Your advice, please

free wrote: Dear Khadija, If I may return to something I hath not covered properly, don�t you see I am I trying to understand their philosophy? �They also deny they can be out plotted by a Higher Force�; however, that higher force is Allah, not Osama bin Laden or any other human here on earth. � And how true your comment, an example is the past Prophet�s {SAW}, Moses, Lot, and also Noah � they were all dependent on nought but the Lord, whom destroyed their enemies without a war. I am of the opinion Bush should forget about his law, for he hath a greater enemy - that of the Lord. I hope this may bring forth ease in your heart, the devil will fall we just hath to keep to our part.         & amp; nbsp;

ASSALAMU ALAIKUM Brother Free,

I, too, am a new revert living in the US.  I live in a part of the country where I don�t have an Ummah�no mosque�no Islamic center.  I, too, have learned about Islam from studying on my own with the precious Noble Qur�an at my side.  I, too, look at the Ummah and see the problems you are talking about.  I, too, feel isolated and as if I am simply going to lose it some days.  I didn�t know I could cry so much but I seem to be doing so much of that lately.  I look out at the world and the Ummah and ask myself how is it possible that Allah could send down such a perfect account of the Straight Path for mankind, and the Prophet (pbuh) could have worked so hard to give us such a wonderful example of how to follow Islam yet the world, and even the Ummah, seem to be in such a state of utter disarray?  How is it possible?  I see so many injustices�so much fighting yet no forgiving�so much greed and taking yet no giving�such a clamoring for power yet no humility�

One of the things I had to come to terms with just this week is how I let what I see affect me.  Do I let the negative side of what I see affect me in a way that I become in some sense, like by my harsh judgment, just like it?  I have cried so many tears these past few days and begged Allah to help me with this.  I, too, need and Ummah.  I, too, want unity in Islam.  That is why I came to IC.  I need this place. 

Allah said to hold on to the rope He extends to us.  If we look out into the world, we can get confused and think that there are many ropes not just one.  Sure, the world has many ropes and there are plenty of people to say �Here, this is the right one�grab a hold.�  I see the problem now�for me at least.  I know that as long as I look to people to find that rope, I will risk not grabbing the right rope.  People are fallible.  I know that what I must do it live in this world but always with my heart and my head seeking the Rope Allah has promised me and not the ropes of this world.  Yes, some days it is hard to do that alone but that�s only because I forget that I�m never truly alone.  Allah is always with me.  I have the precious Noble Qur�an and the Hadith within arms reach at all time.  No scholar is perfect but there is a lot of wonderful writings out that by Muslim scholars who despite their imperfections have dedicated their lives to seeking the Rope of Allah. 

It is not that we can be perfect in our efforts that matters, but rather, that we always continue to seek Allah for both guidance and forgiveness while we are in this world.  We are promised tests and told to hold tight and to be patient�not to panic no matter what happens in this world. 

Yusuf Ali Translation of Sura 2, Ayat 177: It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces toward East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Messengers; to spend of your substance out of love for Him for your kin for orphans for the needy for the wayfarer for those who ask and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth the Allah-fearing.

I pray that Allah guides me to His Rope and keeps me close so that I can hold tight.  I also pray that as I hold on I don�t get tired, that I am able to be patient and ever learn to be more patient, and especially that I trust in the Strength of His Rope enough not to panic.  I know that Allah says in the end days, people will be running around in a panic, not caring about others.  But I pray, no I beg, Allah to lead me to righteousness so that I will not panic no matter what adversity comes my way.  I pray this not only for myself, but for all of the Ummah.  Ameen.

I am a human, and as a human, I need certain things.  Allah talks about those things in the precious Noble Qur�an, community is one of them.  I know I don�t have a perfect Ummah.  Some might say I don�t even have a real one.  Some may even say I don�t deserve one because I�m not this or that.  But that�s just the world talking.  Allah knows best.  I do have my own little Ummah.  It�s made up of IC and a circle of sisters and brothers that I keep in contract with via the internet.  They are not in my personal space here on this planet, but they are here for me when I need them and sometimes I don�t even have to say I need them...somehow, ALHAMDULILLAH, they just know.  We don�t always agree on every thing, but for what we lack in perfection, we make up in forgiveness.  MASHALLAH!  ALLAHU AKBAR!

ALLAH HAFIZ

WA ALAIKUM ASSALAM

Sister Khadija