nurture your kids and lead them to obey Allah. Work only if you are confident that your kids will be left in good hands. Don’t work if you can be better nurturers of your kids than the nanny, or childcare teachers.

Baihaqi reported on the authority of Salman Al-Farsi (RA) that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) delivered a sermon on the last day of the month of Sha’ban. In it our beloved Prophet (SAW) said:

“O People! The month of Allah (Ramadan) has come with its mercies, blessings and forgivenesses. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days and the nights are the best among the nights and the hours during Ramadan are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him (to fast and pray). Allah has honoured you in it. In every breath you take is a reward of Allah, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations are answered.

Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in all earnestness with hearts free from sin and evil, and pray that Allah may help you to keep fast, and to recite the Holy Qur’an. Indeed, miserable is the one who is deprived of Allah’s forgiveness in this great month. While fasting, remember the hunger and thirst on the Day of Judgement. Give alms to the poor and needy. Pay respect to your elders, have sympathy for your youngsters and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongue against unworthy words, and your eyes from scenes that are not worth seeing (forbidden) and your ears from sounds that should not be heard.

Be kind to orphans so that if your children may become orphans they will also be treated with kindness. Do repent to Allah for your sins and supplicate with raised hands at the times of prayer as these are the best times, during which Allah Almighty looks at His servants with mercy. Allah Answers if they supplicate, Responds if they call, Grants if He is asked, and Accepts if they entreat.

O people! You have made your conscience the slave of your desires. Make it free by invoking Allah for forgiveness. Your back may break from the heavy load of your sins, so prostrate yourself before Allah for long intervals, and make this load lighter. Understand fully that Allah has promised in His Honour and Majesty that, people who perform salat and sajdah (prostration) will be guarded from Hell-fire on the Day of Judgement.

O people! If anyone amongst you arranges for iftar (meal at sunset) for any believer, Allah will reward him as if he had freed a slave, and Allah will forgive him his sins. A companion asked: “but not all of us have the means to do so” The Prophet (SAWS) replied: Keep yourself away from Hell-fire though it may consist of half a date or even some water if you have nothing else.

O people! Anyone who during this month cultivates good manners will walk over the Sirat (bridge to Paradise) on the day when feet will tend to slip. For anyone who during this month eases the workload of his servants, Allah will make easy his accounting, and for anyone who doesn’t hurt others during this month, Allah will safeguard him from His Wrath on the Day of Judgement. Anyone who respects and treats an orphan with kindness during this month, Allah shall look at him with kindness on that Day. Anyone who treats his kinsmen well during this month, Allah will bestow His Mercy on him on that Day, while anyone who mistreats his kinsmen during this month, Allah will keep away from His Mercy.

Whosoever offers the recommended prayers during this month, Allah will save him from Hell, and whoever observes his obligations during this month, his reward will be seventy times the reward during other months. Whoever repeatedly invokes Allah’s blessings on me, Allah will keep his scale of good deeds heavy, while the scales of others will be tending to lightness. Whoever recites during this month an ayat (verse) of the Holy Qur’an, will get the reward of reciting the whole Qur’an in other months.

O people! The gates of Paradise remain open during this month. Pray to your Lord that they may not be closed for you. While the gates of Hell are closed, pray to your Lord that they never open for you. Satan has been chained; invoke your Lord not to let him dominate you.”

Yasiin Bey, also known as Mos Def, released a controversial video to show his take on the issue of force feeding at Guantanamo Bay prison.

Force feeding is a standard procedure at Guantanamo Bay. Over 100 detainees have been on a hunger strike at the Cuba facility. The hunger strike is in protest to their indefinite detention.

In response to the hunger strikes, the Obama administration has resorted to force feeding 44 of the prisoners, using feeding tubes.

The Obama administration claims that the force feeding is to save lives. But many in the medical community have criticized the force feeding measures, saying that they are unethical.

Bey’s video is not easy on the stomach– both literally and metaphorically. In his video, Bey is even seen crying out in pain and asking for the procedure to stop.

The force feeding procedure occurs twice a day at Guantanamo Bay, MSN writes. The procedure lasts two hours in some cases, with the prisoner shackled to a restraint chair, a feeding tube in his nostril.

Despite the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which calls for daily fasting, the prisoners will continue to be force fed. In response to Ramadan, the Obama administration has indicated that force-feedings will happen at night during Ramadan, writes The Guardian.

Yasiin Bey is a practicing Muslim and an actor-musician who has appeared in many films and television shows, including The Italian Job and Dexter. He prepared the video in collaboration with BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia.

Taken from “Seeker of the Sacred Knowledge“:

Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (Radi Allah ‘anhu’s) maqam has been directly hit by the bombardment of the Assad-regime and the terror organization “Hezbollah”.

La hawla wala quwatta illa billah.

The Hezbollah support of the Syrian Army are strengthening their attacks on the people of Homs and are targeting the resting place of Sayidunah Khalid bin Waleed radi’Allahu anhu, one of the great Sahabah, in revenge for the success over Persia. Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad al-Yaqoubi has requested for us to make lots of Duas for the success of the people of Homs.

A message [in English] to the Muslims over the world, from inside the mosque of Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (Radi Allah ‘anhu) in Homs, Syria:

The attacks on Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walids (Radi Allah ‘anhu) mosque and grave in Homs, Syria, is ongoing by the Assad-regime and the terrorist organization “Hezbollah”. Clip from today 2013-07-11:

Ya Allah! Help your servants to fight back and stop these attacks!

Some of the Damage to the Maqam of the Blessed Sahabi, Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (Radi Allah ‘anhu) :

This is the grave of the esteemed companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) our master, the sword of Allah, Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him and raise us amongst him).

A video of a recent Attack on the blessed Masjid of the Great Sahabi:

To see photos of some of the damage to the Maqam of the Blessed Sahabi, Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid’s (Radi Allah ‘anhu), please click on the following link: http://seekerofthesacredknowledge.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/sayyiduna-khalid-bin-walids-radi-allah-anhus-maqam-has-been-attacked-in-syria/

For football fans in Singapore, the English Premier League, or EPL for short, has been something of a sporting staple. Perhaps unintentionally, it may also now become a conversation starter when talking about Islam to non-Muslims, in a strictly secular country renowned for its hush-hush approach towards religious discourse.

When the league first began in 1992, it featured only one Muslim player: Tottenham’s Nayim. Today it houses 40, a diverse group of individuals hailing from the back-streets and alleys of Europe to the arid plains of Africa and Arabia. And, unlike the Muslim footballers of yesteryears, today’s crop wear their faiths on their sleeves, prostrating after scoring, or making dua before a big match.

The Muslim Premier League

Their impact on the modern English game is the subject of much discussion in a new BBC documentary, The Muslim Premier League. The half hour feature, which you can watch below, talks to managers, players, staff and fans, to find how the game has changed following its globalisation, and the subsequent entry of devout Muslims.

It gives an insight to how Muslim players have had to deal with various dilemmas: playing through thirst and hunger in Ramadhan, wearing jerseys sponsored by betting companies and being part of a culture notorious for its alcohol, women and nightlife.

The responses given by the players in the documentary, apart from educating the watching public on the dos and don’ts associated with the religion, also provide a good dose of inspiration to young Muslims here, who may have had to deal with problems explaining themselves, and their practice of Islam, to non-Muslim superiors at work or during National Service (NS).

Demba Ba’s answer when asked how he handles football managers who frown upon his fasting during Ramadhan is particularly telling, “Every time I’ve had a manager that was not happy with it, I’ve said: ‘Listen, I’ll do it. If my performance is still good, I’ll keep playing. If it’s bad, you drop me on the bench, that’s it.’”

Serious Muslims

Ba’s no-nonsense, non-compromising attitude with regards to wanting to practice the faith is refreshing, in an era where people have often been told not to be “overbearing” in their religious requests, whether it be for time off to pray or for a slight modification to one’s uniform to meet Islamic standards of modesty.

Perhaps there is a fear that such requests will open up a host of problems, with each mainstream faith clamouring for some form of excuse, or Muslims in particular furthering some sort of agenda. As the documentary illustrates, such fears are unfounded. Prayer rooms are provided at training grounds, as are halal meats in the canteen.

If anything, the seriousness exhibited by Ba and other players leads to a better, more cohesive environment for all, with the Muslim footballers better able to contribute to their teams without undue worry. Their dedication and discipline in Islam translates to better performances on the pitch.

You’ll Never Walk Alone

Such allowances are not accorded only to the money-making superstars of the game, but also to those who work within the football clubs. Dr Zafar Iqbal is Liverpool FC’s team doctor, and a Muslim. To accommodate his dietary requirements, all the chicken prepared at the club’s canteen is halal. He also shares several interesting anecdotes about how the players and staff at the LFC respect his beliefs, though I’ll not spoil the video by mentioning them here.

According to Dr Iqbal, clubs have begun to realise that players and staff, Muslim or not, are their assets. As assets they need to be treated well to perform at their best. In my opinion, this was the best summary of the documentary, the point that hit the proverbial nail on its head.

It would seem strange that the world of English football, widely known for its intolerance and hooliganism, should be seen as a model for successful integration of Muslims into England. Nevertheless, with a growing number of immigrants into Europe, as well as the need to cast scouting nets further to find the next Demba Ba or Papiss Cisse, it will probably not be too farfetched to say that the average football fan will know more about Islam, than the average man on the street.

Video:

Shahnawaz Abdul Hamid
The writer blogs at www.hayatshah.com and is a fan of Liverpool Football Club.

After more than two decades of life, I finally know what GPS stands for. Global Positioning System.

Come on, admit it, most of you never knew what it stood for until you read this right? No? Just me?

Moving on.

The session started with Singapore Haqqani Ensemble’s performance of a few Qasidahs which were both heart-warming and soothing to the soul. Mawlana Shaykh Hisham arrived soon after they started their performance and he even requested for one more song to be played before he went up on stage to begin his talk.

He began by reciting verse 148 of Surah Al- Baqarah:

وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا فَاسْتَبِقُواْ الْخَيْرَاتِ

Which means “For everyone, there is direction and He is the Guider. Hence compete in doing good (to gain Allah’s favour.)”

If we think about it, our whole life is a journey. And as much as the journey itself holds a lot of lessons and understanding, it is ultimately the destination that we want to arrive at that holds the key to what kinds of preparations we should make. In this world, we use the GPS devices to plan our route so as to not get lost.

But have we planned our route for our time in the hereafter?

Shaykh Hisham mentioned that before souls are made to enter their respective bodies, they are all in the Ocean of souls or Bahrul Arwah. It is there that every soul is asked “Am I not your Lord?” and thus we all answer “Indeed”. Even before we are given the gift of physical bodies, the very first thing that is made known to our very souls, our essence, is that Allah is our Creator. He is our Lord. Hence, we are born into the world with this knowledge. When we are given life, it is in truth an amanah from the Almighty to us. Can we truly return what has been given to us as how it has been in the beginning?

Allah’s Love

We are all created with the need to love and feel loved. The ultimate love that we have to search for is the Almighty’s. And Allah has made it clear in the Qur’an as to how to gain his love! He says in the Holy Book,

“(Say O Muhammad), if you love Allah, follow me and Allah will love you.”

Hence the key to finding Allah’s Love is through His Messenger may peace be ever upon him! To love the Almighty is to love His apostle. So follow the teachings of our beloved Prophet (S) and insya Allah we will be enveloped in Allah’s love. A bedouin once asked Rasulullah (S) when the Day of Judgement will be and our beloved Prophet (S) asked him what preparations he has made for that day.

The bedouin admitted that he had not done much but his love for Allah and Rasulullah (S) was all he had. To which Rasulullah (S) replied “You will be resurrected with whom you love”. Prophet Muhammad (S) was sent down as a guide because Allah knows that we are blinded by our misconduct! That is why He sent His Messenger down to us.

Shyakh Hisham also mentioned that if Allah is happy with you, if He loves you, He will make for you a guide from within your heart. In other words, if Allah is happy with you, he guides your heart to Him! And to be guided we need teachers to help us. We cannot be confident that we are going down the right path without anyone guiding us towards it. In the words of Shaykh Hisham “when someone works towards Allah in ibadah, Allah will make for him a person from his heart to guide him”.

Self- purification

The first step to love the Almighty to cleanse our hearts. Allah’s love is too pure to seep into unclean hearts hence the first step we should take is to try and do things which will rid them of all black deeds. Shaykh Hisham referred to Imam Al-Junied as saying: to purify one’s self, one must simply do what is good and drop what is bad. Also, training our desires towards more positive ones is another step in tazkiyatun nafs.

To change, we must begin from the inside out. When someone changes themselves, controls their desires and occupies their hearts with Allah and His messenger, insyaAllah, he will be a better person. If the heart is good, then all will be good and vice versa. Cleansing of one’s self and heart is a part of charting our spiritual GPS in the right direction. It is the betterment of heart and mind together. As Shaykh Hisham mentioned, the most bankrupt of people is the one who has no direction in his life for he is lost!

The most unlucky person in the hereafter is the one that comes forth with his prayers, fasts and charity but he curses, opresses and beats others. It shows that even with all the ibadah that he does, it is not directing him towards Allah and that he does not truly believe. As Shyakh Hisham mentions “When our hearts truly believe, Allah manifests His light in our hearts.”

Purification of the heart does not depend on what age a certain person is. It does not mean that if someone is of old age, only then will he/she want their hearts to be purified. Even at a young age, the call to return back to our natural selves, with clean hearts can emerge. Allah does not look at a person’s physical characteristics as He says,

“I am with those who remember Me”

So keep ourselves occupied with the Almighty and know that He is near.

The first step to self purification is to control our anger. Shaykh Hisham explains that if we are angry, our brains cannot work properly. It is as if we are drunk. When people are angry, they hate.

The next thing we have to abolish is the malice & jealousy in our hearts. These two characteristics kill both parties; the jealous one and the one who he is jealous of. In order to be grateful for what we have, Shaykh Hisham advises us to look at the people who have less, instead of the ones who are blessed with more.

Another thing we have to avoid in our journey to Allah, is Fitna.

Fitna

“Fitna is dormant, and Allah curses the one who gives life to it”

In this day and age, there is so much fitna to the point where it gets confusing. Shaykh Hisham explains that as Muslims, regardless of which school of thought we follow, we all want to be united as one. We want our voices to be heard as one. But we see a lot of differences in aqeedah. Just because someone practices Islam in the way that is foreign to us, does not give us the right to accuse them of being deviant and kafir. No one likes fitna. Who are we to judge others?

Shaykh Hisham advises us to leave the judging to Allah for He is the most worthy of judging. If one does not agree with what we do, it is okay. We all have opinions and we follow 4 major schools of thought and everyone is free to choose. Some Muslims have different approaches than others.

He also addresses the fitnah that has been circulating on the internet regarding the Naqshbandi Tariqah. The pictures of women kissing the shuyukhs’ hands have been published online raising a lot of questions. Shaykh Hisham explains that in both pictures, the women who are kissing the Shuyukhs’ hands are their daughters.

In Shaykh Hisham’s words “Do not go to the people who spread fitnah. May Allah bless us all. May He forgive us all. We ask Allah to forgive the ones spreading the fitnah and we ask of Him for His forgiveness. Ameen.”

At the end of the session there were some questions regarding how we can grow closer to the Almighty. Shaykh Hisham explains that we have to first eliminate the bad deeds in our hearts because that is what darkens the heart. He said “Do not count the good things we do because it comes from Allah. Count the bad deeds and list them down. Slowly, we will decrease them. “He also advises us to not lose hope of Allah’s mercy as He is the Most Merciful.

Shaykh Hisham closed the session with a reminder that in order to realign ourselves, start by putting the love for Allah and His Messenger (S) in our hearts. One quote that struck me the most throughout the whole talk was,

“When you manage your inner GPS, you can manage the earth and the heavens under your feet”.

May all of us be given the strength to chart our spiritual journeys and reach our ultimate destination - The Almighty.

Radhiatul Mardhiyah Mustaffa

30,000 Palestinian-Israelis of Bedouin heritage are are being forcibly transferred by the Israeli government, and thousands of acres of their land is being stolen from them.

The 972 article compares it to Apartheid South Africa’s District 6, the inspiration for the film, “District 9″

The Palestinian-Israelis are mounting big protests today.

Aljazeera English reports

Watch the Aljazeera video here:

Israel’s District 9: Its Biggest Ethnic Cleansing since 1948

Posted on 07/15/2013 by Juan Cole

In conjunction with the month of Ramadan, design collective Visual Inconsideration is holding the exhibition 11 Mosque, running from 14 – 25 July 2013 at Basement 1 of the National Library, Singapore. A showcase of the works of 12 artists across various mediums and disciplines from graffiti to photography to embroidery, 11 Mosque depicts mosques across Singapore through the eyes of their respective artists.

Established in 2010, Visual Inconsideration had previously been responsible for the book Petua, a collaborative effort with literary community The Heartthrob Project which showcased grandmothers’ tales and superstitions unique to the region. 11 Mosque was part of an ongoing effort to highlight the traditional festive seasons of Singapore, having previously released hongbaos and green packets in conjunction with Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri respectively, and greeting cards for Christmas.

Haziq Muhammad and Farhana Jaafar, two members of Visual Inconsideration whose works were also on display, explained that while their collective took on commissioned work, they also wanted to pursue personal projects. Visual Inconsideration was born of this desire to find a balance between art and commerce, and exhibitions like 11 Mosque were intended to bring the work of up-and-coming local artists from different backgrounds to a wider audience.

They elaborated that they did not approach 11 Mosque from a strictly religious angle as the artists were themselves from secular backgrounds, with two of the artists in fact being non-Muslims. Haziq and Farhana said that they were in talks to display the artworks elsewhere after 25^th July, and were also looking at producing more work based on Malay tradition but updated with modern sensibilities.

At the opening of the exhibition on 14 July 2013, visitors were treated to a guided tour of the works on display, with several of the artists on hand to explain their works. Many of the pieces went beyond mere representations of the mosque in question. The humble Abdul Aleem Siddique Mosque is reimagined as a towering 3 storey beacon in the piece ‘Lighthouse’ by ASFA, and Al-Khair Mosque inspires the work ‘An Untitled Feeling to Reach’ by artist Izziyana Suhaimi, presenting the spirituality of being in a mosque with an abstract work of embroidery. ‘Debu’ by Farhana, based on Alkaff Mosque Upper Serangoon, intriguingly features a sculpture of a hand reaching across a surface. It depicts the process of tayammum, or ritual purification through dust which the artist explained she first learned about during her lessons at this mosque.

11Mosque

An Untitled Feeling to Reach

Debu

Fourteen

Lighthouse

Malabar Mosque

Petempatan Melayu Mosque

Sunday Mornings to the Mosque

The First

Visitors to the exhibition

Neither words nor photographs can really do justice to the artworks, so I would suggest you make your way down to the National Library and check it out for yourself.

11 Mosque Website

Ahmad Zhaki Abdullah
Ahmad Zhaki holds a degree in English Literature from the University of London. He is a full-time executive at a local research institute and a part-time writer.

What: Majelis Rasulallah Singapura

Where: Masjid Al Abdul Razak

Who: Habib Muhammad bin Abdullah Alaydrus

When: 5th February 2012

By: Majelis Rasulallah Singapura

Habib Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Alawi Alaydrus, a teacher from Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Hadramaut in Yemen, recently had his first visit to Singapore. Majelis Rasulallah (SAW) Singapura hosted Habib Muhammad Alyadrus,  a scholar descended from the Prophet through the noted scholar Habib Abdullah Alaydrus bin Abu Bakr As-Sakran, at a gathering at Masjid Al Abdul Razak, along Jalan Ismail.

After an introduction by Ustaz Hasan Saifuridzal, the Habib began his brief talk, translated into Malay by Ustaz Anwar Hussain. Other scholars such as Ustaz Sofyan Yadi were also in attendance.

The Habib began by talking about such gatherings in honour of Rasulallah, would receive the mercy of Allah and that they were also visited by the malaikat of Allah, who searched for such majlis of ilm and dhikr. When such majlis were found they would rush to them and gather other angels to sit in such gatherings, so many that they would reach up to the Arsh of Allah.

Although angels have no  obligation to gather in such gatherings, nevertheless they enjoy doing so. They too hope for the mercy of Allah and they ask for the mercy of Allah to fall upon those in such gatherings. Quoting the below hadith, Habib Muhammad stated that all who attend such gatherings are granted forgiveness by Allah.

“Allah also has angels who travel about seeking out gatherings of dhikr. When they find a gathering in which there is dhikr, they sit with them and cover one another with their wings until they fill up the space between them and the lowest heaven. When they separate, they rise and ascend to the heaven. Allah, the Mighty and Majestic – and He knows best – asks them, ‘Where did you come from?’ They say, ‘We came from some of Your slaves in the earth who were glorifying You, proclaiming Your greatness, saying, ‘There is no god but Allah,’ praising You and supplicating You.’

He said, ‘What are they asking Me for?’ They say, ‘They are asking You for Your Garden.’ He said, ‘Have they seen My Garden?’ They say, ‘No, O Lord.’ He says, ‘How would it be if they were to see My Garden?’ They say, ‘They are seeking Your protection.’ They say, ‘From Your Fire, O Lord.’ He says, ‘Have they seen My Fire?’ They say, ‘No.’ He says, ‘How would it be if they were to see My Fire?’ They say, ‘And they are asking Your forgiveness.’

He says, ‘I have forgiven them and given them what they ask and I have granted them protection from what they seek protection from.‘ They say, ‘O Lord, a certain slave is among them who just happened to be passing and sat down with them.’ He says, ‘I have forgiven him. They are such people that the one who sits with them will not be disappointed.’”

Quoting verse 97 of Surah An-Nahl, “Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life,” the Habib asked how we can achieve this “good life”, as some people would understand a good life to be one of wealth, or having many children, or being in positions of power. Habib Muhammad explained that a good life was one in which our hearts are tied to God, in which we loved the Prophet (SAWS), and where we performed the obligations laid out by God and His Messenger (SAWS).

He went on to say the best of lives were those lived during the time of the Prophet(SAWS), and the salaf were the best of people after the Prophets, peace be upon them. This was because they understood the haqiqah of the worldly life and were concerned with the hereafter, and lived on the face of earth for Allah and loved nobody more than the Prophet (SAWS).

This could be seen in how the companions, after the passing of the Prophet (SAWS), wanted deeply to be with him after death. The Habib gave the example of Rasulallah’s (SAWS) daughter, Sayyidatina Fatimah Az Zahra, who first felt sadness when told that her father was going to die, but expressed great joy when told that she would be first to meet with the Prophet (SAWS) in the hereafter. Similarly, Sayyidina Bilal expressed happiness to his wife on his deathbed because he would once again be reunited with the Prophet (SAWS).

When Sayyidina Ali ibn Abi Talib was assassinated, as he lay dying he refused water given to him because he had dreamt of Rasulallah (SAWS) the night before. In the dream, the Prophet (SAWS) had told Sayyidina Ali that they would break the fast together the next day, and thus he wanted to meet the Prophet (SAWS) in a state of fasting.

To the companions, paradise was meeting with the Prophet (SAWS) and the greatest joy after seeing  Allah would be being in the presence of the Prophet  (SAWS). As stated by Habib Ali Al Habshi, the delights of paradise could not compare with the joy of meeting the Prophet (SAWS). Thus, we should resolve to meet with the Prophet (SAWS), by following his sunnah, performing good deeds,  performing obligations and leaving sin.

We should resolve to sit in gatherings of ilm and dhikr with the intention of purifying our hearts. Our hearts would be illuminated from such gatherings, and our homes too would be illuminated upon our return. For some, this illumination can be seen upon their faces, clothing and limbs.

The Habib spoke of two companions of the Prophet (SAWS), Usaid  and Abar, who in a sahih hadith, who were returning from meeting the Prophet (SAWS) and had no torches on them on a pitch black night. Long after they left, the light from the gathering emanated from the walking stick one of them was using, guiding their way home, and when they parted ways they transferred the light from one walking stick to another.

The Habib described the Prophet (SAWS) as Siraj al Munir, a light that illuminated. Citing verse 15 of Surah Al Ma’idah “There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.” he stated that certain ulama have identified the light as the Prophet (SAWS). He emphasised that the light from gatherings of ilm and dhikr will eliminate the darkness of kufr and zulm, and unbelievers embrace Islam because of the light of the scholars.  He cited the example of Habib Muhammad al-Mihdar, who lived in Surabaya, Indonesia during colonial times, saying the Dutch settlers would rise upon seeing the Habib  because they saw upon him the nur of the Prophet (SAWS).

The Habib stated the importance of this nur, as Ahlul Jannah would have this nur upon their limbs, and he quoted the following du’a made by the Prophet (SAWS)

“O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, light in my sight, light behind me, light in front of me, light on my right, light on my left, light above me and light below me; place light in my sinew, in my flesh, in my blood, in my hair and in my skin; place light in my soul and make light abundant for me; make me light and grant me light.“

Habib Muhammad said that the Malaikat would look down upon the earth and see light from the homes of those who recited the Qur’an, and made abundant dhikr and salawat, performed tahajud and stayed away from sin, like how we view the stars in the night sky.

Habib Muhammad closed his speech by making du’a, asking that Allah make our homes such homes, to look upon our gathering with mercy. He asked that we be able to see the Prophet (SAWS) in our dreams and not leave this world without having sight of him, and for our names to be mentioned with the Prophet (SAWS) in the hereafter.

He asked for all our graves to be illuminated with light of the Prophet (SAWS), that our iman to that of the Prophet (SAWS), our scales be heavy with the baraka of the Prophet (SAWS), and that the shafa’a of the Prophet (SAWS) grant us entry to paradise. The Habib asked for our families and friends be able to view the Prophet (SAWS), and for all of us to be granted protection from the hellfire and be placed in the highest stations of paradise.

He made du’a that just as we sat in the majlis of the Prophet (SAWS) in this life, we would sit in majlis with him (SAWS) in paradise. The Habib asked that Allah illuminate our hearts with la illa ha illah, and that this illumination be the last words we utter, and we be gathered with the others of the shahadah.

Though it was short, I gained much insight from this brief lesson of Habib Muhammad bin Abdullah Alaydrus. Insha Allah in the future our shores will once again be graced with the presence of this scholar in the future.

Ahmad Zhaki Abdullah
Ahmad Zhaki holds a degree in English Literature from the University of London. He is a full-time executive at a local research institute and a part-time writer.

I remember attending a lecture lead by a scholar last Ramadan. In it, one message hit home:

“Where exactly is my heart placed?”

Does your heart lie with the Dunya – where it is only able to sight short-term pleasures and seek temporal conveniences? Or does your heart surround itself in search of Jannah in every aspect or situation in your life and yearn for everlasting warmth of Deen, the sweetness of iman?

These are the questions that were imposed to all attendees during the lecture. The purpose to why the scholar mentioned the saying of Prophet Muhammad SAW (stated above) is to remind us that (la hawla quwata illa billah) we have forgotten our true form: that is our Ruh (soul).

‘All of us are Ruh, and our Ruh belongs to Allah SWT and that is your true self, not your physical form. The fasting is our nourishment. It weakens you physically, make your soul thirsty spiritually and hungry to be closer to Allah.’

The words said by the scholar lingered. Who would’ve thought that our body, the movement of our going is but a dead figure if we have yet to discover our Ruh (the abovementioned ‘true form’) and that we are as good as a corpse if we are oblivious upon the existence, the core, the very heart of our Ruh?

A gust of realization whisked by me and as I thought deeply of what the scholar said, I feel Islam igniting through my veins, echoing Allah’s mercy, Allah’s love towards His creations and it could only be felt when you are in a state of recognition of the Truth and are able to sight the Truth but not with your eyes—the awliya teaches that we have another pair of eyes that we often neglect.

I am also reminded by an experience that led me to sight Allah’s grace for His slave and may God be my witness as this experience has changed my life for eternity.

My family would spend our first day of Eid in a neighborhood Masjid that arranges an Eid feast for the old and the needy. In that very majlis, my eyes caught sight of a very old, frail woman struggling to get some food. I couldn’t stand the sight of her getting a meal alone as she slightly bends her body and could barely stand in a queue.

I come up to her, give my warm salam and decided to assist her. I grabbed a seat for her and she waits for me. When I come back, her head is hidden underneath her arms on the table and I thought she wass ill. She hears my approach, looks up and gently said, ‘Please, don’t go anywhere, please, stay with me till I finish my meal.’

I smile widely and I reply,’ you can have all of me.’ When she finished her meal, the old woman cried profusely,’ I don’t know how to repay such deed that you have done for me, young one, I am nothing but a poor being. I am not blessed with a sight to see what He has created for us but as your gift, I would like to pass my ‘ilm and because that I can’t see you, I trust my intuition that you’re a young woman who’s trying to look for God, so come closer to me and I’ll pass on the secret to why I am able to walk. It is by reciting this Surah that I will supplicate in your ear because it helps my heart to see, follow where Allah takes me. I place my whole belief in Him.’

This wise old woman has taught me a life lesson that changed my whole perspective of redeeming my deen. The lesson that we can learn from the story that I’ve shared and the advice from the awliya is no different. It teaches us that it is only with the heart that we will be able to see through the delusion created by our suffering, pleasure or fear. It is only with the eyes of the heart that we will sight His creation and all circumstances that have been decreed from above. It is only with the eyes of the heart that you will see Allah in everything else.

It is because everything that is to be felt; it is felt by and within the heart itself and consequently, when you identify the route of your heart and desire to walk towards Allah, you will eventually attain and redeem your true form: Your Ruh. And when one is in a state of being redeemed, one is in a state of awakening, when one is awake, h/she is not blinded from the Truth.

One will feel the tranquility of Islam because the eyes of your heart lead you to taste and witness His Rahmah, His Hasanah.

Furthermore, within that state of our true form, one will apprehend humanity thoroughly and it is from there, one begins to strive for goodness, desire goodness, be humbled, amazed by goodness.

May we redeem our true form this Ramadan.

Wasalam.

Afiqah Farhana
Afiqah Farhana is a student in Heriot-Watt University. She is currently studying Psychology with Management. She is residing in the heart of the Emirate’s desert of Dubai,U.A.E. She devotes her life in the way of Allah.

Event Review: Hijab Hijrah 2013

Date of Event: 21^st July ‘13

Venue: NUS, Kent Ridge Guild House

Time: 10:00 – 14:00

Organizers: Hijab Studio, Rozi Faith International, PeachyPixx Productions.

This exclusive event which was brought together by Hijab Studio, Rozi Faith International and PeachyPixx Productions was held at the National University of Singapore over the weekend. “Hijab Hijrah”, perhaps the first of such seminar held here had such great turnout of about 300 female participants for the 4-hour session. Some came with friends, some with mothers and some alone.

With 6 sisters who shared their journey of donning the Hijab, imparted personal grooming techniques and styles of donning the Hijab and empowering women with skills and knowledge of professional etiquette, the feedback from participants who attended this event was overwhelming. Among the speakers were Suria Artiste, Rozita Husin and fellow sisters all in different field of work ranging from entrepreneurs and an Ustazah – all with the same mission – spreading the love of Islam. All whom we should be proud of as fellow sisters!

One by one, the speakers shared their stories about their journey, issues and insecurities they faced along the way. Very inspirational, indeed.

Participants learnt many things that might have been overlooked in life. Things we sometimes take for granted and did not realize till a day come and opened our eyes. There were sisters who were yearning to start their Hijab journey but am unsure where and how to start. Some who want to start but are afraid of society acceptance to their appearance. And some, who just needed an avenue to turn to about their insecurities. That feeling of realization is something that is hard to describe with words.

I am definitely sure that this closed door event met their sole purpose with all the positive feedback that the Hijab Hijrah team received at the end of the event. Kudos to the organizing team of Hijab Hijrah and they even published the “Hijab Hijrah” book! To those of you who missed the event, you can purchase the book now.

Price: SGD$19.90

You can purchase the book from: PeachyPixx Productions / Hijab Studio / Rozi Faith (Add them on FB!).

In the words of Rozita Husin (Suria Artiste), “Wearing of Hijab is never easy but if you are strong from inside and truly believe Allah is always there for you, everything will go smoothly and Allah always has better plans for you. Just let go and let God…Insyaallah”.

Suryanie Ismail