tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225852792009-11-04T19:24:26.482-08:00Aimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065591794406925344noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-51450941025002725042007-03-31T22:31:00.000-07:002007-03-31T22:38:35.548-07:00<div align="justify"><a href="http://writeoussisterspeaks.wordpress.com/2007/03/31/mawlid-blog-carnival-2/">Mawlid Blog Carnival</a> in honour of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (salalahi alahi wa salaam).</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />@ <a href="http://writeoussisterspeaks.wordpress.com/">Writeous Sister Speaks</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-5145094102500272504?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Aimanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065591794406925344noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1142950420579197892006-03-21T05:45:00.000-08:002006-03-21T06:13:40.673-08:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/1600/earthshine.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 264px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 215px" height="215" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/320/earthshine.jpg" width="284" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">I saw the moon shining</span> <div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">And burned, Allah, Allah.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Muhammad lies in a bed of light,</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Your my heart's heart Muhammad.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Your fragrence is the rose of paradise...</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Muhammad lies in a bed of light,</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Your my heart's heart Muhammad.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />He's the one who interceeds for both worlds, Allah, Allah.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">His beauty surpasses Joseph's of Canaan.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">He is the king of messengers, saints and those with love.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Your my heart's heart Muhammad.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Your kevser lips bewilder me,</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">They make zikr with sincerety.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Muhammad lies in a bed of light,</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Your my heart's heart Muhammad.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">He would even interceed when he was young.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Muhammad lies in a bed of light,</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Your my heart's heart Muhammad.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><em><br />To listen to this poem, click </em><a href="http://www.geocities.com/kevinqadiririfai/Muhammad.m4a" target="_blank"><em>here</em></a><em>.</em></span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />@ <a href="http://musicandsufism.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Music and Sufism</a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114295042057919789?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mercynoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1142945291547356102006-03-21T04:26:00.000-08:002007-03-31T22:38:57.396-07:00<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />“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".</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114294529154735610?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Rymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906447248175731519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1140515759916750282006-02-21T01:21:00.000-08:002006-02-21T01:56:00.406-08:00<div align="justify"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/1600/rose-clipart-picture5.gif"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/320/rose-clipart-picture5.gif" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Accept gladly our presentation of the blog carnival in association with <a href="http://islamic-artists.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Islamic Artists Society</a>. We would like to especially thank <a href="http://www.izzymo.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">sister Izzy</a>, the founder and moderator of IAS, who scrupulously compiled all the articles from various contributors and agreed to sister <a href="http://www.rymonstage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rym</a>'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.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114051575991675028?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mercynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1140509837466546872006-02-21T00:15:00.000-08:002006-02-21T00:33:21.906-08:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/1600/footsteps-in-sand.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/320/footsteps-in-sand.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">I dreamed I was walking in the desert<br />there were footprints in the dust of the trail.<br />I stepped in them and found myself dancing.<br /><br />One gate stood open in an iron fence<br />on it, the mark of a hand.<br />When I touched it sparks flew.<br /><br />In the noise and confusion of the crowd<br />I heard a voice whisper:<br />"La illaha il Allah."<br />I turned and saw no-one, only footprints<br />and the city shone with brilliant light.<br /><br />The world bears witness to the presence of a few--<br />walk in their traces. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">@ <a href="http://knockingfrominside.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Knocking from Inside</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114050983746654687?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mercynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1140508708878944122006-02-20T23:33:00.000-08:002006-02-23T00:46:48.070-08:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/1600/The_Beloved_Summer_2004.0.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/320/The_Beloved_Summer_2004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://daughterofadam.blogspot.com/2006/02/beloved.html" target="_blank">The Beloved</a></span> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><blockquote><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">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:</span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><div align="justify"><br />The piece presents itself as a ‘cloud’ almost. This is a reference to how the clouds shaded the Prophet Alaisalam.<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />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. </div></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><div align="justify"><br />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.</span></div></blockquote></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br />@ <a href="http://daughterofadam.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tranquil Zone</a></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><div align="justify"><br /><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong>Why I reject the anarchists who claim to speak for Islam?</strong></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1707922,00.html" target="_blank"><br />Comment in the The Observer</a>. Violence in the name of Islam has done more to damage the Prophet than any Danish cartoon, argues Fareena Alam.(featuring <a href="http://www.q-news.com/Difference.htm" target="_blank">photo</a> of the huge Muslim crowd at OneFaith, Many Voices event at Friends House on 7th Feb.)</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#3366ff;"><br /><br />Our Beloved Nabi (pbuh) by Hafiz Imtiaz Kathrada</span></strong></div><div align="justify"><br />Years, Decades, Centuries...time had passed<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/1600/scroll.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/200/scroll.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="justify">Young, All, Old...were lost in the past</div><div align="justify">Vice, Evil, Sin...had spread so fast</div><div align="justify">A Messenger, Prophet, Saviour...was born at last<br /></div><div align="justify"><br />Sent as a guidance to mankind</div><div align="justify">The world's complication did he unwind</div><div align="justify">Our salvation, his day and night concern</div><div align="justify">The hereafter being the point of no return<br /></div><div align="justify"><br />Days, Weeks, Months...years have gone</div><div align="justify">Piety, Goodness, Devotion...changes have dawn</div><div align="justify">Peace, Love, Unity...mercy has drawn</div><div align="justify">Help, Guidance, Direction...a Saviour was born<br /></div><div align="justify"><br />His heart bore constant remembrance</div><div align="justify">His actions leading to eternal deliverance</div><div align="justify">His speech knocked at every heart</div><div align="justify">His finger split the moon apart<br /></div><div align="justify"><br />Poverty, Difficulty, Hunger...Patiently did he bear</div><div align="justify">Just, Righteous, Fair...piety did he wear</div><div align="justify">Concerned, Worried, Crying...always did he care</div><div align="justify">Striving, Efforts, Sacrifice...darkness did he tear<br /></div><div align="justify"><br />Peace, Harmony, Security...marked his presence</div><div align="justify">Disorder, Chaos, Danger...marks his absence. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong><br />The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) by Abdul</strong></span></div><div align="justify"><br />When truth was lost and hearts frozen<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/1600/5502904_b76b9f2a75_m.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/320/5502904_b76b9f2a75_m.0.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="justify">from You, Allah came a Prophet, chosen.</div><div align="justify">Blessed Prophet Muhammad, obedient to You</div><div align="justify">taught us the things we ought to do.</div><div align="justify"><br />He taught us for certain that You are One</div><div align="justify">and that You have neither a daughter nor son.</div><div align="justify">He taught us to be good to our mother and father</div><div align="justify">and that Paradise lies under the feet of our mother.<br /></div><div align="justify"><br />I love you my Prophet and sing your praise</div><div align="justify">and follow your Sunna, Prophetic Ways. <div align="justify"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/1600/5502904_b76b9f2a75_m.jpg"></a></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/1600/5502904_b76b9f2a75_m.jpg"></a></div></div><div align="justify">One day I will come to visit your tomb</div><div align="justify">Insh'Allah, that day will be very soon.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />@ <a href="http://islamicpoems.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Islamic Poems</a></div></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114050870887894412?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mercynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1140506924113937752006-02-20T22:47:00.000-08:002006-02-21T00:23:46.880-08:00<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.nefisa.co.uk/Redouan.htm" target="_blank">Redouan At the Time of the Danish Cheese Shortage by Yusuf Misdaq</a></span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><p align="justify">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. </p><div align="justify"></div></blockquote><div align="justify">@ <a href="http://www.nefisa.co.uk/" target="_blank">Nefisa<br /></a><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#3366ff;">An Abyssinian Story in Honour of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by Katherine Randall</span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"></span></div><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">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.</span> </p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">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.</span></p><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In this land I feel safe from the dangers of falling into the hands of the Makkan elite, the worshippers of idols for personal gain. They argue that they simply follow the traditions of their parents before them and that we should do the same. They cannot envision change, nor do they desire to improve their ways if it inhibits their greed and their status. I cry for them, they are too blind to see what is before their eyes. An honest, trustworthy man, who brims over with kindness and generosity, stands before them, and they laugh at him and deride his words. More than this, they question the revelation that comes so powerfully through his lips from the One God, Allah ta’ala. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />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.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">@ <a href="http://barzakhabound.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">JourneyWoman</a></span></div></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114050692411393775?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mercynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1140503176081426692006-02-20T22:23:00.000-08:002006-02-21T00:25:47.133-08:00<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">While Muslims once again fall into the reactionary trap set for them and confirm the thesis of the offending cartoons by exploding in rage and violence, we would do well to reflect upon the Prophet's supplication in Taif.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">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.<br /><br />The Prophet (s) as he walks out of Taif: </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">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.</span></blockquote></br>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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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?<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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? </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">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.</span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em><br /><br />Luqman Ali is the imam of a masjid in Luton, UK.</em></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114050317608142669?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mercynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1140502908779039822006-02-20T22:07:00.000-08:002006-02-21T00:36:06.426-08:00<img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/320/pic03.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Come on dear little child </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">No need to cry to run and hide<br />Just come and sit right down with me<br />Cuddle up cozy on my knee </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I want to tell a tale to you<br />Many know it - not just a few<br />It's a tale from long ago you see<br />But its message rings true for you and me<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It is about the greatest man<br />Allah sent him - 'twas His plan<br />Sending His guidance and mercy to us<br />So we could live and die in trust<br />To the One who created all that's there<br />He knows everything and no one dares<br />To question Him - except for man!<br /><br />And here we sit each day and choose<br />Right or wrong - makes us win or lose<br /><br />Muhammad came with a word that's kind<br />A gentle nature so hard to find<br />Amidst mankind's greed and vicious lust<br />That stops at nothing til he's dust<br /><br />Muhammad came to stop wars and cries<br />Put down evil cheating and wiles<br />Help the orphan child to grow<br />In comfort safety he'll come to know<br />That Allah alone has all the Power<br />He maintains and protects each day and hour<br /><br />So Muhammad taught us not to fear<br />To love Allah most - to hold Him dear<br />For alone we're born and alone we'll die<br />And to Him we'll return by and by<br /><br />Muhammad was loved by all that's good<br />But evil men against him stood<br />They cannot bear to hear the word<br />Of truth of peace that's from our Lord<br /><br />Telling man to stop his greed<br />The poor and needy he must feed<br />Not to kill and not to hate<br />But spread His message 'fore it's too late<br /><br />For sure the hour will come at last<br />Tears will be spent for all that's past<br />But hearts at rest will dwell in peace<br />A favor that will never cease<br /><br />So come now my dear little one<br />Keep growing and learn to fear no one<br />For nothing moves without His word<br />Everything relies upon its Lord<br /><br />So as you grow you find and learn<br />To love what's good - all evil spurn<br />And together we will strive our best<br />And pass this life's most difficult test </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><div align="justify"><a name="1"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>Selma Cook </em></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>is Managing Editor of the Youth Section and Volunteer Youth Resource Network at IslamOnline.net. She has written a number of books including: Buried Treasure (An Islamic novel for teenagers), The Light of Submission (Islamic Poetry).</em></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>She has also edited and revised many Islamic books.</em></span></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br />@ <a href="http://www.islamonline.net/English/In_Depth/volunteers/index.shtml" target="_blank">Youth Network, IOL</a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114050290877903982?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mercynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1140502056114890892006-02-20T22:04:00.000-08:002006-02-21T01:19:08.686-08:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/1600/call.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 245px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px" height="320" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/320/call.jpg" width="264" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">A blessing upon mankind<br />Prophet Muhammad<br />Conveying the Truth for all<br /><br />Born of a noble lineage<br />In a land of ignorance<br /><br />Bearing signs of purity<br />Known as trustworthy<br />Solitude, meditation<br /><br />Orphaned but never alone<br />Respected leader in town<br /><br />Kind to relatives and tribe<br />Gentle with children<br />Patient with all Allah's creatures<br /><br />Illiterate, unlettered<br />But wisdom recognized early<br /><br />Exceptional man before<br />Prophet Muhammad<br />Given true revelation<br /><br />Teaching sincere charity<br />Preaching purification<br /><br />A reminder to mankind<br />Of Allah's Oneness<br />And a promise before birth<br /><br />Enjoining a pure worship<br />You, a righteous example<br /><br />Bearing the Qur'an, a seal<br />Perfecting our deen<br />Exemplifying Islam<br /><br />Creating community<br />Brotherhood away from hate<br /><br />Showing us the honored path<br />Prophet Muhammad<br />Guiding us in submission<br /><br />Prayer and repentance at night<br />Governance of nafs in day<br /><br />Reciting beautiful ayat<br />Proclaiming Only One<br />Bringing us true religion<br /><br />Remembrance and submission<br />Worship in every action<br /><br />Warning away from dunya<br />Guiding, inshaAllah<br />To the one path to Allah<br /><br />Attesting to His Greatness<br />Commanding all that is good<br /><br />Delivering pure Islam<br />Prophet Muhammad<br />The final Seal of Prophets</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">@ <a href="http://www.writeoussisterspeaks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Writeous Sister Speaks</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114050205611489089?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mercynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1140501822601212422006-02-20T22:00:00.000-08:002006-02-21T00:49:42.446-08:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/1600/islamiccrescentmoon.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/400/islamiccrescentmoon.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">O Muhammad, my hand is inept to draw your life<br />Your graces, your jihad for His Word and your love!<br />Each dewdrop, each beauty in affair you champion<br />You gave to humanity, you returned to Allah<br />As wonderful and triumphant as a pen breathing in an ocean of ink<br />Your path straight in its depth, your belief unfaltering<br />By fountains and mirages of this fleeting Pasture<br />Making me believe of your trust in the Beloved<br />And how the children would sing for you<br />Their eyes bright and their smiles wide<br />How you received them in your arms, your cause<br />To clothe them, to feed them, to teach them<br />That they grow to be like you and to act like you<br />Thoughts of love, kindnesses and worship of Allah<br />Alone, and in this humanity your footprints lie<br />And how sadness would cling to your heart<br />When the whisperer seduced man to err<br />Your life is a mirror of divine mercy<br />And Allah be thanked; lo, Allah be thanked!<br />You bled in Tai'f for the sake of the Recitation<br />That cleaved to your tongue, your heart and your mark of the Seal<br />Pressed to the breast of the universe, spate of burning stars!<br /><br />O Muhammad, my tears are few to write of your conquests<br />Ink is plenty though no education moves me<br />Solitary reflections of your victories, losses and spiritual ascensions<br />Birthed in the Year of the Elephant, living in the Year of Sadness<br />You split the stones and clay for therein the infant girl lay<br />Her soul wailing: "For what crime was I slain?" *<br />The Qur'an has come down from the Lord and Muhammad is His Messenger<br />And you displaced their gods and altars into the Waste<br />Only before Allah we must prostrate, no more shirk and hate!<br />The poets disputed the verses that you spoke<br />But none could imagine the flow; yield to Gabriel!<br />They didn't realise that you bore heaven's yoke<br />You were unlettered, and yet a sign unto jinn and mankind<br />Tracing the Word to Abraham and Moses and Jesus son of Mary<br />Prophets also of the Jews and Christians, People of the Book<br />Leaning on my spirit, I saw your inheritance in the storm<br />Ever magnificent, peaceable, gentle and human<br />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<br />Slowly but surely all creatures shall perish and die<br />But for the good-hearted and pious, Paradise is nigh!<br />Entrust us with your example to prepare for our tomorrow<br /><br /><em>* Qur’an 81:8-9 (“And when the girl-child that was buried alive is asked for what sin she was slain”)</em> </span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br />@ <a href="http://peaceablesword.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Poet, Friend &amp; Whirling Dervish</a></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114050182260121242?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mercynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1140501377134400782006-02-20T20:40:00.002-08:002006-02-20T21:58:43.630-08:00<span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><a href="http://www.thejewishweek.com/top/editletcontent.php3?artid=4825" target="_blank">The Respect of a Cousin by Edward Miller</a></strong></span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><blockquote><p>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.</span></p></blockquote></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#3366ff;">A Native American View Point on the Cartoons<br /></span></strong><br />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”. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><div align="justify"><br />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.</div><div align="justify"><br />We, the voiceless people of the world, don’t have the same kind of freedom.</div><div align="justify"><br />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. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></br>The Muslims make up a large part of the world they want to control. They’re sitting on oil the Americans want, damn it! Anything that serves to dehumanize and belittle the Muslims helps to justify the corporate takeover of the highly coveted resources that the Muslims happen to be sitting on. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></br>Major media is one sided. This is the same problem that we Indigenous People of Turtle Island have. We sit on valuable resources. We can’t get our side of our story into the press. So the press is not really free, is it? They invoke violence everyday against those whose resources they covet and to whom they give no voice. The Muslims are now making themselves heard in the only way that is open to them. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></br>The US President George Bush called for people to stop rioting “to protect property” and to protect his diplomats. This is the last thing he should ask for. Property is being denied to them. Diplomats are there to colonize them. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></br>One Danish writer stated in a children’s book he wrote on Muhammad, “It’s about internal politics in many of these countries, and it’s about frustrations which have accelerated for years." What’s he talking about? The pressures are being applied from the outside!</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></br>Let’s look at what happened when Indigenous elder, David Ahenakew, expressed his contrary opinion privately about the official view on the Jews and the Holocaust in Germany during World War II. Why were his views, which most native people probably don’t agree with, published in the Regina Leader Post and blasted all across the country and the world? Because it was said by an Indigenous person and the press never misses a chance to demonize us. This leadS to attacks on Indigenous people. Sometimes I would like to pelt my views at some of these corporate media for the way they continue to depict us. There doesn’t seem to be anyway to stop them. Indian Affairs has been paying a Montreal public relations firm $17,000 a month to bash the Mohawks. We can’t get in a word edge-wise no matter how much evidence we have. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></br>In the United States and Canada Indigenous People are told, “Why don’t you bring a class action suit against not only the media, but all the education institutions in North America that continue to generate hatred and lies against you?” These would be in their courts, at their beck and call and they would sit in judgment. What kind of relief does that give us? </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></br>At a mainstream university where I have been teaching non-native students, they arrive in my classes without a shred of knowledge about Indigenous people and history. Others come with distorted information that borders on racism. These non-native students should sue their educational institutions for being duped and misled. They are being taught lies and fables about the real gory foundation of American and Canadian society. They should put a stop to being lead under false pretenses to swallow concocted tales as story behind their colonial presence on our land. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></br>The powers that be refer to their embellishing of facts as “freedom of speech” and “artistic merit”. All these fabulists should be punished. Rights to freedom are for the privileged who can laugh and make fun of us because we Indigenous and other voiceless people can’t do anything about it. It is those privileged who stop us from exercising our rights. Why don’t the privileged ever lose their rights? They can’t, of course, then it wouldn’t be privileged anymore. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></br>They tell us that democracy is the freedom to vote for the candidates that the privileged put in front of us. We are being fooled all the time. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></br>Editors, politicians and corporate businessmen are free to make choices every day. We don’t have access to the corporate press, so they can pass us off anyway they want. This takes away our power to choose and to object. If we did, the ground has been laid so that nobody will listen to us anyway. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></br>What is the bottom line for the media – sales and profit by pushingthe mega international agenda. Just like us, the Muslims are yelling about it. The publishing of those cartoons tell us a lot.</div><div align="justify"></span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></br>Kahentinetha Horn</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></br>MNN Mohawk Nation News</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="mailto:Kahentinetha2@yahoo.com"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></br>Kahentinetha2@yahoo.com</span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114050137713440078?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mercynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1140417586053887292006-02-19T22:25:00.000-08:002006-02-21T01:17:14.960-08:00<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/1600/Dome-of-the-Rock.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 229px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 175px" height="225" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5018/2299/320/Dome-of-the-Rock.jpg" width="247" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Let these words flow like a stream<br />Just listen well and be the judge<br />The facts will shine in the darkest mind<br />For he was truly one of a kind<br /><br />He was the Prophet Muhammad<br />The seal of all Prophets<br />He came with the final message<br />Chosen and sent by the Divine<br /><br />Honest and Trustworthy he was called<br />From the time he was young<br />Long before the revelation came<br />Depicting his morals, so sublime<br /><br />Left an orphan in tender years<br />Living with grandfather, then uncle<br />He learned and worked with them<br />Responsible and mature<br /><br />Muhammad, beloved by many<br />From a young age he questioned society<br />Their idols didn’t enter his heart<br />In contemplation he thought of the One<br /><br />In Cave of Hira he used to sit<br />Way up in the mountain, just to think<br />Then came the Divine revelation<br />A sacred event, a turning point<br /><br />“Read! In the Name of your Lord”<br />Angel Jibreel embraced Muhammad<br />So tightly, while he was scared<br />“Read! In the name of your Lord”, he said<br /><br />An angel sent by Almighty God<br />O Muhammad you have been chosen<br />A mission so great for all mankind<br />Spread the Light, spread the Truth<br /><br />Ibrahim, Isa, Musa, and others<br />Were chosen to convey the message<br />Now your turn O Muhammad<br />With the final Divine message<br /><br />People will listen, people will ignore<br />Some will follow, some will attack<br />A challenging mission O Muhammad<br />But God is always with you<br /><br />Muhammad received the revelations<br />Telling people about the Creator<br />One God created us all<br />Those idols are nothing but stone<br /><br />Love each other, be merciful<br />Enjoin good, forbid evil<br />Worship the One Creator<br />A message of peace and justice<br /><br />Twenty-three years as the Messenger<br />A perfect example in every step<br />Elevating morals and society<br />Conveying the Message of God<br /><br />Also a husband, father, and more<br />Lessons learnt from all his roles<br />A life rich with Truth and Wisdom<br />Uniting people for righteousness<br /><br />Islam a religion for all<br />No matter what race or tribe<br />The Final Message<br />A Mercy to all humanity<br /><br />My words will end, yet more to know<br />Learn about Muhammad and Islam<br />Closer to the truth and enlightenment<br />Discover our love for Prophet Muhammad<br />(Peace Be Upon Him) </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">@ <a href="http://rymonstage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rym On Stage</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114041758605388729?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Rymhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906447248175731519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22585279.post-1140177575017622842006-02-17T03:39:00.000-08:002006-02-17T03:59:35.026-08:00<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Please submit articles, poems and other writings pertaining to the life of the Last Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Click here: <a href="http://islamic-artists.blogspot.com/2006/02/blogging-for-prophet-sallalahu-alayhi.html" target="_blank">Blogging for the Prophet</a> to read the official IAS statement on the affair. We are hosting a blog carnival in honour of the Prophet Muhammad (S). During these times, it is very important to spread the Word of Allah and conquer hearts and minds with the eternal message of the man who shouldered Allah's Revelation to mankind. And when the image of the Prophet Muhammad (S) is vilified by words and art, we must not draw the dagger but the pen. It delivers love and hope in a world torn by wars. We must fight intellectual terrorism by the hand in a grip of peace, because that's what impacts the mind. We have to nourish the minds of people whose hearts are open and not scar their bodies. With that thought, let us take up our pens and breathe words into a broken world. </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/22585279-114017757501762284?l=o-muhammad.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mercynoreply@blogger.com0