Thursday, September 9, 2010

911 – Burning the Quran

“The pen is mightier than the sword”. “The spoken word can cause wounds that run deep”.

The success of failure of Jone’s 911 – burning the Quran, attention getting stunt, lies completely in the hands of the Press and Media. This is a tool that can and will be used by Taliban and other hate and anti-Islamic groups throughout the world, as a reason to further engage in heinous, inhuman, anti-Islamic acts. Very simple is the solution. If the press and media stop reporting this event, it would immediately lose its efficacy and purpose. The success or failure of this stunt lies completely in the hands of the media and press. The safety of our troops and communities can be achieved if only those two mediums put aside the quest for profit and sensationalism for once in the name of peace, sanity and safety. This Jones and his diabolical stunt only got to this point because of reporting. Reporters have a responsibility to its audience, the nation and the safety of the community and world at large. I know that we have freedom of speech. But that freedom must be and should, be used for good and not for destruction. We are supposed to be intelligent and we certainly know before what emotion or reaction a story can and will evoke. This is one time where the press and media is in the driving seat, totally, and can create havoc or bring us back to the road of peace and understanding. I hope and pray that good sense and intentions prevail. May we be granted the intelligence, maturity, desire for peace and judgment to do what is necessary end this fiasco before it’s too late.

Kamruz Hosein

The Islamic Theosophical Society.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Why do we fast

Sura 2 - Al-Baqara (MADINA) : Verse 183
O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may observe taqwa.

This is the verse that tells us why we fast.

We don't fast to lose weight, to become healthier, to cure diseases, to cleanse the system. At least not according to Almighty Allah in his message. Some may experience these results, but the reason for fasting is so that you may observe تَتَّقُونَ , tataqun.

Tataqun is observing your duties and obligations to Allah SWT, being aware of the Divine ordinances and observing them.

What are these duties:

In the words of our noble Prophet Muhammad SAW in his Ramadan message:

"Give alms to the poor and needy. Pay respect to your elders, have sympathy for your youngsters and be kind towards your relatives and kinsmen. Guard your tongue against unworthy words, and your eyes from scenes that are not worth seeing (forbidden) and your ears from sounds that should not be heard. Be kind to orphans so that if your children may become orphans they will also be treated with kindness. Do repent to Allah for your the wrongs yo have committed and supplicate with raised hands at the times of prayer as these are the best times".

Fasting is the only act that one does only for that sake of Allah SWT. It is the only form of worship that is witnessed only by Allah SWT.

As a result of the Taqwa observed during this month, there is a miraculous transformation taking place in the world. No other event in the world, including, World Cup Soccer, comes close to achieving this grip and transformation for so long, on so many lives, over 1.2 billion, There is no other event or observance that involves so many people in so many parts of the world. There is no other faith or circumstance that causes such change, sacrifice, awareness of Almighty God, devotion, social harmony, exodus to places of worship, sharing, abstinence and display of true brotherhood.

This is in fact an annual miracle. And Al Hamdulillah, we are part of it and contribute to making it a reality.

We should therefore take advantage of the power and nature of this month to try and correct the misconceptions of Islam and Muslims. Let our voices and actions shout out to the world the Peace, Love, Harmony and Brotherhood of Humanity that is Islam.Let our friends, neighbors, co-workers and everyone else know who we are and what are our principles. If we do this in the right way, we would have succeeded in a great Dawa.

May we have a successful Ramadan 1432 (2010) and may we have the desire and ability to fulfill our duties and obligations in this powerful and gracious month, In Shah Allah.

Let us rejoice in the knowledge that the fast that we have fasted for Allah SWT will be accepted, as are all good done for the sake of Allah SWT..

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Ramadan & Eid 2010

In Shah Allah the new moon that heralds the month of Shawwal will be born on Wednesday 8th. September 2010 at 10.30am GMT or 1.30pm Mecca time. The first of Shawwal will therefore be on Thursday 9th. September 2010, the day of Eid Ul Fitr. This is in accordance with the instruction contained in Al Quran and in accordance with the instruction of the Noble Prophet Muhammad SAW. This may not coincide with the guidelines given to the dwellers of the dessert 1430 years ago, whose method of determining the measurement was limited. This is what is stated in Sahih Al Bukhari: The book of Saum, CH9 #191: " Narrated Ibn Umar; The Prophet SAW said "We are an illiterate nation, we do not know how to measure, The months are like this and this" He indicated using his fingers 29 and 30. I hope that by now we would have evolved to being a literate nation That knows the science of measurement. We have two options, either act in accordance with the knowledge afforded us by Allah SWT, or act as if we are lacking in the relevant knowledge.
May we be rightly guided and may we be blessed with knowledge and the ability and desire to apply it.

Jazahkallah Khairan
Kamruz Hosein
The Islamic Theosophical Society