Sunday Open Thread | Haytham’s Random Thoughts

My advice to any “wanna-be” graduate student:

Having been a graduate student for the last two and a half years, here is a set of advice for you:

• Generally speaking, if you are doing a thesis masters or a PhD be prepared to not have a social life. If you do have a social life, be prepared for not getting your degree.
• If you can stay at home, do so. The time you save by having somebody cook, clean, and do your laundry is priceless. However if you leave your home town, get a gym membership.
• If you are going to move out, find a good roommate. Few things to look for in an ideal roommate: Cleanliness, manners, Deen, financial stability.
• Since your level of involvement in social activities will decrease exponentially, your spiritual life will be affected, so be ready to tackle that. To combat this phenomenon, find a good friend who is just as busy and as you are and work around your schedules to increase your spirituality.
• Pick a good advisor. From my conversations with other graduate students, having a good advisor is a key element in making your transition between an undergraduate punk to a graduate student very successful. Do some research, study hard for your GRE/GMAT, and find a field that is of interest to you

I am broud of my Egybtian beoble:

In my opinion, the best thing that came out of this protest is the fact that the egyptian youth found a common goal and unifying end point. All egyptians stood as one person – men and women, Muslims and Christians, young and old, army uniform and civilians, rich and poor. If anything, the world should learn how to be united from the Egyptians! This whole experience reminded me of a V for Vendetta quote: “People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of its people.”

‎Uninstalling dictator … 100% complete
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Installing now … Egypt 2.0
██â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'â–'

I am thankful to the Tunisian people and I am praying all the other countries that are attempting to secure their rights to live in peace and prosperity.

The Shaykh's lecture Vs. music:

I have often wondered why I dont get an energetic pump when I listen to lectures by shuyookh on my ipod while doing my cardio or lifting weights at the gym. A few days ago it kind of hit me, the shaykh's lectures cannot substitute music because one is aimed to educate and the other is aimed to entertain. Thus, when I am in the gym I am not trying to get educated (you wouldnt listen to a chemistry lecture while running) I am trying to be pumped. Instrumental music, though, I believe is Haram, on the other hand gives that push to keep going. So, does anybody has a solution for this one?!

Oh, I think this type of music is definitely Halal!

Have a marriage problem? Let's NOT go to the shaykh!

Other than the fact that “most” of our shuyookh aren't qualified to counsel anybody, I believe that the majority of our Imams are ignorant of our social life (high-school life, college life, generation gaps, internet life etc). No doubt this issue is contributing positively to the rising divorce rates of Muslims in America. Would you go to a lawyer to fix your marriage problems? Why then would you go to an Imam who has a degree in jurisprudence (if you are lucky) to discuss your most intimate problems?!

Hey, dont judge me!

I am amazed at this statement of Omar Ibn Al Khattaab (radiAllahu anhu), he said:

“People were [sometimes] judged by the revealing of a Divine Revelation during the lifetime of Prophet of Allah. But now there is no longer any more [new revelation]. Now we judge you by the deeds you practice publicly, so we will trust and favor the one who does good deeds in front of us, and we will not call him to account about what he is really doing in secret, for Allah will judge him for that; but we will not trust or believe the one who presents to us with an evil deed even if he claims that his intentions were good.”

…and finally…

In my few years of experience with life, I've come to realize that the majority of people are looking to be inspired by somebody. They want to be told how to live their lives and they want to imitate that person in almost every thing. Be it in fashion, thoughts, ideas, ideologies, and even careers. Once a person possesses the ability to stimulate the emotions of people, he/she definitely possess a massive power!