Monday 30 December 2013

WE CANNOT PURSUE HAPPINESS


WE CANNOT PURSUE HAPPINESS
Kate Bates (Kaamilah bint Qadar)
From “Refinement of the Heart”  
by Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Mark Hanson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwrfirtMTcw&list=TLsPb_2H6k5hgvosDMHcPzTqcePpYPJE6J


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBjGz1dgLK8 

The Secular and the Sacred in Higher Education -- Shaykh Hamza Yusuf & Dr. John Sexton

19,071 views
20 Oct 2016

53.5K subscribers
The Secular and the Sacred in Higher Education: A Conversation with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Dr. John Sexton, moderated by Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, was presented by the Of Many Institute for Multifaith Leadership at NYU, the Islamic Center at NYU, and the New York Community Trust on September 27, 2016. https://www.facebook.com/events/15565... A fuller, higher-res version is at an NYU-related channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQJnj...


In the Islamic Traditions, happiness – SA’ADA - is not a state.  You cannot BE happy at any point of your life, but you can FEEL happy.  Happiness is the sum total, the result of your life, whether you lived a happy or a miserable life based what you did in your life.

  Ghaguib Isfahani, a great ethicist, a mufassir, one of the great Ulama of Islam (and Imâm al-Ghazaali) said: the whole purpose of life is happiness.

There is no SA’ADA in the Dunya (material world).  The prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was commanded by Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to be humble.

The beginning of humility is to force your Self (Nafs) and the Holy Qur’ân mentions  

NAFS AL AMMÂRH = ANIMALISTIC COMMANDING SELF
NAFS AL LAWWAMA = THE REPROACHFUL NAFS
NAFS AL MUTMA’INNA = THE NAFS AT PEACE


See Tazkiah – term alluding to "tazkiyah al-nafs" meaning "purification of the self".

Wikipedia

Egocentricity makes life miserable for everybody.  Sayyidina Umar (RA), may Allah be pleased of him: Be tough on yourself because blessing does not last. The real happiness is on serving others.  ETHAAR = to begin to prefer other people.  ‘Giving charity’ makes us feel good.  It fires off all the pleasure centres of the brain when people give charity, according to a recent study. This is how Paradise on Earth can be built. 

This is the (compassionate) way we are designed, but, the Nafs is here to prevent this from happening.  Nafs, Shaytaan, Hawa and Dunya are the enemies of the human.  The Qur’ânic Science of Tassawuf – Gharbat un Nafs - is destined to overcome the Self


Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
I did not see any evil, but I warned you about it.  And I did not see any good but I guided you to it.

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
None of you will enter Paradise until you believe, and none of you will believe until you love one another.

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
Can I tell you something that if you do it love will begin to grow amongst you?

The Companions answered: Yes, indeed, ya Rassuul Allah.

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
Spread peace amongst you. 

The primary meaning of that is give the greeting of peace, but it also means what it says: SPREAD PEACE!

The Prophet, peace be upon him, came with such principles to help people help themselves, navigate the world in a way that makes it much easier to bear because it is already difficult.  The world is difficult.  It is a test, an IBTILA'A.

Our problems come from egocentricism when we think we are the sun and everything else should revolve around us; when we think money is more important than the family.  The Nafs likes things that are delightful = LAZZAT. 

The  crisis of this Ummah (of Muhammad) is ADAB. 

Adab is proper behaviour, etiquette, “refinement, good manners, morals, decorum, decency, humaneness.”

Akhlaaq is getting our character aligned with the character of the Prophet, peace be upon him.  One aspect of his character is smiling.  The Prophet was constantly smiling.  He always smiled when he saw people.  In all states (ahwaal, singular haal), he remembered Allah.  He did constant Zikr (dhikr), remembrance of Allah.  Tassawuf, the Qur’ânic science of Sufism, revolves around SINCERITY. 

But, Muslims blame their QADAR for their own ineptitude.  They say Allah decreed it (their fate or destiny).

QADAR is rendered as FATE and is the good and the bad thereof which are from Allah, and one of the six articles of faith.  “Imaan e Mufassal”.

Belief in Allah
Belief in the Angels
Belief in the Revealed Books
Belief in the Messengers
Belief in Qadr
Belief in the Last Day

But, we can say QADAR ALLAH only when we have done everything in our power and according to our means to make things better.  But, in Islam there is no such thing as fatalism.  It is only a disease of humans to complain when they do not do the works (Jihaad).

Finally, in Sheikh Hamza Yusuf’s lecture on “Articles of Faith”, he relates a Greek story.
 Articles of Faith Part 1 of 2


Prometheus gives man fire, that is, knowledge. 
Prometheus is cursed by the Gods as they do not want man to have knowledge because man would compete with the Gods.
When Prometheus was asked what he gave to man, he said:
I gave him the fire and I taught him the crafts.
Then, he was asked: What else?
Prometheus answered:
I gave him FAITH.

Meaning, without faith the human being is in a hopeless state.  Humans need faith.  Without faith we are in a state of despair.  With faith, we have HOPE.


Caution when reading words translated from Arabic.  Allahu ‘alam (Allah knows best)

Kate Bates
Monday 30th of December 2013

Wednesday 25 December 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN AND MUHAMMAD ALI'S ADVICE OF MODESTY TO HIS DAUGHTERS



Happy Birthday Susan!


I was listening to this exquisite singer thinking of you, my faraway daughter.


Take a couple of minutes and listen to this girl sing.  I never heard of her; just tripped over her on UTube.


May you be well in health and spirit and nurture your good and loving qualities, and stay on the straight path…it is so much easier, and stay productive.


Love
Mumm and Basheer

 
Muhammad Ali's advice to his daughters...
Muhammad Ali's advice to his daughters...Powerful!

An incident transpired when Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing.

Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:
“When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchangedmany hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.

My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to.

Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected.
Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell.
Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them.”

He looked at me with serious eyes. “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.”

From the book: More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Through His Daughter's Eyes.

“Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.

  "THE HUMAN BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF CHRIST!"
Quoted by Kaamilah Bint Qadar

 Urszula Maria Pickford shared Dr. Farrah Gray's photo.
 Powerful!

An incident transpired when Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing.

Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:
“When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchangedmany hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.

My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to.

Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected.

Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell.

Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them.”

He looked at me with serious eyes. “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.”

From the book:
More Than A Hero: Muhammad Ali's Life Lessons Through His Daughter's Eyes.


...to this day 10 July 2021!

Happy Birthday Susan!


I was listening to this exquisite singer thinking of you, my faraway daughter.


Take a couple of minutes and listen to this girl sing.  I never heard of her; just tripped over her on UTube.


May you be well in health and spirit and nurture your good and loving qualities, and stay on the straight path…it is so much easier, and stay productive.


Love
Mumm and Basheer
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDPjE9Sg7to

Jesse Ventura gets emotional talking about Muhammad Ali

1,071,062 views
22 Dec 2015
Graham Bensinger

Photos Of The Day: Malcolm X’s Iconic Friendship With Muhammad Ali

Malcolm X Ali
A crowd gathers around Muhammad Ali at diner where he’s celebrating his victory over Sonny Liston earlier than evening. The onlookers are eager to just catch a glimpse of the boxer eating, while Malcolm X looks playfully over his shoulder. 
Bob Gomel/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

History remembers Malcolm X as a militant revolutionary who fought relentlessly for the rights of African-Americans. Though he was often at odds with Martin Luther King’s nonviolent approach (?)* to change, and hounded by controversy most of his life, in these photos Malcolm X shares lighthearted moments with Muhammad Ali, with whom he shared a tumultuous friendship.


Malcolm X Photographer
Malcolm X takes a photo of his elated friend from behind the diner’s counter. 
Bob Gomel/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

Ali Malcolm X
Ali roars At Malcolm X, who pretends to calm him down. The two had a falling out and Malcolm X was assassinated before Ali could apologize. Ali later said one his life’s biggest regrets was “turning his back” on Malcolm. 
Bob Gomel/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images


Next read Malcolm X’s most profound quotes. Then, watch Muhammad’s Ali’s most awe-inspiring knockouts.
 




(?)*Martin Luther King’s nonviolent approach (?)* 
Michael King alias Martin Luther King Jr was a pervert, a racist, a collaborating Zionist, an Uncle Tom, a plagiarist, a lover of homosexuals, Judaics, Socialists, Marxists and Israel!  He changed only in his last days just before he was murdered.  He hated Malcom X and Islam.  (BAFS)

These Unearthed Photos Show a Never-Before-Seen Side of Muhammad Ali In 1974

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These Unearthed Photos Show a Never-Before-Seen Side of Muhammad Ali In 1974