What is the best thing (needed) in life?

A friend once asked what seems to be a simple question wherein a kid can give over a hundred in just a couple of minutes, yet the complexity behind it was far more than I can imagine:

"What is the best thing (needed) in life?"

Simple isn't it? I bet you too can give more than 10 quick ones ^_^x.

I was laughing and making fun of some of the possible answers for some are silly and funny, while others are somewhat dumb and spot-on stupid. Some are even quoted lines from movies, song lyrics, and one-liners from famous people. Then I got stumped when I was supposed to confidently spill my take on the subject. I wanted to say something but the sound of my voice can't be heard. It was on the tip of my tongue, at the back of my head... but then i got numb. Did a lightning bolt just jolted me for a second i blinked? I was staring at Athena's face (my PC monitor) trying to inculcate the idea deep into my mind, beyond the point where reasoning and logic meet. 

But there i was, not having the answer at that very moment... not even sure if I do have it somewhere in the inner depths of my weary mind, past memories maybe or even present life experiences. My brain is trying to command my fingers to type the words, but they just laid still... frozen.

 

I slept that night feeling empty. With the emptiness swallowing my whole being, drowning me into eternal void. Staring at the ceiling, the walls mocking me with their standstill silence. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath... 

"Tomorrow" i said, there will be an answer.

Woke up tired and restless (as usual for the past 3 months), still managed to drag myself up for the morning prayers. Subhanallah the imam's iqra'a (recitation) of holy verses somewhat managed to sooth my weary soul. I wouldn't trade my place in a congregational prayer with any "happy" place in the known world. With that state of comfort I began to give thanks and praise... for the new day that I was being given chance to witness. And that day I knew I was ready to answer the "simple" question.

Athena greeted me with a happy "beep" when i pushed her power-on button. With in a couple of minutes, I laid my eyes into the familiar words on the screen. "What is the best thing (needed) in life?" My fingers danced across Athena's keys, with every "tick and tack" spells conviction and confidence.

Contentment..... and acceptance. If you have both, you've got nothing more to want.

A smile escaped from my dry and chapping lips.

It was true on both logical and moral sense. It is indeed not easy to have both, for one can't gain either outside the state of calmness and tranquility.... especially during difficult times.

The difference between having patience (sabr) during the struggles of life, and taking pleasure or having contentment (rida’) in them. 

By Allah’s Mercy, accepting what He decrees with patience for us is a route to salvation, but it is a higher degree for us to embrace and love that decree.

By another inspiring aspect of Allah’s guidance, the latter is initially harder but actually makes the path toward Him easier. Instead of religion just being a set of duties or things we have to put up with, it becomes an on-going source of wonder and contentment.

May Allah grant us the state of being contented with His Decree.

Ya Rabb! I am your slave, lighten the weight upon my chest and help me attain Rida' with ease by your Mercy. And to you shall be the return of all things.

Yes in this life there are things beyond our control.... beyond our mortal comprehension.... which has already been ordained to happen. Our grasp of understanding is the only thing standing between wisdom and knowledge, wherein the latter is merely a fact that we can relate to easily while the former has a deeper meaning that needs to be pondered and comprehended.

Acceptance.... contentment.... your Happiness, will be (Inshaallah) mine too. 

The best thing/s in life aren't the ones you already have but those that you've learned to accept of not having and being contented in the process.

Inshaallah at the end of the day (or before our life's journey ends) it will be granted as "boomerangs".

Fly now and lit up the night sky.... here standing watching from afar. And when the lights fade away, will always be there to light it up again.

 

Death is the beginning of a New Life eternal.

Death is the end of life... not really, for it is merely the beginning of a New Life eternal.

Prophet Muhammad said,
"When a human being is laid in his grave and his companions return and he even hears their foot steps, two angels come to him and make him sit and ask him:
'What did you use to say about this man, Muhammad?'
He will say: 'I testify that he is Allah's slave and His Apostle.'
Then it will be said to him,
'Look at your place in the Hell-Fire.
Allah has given you a place in Paradise instead of it.' 

"Prophet Muhammad added,
"The dead person will see both his places.
But a non-believer or a hypocrite will say to the angels,
'I do not know, but I used to say what the people used to say!
It will be said to him,
'Neither did you know nor did you take the guidance (by reciting the Quran).'
Then he will be hit with an iron hammer between his two ears, and he will cry and that cry will be heard by whatever approaches him except human beings and jinns."
-Sahih Bukhari 2:422, Narrated by Anas
 
Every soul shall taste Death.
And only on the day of Resurrection shall you be paid your compensation in full.
And whoever is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise,
he indeed is successful.
And what is the life of this world except only the enjoyment of deception.
-Qur'An 3:185

Indeed, just the thought of Death is already terrifying. It may not be to all but it is for many. People long for death whenever afflicted by extreme grief or sorrow, I myself is guilty of this... and not just once. I'm not afraid of Death itself.... I've learned not to fear anything or anyone.

I've seen so many faces of death before and now I'm not afraid to die anymore. But what frightens me most, is in fact, the thought that the scales of my "bad" deeds is heavier than my "good" deeds. I'm afraid to die in this state.

I can still remember clearly, when i was on my Umrah, the first time I set foot on the hallowed grounds of the Ka'abah... tears was flowing down my face. All my worries, anguish, hatred, and burden.... has all been lifted up. My chest can once again breath freely. I finished the first Umrah rites and decided to go for a second one, during the 4th circumambulation, the adhan (call to prayer) for Salat-ul Isha'a was called. And there I was facing the Ka'abah door with less than 10 meters away. We did the prayer, and every time  I was in prostration I utter these words:

"Ya Rabb! if you will take back the life that you've lent me, I am ready, here submitting my humble self to your will. Let me taste death in my purest state, in prostration, under your most beautiful names. Enjoin me with your pious slaves and the martyrs who died for Islam and those that has been guided to the straight way. Do not let me die in the state of unbelief or hypocrisy like of those who earned your wrath and that those who went astray. And to you shall be the return of everything.

Ameen."

Inshaallah we'll all be in our purest form and state when the Angel of Death is at our doorstep. I pray that Allah may grant remission to those souls who wandered away from the True Light, for His Mercy always comes before His Wrath.

The Indiscriminate Islam

And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the (wonderful) differences of your languages and colors. Verily, in that are indeed signs for people of sound knowledge. (Qur'An 30:22)

Racism, indeed such a powerful word. Overrated, overused.... but what's in a word? We may not admit it but deep inside the inner depths or our soul, we all have this "racist" lurking.... waiting for the right moment to be unleashed. I myself had been guilty of such act; thinking that people of stature, color, creed, and wealth are better than the other. That funny accent we used to mock, the weird feeling of stereotyped reality that all Asians lookalike - or all knows kung fu, whites are superior to black, and so on.

But what's racism really is? What pushes a man to become a racist? Allah said: "What prevented you (O Iblis, the Satan) that you did not prostrate when I commanded?" Iblis replied: "I am better than he (Adam). You made me from fire and him you created from clay." (Qur'An 7:12)

So begins the history of Racism. Satan thought himself superior to Adam on account of his origins. Since that day, Satan has misled many of Adam's descendants into also believing themselves superior to others, causing them to persecute and exploit their fellow man. Quite often, religion has been used to justify racism. Judaism, for example, despite its Middle-Eastern origins, is readily passed off as a Western religion. But the entry of Jews into all levels of Western society actually betrays Judaism's elitist reality.

A pious reading of the Bible verse: "There is no God in all the world but in Israel." (2 Kings 5:15) would be to suggest that in those days God, or Allah, was not worshiped except by Israelites. However, Judaism today remains centered around its boast of 'chosen' racial superiority.

Say: "O you Jews! If you pretend that you are friends of Allah to the exclusion of the rest of mankind, then long for death if you are really truthful." (Qur'An 62:6)

Conversely while most Christians are overwhelmingly non-Jew, Jesus (peace be upon him), as the last of the Israelite Prophets, was sent to none but Jews. The Bible agrees. Jesus (pbuh) is reported to have said: "I have not been sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel",[Matthew 15:24]. Hence, every one of his famous twelve disciples was an Israelite Jew.

The one biblical passage where Jesus (pbuh) tells them to: "Go and preach unto all nations; baptising them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost"[Matthew 28:19], commonly quoted to prove the Gentile mission as well as the Trinity, is not found in any pre-16th century manuscript and thus considered a 'pious fraud'. And likewise every Prophet was sent exclusively to his own people*, every Prophet, that is, except Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa salam).

*And We sent to every nation a Messenger (saying): Worship Allah (alone) and shun false deities". (Qur'An 16:36) Say (O Muhammad): "O People! I am the Messenger of Allah sent to you all". (Qur'An :158)

As Muhammad was God's final Prophet and Messenger, his mission was a universal one, intended for not only his own nation, the Arabs, but all the people of the world. The Prophet said: "Every other Prophet was sent to his nation exclusively, while I have been sent to all of humanity". [Bukhari]

A series of silly questions runs thru my mind for a very long time but always get me stumped looking for answers... "Is there a black Pope? a German Rabbi? what about an Asian Bishop from the Orthodox or Coptic churches? and so on... These are just some of the simple "silly" questions i have in mind that most of the time gets stupid and funny answers, but never had a clear and serious answer. This is where the beauty of Islam comes in. For in Islam, your color, race, and even your nobility doesn't matter. Muslims (even non-Muslims) stand before God all as one nation; a collective wherein a single unit is equal to the other, no more no less.

As for my Questions, if you ask me about black Muslim; I'd proudly say, 'Yes! There is!' and he is nonetheless Bilal the Abyssinian, One of the first to accept Islam - a slave from Abyssinia (Ethiopia). Traditionally, black Africans were a lowly people in the sight of Arabs who thought them to be of little use beyond entertainment and slavery.

When Bilal embraced Islam, his pagan master had him brutally tortured in the scorching desert heat until Abu Bakr (radiallahu anhu), the Prophet's closest friend, rescued him by buyin ghis freedom. The Prophet appointed Bilal to call the believers to prayer. The adhan (call to prayer) heard from minarets in every corner of the world since, echoes the exact same words recited by Bilal. Thus a onetime lowly slave won a unique honor as Islam's first muaddhin (the one who calls for prayer).

Western romantics hail ancient Greece as being the birthplace of democracy*. Reality was that, as slaves and women, the vast majority of Athenians were denied the right to elect their rulers. Yet, the Prophet said that a slave could himself be ruler: "Obey your ruler even if he be an Abyssinian slave". [Ahmad]

Democracy is a Middle-Eastern invention, first seen in the civilization of Ebla (Syria) in 3rd millennium BC, and then in Phoenicia (Lebanon) and Mesopotamia (Iraq) during 11th century BC. It did not appear in Athens until 5th century BC.

And there was Salman the Persian (Iran). Like most of his countrymen, Salman was raised a devout Zoroastrian. However, after an encounter with some Christians at worship, he accepted Christianity as "something better". Salman then travelled extensively in search of knowledge, from the service of one learned monk to another, the last of whom said: "O son! I do not know of anyone who is on the same (creed) as we are. However, the time of the emergence of a Prophet will shade you. This Prophet is upon the religion of Abraham".

The monk then proceed to describe this Prophet, his character and where he would appear. Salman migrated to Arabia, the land of the prophecy, and when he heard about and met Muhammad (pbuh), he immediately recognized him from his teacher's descriptions and embraced Islam. Salman became renowned for his knowledge and was the first person to translate the Qur'An into another language, Persian.

Once, whilst the Prophet was amongst his Companions, the following was revealed to him: It is He (Allah) Who had sent among the unlettered ones (i.e. Arabs) a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves.... and (also to) others (i.e. non-Arabs) among them who have not yet joined them (as Muslims). (Qur'An 62:2-3)

Allah's Messenger then placed his hand on Salman and said: "Even if faith was near (the stars of) Pleiades, a man from amongst these (Persians) would surely attain it". [Muslim]

Also a Suhayb the Roman, born into privilege in a luxurious house of his father, who was a client governor for the Persian emperor. Whilst still a child, Suhayb was captured by Byzantine raiders and sold into slavery in Constantinople (Turkey). Suhayb eventually escaped from bondage and fled to Mecca (Makkah), a popular place of asylum, where he soon became a prosperous merchant nicknamed 'ar - Rumi', the Roman, due to his Byzantine tongue and upbringing.

When Suhayb heard Muhammad preach, he was at once convinced of the truth of his message and embraced Islam. Like all the early Muslims, Suhayb was persecuted by the pagan Meccans. So, he traded all his wealth in exchange for safe passage to join the Prophet at Medina (Madinah), whereupon the Prophet, delighted to see Suhayb greeted hin thrice: "Your trade has been fruitful, O (Suhayb)! Your trade has been fruitful!"

Allah had informed the Prophet of Suhayb's exploits before their reunion with this revelation: And there is a type of man who ransoms himself to earn the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to His servants. (Qur'An 2:207)

The Prophet loved Suhaib a great deal and described him as having preceded the Romans to Islam. Suhaib's piety and standing among the early Muslims was so high that when Caliph Umar was on his deathbed, he selected Suhaib - a foreigner - to lead them until a successor could be agreed upon.

And finally but not surprisingly, there was Abdullah the Hebrew. The Jews were another nation that the pre-Islamic Arabs held in contempt. Many Jews and Christians had been expecting a new Prophet to appear in Arabia during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. Jews from the Levite tribe in particular had settled in large numbers in and around the city of Medina. However, when the much anticipated Prophet came not as a Hebrew son of Israel, but as the Arab descendant of Ishmael, the Jews rejected him. Except, that is, for a few like Husayn bin Salam.

Husayn was the most learned rabbi and leader of the Medinan Jews but was denounced and vilified by them when he embraced Islam. The Prophet renamed Husayn, "Abdullah", meaning "Slave of Allah", and gave him the glad tidings that he was destined for Paradise.

Abdullah addressed his tribesmen saying: "O assembly of Jews! Be conscious of Allah and accept what Muhammad has brought. By Allah! You certainly know that he is Allah's Messenger and you can find prophecies about him and mention his name and characteristics in your Torah. I for my part declare that he is the Messenger of Allah. I have faith in him and believe that he is true. I (for one) recognize him".

Allah revealed the following about Abdullah; And witness from the Children of Israel testified to this (Qur'An being from Allah) like (the Torah). So he believed while (most of) you (Jews) are too proud (to believe). (Qur'An 46:10)

Thus in the ranks of the Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) Companions could be found Africans, Persians, Romans, and Israelites; representatives of every known continent. As the Prophet said: "Indeed, my friends and allies are not the tribe of so and so. Rather, my friends and allies are the pious, wherever they may be". [Bukhari & Muslim]

The universal brotherhood of Islam was championed by the Prophet's Companions after him. When the Companion, Ubada bin as-Samit, led a delegation to Muqawqis, the Christian patriarch of Alexandria (in Egypt), the latter exclaimed: "Get this black man away from me and bring in his stead another to talk to me!".... "How can you not be content that a black man should be the foremost among you? Is it not more fitting that he below you? Indeed no!", Ubada's comrades replied, "Though he is black as you see, he is still the foremost among us in position, intelligence, and wisdom; for black is not despised among us".

Truly, the believers are but brothers. (Qur'An 49:10)

It is the Hajj (and/or Umrah), or pilgrimage to Mecca, which remains the ultimate symbol of the oneness and brotherhood of man. Here, rich and poor from all nations stand and bow in unison before God in what is the largest gathering of humanity; testifying to the Prophet's words when he said: "There is truly no excellence for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; nor a white man over a black man, nor a black man over a white man; except through piety". [Ahmad]

If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your tribe, the wealth you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving hard in His Cause, then wait until Allah brings about His Decision. And Allah guides not a rebellious people. (Qur'An 9:24)

The Prophet said: ".... whoever fights under the banner of the blind, becoming angry for nationalism, calling to nationalism, or assisting nationalism, and dies: then he dies a death of 'jahiliyya' (i.e. pre-Islamic ignorance and disbelief)". [Muslim]

While those who disbelieved placed in their hearts pride and haughtiness - the pride and haughtiness of jahiliyya, Allah sent down His tranquility upon His Messenger and upon the believers. (Qur'An 48:26)

In fact, the Muslims in and of themselves constitute a single body and supra-nation, as the Prophet explained: "The parable of the believers in their mutual love and mercy is like that of a living body: if one part feels pain, the whole body suffers in sleeplessness and fever". [Muslim] Thus we made you (believers into) a (single) justly balanced community. (Qur'An 2:143)

Perhaps one of the greatest barriers to the acceptance of Islam by many (not only Westerners) is the fallacy that it is primarily a religion for Orientals or dark-skinned people. No doubt, the racial injustices against many blacks, be they Abyssinian slaves of pre-Islamic Arabia, or 20th century Afro-Americans, has prompted many to embrace Islam. But this is beside the point. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was himself pale complexion, described by his Companions as being 'white and ruddy' - a description many tens of millions of believing Arabs, Berbers and Persians share.

Even blue-eyed blondes are not so rare amongst Near Easterners. Furthermore, Europe has more indigenous white Muslims that it has 'coloured' immigrants. The Bosnians, for example, whose numbers were decimated at the end of the 20th century but who, due to their heroism and tradition of tolerance, have contributed most to Balkan peace and stability. Albanians too, descended from Europe's ancient Illyrians, are also largely Muslims. Truth is, one of the 20th century's leading Muslim scholars, Imam Muhammad Nasir udDeen al Albani, was, as his title suggests, Albanian.

Truly, We created humans in best stature. (Qur'An 5:4)

O humanity! we have created you from a single male and female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another (not that you have pride over one another). Verily, the most honorable of you in the Sight of Allah is the one most pious". (Qur'An 49:13)

Whites have been called 'caucasian' ever since anthropologists declared the Caucasus Mountains, hone to Europe's highest peaks, to be the 'Cradle of the White Race'. Today, the natives of these mountains are Muslims. Amongst many lesser-known tribe of fierce mountaineers and fair maidens are the Circassians: famed for their bravery and beauty who, as Mamluke rulers of Syria and Egypt, helped defend the civilized world and safeguard its holy lands from the ravages of the Mongol hordes.

Then there is the brutalized Chechen, arguably the most unwieldy of all God's creatures. While over 1 million American and North European Caucasian whites - Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Germans, Scandinavians, and Celts included - now profess Islam. Truth of the matter is, Islam peacefully entered parts of Europe before Christianity, when: 'In times long ago, when the Russian Slav had not yet started to build Christian churches on the Oka nor conquered these places in the name of European civilization, the Bulgar was already listening to the Qur'An on the banks of the Volga and the Kama'. (Solov'ev, 1965) [On 16th of May 922, Islam became the official state religion of the Volga Bulgars, with whom today's Bulgarians share a common ancestry].

Every faith besides Islam calls for the worship of creation in some way, shape, or form. Moreover, race and color play a central and divisive role in almost all non-Islamic belief systems. A Christian's deification of Jesus and the saints or a Buddhist's deification of Buddha and the Dalai Lamas has people of particular race and color being worshiped in derogation of Allah. In Judaism, salvation is withheld from a non-Jew Gentile.

Hinduism's caste system likewise checks the spiritual, socio-political and economic aspirations of the 'unclean' lower castes. Islam, however, seeks to unite and make one all the creatures of the world upon the Unity and Oneness of their creator. Thus, Islam alone liberates all people's races and colors in the worship of Allah alone.

Inshaallah the next time we see our brother, neighbor, colleague, or even a homeless stranger down the street, let us not look upon unto his color, creed, or nobility, but instead his faith and belief to the One True God. For only the Almighty knows what is hidden beneath our chests and to Him will we be returned.

Ameen

I am a Muslim and this is Islam

I am a Muslim and this is Islam.

La ilaha il Allah muhammad ar rasool Allah - There is no god but God and Muhammad is his Messenger

I have been away for the past few weeks attending my religious duties and fortifying my faith thru the Holy month of Ramadan, and Alhamdulillah I’m feeling great. Please don’t think of me lecturing or preaching Islam as a religion and afterwards “baptize” you thru whatever fancy, alien or weird way afterwards without you knowing or by against your will. I’m just a simple torch bearer, merely presenting my faith to those who doesn’t (want to) know, those who doesn’t (want to) understand, and to those who have a lot of misconceptions about Islam (and Muslims in general).

Anyone who asks me regarding what is my religion will always get the same answer – My religion is the religion of Peace and the religion of all the Prophets (answers mostly to Christians; and Jews or any other sects under Monotheism or the belief in one True God) and this religion governs the Law of Science and Nature, it is the religion of all origins (answers animists, atheists, and agnostics). See, as I mentioned on one of my previous blog Persuasion, Islam shares with (the People of the Book) Christianity and Judaism a common trait which is Monotheism (belief in one True God). I won’t elaborate much on those two faiths thus I’ll stick on what I am presenting.

There are over a thousand “religions” in the world at present but the question lies on “Which one of them is the True religion?” I’ll leave that question to you, after all we’re all students in this life and seeking (true) knowledge and wisdom is but in our nature. As I always say to my friend or relative… even a stranger who asks about which one is the True religion, I can’t tell and force you to believe that my faith in Islam as the True religion is absolutely the truth… for it is up to the Almighty to open up your heart and minds; but I can show you the beauty in it and it is upon your acceptance if I indeed is telling the truth or what I speak are mere lies and fabricated hoax.

If you feel that you are comfortable and safe in whatever you believe in, then it must be the True religion for you… but if there’d be doubts and questions unanswered even by the most learned men of your faith, then there must be something wrong in what you believe in. Truth is, will you still follow something that has been proven wrong or with flaws or walk thru the path where all queries and doubts can be logically and clearly answered?

Every religion of the world has been named either after a name of its founder or after the community and nation in which the religion took its birth. For instance, Christianity takes its appellation from the name of the Prophet Jesus Christ (peace be upon him); Buddhism from its founder Gautama Buddha; Zoroastrianism from its founder Zoroaster; and Judaism (the religion of Jews) from the name of the tribe Judah (of the country of Judea) wherein it took its birth. Similar is the case with other religions (and sects). But not so with Islam, this religion enjoys the unique distinction of having no such association with any particular person/people, place or thing.

The word “Islam” does not convey any such relationship – for it does not belong to any particular person, people, or country. It is neither the product of any human mind nor is it confined to any particular community. It is a universal religion and its objective is to create and cultivate in man the quality and attitude of Islam.

“Islam” as a matter of fact, is an attributive title. Whosoever possesses this attribute, may he belong to any race, community, country, or clan, is a Muslim. According to the Qur’An (the last and seal of all the Holy Books), among every people and in all ages there have been good and righteous people who possessed this attribute – and all of them were and are Muslims.

This automatically brings us to the question:

What does Islam mean? And who is a Muslim?

ISLAM – what does it mean?

Islam is an Arabic word which connotes submission, surrender, and obedience. As a religion, Islam stands for complete submission, surrender, and obedience to Allah (subhannahu wa ta'ala). Another literal meaning of "Islam" comes from its root word "salam" which means "peace". This signifies that one can achieve real peace of body and mind only through submission and obedience to the Creator. Such a life of obedience brings in peace of the heart and establishes real peace in the society at large. And that is why its called Islam.

Now who are the Muslims?

Everyone can see that the universe we live in is an orderly universe. There is law and order among all the units that composes the entirety of the infinite universe. Everything is assigned a place in a grand scheme which is working in a magnificent and a superb way. The sun, the moon, the stars, and in fact all the heavenly bodies are knit together in a splendid system. They all follow an unalterable law and do not make even the slightest deviation from their ordained course. The earth rotates on its own axis and in its revolution round the sun scrupulously follows the path laid down for it. Similarly, everything in the world, from the little whirling electron to the mighty nebulae, invariably follows its own laws.

Matter, energy, and life - all obey their laws and grow and change and live and die in accordance with those laws. Even in the human world, the laws of nature are quite manifest. Man's birth, growth, and life are all regulated by a set of biological laws. A man when sleepy will eventually sleep, when tired will eventually rest, when hungry will eventually eat, when thirsty will eventually drink; A man needs to breath in order to live - even if he tries to hold his breath, he will eventually inhale(or exhale) air, he may stay awake for over a week without sleeping but eventually his eyes will succumb to sleep - for that is ordained to him.

The heart, the brain, and even the small tissues and organs of his body are governed by laws prescribed to them. In other words, ours is a law-governed universe and everything in it is following the course that has been ordained.

This powerful, all-pervasive law, which governs all is none the less the Law of God, the Creator and Ruler of the universe. As entire creation obeys the Law of God, the whole universe therefore, literally follows the religion of Islam - for Islam signifies nothing but obedience and submission to Allah, the Lord of the universe. The sun, the moon, the heavenly bodies are thus "Muslims". So is the case with air, water, heat, trees, animals, and even stones. Everything in the universe is A Muslim for it obeys God by submission to His Laws. Even a man who refuses to believe in God, or offers his worship to someone or something other than God, has perforce to be a Muslim as far as his body is concerned.

This in short, is the real position of man and the universe. Examining it further, Man is so constituted that there are two aspects of his life: two distinct spheres of his activity. One is the sphere in which he finds himself totally regulated by the Divine Law. Wherein he cannot budge an inch or move a step away from it. Nor he can evade it in any way or form. In fact, like other creatures, he is completely caught in the grip of the law of nature and is bound to follow it.

But there's another sphere of his activity as well. he has been endowed with reason and intellect, he has the power to think and form judgement, to choose and reject, to adapt and spurn, to do good and evil. He is free to adopt whatever course of life he chooses. He can embrace any faith, adopt any way of life and formulate his living according to whatever ideologies he likes. He may prepare his own code of conduct or accept one formulated by others. He has been bestowed with free will and can chalk out his own course of behavior. In this latter aspect, he, unlike any other creature, has been given the freedom of thought, choice, and action.

Both these aspects distinctly co-exist in man's life. In the first he, like all other creature, is a born Muslim, invariably obeys the injunctions of God, and is bound to remain so. As far as the second aspect is concerned, he is free to become or not to become a Muslim. Here he has been given the freedom of choice - and it is the way a person exercises this freedom which divides mankind into two groups : the believers and the non-believers. An individual who chooses to acknowledge his Creator, accepts Him as his Real Master, honestly and scrupulously submits to His laws and injunctions and follows the code he has revealed unto man for his individual and social life, thereby becomes a perfect Muslim.

He has, so to say, achieved completeness in his Islam by consciously deciding to obey God in the domain in which he was endowed with freedom and choice. Now his entire life has become one of submission to God and there is no conflict in his personality. He is a perfect Muslim and his Islam is complete - for this submission of his entire self to the will of Allah is Islam and nothing but Islam.

He has now consciously submitted to Him Whom he had already been unconsciously obeying. He has now willingly offered obedience to the Mater Whom he already owed obedience unintentionally. His knowledge is now real for he has acknowledged the Being Who endowed him the power to learn and know. Now this reason and judgement are set on an even keel - for he has rightly decided to obey the Being Who bestowed upon him the faculty of thinking and judging. His tongue is also truthful for it expresses with conviction its confession for the Lord Who gave it the faculty of speech.

Now the whole of his existence is an embodiment of truth for, in all spheres of life, he voluntarily as well as involuntarily obeys the laws of the same One True God - the Lord of the universe. Now he is at peace with the whole universe for he worships Him Whom the whole universe worships. Such a man is God's vice regent on earth. The whole world is for him and he is for God.

Simply put, I am a Muslim.... whether you like it or not you are also a Muslim.... we are all Muslims. The only thing we differ is how we exercise our second sphere of activity and this weighs us being a TRUE Muslim or not. Inshaallah may Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) open our hearts and minds to the truth and guide us all again (back) to straight path. Ameen.

FASTING AND RAMADAN

Everything has a cleansing agent. And fasting is the cleansing agent for the body.

Often a non-Muslim friend of mine never fails to ask me why do i fast during Ramadan and how do i survive a day without eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. I always answer them "Its all in the mind and by the will of God". After all a human body can survive 8-14 days without water (depending on the person's well being and how fast sweat, urine, and tears are leaving the body) and up to 4 weeks without food (depending on conditions like weight, temperature, and exertion). Alhamdulillah I have been fasting during Ramadan for 6 blessed years now and Inshaallah every year I have been trying to improve the way i abstain from things that are forbidden and its not just the food and drinks.

On the scientific point of view fasting is good for the body, it is the cheapest and most practical way to detoxify from "harmful" substances that we may have been taken daily, knowingly and unknowingly. I remember prepping up for a medical exam involving stool and urine samples wherein the doctor orders to fast for at least 12 hrs. I'll leave the religious point of view for later; but with regards "physical" and/or "mental" well-being, I found myself more tranquil and peaceful whenever im fasting (Ramadan or not). The feeling of serenity and calmness, the smooth and almost choreographed flow of my movements, and my whole outlook leans towards positiveness - Who would want to exert more effort to be angry when hungry? no pun intended

And hey even Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days and 40 nights [Matthew 4:2]. If a person claims that he follows the True religion then he should emulate the teachings and actions of his teachers [Prophets]. So if ever some random stranger asks me again Why do I fast? I'll simply tell him ".... its because Jesus Christ did too".

And now for the more "Technical" part, enjoy reading... hope you won't get bored and somehow you'll pick up something informative and useful.

Fasting is another unique moral and spiritual characteristic of Islam. Literally defined, fasting means to abstain "completely" from foods, drinks, intimate intercourse and smoking, before the break of the dawn till sunset, during the entire month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic year. But if we restrict the meaning of the Islamic Fasting to this literal sense, we would be sadly mistaken.

When Islam introduced this matchless institution, it planted an ever-growing tree of infinite virtue and invaluable products. Here is an explanation of the spiritual meaning of the Islamic Fasting:

• It teaches man the principle of sincere Love: because when he observes Fasting he does it out of deep love for God. And the man who loves God truly is a man who really knows what love is.
• It equips man with a creative sense of hope and an optimistic outlook on life; because when he fasts he is hoping to please God and is seeking His Grace.
• It imbues in man the genuine virtue of effective devotion, honest dedication and closeness to God; because when he fasts he does so for God and for His sake alone.
• It cultivates in man a vigilant and sound conscience; because the fasting person keeps his fast in secret as well as in public. In fasting, especially, there is no mundane authority to check man's behavior or compel him to observe fasting. He keeps it to please God and satisfy his own conscience by being faithful in secret and in public. There is no better way to cultivate a sound conscience in man.
• It indoctrinates man in patience and selflessness, as through fasting, he feels the pains of deprivation but he endures them patiently
• It is an effective lesson in applied moderation and willpower.
• Fasting also provides man with a transparent soul, a clear mind and a light body.
  It shows man a new way of wise savings and sound budgeting.
• It enables man to master the art of Mature Adaptability. We can easily understand the point once we realize that fasting makes man change the entire course of his daily life. 
• It grounds man in discipline and healthy survival.
• It originates in man the real spirit of social belonging, unity and brotherhood, of equality before God as well as before the law.
• It is a Godly prescription for self-reassurance and self-control.

Now, someone may be tempted to raise the objection: If this is the case with the Islamic institution of fasting, and if this is the picture of Islam in this aspect, why are the Muslims not living in a utopia? To such an objection we can only say that Muslims have lived in and enjoyed a utopia in a certain epoch of their history. The realization of that utopia was a phenomenon of a unique achievement in the history of man. We say unique, because no religion or social system other than Islam has ever been able to realize its ideals in reality.

The reason why the Islamic utopia is not being established nowadays is manifold and easily explicable. But to restrict our discussion to the institution of fasting we may say that some Muslims, unfortunately for them, do not observe the fast or, at best, adopt the attitude of indifference. On the other hand, some of those who observe it do not realize its true meaning and, as a result, derive very little benefit out of it or, in fact, no benefit at all.

That is why some Muslims today, do not enjoy the real privileges of fasting.
It has already been indicated that the period of obligatory fasting is the month of Ramadan. The daily period of observance starts before the break of the dawn and ends immediately after sunset. Normally there are accurate calendars to toll the exact time, but in the absence of such facilities one should consult one's watch and the sun's positions, together with the local newspapers, weather bureau, etc.

Fasting Ramadan is obligatory on every responsible and fit Muslim. But there are other times when it is recommended to make voluntary fasting, after the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad. Among these times are Mondays and Thursdays of every week, a few days of each month in the two months heralding the coming of Ramadan, i.e., Rajab and Sha'ban, six days after Ramadan following the 'Eid-ul-Fitr Day. Besides, it is always compensating to fast any day of any month of the year, except the 'Eid Days and Fridays when no Muslim should fast. 

However, we may repeat that the only obligatory fasting is that of Ramadan - which may be 29 or 30 days, depending on the moon's positions. This is a pillar of Islam, and any failure to observe it without reasonable excuses is a grave sin in the sight of God.

Who Must Fast?
Fasting Ramadan is compulsory upon every Muslim, male or female, who has these qualifications:

• To be mentally and physically fit, which means to be sane and able.
• To be of full age, the age of puberty and discretion, which is normally about fourteen. Children under this age should be encouraged to start this good practice on easy levels, so when they reach the age of puberty they will be mentally and physically prepared to observe fasting.
• To be present at one's permanent settlement, your home town, one's farm, and one's business premises, etc. This means not to be on a journey of about fifty miles or more.
• To be fairly certain that fasting is unlikely to cause you any harm, physical or mental, other than the normal reactions to hunger, thirst, etc.

Exemption From Fasting:
These said qualifications exclude the following categories:

• Children under the age of puberty and discretion.
• Insane people who are unaccountable for their deeds. People of these two categories are exempted from the duty of fist, and no compensation or any other substitute is enjoined on them.
• Men and women who are too old and feeble to undertake the obligation of fast and bear its hardships. Such people are exempted from this duty, but they must offer, at least, one needy poor Muslim an average full meal or its value per person per day.
• Sick people whose health is likely to be severely affected by the observance of fast. They may postpone the fast, as long as they are sick, to a later date and make up for it, a day for a day.
• Travelers may break the fast temporarily during their travel only and make up for it in later days, a day for a dayPregnant women and women breast-feeding their children may also break the fast, if its observance is likely to endanger their own health or that of their infants. But they must make up for the fast at a delayed time, a day for a day.
• Women in the -period of menstruation (of a maximum of ten days or of confinement (of a maximum of forty days).; They must postpone the fast till recovery and then make up for it, a day for a day.

It should be understood that here, like in all other Islamic undertakings, the intention must be made clear that this action is undertaken in obedience to God, in response to His command and out of love of Him.

The fast of any day of Ramadan becomes void by intentional eating or drinking or smoking or indulgence in any intimate intercourse, and by allowing anything to enter through the mouth into the interior parts of the body. And if this is done deliberately without any lawful reason, this is a major sin which only renewed repentance can expiate.

If anyone, through forgetfulness, does something that would ordinarily break the fast, 0a observance is not nullified, and his fast stands valid, provided he stops doing that thing the moment he realizes what he is doing.
On completion of the fast of Ramadan, the special charity known as Sadagat-ul-Fitr (charity of ' Fast-breaking) must be distributed before 'Eid-ul-Fitr (approximately), seven dollars per head.

General Recommendations:
It is strongly recommended by Prophet Muhammad to observe these practices especially during Ramadan:

• To have a light meal before the break of the dawn, known as Suhoor.
• To eat a few dates or start breaking the fast by plain water right after sunset, saying this prayer Allah humma laka sumna, wa 'ala rizqika aftarna. (O God! for Your sake have we fasted and now we break the fast with the food You have given us).
• To make your meals as light as possible because, as the Prophet put it, the worst thing man can fill is his stomach.
• To observe the supererogatory prayer known as Taraweeh.
• To exchange social visits and intensify humanitarian services.
• To increase the study and recitation of the Qur'an.
• To exert the utmost in patience and humbleness.
• To be extraordinarily cautious in using one's senses, one's mind and, especially, the tongue; to abstain from careless gossip and avoid all suspicious motions.

some excerpts borrowed from the writings of Dr. Arafat El-Ashi
Director - Muslim World League, Canada

PERSUASION

Have you been in a situation where in your friend, colleague, relative, or even a total stranger pops up on your doorstep trying to persuade you in believing his/her ideologies which are at times weird, alien, strange, or just plain in opposition of yours? It sucks right? This is where the notion "what do you think?" when your friend asks your opinion about the dress she'll be wearing' on her date or the movie you just had  or to somebody you've both just met. Politically speaking, "what do you think?" is supposed to ask one's opinion on a subject matter; but in most cases, Reality that is, it is just a way of knowing if one's opinion is similar to yours - checking out if they agree with yours or not beforehand. Funny as it seems but true.

Now going back, think about it when persuasion occurs in lieu of religion or a certain religious point of view for that matter. Street preachers (sometimes on buses too), missionaries, and those guys who goes on tandem knocking at doors splurting out "share lang po namin ang mabuting balita" (we'll just share the good news) - i wish the news will be me winning some raffle draw or even a lottery jackpot, which i doubt to happen 'cause i haven't joined any for a very long time. Or some Clergyman asking be a freedom fighter and guarantee a spot in Jennah (heaven). Sometimes we shoo this people away, sometimes we entertain them.... but do we actually listen?

I remember a friend of mine going to the extent of pretending to be an atheist just to get away. I myself before have used the phrase "nagsusuri pa ako" (im still analyzing) - religion that is, which has become successful on repelling these approaches. Only got stumped when a family member said, "pano pag oras na ng paghuhukom, haharap ka ba sa diyos at sasabihin mong nagsusuri ka pa?" (What if it’s the hour of judgment, are you gonna tell god you're still analyzing?).

That's the time I started taking religion seriously - man I was a loose cannon back then and even though my religious knowledge is mediocre, I always tend to go on sensitive debates and discussions armed with biblical verses and loopholes? Hoping to trump and get the opposing party humiliated without caring on religious impact. That's the danger of little sensitive knowledge + brash youth = expect the unexpected.

But as I grow older, to my surprise, wisdom and reason can be synonymous with each other. Even pondered.... what if the guy who worships cows has the true religion, or what if "that guy who founded a church" is truly an angel, and the "southern" clan is family of saints, not to mention animists and atheists? Man! Then eternal damnation is waiting for me for sure, for my beliefs are not even up par to theirs. Don’t get me wrong but I have much respect with Religions - Islam, Judaism, and Christianity; all practicing Monotheism or the belief in one true God.

All others, Sects, Cults, and Breakaway groups are make beliefs, politically motivated and unguided visions which only benefit their leaders/founders who promise salvation. and don’t ever feed me "what about Sunni, Shiite, Salafis, Sufis, Wahabbis, Sadrists, Hanbalis, Hanafis, Allawis... etc" I am a Muslim and my Creator guided me to be that way for I fear not on walking in the middle of the straight path and not choose sides. Bear in mind that we need to believe in the IDEALS and not some Shiny or Living IDOLS.

However my take on things on a religiously relevant topic is only on a personal level and not speaking on behalf of my own religion in general. I am but a student and my learning process only ends on my deathbed. I will try to answer queries and questions (with regards religion that is) as much as i possibly can.

It is true that my limited knowledge may not always have an exact answer to every query that i may encounter, wherein I am tasked to relay the question to whomsoever had the wisdom and maybe able to provide the answers later on. May the Almighty guide us on all our actions and opinions that we may not err our own Faith thru misconceptions, misinterpretations, or misunderstandings.