Women are like the sun and men are like the moon???

The word “shams” (the sun) is feminine and the word “qamar” (the moon) is masculine.  The sun burns itself out to give light and life to everything around, and the moon is muneer, meaning it reflects the light.  Within itself the moon has no light; it radiates the brilliance of the sun.  So when we shine as men, the implication is that we are reflecting the glorious light of our women.  May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’Alaa be pleased with them.”

-Shaikh Abdullah Adhami

Reflection: What I find most enlightening about this linguistic extrapolation is not the fact that it exists, but moreso that a Muslim man is expressing this. Alhamdulillah (All praises to God).  It is so common for Muslim men to be portrayed as emotionless women oppressors. The fact is that this profound realization is inherent within Islam and it mirrors a code by which we live.  A code of compassion, commitment, and admiration to our loved ones. I pray to Allah that we as Muslims begin to search into the depth and breadth of Islam rather than just focusing on one or the other.  Islam is not a religion to me, it is so much more.  It is a way of existing.  This is something so unique to Islam and so utterly beautiful.  I pray that one day non-muslims (specifically Americans) will have this view of Islam rather than the contrived image that the media portrays.  Whether or not they themselves consciously submit entirely to God is their decision, but Islam is superb and those who veil Islam with misconceptions are indeed disservicing humanity.

Opening-Up of the Heart

“Have we not opened up thy heart

and lifted thee from thy burden

that had weighed so heavily on thy back?

And  have We not raised thee high in dignity?

And, behold, with every hardship comes ease:

Verily, with every hardship comes ease!

Hence, when thou art freed from distress,

remain steadfast, and unto thy sustainer

turn with love.“

Qur’an: Surah Ash-Sharh

Reflection: I never previously understoot tha magnitude of this chapter of the Qur’an until this January when I got in a beast of a car accident.  I was going to pick up my boy BIlal from so we could go to our weekly Arabi/Islam class. I was turning out of my intersection, just as I would any other day, when all of a sudden the light changed, I proceeded into the intersection and subsequently was hit by a car going approx 50mph.  The woman was blinded by the sun and was not aware that she had blown a red light, she hit the front driver side of my car.  If i were only one foot further in the intersection She would have hit my door and probably seriously hospitalized me…. Alhamdulillah, Allah let me walk out alive.  How often do we evade common tragedies in our lives? My guess is at least 10 serious tragedies are avoided a day based on cautious, moral, and logical decisions.  To make a long story short, everytime an obvious tragedy occurs, we give thanks to God for protecting us.  And we should give thanks.  However, where most people err, is when they avoid a tragedy and do not learn a lesson or do not continue to thank God.  Tragedies are like wake up calls that everyhitng you know could be taken in just 1 split second, but for whatever reason, you were spared.  So be grateful and turn to your Lord with love!  A lesson well learned, inshaAllah (God willing) we will all be spared further despair or tragedies, but will never fail to thank God for the endless miracles he bestows upon us (like the gift of every BREATH!)  What I take from this is to open up my heart and accept the fact that I have very little control in my life and that God alone has power over everything…

Affection and Islam

“The finest of believers conduct themselves with honorbale bearing.  And the finest of the finest are those who treat their mates with affection.”

-Prophet Muhammad ’salAllahu alayhi wassalaam’ [Abu Hurairah]

Reflection: SUBHANALLAH!!!! That is all I have to say …..