Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Face to Faith



Hunger can bring out the worst in us. In a wonderful scene in Shakespeare’s 'As You Like It', a desperate and hungry Orlando comes upon Duke Senior and his exiled court in the forest, who are about to start dinner. Assuming the law of the jungle presides in Arden, Orlando brandishes his sword and demands food upon pain of death. Duke Senior rebukes him for his lack of civility, and wisely adds: “Your gentleness shall force, more than your force move us to gentleness.” Orlando responds: “I almost die for food, and let me have it.” Unfazed, the duke says: “Sit down and feed, and welcome to our table.” Orlando is shamed by the duke's gallantry and explains that hunger had bred violence in him.


Almost four centuries later another bard, Bob Marley, melodically reminded us: “Them belly full, but we hungry/A hungry mob is an angry mob.” We all know the primal nature of hunger; we have experienced the irritability that comes from missing breakfast or skipping our cup of morning coffee or tea. We hyperbolically talk of “starving” when a mealtime draws near. Our food trysts are now frequent every day in what sociologists refer to as “repeated food contacts” and farmers simply call grazing. At the drop of a hat, we indulge in lattes and biscotti. Many people no longer eat three “square” meals but rather graze all day, with Starbucks troughs sprouting up everywhere to ensure none suffer the pangs of hunger or the pain of caffeine withdrawal. In the lands of plenty in the west, we tend to forget that the abundance and easy accessibility of food was not always so and is not as widespread even now.


Few of us who have the luxury of reading the daily paper over a cup of coffee and a piece of toast slathered with rich butter and marmalade have ever gone hungry intentionally, unless we succumbed to some ridiculous crash diet. But there was a time in the west when Lent, which commemorates Christ's 40-day fast in the desert, meant fasting all day and eating one meal at night. As time passed that tradition devolved into a semi-fast and now means merely giving up something one really likes, such as chocolate.


Even our portions of food and drink are much greater than what our grandparents had. In the midst of this cornucopia of consumption, millions of Muslims voluntarily abstain from food, drink and sex during daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. They watch their co-workers eat and drink throughout the day, and occasionally have to apologise for not joining in due to their religious observance. Fasting for a month makes them aware of hunger as a palpable physical sensation, not a remote occurrence they read about in the newspaper. When the UN tells us that almost a billion people suffer from hunger and malnutrition and 25,000 people a day die from hunger, a faster appreciates these statistics in ways that remain distant to others.


But fasting is not just about giving up food and drink. It's about tending to “the better angels of our nature”. The Prophet Muhammad said, “If one is not willing to give up bad behaviour during his fast, God has no need for him to give up his food and drink.” Muslims are encouraged during this time to be better people, to treat others with more deference. If enticed to argue, the faster is advised to respond: “I am fasting.”


There are many ways to be hungry. One can hunger for love, or fame or social justice, but hunger for food seems to curb all other cravings. In being aware of others' hunger, we contribute to a more empathic world. Perhaps, if, like Duke Senior, we responded to the cries of the myriad desperate Orlandos foraging in the forests of famine out there with hospitality and help, they might be coaxed into civility themselves. Certainly, hunger can bring out the worst in us. But it can also bring out the best.


SHAYKH HAMZA YUSUF *

* The Guardian, Saturday October 13, 2007.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

How to take a holiday in Pakistan

How to take a holiday in Pakistan
By Hugh Sykes BBC News, Pakistan


Suicide bombs, battles in tribal areas, and states of emergency tend to put off casual tourists. But the impression such events convey can often be misleading and unrepresentative of a country as a whole.

A few days ago I was sitting in a cafe sipping best Italian espresso and reading a news magazine.
The front page was full of furious faces and clenched fists under the headline, The Most Dangerous Nation in the World isn't Iraq, it's Pakistan.

Hugh Sykes journey took him to the Chitral Valley in north west Pakistan
The cafe was in a smart bookshop in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.
I sighed and turned to the article inside. It was a revealing analysis of some penetration of a few places in Pakistan by the Taleban and al-Qaeda. I pondered the magnifying-glass effect of dramatic news coverage. The suicide bomb attack on Benazir Bhutto's homecoming parade in Karachi in October, which killed an estimated 140 people, and the assault on a Taleban pocket in the Swat valley, a tourist destination, took place while I was in Pakistan. But neither event had a noticeable effect on the general sense of security and stability where I was in Islamabad or on the road.

The notion that Pakistan is more dangerous than Iraq is absurd.

Until recently suicide bombs, murder, and kidnapping were routine in Iraq. And there is no way I would do there what I have just done in Pakistan: take a holiday.
Never alone. I hired a car in Islamabad and headed out onto the partially completed M2 motorway that will eventually connect Lahore (near the Indian border) with Peshawar (the last city on the road to the Khyber Pass and Afghanistan). But motorways are boring, so I left the M2 and re-joined the ancient Grand Trunk Road, which links most of the main towns of northern Pakistan.

For much of the route it is lined with eucalyptus trees, their almost-autumn leaves and silvery bark shining in the clear October sun as I drove along.
Driving in Pakistan is fast and sometimes chaotic, but not competitive.
They even hoot politely. And one great danger at home you hardly ever have to contend with in Pakistan is drunk drivers and people with concentration blurred by hangovers.

My destinations were Chitral, an isolated valley in the far-north-west on the Afghan border and Gilgit, close to China and Tajikistan. The round-trip was more than 1,200 miles (nearly 2,000km) and included mountain passes almost half as high as Everest. And although I was driving alone, I was hardly ever on my own. There is public transport but not a lot. So, people walk long distances along these high stony roads and if a car passes, they hold out a hand hoping for a lift.

One morning, 12-year-old Kashif sat with me for a while.
He had been expecting to walk for more than an hour to the nearest town, to buy a new pair of shoes. He showed me the pair he was wearing. The right shoe's upper was half split away from the sole. Kashif spoke almost perfect English, good enough to warn me as we turned a tight bend, "Be careful, uncle, road badly damaged round next corner from earthquake." Earthquake damage from 2005, still unrepaired.

I spent the night at a hotel next to the old fort at Mastuj, near the snowy Hindu Kush peak Tirich Mir which is 7,690m high (25,200 feet).
The hotel consists of small timber and stone cabins set in a wood of walnut trees and poplars and a plane tree reputed to be 200 years old.
I woke to autumn colours every bit as wondrous as anything I have seen in Kew Gardens or New England.

My next hitch-hiking companion was Mohammed, an English Literature student at Peshawar University.
"So you study Shakespeare?" I asked.
"Yes, and Wordsworth."
And John Donne, I wondered?
"Ah, John Donne," he raptured.
"John Donne... the poetry of love."
I do not know any Donne by heart but when I attempted Shakespeare's Seven Ages of Man from As You Like It, Mohammed completed every line as we bumped along the dusty road.





Mohammed, an English Literature student at Peshawar University



Parts of Pakistan are deeply conservative, devoutly Muslim places, and I was not signalled for lifts by many women. But there were some. A mother and grandmother, sitting in the back, their heads covered but not their faces and one-year-old Anis and his father Samir in the front with me. He protested when I took a photograph of the two women but they did not object and posed happily as they waited for the flash. When I delivered them to the Gilgit hospital where the little boy had an appointment with a heart specialist, his father was so pleased and grateful he gave me a bear hug, and a massive smile that erased his earlier stern objections to taking a picture.
I gave lifts to more than 20 people, learned how to say "no problem" in Urdu (Koi Batnahi), and had to hold back tears when two children said thank you for their lift and offered me money to help pay for the petrol.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Prayers for all the forgotten children in War Zones!

With the build up to guy fawkes it seems as if everyone has loads of fire works to spare well at least in my area as for days every evening there has been constant loud booms and bangs coming from all directions!

Yaqub who is now 4 and a half months old didnt take too kindly to all the banging especially as he has a cold at the moment so each time he managed to dose off he was starteled by a loud boom and would wake up a little scared! He would of course be quickly comforted by either me or his baba with a cuddle and a reassurance that he was not alone and that everything was going to be ok!

It was at this time I suddenly remembered all the millions of children all around the world whose childhood sounds are nothing but booms and bangs but unfortuantely there are many differences here the sounds they hear are not the sounds of loud colourful joyous fireworks rather or guns, bombs, followed by screaming! Another difference is that many of these children cry and weep in fear of these noises only to have nobody come running to comfort and hold them and to wipe their tears away as their parents have been killed or are too weak, or lost to comfort them. These are the forgotten children of the world why? Not because we dont know they are out there but because no one is there to hold them and to tell them its going to be ok, they dont have someone running to them saying 'its ok mama loves you baba loves you' for them its all loud bangs bombs and them smell of blood and death on their door steps.





The very least we can do for these forgotten children is to remember them in our prayers and ask Allah to help them in their time of need! Remember all children are innocent and are victims of the ugly game of adult warfare!

'Oh Allah I beg you to have Mercy upon all the innocent people especially the children of the world Ameen. Do not let fear enter their hearts, do not allow them to cry to empty hollow walls where they get no response or comfort Ameen. Do not allow them to be captives of evil oppressors Ameen. Grant them a childhood of happiness, love, tranquilty Ameen. Grant them a playground safe to play in not one filled with hidden bombs, dead bodies and spilt blood Ameen. Ya Allah grant them comforting arms to hold them Ya Allah grant them loving arms to hold them Ya Allah grant them gentle hands to wipe away their tears Ameen Thuma Ameen'

Friday, September 28, 2007

Al - Jumu'a

You who believe! When you are called to the prayer on the day of Jumu'a, hasten to the rememberance of Allah and abandon trade. That is better for you if you only knew.

Then when the prayer is finished spread through the earth and seek Allah's bounty and remember Allah much so that hopefully you will be successful.
Quran - (62:9-10)
(Translation: Abdalhaqq and Aisha Bewley)

Jummah - Yay!

Jummah has arrived again so firstly Jummah Mubarak to you all! Many of us take Jummah for granted its just another day of the week like Monday, Wednesday, Saturday etc! But this is the wrong way for us to look at it!



Jummah is a day of celebrations its a blessed day for us all and alhamdulillah we are blessed it with it once a week again one of the countless mercies we have from Allah! We need to give Jummah the full credit it deserves! We have so many ahadith about the blessings and virtues of Jummah a couple of which I shall share here insha'Allah!


"Whoever dies on the day of al-Jumuah or on its eve will be protected from the torment of the grave." (Ahmed)


The Prophet (saw) said, "A person who has a bath on Friday, cleanses himself fully, uses oil and perfume; then goes to the mosque early in the afternoon and takes his place quietly without pushing or disturbing people; then he prays (optional prayer as much as he was able to pray); then sits quietly listening to the Khutbah, he will be forgiven his sins between this Jumah and the next Jumah." (Bukhari).


Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "On Friday the Angels stand oust the door of the mosque and write down the names of the people in the order in which they enter the mosque for Friday prayer. The first group of people who enter the mosque get the reward equivalent to that of sacrificing a camel, the people who enter the mosque after them get the reward equivalent to that of sacrificing a cow. The people who enter the mosque after them get the reward equivalent to that of sacrificing a ram and the people who follow on likewise get this reward of a Chicken, egg and so on there is a gradation of rewards for the people as they enter. The angels keep writing the names of the people as they enter the mosque until the Imam sits down to give Khutbah. Then the angels collect their registers and sit and listen to the Khutbah." (Bukhari, Muslim).

Many of us dont realise the importance of Jummah and each one come and goes just like that! It is a day of celebration for all of us and we should treat it so!
Today I was speaking to my husband and we decided a few things we will insha'Allah try to do every week on Jummah to make it special from all the other days! We want Yaqub to grow up insha'Allah knowing how important and special this day is as for him insha'Allah a he will one day be going to pray his Jummah Salat in the masjid so its important for him to know from now that it really is a special day, a day of celebration and treats! Here is our plan of action if any one has any suggestions please feel free to leave comments and share with me and everyone else! The day shall really start on Thursday evening where the house shall be cleaned nicely ready for Friday morning where I shall burn some lovely bukhur to start this blessed day! Every Jummah me, my husband and Yaqub shall make a special effort to dress up, not like in wedding outfits or anything lol just to really make an effort to be clean, neat and tidy wearing something that is not just every day like scruffy jeans or a tracky but something a little smarter! Each Friday for dinner we shall have some type of roast maybe chicken or lamb with all the trimmings, roast potatoes, gravy, vegies etc and something really scrummy for desert too mmmmm! Also Jummah shall also be referred to as Jummah of course we shall teach Yaqub the days of the week and insha'Allah he will know that Friday is Jummah but we shall try to call it Jummah this again differenciates it from the other days of the week!

The idea is to try and create a buzz of excitment on Jummah insha'Allah!


We should also read as much Salawat on our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) each Jummah too! This of course we should do anyways but make an extra special effort on Jummah insha'Allah!



Check out Yaqubs smart outfit he wore for this weeks Jummah! May Allah always instill the love of this blessed day in his and all of our hearts ameen!

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Being Closed Minded Is Like A Foreign Language!

Being closed minded is like a foreign language... hmmm what a strange phrase yet it is very true and let me explain how!

On Tuesday I was taking Yaqub to the baby clinic and when I came outside my house my neighbours elderly aunty was standing there with our neighbours 1 year old son! Our neighbours are from Mauritious and I know that their aunty only speaks creo or so I thought! Each time I have seen her I have only ever said Salam as I thought there was no other way to talk to her! So on Tuesday I was leaving to go to the clinic when I stopped to go and see the neighbours son Jamal! I was bending down talking to him when the aunty started talking to me and of course I did not understand what she was saying as it was a foreign language and so although I could hear her I could not understand her! Then after she had finished and I was about to walk away I realised I had caught the last 2 words and then realised hang on a minute I understood that and then realised she was speaking Urdu not creo!!! I had thought she only spoke creo so had mentally told myself that I could not understand what she was saying where as in actual fact she was speaking Urdu which I do understand!

Now you may wonder how this relates to be closed minded! Well its very simple! When we are closed minded we can not allow ourselves to see the views of others even though in actual facts we may understand and agree with their views and ideas but we do not allow ourselves to do so! By being closed minded we have convinced ourselves that I can not understand any other way just like one might believe they can not understand someone speaking a foreign language!!!

This idea can be linked to Islam! It is so so so sad to see 1 Islam, 1 Quran, 1 Sunnah Billions of Muslims and so many divisions!!! Islam is so complete that it has room for all subhana'Allah! And if only we all stopped (by we I mean all the groups within Islam) and listened to each other we may find that we are not so different after all we are one brotherhood one sisterhood One Ummah!

The same can be linked to Islam, Judaism and Christianity... if we only stopped being so closed minded and opened up to each other we would see the similarities we have and we could work on that and go forward!

I am currently reading The Road To Makkah by Muhammad Asad and he begins by telling a friend of his that perhaps one of the reasons why the West has so much against Islam is the fact that it shares so many morals with it! A very intesresting point... I remember a very good friend of mine who is a convert/revert to Islam saying that her father had said to her.... 'I agree with the morals and teachings of Islam but when you put the name Islam on it I dont want to know'! Why are we so afraid to open our minds and see what is around us!

So the lesson to be learnt here is to open up our minds ask Allah to always guide us and look for the truth where ever it may be! Dont be closed minded and see everything around you as a foreign language!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Famine Vs Dieting!!!




Hmmm an interesting title! It occured to me yesterday how strange this concept is! In some parts of the world we have humans who are paying hundereds of £ or $ some times even thousands to lose weight be it by eating less, buying low fat recipie books, joining the gym, getting a personal trainer and even having surgery to remove unwanted fat from their bodies! On the other hand we have humans across the world who are dying of hunger and thirst who when they eat a few mouthfulls wonder if those are the last mouthfulls that shall ever enter their mouths and bodies as they know not where their next meal (if you can call it that) will come from or if it will come at all! And then when food or water is found they eat and drink not knowing where it has been if it is clean and if eating it will do them more harm than good!




Just yesterday I was saying to myself I need to gain more self control when it comes to eating yummy scrummy foods and then just like that while I was walking between the door way of my kitchen and passage it hit me Subhana'Allah here I am praying for self control on eating all this food I have available to me and others are praying and begging God for just a few mouthfulls to feed themselves and their dying children!

Let us not forget those who are less fortunate than ourselves those who spend days in constant involuntary fasting, those who are forced to hear their children cry night and day out of hunger and thirst and all the while knowing they can do nothing about it and let us all thank God for everything He has given us for the Mercy He has bestowed upon us and for the favours He continues to shower upon us let us remember Him and praise Him often as He is Most Deserving!

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Ramadan Dates!

Ramadan is associated with so many marvelous things the first thing that springs to mind is of course fasting and The Holy Qur'an! It truly is a blessed month with so much to gain from! Its a month of the Quran, fasting, its the month of the individual meaning its a time when we dedicate time and effort working on ourselves on our character trying to better ourselves not just for the month but for good!

The other day my husband told me a really beautiful comment made by one of the brothers he works with! He had written a message to the muslims in their company regarding Ramadan and had said something along the lines of this


'let the other people at work know that your fasting not by the fact that your not eating food but by the good change in your behaviours and the improvments in your characters!

Subhana'Allah what a beautiful phrase and its so true Ramadan is not just about not eating its a month of spirituality and purification!

Another thing that Ramadan is associated with is particular types of food! We all in our homes and families probably have particular dishes which are usually only made in Ramadan or become a daily thing in Ramadan!
One thing I associate with Ramadan are dates! Not just any type of dates but dates stuffed with whipped up double cream and topped with a crunchy almond! So I thought Id share it here incase anyone wishes to try it mmmmm they are so tasty!

Ingredients:
Dates (not the type squished up in a packet)
Thick Double Cream or Whipping Cream
Almonds

Method:
Pour the Cream into a bowl and wisk it up. I recommend an electric wisker or you could be there for long time! Keep wisking until the cream thickens up and is no longer runny! (test it by putting some on a spoon and turning the spoon upside down if the cream does NOT fall off then its ready!)
Slit the along the middle (long ways) and remove the seed. Now with a teaspoon carefully take some cream and holding open the date place the cream in the date!
Put an almond on the top and its finished!

Result:

Yummy dates!

Ill post some photos up soon of what they should look like!

Friday, September 21, 2007

Mouse Trap!

Its always a concern for us all as individuals when something is worrying us as individuals when we ourselves are facing problems etc however how many of us spend the same amount of time worrying about others in the same way trying our best to find a solution... I know myself I am guilty of this and was reminded this just a moment ago when reading an interesting story about a little mouse I received in an email!

Its so easy for us all to look at the problems of others and think...'oh thats a shame but it doesnt affect me so its not that big of a deal'! This really is the wrong way to look at things... as brothers and sisters in humanity we have a duty to look out for one another, for our families, friends, neighbours and all of our fellow human beings!

As Muslims also we should know the importance of caring for one another from the saying of the Prophet (saw):

“The Ummah is like one body; if one part of it hurts, the rest of the body is overcome with pain.”

Let us not all become desensitized to the pains and sufferings of not only our fellow Muslims but also of all our fellow human beings!

Like I mentioned earlier I have a nice story of a little mouse to share with you all!

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered.......he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning :There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said,"Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it. "The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house! "The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr.Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers. "The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house! "The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed tosee what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was avenomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital. After treatmentshe returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farm yard for the soup's main ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well and later died. So, many people came for the funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.
So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember.......when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

REMEMBER.......OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER - EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHERPERSON'S TAPESTRY.

Im Back! Ramadan Kareem!

Salaam and Hello to Everyone!

Wow Ive been away for agesssss but so much has happened since! Firslty a very BIG and Belated RAMADAN KAREEM to everyone!

Ok now since Ive been away lets see what has happened! Well I moved home not just moved but had major DIY to do in the place before we really could put up furniture etc! Alhamdulillah by the Grace and Mercy of Allah we are settled and very happy here in our beautiful new home!
More major and more imprortant than that is the Great News which happened at 1:13pm on Saturday 16th June 2007!
By the Grace and Mercy of Allah the Almighty I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy who we named Yaqub Bilal Alam Masha'Allah! He is very much 100% gorgeous and totally irrestitable masha'Allah! I cant begin to explain what a terrific and moving experience motherhood is! It really is a Mercy that so much love endlessly pours out of you for this child you actually feel your heart flutter when they gaze into your eyes and smile, you can spend endless hours watching them sleep just gazing intently at their small chest moving up and down, waking up over and over and over again at night just to make sure your precious one is ok even though they made no sound of complaint.... Subhana'Allah its amazing and I shall be sharing more of these experiences as time goes on insha'Allah!


Yaqub is now 3 months old masha'Allah I shall post 2 pictures up one of him when he was first born literally when he maybe 10 mins old (see pic above)and the other from just a few days ago! (see bellow)Please keep us in your prayers!

Sunday, April 08, 2007

The story of 2 pots!


An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.


One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.


"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled,

"Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them." "For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."


Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

Friday, March 30, 2007

This too my dear will pass away!


I had a very hectic day today
Seems nothing I did went my way.
I fretted and stewed and worried,
Rushed here and there, always hurried.

Then I recalled what my granny would say,
"This too, my dear, will pass away."
Finally evening came and I was alone
With a little time to call my own.

I breathed a sigh into the air,
For now it seemed I hadn't a care.
But in my memory, I heard granny say,
"This too, my dear, will pass away."

So, I snuggled in for a good nights rest
Vowing tomorrow just to do my best
For when troubles come they never stay
And good times seem to hurry away.
Granny was right when she would say,
"This too, my dear, will pass away."

Enjoy the good times while they're here
And face the bad times without fear
For nothing on earth lasts forever
Each moment of life we must savor.
Live life and love while you may,
For this too, my dear, will pass away.


Thursday, March 29, 2007

Dr Juma

Anyone looking for a new Dr Surgey should most deff check this Dr Juma out he seems qualified in all fields and by the look of his surgery he seems to be going for the homeopathic natural treatments!!!! The list of treatments he has advertised are as follows as... Ill type some of them up as I dont think the picture is big enough for you all to read them...

- Bewitched Pple
- Swollen Body
- Insanity
- Madness
- Women with pregnancy problems
- Demand Debts
- Misunderstandings with people
- Court Cases
- Casino Specialist
- Bad Luck
- Customer Attraction
- ETC (thats his comment not mine)

Seems like he is a Dr, Lawyer, Social Advisor, psychic all in one wow!



Friday, March 23, 2007

A Butterfly's Lesson

One day, a small opening appeared on a cocoon; a man sat and watched for the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.
Then, it seems to stop making any progress.
It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could not go any further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly: he took a pair of scissors and opened the cocoon.
The butterfly then emerged easily.
But it had a withered body, it was tiny and shrivelled wings.
The man continued to watch because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would open, enlarge and expand, to be able to support the butterfly’s body, and become firm.
Neither happened!
In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a withered body and shrivelled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and his goodwill did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening, were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings, so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our life.
If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been. Never been able to fly.
I asked for Strength...
And God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
Iasked for Wisdom...
And God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity...
And God gave me a Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage…..
And God gave me obstacles to overcome.
I asked for Love...
And God gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors...
And God gave me Opportunities.
“I received nothing I wanted...
But I received everything I needed."

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

FORGET FASHION THIS IS FREEDOM!

Forget fashion, this is freedom (The Daily Telegraph: 31/12/2003)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/12/31/wscarf131.xml

The Muslim veil has become a hot political issue in France - but Stella White cannot see what the fuss is about. A Catholic from Kent, she explains the joys of the complete cover-up.
To liberated Westerners, the hijab, or veil, is a stain on womankind. It symbolises the crushing of the female spirit and is the mark of slavery, transforming a woman into a passive lump who is only allowed out of the house to buy her husband's dinner.
When faced with this piece-of-cloth-on-legs, English women will often meet the eyes peeking out of the hijab with an expression of pity and sadness. For them, the veil represents a living death. This might also be the feeling of the French authorities, who have decided to ban the hijab in schools, believing that no young girl should have to carry the burden of repression on her tender head.
Yet for many, including myself, the veil is not an instrument of coercion, but a means of liberation. Personally, I have never felt so free as I do when I am wearing it.
Before you presume that I am regurgitating propaganda from a culture that has brainwashed me, I should point out that I am a Catholic, not a Muslim. I am not from the mysterious East, but am a 32-year-old woman from boring Kent. Nor am I a prude: my life has included spells as an exotic dancer, kissogram and glamour model. Three of my best friends are strippers. I have had relationships with Muslim men, but none of them ever demanded I wear the hijab; in fact, they found my behaviour slightly embarrassing. There is nobody in my past that has coerced me to wear a veil. I do so simply because I love it.
I relish the privacy; the barrier that the hijab creates between myself and the harsh, frenetic world, especially in London. I find a great peace behind the veil: I don't feel invaded by nosy passers-by; the traffic, noise and crowds seem less overwhelming. I can retreat into my own safe world even as I walk and, on a practical level, I feel completely secure from unwanted advances.
The hijab is also a financial security system. Like most pedestrians in London, I can't afford to give money to every homeless person I see, but feel stressed and guilty when I walk past them. In my hijab, my conscience can hide. I also feel fairly safe from muggers. Thieves glance at me and probably think, "illegal immigrant; not worth the effort", presuming that my big carrier bags contain only weird, knobbly vegetables for my 16 children.
In my hijab, shopping is also cheaper. A small minority of Muslim traders operate a two-tier pricing system with the "one of us" price being considerably lower than the price for Westerners. If I want a bargain, I make sure I am "hijabbed-up".
The most amazing effect of wearing the veil is that you automatically seem to become a member of the Muslim community and are accorded all of the privileges and dignity of a Muslim woman. When I walk into a Muslim shop, a man will say to me, gently, "Salaam aleikum [peace be upon you]. How can I help you, madam?" On the bus, Muslim men from Africa, the Middle East or the Far East will move aside for me and say, "After you, sister."
The offices, bars and clubs of London are full of English girls in short skirts and strappy sandals, many of them looking for love. Women who wear the hijab, often despised by the West, actually feel sorry for these Western women who have to harm themselves with crippling high heels, skin-choking make-up and obsessive dieting in order to find a man.
My Iranian friend Mona is a successful businesswoman who goes out every day looking impeccable, with painted nails, stilettos, sharp suits and perfect make-up. "It was just so much easier when I was in Iran," she says. "You'd get up at nine, throw on your big black hooded dress and jump in the car. Now, I have to spend two or three hours getting done up every morning."
Too often, the hijab is dismissed as the preserve of Muslim fundamentalists. But in the Christian tradition, St Paul ordered women to cover their heads and, until the Sixties, no woman would be seen in an English church without a hat and gloves. Many English women wore hats out in the street or headscarves tied under their chin. Hindu and Sikh women are still expected to cover their heads loosely for their honour, or izzat, and Orthodox Jewish women have traditionally worn wigs over their real hair to conceal it from men who are not their husbands. Yet, among all these cultural groups, only Muslim women seem to have been described as weak or oppressed on account of their headgear.
Two of the most unlikely bedfellows are the woman who wears a hijab and the militant feminist. When women in the early Seventies began cropping their hair short, and wearing dungarees and comfortable shoes, they were rejecting the idea of suffering for fashion and were refusing to take part in the desperate ritual to attract spoilt, fussy males. Similarly, a woman in a hijab can retain her identity without being a slave to finicky Western notions of beauty.
A particularly sad article appeared in a popular women's magazine last week, entitled: "How to hate your body less." I showed it to my Arab friend Malika, who shook her head and said: "In my culture, men are so grateful when they marry a woman that they see her as a gorgeous princess, whatever shape or size she is."
Within the hijab, Muslim women know their power and their value. One Muslim man told me: "My wife is like a beautiful diamond. Would you leave a precious diamond to get scratched or stolen in the street? No, you would wrap it in velvet. And that is how the hijab protects my wife, who is more precious to me than any jewel."
Of course, if anybody tried to remove my veil or force me to wear it, I would react violently. I am privileged to live in a country in which I can wear whatever I want to. Not all women are so lucky. Personally, I have found in the hijab a kind of guardian angel. My mother, on the other hand, claims that I wear it because I can't be bothered to brush my hair.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Mus'ab Bin Umair

I read this beautiful story of one of the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) and thought to share it with you all. Dont look and read it and say ahhhh that was so nice rather let us all read it and then take a close look at our own lives and see if we can find room to improve and strive in our deen Im sure we can! Lets see if we can think of ways to get closer to Allah and His beloved (saw) and if that means sacrificing some of the pleasures of this world then remember this life is only temporary and will soon come to an end!

Mus'ab Bin Umair

Big city, bright lights. Cars flash in fast lanes. Young Muslims are getting ready to hit the “night scene”. Branded shoes and designer clothes in place, clutching the latest mobile gizmos and sporting the trendiest watches, their perfume smells --- more than anything else – of money.

You can see them “hanging out” in groups, lolling in the bright lights of a megamall, lingering aimlessly in hypershops, buying a knick knack to drive away the boredom; even if it’s just for a second.

You can see them sipping cappucino at a Starbucks café …watching people go by, sharing a joke and laughing raucously; vacant eyes straying over to huge tv screens for the latest football score.

You can see them racing cars dangerously late into the night, music blasting from the stereos, startling passersby while they laugh in their faces. A standard sight.

Each time I see this all-too familiar scene, I find myself thinking of someone.
Someone who lies buried in the blood-wet earth of ‘Uhud, feet covered by scented grass and his body covered only by a square woollen sheet that was not even sufficient to cover him completely. Someone who was his mother’s pampered son, he wore the best clothes his rich mother’s money could buy, his perfume scented the streets he walked through. The talk of Makkan matrons and maidens in their plush salons, the toast of his peers in the city’s clubs, the most flamboyant young man of the Quraysh, who left a life of pleasuring the Self to gain the pleasure of Allaah: Mus’ab bin Umair bin Hashim bin Abd Munaf who was also known as Mus’ab al Khair.

Mus’ab was only a youth when he heard of the new Prophet who had arisen among the Quraysh and his Message of monotheism; Makkah talked of very little else in those days. His curiosity piqued by all the talk, Mus’ab decided to approach the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on his own to determine the truth of his Message.

One night, instead of joining his friends in their customary revelry, Mus’ab made his way to the house of Al-Arqaam Ibn Al-Arqaam which came to be known as Daar al Arqaam among the Muslims. It was here that the Prophet met with the growing band of Muslims, away from the eyes of the Quraysh. It was here that the Companions talked over the future of their faith, heard and recited newly revealed portions of the Qur’aan and prayed behind the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wassallam to Allaah.

That night, Mus'ab sat down among the gathering of the faithful and heard the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wassallam recite verses of the Qur’aan. From that moment on he forgot for ever his life of luxury and indolence, in the ecstasy of discovering the key to eternal life. Mus’ab’s path to the faith was not easy – his mother, Khunnas bint Maalik, a strong willed woman infamous for her sharp temper and sharper tongue – was his chief opponent. In order to avoid an unpleasant confrontation with his mother, Mus’ab initially avoided telling her about his new faith. However, people found him frequenting Daar Al-Arqaam more than his usual haunts and saw him coming under the influence of the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. It wasn’t long before news of his conversion reached his mother.

Reacting with the imperiousness of her nature, her pride in her lineage and her age-old allegiance to the gods, she commanded Mus’ab to return and repent to the gods he had abandoned in his “foolishness”; and when he refused, she had him shackled and imprisoned in a corner of the house. Somehow, news of the first emigration of some Muslims to Abyssinia reached Mus’ab in his incarceration and his heart longed to join his brothers in the faith. Using his ingenuity, he managed to delude his mother and his guards and escaped to Abyssinia with other emigrants.

Later, he returned to Makkah with them for a short while and emigrated a second time, this time as the Prophet [SAW]’s chosen envoy to the new centre of faith: Yathrib. When Mus’ab returned from Abyssinia, his mother sought to imprison him yet again. But this time he vowed that if she attempted that, he would kill all those who came to her aid to lock him up. She knew the intensity of his determination better than anyone else and so she bade him a final farewell, crying bitterly: Go away, I am no longer your mother.
At this, Mus’ab went close to her and said: O Mother, I am advising you and my heart is with you, please bear witness that there is no God but Allaah and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Enraged, she swore: By the stars, I will never enter your religion, to degrade mystatus and weaken my senses! But Mus’ab entered Islaam in the spirit of the Qur’aan when it says: udkhuloo fi silme kaafah [enter into Islaam completely]. He forsook every semblance of satisfaction of the Self for the sake of Allaah – his dress was tattered, his food was simple, the bare earth was his bed.


One day he went out to meet some Muslims while they were sitting around the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam, and when they saw him they lowered their heads and shed silent tears at the sight of the pampered youth of their memory , moving about in wornout patches held together by thorns, which barely covered him.

After Mus’ab moved away from the gathering, the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam recalled:
I saw Mus’ab, and there was no youth in Makkah more petted by his parents than he. Then he abandoned all that for the love of Allaah and His Prophet. Recognizing Mus’ab’s noble manners and patience, the Prophet [SAW] commissioned him to instruct the people of Yathrib who had pledged their allegiance to the Prophet at ‘Aqabah, to call others to Islaam and to prepare the city for the eventual migration of the Prophet [SAW]. At that time, there were among the Companions men of sterling character and nerves of steel, men who were older and more experienced in the ways of the world; yet he [SAW] chose Mus’ab as his representative. And Mus’ab proved worthy of the Prophet’s choice many times over, dealing with detractors with patience and sagacity. Mus’ab entered Yathrib as a guest of Sa’ad ibn Zurarah of the Khazraj tribe. Together they went approached the citizens of Yathrib, explaining the message of Monotheism and reciting the Qur’aan.

Once Musa’ab and Sa’ad were sitting near a well in an orchard of Banee Zafar, when they were approached by Usayd ibn Khudayr brandishing a spear in obvious rage. Sa’ad whispered to Mus’ab: This is a chieftain of his people. May Allaah place the truth in his heart.
Mus’ab replied calmly: If he sits down, I will speak to him.
Usayd was angry at the success of Mus’ab’s mission and shouted angrily: Why have you both come to us to corrupt the weak among us? Keep away from us if you want to stay alive.


At this, Musa’ab smiled and said softly: Won't you sit down and listen? If you are pleased and satisfied with our mission, accept it; and if you dislike it we will stop telling you what you dislike and leave. Sticking his spear into the ground, Usayd sat down to hear them out. As Musa’ab began telling him about Islaam and reciting portions of the Qur’aan to Usayd’s expression changed. The first words he uttered were : How beautiful are these words and how true! What does a person do if he wants to enter this religion?

Mus’ab explained: Have a bath, purify yourself and your clothes. Then utter the testimony of Truth (shahadah), and perform prayers. Usayd testified that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, prayed two rakaats of salaah and was followed by another influential man: Sa’ad ibn Muaadh. By the time the Prophet [SAW] emigrated, there was not a single household in Yathrib in which Mus’ab had not endeared himself and the Message of Islaam. In the subsequent pilgrimage, he led a company of 70 people went from Yathrib to pledge allegiance to the Prophet. In a famous incident after the victory at Badr, the Muslims captured some Makkans and sought to ransom them. Mus’ab was passing by the ranks of prisoners and stopped when saw his brother, Abu Azeez ibn Umayr among them. However, instead of interceding on his behalf, he instructed his brother’s captor to bind him securely and to extract a large ransom for the prisoner, because “his mother is a very rich woman” When the brother sought to remind Mus’ab of his relationship, Mus’ab replied: I only recognize brotherhood of the faith, this man is my brother, not you!

At ‘Uhud, the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam chose Mus’ab to bear the battle standard. In the melee that followed the archers descent from the hill where they were stationed, in violation of the Prophet [SAW]’s orders, the Makkans fought back fiercely. Taken unawares by the cavalry of the Quraysh attacking from the rear, the Muslim ranks scattered. Intent on harming the Prophet [SAW], the Makkans searched for him while he was being guarded only by a handful of companions. Suddenly, someone shouted that the Prophet [SAW] was no more. It was at this juncture that Mus’ab’s glorious life reached a fitting culmination: Ibrahim ibn Muhammad related from his father, who said: Mus’ab ibn ‘Umair carried the standard on the Day of Uhud. When the Muslims were scattered, he stood fast until he met Ibn Qaami'ah who was a knight. He struck him on his right hand and cut it off, but Mus'ab said:
And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him . He carried the standard with his left hand and leaned on it, when his left hand was cut off, he leaned on the standard and held it with his upper arms to his chest, all the while saying: And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him. Then a third soldier struck Mus’ab with his spear, and the spear went through him. (picture of Uhud above)

After the battle, the Prophet and his companions came to the plain of ‘Uhud to bury the martyrs, some of whose bodies had been mutilated by the marauding women of the Qur’aysh. Pausing when he saw Mus'ab, the Prophet [SAW] recited: Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah. Then he [SAW] looked at the remains of his companions in the battlefield and said: The Prophet of Allaah witnesses that you are martyrs to Allaah on the Day of Resurrection.

There wasn’t enough material to serve as a shroud for Mus’ab. Khabbaab ibn Al-Arat narrated: We emigrated with the Prophet for Allaah’s cause, so our reward became due with Allaah. Some of us passed away without enjoying anything in this life of his reward, and of them was Mus'ab ibn 'Umair, who was martyred on the Day of Uhud. He did not leave behind anything except a sheet of shredded woollen cloth. If we covered his feet with it, his head was uncovered, and ifwe covered his feet with it, his head was uncovered. The Prophet [SAW] said to us: Cover his head with it and put lemon grass over his feet. It was this memory of Mus’ab in his martyr’s grave, that caused companions like Abdur Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf to cry in fear of having no share in the Hereafter, because they had been granted a life of plenty and ease right here in this world. Once his servant brought him a meal to break his fast and ibn ‘Awf burst into tears, remembering Mus’ab who had passed away without tasting the good of this world, to the certainty of eternal pleasure in the Hereafter.

As night falls, I think of the shadows lengthening across ‘Uhud where the martyrs lie buried, when visitors drive off leaving the plain quiet, dark and peaceful. I think of the graves of the shuhadaa, resplendent with the dazzling light of the truly fortunate: those who are pleasing to Allaah and are pleased with Him.

In the neon dazzle of malls, where countless young Muslims strive daily in the trivial pursuit of pleasure, we would do well to bear the memory of Mus’ab radiyy Allaahu anhu in mind. It may keep us from getting lost in the light.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Patience is Beautiful!

Im sure have all heard the saying 'Patience is beautiful' but how many of us have actually thought about that saying? Well the other day I really thought about it and let me explain why!

About 2 weeks ago I had a bad car accident where a woman who said she was confused drove straight into the side of my car bashing my whole door in so much so that I can no longer open it from the outside. As you can imagine that really shook me up... here I am driving nicely down the road and suddenly whammmm a woman driving in the opposite direction suddenly decides she wants to turn her car around and smacks straight into the side of mine. From the corner of my eyes I suddenly see this van drive straight into me and my little pegeot.

Anyways Allah is so kind that we all came out unhurt and alhamdulillah most importantly I went to the hopital to check up with the midwife and to see if baby inside was still ok and Alhamdulillah turns out its a tough little cookie as it was fine with the Mercy and Care of Allah alhamdulillah! My little nephew in the back of the car was also ok alhamdulillah and for some reason found the whole incident quite amusing he must have thought it was like bumper cars or something!

Anyways back to why Patience is beautiful. My insurance company have given me a hired car to use while my car is being fixed up. Now anyone who knows me should know that although alhamdulillah I can drive and I love cars I dont actually like to drive them much especially new ones I am not used to.

The insurance company gave me a brand new Ford Focus which is literally brand new having done only 30 miles. Although my husband is over the moon and loves being the experienced driver that he is masha'Allah I was not so.

Firstly I was already nervous from the crash and still a bit shaken up let alone having to get used to a new car where I have to get used to a new clutch, biting point etc. Anyways the other day I braved it up and decided to drive it around a bit to get used to it. Its a much wider and bigger car than my little old banger and as its new its very smooth so it feels like the car is in control of you rather than you being in control of the car. lol. With my pegeot everything was quite stiff which may not be normal but its the only car Ive ever really driven so thats all im used to and when you drive it as its stiff you feel as if you are in control etc.

So here I am driving this new car up a hill when I stop at a traffic light and lo and behold my car stalls. I think to myself 'Oh no great now im gonna roll back and hit the car benind or if not that im gonna hold everyone one up in my lane and annoy everyone'. I look in my mirror and see that the woman behind me is not bothered as she has just stopped in the road to let passengers out of her car so she doesnt mind that im not moving and she doesnt mind that there are people behind her also. I remember thinking 'Oh phewww at least she looks pleasant hopefully she will bare with my new driving' ...... How wrong could I have been????? As soon as she had let the pple out of her car she obviously wanted to get going which is only natural.
I had my hazzard lights on to show that there was somthing wrong and that im not just stopped for fun enjoying holding everyone up. So I re-started my car again and managed to stall again. Anyways this lady who looked quite pleasant as she was waiting behind me now decided to switch lanes (fare enough even I would have) and drive on. However while doing so she slowed down to look at me scowling and cursing pulling the most im sorry to say most horrific face which actually looked quite frightening as if she was a demon from a horror movie. I thought about it after as the look on her face was so ugly that it really made me think...What had changed from the pleasant looking lady to this hideous monster driving past????.... the answer is Patience she had lost her patience and had become ugly! Im not trying to be nasty to her im just being honest and it was a great lesson for myself teaching me that patience really is beautiful in so many ways and this is one of them. So next time im about to lose my cool I shall remember the look on her face and insha'Allah think twice before turning into the monster she did!

So for those of you who are behing a driver who may be slowing you down remember that it may not be their fault as im sure they dont like to be stuck in the middle of the road any more than you do and instead make dua that Allah makes it easy for them to continue their journey insha'Allah by doing so may the beauty of patience shine from your faces ameen!

Imran Through My Eyes - By Brother Farzad.

I received a touching email which made the tears flow from my eyes today from brother Farzad who was a friend of Imrans (may Allah have Mercy on his soul ameen) for a great many years. He had written a short piece on brother Imran title ... Imran Through My Eyes and wanted to share it with you all. I hope this post helps those of you who never knew Imran try and imagine the wonderful and kind person he was and for those of you who did know him no doubt it will bring tears to your eyes and the memories come back.

IMRAN THOUGH MY EYES BY BROTHER FARZAD

I met Imran whiles at Green Hill College he was our Ameer for the Islamic society within the college. As time went by I realized that this brother has great leadership qualities within him and those who followed him were pleased with his decision in all that was good.

He organized, facilitated, supported and sacrificed his time and effort in trying to establish the Islamic Society at the college. He organized jumah prayers, Islamic seminars, weekly study circles and many other things for the sake of Allah. Often I used to see him working on the college computers designing posters, leaflets or preparing him self for a lecture whilst others were browsing the internet downloading music, nasheeds, chatting on msn……… things that either harmed them individually or benefited them individually but with Imran he always had something else in his mind something better something that would benefit others.

Frequently we used to speak about the situation of the Muslims within and outside college and he would always reply saying “Farzad we are not doing enough” I always sensed a feeling of guilt and responsibility that he carried within himself for the Muslims and the situation that they are facing.

After successfully establishing the Islamic Society his humble heart appointed brother Marwan as his successor vowing to help and support him as much as he can.

I never saw Imran greeting me or anyone else except with a smile. He was soft in his speech, gentle in his dealings with Muslims and non Muslims, his character was a Sunnah his manners were a Sunnah ……….. … Sadness fills the heart when I think about him with a sense of loss that I cannot explain but feel. I can’t say any more apart from begging you oh Allah to have mercy on his gentle soul.

The last time I met Imran was roughly two months ago in Harrow at an Islamic seminar in Byron Hall……….. I shook his hand and hugged him not knowing that it would be our last greeting, he smiled at me not knowing that it was his last smile, I asked about his family whom he always spoke very highly off specially his dearest mother (whom only Allah knows the pain in her heart). Before we departed I said to him: “I will see you soon Imran” he replied “Inshallah” not knowing what lay ahead.

The day I read the text about his death my whole body froze staring at my phone unsure if it was true. Then when the news of his death was confirmed I remember weeping as if my own brother has passed away. Crying and begging Allah to have mercy on Imran. That night I could not sleep most of the night thinking about Imran over and over and over again.

When Allah loves a servant of his he calls Jibrael a.s and says: I love So-and-so, therefore love him. He (the Prophet pbuh) said: So Jibrael loves him. Then he (Jibrael) calls out in heaven, saying: Allah loves So-and-so, therefore love him. And the inhabitants of heaven love him. He (the Prophet pbuh) said: Then acceptance is established for him on earth. Muslim, Bukhari, Malik and at-Tirmidhi.

May Allah unite and raise Imrans soul with the prophets, the pious, the truthful and the martyrs. He benefited many in this life may he benefit from their deeds in the next life. Ameen.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Dua for Our Brother Imran Saithna


Yesterday evening I spent much time thinking of our brother and how it was his first night in the grave and how he faced the questioning angels subhana'Allah. Deep in my heart I made dua for him and as today being a the first whole day of his life in the grave I make sincere dua to Allah to give him ease in his grave ameen.
A few of us who knew him sat together and remembered some of the important lessons we learnt from him and all of us recalled how he was constantly concerned about being good to others and helping others and learning from others some advice which we should all follow insha'Allah!

'May Allah have Mercy on him, Forgive him, and comfort him in his grave and grant him the company of beautiful angels who will insure his time in barzakh is filled with light which goes beyond the horizon and may his soul be met by angels who stand in total amazment and envy at the love and welcome he will receive from Allah and Jannah. May Allah provide him with such company that he will not fear anything any more, may he feel at rest and ease, may he enjoy the company of the riteous and benefit from the sweet smells of Jannah. May he receive the warm welcome of our Rabb Allah and may he truly be happy now and at bliss in the company of his beloved creator. May his meeting with Allah be a great pleasure for Allah and for Imran Ameen.'

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Brother Imran Saithna!

Today is the Janaza, Funeral of someone who should be an inspiration for us all! A young, devoted Muslim who was dedicated in helping others, caring for others, feeling for others when it seemed no one else would, someone who put everyone else first and if there was room his needs at the end his name is Imran Saithna!

He was known, admired and loved my many infact almost everyone who met could not help but have a likening for him as he would always greet everyone, the young, the old, Muslims and non Muslims with a warm greeting and a gentle smile.

He is one of those people who you can truly say spent a good amount of time of his youth although he has also died in his youth late 20s in the way of Islam and pleasing Allah!

Many will remember him from days in a college in London called Harrow College where he fought almost single handedly to aquire a prayer room for the muslims students, and how he worled hard on buiding up the Islamic Society there. Others will remember him for numerous events he helped organise, others still will remember him for working on the Muslim Youth Helpline, others far away in Kashmir will remember him for flying out there after the devasatating earthquake so that he could help those in need... others will remember him for many things which I could go on and on about.... he will be missed as a brother, a friend, a carer for humanity a doer of good and mostly he will be missed as a son.

He was one of those people that would help others and even after leaving them they would stay on his mind eating his brain trying to find the best solution for their problems. He was such an empathatic person that seeing others in pain or distress would leave him distressed and concerned for weeks after until he knew they were ok. A clear demonstration of this is his visit to Kashmir when even after he returned here he would constantly think about those he had left behind.

He recently went on Hajj and only arrived back here weeks before death came upon him I pray that Allah accepted his hajj and grants him among the highest place in Jannah ameen.

Today is his Janaza infact as I type this up the his funeral prayer is due to take place in roughly half an hour and due to circumstances I was unable to attend although I wish so much I could have.

Many of you read this many not have known him but I ask you all to pray for him and his family who have suffered a great loss!

Imran himself had his own blog which I must say is far more inspirational and interesting that this one here. I recommend you all to go through it there is plenty of material on it to keep you busy for time to come.

Infact in his first ever post he wrote he mentions how that maybe one day after he has gone his blog may prove to be an inspiration for others SUBHANALLAH. I have no doubt that it will do exactly that... I have pasted his first post below...

Monday, July 14, 2003

I begin in the Name of Allah the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful
I guess i am starting this blog on the recommendation of a good friend, with the intention of keeping a journal of the things that touch me and affect my life. Who knows that maybe once i am gone, it will be a source of inspiration for those i leave behind, insha'Allah

GEM aka Ibn Abdul Qayum

http://www.my-life-in-my-words.blogspot.com/

Im sure there are many people who could on about how this young brother affected their lives. He also loved to write poetry an example of which ill end off with and many of which you can find on his blog.

Please remember our dear brother in all of your duas ameen.

Ruba’iyat XIX

I’ll take the blows upon my chin

I’ll rise, I’ll fight and I will win
I will be happy someday soon
I will leave behind this life of sin.

Smiling as I whistle and loosely croon
Living the beat of my new found tune
Tasting the elixir of the other side
A life with only patience hewn.

Remembering all the times I cried
Ashamed of all the lies I lied
I see a new dawn rising now
The beautiful sun my final bride.
Before my fate I humbly bow

The new fields afore I dutifully plough
Sowing my seeds to reap tomorrow
Word by word I renew my vow.

(by Imran Saithna (Allah have Mercy on him))

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Baby!

My wonderful wonderful friend Waranga wrote this poem from her heart for me and Im ever so touched! I shall always treasure it insha'Allah and when baby is old enough shall share it with him/her and let them know it came from their aunty Waranga!

Jazaka'Allahu Khayr Waranga for your lovely poem which really touched my heart masha'Allah


BABY

From the expression of love comes a gift beyond the scales,
bewildered by the small taste of mercy,
which leaves it's softness almost forever,
Unaware, for so many day's, you were'nt here,
encased diamond, wrapped in my comfort,
The energy, so unique in it's effect,
takes months to settle, otherwise no rest would be mine,
Entering a foreign land which I've been crowned in,
Surprise me again!
I'm learning your language though it contains no words which describe
it's meaning,
so I'll wait for you to explain in your special way.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Why Why Why..hmmm Or Is It Just ME?

I know I have been away for ages the funny thing is almost every day if not every other day I come on to this blog as if expecting there to be a new post on it lol then I realise 'Ah yes im the one who should be posting'!

Ive been busy doing all sorts of different things and to be honest have been a bit lazy when it has come to blogging mostly as there is nothing Ive felt passionate enough to write about!

One more thing, bit of good news I have yet to share is that Im am actualy expecting now Alhamdululillah! Yup thats right All Praise is due to the Almighty who has allowed me and blessed me with carrying a little bundle of joy and I am now 21 weeks pregnan and 1 day masha'Allah! I ask you all to keep us in your prayers and thoughts and ask you all to pray that this baby will be healthy ameen!

Subhana'Allah funny what babies can do to you how they change your mood so quickly! I had started writing this blog a few moments ago feeling quite upset, frustrated and irritated enough to come and share my thoughts with my few but lovely readers and I side tracked to the baby news and now alhamdulillah I dont feel so bad it makes me wonder if I should go on about my origional post over after all!?! Although I think I should as I know ill just be back later to do it for now I think ill end of here since Ive already managed to calm myself down and feel so much better!

So the title of this blog Why Why Why..hmmm Or Is It Just ME? will have to wait to be published shortly!