Reform and Social Acceptability

There was something in the news that a convicted sex offender was  on the same celebratory boat with  the royals during the jubilee celebrations.

My first thought at this was so what?

  this brought up an inner conversation on - repentance and social acceptability.
If a person truly repents from a previous bad action, then why should we not forgive and allow that person to start over again??

We are all to quick to judge, to label and to ostracise individuals that we deem have fallen fowl of social acceptability standards - sex offenders, rapists, murderers bla bla.. the list is endless

Whilst on some level I understand this as a natural  preventative reaction within ones self for one's safety and the safety of our loved ones... but in all consciousness i have to ask myself... if i were in their shoes wouldn't i want society to allow me to reform?

 take a longstanding position on forgiveness - "We all ask  God to forgive our sins and allow us to reform and start again.. so why cant we afford the same for our fellow human beings?"

Granted God is the Most Merciful.. and his patience and love knows no bounds.. but still in that we would want some mercy and repentance for ourselves.. why cant we afford to give such to others who come across our paths?

 The subject of repentance and reform, whilst on a broad angle is something we cannot truly know or understand.. i say this because the mind of another person is not something that we are privy to.. whilst an individual may show outwards behaviours of reform and remorse, this may just be an act to fool the society and inwardly they may have not changed in the slightest.. that is for God to judge and not for us to worry about.

Whilst on some level we would worry, but we can only deal with an open hand and make and informed decision based on what we see and also to a large extent what we feel.. this inner beacon of judging dangerous persons and dangerous situations...

 there is also an issue in the sense of why can we not separate person/responsibility from action/crime committed. The example for this is that an experienced underwriter who is arrested/indicted for sex offence looses his job with a company he has worked for more than 20 years?
 i personally do not think this is fair.. but i do understand the issues behind it.
Firstly i would think that the sex offence has nothing to do with his job or ability to perform his job.. in that sexual preferences are part of a persons make-up that has nothing to do with everyday contact in society.
Secondly i understand that  if word gets out.. this persons fellow colleagues may find it hard to work with him as they may not be able to separate person/ability from action..
Thirdly i understand the adverse publicity for the company for the same reasons as above.

It will be an unfairness because in my view these people who commit crimes loose everything they have built up for ages, acceptance( which should not be underrated.. no man is an island), social standing, source of income... at the same time  the effect on the victims should not be underplayed. If they truly reform/repent, they should be allowed to continue on with their lives.. it will be a lesson learned for them and a deterrent  not to oblige the same crime.

I guess with tolerance/understand both parties may be able to come to a leeway.. if the perpetrator apologises and repents and  tries to reform... this will only be possible in its full ramifications with the social pardon to allow then to rebuild and move on from the incident ( both parties) and not have the incident thrown in their face all the time.

This then brings on another issue in my mind re sexual offences and what we as a society finds acceptable.

 i will pose the question...  to criminalise a man for chatting with an underage minor when the underage minor was posing as an adult on a social chat room? the issues  for me will be if the older man knew the person was underage or not.. if he did not know and assumes that he was having explicit sexual conversations with a consenting adult.. then personally i don't think he has done  anything wrong.. if he knew that is another matter entirely.. will bring up issues of was the minor consenting as well/ how mentally aware was the minor etc..

This is a murky subject..

God help us all and guide us to truth.. May he accept our repentance and help us change our lives around.

Find Someone

Find someone that isn't afraid to admit they miss you. Someone that knows you're not perfect but treats you as if you are. Someone who couldn't imagine losing you. Someone who gives their heart to you completely. Someone who says I love you and proves it. Someone who wouldn't mind waking up to you in the morning, seeing your wrinkles and grey hair but still find you attractive
Someone who sees beyond your physical flaws/attractions to the heart within
someone who isnt afraid to care for you in public
Someone who  will  support you
Someone who  will talk to you.. not just talk with you but talk to you...
Someone who will kiss you with affection
Someone who will share with you..
Someone who does not think a womans place is in the kitchen
Someone who will cook for you also

No Love...

i just want you to love me.. to care for me..
i just want you to show me that you love me..
i need you to be intimate with me to share your love and feelings with me
I need you to want me, caress me, and love me
 for insecure as i confess to be  - I need this affirmation to bond me to you
 what is a bond without affection, what is a life without love
What is love without intimacy...What is intimacy without showing it

What is love... that is the Question of the day

Fear of Falling......Failing

Someone once asked me what did i want to do with my life.. and my answer without much thought was " to worship God".
Uncanny as it seems, i have no great desire for anything in life.
My view at present is that i am not ambitious enough to  motivate me into any profession, I have no great love for riches other than to be comfortable -
 just want to be.. me.. just worship God with the grand aim for peace and paradise and joy in the  hereafter.

it is not a crime to want simplicity in life,  not to want to be burdened by chaos  that is life, job, family, money etc..

 i do know through experience that ambitiousness causes me to be egoistic with despotic tendencies, i know that too much money brings on arrogance and pride...

 contentment is the order of the day.. to be happy with/in what ever situation i find myself..
 but  with honesty in mind, i realise that i am not truly content in life.. for i fear i suffer from " i want what they have" syndrome.
this makes me crave things that ordinarily i may not want but for fear of being left behind in the "great movement of human race" i will pursue

Through this plague of a disease.. i come to slowly understand myself.. my capabilities.. my own desires...

I want to be in a place where there is no fear of worship.. where i can sing and dance my bubbly behind, where i can be eloquent with praises to my creator.

i want to be in a place where there is security and peace

I want to be with someone who will love me and share with me life, love, praise  for God and worship

I fear though that i may not achieve all this..

I fear that i will fail in this  regard..

 i remember when i was younger about 20 yrs ago, i always told God in my heart, whatever i do in this life.. bad or good that He will grant me paradise..i always maintained that in my mind.. going through life never caring, never committing myself to Him.. until i was about 20yrs after much thought on this issue.. i then said to God  that i wanted to know i deserved a place with Him so i then said that an easy ticket is too easy for me, i needed to deserve a place in paradise.. so i gave up my ticket and i said to God, i want to deserve   my place.. i want to do the deeds that earn me a place, i want to give the praise that will earn me my place..

 i dont know if this was foolish.. to give up the easy route for something much more harder.

I feel like life is getting in the way of my worship..
I feel like i am letting life get in the way of my worship
I feel like i am failing myself letting life get in the way of my worship

i need thee o Lord to guide me through.. for life is filled with temptations that may take me from thee. Steel my heart, and lead me back to thee. without any fear or favour  - to be able to say that I am from thee, I am of thee, to serve thee, to praise thee... all of my life dedicated to thee

Musings of a lonely heart

There is no right... no left.. no center... There is just God.

God knows our path.. He alone knows the route to our success..

In my view the true test of faith is to say.. to blazes with the world and everything/everyone in it.. I put my trust in God alone..

how many of us can say that with  true convictions?

 the world is attractive, very enticing...we rush around distracted by money, by power, by friendship.... however in the end of things.. it is not important at all...

 i am not saying live like a hermit.. far from it.. what we have  in this world.. that God has enabled us to achieve  we should enjoy...the enjoyment of it all should endear us more to God.. but often than not we find that the enjoyment and the pursuit of life takes us away from the path of faith.. the path of God..

 its a fine balance to strike.. enjoy life and be faithful to God.. but dont get trapped by life... remaining devoted to God..

Garments of righteousness

Surah 7:26 is where it talks about garments that God has provided us to cover our bodies as well as ornaments/accessories. however the garment of righteousness is the best.

What is the garment of righteousness?

in my view it is truth, honesty, straightforwardness in matters relating to God and to other fellow human beings.

Everyone is different, has different upbringings and words and actions can mean the same or different things.

Difference is good because it enables one to see the others viewpoint and have a taste of the other side in life and its experiences.

Difference is bad if one ( in my view) cant see past it and looks down on the other due to the difference.

Personal Style/Taste is another thing which is subjective... but one should not look down on another because of how they dress or present themselves.

surah 49:11 comes to mind as it goes along the lines of don't ridicule one another for they may be better then you.. somethings like that { actually i have read the verse but i am lazy to quote it verbatim (using RK translation)}

but when the apple of my eye makes a statement that i embarass him because of the way i dress.. then for me there is something wrong.

something is wrong because then i have to think and rethink and try to understand this... maybe i am looking at it from my own point of view - God forgive me..

i am trying not to be selfish and i have asked questions to the point of boredom re this situation so i can better understand what exactly it is.

some people may choose to settle for second best but in all fairness i will like to think that i am not one of those people..

Righteousness matters a great deal.. in this case righteousness for me is a sense and awareness of God and active steps to try to worship God alone.

Clothes - jewelry - shoes - hair - fades as it is only material and superficial.

if my simple is what you saw in the beginning - i don't understand how it can be embarrassing afterwards.

that is the question that puzzles me.....

I never seek to alter myself to induce adoration, or indulge in "fakery" to promote beauty that is not there.. but it seems that is what you want.

Which ordinarily is not a problem - in all fairness

The problem is the question - What sort of a person are you that you cannot accept a person at their simplest (let of say for want of punch - worst) but are only willing to accept them at their complicated ( let is say for want of punch - best).

If you cannot accept me for being me - the person God created... how then can you live with me?

because further down the line it will slowly create resentment and foster hatred.

when my dearest says that the way i dress embarrasses them -( i don't indulge in "fakery" - this is my interpretation) then what am i to do?

"fakerise" myself to make him happy -

Life is unfair i guess.. it is one rule for the man and another rule for the woman.

but in conclusion my Lord... i take responsibility for everything because it seems i did not make it clear enough about how i am.. i did not present myself in my natural light (even though i thought i did) i did not naturalize myself enough to let my inner beauty shine so that he could see it.

Granted i am not beautiful or pretty but i am not ugly either ( all is a matter of subjection by the beholder)... it is my simple heart that I offer from myself - not how i look, - If that is not enough, then the very essence of who i am is lost on you.

God rules my day, my night and my world every time... not life, not family, not society, and certainly not material/superficial things.

If you are ashamed/embarrassed to stand by me whatever the circumstances, then you cannot be for me... for even if i wore a garment of feaces, you should be able to see past that through to my heart and stand with me united against the world.. for in all fairness, no ambiguity and total honesty.. i would stand with you...

in all my circumstances - pimples, attire and all - i remember job - at his worst - the story is that people deserted him, laughed at him and his predicament.. He called out to his Lord - Adversity has befallen me and you are the Most Merciful Lord and the Lord was merciful unto him reinstated him.

so i like Job call out to God my Lord - Anguish and Adversity is overtaking me - as i implore thee i remember that Thou art the Most Gracious Most Merciful.

May my Lord - The Most Gracious forgive me and guide me to his path in this life and hereafter.

Good Advice

28:68

Your Lord is the One who creates whatever He wills, and chooses; no one else does any choosing. Glory be to GOD, the Most Exalted. He is far above needing partners.

28:69

Your Lord knows the innermost thoughts hidden in their chests, as well as everything they declare.

28:70

He is the one GOD; there is no other god beside Him. To Him belongs all praise in this first life, and in the Hereafter. All judgment belongs with Him, and to Him you will be returned.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

These three verses struck me today. Glory be to God, in that such an eloquent praise for Him is in his scriptures... as a matter of my fact, such a many eloquent praise for God can be found in all his scriptures. very easily we overlook them but with repeated reading Gw God makes us aware of them and we prostrate to him as a sign of our gratitude.

So that i don't forget - this verse also keeps popping at me whenever i choose to open the Quran blindly - this is surah 41 - Fussilat. 30-36.

the advice therein is one that i often fail to remember - Such is my genes that i am one quick to anger and quick to rebuke - i forget to exercise patience and resort to God - Of this i stand guilty before God, my soul and self. My tongue is quick to fire off instantaneously if i am vexed/angered. sometimes it is only afterwards that i remember and i seek forgiveness from God for the many faults of this kind which no doubt seeks to take me away from him and i ask that i remember and heed the advise in future.

Patience as with all thing comes from God - its one of the things that evade me but by Gods mercy, he will provide me with it as well as with strength of mind and courage.... not forgetting contentment

Those who proclaim: "Our Lord is GOD," then lead a righteous life, the angels descend upon them: "You shall have no fear, nor shall you grieve. Rejoice in the good news that Paradise has been reserved for you.

"We are your allies in this life, and in the Hereafter. You will have in it anything you wish for; you will have anything you want.

"(Such is your) ultimate abode, from a Forgiver, Most Merciful.

Who can utter better words than one who invites to GOD, works righteousness, and says, "I am one of the submitters"?

Not equal is the good response and the bad response. You shall resort to the nicest possible response. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend.

None can attain this except those who steadfastly persevere. None can attain this except those who are extremely fortunate.

When the devil whispers an idea to you, you shall seek refuge in GOD. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.

HELP

The Most Gracious is my Lord, there is no other god but He.
He is the one who will guide me and inspire me
He is the one who will help and support me.
The Most Gracious is my Lord, i have no other God but Him
He is my God and the one that will guide me
He is my source if Help, my creator and Saviour
The Most Gracious is my Lord, there is no other god but He
He is the one who will forgive me
My salvation and Trust.
The Most Gracious is my Lord, I have no other God but Him
He will shine his light for me to see, to lead me through my darkness
He will hold me close to him, accept my repentance and guide me
The Most Gracious is my Lord, i believe and trust in Him

Patience, Tolerance and understanding

TOLERANCE
a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.

a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.

interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one's own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint.

the act or capacity of enduring; endurance


PATIENCE:
the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow learner.

quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to work with patience.


UNDERSTANDING:
mental process of a person who comprehends; comprehension; personal interpretation: My understanding of the word does not agree with yours.


intellectual faculties; intelligence; mind: a quick understanding.


superior power of discernment; enlightened intelligence: With her keen understanding she should have become a leader.


knowledge of or familiarity with a particular thing; skill in dealing with or handling something: an understanding of accounting practice.


a state of cooperative or mutually tolerant relations between people


this is something i wrote back in 2008 - it still rings true now more than ever.
http://adetutu.blogspot.fr/2008/09/do-still-want-me-part-1.html
i have never sought to hide my true self away from others,
i have never sought to decieve or be untruthful about how i am, who i am and what my aspirations are.
To my own defult - I am too open about myelf - even if i am not able to say it face to face , i will write it here how my thoughts are developing and it is possible to see at a glance what my mood is like.
It is for each of us to search our souls and find out the true reasons for our actions.
I have been open about myself right from day one - but it seems that despite what is plain in view and sight to see, some people choose to be blind about it.

the analagy i can give is that - i knew i wanted a white shirt and i went to the market and i saw a red shirt. I bought the red shirt knowing fully well it was a red shirt, it was advertised as a red shirt. Despite wanting a white shirt, i bought the red shirt and took it home. when at home after some time i was disatisfied with the red shirt because it turned out not to be the shirt i originally wanted.
all in all - you wasted your time because you may now have to return the red shirt and go for your original white.

Questions one will ask is: why did you buy the red shirt when you wanted white.

there are some quotes in Quran that i feel is pertinent and it is making me have thoughts along the psycadelic lines

somewhere it says Good men for Good women, bad men for bad women, suran 24:26

if what i am experiencing is to be understood on some level - maybe i am a bad woman deep down afterall. and if i am may God forgive me a great forgiveness and turn me, my soul and my life around

I asked God for someone from my heart, someone who will love and care for me, be tolerant, have patience and understand me. someone that I am happy with, safe and secure – with them I am invincible – they will have my back, they will be my greatest friend, I can talk to them, tell them my heart and they will understand. they will support me and tell me their mind, tell me their truth – They will not be selfish with themselves, they will nurture me - with God overlooking us.

As it turns out maybe this is not what i have - dont get me wrong in everything in life there is adversity that one has to overcome - but sometimes too, when the adversity becomes too much for one to bear, one calls in help - the best help is God obviously without stating the obvious.

when you talk to someone and it seems they dont understand, or care to understand you, when it seems that all your efforts are futile and going no where sometimes the strongest thing to do is to accept defeat.

everyone has as an agenda in marriage - wether it is to be happy, to be controlling, to be selfish, to be loving, to get loved and taken care of bla bla - it is with time that these agendas come to light.

there is a prayer in the Quran - Our Lord let our children and spouses be a source of joy for us and keep us in the forefront of righteousness. 25:74.

this is uncanny innit (my circumstances refers) source of joy - being the operative word (never will i deem it upon myself to mock Gods words)

30:21 -Among His proofs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, in order to have tranquility and contentment with each other, and He placed in your hearts love and care towards your spouses. In this, there are sufficient proofs for people who think.

it is not a crime to asked to be loved and cared for - it is the basic right of anyone, any father, any mother, any husband, and child, brother or sister.

Love is love. unselfish love is accomodating of anything, it is not mislead by physical appearance, it is not selfish, it is given as a measure of Goodwill, you cant help who you fall in love with. such is life.

the greatest love is the Love of God - to put God before all things in life and death.

surah 9:24

Proclaim: "If your parents, your children, your siblings, your spouses, your family, the money you have earned, a business you worry about, and the homes you cherish are more beloved to you than GOD and His messenger, and the striving in His cause, then just wait until GOD brings His judgment." GOD does not guide the wicked people.

For me - i pray to God that he keeps me putting Him first always, each day, everyday, in whatever circumstances - favourable or not. May God keep me praising Him always.

i did not listen to my own advice...

For sooo long when you pray for something and you leave it to fate and accept Gods judgement - then you get an inspiration, a glimpse of what appears to be what you have asked for - you thank God and accept it.

its just like inspiration - God inspires us in our mind - but at the same time the devil whispers into our minds - It is only with Gods grace and light that the difference is known to us.
if we are inherently bad, we disregard Gods light and accept the devils advice and direction.
God forgive me, for i know countless of times whether through ommision or commision - knowingly or unknowingly do i sin everyday against my soul before my Creator - but i rely on Gods mercy that He does forgive me and help me to do better and that He accepts me into His fold

thanks to God

My Lord is wonderful,
My Lord is excellent
My Lord is Beautiful
My Lord is Good
Compassionate King, Merciful Lord You are my God you are my God
Compassionate King, Merciful Lord, you are my King you are My King
All i have is cause of your Mercy - Your are good to me, You are good to me
I am grateful Lord, I am grateful Lord
For all you have done, I am Grateful King
I am grateful Mightyful I am grateful o

Most High Most Wise - Arahman - Alal Arshi Istawa - The Most Gracious - who is firmly established on the Throne

i am grateful for your kindness and provision
i was going to lament and say how depressed i am but you have relieved a burden from my mind i am thankful and ever grateful....

interesting

http://www.scribd.com/doc/9495140/Conspiracies-Against-the-Quran

interesting read this link - very interesting indeed

Good Advice

someone sent me this advice today - whilst it was unsolicited - i feel it is insightful and inspiring and it it something i want to share with you.


Please refer all the aayaats (verses) quoted very carefully

Alhamdulillah! By Allah's grace I am able to get myself close to Allah. I study AlQuraan always based on the following FORMULAS. Yes, formulas!

1- When I am clean from my mind and from my heart, at such times, I feel myself very close to Allah. This is because, if we have problem in our minds and heart then it may lead us to go astray. 2:10-11, 3:7 [chapter : verse]

2- I start reading AlQuraan by seeking refuge in Allah from Shaitaan. 16:98

3- I always try to follow Arabic Text, even when I used to read translations, and I used to follow multiple translations [lets say about 8 in different languages that I know by different translators, btw I know only 3-4 languages] to extract the closest meaning of the original text 12:2 and there is no problems in Arabic language 39:28

The best way I found to understand the exact meaning of the words used in Arabic in AlQuraan is to find the same rooted words and check its usage in different aayaats. That helps me a lot.


You can pray how Allah guides you by studying AlQuraan, you don't need to follow anyone 7:3 [rather you can take help from anyone] in the world, cause, Allah guides who He wills and His guidance is the only true and correct guidance 2:120, 18:17, 39:37. So, better to get direct guidance from Allah.

And no need to pray Salaat in Arabic, you must understand what you SAY [not recite but say] in Salaat 4:43 and you are free to pray your Salaat in your own language, Allah understand all the languages. Through Salaat you can create a link between you and Allah, I believe that you can form such link in your own language strongly, instead of parroting other language.


In fact, no book on the earth is needed to help to understand AlQuraan correctly. Allah said, there are lot of contradictions in any book other than AlQuraan 4:82 and when Allah is the One who gives you knowledge of AlQuraan 55:1-2, you don't need any other book.


You don't need to get confuse, listen to everyone but ask Allah for help and guidance [it is needed always] toward HIS true path. As I said above, if you are pure from your heart, sincere and honest to yourself, then you don't need to worry, Allah, will surely guide you, but please DO NOT RUSH, there is a time for everything from Allah and wait until Allah judges for you in every case. 10:109

You don't need to worry for where to take a start, you can read AlQuraan from anywhere, anytime, Allah knows what you need from guidance so, He will show you what you needed depends upon your base knowledge. Believe me, so many times you may get surprise, to get exactly what you were looking for, just by reading AlQuraan randomly from anywhere.

This is all happens because, Allah knows about us, He is our Creator.

I always ask others to study AlQuraan alone cause:

1- We may diviate from the path of Allah if we follow other books as they contain maximum contradictions 4:82

2- What do we need other books for, when we already have everything with us in detail and explained 16:89, 6:38, 6:114

3- We ask Allah for the guidance to the straight path 1:6, Allah said AlQuraan guides you to the straight path 17:9

Hence, no other books needed.


You can start from anywhere, even just by opening AlQuraan randomly from anywhere, that is really helpful, inshaAllah. If you are confused about anything, just seek Allah's help and keep that topic on hold and wait until Allah clarifies it for you 10:109

Yes you take down notes of what YOU study by yourself to cross reference WHEN you find the similar topic while reading AlQuraan. I used to use marker to mark the words or aayaats straight in AlQuraan [hard copy] itself while reading by adding another sura and aayat number at the side [as side note] where the same word or similar aayat or same topics I find.

InshaAllah, it will help you a lot, again, please DO NOT RUSH it may not lead you anywhere but deviate from the true path of Allah.


I am not doing any special favor to you but we should remember always, that who ever does good is for his own self and who ever does evil is also for his own self. 17:7 So, my reward will be with Allah, inshaAllah.


Sorry for the looooooong post but I hope this may help you, inshaAllah.

So that is the long and short if it. i agree God is the one who will impart knowledge and guidance from the scripture to us - i also agree that we should focus on God alone - and yes i agree that salat need not be said in arabic alone - i always re-iterate - during salat, it i sthe soul reaching out to its creator - you have to know what you are saying and what you are putting forward on behalf of your soul - personally i use a mixture of arabic as i understand the translation, english and yoruba which is my native tongue. all in all for my creator.
anyways good advice ought to be shared so here is my share....

Distraught

My Lord, i feel desolane and alone.
I know no helper except thee
I have no help except that which Thou sends for me
I know of no guide tolead me through my darkness
I have no guidance but that which Thou inspires me to
I have no knowledge except that which thou bestows on me
I have no comfort save that which Thou gives me
I need strenght from thee to be able to understand and comprehend.
I need courage to do that which must be done by me
I need thee ever more
i need patience to be able to carry on - for i feel as though as i cant go on, i cant take anymore
but give me patience my Lord to persevere, patience to hold on, patience to remember to pray and praise thee
i am falling my Lord - Please help me, I feel so alone and in despair

I need strenght not only for me but for my Child, I need strenght to cast away the moments of blue that is descending upon me.
I need strenght and courage not only for me but for my child, I need strenght to carry this child
Please dont take this child from me, please support me Lord - You alone are my Provider , my Support My King.

Maybe i am amplifying it much more than i should - but right now i dont know what to say, what to do, what and how to be - i just know of you Lord, my help and comfort.

Speaking sense......

I saw this article just today on submitters perspective and for once i can say there there is sence in what the person who wrote the article is taalking about - the most important part (i have made in bold and my comments are in red))that made me acclaim - yes that's it - God wont leave you(person who wrote this article) and will bless you for saying this.

To read or not to read, That is the question… or is it?
Often new submitters ask if they should read the subtitles, footnotes and appendices in Dr. Rashad Khalifa’s translation of the Quran. Depending on whom they ask they will get different answers.
In some Quran study groups this has become quite an issue, with different Submitters taking different stances. Some say that they must not be read because they are not in the original Arabic Quran, while others say they must be read because they are the teaching of the Messenger of the Covenant. In a few situations perhaps even rules have been made.

But I would like to suggest that to read or not to read is not really the question. Rather it is: Why we are trying to tell how others they should be following Submission? (May God forgive me, I have done it too, so I am speaking to myself as well.) i too must admit that wether i like it or not - when i am trying to explain sometimes to people i fall into the trap of trying to tell others how to behave - but i recognise that this is wrong - i can only give my view point - what the person chooses to follow is up to them afterall.

In my personal understanding true Islam, Submission, is not an organized religion. To me there is no religious hierarchy but rather each of us is individually responsible to God alone. We stand before Him absolutely on our own. So to me each of us must make our own decisions; it is our neck. Of course we are encouraged to consult with one another: i fully agree with this statement whole heartedly - and this is when i acclaimed in happiness - what i have been trying to make people understand - we only answer to God - so many people - and in this case those who call themselves submitters - fall into a trap of wanting conformity - same prayers, same thoughts - but the human being is not a machine is he? i believe the race is towards rightwousness and each of us through Gods provisions upon us(individually) have different levels of logic and undestanding - it is not a case of one person is right and the other is wrong - it is rather in my view a case of our lives are different, our experiences are different - so therefore our understanding and thought processes will be different - there is no right or wrong - God knows those who are serving him and putting him first in all their decision processes - after all God is the best Guide and it is He who will provide us with the necessary logic/understanding to appreciate and know His words and how we are best placed to worship him. consulting is a way whereby we share ideas and viewpoints - we cannot get upset or angry at the another persons rationale or conclusion - life afterall and in essence the worship of God is a working Progress till the end of our life span.
the submitters that i know - want conformity - but with worshiping God - i believe the only conformity that can be appreciated is WORSHIPPING GOD ALONE. that is the utmost binding glue that makes us all kindred spirits - i guess it all about tolerance - one vital ingredient that WE ALL FORGET DUE TO ARROGANCE - and by arrogance i mean that voice in your head that makes you think you are superior because you think you have found the right explanation to things.essence of a verse or thought.

[42:38] They respond to their Lord by observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Their affairs are decided after due consultation among themselves, and from our provisions to them they give (to charity).

However, this is different from our trying to make rules that others must follow. When we are consulted we should of course give our understanding while recognizing that indeed others have an equal right to their understanding. As per above statement

[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.

I personally find wonderful information, knowledge and wisdom in Dr. Khalifa’s words, both written and spoken and captured on tape. But they are not a source of religious law. God tells us clearly that the scripture is the only such source: Personally i do not find them relevant to my path to God - i guess i regard it as any other article someone has written - i have never been able to follow through - i do not agree with some lines of thought - and i agree with the aurhot - khalifa's notes are not a source of religious law - but you will be amazed at the numbers of "submitters" that regard it as so.


Quran: Fully Detailed*

[6:114] Shall I seek other than GOD as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed?* Those who received the scripture recognize that it has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully. You shall not harbor any doubt.

*6:113-115 Upholding any source beside the Quran reflects disbelief in the Quran (Appendix 18).

Nor are they a source of guidance:

Quran, the Whole Quran, and Nothing But the Quran - sometimes we has humans forget that it is all about the QURAN and the guidance therein - it is God who will reveal its guidance to us - not for any man to be able to explain it to me -

[6:19] Say, "Whose testimony is the greatest?" Say, "GOD's. He is the witness between me and you that this Quran* has been inspired to me, to preach it to you and whomever it reaches. Indeed, you bear witness that there are other gods* beside GOD." Say, "I do not testify as you do; there is only one god, and I disown your idolatry."

*6:19 This verse proclaims the Quran as the only source of religious guidance. Those who uphold additional sources, such as Hadith & Sunna (lies attributed to the Prophet), are defined as idolators.

These are my thoughts, but I must respect those who have a different opinion. After all, God is guiding each of us individually. AGREED

[64:11] Nothing happens to you except in accordance with GOD's will. Anyone who believes in GOD, He will guide his heart. GOD is fully aware of all things.

One of the great joys of Submission is the diversity we are blessed with in our community. We come from different nationalities and different religious, cultural, educational and family backgrounds. And yet we form the bricks in one wall. And the fact that each brick is a slightly different shape makes us stronger, like walls of mortar-less natural stones whose shapes are so perfectly fitted together that they are still standing thousands of years later.

What a gift. Praise God. May He continue to make our wall a strong and resilient one!

copied from: http://www.masjidtucson.org/publications/books/SP/2011/nov/page3.html


this life is interesting indeed - personally speaking - when reading khalifas translation - i find omissions and his choice of words not a true representative of what i feel the verse is saying - but nevertheless - i have always maintained that the translation of Quran from original into any language is a tricky business and i commend anyone who tries to do it - it is always difficult - because the translator will first have to make sense of it - and by their making sense of it - they are already conditioned to be subjective and they are limited by their experiences and understanding - it is this limited scope that they are trying to pass on to others - i always encourage people to pick up the scripture and read themselves for themselves - Never let anyone tell you they can explain a verse to you - they can only give you their viewpoint - and that viewpoint is not binding - no matter how esteemed that person is to you or the community - for those who do not read arabic - it is best to get different versions of the translation and compare - God willing - God will direct one to the right meaning.
Khalifas translation is by no means in my view authorised - it contains mistakes and omissions where in a translation of the scripture of God there should not be any mistakes/omissions - but overall it is a good read - somewhat simplistic in its overview but a good base to start from - and as one reads and reads each day, one gets to see the chop and change of words that are used by the translator that makes it confusing to arrive at a logical sequence - but that in itself is a learning spurt spurring one to find out more about the choice of words, omissions and general flow of verses.

an example of the chop and change in a simplistic way is the use of the word "exalted" which he has translated from as tabaraka and taa'la -
for example - Most Exalted is God 7:54- he translates as Tabaraka llahu - also he uses Most Exalted is God - Fa taa'la llahu 20:114. but elsewhere he uses wataa'la llahu - He is the Most High.

on doing a bit of searching - "tabaraka" using the corpus arabic dictionary - is noted as "Blessed" - which for me rings somewhere in my head as the tail end of the word "Baraka" - is "Blessing" - http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=brk

also when looking at the other word "Aa'la" - this i guess is used elsewhere as "High" - so by saying "wa taa'la" - will can mean as "Most High"

all i can say is comme si, comme ca - to God belongs the most beautiful names - whichever attributes one uses -

this notion that we submit to God alone - is what i feel many submitters who are in process forming alliances over the 3 vs 5 prayers - shoul adopt - i have been told that some 5 prayer submitters are saying that we should not pray with the 3 prayer submitters and shouls hsun them.

I for one will not and never do this - I will pray with anyone who is praying to God alone - be it christian jews or even those who are not fully practicing - as long as the prayer is directed to Him alone - everything else of for God to judge as he knows intentions better than anyone.

Division is a tool of the devil and we should start realising this and concentrate on God alone and worshipping God alone and stop worrying about peoples thought processes and fate - we should worry about our own neck and our fate.

no one can tell anyone else how it should be done, the best way to pray, the best way to worsip God, what to say in prayer - how to speak to God, this is up to the individual soul as it is the soul from each person that is accountable at the end of the day.

Praise be to the Lord of the Universe - there is no other God but thee my Lord, in this life and hereafter. Guide me to thee - with truth and with your light which illuminates and clears the way to thee. Keep me forever devoted to thee in this life and hereafter - to praise and glorify thee always. For all Glory is Thine, all Praise, Authority and Kingship, in this life and the hereafter , Be thou Glorified Most Gracious Lord.

Ablutions and Hair - the negro womans problem...

IT has long since been a subject of interest of mine with regards to this aspect.

I am fascinated regarding interpretation over this aspect - Ultimately God knows best and may He guide us to the truth and grant us the understanding needed to accept it.


i remember i asked one of my muslim friends on how she observed just normal ablution - given that she too like me was prone to changing her hairstyles and unlike me she used weavons - ( these weavons are temporarily atached to the hair in some instancves covering the whole head) - the issue at hand being that with various hairstyles - contact with water is not really a yes yes in these instances.

she advised that in particular to weave-on she just left a bit of her scalp free at the back and touched water with that part;

hmmmm - with regards to myself - i and weaveon dont mix - not that i dont like it but that i cannot reconcile ablution with it - i just have to be able to wipe my hair with water and with a weave on - this does not let me do that effectively.- i dont honestly buy touching part of your head with water - and i know some people just take the weaveon as their hair and just wipe da weave with water - me i canne do that.

i asked other ladies but they were not keen to answer me. i guess for fear that maybe what they have ben doing may be percieved as wrong -but really i am not out to judge i am just looking at a way forward with this issue

if i had this issue with ablution then the greater issue of ghusul will be more apparent -

as a woman - ghusul of incumbent on me after menstruation, after sexual contact -

i remember growing up and the labourious instructions given to us at religious studies - start with washing your privates - then with intention - some long long spill that i have to memorise for washing each part of my body - then pour water on yourself from head to toe - making sure the water reaches every part of your body - then by washing the right side of your body - three times - do not touch your privates( something to that effect) then wash the left side of your body three times - all the time making sure that this is done in silence apart from the dua to make -

too complicated - i am sure at certain times of my growing up depending on which religious book i read, this practice was different when i tried to follow it - it was change after change - well until at least i started to look at the Quran itself -

As far as my knowledge goes - God correct/forgive me if i am wrong - the requirements regarding ghusul - is in relation to having a bath. thats it - it does not give step by step instructions - as is seen with ablution - but just says have a bathe after sexual contact. See 5:6 and 4:43 and 2:222 as verses from the Quran

so these countless changing reauirements (which depends on the religious book that you may be reading and also largly which sub-denomination of faith you follow) were from hadiths.

anyhow to cut the long story short - with regrads to the bathing - this then brings another set of subjective notions -
what exactly constitutes having a bathe - pouring water over your body? and in particular hair?
one can be said to have had a bathe - and may not have washed their hair with it. - when i say wash hair - (i mean pour water over their head.)
and one can also be said to have a bathe and washed their hair.

so in the case of ghusul - wash hair or not wash hair?

my instincts go with wash hair - but if i am nohest my practice is depending on what i have on my hair.
sometimes i may just pour water on my hair, or sometimes i dip my hands in water and rub them all over my scalp my opinion.

when i try to look back to see how other people do it
i think jews regard ghusul (which is mikveh) as imersion in water from head to toe - so this includes wetting the hair. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikveh

i guess there is no issue with wetting the hair - the actual issue lies when you have done your hair and it i snot practical to wet it??

but then God word/command over vanity of this life???

i guess it is clear?