In the first 6 months of 2016, Chicago saw 312 homicides and 1,949 total shootings. In the same period, U.S. Police killed 536 people,  49 of them in Texas, and there were 163 mass shootings, some by ‘Muslim extremists’, most just random acts of violence by unstable people. A Muslim was shot and stabbed yesterday morning on his way to Fajr, right outside the mosque. The media calls it an attempted robbery. Muslims were beaten outside mosques in Queens, NY and Orlando, FL, one a possible hate crime, the other possibly a concerned citizen.

Happy Independence Day.

In Chicago, according to the article linked above, gang violence is the cause of most of the homicides, but then what causes people to join gangs? (Hint: it’s not just race.) And what drives people to commit mass shootings, to go and stab or shoot or assault people on their way to worship services?

Clearly, there are problems here. And where there are problems, there are solutions.

But what can we do? Continue reading “Ramadan wrap up: what can we do?”

Ramadan is nearing its end, and I wonder where I’m at in my goals and my progress. Could Allah azza wa jall possibly accept my fast and my charity and my worship? Could He possibly be pleased with me? Continue reading “Ramadan: where am I?”

He is Allah , other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

He is Allah , other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.

He is Allah , the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

Al Hashr, 22-24

Continue reading “Ramadan: know your Lord (2)”

I should’ve covered this earlier, I think… Who exactly is Allah? What do we know about Him? Who exactly is it that we worship? Continue reading “Ramadan: know your Lord (1)”

According to Ibn Qayyim, there are 14 modes of Jihad, subdivided into 4 categories, and Jihad is one of the best actions we can do as Muslims. If we want to earn the pleasure of Allah, we need to strive in His path with our hearts, wallets, tongues, and bodies.

O you who have believed, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord and do good – that you may succeed.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا وَاعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَافْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ۩

And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah named you “Muslims” before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakah and hold fast to Allah . He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper.

وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ ۚ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ۚ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ۚ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۖ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ

Al Haj, 77-78

(Note: there is a sajda in the first ayat.) Continue reading “Ramadan: Jihad of the Self”

The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah . It is those who are the truthful.

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتَابُوا وَجَاهَدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ

Al Hujurat, 15

Don’t be afraid: Allah’s not telling us to go off to war, much less to participate in any of the so-called jihads being perpetrated by various political groups around the world. And insofar as there is no Muslim Caliphate there’s no opportunity for western Muslims to physically fight fisabilillah (for the sake of Allah). Instead, we have to strive and struggle in the path of Allah and in whatever ways He presents to us. This struggle is the third best action that we can perform. Continue reading “Ramadan: Best Actions (3)”

The prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, told us that the next best of all actions is to be dutiful to and honor ones parents, and, again, this same commandment is clearly spelled out in the Quran.

And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], “uff,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا

Al Isra 23

Continue reading “Ramadan: Best Actions (2)”