Contents
Inside
- >> Celebrating Sacrifice... - Page2
- >>Practical tips for a Hajj.. -Page4
- >> Dawah – Are We Wasting ..? Part-4 - Page1
- >> Update from RAHBAR coaching .. - Page3
better light a candle than curse darkness
from the editor
Celebrating Sacrifice as the Edifice of Islam
Faith in Allah and determination like Ibrahim (PBUH), faith in Allah and sacrifice like Ismail (PBUH), faith in Allah and patience like Hajrah (Alaihisalam) is the message of Eid-ul-Azha.
We all know that Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated in remembrance of Hazrat Ibrahim’s (PBUH) sacrifice of his son in the way of Allah. Eid-ul-Azha is more than a festival, it symbolizes our commitment to sacrifice and submit ourselves to the Will of Allah. It embodies the strong message that no worldly possessions are dearer to human beings as compared to the Will of Allah. Hazrat Ibrahim (PBUH) had set out to sacrifice his son in the name of Allah; however, Allah is always caring, oft merciful, and He did not let it happen. Therefore, this incidence also imbibes the importance of human life bestowed to us all. In other words, the incident is also viewed as a mark and directive from the Almighty to end Human Sacrifice, which was so rampant in those days. It is often rightly said, maintained, and believed that when we sacrifice any animal in the name of Allah on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, the blood and meat of the animal does not reach Allah. What reaches Allah is our pure and pious intentions and our willingness to submit ourselves to the Will of Allah the Almighty.
How do we ensure that we submit our Will to Allah in the right manner? Is simply sacrificing an animal on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha enough for the same? Probably not. Islam provides us a way to lead our lives. When we adopt Islam as the way of our lives, we encounter various obstructions (seemingly obstructions) in our path. These obstructions/distractions need to be overruled by sacrificing our Nafs (or the will to adopt seemingly attractive and worldly affairs). When we sacrifice our Nafs, this action also symbolizes the spirit of submitting ourselves to the Will of Allah. When we sacrifice our efforts, our energy, our hard-earned money, and anything that seems dear to us, in the way of Allah, it demonstrates our commitment to submit ourselves to the Will of Allah.
Islam is a religion of peace and sacrifice. We need to adopt it in its true spirit.
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We need to believe in Allah for our betterment in this world and the Hereafter. We often look at sacrifice as giving up material things in the way of Allah. We should also look at sacrificing some innate and intangible things. For example, controlling our anger and temper against anyone is also a symbol of sacrifice. Withholding our cool in adverse times and having faith in Allah is also a mark of sacrifice that we demonstrate. Sacrifice imbibes its spirit in things and concepts ranging from simple emotions to mightier tangible things.
In addition, Eid-ul-Azha also synchronizes with Hajj, or the Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. Intending to perform Hajj is a very big decision in itself, specifically for people with limited resources. It includes a lot of hardships of leaving the comfort of our homes and travelling to a far off place to submit ourselves to the Will of Allah. As a general tendency, people intend to perform Hajj in their old ages, which should not be the case. If we have resources at our disposal, performing Hajj should be given preference. In addition, when we return back after successfully performing Hajj, we should try to maintain the spirit of sacrifice and observe and practice Islam in its right and true spirit. The current issue of BaKhabar is dedicated to Eid-ul-Azha, and Hajj. The entire BaKhabar team wishes you a very blessed Eid-ul-Azha, and prays that people intending to perform Hajj may do so successfully. May Allah Almighty accept our sacrifices and efforts in the way of Islam. May we get the direction and strength to follow and practice Islam in its true sense. May Allah show us the right path. Ameen!
Sharjeel Ahmad, sharjeel.ahmad@gmail.com
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Dawah – Are We Wasting Our Precious Resources on It? Part-4
by Shakeel Ahmad, shakeeluae@gmail.com
In part-3, we concluded that our actions should be compatible with our role as brand ambassadors of Islam. We must set examples of whatever is perceived as the best; we must work very hard to raise our attractiveness index; we must become the true Khalifa (appointed vicegerent) that Allah wants us to become.
Where do people look for, today? Individuals apart, even the Muslim nations look towards the non-Muslims, and probably rightly so. Who are the Nobel prize winners? Who developed various modern technologies? Who is a pioneer in Physics? Chemistry? Biology? These are difficult areas! What about Sociology? A few months back, I visited a madarsa which is one of the best in Bihar, with about 1,000 students getting trained to be future Khalifas. When I saw a few boys playing in a mango garden, my curiosity grew, and I asked the manager who was taking me through the madarsa facilities, "Do you have a period for sports activities?" Well, I bet you know the answer!
All the madarsas under the infamous Madarsa Board, in Bihar, became centers of be-hayaee (shamelessness) and behisee (insensitivity), and the Muslims are silent spectators, as they think those who cannot do anything else will at least get employment by grabbing some certificate/ degree. What message is this Ummah giving to those whom they ask to accept Islam? Cheating the system, openly and with no regard to any modesty, insulting the Quran during the exams, by tearing off pages and molesting them in so many different ways (e.g., hiding under the buttocks) – insulting a book that should carry more value to Muslims than their physical self, holding the sanctity of which compels them to kill those who even hurl insult by their tongues (considered as blasphemy). What are we? Blasphemous Muslims? Possibly using “Muslims” for those who indulge in such blasphemous acts, and those who promote these, would be no more than shamelessness. Where has our haya (modesty) gone?
Hazrat 'Abdullah bin Umar (Raziallahu Anhu) reports that prophet (Sallalloho Alaihe Wasallam) said, "Haya and Imaan are joined together; when one of them leaves, the other is lifted too." (Baihaqi)
And, what are our youth being taught in large number of Islamic institutions? To cheat, to insult the holiest of scriptures, to manipulate the system for personal worldly benefits, with complete disregard to the teachings of Islam? Deception is the characteristics of Shaitan (devil/Satan) alone. Those of us who indulge in such deception are the agents of Shaitan while those who abet, encourage, or support directly or indirectly are worthy friends of Shaitan. These agents of Shaitan would be the Ulema of tomorrow; and what message would they give away to the society? We, the so called Muslims, never try to stop this from happening. What happened to Allah's commandment of Ahya-anil-munkar? On the contrary, we encourage them, by giving our donations to them, by sending the worthless boys and girls of our community there to become Mullahs, Maulvis, etc., by bribing the board officials to grant acceptance to a new madarsa that gets established by our donations, and so on… These Mullahs and Maulvis, and the character that we have portrayed in making them, form the core of our Dawah, and we think we are doing great service to the cause of Islam! If this is not a blatant shameless waste of our precious resources, what else is!
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Where has our haya (shame) gone? Have we mortgaged our haya and imaan to the certificates that we would get to possibly make a living for ourselves and mislead the Ummah? Or, is it selling of Quranic verses for a few Rupees, neglecting Allah’s clear warning in Quran (2:41)? When the worst of crimes start seeming to be fair, we are slaves of the devil rather than of Allah.
When we do not feel shy in doing prohibited things but feel ashamed of praying obligatory namaz in office, feel proud in sporting a neck-tie, but feel shy in sporting a beard, when we feel great visiting a musical concert, watching scantily dressed film starts perform live while feel awkward attending Islamic programs, time has probably come for our destruction and replacement by another Ummah (Quran, 9:39).
As best of peoples (Quran, 3:110), that Allah created us to be, we are supposed to strive continuously to reach that level of perfection worthy of being termed as “the best”. If we, the Muslims-of-namesake, reach that level and become true Muslims, we would not even need to invite anyone to Islam. Everyone would then queue up to accept Islam with total assurance that no other way of life could be any better. When we are perceived as harbingers of all that is bad, our Nafs-e-Ammara (Nafs that commands us to all that is wrong, as an agent of shaitan; a nafs that is lower than that of animals) commanding us all that we do, however hard we try to convince others that ours is the best religion, who would believe the "worst of peoples"?
When we invite people to all that is good, and all that is just, let us make sure that our culture is storehouse of all that is good, and all of behavior is just and fair, otherwise what use is for the invitee to come from bad to worse? We are an Ummah which is commanded by our creator to enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong (e.g., Quran 3:104, 3:110, 3:114, 9:67, 9:71, 9:112, 22:41, 31:17), but we may in fact be doing exactly the opposite – enjoining what is wrong (sectarianism, casteism, nationalism, nepotism, patronizing the strong and oppressing the weak, apart from the more common ones like telling lies, deceiving individuals, groups and systems, etc.) and forbidding what is good and just, e.g., depriving one set of children (the poor) from conventional (modern) education, by sending them to madarsas that don't teach science and English; and depriving (forbidding) another set of children (the rich) from Islamic education (Where is the time for this? He has to do so much of home work, and watch serials on TV for relaxation). Are we not enjoining what is wrong by pursuing the worldly pleasures alone, while forbidding what is right by nurturing a culture that makes fun of those who grow beard, spend time on social work, come to us for chanda (donations), call for prayers - after all these are things to be done in old age (after retirement from active life)?
As long as the bad seems bad, there is a chance to stop doing that, and return to good, but when the bad starts appearing good (e.g., murder of own brother, Quran 5:30), it becomes embedded in our culture, it becomes just impossible to revert back. We are so sure that all these are good deeds (cheating in exam, bribing the board officials to get affiliation of madarsa, indulge in sycophancy and bribing to progress in life, getting rid of hijab to look enlightened, roaming around in skirts or shorts to be termed as progressive or coool, etc.) that anyone who terms them as bad is outdated or an enemy. When Shaitan makes every bad deed fair-seeming (Quran, 6:43, 6:122, 9:37, 10:12, 13:33, 15:39, 16:63, 27:4, 27:24, 29:38, 35:8, 40:37, 41:25) – there is at least someone else to blame, although Allah says Shaitan, the open enemy, has no power over Believers (Quran, 16:99) – what will happen of our Dawah (inviting to bad deeds seeming good)?
Send your views to bakhabar@biharanjuman.org.
Publisher: biharanjuman.org
Chief Editor:
Sharjeel Ahmad, New Delhi
Editor:
Md.Shameem Ahmad, New Delhi
Graphic Designer:
Seraj Akram, Riyadh
Editorial Communication:
Email: bakhabar@biharanjuman.org
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BaKhabar is your own News Magazine. Share your information and articles with community members...Editors
Publishers Note:
Bihar Anjuman does not guarantee the originality and accuracy of any information, interpretation, opinion, or view presented in this newsmagazine. The views and opinions expressed in this online magazine are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect that of Bakhabar. Bihar Anjuman, however, reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication for reasons of clarity and space.
Global Muslim population
hits 1.57 billion: Report
The global Muslim population stands at 1.57 billion, meaning that nearly 1 in 4 people in the world practice Islam, according to a report on Wednesday billed as the most comprehensive of its kind.
About 20 percent live in the Middle East and North Africa, 15 percent live in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2.4 percent are in Europe and 0.3 percent are in the Americas. While the Middle East and North
Africa have fewer Muslims overall than Asia, the region easily claims the most Muslim-majority countries.
About three-quarters of Muslims living as minorities are concentrated in five countries: India (161 million), Ethiopia (28 million), China (22 million), Russia (16 million) and Tanzania (13 million).
- Two-thirds of all Muslims live in 10 countries. Six are in Asia (Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Iran and Turkey), three are in North Africa (Egypt, Algeria and Morocco) and one is in sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria).
- Indonesia, which has a tradition of a more tolerant Islam, has the world's largest Muslim population (203 million, or 13 percent of the world's total).
Source: Associated Press Oct 7, 2009
Difference between Muslim and Momin
There was a time when one question was hovering in my mind. I asked everyone for the answer but I was not satisfied. My question was , "What is the difference between Muslim and Momin. "
One day I was passing through a village, I happened to pass an old man who was squeezing juice of sugarcane. I thought that I should ask the question from that old man so I asked, dear sir, what is difference between Muslim and Momin. He looked at me and said " A Muslim believes in Allah and a Momin surrenders to the will of Allah.
ideas of the month
- Start FM Channel to educate and aware to community.
- establish an Entrepreneur guidance centre to help to all Muslims who wish to establish new business.
- Charge 50% extra money from all Haji and use it for education, to establish a new university.
- Establish a sound recording facility to make inspiring sound clips of Hadees, Quran, books, Good quotes etc. and circulate by mail.
Do you carry ideas on any topic that you would like to share, or implement? Do not hesitate to express your ideas boldly, and frankly. This is the place where your ideas can take shape, and your dreams can turn into reality.
Send your views to bakhabar@biharanjuman.org.
RAHBAR Coaching Centre, Patna:
Update on Monthly Awards to students
Inspired by Sir Syed Ahmad khan's Aligarh Movement, and the great AMU fraternity
Best performer awards (for September) of Rs.100/ each to 3 categories of students (2 best performer from each of the 3 sections + 2 best improvers from each of the 3 sections + 2 awards for best attendance = 18 awardees)
Total distribution of Rs. 1,600 as awards, instead of 1,800 + Rs. 50 to each student - Rs. 3,800 to 76 students, and Rs. 100 to each teacher - Rs. 300, by brother Shakeel Ashraf, Dubai = Grand total of Rs. 5,700/= distributed as awards, on 11-10-2009
Award for best performace in Sept. 2009 (avg. result from all tests)
Class VIII
1. Osama Naseem (77%) s/o Late Mufti Naseem his wife getting maintenance from Imarat Sharia (Widow)
2. Md. Danish Alam(67%) s/o Md. Shamim Ahmad working as an Electrician
Class IX
1. Kahkashan Hashmi (68%) d/o Md. Khursheed Ahmad working as a Salesman
2. Irfan Alam (65%) s/o Md. Sayeedul Haque working as a Driver
Class X
1. Md. Jawed (60%) s/o Md. Zahoor cycle parts seller.
Award for maximum improvement compared with previous month
Class VIII
1. Osama Naseem (41%) Late Mufti Naseem his wife getting maintenance from Imarat Sharia (Widow)
2. Md. Nadeem (23%) s/o Md. Nayeem working as Vendor
Class IX
1. Kahkashan Hashmi (48%) d/o Md. Khursheed Ahmad working as Salesman
2. Rufi Khatoon (34%) d/o Md. Imam working as GORKAN (Grave Yard)
Award for best attendance in September 2009
Class VIII
1. Tasmeen Fatima (100%) d/o Mofiz Ahmad working as a Labour
2. Md. Nadeem (100%) s/o Md. Nayeem working as a Tailor
Class IX
1. Md. Shahabuddin (94%) s/o Md. Imamuddin working as Tailor
2. Ishrat Parween (94%) d/o Md. Sharfuddin working as a Labor
Class X
1. Taiyaba Parween (88%) d/o Anwarul Haque working as a Labor
2. Md. Faizan Alam (88%) s/o Md. Manzoor Alam a physically challenged boy (handicapped)
So, what are you waiting for? Details of the project can be read at
Update from RAHBAR coaching centre, Darbhanga:
sponsored by Bihar Anjuman
Brother Hasan Arshad (mdhasanarshad@gmail.com), project leader for Darbhanga coaching centre has reported that classes are running smoothly with 20 students in class 8th, 22 students in class 9th, and 7 students in class 10th. Low number in class 10th is obvious because exams are very close now, and most of them are settled for their preparations. Three teachers are taking classes:
Md Anwar Husain Qasmi, B.Sc (physics), teaches Physics and Mathematics, Mobile: +919334148324 Mobashsir Hasan Khan, M.Sc (Chemistry), teaches Chemistry and Biology Md.Monowwaruzzaman, B.A (English), M.A, B.Ed, teaches English and Social Science (Also responsible for other languages like Urdu and Persian), Mobile:+919835060573 , E-mail: monowwar_chand@yahoo.co.in. He is also responsible for coordination among teachers.
First informal test were conducted this week and results are awaited. The first formal test is to be held in the 3rd week of November, insha-Allah. They are planning to invite Enam Khan Sb in prize distribution ceremony to laern from his experience of running Patna coaching center.
Members of the management committee for Darbhanga center:
1. Janab Badruddin Sb : Novelty book house, Qila Ghat, member of Jamat-e-Islami
2. Dr. Sharique Raza : Dentist (Clinic at Neem Chowk , Darbhanga), member of MAAS
3. Yazdani Sb. : Social worker with a lot of zeal, Member of MAAS
4. Md.Monowwaruzzaman: One of the teachers at center.
Mukhlis brothers from darbhanga, and elsewhere, are requested to join hands in this noble work, and earn their share of sawaab-e-jaariya.
Details of the project are available at
www.biharanjuman.org/RAHBAR_coaching_projects.html
Update on Monthly Awards to students
Your encouragement, guidance, and contributions have made the dreams-come-true for many underpriviledged stars-in-making of our community. Brother Enam Khan's team has been doing excellent work, and needs more support.
The Patna coaching centre is in urgent need for an Inverter, to cope with power-cuts during classes. Kindly come forward to buy one inverter for the centre. Pls write to enambinusman@gmail.com or myrahbar@gmail.com, with the subject line [Willing to buy an Inverter for Patna Coaching centre].
This can make evening classes possible, and scheduling of classes for these school-going children easier. Well, the benefits to the students are likely to multiply with this facility,.and I am sure the benefits to the contributor are definitely assured by non other than the Almighty Allah. So, if you are thinking of contributing an inverter for Darbhanga centre or for Baghauni (Samastipur centre), participating in other good deeds like sending Eidee (Baqr-Eid is not far away), or buying books for those students who don't already have them, for any of the centres, it will be great.
We are short by Rs.15,000/- which I hope, one of you will contribute, insha-Allah. Rs.5000/- has been contributed by Br. Nurul Aziz Khan of Sudan.
So, what are you waiting for? Details of the project can be read at
www.biharanjuman.org/RAHBAR_coaching_projects.html
Some practical tips for a Hajj Mabroor
by Asma bint Shameem
Hajj is the Ultimate journey. They say it is the journey of a lifetime. Yet I see so many people, brothers and sisters, confused, angry, frustrated or just simply ignorant. So here is a piece of sincere advice for all of my brothers and sisters going for Hajj this year.
1. Educate yourself before you go
This is the most important point. They say "Knowledge is Power." And how true that is. I see people confused, not knowing what to do, looking left and right...bewildered. And in the end, they just follow what the rest of the crowd is doing without even knowing whether what they are doing is even from the Shareeah of Muhammad (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) or not!
So study the rituals of Hajj before you go. Learn how to perform this magnificent journey closest to the Sunnah. Because the closer to the Sunnah it will be, the more acceptable it will be to Allaah, Subhaanahu wa Taala.
Know the various rulings about the Meeqaat, Ihraam, Tawaaf, staying in Mina, stoning the Jamaraat, visiting the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)s Masjid, etc.
2. Go with a prepared heart
Hajj is not only a journey of the body to the house of Allaah...it is also a journey of the heart and soul. And just as it is important to know the manners of performing Hajj, it is equally important to prepare yourself spiritually.
Remember, this is Hajj.... an act of Ibaadah....the fifth pillar of our Deen....something Allaah loves. So have khushoo in your Ibaadah....submit your heart and soul to Him, to the One Who has invited you to His Honorable House. Reflect on why you are here. Have tawakkul in Him and complete faith. Be sure to know that He will take care of you. Be kind to His slaves, have patience and forbearance, take everything in stride and look for the positive in everything, even if it seems bleak.
3. Know Salatul Janazah
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Whoever attends the janaazah until he offers the prayer will have one qeeraat (of reward), and whoever attends until (the deceased) is buried will have two qeeraats.”
It was said, “O Messenger of Allaah, what are the two qeeraats?” He said, “Like two great mountains,” meaning, of reward. (Saheeh – agreed upon).
4. Don’t get overwhelmed with the crowd
When you look at the large number of people there for Hajj, dont get overwhelmed or bothered. Instead, raise your head up high, feel proud and thank Allaah. After all, all those people are none, but your own brothers and sisters in Islaam.
This is the Ummah of your beloved Prophet, Muhammad (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam). They are from you and you are from them. They are a part of you, just as much as you are a part of them. All of you are there for one and one purpose only....to worship One God, Allaah, Subhaanahu wa Taala. So love them...and have mercy for them....and make dua for them.
5. Time is precious
Utilize your time to the MAX while in Makkah and Madeenah. Do all your 5 prayers in the Masjid, no excuses allowed! When you pray in Masjid al-Haraam in Mecca, your salaah is multiplied by 100,000 times.
Just imagine, if youre there for about two weeks (14 days), and you pray all five prayers in the masjid, thats equivalent in reward to praying more then 3800 years! Subhaan Allaah!
When you get to Mina, busy your self with making dua, dhikr, reading Quraan, etc. Your stay here is only a few precious days. You cant waste it by talking, relaxing, doing nothing, as some people do.
And once in Arafah, this is THE day you were waiting for.
This is what Hajj is all about. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said, “Hajj is Arafah.” (Abu Dawud) Put in all you got during the day of Arafah. Take advantage of each hour, minute and second. Do not waste even a single moment. Make a dua list and do lots and lots of dua, for this is the day to make dua. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best of dua is dua on the day of Arafah, and the best thing that I and the Prophets before me said is Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah (There is no god but Allaah alone with no partner or associate). (al-Tirmidhi, hasan by Albaani)
6. Hajj is not your annual vacation trip. Its an act of Ibaadah
Remember this is Hajj...not a cruise or a vacation. Remember when not so long ago people traveled for months through dangerous terrain and rough weather to get to Hajj, not to mention the heat, diseases, thugs and other hardships of travel. They had to draw water from a well and walk to the bushes to relieve themselves.
7. Dont just say it.... mean it
When you recite the Talbiyah, dont just say it like a parrot, without knowing what it means and what it implies. Think about the greatness of these words and an even greater Greatness of the One you are saying these words to. You are saying Labbaik, Allaahumma Labbaik....
What do these words imply?
Oh Allaah I am here....here to serve You, here to obey You, here to submit my life, my wants, my desires only to You. I am ready for change. Oh Allaah, I love you and I worship no one but you.
So forgive me and guide me. This is the implication behind these words. So say these words from the heart....mean what you say...and let a tear roll from your eyes when you say it. And that goes for all the duas that you will recite.
8. Be nice
Obviously, everybody wants their Hajj To be Mabroor (accepted).. .because the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said, “…There is no reward for Hajj mabroor except Paradise.” (Al-Bukhaari)
They said: “What makes Hajj mabroor, Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Providing food to people and spreading (the greeting of) salaam.” (Fath al-Bari, 4/446) Thus we see that being kind to the people, being generous and considerate, serving and helping them is the KEY to having your Hajj accepted. So go ahead and help that old lady with her luggage, and the older brother across the street. Move over to make room in the saff for your fellow Muslim so that they too can find a place to pray. Distribute candy among the children, pass out glasses of Zam Zam, smile at everyone and say salaam to those you know and those you dont.
In other words, just keep you eyes and ears open for every opportunity to do good and jump at any chance you get to spread khair, all this for the sake of pleasing Allaah Alone and Insha Allaah your Hajj will be mabroor.
May Allah accept all the Hajj of all the brothers and sisters, and teach the coming Hujjaj how to best prepare and earn a Hajj Mabroor. Ameen.