Dan’s thinking box….

A
convesation for Muslim sisters:

"I’m so
tired."

"Tired
of what?"

"Of all
these people judging me."

"Who
judged you?"

"Like
that woman, every time I sit with her, she tells me to wear hijab."

"Oh,
hijab and music! The mother of all topics!"

"Yeah!
I listen to music without hijab…haha!"

"Maybe
she was just giving you advice."

"I
don’t need her advice. I know my religion. Can`t she mind her own
business?"

"Maybe
you misunderstood. She was just being nice."

"Keeping
out of my business, that would be nice…"

"But
it’s her duty to encourage you do to good."

"Trust
me. That was no encouragement. And what do you mean `good` ?"

"Well,
wearing hijab, that would be a good thing to do."

"Says
who?"

"It’s
in the Qur’an, isn’t it?"

"Yes.
She did quote me something."

"She
said Surah Nur, and other places of the Qur’an."

"Yes,
but it’s not a big sin anyway. Helping people and praying is more
important."

"True.
But big things start with small things."

"That’s
a good point, but what you wear is not important. What’s important
is to have a good healthy heart."

"What
you wear is not important?"

"That’s
what I said."

"Then
why do you spend an hour every morning fixing up?"

"What
do you mean?"

"You
spend money on cosmetics, not to mention all the time you spend on
fixing your hair and
low-carb dieting."

"So?"

"So,
your appearance IS important."

"No. I
said wearing hijab is not an important thing in religion."

"If
it’s not an important thing in religion, why is it mentioned in the Holy
Qur’an?"

"You
know I can’t follow all that’s in Qur’an."

"You
mean God tells you something to do, you disobey and then it’s OK?"

"Yes.
God is forgiving."

"God
is forgiving to those who repent and do not repeat their mistakes."

"Says
who?"

"Says
the same book that tells you to cover."

"But I
don’t like hijab, it limits my freedom."

"But
the lotions, lipsticks, mascara and other cosmetics set you free?!
What`s your definition of
freedom anyway?"

"Freedom
is in doing whatever you like to do."

"No.
Freedom is in doing the right thing, not in doing whatever we wish to do."

"Look!
I’ve seen so many people who don’t wear hijab and are nice people, and so many
who wear hijab and are bad people."

"So
what? There are people who are nice to you but are alcoholic. Should we all be
alcoholics? You made a stupid point."

"I
don’t want to be an extremist or a fanatic. I’m OK the way I am without
hijab."

"Then
you are a secular fanatic. An extremist in disobeying God."

"You
don’t get it, if I wear hijab, who would marry me?!"

"So
all these people with hijab never get married?!"

"Okay!
What if I get married and my husband doesn’t like it? And wants me to remove
it?"

"What
if your husband wants you to go out with him on a bank robbery?!"

"That’s
irrelevant, bank robbery is a crime."

"Disobeying
your Creator is not a crime?"

"But
then who would hire me?"

"A
company that respects people for who they are."

"Not
after 9-11"

"Yes.
After 9-11. Don’t you know about Hanan who just got into med school?
And the other one, what was
her name, the girl who always wore a white hijab…ummm…"

"Yasmeen?"

"Yes.
Yasmeen. She just finished her MBA and is now interning for GE."

"Why do
you reduce religion to a piece of cloth anyway?"

"Why
do you reduce womanhood to high heals and lipstick colors?"

"You
didn’t answer my question."

"In
fact, I did. Hijab is not just a piece of cloth. It is obeying God in a
difficult environment. It is courage, faith in action, and true womanhood.
But your short sleeves,
tight pants…"

"That’s
called `fashion`, you live in a cave or
something? First of all, hijab was founded by men who wanted to control
women."

"Really?
I did not know men could control women by hijab."

"Yes.
That’s what it is."

"What
about the women who fight their husbands to wear hijab? And women in France who
are forced to remove their hijab by men? What do you say about that?"

"Well,
that’s different."

"What
difference? The woman who asked you to wear hijab…she was a woman, right?"

"Right,
but…"

"But
fashions that are designed and promoted by male-dominated corporations, set you
free? Men have no control on exposing women and using them as a commodity?!
Give me a break!"

"Wait,
let me finish, I was saying…"

"Saying
what? You think that men control women by hijab?"

"Yes."

"Specifically
how?"

"By
telling women how and what to wear, dummy!"

"Doesn’t
TV, magazines and movies tell you what to wear, and how to be
`attractive’?"

"Of
course, it’s fashion."

"Isn’t
that control? Pressuring you to wear what they want you to wear?"

[Silence]

"Not
just controlling you, but also controlling the market."

"What
do you mean?"

"I
mean, you are told to look skinny and anorexic like that woman on the cover of
the magazine, by men who design those magazines and sell those products."

"I
don’t get it. What does hijab have to do with products."

"It
has everything to do with that. Don’t you see? Hijab is a threat to
consumerism, women who spend billions of dollars to look skinny and live by
standards of fashion designed by men…and then here is Islam, saying trash all that
nonsense and focus on your soul, not on your looks, and do not worry what men
think of your looks."

"Like I
don’t have to buy hijab? Isn’t hijab a product?"

"Yes,
it is. It is a product that sets you free from male-dominated
consumerism."

"Stop
lecturing me! I WILL NOT
WEAR HIJAB!
It is awkward, outdated, and totally not suitable for this society …
Moreover, I am only 20 and too young to wear hijab!"

"Fine.
Say that to your Lord, when you face Him on Judgment Day."

"Fine."

"Fine."

[Silence]

"Shut
up and I don’t want to hear more about hijab niqab schmijab Punjab!"

[Silence]

She
stared at the mirror, tired of arguing with herself all this time.

Successful
enough, she managed to shut the voices in her head, with her own opinions
triumphant in victory on the matter, and a final modern decision accepted by
the society - but rejected by the Faith:

"Yes!" - to curls on the
hair - "No!"
- to hijab!

"And
he (/she) is indeed a failure who corrupts it [the soul]!"
[Holy Quran 91:10]

Subhana’Allah!!!

"Nay!
You prefer the life of this world; While the hereafter is better and more
lasting."
[Holy Quran: 87:16-17]

"You are the best community (Ummah)
raised up for (the benefit of) humanity; enjoining what is right and forbidding
what is wrong and believing in Allah."
[Holy Quran: 3:110]

Author: A.Q. Alidost

In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful

Peace be upon those who follow true guidance.

I have made this article in relation to the concept of God being everywhere. Be aware that this does not concern people of faiths other than Islamic faith. However, everyone is welcome to read and understand Islam.

Last few weeks, a servant of God mentioned about God being everywhere because we think in our heart that God is everywhere. Yesterday, a lecturer of mine said that the  greeting or the salam a Muslim gives to another Muslim is actually a greeting to God IN the heart of a person. I even asked my mom where God is, and she said that God is everywhere. So, is this true? Can God, the Omnipotent, be omnipresent too? Is God present in every atom of things?

The answer is of course, NO!

If you still insist on saying that God exists everywhere in every atom, is God in the bathroom too? in the toilet bowl? in the garbage dump? in excrement? Highly Exalted is He above having to be in such places.

In a hadith, or the saying of the Prophet, a woman was tested by the Prophet by asking where God is. The woman pointed up and the Prophet said, you passed the test.

This shows that God is not among his creation. God is neither on earth, in earth, nor is he on the heavens or in the heavens. He is above the heavens and the earth. In fact, he was the one who CREATED the heavens and the earth.

You see, a very important surah in Quran means this:

"and there is nothing that could be compared with Him" (Al-Ikhlas Verse 4)

Now, with that verse, we can say that if God is among his creation, then that means God is being compared with the creation.

So, God is NOT everywhere, but God’s love is everywhere, God’s sight is everywhere, and God’s knowledge is everywhere but NOT in the same way we see, know, or love.

To conclude this, I just want to say that God or Allah is the One who has no place that contains Him.

I hope I did not go astray by making this article. I testify that there is no god but the ONE TRUE GOD and that Muhammad is the messenger of God. If anything I said is wrong, please please correct me. Jazakallahukhayran

In the name of God, The Gracious, The Merciful.
Praise be to God, peace and blessings be upon the prophet of God.
Also, peace be upon those follow true guidance.

As usual, I am writing this in response to a lecturer’s remark that touches Islam and its teaching. So, what happened was that I was asked by this lecturer (whose name will NOT be revealed) if I would further studies and get a PHd on this course. Before I got to answer the question, he interfered and said, "Don’t say Insha-Allah. Say YES, SIR!".  I was a bit stunned by his remark. Nevertheless, I managed to crack a smile and just be silent. So, what happened here? Has he misunderstood Islam or did he try to insult Islam? As a muslim, we should always think positive of a person (Unless, of course, it is clear that he’s guilty of charge). So, I told myself that he doesn’t understand Islam very well, that’s all. But then, another question stems from this positive thinking of this lecturer: Who’s at fault for his misunderstanding? Is it because he’s never learned Islam, or have Malaysian Muslims contributed to this misunderstanding? So, I decided to go with the second one because, if I choose the first, then I would have nothing to write about.

Ladies and gentlemen (especially brothers and sisters in Islam), the phrase "Insha-Allah" is an Arabic phrase which means "if God wills". This phrase is important for every Muslim. It MUST be used by all Muslims to express a condition of whether or not one can do something by depending fully on the will of God. This signifies our role as Muslims to surrender and submit completely to God; a total submission to God. God says in the holy book of Quran which means:

"Never say of anything "I will certainly do it tomorrow". Without adding: "If Allah wills!"…" - Surah Al-Kahf (23-24)

According to this verse, the phrase insha-Allah is not only recommended, but it is COMPULSORY or WAJIB for a Muslim to say insha-Allah after promising to do something. Without saying this, it can mean that we are arrogant and think we are self-sufficient (we don’t need God to fulfill the promise) and that we can see the future when the promise is fulfilled. All these thoughts are wrong and are against the teaching of Islam as we ARE NOT self-sufficient and we CANNOT see the future.

Now, let’s talk about the Malaysian Muslims’ way of using the phrase Insha-Allah. According to a research, Muslims use Insha-Allah when they do not want to make a commitment to doing something. This usually happens when they don’t want to do something that someone has requested them to do. Insha-Allah is also used as a euphemism of saying NO. Since they feel awkward saying NO directly, they use Insha-Allah instead. Now, this is not a correct way of using the phrase Insha-Allah. In fact, I personally think it’s wrong as this is an abuse of the command of God.

This is why non-muslims don’t want Muslims to say insha-Allah when promising; because it doesn’t give a sense of commitment. And how did he get this notion? From the muslims themselves. Actually, when we say "insha-Allah", we are promising to do our BEST to fulfill a commitment. If, on the other hand, something happens that prevents us from fulfilling the promise, despite our best laid plans, then it means God doesn’t will you to do it.

so, in conclusion there are two points that I meant to make it clear. First, whenever we promise to do something, that promise should come along with the saying "Insha-Allah". Second, when saying "insha-Allah", it means we ARE promising to fulfill what we promise and we MUST try our best to fulfill it. Before I end this article, I would like to share with you a hadith of the last Prophet of God, Muhammad (SAW):

————————————————————————————————

When Allah’s Messenger (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) declared Allah’s Oneness and proclaimed to be the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) and revelation of Divine Message. The disbeliveers of Makkah sent some men to Jewish rabbis in al-Medina and said: "Ask them (the rabbis) about Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam), and describe him to them, and tell them what he is saying.

They are the people of the first Book, and they have more knowledge of the Prophets than we do.’ So they set out for al-Medina, they asked the Jewish rabbis about the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam). They described him to them and told them some of his teachings.

The rabbis said: ‘Ask him about three things which we will tell you to ask, if he answers them then he is a Prophet who has been sent (by Allah); if he does not, then he is saying things that are not true, in which case how you will deal with him will be up to you. Ask him about some young men in ancient times, what was their story? For there is a strange and wondrous tale. Ask him about a man who traveled a great deal and reached the east and the west of the earth. What was his story? And ask him about he Ruh (soul or spirit) what is it?

If he tells you about these things, then he is a Prophet, so follow him, but if he does not tell you, then he is a man who is making things up, so deal with him as you see fit.’ So, the men came back to Makkah and said: ‘O people! We have come to you with a decisive solution which will put an end to the problem between you and Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam). The Jewish rabbis told us to ask him about some matters,’ and they told them what they were. Then they came to the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) and said: ‘O Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) tell us,’ and they asked him about the things they had been told to ask.

The Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "I will tell you tomorrow about what you have asked me." But he (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) did not say, ‘If Allah Wills.’

Allah Messenger (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) never spoke anything except with revelation. So, he waited for the revelation from Allah but fifteen days passed away without any revelation concerning those matter which the disbelievers asked, neither did Jibreel (alaihis-salaam) come to him. The people of Makkah started to doubt him and said: ‘Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) promised to tell us the next day and now fifteen days have gone by and he has not told us anything in response to the questions we asked.’

The Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) felt sad because of the delay in revelation and was grieved by what the people of Makkah were saying about him.

Then Jibreel (alaihis-salaam) came with the revelation of Soorah al-Kahf, which contained answers to the questions and also the above mentioned verse explaining the correct etiquette when determining to do something in the future.

I once discussed religion with several non-muslims before. When I asked them if they knew Allah, most of them had the same or similar answer; "it’s your god right?" This statement is clear and evident that people do not really know who or what Allah is. I think that even the non-arab Muslims do not really know Allah. They just think that Allah is a name of Islamic God or the Muslims only. However this is somewhat incorrect. This is why insults on Islam is made on the word Allah. They say Allah is this and Allah is that. But they don’t really understand what the word Allah is.

The word Allah is actually a term in Arabic, not a name of God. It comes from the root "ilah". When the word is in its root, it can be transformed into having gender and being plural. When the article "the" is placed in front of the root "ilah", it becomes "Al-lah". When it’s in this form, it cannot be made plural nor can it have any gender. The word Allah is the perfect word to describe God.

So you see, Allah is not a name but instead a term for God. Allah is an Arabic term for the word God in English. English lacks the capacity to describe God because the word ‘God’ in English can be made plural; Gods, or be made into having gender; Goddess. This is why Muslims prefer to use ‘Allah’ instead of God. So, when you think of making fun of Islam by using the word Allah, remember that Allah is not a name, but a term that when you translate to your language, it means God, The God, The singular and genderless God.