Hiatus

I apologize for the long hiatus.

Really, apologize. I hadn't realize that I have few fans (well, too few comments on my posting made me realize that). But you people are right, I do owe you updates.

A lot of things have been going on lately. My challenging job as project engineer exhausts me and when I am exhausted I cannot think properly, though this is no excuse for not writing. I should have gone exercising or taken vitamins to keep me from getting lethargic.

The truth is, I've been itching to write right after the general elections last March but I refrained from commenting on the nation's political scenario for the reason that I want to see how things develop. Suffice to say, they were not to my liking and I've had my share of disappointments just along the way. I bet some of my detractors (gee.. that sounds like something that might leap out from a politician's windpipe) would now be doing their victory dance and making zikr out of "I told you so! I told you so!" and clapping over their heads like village idiots.

For my friends out there who were waiting faithfully for me to come up with updates, just hold on a little while longer. I'll be back soon and I'll try to engage in a more cerebral pursuit when I return.

Thanks for the comments in my shoutbox urging me to update this blog. It may not be much, but it's the thought that counts.

Hugs and kisses. Halal ones for brothers only. And on the cheeks.

Meanwhile, let me just share something here for us all to read and ponder upon. After all, what Muslim is a Muslim if nothing good comes out from his mouth (or hands in this case).


Some of the lessons learnt from Quran that apply to our general living!

by Anas (www.islamicboard.com)

Bismillahi Rahmaanir Rahiim

1. Respect and honour all human beings irrespective of their

religion, colour, race, sex, language, status, property, birth,

profession/job and so on [Quran:17/70]

2. Talk straight, to the point, without any ambiguity or deception

[Quran:33/70]

3. Choose best words to speak and say them in the best possible way

[Quran:17/53, 2/83]

4. Do not shout. Speak politely keeping your voice low. [Quran:31/19]

5. Always speak the truth. Shun words that are deceitful and

ostentatious [Quran:22/30]

6. Do not confound truth with falsehood [Quran:2/42]

7. Say with your mouth what is in your heart [Quran:3/167]

8. Speak in a civilised manner in a language that is recognised by

the society and is commonly used [Quran:/5]

9. When you voice an opinion, be just, even if it is against a

relative [Quran:6/152]

10. Do not be a bragging boaster [Quran:31/18]

11. Do not talk, listen or do anything vain [Quran:23/3, 28/55]

12. Do not participate in any paltry. If you pass near a futile play,

then pass by with dignity [Quran:25/72]

13. Do not verge upon any immodesty or lewdness whether surreptitious

or overt [Quran:6/151] .

14. If, unintentionally, any misconduct occurs by you, then correct

yourself expeditiously [Quran:3/134] .

15. Do not be contemptuous or arrogant with people [Quran:31/18]

16. Do not walk haughtily or with conceit [Quran:17/37, 31/18]

17. Be moderate in thy pace [Quran:31/19]

18. Walk with humility and sedateness [Quran:25/63]

19. Keep your gazes lowered devoid of any lecherous leers and

salacious stares [Quran:24/30- 31, 40/19].

20. If you do not have complete knowledge about anything, better keep

your mouth shut. You might think that speaking about something

without full knowledge is a trivial matter. But it might have grave

consequences [Quran:24/15- 16]

21. When you hear something malicious about someone, keep a

favourable view about him/her until you attain full knowledge about

the matter. Consider others innocent until they are proven guilty

with solid and truthful evidence [Quran:24/12- 13]

22. Ascertain the truth of any news, lest you smite someone in

ignorance and afterwards repent of what you did [Quran:49/6]

23. Do not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct

knowledge. (Using your faculties of perception and conception) you

must verify it for yourself. In the Court of your Lord, you will be

held accountable for your hearing, sight, and the faculty of

reasoning [Quran:17/36] .

24. Never think that you have reached the final stage of knowledge

and nobody knows more than yourself. Remember! Above everyone endowed

with knowledge is another endowed with more knowledge [12/76]. Even

the Prophet [p.b.u.h] was asked to keep praying, "O My sustainer!

Advance me in knowledge." [Quran:20:114]

25. The believers are but a single Brotherhood. Live like members of

one family, brothers and sisters unto one another [Quran:49/10] .

26. Do not make mockery of others or ridicule others [Quran:49/11]

27. Do not defame others [Quran:49/11]

28. Do not insult others by nicknames [Quran:49/11]

29. Avoid suspicion and guesswork. Suspicion and guesswork might

deplete your communal energy [Quran:49/12]

30. Spy not upon one another [Quran:49/12]

31. Do not backbite one another [Quran:49/12]

32. When you meet each other, offer good wishes and blessings for

safety. One who conveys to you a message of safety and security and

also when a courteous greeting is offered to you, meet it with a

greeting still more courteous or (at least) of equal courtesy

[Quran:4/86]

33. When you enter your own home or the home of somebody else,

compliment the inmates [Quran:24/61]

34. Do not enter houses other than your own until you have sought

permission; and then greet the inmates and wish them a life of

blessing, purity and pleasure [Quran:24/27]

35. Treat kindly

" Your parents

" Relatives

" The orphans

" And those who have been left alone in the society [Quran:4/36]

36. Take care of

" The needy,

" The disabled

" Those whose hard earned income is insufficient to meet their needs

" And those whose businesses have stalled

" And those who have lost their jobs. [Quran:4/36]

37. Treat kindly

" Your related neighbours, and unrelated neighbours

" Companions by your side in public gatherings, or public

transportation. [Quran:4/36]

38. Be generous to the needy wayfarer, the homeless son of the

street, and the one who reaches you in a destitute condition

[Quran:4/36]

39. Be nice to people who work under your care. [Quran:4/36]

40. Do not follow up what you have given to others to afflict them

with reminders of your generosity [Quran:2/262] .

41. Do not expect a return for your good behaviour, not even thanks

[Quran:76/9]

42. Cooperate with one another in good deeds and do not cooperate

with others in evil and bad matters [Quran:5/2]

43. Do no try to impress people on account of self-proclaimed virtues

[Quran:53/32]

44. You should enjoin right conduct on others but mend your own ways

first. Actions speak louder than words. You must first practice good

deeds yourself, then preach [Quran:2/44]

45. Correct yourself and your families first [before trying to

correct others] [Quran:66/6]

46. Pardon gracefully if anyone among you who commits a bad deed out

of ignorance, and then repents and amends [Quran:6/54, 3/134]

47. Divert and sublimate your anger and potentially virulent emotions

to creative energy, and become a source of tranquillity and comfort

to people [Quran:3/134]

48. Call people to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful

exhortation. Reason with them most decently [Quran:16/125]

49. Leave to themselves those who do not give any importance to the

Divine code and have adopted and consider it as mere play and

amusement [Quran:6/70]

50. Sit not in the company of those who ridicule Divine Law unless

they engage in some other conversation [Quran:4/140]

51. Do not be jealous of those who are blessed [Quran:4/54]

52. In your collective life, make rooms for others [Quran:58/11]

53. When invited to dine, Go at the appointed time. Do not arrive too

early to wait for the preparation of meal or linger after eating to

engage in bootless babble. Such things may cause inconvenience to the

host [Quran:33/53]

54. Eat and drink [what is lawful] in moderation [Quran:7/31] .

55. Do not squander your wealth senselessly [Quran:17/26]

56. Fulfil your promises and commitments [Quran:17/34]

57. Keep yourself clean, pure [Quran:9/108, 4/43, 5/6].

58. Dress-up in agreeable attire and adorn yourself with exquisite

character from inside out [Quran: 7/26]

59. Seek your provision only by fair endeavor [Quran:29/17, 2/188]

60. Do not devour the wealth and property of others unjustly, nor

bribe the officials or the judges to deprive others of their

possessions [Quran: 2/188]

A Few Good Men

What started as a response to Dina Zaman's Today’s men not like our fathers ended up as a piece of exaggerated bedtime story. No, I was just kidding. Really.

I love women. My mother’s a woman. My little sister also happens to be a girl. The only ones I hate are dumb women. Especially those who act smart and say men are dumb when they are actually and equally dumb as those men. They are rude even behind wheels. I always experience this when I drive to work. Fortunately, there is such thing as the perfect man. Hamzah Moin says the Prophet is the example of the perfect man and I agree with him. Perfect man for all of us to follow. If you think the Prophet is too high to reach then there’s his Companions. And the Companion’s companions. Then tab’een and the ‘ulama and so forth down to the nice very old men who drops RM10 into masjid donation box after Friday prayers everytime.

I loathe writing on a polemic of women vs men, because once you’re caught in, there’s no getting out. Tremendous amount of energy which can be directed towards realizing and solving more important issues like starvation, politicians behaving like monkeys, rising prices of fuel and improvement of social conditions, is instead wasted on a useless debate that can carry on till judgment day, just to prove that my stick is bigger than yours. Battle of the sexes is tiresome to fight, whereas in a political debate you can just say bodoh bodoh bodoh upon realizing that you were losing, and then it would actually even the odds for you. Lucky you.

While reading through today’s newspaper issue of the Star, I stumbled on an article by Dina Zaman which I find compelled to respond. The writer laments about her readers telling stories about irresponsible and incompetent Malaysian men and the marital problems that Malaysian women face dealing with their husbands apparent habit of sleeping around. Apprehended by the high rate of divorce cases happening in Malaysia, she heaps tons of blames on men who live off their spouses’ income instead of working to support the family and cites dozen examples of shortcomings ranging from promiscuous husbands to wife-beating unemployed “lazy sods”. She then wonders if the quality of Malaysian men has indeed deteriorated and asks if anyone could give the reason men of our generation cannot be the equivalent of our fathers who were practising Muslims, monogamous and timid enough not to beat their own wives.

When I finished reading Dina Zaman’s piece, the Malay adage of “seperti membasuh kaki” came quickly to mind. A classical reference would be the biblical account of Pontius Pilate’s washing his hands before the crowds demanding Jesus’ execution, signifying that he is absolving himself from responsibility and the freedom from being associated with a potential liability. It is also related to the mantra of today’s mat rempit guys (illegal motorcyle racer) that is malas pikir or “too lazy to think”. Like a driver who refuses to budge in and give way to another driver, everyone wants the easy way out. Also, it made me remember my earliest student days during the orientation week. The silly program facilitator had taken into liberty of interviewing a girl in front of a large crowd of just-enrolled freshmen, asking her the criteria of a potential husband. Guess what comes number 1 priorty. Must have a Satria. Rolls eyes. No wonder we have so many problems with our guys today. Girls wouldn’t spend an ounce of thought on masalah yang dihadapi oleh umat (problems faced by the ummah).

Also, another thought came into my mind as I drove back home from work and this went on until after I actually sat down and began starting to write this piece. It rang to me that usually the case, when we fail to aspire to the betterment of our own selves, it is always the easiest to blame others for our own shortcomings.

Thus, Dina, the answers you were looking for may very well already be there, right in front of your eyes, but reading your past articles laced with liberalist views (yes, if you can be very judgmental, I can be too!), I cannot guarantee that the good pill will go down well.

In her last sentence, Dina insinuates that there is no more decent Malay guy around for a Malay girl to marry and I intend to prove her just wrong.

Take for example, my friend Zack. We used to horse around a lot during our student days. By 4^th year of university life, he has managed to borrow enough money to cobble himself a photocopy and printing shop sorely needed by us students in our own campus. When he finally graduated, he already has two additional branches in neighboring campuses and earns as much as RM5,000 per month. Every day now he wakes up at 10 and the money comes rolling in. He says he has no need for companies to offer him career opportunities with starting salary of RM 2,000, especially when he can make his own career advancements and he is content to be managing his own business venture despite having a bachelor’s degree in electrical power engineering. Like any other practising and devout Muslim, he doesn’t drink and thinks going to pubs are a waste of time. And he is not necessarily that serban-wearing type who also happens to be the haraam-police.

Another example my friend Zul. He is not a diplomat’s son with English-sounding last name but he is a Malay Muslim, and at that a graduate with a job and a car, who lives in his own apartment. Being able to pay off bills and his study loan, he just needs a few months more to earn enough money to afford the wang hantaran. He is basically a no nonsense guy who wakes up at 6, goes off to work at 8, and comes back at 7, after which he relaxes at home after long-day work and chats online with me discussing about sorry state of the ummah and how we as responsible Muslims can help improve. He prays five times a day, donates to poor people he finds in the streets and always talks about how good akhlaq (conduct) can bring one closer to God, and tries hard to practise what he preaches. However, his girlfriend does not share his religious views. Instead she sees on TV a celebrity wedding with dowry alone amounting to the unique number RM44,444.44 and decides that she deserves as much. What’s with you people with your number fixations? By the way, in Chinese astrology, the number 4 means death and either the wedded couple is going to die after some time or their marriage is going to end by the 4^th year. That is if you believe in Fengshui and stuff. Which I don’t.

Zul is now frantic. He doesn’t have that kind of money yet, though he has a secure job with good salary. The money was good, but apparently it wasn’t enough for the girlfriend, with him spending half his salary every month to pay for the date and presents. The next day, she dumps him in order to be with some low-life mat rempit and my dear friend now comes to me asking for advice over teh tarik. Neat, huh? The logic of girls amazes me.

Now these are two examples I can think of which girls in Dina’s anecdotes have apparently overlooked when choosing partners in life. I think, the source of problem is the inability to evaluate potential partners and marrying only for the sake of love and love alone without factoring other reasons. I wish I could simply say misguided but then I would be accused of being male chauvinist-pig. As a Muslim Malay, pigs are haraam (divinely forbidden) so I would not like to be called that. Suffice to say, these girls go only for looks and things that defines masculinity without establishing real long-life goals. In English, it is called being “short-sighted”. But of course we should marry out of love, not just for it sakes alone. The Prophet recommends 4 features that can be taken into consideration and out of these, he cites that a woman who is strong in religion can take care of a man’s welfare in both this life and in the Hereafter.

In answer to Dina’s, would I be permitted to pose similar rhetorics. If girls’ fathers were so pious and good, why were their daughters so screwed up? If the upbringing is impeccable, then the fathers, being perfect as they are, should function properly as the wali. Do you know what is a wali? In Arabic it means “protector”. The plural awliya’ is mentioned several times in the Qur’an, where it mentions men as the protectors of women. Hence, the father is the protector of his daughters, whom he protects from harm and the likes of predatory men who live off wealthy women and prey on unsuspecting young girls, like some sort of parasitic creature, or the pontianak, as the Malay would assume. The wali acts as her guardian and is required to be present during her akad nikah (ritual wedding ceremony). In order to discharge his duties as the protector, he is vested with power by the Sharia law to deem the marriage contract unlawful and void if he judges something amiss from the bridegroom. So I am asking, perfect fathers as Dina alleges, why do they fail miserably in judging the characters of their would-be in-laws while they would be the last bastion of defense against the invasion of the “lazy sods” into their daughters’ households? Isn’t there supposed to be personality-screening or interview before you take my daughter’s hand in marriage or is it too kolot and backward for you elite crème de la crème Sri Hartamas-Bukit Damansara-TTDI-anak-datok-datin dwelling type of bunch? Maybe if fruitful religious discussions were truly being made in our usrahs, we would never have confused an usrah with a birthday bash after all, no matter how Arabic-sounding the names of the local turntable DJs were.

I remember reading Seerah Nabawiyah (historical account of the Prophet’s life) which relates to the issue. The Prophet had just been denied entry to the Sacred Mosque for the purpose of making the Hajj, but through concession with the Mushriks who were holding Makkah at that time, the Muslims would be allowed to do it the following year. As bonus, they were allowed to do the umrah, or lesser pilgrimage instead. However, the Muslims were demotivated and frustrated, and no amount of coercing and pleading by the Prophet can bring them to do the rituals of umrah, one of them being tahalul, shaving or cutting one’s lock of hair. The Prophet was frantic, he was afraid that the disobedience would incur God’s wrath upon the Muslims. Then came along his wife Umm Salamah, who chided him for ordering the Muslims to do something he wouldn’t have done first since he is their leader. The timely intellectual reprimand from the one of the Mothers of Muslimin spurred the Prophet into action and he did it, and the Muslims followed suit his example.

Now here is an shining paragon of a Muslim woman who is brave in taking initiatives. Umm Salamah makes religion her business to know enough to actually make a suggestion that is accepted by a Prophet, and a male one at that. She does not wait for a pious Muslim man who is like her father, to come around and take her up on a pedestal to whisk her away in some fairy tale wedding story, but actually stays on solid ground and uses her intellect coupled with religious knowledge, to actually do what needs to be done. She is not one who do away religious requirements on a whim just because they do not agree with Western liberalist views and upbringing, but she knows that she is married to the Prophet and she upholds the standard that is required of her, while assisting the husband in discharging his duty as the Messenger of God.

My point being that, if a shallow-minded person finds comfort in ignorant attitude towards religious matters i.e. just knowing enough to perform daily ritual prayers and reciting the Qur’an to fend off the devil and nothing else, there is no way one can expect to find a partner in life who goes deep further into actually practising Muslim values which are good and responsible. How can one expect a virtuous and hard-working husband, if the wife absolves herself from any responsibility? Can one possibly find a mithali pious future-husband while hanging around in clubs or late-night bistros where drinking and GROs are served, flirting around with non-pious guys with “lifestyles”? I find it curious for a truly Muslimah to be able to do just that.

I don’t think a person who is a practising Muslim, monogamous and does not beat his wife, would find such clubs suitable place to do his night prayers much less hang around with some drunken friends, in the first instance.

You know what is silly? Again, I try not to be judgmental but this tickles my funny bone. A Malay celebrity with a sexy skimpy dress during an interview, when asked the criteria of a would-be suitor and she answers, “Dia mestilah lelaki yang beriman” (he must be a pious man). After so much gossips about tangkap basah khalwat in a hotel room and what not she marries her on-and-off lover-boyfriend mat rempit cum manager, divorces after 4 years and 4 children (again that number fixation), claims to be more stable and calm as a divorcee, and after one month, marries a 60 year-old Datuk that is already old enough to be her father. She must be clueless, not knowing where all the decent pious good men have gone to. All must have gone into hiding or dead, it seems.

So Dina, I hope that answers your question. If it doesn’t and your usrah session continue to prove similarly useless to make you realize this, then I think your ustazs are only fit to teach Muqaddam. I try not to be nasty but I think you should change your ustazs. I find it easier to say that if we mix with the wrong crowd, who else can we blame but ourselves when we get the wrong result, don’t you think? But after all we all wanna marry the rich and famous and to a mat salleh on top of that.

Jewel - Hands

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear
My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken

Poverty stole your golden shoes
It didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after

We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
I am never broken
In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters

I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
We are never broken

We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
We are God's hands
We are God's hands*

Muslim Knight: Dedicated to all those who tirelessly fight for equality, fairness and justice against oppression, corruption and injustice, in order to make the world better. They would die protecting the innocents from the hands of the evil oppressor, restore the rights of the orphans and spend in charity in order to seek the pleasure of God. A tyrant dies and his rule ends, but the mujahideen (one who struggles in the path of the religion) dies and his rule begins.

*To avoid confusion I take this to represent the concept of Insaan Rabbani, the man who is endowed with qualities of the Faithful (Mu'min) as such that he loves God with all his heart and fears God as much as he fears offending a loved one. Such man sees, hears and does things only what God wants him, as a good Muslim, to see, hear and do. In conclusion, the true Muslim enjoins good and forbids evil.

Interview of Sayyed Naquib al-Attas by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

Salaam 'alaykum to all,

Interview of Sayyed Naquib al-Attas by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf - MBC/YouTube - Don’t Miss.




May Allah grant us Muslims, wisdom and strength to act upon that wisdom. Ameen!

Movie Review: 10,000 BC (2008)

Salaam 'alaykum to all,

Monday. No class. Well, technically I was supposed to go to workshop for my Manufacturing Processes Lab session, but since we've finished syllabus 3 weeks early so I got time to catch a movie. To tell the truth, I went to watch 10,000 BC half-heartedly. Then again, why should I look forward to it in the first place? Poor promotion, fairly unknown cast, and it's a movie about things that might not even have happened 10,000 years ago.

However, call me a boy trapped inside a man's body, I've always been fascinated (still do!) with adventure-type films. I'm a sucker for those. Also, when it comes to stories that deal with issues which remain today's everyday struggle with the average person. The question of justice, freedom and personal liberty against injustice, oppression and corruption of values that concerns a Muslim, much less a Knight. 10,000 BC is about a young boy who grows up to become a youth and as a youth, undergoes the process of becoming a man by facing these problems and having to deal and solve them.

WARNING! SPOILERS ALERT!~

Big cat savors the big meal. Nyum nyum!~

Our hero grows up in a village which later comes under the attack of raiders who captures their men, women and children to be used as slaves in construction of monument in a far away land. The hero takes up the task of tracking and rescuing his loved ones and along the way, he wins several friends and a small army. Towards the end of the story he fulfills several prophecies and become the leader of an insurrection of slaves against their cruel masters. And of course, by the end of the movie, he gets back his woman whom he initially gave up because he thinks it is unworthy to claim her through dishonest means.

SPOILERS END HERE

I have to admit it that the movie was well beyond my expectations. I was led to believe that this is the movie that could very well earn me a goodnight (though it was technically during the day) sleep under the artificial darkness of the movie theater. Surprisingly I managed to go all the way to the finishing line. Roland Emerich was the director of Independence Day and I think he had done a good job with 10,000 BC depicting the setting of the movie. Characters well developed, but one thing I am a bit curious is that why did he pit cavemen against pyramid-building Egyptians knowing that Ramses (who ordered the construction of pyramids) only came around 2,000 BC, that is, nearly 8,000 years later? That isn't fair at all!

I think what I liked the most about this movie is the depiction of moral values, that is heroic values. Fighting for your rights against a tyrant ruler, never giving up on your loved ones, making friends even with those who have different skin color as yours and the importance of having a courageous leader in your midst. I think this movie highlighted these universal values well.

It's a movie with a historical setting with no nonsense about magic and all, though Emerich managed to spoil this at the very end when he decides the heroine cannot just die after all the efforts spent rescuing her. So he has the Elder Mother die instead so that she can magically transfer her remaining life force to the pretty girl. So guys, don't ever give up on your women even in the face of death, because some granny out there is going to huff puff and die so your women can live. Pretty neat, huh? Even the blacks don't die so much in this movie. I consider this movie a well RM8 well-spent. 7 out of 10.

Riz Khan - Malaysia's election tsunami

Al-Jazeera's Riz Khan interviews Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang on Malaysia's Political Tsunami.

The Best of Provisions is Taqwa

Salaam 'alaykum to all,

Excerpt From:-
‘The Best of Provisions is Taqwa’
Khutbah by Shaykh Abdul Rahmaan As Sudays
Masjid Al Haram | 22 Safar 1429

Oh Muslim Ummah, with the recent events that have befallen the Ummah with exaggerated increase in prices of basic necessities, we also have people who are seeking to destroy the image of our beloved Prophet (SAW) in the form of cartoons. Allah says "Allâh mocks at them and gives them increase in their wrong-doings to wander blindly." [Surah Baqarah: Ayah 15] These slanders are in the form of a new language that aims to insult Prophethood. These lies and slanders are a form of terrorism that is being carried out under the name of freedom of speech and democracy. However, these are nothing but slanders and lies. Insulting our honourable Prophet (SAW) is to insult 'Esa and Musa and all the Prophets and Messengers of Allah (AS). We do not differentiate between any of Allah's Messengers.

Let the whole world know that these people who are writing have not been able to and nor will they ever be able to harm our Prophet (SAW). Allah says "Truly! We will suffice you against the scoffers." [Surah Hijr: Ayah 95] All these actions of theirs is nothing but jealousy and envy that is burning in their hearts. Allah will extinguish their flame and weaken them, because no matter how much falsehood spreads it will only strengthen the truth. "Nay, We fling (send down) the truth (this Qur'ân) against the falsehood, so it destroys it, and behold, it (falsehood) is vanished. And woe to you for that (lie) which you ascribe." [Surah Anbiya: Ayah 18]

Oh nation of our beloved Prophet (SAW), know that true defence of the Prophet (SAW) is to follow his footsteps, adhere to his teachings, and learn about him. Befriending the Prophet (SAW) is not rioting or destroying properties oppressively. Beware of such reactions which are not rightly guided, or actions which are not well thought out. May Allah make us amongst those who defend the honour of the Prophet (SAW) and follow his guidance. Allah says "Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me, Allâh will love you and forgive your sins. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Surah Ale 'Imraan: Ayah 31]

Who is the Muslim Knight?

Praise be to Allah, the Most Exalted, the Greatest, and the ultimate end is best for the pious and righteous. Peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Messenger, his Family and his righteous Companions. May Allah bestow His love and everlasting mercy on our souls, protect us from evil and grant us remission for our past sins. Peace be upon those who follow Guidance. Ameen.

A Muslim Knight is a warrior bold and pure, an exemplar of the dynamic Muslim. Like the fighter, the Muslim Knight is a man of combat. However, he is foremost a Muslim; one who submits (to the will of God). His religion of Islam teaches him that there is only one Creator alone who deserves worship, and His name is Allah, the Lord, Cherisher and Evolver of the Worlds, who is Infinitely Good and All-Merciful. God has revealed in His Revelations (Taurah, Injeel and Al-Qur'an) that He is Oft-forgiving (Al-Ghaffar) and full of loving kindness (Al-Wadud); for all evils of the world the Knight is deeply troubled with, he finds solace by turning his attention and devotion to Allah, Who will give people like him the strength to resist and stand up against evil men, oppressors and unjust rulers. The servant of Allah lives being conscious that the Almighty sees and knows everything, and in order to obtain His Mercy and Good Pleasure the servant of Allah must constantly uphold the best of conduct, righteousness and moral justice. He tells the truth, keeps his word, and speaks out against injustice. He strives to be a living example of these Muslim virtues so that others might learn from him as well as gain by his actions.

The Muslim Knight shuns sihr (magic) and evil use of politics because vying for such power can only mean increasing evil and enmity in one’s soul and the desire to compete against the Creator, hence committing the gravest sin of blasphemy against Him. Instead, he performs ruqyah, invoking the name of God as the Disposer of Affairs and Guardian Protector and supplicates for His deliverance, knowing that the Lord who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in between can protect His faithful servants from danger and harm arising from His creations.

The soldier of Allah, having taken up the fight against Evil, superstitions and disbelief in the world and knowing that he is in touch with the True Light, never yields an inch of ground. He is always to the fore in inviting others to his own ranks, but he himself refuses to be with those who worship anything else but Allah and those who commit oppression and injustice. Muslim Knight is dedicated to the religion of Allah, the defense of peace, innocent lives and the virtuous Muslim way of life.