Alhumdulillah, the finals are finally here! The wait must have been incredibly long for some, especially those who participated in the contest with their entries. We’ve been through five groups of semifinalists’, with voting done for each group to narrow it done for the finals. All voting for semifinalists is now closed.

Before we go on to the actual finalists, it’s important to let you know how much we valued each and every entry. It was humanly impossible to do justice to the beautiful poems mailed to us! Some were better than others in terms of creativity or the varied messages they carried… but really, all were heartwarming as they were about Ramadan, the best month of the year.

For the finals then, we’ve taken the top two most-voted poems from each semifinalists’ group through to the finals. Please note:

1. You’re now voting to decide the winner and two runners up (you have to cast just one vote though, to make that clear!)

2. Voting will be open for three days. Polls will close on 0000 hrs Pacific Standard Time on 8th September.

3. The winner and runners up will be announced on Eid day.

4. If you’ve missed reading the poems earlier or wish to recap, the finalists can be found below and also on their respective semifinalists’ pages here:  Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

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A Journey to Ramadan
By: Simeitsa Stamoulas (Maryam Noor Stamoulas)

A Month of Mercy
is upon us.
And I remembered back
when I was young
about how I felt being able
to fast the whole month.
I thought, “How wonderful!
All the reward is in my grasp!”
I realized I should
plan for this blessed month.
So, I went in my room.
And I wrote a list.

I wrote,
I will pray my soul to rest.
I will fast with strength greater
than the one who wrestles men
down.
My remembrance will
only be of Allah.
And can’t forget the coming Eid
outfits…

I just kept on thinking how
I can just soak up this month
of reward.
And as I wrote, my father
entered my room.
“Oh Baba! I am preparing my
list for Ramadan. Come see
what I have written.”
My father examined every detail.
And when he looked up he smiled
then said, “Ya bunayyati (O my daughter),
these are all great things you have listed,
but I think you are missing something.”
I said, “Missing something? What do
you mean?”
He stopped for a while,
and asked me to come with him.

My father took my hand.
And we traveled into the city.
It is not something I experienced often.
And I observed the status of its condition.
I saw walks of life with no homes.
Children in rags that had seen better days
on some other child that had thrown them away.
I saw a dinner plate between a mother
and her four starve stricken children.
A plate only consisting of two
decomposed dates found
and split into four halves.

And then we stopped.
I looked at my father with tears saying,
“Where are we Baba?”
He held me close and wiped my trickles.
“Bunayatti, when I saw your list indeed I was
pleased, but Ramadan is not only
about you or I. It is about the people
around you who need you the most.
It is a second chance. It’s a reminder to mankind
that forgiveness is near.
It’s about self reflection, and unity.”

From then on I learned that Ramadan
was not about how many prayers I did.
The clothes I bought.
Or even the strength that
I had to fast.
It wasn’t what was sitting on the dinner
table, but who was sitting around it.
It was about us all gathering together
and crying out, “Ya Rabbana!
Your Mercy is as the river flows.
And Your Bounty has no limits!
Make this the month of great
treasures for them!”

It was the peace on their faces
after telling reciting the verse to them
“Verily, with every difficulty there is relief”(94:6).
It was Allah letting them know
He had never forgotten them
Nor had He left them not
even for a blink of an eye.

I say to you,
Ya ayyuhal Mu’minun(O you Believers)!
Don’t be missing something this Ramadan.

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We are the Heirs

By: Mariam Arif

How beautiful the scent it brings,
A wave of calmness, an air of peace,
Our hearts are driven to the King of kings,
Our chances of paradise will increase.

It’s time to read His mighty words,
A single letter is ten times more,
I crave the prize, I reap rewards,
I need that heaven we all adore.

Refraining from food and drink is one,
To refrain from sin is greater still,
To teach us patience, to discipline,
Let’s see who has the greatest will.

And don’t forget Al-Qadr night,
When souls seek guidance and purify,
The winners pray and long recite,
For they were chosen by the All-High.

I raise my hands and close my eyes,
May God accept our fast and prayers,
By the end of this I want the prize,
Which God has promised, we are the heirs.

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Qiyam Poem

By: Emad Hamdeh

In the day I struggle and sin while You watch me
Forgetting what I promised Thee
That I won’t do it again
I have come to realize that being far from You is disgrace
Now being near to You is the only place
I wish to be, please grant me my wish by Your Grace
All others closed their doors
You are The Most Generous, please open up Yours
Allah allow me to wake up at night
I have sinned much in the daylight
Please my heart needs to come to you in flight
My desire of sleep I shall fight
To prostrate to You in the nights peak
Complaining about my heart being so weak
Bless me and let that tear leak
Down this sinful mans cheek
Let my tongue ask for forgiveness, for all the evil it did speak
Let my arrogant nose
Go on the floor where peoples feet and toes
Walk, where it belongs my forehead goes
Let my prostration be lengthy and my tears plenty
My back is getting weak, as the sins on my shoulders are so hefty
Please Oh Allah let me be among those who are awake while others sleep

I carry heavy sins and the road to You is steep
They are holding me down and making me slip and fall
But Your name I will always call
Allow me to prostrate to You in the dark
As sins have left on my heart a great black mark
Allah I beg You not to leave me to myself
For clearly I cannot see
My sins have left me roaming blindly
Guide me to Your Light
I miss prostrating to You at night
Now I tear, because I fear
Not tasting the sweetness of being alone with You and so near
Oh Allah I haven’t prayed Qiyam in so long
Since the last time, I have done so much wrong
Oh Allah without You I can’t be strong
Being away from You I can no longer take
From the chains and yokes of my sins I want to break
Oh Allah grant me this request
Though of your servants I am so far from the best
Oh Allah I am so sinful compared to the rest
Please let me pass this test
Oh Allah don’t deprive me of standing between Your Hands
A place a sinner like me never stands
My sins are enough to cover the lands
Let me be pleased with Your decree
Whatever happened was meant to be
Whatever I missed was not meant for me
My only strength and courage is through Thee
Accept from me my prayer
Oh Allah my heart aches
Being alone with You brings back great memories
Remembering those days takes
My heart into different states
Oh Allah my heart misses You so much that it is about to fall and break
The thought of how much I disobeyed You makes me quiver and shake
Oh my Lord, please give me my wish and inspire
Me to do good so I may be saved from the fire
Oh Allah I can no longer speak
My heart misses You so much it has become weak
Oh Allah How Revered You are
You are so near, but I chose to be far
Allow me another chance to be close to You
To drop another tear while prostrating before You
My sins covered my heart with a dark thick layer

Remove it with Your Light
Allow me to come back and stand before You at night
Return to my heart its sight
For it is weak and losing the fight
Help me as You are my only Power and Might
La Hawla wala Quwata illa Billah

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A Mother’s Last Words
By: Hadiyah Stephens
Compare, if you will, two flowers the same
Except one is vibrant and fresh, the other crumpled and plain
They lay in my hand, one in each palm
And looking at them, I experience a strange calm

My mind goes back in time, I begin to reflect
And I realise I have a lot to correct
I ask myself, ‘when was the last time you prayed?’
‘And when was the last time you freely gave aid?’

I sit down then, right there on the grass
I start crying, the tears come fast
I don’t know what made me feel this way
So sad, so helpless, so full of dismay

I stare down bleakly at my balled-up fist
I feel confused, surely there’s something I’ve missed
Something is wrong, there’s something I should know
I struggle to remember, my confusion grows

I grow frustrated, I clutch at the flowers
Then breaking through my rage, a sound that empowers
I hear my mother’s gentle voice, so near, so treasured
And my tears run freely as her last words, I remember

She died in the month of Ramadan, the very last night
And even though she was in pain, her face was lit with light
She clasped my hand and brought me near
And whispered to me, her voice frail, yet clear

She told me of Ramadan, her favourite month of the year
And of how everyday she would spread hope and cheer
I remembered vaguely of her always being away from home
Always in Ramadan, she would go out alone

She told me of what Ramadan brings
Peace, Forgiveness, Happiness, Blessings
She told me to make sure others know
She grasped my hand tight and begged me to go

She told me to continue on after her death
She was staring at me as she drew her last breath
Then she died with the Shahadah echoing on her pale lips
And in her features I could see the toll of many hardships

I didn’t carry on her work
I refused to acknowledge her last words
I closed myself off from the whole of Islam
I had left the straight path for the path of harm

And as I stood there with the flowers in my hands
I recalled a story my mother had taught me from our homeland
Three dates she gave me after Iftar
She asked me to identify their differences, I thought it bizarre

I did as she asked, I examined all three
And when I was finished she asked for my decree
I told her the truth, one was fresh, one dried
And the last was cracked, brittle and split down the side

She smiled as if pleased and gathered me close
She then asked me how the rest of the lesson goes
I look up at her, uncomprehending, confused
She smiled again, picked up some dates, just two

One was the fresh one, the other was the dried
I gave no response to my mothers wide questioning eyes
The fresh date represents a true Muslim’
‘The dry one is a disbeliever, instead’

She pauses before picking up the last date; she waited for a reaction
Then she holds up the last date, the one which was hardened
She waits for a little longer then she slowly tells me
This one represents a Kuffar and a hypocrite, do you see?

I didn’t get it then but I sure get it now
I finally understand and will now make a vow
I called myself a Muslim while doing nothing at all
And now I will save myself from this head-long fall

Because that lesson my mum taught me so long ago
Was not just a lesson but a life echo
What she showed me using just three dates
Is really what we are all trying to create

With this simple lesson we can learn
What is the key we are all trying to earn
The key to Paradise is simple to get
Just try to be the fresh date in each set

I cradled the flowers as I ducked indoors
I have to apply what I learnt to my life and more
I filled up a vase and placed the flowers inside
And ran to make wudo with Allah as my guide

That prayer was a first for a very long time
I had just started my prayer when the clock began to chime
I was full of thankfulness, cheer and more too
I’d realised I was free of the wrong I’d been going through

When I sat and studied Islam that night
I felt like a new person, full of radiant light
I looked out of the window out of pure chance
And when I saw what I saw I felt like doing a dance

For hanging up there in the heavens, was an inspiring sight
Glimmering softly against the blackness of night
Moving slowly across the sky, slim and new
Was the brand new beautiful Ramadan Moon

Since my mother had died I hadn’t fasted a day
But the present was different, before I had been astray
But now I didn’t fear Ramadan like I had in the past
Now I gladly went around preparing for my fast

That night long ago, when my mother breathed her last
She had told me the secret to the blessed month of the fast
I had nodded, pretending to comprehend
I hadn’t, and now I must make my amends

I am proud to be a Muslim, let everyone know
The lesson taught to me by my Mum so long ago
Stay away from harms way, try to do right
Especially in Ramadan, the blessed month of light

A mother’s last words everyone should heed
Often a little advice is all that you need
Follow my mother’s lesson and pave your way clear
Build your Iman and make it sincere

Ramadan is not to be dreaded and feared
As many different things its not what it appears
Sure it’s about fasting all day
But it’s also about who you obey

Do good in Ramadan, be your best
As we all know, life’s only a test
Be a good Muslim, keep up the good deeds
And maybe one day, we shall all succeed

Peace, Sincerity, Forgiveness and more
This is what Ramadan brings to every Muslim’s door
Do what my Mum told me all those years past
“Treat every Ramadan as if it’s your last”
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Welcome Ramadan
By: Syed Muneeb Shere

I wonder how you welcome Ramadan
Do you wait for it with open arms?
And when it comes, give it a welcome warm?
Or do you grumble and believe that harm
Is hunger to health or is thirst too hard?
And it fascinates me how you treat your fast
Do you wake up grumbling before dawn?
To eat a morsel, on your face a frown?
And then do you pray, with a sleepy brain
Your morning prayer, before the time is gone?

And do you sleep, through out the day?
Or does your fast get in your way
When you are told to do some work
Other than chatting, or gossiping, or play?
Does your fast stop when you lie?
Or does the fast pass as every normal day?
In entertainment, untruths and useless bray?
Is that how you treat Ramadan?

Or when fast is broken, do you eat your feed?
Without caring about those in need?
Is a day’s hunger not sufficient to make you heed
Or your heart yearns not towards a good deed?
Or does it not pain you, your every bad deed?
Is not Ramadan, enough to take lead?
Of your misguided selfish deeds?
Is that how you treat Ramadan?

And in the mosque, at the time of night
When is recited, the book of light
Do you spend the time in flight?
From your Lord and in useless fights?
Does not your conscience bite?
Your heart or is it too much still
To make you stir for the path which is right
Is that how you treat Ramadan?

Beware the month of forgiveness and mercy
Do you not take from the hell fright?
Or do you not wish to be pure and white
To rush towards your Lord and the guiding light?
Return before you reach the height
When time is over and your insight
Becomes frightfully clear and bright
O Man waste not your Ramadan
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Iftar Table Musings
By: Sohaib Baig

The medjool dates are ready, so is my glass of water
I sit with my watch
a million thoughts slide by
as quietly as the distant, setting sun
the day’s struggles
the thirst
the hunger
the tedious incomplete work
the forthcoming night
my eyes close, but my mind stays awake
my stomach growls, counting the time
as if it can be counted

What is time, but a hideous distraction
An anchor pulling us back to this gargantuan world,
cutting it into small, edible bits
but there really is no time – only timelessness
for this is not really a world – only an evanescing phase
our souls are on an eternal journey,
created from long before, headed for something much greater
we have to weave our way
maneuver past this world’s tight fist
stamp out our cold, befuddled shivers
open our eyes for the first time, truly
then bask in the tranquil openness, and warmness
inside rivers with no banks and valleys with no peaks
under a sun with endless streams of light
and gaze at our Lord
freely, peacefully, unendingly
and all alone.

we all have been marauding around
like uninvited guests, though we were invited
eating the forbidden fruit, hiding behind leaves
few, if ever, see through the deftly-woven branches
and notice the rays of light and Mercy
streaming, encompassing our nomadic worlds
giving life to our automated lives
He offers us forgiveness
all these Ramadans, all these Prayers
all this Qur’an, all these Qiyams
but we deftly press the snooze button

how far we are from Him,
yet how close He is to us.

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Untitled Poem
By: Hind El-Ayoubi

It’s the feeling I can’t explain

The way that it made me forget my pain

With every breath that I take

Never in my life have I ever been more awake

The way it made its presence known

Sent a chill down to my bone

As I look up and ask God to witness this miraculous time of the year

Reassurance accompanied me with tears

Ramadan how I’ve counted down the days

Until you came and cleared up the haze

The month of mercy and forgiveness it is

Puts me in an unworldly state of bliss

The Quran which was revealed on this day

To understand it all and live by it for this I pray

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The Maghreb Moment: A Ramadan Poem
By: Adem Carroll

It is within you. And it comes again

Between us—

The sweet, mysterious breath of

Springtime rain;

The inner heat of secret light

Like the green within the flame.

No fear, no paperwork or mountaintop,

No borders stop this Ramadan;

Witness the heart’s uncertain trek towards waking

Through seasons, sands– small wandering child with drum.

Come home, my heart, this evening

As loved ones gather in the kitchen warm with steam;

Our loving mother is the cook

And God is He who sent the Book to wake us from this dream.

In need we find the treasure:

Beyond consuming or consumed,

We may drink the green life here

Before we are entombed.

In the desert, “ain,” the word for eye, oasis is the same—

But as one will empty one will fill.

Yet now these evenings out of the darkness comes

All life to share the source in peace…

And the drums are still.

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Ramadan Oh Ramadan
By: Zuha Mirza

Ramadan oh Ramadan how I miss thee

You come for one month and leave us for an 11 month spree

You bring us both blessings and control from the shaytaan,

But eventually leave us, anticipating next year’s Ramadan.

Ramadan oh Ramadan how I miss thee

Waking up with tired eyes for suhoor and some tea

Frying samosas and filling up our plates in time for iftaar with glee

The sweet and savory taste of the kajoor

Keeps me filled from iftar to suhoor

Ramadan oh Ramadan how I miss thee

Taraweeh and ibadaah, I perform with Allah’s decree

I make dua with immense faith and concentration

Hoping this Ramadan’s fasts will be accepted without any hesitation

Ramadan oh Ramadan how I miss thee

I hope to meet you this year, so I can welcome you contently

Ramadan oh Ramadan how I miss thee

I hope I can meet you the next year, so I can keep fasts in honor of HE

Ramadan oh Ramadan how I LOVE thee

That I keep missing you, even when you’re not here with me

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Where hope lies
By: Miriam Islam

Engulfed in the blackness of despair, drowning with deeds beyond repair

The sinner walks a lonely path

A desperate effort to heal the wounded aftermath

Chased by the demons of desire

The dunya led him closer to the fire

The glitter of pleasures and death never pending

Threw him into sins never ending.

So great is the shame, marred with emotions unnamed

How can he dare to call upon his lord again?

With a heavy heart and eyes downcast

Dreams of carefree days go past

A time when it was so easy to raise up hands and freely request

Innocent pleas and simple decisions, praying Allah would ease the rest.

Requesting from his Lord most high, most bountiful

Who made all good things seem possible, and the evil unthinkable.

So when did the light of goodness fade into darkness?

Was it through the extinguish of the conscience

Or did it diminish with the weak voice of reason

When overshadowed by the shout of Satan?

So the sinner walks a lonely path,

No longer seeking wrong or right, only hoping for a ray of light.

A light of purpose, a light of redemption

A lamp of guidance, leading to the road of salvation.

A way to repent for the time unspent

For the obligations unfulfilled and the book unread

The deeds which rendered the weak heart dead.

So what can revive the stricken heart?

Allah set a month apart.

A time of healing, a time of hope

A time when everyone can grasp a lifeline boat.

Drifting to Allah’s mercy, escaping to the plains of tranquillity

Wherein lies a night, better than a thousand nights.

Containing beauty and power concealed from sight.

A time to walk through a new door and emerge with vows of “no more”

And so the sinner walks a lonely path

Towards renewal and amendments for the past.

Through doors of repentance and levels of submission

Allah’s mercy leads him to the doors of admission

The promise of two gardens for taqwa for a lord unseen

In the prevention of a fearful deed.

For O son of Adam if your sins reached the sky

But you called on your lord just one time

You would be forgiven as if you had never turned to transgression.

So never despair of the mercy of Ar Rahman, turn the key in Ramadan.

Reignite the former glory of Eemaan.

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Missed out on all the action? Check out: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |The Finals

Link to all Ramadan 2010 posts

Its always easy to start strong, but only the successful ones finish strong.

The last ten nights are here, we’re at the finish line! Join AlAmaanah for a webinar tomorrow (Saturday, September 4th at 4:00 pm CST) to learn how to maximize your last ten nights.

Speakers include Sh. Waleed Basyouni, Sh. Yaser Birjas, and Ustadh Wisam Sharieff.

RSVP @ www.ramadanfinishline.com

Recap Posts:

• July 23
• July 24-25
• July 26-27
• July 28-29 (This post)
• July 30-Aug 1

UPDATE

The CNN Interview released on Islamophobia released on September 2nd, 2010 can be found here while the interview CNN interview on Moderates vs Keyboard Jihadists released August 12th can be found here.  A final story from another prominent print news organization remains pending and will be released in the weeks ahead, insha’Allah, and once that’s posted, we’ll link to that as well.

The Media and the FBI

Each year, Shaykh Yasir adds a new wrinkle to Ilm Summit to “raise the bar” so to speak.  This year was no different, except instead of inviting speakers that could tell us all about speaking to the media if in the unlikely event it were to happen or how to speak in a of roundtable discussion that the media was watching and the FBI would be a part of, we were now in the midst of it.

A number of brothers and sisters had the opportunity to speak with reporters from two prominent national news organizations.  The questions raised related to how Muslims felt they were perceived, what difficulties they were encountering, and their take on why the crazy neo-con right hated us so much.

Perhaps the irony of ironies was our beloved Shaykh Jamaal, who we’ve been looking for forever, was all of a sudden interviewing on TV, showing up on national tv to speak out against extremism.  Shaykh Yasir’s elder brother ‘Ubaid (a student of Shaykh Jamaal’s from back in the day as well) said that if this kept up, he was going to start calling him “diva” from now on =)

As for the roundtable discussion, Abu Noor AbdulMalik Ryan (you’ve seen his comments on here before), Mohammed Elibiary (the guy rooting for McCain back in ’08), ‘Iesa Galloway (moderator), sister Rana al-Dabagh, Shaykhs Yasir and Waleed, as well as yours truly sat down with Supervisory Special Agent Brad Deardorff to have a discussion about issues Muslims are facing with law enforcement. There should be a video on it somewhere out there, not sure who has it, but eventually, it’ll be an MM video, and you can see for yourself what we discussed, and if it was substantive or touchy-feely fluffy PR posturing (or a combination thereof =)

In all honesty, the media was a distraction for me personally, and I think it was so for a lot of students between Tuesday and Thursday. In the past, Ilm Summit was this isolated iman bubble where we’d disconnect from the rest of the world to focus on just seeking knowledge for two weeks.  Having it abbreviated to 10 days, and then adding the interviews and roundtable on top did take away from the academic experience a bit.

The good thing about the media was that was that they weren’t obnoxious jerks looking for gotchas (unless you’re Sarah Palin, and asking about what magazines you read is “gotcha-doncha-know?” journalism) and they were in fact the exact opposite – they were empathetic and looking for our perspective from our perspective. So while their presence was distracting, it was most definitely not unwelcome, and I was glad they came, especially one of the videographers (because I was able to talk to him later about his experiences filming the humanitarian crisis in Haiti).

Insha’Allah once the roundtable discussion becomes available, that’ll be posted as well.

Calling all Muslim kids- Do you love the wonderful month of Ramadan? Would you share your joy with Muslims around the world? Here is how- send in a craft or a puzzle, a photograph or a story about Ramadan or  Eid ul Fitr. Be as creative as you can be. Tell us what makes this time of the year so special for you.

Make sure you send in pictures of the finished craft with directions.

For puzzles- send us the answers too.

Give us some background about your photograph ie why you think it is special, what camera did you use?

Here is a nasheed for inspiration.

Click here to view the embedded video.

We will vote for the best post in each category and the winners will have their posts published on Muslim Matters.

Last day for sending in your submission will be September 5^th, inshaAllah. We realize there isn’t that much time left, but the same goes for the month of Ramadan : ) .  This contest is open to all Muslim kids  under the age of 14, all over the world (MM staffers’ families are encouraged to participate too).

EMAIL entries to art[@]muslimmatters.org

Click here to view the embedded video.

http://www.ilminar.com

“ENGLAND HAS DROWNED! ENGLAND HAS DROWNED!”

Should the headlines read such formidable news, the global community would no doubt be in a state of utter shock. THE MATTER OF FACT IS: Land greater than the SIZE of England has indeed drowned. The damage in Pakistan is unfathomable and the statistics pouring in have grown beyond comprehension.

Muhammad Al Shareef, Yasir Qadhi, Waleed Basyouni, Yaser Birjas, Reda Bedeir, Abu Eesa Niamatullah with Islamic Relief.

Muslims living in America and other Western nations are generally better off financially than their counterparts around the globe. So when tragedy strikes any part of this ummah, as with the tsunami in Indonesia and the flooding in Pakistan, alhamdulilah we really step up to the plate to raise awareness and funds. Even when a calamity befalls non-Muslim lands, such as the earthquake in Haiti, we still recognize our duty to open our hearts and wallets. What we sometimes neglect, however, are the needs of our own local and greater communities.

It’s not uncommon, for instance, for Americans to send their zakat – all of it – overseas. I’ve done this myself, on occasion, and didn’t think twice about it. At the time, I reasoned that the everyday state of Muslims overseas is far worse than that of Muslims in America, and certainly rougher that the condition of non-Muslims here. Whatever the merits of this argument may be (today, I hardly find it convincing), the plight of our neighbors shouldn’t be trivialized – and neither should the benefits of aiding them.

Concern for those closest to you, both physically and biologically, is actually prescribed in our deen. One notable hadith in this regard states that the Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) said:

“To give something to a poor man brings one reward, while giving the same to a needy relation brings two: one for charity and the other for respecting the family ties.” (Ahmad and Tirmidhi)

During his joint session with Sh. Yaser Birjas at ISNA this year, Sh. Yasir Qadhi spoke on this theme noting that the major books of fiqh agree that zakat should be given locally, if possible. Expanding on this point some more, Sh. Yasir highlighted the need for Muslims to engage in sadaqah and acts that benefit ones locality at large, not just the Muslims within it. Indeed, it’s these actions that will allow others to appreciate our presence and build those oh-so-elusive bridges we always talk about.

As Muslims lay firmer roots in this country, this message of looking to one’s community first is beginning to hit home. It’s part of the reason that, alhamdulilah, we were able to raise over $20,000 in such a short period of time to help our dear shaykh, Dr. Ibrahim Dremali – after all, what would a community be without guidance from our shuyookh? It’s also one of the principles behind the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), and “Khairat”, a grassroots endeavor run by the Islamic Center at NYU that “seeks to foster dialogue and understanding through community service.”

This ethos is similarly a driving force behind the M100 Foundation and its Ramadan initiative, 30/30:

Throughout Ramadan, millions of Muslims worldwide draw closer to Allah by fasting and giving in charity…During each night of Ramadan, we will give out a grant to a different non-profit organization that fulfills a unique charitable category. 30 nights, 30 grants, 30 ways to make a difference.

To promote this project, which focuses on the greater D.C. area, the team at M100 is hosting a webinar this Sunday complete with a litany of A-list speakers, including MM’s own Sh. Yasir. So go register on their site and check out this great opportunity for sadaqah!

What: M100′s 30/30 Webinar

When: Sunday, August 22nd at 6:00 pm EST

Where: Online – Register here.

Link to all Ramadan 2010 Posts

Ramadan Resolutions which lead to Psychological Healing!

The buzz word every January is New Year’s Resolutions. People aspire to be thinner, happier, more organized and less cranky. Well, I think it’s about time to set Ramadan Resolutions. This is the month Muslims strive to improve and with so much innate gusto and energy we simply need to direct all our enthusiasm towards these resolutions which will lead to massive psychological healing and spiritual enlightenment.

Ramadan Resolution #1 : REPENT

Whenever we do anything wrong whether we transgress against someone, break a commitment with Allah or simply deprive ourselves of the spiritual nourishment we so desperately need, we start to get that uncomfortable feeling of guilt. Now guilt can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on where it leads you. If guilt leads you to taking action and setting things straight then it’s definitely a good thing, but if it gets you stuck in self-pity mode then it’s very destructive. The most effective way to combat the guilt which is felt from wronging others or yourself is to repent. Repenting not only clears your records and opens a new chapter in your life, it also transforms your bad deeds into good ones.

Except those who repent, have faith and do good deeds those Allah will change their sins for good deeds, Allah is most merciful (25:70).

How cool is that? You do wrong – you repent (sincere repentance) and your deeds transform. Such amazing Mercy, Subhan’Allah!

Be super careful about taking people’s rights, talking about them or hurting their feelings because a day will come when it’s payback time – not with dollars or dirhams but with your precious good deeds.

He who has a right of his brother on him, be it of nature of money or honor, let him compensate for it before he is made to compensate for it on a day when there will be no dinar nor dirham to deal with instead if he has a good deed in his account it will be given to the person he wronged and if he has no good deed then he will receive the bad deed of the person he wronged. (Bukhari)

Just imagine handing over your days of fasting, your qiyam, your umrah to the person you can’t stand… Ouch!

Ramadan Resolution #2 Forgive

Regardless of who has wronged you – forgive them for Allah’s sake. It’s not about that person and how horrible they are – it’s about you and your status with Allah. If you have been belittled, abused, cheated on or lied to, then you have two choices. You can choose to play the victim role and have a pity party your entire life feeling sorry for yourself or you can chose to move on. If you are wise and brave then you will chose to move on. In order to do that you need to forgive. What? Forgive that jerk who wronged me? Yes, not for his sake, but for Allah’s sake and for your own sake.

Let go of the past, throw out the emotional baggage that is weighing you down and finally attain peace. The grudge you are holding is eating away at you and you will not be able to have true faith until you forgive. Forgive those in your past and present then forgive yourself.

In order to accept your circumstances, you have to know that Allah is Al-Hakeem, the Most Wise, and that everything that has happened to you is the best for you. By complaining, we are questioning Allah’s Wisdom and implying that we know better than Him.

The reward of evil is evil, but whosoever forgives and makes amends, his reward is upon Allah (42:40)

Be quick in forgiveness from your Lord and pardon all men – for Allah loves those who do good (3:133-134)

Once you forgive, the psychological healing will begin.

“Forgiveness is not the misguided act of condoning irresponsible, hurtful behavior. Nor is it a superficial turning of the other cheek that leaves us feeling victimized and martyred. Rather it is the finishing of old business that allows us to experience the present, free of contamination from the past.” (Dr. Joan Borysenkko, Fire of the Soul)

Ramadan Resolution #3 Stop Bad Habits

If you have a clean record, the last thing you want to do is to taint it with bad deeds. Each one of us has a vice or two or three or four… that really gets us in trouble. Some people are pathological liars, others can’t control themselves from sharing the latest gossip, and then there are those that don’t harm anyone but themselves by sitting around watching TV, surfing the net and wasting all their time. Look within and be honest with yourself. What bad habits do you have? Make a list of things you want to change and acknowledge every little step you make towards achieving your goals. Be patient with yourself and persevere.

Allah will not change the condition of the people until they change themselves (13:11)

So let’s start changing, people!!!

Ramadan Resolution #4 Start Good Habits

Embrace the month of Ramadan by doing a plethora of good deeds: feed the poor, visit the sick and give of your time. Altruistic acts are intrinsically rewarding and addictive. Once you experience the amazing feeling of giving, you will search high and low to get that euphoric feeling again. It’s all about gaining the most rewards in this blessed month. Each good deed will be like a huge eraser that wipes away the bad deeds.

Establish prayers at the two ends of the day and the early part of the night. Indeed, good deeds wipe out evil ones (11:114)

Ramadan Resolution #5 Improve your Character

Challenge yourself to make this Ramadan not just about abstaining from food and water, but from abstaining from all acts of indecencies. Make this Ramadan about improving your character. Commit to speaking the truth, controlling your anger, having more patience, and speaking only good about others. Feel empowered by controlling your behavior and not succumbing to your whims.

“Fasting is not [only] abstaining from eating and drinking, but abstaining from vain and obscene talk, so if someone insulted you or wronged you say: I am fasting.” (Al-Hakim)

‘‘Whosoever does not abandon false speech and the acting upon it, Allah is not in need of his food and drink.’’ (Bukhari)

If we are all meticulous in making the necessary changes in ourselves and overcoming our shortcomings, imagine the profound impact it will have on our ummah. Let’s make the commitment now and stick to it!

What resolutions have you made?

So there, you’ve just been through a list of resolutions for Ramadan. Of course, there might be so many more things to work on, specific ones, those that matter more to you. What are your aims this Ramadan? We’re already on the 12th fast, so this might be a good time to brush up on those resolutions and targets – and of course, sharing them here will double as a reminder to others as well! Share away!

** Announcement **

The Ramadan Poetry Contest closes at 1800 GMT TODAY (21st August, 2010 – 10th of Ramadan in many places!). Due to the overwhelming number of entries we’ve received, masha’Allah, we will be quite strict about the deadline. So please make sure your entry is in by the stated time! JazakumAllah khair.

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Welcome to the another edition of MuslimMatters.org’s regular Islamic Art feature. If you want to see your work on MM, then either email us your images to art[@]muslimmatters[.]org or submit them to our Flickr group.

Click on the images below to view the original.

The best, by Fouad EA. Calligraphy Tuluth style.

Freedom, by SameePanda. Aerosol Paints on MDF. The mural was designed to represent Spiritual Freedom/Freedom of the Heart and Soul, hence the quote of Ibn Taymiyyah to add emphasis on what Freedom means from an Islamic perspective.

Khayrul Waaritheen, Best of Inheritors, by Zayd Depaor.

Istanbul, by Nushmia Khan. Studying abroad in Istanbul for me was one of the most spiritual experiences I've had. I was able to understand the true essence of my religion, as put by the Prophet Muhammad (s) - Nothing will help you on the day of judgment except a sound heart.

Islamic Center of North Virginia, by Saad Malik. Beautiful Masjid in Virginia.

Humaira, by Aznin Taridi.

Ramadan 2010, by Swamibu.

Visit the MuslimMatters Flickr group to view the other entries…

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Note: all the images presented in our Islamic Art feature are copyrighted to the original producers. Do not reproduce them without seeking their prior consent.

MM’s Coverage of Park51 (Mislabeled ”Ground Zero Mosque”)

Olbermann and Stewart both gave stunning performances on their respective TV shows, in relation to the Ground Zero Mosque. Pls take a moment to thank each, as they truly do deserve our gratitude.

See: Keith Olbermann: There is no ‘Ground Zero Mosque’
Email: Countdown@msnbc.com, KOlbermann@msnbc.com
Twitter: KeithOlbermann

See: Jon Stewart Mock Islamophobia: Mosque-erade
Email: http://www.comedycentral.com/help/questionsCC.jhtml

It’s been a busy week with so much going on in the past few days. Ramadan has begun and a hearty Ramadan kareem to all of you. Routines have undergone major upheaval, the daily food menu’s have changed and, for some, the sleep cycle has become a little messed up. But despite all that, Ramadan brings joy and reinvigorates you from within and that’s because this is the one time in the year when the majority of us Muslims actually, consciously, thinks about its Creator and worships Him with a special veneration. May Allah help us to worship Him as He ought to be worshiped and may He accept from us our Ibadah! Ameen.

A lot of what’s been up lately has to do with Muslims being in the news. For once, it’s actually been positive coverage. Let’s see what’s been happening…

Obama’s Iftaar Speech

The White House upheld its annual Ramadan tradition on Friday when President Obama hosted prominent Muslim-Americans, many members of his cabinet as well as Congressional legislators. In his speech, Obama touched on the contributions Muslim have made to American progress, both, in the past and present day.

“Islam, as we know, is part of America,” Obama said. “And like the broader American citizenry, the American Muslim community is one of extraordinary dynamism and diversity – with families that stretch back generations and more recent immigrants; with Muslims of countless races and ethnicities, and with roots in every corner of the world.”

“Indeed, the contributions of Muslims to the United States are too long to catalog because Muslims are so interwoven into the fabric of our communities and our country. American Muslims are successful in business and entertainment; in the arts and athletics; in science and in medicine. Above all, they are successful parents, good neighbors, and active citizens.” See the transcript of the speech here.

It should also be pointed out that, following up on his speech, the President backed the right of the Cordoba House mosque project (better known as the “Ground Zero” mosque) to go ahead, touting it as a major indicator of freedom of religion in America.

“As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country,” Obama said. “That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances.”

CNN’s Ramadan Focus: “Muslim in 2010″

This year, CNN is running a special series of programs and interactive iReports focusing on Ramadan. One feature is the special coverage, “Muslim in 2010″, on CNN International’s daily news program “Prism” broadcast from Abu Dhabhi throughout the month.  Also on board is CNN’s iReport section where Muslims across the world have been encouraged to send in  pictures or short videos on the theme “Muslim in 2010″. The best submissions will be showcased on the ‘Inside the Middle East’ website and on air during “Prism”.

It looks like a great opportunity for Da’wah and positive engagement with the mainstream media. The chance to have your personal thoughts and feelings on what makes Ramadan special for you, telecast across the world, shouldn’t be missed. Who knows, someone might be inspired to learn more about Islam and Muslims upon hearing upon your Ramadan experience! Cool!

Muslim Matters on CNN

For those of you who missed it, some of our senior staff writers were recently featured in a report by CNN’s Deborah Feyerick. The report comes at a time when mainstream moderate Muslims are calling for more balanced and positive coverage of Muslims in the media, instead of the easy airtime that negative messages get. It’s a positive step and we’ve encouraged you to send a short note of appreciation to Ms Feyerick via CNN.

Share your views about what’s been happening lately as well as anything else that’s on your mind and you’d like to tell us and other readers about!