Private Opinion

Ramadan Blogging: Day 23

Today was my first without-sahri roza. The friend who normally wakes us up went to the mosque early in the morning and the rest got up late. It was tough. In the morning I was in a dilemma  whether to continue with my roza or not as I was also not feeling well. Ultimately, I got some strength, alhumdulillah, and continued with my fast.

This reminds me of my childhood days. When I was in junior high-school, I could attend classes till after-noon, play cricket in scorching heat afterwards and still go on with my roza.

Ramadan Blogging: Day 22

This is the MOST HONEST view of sectarian differences within Islam I have seen yet. I must give credit to Maulana Ishaq for the candor he spoke with. I have never seen anyone speaking with such honesty before, and I have listened to hundreds of sermons. Coming from an Ahl-e-Hadith scholar, it is all the more amazing.

These 30 minutes are worth your time if you are troubled with the sectarian conflict within Islam.

Ramadan Blogging: Day 21

What do you really possess,
and what have you gained?
What pearls have you brought up
from the depth of the sea?
On the day of death,
bodily senses will vanish:
do you have the spiritual light
to accompany your heart?
When dust fills these eyes in the grave,
will your grave shine bright?

– Mathnawi II:939-941
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
Rumi: Daylight
Threshold Books, 1994
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahy? Monastra)

There is this Yahoo! Group that sends out English translation of selected Rumi verses everyday. No spamming, never more than a post, beautiful.

Ramadan Blogging: Day 20

Sheikh Abdal-Hakim Murad writes on jihad, apostasy and women rights at On Faith: Newsweek.

Born Timothy Winter, the British native Sheikh Murad attended the Westminster School and studied Arabic at Cambridge before converting to Islam and studying at al-Azhar University in Cairo. After spending time in Jeddah, Murad returned to his alma mater, where he now serves as the Sheikh Zayed Lecturer in Islami Studies and Director of the Sunna Project at Cambridge’s Centre for Middle Eastern Studies. [Georgetown Univ.]

Ramadan Blogging: Day 19

Last Sunday was the 800th birth anniversary of Rumi. Read more at Indian Muslims and BBC News. And I am feeling much better now, alhumdulillah.

Ramadan Blogging: Day 18

I am still not feeling well. I haven’t been this bad in a long time. Oh well.

Meanwhile, here is one of the most unusual and interesting article I read on Ramadan.

On the eve of Ramadan, I was with a group of colleagues, smoking at our usual spot outside the office building.

It was late evening and the gentle breeze had a hint of autumn. Someone just stepped out of the building and announced: “The moon is sighted. Ramadan starts tomorrow.”

Ramadan Blogging: Day 17

I am not feeling well for the past couple of days. insha Allah some patience would help as this video tells us. It has been produced by Muslim American Society (MAS) Youth.

Ramadan Blogging: Day 16

One of my favorite qawwali, Allah Hoo, from my favorite qawwal, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

And here are the lyrics with english translation if you are interested.

Ramadan Blogging: Day 15

It has been 15 days into this Ramadan and the initial excitement is gone. It feels so routine even if it is here for only a month. Funny how quickly we adapt to things.

I hope to spend the second half better than the first one. insha Allah.

Ramadan Blogging: Day 14

Another beautiful na’at by Qari Waheed Zafar titled Allah Hu (As Subuhu Bada Min).