مسلمون

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

As salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

Jumuah khutbah was right at point.  The Imam of Masjid Daru ul Islam, Ali Jabber deliver an exceptional message.

One point is  clear, as Muslims we need to take care of each other. Why we need  to wait for the non-Muslim to defend us, to give us any social-economical help. We are in the need  to be self-sufficient and able to give  money to our Masjid.

Where are the food, and clothing banks for our families in need?  Where is the Janaza found, for the families who have no money to bury their love ones?  Where are the programs for our Youth, to help them learn about Islam, and keep them away from the streets? Our Youth is not exempt from the streets, or drugs or any kind of problems. We are not angels, we are just humans trying to strive for Paradise. May Allah protect all of our Youth.

And many will tell me, they have no time, no money, the children are to busy playing sports for their school (non-Muslim school) or the girls want to go the mall with their non-Muslim friends unsupervised. You have no time to volunteer an hour  to teach something, anything to either the new shahada or our youth.  Yes we have food banks, some are too far from the Newark area, the ones which are in the area are not use or available for the families.

We have brothers and sisters who are professionals and are able to give some monetary compensation to the Masjid, at least once a month.  How easy it is for Masajids with members from other countries to get together and build a new Masjid, a new addition to the madrassa or an Islāmic burial found?  Because they come together to aid the community and they spend in the way of Allah, for Allah. they don’t worry about the money, they worry about the community as a whole.

Khadijah bint Khuwalyd, Abu Bakar al-Siddiq  with the wealth he had, also had a major role in freeing some of the Muslim slaves, and many more companions that I can remember and write in this humble blog, helped Islam to grow and be propagated trough out.  And they never complain, they knew their reward was with Allah subhana wa talah. Now tell me why are you are hoarding your money and throw in the sadaqa box two dollars?

I will leave you with some reminders  from our Prophet Muhammad .صلى الله عليه وسلم

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 486 :

Narrated by Abu Huraira

Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not pay the Zakat of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection his wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and say, ‘I am your wealth, I am your treasure.’ ” Then the Prophet recited the holy verses:– ‘Let not those who withhold . . .’ (to the end of the verse). (3.180).

Volume 2, Book 24, Number 493 :

Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet said, “The Hour (Day of Judgment) will not be established till your wealth increases so much so that one will be worried, for no one will accept his Zakat and the person to whom he will give it will reply, ‘I am not in need of it.’

Volume 3, Book 41, Number 585

Narrated by Al-Mughira bin Shu’ba

The Prophet said, “Allah has forbidden for you, (1) to be undutiful to your mothers, (2) to bury your daughters alive, (3) to not to pay the rights of the others (e.g. charity, etc.) and (4) to beg of men (begging). And Allah has hated for you (1) vain, useless talk, or that you talk too much about others, (2) to ask too many questions, (in disputed religious matters) and (3) to waste the wealth (by extravagance).

Our Muslim youth

As salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.  I am a Muslim from Newark, NJ. Just a brief introduction for what is to come. 

In the area of Newark we have 3 main masajid.  East Orange has 2 masajid.  We have 2 private Islāmic schools within the area.  It could be more, Allah knows best.

Actually only two of the masajid offer activities for children, and few for teenagers.  (And one of the masajid if you are not of certain ethnic group you are set aside and basically not included in their activities.)  We would like to see our teens become an essential part of these masajid.  We would like to have more classes for them, more activities which will help them understand the blessing of a balance Islāmic life

As, I listen to more and more parents complain of the lack of activities for the teens.  And listen  how brothers would like to create re-entry programs for ex convicts and many activities, which do exclude teens.  The Imams and head of these masajid have to create programs, parents YOU  have to become  consistent and keep these programs available.  The same way we have classes for adults we should focus on teaching our teens.

 Stop criticizing the one who tries to start a program.  Only to  turn around and do the same with your click.  We are about clicks, in and out of the Masjid.  We teach our teens the same way. We are all brothers and sisters in Islam.  This behavior cuts deep into the fabric of what Islam stands for.  Stop complaining and do something about it. Main complain, the lack of  funds.  How much does  a basketball cost?  How much does a trip to the Newark museum cost? Spend couple of  hours at a skating rink, a day at a park? 

The whole of the ummah should take responsibility in rasing our children to become the next  generation of Muslims.  The whole of the Muslim Ummah  should realize we will lose our children as teenagers. We follow the way of the Salaf and the best of the Salaf was our Prophet Muhammad salahu allehi wa salam.  Ask yourself ”WHAT WOULD THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD DO?” 

 Please don’t say my child never… because I’ve seen what this dunya will do to a teenager.  This dunya took my son and he was a Muslim.

Disobedience is a Fierce Enemy to Mankind

From among the punishments of sin is that disobedience becomes a fierce enemy to mankind like an army which fortifies itself and prepares for war.

That is to say that Allaah tests the Son of Adam with an enemy who does not leave his side for a single moment; a companion who is never remiss in thinking about him, nor is he neglectful of him. This adversary to man, Iblees and his tribe, are able see the human being from a standpoint where he can’t see them. He exerts every effort to unleash his hostility under every circumstance.   

In his plotting, he doesn’t leave anything out. Iblees is able to reach his foe and attach himself to him. This opponent seeks the help of the Shayateen and Jinn in his battle against the offspring of Adam. He throws his net over them and wishes disaster. This enemy lays traps around the servant. He lays these traps and nets for him and says to his helpers,” Draw near to your enemy, and the enemy of your father! Don’t let him slip away from you and attain his portion in the Paradise, leaving you to attain your share of the fire; his portion is mercy and your portion shall be a curse. You are aware of the disgrace, curse and the separation from Allaah’s mercy that has been inflicted upon me. Adam is the cause of that. So, exert every effort to sway his progeny to join us as companions in this misery. And remember a band of them have already escaped us whose righteous are in Jannah.

Allaah has informed us about our enemy. He has commanded us to stand ready against him when He told Adam that his descendants would be tested with an enemy accompanied by armies and forces that would be given authority over them. Also, in their encounter with this foe, they should be aware that the army of their enemy is reinforced by soldiers and comrades. Know that the battle is waged in this abode during the extent of his life which is, in comparison to the next life, is like the extent of o­ne breath.

Allaah has purchased from the believers as the cost for entering Jannah, their souls and wealth. They fight for the sake of Allaah. They kill and are killed-all for the pleasure of their Lord. Allaah has informed us of this sure promise in the most honorable of books- the Torah, the Injeel and the Quran .He states that He doesn’t break any promise. Following this, Allaah orders the servants to rejoice in this bargain. Whosoever wants to know the value of this trade then let him look to who is the purchaser? Let him look at the cost that is paid for   this commodity. And look to He who fulfills this contract.  Is there any success greater than this? Is there a transaction   more profitable than this? Allaah has guaranteed this   for the believers in….

 ”The Illness and the Cure” by Ibn Qayyim.
Published by Germantown Masjid 2007.
Translated by Abu Alim Rasheed Salahuddin and Abu Aaliyah Abdullah bin Dwight Battle