I just don’t understand how people, Muslims can just stand and watch something as inhumane as this? Is there no humanity left in people? Some people may feel that something like this is nothing to be suprised at, these kind of things happen all the time, they happened soon after the Prophet (saw) passed. So?? Does this mean that we shouldn’t consider these atrocities as a “big deal”? We shouldn’t be affected by them,in a sense, just desensitize ourselves? ?

I could not believe what I was seeing. Insan, who Allah blessed with the gift of reason, to know right from wrong acting worse than animals? If this is not Jaahilliyah then what is? As tears rolled down I prayed the Allah have Mercy on us; Allah have Mercy on us for we have are truly in need of His Mercy and guidance. Subhanallah, just today  I read the ayah,

“Truly! Allâh wrongs not mankind in aught; but mankind wrong themselves” (10:44).

If anything, one thing I will make sure I do is inculcate a sense of justice in my children. So that they  stand up to injustices and wrongs whether it be big or small, local or global between friend and foe. For what is worse then witnessing an injustice before your very eyes and doing nothing? We have been commanded to act:

“Whoever of you sees something wrong, let him change it with his hand. If unable to, then let him change it with his tongue. If unable, then with his heart. And that is the weakest degree of faith”. (Hadith)

On the Day Of Judgment when we will be asked why we let an injustice take place and we did not intervene when we could have, what will we say?

Oh Allah, guide us, have mercy on us and let us not be of the oppressors!

Ameen

* Footage of the event on the news-some may find it disturbing.

It didn’t feel right to me so I asked a teacher about how we can justify spending like this and what constitutes “excessiveness” in our religion. She agreed that yes, sometimes spending large amounts of money on religious items can be unnecessary and can fall into excess, especially if the intention is not right, but then she also said there can be a benefit in it too.

Relating what she heard Shaykh Nuh once say, she said that these days religion has become cheap. Religious items such as the prayer breads, prayer mats and the Quran are so widely available that their price is not much and since they do not cost much, the value and care and significance we give to these items is not much either. Compare this back to when paper itself was an expensive and limited resource, imagine how valuable a copy of the Quran would have been to the ones who were able to afford one! If you had to spend months working and saving to get your shoes or your games wouldn’t you make the most of those items once you had them while taking good care of them? So by spending so much on a  prayer bead you would be more inclined to use it more often and thereby reap the rewards of dhikr.

So the more you spend on something, the more you cherish it and want to keep it in a good condition. My teacher said that Shaykh Nuh even advised on spending perhaps a little more on these religious things then one would normally, so that one reveres them and the religion and gives them the degree of importance and commitment they deserve.

I had never of thought of it like that before. I have to admit though, I do have one of  those $65 prayer beads…but it was a gift and it was a used and much blessed tasbih Inshallah. But would I now spend such amounts on religious items? Probably still not, but then I also hope that are our intentions behind purchasing (or not purchasing) these items are sincere and right Inshallah.

Water is so precious here so when it rains it truly is a blessing. Last night it rained.

“Allah sends down water from the sky and by it brings the dead earth back to life. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who hear”. (Surat Nahl, 65)

 I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see it rain, Alhamdulillah.

“Supplicate to Me, I will answer you” (Surat Ghaafir, 60)

Allah is indeed the Most Merciful the Most Kind and the answerer of prayers.

They’ve been recieving boxes and boxes of donations of food, medicine and blankets from the UAE that they have been sending to Gaza. Everything has to be sorted and then packaged with individual food items being checked for expiry dates (no less then six months) and where the item was produced (Israel not allowing items produced from the following countries: Libya, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Sudan and Iraq).

So whenever we are able to, I and a few friends go to their warehouse to help. Subhanallah, there are so many boxes of food that have to be sorted. First the donations have to be loaded off the trucks. Then they have to be opened and sorted in to boxes of canned food (of which there are sub categories including, beans, hummus, tuna, canned fruit etc), flour, lentils, sugar, oil, milk, rice, medicine while also checking the expiray dates and country of production. Then once the sorting is done, a group of people make the cardboard boxes which are then packed by sub groups of people which are then taken away and loaded into trucks going to Gaza. And this is happening everyday.

However, nearly every other day, the Hashemite Committee recieves new guidelines (or rules) from those in charge in Israel about what can be allowed in. So for example, on day one we include a can of hummus, its produced in Dubai and has a flag of Lebanon on the cover because its Lebanese style. But on day three, we are told that anything that has the flag of any of the “forbidden” countries is not allowed. So what happens? All the packed boxes have to be reopened and every single item has to be rechecked. Some boxes have been checked at least three times.

Everytime I’ve been to help, I’ve seen no less than 200 other people there helping. It feels so good and heart warming to see so many people coming together to help the people of Gaza, including 15 year old kids and non muslims and little boys with their mothers and Alhamdulillah, I’m so grateful for having the oppurtunity to actually do something to help here and not feel so useless.

The staff at the warehouse have been working so hard over the past few weeks. Along with working their regular jobs during the day, they stay into the late hours of the night carrying on the work the volunteers leave. All of them are so nice and you can see how much what they’re doing means to them. When Israel bombed the UN warehouse in Gaza that was storing the aid that had been sent, the faces of the workers said it all. The sadness and helplessness they felt.. speaking to one of the workers, you could see he was about to break down. It’s not about  the fact that everyone’s worked so hard and that it’s gone to waste, no one’s thought like that, but rather, it’s the frustration and feeling of helplessness that aid isn’t reaching the people of Gaza when it can and should.

May Allah reward all those involved and I pray that these supplies reach our families in Gaza.

“May our words be pleasing to the Creator and cause His Great Name to be sanctified.

Assalaam Aleikhum:

The world stands aghast as the atrocities being committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza, becomes known in ever greater and shocking detail.

Mere words are insufficient to express the pain that all mankind feels at the plight of the Gaza and Palestinian people.

For over one hundred years, they have been subject to a carefully conceived plan, to drive them from their homes and their land.

Throughout their history, the Zionists have resorted to intimidation, war, ethnic cleansing and state—sponsored terrorism to achieve their goals.

This is, has been and continues to be, the criminal agenda of the Zionist movement. But among this movement’s greatest crimes, is that it has claimed to carry out these nefarious actions in the name of holiness, in the name of the Almighty, in the name of Judaism and the Jewish people !!

This is a wicked and monstrous lie !!

It is a desecration of our religion !!

Judaism forbids and rejects Zionism and the existence of the State of “Israel”. We have been expressly commanded by the Almighty that we are forbidden to have our own sovereignty in this heavenly decreed exile, we are also forbidden to rebel against any nation. Torah believing Jews, under the leadership of the most esteemed rabbis of the 20th century have always opposed and fought against Zionism and ultimately the State of “Israel”.

Unfortunately in recent years the Zionists have succeed in seducing and co—opting members of the religious community and some rabbis into support of not allowing the return of the rightful owners, the Palestinian people, to their land, by fear mongering, by appealing to their worst fears, that there is a religious conflict and that the Arabs always have had an ingrained hate for the Jews. Especially, they claim, that because of the many years of the existence of the State of “Israel”, if the Palestinians where to return to their land, they would massacre the Jews, may the Almighty protect us.

Anyone familiar with the ploys and techniques of the Zionist State is aware of this fact.

Before the advent of Zionism, Muslims and Christian, Arabs and Jews, lived peacefully together in the Holy Land, as in all the Muslim lands, — Ask your grandparents! — They remember those peaceful days! And in fact it is here the opportune time to thank all the Muslim countries for their extraordinary friendship, hospitality and safe haven that they have provided to the Jewish people throughout the ages!

The Zionists rely on the Bible, the Torah, for their imaginary right to ethnically cleanse the Palestinian people and to subjugate them. This is a pathetic joke! The Zionists have always been heretics and rejected all the fundamental tenets of our faith, and yet they have the nerve, the arrogance, the audacity, the chutzpa, to pretend to base their behavior on our holy Torah.

We know what our holy writings and our great rabbis have taught us — that we are forbidden to subjugate or oppress anyone or to desecrate the holiness of the Holy Land with paths of violence, ethnic cleansing, discrimination and military power. Our religion teaches justice. It teaches peace. It teaches compassion. In fact, the greatest and ultimate hope and prayer of the Jewish people is, that when the Messiah comes that then “Nation shall no longer lift up sword against nation, and they will make war no more.” All nations will serve God together in peace.

To the governments of the world, it is not through your support of the Zionist regime — the State of “Israel”, that the Jewish people are being helped! On the contrary, this tragic historical mistake has led to the killing of Arabs and Jews alike. The governments of the great powers, by supporting the State of “Israel” are not only harming the Palestinian people but they are also unwittingly contributing to the growth of hostility towards Jews worldwide!

To our Jewish brethren, we beg! Do not be intimidated by ruthless Zionist bullying and violence!! — Proclaim loudly and clearly your outrage, pain and sympathy for the people of Gaza and that those who show contempt for the Torah, the teachings of our rabbis, and disregard the ethical and moral basics of our faith, have no right to speak on behalf of the Jewish People or Judaism!

We must tell the world that self rule, sovereignty and ALL the rights of the Palestinian people, must be restored throughout historic Palestine! This is a requirement of Jewish ethics and values! Jewish justice demands the return of the Palestinian refugees to their homes, towns, villages and cities throughout Palestine! Tell the world, loudly and clearly, that you support Palestinian statehood over the ENTIRE Holy Land —— not despite your Jewish identity, but because of it.

To our Islamic brethren – let us speak up for the people of Gaza and please do not judge the Jewish faith or its people, on the basis of this passing lunacy of Zionism. The Jews have always been your friends and cousins. Do not allow your understandable anger to be directed at those who are innocent of wrongdoing, regardless of whether they reside in Occupied Palestine, Europe, or anywhere around the globe.

Together, people of all nations, may we be worthy, with God’s help, speedily and peacefully, without further suffering and bloodshed of anyone, be it Arab or Jew, to witness the peaceful end of the Zionist occupation over every inch of Palestine.

And may we yet merit to see, in the very near future, the revelation of the One God, over the entire world, with all mankind in His servitude, in joyous brotherhood.

AMEN

Let’s Proclaim Together:
FREE GAZA – FREE PALESTINE
JUDAISM YES ZIONISM NO !”

Neturie Karta

The thing is this, for many years women were only studied (in terms of sociological research) in relation to others; they were either seen as a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister and their identity was constructed mainly, if not only, around these relationships. Are women not an entity in themselves with their own distinct identities and their own self? In some traditional cultures women are solely seen in relation to their family and the work they do such as housework or being a mother. For example, in the Arab culture mothers are referred to as Umm so and so, the mother of so and so. All the mothers here are referred to as Umm and most of them aren’t Arab but come from the West. Why? I understand the honour and greatness of being a mother  but I don’t know if  I would want to be called Umm. Maybe it’s also related to the fact that the Arabs generally don’t ask about a man’s wife using her first name but rather use the word for family, again out of respect. I’m not saying that this is negative or backward or anything, but rather that women cannot and should not be limited to these aspects of their life. And this is why I felt weird being introduced as someone’s wife rather than me who they could get to know as Usma. I am a person outside of being married too. I don’t like to be lumped into the category of “married women” and be referred to as the “married one” who has to go home a little earlier or that it’s because I’m married that I can’t make it to a gathering or whatever (which  has been said to me by some single girls).

Yes, being married adds to who you are and plays an important part in your identity but you shouldn’t be defined just by it and neither should it limit who you are and what you can do.

Aunty Aisha is also very spontaneous and is up for anything. I remember she was leaving class early one day and we asked where she was going, “to syria” she replied! Another time, I was expecting her for  dinner and when I called to check that she was on her way, she said she wouldnt be able to make it because she was in the desert (Wadi Rum) with her husband! Lol. I’ve never met such a cool and hip “aunty” in my life and I hope I can have as much energy and enthusiasm like her when/if I reach her age.

We all miss her. It was so nice having an elder member around here, it made it feel more homely and just seeing how she was respected by everyone here was so beautiful.  A couple of times it would happen that she would come over and fall asleep on my bed, or we’d all be having a discussion into the early hours of  the morning and she’d always make this one brother walk her home.

Inshallah, we’ll stay in contact via email and I hope she comes back to visit us soon!

Having a good character and being easy going should extend to everyone, you should go out your way to make sure no one person is left out and should do everything to make them feel welcomed and part of the community especially if they have just moved to another place. So you can imagine how one must feel when on a number of occasions the whole neighbourhood is invited to your neighbours for dinner and you haven’t and are not even aware of this. You can also imagine how it must feel to be giving out of your kindness and behaving the way a Muslim neighbour should behave like visitng them when they are sick and sharing your food, and then not have it reciprocated back to you. It makes everything and everyone seem so superficial.

Being part of a group naturally brings about the feeling of belonging and exclusivity but I thought that the teachings of this particular group was above that; there is not meant to be any exclusivity or an in-crowd, this way is open to all and everyone is welcomed. I have heard the teacher say on a number of times that one should never think oneself better that another. Maybe outsiders are left out because the insiders don’t want to associate with those who are not like them and on the same way perhaps because they think that they won’t bring any good to them. But how can you judge like that?

I didnt come here with any preconceptions, only that this would be a place full of generally good people where I would grow spiritually but I say all this based on what I have seen and expereinced and it has been  upsetting and disheartening. Some people reading this would probably think that I must be talking about another neighbourhood based on thier experiences here, but like I said if you do the things that peole do here and dress the way and talk the way the people do here then you’ll fit in and of course you won’t understand what I’m saying. But I’m not going to conform and start dressing a particular way or join a paricular group just so that I can fit in. Intentions would be messed up and it’s just sad and wrong that an individual has to feel this pressure to conform.

Usma

//

Lovely weather, big roads, nice houses, alot of food (great cheesecake!) and the people are nice (well the one’s I’ve met anyway) but nothing compares to home, wherever that may be. The main thing that’s felt different here, compared to London, is the visibility of Muslims out and about and Muslim catered events and just how quiet it seems around here. Coming from London (East London), I’m so used to being surrounded by Muslims (majority Asian); my neighbours, my work colleagues, classmates, the bus drivers and even some policemen. I’m now in an area where the majority of people are White and not Muslim. The first couple of times I visited here I never saw an Asian person or Muslim and it was so quiet! Now having been here for a couple of months, it’s been pretty much the same, the only sisters I’ve seen were at these weekly gatherings that I attended a couple of times and the first bearded dude I saw was in Target the other day. Not to say that there aren’t any Moozies out here, but you just don’t see alot of them.

I miss London, my home. So we might have “bad” weather, and some weird Muslims but there is a very diverse community there. My neighbours were a mix of Muslim Bengali ( with whom we very close), Muslim Pakistani, Muslim Gujerati, Muslim Afghani, White Christian, Indian Hindu, Indian Sikh etc etc. Where I lived, we had at least five mosques within a stone’s throw of each other, most of which catered for women; that had events and activities for women; a place where all the aunties would hang out. Most of all, there has been a growth of Islamic culture and art at local levels and related events that young Muslims and non muslims can attend. So much is happening there to educate non muslims  (and Muslims) about Islam, from local Muslim fun days to theatre group productions, to documentaries on mainstream t.v and our very own Islam Channel and radio stations during Ramadhan. London has also been so blessed to have Shuyukh such as Shaykh Hamza and Imam Zaid visit from the U.S visit on a number of occasions, and of course we have our very own Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad.

Here I feel disconnected from issues affecting (young) Western Muslims whereas in London I felt so involved with projects and events tackling issues effecting our community (and by community I refer to the wider community too, not just the Moozies). Travelling on the tube, at uni, at work etc, so many oppurtunities to “show” Islam. Not studying or working here at the moment I don’t feel I have those oppurtunities, again not saying that there aren’t any but that I have not had the chance to “get out there” and explore.

I liked seeing Islam out on the streets in London, you didn’t feel like a sore thumb walking out in hijab and jilbab there, but around here it seems different but at the same time you won’t be preached on for wearing tunics and skirts/trousers and not jilbabs and a khimar which is seen by some as the only acceptable dress for women. I must admit, I found the closed mentality of some Muslims back home really frustrating, especially in our Islamic Society at university but that’s another topic in itself.

Anyway, so I miss London, my home, and I’m starting to wonder about Jordan. What are the people going to be like there; majority Muslim, yes, but what about their culture and Islamic outlook? I will miss seeing the different colours, cultures and diversity I used to see in London, along with all the cool things to do there (as well as here). Ah, we shall see, but I hope I find some cool Muslims there, like the one’s back home; I haven’t had the chance here (except for a couple of people ).