Reflections

The child inside us

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:34:00 GMT

"Put this work aside, I want to sleep."
"I'm not done with TV. Delay visiting your uncle."
"Tell them about your accomplishments, how I like to be praised."

These are some examples of what wanders in ourselves consciously and unconsciously!

The human being is a wondrous creature, exalted be the Creator!
In him are instincts and motives that puzzle and astonish.
Among the greatest of mysteries in mankind is the "self."

This self is more like a child.
Its desires are endless and it is really selfish. It loves comfort, hates effort, and fears sacrifices.

It begs you to do what it likes, even if this act violates the laws of the Creator.
It screams loudly when you think of a good long-term deed because it only sees its own desires.

Different people have different ways of dealing with their selves.

On one side, there are people who would spoil themselves.
You'd see them running towards their selves' desires of wealth, showoff, and even taking revenge against others. When they're advised to stay away from something bad, they reply saying, "I just feel like it, I cannot resist it." Sometimes, they just maneuver in the answer to hide their self desires.

Those are the ones who worship their own selves and are prisoners of desires and lusts. They do not know that they wrong their selves this way by going after immediate desires for the cost of permanent misery in the hereafter.

On the other bright side, there are those who own their selves. They provide their selves's rights, but they're careful not to allow over the cliff desires. They struggle against inner self desires preventing them from doing good (and costly) deeds. Those are the ones who do good to their selves by preventing immediate desires for the sake of permanent bliss.

Thus is the case with children. Despite that parents need to give children a good space of freedom of action and learning, they are required to guide them and even intervene to prevent children from things that may hurt them.

Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an:
"For, unto him who shall have transgressed the bounds of what is right * and preferred the life of this world * that blazing fire will truly be the goal! * But unto him who shall have stood in fear of his Sustainer's Presence, and held back his inner self from base desires, * paradise will truly be the goal! "
[79: 37 to 41]

May Allah make us all among those who own themselves and win the good of this world and the hereafter.

This article is a translation of my original Arabic article

Ghaza under seige

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:25:00 GMT

We start our day by making ablution with clean water and praying the morning prayer.

We do this while the air conditioner is protecting us from heat or freezing.
Then we start preparing ourselves to go to work or to study and have a fresh and tasty breakfast.
We could also visit a patient in a clean, equipped, and safe hospital.
We drive our cars in the quiet streets.

But ...

What if our nights were not as quiet?
What if water was not as clean? Or even available?
What if we fail to use our air conditioners, refrigerators, or computer?
What if our cars ran out of fuel?
What if we were unable to buy milk and bread?
What if we couldn't feel safe about our children playing in the playground?
What if we were worried about ourselves, our families, and our loved ones from bombs falling from time to time?
What if a relative or friend died in the hospital because of an electricity blackouts?

What if brothers of us - while knowing about our misery- were ignoring what is happening to us and not supporting us?
Even worse, what if our brothers were dancing and having parties despite our inability to lift the oppression we're facing?

This situation is not a fictitious story, but it is what your brothers and sisters in Gaza are facing.
Gaza, which is inhabited by about one million Muslim in an area of less than 70 square kilometers.
Gaza, which has been under occupation for more than forty years?
Gaza the honorable and resistant.

Gaza is currently living a tragedy amid severe shortages of fuel, electricity and basic supplies of life.
Is it conceivable that we bury our heads in the sand and only care about ourselves?
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said "Whoever is not concerned about other Muslims is not one of them" (or as he said PBUH)

He (PBUH) also said "Whoever sees a 'munkar' (evil, unlawful, unjust, etc.) should change it by his hand. If he couldn't, then by his tongue. If he couldn't, then by his heart and that is the weakest of faith" (or as he said PBUH)

When the greatest evil and unjust is happening in Gaza, would we act as if nothing is happening?

Brothers and sisters, whoever of us is able to donate - however small the amount - should do so through legitimate and reliable channels like the organization of Islamic Relief and local official charity associations.

Whoever is able to remind people through family gatherings, blogs, or forums should do so.

We pray to Allah Almighty, who owns the heavens and the earth and who has power over all things.

Oh Allah, lift the siege of our brothers in Gaza
Oh Allah, relieve them from oppression and humiliation
Oh Allah, accept their dead as martyrs
Oh Allah, bestow your mercy over the orphans and the bereaved
Oh Allah, Lord of the Worlds, help them out of what they're in

This article is translated from the original Arabic one I wrote in my main blog

The cat's story!

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:04:00 GMT

Few days ago, I received an SMS from my Father who's in Oman (I'm in the U.S. studying). The message had news that someone has passed away!
My heart was beating fast while I continued through the message. Then I was surprised to find out it is about the death of my cousins' cat! And that my teenage cousin cried!

For seconds, feelings of surprise and relief mixed inside me that it was not the news of one of my relatives passing away. More seconds passed while I was thinking how the message frightened me for the death of a cat!

But then I remembered the story of this cat!
This cat was not one of those spoiled hairy ones. It was not the most beautiful, nor a cat raised as a hobby. This cat was only a "streets' cat." Three years ago, a bunch of heartless kids harassed it and caused a deep wound in its eye. The poor cat was suddenly unable to take care of itself because of this.
My cousin was watching this. He felt sorry for the cat and took care of it since then. The cat passed away recently in the veterinary after not being able to eat for a problem in its teeth.

Then I remembered the saying of Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be on him): "While a man was traveling, he felt very thirsty. He found a well and went down to have a drink. When he came out he found a thirsty dog. He said to himself, "This dog is as thirsty as I was." He then went back inside the well and used his shoe to bring out some water for the dog. Allah was pleased with him and forgave his sins because of he had done." [Recorded by Al-Bukhari]

So my dear cousins, may Allah be pleased with you for your kindness towards this poor and weak animal.

If this was the reward of taking care of animals in our beautiful religion, how would the reward of taking care of human beings be?
I ask Allah to give us all hearts merciful towards our Muslim brothers & sisters, all people, and all creatures.

Our beloved Prophet may Allah be pleased with him said, "Allah will show no mercy to those who do not show mercy to others"

Muslim brotherhood

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 21:46:00 GMT

"O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa (piousness). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware" [Al-Hujurat 49:13]

The way things are going (or made by some to go) has created a strange gap between Arabs (the Muslim majority of them) and the rest of the Muslim world! Arabs are caring most now by their race and nationalism more than the true multi-race Muslim brotherhood that the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has established 14 centuries ago.

It is true Muhammad (peace be upon him) was an Arab and that most of his companions were Arab too, but why do we neglect the non-Arab great Sahaba?
Bilal (Africa), Salman (Persia), and Suhaib (Europe) were among the best of the prophet's companions.

If you look into the glorious Islamic history, you'll find other great non-Arab Muslim figures:
Sallahuddain (Kurd), Muhammad Al-Fateh (Turk), Tarek Ibn Ziyad (Barbar), and many other great examples.

Unfortunately, this seeking of belongingness and glory through race or any common ground other than Islam is also seen, to some extent, elsewhere in the the larger Muslim Ummah (nation).

The point is that Islam is a universal message and way of life for all mankind regardless of race, nationality, gender, etc. We, all Muslims, should hold tight to the true Muslim brotherhood. We should help each other go through the bright guiding path given to us by Allah through the Qur'an and the Sunnah (way of life) of our beloved prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Needless to say, Muslims are still obliged to deal justly and respectfully with people of all other faiths.We wish guidance and goodness to all people, but we still respect those who choose other paths.

May Allah guide us all to the straight path and help us to stick on it all the way.

The beginning!

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:47:00 GMT

In the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the Most Gracious

This is my first article on my English blog. I'm in a mixture of feelings now. Excitement, thrill, and eagirly looking into the future where I can meet many good friends.

I've been blogging in Arabic for a while (www.halazri2006.jeeran.com), and I decided that it is time for me to start an English blog. Here I could translate some of my Arabic articles (or vice versa!), plus writing maybe some independent ones.

The idea is that my Arabic blog has a limited (though large) audience, i.e. only people who read and write Arabic. Here, I'd love to extend my possible audience and engage in useful discussions.

It would take me some time to post my next article when I get time to do that InShaAllah.

I ask Allah for his guidance and support. And I look forward to meet friends from all over the world.