The City Council of New York City has decided to add the two holiest days in the Muslim calendar to the religious holidays in the school calendar. This is a big step forward for Muslims in America. Read the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/nyregion/01muslim.html?_r=1&hp. As always, I welcome your comments.
Archive for June, 2009
21
Jun
09
“. . . And to God we return.”
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioon (Indeed we belong to God and to Him we return.)
I’m hesitant to write this because I consider myself a pretty private person and I don’t want to make my personal business public, but I’m going to write this, Inshallah, because I think writing will help me deal with some feelings I have.
My grandmother (nanamama), Fareeda Khan, died Saturday night around 7:30. She died in her sleep in our house, probably of bowel ischemia. She was eighty.
We had her janaza (Islamic funeral) today. We also buried her. In keeping with her wishes and with Islamic custom, we buried her right away. Traditionally Muslims bury their dead within three days of the passing.
Alhamdulillah, she went very peacefully, but I don’t want to focus on her death. I want to share with you something of her life, of her character, of who she was.
She was such a loving person. She had three adult children, my mother, Aisha, my aunt, Zahida, and her only son, my uncle Nasser. She loved them deeply and they loved her. And I know we all love our mothers and our children, but I want to convey the depth of this love. Every weekday, all three of her children would call my nana to say they had arrived at work safely. Every evening, Monday through Friday, they would all call nana to say they had come home safely, except my mother because nana lived with my parents and me. She had a special relationship with each of her children. My mother was her main caretaker. My aunt was like her confidante. And my uncle was her baby, the youngest of her children. My mother, my aunt, and my uncle all chose to live in the same town, Naperville, within a few miles of each other so they could always be close. I cannot remember a single time, in my whole life, when any one of these three siblings, ever went more than a week without seeing my grandmother. They have always worked together to make sure nanamama was happy and healthy.
She had six grandchildren – my sister Mairaj, my brother, Atif, me, and three of my cousins, Bilal, his sister Nabihah, and my other cousin, an only child, Zahra. She had a special relationship with each of her grandchildren. Some might say she had favorites, and maybe my sister was her favorite, but I prefer to think that she just loved us all but in different ways.
Her love went beyond our family. She had the most courteous manners and the most elegant way about her. I’ll give you an example. We have had some maids come to our house from time to time to tidy up. Honestly, I try to ignore them and wait until they leave. But not my nanamama. She would insist that they clean her room first and she told the maids that, even if they didn’t speak English. But she wasn’t pushy or at least, she tempered that pushiness with sweetness. Before the maids left, she would make sure they each got something to eat and drink – a coke, a samosa, or maybe some chole (spicy chick peas). She even made dua for the inventor of the microwave, whoever he/she may be, because she appreciated a quick, warm meal. She had a good sense of humor too.
She had so much piety, Mashallah (May Allah be pleased). She was very regular about her prayers. She fasted until the point where her doctors (my mom and my aunt Zahida) told her she couldn’t any more, about two years ago. She read Quran every day until her eyes made it very difficult to read, and even then, she would often recite what she had memorized. I once told her that a college friend of mine, Kamran, was a hafiz, and she was very impressed with that. In fact, she told me some times that she had faith that my generation would put Muslims on the right path.
It’s tough to lose someone like her, but I’m doing ok, Alhamdulillah. If you would like to do something for me, there are two three suggestions I have. One – give to the refugees in Pakistan, www.irw.org/. She mentioned towards the end how badly she felt about that. Two, recite Surah Ya Sin (36) even if all you can recite is “Ya Sin,” and when you finish ask for her to be granted Paradise. Three, she had a favorite dua (request to God), that I would like you to recite, and it goes, “Ya Allah, make the Muslims be (true) Muslims.”
Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem
Why can’t I date a girl?
Why can’t I eat a pepperoni pizza?
Why can’t I have a beer?
Why can’t I believe like everyone else does?
Imagine a young Muslim girl, age eleven, walking down the street, holding her father’s hand. Her father is a well-known scholar of Islam, who has published a number of books on Islam and is a pillar of the community. She asks her father, “Daddy, what would you do if I became a Christian?” He is taken aback, but responds kindly. He reassures her that he has always loved her and will always love her, but that he would worry about her if she left Islam. He emphasizes the peace and serenity that Islam brings.
At some point in the life of a Muslim, he/she will have a phase where he/she wonders about all the rules in Islam. This is perfectly normal and it doesn’t mean you are a Kafir
An important rule to remember is that no thought can take you out of the fold of Islam.
In fact, no thought can even count against you as a sin, no matter how dirty, disgusting, or anti-Islamic.
When you have a question about Islam, where’s the 1st place you should look for an answer? The Quran should be your first place to go. Allah says in the Qur’an: “O ye who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to Allah and the Apostle, if you believe in Allah and the last day; this is better and very good in the end.” (4:59)
You might think that the Quran can’t have an answer for my question, but you will be surprised how often we can find answers if we simply look in the Quran. Also, it is a good habit to go to the Quran first when we have questions. If you go to the Quran and don’t find an answer, you should look in the Hadith. However, researching through the Hadith is an advanced skill and not everyone is equipped to do it. Ask another Muslim who you feel knows more than you do.
When you have a question about Islam, unfortunately, you can’t go to just any Muslim. Some Muslims will say that you shouldn’t question Islam. Some will say just pray to Allah and you’ll get an answer. Of course it is important to turn to Allah for answers but authentic Hadith tell us that when we have questions we should ask the people who know. Look for a Muslim with knowledge as well as compassion. Even if you have to turn to someone outside your immediate community, sometimes that is the best way. Two resources I would highly recommend are Shaykh Yasir Qadhi, a scholar trained in Medina, with a wide range of knowledge. His email is public and it is yqadhi@gmail.com. I would also recommend Professor Jeffrey Lang, who became Muslim in 1982, and has written a number of books including Even Angels Ask and Losing My Religion. His email is also public and is lang@math.ku.edu.
When you lose faith or iman in Allah, and we all do at times, you may think you should stop praying. You feel like you are not really a Muslim. You may feel like a hypocrite praying when you feel like you don’t believe in Allah. But this is not the time to stop praying. In fact, this is the time you need to pray the most. If your faith were a body, then your prayers would be the blood of that body. When your body is hurting, why would you want to lose any more blood?
Remember always that faith is a precious gift. Allah bestows faith upon whom He wills. Whomever He guides, none can lead astray, and whomever He allows to stray, none can guide. Most Muslims who lose faith regain their faith. I can’t tell you how long it will take to get your iman back because it will vary for everybody. You should use times when you lose faith to keep yourself humble. You should never look down on another person, thinking that you are better because you have more faith. Anyone who is alive has a chance to turn around and become stronger in faith. Someone who is a beer-drinking, pork-eating, idol-worshipping Hindu could embrace Islam, memorize the Quran, and become closer to Allah than any one of us. The prophets did not come to fill us with pride or to make us self-righteous. Quite the opposite, they came to teach us humility and reverence for Allah.
Resources
Losing My Religion by Professor Jeffrey Lang
Roadsinger came to town, long cape and hat,
People stood and stared then closed their doors, as he passed,
He strolled the empty street, kids banged on tin cans,
Then the panting dogs began to bark, as the Roadsinger sang.
[The Roadsinger character is a traveling musician. He struggles to find an audience as the people he encounters turn away from him. It seems that only the dogs are willing to listen.]
Where do you go, where do you go,
When hearts are closed,
When a friend becomes a stranger,
Nobody wants to know.
[I wonder if this song is autobiographical. Perhaps Yusuf is recounting his life and musical career. He talks about people closing their hearts and a friend becoming a stranger. Yusuf lost a lot of fans when he went from Cat Stevens to Yusuf Islam. ]
Where do you go, where do you go,
When the world turns dark,
And the light of truth is blown out,
And the roads are blocked.
[He talks about darkness spreading over the world, with the light of truth fading. There have been many times throughout history when the world has plunged into darkness such as the Fall of the Roman Empire, the end of the reign of the Righteous Caliphs, the Spanish Inquisition, the Cuban Missile Crisis, 9-11, and many others.]
He stopped by a stall, between the barrels and sacks,
A child’s face peeped out and gave a smile, and ran back,
Behind a misty glass, on a windowpane,
A little finger drew a perfect heart, and a name.
[Here is a beautiful vignette of a child showing his/her delight in the music. It reminds me of a little experiment I once heard about. A classically-trained, award-winning, professional musician decided to disguise himself as a street musician. He was dressed in rags. He played exactly as he would normally play - the only difference was he was on a street corner rather than in a concert hall. Very few people stopped to listen and even fewer donated any money. The only one who paid him any attention were children, who stopped to hear him, intrigued by what they heard. The act of drawing a heart is a simple yet poignant way of expressing love.]
Where do you go, where do you go.
In a world filled with fright,
Only a song to warm you, through the night
Where do you go, where do you go,
After lies are told,
And the light of truth is blown out,
And the night is cold.
[Fear and lies make this a colder, more depressing world. Music is a source of warmth, not physical, but emotional and spiritual. I don't think the light of truth is ever truly blown out, but it can flicker and fade.]
Roadsinger rode on, to another land,
Though the people spoke a different tongue, [he did] understand,
They showed him how to share, and took him by the hand,
Showed him the path to Heaven, through the desert sand.
[This stanza is almost certainly about Yusuf's embracing of Islam. Islam teaches people to live simply with less. Although not all Muslims speak Arabic, the classical texts of Islam like the Quran and Hadith were originally in Arabic. Islam was revealed in what is now Saudi Arabia, a desert land. And Islam is the expression of the most perfect path to Heaven.]
Where do you go, where do you go,
To find happiness,
In a world filled with hatred,
Where do you go, where do you go,
If no one cares,
And everybody’s lost, looking for theirs.
[He talks about a "world filled with hatred." Unfortunately, we do live in a world filled with hatred. So many people harbor deep prejudices against others. The song ends on a sad note, talking about no one caring and everybody being lost. I wonder if this is really the way Yusuf sees the world or if it is his character speaking here. Personally, I have a more hopeful outlook. Many people are lost and selfish, but there are also people who are rightly guided and generous.]
07
Jun
09
Answers to Palindrome Puzzles
1. Keep going, there’s minimal danger from a mammalian predator.
Flow on, no wolf
2. A lethargic blade
Drowsy sword
3. Mangle a piece of wisdom
Mix a maxim
05
Jun
09
Palindrome Puzzles
Here’s how this will work. I’ll give you a clue to a palindrome, a phrase that reads the same backwards and forwards. I want you to give me the palindrome.
Here’s an example:
Tell a lady that you’re named for a citizen of Eden.
Answer: “Madam, I’m Adam.”
1. Keep going, there’s minimal danger from a mammalian predator.
2. A lethargic blade
3. Mangle a piece of wisdom.
02
Jun
09
Five Fingas of Death – D.I.T.C.
| 5 Fingas Of Death (Note: The following post contains lyrics from a rap that includes language that some of my readers might find objectionable
or even offensive. Reader, be warned.) [Meaning-making begins with the title. The phrase “five fingers of death” probably means a hand holding a gun.] “Where are you?” “Hey, there you are!” [Big L] [This guy is talking about the crimes he’s committing. He robbed banks. He says he never catches cold feet when he holds heat. This means he never backs down when he’s carrying a gun. “Rolling deep” can have multiple meanings. Its more obvious meaning is to walk around with a large group of friends. But it can also refer to an attitude of being hard and not to be messed with. Triple Fat is a brand of heavy winter coats stuffed with down. When he says he’s putting a “glock to his dome,” he means he’s taking a pistol to his head. The part about letting the four-fifth spit refers to firing a .45 caliber pistol. He talks about how he’s real and other guys are fake.] [Lord Finesse] Gotta do my thing, word up (Beg ya pardon?) [Turning nickels to dimes means to double one’s money. He’s talking about how great a guy he is – a cool cat, a true mack, with smooth raps. Macking, being a mack, or mackonomics refers to capturing the affection of attractive young women. Chickens are chicks or girls. The line about barbecue plays on the word “grill” which is being used as a verb here, meaning “to interrogate.” The “haps” is short for the “happenings” or what’s going on. Another pun occurs where the rapper brags that his style is tighter than an obese woman in a skimpy costume, here playing on the word tight which can mean cool but also has a more mainstream meaning of being narrow. Tonya Harding was an Olympic figure-skater in the 80’s and 90’s who tried to sabotage the career of another American figure-skater, Nancy Kerrigan.] [A.G.] [Cut and scratched] “Fat Joe” same crew as Big L (former member) and Lord Finesse. He refers to the SAT as “mad hard,” i.e. very difficult. Remember that the audience is probably lower-class urban youth, a group that is likely to view the SAT as being “mad hard.” But he’s playing with the meaning of hard. When he’s using it to describe the SAT, he means difficult. But when he uses it to describe himself, he means hard to defeat. D.I.T.C. stands for “Diggin’ in the Crates,” and names A.G.’s rap crew. The name reflects how the group searches through boxes of old records to find samples. “Clockers” was a Spike Lee Joint, i.e. a movie directed by the visionary Spike Lee, and focuses of the lives of drug dealers. I believe Shabba is Shabba Ranks, a Jamaican ragga musician and getting rude has a range of meanings from “being cool” to “having sex.” I think A.G. is basically trying to say that he’s a great rapper and a major gangster.] [ “Mi gente” means “my people” in Spanish, generally means, “my homies.” The reference to East Coast and West Coast harkens back to the rap battles of the late 90’s which pitted East Coast rappers like NYC’s Notorious B.I.G. against West Coast rappers like Tupac Shakur. A lot of this is hard to follow because of obscure slang and references. I know what “double bagging” is but I think that’s different from “bagging doubles.” A lot of places are called Bowling Green, but since D.I.T.C. is from the Bronx, I think it refers to a part of NYC that features a public park and a subway station. Also, “packing the nine”, probably means carrying a gun, a Tech Nine.] [Cut and scratched] “Diamond D” [Diamond] Yeah, D.I.T.C. representing for the ‘97, word life marijuana. The “mop” may be a homemade pen. He’s making the point that a rapper armed with a pen can defeat a thug with a gun. D Squared could be expressed algebraically as DD, which stands for Diamond D, the rapper himself.] 5 Fingas Of Death Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ , additional help from Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary] |
Hello, Assalam Alaikum, Hola,