…matters.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re black or white. American or Iranian. “Pro-voting” or “anti-voting”. Muslim or non-Muslim. Obama matters. It really was a moment that changed the world.
No-one will forget the truly historic day that Barack Hussein Obama became the most powerful man in the world, and everyone will have their own reasons to remember it, whether good or bad.
After all he is now our Christian King in the West (and the East probably as well which remains to be seen) whether we like it or not, and we will all be affected. For Americans, he will directly affect their income, safety, healthcare and quality of life. Umm Salamah (radhy Allahu ‘anha), in the authentic athar narrated by Imam Ahmed, made du’a for the strength and stability of the Christian King Najashi of her time when she was living under his control, for the exact same issues that Americans would be protecting today.
Likewise the rest of us all recognise that whoever becomes the President of the United States will directly and indirectly affect the safety and stability of the rest of the citizens of the free world, whether we like it or not. Actually, that doesn’t exactly make the world very “free” then doesn’t it…
But let us give the Yanks a break for their temporary happiness. Us Brits were also naive like that once – Tony Blair anyone?
We shouldn’t lose our heads here, especially those Muslims who are treating it like Imam Mahdi has touched down: Barack is no saint, indeed a potential danger, as seen from his actions and statements so far and all this even before he has executive power. Indeed very soon, he may continue in the same path as his predecessor and smear himself with the blood of innocent lives. The President, however headstrong and powerful an individual he may be, will always continue to be a puppet of neo-con policy in protection of Zionism. That’s just the way things are round these parts.
Yet let’s not spoil the moment, and we should of course give him the benefit of the doubt. Let’s give him his chance, let’s work with him to try and reach the greatest good possible and to minimise as much harm as we can, God willing. And if it all goes to pot like we might expect, well hey, been there done that. Bring it on.
What is of no doubt though is that a victory for a black man is a victory for all ethnic and religious minorities around the world. As Muslims and then as defenders of the the human rights of all the innocent in the world, this might not neccessarily be a defining point in political terms (the war industry and the powers-that-be will ensure that), but few will disagree that in historical terms this is a Rosa Park, MLK, Mandela and Malcolm moment which truly is good news.
It really does give us the audacity of hope in whichever challenge we may be struggling in, and that can’t be a bad thing. Barack has at least shown that the bigotry surrounding “foreign-ness”, colour and a pseudo anti-war ticket can be overcome. Ok, he might not give us all the hope that the black David Palmer did, but that’s why that was the fiction and now this is the fact.
Anyway, I’m personally just happy that we have an American President that can just speak English. That’s enough for me.
And the whole event wouldn’t be complete without a proper British perspective on things, so after a good cry on the previous video, it’s now time for a right laugh. Paxman you devil you.
“Dizzie Rascal for President yeah! Whas’ happenin’!”
November 7, 2008 at 1:22 pm
i was actually quite chuffed when obama won
why?
not that i think he will do justice in the world
Allahu aalim
but because from an oppressed people rose a leader…giving hope that other dark skinned once segregated communites can become leaders of countries that oppressed them
who knows, may be in another 50years time it might be a muslim who leads ????
put it this way too…i’ll be blown down with a feather the day when arab and asian countries voted in “black” dark skinned leaders……racism is more prevalent in muslim communities than in “white” ones…..and what do we do about it???
November 7, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I also forgot to ask you sheikh
what would it take for you to re-start the adab classes again? You mentioned that attendance was waning. How many seriously committed students would it take to convince you to start up again?
November 7, 2008 at 7:06 pm
“AE…“Dizzie Rascal for President yeah! Whas’ happenin’!””
innit !
November 7, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Refreshing post amid all the Muslim Political Rhetoric, it’s nice to see a balanced viewpoint alhamdulilah.
November 7, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Bro AE,
I recall asking you a question on this particular political issue on a previous (comical) blog. I asked whether Obama being elected will actually make a difference for the Muslims, given what we know in Hadith. I have read your views above and they are fair and balanced.
However, your response to my query in the last post was….
“Anyway, it doesn’t really matter who wins for the Muslims. It’s all heading for Armageddon anyway bro. And if our dear friends at ILM-SA ever allow us to see light of my recorded detailed answer to this question, I’ll post my analysis of this in full.”
Is there any progress on you being able to post your answer ?
Jazakallah, Sheikh.
November 7, 2008 at 7:24 pm
sorry, original question was in the Palin/Jolie post.
November 7, 2008 at 10:30 pm
I’ve heard some say regarding Obama: ‘Same devil – different head.’
November 8, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Before you get your hopes up……Who is the Chief of Staff?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahm_Emanuel#Personal_life
November 8, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Abu Eesa, are you going for hajj this year?
November 8, 2008 at 1:47 pm
i don’t know what to make of obama – he is truly a charasmatic figure who oozes honesty and the like but his appointments are dodgy. The thing is he hasn’t acutlaly asid what he’s gonna do except that he will go into Pakistan. He said Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel but that could have been trying to get the zionist lobby to vote for him – and again, he might have had a subtle reason for saying what he did etc.
terrorism comes from the situation in Palestine and the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq etc – until that has ceased, terrorism won’t cease.
and did you notice that there was no coverage of palestine during the last few weeks of this eletcion? can’t make obama look bad now can we….
November 9, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I apologise for the music and all. But saw this this morning on the Andrew Marr show. It is hilarious There’s no one as Irish as Barack OBama
You don’t have to listen to all of it.
November 10, 2008 at 1:46 am
The obligatory Obama post…
I’m sure nobody will be surprised that I’m pleased that Barack Obama has won the election. I’ve got various cousins in the USA (of the two I actually know, one lives in North Carolina and one has recently lived in……
November 10, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Sully: I must take the liberty of answering on behalf of Abu ‘Eesa. We are taking forever to get his detailed answer to that question to him – after all, this is Africa
November 10, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Um, I have no idea how the avatar found its way on my post…sorry.
November 12, 2008 at 9:48 am
Assalamu ‘alaykum
what would it take for you to re-start the adab classes again? You mentioned that attendance was waning. How many seriously committed students would it take to convince you to start up again?
You asked for it now, so let me vent.
The reality is this: I’m fearful of further contributing to the woeful attitude of practising Muslims and their approach to seeking knowledge. I found that lots of efforts were made by teachers (not just me!) to prepare lessons to our local students only to see people treat it like a film at the local multiplex. I say local because circles were organised to make it easier upon students to attend and not travel far. This is fundamentally wrong of course as knowledge is travelled to, not the opposite, but khayr.
Then we have students who think that it’s like a new film showing on Friday or Saturday night. Sometimes they can be bothered, sometimes they can’t, sometimes other things are more important and sometimes they’re just washing their hair. Oh and they’ll turn up to a dars when they feel like it as well.
As for those who do turn up, the level of adab to knowledge, the lack of concern to study and read up last week’s material, homework, reading ahead etc is almost non-existent.
Also, for students to seriously help out volunteer, organise, promote, and all the other stuff that takes up hours and hours in da’wah that many hands could make very light of? Pathetic. Ask the same handful of people at PG who’ve been struggling by themselves for the last 5 years and stand well back for the response.
The solution: charge students monies. Once they pay out, you know they feel the pain now. You know that’s the way to pay people to get jobs done with accountability and also to get students who have more than just a Divine interest to study Deen. Yeah, sadly folks, the interest of their cash being wasted.
Problem: I can’t. Neither can the teachers around and above me I respect. So they all just put up with it with providing for free and let the freebie bargain hunters trickle in like Day 17 of a Next Sale.
Further problem: my lack of patience. I’m afraid I don’t have one-tenth of the patience required with the folk that I should do in this game. So instead of getting more and more angry, I’d rather concentrate on benefitting smaller groups who I know are committed and other audiences in other arenas of da’wah.
But alhamdulillah, it’s all good. I just don’t want to keep supporting the status quo, the apathy that I see so many practising Muslims over the last 15 years wallowing in – not increasing one little bit in their activism or da’wah or their study. Just same old, same old. Just as my bro Kif always used to complain about when he saw the state of the students in Manchester and how stagnant their attitude to Deen and da’wah really was. It’s only since he left us (sob!) that we realised the truth of his words.
So these folks need an Obama to wake them up and trust me, I’m no Obama. Maybe guys like Yasir and Tawfique with their groups can give us change we can believe in, with the audacity of hope and make us believe: YES WE CAN!
Me? I’m more a Sarah Palin…
Abu Eesa, are you going for hajj this year?
Unfortunately, I won’t be going this year or next year, as far as things go at the moment.
November 12, 2008 at 2:40 pm
dear shiekh
re: adab classes
i hear you loud and clear
i pray we change our ways and manners in seeking knowledge such that teachers are happy once again to share with us what they have learnt inshAllah
any chance of giving us tips on attaining the correct adaab for seeking knowledge??
jazakAllahukhayrn
November 12, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I didn’t know Al Kauthar was a group?
November 13, 2008 at 4:54 am
Bismillaah.
JazakAllah khayr Ustadh.
May Allah forgive our shortcomings and help us to improve ourselves.
At the risk of being on the recieving end of a vent again… I do sincerely feel it’s unfair that serious students miss out because of others attitudes.
I saw many sisters in the sisters section taking notes every single week and going over last weeks notes before the start of the next class. If ever I missed a class, at least 5 sisters would fill me in on what I missed – with much detail too mashaAllah.
As for the effects the classes had on us regarding our kith and kin well this is something we cannot measure.
How many of us would go home each friday night and phone our parents and relatives. And visits over the week to find other ways in which we could serve them?
A sister told me she has hugged her mum everyday since your previous post and her mum’s like, ‘whats wrong with you?’ May Allah reward you with Firdaws Al A’la.
We do not recognise what we have until it is taken away from us. And what makes us think we will be blessed with the opportunities to travel and study abroad (as many of us speak of doing) if we do not even take benefit of what is on our doorsteps?
How many of us are benefiting from the shuyukh in our own communities, like sheikh Awadullah, sheikh kehlan, like his wife. May Allah preserve them all. And how regretful we would be when it is too late to benefit from them.
Sheikh Kehlans wife has been holdin tafsir classes for almost 7 years now, it still amazes me to find that only a handfull of sisters attend each week.
The chapter on children was one many of us were so looking forward to studying. Especially living in a time and society where the only guidance we have for raising our children seems to be from Self Help Books.
What can we do except raise our hands to Allah and ask for His forgiveness and Mercy. And ask our teacher to reconsider?
November 13, 2008 at 12:19 pm
‘Yes We Can!’
Lol masha’Allah nice touch there.
Ok how about we get some kind of petition sign thing going for the Adab classes. Say all those who want to dedicate themselves to it and they have to sign to this, so it’s kind of a contract then between them and Allah. See if we get a sufficient number, would you reconsider starting up ya ustadh? I did have this idea about a year back but i was told that you wouldn’t be willing to restart. So i felt defeated before begining, but maybe there was my mistake.
Please don’t give up on us. No emotional blackmail, but if you give up on us then no doubt we will give up on our selves, we need our teacher to motivate us to keep going and if only a few benefit then so be it, as some words you once mentioned at a conference its the quality not the quantity of the muslims. Yes the quailty is not there but for some they want to attain that quality and really some of us use to thrive on your adab classes.
Would you agree to a dedicated students list? Please?
My fellow brothers and sisters what do you think, could you dedicate your service to Allah? And not just because it’s free!
November 13, 2008 at 4:53 pm
My dear sheikh I feel compelled to speak up since the homies of manchester have tried their best to re-start the adab class. I live in london and believe it or not the decision to stop the adab classes affects me! I came to know of you through Islam Channel and their broadcast of the ever popular adab classes and since then what can I say… SubhanAllah watching your explanation has changed my life completely.
I have learnt so much that words cannot express it but the look on my parents face when I patiently try to please them by having the ‘orange juice’ instead of the ‘blackcurrent juice’ because they prefer it for me, says it all …nows that the result I’m talking about… that’s the fruit of your hardwork and those who have aided in producing and airing this great explanation.
You may not be seeing the fruit of your hard work but Wallahi countless parents are across the country are and find it ajeeb that all of a sudden their child now can’t stop hugging them. So please sheikh reconsider for InshaAllah you and those striving with you will see the rewards of your work if not in this dunya then on the day of resurrection, InshaAllah.
One thing I know is that when my eyes are over flowing with tears of repentance and I feel like my dua’a will be answered, you know that the emaan rush you feel, and at that point I want to make dua’a for everyone who has effected my life in a positive way, you are one of them sheikh, so please reconsider.
Islam channel are showing repeats and some episodes I have watched at least 6 times, yet I still watch them again because I know that each time I learn something new. That’s the dedication which a handful out there have, so don’t do it for us…No, but do it for Allah swt for He swt never denies the reward of the good doers.
Please forgive me for my lack of eleoquence, I’m in a rush but this is something I couldn’t delay. I love you for the sake of Allah. Fee Amaanillah.
November 13, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Dear Abu Eesa
Would you consider at least doing some video material that you could put up on the PG website to complete the adab classes? That way you don’t have to see our sorry faces or be dismayed by poor attendance, lack of volunteers, poor adab in class etc
Perhaps do istikhaara on it? Surely there is some way you could still teach those who want to learn
In defence of those who treated the lessons casually…..we’ve all been there…everyone has different levels of imaan, differing priorities in life and indeed different obligations (working part time not an option..infact sometimes over time to make ends meet, providing for family and extended family etc).Perhaps these people are not cut out at this stage in their lives to be the serious students you want (taking notes, reading up etc) but should we deny them of even that one lecture they may attend however sporadic… that one piece of knowledge that perhaps keeps them from erring.
I seem to remember that setting it up on Friday night was deliberate ie to provide an alternative venue for all the would be “time to have fun now” people…but something halaal for them to look forward to. I can imagine as a teacher you want to get serious about your talks and have serious students…but sometimes we have to cater for the less so serious and make excuses for them too…. sometimes you cant see the good in something straight away , in fact it may be kept from you till the Last Day….hence please reconsider and do your istikhaara on it…
Forgive me for any errors.
November 14, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah
Let me say the following:
- Have no doubt whatsoever on one thing that I look for in students and indeed Islam looks for in general: quality, not quantity.
The evidences for this are just far too numerous to mention.
- There have always been a small number of high-quality folk in all the classes PG has, whether myself or Sh Kehlan or in CMA or whatever. And yes, as usual the sisters are generally better than the brothers but nothing new there.
- I haven’t given up on anything (and I pray that Allah jalla wa ‘ala never allows me to feel despair) in fact I have two very small closed circles at the moment that I feel there has been commitment shown to.
But with the public, it’s just that I unfortunately have a very poor patience threshold and once I see people not pulling up their socks or maintaining minimum brain standards, I get very angry and don’t wish to waste even a second until I see people commit and do work, and work proper and hard.
The reason for this is simple: all the people who irritate me like this are usually very successful in their studies and occupations etc, either intellectually, or acumen-wise or just pure hard graft.
Therefore I absolutely refuse to have anything less from students. Absolutely refuse. And I’ve unfortunately seen too many practicing Muslim professionals or graduates or just hard-working people who just treat Deen like a joke – I’m sorry but you need to find other avenues to learn (such as the many there are now these days), cos’ I’m not wasting my time with people like you. Fine, if you have a learning difficulty or you’re disabled in some fashion or you truly find the issue difficult but are trying your best, you will get my 100% attention. That’s my system and that’s the way it works. That’s also the way I work in my own profession as a Pharmacy Manager. May God help the one who is dossing about and not pulling their weight, whereas I have been told by more than a few people that my patience levels with the ones who are not very bright but are innocent and hardworking is something un-natural. And I think agree, it is un-natural. I become very calm and relaxed around such people, but the exact opposite around people who are being paid loads of money for their skills and expertise and experience, but not keeping up to standard.
And Allah knows best.
This is insha’Allah a very honest appraisal of myself, and I just wanted to say that so people know the score.
- I might re-consider the fiqh circle and the Adab class with a group of committed students. Let me think about it for a few days about a proposal.
AE
November 14, 2008 at 2:26 pm
JazakAllah Khayr for even willing to think about it. Insha’Allah we will remain hopeful.
November 14, 2008 at 2:44 pm
salaam!
JZK ya sheikh for even considering a proposal, Alhamdulilah all we can do now guys is raise our hands sincerely to Allah swt with a heart full of hope.
‘And He answers (the invocation of) those who believe and do righteous good deeds,and gives them increase of His Bounty’
[42:26]
‘Would you consider at least doing some video material that you could put up on the PG website to complete the adab classes? That way you don’t have to see our sorry faces or be dismayed by poor attendance, lack of volunteers, poor adab in class etc’
or on DVD? that way even those who don’t live close enough to attend can benefit from it, I can’t wait for the release of the al Adab al Mufrad dvd
esp with all the extras and Q&A… I feel like its Eid already 
lol
Wa’salaam
November 14, 2008 at 7:13 pm
gueSS,
Do you not think, that you will loose essential student-teacher connection, and the learning environment in which you can absorb the proactive atmosphere. As a result of this, you may miss out on essential Wisdom.
Rather than relying on static information such as Books, DVD’s etc from people, it is better to maintain a physical presence with the teacher.
November 15, 2008 at 11:55 am
sully,
believe me if i could maintain a physical presence with a teacher i would! iv been looking for a teacher for about a year now and no luck. so id rather rely on static info than miss out all together.
im not allowed to travel out the local area, my curfew is really early, and no more than once a week, on top of that the local masjid doesn’t really cater for women, nt evn weekly halaqas! so u can see y its provin a tad bit difficult to find a teacher. so im makn the best outa my situation with plenty of patience n dua’a.
JZK i appreciate your advice
Wa’salaam
November 15, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I didn’t realise that you were very restricted.
Is there no women classes, like the ones AE does ?
I think there needs to be more provision for Islamic studies/degree’s etc for women.
There is a distance learning college, called London Open College.
http://www.londonoc.com
They offer distance learning Islamic Studies Degree.
They send you books, CD’s etc.. you write essays, it’s actually very good.
They also have Arab scholars and a variety of subjects. I do not know what School they are (i.e. Shafi, Hanfi, Maliki etc…).
In addition, it is best to keep in-touch with an educator like AE, for Q & A’s. Any good scholar will do.
I think by the end of the 3-4 year degree, you would have paid £400-£500 in total. You only pay per module, every semester.
The price is quite good for a Degree.
It is definitely worth looking into. Ask AE or another scholar to check out their website for you, at his convenience; you need to make sure that you are not learning a ‘deviated’ form of Islam (Astagfirullah). It may be a good idea to get a scholar to call them, just to be sure.
Inshallah, may Allah(swt) give us all the Guidance we need and motivation to learn His(swt) Beloved Deen.
Assalaamualaikum Sister gueSS.
November 15, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Sorry gueSS,
I put your name instead of mine.
POST 27 IS FROM ME sully.
Am no good at this blog stuff.
Forgive me Sister.
November 16, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Wa’ alaykum salaam warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu
JZK for ur concern n advice. i dnt rele hav the tym for a degree either lol. im trying to fulfil the obligation of being dutiful to ones parents n its a full time job, in my free time i try 2 recite, memorize, understand n apply as much Qur’an to my life as possible.
‘Is there no women classes, like the ones AE does ?’
there are 1 or 2 bt they all take place after ishaa and i have 2 b hme b4 maghrib.
‘I think there needs to be more provision for Islamic studies/degree’s etc for women.’
nt evn a degree but evn basic tajweed, tafseer, hifz classes which consider the fact that nt all women r free to attend after ishaa and without ridiculous prices!
AE will we be able to contact u afta u close the blog down for q&a n naseehah via email/call?
JZK
Wa’salaam