Friday, November 26, 2004
Back to University!!!!
The day started off with a doctor's appointment at ten and ended with the MSA dinner at 5 o'clock.
In between I saw people I have not seen for ages. Farooq, Ali, Fahad, Ozair, Souhail, Saleem, Bilal, Muntaka, Umar, Vladan and countless others.
It was like a reunion and it just felt really good to be back.
But the age old problem arised again. Everyone was depressed thanks to the exams, assignments, labs etc. Everyone was complaining about how much work they had to do.
Now, it made me think do I really want to come back to this?????
I guess I do not have a choice but what I can do is that make sure that I do not act like that when I'm having ten assignments due in one day. So I'll try to be more happy and cheery even if I have tons of stuff to do (I always tried my best to not complain about school to other people but I'll take it up another notch)
It was nice to see that ETLC has increased the amount of study space because we really needed that.
In between I saw people I have not seen for ages. Farooq, Ali, Fahad, Ozair, Souhail, Saleem, Bilal, Muntaka, Umar, Vladan and countless others.
It was like a reunion and it just felt really good to be back.
But the age old problem arised again. Everyone was depressed thanks to the exams, assignments, labs etc. Everyone was complaining about how much work they had to do.
Now, it made me think do I really want to come back to this?????
I guess I do not have a choice but what I can do is that make sure that I do not act like that when I'm having ten assignments due in one day. So I'll try to be more happy and cheery even if I have tons of stuff to do (I always tried my best to not complain about school to other people but I'll take it up another notch)
It was nice to see that ETLC has increased the amount of study space because we really needed that.
Thursday, November 25, 2004
End of another week
Its the end of another week (atleast for me because I have friday off).
I'm looking forward to the MSA dinner party tommorrow evening. It would be nice to get together with the University brothers again after such a lengthy period of absence. Its funny how sometimes I still think ways of improving the MSA dinners even though I'm not incharge of them anymore.
The long awaited doctors appointed is tommorrow. If I do not go, thanks the Canada's medical system, I'll have to wait another 2-4 months before I get another appointment. Make dua' that everything goes well with the specialist.
Read a beautiful article about the journey of an Icelandic women to Islam. Not only that but three Icelandic women (all converts I believe) are working on translating the Quran from to their language.
Its nice to see a story like that among the countless headlines of murder, hijab bans, theft, bombings, occupation etc.
http://www.islamonline.net/english/journey/2004/08/jour01.shtml
I'm looking forward to the MSA dinner party tommorrow evening. It would be nice to get together with the University brothers again after such a lengthy period of absence. Its funny how sometimes I still think ways of improving the MSA dinners even though I'm not incharge of them anymore.
The long awaited doctors appointed is tommorrow. If I do not go, thanks the Canada's medical system, I'll have to wait another 2-4 months before I get another appointment. Make dua' that everything goes well with the specialist.
Read a beautiful article about the journey of an Icelandic women to Islam. Not only that but three Icelandic women (all converts I believe) are working on translating the Quran from to their language.
Its nice to see a story like that among the countless headlines of murder, hijab bans, theft, bombings, occupation etc.
http://www.islamonline.net/english/journey/2004/08/jour01.shtml
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
What kind of a Muslim am I?????
Its good to hear Murtada and Zackariya are going to the MAC Islamic Workshop. This way there are two people who can spread the knowledge and we can all benefit. Brings a beautiful hadeeth to mind:
Narrated Ibn Masud:
I heard the Prophet saying, "There is no envy except in two: a person whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, and a person whom Allah has given wisdom (i.e. religious knowledge) and he gives his decisions accordingly and teaches it to the others."
Read an article about a German province banning hijab, a British school suspending a girl for wearing a full Islamic dress (abaiya) and to my shock and amazement, in Malaysia (a Muslim country) banning three boys from wearing an Islamic turban/hat. Apparently all of the presented the excuse of fighting Islamic radicalism.
It seems like the latest fashion these days in the media and political circles to come up with new names for muslims. Heres some that I've heard: Liberal mulsim, conservative muslim, radical muslim, fundamentalist muslim, moderate muslim, extremist muslim.
These are just some that I can recall off the top of my head. Its funny to me the world use to be Muslim or non-Muslim but obviously I was living in some cave on Mars because apparently there are all these different kind of muslims now.
What these labels end up doing is that once someone who is not a very good Muslim gets the title of "liberal Muslim," he or she feels that they are pioneers who are "liberating Islam from its backwardness."
I wish I can take out a front page ad in all the major newspapers explaining this point but alas, their eyes are 'veiled' for they refuse to listen to the truth.
"Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur)."
Narrated Ibn Masud:
I heard the Prophet saying, "There is no envy except in two: a person whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, and a person whom Allah has given wisdom (i.e. religious knowledge) and he gives his decisions accordingly and teaches it to the others."
Read an article about a German province banning hijab, a British school suspending a girl for wearing a full Islamic dress (abaiya) and to my shock and amazement, in Malaysia (a Muslim country) banning three boys from wearing an Islamic turban/hat. Apparently all of the presented the excuse of fighting Islamic radicalism.
It seems like the latest fashion these days in the media and political circles to come up with new names for muslims. Heres some that I've heard: Liberal mulsim, conservative muslim, radical muslim, fundamentalist muslim, moderate muslim, extremist muslim.
These are just some that I can recall off the top of my head. Its funny to me the world use to be Muslim or non-Muslim but obviously I was living in some cave on Mars because apparently there are all these different kind of muslims now.
What these labels end up doing is that once someone who is not a very good Muslim gets the title of "liberal Muslim," he or she feels that they are pioneers who are "liberating Islam from its backwardness."
I wish I can take out a front page ad in all the major newspapers explaining this point but alas, their eyes are 'veiled' for they refuse to listen to the truth.
"Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur)."
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Deadlines and pressure
Read an article today about the IDF brutalities in the West Bank and Gaza. It came as no surprise to me but the sad part is that this kind of news will never make it to mainstream media.
One mention was of an officer who shot and killed a 13 year old girl and then emptied his clip in her body. She had 15 bullets when they found her body.
Another mentioned about Israeli soldiers taking pics with the head of dead Palestinian as a 'trophy picture.'
http://csmonitor.com/2004/1122/dailyUpdate.html
Much is made in the media about suicide bombing and how 'unethical' and 'immoral' it is but if you ask me, what the IDF is doing cannot be topped. The worst part is that the IDF claims to be the most moral army in the world. I guess thats the reason they do not allow for UN observers in the territories. I say if you got nothing to hide, then why stop the observers????
It seems like the Americans seem to be taking lessons on morality from the IDF too. In an article it mentioned about the killing of a wounded Iraqi with no weapons. Apparently he was lying in the mosque and had been wounded. A US soldier came and up and shot him in the head. This articles gives a first hand account of the incident.
http://www.kevinsites.net/
And then they call the muslims barbaric!!
The boss as usual is putting pressure to meet deadlines. But everything is on hold for some Cuban delegation is here and we have to make a presentation to them.
One mention was of an officer who shot and killed a 13 year old girl and then emptied his clip in her body. She had 15 bullets when they found her body.
Another mentioned about Israeli soldiers taking pics with the head of dead Palestinian as a 'trophy picture.'
http://csmonitor.com/2004/1122/dailyUpdate.html
Much is made in the media about suicide bombing and how 'unethical' and 'immoral' it is but if you ask me, what the IDF is doing cannot be topped. The worst part is that the IDF claims to be the most moral army in the world. I guess thats the reason they do not allow for UN observers in the territories. I say if you got nothing to hide, then why stop the observers????
It seems like the Americans seem to be taking lessons on morality from the IDF too. In an article it mentioned about the killing of a wounded Iraqi with no weapons. Apparently he was lying in the mosque and had been wounded. A US soldier came and up and shot him in the head. This articles gives a first hand account of the incident.
http://www.kevinsites.net/
And then they call the muslims barbaric!!
The boss as usual is putting pressure to meet deadlines. But everything is on hold for some Cuban delegation is here and we have to make a presentation to them.
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Successful dinner
Alhumdulillah the dinner went really good. There were tons of volunteers and it was good to see new faces that I've never seen before. It shows that more and more muslims are getting involved which can only mean good things insha Allah.
Sharafe could not make it because he was really sick and it was just not the same without him. Although Zackariya and Adil came from the MAC board.
Back to work tommorrow and the same old routine begins again......
Sharafe could not make it because he was really sick and it was just not the same without him. Although Zackariya and Adil came from the MAC board.
Back to work tommorrow and the same old routine begins again......
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Meeting cancelled
Found an interesting article about the U.S. Presbyterian church divesting in companies that support Israel. It was interesting to read the reaction because 13 congressmen and various powerful jewish organizations are preparing to strike back. I just hope the church stands by its decision. Its amazing how any kind of criticism of Israel draws such a strong reaction compared to the feeble responses to the death of hundres of muslims. http://arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=54745&d=20&m=11&y=2004
It was nice to hear that Sudan rebels came to a truce but then again is this just a formality that is going to be ignored on the ground. UN observers should be placed to ensure proper implementataion.
MAC meeting got cancelled. It would have really helped to finalize things for tommorrow but Allah willed it this way. I just hope there is no confusion or disorganization tommorrow at the event. I hate having disorganization at islamic events because it comes off as looking bad for the whole community and especially in a dawa'h oriented event like the boyle st. dinner.
Read a beautiful hadeeth yesterday:
It was nice to hear that Sudan rebels came to a truce but then again is this just a formality that is going to be ignored on the ground. UN observers should be placed to ensure proper implementataion.
MAC meeting got cancelled. It would have really helped to finalize things for tommorrow but Allah willed it this way. I just hope there is no confusion or disorganization tommorrow at the event. I hate having disorganization at islamic events because it comes off as looking bad for the whole community and especially in a dawa'h oriented event like the boyle st. dinner.
Read a beautiful hadeeth yesterday:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
The Prophet said, "The people of Paradise will look at the dwellers of the lofty mansions (i.e. a superior place in Paradise) in the same way as one looks at a brilliant star far away in the East or in the West on the horizon; all that is because of their superiority over one another (in rewards)." On that the people said, "O Allah's Apostle! Are these lofty mansions for the prophets which nobody else can reach? The Prophet replied," No! "By Allah in whose Hands my life is, these are for the men who believed in Allah and also believed in the Apostles."
Friday, November 19, 2004
Looking to the weekend
About time its friday. Compared to the three day work week previously, this one seemed like an eternity.
I came across an interesting article yesterday. Two prominent figures in the world of sport and fashion are muslim but one would have never known. Zidane and a supermodel named Yasmeen Ghauri. Yasmeen Ghauri's story was of real interest as she was born in Montreal and her father was the imam of a local mosque. She even went for hajj with him when she was young. Well, to make long story short it was really saddening to see how people have forsaken their faiths for the glitters of this world.
And the worst part is that sooner or later (be it in this life or the next) they will realize the truth but it might be just too late. First of all, I don't think that anyone who goes away from Islam can ever live in real peace but for arguement's sake if they do enjoy this life to the fullest extent (in the unIslamic sense), they have to die sooner or later.
Then they will find out that even though they thought of themselves as the luckiest in this world, the real lucky ones are those who will enter jannah. I rather have the jannah where all your desires are satisfied and you are never sad when compared to the little "fun" that this world has to offer.
It does bring a hadeeth to mind, the meanings of which are almost mindblowing:
"I have prepared for My Pious slaves things which have never been seen by an eye, or heard by an ear, or imagined by a human being."
This whole situation has pre-occupied me for like the last two days.
Really looking forward to the Boyle St. dinner and also i'm taking my bro and sis. So hopefully it will be a good experience for them too.
I came across an interesting article yesterday. Two prominent figures in the world of sport and fashion are muslim but one would have never known. Zidane and a supermodel named Yasmeen Ghauri. Yasmeen Ghauri's story was of real interest as she was born in Montreal and her father was the imam of a local mosque. She even went for hajj with him when she was young. Well, to make long story short it was really saddening to see how people have forsaken their faiths for the glitters of this world.
And the worst part is that sooner or later (be it in this life or the next) they will realize the truth but it might be just too late. First of all, I don't think that anyone who goes away from Islam can ever live in real peace but for arguement's sake if they do enjoy this life to the fullest extent (in the unIslamic sense), they have to die sooner or later.
Then they will find out that even though they thought of themselves as the luckiest in this world, the real lucky ones are those who will enter jannah. I rather have the jannah where all your desires are satisfied and you are never sad when compared to the little "fun" that this world has to offer.
It does bring a hadeeth to mind, the meanings of which are almost mindblowing:
"I have prepared for My Pious slaves things which have never been seen by an eye, or heard by an ear, or imagined by a human being."
This whole situation has pre-occupied me for like the last two days.
Really looking forward to the Boyle St. dinner and also i'm taking my bro and sis. So hopefully it will be a good experience for them too.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
good co-op evaluation
well, the evaluation came and went. Unexpectedly, the boss gave me one of the best evaluations he had ever given (according to the co-op director). Now, this poses quite the strange probelm. I just do not understand how that is possible after all the differences that we have had. Its weird how some ppl work I guess.
On a different note, a co-worker of mine showed me a video from a U.S. F-16 kiling a bunch of civilians cold heartedly. http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/BUN410A.html
Its amazing how no media coverage is given to this but when the canadian soldiers were accidently bombed, everyone was up in arms. We should all make du'a for that is the least we can do.
On the edmonton level, I guess people are still talking about the divide over the maharaja and the Shaw Conference group. Personally, I'm all for have a united Eid prayer with all the mosques (including Al-Rashid) but I also believe in working with the jama'h. After the shura (comprised of ppl we have selected) makes a decision, I believe we should learn to abide by it. If we do not like, there are numerous ways of going about to change and least of which are having a public confrontation or general boycott. It just seems like that sometimes we let our egos get in the way of clear thinking and we lose sight of the fact how our actions can greatly affect the community. It brings a hadeeth to the forefront (from murtada's blog):
Abu Darda (ra) narrated, "The Prophet (pbuh) advised me with nine advices: "1) Do not associate partners with Allah, even if you are dissevered or burnt for your belief. 2) Do not intentionally leave the obligatory prayers. Whoever does so disenfranchises himself from Islamic protection. 3) Do not drink intoxicants, since it is the key to all evil. 4) Obey your parents; if they order you to leave something worldly, leave it. 5) Do not disobey those in charge, even if you are sure your opinion is more correct. 6) Do not flee the battlefield, even if your companions flee and you face destruction. 7) Spend on your family from your generosity, 8) do not lift your stick to hit them, and 9) induce in them God-consciousness." " (Partially in Ibn Majah's "Al-Fitan" and partially by Ahmed)
Here, I would like ppl to atleast read the highlighted red part. Well enough rantings for one day for I should be getting back to work as the coffee break is over.
On a different note, a co-worker of mine showed me a video from a U.S. F-16 kiling a bunch of civilians cold heartedly. http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/BUN410A.html
Its amazing how no media coverage is given to this but when the canadian soldiers were accidently bombed, everyone was up in arms. We should all make du'a for that is the least we can do.
On the edmonton level, I guess people are still talking about the divide over the maharaja and the Shaw Conference group. Personally, I'm all for have a united Eid prayer with all the mosques (including Al-Rashid) but I also believe in working with the jama'h. After the shura (comprised of ppl we have selected) makes a decision, I believe we should learn to abide by it. If we do not like, there are numerous ways of going about to change and least of which are having a public confrontation or general boycott. It just seems like that sometimes we let our egos get in the way of clear thinking and we lose sight of the fact how our actions can greatly affect the community. It brings a hadeeth to the forefront (from murtada's blog):
Abu Darda (ra) narrated, "The Prophet (pbuh) advised me with nine advices: "1) Do not associate partners with Allah, even if you are dissevered or burnt for your belief. 2) Do not intentionally leave the obligatory prayers. Whoever does so disenfranchises himself from Islamic protection. 3) Do not drink intoxicants, since it is the key to all evil. 4) Obey your parents; if they order you to leave something worldly, leave it. 5) Do not disobey those in charge, even if you are sure your opinion is more correct. 6) Do not flee the battlefield, even if your companions flee and you face destruction. 7) Spend on your family from your generosity, 8) do not lift your stick to hit them, and 9) induce in them God-consciousness." " (Partially in Ibn Majah's "Al-Fitan" and partially by Ahmed)
Here, I would like ppl to atleast read the highlighted red part. Well enough rantings for one day for I should be getting back to work as the coffee break is over.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
First Entry!!!!!!!!! (hopefully of many to come)
well, the first blog ever........I'd like to be consistent at it because Allah (s.w.t) likes the small good deeds which are consistent more than a big good deed done once.
I realize that does not fall under the category of good deeds (though with the right intention it can) but the point I was trying to emphasize was consistency is good!!!!!!
I could go on and on about things but I'd like to start off with the most current thing. In about ten minutes, I'm about to have my co-op evaluation.
Its not as nerve-wrecking as having to wait ten minutes for a final exam but its still quite intense. Insha Allah it will go well without any hiccups.
I think my name is being called to go in so here I go and insha Allah my next posting will contain detals on how it went.
I realize that does not fall under the category of good deeds (though with the right intention it can) but the point I was trying to emphasize was consistency is good!!!!!!
I could go on and on about things but I'd like to start off with the most current thing. In about ten minutes, I'm about to have my co-op evaluation.
Its not as nerve-wrecking as having to wait ten minutes for a final exam but its still quite intense. Insha Allah it will go well without any hiccups.
I think my name is being called to go in so here I go and insha Allah my next posting will contain detals on how it went.