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“Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what
the hands of humankind have earned. So that (Allah) may
give them a taste of some of their actions, in order that
they may turn back to Him.” Qur’an, 30:41
We are all more than aware of the unprecedented damage that
has been caused to the earth through selfish human behavior.
Climate Change, pollution, deforestation, poisoned food chains
and social upheaval are now part of our daily diet of news.
Ecosystems are in crisis in many parts of the Muslim world.
“The creation of the heavens and the earth is far greater
than the creation of mankind. But most of mankind do not
know it.” Qur’an, 40:56
SO HERE’S THE CHALLENGE!
“It is He who has appointed you as viceroys in the earth.”
Qur’an, 6:165
Allah has described mankind as His Guardians on earth. It is
therefore our responsibility to take care of other creatures
and the earth itself. Yet how many of us take these duties
seriously as an integral part of our way of life?
IFEES’ CONSERVATION WORK IS BASED ON QUR’AN AND SHARIAH DERIVED PRINCIPLES
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- Islamic Foundation for Ecology
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Laax Flims, Crap and Snotribe

 

Figure 1 view from top of "baby park" 

 

What's that all about? Don't you mean Films and lax? Green misspelling again. As for the crap bit, well I've said it before and I'll say it again, but actually I don't mean crap as in poo. No siree. Crap in this case is German for peak, as in the peak of the mountain. Laax/Flims is the name of a ski resort in Switzerland The views from the top are simply some of the most stunning I have ever seen in the Alps. There are couple of mountains that look like some lopsided snow covered Toblerones. Snotribe, well that's the name of a freestyle ski tour group who we decided to let take control of our skiing and churn us out as top notch experts.

Why am I writing about this? Well in part to big Snotribe up. If you want to go skiing I really recommend going with these guys. Not only is the package superb value for money, the guys who run it are really top guys. They love the sport. and I mean love it with dedication, and that comes through with everything they do. They are also superchilled. Now I know this may sound corny, and I've no idea how they did it, but they actually said my name with like no problems! It sort of crossed my mind that they might of rehearsed it!  Anyway, the competence of these guys in pronouncing my name was not a snitch on the competence that these guys displayed on the slopes, or more specifically "the park." Now these guys can ski and board the whole mountain, but freestyle is their speciality.

 

Figure 2 Andy Bennett and Chris 

Now perhaps a little explanation is in order here for the uninitiated, as I was somewhat before this trip. Well, not entirely uninitiated to tell the truth. In fact I have visited "parks" before, but in truth my "sessions" were pretty feeble.

A "park" is a place on the mountain where you find various features that freestylers pull tricks off, like rails (as in staircase rails) that skiers and boarders slide down. It takes awesome balance and skill. Two of the kids in our group cracked their wrists on the beginner's version of it, a small table top, yes as in the top of table, which you also slide down, sideways, or even backwards. Then there are the jumps, which range from a few feet to 30 plus. Then there is the half pipe. At least I can say after a couple of weeks with freestyle school under the expert tuition of Andy Bennett I feel much more at ease in the park. I pulled a few 180's, even though it needs some refinement, and managed a basic pop and turn on the half pipe. Actually, we should say Uber pipe, because the Laxx/Flims pipe is massive. Scary big, and all 110kg of me took a tumble from the top. Not nice. Anyway readers will probably be thinking "serves you right, act your age not your shoe size, bla de bla!" It's about right really, since that average age of your top pro freestyler is 16. Anyway, Andy Bennett is formerly UK's top freestyler. He used to be 15 in the world and it the best freestyler the UK has ever produced. He now coaches the UK freestyle team, a few of whom we saw pulling tricks on the pipe, to which he would throw some advice every now and then. The UK freestyle scene all started in Sheffield, which is not surprising since its one of the few, or maybe only dry slope half pipe in the UK. 

Me and me mate Imran had some adrenalin pumping race on the four-cross track, which he's been begging me to blog, mostly because he won, through sheer guts and glory and practically pulling me out of the way, which was not intentional, but rather because he was so out of control he was trying to hold on to me to keep balance. Not amusing at speed over all sorts of mad jumps and bumps! Anyway, I let him lead all the way because I knew I could take him on the chicanes, and did within sight of the finish line, but Imran was having none of it and in a act of madness and desperation flew over the last triple bumps to victory. I must add that he refused a rematch!

Anyway, I don't want to get all anthropological, but it was just cool to be involved (however commercially) with a whole culture, and watching ski movies takes on a different dimension of appreciation when you begin to realise just how hard it is to pull even basic versions of the stunts and tricks that these guys seem to pull so effortlessly.

The kids also had an amazing time, which is the main thing, but alhamdulillah, I'm still ahead of the game with them. Just!

 

Figure 3 me in the pipe

Imran 180

Above two photos taken by Ric Hutchings   http://www.rickhutchings.com/

 

Benfits of Muharam and the day of Ashura and warnings against some innovations practiced in it.

I received this email and thought I would post it, may Allah bless the author. Of special benefit to me is a fatwa from Sheikul-Islam ibnul Taymiyya about the Naasibi's who display hatred to Al Husayn and his family by making the day of Ashura like an eid.
Last year I was invited to a certain University during Muharram in order to give a lecture about the Wives of the Prophet, and the purpose was to refute some of the false allegations and wrong ideas the Shia have about Aisha and Ahl Bayt.
Some of the Shia who attended complained to me that on the Day of Ashura the I Soc had been distributing sweets, and this was very offensive to them since it was a day of mourning for them due to the murder of Imam Husayn (raa) on that day. Although I told them that no Muslim could or would celebrate such an event, the sister assured me that in Iraq people did this on purpose just to antagonise the Shia.
When I confronted the I Soc they said that their intention was only to distribute some packets for those where fasting that day! How easy to misunderstand each other and to cause unnecessary offense! May Allah guide us all to path of His good pleasure.

Praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and Chief of the Messengers, and upon all his family and companions.

 

Allaah’s sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month. It is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…” [al-Tawbah 9:36]

Abu Bakrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumaada and Sha’baan.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 2958).

Muharram is so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month and to confirm its sanctity. Allaah’s words (interpretation of the meaning): “...so wrong not yourselves therein…” mean do not wrong yourselves in these sacred months, because sin in these months is worse than in other months. It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas said that this phrase (...so wrong not yourselves therein…) referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward.

Qutaadah said concerning this phrase (...so wrong not yourselves therein…) that wrongdoing during the sacred months is more serious and more sinful that wrongdoing at any other time. Wrongdoing at any time is a serious matter, but Allaah gives more weight to whichever of His commands He will. Allaah has chosen certain ones of His creation. He has chosen from among the angels Messengers and from among mankind Messengers. He chose from among speech the remembrance of Him (dhikr). He chose from among the earth the mosques, from among the months Ramadaan and the sacred months, from among the days Friday and from among the nights Laylat al-Qadr, so venerate that which Allaah has told us to venerate. People of understanding and wisdom venerate the things that Allaah has told us to venerate. (Summarized from the Tafseer of Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy on him. Tafseer of Surat al-Tawbah, aayah 36).

 

The Virtue of observing more naafil fasts during Muharram

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘The best of fasting after Ramadaan is fasting Allaah’s month of Muharram.’ ” (reported by Muslim, 1982).

 

The phrase “Allaah’s month”, connecting the name of the month to the name of Allaah in a genitive grammatical structure, signifies the importance of the month. Al-Qaari said: “The apparent meaning is all of the month of Muharram.” But it was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never fasted any whole month apart from Ramadan, so this hadeeth is probably meant to encourage increasing one’s fasting during Muharram, without meaning that one should fast for the entire month.

It was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast more in Sha’baan. It is likely that the virtue of Muharram was not revealed to him until the end of his life, before he was able to fast during this month. (Sharh al-Nawawi ‘ala Saheeh Muslim).

 

Allaah chooses whatever times and places He wills

Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abd al-Salaam (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Times and places may be given preferred status in two ways, either temporal or religious/spiritual. With regard to the latter, this is because Allaah bestows His generosity on His slaves at those times or in those places, by giving a greater reward for deeds done, such as giving a greater reward for fasting in Ramadaan than for fasting at all other times, and also on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, the virtue of which is due to Allaah’s generosity and kindness towards His slaves on that day…” (Qawaa’id al-Ahkaam, 1/38).

 

‘Aashooraa’ in History

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Aashooraa’. He said, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allaah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Moosa fasted on this day.’ He said, ‘We have more right to Moosa than you,’ so he fasted on that day and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1865). “This is a righteous day” – in a report narrated by Muslim, [the Jews said:] “This is a great day, on which Allaah saved Moosa and his people, and drowned Pharaoh and his people.” “Moosa fasted on this day” – a report narrated by Muslim adds: “… in thanksgiving to Allaah, so we fast on this day.” According to a report narrated by al-Bukhaari: “… so we fast on this day to venerate it.” A version narrated by Imaam Ahmad adds: “This is the day on which the Ark settled on Mount Joodi, so Nooh fasted this day in thanksgiving.” “and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day” – according to another report also narrated by al-Bukhaari: “He said to his Companions: ‘You have more right to Moosa than they do, so fast on that day.' ” 

 

The practice of fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ was known even in the days of Jaahiliyyah, before the Prophet’s mission. It was reported that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The people of Jaahiliyyah used to fast on that day…”

 

Al-Qurtubi said: “Perhaps Quraysh used to fast on that day on the basis of some past law, such as that of Ibraaheem, upon whom be peace.”

It was also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on ‘Aashooraa’ in Makkah, before he migrated to Madeenah. When he migrated to Madeenah, he found the Jews celebrating this day, so he asked them why, and they replied as described in the hadeeth quoted above. He commanded the Muslims to be different from the Jews, who took it as a festival, as was reported in the hadeeth of Abu Moosa (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said: “The Jews used to take the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as a festival [according to a report narrated by Muslim: the day of ‘Aashooraa’ was venerated by the Jews, who took it as a festival. According to another report also narrated by Muslim: the people of Khaybar (the Jews) used to take it as a festival and their women would wear their jewellery and symbols on that day]. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘So you [Muslims] should fast on that day.’ ” (Reported by al-Bukhaari). Apparently the motive for commanding the Muslims to fast on this day was the desire to be different from the Jews, so that the Muslims would fast when the Jews did not, because people do not fast on a day of celebration. (Summarized from the words of al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar – may Allaah have mercy on him – in Fath al-Baari Sharh ‘ala Saheeh al-Bukhaari).

 

Fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ was a gradual step in the process of introducing fasting as a prescribed obligation in Islam. Fasting appeared in three forms. When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah, he told the Muslims to fast on three days of every month and on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, then Allaah made fasting obligatory when He said (interpretation of the meaning): “… observing the fasting is prescribed for you…” [al-Baqarah 2:183] (Ahkaam al-Qur’aan by al-Jassas, part 1).

 

The obligation was transferred from the fast of ‘Aashooraa’ to the fast of Ramadaan, and this one of the proofs in the field of Usool al-Fiqh that it is possible to abrogate a lighter duty in favour of a heavier duty.

Before the obligation of fasting ‘Aashooraa’ was abrogated, fasting on this day was obligatory, as can be seen from the clear command to observe this fast. Then it was further confirmed later on, then reaffirmed by making it a general command addressed to everybody, and once again by instructing mothers not to breastfeed their infants during this fast. It was reported from Ibn Mas’ood that when fasting Ramadaan was made obligatory, the obligation to fast ‘Aashooraa’ was lifted, i.e., it was no longer obligatory to fast on this day, but it is still desirable (mustahabb).

 

The virtues of fasting ‘Aashooraa’

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said: “I never saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of ‘Aashooraa’, and this month, meaning Ramadaan.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1867).

 

The meaning of his being keen was that he intended to fast on that day in the hope of earning the reward for doing so. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For fasting the day of ‘Aashooraa’, I hope that Allaah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.” (Reported by Muslim, 1976). This is from the bounty of Allaah towards us: for fasting one day He gives us expiation for the sins of a whole year. And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty.

 

Which day is ‘Aashooraa’?

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “ ‘Aashooraa’ and Taasoo’aa’ are two elongated names [the vowels are elongated] as is stated in books on the Arabic language. Our companions said: ‘Aashooraa’ is the tenth day of Muharram and Taasoo’aa’ is the ninth day. This is our opinion, and that of the majority of scholars. This is the apparent meaning of the ahaadeeth and is what we understand from the general wording. It is also what is usually understood by scholars of the language.” (al-Majmoo’)

‘Aashooraa’ is an Islamic name that was not known at the time of Jaahiliyyah. (Kashshaaf al-Qinaa’, part 2, Sawm Muharram).

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “ ‘Aashooraa’ is the tenth day of Muharram. This is the opinion of Sa’eed ibn al-Musayyib and al-Hasan. It was what was reported by Ibn ‘Abbaas, who said: ‘The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded us to fast ‘Aashooraa’, the tenth day of Muharram.’” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who said, a saheeh hasan hadeeth). It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: ‘The ninth,’ and reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast the ninth. (Reported by Muslim). ‘Ataa’ reported that he said, ‘Fast the ninth and the tenth, and do not be like the Jews.’ If this is understood, we can say on this basis that it is mustahabb (encouraged) to fast on the ninth and the tenth, for that reason. This is what Ahmad said, and it is the opinion of Ishaaq.”

 

It is mustahabb (encouraged) to fast Taasoo’aa’ with ‘Aashooraa’

‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said: “When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted on ‘Aashooraa’ and commanded the Muslims to fast as well, they said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, it is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.’ The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘If I live to see the next year, in sha Allaah, we will fast on the ninth day too.’ But it so happened that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed away before the next year came.” (Reported by Muslim, 1916).

 

Al-Shaafa'i and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaaq and others said: “It is mustahabb to fast on both the ninth and tenth days, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted on the tenth, and intended to fast on the ninth.”

 

On this basis it may be said that there are varying degrees of fasting ‘Aashooraa’, the least of which is to fast only on the tenth and the best of which is to fast the ninth as well. The more one fasts in Muharram, the better it is.

 

The reason why it is mustahabb to fast on Taasoo’aa’

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The scholars – our companions and others – mentioned several reasons why it is mustahabb to fast on Taasoo’aa’:

1. the intention behind it is to be different from the Jews, who only venerate the tenth day. This opinion was reported from Ibn ‘Abbaas… 
2. the intention is to add another day’s fast to ‘Aashooraa’. This is akin to the prohibition on fasting a Friday by itself, as was mentioned by al-Khattaabi and others.
3. To be on the safe side and make sure that one fasts on the tenth, in case there is some error in sighting the crescent moon at the beginning of Muharram and the ninth is in fact the tenth.” 

The strongest of these reasons is being different from the People of the Book. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade imitating the People of the Book in many ahaadeeth, for example, his words concerning ‘Aashooraa’: ‘If I live until the next year, I will certainly fast on the ninth day.’” (al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 6, Sadd al-Dharaa’i’ al-Mufdiyah ila’l-Mahaarim )

 

Ibn Hajar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said in his commentary on the hadeeth “If I live until the next year, I will certainly fast on the ninth day” and “What he meant by fasting on the ninth day was probably not that he would limit himself to that day, but would add it to the tenth, either to be on the safe side or to be different from the Jews and Christians, which is more likely. This is also what we can understand from some of the reports narrated by Muslim.” (Fath, 4/245).

 

Ruling on fasting only on the day of ‘Aashooraa’

Shaykh al-Islam said: “Fasting on the day of ‘Aashoraa’ is an expiation for a year, and it is not makrooh to fast only that day…” (al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 5). In Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj by Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, it says: “There is nothing wrong with fasting only on ‘Aashooraa’.” (part 3, Baab Sawm al-Tatawwu’).

 

Fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ even if it is a Saturday or a Friday

Al-Tahhaawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) allowed us to fast on ‘Aashooraa’ and urged us to do so. He did not say that if it falls on a Saturday we should not fast. This is evidence that all days of the week are included in this. In our view – and Allaah knows best – it could be the case that even if this is true (that it is not allowed to fast on Saturdays), it is so that we do not venerate this day and refrain from food, drink and intercourse, as the Jews do. As for the one who fasts on a Saturday without intending to venerate it, and does not do so because the Jews regard it as blessed, then this is not makrooh…” (Mushkil al-Aathaar, part 2, Baab Sawm Yawm al-Sabt).

 

The author of al-Minhaaj said: “ ‘It is disliked (makrooh) to fast on a Friday alone…’ But it is no longer makrooh if you add another day to it, as mentioned in the saheeh report to that effect. A person may fast on a Friday if it coincides with his habitual fast, or he is fasting in fulfilment of a vow, or he is making up an obligatory fast that he has missed, as was stated in a saheeh report.”

 

Al-Shaarih said in Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj: “ ‘If it coincides with his habitual fast’ – i.e., such as if he fasts alternate days, and a day that he fasts happens to be a Friday. ‘ if he is fasting in fulfilment of a vow, etc.” – this also applies to fasting on days prescribed in sharee’ah, such as ‘Aashooraa’ or ‘Arafaah. (Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj, part 3, Baab Sawm al-Tatawwu’)

Al-Bahooti (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “It is makrooh to deliberately single out a Saturday for fasting, because of the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Bishr, who reported from his sister: ‘Do not fast on Saturdays except in the case of obligatory fasts’ (reported by Ahmad with a jayyid isnaad and by al-Haakim, who said: according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari), and because it is a day that is venerated by the Jews, so singling it out for fasting means being like them… except when a Friday or Saturday coincides with a day when Muslims habitually fast, such as when it coincides with the day of ‘Arafaah or the day of ‘Aashooraa’, and a person has the habit of fasting on these days, in which case it is not makrooh, because a person’s habit carries some weight.” (Kashshaaf al-Qinaa’, part 2, Baab Sawm al-Tatawwu’).

 

What should be done if there is confusion about the beginning of the month?

Ahmad said: “If there is confusion about the beginning of the month, one should fast for three days, to be sure of fasting on the ninth and tenth days.” (al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah, part 3 – al-Siyaam – Siyaam ‘Aashooraa’).

 

If a person does not know when Muharram began, and he wants to be sure of fasting on the tenth, he should assume that Dhoo’l-Hijjah was thirty days – as is the usual rule – and should fast on the ninth and tenth. Whoever wants to be sure of fasting the ninth as well should fast the eight, ninth and tenth (then if Dhoo’l-Hijjah was twenty-nine days, he can be sure of having fasted Taasoo’aa’ and ‘Aashooraa’).

But given that fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ is mustahabb rather than waajib, people are not commanded to look for the crescent of the new moon of Muharram as they are to do in the case of Ramadaan and Shawwaal.

 

Fasting ‘Aashooraa’ – for what does it offer expiation?

Imaam al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “It expiates for all minor sins, i.e., it brings forgiveness of all sins except major sins.” Then he said (may Allaah have mercy on him): “Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah expiates for two years, and the day of ‘Aashooraa’ expiates for one year. If when a person says ‘Aameen’ it coincides with the ‘Aameen’ of the angels, he will be forgiven all his previous sins… Each one of the things that we have mentioned will bring expiation. If there are minor sins for which expiation is needed, expiation for them will be accepted; if there are no minor sins or major sins, good deeds will be added to his account and he will be raised in status… If he had committed major sins but no minor sins, we hope that his major sins will be reduced.” (al-Majmoo’ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, part 6, Sawm Yawm ‘Arafaah).

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Tahaarah, salaah, and fasting in Ramadaan, on the day of ‘Arafaah and on ‘Aashooraa’ expiate for minor sins only.” (al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 5).

 

Not relying too much on the reward for fasting

Some people who are deceived rely too much on things like fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ or the day of ‘Arafaah, to the extent that some of them say, “Fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ will expiate for the sins of the whole year, and fasting on the day of ‘Arafaah will bring extra rewards.” Ibn al-Qayyim said: “This misguided person does not know that fasting in Ramadaan and praying five times a day are much more important than fasting on the day of ‘Arafaah and ‘Aashooraa’, and that they expiate for the sins between one Ramadaan and the next, or between one Friday and the next, so long as one avoids major sins. But they cannot expiate for minor sins unless one also avoids major sins; when the two things are put together, they have the strength to expiate for minor sins. Among those deceived people may be one who thinks that his good deeds are more than his sins, because he does not pay attention to his bad deeds or check on his sins, but if he does a good deed he remembers it and relies on it. This is like the one who seeks Allaah’s forgiveness with his tongue (i.e., by words only), and glorifies Allaah by saying “Subhaan Allaah” one hundred times a day, then he backbites about the Muslims and slanders their honour, and speaks all day long about things that are not pleasing to Allaah. This person is always thinking about the virtues of his tasbeehaat (saying “Subhaan Allaah”) and tahleelaat (saying “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah”) but he pays no attention to what has been reported concerning those who backbite, tell lies and slander others, or commit other sins of the tongue. They are completely deceived.” (al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, part 31, Ghuroor).

 

Fasting ‘Aashooraa’ when one still has days to make up from Ramadaan

The fuqahaa’ differed concerning the ruling on observing voluntary fasts before a person has made up days that he or she did not fast in Ramadaan. The Hanafis said that it is permissible to observe voluntary fasts before making up days from Ramadaan, and it is not makrooh to do so, because the missed days do not have to be made up straight away. The Maalikis and Shaafa’is said that it is permissible but is makrooh, because it means that one is delaying something obligatory. Al-Dusooqi said: “It is makrooh to observe a voluntary fast when one still has to make up an obligatory fast, such as a fast in fulfilment of a vow, or a missed obligatory fast, or a fast done as an act of expiation (kafaarah), whether the voluntary fast which is being given priority over an obligatory fast is something confirmed in sharee’ah or not, such as ‘Aashooraa’ and the ninth of Dhoo’l-Hijjah, according to the most correct opinion.” The Hanbalis said that it is haraam to observe a voluntary fast before making up any fasts missed in Ramadaan, and that a voluntary fast in such cases does not count, even if there is plenty of time to make up the obligatory fast. So a person must give priority to the obligatory fasts until he has made them up.. (al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, part 28, Sawm al-tatawwu’).

Muslims must hasten to make up any missed fasts after Ramadaan, so that they will be able to fast ‘Arafaah and ‘Aashooraa’ without any problem. If a person fasts ‘Arafaah and ‘Aashooraa’ with the intention from the night before of making up for a missed fast, this will be good enough to make up what he has missed, for the bounty of Allaah is great.

 

Bid’ahs common on ‘Aashooraa’

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the things that people do on ‘Aashooraa’, such as wearing kohl, taking a bath (ghusl), wearing henna, shaking hands with one another, cooking grains (huboob), showing happiness and so on. Was any of this reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in a saheeh hadeeth, or not? If nothing to that effect was reported in a saheeh hadeeth, is doing these things bid’ah, or not? Is there any basis for what the other group do, such as grieving and mourning, going without anything to drink, eulogizing and wailing, reciting in a crazy manner, and rending their garments?

His reply was: ‘Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. Nothing to that effect has been reported in any saheeh hadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or from his Companions. None of the imaams of the Muslims encouraged or recommended such things, neither the four imaams, nor any others. No reliable scholars have narrated anything like this, neither from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), nor from the Sahaabah, nor from the Taabi’een; neither in any saheeh report or in a da’eef (weak) report; neither in the books of Saheeh, nor in al-Sunan, nor in the Musnads. No hadeeth of this nature was known during the best centuries, but some of the later narrators reported ahaadeeth like the one which says, “Whoever puts kohl in his eyes on the day of ‘Aashooraa’ will not suffer from eye disease in that year, and whoever takes a bath (does ghusl) on the day of ‘Aashooraa’ will not get sick in that year,” and so on. They also reported a fabricated hadeeth that is falsely attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), which says, “Whoever is generous to his family on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, Allaah will be generous to him for the rest of the year.” Reporting all of this from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is tantamount to lying.’

 

Then he [Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him)] discussed in brief the tribulations that had occurred in the early days of this ummah and the killing of al-Husayn (may Allaah be pleased with him), and what the various sects had done because of this. Then he said:

‘An ignorant, wrongful group – who were either heretics and hypocrites, or misguided and misled – made a show of allegiance to him and the members of his household, so they took the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as a day of mourning and wailing, in which they openly displayed the rituals of jaahiliyyah such as slapping their cheeks and rending their garments, grieving in the manner of the jaahiliyyah…

The Shaytaan made this attractive to those who are misled, so they took the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as an occasion of mourning, when they grieve and wail, recite poems of grief and tell stories filled with lies. Whatever truth there may be in these stories serves no purpose other than the renewal of their grief and sectarian feeling, and the stirring up of hatred and hostility among the Muslims, which they do by cursing those who came before them…

The evil and harm that they do to the Muslims cannot be enumerated by any man, no matter how eloquent he is. Some others – either Naasibis who oppose and have enmity towards al-Husayn and his family or ignorant people who try to fight evil with evil, corruption with corruption, lies with lies and bid’ah with bid’ah – opposed them by fabricating reports in favour of making the day of ‘Aashooraa’ a day of celebration, by wearing kohl and henna, spending money on one's children, cooking special dishes and other things that are done on Eids and special occasions. These people took the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as a festival like Eid, whereas the others took it as a day of mourning. Both are wrong, and both go against the Sunnah, even though the other group (those who take it as a day of mourning) are worse in intention and more ignorant and more plainly wrong…

Neither the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) nor his successors (the khulafa’ al-raashidoon) did any of these things on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, they neither made it a day of mourning nor a day of celebration…

As for the other things, such as cooking special dishes with or without grains, or wearing new clothes, or spending money on one’s family, or buying the year’s supplies on that day, or doing special acts of worship such as special prayers or deliberately slaughtering an animal on that day, or saving some of the meat of the sacrifice to cook with grains, or wearing kohl and henna, or taking a bath (ghusl), or shaking hands with one another, or visiting one another, or visiting the mosques and mashhads (shrines) and so on… all of this is reprehensible bid’ah and is wrong. None of it has anything to do with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the way of the Khulafa’ al-Raashidoon. It was not approved of by any of the imaams of the Muslims, not Maalik, not al-Thawri, not al-Layth ibn Sa’d, not Abu Haneefah, not al-Oozaa’i, not al-Shaafa'i, not Ahmad ibn Hanbal, not Ishaaq ibn Raahwayh, not any of the imaams and scholars of the Muslims.’ (al-Fataawa al-Kubra by Ibn Taymiyah)

 

Ibn al-Haaj (may Allaah have mercy on him) mentioned that one of the bid’ahs on ‘Aashooraa’ was deliberately paying zakaat on this day, late or early, or slaughtering a chicken just for this occasion, or – in the case of women – using henna. (al-Madkhal, part 1, Yawm ‘Aashooraa’)

We ask Allaah to make us followers of the Sunnah of His Noble Prophet, to make us live in Islam and die in a state of faith. May He help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. We ask Him to help us to remember Him and be thankful to Him, to worship Him properly and to accept our good deeds. May He make us of those who are pious and fear Him. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions.

TV is NOT the truth!

excuse a few swearwords in this excellent clip:

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18318.htm

Television is not the truth. Television's a goddamned amusement park! Television is a circus, a carnival, a traveling troupe of acrobats storytellers, dancers, singers, jugglers, sideshow freaks, lion tamers and football players. We're in the boredom-killing business. So if you want the truth, go to God. Go to your gurus. Go to yourselves! Because that's the only place you're ever gonna find any real truth. But, man, you're never gonna get any truth from us. We'll tell you anything you wanna hear. We lie like hell. We'll tell you that Kojak always gets the killer and that nobody ever gets cancer in Archie Bunker's house. And no matter how much trouble the hero is in, don't worry. Just look at your watch. At the end of the hour he is going to win! We'll tell you any shit you want to hear! We deal in illusions, man. None of it is true! But you people sit there, day after day, night after night. All ages, colors, creeds. We're all you know. You're beginning to believe the illusions we're spinning here. You're beginning to think the tube is reality and your own lives are unreal. You do whatever the tube tells you! You dress like the tube, you eat like the tube, you raise your children like the tube, you even think like the tube. This is mass madness, you maniacs! In God's name, you people are the real thing! We are the illusion!

Hoping for PIETY

 

Last summer, if you could call it that, I headed down to Plymouth, invited there by an organisation with an interesting acronym, PIETY, short for Plymouth Islamic Education Trust, the Y added on presumably for completion. It was here I think that I discovered the real beginnings of what might be termed a "British Islam".

We're hearing a lot these days about "British Islam", and the need for a British Islam, but I'm not quite sure what it proponents exactly expect it to be! I know for sure some of us really don't feel happy about this appellation, and consider it fundamentally divisive. There is only one Islam, one Ummah, and all attempts to divide us along nationalistic lines opposes the Divine will.

I have never understood it quite like that. Perhaps because I'm a white British convert I've never felt some sort of conflict between my "Britishnesss" and being a Muslim. I still consider myself "British", but coloured with dye of Islam. As I understand it the divine guidance did not come to change everything, to wipe the slate clean and start again, but rather to correct the errors and mistakes and keep and encourage the positives in any given individual or culture.

It also seems a truism that "character" of Islam as practiced in Malaysia for example is very different in the character of Islam in Saudi Arabia, or Morocco or Nigeria and so on. In fact we can notice a difference even within a country between the people of the country side and the town, rich and poor and so on, partly because the culture in which each group operates is distinct and thus inevitably the aspects of the religion they emphasis is different. Although on occasions one section may claim a purer form of Islam than another, in general it is all Islam, only people's cultural habits are different. Of course we do not mean to deny that culture can also negatively affect the correct application of the divine guidance, and this also must be weeded out and guarded against.

It is an interesting issue to explore: What is culture?

It seems to me that in part at least, culture is a type of survival strategy that humans develop in response to a particular environment. Certainly people's character, both individually and collectively is influenced by climate, geography, language, the animals they care for, the dwellings in which they live etc….That inevitably means that different cultures will give more emphasis to some aspects of any moral or religious system than others. As a small example, punctuality and cueing might be identified as two practical aspects of British culture, thus a British Muslim following "British Islam" would inevitably take the matter of punctuality very seriously, and might argue that this is an Islamic virtue that should be imbibed within every Muslim. Muslims should keep their promises, and agreeing to meet at a certain time is a promise that should be fulfilled, and failing to do so is sign of hypocrisy. Also the performance of regular prayers with a defined time frame for example, should teach us this virtue. In fact one of the committee members of PIETY, originally from Egypt, was pointing this out over dinner. However, as I made clear, most Muslims (and Egyptians) run by the infamous IBM system. We do not mean here of course International Business Machines, but in fact the other IBM, Inshallah Bookra Maleesh! (God willing, tomorrow, it's OK!)

So to me "British Islam" seems to mean a practice of Islam that is sensitive and relevant to the culture of Britain, imbibing its positive aspects and perhaps somewhat accommodating (although not accepting) of some of its negative ones. Combined with this there is a sense of civic duty, and commitment to improve and better society through positive and pro-active contributions within the frame work of that society and its cultural norms. To translate that into normal English "behave well towards people, treat them the same way you would like them to treat you, and do something to make the world around you a better place." I don't think anyone, Muslim or not could disagree with that!

One of my long standing gripes with the Muslims here in the UK is how vigorously they hold on to practices, traditions and attitudes that are so foreign and completely unsuitable to the prevalent culture. It seems to me that this is one of the biggest factors in making Islam here in the UK seem strange and foreign, and is the cause for much hostility. The ideal situation, it seems to me, is that Islam should be an intrinsic part of life here in the UK, and that this would be the most effective way for Muslims to live and to influence society in the most positive manner.

I'm always looking for anything that might fit this vision of "British Islam", and by and large I've been disappointed. Either we become so assimilated that we loose our Islam, or we hang on so tightly to our culture we might as well still be in a village back "home", because we don't even look as this place as home! Then there is a whole generation that seems "confused", neither here nor there, torn between this and that! Where then is the ideal mizan, or balance!

Plymouth is home of Europe's largest naval base and it is here that Sir Francis Drake, in one of the iconic moments in British history, stoically insisted of finishing his game of bowls whilst receiving news of the arrival of the Spanish Armada. It is the "capital" of Devon and Cornwall and there is something quintessentially English about this town. Arriving at the venue for my lecture I was delightfully surprised to come to upon an array of Muslims from different parts of the world, and also, more significantly, a similar array of non-Muslims including the local MP, councillors, health service, church and police. Further more, their familiarity with each other seemed to be based certainly in some cases on long term friendships and acquaintances. It seemed that here at last was a Muslim community that really was part of the community, or certainly was fairly close to that.

A lot of this, as if often the case, had to do with the hard work and efforts of a few individuals, who I should add, did not fail in respect to their duty of hospitality towards me in the least. I also wondered if the fact that at least several of the committee members had English spouses might have something to do with it!

I was so inspired by this that when one of the leaders of the community asked me to come with him to Kuwait to try and raise money for a building they desperately needed, I actually agreed to take some time off in Ramadan to do that, that is how much I felt a centre like that needed help! During the hectic trip we only managed to raise enough money (£40,000) for PIETY to put down the deposit on an ideal building close to the centre of town. Up until this time they had been holding jummah and eid prayers in various hired locations around town, and the Quran and Arabic school was similarly being shifted from venue to venue, and it was becoming harder and harder to find suitable places as the needs of the community grew. Furthermore, the local authorities were relying on PIETY members as advisors in a range of issues, and were begging for them to establish a physical centre from with they could liaise and help provide services on a wider scale. Part of the challenge for the local authorities is linked to influx of large numbers of refugees and immigrants arriving there in recent years, and PIETY's diverse community was clearly a rich resource to help access them, and PIETY members have proved more than willing to help.

PIETY is not without problems and challenges that beset any group of people trying to work together but the ambitions and aspirations of PIETY are vast for such a small and under resourced community. Physical wealth is not what they have been blessed with in abundance, but enthusiasm is there aplenty. This is why I am taking the step to appeal to you my dear reader to help make this project of PIETY's mosque and community centre a reality, and to help make their dreams come true. Most of us dream of wealth and an easy life (I'm not saying that the brothers and sisters in PIETY don't either) but their dream right now is for a place where they can worship Allah, learn their deen, and interact with the wider community. Their enthusiasm for this is a joy to see, but it is quite possible that without your help they will loose the building. This community, it seems to me, and Allah knows best, is worth our investment. The cost of building including some essential work that needs to be done to make it usable is around £500,000, and alhamdulillah they already have a pledge for £200,000 but the condition is that the Muslims of UK have to raise the remainder. That is why they are asking 3000 of us to give a mere £100. And they have a deadline, the 16^th January 2008!

It would be a shame on us to let such potential go to waste, so on their behalf I'm appealing to you to dig deep and give whatever you can, and I feel sure that this will reap great returns in this world and the next. I've invested my time and money in PIETY and will continue to do so, inshallah. I advise you to do so to, because if PIETY is the future face of Islam in UK, we really have something to look foreword to.

 

You can donate by ringing this number: 0845 4590141

or on-line at www.pietyuk.org

 

 

Out sourcing in India

Following on from the India theme I was sent a link to this excellent article about out sourcing in India. I remember when I first went there some years ago the talk was already about India becoming the next super-power. There are some reasons why I suspect this might not happen. Firstly there is the issue of language. India has so many of them! Each state has its own official language.Then there are social issues and religious ones that serve to keep India divided. The Vedic religion, with its caste system seems just too divisive, and lacks the clear moral authority that is found in monotheistic religions that seems essential for constructing a long lasting civilization. Perhaps, these can be overcome with sheer energy and hard work. Certainly the Romans and Greeks had no such moral force, well until Christianity came and re-energized those failing societies. 

Anyway, these are just random thoughts being throw out whilst on my PC after fajr, with no intent of a coherent argument. Anyway, we're not in the business of fortune telling, alhamdulillah, and certainly every nation has their time decreed. What will come to pass, will come to pass:

"Verily my Lord understands best the mysteries of all that He plans to do, for certainly He is full of knowledge and wisdom!" Surah Yusuf 100

Still, I was very impressed with what India has managed to achieve in such a short time, at least economically. Some of my friends from India seem a bit sceptical themselves, and commented that there is something in the India character that only lets you achieve so much before they feel they have to pull you down. Hasad, I guess. Envy, burns good deeds like fire consumes wood.

What was interesting about the conference, "Peace, the solution for humanity" is that in a way something like this could only have been done in India. Anywhere else the cost would have been prohibitively expensive.

Anyway enjoy the article. It really is funny and informative. I apologize in advance for a few swear words contained in the article if you find it offensive.

http://www.smartmoney.com/esquire/index.cfm?Story=20050909-outsource&hpadref=1

PEACE, THE SOLUTION FOR HUMANITY

Peace certainly is a most worth goal and object, and most of us I am sure would agree that we need a lot more peace and love in the world. Peace, of course, does not mean merely an absence of physical conflict, but on the most profound and indeed significant level it is an inner condition of calm, tranquility and contentment.  The inner peace is where the peace of Islam starts, and it is a paradox that more often than not the only way to establish peace, whether the internal or external is through struggle, or even war.

This is of course the comprehensive meaning of the term "jihad". The struggle to establish Islam in oneself, to surrender to the Lord of all creation, to make ones desires subjugated to His wise guidance.  With hardship comes ease and with patience, victory.  All is known by its opposite, and peace cannot be established without fighting that which opposes and prevents it! Internally this constitutes the base desires. Externally it is manifest in a struggle against tyranny, injustice and oppression. As the saying goes: "No justice! No peace!"

Thus the theme of the ten day international Islamic conference that was held in Bombay from 23^rd November to 2^nd December. "Peace, the solution for humanity."

No one could accuse Dr Zakir Naik of lacking drive or vision, or for that matter organisational inability! Seven months ago he had already booked some of the most knowledgeable and dynamic orators and scholars of Islam in the English language for a massive ten day conference in Bombay, where his organisation IRF (Islamic Research Foundation) is based, along with the satellite channel PeaceTV, watched by over 60 million viewers.

My "jihad" started at the Indian High Commission here in the UK, as the simple matter of getting a visa proved to be quite and ordeal. At taste of India before you get there! I went to the High Commission two weeks in advance, planning well ahead for a change, prompted no doubt by regular reminders from the IRF team to get my visa, along with a plethora of invitation letters, approvals, clearance from local government that needed to be attached to my application for a conference visa, a tourist visa not being suitable for this particular event. The web site tells you that you need to get there between 8:30 and 10:00 in order to get the visa. I arrived just before ten to find several hundred people queuing, with several arguments, raised voices and waving hands. I was given a ticket to come back on 22^nd November, hardly ideal, since my flight was leaving the same day, or I was told, "Come back any morning early." I had one slot, the Monday before my flight, and I went over an hour early on a cold and rainy morning to find a queue stretching from the door to half way round the block. There must have been three to four hundred people there. I nearly gave up then and there, but I hoped that Allah would count this all as effort in His path. Arriving at the door, I was given another piece of paper, fortunately this time to come back the same day at 12:30. I rushed off to the mosque to take a school group and then rushed back just in time. Inside the visa office was chaos. The number system was all over the place, so I patiently waited at the nearest counter and handed in my application. Clearly applying for a conference visa was no simple matter, and I had to wait at another door to speak to someone senior. There was no queuing here at all, but it was a case of wiggling you way in between everyone and getting yourself noticed by the gentlemen peering critically through half glasses. I tried to talk to him, but the door was shut in our faces, and I was told by others waiting that he dealt with three applications at a time, and I have to just hold on until he got back. Eventually, I handed him application and then after more waiting had to pay at another counter, and then more waiting for the visa to be processed. It was now nearly 1pm and then the dramatic announcement that everything was closed for lunch and to come back at 2pm. This ushered a collective sigh/ moan/ laugh form the twenty applicants still waiting. I had lunch nearby and returned at 2pm, although nothing opened until 2:30pm. Everyone with whom I had been waiting all morning got their passports and then next influx were getting theirs before eventually my number was called.

What a palava!

The BA flight to Bombay was packet and I was squashed. It was a night flight and as usual I got virtually no sleep. The Park Plaza Royal Palms hotel is a mere 7km from the airport, perched atop a hill surrounded by hills and trees. It was here that the majority of speakers were based.  The first one I met was Sheik Jafar Idris, who I didn't recognise until later, but with whom I had some of the most fruitful discussions with over the ten days. At the time he was going through Dawkin's "The God Delusion", and we sat discussing how ignorant he (Dawkins) was even of Western theological and philosophical arguments about God, which all suffer from various short comings, as opposed to those propounded by Muslims which are much more coherent and consistent.  He was accompanied by his son Yusuf with whom I also shared some great conversations, especially late one night over dinner, whilst we watched young Indians emerging from a function hall completely drunk, rushing to the toilets, puking on the stair case and several men engaging in a flight that involved fists, belts and or course a lot of posturing and shouting. We sat there in amazement and this spectacle of stupidity, and thanked Allah for our Islam. All this excess seems all the more ugly in India, because you don't have to go far to see people living in crippling poverty. In fact it is everywhere. Our route from the hotel to the conference venue and TV studios passed through a slum/shanty town, with a river that was in fact more of an open sewer. On a certain section of the route the pavement was the living quarters for a collection of people covered in filth and living in filth. It was sickening and humbling and heart wrenching all at the same time, and I could not help but feel both immensely grateful for what Allah had blessed me with, yet guilty for what really amounts to an excessive life style that we live. Many of the people must often be hungry, yet the buffet in our hotel must have consisted of sixty different varieties of food! Even then we sometimes managed to comment that dinner wasn't so good as the previous night!

For all the speakers work load was without doubt heavy. Either we were in the studios recording programmes for future broadcast, or delivering lectures at the venue, or in my case preparing for both. It was the "promos" that caused almost universal amusement and complaint amongst the speakers, since no one could quite understand why the needed to spend nine hours, standing, pointing and looking at the sky and repeating corny lines in various locations from mosquito invested forest and parks to un-sound proofed studios where every noise was followed by "cut!"

I myself rather enjoyed doing my promo, set in a Bollywood set emulating a traditional Indian village, even if the nine hour stint followed on from a session in the studio's that didn't see me getting to be until 2am after our car ran out of juice in the middle of the street, and we had to wait while the driver fetched some more fuel in a rickshaw. That session had followed on by the previous night's public lecture based on an article in the blog "Do good people go to Hell" which was attended by around 10,000 plus, which itself was followed by a gathering of all the speakers/scholars, with the purpose of discussing how IRF could improve on the conference next time. That didn't finish until past midnight. It was in this meeting the Dr Zakir detailed for us just what was involved in organizing the conference. $4 million, two thousand volunteers, half a million visitors to the exhibition, spread over seven areas, all set up in a matter of days, including a fully constructed stage set up in a unique air conditioned hall. The stage was completely changed half way through, which they worked all night to complete, and Dr Zakir was somewhat upset because the program had to start half an our late that day! This is really in brief what amounted to an enormous effort. There was group of brothers almost permanently stationed at the hotel lobby to  co-ordinate the activities and comings and goings of the various speakers, and each speaker was always accompanied by a volunteer once they left the hotel, and more often than not we had interesting discussion with them also.  May Allah reward them all amply.

Friday prayer was lead by Shiekh Ayoob, former Imam of the Prophet's mosque, and was attended by over 100,000, who mobbed us after the prayer. Dr Zakir's final lecture was attended by a similar number. Where ever we went in the venue were stopped by crowds wanting to shake our hands and kids begging for our autographs. We didn't deserve any of this, As one sheikh stated, "If only they knew our sins!"

Each day's event was advertised in a full colour column in all the major news papers, and articles appeared in them on various aspects of the conference.

Perhaps for me one of the best things though, was praying, eating breakfast, lunch and dinner, and just sitting in the VIP lounge at the conference and discussing with old friends and newer acquaintances, Dr Zakir Niak himself, Sheikh Salim Al Amri, Dr Bilal Phillips, Yasir Qadi, Yusuf Estes (the only major speaker staying in a different hotel), Yasir Fazaga, and Dr Mamdouh Mohammed and meeting for the first time Sheikh Jafar Idirs and Hussain Yee, Assim Al Hakeem, Dr Ahmed ibn Saifullah, Mokhtar Maghroui and Riaz Ansary. It was also a delight to see Abu Hamza from ISSNA, and one of the converts from there Musa, who bravely delivered a lecture on how he came to Islam.  I'm not sure what I have done to deserve to be included in such distinguished company, Alhamdulillah!

My biggest regret was not being able to listen to their lectures!

You can have an idea of the extent of it on the conference web site.

On day one I was struck down with a horrific "Bombay belly", which had me running all night to the bathroom every twenty minuets, leaving me physically drained and exhausted with virtually no sleep. The next morning I asked for some Ajwain and honey and I was given in addition a collection of pills. Although the runs stopped, there was no immediate cure for exhaustion, but the show had to go on! There was a press conference and the opening night where all the speakers had to give and introductory speech. I barely survived, but was glad I made the effort!   

One thing travelling does is really make you appreciate how good it is to be home, and its only now that buzz of the event has ended and exhaustion has hit hard. Although I got upgraded to business class on the return flight, and actually managed, out of sheer exhaustion, to actually sleep a good portion of the nine hour flight, I still haven't recovered completely three days later.  Must be old age!

check out more photos on the album "India"

                                                               

IPO event

I won't be making this a habit, but since I've known Omar Tate for years and the IPO is one organization that is doing some really valuable base level Dawa work I'm bigging up their event on Sunday 7th October.
If your wondering where are the posters, there aren't any, since the're using more ecologically friendly alternatives like mass email and this blog! Well, that's the excuse!

 

"Compassion fatigue" another email for  another charity fundraiser-, yep you know the drill,delete it along with the emails for viagra and the 'cant lose' shares  in northern rock (now renamed northern pebble).

      

Please brothers and sisters make an exception with  this one.
Bab es salaam is a Muslim orphanage that opened in 1985  and it currently looks after 27 boys and 9 girls-39 kids whose lives we can change forever (inshaAllah).This the first fundraiser for this orphanage in the UK.

   

The ipo street dawah table project (registered charity no 1080965)  is the uk's only street based dawah project running since 1993. Over 5500 people have embraced Islam through this project Alhamdulillah.

                     

Please come to our fund raising event  on the 7th of October 2007 which will consist of a clothes sale priced at between 50p and £5 per garment- all clothes are brand new and have been donated by 'street talk'- Redhills premier fashion shop. Entertainment will be provided by rapper and poet Sarok, human beatbox champion, Beat Soulja plus up and coming nasheed artists the Brotherz.
The iftar menu is:subukia soup, Lamb stuffed with mince and rice,homus, plus Lebanese pastries and other cakes. The food is being prepared by Londons foremost Lebanese Chef and Cafe Parisianne specialists in French and north african cuisine(Gordon Ramsey eat your heart out! lol).
We intend this to be a short and sweet event InshaAllah ta Allah 5pm start 7-45 finish. Both charities are zakat applicable- please please please attend and  pass this email on.
Make dua that the effort is a success (it may be your dua that makes all the difference) JazakuAllah khair.
Bab es Salaam and IPO fundraiser 7th October 2007 5pm to 7-45 free entry (we request that you contribute towards the iftar.)
Address: Age concern /freindship club, Oxford road north ,Chiswick London w4 4dn for more info call 07838379505.

 

 

 

wa sallam,

 

 

 

Brother Umar (IPO)

Interpal / Islam Channel live appeal

On Friday night (21st September) I'm doing a live appeal with my good pal Yusuf Chambers from around 8:30pm onwards for Interpal

"a non-political, non-profit making British charity that focuses solely on   the provision of relief and development aid to the poor and needy of Palestine   the world over, primarily in Palestine and the refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon."

We will be focusing on raising funds for orphans and helping the Zaytoun olive oil project, aiming for "trade not aid" by selling high quality fair trade organic olive oil produced in Palestine. There are 500 cases up for auction! Tune in to IslamChannel for more info. Inshallah it should be lots of fun and a great motivator also. Donations on the night is what we are looking for! You can also try to phone in and get live on air, but be warned, lines get jammed up quick!

NearFM

Here's the podcast of a show I did for NearFM presented and hosted by Abdul Haseeb in Ireland for his
'Islam in Focus' talk show which goes out every Sunday evening. You can catch it live by logging onto  www.nearfm.ie
The podcast of my interview is at:
http://www.nearfm.ie/podcast/