Light Of Guidance

I was shown one of these during Ashura and really enjoyed it. There are a couple of these poem/songs by a group called Light of Guidance. They seem to be referred to as Naseeds.

I stand corrected. Sad ones like this are called Laymiyat.

I wish I knew more about them but I thought I would share the one on Ashura:

The School Issue

I just read another post bashing Shias, calling Shiism shirk. I know you all are sick of seeing a post on this whenever I read a bashing but I have to get it out or it bothers me all day and then I drive My Love crazy with it later. I'm just getting out my thoughts. Everytime I read one it reminds me that I have yet another problem if I choose to be muslim: I will not only have issues with non muslims but with muslims as well. Double the prejudice YAY!

People ask me all the time why Shia, why not Sunni? of course I'll be honest: My Love is Shia so that is what I grew to know. However, a lot of it is a feeling and personally I'd love to be neither and just be muslim. But it really doesn't work that way. I can't fully explain why it makes sense to me, it just does. I do think Imam Ali would have been the appropriate successor. Abu Bakr was like a politician, I do not have an understanding as to what made him qualified to continue the religion. The caliphs actually remind me of Popes (I have a huge issue with the concept of a Pope). And the mess that came after him due to his sucessors was quite difficult to repair. Perhaps it is because I come from a Catholic background. The Imams work exactly like saints, they can interceed for you with God. Now I'm not a big fan of this but at least I understand it. Jesus also had 12 apostles, there are 12 Imams. Jesus left successors to take over his teachings so why wouldn't Muhammad? It just makes sense to me. Also, some of the things I identify with, sayings that have truly touched me, have come from the Imams. So much wonderful knowledge in Najhul Balagha (dispite its couple issues of fabrication) and the Pslams of Islam by Imam Zayn ul Abedeen. Beautiful books so full of knowledge.

Of course I have issues with it too. Some Shia scholars advocate for the return of temporary marriage which I highly disagree with. Some get too into Imam Ali and Imam Husayn, forgetting who the prophet actually is. And I'm not 100% how I feel about Imam Madhi being the one who comes on the Day of Judgement. I need to learn more about him.

I'm no scholar, I don't know the inner workings of either school. All I know is that when I run into an issue its usually from a hadith out of Sahih Muslim. Not that Sahih Muslim is all around a bad book, I plan on reading it myself. It has lots of great hadiths too, I just don't understand how these hadiths work. Hadiths from so many different people. But I don't understand hadith in general so I guess that doesn't help either.

Although I do think all Shias should read at least an abridged version of Sahih Muslim and all Sunnis should read the Pslams of Islam. Maybe we'd gain a little more respect for each other.

Sigh, just one more thing to worry about.

The Haram "What If?"

I've been sick so you are getting a post I developed quite awhile ago and never posted. Its gonna be awhile before I can create anything new that is conherent as I I want to do is sleep.

This post is designed as a "What If?" or an extreme of a situation. This is not to poke fun, not to tell someone their beliefs are wrong. It is an observation. Moderation is eliminated in this observation. Its a look at what life might be like if you fully implimented the concept of complete avoidance of those things that are considered haram. But have you ever thought what life might be like in the West if you actually tried to do that? If you really, fully avoided all things that are considered haram. Even the things that appear in everyday life. Below is what it might be like.

Let’s say you want to go out today but you avoid all places with alcohol. You learn very quickly that going out to eat, outside of a fast food place, is going to be rather difficult. Most restaurants serve alcohol. Even the halal ones, which means you can’t go there either. You also realize you can’t go to some movie theatres or baseball games, or theme parks, or carnivals. You can’t even go to most grocery stores. Everywhere there is alcohol.

Ok so, you won’t be doing any of those things today. Maybe you can stay home and watch some TV? But as you click through the channels every show has something haram in it. Some are killing people, all have music, some have relationships between unmarried people, sex, drugs, uncovered women. You name it, its there. You can’t even watch Nickelodeon or Disney because some of the characters are dating in a non-Islamic fashion. Sometimes they even kiss! No TV for you.

Fine, you’re a little frustrated. A bit of retail therapy might do the trick so you head to the mall. BIG MISTAKE. Everywhere you turn, the haram is here. The mall is playing popular music, which boasts a lot of haram topics on top of having a beat. You go by the sweet smelling perfume store then remember perfume is made with alcohol and walk away. You grab a coffee and take a seat realizing you can't even go near most of the clothing stores because the clothes themselves promote haram actions. You look around to see you are surrounded by men and women dressed inappropriately. The men wear tight t-shirts with fitted jeans, the women an array of skimpy clothing their hair swaying as they walk, swishing their hips seductively. The ads depict men and women in sexual situations trying to sell products. You even see a life-sized photo of an almost naked man hanging in the window of a preppy clothing store. Not to mention that you forgot there would be men in the mall! You are definitely suppose to avoid them at all costs, less you find yourself having inappropriate feelings towards one. Smashing your empty coffee cup, you toss it in the trash and head home.

You’re back home, completely frustrated. You decide to stay in and read a book. Of course, it must be one without haram content. You find yourself with very little options. You can read most books on philosophy and religion, providing Freud isn’t involved. You can’t read any of the popular books, they all carry haram topics ( no Twilight for you). You settle for an Islamic history book and start reading, wondering if this is all you get to do.

Ok, discuss :)

Islam 101: Day 4

Today was....interesting :)

Sr. A was out of town so I got put in a class with the crazy 12 yr old boys from my class with Br. S. We were attempting to do tafseer but the boys couldn't get past how the moon relates to the sun relates to the earth. The Ayat was something about the sun and its light shining on the moon as she waits. Lets just say I got nothing out of that class.

I finally prayed with everyone! It was really a beautiful experience. I barely needed my directions because I could follow along with all of them. I felt this nice warmness, it was soothing and calming. Yeah there were a few times I was lost like I didn't realize after the salutation and 3 Allahu Akbars you shake hands with the people next to you. That is nice though, peace be upon your neighbors and all is a good gesture. I really did enjoy the group prayer, I want to find out when the mosque does Maghrib and Isha to see if I can try to make it at least once or twice a week. Insha'Allah I can ask Br. S.

We also have a guest Sheik with us for a few weeks. He talked a little bit about the importance of Imam Husayn (May Allah Be Pleased With Him). He told the story of the angel who lost his wings and was sent to beg for forgiveness on an island. He then saw Jibreel (Gabriel) flying overhead and found out later that Jibreel was going to greet the grandson of the prophet, Imam Husayn. The angel asks if he can come with and beg the prophet to intercede on his behalf. He goes and the prophet tells him to run his back against the underpart of the cradle of Imam Husayn. The angel does so and then his wings return. This is to signify the importance of Imam Husayn to Allah.

After this we went to Br S's class. We covers Qasr which is honestly very complicated. I cannot possibly remember all of that. What I don't get is if you travel over 28 miles (btw why 28?) and choose to do full prayers they are invalid because you HAVE to do Qasr. You then have to redo all of them in the Qasr form.....Huh? Qasr was designed so that when we are traveling around away from home it is easier to complete prayer but all these rules seem to defeat the purpose. I'll have to have My Love explain it to me.

The Sheik then taught the rest of the class and gave us a history on Mecca and the Bin Umayad. Basically how we ended up with the caliphs that lead to Yazed and Karbala. Fascinating but what really took the class was when he mentioned the outlaw of temporary marriage (Mu'ta) being a BAD thing. That some how temporary marriage prevents illegitimate children and prevents other vices from occurring. Now my personal opinion is this: A man should be able to go say 3 months without sex. DEAL WITH IT! Women cannot enter into temporary marriage because they are away from their husbands. A man can deal with not having sex! I sure wouldn't let my husband do it. Its absurd! This form is prostitution. The ladies got so fired up we are actually going to have a few full classes on the subject. I'll let you know what I learn.

Funniest part of the day: I had a conversation with My Love's father. At school. He came right up to me and was all "I didn't know you come here!" His father talks a lot so its hard to get a word in edgewise. He asked me if I would be taking my shahada soon and was all "Why not? You do your prayers, you wear hijab, you go to lectures you go to school. What more do you need?"

Me: Well I want to make 100% sure this is what is right for me its very important

Father: Well you are in Islam through the recommendation of my son, you need nothing else. (this was a joke for he laughed)

He then went on to talk about what a good man My Love is. And then about immigration and how annoying visas are, how My Love has been here since he was a baby and still can't get full citizenship. How he has been here for 30 years and still cant. On and on about immigration...not sure why. Then how hard it is to keep muslim children away from the corruptions of American society like alcohol which is why it is good to send them to a school like the one I go to, which is why he sent My Love and his siblings to this school. Then wanted to know why Christians drink alcohol....and I kinda got lost from there. I really don't know what he was trying to get at for he stopped suddenly and said "I'm heading to pray Maghrib, are you going to as well?" To which I said "no" and went home.

I'm really very confused....all I got out of it was My Love's father wants me to be muslim, wanted me to be aware of his son's difficulties with citizenship, his son is a great man....and alcohol is bad.

Oh what a day!

That Hazy Cloud

Do you ever get the feeling your brain is stuck in a confused, hazy cloud? This happens to me a lot. Funny enough, I didn't have it when I was home for a week. Things were very clear to me. I felt grounded and at peace pretty sure of what I needed to do. Now the fog is back. Now I am questioning what I need to be closer to God, questioning what Islam asks of me, and not feeling a whole lot like doing my prayers. Why you may ask does this happen? I have a theory:

Reading too much stuff ends up causing too much confusion.

I didn't get to read any of my religious books while I was home nor did I get to read blogs. All I read was Sophie Kinsella and some young adult literature. I simply was left alone with my personal thoughts and feelings toward religion. I was aware of my couple issues but I did not dwell on them nor did I create new ones. I was at peace with my spiritual identity and my relationship with God. Going to church even solidified it when I couldn't agree with most of what the priest was praying, since Jesus was always God. It was like I was being told "You know what you believe, now claim it". Things were so right in my face, so very clear. Now, only fog.

This may be because I had no new knowledge coming in to create a conflict. And I was also constantly busy so I didn't have time to think about religion, only time to feel. It Then makes me wonder what is best: Stop looking for new information everywhere or continue to obtain more knowledge even if it causes great confusion. Its a hard pill to swallow. My brain right now is stuck in that fog, I know I still haven't done Dhur and Asr but I can't get myself up to do it yet even though I know its good for me. I know praying makes me feel better but my brain feels like its being tugged in two directions and I can't focus enough to get started. I'm really tired of this constant struggling with what I need for myself in religion. Every time I get close to making a choice I stumble upon new information that makes me unsure. So then I regress. I go back to the confused, somewhat depressing fog until I've come up with a satisfying solution.

Religious Limbo sucks. I want out and every time I see a light at the end of the tunnel something stops me from going toward it.

The conclusion to the post "What Makes A Religion Right For Someone" should be up soon...even though I still don't have an answer for myself.

The Halal Meat Only Train

Its about time that I begin looking into hopping on the halal meat train. Problem is that significantly hurts my food availability. You see, I have an opposite problem of most : I weigh too little (dodges random objects being thrown at her). In fact I have to gain weight (Hides in a fox hole). When I try to eat halal I tend to turn to vegetarian food. Vegetarian food is really low in fat and consequentially I have lost weight. This issue is also the other reason I can't fast. I would loose too much weight during Ramadan.

I need to find a balance between eating halal and staying at an appropriate weight but I'm not sure how to do it. I have thought about adopting the protein shake again but there is a good chance that those may not be vegetarian, I'd have to read the ingredients. However, they work like a charm to keep my weight where it needs to be. That extra protein is all I need!

Other issue is I eat too much cheese and pasta now which isn't getting me what I need. I no longer can eat frozen chicken strips and other frozen food items because they are not halal. I don't want to cook a full meal when I get home so I end up with cheese pizza. Not very filling or nutritional. I try to cook enough on the weekends to last the week but it doesn't always work out.

Any suggestions? I'd like to start this full time but I just don't know the best way to do so.

Duty to Your Man

So here is a concept I'm not completely clear on. Do muslim men expect their women to be all prettied and have dinner on the table and a perfect house every day when they come home? It seems that some think this is Islamic law but I'm not so sure. I do think that you should take a little time to look nice for your husband but that can be easier said than done. Yes a wife has a duty to please her husband, just as the husband has his duty to please his wife and yes this is done in different manners. If my husband washed the dishes I'd be as happy as he would be if he came home and saw me in a nightie. Different sexes are pleased by different things after all :). But often, the duty of the husband to please his wife is often ignored.

Here is my example:

I have to work. If I were to marry My Love I would have to work to make all the money because he is in grad school. I would be working and in grad school myself. So would I still be expected to do everything? To come home, pretty myself up, make the food, clean the house. Wait on him hand and foot? I don't think so.

Now of course he doesn't expect this from me but it always makes me nervous. In the event that I don't marry My Love I fear that any other man would expect too much from me since many people in authority seem to think this is exactly how it should work. The woman should be beautiful for her man and wait on him hand and foot. I couldn't do it while having to work plus I think the man should chip in. Only way I can see the man not helping around the house is if the woman doesn't work and doesn't have children. Outside of that he should help.

I know this differs culture to culture. A woman from Pakistan would have a lot less of an issue with this concept than a muslim woman from America. But a woman from Pakistan would also never think of working in a million years, its just not done in her culture.

What do you all think? How does it actually work?