From Protest To Engagemet [part 1]

Radical Middle Way

From Protest To Engagement
24th February 2007

It was...subhannallah..mashallah... Allahuakbar..all in one. I came back feeling overwhelmed and still not quite believing i had just been in the presence of Shaykh Bin Bayyah, Habib Ali, Hamza Yusuf, but to name a few!! It was like a dream yet it was reality and i have to act on every pearl that was given to me, on every blessing that we were reminded of...to have all those scholars right in front of you, addressing you, Allahuakbar, Islam is indeed great and we have to be an ummah that reflects its greatness!!

Inshallah i will post a few of my notes from the events up. My plan is to post the notes of one speaker at a time, and in order that they spoke, so as not to flood one with too many jewels at once, but so hopefully we can appreciate and reflect on one speakers gift at a time. Allahuakbar.

I apologise now for the lack of clarity in some of my notes, subhannallah, i was frantically trying to write down all the gems which were being passed on that at times i was in so much awe, i just had to sit and ponder myself. Its important to remember that these words were coming form some of the best speakers, ulama and scholars of our time! I cant believe how blessed i was to be in that same room- as brother Moez put it, "seeing the eyes of those who saw the eyes, who saw the eyes, who saw the eyes, of those who saw the eyes of Our Beloved Rasool (saws)." Subhannallah!

Brother Moez Masud

The idea of the middle way;-

"This is how We have made you, a balanced nation"
(Surah Al Imran)

The Prophet warned us against extremeism

In this time and age, everyone is living in extremes. The muslims, in their deen have gone towards the extreme and this society too has gone extreme in their love for the dunya.

"That you my be witnesses" ..the surah continues.

We should be those whose shahada shines out and who live in moderation in every aspect.

People now wnat the outward sense of the shahada. They want to prove their islam through martydon- the outward not the inward sense.

We live in a time of veils. Veils which cover the hearts. When our hearts are veiled, what takes over is caprice.

When we do the outward form and put importance on that, with lack of sincerity, we dont get the sweetness of the faith, there is no sweetness in our hearts.

The solution is tazkiyyah

The Prophet came to purify us.

The temporary haraam peasures may seem good to us now, while the spirituality seems hard, but the spirituality will pay off in the long run. But we are short sighted and we dont see this.

How do we purify ourselves?
through the Prophet (saws)

There must be equality on all 3 levels:
Islam, Iman, Ihsan

The test is if we truely believe in Allah.
"If you truely believe in Allah, then trust in Him"

As 'Muslims' we now need to become true muslims in the inword sense.

Become people of truth, because Allah is Truth.
Become people of beauty because Allah is Beauty.
Become people of justice because Allah is Just.

Subhannallah

Sheikh Fahd Al Kanderi making dua in the desert.
Mashallah absolutely beautiful.

Trust Allah

"And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things. "

[Surah At-Talaaq]

outward and inward tahara

"water is the tahara [purity] of the outside, while dhikr is the tahara [purity] of the inside"

Shaykh Nuh Keller

The Pride Of the Universe

One day Umar came to the blessed hurse of the Prophet [PeaceBe Upon Him]. He gazed into the room. It was almost empty. There was a mat woven from date leaves. The Prophet [Peace be Upon Him] was sleeping on it. The dry leaves of the straw mat left their prints on the blessed body. There was some barley flour in a corner. Next to it, there was a water container. Nothing else was in the room. His wealth consisted of these items at such a time when all Arabia bowed before his power. Umar sighed when he saw the situation. He could not keep himself from crying. As tears came from Umar's eyes, the Prophet asked:
"Why do you cry, O Umar?"
Umar replied:
"Why should i not cry? O Messenger of Allah! The emperors of Rome and Iran are swimming in comfort! Yet, Rasulullah is sleeping on a simple mat filled date with leaves!"
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) comforted Umar and said to him:
"O Umar! Let Ceasar and the emperor of Iran enjoy this world! The enjoyment of the Hereafter is enough for us!"

Extract taken from 'The Prophet of Mercy- Muhammad' By Osman Nuri Topbas -Translated by Abdullah Penmen.