The Kulliyyah Tree

January 28th, 2013

Just found this editorial I wrote in May/June 2012 for the Kulliyyah news.

This is the last entry for this year and this has put me in a reflective mood, in particular as I look out at the big tree, from the mat’am window, whose branches shade part of the path that leads down to both the mu’beets; as it sits firmly rooted in the ground at the top of the hill with its vertical stem reaching high up to the heavens whose strong branches are spreading out in all directions to provide a shade across as great a circumference as possible. I wonder how many times we have passed this tree either in a state of happiness or sorrow, laughter or solemn reflection, how many times we have sat under its shade, walked by with friends, passed by in a car, Read more…

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withered world

May 15th, 2012

withered world -commoditised, commercialised
shallow lives –trafficked, globalised
superficial minds – standardised, systemised
slavish selves photo-cropped –souls digitised
-nip & tuck –instantly glossed –self falsified

eyes blinded, ears deafened –hands tied
international ruse –legalised
population enslaved –pacified
plundering, looting -capitalised
–‘we are but civilised!’

the governments –compromised
the bankers permeated -codified
-new rules, game, and reign –idolised
signs of the times –exemplified

awaken! –realise
enslaved one –open your eyes
let’s defy –echo the freedom cry

the withered world –testifies
-‘together we will survive!’

to reinstate the purified!

Tuesday 15th May 2012

 

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I love you, for you are part of me, a complete we

May 13th, 2012

a community imposes the centrality of the ‘we’!
what is it to be in a group, in a family?

when we say ‘we’ to the world’s community
we express that we value the interests of the majority
the uniting of “I” with the “we” excludes the selfish ‘me’
but what does it really mean, the “we”?

it is a word which removes selfishness and ethnocentricity
and goes beyond our person, space and biological family
it is to extend our hand in friendship, love and charity
to join together on others terms, understanding and reflect on their reality

it is a knowledge that is key to becoming a true culturati
in celebrating the differences and recognising the subtleties
one who gives unrestrained love, affection and attention
to invite the world to its social interactions
for now we are all part of one big human family,
to live together in a single global community

as for those who insist on their perverse goal of supremacy
recognise not the self with all its declaration of diversity
that demands attention to every part, the nook-and-cranny, for self-harmony
so how can we destroy and enslave the ‘we’ of our single body, the extended family
how can we refuse a place at the dinner table and make vulnerable, a party
we claim diversity, but we readily close the door to exclude femininity
in a room without windows, without communication, without even a view of beauty

if we continue to tread this path of suicide, with a selfish stride
to breakdown and isolate everyone within our sight
to impose on the ‘we’ a single view of the ‘i’
thus, we announce to the world our foolish, misguided pride
that leads to nothing but our eventual death and demise

just because you are a loud minority, within our inclusive family
why do you demand, we cannot do this, just because you perceive this to be
don’t shut down our freedom to experience, the heart that guides freely
we have a right to exchange ideas, thoughts and emotions
to open the doors to exciting new possibilities

but, if we stumble on the way of our self-discovery,
recognise this, that this is God’s plan of our frailty
for no one is perfect and we never once claimed to be,
just like Adam who ate of the tree

and thus, don’t impose on us your misguided reality
your values, your believes and your views of morality
your arguments are flawed and in many cases shine of hypocrisy
for your infatuation with sexuality, to us is just insanity

we know humans are created with deep qualities,
for we echo God’s attributes within the whole of humanity
we embrace the tenth of love, that descends from on high
to enable us to admire the beauty that twinkles in the worlds eye

finally, remember, that our sanity is tied together within a healthy community
a diversity that reflects God’s plan for humanity
for His Will is ‘be’ and it is; that is our right to be free
it is the only choice that makes sense
-a global community that unravels the physical world, despite its overwhelming frailties

and thus, we hold hands as part of a single world community
inviting all to live, equally together, in one big extended family

Sunday 13th May 2012

 

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Plundering of a grain

May 12th, 2012

you plunder a grain from the vast desert sand
or a drop from the oceans expanse

you strive to reign at the glitters ebb
ignorant of the world, the beauty it contains

your heart fluctuates between the twain
like a bull in a china shop, it can’t be restrained

remember those that oft-repeated said:
“I am the lord, the god so obey my every request”

now they live in pillaged graves, dead
with crumbling bones, covered in dust, the insects fed

we see them in prison of glass, passed from one place to the next
‘this is the king that once reigned supreme’ –the caption read

consumed by the illusion, the world –a mirage self-created
oblivious to the sun across the horizon, in its final descent

as the shadow fades, the heart realises it has grave mistake
unable to grasp the grain; it falls to join histories sands, again

thus, long after the words are said, a fading imprint is all that remains
‘here once a king reigned supreme’ –the caption explains, as it is read, once again

Saturday 12th May 2012

 

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Rediscovering the lost soul: Renewal of the Muslim Mind

January 22nd, 2012

The Muslim scholarship has been tied into the idea of ‘coming to know God’, and thus this, historically, led to the expansion of knowledge, research and development in all areas of the known sciences. By the absorption of different cultures and further development of their knowledge, along with the development of great knowledge centres like Baghdad, Egypt and elsewhere; the Muslim scholarship took a great leap forward and with it took humanity into a new era of discovery and innovation. These centres attracted scholars from all over the world, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, as they provided a space in which students of knowledge and scholars were free to advocate their thinking, develop their ideas and pursue all sorts of lines of inquiry. These centres allowed for an intellectually reasoned and rational debate of their ideas and modes of thinking that were ultimately accepted or rejected. All this took place in an atmosphere of safety, security, freedom and culture of intellectual pursuit as Read more…

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A washed heart

December 4th, 2011

a washed heart in the wilderness of the desert, a pure soul elevated to hold the Word
an answer to a constant calling, an agitated state -a searching and a thirst
taught from on high by a trusted source, one from the realm of light
to project words of beauty that beautify, while holding knowledge of the ghabe
an imprint of reflection through a stainless window of an honoured heart
while even its shadow, on a pure canvas, is celebrated and held in great regard
an expression of artistic delight by the One that holds him in esteem
and thus it is He who has praised him by naming him rahmatu-lil-alameen

Sunday 4th December 2011

 

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Free will and choice

October 21st, 2011

Rachid Ghannouchi “God says in the Qur’an that “There is no compulsion in religion”; therefore we believe that neither the state nor any social actor has the right to interfere in society in order to impose a certain lifestyle, belief or idea. These should be matters of free personal choice.”
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/17/tunisians-islamic-secular-ennahda-election)

The above quote is from an article published in the Guardian by Rachid Ghannouchi, a Tunisian born scholar and activist who has dedicated his life, much of it in exile, to exploring the meaning behind the message and how it can best be understood in our time and context. Below I provide my understanding of the above quote.

All reading of the text must be done with the trajectory of the objective of God’s Will in mind. This Will, although cannot be known absolutely, after all God’s Words -the Quranic terms, are wrapped in many layers of complexity and require unpacking to reach a level of understanding from which we can move forward in understanding the objective of God; are filtered through human language for our comprehension. The Will has to Read more…

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Brave hearts

August 17th, 2011

three brave boys -no, Men, have died -shaheed
freed from the world of sorrow -their souls peaceful and tranquil
while, the one who has mowed them down
will live, forever condemned; with this action, his hands bound
forgiveness can be sought, but who can remove the pain
a constant reminder of one’s actions -a signpost for future generations and shame

Wednesday, 17th August 2011

 

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A Shining Star

August 17th, 2011

I held once a shining star, as it learnt to illuminate the heavens
the joy shone through the darkest night, time suspended, day imprinted so bright
while now how distant the thought has become, how infrequent the name mentioned
where memories once dominated every moment, the constant melody, the heart lingered to see
time now is no longer suspended, thoughts no longer captivated, the days pass by with ease
odd is life, while now it shines in another’s place, bringing joy and happiness for sure
rarely can I steal a glimpse, rarely it’s light reaches my space
and thus rarity has now become my hearts cure

Wednesday, 17th August 2011

 

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Human interpretation of divine legislation

August 8th, 2011

Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali in his book ‘A thematic commentary of the Quran’, while commenting on surah Al-Ma’idah verse 48, which states:

“And to you [Muhammad] We have revealed the Book with the truth. It confirms other books that have come before it and prevails over them. Therefore rule over them according to God’s revelations and do not follow their whims and fancies in deviation from the truth that has come to you. We have ordained for each [community] a system of laws and assigned them paths to follow.”

Explores, while maintain the authority of God -the Creator; the responsibility of the free-thinking, rational human mind and its elevated position in the sight of the One that ‘taught him the signs’; as to how it should approach the legislative commands within the text.

Commenting on this verse, al-Ghazali makes a distinction along the doctrinal and belief matters -which were perfected and concluded with the Read more…

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Seeking the favours of My Lord

August 6th, 2011

What favours of your Lord will you deny?” – a most powerful question that strikes deep into the heart, vibrates the soul and brings tears to the eyes. How ungrateful that we cling so heavily to this earth while the hereafter is far better! How can our souls find peace and tranquillity and our hearts find comfort and love when we are so far removed from the example of the Creators most noblest of creation and the Creators most highest of revelation?

My Lord I seek Your acceptance and Your guidance, for I am forgetful. I seek the praised example and intervention for I am sinful. I seek knowledge, wisdom and understanding along the path that is all good, blessed and surrounded by mercy, for I am indeed in need and dependent.

While I pray for the best of this world I seek the best of the hereafter, that promise You have made Your creation -a promise you will bestow not because of our deeds but solely because of Your Mercy; for I stand at your door in supplication and prostration.

My Lord I am but a human being, Your creation, created weak and dependent, please do not take me to account for the favours that I may have inadvertently (through forgetfulness) denied. My Lord make my bad actions of the one you accept rather than good actions of the one you reject. For I stand alone, inwardly and outwardly naked both my good and bad actions visible in your Majestic court.

Above all, My Lord, I seek You; to look upon the face of the one that Created me, that sustains me, that enables my heart to love and my being to feel, that bestowed upon me reason and rational, that provide me the tools to read and understand the signs of both revelations. For I have nothing that does not belong to you, I am present with my being waiting for an audience.

I am seeking My Lord, I am seeking the way to be a humble servant, I am seeking the way towards the light, I am seeking the way towards You. Please make my journey easy; ameen.

 

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former and the latter

July 14th, 2011

Inspired by the following statement that Ajmal Masroor made on facebook:

Yesterday, our weekly Wednesday study session was one of the most memorable ones for us. One of the participants wanted to take the shahada and one couple wanted get married. No sooner had we helped them with their major steps in life, another participant decided that it was the right time to take the plunge too. Two shahada and one nikah all in one evening – it left us all in tears and elated.

where the former dither at the waters ebb, the latter are surfing the spiritual edge
glistering pearls of endless energy, their faces emitting God’s boundless beauty
and so, the former can only but introspect, while the latter have already forged far ahead

Thusrday 14th July 2011

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The Sunna of the Beloved

June 30th, 2011

If envy is a sin then I am the incurable sinner for I envy every eye that ever caught a glimpse of you. I envy the waves that carried your voice, and the air that touched your cheeks. I envy even the ground that once served you, and I confess to you that despite my indulgent sins, my shameful whimsies and ugly flimsies, I confess to you, “I love you.” My confessions are as silly as my muted words. You have been loved by so many more substantial than I, and what good does my silence Read more…

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Music: A gift from God to catch a glimpse of heaven

April 14th, 2011

“Music promotes good mood, moral education, emotional steadiness and spiritual development. It is useful for physical health. When the soul is not healthy, the body is also ill. Good music, which cures the soul, restores the body to good health.” -Abu Nasr al-Farabi (870–950), Kitab al-Musiqa

“The essence of music is an intangible thing. It can be measured by vibrations, sound waves, and resonances, yet those factors alone cannot explain music or why it affects us the way it does. Perhaps the best way is to say that music is a gift from God, meant to ease our suffering in this world, to remind us of His goodness, His mercy, and most of all, to help us connect with Him at a deeper level. It is a way for us to catch a glimpse of heaven.” -Julie Ann Cunningham, Fountain Magazine

The article was forwarded to me by Adam Seedat.

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sunshine

April 8th, 2011

rare is the Sun that shines so bright
music in every heart, love in every sight
every emotion cherished, dear Lord, ’tis divine
to every heartbeat, You will a precise time
and thus, smile, laugh and love, and hold the rare Sun that shines so bright

Friday 8th April 2011

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