The Jewel in Lebanon's Crown

By Mohsin Asharia


Baalbek. You may have heard of this archaeological site. It was once home to the largest ever stone block construction in the world, over 5000 years ago. The Romans made it a sacred site, calling it Heliopolis, “City of the Sun”, where they worshipped the god Jupiter. Now home to meticulously preserved Roman temple ruins, this Lebanese town lives on as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and tourist destination.

However, in the shadows of the “Largest Stone in the World” ruins in Baalbek one can catch a glimpse of glimmering blue mosaic minarets. They look strikingly familiar to those seen some 35 miles south in the Shrine of Syeda Zainab in Damascus. Enter the mosque and the familiarities continue, with mirrored tiles and gilded mausoleum, clung to by pilgrims, tears flowing from their cheeks. A banner hangs from the top of the shrine. It reads in Arabic: “Peace be on you, O Khawla daughter of Husayn (as)”.

Lebanon is associated more with beach holidays in Beirut than ziyarat trips, but pilgrims, mainly Iranian and Lebanese, flock on a daily basis to the shrine of Syeda Khawla, one of Imam Husayn’s (as) youngest daughters, in this distant town. Syeda Khawla was reportedly anywhere between a newborn and two years of age when she accompanied the caravan of women and children taken from Karbala to Damascus. Sadly, the young girl never reached Sham and passed away en route in Baalbek.

It is difficult to understand the exact historical details of the shrine, and I am no historian, but Syeda Khawla’s pure body was reported to have been buried by her brother Imam Zainul Abideen (as), who planted a tree and possibly engraved a tombstone by her grave.

Reportedly, around 300 years ago, a member of one of the notable families in Baalbek, namely the Mortada family, saw Syeda Khawla in a dream, where she asked him to divert a stream of water, “Ras al Ayn”, within his orchard, away from her tomb since it was injuring her body. This happened on numerous occasions until the orchard owners decided to excavate the area, where it is said that they discovered the grave of Syeda Khawla, fresh as if it had just been recently buried. They marked her tomb accordingly and built a shrine in remembrance.

 

More recently, in 2005, Iranian funding allowed for a spectacular new shrine to be built, and the mosque is now an epicentre in the Shia-majority city. The original cypress tree thought to have been marked by the 4^th Imam is still intact and pilgrims who wish to have children often invoke Allah for this blessing through this young child.

Beach holiday in...Iran?

By Mohsin Asharia

Think of beach holidays in the Middle East and you’d be stretched thinking beyond Dubai and Sharm el Sheikh. In fact, Iran hardly sounds a destination promising sun, sea and sand. However, for one small island off the Persian Gulf coast, white beaches, glitzy malls and 7 star hotels make it the third most visited Middle Eastern tourist spot after Dubai & Sharm. But with the island under Iranian law, can this tax-free haven just a stone’s throw from Dubai ever rival the billionaire’s backyard?

History

When the Emirates and Sinai were deserts, the Shah was focused on making Kish the Monaco of the Middle East. A magazine article from 1978, when the island was inaugurated, describes how wealthy US investors pumped $400 million into the island in less than a year, and French staff, travelling to Kish by Concorde from Paris, brought with them “food, fine wines and preserves”. Like Monte Carlo, the defining feature of the island was the casino, with blonde dealers working their charms in black satin dresses.

When the Islamic Revolution took place the next year, the government did not want Kish’s prosperity to disappear with the Shah, and the island continued to be built up, with a new Dolphin Park and nature reserve being introduced. Whereas the Shah reserved Kish for the affluent, it was now open to all, and tourism flourished.

But then Dubai stole the show. Foreigners and even Iranians were attracted to the relaxed laws and bigger investments, and Kish’s palm trees were left parched.

Glamour

Over the last few years, Kish has once again entered the platform. Construction began on the $2 billion Flower of the East project to include a 7 star hotel, golf courses and leisure centres. And in April 2009, plans were approved to build Persian Gulf Sea City, to include an artificial island, in Kish.

1 million Iranian tourists now visit Kish every year, and there are 60 hotels on the island. Many Iranians favour Kish to foreign destinations to “let the money go into pockets of Iranians rather than foreigners”, but also because of the relaxed laws on the island.

Despite officially being under Islamic law, the regulations are less tightly enforced in Kish. Women ride bikes and smoke shisha pipes in public, and music concerts take place in malls. The same goes for clothing, with men wearing vests and Bermuda shorts on the streets. Women sport loose scarves and Capri trousers, and are even free to wear bikinis in the women’s only beaches. As one hotel manager puts it, “One report on women being bothered by vice squads, and business here would collapse and cause problems for both investors and government.”

The Future

With other destinations offering all that Kish does, it is still the Islamic law that thwarts Kish from climbing up the tourist hotspot list. Many still prefer the relative freedom that Dubai and the Red Sea offer, whilst still offering the perks of Halal cuisine and better shopping.

Kish is therefore in the midst of a battle between promoting foreign tourism without compromising its laws. Many believe the two are incompatible. Behzad Foroutan, 26, who runs an Esprit store in Kish, says “People want to be free when they come to the beach, but...for now we're stuck in a place where women have to wear the scarf if they want to visit.”

Others, such as Minou, 38, from Tehran, have made their standpoint very clear. “if (vice squads) bother me or my daughter just because a few strands of hair were seen under our scarves, then I would not hesitate to go again to Turkey or Dubai”.

Smile, Life's Too Short!

by Mohsin Asharia

Walking through the subway of South Kensington tube station, a sign in front of a busker caught my eye. Scrawled neatly in large, even letters, the placard read: “Smile- Life’s too short”. And that’s what got me thinking.

Most of us can hardly sit through a 45 minute class in school or university before anxiously anticipating the school bell or the words “Thank you, you can go now”. Yet at the same time hours can fly by when playing on the PS3 or aimlessly navigating through the wonders of Facebook.

Ask your grandparents and they’ll most likely agree with the busker’s statement, probably mentioning how it seems like yesterday that they reached the shores of the UK. Ask a bored pupil in a geometry lesson at school and he’ll do anything but agree. However, although our perception of time may be relative, twenty four hours is still an awful lot of time.

It is phenomenal yet thought provoking that we spend over a third of our lives unconscious in the comfort of our beds. All this achieves is making the other two thirds even more prized. Eliminating the hours of grooming, travelling and earning a livelihood in this bustling society we live in, and we are left with precious little. And it is how we use this precious little time which can truly shape our lives.

You see, it’s easy to get away from a hard day’s work and spend the remaining hours around the obligatory shisha that now defines (and with its adverse effects will probably shorten) our social lives. It’s even easier to use them by simply doing nothing other than catching up on the sleep we lost the day before when we decided to spend one more hour watching random YouTube videos. 

When it comes to time management, I’m definitely no angel and I’m admonishing myself in all that I write here. But I can’t help but think that I could use my time so much more wisely.

You’re probably wondering what this article is doing in an Islamic newsletter. However time is a concept embedded in the jewels of Islam, be it in the Qur’an, the traditions of the infallibles or in the lives of scholars. In Surah Munafiqun, after advising us not to let material possessions engulf our time, Allah (swt) gives us a chilling warning:

“And spend out of what We have given you before death comes to one of you, so that he should say: My Lord! why didst Thou not respite me to a near term, so that I should have given alms and been of the doers of good deeds?” (Qur’an 63:10)

How ironic that we have so much time now, yet one day we will beg for a few extra minutes to shift the balance of our deeds!

The traditions at the end of the article demonstrate that time is of the utmost significance in our lives. Indeed, it is all we have and once it passes it never returns. Every second we spend on this earth is a second closer to death, and hence discipline is required to spend our lives in a worthy fashion. Imam Ali (as) encapsulates its importance with the narration: “There is nothing worthier than gold save what remains of a true believer’s life” (Ghurar-ul-Hikam, p. 257)

There is perhaps more to this narration than meets the eye. Whilst we use our free time for material pleasures, the time itself is more valuable than the materials we yearn for.

And so, as I continue to stroll down the subway, free of any other distractions, I use the opportunity wisely. A warm smile forms on my face as I glance back at the busker. Because, after all, life is too short!

_____________________

“Opportunity is something which is quick to vanish and late to return.”

Imam H.Askari (as)

“Take advantage of 5 opportunities before 5:

1. Your youth before your old age

2. Your health before your illness,

3. Your wealth before your poverty

4. Your leisure before your haste

5. Your life before your death.”

The Holy Prophet (saw), (Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol 77, p77)

Blessings man will be asked about on Judgement Day:

“his life, how he spent it his youth, how he grew old; his wealth, from where he acquired it, and how he spent it; and his knowledge, what he did with it.”

 The Holy Prophet (saw)

Benefits of Surah Kafirun

· The Prophet said reciting this Surah carries the reward of reciting a quarter of the Qur’an.

· Reciting it drives away Shaitan and keeps one safe from Shirk.

· It is also among the 5 surahs recommended to recite during a journey, the others being Surah Nasr, Ikhlas, Falaq and Naas.

· Reciting Surah Kafirun and Ikhlas in compulsory prayers is a means for forgiveness of sins for the reciter, his parents and his children. If a person dies after reciting this surah, it is as if he has died a martyr. Recitation of this surah before sleeping keeps one safe the whole night.

Islam to be top UK religion?

by Arif Janmohamed

Muslims are becoming the UK’s biggest practising religious group. Figures show that Islam will have the most active following if current trends continue.

The number of Roman Catholic worshippers at Sunday mass will fall to 679,000 by 2020, while 683,000 Muslims will be praying in mosques on Fridays. The statistics, from Christian Research, also suggested that over the same period, the total number of practising Muslims would overtake Church of England members going to Sunday services.

The projections, based on Government and academic sources, were revealed after teaching leaders said that State Schools should allow children to study the Holy Qur’an and other religious texts as part of the National Curriculum.

Infallible pieces of advice

Imam Ali’s (as) advice to his sons

"O my son, learn four things and (a further) four things from me. Nothing will harm you if you practise them.
1. That the richest of riches is intelligence;
2. The biggest destitution is foolishness;
3. The wildest wildness is vanity and
4. The best achievement is goodness of moral character.

"O' my son, you should avoid making friends with:
1. a fool because he may intend to benefit you but may harm you
2. a stingy person because he will run away from you when you need him most
3. a sinful person because he will sell you for nothing
4. a liar as he is like a mirage, making you feel far things near & near things far.”

Islamic Laws: Common mistakes in prayer

RECITATION OF SURAHS

1001. It is Wajib for a man to recite Surah al-Hamd and the other Surah loudly, while offering Fajr, Maghrib and Isha prayers, and it is Wajib for a man and a woman to recite Surah al-Hamd and the other Surah silently while offering Zuhr and Asr prayers.

1002. As a precaution, men must take care to recite loudly every word of Surah al-Hamd and the other Surah, including their last letters, in the prayers of Fajr, Maghrib and Isha.

1003. A woman can recite Surah al-Hamd and other Surah in Fajr, Maghrib and Isha prayers loudly or silently. But, if a na-Mahram hears her voice, she should, on the basis of precaution, recite them silently, especially if allowing him to listen is haraam.

1004. If a person intentionally prays loudly where he should pray silently, and vice versa, his prayer is void. But, if, he does so owing to forgetfulness, or not knowing the rule, his prayer is in order. And if he realises that he is doing a mistake while reciting the Surah al-Hamd and the other Surah, it is not necessary to recite again what he has recited not following the rule.


CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

1469. When a follower makes his niyyat, it is necessary for him to specify the Imam. But, it is not necessary for him to know his name. If he makes niyyat that he is following the Imam of the present congregation, his prayer is in order.

1470. It is necessary for the follower to recite all the things of the prayers himself, except Surah al-Hamd and the other Surah. However, if his first or second Rak'at coincides with third or fourth Rak'at of the Imam, he should recite Surah al-Hamd and Surah.

1475. The follower should not recite Surah al-Hamd and Surah in the first and second Rak'ats of Zuhr and Asr prayers and it is Mustahab that instead of them he should recite Zikr.

1476. The follower should not say Takbiratul ehram before the Imam. As an obligatory precaution, he should not say the takbir until the takbir of the Imam is completed.

1478. If a follower recites other parts of prayers other than Takbiratul ehram before the Imam, there is no objection. But, if he hears them being recited by the Imam, or if he knows when Imam is going to recite them, the recommended precaution is that he should not recite them before the Imam.

1498. It is Makrooh for the follower to recite the Zikr in the prayers in such a way that Imam hears them.
____________

Due to space restrictions, we have only been able to publish a limited number of laws.
We recommend you read the other rulings related to these topics in the book Islamic Laws or at: al-islam.org/laws to prevent confusion and to put the rulings into context.
All these laws correspond to the rulings of Ayatollah Sistani (may Allah protect him).

Words of wisdom

by Arif Janmohamed

· The bird of all companionship, whether in marriage or in friendship, is conversation.

· Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.

· When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die the world cries and you rejoice.

· Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.

· When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.

Najaf flies to new heights

The 9 million pilgrims that visit Najaf, Iraq every year were rejoicing on 20 July following the inauguration by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of Al Hamza Airport, Najaf.

The $250 million airport is expected to increase tourism, a word not usually associated with Iraq, by 10% each year.

Although to be used mainly by pilgrims visiting the shrine of Imam Ali (as), some are serious about the tourism industry. Robert Kelly, an American businessman, is opening a $100 million luxury hotel in Baghdad’s Green Zone.

The developers of Al Hamza Airport, Kuwaiti firm Al-Aqeelah, are also working on thousands of new homes and hotels in Najaf. Their head of marketing and public relations, Nazeh Khajah, silenced critics of the airport by saying “The question shouldn't be why we chose to invest in Najaf. The question should be why don't we choose Najaf? It's one of the most noble places in the world.”

Inshallah, better news is to follow. A similar airport is under construction in the holy city of Karbala, housing the shrines of Imam Husayn (as) and Hazrat Abbas (as).

Weighing up to obesity

I wish to start by asking you this: if you walk to your high street to find a place to eat, what ‘restaurants’ come to mind? The answer is simple–the likes of McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King and other fast food outlets are dominating the markets not only in the modern world but in third world countries. One may classify this privilege to be able to consume such food as a luxurious commodity but it seems now there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the costs of eating a high fat and cholesterol diet significantly surpluses the benefits.

From an Islamic perspective it is said to avoid exceeding limits. One must therefore consider the notion of a balanced nutritional diet, which encompasses the daily activities of a human and their stage in life. An adolescent will require more food than an elderly person due to their social, physical and biological development. This further provides reason as to why Muslims fast, especially during the month of Ramadan, to establish the respect that needs to be given to food.

A lack of clean and nutritional food can lead to malnutrition and starvation as seen by many third-world countries. Hence, when food is readily available and abundant it is important to ensure that sufficient quality food is consumed as per the body’s requirements.

It doesn’t take a doctor to list all the medical complications that may arise due to the overwhelming consumption of fast-food leading to obesity. The WHO predicts there will be 2.3 billion overweight adults in the world by 2015 and more than 700 million of them will be obese. Fast-food outlets are not the only cause. Other causes include an increase of convenience foods, labour-saving devices, motorised transport and more sedentary occupations. Childhood obesity is another growing concern as not only will it put a burden on the health services but it can provide many ethical dilemmas.

Sure, everywhere you look, the problem of obesity is highlighted. There doesn’t seem to be a ‘cure’ for an ever-increasing technologically advanced world leading to a sedentary lifestyle. One must RESPECT food and only on occasion, when you’ve been ‘a good little boy’, treat yourself with a nice fatty burger.

The Halal Revolution

by Mohsin Asharia

With a new halal Subway store open in Purley Way, we are witnessing a halal revolution from the popular sandwich retailer. Only one year ago, on 27 June 2007, the first halal Subway store in the UK opened in Walthamstow. A search of the website now indicates there are over 50 halal Subways in the UK, and, with aims to double stores in the UK to 2010 outlets by the year 2010, I wouldn’t be surprised if that number has risen further by the time this goes to press.

Of course, for many, Halal Subways are nothing new. Although a novelty in the UK, Subway has had a presence in Tanzania for over eight years. The owner of the four Subway stores in Tanzania, Mahmood Panju, who attends Dar es Salaam Jamaat, spoke to Federation Samachar, the magazine of the Africa Federation, saying that he aims to have ten stores by 2010 Inshallah.

Subway has hit the Middle East by storm too. There are 44 outlets in the UAE, 27 in KSA, 28 in Kuwait, and even 20 in Iraq. Of course, this is a far cry from the 1182 now in the UK, which is further overshadowed by over 20,000 in the US, but the figures demonstrate that Subway is the fastest growing franchise in the world. In fact, a brand new Subway outlet opens every 3 hours 20 mins somewhere across the globe.

So is this “Halal Revolution” reserved to Subway? Perhaps not. Nando’s already have dozens of Halal restaurants in the UK, and McDonalds recently ran a trial in Southall with a halal chicken menu. Halal McDonalds in the West are already present, such as in Melbourne, Australia.

Similarly KFC in Dearborn, Michigan, which has the highest concentration of Arabs outside the Middle East, recently made its stores there halal, and Dearborn’s Walmart went a step further, stocking Muslim greeting cards, employing 35 Arabic speaking staff, and even moving the pork section to a less prominent aisle, as well as providing halal meat.

It is evident the Muslim market has been identified as having potential. It therefore seems like we can look forward to a future of halal delights in the Western World.

The Perfect Life

Below is some heedful advice from our Holy Prophet (saww) to lead a perfect life on being questioned upon by a traveller.


Traveller: I do not want punishment to be written in my account
Prophet: Behave well with your parents

Traveller: I want to be known amongst people as intelligent
Prophet: Fear Allah always

Traveller: I want to be counted amongst Allah's favorites
Prophet: Recite Quran every morning and evening

Traveller: I want my heart to always be enlightened (roshan & munawer)
Prophet: Never forget death

Traveller: I never want to be harmed by my enemies
Prophet: Always have faith in only Allah

Traveller: I never want to be humiliated
Prophet: Be careful of your actions

Traveller: I wish to live long
Prophet: Always do sile rahm (goodness towards blood relations)

Traveller: I want my sustenance to increase
Prophet: Always be in wudhoo

Traveller: I wish to stay free of adhaab in the grave
Prophet: Always wear pure (paak) clothes

Traveller: I never want to burn in hell
Prophet: Control your eyes and tongue

Traveller: How do I get my sins forgiven?
Prophet: Always ask forgiveness from Allah with a lot of humility

Traveller: I want people to respect me always
Prophet: Never extend your hands of need at people

Traveller: I want to be honored and never want to be away from Allah's blessing
Prophet: Never humiliate or put down anyone and treat fellow creatures well

Traveller: I don't want to be squeezed by fishare qabr (Squeezing in the grave)
Prophet: Recite Sura Mulk often

Traveller: I want my wealth to increase
Prophet: Recite Sura Waqia every night

Traveller: I want to be safe and at peace on day of judgement
Prophet: Do Dhikr of Allah from dusk to night

Traveller: I want to be in full attention and concentration during Salaat
Prophet: Always do wudhoo with concentration and attention.

O Ali!

by Khadija Sheikh

Oh Ali! One of the fourteen Masumeen,

Being able to meet you is every true Muslim’s dream.

With your amazing character and victorious ways,

'Whoever’s master I am Ali is there too' our prophet says.

Oh Ali, the husband of the Fatima (as), what a high status you’ve been given,

Wanting to be like you is the way our lives are driven.

You’re the father of the youth of Paradise Hassan and Hussein,

The killers of your children were so insane.

Oh Ali! You were born in the way of Qibla, the holy place.

‘Ana wa aliyun min nurin wahid’ said our prophet, sharing his nur on your face

The one that hid in the bed of our beloved Nabi

No-one in the world is like you with such bravery.

No-one will ever smell the fragrance of heaven if for you they have hate.

They should accept the truth before it too late.

Al zulfiqar your sword with a double end

Constantly upon your family we ask Allah for blessing to send

Oh Ali invite us to your shrine and your childrens too!

For we’d do anything to be close to you!

Because we know your message is nothing but true

We pray for the reappearance of imam Mahdi, for now that’s all we can do.

The lion of Allah! La fata illah Ali!

The grandfather of the awaited, imam Mahdi.

Together we pray for the arrival of Al-Mahdi,

To complete the progeny of our beloved Ali.

Send this to ten people else...

by Shahista Asharia

I received a very interesting email yesterday, talking of the importance of the Qur’an. But as I scrolled down, I cringed as I read what was next..

I didn’t mind the sender asking me to forward the email to 10 people. They were just doing Amr bil Maroof, right? But it didn’t end there.

Apparently, Ahmed only sent the email to nine friends. The next day, he lost his job and crashed his Bentley.

Abdullah was slightly more fortunate. Being more popular meant that he had 20 friends that he could educate about Islam! Naturally, a week later he won $10 million in a Las Vegas Casino. In a halal way, of course.

I could go on for years about Ayesha whose computer was infected by a virus, or Badr turning into an ape-like creature for laughing off the threats.

It is easy to ignore these emails, and some of the absurdities even put a smile on one’s face after a long day. But problems begin when we use tacky hoaxes to attempt to propagate Islam.
For example, a video entitled “Mojiza in Karbala” is being circulated, in which it is claimed a group of revellers died while dancing in a party. In fact, the video was of a Jewish wedding in Israel where the floor gave way. No relation to Karbala whatsoever. Maybe they confused it with Kabbalah.

Similarly, a video of a man in a Julus is being brandished as Imam Mahdi (aj), probably due to his resemblance to the imaginary paintings of some Imams.

These hoaxes are trivialising crucial matters and make us a laughing stock. Not only do we not need to resort to such cheap tactics to spread messages like Karbala, where just hearing the story is enough to make one weep, but they also have a negative effect on the youth regarding belief in miracles.

With the term being thrown around like a hot potato, and with many of the “miracles” nothing more than bored, overzealous individuals having a field day with Photoshop or MovieMaker, the true value of a miracle is being lost.

The shame is that many genuine miracles are ignored because of the sheer number of “fakes” circulating around. When anyone has the stomach to doubt a blatantly fabricated “mojiza” people are quick to accuse them of lacking belief.

I am in no way claiming that all the miracles are hoaxes. On the contrary, it is perfectly possible that many of them are manifestations of Allah’s (swt) power over Earth.

What I am saying is that we have a living miracle which we have with us in our own homes, that we can read and implement in our daily lives, and that is the Holy Qur’an. What greater miracle could one ask for?

313 the movie: a review

The blessed month of Shaban is here and once again we shall witness the blessed night of 15th Shaban. Many of us would spend the night in prayer before our Lord and remembering the Imam of our time [aj]. Many of us would propagate awareness of the Mahdi [aj] to the masses through different resources and means. A group of people chose to propagate the message about the Mahdi [aj] by making a movie called '313'. The number 313 is significant to the return of the Mahdi [aj] as it is the number of commanders of his army as well as his closest companion.

When the trailer was released of the movie there was a huge outcry about the music it had used in the background and whether it was Islamic or not. Many of us took it upon ourselves to label it with the tag of 'Haram' before we even saw the full product. I am not here to discuss whether the music is acceptable or not but to simply give an overview of the movie. Despite the negativity that surrounds it the movie was actually quite good in its script and screening aspect.

The script, I thought, was brilliantly executed into a movie and the characters chosen matched in terms of roles. The storyline of the movie seemed quiet simplistic when watching the trailer however the finished product is far from simplistic. The messages, the small statements and other simple things included actually leave the viewer with a lot to ponder over after watching the movie. In my opinion, the production team deserves great credit for their hard work and given that this was their first time with such a project, it is an achievement in every sense. I am not going to write about the full movie however I will only talk about certain aspects which I found to be really great & the reason why I am doing this is to avoid spoiling it for others who have not seen it.

The idea of a journey undertaken by the youth who is lost to the materialistic aspects of the society and goes on to turn towards the Imam of our time [aj] and to uphold justice in his life by changing his wrongdoings and asking for forgiveness is not easy for everyone. However, what this movie does is give hope to people by an example. In this modern age, the means of conveying a message is not restricted to the pulpit alone. We have to take whatever means there are available and spread the message to the people, however it should be done in the right manner.

What struck me the most in the movie was two things; the way they tackled the questions relating to the Mahdi [aj] in the movie and the way they incorporated the signs before his return in the movie. Both of them are not easy to implement in a movie, they are much easier in a Documentary. The conversations between Sheikh Abbas Virjee who plays the role of Mohsin in the movie and the main character Layth Ali were simply the highlight of the movie. The way he enlightens the youth with the knowledge about the Imam [aj], the understanding the need of reflection and the answers to the complex questions about the Mahdi in a simplistic manner was something which I personally felt made the viewer think more about the Imam of our time [aj].

One of the best scenes for me was in one of the dreams Layth, he sees people praying and the turba turns to gold coins showing how in the time before the zuhoor people would be very much into their wealth rather than their faith. Another such example was when in another dream Layth sees people who come across as pious misusing religion for their desires. The way the director had included these messages into the movie was really great and I think many of these simple messages as a whole made the movie really great. The way of presentation not only opens the eyes of the viewers to reality but it also makes them ponder on whether they are falling in that trap or not.

I am however critical of certain aspects of the movie but overall it was good. What I would advice if the production team were to be start another project is that to work a bit on the camera technique. The changing of the camera angels during the scene was very quick, at times it was instantaneous. Small things like this could have an overall effect on the end product. Another thing I would like to see change in future projects is the aspect of music involved. Regardless of who we are portraying the movie to be for, our style should not mirror that of Hollywood films or otherwise. We should be unique and creative in our approach rather than trying to imitate others.

Lastly the thing which personally made me think was the relationship that I had with my Imam [aj]. In a part of the movie, the Sheikh is giving advice to Layth and he constantly stresses about the relationship of the follower of the Imam with that of the Imam. Further in the movie we do find an example of this when Layth turns to the Imam in his hour of need for help sincerely. This drives home the message for us Shias as to how many of us are sincere in our approach to our Imam [aj]. How many of us can truly say we are upholding the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt [a] in every aspect of our faith?

The movie gives food for thought on many points in it, it is upon us as to how much use we make of it. May Allah hasten the return of the Imam [aj] and may He give us the strength and the patience to endure every tribulation and hardship in the time of occultation and may He raise us to be in the army of Al Mahdi [aj]
_______________________

This post was originally posted by Ya Baqiyatullah. Visit their blog: http://yabaqiyatullah.blogspot.com/

I am the best, better than the rest

by Ali Asger Sheikh

Pride or vanity is one of 33rd of the Greatest Sins as mentioned by Imam Reza (A.S) narrated by Fazl ibn Shaazaan. In both Christianity and Judaism there is significant burden on this sin. In Christianity, it is one of the seven deadly sins as told by Pope Gregory the Great in the 6th Century AD, and in Judaism it is mentioned in the Torah:

“Nor let arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed." (I Samuel. 2:3).

From Satan to Firon, both have suffered from this great sin. There are three main types of pride: (1) Pride against Allah, (2) Pride against the Prophets and the Imams, (3) Pride against people.

Pride against Allah is where a person has the feeling of being powerful. They attribute all their achievements to their own capability and are oblivious of the supremacy of Allah. Their pride is expressed in words like “I have done this”, and “I will do that”. This person will refuse to recognize Allah’s supremacy.

The second type is the pride towards anything associated with Allah. For example, the pride
towards Ramadan or a mosque. One should not insult or disregard anything related to the Almighty.

The third type is towards people. To act superiorly and consider others lowly. For example people who are rich may prefer not to stand besides the ordinary people during congregational prayer or even mix with them.

The remedy for pride is that the person should contemplate upon his creation.

"So let man consider of what he is created, he is created of water poring forth" (Surah Tariq 86:5-6)

One should not forget he was born weak and helpless and whatever strength given is by almighty Allah. One should recite the ayat below:
“And your lord says, call upon me, I will answer you, surely those who are too proud for my service shall enter hell abased” (Quran 40:60)

In the above verse Allah has assured whoever seeks his help will receive an immediate response, according to Tafseer Kashaf.

Pride is a major sin and a one-way street to hell so it is important to contemplate upon creation and realize that Allah Almighty has the power and not you, and everything you have achieved is because of Allah’s blessings. So be careful and remember:

“It shall be said: enter the gates of hell to abide therein: so evil is adobe of the proud.” (Quran 39:72)

References :
BOOK: GREATER SINS VOLUME 3
AUTHOR: AYATULLAH ABDUL HUSAIN DASTAGHAIB SHIRAZI

A lesson from Ismailis?

by Mohsin Asharia

They make up less than a tenth of the Shia population, yet the Aga Khani (Nizari) Ismailis are one of the most influential and successful communities in the world.

Their leader, Karim Aga Khan IV, is a regular feature in the Sunday Times Rich List, however it is the development and forward thinking of the Ismailis that has yielded their success.

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is one of the largest of its type in the world, and one learns a great deal when looking at its factions, including health, education, and technology. Nearly all of us have a relative who attended an Aga Khan school or was taken to an Aga Khan hospital back home in Africa. However much one disagrees with Ismaili beliefs or practices, one cannot help but admire their support to people regardless of faith, origin or gender.

But it is not just the AKDN that we can learn a lesson from. The progress of the Ismaili community in setting up institutions and centres is next to none. Recently, the Aga Khan opened a new £11 million Ismaili Centre in Dubai, making it the fourth hub of Ismailism in the world, with centres already present in Lisbon, Vancouver, and London, and more on the way in Toronto and Tajikistan.

With only 8,000 Ismailis in the UAE, most of the services the Ismaili Centre offers will be towards non-Ismailis, such as its 225-child capacity early learning centre, and neighbouring Islamic garden gifted to Dubai locals by the Aga Khan.

Meanwhile the £9.5 million Ismaili Centre in South Kensington is known to house one of the largest collections of Islamic art, and is aptly located in the midst of other museums.
One might view all this “advancement” as nothing except superficial materialism, and I wholly agree that progress should not be judged by how much wealth one has acquired. But one thing is for sure: the Ismaili community certainly has a vision for the future, something which many of our communities seem to be lacking.

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Photo credit: Ismaili Centre, Dubai: http://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2008/04/09/thousands-of-visitors-tour-ismaili-centre-in-dubai/

Fasting: a survival guide

by Sayyada Asharia

And we’re back to the month of Ramadan…except the fasting gets more difficult this year round. Iftar time is at nearly 8pm for 30 days! So how can we survive not eating nor drinking for this long? Here are a few tips:

1. Wake up for sehri. It’s the last time you can eat before you start your fast, so why not make the most of those last few minutes by eating till you’re full? The atmosphere during sehri is also great and it makes your fast seem so spiritual.

2. Sleep. It kills time, it helps you stay away from temptation and at the same time is an act of worship, as the Holy Prophet (SAW) has said: "The sleep of a fasting person is regarded as an act of ibaadah, his remaining silent is regarded as a tasbeeh, the reward for his good deeds is multiplied, his duas are accepted, and his sins are forgiven."


3. Tell the least number of people that you are fasting. Firstly, because they may think you’re crazy and put you off fasting, and secondly, it can cause the fast to become a law to your heart. When you are tempted to break the fast, you may think, “Dad, Mom, and half the mosque know I’m on a fast. If I quit now, I’ll be humiliated in front of all of them.” Your fast is between you and God. When you are being tempted to break, it is not you whole extended family you need to be concerned with!

4. Read Quran. It was revealed during the month of Ramadan, and that is the main reason why we fast during the month, so why not read the Quran to see the meanings laying underneath it? It also kills a lot of time and helps your fast finish quickly!

5. Stay away from the kitchen! All you’ll be able to smell are samosas being fried so stop getting yourself into needless temptation! Next thing you know, you’ll be stuffing yourself with everything you can eat!

6. Don’t keep checking the time. This just creates more pressure, especially when the fast is just about to finish. Maybe it’s just me, but have you noticed that the last few minutes of your fast, while you’re staring at the clock, go the slowest? So don’t wear a watch while fasting!

7. Keep yourself occupied. Doing other stuff takes your mind off your fast. And sometimes, you’re so preoccupied in keeping yourself occupied, that you forget that you’re fasting altogether!

Merits of Shab e Barat

The Prophet (saw) has said that during the night of 15th Sha’ban Allah (swt) makes decisions concerning sustenance, life and death and welfare of the people over the next year.

After Laylatul Qadr, the night of 15th Sha’ban, or Shab e Barat, is the most auspicious night

According to Imams Muhammad Baqir and Jafar Sadiq (as), Allah has promised to fulfill every legitimate desire put forward to Him on this night.

Special Prayers and Amaal:
· Do Ghusl with the thought of washing away sins as if it is your last Ghusl
· Keep awake for the full night in prayer
· Astaghirullah Tasbih and Dua Tawba (Repentance)
· Surah Yaseen
· Ziyarat of Imam Husain
· Recite Dua-e-Kumayl
· Recite Dua-e-Nudbah
· Dua Imam Mahdi (aj)
· Recite: Subhanallah 100x
· Recite: Alhamdulillah 100x
· Recite: Allahu Akbar 100x
· Recite: La ilaha ilallah 100x

The Month of Sha'ban

by Hasnain Asharia


Significance
Sha’ban is the month of the Holy Prophet (saw), in which believers are told to increase their remembrance of the Prophet, and send blessings on him. The Prophet has said that whoever loves him will fast in this month.

Sha’ban is the only month of the Islamic calendar which does not have a single wafat, or day of mourning. It is truly a blessed month, with auspicious occasions of the birth of many great Imams (as).

Imam Ali’s (as) advice on the first day of Sha’ban
Imam Ali (as) once saw some Muslims arguing among themselves on the topic of fate and destiny, on the first day of Sha’ban. He discouraged them from their preoccupation and instead drew their attention to the merits of this month. He said that the Lord has called it Sha’ban because His favours and bounties were scattered (sha’aba) all over during it.

Allah presents His great bounties in this month which are easy to achieve, and inexpensive, said Imam Ali (as). This could mean that performing acts of worship, performing good deeds and abstaining from evils will carry manifold benefits. Then he enumerated some of the good actions which should not be overlooked in this month. These include Salaat, Zakaat, enjoining towards good, forbidding evil, goodness to parents, relatives and neighbours, mutual reconciliation and giving charity to the poor and destitute.

There are also narrations that fasting the last three days of Sha’ban reaps the benefits of fasting the whole year.

Please brothers and sisters, let us take advantage of these three consecutive holy months (Rajab, Sha’ban and Ramadhan) to urge reform within ourselves. Let us not be those that change for these three months and then go back to our bad habits. If you stop listening to music, start wearing hijaab or stop gossiping, whatever the flaw, let us keep it for the rest of our lives. Why change only for these months and Muharram, and go back again. Surely that is hypocritical. What, Allah (swt) is not aware in the other months? Surely not!