The Racial Theory of "No Soul" is Once Again With Us....

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has big concerns about the Emerald Coast Tea Party Patriots inviting Brigitte Gabriel, the head of the anti-Islam hate group "ACT! for America," to be their keynote speaker at its "U.S. Constitution Freedom Rally" on August 21 in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. CAIR is asking political candidates scheduled to be at the event, such as Marco Rubio, to cancel their appearances unless Gabriel is dropped as a speaker. In 2007, Gabriel gave a speech and said "between Israel and the Arab world is the difference between civilization and barbarism and also said of the "Arabic world," that they "have no soul."

Yes, that was a racial comment but sadly he's right, Arabs have no soul, they are dead ages ago! 

Enslavery: Riba/Interest

"[2:275]
Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beaten by Satan into insanity. That is because they say, "Trade is [just] like interest." But Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest. So whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allah . But whoever returns to [dealing in interest or usury] - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein.

[2:276]
Allah destroys interest and gives increase for charities. And Allah does not like every sinning disbeliever.

[2:277]
Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakah will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

[2:278]
O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers.

[2:279]
And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal - [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged." Quraan 2:275-279

الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبَا لاَ يَقُومُونَ إِلاَّ كَمَا يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُواْ إِنَّمَا الْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ الرِّبَا وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ الْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ الرِّبَا فَمَن جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ فَانتَهَىَ فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

يَمْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ وَاللَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ أَثِيمٍ

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَقَامُواْ الصَّلاةَ وَآتَوُاْ الزَّكَاةَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَذَرُواْ مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُواْ فَأْذَنُواْ بِحَرْبٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَلَكُمْ رُؤُوسُ أَمْوَالِكُمْ لاَ تَظْلِمُونَ وَلاَ تُظْلَمُونَ

البقرة : ٢٧٥-٢٧٩

Isn't immensely frightening when the Almighty condemns an action forthrightly and declares a war against its doers? However, whom of us doesn't owe a mortgage or a credit card debt or a loan to a bank or a finance company?! Our lame excuse is "urgency"! 

What sort of urgency that justifies a mortgage? Certainly who can afford a mortgage can afford renting a decent property!

What sort of urgency that justifies a loan for a new car? Certainly who can afford getting a loan for a brand new car can afford buying a decent car to take him from A to B!

What sort of urgency that justifies a credit card debt for tourism travel or flashy garments or junk food, etc ...

It's not the "urgency", it's rather "the slavery" to our temptations and to the fulfillment of "our people" expectations as opposed to "our Creator" satisfaction, we are simply slaves to our temptations and people wishes! verse 2:278 truly sums it up!

Ashura & Gaza, we are sorry, we let you down!

Imam Hussain bin Ali bin Abi Talib said:

"Verily, people are the slaves of the (material) world and their religion is superficial, only on their tongues. They are attentive to it as long as their material benefits are provided, but when they are tested, the number of true devotees dwindles.

This world has changed, snubbed, and its good has turned tail. Nothing has remained from it except a thing that is as scanty as the leftover of a cup and a mean life that is like a noxious grazing. Have you not noticed that the right is ignored and the evil is not forbidden? This is sufficient for making the believers desire for meeting Allah rightfully. I consider death as happiness and life with the wrongdoers as boredom."

من خطبة الإمام الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب (ع):

إن الناس عبيد الدنيا، والدين لعقٌ على ألسنتهم يحوطونه ما درّت معائشهم، فإذا مُحِّصوا بالبلاء قلَّ الديانون. إن هذه الدنيا قد تغيرت، وتنكرت، وأدبر معروفها، فلم يبق منها إلا صباية كصباية الإنا، وخســيس عيش كالمرعى الوبـيـل، ألا تــرون أن الحق لا يعمل به، وأن الباطل لا يتناهى عنه، ليرغب المؤمن في لقاء ربه محقاً، فإني لا أرى الموت إلا سعادة، والحياة مع الظالمين إلاّ بَرَمَا.

Few days ago was the beginning of new Hijri/Islamic year 1431H, Inshallah it will be a blessing and happy year for all Muslims around the world. Also, it was the sad anniversary of Ashura where Imam Hussain along with some of his household and companions revolutionized against the worst tyrant the Islamic world had ever known Yazid bin Muawiyah bin Abi-Sufyan and were brutally martyred at the Battle of Karbla on 10th Muharram 61H (10th October 680AD). In this legendary and tragic battle Imam Hussain and his companions represented the most beautiful forms of humanity and true principles of Islam, they challenged Yazid's fascism by refusing to bow down to his tyranny and sacrificed their precious souls for the revival of moral order, human rights, law and justice and civil liberty of the good at large.

Shia Muslims around the world always commemorate this event the first 10 days of every new Hijri/Islamic year. This year, I attended four different centers (called Hussainya) where Ashura rituals took place, as usual Islamic scholars preached about the merits and principles of Ashura, standing up against the tyrants, liberty, civil reforms, morals and ethics, etc .. concurrently during Ashura was the anniversary of Gaza War but ironically I never heard any of them mentioning the word 'Gaza'!

Our Palestinian people are still under siege dying and suffering every moment! Yet we are doing nothing to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, actually we have almost forgotten them completely! The least we could do is to commemorate the anniversary and expose the monstrous ugliness of the Zionists! Isn't for that Imam Hussain sacrificed his divine life for?! To teach us as Human beings and Muslims we have to practically stand against tyranny and stand in solidarity with the oppressed?! To teach us that life without principles and dignity is worthless?!

Ashura is what inspired the Lebanese and managed to liberate their land from the Zionists, Ashura is what revolutionized the Iranian and could overthrow the King of Kings (Shah of Iran). Nonetheless, I believe for most Shia Muslims, Ashura is becoming merely rituals and customs that's isolated from real life, Imam Hussain reflected the bitter reality of religious people by his vivid words:

Verily, people are the slaves of the (material) world and their religion is superficial, only on their tongues. They are attentive to it as long as their material benefits are provided, but when they are tested, the number of true devotees dwindles.

In fact that's the case for most religious practices where religion is basically a set of rituals and customs are passed down from generation to generation rather than being true belief and principles to base our life on. Hence, usually the first followers of any religion are the most sincere and devotees to their religious belief but that devotion gradually decline in the succeeding generations because for them it became just rituals and customs they inherited from their ancestors rather than something they truly believe in.

However, I'm not criticizing Shia Muslims only but because they love Imam Hussain and embrace his revolution and principles and commemorate it every year they should be admonished more. Having said that, in the same anniversary day of Gaza War I called a Palestinian friend who is a Sunni Muslim originally from Gaza itself and is an activist in the community, I asked him if there's any program for commemorating the anniversary of Gaza War, he was a bit stunned and embarrassed a bit because there was nil.

"Ye were the best nation (people) that evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah." Quraan 3:110

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ
آل عمران : ١١٠

Enslavery: Submission or Stupidity?

"It is not fitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by God and His Apostle to have any option about their decision: if any one disobeys God and His Apostle, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path." Quraan 33:36

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلالا مُّبِينًا
الأحزاب : ٣٦

As (hopefully) most of us know that Islam means submission, to submit your will to Allah, basically to unconditionally follow the instructions of Allah without arguing. For more details regarding this refer to the other posts "What does Islam mean?" and the series of "True Muslims/Submitters".

However, some Muslims can't differentiate between the instructions of Allah and the instructions of religious leaders/religion specialists (Imams, Sheikhs, etc .. ), they naively follow the latter as if it was the former! In other words, they follow those religious leaders/specialists blindly as they think it's what Islam is all about! Unconditional submission! That's wrong! Islam means unconditional submission to the instructions of Allah only which are the instructions delivered by the Prophet Mohammad and which we are certain of, all other things we are liable about if we follow and thus are subject to questioning.

"And do not follow a thing about which you have no knowledge. Surely, the ear, the eye and the heart - each one of them shall be interrogated about (on the Day of Reckoning)." Quraan 17:36

وَلاَ تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُوْلَئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْؤُولاً
الإسراء : ٣٦

For instance, the Hajj/Pilgrimage rituals many of it if not most of it doesn't seem to make sense, like circling around a cube (the Kaaba) or stoning the pillars. Yet we do perform happily because we are 100% certain that the Prophet asked us to do so which subsequently means Allah instructed us to do so. However, if a religious leader asked to vote or not to, or to support certain activity or abandon it, ... etc then we should think it over before we do it, we should question them if it's not clear enough for us that it's the right thing to do, just because the instruction came from a religious leader it doesn't render it right by default! No! Religious leaders are something and the Prophet is something else!

This is basically another form of implicit enslavery even though it may not being done systematically or intentionally, this lack of constructive criticism to our leaders and the absence of critical thinking towards things around us certainly are major factors of the Ummah backwardness.

You were the best nation that evolved for mankind (1)

"Ye were the best nation (people) that evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah." Quraan 3:110

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ
آل عمران : ١١٠

Several Hadiths indicate that the verse was referring to the first followers, the first Muslims.

Why did Allah consider them the best of all nations?
They were enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. Thus, if we want to be the best again and bring that glory back then that's what we have to do!

---

(feat. Sami Yusuf)

(Chorus)[Sami Yusuf]
I wish you were here
Here next to me
Been missing you so
So desperately
But lately I feel
Like you feel and
I see what you see
How I’m missing you


[Isam]
What happened to the ummah
Once known so well…

(Chorus)[Sami Yusuf]
I wish you were here
Here next to me
Been missing you so
So desperately
But lately I feel
Like you feel and
I see what you see
How I’m missing you

[Waqas]
What happened to the ummah
Once known so well
Greatness was known
But now can u tell
Used to inspire others with our way of thinking and speech
People came from afar just to hear us teach
Yo what happened to the ummah
Once known so well
Greatness was known
But now can u tell
Mosques are empty, refrigerators are stocked
We lost our deen we feel secure
‘Cause our mansions are locked
In my teen years salah wasn’t really that tight
Now I gotta pray each one of them twice
What happened to the ummah
Once known so well
Greatness was known
But now can u tell
Brother we prefer light skinned women
While righteously maintaining our deen against racism
What happened to the ummah
Once known so well
Greatness was known
But now can u tell


(Chorus)[Sami Yusuf]
I wish you were here
Here next to me
Been missing you so
So desperately
But lately I feel
Like you feel and
I see what you see
How I’m missing you


[Isam]
What happened to the ummah once known so well
Greatness was known, but now can u tell
Kids in Africa are starving – can’t afford to cry
I’ll pay the bank interest for a car I can’t afford to buy
What happened to the ummah once known so well
Greatness was known, but now can u tell?
We used to smile at each other, with faces full of light
Now we frown at each other, we bicker and we fight
Pops in the mosque praying, kids in the streets hating
Kids on the corner selling, pops in the mosque preachin’
What happened to the ummah once known so well
Greatness was known but now can u tell?
The Quran has left out hearts stranded, hanging on out walls
6232 verses, so strong
9 out of 10 of us can’t even read or write
1924 feels distant like way before Christ


(Chorus)[Sami Yusuf]
I wish you were here
Here next to me
Been missing you so
So desperately
But lately I feel
Like you feel and
I see what you see
How I’m missing you


[Lenny]
Que le pasó a la maza
Como puede ser
La grandeza conocida
No la puedo ver
He visto como mi figura cae en tentación
A pesar de que la vida a sido buena con luz e ilusion
He pedido perdón por mis pecados
Tengo la cruz sobre mi cama y el diablo a mi lado
Que le pasó a la maza
Como puede ser
La belleza conocida
No la puedo ver
He sentido incompetencia buscando la verdad
Todos dicen conocerla solo veo la maldad
Que le pasó a la maza
Como puede ser
La pureza conocida
No la puedo ver

Translation:
[What happened to the people
How can it be
Greatness was known
But now can you tell
I’ve watched myself fall from grace
Even though life has been good, filled with hopes and dreams
I’ve asked forgiveness for my sins
I have the cross above my bed and the devil by my side
What happened to the people
How can it be
Beauty was known
But now can you tell]


[Isam]
If I was to fall on my knees and ask you to forgive
everything and anyone out of Love,
for the One, oh oh oh...
I´ve seen
And if u were to fall on ya knees and ask me the same
Brother, don’t even think about it, lets just break out of
the darkness of ignorance

(Chorus)[Sami Yusuf]
I wish you were here
Here next to me
Been missing you so
So desperately
But lately I feel
Like you feel and
I see what you see
How I’m missing you

(Chorus)[Sami Yusuf]
I wish you were here
Here next to me
Been missing you so
So desperately
But lately I feel
Like you feel and
I see what you see
How I’m missing you

Who is Mohammad? (3)

"And We have not sent you (Mohammad) but as a mercy to the worlds." Quraan 21:107

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلاَّ رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
الأنبياء : ١٠٧

---

Sami Yusuf's song "Al Mu'allim" (The Teacher).

Al-Mu'allim

We once had a Teacher
The Teacher of teachers,
He changed the world for the better
And made us better creatures,
Oh Allah we’ve shamed ourselves
We’ve strayed from Al-Mu'allim,
Surely we’ve wronged ourselves
What will we say in front him?
Oh Mu'allim...

Chorus
He was Muhammad salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
Muhammad, mercy upon Mankind,
He was Muhammad salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
Muhammad, mercy upon Mankind,
Teacher of all Mankind.
Abal Qasim [one of the names of the Prophet]
Ya Habibi ya Muhammad
(My beloved O Muhammad)
Ya Shafi'i ya Muhammad
(My intercessor O Muhammad)
Khayru khalqillahi Muhammad
(The best of Allah’s creation is Muhammad)
Ya Mustafa ya Imamal Mursalina
(O Chosen One, O Imam of the Messengers)
Ya Mustafa ya Shafi'al 'Alamina
(O Chosen One, O intercessor of the worlds)
He prayed while others slept
While others ate he’d fast,
While they would laugh he wept
Until he breathed his last,
His only wish was for us to be
Among the ones who prosper,
Ya Mu'allim peace be upon you,
Truly you are our Teacher,
Oh Mu'allim..

Chorus
Ya Habibi ya Muhammad
(My beloved O Muhammad)
Ya Shafi'i ya Muhammad
(My intercessor O Muhammad)
Ya Rasuli ya Muhammad
(O My Messenger O Muhammad)
Ya Bashiri ya Muhammad
(O bearer of good news O Muhammad)
Ya Nadhiri ya Muhammad
(O warner O Muhammad)
'Ishqu Qalbi ya Muhammad
(The love of my heart O Muhammad)
Nuru 'Ayni ya Muhammad
(Light of my eye O Muhammad)
He taught us to be just and kind
And to feed the poor and hungry,
Help the wayfarer and the orphan child
And to not be cruel and miserly,
His speech was soft and gentle,
Like a mother stroking her child,
His mercy and compassion,
Were most radiant when he smiled

Chorus
Abal Qasim [one of the names of the Prophet]
Ya Habibi ya Muhammad
(My beloved O Muhammad)
Ya Shafi'i ya Muhammad
(My intercessor O Muhammad)
Khayru khalqillahi Muhammad
(The best of Allah’s creation is Muhammad)
Ya Mustafa Ya Imamal Mursalina
(O Chosen One O Imam of the Messengers)
Ya Mustafa ya Shafi'al 'Alamina
(O Chosen One O intercessor of the worlds)

Who is Mohammad? (2)

"Muhammad is but a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) have passed away before him. Will it be that, when he dieth or is slain, ye will turn back on your heels? He who turneth back on his heels doth no hurt to Allah, and Allah will reward the thankful." Quraan 3:144

وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلاَّ رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ أَفَإِن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِكُمْ وَمَن يَنقَلِبْ عَلَىَ عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَن يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ
آل عمران - الآية ١٤٤

During the battle of Ohod (625 A.D./3 A.H.) it was rumoured that the Messenger was killed and large number of Muslims retreated as a result of that! That verse was revealed after that occasion to rebuke those who retreated just because they thought Mohammad was killed!

In other words, Allah is telling people that even if the Messenger was really killed the Message itself was not! Why would you retreat?! Again, the verse is affirming the fact that Mohammad was a human being just like us that was selected by the Creator of the universe to deliver a message to mankind. He was not God, he was a messenger like previous messengers such as: Adam, Enoch, Noah, Eber, Shaloh, Abraham, Lot, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Jethro, Moses, Aaron, Ezekiel, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Zechariah, John the Baptist, Jesus, etc....

Who is Mohammad? (1)

"Say: I am (Mohammad) only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that your Allah is only One Allah. And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his Lord" Quraan 18:110

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَى إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاء رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلا صَالِحًا وَلا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا

الكهف - الآية ١١٠

So Mohammad is basically a human being just like anyone of us, he was selected by the creator of the universe because of his qualities to deliver a message to mankind. He was the one who fully understood the message and the first one to perfectly implement it.

"Say: Lo! As for me, my Lord hath guided me unto a straight path, a right religion, the community of Abraham, the upright, who was no idolater,

Say: Lo! my worship and my sacrifice and my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the Worlds,

He hath no partner. This am I commanded, and I am first of those who surrender (unto Him)." Quraan 6:161-163

قُلْ إِنَّنِي هَدَانِي رَبِّي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ،

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ،

لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

الأنعام - الآيات ١٦١-١٦٣

"Verily in the messenger of Allah ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the Last Day, and remembereth Allah much" Quraan 33:21

لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا

الأحزاب - الآية ٢١

Because he was a human being just like us, a person who suffers from unpleasant things and enjoys the pleasant things, Allah is asking us to follow his deeds not only fulfilling the mandatory instructions and avoiding the forbidden ones but in all aspects that's related to implementing (not delivering) the message. In other words, if the Prophet could do it then we should be able to do it as well.