Sandala http://sandala.org Sat, 11 May 2013 00:27:07 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Tempest in a Teapot: Islamophobia Meets Homophobia A group of the extremists among the Imamis consider the legal obligation [to believe] in the infallibility of their leaders. They consider that to even be consistent with their treatment of animals and their servants. They have gone to an extreme in such matters that they have removed the veil of modesty from their faces [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2013/05/08/tempest-in-a-teapot-islamophobia-meets-homophobia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tempest-in-a-teapot-islamophobia-meets-homophobia Sticks and Drones May Break Our Bones, but Fitna Really Hurts Us “Whenever someone calls his brother Muslim a kafir, one of them must be a kafir [either the one being accurately being called a kafir, or the one who falls into kufr, by inaccurately accusing his brother of being a kafir].” – Prophet Muhammad, God’s peace and blessings be upon him “Fitna[1] is asleep; may God [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2012/10/06/sticks-and-drones-may-break-our-bones-but-fitna-really-hurts-us/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sticks-and-drones-may-break-our-bones-but-fitna-really-hurts-us Guarding the Tongue (Lecture Notes) On Friday, August 3rd, Hamza Yusuf gave khutbah at a masjid in Abu Dhabi in which he spoke on the subject of just rulers. Just rulers are the first of the seven groups mentioned in the Qur’an who are in the shade of God on the Day of Judgment. Hamza Yusuf explained why: They are [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2012/08/08/guarding-the-tongue-lecture-notes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guarding-the-tongue-lecture-notes The Muslim Household (Lecture Notes) Hamza Yusuf is currently visiting the Emirates. He studied there in his youth, and has maintained ties with his friends there over the years. He has been invited back many times to share his knowledge and experience with the people in the place where his journey of seeking knowledge began. Hamza Yusuf gave a lecture [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2012/08/03/the-muslim-household-lecture-notes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-muslim-household-lecture-notes A Sermon from The Mercy to All the Worlds O community of Muslims, roll up your sleeves, for the matter is momentous. Prepare for an imminent journey. Garner provision now as the journey is long. Lighten your loads, for before you is an ascent most steep! Only those traveling lightly shall bear its climb. O [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2012/05/28/1863/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=1863 When Children Suffer When Children Suffer Hamza Yusuf I would like to write a follow up to a question someone wrote in response to a quote I posted on Facebook a few days ago. The question was regarding how God could allow the rape of a seven-year-old girl. First of all, I would request that people not be [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2012/05/07/when-children-suffer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=when-children-suffer Critical Eyes in a Critical Time   “All of the strife in this world is due to three people: a newscaster, a news seeker, and a news listener.” This is quoted by Imam al-Ghazali, may God have mercy on his soul and sanctify his secret, in his book Tibr al-Masbuk, which is only partially his work. He quotes this statement from [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2012/02/28/critical-eyes-in-a-critical-time/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=critical-eyes-in-a-critical-time If You Don’t Like the Mawlid, Watch Out! The birthday of the Prophet, God’s peace and blessings be upon him, is a great blessing for our community and, indeed, for all believers. So if we know the day, it should renew our joy manifold times. The Mawlid (his birthday) has traditionally been a time to reflect on – and be grateful for – [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2012/02/05/if-you-don%e2%80%99t-like-the-mawlid-watch-out/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=if-you-don%25e2%2580%2599t-like-the-mawlid-watch-out Don’t Let Wikipedia Become Wickedmedia Islam is rooted in the idea that knowledge is the most potent force on earth. The more one knows, the closer one gets to the One who knows all. The Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, loved knowledge, and it is the only prayer the Qur’an commands him to supplicate: “Say: O [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2011/12/14/dont-let-wikipedia-become-wickedmedia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dont-let-wikipedia-become-wickedmedia Biography of Sidi Fudul al-Huwari One of the great traditions of Islam is what is referred to as “tabaqat” literature. It is essentially biographical material that highlights the lives and qualities of the great sages, scholars, ascetics, and saints of Islam. The earliest biographical literature, such as Ibn S’ad’s Tabaqat, pertains to the lives of the Prophet’s Companions. The benefit [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2011/11/25/biography-of-sidi-fudul-al-huwari/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=biography-of-sidi-fudul-al-huwari The UAE: Where Murder Still Means Something There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ‘tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all: since no man has aught of what he leaves, what is’t to leave betimes? [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2011/08/26/the-uae-where-murder-still-means-something/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-uae-where-murder-still-means-something Ramadan: When Feeding Others in Need Supersedes Our Own Hunger and Greed As Ramadan moves along, we realize the rapidity with which the month travels. The word “month,” derived from “moon,” essentially measures one lunar cycle: the roughly 29.5 days it takes the moon to circle the earth. A lag time is involved due to the earth’s spin and its own movement around the sun. The Qur’an [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2011/08/07/ramadan-when-feeding-others-in-need-supersedes-our-own-hunger-and-greed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ramadan-when-feeding-others-in-need-supersedes-our-own-hunger-and-greed Where are the “No Smoking” signs in Medina? Since they are no longer in our hearts, at least put them on the walls. Note to readers: I want to thank everyone who wrote recently and inquired about my health. I had a terrible fall a few weeks ago and had a mild concussion from it. I appreciate the wisdom of wearing a turban more. I am better, and the headaches have subsided – thanks be to Allah. Unfortunately, [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2011/06/21/where-are-the-no-smoking-signs-in-medina/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=where-are-the-no-smoking-signs-in-medina Ten Years Later: Reflections on my Post 9-11 Interview with Richard Scheinin in the San Jose Mercury In the immediate aftermath of the attack on the U.S. ten years ago, I was catapulted into a position of spokesperson for a community. My history of criticizing American foreign policy complicated matters for me, given the almost inquisitional environment that began to arise in the U.S. since then. Some have attempted to present any [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2011/05/07/ten-years-later-reflections-on-my-post-9-11-interview-with-richard-scheinin-in-the-san-jose-mercury/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ten-years-later-reflections-on-my-post-9-11-interview-with-richard-scheinin-in-the-san-jose-mercury The Prayer of the Oppressed (al-Du’a al-Nasiri) As promised at the end of my blog, “On Libya,” here is the text of the Du’a al-Nasiri along with my English translation of the Arabic poem: The Du’a al-Nasiri with English Translation Transliteration of the Du’a al-Nasiri with English Translation About the Translation and Recording of the Du’a al-Nasiri About The Prayer of the [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2011/04/27/the-prayer-of-the-oppressed-al-du%e2%80%99a-al-nasiri/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-prayer-of-the-oppressed-al-du%25e2%2580%2599a-al-nasiri The Importance of Being Ambiguous Or the Sin Tax of Ignoring Syntax Posted from Medina Munawara, the City of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. “If a profligate comes to you with news, make sure you understand it (tabayyanu) and make sure you know it indeed happened (tathabbatu), or else you will attack people out of ignorance and end up in great remorse” (Qur’an 49:6).1 [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2011/03/26/the-importance-of-being-ambiguous-or-the-sin-tax-of-ignoring-syntax/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-importance-of-being-ambiguous-or-the-sin-tax-of-ignoring-syntax On Libya I want to share some quick thoughts and recollections inspired by the current turmoil taking place in Libya, which pains me deeply. Ghaddafi reminds me of Shakespeare’s tyrant, Richard III: conniving, mutant, dark, and absolutely cruel, with no concern for his family, friends, or companions, let alone the people he rules over. He kills to [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2011/03/12/on-libya/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=on-libya When the Social Contract is Breached on One Side, It’s Breached on Both Sides When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2011/02/07/when-the-social-contract-is-breached-on-one-side-its-breached-on-both-sides/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=when-the-social-contract-is-breached-on-one-side-its-breached-on-both-sides Deferred Dreams, Self-Destruction, and Suicide Bombings There was a story in the New York Times a few days ago about how the “revolution” in Tunisia was sparked in December by the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year-old, befuddled roadside green grocer. Like so many young Arabs, he was born poor and only dreamed of providing for his siblings and his mother. [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2011/01/29/deferred-dreams-self-destruction-and-suicide-bombings/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=deferred-dreams-self-destruction-and-suicide-bombings God’s Wikileaks: Ready or not, all secrets will be revealed To God belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and the day on which the end of time will happen, a day on which prattlers will lose out. And you will see every people kneeling; every people will be summoned to its record: “Today you are being repaid for what you used to [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2011/01/01/gods-wikileaks-ready-or-not-all-secrets-will-be-revealed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gods-wikileaks-ready-or-not-all-secrets-will-be-revealed How Do We Respond? Part 3 6. Strengthen our community centers. One of the most important things we must do is strengthen our community centers, but this is not possible without wise leadership in our centers. A major problem is that, notwithstanding their sincerity, unqualified people too often take the helm. Our centers need a level of professionalism that is grossly [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2010/12/12/how-do-we-respond-part-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-do-we-respond-part-3 How Do We Respond? Part 2 This is the second part of the blog I posted on November 4, 2010, laying out ways in which Muslims can respond to the problem of anti-Islamic sentiments in America, which I wrote about in my earlier blog “When You’re a Statistic” posted on October 17. 4) Seek common ground with conservatives too. As Muslims, [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2010/11/22/how-do-we-respond-part-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-do-we-respond-part-2 Pilgrims with a Purpose: Turtles Make Hajj Too Note: I hope to publish the continuation of my last blog post “How Do We Respond?” in the next week. Meanwhile, given the timeliness of the topic, I wanted to write about Hajj now. There is no animal on earth, nor yet a bird on the wing, but forms communities like you. We have not [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2010/11/15/pilgrims-with-a-purpose-turtles-make-hajj-too/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pilgrims-with-a-purpose-turtles-make-hajj-too How Do We Respond? First of all, I want to apologize for the delay in writing the second part of what I started with my last post (“When You’re a Statistic”). On top of an overwhelming schedule and a family crisis, I have not been well. I’m very grateful to those who expressed concern as to why we hadn’t [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2010/11/04/how-do-we-respond/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-do-we-respond When You’re a Statistic It’s been said that a liberal is just a conservative that hasn’t been mugged yet. Sometimes it takes something traumatic to wake us up to the realities of our situation, and to force us to rethink our beliefs and behaviors. Americans are essentially civil and decent people and not prone to violent reactions, but now [...]

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]]> http://sandala.org/blog/2010/10/17/when-youre-a-statistic/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=when-youre-a-statistic