Assalamu 3alaikum,
Friday khutbah about the importance of clearly defining who we are as muslims, clearly defining labels/names, and how we should react when fingers are pointed at us for acts of terror or crimes.
Islamic Fascists…No Need to Define US (20 min long)
Please keep me in your du’a.
Assalamu 3alaikum.
Your brother,
Billo.
Assalamu 3alaikum,
Yesteday while I was out in the field with a fellow coworker to look at the tail-end of a conveyer, me eyes fell on the largest chain I've ever seen. On one end of the chain, you had the tail-end of the conveyer which carries oil sand which is to get crushed by a crusher down the line. On the other end of the chain you have 12 huge blocks of concrete that create tension in the chain holding the tail-end of the con veyer in place.
This is a picture my coworker took of the chain. Each link of the chain is slightly larger than my hand, and my hand could probably fit through it (I know it's not the biggest chain, but it sure amazed me!). The chain-link to to the far right could surely fit my whole arm. Looking at the chain, some of these verses of the Quran came to my mind:
"وَإِنْ تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ أَئِذَا كُنَّا تُرَابًا أَئِنَّا لَفِي خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَأُولَئِكَ الْأَغْلَالُ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ وَأُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ "
"وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا بَلْ مَكْرُ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَا أَنْ نَكْفُرَ بِاللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُ أَنْدَادًا وَأَسَرُّوا النَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا الْأَغْلَالَ فِي أَعْنَاقِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ"
" أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آَيَاتِ اللَّهِ أَنَّى يُصْرَفُونَ (69) الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِالْكِتَابِ وَبِمَا أَرْسَلْنَا بِهِ رُسُلَنَا فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ (70) إِذِ الْأَغْلَالُ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ وَالسَّلَاسِلُ يُسْحَبُونَ (71) فِي الْحَمِيمِ ثُمَّ فِي النَّارِ يُسْجَرُونَ (72) ثُمَّ قِيلَ لَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ (73) مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ قَالُوا ضَلُّوا عَنَّا بَلْ لَمْ نَكُنْ نَدْعُو مِنْ قَبْلُ شَيْئًا كَذَلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ الْكَافِرِينَ (74) ذَلِكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَفْرَحُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَبِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَمْرَحُونَ (75) ادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا فَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ"
يس (1) وَالْقُرْآَنِ الْحَكِيمِ (2) إِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ (3) عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ (4) تَنْزِيلَ الْعَزِيزِ الرَّحِيمِ (5) لِتُنْذِرَ قَوْمًا مَا أُنْذِرَ آَبَاؤُهُمْ فَهُمْ غَافِلُونَ (6) لَقَدْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَى أَكْثَرِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ (7) إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ أَغْلَالًا فَهِيَ إِلَى الْأَذْقَانِ فَهُمْ مُقْمَحُونَ (8) وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّا وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَيْنَاهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ (9) وَسَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنْذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنْذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ (10) إِنَّمَا تُنْذِرُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الذِّكْرَ وَخَشِيَ الرَّحْمَنَ بِالْغَيْبِ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِمَغْفِرَةٍ وَأَجْرٍ كَرِيمٍ
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ فَيَقُولُ هَاؤُمُ اقْرَءُوا كِتَابِيَهْ (19) إِنِّي ظَنَنْتُ أَنِّي مُلَاقٍ حِسَابِيَهْ (20) فَهُوَ فِي عِيشَةٍ رَاضِيَةٍ (21) فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ (22) قُطُوفُهَا دَانِيَةٌ (23) كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا هَنِيئًا بِمَا أَسْلَفْتُمْ فِي الْأَيَّامِ الْخَالِيَةِ (24) وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِشِمَالِهِ فَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُوتَ كِتَابِيَهْ (25) وَلَمْ أَدْرِ مَا حِسَابِيَهْ (26) يَا لَيْتَهَا كَانَتِ الْقَاضِيَةَ (27) مَا أَغْنَى عَنِّي مَالِيَهْ (28) هَلَكَ عَنِّي سُلْطَانِيَهْ (29) خُذُوهُ فَغُلُّوهُ (30) ثُمَّ الْجَحِيمَ صَلُّوهُ (31) ثُمَّ فِي سِلْسِلَةٍ ذَرْعُهَا سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعًا فَاسْلُكُوهُ (32) إِنَّهُ كَانَ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ (33) وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَى طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ (34) فَلَيْسَ لَهُ الْيَوْمَ هَاهُنَا حَمِيمٌ (35) وَلَا طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِنْ غِسْلِينٍ (36) لَا يَأْكُلُهُ إِلَّا الْخَاطِئُونَ (37)
"And if you (O Muhammad SAW) wonder (at these polytheists who deny your message of Islamic Monotheism and have taken besides Allah others for worship who can neither harm nor benefit), then wondrous is their saying: "When we are dust, shall we indeed then be (raised) in a new creation?" They are those who disbelieve in their Lord! They are those who will have iron chains tying their hands to their necks. They will be dwellers of the Fire to abide therein" [Al-Ra`d: 5]
"Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Nay, but it was your plotting by night and day, when you ordered us to disbelieve in Allah and set up rivals to Him!" And each of them (parties) will conceal their own regrets (for disobeying Allah during this worldly life), when they behold the torment. And We shall put iron collars round the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they requited aught except what they used to do?" [Saba': 33]
"See you not those who dispute about the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah? How are they turning away (from the truth, i.e. Islamic Monotheism to the falsehood of polytheism)? (69) Those who deny the Book (this Quran), and that with which We sent Our Messengers (i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone sincerely, and to reject all false deities and to confess resurrection after the death for recompense) they will come to know (when they will be cast into the Fire of Hell). (70) When iron collars will be rounded over their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along (71) In the boiling water, then they will be burned in the Fire (72) Then it will be said to them: "Where are (all) those whom you used to join in worship as partners (73) "Besides Allah" They will say: "They have vanished from us: Nay, we did not invoke (worship) anything before." Thus Allah leads astray the disbelievers (74) That was because you had been exulting in the earth without any right (by worshipping others instead of Allah and by committing crimes), and that you used to rejoice extremely (in your error). (75) Enter the gates of Hell to abide therein, and (indeed) what an evil abode of the arrogant! (76)
"Ya-Sin. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings.] (1) By the Quran, full of wisdom (i.e. full of laws, evidences, and proofs), (2) Truly, you (O Muhammad SAW) are one of the Messengers (3) On a Straight Path (i.e. on Allah's religion of Islamic Monotheism). (4) (This is) a Revelation sent down by the AllMighty, the Most Merciful (5) In order that you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, so they are heedless. (6) Indeed the Word (of punishment) has proved true against most of them, so they will not believe. (7) Verily! We have put on their necks iron collars reaching to chins, so that their heads are forced up (8) And We have put a barrier before them, and a barrier behind them, and We have covered them up, so that they cannot see (9) It is the same to them whether you warn them or you warn them not, they will not believe (10) You can only warn him who follows the Reminder (the Quran), and fears the Most Beneficent (Allah) unseen. Bear you to such one the glad tidings of forgiveness, and a generous reward (i.e. Paradise). (11) [Yaaseen: 1-11]
"But as for him who will be given his Record in his left hand, will say: "I wish that I had not been given my Record!" (26) "And that I had never known, how my Account is?" (27) "I wish, would that it had been my end (death)!" (28) "My wealth has not availed me" (29) "My power and arguments (to defend myself) have gone from me!" (30) (It will be said): "Seize him and fetter him" (31) "Then throw him in the blazing Fire" (32) "Then fasten him with a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits!" (33) Verily, He used not to believe in Allah, the Most Great (34) And urged not on the feeding of AlMiskin (the poor), (35) So no friend has he here this Day (36) Nor any food except filth from the washing of wounds (37) None will eat except the Khati'un (sinners, disbelievers, polytheists, etc.).(38) [Al-Haaqqah: 26-38]
What's even more scary than this is the fact that these kinds of people were destined for hell fire for one sole reason: they were "Kuffar". The meaning of the word best known to most of us is "disbelievers". If you look at the origin of the word, (more…)
Assalamu 3alaikum,
This is something I want to share with you guys:
(Adapted from 7 Steps for the Total Annihiliation of Mankind by Ibless)
Level 1:
He will try his hardest, and he won't waste time until you commit Shirk or Kufr. If he doesn't suceed …
Level 2:
He will try his hardest, and he won't waste time until you fall into a Bid'ah (innovation) because this leads you back to level 1 (Just think of how the shaytaan led Noah's tribe to Shirk through idols – it's a step by step process). If he doesn't suceed …
Level 3:
He will try his hardest, and he won't waste time until you commit Al-Kabaa'r (major sins) because if you die without repenting from these, you are most likely going to hell. If he doesn't suceed …
Level 4:
He will try his hardest, and he won't waste time until you commit Al-Saghaa'ir (mninor sins) becasue he hopes that you will belittle them, and then your heart will harden until you no longer feel guilty of commiting them, and they will accumuate and eventually throw you into hell fire. If he doesn't suceed …
Level 5:
He will try his hardest, and he won't waste time until you waste your life indulging in Mubaahaat (things you're allowed to do, but they don't earn you any reward) because he can't make you fall into sin as often as before, and as such, it's not worth it anymore (you see he does the math), so instead he makes sure that you don't do any good at all. If he doesn't suceed …
Assalamu 3alaikum,
Something I found interesting in this article:
“Fatah members entered the hall in Ramallah in suits and ties, with women in dress suits, their hair uncovered. They greeted each other warmly, with handshakes and kisses, and many members went to speak to Muhammad Dahlan, a Gazan who is considered a crucial figure in a future, younger Fatah.
The Hamas delegation in Ramallah, those elected in the West Bank, came in together and sat in a block at the back of the room; the women wore head scarves and sat together.
When Mr. Abbas finished his speech, many Fatah members stood and clapped. Many Hamas members kept their seats, and few applauded. After the speech, before they voted to elect a new parliamentary speaker, Aziz Dweik, a Hamas member and a professor of geography, many Hamas members used a corner of the hall to pray.”
Please keep me in your du’a.
Assalamu 3alaikum,
Your brother,
Billo.
Assalamu 3alaikum,
I read this article today. Please make du’a for your brothers and sisters in Palestine consistently, especially in your sujuud (prostration). Be in their aid, and give them your support.
Here are some links to Islamic relief organizations:
Don’t forget about your brothers and sisters in the rest of the world! They are in great need of you support.
Salim reported on the authority of his father that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: “A Muslim is the brother of a fellow-Muslim. He should neither commit oppression upon him nor ruin him, and he who meets the need of a brother, Allah would meet his needs, and he who relieved a Muslim from hardship Allah would relieve him from the hardships to which he would be put on the Day of Resurrection, and he who did not expose (the follies of a Muslim) Allah would conceal his follies on the Day of Resurrection.” [Muslim: Book 032, 6251]
عن عقيل عن الزهري عن سالم عن أبيه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “ المسلم أخو المسلم لا يظلمه ولا يسلمه من كان في حاجة أخيه كان الله في حاجته ومن فرج عن مسلم كربة فرج الله عنه بها كربة من كرب يوم القيامة ومن ستر مسلما ستره الله يوم القيامة
Please keep me in your du’a.
Assalmu 3alaikum,
Your brother,
Billo.
Assalamu 3alaikum,
Some of you demanded pics, so inshallah this batch will be enough to quench your thirst. (Thank my roommate for taking the pics with his cell phone).
This is my nice, shiny, bright, orange, solid as a rock, hardhat with my name tag in the middle “Belal …”. As you can see, there is triangular sticker with a 2003 year on it, where the 3 has been scratched out and replaced with a 6 (cheapskates … no actually the new stickers hadn’t arrived yet). I am part of the “New Workers Program”, and this sticker identifies me as a new worker. In other words, it’s my way of saying “I have an excuse for not knowing what that heck that thing is: I’m new here” or “It’s not my fault” or “I need your help … again”. When you familiar with the area and have been working there for long enough, you can take off that sticker. Actually, some people keep the sticker on for years and years 😀 I don’t blame them, I would too. LOL!
The rest of my PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). The blue fire retardant coveralls look more likethe suits that astronauts wear than mere field clothes to me. Hmm … maybe I just wanna make myself feel better. What do you think?
Since I won’t post the image of myself online, your gonna have to settle with Lei, my roommate (well, at least until I come back to Edmonton this Friday anyway). (more…)
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