Thursday, July 31, 2008

Statistics that tell a Story

Extracts of speech by Hafez Adv. AB Mohamed: Director, Al Baraka Bank, Durban, South Africa

Demographics: World Jewish Population 14 million
Distribution: 7m in America 5m in Asia 2m in Europe 100 thousand in Africa

World Muslim Population: 1.5 billion (1,500 million)
Distribution: 1 billion in Asia / Mid-East 400 M in Africa 44 M in Europe 6 M in the Americas
Every fifth human being is a Muslim
For every single Hindu there are two Muslims
For every Buddhist there are two Muslims
For every Jew there are 107 Muslims
Yet the 14 million Jews are more powerful than the entire 1,500 million Muslims Why?
Here are some of the reasons
Movers of Current History - they are all Jewish
Albert Einstein Sigmund Freud Karl Marx Paul Samuelson Milton Friedman
Medical Milestones - also Jewish
Vaccinating Needle - Benjamin Ruben
Polio Vaccine - Jonas Salk
Leukaemia Drug - Gertrude Elion
Hepatitis B - Baruch Blumberg
Syphilis Drug - Paul Ehrlich
Neuro muscular - Elie Metchnikoff
Nobel Prize Winners
In the past 105 years, 14 million Jews have won 180 Nobel prizes whilst 1.5 billion Muslims have contributed only 3 Nobel winners
Inventions that changed History
Micro- Processing Chip - Stanley Mezor
Nuclear Chain Reactor - Leo Sziland
Optical Fibre Cable - Peter Schultz
Influential Global Business
Polo Ralph Lauren Coca Cola
Levi Jeans Levi Strauss
Google Sergey Brin
Dell Computers Michael Dell
The list I have is endless but everyone of them has contributed significantly in some way or the other and they all have one thing in common they are Jews...
Why are they powerful and why are Muslims powerless? Here's another reason. We have lost the capacity to produce knowledge.
o In the entire Muslim World (57 Muslim Countries) the re are only 500 universities.
o In USA alone, 5,758 universities
o In India alone, 8,407 universities
o Not one university in the entire Islamic World features in the Top 500 Ranking Universities of the World
o Literacy in the Christian World 90%
o Literacy in the Muslim World 40%
o 15 Christian majority-countries, literacy rate 100%
o Muslim majority - countries , None
o 98% in Christian countries completed primary
o Only 50% in Muslim countries completed primary.
o 40% in Christian countries attended university
o In Muslim countries a dismal 2% attended.
o Muslim majority countries have 230 scientists per one million Muslims
o The USA has 5000 per million
o The Christian world 1000 technicians per million.
o Entire Arab World only 50 technicians per million.
o Muslim World spends on research / development t 0.2% of GDP
o Christian World spends 5 % of GDP

My Conclusion
o The Muslim World lacks the capacity to produce knowledge.

Another way of testing the degree of knowledge is the degree of diffusing knowledge.
o Pakistan 23 daily newspapers per 1000 citizens
o Singapore 360 per 1000 citizens.
o In UK book titles per million is 2000
o In Egypt book titles per million is only 20

Simple The Muslim World is failing to diffuse knowledge

Applying Knowledge is another such test.
o Exports of high tech products from Pakistan is 1% of its exports.
o In Saudi Arabia is 0.3%
o Kuwait, Morocco and Algeria 0.3%
o Singapore alone is 58%

Now you wonder why are the Muslims so powerless!!!

THINK ABOUT IT



Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Laylat-ul-Me'raj

The Eve of Laylat-ul-Me'raj is on the 30 July 2008 (27th Rajab)

On the twenty seventh of Rajab the Masjids will be full. People will gather to listen to talks being delivered regarding the great incident of Me'raj. After the talks are over, by and large we return home with the miracle of Me'raj and its message forgotten until the following year. Unlike us, the Sahabah (RA) and Tabi'een (those who came after the Sahaaba) never set aside any particular day for the discussion of the incident of Me'raj. Hence even the Fuqaha (jurists) of the first century differed with regard to the actual date when Me'raj occurred (see Fathul Bari-vol.7, pg.203 and Ruhul Ma'ani-vol.15, pg.6). The Sahabah (RA) and the Tabi'een (RA) had no need to set aside any particular day for this discussion. They regularly and frequently discussed the Ahadith with regard to all aspects of the life of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). They lived the message of Me'raj every day of their lives.

While there are many aspects that are related to Me'raj, the most important thing that pertains to us daily is the gift that was granted to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) on the occasion of Me'raj. When Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) proceeded to the seven heavens and beyond and met His Rabb, Allah Ta'ala, he was granted the gift of Salaah. Such was the importance of Salaah that its injunction was not revealed while Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) walked on the earth. Rather it was saved for this special occasion beyond the seven heavens. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) also greatly explained its importance throughout his life - to the extent that his parting advice when he left this world was with regard to upholding the injunction of Salaah.

TAKE STOCK
When we gather to discuss the occasion of Me'raj, we should take stock of our Salaah - the gift of Me'raj. Firstly, are we performing our five Salaah daily? Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: "The one who misses one Salaah; it is as if he has lost all his family and property." Thus, do I commence my day with missing Fajr? Do I remember the gift of Me'raj at the time of Fajr? At the time of Fajr do I remember the impassioned plea of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as he parted from this world with regard to upholding the injunction of Salaah? The same should be considered with regard to Zohar and Asr - when the tills are ringing and with regard to Maghrib and Esha when other distractions are in the way.

HAPHAZARDLY?
Furthermore how do I perform my Salaah? Is it in the manner that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) performed it or is it performed haphazardly and in extreme haste? Have I gained concentration in Salaah? Also, do I perform it with Jamaat (which is waajib for adult males) in the Masjid? Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: "By that Being who has control over my life, I intend gathering some firewood. I would then instruct somebody to call out the Azaan and perform the Salaah while I go and set fire to the homes of those people who perform their Salaah in their houses without any proper excuse" (Bukhari).

Sayyadina Ibne Mas'ood (RA) says: "The one who wishes to meet Allah Ta'ala as a Muslim on the Day of Judgement should be punctual in the performance of his Salaah on hearing the Azaan. Allah Ta'ala has prescribed the clear ways of guidance for His Rasul (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). These Salaah too are among those ways of guidance. If you too will adopt the way of those who perform their Salaah at their homes, you will be abandoning the way of Rasul (sallallahu alaihi wasallam); hence you would be led astray. The one who performs Wudhu and leaves for the Masjid, for every step he takes he gets one reward, one of his sins are forgiven and his stages are elevated in Jannah. In the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) only an open hypocrite would not join the Jamaat. Even a sick person would be carried by two people and brought to the Masjid to perform his Salaah with Jamaat" (Ibid).

Salaah is not only an injunction of Allah Ta'ala and a responsibility and duty upon His servants; it is also a means of acquiring one's worldly needs. It is a means of averting calamities and hardships. It is reported in a Hadith that whenever any matter perturbed Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) he immediately resorted to Salaah. The Sahabah (RA) sought the solution to any problem by first resorting to Salaah. When discussing Me'raj, we need to take stock of how much we resort to the gift of Me'raj to solve our problems and difficulties.

SUMMITS AND SEMINARS
While there are many reasons for the present pitiful condition of the Ummah throughout the world, one of the main reasons is the neglect of this fundamental injunction of Deen. While our conferences, summits, workshops and seminars may come up with many worthy resolutions, it is of prior importance that an all out effort is made to bring the entire Ummah onto the punctual performance of the five daily Salaah (in the correct manner with all its etiquette being observed). Without this it will be wishful thinking to expect the degradation of the Ummah to change for the better. With the proper fulfilment of Salaah and all the other injunctions of Deen, the help of Allah Ta'ala will be with us. Then minimal effort will make us victorious and gain us the best of both worlds.

Please remember the Ummah of Nabi (saw), the sick, the weak, the oppressed, our Marhoomeen as well as my family & I in your Dua'as, likewise we will do the same, Inshallah
Kindly make us maaf for anything said or done be it intentionally or unintentionally and let us love one another for the sole pleasure of the Almighty, Aameen

Friday, July 25, 2008

A Brother like that

Shuaib received an automobile from his brother as a Eid present. On Eid day when Shuaib came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. "Is this your car, Uncle?" he asked. Shuaib nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Eid." The boy was astounded.

"You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing? Boy, I wish..." He hesitated. Of course Shuaib knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Shuaib all the way down to his heels. "I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that." Shuaib looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?" "Oh yes, I'd love that."

After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said, "Uncle, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Shuaib smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Shuaib was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Shuaib heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.

"There she is, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Eid and it didn't cost him a penny. And some day I'm gonna give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the shop windows that I've been trying to tell you about."

Shuaib got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride. That Eid, Shuaib learned what the RasulAllah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) meant when he had said: "love for your brother what you love for yourself".

Jummah Mubarak


ﻪﺗﺎﻛﺮﺑﻭﷲﺍﺔﻤﺣﺭﻭﻢﻜﻴﻠﻋﻡﻶﺴﻟﺍ
As-Salaamu-Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu

Jummah Mubarak to you & your families on this Blessed day!

Those who joyfully leave everything in ALLAH's hand will eventually see ALLAH's hand in everything. Worries ends where faith begins.......
"I do not pretend to be a divine man, but I do believe in divine guidance, divine power, and in the fulfillment of divine prophecy. I am not educated, nor am I an expert in any particular field...but I am sincere and my sincerity is my credential."
The choicest of Blessings, Salutations, Salaams and Durood upon our Beloved Nabi Mohammed (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), All praise to Almighty Allah for granting us another Jummah so that we can make use of this auspicious day to strengthen our Imaan and make dua in huge congregations around the globe.

On this Mubarak day, Wishing you:
Not just a smile but laughter, not just happiness but pure joy, not just wealth but Heavens treasures and not just silence but Divine peace.

Make the remembrance of Allah(SWT), my garment, Oh Allah Every utterance from my mouth be your dhikr, Oh Allah.Instead of breath, It should be Your dhikr from my throat, Oh Allah let this Dhikr never leave me And the last thing on my tongue O Creator be
La iIlaha Illallahu Muhammadur Rasullulah

Kindly remember the Ummah of Nabi (saw), the sick and oppressed as well as my family & I in your Dua'as, likewise we will do the same, Inshallah