A while ago an artile on islamonline caught my attention. A global poll was conducted by America’s Foreign Policy and Britain’s Prospect magzines, to pick the world’s top intellectuals and thinkers who are changing the world in our times.

RESULTS: all top ten intellectuals were muslims, including great scholar  Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, turkish thinker and scholar Fethullah Gülen, Egypt’s charismatic Day’ee Amr Khaled, famous scholar and grandson of Hasan AL-Banna- Tariq Ramadan, a Bangladeshi Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk, Iranian Philosopher Abdulkarim Soroush, Iranian Lawyer and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi, and Ugandan anthropologist Mahmood Mamdani.

Most of the above names are well known, and alhamdulillah many of them are the contemporary scholars of our time, others great callers of Islam.

However, the reason of this post is the man who was voted in as the Fifth World’s top intellectuals, Aitzaz Ahsan, the Pakistani Lawyer, writer, human rights activist, and currently the man leading the movement for th ere-instatement of judges in Pakistan.

He truly is a source of inspiration, a rare gem, and one of the unsung heroes of Pakistan. Unfortunately, muslims around the world have mostly misunderstood islam, and have made it a religion of beard, hijab, salah, fasting, hajj and zakah (charity). All these are now considered a sign of islam, and vigourously practised during Ramadan. I am not denying the importance of the rituals of islam, I believe in all of them as well, and yes they are an integral part of a muslim’s life, especially salaah (prayer). But we have forgotten that Islam stands first and foremost for Justice.

When we don’t pray, we are being unjust to ourselves by denying our bodies and hearts their right to worship the only God, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, and condemn oursleves for the punishment saved for the arrogants in the akhira. When we don’t pay charity, we take the rights away from the poor and our own family by not purifying our income, when we break the laws of Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala, we do great injustice upon ourselves and on others.

If this is the case with duties that personally pertain to us, individually, then what about the injustice and the violation of rights of human beings. How come most of the human right abuses take place in the muslim world, why are the women killed in the name of honor and their blood is made halal in the name of islam. Why people from amongst ourselves are willing to strap explosives and kill innocents whether muslims or non-muslims in the name of islam. And why is there a total absence of a sound justice system in the entire muslim world?

The great scholar Sheikh Ibn-Taymiyyah had remarked centuries ago that the Sunnah of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is that the land will be given to the one who is just, and so a just non-muslim ruler will be given dominance over an unjust muslim ruler. And we know this to be true.

Coming back to Aitzaz Ahsan, here is the place to get more info on him: http://www.aitzazahsan.com/

Poetry he wrote while in detention:

Kal Aaj or Kal

Kal Aaj or Kal (Part 2)

Links: Islamonline media files and article.

 A planet’s distance from the Sun can determine whether it’s able to sustain life. Those too close experience extreme temperatures, while those too distant are so dark and cold that life cannot survive. The light from the Sun is so intense that even here on Earth, some 93 million miles away, it is dangerous to look at the Sun with the naked eye.

Surah Tawbah(9): Ayaat 32-33

Fain would they extinguish God’s light with their mouths, but God will not allow but that His light should be perfected, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it).

It is He Who hath sent His Apostle with guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it).

يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطْفِئُواْ نُورَ اللّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى اللّهُ إِلاَّ أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ

Interesting Read: When Islam almost Vanished by Jawad Jafry

AL-Quran Al-Kareem

Hum Dekhain Ge (We Shall See)  

   Poet: Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Artist: Iqbal Bano

Lyrics Contributed By: Abdullah Khan (Urdu) Omer (English)

Hum dekhien gay
Hum dekhien gay
——————————–
(English Translation)

We shall see

It is a must that we shall see
The day that has been prophesized
The one written on the Tablet of Fate

We shall see

When the insurmountable mountains of oppression
Shall blow as if cotton flakes
And beneath the feet of us common folk
This land will throb with a deafening sound
And upon the heads of the despotic folk
Lightening will strike a thundering pound.

We shall see

When from the Palace of our Lord
All earthly gods will be taken out
We, righteous ones, outcasts of Church,
shall don a glorious robe, no doubt.
All crowns will fly
All thrones will fall

We shall see

Only the name of the Lord will stay on
who is unseen, yet ever seeing
who is the sight, as well as the scene
The shout of “I am The Truth”* shall rise
which is true for you and I
and the creation of the Lord will rule
which is true for you and I.

We shall see

It is a must that we shall see

We shall see.

 اللهم لا أسألك رد القضاء ولكن أسألك اللطف فيه

O Allah, I do not ask you to “return” or “undo” al qada’a (event that has occurred), but I ask you to have mercy in it (for me).

“Al-lotf” which is kindness or mercy in it (i.e in the qada’a which you have decreed upon us)

Any better translation would be greatly appreciated. However, I am most fascinated by this dua, because it shows the human factor of wishing to undo things and turn the time back. Yet, as we know that is impossible we simply ask Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to make the misfortune we’ve caused to befall on ourselves, to be full of mercy.

Surah Tabarak and Juz 29:

Allah says: Verily this quran guides to the best, give glad tidings to the believers who do good and for them is the great reward.

إِنَّ هَـذَا الْقُرْآنَ يِهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا            

17:9- VERILY, this Qur’an shows the way to all that is most upright, and gives the believers who do good deeds the glad tiding that theirs will be a great reward.

(And, those who read the book of Allah and perform salah, and dispense from what we give them in secret and in public, they trade in partnership that is never unsuccessful and he will give them more and he will increase them in the reward, he is most giving….)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ

35:29- (It is) they who [truly] follow God’s revelation, and are constant in prayer, and spend on others, secretly and openly, out of what We provide for them as sustenance – it is they who may look forward to a bargain that can never fail.

Hadith: Verily Allah has special people on this earth ( dunya), they are the people of the  quran in this dunya.

The Quran is the miracle from Allah, it is  a guidance for people. And Quran is not a book like any other book, you don’t read Quran just to get hasanaat (reward), it is a book that you ponder upon and get guidance from it.

Many people read Quran but do not benefit from it, becuase they are not seeking any benefit from it. Quran talks to us all on different levels, and if you’re not willing to listen and your hearts are closed then you’ll not benefit from it.

A part of the Quran was revealed in Makkah for the unbelievers, and a part in medina where there were mixed religions, and later in medina when muslims became majority. So Quran has different styles for people in makkah and medina.

In Makkah due to jahiliyya (ignorance), the verses were very strong and powerful because the arabs did not believe in Allah but had ver good grasp of the Arabic language. These verses were to destroy their believes and prove them wrong, hence very challenging too. These verses were on tawhid (the oneness of Allah subhanahu wata’ala) and Ar-rububiyyah (to believe that there is only one god, who created the universe and they only one with power).

People in general love the makki surahs/verses, and perhaps it is because we need this tawheed, and not to learn so much about fiqhi issues. Verses also spoke about the stories of people/nations passed before and how they were punished for their disbelieve.

If we move towards the medina verses, the Quran was mainly talking to a group of muslims,  and  takes a different approach. It talks about angels, books, our relationship with jews/Christians, and about jannah, akhira, patience when hurt by disbelievers etc.

These verses also talk about ahkaam (orders/obligations), and halal/haram and jihad because jihad comes after you learn about Allah subhanhu wa ta’ala. It talks about the hypocrites as well in medina.

Every juzz has special characteristics and topics that it revolves around.

All of the verses in juz 29 are makkiyaa. The first thing it talks about is aqueedah (believe/creed), for the early muslims in islam, and to let them know who the creator is and build a strong society based on the correct believe in Allah subhanhu wa ta’ala to establish and carry on the message.

So, if you believe in Allah then it is easier to follow the ahkaam but if you do not believe then it is very hard to follow all these ahkaam.

Aqueedah:

The Quran paid special attention to aqueedah from the very beginning. The first verse”Whoever disbeleives in imaan, all his work will be useless an on the day of judgement, and  he will be among the losers!!!  So Allah makes it clear that there is no way around it!

The six pillars of imaan: the first is the belief in Allah-one who has dominion of everything, who has created and gives rizq  sustenance etc.

Beginning of surah  tabrak talks about this.

Later on the verses ask about who will/can protect and give rizq from Allah.

Then on the belief in messengers and truth, and akhira.

Later on in the juzz is surah qiyaamah, where it talks about the day of judgement.

Muslim is not to be lost in this dunya and not know what they are doing here in this world.

Surah Tabarak is the key to the whole juzz:

1^st verse: the power of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, who has created life and death and he gives and takes, and this is a test to see who is good and who is bad. The purpose of living and dying?

The verse ends with Allah is most merciful, and most forgiving. That to Allah belongs the most perfect and good characteristics.

He subhanhu wa ta’ala created 7 heavens, and He created the earth to walk in its path, and later on the sings of the birds flying on top of them, these are the wonders of Allah and the perfection in creation, a challenge to find a fault in His creation, and obviously human beings can’t.

Later on in another surah Allah says: “no  soul will carry the burdens of other”

“Every soul is responsible for what it has earned”

The same message is carried and extended upon in the whole juzz.

Even Akhira and the punishment ties in to the very first verse: He has power over everything and the power to reward and punish.

The verses of punishment are followed by the verses of reward for believers, so muslims have hope in Allah subhanhu wa ta’ala.

Also tying in with the power of Allah, are the verses that say: are you not scare that Allah will cause the earth to shake and send winds and no one will be able to protect them, this is the part of aqueedah.

At the end, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says: Say He is Arrahman the most merciful, and we believe in Him and we have our trust in Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. And this is the aqueedah we need and the whole chapter says it over and over again. This is all talking to the disbelievers, Allah is talking to people who do not even believe in Him!

1)      The believe that Allah has power, dominion, creator, and He is the only one ot seek help form, the one who gives and takes.

2)      He is the only creator, and he created perfectly.

3)      The truth of life and death, so we are tested in our life,

4)       The punishment of akhira, jannah and rewards for believer.

5)      Allah is responsible for disbelievers, and He will deal with them

6)      Allah has described the right way to jannah, and with His mercy we will enter jannah if we follow it.

Allah will help him who strives in His path.

Be good to others; that will protect you against evil.

Cursed is the man who dies, but the evil done by him survives.

Do not deceive or be faithless even with your enemy.

Do not follow vain desires; for verily he who prospers is preserved from lust, greed and anger. Do not get elated at any victory, for all such victory is subject to the will of God.

Do not look down upon any Muslim, for even the most inferior believer is great in the eyes of God.

Every day, nay every moment, try to do some good deed.

Follow the way of life, which the Holy Prophet has shown you, for verily that is the right path. God blesses him who helps his brother.

God helps those who fear Him.

Good actions are a guard against the blows of adversity.
Harbor an earnest desire for death, and you will have life.

He who aspires to paradise should learn to deal with people with kindness. He who avoids complaint invites happiness.
He who becomes a Muslim does so for his own good.

Those who fear to weep should learn to be kind to those who weep.
He who indulges in falsehood will find the paths of paradise shut before him.

He who is not impressed by sound advice, lacks faith.

He who prays five times a day is in the protection of God, and he who is protected by God cannot be harmed by anyone.

If an ignorant person is attracted by the things of the world, that is bad. But if a learned person is thus attracted, it is worse.

If anybody seeks your advice, offer him/her the right and sincere advice. If you expect the blessings of God, be good to His people.

If you want to control other people, first control yourself.

In the matter of justice, all should be equal in your eyes.

Intentions count in your actions.

It is a matter of shame that in the morning the birds should be awake earlier than you.

It is bad for a young man to sin; but it is worse for an old man to sin.

Knowledge is the life of the mind.

Maybe a thing that you do not like is really in your interest. It is possible that a thing that you may desire may be against your interest.

O man, you are busy working for the world, and the world is busy trying to turn you out.

Our abode in this world is transitory, our life therein is but a loan, our breaths are numbered and our indolence is manifest.

Piety is the most solid goodness, and the vilest of what is evil is vice.

Pride in the case of a rich man is bad, but pride in the case of a poor man is worse. Run away from greatness, and greatness will follow you.

Solitude is better than the society of evil persons.

The greatest truth is honesty, and the greatest falsehood is dishonesty.

The more knowledge you have, the greater will be your fear of Allah.

The people who abandon Jihad fall a victim to humility and degradation.

The true believer is rewarded in every thing, even in affliction.

There is greatness in the fear of God, contentment in faith of God, and honour in humility.

There is no harm in patience, and no profit in lamentation. Death is easier to bear (than) that which precedes it, and more severe than that which comes after it. Remember the death of the Apostle of God, and your sorrow will be lessened.

To fight against the infidels is Jihad; but to fight against your evil self is greater Jihad.

Use the same measure for selling that you use for purchasing_

When knowledge is limited - it leads to folly… When knowledge exceeds a certain limit, it leads to exploitation.

When you advise any person you should be guided by the fear of God.

When you seek advice, do not withhold any facts from the person whose advice you seek. Without knowledge action is useless; and knowledge without action is futile.

You should not quarrel with your neighbor, for he will remain where he is, but your high handedness will become the talk of the people.

Youth is not restored by the dyeing of your hair.

(Notes from the -Sunday lecture feb 24/2008- Course: Great Lives-Part One by Sheikh Ahmed Kutty at IIT (http://www.islam.ca/)- Free for all every sunday 1300-1400)

As discussed earlier when covering the madd, madd al lazim is 6 harakaat long, one of the longest madd. The huroof al-muqatta’a – الحروف المقطعة (the disjointed letters) comes under this category.

 When the huroof-al-madd (alif-waw- yaa) is followed by a sakin letter which cannot be separated from the letter of madd, then madd al-lazim applies- 6 harakaat long.

Did I loose you? This is actually a very easy and logical way to remember how to do madd in the disjointed letters. To many it may simply be “common sense”, but to those of us who come form a non-Arabic background, this truly is the ‘Aha’ moment!

Alright, all the huroof al-muqatta’a (disjointed letters) that appears usually in the beginning of the surah are :

 الم, المص, الر, المر, كهيعص, طه, طسم, طس, يس, ص,  حم, عسق, ق, م,  ن

Take few examples, ن is نون  , where the madd letter ‘waw’ is followed by a sakin letter – noon, and cannot be separated form the letter as it’s a part of it. So because of the madd letter, we stretch it to 6 counts.

All the madd letters where madd lazim applies are orange and ones with idhgham are pink and qalqalah letters are blue.

So, in الم laam and meem have idhgham, as their makharij meet/or are closer to each other. Written and pronounced as الف لام ميم.  Similarly, طسم as طا سيـم ميم or   طا سيمميم 

The Battle for Pakistan

PTI/moveforjustice.org

Geo News

FreeImranKhan (equally importantly all others who’ve been unjustly rounded up and held indefinitely without any charges, mostly including lawyers, judges, artists, civil rights workers, journalists-anyone not in agreement with the military dictator, hence becoming an obstacle in the war on terror, who then deserves to be forgotten behind bars).

This post is not for the sake of politics, rather for the sake of humanity, a small contribution from those of us who feel helpless and far from bringing a positive change in the ever-growing chaotic situation in Pakistan. Nevertheless, I am a citizen of this country, and would like to share with others the information and news our self-imposed leaders fear desperately.

Arise, and soar with the sun’s new-born rays,
To breathe new life into dying nights and days.

“But only a brief moment
is granted to the brave
one breath or two, whose wage is
The long nights of the grave.”

Allama IQBAL