Young boy killed by Quran “teacher”

This is disgusting, hope the “teacher” gets his just deserves.  A Fatiha for the deceased, brother Atif.

Studying Arabic

Sometimes studying Arabic is laborious, especially trying to study part time whilst working and along with family commitments. It can be very difficult and seems like you’re not learning fast enough. Then you reach a point where you “get” something, you understand a certain grammar rule, or become comfortable with certain verb forms, often unconsciously, as in you didn’t realise you had the vocabulary memorised, didn’t know you could apply them in a sentence. You start making up sentences that you had no idea you were able to!

Nothing can describe the feeling when reading the Quran and realise the ayat you just recited you actually understood it, understood the Arabic; the meaning of the words, the sentence structure, even sense a little of the high eloquence of the Majestic Quran. As a non-Arabic speaker this in an ecstatic moment that has you in tears, a great bounty from Allah.

Studying Arabic is hard, for me anyway I find it very difficult. It’s not as interesting as the other sciences, I remember in a grammar class once our teacher in the middle of the lesson said shut your books that’s enough of grammar, it’s getting boring, let’s read some stories of the Prophets!

It’s very humbling experience learning Arabic, you work hard, study, memorise like crazy but don’t always see the fruits (not straight away anyway). Sometimes you feel like your comprehension has been the same level for several months, may even feel you’re forgetting words! But as long you are doing it, everyday, or every other day, you are always learning. Even if it doesn’t seem so.
You really do realise it’s in Allah’s will. You work hard and feel you’re not getting anywhere then out of the blue Allah (sw) grants you a gift that blows you away.

Studying Arabic is a very good exercise in gaining tawakkul (trust) in Allah.

Evil Close to Home

This week we saw the conviction of Levi Bellfield for murdering two women and attacking another, and also the conviction (to be sentenced later) of brothers Dean and Michael Atkins for murdering an elderly woman in her home, and attacking another family.

These criminals lived very close to me. I’ve heard of the Atkins brothers and their friends before, they drank at a pub near my house. Levi Bellfield lived around the corner from me, he worked as a car clamper in a nearby town. A friends sister had a few unpleasant encounters with him. He stalked her as she used to come out of her gym, making lewd comments. Luckily she got her boyfriend to pick her up one day and that scared him off.

It’s shocking and frightening when these crimes happen so close to home, this part of London isn’t especially rough. We have our fare share of problems associated with drugs, car crime, anti social behaviour etc. But it is the brutal, sadistic nature of the violence committed against the women in these cases that is troubling. Can’t help but worry for the safety of my wife, my family, neighbours, colleagues…

May Allah protect all women from these evil men, amin.

Hiatus

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

Peace and blessing to all

I need a break from the Internet, in a sort of anti-www mode.  Don’t know when I’ll be back. 

Remember us in your du’as.

و السلام

Just a Muslim?

There is a complaint often made that labels such as Hanafi, Shafi’, Sufi, Salafi, Ikhwani etc are divisive and hinder unity amongst Muslims. That we should do without these labels and simply call ourselves ‘Muslims’.

It’s usually one of two groups who espouse this view - the school of thought that criticises ‘blind following’ of scholars and those people not familiar with the basis for these ‘labels’.