Ramadhan 2008

We are looking forward to an eventful Ramadan in Edith Cowan University this year on both the Mt. Lawley and Joondalup campuses. Please check your campus musallas for iftar calander or list.
Please add your name, contact number, and days of the week that you will be able to attend the iftar at the Musalla.
You can also email that information to me if you can’t make it to the musalla. If you have any further questions please comment on this post or contact us via email on ecuis  (at)  [marwan]dot<com>.

Following on from the beautiful story on “knowing what it is that you want“, there are two concepts that should not escape mention. They are balance and justice.

One cannot simply ask for whatever one’s heart desires and expect a response from Allah if one believes in Divinity, or Nature if one believes in the secular secrets such as the Law of Attraction as per the new-age materialisms. Granting of supplications and belief in positive thinking has to be tempered and balanced by knowledge and by the justice that is brought about by Love and Hate.

Every human being must understand his/her limitations. Love is a positive emotion and while it can make us feel good, it’s beneficial effect is dependant upon the thing that is cherished. Hate on the other hand is a negative emotion and while it may make us feel bad, it’s deleterious effect is also contingent upon the object of hatred.

Allah swt, says in His Holy Quraan, “It may be that you hate a thing and it is (actually) good for you. And it may be that you love a thing and it is (actually) bad for you. And Allah Knows and you do not know.” (Asaa an takrahu shayan. wa huwa khairul lakum. Wa asaa an tuhibbu shayan, wa huwa sharrul lakum. Wa Allahu ya’lamu wa antum la ta’lamoon [2,216])

to be continued…

Yunous Vagh

There was once a blind and cripple beggar. Everyday he beseeched Allah Most High to answer his prayer. One day, the Lord answered his prayer with the proviso that he make just one quick prayer.

He asked Allah to grant him the wish of standing on the balcony of his palace, sipping a cool drink from his glass, whilst gazing smilingly down at his grand-children playing happily below in the courtyard.

One short dua indeed, but all encompassing. He asked for his sight to be returned, his legs to be cured. He asked for wealth, longevity, a partner, children and grand-children as well as happiness and security all in one.

It pays to know what you want and how to ask for it. May Allah grant us the knowledge of what we want and the wisdom of how to ask for it. Ameen.

(source unknown - retold Yunous Vagh)

The Al Hidaya Centre is conducting a registration day on Saturday 12th Jan 2008, for religious classes. Those interested please view the document located here Registration Details

The classes will be conducted by Sh. Yusuf Parker.

Click here to view the pic barbie.jpg 

Alhumdolillah. According to all accounts the event was a success. We thank Allah.

The event was well attended, although less than expected. The event was scheduled to begin at 12.00pm. However the barbecue got under way just before 1.00pm. The food was excellent and everyone seemed to have a great time socializing and meeting others. Some left at around 5.00pm whilst many left before Maghrib.

InshaAllah, this will not be the last. It is hoped that many students will get involved in the future events.

Special thanks to Abdullah, Haithy, Marwan, Yunous (family) and Ahmed (family).

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem.

Assalaamu alaykum wrtwbt,

Dear All,

Alhumdolillah, it has been decided to have a barbercue to farewell those students who will not be returning in 2008.

At the same time we wish to welcome those students who will be joining us for the first time.

And for all the other students, to make them feel part of the student and general Islamic Community.

All non-students are welcome as well.

Date :     23rd December 2007

Time:     12:00pm (daylight time)

Venue :  Burswood Park, Rivervale

RSVP:    email reply yv_786@yahoo.com.au

Menu: Barbecue Meat, Sausages, Chicken, Salad, Drinks

Admission : Free!

This event is being organised by Yunous, Marwan and Abdullah. I encourage you all to reply by Wednesday (18th Dec 2007) night the latest in order to cater accurately for the numbers InshaAllah.

Enter the address, city, zipcode, state/province, or country from where you want the direction of the Qibla to be shown and click ‘Search’.

http://www.qiblalocator.com/

Alhmumdolillah (Praise be to Allah), we are now in the first of the months of Hajj. This is one of the four Holy months of complete sanctuary for mankind and makes up the three that fall consecutively. The other months are Dhul Hijja, Muharram and the single month of Rajab.

Most things of eminance appear in groups of four, such as the four great angels, the four great prophets, the four great books, the four great kings, the four great men, the four great women, the four great days, the four great nights and off course the four great months. There are many other things as well such as the four seasons, the four elements and the four humours. All of these characterise what is termed the law of the quaternary (tarbi’a).

Within each of these groups a pre-eminent one is found. For the four Holy Months, the foremost of these is the month of Rajab, it being the month of Allah.

Some ask why Ramadaan is not within this group of Holy Months. The answer is simple when considered within the tarbi’a. It is Holy because it contains the greatest of the four great nights, which is the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr).

Yunous Vagh

SubhaanAllah, (Glory be to Allah), the month of Shawwal is nearing end. It is sincerely hoped that most of us have taken advantage of the benefits of this month. Specifically, the six fasts of Shawwal that are essential to balance after Ramadaan. The women in our midst have had to make up for the fasts missed in Ramadaan due to haidh (mentruation). Men, together with women are encouraged to fast these 6 days for which the reward is immense both physically, mentally, psychologically and spiritually.

Physically, our bodies get another chance to acclimatise to the rigours of uncontrolled digestive demands, before finally reaching the equilibrium that is established after this second adjustment. Mentally, we are strenthened by these fasts, as there are now no safety nets as in Ramadaan. Psychologically, we are given strength of resolve as these fasts are purely voluntary. Spiritually, we advance as it gives us connection to the Holy Months of Hajj wherein we undergo training of the nafs further in that there is no obscenity, no wickedness and no arguments with our fellows in the pilgrimage. (Wala rafasa, wala fusooka, wal jidaala fil Hajj [2,197]) And where we are taught to make provisions, the best of which is piety. (wa tazawwado, fa inna khaira zaadit taqwa[2,197])

The women are able to see that they are not alone in doing any make up fasts and that, in addition, they gain access to the same rewards and benefits. That is indeed the equality engendered by our Lord, Allah and that indeed is the measuring of The Mighty, The Knowing. (Zaalika taqdeerul azeezul Aleem[36,38])

Yunous Vagh

Alhumdolillah. A short story about trials and commitment. Idries Shah, a celebrated Islamic Spiritual teacher and author of myriad of books narrates the parable of the two men in the desert. Both of them went their separate ways in search of water as they had become severely dehydrated.

The first man began digging holes in the sand. In his frantic search, he dug 200 one-foot holes…all to no avail. The other went about digging just one hole, but it was 200 feet deep. He found the water and achieved success. That was the trial of the desert and of steely will.

It is much the same with all the trials we face in life. Now most of you face examinations soon. Commit yourselves. Put in the hard work. Then put your trust in Allah and leave yourself in need of His blessing. Like Musa a.s. after the hard work, you are entitled to say,  Oh my Lord, I am need of whatever you send down (Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khairin faqeer[28,24]).

And when Allah begins to inspire you, be patient and  say oh my Lord, increase me in knowledge (Wa qul Rabbi zidni ilma[20,114]).

As a slave, one is entitled to everything from your Lord. So remember who you really are.

Yunous Vagh