Become a Standard Bearer

“Islam began as something strange, and it shall return to being something strange, so give glad tidings to the strangers.” Saheeh Hadeeth [Ibn Maajah, Kitaab al fitan 3986 Like most thinking Muslims of our time, over the last few years, I have also been thinking about the sad state that the Muslim Ummah finds itself… Continue reading Become a Standard Bearer

Winning is about staying in the race

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson Jabir (R) reported: Rasoolullahﷺ said, “The best of people are those who are most beneficial to people.” I… Continue reading Winning is about staying in the race

Problems and Solutions

 بَدَأَ الإِسْلاَمُ غَرِيبًا وَسَيَعُودُ غَرِيبًا فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ ‏‏ Abu Huraira (R) reported: Rasoolullahﷺ said, “Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange, so blessed are the strangers.” Ibn Majah (Kitab Al-Fitan) In a world based on oppression, courage is strange. In a world based on amassing personal wealth, charity is strange.… Continue reading Problems and Solutions

The Way Forward – Summary

This Khutba is a summation of the 7 Khutab titled ‘The Way Forward’. Here, I am going to highlight the action points only. I will begin with my gift to you, which is my own motto: “I will not allow what is not in my control to prevent me from doing what is in my… Continue reading The Way Forward – Summary

The Way Forward – Part 7

What distinguishes people who never experienced subjugation from those with a collective memory of empire and subjugation, is their willingness to speak up, fight for their rights and to pay for what they enjoy, while the others only complain but do nothing to change the situation. This is the ‘learned helplessness’ of people whose bodies… Continue reading The Way Forward – Part 7

The Way Forward – Part 6

Most of us are historically illiterate and our cherry-picking approach to history ensures illiteracy. However, our lives won’t change until we learn lessons from history and break out of the vicious cycles that we are caught up in. We don’t learn the lessons because we can’t differentiate between critiquing and critical analysis and criticizing. We… Continue reading The Way Forward – Part 6

The way forward – part 5

My brothers and sisters, in these series of my 7 – Khutab called, ‘The way forward’, I will try to define for you the problem that we Muslims face globally and to suggest the way forward to a solution. There are two critical things which you must remember as you listen to me. One, that… Continue reading The way forward – part 5

In the Dhikr of Allah is peace

If I must die,you must liveto tell my storyto sell my thingsto buy a piece of clothand some strings,(make it white with a long tail)so that a child, somewhere in Gazawhile looking heaven in the eyeawaiting his dad who left in a blaze–and bid no one farewellnot even to his fleshnot even to himself–sees the… Continue reading In the Dhikr of Allah is peace

The way forward – Part 4

History teaches one critical lesson: Only those who contribute are valued. Only they have leverage, are influential, and have power. Their religion or ethnicity doesn’t matter. What matters is their contribution to society on a local or global scale. The world works on one overarching principle: What’s in it for me? WiiFM. That’s how it… Continue reading The way forward – Part 4

The Way Forward – Part 3

Think long term. It is not about winning one conflict. It is about becoming influential and creating a situation where there are no more conflicts. It is about becoming influential where you can initiate and direct local and national policy. It is about being in positions where the decisions you take will positively impact people… Continue reading The Way Forward – Part 3

The Way Forward – Part 2

In Sura Isra Allahﷻ mentioned two historic events. وَقَضَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَتُفْسِدُنَّ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَلَتَعْلُنَّ عُلُوًّا كَبِيرًا فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ أُولَىٰهُمَا بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًا لَّنَآ أُو۟لِى بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ فَجَاسُوا۟ خِلَـٰلَ ٱلدِّيَارِ وَكَانَ وَعْدًا مَّفْعُولًا ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَـٰكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا إِنْ أَحْسَنتُمْ أَحْسَنتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُمْ… Continue reading The Way Forward – Part 2

The Way Forward – Part 1

I have a principle in life. “I will not allow what is not in my control to prevent me from doing what is in my control.” That is based on the reality that when we stand before Allahﷻ, we will not be asked, ‘What happened?’ But we will be asked, ‘What did you do?’ That… Continue reading The Way Forward – Part 1

Difference between sight and insight

 But We see with our eyes, but we understand with our hearts. That’s called insight. That’s why Allahﷻ said: Indeed, it is not the eyes that are blind, but it is the hearts in the chests that grow blind. Structures of this life don’t show what’s behind them in the Will of Allahﷻ. Like the… Continue reading Difference between sight and insight

What to do about what happened

I remind you and myself that a fire can’t be extinguished by another fire but by pouring water over it. Violence does not end violence. It only increases it. As Muslims we are against all violence, no matter who does it. We condemn the actions of Hamas and all calls to violence. We follow the… Continue reading What to do about what happened

Focus on the Fundamentals – Part 4

My brothers and sisters, the default setting for the Muslim is that he/she is a Wali of Allahﷻ. This is not my imagination but Allahﷻ stated that clearly in His Book and said: أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ لَهُمُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَا… Continue reading Focus on the Fundamentals – Part 4

Focus on the Fundamentals – Part 3

Islam is a belief system. You enter Islam by believing and declaring that belief. It is equally simple to leave Islam. That is why it is essential to ensure that we never say or do anything that contradicts or denies our belief. That is why knowledge is important and it begins with fundamentals. Which is… Continue reading Focus on the Fundamentals – Part 3

Muhammadﷺ- An example for all people of all times

They say that reading biographies is perhaps the best way to learn real life lessons. That is because a biography is a record of practice. Of what worked and what didn’t. The life of Muhammadﷺ is perhaps one of the most well documented in human history. Having said that, one may ask why his life… Continue reading Muhammadﷺ- An example for all people of all times

Focus on the Fundamentals – Part 2

It is one of the articles of our faith to believe in Divine Destiny and to be pleased with it. Ridha bil Qadha is proof of our Imaan and a sign of Tawakkul. Islamic understanding about destiny is that we have been given limited choice in our lives. Some things have been written for us… Continue reading Focus on the Fundamentals – Part 2

Focus on the Fundamentals – Part 1

حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةُ وَٱلدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ وَٱلْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَٱلْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَٱلْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَٱلنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَآ أَكَلَ ٱلسَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى ٱلنُّصُبِ وَأَن تَسْتَقْسِمُوا۟ بِٱلْأَزْلَـٰمِ ذَٰلِكُمْ فِسْقٌ ٱلْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِ ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمَ دِينًا فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ فِى مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ… Continue reading Focus on the Fundamentals – Part 1

Connect to Allahﷻ with gratitude

بَدَأَ اللَّهُ كِتَابَهُ بِإِظْهَارِ كَيْفَ نَبْدَأُ كُلَّ أَيَّامِنَا، وكُلَّ لَيَالِينَا، وَكَيْفَ نُوَاجِهُ كُلَّ مَوْقِفٍ فِي حَيَاتِنَا، سَواءٌ كَانَ ذَلِكَ سَهْلََا أَوْ صَعْباََ.  لَقَدْ عَلَّمْنا أَنْ نُرَكِّزَ عَلَيْهِ، وَأَنْ نَشْكُرَهُ عَلَى كُلِّ مَا أَعْطَانَا إِيَّاهُ وَأَنْ نَتَذَكَّرَ أَنَّ كُلَّ مَا نَعْرِفُهُ، بِمَا فِي ذَلِكَ أَنْفُسَنَا، يَنْتَمِي إِلَيْهِ. إِعْتَادَ رَسولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَقُولَ… Continue reading Connect to Allahﷻ with gratitude

Khashiyar Rahman

قال الله – وَخَشِىَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِمَغْفِرَةٍ وَأَجْرٍ كَرِيمٍ لِمَاذَا خَشْيَةُ اَلرَّحْمَنِ عِنْدَمَا يَكُونُ اَللَّهُ هُوَ اَلرَّحْمَنُ؟ تَتِمُّ تَرْجَمَةُ خَشْيَةِ اَللَّهِ بِخَوْفِ اَللَّهِ، اَلْخَوْفُ هُوَ عَاطِفَةٌ سَلْبِيَّةٌ، نَحْنُ نَكْرَهُ مَا نَخَافُهُ، وَلَكِنَّ اَللَّهَ قَالَ: إِنَّ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُحِبُّونَهُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ آخَرَ. اَللَّهُ ذَكَرَ صِفَةً اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَقَالَ – وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِكَيْفَ نَفْهَمُ… Continue reading Khashiyar Rahman

ٱلْوَٰرِثُونَ

قَالَ الله تَعَالَى عَنْ وَرَثَةِ الفِرْدَوسْ: قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ  ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلَاتِهِمْ خَـٰشِعُونَ  وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ ٱللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ  وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَوٰةِ فَـٰعِلُونَ  وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَـٰفِظُونَ  وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ  وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَٰتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ  أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْوَٰرِثُونَ  ٱلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ  سُؤَالٌ لِي وَلَكُمْ – مَا مَعْنَى وَارِثْ؟ مَنْ هُوَ… Continue reading ٱلْوَٰرِثُونَ

تواصل مع الله بامتنان

Connect to Allah with gratitude Allah began His Book with showing us how to begin each day, each night, and how to face every situation in life, be it one of ease or difficulty. He taught us to focus on Him, to thank Him for all that He gave us and to remember that everything… Continue reading تواصل مع الله بامتنان

المقصد لحياتنا عرفان بالله

Allahﷻ said about the reason we were created  And the jinn and mankind were not created except to worship (Allahﷻ).   Worship means to know – how can we worship One we do not know? Allahﷻ, is the living and the mighty, and His words are also alive, because the Word of Allahﷻ is not created,… Continue reading المقصد لحياتنا عرفان بالله

ابحث عن نفسك في القرآن

قال الله تعالى أنه ذكرنا في القرآن – فهؤ قال: لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَـٰبًا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ   أين تلك الإشارة ؟ لم يذكر الله أسمائنا بل ذكر أنواع الناس وصفاتهم وأخبرنا عن نهايتهم –   مهم جدا بالنسبة لنا أن نسأل حل يمكن هل نحن فيما بينهم ؟ فقال الله تعالى عن نوع واحد من الناس:  … Continue reading ابحث عن نفسك في القرآن

Three Voices – Part 3

We continue with our topic of the three voices that speak to us and what to do about them. Over the last two weeks I spoke about the first of them which was Shaytaan.  Today we will speak about the second voice which is even more dangerous and that is the voice of our own… Continue reading Three Voices – Part 3

Three Voices – Part 2

We continue with our topic of the three voices that speak to us and what to do about them. Last week I spoke about the first of them which was Shaytaan. To complete that discussion, Shaytaan misguides and when the person accepts that misguidance, Shaytaan washes his hands of the responsibility. Allahﷻ told us about… Continue reading Three Voices – Part 2

Juma Khutba – 3 Voices

Allahﷻ created us and sent us into this world for a short period of time. During this time, He promised to take care of all our affairs in return for which He gave us the honor of establishing His Deen on the earth. وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَآ… Continue reading Juma Khutba – 3 Voices

Feel Allahﷻ in our hearts – #2

We were talking about what built a man like Ibrahim (AS) who Allahﷻ loved and called him His Khaleel. It was this connection with Allahﷻ that built the man Ibrahim (AS) who when he was in his 80’s Allahﷻ blessed with a son, Ismail (AS). Then when Ismail (AS) was still nursing Allahﷻ ordered Ibrahim… Continue reading Feel Allahﷻ in our hearts – #2

Feel Allahﷻ in our hearts

We just finished Ramadan which Allahﷻ sent us to make us Muttaqoon. I remind myself and you that all the promises of Allahﷻ are for Muttaqoon. So, it is worth the effort to become a Muttaqi and benefit. In Ramadan we reminded ourselves that we are Muslim. That we have submitted our will to the… Continue reading Feel Allahﷻ in our hearts

Costly Grace

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Protestant Minister at the time of Hitler who opposed him and paid with his life. In his essay, ‘Costly Grace’ he says that Divine Grace (Fadhl of Allahﷻ) is something that we must pay for. We take it for granted, we feel we are entitled to it, we don’t even stop… Continue reading Costly Grace

Muslim is a verb

My brothers and sisters I want to remind myself and you that the meaning of being Muslim is to submit to Allahﷻ without question, without argument, without reservation or hesitation. To submit joyfully and eagerly. That is the symbol of our trust in Him. And that trust is what earns His pleasure and His help.… Continue reading Muslim is a verb

Sacrifice or Investment

We just finished Ramadan where Allahﷻ gave us the opportunity to start over again, make our lives Shari’ah compliant and achieve closeness to Allahﷻ. In life, all human beings have only two Dharooriaat. Dharoori is something the absence of which will lead to death. The two Dharooriaat are not food or water or even air.… Continue reading Sacrifice or Investment

Ramadan – The Connections

All praise and thanks be to Allahﷻ who He granted us Ramadan in good health and Iman and time to enable us to get the maximum benefit. Did we do that? Today is the last Friday in this blessed month. Those of us who came this far, still have a couple of days before it… Continue reading Ramadan – The Connections

The problem with our Da’awa

One of my friends, a rarity in that he reflects and asks good questions, asked me, “Sh Yawar, how do we reinvigorate people’s love for the masjid and have it be a unified place for Muslims’ education? As Imam Mohamed al-Ghazali says in Egypt, the masjid is the heart of the Muslim community and the… Continue reading The problem with our Da’awa