Sunday, April 29, 2007

Passing of Sayyid Mohammad Mahdi Al-Qazwini (rh)


As with most terrorist attacks, which have taken place recently in the Middle East, Muslims have been the primary victims.

The most recent of these horrible terrorist attacks just took place in the city of Karbala in Iraq where a young imam within a prominent religious family in America met his demise, Sayyid Mohammad Mahdi Al-Qazwini, 26.


At least 57 other Muslims met their demise during this most recent attack in Karbala.

May G'd have mercy upon his soul.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Kosovo's top Islamic leader asks local Muslims for support

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070427/NEWS01/70427069/0/rss07

April 27, 2007
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

The top Islamic leader of Kosovo spoke to Muslims in metro Detroit today, asking them to support the independence of his province.

Mufti Naim Ternava, president of the Islamic Community of Kosovo, is in Michigan as part of a visit to the U.S. to garner support for making Kosovo an independent country. The Muslim-majority province is currently a part of Serbia.

"Pray for the independence of Kosovo," Ternava said through a translator during the Friday sermon to about two hundred Muslims at the Muslim Center of Detroit on Davison Ave. "Thousands of miles away from here, there are Muslim brothers in Kosovo who suffered for many, many years and who are close religious brothers with you."

Critics of Kosovo's independence worry that Kosovo would be a hotbed of extremism if it became a separate country, but Ternava and his assistant said that Kosovo's Muslim community is tolerant and modern.

Ternava also spoke with Muslims at the Southfield office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and at the Albanian Islamic Center in Harper Woods. (MORE)

Friday, April 27, 2007

Walid on "Am I Right?" tonight

At 8:30 PM tonight on PBS 56 in Detroit, Michigan, part of tonight's show will discuss misconceptions about the Muslim community and attitudes towards the war in Iraq.

"Am I Right?" is hosted by Nolan Finley of the Detroit News and Rochelle Riley of the Detroit Free Press.

http://www.detroitpublictv.org/news/ongoing/amiright.shtml

Harold Hasan (rh) honored in local media

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070427/NEWS01/70427028

Muslim prayer leader honored during services today

By NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Prayer services will be held this afternoon for a pioneer in Detroit's Muslim community.
Harold Hassan, 82, who often led the call to prayer at Masjid Wali Muhammad mosque on Linwood Avenue, died of complications from liver cancer on Tuesday at his home in Detroit.

Hassan was born and raised in Detroit. He joined the Nation of Islam in the 1950s when its Temple No. 1 was located off Hastings Street.

Hassan knew Malcolm X well and was active in the African-American Muslim communities of Michigan. He also sold fruit and fish at several markets and carts in Detroit.

When he gave the call to prayer, Hassan’s voice was heard by thousands of Muslims and others driving by the mosque during prayers. “He’s a legend,” said Dawud Walid, head of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “I looked up to him as a role model.”

A few months ago, Hassan completed the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Walid said. Hassan was awarded a certificate for his journey during a speaking event Sunday at Cobo Hall with Imam W.D. Mohammed.

Memorial services for Hassan were Thursday at Masjid Wali Muhammad.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070427/OBITUARIES/704270375/1263

Mosque caller saw community evolve
Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News

Harold (Holley) Hasan the prayer caller at the Masjid Wali Muhammad on Linwood, died of liver cancer Tuesday at age 82. Hasan also had operated produce businesses until he retired two years ago.

"He was a role model and an inspiration for the Muslim community," said Dawud Walid, executive director of the Council of American Islamic Relations-Michigan. "He experienced joining the Muslim community in the 1950s and seeing its evolution. He was such a valuable resource that even academic researchers spoke to him about his experiences, in their work on the development of Muslim community in Detroit."

Hasan operated a fruit and fish market on Dexter for 10 years. He also owned and operated four fruit carts in downtown Detroit.

After attending Detroit Public Schools, Hasan served four years in the U.S. Army in the 1950s. In 1957, he joined the local mosque.

Hasan married Amelia Rice Collins, who died two years ago. Survivors include seven nephews and three nieces.

"He had just completed his pilgrimage to Mecca, for the first time, this past Hajj," Walid said. "And he continued to conduct his duties as the prayer caller of the mosque while battling liver cancer. He will be sorely missed."(MORE)

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Message for Friday - Death is a reminder

G'd says in the Qur'an (67:2):
It is HE who created death and life as trial for you to see who is best in deeds.
أَنَّ نَبِيّ اللَّه صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَقُول : إِنَّ اللَّه أَذَلَّ ابْن آدَم بِالْمَوْتِ
The Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "Surely G'd humbles the Children of Adam with death."
Death is one of the Signs of G'd that helps humans remember the reality that this life is a temporary condition. Death of close friends and family, for a conscious human, is an attitude adjuster and a movitator to improve one's relationships with G'd and HIS creation.
الناس نيام فإذا ماتوا انتبهوا
The Prophet (SAAS) said, "Mankind is sleeping, and when they die then they awaken."
Most people go through this life seeking the attainment of material and physical bliss without factoring in the real life that is to come in the Hereafter. For those poor souls that ignore the sign of death while their living, they will have a rude awakening beginning in the grave.
For those who heed the sign and act in accordance to its lesson, they are alive in this life and will attain success in the Hereafter.
So remember death before death overtakes you.
And surely G'd knows best.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

In memory of Brother Harold Hasan (rh)

"Surely we are from G'd, and surely to Him are we returning." - The Qur'an

Yesterday evening, a pillar of the Detroit Muslim community passed away from this wordly life. Harold Hasan, 82, joined the Nation of Islam under the leadership of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad in the 1950s when Temple #1 was located off of Hastings St in the area, which was called "Black Bottom" before I-94 was built in the middle of it.

Bro. Harold was a personal acquintance of Hajj Malik El'Shabazz aka Malcolm X as well as his family. He saw and gave personal accounts of many of the issues within the African-American Muslim community during the Civil Rights era including the infiltration of agents and provocatuers of former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover's COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) to the demonization of Muslims in the American media.

In 1975 at the time of the death of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, his son, Imam WD Mohammed, became the leader of the NOI and moved the community into the practice of mainstream, universal Islam, which Bro. Harold accepted fully. From the year of transition until this year, Bro. Harold was the Caller to Prayer at Masjid Wali Muhammad (Formerly Temple #1), whose voice was heard by thousands of ears by Muslims in the mosque to drivers passing by the mosque off of Linwood Ave. during prayer times.

A few months ago, Bro. Harold just completed the Hajj, pilgrimage to Makkah, and was just presented a certificate for this accomplishment at Cobo Hall this past Sunday during a speaking event featuring Imam WD Mohammed.

May G'd have mercy upon his soul, make his grave spacious and illuminated and grant him high rank in the Paradise. Ameen.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Dearborn: Promise & challenge for Islam in America



Written by Dawud Walid

Although Dearborn, Michigan, the epicenter of Arab culture in America, contains much promise in regards to its expressing and shaping the image of Islam in Michigan and America at large, its predominant ethnocentric face, which overshadows its Islamic character, is a major challenge that must be addressed in a delicate manner.

Due to immigration primarily resulting from the Lebanese Civil War and Operation Desert Storm as well as the renewal of Shi'i identity from the Iranian Revolution, Dearborn's Islamic community has not only grown in sheer numbers but has also seen a marked increase in youth and young adult participation within the Islamic centers. Moreover, the growth of Islamic centers from four to thirteen in the Dearborn area over the span of two decades is further proof that Dearborn's Islamic face has grown from a small patch in a large quilt to a large, essential portion of the quilt.

With these promising developments of increased visibility of Muslims and the growth of youth activism, there are, as with other communities, problematic areas that need to be addressed. Just as there is promise for the community's future, there are real inward threats to its longevity and progression.

Problems and solutions

For starters, many within the community have confused their ethnic identity of being Arab with their Islamic identity. This is the double-edged sword of having a community that primarily connects or equates their ethnicity or culture with being a "good Muslim," which other communities in Metro Detroit have done in the past including Turks and Albanians. Obviously, the activity of the Turks and Albanians within the Metro Detroit Muslim community is so miniscule that one who is not familiar with history would find it hard to fathom that there were significant numbers of Muslims here within these demographics.

Referring back to the Arab nationalistic mentality, which is a modern holdover of the days of the late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, it is not only a barrier for many in applying themselves to actually learning the basis of Islamic theology and practices, but it is also a barrier in regards to strengthening the bonds with on-Arab Muslims to a degree as well as promoting Islam and working on social justice issues with non-Muslims. When the community's primary focus is the Arab world, it further perpetuates the notion by many non-Arab Muslims that Arabs favor a form of Islam that is chauvinist, as previously observed by Bani Umayyah and that other areas of the Muslim world and even the affairs within American society are inferior concerns, secondary at best. This is not to say, however, that one's culture should be neglected either.

The major point is that others' perceptions in regards to this mentality actually alienates others from forming partnerships with the community and turns off those who are interested in Islam and still hold their own ethnic culture in healthy esteem. This is because many within Dearborn have little interaction with Muslims outside of Dearborn that are non-Arab and they are content to stay in their Dearborn cocoon because most of their needs are met within it. This outlook towards the world is unknown to many within Dearborn, which is also another symptom of the problem itself.

At a rudimentary level, the outward perception for many is that the majority of the community emphasis is either skewed or it has a fundamental lack of Islamic knowledge, not in rote rituals and observance of holidays, but in the deeper understanding of the objectives of Islam and its application. Hence the key to fixing this problem or perception, even if it is a fallacious one, is Islamic education.

Dearborn Muslims must invest more money and time into supporting Islamic education, which includes investing significant funding to cultivating home-grown, qualified Islamic instructors. Qualified instructors are needed in not only disseminating knowledge from classical texts but also in teaching the community within the scope of applying this knowledge based upon cultural literacy of the American society. With the majority of Muslims in Dearborn having the "cultural Muslim" mind and racing towards materialism, the community leadership's first priority must be establishing a full-time Islamic high school and creating better marketing plans to attract the youth to learning about Islam.

With Islamic education and an adjustment of priorities, Dearborn's Islamic potential is vast. Once the majority begins to see itself as a spiritual body firstly, then an ethnic body with material needs secondly, all other challenges can be approached in a sounder way, producing better results for the community and Islam as a whole in America.

And surely Allah (SWT) knows best.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Message for Friday - Respecting, loving and following the Prophet's family is incumbent upon all Muslims

G'd says in the Qur'an (42:23): Say! I do not ask any reward from you except that you show love towards my closest kin.

قَالُوا : يَا رَسُول اللَّه , مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ نَوَدّهُمْ ؟ قَالَ : عَلِيّ وَفَاطِمَة وَأَبْنَاؤُهُمَا
The Prophet's (SAAS) companions asked, "Oh Messenger of G'd! Who are these people that we should show love towards?" The Prophet (SAAS) said, "`Ali, Fatimah and their two sons [Al-Hasan & Al-Husayn]."

There is a misconception that only the Shi`ah branch (Zaydi, Isma'ili & Ja'fari schools) within Islam shows honor and love for the Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) closest kin, those being `Ali, his cousin and son in law, Fatimah, his daughter, and his grandsons, Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn (May the blessings of G'd be upon them.) However, it is a shared belief, clearly articulated in the Qur'an, that all Muslims must love the Household of the Prophet (Ahl al-Bayt.)

من مات على حب آل محمد مات على السنة والجماعة
The Prophet (SAAS) stated, "Whoever dies loving the family of Muhammad is upon the Sunnah (normative pratice of Islam) and in the [correct] congregation."

This saying and belief is accepted by all Muslims of the eight schools of thought including the four Sunni schools.

يا أهل بيت رسول الله حبكم فرض من الله في القرآن أنزله
كفاكم من عظيم القدر أنكم من لم يصل عليكم لا صلاة له

Poem about the family of the Prophet (SAAS) by the great Sunni jurist and scholar, Imam Muhammad bin Idrees Ash-Shafi'i (rh):

O Household of the Messenger of G'd, loving you
Is a duty from G'd mentioned in the Qur'an that was revealed.
Sufficient for you that you are honored.
Whoever does not send blessings upon you, there is no accepted prayer for him.

In regards to different practices among Sunnis, Shi`is and Ibadis within Islam, it is not that one group loves the Prophet's family or is being more obedient than the other, which is sometimes simplified by those from without and from within. The differences come about in regards to which sources that convey the teachings of the Prophet's family that are viewed as more creditable. In this, there are differences of opinion.

And surely G'd knows best.

Story perpetuates McCarthyism against group

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070419/OPINION01/704190325/1008

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Story perpetuates McCarthyism against group

In a reprint of a New York Times article, which was relabeled as "Muslim group under fire: Mandate of fostering understanding of Islam challenged by critics who allege terrorism links" on April 4 by The Detroit News, the edited version omitted an extremely relevant section that skewed the spirit of the original article.

The original article clearly presented that government officials in Washington, D.C., stated that linking the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to terrorism is akin to "McCarthyism."

Also omitted was the quote from Michael Rolince, a retired FBI official who directed counterterrorism from 2002 to 2005, who stated that "of all the groups, there is probably more suspicion about CAIR, but when you ask people for cold hard facts, you get blank stares."

The News' headline, combined with the omission of such pertinent information, inadvertently perpetuated the McCarthyistic atmosphere elaborated upon by federal law enforcement officials.

Dawud Walid
Executive Director
Council on American-Islamic Relations -- Michigan
Southfield

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Walid speaks at "Reconciling Faith & Reason" Forum

Tonight's forum was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Troy in Troy, Michigan. The topic was "Reconciling Faith and Reason in Christianity and Islam."

The 2nd speaker on the panel is Monsignor John P. Zenz of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Cut & paste the following link to listen:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/faithreason-mp3.html

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Walid to speak about faith & reason

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070415/CFP04/704150436/-1/PRINT

First Presbyterian Church of Troy: Reconciling Faith and Reason in Christianity and Islam, community forum with speakers Monsignor John P. Zenz, Episcopal Vicar of the Archdiocese of Detroit and Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. 7:30 p.m. April 18. 4328 Livernois, Troy. 248-689-0112. Free.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Misconceptions Corrected

http://compass.lssu.edu/content/view/13/28/

“MISCONCEPTIONS CORRECTED”

By: Aaron Kopitz
Staff Reporter

Last Monday Lake State’s Honor’s Program hosted the speaker, Dawud Walid, who is the executive director of CAIR Michigan (Council on American Islamic Relations). He came to Lake State to speak on the common misconceptions that Muslims and Islam face.


Admission was free and all were welcomed to attend. This event took place in the Arts Center’s auditorium, which can hold 674 people. 72 people attended; among those were some recognized faces like President Youngblood, Vice President Harger, Dr. Swedene and Dr. Pichot. This event had fierce competition with other events going on campus like the Student Government’s Presidential debate, the illusionist/mentalist Wayne Hoffman, and dinner. The presentation and discussion took place without intrusion or interruption except for the few students who left during the presentation. Overall the event was considered to be a success.


Mr. Walid presented the six misconceptions Muslims and Islam face. These misconceptions are: Islam is incompatible with Judeo-Christian values and democracy, Muslims do not believe in Jesus Christ, Arab and Muslim are synonymous, Jihad means holy war, top Muslim scholars have not denounced terrorism and the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and lastly the Palestinian-Israeli conflict being a war between Islam and the Jewish religion.


Disillusioning these misconceptions was the goal for Monday evening and following Mr. Walid’s presentation were questions and answers. Few questions were asked; although those that were asked were either based on intrinsic goals, moral standpoints or questions based on hearsay that could finally be answered.


If a student or staff member was interested in viewing or hearing Monday’s speech they can request the video cassette in the Library which is held on reserve for anyone to view, or go to http://www.dawudwalid.blogspot.com/

Video of the event can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/IslamicVideos22

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Walid speaks at Harvard University regarding faith and politics in the Black community

Yesterday, a number of panel discussions took place with scholars and civic leaders at the 3rd Annual Black Policy Conference at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. The theme for this year's conference was entitled "Speaking Truth to Power: Informing the Black Policy Agenda."

The following audio is of an hour and half panel discussion entitled "Addressing Religion in Politics: Black Faith, Black Voices."

Cut & paste to listen:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/harvardpolicy-mp3.html

Other panelists included:

Rev. Floyd Flake - Former US Congressman, Senior Pastor of Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York & President of Wilberforce University.

Rev. Eugene Rivers - President of National Ten Point Leadership Foundation

Mr. Barrett-Osahar Berry - Senior Minister of the Power Movement Men's Ministry & Vice President of Washington Linkage Group.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Message for Friday - Belittlement is anti-social


G'd says in the Qur'an (49:13):
O you who believe! Let not a people ridicule another people: Perhaps the [latter] are better than them [the former]: Nor let some women ridicule other women: Perhaps the [latter] are better than them [the former]: Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by [offensive] nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not repent [and desist] are of the wrong-doers [and oppressors].
As a result of radio talk show host Don Imus' extremely offensive rascists comments about the Rutger's University women's basketball team being referred to as "nappy-headed hoes," public debate has intensified in regards to such racist rhetoric, which still exists in American society. Unfortunately, Mr. Imus has a long track record of making anti-Black, anti-Jewish, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim comments.
Even more unfortunate is that such language and even worse can be heard by teens and young adults every day by their favorite rap artists, the majority of them being African-American.
In the Arab world, similiar anti-social statements can be heard against Africans and Jews by a small group of bigots just as the small group of bigots within America, who find nothing wrong with the "nappy-headed hoes" comment of Imus.
Islam's teachings regarding ridicule and belittlement are clear; these forms of speech are clearly forbidden.
Labeling a particular segment of a community using degrading statements causes enmity in societyl and has the potential effect of lowering the self-esteem of people, particularly children, within the group that is the object of debasement.
Honor lies in faith and good works, not in physical appearance or social class.
قَالَ رَسُول اللَّه صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِنَّ اللَّه لَا يَنْظُر إِلَى صُوَركُمْ وَأَمْوَالكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُر إِلَى قُلُوبكُمْ وَأَعْمَالكُمْ
Prophet Muhammad said, "Surely G'd does not look to your outward appearance nor your wealth, but He looks to your hearts and your deeds."
لا يقولن أحدكم عبدي فكلكم عبيدالله
He also stated, "None of you should call anyone my slave (meaning the N-word in Arabic), for all of you are servants of G'd."
يا أيها الناس ألا إن ربكم عز وجل واحد، ألا وإن أباكم واحد، ألا لا فضل لعربي على عجمي، ألا لا فضل لأسود على أحمر إلا بالتقوى
Furthermore, he stated, "Oh humanity! Surely your Lord, mighty and sublime, is one, and surely your father [Adam] is one. There is no superior of the Arab over the non-Arab. There is no superiority of the black over the red except in regards to piety."
And surely G'd knows best.

Monday, April 09, 2007

Walid speaks about misconceptions about Islam at university in the Upper Pennisula

Today's speech was entitled "Beyond Misconceptions about Islam" that was given at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Cut & paste the following link to listen:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/beyondmisconceptions-mp3.html

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Walid to speak at Lake Superior State University

http://www.lssu.edu/whats_new/articles.php?articleid=1263

Director of CAIR-MI to present program on Islam at LSSU

April 4th, 2007

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State University's Honors Program and Diversity Committee will present: Islam Beyond Misconceptions, featuring Dawud Walid, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) in a public program on April 9.
The program begins at 5 p.m. in the LSSU Arts Center auditorium. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Walid is an educator, community activist, and decorated veteran who served in the U.S. military for four years. He has been active in the Detroit Metropolitan area for years, has lectured at many events across the country and contributed numerous published articles on Islam and interfaith dialogue.

Walid will be addressing controversial issues regarding Islam and Muslims, including the Islamic perspective on Christians and Jews, Jesus, Jihad, Hijab (Muslim women’s headscarf), Palestine, violence and the Sept. 11 attacks, as well as other topics that have caused a significant amount of controversy over the past few years and have led to major misconceptions about Islam.

A question-and-answer period will follow the lecture. –LSSU-

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Audio of Walid on WLBY 1290 AM in Ann Arbor

The following audio is from the "Ann Arbor Lifestyles" talk show, hosted by Jackie Wright, on WLBY 1290 AM in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The radio show covered Muslim demographics, the difference between the Arab community and the Muslim community and clarification about the relationship between African-American mainstream Muslim community and the Nation of Islam.

Also appearing on the show was University of Michigan Phd canidate and researcher Sally Howell.

Part 1: http://www.zshare.net/audio/1290part1-wav.html

Part 2: http://www.zshare.net/audio/1290part2-wav.html

Part 3: http://www.zshare.net/audio/1290part3-wav.html

Friday, April 06, 2007

Walid speaks about Prophet Muhammad - Model of Human Excellence

The following lecture was given earlier today at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan.

Cut & paste the following link to listen:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/mawlid2-mp3.html

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Islamic group condemns grafitti

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070405/NEWS05/704050369/1007/NEWS

Islamic group condemns graffiti

The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an Islamic civil liberties group, said Wednesday that it condemned the vandalism of the Assyrian Church of the East-St. Mary's Church in Warren.

The group also called on law enforcement authorities to allocate greater resources in investigating hate crimes against houses of worship.

"We offer our sympathy and support to the local Assyrian community and call on law enforcement to investigate this incident, and similar attacks on houses of worship, with a greater sense of urgency," said Dawud Walid, the group's executive director.

The church vandalism was spotted on Monday morning and included black and blue spray-painted graffiti that suggested Arabs aren't Christians and should "Die 2wice."

Assyrians are Christians, and many do not consider themselves Arabs.

Walid said he was particularly concerned that the vandalism occurred during the Christian holy week of Easter.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Walid to appear on talk radio this Saturday speaking about Muslim demographics

This Saturday, 4/7/07, at noon on WLBY 1290 AM in Ann Arbor, Michigan, there will be a scheduled one hour interview regarding the demographics of the Muslim community, particulary in Metro Detroit, the differences between the Arab and Muslim communities and clarification about the larger African-American Muslim community in regards to the Nation of Islam.

Also appearing will be Phd candidate and researcher from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Sally Howell.

Message for Friday - Be of the people who are grounded in knowledge

حَدَّثَنَا أَنَس بْن مَالِك وَأَبُو أُمَامَة وَأَبُو الدَّرْدَاء : أَنَّ رَسُول اللَّه (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) سُئِلَ عَنْ الرَّاسِخِينَ فِي الْعِلْم , فَقَال (صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و سلّم) مَنْ بَرَّتْ يَمِينه , وَصَدَقَ لِسَانه , وَاسْتَقَامَ بِهِ قَلْبه , وَعَفَّ بَطْنه وَفَرْجه ; فَذَلِكَ الرَّاسِخ فِي الْعِلْم.
(تفسير ابن أبي حاتم, تفسير الطبري)

Anas ibn Malik, Abu Umamah, and Abu Darda’a narrated to us that the Messenger of G'd was asked about those who are grounded in knowledge. Then he said:
Whoever does piety with his right hand, and speaks truthfully with his tongue, and seeks to be upright in his heart, chaste in his privacy , that is the person deeply rooted in knowledge.
[Ibn Abi Hatim –Tafseer, At-Tabari – Tafseer, & At-Tabarani in Mu`jam Al-Kabeer with a slight variance in wording]

Those who are grounded in knowledge qualify themselves through their obedience to G'd, and their constant purification of souls. Perversity within the hearts blocks individuals from benefiting from the knowledge that they may encounter unlike those who purify themselves through their worship and works. Moreover, those who are grounded in knowledge are more firm in their footsteps and posses more certainty in regards to their actions than blind followers.

يقول عزّ و جلّ (3:6): (هَوَ الَّذِى اَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الكِتَابَ مِنْهُ ايَاتُ مُحُكَمَاتُ هُنَّ اُمُّ الكِتَابِ وَ اُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتُ فَاَمَّا الَّذِيْنَ فِى قُلُوْبِهِمْ زَيْغُ فَيَتَّبِعُوْنَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الفِتْنَةِ وَ ابْتِغَاءَ تَأّوِيْلِهِ وَ مَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيْلَهَ اِلاَّ اللّهُ وَ الرَّاسِخُوْنَ فِى العِلْمِ يَقُوْلُوْنَ امَنَّا بِهِ كُلُّ مِّنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا وَ مَا يَذَّكَّرُ اِلاَّ اُوْلُ الاَلْبَابِ)
The Mighty and Sublime says in Al-Qur’an (3:6):
He it is who revealed the Book to you; from it are clear, logical signs – they are the mother of the Book and others that are allegorical/pictorial. Then those who in their hearts is perversity follow what is allegorical/pictorial, seeking to cause confusion and seeking to give it [their own baseless, independent] interpretation. And none know its interpretation except ALLAH, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge. They say: We believe in it; it is from our Lord. And none mind except those of the first gate.

And surely G'd knows best.

Monday, April 02, 2007

Walid addresses the importance of the birth of Prophet Muhammad

The following is a short talk given today to students at Al-Ikhlas Training Academy in Detroit, Michigan about the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.

Cut & paste the following link to listen:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/mawlid-wav.html
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