drhassaballa

Price

2008-02-25T00:25:00.000-08:00

For this weekend's open house tour, let's head to West Hollywood to see what kind of price reductions are taking place. Any tomahawk thwacks? Not so much. Shaves, people, shaves. Tender Parmesan curls. Still, prices are being reduced .

The closing price will be at $1475000 for 3120 sqft highly upgraded and nestled on a flat lot with spa and outdoor cook center. For information about the Ocean Ranch Community and Laguna Niguel, please email .

9to5Mac is reporting that they just received a tip about a price drop for the current iPhone and iPod Touch lines within the next month or two (possibly at the February 26th event). The price drop of $100 is to be accompanied by the .

Our Price: $164.99. Wine Spectator:. Bright and racy, with red currant, raspberry and floral notes pushing to the front, while a nervy, minerally grip lurks in the background and emerges more on the taut, iron-filled finish. .

Shares of shipbuilders and automakers were lower in late morning trading as investors react belatedly to the possible increase in steel prices, reports indicated Hyundai Heavy Industries was down 4500 won or 1.2 percent at 380000 won, .

With all the controversy brewing over the Ontario Court of Appeal's decision in R. v. Harrison, which admitted tainted evidence to support a cocaine trafficking charge, here's another bit of the sublime and the ridiculous in the legal .

Delta Waterfowl says it supports President Bush's proposal to increase the price of the federal duck stamp from its current price of $15 to $25. However, the conservation and research group recommends that a higher percentage of the .

Aside from other controversial issues surrounding presidential nominee Bruce Benson, CU students have been raising eyebrows about the money that was spent to find Benson and make him the finalist for the CU presidency.

Shuffle drops in price. Now everyone should have one. - $49 for a 1 GB Shuffle is a great price.

This one’s still just a bunch of whispers and coincidences, but we’ve been hearing that Apple may lower prices on the iPhone and iPod touch in the next few months and drop the 8GB touch. Word is that falling flash prices coupled with .

price at: Feb 20, 2008 - 10:27PM.

Our Prophet Was Not Henry IV

2008-02-24T15:30:00.000-08:00

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

In today's Chicago Tribune, reporter Ron Grossman wrote an interesting article about the intersection between religion and politics throughout history, and it was quite fascinating. He spoke about Henry IV, Orthodox Jews, Mormons, and other religious groups that have changed their religious positions due to political considerations.

I guess to be "fair," he spoke about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). He wrote that: "Islam's founder made a couple of theological U-turns as well. Seeing himself as a prophet in the Old Testament tradition, Muhammad instructed his followers to direct their prayers toward Jerusalem. But the Jews of Arabia rejected his teaching, and Muhammad revised that spiritual compass -- and Muslims now face Mecca during prayer."

Quite an interesting observation...but inaccurate in its implication. Indeed, the first direction of prayer, or qiblah, was Jerusalem. Yet, in the Prophet's heart, he desired that the direction of prayer be Mecca, being the city of Abraham, and that the Prophet (pbuh) was sent to revive the religion of Abraham. The Prophet, in fact, used to pray in Mecca toward Jerusalem, with the Ka'bah in between him and the Holy Land. God acknowledged this feeling in the Qur'an:

We see the turning of your face to the sky; so We will turn you to a direction of prayer that you will find pleasing. (2:144)

So, after he emigrated to Medinah, the qiblah was changed from Jerusalem to Mecca:

Turn your face to the sacred mosque: wherever you are, turn your faces in its direction. Those to whom the scripture has been given will know that this is the truth from their Lord. And God is not heedless of what they do. (2:144)

On the surface, it would seem that the changing of the direction of prayer was a reaction of the Jews' rejection of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). In fact, they mocked him when the command to change the qiblah was revealed, and the Qur'an responds to this mockery:

Ignorant people will say, "What has turned them from the direction of prayer to which they were accustomed?" Say, "To God belong the East and the West: God guides to a straight path whomever God wills. (2:142)

Yet, as can be seen, the change of the qiblah was a commandment by God, not a petty reaction to the rejection of the Jews of Medinah. In fact, God says that He changed the qiblah to test the faith of the Prophet's followers:

And We only established the direction of prayer to which you had been accustomed that We might know those who follow the messenger from those who turn back on their heels. (2:143)

Furthermore, God advises the believers not to heed the mockery of those who do not believe:

Wherever you set out from, turn your face toward the direction of the sacred mosque; and wherever you are, turn your faces in the direction, that the people have no cause of dispute against you, except those of them who have gone wrong. So do not fear them, but fear Me, that I may complete My favor to you, and that you may accept guidance. (2:150)

In addition, Mr. Grossman made another assertion about the Prophet (pbuh): "Muhammad preached that there is only one God. But Mecca, Muhammad's birthplace, had long enjoyed the economic fruits of a pilgrim trade that brought polytheists to worship at the Kaaba. Muhammad seems to have come to similar political-theological conclusions as Henry IV. So as the price of being a prophet honored in his hometown, some historians say, Muhammad allowed the Meccans to continue to host Muslim pilgrims to a one-time polytheistic shrine, theologically refitted in Islamic dress."

Again, interesting, but completely inaccurate. Mecca was the city in which the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) left his wife and infant son (the plain of Paran in the Bible). It is the place where he and his son Ishamel (pbut) later built the Ka'bah, the shrine to which Muslims face for prayer and walk around during the Hajj. The Ka'bah was originally built to honor the One God of all. Over time, however, the people forgot the monotheism of Abraham (pbuh) and later infused the holy shrine with over 360 idols. One of the central missions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was to cleanse Mecca, the city of Abraham, from idol worship. He was sent to revive the monotheism of Abraham (pbuh).

The pilgrimage to Mecca was a tradition long established by Abraham (pbuh) to honor God. The Prophet (pbuh) did not allow the Meccans to continue hosting pilgrims as a "price of being a prophet honored in his hometown." He did it to fulfill the commandment of God.

In fact, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was never honored in his hometown; on the contrary, he was forcibly expelled from his beloved Mecca, only to return almost a decade later as conquerer when the Meccans broke the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. Jesus Christ (pbuh) talked about this, that a prophet is never honored in his hometown: "A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." (Mark 6:4)

So, none of what the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did was a reaction to temporary political or social circumstances, but rather, fulfillment of the commands of God. Our Prophet (pbuh) took religion much more seriously than that. Our Prophet (pbuh) was not Henry IV.

No Terrorists In Belgrade

2008-02-23T18:50:00.000-08:00

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

On Thursday, February 21, protesters in Belgrade, Serbia protested the declaration of independence of Kosovo, the former province of Serbia. The protests became violent, and mobs attacked and set fire to the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade.

Slobodan Samardzic, the Serbian minister responsible for Kosovo, blamed the U.S. for the violence: "The root of the violence is the violation of international law. The Serbian government will continue to call on the US to take responsibility for violating international law and taking away a piece of territory from Serbia."

The violence was condemned by the U.N. Security Council unanimously: "[The U.N. Security Council condemns] in the strongest terms the mob attacks against embassies in Belgrade."

I agree: it was terribly tragic what happened in Serbia, and one person was killed. Yet, I cannot help but notice something: no where, in any mention of the violence, was the word "terrorism" mentioned. Nowhere. There were no terrorists in Belgrade.

Contrast this, however, with the embassy violence in Damascus in response to the Danish cartoons against the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). When that equally tragic incident occurred, everyone shouted "terrorism." In Damascus, there were tons of terrorists.

Now, I know, the declaration of independence of Kosovo is not on the same plane as some cartoons published in an obscure, right-wing newspaper in Denmark. I agree wholeheartedly.

Yet, in both cases, protests - which are perfectly legitimate - turned ugly and violent - which is completely illegitimate. Yet, in the one case, they are called "angry mobs," and in the other case, they are called "terrorists." Something is wrong with this picture.

It just highlights the double standard when it comes to Muslims. More often than not, they are called terrorists, but if a non-Muslim commits the same crime, he is not a terrorist. This is wrong. Of course, if a Muslim straps a bomb on his (or her) chest and blows themselves up in a crowd of innocent human beings, then that is terrorism. It is the textbook definition.

Yet, I can almost guarantee you, if a non-Muslim does the exact same thing: he will not be called a terrorist. No, he will probably be called "deranged," "mentally ill," "disturbed," or something to that effect. But, not a terrorist.

This is wrong. A terrorist is a terrorist: no matter what the religion, or race, or ethnicity. And terrorists come in all flavors. Let us always remember that.

My Candle for Northern Illinois University

2008-02-15T03:10:00.000-08:00

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

Can you even imagine? Can you even imagine what it must have been like in that lecture hall? Can you even imagine the horror of having someone - a complete stranger - barge into a lecture that was just getting started and just open fire, shooting at people he did not know, people who did nothing to him to deserve being shot?

Can you even imagine?

By the time I write this, this heretofore unknown gunman has killed five innocent people, five of my brothers and sisters, five of our children studying at an institution of higher learning. At the time of this writing, there are four in critical condition in area hospitals.

May the Lord's healing reach them as swiftly as possible, and may His soothing comfort be draped over their families.

May the Precious Beloved forgive me, but, whenever there is a shooting somewhere "out there," far away from me - like at Virgina Tech - I react with profound sadness, sometimes fighting back tears at the news of the carnage. Yet, when it happens in your backyard - like it did with the Northern Illinois University attack (and the Tinley Park Lane Bryant shooting) - it is different. It becomes "more real," and it really hits home. Such is the case with this latest of school shootings.

This shooting made me so angry: what gave the right to this person to take the lives of others? How dare he senselessly kill innocent children like that? What possibly can be the justification in his mind? Did he even have a sound mind?

No doubt, all those questions will be answered in the coming days and weeks. Yet, in this time of terrible tragedy, I can't help but think of the victims and their families. I can't help but think about the survivors: what kind of pain are they feeling? What kind of trauma did they go through? Are they re-living this horrible incident in their minds time and time again?

And their parents: what kind of agony are they going through now? I can't even imagine their pain, being a father of three daughters myself. I can't stand seeing my children suffer from the flu, let alone multiple gun shot wounds. And I have seen what a gun can do to you, being a critical care physician. It is so, so horrible.

I don't know what can be done about this scourge on our society: gun violence. It is true that people, not guns, kill people. Yet, at the same time, we have to make it harder to get those guns. As a parent who shares the agony of the parents of the NIU victims, there has to be a way we can reduce future massacres such as this one.

Maybe potential gun owners should be required to take a class on gun safety and responsibility, similar to driver's education. In the process, they can undergo a detailed background check to make sure they are fit to own a firearm. Admittedly, however, such a process would not have stopped the NIU gunman as he had no prior record. Still, perhaps such an onerous system may deter a would-be killer from getting a gun (unless he buys it illegally). Who knows what the right answer is.

Still, at this moment, my heart, my soul, and my prayers go out to the victims of the NIU attack. Let this blog post be my candle that I light for them. May the Precious Beloved Lord be with them in this terrible, terrible time. In Your Most Holy Name I ask this, Amen.

A True Love Story

2008-02-04T23:10:00.000-08:00

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

A version of this column appeared on my February column on Beliefnet.

She was one of the noblest women around, coming from a very prominent family. She was also quite beautiful and the holder of a considerable amount of wealth, being a prominent businesswoman. To marry her would have been a great feat for any man, and indeed, quite a few of the most prominent and wealthy men in society had asked for her hand. Yet, she rejected them all; already being a widow, she had lost the desire to marry again.

Until he came into her life. He was young man of 25, and although he was also of a noble family, he was an orphan and was not a man of many means. He had made a meager living tending sheep in the hills surrounding the city. Yet, he had an impeccable moral character, and he was widely known as one of the most honest men around. That is what attracted her to him: she was looking for someone honest who could conduct business for her, as she - a woman in a fiercely patriarchal society - could not do it herself. So, he started working for her.

After he came back from his first business trip, she asked her servant, whom she sent with him, about him and his conduct. The servant amazed her by his report: this young man was the kindest, gentlest man he had ever met. Never did he treat the servant harshly, as many others do. Yet, there was more: as they traveled in the heat of the desert, the servant noticed that a cloud had followed them the entire time, shading them from the blazing sun. The businesswoman was quite impressed with her new employee.

Not only that, this new employee proved to be an astute businessman in his own right. He took his employer's merchandise, sold it, and with the profits bought other merchandise that he sold again, thus profiting twice. All this was enough for her: the embers of love in her heart that were once extinguished re-kindled again, and she resolved to marry this young man, who was 15 years younger than she.

So, she sent her sister to this young man. She asked him, "Why are you not married, yet?"

"For lack of means," he answered.

"What if I could offer you a wife of nobility, beauty, and wealth? Would you be interested?" she told him.

He replied in the affirmative, but when she mentioned her sister, the young employee chuckled in amazement.

"How could I marry her? She has turned down the most noble men in the city, much wealthier and prominent than me, a poor shepherd," he said.

"Don't you worry," the sister replied, "I'll take care of it."

Not long after, the wealthy businesswoman married her young employee, and it was the beginning of one of the most loving, happiest, and sacred marriages in all of human history: that of Prophet Muhammad and Khadijah, the daughter of Khuwaylid. When they were married, the Prophet was 25 years old, and Khadijah was 40. Yet, that did not bother the Prophet one bit. He loved her so deeply, and she loved him as deeply. They were married for 25 years, and she bore him seven children: 3 sons and 4 daughters. All of the sons died in young age. Khadijah was a source of immense love, strength, and comfort for the Prophet Muhammad, and he leaned heavily on this love and support on the most important night of his life.

While he was meditating in cave of Hira, the Angel Gabriel came to the Prophet Muhammad and revealed to him the first verses of the Qur'an and declared to him that he was to be a Prophet. The experience terrified the Prophet Muhammad, and he ran home, jumping into Khadijah's arms crying, "Cover me! Cover me!" She was startled by his terror, and after soothing and comforting him for a while, the Prophet was able to calm down and relate to her his experience.

The Prophet feared he was going mad or being possessed.

Khadijah put all his fears to rest: "Do not worry," she said, "for by Him who has dominion over Khadijah's soul, I hope that you are the Prophet of this nation. Allah would never humiliate you, for you are good to your relatives, you are true to your word, you help those who are in need, you support the weak, you feed the guest and you answer the call of those who are in distress." She then took him to her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal - a scholar well-versed in the Judeo-Christian scripture - and he confirmed to the Prophet that his experience was Divine and he was to be the Last Prophet.

After his ministry began, and the opposition of his people became harsh and brutal, Khadijah was always there to support the Prophet Muhammad, sacrificing all of her wealth to support the cause of Islam. When the Prophet and his family was banished to the hills outside of Mecca, she went there with him, and the three years of hardship and deprivation eventually led to her death. The Prophet Muhammad mourned her deeply, and even after her death, the Prophet would send food and support to Khadijah's friends and relatives, out of love for his first wife.

Once, years after Khadijah died, he came across a necklace that she once wore. When he saw it, he remembered her and began to cry and mourn. His love for her never died, so much so, that his later wife A'isha became jealous of her. Once she asked the Prophet if Khadijah had been the only woman worthy of his love. The Prophet replied: "She believed in me when no one else did; she accepted Islam when people rejected me; and she helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand."

Much has been made and said about the Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) multiple marriages. There are many who smear the Prophet (pbuh) as a womanizing philanderer, citing those multiple marriages. This is total garbage. If, God forbid, the Prophet (pbuh) were anything of the sort, he would have taken advantage of his youth to do such a thing. He did not. He was with no other women before Khadijah, who was 15 years his senior, and he had no other wife alongside her, as was common custom at that time.

It was only after Khadijah died, God rest her soul, that he took on more than one wife at a time. Most of these wives were widows, whom the Prophet (pbuh) married to care after them, or they were they were the daughters of prominent Arab chieftains, so that the Prophet (pbuh) could form a cohesive Muslim society out of a fiercely tribalistic (and barbaric) Arab culture. The smears against the Prophet (pbuh) fall flat on their faces once the light of truth shines brightly upon them.

In a song about the Prophet and Khadjiah, Muslim rappers Native Deen sing: "We look for stories of love in places dark and cold/When we have a guiding light for the whole world to behold." Many of what we call "love stories" today are nothing more than stories of lust and desire, physical attraction disguised as love.

Yet, I can find no love story more powerful, more spiritually uplifting, more awe inspiring as that of the Prophet Muhammad and Khadijah. It is a shining example of what an ideal marriage is, and if I ever claim that I love my wife, I must gauge my actions with that of the Prophet. As the country commemorates Valentine's Day, and everywhere we turn this month, "love is in the air," I cannot help but reflect upon, what is to me, the greatest of all love stories: that of Muhammad and Khadijah. Even with all of its amazing creative talent, Hollywood could not have come up with a story greater than this.

Fasting For Moses

2008-01-18T19:19:00.000-08:00

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

He had been sick for a few days, and it suddenly became much worse. What started out as "the flu" was rapidly turning into a life-threatening illness. His cough was becoming severe; his fevers were very high, up to 105; his lungs looked and sounded terrible. Even though he was already in the hospital and receiving appropriate treatment, his condition worsened. His breathing became more rapid and shallow. His blood pressure began to fall quite rapidly, progressing to shock. His mental alertness, previously quite normal, began to quickly deteriorate.

He was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU), and soon afterwards required a breathing tube to be inserted into his throat to help him breathe. Fluids were being given rapidly to try to increase his plummeting blood pressure, but it was not enough. He required powerful medications to support his blood pressure, so that his most vital organs, the brain and heart, could receive life-saving blood flow. His kidneys were shutting down, and the specter of dialysis (a machine which does the job of the kidneys) loomed large. It was not looking good.

All of this happened so quickly, and it simply overwhelmed his shocked and bewildered family. One minute, he was in bed talking and laughing with them - albeit in pain - and the next minute he was on a ventilator, with all sorts of tubes going into his body, fighting for his life in the ICU. They look to the doctor to provide answers, to explain why and how this could happen. Sometimes the doctor has a clear answer; many times, however, the answer as to "why" is elusive, and this was no different. This is very difficult for many people who are not in the medical field to understand: disease does not always follow the rules laid out in the medical textbook.

Many times, the patient may be suffering from the ravages of the systemic effects of an infection, but the precise cause of the infection remains unknown. It may take time for the offending bacteria, fungus, or parasite to grow on a culture plate, so we can identify and properly treat it. Often times, it may never grow at all. Or, it may not be an infection at all, even though we treat for infection. It may be some sort of deranged inflammatory process that looks a lot like an infection. Other times, we know exactly what sort of infection the patient has and treat it appropriately, but the reaction of the body can be so severe that it, and not the infection, is liable to kill the patient.

This makes sense to us, the medical professionals, but to a family not well-versed in the minutiae of medicine, it is nothing short of madness. So, all that is left for a family to do is - hope. They hope that their loved one will make it; they hope the treatments will work and their husband, son, brother, and father will walk out of the ICU; they hope the tubes that have violated the dignity of their loved one will be removed once and for all. All that is left is hope - in other words, all that is left is Ashura.

Ashura, which is January 19, is the tenth day of the first month of the Islamic calendar. In Shi'i Islam, it is perhaps the most important day of the year, when Shi'i Muslims gather and commemorate - some by self-flagellation and injury - the brutal murder of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hussein. For the rest of the Muslim world, however, Ashura is a day of fasting and reflection, a commemoration of the Exodus of the Children of Israel out of Egypt. In a sense, Ashura is the "Muslim Passover."

So, what does someone's terrible illness have to do with Ashura? Does the day of Ashura have some sort of healing process? No. Ashura, which is the story of the Exodus, is a story of hope. Just as the boots of the Egyptian taskmasters were brutal and bitter, so too can be the ravages of disease. It can, in fact, be as enslaving as the Egyptians were to the Hebrews. Just as it seemed almost impossible that the greatest empire on earth, Egypt, would yield to two men coming out of the desert, to free slaves that had been chattel for centuries, sometimes people can be so sick that the thought of recovery seems so far and remote.

Yet, with God, all is possible. With God, the Children of Israel were freed from centuries of bondage and the greatest force on earth was utterly defeated. The same is true with critical illness. There have been patients who have been so sick, that I thought for sure, death would overtake them. Yet, death never came. They gradually recovered and walked out of the ICU. Praise be to God. It is what I love about critical care medicine: it always keeps you honest, and it always reminds me that life and death is not in my hands, and I am quite happy and proud to admit that.

To mark Ashura, Muslims are encouraged to fast the day along with the day before or the day after. God willing, I plan to fast to mark Ashura this year, which is a big deal for me because, I really love my morning coffee, and it is hard to part with it outside of Ramadan. Yet, fasting to commemorate the Exodus is no problem at all, because the story of the escape of the Children of Israel is a happy one for me (and having Ashura be in the winter, when the days are short, does not hurt, either). Besides, fasting for my man Moses is the least I could do to honor his prophethood.

Barack's Opportunity

2008-01-05T21:51:00.000-08:00

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

Last week, Barack Obama, a freshman US Senator from Illinois and an African-American, decidedly took the Iowa caucues, winning by comfortable margins over his closest rival. Who would have thought that even Democrats in Iowa, an overwhelmingly white, rural, and homogeneous state would choose an African-American as their potential nominee to be President of the United States? It is truly a historic moment.

Barack’s victory is a testimony to the lengths that this country has gone since its days of slavery, where people can now come together to choose someone so different from them racially because of the merits of his message. Although the Iowa victory is a huge boost for the Obama campaign, the fight has only just begun. Winning in Iowa is no guarantee that the party will nominate him for the White House.

But this fight will bring out the anti-Muslim forces in earnest. We will once again hear the whispers that Obama is a "Muslim plant," that he "trained at a madrasa," that his first name sounds a lot like "Osama," and his middle name is the same as Saddam's. Those whispers will now become louder. If Obama continues to win, they will become shouts of alarm.

Cynics may try to "swift boat" Obama with his Muslim heritage and try to smear him with the sins of extremist Muslims. What they did with Senator John Kerry in 2004, they can do it with Obama in 2008. If they ran an overtly racist ad against Harold Ford in the 2006 Tennessee senate campaign, they can do something similar to Obama in 2008. Politics is a dirty business. If Obama continues to take state after state, the gloves will come off, and things will get ugly.

Herein lies the opportunity for Barack. If he truly wants to unite the nation, if he truly wants to be an agent of "change we can believe in," then he should stand up - when the attacks about his "Muslim ties" come - and repudiate the attacks. But he should do it in a different way than he has in the past. Imagine a response like this:

Now, recently there have been some accusations against me that I attended a "madrasa," when I was a young boy. Some have even accused me of being a "clandestine Muslim," a "Muslim plant" seeking to capture the White House. Yes, my middle name is "Hussein," and there is nothing wrong with this. Now, I have said many times that I am not a Muslim, I am a Christian, who is devout and proud of his faith.

Yet, this does not mean that there is something wrong with being a Muslim. Islam is an honorable religion, the basis of a glorious civilization that has given the world some of its greatest gifts. Muslims comprise one-fiftth of the world's population, and millions of our fellow Americans derive comfort from the Muslim faith. Indeed, there are those who claim to be Muslim who have attacked our country, who have committed inhuman acts of violence in the name of their religion.

But, these people defile the religion of Islam, and they do not represent the overwhelming majority of Muslims, across the world and here in America, who are peace-loving, law-abiding citizens who want what everyone else wants: to live in peace and security. It is high-time that we as Americans, citizens of the greatest nation on earth, to repudiate and reject the politics of division, fearmongering, and hate. We can do better as a nation, and let us start today.

A bold statement like this would be a huge step forward for interfaith relations in America. It could deal a convincing blow to the forces of hatred and fear in America. If delivered with sincerity, people across the political spectrum would be receptive.

In his autobiography, The Audacity of Hope, Obama notes that “we are no longer just a Christian nation. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.” But when the whispers of his Muslim heritage first surfaced, Obama remained almost completely silent, and it was truly disappointing. An opportunity to encourage fellow Americans to be more open-minded was lost. When the whispers emerge once more, Barack's opportunity should not be lost again.

How Strong Is Your Connection?

2008-01-04T02:10:00.000-08:00

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

"O my father," said the young boy. "Why do you worship a thing that neither hears nor sees and can be of no avail for you?"

His father was taken aback at his young son's question.

"O my father," the boy continued. "Behold, there has indeed come to me [a ray] of knowledge that has not come to you. Follow me, then, and I will guide you onto a perfect way. O my father! Do not worship Satan, for verily, Satan is a rebel against the Most Gracious."

His father was shocked that his son would reject the idolatry of his people. The father, in fact, made his living out of fashioning gods for people to worship. He said to him, "Do you dislike my gods?" The father continued, "Indeed, if you do not desist, I shall most certainly cause thee to be stoned to death! Now begone from me for good!"

His son responded by saying, "Peace be upon you," and prayed for his father. Yet, he was not swayed by his father's rejection. He devised a plan to show his people the error of their ways. When he "cast a glance at the stars," he declared "verily I am sick." He then secretly went to their idols - while his people were away - and said to them: “What! You do not eat [of the offerings placed before you]? What is amiss with you that you do not speak?”

Then, when one fell swoop, the young boy "fell upon them, smiting them with his right hand." His people soon realized - in utter shock - that their gods have been destroyed and "came towards him hurriedly [and accused him of his deed]," to which he answered: “Do you worship something that you [yourselves] have carved, the while it is God who has created you and all your handiwork?”

His people realized that the young boy was correct, but they responded with arrogant defiance, exclaiming: “Build a pyre for him, and cast him into the blazing fire!” Yet, God saved the young boy from being burned. After this, he declared "Verily, I shall [leave this land and] go wherever my Sustainer will guide me!”

Decades passed. The young boy became a man, and the man later married. He deeply yearned to have a son, but no son came. Finally, when the man was in his 80s, a son finally came. And when that son was a young baby, God commanded the man to take his wife and son - his only son, for whom he waited for decades - and leave them in the desert; a barren desert with neither food, water, or civilization. And the man complied with God's command.

As the man turned to walk away, his wife said to him: "What are you doing?" He did not answer and kept walking. His wife called to him again: "What are you doing? There is no food here; no water; no people. Are you leaving us to die?" He did not answer and kept walking. Finally, his wife asked him, "Did God command you to do this?" He said, "Yes." To this, his wife replied, "Then, He will not lead us astray," and they both went their separate ways.

The small amount of food and drink soon ran out, and the young baby began to cry from hunger. The cries grew more frantic, as did the angst and panic of the young mother watching her little son starve. Out of sheer desperation, she left her crying baby and frantically ran between two hills seven times seeking to find any sign of water or help. Alas, she found none, and when all hope seemed to be gone, she came back to her son to find a spring of water bubbling up from the ground.

The Angel had come and dug the well with the edge of his wing. Both the baby and the mother were saved. God be praised.

A number of years had passed, and the young boy grew and became strong. At that moment, God gave the old father another command: take your son - your only son - and sacrifice him for Me. The father went to his son and said “O my dear son! I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice you: consider, then, what would be your view!”

His son answered: “O my father! Do as you are commanded: you will find me, if God so wills, among those who are patient in adversity!” In fact, his son told him that, when the time comes, his father should turn his son's head down so that he will not lose resolve. On the way to sacrifice his son, Satan appeared to the father to try to dissuade him. The father stoned him three times.

When the fateful day arrived, and the man did as his son told him, the knife would not cut his son's neck. He tried several more times, and finally, a voice cried out and said to him "you have already fulfilled [the purpose of] that dream- vision!" and the son was "ransomed...with a tremendous sacrifice." God be praised.

This story is common to both the Judeo-Christian and Muslim traditions: it is the story of Abraham (pbuh) and the enormous tests he underwent as Prophet and Patriarch. It is this story, in fact, that is re-enacted during the Hajj rituals, and the Eid-ul-Adha festival commemorates this story.

Yet, the fundamental question underlying this entire story is this: How strong is your connection to God?

Abraham's (pbuh) connection to God was very strong: it was so strong that Abraham (pbuh) was willing to leave his infant son in the desert and then later sacrifice him on a slaughtering block. In fact, I do not think there is a human being living on this earth that could do what Abraham (pbuh) did, and that is why the Qur'an says that "God took Abraham as a close friend." (4:125) God knows that I could not do what was asked of Abraham (pbuh).

Yet, still, we need to ask ourselves each and every day: how strong is our connection to God? How strong is our relationship with God? How strong have we made the bond of friendship with God? With the unique placement of the Eid-ul-Adha festival close to the New Year, it is a great question with which to ring in 2008.

And if our connection with God is not strong, then let us resolve to make it stronger throughout this coming year. If our connection is already strong, let us resolve to get even closer to God this coming year. And the ways to achieve this are many: prayer, fasting, reflection, remembrance, study, acts of kindness, or acts of charity. The ways, in fact, are infinite, just as our Lord is Infinite.

And once we start on the path to God, we will find Him waiting for us with open arms. Once we get to His Door, we will find that it will not be locked, and it will open with the gentlest of pushes. Once we come back to Him, we will find Him saying to us, "Welcome home." He will be a Loving Friend, a Merciful Sustainer, a Beautiful King. We will find true peace in His presence, and we will wonder how we could have ever lived life without the Lord God by our side.

The heart can be filled with many lights: fame, fortune, wealth, sexual fulfillment, or power, to name only a few. Yet, not one of those lights will truly satisfy the heart. The only light that will bring true tranquility to the heart is the Light of God, and all we have to do to get it is turn towards Him.

So, as we celebrate the passing of one year and the start of another, let us think about our connection to God, and let us work to make the relationship stronger. The essence of religion is to foster and foment a strong bond with the Creator; everything else flows from that. And know ye all that our Creator is an Awesome Creator. Our God is an Awesome God.

In the hadith tradition, collected by both Bukhari and Muslim, is a Sacred Hadith that sums up the Beauty and Majesty of God. It tells us that, if we take just one step towards God, we will find him running towards us:

I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.

Truly, our God is an Awesome God.

A Final Farewell And A Prayer

2007-12-28T01:50:00.000-08:00

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

Ultimately, only God truly knows who was behind the brutal attack and murder of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Only God truly knows why someone wanted the prominent Pakistani politician dead. Only God truly knows the true motivations of the murderer who, not only killed himself and Ms. Bhutto, but at least 20 other innocent people who were gathered at the rally to hear her speak. As people all across our globe, including this American Muslim, agonize and mourn over the barbaric assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the lingering question of why remains.

Ms. Bhutto was not perfect, and it is true that many people did not like her or her politics. She may not have been Pakistan's best Prime Minister. She had made mistakes, and she had her flaws. Her book is now closed, and she will have to face God - as we all will - and account for her actions on this earth. Still, that does not give anyone the right to take her life. That does not give anyone the right to deprive a teenage boy of his mother; a husband of his wife; a daughter of her mentor. Regardless of what she may have done in the past, that does not give the right to anyone to kill Ms. Bhutto in cold blood.

Some people may argue that Ms. Bhutto should have known better and avoided such public rallies, as she was already the target of a failed suicide attack on her convoy minutes after she arrived in Pakistan. That is irrelevant. It does not justify the fact that someone, in complete spite of everything for which Islam and human decency stands, took it upon himself to shoot Ms. Bhutto then blow himself up. My heart and prayers go out to the family and friends of Ms. Bhutto, and May the Precious, Merciful Lord shower her with mercy and forgiveness. May the Precious Beloved look past her sins and admit her into His Grace and Light. May her family be comforted and strengthened during this most difficult time.

Political assassination has been part and parcel of the human condition. As long as human beings have inhabited this planet, there have been those who have given themselves the right to take the life of another without cause. It began with the sons of Adam (pbuh), and it has continued ever since, at times in the most brutal and heinous of manners. Because of what happened between the sons of Adam (pbuh), God has decreed for all time that If anyone slays a human being - unless it be [in punishment] for murder or for spreading corruption on earth - it shall be as though he had slain all mankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind. (5:32)

Inevitably, fingers will be pointed toward "Islamic militants" as the culprits behind the brutal murder of Benazir Bhutto. Indeed, it does carry their hallmark: suicide attacks in the middle of a throng of people, with absolutely no regard for the innocent people that will be killed by his explosion. Yet, there is nothing "Islamic" about this heinous attack. Why was she killed? Because she was a woman? Because she was against extremism? Because she believed in a secular state? Because she was a "tool of the Americans"? Indeed, many people in Pakistan believed that Ms. Bhutto was a puppet of the West. Still, none of these things are capital crimes. None of these things constitutes justification for taking the life of another human being.

Now, again, this murder has nothing to do with Islam at all, even if the murderer believed he was carrying out God's will (or was told this by his "religious leader"). And this will not be the last act of political violence that will ever occur on this planet. Plenty of non-Muslims have been assassinated throughout history, and if anyone points the finger at Islam for this assassination, that just further proves their irrational hatred for Islam itself. Having said that, however, it should not stop us from reflecting over why this terrible act of murder happened in the first place.

Our religion came to free us from the barbarisms and hypocrisies of the human condition. It came to elevate us above the animal tendencies that exist in our species. It came to show us that there is a better way, even if the entire world does things differently. Islam teaches us that the depravity of the other should not give us cause to be depraved ourselves. Truly, there should be absolutely no acts of political violence in Muslim societies. In a true Muslim society, everyone will understand that life is sacred, and that sanctity is never easily violated. No one has the right to take the life of another. We should be better than this, and until we abandon the ways of the barbarian, we can never advance as a civilization.

This may be wishful thinking, I understand. And it goes without saying that the phenomenon of political violence is not a characteristic of Muslim societies alone (it is a characteristic of all societies). Still, we cannot let the fact that human beings (of whatever religious, ethnic, or other persuasion) will always maim and murder each other allow us to become lazy and excuse patently un-Islamic behavior.

And in this is my prayer: that the Lord God give us the wisdom, knowledge, and true understanding of our faith so that we may once and for all abandon the barbarism of the human condition. Lord, I pray that You allow us to become true believers, as You have always wanted us to be, and be beacons of light for all the world to see. Lord, I ask that You show us the way of the Prophets (pbuh), and I also ask, my Precious Beloved, that we be worthy to tread down that sacred path.

In Your Most Holy Name I ask this, Amen.

A Poem For Mary and Jesus

2007-12-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

For most of the world, December 25 is a national holiday, where most stores, restaurants, businesses, etc. are all closed for the holiday marking the birth of Jesus Christ (pbuh). For me, however, as a Muslim who does not celebrate Christmas, December 25 is just another day. In fact, I frequently work on Christmas Day, and on this Christmas, I am taking call so my partner can enjoy Christmas with his family without being paged from the hospital. It is my pleasure to do so.

Still, even though I do not celebrate Christmas like my Christian friends do, it does not mean that I am not thinking about Jesus Christ (pbuh). I can't help but think about him this entire season, with Christmas songs playing just about everywhere I go.

But it is good to to think of him, one of my most beloved of God's Messengers, a beautiful man sent to guide his people from the errors of their ways. I always think of Jesus Christ (pbuh) in the best of lights, and I pray that I may be with him in God's eternal paradise, sitting beside him and enjoying God's fruits.

It should never be shocking that a Muslim says thus, for Jesus (pbuh) is prominent in our faith. No, he is not worshiped as God, but he is still important nonetheless. I feel the same about all of God's Prophets and Messengers, and I pray that the Lord blesses me with communing with each and everyone of them for all eternity, enjoying their company and living the good life alongside them.

So, once again, even though I am not technically celebrating Christmas like most everyone else, I still wanted to do something special for all those who do celebrate this day with their families and friends. I wrote a poem about my beloved Jesus and his mother, and I hope and pray it does their beauty and their majesty justice.

What was it like, when you stood there alone?
Praying in the East, on you His Light ever shone?

What was it like, when the angel came before thee?
Frightening you greatly, shattering your tranquility?

What was it like, when you were told the news?
That unto you was born the Messiah of the Jews.

Did you not know, that you were more than worthy?
That God chose you above all, that He favored you greatly?

Did you not know, that before you came to be,
The Lord already declared that magnificent were thee?

What was it like, when the Spirit was blown?
When our master was conceived, a miracle to be shown.

What was it like, as you left in fear?
Afraid of the slander that may be placed in the ear?

How did it feel, when the pangs came in earnest?
Did you feel deserted, that the Lord had no interest?

What did it sound like, when our master to you spoke?
How soothing was his voice, covering you like a cloak?

How sweet was the fruit that fell from the tree?
Did it comfort your mind, fill you with tranquility?

How sharp were the stares when, with him, you arrived?
Did their shock give you pain, that they would think you would connive?

How powerful was his voice, when he proclaimed the truth?
Were they amazed by his grace, as he shattered the lies of the uncouth?

O Blessed Mother, upon you I perpetually pray for peace.
And also upon your son, I pray blessings cover him as a fleece.

And if, O Blessed Soul, I get a chance to kiss your hand,
It would be the most honored place I could ever stand.

From my family to yours, may you have a very Merry and Happy Christmas holiday.