Domestic Violence in our Community

From Zaytuna.org

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf on National Public Radio
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf appeared on NPR's All Things Considered on Tuesday, February 24, to discuss domestic violence in light of the tragic death of Aasiya Hassan in New York.

A khutbah Shaykh Hamza delivered about domestic violence on February 20 can be viewed here.

The Triple filter Test

In ancient Greece , Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said,

"Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"

"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything, I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test."

"The first filter is TRUTH. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."

'All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of GOODNESS. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of USEFULNESS. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really."

Replied Socrates

"Well," "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

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Advice from our beloved prophet (peace be upon him) to mankind…..

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him said. 'Do you know what is backbiting?'

They (the Companions) said: 'Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) know best.

Thereupon he (the Prophet (peace be upon him)) said: 'Backbiting implies your talking about your brother (behind his back) in a manner which he does not like.'

It was said to him: 'What is your opinion about this that if I actually find (that failing) in my brother which I made a mention of?'

He (peace be upon him) said: 'If (that failing) is actually found (in him) what you assert, you in fact backbited him, and if that is not in him it is a slander!.'

Sahih Muslim HadithHadith 6265 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Muslim Student Association of UC Davis presents:

Returning to Allah: Mercy & Forgiveness and Balancing between Hope & Fear

As part of MSA's Tazkiya Month, this sisters-only event is taught by:

Ustadha Shamira Chothia Ahmed
of Zaytuna Institute

Friday, February 6, 2009, 7 PM

Room: Olson 205 @ UC Davis

The Almighty says, "O you who believe! Turn in sincere repentance to Allah." (66:8)

The Almighty says, "Your Lord is swift in retribution, and He is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (7:167); The Seal of all prophets, Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, said "The Garden (al-Jannah) is nearer to you than your own sandal strap and it is the same with the Fire." (Bukhari)

Ever wonder about forgiveness? In this motivating talk, Ustadha Shamira will discuss the essence of tawbah, balancing between hope and fear, and the importance of striving for the Eternal Pleasure of God the Almighty. In addition, Ustadha Shamira will discuss the importance of seeking forgiveness and how to practically incorporate this important part of our Deen into our daily lives.

This event is free and open to all interested sisters. Please join us!

Allah knows Best- A Kings experience

Bismillah..

I had to share this story from qisas.com. It is very inspiring, masha'Allah!

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A story is told about a King in Africa who had a close friend that he grew up with. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) by remarking, "This is good, Allah Almighty knows best"

One day the King and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the King. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the King fired it and his thumb was blown off.

Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good! Allah Almighty knows best."

To which the King replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and ordered his soldiers to put his friend into jail.

About a year later, the King was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured the King and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.

As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the King was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So after untying the King, they chased him out of the village.

When the King reached his Palace, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend.

"You were right" the King said, "It was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."

"No," his friend replied, "this is good…Allah Almighty knows best"

"What do you mean, 'this is good'! How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"

The King's friend replied: "Remember that the Almighty knows best and if I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you on that hunting trip."

"He knows what is before them and what is behind them: And to Allah go back all questions (for decision)"
Qur'an: Surah Al Hajj 22:76

Do Not Judge Things or Events by its Immediate Outcome!

Although the decisions of Allah Ta'alah may seem harsh to us, they are full of wisdom

Source: Qisas.com