Sunday, March 7, 2010

ELEGANT RIDA AND PROFILE OF AN ELEGANT MUMINA

Sharing an inspiring post written by a very elegant and educated mumina bhen - Rashida Mulla Aliasgar Rasheed. Her niyat is that her post may motivate young ladies of our community, who are still undecided and have some reservations, or affected by outside peer pressures, at workplace, social circles or educational institutes or whatever.

At the end of her post I am sharing with you a beautiful piece on Hijab written by an American muslim lady.



Rida – My Identity

May Allah subhanahu enhance the Umer Sharif of Aqa Maula (tus) till Qayamat.

During these days of Tabuda’at I would like to take this opportunity of Ibadat and Tasbih by performing the Ziker and Shukur of My Maula (tus) who has given me the sharaf of being called a Mumina. When someone speaks of a Mumina, an instant image of a modest, humble woman comes to mind. What separates this humble, modest woman from other women? “Rida”.

On the entrance essay for admission to the University of CA, Davis I had written that if one were to take an arial picture of the students in my school, I would definitely stand out. Where I lived with my family – Lodi, California there were only a few mumineen families nearby, and definitely I was the only mumina teenager in my school, and obviously the only one wearing Rida.

From my student life to my experiences in the professional world, I have always gotten a second look – from the look of astonishment to the look of admiration. In middle school, the beginning days of my wearing a Rida many times included stares and taunts from other teenagers. As any teenager in the US can attest to, the middle school years are the years where one craves acceptance or being able to “fit in”

From job interviews to my foray into the teaching world, there have been many instances that I have felt I have had to go the “extra mile” to prove myself. During interviews, I have been subtly asked if the clothes (Rida) I was wearing during the interview would be the clothes I would be wearing while teaching.

In my first teaching assignment in Hayward, CA I had two assistant teachers working for me. When I walked in on my first day, they gave me an incredulous stare – as if I was at the wrong place. During my first few weeks on the job, I would constantly experience my assistants second guessing my directions and decisions. Withstanding all low expectations, I was able to pull through.

Circumstances, situations that may otherwise have pushed one to quit – were not able to deter me. What pulled me through the toughest times, and always gave me the courage to continue wearing Rida was the expectation that my Maula (tus) had in me. As a mumina, I have always felt that the biggest nemat for me has been to be included when Maula (tus) addresses us as his “Piyara Farzando”. As a farzand how could I stand to disappoint my Bawa Shafiq – the same Bawa that puts Mumineen first, and does Dua for us before we ask. This very strength of Mohabbat for my Maula (tus) turned things around for me. Once where I was hesitant I gained confidence. Once where I had people second guessing me, the same people stood up for me. All this happened, because…I believed in My Maula (tus) and I knew that my Maula (tus) believed in me.

Today, as a wife of a Khidmat Guzar, and especially one living in the “Bible Belt” I have been fortunate to have had opportunities to speak to other Muminaat Baheno about Aqa Maula (tus) ni khushi and wearing Rida. From someone living in the United States, we enjoy many freedoms, one being the freedom of expression. From my experiences and from experiences of other Muminaat Baheno I feel that, sometimes the biggest barrier to overcome is the – internal barrier. It is taking the initial step. The step that we all believe in but are afraid to take. “Maula (tus) Na Farmaan ne Tasleem Karwu”.

May Allah Subhanahu enhance the Umer Sharif of Aqa Maula (tus)and give us all Mumenaat Behno Himmat to carry on the many Farmaans of our Bawa Shafiq, Aqa Maula (tus).

Ameen

Amate Syedna (tus)

Rashida M. Aliasger Rasheed

www.eduscribe.com




THE ELEGANT HIJAB

The pea is a splendid plant. It proudly displays its strong green Hijab. It protects it from the hot and cold weather and guards it from insects. Allah has blessed the pea with a special Hijab, because without it, the seeds would scatter, dry up and die.

The orange keeps itself within its shiny orange Hijab to protect its delicious fruit. Otherwise it-looses its taste too.

So are the banana, the coconut and the pomegranate. Each one has an elegant and unique Hijab, which protects it from disease and destruction.

The jewel of the sea, the pearl, has been given a very tough and rugged Hijab - oyster shell. It protects it from sea animals and keeps it sparkling and shining inside.

However, the most beloved of Allah in all His creation is the Muslim girl who wears the Hijab. She knows it is a gift from Allah. It protects her from harm, injury and mischief. She wears it knowing it gives her dignity, beauty and respect. So precious she can be that she hides herself beneath her Hijab.

Do you wear a Hijab? Give it a try today

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

MULKUL HUSAIN e be' KARBALA

THE MARTYRE DIES AND HIS RULE BEGINS
THE TYRANT DIES AND HIS RULE ENDS -
-Soren Kierkograd


Mulkul Husain e ‘be Karbala till the day of Qiyamah was firmly established on the Day of Ashura . The tragedy of Karbala represented around the world the eternal struggle of truth against falsehood, justice against injustice and tyranny, human dignity against dehumanization.

The shahadat of Imam Husain (SA) on the banks of furat – Euphrates, the patch of land blessed from time immemorial by the kudoom mubarak of Ambiya kiram (SA) from Adam (SA) to our beloved RasulAllah (SA) and his vasi Moulana Ali (SA) the land known as Al- Ghadiriyah – Nainawa and as Syathi ‘ul Furat evolved as the land of ‘karb’ and ‘bala’ and in no time, KARBALA became the nodal point, from which radiated the Universal love around the world. The triumph of TRUTH against falsehood ruled the minds of man and nations that came and those that will come, till the end of time.

Muulkul Husain which germinated in the azeem sacrifice on the day of Ashoora on the burning sands of Karbala, with the passage of each century, managed to wipe off all political, cultural and social boundaries. The nida of YA HUSAIN is same around the world, the understanding and the lessons learnt from the azeem sacrifice is the same around the world, however, depending upon different cultural and social parameters , the expression of the grief is varied, but from Japan in the far East to America in the West – mulkul Husain holds sway over the minds of man.

The sacrifice is a testament to the greatness of the human station, that the angels were made to acknowledge by Allah at the time first creation.

While doing taffakur on the subject I came across a very interesting article I had read in my college days, and had written it down in my diary. As I referred to it again, it helped me in understanding more fully the concept of mulkul Husain. I share with my young friends - the facts will amaze you and help in reinforcing your understanding that, how the Tragedy of Karbala has infused the entire world and by this shahadat, the mulkul Husain for ever will remain triumphant.

What ALLAH wills no human mind can comprehend. Glory to HIM and HIS creation !

In a very small area covered by the TRIANGLE as depicted in the herein below graphic, the entire climatic conditions of the world are found, is not that amazing. The Triangle has very deep cosmological meanings, but that is a totally different subject. On reading the article sited below you will be amazed and my purpose will be served,that how mulkul Husain has reached all corners of the world.





( Excerpts from : Introduction to Islam by Muhammad Hamidullah – Centre Cultural Islamique – Paris)
‘ A perusal of the map of major hemisphere shows the Arabian Peninsula lying at the confluence of the three great continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. (The continents had once formed a single land mass before breaking apart and drifting due to plate tectonics - a scientifically proven fact)

In this limited area of Central Arabia, the existence of the triangle of Mecca – Ta’if- Medinah seemed something providential (like wise friends you can now understand that the land of “karb’ and ‘bala’ was predestined for the mulk of Husain to flourish and Imam Husain (SA) gave promise to Nana Nabi (SA) at a very young age, that he will give the azeem sacrifice :

' Nanaa ko diya thaa joh waa'da - Shabbir mibhanay aye hain '

Mecca’s geographical and climatic features represented that of African – Sahara continent.

Taif’s geographical and climatic features represented that of Europe Continent.

Medina’s geographical and climatic features represented that of Asian Continent.
This TRIANGE standing in the middle of the major hemisphere was, more than any other region of the earth , a miniature reproduction on the entire world.
AMAZING FACTS !
Likewise, from the parched desert land besides Furat, the azeem sacrifice of Imam Husain (SA) arose mulkul Husain. It continues to stir the consciousness of humanity. World leaders and icons of humanity have spread the message of Imam Husain (SA) to the far corners of the globe.
The three sides of the TRIANGE of mulkul Husain are :

Truth against falsehood
Humanity against villainy
Righteousness against evil

“Imam Husayn uprooted despotism forever till the Day of Resurrection. He watered the dry garden of freedom with the surging wave of his blood, and indeed he awakened the sleeping Muslim nation. Husayn weltered in blood and dust for the sake of truth. Verily he, therefore, became the bed-rock (foundation) of the Muslim creed; la ilaha illa Allah (There is no god but Allah).”—Sir Muhammad Iqbal

“I learned from Hussain how to be wronged and be a winner.” —Mahatma Gandhi

“The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Karbala is that Hussain and his companions were the rigid believers of God. They illustrated that numerical superiority does not count when it comes to truth and falsehood. The victory of Hussain despite his minority marvels me! —Thomas Carlyle

“If Hussain fought to quench his worldly desires, then I do not understand why his sisters, wives and children accompanied him. It stands to reason therefore that he sacrificed purely for Islam.” —Charles Dickens

“In a distant age and climate, the tragic scene of the death of Husain will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader.”—Edward Gibbon

Karbala stands for courage, self-sacrifice, integrity, honesty, vision, and bravery beyond words. It symbolizes all that is pure and true. Karbala teaches us that real battles are always fought in the minds and not on ground. Yazid was powerful and yet he lost the battle for truth.
Also, being in the majority need not necessarily make you right.

Battle For Truth
The battle of Karbala finds great similarity with the one at Badr – Islam’s first battle. It was the holy Prophet [PBUH] at Badr who fought with 313 die-hard supporters against a formidable army of some 1000 men. That day against all odds the small group won a decisive victory, and paved the way for a future Muslim empire. 56 years later it was his grandson with just 72 loyal men, who fought against an impossible opposition of several thousands to save Islam from the clutches of tyranny.

Karbala was a battle of truth against falsehood, humanity against villainy, righteousness against evil, justice against corruption. The much loved grandson of the Prophet [PBUH] stood in the scorching heat of Karbala along with his companions, devoid of water but determined. His loved ones, including his six month old son, fell martyr one after the other. In spite of this he repeatedly invited the other party towards righteousness and forbade them from evil and immorality, but it all fell on deaf ears. When the time arrived for him to march ahead all alone, he did it in a fashion which was reminiscent of his illustrious father Ali.
One of those who fought the battle of Karbala against him says, “I have never seen a person bereaved of his sons, men folk and his companions more Lion-hearted than him. The foot soldiers were scattering to his right and left like goats when a wolf come upon them.” —–Ibne Aseer, Tareekh Kamil

The above are just a very minuscule representations of the emotions evoked around the world and helped in consolidating the Truth against Evil and Falsehood for ever till the day of Qiyamah

By paraphrasing the saying of Sufi mystic ‘ (Karbala )– you are not just a drop in the ocean (land mass of Karbala compared to the land mass of the world) you (Karbala) are also the mighty ocean in the drop.

Experiments at facilities like the Institute of Noetic Sciences in California and Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research Lab have proved that Mind rules over Matter – the spiritual belief in a ‘cosmic consciousness’ a vast coalescing of human intentions, that was actually capable of interacting with physical matter.
Inferring from this, it is no surprise than the land of ‘karb’ and ‘bala’ yjr mulkul Husain has for ever transformed the entire world.

The Shariat of Nabi (SA) was firmly established. The true meaning of Jihad, which has been maligned by vested interests around the world, is in fact derived from the Arabic trilateral verb - ja –ha –da , which means to strive, struggle and work hard. Imam Husain (SA) strove and succeeded in establishing truth against falsehood for ever, he struggled to fortify humanity against villainy for ever, and by his azeem shahadat , he established righteousness against evil, till the day of Qiyamah. These eternal noble traits form an integral part of mulkul Husain.


The roohani shakhsiyat of our beloved Aqa Moula (TUS), his hayat e pak, his for ever yearning - ' mein mara Moula Husain par fida fida thayee javu, mara mumineen ne mara sathe Maula Husain par fida fida kari davu 'is in truth mulk - fulk - nusk - misq of Imam Husain (SA)which we are blessed to witness and testify.

har jagah, har mulk ma har sheher ma har gaon ma
pohnchaa Moula jeh jagah awsaaaf na siqqa jamaa
ja bajah Aqa dikhavey ek niraali shaan chhe
Aqa Moula pe'r hamaara jan o dil qurban chhe



I hope I have managed to shed some light, share my insights on mulkul Husain