Seerah of the Prophet s.a.w. - the Boycott

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace.

Alhamdulillah Al-Rabb Al-'Alamin for those of us who are born and been fortunate to live lives in which all our basic necessities and more are provided for us.  And yet there are those who are not so fortunate.

Recently, the Muslim world was in an uproar over Israel's attack on Gaza where civilian casualties were high.  Before this, there has been sanctions on Gaza - cutting off their basic necessities even like food, medicine and fuel.  Hamas kept responding by launching rockets over Israel.  To my mind, both actions were wrong and two wrongs don't make a right.  The losers are the civilians and the innocents - the trauma that begat further violence.  Who are the winners?  No one.

I was listening to a lecture a few nights ago on a chapter in the Quran called "The Story" which basically was the story of Moses a.s. when he was a baby.  As I listened to the unfolding story of how the Pharaoh weakened the children of Israel and broke their spirits such that they didn't even dare to rise up against the Egyptians who were slaughtering their baby boys, I saw the parallels to what the Israelis are doing to the Palestinians, only so far the Palestinian spirits are not yet broken.  Yet the deliverance of the children of Israelis was not a violent one, at least not through the violence of the children of Israelis towards the Egyptians.  Instead, it was actually a dialogue between Moses a.s. and the Pharaoh that held the key to the deliverance of the children of Israel; a dialogue ordered by God.  Can we learn from the lessons of the past?

And I saw the parallels to many other times in the past when a group of men oppressed others for various reasons.  One of these was the oppression of the Quraysh on the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and his companions at the beginning of his message, culminating in what is known in the Seerah as the Boycott.  What was the key to the deliverance of these early Muslims, most of which were the poor or slaves or young men and women without much standing in their clans- the weakest within the Meccan society - from their oppressors?

Let us start at the beginning of the Boycott which lasted for three years, years of great hardships to the fledgling Muslim community.  The small community had just been made smaller by the first emigration to Abyssinia and the aggression against them were escalating.  The Quraysh leaders kept trying and failing to tempt the Prophet s.a.w. away from spreading the message and an assassination attempt by Abu Jahl on Muhammad s.a.w. was foiled until they finally realised that there was nothing they could do to stop him.  On top of this, the Muslims emboldened by the conversions of Umar Al-Khattab and Hamzah r.a., two strong and well respected men of the Quraysh, were beginning to be more open about their own faiths and challenge to the disbelievers.

It was in this charged atmosphere that the leaders of the Quraysh agreed upon a boycott against the Prophet s.a.w., the Muslims and the Prophet's clans of Banu Hashim and Banu Abdul Muttalib who were sheltering and supporting him.  The terms of the boycott which was hung inside the Ka'abah meant there were to be neither trade nor intermarriages between the Quraysh and them.  For Mecca whose people relied heavily on trade to survive, this meant a great loss of not only income but also food supply.  Outside tradesmen and farmers were discouraged from selling to the Muslims who were confined to their quarters.  They were slowly being starved and deprived, a slow death...especially the children.  It was mentioned that the Prophet's daughter Fatima r.a. who was a young girl at this time never fully recovered her health from this boycott.  We don't have to imagine how horrifying this must have been for the children when all we have to do is see the photos of the children dying in Niger and Sudan because of the famine these past few years.

And yet through all these hardship, the Muslim kept their faiths and strove to spread the message.  There was no report of violence or of uprising.  Instead it actually took people such as Hisham ibn Amr who sympathised with the Muslims plight to stop the boycott.

Hisham witnessed the delegation of the Prophet's uncles confronting the leaders of the Quraysh, where Abu Talib said, "My nephew, who never told a lie to me, has informed me that Allah has caused moths to eat up everything that contained injustice or boycott of kinsfolk in your covenant.  The only thing that has remained is Allah's name.  Let us go together and find out whether my nephew has told the truth.  If what he says is true, then you give in and stop your injustice.  If he has told a lie, I will give him up to you to kill him or spare him."  (Quoted from M A Salahi)  The Quraysh leaders agreed but when they found out that it was true, they went back on their words and continued with the boycott.

This incident led Hisham gathered the support of like-minded people who stood up to the Quraysh leaders and demanded the boycott be ended.  When they went to destroy the scroll on which the boycott was written, they only found Allah's name on it.  Thus the boycott ended.

Points that I think might apply to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and also to other oppressive situation:
1.  Violence is no answer - patience and perseverance are, together with a steadfast confidence that Allah is on your side as the one being oppressed.  Allah will provide a means out of the situation as He did with the children of Israel and with these early Muslims.
2.  As shown by Abu Talib and his brothers, a dignified negotiation allows the oppressed a status above the oppressor.
3.  The combination of the two points above was what moved the hearts of Hisham and other Quraysh people to stand up to their leaders to stop the boycott.  And it would be the same dynamics that would likely bring help to the oppressed.

In fact the spring of 2011, named the Arab Spring, points to the fact of how a civil resistance could bring about that change.  Especially in Tunisia and Egypt where the protests were mostly without armed resistance, the dictatorships were broken.  But Allah knows best and I pray that there will be a way out of this whole mess in which justice prevails.

A new year's resolution

Subhanallah! Last night's lecture by Ustadz Nouman Ali Khan on Moses (upon him be peace) in Surah Qasas about his childhood in Egypt was inspirational. And the timing of it to my trip to Egypt gives me pause...perhaps there is something to be learned in my trip that I need to pay attention to.

Also something else Ustadz Nouman Ali Khan mentioned (among so many gems) that struck me - it's been years since I asked this question and make this prayer - what is my strength and may God make use of me through this strength in His service. I think if there is one resolution this year that I should make is then to discover this strength and take every opportunity of goodness that comes my way. 

May in this coming year, we all will find our strengths and use them to benefit the world that we were tasked to take care of, oh my Lord. Amen/Ameen.

Contemplation on the beach

I was looking through my old notebook where I penned my thoughts.  It is funny how technology has made me so lazy to write anymore.  Anyway, I found this piece in November of 96 where I can recall myself being at East Coast beach in Singapore.

16/11/96

Sitting by the beach, just after the rain and the sky is still grey, cannot see the horizon.

The horizon; a "false" break between the earth and the sky, which in "reality" there isn't.  I've been thinking, a lot of things on my mind.  Especially about "reality" and what we perceive by our senses.

There, in the horizon, is a lesson to be learned.  What we perceive may not be what is truth.   How then can we judge the truth?  What is true?  How do we recognise it?

"Truth is clear and falsehood is clear."  Maybe the Prophet s.a.w. said that - I can't remember.

I see some people fishing and is reminded of a passage I once read a long time ago.  For many, fishing is a challenge, a competition but for the French, it is a way to relax, to think, to reflect.  Fishing is a soothing pastime.  While waiting for the fishes to take the bait, one has a lot of time on one's hand to reflect.  What kind of reflection would I seek if I was a fisherman?  What "fish" do I hope to catch?

The sound of the waves hitting the shore, the waves coming in one after another and dissipating, creeping back to where it comes from.  White foams on the beach soon to vanish away, replaced by others.  Life is like that too.  Old memories forgotten, replaced by the new.

Eid Al-Fitr in Edinburgh 2012

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace.

This is the first year I actually celebrated Eid Al-Fitr with the Edinburgh Muslim community since I've lived here.  Definitely, it is very different from celebrating Eid back home.

On Eid, a beautiful Sunday with the sun beating down on us, I finished prayers at Central Mosque and went for an outdoor brunch with friends.  It was great to reconnect with some of the sisters - a group of us descended upon the newly opened Olive Tree Cafe on Nicholson Square.  Lovely atmosphere and the food wasn't too bad - except for the hash brown; but then again, hash brown is a U.S. thing, not a Scottish thing.

Anyway, was invited to the Malaysian open house later on but since I had invited my non-Muslim friends to join me for an Eid dinner, I declined and went home to have a rest.  The Eid dinner at Thaisanuk, a halal Thai restaurant near the Royal Commonwealth Pool, was fabulous - the company was lovely and the food was excellent...I recommend the duck green curry.  One of the things I miss about back home is that your non-Muslim neighbours and friends celebrate Eid with us - so the dinner was my way to ensure something of that nature happened here.  It was also a good way to introduce Islam to my friends as they asked questions about Ramadhan and Eid.

Monday, it was back to work but I managed to get the afternoon off from my boss.  Again it was another lovely day and with the Fringe Festival still on, I decided to go be a tourist for the afternoon.  Strolling along the Royal Mile, I caught a couple of the street acts.  I basically ended up in Princes Gardens.  Before I entered, I listened to this busker playing his guitar.  Wow, the guy had talent!  After enjoying my lunch while listening to a Scottish lad singing on the wee stage in the middle of the gardens, I took the bus to Ocean Terminal to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia.  I can't believe in all the years I've been here, that was my first time at the Ocean Terminal.

Britannia was classy - I really wished I had brought my camera with me. As it was, I only had my phone camera and my battery was very low.  So I only managed to take a few:

This one is of the Officers' Mess.  Can you find the hidden monkey in this picture?  The monkey was supposed to be a gift from someone important and no one was supposed to touch it but mysteriously, everyday it finds its way to a different spot in the Mess.

This is the posh gang-plank that the Queen or any Royalty on board would use on their official visits.

There are times when a yacht is just too big - so for the Royals to be ferried across, the yacht is equipt with this barge and others like it.  I regretted not managing to photograph the Rolls Royce that the yacht have stored away for the Queen's use in the old days when there might not be a suitable car for her in the country she was visiting.

The day was made even better when I spoke to my brother since I was unable to talk to him the previous day when I facetimed my family.

The Eid celebration didn't end with just those two days however.  For the following Sunday, we were to have a lovely Eid in Lord Ancrum's Wood.  In fact, it was mentioned in the newspaper.  Alhamdulillah, the day turned out beautifully sunny and dry which is a rare commodity right now in Scotland.  We had a talk on Islam and nature, guided tours in the woods, a treasure hunt for the kids, Dhur prayers in the lovely sunshine, and brilliant food for lunch.  Best of all, I met some lovely new people and enjoyed the company of my friends.

Below are some of the pictures I took of the woods and the event.  Respecting that some people are not comfortable being photographed, I will only put up some of the kids photos here.  I've enjoyed the day and hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.

This kid was so cute.  I shot this photo of him playing while the others were listening to the talk.

Some of the yummy food.

And the desserts.

With the kids following her, she reminds me of the pipe piper.

The yew tree is able to change the pH of the soil, making it slightly acidic and so discourage undergrowth.  How marvelous is Allah to create such a thing.

And that's Jenny, our ranger who pointed out the difference between wych elm and hazelnut.  Both have fuzzy leaves but the wych elm leaves are not symmetrical and do not join the stem at the same spot.  The first photo is of the wych elm and the second for hazelnut.

Ramadhan thoughts 2012 (1433H)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace.

How time flies!  Before you know it, Eid Al-Fitr is looming ever nearer and the time of blessing is slipping away. In fact, today is the last day of Ramadhan (30/09 of the Islamic year 1433H) and tomorrow will be Eid.

Taqabballah minna wa min kum.  (May Allah accepts from us and from you (our good deeds)).  This past month, the month of Ramadhan, is a month where most Muslims increase their levels of good deeds - prayers, reading the Qur'an, charity etc.  Yet, no matter how much I do, I feel so inadequate in reaping the Rahmah (mercy) and Barakah (blessings) of this month.  But I bear this one point in mind - it is not on my own deeds that I would be protected from His Wrath and punishment of Hell nor that I would be granted His pleasure and entrance to Paradise but only through His Mercy...His Mercy that overlook His servant's shortcomings and His Mercy that rewards by many folds His servant's good deeds.  I therefore supplicate to the Most Merciful that we all will be counted amongst those who are ever grateful.

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “He is successful who has accepted Islam, who has been provided with sufficient for his wants and been made contented by Allah with what He has given him.” [Muslim]

At the end of this blessed month, I'm sure all of us are hoping that we have changed and that we come out of Ramadhan successful.  The above hadith came on my phone's app and it seemed so appropriate for the occasion.  In Ramadhan, I learn to make do with what is there at iftar (breaking fast) and sahur (pre-dawn meal) after experiencing the "deprivation" of the senses and I learn to appreciate just how sufficiently we've been provided by Allah.  This year, I am thankful for the food my landlady cooked and those that my neighbours and her friends gave us for iftar.  After working the whole day, being invited for iftar at various friends' places, it seems to be God-sent.  There always seems to be more than enough food, friendship and bonding around.  My Muslim community here in Edinburgh seemed to be blessed with more than what we need.

More than that, I realise that for many of us, especially myself, we've been given with so much.  There isn't a day that I go to bed without food in the fridge, clothes in the wardrobe, roof over my head, savings in the bank, safety and security of a peaceful neighbourhood and care and love of my family and friends.  This Ramadhan, I thought about the refuges all over the world without roof over their heads, the poor with not even a cent/penny to their name, the oppressed without the safety and security, and the people from all walks of life who have lost their love ones.  How can I not feel grateful?  Should I not feel contented even more so than the people list above?  

Most of all, Allah has allowed us to have the opportunity to meet and finish this Ramadhan with our faith strengthened when there are those who have fallen on the way side.  May Allah count us amongst those who are ever grateful.

What is a more beautiful of Allah's mercy to His servants than Ramadhan:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡڪُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِڪُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ (١٨٣)أَيَّامً۬ا مَّعۡدُودَٲتٍ۬‌ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ۬ فَعِدَّةٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ‌ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ ۥ فِدۡيَةٌ۬ طَعَامُ مِسۡكِينٍ۬‌ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرً۬ا فَهُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (١٨٤) شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ هُدً۬ى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَٱلۡفُرۡقَانِ‌ۚ فَمَن شَہِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّہۡرَ فَلۡيَصُمۡهُ‌ۖ وَمَن ڪَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ۬ فَعِدَّةٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ‌ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡيُسۡرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِڪُمُ ٱلۡعُسۡرَ وَلِتُڪۡمِلُواْ ٱلۡعِدَّةَ وَلِتُڪَبِّرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَٮٰكُمۡ وَلَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ (١٨٥) وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ‌ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعۡوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ‌ۖ فَلۡيَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لِى وَلۡيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِى لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡشُدُونَ (١٨٦)أُحِلَّ لَڪُمۡ لَيۡلَةَ ٱلصِّيَامِ ٱلرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَآٮِٕكُمۡ‌ۚ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ لِبَاسٌ۬ لَّهُنَّ‌ۗ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّڪُمۡ كُنتُمۡ تَخۡتَانُونَ أَنفُسَڪُمۡ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَعَفَا عَنكُمۡ‌ۖ فَٱلۡـَٔـٰنَ بَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَٱبۡتَغُواْ مَا ڪَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ‌ۚ وَكُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡخَيۡطُ ٱلۡأَبۡيَضُ مِنَ ٱلۡخَيۡطِ ٱلۡأَسۡوَدِ مِنَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ‌ۖ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّواْ ٱلصِّيَامَ إِلَى ٱلَّيۡلِ‌ۚ وَلَا تُبَـٰشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنتُمۡ عَـٰكِفُونَ فِى ٱلۡمَسَـٰجِدِ‌ۗ تِلۡكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَقۡرَبُوهَا‌ۗ كَذَٲلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَّقُونَ (١٨٧)

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil); (183) (Fast) a certain number of days; and (for) him who is sick among you, or on a journey, (the same) number of other days; and for those who can afford it there is a ransom: the feeding of a man in need - but whoso doeth good of his own accord, it is better for him: and that ye fast is better for you if ye did but know - (184) The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful. (185) And when My servants question thee concerning Me, then surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they may be led aright. (186) It is made lawful for you to go unto your wives on the night of the fast. They are raiment for you and ye are raiment for them. Allah is Aware that ye were deceiving yourselves in this respect and He hath turned in mercy toward you and relieved you. So hold intercourse with them and seek that which Allah hath ordained for you, and eat and drink until the white thread becometh distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast till nightfall and touch them not, but be at your devotions in the mosques. These are the limits imposed by Allah, so approach them not. Thus Allah expoundeth His revelation to mankind that they may ward off (evil). (187) 

Amidst the verses on fasting in Surah Al-Baqarah is a gem, i.e. that of supplication to Allah.  I have to ask myself why Allah has included this verse amongst the verses on fasting.  What is the wisdom behind this inclusion?  Again, this is a gift from Allah in this blessed month...that it is not only a month of fasting and deprivation but also a month that we turn to Him for all of our needs.  Sayyid Qutb puts it beautifully:

How kind and compassionate God truly is! Any hardship encountered in keeping
the fast fades in comparison with this friendly and gentle reassurance. The choice of
words creates an atmosphere of intimacy and accessibility, with God Himself stating
a direct contact between Him and His servants. He does not give instructions to His
Messenger, the Prophet Muĥammad on how to answer believers’ questions about
Him. He gives the answer Himself: “I am near.” His closeness is not only to listen but
also for immediate response: “I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he calls to Me.”
(Verse 186)
This verse fills a believer’s heart with love, confidence and utter reassurance. In
this atmosphere of friendliness and compassion, God, who has no need for anyone,
directs believers to respond to Him and believe in Him, in the hope that this will
guide them to wisdom and righteousness. “Let them then respond to Me, and believe in
Me, so that they may follow the right way.” (Verse 186) By earning God’s generosity and
guidance, believers end up winners on all counts.

A month where our needs are fulfilled whenever we turn to Him, whereby there were so many opportunities and great occasions for us to supplicate with the whole of our hearts and know that He will not refuse our supplication:

Salmān, the Persian, a Companion of the Prophet, quotes the Prophet as saying: “God would not like to see His servant holding out his arms pleading for help and turn him away empty handed.” [Related by Abū Dāwūd, al-Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah]

Again, I ask myself - how can I not be amongst those who are grateful...how can my heart be hardened towards the One who Reaches Out.  I think if there is one thing I take away from this Ramadhan, it is to be grateful for everything in my life. 

But how do a servant show his/her gratitude to One who is the Self-Sufficient?  That is a question that the Qur'an answers in myriad of ways and is a topic for another entry in this blog, insya Allah.

Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim family and friends!