Let Days Go Forth…

As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah

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A beautiful poem by Imam al-Shafi’i

دع الأيام تفعل ما تشاء *** وطب نفسا إذا حكم القضاء
ولا تجزع لحادثة الليالي *** فما لحوادث الدنيا بقاء
وكن رجلا على الأهوال جلدا *** وشيمتك السماحة والوفاء
وإن كثرت عيوبك في البرايا *** وسرك أن يكون لها غطاء
يغطى بالسماحة كل عيب *** وكم عيب يغطيه السخاء
ولا حزن يدوم ولا سرور *** ولا بؤس عليك ولا رخاء
ولا ترج السماحة من بخيل *** فما في النار للظمآن ماء
ورزقك ليس ينقصه التأني *** وليس يزيد في الرزق العناء
إذا ما كنت ذا قلب قنوع *** فأنت ومالك الدنيا سواء
ومن نزلت بساحته المنايا *** فلا أرض تقيه ولا سماء
وأرض الله واسعة ولكن *** إذا نزل القضا ضاق الفضاء
دع الأيام تغدر كل حين *** ولا يغني عن الموت الدواء

Let days go forth and do as they please
And remain firm when settled is the Decree

Don’t be afraid of what happens by night
For the affairs of this world are not to last

And be a man, strong in the face of calamities
And let your nature be that of kindness and honesty

If your faults become too much in front of the people
And you wish that they were to be concealed,

Then know that kindness covers all faults
And how many faults are kept hidden by kindness!

No sadness lasts forever, nor any happiness
And you shall not remain in poverty, or any luxury

Generosity cannot be hoped from the miserly
For no water exists in the Fire for the thirsty

Your provision will not be decreased due to life’s delays
And it cannot be increased due to your haste

If, in your heart, you possess contentment
Then you and those who possess the world are equal

And for him upon whose horizon death descends,
No earth can offer him protection, nor any sky

Indeed, the earth of Allah is certainly vast
But if decree descends, then the world constricts

Let days be the ones that betray you at all times
For no cure can avail a person of death

Free Tarek Mehanna

As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah

 

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Most of you know and have benefitted from brother Tarek Mehanna, his efforts in the society and his many Translations of classical texts. Today, he lies in prison due to false and ridiculous charges brought against him because he had refused to succumb spineless, refused to contradict his principles and very ethics by working as an FBI spy. Here is what his brother had to say about him:

Background:

Tariq Mehanna is a 27 year old Muslim Egyptian American born and raised in the United States. Highly educated, Tariq holds a doctorate in pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. He is a devout and tolerant Muslim who is not only respected in the local Islamic and interfaith communities, but who also gives back to his Islamic community by fulfilling the roles of brother, educator, mentor, scholar, and friend. Tariq is described by those who know him well as humble, reserved, warm, peaceful, intelligent, knowledgeable, reflective, pragmatic, dedicated, and straightforward. He is a person with strong ethical values who refuses to compromise on them regardless of the circumstances. It is unfortunate then that this customarily admirable trait plays a role in his current situation.

Several years ago, the Boston FBI began to approach Tariq. They recognized that he was a religious Muslim who was active in the local Islamic community, had earned the respect of many, and was beloved to the youth. The FBI recognized in Tariq an individual who is intelligent, charismatic, influential and trusted by many in the local Islamic community. They decided that they wanted Tariq on their side, and began to approach him in an effort to recruit him as an informant. Their objective was to secure Tariq as a tool to corroborate any FBI claims or accusations against members of the community that might arise, at the discretion of the FBI. Of course, Tariq flat out refused to backstab his fellow Muslim brothers and sisters, a decision that did not sit well at all with the FBI.

The FBI then proceeded to repeatedly approach Tariq over the coming months, each time pressuring him more and more to collaborate with them. This pressure most often came in the form of blackmail; Tariq was told that unless he consented to cooperating with the FBI, they would continue finding new ways to disrupt his life and to deprive him of a sense of security. He was told outright by interrogators that they knew he was innocent, but that they would not be satisfied with his refusal to cooperate. Regardless of whether their methods were unethical, coercive, or failed to respect his civil rights, the FBI were quite fortunate in catching an opportunity to arrest Tariq in 2008 based on a weak accusation of issuing “false statements” to a federal officer. After two months of imprisonment, his court-appointed attorney, Jay Carney, jr., was able to negotiate a bail settlement of $1,250,000. Tariq was subsequently released after this absurdly inflated amount was paid by his parents, who were desperate to have him return home safely.

Tariq did return home for nearly a year, living a quiet life, restricted by a court-ordered curfew, and monitored by FBI investigators. In the meantime, the case against him, based on “false testimony” charges, began to stagnate, and court dates were far and in between with no advances made by the FBI. Over time, the Mehanna family began to finally feel a sense of restored normalcy and stability in their lives. This feeling was suddenly and violently shattered during the fajr hours of October 21st, 2009, when FBI agents showed up at the Mehanna home doorstep at 5:00AM in the morning. Despite the lack of ANY new evidence since the prior arrest, the agents came with an arrest warrant. According to Dr. Ahmed Mehanna, Tariq’s father, the agents were visibly excited and enthusiastic about their invasion of the Mehanna private household and the seizure and arrest of Tariq. The situation facing Tariq now is one where his second arrest means that there is no chance for bail. Tariq is currently incarcerated at the Plymouth Correctional Facility, where he is expected to remain for the several year duration of a new trial based on outright FALSE AND LUDICROUSE accusations of aiding and abetting terrorism. He currently faces LIFE IN PRISON if convicted guilty in a trial by grand jury. We must offer our greatest support and most dedicated effort if there is to be hope of Tariq’s release. Thank you for taking the time to read this history, and we are confident that you will share our knowledge of Tariq’s innocence. In addition, it is our sincere hope that the United States justice system remain true to its “innocent until proven guilty” origins, and for Tariq to receive a fair and just trial.

A court date has been set for this coming Thursday 12th Nov, at Moakley Federal Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Way, Boston MA. Timing: 10 am

Everyone is urged to attend, particularly those in the area. Please go and show your support. Today it may be someone else, but tomorrow it may well be you, your family or a close one.

Free Tarek Site: http://www.freetarek.com/

Free Tarek Official Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=159128188381 

Petition for Tarek: http://www.petitiononline.com/Tarekm/petition.html

Back in the UK, our communities were often tested with the unjust arrest of those who used to work hard in building the society, good-hearted & sincere individuals, they really were shining stars whom everyone felt proud of having around. Needless to say, their arrests were designed to instill fear into the community (for many were released soon after, some were even asked to work for the government!) and drive a wedge between the people such that it was ‘each to his own’ and help was something that a person was to offer only to himself and none other. Luckily, we were not that dumb and so we began the effort of assisting every oppressed, wronged and ill-treated person. Organisations (such as Cageprisoners), campaigns and activists were thus born and continue to remain struggling between hard work, sacrifice and results.

Muslims in America need to take off the cloak of fear which they have been made to wear. Fear is an emotion preserved primarily for Allah `azza wa jall (see al-Baqarah: 150, Aal-’Imran: 175 and al-Ma’idah: 44 to name just a few) and He has more right to it than anyone from the creation. So don’t be afraid to stand up for those who are wronged, this is a strong Principle in Islam – and principles are something which we will be questioned about on Yawm al-Hisab. Do not abandon your brethren lest you be abandoned at the time of your need.

Those organisations who claim to be there for the Muslims, this is the time when true colours show. There is no point in helping one cause when there is a more pressing one to be aided (priorities) where your assistance is required more-so. There is nothing to lose because you’ll be gaining it with the One whom you claim to be working for:

من خسر مع الله ماذا ربح؟ ومن ربح مع الله ماذا خسر؟

‘What has he who lost it with Allah, actually gained? And what has he who gained with Allah, actually lost?’ – Remember this powerful quote when working in the path of Da’wah, community work etc.

The School of ‘Qiyam al-Layl’

As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah

This next post is the sequel to ‘Sukoon al-Layl’ - taken from Shaykh Khalid al-Sayyid’s fantastic book on ‘Ibadah and Tarbiyyah.

The School of Qiyam al-Layl

‘It is a school whose graduates are Islam’s best: the worshippers by night & knights by day. They straighten their feet before Allah in the depths of the night, in a place where no-one can see them or know them to be. Their tears fall upon their cheeks and purify their hearts.

They have sought safety in their Lord, they have fled to Him and returned to Him fully recognizing His Rights upon them, hoping for His Pleasure, and so He became pleased with them. He placed light upon their faces and light in their limbs, steadfastness in their deeds, sincerity in their hearts and insight in their souls.

So they see with a light from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, and they take delight in praying in the depths of the night more than the people of desires take delight in the desires they love most. So praying by night has become the most valued thing in their lives and an act upon which they are the most steadfast. Rather, it has become a part of their heart which cannot be separated. You see their hearts longing for the night prayer and it flutters in happiness when the night draws near because it shall soon stand before its Lord in tranquility, humbleness and repentance.

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the Night prayer.’ [Sahih Muslim]

He (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) also said, ‘May Allah have mercy upon a man who wakes up at night, prays and wakes up his wife; if she refuses he sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah have mercy upon a woman who wakes up at night, prays and wakes up her husband; if he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face.’ [Abu Dawud, al-Nasa'i]

Hadith: ‘Indeed, there are in Paradise homes which are transparent – Allah has prepared them for whoever gives food (to the poor), spreads the salam and prays by night when everyone else is asleep.’ [Ibn Hibban, declared sahih by al-Albani] 

Al-Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyyadh: ‘I saw a people whose shyness of Allah in the darkness of the night drove away their long sleep. One of them would be lying on his side but when he moved he would say, ‘This is not for you. Get up and take your portion of the Hereafter.’

It was said to al-Hasan (al-Basri), ‘How comes the Mutahajjidin (those who pray tahajjud) have the most beautiful faces?’ He said, ‘Because they secluded themselves with the Most Merciful and so He clothed them with a light from Him.’

Thabit al-Bunani said, ‘I can’t find in my heart anything sweeter to me than Qiyam al-Layl.’

Ibrahim ibn Shimas: ‘I knew Ahmad ibn Hanbal when he was a young boy, and he used to revive the night (with prayer).’

‘Amr ibn Dinar used to split the night into 3: One third for sleeping, one third for studying Hadith and one third for praying.

‘Amr ibn Dharr: ‘When the worshippers see that night has come over them, and they see that the people of heedlessness have taken their place of rest on their beds and returned to sleep, they rise up to stand before Allah in happiness and bliss. They seek out glad-tidings because of what He (`azza wa jall) has granted them of lengthy tahajjud and allowed them to partake from the goodness of maintaining night vigil. So they turn towards the night with their bodies and their faces touch the earth. The night comes to an end but the sweetness they find in recitation does not come to an end and their bodies do not tire from prolonged worship. Then morning comes for both of these two parties, the night has left them either with a profit or with deceit. Those people (who slept) wake up after they have tired of sleep and rest, and these people (who prayed) wake up looking forward to the approach of another night. How different these two groups are.

The Students of Knowledge and Qiyam al-Layl

The night of the true student of knowledge differs from the nights of the heedless and the negligent. His nights are filled with worship, standing before Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala whereby he asks Him of His Blessings, seeks forgiveness for his shortcomings, requesting all that he wishes for and beseeching Him in his complaints.

But indeed there are a people from amongst the students of knowledge who claim to seek knowledge but yet they are careless in their nights and so it passes them by in regret and sorrow. Gaining knowledge has thus become difficult for them and their akhlaq (character) turned bad, and that is because they spent the night in deep sleep such that nothing woke them up except the sun’s heat!

The scholars never thought that there could be a student of knowledge or a person of ‘ilm who slept the whole night without there being some form worship therein. In fact, they used to criticize whoever fell short in that!

Ibn al-Jawzi and al-Dhahabi both mention that Tawus went looking for someone during the last third of the night but they said, ‘He is sleeping.’ He said, ‘I didn’t think anyone actually slept during al-Sahr (the last part of the night).’

Nafi’ narrates: Ibn ‘Umar (radhiallahu `anhu) used to revive the night with prayers then he would say, ‘O Nafi’! Has the last portion come?’ I would say ‘No,’ so he would continue praying until I said, ‘Yes,’ then he used to sit seeking forgiveness and supplicating until morning.

- Translated from ‘Ladhat al-’Ibadah’ by Khalid al-Sayyid Rusha (لذة العبادة – منهج عملي للتربية الإيمانية), pg. 351 – 363

Secrets

As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah

Rawdhatul-’Uqala [Post 4]

Abu Hurayrah: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Guard your affairs by concealing your secrets, for indeed every blessing has one who will envy it.’ [Majma' al-Tabarani]

‘Amr ibn al-’Aas said, ‘I’m surprised at a man who flees from the Qadr (Decree) when it is only going to befall him, and a man who sees the dust in his brother’s eye while he is oblivious to the chunk that is in his. And I am amazed at a man who removes grudges and malice from others but leaves it within himself. I have never regretted anything and then blamed myself for regretting it, and I have never shared my secrets with someone and then criticized him for spreading it – how can I criticize him when it has become too much for him to conceal?’

Al-Basami recited,

تبيح بسرك ضيقا به *** وتبغي لسرك من يكتم
You disclose your secret when it becomes too great,
Yet you wish to share it with one who shall conceal it.

وكتمانك السر ممن تخاف *** ومن لا تخافنه أحزم
Concealing your secret from one whom you fear,
As well as one whom you do not fear, is more resolute.

إذا ذاع سرك من مخبر *** فأنت وإن لمته ألوم
If your secret is leaked out by one whom you informed,
Then even if you blame him, you are more blameworthy.

‘Abdul-’Aziz Sulayman said,

إذا ضاق صدر المرء عن بعض سره *** فألقاه في صدري فصدري أضيق
If a person’s chest constricts due to some of his secrets
And he casts it at me, then my chest constricts more so

ومن لامني في أن أضيع سره *** وضيعه قبلي فذو السر أخرق
And whoever blames me for revealing his secret
Then he is a fool for revealing it before me!

Hammad ibn Ishaq narrated from al-Mada’ini that he said, ‘The most patient of people is the one who does not disclose his secret to his friend out of fear that something will take place between them and he in turn spreads it.’

Ibn Ishaq al-Wasiti said,

إذا المرء لم يحفظ سريرة نفسه *** وكان لسرالأخ غير كتوم
If a person does not guard his inner secrets,
And he does not safeguard his brother’s secrets,

فبعدا له من ذي أخ ومودة *** وليس على ود له بمقيم
Then how far-fetched that he will ever have a loyal brother
And love for him is something that will never last

Abu Hatim: Whoever protects himself by guarding his secrets will be able to contemplate over it fully. He will triumph with what he wishes for and also be safe from blame and harm. And even if he does not triumph or keep good ground, his resolve will allow him to place his secret in a vessel whereby he’s able to conceal it from everyone. So if his affairs tighten upon him and overwhelm him, he releases it to an advisor of his, for secrets are trusts and disclosing them is betrayal (to the one who shared it with you). The heart is only a vessel but from among vessels are that which become constricted when something is placed in them, and from them are those that are wide enough to hold what is placed in them.

Al-Muntasir ibn Bilal al-Ansari said,

سأكتمه سري وأكتم سره *** ولايغرني أني عليه كريم
I will surely make sure he guards my secret and I shall guard his
I will not be fooled by the fact that I am a noble one

حليم فيفشي أو جهول يذيعه *** وما الناس إلا جاهل وحليم
Or that he may be a forbearing one such that he’s made to spread it,
Or an ignorant one such that he betrays it
And people are not except ignorant or forbearing…

Ibn al-’Arabi [2] said, ‘It used to be said that the wise one is he who remains cautious of his friend.’

Abu Hatim: Always telling people one’s secrets will lead to incapacity and injury. If a person hides something from his rivals, it doesn’t necessitate him to tell his friends; and for the people of wisdom, what they have experienced and came to learn is sufficient for them as a lesson. Whoever is trusted with something (secret), let him conceal it and not expose it or spread it, for secrets are only named secrets because they are not spread.

Al-A’mash said (as if amazed), ‘The chest of one of them (people) feels constricted by his secret so he reveals it to someone and then he says, ‘Conceal it for me!’

Al-Husayn ibn ‘Abdillah:

لا يكتم السر إلا من له شرف *** والسر عند كرام الناس كتوم
None can keep a secret except a dignified one
For secrets are ever hidden by the people of nobility

السر عندي في البيت له غلق *** ضلت مفاتيحه والباب مختوم
And secrets with me are kept in a house, locked up
Whose keys are lost and its door is forever sealed

Abu Hatim said, ‘Success is in having resolve, and resolve is in having a strong and correct opinion and such an opinion can only be attained by fortifying one’s secrets. Whoever conceals his secrets, goodness will be in his hands and whoever tells people all his secrets will become lowly to them and they will spread it. Whoever cannot keep secrets will soon come to regret and whoever falls into regret will become short of intellect and whoever remains upon such a state will return to ignorance (jahl).

_______________________________

[1] Also reported in Hilyat al-Awliya. Hadith declared Hasan by Ibn Hibban

[2] Abu ‘Abdillah Muhammad ibn Ziyad al-Ahwal al-Kufi, known as Ibn al-’Arabi: He was hafidh al-riwayaat  (used to memorise Hadith) and was knowledgeable in the Arabic Language.

The Yemeni ‘Abid and Al-Hajjaj

As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah

Tawus ibn Kaysan, one of the righteous students of Ibn ‘Abbas and a Muhaddith said, ‘I entered the Haram (Makkah) to perform ‘Umrah and when I completed it, I prayed 2 units of prayer behind the Maqam of Ibrahim and then I sat down. I turned to look at the people in the mosque when behold, I saw a group of people with weapons, swords, spears and shields! I looked and it was al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, the Amir of blood-shed, about whom Laila al-Akhiliya said,

حجاج أنت الذي ما فوقه أحد
Hajjaj, you are the one above whom there is none

إلا الخليفة المستغفر الصمد
Except the True Ruler, the Forgiving and Eternal One (Allah)

قتل مائة نفس وقتل سعيد بن جبير
He (Hajjaj) killed a hundred souls and he killed Sa’id ibn Jubayr

Al-Hajjaj once said, ‘I saw in my dream that Allah killed me once for every soul I killed except for Sa’id ibn Jubayr for Allah killed me on the Sirat (path over Hellfire) seventy times because of him.’

Tawus continues: ‘I saw the commotion so I kept seated in my place. Whilst in that state, I saw a poor, ascetic worshipper from Yemen. He went to circumambulate around the Ka’bah, then he came to pray 2 units of prayer when suddenly his garment clung to a spear from the spears of the army of Hajjaj, and so the spear fell on al-Hajjaj! He stopped him and said, ‘Who are you?’ He said, ‘Muslim.’ He said, ‘Where are you from?’ He said, ‘From Yemen.’ He said, ‘How is my brother with you people?’ (– He meant his brother Muhammad ibn Yusuf who was also a tyrannical ruler like him). He said, ‘I left him as a fat man with a fat stomach.’ Al-Hajjaj said, ‘I didn’t ask you about his health but I asked you about his justice.’ He said, ‘I left him as a deceiving and oppressive ruler.’

He said, ‘Don’t you know who I am?’ So the man said, ‘Who are you?’ He said, ‘I am al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf!’ So the man said,

أتظن أنه يعز بك أكثر من اعتزازي بالله؟
‘Do you think that he (your brother) is mightier and strengthened by you more than I am by Allah?’

Tawus said, ‘When he said that, all my hair stood on end. But al-Hajjaj let him go and left him.’

فَاللّهُ خَيْرٌ حَافِظاً وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

“… But Allah is the Best of Protectors and He is the Most Merciful of those who show Mercy.”
[Yusuf: 64]

- Taken from احفظ الله يحفظك by ‘Aidh al-Qarni