Rashid_Ali Chillin in Paris, France - January 16, 2010 add/view comments (0)

"In the name of Allah, The Compassionate,

The Merciful; Praise be to Allah; the Cherisher and

Sustainer of the Worlds; The Compassionate,

The Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment.

Thee do we worship, and thine aid do we seek.

Show us the straight way;

The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace,

Those whose portion is not wrath,

And who go not astray."

(SURAH 1: Al-Fatiha)


Faith - What Does it Mean?

The Arabic word Iman, which is translated in English as faith, literally means "to know", "to believe", and "to be convinced beyond the least shadow of doubt". Faith, thus, is a firmbelief arising out of knowledge andconviction. And the man or woman who knows and reposes unshakable belief in the Unity of God, in His Attributes, in His Law and Revealed Guidance, and in the Divine Code of Reward and Punishment is called Mu`min or "faithful". This faith invariably leads man or woman to a life of obedience and submission to the Will of God. And one who lives this life of submission is known as Muslim.

There are many hidden benefits in the acts of worship and much wisdom behind them. The basis of all deeds is the heart, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: In the body there is an organ which if it is sound, the entire body will be sound, and if it is corrupt, the entire body will be corrupt. That organ is the heart. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 52; Muslim, 1599)



Faith in Allah (SWT)

`Ibn Abbas reported that, one day he was riding on a mule behind the Holy Prophet (SAW) while he said:

I want to teach you something. Obey Allah and He will look after you. Safegaurd His Commandments and He will ever be with you (as your protector). When you must ask, ask Allah alone. When you must seek help, seek help from Allah alone. Remember! if all mankind joined to help you, they could only help you to the extent that Allah has already decreed. And if all mankind joined to harm you, they could not harm you except to the extent that Allah has already decreed for you. (Tirmidhi)


`Umar ibn Khattab reported that the Holy Prophet (SAW) said:

If you have complete trust in Allah, He would provide for you as He does for the birds. They leave their nests hungry in the morning and return full in the evening. (Tirmidhi)


IN ISLAM THERE ARE FIVE PILLARS:


1. SHAHADA (CREED)

THE VERBAL COMMITMENT AND PLEDGE "I BEAR WITNESSTHATTHERE IS NO DIETY WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH, AND I BEAR WITNESS THAT MUHAMMAD IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH. THIS IS CONSIDERED TO THE CREED OF ISLAM.

2. SALAT (PRAYERS)

THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FIVE DAILY PRAYERS IS REQUIRED OF MUSLIMS.

3. SAWM (FASTING)

FASTING IS TOTAL ABSTINENCE FROM FOOD, LIQUIDS, AND INTIMATEINTERCOURSES (BETWEEN MARRIED COUPLES) FROM DAWN TOSUNSET DURING THE ENTRIE MONTH OF RAMADAN.

4. ZAKAT (PURIFYING TAX)

THIS IS AN ANNUAL PAYMENTOF A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF A MUSLIM`S PROPERTY WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED AMONG THE POOR OR OTHER RIGHTFUL BENEFICIARIES.

5. HAJJ (PILGRIMAGE)

THE PERFORMANCE OF PILGRIMAGE TO MAKKAH IS REQURIED ONCE IN A LIFE TIME IF MEANS ARE AVAILABLE. HAJJ IS IN PART IN MEMORY OF THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF PROPHET ABRAHAM, HIS WIFE HAGAR ANDHIS ELDEST SON PROPHET ISHMAEL.

NUR, or LIGHT

SURAH 24 Ayat 35-36

Allah(SWT) is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the East nor of the West, whose Oil is well-nigh Luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah (SWT) guides whom He will to His Light: Allah sets forth Parables for men: and Allah knows all things.

Lit is such a Light in houses, which Allah (SWT) has permitted to be raised to honor: for the celebration, in them, of His name: in them is he glorified in the mornings and in the evenings, again and again.

The Seven Who will be under Allah`s (SWT) Shelter of Mercy

Abu Hurairah related that the Holy Prophet (SAW) said:

Seven types of people will beunder the shelter of Mercy on the Day when there will be no shade other than that of Allah`s Mercy: 1) a just ruler, 2) a young person who kept busy in Allah`s worship, 3) a person whose heart was attached to the mosque,4) two persons who loved each other for Allah`s sake, they met for His sake and partook for His sake and left each other for His sake, 5) a man who was invited by a beautiful and charming woman but declined her offer saying, I fear Allah, 6) a person who gave charity so secretly that his left hand did not know what was given by his right hand, and 7) a person who remembered Allah privately, so that his eyes brimmed over with tears (out of Allah`s fear). (Bukhari, Muslim)

"Knowledge is like a garden:

if it is not cultivated,

it cannot be harvested"

- West African proverb

I get my strength from my faith(Islam) and my family.

It is so hard to be a STRONG BLACK MAN in the world today.



Free my heart so my soul may fly

Free my mind of my worldly wants and desires

I look towards heaven with my arms open wide

Take my hand come and take my hand...