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| One of the things that pisses me off (for lack of better terms) within our communities is this disease of the mini shiekh. It's a great thing to gain knowledge and work towards getting a better understanding of our faith and how to apply it and instill it in our hearts and minds but it's another thing when after taking a couple classes and reading a couple books a person can start acting like mr or ms shaykh al islam.
We sometimes are blessed to study our deen at the feet of scholars who have dedicated their lives, 20 or something years to the study of the Sciences and yet we feel like we can challenge them and think we know better. I think there's a healthy questioning and inquiring but then there's an arrogant "you are going against the Qur'an and Sunnah" attitude. Who are we? You?
I do frown on regurgitation and letting oneself become completely brainwashed by someone...God gave us intellects to process what's right and wrong for ourselves but there's a line b/w the lay person and the scholar. Our rich intellectual legacy was not built on lay, idiotic, self righteous, half baked learned people...instead our scholars passed on knowledge to each other after committing a lifetime to their work and understanding and yet they never felt like they were complete.
We have no right to study a few hadith or ayas, books or lectures and claim to be someone of authority. We have no right to think we know it all....so next time before you go enforcing the "Qur'an and Sunnah" or "Shari'ah" or whatever, think twice. Think about applying it in yourself and know and believe that there are multiple answers to one question and no one will know who's right until we meet Him.
Products of this type of culture?
Mr Mo Blo Khutba full of Rhetoric Master
Mr Online blogger posing as Sheikh and putting down other Sheikhs
Mr I think I know everything and am better than you so shut your face and do as I say
Ms Irshad Manji
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| Sayyiduna Abd Allah ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that
the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “O Allah!
Bless our Sham and our Yemen. They (Sahaba) said: “Our Najd as well.” The
Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) again said: “O Allah!
Bless our Sham and our Yemen. They said again, “Our Najd as well.” The
Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: “There, will
appear earthquakes and tribulations, and from there will rise the horn of
Shaytan.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 990) | | |
| Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel, since
each of them is irreplaceable and, once gone, can never be retrieved.
Do not be like the deceived fools who are joyous because each day their
wealth increases while their life shortens.
What good is an increase in wealth when life grows ever shorter?
Therefore be joyous only for an increase in knowledge or in good works,
for they are your two companions who will accompany you in your grave
when your family, wealth, children and friends stay behind.
-Imam Ghazali | | |
| He spent 16 years in America, and this past Monday he finally went back home to India with his wife and 2 kids. My Mama is gone and it's a very strange feeling indeed. God has His plans and change is inevitable but some change is very hard to swallow. I remember my uncle moved here with his new wife when I was around 12 years old. I had issues when I was that age, a pre adolescent with an attitude problem. Having him around was difficult at times b/c he was a disciplinary but looking back I am so grateful that God sent him and his wife to the States.
Over the years, as they began establishing themselves here they've become people we can always turn to for advice and a shoulder to lean on. His home was the hot spot where we congregated. The additions to our family (my cousins Umair and Jibran) brought new joys and also new people to make fun of and terrorize. We had great fun and have great memories with them all but one huge lesson that I've learned from them is the value of family. Unfortunately, nowadays, we live a very individualized life. "Me" is the priority. What Haseeb Mama and Afshan Mami expressed through their actions was the contrary. "Me" is important and a priority but so is family. I can't say that there was ever a time when we needed something and they weren't there. I also can't say that there was ever a time when their home was unwelcome to others. Giving was done openly and with no hesitation. They were people who gave of themselves and their time, which is most valuable to people. I feel that giving yourself is a huge charity and at times quite difficult to do.
I remember times when my Mami would randomly pop up at home and start ranting and raving and giving me random pieces of advice about life. I stood there utterly confused not knowing where all this was coming from but I do know that what she said to me was valuable. Her love was expressed in subtle ways, through her cooking, her advice, corny jokes and the unbearable singing which we grew to love and enjoy in a weird way.
It's always great when Has Mama would bring home random types of chocolate cake from random parts of the Chicagoland area. This brought me great joy...yes indeed. I doubt there will be much exploration in that front anymore. I'll never be able to erase the memories of the painful bites and pinches he used to gift me with. His loud booming voice would fill any room with life and sometimes even fear when he was upset with us...hehe. His voice also brought us great joy when he'd hum a random tune or even sing a full fledged song...
This post is very choppy...but let me say that it is difficult to sum up thoughts and feelings of the past (almost) 20 years with these people and the impact they'd have on my life as well as others I know. There are so many things I think of...I thank God for granting me people like them in my life. I thank God that He's bestowed me with elders in my family who will unyieldingly give advice for my own betterment. I cherish all the great moments spent with these people and all the laughs we shared as well as the sorrow. I regret the times I could have spent more time with them and took them for granted....I hope and pray I can make up for this. I'm also grateful for being blessed with the strange but amazing cousins I have from them.
I even thank God for this lump in my throat...
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