LEGSLIP

khansahab

I think its good that you have created this new page to discuss religion, as we have been discussing religion, existence of God, the purpose of life and comparing religion with science etc. etc., and to have an exclusive page is something that we really need for our bloggers. Because, there might be a few who may not want to see or mix religion with cricket, can write their views here.

If a handful of people (not “hand picked” as Yousuf Raza Gillani Pakistan’s current PM said) try to create terror in the name of religion or misinterpret the words or verses of the holy books and try to convince the uneducated masses to wage a war against the so-called infidels is the worst thing to do. Because NO religion preaches violence and terror.

As a Muslim and with whatever knowledge that I have I would like to share and talk about Islam and I will be very happy to see others writing their views in the light of their own religion or from their point of view as they see it. This will be an opportunity for us not only to communicate but, also to clear the doubts and misunderstandings that have been created by these people and also by the Western media. Islam is derived from the Arabic root “Salema”: peace, purity, submission and obedience. In the religious sense, Islam means submission to God, service to humanity and mankind.

Most of the uneducated and even a few educated but, conservative type of people believe that a common man, even if he is well educated is not competent enough to discuss religion. Only the scholars or men in authority (the Mullahs) have the right to talk about, because, we might mislead others? This is absurd, because none of these people especially the Mullah types are able to interpret the meanings correctly. And sometimes they interpret it the way they want it. And that is, because of the fact that Qur’an is in Arabic which is a foreign as well as a difficult language to master for non-Arabs.

The other thing is some of the verses are mystical and even hard for the Arabs to understand the true meaning behind it, and it needs indepth analysis through Hadith, before making any interpretation especially according to one’s own perception.

This comment might become too long and my objective was to thank khansahab for adding this page to the blog, as I was also feeling the same way as him. Therefore, to keep this first comment short, I will express my views more in detail in my next comment. But, in the meantime if anyone has any question, please feel free to ask.

Religion?

Jay Jay Shiv Shankar
Kantaa Lage Na Kankar
Jo Pyaalaa Tere Naam Kaa Piyaa!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RQuqIDkzGU

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddGjV51Edok

Well this is what you think of your Religion when there is no Organisation or a Central Authority giving instructions and perhaps that is the reason why i am an AGNOSTIC on the path to become an ATHEIST!!!!

Spent 1/3rd life in believing in him/her, Thought instead of searching for him/her anywhere and everywhere better do few things in life which maybe i won’t be able to do in After-Life or on Judgement day for that matter!

Khan Sahab,

A very good point raised and I totally agree that it’s such an unfortunate situation that there are millions of Shias and Sunnis all over the world, including Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, GCC, India, Europe and USA but of all the places they are fighting and killing each others only in Pakistan.

Something is seriously wrong here

Varun

You don’t have to go out to Mandir, Masjid, Girja or Gurdwara in search of Him.

Whatever I will write here will be about how “we” as Muslims believe in Allah and how we perceive Him.

First of all Islam is not Arab. It is not a religion. It is not a culture. It is not mosques or minarets or buildings. It is not the glorious of our past. You might call it the science of being human. It is based on two things: Worship of Allah and generosity towards your fellow men.

The God in Islam is not a concept, not a divine authority figure, not a father in the sky. Allah is Reality itself. The one Who created everything and continues to do so and Who supports and sustains everything. Allah, there is no God but Him, the Living, the self subsistent. Drowsiness does not seize Him nor does sleep. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. (2 : 255)

Scientists have tried to explain everything away by breaking it all down into component parts. Knowing what makes up an eye has nothing to do with the reality of vision. Don’t be among those who are fooled when they see anything unusual they call it a miracle. Every time you look is a miracle, isn’t it?. All life is like that and our existence itself is a miracle. The revelation of Qur’an is the biggest miracle. Then why do we have to be amazed by other miracles?

More latersssssssssssssssssssssss….. g2g

khansahab

Apparently Qasmi’s interpretation seems to be good. It certainly looks like a new way explaining the verses and the concepts of Qu’ran. But it needs an in-depth study and analysis of his interpretation to view and compare it in light of what exactly the views of other Ulma-e-deen are. I must give credit to this lady Renuka Narayanan, she did a good research and presented a very unbiased view.

Atheists and humanists ask: If God exists, why doesn’t He show Himself? The answer is, God does not represent some finite, material energy. Our limited ability to experiment and conceptualize is incapable of defining Him. Like I wrote above: “The God in Islam is not a concept, not a divine authority figure, not a father in the sky. Allah is Reality itself.”

Belief in the existence of God is a matter of the heart, although science may prove Him to be the prime and ultimate cause and thus indirectly reinforce the belief of the heart. Faith is to believe what we do not see and the reward of this faith is what we believe.

Mankind passes its life in ignorance and unknowing, not realizing that the human physical make-up cannot lead a person to realities or that the five senses mislead him at every point The only instruments which can lead man to realities are reason, thought, and precision.

Javed & Khansahab

Must say it is a relieve finally to see a website which is discussing Islam without any dogmas and fanaticism.Religion is not sacred and pious in a way that we keep Quran wrapped up and close on the top shelf and only open it during the month of Ramadan.

Religion gives us values as a human being .

Fasting is for my own good ,but than it is left to me to judge if in case I am sick would I be able to manage to be hungry for 12 hours.
Unfortunately instead of judging such things on our own we keep running to a maulvi.Now even if someone asks me regarding should I fast today or not?Who am I to say no.
Allah has ordered ,you are to follow.

In Islam there are two approaches to it on following:

1.Mans approach to God
2.Gods approach to man

You would be surprised ,our Creator so much want us to recognise HIM ,to realise HIM and to approach HIM.That he has sent us five books and a chain of prophets .

Mans approach to God is sufisim,how a human percieve and approach HIM and built a relation with him.

Gods approach to man is to follow the principals as laid in the book.How Allah wants to be remembered and followed.

Thus you find this difference in followers of Islam .It is just the way we approach.

Sufism is more liberal and creative.It is a way of love with your CREATOR.Thus you find sufi poetry full of pain and pangs of separation.Death in Sufism is considered as a wedding because at last the lover is recieved by the Creator.
That is why death of sufi saints is celebrated like an “URS” and their grave is decorated with garlands.

Please note Quran is a prescribed text book and Shariat laws are to be observed .
Shariat is not only the name of chopping off hands and feet of people.But Shariat is a line drawn .DO NOT TRESSPASS INTENTIONALLY.
If you do than repent and always remember
God is most Gracious and Merciful.
He is most BEAUTIFUL as well.
Keats say a THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER.
Creator is beautiful,
ISLAM IS UNIQUE in a way that in other religions human have created a shape and a form but
ALLAH describes HIMSELF LIKE A LIGHT :
LIGHT UPON LIGHT
Light is energy and purest form of energy

If we study physics and quantom theory of relativity after all we understand why Physicists are so convinced of GOD.

I like to keep it simple,so

KNOW THY SELF.In only knowing ones self ,one comes to realise HIM.

Your debate is intellectual .I appreciate it.Before I comment on your thoughts I wanted to give some introduction about how I percieve Islam.

I WAS A GEM CONCEALED ME MY BURNING REVEALED

Shah

Its good to see that you have mentioned about LIGHT and without mentioning the name of the Surah NOOR, you have hinted at the verse by saying LIGHT UPON LIGHT (Allah is the Light) In our previous debate on religion on the cricket page, I have mentioned this and I would like to repeat it again here because this is a more apt forum for religion and thats the reason this page has been created for discussion.

The Qura’an is full of descriptions which corresponds to them and I would like to quote the English translation of the Surah Noor: “God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The likeness of His light is a niche wherein is a lamp, the lamp in a glass, the glass as if it were a glittering star, kindled from a blessed tree, an olive which is neither of the East nor the West whose oil would practically shine even if no fire touched it. Light upon light. God guides to His light whomever He will” (24:35) Sura Noor
.
If you ask an uneducated Mullah to translate or explain the meaning of the above verse, he would ramble and blab and provide a mediocre explanation according to his limited knowledge and education. A more scientific and meaningful explanation of the above verse which an Astrophysicist would express, explain and substantiate his views is in the words of Ayesha Abdur Rahman Al Tarjumana, which is:

“The oil must be the photons which do not divide into particle/anti-particle (East/West). When two electrons come near each other, one of them gives off a photon which is absorbed by the other electron. The two electrons have not touched, but the unit of electromagnetic energy is produced. Fire has not touched it. The interconnectedness of the reactions in the electromagnetic field is described by the picture of the lamp in the niche and the lamp in the glass.”

There are also some oaths at the beginning of some of the earlier verses in the Qura’an which seem to give a ravishing description of the activity of the subatomic world. This is, of course only one of the many levels which exist in every verse of the Qura’an).

Pay attention to the following verses I am quoting below and see how the scientific meaning is derived from it and how it helped some of the scientists who have acknowledged it as a great break through in the development of science and technology:

“By the scatters scattering, by those carrying a heavy burden, by those running and flowing easily, by those who subdivide a matter” (ref. 51)

Surely one aspect of these verses is the description of the subatomic world. First, we have the particles scattering and meeting and the cascade of collision, and decay which arises as cosmic rays and other particles hit the earth’s atmosphere. This is true of high-energy collisions, and it is also true of the photo-electric effect when the photons of ultra-violet light knock electrons out of metal surfaces.

“Those carrying a heavy burden” are the nuclear particles with their incredible mass. Almost the entire mass of the atom is condensed in the nucleus and it is fantastically dense. The photons run easily being light, and high energy particles subdivide others. Amazing isn’t it?

The Qura’an further says:

“By the released ones in succession, then raging violently, and those who scatter in open propagation, and by those who split into parts, and by those casting a reminder in excuse or warning.” (Qura’an 77)

Again we have a picture of the activity of the sub-atomic world. Particles released in strong nuclear interactions have tremendous energy. Particles scatter in open propagation as they form their cascade of increasing secondary particles, and some of them split up. Once again, amazing isn’t it?
AND AGAIN: “By those who extract completely, by those who move briskly, by those who swim along and float, by those who go ahead suddenly, by those who manage an affair”. (Qura’an 79)

So we have a whole range of the types of interacting forces. Furthermore, it speaks of ‘heavens with all its tracks’ (Qura’an 51) This is like the picture of the activity of the patterns of behavior in the interaction of these particles. All we see are their tracks, their traces, their effects.

Not only the scientists but the Sufis through their mysticism have talked about the same things using a different terminology or words. Ibn-al-Arabi, the renowned scholar and a Sufi, has also quoted the Quranic verses and he said:

The singularity belonged to the sea of before-time, gatherdness to the sea of after-time, and duality to the inter-space of man.

About the Universe, its expansion and the day it will come to a crunch, as it is contained in the Qura’an not once, but in so many verses:

“Faatir us Samawadi wal Aaradi” We exploded the Heavens and the Earth. (Thats reference to the Big Bang Theory.)

“He increases, creation as He wills” (35:1) (That is the Universe is expanding)

“Upon the day when heaven spins dizzily and the mountains are in motion “(52:9-10) (Thats about the Big Crunch.)

“When the stars shall be utterly extinguished and obliterated, when the heaven shall be split, when the mountains shall be scattered.” (77:8-10)

“When the sun shall be darkened, when the stars shall be thrown down, when the mountains shall be set moving. “(81:1-3)

This is the picture of the Last Day, when all is obliterated. Then God will bring everyone back at the Gathering. He will recreate everyone, as the black hole is finally an emitter of endless energy in the form of gamma rays.

Tawhid (unification) is the singularity. All vanishes into that singularity, and at that point, all becomes one. Unity is total, like a vast ocean. Like the moth going around the flame of the candle and when you enter the flame, you are the flame and your identity vanishes.

The singularity remains and it is something which cannot be viewed from the outside. It is only when you pass the event-horizon and enter it, that it becomes perceivable. Then you are it, so what is there to perceive? Who remains who is perceiving?

Mr.Javed
What art though?and how dare you quoted surrah Noor before me.I cannot forgive this.
I was at work so I thought after going home I will quote from Quran so that I do not quote wrong.These are my favourite Ayaat.But you did it before me.
(intellectual grudge is not good for my skin so you are forgiven)

Regarding your theories of physics,I am a bit taken a back.I thought it is too complex to discuss.

Beautiful cannot appreciate enough your approach to religion.To understand and to contemplate and to apply rationale and to live it is TRUE ISLAM.

So all muslims are not just offering Namaz like a drill some are contemplating and exploring.
Thank you for hosting this webpage and hope like minded people will join in.

I would like to point out when we study Quran with the help of science,if science turns out to be wrong it does not mean Quran is wrong.

Quran is a timeless book.It is we the human being who tried to apply science to explore Quran.

Thank you for the beautiful exploration of Surrah Noor.

ALLAH describes Himself in Surrah Noor as my friend Javed has qouted above.These ayaat are special one.The more I contemplate on these ,the more I am consumed .In one of my meditations on these verses,i felt peace and everything was white yet there was nothing and in that whiteness I saw white shooting stars and than the fireworks all white.It was so beautiful.
I tried to make a painting of it but failed now I tried to get different shades of white but you have to mix different mediums and than the texture spoils the image.
This is how closely I can explain it.Allah cannot be touched but only by Inspiration and perception.
But SURRAH NOOR is so special,I feel Allah has described Himself.
ALLAH -HU -NOOR –US SAMAWAT-E-Wal-ARAD
is another one such Ayat in which we are told Allah is the light of Heaven and the Earth.This Ayat is also the part of Surrah Noor .
Self emitting light……yet no object.ENERGY can neither be created nor destroyed.
Light is actually a form of energy .So I percieve Allah is a light.Noor is one of His Names.

When we read surrah , ONENESS
Say :God is One ,the Eternal God.He begot none,nor was He begotten.None is equal to Him”

He begot none nor was He begotten it is so close to energy can neither be created nor distroyed.

E=mc2

This is how Sufi percieve Allah.This light is very special .The more you polish your heart with ziker the more this light glows in your heart and it glows on your face .

Again in Quran this light is emphasised that rightful one will be guided by this light and there faces will be glowing with light.

In the same surrah it is further said,”His light is further found in temples which God has sanctioned to be built for the remembrance of His name.In them morning and evening,His praise is sung by men whom neither trade nor profit can divert from remembering Him,from offering prayers,or from giving alms……”

HIS LIGHT IS FURTHER FOUND IN TEMPLES,please note the word used is not mosques is Temples.

From temples I understand the Cinigogs of Jews and The Churches of Christians and of course the mosques.

So anyone who is consumed by the light and remembrance of God is one practice which guides a man towards the source The Creator.Light is also the books of God and the prophets because it is knowledge .

Ignorance is darkness and Illumination and realisation of Creator is Light

There are so many interpretations of these Ayyat.
I am always facinated by the church candles.In West Minister Abbey they still use chandaliers bearing candles.

I have not visit Turkey and Egypt yet to see the mosques.
I think Egyption mosque has a Glass Chandalier which is illuminated with candles.But the beauty of Chandlier is that the cases are made of Glass on which in beautiful calligraphy it is painted,
ALLah is the Light of Heavens and Earth.
Before I go I wish to add :
Nirvana by Sidharatha or Buddha is nothing else apart from seeing this light.

In order to look into our image we need to have Light,so when we say know thyself means see yourself in the light,know yuor self,percieve your image for when you see you will see Creator …………….

So it is upto evryone when they are ready to see themselves.

Can we have the picture of Budha as well .The head or the starving one.If anyone fancies reading about Buddha
I would recomend ,”HERMAN HESSE ‘s Sidhartha”

Sufism in Pakistan in 21st Century
———————————————-
Ahmad Rafique Akhtar is a Sufi phenomenon of our times.
——————————
You can have religious scholars ,Rumi’s poetry lovers, saint’s shrines crowded with the followers but it is extremely rare that someone in twenty first century had this genuine hunger to know God,to understand His message and than decided to live a SUFI LIFE. That is what is so unique about Professor Ahmad Rafique Akhtar.He is not only a scholar in the sense that he has read the Sufi Saints ,Quran and Hadith but he had opted to live a Sufi life. He has not become famous because he delivers lectures only but because he preaches Islam like hundreds of years ago Sufi Saints used to do. His style his decorum is modern so it is excuseable for people of his time to mistake him just as a TEACHER or Religious scholar but in essence he is a SUFI ,in the way of Sufism. He has a gift to change the making of people ,he does not do the mirracle of making you rich,young and happy but he does prescribe you the Tasbeeh (repetation of Allah’s Name) which works with your personality in such a way that the inner struggle or the strife disappears overa period of time. One finds the balance and feels at ease with ones own self.One finds the strength to standup and find a direction for ones self and claim the innerpeace and hold of desires. His command and expression in Urdu and English Language both are deep rooted and strong and so is his thought.His words are not deriven from the books only he has gained wisdom by thinking hard on religious teachings of Quran ,Hadith and Sufi Maters. His approach towards Islam is not of a blind faith only but faith convinced of the TRUTH of ONENESS OF ALLAH. He has approached Quran first as an intellectual and than as a word of God and thirdly as a scholar.His approach towards Islam is from a man towards God. His world is not a world of Mullah but try to be one with your Creator,try to know Him,Try to love Him and try to approach Him. That is what is so beautiful about him,the message ,the book “QURAN” the love,”ALLAH” is UNIVERSAL. His style is SO ORIENTAL,it is so Deep Rooted,it is so ethnic and Authentic. If anybody wants to know SUFISM and wants to meet a real sufi in twenty first century,PROFESSOR AHMED RAFIQUE IS THE one.

“God must be the top priority of Mind and Heart”. (Prof.Ahmad Rafique AKhtar)

I feel quite previleged to know Profesor Ahmad Rafique Akhtar.He lives near Pindi in a city called Gujar Khan.Must say in the intellectual scene of Lahore in 1995 till 2000 Professor was the only one who inspired me intllectually.I am so glad I met him.Thanks to Mr.Bilal (NCA).Soon afterwards my book was published by sang-e-meel publications and I was destined for UK.
To live the life which I advocated in the book.Looking back no regrets,for it brought so much peace and serenity within me with time passing I am so ready to grow old and there is no better way to grow old than to follow the Sufi Path and style of living.
The biggest challenge is in modern times people mistake the humbleness and gratitude as a synonyme for stupid.
As long as I am satisfied with my innerself ,I do not care how people percieve me .
This freedom is sufism.
When I am tired all I have to do is shut out the world and go for a walk,journey is always good be it mental,spiritual or a walk in the woods for it unties many knots and brings re-conciliation in its own way.
A student is never absent from a sufi lesson as long as the heart is present.
Profesor Ahmed Rafique said to me ,”A good teacher will never let you fall”
I am glad I have not one but two Teachers.As long as I can see their faces I am not afraid of the darkness or the end.

A GIFT OF HEALING
HUMANITY IS THE BIGGEST RELIGION:
Does not matter what faith you belong to ;below are the names of Allah ,which were given to me by Professor to read .
Names of Allah are actually His qualities by repeating these qualities we aspire to achieve those qualities.
I have found slow but steady progress by repeating these names.I just repeat these names in my heart while walking down the street or going to work or watching TV.
These are excellent to calm ones self down and get rid of negativity of our own ego and beautiful to sleep peacefully.
Never in life again you will feel lonely or sad ,difficulties will come and pass and you will keep smiling.Now this is what I call a cure for a battered sole in materialistic world of 21 century:
GOD BLESS US ALL
Ya Salaam,Ya Mumin ,Ya Allah hu x300
Ya Rahman,Ya Rahim,Ya Karim x300
Ya Wali ,Ya Nasir x300

Farrah

With reference to the last para of your comment number 13, I quote it here, “A student is never absent from a Sufi lesson as long as the heart is present.” Professor Ahmed Rafique said to me, (and),”A good teacher will never let you fall.”

If you call Sufism as a separate religion then, its another subject but, Sufism in Arabic and in Turkish has a meaning called, “Tassawuf” and in Farsi it is “Sufigari” that is what we in our language use it as Sufism.

It is known to be the inner mystical dimension of our self and those who practice it called as Sufis and the term is not only applied for those practitioners who have attained the goals of the Sufi tradition but, there is another term that we also use is “Dervish” or Darvaish, Fakir, Wali, Pir etc., etc.

And, I am not here to teach you or make you feel that I know more or I know better. Its just my point that how I feel about it, that I would like to narrate, rather share.

I do not want to go into the historical details of how the Sufi culture evolved all over the world and how people consider it as a science in purifying and cleansing their heart. On the subject of heart, I will write something later. But, coming to the point of your quote, me too I used to think the same way but in different words that, “A student is never absent from a Sufi lesson as long as the heart is present.”

This should NOT let us find an excuse in extending prayers for the Almighty. A lot of people who believe in this, say: I don’t need the “form” I need the “spirit” and the form they refer is the way we say our prayers. They say, we can pray whichever way we like and it is between me and my Allah.

This is where they are faltering and I was faltering too. But, after meeting and discussing with a few scholars and talking to them on the subject and also by reading some stuff, I came to the conclusion that, I was wrong. The form too is needed along with the spirit.

For example; if someone calls me and tells me that they are coming to my house and when they arrive, I greet them in my night suit pajamas, unshaved, uncombed, un-brushed etc., etc., but I am hospitable. It gives the impression that I am not giving them full respect they deserve. Likewise, if someone invites me to their place I go there in a similar way also means the same.

When I go to my office to work, I wear Giorgio Armani suits and Swiss Bally shoes, Stephano Conti shirt and Nazerano Gaberilli silk ties or, I do the same when I go to a party, if I am over doing it, it will appear as “I am showing off” but, if I keep it simple and clean it appears as I am showing respect to my job or to the people I work with and for the people who invited me for the party.

I cannot say that I don’t care about the material world and it means nothing to me. Because, Islam does not want me to become a parasite, Islam preaches me to keep a balance between the material world and the spiritual world. It emphasizes a lot on cleanliness and hygiene and that is one of the reasons the concept of Wudu or ablution is there.

The reason the prayers have to be said in a particular way that is by prostrating in front of Allah (ignore the minor differences of how to and where to keep your feet or fold your hands) is to show Allah that we respect Him. Actually, Allah is not at our mercy to get respect from us, but He teaches us a way to show respect towards Him so that we learn how to respect others. Hence the form is important as much as the spirit is important.

Although one might argue that while saying our prayers, our heart is somewhere else, like Iqbal did:

Tera dil tou hai sanam ashna tujhay kya milay ga namaaz may

Kabhee aye hiqeeqat-e-muntazar nazar aa libas-e-majaz may

Well, even the Buddhist prayers are inscribed on the wheel and the person saying his prayers need to rotate the wheel and is allowed to think of anything like, when he needs to go to the barber to get his head shaved clean again or get his Saffron coloured dress to the laundry etc. As long as the wheel is in motions the emotions will catch up. Well, I am not an expert on Buddhism but, I know this much how they pray. But, they too have a form, like the Christians and the Jews they have to kneel down and fold their arms / palms and say their prayers, Muslims have their own way.

I know that the procedure of saying Namaz is not written in the Qur’an and argue on the subject that it is not there in the Quran. But, how to say my prayers is being practiced since the time of our Prophet so I have to believe in him and the way he taught us how to pray or say namaz. So, the form is important and I cannot say that I can close my eyes and I am with my Allah. Yes, I can be, but that is not my prayers according to Islam.

And Islam is a very flexible religion and it allows me to say my prayers while I am sitting on a chair or a sofa i.e., if I am unable to stand due to illness or injury. I am also allowed to say while I am lying in my bed if I am sick. If I cannot raise my hands or my finger then I am allowed to use my mind about the process in which namaz is said. The mind then performs the role in fulfilling the form but, my heart is always there to keep the spiritual aspect alive throughout.

But, as long as I am healthy and able to walk and move freely I have to practice the way it has been told to us and the way it is being practiced since the last 1400 years.

I enjoy the mystic Sufi poetry “Sufiana Kalaam” like Qawali or Mehfil-e-Sama, and I do respect the Sufis, Saints, Wali’s of the past as learned men, great scholars like Rumi etc., but, I don’t believe in prostrating in front of the graves or Mazaars of anyone of these people. If I need to ask anything, I will ask from my Allah. C’est tout.

JK
Good to see you!
Quran is a text book for sufi life and yes without puncutality of prayers and fasting one is not sub ordinate to the Creator.
In my personal life I have learnt these things are for my own sanity and Allah does not need my prayers.Definitely Allah cannot be recognised without knowing and following the life of prophet PBUH.
That is why I appreciate Islam so much it does not deny any right be it physical or spiritual.
To be tasteful in dressing and to look good is not forbidden.
Remembrance of Allah and recitation of Quran is not easy when done with dedication.It does consume energy and it does take its toll.
Dervesh,faqir,wali and Pir are different ways to approach Allah.
Dervesh and faqir are the one who have given up the life of pleasure or comfort,it is not compulsory but as I said it is just one’s own passion in the way of LOVE towards Allah.
Pir is diffrent now Pir is the one who is responsible for the way taken up by a novice.
Pir is responsible to ensure that the novice does get accross the stream of life despite the personal failures and short commings of a person.
Wali is a step higher than Pir,Qutab,Abdal ,Ghaus these are all different stages of sufism.
That is why SHEIKH ABDUL QADIR GILLANI is known as Ghuas Ul Azam Dastgir,he is the teacher of teachers (pirs) so all sufi chains lead up to him .
Than
Prophet Muhammad and ALLAH this is how an ordinary person progresses in sufi way.
Look at the names Data Sahab,this is the name given to him by people.It is not that the grave of the saint gives you something.It is when you offer prayer after that you converse with your teacher explain him your difficulties and ask for a solution or guidance.
I go to the Mizar of my Pir sahab ,and Data Darbar and have travelled extensively in Pakistan to the Darbars of saints.I love to see the roses,petals,tears in peoples eyes ,the desperation,and acceptance in people that they are weak and they need help and that spiritual strength and help is provided.
This is a thing to be experienced .Anyway when I go to Data Darbar or any such place the vibe and purity,humbleness,sub-ordination and tears of helplessness
and to be one with ordinary people ,who are there for the same reason,I become one of them, I forget my status,my life,my education or the carpets,the woman I am sitting next to is humble and helpless as am I infront of the Will of Allah and so is the sufi saint,we all wait with patiance
for the Mercy.
This is my personal sufi experience or understanding .This feeling where ever it comes from be it the Mizar of Rumi or Ajmair shrief.
It is against the sufi tradition to let someone go without having something .Blessed are the ones who get purity of heart and spiritual guidance.
POLISH THE MIRROR OF HEART CONSTANTLY WITH ZIKER SO THAT YOU CAN PERCIEVE CREATOR.
LOVE IS NOT A RATIONALE SO BRAIN CANNOT CONCIEVE IT,IT IS THE LAMENTING HEART WHICH CAN TRANCEND TME AND BOUNDARIES OF MATTER.
Physical absence is nothing as long as heart is burning with the LIGHT

REF 15:JK
by the way your article was good

Sufi music
Is beautiful experience one should approach it with openness .It is difficult often to understand the wording because the singers mostly use the poetry of Sufi masters, which carry the world of meaning,inside each word ,veil after veil after veil of Hidden Beauty the Creator and the hidden self of ones own being,door upon door and each time one listens to the verse the meaning of verse as per human situation at the time changes.
Bhullah Shah,Waris Shah ,Abdul Lateif Bhittai ,Shehbaz Qalandar,Ajmeir Shrief,Pak Patan all these Sufi Masters chose poetry to express their feelings and pangs and pains of this lonely journey called life.
Yet the expression is full of similes derived from Quran,life of prophets and the times through which these Sufi masters lived.
That is one aspect of sufi music,the poetry it self.
The wording is often changed in the hands of singing masters ,the same poem written by one Sufi master is sung over and over by the different singers.Even the same singer cannot sing the same poem in the same tune as sung before.Why?
Because Sufi music is a music of soul,it comes from soul,while singing and listening one is always absorbed into the poetry and who else can feel it more than the singer.
There are many Sufi Qawals ,Sufi music is changing and instruments are always adding up.
Some Sufi singers mix up the verses of different poets to- gather,even with their own poetry and further add Quranic Ayyat to it.
Mostly Sufi music is regarding Supreme Love and carries the Pain of to be united with the Creator.Sufi music is also a way to show love and devotion to Prophet Muhammad .
From Alam Lohar ,Hamid Ali Bella,Pathana Khan,Muhammad Jumman,Ghulam Farid Sabri,Aziz Mian Qawal till the modern day Sufi music evolved in the hands of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and experimentation of Abida Parveen with French and Iranian musicians are transforming the music of Sufi World and are taking it to the supreme height of quality.
Her work with Lotfi Bouchnak and expression in Akbaroo is a work of art in itself.
Sufi music is so alive, so evolving , so transforming and so transcendental ,so limitless like the Universe. It is a thing not to be read about it is an experience of trance, which carries whole different meaning to everyone.
Sufi dance is a tradition set by Rumi.Dervesh dressed in white cloaks keep one hand pointed down towards the centre of earth and other hand lifted towards the sky ,pointing towards Creator and thus the whirling starts gently. First the hands are crossed on the heart and dervish starts to whirl slowly and than he opens his arms to the energy and flow of light of heart and dances on the beat of heart ,he moves round in circles ,pointing out that a Sufi journey is a circle and one ends up where he started united with the Creator. This whirl dance is a meditation in action.
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Note : All the above articles are my own thoughts ,it is not necessary that everyone agrees with it.Feel free to copy and distribute the message of Sufi love which in its essence is LOVE OF CREATOR AND ITS CREATION ;THE HUMANITY
Do add to the list of your favourite work of SUFI SINGERS.My apology if I have left anyone out it is not intentional.It is purely down to my ignorance.
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JK be kind enough to provide some links to the work of SUFI Singers.

Farrah

The last paragraph of your comment #16 once again touches the subject of heart. And I said, I will write on this subject separately. May be, I may have written this before on this blog. But, there is no harm in repetition because whatever was said earlier is somewhere in the archives.

The question always arises, what the heart is all about? The answer is it is not a piece of flesh in our body – but the centre of all our feelings, emotions, motives, rives, aspirations, remembrance and attention.

It is the hearts which soften or harden and become stony. It is they which go blind and refuse to recognize the truth for it is their function to reason and understand. In hearts lie the roots of all outward diseases, they are the seat of all inner ills. Hearts are the abode of faith and hypocrisy.

It is the hearts again which are the centre of every good and every bad thing. Whether it is the contentment of peace, the strength to face afflictions, mercy, brotherly love, or doubt, hesitation, regrets, anger etc. Even in the holy books and as well as in reality, the emphasis is on heart and heart only.

Because it is the heart for which we shall be accountable before Allah. A sound and whole heart will deserve to be saved from the evils and to the fire of the hell. Allah will not take us to task for a slip, but He will take us to task for what our heart earned.

“The Day when neither wealth nor children shall profit, only he who comes before Allah with a sound heart will be saved.”

All we need is the dynamic of inner participation and we should understand that well. How is our heart seized by truth?

First, you come to know the truth.
Second, you recognize and accept it as the truth and as relevant to your life.
Third, you remember the truth, as much as often as you can.
Fourth, you absorb it until it soaks into the deepest recesses of your inner self.

The truth, thus becomes an ever-alive state of consciousness, an enduring posture of heart. Once a truth so permeates your inner world, it must pour out in the world of words & deeds as well.

It is also important to remember here what we do outwardly, by tongue and limbs interacts with what we are inwardly. It is possible that words and deeds may be false witness to the state of inner self. But an inner state, like faith must necessarily find expression in words and deeds, which in turn must help in engraving our knowledge in our consciousness and turn it onto an abiding condition.

Mind will make mistakes – feelings will not.

In my opinion feelings are the synthesis of environments, whereas, ego, perception, sentiments, imagination and comprehension are the components of our feelings.
What is the source of our feelings and where does it reside? In the mind or in our heart?

The condition of our mind is influenced by the environments. Environments live in the fold of change. Mind will change, yes, but it does not have the capacity to see what will happen tomorrow.

But feelings or vision can foresee the future. The gut feeling comes from our heart and not from our mind. The sixth sense is not in our mind it is our heart. Where does the soul reside? In our mind or in our heart? Obviously the Heart.

As regards your approach in experiencing God that you have to go to a Sufi’s Mazar or places like Data Darbar and Ajmer Shareef to become one and then experience God, mine is different. Because, none of those Sufis, Walis, Saints have claimed that they are superior beings, they kept saying like our Prophet did, that we are ordinary people just like you. But, we know that our Prophet was not an ordinary person, it was his humility that he never claimed to be a superior person. If you look at his teachings, he has always emphasized that whatever you want you must ask Allah and not anyone else. Seek refuge in Allah and not under the Mazars of those people who are no more there.

It is only Allah who is Omni potent, Omni present and Omniscient and no one else. So, to have this belief that those people who are buried there in those graves are still alive or present and we should ask through them is against the teachings of Islam. I am not a Wahabi but, my perception is very clear about this and, whenever I need to repent or ask for forgiveness or for blessings or anything for myself or for anyone else whom I want to be blessed by Allah, I approach only Allah and no one but Allah. I don’t need any intermediate to help my case, because Allah has created all human beings equal.

If I do something good for someone, even if I feed a dog or a cat it is Allah who is going to reward me for that and of course if I do something good for my fellow human beings, first I feel that it is my duty to fulfill that need being a human being – I may or may not have done that only Allah knows best – and then that person might say or pray for me and that dua comes from the bottom of his/her heart and Allah does pay attention to that and bless me for that. But, I don’t do it with the intention of getting blessed, Allah knows my intentions and therefore, I would like to approach HIM directly and not through anyone.

The thing that our people call it is “WASTA” or ZARIA that we are asking Data Saheb or Piranay Pir Dastagir or Khwaja Ajmeri or Nizamuddin Aowlia etc., because if we can please them then they can recommend our case to Allah and because those people were so close to Allah and they are so dear to Allah, Allah will not refuse their request. Well, this way we are putting them ahead of Allah, naozobillah thats not right.

Allah is Ghafoor, Karim, Rahim, Rahman, Quddoos and He will forgive us if we spend so much time in repenting for our sins and asking for forgiveness from Him.

You know who is a WA’EZ ? The person who gives WAAZ or sermon and our Moulvis often scare us from the fire of hell.

Khawaja Mir Dard, a well known poet responded to the call of a Wa’ez by saying:

Wa’ez Kisay Daraway hai Youm-el-Hisaab say
Girya mera tou nama-e-Amaal dho gaya !

Girya = rona, weeping …. I cried to the extent that my Amaal Nama got washed away.

I need to send mine for Dry Cleaning

Farrah

“JK be kind enough to provide some links to the work of SUFI Singers.”

I told you b4, honestly speaking that I dont know anyone else except Farid Ayaz and his brother Abu Mohammad and I have heard them in person a few times because they were here. Other than them I don’t know anyone.

If you can Google or check on you tube you will find their numbers and I like that Amir Khusroo’s

Chaapp Tilk sab cheeni ray mo say naina milaiye kay

And, Mun Kul tou Maola, Ali Maola, Moala, Ali Maola
And, Mera Pia Ghar aya. Pia Ghar aya sanoo Allah bi laya…

The only problem is the quality on you tube is not the same as it is on CD. Also, not all their CD’s are good. But, the one I have ……..which were recorded in the concert hall by a professional with 8 tracks is very good and I listen to those CD’s in my car as my car has premium sound system with 13 Harmon Kardom speakers whereas my home audio system with 6 Mirage speakers is out of order and the only other is a small one with tiny bose speakers. Therefore, listening music in my car is a real pleasure.

I g2g now and khansahab is here to update the comments.

sana, I am happy that you have dropped charges against me. Thank you me Lord.

Good work JK.Sufism is a personal journey all the ways lead to HIM.
Best of Luck sincerity in the way of God is bigger than the deed.

translation of IBNE ARABI work:

“Incredible!A garden among fires,
My heart turns to all forms,
It has become
a meadow where gazelles graze
a monastery where monks pray;
a temple for idol statues
a cube for circumambulating pilgrims;
both Torah scroll and bound volume of Quran
I FOLLOW THE RELIGION OF LOVE;
where loves’s camels lead,
there is my religion and there are my faith

I AM THE TRUTH

MAnSur Al-Hallaj claimed the purity and containing of supreme Truth in the above words

by Shaikh Farid commonly known as Ganj-e-Shekar.

O Farid
I am dressed from head to toe
in pious black
I wander around,full of sin,
yet people call me saint

O Farid
I thought I was alone in my pain
but the whole world is suffering
When I look down from the roof
I see the same fire in every house.

in the context of heart Master Rumi says

There is no salvation for the soul
But to fall in love
Only lovers can escape
From these two worlds
This was written in creation
Only from the heart
Can you reach the sky
The rose of Glory
Can only be grown in the heart

Rumi on Heart
(taken from the work of Eryk Hanut and MicheleWetherbee)

In the words of Rumi:

“Polish your heart and you will soarabove all color and perfume.YOu will contemplate beauty ceaselesslyfrom heaven….you will receive,continuously ,hundreds of impressions.Why do I sayimpressions?I mean the direct vision of God”

Polish the heart with a name of God
Polish the heart with a prayer
Polish the heart with devoted silence.

Beautiful imagery of Heaven described by Rumi:
1.
The world grows green again
and runs with gardens
Jewels from the mines glitter in each tree
Souls open like suns and link with one another

2.
Each night ,the Moon kisses secretly the lover who counts the stars

3.
It is certain that an atom of goodness on the path of faith is never lost

4.
With this pain, you are digging a path for yourself.

5.
Say with each breath,”Make me humbler,make me humbler”
When you are small as an atom,you will know His Glory

6.
After despair ,many hopes flourish
Just as after darknes,
Thousands of Suns open and
Start to shine.”

Response to 19
JK
Mir and Dard two famous Urdu poets,often two terms are used to express their work,”wah” and “Aah” ka kalam.
When we were students in school we would not understand this “wah” and “AaH”.
Few months back I was having a disscussion with my friend she is masters in Urdu Literature,she explaine dto me that these terms are applied to these poets because they lived a sufi life.
“Wah” and “Aah” is a maqam in sufi journey where these poets reached.
Apart from Urdu literature I have never heard of these terms.These terms are authentic and for future ref instead of sending stuff to dry cleaning put it on radiator to dry.

Farrah

As far as the use of the word “Aah” is concerned not only Mir Taqi Mir or Khawaja Mir Dard, but many other poets have used it, here is an example from Ghalib:

Aah koh chahiyeh ek umer honay tak
Kaun jeeta hai teri zulf kay saher honay tak

Wah is an expression which is very common in poetry and it comes especially from the audience side when they appreciate the poetry and it is repead wah, wah, kya baat hai. Or, simply a ‘wah’ just like wow. And, I have not come across this word ‘wah’ in poetry except for a few light songs like,

wah, kya teri baatain hain OR, on TV ads.

WAH ! Lux kya scene hai?

wah jee wah …

Please enlighten me where WAH is used in a more serious way other than wah, wah, in appreciating poetry.

Btw, the verse from Kh. Mir Dard that I have mentioned above:

Wa’aez kisay daravay hai youm-al-hisaab say?
Girya mera toh nama-e-aamaal dho gaya

Here is a similar type of Sher, na jaanay kis ka hai, laikin hai hum wazan.

Ronay say aur ishq may bay baak ho gayeh
Dhoye gayeh ham aisay kay, bas paak ho gayeh

There was a time, I used to collect “Ek jaisay Sher” meanings jinki similar hon words different.

Like,

Har dil faraib cheez Nazar ka ghubaar hai
Nazrain Haseen ho tou Khizaan bhee bahar hai

and……….

Jalway kahan jo zaoq-e-nazara nahee shakeel
Nazrain chalee gayeen tou nazaray chalay gaye

and……. laters

Hi JK
It is not that wah as of exclamation of excellent.
“AH”
in Sufi terms as used in Urdu literature is a maqam where the person reaches theplace where one realises that human life is nothing and all existance is just a waiting to meet the Creator.
The next step is to realise and unite with creator,Wisal not in death but in present life.
So we see many faqir at the maqam of “Ah” agony and pain in search of truth.
Wah is a maqam where one feels the excitement of discovering the presence of Supreme in everything and one is not separated but enjoys the Supreme presence at all times.

Recomended books for sufism

1.Kashaf -ul-Mahjoob

Written by Syed Ali Bin Usman Al HAjweri commonly known as Data Gunj Bukash his Masoleum is situated at Lahore.Surrounded by beautiful mosque.

Regarding this book ,Hazrat Nizam Ud Din Aulliya said,”
“A person who has no spirtual guide ,will get one after reading the book ,Kashaf ul Mahjoob”

The verse below explains the height of spiritual attainment of Data Sahib:

GUNJ BAKHSH FAIZ-E-Alam,Mazhar-e-Noor-Khuda
Naqsan ra pir kamil,Kamilan Rahnuma.

Hazrat Nizam ud din Ulliya did an Aitkaaf in a Hujra during the times Usman Al Hajwari was alive.That Hujra is still there.

Also in the vicinity of the mosque is the water fountain which as per traditions have miracles attached to it.

The book is excellent read for rarely a saint came so close in disscussing the making of the saint .The search,union,separation and waiting and lamenting experiences are discussed indetail and how to avoid the over indulgence and dillusions.

In his book he states the manerism and decorum of Sufism.
Tt is a scientific study of emotional pattern and I found nothing irrationale or unrealistic .all the experiences are explained with extreme rationale as feelings .

I would relate attiquete for listening to SAMA(Qawali):

Translated from his book KASHAF UL MAHJUB

Beware the mannerism of SAMAA are following:
1.Untill you miss it do not listen to the Samaa
2.Do not make it a habbit.
3.Listen to it after long intervals so that its greatness always inspire you.
4.In a Mehfil-e-Sama the pir should be present.
5.Ordinary people should not come to Samma
6.The singer Qawal should have grace
7.The listeners should not be thinking about world but instead concentrating on poetry.
8.Listen until one can bear it.
9.when one feels like overtaken by the emotions do not suppress it
also when there are no such emotions do not try to get into such feeling wait if it comes on its own.
10.If you feel like moving than do move otherwise dont, so that you can get in touch with inner feelings and can differenciate between getting into trance or connection with higher self.
11.One who is listening to SAMAA should have this much development that he can accept the experience of Truth and Blessing of Truth(Creator)
do not try to exagerate or underestimate the experience.
12.If one comes into trance,one should not seek help nor refuse help.
13.If the singer is singing a good piece of poetry do not appreciate it and if it is bad do not condemn it and do not insist that deliver it better because it causes discouragement to the singers heart.
Do not keep a grudge in your heart and do not relate to the singer instead try to relate it to the Creator.

14.If the others get into trance but you do not ,the one who doesnot should try to concentrate why he is not able to reach to this stage of emotion.

and I Usman ul Jalabi understand that a sick person should be stopped from listening to Sama so that he does not get upset.Also the woman who listen to the Sama from the rooftops should be stopped because it deviates the attention of listeners.
Also children under the age of eighteen should not attend to Samma.Only ignorant sufis have adopted this as common practice.
God save us from all such mal practices.

Translated by Farrah K.Raja in a hope that who ever is practising Sufism and wants to get in touch with the higher self will get guidance through this.

daring to share some of my mystical poetry
although it does not reach the loftiness of my mystics….
but love like rose is always a rose
be it sunshine or rain
1.
We are candles
In order to live
We have to burn
Best burningis in love
With passion

2.
Live like a butterfly
Cocoon like a puppa
Wait through misery of life
for spring
One day roses will bloom
and you will get the wings.

3.
Follow your dreams
like intution
they are destiny

4.
Prayer is bigger than all sins
Mercy of God
Falls like rain
For all human beings
It runs like Oceans
Without restraint
repentance oozes from heart
like a water spring

5.
Wait for passion
to provoke you
than to invade you
than to burn you in fire
than to consume you like ashes
than it will free your heart like a hawk
to set sails for skies
or to dive to the bottom of sea
World is an oyster
truth is the pearl
hold it still in your heart
like a fliker of a fire.

6.Be a verse
Be a rose
Be an inspiration
Like a bee
Suck the nector
and set polen free
for germination.
For Truth is rare to breed.

7.Like a rose
I never die
In every spring
I come back
with new dreams

Tribute to Rummi
1.
Rummi
How beautiful you must be
Essence ——of purity
For to hold a glimpse of Beauty
You have to have clearity of purity
than to dispers
that glimpse of Light
in all directions
Untill Eternity
Now hat is what I call
Prophetic
Prophetic Beauty
Touch my heart tonight
And Bless my intution
With the light of Eternal Beauty.

2.
Rummi is the essence of Sufism like musk is to rose.

London
I met Rummi
and asked him
Where has my pain gone?
He replied with a smile:
In the city of Chriest Which pain you are talking off?

Modern Woman
I am a Rummi poem
I burn like heat
Comming out of desert sands
I am the dance of the dunes
Under the stars
I am I at last
Like the moon,like the sun
like the desert ,like the rain.

Jk Iam sorry I have invaded your religion page with my mysticism.no more poetry from me.
Ref:19
Heart
AANKH gar houtee tou Qatrai main Sumandar dekhta

Aankh gar hoti tou qatray may samander dekhta?

Hur ghari mujh say ulajhta hai samander mera
Mai hee kashti hoon, mujhee may hai samander mera

Muddatain beet gayeen khwaab sohanay dekhay
Jaagta rehta hai har neend may bister mera

Hum Pathan log tou Naam Samandar Khan rekh letay hain
Moonh dhonay ko paani ka qatra nahee, khali hai lota mera

I am being modest by saying Moonh.

Ahmad Faraz said:

Apnay aansoo, apni aankhaon may rehain tou Mehr-O-Mah
Gir kay duniya kee nazar may aabroo paye to kya?

Issi liyeh kehtay hain:

rona, kabhee nahee rona
chahay toot jai koi khilona ……
Khiloonaaa, Ronaaaa

19.Javed sahab
Sufism Ishq ka naam hai kahan aaqal lara rahai hain?

Seenai dai wich na samaeyee hai yaar dadhi ishq atish.

ONLY FOR YOU MY FRIEND:
from Al-Niffari a sufi mystic ( year 966)

at the door step of death:

Deeds came to me and I saw in them hidden illusion,that turned to dust
There was no help except the mercy of my Lord

He said to me
Where is your science? I saw the fire
Where are your deeds?I saw the fire
Where is your intution?I saw the fire
And He unveiled to me His sources of knowing.So the fire died down.
He said to me,
”
I am your protector and friend;so I stood firm
I am your intutio;so I spoke out
I want you”So I went forth.

when you sleep before that clear your mind of all things and think about Creator
Allah says ,”He is closer to man than his jagular vein.”
What can be closer than jagular vein,the breath inside it.
At such moment close your eyes and say
Allah -ho
Allah while taking the breath in ,breath in Allah ,the Noor
“Ho “while exhalling direct towards heart.It opens energy cahnels.
It is authentic breathing exercise for meditation in Yoga.
In Sufism it is to polish the heart.
Best of luck.

37 .Pehlai do ashaar aachai hain

Chaap talak saab cheenee rai mousai nainah milaikai

In other words ,although it i swritten behind every rickshaw and truck in Pakistan I love it

Kithay Mehar Ali
Kithay meree sanaa
Gustakh akhiyaan kithai ja laryian.

tell me how is my poetry

The Wings of Love —-FILM
Produced and directed by Shems Friedlander
Narrated by Peter Boyle

A film made on RUMI including the discussion of Martin Lings and ,Sufi Dance and the Masoleum of Rumi

DALAI LAMA
——————————————–
Regarding Dalai Lama I have to write one sentence only :

HE IS A TEMPLE OF LOVE
———————————–
He always makes me more human ,more humble

Below are some quotes by Dalai Lama:read them in peace and let them touch your soul,allow the healing from inside you to grow and take over all the anger,pain and negativity:

We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.

All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.

In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.

I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

Sleep is the best meditation.

Spend some time alone every day.

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.

Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

The purpose of our lives is to be happy.

About Dalai Lama

Source: Les Prix Nobel, 1989

His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people.

He was born in a small village called Takster in northeastern Tibet. Born to a peasant family, His Holiness was recognized at the age of two, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, as the reincarnation of his predecessor the 13th Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lamas are the manifestations of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, who chose to reincarnate to serve the people. Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom. Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness as Yeshin Norbu, the Wish-fulfilling Gem, or simply, Kundun, meaning The Presence.

Dalai Lama has resided in exile in Dharamsala, India, since 1959. His tireless efforts on behalf of world peace and human rights have brought him international recognition, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

His Views on HAPPINESS:

Happiness can be achieved through training the mind.

The fact that there is always a positive side to life is the one thing that gives me a lot of happiness.

Beliefs and Values

The need of the day is a warm heart and some sense of humanity.

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.

Unlike science, the religious tradition teaches the concept of forgiveness, tolerance and compassion. Scientists cannot help you change your emotion, only religion can.

Knowledge, Learning

I learn as much from a turtle as from a religious text.

You might consider things like old age and death as negative, unwanted, and simply try to forget about them. But eventually those things will come anyway.

Relationships

The need for simple human-to-human relationships is becoming increasingly urgent … Today the world is smaller and more interdependent. One nation’s problems can no longer be solved by itself completely. Thus, without a sense of universal responsibility, our very survival becomes threatened. Basically, universal responsibility is feeling for other people’s suffering just as we feel our own. It is the realization that even our enemy is entirely motivated by the quest for happiness. We must recognize that all beings want the same thing that we want. This is the way to achieve a true understanding, unfettered by artificial consideration.

link for Dalai Lama teachings and photographes

http://dalailama.com/page.166.htm

link for Rumi

LOVE:Can we do without it !
Surprisingly …no.
We never stop loving;Love is the only emotion which changes its name and face over and again and comes and stands infront of us and overtake us.
This love emotion is so beautiful and it has so many faces,we love Creator,we love our parents,we love our brothers and sisters and we love our children and we love our friends and we love the opposite sex.
In life we never stop loving.At different times this love is for different people .Going to a nursery one falls in love with a teacher,growing up we love our parents.We hate our brothers and sisters ,we pick up most fights with them,despite all the fights and hair pulling we love them.Than we fall in love with a film star and than maybe a next door neighbour and than a tension builds up because your mum and dad never like your pick and you give up that bond with parents and choose the object of your affection to love.
Than in marriage if you started with love but than you drifted apart ,we start to love our children and when they grow up and find their love somewhere else we start loving our grand children.
Isnt it Beautiful we never stop loving .Only when we are hurt we change our affection to the ones who need it most.
NEVER STOP LOVING.

Love is inborn quality ,everyone has it but some have it in abundance and others just never acknowledge it.
As I have grown up in my life I have realised there is better thing than love and
that is companionship.
A good company or a company of like minded person is a must.When two people can really have a converstaion and when two people can really share each other without prejudice and when they allow each other to open up and when they have this mutual trust that they are being cared for ,that is beautiful.This relationship can be with any memeber of the family,a childhood friend,a colleague anyone.
This companionship is so beautiful ,it heals all wounds,it takes away the tiredness,the ailment,the sickness.It fills you with vitality and positivity and you can take the crap of whole world.
A comapny of a good friend and I am blessed with quite a few,after having a converstaion one feels like you have swallowed stars and you are bursting with energy ,charisma,thoughts,ideas,love and at other times one just feels like a late summer after noon sitting by a stream,under a shaddy tree watching the sun beams filtering through leaves and your brain is free of thoughts and you have no words to say anything but you are so content.
Well ! it is not very often that one gets this from other people but than I have cultivated myself in such a way that I ensure I get this quality time out of my own company for myself.
Heal yourself and love your self so that you can give it to others.

no matter how many barriers we put up no matter how much we allianate ourselves love is within us ,it oozes and gushes through our veins at times it floods out like tears and at others it becomes a permanent silent smile on our lips and people around us look in surprise.What is that?Who is that you are thinking of?It sparks in eyes like tousand suns it glitters in the smile and the skin shines and we get the charm of life.
and by God that life is beautiful.
one is drunk without drinking
one is full without eating
one is rich without wallet
one is warm without blanket
That is called BLESSING of love

and one must read Paulo Coelho!
At least THE ALCHEMIST.
whenever one is lost ,one should know
there is a way they have to look within
listen to your heart ……..
and beware your heart often betrays you
it is the most treachreous friend!!!
We are always decieved by our own hearts and yet we blame others
As we grow old ,heart should grow younger
for it knows no fear and no limits
the universe is within us
why we look around?

and in this Christmas season I believe in Santa and I believe in prayers and I believe in wishes come true.
And I love the surprises ,and the nature offers me so many when I am least expecting them,like a sun shinning bright,or a pouring rain and when I least expect a snow fall.
How good it is things do not go as we plan,otherwise what would be the fun of living.

Can we grow beyond our egos
fears and insecurities
can we connect on the human level
beyond the walls of religion,cast,creed and
matrial boudaries and petty disputes
Yes ! We can

HELL EXPLAINED BY CHEMISTRY STUDENT

The following is an actual question given on a University of
Washington chemistry mid term.

The answer by one student was so ‘profound’ that the professor shared
it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now
have the pleasure of enjoying it as well :

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic
(absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle’s Law
(gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some
variant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we
need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate
at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once
a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are
leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let’s look at the
different religions that exist in the world today.

Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their
religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these
religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we
can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as
they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase
exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in
Hell because Boyle’s Law states that in order for the temperature and
pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand
proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls
enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase
until all Hell breaks loose.

2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in
Hell,then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes
over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman
year that, ‘It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you,’
and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then
number two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic
and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that
since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any
more souls and is therefore, extinct……leaving only Heaven, thereby
proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last
night, Teresa kept shouting ‘Oh my God.’

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED AN A+.

Awas,

LOL. Classic example of lateral thinking. This world need more Teresa to prove existence of divinity.

Amit. P

Definitely…I agree with you…we do need existence of divinity that is easily proven with our interaction with pretty souls (Teresa). No wonder khansahab and Omar are smitten by the likes of Belluccis

Fasting cleanse the spirit and provides means to slow down to reflect and connect to the Creator.
Fasting is common to all religions as is contemplation.
Three days before EID UL HADHA is a good oppertunity to observe fasting,particularly that in these days HAJJ is performed .IT is a good time to take a break from world and reunite with inner self.Also to catch up with the fasting if we have missed any during Ramadan.
Whole of world is so positive at present whole of ISlamic world is praying and Meccah is lit with the repentant hearts and ecstacy of being present before ALLAH .EUROPE is extremely positive full of THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMASS SPIRT , let us use all positivity and believe in our prayers.LET US BELIVE IN IMPOSSIBLE,POSSIBILITY IS WITHIN

Sura No. 33, Al-Ahzab (The Clans, The Combined Forces) – Madinah.

Arabic (English):

“Inna Allaha wamala-ikatahu yusalloonaAAala alnnabiyyi ya ayyuha allatheenaamanoo salloo AAalayhi wasallimoo tasleeman”.

Translation:

[33:56] Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.

Explanation:

(Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him) pray for him (and salute him with a worthy salutation) and resign yourselves to his command.

Mr.Munir
Translation seems to be from Marmaduke Pikthal,I have never come accross such a beautiful and absolute translation .Definitely Marmaduke is the best.
Seven years ago I wanted to read his essays ,now is the time .Thanks for reminding.

In quest of truth or power?
By Dr Asghar Ali Engineer (Dawn)
THERE is great confusion worldwide as to the significance of religion in one’s life. For instance, does religion urge its followers to engage in a quest for truth or for power? Most middle class and upper-middle class people use religion as an instrument of power instead of seeing it as an instrument in the quest for truth.

If religion signifies that quest it becomes a great boon for humanity; whenever it has been used as a tool of power it has brought war and bloodshed.

All religions have put great emphasis on the truth. The Quran also maintains that all prophets came with the truth from Allah and hence it accepts the validity of earlier prophets’ message though followers may have distorted it later. In the Quran one of Allah’s names is Haq i.e. Truth. All prophets, including the Prophet of Islam (PBUH), were greatly disturbed by the prevailing conditions, especially the moral degradation of the rich and the powerful and their oppression. Through the power of truth they challenged the rich and powerful.

Opposition to Prophet Mohammad also came mainly from the rich and the powerful of Makkah who were highly disturbed by the message of truth, justice and peace and began to persecute him. The Prophet and his followers faced oppression from these quarters but they remained steadfast and determined. They never gave in, and made sacrifices for establishing a just and peaceful society where all could live in freedom and dignity, believing in one God and fearing none but Him. The Prophet and his followers were seriously engaged against injustice in society.

It is for this reason the Quran condemns the accumulation of wealth (chapter 104) and shows great sympathy with orphans, widows, the poor (masakin) and other weaker sections of society (chapter 107). Social dynamics in the Quran consist of a constant struggle between the oppressed and the oppressor (mustad’ifun and mustakbirun) and Allah’s sympathies are of course with mustad’ifun (28:5).

Thus it becomes clear that Islam and the Holy Prophet were never in search for power but in a constant quest for the truth. It is also a fact that the quest for truth makes a person humble and the quest for power makes a person arrogant. A society dominated by the urge for truth will never become a cause for conflict, but a people in search for power can even become Hitler in extreme cases.

Sufis in Islamic history also represent the quest for truth whereas sultans and kings represent that of power. While Sufis attracted the masses and brought about inner peace to many, kings and sultans brought wars and bloodshed. One dynasty of rulers fought the other. Sons fought against fathers, and brother against brother.

Also, ulema who did not align themselves with rulers — like Imam Abu Hanifa and several others — never became an instrument of consolidating a ruler’s power. The Abbasids, for their own reasons, upheld the doctrine of createdness of the Quran (mainly for support from the Mu’tazilites) but ulema like Abu Hanifa refused to endorse the doctrine and were flogged. Imam Hanifa even refused to become the chief qazi, fearing he might be required to support the rulers’ political doctrines which may not have conformed to the teachings of Islam.

Such ulema tried to uphold the truth (haq) because they understood Islam as a quest for the truth, not for power. The sultans shed much blood and even their governors, like Hajjaj bin Yusuf, were notorious for slaughter. He is reported to have killed some 100,000 Muslims and imprisoned more than that number; he also kept some 50,000 women in prison. Yazid got the grandson of the Prophet martyred for the sake of power, whereas the imam remained steadfast in his conviction of the truth. Yazid was on the side of power and Hussain on the side of truth.

Coming to our own times, religion has been often misused in the quest for power by dictators, sheikhs and kings. Even Islamisation became a political tool in the quest for power for rulers like Ziaul Haq. No dictator who talked of Islamisation ever made an effort to usher in a just society, free of oppression and exploitation of the weak, which was the goal of Islam.

The dearest thing to the Prophet of Islam was justice, not power. Even before he became the Prophet he had set up hilf al-fudul (society of the meritorious) to do justice by those who were wronged by the unscrupulous. It was truth and justice, not power, that the Prophet strived for. That was his real jihad; one that never sought power.

Thus establishment of haq, not iqtidar, is the goal of religion.

The writer heads the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai.

The Cosmology Theories

I just wanted to provide something for the food of thought. Before people start bashing them I want to say that these are just theories based of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity. The theory of relativity does not explain the beginning or ending of the universe or the current rate of acceleration of our universe so these theories are quite interesting in this regard. Let me start with the good old Big Bang Theory who most of you are familiar with. I’ll keep it as short as I can.

The Big Bang Theory

Our universe sprang into existence as “singularity” around 13.7 billion years ago. What is a “singularity” and where does it come from? Science doesn’t know for sure. Singularities are zones which defy our current understanding of physics. They are thought to exist at the core of “black holes.” Black holes are areas of intense gravitational pressure. The pressure is thought to be so intense that finite matter is actually squished into infinite density. These zones of infinite density are called “singularitie”.

After its initial appearance, the universe apparently inflated (the “Big Bang”), expanded and cooled, going from very, very small and very, very hot, to the size and temperature of our current universe. It continues to expand and cool to this day and we are inside of it. There are Super Massive Black Holes at the core of each galaxy. Our Milky Way contains approximately 200 billion stars and there are billions galaxies like ours in the universe.

There are many misconceptions surrounding the Big Bang theory. For example, we tend to imagine a giant explosion. Experts however say that there was no explosion; there was (and continues to be) an expansion. Another misconception is that we tend to image the singularity as a little fireball appearing somewhere in space. According to scientists, time and space had a finite beginning that corresponded to the origin of matter and energy. The singularity didn’t appear in space; rather, space began inside of the singularity.

The Ekpyrotic Universe Theory

Our conventional view of 3-D physical space, along with time, makes up the four known dimensions. The Ekpyrotic Universe Theory describes that our current universe is a four-dimensional membrane embedded in a five-dimensional ‘bulk’ space, something like a sheet of paper in ordinary three-dimensional space. Our universe was created when two parallel “membranes” collided cataclysmically after evolving slowly in five-dimensional space over an exceedingly long period of time. Even scientists admit they find this hard to picture intuitively. The idea then is that another membrane collided with ours, releasing energy and heat and leading to the expansion of our universe.

While the new theory is full of complex math and obscure concepts, it is a somewhat soothing idea for anyone who has ever wondered what the heck lies beyond our universe.

The Big Rip Theory

It wasn’t long ago that many cosmologists believed that our universe might reverse course, that normal gravity would win, and that everything would fall back. But solid astronomical observations made in the late 1990s concluded that the universe is expanding at an ever-increasing pace, and that something unknown is vacuuming everything outward. This can’t be explained by the law of physics and given the known matter and energy that exists. To account for the acceleration, theorists have conjured a product they call dark energy, which supposedly repels things rather than attracting, as gravity does.

It is not clear if the dark energy driving expansion is a force not currently described by physics, or if it is merely a different manifestation of gravity over huge distances. The repulsion could be a response to dark matter, invisible stuff that is known to comprise 23 percent of the universe, based on firm observations. Dark matter has unknown properties, and it may be related to dark energy. Einstein considered that gravity might work repulsively, in a manner consistent with his Theory of General Relativity.

Dark energy, being quantified only recently, tends to be discussed as some strange new force, in addition to the four fundamental forces: gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces that govern atoms.
The Big Rip theory has dark energy’s prowess increasing with time, until it’s an out-of-control phantom energy. This most exotic cosmological theory states that the expansion of the universe will become so fast that it will literally rip apart all bound objects. It will rip apart clusters of galaxies. It will rip apart stars. It will rip apart planets and solar systems. And it will eventually rip apart all matter and would even overwhelm the normal, trusted effects of gravity right down to the local level. Even the nuclear forces that bind things in the subatomic world will cease to be effective. And all that will take approximately 20 billion years.

Big Rip Theory brings Sci-fi ideas like wormholes and time travel to the realm of hard science. All of this could sort itself out pretty soon. Observations over the next few years may actually show if this phantom energy is behind the accelerated expansion of the universe.

Does the universe recycle itself after the big rip? Is there something after nothing? By the face of it would be end of time.

So where is God in all this?

Any discussion about the cosmological theories would be incomplete without asking the question, what about God? This is because cosmogony (the study of the origin of the universe) is an area where science and theology meet. Creation was a supernatural event. That is, it took place outside of the natural realm. This fact begs the question: is there anything else which exists outside of the natural realm? Specifically, is there a master Architect out there? We know that this universe had a beginning. Was God the “First Cause”? Why all holy books take Planet Earth as the center of the Universe and us human beings as supreme living things for which all the universe is created in the first place? I won’t attempt to answer that question and I just ask the questions -:)

Theo

Good theological thoughts!

On your question “is there anything else which exists outside of the natural realm”?

The answer is…aliens.

When I came in the UK first the immigration authorities handed me a piece of paper which stated I was an alien. So, people on earth do believe aliens exist.

Awas …

They would have seen your other picture with double zero

Munir

How did you know that

LOL Awas, yeah I was a resident alien once upon a time but now I transformed into a human being. Jokes aside, I find it very hard to believe that this gigantic universe was created to please human beings. We are totally flawed creatures with very limited intelligence. We kill each other and other living things around us (that includes me -:). The planet Earth is supposed to hug Sun in approximately 5 billion years which is way before the demise of universe. As a star sun will die one day and so will we. Or even before that, all it will take a 5 square mile asteroid to hit Earth and that will do the trick. We are not even a tiny dot in the enormous universe and to think that we are the center of universe, everything was created for us and will be destroyed because we won’t exist anymore is very naive. There might be God but probably not that human like simpleton described in holy books that will punish people who defy him and is very sensitive about what we human do. I sometime think God is just creation of our imagination because we needed an answer for our existence. The possibility of other living beings just in our galaxy Milkyway is very high, seven Earth like planets have been identified so far in our galaxy and that too with a weasel space scope like Hubble. Hey, may be God and some other very intelligent Alien life is reading all this and laughing out loud -:)

It’s funny, when I was little and when I read that Sora-e-Ikhlaas stating that God is a unity and has been forever and will be forever, I thought that God must bored to death. He created us so that he can watch us do all kind of stuff and he finds it amusing just like when we watch TV. LOL

Theo

Einstein, very interesting and admirable what you say here…thoughts of a free mind…but I reserve my thoughts of agreement or disagreement. Some good scholars have mentioned a lot here on LS, before it started to veer to a different course.

I especially like:

“intelligent Alien life is reading all this and laughing out loud”

“He created us so that he can watch us do all kind of stuff and he finds it amusing just like when we watch TV”.

Awas, I presented similar thoughts before that I have a weak faith in religions. I’m open to the idea of God and believe in one but religions don’t impress me. Sometimes I get into this questioning mood and vent out what I think and today was one of those days. Like one of my most favorite and respected sufi, philosopher, and theologian Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah R.A. questions:

The soil is in ferment, O friend
Behold the diversity.
The soil is the horse, so is the rider
The soil chases the soil, and we hear the clanging of soil
The soil kills the soil, with weapons of the soil.
That soil with more on it, is arrogance
The soil is the garden so is its beauty
The soil admires the soil in all its wondrous forms
After the circle of life is done it returns to the soil
Answer the riddle O Bulleh, and take this burden off my head.”

They say ‘seeing is believing’ and I think that is the main reason why people do not believe in God or get doubts about a higher power’s existence.

We have been made ashraful makhlukaats (superior of other life forms) because we can think, invent and discover as we evolve. The Quran asks us to think (gor-o-fikar karo) and educate ourselves to start making sense of our surroundings. This could be true of other religions too but I can only speak of my religion as I am not aware fully of the teachings of other religions. But I can say that all religions guide their followers to lead a good, peaceful life.

For me, my belief becomes strong when I think of the scientific discoveries made based on the ideas and hints provided to us by the religious books, such as the Quran. Some of the earliest, most important discoveries were made by people who were scholars, who read the Quran and got ideas from there. I keep mentioning Quran because that’s what I have some knowledge about, other books like the bible may have been used too.

We know that Quran is the only text in this world which is still in its original text and unchanged, even though there have been many different interpretations of the book. If this book, which was compiled a long time ago, can contain references to the solar system, the earth, formation of foetus and other things, it suggests the existence of God. Otherwise only that who could travel in time to the future, use high quality equipment and then go back to write the findings could have written them, which is highly unlikely.

One example which is coming to me now is about the shape of the earth. By the 9th century, Muslim scholars believed that earth was spherical. Galileo proved this 500 years later. Even though Galileo is said to be belonging to the Illuminati, the original idea came from those who were believers.

Voila! Here you have something to ponder upon…

VIP

Fist comment on a serious subject…very impressive. This indeed is very good coming from a scientist expressed in a logical thoughtful manner.

You must watch 2nd episode tomorrow about Islam and Science on BBC 4 which I think is at 9pm. That Cambridge professor was very learned and presented the 1st episode in a very nice way with input from many scholars from all over the world.

Awas

thank you for encouraging me and also for reminding me to watch the second episode of Science and Islam. Unfortunately i missed the first episode as i was cooking chicken tikka masala, which tasted like something else…

VIP

Loll @ “chicken tikka masala, which tasted like something else…” I can just visulise it if it was prepared like a laboratory type thing

when theo said earth will meet the sun and thats when it will be destroyed as we know the orbits are becoming smaller and smaller, i recall hearing the transalation of some surah about the Qayamat wala din that sun will be lurking on our heads and the mountains will erupt etc. which does not literally mean that it will be right above our heads but that it will be so near that earth life will feel like becoming fried.

VIP

That I think is Sura Al-Falaq…

Humm! If you can convince Theo that would be a miracle.

His theology is different and likeable it may be too as he seems more inclined towards mysticism.

VP

I am glad to see you posting something here on this page. On the last paragraph of your comment you mentioned that by 9th Century Muslim scholars ………….. So, let me give you a specific example and its not just my view but on Jan. 4th 2009 on BBC there was an article on Al-Hassan Ibn al-Haytham, the renowned Muslim Scholar.

Please read the article by clicking the link below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7810846.stm

VP

Its in Surah Yasin…. i.e., when the Sun will be obliterated and………..

And about the Big Bang Theory…….. you must read my earlier comments on this page where I have quoted Ayesha Abdur Rahman Al Tarjumana’s work on the sub-atomic world in Qur’an and also on Surah Al- Noor, The Light.

There is a verse in Qur’an

Faatir us Samawadi Wal Aradi

Meaning, WE exploded the Heavens and the Earth.

Javed

Thank you for the link, it was a very good read.

Vanilla iPod @ 71

Earth meeting the sun or an asteroid hitting the planet earth does not mean the end of the universe, at most it would mean end of our solar system. Remember our galaxy has approximately 200 billion stars and death of Sun would not even result in a supernova due to its small size. So the destruction of entire universe would be an absurd idea and even most of our Milkyway galaxy would not be affected.

The Aryan and Egyptian were extremely good at Astrology way before the dawn of religions of book.

Theo

I dont remember writing the ‘universe’ will get destroyed…i was only writing about the earth and when i said orbits are becoming smaller, it meant planets in the solar system.
so i dont know where u got the ‘absurd idea’ idea from

VP

Sitaraon kay aagay Jahan aur bhee hain
Theo kay ishq kay imtehaan aur bhee hain

Theo is not in love with Theology or Astronomy but NataliOnomy!

Vanilla IPod @ 77

My bad about the comments,

But I thought you were referring to “Qayamat” as a universal phenomenon not a local one at solar level. When you mentioned human being as “Ashraful Mukhloqaat”, did you mean at the universal level or at local level? I personally believe we might be Supreme Being just at local level. I don’t see human race as the Masters of Universe. Thanks for supporting the idea of Evolution when you said, “We have been made ashraful makhlukaats (superior of other life forms) because we can think, invent and discover as we evolve”. Now you are on right track.

At your other quote, “They say ‘seeing is believing’ and I think that is the main reason why people do not believe in God or get doubts about a higher power’s existence”. I have to reply you with a saying, “In God we trust. All others shall provide objective evidence” -:)

Theo

I like your radical theological ideas.

But why have you turned a perfectly decent looking being into an iPod?

Awas, what you would rather have, a Vanilla Pod or a Vanilla colored iPod?

Theo

Now you got me thinking

Theo xbox
(theo is thinking outside the box, space marked by x)

Vanilla iPod

LOL, I’m sure my free thinking “x box” will take me to a beautiful little place called Hell, LOL. By the way I’m an avid video gamer, own Xbox 360 and loves first person shooters like Gears of War, Halo series, Rainbow Six, and Call of Duty, series. Why am I telling you all this? Ma ta na de pata.

Theo your comment # 79

Man is “Ashraf ul Maqlooq” or superior being this concept needs more explanation.

God has said in Surah At Tin or The Fig Chapter 95: “Surely WE created man of the best stature. Then WE reduced him to the lowest of the low.”

Best stature: It is not only among the living creatures such as animals or birds but, among the other forms of life such as the Angels and the Jinns.

A lot of people believe that “Shaitaan” or Iblees was a Farishtah before. They are wrong, he was a Jinn and that’s a long story if you want to hear or read it, I can write about that in detail.

Man has been bestowed potentialities to acquire knowledge of how everything else in the universe functions (2:33, The Qur’an).

Now it is up to him to utilize these potentialities and conquer/harness all that lies in the universe.

In this universe, man is the only creature who is given choice and discretion. He may obey the laws of Allah or may not; this discretion isn’t given to any other creature. And that is why Man is Ashraf ul Maqlooq.

Theo # 59 I want you to read this carefully please.

You have given various examples above by quoting Einstein’s theories and what not.

I don’t deny man’s achievements in fact I applaud whats done by the great people like Einstein and others. And even our religion emphasizes the need for acquiring knowledge and education. There is a Hadith saying, “Seek knowledge though it be in China,” meaning, even if you have to go as far as China. In those days it was extremely difficult to go to China. Anyways…..

The science of modern cosmology, observational and theoretical, clearly indicates that, at one point in time, the whole universe was nothing but, a cloud of “smoke” i.e. an opaque highly dense and hot gaseous composition. This is one of the undisputed principles of standard modern cosmology, agreed? Scientists now can observe new stars forming out of the remnants of that “smoke”, agreed or not?

The illuminating stars we see at night were just as was the whole universe, in that “smoke” material. God has said in the Quran:

Then He turned to the heaven when it was smoke… (Quran, 41:11)

Because the earth and the heavens above (the sun, the moon, stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from this same “smoke,” we conclude that the earth and the heavens were one connected entity.

In your comment #76 to iPOD you have said:

“So the destruction of entire universe would be an absurd idea and even most of our Milkyway galaxy would not be affected.”

Your perception is based on Man’s limited knowledge and the laws of Physics that man has made which are not yet perfect and new scientists keep on bringing new theories which are always challenged and proved either wrong or, imperfect.

Whereas, the Creator of this Universe is Perfect. He did not create the Universe in bits and bobs. It was all done at the same time and He created everything to perfection. Do you see anything imperfect in this Universe?

Hence, the destruction would also be the way He describes and not the way you think it would not affect the Milky Way or other Galaxies in the Universe would be affected.

To make it more clear to you once again I am using the same verse 41:11 above, then out of this homogeneous “smoke,” they formed and separated from each other.

God has said in the Quran to make it more clear:

“Have not those who disbelieved known that the heavens and the earth were one connected entity, then We separated them?… (Quran, 21:30)”

On the subject of singularity please read my comment # 9 above. Or, let me copy paste the last paragraph here for Your Laziness.

” Tawhid (unification) is the singularity. All vanishes into that singularity, and at that point, all becomes one. Unity is total, like a vast ocean. Like the moth going around the flame of the candle and when you enter the flame, you are the flame and your identity vanishes.

The singularity remains and it is something which cannot be viewed from the outside. It is only when you pass the event-horizon and enter it, that it becomes perceivable. Then you are it, so what is there to perceive? Who remains who is perceiving?”

AMAZING ISN’T ?

Javed, good analogy and good references, but like I said in my posts any scientific theory can be proved or disregarded upon further evidence and progresses in science but the idea of God and religion is something that is based on “Faith” and thus remain suspicious. I cannot reply to your references because I want to keep a glimpse of faith and it’s sensitive to most but as we all discuss Islam would you and I or the others would still be Muslims if we were not born Muslims? Same goes for other religions.

Theo, I will get back to you on this, but right now as I said the Obama Celebrations are going to be live on TV …….. so laterz dude.

I somewhat agree with Theo that if i were born in a family with another religion, it would be very hard for me to explore other religions such as islam. people from all religions think theirs is the best religion like how we think ours is the best and i would really not even think of changing mine.

the other thing is that in islam, it is said that only muslims will enter jannat, all the rest will have their jannat in this world. but i know a lot of people from other religions and even athiests who perform good deeds to help others but they are not exactly living in conditions that could be classed as having jannat on earth. according to me, they should be allowed to enter jannat too. and what about the babies from other religions that die and children who are too young to understand religion, where will they go?

maybe Javed can help me with this.

VIP

Good posers from you too. I have never found Theo’s theology outright disdainful or unpalatable as generally we all often think like that or at least some anyway.

As intelligent beings, thoughts like that come to us naturally and these are matters that need sensible discussion involving logical thought process. Some Mullahas will have you believe, NO…if Quran says that then that’s it, no ifs and butts and would even quote you some verses. But that attitude is ignorance and unnatural. As humans we always yearn for more of everything even more knowledge. Hence it is said-in the quest for knowledge go to even China if you have to.

I’m not sending you to China by the way, unless Theo is feeling generous , just making a point that such questions do come in our mind. Not only that people of other religions think that theirs is the best religion but atheists think “religion” what nonsense? So, all have their own convictions.

Basically each community wherever they were living in all corners of the earth had some kind of their own rules, laws, ethics, fears etc to create some kind of order for all. Some became religions; some just whatever the tribal chief said, became law. Pharaohs and Caesars were themselves considered Gods. Personally, I wouldn’t mind being one of those In remote Amazon and some other corners of the world, there are still tribes who still don’t know about any other religion even though some missionaries have taken hold of some tribes by offering them tobacco and drink.

Anyways, to answer your question “what about babies”? Well we say they are always born Muslim until they start to get taught any different. So, there you go…I hope you feel better now!!!

One more question. As there are very few Muslims (I mean good ones), is Jannat a very small place? Size of a blue lagoon in Bora Bora comes to mind Is Dosugh big enough to accommodate many billions that are likely to go there and even many more billions who are already dead? Mind you reincarnators don’t have that problem as for them what goes just comes back in another shape. Interesting!

VP

Thanks for saying maybe Javed can help me with this……. LOL… Javed is neither a Mullah nor an authority on this subject. But, bakaoz you have placed so much trust and confidence in me, I will try to share whatever knowledge I have ……

1. First, you must know the meaning of a revert. In Islam, a non-Muslim who converts and becomes a Muslim, should not be referred as a convert, but a revert. Because, according to the Islamic Faith ALL children are deemed to be Allah’s children and by virtue of that they are Muslims. And, knowingly, consciously when they embrace Islam they are reverts. That is, they have come back to see the Light that Allah want’s them to see.

2. As regards innocent children, babies or even ignorant blokes (living in wilderness or in places where there is no one to tell them about Islam) if they remain nice in this world and do good deeds and, if they have not been taught or enlightened about Islam by someone or anyone and they keep practicing another religion, or remain Atheists, who do not believe in God and, those who were born prior to the advent of Islam and, they have done good deeds and never harmed other fellow human beings, surely Allah understands ALL this, and it is He Who decides who shall be rewarded or punished.

Therefore, it would be wrong to assume that they will not enter Jannat or they will go to hell. Only Allah knows best about it.

As regards owning and practicing a religion in which you are born. Yes, it is a very difficult and a very daunting decision to think about changing one’s religion. Because, the early age is the most impressionable age where the psyche of a child is imbued in the dye that he / she has dealt with since childhood and it is not easy to change religion. But, once again in this world and in this age where most people have access to almost everything in terms of acquiring knowledge in almost every sphere, then it is also one’s own moral responsibility to find out about other religions, study and compare the differences between them and see which one is more appealing to them.

Unfortunately, people do not pay much heed towards religion, even we as Muslims do not bother to study the Qur’an in depth and understand the true meanings and the bounties that are offered by the Creator. We are lost in the material world.

“Rivalry in the material world has distracted you until ye came to the graves.”
Surah 102 AT-TAKATHUR … Read the whole Surah with meanings and you will get the answer.

Ps.

About ALL children are deemed to be Allah’s children and by virtue of that they are Muslims. I will write separately about it.

Thank you Javed and Awas

VP

There is one more thing that I forgot to mention above which a few schools of thought have talk about and they have difference of opinion on this subject, and they talk about it thus:

Under the common law, which is a man made law, “ignorance of the law is no excuse.” And, even the children and the ignorant are punished if they commit a crime and are dealt with according to and under the Juvenile penal codes etc.

Their argument is under the man made laws you don’t pardon even the children if they commit a crime or break the law. So, how do you expect God to forgive you or pardon you or let you go unpunished if you break His law? Surely, God is more merciful and He does pardon everyone whoever seeks for forgiveness from Him. Therefore, we do not know to what extent one gets his punishment or rewards in such cases.

ALL children are deemed to be Allah’s children and by virtue of that they are Muslims.

To explain this, I need to go back, a few years ago i.e., when I went to perform my Hajj. At the grounds of Arafaat where every single person has to be present in person, which is one of the essential Arakaans of Hajj, the others such as stoning or sacrifice etc., can be delegated to someone else to do it on your behalf. And, if you are not present at Arafaat, your Hajj is not complete.

The Arafaat scene is a very touching moment in one’s life it is so realistic so powerful that you don’t think of anything else when you are there except for asking Allah to forgive your sins. I am sure no one can forget the Arafaat scene and the feelings that emerge after being there on the Hajj day. Some say it is similar to the Day of Judgment.

The Imam who was leading our Asr prayers gave a sermon and I would like to share it here, it may not be his exact words but, whatever I remember I will narrate it, he said:

When Prophet Ibrahim made the Kabbah, Allah s.w.a.t., asked him to give Adhaan – call for prayers – and he looked around there was no one there for miles and miles and reluctantly he asked, ‘Oh, Allah there is no one here to whom shall I call here to come for prayers?’ Allah s.w.a.t., replied your job is to make a call for prayers and my job is to bring the people. So, he went ahead and gave the Adhaan, called people for prayers.

When Hz. Ibrahim Alai Al-Salaam gave Adhaan, he had faith in Allah and we see today that more than 3 million people perform Hajj each year, this is a matter of faith and conviction. SubhanAllah, faith is to believe what we do not see and the reward of this faith is what we believe.

According to the Imam at Arafaat, (he was substantiating his narrations with some references from various Al Hadith by saying that) at the time when Ibrahim Alaih Al-Salaam gave Adhaan, every single soul on this universe heard it and responded by saying: Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik. “O My Lord I am here.” Hence, every single soul which includes the unborn children have also heard it and said, Labbaik Allahuma Labbaik.

Therefore, whoever in his/her life time says ‘Labbaik Allahuma Labbaik’ from the bottom of his heart would be able to go to Hajj-e-Baitullah. It is a matter of Niyyah (intention) if your Niyyah is pure you will definitely be the privileged one to go there. Hence it is not restricted to any particular race, sect but, for those who have faith in Allah and He is the one who makes everything possible for you and He is the one who forgives all our sins.

Since Obama has been elected as the new President of America, I see every single black American is saying with firm belief and conviction that, “In this country if you have a dream and you work for it, you can achieve your dreams come true.” Obviously before Obama it was unthinkable to have a black President for the USA.

So, in a man made country, with man made laws it is possible to achieve your goals & ambitions, then why is it not possible for anyone to achieve anything they want to be in this world? And, this world has been created for us by our Creator and He made everything possible for us, its a matter of not only asking but, working for it in the right direction according to the guidelines He has provided us in His Book. It is for us to Believe it or NOT.

Javed

thank you for the maidaan-e-Arafat incident and other comments, very interesting and thought provoking. have definitely cleared up some doubts that i had before.

ALL children are deemed to be Allah’s children and by virtue of that they are Muslims.

Excuse me since when have Muslims become children of ALLAH?

We are all Children of Adam and following the same belief as Abraham .
Allah is a Creator,He is neither the father nor the mother .He is alone.
QUL HU WA ALLAH HU AHAD………

FKR
“ALL children are deemed to be Allah’s children and by virtue of that they are Muslims”.

Yeah, sounds a bit similar to what the Christians say that “Jesus is the son of God”.

However, what Javed must have meant was what I said above: “they are always born Muslim until they start to get taught any different”

VIP
By the way, you didn’t answer the question (that I was hoping from a scientific angle) that I posed in the last paragraph of my comment 90? Maybe Theo can?

Awas @ 90
Awas, it’s an interesting question! I think in Islam all Muslims will go to heaven sooner or later but they have to pay their “dues” in Hell first. Initially “Dosugh” sure will be huge in size. In business terms the construction of a huge “Jannat” is not an economical or optimum idea, so I would think God will add phases to it as more people will be allowed to enter and I think in the similar fashion “Dosugh” will be phased out.

Evolution of Religion

Some scholars say religion is primarily a search for security and not a search for truth. Religion is what we so often use to bank the fires of our anxiety. That is why religion tends toward becoming excessive, neurotic, controlling and even evil. That is why a religious government is always a cruel government. People need to understand that questioning and doubting are healthy, human activities to be encouraged not to be feared.

Through the bulk of human evolution, humans lived in small nomadic bands practicing a hunter gatherer lifestyle. The religious practices of hunter gatherers revolve around shamanism, ancestor worship and animism. The emergence of complex and organized religions can be traced to the period when humans abandoned their nomadic hunter gatherer lifestyles in order to begin farming during the Neolithic period. Humans began domesticating crops and animals around 10,000 BCE. Crop production led to the emergence of the first villages, chiefdoms, states, nations and empires. The societies born out of the Neolithic revolution were characterized by high population densities, complex labor diversification, trading economies, centralized administrations and political structures, and hierarchical ideologies.

Organized religion served to justify the central authority, which in turn possessed the right to collect taxes in return for providing social and security services to the state. The empires of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia were theocracies with chiefs, kings and emperors playing dual roles of political and spiritual leaders. Virtually all state societies and chiefdoms around the world have similar political structures where political authority is justified by divine sanction

Today, most people follow either:
A monotheistic religion, in which a single male god is worshipped, or
A henotheistic religion — a religion which recognizes a single main deity, but which recognizes other gods and goddesses, heroes, or saints as facets or manifestations or aspects of that supreme God.

Most religions teach that they were directly revealed by their deity/deities to humanity, and are unrelated to other world religions. However there is considerable historical evidence from ancient times that religions in the area from India to the Middle East shared many religious beliefs. One example of this are:

The many passages in the Hebrew Scriptures which contain concepts or passages taken from Egyptian, Babylonian and other nearby Pagan religions.

Many of the events in the life of Jesus as recorded in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) appear to have been derived from earlier Hinduism and other Pagan religious sources.

Morality, does it come from religions?

Human morality may be grown out of primate sociality. Though morality is a unique human trait, many social animals, such as primates, dolphins and whales, have been known to exhibit pre-moral sentiments. The characteristics that are shared by humans and other social animals, particularly the great apes include, attachment and bonding, cooperation and mutual aid, sympathy and empathy, conflict resolution and peacemaking, deception and deception detection, community concern and caring about what others think about you, and awareness of and response to the social rules of the group.

All social animals have had to restrain or alter their behavior for group living to be worthwhile. Pre-moral sentiments evolved in primate societies as a method of restraining individual selfishness and building more cooperative groups. For any social species, the benefits of being part of an altruistic group should outweigh the benefits of individualism. For example, lack of group cohesion could make individuals more vulnerable to attack from outsiders. Being part of group may also improve the chances of finding food. This is evident among animals that hunt in packs to take down large or dangerous prey.

All social animals have hierarchical societies in which each member knows its own place. Social order is maintained by certain rules of expected behavior and dominant group members enforce order through punishment. However, higher order primates also have a sense of reciprocity and fairness. Chimpanzees remember who did them favors and who did them wrong. For example, chimpanzees are more likely to share food with individuals who have previously groomed them.

Humans enforce their society’s moral codes much more rigorously with rewards, punishments and reputation building. People also apply a degree of judgment and reason, not seen in the animal kingdom. Religion emerged after morality and built upon morality by expanding the social scrutiny of individual behavior to include supernatural agents. By including ever-watchful ancestors, spirits and gods in the social realm, humans discovered an effective strategy for restraining selfishness and building more cooperative groups. The adaptive value of religion would have enhanced group survival.

I stand corrected on the confusion about the word, “All Children are Allah’s Children” it should have been as “All Children are Allah’s Creation” Awas is right that I wasn’t using it in the sense that it is making an obvious and literal interpretation like the Christian faith where Jesus is son of God. No, that was not the way I wanted to use it.

Yes, as Muslims we do have faith that, Allah is the One and Only. He begotten not and nor was begotten and there is none comparable unto Him. But, in dealing with this English language we do use the this expression Man is God’s creation and we arrive in this world as children, hence we are God’s children. But, the main purpose was not to create confusion but, to highlight the point that, according to Islamic faith every child before he/she is born is a Muslim. Every soul that is yet to born is a Muslim.

In any case ALL creation belongs to Allah and He is the Creator of these Universe and, there is no doubt or dispute about it.

Steeler

Nice thoughts there…more later, but…

“I think in Islam all Muslims will go to heaven sooner or later”

You really got wishful thinking there…for the likes you and me there is no chance…burn in hell they would say…stick together buddy…that’s all we can do

Thanks
Awas!Just we have to be careful about our wording in particular to God and Prophet Muhammad .
I disagree that all people are born Muslim.All people are born with good nature ,this life and human being is just a balance of good and evil.
I do not think Satan is something outside it is inside our needs our thoughts.
Religion controls us subjugates us.That is why West has discarded it .Human Being is the Crown of creation and it is the Will of Man which makes him feel omnipotent.When he is not.This very thought is the whole concept of Milton’s Paradise Lost.

Of course I understand the intent of using the sentence I didnot think for a second that it meant in a Christian way.
In present times I am just surprised how much Jews are influencing and emphasising ,”that Jesus Chriest was a Jew”.Yes he was but no he meant end of Judaism and begining of Bible and Christianity.
There are very delicate differences between these three religions.Particularly regarding Jesus being son of God or not,I just wanted to draw the attention.

Theo

Your question: “Morality, does it come from religions?” Followed by statements mainly comparing Man with Animals.

We have talked about this subject that humans are Ashraful Maqlooq. I will quote again: Surah At Tin, chapter 95 – 4 and 95 – 5

Surely We created Man of the best stature
Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low.

I will touch this animal and man subject in the end because, the subject of Shaitan needs to be cleared first, which is also related to this topic of Ashraf ul Maqlooq or Maqlooqaat.

The general belief even among some of the Muslims that, Shaitan / Iblees was once a Farishta or an Angel is wrong. That is the Christian faith or belief that they think he was an Angel. According to Islamic faith he was, rather he is a Jinn.

The difference between Jinn and Farishtay is, the later have been created solely for the purpose of worshiping Allah whereas, among the Jinns there are good ones and bad ones. Some of them worship Allah and some don’t. Shaitan or Iblees was known to be a very good Jinn and he used to do good deeds and also used to praise Allah all the time like, Farishtay. And he even used to move among the Farishtay. BUT, he is still a Jinn and his status has not changed.

When Allah created Adam and later Eve, He ordered all his Angels and the good Jinns to bow or prostate before Adam. ALL but, Iblees refused. Because of this rebellious nature, it is said in Chapter 7:12, The Qur’an that he was born out of fire. Since feelings of human beings remain hidden, Iblees/Shaitan is referred as a Jinn in the Holy Qur’an Chapter 18:50. And Jinn means one who is hidden (Raghib).

Along with the feelings or emotions, the man is also given the discretion by virtue of which he is capable of disobedience at the time of his birth and these accompany him through his life span (15:36, The Qur’an).

The Qur’an has termed Iblees / Shaitan as the two faces of the same to the foreground. These are termed as projection, repression, fantasy, denial of reality, rationalization, intellectualism and reaction formation. All these varieties of adjustive mechanisms have the underlying roots in disappointment. And a feeling of rebellion or aggression closely follows this.

In this way there is clearly a direct and deep-rooted connection between the feelings of rebellion and disappointment experienced by a person. This is also exemplified as “Iblees and Shaitan relationship”.

You have talked about ‘social orders’ among animals. But, you fail to see that the Qur’an also wants to establish such a social order, where chances of disappointments don’t occur (39:53, The Qur’an), as His resources of nourishment are boundless for everything and abundant throughout the Universe (7:156, The Qur’an). So in the Qur’anic Social Order, the feelings of Iblisiat or Satanism cannot overcome anyone; particularly in respect of those who follow His laws (15:43, The Qur’an).

You are defending your point by giving a logical reasoning that animals possess this degree of moral and ethical codes before humans were created. YES, I don’t deny that, it is there in their genes because, Allah has created every single thing in this Universe. We don’t know that the birds when they fly and stretch their wings, they are glorifying Allah.

BUT, when He created Man, He said, this is the best of ALL my creations. To discuss and compare these aspects between Man and Animals, I need to start a fresh comment. But, before I end, I would like to clear the doubts about rewards and punishment that you have talked about.

The Qur’an has described the results of misdeeds as the torturing fire! As the fire burns everything, so the bad deeds burn the human personality and stop its growth.

According to the Qur’an, life is a continuous process and has to go a long way. If life is led according to the laws given by its Creator, Allah, then its latent potentialities are developed and enable it (life) to continue progressing and going from one stage to another. But if the potentialities/capacities are not developed, it doesn’t have the strength to travel or grow further and stops at one stage or point. This process of stoppage is called Al-Jaheem in the Qur’anic terminology.

Life is like an ever-flowing stream, the moment it stops, it turns into a pond, then gets stagnant. Out of dust rose Adam, and out of good deeds would rise the Man for the world hereafter…………………… More later.

Farrah

I agree with you on the thought that people are not born muslim. I think the criteria of being muslim is when you are born in a muslim family and then later on you accept kalma-e-shahada. or maybe i am wrong…Javed help! and i also agree with Javed that Allah is the most merciful and its up to Him to decide whether he will accept the innocent children in heaven (which is likely that He will)and that we are Allah creation, His property.

Awas

Theo has answered your question very well indeed. i dont have anything scientific to say to you. but i do think that heaven will expand as more people enter it and price of bad deeds will have to be paid first cos jannat is the ultimate place of residence. But i do know that there are seven ‘darjay’ of jannat. those who are very pious will go to jannat-e-firdous, which is the best one out of the other ones.
Also when u said that u and Theo may not be entered in jannat cos of your sinful deeds (God knows what sins u both hav committed ) i am sure u will be able to enter jannat cos there must be some sort of naikis that you may perform. e.g. when i joined LS, you welcomed me and made me feel like a part the crew, i was very pleased and thankful, surely that was a naiki.
When we are concerned about someone, or even do things for our family, children, that is all naiki and the farishtay that note good deeds down, note a naiki the very moment this thought comes into mind, even if the deed has not been peformed. but when we think of taunting sumone or being bad, the farishtay dont write it until you have committed that deed. so u see, how much Allah wants us to be good and is pleased when we do good.

Theo

i read somewhere, i think it was Jane Eyre, that conventionality is not morality and self-righteousness is not religion. and i also said earlier people who do not believe in God or those who do not belong to a religion also do good deeds. they prolly dont have a concept of entering jannat if they do so but that makes them feel good.and what do they get by doing good and getting nuthing in return? thats morality. but he who has a religion may always want to do good but the one who doesnt will have nuthing to fear even if he does bad things!

Hi Vanilla!
What I appreciate about Islam most is ,it does not segregate among its believers.Weather they are born Muslims or weather they accept Islam at latter stage .
Islam is very simple,the major Haddood or lines which are drawn for human,do not transgress that.
If you do Transgress, do repent sincerely.Try to avoid breaking it deliberately at least.
Islam is a very rationale religion as well ,so the biggest sin is Shirik.So a person who believes in KAlama Tayabah is basically a Muslim.Rest are just different aspects of being Muslim.This recognition of Allah being one and only ,for this recognition God has bestowed us this free will and brain.
So when intelligent people have a choice to make a decision and they decide that no they have no Creater and they are intelligent or architect of themselves,that is the unpardonable transgression in the principals of Theology.
So the question comes to basic why all muslims will go to Heaven.It is for this reason they will go to Heaven they recognise that God is one .I believe not only Muslims ,Christians and Jews would be there as well.
I believe God is Beautiful and Merciful.
Morality and principals are for our own good.

Vanilla iPod

Good points there! For most people Religion does instill a sense of security, peace of mind security, and order in life. Regardless how these ideas were originated, religions provide a way to live the life and also a sense of purpose.

To follow up on what you wrote about who goes to heaven and who doesn’t, I wonder how God can punish us when he loves us 70 times more than a mother. I mean my mother won’t punish or think ill for me no matter how rebellious or bad I get. So sometime I think God will be more merciful than what we are leaded to believe.

To me, morality is a relative term. If one is subjected to certain circumstances, and survival becomes the sole purpose, people do all kind of things to survive as their survival instinct takes over. I’m not talking about life and death situation; I see it in every facet of life. Like I said in my previous posts certain attribute of morality may be offspring of human evolution process. It will be plain generalization if I say all people of faith have morals and all who don’t believe have no morals. It depends on the person. Sometime I think us being good and bad in the World could be just because of our genetic makeup. With that I mean we become good, bad, or in between by “default” just like having certain gene could cause cancer and other diseases. Just like the diseases which are caused by exposure to certain agents, if we are subjected to certain situations we might become “morally ill”. It’s a wild thought but then again I have a wild imagination -:)

Vanilla iPod

Good points there! For most people Religion does instill a sense of security, peace of mind, and order in life. Regardless how these ideas were originated, religions provide a way to live the life and also a sense of purpose.

To follow up on what you wrote about who goes to heaven and who doesn’t, I wonder how God can punish us when he loves us 70 times more than a mother. I mean my mother won’t punish or think ill for me no matter how rebellious or bad I get. So sometime I think God will be more merciful than what we are leaded to believe.
T
o me, morality is a relative term. If one is subjected to certain circumstances, and survival becomes the sole purpose, people do all kind of things to survive as their survival instinct takes over. I’m not talking about life and death situation; I see it in every facet of life. Like I said in my previous posts certain attribute of morality may be offspring of human evolution process. It will be plain generalization if I say all people of faith have morals and all who don’t believe have no morals. It depends on the person. Sometime I think us being good and bad in the World could be just because of our genetic makeup. With that I mean we become good, bad, or in between by “default” just like having certain gene could cause cancer and other diseases. Just like the diseases which are caused by exposure to certain agents, if we are subjected to certain situations we might become “morally ill”. It’s a wild thought but then again I have a wild imagination -:)

Vanilla iPod

Good points there! For most people Religion does instill a sense of security, peace of mind, and order in life. Regardless how these ideas were originated, religions provide a way to live the life and also a sense of purpose.

To follow up on what you wrote about who goes to heaven and who doesn’t, I wonder how God can punish us when he loves us 70 times more than a mother. I mean my mother won’t punish or think ill for me no matter how rebellious or bad I get. So sometime I think God will be more merciful than what we are leaded to believe.

To me, morality is a relative term. If one is subjected to certain circumstances, and survival becomes the sole purpose, people do all kind of things to survive as their survival instinct takes over. I’m not talking about life and death situation; I see it in every facet of life. Like I said in my previous posts certain attribute of morality may be offspring of human evolution process. It will be plain generalization if I say all people of faith have morals and all who don’t believe have no morals. It depends on the person. Sometime I think us being good and bad in the World could be just because of our genetic makeup. With that I mean we become good, bad, or in between by “default” just like having certain gene could cause cancer and other diseases. Just like the diseases which are caused by exposure to certain agents, if we are subjected to certain situations we might become “morally ill”. It’s a wild thought but then again I have a wild imagination -:)

Theo
like the way you have developed the arguement I mean social and moral aspect of religion.I have spent a lot of my life alone.I have discovered that we need religion or belief for our personal self.
For example it is very important for me when ever I resign or am tired I believe there is Higher Source which will Help me out.also when things go wrong ,I believe they will go right because there is ALlah who has the power to set things right.
Also it is very strange phenomenon to offer prayer,one does not feel alone because in prayers you are conversing,you are obedient and you are expecting.
This is most shocking for me to have this bonding with the abstract.
Anyway this is my personal view ,agreement on this is not necessary.

Theo

dont tell me ur mum never sent u to the naughty corner or gave u a thappar when u were naughty

F.K.R.

I feel the same way sometime. I feel bad when I do something bad and feel good when I do something good. I thank God when I’m happy and complain when I’m in trouble. Is it something “built in”? I don’t know. However, when I look at my life I tend to believe the notion that, “everything happen for a reason”. I mean my whole life is a chain of events that are interconnected, some I had control over and some I didn’t. So we’ll find out when we die, won’t we -:)

iPod

No the “thupper” and whipping part was the specialty of “Hot Tempered” Pathan dad, LOL. But point taken none the less.

Steeler/VIP/FKR

Good contributions all round…very interesting.

Theo’s middle name must be Logic…

I guess it applies to us all to feel good with good deeds and wish for nice things to happen in bad times.

VP, it was good of you to remind us about 7 darjay of Jannat…

The reason I said probably hell is for many reasons, like:
- rare nimaz, roza, zikaat etc
- not to thank God as much as one should
- disobeying maan/baap when growing up
- greed of worldly goods and desires
- not telling khansahab off when he talks dirty
- having a go at Abdul-Ghani (sometimes)

Good deeds:
- welcoming you here and making you feel better (only one!)
- what else?

Its hard to think of many, other than generally being nice to people, kind and having a good heart…that’s all

Does it count for Jannat comparing to that Imaam I know in the Mosque?

Awas

aww dont feel bad…being nice to people, kind and having a good heart, makes u do lots of good things and the niyyat of doing good things is what counts! and u know like Farrah said Allah is most forgiving and ofcourse you will go to heaven (after some time).

Also, if you repent with a pure heart then ur sins can be forgiven, but repeating those sins again after repenting may be a bit tricky.

You are just trying to make me feel better…

Ta!

U r welcome

khansahab

Really wonderful thoughts there…and all vey true.

I think what most people forget is that there is a lot more importance given to Haqooq-il-Ibaad than Haqooq-Ullah.

I know many people who religiously perform all 5 tenants and then taunt others to do the same but most of the time all they do is back-biting, wishing ill-will for others, intolerant and injudicious, lie, and all that stuff. They often don’t realise that how they misbehave in their normal daily life with other mankind (Haqooq-il-Ibaad) cancels out their religious good deeds. I find such people the worst.

Theo
I have served my purpose of life and intellect ,that is to realise Allah.Rest is as you said He loves us more than 70 mothers,yes I do believe in that.But I think when I thank Him for everything and I wish to be guided by Him in everything of course He will forgive me my intentional and unintentional transgressions at the end I am just a human being .He is Most Gracious,Merciful,Beneficient I beleive whatever my sins are His Merci and Generocity is bigger than that.So I am always assured we will rest in peace here and afterwards.
Khansahab
Good thought,essence is try to be a good human being.
More than influence I beleive to touch people’s life for that all we have to do is to be kind to people .Kindness,Merci,Compassion and Love are not adjectives these are principals of life and it pays you hugely.This is the real wealth.
Anyway Blessed are the people who follow Abraham and Prophet and remember he is peace for the world and so are his followers.Prophet Muhammad PBUH.

You guys can all help me this semester. One of the modules I have picked is ‘Introduction to Islamic Law’. We will be having 2 hours lectures and then a 2hour seminar every Friday, starting from this week.

I have just received my textbooks for this module, and I think for the first time in my degree, I am actually going to enjoy a module.

We will be starting with discussions on Islamic Jurisprudence and emphasis upon the Hanafi, Malaki, Shafih and Hanbali school of thoughts.

I am hoping to impart knowledge on you guys and you can share your ideas with me too.

DRC

Sure, we will help you out with whatever we can

Dimple
My peice of advice actually is that with Islamic Shariat Law ,we have to be extremely careful.Saudia is best example of it and do not hesitate to critise Talibaan the worst example of Shariat.
What Zia implemented was half cooked.
Shariat law needs the support of whole society it can not be implemented half way.
shariat law in Pakistan and Afghanistan meant exactly opposite of what law is meant to do,to provide Justice.
Shariat law needs alot of new clauses if implemented in countries like Pakistan and
Britain.
It is based absolutely on witness and evidence in absence of that ,there is no case.So the cases where extreme Shariat punishments were decreed against women victim were absolutely miscarriage of Justice.
Asma Jahangir book on Hadood Ordinance is extremely important to see how it can affects adversely .
You would probably be concentrating on marriage and divorce matters.Men should not be allowed to marry twice at the same time,unless
1.the wife is terminally ill
2.First wife has strong illness or cannot produce children.
feel free to discuss I am interested and do enlighten me,I have not read the Imams but know that they were men.
After the imaams religion ha sfell into the hands of Mullahs and have done a lot of demage.
Shiate are quite good in interpretting religion ,keeping in line with the most recent challenges to Islam.
Stem cells research is going on big time in Iran for heart transplant etc.
Approach everything with caution particularly new laws which do make “Muatta” legal and apply your personal wisdom and rationale to deliver justice.

Honour Killings

There is nothing ‘honourable’ about such killings. Such killings are not just confined to the Asian sub continent. They are universal but say if a Muslim woman is killed it is automatically categorised as an ‘honour’ killing. If one looks towards the wider society, one will also see that such killings are more prevalent. For example, a Caucasian husband who kills his wife of a suspected affair would be deemed to be acting out a ‘crime of passion’. Yet is not one and the same thing? This begs one to ask the question why there are so many discrepancies between the ways in which such similar killings are categorised so differently.

Speaking from a Muslim perspective, one can highlight the notion of ‘honour’ killings is a prime example of going against the fundamental teachings of the Quran. There is an effective body of law (Sharia) already in practice which deals with cases where illicit sexual relations have occurred. Islam does not teach us to take the law into our hands. Most ‘honour’ killings are based upon mere presumptions that a woman (in the majority of these cases it is the woman who are killed) has indulged in illicit sexual relations. The notion of honour is emphasised in the Quran and punishment for indulging in such actions are punishable as per the punishment laid down in the Quran. There is no mention whatsoever in the Quran, to kill the accused parties by taking the law into one’s own hands.

Islamic law places heavy reliance upon the importance of witnesses. For the accused party to be held guilty there is a need for four witnesses to witness the ‘dishonourable’ act. “. The accused will then be punished accordingly. The provisions for such punishment and acts are signified in Surah Nur (Chapter 24). Equally, it is important to note, that there are implications for those who slander or attempt to taint a woman’s honour. If one refers to the following Quranic citation, one can see these implications as being, “And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever, they indeed are the Fasiqun (liars, rebellious, disobedient to Allah)..” (as per 24:2-Surah Nur). Surely this also condemns the idea of honour killings? Are these same beings not going against the very fundamentals of their religion? These questions can be further reinforced by considering an example of the Beloved Prophet (pbuh). It is recorded that Aisha (RA), the Prophet’s (pbuh) wife had misplaced a necklace and had gone back into the wilderness in an attempt to find it. It had become late and time had passed (some believe it to be a couple of days) before Aisha (RA) returned to the camp where the Prophet (pbuh) was residing, accompanied by a member of the Prophet’s (pbuh) followers, who had attempted to go find Aisha (RA). Rumours were generated as per what had occurred between the two. The Prophet (pbuh) was deeply hurt by the rumours; however we should learn from this example, by considering the actions of the Prophet (pbuh). The Prophet (pbuh) despite being hurt by the rumours did not inflict hurt upon Aisha (RA). This example is also cited in Surah Nur “Verily! Those who brought forth the slander (against ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) the wife of the Prophet- pbuh) are a group among you. Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. Unto every man among them will be paid that which he had earned of the sin, and as for him among them who had the greater share therein, his will be a great torment” (as per 24:11).

In conjunction with the above citation, there are numerous other citations which emphasise how frowned upon slander and rumours are. One will now highlight a few of these notable examples.

Verily, those who accuse chaste women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity and are good believers, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter, and for them will be a great torment, (as per Surah Nur 24:23)

On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their legs or feet will bear witness against them as to what they used to do. (as per Surah Nur 24:24)

On that Day Allah will pay them the recompense of their deeds in full, and they will know that Allah, He is the Manifest Truth. (as per Surah Nur 24:25)

Bad statements are for bad people (or bad women for bad men) and bad people for bad statements (or bad men for bad women). Good statements are for good people (or good women for good men) and good people for good statements (or good men for good women), such (good people) are innocent of (each and every) bad statement which they say, for them is Forgiveness, and Rizqun Karim (generous provision i.e.Paradise). (as per Surah Nur 24:26)

One has attempted to highlight, that there are no Quranic provisions which encourage honour killings. Honour killings are allied with Islam, yet this is wholly a misconception, based upon cultural practices rather than Quranic or Sunnah teachings. In fact, there is a procedure in place to deal with cases of illicit sexual relations, which are not based upon presumption. Whether this is an effective practice, is another question. However, one can conclude that the practice of honour killings is not encouraged by Islamic teaching. Those who do partake in honour killings are misinformed of the teachings and therefore greater awareness needs to be availed in order to put an end to this dishonourable practice.

Farrah

Thank you for suggesting the work of Asma Jehangir. Currently in lectures we have discussed hadd/hudood laws and sanctions. Therefore this particular book will give some much needed further insight.

DRC - this is the same Asma Jehangir who went to India after the Mumbai Attack and to please Bal Thackery the leader of the Hindu Fundamentalist Party Shiv Sena, she wore the same saffron colour dress as Bal Thackery was wearing and sat next to him. And, that son of a gun, who openly says to all the Muslims in India, “either go to Pakistan or go to Khabrastan” and he doesn’t want any Pakistani to step on the soil of India which will make Bharat Mata (Mother India) impure.

He allowed Asma Jehangir to interview him, WHY? Because, that MF wanted to be heard in Pakistan and also want to show it to Pakistanis that if their women come to India they must be dressed like him and respect him like she did.

It was such a shameful and disgraceful act on part of Asma Jehangir to stoop at that level to please him for getting attention and recognition from the masses by whichever cheap way she can get. I have no respect for Asma Jehangir or, for those who admire and emulate her. Period.

Asma Jehangir is hungry of attention, so let us not discuss that insignificant piece of trash.

I agree with the Khansahab and Javed’s sentiments. I just want to acquaint myself with various writings on Hudood law in Pakistan and as Farrah suggested that particular piece I thought why not.

I do agree that after Asma’s stunts in India, all respect for her was lost.

What did you guys think to the piece on honour killings? I might concentrate on women rights and honour killings for my assessed essay..hmmmm.

DRC there is plenty of material on the Internet about Hudood law and also about honour killings. You may check out this website:

http://pukhtunwomen.org/node/37

This is my sister-in-law and her work is recognized by many. Let me know later.

Thanks Javed!

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful …

COMMON MISTAKES MADE DURING RAMADAN

Most Muslims who fast Ramadan focus on the benefits and rewards of it. But in doing so, we often make mistakes that instead of adding to our experience actually detract from it. Mistakes that can make us commercialize Ramadan as so many other religions have commercialized their sacred days. Insh’Allah the following serves as a reminder to myself first and to all Muslims. May Allah help us to spend our time wisely this Ramadan and help us to avoid these mistakes. ameen

1. Taking Ramadaan as a ritual

For many of us Ramadaan has lost its spirituality and has become more of a ritual than a form of Ibaadah. We fast from morning to night like a zombie just because everyone around us is fasting too. We forget that its a time to purify our hearts and our souls from all evil….we forget to make dua, forget to beseech Allaah to forgive us and ask Him to save us from the Fire. Sure we stay away from food and drink but that’s about all.

Although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
‘Jibreel said to me, ‘May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person to who Ramadaan comes and his sins are not forgiven,’ and I said, ‘Ameen’. Then he said, ‘May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person who lives to see his parents grow old, one or both of them, but he does not enter Paradise (by not serving them) and I said, ‘Ameen’. Then he said, ‘May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person in whose presence you are mentioned and he does not send blessings upon you,’ and I said, ‘Ameen.” (Tirmidhi, Ahmad, others. Saheeh by al-Albaani).

2. Too much stress on food and drink

For some people, the entire month of Ramadaan revolves around food. They spend the ENTIRE day planning, cooking, shopping and thinking about only food, instead of concentrating on Salaah, Quraan and other acts of worship. All they can think of is FOOD. So much so that they turn the month of ‘fasting’ into the month of ‘feasting’. Come Iftaar time, their table is a sight to see, with the multitudes and varieties of food, sweets and drinks.. They are missing the very purpose of fasting, and thus, increase in their greed and desires instead of learning to control them. It is also a kind of waste & extravagance.

‘…..and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allaah) likes not Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance) ‘ [al-Araaf :31]

3. Spending all day cooking

Some of the sisters (either by their own choice or forced by their husbands) are cooking ALL day and ALL night, so that by the end of the day, they are too tired to even pray Ishaa, let alone pray Taraweeh or Tahajjud or even read Quraan. This is the month of mercy and forgiveness. So turn off that stove and turn on your Imaan!

4. Eating too much

Some people stuff themselves at Suhoor until they are ready to burst, because they think this is the way to not feel hungry during the day and some people eat at Iftaar, like there is no tomorrow, trying to ‘make up for the food missed.’ However, this is completely against the Sunnah. Moderation is the key to everything.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ‘The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach; for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls are sufficient to keep his back straight. If you must fill it, then one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air.’ (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah. saheeh by al-Albaani).

Too much food distracts a person from many deeds of obedience=2 0and worship, makes him lazy and also makes the heart heedless.
It was said to Imam Ahmad: Does a man find any softness and humility in his heart when he is full? He said, I do not think so.

5. Sleeping all day

Some people spend their entire day (or a major part of it) ‘sleeping away their fast’. Is this what is really required of us during this noble month? These people also are missing the purpose of fasting and are slaves to their desires of comfort and ease. They cannot ‘bear’ to be awake and face a little hunger or exert a little self-control. For a fasting person to spend most of the day asleep is nothing but, negligence on his part.

6. Wasting time

The month of Ramadaan is a precious, precious time, so much so that Allaah calls this month ‘Ayyamum Ma’doodaat’ (A fixed number of days). Before we know it, this month of mercy and forgiveness will be over. We should try and spend every moment possible in the worship of Allaah so that we can make the most of this blessing. However, there are some of us who waste away their day playing video games, or worse still, watching TV, movies or even listening to music. Subha an Allaah! Trying to obey Allaah by DISOBEYING him!

7. Fasting but not giving up evil

Some of us fast but do not give up lying, cursing, fighting, backbiting, etc. and some of us fast but do not give up cheating, stealing, dealing in haraam, buying lotto tickets, selling alcohol, fornication, etc. and all kinds of impermissible things without realizing that the purpose of fasting is to not stay away from food and drink; rather the aim behind it is to fear Allaah.

‘O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)’ [al-Baqarah 2:183]

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ‘Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, and ignorance, Allaah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.’ (Bukhaari)

8. Skipping Suhoor (sehri)

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ‘Eat suhoor for in suhoor there is blessing.’(Bukhaari, Muslim).
And he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ‘The thing that differentiates between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is eating suhoor.’ (Muslim)

9. Stopping Suhoor at ‘Imsaak’

Some people stop eating Suhoor 10-15 minutes earlier than the time of Fajr to observe ‘Imsaak’.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: This is a kind of bidah (innovation) which has no basis in the Sunnah. Rather the Sunnah is to do the opposite. Allaah allows us to eat until dawn: ‘and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night)’ [al-Baqarah 2:187]

And the Prophet (pbuh) said: ‘….eat and drink until you hear the adhaan of Ibn Umm Maktoom, for he does not give the adhaan until dawn comes.’

This ‘imsaak’ which some of the people do is an addition to what Allaah has prescribed, so it is false. It is a kind of extremism in religion, and the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
‘Those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed.’ (Muslim)

10. Not fasting if they missed Suhoor

Some people are too scared to fast if they miss Suhoor. However, this is a kind of cowardice and love of ease. What is the big deal if you missed a few morsels of food? It’s not like you will die. Remember, obedience to Allaah overcomes everything.

Saying the intention to fast ‘out loud’ or saying a specific dua to start fasting

The intention is an action of the heart. We should resolve in our heart that we are going to fast tomorrow. That is all we need. It is not prescribed by the Shari’ah for us to say out loud, ‘I intend to fast’, ‘I will fast tomorrow’ or other phrases that have been innovated by some people. Also, there is no specific dua to be recited at the time of starting the fast in the correct Sunnah. Whatever ‘dua’ you may see on some papers or Ramadaan calendars, etc. is a Bid’ah.

11. Delaying in breaking (opening) fast

Some people wait until the adhaan finishes or even several minutes after that, just to be ‘on the safe side’. However, the Sunnah is to hasten to open the fast, which me ans opening fast whenever the adhaan starts, right after the sun has set. Aa’ishah (RA) said: This is what the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to do. (Muslim)

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ‘The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to open the fast.’ (Bukhaari, Muslim)

Determine to the best of your ability, the accuracy of your clock, calendar, etc. and then have tawakkul (trust) on Allaah swt and break your fast exactly on time.

12. Eating continuously until the time for Maghrib is up

Some people put so much food in their plates when breaking their fast and continue eating, enjoying dessert, drinking tea, etc., until they miss Maghrib. That is obviously not right. The Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) was that once he broke his fast with some dates, them he would hasten to the prayer. Once you are done with the prayer, you can always go back and eat some more if you wish.

13. Missing the golden chance of having your Dua accepted

The prayer of the fasting person is guaranteed to be accepted at the ti me of breaking fast.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ‘Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler.’ (al-Bayhaqi, saheeh by al-Albaani).

Instead of sitting down and making Dua at this precious time, some people forego this beautiful chance, and are too busy frying samosas, talking, setting the food, filling their plates and glasses, etc. Think about it….Is food more important than the chance to have your sins forgiven or the fulfillment of your Duas.

14. Fasting but not praying

The fasting of one who does not pray WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This is because not praying constitutes kufr as the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ‘Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer.’ (Muslim)

In fact, NONE of his good deeds will be accepted; rather, they are all annulled.
‘Whoever does not pray ‘Asr, his good deeds will be annulled.’ (Bukhaari)

15. Fasting and not wearing Hijaab

Not wearing the Hijaab is a major sin as it is obligatory for Muslim women. (See Surah Nur, Surah Ahzaab). So fasting and not wearing hijaab certainly takes away enormously from the rewards of fasting, even if does not invalidate it.

16. Not fasting because of exams or work

Exams or work is NOT one of the excuses allowed by the Shariah to not fast. You can do your studying and revision at night if it is too hard to do that during the day. Also remember that pleasing and obeying Allaah is much more important than ‘good grades’. Besides, if you will fulfil your obligation to fast, even if you have to study, Allaah will make it easy for you and help you in everything you do.
‘Whosoever fears Allah, He will appoint for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect, Allah is Sufficient for whosoever puts his trust in Him.’ (Surah at-Talaaq 2-3)

17. Mixing fasting and dieting

DO NOT make the mistake of fasting with the intention to diet. That is one of the biggest mistakes some of us make (esp. sisters). Fasting is an act of worship and can only be for the sake of Allah al one. Otherwise, mixing it with the intention of dieting may become a form of (minor) Shirk.

18. Praying ONLY on the night of the 27th

Some people pray ONLY on the 27th to seek Lailat ul-Qadr, neglecting all other odd nights, although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ‘Seek Lailat ul-Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadaan.’ (Bukhaari, Muslim).

19. Wasting the last part of Ramadaan preparing for Eid

Some people waste the entire last 10 days of Ramadaan preparing for Eid, shopping and frequenting malls, etc. neglecting Ibadah and Lailatul Qadr. although, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to strive the hardest during the last ten days of Ramadaan in worship (Ahmad, Muslim) and not in shopping. Buy whatever you need for Eid before Ramadaan so that you can utilize the time in Ramadaan to the max.
Aa’ishah (RA) said: ‘When the (last) ten nights began, the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)) would tighten his waist-wrapper (i.e., strive hard in worship or refrain from intimacy with his wives), stay awake at night and wake his family.’ (Bukhaari and Muslim).

20. Iftaar parties

Although inviting each other for breaking fast is something good and encouraged, some people go to extremes with lavish ‘Iftaar parties’ with all sorts of disobedience to Allaah, from flirting, mixing of the sexes and hijaab-less women, to show-off and extravagance, to heedlessness to Salaah, and Taraweeh to even music and dancing.

It’s not too late to rectify ones mistake and do good for the sake of Allah. Allah say, “Inform My servants that I am the Forgiver, Most Merciful”. [15:49]

Khansahab …

I was looking for this confirmed Hadees for sometime and here it is. It clearly mentions about the special and higher ‘Rewards’ specially during the month of Ramadan:

The Prophet (pbuh) said, “If someone draws near to Allah during Ramadan with some good act he will be like one who fulfils an obligatory duty in another month, and he who fulfils an obligatory duty in it will be like one who fulfils seventy obligatory duties in another month”. (Tirmidhi Hadith 1965)

What I understand from the above Hadees (in simple words) is that any additional prayers or good deeds/ charities (Nafil Ibaadaat) during the month of Ramadan equals to the obligatory prayers (Farz Ibadaat) outside Ramadan, while any obligatory prayers in the month of Ramadan equals to seventy times (in Rewards) of obligatory prayers (Farz Ibadaat) in any another month.

Secondly, about “Seventy Times” as there was some discussion (I guess Javed Khan mentioned) that why it is always (rewards or even punishments) seventy times, seventy thousands, etc. and why not more or less. Well, the answer to this is that during those time, “Seventy” was considered as a ‘figure of speech’ for many/ limitless figures. Something, like we say ‘hundreds’ and ‘thousands’ today. For example, we say ‘there were thousands of peoples in the stadium’ or ‘I told you a hundred times’ but what we really mean is that these figures (hundreds and thousands) are indicative and used as a ‘figure of speech’. Similarly, in early Islam days, ‘seventy’ was mentioned to represent ‘limitless or countless’ times.