I had thought he was lost in Gambia, but after nearly two years he turned up, and moved on to Finland! What a great traveler he is, it would be great to see the places he has been.
But Blue Bear actually has the most miles of my geocaching travelbugs because someone took him to Tahiti and New South Wales and then he came back to the Americas.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Eid Ghadeer (insha'allah this Saturday)
Eid Ghadeer
As a revert to Islam, Eid Ghadeer is the one Eid that always has made the most sense to me and been the most significant in my worldview. Part of me has found Eid ul Fitr tempered by the loss of the holy days of the month of Ramadhan, and Eid ul Adha significant if you or a loved one is performing the hajj, but otherwise less so. But the Eid al-Ghadeer has always been special to me because it is a celebration of the culmination of Islam - a celebration of the very events that first enabled me to know the status of Imam ‘Ali (as) and the crucial role of Ahlulbayt (as) in the preservation of the True Religion so that I, in 1994, had the blessed chance to discover true Islam for myself. It is only because of Ahlulbayt (as) that I had that chance – without them, the True Religion would have long ago been lost in corruption and time.
I remember feeling exhausted after becoming Muslim. I had spent a year in intensive research, questioning the entire framework of my existence, engaging in deep self-evaluation so that in the end I had turned my life upside down and accepted all the conflict and challenges that would bring my way. But I had yet to scratch the surface of Islamic knowledge and had so far yet to go. I had become aware of the sects and divisions between Muslims, much to my sadness. As a Christian, I had been dismayed by all the man-made churches, none of them holding God’s Truth more than any other. I regretted that I might again find nothing in Islam that provided complete access to Reality.
But then, I read about Ghadeer Khum. The more I read, the lighter my burden became. Here was what I had known must exist – the evidence that God had protected His message from corruption. Every time a revelation from God has come down, man has corrupted it. But the Qur’an has survived because God has protected it, and in Ghadeer Khum I found the means. I felt tears of deep joy and gratitude to find the protectors of the Qur’an, the ones who have lived the real Islam; for without them, I would have no chance of ever finding the truth, I would have remained a deprived wayfarer, unsatisfied with the religions of man’s making.
If I had not been blessed to know about Ghadeer and appreciate the status and role of Ahlulbayt (as), I would have been left very disappointed after my struggle to find the Truth. While I would have gained the clarity of Tawhid that is in Islam, I would yet know I was stuck in a quagmire of man-made distortions that rip apart the Truth and replace it with ignorance and oppression.
In the Qur’an it is written, "And hold fast, all together, by the Rope which God (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude God's favor on you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, you became brethren; and you were on the brink of the Pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does God make His Signs clear to you, that you may be guided." (3:103)
Numerous hadith inform us that the Rope is none other than the blessed Ahlulbayt (as).
I feel this ayah resonating deep in the very fiber of my existence. Without the rope, I would have nothing to hold to, no hope for access to God’s Truth. It is a great favor from God for which I owe immeasurable gratitude that I was able to find this rope and try with my best effort to cling to it. I cling to this rope with the love of Ahlulbayt (as) who made my journey to Islam possible, and who have provided me the means to hope for progress on the journey of Truth and salvation from the Fire of Hell. For without Ahlulbayt (as), I could only be on the brink of the Pit of Fire, but by clinging to their Rope I might be pulled away from it.
The Ahlulbayt (as) have given me, and have given all of us, the chance to realize our potentials, the ability to hope, and the opportunity for the complete peace that can only be found in one who has glimpsed the Truth. Therefore, the Eid of Ghadeer is the most joyous and meaningful Eid to me, It is the Eid of hope and opportunity for all of us. May Allah swt bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad with His greatest blessings and grant them the most fulfilling peace, and may more and more of humanity come to realize the great gift given to all of us when Allah swt perfected religion by securing the role of Ahlulbayt (as).
As a revert to Islam, Eid Ghadeer is the one Eid that always has made the most sense to me and been the most significant in my worldview. Part of me has found Eid ul Fitr tempered by the loss of the holy days of the month of Ramadhan, and Eid ul Adha significant if you or a loved one is performing the hajj, but otherwise less so. But the Eid al-Ghadeer has always been special to me because it is a celebration of the culmination of Islam - a celebration of the very events that first enabled me to know the status of Imam ‘Ali (as) and the crucial role of Ahlulbayt (as) in the preservation of the True Religion so that I, in 1994, had the blessed chance to discover true Islam for myself. It is only because of Ahlulbayt (as) that I had that chance – without them, the True Religion would have long ago been lost in corruption and time.
I remember feeling exhausted after becoming Muslim. I had spent a year in intensive research, questioning the entire framework of my existence, engaging in deep self-evaluation so that in the end I had turned my life upside down and accepted all the conflict and challenges that would bring my way. But I had yet to scratch the surface of Islamic knowledge and had so far yet to go. I had become aware of the sects and divisions between Muslims, much to my sadness. As a Christian, I had been dismayed by all the man-made churches, none of them holding God’s Truth more than any other. I regretted that I might again find nothing in Islam that provided complete access to Reality.
But then, I read about Ghadeer Khum. The more I read, the lighter my burden became. Here was what I had known must exist – the evidence that God had protected His message from corruption. Every time a revelation from God has come down, man has corrupted it. But the Qur’an has survived because God has protected it, and in Ghadeer Khum I found the means. I felt tears of deep joy and gratitude to find the protectors of the Qur’an, the ones who have lived the real Islam; for without them, I would have no chance of ever finding the truth, I would have remained a deprived wayfarer, unsatisfied with the religions of man’s making.
If I had not been blessed to know about Ghadeer and appreciate the status and role of Ahlulbayt (as), I would have been left very disappointed after my struggle to find the Truth. While I would have gained the clarity of Tawhid that is in Islam, I would yet know I was stuck in a quagmire of man-made distortions that rip apart the Truth and replace it with ignorance and oppression.
In the Qur’an it is written, "And hold fast, all together, by the Rope which God (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude God's favor on you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, you became brethren; and you were on the brink of the Pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does God make His Signs clear to you, that you may be guided." (3:103)
Numerous hadith inform us that the Rope is none other than the blessed Ahlulbayt (as).
I feel this ayah resonating deep in the very fiber of my existence. Without the rope, I would have nothing to hold to, no hope for access to God’s Truth. It is a great favor from God for which I owe immeasurable gratitude that I was able to find this rope and try with my best effort to cling to it. I cling to this rope with the love of Ahlulbayt (as) who made my journey to Islam possible, and who have provided me the means to hope for progress on the journey of Truth and salvation from the Fire of Hell. For without Ahlulbayt (as), I could only be on the brink of the Pit of Fire, but by clinging to their Rope I might be pulled away from it.
The Ahlulbayt (as) have given me, and have given all of us, the chance to realize our potentials, the ability to hope, and the opportunity for the complete peace that can only be found in one who has glimpsed the Truth. Therefore, the Eid of Ghadeer is the most joyous and meaningful Eid to me, It is the Eid of hope and opportunity for all of us. May Allah swt bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad with His greatest blessings and grant them the most fulfilling peace, and may more and more of humanity come to realize the great gift given to all of us when Allah swt perfected religion by securing the role of Ahlulbayt (as).
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Ziyarat Warith
Ziyarat Warith
Salaams upon you, O inheritor of Adam, the chosen one of Allah
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا وارِثَ آدَمَ صِفْوَةِ اللهِ
Salaams upon you, O inheritor of Nuh, the Prophet of Allah
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا وارِثَ نُوح نَبِىِّ اللهِ
Salaams upon you, O inheritor of Ibrahim, the friend of Allah
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا وارِثَ اِبْراهيمَ خَليلِ اللهِ
Salaams upon you. O inheritor of Musa, the one who talked to Allah
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا وارِثَ مُوسى كَليمِ اللهِ
Salaams upon you, O inheritor of 'Isa, the spirit of Allah
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا وارِثَ عيسى رُوحِ اللهِ
Salaams upon you, O inheritor of Muhammad, the beloved friend of Allah
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا وارِثَ مُحَمَّد حَبيبِ اللهِ
Salaams upon you, O inheritor of Ali, the commander of the faithful and the friend of Allah
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا وارِثَ عَلِىٍّ اَميرِ الْمُؤْمِنينَ وَلِىِّ اللهِ
Salaams upon you, O inheritor of Hasan, the shaheed, grandson of the messenger of Allah
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا وارِثَ الْحَسَنِ الشَّهيدِ سِبْطِ رَسُولِ اللهِ
Salaams upon you, O son of the Prophet
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ رَسُولِ اللهِ
Salaams upon you, O son of the one who brought good tidings and warning, and the son of the leader of successors
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بْنَ الْبَشيرِ النَّذيرِ وَابْنَ سَيِّدِ الْوَصِيِّينَ
Salaams upon you, O son of Fatema, leader of the women of the worlds
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَابْنَ فاطِمَةَ سَيِّدَةِ نِسآءِ الْعالَمينَ
Salaams upon you, O Aba Abdillah
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا اَبا عَبْدِ اللهِ
Salaams upon you, O the best with Allah and the son of the best
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا خِيَرَةَ اللهِ وَابْنَ خِيَرَتِهِ
Salaams upon you, O he who fought in the way of Allah and the son of one who fought in the way of Allah
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا ثارَ اللهِ وَابْنَ ثارِهِ
Salaams upon you, O he who was
isolated and attacked with vengeance
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ اَيُّهَا الْوِتْرَ الْمَوْتُورَ
Salaams upon you, O the Imam, the just guide
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ اَيُّهَا الاِْمامُ الْهادِى الزَّكِىُّ
And (salaams upon) those on your side
And those who stayed with you
And those who joined
وَعَلى الاَرْواح حَلَّتْ بِفِنآئِكَ وَاَقامَتْ فى جِوارِكَ وَوَفَدَتْ مَعَ زُوّارِكَ
Salaams upon you from me for the rest of my nights and days
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنِّى ما بَقيتُ وَبَقِىَ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهارُ
Indeed great was your test And it greatly moved the mu'mineen, the Muslims and the dwellers of the heavens and the earth
فَلَقَدْ عَظُمَتِ بِكَ الرَّزِيَّةُ وَجَلَّ الْمُصابُ فِى الْمُؤْمِنينَ وَالْمُسْلِمينَ وَفى اَهْلِ السَّمواتِ اَجْمَعينَ وَفى سُكّـانِ الاَْرَضينَ
Indeed we are from Allah and to Him we return
فَاِنّا للهِ وَاِنّا اِلَيْهِ راجِعُونَ
And blessings, and greetings of Allah be upon you and on your forefathers
The pure, the pious and the outstanding and their rightly guided descendants
وَصَلَواتُ اللهِ وَبَرَكاتُهُ وَتَحِيّاتُهُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلى آبآئِكَ الطّاهِرينَ الطَّيِّبينَ الْمُنْتَجَبَينَ وَعَلى ذَراريهِمُ الْهُداةِ الْمَهْدِيّينَ
Salaams upon you, O my mawla and on them, tranquillity be upon your soul and their souls
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا مَوْلاىَ وَعَلَيْهِمْ وَعَلى رُوحِكَ وَعَلى اَرْواحِهِمْ
And on your resting places
وَعَلى تُرْبَتِكَ وَعَلى تُرْبَتِهِمْ
O Allah! Let Your mercy, pleasure and tranquillity be on them
اَللّـهُمَّ لَقِّهِمْ رَحْمَةً وَرِضْواناً وَرَوْحاً وَرَيْحاناً
Salaams upon you, O my mawla, O Aba Abdillah, Son of the last of the messengers and son of the first of the successors and son of the leader of the women of the worlds
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا مَوْلاىَ يا اَبا عَبْدِاللهِ يَا بْنَ خاتَمِ النَّبِيّينَ وَيَا بْنَ سَيِّدِ الْوَصِيّينَ وَيَا بْنَ سَيِّدَةَ نِسآءِ الْعالَمينَ
Salaams upon you, O the shaheed son of the shaheed O brother of the shaheed, and O father of the shuhada
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا شَهيدُ يَا بْنَ الشَّهيدِ يا اَخَ الشَّهيدِ يا اَبَا الشُّهَدآءِ
O Allah! I send to him in this hour, and this day and this moment and in every moment, lots of greetings And salaams of Allah be upon you and His mercy and blessings O son of the leader of the worlds and on the shuhada with you Forever, for as long as the nights and days follow each other
اَللّـهُمَّ بَلِّغْهُ عَنّى فى هذِهِ السّاعَةِ وَفى هذَا الْيَوْمِ وَفى هذَا الْوَقْتِ وَفى كُلِّ وَقْت تَحِيَّةً كَثيرَةً وَسَلاماً سَلامُ اللهِ عَلَيْكِ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكاتُهُ يَا بْنَ سَيِّدِ الْعالَمينَ وَعَلَى الْمُسْتَشْهَدينَ مَعَكَ سَلاماً مُتَّصِلاً مَا اتَّصَلَ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهارُ
Salaams upon you, Husein, son of Ali - the shaheed
السَّلامُ عَلَى الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِىّ الشَّهيدِ
Salaams upon you, Ali son of Husayn - the shaheed
السَّلامُ عَلى عَلِىِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ الشَّهيدِ
Salaams upon you, Abbas son of Amirul Mu'mineen - the shaheed
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَى الْعَبّاسِ بْنِ اَميرِ الْمُؤْمِنينَ الشَّهيدِ
Salaams upon all the shuhada from the sons of Amirul Mu'mineen
السَّلامُ عَلَى الشُّهَدآءِ مِنْ وُلْدِ اَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنينَ
Salaams upon all the shuhada from the sons of Hasan
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَى الشُّهَدآءِ مِنْ وُلْدِ الْحَسَنِ
Salaams upon all the shuhada from the sons of Husein
Salaams upon all the shuhada from the sons of Jafer and Aqeel
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَى الشُّهَدآءِ مِنْ وُلْدِ الْحُسَيْنِ
السَّلامُ عَلَى الشُّهَدآءِ مِنْ وُلْدِ جَعْفَر وَعَقِيل
Salaams upon all the shuhada with you from the mu'mineen
اَلسَّلامُ عَلى كُلِّ مُسْتَشْهَد مَعَهُمْ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنين
O Allah! send Your blessings on Muhammad and his Ahlulbayt and I send to them lots of greetings and salaams
اَللّـهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّد وَآلِ مُحَمَّد وَبَلِّغْهُمْ عَنّى تَحِيَّةً كَثيرَةً وَسَلاماً
Salaams upon you, O Messenger of Allah May Allah give the best of condolences to you to bear that which happened to your son Husein
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا رَسُولَ اللهِ اَحْسَنَ اللهُ لَكَ الْعَزآءَ فى وَلَدِكَ الْحُسَيْنِ
Salaams upon you, O Fatema May Allah give the best of condolences to you to bear that which happened to your son Husein
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكِ يا فاطِمَةُ اَحْسَنَ اللهُ لَكَ الْعَزآءَ فى وَلَدِكَ الْحُسَيْنِ
Salaams upon you, O Amirul Mu'mineen May Allah give the best of condolences to you to bear with that which happened to your son Husein
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا اَميرَ الْمُؤْمِنينَ اَحْسَنَ اللهُ لَكَ الْعَزآءَ فِى وَلَدِكَ الْحُسَيْنِ
Salaams upon you O Abu Muhammad - Hasan May Allah give the best of condolences to you to bear that which happened to your brother Husein
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا اَبا مُحَمَّد الْحَسَنَ اَحْسَنَ اللهُ لَكَ الْعَزآءِ فى اَخيكَ الْحُسَيْنِ
O my mawla, O Aba Abdillah
يا مَوْلاىَ يا اَبا عَبْدِاللهِ
I have taken refuge with Allah and with you
اَنَا َضْيُف اِلله َوضَيْفُكَ
I am near Allah and near you
وَجارُ اللهِ وَجارُكَ
As every guest and friend receives hospitality,
وَلِكُلِّ ضَيْف وَجار قِرىً
I too request it at this moment That you ask Allah, the Glorified and high, that He grant me freedom from the fire Indeed He hears Dua and answers immediately.
وَقِراىَ فى هذَا الْوَقْتِ اَنْ تَسْئَلَ اللهَ سُبْحانَهُ وَتَعالى اَنْ يَرْزُقَنى فَكاكَ رَقَبَتى مِنَ النّارِ اِنَّهُ سَميعُ الدُّعآءِ قَريبُ مُجيبُ .
Movies for the year
I posted a brief reflection of the movies seen this year at the Muslim Movie Review blog.
I think my favorite few of the year were Bourne Ultimatum, The Astronaut Farmer, and Transformers. But there were some other good ones, too, as well as bad. Do you have any favorites for the year?
I think my favorite few of the year were Bourne Ultimatum, The Astronaut Farmer, and Transformers. But there were some other good ones, too, as well as bad. Do you have any favorites for the year?
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Whispered Prayer of the Hopeful
In the Name of God, the All-merciful, the All-compassionate
1. O He who gives to a servant who asks from Him, takes him to his wish when he expectantly hopes for what is with Him, brings him near and close when he approaches Him, covers over his sin and cloaks it when he shows it openly, and satisfies and suffices him when he has confidence in Him!
2. My God, who is the one who has come before Thee seeking hospitality, and whom Thou hast not received hospitably? Who is the one who has dismounted at Thy door hoping for magnanimity, and to whom Thou hast not shown it? Is it good that I come back from Thy door, turned away in disappointment, while I know of no patron qualified by beneficence but Thee? How should I have hope in other than Thee, when the good - all of it - is in Thy hand? How should I expect from others, when Thine are the creation and the command? Should I cut off my hope for Thee, when Thou hast shown me of Thy bounty that for which I have not asked? Wouldst Thou make me have need for my like? But I hold fast to Thy cord! O He through whose mercy the strivers reach felicity and through whose vengeance the seekers of forgiveness are not made wretched! How should I forget Thee, while Thou never ceasest remembering me? How should I be diverted from Thee while Thou art my constant watcher?
3. My God, I have fastened my hand to the skirt of Thy generosity, I have stretched forth my expectation toward reaching Thy gifts, so render me pure through the purest profession of Thy Unity, and appoint me one of Thy choice servants! O He who is the asylum of every fleer, the hope of every seeker! O Best Object of hope! O Most Generous Object of supplication! O He who does not reject His asker or disappoint the expectant! O He whose door is open to His supplicators and whose veil is lifted for those who hope in Him! I ask Thee by Thy generosity to show kindness toward me through Thy gifts, with that which will gladden my eye, through hope in Thee, with that which will give serenity to my soul, and through certainty with that which will make easy for me the afflictions of this world and lift from my insight the veils of blindness! By Thy mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful!
1. O He who gives to a servant who asks from Him, takes him to his wish when he expectantly hopes for what is with Him, brings him near and close when he approaches Him, covers over his sin and cloaks it when he shows it openly, and satisfies and suffices him when he has confidence in Him!
2. My God, who is the one who has come before Thee seeking hospitality, and whom Thou hast not received hospitably? Who is the one who has dismounted at Thy door hoping for magnanimity, and to whom Thou hast not shown it? Is it good that I come back from Thy door, turned away in disappointment, while I know of no patron qualified by beneficence but Thee? How should I have hope in other than Thee, when the good - all of it - is in Thy hand? How should I expect from others, when Thine are the creation and the command? Should I cut off my hope for Thee, when Thou hast shown me of Thy bounty that for which I have not asked? Wouldst Thou make me have need for my like? But I hold fast to Thy cord! O He through whose mercy the strivers reach felicity and through whose vengeance the seekers of forgiveness are not made wretched! How should I forget Thee, while Thou never ceasest remembering me? How should I be diverted from Thee while Thou art my constant watcher?
3. My God, I have fastened my hand to the skirt of Thy generosity, I have stretched forth my expectation toward reaching Thy gifts, so render me pure through the purest profession of Thy Unity, and appoint me one of Thy choice servants! O He who is the asylum of every fleer, the hope of every seeker! O Best Object of hope! O Most Generous Object of supplication! O He who does not reject His asker or disappoint the expectant! O He whose door is open to His supplicators and whose veil is lifted for those who hope in Him! I ask Thee by Thy generosity to show kindness toward me through Thy gifts, with that which will gladden my eye, through hope in Thee, with that which will give serenity to my soul, and through certainty with that which will make easy for me the afflictions of this world and lift from my insight the veils of blindness! By Thy mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful!
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