Saturday, March 31, 2007
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Seyreyleyip
I saw the moon shining He's the one who interceeds for both worlds, Allah, Allah.
Your kevser lips bewilder me,
To listen to this poem, click here.
The Prophet’s (SAWS) Farewell Sermon
“O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn 'Abd'al Muttalib (Prophet's uncle) shall henceforth be waived.
“Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
“O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.
“O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in zakat. Perform hajj if you can afford to.
“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.
“Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
“O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People,and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an and my example, the sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.
“All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people".
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
In Honour of the Last Prophet
Accept gladly our presentation of the blog carnival in association with Islamic Artists Society. We would like to especially thank sister Izzy, the founder and moderator of IAS, who scrupulously compiled all the articles from various contributors and agreed to sister Rym's idea of having a blog exclusively for the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. What you see below is all volunteer work by authors of respective pieces in honour of the Last Prophet. They were submitted to the Islamic Artists Society as an artistic response to the racist and Orientalist caricatures that appeared all over Europe. We hope to inform Non-Muslim readers about the true nature of Muhammad who is considered the final prophet of God. Muslims, too, will find many beautiful thoughts to dive into. We want to thank all the artists who came out for this event. Je zakka Allahu khairan. Any good is from Allah, and any bad is due to our own shortcomings as human beings. Pardon our falterings and praise the Lord. Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.Walk in His Traces by Tiel Aisha Ansari
I dreamed I was walking in the desertthere were footprints in the dust of the trail.
I stepped in them and found myself dancing.
One gate stood open in an iron fence
on it, the mark of a hand.
When I touched it sparks flew.
In the noise and confusion of the crowd
I heard a voice whisper:
"La illaha il Allah."
I turned and saw no-one, only footprints
and the city shone with brilliant light.
The world bears witness to the presence of a few--
walk in their traces.
@ Knocking from Inside
Monday, February 20, 2006
The First Voices

The Beloved
This work shows how when one begins to deepen their spirituality they are made aware of the great character and status of the Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him. Hence an individual begins to work towards an understanding and appreciation of this great man that once walked this earth. Contained within the work are some symbolic references to this high esteem that he is held in:
The piece presents itself as a ‘cloud’ almost. This is a reference to how the clouds shaded the Prophet Alaisalam.
The centre name ‘Muhammad’ is covered in mesh known to artists as ‘angel hair’. Here, one of the references is to the fact that the name of the Prophet is written on the eyes of angels.
The name of the piece itself ‘The Beloved’ is a reference to how there were titles associated with the Messengers of God; for instance Prophet Ibrahim Alaisalam is known as ‘The Friend of God’. This title shows the unique status of the final Messenger as the Beloved of God Himself.
@ Tranquil Zone
Why I reject the anarchists who claim to speak for Islam?
Comment in the The Observer. Violence in the name of Islam has done more to damage the Prophet than any Danish cartoon, argues Fareena Alam.(featuring photo of the huge Muslim crowd at OneFaith, Many Voices event at Friends House on 7th Feb.)
Our Beloved Nabi (pbuh) by Hafiz Imtiaz Kathrada
Sent as a guidance to mankind
Days, Weeks, Months...years have gone
His heart bore constant remembrance
Poverty, Difficulty, Hunger...Patiently did he bear
Peace, Harmony, Security...marked his presence
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) by Abdul
He taught us for certain that You are One
I love you my Prophet and sing your praise
Lessons Through Literature
Half a moon away, the renowned British journalist Robert Fisk was still awake writing an article on the protests that were going on around the Muslim world. He was in a hotel in Damascus. He stopped writing for a moment, a thought was coming to him and he needed to pay attention to it. He looked up (without knowing that he was looking up) at the moon, which was perfectly round and seemed brighter than a sun. His thought went like this: 'those arrogant devils! They insult a people purposefully, deliberately targeting a part of their culture that they know is sensitive, and they detonate it! They detonate it! They basically call the leader of their religion, which has a billion peaceful followers, a terrorist, and then they send their cameras out to capture the reactions of the few mob-like people there are on tape, so that they and more than half of the gullible population of Europe will all feel superior to the 'savage people' which they've shown on their cameras. That's exactly what bullies do! Ha! That's just like a bully! They push peoples buttons on purpose, then wait for that person to explode! The only difference is that some of those more idealistic people back home actually do believe that they're doing a service to freedom of expression in the press.
I, Asma’, wife of Ja’far Ibn Abu Talib, have found refuge in a land that is friendly to those of us who are Muslim, the ones who willingly surrender to the One God. Our Prophet, the Trustworthy, whose calling Khadija first recognized, has sent us here for our protection. My husband, harassed so unjustly by his family, has been appointed by Muhammad, peace and blessings upon him, to lead this small contingent of the most severely persecuted of our brothers and sisters. These are the people who have no recourse to powerful clan affiliations that would be embarrassed by the torture of one of their own members. So the unbelievers, more interested in the concerns of trade and the economic position of Makkah, target the least influential amongst us in the attempt to usurp the Prophet’s calling and refute the revelations that come upon him.
My husband is the cousin of Muhammad, the Trustworthy, and the brother of Ali Ibn Abu Talib. This is the second hijrah to Abyssinia and we are grateful for the kindness and wisdom of our host, the Negus. He is a Christian ruler but he is in great sympathy with our account of what has been revealed through our Prophet and he respects the revealed message concerning Maryam and her son, Isa.
How I long to still be in the presence of the Prophet and to hear the revelations as they come! Maybe I am ungrateful. It is good for those of us who are here in Abyssinia for we are protected and it is important that the emerging ummah grow and not be crushed by its enemies. Nearly every day, Ja’far and I speak of Muhammad and recall our dearest memories of him and at night, in our dreams, we hear his voice telling us to abide and be patient for the mercy of God is always with us. So I go about my daily chores happy to be amongst people who have befriended us and I offer my prayers that my own people may one day enjoy the light that has come into our lives.
@ JourneyWoman
Muhammad in Taif by Luqman Ali
This is the dua he recited with shoes full of blood, wounds all over his body and after having been insulted and abused by the people of Taif. What's more this all occurs after three years of suffering a boycott at the hands of the Quraysh as a result of which Muslims were reduced to eating grass and leaves off of trees.
The Prophet (s) as he walks out of Taif:
O Allah! I complain to You of my weakness, my scarcity of resources and my humiliation before the people. O Most Merciful of those who are merciful. O Lord of the weak and my Lord too. To whom have you entrusted me? To a distant person who receives me with hostility? Or to an enemy to whom you have granted authority over my affair? So long as You are not angry with me, I do not care. Your favour is of more abundance to me. I seek refuge in the light of Your Face by which all darkness is dispelled and every affair of this world and the next is set right, lest Your anger or your displeasure descend upon me. I desire your pleasure and satisfaction until you are pleased. There is no power and no might except by You.If those who claim to love the Prophet(s) so much that they are willing to infringe upon prophetic conduct with their blind rage and fury would reflect upon this prayer, it would be a guiding light for them and a clear instruction as to how a Muslim should respond to our current situation.
It is also the only salve by which troubled hearts and souls will find peace. It will not be found on pickets and demonstrations - not that these may not be useful in making clear our reverence for the sacred and the divine.
In my jum'ah khutbah today, I spoke on this prayer and while there were some whose hearts and eyes were cooled by it, it was obvious to me that there were many who were so caught up in anger that they could not hear. For whom does the Prophet's saying: 'Islam is good character' mean anything anymore?
Are we to revert to pre-Islamic tribal norms of vengeance and retribution rather than see this as an opportunity to turn hearts by sharing the example of our beloved Prophet's centredness and compassion in the face of hate and enmity with those whose hearts are open.
Are we to fall into the major sin of dispair-fuelled violence rather than maintain hope as the Prophet (s) did when the angel of the mountains met him outside Ta'if following his supplication and offered to cause the mountains surrounding Taif to explode over the twon and obliterate it to which the Prophet (s) replied 'No, I hope that these people will one day come to worship only Allah and Him alone'? Unless we have the centredness and the Allah-consciousness of the Prophet (s) by which every event whether favourable or unfavourable (in material terms) offers us the opportunity of strengthening our relationship with Allah, we will continue to be the victim of every ruse and ploy. Rather than reacting with violence and rage we should intensify our work to share the beautiful and merciful message of the Deen!
Epecially now that the Prophet (s) is headline news. Let the Prophet's prayer of Taif be printed in European newspapers as the example of his supreme magnanimity and patience.
Violence, death threats and fury only betray a lack of trust in the power and light of the sacred which is illustrated in the Prophet's experience in the garden outside Taif when persons who overheard his prayer were moved by it to come to Islam.
Moreover, on the way back to Mecca after this experience, many jinn who happened to hear the Prophet's recitation of the Qur'an in his night prayer also came to Islam. And not long thereafter the Prophet (s) was conveyed on his night journey and ascent to heaven. Verily with difficulty comes ease. Yet with today's anouncement of 'eminent' Muslim scholars of a 'Day of Outrage', I fear we have become nothing but saboteurs.
Why not a Day of Remembrance of the Prophet, Why not a Day of Tremendous Prophetic Character? Why not a Day of the Prayer of? Taif? I recommend that we circulate the Prayer of Taif at this time as an antidote to all of the madness and poison of emotional maelstroms. May Allah guide us to that which is right and grant us the tremendous fortune of seeing our enemies as our close friends to whom we have the duty of conveying the love of Allah and his Prophet (s). Ameen. Allah knows best.
Luqman Ali is the imam of a masjid in Luton, UK.
A Gentle Nature So Hard to Find by Selma Cook
Come on dear little child No need to cry to run and hide
Just come and sit right down with me
Cuddle up cozy on my knee
I want to tell a tale to you
Many know it - not just a few
It's a tale from long ago you see
But its message rings true for you and me
It is about the greatest man
Allah sent him - 'twas His plan
Sending His guidance and mercy to us
So we could live and die in trust
To the One who created all that's there
He knows everything and no one dares
To question Him - except for man!
And here we sit each day and choose
Right or wrong - makes us win or lose
Muhammad came with a word that's kind
A gentle nature so hard to find
Amidst mankind's greed and vicious lust
That stops at nothing til he's dust
Muhammad came to stop wars and cries
Put down evil cheating and wiles
Help the orphan child to grow
In comfort safety he'll come to know
That Allah alone has all the Power
He maintains and protects each day and hour
So Muhammad taught us not to fear
To love Allah most - to hold Him dear
For alone we're born and alone we'll die
And to Him we'll return by and by
Muhammad was loved by all that's good
But evil men against him stood
They cannot bear to hear the word
Of truth of peace that's from our Lord
Telling man to stop his greed
The poor and needy he must feed
Not to kill and not to hate
But spread His message 'fore it's too late
For sure the hour will come at last
Tears will be spent for all that's past
But hearts at rest will dwell in peace
A favor that will never cease
So come now my dear little one
Keep growing and learn to fear no one
For nothing moves without His word
Everything relies upon its Lord
So as you grow you find and learn
To love what's good - all evil spurn
And together we will strive our best
And pass this life's most difficult test
The Seal of Perfection by Aaminah Hernandez
A blessing upon mankindProphet Muhammad
Conveying the Truth for all
Born of a noble lineage
In a land of ignorance
Bearing signs of purity
Known as trustworthy
Solitude, meditation
Orphaned but never alone
Respected leader in town
Kind to relatives and tribe
Gentle with children
Patient with all Allah's creatures
Illiterate, unlettered
But wisdom recognized early
Exceptional man before
Prophet Muhammad
Given true revelation
Teaching sincere charity
Preaching purification
A reminder to mankind
Of Allah's Oneness
And a promise before birth
Enjoining a pure worship
You, a righteous example
Bearing the Qur'an, a seal
Perfecting our deen
Exemplifying Islam
Creating community
Brotherhood away from hate
Showing us the honored path
Prophet Muhammad
Guiding us in submission
Prayer and repentance at night
Governance of nafs in day
Reciting beautiful ayat
Proclaiming Only One
Bringing us true religion
Remembrance and submission
Worship in every action
Warning away from dunya
Guiding, inshaAllah
To the one path to Allah
Attesting to His Greatness
Commanding all that is good
Delivering pure Islam
Prophet Muhammad
The final Seal of Prophets
@ Writeous Sister Speaks
And Muhammad is His Messenger
O Muhammad, my hand is inept to draw your lifeYour graces, your jihad for His Word and your love!
Each dewdrop, each beauty in affair you champion
You gave to humanity, you returned to Allah
As wonderful and triumphant as a pen breathing in an ocean of ink
Your path straight in its depth, your belief unfaltering
By fountains and mirages of this fleeting Pasture
Making me believe of your trust in the Beloved
And how the children would sing for you
Their eyes bright and their smiles wide
How you received them in your arms, your cause
To clothe them, to feed them, to teach them
That they grow to be like you and to act like you
Thoughts of love, kindnesses and worship of Allah
Alone, and in this humanity your footprints lie
And how sadness would cling to your heart
When the whisperer seduced man to err
Your life is a mirror of divine mercy
And Allah be thanked; lo, Allah be thanked!
You bled in Tai'f for the sake of the Recitation
That cleaved to your tongue, your heart and your mark of the Seal
Pressed to the breast of the universe, spate of burning stars!
O Muhammad, my tears are few to write of your conquests
Ink is plenty though no education moves me
Solitary reflections of your victories, losses and spiritual ascensions
Birthed in the Year of the Elephant, living in the Year of Sadness
You split the stones and clay for therein the infant girl lay
Her soul wailing: "For what crime was I slain?" *
The Qur'an has come down from the Lord and Muhammad is His Messenger
And you displaced their gods and altars into the Waste
Only before Allah we must prostrate, no more shirk and hate!
The poets disputed the verses that you spoke
But none could imagine the flow; yield to Gabriel!
They didn't realise that you bore heaven's yoke
You were unlettered, and yet a sign unto jinn and mankind
Tracing the Word to Abraham and Moses and Jesus son of Mary
Prophets also of the Jews and Christians, People of the Book
Leaning on my spirit, I saw your inheritance in the storm
Ever magnificent, peaceable, gentle and human
To pardon the knives that cut your feet, but you leave the trail behind For humanity to follow, in Allah's service we must wallow
Slowly but surely all creatures shall perish and die
But for the good-hearted and pious, Paradise is nigh!
Entrust us with your example to prepare for our tomorrow
* Qur’an 81:8-9 (“And when the girl-child that was buried alive is asked for what sin she was slain”)
Two Perspectives
For Muslims, the mere rendering of an image of Muhammad is sacrilege. The portrayal of Muhammad in a pejorative fashion is to them an inconceivably offensive desecration, on the level of what would be for us the defilement of a Torah scroll. Because it was done in newspapers across Europe, it was a slap in the face repeated thousands of times.Perhaps it’s a question of respect, not freedom. Freedom of expression theoretically protects the right of a non-Jew to desecrate a Torah scroll. Yet we would all view freedom of expression as a hollow defense to such a vile act.
A Native American View Point on the Cartoons
MNN. Feb. 9, 2006. Are the Muslim riots against the cruel depictions of their Prophet Muhammad really about freedom of speech? Whose freedom? The Euro-western corporate media define freedom ofspeech as the freedom to depict the world as they see it, without respect for other people’s points of view. They pretend to represent the dominant culture in the world. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Minorities, all states are required to educate the majority population in the perspective of the minorities. But the international press doesn’t give two hoots about that. Why should they? They’re not states. They haven’t signed any conventions. But this doesn’t stop them from relying on these very conventions to support their “freedom of speech”.
As far as they are concerned, they can write, print or depict anything they want the way they want. This right is really based on “might makes right”, a very selective cherry picking approach to international human rights laws.
We, the voiceless people of the world, don’t have the same kind of freedom.
We all know that the media are an arm of the big business mega corporations of the world. We also know they want to maintain control on all of us.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Discover Prophet Muhammad
Let these words flow like a streamJust listen well and be the judge
The facts will shine in the darkest mind
For he was truly one of a kind
He was the Prophet Muhammad
The seal of all Prophets
He came with the final message
Chosen and sent by the Divine
Honest and Trustworthy he was called
From the time he was young
Long before the revelation came
Depicting his morals, so sublime
Left an orphan in tender years
Living with grandfather, then uncle
He learned and worked with them
Responsible and mature
Muhammad, beloved by many
From a young age he questioned society
Their idols didn’t enter his heart
In contemplation he thought of the One
In Cave of Hira he used to sit
Way up in the mountain, just to think
Then came the Divine revelation
A sacred event, a turning point
“Read! In the Name of your Lord”
Angel Jibreel embraced Muhammad
So tightly, while he was scared
“Read! In the name of your Lord”, he said
An angel sent by Almighty God
O Muhammad you have been chosen
A mission so great for all mankind
Spread the Light, spread the Truth
Ibrahim, Isa, Musa, and others
Were chosen to convey the message
Now your turn O Muhammad
With the final Divine message
People will listen, people will ignore
Some will follow, some will attack
A challenging mission O Muhammad
But God is always with you
Muhammad received the revelations
Telling people about the Creator
One God created us all
Those idols are nothing but stone
Love each other, be merciful
Enjoin good, forbid evil
Worship the One Creator
A message of peace and justice
Twenty-three years as the Messenger
A perfect example in every step
Elevating morals and society
Conveying the Message of God
Also a husband, father, and more
Lessons learnt from all his roles
A life rich with Truth and Wisdom
Uniting people for righteousness
Islam a religion for all
No matter what race or tribe
The Final Message
A Mercy to all humanity
My words will end, yet more to know
Learn about Muhammad and Islam
Closer to the truth and enlightenment
Discover our love for Prophet Muhammad
(Peace Be Upon Him)
@ Rym On Stage


