#i know there's lots of good and beautiful verses in the quran

[former-leftist-jew]

... First off, I'm an autistic, aesexual-biromantic Jewish Democrat and former hardcore leftie liberal whose friends were all some degree of leftist Queer/PoC/non-Christian all my life.

Secondly: ... My Baha'i Persian friend, whose mother and uncle fled religious persecution in Iran, sent me the above?

I'm sorry, but do you not know how violent and oppressive the Iranian regime can be? (Especially to women, like when the "morality police" killed Mahsa Amini and sparked a feminist revolution?)

Or how they got to power in the first place? (Which I learned about from my IRL Persian friends whom I met because their families fled that regime?)

Or how many violent terror groups the Islamic regime of Iran helped spread to carnage across the Middle East in the last few decades alone? (Which I know because my Muslim friends at work and college told me?)

Like the Houthis terror party, partly because they're both Shia Muslims who wanted to stick it to the largely Sunni Saudi Arabia? (See Sunni vs Shia Islam.)

Which prompted Saudi Arabia to intervene "for peace," killing hundreds of thousands of civilians, starved millions, and caused the worst cholera outbreak ever recorded due to subsequent unsanitary conditions).

Only for Houthis to come out of the woodwork to curse Jews and attack Israel, even though it's nowhere near Yemen, did them no harm, and had nothing to do with Saudi Arabia air-striking and starving hundreds of thousands of Yemeni civilians to death.

That's not to say Islam is all bad, but that doesn't mean it's all good either. If you have time, I'd highly recommend watching ex-Muslim Youtubers who talk about their experiences growing up and/or becoming disillusioned with Islam (Mimzy Vidz, Athiest Republic. Apostate Prophet. Sultan Harris, Give Light, to name a few).

If you don't look at anything else, I think this is the most fair and succinct look at Islam, based on what I've heard, read, and learned.

Again, Islam might not be evil, but it's not perfect either.

Just as every religion and ideology has flaws that can be exploited by bad actors who wish others harm (read: Christian homophobes who get a lot of mileage out of one "thou shalt not lie with a man as one lies with a woman" line in the ENTIRE 20k+ page bible), sadly there are some texts, traditions, and beliefs in Islam that lend themselves to create violent religious extremism and intolerance.

Like Quran Chapter 9 Verse 29:

Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.

First off, the concept of jizyah is so hilarious to me. "Pay us protection money 'willingly,' or we'll kill you." "..."

Which is what this guy is alluding to: In his mind, Muslims have a sacred duty to send religious armies to fight all non-Muslims and then give the conquered three "good choices": 1) Convert to Islam, 2) Pay a poll tax and live as second-class citizens, 3) Death.

(Here's a video about Sharia Law from a non-white news source, btw.)

And that's exactly what Hamas believes and why they're waging this war. How do I know? BECAUSE THEY PUT IT IN THEIR FUCKING CHARTER.

HAMAS CHARTER 1988. Here are some passages of note:

Article 7: The Islamic Resistance Movement aspires to the realisation of Allah's promise, no matter how long that should take. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him salvation, has said: "The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharkad tree would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews." (related by al-Bukhari and Moslem).

Yes, this is a real Islamic hadith that many real Muslims believe, and that Hamas wants to act on. (The kicker? Most Jews have never even heard of the gharqad tree!!)

Article 11: "The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf...This is the law governing the land of Palestine in the Islamic Sharia and the same goes for any land the Moslems have conquered by force, because during the times of (Islamic) conquests, the Moslems consecrated these lands to Moslem generations till the Day of Judgement."

Like Nabeel Qureshi said above, Islam does have a long history of violent religious conquests. In his words, after the prophet's death, Islam was able to conquer 1/3 of the known world within 150 years. (Here's a map and timeline.)

The kicker? Hamas is PROUD of their Islamic ancestors' violent religious conquests, and BRAGS that they conquered the region around Palestine by force. (bolded by me)

Article 11 Cont: It happened like this: When the leaders of the Islamic armies conquered Syria and Iraq, they sent to the Caliph of the Moslems, Umar bin-el-Khatab, asking for his advice concerning the conquered land - whether they should divide it among the soldiers, or leave it for its owners, or what? After consultations and discussions... it was decided that the land should be left with its owners who could benefit by its fruit. As for the real ownership of the land and the land itself, it should be consecrated for Moslem generations till Judgement Day.

In other words: "Our ancestors conquered this land fair and square! And they called 'dibs!' for eternity! So no one else can ever own this land! Only Muslims can rule over or own this land till the end of time!"

It's like Christian homophobes refusing to acknowledge gay marriage because, "It goes against my religion! >:(" "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!" "The bible defines marriage as is between a man and a woman!"

When Hamas say they find Israel's very existence to be illegal and illegitimate, they don't mean by ACTUAL international laws, but because it doesn't jive with their Islamic beliefs and their interpretation of Sharia Law.

And what does their religion say they should do to people who try to take the land they conquered by force?

Article 15: The day that enemies usurp part of Moslem land, Jihad becomes the individual duty of every Moslem. In face of the Jews' usurpation of Palestine, it is compulsory that the banner of Jihad be raised.

Again, Hamas says with their words that they see Jews as "enemies" that "usurp" their Allah-given right to own and rule over all peoples and lands on earth, so the penalty of filthy JEWS (non-Muslims) owning once Muslim-owned land MUST be answered with a violent religiously war and slaughter. (And yes, jihad does mean violent religious struggle.)

And if you think, "Well, Israel deserves it for not respecting their religious views and taking their land" (just like how gays violate Christians' religious views by seeking a legal marriage license...) this next passage from Hamas' very charter, which includes a sacred hadith, outright says that they won't stop with Israel: The West is next.

Article 22: The imperialistic forces in the Capitalist West and Communist East, support the enemy with all their might, in money and in men. These forces take turns in doing that. The day Islam appears, the forces of infidelity would unite to challenge it, for the infidels are of one nation. "O true believers, contract not an intimate friendship with any besides yourselves: they will not fail to corrupt you. They wish for that which may cause you to perish: their hatred hath already appeared from out of their mouths; but what their breasts conceal is yet more inveterate. We have already shown you signs of their ill will towards you, if ye understand." (The Family of Imran - verse 118).

In other words: "Don't trust any non-Muslims, because they all secretly hate you, look down on you, and wish you harm. In fact, ALL non-Muslims are secretly in cahoots with each other, plotting against you and other innocent Muslims. Don't trust them, lean on US to protect you from the evil, bad, scheming infadels."

I hope you plan to convert to Islam, because Hamas and their Muslim followers see you as an enemy of Islam almost as much as they see me.

THIS IS WHAT HAMAS PUT IN THEIR VERY FOUNDING CHARTER.

And that's not to say "All Muslims" believe this claptrap: Lebanese-American author Brigitte Gabriel said it best: "OF COURSE not all of them are radicals, [but] the peaceful majority are irrelevant."

"There are 1.[8] billion Muslims in the world today. OF COURSE not all of them are radicals. The majority of them are peaceful people... So why should we worry about the radicals, 15-25%? Because it is the radicals that kill. Because it is the radicals that behead and massacre. When you look throughout history... Most GERMANS were peaceful people, yet the Nazis drove the agenda. And as a result, 60 million people died: Almost 14 million in concentration camps, 6 million were Jews. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. When you look at Russia, most Russians were peaceful as well, yet the Russians were able to kill over 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant... When you look at Japan, prior to WWII, most Japanese were peaceful as well. Yet Japan was able to butcher its way across most of southeast Asia, killing 12 million people, mostly killed with bayonets and shovels. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. On Sept 11th in the United States, we had 2.3 million Arab Muslims living in the United States. It took 19 hijackers--19 radicals--to bring America down to its knees, destroy the World Trade Center, attack the Pentagon, and kill almost 3,000 Americans that day. The peaceful majority were irrelevant."

But enough of them DO believe, DO want to act on it, and enough of the "peaceful majority" put up with it enough that it IS a problem.

And the Palestinian "peaceful" majority? No, most of them support Hamas, the Oct 7 atrocities, and support the continued slaughter of Jews.

I know I won't change your mind because it's already made up, but I want the record to show that I know more about Islam than you think I do.

I want the record to show that when I talk about Islamic extremists and scholars wanting kill or subjugate all non-Muslims, I'm not just regurgitating white conservative Fox News talking points: I'm taking actual Islamic believers at their word.

Hamas has stated their goal: To kill all the Jews (including me), and force everyone else (including you) to submit to Islamic rule and live by their version of Sharia Law.

"When people tell you who they are, believe them the first time" doesn't just apply to cishet white dudes. It also applies to Islamic extremists.

"It doesn't matter 'who started it'. Violence is NEVER THE ANSWER and it's ALWAYS WRONG to hit someone, even if they hit you first--even if you hit back in self-defense."

"Murder is ALWAYS WRONG, regardless of the circumstance. Even if they're actively trying to kill you and the ONLY WAY to save your own life (or the life of a loved one) is to kill them first in self-defense."

"If you hit/kill someone trying to hit/kill you, you're JUST AS BAD as the guy who's trying to hit/kill you if you do it back."

It's funny how leftist twitter and tumblr is filled with young people who know how wildly stupid and unfair this mentality is... until it's applied to jews.

The same kids who say "punching bullies and fascists is a moral imperative" because appealing to their kindness and humanity doesn't work--because violence is the only language they speak, and the only response they respect--and no one is morally obligated to endure bullying or cruelty or death just to win some empty moral victory...

Turn around and tell Jews, "It doesn't matter who started this war. Killing/bombing is ALWAYS WRONG, no matter the circumstances. If you do it to them, you're JUST AS BAD as they are, and thus you deserve whatever violence they inflict on you..."

Fucking bite me.

At least pearl-clutching 70s-90's white Christian house moms condemned violence across the board--they didn't like it in movies, TV shows, video games, or baseball games any more than they liked it on the playground.

But youngass leftists who've cheered and celebrated violence in nearly every aspect of their life, fiction, history, and news--from "punching nazis," to BLM riots, to "throw a brick through a ceo's house" to "burn it all down!" and whatever passing trend I've forgotten...

NOW SUDDENLY think, "Killing is always wrong, regardless of the circumstances. Hitting/killing back is just as bad as hitting/killing first. Self-defense is no excuse. It's better to sit back and let yourself and your loved ones be killed rather than hit/kill back in self-defense."

Fucking bite me.

[presentmeetpast]

Don’t be sorry! I’m going through a hard time too. I think a lot of us are right now. It’s refreshing when people are real about it, makes you feel less alone, y’know?

I know it's going to sound very hypocritical, but I hope that your situation gets better, anon or whatever you are going through right now. I like to believe that the lows build us up to be stronger and more open to people and our environment. Is it fun to experience? Not really, but all wrongs have a right. All bad experiences will bring about good ones.

A verse I always found beautiful in the Quran is "With hardship comes ease," which I believe is true because the world around us goes in rotation. It cannot be all bad, nor all good. At times, even the hardships we have have ease in them, in certain aspects.

But anywho, I got into a tangent. I hope everything works out for you, and I know you are stronger than whatever you are going through right now. Just you writing to me on anon a wonderful little reminder made my night and it shows the wonderful/ beautiful heart you have anon <3

And you are right! Having people being real does make one feel more sane, and it is refreshing, to be honest.

I'm sorry for this rant, but know I appreciate you and the message you sent to my inbox tonight.

[espressokiri]

Hi there. Another Muslimah here.

Hope you don't mind me sending you an ask. I read your fic about the BNHA boys with a muslim s/o. It was really good. I loved it so much. (There aren't many fics like this, which is a shame cause we like fanfics too. So this was very refreshing. Thank you.💚😉)

Could you do one for the Haikyuu boys, specifically Tsukishima, Kuroo, Sugawara, and Bokuto. But only if you want to, of course.

Hope you have a great and productive day.

Tsukishima Kei, Kuroo Tetsurou, Sugawara Koushi, and Bokuto Koutarou x Hijabi!reader

In which reader is a hijabi Muslim.

Warnings: None

Genre: Fluff

Notes: You're welcome to send asks anytime <3 I may be slow at getting through them but I will make sure to get them out! Thank you for being so sweet anon <3 I hope you enjoy this one! ^^ I’m sorry if it seems bland as I was slowly losing ideas.

Tsukishima Kei

His eyes would constantly drift to you during class hours, lips twitching into a smile as he would watch you struggle with the assignment sheet given during history class.

Would take that as a leeway to make conversation and help you out.

"Tsk, can't even do a simple history assignment?"

Just sits down next to you and points out what you did wrong while helping you out.

Flinches his hand away and mutters a sorry if your hands accidentally graze each others.

He knows how strict the dating rules were and he admired it, thinking it was a safe way to keep them away from harm and heartbreak.

Becomes your unofficial tutor just to spend more time with you.

Has the urge to flick your forehead most times when you purposely tease him.

Is worried when he sees you zoning out in the middle of class during Ramadan, you have to convince him you're fine and that you're getting your studying done despite the odd sleep schedule you've created.

He'll give you a small box of his favourite treat, strawberry short cake, randomly throughout Ramadan because he knows you crave more sweets during the days you fast than regular days.

He calls you a masochist when he finds you watching cooking/baking videos while fasting.

Will stop by your house to drop off pastries during Eid for you and your family because he wants to peak at you all dressed up as he's only seen you in your school uniform or in casual but modest fashion.

He feels a sense of security, enjoying the aspect of getting to know someone with no sense of rush.

Kuroo Tetsurou

He's such an awkward nerd please.

Wants to approach you but fears he might accidentally offend you due to his provocative nature, hence resorts to staring at you from across the room.

Would research more about your religion and would use that as a way to start small talk;

“Hey, uh, I was wondering how do you manage to pray Zuhr when you’re in school? Isn’t it bad that you have to miss it?���

“Oh uh, I usually run home as soon as I can or pray in my club room if there are meetings, my club members are very understanding.”

“Oh... I see.”

“That’s pretty cool of you to be concerned, Kuroo-san.”

Cue him asking you random but wholesome questions with genuine curiosity.

“Did you know men who oppress women are considered to not follow Islam? I find that really nice that women are equal to men in your religion!”

You smile at him and his interest in your religion.

Study sessions in the library because you both wanted to spend time with each other but he knows it is wrong for a male to be alone in the same room as the opposite gender so you both opted for the library where there are lots of people.

Gasps and immediately looks away when you unravel the scarf around your head to fix;

“Y/n! You can’t do that!!”

“I’m wearing an underscarf calm down.”

You rolled your eyes at the dramatic male but smiled at his respectful nature.

Ramadan? Catch him ruining his sleep schedule just to have movie nights with you through the phone and Netflix Party.

Kenma teases him about it because Kuroo used to yell at him about his own staying up late gaming obsession.

Likes it when you wear a cap on top of your hijab, he thinks it looks cool on you.

He’ll convince you to skip school during Eid if it falls on a school day, telling you that it’s important that you spend at least the first day of it with your family. 

Overall, he’s the type to keep up with the Islamic calendar and learn new facts daily as he asks you to explain each and everything about your religion and lifestyle.

Sugawara Koushi

See’s you for the first time with Kiyoko when he went to excuse her from class for managerial duties.

Smitten from first sight.

Begs Kiyoko to let you be her assistant manager.

He keeps a distance from you during your first introduction and conversation because he didn’t know what you were comfortable with.

He was in awe to find out there were sports hijab when he saw you sporting one to play a short game with an over-enthusiastic Hinata.

“Here, stay hydrated.”

Hands you a bottle of water along with a towel, a newfound respect for playing in hot weather conditions fully covered. 

Due to the chaotic nature of the first and second years, Sugawara would run to cover your eyes with his jacket or hover his hands in front of your face whenever Tanaka would rip off his shirt to swing around whenever he spiked.

Sugawara had to stop himself multiple times from clapping his hand onto your shoulder, resulting in him just smacking either Asahi or Daichi when they mention him almost touching you.

Outings between you two is always monitored by the third years, Asahi smiling proudly at his friend Suga while Daichi and Kiyoko would sneakily take candid pictures of you both.

“What’s one verse you hold dear to your heart?”

You look at him from the warm mug of drink you are holding, tilting your head as you look at him in confusion. Sugawara felt the tips of his ears go red at the cute expression you held, and explains his question.

“Ah,” you thought long and hard before giving him an answer, “ ‘Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear...’ I find that part of the verse very reassuring in times when I feel like I’m overwhelmed.”

Sugawara held onto every word, finding the beauty behind those words, he felt at peace. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He smiles.

It felt like he was more excited than you for Ramadan.

He would read out loud the Japanese translation of the Quran after you read out the Arabic words in a beautiful and soothing voice. He wanted to understand and learn.

He was hooked onto the peaceful energy the month brought despite life going on normally.

This man would wear a formal Kimono when your family invites his over for Eid, he wanted to make the best impression despite already meeting them in passing.

Suga had a sense of security and comfort around him and you felt lucky to have met someone such as him.

Bokuto Koutarou 

Oh God.

Akaashi had a field day trying to stop him from initiating any and every kind of physical affection when he first introduced you to him.

Bokuto is a man who expresses himself with affection, so he was lucky for Akaashi to explain to him why he shouldn’t initiate any physical affection without asking for what you considered crossing a boundary.

He knows he can’t drag you to the gym to watch him play volleyball by hand, so he asks you to hold onto the end of a pen, which you took, confused as to what the male exactly wants before realizing he was holding the other end and using that to drag you to where the gym was.

It was oddly endearing.

“Did you see my spike, Y/n?! Didya see?!”

“Yes, Bokuto. It was really cool!”

Cue a chest puffed up Bokuto who grinned with pride.

Invites you to eat lunch with him and Akaashi on the roof.

Having to refuse his food because you weren’t sure if there was pork in it or not.

This made Bokuto stop bringing in food that contained pork, not knowing even aside from that, he had to have the halal form of chicken or beef.

Akaashi had to explain everything to him when he asked him once.

Tried to go vegetarian one day, failed the minute he took a bite out of his food.

Feels bad when he eats on days you are fasting, so he tries finishing the meal before you come up to their usual meeting spot, resulting in him giving himself a stomach ache.

Brings you tuna filled onigiri to take home so you can eat it as a snack during the night after breaking your fast.

Sends you spam messages minutes before having to break your fast;

‘Are you excited to eat?!?!?!’

‘What are you having today?!?’

‘If you want to get any snacks later let me know! :D’

‘ONE MINUTE LEFT!!’

He’s so wholesome please.

Wants to skip school with you for Eid, but pouts when you tell him you’ll be spending it with family.

Asks you to send an OOTD pic so he could be your hype-man.

Bokuto is always willing to understand more about you and your religion, making sure to note things in his head for future references.

[menfenced]

I binged Midnight Mass last weekend and I have some thoughts now. (Includes spoilers)

There’s a lot of deep conversations in Midnight Mass about religion, forgiveness, belief in an afterlife, etc. One conversation I didn’t care much about when watching the show was the one about Prayer/Bibles in school. When I was watching it, I didn’t care much because it didn’t seem to be saying anything new on the subject, unlike a lot of those other scenes. But the more I think about it, that scene was so critical to the message of the entire show. 

Through the whole meeting, Bev is trying to frame her actions as being rational and caring. She’s just trying to share knowledge and answer things that the children are already curious about. The bible is inspirational and has beautiful quotes that anyone can appreciate no matter their religion, right? And of course Hassan counters by asking her if she would be comfortable with someone doing the same thing with the Quran. She bluffs. She knows that’s never going to happen, so she says that of course she would be fine with that. But she just can’t help herself and she adds, “If it were age appropriate, which much of that book is not.” Hassan scoffs, as do most if not all of the viewers. We all know she has never read the Quran, but she believes she already knows what it contains. 

But here’s the deeper bit that is so galling about that scene. Through the rest of the show, as Bev discovers more and more about Father Paul, she has a bible verse to justify everything. What is happening is horrific and some of the bible verses she pulls out are just as horrific if being used to justify what is happening in that town. There is language in the bible about being soldiers for God, about eating someone’s flesh and drinking their blood, about killing non-believers all manner of horrific things. And yet, Bev who is so willing to apply these verses to justify literally murdering an island full of people is still standing at the head of that school board meeting and arguing that the Quran is inappropriate for children. 

Now, it’s easy to place Bev as the villain and to frame Father Paul as being a genuine good guy deep down who was only misled, but I think that really misses the mark for Father Paul as well, so I genuinely hope people don’t frame his character that way. Yes, he is redeemed in the end, but that shouldn’t take away from the horror that he brought to the island or why he brought it. It’s easy to say he just thought that he was doing the right thing, but it’s not that simple. Father Paul was blinded by his desire to fit reality into his existing religious worldview. He ignored all the warning signs, did horrific things that he knew were wrong, but convinced himself that those things were good. And yes, he realized the error of his ways in the end, but it was already too late to undo the damage that his own ego had wrought. His hands are not clean, not by a long shot, and it was not merely a desire to do good that caused this horror. It was selfishness and ego and an unwillingness to see the world as it is. 

Anyway, I really liked this show and I will probably have more thoughts about it in the future, but that’s it for now. 

[generouscoffeelove]

THE UNASSEMBLED WORDS

Things not always go your way they never even stay the same but you can make your mind to go with the flow u can make yourself to work within the things but sometimes it's hard to face the reality sometimes you are not ready to accept the situation, we all are never mature enough that we cant cry crying makes your mind healthy but overthinking only leads to depression and stress. People will say whatever will come in their mind but it's not always necessary to carefully listen to their opinions. 

When you are determined to achieve something and deep down you know that the path you chose is right for you then no one can divert our mind from those guts. People will depress you, they will tell you that u r wrong and their opinions are right bcz they can't see a person becoming more successful than they themselves. Nowadays no one is more sincere to you than your parents, not even your relatives.

Sometimes I think about the day when I will achieve my dreams but then what if I have no more plans to move on ? what if i get the person i love but what after that ? as i will be near to it i will forget the hurdles and all the things i lost on the path towards my goal. Man is greedy, his requirements can never be completed bcz he wants more & more. If u want to get to ur dreams u have to listen to yourself only u dont care about the people and even if u hurt them u have no problem but then comes the deceiving part where u think that following your dreams might separate your family from u this fear of losing someone really special in ur life makes ur way turn back. I think it's the law of life u cant live happily if the people around u r sad. A person like me sometimes thinks that leave everything and go get whatever u want but in the end u have to come back. U will never forget where u belong and thats how u feel the existence of love.

 The first love relations with you are of the same blood. But how can u fall for someone so badly ? How can you love someone out there in this world more than those people who raised you ? This love can be of two types. The love relation with Allah and secondly the other with one of his people. How weird it is to think that we pray to get someone else in our lives instead of praying to get Allah’s affection. To be honest, pray for it and you will get the things you love automatically even if you love someone so badly. First put this in your mind that excess of everything is bad. It's only Allah who will give u everything and will never upset u but the people around u can love u the most but can also give u the pain that u cant bear. 

Everything happens for good. Maybe someone in your past who deceived you was there by Allah’s choice to make you strong and to make you prepared that nobody is there with you forever. People will always stay in search to get ur weak points but staying close to Allah will hide all of those mistakes on ur side which u made unexpectedly or even if u knew u should pray to be forgave and he will forgive u try to pray from the core of your heart. Nothing is more peaceful than crying in sujood bcz that is the moment when u feel hopeless and u dont have words to describe the society around u that how u feel. I faced a lot of times when i was compared and i was insulted but all i used to do was to stay silent and secretly in the heart say “ Ya Allah u should answer them”. Sometimes its good to stay quiet bcz the silence makes the people go crazy. The silence is breaked automatically by Allah. He himself shows the people that u were wrong.

 Not always u have to stay silent but when u r being doubted for a wrong reason or the person saying is crossing the limits listen 3 times but the 4th time smack his face. Bcz they deserve it. From my perspective rules should be for everyone, and the strictness u faced should also be embossed on the coming kids. It's not right to scold or insult someone in the middle where everyone is sitting bcz it makes you stressed and this is the fact where suicidal thoughts start to enclave even a young mind. I dont why im even writing this but the point is that i really don't want anyone to interfere in our lives and not even to scold us bcz they dont live with us they don't face the things we are facing right now, they cant live a week with us but after all they are right and they will never like to meet a person with empty pockets. To every individual on this planet earth, money is everything and money can buy happiness even. People will embrace you till the day u have money but the day u fall a little they will not even ask that are u ok or do u need any help. 

Life will change so will the people but the real face of people can only be seen when you stand in a tough time and they turn their backs away from you. We lived a great past life, we went to restaurants, we ate mcdonalds and shopped etc. so what everybody does when they have money. People should really look into themselves and then say a word to other people. At the end i would like to share a small verse with huge meaning from Quran that:

 In surah alam nashra

            “Beshak har mushkil ke baad asani hai”

            “Indeed after every hard time there’s good time”

People will stay with you till you are useful to them. the day u fall in need of help, some will help u only those who were sincere to u maybe it can be those people whom u never even noticed or they were not even in priority but they stand with u, they come into your life as angels. Because you wanted them and they were to be in your life by the grace of Allah. 

As you grow up u learn through experiences u learn to stand after crawling but not at once u fall u cry and then u get up, u stand at ur own. As a kid, u are learning actually u are learning throughout your life; from people and mistakes. U are not living until u fail.

 U learn to live through love and failures. Love is the road which can give u the best memories to laugh and cry on, but the bumps can give u those bruises and wounds which will heal but the pain will last forever. The time is cruel after u lose someone u love, and even more when the loved one becomes part of your routine. U cannot live without food as well as love. It's easy to console the broken person but it's not possible to feel the pain as that person is feeling. During this time the emotions are at level best of depression and stress if u cant be nice to them then better stay away bcz they can even harm themselves.

Love is very important in life. If u love someone but can’t tell bcz of some fear.

The fear can be of being rejected or it can be the matter of pride. The matter of our reputation is very sensitive, especially for a girl. A small mistake can break the entire reputation which was made from long and hard work. But people will only bring up the flaws bcz they need a topic to talk on. More importantly,the thing that matters is peace with the reputation u hold, if u have reputation and money but u still feel alone u are not fine. 

The hardest part in life is to live without the person whom you cry for days and nights but you can't tell bcz u are afraid of losing the reputation u hold. It's not wrong but it's killing u deep inside. U keep smiling but its only breaking you. It's funny cuz u are ruining yourself. Less to be worried bcz u are being destroyed by love. The part that hits hard and it's all about fate. Being compared to a less experienced person is bad bcz u know that the person hasn't faced any of the circumstances as u did.

“A dream is a wish that your heart makes”

For loving someone you don't have to be perfect. U dont have to change yourself bcz u know that person will accept u no matter what. This is the belief that love brings into our soul. Love happens; it never asks you who I should be with. It's the beauty and the magic of eyes which makes u staring. A fact says that if a person misses you they appear in your dream and if you think about someone alot it means that person was thinking about you first. I believe a lot in these facts bcz they happen a lot. The real fun and peace in love is by burning in the fire of awareness. U keep waiting for the other person to make a move but what to do if the other person is waiting for u. 

Okay, I know I'm talking rubbish right now. It's currently 3:14 a.m. and I'm unable to sleep. I'm not in the mood to write in my diary so it's better to keep on writing to keep yourself busy. Life is not in the mood to study all i want to do is to explode up and cry i know why but tears seem to be dried and i no longer have emotions my mind just wants to fall into midnight in a deep conversation with myself or with a trustworthy my heart seems to beat for some reasons that keep giving me the same tensions which i want to remove. It feels like my soul is whirling like a storm. I don't know what to do to scream or to cry or to stay awake or sleep. Sometimes i just want to stay up and think about my future and the choices I'm making but i don't have leisure time. 

Hard times will not stay with you forever but at every point of ur life they will make u realize that don't forget where u belong and what u survived in ur past. U can never forget your past bcz ur weakness makes u strong. It's better not to expect alot from people. They can bring u disappointment only or a bit of what u were expecting. U cant eat when ur hands are tied u have to make a move to eat and feed your hunger nobody else is going to do this for you.

 Be independent. It's an easy sentence with two words to say but it requires all of your life to be courageous enough to face the coming hurdles. U are going to face many challenges .

“if ur life got harder congratulations !! u just leveled up”.

 Smile even if there are 1000 reasons not too but this time during these days it seems to me as if I'm the shining star alone in the sky where clouds are trying to dull my spark but i keep shining the clouds hide me but then i come back. The mechanism of nature also teaches you many lessons of life. If you think deeply, the sun teaches you that after every dusk there is dawn. The sky can't show the glitter of stars without night. The moon tells you it's good to go through phases. The black clouds teach u that when u are loaded after going through many stages its ok to let everything pour out through tears. The average rain can bring happiness to the beings on earth they will feel calm but if it rains more than normal it destroys the belongings of human.Similarly, if we cry normally it freshens our mind but the excess of it leads to depression and damage of internal conditions and peace.

“Excess of everything is bad”

I don't know when girls felt peaceful in their lives, enjoyed and cherished the most beautiful moments of their lives. All the time they have to worry about something even if it's health,dressing,family,friends or some sort of harassment. She cant feel free to live. Talking to a male about life and studies is a crime and is considered something related to flirting and to be feel ashamed on. Something for which the parents can't speak on if they want to. The people thinking in this way for someone's daughter should think that in future they will also have daughters and what if this will happen to them. If today you consider someone else your daughter or sister honestly u have a peaceful and beautiful future.

But if u see girls as some material to be used and thrown u were born to be wrong then even if u say urself muslim or human look at ur habits and inner person it is more worse than animal. You have to change yourself first to change the people around you.

[youarebeyoutifulx]

Hey may i know how to move on from someone we still love ?☺️

السلام عليكم،

okay let’s do this, bismillah.

i hate to say this but moving on from someone i love has been the hardest struggle of my life because it took me so long to find the solution even though i had the solution but didn’t know the right way to implement it? i say “i hate to say this” because now in the place i’m in there’s so much to life other than that, there’s so much i was missing out because i was too busy trying to move on, and “i hate to say this” because Allah swt blessed me with so much, so much & because of my heartbreak i thought my life was the worst place to be in & i talked to god a lot asking him why me? why am i the side of the relationship that has to suffer with cheating, or being lied to or whatever. i’m saying this because i want you to know that i did suffer & i do know how horrible it feels & i do know how much pain you might be in & i want you to know i’ve been in your shoes & i have the solution with me & i want you to trust me & trust Allah swt & do this knowing that you’ll move on & knowing that you’ll come out of this the best version of yourself. i’m gonna take you through my journey.

i want you to know that all along, i did pray & i did complain to Allah swt a lot & i cried & soaked my prayer mat & meh at times i did read quran when i felt too much heaviness in my heart. & okay i read the morning & evening athkar so i was doing all that thinking i’m close to god so i’m definetely gonna move on because whenever you ask anyone how to move on they just tell you get closer to god so i thought i was doing something there. Along side with all that, i talked to my friends a lot whenever i felt down i talked to them about it waiting for them to help me & yes they did help me but it was only for a matter of a few hours maybe a couple of days but then i’ll go bad again. Along side with that i worked out, along side with that i stalked him for so long because i needed to know what he was doing i felt like I needed to, i actually stalked him maybe once a minute & got several panic attacks per day depending on what i see when i stalk him & i’m not even exaggerating. just want you to know how attached i was so that you can trust me when i tell you that if i can move on from that, you can too.

for a long long time that’s what i did i relied so much on my friends, that every couple of days i’ll talk to them they’ll calm me down for a few days then i’ll talk to them again & this went on for so long until they really got tired of me hearing the same things & telling me the same things & i don’t blame them, if i were in their shoes i’d get tired of me too. but it’s not because they don’t love me, they do love me but they’re human after all, they don’t have the power to change what’s in my heart, but okay god can change what’s in my heart but i’ve been complaining to him too & he didn’t help me not yet, it’s been so long & i haven’t been progressing a single bit. so i tried again.

this time i tried to only complain to him, and stop complaining to my friends because i’m sure they’re done with me. the more i complained to him the faster i used to want the next prayer to come so that i can complain again. i wanted to keep complaining to him but i still used to think about the guy a lot because for 5 times a day all i was doing is talk to god about him i’m still so invested in the guy that throughout my whole prayer all i’m doing is think about sujood to talk about him; what was i doing. i came across something somewhere, i think in a video that said if you’re thinking about something continiously in your prayers, abandon it. tyb that’s what i’m doing! that’s why i’m praying! but i shouldn’t be praying to abandon it? it shouldn’t be the purpose of praying. i shouldn’t be praying wholeheartedly only because i want something from god. i came across something else that said if god doesn’t grant you what you want it’s because you might be praying for something that’s bad for you & god wants nothing than the best for you. but how can me getting back to a person that broke my heart so many times be bad for me that’s what i thought lol. i was so attached that i thought nothing can fix me other than going back, & hell i did go back on & on & tried forcing things to work just because i was attached and each time my heart would get worse & worse.

i was convinced after a while that maybe praying he comes back & is good to me isn’t the right prayer. i forced myself to pray that, ya Allah if he’s good to me i want him to come back if he’s not then make me forget him. i’m sure god changed something in my heart so that i can wish for that, because back then i was addicted to the thought of him coming back to me i wouldn’t believe that i will once ask god to make me forget him, so good something was changing. subhanallah a short while after that i started praying only that i forget him & when i reached this stage my heart started changing. slowly slowly i found myself praying for things other than him, that god forgives me for being in a relationship before marriage ( our parents knew about it & we were gonna get engaged but their still shouldn’t have been a relationship in the first place) & the more i asked for forgiveness the more i found things that i should’ve been feeling guilty about but didn’t so i started asking for forgiveness for those things. now my head so was so invested in all the mistakes i’ve done & i wanted nothing but for god to forgive me. so i begged him on every prayer to forgive me. subhanallah i felt like god was putting me through all this pain so that he can forgive me so that i can know my mistakes & ask him for forgiveness. he blessed me with so much & i took advantage of it all without thanking him. i never thanked him enough and i started feeling like nothing i’m doing is enough. that he protected me and covered for my mistakes, he covered for me so many things i’ve done that were wrong i never thanked him for that. i have never thanked him enough for blessing me with parents with good health that didn’t really raise me all this time so that i can waste years of my life not appreciating what i have. i wanted to thank god for all that. so i’ll pray more to thank god for all the things i didn’t see all these years.

along side with thanking god in my prayers i wanna do more for Him. i want to starting reading quran on a regular basis, not for my own sake this time, but to thank him at least i need to read his book, the more i read the more i got attached to it & the more the verses spoke to me, so many verses in the Quran subhanallah make so much sense to me now although i’ve read them before but they make so much sense now, they calm me down, they show me that life isn’t really that important, and i shouldn’t be spending my life on anything other than getting closer & closer to Allah swt, because all those people, they’re temporary and they really are, selfish? in a way or the other, they wanna keep following they desires & they wouldn’t care if their desires stepped on you a little, but Allah swt? he cares about me & he wouldn’t hurt me in any way.

oh we’re not thinking about him anymore. good. he texted me, oh months ago i wished for this text, i wished he told me these things, but i don’t need them now, i begged god to grant me that back then . لا يؤخر الله عليك امرا إلا لخير و لا يحرمك من امرا إلا لخير ولا ينزل عليك بلاء إلا لخير ، فلا تحزن فالله لا يأتي إلا بالخير . if he texted me back then i would’ve answered and went back to an abusive relationship, but god waited to grant me my prayer after making me stronger. he granted it though, subhanallah. all i cared about then was to thank Allah swt more for delaying granting me my wish till i was okay. subhannalah he wanted to show me that he answers my prayers but in the right time for me. i started finding peace. we moved on. subhanallah, i forgot i was trying to move on. god really does have the power on removing what’s int he heart. Allah swt really does have his ways of getting a person to follow the right path. it’s the hardships that guide us.

it’s getting your heartbroken that guides you, i thought i was guided since i prayed all my prayers & read my Athkar, but my heart wasn’t guided. i didn’t have tawakul, i searched for peace by talking to my friends when i had what was greater than that, i healed like i’ve never healed before. It was like all those broken pieces of my heart were healing again, and my sheer pessimism and bitterness was turning into this beautiful optimism. once you realise that Allah عز وجل is the source of all hope, you won't feel hopeless anymore. you will find yourself rising above your despair, and that crushing sadness will leave you.

so how do you move on, you ask me. you throw everything away & invest yourself in nothing apart from getting close to Allah swt. he will fix everything broken inside you, without you asking for it. you try getting close to him & he will fix you & he will show you what matters & he will guide you & he will take care of you like no one ever did.

take care of yourself, and talk to me if you ever need to, i love you & i’m here for you.

[islamthewayforward]

Hazrat Umar (radiyallahu anh) - The Second Caliph of Islam

Hazrat Umar -radiyallahu anh- [634-644]

Before he was enlightened with the light of Hidayet, in the darkness of the ignorant, when he was a cruel person; He received the prayer of the Messenger of Allah and his eyes and heart began to open to the light of Islam with the influence of the Quran, which he listened to in his sister's house with anger. Umar, the son of the Jahiliyy, was now tearful, his heart full of compassion, and bent before the Truth.

Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Love For Hazrat Umar

Hazrat Umar, who was likened to Hazrat Musa by our Prophet with his uncompromising and graceful structure; He had a mind, success, and genius who developed in the content of revelation. As a result of divine inspirations, many times his expressions were related to the verses of the Quran.

Our Prophet stated the following in his expression:

“Among the ummahs who lived before you, there were those who were inspired by them. If there is one of them in my ummah, it is undoubtedly Umar. (Bukhari, Ashab as-Prophet, 6)

His exposure to the truth in this way, to him; He was instrumental in giving him the nickname «Faruk» distinguishes right from wrong, good from bad, and right from falsehood.

In the words of our Honorary Prophet (PBUH), The wrath of this blessed person, whom the devil changed his way when he saw it, and whose language and the truth was put into his heart by Allah was directed only to the enemies of Allah.

In the face of truth, he would immediately show obedience and surrender in the face of an order or a sign of Allah and His Messenger.

The following incident reported by Ahmad bin Hanbal is one of the most beautiful witnesses of this:

One of the Numerous Loyalty Samples

Hazrat Umar radıyallâhu anh- was going to the Friday prayer one day during his caliphate. While passing through the wall of the house of Prophet Abbas, two drops of dirty water dropped from the groove on the roof - probably for cleaning - onto the robe of Hazrat Umar.

The caliph was bored and he reached out and dropped the gutter with his hand so that it would not drip on anyone else. Then he changed his robe and came to the mosque.

By referring to this event in the Friday sermon he gave, he said,

“–Community, you are doing wrong things. When I was coming, I was going through the wall or something. Dirt dripped from a gutter on me; I pushed it with the back of my hand and dropped that groove. " said. His word had just ended that Hazrat Abbas jumped out of his place and;

“–O Umar, what did you do? I saw it with my eyes; The Prophet (PBUH) himself placed that gutter there with his own hands. " said.

Hazrat Umar collapsed into the pulpit. What happened to him to spoil something that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had put forth! Immediately he recovered.

“Vallâhi, I will put my head against that wall. You, too, will step on my head with your foot, and you will put that groove back with your hand. ”and made up for his mistake by doing as he said. (See Ahmad b. Hanbal, el-Musnad, 1/210; Ibnul-Cevzi, Adjati's-safve, 1/285)

On the other hand, Hazrat Umar was very forward-thinking and fussy in order to preserve the religion. Praised by the Prophet as a door that does not allow mischief, Hazrat Umar (radiyallâhu anh) was visited by people and the tree under which his companions gave allegiance to the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) before the Musalaha of Hudaybiya at the time of his caliphate. When he saw that it was being imposed, he cut down this tree in order to mean that the ignorant would be caught in the poison that he had a divinity.

The Caliphate Of Hazrat Umar

One of the most important qualities of the caliphate of Hazrat Umar, who trembled out of fear of Allah and lived-in conviction, despite his high spiritual position and being heralded by the Prophet of Allah, was his unique justice.

The Emir of the Believers, who were called Umarul-Adl in the meaning of “the very thing of justice”, felt responsible even for the wolf that would plant a lamb near the Tigris.

After Hazrat Umar -radıyallahu anh- took office, he was in sorrow and anxiety due to the weight of his profession. Huzaifa saw him in this state and learned the reason for his sadness - radıyallahu anh-;

"–That's what hurts you, goddamn we'll fix you once we see you doing something wrong," he said.

Halif was very happy about this, he repeated his words Huzayfa -radıyallâhu anh- with an oath and;

"- Praise be to Allah, among you, among the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and peace, be upon him, there were people to correct me when he saw my mistake." he said thank you. (Ibn-i Abi Shayba, Musannef, VIII, 154)

The fact that he went to Damascus with his slave and his camel in turn and came to the city on foot, despite all the insistence of his slave, went down in history as an example of justice, humility, and brotherhood. In the middle of the night, he ran to the rescue of the silent cries of the poor and the poor with his food sacks in the streets of Medina.

In the period of Hazrat Umar, the land of Islam; It had expanded to the borders of Iraq, Damascus and Egypt. A large number of spoils had been obtained. However, Khalifa had agreed to receive only an allowance from the treasury. Because he is with everything, in the footsteps of the Messenger of Allah and Hazrat Abu Bakr;

On the Way of Two Friends

He was running his life half hungry, half full of trouble, sometimes borrowing.

The notables of the Companions were saddened by this state of the caliph. They wanted to increase his salary. However, it was very difficult to tell him about this issue and to convince him. For this reason, they requested our Prophet's wife Hafsa, who was also the daughter of Hazrat Umar, to submit this offer to her father.

Hazrat Hafsa -radıyallahu anha- opened an offer to his father to raise his companions' salary for the caliphate and save him from boredom. Thereupon, Hazrat Umar -radıyallâhu anh- reminded his daughter Hafsa of the past;

"-My daughter! How were the Prophet's food and clothing? " asked.

Our Hafsa Valley;

"- It was the amount of Quran (enough for scarce opinion)." When he gave his answer, Hazrat Umar explained with the following elegant example that the wisdom of his life in hardship was to obey the Prophet of Allah and his predecessor, Hazrat Abu Bakr, in return for the abundance of treasure:

“–Two friends and that I am like three passengers on an equivalent road. The first one of us had a machine. The other took the same route and got the first. Thirdly, I would like to reach my friends. If I go too high, I can't keep up with them! Or wouldn't you want me to be the third on this road? " (Sehbenderzade Ahmed Hilmi, Tarih-i İslam, Vol . I, p.367 )

In the end, he drank the sherbet of martyrdom with the wish of a spotless and white life in the footsteps of his two friends and was buried in Rauza-i Mutahhara next to his two friends.

Hazrat Umar Quotes

How wise are the words of this great Companion, who is a sharp sword that separates truth and evil from divine inspirations;

“Wisdom is granted to an individual who leaves an excessive amount of talk.

Humility is granted to the heart of those who leave the gaze too much.

The taste of worship is granted to those who stop overeating.

Whoever leaves much laughter is granted majesty.

Honor is granted to those who leave humor.

A love for the hereafter is granted to those who leave the love of the world.

He who ceases to deal with someone else's shame is bestowed with the correction of his own faults.

The person who abandons research and incarnation in the state of Allah (which is beyond understanding) is granted salvation from discord. "

"The person I really like the most is that one who informs me of my shame and flaws." (Suyuti, Tarihu'l-hulefa, 30)

Someone was praising another person next to Hazrat Umar. He spoke of him in a reproach. Hazrat Umar asked him three questions:

a. Have you ever traveled with him?

b. Have you ever dealt with a transaction like trade?

c. Have you been neighbors to him morning and evening?

When the person says "no" to these three questions, Hazrat Umar:

"I swear by Allah, who is not any god but Him, you don’t know him!" (Al-Ghazali, Ihya)

Kadı Şurayh wrote a letter to Hazrat Umar and asked how he would rule. Hazrat Umar said:

« Judge by what is in the book of Allah. If you cannot find it in him, judge according to the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah. If not in the book of Allah and the sunnah of His Messenger, judge with the decrees given by the righteous. If you are not among the judgments made by the righteous, you can judge if you want, stay back if you want! I am of the opinion that it is better for you not to stand back and make a judgment.

“Don't dress women too beautifully. If one of them has a lot of clothes and nice ornaments, they will like to go out. " (İbnu'l-Cevzi, Menakıb)

“To correct people, you must first correct yourself. The most ignorant of the people is the one who sells his afterlife for someone else's world. "

“Be strong without violence, soft without showing weakness! "

The Final Thought

Let us make us one of his servants who can reflect the smiling face of Islam with his knowledge, wisdom, lust, justice, humility, and all praised moral virtues, by dispensing personality and character.

Amin!

[questionsonislam]

How should we see the illnesses like depression and stress from the point of view of religion, how should one be treated spiritually? Are there any hadiths of our Prophet regarding the issue?

Answer 1:

Depression is one of the most common diseases of our age. The uneasiness or, to use the frequently used word, the stress that causes that disease brings along many other diseases; it can cause cardiac diseases and many similar diseases. When its reason is examined, it is seen that the delicate balance among the cells are influenced directly by the stress.

For instance, our immune system protects us from many diseases including cancer. A healthy immune system is only possible through a lifestyle that is free from stress. When we have no troubles or apprehensions, our lymphocytes struggle against infections, rheumatic diseases and even cancer and overcome them.

Praying Allah and trusting in him is necessary for it. Doubtlessly, a person who always prays Allah and who is aware that anything that happens to him is a special test from Allah and who trusts in Allah will overcome the trouble more quickly. The attributes of our Exalted Lord, who eliminate the troubles and answers our prayers are stated as follows in the Quran:

" Or, who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and who relieves its suffering, and makes you (mankind) inheritors of the earth? (Can there be another) god besides Allah? Little it is that ye heed! (an-Naml, 62)

Our Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) stated that stress caused illnesses as follows in hadiths:

"Whoever has a bad temper keeps his spirit in trouble; whoever has a lot of grief makes himself ill."

"Various types of anxieties bring about various types of illnesses."

"There is nothing worse and fiercer than anxiety in the creatures of God Almighty."

"God Almighty did not create an illness (trouble) without a remedy. Whoever finds out about that remedy, recovers; whoever cannot find out about it, lives with that illness. However, death has no remedy."

Troubled, or in today’s words, stressed life is a result of the life of people who do not believe or who live far away from the high ethics that belief gives man. Today doctors state that it is necessary to have a tranquil and peaceful constitution, and an easy, secure psychology free from anxiety in order to be protected from the effects of stress. A tranquil and peaceful psychology is only possible through practicing the high ethics of the Quran. The promise of our Lord for his believing slaves is stated as follows:

"Whoever works righteousness, man or woman and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions." (an-Nahl, 97)

"Say: "It is Allah that delivereth you from these and all (other) distresses..." (al-Anam, 64)

Answer 2:

As a matter of fact, depression, which is described as: “the state of hopelessness that a person falls into when he cannot realize his targets, cannot protect the nice things he has or he notices the probability of losing those kinds of things”, can be said to be the problem and even the “fate” of the people not only in this age but throughout history.

Man is “week, poor, ephemeral and mortal; unlike animals, man is aware of that fact.” He wants everything but he cannot own anything in its real sense; He is afraid of and influenced by everything but he cannot dominate anything; he knows that everything is mortal that everything will end one day even in his best times; so, in my opinion, it is amazing when he does not fall into depression not when he falls.

It usually happens due to heedlessness. He tries not to think about the things that he is afraid of; he consoles himself with the things that he seemingly owns; he tries not to remember death and separation. However, when some inevitable incidences destroy the heedlessness, the postponed fears and hopelessness flood the body and he falls into depression.

Depression almost seems to be a natural outcome of being a human being. As a matter of fact, the researches show that depressive findings (sleeping disorder, common groundless physical complaints, frequent crying, hopelessness about future, lack of self-confidence, exhaustion, not enjoying life, etc) are present in 60% of people in various levels. As a psychiatrist, when people whom I am introduced to say jokingly, “in fact, I need to see you”, it seems to me that they confess that truth insensibly.

Is it not possible to overcome depression, which is such a common and general annoyance? Is there not a remedy for those troubles of weakness, poverty and mortality? There is, of course; and he who looks for it will find it; if he looks for, of course. Besides, people generally make a mistake when they think that the problems of weakness, poverty and mortality that are very disturbing at the beginning are unsolvable and imagine that they do not exist.

When a trouble is visible, it can be solved; however, someone who closes his eyes and consoles himself with imaginations cannot possibly find a solution. Only a person who carefully listens to the warning, “laugh at the death like a man; listen to it and find out what it wants” and who says, “yes, I am weak, poor and mortal; they hurt me a lot but what can be the remedy of those problems?” can approach the solution. It certainly means to suffer somewhat but there is “no gain without pain”.

Let us ask the question in a different way. Is a patient who says, “Everything is in vain; what I want does not happen; we will die in the end; life is meaningless” more consistent or a consoler who says, “take it easy; let it go; do not think about them; do not think deeply”? Is it not inevitable for those people who use the logic of the ostrich to fall into the same pit of depression when their heads hit the wall?

As a matter of fact, are we all not in a tiny room with walls made of mirror? Since all walls are made of mirror, the intertwined images make us feel as if we are in a larger room; however, do we not understand that we are in a tiny dungeon when we hit the wall with our heads? Do our imaginations not fly away then? Do we not lose our sleep? Do the sweetest situations not give us pain? Does the polish of the false paradise in the world not crack with each death, loss and grief?

I never forget a piece of news that I read in the tabloid supplement of a newspaper. A group of artists went on a picnic in order to have a very enjoyable day. The article that described the entertainment in detail ended with the following sentence: “When the day ended, everybody was very sorry because a very nice day had ended.” How strange! Isn’t it? Even the best things give pleasure only when they are being experienced; when they end, they are replaced by pains. “Loss of the pleasure is pain.”

I remember one more thing; when I was young, I used to listen to the commentary of the football matches of my favorite team on the radio with excitement; what I hated most while I was listening to the commentary was the words of the commentator, “the last 15 minutes of the game”, “the last 10m minutes”, etc. It gave me pain to hear that the thing that I took pleasure from was going to end soon. To know that something nice will end destroys the pleasure taken from it at that moment. “To think about the loss of the pleasure is also pain.”

Some of you may say, “Yes, you are right but give us the remedy if you know it” but we should not forget that it is a dangerous deception to talk about the problems superficially and to try to find solutions without realizing the seriousness of the problems. Therefore, we should continue some more. Let us think about a young man. There is someone that he loves very much and he imagines a happy future with her. However, he notices that the sentence, “We will be together forever, my darling” is a lie. Let alone forever, it is doubtful whether they will be together for a year. He will be separated from the person that he loves so much sooner or later. He will probably have to do with a togetherness that will probably not be correspondent with his imaginations and ideals. He tries to console himself by giving his heart to her overlooking those facts. How long will it last?

Let us imagine a mother. Her child, for whom she can donate her life, can face an illness or a misfortune any time. Even if she guards her all the day, a tiny microbe can make her beloved child ill, cripple him/her or kill him/her. What can console her? Let the professors and philosophers speak and answer that question!

No, what they will say is, “they are the harsh truths of life; you will accept it. Occupy yourself with other things; take up hobbies. Try to be happy with what you have succeeded and what you have; realize yourself, etc.” We want to ask using the words of Badiuzzaman: Can someone condemned to death take pleasure from the decoration of the dungeon? Can a spirit that can only be satisfied with a paradise as large as the world be deceived by villas whose water and electricity can be cut off?

However, for a man who looks at things through the glasses of belief, the following expression in the verse is valid: “la khawfun alayhim wa la hum yahzanun” (on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve).

A person having real belief loves the people he loves for Allah. His darling is the reflection of Allah’s mercy and beauty. He has the hope of living an eternal and peaceful life together with them without being separated from them in the everlasting life.

When he is separated from his beloved ones, he consoles himself by saying, “separation is temporary”. He entrusts his beloved ones to the mercy and protection of Allah, Who is the best of the protectors and the most merciful of the merciful ones.

He sees misfortunes, disasters, illnesses, as divine warnings and kaffarah adh-dhunub (sin eliminators) thanks to what he learns from the Quran.

When he earns or loses worldly goods, when re reaches a rank or falls down from a rank, he says, “it is He Who gives and it is He Who takes”; he aims the ranks of the hereafter and the eternal rewards, which are the permanent and real goods and ranks.

He welcomes temporary troubles and problems by saying, “since this world is a temporary place of testing, there will be some discomfort in the testing.”

He says, “This world is a waste book”; he does not blur his mind with the dirt and confusion that he cannot correct; he becomes busy with keeping his own book of deeds clean.

He says, “Let us see what God will do; whatever he does, he does well.”; he watches it all through the window; he does not go inside.

If he has fallen into sins, heedlessness and disobedience, he says, “it is wrong to abandon hope from the mercy of Allah”; he opens a new page by entering through the door of repentance, which is always open. He finds the real peace and happiness in this world.

The way to get rid of depression, which is not the disease of this age but all ages, is to pay attention to the message coming from beyond ages.

[loverandservantoftheahlulbayt]

🍃🕊🍃 An account of Lady Maryam (sa) Mother of Prophet Jesus (as) 🍃

🍃 Allah, the most high declares in the Holy Quran, 🍃

“When a woman of ‘Imran said,

“My Lord! Surely I vow to Thee what is in my womb, to be devoted (to thy service); accept therefore from me, surely Thou art the Hearing, the knowing.”

🍃 Holy Quran 🍃

🍃 (3:35) 🍃

‘Imran’s wife Hanna was the maternal grandmother of Prophet Jesus (as) and he was different from ‘Imran the father of Musa. He was the son of Masaan and Hanna’s sister Aaisha was Zakariyya’s wife. Yahya and Lady Maryam (sa) were cousins.

‘Imran’s wife had taken a vow that she would devote her child that is in her womb (whether boy or a girl) in the service of Jerusalem or for the prayer in the mosque. (A devoted child cannot leave the place). ‘Ali ibn Ibrahim has stated that Allah is Knowing and Hearing. Ayyashi has written:

“According to a tradition ‘Imran’s wife vowed that she will devote her child in the service of Jerusalem. (He or she worked as a keeper of the mosque and he was strictly prohibited to go out from the mosque.)”

🍃 Regarding Hanna, the mother of Lady Maryam (sa) it is said, 🍃

“So when she brought forth, she said, My Lord! Surely I have brought forth a female- and Allah knows best what she brought forth- and the male is not like the female, and I have named her Maryam (sa), and I command her and her offspring into Thy protection from the accused Satan.”

🍃Holy Quran 🍃

🍃 (3:36) 🍃

Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (as) said, female is not like male as (when female comes in menstrual period, she cannot stay in mosque. She must leave the place and go away) and the keeper of mosque should not go out.

And Hanna said,

“I have named her Maryam, Maryam means virgin. I have given her in the protection of Allah.”

🍃 The Quran says, 🍃

“So her Lord accepted her with a good acceptance and made her grow up a good growing.”

🍃 Holy Quran 🍃

🍃 (3:36) 🍃

It is said that she was growing day by day in wisdom with others. When she completed nine years she became perfect in prayers and in fasting. She became more perfect than others in worship.

In continuation of Ayat 36, Allah gave her in the change of Zakariyya . It is stated that Lady Maryam’s (sa) mother brought her, wrapping her in a piece of cloth and said that she has devoted her for the service of Jerusalem.

Lady Maryam (sa) was the daughter of a Prophet so the other people said they would take charge of her, to look after her. But Zakariyya said that Allah has appointed him as her guardian, “as my wife is Lady Maryam’s (sa) aunt.”

Other scholars said, “You are not, but her mother is a rightful person.” To find out the right person they decided to cast their pens in flowing water. They all were twenty-nine. The pens were very heavy, made up of iron and were used for writing the verses of Torah. They cast their pens in flowing water one by one, Zakariyya also cast his pen. All the pens sank. Only the pen of Zakariyya floated.

🍃 The Quran further states, 🍃

“Whenever Zakariyya entered the sanctuary to (see) her, he found with her food. He said, O Maryam! Whence comes this to you? She said, It is from Allah. Surely Allah gives to whom He pleases without measure.”

🍃 Holy Quran 🍃

🍃 (3:37) 🍃

Imam said,

“She was not drinking milk but getting her provision from Allah.”

Imam al-Baqir (as) said that,

“many people tried to take charge of Lady Maryam (sa) but Zakariyya’s pen remained afloat and he became her guardian. Then Zakariyya brought her in the mosque. When she came of age, (menstruating), Allah ordered Zakariyya to keep her in a separate part of the mosque. Lady Maryam (sa) was a very beautiful lady. When she was standing for prayer the house illuminated with Divine light. Whenever Zakariyya went to see Lady Maryam (sa) he found fruits of different seasons with her, when he inquired about the fruits of summer in winter and winter fruits in summer Lady Maryam (sa) replied,

“It is from Allah. Surely Allah gives to whom he pleases without measures.”

Zakariyya prayed to Allah to grant him a virtuous offspring.”

According to Imam as-Sadiq (as)

“Allah revealed to Imran that he would be bestowed with a son, who will give sight to the blind, he will cure the lepers and bring the dead to life with his order. “I will send him as My apostle to the people of The Israelites.”

‘Imran gave the good news to his wife Hanna and she was pregnant. She thought that Allah has given the good news of a male child. So she decided that she would devote the child (whether boy or girl) in the service of Jerusalem. When Lady Maryam (sa) was born, she said,

“O Allah! I delivered a female child. And a Prophet can’t be female.” When Allah blessed Lady Maryam (sa) with a son Jesus (as) it was the fulfillment of His promise to ‘Imran.”

According to another tradition people asked Imam al-Ridha (as) if Allah had any information about anything, can anyone go against of it? Imam said,

“Yes, in the period of Prophet Musa (as) Allah ordered the Israelites not to enter a holy place. The people obeyed and didn’t enter but their grandsons entered did. In the same way ‘Imran was informed by Allah, he will bestow him a son in a particular month of a year and the son would be a Prophet. And he went somewhere else.”

When Lady Maryam (sa) was born in ‘Imran’s house and Zakariyya took charge of her, some said,

“Imran is a true Prophet of Allah and some said he wasn’t.”

When Prophet Jesus (as) was born, people who believed, said,

“What Allah promised to ‘Imran was true.”

According to another tradition people asked Imam al-Baqir (as) if

“Imran was a Prophet?”

Imam replied,

“Yes, he was a Prophet sent by Allah to his community. And Hanna was the wife of ‘Imran and Hanana was the wife of Zakariyya . They both were sisters. Hanna was the mother of Lady Maryam (as) and Yahya was the son of Zakariyya . And Prophet Jesus (as) was the son of Lady Maryam (sa)”

‘Prophet Jesus (as) was the son of Yahya aunt’s daughter (Hanna) and Yahya was the son of Lady Maryam’s (sa) aunt. So they both were maternal cousins.1

Regarding the religious book, Isma‘il Zohfi a follower of Imam al-Baqir (as) asked him that others say one cannot pray in menstrual period and can’t fast during the period. What is true?

Imam replied him giving him example of Lady Maryam (sa) that the mother of Lady Maryam (sa) will devote her child in service of Jerusalem and one devoted to Jerusalem did not come out. When Lady Maryam (sa) was brought up by Zakariyya and many people demanded the guardianship of Lady Maryam (sa) they cast their pens with their names in the sea. All pens sunk except Zakariyya’s. Zakariyya took charge of her and looked after her until she grew up. As a woman she could not stay in a mosque during menses and can’t pray. But it is true that she had to stay in a mosque, as she was pure and virgin.2

🍃 Allah says, 🍃

O Maryam! keep to obedience to your Lord and humble yourself, and bow down with those who bow. “This is of the announcements relating to the unseen which we reveal to you; and you were not with them, when they cast their pens (to decide) which of them should have Maryam in his charge and you were not with them when they contented one with another.”

🍃 Holy Quran 🍃

🍃 (3:43-44) 🍃

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as) said,

“that the casting of pens in water was for the guardianship of Lady Maryam (sa) whose parents were dead and she was an orphan. And in last part states the affair of the guardianship of Prophet Jesus (as)”

According to another tradition the first time lots were drawn for Lady Maryam (sa) and they were six person who cast their pens.

al-Qutb al-Rawandi has stated that Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq (as) said,

“Lady Maryam (sa) had protected herself from evil since five hundred years before the birth of Prophet Jesus (as). Lady Maryam’s (sa) mother decided to devote her child in the service of Jerusalem. When Lady Maryam (sa) was born, she was brought up in Jerusalem. When she grew up she served the worshippers, Allah the high, ordered Zakariyya to make arrangement for her veil and curtain in the mosque. So that she can conceal herself from strangers. Only Zakariyya was visiting her. She lived for 500 years after her father’s death.”3

According to Imam al-Baqir (as),

“Imam Ali (as) asked Lady Fatima (sa) for food. Lady Fatima (sa) said that by Allah, she had nothing to give since three days. Imam asked, why she did not inform him. She said “that her father Prophet Muhammad (S) forbade her to make too many requests.”

After that Imam Ali (as) came out of his house and met one of his followers, Miqdad. Imam inquired where he was going in the hot afternoon. He said,

“Because of hunger.”

Imam ‘Ali (as) said that he had also came out of his house for the same thing. Imam ‘Ali (as) gave him a Dirham, which he had borrowed and returned empty-handed. He saw the Holy Prophet (S) sitting and Lady Fatima (sa) in prayers. He found that there was a tray of food, covered with a cloth. After prayers she brought it before them. When they uncovered it they saw meat dish and hot chapattis. Imam ‘Ali (as) inquired from where it had come? Lady Fatima (sa) replied,

“It is from Allah. Surely Allah gives to whom He pleases without measures.”

The Holy Prophet (S) said,

“Shall I show you your and Lady Fatima’s (sa) example?”

Imam said, “Yes.”

Holy Prophet (S) said,

“O ‘Ali, your status and example is like Zakariyya when he saw the seasonal fruits of different seasons near Lady Maryam (sa) He inquired about them. When you asked Lady Fatima (sa) for this and she answered you.”

By the grace of Allah the family of the Holy Prophet (S) were having food for one month from that tray.

Imam al-Baqir said that tray was still with them. This will be discussed in the chapter of the family of Prophet and in the miracle of Lady Fatima (sa).4

Ibn ‘Abbas has stated that once the Holy Prophet (S) informed his family about cruelty and oppression on Lady Fatima (sa) after him, and said that angels will weep in sorrow and grief, as they revealed to Lady Maryam (sa) and will say,

“O Fatima Allah has given you superiority above all the women of the world. O Fatimah! Pray to Allah, prostrate and bow the forehead on the pray mat. When you will be crush under the falling door, you will suffer great pain. Then by the permission of Allah, Maryam will come for your treatment.”

According to a tradition, some people asked Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) who gave the last bath (ghusl) to Lady Fatima (sa)?

Imam said,

“Amir al-Mu’minin (as). As she was an infallible, sinless lady. So Imam ‘Ali (as) gave her last bath of her body. In this way Prophet Jesus (as) gave the last bath to his mother Lady Maryam (s).”5

🍃🕊🍃 al-Islam.org 🍃🕊🍃

.

[hak-7]

Marriage is not easy. It can be difficult. It can also be amazing and beautiful. Your partner is not perfect. Neither are you. So why demand perfection? The grass is not always greener on the other side. Today, let us pray for all those marriages which are causing heartache and may Allah protect, bless and guide us all. AmeenWHAT IS MUSLIM

The Muslim is one who yields his will to the will of Almighty God. We must keep in mind forever that God's will is the salvation of the people. Not our will; our will can't save us unless we give it to the guidance from God.

Jesus said, "Your will be done," according to the language of the Christians. "Not my will, your will." The Muslim is one who yields his will to the will of God.

God has given us human will so we can earn something for ourselves. So we can earn dignity for ourselves.

He has also given us hints in His creation, and has sent prophets to us to back up those hints. By those hints he has guided us and taught us that our will alone cannot save us.

The human being's will, from the time it is created, is searching for some guidance to give itself to. This is nature. The baby is looking for something to guide it. The woman, the man, grow and become adults looking for something to guide them. They go to the institutions of learning, to the houses of worship, looking for something to guide their will so they may form their lives by it.

They are looking for something to shape their will, to give meaning to their lives in the world. They run into so many problems. They can't find the answers they think they should get. They give up; and what do they do after this?

Many give their will to the forces of destruction. They give their will to lies, to corruption, to confusion, and they go down. They are destroyed by ignorance and by corruptible things.

The will in man is naturally designed or naturally made to seek God. The human will seeks God and when we find God, we find our peace.

We don't know God in all of His divine names or in all of His divine attributes. God has to show us these things through His prophets, through guidance. But we know that there is something that needs to be united with something that is missing. We don't always know what it is, but it is truth.

The human being comes into the world and the world teaches the human being some truth and some lies. The lies separate us from the reality that we should naturally be united with.

So God sends us His messengers to teach us that we are one creation, and not two. One creation, and that the Creator of this creation is one, not two, not three. One God. One Allah. One Creator for everything.

This oneness brings peace to us. Two or three bosses over us, running our lives brings confusion as the Quran says. Many people don't stop at two or three bosses, they worship prophets and saints. They give their lives to many directions. And what has this resulted in? The absence of the worship of God.

Look at the society of these people who have given their lives to two and three Gods, and to many saints for guidance. The leaders are writing "God is dead." And recently these words appeared in the New York Times commercial ad: "If God is alive, why is religion in so much pain?"

Why is religion in so much pain for whom? Not for us. Our religion is free of pain. It's relieving us of our pain.

God is alive and has always been alive for the Muslims, and all true believers.

A Muslim life is a clear life, not a life of confusion. The way that is shown to us is a clear way.

The Quran itself is called the clear book. Al-Bayan, very clear evidence, guidance, not something to guess at. It is self-evident. It doesn't leave us to interpret and establish it.

There's a lot in the Quran that needs interpretation but such is not the basis of the Book. Allah says in the Quran that "these verses are allegorical and basic." Allegorical may need interpretation.

"Those in whose hearts is crookedness or perversity, they prefer the allegorical over the basic." They like to get into the mysteries and avoid clear teaching.

"But the clear verses are the basis of the Book." That is where we stand. We stand on those clear teachings. We can all discuss and maybe make some contribution toward understanding the allegorical teachings but that's not what we stand on. We stand upon the clear teachings.

One God Who's not creation. Who is Creator. Who has no image, no likeness in creation, and He's not like creation. He made creation but He's not like it.

"Creation must exist by two"— forces, male and female, negative and positive. Allah says: "But I am the one who exists alone,"—needing no forces to aid Him.

Allah says again in His attributes that He is God, whose very being will not permit any contribution. Want to contribute something to God? Give Him a little help? No! Give God obedience. His very being refuses any contribution. It is our being that wants something. "Come, help me. Give me something." That is the human cry.

God says to us in the Quran, "Slumber nor sleep touches Him." He does not need food or anything. "He's the one who feeds and is not fed."

He needs nothing from us and the attribute As-Summad says, Allah is eternal, whose very being rejects contributions. Don't make your contribution thinking God can suffer a want for something. Make contributions to righteousness. Make contributions to yourself for God's sake. Make contributions to your life in obedience to God.

Send God some charity? Give God some help to save sinners? He doesn't need any help to save sinners. We need help to save ourselves.

God gives us that help in our intelligence. He gives us that help in our nature, in the sentiments of our heart. He also gives us help through inspired people, the prophets. But He needs no help. The God that is perfect. The God that is whole, needs nothing. The God that has no need for anything, no flaws, the perfect being, the Giving, the Loving, the Almighty.

Imam W.D. Mohammed (raa)SUPPORTS YOU CAN'T SEE

And God says, "Look at the heavenly bodies." Both Scriptures point us to the heavens, for us to observe the wisdom for a higher order of human life on this planet earth. God says, "Observe the bodies that you see in the sky and how they appear to be supported with no props or supports under them that you can see."

What is that saying to us? It is saying that not only your life but the existence of the material universe is existence upon powers that you can't see. The sun you can't see what is holding it up. The moon you don't see what is holding it up there. You get a telescope and look at planets and material bodies or material mass bigger than ours.

Look at the planets, like Jupiter. You cannot see what is holding them up there. Science tells you of the trillions and trillions of tons not pounds in that mass. There it is hanging out there in space seemingly with no support holding it up.

That is pointed out to us to tell us to trust the God that designed this creation, trust the God that designed the Universe. Trust Him. You can't explain everything He did. Trust Him. He knows and you know not.

You look at what He has done and then come up with your own explanation for it. I know about universal gravity. That is what science tells us.

But when the farmer looks up there, he doesn't see any universal gravity. All he sees is big bodies up there and nothing is holding them up. So God's Lesson is going to stay, no matter what science says.

God gives us a Lesson that says, "Have faith in the Lord that designed this creation. The way it is designed is too big for your mind to grasp. Have faith in The One that designed it and don't doubt.

Imam W.D. Mohammed (raa)ASA

The Children of Israel or Jews as some call them were chosen by Allah; G'd, to deliver His message to all the people, they were not chosen by G'd to be the one special people above all other people on earth, Allah has no partners or associates. They failed to follow the command of Allah through their Prophet Moses, Moses was successful but most of the following went astray. The same mission was then placed upon Prophet Muhammad 610 AD, to call the people back to their original G'd given human nature.

Allah made a covenant with the Children of Israel, when they broke the covenant Allah gave that same covenant to Prophet Muhammad, that same covenant is upon us Muslims today. Praise be to Allah.

Isaac and Ismail are from the same Father, Ibrahim, Isaac, the father of Israel was the first leader of the Children of Israel; the 12 tribes. Ismail was the beginning of the Muslim movement, finalized with Prophet Muhammad, Allahs Messenger, The last Prophet of Allah to mankind.

All Prophets and Messengers, and Holy Books, are from One Source, Allah, The One and Only G'd.

See Qur'an, 2:40-86“No created thing lives for itself. And we shouldn’t neither.A river does not drink from its own water. Trees do not eat their own fruit.The light of the sun is not intended to warm itself. The flower benefits not from its own nectar nor profits from its amazing aroma, nor the bee from its own honey. Every created thing makes a contribution to things other than itself.”

~ Shades of GreyBook #3 WDM p.18 of 86

Allah judges

Allah knows their value. we can’t judge that. We may take a brother who drinks and sit him over there with the corrupt, and that brother who drinks may be in heaven a little higher than us when are resurrected. We don’t know. Maybe the drinking that you did with Islamic science was bigger, made you a bigger drunk than he is. So we don’t know. So it is hard for us to do that. But sometimes I would like to see a good situation where all the corrupt, I know they are over there. I would be free, more relaxed to talk over here. When I talk over there I’d have something for them to say. It would be more relaxed for me to address them knowing that they are over there. But we can’t do that.

So now, what do we have to see, first? That Al Islam is a Religion that focuses the light on man and shows him firstly, principally, as a social creature; that G-d intended for him to be a social creature; not to be satisfied being an island, or on an island all to himself; that he must mate and become a bigger social unit; family, tribes, and then until you embrace the whole community of man on this earth and see yourself as a member in one family, with all people. So man is a social creature.

Qur’an gives social inspiration

Man is a social creature and the spirit of the Qur’an is, what? The spirit of the Qur’an is social inspiration. It feeds our social aspirations. This word social is bigger than we think it is. By social we don’t mean just associating with each other, physically, but our dependency on each other as members of a world society. We want to keep the focus on the Muslim community right now. As members of the Muslim community, our dependency on each other brings us together and our love for each other brings us together. So here we have a love for each other that brings us

Book #3 WDM p.19 of 86 together, and a dependency on each other that brings us together.

Pretty soon we find that the teacher of the school has to be tied up full time in doing that. But there is also a need to have business growing in the community. So there is a business person feeding business.

The social context in terms of people keeps expanding with growth, and as it grows there is more demand for more things to take care of the needs of its growing people. He can have the regulation of the home in the parent. He can have the regulation of the family in the parent. He can have the regulation of the morals in the parent, the discipline, the laws that discipline the family can be in the parent, everything. Everything can be in the parents.

That’s a small unit and he can manage that. But when it extends and involves hundreds of families, he can’t manage that. If there is nobody but him and his family, he can go out, take his sons out with him, children with him, go out and plow the field, and regulate his own food. He doesn’t need anybody to regulate the economy for him. He can handle that. But when they multiply in a social unit, it’s the social unit that is getting bigger. The social unit gets bigger and brings in demands for industry, for more sophisticated government, more complex government ideas, and everything else we can think of. There is not one other single influence responsible for the growth and development of society, other than the social principle, or the social influence.

Now, go back to the sun as a symbol. The sun, I said earlier that it’s the principle behind all the changes in the weather, the growth and everything, didn’t I? So here you have, now, me saying that the social interest, the social principle, is the influence behind all the other growth and possibilities.

Can’t we then say that the sun is also a symbol of man as a social unit, the Khalifa is male and female, and the purpose of male and female is to have generations? That’s the social principle. So the Khalifa is the social principle. He is the sun. He is the social principlBook #3 WDM p.18 of 86

Allah judges

Allah knows their value. we can’t judge that. We may take a brother who drinks and sit him over there with the corrupt, and that brother who drinks may be in heaven a little higher than us when are resurrected. We don’t know. Maybe the drinking that you did with Islamic science was bigger, made you a bigger drunk than he is. So we don’t know. So it is hard for us to do that. But sometimes I would like to see a good situation where all the corrupt, I know they are over there. I would be free, more relaxed to talk over here. When I talk over there I’d have something for them to say. It would be more relaxed for me to address them knowing that they are over there. But we can’t do that.

So now, what do we have to see, first? That Al Islam is a Religion that focuses the light on man and shows him firstly, principally, as a social creature; that G-d intended for him to be a social creature; not to be satisfied being an island, or on an island all to himself; that he must mate and become a bigger social unit; family, tribes, and then until you embrace the whole community of man on this earth and see yourself as a member in one family, with all people. So man is a social creature.

Qur’an gives social inspiration

Man is a social creature and the spirit of the Qur’an is, what? The spirit of the Qur’an is social inspiration. It feeds our social aspirations. This word social is bigger than we think it is. By social we don’t mean just associating with each other, physically, but our dependency on each other as members of a world society. We want to keep the focus on the Muslim community right now. As members of the Muslim community, our dependency on each other brings us together and our love for each other brings us together. So here we have a love for each other that brings us

Book #3 WDM p.19 of 86 together, and a dependency on each other that brings us together.

Pretty soon we find that the teacher of the school has to be tied up full time in doing that. But there is also a need to have business growing in the community. So there is a business person feeding business.

The social context in terms of people keeps expanding with growth, and as it grows there is more demand for more things to take care of the needs of its growing people. He can have the regulation of the home in the parent. He can have the regulation of the family in the parent. He can have the regulation of the morals in the parent, the discipline, the laws that discipline the family can be in the parent, everything. Everything can be in the parents.

That’s a small unit and he can manage that. But when it extends and involves hundreds of families, he can’t manage that. If there is nobody but him and his family, he can go out, take his sons out with him, children with him, go out and plow the field, and regulate his own food. He doesn’t need anybody to regulate the economy for him. He can handle that. But when they multiply in a social unit, it’s the social unit that is getting bigger. The social unit gets bigger and brings in demands for industry, for more sophisticated government, more complex government ideas, and everything else we can think of. There is not one other single influence responsible for the growth and development of society, other than the social principle, or the social influence.

Now, go back to the sun as a symbol. The sun, I said earlier that it’s the principle behind all the changes in the weather, the growth and everything, didn’t I? So here you have, now, me saying that the social interest, the social principle, is the influence behind all the other growth and possibilities.

Can’t we then say that the sun is also a symbol of man as a social unit, the Khalifa is male and female, and the purpose of male and female is to have generations? That’s the social principle. So the Khalifa is the social principle. He is the sun. He is the social principlThe roots of white Supremacy making a human figure into a DEVINE figure! The truth is that WE SHOULD MAKE NO IMAGES OR LIKENESS UNTO THE DEVINE.A ND WE SHOULD KNOW THAT TO GIVE G-D A SON,IS TO FORCE THE MIND TO GIVE HIM A RACIAL FEATURE! THIS WAS THE TRICK OF DIABOLICAL WORLD DOMINATING PSYCHOLOGY! WHITE IS RIGHT,WHY? BECAUSE G-DS SON IS WHITE,A D HAVEN'T WE BEEN THROUGHLY BRAINWASHED TO BELIEVE THAT,"WHEN YOU SEE THE SON YOU'VE SEEN THE FATHER FOR THE SON IS THE FATHER! OH MY PEOPLE NOW IS THE TIME TO UN-WHITE WASH YOUR PERCEPTION OF YOUR SAVIOUR! YOUR BIBLE TELLS YOUR THAT,"G-D IS A SPIRIT AND THAT THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT" SLS YOU ARE FAMILIAR IN JOHN," NO MAN HAS EVER SEEN G-D AT ANY TIME" NOW YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE AWARE THAT IN JOHN 20:17 JESUS TOLD MARY MADELEINE "TOUCH ME NOT FOR I HAVE NOT YET ASCENDED TO MY FATHER,BUT GO A D TELL MY BRETHREN THAT I GO TO MY FATHER A ND YOUR FATHER,TO MY G-D AND YOUR G-D" PEOPLE KNOW THIS THAT THERE IS NO G-D BUT ONE G-D,THAT NOTHING IS LIKE HIM HE NIETHER BEGETS NOR IS HE BEGOTTEN AND THERE IS NOTHING LIKE HIM! FIND ME SOMEWHERE IN THE BIBLE WHERE JESUS(PEACE ON HIM)TOLD US THAT HE WAS G- D AND THAT WE SHOULD WORSHIP HIM! NO,NO,HE TAUGHT US TO PRAY," OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN,HOLLOWETH BE THY NAME,THY KINGDOM COME, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN" SO PEOPLE DON'T SEE ME AS AN ADVERSARY SEE ME AS A HELPING FRIEND TO STAMP "WHITE SUPREMACY IMAGERY IN THE FORM OF A VISIBLY WHITENED G-D" REMOVE ALL RACIAL IMAGES THAT ATTEMPT TO PORTRAY THE DEVINE" GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK LETS START A DIALOGUE! PEACE AND LOVE!THE ROBE

Lost Knowledge

Now, let’s continue here. What is the robe symbolic of? Do you recall? Symbolic of the way you use the knowledge, the dress, symbolic of the way you use the knowledge. The sheet is the knowledge, the pages, the script.Remember now, when Jesus was crucified, he lost his robe and they gambled to see who would possess his robe. Now if you understand the meaning of robe, then you should understand that this world doesn’t have the true knowledge, the true use of the knowledge that Jesus gave them.

The knowledge was lost from Jesus’ body and it fell in the hands of crooked sinners. They gambled for it. Not only that, the silver cup, the special cup, it was lost too. Which tells us not only the proper use of the knowledge was lost, but also the moral cleanliness was lost from the religion.Silver chalice I think they call it. Is that what they call it? I think it is called Silver chalice. It was lost from Christianity. So how would they explain this? Ask the preacher next Sunday morning at 11 o’clock. Ask him. Say preacher; please tell me what it means in Christianity when they say that they lost the Silver chalice, the silver cup. Ask the preacher, how they can have the shroud of Jesus, in this city that is called Turin.

When the Bible says that his robe fell into the hands of sinners and they gambled to see who would possess it. So how can they have his robe there? If they have it, sinners gave it to them and if the sinners gave it up, it wasn’t fit to wear. That’s right. That robe wasn’t fit to wear. After it fell into the hands of sinners, who would want to wear it?

What is sweeter than honey?

Let’s continue now, it says he gave them another riddle. And this riddle is: “What is sweeter than honey?” And “What is stronger than a lion?”So he gave two riddles. In fact four parts to it.Second one is, “What is sweeter than honey?What is stronger than a lion?” All right. You know honey means the beauty of pure scripture. How do we know this? We know it because in the Qur’an this word is used. Honey is a good word for scripture. The honey is the essence of the flower and flowers are symbolic of beautiful culture.What is sweeter than the beauty that G-d offers you? What is sweeter than the sweetness that you find in G-d’s pure scripture? That’s what he’s telling them. And what is stronger than a lion? What he’s telling them is that, the east has honey.

They have the beauty of G-d’s revelation. And you have the strength of a lion. I’ve got something that makes you stronger, and I’ve got something to give you to make your doctrine sweeter than their honey.You see this thing? Yes, it’s plain. So he gave them, the Gentile world, the doctrine of love, the love of Christ that was sweeter than the moral and spiritual teachings to weak people, than the pure teachings of the Prophet. It’s sweeter to them … that G-d loves you sinners so much, that he gave his only begotten son, that he should be scorned, mocked, spat on, tortured, crucified, and die and be buried for your sins. Oh that’s sweet to ignorant weak people, sweeter than the truth of G-d’s scripture. So he said what is sweeter than honey? This lie I am going to give you is sweeter than the pure honey of Scripture that the east has.

Cheated Samson out of his heifer

And what is stronger than a lion? This subtle psychology…. (indiscernible) and he himself was going to destroy the Philistines. They have cheated him out of his heifer; I am talking about right now!The Christian Church that he thought would be his heifer betrayed him. Say oh, you can have business, you can have media, you can have this, but you are not going to run our churches. The Gentile doesn’t want any Jews over their churches. If you want to have something, you can have Peter. Go and tutor the Pope in secrecy. He’ll accept it. But these ordinary Gentiles are not going to accept that no Jew rule over them.So you mean to tell me you are not going to give me my heifer? So why don’t you, can’t you all do it through me, can’t you all carry out my orders?No we can’t do it. They are not going to listen to it. Well very good. Well then can I tell you what kind of doctrine you should give to the masses that won’t follow Peter?Yes it’s okay. All right. I’m going to make bread again. I’m going to get on a wheel. I’m going to make Marxism. I’m going to make Communism.I’m going to make the Age of Reason. I’m going to exalt logic. I’ll give them some new flour, is that okay? Well that’s okay. As long as you don’t take over the church. No, I won’t bother the church. Okay. Go on to the wheel again. It’s okay.

Bring society down on me and them

Now listen. After all that he still was not satisfied. Is that right? Yeah look at the story now, remember, he still is not satisfied. So he said, “I am blind, but I got something that they don’t know I’ve got. I got special power, in my arms.” “All I want to do is just have somebody show me to the pillars of the foundation of their society. And if I just can get to the two pillars that hold up the structure of their society, I’m going to bring it down on me and them.”So Samson goes and stands between the two pillars with the help of a little boy. He couldn’t see but he used the help of a little boy. What is the help of that little boy? Psychology. Psychology.

Don’t think it’s another person; he’s not even a person. Persons carry it out, but he’s a knowledge body. Then he goes and he used a little boy, psychology. Don’t human beings use psychology before they use intelligence?That’s why in psychology in this particular context it’s called a little boy. Your little children, before they are able to compete with you on an intelligence plane, they already using psychology on you. So psychology is an early development in the human being. That’s why the Jahcubite’s cousin, Fard Muhammad said Yakub conceived his idea at the age 6, as a little boy, a psychology. He’ll be surprised to know that I know that. I hope he gets this. I understand that he’s back home now. So he’ll get this message, Insha ‘Allah. Now, let me continue. With the help of psychology, he finds his way to the foundations of the new society. And when he gets to the foundation, what does he do? He forms a cross of himself and he begins pressing with all his might. That’s what the Scripture says. Said he pressed with all his might, with all his strength on the pillars, forming of himself a cross. What does this mean? This is more than Trinitarianism, this is the psychology of the mentality that Trinitarianism has produced.

Weaknesses in the mentality that trinitarianism has produced

He has now learned that there are certain weaknesses in the mentality that Trinitarianism has produced. And he knows that he can appeal to their emotions, and he can push in two directions at the same time.He didn’t pull the pillars, he pushed. He can push in opposite directions at the same time. Make one people give in to emotions, and the other people give in to logic. Push them. So that some will become highly emotional and some will become highly logical.And in doing this the logic will act against the emotions, and emotions will act against the logic. The emotional makeup will kill the logic, the logic will offend the emotions, the society will be divided against itself and the pillars will fall. Don’t you know that’s a strategy that is used in this Society? Whenever the hidden evil in the structure is about to be exposed they began firing the society with emotion, sentiment, flower children, love for everybody, crazy kind of sentimentality and emotionalism. They fire it up and build up strong emotions, this is depressing. Now when he does it it’s going to drop the whole thing. If he can be successful and bring in the sentimental and emotional elements against the logic, it’s going to destroy the whole thing.But look, he will certainly, he will be killed, as a knowledge body. He was already blind wasn’t he? What the hell has he lost? Nothing. Once he brings it down, he would start up all over again. Do, ra, mi, fa, sol, la, ti.

By the Grace of G-d, through IWDM, America was not destroyedJust in a few years that have passed us dear people, that scheme has tried to destroy America. But by the grace of G-d, through me, America was not destroyed. Why do I say through me? Because I was the only one that came out when the trend was to go in the form of the cross. When the trend was to become emotional, highly emotional and give one side to dry logic, I came up in the middle of that action and said there is a scheme going on, there is a trick going on.This whole thing is designed to fire up your sentiments, your emotions and topple the society. Somebody must have heard me and believed others who had been talking before I started, and all of it came together to save America. Yes.

See they didn’t believe others who were saying, there is a scheme, there is a hidden scheme. But when I began to speak, they say look, now we know this boy, we’ve been watching this boy since his father raised him up. We know that this boy is not a tool of outside influence. So if he says these things that ring a bell, where did he get it from? We believe maybe G-d is inspiring Wallace D. Mohammed. So they went back to the desk. And they begin to pull out things from the old file and they studied history all over again. And they said that Wallace D. Mohammed is an inspired man, he sees something. And what he is saying is what we’ve heard before. It might be something to it. How else could he get it?

Simple Simon met a pie man on the way to the square

Say oh no, let’s check this thing. Let’s check this thing. Said I’m sorry, you can’t get sixpence today, only one. Sorry, we aren’t buying pies today. We’re buying cakes. You heard that old story of Simple Simon … Simple Simon met a pie man on the way to the square. I think it goes,” … said Simple Simon to the pie man, would you have a sixpence to spare?” And I think he said, “If I was selling sixpence, I wouldn’t be selling pies!” Well, that’s another one of the conspirators’ riddles. And I will tell you what it means. Sixpence means the knowledge behind the scheme. It’s said the man was made on the 6th day. The sixpence is the knowledge behind the scheme. Simon was given seven (7), not six (6). He couldn’t see 6, six (6) was ruling seven (7). But he wanted the six (6).What is the secret in this? Will you tell me please, Mr. Pie man? You know what Pi is? 3.1416, I think it is. It’s a formula for finding the circumference of the earth. It’s a formula for world dominance. Now I’m not saying anything that I didn’t want to say, I know it’s a formula for finding the circumference of a circle. It’s a formula for world dominance.

If I was selling my own secrets you think I’d be selling pies And Peter, the Catholic Church wanted it. But the conspirator wouldn’t give it to them. Said if I was selling my own secrets you think I’d be selling pies? You think I’d be telling you how to get the world, if I was selling the secret to how to get it.I’ll just tell you how to get it; I’m not going to tell you my secret. You get it from me. Yes. All Peter got was some magic beans; he did manage to get those didn’t he? You remember that riddle? Nursery rhyme, whatever you want to call it. Jack and the beanstalk. Yeah. He had Jack, which is nothing again but Peter, or the Western society. Pardon me, I shouldn’t say Peter, not Peter, Jack is not the Catholic Church, it’s the Western society, Protestant society. Catholic Church headquarters is in Rome. This is typical American. Jack is talking about typical America. That’s why we call each other Jack. You know, hey jack, what’s happening Jack?

Yes, so, it was Peter, the Pope who asked them for his sixpence. But Jack, the American Christian society, they asked for magic beans. Well really they didn’t know what to ask for. All they wanted was really to be rescued, because their cow had got so lean, it was about to die.Everything was going bad. And they wanted to know how to bring back life. How can my cows get fat again? How can the society thrive again?So, while they were (wandering) wondering, this funny looking thing jumped out in the road. And he made himself visible and he said, “Magic beans want to buy some magic beans, like to buy some magic beans?” And Jack agreed to give his cow up for the magic beans. I’m showing you that this is not only in Scripture. If it is only in Scripture that means that what I’m talking about may not be existing in the world today. Or maybe it was just a story that was only in Scripture, maybe it was just fiction. But if it’s in the world too, we should listen.

What do the magic beans represent?

Now. Says this little funny thing, man, jumped out, and he talked Jack into giving up his cow for these magic beans. Right. Some of you remember it. He went away with his cow. What do the magic beans represent? A way to, again, to the secret knowledge in Christian religion. A way to the secret knowledge in Christian religion.And dumb Protestant society gave up their lean cow for this heavenly knowledge. What is the lean cow? The lean cow represents what they had before. What did they have before? They had rational growth. The Protestant movement began with an interest in rational growth. Is that right? Yes.

Our knowledge is weak, our cow is lean

They wanted to pursue knowledge. The Catholic Church had suppressed enlightenment, had suppressed education. The people weren’t allowed to learn. The masses couldn’t learn and educate themselves. So a thirst for knowledge came with Martin Luther. Right. And they began to want knowledge to develop their minds.Here comes Jake, Jack pardon me, feeling himself desperately in need of help. We have the interest in rational development of our society, but our knowledge is weak, our cow is lean. We haven’t yet produced anything. We need help. Who would help us?Oh Lord Jesus, help us. We got this logic. But Rome is powerful. We got this logic and Rome is powerful. G-d help us please! Ding, ding. Jahcubite conspirator. I will help you! Would you like to have some magic beans? If I give you my magic beans you’ll have to give me your lean cow. In effect he was saying the same thing that Samson said. I’m going to give you a new world, but you’re going to have to give me the one that you got now. And if you give him the one you got now, when it becomes fat, who does it belong to? Belong to him. He got it. He got it in exchange for the magic beans.

Over the heavenly kingdom was a mean old giant

So he (Jack) went home and planted. Went home and he didn’t know the value of them right? But I think accidentally one fell into the ground right? The thing grew up and it went up, up, up. He saw it going up past his window, he ran out and jumped on it, and the thing took him up into heaven. (It) took him up on the plane of clouds, into a castle that was in the clouds. Right. Yes.There he found a nice old woman that befriended him. But over that heavenly kingdom was a mean old giant. That right? Yes. He said fee, fi, fo, fom, I smell the blood of an Englishman, be he live or be he dead; I’ll grind his bones with my bread. With my bread. Remember bread is of two kinds. Leaven and unleavened. I’ll grind his bones with my bread.So, he managed to escape with the help of this woman up there, old woman who was nice. He managed to escape. Who is the old woman who was nice? Means people in the religious knowledge of the secrets of religion that weren’t corrupt. Didn’t have no evil designs on the world like the conspirators. They shared with him after he got up there. They shared with him some knowledge. Helped him to get the golden knowledge down from heaven.

The Golden knowledge it came from the hen right? The hen who laid golden eggs. But the hen couldn’t lay any golden eggs without music playing. When music played the hen would lay the eggs. The music stopped, the hen stop laying the golden eggs. Which means that the wisdom is tied to music? Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do. Do, ra, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do. Now when he got the musical scheme, he came back down with the hen and the music harp plus the knowledge, and he tied them together, then he had wisdom.He had wisdom to bring back down with the hen, and the music harp right, according to the story. From heaven, he brought back with him, they don’t say heaven, but it is the heaven of religious symbolism — Biblical symbolism. He came back down with the music maker and with the egg layer. You needed both in order to get the wisdom. The golden egg means wisdom. All right.

Giant’s fall from heaven left a big hole in the earth

The giant fell from heaven. Is that right? He was so big and heavy that when he fell he knocked a big hole in the earth, left there a big hole in the earth. The giant was finished. Who was finished? Who is the big giant that was finished? The people in the secret religion. The Pope.The Pope and certain others that I don’t care to name right now, that hoard the secrets of religion. When the Protestant was given the secret way to get it, and when Protestant leadership got it, got their share. Don’t think they got all, they got their share. Catholic got his share yes. Protestant got their share. The conspirators got the whole share.When they got it, the position of superiority of them over American Christian leadership fell. When it fell, it knocked a big hole in the ground. What is that symbolic of? Actually they were not spiritual people, they were material people.And when they fell a big part of the material that they had before was taken out. So much of the material wealth that was under Catholicism, and under other secret conspirators in religion, fell to Jack, to the American Christian Society. Is that right? Yes.Then they began to rise. But they only had magic beans. Magic beans is not knowledge. Magic. The only way you can get it is through magic. You have to have the knowledge of the magic to know how to work them. And, they were secret, so only a few of the Jack people can have them.

Jack: the American Christian society

Let me quickly tell you what Jack represents in the American Christian Society. It represents the intelligent leadership, Jack represents the intelligent leadership. Now Jack is not as long as Jacob. So their knowledge is shorter than Jacob, you see?Jack is a derivative of the word Jacob. Jacob is the origin, Jack is a derivative, derived from Jacob. So Jack is just a short …. they don’t have Jacob that’s long. But they do have enough to enable them to keep this same rhythm going.Rotating events, with a seven note scale, or is it eight. Yes, an eight note scale that goes to seven, and comes back to where it started. Right? Do, ra, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do, come back to where it started. So they were given knowledge of how to keep society going through these changes, psychological changes.

So America unknowingly, has been going through these changes. Look at the trends, one fad behind another. Pretty soon you are wearing what you wore 20 years ago. Right. Pretty soon you’re dancing the way you danced 20 years ago. You are talking the way you talked 20 years ago. You are thinking the way you thought 20 years ago.So they keep rotating. They have the Jahcubite scheme, but they have only that pie that Jahcubite wanted them to have. Jahcubite sell pies all over the world Jahcubite sell pies all over the world. Sold the Pope a pie. Sold Protestant America a pie. Sold Communists East a pie, called it the red pie. Yes, the red pie. I’m getting ready to let you go now.

What does the red represent? What do they mean red? You say passions? That’s to trick you. Yes,Red means passions in the other octave. It has been played. It’s another octave. It takes on another color, it takes on another dress. It don’t keep the same dress, it says I will sell you changes. You see?Yes, it meant passions in one place, but not passions in Communist Russia, although passions are involved. It means the social life. Red means the social life. What ties me together with my brother? Blood. Blood is red. See. So people, as a social group are tied together first by blood. And they call each other brother, you see. So that’s blood.Red stands for blood. What blood? Human blood. Human blood, according to the Bible, New Testament in particular, should combine with water, which is human spirit, symbolic of human spirit.

Bring the social life too

So people should be spiritual, as well as social, according to the New Testament teaching. You shouldn’t just be blood. Christ Jesus says, “I come not of water only, but of blood also.”What does this mean? It means that before him, the people were all spiritual, but were neglecting the social development of society, the development of the relationship of person-to-person, people to people, communities to communities.He came to bring the blood, means to bring the social life up too, with the spiritual life. This is in the Scripture.So now, if the East has become red, it means that they now have gone to another … see the world was spiritual, and then it became religious.Now they are trying to get it to become all red. No spirituality, take the spirituality out of it. Make it all red, that we are social group and we are born out of materialism, so material concepts should govern us. We shouldn’t have spiritualism in our life. Give up; give out the water, only the red.

Imam W.D. Mohammed (raa)

[saintmustafa-blog]

Taking the good and leaving the bad, no matter the source

In common Islamic practice, there is a constant stream of reminders from scholars, parents, and self-righteous average joes about what you should and shouldn't do. The entirety of Islamic practice is boiled down to avoiding sins, and doing good, but only out of fear. You mustn't listen to music, you mustn't eat the meat at your friend's barbecue, you mustn't take friends of non-muslims, you mustn't dance, you mustn't clap ( if you are a man ), you mustn't hold hands before you are married, you must enter the bathroom with your right foot, you must sit in a certain way when eating, and you should fart in a certain direction.

The individual does these things out of a sense that they are doing good or through a feeling of fear. This kind of Islamic practice is toxic, and not conducive to living a fulfilling life or making you a better person. Why is adherence to these obsessive-compulsive rules so important? I choose not to do this, but to follow a moral code derived by my own intellect, inspired by Islamic principals. This constant badgering from others to follow these puritanical and controlling rule set nearly drove me away from Islam forever. But, I found another path that brought me back that is more driven by using Islam as a guide for spiritual fulfillment rather than an instructional manual of Dos and Donts.

It was said that your moral code should be developed through your own intellect, but guided by Islam. This means throwing away reliance on the interpretations of scriptures by others. Instead, you should use scripture as a trigger for your own independent and rational thought process. The Qu'ran says, surah 47 verse 24: "Do they not then think deeply in the Quran, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it)?". It is up to you how to interpret any part to fit with your conscience, you do not have to accept everything, and remember that stories such as Noah's arc and the people of Lot are allegorical. That means they aren't actually accounts of history, but stories that have hidden meaning that must be rooted out by thought.

When it comes to Haidths, only follow those that you deem to be moral, good, and beneficial to your life. This is because no one really knows which hadiths are authentic or not, they might claim to, but anyone with intellect will know that recording words passed down through mouth to mouth hundreds of years after the prophets death is susceptible to fabrication, the Chinese whispers effect, and just plain old being completely out of context. If the hadith is authentic, we have no idea if the Prophet just meant those words for a certain situation.

If I ever pass down hadiths to my children it will be ones like this: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say, “Allah the Almighty has said: ‘O Son of Adam, as long as you invoke Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O Son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and you then asked forgiveness from Me, I would forgive you. O Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the Earth, and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it [too].’ ”. Beautiful. I would not pass down: "the Prophet ordered the two adulterers to be stoned to death, and they were stoned to death near the place where biers used to be placed near the Mosque. I saw her companion (i.e. the adulterer) bowing over her so as to protect her from the stones." That hadith is from Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 60 page 79 ( https://muflihun.com/bukhari/60/79 ). It is considered Sahih by most orthodox Suni religious leaders of our time. I do not need any explanation to justify this to me. It says very clearly that one of the lovers protected the others from the stones, whilst their peers continued to stone them, allegedly on command by the Prophet. As a Muslim, I will say straight that this is abhorrent, the only act that showed morality was the adulterer who was being stoned protecting her lover. I reject this disgusting account, imagine if you lived in such a country, where people were dragged into a field to be stoned for "illegal sexual intercourse". This is the kind of hadiths ISIS (Daesh) used to justify their ways. Most Muslims are great in condemning ISIS, but unfortunately, most have not made the jump to condemning hadiths like that which is the bread and butter of Daeshi mentality.

I will pass down:  “The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind.” (Daraqutni, Hasan) and not "Some Zanadiqa (atheists) were brought to `Ali and he burnt them. The news of this event, reached Ibn `Abbas who said, "If I had been in his place, I would not have burnt them, as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade it, saying, 'Do not punish anybody with Allah's punishment (fire).' I would have killed them according to the statement of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.'" ( Book 84 hadith 57 sahahi Bukhari ). No thank you, Freedom of religion for everyone is more moral, whilst killing someone for leaving their religion is immoral.

I am a Muslim who is in a pre-marital relationship, has drunk wine in moderation, and enjoys listening to music, and I do not feel bad or ashamed for it. I do not find any of these things immoral. I do not need anyone to "guide" me to the so-called light. I don't judge others who do or do not do these things, as long as they abide by their personal moral code and do no harm to others. I do not pray out of fear of burning in some everlasting hellfire, I pray because it gives me spiritual fulfillment, and I find the best place to find that is in Jam’ah (congregation) at the mosque. I feel their is great benefit in the support of a merciful God through good and bad times. I do not think the mark of a good person is how much of the Qu'ran they have memorized, but rather it is in how they treat others. I am not a Sunni, Shia, or Quran'ist. I am just a Muslim who takes what is good from orthodox Islam and Muslim culture and discards everything else in favor of his own rationality. Islam enhances my life, it doesn’t limit it and make me act horribly to those around me.

The Qu'ran says: "People, We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should recognize one another. In God’s eyes, the most honored of you are the ones most mindful of Him: God is all knowing, all aware". God is the most moral and high, to be mindful of him is to question and judge your internal thoughts and external actions to your own moral code. No one really knows what religious rulings are authentic, so as a Muslim I simply take what is beneficial and leave out everything else. No matter if it is from Sahih Bukhari or the most respected of tafsirs (Quranic interpretations). What I am left with is concepts to live life by, such as Jihad of the nafs (Combat with the self), Prayer, and developing good akhlaq ( characteristics ), and not an outdated list of Dos and Donts.

[worshipmoment]

False Religion: Islam

Islam is one of the major world religions that, along with Christianity and Judaism, teaches monotheism which is the doctrine that there is only one God in all existence. Islam teaches that Allah is the one and only deity in all existence (Qur'an 5:73; 112:1-4). He is supreme, all-knowing (40:20), ever-present, different from all of creation (3:191), and in complete control of all things. According to Islam, Allah created the universe in six days (2:29; 25:61-62), and all that is in it continues to exist by his permission and will. Allah is non-Trinitarian (5:73), but he is absolute and eternal.  Compared to Christianity, Islam has some similarities but significant differences. These differences make Islam a false religion.

Muhammad:

Muhammad (c. AD 570—632) was from Mecca, a city near the Red Sea in what is now Saudi Arabia. Muhammad was a religious man, often going on retreats to the mountains where he would pray. During one of these retreats, he reported being visited by the angel Gabriel, who supposedly gave Muhammad a revelation from Allah. Muhammad reported having several other revelations from Allah as well, and Muslims regard him as Allah’s last and greatest prophet to mankind. Muhammad claimed to have continued to receive revelations from Allah until his death, and Muhammad’s revelations were compiled after his death and canonized into what is now called the Qur’an, the Muslim holy book. Other respected writings in Islam include the Hadith, which is a collection of teachings, deeds, and sayings of Muhammad; and the Tafsir, which is a commentary of sorts on the Qur’an.

Qur’an or Koran:

The Quran or Koran is the sacred book of Islam and is broken up into 114 chapters called Suras which cover the subjects of ethics, history, law, and theology. It is highly revered by Muslims as the direct, literal word of God and without error. However there a lot of problems and contradictions in the Quran. Some examples are:

Can Allah have a son?

Yes: Surah 39:4, "If Allah desire to take a son to Himself, He will surely choose those He pleases from what He has created. Glory be to Him: He is Allah, the One, the Subduer (of all)."

No: Surah 6:101, "Wonderful Originator of the heavens and the earth! How could He have a son when He has no consort, and He (Himself) created everything, and He is the Knower of all things?"

Allah forgets yet Allah know all?

Forgets: Surah 32:14, "Taste ye then - for ye forgot the Meeting of this Day of yours, and We too will forget you - taste ye the Penalty of Eternity for your (evil) deeds!"

Knows all things: Surah 24:60, "Such elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage—there is no blame on them if they lay aside their (outer) garments, provided they make not a wanton display of their beauty: but it is best for them to be modest: and Allah is One Who sees and knows all things."

Scientific problems in the Quran:

Sperm comes from the chest of a man: Surah 86:5-7, "Now let man but think from what he is created! He is created from a drop emitted-Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs."

Birds can talk: Surah 27:16, "And Solomon was David's heir. He said: "O ye people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and on us has been bestowed (a little) of all things: this is indeed Grace manifest (from Allah)."

Ants can talk: Surah 27:18, "At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants, one of the ants said: "O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it."

There are 7 heavens and 7 earths! Surah 65:12, "Allah is He Who created seven Firmaments and of the earth a similar number. Through the midst of them (all) descends His Command: that ye may know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah comprehends, all things in (His) Knowledge."

Mary is the sister of Aaron and Moses: Surah 19:27-28, "Then she brought him to her own folk, carrying him. They said: O Mary! Thou hast come with an amazing thing. 28 O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot."

Having just outlined just a handful of many problems and contradictions to the Qur’an as a divinely inspired work, we are forced to reject the Islamic claim that the Qur’an represents an error-free word of God to humanity. However, when a similar standard is applied to the Bible, the result is self-vindicating, for the Bible emerges flawless.

Islam, the religion of peace:

Is Islam a religion of peace? Many of its advocates say that it is.  Let's see what the Qur'an actually says.

The Qur'an tells Muslims to kill and go to war to fight for Islam: Quran, chapters (Surahs) 9:5; 2:191; 2:193; 3:118; 4:75,76; 5:33, 8:12; 8:65; 9:73,123; 33:60-62.

Fight for Allah: "And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from whence they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the recompense of the unbelievers, (Quran 2:191).

Muslims are to battle for Allah: "Those who believe do battle for the cause of Allah; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. So fight the minions of the devil. Lo! the devil's strategy is ever weak," (Quran 4:76).

Kill those against Islam: "The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter," (Quran 5:33).

Beheading: "When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger. 13That is because they opposed Allah and His messenger. Whoso opposeth Allah and His messenger, (for him) lo! Allah is severe in punishment," (Quran 8:12).

Slay non-Muslims: "Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful," (Quran 9:5).

Allah urges war: "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil)," (Quran 9:123).

Allah urges killing: " . . . the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease and the agitators in the city do not desist . . . 61Cursed: wherever they are found they shall be seized and murdered, a (horrible) murdering. 62(Such has been) the course of Allah with respect to those who have gone before; and you shall not find any change in the course of Allah, (Quran 33:60-62).

Allah loves those who fight for him: "Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure," (Quran 61:4).

As you can see, the Qur'an definitely teaches that its people are to fight for the cause of Islam. This list of verses is important because they are within the holy book of Islam. What are we to conclude if a Muslim is to take the Quran seriously? Is he not obligated to slay non-Muslims, to go to war, to kill those against Islam, etc.? Isn't this what the verses are teaching? Yes, they are.

Jesus:

Muslims claim that Jesus was one of the most important prophets—not God’s Son. Islam asserts that Jesus, though born of a virgin, was created like Adam. Muslims do not believe Jesus died on the cross. They do not understand why Allah would allow His prophet Isa (the Islamic word for "Jesus") to die a torturous death. Yet the Bible shows how the death of the perfect Son of God was essential to pay for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53:5-6; John 3:16; 14:6; 1 Peter 2:24). So since they do not believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ they are lost and damned to hell, unless they repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Works Salvation:

Islam is a religion of salvation by works because it combines man's works with Allah's grace. Consider the following verses from the Qur'an. 

"To those who believe and do deeds of righteousness hath Allah promised forgiveness and a great reward," (Surah 5:9).

"And He answers those who believe and do good deeds, and gives them more out of His grace; and (as for) the unbelievers, they shall have a severe punishment," (Surah 42:26).

"O you who believe! If you are careful of (your duty to) Allah, He will grant you a distinction and do away with your evils and forgive you; and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace," (Surah 8:29).

In Christianity, we appeal to the work of Christ on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24) completely and totally and in nothing in ourselves as a basis for forgiveness because no good thing dwells within us (Rom. 7:18), that is, apart from Christ. We sincerely believe in Christ, but we never claim that forgiveness is in any way merited or gained because of our sincerity or our works. Rather, our forgiveness is based on faith and trust in God in what He has done for us in Christ. Salvation in Christianity is God-centered. In Islam, forgiveness of sins is man-centered in that it is dependent upon man's sincerity and man's works in combination with Allah's forgiveness. Both Christianity and Islam teach that we must have faith in God. But in Christianity, this faith in God is enough to save us (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9). In Islam, faith in God is not enough.

Conclusion:

Christians and Muslims disagree on the nature of God, salvation, prophets, the true Scriptures, and many more things.  I know most Muslims will not change their mind about their beliefs while reading this but I am a Christian, saved by the grace of my Lord and Savior, Jesus. In obedience to Christ and according to the Bible, I seek to expose error and teach the truth. Therefore, I must say that Islam is a false religion. I say this to convert Muslims to Christ so they may find salvation in Him and find everlasting peace.

[flamehairedsiren]

Five OTP Songs

Tagged by @pikapeppa of course, which shouldn’t surprise y’all. :P

Naturally, those who know me know about The Sun and Moon (aka my brain child and baby) so naturally this meme shall go to Aloy and Avad. <3

(Note: gif is mine. Please do not use without my permission.)

I have a whole ass playlist for The Sun and Moon so all these songs are taken from that. There’s literally no sense to it, though. lol There’s classical, Bollywood, soundtracks, pop, the works. I mean, the thing is over 30 hours long. lmao

1. Kings And Queens by Thirty Seconds to Mars Not a romantic song, obviously, but if this fic was a movie, this song would be rolling in the credits. The whole point of TSAM is Aloy and Avad’s story as a couple and Aloy’s future as a monarch. I can’t not use this song. It defines the very heart and soul of my story.

2. Love So Soft by Kelly Clarkson We all know Avad is a soft boy but affectionate as hell. The title speaks for itself, I think. (Alternative: Something that Wild by Chris Cagle. We all know Aloy isn’t gonna be tied down, even with her winding up with a king, and this song pretty much indicates toward Avad’s acknowledgement of that fact)

3. What is Love? by Frances Aloy’s never been in a romantic relationship before. Naturally, it’s a new thing for her. She’s euphoric but also confused. She’s learning, and she’s doing it with a man who adores her and respects her (considering the fact that he’s Carja? Wild). She’s more confident in herself as a grown woman who’s seen more of the world, but really, what is love?

4. Born To Be Yours by Imagine Dragons (ft. Kygo) Another self-explanatory title. Aloy and Avad are enamored by each other, and the closer they get, the tighter they click. Avad realizes that he’s never going to meet the likes of her again and Aloy, despite her misgivings, has found her kindred spirit. Avad is a prisoner to his throne, and yet he hungers for the world like she does. They’re not going to back down now.

5. Lahu Munh Lag Gaya by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Siddharth-Garima from the film Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela A lot of my readers/friends know that I’ve tied India very closely with the Carja, so it should go without saying that I’d add one of my favorite Bollywood songs. This song is very sensual (and if you’ve seen the movie, you’ll agree the kiss in this scene is hot af). A translation of the song title is I have kissed blood or I have tasted blood on my lips (which is a metaphor to love). I think it relates to Aloy and Avad’s relationship really well and indicates to the culture I’ve favored for Avad, both in the world of Horizon: Zero Dawn and as a 21st-century man. India is a beautiful country with well over a thousand languages and countless cultures. Like damn, y’all make me feel so unworthy.

Bonus: Aayat by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Siddharth Garima and Ab Tohe Jane Na Doongi by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and A.M. Turaz from the film Bajirao Mastani I couldn’t resist including my two favorite songs from Bajirao Mastani. Aayat is a very worshipful song, Ab Tohe Jane No Doongi is the sweetest definition of pillowtalk, and both songs gives a peace that befits Aloy and Avad perfectly. A portion of the translated lyrics from Aayat reads: I have memorized you Like holy verses from Quran And a portion from Ab Tohe Jane No Doongi’s translation: Now, I won’t let you go This mistress like night has come I mean, the deep and profound love in these lyrics is everything. This is Aloy and Avad to me. A king and queen who share an undying love that transcends culture, religion, and strife; much like Bajirao and Mastani.

Gonna tag all three of my writer friends LOL @ir-anuk @valaloy @sun-and-shadow-aloy (and @mhysaofdragons for good measure haha)

[arabic-langblr]

Free talk : perfectionism

[Click here for the audio file of this free talk]

السلام عليكم جميعًا ، عيد مبارك و كل عام وأنتم بخير

Peace be upon you everyone, my warmest greetings and Eid Mubarak!

لقد وعدتكم أن أعود قبل أ��بوعين ولَم أوف بوعدي، بل و تأخرت في الإجابة على الكثير من الأسئلة التي وصلتني فقررت أن أحضر حديثًا حُرًا (free talk) بدلًا من أن أكتب منشور اعتذار آخر باللغة الانجليزية لعل المضمون يفيد البعض أو يساعدهم.

Two weeks ago, I promised that I’ll return and I didn’t keep my promise, I was even very late in responding to many asks so I decide to prepare this free talk instead of making an apology post in English in the hope that the content will help others.

ينتابني شعور من الحزن و القلق، على الرغم من أنني تلقيت العديد من الأخبار السعيدة في هذه الفترة و أنني -والحمدلله- لا أعاني من أي ضائقة أو ظروف ولكني ولسبب ما أشعر بالحزن.

I’m filled with sadness and anxiety despite receiving a lot of good news recently -thank God- and I’m not going through any difficulties or facing any problems but I still feel sad for some reason.

قررت أن أعطي نفسي فترة للراحة لعل الطاقة الإيجابية التي كانت تغمرني تعود لي و تعيد لي الشعور بالحماس مما كان يدفعني للإنجاز الذي كان يشعرني بالرضا عن نفسي.

I decided to give myself some rest in the hope that the positive energy that used to fill me would return and give me back the enthusiasm I used to feel that led me to making accomplishments which make me feel satisfied with myself.

انتظرت أيامًا و أسابيع و لكنها لم تعد. ففهمت مع الوقت أن هذه الطاقة الإيجابية لن تعود بشكل سحري فقررت أن أبدأ بدفع نفسي للأمام.

I waited for days and weeks but it didn’t come back. So with time I came to understand that this positive energy won’t magically return so I decided to start pushing myself forward.

و مع الأسف فهذا ليس بالأمر السهل و ليس ممتعًا حتى و لكنه ضروري؛ علي مواجهة الواقع و التحلي بالشجاعة و أن أؤمن بأن النتيجة (وهي شعوري بالإنجاز) ستساعدني في استرداد حماسي الضائع.

But sadly it isn’t easy or even fun but it’s necessary; I have to face reality and have courage and to believe that the end result (which is to feel that unaccomplished something) will help me get back my lost enthusiasm.

أشعر بأن رغبتي في أن يكون كل ما أقدمه مثاليًا و ممتازًا قد قيدتني - ففي عقلي الباطن إن لم يكن كل ما أقدمه مثاليًا فلن أقدمه : إن لم تكن لوحتي التي أرسمها مثالية فَلَن أجهد نفسي بالمحاولة، و إن لم أتمكن من حفظ الآيات القرآنية في غضون دقائق فلن أحاول، كذلك فعلت في هذه المدونة و بشكل خاص في الفيديو الذي وعدتكم به : إن لم يكن الفيديو الذي أريد عمله مثاليًا مثل تلك الفيديوهات التي يحضرها و ينشرها المحترفون على موقع يوتيوب فلماذا أحاول حتى؟ ما الفائدة من تقديم شيء إن لم يكن ممتازًا؟ إن لم تكن النتيجة ١٠/١٠ فلن أجهد نفسي بالمحاولة لأن أي شيء أقل من ١٠/١٠ يعد فشلًا. أو هكذا ظننت...

I feel that my desire that everything I make is perfect is holding me back -in the back of my mind, if what I’m doing isn’t perfect then it’s not worth doing : if the painting I’m drawing doesn’t turn out perfect then I won’t make the effort to draw it, if I don’t manage to memorise the Quranic verses in a matter of minutes then I won’t even try. I did the same with this blog and especially with the video that I promised you to make. If the video I’m going to post isn’t perfect and just as good as the videos on YouTube then what’s the use of even trying? Why should I put an effort in something that isn’t good enough? If the result isn’t 10/10 then I don’t want to even try because anything less than 10/10 is a failure to me. Or so I thought...

قد يبدو هذا غريبًا للبعض و قد تبدو مبالغة و لكنها مشكلة ما زلت أعاني منها. كما لو أن هذه الأفكار السلبية أغلال تقيدني و تعرقل سيري نحو الأمام. وأنا أطالب نفسي بالجري بل بالطيران على الرغم من وجود الأغلال. فقررت أن ألزم مكاني لعل هذه الأغلال تختفي من تلقاء نفسها. ثم فهمت أن السير ببطء أفضل من أن ألزم مكاني، و أن تكون نتيجتي ٧/١٠ أفضل من الصفر التي حصلت عليها بعدم تقديمي أي عمل.

This may sound odd and exaggerated but it’s a problem that I still suffer from. It’s as if these negative thoughts are chains that bing me and are stopping me from moving forward. And I’m asking myself not only to run but to fly despite having these chains. So I decided to stay where I am in the hope that these chains would disappear by themselves. Then I understood that walking slowly is better than not moving and getting 7/10 is better than the 0/10 that I was getting by not getting anything done.

قد يستغرب البعض من سبب مشاركتي هذا الموضوع الشخصي السخيف الذي لا يقارن بالمشكلات "الحقيقية" التي يعاني منها آخرون و لكني أظن أن هذه المشكلات "السخيفة" صعبة جدًا حيث أن من يعاني منها قد يجد صعوبة في طرحها حيث أن ردة فعل الآخرين ستكون "هل تظن أن هذه المشكلة السخيفة تستحق كل هذا القلق؟ الحل بسيط لم تصعب الأمور؟".

Some people might not understand why I decided to share this personal and silly topic which is nothing compared to the “real” problems that others are facing but I think that these “silly” problems are the hardest to share or talk about because the reactions will always be “Do you think that this trivial matter is worth all the worth? The solution is simple so why are you making things so complicated?!”

أنا أظن أن هنالك شخصًا ما لا أعرفه في مكان بعيد يمر بتجربة مماثلة قد يقرأ هذه المنشورة و يجد نفسه فيها. و مع أني لا أعرف إن كان هذا الشخص موجودًا على وجه الأكيد و لكني مع هذا قررت العودة و النهوض من جديد - إن أفادت تجربتي شخصًا واحدًا فهي تستحق المشاركة، و إن كانت محاولتي ستلهم شخصًا مصابًا بالحزن أو الإحباط بأن يعود للمحاولة فسأحاول و أحاول و سأستمر في المحاولة حتى أنجح.

I think that there is someone I don’t know in a far away place going through a similar experience and might read this and find it relatable. I don’t know if that person exists or not but in case they do I decided that this is worth sharing. If my attempts will inspire even one person who is sad or depressed to try again then I’ll try again and again and I’ll continue to push myself until I finally make it.

أنا أحب هذه المدونة كثيرًا و أحبكم أيضًا. و أتمنى لكم يوماً جميلًا. سأعود لتحديثها قريبًا جدًا إن شاء الله.

I love this blog and I love you all as well. I hope you have a beautiful day and I’ll get back to updating this blog very soon inshallah.

[islamic-art-and-quotes]

Salam. Do you know which dua we should recite for shifa? As in, I’ve a horrible wart on my hand and I’ve seen a lot of doctors but they all said it’ll take time. Is there any dua I should recite for healing ? Thank you

Alaikumassalam wa rahmatullah,

My view is that it is not the words that matter, but your sincerity. If you have a good relationship with God then you can say anything you want in any way you want and He will answer you.

I do like to repeat some of the prayer words mentioned in the Quran, but not because I believe they necessarily have any magical qualities, but because they tell us the right things we should pray for and state them beautifully:

And say, “My Lord, forgive and have mercy, for You are the Best of the merciful.” (Verse 23:118)

and say, “My Lord, have mercy on them, as they raised me when I was a child.” (Verse 17:24)

“Lord, enable me to appreciate the blessings You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to act with righteousness, pleasing You. And help my children improve. I have sincerely repented to You, and I am of those who have surrendered.” (Verse 46:15)

and say, “My Lord, increase me in knowledge.” (Verse 20:114)

Regarding praying for healing, we have the example of the prayer of Prophet Ayyub (known as Job in the Bible):

And Job, when he cried out to his Lord: “Great harm has afflicted me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.” (Verse 21:83)

That is a beautiful prayer that shows why Ayyub was known for his patience. He does not blame God, he does not even ask Him to do anything for Him. He merely tells God what is wrong then praises His mercy, leaving it up to God to do what He wants regarding his suffering. The next verse tells us what happened next:

So We answered him, lifted his suffering, and restored his family to him, and their like with them—a mercy from Us, and a reminder for the worshipers. (Verse 21:84)

Even though he did not directly ask for anything, God still answered him. 

Below is his prayer in Arabic (transliterated) if you are interested in repeating it:

annī massanī al-ḍurrū wa anta arḥam al-rāḥimīn

[five-sparrows-two-pennies]

pain & purpose

2 August 2022

There is a reason for everything - I think this is what God has been trying to teach me. There is a reason for every small thing, for every sorrow, for every discomfort - each timed perfectly and each ultimately for my own good. How many times He has reminded me just today! There was a reason for Amy Carmichael’s brown eyes, and a reason for her difficult experience with the Wilson brothers. I read about the latter today.

There was a reason why I left work at 4pm today. If I had not left at that time, I would not have been stopped by J and G, who interview me for a “life quote”. (Aside: I wanted to say something that would point people to God, but I had no suitable Scripture verses come to mind, and of course I thought right away of Mary Lou Kownacki’s quote: “There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.” It is a beautiful quote and Mary is a Christian, so I hoped it would be enough. But quite remarkably, J asked me if I had any other quotes - she said some people are religious so something from the Bible or Quran, for example, might mean a lot to them. How perfect! I said I was a Christian and asked if I could have some time to think and text her some quotes later. What a pleasant surprise to have been stopped by them - they chased after me, with my hood on my head, hiding under my umbrella. I know not why they stopped me, and called me from behind - there were many people walking on that street.) There was a reason why God had me take that seemingly pointless and rather uninteresting Introduction to Actuarial Studies unit in my first year of university. Perhaps it was so that I could help my brother with his maths investigation today, four years later.  There is a reason for this sorrow, this turmoil. If I cannot give up a guy for You, how can I give up my life? I think God is reassuring me that there is purpose behind the pain. I choose to trust Him.