What am I reading?

In these turbulent times of mass killings, predicted in the Prophetic Traditions as signs of end of times, "we need to more religious than ever," says Yasir Qadhi, a Traditionalist Muslim Scholar, Ph.D candidate for Islamic Studies @ Yale University. I'm reading following lecture of Hikhim-ul-Ummat, Hazrat Ashraf Ali Thanwi (r.a): On leaving sins (click to open). Unfortunately, the transcript is available in Urdu, which is, also, difficult to read for people less proficient in Urdu, although footnotes are quite helpful. You can also download it by clicking on "Title" on right panel and then click on "Download".

Lahore Attacks

I'm feeling very sad and disturbed. They say a small number of people in the name of Islam, with technological devices, did this bloodshed of non-Muslims, i.e., Qadyanis. They're not injuring anyone, nor creating social disturbance. The gathering in their worship people would definitely have included children or even women, above all, innocent people, hopefully. The fact that it is done by someone in the name of Islam disturbs me most. If it is true, then I must say my faith, the faith of fitrah, the Primordial and Last religion of God is being hijacked by psycho-paths.

I don't know what could legitimize these deadly attacks in Lahore. They say Islamic extremists have did this - (and I use "extremist" only for those who injure innocent people without any right, or even kill them, indiscriminately) - then all should know that homocide and suicide are two biggest sins in Islam and reward for it is hell. Nonetheless, nobody should assume which community did this horrendous act at the outlook, before outrightly blaming people with beards...

 May Allah make Pakistan a global leader in peace and belief in Transcendence, as well.

Qada Umari: Making up Salats Missed in a Lifetime

By Mufti Shafiq Jakhura

Q. Is there any proof from authentic ahadith of Qada Umari?

A."Hazrat Anas ibn Maalik (R.A.) narrates in a hadith of Sahih Bukhari that Rasulullah mentioned:

من نسي صلاة فليصل اذا ذكرها لا كفارة لها الا ذلك

" Whoever forgets to pray a Salah, it is obligatory upon him that he pray that Salah when he remembers. There is no other way that this can be made up." ( Sahih Bukhari , Kitaabul Mawaaqeet - Hadith 597)

The words of Rasulullah in a hadith of Muslim are as follows:

اذا رقد احدكم عن الصلاة او غفل عنها فليصل اذا ذكرها فان الله عز و جل يقول اقم الصلاة لذكري

" Whenever one of you misses a Salah due to sleeping or due to negligence, it is obligatory upon him that he pray the Salah when he remembers it because Allah (SWT) has metioned, "Perform Salah when you remember me" (Hadith 1569)

In a Hadith of Sunan Nas'ai it is mentioned:

سئل رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم عن الرجل يرقد عن الصلاة او يغفل عنها قال كفارتها ان يصلها اذا ذكرها

" Rasulullah was asked regarding a person who misses a Salah due to sleep or negligence. Rasulullah mentioned that its compensation is that he should perform the Salah when he remembers. "(Nasaai p 171)

These Ahadith as well as many others are clear that any Salah that has been missed must be performed when one remembers. In fact the ayah of the Qur’an recited by Rasulullah in the hadith of Muslim above, also indicates that this ayah of the Holy Quran refers to qada Salah as well, as it was recited in the context of qada.

There is a consensus among the jurists that qada must be made for missed Salahs.

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best!

Source.

Perennial Quest of Soul

There's an element in our soul, perennial, that wants to seek out Al-Haqq, Allah, and to experience Him, because it yearns to bow before, worship this Supreme Being. It is so beautiful that all beauties of world combined cannot match its serenity. And Allah does not look at our physical outlook, or we can say at our beauties, wealth, etc., but on our heart is His eye fixed!

(Sources: Living Sufism, by S. Hossein Nasr. Iqbal and Quranic Wisdom (?), by Prof. M. Munawar. Al-Quran.)

Fast Food & Haste

I have always been suspicious of nasty old fast food that caused trouble in my stomach when I used to have a liking of it. But since when i have left eating this un-nurturing, little morsels of suspicious meat, cooked in utter 'hastiness', believe me not, my quality of life has increased mani-fold, saving my pocket as well ;) What follows here is research done on the behaviors of fast-food consumers by Toronto University, namely: Fast Food and Impatience; moreover, i received the following summary in an email by Harvard Business Review, The Daily Stat:

Does Fast Food Make People Hasty Well as Hungry?


20% speedier reading. People who had been subliminally exposed to fast-food logos read a 349-word passage in an average of 69 seconds, compared with a control group's 84 seconds, though there was no time pressure, according to a study of 57 undergraduates. Researchers Chen-Bo Zhong and Sanford E. DeVoe of the University of Toronto suggest that the time-saving principle embodied by fast food unconsciously induces haste.

Read research here (pdf).

Group dynamics

Working in a group is like making a beautiful, classical mosaic. It has unity, diversity and coherence, resulting in serenity.

A team work is also like the bowl, heart is. It has many veins, going out in various directions. In order for it to breathe harmoniously, all inputs must be pure, enthusiastic and mixable with total integration. Output: Life.

Rememberance

Today in evening, as I returned from Gujranwala, a city in Punjab, from the marriage ceremony of a pious and scholarly friend, Allah gave me opportunity of attending a conference of ulema commemorating the life and efforts of Hazrat Khawaja Khan Muhammad, who recently passed out. One observation struck me, for it exactly matched with an intuition/feeling of my own that i personally felt about Hazrat Jee whenever i reflected over his death.

One scholar compared the time of Hazrat Jee's birth and death. "When he came into this world, he was crying in pain, and everyone around him laughed and smiled in joy, or even ecstasy. People were distributing sweets in streets and homes. It was a moment of celebration. Why it wouldn't be, as it clearly was a blessing for this ummah, his birth!

"And when he died - he left this world smiling towards his Rabb, Creator and Sustainer, leaving everyone behind him crying in sorrow!" I feel deprived these days of a shelter and of spiritual support, and it only increases as i hear or read more about what he did for the defense of Finality of Prophet of Muhammad... May Allah give Hazrat Jee highest rank in paradise, forgive him totally... Aameen!

***

Later this day, i visited the grand Lahore fort, a place where Mughal emperors (e.g., Shah Jehan) lived, if that's a right designation, excuse me if not. I saw Sheesh Mehal, its extravagantly decorated buildings, swimming pools, courts and gifts for musicians and lady dancers. Actually, i saw the worship of passions of one's self seemed to be at its height in those days in those wretched and dismantled buildings which seem to be haunted by evil spirits (that's the general environment for any sensitive eye)... And now the fools are after safeguarding every detail of it, every painting of lady dancers and those drunken parties, painted on the walls...

Nonetheless. i thought: What comparison between the two histories that I have just mentioned...! Dictionaries would end up if we start describing these two histories - one of taqwa and the other of pangs of power corruption, lustful self-indulgence and what not - yet what would live for eternity would definitely live for eternity. May we have a strong, inner sense of what's useful and what's useless. May it also be reflected in what we think, speak and act upon... May we love Allah "with all our heart, with our mind..."

Literacy, Grammar and Thinking

Ever heard about 'grammar', 'literacy' and 'thinking skills'? Here's a perspective that would ever more illuminate your illuminated mind. A talk on these "keywords" by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. Thanks to International Board of Educational Research and Resources (their website is worth visiting, filled with extraordinary resources). Watch the enlightening talk session here. (i tried to embed it, but it was too big to fit in here.)

Shaan/Honour of a Mu'min

I read the following hadith on blog Pearls of Wisdom. Comprehend the sanctity of a Mu'min, or a God-fearing believer:

"Abdullah Ibne Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrates that Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) looked at the Ka'bah and said La Ilaha Illallah, how pure you are, and how sweet is your fragrance and how great is your honour! However the honour of a Mu'min (believer) is greater than yours. Indeed, Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) has made you respectable; (likewise) the wealth, the blood, and the honour of a Mu'min has been made respectable; and Allah( subhanahu wa ta'ala) has forbidden us to suspect him of wrongdoing." [Emphasis added.]

Source.

KBS Update

Alhamdulilah, Kirana Bar School today finished its fourth week - a milestone for the administration.

Note: I am not involved in school. Right now I live in another city, so the credit goes to administration, directors, teachers, students and parents.