The Self - Spiritual Tendencies

The Self

Your cure is within you,

but you do not know,

Your illness is from you,

but you do not see.

You are the “Clarifying Book”

Through whose letters becomes manifest the hidden.

You suppose that you’re a small body

But the greatest world unfolds within you.

You would not need what is outside yourself

If you would reflect on ’self’, but you do not reflect.

Sayyidinā Alī Ibn Abī Tālib (karrama Allāhu wajhahu)

Spiritual Tendencies Has Returned

The older blog of our brother Shaik (shaikr.com), Spiritual Tendencies, has returned, alhamdulillah. Welcome back, Sidi.


The Strong Man

The strong man is the one who is happy when this world leaves his hands, departs from him and flees from him, and he is happy when people blame him and accuse him. He is content with it because of his knowledge of God. Shaykh Ibn ‘Atā’Illah, may God be pleased with him, said in his Hikām, “If you are pained because people do not turn to you or direct blame towards you, then go back to the knowledge of God in you. If you are not content with His knowledge. then your affliction by your lack of contentment with His knowledge is worse than your affliction by their abuse. Abuse is channelled through them so that you will not rely on them. He wants to rouse you and move you away from everything so that nothing distracts you from Him.”

- Shaykh Muhammad al-’Arabī ad-DarqāwīRasā’il Mawlāy al-’Arabī ad-Darqāwī

Man with searching mind had a knack for inspiring others

Man with searching mind had a knack for inspiring others

I remember first meeting Omer at my nikah -- he was a very quiet, reserved brother. The next day as Salik and I sat looking through our gifts we came across a card with $300 in it, but no name. We began making a list to see who was at the wedding, but had not given a card and I remember Salik saying "wait a minute, Omer!". We checked and couldn't find anything with his name on it, so Salik was sure it was him. When Salik called to ask him, he started laughing and finally admitted to it upon Salik's insistance to know. This is how kareem a man he was. May both he and Allah forgive our shortcomings towards such a pure person. Ameen.

At the janazah today, his body did not reflect the means of its death. Masha'Allah, his skin was still radiant.

May Allah have mercy on him, forgive his shortcomings, and multiply his many good deeds. May Allah grant him a high station in Jannah with our beloved Messenger (Allah bless him and give peace). Ameen.

And may Allah make this difficult time easier for his wife, parents, siblings, and loved ones. Ameen.

Fatiha/Ya Sin.

Article about Omer:

Omer had a restless mind.

He devoured books. He challenged the norm.

He pushed himself and those around him to test the waters outside of their comfort zone, say friends.

So it came as little surprise to those close to him that Omer's last moments were spent enveloped in a book, gleaning wisdom from the written word.

He died Tuesday while seeking shelter from a rainstorm under a large tree in Toronto's Christie Pits Park. Lightning struck the tree and travelled down the trunk to his body, Toronto Police said. He was declared dead in hospital.

The 28-year-old Waterloo man leaves behind a wife, two younger siblings and his parents.

Omer recently moved to Toronto from his family's home in Waterloo to cut down on the commute to his job at a construction company, where he worked as a civil engineer.

His responsibilities with the company had grown quickly -- he was handling major projects usually given more to senior engineers, said longtime friend Firas Mansour.

Spirituality mattered a lot to Omer, who absorbed religious literature and became a mentor for other youth, he said. But his interests were broader, stretching from outdoor pursuits and world travel to the study of philosophy and economics.

"He was 10 years ahead of his time," Mansour said.

Abdul Mannan Syed, imam at the Waterloo mosque which Omer attended, remembers a man who would give him lifts around town, dispensing advice on how to speak to Muslim youth.

Many within the local community simply can't believe he's gone, especially through such a strange accident, said the imam.

"Everyone is in a state of shock. They can't understand how this happened," Syed said.
Omer lived in Waterloo Region for much of his life, moving to the Canada from Kuwait with his mother, brother and sister in his youth.

Many considered him a "brother" and a "soulmate," his sister Maryam said in a statement.
"His memory will never leave us," she said.

Omar Nafees met him while both were undergraduates at the University of Waterloo.
There, they were work-out buddies, challenging each other in the gym to reach new milestones. Omer became a "spring board" for his friend, a motivating reminder to keep striving for improvement.

Omer also had a knack for pushing people just outside the familiar and gravitated toward ideas that were outside the mainstream.

"It was like having the feeling that, 'I'm going to come out a better person because of this encounter,' " Nafees said. "That was one of the things I felt with Omer. It's very tough to find people like that."

Prayers will be held today at the Waterloo Mosque on Erb Street, after the jummah prayer. A burial will follow at Parkview Cemetery at 2:15 p.m.

From Allah we came and to Him we are Returning.

AsSalamu'alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu,

From Allah we came and to Him we are Returning.

During last night's thunderstorm, a good friend of Salik's was hit by a bolt and passed away. He was found in sujud with a book beside him -- when I saw the news that sounded so much like Salik that it really struck me hard...and even moreso when we found out we knew him. Please make du'a for him, his family, and newlywed wife.

Fatiha and/or Ya Sin.

Wassalam,
Salikah

Alberta & British Columbia

AsSalamu'alaykum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu,

I was wondering if anyone lives in or has visited Alberta or BC (the southern half of both provinces). Salik and I will be travelling there, insha'Allah, and would love any advice/tips on what to see and do there...the "must do" list.

We're driving between Calgary and Vancouver (and in and around each of those cities).

Please post or email.

Barak Allahu fi kum.

Wassalam,
Salikah

Alhamdulillah for Desserts

Salik's childhood friend Chutney came over the other night for dinner after a year in Jeddah. Our dessert, courtesy of yours truly:

Mango milkshake made with Pakistani Sindhi mangoes, whole milk, vanilla ice cream, and ice.

Chocolate chip waffles with vanilla ice cream, blackberries, strawberries, and chocolate syrup.

Yummy :)

God's Favour

God’s favour comes unexpectedly,
but only to an alert heart.

Put not your hope in people,
for you will be wounded.
Put your hope in God
that you may be delivered.

- Khwaja Abdullah Ansari

(from the blog of Sidi Shaik Abdul Khafid to whom I'm indebted for much technical support)

I Close My Eyes and I'm in Madinah

I close my eyes and I'm off to Madinah, the blessed city of our Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

Although it was more than six months ago that we were there, when I close my eyes, it all returns and by Allah's Mercy, the late night visits to the Rawdah are forever etched in my being.

Eating dinner with the group, going upstairs, making wudu and meeting the sisters in the lobby.

I can still feel our excitement and hear our laughter as we walked quickly down the dark, tranquil brick road, passed the closed shops... hoping, praying for a chance to meet with our beloved Nabi (Allah bless him and give him peace).

The air that is ever so light and so sweetly scented.

Getting to the courtyard gates, bending quickly to remove our shoes and placing them in our bags.

Walking swiftly across the marble floor of the courtyard, reciting the du'as of entering the masjid in unison and sending salat and salam on the Rasul (Allah bless him and give him peace).

Getting to the doors wanting to get passed the guards as quickly as possible, and then rushing to the wooden gate from where sisters are allowed visitation.

Seeing it open the happiness that would bubble out from within, with a burst of energy to run as gently as possible before entry was closed to the rawdah.

Heart pounding, tears flowing at the very site of the green dome, knowing whom we were about to meet again.

Tears of love, of longing, of gratitude. The realization of one's unworthiness of this most mubarak place, and the Mercy of Allah upon one.

Oh the things that happen in the rawdah. The connection one feels to the Rasul (Allah bless him and give him peace) and of his welcoming one to his home, and the warmth of being enveloped in his mercy. Oh the things that happen in the rawdah.

I open my eyes and they are as moist as if I had just been there today. Is it any wonder that the love one feels for those who were with one on hajj is unlike any other? Their very being, their smiling face, it all takes one back to the most mubarak time of one's life.

May Allah Ta'Ala bless us with the company of His Beloved, the Chosen One (Allah bless him and give him peace) in this world and the hereafter. Ameen.

May Allah bless our Master Muhammad, his family, companions, and all those who seek to follow him, in this life and the next. Ameen ya Rabb, Ameen.

Check Your Fatiha Online at Dar Al-Hamd

Wondering how your fatiha recital is? Fill in this form online and have someone check it for you via Skype.

Dar Al-Hamd

Online Counselling with Dr. Ibrahim Kreps

Dr. Ibrahim Kreps has launched Online Counselling via his site Hakim Publishing.

For those who may not know, Dr. Kreps is a Canadian psychiatrist currently on leave to Jordan (we actually happen to run into him in the souk in Damascus last summer).

I Seek Refuge...

I seek refuge in Allah from knowledge that brings no wisdom, from a heart that lacks kindness, from desires that bring discontent, and from supplications that go unanswered.

- Rasool Allah (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam), as reported by Abu Hurairah, Al-Hadis, 3:790.

Unfolding a Rose: A Lesson

Assalamu'alaykum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu,

An email that was floating around back in 2002.

Wassalam,
Salikah

===

Trust In Allah; He never gives up on those that do!

A young, new ustadh (teacher) was walking with an older, more seasoned>ustadh (teacher) in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what Allah had for him to do, he was asking the older ustadh for some advice. The older ustadh walked up to a rosebush and handed the young ustadh a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young ustadh looked in disbelief at the older ustadh and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of Allah for his life and ministry. But because of his great respect for the older ustadh, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact... It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do. Noticing the younger ustadh's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older ustadh began to recite the following poem...

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of Allah's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
Allah opens this flower so sweetly,
Then in my hands they die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of Allah's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Allah for leading
each moment of my day.
I will look to Allah for His guidance
each step of the way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only Allah knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

Qurba: Summer 2008 Intensive Program (Razi)

The Razi Institute Presents:

Qurba: Summer 2008 Intensive Program -- August 13th-17th, 2008



Looks good!

The Risalah Foundation & Summer Day Camp for Kids

Summer Day Camp

Give your child a healthy summer experience!

· Inspirational Companionship ~ Character Building Values

Program:
Quranic Studies
Basic Islamic Knowledge
Physical & Creative Activities
Age:
7 - 12 years old
Time:
July & August
Mon to Fri (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
Cost:
$50/Week per Child
Location:
Risalah Foundation (click here for map)

Registration:
On Site Sat. June 7 & 14
For more info contact Camp Co-coordinator
Sr. Nazie Shakur
416-434-5891
nazie_shakur@yahoo.ca

Volunteers:
Brothers & sisters who would like to volunteer please contact
Shaykh Ramzy
ramzyajem@gmail.com

Please visit us at www.risalah.ca or call 905-482-3300 for more information
Risalah Foundation
101-193 Jardin Drive, (HWY 407 & Keele St.)
Vaughan, Ontario L4K 1X5

Tartuffe & Confusion: Two Rubaiyat by the Trobador

Tartuffe

Do you count yourself among those
Of love while your tortured heart knows
Your deceit that over a sun
You a withering matchstick chose?

Confusion
Weep, weep, weep, my heart, weep, weep, weep!
I know what silent sorrows heap
Upon you and confound the mind,
But when did sorrow ever sleep?

Masha'Allah, beautiful poems, as always, by our brother Motamid.

Gandhi on Earthly Provisions

EARTH provides enough to satisfy every man's NEED, but not every man's GREED.
- Mahatma Gandhi

Subhan'Allah.

The Hikma of Hakim Archuletta

Bismillah.

AsSalamu'alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu.

Alhamdulillah, we were blessed once again in the GTA, with a visit from Sidi Hakim Archuletta this past weekend. Masha'Allah, he is truly a beautiful person to be with -- Salik, who met him for the first time, also quickly fell in love with Hakim.

As I did after his last visit here in March 2006 (A Weekend with Hakim Archuletta...), I'm going to post some of my notes from his talk/workshop, as well as some of the things I learned from him in a more informal way over the weekend -- my notes are not linear...just points that stood out to me.

Sidi Hakim began by saying "Alhamdulillah, Shukrulillah" -- and he said it with his entire being and mentioned that we cannot begin, but with those words of gratitude to the One without whose permission we could not have gathered together.

• Traditional Medicine is called Hikma Medicine because it requires wisdom to understand the human body. He mentioned that Imam Ghazali said, "Do not offend your animal, learn to ride it so that it does not drag you" and the hadith "do not chase the camel". He also mentioned the example of ants in Pakistan that crawl up people who push them off only to have the ants return, not knowing that the best thing to do is help them in the direction they're headed by pushing them that way and not back where they came from.
• Sidi Hakim told us that one of the principals of Hikma is that Allah's patterns in creation are the same. Therefore, what we find in animals, we find in ourselves, and what we find in ourselves is what we find in the environment. We are polluted. What we have done to the environment is simply a reflection of what we've done to ourselves.
• Our lifestyles are obese -- we suffer what the kings of the past did. Our lifestyles aren't just destroying our environment, but our souls. Over tea, Hakim mentioned to Salik and I that people often will stuff themselves with food when they're already full in order to not "waste" food -- but since waste is anything that is excess, such people are wasting food, and unlike when thrown in the garbage, when excess food is thrown into our bodies, it's actually dhulm to our bodies. He reminded us of what he's often referred to in the past as "the bite" -- that is the point in our meal when our body signals to us that it does not need anymore...it tells us not only through how our stomachs feel, but by the way the food looks, feels, and smells at that point...and that is when we should stop eating. Thus the hadith that we should fill 1/3 of our stomach with food, 1/3 with liquid, and 1/3 with air. He finished by saying that we should cook in accordance with what we can eat without wasting, likewise, we should take a little food at the table, and take more if we need it...rather than filling the plate with food because we're hungry when we first see it.
• We are digging our graves with our teeth!
• Addiction to a life of ease does not bring fulfillment.
• Hakim spoke of the fact that there is much barakah in eating food prepared by a believer, and especially that of one's mother which is made with immense love. He told us the hadith that "the believer's heart goes through 2000 hals in a day and that the heart of the non-believer can stay in one hal for 2000 days".
• As he often does, he told us that one Shaykh said that the flood in the time of the Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) was one of water, and that the flood of our times is one of separation. In light of this he advised us to never eat alone and added there is a hadith in which we were told that the one who eats alone eats with Shaytan and that in Morocco there are many people that still seek refuge in Allah if given a plate of food to eat from alone!
• We are mammals and we have a need to connect. Just talking meaningfully affects our nervous system.
• And men, as in the past, he mentioned once again the need to listen to your wives! He said that men often say that their wives are weak and that he says, Alhamdulillah because women have saved our humanity! Men don't express their feelings enough. The depressed person does not want to face things that bring grief, sorrow, distress, anger, and the like -- what we need to learn is to come into our sense and know where we have these feelings and to let them come out in words, tears, and vocal sounds that want to come out because they've been trapped inside. He said that when tears come because of something we've kept locked inside, they come from the stomach and bring deep breaths that feed the body with much needed oxygen -- just as Allah says in the Qur'an that He sends down rain to revive the dead earth, so too do tears revive a heart that is dying! He said once again that he has never met a depressed person that was really breathing.
• Finally, although he did not specifically recommend or endorse these books, he did mention them in his talk in passing: Jerry Mander's In the Absence of the Sacred; biodiversity work by Vandana Shiva; Paul Hawken's Blessed Unrest; Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food; David Korten's When Corporations Rule the World; and work on the Bioneers. These aren't "recommendations", though...just works he referred to in the context of a workshop on Faith and the Environment. For his list of recommended books, click here.

Overall message: WAKE UP!

Hakim's Site

Lectures

May Allah forgive me for any mistakes I've made in sharing Hakim's Hikma.

Wassalam,

Salikah

Oh, and the picture's mine (I took it) and is copyrighted like all other pictures on my blog!

Hajj 2008: Sacred Tours

Bismillah.

AsSalamu'alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu,

Thinking of making hajj this year? I highly recommend going with Sacred Tours - Canadian Hajj Services.

We went with them for Hajj 2007 and it was *excellent* -- great adminstration (the organizer is pleasant and really knows what he's doing) and the spiritual leadership is beyond anything one could possibly want or ask for (shuyukh who know not only the outward of hajj, but the inward as well...thus leading by example, the way to a beautiful hajj experience).

May Allah give you success in your intentions.

Wassalam,

Salikah

Living the Light: Understanding the Qur’an & Sunna with Sh. Faraz Rabbani

Living the Light: Understanding the Qur’an & Sunna
with Faraz Rabbani

Wednesdays 7 – 9 p.m.

Shalimar Community Center -3024 Cedarglen Gate
(Dundas just East of Erindale Station Rd. Mississauga)

Topics:

(1) Understanding the Call to the Believers in the Clear Qur’an
Commentary on the 89 verses in the Qur’an where Allah addresses the believers with “O you who believe!” based on classical sources, and Shaykh Ahmad Jami’s “Call to the Believers.” These verses contain some of the central guidance and principles of Islam

(2) Understanding the Prophetic Example: Imam Nawawi’s Gardens of the Righteous (Riyad al-Salihin) Explained
Commentary on one of the greatest and most important hadith works, in which Imam Nawawi gives the Prophetic hadiths that outline that way to become one of the righteous

All welcome.

Monthly fees: $25 (Individuals); $40 (Family)
(No one will be turned away due to lack of funds)

For details & directions email: rabbanihalaqa@gmail.com

Directions: Go North on Cedarglen Gate from Dundas. Take immediate left. Drive to end of lane. You’ll end up in an open-air parking lot. The Shalimar Community Center is straight ahead. Cedarglen Gate is West of Mavis, just East of Erindale Station Rd.
[View on Google Maps]

Living the Light: Understanding the Qur’an & Sunna
with Faraz Rabbani

Sisters Halaqa with Shaykh Talal Ahdab

BISMILLAH
LIVING THE LIGHT SERIES
CREED 101 – THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FAITH
INSTRUCTOR – TALAL AHDAB
REQUESTED BY SISTERS: THIS EVENT IS A SISTER-ONLY-COURSE

DO YOU
… LACK knowledge or have issues with the fundamentals of Islam?
… ASK yourself questions or have doubts about "what this is all about?"
… TEACH or deal with those who have issues with or lack knowledge of the fundamentals
… HAVE a strong desire to further strengthen your foundation?

If you answer YES to any of the above, then this course is for YOU

OBJECTIVES:

• TO GET people to learn, discuss, and enjoy;
• TO OBTAIN an understanding of what is meant by the oneness of Allah; What can and cannot be ascribed to Him or described of Him; an understanding of the infallibility of His Messengers and the necessity of this as well as what constitutes a tenet of faith that must be believed in and areas of belief that are subsidiary.
  

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

By the end of this course,

1. You will gain a deeper understanding of the What; the Why and the How
2. You will gain a basic understanding of the purpose of life; the relationship between the Creator, the creature and the universe; and how the universe really works
3. You will learn tenets concerned with the Attributes of God; with Belief / Faith; with the Divine Decree; with the Muslim Community; with the Unseen; as well as those tenets pertaining to the Day of Judgment and the Next Life
4. You will become acquainted with the proofs from the Qur'an and the Sunna
5. You will become familiar with the various Muslim sects throughout history as well as those of today
6. You will be able to have a discussion about issues related to Faith; God; and/or the Prophets
   

THE TEXT
The creedal text called al-Tahawiyah is one of the earliest and primal works in the field of Aqida. For centuries, it has been widely circulated amongst the scholars and students of knowledge. The text is written in simple yet precise language keeping to the fundamentals of a Muslims' belief.

COURSE DETAILS

• DURATION Two parts; SIX (6) sessions for each part; May– July 2008
• TIME / LOCATION TBA; A Location / Time, convenient for all attendees
• TUITION $20 CAD for each part OR $30 CAD for the whole course
• TEXTBOOK The Creed of Imam al-Tahawi (provided)
• FORMAT 2-hour sessions; Q&A sessions; sessions will be recorded
• AUDIENCE
  This course was requested by few sisters and as such it will be a Sister-ONLY-Course: High-school students, university students; and professionals preferred
  SIZE – Seating is limited to 10 sisters (maximum of 20 will be allowed); SERIOUS applicants ONLY

A full syllabus will be provided to registrants.
A reading list and resources will also be made available.

INTERESTED? Please email CREED101RAZI@GMAIL.COM, with the following details
1. Full Name; Occupation / Profession; Main Email; and your Cell Phone Number
2. Please indicate what location / day / time would NOT be suitable.
3. A one page (12 font size, double spaced lines) description of why you wish to take this course
4. COPY & PASTE the following line into your email subject heading: CREED101RAZI – REQUEST FOR REGISTRATION – SUMMER 2008 – "YOUR NAME HERE"

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION – End of MAY 12th 2008

When Hearts Change - Shadhili Teachings

Bismillah.

When Hearts Change - A new article posted at Sh. Nuh's request, in both Arabic and English.
(Click on Articles, and then on "When Hearts Change")

"The least loss incurred by the novice who opposes his Shaykh is his preoccupation with this lower world and turning away from the life to come. The novice becomes bent on amassing the stuff of this world in whatever way possible to the extent that he declares as an enemy whoever bars him from doing so, even if it is his Shaykh. And also among the reasons of the novice's ruin are his lack of remembrance of God, his lack of reciting the Qur'an, his lack of practising what he knows and his failure to observe his litanies and to stay awake at night as well as his lack of praying the congregational prayer in the mosque. The novice may even leave his Shaykh but persevere in observing the litanies that he had while in his company. However, these litanies are of little benefit. They might appear to the novice like mountains when in reality they are like atoms in the eyes of those for whom the states of the afterlife are unveiled?

So do, O my brother, understand this and you will be guided, and God will see to your guidance and praise be to Allah, the Lord of all Being." (excerpt)

Sisters' Tajweed with Ustadha Saima Deen

AsSalamu'alaykum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu,

I got the following email and wanted to share it with other sisters in the GTA:

***

There is a new session for Sisters Only Tajweed classes starting this Saturday April 26 from 10:00 am – Noon at Lote Tree. Ustadha Saiema Din has structured this course into a 3 part series with Part 1 (7 weeks) beginning this weekend insha-allah. For those who know Ustadha Saiema can attest to her high quality of execution for her classes and expectation for dedicated and committed students.

I am compelled to convey a comment from our beloved Shaykh Zahid Ally who addressed a number of brothers in this years Suhba, namely “the women in Toronto do not realize the gem they have amongst them with the like of Sister Saima” and “they (women) should take advantage of all that she has to offer”.

Please see below for further details:

Tajweed Rules & Recitation:
Part 1 of 3 (7-week course)

Saturday Mornings, From 10 am – 12 pm
Starting April 26th, 2008
Ending June 7th, 2008
Classes are only open to Adult Sisters
Overview:

This weekly class is part one of a series of 3 detailed modules on the rules of tajweed. The first module will be divided into 2 parts specifically focusing on the rules. The second module will focus on the correct recitation of surat-ul Fatiha.

This course will include in-class assignments and homework. Students who would be interested in this course are those who can commit to the classes and the assignments given.

Textbooks:
Tajweed Rules of the Quran by Kareema Czerepinski - Part 1
Tajweed Rules of the Quran by Kareema Czerepinski - Part 2
Mushaf (copy of the Quran)
Students are responsible for their own textbooks.
They are available for purchase at Habib’s Bookstore
[20 Rexdale Blvd., Etobicoke, ON, M9W 5Z3, Tel: 416-743-6317]

Registration:
Please register by Wed. April 23rd online confirming your attendance at the following email address: tajweedprogram@hotmail.com
Fee: The course fee is $50 for the entire 7- week course (textbooks not included).
Location: Lote Tree Foundation

About the Teacher - Ustadha Saiema Din [briefly]:
Ustadha Saiema Din Syed was born in Toronto, Canada to parents of Pakistani origin. She attended, while doing her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, fiqh classes taught by Shaykh Talal Ahdab and attended the first Deen Intensive program in Toronto in 1997. She graduated in 1997 from the University of Toronto with an Honours degree in Psychology. She then left for Damascus to study Arabic and the Islamic Sciences along with her husband, Shaykh Zahir Bacchus. Over the course of six years, she studied the science of Tajweed, Shaf’i fiqh, Arabic grammar, ‘Aqeeda, and Methodology of Hadith. She studied under some of the distinguished scholars of Damascus attaining written permission to teach the Islamic sciences. After completing her studies, she returned back to the University of Toronto and completed the Bachelor of Education program, while teaching various halaqahs in the city. She is currently residing in Brampton with her family where she continues to teach the Islamic Sciences as well as being a full-time teacher in the public school board.

Lote Tree Foundation
2131 Williams Parkway, Unit 3, Brampton, ON
(Close to the Railroad tracks, facing Williams Pkwy)
Nearest Major Intersection: Airport Road & Williams Pkwy
For More information Email: tajweedprogram@hotmail.com

And in Allah let the believers place all their trust!

Bismillah.

AsSalamu'alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu,

I pray you are all well. As some of you may remember from my "Missings" Post , Salik and I lost most of our luggage coming home from hajj.

Alhamdullah, over three months later, it just got back to us!

Just before I got the call for the first bag having been found, I was mentioning it to a friend of mine and when she was saying how unfortunate it was, I told her it was indeed, but that what we had gained from hajj was far greater than anything we lost of material things. Just as I got off with her, the phone rang to tell me the first bag had been found, but that they could not locate the other one anywhere. This was late March.

Then last week I was speaking to a teacher of ours and when I told him the bag had come and that I would be happy if he prayed for the other bag to also be found, he said, "sister you still have hope?!" and I told him that I was an optimist to the end, just like my father, and so he said, "Insha'Allah!". And alhamdulillah, four days later I got a message that the other bag had been found!

I had been convinced that all of hajj Allah was teaching me non-attachment to material things. The day we put on our ihrams for hajj my camera broke. For all of the days at Mina, my MP3 Player had gone missing, two suitcases were lost enroute to New York from Jeddah, and the remaining two bags were lost between New York and Toronto. Alhamdulillah, the last few months have definately taught me something of this and shown me the reality of the things of this world.

Alhamdulillah. Shukran for your du'as.

Wassalam,
Salikah

Branch 6 - Belief in the Last Day & the Hereafter

Bismillah.

AsSalamu'alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

Alhamdulillah, The Razi Institute's 77 Branches of Faith program held this past weekend at the University of Toronto was wonderful -- insha'Allah, some of you also attended. The Shuyukh all compliment each other very well -- Sh. Talal, Sh. Ramzy, Sh. Faraz, Sh. Jamal, Shaykh Zahir and his wife, Ustadha Saima...the dynamic between them all was one of wonderful reverence and utmost love for one another, with a shared concern for the ummah.

The program provided a lovely notebook with the text as well as space to take notes for each session. Insha'Allah, I will try to share small parts of the notes I took for branches that I feel are key or where something was said that may of be particular benefit insha'Allah. I pray that I convey the message of the Shuyukh correctly -- if anyone finds any error, please do correct me (and if any of the Shuyukh read this, please forgive me in advance for doing such injustice to the wisdom you were kind enough to share with us).

Branch 6 - Belief in the Last Day.

This includes belief in the questioning of the grave; resurrection; standing; reckoning; scales; bridge; Heaven; and Hell.

This session was led by Sh. Ramzy Ajem. Imam Ghazali (may Allah have mercy on him), who wrote so much on the topic of death, said that "the Reality of death, is the Reality of Life". Our physical death is simply entry into the third stage of our existence -- the stage called barzakh (an intermediary between our worldly existence and the Day of Judgement).

Our first stage was before conception, when the Qur'an speaks of our testifying to the Oneness of Allah (the day of alast, as it is referred to in many texts). The second stage is our worldly life in this dunya -- the world of accountability and responsibility to seek God and obey Him. The third is the barzakh mentioned above. The fourth is the life of the Day of Judgement. And the 5th stage is the life in heaven or hell (may Allah protect us from the Fire and grant us Paradise, ameen).

He also spoke of the bridge that will be thinner than a knife, from which evildoers will slip and which will be made easy for the righteous to cross over, after which, they will be reunited with their loved ones and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), drinking from the fountain that will quench all thirst, and finally there will be ma'rifa.

• Remember often the destroyer of pleasures (death).
• Reflect on death and prepare for it. One who remembers death twenty times each day and night will be raised with the martyrs.
• Be in the world as a wayfarer.
• Love what you will, you will part it.

Finally, Sh. Ramzy shared with us, Four Keys of Help in preparing in this life for tawfiq in the next life insha'Allah. They are as follows:

1. Standing in prayer before Fajr when the angels and Mercy descend from the Heavens. Doing wudu and praying some rakats of salah. Some of the scholars say this is better than praying in the haram itself. Imam Junayd the great sufi (Allah have mercy on him) was seen in a dream after his death, saying that all that benefited him of his works in this world were the two rakats he always made before fajr.
2. Surah Tabarak (I believe after Isha).
3. Du'a (supplication), seeking refuge from the torments of the grave and Hell.
4. Developing a relationship with Rasul Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), turning him for guidance and intersession and sending peace and blessings upon him.

Also related to these Keys, Sh. Talal spoke of making room for Allah, His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace), and prayer in our daily lives. Actually setting aside time in our schedules so it's not the first thing that gets cut when we're tired or busy. And Sh. Ramzy reminded us to make dhikr all day long, to start each act with the basmala, sunnah du'as, saying Alhamdulillah, Subhan'Allah, Astagfiruallah, Allahu Akbar, the shahadah, and salawat and to always have the right intention -- that everything we do is for Allah. As Sh. Nuh says, if you can't say Basmala before an act, you shouldn't be doing it.

Insha'Allah, I pray that Allah give us all tawfiq in applying these keys. By Allah, when we take time to consciously remember Him in the hustle and bustle of our day to day lives, He fills it with a peace and a light that we can otherwise never know.

And Allah knows best. May peace and blessings be upon our noble Prophet - the Chosen One, his family, companions, and all those who seek to follow him until the Last Day.

Wassalam,

Salikah

The Birth of the Beloved of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) The need to love, venerate,and praise him (SunniPath)

The Birth of the Beloved of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) The need to love, venerate,and praise him (SunniPath)

• Love & Praise of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & grant him peace)
  Shaykh Hamza Yusuf on BBC: In Praise of God - The Prophet's Birthday
  Beautiful Praise of the Beloved of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)
  The Fiqh of Sending Peace
  Love of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)
  Love of the Prophet - 2 (Allah bless him and grant him peace)
  On the Necessity of Loving the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)
  How much should the Prophet be loved? And: How?
  Superiority of the Prophet, upon him peace
  Decorating the Mosque for Mawlid Season
  


• Is the Celebration of the Mawlid Permissible?
  Is it permissible to celebrate the Prophet's birthday (Allah bless him and give him peace)?
  Should we celebrate Mawlid (The Prophet's (S) birthday)?
  RE: Milad (Is it permissible to celebrate the Prophet's birthday (Allah bless him and give him peace)?
  The Concept of Bid'a In The Islamic Shari'ah
  

Making Du`a for the Umma of the Beloved of Allah (peace and blessings unlimited be upon him, his family, companions, and followers) Ma`ruf al-Karkhi, one of the righteous imams of the early Muslims (salaf), said,

"Whoever says, 'Allahumma aslih Ummata Muhammad Allahumma farrij `an Ummati Muhammad Allahumma Rham Ummata Muhammad [salla Allahu `alayhi wa sallam]
(O Allah, improve the state of the Umma of Muhammad O Allah, grant ease to the Umma of Muhammad O Allah, have mercy on the Umma of Muhammad),'

ten times every day will be written down as one of the highest of elect believers (abdal)." [Abu Nu`aym, Hilyat al-Awliya , 8.366]

اللهم أصلح أمة محمد اللهم فرج عن أمة محمد أللهم ارحم أمة محمد

Why? The Prophet of Mercy (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

"Have mercy on those on earth, and the Lord of the Skies will have mercy on you." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Bukhari in his al-Adab al-Mufrad from Abd Allah ibn Amr (Allah be pleased with him)]

GTA in March

Alhamdulillah, lots going on this March in the GTA.

• There's the Razi Institute's 77 Branches programme that I posted about earlier.
• RIS presents Race, Gender and the Future of Muslims in North America as a part of their Revival Series...featuring a lecture by Warith Deen Mohammed and a talk by Rubin "Hurricane" Carter (I teach his story as part of a unit at school so I'm really excited!)
• Sh. Faraz is starting a new halaqa in Mississauga, Living the Light: Understanding the Qur’an & Sunna - Wednesdays (7 - 8.30) - Starts March 19th.

Plus, the Mawlid of our Blessed Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) should correspond to the 20th of March this year...and there are a host of Mawlid celebrations across the city on and around that date...so keep your eyes open -- and let me know of the ones you find by posting a reply to this post or emailing me.

Wassalam,
Salikah

The Razi Institute Presents...

THE RAZI INSTITUTE

From Allah we came and to Him we are Returning.

Bismillah.

AsSalamu'alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu,

Please recite fatiha for my father-in-law who went on to meet his Lord yesterday, may Allah have Mercy on him, forgive him, multiply his many good works, and unite him with those beloved to him that passed away before him. Ameen.

May Allah grant patience and certitude to all those he has left behind and may we all be united in the Shade of Allah and the company of the Chosen One (Allah bless him and give him peace) on the Last Day and forever in Paradise, insha'Allah. Ameen.

Wassalam,
Salikah

Hadra with Sh. Nazim

A beautiful Hadra with Sh. Nazim al-Haqqani led by a somali brother with a beautiful voice masha'Allah.

YouTube: Somali Hadra/Mawlid in Lefke with Shaykh Nazim Al-Haqqni

Enjoy!

Lessons from the Road (Din Seeking the Deen)

From Din, of Din Seeking the Deen, comes a wonderful and insightful post about the lessons we can learn about life, friends, and spouse selection, on...the road. The mu'min sees everything in the world as a sign.

A few observtions listed below:

1. Follow leaders carefully.

The people we follow on the highway makes a special difference on a long journey. I for example don't like to follow cars which break often for no reason or if it appears that the car is being driven by a distracted driver ( cell phone?). On the other hand if I see a car which is driving at a reasonable speed ( for the conditions, traffic etc), I will follow it.

Choose who you follow carefully!

Read all 25 lessons from the road.