BlogNews
Open Thread Sunday 4/20/2008
Well brothers and sisters, it’s Open Thread Sunday, so you know what to do… :)
To get us started, here are three “oldies but goodies” centering about the theme of spirituality:
- Ma`rifah: Being Acquainted with Allah by Abu Aaliyah
- Ibn al-Qayyim: “… is such a person not nourished night and day by his Beloved?” by Ahmad AlFarsi
- The Triangle of Virtue: Fasting, Taqwa, and The Qur’an- Part 1 by Yaser Birjas
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AbuAbdAllah
April 20, 2008 at 2:22 AM
bismillah. i am traveling with my parents in the northeast visiting relatives, mashaAllah. and mashaAllah, when we were in Philly we found an awesome philly cheesesteak place.
how awesome? the place is a (w)hole in the wall, but has a huge sign out front under which is written “absolutely no pork” in letters that cannot be missed. yup, halal cheesesteaks, hoagies, and more — even fish and grits for breakfast. my father was not excited when he got his first look at his cheesesteak. but then i handed him the hot sauce, and he was the first person to finish his food. :)
some day inshaAllah, we will have food like this in houston. so please make dua for guys like me who are happy with the food that Allah has given us, and also find joy in the form of cheesesteaks.
Manas Shaikh
April 20, 2008 at 3:16 AM
MM Team, an article on Patient Persevering please. Allah repeatedly emphasizes Patient Persverence as the key to Success in His Speech.
brnaeem
April 20, 2008 at 4:15 AM
AA-
Manas, the MM team is giving you a practical firsthand lesson on patience by continuously ignoring your requests. :-D
Manas Shaikh
April 20, 2008 at 4:38 AM
Br. Naeem
I see that. :)
Manas Shaikh
April 20, 2008 at 4:39 AM
Probably I am going through “hands on” training. Hope it works. :)
Gohar
April 20, 2008 at 6:13 AM
salaam. In one of the other threads, one of the guests has complained about his post being deleted. Without going into the specifics of that particular incidence, i have to say it would be nice to see some acknowledgment by MM whenever a post is deleted that such an action has been taken. I think that would be more open/accountable helping to maintain trust between the readers and the forum, and also be an act of courtesy to the guest who may not know that he has done anything wrong..
Traveller
April 20, 2008 at 6:27 AM
Asalaamu Alaykum,
Alhamdulillah MM are doing a good job; may Allah reward you guys. The blogs have been consistently stimulating and well worth reading. I have one teeny weeny request…Could one of the veteran bloggers, or even MM, post a blog on HOW to blog, which is the best blog site to sign up etc. I am pretty new to this, and only just signed up to wordpress, but have no clue how to customize and take it forward. This way you’ll be empowering more individuals insha’Allah, and since strength in intelligence is discarded in this day and age, maybe we can make a point in strength in numbers!
JazakhAllahu khairen.
Wassalaam
Hassan
April 20, 2008 at 8:22 AM
Recently in news, there is lot about the polygamist camp in west Texas. It was inhibited by followers of Mormon off shots, Later Day Saints Church. That raised few questions in my mind:
1.I know legally (meaning registering marriage with state), it is not possible to have more than one wife. But can the state stop two people agreeing to live with each other, claiming they are religiously married (or not claiming at all). I do not think they can, otherwise we have lots of adulterers to put in jail. I think, they catch them because they violate the law of underage marriage, or are abusive to the wives. I read somewhere, that there are many more people (from same religion or perhaps other) who live in cities mixed people, but still leading polygamous life.
2.The court took away the children from parents, saying something to the effect that the parents would indoctrinate them with their beliefs. Is it not the case with every one?
3.Although the women were leading modest, religious life, and its their choice, and Muslim women also lead modest, religious life, but there was something weird about them, that I felt and I can not describe in words. Can somebody compare?
Nahyan
April 20, 2008 at 10:38 AM
I know what you mean br. Hassan. It seems that only the women are getting media coverage and there’s something about them. Just like you said, i can’t put them in words either but it’s just an awkward feel to things.
As we get an outside perspective of things, for once it’s not Muslims, you can still easily pick out the propaganda. They make a random statement, put it in the news, and just add the word “allegedly” at the end; obviously ppl see them as guilty regardless of it only being an allegation!
Amad
April 20, 2008 at 12:08 PM
salam Manas, I have an idea for you. Why don’t you write an article on patience and if you put the energy into it that you obviously have, we’ll definitely consider posting it here… what do you think about that??
Hassan, Br. Siraj is working on an article on the El Dorado polygamist sect story… inshallah it should be out soon.
Traveller, great idea… Sr. iMuslim is our veteran blogger here, maybe she can do something along the lines you mentioned! I have an article on top-10 mistakes that bloggers make, which we can incorporate too.
AbuAbdAllah… the best cheese-steak, halal burger joint is Halal Bilal and Steak… they have 2 outlets and they have some awesome food! I moved to NE near Philly 2 years ago from Houston… I miss Houston :(
As for deleted comments: generally any comments that exalt or praise terrorism of any sort, suicide bombings that target civilians, etc. will be deleted unceremoniously. However, if there are more nuanced reasons, we try to let people know inshallah. JAK Br. Gohar for the acknowledgment.
ibnabeeomar
April 20, 2008 at 1:12 PM
Manas – good articles on patience:
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=225
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=381
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=301
and audio lecture – http://islaam.com/Lecture.aspx?id=47
Irum Sarfaraz
April 20, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Any particular reason why Br. Manas is praying for patience?!
Sharif
April 20, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Concerning the topic of patience, I recently bought the book “Patience and Gratitude” by Ibn Qayyim. My father is currently reading it, and he absolutely loves it (it is Ibn Qayyim of course)! Particularly because he is going through a difficult time right now…
It’s part of the “Islamic Psychology” series from Ta-Ha publishers.
I would highly recommend it (as with anything Ibn Taymiyah or Ibn Qayyim). Perhaps someone may want to post an excerpt from the book on MM.
Dawud Israel
April 20, 2008 at 3:41 PM
The bail hearing of Saad Gaya–one of the Toronto 18 is in 2 days from the 22nd to the 25th.
Please keep them in your duaas and if possible attend the hearing or the solidarity rally outside the courthouse.
Alhamdulilah, 4 of the 18 were released about a week ago and now we can insha Allah save this brother too.
For more info visit: http://toronto18.com/
AbdulHasib
April 20, 2008 at 4:02 PM
salamu’alaikum bro Sharif
the full text is translated by Umm Al Qura publishers (egypt, not makkah)
Though i am VERY wary of their (mostly bad) translations, compared to that of Taha.
Alhamdulillah they translated all of it.
You can get it insha’aAllah and cross reference with the arabic, as well as the abridgements by Taha Publishers
http://kitaabun.com/shopping3/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=20&products_id=1572
Abû Mûsâ Al-Ḥabashî
April 20, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Whenever I try to get access the muslimmatters website (particularly the home page), I get the following message:
I have managed to get to this blog entry in an indirect way.
zk
April 20, 2008 at 4:55 PM
Salaam,
Could someone answer a few, possibly very elementary questions for me? I feel like I should know this but I don’t.
1) What makes a Shaykh a Shaykh? is it a title conferred after a particular length of study, completion of a certain curriculum, given by an institution or a less rigid process? Is the difference between a shaykh and an imam the fact that the imam doesn’t need to have a pre-requisite set of knowledge?
2) When people talk about knowledge, and students of knowledge, particularly in the discourse i see on this site, what realm of knowledge is it referring to? is it exclusively religious knowledge of texts/fiqh, or is that more widely applicable to anyone who is a student, for eg, studying the natural sciences? i think what i’m trying to get at is the understanding of the word ‘ilm’, which can be as wide or as narrow as one makes it out to be. Does it depend on context?
thanks,
zk
Amad
April 20, 2008 at 5:21 PM
salam Abu Musa, you may have a cache stuck… Refresh and try deleting cookies/temp files. We had a problem with server last night but you should no longer get that msg.
jak
Eva
April 20, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Salam! I would be honored to have you as a member. Hope you don’t mind the plug! If you do, feel free to delete. Wish you’d join! Thanks!
ISLAMIC BLOG DIRECTORY
Dawud Israel
April 20, 2008 at 6:42 PM
Actually my bad…the Toronto 18 is now the Toronto 11… :)
Shirien
April 20, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Actually, subhanallah since Muslim Matters is a pretty big “Hub” for muslims online, I think a lot can be done with marketing and targeting certain audiences. MM should consider getting revenue from ads or promoting sites. i think an islamic blog directory is a great idea sr. Eva. go ahead and add mine (just click on my name) and inshaAllah i’ll add yours too as soon as I get a new template.
Hidaya
April 20, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Light upon Light was being taught in NY this weekend..Just came back from class and i loved it Alhamdulillah! I cant wait for the next weekend, inshaAllah..I already misssssss it and i dont know how will i wait for next FIVE dayss..=)
Amad
April 20, 2008 at 10:30 PM
salam Sr. Hidaya, keep an ear out for mention of MM by YQ…
Manas Shaikh
April 20, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Br. ibnabeeomar
JazakAllah khair.
Manas Shaikh
April 21, 2008 at 12:07 AM
Sr. Irum
Actually there are reasons. I need to exercise more patience and perseverance, Insha’Allah. Allah commands us to be thus. I want to read about the benefits of patience and perseverance so that I can remember them when I need to, insha’Allah.
Also, the situation among our own creed, the Muslims, require much patience to clean up, Insha’Allah.
(I don’t think it will ever be perfect in this duniya- it was not perfect (though better) even at the last prophet Muhammad’s (sallahu alayahi wa sallam) time.)
ibnabeeomar
April 21, 2008 at 12:42 AM
zk,
inshallah someone can give a good response to your first question. regarding your second one though,
in the discourses here, when “knowledge” or “students of knowledge” is referred to – in general – it means studying religious knowledge.
AnonyMouse
April 21, 2008 at 12:46 AM
Br. Manas, there are quite a few articles on patience and perseverence elsewhere on the ‘Net… for example, see here and here.
BTW, for all the readers: can you think of any social issue/ problem to be found in the Muslim community that you feel needs to be addressed ASAP?
inexplicabletimelessness
April 21, 2008 at 1:59 AM
just wanna say: Heavenly Hues:Thematic Tafsir by sheikh Yaser Birjas is *awesome* mashaAllah ! go Qabeelat Haadi! ! ! MashaAllah and may Allah bring us closer to the Qur’an and thus closer to Him, AMEEN.
Manas Shaikh
April 21, 2008 at 3:29 AM
Br. Amad
In my short career in academics, I have learned that one of the best ways to learn is to share what one has learnt. I shall keep your suggestion in my mind, insha’Allah.
Manas Shaikh
April 21, 2008 at 3:31 AM
Salaam dear Mouse
JAK. I need to soak them up, insha’Allah. :)
N.Y
April 21, 2008 at 5:43 PM
@ AnonyMouse.
Salam –
I recently had a conversation with someone about whether or not it’s ok to capitalise and promote Islam through fashion etc. For instance in the UK we have shops and stalls selling T-shirts with slogans on them like ‘Soldier of Allah’ or ‘ I am a Muslimah’. One side of the argument is that this is a means of normalising Islam, so it isn’t regarded as a foreign and odd thing, as well as creating some curiosity that may help towards the dawah efforts. Another argument is that it simply gives ones identity as a Muslim a ‘novelty factor’, and is slightly gimmicky . It would be interesting to here MMs thoughts on Islam and the extent to which we should/shouldn’t promote our faith in this way.
I also found this article: http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/riazat_butt/2008/04/our_dirty_little_secret.html
While i think that a lot of what the author highlights is not entirely accurate or well represented, i do find the gist of her article fairly sound , as she raises a fair question: What are muslims doing abouth the injustices which exist in Muslim countries?
Also – could we have some british writter. Though i love my brothers and sisters in the states – it’d be nice to hear from follks closer to home.
Thank you.
AnonyMouse
April 21, 2008 at 6:05 PM
Wa ‘alaikumus-salaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh,
Jazaakillaahi khairan for that! I’ll definitely think about it, insha’Allah :)
Re: British writer
Actually, sis iMuslim is UK born-and-bred (she has the accent and everything!) :D
We’ll try to push her to write more posts soon, insha’Allah ;)
Faiez
April 23, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Your smallest tag (from popular tags) on your blog is “Qur’an”. You should do something about that.
Cookies
December 15, 2008 at 11:36 PM
THAT comment needs to be removed ASAP!!!
[Jazak Allah khayr, Cookies. Clearly the spam filter let that one slip through. It’s been removed, alhamdolillah.]