Life of this world

It's been a while since my last post. Maybe it'll be even more of 'a while' until my next post. Of course, the reason is obvious. Life of this world is taking its toll.

This made me remember this story I heard some time back. A young man was lazing in the beach. An elderly fellow came by, saw him just lazing around, and so approached the man. He asked the man, rather surprisingly, "Why are you wasting your time here doing nothing?" So the young man replied, "What am I to do then?"

The elderly person replied, "Do some work. Get a job. Get married. Make money."

So the man asked again, "And what do I do when I have done all that?"

The elderly person, somewhat surprised and irritated at the young man's foolish attitude, said, "Then you can get yourself a vacation. Go see places. Relax in the beach!"

The young man snapped, "Why do I have to go down that long route and then do something that I am doing already?!"


End of story. Try to think about the morale of the story yourself.

Life is stressful. Unless you're one of those few people who gets almost everything they want. Even then life is stressful for them. If only money could buy happiness, the celebrities would be the happiest people in the world. Yet they are the ones commiting or trying to commit suicides over depression and getting in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Let's quote the Terminator man. Yes you all know him. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Maybe you can't pronounce his last name right, but you'd be one hell of a person if you're reading this blog post yet don't know him.

Arnold says, "Money doesn't make you happy. I now have $50 million, but I was just as happy when I had $48 million."

Well said there.

Let's quote a better person than him. Let's quote an Imaam of the Muslims. Let's quote Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah rahimahullaah.

Ibnul Qayyim said: "This world is like a shadow. If you try to catch it, you will never be able to do so. If you turn your back towards it, it has no choice but to follow you."

There are many amazing life quotes. From people greater in status than Ibnul Qayyim and from people lower in status than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Well I can't be that young man and go relax in the beach right now. I can't be Arnold and say I have $40 million and I wouldn't mind whether it goes up or down by $5 million. Perhaps my solace can only be found in the most truthful of the sayings:

يا أيها الذين آمنوا استعينوا بالصبر والصلاة ... إن الله مع الصابرين

At least the Hispanics haven't betrayed their own kind

Yes, hats off to the Mexican-Americans, the Hispanics who immigrated to United States, for speaking against the belittlement of Hispanics by the 'native Americans' (although the only native Americans are the Indians, so it's more correct to say white, racist and nationalist Americans), for not making a mockery of their own kind, for appreciating the contribution that immigrants have brought in the economy of United States. From the words of the Mexican-American Christina:

Arizona reminds me of 1930′s Germany
It’s been a few days since the SB1070 Immigration bill was signed into law by the governor of Arizona, Jan Brewer (La Brew-Ha como le dicen en facebook.) Y aunque este no es un blog político, si es un blog de la vida en spanglish, so it’s about time I voice my opinion.

Before the hate comments come in (how interesting that when I post something that is immigration related I get a few hate emails which are never published) let me start off by saying there is no easy way out of this immigration mess, no easy single solution that will make everyone happy when it comes to undocumented workers in the US. There are too many obstacles (money, power, race, pride) and too many people (12 million and counting) to solve this in one step.

The debate heats up every year, around the month of May curiously enough, and everybody gets all worked up and passionate abut the subject. But nothing has changed in years and meanwhile people are divided into camps: Pro-Immigration Reform and the “Send them All Back ” groups como los MinuteMen.

But we’ve never seen anything like this. Not even back in the days of 187 in California were people so split on this issue.

The extremist and racist profiling tactics and measures that will now take place legally in Arizona are shocking. I don’t exaggerate when I say it reminds me of Germany, Pre World War II., circa 1930. Back then Jews were blamed for everything from diseases to unemployment to taking away from “rightful” citizens to being a threat to the community. Sound familiar?

It seems the people of Arizona took a note out of history and came up with a law that basically would give a law enforcement official, cualquier policía de la calle, the right to ask anybody that doesn’t look “gringo” enough for proof of residencyor legal status and put you in jail or deport you if you don’t have it with you. I suppose they wouldn’t be looking for Chinese, or European, or Canadians, or African Americans, right? This is a law that is aimed at Hispanics and anyone who “looks” Hispanic. What that means is left up entirely to the law officers judgement.

Everyday I come across different opinions on the subject of immigration. Yes there are way too many people who are here without “legal staus”. Yes the system is broken, yes there are crimes and misdemeanors. However, we are not all criminals, nor thugs, nor abusive “disease ridden illegal aliens who bring lice and diseases across the border” as someone on CNN said recently, imagine that.

What about the millions of hardworking, decent, HUMAN BEINGS that come to work here and grow this country’s economy? What about the people that cook for you in restaurants, wait at your table, clean your office building, park your car, help you out when your car is stranded on the road (it happened to me!), clean your hotel room? What about the construction worker, the janitor, the cook, the nurse, the student with good grades, the nanny, the gardener, the person who helps you carry your groceries, the dishwasher? Don’t they deserve a chance to work/live here legally? Everyday they prove they are worthy of the American Dream. They work hard and provide for their families. I have met people and know stories that inspire, esta gente lo ha sufrido y lo ha vivido. Salen con miedo todos los dias de ser deportados, y aun así se arriesgan. Merecen tener el derecho a trabajar y quedarse aqui. He dicho.

Jan Brew-ha can say this won’t affect Arizona’s economy. Allá ella. We’ll see. For the moment, I won’t so much as spend a cent in AZ, nor drive through there. “I won’t even drink Arizona Tea,” says my friend Mickey Vega. Lo siento por los residentes de su estado, but that’s the way it is.

So that’s my humilde opinión. I have a feeling this time things will be a little different. People are more informed. More vocal.And we now have the power of Facebook! Social Media is a great tool for defending your point of view (either for or against Immigration Reform) and it’s not going anywhere soon. Here’s a few groups that have formed since last week:

1 Million Strong Against Arizona Immigration Law SB 1070.

Possible Illegal Immigrants

Si un policia me dice papeles y yo digo tijeras gano yo

And other links to Presente.org (a great group credited with bringing down Lou Dobbs)

Shame on Arizona

http://lifeinspanglish.wordpress.com/2010/04/28/arizona-reminds-me-of-1930s-germany/

The same cannot be said for many Desi-Brits who themselves belittle the working class Desis (aka South Asians, comprising Bengalis, Indians, Srilankans and Pakistanis) that come to United Kingdom and pump up the economy and clean up the shit. Yes, many of the Bengalis, the Pakis and the Polish come from their countries to United Kingdom to clean your damn shit coz you can't even clean your own shit. They cook curries and let their hands turn yellowish due to the spices, while you laugh at them as you are enjoying the Chicken Tikka Masala from the Indian restaurant. But hey, you're 'born and bred' like the sheep in the land of the kuffaar, so you must have the right to mock at those who weren't?! I have seen the African-Brit standing up for their people from Africa, the Hispanics and the Oriental standing up for their kind, but many of you Paki-Brits and Bengali-Brits continue to show how much of a twisted childhood you had, what education your parents and the society you were 'bred in' gave you, and what type of mental sickness your children is likely to have in future, may Allah guide you.

Woe to you and your despicable racism and nationalism. If it was done by BNP, it could be argued that such racism and nationalism is befitting for them, yet you, from the Ummah of Muhammad, continue to belittle others based on their ethnicity and nationality and work. You'd probably have belitted the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, because he wasn't a Brit with a high-profile job. Shame on you: you pompous, obnoxious and arrogant second and third generation immigrants turning your back against your own people.

From the words of a celebrity Chicano, who publicly commented in reference to those who say Hispanics don't speak English, saying:

You don't think we speak English? We speak English. We speak Spanish because we don't wanna talk to you.

Spiritual Guide or Satanic Guide?

Many groups of Muslims are quite proactive about this 'spiritual' aspect of the deen. Essentially, the intention behind this spiritualness is to purify oneself from lowly desires of this world, to be ascetic. In Arabic, a Zaahid. MashaAllah, which Muslim does not love and desire to be a Zaahid?

What is astonishing is to see the way these groups and individuals try to achieve this spirituality. One adherent to one of these groups comments, "my spiritual guide has found me and has unlocked a door within that has made me close both eyes to finally see with the other..."
So you close your eyes and now you see with the other - and the intent is the inner eye, the spiritual eye. So far so good, eh?

Let me translate a section from the 'wonderful, spiritual' writing of one of their figureheads. It is widely available and distributed in the 'spiritual guides' in South Asia, the likes of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. (This one taken from p. 113 of a 'spiritual' book, from the words of the 'Peer', in the height of his spirituality.)

O Muslim brothers, what is the way forward for me? I now don't know myself. Who am I? I don't know. Which nation do I belong to? Muslim or Jew or fire-worshipper? I cannot say. ...

Now my place (makaan) has been 'la-makan', i.e. without a place. There is no trace of me. There is no life in me, there is no body in me! Even I have forgotten the 'Ishq' (aka prem in hindi/urdu/bengali or intimate love in English) of my 'Mashuk' (the one with whom one does 'Ishq' with, i.e. wife/husband, in this case, referring to Allah, Glory be to Him!). There is nothing about me anymore...

There's more to it. If you get to read it, think for a moment what has been supposedly said by this 'Peer'. Let me end it here with a du'aa, O Allah, I seek refuge in you from such 'spirituality'.

Alhamdulillah

Just want to give thanks to Allah, the Lord of the Universe. For everything big and small that He has endowed me with, every moment of breath He continues to give and more. And Allah says in Surah al-Baqarah 2/152:

فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلا تَكْفُرُونِ

((Therefore remember Me. I will remember you, and be grateful to Me and never be ungrateful to Me))

I therefore say الحمد لله حمداً كثيراً طيباً مباركاً فيه
Transliteration: Alhamdulillaah, hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan feeh
Translation: All praise be to Allah, much good and blessed praise.

I know things don't always turn out the way one wants them to turn out. Even then, alhamdulillaah 'alaa kulli haal (Praise be to Allah, in all circumstances)

And as the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam, said as reported in Musnad Ahmad 2/258,

من لا يشكر الناس لا يشكر الله

((Whoever does not thank the people, does not thank Allah))

I thank my parents, my sister, my aunts, my grandparents, my cousins and uncles, and whoever else I have ties with. It is probably due to your supplications to Allah for me that I am where I am and I stand how I stand. I know I disappoint you lot and cause you to worry countless times ... I probably have not lived up to your expectations. Indeed I cannot live up to the expectations of the One who created me, so I know my worthlessness, despite what you think of me. And I cannot say I am not disappointed at myself, but this is how we learn our lessons, this is why we hope to become better. I'm not the guy to climb Mt Everest and make headlines and I am sorry for giving some of you the impression that I could go even higher. I truly am.

Life is good. It could have been a lot better, just as it could have been a lot worse. So no complaints. Alhamdulillaah wa jazaakumullaahu khair.

And we have lost a mountain of knowledge today

Narrated 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As, that the Prophet of our Lord, peace and blessings be on him, said: "Allah does not take away knowledge (of religion) by taking it away from (the hearts of the) slaves, but He takes it (knowledge of deen) through the death of the Scholars ('Ulama) till no Scholar remains; then people will take as their leaders ignorant people who, when consulted, will give verdicts (and opinions) without knowledge. So, they (the ignorant people asked) will go astray and will lead the people (asking) astray." (Saheeh al-Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim)

I have just heard the news of one such death. And I thank my Lord for giving me the opportunity to see this Scholar live, during one of his lectures, and I supplicate to Allah that He is merciful to this Scholar in his grave. Indeed this is a calamity for the Muslims, may Allah replace him with someone who would be better than him.

Verily to Allah belongs what He took and to Him belongs what He gave, and everything with Him has an appointed time.

(Note: What is the ruling regarding announcing the death of the scholars and other than them via the internet and via news media(services); is this (considered) as an-na'yu (making an announcement of someone's death)?

Answer: Making an announcement about the death of a scholar and others from amongst the Muslims; There is no harm in announcing the death of a Muslim in order to supplicate for him and to offer the (funeral) prayer over him. This is not from an-na'yu. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) informed his Companions about the death of an-Najaashi when he died; So he and his Companions went out (to the masjid) to offer the funeral prayer in absence (of the deceased).)

State Terrorism and the United States: Prelude

The book at my possession is entitled "State Terrorism and the United States" by Frederick H. Gareau, American author and former Professor of Political Science at Florida State University, USA. The book can be ordered online from sites such as Amazon for less than $15 (£20 from Blackwell in UK), published in 2004 by Clarity Press, and I strongly suggest those who are not aware of the deceptive tactics used by US government for decades, to have a go at this book.

The book can be partially read from Google, following this link: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qjcdFLAd9cwC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
Amazon also suggested a book called "How America Gets Away With Murder: Illegal Wars, Collateral Damage and Crimes Against Humanity" by Michael Mandel, a Canadian law Professor specialising in criminal law, with experience of teaching at various Universities in Canada. The books can be bought together for less than $50, but I sincerely hope that this 50 bucks you spending would help you avoid turning into "braindead patriotic Americans/Westerners". And I hate to say this, but there are many ignorant Muslims who have started sympathizing with the oppressive Western political leaders in their oppression, just as a large number of Muslims started supporting al-Qaeda in their oppression.

Some people seem to be just dead silent about the oppression, so I supplicate, may Allah replace people of silence, Muslims and non-Muslims, with people of justness and conscience, even if they are the likes of Tony Benn and Michael Mandel. Because if the religion you follow supports torturing the innocents, then by my Lord, I free myself from your religion. My Lord be praised, the religion I follow offers me salvation and forgiveness for standing against oppression to the best of my ability.

This prelude is just to mention what the book "State Terrorism and the US" is about, what experts have said about it and what the context of the topic is, as inshaAllah, I'd quote sections from the book in future.

Stating what some of the Scholars and Experts said regarding this book:

1. In his State Terrorism and the United States, Frederick Gareau shows that, contrary to the war on terror imagery of a United States hostile to terrorism and dedication to its elimination and to democracy-building, Washington has regularly supported state terrorists (and dictators) who serve US economic and political interests. Using as his evidentiary base the truth commission reports that have followed the ouster of terror regimes in El Salvador, Guatemala, Chile, Argentina and South Africa, along with a varied array of sources for Indonesia, Israel, Iraq (until August 1990), and Nicaragua, he makes his case for vital Washington support for these regimes compellingly and soberly. Gareau stresses throughout how little the US public is permitted to hear about what its government has done, which provides a cover for actions the public might well disapprove, and he ends with an appeal for a much needed truth commission for the United States itself. This book is a valuable addition to the literature on terrorism.

Edward Herman, Professor Emeritus, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, USA

2. Frederick Gareau's State Terrorism and the United States is an important, courageous analysis of America's long involvement in the training of foreign military and police organizations in techniques of torture, assassination, and ethnic cleansing. The US military itself directly committed these types of war crimes in the Phoenix Program of Vietnam, where we killed a minimum of 20,000 people, and in Central America during the Reagan administration. Gareau's research and documentation is path-breaking. The day has arrived when we in the United States desperately need a "truth commission" to examine our own many secret "dirty wars" and hold our military and political leaders accountable. Gareau's chapter one, "The School of the Americas and Terror in El Salvador," is itself worth the price of admission.

Chalmers A. Johnson, American author and Professor Emeritus, University of California, San Diego, USA

This is NOT an anti-Americanism type of book. The author is American and the experts in the field who praised this book are all Americans. And we are not talking about average Tom here; so many laymen would not even understand or have the ability to understand a lot of what is in the book. This is understandable, and I am not saying we should all turn into politicians or go to Universities to study Political Science. In fact, ask yourself, how dumb does one have to be to not understand that the public is kept in the dark by the governments and get away with committing oppression by feeding false information and by using force? Do you need revelation from up the heavens to appreciate that if your mother is gang raped in the name of fighting terrorism or offering freedom, then that is oppression? Do you need revelation to understand that worshipping trees, statues and humans only makes you worse than the tree and the statue?

While it is not about anti-Americanism, many sections of the book provide insight into what triggers anti-Americanism. God willing, I'd touch on that topic some other time, but go ask that Hindu in Kerala, India about America and George Bush and the response you get would be largely similar to what you would get if you ask a Muslim in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. And when a person criticises by saying something starting with "Americans/British are..." then it is not the public/laymen that they are talking about; rather it is the governments, the political and military leaders that they are criticising. Let me state the opening quote from the Introduction of the book, p. 11 (after the contents):

This entire book is written in blood and with much love for our country.

In the footnote on p.11, Professor Gareau mentions, "These words were first written by Cardinal Arns, Archbishop of Sau Paulo, concerning a Archdiocese report on torture in Brazil and I echo them here in this book on state terrorism, with great love for my own country, the United States."

There you go. The book is the research product of an American patriot, a Professor of Political Science, someone who is not braindead to support anything the US government is doing in the name of curbing terrorism and offering freedom. The Introduction (p. 11-21) alone provides his rationale for the book and his motivations for his research (post 9/11, Iraq war, etc).

Terrorism is called Irhaab in Arabic and terrorists are called Irahabis. We do not defend terrorism and terrorists, be them Muslims or non-Muslims, be them people from our own race and nation or even from our own family. This is what I, Ahmad, had to say for the prelude.

News: Zionists strike again, this time an aid ship!

At least nine people have been killed after Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip (BBC News).

What better can you expect from those who killed their own Prophets? I am not even getting into the topic of Jews-Muslims feud as that is not the topic at hand, but seriously, do you people not have the slightest sense and intelligence to appreciate the oppression and state-promoted terrorism that Israelis are committing? And I hate referring that country as "Israel" as it was indeed the name of Prophet Jacob, on whom be the peace from our Lord.

Remember the saying of the Palestinian girl? The video has been removed by the youtube user, and I'd have to dig if there is another copy on the internet, but let's just say, we are humans. We are supposed to have a conscience, a soul. Guess there are exceptions.

Sorry Tony Benn. These scums don't even want to let humanitarian aid reach the people of Gaza.

William Levy: the most beautiful man in the world?

"te amo te amo te amo te amo eres lindo quisiera compartir contigo unos lindos momentos me encantas tanto tu cuerpo tu sonrisa tus labios………………… y todo lo demas"

Ah is there no limit to a celebrity-crush? How can you girls say that to someone who's got a Catholic-Chicana girlfriend with two extra-marital children? And I thought Catholics are quite stern about pre-marital sex. Obviously, Catholicism is, as can be read here. And I know Catholics who, despite doing what they do, have this taboo thing about fornication. Well, South Asians and most of the world have this taboo about sex, but thanks to Westernisation or modernisation or whatever you want to call it, even early teenagers have started playing real orgies these days instead of err.. playing pokemon.

True story. Or not. This Mexican-American dude was saying that he asked his mother, "Ma, where do babies come from?" So his mama was like freaked out that her son asked such a question, so she snapped some stuff in Spanish which kind of translates to, "Why do you wanna know where babies come from?" and did that Catholic thing you know, in the name of father, son and holy spirit with the right hand? The son replied, "Coz I'm 25?!" Maybe it was made up, but you get the point. Don't talk about sex. Let your kids find out on their own when watching some porno with friends! Hmmm, question of the day, how did YOU know all about it?

So they're happy going second base and maybe a liiiiiiittle bit further, but not all the way down because the Bible would then call them whoremongers ('players' in modern-day usage) and whores (suit your modern day imagination for this one). This just gave me an idea. I gotta ask something to this Colombian Catholic I know. Gotta hay while the sun shines.

Right, so all you Spanish-speaking Catholic fans of William Levy, know that you're saying all that to a whoremonger. And I guess you don't mind being whores either, if the whoremonger is William Levy. Ah, one very crucial reason why a guy wants to be a millionaire, a celebrity.

Add to that, Levy converted to Catholicism in 2009. I wondered why. I believe there can be only two reasons why you want to convert to Catholicism/Hinduism (doesn't include those who are raised Catholics so no pun intended):

1. You love worshipping idols and statues. It's ingrained in your genes?!
2. You do it because you want some worldly gain out of it.

I was right. For Levy, it was the second. From his words:

"Lo hice porque si el día de mañana quiero casarme, porque sí quiero hacerlo, necesito de estos sacramentos"

Nice. I know nuns don't get married. But 'religious sisters' do. It probably wouldn't be a disastrous thing to get married to a Catholic 'religious sister'.

Anyway, back to the title of the post. I see he's not ugly by any means, well he's a model, but the most beautiful man on the planet? Can the word 'beautiful' be even used literally for a guy?

Damn I just found out that there's a whole 'beautiful men' contest going in this crazy world. Here's one such beautiful man (it's not my words!):

I hope you girls can sleep tight, now that you've seen him.

For your own sake Argentina, don't win the World Cup!

Football legend and current Argentine coach Diego Maradona has promised to strip and run naked in the streets of Argentine capital, Buenos Aires (News) if Argentina wins the World Cup Football 2010 in South Africa starting soon.

Out of all ways to express your joy, you had to choose to strip publicly, you 49-year old Diego? Well I guess you still have lousy fans who'd love to see you naked, but please, put up a private web cam show instead.

I like seeing Argentina win, but I hope, at least for the sake of Argentines, they don't win this time around. I mean it's not even Messi who promised to be naked.

Buenos Aires, here comes the naked butt and the rest of the package from that god of yours. At least don't let your kids get on the street that day. You already made 'hand of god' out of Diego, please don't make a 'butt of god' (if not worse) out of him too.

Good News: Another militant-terrorist arrested in Bangladesh

Police in Bangladesh have arrested JMB (Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh) chief Saidur Rahman al-Irhabee, his wife and three other top leaders of their group (News). Alhamdulillah.

During the police raid, the cops also recovered a huge cache of bomb-making materials, firearms and ammunition and books that incite terrorism in the misnomer of 'Jihaad'. (You can watch the news showing the disgusting Mufsid and his cronies, in the Bengali news from here, news starts from 3:30.)

If you are aware of any terrorist and terrorist-activity in Bangladesh, you can report it to the concerned security, after completing free registration, from here. This includes the foreign links that these terrorists have in UK, USA and elsewhere; hence any information that you can reliably provide about these terrorists, please report them to the authority.
Alternatively, the security can be contacted in person or by telephone, with contact details given: http://www.rab.gov.bd/contact_us.php

Replying to a query, the Police Chief Muhammad said that since militancy is now a global phenomenon, Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) might have connections with militant groups in neighbouring countries. May Allah reward the Police Chief Muhammad Nur and forgive him his shortcomings and guide him to what is good.

Tracking down the terrorists and safeguarding lives of innocents is a great Jihaad, may Allah reward the Mujahideen who are tracking them and risking their lives and the lives of their family.

These JMB frauds have connections with the disgusting frauds in UK called Islam4UK that changes their colours like the British weather, and also with the other internet terrorists who are happily "waging their Jihaad" on the internet while seeking help from the British and American government and paying taxes to them. These JMB hypocritical people (hypocrisy in action) are distributing their falsehood over youtube, whilst living in America and UK - the supposed Daarul Harb!

Yo takfiris and cyber-jihadis, here's a site that sells cheap tickets to and fro Afghanistan: http://www.liligo.co.uk/airline-tickets/cheap-ticket-afghanistan/ (took me about 5 seconds on google)
Get out of your comfort homes, stop complaining that you cannot go and join OBL and his crew (or openly declare yourself a hypocrite), stop making takfeer of your family and friends and the rest of the Ummah, and get your filthy asses to Afghanistan if you are truthful.
(And by the way, could you please ensure you return the Red British Passport or the Blue American Passport to the authority once you're in Afghanistan? Also, a written declaration of how and your mentors, such as Abu Qatadah and Omar Bakri, obtained their red passports in the first place would also be beneficial for the common people.
Also, I know your kinds well enough and the deceptive counter responses you give, but to save your time, here's a list of uninhabited islands, where you can try going and establish 'Khilaafah' and supposedly rule by laws of Allah and His Messenger. Just don't come back to daarul kufr, deal?)

May Allah aid the Muslim security officials in Saudi, in Bangladesh, in Pakistan and elsewhere, those who have the intention of stopping mischief-makers in their lands.