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Now I need help!

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Now I need help!
humble_muslim
06/02/04 at 13:15:43
AA

I want to turn to my beloved bros and sis's on this board.  This time I realy need some help myself.

I seem to be getting realy down, almost depressed these days about everything going on in the world.  What do I mean by this?  Here's a brief list :

* The way the USA is able to kill so many INNOCENT victims, who have never supported the enemies of the USA, and just get caught up - the so-called colatarell damage, which has actually been the biggest damage.
* The way Israel is getting away with the inhumane actions of destroying houses.
* The attacks in Saudi Arabia in which the attackers specifically did not attack muslims but attacked and killed non-muslims, which left me utterly disgusted.
* The atrocities, muslim on muslim, going on in Sudan.
* The attitude of muslim governments, especially Pakistan, towards the problems of the muslims.
* The fact that the scholars in Pakistan seemed to have lost everyone's respect, that is if they had any to start with.  And don't blame the people for this - the great scholars are loved by the common people.
* All this nonsense and slanderous lies which is going on with Affia Siddiqui.  * The real fear I have that someone is going to try another 9/11 one of these days, and Allah alone what happens to the muslims in the US then.  I'm not talking about these fake alerts that keep coming up, but I'm sure something will eventually happen.
* The disunity in the muslim world, exemplified by the non-existant discussion I tried to start about re-conciling traditional and salafi Islam.
* The way the majority of Americans tow the "official" line.  That REALLY makes me feel I don't belong here in the US.
* The fact that I am unable to do anything about this situtaion, except for my duas.

Alhamdolillah, my life seems to be going so well - work wise, family wise (new baby), even deen wise I'm on a high right now.  But all this crap is really getting me down.  I'd really appreciate tips from anyone on this.  Right now the only idea I'm having is maybe trying to find a job in Canada, and moving there.  It may not change much, but it might give me some peace of mind knowing I'm not living in a country which is currently carrying out and supporting gross injustice thruout the world with the backing of its populace.
NS
Re: Now I need help!
lala
06/02/04 at 15:47:26
[slm]

Bro, yeh we live in a funny country..but why leave ? stay and be one of the voices that push for change. Become one of those who try to bring people together muslim and non muslim ..bring together to change mentalities, alter their already messed up world views on ISlam and musilms. You cant give up. Every one of us who leaves is pretty much letting the mentality of those who are ignorant take over even more the rule of this land.

I read today about how in Afganistan some volunteers from the organization doctors without borders (its really a french group...) anyhow how five or so of them were ambushed and killed while setting up. Now why are they in afganistan...just to help the people..yet killed. Stuff happens...even to those who mean well. WE cant let it bring us too down. For every evil person there are ten plus good people..IF we give up its like giving up on humanity ..As individuals we must continually have love for our fellow man and wish him best.

I read somewhere about supporting israel..buy buying heinz ketchup..so really if you go to canada you still have to watch out for certain products that canadians themselves use. There is no running. We need to work to help change minds and hearts and somehow we need to figure out what type of work that is. Love is the answer I think..love, patience, will.

Get out there face the world..do things with your family in the public such as a park, playground, etc.

I'm not sure if I helped...perhaps those who are better with the written word can help:)

much love
marcy
Re: Now I need help!
Trustworthy
06/02/04 at 23:53:41
[slm]...

I agree with the Sr. lala, Bro.  I understand what you're going through but making a lot of prayer and du'as for them helps a little.  Saddaqah and such to the needy, campaign against the Dude who loves to feud with his unfair retaliation, etc.  Spend lots of time with your family, etc.  Work for the Jannah, the Hereafter.

Lately I've seen a lot of posts reagrding being down because of the world so you're not alone.  And we won't, insha-Allah, leave our needed brothers and sisters alone either.

Cheer up and don't despair Bro...the world hasn't ended yet so you still have time to make a difference.

Allah (SWT) have mercy on us all...ameen.

Ma-asalaamah....
Re: Now I need help!
se7en
06/06/04 at 18:59:14
as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah,

We are most certainly living in troubled times, and thinking about our condition can get me down so much :( but here are some things I think about when I am feeling the way you feel:

-- I try to understand things in a historical context.  Most definitely, the condition of Muslims today is distressing and heart breaking; yet we see from history that this is not the worst our ummah has faced.  Can you imagine living at the time of the great fitna, when the companions of the prophet [saw], who lived their whole lives in service of a call to unity, fought on opposite sides of the battle field?  Or living at the end of the golden age of Islam, witnessing in your lifetime Muslims at the height of their civilization, the most powerful political entity on earth, a flowering of intellectual, scientific, and theological scholarship -- and then watching it be ravaged by Mongol hordes from the East?  Or living enslaved in the Americas, your family shattered, as many African Muslims did, back bent in labor over some southern plantation for fifty-odd years, until you died from over-exertion?  Or living under Ottoman rule towards the end of its authority, when corruption and ineffeciency were the norm, and more leaders filled their pockets than their constituents stomaches?  

So, heck yeah we are living in troubled times, but we're certainly not the first to do so.  

[color=black]Narrated by Khabbab ibn al Arat: We approached the prophet [saw] at a time of difficulty, when he was resting in the shade of the Kabah wall. We said to him: "Won't you pray for [a better condition for] us from God?" The prophet replied [saw]: "Those who went before you faced unbearable trials; one of them would be brought for trial, a pit would be dug for him, then he would be buried in it in a standing posture, with his head above the edge of the pit. Then a saw would be passed through his head until it split into two parts. Yet even such severe trials did not cause him to waver from his faith. People were scraped with iron combs until their skin came off and the bones of their bodies were exposed. Yet these acts of persecution did not deter them from adhering to their faith. Certainly God's will shall prevail [...] Yet you are in a hurry."  -- Sahih Bukhari[/color]

Such is the life of this world -- there will always be evil forces at work, there will always be struggles to overcome, and there will always be those who fight the good fight.  If it's a time of success and glory for the Muslims, the struggle is restraint from over-indulgence, the abuse of power, and to show gratitude not just with words but with actions for what God has blessed us with.  And if it's a time when Muslims are down-trodden and oppressed, the struggle is showing fortitude, strength and patience, and showing our trust in God by never losing hope or falling into despair.  

-- Remembering that EVERYTHING that occurs in this world, occurs with the permission and knowledge of Allah.  That even before creation, these things were written, and they are unfolding with precision and wisdom.  We act, we struggle, we do our part, we do our best to work sincerely to establish right and justice in the world, but we know in the end that the consequences, the fruits are not in our hands.  Find peace and certainty in knowing that no matter how chaotic things may seem, Allah has control over all things.  And you and I are not going to be held accountable for the condition of the whole world today, but for what each of us does in our own sphere of influence.  Strengthening our eman, purifying our hearts, perfecting our character, gaining knowledge; caring and providing for our families; working to build strong communities and Islamic institutions; using whatever skills Allah has endowed you and I with to make small but pivotal, long lasting contributions in our own localities -- these are what start significant change in the world.

-- Knowing that a lot of the struggles that we are facing these days are not just an attack on Islam, but on humanity itself -- and many people, both Muslim and non, are fighting such oppression.  The foreign policy of the United States has harmed many nations in the world, in fact most if not all of Latin America, and the Middle East is only the latest on the roster list.  This is not a battle of Islam vs. the West, but a battle of people struggling for their humanity and their rights, vs. people who seek to exploit others for economic advancement and gain.  There are so many good-hearted, truth-seeking people in the world, both Muslim and non, who share our struggle to free people from starvation, oppression and injustice.

-- Knowing that Allah is The Just, the Equitable, the Judge, and those who wreak havoc in the world, exploit the weak, and spill innocent blood will be held accountable for their deeds.  

It's so easy to get depressed and fall into despair, seeing the world the way it is today; but just know that it is only a few days in the expanse of history; and it is nothing in comparison to aakhirah.  I am not in any way demeaning the suffering of our brothers and sisters; but just like emotion can be a propelling force, it can also be dehabilitating.   Keep ij mind that truth prevails over falsehood; the sun eventually sets and the moon will rise; and the struggle is only for a few days more:

In the scorched desert of the space of this age  
We must stay, but not stay like this;  
The nameless, heavy oppression of foreign hands  
Today must be borne, but not always borne.  
The dust of tribulations enfolding your beauty,  
Counting of the frustrations of our youth of two days,  
Futile burning pain of moonlit nights,  
The heart's profitless throbbing, the body's despairing cry--  
A few days more, my dear, only a few days.  
[url=http://jannah.org/shazia/afewdaysmore.txt]-- a poem by faiz ahmad faiz[/url]

wasalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah
06/06/04 at 19:51:38
se7en
Re: Now I need help!
Abu_Hamza
06/06/04 at 20:35:45
[slm]

Think not that Allah does not heed the deeds of those who do wrong. He but gives them respite until a Day when the eyes will fixedly stare in horror,-

They running forward with necks outstretched, their heads uplifted, their gaze returning not towards them, and their hearts a (gaping) void!

So warn mankind of the Day when the Wrath will reach them: then will the wrong-doers say: "Our Lord! respite us (if only) for a short term: we will answer Your call, and follow the messengers!" "What! were you not wont to swear aforetime that you should suffer no decline?

"And ye dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged their own souls; you were clearly shown how We dealt with them; and We put forth (many) parables in your behoof!"

Mighty indeed were the plots which they made, but their plots were (well) within the sight of Allah, even though they were such as to shake the hills!

Never think that Allah would fail his messengers in His promise: for Allah is Exalted in power, - the Lord of Retribution.

One day the earth will be changed to a different earth, and so will be the heavens, and (men) will be marshalled forth, before Allah, the One, the Irresistible;

And you will see the sinners that day bound together in fetters;-

Their garments of liquid pitch, and their faces covered with Fire;

That Allah may requite each soul according to its deserts; and verily Allah is swift in calling to account.

This is a Message for mankind: Let them take warning therefrom, and let them know that He is (no other than) One Allah: let men of understanding take heed.

14:42-52
06/06/04 at 20:36:15
Abu_Hamza
Re: Now I need help!
humble_muslim
06/08/04 at 09:45:35
AA

Jazak Allah for all your replies. Alhamdolillah, feeling much better now, but next time I'm down I'll read these again.

Se7en, I see you managed to sneak poetry into it again.  Is this a secret way of telling me to have a Lindt Truffle next time I feel down?
NS
Re: Now I need help!
BroHanif
06/09/04 at 14:20:15
Salaams

Hmm after a long lull and reading and reading...something that you should certainly read 'Why do people hate America'

You won't be the same after it. America does own the world.

Salaams,

Hanif


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