We demand A fair trial for Babar Ahmad

Last night I received an email from a beautiful sister highlighting an urgent cause a cry for our attention and therefore Ive felt compelled to share it in anyway I can! Please do put yourself in Babar Ahmads shoes and try for a moment to imagine how he must be feeling knowing there are millions of Muslims out there in the very country he has been imprisoned in for 7 years without trial and with less than 1 month remaining his petition is still so far off from reaching it's target! This could be you or your blood brother, father, son wouldn't you then reach out to everyone to help? Anyways let's get on to the message...

Sometimes we receive emails about something and we don’t bother to read it to the end. This is one email that NEEDS to be read to the very end. It not only needs to be read, it needs YOU the reader to place yourself in the shoes of someone. It NEEDS you to ‘live’ his reality, to smell what he smells, to touch what he is able to touch, to see what he sees and to imagine his future in the way that he does.

Are you ready to completely switch off from what is surrounding you and give your complete attention and heart for JUST 3 MINUTES! For the sake of Allah please do, as it could seriously be a source of ajr (reward) for you and could make the difference to someone’s life.

Before you think, this email is asking for money – IT ISN’T! I simply want you to be this person for 3 minutes in your life…

You’re happily married, you have a wonderful close family mashaAllah. You have a good job and you love your Islam. Life is good Alhamdulillah and you are one of those few individuals who goes out of your way to help others purely to seek the pleasure of Allah. You sleep soundly, you have the choice to eat what tickles your fancy and you can choose whether you bask in the beautiful sunshine or you spend a day listening to a wonderful lecture. You are free – you can choose – life is sweet.

In a matter of seconds, your happy life is ripped away from you. Now your reality is very different: you have lost your spouse, you can no longer enjoy being with your family, your heart aches and longs to be close to your loved ones – but it is impossible. And so you only rely on your dreams at night to bring back what you yearn to be your reality: spending Eid together, walking through the park, praying with fellow Muslims, enjoying a bite to eat with friends.

This is the reality of one individual.

You know what’s really sad about this situation? This individual spent his life trying to help others. Those who knew him had such respect for him as he was one who tried to ease the pain and difficulty of others. The time has come where the Muslim Community can NOW help him to turn his dreams of freedom into a reality.

Yes, I’m talking about Babar Ahmad who has been imprisoned without trial for over 7 years and I want you to read til the end of this email as there is a message from him in the last few days which cut deep as I’m sure it will make you cry in both admiration for his strength and pain at his situation.

Thousands of emails have gone around about him, asking people to sign the petition.  Sadly with only one month to go, there have only been 20,000 signatures. 80,000 more are needed.

It saddens me that with only one month to go, we the Muslim Community have not exerted enough effort to reach the number of signatures needed which will enable Babar Ahmed’s case to be discussed by parliament.

 

What faces Babar Ahmad should he be extradited to the US?

·         He will face the rest of his natural life in a Supermax Prison
·         He will be in solitary confinement for 22-23 hours per day
·         Regular body searches
·         Regular ‘extractions’ where fully kitted officers in riot gear ‘remove’ the prisoner by surprise and do a cell search which often results in serious physical damage to the prisoner
·         One call per month to a family or friend

 

As one senior Supermax officer put it, “Do we have an obligation to take care of them? Yes. But do I have an obligation to provide him touching, feeling contact with another human being? I would say no. He has earned his way to [supermax] and he’s earned just the opposite. He’s earned the need for me to keep him apart from other people.”

Babar Ahmad has not done anything to deserve being sent to such a place and you can be a part of the campaign to have him tried here in the United Kingdom.

I have faith in the Muslim Community as I have seen wonderful things happen in such a short space of time. We can do this and we owe it to our brother to support him in this cause.

 So, what can we do:

·         Sign the petition and don’t forget to activate the link that is sent to your email address.
·         Get every member in your household and extended family to sign it.
·         If everyone could try to get at least 10 others to sign than we could actually reach the target of 100,000 signatures by 10th NOVEMBER 2011.
·         Spread the word, forward this email on.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/885

We all have excuses, but I wonder what excuse we will give to Allah when He (Swt) asks what we did to help a brother on our very own doorstep. What excuse will you give for not taking 2 minutes out of your time to simply sign a government e-petition.

I try to imagine how Babar must be feeling right now, only one month left and only 20,000 signatures  from his brothers and sisters. I would have lost much hope but this is what he said to one of his sisters recently:

‘Whatever you do, never give up, because the only thing worse than failure is the failure to try’. Babar Ahmad, October 2011

The question is not whether you should sign the petition, the question is what is stopping you from doing it and from getting others to do it???  Don’t be a Muslim who merely shows his Islam though speech.  ACT TODAY.

Revisit the above steps as to how you can help and before Shaytaan makes you think about something else – SIGN, SPREAD THE WORD AND GET THOSE ADDITIONAL 10 PEOPLE TO SIGN TOO.

 

May Allah reward you for reading this far. You never know what something like this could do for an individual’s life and future. More importantly – what it could do for your akhirah when everyone will do anything to go back to the life of this world to do the best deed they could do…

Wasalamu alaikum

 

 

And just a few things to clarify in case you’re thinking:

1.       I am worried about giving my name and address to this

Addresses and email addresses are not published or accessible by any member of the public, 20,000 people have already signed this petition. Why would the Government spend time and resources chasing up on each of those 20,000 people in the middle of a recession when they have so many bigger issues to worry about-just because they signed a recognised and legitimate Government petition, acting within the law?

 

 

2) What difference would it make anyway? What's the point?

It took one woman to cause a revolution in Egypt, billions of tiny drops of water come together to form the ocean...there is always a point-even if it is just the fact that we can say to Allah (SWT) on the Day of Judgement "We saw a brother in need, we did this to try to help him."

3) We don't want to ask this "non-Muslim" or non-shariah government for anything, we should just make dua and not do this petition.

That would have been fair enough if this was an Islamic state. The bottom line is that there is no third option-Trial in UK or trial in the USA. No one has asked Babar what kind of trial he would like. Once you are arrested and locked up, you are bound by the laws of the authorities that locked you up in the first place-whether you like it or not.

4) I want to sign it but I have had so much on, I have been too busy to get to it.

This petition expires on 10th November 2011-then that opportunity to sign will be over.Imagine the feeling of sadness and regret if we miss out our target of 100,000 by just a small handful of signatures-that could have been if people didn't procrastinate. Or worse still, seeing the news that Babar Ahmad has been put on a plane to the US.

Asking is how we learn!

Today whilst watching a kids programme 'Chuggington' with my son I was reminded of a valuable lesson... 'asking is how we learn' the story had 2 trains learning how to be an animal tour guide from an older train. One of the younger trains was full of questions eager to learn where as the other was over excited and wanted to be a tour guide before they had even started lol! The senior train explained 'asking is how you learn' and this really is such an important lesson for us all to remember in all aspects of life from asking for directions to the jurisprudence of our deen.

When it comes to our deen we are on a continuous journey to better ourselves to learn more in order to please Allah more so if we don't ask those that may know then how are we supposed to excel in our deen?
Many a time questions may arise when we feel shy to ask perhaps female issues or personal relationship issues but let us not let these types of questions get in the way of our learning. The women of the Ansar would ask the Prophet (saw) about how to clean themselves after menstruation and sexual intercourse.
These are matters that normally women especially in those days would be shy to ask a man about. But shyness did not prevent them from finding out how they should clean themselves and this is why A'isha said: How good are the women of Ansar (helpers) that their shyness does not prevent them from learning religion.
Other times we may feel shy due to us feeling that the question may be too simple or basic... But don't let this stop you either as inshallah by knowing the answer you may get closer to Allah and may stop doing something haram and instead start earning the pleasure of Allah! So who cares if a question may seem basic if knowing the answer gets you 1 step closer to Jannah? And on this note a reminder to myself and to everyone else if a fellow sister or brother asks us a question and to us it seems basic then don't become arrogant and think what a silly question... Firstly thank Allah if you know the answer that He alone has blessed you with the knowledge to answer and make dua that Allah accept it from you as inshallah for you it can also be a great reward teaching someone else something just imagine each time they use that knowledge you will also gain reward each time. I remember someone one complaining how they were frustrated at how they had been asked 'silly questions' with regards to the deen and these questions were regarding the prayer on what was acceptable to wear. I thought subhanAllah someone who didn't know but wanted to make sure their Salah was as good and as perfect as they could make it came to ask you regarding it and in return they may have gotten the answer but also a slice of arrogance too. May Allah protect us all from this Ameen.

So remember seek the company of those who know and don't feel shy and at the same time don't feel arrogant in asking and when asked questions!

Wow who would have thought by watching 'Chuggington' one could remember such an important lesson!

Watch this Space!!!

Ok so I've been away for errrrrm years!!! Wow it doesn't even feel that long although it does feel long if that makes sense!
Anywhoooss... Since I last blogged so much has happened I've had a new addition to our family who is now 19 months old his name is Isa Abdullah and I also have another addition on the way masha'Allah!!!

The cyber world has also dramatically advanced too and my blog seems somewhat prehistoric to say the least and so I've ordered myself 'Blogging for Dummies' hopefully it should arrive within a few days and I'll be back with a revamped up to date blog insha'Allah!

Until then keep smiling and keep the faith!

Peace Out and Watch this space!!!

Itching to blog....but

My fingers are itching to blog but a certain Master Yaqub wont allow it so Ill have to save my urge for when hes sound asleep. But here is a preview...firstly alhamdulillah Miriam Ali is safe at home!

Now the preview to my urge! The world has gone Mad about Obama and to put it point blank... They need to prepare themselves for a huge let down. I hope that Im wrong here I really do but Muslims in particular have put so much hope in the 1st black president who as I heard someone on a programme describe 'is simply black on the outside' why I dont understand... perhaps its his great campaign tactics or perhaps it is because anything is better than Bush... but is someone who is recruiting hard core Zionists as his dedicated little helpers really any better??? hmmmm food for thought! I shall be back with more on this soon insha'Allah!

Miriam Ali - Can You Help???

Police are appealing for help in locating this Whitley woman who has been reported missing.

Miriam Ali, 25, was last seen by her family at her home in Redruth Gardens on Monday, September 29. Her last known whereabouts is believed to be the town centre and she was last seen wearing a long black hijab and black shoes.

Missing person co-ordinator PC Bob Phillips said: “We are concerned about Miriam’s welfare as it is out of

character for her not to stay in contact with her family. I appeal for anyone who may know of her whereabouts to contact me urgently.”

Police searched her family home on Friday looking for clues.

Miriam is Asian, of medium build, 5ft 4in, and has long black hair.

She also has a stud in her nose and a mole on her left cheek.

Anyone who knows where she is should contact police on 08458 505 505 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Dissapointment

“Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it.”
Eliza Tabor

Farewell My Beloved

It seems just like yesterday that the moon was sighted and your light shone upon us all.
Wasn’t it just yesterday that the nights seemed to be more peaceful and calm, so welcoming with open arms imploring me to awake from my sleep and benefit from the glorious mercy of my Lord?
Others celebrate with joy rightly so as the blessed day of Eid has arrived yet I feel some what solemn, sad because my beloved has left me yet again for another long year.
My body and soul had become accustomed to your fulfilling, blessed and spiritually cleansing days and my heart longed and continues to long for your ever so tranquil, mysterious and blissful nights.
I know not when the night of power was but I am certain it has left us behind and will not return for another long year.
Confusion arises at whether the moon has been sighted or not and at first I am disturbed by the so called early sighting of the crescent but then my heart rests and says… it may bring the return of my beloved one day closer so Alhamdulillah for what may be a blessing in disguise.
Farewell my beloved for your return I pray I am alive and here to welcome you with a humble heart and the sincere devotion you deserve ameen.

Umber Alam
(Umm Yaqub)

Nafsi Nafsi!

When ever I call my sister the first thing I ask about are the well being of my beloved nephew and niece, how are they? Are they well? What are they doing? Etc. Even when I am not on the phone to her I often think of them and wonder how they are infact many times a day do I verbally speak about them to my own son.

So when it comes to my own son of course he is always on my mind. As I close my eyes when falling asleep his warm body is there close to mine, each time I wake up at night which is only so I can quickly glance at him I check if he is ok. When my eyes open in the morning I quickly look over at him to see how he is. Even if he goes to the local Tesco’s with my husband for a short while I yearn his return and love to see him as he comes in through the front door. For all these reasons my mind is terrified and can hardly comprehend how Horrific the day must be when Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:

فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَلَا أَنْسَابَ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَلَا يَتَسَاءَلُونَ

Then when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no more relationships between them that day, nor will one ask after another!

(Surah Al-Muminun:101)

Imagine that Day when you no longer care about those who you love the only thing on your mind will be ‘Nafsi Nafsi’ ‘Myself Myself’. I think of this as I look at my child and I can not help but cry. Oh my son, my dear beloved son, the light of my eyes how can it be that one Day if you call out to me asking for help I shall run from you being unable to help you? Is it because the truth is you have never loved your child, your husband, brother, sister, mother, father? No the love we have for them is sincere it is true, it is only due to the Horrors of that Day and the reality of that Day that will make us seem as if we are mad. Its difficult for me to understand that this can be true but I know that the Words of Allah (SWT) are true and Allah (SWT) does not lie if Allah (SWT) has told us that this will happen then with out a doubt it will happen.

Have we really thought about this Day enough? More importantly have we prepared for this day and do we fear it? The day when fear alone shall make the hair of a child turn grey Subhana’Allah!

Having children is such a blessing in so many ways. One of the many blessings I found is that it really brings the reality of the Day of Judgment close to home. The ayah above I have read many times before and have thought wow subhana’Allah (SWT) that must be really scary but its only now that I have my own child that I am so terrified of that day when If he calls out to me crying, screaming, in state of panic that I shall run away from caring only for myself, may Allah (SWT) protect us all from this and make us and our children from those who are pious and forgiven by Him Ameen.

Even whilst I was pregnant with him subhana’Allah how much care did I go through to look after myself only because I was carrying him in my womb, then he was born even until this day I feed him his milk allowing him to suckle when he wants giving him comfort. So then again when I read the following ayah the words of Allah (SWT) again it hits home:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ السَّاعَةِ شَيْءٌ عَظِيمٌ

يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّا أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى النَّاسَ سُكَارَىٰ وَمَا هُمْ بِسُكَارَىٰ وَلَٰكِنَّ عَذَابَ اللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ
O mankind! fear your Lord! For the convulsion of the Hour (of Judgment) will be a thing terrible!
The Day ye shall see it, every mother giving suck shall forget her suckling-babe, and every pregnant female shall drop her load (unformed): thou shalt see mankind as in a drunken riot, yet not drunk: but dreadful will be the Wrath of Allah.

(Surah Hajj:1-2)

Subhana’Allah my mind can hardly understand the words: ‘every mother giving suck shall forget her suckling babe and every pregnant female shall drop her load’

The thing I tell myself is that, this is not something that may happen, these are the Words of Allah and this Day will come and these things will happen with out a doubt and then I ask myself have I prepared for this am I ready and then I tremble and my eyes swell up with tears as I know the truth is I am far from being ready for such a horrific day.

Allah is telling us: ‘Oh Mankind fear your Lord ! For the convulsion of the Hour (of Judgment) will be a thing terrible!
However what use is this fear if it doesn’t make us repent and yearn to do good? We need to be motivated by this fear to do good, fast often, make tawbah more, give in charity, read and contemplate over the words of Allah, busy yourself in the worship of Allah and make dua make dua make dua as it is the weapon of the believer.

We should fear this Day and no that it will happen without a doubt but also know that we have a Merciful and Forgiving Lord who does not want to punish us rather He loves to forgive us so let us turn to Him and beg for guidance and forgiveness.

The prophet Muhammad (saw) told us that Allah is more merciful to us than a mother is to her child. Subhana’Allah so lets not waste any more time and let us ask Allah to allow us to be under His shade of Mercy and Forgiveness.

Let us seriously prepare for this Day, the Day when we know the horrors of it will be enough to turn the hair of a child grey Allahu Akbar.

Tonight is the 29^th night of Ramadan Allah knows best but perhaps it is the Night of Power Laylatul Qadr. So I turn to my Lord and beg him:

اَللهُمَّ إنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّيْ
Allahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni’ ”
O Allāh You are The One Who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.

Ill end off with this know that this Day will lead us to either Paradise or the Hellfire our final abode is one of these 2 places without a doubt we will end up in one of them a place of eternal bliss or an abode of torture, blazing fire and sorrow and regret. Let us turn to Allah and prepare before it is too late.

I Envy

I envy the sand that met his feet
I’m jealous of honey he tasted sweet
Of birds that hovered above his head
Of spiders who spun their sacred web
To save him from his enemies
I envy clouds formed from the seas
That gave him cover from the heat
Of a sun whose light could not compete
With his, whose face did shine so bright
That all was clear in blinding night
I envy sightless trees that gazed
Upon his form completely dazed
Not knowing if the sun had risen
But felt themselves in unison
With those who prayed, and fasted too
Simply because he told them to
With truth and kindness, charity
From God who gave such clarity
His mercy comes in one He sent
To mold our hearts more heaven bent
I envy all there at his side
Who watched the turning of the tide
As truth prevailed and falsehood fled
And hope restored life to the dead
Men and Women through him found grace
To seek together God’s noble face
I envy the cup that gave him drink
His thoughts that helped us all to think
To be one thought that passed his mind
Inspiring him to act so kind
For me this world is not one jot
If I could simply be a thought
From him to God throughout the ages
As revelation came in stages
I pity all who think it odd
To hear him say there is one God
Or he was sent by God to men
To hone their spirits’ acumen
It’s pride that blinds us from the sight
That helps good men to see his light
He taught us all to be God’s slaves
And he will be the one who saves
Humanity from sinful pride
Muhammad has God on his side
So on this day be blessed and sing
For he was born to grace our Spring
With lilies, flowers, life’s rebirth
In a dome of green like his on earth
... In Honour of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw),

Shaykh Hamzah Yusuf Hanson

I am here

Each moment contains
a hundred messages from
God: To every cry of
"Oh Lord," He answers
a hundred times,
"I am here"

... Mevlana Rumi

Leave Sleep for Prayer

"And during part of the night forsake sleep by prayer, beyond what is already incumbent upon thee; maybe thy Lord will raise thee to a position of praise and glory" ... al-Isra' 17:79

Forgiveness

On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say: Allah the Almighty said:

'O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great at it.'

It was related by at-Tirmidhi (also by Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Its chain of authorities is sound.