tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45739925358060580232024-02-20T09:53:16.361+08:00Karguzari of a Traveller"The journey is labourous, the burden is heavy, the provision is scarce.
Would you and I be able to endure?
O' Traveller! You will never reach Makkah when the path that you take is towards Turkistan."HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-71873582865436982832020-08-26T23:40:00.004+08:002020-08-27T10:40:55.991+08:0040 Days in Northern Thailand<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkIbpbhndr0yQ__01KEjopUQWZck_MoLg0XexBYm5p_SjgRq2-DwsPlN3ghMY4cps7H6TjqNgByOGL7Oq6AeAHfCZEol7YSVPWmX-2iPr5-FRHM7JLJszNncXKylKfT6WA8-5VuszA8V1/s905/Pakistan+Nakhon+Sawan+Mosque.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Masjid Pakistan, Nakhon Sawan" border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="905" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkIbpbhndr0yQ__01KEjopUQWZck_MoLg0XexBYm5p_SjgRq2-DwsPlN3ghMY4cps7H6TjqNgByOGL7Oq6AeAHfCZEol7YSVPWmX-2iPr5-FRHM7JLJszNncXKylKfT6WA8-5VuszA8V1/w400-h300/Pakistan+Nakhon+Sawan+Mosque.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In November 2007, I joined a jamaat of 40 days bound for Northern Thailand. Our jamaat consisted of 10 persons including me. The others were Haji Julaihi and Haji Muhammad Kamal of Brunei; Haji Sabaruddin of Melaka; Abdul Samad of Pahang; Zulkefli of Johor; Haji Harun, Nor Azha, Yuzli, and Farak Khan of Kuala Lumpur. We spent the first ten days of our chillah doing the dakwah and tabligh effort in Shah Alam while making travel arrangement to Thailand.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Prior to that, I had sat in <i>tafakud</i> (which is a screening and interview process conducted by the appointed responsible old workers of the tablighi jamaat) twice in the same year and passed both <i>tafakud</i>. The first one, in a jamaat scheduled to make effort for 4 months in Madagascar. And the second time, in a <i>masturat jamaat</i> (husband and wife) bound to India and Pakistan for 2 months. Sadly in both occasions, I had failed to join the intended journey.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We arrived at Bangkok International Airport at 9.35pm and arrived at Mimburi Markaz at 11.05pm. Thailand has two main dakwah and tabligh markaz. The markaz for Southern Thailand is Yala and the markaz for Northern Thailand is situated at 2/1 Moo.8 Ratuthit Rd, Khwaeng, Saensab, Khet. Mimburi 10510, Bangkok, Thailand. As usual, one of the first thing for us to do when traveling abroad is to note down the local solah time: Fajr 4.56am, Dzuhur 12.30pm, Asr 4.00pm, Maghreb 5.48pm and Isya' 7.45pm.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mimburi markaz is a large double-story building near an open field. After registering as guests, Harun and a student at Yala Markaz, Yusof, served us delicious late night meals.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The majority of people of Southern Thai are Malay-speaking Muslims, whereas Northern Thailand people are predominantly Budhists who only speak Thai language. At the time, Yala syura consisted of Haji Abdurrahman Patlong, Haji Man Golok, Ustaz Mahmud and Haji Zakariya whilst Bangkok syura consisted of Babu Bhai, Haji Abdurrahman and Haji Musa. Babu Bhai, one of the syura of Mimburi Markaz met our jamaat the next day, taking <i>ehwal</i> of and making consultation with our jamaat and gave the routes for our jamaat. We were given the task to make effort mainly on the immigrant Pathans who had become the citizens of Thailand and their second generation, since one of our jamaat members, Farak Khan, spoke Pushto language fluently. It was also decided that three Thai brothers from Yala markaz would join our jamaat, mainly as our guides, assistants and translators. Alhamdulillaah, it served us well and good as none of us could speak or understand Thai language, though I had to remind the Malaysian brothers in our jamaat not to use bombastic words or sentences, and to only stick to plain simple Malay language since our Yala brothers only know Kelantan Malay dialect.</div>
<span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDMP2_Pwtiw2dhoMM0GZP1XJV_gof3jlLH9Icy1y7JdsEt_-vttzI9Ff1XuIHG8ke1vkATP7I0wfcMP2lmAbrfhb5F2MfXdqXPqG7rILX-M4d9UUnsbbUBIMq7ELhpxr8ge5Kldv3HWmQ/s1156/Routes+Thailand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="896" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDMP2_Pwtiw2dhoMM0GZP1XJV_gof3jlLH9Icy1y7JdsEt_-vttzI9Ff1XuIHG8ke1vkATP7I0wfcMP2lmAbrfhb5F2MfXdqXPqG7rILX-M4d9UUnsbbUBIMq7ELhpxr8ge5Kldv3HWmQ/w318-h410/Routes+Thailand.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The Mimburi markaz provided us with a driven 13-seater van to our first route - Masjid Baitul Nur, Nakhon Sawan. Alhamdulillaah, here we managed to tasykil Fasal Maula to join our jamaat in the journey through a lot of convincing by Farak Khan. Fasal Maula was a huge man in his 40s with a thunderous voice who unintentionally manage to scare a few fragile soft-spoken Malay brothers in our jamaat. It was funny really.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;">After three days, we moved to Masjid Muhammadeeyah, Chainat. It was one of the few Shafi'e masjids in Northern Thailand. Most masjids were built by the early Pathan who were Hanafis in the school of jurisprudence. We were in the company of Imam Muhammad, Ya'kob Khan, Fandi Ahmad, Sulayman, Haji Abdullah, Shayahan, Ibrahim, Mubin and Lala Jahangir Khan, to name a few. I've visited a Pathan by the name of Sayid who lived nearby the masjid. He was a butcher and cow breeder. The Pathans in Thailand are known to control the halal livestock industry. They are breeders and own halal slaughter houses. At times they export live cows across border to Malaysia. They take pride in their work. It is common that the word "PATAN" is ingrained on the steel gate of a Pathan's house or a large skull of cow is hung on the gate. </div></span>
<span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;">We then moved to Masjid Nurul Islam, 25/1 Soi Promnakon 2, Taklee in the province of Nakhon Sawan. Usually after mesyuarah upon arrival at any masjid, we would disperse in pairs going near and around the masjid to meet as many Muslims as possible as a mode of announcing the arrival of jamaat at their masjid and that the effort of dakwah and tabligh was actively taking place in their area. Saud Khan, Abdullah, Imran Khan, Dawud Khan, Nawaz Khan, Mahmood Cha, Abdul Aziz, Lala Tuti Khan, Mahyuddin (malay Bangkok), Abdul Latif (caretaker) and Imam Usman are a few names that I could remember.</div><span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Somehow the word "tien shierg" in Thai language or "khaat" in pushto language is written in my notebook. Perhaps in the guest area of the masjid there was a couple of traditional woven bed used in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or <i>charpai</i> as they called it elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;">Then we moved back to Nakhon Sawan town to Masjid Pakistan, Nakhon Sawan. The masjid was established in 1380H/1960 or 1961. It was situated at the town centre. Among the brothers that gave us nusrah were Lala Saiful Rahman who was born in Buner-KPK, Imam Ahmad Myanmar, Umar Farouq Myanmar, Ishaq, Farhad and Sardar Khan.</div></span>
<span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Then we travelled further north to the next route - Masjid Pakistan, Pitsanulok. As the journey was far, we arrived quite late after Dzuhur. Zul and I quickly went to the market to find some ingredients for fast cooking meal. We prepared <i>nasi goreng </i>or fried rice. It turned out as the hottest fried rice that I had ever tasted because we underestimated the Thai chillies. Tablighi brothers are thought not to complain but pity them all who had to eat with grimace and tearful eyes. Picture someone wrinkling his nose, squeezing his eyes shut, and twisting his mouth and you'll have a solid mental image of a grimace...haha. After that our jamaat was not allowed to cook by the locals and food was abundant from the <i>nusrah</i>. Abdul Basit, Bacha Khan, Ali Khan of Pichit, Muhammad Khan, siblings Yusof Khan and Hakeem Khan and also Mullah Shafiqul Nabi were among the local brothers that jointly making effort with us, completing the two main element of dakwah and tabligh effort ie. <i>hijrah</i> and <i>nusrah</i>. Mullah <i>sahab</i> was an <i>aalim</i> from Swabi-KPK. I've gain much benefits sitting in his company. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;">Yusof Khan and Abdul Basit joined our jamaat to the next route further up north - Masjid Ad-Dai'e, Tha Sao, Mueang, Uttaradit. Abdul Basit's parents lived in Uttaradit. The weather was very cold over there, especially in November and December. The masjid had been built on his father, Zamalak Khan's land. The whole family of Zamalak Khan embraced the effort of dakwah and tabligh; his sons Abdul Basit and Muhammad Yassin and his son-in-law Muhammad Zarim. Zamalak Khan owned and operated a small studio for licensed local radio-broadcasting on his land. I remember the local DJ announced our jamaat's arrival to Uttaradit during her broadcast. There were also other brothers, namely Jamal of Chieng Mai, Romli of Yala, Ariffin a committee member of the masjid and Ziarad Khan who accompanied us during our stay at Uttaradit.</div></span>
<span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;">We thought of going even further up north to Chieng Rai but decided to travel back south to Masjid Diya ul-Islam, Phichit. Ali Khan and Abdul Basit drove us in two vehicles to Phichit. Nuruddin of Nakhon Sittamarat, Yassin, Imam Ismail and Lala Mama were the locals that joined us at the masjid. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Zuuh" (let's go) "Zarur para zey" (you must come), were repeatedly uttered in Pushto language by Farak Khan in making <i>cash tasykil </i>to a Pathan man who was a butcher in the wet market to come the masjid. And the man came straightaway leaving his stall. Earlier on, the same man shooed off a couple of Malay brothers from our jamaat who went to his stall for <i>khususi mulaqat</i>. I then sent Farak Khan and another person to him. The moment he saw a fellow Pathan from Malaysia came to him, he immediately turned into a more mellow personality and pleasantly greeted Farak Khan, free from harshness. I realised that it is an important mode of dakwah which had been practised and taught by Rasulullaah SAW that whenever circumstances required, an Aws might be better accepted by his fellow Aws tribe, a Khazraj might be better accepted by his Khazraj tribe, similarly applicable to other tribes and nations. There are numerous examples of the Sahabah <i>radiyalaahu anhum</i> regarding this as well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At this stage I feel compel to write briefly but specifically about the Pathans in Thailand. It is believed that hundreds of Sunni Pathans left their motherlands for Thailand, then known as Siam, in the early 1900s. In 1970s, Siamese Pathans were infamously well-known for being ring-leaders or their mafia-like involvement in vices and criminal activities. A Pathan ring-lord might ruled three or four <i>changwat</i> or provinces in the sense that the mere mention of his name brought fear to the people in those provinces. The first generation of Pathans that married local Thai women eventually have children who are called <i>luk khrueng</i>. In a narrow sense, <i>luk khrueng</i> is a Thai term referring to a person of mixed Thai and foreign origin. A large number of Pathan's <i>luk khrueng</i> were raised as Muslims but later converted to Buddhism. There are numerous sad stories about daughters of Pathan who got married to Thai men and later lost her faith in Islam. Even some first generation Pathan men were not spared of the fitan for not being able to hold firmly their faith and practices of Islam. We've been told by the local brothers that it had happened many times that a Thai wife and family of a Pathan man brought the dead body of her husband to the masjid and left to be buried. They returned home leaving Islam behind. Islam died in the family with the death of the husband. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nevertheless, alhamdulillaah, when many Thai Pathans started to embrace the effort of dakwah, Allah Ta'ala changed their way of life and the way of lives of their family and many others back to the true way of lives of Rasulullaah SAW and the Sahabah radiyaal laahu anhum. All praise only to Allah Most Merciful. One of such person who had been blessed by Allah Most High is a Pathan who is well-known by many as Lala Abdul Wahab. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""><div>I was told that during his youth time, Lala Abdul Wahab was a singer performing Bollywood songs at hotels and nightclubs in Golok, a town bordering Malaysia. Back then Golok was infamous with vices activities. A jamaat from Pakistan came to Masjid Pakistan Golok and stayed there for a few days. They visited Lala Abdul Wahab at the place where he performed and encourage him to come to the masjid. Though he treated them well, Lala Abdul Wahab gave all sort of excuses not to go to the masjid, one of which he told them he was not properly dress for the occasion to follow them to the masjid. The next day, the Pakistanis jamaat paid him another visit and to his surprise, they brought with them a set of kurta and shalwar neatly ironed as a gift for him. His heart was softened by their care and kindness. Lala Abdul Wahab followed them to the masjid and never returned to singing ever since. He had devoted his time and self to the effort of dakwah and tabligh. Many many people had their lives reformed back to the true path of Islam through the effort and sacrifice of Lala Abdul Wahab. Murderers and pimps turned to <i>namazis</i>. Brutal criminals turned to <i>dai'e</i>. I heard that he now runs a madrasah which is situated at Lumna Rai, on the way to Bangkok.</div></span><div><br /></div></div>
<span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;">From Phichit, our jamaat went to Masjid Wang Chom Phu, Phetchabun. Here our jamaat had been made busy day and night by Hassan Khan and the other hardworking brothers - Imam Shabir Ahmad Myanmar, Idris, Musa, Roshan Khan, Muhammad Nur Khan Abdul Haq Khan, Anas the soldier, Habib Khan, Abdul Kareem, Nawab Khan, Rahmatullah Myanmar, Umar, Abdul Jalil Myanmar and Musa. Hassan Khan has a child, Matin Khan who he always brought with him to be with our jamaat. Hassan Khan and the other brothers made an effort to gather many womenfolk at a place adjoining the masjid for us to deliver a masturat bayaan. Most of the brothers in Petchabun and the places before were the fruits of labour and sacrifice of Lala Abdul Wahab. </div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;">Our last route in Thailand was Masjid Kaewnimit which is situated in the outer part of Bangkok city. This masjid is quite special since it was in the middle of Thai Malay community who originated from Southern Thai. Most of them were still able to speak Malay. In the vicinity of Masjid Kaewnimit, there were Surau Deanul Islam, Surau Nurul Islam, Surau Darul Uloom and Masjid 'Alaa. Among the many people who gave us<i> nusrah</i> were Abdul Karim, Jamaluddin@Sufi Sahb (Myanmar), Haji Yahya, Haji Habib, Haji Abdurrahman Adam, Haji Muhammad, Abdul Hakim Masjid 'Ala, youngsters Fadin, Yusof, Ridwan and Mansur.</div></span>
<span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""><div>We met a Malaysian man who was working in Bangkok. He never traveled in jamaat for dakwah but spent a few days with us in Masjid Kaewnimit that he frequented for Friday <i>namaaz</i> every week. He asked us a peculiar question as to why dakwah and tabligh in Thailand is different from Malaysia. We asked him to explain what he sees as the difference. He told us that from his observation, all the chairmen and trustees of the masjid and imams and the ulama in Thailand are actively participating or lending support to the effort of dakwah and tabligh but it cannot be said the same in Malaysia. We explained to him that just as we all make <i>qiyam</i>, <i>ruku'</i> and <i>sajdah</i> in solah following one imam, the same is the case of the effort of dakwah and tabligh, whether in Thailand, Malaysia or every other part of the world. All of us are trying to revive and emulate what had been the original dakwah and tabligh effort of Rasulullah <i>sallaaahu alayhi wassalam</i> and the Sahabah<i> radiyalaahu anhum</i>. They are truly our elders and our source of guidance.</div></span><div><br /></div><span face=""><div>Nevertheless, the Malaysian brother raised a valid point. The responsible trustees and imams of the masjids and the ulama in Thailand do get involve and participate more in the effort of dakwah and tabligh. However, through my own observation, the ulama in Thailand generally stepped down to the level of the ordinary men in order to be part and parcel of the public. When we first sat down in consultation with the local Muslims at Masjid Keawnimit, we did not realise that among them are a few ulama' who had spent many years studying in Jordan, Mesir and Yemen. They sat and mixed around with the ordinary men and became part of them. Truly you can see the meaning of what is suggested by our <i>solafussolihin </i>that the reformation of ordinary men could be attained by sitting in the company of the ulama', and the reformation of the ulama' could be attained by sitting with the ordinary men. Scholars and men of knowledge are tested on their characters and patience when at times they have to bear the roughness and ignorance of the ordinary men. Even Rasulullaah SAW himself had endured and tolerated patiently the crudeness of the illiterate Bedouins. </div><div><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the close of our journey, we hope that Allah Ta'ala accepted our little sacrifice of time, self and wealth for the uplifting of Deen in our lives and the lives of Muslims in Thailand and as a mean of preparation for the Thailand Ijtima' to be held on 1-3 February 2008.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chatchuchat market, Ranchit market.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;">A day before we returned home, Khairon from Shah Alam, who was living in Bangkok brought us around Suanlun Night Bazaar, Chatchuchat market and Ranchit market where we bought some gifts for our dear one at home.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<span face=""><div style="text-align: justify;">Our journey ended on 14th December 2007.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></span>HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-66322032659529644472020-04-10T19:02:00.004+08:002020-08-24T17:25:24.300+08:00The IPB Journey: Madhya Pradesh<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span face="" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The first time that I arrived in India was on March 2000 for the IPB journey. After a few days at Nizamuddin Markaz, we were gathered in a jamaat for tasykil. This time six other persons also joined us - Abdul Latif from Johor and Hafiz from Sarawak, both are haafiz of the Qur'an; Azwa, an Indonesian who lived in Malaysia; Engku Zainuddin and Pak Awang from Terengganu and another person whom I could not recall.</span></div>
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<span face="" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst in Bangladesh our jamaat of six Malaysians were combined with eight local brothers and the amir was amongst us Malaysians. In India, two Malaysian jamaat of six persons each were combined together making a jamaat of twelve Malaysians and two local brothers. The amir was from the local brother. Our amir was Abdul Aziz Mehdi from Tamil Nadu. He could speak urdu as well as his native language, Tamil and he also could speak a little English. His understanding of English language was better than spoken. Our jamaat had been tasykil to Bilaspur and Bhilai in Madhya Pradesh (MP).</span></div>
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<span face="" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">We took a train to Bilaspur, MP from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station. The journey itself was about nineteen hours of exotic experience. I had rarely travelled by train in Malaysia, I recalled only a couple of time in my lifetime. However, I had travelled by train across fourteen countries in Europe within a month during my student days: England-Belgium-Netherlands-Denmark-Sweden-Norway-Germany-Austria-Italy-Switzerland-Cote d'Azur-Spain-Morocco-Spain-France-England. Even then the excitement and experience of travelling by train in India is beyond imagination.</span></div>
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<span face="" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Every few minutes there were voices of <i>chaiwalas </i>that cried "Chai! Chai! Garam chai!" At first I was amused with the <i>chaiwalas </i>who walked back and forth passing us. Occasionally, we stop the <i>chaiwalas</i> for a few cups of <i>chai.</i> One cup was not enough since we were used to <i>chai</i> that was served in a big glass in Malaysia. One thing for sure, the best <i>chai </i>is from India and Pakistan. Eventually, the voices of <i>chaiwalas</i> became irritating while you were sleeping or trying to get a nap. Many other sellers also walked back and forth on the train selling all sort of things that you would never imagine were saleable in Malaysia.</span></div>
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<span face="" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Back then in the year 2000, Madhya Pradesh (MP) were governed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Hindu nationalist political party. Unlike other states that were governed by the majority Congress Party, the MP state prohibited the slaughtering of cows that were considered sacred by the Hindus. Buffaloes could be slaughtered but not cows. In fact most cows were adorned with colourful fabric, bells and turmeric powder and wondering around on streets and even in train stations. When we entered the state of Madhya Pradesh, we could see piles of bones from dead cows on the fields along the train line. What a waste of food that could benefit poor peoples. But of course the Hindus think differently from us Muslims.</span></div>
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<span face="" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">On the other hand, there was a couple of circumstances that really amazed me in relation to the Hindus in India that I encountered on the journey. In the first circumstances, when two or three of us were praying with jamaah in the train at a time on the walkway. It is possible to perform solat with jamaah on the Indian trains as the carriage space is large, well at least they are larger than Malaysian trains. Whilst we were praying, all the people on both side of the walkway stopped and quietly waited until we finished our prayer. We could hear them whispering to the people behind, "Musalman namaz" (Muslims are praying). I was blown away and overwhelmed as to how considerate they were to us. Even the chaiwala patiently waited for us to finish our prayer. Allah Ta'ala had certainly honoured us. On another occasion in Bhillai or Bilaspur, a few Hindu mothers huddling their babies waited at the steps outside the masjid asking us to bless their children. "Baba! Baba!" they called us and nudged their babies towards us. We were really astonished by the sight, so much so that we did not know how to react. A local brother told us to recite Fatiha and pray for hidayat for them. So we recited surah Fatiha and blew softly on the babies' foreheads. May Allah give hidayat to the mothers and the children.</span></div>
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<div><span face="" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Haji Sheikh Aslam, an <i>old-karkun</i> in his 50s from Bilaspur joined us for the duration of our <i>chillah</i> in Madhya Pradesh. He acted as an assistant to our amir, <i>rehber </i>(guide) and translator to our jamaat. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Throughout our tasykil in Bhillai and Bilaspur, we were urged not to wonder out from masjid alone without any local brother accompanying us. Perhaps they were worried of any harm that might befall us especially our safety as foreign <i>mehman </i>(guest). Back then, I also noticed that some of the local Muslims were not so friendly with us. I came across a few persons who looked like <i>namazi </i>people but would not return our smile and salam. </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">They looked angry all the time.</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Once, on our way moving from a masjid to another masjid, an auto-rickshaw driver mistakenly dropped some of our jamaat at a different masjid rather than on the stated <i>rukh</i> (route). Before we could perform solat tahiyyat-ul masjid, two or three persons came rushing towards us yelling, <i>"Tablighi jamaat! Khanna, pinna, sonna, pakhana karna. Jao! Jao!"</i> I leave it to you to find out the meaning yourself...haha. Though we ended up leaving the masjid to join the rest of our jamaat at the intended masjid, we had a good laugh about what happened. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I heard certain people said that at the time, the Muslims of Madhya Pradesh were predominantly Barelwis and the Barelwis did not like tablighi jamaat because they were seen as Deobandis, or some Barelwis even associating the jamaat with Wahabbis, particularly the jamaat from Arab countries. However, to me it was just plain ignorance or lack of knowledge on certain people.</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Hadzrat Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Ludhianwi </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">rahmatullaahi alayhi</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">said, "The phrase "Deobandi-Barelwi difference" is surprising and odd. There is no sound basis for any difference between the Deobandis and Barelwis. The reason being that both these groups are passionate followers of the Hanafi</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">madzhab</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">. In so far as</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Aqaa'id</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">both these groups accept and follow the teachings of Imaam Abul Hassan Ash'ari and Imaam Abu Mansoor Maturidi </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">rahmatullaahi alayhim</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">. Both these groups accept and take</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">ba'yt</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">to all four</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">silsilahs</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">of</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">tasawwu</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">f, viz. Qaadiri, Chisti, Saharwardi and Naqsyabandi. Both theses groups are in all respect followers of the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah.They also acknowledge to and accept the reverence of the Sahabah, Tabi'een and Aimmah-e-Mujtahiddeen. They are</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">muqallids</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">of Hadzrat Imam Abu Hanfah</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">rahmatullaahi alayhi</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">and accept the authority right up to Mujaddid Alfe Thaani and Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlawi</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">rahmatullaahi alayhima</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">. However, there are some differences between these two groups in a few</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">masaa'il</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">.... With regard to these</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">masaa'il</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">, that group is on</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">haq</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">whose beliefs are in conformity with the Qur'an, Sunnah of Nabi</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Sallaalaahu Alayhi Wasallam</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">, practices of the Sahabah</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">radiyalaahu anhum</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">and the</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">fiqh</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">of Imam Abu Hanifah</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">rahmatullaahi alayhi</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">(as a widely accepted madzhad in the Indo-pak continent). The other group is in error."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I mention this karguzari here not to mean any negativity or harm towards anyone or any group of people. Truly it was a precious knowledge and wonderful experience to me. I treasure every single moment of my time during the IPB journey to correct my Imaan and Aamal and for the correction of Imaan and Aamal of all mankind one must struggle to revive the effort of dakwah in the way of Rasulullaah SAW throughout the world. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-48013526796148959682020-02-14T01:05:00.001+08:002020-02-14T12:28:28.044+08:00The IPB Journey: The Nizamuddin Markaz<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">All praise is for Allah Ta'ala. We praise Him and seek help from Him. We believe in Him and have complete trust in Him. There can be none to misguide the person whom Allah Ta'ala has guided and there can be none to guide the person whom Allah Ta'ala has caused to go astray.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The Banglawali Masjid at Basti Nizamuddin, Delhi which is the markaz of dakwah and tabligh was something that I had imagined differently. The markaz is situated at the place generally known and named after Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, a famous </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">waliyullah</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">. Most of the people that I know would tell you the same thing and have the same feeling when first set foot the Nizamuddin Markaz. Here, the original effort of Rasulullaah Sallalaahu Alayhi Wasallam and the Sahabah Radiyalaahu Anhum had been revived about a hundred years ago.</span><br />
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="clear: left; display: inline; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">"Maulana Ilyas rahmatullaah alayhi said that the purpose of this work is to revive what Rasulullaah SAW had brought to us. Maulana Yusuf rahmatullaah alayhi explained further that the aim of this work is to raise the status of Muslims to the level where Rasulullaah SAW had left for us. What is the level? One hundred percent of Muslims, men and women, are all dai'e. One hundred percent of Muslims pray, tilawah of the Qur'an, zikir and du'a. When we reach this level the masjids will be full of aamal for twenty four hours. Only then will hidayah from Allah will come to the people until the enemies of Islam will also receive hidayah from Allah Ta'ala. This level is still far from us but we have to keep on continue walking on the path. When we know where the destination is, it does not matter if we are moving slow or fast, we will definitely reach the destination." These are the excerpt of many bayaan in Nizamuddin Markaz that I managed to scribble in my note books. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sitting in the company of the pious and the scholars of dakwah like Maulana Saad, Maulana Zubair, Maulana Mustaqim, Maulana Sulaiman and others rahmatullah alayhim certainly could help us in attaining self-reformation. Alhamdulillah, this attribute is still prevalent at the Nizamuddin Markaz till today where one could tremendously benefit from sitting in the company of Hazratji Maulana Saad damat barakatuhu and the other elders of dakwah and tabligh effort and the mukhlisin from all over the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">People from all over the world went to the Nizamuddin Markaz to learn first hand the original effort of dakwah that had been carried out by Rasulullaah SAW and the Sahabah r.anhum. The elders at the Nizamuddin Markaz wish that jamaat are being dispatched all over the world and jamaat are everywhere. They also wish that every masjid throughout the world is full of aamal for 24 hours like the Masjid Nabawi during the time of Rasulullaah SAW. When addressing some people during karguzari at Nizamuddin Markaz, Maulana Sulaiman r.alayhi said that we all should have fikr and concern that perfect Deen should come to our lives and the lives of all mankind. Maulana Sulaiman told us that even this fikr and concern is not enough. The true and perfect fikr and intention is that perfect Deen should come to our lives and the lives of all mankind AND 100% men and women calling mankind towards the perfect Deen until the day of Qiyamah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In Nizamuddin Markaz you would not hear words except the words of dakwah. The <i>mahul</i> or atmosphere of dakwah and the atmosphere of practical sunnah on the people from all over the world who gathered at the Markaz.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii908vKSY5p1A-rg3O00UjlGlLo28SCA3LWYDt2le-FSHO2QdqJiM42T3iQXc85k5PiKilIFWXrYQgR-X5HPS2wbVYmaAp6Mk3tqg0gq1fa-5zV8vYZXDrFuVKUqg4q2nmNtY8IXk1UZJv/s1600/20181211_130023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii908vKSY5p1A-rg3O00UjlGlLo28SCA3LWYDt2le-FSHO2QdqJiM42T3iQXc85k5PiKilIFWXrYQgR-X5HPS2wbVYmaAp6Mk3tqg0gq1fa-5zV8vYZXDrFuVKUqg4q2nmNtY8IXk1UZJv/s320/20181211_130023.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Brothers! Why do we go out in the path of Allah? Mianji Mehrab said we go out in the path of Allah to bring out the wrong belief of greatness of the world from our heart. In order for us to have the right relationship with our Creator, we must get rid of the wrong belief in the creations. Rasulullaah SAW had spent thirteen years making effort to bring out the greatness of the world from the hearts of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum. If a carcass of an animal fell into a well, we must first remove the carcass and clean the water. Water will not be clean if the carcass is still in the well, not thrown out. The world is like the carcass. And then we have to make the effort on Deen with constancy and move forward. Allah Ta'ala created this world for mankind, but Allah Ta'ala revealed how to use our lives living in this world. Thus, we go out in the path of Allah with the intention of (1) making effort on our imaan and aamal, and (2) learning the effort of Rasulullaah SAW. Save the Ummah by learning Deen and teaching Deen, learning Deen and inviting the people to make effort on Deen. <i>Dai'e bano, dai'e banao.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many people who are not well acquainted with the work of dakwah and tabligh confuse Nizamuddin Dakwah and Tabligh Markaz (Banglawali Masjid) with Nizamuddin dargah. The difference is like heaven and earth. Nizamuddin markaz is the proponent of sunnah, whereas Nizamuddin dargah is the proponent of shirk and bida'ah. Nizamuddin dargah is actually a <i>kubr</i> or tomb or shrine of the well-known <i>waliyullah</i>, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya that had been turned by the ignorant Muslims as a place of wrongful worshipping. No doubt Nizamuddin dargah is more well-known to the ordinary Indians, Muslims or non-Muslims, than Nizamuddin markaz. Once during my subsequent frequent visits to the Nizamuddin markaz, the auto rickshaw man dropped me at Nizamuddin dargah when I asked for a ride to Nizamuddin markaz. Since then I had to always make sure the rides that I took dropped me to the correct place. On my first visit to Nizamuddin markaz, once exploring the surrounding areas I came close to the Nizamuddin dargah. I could feel the change in the surrounding environment as I walked closer to the dargah, gloomed dark faces and unfriendly people appeared more before me as I walked closer through the small alleys. I felt weirdly uncomfortable that I had to turn around and walked away from the dargah. It was my own personal feeling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Nizamuddin markaz also hosts a madrasah called Kashiful Uloom. Thus the Nizamuddin markaz not only confine dakwah and tabligh as its main activity, it is also completed by three other main activities, namely <i>ta'leem, ibadaat</i> and <i>khidmat</i>. All the four main activities had been the core activities of the Masjid Nabawi during the time of Rasulullaah SAW and the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A world gathering for mesyuarat or consultation is held at the Nizamuddin Markaz every three months. As the effort of dakwah and tabligh had first been revived in Nizamuddin Markaz, those who are actively involved in the effort all around the world are invited to every meeting. The work of dakwah had begun at the Nizamuddin Markaz and more in Makkah al-Mukarammah. Now Hazratji Maulana Sa'ad Kandhlawi, the fourth amir of the effort, and other persons who who make the effort of dakwah and tabligh as their purpose of lives, always hold muzakarah to set forth the usool and tartib of the work at the Markaz. And the people who strive hard in the effort are invited to the meetings.</span><br />
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-8837724721615858032019-12-17T15:57:00.002+08:002019-12-17T16:24:33.177+08:00The IPB Journey: Bagerhat & Nawabganj<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Note</u>: This article is written based on my memories of the journey back in 2000 when Bangladesh and Pakistan still have the right environment of dakwah. Now in my opinion, it is no longer ideal to learn the work of dakwah and tabligh in Bangladesh and Pakistan until righteousness returns to both.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Our first tasykeel in Bangladesh was a transit place called Nab</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">abgonj, a few hours bus ride within Dhakka city. We stayed at Nababgonj Boro Masjid from 13 to 15 February 2000. A blind brother, Mohammad </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mohsein and a Qur'an teacher, Hafiz Jamaluddin gave nusrah to us at the masjid whilst we made arrangement to Bagerhat district, 200 miles south-west of Dhaka. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We took a large ferry to Bagerhat from a river port sailing through Burigangga River. The local brothers quickly found a space on the upper deck. They tied ropes around the area to make a boundry since that area was to be made a mussolla and and a place for us to rest. Alhamdulillaah, it really helped us a lot since the ferry were crowded and overflew with passengers. Adzan was called loudly and we performed solah in that area. Ta'leem also was performed by reading the kitaab Fadha'il Aamal whilst we went around making ghast requesting people on the ferry to join the aamal of ta'leem. The local brothers who were in our jamaat performed the responsibility admirely. They were mostly university students. The aamal on the ferry during the overnight journey all came out from their suggestions. Although they are young students, they have already a good experience in the work of dakwah and tabligh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nur Masjid is the Bagerhat markaz. We arrived there at 6.00pm on 16 February 2000 greeted by Murrubi Abdul Sattar, the Bagerhat markaz elder. Though it is situated south of Dhaka, somehow the temperature in Bagerhat was colder than Dhaka, perhaps because it was a rural area. The next day</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> a few local brothers who were sent by Kakrail Markaz to join our jamaat arrived; Mohammad Moslehudeen</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, Mohammad Akramul Hassan, Mohammad Ashraf Hussein, Mohammad Motiur Rahman, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam and Mohammad Rizaul. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">One of the first thing that I endured to do was to learn Bangla language. You will not be able to get to know the people better if you do not speak to them. Certainly I had met many Benggalis in Malaysia before since there are hundred of thousands of them working in Malaysia. But I had never known them. In fact the Benggalis are one of the the nicest people that I had ever met. After the journey my feeling towards them totally changed, growing into a brotherly affection. I would gladly stop and speak to a Bengalli brother whenever I met one anywhere. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">"Apni kaemon achen?" </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How are you?</span><br />
<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">"Bhalo achen." </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fine.</span><br />
<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">"Apni khothai kas koren?" </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Where do you work?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These simple sentences would always draw smiles on their faces.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>"Ami matro bangla shikti arombho korchi" </i>I just learned the bangla language.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This sentence would draw bigger smile and laughter from them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Then they start listening to you - </span><br />
<i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">"Manushe duniya ebonk akhirate shopolata ekmatro Deenir mothe. Duniya akhirate kamiyabi Allah Ta'ala hukum manar mothe ebonk Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wasallam ir tarika cholar manthe."</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The success of mankind in this world and the hereafter is only in Deen. By obeying all the commandments of Allah Ta'ala and following the way of life of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wasallam.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">And they are people who listen. Mashaa Allah! They really listen to your speech. It makes learning dakwah a lot easier. They give us encouragement for dakwah. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the masjid that we were making effort of dakwah and tabligh, after solah you would hear the local called out loudly, </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">"Inshaa Allah, baki namaaz badh iman amoler ofor bayan hobe. Amorosh shabai boshe onek faida hobe." </i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Inshaa Allah, there will be a talk about iman and aamal. It will benefit you if you give time for it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">During bayan in the masjid, whenever they heard any virtues of aamal, they would loudly respond, "Subhanallah!" May Allah keep choosing us and them for the effort of dakwah, and keep us and them on the path of the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum only for the sake of Allah Ta'ala. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The <i>rukh</i> or routes in Bagerhat had been decided for us as follows:</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">16-17 February 2000 Nur Masjid, Bagerhat markaz</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">18-19 February 2000 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Railway Masjid, Bagerhat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">20-21 February 2000 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">KB Masjid, Bagerhat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">22-23 February 2000 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mogra Bazaar Masjid, Bagerhat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">24-25 February 2000 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shat Ghombuj Masjid, Bagerhat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">26-27 February 2000 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mitha Pukur Par Masjid, Bagerhat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">28 February 2000 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hospital Masjid, Bagerhat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">29 February-1 March 2000 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dipara Bazaar Masjid, Bagerhat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2-3 March 2000 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dipara Madrasah, Bagerhat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4 March 2000 </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mukhait Masjid, Bagerhat</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shat Ghombuj Masjid or the Sixty Dome Masjid was built in 1440 by Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali. Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali was the sultan dai'e who had spread Islam in Southern Bangladesh. It is believed that he was of Tughlaq-Uzbek origin. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I remember Mahmudur Rashid brought me visit the grave of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali. Unfortunately the Mazar (mausoleum) of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali are mostly being visited by the ignorant grave-worshippers and the Brelwis. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shat Gombuj Masjid is very big that it actually has 77 domes and 60 stone pillars. It's large size made it look like we only occupied a tiny part of the masjid. During daytime, a lot of people came just to visit the masjid as a historical site.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Most of the masaajids in Bangladesh has a small pond or <i>pukur </i>beside it. We used the pukur for wudhu', for bathing and for washing our clothes. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHIEyEQEHwW1nwgl8AVVAD4FwLgDfUKqh2UfSQc-CiL0pt201smkXWQoYyRJOYVd5CEANUrqyqaKxHQzWslmDurcAtW-efLz39fbleOqOrzpNwOCzkeSIeEsu_EM-EXeUbGvF2bGwC-eL/s1600/20150117_125501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHIEyEQEHwW1nwgl8AVVAD4FwLgDfUKqh2UfSQc-CiL0pt201smkXWQoYyRJOYVd5CEANUrqyqaKxHQzWslmDurcAtW-efLz39fbleOqOrzpNwOCzkeSIeEsu_EM-EXeUbGvF2bGwC-eL/s320/20150117_125501.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We cook our own food but sometime the local prepared food for us from their homes. <i>"Khanna thayar. Ashen bhai, boshen." </i>The food is ready. Come brother, sit. With white rice, we eat <i>alu, muruggi</i> and <i>kacha morich</i>. And I certainly will not forget <i>naga morich</i>, the hottest chilli that I had ever tasted at the time. I realised then why they drew up cartoon characters that breathe fire and smoke when they ate chillies. I was so astonished of its hottest taste that I brought home a few with the hope of growing it locally. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On 4 March 2000 our jamaat and another local jamaat were combined at </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mukhait Masjid, Bagerhat. Al-Hafeez Abdul Baari, who I met <a href="https://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-ipb-journey-dhaka-bangladesh.html" target="_blank">earlier at Kakrail Markaz </a>became aamir of the combined jamaat. He made us all read surah Yaa Sin as an asbab for Allah to form cash jamaat from Bagerhat. It was here I met a <i>m</i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>urubbi</i> Samirudeen of Village Rodropara, Thanasrinogor, Mounshiganj, Dhaka. He was about 97 years old and was on his way to go out in the path of Allah for 4 months. As if I can still see him smiling and hear his voice, "Allah Khub Boro" (Allah is the All Mighty). We called him Abu Ayyub as Sayyidina Abu Ayyub Ansari radiyal laahu anhu, a Sahabi who was in his 90s when he died in the path of Allah and had been buried in Istanbul. The Turks called him Eiyyup Sultan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From Bagerhat, we went back to Kakrail Markaz. After a couple of days at Kakrail Markaz, we were then <i>tasykil </i>again to Nawabganj Thana Area not far from Khaka. Thus in Bangladesh, our chillah had been spent in a long tasykil to Bagerhat and a short tasykil to Nawabganj. I could not remember much of our effort at Nawabganj except we were at a very large centre for the orphans called Yateemkhana Masjid. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We practised what we learned from Hafeez Abdul Baari in preparing people to gout in the path of Allah. I remember we tasykil a postman to go out for 40 days. He gave us reason that he will not be able to get leave for he is the only postman in his area. So we went to his superior, the Post Master and tasykil the Post Master to go out for 40 days. He gave us all sort of excuses saying that he will not be able to leave his position as there is no one else that can relief him of his post. So we told him about one of the postman under him who wish to go out for 40 days but leave was not granted to him. He immediately told us that he would grant the leave to the said man to go out in the path of Allah for 40 days. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Subhanallah! Allah taught us so much in our first chillah in Bangladesh. Then we took a flight to Delhi, India to continue our journey for the second chillah. </span></div>
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-81211017572707021782019-11-05T18:34:00.000+08:002020-01-05T12:32:28.934+08:00The IPB Journey: Dhaka<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><u>Note</u></b>: This article is written with the memories of the right environment of dakwah in the year 2000 when it was still best to learn the work of dakwah in Pakistan and Bangladesh, besides India. In my opinion, currently only through the Nizamuddin Markaz at Banglawali Masjid in Delhi, India that the work of dakwah remains ideal to be learnt but it is no longer ideal to learn the work of dakwah in Pakistan and Bangladesh until righteousness returns to both.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">بسم االله الرحمن الرحيم</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The five of us had made arrangement for the IPB journey by consultation between us. Of course, the final decision on all matters came from our amir having heard suggestions from us, sometimes arguments, pro and con. It had been decided that our journey would start to Bangladesh first by Biman Airlines, then from Dhaka, Bangladesh to Delhi, India by the same airlines and finally we would travel by train from Delhi to Lahore through Amritsar. The journey back home would be from Karachi, Pakistan to Kuala Lumpur by PIA. Three jamaat had travelled that time from Kuala Lumpur to Dhaka, Bangladesh.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwu8J2sQMYRTrL9wQnGGAetqdwmSs3bVrs42Qt1e0sRLXaEfFxzJF0-K5ELjhVlFIIR-VooTpZ2q5-3Boa2WcWIvaPmPLNAhgWOf6p_7-hJIS409NaFkDcCnDzAVFpR9s-HscN6wuFVCuN/s1600/P1127077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwu8J2sQMYRTrL9wQnGGAetqdwmSs3bVrs42Qt1e0sRLXaEfFxzJF0-K5ELjhVlFIIR-VooTpZ2q5-3Boa2WcWIvaPmPLNAhgWOf6p_7-hJIS409NaFkDcCnDzAVFpR9s-HscN6wuFVCuN/s320/P1127077.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We arrived at Dhaka Airport about a week after the Bishwa Ijtema, an annual gathering of Muslims engaging in the effort of dakwah and tabligh. You may read a detailed report on one of the occasions of the Bishwa Ijtema <a href="https://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2012/03/report-on-tablighi-jamaat-ijtema-in.html" target="_blank">here</a>. At the arrival terminal we were ushered in groups together with some brothers from other countries passed the immigration counters like VIPs. It was quite a sight when bearded men in shalwar, gamis, jubbah and lungi walked hastily in the express lane passed by foreigners in suits, jackets and blazers in other lanes in long queues at the immigration check-points. Our passports were collected earlier by a brother in charged of <i>istiqbal</i> and given back to us later duly stamped. I was amazed by the special treatment given to us and all the people who came to the country for dakwah and tabligh effort.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We were taken to the nearby Airport Masjid or Istiqbal Masjid by bus. It was just five to ten minutes from the airport. Many smiling <i>khidmat</i> brothers rushed to carry our luggages into the masjid. We arrived there at 8.00pm on 10th of February, 2000. We were seated at a long <i>dastarkhan </i>and almost immediately food was placed on the <i>dastarkhan</i> which<i> </i>ranges from simple tea and bread to white rice, veggies and meat set out for a feast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After Isyak prayer, the masjid main hall were turned into a large resting place where a huge mosquito net was put up and sleeping mats and pillows were arranged inside neatly. We were then politely invited to rest and sleep. Certainly, my first impression of Bangladesh was, Subhanallaah! what a host! They do know how to treat their guests. And by the look of it they have been doing it for ages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next day we were brought to Kakrail Masjid in Dhaka. It was the markaz of dakwah and tabligh effort in Bangladesh. As the room that usually placed Malay-speaking jamaats (Malaysian, Indonesian, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand) was fulled at that time, the five of us were placed on the upper floor which was still under construction. By the time we already noted the prayer times: </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fajr at 5.30am, iqamaat at 6.00am; </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dzuhr at 1.00pm, iqamaat at 1.30pm; </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Asr at 4.30pm, iqamaat at 4.45pm; </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Maghreb at 6.00pm and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Esha at 8.00pm. We were greeted by one of the elders of Bangladesh, M</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">aulana Muzammil Haq.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There was a jamaat from South Africa among other jamaats from all over the world. I befriended Arshad, a tall herculean South African Cape-malay who looked like a Springbok's No. 8. He told me that he used to work as a night club bouncer. Hitting other people was part of his daily job. Alhamdulillaah, after Allah gave him hidayat through the effort of dakwah and tabligh he never raised a finger to harm others. Even when he was badly hit by a gang of men, he never retaliated in defence. Before he went back home, Arshad gave me his mosquito net which became very handy to me throughout my journey in Bangladesh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the first day at Kakrail markaaz, eagerly I got myself in the second or third <i>saff</i> (row) during asar prayer. During the second rakaat, when it was supposed to be the sitting of the first tahiyyat, I rose up standing. Instead of quickly sitting back, I broke the salaah and start again in tahiyyat. When the prayer finished with salam, I was the only one standing in the very front row making up another two rakaat. I felt like a Bedouin who know nothing about Islam and aadab when first came to Madinah during the time of Rasulullah sallalaahu alayhi wasallam. It was so embarrassing moment for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next day we moved to the "Malay room". Malay-speaking jamaat from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei etc were stationed in this room. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A murubbi by the name Abdul Razzaq Abdullah was in-charged of the room istiqbal whereas </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dr Afzal Hussein and Dr Faruq acted as mutarjim (translator). Both of them had been living in Malaysia for a few years when they were post-graduate students at UKM. Thus for three days our time was occupied sitting in different halqah or circles of learning. Sometime we would hear tafseer of </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Surat ul-Asr, "</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"By the time, Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, And do righteous deeds, And (join together) in the mutual enjoining of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy." (Quran 104:1-3)</span>" The four conditions are just like the four wheels of a car. If one tyre is flat, the car would not be able to run properly." Sometime we heard the mutarjim translated a bayaan saying, "</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ibadaat and dakwah are like a pair of wings of a bird. Both wings are needed in order for the bird to fly." "Brothers! Salam, Taam, Qalam, Qiyam - then tabligh will penetrate the hearts." Another time we sat in the circle of tajweed learning together with local Bangla brothers. As if I could still hear al-Hafeez Abdul Barri, a hifz and teacher of Qur'an recited the last ten surahs of the Qur'an in hoarse melodious voice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the third day at Kakrail Markaz, our jamaat was tasykeel to Bagerhat, south of Bangladesh. Bayan hidayat was given by Maulana Khalid and <i>musaffah</i> by Maulana Ruhul Qis. The five of us were j</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">oined by local brothers Mohammad Shahabudeen, Mohammad Mahmudur Rasheed, Mohammad Hussein, Mohammad Dalim, Mohammad Anisudeen Ahmed and Mohammad Ramzan (pronounce Ramjan). </span><br />
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-54672929101869474302019-10-31T16:14:00.002+08:002020-09-13T12:44:15.961+08:00IPB: Remembering Arwah Ramli Bajhkata<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Whenever I.P.B. is mentioned I always thought of my dear friend Arwah Haji Ramli bin Lebai Ahmad (may Allah enlightens his grave with <i>nur</i>).</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Friendship is built up in many ways. Some friendship began since childhood. Some friendship began at school, college or university. Some friendship started at workplace. Some friendship began at the house of Allah or at place for the remembrance of Allah, solely for the love of Allah.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">It has been more than 6 years since Arwah Haji Ramli bin Lebai Ahmad passed away. He was an engineer at ESSO when I first met him in 2000. We first met at Masjid Jame' Seri Petaling, the Kuala Lumpur markaz for dakwah and tabligh effort. Three other persons - al-Hafiz Hisham Mansur, al-Hafiz Najib Haji Muda and my sister's son, Muhammad Faizal; made up for a five-men jamaat including me and Haji Ramli. Faizal had been tasykeel cash when I went back to my hometown to meet my mother and all relatives before going for the 4 months IPB journey. The elders of tabligh said that I should make <i>syi'ar </i>or proclaim loudly of my noble intention to go out in the path of Allah and in doing so, Allah opened the heart of my nephew Faizal to accompany me on the journey. He had gone for 40 days with his father before when he was a mere teenager.</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Haji Ramli had been appointed as amir for our jamaat. He was about five years my senior at age. We stayed at the KL markaz for a few days whilst submitting our application for visa for all the three Indo-pak countries - India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Meanwhile we had to sit in various important circles of knowledge at the KL markaz before making our journey. One such circle of knowledge is the muzakarah of masa'il where an aalim taught us all the relevant matters with regards to certain rulings of fiqh according to madzhab shafi'e, madzhad hanafi and the relevant differences of rulings between the two madzhab for clear guidance. These was important since we were going on our journey to the countries</span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> where hanafi madzhab is predominantly being practised by the people. I remember the advice well, "You are on your journey to learn dakwah, not to learn fiqh." Uh, I think I'm straying away from the topic. It needs a special muzakarah to understand.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Sayyidina Umar <i>radiyalaahu anhu</i> used to say that, "You don't really know a person until you live with him, travel with him or do business with him." </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The first chillah or the first 40 days in Bangladesh was very stressful for me and for Haji Ramli. Haji Ramli and I just did not see eye to eye. In fact, we did not see eye to eye for the whole duration of the first chillah in Bangladesh. I seemed to have a complete disagreement with my amir on almost all matters all the time. It was really worse on my part since in the end I still have to obey my amir. At the earlier part of our IPB journey, Allah had tested us against each other. </span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I did not know the real reason of our disagreement. I thought it might be because I did not have a 40 days experienced prior to the IPB journey but then the lack of experience should made me more humble and obedient. Perhaps I was just a plain hard-headed man. However, one thing was clear to me. Haji Ramli was completely a changed man once our jamaat arrived at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi, India. He became buoyant and jovial. I no longer see the gloomy and depressed man. At this point of time, I realised that for 40 days he had carried the heavy burden of being the amir of our jamaat in Bangladesh. It was too much of anxiety and strain to him. Once he realised that in India and Pakistan, the responsibility of amir would be given to the local experienced brother, the gloom turned to jubilant and joy for Haji Ramli. And from that moment, he became my close friend. </span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I remember in 2009, we both were together again in a <a href="https://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2010/07/walk-of-faith.html" target="_blank">paidal jamaat</a> or a walking jamaat destined for Sandakan in East Malaysia Sabah. During the formation of the jamaat, when he learned that he was given the responsibility of amir of the jamaat, he turned hysterical and distraught. I sensed that perhaps the bad memories of being my amir nine years ago had overcome him. Thus I felt the need to calm him down and gave in some words of encouragement. I promised him that I would devote myself in helping him ease his burden. In other words, I promised him not to be an idiot that would made his life difficult.</span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Haji Ramli was exclusively known to us, the IPB jamaat members as Ramli Bajhkata. Bajhkata is a village in Bunir within the tribal areas of Khyber Pukhtunkwa, Pakistan. During the tasykeel in Bajkata that all of us felt the real companionship of each other. I guess we called him Ramli Bajhkata out of the feel good factor. </span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">After completing the 4 months IPB journey, as far as I know every year he spent 4 months in the path of Allah alternately travelling on domestic routes and to foreign countries including Albania, Italy, United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia etc.</span><br />
<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">During my companionship with Almarhum Ramli Bajhkata, I witnessed he spent his nights prostrating in sajdah and standing before Allah in solaah. During the IPB journey, when the mornings arrived between adzhan and iqamaat he would engaged in dzikr, his body would gently move. He wept like a bitterly grieved person and I can still hear his cries echoing in my ears as an imam read <i>surah as-Saff</i> during fajar solaah. He was very careful not to get involve in dirty, false or evil vain talk. He was always in the state of concern for the Ummah, especially for his family and his sons, that they would become the da'ie of Allah. I believe he carried this concern in his grave when I was told by one of his sons that he and his brother decided to make the 4 months IPB journey when they dreamt of their father urging them to go out in the path of Allah for 4 months. May Allah make them persevere in the effort of dakwah as their father would dearly wish. </span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">May Allah accept all of our good deeds, sacrifices and obedience to Allah in this world as our means of mercy by Allah in the aakhirah. </span><br />
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-65624615495609726082019-10-29T23:16:00.001+08:002020-09-13T12:39:22.095+08:00The IPB Journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><b><u>Note</u></b>: This article is written with the memories of the right environment of dakwah in the year 2000 when it was still best to learn the work of dakwah in Pakistan and Bangladesh, besides India. In my opinion, currently only through the Nizamuddin Markaz at Banglawali Masjid in Delhi, India that the work of dakwah remains ideal to be learnt but it is no longer ideal to learn the work of dakwah in Pakistan and Bangladesh until righteousness returns to both.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I was happy that finally I have the opportunity to travel in jamaat of dakwah and tabligh for 40 days for the first time. The first person that I shared the news was my <a href="https://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-tablighi-brother.html" target="_blank">brother</a>. "Why don't you go for 4 months instead of just 40 days?" he dropped the million dollar question hundred of miles away from his house in Johor Bahru. I paused for a few seconds, blinking my eyes staring through the wall. "But how could I go for 4 months when I have not done the 40 days journey yet?" I asked innocently. "Since when it is a pre-condition to go for 40 days first? When are you going to get this opportunity again? Just present your case to go out for 4 months during <i>tafakud </i>(a short<i> </i>interview process)<i>.</i>" he sounded like giving me a clear instruction. From that moment I've changed my intention to go out in the path of Allah for one <i>chillah</i> (40 days) to three <i>chillah </i>(120 days). And when I said a journey of three chillah, for a first-timer like me it means a simultaneous journey of 40 days in India, 40 days in Pakistan and 40 days in Bangladesh.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">You may be wondering why was the urgency for me to go on a 4 month trip to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Why the IPB journey was so important to me (and to most people that are called<i> "tablighis"</i>)? </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Although Islam started in Makkah but Islam did not flourish in Makkah. Islam only flourished after <i>hijrah</i> to Madinah. Islam did not flourish in Makkah because the atmosphere and environment in Makkah was an environment that oppressed Muslims. For thirteen years in Makkah, the faith and imaan of the early Muslims had been constantly tested by Allah Ta'ala in enduring hardship and oppression surrounded by the enemies of Islam. Meanwhile, contrary to the environment in Makkah, the the sacrifices of the Sahabah </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">radiyalaahu</i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">anhum</i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">, both the </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">muhajireen</i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> and the </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">ansaars </i><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">from hijrah</i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> and </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">nusrah</i><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"> in Madinah had created the outstanding environment for the upliftment of imaan and aamal. People all over hijaaz and beyond flocked to Madinah ul-Munawwarah to learn Deen directly from Rasulullaah </span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><i>sa</i></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><i>llalaahu alayhi wasallam</i> and the Sahabah <i>radiyalaahu anhum</i>.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">After sometime, during the time of <i>tabi' tabi'een</i>, people started to flock Kufah, Baghdad and Mesir to study from the <i>ulama' fuqaha</i> such as Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Shafie and Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal <i>rahmatullah alayhim</i>. Even the people of Makkah and Madinah made the journey to those places in learning fiqh and jurisprudence.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Then during the time of the <i>muhaditheen</i> like Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Imam Termizi <i>rahmatullaah alayhim</i> etc. people started to flock Bukhara, Khorasan, Termiz and those areas near present day Uzbekistan. Even the people of Makkah and Madinah made the journey to learn and study the science of hadith from those righteous imams of hadith.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Then in the same year of the calamity upon the ummah of the defeat and dissolution of the Ottoman caliphate, Allah Ta'ala started the revival of the ummah by the ijtima'iat work of dakwah through the effort of Maulana Ilyas Kandhlawi rahimahullaah at the Nizamuddin markaz in Delhi, India where presently, there is no other place to learn and practise the work of dakwah better than the guidance given by the Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi, India. Even the people of Makkah and Madinah made the journey to learn ijtima'iat dakwah in the Indo-pak continent, particularly India, Pakistan and Bangladesh where the work had flourished for nearly a hundred years now.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">I remember once a jamaat of six brothers from Makkah came to our masjid. At the end of his <i>bayaan</i>, the amir of the jamaat urged or made <i>tasykeel</i> for people to go out for four months in the path of Allah to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Now he did not <i>tasykeel </i>the people to go to Makkah because he knew that going to Makkah is to perform hajj or umrah, whereas he was urging the people to go on a journey to IPB dedicating their time to learn the work of dakwah. </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">It follows that a person who had gone on a 4-months IPB journey at least once in his lifetime for the purpose of learning the effort of dakwah would then be able to go to any other countries in the world, urging all Muslims to engage in the effort of dakwah and rectification of our own imaan and aamal.</span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Anyway, I decided to visit my mother for her blessing and openly inform all my family back at my hometown of my intention to travel in the path of Allah for four months to IPB. This is the best time to make <i>syi'ar </i>or declare your<i> niyyat</i> or good intention and openly make<i> tasykil</i> to everyone especially family members and hope that Allah Ta'ala would strengthen and accept your <i>niyyat.</i> Alhamdulillaah, I only heard words of support and encouragement from my mother and family especially when they learnt that my sister's son, Muhammad Faizal, would be joining me in the journey. Alhamdulillaah, truly Allah Ta'ala gave me more courage and steadfastness by the presence of my nephew, Muhammad Faizal. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Thus our IPB journey began in February 2000.</span></div>
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-59579367750680892282018-09-15T18:00:00.000+08:002018-09-19T08:21:43.384+08:00The Atheist Boss (Part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My application for unpaid leave were repeatedly ignored by my immediate boss who was an atheist. Instead I began to feel the heat of retaliation from him. Long before the general public were brainwashed and indoctrinated with the term "fundamentalist Muslims", I had been branded as such by him. Once in a while, he used to pass menacing remarks suggesting I look more fundamentalist each day. Perhaps he meant the white skull cap that I put on my head whenever I headed for dzuhur and asar solah. Perhaps he took special notice of every nanometer of the beard that was growing on my face. During those intimidating period, he even distressingly questioned me whether I had anything to do with his secretary suddenly wearing a hijab. I remember that he yelled out loud, "Oh! This is becoming contagious!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile, I did not give up hope in going out for one <i>chilla</i> (40 days khuruuj) in the path of Allah. Until this time, I had never experienced going out in jamaat for one <i>chilla</i>. For over two years I only had been in three days jamaat constantly with my neighbourhood brothers. The urge in expanding my learning of Deen in practical way for a longer period was too much for me to ignore. I needed to strive to become a better Muslim. I needed to learn the way of life of Rasulullaah sallaalaahu alayhi wasallam and the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum. Oh! How I wish the sweet urge would stay forever with me every seconds of my lifetime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was with the urge and courage I decided to ask the approval of the very top management hierarchy directly, harboring hope that the Chief Executive Officer who was also the Managing Director was indeed a pious Muslim as stated by the atheist. True enough he granted me approval as long as another legal advisor within the corporate group would cover for my workload. The condition was easily fulfilled as my colleague at the corporate legal was more than glad to carry out the tasks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I relayed the good news to the atheist, he immediately turned hysterical and chased me out from his room, babbling remarks that I had tried to bypass his authority. The uproar had turned the section of the floor into turmoil and upheavel. Very soon a woman who headed the Human Resource Department stormed in my room and sprayed me with bullets of harsh words and slammed the door on her way out. Ironically, prior to the event she was quite close to me. She used to come to my room and have long conversation on numerous occasions though most of the time I just acted as a good listener to the chatter-box woman. Anyway, at the end of the day I had been served a three weeks suspension notice for unknown reason. The thought came to my mind that the atheist boss might charge me with insubordination at the worst. Though shocked with all the sudden uproar, I was determined to face all challenges ahead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the time of the suspension period, the worst thoughts imaginable had crossed my mind. What if I got fired from work? What would happen to my little children? What if this and what if that...the kind of thoughts that were able to take your breath away. On the other hand, it was for the first time in my entire life that I had been able to spend almost the entire month of Ramadhan in ibadaat and worshiping Allah Most High. My grievances and distress were taken to the house of Allah with me. I was able to spend the days and nights in prayers, dzikir, du'a and seclusion as well as timely attending ghast and ta'leem. The men of wisdom had spoken the truth when they said that you could only get rid of the all the grievances and distress of this world by instilling the worries and concern of the aakhirah.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had been slapped with ridiculous made-up charges as if I had not been performing my duties at all even when I had been given pay rise before based on high performance appraisals. No mentioned about insubordination though. I had been called to face a one-man panel of inquiry. It astonished me how a predominantly Muslims management could be lured into these bouhaha by the atheist over my application for leave. Though I was determined to defend my case, the man on the panel whom I knew and respect called me in person and informed me that the Chief Executive Officer wished to meet me. He advised me to find a solution with the CEO.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a lenghty discussion with the CEO, we both concluded that it was to my detriment if I were to continue working under the atheist man. He offered me a one year pay for my resignation and dropped all the charges as if nothing happened. He even offered to write me a testimonial letter of recomendation for my benefit. Though I initially hoped he would stood up for me but it would be foolish not to expect him to prefer the atheist who was the integral part of the management. Thus, I acknowledged the offer of separation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Truly Allah Ta'ala is the Doer of everything. Allah Ta'ala decides however He wants. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Alhamdulillaah, I had asked for a forty days unpaid leave but I was given a year salary. It follows that </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">what was initially meant to be a forty days journey in the path of Allah turned out to be the most enlightening journey of 4 months in the path of Allah to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.</span><br />
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-14638066978052847632016-08-04T11:17:00.002+08:002018-09-19T07:27:30.978+08:00The Atheist Boss (Part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">All praise is for Allah Ta'ala. We praise Him and seek help from Him. We believe in Him and have complete trust in Him. There can be none to misguide the person whom Allah Ta'ala has guided and there can be none to guide the person whom Allah Ta'ala has caused to go astray.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, 'We believe', and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false." (Qur'an 29: 2-3)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had been working in a large organisation in a position enviously admired and cherished by many people. I had my own room as a work-station which was on level 9 of a building with great comforting view facing a golf course with man-made lake. I also had a great opportunity of career advancement ahead of me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In October 1999, I began to seriously think about spending my time for 40 days in the path of Allah for the advancement of my dakwah and tabligh effort. However, on numerous occasions I shoved off the thought, telling myself that it was not possible for the organization I work for to entertain such request for leave, even if it was for unpaid leave. For quite some time, it was the tug-of-warlike feeling within me - part of me urged me to promptly apply for leave and another part told me not to, putting negative thought on the amount of pay that I might have to forego and the scary thought of losing my job and subsequently losing the comfort of life. It was just like fighting within my inner self in an amateur boxing fight when sometime you are at the blue corner and sometime you are at the red corner, taking and throwing punches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My boss was a Malaysian Indian self-proclaimed atheist. I've never met anyone before who was boastful about following no religion and godless. Before I started the job, my former boss did warn me of him since they knew each other from the legal practice field. I had been warned about his outburst at his previous legal firm between him and other partners of the firm. He then moved into corporate world. But I was too naived to understand the message that my former boss tried to relay to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I joined the corporation, quite frequently I had been asked to join him for lunches. I was introduced to many senior managers within the organisation, most of them Muslim Malays. I do not want to remember most of them. They shamelessly could not care less where they eat and what they eat and drink. They behaved like they were the elite of the society. I suppose they expect me to blend well into their circles but soon enough I learnt to give excuses whenever he asked me out for lunch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, as I said after more than two years working in the corporation and constantly spending my time for 3 days every month in jamaat, I had a strong urge of going out in the path of Allah for 40 days for my rectification of faith. One day I finally resolved to submit my application for unpaid leave for 40 days. I gave the reason of indepth learning of Deen to be a better person.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As soon as he received the application, my boss then called me in his office. He asked me for an explaination behind my application for unpaid leave and I explained to him the importance for me to learn Deen and eventually to become a better person and better employee. He told me he would consult certain people first. It was good enough for me. I would just have to wait for his decision.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I waited. And I waited. And I waited. One month passed by. And two months passed by.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the third month I decided to re-submit my application for unpaid leave for 40 days, telling myself that it was his discretionary right whether to approve or to reject my application but equally it was my right to submit the application for leave.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Soon I found myself facing off with him. He began to intimidatingly question my purpose of taking leave. "I've asked the HR and some Muslim staff here and they said that what you intend to do (taking leave for 40 days in the path of Allah) is not required from a Muslim and is not part of Islamic teaching", he said. "There are many practises that are required for a Muslim to be steadfast in practising them but many Muslims neglected them. If many Muslims neglected them it does not mean they are not part of the practise of Islam," I answered. "Such as what?" he asked. I said, "Such as the five times daily prayer which should be performed in congregation in the masjid or surau where the call for prayer is being made. Many Muslims are neglecting it but it will remain part of Islamic teaching." He spun his chair around and took a book on his rear shelf and slammed the book down on his desk. "Tell me! Where it says in here that a Muslim must pray five times a day in congregation!?" he retorted. I glanced at the thick hard-cover English book with the title "Muhammad" on his desk. Someone must have given him the book or he might have gotten the book from somewhere and put it on display on the shelf behind him for some reason. Strangely, up to that point of time, I had never noticed the book in his room all those while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I went to my room and returned immediately with a copy of English translated Fadha'il Aamal kitaab. I flipped over pages on the chapter of the importance of solah in congregation for him to read. "Jesus Christ!" he exclaimed, "All the while I thought that H (the Managing Director) is a pious Muslim and yet he prays alone in his room!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Little did I realise that very soon my time in office would turn hard against me into intimidation and fault findings by certain officials breathing on my neck.</span><br />
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-42414148364165116912016-03-06T15:36:00.000+08:002016-03-06T15:37:20.724+08:00Notification<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Assalamu'alaykum warahmatullaahi wabarakatuh</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's been a long time since my last writing. I wish I could say that I'm busy with the noble effort of Rasulullaah sallalaahu alayhi wasallam and the Sahabah radiyaalu anhum...but sadly I'm not. May Allah forgive my shortcomings and make me steadfast and engross myself in the noble effort.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I should start writing on this blog again. In the meantime, you may find my earlier writings gradually imported on facebook under the personal blog category with the same title. Oh! I've changed the title from 'Lamentation of a Traveller' to 'Karguzari of a Traveller' to reflect its true intention.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wassalam.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">HAJI</span></div>
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<br />HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-31933044358155005292014-10-04T18:29:00.001+08:002014-10-04T18:32:22.454+08:00The Workplace <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhYef1h7hjvq5A5wf3E9Xi9px6yRsH2Z80IgVVn2391EbvHlvs3CIWbMaG71y0vPTMryBXWtfpmvD2RulEVjDwKBQ999dc51vdW8E681AVvjrZ48ksz1y0KKbnuvnTOntVGEr-yTXefhc/s1600/reliance+of+the+travellers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhYef1h7hjvq5A5wf3E9Xi9px6yRsH2Z80IgVVn2391EbvHlvs3CIWbMaG71y0vPTMryBXWtfpmvD2RulEVjDwKBQ999dc51vdW8E681AVvjrZ48ksz1y0KKbnuvnTOntVGEr-yTXefhc/s1600/reliance+of+the+travellers.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All praise is for Allah Ta'ala. We praise Him and seek help from Him. We believe in Him and have complete trust in Him. There can be none to misguide the person whom Allah Ta'ala has guided and there can be none to guide the person whom Allah Ta'ala has caused to go astray.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was a manager in a public listed company. I worked in the department that was considered the most powerful and glamorous within the organisation - the corporate legal. By the time I joined the organisation, I already had <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2011/08/close-encounter-with-tablighi-jamaat.html" target="_blank">close encounter of the tablighi jamaat.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In early 1997, a few months after I joined the organization, I first went out with a jamaat of 3 days. Subsequently, for more than two years, as a part of the <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2012/08/trials-and-tribulations-early-maqami.html" target="_blank">maqami effort</a>, I had been using all my paid annual leaves from office for dakwah and tabligh effort, utilising one and a half days every month to make up for the required three days period (in those days most organisations had been operating half day on Saturdays instead of 5-day week). Thus, every month I would take a Saturday and a Monday off to join my local jamaat for <i>khuruuj fiisabilillaah, </i>confining myself only in three days jamaat in addition to daily local dakwah and tabligh effort. I recall those period of time when I was really focused, concerned and steadfast in the effort of dakwah and tabligh, albeit much limitation and shortcoming on my part, not acquiring in-depth knowledge about the effort. Nowadays, I might have acquired much more knowledge about the effort in the course of time but I have lost much focus, concern and steadfastness in this great and noble effort. I seek forgiveness from Allah Ta'ala and I request your du'aa for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite the top management and the staff of the organisation were predominantly Muslims, Deeni environment was severely lacking at my workplace. There were <i>fitnas</i> on daily basis. Business dealings were boldly conducted against the Islamic teachings. In the environment where there is no boundaries between men and women, even the most religious-looking amongst them would shamelessly made physical contact with non-<i>mahram</i> by shaking hands. As if the general view was to unnecessarily accept the need to compromise and maybe even do things which may go against the moral codes and the teaching of Islam. I believe there is not much changes in the general view, if not worse than before. These dilemmas arise and encountered daily by most Muslims when one is going for a job, when asked to do something that conflicts with Deen, to please others, or even to show others that we are not 'extremists'. "Allah knows what is in my heart" is probably the lame excuse given by many when in fact it really is due to and a sign of weak <i>imaan</i>. I too had experienced this but, <i>alhamdulillaah</i>, as I constantly spent my time in the effort of dakwah and tabligh and became aware of the Sunnah of Rasulullah <i>Sallalaahu Alayhi Wasallam</i>, my conscience gradually changed. Some people foolishly said I started to become a <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2012/12/you-look-like-tablighi.html" target="_blank">tablighi</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes we avoid doing certain acts that are commanded by Allah Ta'ala upon us out of embarrassment when in reality it means embarrassment of our Deen, the very Deen that has given us honour, dignity and the legacy of past civilisations and prophets. I remember back then once the company organized a team building session for managers conducted by a team of training consultants.They were about 30 participants. We were asked to reach a decision in a short time on certain given issues. The task was to reach the decision in a given short time with the involvement of all participants without leaving out a single person. I was appointed the leader (or the CEO as it was referred to). I gladly take the challenge and applied the basic principles of <i>mesywarah</i> or <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2012/05/consultation.html" target="_blank">consultation</a> in accordance to the Sunnah of Rasulullaah <i>Sallalaahu Alayhi Wasallam</i> that I had acquired during numerous 3 days trip on dakwah and tabligh effort. It is really a basic knowledge amongst the <i>tablighi </i>brothers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I divided the fellow participants into 5 small groups and appointed a leader from each group. I told all the appointed leaders to consult for opinion with everyone from their respective groups. I managed to briefed them the Sunnah ethics of consultation. It was really fun. I even told female participants to pretend that they were behind the veil amid the grudge expression on their faces. From their consultation, each leader should form a collective opinion on the issues given. I was not involved at all at this stage,sitting in a corner alone. I then make consultation with all the appointed leaders and each one of them relayed to me their respective group's collective opinion. Thereupon, I formulated and concluded the decision. The head consultant was so impressed by the whole exercise which was concluded way within the given short time. To our pleasant surprise, he admittedly declared that no group of participants had managed to conclude the exercise on time before. Truly, the Sunnah is the best and flawless way in all aspects of life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once I was going down in an elevator to the surau below in the building at my workplace for <i>Dhuhr</i> <i>solah</i>. There was a non-Muslim Chinese woman in the elevator with me. I was wearing a <i>koffia (</i>the white skull-cap) on my head and a pair of sandals on my feet. I let out my shirt that was tucked in my pants before to cover the part of my <i>satar</i> that I felt was exposed due to the tightness of my pants and my pants were rolled up above the ankles. She asked me, "Is it Friday today?" I replied, "No, today is Thursday." She then said, "Oh! I thought you are going for Friday prayer." I said, "No, we pray five times daily." I supposed she came to that assertion because she had not seen Muslims going for the prescribed daily prayers in large number as for Friday prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are presently passing through a phase of time where the overall spiriyual urge and religious zeal of the general masses is perhaps at it's lowest ebb. A basic solution lies in the returning to the Shariah and reviving the Sunnah. However, such a revival does not lie in mere lip service and empty slogans but in a genuine attempt to practically incorporate Islam within ourselves. The result would be an absolute irrefutable certainty that our effort would gain us tremendous rewards both in this world and in the <i>aakhirah</i>.</span></div>
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-90781570578138568612014-02-13T13:02:00.001+08:002014-02-13T13:02:37.695+08:00The Levels of Jihad<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">A lecture delivered by Abu Uwais Abdullah Ahmad Ali</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Allah says in surah al-Ankabut</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“And those who strive hard in Our Cause, We will surely guide them to Our Paths and verily Allah is with those who are the righteous.”</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Abu Dardaa says as reported by Ibnu Abdul Bar <em>rahmatullahu alayhi</em> in Jamiul Bayan that “He who does not see that seeking knowledge in the morning and the evening is from jihad, his intelligence and his opinion is deficient. Seeking knowledge and act upon knowledge is from jihad, is from striving.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ibnu Qayyim <em>rahmatullahu alayhi </em>says, “Since jihad fights the enemy of Allah and those outside is a brand of the servant making jihad against himself for the sake of Allah as Rasulullah says, “The Mujahid is the one who strives against himself and the obedience of Allah.” Another hadith says, “The Mujahid is the one who make jihad against his desire. And the Muhajir (the one who migrate/the true migrator) is the one who leaves that what Allah has forbidden. Fighting against the self or striving against the self is preceded before you meet the enemy on the battlefield or fighting the enemy in the battlefield. He who doesn’t strive against his self first to do that which he had been ordered and to leave that which had been forbidden, fight against himself against his desire against what he wants for the sake of Allah is not possible for him to fight or make jihad against the enemy outside.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How can he do that which he can’t control that which is between his two shoulders? When he can’t control his desire? When he can’t leave that what Allah had forbidden? And do that which Allah had ordered? If he can’t deal with himself, when his self and desires is over him, guiding him…if he can’t fight that how can he fight the enemy outside? So this desires and fighting against oneself, and struggling against oneself, leaving that which one loves for the pleasure of Allah, doing that which Allah had ordered, this is the first and the basis before you fight the enemy outside and it is the fundamental principle of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And along with this is the jihad against shaytan who comes at us with doubt (syubahat) and desires (syahawat). We can’t fight shaytan and we can’t fight the kuffar unless and until we fight our desire, unless that we strive against our desire. When we will be able to do this then we’ll be able to fight the enemy which Allah says, “take him (shaytan) as a clear enemy”. It is stated that we should know to take him as enemy, to know that we should do our most in fighting against him for he does his most in fighting against us. He does not rest, he does not relax, he does his most in fighting against us and leading us astray. So we must make jihad in this area. And many times when this issue was talked about, when they talk about jihad, this issue is far away from the mind of many of those who talk about jihad. The true mujahid is the one who goes against his nafs, does jihad against his desires and therefore he is able to do that then he can face the shaytan and deal with him, then he can face the kuffar and the munaffikin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ibnu Qayyim <em>rahmatullahu alayhi</em> mentions that jihad is of 4 levels: (1) Jihad of the nafs, Jihad against yourself, striving against yourself, striving against one’s desires, making sure that you are in obedience to Allah, preventing yourself from committing actions which are disobedience to Allah, controlling yourself from falling to that which is disobedience to Allah. Ibnu Barr <em>rahmatullahu alayhi</em> often said in many of his speeches and lectures that you are in jihad from the moment that shaytan has oppose you which is the beginning of your life until the moment to the grave. We are in the struggle and everyday we are struggling to mount this attack against our own self. And every one of us is a witness regarding himself. Verily everyone of us is upon himself. We all know ourselves even if we give excuses. So this is the first and foremost issue that we must understand. Fighting against oneself is upon four levels. The first level is to strive with yourself so that you learn the guidance and the deen of truth. There is no success for the soul nor happiness in this life and the next except with knowing the deen of haq. The one who misses this will be sad in this life and the hereafter, will be unfortunate in this life and the hereafter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So first of all, starting to come to the circle of knowledge, trying to find or seek the knowledge, sitting in the circles of knowledge, we have to strive against ourselves to do that. Secondly, striving against the self to act upon the knowledge once we learnt it. Because just having the knowledge without action even if it doesn’t hurt us it won’t benefit. So the amal has to be striven for. The knowledge that we have we have to apply it. Thirdly, is to do battle against one self and make jihad against the core to it. Many of us know the haq or have the ilm and many of us act upon it but very few of us give dakwah. Very few of us call to the knowledge that we have. And I don’t know what the basis for it, either laziness or either shyness or either absence of certainty but this is not how the salafusolleh were. We should be upon their way so we must make jihad against ourself to make it, after having the ilm and after acting upon it to give dakwah to it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teaching to those who don’t know otherwise we’ll from those who hide the knowledge, who hide what Allah revealed. We’ll be committing the sin of the one who hide the knowledge and the knowledge does not benefit him not does it save him from the punishment of Allah. Fourthly, be patience upon what comes when you give the dakwah. The harms of the creature and all of those matters to able to pay the harm of the creature upon one’s back, to be able to pay all of that for the pleasure of Allah. And if this sounds like the echo of something you heard before then you may recall the aayah in Surah Asr, for these are the four means of success.</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“By the time. Verily! Man is in loss. Except those who believe in Iman (Faith) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'aruf) which Allâh has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar) which Allâh has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah's Cause).” </span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is no doubt that there must be iman, and there must be amal soleh, and there must be dakwah, and there must be sabr of all what harm that may happen to you when you begin to give the dakwah, when you begin to call to the Book of Allah, and when you begin to call to tauhid. If you complete these four levels, could be from those robbani those people, scholars who feel Allah or individuals connected to Allah because the self has agreed that the one, the aalim or the scholar who has the right to be called robbani is the one who knows the haq, acts upon it and teaches to others and these individuals are called the aaziman or great and be heaven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So he went on to explain (2) the jihad of shayatiin, and (3) the jihad of the kuffar, and (4) the jihad of the munaffiqin. But let it be known that first and foremost we must struggle against ourselves. The true mujahid is the one who makes jihad against his nafs. The best jihad is to go against the desire. And brothers, this is the jihad that we can do from the ending of this salaah, after saying “assalamu’alaykum warohmatullahi”, that jihad starts. Doing that which is against our nafs, struggling against our desire, controlling our tongue, making sure that it says only that which pleases Allah. Jihad, struggling against our desire, struggling against saying that which is haraam or to back bite or to slander or to lie. Struggling against our hands, our limbs, preventing them to do that which Allah has forbidden. Forbiding our feet to walk towards that which Allah has forbidden. Stopping our eyes from looking towards that which Allah has forbidden. Stopping our ears from hearing that which Allah has forbidden.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“And those who strive hard in Our Cause, We will surely guide them to Our Paths and verily Allah is with those who are the righteous.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ibnu Qayyim <em>rahmatullahu alayhi</em> says, “Those who act upon that which they knew Allah will guide them upon that which they did not know.” It is not right for the one who gets the knowledge unless and until he acts upon it. The knowledge will not benefit him, rather, unless and until he acts upon it. <strong>“And those who strive”</strong>, Ibnu Kathir rahmatullahu alahyi says it means Rasullullah and the sahabah and those who follow them <em>illa yaumuddin</em>. And Sama’ani <em>rahmatullahu alayhi</em> says about this aayah <strong>“and those who strive”.</strong> “You call a mujahid a striving. To striving is to be patience upon obedience and staying away from sins.” And this is the type of sabr that individuals need or that is required to be patience and obedience, to continue getting up everyday and doing that which Allah has ordered to do. Sabr to make five time daily salaah. Sabr on those issue that Allah has ordered. Sabr not to commit sins. The sins are all around us, the environment is polluted and corrupted. How close are the sins to us. To prevent one from reaching out to it or prevent one from falling into it, this requires sabr, patience. And sabr is not something easy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And patience of the difficulties. That Allah will test us that which is good and which is bad in respect to us, that which is bitter and that which is sweet, that which we like and which we dislike. And we have to have sabr upon that. So these are the issues of success. I go back to the statement of Abu Sulayman Ad-Darami <em>rahmatullahu alayhi</em> to make sure that I translate it correctly. Ibnu Qayyim (Abu Ahmad) <em>rahmatullahu alayhi</em> said, “Those who act upon that which they knew, Allah will guide them upon that which they did not know.” And Abu Al-Hawari said “I told Abu Sulayman (who was known as ad-Darami) the statement, he liked it and he said, ‘It does not befit one who has inspired to do something good that he believes to be good until he hear the narration regarding it. When he hears that narration he acts upon it and he praises Allah that it agreed to with that which is in his heart.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And fear Allah and Allah will teach you. If you fear Allah, Allah will give you a criteria, Allah will give you that which will distinguish between haq and baathil, between truth and that which is false. There are many narrations here but if we come away with this issue that the first jihad upon us is to correct ourselves, is to discipline ourselves, is to stay away from that which Allah has forbidden, to make ourselves obey Allah, to make ourselves stay away from that which Allah has forbidden. Then we are in fact the mujahid, for the mijahid is the one who makes jihad against his desire or against his nafs. All that it takes to do this, it does not take much, but to have sincerity in our hearts, there must be ikhlas and there must be dependence upon Allah. May Allah guides us to be those who are in fact describe by this aayah:</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“And those who strive hard in Our Cause, We will surely guide them to Our Paths and verily Allah is with those who are the righteous.”</span></em></div>
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-41057466898182396582013-09-06T03:29:00.001+08:002013-09-08T22:39:01.539+08:00Correspondence Letters between Sheikh Ibrahim Abdurahman Al-Hushain of Madinah Munawarrah and Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Letter from Sheikh Ibrahim Abdurrahman Al-Hushain of Madinah Munawarrah to Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz</span></u></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bismillahirrahmanirrahim</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the name of Allah we seek help in worldly and Deeni affairs. The Honourable, our elder, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, the Head of Ilmiyyah Research, Ifta, Dakwah and Islamic Guidance, may Allah make him steadfast in this world and the aakhirah, and he continue making him support and help the truth. Aamin.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assalamu'alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been studying the letter from the Honourable Sheikh's predecessor, <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-letter-from-sheikh-muhammad-bin.html" target="_blank">Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim aal-Shaikh</a>, the former grand mufti of Saudi (may Allah have mercy on him with grace and place him in wide Jannah), addressed to the scholars of Al-Aqsa and the East through the <i>amir</i> of tabligh jamaat in Madinah and the jamaat that followed him. He had given instruction in the letter to do good to them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And he mentioned that, "t<span style="text-align: justify;">heir mission is to spread reminders, guidance, exhortation and encouragement towards </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><i>tawheed</i></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> and </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><i>aqeedah</i></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> at masaajid, along with enjoining towards the practice of Al-Qur'an and As-Sunnah, including reminders against </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><i>bid'ah</i></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> (innovations) and </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><i>khurafat</i></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> (superstitions) in the form of grave worshipping, praying to the dead, etc.." He then said, "</span><span style="text-align: justify;">I write about them, requesting that they be given help and assistance from their fellow brothers, allowing them to carry out their duties, while making </span><i style="text-align: justify;">du'aa</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> to Allah Ta'ala to grant them</span><i style="text-align: justify;"> ikhlaas niyyat</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> (good intention), </span><i style="text-align: justify;">tawfeeq</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> to speak the </span><i style="text-align: justify;">haq</i><span style="text-align: justify;"> (truth), to be saved from slip up speech, and to bring about benefits to their guidance and explanations. Verily He has power over all things."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">We had gone through a lot of letters from you (may Allah reward you), that show and uphold your principles in support of the jamaat, affirmation of their virtues, their hard work, their steadfast in bearing the difficulties in the framework of dakwah whilst expecting only rewards from Allah , the large number of astrayed people who receive<i> hidayah</i> (divine guidance) by reason of their efforts and the large number of unbelievers who had come into the fold of Islam. Also their <i>targheeb</i> for participation in <i>khurooj fii sabilillah</i> in dakwah framework with wisdom and <i>mau'idhoh hasanah</i>, especially the students of knowledge, since the benefits in their participation with them are so great that only Allah knows. We also have been going through a lot of letters from the leaders of this country who support them in these activities. May Allah give the best rewards for their kindness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first letter from the Honourable <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-letter-from-king-abdul-aziz-aali-saud.html" target="_blank">King Abdul Aziz</a> </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">rahimahullah</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and the last letter addressed to you from the Honourable King Fahd (may Allah protect him) wherein he said about the jamaat, "Verily this jamaat has no political motives nor worldly ambitions. They fund their own self for the sake of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">dakwah illallah</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> with wisdom and beneficial lesson. Those people who participate make journeys to all corners of the world for the guidance of mankind, and every one who Allah give </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hidayah</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> through them are encouraged to become a da'ie..." and then he advocated for assistance to be given to them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had also gone through many writings from very careful ulama' (scholars of Deen), who are expert in <i>tauheed</i> and very firm in <i>aqeedah</i>, alhamdulillah. They consist of lecturers at the Islamic University of Madinah and ulama' from Saudi Arabia and other countries. They praised this jamaat, recognizing its virtues and embrace it. Because they have seen the good and the magical impact of them, where they have joined the jamaat in residence and journeys. Even opponents of this jamaat are of the view that they recognize how extensive the benefits of this jamaat and its effect on those who had gone astray, until Allah gave them <i>hidayah</i> through the <i>asbab</i> of the jamaat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Muhammad Aslam (may Allah forgive him and all of us), when he mentioned about the virtues of this jamaat in his famous letter, said, "I did not know Islam except through them."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, lately <i>shaytaan</i> and <i>nafs</i> are deceiving a few people in Madinah al-Munawwarah (may Allah give them<i> hidayah</i>). They attacked tablighi jamaat, exerting their energy and time in disrupting, abusing and warn people to stay away from the jamaat. They even contacted some youth who had received <i>hidayah</i> through the <i>asbab</i> of the jamaat, who had been safeguarding their <i>solah</i> and adhered to the Sunnah, They told them, "Verily it is better for you guys to remain mischievous rather than being influenced by this jamaat", thus some of them have turned back to evil and mischievous life.<i> Na'uzubillahi min dzalik.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And some of them are spreading disturbing news that you have retracted your earlier good views on this jamaat considering many people reviled and vilified the jamaat in front of you, but we do not believe this rumours since we had read and heard from you the things that we mention herein above.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Considering Allah has bestowed you with keen heart, immense views, extensive studies, prudence, wisdom, and determination to achieve the <i>maslaha</i> and shunning evils, we are convinced that their opinions and views that they purportedly claim came from you and the news that they spread about you, are very far from reality. We therefore seek clarification from you, so that the people will have the true picture. May Allah reward you with goodness and uproot the <i>fitna</i> and evils through you. Verily, Allah is All-Hearing and All-Near.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wassalamu'alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On behalf of your students in Madinah,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ibrahim Abdurrahman Al-Hushain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>Reply from </u></b><b><u>Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz to </u></b><b><u>Sheikh Ibrahim Abdurrahman Al-Hushain of Madinah Munawarrah </u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">27th Muharram, 1407H (2nd October, 1986)</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bismillahirrahmanirrahim</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assalamu'alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would like to inform you gentlemen that I still stick with my stance on the jamaat, which I had written a lot in the past and present, and had been written by my predecessor, our elder Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Aali-Shaykh (may Allah sanctify his soul and enlighten his grave), and also had been written by other ulama'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The viewpoint was supported by the Hounourable King Abdul Aziz <i>rahimahullah</i> and the Honourable the King Fahd (may Allah give him <i>taufeeq</i>) in a letter written to me. For Allah Ta'ala has made them as <i>asbab </i>(the cause) for many benefits and the cause of <i>hidayah</i> (guidance) to many people. It is <i>waajib</i> (compulsory) to thank them for their efforts, to motivate them and to remind them about matters that they may not know. This is within the framework of cooperation in goowill and <i>taqwa</i> (piety) and mutual advice between the Muslims. It's just my advise to them and the rest of the Muslims, especially the youth, not to travel to the heathen or godless nations except for the people who are knowledgeable and have an understanding of Deen (<i>bashiroh</i>). For such journey comprise of great harm for people who do not have knowledge of<i> sharia</i> and the true <i>aqeedah</i>, for which Allah ta'ala sent our Nabi Muhammad <i>sallalaahu alayhi wasallam </i>and by which the <i>solafus soliheen</i> (the righteous among this ummah) remain steadfast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As for what the opponents and adversaries attributed to me, that I have withdrawn my viewpoint about the jamaat is a slander and falsehood against me. In fact, I even advise them and denounced their actions. I said to them a couplet of a poet:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Lessen your smear against them, for the sake of your father's honour. Or do good as they do."</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I had encouraged them to be together and go out in <i>khuruuj</i> with the jamaat. I also explained to them its benefits. I asked them to re-examine their views and look at the consequences. I pointed out to them the grave danger and the ugly consequences in the world and the hereafter, when we split with them and oppose them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Verily it is the <i>shaytaan</i>'s handiwork to turn men against dakwah illallah and to divert them into damaging the relationship between them and spreading disunity. May Allah protect us from the temptation of <i>shaytaan</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is my assurance and certainty that I am placing before Allah. I pray may Allah show us the truth as true and grant us steadfastness to hold on to it and show us the falsehood as false and grant us the strength to keep it away from us and not to make as vague to us so that we do not get astray. Verily, He is the Almighty and the Owner of all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Salutation and peace and blessing be showered upon His servant and His Messenger, who was sent as a mercy to the entire worlds, as well as to his Sahabah and those who follow them till the Day of Judgement.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wassalamu'alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Head of the Board of Research, Ilm, Ifta, Dakwah and Islamic Guidance</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Abdul Aziz bi Abdullah bin Baz</span></span><br />
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-48882686962546131372013-04-19T12:13:00.002+08:002013-04-19T12:50:16.429+08:00A Letter from Japan (Part 2)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIgumwREQsPisCKZijquOr3fO5uEKCShF5gMFrPTJFMir3DEOhex1tJgKrdrhMIy2pMn_UtD2T0Kb3tPd3o18NRBx104ljMPXhAFRDJR4z-aHtgO8dRWnbNcHsDHrgD87rpoSMlpc6W9F/s1600/ScreenShot002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIgumwREQsPisCKZijquOr3fO5uEKCShF5gMFrPTJFMir3DEOhex1tJgKrdrhMIy2pMn_UtD2T0Kb3tPd3o18NRBx104ljMPXhAFRDJR4z-aHtgO8dRWnbNcHsDHrgD87rpoSMlpc6W9F/s320/ScreenShot002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Munjuwabin Mandir</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some Buddhist elders joined us in our stay at Enzan. One of them was from Munjuwabin (Monjyuin or Monjuin), a monastery on the Yamanashi Mountains. This Buddhist priest once sent a letter addressed to Haji Umar Mita wherein he invited the jamaat to spend the next months' 3 days at Munjuwabin. We accepted the invitation. During the course of the following month (August) we proceeded with a jamaat of twenty Muslim and non-Muslim individulas. The Buddhist priest received us at the railway station. From there we proceeded by car to Munjuwabin. Both sides of the road were covered with widely scattered grapevines. The cars were stopped at the foot of the mountain. Here the priests' followers entertained us with tea. Thereafter, we climbed the mountain on foot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The monastery is situated on the peak of the mountain. It consists of two temples. One is a Budhist and the other a Shinto. Our host was the trustee of both. We stationed ourselves in the Shinto temple because it has no idols. The monastery is nestled in beautiful natural sceneries. In front is a mountain range which was snow-capped even in August. The crystal clear ponds of water with beautiful fish, trees laden with fruit and the soothing sound of small little waterfalls captivated the heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our programmes were conducted as usual. Our host and his wife went out of their way to entertain us. They performed solah with us and participated in all the other programmes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Japan, "Jute" is a ceremony held to serve tea to a very special and honoured guest. The wife of our host organised one such ceremony in our honour. The details of this ceremony is a subject on its own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next day, during the course of our <i>ta'lim</i>, our elderly host expressed his desire to accept Islam. This was our first experience where a religious leader was prepared to accept Islam in his own temple. Our <i>amir</i> immediately engaged himself in solah. He requested me to handle the situation. We experienced mixed feelings on his desire to accept Islam. On the one hand, we were happy with his acceptance of Islam. On the other hand, we feared that it may cause a stir amongst his followers. We desired his recitation of the<i> kalimah</i> secretly so that nothing unpleasant develops. I told or host, "You are already a Muslim because of your conviction that Allah Ta'ala is one and Sayyidina Rasulullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wassalam</i> is His final prophet. There is no haste in reciting the <i>kalimah</i> as a custom in front of others. It can be done at some other time."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our host replied, "First listen to my experience. A spirit came to me exactly three months ago. It informed me that some spiritual people are coming from the Himalaya Mountains to your temple. You should honour them. See! I have noted this experience in my diary. I knew that the Himalaya Mountains are situated in the northern part of the Indo-Pak subcontinent. However, I could not understand how would these spiritual people reache here. Last month, I heard the arrival of some spiritual people in our area. I came to meet you. When I saw your group, I realised the truth of the information my spirit gave me. Your invitation affected me. Since I returned, I bagan performing solah thrice a day in the manner you performed them. I have never worshipped the idols since the day I left you." Then he pointed towards a portrait saying, "I spent many years meditating on the peak of this mountain. I have noted down all my spiritual experiences during the course of these meditations."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He then placed a bundle of manuscripts in front of Diya' Sahib. After perusing through them, Diya' Sahib acknowledged the edition of our host. Thereafter our host added, "I began performing supernatural acts when these spiritual experiences were revealed upon me." On this statement, our friend Abdullah, a professor of spiritualism, interjected saying, "Can you display any of those supernatural acts?" Our host replied, "Certainly, stand facing the wall and keep your feet firm on the ground. I am going to overturn you." Professor 'Abdullah stood in front of the wall. Our host stood at a distance of 20-30 feet behind him. He then began making signs with his hands in the air. As he made these signs, Professor 'Abdullah fell down. The Japanese applauded our host for his performance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A young Muslim engineer got up and said to our host, "Professor 'Abdullah is an elderly person. Try to cause me to fall." Consequently, our host caused him also to fall. He then addressed the gathering in a very serious tone saying, "You have observed a mundane, worldly act devoid of <i>nuraniyat </i>(spiritualism). However, when these people (referring to us) recite their Heavenly Book or mention something what their prophet said, then I see <i>nuraniyat</i> in it. I immediately understood that this is something divine and not worldly. These people say that their Prophet was unlettered. He did not acquire knowledge from any human teacher, yet I see that he has given the people of the world such a speech wherein every letter is replete with <i>nuraniyat</i> (spirituality). I could not achieve this type of<i> nuraniyat</i> in my writings despite many years of spiritual exercises."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The truth of Islam is not in need of the testimony of any priest. Nevertheless, the host's address harmonised the situation and the superiority of Islam was established before the gathering. We desired our host to become a Muslim, but as a precautionary measure, not in public. Anyway, one of our colleagues made our host and his wife recite the <i>kalimah</i> in secrecy. He also taught them how to make <i>dhikr</i>. After accepting Islam, it became necessary upon them to bid farewell to their monastery and temples. However, they were not prepared to do so as yet. They said, "Our son is studying at university. As soon as he completes his studies, we will hand-over this monastery to him. Thereafter, we will do as you say."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We returned to Pakistan the following month. Nevertheless, Haji Umar Mita Sahib kept corresponding with our guest. On the encouragement of Haji Umar Sahib, our guest gave a beautiful portion of his monastery as a graveyard to the Muslims (<a href="http://www.islamicfinder.org/getitWorld.php?id=34379" target="_blank">Monjyuin Islamic Graveyard Yamanashi</a>). The wife of Janab Abdul Karim Sahib was buried here. Mita Sahib has informed us that our guest and his wife have expressed their desire to perform hajj.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In our gathering, some other Buddhist also embraced Islam. Amongst them was a retired major from the army. The manner in which he accepted Islam is strange. He says, "I came to visit someone in one of the villages at the foot of the mountain. As I intended to return, I heard a voice in my ear saying, 'Don't return.' This never occured to me before. I decided to spend the night in that village. The next morning, I heard the announcement over the loudspeaker of the village hall, inviting us to come to the monastery. After spending some time here, Allah Ta'ala has guided me." Thereafter, he addressed the non-Muslims in the gathering saying, "Who is that Being who prevented me from leaving the village, caused me to come here and guided me? Will you still not believe in that Being? So after this in what messages will you believe."</span></div>
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-11936262359893523442013-04-16T13:10:00.002+08:002013-04-18T01:03:40.808+08:00A Letter from Japan (Part 1)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This letter was published by Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Azaadville, South Africa in 2002</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Janab Abdurrashid Arshad Sahib became engaged in the tablighi effort while he was a student at college. He had the good fortune of staying in the company of Hadrat Maulana Ilyas <i>rahmatullah alayhi</i>. He travelled extensively within the country for the sake of tabligh. He accompanied a high official post in the Pakistani government after partition. During this period of time, he went more than once to Japan for some training courses. He gained much experience with the tablighi effort there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1962, he accepted the Saudi government's invitation to head their telegraph department. He completed the translation of the Holy Qur'an in the Japanese language with the help of Haji 'Umar Mita Sahib. A <i>meshwarah</i> was scheduled to take place in Madinah Munawwarah with regard to this translation. He wore his ihram on the 15th Sya'ban. He then proceeded for <i>umrah</i>. He became <i>shahid</i> in a car accident en route to Makkah Mukarramah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[<u>Note</u>: On 10th June 1972, the printing of the translation of the Holy Qur'an in Japanese was completed and its first edition was published.]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am sending a report regarding the conditions prevailing in Japan in compliance with your request which you made at the airport. I will send a report of the condition prevailing in America at a later date.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Religion in Japan</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Japanese were strictly religious before the 2nd World War. There are two dominating religions in Japan: the Buddhist and the Shinto religions. An integral part of both these religions is ancestral worship. The ancestral lineage of the king is connected to the sun-god. Every Japanese regards it as his religious duty to venerate and worship the king and his ancestors. The king's order to fight is regarded by them as a sacred command just as <i>jihad</i> is for the Muslims. In the 2nd World War, the Japanese armies first visited their temples before proceeding to fight outside the country. On their return, they first paid tribute to their gods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Their political and religious leaders assured them during this war that their gods were happy and, henceforth, their victory was guaranteed. However, when they suffered defeat, a general weakness appeared in their religious beliefs. A kind of religious crises and intellectual vacuum developed. The Christian governments in Europe and America (who regard the propagation of the Christianity as part of secularism) took advantage of the situation. The entry of American troops on Japanese soil opened the door for a large number of Western Christian missionaries to enter the country. Churches were constructed throughout the country. Missionary schools were opened everywhere. In short, every effort was made to propagate Christianity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">General Eisenhower made the following statement in a radio broadcast, "In a few years time Japan will become a Christian country." However with certainty it could be said that General Eisenhower's statement proved to be false. The Christian missionaries could not achieve the success which they envisaged. The Christian population of Japan is much less than 1%. The sound Japanese mind cannot accept the present Christian dogmas. Politically, the Christians were the enemies of Japan in the 2nd World War. In fact, they are responsible for throwing the first atom bomb in human history on Japan. How can the Japanese ever forget the harm caused by them. Probably for the very same reasons the Japanese did not accept Russian socialism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After Christianity and socialism, it is only Islam that can fit the intellectual vacuum in the minds of the Japanese. This is the reason why they are accepting Islam. Sometimes it is amazing to note that a few words of encouragement motivates them to accept Islam immediately.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tabligh in Japan</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once we noticed, after completing solah, an educated Japanese standing at the door of the Jami Masjid of Tokyo. he introduced himself to be an artist by profession. His newspaper cartoons are greatly appreciated by the public. He said that he had read a novel in the Russian language which centred around a very courageous Muslim character who never feared death. This Muslim character accomplished the most dangerous task. he (the Japanese artist) said that someone had informed him that the Muslims gather for prayers here at the masjid every Friday. Hence, he had come to understand Islam from us. We invited him to our room and entertained him with tea, etc. Allah Ta'ala had inspired me to tell him through our translator, Alhaj 'Umar Mita, "Islam can only be understood by reciting the kalimah. It cannot be understood prior to that." He immediately got prepared to accept Islam. Haji 'Umar Mita converted him and he performed the 'Asr solah with us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once a Japanese new Muslim brought his non-Muslim friend to meet us. His non-Muslim friend was the secretary of the Socialist Party of our ward. The first question he posed was, "What is the Islamic solution for the existing contention between the capitalist and the working class?" I replied, "The Islamic social system is not based on 'the demands of rights'. It is based on 'the fulfillment of rights'. The fulfillment of rights of the capitalist (the employers) is the responsibility of the working class. On the other hand, it is the duty of the capitalist to fulfill the rights of the working class. Hence, a group or class contention in a correct Islamic social structure is impossible." This answer which I heard from my elders affected his heart and he immediately accepted Islam.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once a non-Muslim insisted in inviting us to his home in order to encourage his two daughters to accept Islam. Both were studying for an M.A. degree at university. Their special subject was English literature. We accepted his invitation and extended the dakwah of Islam to his two daughters. The house environment was not suitable for dakwah and consequently, our talk had no effect. After making mashwarah, we invited them to share a meal with us. In the interim, a perverted minded person made an effort to stop them from understanding the truth of Islam. He told them that women were oppressed in Islam, imprisoned in their homes and deprived of enjoying life as men do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the day of the invitation, the two sisters refused to partake of the meal except we had answered their question. They asked, "What is the Islamic solution to the question of 'gender equality'? I" I replied, "If you wish you could study the answer directly from the Holy Qur'an. They agreed. I placed in front of them the translation of the following aayah of Surah Ahzab from Pickthall's translation of the Glorious Qur'an (the translation did not have the Arabic text): <i>"Lo! Men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who persevere (in righteousness) and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women whoare humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their modesty and women who guard (their modesty), and men who remember Allah much and women who remember, Allah hath prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward." </i>(aayah 35)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I added, "Islam had not given preference to men over women in achieving supreme success. If a male can enter Jannatul Firdaus, then, by Allah, a female can also reach there." They replied, "Allow us to make mashwarah." After consulting each other in one corner of the room, both sisters said, " We have decided to embrace Islam immediately. We are convinced that Islam is the only true religion."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These incidents show the thirst for Islam in Japan despite the wide circulation of anti-Islamic propaganda by the Christian missionaries throughout the country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once I undertook a train journey. One of my Japanese fellow-traveller was busy reading a book. I asked him, "Sir, did you ever read any literature on Islam?" He replied, "Yes, a voluminous one." I asked, "What was the name?" He replied in a very serious tone, "A Thousand Nights."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A message of Islam reached Japan long before the arrival of the tablighi jamaats. After the Turkish Revolution, a pious Turkish personality, Shaikh Ibrahim Washad emigrated to Japan for the sake of spreading Islam. A small group of people accepted Islam on his hands. He passed away in Tokyo and is buried there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another reason for the spread of Islam in Japan was the influence of the pious Chinese, Malaysian, Indonesian and Burmese Muslims. They influenced the Japanese after the Japanese invaded their respected countries.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Haji 'Umar Mita</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Haji 'Umar Mita Sahib is presently the principle figure of tabligh in Japan. He has printed the <a href="http://www.islamibayanaat.com/EnglishLiterature/English-StoriesOfTheSahabahRA-FazailEAmal.pdf" target="_blank">'Stories of the Sahabah'</a> in the Japanese language.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is busy translating the Qur'an Majid into Japanese. He explained how he became Muslim as follows: "I took up employmet at the Manchurian Railway Station after completing a degree in political economy. Manchuria was under Japanese occupation at that time. After completing my term of employment, I embarked on touring China on foot. I was well-acquainted with the practice of ancient Japanese medicine. during my travels I passed by a village inhabited mainly by Muslims. The imam of the village was ill. The villagers requested me to treat him. I agreed and arrangements were made for me to live in one of the rooms of the masjid. I knew the Chinese language. The imam gave me Chinese literature on Islam to study. The treatment took some time and I got a good opportunity to study Islam and lives of the Muslims. I found the Chinese Muslims to be cleaner than their non-Muslim counterparts. They possessed sublime character. Their performance of the five daily solahs attracted me towards Islam. Consequently, I was smitten with the love of Islam by the time the imam was cured. Hence, I accepted Islam in that village."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[<u>Note</u>: In 1957, Haji Umar Mita went to Indo-Pak subcontinent in connection with dakwah and tabligh effort. He died in 1976 at the age of 82.]</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Method of Effort</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We met many people who accepted Islam through the effort of dakwah and tabligh. The first jamaat arrived in Japan in 1958. Hadrat Ji is much more acquainted with this than myself. [Note: Hadrat Ji <i>rahmatullah alayhi </i>died in 1965]. The technique employed by the tablighi jamaat is unique. Its invitation is based on the fact that Allah Ta'ala has promised His love for those who adhere to the 'amal (sunnah) of Sayyidina Rasulullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wasallam</i>. Allah Ta'ala makes the hearts of people submit in front of those whom He loves. There are six important sunnah deeds of qualities which are given paramount importance in tabligh. They are known as the six points (or qualities). The jamaat is a mobile group which strives to inculcate the six points. If a jamaat adheres to the correct principles, then spiritual reformation is certain. This is the result of adhering to the sunnah. Thousands have been reformed through this technique.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The jamaats employ the same technique in non-Muslim countries. It was our practice in Japan to proceed in the path of Allah for 3 days every month. Both Muslims and non-Muslims were invited to participate. The Muslims who participated always returned home with stronger iman and genuine urge to do good. Most of non-Muslims who joined us were blessed with imaan by the time they returned home.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enzan Buddhist Temple</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enzan is a Buddhist temple situated in the Yamanashi Administrative Division, approximately 100 km south of Tokyo. This provnce is known for its famous maountain named Fuji and grapevines. In July 1960, a jamaat proceeded towards Inzan temple. Prior to this, two students from this district accepted Islam through the efforts of the jamaat working there. These students then went to Pakistan to spend more times to learn the effort. They wrote reports of their tablighi journeys to their local newspapers. These reports were published. Our jamaat efforts was also mentioned therein.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once we received an invitation to visit this area. We accepted this invitation and decided to spend our monthly 3 days there. Our jamaat comprised of about 20 Muslims and non-Muslim Japanese individuals. The elders of the area gave us a warm welcome at the station. A huge procession accompanied us to the Inzan temple where we were based.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This temple is a unique display of ancient Japanese architecture. It seems as if the Japanese built this temple with great enthusiasm using all the resources at their disposal. A thick long rope made of women's hair is safely kept in the temple. This rope was used to lift up the beams of the temple. The bottom floor is filled with a variety of idols. The priest of the temple introduced these different idols to us. We recited the following aayah as a reply: <i>"Definitely you and what you worship besides Allah are the fuel for Jahannam."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The jamaat was lodged in a small hall on the upper storey. When the time of Zuhr solah set in, the <i>adhan</i> was called out loudly. The sound of the <i>adhan</i> echoed throughout the temple. It seemed as if they were thirsty to hear the <i>adhan</i>. Everyone performed <i>wudhu'</i> using crystal clean water from a natural fountain within the area of the temple. All performed the Zuhr solah, Muslims as well as non-Muslims. Every solah was performed in this manner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Adhan</i> and solah are the most important aspects of tabligh. More people were attracted towards Islam by hearing the <i>adhan</i> and observing the performance of solah. After solah, our tabligh effort began. The <i>ahadith</i> from the <i>fadha'il </i>books were read and discussed during<i> ta'leem</i>. The life of Sayyidina Rasulullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wassalam</i> and the Sahabah<i> radiyalaahu anhum</i> were explained.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The questions posed by the non-Muslim listeners were answered. A common question was, "You claim that Islam elevates nations. Why do we not find any Muslim country superior to their non-Muslim counterparts?" In fact, in every respect, the non-Muslim countries are more advanced." The embarrassment and cry we felt in our hearts is self-evident. Alas! Today, instead of serving and propagating Islam, the Muslims have become a barrier for others to accept the faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nevertheless, we gave them the following reply, "Friends! Islam is not the name of a country. The combination of the noble qualities and teachings of Sayyidina Rasulullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wassalam</i> is Islam. Today there is no Islam because of the retreat of Muslims from their faith. In fact, Islamic values have become instinct. We are not inviting you to become like the Muslims of today. We are inviting you to become like the Sahabah <i>radiyalaahu anhum</i>. The Sahabah <i>radiyalaahu anhum</i> were those personalities who adopted prophetic qualities. There is none equal to them in human history, never before did such a small group of people with hardly any material means, in a short span of time, achieve what they did." Alhamdulillah, this answer satisfied them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The desire to learn more about the Sahabah radiyalaahu anhum increased. Probably, for this reason Haji Umar Mita translated the book, 'Stories of Sahabah' from English to japanese in a very short time. The local university published a very small print of the book throughout the country. According to the reports received, the book had a very good effect on the readers.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Islam of Saito Sahib</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People from all walks of life attended our programmes over 3 days. Finally, on the third day 6 Japanese accepted Islam. Most of them are high-ranking members of the society. Nakomora Sahib, whose two daughters already accepted Islam, became a Muslim in this temple. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The secretary of the Saudi Embassy in Tokyo, Ahmad Zaki, and another Arab businessman, Mohammed Amin Makki, also accompanied us. They were extremely amazed to see the Japanese reciting the Kalimah Tauhid in front of their idols in their own temple.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few days after our return to Tokyo, the Saudi Arabian Minister of Telecommunications, Shaikh Abdullah Bilkhair, arrived for an official visit. The secretary of the Saudi Embassy, Ahmad Zaki, informed him of what transpired at Inzan temple. He was extremely amazed and expressed his desire to meet the Japanese new Muslims. A program was organised to meet them after Jum'ah solah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Saudi delegation arrived to perform the Jum'ah solah. When the Imam amongst them stood up to deliver the khutbah, he saw that the majority of the congregation were bearded Japanese Muslims with signs of <i>sajdah</i> on their foreheads. This made him cry. He then said, "I have understood the reality of the following aayah,<i> 'If you turn away, then He (Allah) will replace you with another nation and they will not be like you.'</i> We Arabs are failing in our task to serve Deen. Allah Ta'ala is accepting other nations for the service of Deen." He added, "My heart is satiated with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow. I am unable to speak any further. I will return for Isha' solah. Thereafter, I will address the Japanese new Muslims."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We entered the masjid with the Shaikh at Isha' time. The adhan was called out and a few Japanese new Muslims were called. After the Isha' solah, we sat together. The Shaikh asked each one of them how he had accepted Islam. Many of them said that they had become Muslims because of the efforts of the tablighi jamaats. It is worth mentioning the conversation that took place between the Shaikh and Abdul Karim Saito Sahib, the president and official representative of the United Japanese Muslim Association.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shaikh: "How did you accept Islam?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saito Sahib: "Sir! I worked for 10 years at the Japanese Embassy in one of the Muslim countries. The behaviour af the Muslims never appealed to me. In fact, their social and monetary dealings caused an aversion in my heart towards Islam. This feeling remained until I joined a tablighi jamaat to Osaka. The solah performed by the jamaat at Osaka Railway Station attracted me towards Islam. I was so affected that I immediately became a Muslim."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shaikh: "Has your wife also embraced Islam?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saito Sahib: "Unfortunately, no."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shaikh: "Have you ever invited her to become a Muslim?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saito Sahib: "Certainly. Because she had previously observed the kives of the Muslims, she replied, 'I have observedhow evil the Muslims are! Alas! If only she had not observed those evil Muslims, she would have easily converted." Thereafter Saito sahib read the following Persian couplet: "There is no fault in Islam. All the faults are in the Muslims."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, a few months thereafter, Saito Sahib's wife and children accepted Islam. Last year, Saito Sahib's wife passed away. She was the first to be buried in the Munjuwabin Mandir Muslim cemetery. May Allah ta'ala forgive her and shower His mercy on her. Saito Sahib has disengaged his eldest son, Sa'id saito from studying at a college in Tokyo. He has sent him to Madinah Munawwarah for further Islamic studies.</span></div>
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-62289448872870327192013-04-07T13:35:00.001+08:002013-04-16T15:16:20.579+08:00Initial Effort of Dakwah and Tabligh at Aligarh Muslim University<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Excerpts taken from the </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Biography of Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Sahid - Amire Tabligh by Maulana Mufti Azizur-Rahman Bijnori </b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Publisher: Madrasah Arabia Islamia, South Africa)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The first ijtima' after the demise of Hadrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi </span></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">rahmatullah alayhi </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">took place in Muradabad (India). The inactivity of the people caused despondency about the success of future ijtima' and the despatching of jamaats to other areas. This despondency prevailed because jamaats of even 10 individuals could not be prepared to proceed to nearby areas like Rampur, Chandpur and Bajnur. On this occasion, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Hadrat Ji Maulana Muhammad Yusuf </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">rahmatullah alayhi </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">expressed his determination in an enthusiastic tone. He said, "A time will come when you will proceed to Iraq, Sham and Egypt. However, at that time the effort would have already become widespread." Those with poor courage and determination did not understand the reality of these words. Nevertheless, these were divinely inspired and accepted words.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Hadrat Ji </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">rahmatullah alayhi</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> was of the opinion that presently the English language had become globally widespread and common. He wanted professionals with an English education to join the effort for the work to spread in other countries. He considered the active participation of the lecturers and students of Aligarh University indispensable to achieve this gol. However, the question arose: How should the effort be introduced to them? None of them were prepared to listen to what the ulama' said. After much deliberation, it was decided by mashwarah that the Pathan community of the district of Bulandshahar should be assigned to introduce the work of dakwah to them. Consequently, they accepted this responsibility and, through their efforts, the work began at the university.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have personally heard from some responsible brothers involved in the dakwah and tabligh effort that initially the lecturers and students blankly refused to accept the work. This was the time when bearded persons could not even pass through the university without being taunted. Nevertheless, the effort continued until I personally visited the university. It became difficult for me to recognise who was who. Their plain <i>shari'e</i> clothing, illuminated faces, forehead with marks of <i>sajdah</i>, trousers above the ankles, <i>shari'e</i> beards made it difficult for me to distinguish whether this was a student of Deen, an <i>imam</i> or a <i>mu'azzin</i>. This drastic change was mind-boggling.</span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Faridi Sahib sacrificed much of his time at Aligarh. He won the hearts of the students and, finally took them to Nizamuddin. They spent their vacations in the path of Allah. Hadrat Ji <i>rahmatullah alayhi</i> directed his special attention towards them and advised them in the following manner, "The time you spent for useless pursuits should be utilised for the sake of Deen. Your entire vacation period which is spent in entertainment and fun should be correctly utilised in the path of Allah. We do not want you to forsake your studies."</span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When the students did as they were advised - they spent time in the path of Allah, studied hard, started the effort in the university, the lecturers were also affected. They also proceeded with their students to the different countries of the world in the path of Allah. They brought along their English educated Muslims from other parts of the world to work amongst the English educated professionals of the Indo-Pak subcontinent. In this manner, the work flourished throughout the country.</span></span><br />
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-4692769946830804012013-04-02T19:20:00.000+08:002013-04-02T19:22:31.751+08:00A Letter from America<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>This letter was published by Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Azaadville, South Africa in 2002.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2nd September 1971</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Respected Haji Sahib,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assalamu'alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakutuhu</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is hoped that you are enjoying good health. I had already written details about the conditions prevailing here. I now wish to add some more details.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our jamaat reached America in the form of three groups. First two individuals arrived, then four and finally, another group of four. We worked in New York until the 23rd August.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">New York is one of the world's biggest cities. It is the biggest city in America. It has a cosmopolitan population of 8 million people. The city is populated more with Afro-Americans and foreigners. The American whites live mostly in the rural areas. There is no difference in rural and urban areas as far as living facilities are concerned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have witnessed the amount of effort man has made on material things here. Consequently, he has produced material things of superior quality according to his effort. However, the mass production of superior material things does not engender favourable conditions. We have realised that despite the abundance of material comfort; poverty, ignorance and perplexity still prevails.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moreover, bad conduct and criminal offences are increasing as time passes. In short, by the grace of Allah Ta'ala, weare much more happier and contented in our country, despite the little material possession we own. Here peace of mind, contentment of heart, love, sympathy, chivalry, happiness and affection are extinct. These qualities only exist superficially. An individual is valuable (only to himself) as long as he is healthy and earning a living. He holds no value if he is not fit to work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is no family life here. Children live with their parents only after they are 13 to 14 years of age. Thereafter, they look for their own companions. Parents entertain themselves with dogs and other animal pets. If a person is not wealthy enough according to normal standards, then he would take the refuge of some welfare organisation. This is life in general.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A sick person is left to lay in hospital. Nobody really enquires about his conditions. The deceased has none to mourn him. The newsof the death of the deceased person reaches the relatives only after several weeks have elapsed. Life is tough and difficult.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A person who cannot work hard enough for 8 hours a day experiences great difficulty. The insurance companies will support him for a few days. Thereafter, he is forced to seek assistance from welfare organisations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only external glitter and glamour exist. However, much internal frustration is experienced. The rate of inflation is high. Old-age homes are constructed for elderly people where they retire to spend the last days of their lives. These old-age homes are supported by welfare organisations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The capitalist control the lives of the people. The public works very hard to survive. Finally, whatever they earn, in some way or the other, goes back into the 'pockets' of the capitalist. Even the bare necessities of life are provided and sold by the capitalist. The sole trader cannot exist. People work for larger business companies. Nevertheless, motor cars and petrol are very cheaply priced. Every person owns a motor car because of the demands of conditions prevailing here. Undertaking a journey by train is very expensive. Very few people journey by train. A train ride is regarded as another form of entertainment. People travel far and wide with their cars. The trains are very comfortable. To travel by bus is much more cheaper and comfortable. To travel by plane is only a little more expensive than a bus journey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One remarkable quality of the people is that they do not cheat. All food stuffs are genuine, pure and cheap. Every type of meat is available. However, halal meat is not available. Jews consume kosher meat. They abstain from pork and every other item which contains pork gelatine. Everything is prepared separately for them. Generally, haram animal gelatine is used in the baking of bread. The Jews slaughter their animals in a way similar to that of the Muslims. We have been informed that 'ulama' have ruled their meat to be halal. Nevertheless, we have not investigated the matter as yet. A cautious Muslim consumes kosher meat. Those who are not cautious consume any type of meat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have abstained from consuming kosher meat. We are surviving mostly on vegetable dishes. We personally slaughter chickens whenever possible. All types of lentils, vegetables and spices are available. Ghee (melted butter) is not available. Butter, olive oil and other types of oils are obtainable. By the mercy of Allah Ta'ala, all food items are obtainable in abundance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cold and hot water taps, cheap electricity, telephone services, excellent roads and other modern facilities are available for the usage of each and every individual. Despite all this, there is no peace of mind. Allah Ta'ala has opened the doors of material progress upon them. Their material progress has increased our <i>yaqin</i> (conviction) in the following ayah of the Holy Qur'an:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"When the forgot the reminder they had received, We opened upon them the doors of all things, until, in the midst of their enjoyment of that which they were given, We suddenly took them to task, when lo! they were plunged in despair" </i>(Surah An'am: 44)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The enjoyment of these bounties has created arrogance in these people. If they respond to the call of Islam, then only will they be saved from the punishment of Allah Ta'ala. Certainly, their disobedience to Him after enjoying so much of His bounties, invites His wrath upon them. Alas! If only some kind-hearted person could explain to them this reality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the Muslims have been so overtaken by their involvement in material things. They have forgotten themselves, though the Holy Qur'an commands the following:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"And do not allow your gaze to pass beyond them; seeking the pomp and glitter of this life; nor obey those whose hearts are negligent of Our remembrance, who obey their desires and whose cases have been abandoned."</i> (Surah Kahf: 28)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Jews have influenced the lives of the people here. The financial reserves, the newspapers, radio and television programmes are in their control. Hence, they can sway the majority's opinion to suit their aims and objects. Every high-ranking person is forced to obey them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Racialism is practised here. Initially, the Negroes were brought here as slaves. They were exploited, forced to do hard labour, deprived of knowledge and making progress. Consequently, they became like the untouchables of our country. None of the religions can offer them a fair treatment. Slavery has been abolished and the government has awarded them equal rights. Nevertheless, racialism is still practised. They reside in slummy areas. They have been made to suffer from an inferiority complex. This social discrimination has frustrated them and made them mentally and physically rebellious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They have showed a keen inclination towards Islam. In fact, they are embracing Islam in large numbers. A person by the name of Elijah Mhammed has taken advantage of the situation and started a movement called the 'Black Muslim'. Initially he introduced himself as a 'reformer', but now he claims to be a prophet. The famous boxer, Mohammed Ali, is one of his followers. Elijah Mohammed has a larger following. His followers are said to be militant. He has amassed much wealth for himself, owns a private plane and has built a huge mansion where he lives separately from others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Malcom X has also become one of his followers. He has converted thousands of people as 'Black Muslims'. He resided in Egypt and Arabia for a while. Here he discovered the reality of Islam. He became a true Sunni Muslim and wrote many books against the teachings of Elijah. Many people became true Muslims at his hands. Some time ago, the followers of Elijah murdered him. Currently, very few people follow Elijah. many of his followers became true Muslims. In fact, both his sons are Sunni Muslims.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides the blacks, the whites are also tired and disgusted with the 'progressive life' here. Consequently, the new generations want to free themselves of every type of social restriction. They are embracing other eastern religions to relieve themselves from mental frustration. In these religions, they are allowed to use opium, drugs, musical instruments, etc. without restrictions. The youth are deceived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Generally, the Americans do not possess a high IQ. They are attracted by any new thing. They are discarding their comforts and luxuries to lead a vagabond life. We should learn a lesson from this. They are prepared to sacrifice their comforts, whereas we are not prepare to discard any of them for the propagation of the truth. Many white youth have become hippies. They have left their comfortable homes in search of peace and are completely confused. This is a wonderful opportunity to present Islam to them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A high percentage of every person's salary is utilised for the payment of taxes and insurance premiums. Everyone is compelled to pay certain amount of his salary as insurance. The insurance companies are owned by capitalists. They manufacture motor cars, market them and finally, collect motor car insurance premiums. If the car is cheap, then more money is paid on insurance than its actual price. In the case of an accident, the afflicted person is recompensed with his own money by the insurance company.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Similarly, every month a medical-aid premium is paid. The capitalist manufacture medicines and open hospitals and clinics to cover their capital. A sick person is treated with insurance money for the first 15 days of treatment. Thereafter, he takes a loan on interest. In this manner, the capitalist control the circulation of money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Medicines are very expensive. The poor are treated by welfare organisations. The actual object of these aoragisations is to protect their own interest. Approximately $1,000 are spent on the birth and death of an individual. Sometimes hospital-born babies are deprived of parental care for several months. The government takes the responsibility of nurturing and caring for illegitimate children. The number of such children is increasingly high.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stealing, highway robbery and murder takes place in broad daylight. Nudity, immorality, immodesty, drinking and interest transactions are part of life. They are not considered sinful. The people here are totally unmindful of the <i>akhirah</i> (hereafter). They behave very shamelessly in public. They are bereft of good character, modesty and fear of Allah Ta'ala. They have reached such a low moral ebb where now only the punishment of Allah Ta'ala is awaited. However, Allah Ta'ala will not punish them until His proof is not established upon them through dakwah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Muslims of America are lost in glitter and glamour of this temporary world. They have drifted from their purpose of life and are unmindful of Allah Ta'ala and the sunnah of Sayyidina Rasulullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wasallam</i>. They are affected by those who are treading the path of Jahannam and making an effort to transform this world into a furnace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The flight of the Arabs in America is extremely saddening. They are unmindful of their origin, awe-inspired and affected by the Americans. They have constructed a few 'Islamic Centres' and feel ashamed to use the word 'masjid'. Every type of comfortable arrangements and facilities are provided in these centres. The Muslims gather here on a Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, none of them perform solah. However, some signs of Islam were noticed at centres that are frequented by religiously conscious Muslims. Nevertheless, there are some servants of Allah Ta'ala who are making an effort to light the lamp of Islam in this spiritually pitch black environment. By the grace of Allah Ta'ala their efforts are proving to be fruitful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I intended to write details of the effort, but unconsciously the conditions prevailing here were written.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We worked in New York until 23rd of August. An effort was made to meet the people from all spheres of life. Muslims from our area have settled in large numbers here. People responded very well to our message. New York, the largest port, is a country on its own. The headquarters of most of the important international organisations are based here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Muslims live scattered in different areas. The new Muslims have a strong desire and zeal to learn and practise the sunnah of Sayyidina Rasulullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wasallam. </i>Most of them grow beards and wear Islamic dress. They are very keen to learn more about Islam. Alas! If only they had a teacher, they would have learnt much more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The new Muslims bring many new people to us on a daily basis. Approximately one person converts to Islam daily. This is the condition when no real effort is made to invite them towards the Deen. The new converts seem to be very strong. Nevertheless, there is a great fear of thousands of new 'brands' of Islam being introduced, because of the lack of educational institutes and proper Islamic training. These people study the English translations of the Holy Qur'an and Mishkat Sharif and then start practicing Islam according to their own independent understanding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The foreigners and locals who have spent time in jamaat can be clearly distinguished from others through their correct <i>aqaid</i> (beliefs), <i>amal </i>(deed), <i>akhlaq</i> (character) and<i> 'ilm</i> (knowledge). Many new Muslims are becoming leaders. These are all the fears that are apprehended. Nevertheless, by the grace of Allah Ta'ala, the effort of the jamaat is creating a correct understanding of Deen amongst the people. However, a single jamaat can only control the situation for a temporary period of time. It is necessary to send experienced workers' jamaats continuously to permanently control the situation. If this is overlooked, then the punishment of Allah Ta'ala is very severe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These people are anxious to accept Islam, but there is none to extend dakwah of Islam to them. They are ready to become Muslim. Alas! It would be greatly appreciated if some such individuals, who would not be affected by the environment here, could reside here to make an effort on these people and ensure that the constant coming and going of jamaats is not hindered. There is an urgent need to correctly educate and train the new Muslims. Tabligh is the only way by which these people could be united. If unity is not achieved, then they will split-up into thousands of disunited groups.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of them are very compassionate and soft hearted. They understand and accept everything that is explained to them and are very eager to learn. Most of them perform solah regularly. Many of them are in the habit of performing <i>tahajjud</i> solah. Some of their womenfolk wear <i>hijab</i>. If not, then at least their heads and entire body is completely covered. Most of them have disengaged their womenfolk from working.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of them have intended to come to India/Pakistan. Two youth are prepared to spend 4 months and then take admission in any of our local <i>madaris</i> to become ulama'. Their desire for Deen is remarkable. Their condition is a practical explanation of the aayah, <i>"If you turn away, then Allah Ta'ala will create another nation in your place. Then they will not be like you."</i> (Surah Muhammad)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The majority of new Muslims are youth. Most of their parents</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and other family members are non-Muslims. Consequently, they have to bear all types of opposition and difficulties. Although not so severe, a reflection of the difficulties borne in the initial period of Islam is being witnessed here. Every individual in the American society is free to do as he wills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some responsible brothers have accompanied us . Saturdays and Sundays are the official holidays of the week. Every week a jamaat from New York proceeds to work in other areas like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, etc. These jamaats consists of 20 - 30 individuals from amongst the local new Muslims and Muslims hailing from the Indo-Pak subcontinent. Sometimes even two jamaats proceed in the path of Allah per week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our original effort id to establish the local work. By the grace of Allah Ta'ala, many brothers from New York and other areas have intended to do the weekly two <i>ghusht</i>, daily <i>ta'leem</i> in the masjid, establish five times daily solah and proceed for the monthly 3 days and annual 40 days in the path of Allah Ta'ala. Many brothers attend the weekly <i>ijtima'</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our jamaat was divided into three groups. Our group proceeded to work in Boston which is about 300 miles from New York. We worked here for 8 days. There are a few Muslim students and lecturers in Harvard University. This university is regarded to be one of the best in America.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By the grace of Allah Ta'ala, our brothers do have the concern of Deen to some extent, despite the unfavourable environment. At least a definite effort is made everywhere for the establishment of the Jum'ah solah. This has helped our effort tremendously. We always found a gathering of people to whom we could explain the message.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quincy is an area near Boston. The Arabs have built an Islamic centre here. We worked in this area for a few days. Generally, the Arabs are very far from Deen. It is better not to discuss their condition. They have constructed clubs in which liquor is served and people gamble.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides the Arabs, there are Muslims from Yugoslavia, Albania, Iran, etc. Their condition is the same as the Arabs. However, a keen desire and concern for Deen can be clearly seen in those Egyptian Muslims who are connected to the al-Ikhwaan Movement. Similarly, by the grace of Allah Ta'ala, the youth from Indo-Pak subcontinent who are settling here are completely disgusted with the western way of life. many of them are leading a pure and chaste life. They have accepted the effort of dakwah whole-heartedly. Some of them have joined our jamaat from a distance of about 2,000 miles. They are very particular about consuming halal meat. May Allah Ta'ala accept them for the service of His Deen and grant them success in both the worlds. here <i>ghusht</i> is done using cars. If the need be to go far, then we travel by subway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second group proceeded to work in Washington, Philadelphia and Baltimore. We decided to have a <i>mashwarah</i> in Detroit on the 27th - 29th August to discuss ways of increasing the effort of dakwah in America. We reached Detroit on 24th August. There is a large concentration of new Muslims here. Approximately 40 concerned brothers from Chicago, Washington, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, etc. gathered for<i> mashwarah</i>. Some of them came by plane from as far as 2,000 miles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <i>mashwarah</i> was conducted and a system to do the effort was worked out for the entire year. The brothers expressed their intention to spend 40 days, 4 months, etc. and to do the local work. It was a wonderful gathering, probably the first of its kind in American history to revive the Deen of Sayyidina Rasullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wasallam</i>. May Allah Ta'ala accept it and use it as a means to strengthen the roots of dakwah in America.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We came to Flint yesterday. This is an area which is about 70 miles from Detroit. Detroit is 700 miles away from New York. Today we will return to detroit. On Saturday morning, we will proceed from Detroit to Cleveland. The third group has proceeded to work in Chicago and surrounding areas. They will return to New York by 20th December.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We will proceed from Cleveland to Washington, the capital of America, by 7th December. We will work in Washington for approximately a wek. Thereafter we will proceed to Baltimore and Philadelphia. We will return to New York by 20th December.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a great need amd demand to do the effort here. Regretfully, our time to make an effort here is too little. Doing the effort here demands much patience and determination. Nevertheless, the hope for the future is promising. If the local Muslims make the correct effort, then communities upon communities will accept Deen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have realised that we as Muslims have greatly wronged ourselves by discarding the Deen of Sayyidina Rasulullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wasallam</i> and its dakwah. Consequently, the entire<i> ummah</i> is suffering disgrace. The <i>ummah</i> has disunited because of abandoning the work of dakwah. There is none to enquire about the condition of the <i>ummah</i>. We have brought the wrath of Allah Ta'ala upon ourselves through evil actions. The only way to save ourselves is to collectively turn to Allah Ta'ala and repent. If not, then none can save us from calamities. The only solution is to make <i>istighfar</i> and <i>taubah</i> individually and collectively. This is the advice of all our spiritual elders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Actually <i>taubah</i> and <i>istighfar</i> has to be made from the major sin because of which the entire <i>ummah</i> is suffering, viz. discarding the effort of Deen. Each individual from the entire<i> ummah</i> has to perform <i>solatut taubah</i> and beg Allah Ta'ala to forgive our negligence and error. Thereafter, <i>solatul hajat</i> should be performed and <i>du'a</i> be made for the entire<i> ummah</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A promise should be made never to be negligent of the Deen. Be rest assured that if we will discard the Deen of Allah Ta'ala, then never will we prosper in this world. Moreover, what answer will we give to Sayyidina Rasulullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wasallam </i>in the <i>akhirah</i>? What appreciation are we showing to the sacrifices and difficulties borne by Sayyidina Rasulullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wasallam</i> and the Sahabah <i>radiyalaahu anhum</i>. We have wasted our lives by not making any Deeni progress. We have placed the Deen aside and have vied with one another to acquire wealth. How can divine mercy descend when this is our condition. We need to introspect and cry over our condition. It is a time to fear divine wrath. This is no fiction nor verbosity. It is a reality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Currently, everyone is surrounded by difficulties. It is not known when we will be deprived of divine kindness. <i>Na'uzubillah</i>, in that case, endless regret will be of no benefit.The demand of intelligence is to postpone the fulfillment of our personal needs and proceed far and wide in the path of Allah to make the effort of Deen. Much <i>du'a</i> should be made. The local work which includes the two weekly <i>ghusht</i>, daily <i>ta'leem</i> and weekly<i> ijtima'</i> should be done regularly. Individuals should be punctual with their <i>nawafil </i>solah, <i>tilawah</i> of the Holy Quran and <i>tasbeehat (dzikr)</i>. The ladies should also be engaged themselves in these <i>amal</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is hoped that this letter would not be readsuperficially. It will be given due importance. It is difficult to express my feelings and thoughts in writing. May Allah Ta'ala create the concern and worry of Deen in our hearts so that we may earn divine pleasure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make special <i>du'a</i> that Allah Ta'ala protects us from every type of evil, grant us sincerity and accepts us to revive the Deen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Convey our salam to all and request them to make <i>du'a</i> for us. Please forgive me if any disrespect was shown. I have written this lengthy letter without really intending to do so. Some important facts have been noted herein. Please file it away safely so that I could retrieve it after I return.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your servant</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shuja'at</span></div>
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-48193854974899023592013-03-30T18:14:00.002+08:002013-04-03T17:52:06.774+08:00Initial Revival of Dakwah and Tabligh Effort in Mesir and Arabia<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Excerpts taken from the <b>Biography of Maulana Muhammad Yusuf Sahid - Amire Tabligh by Maulana Mufti Azizur-Rahman Bijnori </b>(Publisher: Madrasah Arabia Islamia, South Africa)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hadrat Ji Maulana Muhammad Yusuf <i>rahmatullah alayhi</i> was of the opinion that for Deen and effort of Deen to spread throughout the world, it was necessary to start the work of dakwah in Arabia, because initially, Deen spread throughout the world from there. Consequently, Hadrat Ji <i>rahmatullah alayhi</i> formed jamaats amongst the <i>hujjaj</i>. They were given two instructions. Firstly, to perform hajj correctly and, secondly, to spread the effort in Arabia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These jamaats proceeded to Arabia with the following message, "You brought Deen to us. At that time and even presently, you are more worthy of doing the effort of Deen. The people of the world learnt Deen from you. Hence, even now you should continue the same work."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Initially, the Indo-Pak Muslims were considered to be Jews because of their bearded faces. The government also placed certain restrictions upon them. However, when their reality became clear, the effort started flourishing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jamaats from Arabia reached Mesir (Egypt). The effort was introduced to the ulama' of Al-Azhar University. They in turn proceeded to the Indo-Pak subcontinent and other Arab countries. In brief, through different means the effort spread worldwide.</span></div>
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<br />HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-52869222153252080172013-01-16T15:14:00.000+08:002013-01-16T15:14:34.322+08:00A Surau Or A House?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBr9Db-NF8AKza9xzs47YBzMmMPAg3YFZorjwE38k1J46aZJ0qwpgepJBBzOgDcVD5QZFdpxblav33rGsqqZe7y8Z7QJH_vQgtHesU1q52KaUP0pBbbW81AZH2cp9D_yN05lNSQqItqZw/s1600/suntex+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBr9Db-NF8AKza9xzs47YBzMmMPAg3YFZorjwE38k1J46aZJ0qwpgepJBBzOgDcVD5QZFdpxblav33rGsqqZe7y8Z7QJH_vQgtHesU1q52KaUP0pBbbW81AZH2cp9D_yN05lNSQqItqZw/s320/suntex+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once designated, there are onerous limitations on the use of a masjid or surau, and it may not be used for any other purpose other than worshiping Allah. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">In Malaysia, there are three types of prayer halls: a masjid, a <i>surau</i> and a </span><span class="SpellE" style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">musalla</i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">The Malays call a<i> </i>smaller masjid as</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"> <i>"</i></span><span class="SpellE" style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i>surau</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><i>"</i>. But t</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">he real difference between a masjid and a <i>surau</i> relates to the latter is not used for the Friday congregational prayers. Both are dedicated as <i>waqf</i> (permanent endowment) for <i>solah, </i>and as a <i>waqf</i>, both belongs to all Muslims until the end of time. T</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">he status of a </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">surau may</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> be “upgraded” by the religious authorities to that of a </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">masjid </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">to hold Friday congregational prayers if necessary</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Whereas a </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">temporary place set aside for Islamic worship is called a <i>musalla </i></span><i style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">(</i><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">I think it is called </span><i style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">jama'at khana</i><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> in South Asia)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">. A <i>musalla</i> is often not part of a <i>waqf</i>, or it is otherwise not intended to become a permanent masjid or surau. Often musallas are used while a community looks for a piece of land for a permanent masjid or surau, or the establishment of a masjid or surau is not practical at the time. They could be located in rented apartments, industrial units or store fronts. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">It may belongs to an individual or a company or a group of people. It does not belong to all Muslims. As such, it can be taken away without any compensation to the Muslim community. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Generally speaking, a Muslim has to honour all places of worship whether the place is a masjid, a <i>surau</i> or a </span><span class="SpellE" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">musalla </i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">located in a large or small building or a place hired for performing prayer. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMj2BrJ_WV1EP8ig5vhBik9FhmLpgWQPv8CqJFTOendaMu3NclJcmoMt4ukByAlAaI2A-200BvDAjpHz7TlSM-_29HoxOvwUmcz0IGkSCMeNQP4J-fKErYb_1zmhciCbSRF-JZkTDEkkE/s1600/suntex+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMj2BrJ_WV1EP8ig5vhBik9FhmLpgWQPv8CqJFTOendaMu3NclJcmoMt4ukByAlAaI2A-200BvDAjpHz7TlSM-_29HoxOvwUmcz0IGkSCMeNQP4J-fKErYb_1zmhciCbSRF-JZkTDEkkE/s320/suntex+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">A couple of years ago, a 3-days jamaat from our masjid was given a route in the outskirt of Kuala Lumpur. Though it is about 9-10 km from our <i>mohalla</i>, none of us had ever heard of the place where the <i>surau</i> is situated. To make it worse, after much effort to locate the place, it took us more than half an hour to just to find exact location of the <i>surau</i>. Every Muslim that we stopped to ask it's whereabout did not know of the existence of any <i>surau</i> there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Finally, after encircling the area a number of times, we noticed a loud speaker outside a wooden premise. The front steel-gate was locked. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The <i>ameer</i> of the jamaat sent two persons to go from house to house in the vicinity to find out if there was any Muslim that could direct us to any person in-charge of the <i>surau</i> to get the gate opened to us as it was almost time for Dhuzur solah. After awhile, the two brothers came back with a bunch of keys for the <i>surau</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the outside, the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">surau</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> was well-endowed and looked after. But we were totally shocked when we entered the premise as the inside of it appeared just like someone's house. Amidst the prayer mats that scattered on old grey carpets, we saw a television on a coffee table, a set of sofas, furniture and other household property inside at the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mimbar</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. At the rear portion of the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">surau</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (where it supposed to be the Muslimah section), there were a couple of wardrobes packed so tight with clothes and other stuff that the doors would not shut. More clothes were seen hanging on a curtain line and scattered beneath the wardrobes. There was even a stove for cooking and some kitchen utensils at the rear corner inside the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">surau</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Outside, a concrete tank for wudhu' or ablution was filled with stinking greenish water. There were catfishes inside the tank. The sight and condition of the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">surau</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> really gave us a shock.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ironically, the scattered prayer mats still formed a <i>saff</i> and the loud-speaker was still in a working condition. The carpet was dusty and littered with lizard droppings. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As it was already time for Dhuzur solah, we were asked by our </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ameer</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to quickly tidy up the first </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">saff area</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to commence solah.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had a </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mesywarah</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> after Dhuzur solah. We were told by the two brothers who were given the task earlier that they were directed by a local man to an Indonesian man who were working at the nearby wet market for the keys to the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">surau</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The whole afternoon on the first day was spent cleaning up the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">surau</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. All the household items were taken out and put away in a storage area outside the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">surau</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. The telly and the sofas were first taken out. We drained out the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wudhu'</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> tank to be replaced with clean water. All the work was done in the presence of the Indonesian man. He looked visibly upset when we removed the catfishes out into a bucket.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We learned later that for some time the Indonesian man were actually given a shed outside the <i>surau </i>as a shelter<i>. </i>He was also expected to act as its caretaker and cleaner. But he also worked at a butcher stall in the wet market during daytime. Meanwhile, when t</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">he local Malay Muslim community that the <i>surau</i> serves almost cease to exist because people moved away or sold their properties and are replaced by non-Muslims, outsider Malays and immigrant tenants, the man turned bold in his action. He began to collect the leftover household items and clothes </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from the departing residents </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and stored them in the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">surau</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, treating it as his own house. He even used the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wudhu'</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> tank to breed catfishes. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Ngak ada lagi orang datang ke surau, pak" (There's no one coming to the surau)</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, he said offering his lame excuse to us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The unfortunate episode really made us grief and dejected. It was especially hard on our </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ameer</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Consequently, he kept urging us to go from house-to-house and door-to-door looking for every Muslims who live in the area. Most of our time was spent meeting our Muslim brothers living there and urging them to come to the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">surau</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for solah. For this particular </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">khuruuj</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in the path of Allah, we worked in a non-Muslim majority environment, mostly Chinese. For every nineteen or twenty houses that we went to, we found only one Muslim dwellers. Indeed, the few Muslim that lived in the area were mostly Malay and Bangladeshi tenants. Alhamdulillah, as always the case, the Bangladeshi brothers were readily opened for dakwah and invitations. A simple friendly gesture of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Kaemon achen?" (How are you?)</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> usually drew their attention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also called for <i>mesywarah</i> a few brothers that we know who are doing the effort of dakwah in the <i>halqah</i> and gave them <i>karguzari</i> of the state of affairs of the surau and the Muslim community living there. They seemed surprise and concern with our <i>karguzari</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alhamdulillah, now the surau is now being used for the weekly <i>halqah mesywarah.</i> The surau is now also being used regularly by our Bangladeshi brothers who live in the area. <i>Fardh solah</i> is being performed in congregation with a </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">qari</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> among them leading as Imam. Last Ramadhan, we were there again for 3 days <i>khuruuj</i> and it was a whole rejuvenated environment with our Bangladeshi brothers making <i>nusrah</i> and having <i>iftar</i> together with us.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-71335446560432124862012-12-22T22:48:00.003+08:002013-01-09T21:15:07.961+08:00You Look Like A Tablighi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">All praise is for Allah Ta'ala. We praise Him and seek help from Him. We believe in Him and have complete trust in Him. There can be none to misguide the person the person whom Allah Ta'ala has guided and there can be none to guide the person whom Allah Ta'ala has caused to go astray. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To acquire the reality of Imaan, unlimited efforts must be made for it since Imaan has no limit and end. To what extent the efforts on Imaan is being undertaken, Imaan will increase to such extent. And when the effort on Imaan is neglected, then the level of Imaan will decrease and become weaker in faith. The Imaan of the Prophets </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">alayhimussalam</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> constantly risen, the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">malaikah</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> or angels are always fixed in Imaan, the Imaan of the common men fluctuate. The level of reality of Imaan arising from a person's heart will lead him to follow the Sunnah of Rasulullah </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sallalaahu alayhi wassalam</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the early days of my involvement with the effort of dakwah and tabligh, the first thing that occured to me was that the kalimah </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"La ila ha illallah"</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is a speech of tongue. Only the speech of tongue is not enough, but the reality of the kalimah must be rooted deep in the hearts. The reality of the kalimah is - </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">La ila</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - nothing can happen or occur from any creature, - </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">illallah</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> - everything that happens or happened only from Allah the Almighty, the Creator of creation. As I was in constant company of the pious brothers, I learned to meet the servants of Allah with no worldly interest and giving them dakwah to the greatness of Allah, the promises of Allah and the treasures of Allah, with the intent to gain Imaan. Whenever those pious people talked in glorifying and magnifying Allah, I tried to listen attentively. And in those blessed moments of time, I used to cried begging Allah for the reality of Imaan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It follows that the kalimah <i>"Muhammadur Rasulullah"</i> means that no single way of life that guarantee happiness in this world and salvation in the Aakhirah except the way of life brought by Rasulullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wassalam </i>alone. It should be removed from the hearts of any fondness towards other way of life and it should be inculcate deep into the hearts that 100% success is only in Rasulullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wassalam</i>'s way of life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Without any hassle and pressure from anyone, my outer appearance gradually changed as I constantly spent my time in the effort of dakwah and tabligh and became aware of the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunnah </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of Rasulullah </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sallalaahu alayhi wassalam</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Although now and then I hear foolish remarks from certain people that Deen's place is in the heart, not the outer appearance (when this remarks is actually uttered as a lame excuse for unwillingness to follow the S</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">urah</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> of Rasulullah </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sallalaahu alayhi wassalam</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">), but for me it was just crystal clear - as if you feel happy, you smile and if you feel displeasure, you frown. In each case, the facial expression tells what your heart feel. So do the love of Rasulullah </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sallalaahu alayhi wassalam</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> will lead someone to follow the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunnah</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> of Rasulullah </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sallalaahu alayhi wassalam</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, which include the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surah</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (the outer appearance).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I said, the changes in my appearance happened gradually. I first began to grow goatee beard. As the tuft of hair on my chin growing longer, my wife started to complain. Then the complaints turned to constant nagging, and the nagging turned to threats. She used to hold a small pair of scissors at night before we went to sleep and threateningly said, "I will cut your beard when you are asleep." It sounds hilarious now, but it certainly was not back then. Sometimes her threat overcame me that when I woke up in the morning I instantly put my hand on my chin to check if my goatee beard was still there. Of course, this stunt of hers occured many years ago before she joined me in <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2011/03/introduction-to-masturat-jamaat-part-1.html" target="_blank">masturat jamaat</a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Now she is used to caressing both sides of my fully grown beard and uttering "</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">aamantu billah, aamantu bil qadar</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">" whenever I came home from long</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> khuruuj</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in the path of Allah.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once the whole family were gathering for Eid at my mother's house. <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-tablighi-brother.html" target="_blank">My brother</a> made a jest about my goatee beard. He said that my beard resembled the beard of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fir'aun</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to the laughter and giggles of my nephews and nieces. He was referring to the many statues of the Egyptian Pharaohs which seem to suggest that the pharaohs did grow goatee beard. Though laughing at his antic, his remarks struck me like a thunder bolt. Since then I began to grow full grown beard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It follows that when I still spotted goatee beard, I felt uneasy and incomplete as a Muslim without <i>kofia </i>or <i>Topee</i> or <i>Kufi</i>, a skullcap worn by Muslim men in Malaysia. Hence, I had referred this blog as k<i>uffiyah</i>. It means different from <i>keffiyah</i> or <i>ghutrah</i> or <i>shemagh</i>, a traditional Arab headdress fashioned from a square, usually cotton, scarf. I first started to wear a white <i>kofia</i> in office on a Friday after Friday prayer throughout the afternoon. Then it became my practice to wear a <i>kofia</i> the whole day every Friday from morning. It was not easy to acquire the habit of wearing a <i>kofia</i> at work though. All kind of foolish thoughts crossed my mind. At the same time, I felt that it is important to physically proclaim myself as a Muslim. Alhamdulillah, after a few weeks, I began to wear <i>kofia</i> on daily basis. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first hiccup in my attempt to revive this Sunnah in me not surprisingly came from my wife. Back then she worked at a financial institution. Everyday we would travel together to work and back. Once she entered the car, she would grabbed the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">kofia</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> off my head, followed by a good few minutes of grumblings. Initially I would put it on again attempting in vain to explain its importance to me. I even gave fabricating reason that it was meant to hide my balding head. But she would not leave the matter to rest, rather it would prolonged her grumblings all the way to work. In this matter, I fully accept that she married a person whose physical appearance attracted her and I portrayed a change in such a way that the attraction might no longer there. Thus, I only put the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">kofia</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> back on after I dropped her off at her workplace. It would be off again the moment she entered the car after office hours heading back home. It went on until one day, as usually the case, she grabbed hold of my </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">kofia </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">off my head and said the usual words, "You look old with it. And I do not want to be seen with an old man as my husband." At that moment, somehow I just raised both palms up towards my face gesturing in </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">du'a</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> saying, "O Allah! Please forgive her for she does not know." For some reasons, she just giggled and I too chuckled thinking of her antics. At that moment of time, I could sense acceptance on her part and true enough she never took off the </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">kofia</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> from me since then. Though every now and then whenever she stumbles across my old photos she would kiss them photos in gesture and acted, "Oh! I'm in love with this man. I miss this handsome man."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the course of time, I completely changed from head to toes after my journey in the path of Allah for 4 months to Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. And that itself is another episode of my journey in life to tell.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did I try to emulate <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2011/08/close-encounter-with-tablighi-jamaat.html" target="_blank">the tablighi brothers</a> that I was in constant company with? The answer is a loud and clear "No!". But if the tablighi brothers are trying hard to emulate and revive the Sunnah of Rasulullah </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sallalaahu alayhi wassalam</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, then I too would not be slackened behind. And if that means I look like a tablighi in appearance, so be it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whilst reviving the Sunnah in me is itself the ultimate reason, I believe there are other things to consider which are far from being less important. Reflect on this - the Bhopal disaster was a gas leak incident in India, considered as one of the world's worst industrial catastrophes. It occured on the night of 2-3 December 1984 at the Union Carbide India Ltd pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. A leak of methyl isocyanate gas and other chemicals from the plant resulted in the exposure of hundred of thousands of people. The toxic substance made its way in and around the shantytowns located near the plant. Estimates vary on the death toll. Thousands of people had succumbed by the morning hours. There were mass funerals and mass cremations. Bodies were dumped into the Narmada River, less than 10 km from Bhopal. 170,000 people were treated at hospitals and temporary dispensaries. In 1991, 3,928 deaths had been certified. Independent organizations recorded 8,000 deaths in the first few days. Other estimations vary between 10,000 to 30,000. 2,000 buffaloes, goats and other animals were collected and buried. Within a few days, leaves on trees yellowed and fell off. Supplies, including food, became scarce owing to suppliers' safety fears. Fishing was prohibited causing further supply shortages. I dread to imagine a Muslim dead body is mistakenly burnt in cremation amid the chaos and catastrophes simply because there is no immediate sign or proof that he is a Muslim in physical appearance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once it happened that a Thai Muslim man who traveled with a Budhist Thai woman had a car accident in Johor Bharu, south of Malaysia, and died instantly. His traveling companion was unscathed. Not noticing any Muslim physical appearance in him, the Malaysian authority relied on the statement of his companion that he is a Budhist and the fact that his Thailand passport bears a Thai name certainly did not help (some Muslims in Thailand have a Muslim name and Thai name). His brother came rushing from Thailand and arrived just in time before the body was sent to Budhist cremation centre. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May Allah forgive us and shower His mercy on us. May Allah make us among the righteous and direct all our affair through the right path. And may Allah make our graves a resting place for us.</span></div>
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-56935538922893750082012-12-06T10:34:00.002+08:002012-12-16T12:19:10.682+08:00The Letter From Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz rahimahullah to Sheikh Falih bin Nafi' Al-Harby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Letter from the Honourable Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz rahimahullaah to the Respected Sheikh Falih bin Nafi 'Al-Harby, may Allah extend him acute understanding in Deen and console him to obtain the pleasure of the Rabb of the universe.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assalamu'alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your letter dated 12 Sha'ban 1406H (22 April 1986) has reached me. I understood the content as a form of attack on the tablighi jamaat, and also your denial of my writing about them, and the writing of my predecessor, our elder <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-letter-from-sheikh-muhammad-bin.html" target="_blank">Al-Allamah Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim Aali-Sheikh</a>, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia during his time, may Allah purify his soul and illuminate his grave.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am very sad because you have diminished and degraded his dignity with your words "Ibnu Ibrahim", and those people that you pointed out as having different opinion with him regarding their (tablighi jamaat's) efforts. I am very surprised by what you mentioned. To what extent is those people's knowledge and views as compared to his knowledge, understanding, insight, in-depth studies, diligence and wisdom? We, alhamdulillah, have an understanding of Deen. We always consider the pros and cons and we strengthen them so as to make my heart at peace. We have investigated the news about them that make me feel at peace to stand beside them, together with lending advice on the shortfalls that sometimes happen on their part.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Deficiency is part of human characters, except those whom Allah wills. If the <i>mashaykh</i> and the seekers of knowledge whom you pointed out, join them in <i>dakwah ilallah</i>, give guidance and direction to them, completing the deficiencies that sometimes occur in some of them and guide them to avoid mistakes, certainly there would be much goodness and benefits to Islam and the Muslims.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As for shunning them or ignoring them and giving warnings to people not to mix with them is a terrible mistake indeed. The danger far outweighs its benefits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be suspicious of your opinion my dear brother, ask your Rabb to appease you to accept what is more beloved to Him and advantageous to His servants, and that He show you the truth on what has been disputed, by His Will.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I ask Allah to show us that the truth is the truth and give us all strength to follow it, and that the falsehood is falsehood and give us all strength to avoid it, and not to make doubtful to us so that we will not be astrayed. Verily, Allah is the Owner of all, and the Administrator of all things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What you pointedly said about the Honorable <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2012/03/report-on-tablighi-jamaat-ijtema-in.html" target="_blank">Sheikh Muhammad Aman</a>, that he took back his words of praises for the the tablighi jamaat, and you claimed that he said, "They are making <i>khurafat</i> and <i>bid'ah</i>", is totally rejected by him and totally astonished and stunned him. He said that he is still of the opinion as what he had written about them. This is because he wrote based on direct testimony and faith, and verily when people asked about them he often encouraged them to read the report.</span></div>
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-9059762530291683632012-12-02T09:06:00.001+08:002012-12-02T16:16:41.016+08:00The Letter From Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz rahimahullah to Dr Muhammad Taqiyyudin Al-Hilaly rahimahullah<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Letter of Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz<i> rahimahullah</i> to Dr. Muhammad Taqiyyudin Al-Hilaly <i>rahimahullah</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No. 889/KH </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Date: 10 Shawwal 1403H (21 July 1983)</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bismillahirrahmanirrahim</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, to Respected Brother Dr. Muhammad Taqiyyudin Al-Hilaly, may Allah give<i> taufeeq</i> for all goodness. Aamin.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assalamu'alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your letter dated 12 Sha'ban 1403H (25 May 1983) has arrived, may Allah convey what you hinted about taking our opinion to stop the wages of Brother Ahmad Al-Muhany because he was in <i>khuruuj </i>with the tablighi jamaat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I now convey to you that my opinion is to continue giving him the regular salary which we dispatch through you. The reason being that going out in <i>khuruuj</i> with them certainly does not include as a reprehensible journey. They do <i>jaulah</i> (around) cities and villages, establish relationship with leaders of the Muslims and members of the public, attending their <i>ijtema </i>in Bangladesh, etc., which is attended by leaders and members of the public, is indeed within the context of dakwah ilallah. This information is in accordance with what is reported by the<i> masyaikhs</i> that we had sent to attend their<i> ijtema</i> in Bangladesh last year. You liken your reason in condemning their <i>khuruuj</i> to what is mentioned by Hafidh Ibn Kathir <i>rahimahullah</i>, about the people who merely in intense worship who walk on the surface of the earth, in solitude on the mountain tops, caves, and forests, is contrary to facts and their practices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I ask Allah to grant us <i>taufeeq</i> to do what pleases Him. For He is Most Gracious and Most Noble.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wassalamu'alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff3db; color: #29303b; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Head of the Board of Research, Ilm, Ifta, Dakwah and Islamic Guidance</span></span><br />
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-33982241429293575312012-11-29T00:30:00.003+08:002012-12-01T23:12:53.289+08:00The Ulama and the Effort of Dakwah and Tabligh: Part 2<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On 10th June 2007, Maulana Abu Bakar of South Africa visited Masjid Jame' Sri Petaling, the Kuala Lumpur Markaz and a <i>jord</i> (gathering) was held at the Markaz. From his many precious advises, he talked about the importance of maintaining relationship with the ulama. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He urged us to meet the ulama and asked them to make <i>du'a </i>for us with the intention of getting blessing from Allah. May by the grace of Allah, Allah will forgive us through the <i>du'a</i> of the ulama. An aalim also have to ask for <i>du'a</i> from a more senior aalim. Members of the public have to ask prayer even from young ulama. Even someone who sponsored a young man to learn <i>hifz</i> and <i>aalim</i> studies also have to give a proper respect to the young man upon him completing his Deeni studies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An aalim is not to be disturbed when he was resting and sleeping, and at the time when he is teaching. Greeting him, presenting him with a gift, asking for advice and du'a are good things in</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> tartib</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">khususi</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the ulama . Give </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">karguzari</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> with wisdom depending on the situation. We may also give brief </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">karguzari</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> on how dakwah and tabligh work has given benefit to ourselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He also mentioned that we should not criticize the ulama. This will cause a bad effect on our imaan and becoming a cause (</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">asbab</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">) for ourselves to be prevented from Deeni effort and may prevent us from </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">taufeeq </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or guidance to practice Deen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alhamdulillah, for a layman like me, Allah makes it easy so as to confine our duties and responsibilities in a fairly straight forward way as above. Rightly, the ulama are in their own league. It is best to let an aalim to <i>tasykeel</i> another aalim in their own special way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hadhrat Maulana Zafar Ahmad Thanwi <i>rahmatullah alayhi</i> recounted that when he was with Hadhrat Maulana Ilyas Dehlawi <i>rahmatullah alayhi</i> around June 1944, Hadhrat Maulana Ilyas uttered a poem "My life will end shortly, behold! Let us live together for a few days. If you come after my demise, you'll be sorry." I was moved by his words that I shed tears unnoticed. Then he said, "Do you remember your promise?" I had promised to him to spend my time in tabligh. I replied, "Yes, I remember. But now the weather is very hot in Delhi. In Ramadhan it'll be very tough. I will give time after Ramadan." He answered, "You mention about the month of Ramadhan when even I might not have any hope to live in Sha'ban." (Ten days prior to the month Sha'ban, on 21 Rajab 1363H/1944M Fajr time, he was called back to his Khaliq).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I said, "Well, I will give time for tabligh right now. Do not worry, Maulana." Hearing my answer, his face was beaming as he hugged my neck, kissing my eyebrows while making </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">du'a</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for me. Then he said, "You have approached me closely. Many ulama wish to understand what I mean, but from a distance." Then he mentioned the name of a great aalim and said, "He would always follow this dakwah work. But if you ask me, then I say: He did not understand what I want because he is in contact with me through messengers. How could I make him understand if the representative messenger did not understand? Thus, I want you to join me for a few days so you can understand my desire and purpose. It can not be understood from a distance. I know you have taken part in this dakwah and tabligh effort by giving</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> taqrir </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">at functions and listeners get a lot of benefit from them, but it is not that form of dakwah which I desire."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Hadhrat Mufti Mahmud Hassan Gangohi </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">rahmatullah alayhi</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> was once at his residence in South Africa, some responsible brothers of the tablighi jamaat and ulama linked to the tablighi jamaat came to meet him. They had come to consult with Hadhrat Mufti about how they could best explain to a certain aalim that he should stop writing articles condemning the tablighi jamaat. Someone suggested that an aalim linked to the <i>khanqah </i>who was also in agreement with the effort of the tablighi jamaat should be sent to speak to the aalim in question. It was hoped that he would be able to convince the aalim. However, another aalim said, "I have personally spoken to him about this matter, but he refuses to accept."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hadhrat Mufti then said, "My opinion is that nothing should be said to him. You continue with your work and he will continue with his belief that it is his duty. The more you try to prevent him, the more he will continue. Carry on with your work and let him carry on with his." This was Hadhrat Mufti's decision and they left it at that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was in this gathering that Hadhrat Mufti related a few experiences. He said that once the rector of Darul Ulum Deoband, Hadhrat Maulana Qari Muhammad Tayyib</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> rahmatullah alayhi</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> was initially not familiarized to the work of the tablighi jamaat and was unaware of its benefits. There was an <i>ijtema</i> in Saharanpur and upon the advice of Hadhrat Maulana Zakariyya Kahdhlawi </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">rahmatullahi alayhi</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the responsible brothers of the tablighi jamaat requested Hadhrat Qari Tayyib to deliver a lecture since he happened to be visiting Saharanpur at the time. Hadhrat Qari Tayyib delivered the lecture in which he admonished those participating with the tablighi jamaat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hadhrat Mufti said, "I was once on a journey with Hadhrat Qari Tayyib and said to myself that I will speak all the way without giving him a chance to say anything. I therefore narrated to him many experience and incidents of the tablighi jamaat. The effect of this was that the entire attitude of Hadhrat Qari Tayyib completely changed. It so happened that some time later another <i>ijtema</i> was held in Saharanpur. This time Hadhrat Qari Tayyib was also there and Hadhrat Maulana Zakariyya again told the responsible brothers of the tablighi jamaat to invite him to deliver a lecture. However, this time Hadhrat Qari Tayyib delivered such lecture regarding the six points that even those associated with the tablighi jamaat would be unable to deliver."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In another incident, Hadhrat Maulana Abdul Bari <i>rahmatullah alayhi</i> once commented to Hadhrat Mufti Mahmud Hassan <i>rahmatullah alayhi</i>, "Why are you doing the work of tabligh amongst the ignorant? Rather do it amongst the English-speaking class because I have not seen any of them whose iman is in a safe condition, unless they had not been hesitant in expressing their beliefs." Hadhrat Mufti replied, "We will continue doing work amongst the ignorant because we are illiterate just like them. You are educated, therefore you should rather do the work amongst the learned class."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hadhrat Mufti Mahmud Hassan Gangohi </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">rahmatullah alayhi </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">also mentioned, "There was once an Ijtema in Lucknow (in India). Maulana Abrarul Haq, Maulana Siddiq Ahmad </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">rahmatullah alayhim</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and I were all present there. With them, I also presented myself in the company of Hadhrat Maulana Abdul Bari who had been granted permission from Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> rahmatullah alayhi</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to act as a spiritual mentor. He started making some tea when he said, "Yes! No ones lecture was on the style and mode of Hadhrat Thanwi. They scatter the seeds and go away. They do not reform their household. A person's home should first be set right. One should go out to reform others only once one's own home and town have been reformed. It was because of this that Hadhrat Thanwi did not approve of this method." All this he was saying while making the tea as the three of us sat there quietly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maulana Siddiq and Maulana Abrarul Haq both whispered to me, forcing me to give a reply. Eventually Hadhrat Maulana Abdul Bari himself said, "Mufti Sahib! You will have to give a reply." I submitted, "In the presence of pious people, as long as a person can remain an ear he should not become a tongue." However, he insisted, "It is your duty to reply."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I then said, "Alright, then listen. Your opinion is incorrect. Hadhrat Thanwi had written the books <i>Islahur Rusum </i>and <i>Bahishti Zewar</i> and traveled to many places to deliver lectures. Did he first reform his own town and region? Did he only engage himself in reforming his household? Which custom was not prevalent in Thanabowan? Hadhrat Thanwi's wife was the paternal aunt of my close relative, so I know all about their domestic matters." Maulana Abdul Bari said, "The original way is this that a person first reforms himself, then his family, then his locality and then his neighbourhood and surrounding areas. The work should be done in this manner." I replied, "Did Hadhrat Thanwi first reform his own household and then started advising others and reforming them? Similarly, you have written so many books for the reformation of others. Did you first reform your household before writing these books?" He said, "I threw my children out of the house." I said, "This is also wrong. Will they be reformed in this manner? Was this the approach and style of tabligh of Rasulullah <i>sallalaahu alayhi wassalam</i> that those who do not accept should be thrown out of the house whereby ending all hopes of reformation?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hadhrat Maulana Abdul Bari said, "I was not aware that the tablighi jamaat can influence the Grand Mufti of Darul Ulum Deoband to this extent. If they had no other accomplishment to their credit, this in itself is a great accomplishment that they influenced the Grand Mufti of Darul Ulum." I replied, "This is also incorrect. On the contrary, <b>the tablighi jamaat gave Darul Ulum a Mufti. The Darul Ulum needed a Mufti, so they requested the tablighi jamaat who gave them a Mufti as I am first a tablighi then a Mufti.</b>"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Upon this Maulana Abdul Bari said, "There is great benefit in this work as well. Many people who were not performing solah started performing solah and learnt a great deal of Deen also. But this is such a method where the seeds are being continuously planted and that is where it stops. There is no consolidation of the effort." Upon that I said, "Get ready for 40 days. I will accompany you. As you wish we will do the work. As far as not physically taking part in this effort and merely raising objections and criticize while sitting in ones home, we give no merit to such criticism, nor do we pay any attention to it.""</span></div>
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-71910655951827814822012-11-24T03:08:00.002+08:002012-12-06T09:31:22.787+08:00The Ulama' and the Effort of Dakwah and Tabligh: Part 1<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hadhrat Maulana Ilyas Dehlawi </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">rahimahullah</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> said, "Wherever a person doing the effort of dakwah and tabligh goes, he should make attempt to visit the ulama (scholars of Deen) and the righteous and pious people, for spiritual benefit, instead of directly giving dakwah to them. These people are already busy engaging in religious matters, and certainly they are more experienced and religious. You will not be able to make them understand that this effort of dakwah and tabligh is more important and more useful than other efforts. There's a chance that they will not agree or will not accept your word, and if they had said "No" then it is difficult to change it to "Yes". Consequently, the laymen who follow him might also shun the tabligh effort. And it is only likely to cause prejudicial effect on yourself. Thus, visit the ulama only with the intention to take spiritual benefits from them."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Nevertheless, make effort in the area where an </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">alim</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> resides with </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">tartib</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">usool</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. The good and positive effects of the effort will, hopefully, reach him and attract him to embrace this work. It follows that once he likes you and your effort, then request him to supervise this work. And with utmost manners and politeness, inform him about this work."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"When we meet any </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">alim</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> or pious personality anywhere who does not support this work, please do not think bad of them. Rather, we must understand that the reality of this work has not been perfectly opened to them. We must realize that the ulama are special servants of Deen, thus, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">shaytaan</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is hostile to and seeks to harm them more as they are the arch-enemies of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">shaytaan</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (as thieves only steal valuable things). Whereas the people who are busy with the worldly matters even feel heavy to leave their worldly affairs to take up any </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">takaza</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, what more of the religious people who feel their affairs is nobly high? The wise men say, "The veils of light are thicker than the veils of darkness.""</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With this precious advises in mind, we proceeded to Kelantan, the East-Coast state of Malaysia, on dakwah and tabligh journey for 40 days in June 2010. We were a 12-members jamaat including 7 university undergraduates, one of them a Somalian student. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">95% of Kelantan's population are ethnic Malay, and under the Malaysian Constitution, all Malays are Muslims; therefore, Islam is the most influential religion in the state. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The state is also known as</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 'Serambi Makkah'</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (the 'Antechamber of Makkah') and the Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim ("The Blissful Abode"). One of us jokingly said that if a pebble is thrown at a crowd of people there, there is a good chance that it will hit an</span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> ustaadz</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">A part of the deeply conservative Malay </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">heartlands, Kelantan has been ruled by the Islamic Party of Malaysia</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> (PAS) since 1990. Personally, I am of the view that many of its leaders and adherents are influenced by <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2007/10/fitnah-maududi-1.html" target="_blank">Maududi</a>-type of thinking on the interpretation of Islam.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Nonetheless, by applying the above mentioned </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">usool </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">and </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">tartib</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"> as stated by </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Hadhrat Maulana Ilyas Dehlawi </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">rahimahullah</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">, our effort during the <i>khuruuj fiisabilillah</i> in Kelantan turned out to be much easier. Whenever we knew of an alim happened to be residing at the "route" that we were staying, either he happened to also be an imam or chairman of the masjid, or living in the vicinity of the masjid, we made a point to personally talk to him, requesting him for a piece of advice to be given to us as a group in the masjid. In all different routes and occasions, the ulama that we met were more than happy to pass down to us kind advice and words of approval and encouragement publicly in front of every worshipers. Thus, I believe the least effect of those ulama's blessing and consent had made our effort in blending and mixing with the local people turned out to be very smooth and and in harmony. That was the case until our route of<i> tasykeel </i>reached the district jame' masjid.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few days prior, we were cautioned about the possibility of aggression and prejudice that might face us at the district jame' masjid. In fact we were given a choice whether to stay at the masjid or just to skip and move on to another masjid on the list of routes that had been given to us earlier. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we reached the masjid in the morning, we were greeted by a very pleasant soft-spoken elderly </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">aalim</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> who kindly prepared some refreshments for us. We noticed that the main hall of the worshiping area was tightly locked. We then made </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mesywarah</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> with the elderly </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">aalim</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> whom we fondly called 'Baba', at the back corridor of the masjid which was quite spacious. According to him, for the past 7 years no jamaat was allowed to stay at the masjid for 'itikaaf even for one day. Many jamaats that had attempted to make effort of dakwah and tabligh at the masjid had been thrown out at the order of the chief imam or the 'old imam' as they called it in Kelantan (the assistant imam is called 'young imam'). Before his appointment as old imam, the jame' masjid had been enlightened with the 5-aamal of masjid. Back then there were many brothers who participated in the local effort of dakwah and tabligh. However, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">shaytaan</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> had managed to sow the seed of hatred and enmity among the local people. Consequently, the old imam who himself was a veteran activist of PAS, somehow branded those who participate in the effort of dakwah and tabligh as a group of people who shun politics which according to him is an integral part of Islam. Since then, he had been launching fierce opposition against the local tablighi brothers until there was only Baba left who keeps on making the effort at the jame' masjid.. Ironically, Baba and the old imam attended the same </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pondok</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> or </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">madrasah </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as students of Deen when they were young. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">karguzari</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> that we heard from Baba caused nausea in our stomach. I and Munawar were chosen to visit the old imam at his house. Kadrey, a fine young man who was studying at MARA University of Technology, gave us a bottle of honey he recently bought to be offered as a present to the imam.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We reached the chief imam's house at around 10.30 am. We were greeted by his son who politely invited us to wait for his father in the living room. The chief imam was flushed with rage the moment he saw us. The anger was visible on his face. "Ustadz, we are a jamaat from Kuala Lumpur arriving at your masjid," I spoke to him in Kelantanese dialect as I was born in the state. "No! No! You people are not allowed to stay at the masjid," he retorted with a snarl. I pretended not to hear him and decided that that instead of listening to his words of disapproval, I would quickly present my case of appeal. "Ustadz, there are a number of university students travelling with us. They are from various universities and from different parts of the country - Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Sarawak and also a Somali student. Now that they are on their semester break, they decided to come to Kelantan to learn Deen. We were told at the Masjid Jame' Sri Petaling in Kuala Lumpur that whenever we meet an aalim here, we should ask for Deeni advises from him. Now the students are waiting in the masjid. We ask for your time to give us special advises. It is not fit and proper for us to come here without obtaining any benefit from the ulama' here. Would you be able to spend your time, even if it is for a short time, perhaps after Dzuhur or after Asar?" By Allah, his rage and anger instantly lessened the moment he heard of our plead. "I would not be at the masjid for Asar," he said amid uneasy broken voice. "Perhaps after Dzuhur solah? Just for a short moment, Ustadz," I continued pleading. When I sensed hesitation on his part, I gestured at Munawar and said, "Oh! We bring honey as a gift for you." Munawar immediately handed the bottle of honey to him with his trademark smile. "Allright, for a short time after Dzuhur," the chief imam said to our relief and joy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Masha'Allah! We all sat waiting behind him as he performed <i>nafil ba'diyah </i>solah after Dzuhur. We gathered around him listening attentively to his advice and what a wonderful advice it was. At the end of his advice, he raised his hands to make <i>du'a</i> for us and we responded with "Aamin". Thereupon, we stayed in the jame' masjid for 3 days without any trouble and hindrance. Subhanallah!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Baba's face was beaming with happiness when he heard our <i>karguzari</i> later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is not so creditable to work in the favourable and conducive environment as in the unfavourable and adverse conditions along with safeguarding our principles and trend. The ability and capability of a worker is best judged in such situations. That is why Hadhratji Maulana Inamul Hassan rahimahullah used to say time and again that we should not be worried by the disfavour and opposition because Allah is the Doer. When He comes to doing, even idols would divulge his oneness and the voice of truth would rise from the establishment of untruth.</span></div>
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HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4573992535806058023.post-12950453049526301402012-09-08T11:06:00.004+08:002012-09-08T11:16:22.223+08:00The Letter from Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz rahimahullah to Ustaadz 'Awadl bin 'Awadl Al-Qahtany<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRX-DD_JoOZQbTE0QFPmGryPzp2LisOuTNN7WyMzS5-rwm41tkdY75BJdmVp6jO3E-Q1nfmR6t8ZpQLng6pszu19ZfiuIL0B7gpsUZrZzJZCkaVg-ER4zfnT9p0Kup3U8tFLOL3KkO_ee/s1600/Letter+Saudi+Mufti2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRX-DD_JoOZQbTE0QFPmGryPzp2LisOuTNN7WyMzS5-rwm41tkdY75BJdmVp6jO3E-Q1nfmR6t8ZpQLng6pszu19ZfiuIL0B7gpsUZrZzJZCkaVg-ER4zfnT9p0Kup3U8tFLOL3KkO_ee/s320/Letter+Saudi+Mufti2.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ref. No. 5511</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Date: 5 Ramadhan 1399 (Sunday 29th July, 1979)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, to the respected brother Awadl bin Awadl Al-Qahtany, may Allah increase his knowledge and Imaan, and make it blessed wherever. Aameen.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Assalamu'alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your letter has been delivered to me and I understood the content described in it. Also questions about Tablighi Jamaat, whether their way is right and whether there is any restriction to participate with them in the effort of dakwah that they are doing and joining them in <i>khuruuj</i>? etc.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Answer:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some people are in disagreement or in conflict when informing or reporting about them, there are people who praise them and there are people who condemn. But we have been inquiring about them through a lot of our brothers who can be trusted from Nejd and others who have joined them in journeys and visited them in India and Pakistan. They never mentioned anything that damaged the <i>syari'at</i>, or forbid to go out with them, and participate with them in dakwah. We see many of the people who have joined and go out with them had been clearly affected and they have assuredly changed much in terms of Deen, moral characters and their passion towards <i>Aakhirah</i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Based on this, I am of the view that there is no restriction to go out with them and participate with them in <i>dakwah ilallah</i>. In fact it is desirable for the scholars of Deen, those who have an indepth understanding and good <i>Aqeedah</i> to join them in this respect, so that they are able to complete any deficiencies that may occur on their part. Indeed their journey and efforts have magical effect on all those who participate, whereas those people were previously known as astray and evil doers.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I submit to you herewith a copy of <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-letter-from-sheikh-muhammad-bin.html" target="_blank">a letter</a> written by our elder, Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim <i>rahmatullah alayhi</i> in which he praised them and gave encouragement to provide assistance to them in dakwah and not to prevent them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He also mentioned that their mission is to spread reminders, guidance, exhortation and encouragement towards Tawheed and Aqeedah at masaajid, along with enjoining towards the practice of Al-Quran and As-Sunnah, including reminders against bid'ah (innovations) and khurafat (superstitions) etc...etc... as mentioned in the enclosed letter.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And you will also find in the enclosure <a href="http://kuffiyah.blogspot.com/2012/03/report-on-tablighi-jamaat-ijtema-in.html" target="_blank">a written explanation</a> by some of our trusted brothers, namely the Honourable Dean of the Faculty of Hadith and Islamic Studies, Islamic University of Madinah Al-Munawwarrah, Sheikh Muhammad Aman Ali, who has been sent by the Islamic University of Madinah Al-Munawwarrah together with the Honourable Sheikh Abdul Kareem Murod, the head teacher at the Islamic University, who we know very well his admirable <i>aqeedah</i> and mastering both their language and Arabic, to attend their annual conference or<i> ijtema'</i> in Pakistan. In summary, the report praises and commends them and calls for participation in their dakwah, their various ijtema' and fostering relationship with them. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I ask Allah to grant us <i>tawfeeq</i> to implement the deeds that will please Him, and for Allah to make them and those who resemble them, useful for the Muslim Ummah. Verily He is All-Hearing and ever close.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wassalamu'alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Head of the Board of Ilm, Fatwa, Dakwah and Islamic Guidance</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>HAJIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02767306227337551256noreply@blogger.com2