This is a good time to write a little guide to the net, for two main reasons:
1. I am going to have to drastically cut the amount of time I can write on a blog such as this, which won’t be too difficult as I’m only doing it about once a week anyway. Like, whenever. You know, every couple of weeks or summin’. Whatever.
2. The ego seems to be expanding in recent times so there’s nothing as good as deflating an ego to admit the kind of net-usage you really have. Coming out can be so painful sometimes. 
So, here we go. Some is pretty obvious and a little bit is embarrassing so just remember - it’s all good in the hood.
Which is a nice place to start: blogs. I’m not a massive reader of blogs to be honest, but I do occasionally read blogs across the religious and political spectrum. My favourite “Deeni” ones are very very few because there aren’t any worth their name, except possibly Islamic Law etc written by a promising student of knowledge called Hood Bradford. I think that’s about it for Islamic ones as such.
As for those written by Muslims then there are a few favourites: Austrolabe is definitely a favourite (and funny as well which is a must with me), Blogistan by Yusuf Smith is excellent, as is Osama Saeed’s Rolled-Up Trousers, and that’s probably it for the notable blogs that can be read regularly due to their quality and the amount of time and dedication that goes into keeping them updated. Other interesting blogs are Seeker’s Digest which always gives a few good links to various media stories and an American site called hahmed which has a few good video links from time to time. Haroon Moghul’s site used to be good but then, well, he just disappeared.
The rest are pretty average me reckons (like this one I suppose) and probably reflects the amount of effort put in, which is fair enough. Then again, I don’t wish to promote blog-reading in general as it is a huge wholesale waste of precious time and the more readers there are, the more authors feel the confidence to speak about Allah and His Messenger when they shouldn’t be daring to do anything of the sort.
But I make one definite exception: the best blog in the entire history of the internet, something which I read every 3-4 days at least is Umar Lee. This guy is a legend. I’d go to the States just to take a ride in his cab and shake him by the hand. Other than the Arab commentator on the “Ya Salam Ya Messi” videos, this brother Umar has made me laugh out loud so many times that I’ve totally lost count. His is a site I go and visit if I’m feeling a bit down. His is the site that puts all other comedy sites to shame. And he’s real. And he’s raw. Don’t go there with false hopes of some spiritual experience though, because he’s there to entertain and my goodness, he certainly does that. Oh, and he likes Ricky Hatton too which is always an easy way to get in my good books.
Keep it up bro. Halal (just about!) comedy at it’s very best.
The best website in the world is a toss-up between Google and BBC, but I’ll give it to Google. Cricinfo is the best cricket site of course, and BBC Sport is the best all-rounder for Sport. MoneySavingExpert is a must to catch all the bargains, and Islamway has some excellent Qur’anic recitations.
And that’s about it to be honest in the English language. There are some excellent Arabic ones out there but then that’s probably not much to use many readers here because if you did visit those sites, the last site that you’d be reading would be this one.
I have a few pet-hates: commentisfree drives me bananas; far too much content and far too much vitriol for your efforts. Youtube is a problem because it is such a fitnah - spend enough time on it and you’ll find every single thing that you’ve ever wanted to watch in your life, and the time flies of course where a few minutes turns into half an hour of utter abuse of time.
As for those (hundreds) who ask which website should they read to learn authentic Islamic knowledge, then my answer: none of them. All of these sites are flawed and if you have a need to ask such a question, then you definitely don’t have the ability to work out what is flawed and what isn’t on these sites. So stay away and find a teacher instead and invest time and money into that relationship.
My wife hasn’t used the net other than to speak to family for the last 15 years and it is her Deen that I most trust and it is her Deen that I am most impressed with out of the masses of people I know masha’Allah tabarakallah. And believe me, there is a statistically significant link somewhere between all that.
So as I start to slowly slip away from writing regularly here, don’t say I didn’t leave you with good (net-usage) advice. And if you can, turn the net off altogether and get a Setanta Subscription instead. The TV is far less a fitnah than the internet…
August 6, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Jazak Allah Khair Ustadh.
‘My wife hasn’t used the net other than to speak to family for the last 15 years and it is her Deen that I most trust and it is her Deen that I am most impressed with out of the masses of people I know masha’Allah tabarakallah. And believe me, there is a statistically significant link somewhere between all that.’
MashaAllah.
August 6, 2007 at 3:30 pm
What about good websites such as islam21c and islamtoday?
August 7, 2007 at 1:43 am
salam, we have about a week left till sha’ban is upon us. didn’t you write an article about sha’ban in the past ?
August 7, 2007 at 2:57 am
Help me!
August 7, 2007 at 7:05 am
Wa ‘alaykum salam – wa iyyakum.
1. There are plenty of good sites out there I’m sure – Islam Today has an excellent arabic section and I suppose it’s English side is pretty ok as well but then I’d be here all day if I was to trawl through all the Islamic sites as such – something which I’m sure we spend enough time doing all day anyway…
2. I did, and thanks to Google, here it is:
http://www.sunnahonline.com/library/hajj/0006.htm
3. WM: أسأل الله العظيم رب العرش العظيم أن يشفيك
August 7, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Salams Brother,
“So stay away and find a teacher instead and invest time and money into that relationship.”
Thats a wikid advice bro and I always been interested in that but I never knew how to go about finding a teacher that would be willing to take someone on as a student. Would really appreciate if u could could advice us or write an article on how to go about finding a teacher for seeking knowledge.
Many Thanks & Khudafiz.
August 7, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Salaam Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah
Erm, sorry if this question sounds abit silly, but EA – are you THE Abu Eesa Nimatullah??
I’m in shock – you sound so… normal!! I cant imagine any other Ustadh writing the way you do, humorous and down to earth. Subhanallah
August 7, 2007 at 6:13 pm
What you really mean is that you can’t believe a student of knowledge would stoop to the level of following the Premiership like a ten year-old.
Abu Eesa, I’m messed up. I need help.
August 7, 2007 at 6:14 pm
I need sincere advice. I have some serious problems, and I’d appreciate some help.
August 7, 2007 at 6:47 pm
…as for his humour, it’s of the horribly corny kind.
August 7, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Please advise me via my (temporary blog)- I’ve detailed my situation there.
August 7, 2007 at 7:43 pm
^^^^^WM, it probably gives you great pleasure to read this but you’re exactly the sort that puts people like myself off from surfing the internet.
(Instead of ruining posts like this one, have you nothing better to do, like take your daily dose of Olanzapine or something?)
August 7, 2007 at 10:18 pm
RE: The Wahhabi Misanthrope
You can’t really blame UZMA for her comments.
I have read your post WM… well just about… I nearly threw up !
Either:
- You don’t have any of these problems, and you are just testing the Ummah for their response.
- Or, you are a ‘coconut’ , having a laugh with your pre-dominantly white non-Muslim friends, trying to wind Muslims up.
- Or, your problem is genuine.
If it is genuine then here is my advice:
A person with some degree of consideration, if not to themselves, then to others, would have sought counseling in a private fashion, rather than going public with a multitude of embarrassing problems.
Maybe you have been abused or something, but have some self-respect will you ‘Man’ !!
If you have genuine medical problems that affects your biology as you have described, seek specialist medical help.
It wouldn’t hurt to see a Muslim Scholar or something… or talk to them over the phone for emotional and spiritual guidance.
Take a holiday away from troubles – it is known to help people with medical problems worse than yours.
Finally, if you kill yourself, you will jump straight into Hell. No forgiveness.
So, be a Man and sort yourself out, or live in misery all your life complaining and wining away until your time of expiry.
Sort yourself out, and remove that rubbish from the Internet.
And: Forgive me if I have offended you, none-intended at all. This is how I would advise any Man – usually, verbally !!
August 8, 2007 at 1:50 am
Uzma, I’m sorry, OK. Abu Eesa is a decent person- I’m not.
August 8, 2007 at 2:04 am
Khalid, mate, my problems are 100%, bona fide, real McCoy, unadulterated truth, w’Allahi.
I mean, given the extent of my depravity, I can’t be surprised that my brothers make my suffering the butt of their jokes.
I did try to give up the net- I really tried- but I came back to it after realising that the only friends I had were on it. I don’t have any friends in ‘real’ life.
You think I haven’t sought counselling? I’ve stood outside my uni counsellor’s office four times, like a lemon. I chicken out every time.
Put it this way, bro. Whatever problems I have are so stigmatised it isn’t funny. I use the net ‘cos it provides anonymity. If my parents find out what’s going on in my head- I’m screwed. AE probably knows what I’m talking about. When it comes to depression, they don’t even believe it exists.
Holiday- I can’t. My parents wouldn’t let me, and I wouldn’t know what to do, anyway.
As for having recourse to a shaykh, that was the first answer I thought of. But there are several problems with it:
1. If I go to a local shaykh, my parents will find out- and I’ll see him several times a week, which will be humiliating.
2. Visiting scholars will literally refuse to spend five minutes with schmoes like me. You see, changing the ummah profoundly requires sustained effort- not just writing books, which most won’t care to read- but actually talking to people and interacting with them. And this is why I’m annoyed when Shaykh Big Shot won’t condescend to my level.
3. I’ve never actually had a conversation with a shaykh. I’m a coward, and my interpersonal skills stink.
4. Nobody actually cares what happens to me. It took me a couple of years to realise it, but the world is a horrible place full of suffering.
August 8, 2007 at 2:06 am
AE, have a heart for this reprobate. I’m sorry I said stuff. I’m really, really trying to change. I’m sorry.
August 8, 2007 at 11:00 am
maybe u shud start blocking people
August 8, 2007 at 1:33 pm
AE- just delete my comments. Nobody gives a damn whether I commit suicide or not. I’ve spent days asking people with some knowledge for advice, and they refused to give me even one word. Please, be like them and ban me from posting comments. Selfish turds.
August 8, 2007 at 1:39 pm
RE: Knowledge Seeker
Salams. The best thing to do is to invest in the akhirah by waking for tahajjud and making SINCERE dua to Allah t’ala. Pray istikhara/salatul haajat and ask Him to guide you to a trustworthy teacher. Then, invest time and money by sitting with the ulema, not just one-off emaan boosting talks but attend real circles of knowledge where you learn something that can practically benefit you in your life for the long term and allow you to benefit others. Once you find a teacher/few teachers with whom your mind, soul and heart feel at rest then stick with them, stick with them for a long time insha Allah. So your nafs doesn’t fo fatwa shopping etc.
And all the while keep making du’a to Allah to open your heart and understanding further. Make sacrifcies because the road to knowledge is hard, but only because the returns are so great in the dunya and akhirah.
August 8, 2007 at 1:44 pm
I hate the scholars. You know why? They’re so goddam stuck up, they refuse to help me at all, not even with one word.
August 8, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Then ask Allah. insha Allah.
August 8, 2007 at 2:18 pm
ermmmmmmm WA i have no idea whether you’re genuine or not but if you are genuine it’s not a scholar whom can help you but YOURSELF. Your views seem to be confused which is common in people with anxiety. You need to get off the net, pluck the courage to go to the GP and seek medical help. I know of people whom have depression or whom have been suicidal…. and well their road to recovery (although it may stay with you forever) was slow, difficult and many of the times lonely.
August 8, 2007 at 5:12 pm
about dispatches mosque programme – the truth
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/w…ds/6936681.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/s…834965,00.html
August 8, 2007 at 6:37 pm
AE- some advice?
Sorry for being rude.
August 8, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Oh, and btw Abu Eesa, I think your style of humour is light-hearted and family friendly. Which is great.
August 8, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Umm
the links are invalid?
August 8, 2007 at 9:13 pm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/6936681.stm
August 8, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Dude, try this:
http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/153_07.html
and
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/08/nmosque208.xml
Quite surprised with Channel 4 tbh, but i guess like the rest its hidden hatred for Islam is now becoming apparent.
August 8, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Ah would help if i had read the comment above by dude. (This and my previous post can be deleted)
August 8, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Ustadh Abu Eesa, haven’t you heard of MuslimMatters yet?
I was really hoping we’d make it as part of your “worthwhile Net usage” list…
August 8, 2007 at 9:43 pm
salamu alaikum
bro AE, you (or somebody) deleted my “s**m?” question… how could you! i mean how…
ha! i’m only joking! – thanks for that i thought maybe it sounded rude. yikes. really sorry. i hope you were not offended by it. i wasn’t insulting or anything – audhubillah! seriously, i didn’t read them properly and thought they were spam! i only read them properly afterwards opps. *head hanged in shame*
hope you’re not angry with me. i should really stop typing before thinking… so, hope your alright.
and this guide to the internet post makes it sound like you are leaving….. oh well, whatever you are happy with my brother. all the best in whatever you do :] may the yearning for knowledge never stop for those who seek, wherever we seek it – may Allah guide us always, amin.
and (am i allowed to say this?) even i was suprised you were the same AE – (i never actually heard of you untill the adab prgrme on IC early this yr) – wasn’t a bad suprise… one that put a big smile on my face actually masha Allah tabarakAllah!
i still can’t properly put together the serious AE on IC and you here! anyway, i don’t like to compliment people too much so maybe bro, just forget you read that right. anyway maybe attempt to quash your “ego”(?), i was watching book of manners on IC the other day and noticed all those sheets of papers you have in front of you – i hope you recycle all that! unless it’s for keeps then :] … just saying that’s all, like, you know, whatever.
August 8, 2007 at 9:43 pm
and two more things i’ve thought:
would it be cheeky(?) of me to ask you bro AE to relate to us whenever you have the time insha Allah something/anything you (may) have learned about:
1 – wisdom/wise people/who is given it/what is it/how is it /how one can recognise it etc etc and whatever else you might like to add… sorry if this is a silly Q, but it interests me..
2 – what it means to love someone for the sake of Allah.
sometimes one might feel love for a person because they like their character and/or their deen – is this love for the sake of Allah? or is it out of something else? how do we know? how do we know that ‘yes, this is definately love for Allah’s sake’ ?
sometimes one feels the love they feel really is for Allah’s sake cos they’re not that ‘overly’ or specifically fond of or for the sake of not being able to describe it properly: they’re not ‘in love with’ the person but they wish good for them anyway cos they want Allah to be pleased…
if that makes sense at all. it did make sense to me before i put it into words and wrote it down… sigh. i am sure i had a point.
if any bro or sister would like to share their thoughts on this i would appreiciate also. if Allah wills we will benefit. jazakum Allah khayr.
Or insha Allah if you (br AE) have time (as people ask you many things) to write threads … then maybe brs/srs might write their thoughts under that thread rather than over-taking your threads with unrelated topics like we usually do (sorry)
may Allah make life easy for you. and us all! amin. alhamdulillah. take care.
:]
August 8, 2007 at 11:13 pm
I’m about to slit my damn wrists here. I’d be really bothered if AE answered your silly inquiries first.
Oh yeah- thanks for a conspicuous lack of advice.
August 9, 2007 at 8:11 am
Salams brother Wahhabi, you recognise that you have a problem, so why not ask the One who is closer to you than your jugular vein?, the One who knows what kind of suffering you are going through internally, who knows the pain you truly suffer, who can send your soul to a place of tranquility and solace that is if you take His words to your heart and contemplate on there meanings, my brother no one can help you except the One whom you worship in secret and in open, if what you want is sincerity than be sincere to yourself and turn to Allah the Majestic and Most Loving.
salams
August 9, 2007 at 8:19 am
Wa ‘alaykum salam
1. WM: I’ve noticed that a few people have actually tried to advise you, but in any case you can contact me here personally and once we work out where you are, I can either meet you to discuss this face-to-face (your problem will not be solved over the net or email) or if you are not close, then I can put you in contact with someone I can trust to deal with your problems.
As for all your concerns about what would happen if you went to a local Shaykh, then forget all that and I’ll make sure that never happens insha’Allah.
2. Would really appreciate if u could could advice us or write an article on how to go about finding a teacher for seeking knowledge.
I don’t think there is such an article in me that I could write as there isn’t some kind of method to this. In general, especially for those in the West, taking a teacher is more about how easy it will be for you as opposed to finding the best teacher possible as it is in the Muslim lands or back in the day.
Therefore, unless you’ve been blessed by living in the locality of some faqih or waliyy, you have to restrict yourself to a teacher who lives close to you and their madhab as well; so if you’re a Shafi’i and the best teacher in terms of sincerity, trust and overall quality of Deen is a Hanafi, then you’ll need to change your fiqh perspective otherwise things will become difficult – people should follow the fiqh of their local school in general.
Gone are the days when you could just travel anywhere in the UK or the world to set up with any teacher you wish – now, politics, increased family pressures, house prices and a variety of social factors have closed many avenues of access to a good teacher and you have to use your heart as a guide and trust someone in your locality.
Once you find such a person, it is best to approach them personally with your request to study with them and familiarise yourself with their study circles and what else you can coax out of him/her in terms of private time. This is the most fun part, and the response you receive will be weighted to the amount of effort you put in.
Ask advice from friends and other scholars concerning an individual teacher as they are usually known in the circles of knowledge and we must of course be careful from whom we take our Deen from, especially in a time of falsehood and charlatans. And Allah knows best.
3. I’m in shock – you sound so… normal!!
I’m more normal that you can ever imagine. In fact, I’m so basic and normal, that my family call me “Saada Gul” which I don’t think translates into Urdu but in Pashtu, is side-splittingly hilarious – something like “simple flower” or summin’…
4. What you really mean is that you can’t believe a student of knowledge would stoop to the level of following the Premiership like a ten year-old.
A ten year old?! Now that is an insult. A ten-year old has no idea about the nuances of the beautiful game and its mindless racism and violence.
No, I’d rather be known as stooping to the level of a 23 year old Millwall Fan. Have it!
5. as for his humour, it’s of the horribly corny kind. and I think your style of humour is light-hearted and family friendly. Which is great.
I’m just glad that the common factor between both contradictory statements is that I have a bit of humour. Thank God for that!
6. “Muslim Matters”
Yes, another blog written by Muslims amongst the myriad of Islamic blogs. That’s why I like Blogistan because if you ever needed to check out the hundreds there are of these because you had nothing more pressing to do, then Yusuf has them all there on his links jazahullahu khayr - nice and easy. But I mean it, prepare to answer for the fact that you had no better things to do before you go clicking away and wasting more time on the bakwas that the internet is rapidly turning out to be…
7. the internet post makes it sound like you are leaving
Not leaving, just winding down and stating that I can’t post every few days as some complain to me about. In view of this, our new webmaster, may Allah give her tawfiq, is creating a forum for PG very soon insha’Allah and that will take some kind of expectation off me to write something just for the sake of it. Then I can just put a post up from time-to-time and no-one can moan. Yeah Qudoss, that means you!
8. the serious AE on IC and you here
I think that’s something to do with the lights and camera – once they go off, we start to chill out a bit…
9. wisdom/wise people/who is given it/what is it/how is it /how one can recognise it etc etc and whatever else you might like to add
No idea I’m afraid – it’s just one of those things that you can see and recognise, but certainly not by the average “Joe Bloggs”. No doubt, you’ll have to be learned to say that someone is wise, or you’ll need to have studied the principles of Deen to decide when wisdom has been delpoyed or not.
For example, especially in the current climate of Muslims living in fear of every religious aspect of their Deen (how embarrassing), you’ll find many people rushing to say how Scholar X or Person Y was so wise by not doing something from the base obligations of the religion just because it might upset or offend someone else. Like someone who shakes the hand of every woman he meets because it is wise not to offend them.
This is a classic example of when wisdom is definitely not wisdom, but rather an act of ignorance. He should invest time into explaining the Islamic ruling (and only taking a ruhksah in an emergency) as opposed to whittling away Islamic adab at every opportunity until he ends up a total washout a few years later with respect to his Deen.
I’m sure someone else can give some more time to do this.
10. what it means to love someone for the sake of Allah.
Let me sum this up by saying that every time you love/like someone/someone’s actions for a good reason that doesn’t impact you personally in any way i.e. you don’t benefit from it at all, and the person is doing something that Allah ‘azza wa jall commands and likes, then is the love for the sake of Allah.
That is what comes to mind for now and it could definitely be improved upon if someone has access to the texts.
And Allah knows best. And that’s me out for a few days.
August 9, 2007 at 8:25 am
RE: WA
Look WA, be patient
AE said that he is not going to spend much time on blogs anymore, so he probably is not even aware of your comments.
Also, he needs time to write. Judging by your post WA, you need a heck of a lot of advice, unfortunately most of which is common sense, said by everybody else.
So be patient, but don’t expect miracle solutions (from People that is)
No matter what advice you get, only you can drive it forward. No one is going to hold your hand and solve your problems for you.
Without sounding to insensitive – Welcome to the real World !
We all live in it; experience some form of neglect, abuse etc… you’re not the only one.. Just get on with solving it…
Oh, and if you think your problems are bad …Think about the ‘CHILDREN’ and ‘YOUTH’ of Chechnya, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Darfur…and many others. Look up the stories and images on the Internet.
Then try and moan and sulk about your own problems… If they heard about your so called problems… they’d probably want to slap your face or something !!!
They have no means of solving their crisis… Everyday is a survival challenge for them. You on the other hand, CAN help-yourself; and admitting that you’re a coward is simply not a good excuse!!
Astagfirullah, a “coward” !!! What has happened to the MEN of this Ummah !?!!
May Allah (swt) Help you with your difficulties and give you the STRENGTH and HIDAYAH to solve them… Ameen.
August 9, 2007 at 8:28 am
RE: WA
Woops…Sorry AE and WA.. I was writing my comments while AE was posting his…
The screen only refreshed, after I posted mine.
So if AE can delete my last comment, that would be good !
August 9, 2007 at 3:54 pm
August 9, 2007 at 5:23 pm
assalaamalikum Shaykh Abu Easa… I was not planning to comment here, because it is of course your prerogative to mention what you like and not like on the net. I was a bit taken aback, though, by the your dismissive opinion of MM.
I don’t think having the likes of Sh. Yasir Qadhi, Sh. Yaser Birjas, Sh. Abu Aaliyah, Sh. Tawfique Chowdhury (some of them your friends) and other writers on board makes MM, your “average” Muslim blog out there. At least the UK Times recognized it as being one of the most influential religious blogs, as well as being one of the highest ranked Islamic blogs on Technorati.
Shaykh, don’t misunderstand these recognitions as signs of any pride, because I am only one of many contributors. Rather, I believe that many people visit MM (and it has grown so quickly in the short time), because just like you said, there IS too much bakwas on other blogs, a lot of tabloid blogging and the like. There are only a few blogs, some of which you mentioned, and yours as well, which provide bona fide beneficial information.
Alhamdulilah, under the guidance of the young stars of our Islamic Ummah, we have been able to concentrate on what provides benefit, not cheap entertainment. I hope you visit MM sometimes so perhaps you may be less dismissive of it. And if you ever have advice for us, we will run to it and give it all the respect it deserves.
jazakAllahkhair for all your efforts. I personally will miss all the poignant and often humorous posts (that MM has consistently linked to).
August 9, 2007 at 5:47 pm
What can I say AE – you asked for it.
Rule of thumb when using the net that we can learn from this post- don’t mention other sites, whether in a positive or negative way, just keep yourself to yourself!
Personally just the comments this post has generated is enough to make one want to boycott blogs.
AE – I wish you’d moderate comments!! Hire someone to do it! I’ll do it! For free!!!
August 9, 2007 at 5:52 pm
I think muslimmatters is more than an average blog!
August 9, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Assalamu ‘alaykum
Thursdays and Tuesdays are in general a good day for me to respond to this blog and emails – remember that for the future.
- What can I say AE – you asked for it.
What can I say man, I certainly did!
- Rule of thumb when using the net that we can learn from this post- don’t mention other sites, whether in a positive or negative way, just keep yourself to yourself!
You know something, I knew that but I thought hey, let’s see how many people complain for a laugh…but as you said, I asked for it. But let’s be fair and look at some of these claims:
- I hope you visit MM sometimes so perhaps you may be less dismissive of it.
I can’t remember being dismissive. When one doesn’t choose a blog as one of the best, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the rest are rubbish.
- I personally will miss all the poignant and often humorous posts (that MM has consistently linked to).
Aha! Maybe that’s a sign of its weakness right there…
- I think muslimmatters is more than an average blog!
Good on you sister; I think it’s a great resource clearly for many young Muslims.
- AE – I wish you’d moderate comments!! Hire someone to do it! I’ll do it! For free!!!
Tell you what, send me a mail and I might take you up on that – the one thing I simply can’t do on these sites is to keep a track of things, even for days, so I could do with a hand. See the contact email above in the earlier comments.
August 9, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Salaams,
I hope that you don’t stop posting – I really enjoy visiting your site and reading your blogs.
Sr Uzma – I have just read an excellent blog on the C4 debarcle as well as a response to the latest dispatches programme on ummahpulse.co.uk – I will post the link below.
BTW AE you should check out ummahpulse.co.uk it really is an excellent site.
http://ummahpulse.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=176&Itemid=37
http://ummahpulse.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=178&Itemid=37
August 10, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Salam Alaykum
As AE said, he wont STOP posting
so alhamdulillah we needn’t worry. Especially when ive just diecovered this! Hmm perhaps i should cut down on my internet usage too (usually 1 and 1/2 – 2 hours a day, occasionally more).. I could do with doing something more constructive with my spare time. Taking mumsy’s advice and cooking haandi roti would be a good start. But then i dont rly watch telly, so i guess i need SOMETHING to do to unwind… Too much work and no play makes one very boring. Right?
I dont visit those ‘Islamic’ discussion forums anymore where its members are always itching for a debate. That ‘itch’ was contagious for a while.. But i’ve since overcome it. Thankfully.
Br Yahya, masha’allah the website seems good. Its always refreshing to read such articles by fellow Muslims.
Uzma over and out.
August 11, 2007 at 4:56 am
Salam alaykum AE,
You got my (a)e-mail, right?
(sorry for sounding impatient)
August 11, 2007 at 4:56 pm
please dont cut down ur blog. its ablessing to read
August 13, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Salaamu Alaykum,
Please don’t forget that when we seek knowledge we seek the truth – regardless of who is teaching. A lot of people fall foul of being emotionally attached to a Shaykh, to the point that they lose the ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, meaning that what their Shaykh says is the truth – anything else is difference of opinion. Our loyalty lies with the truth – and only the truth. Its easy to say ‘find a Shaykh, and stick to him’, but this raises questions such as how do we know who is truthful or not? accurate or not? understands the deen correctly or not?
There is a lot to be learned from books. To leave books and reading is foolish, and to rely only on books is also foolish. The balance lies in seeking out the truth – by reading, and studying in circles whenever you can. And always, always asking the question – is this knolwedge closest to the religion which Muhammad (SAW) and his companions was on?
You can only find a ‘good shaykh’ once you have some basic knowledge as to what is truth and what is not.
Also, I disagree that sticking to one Shaykh is the correct strategy for this country. Take knowledge werever and whenever you can, take the good, and the truth, and leave the falsehood, and remember that with a sincere heart, effort and dua, Allah is with you also.
Don’t get attached to personalities – no matter how attractive they seem. Just stick to the truth. Many people become misguided because they attached themselves to Shaykhs and personalities, and forgot that the reason they should have been doing this was to seek truth and knowledge.
As Ibnul Qayyim said: ‘We love our Shaykh, but love for the truth is more deserving’
Wasalaamu Alaykum
August 16, 2007 at 4:30 am
salamu alaikum!
WM: I pray that your situation is much better now bro. May Allah bless you.
AE: “the lights and camera – once they go off, we start to chill out a bit”
lol!
“My wife hasn’t used the net … for the last 15 years and it is her Deen that I most trust and … am most impressed with out of the masses of people I know”
masha’Allah tabarakallah! and is it allowed to say this to couples who have been married for years, if not then here’s a belated: baarak Allahu laka, wa baraka ‘alayka, wa jam’a baynakuma fee khayr.
so er, with the minimum net-usage, does that mean our dear sister doesn’t know about how you talk about women, er – HORSES…
horses.
i said horses didn’t i?!
i wouldn’t be surprised if she battered you bro!
;]
re: wisdom – i’ve been thinking recently, that maybe wise people don’t know they are being ‘wise’. Could it be said that a person who thinks themselves to be wise is in fact not wise? i wonder that maybe if we asked wise-ppl why they said/did something maybe they’d say something like, “i just did/said this cos Allah said we have to do this and it turned out better than i could ever have imagined! i did nothing really, most definitely it is a mercy and favour from Allah and Allah knows best how it all happened and how i came (in)to it!”.
- what’ya think?
re: the love – isn’t it something else that (complete) ’strangers’ say this to ppl? but then maybe it’s not so weird in islam…
not that anyone wants to know, but there is this person – i thought they REALLY didn’t like me, i thought they thought i was very immature, stupid, irresponsible and childish etc, and whenever they spoke about wrong-doers and even deviants i would think – are they referring to or thinking these things about me?
also most of the time I kinda felt maybe they couldn’t care less about me etc… But one day i sooo thought they had come to give me a good telling off or something for not being, i dunno, better?
but instead they came to tell me that they love me for the sake of Allah! can you imagine that?! from a person you think probably hates or is disgusted with you?! i was so shocked, i think my face dropped, in fact i actually burst into tears, i was so overwhelmed i really thought they had a bad opinion of me… subhaan Allah. i don’t have a clue why they said it. but you know, i keep thinking that they are going to realise who i am and probably take back or regret what they said… hmmm… Allah knows best what’s going on…
what, no-one wants to know? oh man.
anyway, on a different note, my simple flower bro, i’m quite a new blog reader, but the day you give up blogging would be, in my, perhaps insignificant, opinion, a sad day indeed… for me anyway. and i’m a nobody really, but i mean it from the heart.
BUT! I pray that us lot saying this stuff will not make you feel pressured to do that which you don’t want to. – May Allah keep us all upon what is beneficial, sincere, loved by Him and upon what is halal entertainment, amin.
And Jazak Allah for your reply bro AE – much appreciated. especially with you being busy etc. and if you don‘t mind me saying – “simple flower” is kinda sweet name actually, bit girly though huh? – but hey! sweet nonetheless – :]
“…every time you love/like someone/someone’s actions for a good reason that doesn’t impact you personally in any way … and the person is doing something that Allah ‘azza wa jall commands and likes, then is the love for the sake of Allah.”
Jazak Allah khayr for this simple explanation!
Looks like that means i love you for the sake of Allah then…
August 16, 2007 at 4:31 am
Wa alaikum salam bro Abu Adam of August 13, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Masha Allah tabarak Allah, that was nice! :]
I think this is my fave line: “and remember that with a sincere heart, effort and dua, Allah is with you also.”
Masha Allah tabarak Allah, “Allah is with you” – beautiful!
August 16, 2007 at 8:02 am
احبك الذى أحببتنى له
“May the One for whom’s Sake you have loved me for, Love you.”
August 16, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Brothers shouldn’t say “I love you…”, even if it is for the sake of Allah to sisters and vice versa.
August 16, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Brothers shouldn’t say “I love you…”, even if it is for the sake of Allah to sisters and vice versa.
Do I look like a sister to you? It’s Abu Eesa not Umm Eesa!
August 16, 2007 at 4:24 pm
No you do not. I wasn’t directing it to you anyway. I’m just saying [i]in general[/i] that people shouldn’t say it to the opposite sex.