A happy Eid to all of you who read this, and to your families as well. May Allah give you goodness and blessings and Iman (faith).

May all of us be more successful the next Eid and may Allah help all suffering Muslims through out the world.

Praise be to Allah and peace and prayers be upon his final messenger, Muhammad, the seal of the prophets.

- Faatih

In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate

Asalamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa baraktu dear readers. May Allah give you and your families goodness in this world and in the hereafter, and blessings.

I am now on facebook for those of you who wish to stay in touch. Everyone is welcome.

My facebook is “Faatih Adam”, email: faatih1@hotmail.co.uk

JazakumAllah khair.

- Faatih.

Lecturer and speaker brother Amir Junaid Muhadith of the USA.

Someone who works as a producer for  ”Islam Channel” also contacted me about the course in Qatar.

I was also contacted by someone working in the human resources department of a major Arab company in Qatar.

I would like to make it clear that as of now the offer for free tuition in Qatar University is not available. For those who are still interested in Qatar University’s Arabic programme, please read this site: http://www.qu.edu.qa/artssciences/anns/

There is a huge demand for Arabic from many people across the world and in future articles I will give advice on how to acquire this language which is not only the language of the Islamic religion and of ancient Arabic and Islamic civilization but also an increasingly more and more important language in the business world. However for those who would have liked to have done Arabic tuition in Qatar but are not able to, there is an organization which has experienced native-Arab teachers from across the world who can teach you online.

The organization is www.arabic-online.co.uk

The founder studied Arabic in Damascus, the capital of Syria and the former capital of the Umayyad Empire and now works and teaches in London. The first class is free and then potential students can then decide if the Arabic tuition is suitable for them. There are also courses organized through Arabic Online, in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.

To find out more details please read www.arabic-online.co.uk, or contact me by email.

Thank you.

- Faatih

faatih1@hotmail.co.uk

Asalamu ‘alaikum to all Muslim brothers and sisters. I would like to wish you, your families and loved ones a very happy and blessed Eid.

- Faatih.

I would like to wish everyone a very happy Ramadan or as we say “Ramadan Mubarak” (blessed Ramadan).

Ramadan is the month in which we restrain from eating, drink, sex and aggression in the daylight hours and pray and spend time with family and friends in the night time.

Please make the most of this very blessed time.

- Faatih

Mohar Ali was born in 1932 in Khulna in Bengal. Studying at Dhaka University, he obtained a degree in History in 1952 and Masters in 1953. In 1963 he obtained a PhD from SOAS, University of London, and in 1964 studied law at Lincolns Inn, London.

Between 1954 and 1976 he worked as a university lecturer in Bengal, becoming a professor, and moved in 1976 to Saudi Arabia to teach Islamic history at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh for 12 years, followed by 7 years of teaching at the Islamic University of Madinah. He worked then as a researcher at King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an in years 1415-16 AH. He also worked at Dhaka University in 1965-69, at the official Historical Document Centre in 1966-71, and the chief editor for the Historical Society magazine. His university teaching career lasted for more than 40 years. Mohar Ali died in London on April 11, 2007.

Professor Ali was a specialist in Islamic history – in particular the history of Bengal. His book, History of the Muslims of Bengal, is considered an important reference in the history of the propagation of Islam in the region and its cultural and political effects. It also deals with the struggle of Bengali Muslims against the British colonial rule, and the Islamic influence on Bengali architecture and literature.

His other books deal with the Islamic rule in India in the 19th century, Islam and the Modern world, the history of the Indian subcontinent, the Bengali reaction to Christian missionaries, in addition to articles in specialist magazines and conference participation in Bangladesh, Pakistan, the UK and the US.

Professor Ali won the King Faisal International Prize For Islamic Studies in 2000.

While most of his books and essays are in English, he has translated Jawhart al-Bukhari from Arabic into Bengali and published a word for word English translation of the Qur’an in addition to Arabic essays such as Orientalists’ Claims concerning the Glorious Qur’an.
He has also written books in response to the Orientalists’ approach to the biography of Muhammad and their theories about the Qur’an: Sirat Al-Nabi and the Orientalists and The Qur’an and the Orientalists (2004).

Below are two links to the professor’s work on the life of the holy prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family.

The first link contains 538 pages in pdf format.

http://www.islam4all.com/Biography-1.pdf

The second link contains 496 pages.

http://www.islam4all.com/Biography-2.pdf

Please use this free links to learn about the life of the holy messenger of Allah, Muhammad ibn Abdullah and also to learn scholarly refutations of Orientalist theories.

JazakumAllah khair.

- Faatih.

Maghrib (sunset) from professor Ali’s country, Bangladesh. A time when Muslims pray and thank their creator and read from the Quran as well as calling for peace upon the holy prophet.

It will be this summer from July – September.

The teaching will be to Turkish students on their summer break.

No formal teaching qualifications are required. This opportunity is for native English-speaking brothers and sisters.

Flights, visas, all living expenses, a holiday and spending money will all be provided free of charge.

For those interested please contact: Faatih1@hotmail.co.uk

Growing up in London, I have grown up what is probably the most cosmopolitan city in the world, and have met people from all races, religions and backgrounds.

Every day this blog is visited by many different people from all over the world. Some of these people may include converts to Islam.

There are many famous converts to Islam including Malcolm X, Yusuf Islam and many others.

Malik Shabazz, more commonly known as "Malcolm X", a famous convert to Islam and social figure.

Half-Greek, half-Swedish convert to Islam, Yusuf Islam born as Steven Demetre Georgiou

However converting to Islam is sometimes not easy. There can be many challenges. Rejection by friends and family, feeling like an outsider to other Muslims, the ignorance of certain Muslims who mix Islam with culture. Some of the brothers and sisters that do convert can find themselves quite lonely. Having recieved emails from across the world I would like to offer support to converts from any country. Even if I can’t directly help them, then being a sympathetic ear is something.

If you are a convert and would like to ask me anything then my email is faatih1@hotmail.co.uk

Thank you.

wa-salam

- Faatih.

The answer is no. It was given to us by our creator and it is on loan – as if to speak – and then later we will be questioned as to what we did with it.

Having said that however, yesterday something very nice happened. There was snow in London.

Now in other parts of the world this is a common phenomenon, however in London when I was younger it used to happen every winter but not anymore. Yesterday as I was leaving a tube station in London, I could see there was snow and the streets were white. I immediately took a picture.

Snow in London, 20 December 2009.

I would have taken more pictures with my mobile, but when I tried to the snow hit my phone so I put it in my pocket. However as I walked the street’s back to my mother’s house, I really felt something special. Even for those people who don’t believe in religion, there is at times a tremendous awe of nature when facing the full beauty, majesty and greatness of nature. It can be a truly moving, or maybe even a spiritual experience.

The streets were white. However the whiteness instead of representing hardship and cold was a special type of white. It represented cleanness and beauty. The whole scenery looked like some of the pictures that we see of a white winter in London. In other words it looked picturesque. I also made dhikr (remembrance) of Allah as I walked through the snow. I knew it was He that caused it and I thanked Him for it and for witnessing this beauty of nature.

We know that in Islam, when it rains it is a time of blessing and your du’a (prayers, supplication) has greater power.

Jerusalem

Istanbul.

London.

- Faatih.

Bodhi tree.

It was there that the boy who had grown up in a royal palace in great affluence, and then later on saw the nature of suffering finally found what he had been looking for after so many years. According to Buddhist tradition, Siddharta, attained enlightenment. The fundamental teachings of Buddhism came into existence.

The teachings of Buddhism.

There are different sects of Buddhism and a diversity of different beliefs and practises. However I will focus on the key message of Buddhism common to all sects.

The Four Noble Truths.

1. The first noble truth is called “dukkha”. Life is essentially suffering. Life will inevitably include aging, death and of course other painful things, none of these can be avoided.

2. The second noble truth is called “Samudaya” or “Tanha” (Craving or thirst). The cause of suffering is man’s desire for something. If he fails to get what he desires he thus becomes upset. Man looks outside to external things to guarantee happiness.  External things are all temporary and will perish, so we can never base true, permanent happiness on them as they too will go.

3. The next noble truth then is called “Nirodha”, (Stopping suffering) which means that there is a cure to ending suffering.  That cure is to liberate oneself from any form of desire.

So the first, second, and third noble truths diagnose what the problem is, explain the cause, and then says there is a cure. The fourth noble truth prescribes the cure.

4. The fourth noble truth is called “Marga”. It says that true happiness and meaning can be achieved by following a life based on the Noble eightfold path.

The Noble eightfold path.

1. Right understanding ( samma ditthi).

To view the world correctly and to realize its impermanent nature. That life essentially consists of much suffering e.g. aging, sickness and death. Also to understand that every action produces subsequent actions i.e. karma.

2. Right intention (samma sankappa).

To have a resolve to change and to live one’s life the correct way.

3. Right Speech (samma vaca).

To not lie, insult others and to abstain from excessive or idle talk.

4. Right Action (samma kammantha).

To stay away from a: harming others b: stealing and cheating c: To stay away from sexual wrongdoing, celibacy is the ideal in Buddhism.

5. Right livelihood (samma ajiva).

To earn one’s livelihood in a moral way and not to:

a: Earn money from selling weapons.

b: Make money from using people e.g. slavery and prostitution.

c: Deal in meat whether it be selling meat or raising animals to be used as meat.

d: Business in intoxicants and poisons including drugs and alcohol.

6.Right Effort (samma vayama).

To essentially strive to keep ones mind from impure and unhealthy thoughts and to have a morally healthy state of mind. The unhealthy thoughts are categorized into 5 and are called “pancanivarana” (5 hindrances) they are sensual desire for material pleasures, ill feelings towards others, drowsiness, worry and anxiety and doubt. These thoughts are said to hinder the path to enlightenment and liberation.

 7. Right mindfulness ( samma sati).

To be aware and attentive to one’s mind, body, feelings, and to things around us. This means to have a clearer and better perception of the reality of the world and also of our own lives, to be in the present and to be conscious and aware of them.

8. Right concentration ( samma samadhi).

To concentrate fully, to focus all of one’s mind and thinking on one object. This is why Buddhists engage in meditation.  Meditation is said to lead a person into a better understanding of his reality.

This eight-fold path eventually leads a person to true enlightenment, to true awareness of the reality of life, of the world. In other religions this process is called “gnosis”. Ultimately it is held in Buddhism that one can attain “Nirvana”, a state of pure happiness and bliss and when one is free from desire.

Islam and Buddhism.

Islam differs from Buddhism in many fundamentally different ways. The most fundamental difference is the nature of the way the two faiths look at the universe. Islam says that the universe has been created and Muslims cite to the evidences of intelligent design. Buddhism has no definitive answer on whether a creator exists but it is important to note that the 1967 world Buddhist council ruled out belief in God. This is the most important difference between the two since any person who is seeking the answers to the nature of existence would wish to have a fully comprehensive answer as to how the universe came in to being, what caused it to come in to being and why. Islam states that the supreme omnipotent entity who is God created the world and created man to worship him. To give an analogy if a man woke up in a strange land one day e.g. a valley and had no memory of his life before that day he would wish to know how he had come to the valley and what happened to him before then. For many people with no particular religion looking for the truth they want definitive answers to the nature of existence and creation and not a vague silence.

 Islam is far more a socio-economic faith whereas Buddhism is essentially a private faith. The Quran admonished the pagan Arabs for their mistreatment of orphans, infanticide of young girls, the inequality of their society, their corruption and cheating in business, their abuse of slaves and other forms of immoral behaviour. It confronted the existing social system of the time and called for it to be reformed. Buddha did not call for any great social changes but like many Hindu Gurus of today prescribed a way for individuals to gain personal spiritual satisfaction. Islam believes that a truly great man is not one who makes himself happy but is one who makes others happy. For a man to attain Enlightenment in the Buddhist way he must at first be free, to be free to leave normal society and follow the way of the Buddha. However this is impossible if for example the man is a slave.

 Spartacus was a famous slave in the Roman era who led a revolt against the Empire. For a man like Spartacus to have lived an ascetic lifestyle engaging in meditation he would have first have had to won his freedom.

Gladiators in the Roman period, many of whom were slaves forced to fight and kill each other. An individual ascetic trying to gain personal spiritual happiness by himself or with other mystics would not have had any impact on this barbaric practise.

 Spartacus, a Roman slave, who led a rebellion for freedom against slavery.

Buddhist monk in seclusion.

Serfs in Russia. Even as recently as around 150 years ago in eastern Europe, the vast majority of the Russian people were serfs akin to being rural slaves owned by their landlords.

Slavery is not just something of the past, only as recently as 140 years ago the majority of Russians for example were serfs i.e. in effect slaves to their landlords. In many third world countries, millions must work in miserable conditions in order to survive and have no choice. Child labour is also a phenomena in many countries. Such people do not have the choice to not work and try to be ascetics or monks, they are dependent upon great social reformers or campaigners to improve their plight. The prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was one such social reformer who was divinely commanded to:

1. Condemn the practice of female infanticide which existed amongst the pagan Arabs, this was in the form of them burying their young daughters alive.

When news is brought to one of them of the birth of a female child, his face darkens and he is filled with inward grief. With shame does he hide himself from his people because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain her on contempt or bury her in the dust? Ah! what an evil they decide on?” (Quran 16:59).

The practise of infanticide is common even today in countries such as India where often for economic reasons the birth of a girl as opposed to a son who will be a bread-winner is seen by some as a misfortune. The Quran says:

” To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows female children to whomever He wills and bestows male children to whomever He wills” (Quran 42:49

God is the owner of the universe and creates all including wealth and one should not fear of poverty since as many Quranic verses remind us he is the one who gives provision and takes care of people. The prophet Muhammad peace be upon himself said:

“He who is involved in bringing up daughters, and accords benevolent treatment towards them, they will be protection for him against Hell-Fire”

2. Condemn the cheating of the pagan Arabs in their market places.

“Woe to those that deal in fraud. Those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure, but when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due. Do they not think that they will be called to account?-” (Quran 83:1-4)

3.  Condemn and eventually forbade the practise of usury which has contributed to many people being enslaved into a cycle of destitution.

“Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqah (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners. ” (Quran 2: 276)

4. Prescribe the institution of zakat.

In Islam a Muslim is obliged to pay 2.5% of his wealth every year to certain types of poor people or in the Islamic state to the “bait ul mal” (public treasury) which then distributes it to poor people. It was this religious obligation and the institution of the baitul ul mal which was a huge and radical change at that time and was akin to the modern day practise of social support as it helped to alleviate and solve the problems of the poor and needy. Marxist scholars argue that religion is a tool to maintain the status quo and the power of the wealthy, however the practise of zakat obliged the rich to help those in poverty and it was a legal duty which if not carried out would entail punishment just like any other modern tax.

Zakat money could not be used to build public services such as roads or canals but could only be used for specific purposes e.g. to help the poor and needy.

“The charity is only for the poor, the needy, those employed to collect (the charity, i.e. zakah), those whose hearts will be inclined (towards Islam) for slaves,for those in debt, for the Cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer ( i.e. destitute travelerl). It is an obligation imposed by Allaah, and Allaah is the All-Knower, the All-Wise.”  (Quran 9:60)

Buddhism does not have specific measures on how to combat poverty. Buddha, though coming from a royal family and having at least some experiences of seeing rulership did not address leaders to state how they could improve the lives of their subjects but instead encouraged individual reform and renunciation of the world.

A truly great moral belief will inspire those who are stronger to help those who are weak and needy, and not to ignore them and try to attain personal spiritual happiness. For the weak and oppressed ones of this world can often not change their plight, but need those who are stronger to help them, or do it for them.

Hospitality and charity in Islam

In Islam, an economically strong Muslim is better than a poor Muslim. The one who has money is in a position to help others, to contribute to the betterment of society. A famous hadith of the prophet (peace be upon him) states: “The upper hand is better than the lower hand”, which means the one who gives is better than the one who receives. A Muslim should not seek to be a burden on others but an asset to others and making their lives better.

Whereas in Buddhism, monks, travel around collecting food from laymen in order to sustain themselves, in Islam the pious Muslim should be giving food to others and the more he gives the more virtuous.

Islamically, a Muslim has a duty to entertain a guest for 3 days i.e. to let him live in his house. So even before the current century in many parts of the Muslim world if a person went and travelled to another city he would know that he could stay in another person’s house for at least 3 days. The writer of this article was personally allowed to stay somewhere for 3 days when he travelled to Lebanon. This is where the celebrated hospitality in much of the Muslim world comes from.

There is a hadith.

“My ears heard and my heart grasped (the statement which) the Prophet said, “The period for keeping one’s guest is three days (and don’t forget) his reward.” It was asked, “What is his reward?” He said, “In the first night and the day he should be given a high class quality of meals; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should entertain his guest generously; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should talk what is good (sense) or keep quiet.” 

(Bukhari)

End of Part 1.