Innovation FYI

Have you ever tried to warn someone of an innovation only to have them come back and say that driving a car, using a computer and talking on the phone is an innovation too, so what you are calling an innovation cannot possibly be valid? Well if you have, I'm sure you have to stop yourself from rolling your eyes in frustrated disgust.

If we look at the hadith that best covers this issue we can clearly see that the innovation we are talking about has to do with innovations to the RELIGION, not everyday technological advances.

"Indeed, the most evil of matters in the religion are the newly invented ones, and every innovation in the religion is bid`ah, andevery bid`ah is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Hellfire."


I feel true embarrassment for those who use the 'well you drive a car' argument to defend some innovation that they are attached to. May Allah swt guide them and protect them.

Revert Story

One of the reversion stories that I have always loved is that of Yusuf Estes. You can watch it here if you have not seen it. Br Yusuf is a very charismatic man. He is at ease in front of a crowd, and has a sense of humor that puts others at ease as well. Each time I listen to him tell his story, I find something new that I had not heard before.
While listening to his story this time I was particularly taken by the part that has to do with his wife wanting to accept Islam. Br Yusuf had just found out that a Catholic Priest he knew had become Muslim. While telling his wife of the Priests reversion she told him she wanted a divorce. At first Br Yusuf thought that she wanted a divorce because she thought he was interested in accepting Islam, but in fact it was her that wanted to become a Muslim. She wanted a divorce because she knew that a Muslim woman could not be married to a Christian man.
What really struck me was this woman's deep conviction for her new faith. She was willing to give up her husband to do what was right. Subhanallah... most of us take months to get used to things... we don't cover, we don't pray, we certainly don't leave our husbands, but she was ready to jump right in. For sisters, all of the new responsibilities of being Muslim can be overwhelming, but for her it was not a problem. May Allah swt make it so easy for us all.
Inshallah this serves as a reminder to us all that as long as we trust in Allah that we can do anything he commands. As long as we ask him for help and guidance, we will always have the strength to do what is right, and what pleases him.
Alhamdulilah.

Serenity Comes from The Quran

I've been having some issues the last few days. I won't go into details, but it has not been fun. In any case, a friend of mine offered me some comfort and words of wisdom. Of course these words came from the Quran.

O you who believe! Take care of your own selves. If you follow the right guidance and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong no hurt can come to you from those who are in error. The return of you all is to Allah, then He will inform you about (all) that which you used to do." [5:105]

These words are perfect. They give me serenity in times of turmoil, and they show me that to Allah swt, we will return. We all strive to follow the right guidance. Some have different ideas of what that is than others, but if you follow Quran and Sunnah, and enjoin good and forbid evil this ayat tells us that no harm can come to us.

Authentic Statements - Christmas: A Birthday Celebration

Asalamu Alaikum

AuthenticStatements.com is an excellent resource for Islamic knowledge. According to their 'about us' page,

Authentic Statements was primarily established to introduce the Muslims to the scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah and the popular speakers who follow them in knowledge by way of both audio and visual materials.With the Muslims in the west in mind, it is our intention to bridge the gap, which more often than not is no more than a language barrier, with those who invite to Allâh with wisdom and insightful preaching.

I regularly get email updates from the site, and today I received an email with a link to the first of their new monthly newsletter. The topic of the newsletter is very fitting for this time of year and I wanted to share it with my brothers and sisters in hopes that you can benefit from it as well. I'll copy a small excerpt from it to get your started, and please click here for the full PDF newsletter.

There is no doubt that Allah the Glorified and Most High legislated two holidays for the Muslims in which they gather together for remembrance of Allah and prayer, which are Eidul-Fitr and Adha, (given as) a replacement for the pre-Islamic celebrations. He also legislated(other) holidays which include types of remembrance and worship such as Friday, the day of Arafah, and the days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th, and 13th of Thul-Hijjah) and did not legislate Christmas, (a birthday celebration) neither for the prophet (salla Allahualaihi wa sallam) or anyone else and the textual evidence from both the Book and prophetic Traditions demonstrate that these birthday celebrations are innovations in the religion and a form of imitating those that oppose Allah

Revealing Your Sins

I recently read a blog that openly revealed the persons sins. It was almost as if they were proud of the disobedience that they spoke of. I seem to notice this a lot lately and wonder if they are aware of the following hadith

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu `alayhi wa salam) said: “Every member of my nation will be forgiven, except those who expose their wrongdoings. An example of this is that of a man who commits a sin at night which Allaah then conceals, but, the next morning, he goes and says (to people): ‘I committed such and such a sin last night’ - while Allaah had kept it secret. During the night Allaah had concealed it, but in the morning he tore up the cover provided by Allaah Himself.” [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

If you want to ignore the commands of our religion, then fine, but don't be so proud of it. Don't write it in your blog like you have no fear, so that everyone can cringe at your ignorance.