Egypt | A Crash Course in Life Lessons

57 Comments

1. 

   maybe

   February 14, 2011 at 12:27 AM

   Well as long as the sister group your website – The Ikhwan does not show its ugly face – I think Egypt will be a much better place now !

   Reply
   • 

     Penny

     February 14, 2011 at 7:10 AM

     I am one of those who stayed. I find your comment about the sister group and of the ikhwan insulting to say the least.

     Reply
   • 

     F

     February 14, 2011 at 8:04 AM

     You mean the group that has been working for the last 80 years for Islam has an ugly face? Shows where your loyalties lie.

     Reply
2. 

   Naved Zia

   February 14, 2011 at 12:32 AM

   Truly Allah is the best of planner!!

   Reply
3. 

   ummousama

   February 14, 2011 at 12:40 AM

   Asssalamu ala man ittaba’a al-huda,

   It is good for me to read why somebody chose to leave. Personally, I chose to stay. One of the reasons why people chose to leave is rumours. Rumours were spread like raging wildfire, of course, things worsening with each intermediary.

   Yes, the first night of looting was the worst one because people didn’t control rumours. Once, at least in our area, people controlled it, things were quite normal.

   Of course, I do not live in downtown Cairo or downtown Alexandria so I cannot speak for those places.

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4. 

   n

   February 14, 2011 at 8:14 AM

   I am one of those who chose to stay and im so glad for it. My kids got to see what’s its like to pull together and have tawakkul in times of fear. My husband being egyptian, and so much family here, we felt like it was the right thing to do to stay.

   My kids got to witness a revolution, and their dad being part of it. I was so proud that my husband got to take part in the protests. That was history and i felt so happy my son witnessed what it was like for us to have baba go down there even though teh first few days we were scared for sure in our hearts.

   We stayed at my inlaws and the men were downstairs protecting the neighborhoods. What a great lesson to learn for a boy/man and for women as well that you have to stand up and do something and work together etc. I mean the list of lessons is somehow endless if i ponder on it.

   When hubby went to the protests, I was so scared at first, but i said u know what, even if Allah takes his life, it will be for the better. We’re not here for the dunya. This is our test for now and i felt like that made me stronger. Allahu’alim.

   I felt like alot of ppl who left didnt have alot of information and operated off of alot of fear and hearsay. Did we do enough to contact scholars and others of knowledge and see what they were advising in these circumstances? I think Egypt needed muslims to stay and be part of the solution , rather than run away.

   I feel like alot of the muslim foreigners also felt that when the bad times hit that this wasn’t ‘their’ problem. It was an egyptian problem. I’m not saying you felt that. But i’m saying i felt that many ppl felt that. Allah knows best.

   I don’t know what to think about a feeling im developing as of late – of feeling like the ppl who left, left to the ‘safety’ of dunya, a false sense of security. They didnt think of the bigger problem. they thought of only their own families, their own selves. Im not sure islamicaly if i should feel like this (i know some ppl are coaxed by families to leave and spoke no arabic so thats a slightly differnet story) but this is how im feeling.

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   • 

     Haleh

     February 15, 2011 at 1:44 AM

     I really admire the fact that you did stay and I respect your husband for demonstrating. I can’t express enough the feeling of pride I had for everyone who took part in it. There was this incredible sense of brotherhood and unity we all felt. It was encouraging and motivating to see people so determined and focused on their objective. It’s wonderful masha’Allah that your kids witnessed history in the making. I am sure it will have a profound positive impact on them insha’Allah.

     If either my husband and I were Egyptian and we were surrounded by the support of family we may have chosen to stay and participate like you all did. We all try our best to ensure the safety of our family.

     Alhamdulillah that it was a successful outcome. Mabrook to you and your family and mabrook to Mesr!

     Haleh

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     • 

       N

       February 15, 2011 at 11:51 AM

       Just to make a note, im not egyptian n not arab either. and my husband although egyptian has been away from egypt for about 20 years. we’ve been here 2 years. He’s more the foreigner than me in a way. And our ‘safety getaway’ was one street away from the president’s home. Not sure how ‘safe’ that was while all the hysteria and fear mongering was going on. we heard that 15 minutes away theres’ ppl looting and burning cars. By the way , we’re in new cairo too. and we were told a gang entered our area and no security around.

       On a different note, we were not able to find this ‘fatwa’ online but we were told by very very close n trustworthy and very practicing freinds here in egypt that the shuyookh (whom this brother knows personaly) were saying ‘you gota protest’ and also we were told that sheikh qardawi said its wajib to go to the protest. That’s what really prompted us to decide to participate. This brother may Allah bless him actually was down there throwing stones at anyone who tried to attack the protestors. And another brother who is head of an institute here was hit by a stone in his eye and had to have surgery at 2am. May Allah bless them. They all had families and children in new cairo.

       and like another sister who commented, i did wonder, that if a jihad were to be declared by a respected knowledgeable scholar and it was fardh ayn to fight back, how many muslims would have the will to stay and how many would flee in the name of security.

       In answer to the question of another commentor, I do in fact have a friend who wishes she hadn’t left. She’s actually really sorry she had to leave. And she is in the US right now and telling me she feels like life is so bland after she’s tasted the life in egypt. She grew up in the US by the way.

       Look at the end of the day, this situation is between a person and Allah, but since this article was written and the author is open to comments, I believe I have a right to speak my mind in an honest yet respectful way without being told I’m listening to shaytan. I believe im an intelligent person who can be reasoned or shared views with in a respectful way. We can always agree to disagree respectfully.

       Reply
   • 

     F

     February 15, 2011 at 10:28 AM

     Everyone has different situations and circumstances so we should stay away from the whisperings of the shaytaan which makes us think ill of others and what they did. Perhaps others left after praying istikhara which means Allah(swt) guided them to it.

     Having said that I agree that the people who have lived in Egypt for generations are going to have a much stronger bond and affinity to the land versus those who moved there recently. Therefore they are more likely to stay and defend.

     Not all foreigners left nor all Egyptians stayed. In the end, if someone stayed, regardless of their nationality, they should thank Allah(swt) for giving them an opportunity to take part in a fight against injustice for which they will be reward in the Hereafter insha Allah.

     Reply
5. 

   Riad

   February 14, 2011 at 2:14 PM

   Good article correcting those who have been saying there is no Islamic state during the last few weeks:

   http://www.iculture.org.uk/articles/siyassa/the-islamic-state-and-egypt-correcting-un-islamic-views

   Reply
6. 

   Youssef Chouhoud

   February 14, 2011 at 5:04 PM

   Alsalamualaikum,

   After agonizing over the decision and waiting as long as we could to see if there was some glimmer of a quick resolution, my family also decided to leave. Having a six month old and a two year old, I couldn’t bear the thought of either one of them falling seriously ill and us not being able to get to a pediatrician or the hospital.

   Sis. Haleh, though I don’t know where specifically your home is, I know that New Cairo is very vulnerable in a situation like the one we were in, so I have no doubt you made the right decision for you and your family.

   N – Each circumstance is different and we should not judge people on an action they took to safeguard their family and livelihood. Many, like myself, lent their support in whatever way they could from outside of Egypt. That is to say, many maintained their love for and attachment to Masr.

   InshAllah we will be returning in a little over two weeks. I look forward to helping build a better Egypt.

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   • 

     ummousama

     February 15, 2011 at 1:39 AM

     Assalamu alaikum,

     Personally, I am not judging by those who left. However, I am disappointed. Of course, everybody has got their own circumstances. Yet, I am asking one question for those who left and those who stayed: did we balance our decision with the Sunnah of RAsulullah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam).

     Being foreigners, my husband who is abroad, didn’t want my 19-year old to participate and I was sad at it. Mubarak was always about it being in foreign hands and this is the only argument my heart accepted for my son not going there. (I also have kids here aged 3-19 and one disabled child too).

     The reasons I am happy I stayed:

     1. Showing my kids not to panick and be patient. Can I raise mujahideen if I go away at the first sign of trouble?

     2. The feeling of what it might have felt in the ghazwa of Al-Ahzab when the men were out and the women supported each other.

     3. The feeling how it feels very tight, then when reason prevails, it gets better, then with each curfew release, it got better and better.

     4. How it really affects your whole life and your whole ibaadah, your cleaning routine, …

     5. Is it really bad if we eat only bread for 2-3 days? Although it didn’t happen, I couldn’t find many things I wanted to cook. I also had to do my own bread at home.

     6. The roller-coaster of hope then disapointment then hope again then disapointment, then the triumph.

     I am happy I stayed because, basically, it was an experience of which you get very few in life. I showed my solidarity by staying. I am not judging any one who went away but I am saying that it would have been better if you stayed. Br. Yousouf, if it was written that your child would have died during those protests, he would have, whether you had access to a peadiatrician or not. ;)

     One more thing: it saddens me when Muslim families abroad encouraged their families here in Egypt to go away, even at great expenses. It would have been better to encourage them to be patient. It saddens me because my non-Muslim family didn’t even mention it and my father just told me: “You know that whatever happens, we love you.”

     I also have to say that the Belgian Embassy was brilliant in the fact that they phoned me three times during the protest (each Friday actually) and sent me emails as soon as they could asking if everything was fine and how it was near our house.

     Reply
7. 

   Sadaf Farooqi

   February 15, 2011 at 1:58 AM

   What a wonderful, heartfelt post. Great analysis.
   Jazakillahu khair, Haleh. May Allah return you and others who left but are dying to return, safely to your homes, and restore happiness, security and peace for all Egyptians. Ameen.
   I especially loved points number 5 and 6, and also this:

   …..and realize that many times things have to get worse before they get better

   Reply
8. 

   Farweez

   February 15, 2011 at 6:20 AM

   Sister Haleh,

   I really appreciate your decision to leave Egypt in order to safeguard your family from a potential threat. I’m only learning Islam and I do not know whether or not your justifications to leave are even abiding to Islam and I’m not in the least victimizing you. However what I know is the moral behind the hadith narrated by Abdullah the son of Ka’b ibn Malik RA, which was even published in MM the link to which is as follows.http://muslimmatters.org/2010/04/05/lessons-in-staying-behind-part-1-i-wish-i-had-done-so/

   I’m aware of numerous verses in the Qur’an that stresses on the importance of fighting in the cause of Allah but ‘FOR A RIGHTEOUS CAUSE’ that is, and I was assured by a sheikh in my region that the egyptian uprising was one such event.

   “Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home) except those who are disabled (by injury, or are blind, or lame, etc.) and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah (swt) has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each Allah has promised good (Paradise), but Allah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward. (4:95).”

   “March forth whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), strive [ hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allah. This is better for you if you but knew. (9:41).”

   “Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah-Islamic Monotheism) and emigrated and strove hard and fought in Allah’s Cause with their wealth and their lives are far higher in degree with Allah. They are the successful. (9:20)”

   I’ve always admired your articles especially the one about psychology and before Allah I say to you that I’m not judging you nor am I criticizing you for he is the one to judge.

   My response is not to what you chose to write about, but infact to what it contains for Islam in every sense I for one am assured condemns abandoning fellow muslims in a battlefield.

   with all due respect and I mean DUE RESPECT I hope Muslim Matters would refrain from publishing such disconcerting and discouraging articles in the future IA. I am concerned about the content, it’s really confusing and misleading to a certain extent.

   on a more personal note I should admit that I’m not scholarly and I have only stated my opinions.If I had mentioned anything that is unislamic or displeasing to Allah may he forgive me and may you forgive me and may someone from the scholarly admin put me on the right track

   Jazakallah Khair

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   • 

     Ify Okoye

     February 15, 2011 at 8:28 AM

     Haleh, I’m glad you and your family are safe, definitely difficult decisions in such trying times, may Allah protect us.

     Farweez, I think your comments here to Haleh are not only most insensitive but also incorrect, which demonstrates the challenge and difficulty of trying to extrapolate rulings for the modern context from a few ayat or ahadtih. Perhaps, a safer course for any of us as we continue to learn our religion is to take a ruling we believe to be valid for ourselves and recognize there can exist a multiplicity of views on any given subject. So if you were in Haleh’s shoes then by all means, you stay but don’t try to condemn those who left for they also have their reasons.

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     • 

       Farweez

       February 15, 2011 at 8:56 AM

       @ Ify
       I do empathize with sister Haleh and as I stated I’m not criticizing her decision, for that matter no one can because as you said Islam allows the freedom of choice and it definitely provides a multitude of options depending on the circumstance and her position and state of mind at that particular moment was only known to her.

       But my response was merely based on her journal. Her fear, according to her seems to reflect on the material things, I’m sorry but this account doesn’t seem very compromising

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     • 

       ummousama

       February 15, 2011 at 10:15 AM

       Assalamu alaikum Ify,

       I think that Farweez’ answer is the most courteous. He disagrees with the decision of leaving and he echoes a sentiment felt by many. People are playing on the fear factor instead of playing on having tawakkul and believing in the Qadr.

       Yesterday, a sister phoned me and she was nervous of kids going back to school because there might be a bomb on the roadside. This might have happened in Algeria in the middle of the war but, when I told my son about this, he was very surprised and didn’t think this is something that can happen. Why fearing somebody that is very unlikely to happen?

       I was here in the beginning, there were so many phone calls every day. Everybody was asking whether they were staying or were leaving. While the case is different for a woman who is by herself without a mahram staying with her, a different ruling is present for a family where there is a mahram.

       The question of the Islamic ruling to stay or to leave is a valid question. A question I asked myself many times. A question I debated with some sisters and with my husband. A question I can only answer for myself as I am no scholar. A question that leaves me pondering: “If there was a jihad declared today, would people actually go? Or would people say: “I need to stay to protect my family” or will people say: “I have to send my family first to a “safe” place?”

       Everybody makes decision, sometimes we take the right decision, sometimes we take the wrong one. As long as one did istikhaarah, this was a question of personal ijtihaad as we had no ruling from a Shaykh. So, there is one reward for the one who took the wrong decision and two rewards for the one who took the right decision.

       The danger was overstated and it was in fact a tactic used by Mubarak to get people stop demonstrating and go back to their families. Nobody died in their own houses, nobody was chased in their own houses. The danger was in the streets where protests were taking place and, on the night of January 28th for shops in some areas (i.e. material possessions). The danger was also overstated by all media. Even if, afterwards, you take into account the number of deaths, 300 for millions of protesters for 18 days, i.e. a woman in the US is more likely to die of childbirth than somebody dying in the protests here in Egypt. You were also less likely to die in those protests than to die on the road in Egypt on a normal day.

       Here is now a question that only people who were in Egypt can answer: “Looking back, do you think you should have stayed instead of travelling? As for those who stayed, looking back, do you think it would have been better to leave?” BTW, I don’t need an answer to that question but it is a question that one should ask him/herself. The answer to that also depends on numerous things, such as where you lived, the people you know here, …

       May Allah accept our deeds and forgive us for our shortcomings.

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       • 

         Olivia

         February 15, 2011 at 11:56 AM

         I think even if there is a jihad, if you look at the sunnah of the Prophet, the women and children were always kept in a safe place. Madinah would basically be on lockdown and the men would go out to battle in the battlefield. If ever there was a threat to the safety of the city, that became the highest priority–protecting the lives of the noncombatant Muslims took precedence over furthering the message of Islam or any other “revolutionary” ideas (and Islam was revolutionary at that time).

         One can look to the wisdom of the incidents of battle during the time of the Prophet, but at the same time one must recognize the differences. There is no one place of safety that women and children can gather, with men outside on gaurd and a promise that if there is any threat of invasion, the men will turn their backs on the revolution and go and protect the innocents from looters, rapists, and invaders.

         This event in Egypt was basically a case of “every man for himself.” Someone might have been blessed to live in a home that was surrounded my men safeguarding them personally, while others might have lived in a spot that was more volatile. People may have mad to flee from danger, as some Muslims had to flee Mecca, while others could stay at promote the revolution, whereas other Muslims, like Umar, could stay in Mecca and stick it to their enemies for a while before leaving. Umar had status, others did not, just the same way a family in Egypt surrounded by their clan may have the luxury of safety that foreigners in a unfamiliar land may not.

         I think if you examine the approach of the Prophet (s) and the example of the Muslims with a finer comb, rather than one broad sweep of virtue, you will see that there is great support for sister Haleh’s decision.

         Reply
         • 

           Olivia

           February 15, 2011 at 11:59 AM

           sorry for all my typos! the thing wasnt letting me edit properly =)
         • 

           ummousama

           February 15, 2011 at 1:29 PM

           Olivia,

           This event in Egypt was basically a case of “every man for himself.”

           No, it wasn’t and this is why everybody were amazed by the Egyptians. Everybody organised their neighbourhood. Yes, it wasn’t fun for the men but they defended the neighbourhoods.

           I think even if there is a jihad, if you look at the sunnah of the Prophet, the women and children were always kept in a safe place.

           What about al-Ahzab? Did the Sahabah make a camp outside al-Madinah for children and women? They were in a fort, defended by men. One of those men was Hassan bin Thabit, Rasulullah’s (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) poet. When the fort was attacked, he chickened out and it was Safiyah, the aunt of Rasulullah (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) who went to kill the Jew. Hassan’s jihad was by words so yes, there is a place for those men too.

           Another point is: “Should I be concerned for my family only or should I be concerned for every Muslim and for my neighbours too?”

           As about fear, Allah has told us that we will be tested with fear. So what should our answer be to fear? Act on the fear or be steadfast? Maybe a Shaykh can answer that question. What is really meant by that ayah and what should be the outcome.

           Everybody will be rewarded for their decision and according to their intention. Some people didn’t travel because they didn’t have the money. Some people didn’t travel because they didn’t have the option or they didn’t have where to go. Some people were travelling because they had to travel anyway. So, again, this discussion is NOT about who is better than the other. The discussion is about gaining experience from what happened and to arrive at what, islamically, should have been best. Uprisings are starting in other countries. If, by our discussion here, some people can take a better decision, then this discussion will have achieved its goal.

           A last point is that this discussion is between students of knowledge and people of dawah. So we are supposed to be an example for the people we call to the deen. So, as a student of knowledge, it is our duty to assess if we took the right decision or no. Did we, by our action, set an example for others to follow?

           Finally, a suggestion for MM. Would it be possible for a commentor to email the article writer? Sometimes, I want to make a suggestion but cannot do so publicly.
         • 

           n

           February 16, 2011 at 6:07 PM

           I have the same to say as ummmousa noticed. It didn’t become ‘every man for himself’. and pretty much everyone i believe who stayed here will attest to that. i know germans, spanish people, canadians who stayed, austrians, etc. who stayed.

           It was *so* incredibly heart warming to see the men/boys/teenagers coming together and forming make shift check points in their neighbors ALL OVER to protect their neighborhoods.

           Alhamdulillah tons of foreigners stayed and if you ask them, they will tell you that the hysteria was definitely being created. It wasn’t like for sure there. It was like worry and fear of the unknown, not straight up evidence.

           Its a whole class system here. If they cut water in areas, people are gona go nuts. That’d be worse for the government. For example, them shutting the internet just backfired on them. Historically, people here like the army. So the people aren’t gona turn against army most likely and vice verca. Army aren’t trained to beat their own. It’s the police the people hate because they are madmen and torturers. but the people are more in # than the police and that’s what happened. The people y’ani at some point became dominant over the police. They did shoot at some point and that got them nowhere plus if you’ve got big tycoon’s kids protesting down there, how well is that gona go down if their own kids get shot. So that stopped pretty early in the game. The police now are being all nice to the people.

           Definitely some looting and some chaos did happen. However, compared to the population of this country, it was MINUTE. alhamdulilah.

           that, honestly has made me respect the egyptian people so much and i have come to feel like i can put their negatives in the right place now. before i mighta focused more on the negative only. Allah knows best.

           and its so true, Allah says we will test you with fear and loss of wealth .. etc.
     • 

       N

       February 15, 2011 at 12:02 PM

       Sister Ify I think its one thing to respectfully disagree which Farweez did, and quite another to make ‘insensitive and incorrect’ comments and ‘condemn’ others.

       Farweez respectfully and humbly stated his/her views and I would think that’s why the comments section is open. Or is muslim matters not open to constructive criticism or differing views?

       Reply
9. 

   ten

   February 15, 2011 at 10:05 AM

   I salute all the people who stay to support the freedom and struggle of the Egyptian people. I have the highest respects for all those Egyptian who returned from aboard during the uprising to support their brothers and sisters.

   My greatest appreciation for the team of Egyptian Doctors who lift England and stayed in the square to take care of the injured in the make shift hospital.

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10. 

    Ify Okoye

    February 15, 2011 at 12:34 PM

    Wa salaam alaykum,

    Farweez and Ummousama, my reading from Haleh’s piece is that she feared for her own safety and that of her family, which is enough for me, irrespective of how accurate that perception was, sitting comfortably and securely in my own house and country to not criticize her choices made in the circumstances she found herself in. Trying to link it to the situation and rulings of Kab ibn Malik or fighting on the battlefield is a bit of stretch for me.

    N: The comments were published weren’t they? Doesn’t mean we cannot disagree. I think it is quite insensitive to criticize those who left fearing for their safety and to try and liken it to leaving the battlefield or the situation at the Battle of Tabuk. Let’s have some mercy for our brothers and sisters, not everyone needs to stay or go out and fight or protest, we have many talents that we can use for the sake of Allah. Some may protest, some may write, some may work with the media, others may work in health care, or with the government, from Egypt or abroad, whatever the case I will refrain from criticizing them and working in whatever way I can.

    From my own life, not at all analogous to what we’ve witnessed abroad, I’ve been involved in protests that turned violent and I was assaulted. It’s not easy to find the inner strength and courage stand up and challenge authority and the status quo when you are few in number or even when there are many. I’m single without kids so I don’t have immediate family depending on me and had legal recourse to press charges. We make our choices for ourselves, let’s not try to look into the hearts of others and make their choices for them.

    Ameen to your dua ummousama.

    Reply
    • 

      Farweez

      February 15, 2011 at 7:49 PM

      Salam ify
      I have not tried to link the situation of Ka’b ibn Malik (RA) with that of sister Haleh. That I believe is an exaggeration of my initial comment. That example was merely a demonstration of sincere regret and repentance for ones shortcomings to defend Islam and this again is not a rebuttal but a statement.

      This is not about sister Haleh’s decision for every deed is according to the intention but my feedback was to her linking her decision to Islam. It is not about being a foreigner anymore. A Muslim is a brother/ sister of another Muslim regardless of their creed,color,nation,tribe or language.

      I admit that I was not in her shoes and I have not been in such a situation and maybe if I was in Egypt where Haleh was, I would have probably done what she did although at the heat of the moment I was itching to go to Egypt and Allah knows best.

      However it’s quite distressing. Why did MM decide to publish an article of this nature when there are over 300 martyrs and over a million mujahids whom we can take lessons from?

      Reply
      • 

        Farweez

        February 15, 2011 at 8:22 PM

        @ Ify
        I just want to drive this point home so that it is clear that this is not about criticizing the decision sister Haleh made or about looking into her heart.

        This response is regarding the content of the material, an apparent context and the timing of the publishing and it is MM (May Allah reward you for your efforts for you have helped me more than once at times of difficulties) who in my eyes should bear responsibility.

        Reply
        • 

          Ify Okoye

          February 15, 2011 at 8:43 PM

          Farweez, okay. We publish what we have. Haleh graciously sent in her account of her situation and we published it. Others are free to do the same. I often say that the best way to see what you’d like to read on MM is to first begin by writing it. The opportunity is yours. One small but important caveat, submissions by guest writers are subject to review by other MM authors so it has to be good or it won’t pass muster.

          Reply
      • 

        Brother

        February 15, 2011 at 10:22 PM

        Million mujahids? That’s a generalization, there are many in that crowd who don’t care for islamic values.

        Reply
        • 

          Farweez

          February 15, 2011 at 11:28 PM

          @ Brother
          Even if you rip open their hearts you wouldn’t be able say if they really care about Islamic values or not. It’s safe than sorry to leave the judging to the almighty.I’d rather stick to the generalization:)

          Wassalam

          Reply
          • 

            Brother

            February 16, 2011 at 11:48 PM

            Generalizations can backfire in a pretty bad way. Personally, I am very proud of what those Egyptians and our brothers/sisters in Islam accomplished and their bravery. But there are always bad apples. For example, I’m sure you know about the CBS journalist that got raped in Tahrir square after Mubarak resigned. And you know what, I’ve read similar things happening to women in Egypt in public on BBC news, even to niqabis. You can google it. Instead of being safer than sorry, a balanced approach is the best.

            As for my comment, I should be more positive and should have said “Many of those in the crowd are on the right track”.
11. 

    Fulaan

    February 16, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    Sorry I’m with Ummousama on attitude and benefit, we stayed.

    We went downstairs for about 4-5 days and did guard duty with sticks during the night, and did shopping
    during the day and watched the news and carried on with our lessons.

    The area we live in is about 30-40% built up and occupied, so there was not a lot of people here to keep guard – but we are near an army base, and there was no significant trouble bar a few thieves nearby and some price gouging and panic buying.

    The biggest urge to leave came not from those who were in Cairo, but from our relatives who were
    glued to al Jazeera and thought that the situation in Tahrir Square was the same as the rest of Cairo.

    In fact from speaking to the majority of those who did leave it seemed to be at the insistence of their
    parents back home – mine alhamdulilah trusted my instincts and left it to my discretion.

    Including one western brother who was on guard duty every night for the majority of it and spent his
    days ferrying people around who wanted to leave to the airport, through all the police and army
    checkpoints day in day out.
    The only reason he left was because his elderly parents were insisting and were sick with worry.

    Yes we are also non-Egyptians with three small children too, but everybody’s situation differs and everyone has their own circumstances and issues; and in hindsight everybody went through the same concern and
    emotions about the situation and fear for their family.

    But our attitude was far from unique or even rare – in fact it was built on the insistence of the other foreign families in our area to stay and persist and because we saw this from those who could barely string a sentence of Arabic together it strengthened our resolve also to stay – which is the benefit of jamah and shurah.

    Was it unsafe? Probably MORE safe considering the number of people keeping guard and the fact that
    the Egyptians treated us the same as themselves – even now the shop keepers and Bowab treat me
    differently because we stayed with them whilst the situation was evolving and less like random foreign
    students living in the area.

    Something one Egyptian said to me afterwards pretty much summarised their attitudes generally to the foreigners who left – he said that people come and like Egypt when it is easy and they can have their lessons and study and relax, but as soon as the situation becomes difficult they return home and abandon us – and don’t stand with us.

    Now that is a blanket situation from him which does not apply specifically to everyone, but certainly captures a sentiment I have found amongst the Egyptians during and after this situation.

    And to be honest, that is a common complaint amongst Egyptians, that the foreign student come and live in a bubble not concerning themselves not with how the people actually live here and how they have to scrape a living and hustle just to get enough food on their table, or how they would have to deal with emergency medical costs – but more how much they can screw down how much they spend on tuition costs to the teachers.

    The situation is now stabilising and people will start to return.
    As for those who stayed – alhamdulilah, as for those who left – alhamdulilah; you have no need to answer to anybody but yourselves and Allah.
    But as for our decision to stay; I don’t regret it and I am extremely glad that we didn’t blink – and I am grateful for the brothers who we spoke to and who steadied our resolve to stay as the lessons my family learnt in this time – we could never imagined we would have learnt at any other time.

    Reply
12. 

    Penny

    February 16, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    Salam aleikum,

    Allah is the best of judges. I would have gone back ‘home’ or anywhere to a safe place if my children had been younger. As it is my sons are now young men and Egyptian heart and soul. Like another sister pointed out, we all have our own set of circumstances and Allah knows what’s in our hearts.

    It would be nice now to move on and discuss something constructive in these changeable times!

    Reply
13. 

    OA

    February 16, 2011 at 3:03 PM

    David Cameron on the 5th of Feb made a speech insulting Muslims, and setting the agenda, demanding their servitude.

    An important response :

    http://www.islam21c.com/politics/2208-open-letter-to-mr-cameron

    Reply
14. 

    Hebah Ahmed

    February 16, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    Asalam Alikum we rahmat Allah we barakatu my Dear Sister Haleh,

    I am SOOO happy to hear that you and your family are safe. We have been trying to reach you and prayed for all of your safety. AlhumduliLah.

    May Allah always protect you and your family and all the Muslims Insha Allah. May Allah reward you for all the amazing Dawah, tv shows, halaqas, and service to the Egyptian community that you and your husband perform on a daily basis. I pray you are able to return soon and continue the good work that you have been doing.

    I cannot imagine what it would be like to worry about the possible harm that could come to your young children and I know a mother does whatever she can to protect her children. Please give kisses to all the children from our family here in NM.

    Love and duaas,
    Hebah

    Reply
    • 

      Suzan

      February 22, 2011 at 3:10 AM

      Ameen Sister Hebah!

      If people knew of all the da3wa and daily community service performed in Egypt and for Egyptians by Haleh and her family masha’ALLAH, surely they would feel ashamed of their harsh criticism.

      Alhamdulilah, ALLAH swt knows best.

      May ALLAH swt protect and guide us and the ummah insha’ALLAH.

      Reply
15. 

    Abu Abderahmane

    February 17, 2011 at 4:49 PM

    Assalam alaikum,

    Anyone out there who has enough “hima” to translate this
    (disclaimer; it’s not mine and I don’t think it matters who wrote but it can be beneficial during such times …”

    Jazakum Allah khair,

    -Abu Abderahmane

    فإنَّ (الظُّلمَ) معلُومُ الحُرمَةِ، ولِشناعَتِهِ، وعاقِبَتِهِ الوَخِيمَةِ، حرَّمَهُ اللهُ تعالى على نَفسِهِ وعلى خَلقِهِ، ففي صَحِيحِ مُسلِمٍ أنَّ النَّبيَّ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّمَ ـ قال: «قال اللهُ تعالى: (يا عِبَادِي إنِّي حَرَّمتُ الظُّلْمَ على نَفسِي، وَجَعَلْتُهُ بَينَكُمْ مُـحَرَّماً، فلا تَظَالَـمُوا).». وقال المُصطَفى ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّمَ ـ: «مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَسْتَرعِيهِ اللهُ رَعِيَّةً، يَموتُ ـ يَوْمَ يَمُوتُ ـ وهو غَاشٌّ لِرَعِيَّتِهِ، إِلا حَرَّمَ اللهُ عليه الجَنَّةَ». (مُتَّفقٌ عليه).

    ومهما أمهَلَ اللهُ الظَّالِـمَ، فلا تَظُنَّنَ أنْ يُهمِلَهُ ـ حاشاهُ جلَّ في عُلاه ـ، قال النَّبيُّ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّمَ ـ: «إِنَّ اللهَ لَيُمْلي لِلظَّالمِ، حتَّى إذا أَخَذَهُ لم يُفْلِتْهُ». ثُمَّ قَرَأَ: }وكَذَلِكَ أَخْذُ ربِّكَ إذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَى وَهِي ظالِـمَةٌ، إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَليمٌ شَديدٌ{. (متَّفقٌ عليه).

    ولَكَمْ هَلَكتْ دُولٌ، وزالَت أُمَمٌ، بِظُلمٍ اقْتَرَفُوهُ!ØŒ قال شيخُ الإسلامِ ابنُ تَيميةَ (في مجموع الفتاوى، 28/146): “ولهذا قِيلَ: إنَّ اللهَ يُقِيمُ الدَّولَةَ العادِلَةَ وإنْ كانتْ كافِرَةً، ولا يُقِيمُ الظَّالِـمَةَ وإنْ كانتْ مُسلِمَةً. ويُقالُ: الدُّنيا تَدُومُ مع العَدلِ والكُفرِ، ولا تَدُومُ مع الظُّلمِ والإسلام”.

    وفي المقابِلِ .. ومع جميعِ ما تقدَّمَ !!

    فإنَّ الشَّرِيعَةَ أمَرتنا بالصَّبرِ على ظُلمِ الحُكّامِ والأُمراءِ، وهذا ما قد يَخفى على كثيرٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ، بل وعلى كثيرِ مِنَ الدُّعاةِ، بل ويَستَنكِرُونَهُ، لِـفَهمِهم ـ بعاطِفَتِهم ورأيِهم ـ أنَّ هذا مِنْ بابِ الدِّفاعِ عنْ ظُلمِ الحُكّامِ، وهذا فَهمٌ قاصِرٌ، بعيدٌ عن نُصُوصِ الشَّرِيعَةِ ومَقاصِدِها، أو قد يَظُنُّونَ أنَّ دافِعَهُ الجُبنُ والخَوَرُ ـ معاذَ الله ـ، ومِنْ هؤلاءِ ـ وأولئِكَ، ألتَمِسُ الإنصاتَ بألبابِهم، والقراءَةَ بِبَصِيرَتِهم، بتجَرُّدٍ وبغيرِ تَعَجُّلٍ.

    نعم! ـ أخي الحبيبُ في اللهِ ـ فالنُّصُوصُ الشَّرعِيَّةُ إنَّما تُراعِي اجتِنابَ مَفسَدَةٍ أعظَمَ، قد تطالُ الأمْنَ والاستِقرارَ، وتَستَبِيحَ الأموالَ والأعراضَ، بل والدِّماءَ، بل تنالُ مِنْ جماعَةِ المُسلِمينَ.

    فنحنُ مُطالَبُونَ (بِالصَّبرِ) على ظُلمِهِم حتَّى وإنِ انتهَى الأمرُ بِموتِهم، أو موتِ المظلُومِ وهو على خَيرٍ؛ لأنّهُ صابِرٌ مُحتَسبٌ مُلتَزِمٌ حُدُودَ الشَّرِيعَةِ، روى الإمامُ الخلّالُ (في كتاب السُّنَّةِ، ح98) بإسنادٍ صَحِيحٍ عن أبي الحارِثِ الصَّائِغِ، أنَّه سألَ إمامَ أهلِ السُّنَّةِ أبا عبدِ اللهِ أحمدَ بنَ حنبلَ في أمرٍ كان حَدَثَ بِبَغدادَ، وَهَمَّ قومٌ بِالخُرُوجِ، فقال أبو الحارِثِ: يا أبا عبدِ الله! ما تَقُولُ في الخُرُوجِ مع هؤلاءِ القَومِ؟.

    فأنكَرَ ذلك عليهم، وجَعَلَ يَقُولُ: “سُبحانَ اللهِ! الدِّماءُ الدِّماءُ!ØŒ لا أرى ذلك، ولا آمُرُ به، الصَّبرُ على ما نَحنُ فيه خَيرٌ مِنَ الفِتنَةِ؛ يُسفَكُ فيها الدِّماءُ، ويُستَباحُ فيها الأموالُ، ويُنتَهَكُ فيها المَحارِمُ، أما عَلِمتَ ما كان النّاسُ فيه؟”. Ù€ يَعنِي أيّامَ الفِتنَةِ Ù€ .

    قال أبو الحارِثِ: والنّاسُ اليومَ، أليسَ هم في فِتنَةٍ يا أبا عبدِ اللهِ؟.

    قال: “وإنْ كان!ØŒ فإنّما هي فِتنَةٌ خاصَّةٌ، فإذا وَقَعَ السَّيفُ، عَمَّتِ الفِتنَةُ، وانقَطَعَتِ السُّبُلُ، الصَّبرُ على هذا ويَسلَمُ لك دِينُكَ خيرٌ لك”.

    وأخرَجَ الخلّالُ عَقِبَهُ (Ø­90) بإسنادٍ صَحِيحٍ أيضاً، عنْ حَنبَلَ Ù€ حَفيدِ الإمامِ أحمدَ Ù€ أنَّه قال: في وِلايَةِ الواثِقِ اجتَمَعَ فُقهاءُ بَغدادَ إلى أبي عبدِ اللهِ … فقالوا: يا أبا عبدِ اللهِ! هذا الأمرُ قد تَفاقَمَ وفَشا Ù€ يَعنُونَ إظهارَ الواثِقِ لِلقولِ بِخَلقِ القُرآنِ، وغيرَ ذلك Ù€.

    فقال لهم أبو عبدِ اللهِ أحمدُ بنُ حنبلَ: “فما تُرِيدُونَ”ØŸ.

    قالوا: أنْ نُشاوِرَك في أنّا لسنا نَرضَى بإمرَتِهِ، ولا سُلطانِهِ.

    فناظَرَهم أبو عبدِ الله ساعَةً، وقال لهم:

    “عليكم بالنُّكرَةِ بِقُلُوبِكم، ولا تَخلَعُوا يداً مِنْ طاعَةٍ، ولا تَشُقُّوا عصا المُسلِمِينَ، ولا تَسفِكُوا دِماءَكم ودِماءَ المُسلِمينَ معكم، انظُرُوا في عاقِبَةِ أمرِكم، واصبِرُوا، حتَّى يَستَرِيحَ بَرٌّ، أو يُستَرَاحَ مِنْ فاجِرٍ”.

    نعم! لقد تظافَرتِ النَّصُوصُ الصَّحِيحَةُ الصَّرِيحَةُ على وُجُوبِ طاعَةِ مَنْ كانتْ له علينا وِلايةً، وعلى عِظَمِ أجْرِ الصَّبرِ على ظُلمِهم وجُورِهم، ومِنْ ذلك:

    ما في الصَّحِيحَينِ أنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ قال: «سَتَكُونُ أَثَرَةٌ [أي: حُكَّامٌ يُؤثِرُونَ أنفُسَهُم عَليكُم] وأُمُورٌ تُنكِرُونَها[أي: حُكّامٌ عِندَهم مُنكَراتٌ ومعاصِيٍ شَرعِيَّةٌ]».قالوا: يا رَسُولَ اللهِ! فما تأمُرُنا؟. قال: «تُؤَدُّونَ الحَقَّ الّذِي عَلَيكُمْ، وتَسأَلُونَ اللهَ الَّذِي لَكُم». وفي الصَّحِيحَينِ أنَّه ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ قال: «سَتَلقَونَ بَعدِي أَثَرَةً، فاصبِرُوا حَتّى تَلْقَونِي على الحَوضِ».

    وقال الإمامُ النَّوَوِيُّ (في شرح مُسلِمٍ، 12/232): وفِيهِ الحَثُّ على السَّمعِ والطَّاعَةِ، وإنْ كان المُتَوَلِّي ظَالِـماً عَسُوفاً، فَيُعطَى حَقَّهُ مِنَ الطَّاعَةِ، ولا يُخرَجُ عليه، ولا يُخْلَعُ، بلْ يُتَضَرَّعُ إلى اللهِ تعالى في كَشفِ أذاهُ، ودَفْعِ شَرِّهِ، وإصلاحِهِ”.

    وفي صَحِيحِ مُسلِمٍ مِنْ حديثِ حذيفةَ ـ رضي الله عنه ـ الّذي سأل فيه رسولَ اللهِ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ عنِ الخيرِ والشَّرِّ، وفيه أنّه قال: فَهَلْ وَراءَ ذَلِكَ الخَيرِ شَرٌّ؟ قالَـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ: «نَعَمْ» قال: كَيفَ؟ قَالَ: «يَكُونُ بَعْدِي أَئِمَّةٌ لَا يَهْتَدُونَ بِهُدَايَ، وَلَا يَسْتَنُّونَ بِسُنَّتِي، وَسَيَقُومُ فِيهِمْ رِجَالٌ قُلُوبُهُمْ قُلُوبُ الشَّيَاطِينِ فِي جُثْمَانِ إِنْسٍ)) قَالَ: كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ يا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنْ أَدْرَكْتُ ذَلِكَ؟ قالَ: «تَسْمَعُ وَتُطِيعُ لِلْأَمِيرِ وَإِنْ ضُرِبَ ظَهْرُكَ وَأُخِذَ مَالُكَ، فَاسْمَعْ وَأَطِعْ».

    وفي الحدِيثِ المُتَّفَقِ عليه قال ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ: «مَنْ كَرِهَ مِنْ أَمِيرِهِ شَيْئًا فَلْيَصْبِرْ عَلَيْهِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ النَّاسِ خَرَجَ مِنْ السُّلْطَانِ شِبْرًا، فَمَاتَ عَلَيْهِ، إِلَّا مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةً».

    إلى غيرِ ذلك مِنَ النُّصُوصِ حتّى بلغَ الأمرُ أنْ عَدَّ العلماءُ ذلكَ مِنَ الأُصولِ، فقال شيخُ الإسلامِ (في مجموع الفتاوى، 28/128): “ولهذا أَمَرَ النَّبِيُّ Ù€ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم Ù€ بِالصَّبرِ على جَوْرِ الأَئِمَّةِ؛ ونَهَى عنْ قِتَالِهِم ما أَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ، وَقالَ: «أَدُّوا إلَيْهِمْ حُقُوقَهُمْ وَسَلُوا اللهَ حُقُوقَكُمْ»… ولهذا كانَ مِنْ أُصُولِ أَهلِ السُّنَّةِ والجماعَةِ: لُزُومُ الجَمَاعَةِ، وَتَرْكُ قِتَالِ الأَئِمَّةِ، وتَركُ القِتَالِ فِي الفِتنَةِ”.

    ولا شَكَّ أنَّ الأمرَ بالطَّاعَةَ مُقيَّدٌ بـ(المَعرُوفِ)، فلا طاعَةَ في مَعصِيَةٍ، فقد قال النبيُّ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ: «السَّمْعُ وَالطَّاعَةُ حَقٌّ مَا لَمْ يُؤْمَرْ بِالمَعْصِيَةِ، فَإِذَا أُمِرَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ؛ فَلَا سَمْعَ وَلَا طَاعَةَ». (متّفقٌ عليه).

    وهذا مَشهورٌ، لكنَّه قد يَخفى على كثيرٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ أنَّ عدَمَ الطَّاعَةِ في المعصِيَةِ ليس معناهُ تركُ الطَّاعَةِ مُطلقاً، كما قد يتبادَرْ لِلوَهلَةِ الأولى مِنْ قولِهِ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ: «فَإِذَا أُمِرَ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ؛ فَلَا سَمْعَ وَلَا طَاعَةَ». بل إنَّ الطّاعَةَ فيما سوى المعصِيَةِ يَبقى على أصلِهِ ـ فتنَبّه! ـ يُبيِّنُ ذلك جَلِيّاً ما رواه الإمامُ مُسلِمٌ في صَحِيحِهِ عنِ النَّبيِّ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّمَ ـ أنَّه قال: «أَلَا مَنْ وَلِيَ عَلَيْهِ وَالٍ فَرَآهُ يَأْتِي شَيْئًا مِنْ مَعْصِيَةِ اللهِ، فَلْيَكْرَهْ مَا يَأْتِي مِنْ مَعْصِيَةِ اللهِ، وَلَا يَنْزِعَنَّ يَدًا مِنْ طَاعَةٍ».وبه يُفهمُ أنَّ المُرادَ هو: ترْكُ طاعتِهِ فيما أَمَرَ مِنْ معصيةٍ، وأما ما سواها مِـمّا يأمُرُ فيَبقى على أصلِهِ، وهو لُزُومُ طاعَتِهِ، وهو ظاهِرٌ مِنْ قولِهِ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ: «وَلَا يَنْزِعَنَّ يَدًا مِنْ طَاعَةٍ». ومِن حديثِ حذيفةَ المُتقدِّمِ، وغيرِهِ كثيرٍ.

    كما ويَجِبُ على أهلِ العِلمِ وذَوي الهيئاتِ أنْ يُبادِرُوا لِـ(نُصحِ الحُكّامِ) ما استطاعُوا لذلك سَبيلاً، وقد صَحَّ عنِ النّبيِّ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ أنّه قال: «أَفْضَلُ الجِهَادِ كَلِمَةُ عَدْلٍ عِنْدَ سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ». (رواه أبو داود، والتِّرمذيُّ). وصَحَّ فيهما أيضاً أنَّه ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ قال: «إِنَّ النَّاسَ إِذَا رَأَوُا الظَّالِمَ فَلَمْ يَأخُذُوا عَلَى يَدَيهِ أَوشَكَ أَنْ يَعُمَّهُمُ اللهُ بِعِقابٍ».

    وهذه الأحادِيثُ أيضاً يَفهَمُها كثيرٌ مِنَ النّاسِ بشكلٍ خاطِئٍ، فيأخُذُونَ بالتَّحرِيضِ على السُّلطانِ، وتأليبِ الرَّعِيَّةِ عليه، بل والوُثُوبِ عليه، ظانِّينَ أنَّهم يَقُومُونَ بِأَعظَمِ الجِهادِ!!، بل ولَطالَما استُخدِمتْ المنابِرُ لهذا !!، ولو تأمَّلُوا قولَهُ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ : «عِنْدَ سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ». لفَقُهوا المُرادَ، فليستِ النَّصِيحَةُ تَشهِيراً ولا عَلانِيَةً، وإلّا فماذا نَنتَظِرُ منها إلّا رُدُودَ أفعالٍ غيرَ موزُونَةٍ وذي عواقِبَ وَخِيمَةٍ.

    إنَّما (النَّصِيحَةُ بالإسرارِ)، واسمع للحدَيثِ الصَّحِيحِ الّذي يَقُولُ فيه النَّبيُّ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّمَ ـ: «مَنْ أرادَ أنْ يَنصَحَ لِذي سُلطانٍ فَلا يُبْدِهِ عَلانية، ولكنْ لِيأخُذْ بيدِهِ، ثمَّ لِيَخْلُ به، فإنْ قَبِلَ مِنهُ فذَاكَ، وإلّا أدَّى الّذي عليه». (رواه أحمد، وابنُ أبي عاصم).

    وما تَقدَّمَ لا يَتنافى مع (إنكارِ المُنكرِ) إنْ ظَهَرَ في المُجتَمعاتِ، وأقرَّهُ الحاكِمُ، أو أَمَرَ به، بل مِنَ الواجِبِ على العُلماءِ والدُّعاةِ النَّهيُّ عنْ أيِّ مُنكرٍ يَرونَهُ، وبالأُسلُوبِ الحكيمِ الحَسَنِ، قال الإمامُ ابنُ عُثيمينَ: “إنّ بعضَ النَّاسِ لِغَيرَتِهِ على دينِ اللهِ عزّ وجلّ، إذا رأى هذه المُنكراتِ، وأنَّ هذه المُنكراتِ المتفشِيَةَ في النّاسِ مِـمّا يُوجَدُ في الصُّحُفِ أو يُسمَعُ في بعضِ الإذاعاتِ، أو يُشاهدُ عن طَرِيقِ الدّشوش مثلاً،.. ويَرَى أنَّ الحكومةَ مُقصِّرةً في هذا الشيءِ، ثمَّ يَذهبُ يُشيعُ مَساوئَ الحكومةِ بين النَّاسِ، ويُوغِرُ الصُّدورَ عليها، والحقيقةُ أنَّ هذه جادّةٌ خاطئةٌ جدّاً، ومُخالِفةٌ لِلشَّرعِ، وخطيرةٌ على المُجتمعِ، وسببٌ لِلفِتَنِ، ولو أنَّه سَعَى في إصلاحِ المجتمعِ نفسِهِ، لكان خيراً له، فمثلاً ما يُبثُّ في الإعلام… يُحذِّرُ الناسَ منه؛ يقول:… احذروا مِن كذا، ومِن كذا، احذروا مِنَ الرِّبا مثلاً، والمجتمعُ إذا صَلُحَ، فإنّ ولاةَ الأمرِ جزءٌ مِنَ المُجتَمَعِ، لا بدَّ أنْ يَصْلُحُوا، إمّا اختياراً وإمّا اضْطراراً”.

    كما وأذَكِّرُ مَنْ يَستَعجِلُونَ النَّتائِجَ، ويَظُنُّونَ أنَّ مُشكَلَتَنا اليومَ مَحصُورَةٌ في الحُكّامِ، بأنَّ: (الـمَرَضَ يَزُولُ بِزَوالِ العَرَضِ)، نعم! فإنَّ ظُلمَ السُّلطانِ ما هو إلا عَرَضٌ ـ حالُه كحالِ تسلُّطِ الأعداءِ على الأمَّةِ، وتَفشِّي العداوةِ والبغضاءِ بين المسلمينَ ـ كلُّها أعراضٌ ظَهَرتْ عن مرضٍ في النّاسِ، ألا وهو بعدُهُم عنِ الكتابِ والسُّنّةِ، ونقضُهُم لِعهدِ اللهِ وعهْدِ رسولِهِ، وكثرةُ الغشِّ، وأكل المالِ بالباطلِ بينهم، وتأمَّلْ قولَ النَّبيِّ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّمَ ـ: «..خَمْسٌ إِذَا ابْتُلِيتُمْ بِهِنَّ، وَأَعُوذُ بِاللهِ أَنْ تُدْرِكُوهُنَّ، لَمْ تَظْهَرْ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي قَوْمٍ قَطُّ حَتَّى يُعْلِنُوا بِهَا إِلَّا فَشَا فِيهِمْ الطَّاعُونُ وَالْأَوْجَاعُ الَّتِي لَمْ تَكُنْ مَضَتْ فِي أَسْلَافِهِمْ الَّذِينَ مَضَوْا، وَلَمْ يَنْقُصُوا المِكْيَالَ وَالْمِيزَانَ إِلَّا أُخِذُوا بِالسِّنِينَ، وَشِدَّةِ المَئُونَةِ، وَجَوْرِ السُّلْطَانِ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَلَمْ يَمْنَعُوا زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ إِلَّا مُنِعُوا الْقَطْرَ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ، وَلَوْلَا الْبَهَائِمُ لَمْ يُمْطَرُوا، وَلَمْ يَنْقُضُوا عَهْدَ اللهِ وَعَهْدَ رَسُولِهِ إِلَّا سَلَّطَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَخَذُوا بَعْضَ مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ، وَمَا لَمْ تَحْكُمْ أَئِمَّتُهُمْ بِكِتَابِ اللهِ وَيَتَخَيَّرُوا مِمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللهُ إِلَّا جَعَلَ اللهُ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ».(صحيحٌ، رواه ابن ماجه، والحاكمُ)، حديثٌ عظيمٌ مُعجِزٌ، الشَّاهِدُ منه: أنَّ العلاجَ الحقيقيَّ إنَّما هو علاجُ المَرَضِ الّذي دبَّ في النَّاسِ اليومَ مِنْ تركِهم للكِتابِ والسُّنّةِ؛ فبزوالِ المرضِ تزولُ الأعراضُ.

    هذا هو المنهَجُ الّذي تلقَّيناهُ مِنَ الوَحيينِ، وَوَجَدْناهُ في كلامِ كِبارِ الأئِمَّةِ والعُلماءِ الرّاسِخينَ، أمّا ما نراهُ اليوم هنا وهناك مِنْ غوغائِيّةٍ وتِلقائِيّةٍ فليستْ مِنَ الشَّرِيعَةِ بشيءٍ، ومَفسَدَتُها أعظَمُ مِنْ مَفسَدَةِ ما عليه الحُكّامُ مِنْ ظُلمٍ أو فسادٍ.

    وتأمَّل حينَ أتى رَهطٌ إلى الإمامِ الحَسَنِ البصرِيِّ، أيّامِ يَزِيدِ بنِ المُهلَّبِ، (كما رواه الآجُرِّيُّ في الشريعة 1/73)ØŒ أمَرَهم أنْ يَلزَمُوا بُيوتَهم، ويُغلِقُوا عليهم أبوابَهم، ثُمَّ قال: “واللهِ! لو أنَّ النّاسَ إذا ابتُلُوا مِنْ قِبَلِ سُلطانِهم صَبَرُوا ما لَبِثُوا أنْ يَرفَعَ اللهُ ذلك عنهم، وذلك أنّهم يَفزَعُونَ إلى السَّيفِ، فَيُوكَلُوا إليه، وَوَاللهِ! ما جاءُوا بِيومٍ خيرٍ قَطُّ”. ثُمَّ تَلا: }وَتَـمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ الحُسْنَى عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَدَمَّرْنَا مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ فِرْعَوْنُ وَقَوْمُهُ وَمَا كَانُوا يَعْرِشُونَ{“.

    وقال شيخُ الإسلامِ (في منهاج السنة النبوية، 3/231): “ولهذا كان المشهُورُ مِن مذهَبِ أهلِ السَّنّةِ أنّهم لا يَرَونَ الخُرُوجَ على الأئِمَّةِ، وقِتالِهم بِالسَّيفِ، وإنْ كان فيهم ظُلمٌ، كما دَلَّتْ على ذلك الأحادِيثُ الصَّحِيحَةُ المُستَفِيضَةُ عنِ النَّبيِّ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسَلّم؛ لأنَّ الفَسادَ في القِتالِ والفِتنَةِ أعظَمُ مِنَ الفسادِ الحاصِلِ بِظُلمِهم بِدونِ قِتالٍ ولا فِتنَةٍ، فلا يُدفَعُ أعَظَمُ الفسادَينِ بالتِزامِ أدناهُما، ولَعلَّهُ لا يَكَادُ يُعرَفُ طائِفَةٌ خَرَجتْ على ذِي سُلطانٍ إلّا وكان في خُرُوجِها مِنَ الفَسادِ ما هو أعظَمُ مِنَ الفَسادِ الّذي أزالَتْهُ”.

    وهكذا كلامُ كِبارِ أهل العلمِ الرّاسخين فيه، والعارفينَ بالواقع معرفةً دقيقةً تُراعي مآلَ الأمورِ، لا مجرّدَ نظرةٍ قاصِرَةٍ على بعضِ المصالحِ الآنيَّةِ.

    نعم ـ أخي في الله! ـ إنّها مقاصِدُ شريعَتِنا، كيف لا؟ وهي مُستَقاةٌ مِنْ كلامِ الخالِقِ الأعلَمِ بالأصلَحِ لنا، }أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْـخَبِيرُ{.

    والعَجَبُ! ـ كُلُّ العَجَبِ ـ مِنْ أقوامٍ يَتَكلَّمُونَ باسمِ الدِّينِ، وكثيراً ما يُدَندِنُونَ بأنَّ الإسلامَ منهَجُ حياتِهم، ثُمَّ يُلْفِتُوا لِهذه النُّصُوصِ ظُهُورَهم، أو يَحمِلُونِها على غيرِ وَجهِها، بتأوِيلاتِ غيرِ سائِغَةٍ!!، وبعضُهم ـ ولِلأسَفِ ـ يَضطَّرُّونَ أنفُسَهم لِذلك مُراعاةً لِـمصلَحَةٍ حِزبِيَّةٍ أو حَرَكِيَّةٍ، أو ما سواهُ، والبعضُ الآخَرَ يَفعَلُهُ تَمشِّياً مع هواهُ وعواطِفِهِ!!، هدانا اللهُ وإيّاكم وعُمومَ المُسلِمينَ لِـما يُـحِبُّهُ ويَرضاهُ.

    أمَّا أبرَزُ ما تَميَّزَتْ به هذه الأحداثُ، فهو: قَتْلُ ـ أو مُحاوَلَةُ قَتلِ ـ البعضِ لِنفسِهِ حَرقاً، وهو مِـمّا لا بُدَّ مِنَ بيانِ حُكمِهِ، فقتلُ النُّفسِ حرامٌ، بل ومِنْ أعظمِ الكبائِرِ.

    فقتلُ النَّفسِ في هذا الموطِنِ مُنافٍ ـ بِالكُلِّ ـ لِـما أمَرَنا شرعُنا به مِنَ الصَّبرِ كما تقدَّمَ، وقد نَهى اللهُ عنه في كُلِّ حالٍ، حيثُ قال تعالى: }وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ أَنفُسَكُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيماً{.

    وبَيَّنَتِ السُّنَّةُ الصَّحِيحَةُ ـ على صاحِبِها أفضلُ الصّلاةِ والسَّلامِ ـ أنَّ المُنتَحِرَ يُعاقَبُ بِمِثلِ ما قَتَلَ نفسَهُ بهِ، ففي الحدِيثِ المُتَّفَقِ عليه أنَّ النَّبيَّ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ قال: «مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفسَهُ بِشَيءٍ في الدُّنيا عُذِّبَ به يَومَ القِيامَةِ». ويُفصِّلُهُ حَدِيثٌ آخَرَ مُتَّفقٌ عليه أيضاً، أنَّ النَّبيَّ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ قال: «مَنْ تَرَدَّى مِنْ جَبَلٍ فَقَتَلَ نَفسَهُ، فهُوَ في نَارِ جَهنَّمَ يَتَرَدَّى فِيهَا، خَالِداً مُـخَلَّداً فيها أبداً، وَمَنْ تَحَسَّى سُمًّا فَقَتَلَ نَفسَهُ، فَسُمُّهُ في يَدِهِ يَتَحَسَّاهُ في نَارِ جَهنَّمَ، خالِداً مَـخَلَّداً فيها أبداً، وَمَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسَهُ بِحَدِيدَةٍ، فَحَدِيدَتُهُ فِي يَدِهِ، يَتَوَجَّأُ بها في بَطنِهِ في نَارِ جَهنَّمَ خَالِداً مُـخَلَّداً فيها أبداً».

    وقد تَرَكَ النَّبِيُّ Ù€ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّمَ Ù€ الصَّلاةَ على مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفسَهُ، زجراً لِغَيرِهِ، وعُقوبةً له، وأذِنَ لِلنّاسِ أن يُصَلُّوا عليه، فيُسَنُّ لأهلِ العِلمِ وذوي الهيئاتِ تركُ الصَّلاةِ عليه تأسِّياً بالنَّبيِّ Ù€ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم Ù€ حيثُ رَوى الإمامُ مُسلِمٌ في صَحِيحِهِ عن جابِرِ بنِ سَمُرَةَ Ù€ رضِيَ اللهُ عنه Ù€ قال: “أُتِيَ النَّبِيُّ Ù€ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّمَ Ù€ بِرَجُلٍ قَتَلَ نَفسَهَ بِمَشَاقِصَ [أي سِهامٌ عِراضٌ]ØŒ فلم يُصَلِّ عليه”.

    فيا عَجباً! وقد شاهَدنا مَنْ يُحاكِي هذا في بعضِ الدُّولِ الأُخرى!!.

    أمّا حينَما نتكلَّمُ عن مسألَةِ (المُظاهَراتِ) فأقولُ:

    ماذا تَعرِفُ أخي الحبيبُ عنِ المُظاهَرَاتِ بين الاتِّباعِ والابتِدِاعِ؟

    فقد يَظُنُّ الكثيرُ أنّها وَسِيلَةٌ مِنْ وِسائِلِ الأمرِ بالمعرُوفِ والنَّهيِ عنِ المُنكَرِ، أو أنّها مِنَ المصالِحِ المُرسَلَةِ، وأنا هنا أسألُ: لو كانتْ المُظاهراتُ وَسِيلَةً دعَوِيَّةً، فلِمَ لَـمَ يَفعلْها المُتقدِّمُونَ، مع أنَّ مُقتضاها موجُودٌ، وهم قادِرُونَ على ذلك، أهو زُهدٌ منهم في الأجرِ؟ أم تقصِيرٌ في النَّهيِ عنِ المُنكَرِ، أو هو جُبنٌ منهم؟.

    كلا ـ واللهِ ـ إنّهم ما تركوا ذلك إلا رغبةً عنه إلى ما شَرَعَهُ اللهُ ورسُولُهُ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ مِنَ الوسائِلِ الشَّرعِيَّةِ للأمرِ بالمعروفِ والنَّهيِ عنِ المُنكرِ .

    وقد أسلفتُ قبلَ قلِيلٍ ما صَحَّ في شَرِيعَتِنا في الصَّبرِ على ظُلمِ وجُورِ الحُكّامِ، وفي كيفيَّةِ نُصحِهم، وضوابِطِهِ، وفي هذا كِفايَةٌ لِبيانُ أنَّ المُظاهَراتِ تُخالِفُ المنهَجَ الّذي ارتَضاهُ لنا اللهُ تعالى ورسُولُهُ ـ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلّم ـ .

    هذا فضلاً عن أنَّ المُظاهَراتِ:

    ـ مُستورَدَةٌ مِنَ الغَربِ وفِكرِهم!!.

    ـ و سببٌ في قِيامِ الشَّغَبِ والفوضَى، ومَنحِ فُرَصٍ لِلمُخرِّبِينَ والمُفسِدِينَ!!.

    ـ وبابٌ لِأنواعٍ كثيرَةٍ مِنَ الفِتَنِ، الّتي قد تَصِلُ بعضُها لِسفكِ الدِّماءِ!!.

    وسدُّ الذَّرائِعِ بابٌ عَظِيمٌ في شريعَتِنا.

    وأنقلُ بعضَ فتاوى كِبارِ أهلِ العلمِ في المُظاهَراتِ:

    1 ـ فتوى الإمامِ عبدِ العزيزِ بنِ بازٍ رحمه الله:

    السؤال:

    هل تُعتَبَرُ المُظاهَراتُ الرِّجالِيَّةُ والنِّسائِيَّةُ ضِدَّ الحُكَّامِ والوُلاةِ، تُعتَبَرُ وَسِيلَةً مِنْ وسائِلِ الدَّعوَةِ؟ وهل مَن يَمُوتُ فيها يُعتَبَرُ شهيداً في سَبيلِ اللهِ؟.

    الجواب:

    (لا أرى المظاهراتِ النِّسائِيَّةَ الرِّجالِيَّةَ مِنَ العِلاجِ، ولكنَّها .. مِنْ أسبابِ الفِتَنِ … ومِنْ أسبابِ ظُلمِ النّاسِ، والتَّعدِّي على بعضِ النّاسِ بغيرِ حقٍّ.

    ولكنْ! الأسبابُ الشرعِيَّةُ: المُكاتَبَةُ، والنَّصيحَةُ، والدَّعوَةُ إلى الخيرِ، بالطُّرُقِ السَّلِيمَةِ، الّتي سَلَكَها أهلُ العِلمِ، وسَلَكَها أصحابُ النَّبيِّ Ù€ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ Ù€ وأتباعُهُم بإحسانٍ، بالمُكاتَبَةِ والمُشافهَةِ مع الأمِيرِ، ومع السُّلطانِ، … دُونَ التَّشهِيرِ بالمنابِرِ، بأنّه فَعلَ كذا، وصارَ منه كذا). ا. هـ.

    2 ـ قال الإمامُ المُحدِّثُ الألبانِيُّ رحِمَهُ اللهُ تعالى:

    (أنا أقولُ شيئاً آخَرَ بالإضافَةِ إلى أنَّ التَّظاهُرَ ظاهِرَةٌ فيها تَقلِيدٌ لِلكُفَّارِ في أسالِيبِ استِنكارِهم لِبعضِ القوانِينِ الّتي تُفرَضُ عليهم مِنْ حُكّامِهم، أو إظهارٌ منهم لِرِضا بعضِ تلك الأحكامِ أو القراراتِ،أضيفُ إلى ذلك شيئاً آخَرَ ألَا وهو: هذه التَّظاهُراتُ الأُروبِيةُ ثُمَّ التَّقلِيديَّةُ مِنَ المُسلِمينَ، ليستْ وَسِيلَةً شَرعِيَّةً لإصلاحِ الحُكمِ، وبالتَّالي إصلاحَ المُجتَمَعِ، ومِن هنا يُخطِئُ كُلُّ الجماعاتِ وكلُّ الأحزابِ الإسلامِيَّةِ الَّذينَ لا يَسلُكُونَ مَسلَكَ النَّبيِّ Ù€ صلّى اللهُ عليه وسلم Ù€ في تَغييرِ المُجتَمَعِ، لا يَكُونُ تَغييرُ المُجتَمَعِ في النِّظامِ الإسلامِيِّ بالهِتافاتِ، وبِالصَّيحاتِ، وبالتَّظاهُراتِ، وإنّما ÙŠÙ

    Reply
16. 

    ma'adilady

    February 18, 2011 at 3:24 PM

    You should’ve stayed if you really loved your bothers and sisters in islaam. Why didn’t you open your doors to them and help them out? What were you so scared about? Somebody stealing your expensive furniture, clothes, and other prized possessions. Why were you attached to your materialistic things to begin with? How do you think the poor, really poor egyptians felt who had no running water, electricity or food felt for 30 yrs.? Your heart is not with the egyptian people beacuse you have no idea what it feels like to be an EGYPTIAN. I hope you stay in whatever country you ran to. Egyptians need jobs and pople like you take needed jobs away from the egyptians who need them desperately. Egypt is for egyptians only. They need jobs, lives, money, need to marry, have families…i.e. whatever you had in new cairo, they want. And why not? We frown upon the millionairs/billioniars because they did steal the billions of dolars from the egyptian peoble. How can we have a country where over 40% of the people lived BELOW poverty line yet others are eating the most exquisite foods, driving the most expensive cars, taking there children to the most expensive schools in the country? How many people dine and wine away while ohters are literally digging out their meals from the rubbish? Shame on all the “egyptians” who lived the materialistic lives, while others died of hunger….

    My heartfelt appreciatian goes to all the Egyptian men and women who left their foreign lands and came to egypt to help their people in need. Both christians and muslims flew in egypt without hesitation nor fear to help their borhters and sisters…they were doctors, nurses, and lay people who ran back to egypt instead of running out of egypt!!

    Allah bless the souls of the martyrs who died and they only died for their own country people (and not for you and others like you)

    Reply
    • 

      F

      February 18, 2011 at 6:00 PM

      That’s a lot of hate against your fellow sister who even if there was real credible jihad going on wouldn’t be required to participate in it.

      You hurl insults at her for not helping the brothers and sisters in Islam yet claim that Egypt is only for Egyptians — putting your nationality before religion.

      Be thankful Allah(swt) gave you the opportunity to take part in the revolution and don’t ruin your good deeds by attacking your fellow Muslims.

      Reply
      • 

        F

        February 18, 2011 at 6:01 PM

        Are all commentators on this thread being moderated or just me?

        Reply
        • 

          Ify Okoye

          February 19, 2011 at 12:09 AM

          Your comments may get caught up in our automatic moderation filters for any number of reasons and then require manual approval by an admin just be patient, insha’Allah.

          Reply
        • 

          ummousama

          February 19, 2011 at 7:55 AM

          I’ve found that, once it reaches your third comment, it is put to moderation. I suppose this is so that they avoid spam.

          Reply
      • 

        ma'adilady

        February 25, 2011 at 12:36 PM

        As salam alaykoum Sr. Haleh,

        I am openly apologizing for the harsh attacks I have made against you. I am deeply regretful for the negative comments that I have written. I am very, very sorry and upset with myself for insulting you and your profession.

        Reply
    • 

      ma'adilady

      February 25, 2011 at 12:34 PM

      As salam alaykoum Sr. Haleh,

      I am openly apologizing for the harsh remarks i made in my comments above. I am sorry for publicly attacking you. It is my fault for writing such bad/horrible things I have written. I will never use such hurtful,insensitive words again, against you. I don’t know what else to say, except for I am deeply sorry and regret what I have written.

      Reply
      • 

        Haleh

        February 25, 2011 at 7:03 PM

        Assalamo alaikom,
        It is very difficult to admit to our mistakes. It takes a lot of inner strength to try to make ammends and apologize publicly. I appreciate your initiative and accept your heartfelt
        apology. May Allah have mercy on you and your family.

        Haleh

        Reply
        • 

          ma'adilady

          February 25, 2011 at 10:11 PM

          Jazaki allah khair. This was the right thing to do. Everyone carries his/her own deeds with him/her to the grave and it is better to clear issues w/others in this dounya then it is to suffer punishment in our graves and in the Hereafter.

          Reply
17. 

    asis

    February 18, 2011 at 3:31 PM

    Salam,

    What does this article have to do with deen and mm?

    Reply
18. 

    Happy Crescent

    February 18, 2011 at 6:10 PM

    Salam aleikum,

    please could the negative comments stop now?

    Reply
19. 

    kinali

    February 19, 2011 at 2:00 PM

    all mix…men and women all together…did the prophet do this? does hi allow that men and women mix on the street??!! please muslim start to looking into your sources!…that is the ummah…the ummah lost his knowledge they prefer the kufar´s ways instead of His revelation and His methods!…so sad to see this conditions in our Ummah. It is more IMPORTANT to down a ruler instead of go and FIGHT the shirk! so sad allah musta´an

    Reply
    • 

      Mantiki

      February 19, 2011 at 6:32 PM

      Where are the moderators?? How can you allow kinali to call for the house-arrest of women! Keeping women locked up at home and perhaps let out only under male supervision for shopping.

      How is this different from life as a slave or in prison?

      Reply
      • 

        Hazara

        February 20, 2011 at 12:55 PM

        You’re posting on a site where the majority of the readers are Salafis. Are you really surprised?

        Reply
        • 

          Mantiki

          February 20, 2011 at 8:15 PM

          Aye – there is hope!!

          http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/02/2011217134411934738.html#

          Reply
20. 

    moslem

    February 19, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    As salamu alaikum,

    As a new moslem, i learned that Allah is the all forgiving. We need to love oneanother and forgive each others faults/bad deeds/etc… We need to live in peace and let others live. Egytpians love their country much, so right now their emiotions are raw and high. We should understand their difficult situation, eventhough we are not egyptians. So let us b patient w/one another and forgive one another. Remember, we are the best ummah even if we have faults and dont treat one another w/respect. We’re still humans too..

    Let us live w/peace in our hearts and forgive one another.
    Allah is truly Great and he can conquer all things!
    As salmu alaikm

    Reply
21. 

    Farweez

    February 19, 2011 at 9:23 PM

    Our Du’as are with the egyptian people and we hope and pray to Allah SWT to bless this country with a righteous ruler and to have mercy on the egyptian people.May he make these difficult times easy not only for the egyptian people but all Arabs alike who are fighting for their rights with their wealth and lives. Let us use this opportunity to unite and let us stop bickering over such a blessed cause and let us stop victimizing our fellow muslims. If Muslims from the rest of the world could not make it to Egypt it may be that they were with the Egyptians with their Du’as supplicating to Allah to give victory to our beloved brothers & sisters. Let us remember that everything is a trial for those who stayed behind and for those who left the country.Indeed Shaytaan to us is an avowed enemy. Let us embrace each other, brothers and sisters and let us greet each other with peace wherever we may be in this Globe, for a Muslim is a brother of another Muslim.

    Before we judge sister Haleh please take a moment to read the following articles written by sister Haleh.Please take a moment to appreciate what she has done for the Ummah.No body’s infallible, No one can claim to be perfect and everyone tends to slip. Please my brothers & sisters let us learn to overlook other’s mistakes(if you think what she did was a mistake) and let us learn to acknowledge & appreciate their good and it may turn out that Allah through his infinite mercy may overlook ours.

    http://muslimmatters.org/2010/05/24/do-you-understand-yourself-psychology-in-the-light-of-quran-and-sunnah/
    http://muslimmatters.org/2010/11/03/how-to-win-his-heart-a-psychological-approach-for-women/

    @ sister Haleh
    I just want you to know that we love you here in Sri Lanka and to me personally your writing has been a source of inspiration.May Allah bless you with the best in this Dunya and in the Akhira and may he save us all from the torment of the hell fire.Please continue writing

    Reply
    • 

      Haleh

      February 21, 2011 at 5:26 AM

      To my dear brothers and sisters in Islam,

      I didn’t get to respond sooner than this due to some personal obligations. My heart is filled with love for all Muslims whether they agree or disagree with me or my decisions. I don’t write to gain popularity, but to share a perspective. I pray for Muslim unity and I pray even stronger for those whose hearts are filled with hatred. Anger and hatred not only poisons the person, but it also poisons the ummah. Judging, fighting and criticizing only creates separation and disunity. Absolutely nothing positive comes out of it.

      I think now more than ever we need to put our personal differences aside and unite. Whether we agree or disagree we need to stand as united Muslims. This is the only way that we can achieve any success.

      @Sisters Ify, Hiba and Sadaf : Thank you very much for your support and Dua – it’s wonderful to have sisters like you :)
      @ Brother Youssef: I enjoyed your article very much masha’Allah.
      @Brother Farweez I appreciate your effort to unite the Muslims and for sharing other articles of mine – I will definitely continue to write insha’Allah
      @Moslem: I love the spirit of new Muslims masha’Allah – we can all learn from your optimism and desire to create peace :)

      I pray that we can use our time to make positive changes in ourselves and in our communities.

      Your sister in Islam,
      Haleh

      Reply
      • 

        amatallah

        February 21, 2011 at 9:43 AM

        As salam alaykom wa rahamat allahi wa barakeo,

        Very inspiring response sister! I love the ” meesage” in your message. How did you train yourself to become positive amid negativity? is their going to be any artricles on how to acheive inner peace and tranqility, creat positive atomosphere in our ummah and how can rid ourselves of hate, sefl pride,jealousy, negativity,greed,etc…? I think becasue times are changing (some for worst, some for better) we need to imporove on ourselves. Since you have knowlege, why not write articles on how to imporve our nafs so we can better help those around us and in turn improve our community ? We are looking forward to future articles,isnah Allah

        Reply
        • 

          Haleh

          February 21, 2011 at 4:06 PM

          Wa alaikomos salam wa rahmatullahe wa barakatu,

          You can train your nafs by seeing any situation as a test that you need to PASS and not get caught up with the emotions. The shaytan will whisper to lash out & get revenge – usually most people will succumb and that’s when you have to remind yourself of the consequence of your behavior. Will your behavior please Allah? Will He be happy with you getting revenge or being forgiving? These thoughts will lead you to make the right decision.

          You gave some good suggestions for topics and I will definitely consider writing about them.

          Haleh

          Reply
22. 

    Suzan

    February 22, 2011 at 3:14 AM

    Ameen Sister Haleh,

    Masha’ALLAH you are such an inspiration to us all and a gift to our Ummah.
    May ALLAH swt continue to guide, protect and shower his blessings upon you. :)

    Reply