Message for Friday - Taking care of family is a sacred trust

كفى بالمرء إثما أن يضيع من يقوت
The Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, “It’s enough of a sin for a man to waste away those he is entrusted to care for.”

خيركم خيركم لأهله
He (SAAS) also stated, "The best of you are those who are best to their family."

Family is a sacred institution in the Islamic faith. Within this sacred space called family, the male is charged with being the maintainer and protector of his wife and children. This relationship is more than a mere aspect of the Islamic creed that has been elaborated upon in books; it is a natural relationship that transcends formalized religious creeds.

Conversely, it is completely unnatural to see what is currently taking place in American society. The perversity of the "baby daddy" model that does not take care of his children and the man, who spends no time with his children is steadily becoming the norm. In the African-American community for instance, this problem has become an epidemic where 70% of the children are born out of wedlock. How can American society be healthy and productive when a large percentage of its children lack healthy male role models?

Sadly, even some Blackamerican Muslims believe that they are being pious by leaving their families to "go study abroad under the scholars" or to "go out in the path of ALLAH to give da'wah" at the expensive to taking care of their own children. Obviously, these Muslim brothers with this warped understanding cannot obtain any in-depth benefit from the knowledge that they have obtained when they have neglected their primary responsibility of taking care of their families.

The best thing that we could do to stregthen our society is to begin to encourage men to take care of their responsibilities and to constantly remind them what those responsibilities are.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - Ask G'd, Give to Men

اليد العليا خير من اليد السفلى

The Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand."

الأيدي ثلاثة: فيد الله العليا، ويد المعطي التي تليها، ويد الآخذ السفلى

He (SAAS) also said, "There are 3 types of hands, the Hand of G'd is the [most] high, the hand of the giver which follows, then the hand that takes is the lowest."

When Muslims supplicate to G'd, many of them hold their hands up as a symbolic gesture that they are begging G'd, asking him for HIS forgiveness, grace, well-being, material blessings, etc. And with the provisions that G'd blesses his servants, they are suppose to work and strive to utilize material blessings to their fullest potential. Muslims are to then spend their wealth in productive manners and share wealth with the less fortunate.

The Islamic teaching is that although there may come times due to calamities or lack of resources where Muslims need to ask for material assistance, Muslims should always seek to better their condition and not be comfortable with others doing for them what they should do for themselves. In otherwords, Muslims should not humiliate themselves to being perpetual BEGGERS and/or BUMS.

ليس للمؤمن أن يذل نفسه

Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "It is not fitting for a believer that he debases himself."

Unfortunately, some Muslims have become comfortable with begging. Whether on the welfare rolls in Europe or "brothers" with 3 women and no job, who send the women down to the welfare offices for money and food stamps to help feed their lazy behinds, these matters are unacceptable.

Man's dignity comes through begging G'd then doing for self, not begging people.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - Muslims are obligated to challenge oppressors

إذا رأيت أمتي تهاب أن تقول للظالم يا ظالم فقد تودّع منهم

The Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) stated, "When you see my community afraid of telling an oppressor 'Oh oppressor!," then most certaintly bid farewell to them."

انصر أخاك ظالما أو مظلوما" فقال رجل: أنصره إذا كان مظلوما

أفرأيت إذا كان ظالما كيف أنصره؟ قال تحجزه أو تمنعه من الظلم فإنّ ذلك نصره"

He (SAAS) also stated, "Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or oppressed." A man inquired to him, "I help him when he is oppressed, but when I see him being an oppressor, how do I help him?"

He (SAAS) replied, "Stop him or obstruct him from oppression, and surely that is helping him."

أفضل الجهاد كلمة عدل عند سلطان جائر

He (SAAS) also said, "The most excellent jihad (struggle) is telling a tyrannical leader to be just."

In Al-Islam, being patient with a leader that makes errors or commits sins in his personal life is a matter of principle. However, challenging an oppresive leader, who is stiffling social growth and robbing community resources is an obligation.

The bidding of farewell to the Muslims as a nation does not necessarily relate to population. No, there are 1.6 billion Muslims today. The farewell bidding is the Islamic spirit, which is the human spirit to resist all efforts to stiffle the potential of human development within society. Hence, many Muslim majority nations are ruled by oppressor shepherds while helpless sheep allow themselves to be uneducated and live in squalor. Those nations should not be viewed as Muslim nations not soley because of the form of government, but more directly by the spirit of the people. Nations get the leaders that they deserve.

In Pakistan with the non-violent resistance of the lawyers against Musharraf, there is a hopeful sign that the nation has not died. If Musharraf was fearful of his place in the hereafter, he would listen to the cries of the oppressed and allow social reform.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - Guarding Against Ignorance

من قال: أنا عالم فهو جاهل

Umar Al-Faruq bin Al-Khattab (RH) stated, "Whoever says 'I am a knowledgable person', he is an ignorant person."

One of the most dangerous and ignorant persons that walks the earth is a self proclaimed "know it all." The "know it all" is ignorant because he IGNORES or is not open to consider different perspectives. He is a danger to himself because he closed his mind and structured preconceived notions about subjects and events, which causes him to miss information that can save him from spiritual or social harm. He then puts others in jeopardy by acting upon or shoving his ignorance onto others, many times without evil intent.

The "know it all" mentality is also anti-social. Who likes to be in the company for a protracted periods of time with a "know it all?" How about the person, who is educated in topics that constantly refers to himself as a "scholar?"

This person should not attribute scholarship to himself; he should allow others to recognize his scholarship. How many Phd's have we seen that lack common sense and interpersonal intelligence? How many of these people are screwing up the socio-political world as we speak?!?

So in the quest for becoming educated, the real educated person understands that learning is a life long endeavor. The truly knowledgable person recognizes his own lack of knowledge because the more information he comes into contact with, the more he realizes how little he truly knows!

The supplication of the true scholar is:
يا إلهي إنك عليم و إني جاهل

"Oh my G'd! Surely You are All-Knowing, and I do not know."

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - The Weakness is Internal

عن أبي عبد السلام ، عن ثوبان ، قال قال رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم
" يوشك الأمم أن تداعى عليكم كما تداعى الأكلة إلى قصعتها " ، فقال قائل : ومن قلة نحن يومئذ ؟ قال : " بل أنتم يومئذ كثير ، ولكنكم غثاء كغثاء السيل ، ولينزعن الله من صدور عدوكم المهابة منكم وليقذفن في قلوبكم الوهن " ، فقال قائل : يا رسول الله وما الوهن ؟ قال : " حب الدنيا ، وكراهية الموت "

Messenger of G'd [Prophet Muhammad] (SAAS)said, "Nations will call each other, as people make invitations to a meal, to make a concerted attack on you. Someone asked: ‘Will this happen because of our being small in number?’ G'd’s Messenger answered: ‘Rather, you will then be great in number, but as powerless as wood-chips or straw carried in a flood. G'd will remove fear of you from the hearts of your enemies and implant in you fear of death and love of the world."

So many areas of the Muslim world, which makes up 1.6 billion people are ravaged. Depravity, poverty, ignorance and oppression mark most of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. In these areas, some animosity resides regarding the exploitation of their lands by the former European colonialists, and their continued backing of tyrannical kings and dictators that oppress societies both intellectually and economically. However, it is the spiritual deviation of the majority of the people, which accounts for much of their problems today.

إن الله لا يغير ما بقوم حتى يغيروا ما بأنفسهم

G'd says in the Qur'an: Surely G'd will not change the condition of a people until they change what is inside of their souls.

The love of this world has corrupted the hearts of the people, which has manifested itself in various ways. One way is that Muslims in their quest for piling up material wealth or consolidating power will neglect or ignore Divine guidelines and ethical practices. Another way is that Muslims loose hope in changing their communities and resign themselves to "making a living" to obtain food, clothing, sheltering and small material comforts of life.

Living an austere life does not mean rejecting the good, wholesome things in life, and not fearing death does not equal having a death wish or being fatalistic.

الزهد: هو ترك ما لا ينفع في الآخرة
Ibn Taymeeah (rh) explained this as "Austerity (Zuhd) is to leave what is not beneficial for one's status in the hereafter."

So until the majority of Muslims get back to the basics of Islam such as regular prayer, paying charity and rejecting gross materialism, the intellectual advancement and social progress of Muslim nations will not happen. G'd will not allow anything that is labeled as Islam or Muslim to flourish that does not coincide with the spirit of Islam.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - Prayer is the weapon of the beleiver

الدعاء سلاح المؤمن، وعماد الدين ونور السماوات والأرض

Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "Supplication is a weapon of the faithful, a pillar of the religion, and the light of the heavens and the earth."

During Ramadan, Muslims devote themselves more in prayer, supplication and rememberance of G'd. The Islamic teaching is that prayers are answered only if the prayer believes that their prayers will be eventually answered.

Thus, the strength of a Muslim resides soley in his/her faith, not in numerical, military or monetary strength. Muslims that seek soley to alleviate difficult conditions via the accumulation of funds or weapons are misguided.

Connect to G'd with prayer

الله نور السموات والأرض

G'd says in the Qur'an (Surah Al-Nur: 35): G'd is the Light of the Heavens and the earth.

The Light of G'd illuminates the intellect of the believer, which guides him/her towards success in the material world. Humility through sincere prayer is a recognition that G'd is the Powerful and the Giver, who is the sole One that can guide aright and protect against danger.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - G'd gives us conditions

إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ

G'd says in the Qur'an (Surah Maryam - Ayah 7):
If you help [in the cause] of G'd, he will help you.

فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ
He also says (Surah Al-Baqarah - Ayah 152):
Remember me, then I will remember you.

Humans beings can never fully repay G'd for the countless blessings and mercy, which He has bestowed. Even the people who reject G'd are not cut off from His some of His blessings. He allows humans physical health, means of getting daily provisions and the ability to obtain temporal hapiness.

G'd, however, gives his special blessings to those who rely on and obey Him. So Muslims understand that G'd has given directives that human beings are free to accept or reject. They, however, strive to adhere to His directives not only out of love of G'd, but also for the benefit of their souls in this life and the greater life to come.

واتقو الله لعلكم ترحمون
G'd says in the Qur'an (Surah Al-Hujurat - Ayah 10):
Respect your relationship with G'd in order that you receive mercy.

Therefore, this life is not just for folly and play. There are natural rules of reciprocity that G'd built into the creation. Buddhists call it karma. In other words, what goes around, comes around.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - Islam is the religion of intellect

لا فقر أشد من الجهل و لا مال أنفع من العقل

It is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "There is no poverty worse than ignorance, and there is no wealth more beneficial than intellect."

Last year, there was serious tension between the Muslim world and the Vatican over a speech given by the Pope, which inferred that Islam is a religion of slavish submission, not of rationale. From this speech and the reactions that it invoked, some of them being irrational ironically, Muslims were summoned to rehash history of how Islamic scholars assisted Jewish and Christian scholars with their reconciliation of faith with reason.

In the 8th century CE, Muslim scholars were conducting vigorous research and engaging in robust debates about the nature of creation and its relationship to all sciences. From this period which extended for centuries into Muslim Spain, Muslims revived the classical works of pagan Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and advanced the world's understanding of not only mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, and medicine, but also on the relationship of these scientific endeavors within the master plan of the Divine. In other words, scientific inquiry and critical thinking were viewed as acts of worship by Muslims in respecting and utilizing the blessing of intellect. In this context, it can be easily understood why early Islamic philosophers said that "Al-Islam is the religion of intellect."

G'd in His ultimate mercy blessed the prolific Jewish theologian Maimonides and the Catholic theolgian Thomas Aquinas to reconcile faith with reason. Prior to Muslims coming to Europe and Christians being exposed to the likes of the great Muslim theologian Ibn Rushd aka Averroes, formal studying of medicine was void, bathing was considered sinful and physics was an unknown science.

Taliban style Muslims, who reject the use of critical thinking and do not encourage the advancement of the sciences for men and women have forgotten their own Muslim heritage. So the advancements of Western civilization should not be seen by Muslims as antithetical to Islamic tradition; those advancements should be seen as an extension of Islamic civilization and sanctioned within the decree of the Divine.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - All men are children of Adam (AS)

كلكم بنو آدم وآدم خلق من تراب

Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "All of you are children of Adam, and Adam was created from dust."

الإنسان أخو الإنسان أحب أم كره

He (SAAS) also said, "Man is the brother of man whether he likes it or dislike it."

Supremacist mindsets among people are based upon the false notion that they are of a superior creation to the exclusion of others. The Islamic teaching of the intrinsic equality of man is very clear. All men are children of Adam, who was created from what many would deem a lowly substance, dust.

لا فضل لعربي على أعجمي

He (SAAS) said, "There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab."

Such a statement was revolutionary in a time when tribalism and ethnocentricity was the order of the day among human beings. Islam respects the culture of all humans and teaches its adherents that these cultures should be respected because of their interconnected nature.

In this global economy and information age, all humans should realize their interconnectedness and interdependence. If this reality can be realized, then mutual respect should grow in a natural, fluid form.

And surely G'd knows best.

Messages for Friday - Giving to orphans is a religious mandate in Islam

G'd says in the Qur'an in the 107th chapter:


Have you seen the one, who rejects [the true essence] of religion?
He who repells the orphan,
and does not promote the feeding of the poor?
Woe to the worshippers,
Those who pray and are heedless,
Those who pray to be seen,
But refuse acts of kindness.

It is a mandate in Islam that Muslims are to take care of the orphans. This is a clear injunction in the Qur'an and is deep within the spirit of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAAS), who himself was an orphan.

In war torn societies especially, orphans may be the most vunerable people. Not only can they not support themselves materially, but even more important, they lack protection. They are orphaned not by choice, but due to circumstances, which they are innocent of.

Thus, the Muslims have the responsibility of protecting orphans from harm as well as giving them the tools that they need to develope in life (wholesome food, access to health care & education).

In Islam, rituals are important, but rituals without compassion are worthless. It is better for one to implement plans to take care of the weak than perform superogatory chants and prayers.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - Worship means knowing purpose

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G'd says in the Qur'an (51:56): I did not create jinn nor men except to worship me [alone]."

According to the Qur'anic concept of creation, all created beings are patterned upon their natures, which are in servitude to G'd. The nature of humans in their intrinsic innocence obeys the natural laws that govern the universe.

Once humans in their innocent state come under the influence of elders, whose natures has been corrupted, humans are in need of clear commands and prohibitions to guide their natures back into accordance with the natural laws. These commands have been revealed in the Divine scriptures, taught be prophets, messengers and saintly people.

An animal, however, can obey commands. Train a dog to sit and command it to sit, and it will. So although humans are to obey ordinances, this is not complete worship for humans because the human creation is above the creation of the entire kingdom and even angels for that matter.

هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَائِفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُ

G'd says (6:165): It is He [G'd}, who made you vicegerents in the earth. And whoever rejects, disbelief is upon him.

The lives of humans, if lived in accordance with the logic of the Qur'an, are to bring about maturation of existence from an innocent baby like state that is inclined to acting upon natural emotions and sentiments to a more disciplined being that can obey and adhere to laws to a mature life that has innocent intentions, obeys ordinances and observes, rationalizes and discovers new realms of science to assistance in the role of custodian of the material world.

This is already in the nature of all humans; the consciousness only needs to understand this reality to develope and act in accordance with this created purpose to fully worship G'd. So many have been dumbed down to think about irrevelant matters that they do not realize their own human potential.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - The Excellence of Beneficence

خير الناس من نفع النلس

Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "The best of the people is the one who benefits people."

خير الناس فعالا

And he (SAAS) also said, "The best of the people is the productive person."

All societies recognize the merits of those who work and construct plans that benefit the masses of the people.

To benefit the masses, however, one has to help themself firstly.

A Muslim should seek to benefit and empower in the following order:

1) One's own soul
2) Family members
3) Muslim community
4) One's tribe/ethnic group
5) One's nation
6) All of humanity

Logically, a person cannot be of much benefit to others without self-empowerment. Furthermore, it is irrational for a person to seek to benefit people half way around the world while their own family or people in their own close sphere of influence are suffering.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - Help the oppressed and the oppressor

Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "Help your brother when he is an oppressor and when he is oppressed."

And man question, "Oh Messenger of G'd! I help him that is oppressed, but when I see him oppressing, how do I help him?"

He (SAAS) replied, "You block or repel his oppression, and that is how you help him."

The believer in Islam is commanded to help the oppressed irrespective of their religion or whether the oppressed ask for assistance or not. In the struggle to help the oppressed, this automatically puts liberators and oppressors at odds.

Helping the oppressed takes moral strength and conviction, for liberators must be willing to put their wealth, reputations and possibly their lives in peril. When the oppressors, however, have close relationships, even the same faith, as those who seek to liberate the oppressed, there is a tendancy for many to blind themselves to the oppression.

In the Muslim world today, many of the governments are ran by oppressive regimes. From Algeria and Tunisia in North Africa to Turkmenistan in Central Asia, Muslims are being oppressed by fellow Muslims while most of the Muslim world passively watches. Business transactions and investments go undisturbed by rich businessmen while private dismay by some behind closed doors translates into idleness.

Perhaps, this could be one of the biggest challenges for Muslims today is to resist oppression within its own ranks without bringing about anarchy within their own societies.

Although American Muslims lack the power to physically remove oppressors, the community should at least have the moral strength to speak out against these forces and divest their resources from the reigns of the oppressors.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - The caller is like the actor

It is narrated that Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "The one who guides towards excellence is like the one who does it."

People who have refined the art of eloquence can sway the hearts and minds of many. In fact, many eloquent speakers can influence their audiences without using logic but connecting through emotional appeals.

Hence, the callers to faith and civic responsibility have the weighty responsibility of mobilizing the public towards wholesome, constructive behaviors within society. Their ability to influence can be a powerful catalyst in bringing about good.

It is also narrated that Prophet Muhammad said, "The one that guides towards evil is similiar to it."

American law recognizes the illegality of those who call towards mischief; it is referred to as incitement. People, for instance, who incite others through their speech towards violence bear some of the responsibility of the active participants whether the inciters took part in the actions or not.

One example of this is the hate websites and blogs ran by terrorists to Islamophobes that incite hatred towards certain groups of people. They have a burden to bear for the actions of those who were inspired by their diabolical rhetoric. Although they may not face justice in a court of law, they most certaintly will answer to G'd for every word.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - Be part of the solution, not the problem

بئس القوم قوم لا يأمرون بالمعروف ولا ينهون عن المنكر

The Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) said, "The worst of the people are people that do not enjoin the excellent standards and forbidden the despicable things."

Approximately 2 weeks ago in Detroit, a 91 year old man was beaten while being robbed of his car by a 22 year old man. This savage act, which was captured on a store security camera, was a heinous crime; however, what was even more disturbing was that a group of men were standing at the scene that watched the elderly man being attacked and did nothing to assist him.

To be a specator of a criminality without working to stop it equals complicity according to the teachings of Islam. A believer in G'd is summoned to do more than just prayer and be a "goodie-goodie." Sanctimonious people in religion that do not work for the betterment of the whole practice religion void of true spirituality.

According to the present day Gospels, Messiah Jesus son of Mary (Peace be upon both of them) said to the Pharisees of his time that had this similiar mentality (Luke 11:44), "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them."

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - Do not fall into disputes

With the Name of G'd, the Merciful Benefactor, the Merciful Redeemer

G'd says in the Qur'an (8:46) - And obey G'd and his messenger. And do not fall into disputes so that you loose heart and your strength leaves you. So be patient; surely G'd is with the patient people.

Part of Satan's scheme is too keep people of faith arguing and disputing among themselves, which includes casting suspicion in the enviroment, which people of faith dwell. In the days of chattel slavery in America, the slave-masters' objective was to keep confusion among slaves and have them distrustful of each other, yet instill within them a higher level of trust in their master, who oppressed them. This was the divide and conquer strategy that was articulated by the infamous Willie Lynch that still is at work today within socio-political and religious realms.

Disputing in smaller issues cultivates an enviroment perfect for the sowers of the seeds of distrust to plant more seeds. The harvest of these seeds are greater levels of disrespect and even violence in some cases.

The people of faith in their servitude to G'd should display patience during matters of dispute in order that the larger objectives are reached. For believers, the objectives are inner contentment in this life and eternal felicity in the hereafter.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - The Qur'an is without doubt in the Islamic faith

{ ذَلِكَ ٱلْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ }

G'd says in the Qur'an (2:2) - This is the book [The Qur'an] without doubt in it, guidance for those who are conscious.

وقال علي رضي الله عنه من كفر بحرف منه فقد كفر به كله

And Imam Ali (RA) said, "Whoever disbelives in one letter [of The Qur'an] has disbelieved in all of it."

In the Islamic faith, Muslims believe that The Qur'an is the Word of G'd, which contains no doubt. The Qur'an is considered more than just inspiration or a dream; it is the verbatim Word that G'd revealed upon the heart of Prophet Muhammad (SAAS).

A person, who believes that there are flaws in The Qur'an or that verses should be subtracted is outside of the fold of mainstream Islam, even if they call themselves Muslims. They could, however, be believers in a Higher Power, which they call ALLAH (G'd in the Arabic language).

For instance, there are heterodox individuals, who claim that Islam does not mandate praying at set times, fasting the Month of Ramadan or abstaining from alcohol consumption. They conjure up their own laws and rituals that are inconsistent with the clear instructions of The Qur'an. These people have invented their own religion and should call it other than Islam.

Baha'ism, which was derived from Islam, is one such example. Baha'is, although they share many beliefs of Muslims, are not Muslims for this very reason.

And surely G'd knows best.

Message for Friday - Know G'd while alive

وَٱعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ ٱلْيَقِينُ

G'd says in the Qur'an (15:99) - So worship your Lord until certainty comes to you.

The ultimate reality of G'd, according to Islam, will reach every person upon death. Since G'd is a being, who cannot be observed through empirical means, pure rationalists dismiss the reality of G'd. Believers in G'd, however, have certainty in HIS reality in various degrees, but they always believe in HIM.

In Qur'anic language, there are three stages towards perfection of certainty:

علم اليقين
The knowledge of certainty

عين اليقين
The vision of certainty

حق اليقين
The reality of certainty

Pertaining to the first, if one was to tell you about fire and its effects, yet you have never seen fire, you could obtain knowledge and have a level of certainty pertaining to fire. Pertaining to the second, if one then took you towards fire and you witnessed its flames and it actually burning a substance, you could then visualize with certainty that fire exists based upon observation. Pertaining to the third, if one took your hand and stuck it into the fire for a mere moment and it burned you, you would then experience the reality of fire.

On the most basic level, there are people that are told about G'd as children. Many grow up with a belief that G'd is real without having any knowledge of religious scriptures. These people believe in G'd although their actions may be governed by their intuition or their emotions. However, it would be hard to convince them that G'd does not exist.

On a higher level, there are people that are told about G'd and observe HIS signs in religious scriptures and in HIS creation. Although their observations guide their philosophies and idealogies, their actions may not coincide with their observations that inform their belief in G'd. They, nontheless, have a stronger belief in G'd in many ways than the one, who has only been told about G'd.

On the highest level, there are saintly people that experience the reality of G'd, not through empirical observation of G'd, but through their worship and service. What they have been taught, what they have studied, and what they have experienced gives them certitude. These are the people, who in their entire lives worship and serve as if they can see G'd, knowing that they cannot see G'd but having the overwhelming certainty that G'd always sees them. Morever, this certitude governs their lives and sustains their consciousness in all endeavors. These people are rare, the Saintly People of G'd (Awliyaa.

Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) taught that worshippers serve G'd within three stages:

1) Muslim (One who adheres to the 5 pillars of Islam) - A basic submitter.

2) Mu'min (One who believes in the articles of faith such as believing in One G'd, HIS angels, HIS books, HIS messengers, HIS decree & the Day of Resurrection) - A more informed servant.

3) Muhsin (One who worships G'd as if he can see HIM, knowing that he cannot see HIM, but knowing that G'd always sees him) - A perfect servant.

And surely G'd knows best.

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.

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.