Ahmad Goes to Catholic Church (P1a)

Yes, the title of the post is correct. It's been some time since I thought about it, and I finally turned it into reality.

Now I was not raised a Christian. I've never been to a Church before and I suppose that is the case for the overwhelming majority of Muslims who have been born and raised in a Muslim family. The atheists pick on the theists the easy way: you're a Hindu because you were raised a Hindu; you're a Muslim coz you're raised a Muslim. That is NOT the reality for many of us. Some of us are Hindus not just because we were raised as Hindus - it's because we have realised worshipping statues and animals and trees and accepting dowries is the truth! Likewise, many of us are Muslims because we have realised statues made of mud and clay, living beings that one can kill in a moment, is anything but God! Ah isn't that so utterly obvious?! Our Lord be Praised!
As for me, then I have embarked on a spiritual journey for a long long time. I have questioned myself over and over again, and continue to do so, in order to reach the truth, may God guide me. I ask God to guide me to the Straight Path frequently, so it's not just an expression, it's a fact. I've had "intellectual" discussions with knowledgeable Christians back in the days and I hope to touch on some of what I have experienced. But it's important to know what one is talking about; it's easy saying I'm right and you're wrong when you're too afraid to take even a step beyond your bubble.

So I am going to share my experience of Church and what it endorses, and this is my first week of going to a Church and experience things first-hand. Now I'm not encouraging any Muslim to do what I am doing, but personally speaking, I am who I am because I have asked my Lord over and over again to Guide me, and had Hinduism been the religion that I felt to be true, I would have renounced my faith for the truth. I don't consider my upbringing and the comfortable bubble that I lived in when I question my soul. My Lord be Praised. When I mentioned that I'm going to Church today to a Muslim, I was jokingly asked, Have I left Islam? I smiled to myself. Leave Islam for what? Give me something better and I will show you why it's actually worse.

For any Christian, I just ask you for one thing. Go to a Mosque. See Islam as a whole and what is the fundamental message that it stands for. Here is Ahmad, going to the Church and not just talking based on what I have been fed by others. I have sacrificed my gym session this morning for the Church and that is a big thing in my life currently! So please take that extra step and go to a Mosque nearby on a Friday. Choose different Mosques if you want. I'd try going different Churches every other week. Fair deal?

Arrite so which Church?

St John's Catholic Church

My first week- I've chosen it to be a Catholic Church. Reasons include:

• The Church was built in the 19th century and from an architectural point of view, it's one of the things England is known for. I can't say I'm not tempted to see what it's like inside and out.
  
• I chose this particular Church because it so happened that the Church is just opposite to my friend's place and a 2-minutes walk from the Mosque. It's only natural that I went there - it's like putting on an underwear before you put on a trouser!


• I chose a Catholic Church not for any particular reason. I wanted to start with an Anglican Church but I guess it doesn't matter much. I'd probably go to an Anglican Church in near future so we're on the same page. If you're a Christian and you want me to go to a particular type of Church, feel free to comment and I'll see if we have that kind of Church in my area. I live in a city full of Churches and pubs so finding your particular denomination won't be hard I suppose.


• The Church runs two local schools and is the Catholic authority in my city. It's obviously not just any Church - it's the happening Church!

Which day?

I chose today, Sunday 16th May 2010. Why? Isn't that obvious? Coz it's a SUNDAY. It's the day when many non-practising Christians go as well, thereby being known as Sunday Church goers. In Islam, there is Friday Mosque goers, but let's not go into that now as I myself hardly go to a Mosque except on Fridays! The fact that my city has just one Mosque and tens of Churches doesn't help.

So if I go again, it'd be again on Sundays. The reason is obvious. You have communal worship on Sundays in a Church and that is the best day to see as much as one can see about the Church and the Christians. I say again, I have sacrificed my morning gym session because of this, and that tells you the effort I am putting into this! Damn I probably gained a kilo because of this.

From the outside

It's quite catchy from the outside to be honest. I guess it's one of the things that tourists come and see in this city. Let me put some pics. I've never uploaded pics in blogs before although it's very common to put loads of random pics in personal blogs. So I guess this is the start of uploading pics. Note that the pictures are not to show my skills or lack-of in photography, nor to show how bad or good my camera was. They are the least one should worry about. The pics are to show what it was and what it stands for, to all those who do not know.

Now what does the inside look like? Here's being honest - my only experience of Churches is from the TV shows and movies that showed Churches and does it look the same in reality? Precisely! It's just like what you see in movies.

From the inside
Here's when it gets really confusing. I've been to a Hindu temple before - the big Balaji temple in Birmingham, England. If I didn't know enough, I'd have said this is a Polytheistic Temple. You don't believe me? Go to the Hindu temple and see it for yourself. How much a Hindu Temple and a Catholic Church have in common. Seriously.



Here is the classic idolatry shown opposite. Don't try telling me the background history for this pic. I tell you what it is as it looks like: it is showing two white statues - one a woman and one an almost naked man about to pass away. Probably you'd say it's Jesus and his mother. Shame on you. This is the big statue in your Catholic Church.

Statues such as the one on the right are ALL over the Church, next to the large windows. Catholics, you REALLY need to go to a Hindu temple and question yourself. I am not sure if you follow Hinduism or a monotheistic religion?

The one on the left is the symbolic statue in any Catholic Church. Or maybe any Christian Church (I will check other non-catholic churches later). The crucifying Jesus statue central to the Church in front of the masses, showing what Christianity is about. It's not about Abraham and his fighting against polytheists and idolatry, it's not about Noah and his fighting against his idol worshipping people, it's not about Moses and his fight (read 'Jihaad') against the idol-worshippers (read 'Mushriks'). Christianity is about the god being tortured and dying on a cross!

The one on right is the front section of the Church, where you have the Bishop and other Church authoritative figures doing what they do. I swear by my Lord, I felt like I was in a Hindu temple. It's almost identical to the Balaji temple in Birmingham. Don't take my word for it if you don't want to, O intelligent Christians, visit a large Hindu temple yourself!







And big human statues continue all around. The one on the left is just next to the central section of the Church. I never thought about it before, like why don't Christians make a fuss over statues and idols like Muslims do? Now after today I think about it and it comes like completed legos: it's because statues and idols are central to their faith, to their place of worship. Is this what Abraham preached? Which of you people voted 'Yes' in the poll on my blog?












Ignore the cute kid in the pic. I suck at guessing the gender of babies and kids so I don't want to embarrass myself, but I'm pretty sure the kid's a 'he'. The Catholic Church has this cute area called "St Benedict Pray for Us" and kids and people come in and probably ask "St Benedict" to pray for them. I thought it's the living Pope Benedict they are referring to, but no. it's the dead St Benedict of Nursia.

Here's an important thing to learn for Muslims. Which Muslims do you find praying to the dead hoping the dead pray for them? Yes, you know who. I think they borrowed it from this Catholic tradition. How pitiful of such Muslims to ask the dead to pray for the living, when it is the dead that needs the prayer of the living! Do you not have sense that a dead's a dead?! Why on earth do some of you Muslims ask the dead? Ask your LORD or is your Lord not enough to answer your prayer? It is these Catholics that introduced asking to the dead! Ask the pious amongst the living one to pray for you. Ask your parents, for the sake of your Lord!!! And please pray for the dead; not ask the dead to pray for you!

Okay this is the last pic for this part. It's another section next to the central section. You have many such enclosed sections with idols in a Hindu temple, so I can only guess, it's there for the same reasons. Saw two women lighting a candle and stuff in front of the gate, don't know what that means. Don't really care much. I have had enough.






The reality
So there you go. Idols after idols, statues after statues. St. this and that, lord this and that. Frustrating really to see such things from those who claim to adhere to a monotheistic religion that had Abraham and Moses as the Prophets. I haven't even started talking about what I experienced in the communal service! God willing, I'd do it in a separate post.

Now there are mosques with decorative insides and from an architectural point of view, they are quite fascinating to see. Mosques in South Asia built by the Moghul empire, mosques in Egypt and Syria and other than that have lavish decorations inside. There is no religious justification for such things whatsoever, all I can say is they look nice just a glittering neon light looks nice. But if you study what original Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad looked like, you'd know what constitutes as the Muslim place of worship. Muslims go to Mosques to worship their Lord. Period. Nothing more, nothing less.

Let me end this post with some good old Verses from Old Testament. Think for a moment what was what the Lord commanded to Moses in Bible, and what is it that you Christians do, in the name of following an Abrahamic religion, in the name of being against paganism and idolatry. Such a shame. If what is inside the Catholic Church is not directly idolatry and paganism that violates one of the Ten Commandments, I don't know what does. I don't see any difference between the Balaji Temple and the Catholic Church. Nothing substantial anyway.

Idolatry Forbidden
15 You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, 16 so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, 18 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. 19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. 20 But as for you, the LORD took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.
21 The LORD was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the LORD your God is giving you as your inheritance. 22 I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land. 23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. 24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

25 After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God and provoking him to anger, 26 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. 27 The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. 28 There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. 29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

(Deutoronomy, the fifth book of Hebrew Bible, Chapter 4)

The Ten Commandments
6 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

7 "You shall have no other gods before [a] me.

8 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below."

(Deutoronomy, Chapter 5)

What can I say? There are so many Verses that speak against this abhorrent practice of idolatry, that I truly believe anybody getting rid of preconceived dogma should be able to see and appreciate how despicable Catholic places of worship, its rituals and what it stands for have turned into. Sorry, I couldn't put it any milder. I am not Moses or Jesus, but I can bet that they would have left you and your despicable practices like they left the despicable practices during their times.

What's a blog for?

Thought of the day. After I came across yet another blogger with the most random post ever.

He says:

Voting in the election
Tonight, I voted in the General Election. My local polling station was at Widcombe Baptist Chapel shown below. I am currently watching results come in. It is now 12.40am and so far there have only been five declarations.

How random! What the hell does that got to do with anything in this world?! Of course he was referring to the British parliamentary election that's gone past yesterday, but seriously, what's his 4 statements post for and what's a blog for? Ah, wikipedia saved the day!

Personal blogs
The personal blog, an ongoing diary or commentary by an individual, is the traditional, most common blog. Personal bloggers usually take pride in their blog posts, even if their blog is never read. Blogs often become more than a way to just communicate; they become a way to reflect on life, or works of art. Blogging can have a sentimental quality.

That clears up. The dude was making an entry in his web diary, and taking pride in it, even if it never gets read. But I read it and my blog is personal too! So here's a better diary entry from your guy next door:

Today I felt like a zombie, only I craved for sleep instead of blood. That's because I have not slept more than 3 hours in the last 30 hours, and my only source of caffeine was two Red Bull drinks. I also went to supermarket and saw some British soldiers, one of them having the tag name 'Butcher'.

What's the fuss about the election anyway?
Without getting into politics, people and the media are really overdoing this election thing. It's getting on my nerves now. I got hold of the news that an Oxford grad Bengali woman has been elected for the first time from an East London centre. I hope she changes things around, because her neighbourhood is one of the dirtiest and stinkiest neighbourhood in Britain and it shows what can happen when South Asian minorities turn into majority over good old whites. I'm so glad I don't live there.

Is this a Chapter from Quran or Hebrew Bible?

This goes out to all Jews and Christians who are Islamophobes. If you are not an Islamophobe Jew or a Christian, disregard this post and move on ...

Idolaters Killed
1. Then I heard Him call out in a loud voice, "Bring the guards of the city here, each with a weapon in his hand." 2. And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3. Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side 4. and said to him, "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it."

5. As I listened, He said to the others, "Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. 6. Slaughter old men, young men and maidens, women and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple.

7. Then He said to them, "Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go!" So they went out and began killing throughout the city. 8. While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown, crying out, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?"

9. He answered me, "The sin of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. They say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.' 10. So I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done."

11. Then the man in linen with the writing kit at his side brought back word, saying, "I have done as you commanded."

Ezekiel 9 (New International Version)

I have not left any Verse from Chapter 9 of the Book of Ezekiel, so as not to hear I've misquoted or partially quoted. It's from the NIV, the other older versions are even harsher. Next time someone hears those scumbags Nick Griffin (Chairman of BNP in UK), Robert Spencer (author of numerous so-called exposition of Islamic terrorism books) and other scumbags like them talk about taking out the Quraan, while they think they can portray Judaism and Christianity as peace-loving, tolerable religions, tell them to swallow these Verses (and MANY like them) with a gulp first. Heck, these Islamophobes are no better than the disgusting terrorist Osama bin Laden.

I tell you what: the Islamophobic Jews and Christians are sheer hypocrites. No exaggeration there. You keep defying what 'your Lord' says in the Bible you hold onto, and think you can attack Islam with your petty talks. Your version of god would probably have come and wrestled you on the earth, if that version was true. In fact, look at what "your Lord" says in the Chapter quoted. For all the bloodshed, injustice and idolatry that you hold onto, "your Lord" would probably have asked someone bloodthirsty like Osama bin Laden (OBL) to wipe you out. OBL should hide behind the Hebrew Bible when he kills the innocents, not the Quran or Islam; because it's the Bible that authorizes indiscriminate killing. (For just one refutation out of the tens of refutations of filthy terrorism that the likes of OBL promote, read this.)

The man in linen did as his Lord commanded: which is killing them all, showing no mercy. So you as a God-loving Jew or a Christian, would you not do the same as that man in linen?

Filth and hypocrisy is all these Islamophobes can offer. God willing, just as many others have exposed these hypocrites, I'd produce more detailed posts addressing them and their "proofs" later.

A beneficial blog from one of our brothers should be checked by those who question their souls. The brother is a Chicano who left Christianity for Islam.

Migraine Gives Woman Foreign Accent

Ever wondered what a white British lady would sound like speaking English with a Chinese accent? No, she is not a comedian or doing it for any show. She had migraine issues and developed what is called a Foreign Accent Syndrome. So all women out there, beware!

Well I guess I developed it too, playing too much GTA 4 over a 6-month period! Or maybe I just like the accent of Eastern Europeans and want to sound like them. I so wish one day I wake up with an Irish accent -- that's the only cool accent I can't do no matter how hard I try.

Strange world!

A woman from Devon has begun speaking with a Chinese accent after suffering severe migraines.

Thirty-five-year-old Sarah Colwill puts the startling change down to an extremely rare medical condition known as Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS).

"I knew I sounded different but I didn't know how much and people said I sounded a bit Chinese.

"Then I had another attack and when the ambulance crew arrived they said I definitely sounded Chinese."

The rare disorder is thought to be caused by strokes and brain injuries and causes sufferers to lose the ability to talk in their native accent.

There have been an estimated 60 recorded cases of FAS since it was first identified in the 1940s.

I am frustrated to sound like this. I just want my own voice back, but I don't know if I will get it back.

Sarah Colwill

Mrs Colwill, who lives in St Budeaux in Plymouth, Devon, with her husband Patrick said her accent change had been startling.

"I spoke to my stepdaughter on the phone from hospital and she didn't recognise who I was.

"She said I sounded Chinese. Since then I have had my friends hanging up on me because they think I'm a hoax caller."

After researching FAS on the internet Mrs Colwill has been in contact with doctors from Oxford University who are interested in studying her plight.

She is undergoing speech therapy to try to revert to her West Country accent.

"I am frustrated to sound like this. I just want my own voice back, but I don't know if I will get it back."

John Coleman, a professor of phonetics at Oxford University, said: "FAS is extremely diverse, almost certainly not 'one thing', not a well-defined medical phenomenon.

Sarah Colwill -Pics from SWNS agreed by Grippo

Sarah Colwill says her stepdaughter failed to recognise her voice

"It is not the kind of problem that there are any easy generalisations about."

Sufferers can develop an accent without ever having been exposed to it as it is the change in speech patterns from a brain injury which causes the lengthening of syllables, change in pitch or mispronunciation of sounds.

Experts believe FAS is triggered following a stroke or head injury, when tiny areas of the left side of the brain linked with language, pitch and speech patterns are damaged.

The result is often a drawing out or clipping of the vowels that mimic the accent of a particular country, even though the sufferer may have had limited exposure to that accent.

One of the first reported cases was in 1941 when a Norwegian woman developed a German accent after being hit by bomb shrapnel during an air raid.

As a result, she was shunned by her community, who falsely believed she was a German spy.

In 2006 Linda Walker, 60, woke from a stroke to find that her Geordie accent had been transformed into a Jamaican one. (Sky News)

Look at some of the comments. One said it's all fake because she is now using incorrect English grammar like many Chinese people in UK. Haha I'd be rich if you'd give me a pound for every time I hear a British speaking with an incorrect English grammar even with a British accent. Allow. It's normal to say "How's you" and not "How're you"...

It's funny because only few weeks back I watched this episode of TV series Lost, where this South Korean lady forgot how to speak English after she hit her head and became unconscious. Now she could speak and understand English before that happened, but after the accident, she can understand English and write in English but can't speak English. I thought that's only possible in a strange serial such as Lost, but not in the real world. Well, reality is often stranger than fiction!

Retard for American Idol! Yes, we love America

I don't watch American Idol or Indian Idol or whatever idol you got going. I don't see singers as any kind of idols. Do you all know the Chris Brown story? The 19-year old who whacked his ex-girfriend Rihanna? There's the idol for the singer lovers. Stand-up comedian D L Hughley rightly said about Chris Brown:

"They said Chris Brown was the role model. Let me tell you something: Chris Brown is a 19 year old boy. If you have a 19-year old child as your fuckin' role model, you're a goddamn idiot. That's the fuck you are.
I've got a 19 year old son and I don't even leave him home by himself!"

Yeah the truth hurts. Anyway, this youtube video was sent to me by a friend of mine.



I just got thinking, is this retard for real? But he got some good comments right there.
"As a tax paying American, I wanna see your working visa" to the British Simon Cowell. Yeah that red passport ain't that red on the other side of the Atlantic.

Hoisin Duck: Your ideal saucy Chinese takeaway

Time for some more ramble. To keep up with the rest of the 'normal' bloggers.

So I had today what is called 'Hoisin Duck'. It's a Chinese main dish that's got sliced duck with green peppers and water chestnuts in a hoisin sauce. Is it me or do all Chinese dishes are just too saucy?

When people say, Indian dish, you'd think yeah it's 'spicy'. And it's true. South Asians have a thing for extreme spice and extreme sweets. And no, that vindaloo dish ain't spicy at all. It's been watered down so that non-Indians can eat that! Similarly, when people say Middle Eastern dish, you'd think some 'meaty kebab' dish. If you're around Bristol in England, I recommend trying the Lebanese restaurant called Sands Restaurant. I went there some years back and my taste buds still haven't forgotten whatever lamb dish I had.

Anyway, back to hoisin duck. I am a meat-eater and I LOVE meat and would victimise the vegetarians. Yeah, that's me. The more meaty it is, the better. So I had good thoughts about hoisin duck but it kinda disappointed me. Maybe because I don't find the idea of cooking anything with a lot of sauce a good thing. And Chinese dishes are full of sauce. It's soya sauce AND that vinegar AND hoisin sauce or this and that sauce.

I had a Chinese housemate few years back and he invited me to this dinner and since then, I realised Chinese dishes are saucy. Maybe if you're up for a saucy meal, this hoisin duck would do just the thing for you.

How come Brits get to eat Oriental meal with chopsticks?

I'm serious. I went to this social dinner with my work colleagues last summer and we went to this Chinese restaurant. Now everybody except me started eating with chopsticks. And I can't even hold them right, let alone eat with them. So I raised this point in the table. And they reminded me the fact that Brits of the old have ruled and exploited much of the world so Brits can do it all. They are more Chinese than the new-age Chinese-Brits. It made sense.

Poem - One Step Nearer

I am not a poet. I don't do poems. But I would share some poems from this individual called Stanley Smith from England. I think I saw him in a mosque or a community hall once, but I can't be sure. He's a white man past his 50s - a man who embraced Islam, who embraced the truth. The poems are quite good I'd say, for what it's worth.

From his words:

"These poems would never have been written had it not been for the inspiration I received from reading the Koran (it's pronounced Qur'aan, Uncle) and for all the help I have received from my friends, who have helped me to begin to understand and opened my eyes.

I only hope that in some way these verses will touch the hearts of those that read them.

I hope I continue to progress and that I can be worthy."

One Step Nearer

Are you one step nearer
To fulfilling your dream
Or has it become just a might have been
The star you saw within your grasp
Did it slip through your fingers
A thing of the past

Are you footsore and weary
Made many mistakes
But don't give up now
You are reaching the gates
The gates that will open like the sun after rain
Restoring your soul
All has not been in vain

Allah was with you
And when you were weak
Gave you rest for a moment
Put salve on your feet
Kept the light burning
You knew from within
Although the flame flickered
It never went dim

The time will come surely
Before Him we stand
Here I am Allah
Await your command
And hopefully then
You will realize too
The dream that you had
Has become really true

The greatness of Imam ash-Shafi'i and respect for him from his student Imam Ahmad

I had to share this. I just had to. It is sufficient to say that I love the Salaf (righteous predecessors) that followed the Messenger of Allah and exemplified the way for the believers to be righteous and fearful of the Most Majestic, the Lord of the Universe.

I am talking about the two distinguished Imams (leaders) of the Ummah - Muhammad ibn Idrees ash-Shaafi'ee and Ahmad ibn Hanbal ash-Shaybanee. The latter came after the former and was a student of the former.

Things Are Not Always What They Seem…

Imam Ahmad used to mention the virtues of his Shaykh (teacher), Imam ash-Shafi'ee, to his wife. He would mention to her the extensive and superb knowledge of Imam Ash Shafi'ee as well as his taqwaa (i.e. piety).

Imam Ahmad invited Imam Ash Shafi'ee to come visit him at his home. When the time for dinner arrived, Imam Ash Shafi'ee ate until he was full and went to the guest room for some sleep.

The wife of Imam Ahmad said to him: "O Ahmad! Is this the same Shafi'ee that you used to tell me so much about?"

Imam Ahmad said: "Indeed he is!"

So she said: "I noticed three things about him worthy of criticism! Firstly, when we served him the food, he ate plenty of it! Secondly, when he went into the guest room, he went to sleep without standing up to perform the night prayer (i.e. tahujjud)! Lastly, when he prayed Salat ul Fajr (Fajr prayer) with us, he did not perform ablution (i.e. wudhu)?!"

So Imam Ahmad went to Imam Ash Shafi'ee to ask him about these three matters his wife noticed.

Imam Ash Shafi'ee said to him, (the way a father would explain to his son):

"O Ahmad! I ate plenty because I know for certain that your food is halaal (i.e. permissible islamically) and you are a generous man! And the food that comes from a generous man is a cure, while the food that comes from a stingy man is a disease!

However, I didn’t eat plenty of food in order to achieve my fill; rather I ate plenty of your food in order to derive the cure from it! As for the reason I didn’t stand up at night to perform the night prayer, when I laid my head down to get some sleep, I looked and all I could see was the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (Sallahu alaihi wa salam) right in front of my face! So I deducted 72 fiqh(jurisprudence) related benefits from them for the Muslims to benefit from.

Thus there was no opportunity for me to stand and perform the night prayer!

As for the reason why I prayed Salat ul Fajr without performing ablution, by Allah! My eyes never tasted the sweetness of sleep in order for me to renew my wudhu (ablution)! I was awake the whole night, so I prayed Salat ul Fajr with the same wudhu I had for Salat ul Isha (Isha prayer)!"

(Collected by Al Hafidh Ibn Hajr in Fath ul Bari concisely and by Abu Nu’aim in Hilya tul Awliyaa’
Translated by Abu Azzubayr Shadeed Muhammad on 3/30/2010 in the City of Riyadh Saudi Arabia)

What can I say? May Allaah have mercy on Imam ash-Shafi'i. There is the example of the Inheritor of the Messenger of Allaah, there is the example of a man worthy of respect and love.

Assalamu Alaikum

This is a simple but often overlooked and misunderstood matter for many. All people have the custom of greeting one another. The Arabs used to greet one another with the words “An’im sabaahan” or “An’imu sabaahan” [equivalent to “Good morning”], using words derived from “al-ni’mah”, which means good living after the morning. The idea was that because the morning is the first part of the day, if a person encounters something good in the morning, the rest of the day will be good too. Like in English-speaking nations, it is the custom to greet one another using the word 'Hi', 'Hello' or 'Hey' and on a more formal tone, to say 'Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening'.

When Islam came, Allaah prescribed that the manner of greeting among Muslims should be “assalaamu alaykum (السلام عليكم)". This is the general form of greeting used in Muslim lands and nations, even though local influence may have caused it to modify it or even distort it, for instance saying 'slamalaikum' which do not have any useful meaning as far as I know.

Meaning of assalamu alaikum

Salaam (سلام) is literally translated into 'peace'. When the definite article al- is used, as in al-salaam which is pronounced as 'as-Salaam', then that is one of the beautiful names of our Lord, Glorified be He, free from all imperfections and need. This is one of the glorification that Muslims can say verbally after completing the obligatory prayer (Salaah/Namaaz), as reported in Saheeh Muslim (1/414) from the words of the Prophet of Allaah, peace and blessings be on him, "اللهم أنت السلام ، ومنك السلام" meaning "O Allaah, You are the Peace and from You is all peace (meaning, all peace and tranquility only comes through You)".

The usage of the preposition ‘ala in ‘alaykum (upon you) indicates that the greeting is inclusive. The plural pronoun (-kum) implies everyone if it is in a group or family. Hence the phrase assalamu alaykum translates into 'peace be on you all' and it is an invocation to the Lord for safety and harmlessness for the person (to which assalamu alaykum is said).

Importance for saying assalamu alaikum

The companion 'Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar , may Allaah be pleased with both 'Abdullaah and 'Umar, reported that a man asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):

“What is the best thing in Islam?” He said, “Feeding others and giving the greeting of salaam to those whom you know and those whom you do not know.” (Saheehayn and others)

((أن رجلا سأل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : أي الإسلام خير ؟ قال : تطعم الطعام ، وتقرأ السلام على من عرفت ومن لم تعرف))

The great Scholar of the past, al-Qaadee 'Ayaad (القاضي عياض) said in Ikmaal al-Mu’allim (1/276):

"Here the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was urging the believers to soften their hearts. The best Islamic attitude is to love one another and greet one another, and this is achieved by words and deeds. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) urged the Muslims to foster love between one another by exchanging gifts and food, and by spreading salaam, and he forbade the opposite, namely forsaking one another, turning away from one another, spying on one another, seeking out information about one another, stirring up trouble and being two faced.

Love is one of the duties of Islam and one of the pillars of the Islamic system. One should give salaams to those whom one knows and those whom one does not know, out of sincerity towards Allaah; one should not try to impress other people by giving salaams only to those whom one knows and no-one else. This also entails an attitude of humility and spreading the symbols of this ummah through the word of salaam.”

Thus the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained that this salaam spreads love and brotherhood. The companion Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam amongst yourselves.” (Saheeh Muslim and others)

((لا تدخلون الجنة حتى تؤمنوا ولا تؤمنوا حتى تحابوا أولا أدلكم على شيء إذا فعلتموه تحاببتم أفشو السلام بينكم))

al-Qaadee ‘Ayaad said in Ikmaal al-Mu’allim (1/304):

"This is urging us to spread salaam, as mentioned above, among those whom we know and those whom we do not know. Salaam is the first level of righteousness and the first quality of brotherhood, and it is the key to creating love. By spreading salaam the Muslims’ love for one another grows stronger and they demonstrate their distinctive symbols and spread a feeling of security amongst themselves. This is the meaning of Islam.”

And there are other hadiths that stress the importance of salam in Islam. Such as:

On the authority of al-Bara' bin 'Azib (may Allah be pleased with them) the Messenger of Allaah commanded us to do seven things: to visit the sick, to follow the funeral (of a dead believer), to invoke the Mercy of Allah upon one who sneezes, to support the weak, to help the oppressed, to promote the greeting of 'As-Salamu 'Alaikum', and to help those who swear to do something to keep their oaths. (Saheehayn, as quoted in Riyadus Saliheen of Imam an-Nawawi)

In fact, one can see how the great Scholars of Islam stressed the importance of salaam, due to the fact that the Messenger of Allaah stressed it so much. Imam Yahya an-Nawawi, in his widely known book 'Riyadus Saliheen', has dedicated one whole section on greetings, calling it 'The Book on Greetings'. Within this section, he has 13 chapters conveying A-Z about 'salaam' in Islam! This petty post cannot stress enough the importance and blessings of this simple saying: 'Assalamu Alaikum'.

What to say to spread salam?

One can say either 'Assalamu Alaikum (السلام عليكم)' or 'Salamun Alaikum (سلامٌ عليكم)' and they are both correct and acceptable as reported in the authentic texts. What is even better is to say 'Assalamu alaikum warahmatullah/Salamun alaikum warahmatullah(سلامٌ عليكم ورحمة الله)' and the best thing is to say 'Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh/Salamun alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh (سلامٌ عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته)'.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained the reward earned by the one who says salaam, as was reported in Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan and others. The companion Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that a man passed by the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) whilst he was sitting with some others, and said “Salaam ‘alaykum (peace be upon you).” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “[He will have] ten hasanaat (rewards).” Another man passed by and said “Salaam ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah).” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “[He will have] twenty hasanaat (rewards).” Another man passed by and said “Salaam ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah and His blessings).” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “[He will have] thirty hasanaat (rewards).”

Our Lord tells us that the greeting of the angels to the people of Paradise will be “Salaamun ‘alaykum” as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying):
‘Salaamun ‘Alaykum (peace be upon you) for you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!'
((وَالْمَلائِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ سَلامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ))

[Surah ar-Ra’d 13/23, 24]

Saying 'wassalam' at the end of a letter or post

There is nothing wrong with ending a letter with the phrase “wassalaam (والسلام)” and it is not a condition that the phrase should be used in full, because when a written abbreviation is used, what the writer means is the complete expression. So when a person says “wassalam”, what he or she means is “was salaamu ‘alaykum.” But if the person sending the letter writes “wassalaamu 'alayka” or “wassalaamu ‘alaykum” at the end, this is better. The companion 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, ended his letter to the Qaadee (Judge) Shurayh with the words “wassalaamu ‘alayka” [Sunan an-Nasa'i].

However, the person sending the letter should greet the addressee with the complete phrase (“Assalaamu 'alaykum”) at the beginning of the letter, as has been the habit of the Muslims from the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) until the present. And Allaah knows best.

Don't be a miser or try to be too correct grammatically!

This is an important reminder. Some Muslims, who are aware that plural pronoun ends with -kum and masculine pronoun ends with -ka and feminine pronoun ends with -ki in Arabic words to refer to a person or people, resort to saying "assalaamu 'alayka or assalamu 'alayki" instead of "assalamu alaykum". While this is not wrong or unacceptable, this is an unnecessary correction that restricts the supplication to only the person that the greeting of salaam is being sent to, and excludes the angels that are present (but invisible) and the person's family.

Yes, you have completed the bare minimum and yes, you have been 'grammatically correct' in your greeting, but please do not exclude my family from your supplication for granting peace and blessings and mercy from the Lord of the Universe! Don't be a miser in your supplication.

Returning the reply to salaam

It is obligatory that you return the greeting of salaam with something equivalent or better. In some cultures, when a lower-class person gives salaam to an upper-class person, the latter do not bother to return the reply. This is contradictory to the teaching of Islaam and we seek refuge in Allaah from such superiority complex.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded us to return salaams, and made it a right and a duty. It is reported on the authority of the companion Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Muslim has five rights over his fellow-Muslim: he should return his salaams, visit him when he is sick, attend his funeral, accept his invitation, and pray for mercy for him [say “Yarhamuk Allaah”] when he sneezes.” (Saheehayn and others)

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally”

[Surah an-Nisa’ 4:86]

Why say Assalamu Alaikum to the Muslim

Would you not agree that you'd rather have someone supplicate to our Lord for you and your family instead of saying 'hello'? I agree it is probably easier saying 'hi' as it's shorter containing just two alphabets, but if you really wish good for a person, then invoke Allaah's safety and security for the person.

This is something that may not be known or understood correctly by non-Muslims and even many laymen Muslims. Yes, assalamu alaikum is a Muslim thing, but ponder for a moment the beauty of the teaching of Islam that asks one another to supplicate for safety and blessings and mercy and thereby increase love and respect between one another, instead of giving a 'hello' or 'good morning' out of courtesy.

May our Lord increase love and respect between one another and guide us all to that which is true and beautiful.

References: 1, 2 and 3.

Summer in the air

People post all kinds of things in their blogs - random, useless stuff like what they eat, what they wear, which guy she dated and all that. I have kept my blog quite clean so far from such stuff but I guess it's time I ramble about useless stuff too - at least this one time. Allow.

My summer outfit

I had to go to this appointment today for some 'healthcare'. I put on a three-quarter pant, a T-shirt, a sunglass and sandals. Now that's what I call summer time! It's the only time when I can wear sandals outdoors without someone saying I wear it because I'm ethnically Asian. But I love wearing sandals. I don't have to put on socks, I don't have to wash the socks and deal with the ewww smell of it and all that thing. Nobody seems to appreciate the simple and easy comfort that sandals provide, unless it's summer or they're strolling down a beach. I mean, of course you'd have to be dumb to wear sandals outdoors during winter time, but why do you always wear socks indoors? Your feet SMELLS.

I could also put on the three-quarter pant (or shant!) and it felt good. Guess why? Because last summer, I was so fat that I couldn't fit myself in it! And now, only a summer down the line, this shant was falling off and I struggled the whole way to maintain it. So if someone says, why don't you buy a new pair that IS YOUR size? Well, there is no such thing as MY size. What can I do? I change weight like the British weather. One season I'm fat like a pig and the next season people want to be like me!

On my way to business ...

Right, you could sense summer is in the air, just by looking at your surroundings. Forget the sun; people would remind you it's summer. As I walked past the park, I could see tens of groups of people enjoying the sun as they say. Almost every other person has put on the shades just like me and almost every other guy is wearing shorts. Not to mention the girls, I guess you all know how they enjoy the sun. It's like they've been waiting for this moment their entire lives. Although I always wondered how do they not tremble and shiver on the evenings (even in winter) as they're about to hit a club wearing next to nothing? I couldn't do it! Those girls must have some balls.

It's worse in England because you don't have proper sun in here most of the year. I like saying, "Even the sun is cold in this country!". So when you have that slightest feeling of summer in the air, you get all summer crazy. It's only April, so I gotta get used to what's coming in July.

I saw a group of ladies, over 10 of them sitting in a circle on the soft grass. See, with shades on, you have the advantage of looking at people and things without them knowing anything and it's perfect for pervs (hey, I'm NOT a perv!). I mean such a huge group of ladies and not a single man amongst them - I couldn't help but wonder is that a feminist picnic on a Saturday afternoon?

The roads and streets are busy too. You have roofless, two-door cars popping up from everywhere in summer. It's good if you're a sports car fan - you'd see people banging their heads with loud music and chicks giggling inside the car. That's 'fun'. It was nice to see a South Asian couple in the city centre (extreme South). Finally some ethnically similar people! Saw a grandma and her 14ish grandson carrying grocery bags and that was the only thing that is not exclusive during summer time. Right, I'm there for the appointment.

My appointment

So I was there for some facial treatment as it's called. The receptionist told me to sit and wait so I was glancing through some of the magazines in the salon. It's been some time since I touched a fashion magazine and I tell you what, they say it's the newest trend and collections but it's all the same. It's like old wine in new bottle. You have thin-as-hell models wearing or putting on those collections and when people say is it the flesh you want me to look at or the cloth, I can't disagree. Where's all the feminists?

Now I'm not a fashion person; I never was. Meaning I don't usually buy cologne and suits from Hugo Boss or something. If I see something flashy or catchy, I'd buy it. It doesn't matter which brand it is or if this trend was so yesterday. And I'm cheap. I mean it's a sensitive word to say, but I don't like spending uncontrollably. I'd go for the £1 body spray to keep my odour away. But then a comment in the magazine caught my eyes. It's an article by one of the stylist-turned-fashion designer in England and she is probably famous to those who keep up with this kind of stuff. I forgot her name even. So she comments:

"Style is about how you wear something. It is about attitude. It is about knowing who you are"

Cool. She, an expert in whatever she does, didn't mention about 'brand' even once. Style is NOT about which brand you choose. This is soothing to read coz I can now say I've got style!

So the beauty therapist goes through this facial thing. Now last time I did it, it was back in 2009 and the therapist was quite surprised knowing it, saying I should be doing it once every 4-6 weeks. Give me a break! It costs £47 for 45 min and I wasn't quite satisfied with all that was put in my face! I've done it for something like £15 for 45 min in South Asia, and they had put more stuff and all that steam and mumbo jumbo creams. I'm not going back there next time. The only soothing thing was to hear the therapist say I've got a pretty good skin for a man. Well I try! But my forehead is a bit 'dehydrated', so I should drink more water. They also gave me a small serum sample to apply on my forehead. How nice.

The therapist ended the session by applying this moisturizing skin toner I guess and told me to leave it as it is until tomorrow morning. Good thing I cooked all that Desi dishes involving oil, turmeric and chill powder yesterday! I'm not quite sure if it made the difference I wanted to have, especially with summer in the air! Sure my skin feels more glossy, but I need to check it with my mother and aunt to see if it was worth it.

(You might have to take your top off during the session so it's best to ask for a male/female therapist of your preference and that is usually available.)

Coming back to my flat ...

It's pretty much the same. Only this time I got past this cricket field and saw there was a cricket match going on. Now I'm not the usual South Asian who loves Cricket. I find Cricket a boring sport except maybe the new 20-20 format. Oh as I am typing this, my family's come online. I gotta check my face with them!

So, summer is almost here. And people would do what they do. Just please don't put retarded comments on the internet or rape some woman or murder some man you got beef with. I've got loads of work in the coming weeks so I might not be around. And with summer in the air, I guess people are busy enjoying the sun rather than reading blog posts.