Dr. Waleed Hakeem 

I am really shocked! I know there are more important deaths to talk about, but there are a few reflections I would like to share that have valuable life lessons for me.

I personally was extremely inspired by Anthony Bourdain's travels, success story, and I learned so much from his travels about what to eat in each country, and learned to be brave in trying new things. In fact, I own his entire collection of episodes and use them as a reference when travelling. He was a chef who was stuck inside a kitchen working long hours, wrote a best selling book in his spare time, and from there, his dunya success was nonstop. His work in supporting Palestinians through his show and humanzing them is just monumental!

Then again, we could clearly see the pattern. Someone who has achieved everything they could achieve in life: fame, money, awards, travels, you wonder, how could someone like this commit suicide? Let's be honest. There are many of us who could only DREAM to have even one-tenth of his life!

When a person achieves everything, they get to a point where they start feeling there is no more bigger purpose in life. There is nothing else to achieve, so they may lose the meaning of life, feel depressed, and take away their life (If you want to protect yourself from this, always find a higher purpose in life. A mission that drives you!)

Believing in an afterlife and a Creator protects a person from many forms of depression, as they live for a higher purporse (although religious people may have depression too for chemical imbalances or from other life traumas, so don't mix both please!). 

We also learn that looks may be deceiving. You may think someone is the happiest person alive because you see them travel, eat best food, have enough money to never work, etc, but deep inside they may feel something else. I personally went through this, where people on my page think that I am super happy because they saw me travel to 100+ countries, but they have no idea how much pain, problems, or suffering I have in my life from other issues that Allah tested me with (and I'm always thankful to Allah for everything, AlhamduliLlah!)

Make time for people. Talk to them, listen to their pains. You never know how many lives you could save when you save someone from depression. When you empathize with their pains! Robin Williams, Michael Jackson, Anthony Bourdain, and many others, remind us that even if you appear to have it all, you may still suffer depression, which is intensified by not having a purpose and not having a connection with our Creator or afterlife. Return to your lord, and seek his help. Especially in these blessed days!

Thank you Anthony for inspiring me to travel, try food that I never imagined to try, and teaching me about other cultures. I learned from you that even if a person is small and unknown, they could work hard to make their message global, not just food, but for a bigger and better legacy. It is sad that even though you have visited many Muslim countries, you didn't find your path to guidance. You are now with your Creator!

P.S I know he used foul language a lot in his shows, and that's really bad, but always observe and see what positive things you can learn from each person you meet, regardless of their background.

By Dr. Waleed Hakeem, Traveling Imam

On Wednesday, Facebook announced “Wedge”. For layman, think of it as a crucial hardware device that transports Internet information between machines (like a networking switch).

What you don’t know is that Wedge is part of the Open Compute Project (OCP) which is being led by Najam Ahmad, the director of Technical Operations at Facebook. Najam, who was born in Karachi, Pakistan, holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from NED University of Engineering and Technology and later on went to do his Master of Science in Telecommunication Protocols and Computer Science from The George Washington University and prior to Facebook, Najam was the General Manager of Global Networking Services at Microsoft where he looked after the operations, overall architecture, design & implementation of Microsoft’s global online network.

This basically means that Facebook (and other companies who support the OCP) will be able to use and contribute to the open hardware design of these switches and this is bad news for vendors like HP, Dell and Cisco who basically have the monopoly over the $150 billion data center hardware market.

Najam’s role in this whole project, though limited, gives us hope and motivation as there are still hundreds and thousands of engineers here in Pakistan who dream of going to the Silicon Valley and making an impact that can change the world and now they have someone to look up to.

Source:linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140620191201-40259989-meet-the-pakistani-who-is-reinventing-the-internet-well-kind-of

 Arnoud Van Doorn (extreme left), former leader of the Dutch rightist Freedom Party, prays at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. — Okaz photo

Majed Al-Sugairi 
Okaz/Saudi Gazette

Arnoud Van Doorn converts to islam after making anti-muslim film, From An Islamophobe To A Muslim...

MADINAH – Former Dutch Islamophobe and a former leading member of far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders’ party Arnoud Van Doorn visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah to pray and say sorry for becoming part of a blasphemous film.

Doorn was among the Freedom Party leaders who produced the blasphemous film, Fitna. Last month he reverted to Islam after an extensive study about the religion and the Prophet (peace be upon him). 

He said that the worldwide outrage against the film made him study about the Prophet (pbuh) and that eventually led to his conversion. 

He headed for Makkah to perform Umrah after meeting the two imams of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Ali Al-Hudaifi and Sheikh Salah Al-Badar, who enlightened him on how to lead the life of a good Muslim and confront challenges facing Islam in the West.

A member of the Dutch parliament and The Hague City Council, Doorn announced his decision to accept Islam on his Twitter profile. He also posted a tweet in Arabic declaring that “there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet.”

At first, other users took the news as a joke. After all, an active supporter of a notorious Dutch hater of Islam, Wilders, he repeatedly approved Islamophobic statements and public actions, and personally participated in them.

But Doorn, who now serves as a regional adviser at the City Hall in The Hague, personally confirmed his decision to practice Islam in an official letter to the city mayor.

Most recently, the politician filed a formal application to the mayor of the city to allow him to perform prayers obligatory for Muslims during his working hours. 

“I can understand people are skeptic, especially that it is unexpected for many of them,” Doorn told Al-Jazeera English satellite channel.

“This is a very big decision, which I have not taken lightly.”

“In my own close circle people have known that I have been actively researching the Qur’an, Hadith, Sunnah and other writings for almost a year now,” he said.

“In addition, I have had numerous conversations with Muslims about the religion.”

Driven by his party’s anti-Islam discourse, Doorn decided to dig in for the truth about the religion himself.

“I have heard so many negative stories about Islam, but I am not a person who follows opinions of others without doing my own research,” he said. “Therefore, I have actually started to deepen my knowledge of Islam out of curiosity.”

The 46-year-old has continued on The Hague Council as an independent candidate since splitting from Wilders’s party. Doorn’s decision to embrace Islam has won mixed reactions in the Netherlands.

“According to some people I am a traitor, but according to most others I have actually made a very good decision,” he told Al-Jazeera.

“The reactions are generally positive and I also received quite some support via twitter.

“It feels good that people who do not know me personally have understanding of my situation and support me in my choice.”

Asked if he now regretted joining the Freedom Party, he replied: “I have learned that every experience in life has a purpose. However, with the knowledge I have today, I would have undoubtedly made a different choice.”

For the Dutch politician, finding Islam was finally guiding him to the true path in his life. “I have made mistakes in life as many others. From these mistakes I have learned a lot,” Doorn said.

“And by my conversion to Islam I have the feeling that I finally found my path. I realize that this is a new start and that I still have much to learn as well.”

source:saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130422162428

Hero of Pakistan... Shahid Afridi

• 50 runs on 18 balls
• Fastest 100 on 37 balls
• T-20 world cup champion captain
• Most sixers
• Most wicket taker in world cup 2011
• No once can hit biggest Six unless he is Afridi

On occassion of 1st day of Islamic Calendar, 1st Muharram, a very breif about our beloved Caliph on his day.

سيدنا عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه - Hazrat Umar Ibn Al Khattab - radiAllahoanho, titled Farooq the Great was one of the most powerful and influential Muslim rulers in history. He was a sahabi (companion) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He succeeded Caliph Abu Bakr (632–634) as the second Caliph of Rashidun Caliphate on 23 August 634. He was an expert jurist and is best known for his justice, that earned him the title Al-Farooq (The one who distinguishes between right and wrong). Under Umar the Islamic empire expanded at an unprecedented rate ruling the whole Sassanid Persian Empire and more than two thirds of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Umar was born in Mecca to the Banu Adi clan, which was responsible for arbitrations among the tribes. His father was famed for his intelligence among his tribe. Despite literacy being uncommon in pre-Islamic Arabia, Umar learned to read and write in his youth. According to the tradition of Quraish, while still in his teenage years, Umar learned martial arts, horse riding and wrestling. He was tall and physically powerful. In addition, Umar followed the traditional profession of Quraish. He became a merchant and had several journeys to Rome and Persia, where he is said to have met the various scholars and analyzed the Roman and Persian societies closely.

In 610 Muhammad started delivering the message of Islam. Umar, alongside others in Mecca, opposed Islam and threatened to kill Muhammad. On the way to murder Muhammad, Umar met his best friend Nuaim who had secretly been converted to a Muslim but he did not tell Umar anything about it. When Umar told him that he was going to kill Muhammad he was afraid. He knew Umar would attempt what he said. So just to divert his attention he told him to set his own house in order first, because his sister and her husband had converted to Islam. Upon arriving at her house, Umar found his sister and brother-in-law Saeed bin Zaid (Umar's cousin), reciting the verses of the Qur'an(Surah Taha). He started quarreling with his brother-in-law . When his sister came to rescue her husband, he also started quarreling with her. Yet still they kept on saying "you may kill us but we will not give up Islam". Upon hearing these words, Umar slapped his sister so hard that she fell to the ground bleeding from her mouth. When he saw what he did to his sister now, out of guilt he calmed down and asked his sister to give him what she was reciting. She gave him the paper on which was written the verses of the chapter Ta-Ha. He was so struck by the beauty of the verses that he accepted Islam that day. He then went to Muhammad (peace be upon him - sallaLlahoalaihiwassallam) with the same sword he intended to kill him with and accepted Islam in front of him and his companions. 

Umar was 27 when he accepted Islam. Following his conversion, Umar went to inform the chief of Quraish, Amr ibn Hishām, about his acceptance of Islam. According to one account, Umar thereafter openly prayed at the Kaaba as the Quraish chiefs, Amr ibn Hishām and Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, reportedly watched in anger. At this stage Umar even challenged anyone who dared to stop the Muslims from praying, although no one dared to interfere with Umar when he was openly praying.

Umar’s conversion to Islam gave power to the Muslims and to the faith in Mecca. It was after this that Muslims offered prayers openly in Masjid al-Haram for the first time. Abdullah bin Masoud said, Umar's embracing Islam was our victory, his migration to Medina was our success and his reign a blessing from Allah.

جامع ترمذی شریف، اورابن ماجہ شریف،میں حدیث شریف ہے

 عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: اقْتَدُوا بِاللَّذَيْنِ مِنْ بَعْدِى أَبِى بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ 

ترجمہ:سیدنا حذیفہ رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ سے روایت ہے آپ نے فرمایا کہ حضرت رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ والہ وسلم نے ارشاد فرمایا: میرے بعد جو دوہیں ان کی اقتداء کرو یعنی ابوبکر اورعمر رضی اللہ عنہما۔ ( ترمذی شریف،ابواب المناقب،باب فی مناقب ابی بکر و عمر رضی اللہ عنہما،حدیث نمبر: 4023 – سنن ابن ماجہ شریف،مقدمہ،باب فضل ابی بکرالصدیق رضی اللہ عنہ،حدیث نمبر: 102) 

صحیح بخاری شریف میں حدیث مبارک 

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضى الله عنه قَالَ صَعِدَ النَّبِىُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى أُحُدٍ وَمَعَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ فَرَجَفَ بِهِمْ ، فَضَرَبَهُ بِرِجْلِهِ ، قَالَ : اثْبُتْ أُحُدُ فَمَا عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ نَبِىٌّ أَوْ صِدِّيقٌ أَوْ شَهِيدَانِ  

ترجمہ:سیدنا انس بن مالک رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ سے روایت ہے آپ نے فرمایاکہ حضور نبی اکرم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم، حضرت ابوبکر صدیق رضی اللہ عنہ حضرت عمر فاروق رضی اللہ تعالی عنہ اور حضرت عثمان غنی رضی اللہ عنہ کے ہمراہ احد پہاڑ پر تشریف فرما ہوئے تو وہ اپنے مقدر پر ناز کرتے ہوئے فرط مسرت سے جھومنے لگا، حبیب پاک صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے قدم مبارک مار کر اس سے فرمایا اے احد! تھم جا تجھ پر نبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ہیں ایک صدیق اور دوشہید ہیں ۔ (صحیح بخاری شریف، 3686 ۔حدیث نمبر: 3686) 

صحیح مسلم شریف میں روایت ہے

فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- وَهُوَ ابْنُ ثَلاَثٍ وَسِتِّينَ سَنَةً وَمَاتَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَهُوَ ابْنُ ثَلاَثٍ وَسِتِّينَ وَقُتِلَ عُمَرُ وَهُوَ ابْنُ ثَلاَثٍ وَسِتِّينَ 

ترجمہ:سیدنا معاویہ رضی اللہ عنہ نے فرمایا: حضرت رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم نے وصال مبارک ہوا،اس وقت آپ کی عمر مبارک تریسٹھ (63) برس تھی، اور حضرت ابوبکر رضی اللہ عنہ نے وصال فرمایا تو آپ کی عمر تریسٹھ (63) برس تھی اور حضرت عمر رضی اللہ عنہ نے وصال فرمایا تو آپ کی عمر مبارک بھی تریسٹھ (63) برس تھی۔ 

(صحیح مسلم شریف،باب كم أقام النبى -صلى الله عليه وسلم- بمكة والمدينة.حدیث نمبر: 6244)

Tribute to National Poet Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal

This is what Allah says about the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him - sallaLlaho alaihi wassallum) in Quraan, the living miracle... the real truth.

HIS EXALTED STATUS

1. He is Nur (Sacred Light) (5:15)

2. Allah blesses him (33:56)

3. Mercy for all the worlds (21:107)

4. His name is Muhammad (Meaning the Most Praised One) (47:2)

5. Allah has exalted his Zikr (remembrance) (94:1-4)

6. His exaltation on the Night of Mi’raj: his heavenly ascent (53:8-9)

7. His Station of Praise (Al-Maqam al-Mahmud) (17:79)

THE BELOVED OF ALLAH

1. If you want to gain the love of Allah, follow him (3:31)

2. Allah addresses him with love and affection (20:1) (36:1) (73:1) (74:1)

3. Allah says: Realize that My Prophetic Messenger himself is with you (49:7)

4. Allah describes him with His Own Attributes of Rauf (Most Kind) and Rahim (Merciful) (9:128)

5. Allah Himself praises him (33:45-47)

6. Possessor of Allah’s Grace (4:113)

7. He is a special favour of Allah (Sub’hanahu wa Ta’ala) (3:164)

8. Allah does not punish people if he is in their midst (8:33)

9. Allegiance to him is allegiance to Allah (48:10)

HE RECEIVED THE HOLY QUR'AN

1. Allah gave him Surah al-Fatiha and the whole Qur’an (15:87)

2. Totally inspired (53:3-4)

3. Allah revealed the Noble Qur’an on his blessed heart (26:192-197)

4. The first revelation he received (96:1)

5. Teaches the Holy Qur’an and Hadith Sharif (Wisdom) and purifies people (62:2)

AMONG THE PROPHETS ('Alayhimussalam)

1. He is the Final Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) (33:40)

2. Mentioned first among the greatest Prophets (‘Alayhimussalam) (33:7) (4:163)

3. A Prophet whom Allah appointed with proven prophecies (30:1-6) (48:1) (48:27) (61:13)

4. Given the knowledge of the unseen (3:179)

5. Nabi Ibrahim (‘Alayhissalam) prayed for his coming (2:129)

6. Foretold by Nabi ‘Isa (Jesus) (‘Alayhissalam) (61:6)

7. Allah asks all the Prophets to believe in him (3:81)

8. Confirms the previous (Prophetic) Messengers of Allah (37:37)

SERVES ONLY ALLAH (THE GLORIFIED AND THE EXALTED)

1. Worships only Allah (Sub’hanahu wa Ta’ala) (72:19-20)

2. Puts total trust in Allah (Sub’hanahu wa Ta’ala) (9:129)

3. Selflessly labours for Allah, asks for no reward (25:57) (42:23)

4. Rewarded by Allah (68:3) (108:1)

HIS EXEMPLARY CHARACTER

1. Most examplary character (33:21) (68:4)

2. Sadiq (Truthful) (33:22)

3. Final judge and arbiter (4:65) (24:51)

4. Honoured, Noble (69: 40)

5. Forgiving (7:199)

6. He is Burhan (Clear Proof) (4:174)

7. Brave: Commands Muslims in battle (3:121)

PREACHES ISLAM

1. Established the correct Message of Islam (6:161-163) (39:11-12)

2. Preacher to all humanity (4:170) (25:1) (34:28)

3. He is Bashir and Nadhir (Bearer of glad tidings and a warner) (5:19)

4. Invites people to Islam (12:108)

5. Even the jinn respond to his call (46:29-31)

6. He brought the truth (17:81) (39:33)

7. He brought a new law (Shari’a) (7:157)

8. A perfect guide to be followed (7:158)

9. He calls you to that which gives you life (8:24)

10. Brings people from the darkness (of Ignorance) to the Light (of Islam) (65:11)

11. His religion prevails over all religion (48:28)

HIS BLESSED FAMILY AND COMPANIONS (Rady Allahu 'Anhum)

1. His Family purified by Allah (Sub’hanahu wa Ta’ala) (33:33)

2. His Companions praised by Allah (Sub’hanahu wa Ta’ala) (48:29)

3. His Companions: The Muhajirin and the Ansar (8:74) (9:100) (59:8-9)

4. His Companions pledge allegiance to him (48:18)

BELIEVE, HONOUR, LOVE, RESPECT AND OBEY HIM

1. Believe, honour and respect him (48:9) (61:11)

2. Love Allah and His Beloved Prophet more than anything else (9:24)

3. He is closer to the believers than their own selves (33:6)

4. Respect him (49:1-3)

5. Obey Allah (Ta’ala) and His Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam)

(3:132) (4:13) (4:59) (4:69) (4:80) (9:71) (24:52) (24:54) (24:56) (33:71) (49:14) (64:12)

6. Follow the Commands of Allah (Sub’hanahu wa Ta’ala)

and of His Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) (33:36)

7. Whatever he gives you, take it (59:7)

8. The reward of believing in him (57:28)

WAGED JIHAD AMIDST PERSECUTION

1. Non-believers plot to kill him (8:30)

2. His persecution (22:39-40)

3. Commanded to fight alone for Allah (Sub’hanahu wa Ta’ala) (4:84)

4. He led Muslims in prayer while in battle (4:102)

5. Allah asks him to seek peace (8:61)

6. Allah helped him in Jihad (33:9)

7. Allah made him victorious (110:1)

HIS MIRACLES

1. Living miracle: The Holy Qur’an (2:23) (17:88) (52:34)

2. Human miracle: he was the wasila (means) through whom people’s hearts were transformed (5:83)

3. Heavenly miracle: Isra’ and Mi’raj (his heavenly ascent) (17:1) (53:8-18)

4. Historic miracle: Hijra; escaped while surrounded (9:40)

5. The miracle of the Battle of Badr: Victory against all odds (3:123-125)

6. The splitting of the moon (54:1-2)

INTERCESSOR (SHAFI')

1. Allah appointed him as an intercessor to plead for people’s forgiveness (3:159) (4:64) (60:12)

2. An accepted intercessor (19:87) (20:109)

3. His supplication a relief for hearts (9:103)

Compiled and Copyright by: Siddiq Osman Noormuhammad
1421/2000