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Refreshing Change

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Refreshing Change
BroHanif
04/24/03 at 13:16:26
http://www.muslimprofessionals.org.uk/displayarticle34.html

Local, National and International News 24 April 2003

Salaams, Allah be praised during the good times and bad times.

Over the past couple of months the Muslims especially have been subjected to much emotional turmoil and stress. The war on Iraq, the continued suffering of our brothers and sisters in Palestine and the wild accusations onto law abiding Muslims being branded as terrorists. Yet, there are some Muslims who have not been hindered by this and by doing dawah creatively they have succeeded in offering the Ummah different alternatives, through either media, commerce, or even food products. No doubt Al-Jazeera continues to be on the lips of many people, who are currently serving an estimated 9 million hits on its website daily, nothing short of remarkable. Other Muslims have moved stock options from the US to their own countries and now trade exclusively in Euros, whereas others have opted to launch new food/drink products such as Qibla Cola and Mecca Cola. Read the following article and see how sister Parveen has allowed us to make a refreshing change

http://media.guardian.co.uk/marketingandpr/story/0,7494,941879,00.html .

What we as Muslims need to understand is the process of change belongs to us, if we find that something is not acceptable to our conscious then the first thing we can do is refrain from it and better still, strive to make a change in making a healthy Islamic  choice. Think of this if all the Muslims in Europe broke ties with Coca-Cola and started to drink Mecca Cola and Qibla Cola it would make a monumental change. What if we went one further, and said no to trading in the dollar and move our stock and finance options to those countries that said no to going to war on Iraq and are not in partnership with Israel in supplying it with arms and weapons? The difference again would send shock waves around the world. We Muslims can do this easily and we must not think that it is something out of our reach its not, the fact is it starts with us. If we think hard enough then we will find that there are ways to how we can help the Ummah. It may be small to us, yet if each and every single one of us does this the action can have a greater effect.

As Muslims we should actively support each other not just in enterprise and commerce but also in other areas as well. We the Muslims are one ummah and once we feel the pain of others then we will sacrifice our time, health and wealth to support our brothers and sisters in need. If we become united just as our ancestors did in the past then no matter what the power we will be able to undermine it.

The choice for making a change for the greater good lies with us.

Salaams

Hanif @ Muslim Professionals
NS
Re: Refreshing Change
paula
04/27/03 at 22:44:51
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Bi'ithnillah

((This is just thoughts that came to me after reading Uncle Hanif’s post… Well & some thoughts pondered at the sadness in the World lately.. please read with care…It’s very humanistic… and a little rough … but thought to share)):

You know I read this post and got the vision of the concept that circulates… for example: If we could collect 1 Dollar from 1 million people…. (Say to invest in Ummah)…. There you go 1 Million dollars and nobody felt the impact… $1.00 / they took a glass of water opposed to the morning cup of coffee…(and did themselves as well as the Ummah a benefit). Etc.  When you think of the principles of finance it gives this theory practicality. A perception that’s very visible…  little contributions start to compound quickly when placed together.  ((This works whether you give the $1.00 or Take away your $1.00… or re-distribute your $1.00)) … Right??

Easily we fall into the misconception individually, what truly is my value anyway and what can I as an individual really contribute.  As a brotherhood we can contribute much, if applied as stated… Little concepts… when calculated out make a huge difference. ….  This same concept happens in our Deen as well; often we fall into the perception that little faults are little, that excuses can compensate for lack of devotion to our Iman.  Sure, daily if you miss one Salat, or you say one bad word, etc they look like little things.  Now on the Day of Judgment place all those little deeds together and see how they compound together (it can be enough to scare you).  Or take a look at the theory on the reverse.  We feel so burdened and dishopeful that we have sinned and yet what can one good act ever accomplish…(two feel like nothing)…. Well, again, compounded makes a huge difference on the other end.  Small investments, slow and steady, applied with Sabr, when you compound them out. Mashaa Allah.

Whenever I want to visualize this example I picture the angle… closed at the point but so broad at the outer reaches.  Every day that I stand at Salat I can visualize this.  You see, I’m so far away from the Ka’ba, opposed to someone who stands closer on their land, my miscalculation of my direction can be ever so wider and farther from the accuracy than those who stand closer.  I’m wondering if anyone could follow this one.  My distance is farther.  So if you place my point on this land and figure my direction for prayer, I do not have to be very far off on my calculation to be way off on the angle by the time you draw it across the globe towards Mecca. It really lets me keep close the concept that “little” can mean ever so much.

I keep thinking as Uncle Hanif has posted, alone in this world we feel so small (almost useless sometimes), if we stand together in brotherhood, for a purpose, as an entirety for Allah(swt) ….  Just think what can be accomplished… Insha Allah
[quote] If we become united just as our ancestors did in the past then no matter what the power we will be able to undermine it.  [/quote]….. Insha Allah… Allahu Alam - Ameen

Now on “Emotions”… they’re like a ploy…..(think about this one)
Once you get someone to feel emotion and react on emotion… you’ve made a potential step at breaking their Iman. (or on the reverse, once you’ve acted/reacted on emotion you’ve made a potential step at breaking your own Iman)  Am I wrong??  We are ever so humanistic, we have been created to live, love, cherish, hurt, suffer, etc.  It’s a hard one to keep your faith in Allah(swt) ever so forward and first before any human element.  ((This concept can be applied on all levels))… with every joy that’s felt, with every tear that’s dropped, with every good deed that is done, Allah(swt) should be first and foremost in the intention.  Otherwise, we have opened ourselves up to the open enemy of Shaytan/Satan.  You know, I keep thinking of the irony:  Allah(swt) brings forth good from the bad, Satan lures evil from the good.  At times it seems so disheartening…. But then Allahu Alam…. Allah(swt) knows best. All-Seer, All-Knower, All-Wise.  

Sometimes I think inside, Oh can we all stop trying to figure it all out with our Humanistic Heads and just place our trust in Allah(swt).  Follow his commands, read his word and re-read his word and place him first and foremost in every deed we do.  Pray to him for our needs. Follow the steps and examples of our beloved Prophet Muhammad  [saw]. Can we All, Fall in Submission, and Prostate to Allah(swt) as one.

;) I’m a dreamer; I know…I’m one of these humanistic souls dreaming of Jannah.  Waking up daily facing the reality we are on this earth.  And then I take a deep breath in my silence and believe Allah(swt) gave us life on this earth.  Are we not supposed to cherish it for “HIS” sake.  I get angry at the injustice, I cry at the injustice, I ask why? And then I think… this life was/is our test.  I don’t want to be the one to face Allah(swt) and have him tell me that in my heart, All that resided was hate for this life that he so blessedly gave me….. Insha Allah.  And more so, I shiver at the thought of him telling me I judged a humanistic world when I am so humanistic myself and fell short… Allahu Alam.

So now we’re back at the issue.  On a bigger level, our EMOTIONS were struck.  The enemy made a ploy and shook a wave of emotions through the whole Muslim Community across the globe.  
[quote] The difference again would send shock waves around the world. [/quote]

You know what I’m thinking now… “Allahu Akbar” ….. We are Muslim. We are not the weak of faith, and a simple ploy, no matter how grand, should not lead us astray.  We have all placed our trust in Allah(swt). We all prostrate in submission to Allah(swt), And we do not stand Alone. La Ilaha Illa Allah

[quote] The choice for making a change for the greater good lies with us.[/quote]
Each and every little thing we do counts… those little things shall be compounded… and in the realm of brotherhood… Mashaa Allah.  Allah I pray each and every one of us stay conscious to you with every deed we do.  Whether standing for Salat, Time invested in our Day or Investment of our Dollar.  -- Ameen


What was the statement that’s floated across this board that I enjoy so much? I think it read, “We love you Brother... [u]For the Sake of Allah(swt)[/u]”
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