Let Our ThOught Be ThAT

This blog was posted by a dear sis of mine, LatenT LighT. I wanted to post it here, too. Inshallah we can take the benefit of it.

Blessings,
B.

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As i was reading don't be sad " la ta7zn " book for the islamic professor A'aed el-Qarni, my soul and my spirit were captivated by those powerful and impressive words " I am as My servants thinks i am " and in another rendering of the Arabic " I am as My servant expects Me to be "…


" Ana a'nda zan a'bdi bi fa leazon bi ma yashaa " are ALLAH's words for us in the Hadith Qudsi:


"On the authority of Abu Harayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allah the Almighty said:


I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed."


It was related by al-Buhkari (also by Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn-Majah).


The meaning is that forgiveness and acceptance of repentance by the Almighty is subject to His servant truly believing that He is forgiving and merciful. However, not to accompany such belief with right action would be to mock the Almighty.


So let be our thought is like:


ALLAH, He is The Most Compassionate "AR-RAHMAN" Who His Mercy prevails over His Wrath.


ALLAH, He is The Merciful " AR-RAHIM " Who have mercy upon His servants whatever they done from sins.


ALLAH, He is The All-Peaceful " AS-SALAM " Who put His peace in our hearts when invoke His Name.


ALLAH, He is The Forgiver " AL-GAFFAR " Who forgive our sins whatever big they are.


ALLAH, He is The Bestower " AL-WAHHAB " Who His graces can't to be counted upon us.


ALLAH, He is The Provider " AR-RAZZAQ " Who bless us with great blessings from where we can't know.


ALLAH, He is The All-Knowing " AL-'ALIM " Who knows the openness and the hidden of our heart.


ALLAH, He is The Bestower of Honor " AL-MU'IZZ " Who honor us by blessing us with the grace of Islam.


ALLAH, He is The All-Hearing " AS-SAMI' " Who listen to our grievance in the night, listen to our cry invocation to His Mercy and Forgiveness, listen to our heart which filling up His Love and no love except His.


ALLAH, He is The All-Seeing " AL-BASIR " Who see our steps for doing good deeds and doing sins, see what no one can see in our mind and heart, see our sins and don't make the others see it.


ALLAH, He is The Preserver " AL-HAFIZ " Who preserve our spirit from any harm giving us the ability to keep our soul free, not to impure them.



O ALLAH, if the guilt exists then it will be from myself.


O ALLAH, seeking for Your Forgiveness and filling my heart up by Your Love and Your Love only.

Peer Pressure

An out of control stranger is living my life!
This rampaging monster is causing havoc and strife.
It is driven by passive whims and desires
and from these relentless pursuits it never retires.

It's like an addiction, compelling and strong,
bulldozing and destroying as it lumbers along.s
Its actions and existence are riddled with flaws.
I can no longer fight; I've abandoned the cause.

I was once in control and acted with sense
but the lifestyle is overpowering and so immense.
I've seen myself departing from all that's correct
and no more goodness or kindness do I detect.

My senses are sedated and my energy depleted.
My resistance against this evil is all but defeated.
Reasoning and logic no longer have a say;
my morals and goodness have gone into decay.

Where did I go wrong, what happened to my life?
Why is everything balanced on the edge of a knife?
My life flashes before me and swirls in my mind.
A jumble of chaos and sadness, which can't be defined.

Reflecting on my past life, I begin to weep:
- to the corruption around me, I had been asleep
The tears of regret become cries of despair,
I had everything to live for; it's just not fair.

I had the love of my parents, a life of bliss
so much love and warmth, which I really miss.
I was young and reckless but intelligent and bright.
Suddenly I'm worthless garbage, that can't be right!

It was peer pressure from my so-called friends.
It is a part of growing up. or so it pretends.
I did silly things because I wanted to fit in.
I was soon off the rails, in a chaotic spin.

I wanted people to respect me, to think I was cool.
These were my first steps; I had been a fool.
My clothes, walk and thoughts became altered
and from the right path, very soon I faltered.

I acted like a gangster, so cool and tough.
Rebelling and strutting around, I'd huff and puff
I started bending the rules to get my kicks
- a bit of fooling around then this habit sticks

This was the door that shouldn't have been unlocked
and through this door, my whole life was rocked.
These were my first steps that guided me to ruin.
It buried me in despair and drowned me in sin..

All avenues were closed, all my bridges I saw burn
All friends I pushed away, so to whom do I turn?
I don't have my parent's love to lead me by the hand
and on my own two feet I am unable to stand.

I have so much remorse; my life was hijacked
because common sense and understanding I had lacked
Everyone warned me and told me to take heed,
hasten back to the right path at my fastest speed.

I should have listened to the advise of my friends.
I should have grasped those chances and made amends.
I thought they were wrong and did not understand.
I thought I knew better, I had the upper hand.

I wasn't the first fool and I won't be the last
After the first step, I was dragged in fast.
It offers illusions of enjoyment and pleasure,
It acted as my friend and took my greatest treasure.

A shimmer of hope gleamed from deep within.
It empowered my soul and crumbled the sin
With every shred of energy I hauled myself out
All credit is to God, without any doubt.

So stick to the right path that was ordained from above
A path of kindness and piety, of happiness and love
Only this can lead to both peace and success
And saved everyone from heartache and distress.

(poet : Hamza)

Visual Arts in Islam

Art in Islam tends to be abstract and decorative. Because of the traditional prohibition on painting or drawing human or animal figures, Islamic artists and craftsmen chose to use geometry, florals, and calligraphic designs in their work. Among the styles of arts and crafts that Muslim artists developed:

Calligraphy: Islamic artists elevated calligraphy into a high art form in its own right, developing a myriad of styles, both practical and decorative. There are six major calligraphic styles from the everyday practical scripts to highly decorative ones.

Decoration: Islamic artists used calligraphy and elements based on geometry and flowers to carve, paint, embroider, and weave intricate and complex patterns for the purpose of decorating mosques, minbars, palaces, tombs, schools, public spaces, carpets, screens, homes, lamps, clothing, and more.

Rugs: So-called Oriental rugs from Iran (Persia), Turkey, and Afghanistan are both prized family heirlooms and pieces of art displayed in museums and purchased by collectors.

Miniatures: Later Islamic empires and peoples, such as the Ottomans and Mughals, held that it was permissible to paint a human or animal figure as long as these figures retained a generic quality in their faces and body shapes. From this permissive attitude came the great miniature paintings and illuminated manuscripts of the Mughals, Turks, and Persians.

Today, we see Muslim visual artists expressing themselves and their faith though a myriad of traditional and contemporary fine arts and crafts forms, including glass work, needlework, painting, woodworking, metalworking, photography, and computer graphic design.



Interviews with Visual Artists

Muhammad Ali Aerosoul Design

Eric Broug Broug Ateliers for Islamic Architecture, Arts, & Crafts

Bint eh Adam Tranquilart

Ian Abdul Lateef Whiteman Culver Whiteman Design

(source : www.renderingislam.com)

Stand with Tibet - Support the Dalai Lama

After decades of repression, Tibetans are crying out to the world for change. China's leaders are right now making a crucial choice between escalating repression or dialogue that could determine the future of Tibet, and China.

We can affect this historic choice -- China does care about its international reputation. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get the government's attention. The Dalai Lama has called for restraint and dialogue: he needs the world's people to support him. Sign the petition below--It has been delivered at Chinese embassies and consulates worldwide, and will continue to grow and be delivered until talks begin.


Petition to Chinese President Hu Jintao:

As citizens around the world, we call on you to show restraint and respect for human rights in your response to the protests in Tibet, and to address the concerns of all Tibetans by opening meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Only dialogue and reform will bring lasting stability. China's brightest future, and its most positive relationship with the world, lies in harmonious development, dialogue and respect.

Sign the petition here;
http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/

International Congress of Philantropists Held In Istanbul

1st World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists under the theme “Facing Challenges and Finding Solutions” was held in Istanbul on March 22-24 2008 with the participation of famous and influential philanthropists and representatives of NGOs from all over the world. Cihangir İşbilir, General Coordinator, participated in the congress on behalf of UNIW.

Mr. İşbilir gave information about UNIW, and had some important contacts regarding next term activities of UNIW.
In the premiere night dinner of the congress, after having a talk with the Turkish Prime, Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Cihangir İşbilir asked the participants to support the ‘solidarity and coordination approach’ that UNIW wants to develop. Tariq H. Chaeema, the founder of the Congress, stated that UNIW was a very important organization and they would like to cooperate with UNIW.


The congress threw some very famous figures together such as Shahid Malik, who became the first Muslim Minister of England, as well as the Minister of International Development, Ibrahim Rassol; the Prime Minister of South Africa Western Cape, Hamza Yusuf Hanson, and the founder of the USA-centred Institute of Zaytuna; and Qatar Prince and the founder of Daho Academy, Sheikh Aisha Al-Thani.

In the opening speech, Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, stated that Islamic relief and humanitarian organizations had encountered obstacles and many difficulties and they had to prepare a road map so as to overcome these difficulties and obstacles.
He also added that humanitarian activities take an important place in OIC’s activities. OIC has started limited but successful campaigns. Some relieves and aid campaigns in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Gaza can be given as good examples.

Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamat Al Thani, the Chairman of “Reach out Asia Association” conducting activities in Qatar stated that since delivery of relief and aid sometimes were not conducted properly, expected objectives were not attained.
“These activities should be put together, should be combined.”
Ibrahim Rassol, the Prime Minister of South Africa Western Cape, stating that poverty was not an exception, poverty was an inherent quality of globalization. “Qualified people have immigrated to developed countries from now on. We face inequality and shortage in the global commerce.” He added that we had to form a new paradigm and first of all shouldn’t support violence and crime.

Ali Bardakoğlu, the Chairman of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, stated that if what has been happening in the world is assessed carefully and sensitively, it would be seen that great anguish had been suffered and mankind made the world very chaotic. “We were sent to this world with two blessings: first one is bearing love, affection, humanness, the feeling of helping each other in our hearts”. He also said that the reason why mankind could not use these virtues is that he cannot transcend his own boundaries. “If we know ourselves, the world, the existence, the Almighty Allah, it is enough. All are an interrelated whole.”

Other subjects which were dealt within the scope of the congress are as follows: “the rise of social justice”, “general view to humane crisis in the world”, “an important example in humane crisis: refugees”, “giving in hard times: providing legitimacy in a rapidly changing political atmosphere”, “humane development index: a close glance to the inequality in the Muslim world”, “faith and philanthropy: relationship between benevolence and religion”, “going beyond boundaries for common denominator: cooperation that can’t be limited by cultures and religions”, “new mission of aid in a changing sociology of Turkey, philanthropists’ attempts”, “from philanthropy to change: philanthropists’ efforts in the Arabic world”, “on the scale changing problems, new interpretation of philanthropy”.

At the end of the first day of the congress, premiere night dinner of the Congress of International Philanthropists, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ibrahim Rassol (the Prime Minister of South Africa Western Cape), Nimet Çubukçu (Minister of State), Shahid Malik (the minister of International Development), Prof.Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu (the secretary general of Organization of the Islamic Conference), Muammer Güler, (the Governor of Istanbul), Kadir Topbaş, (the Mayor of Istanbul metropolitan), Sheikha Aisha Al- Thani as well as academicians, businessmen and philanthropists attended the premiere night dinner of the congress of international philanthropists.

In the premiere night dinner of the congress, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that because of problems stemming from changing ecological conditions, inequalities in income distribution and injustice in the world, millions of people lived in more difficult conditions. Having underlined the importance of hosting the congress for Istanbul, he said that it was a right decision to choose Istanbul, for Istanbul had been host of many ancient civilizations.
We were proud of calling for the determination of cooperation to give a helping hand for all people regardless of their beliefs and homes and all kinds of differences. Pointing out that he was very happy to see the efficient participation of NGO of Turkey in this organization aimed at providing cooperation and coordination among world NGO’s, he added “Holding this congress in Istanbul is very meaningful as Istanbul is a waqf city having the historical root of benevolence and philanthropy.
Waqfs, either in Turkey or Ottoman territories, had been the protector of the poor and the destitute for 960 years, and now they are still the protectors of them. This tradition has been going on in these lands for centuries. The first important waqf was built in Pasinler in 1048 under the Seljuk’s rule. This system was initiated exactly 960 years ago in order to take care of the stranded, to feed the poor.”

www.thewcmp.org