Liberal Arts Forum

1492 AD the year of Spanish Inquisition
1492 AD Christopher Columbus discovered America.

Is there any relationship between these two events? It is a historical fact that wherever Islam was introduced, it established itself with the locals. Islam is native to distant lands such as Indonesia, Tajikistan, Senegal, Bosnia, etc. There is not a single example that depicts Islam losing its ground after establishing itself in a land. However, al-Andalus is cited as the exception – the biggest blunder in Muslim history. After 600 years of Islam or Muslim presence, the Iberian Peninsula boasts the largest number of mosques that were converted into museums and churches. The Muslim Spain was the very first “West” in Europe. But despite all the negatives, I believe al-Andalus was NOT a Failure – it was the beginning of the greatest success.
Here’s the reason why:

al-Andalus was Not a Failure! (click for audio) Eid Message 10 Dhul Hijjah, 1427 (((10 min.)))

Salam Alaikum Brothers/Sisters,

It is that time of the year when everybody is getting ready to celebrate the… (drum roll please!) …

EID… right? (who said the New Year?) ..istaghfirullah!

I will be giving Eid Khutba and thought that I could use a little … YELP!!!

No, I mean help as in suggestions/contributions from you.
What should an Eid khutba be about? There are plenty of topics that come to my mind. But I may overlook things that might be really important to You. So instead of calling people, I decided to ask people who visit this blog to suggest what Eid Khutba should be about. Hey, it’s your chance to chime in – please do so!

Dr. M. Iqbal, the famous poet of the East once gave a short formula for true freedom. He mentioned that there is only one act that truly embodies freedom from the bondsmanship of others and one’s ego. He summarized this true freedom in one word. However, that act requires utmost humility and the ability to say “My Lord is the Most High”. Surely, true freedom lies in the simple act of a
sajdah (prostration).

Three Principles of Leadership
Iman, Itihad, tanzeem
Faith, Unity, and Organization
December 25, 1876 – 1948
The more I think about Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the more I am convinced that he was a man of extraordinary insight. He united the Muslims in India and gave them a vision. He led them to their goal of independence. He united the religious, the secularist (not to be confused with modern Anti-Islamist) and everyone in between on a single platform – to be free under the banner of La ilaha illAllah. He was a man of courage and character. Although he was trained as a lawyer and grew up in London, he was a champion of Islamic cause and therefore he returned to Indian to lead the Muslims in India. He detoured India urging local Muslims to sink their differences and unite under the banner of Islam. He reminded the Muslims in India that they were a distinct nation and should lead their lives in accordance with this reality: “We are a nation with our own distinctive culture and civilization, language and literature, art and architecture, names and nomenclature, sense of values and proportion, legal laws and moral code, customs and calendar, history and tradition, aptitudes and ambitions; in short, we have our own distinctive outlook on life and of life. By all canons of international law, we are a nation“.
In this modern-secularworld, let us remind ourselves that We are Muslims; we have a great legacy and a promising future. We have a distinct outlook on life. Our philosophy transcends the physical and material world. We are neither slaves to the creation nor our desires. We are the carriers of the divine message. We are the ones who proclaim that everything in our lives is God-centric. We are different.
“To God we belong, and to God we shall return”.
Post your comments Below

**The Last Public Speech ** New Brunswick Islamic Center, December 22, 2006
The farewell khutba of the Prophet (s). This Sermon was delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H in the Uranah Valley of mount Arafat.

“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I don’t know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.
O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take usury (Interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived… Beware of Satan, for your safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have right over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery.
O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadhan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good action. Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not astray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born.
Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.
All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly.
Be my witness oh Allah that I have conveyed your message to your people.”

God does not like … Allahu la yuhibbu…
In Qur’an the word hub (love) or its derivitives are used many times. Now why am I taking about the concept of love? Well! listening to the Koran, it hit me that God always uses “Allahu la yuhibbu…” that God does not like such and such act. Why doesn’t He says: God hates (yabghadu) such and such or hates so and so. The antonym for hub (love) is bughd/karh (hate). Why doesn’t He affirms that He hates rather ‘does not like’ or ‘does not love’. He uses both words bughd/karh (hate/dislike) and their derivitives to describe humans relationship with others but not God’s relationship with them. The more I thought about it, the more anxious I grew from this (hub) love trouble.
The short answer I believe is that God does not hate anyone. He only despises evil actions. For example, wallahu la yuhibbu kulla mukhtalin fakhur – God does not love any vainglorious boaster. God is too exalted to hate. He is full of mercy and wisdom. For this reason, He didn’t show hatred for people but rather for their sinful actions. In the entire Koran one cannot find the statement that God hates so and so. For this reason, He wants us not to carry hate, but rather to call others with true love of God.
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