Monday, September 18, 2006


Physical soreness.

Assalamualaikum wrh. wbt.

Got back from Wilsons Promontary last night. Am still sore all over. Am glad to report that I did everything from pray under the stars and the ocean, to getting lost on one of them mounts, to slipping down onto some very hard river rocks, to making model ducks out of bread, to poking at (supposedly) live jellyfish [I do hope Dorokins doesn't get mad about that bit], to singing in the van, to losing my mobile phone in a timespan of ten minutes.

Will write in more detail soon, insyaAllah. Though come to think of it, that pretty much sums it all up.

But am in too much physical stress to write down what I've already mapped in my brain, masyaAllah. So instead, I'll just do the regular cut-pasting thing.

Enjoy:


About Whom We Should Speak Out
By Selma Cook**
Managing Editor – IslamOnline.net

How noble it is to speak out! How much courage it takes to stand up for what is right and make your voice heard! Indeed, how powerful is the spoken word that echoes from a sincere heart! And how many issues there are today that need the free, outspoken, and eloquent voice of wisdom to right the wrongs and give sound advice.

Our world! Take a look around and what do you see? If people are not picking up the pieces of their lives after war, economic oppression, or all the problems and disasters resulting from the affects of global warming, they are seeking to dull the pain of life by giving in to compulsions, addictions, and the realm of the superficial.

The world over, wars are being fought and lost (who wins in a war?) Families are torn apart and children (the usual victims) are left to cope with the dysfunction of the unit that should have nurtured them to maturity. Women are violated, abused, and disrespected despite attempts to liberate themselves. Mankind seeks peace of mind, calmness of heart, and freedom of the spirit but is swallowed up in the fear that characterizes our time.

We all live under the threat of nuclear warfare, economic monopolization, violence, murder……..who feels safe? Who feels at peace? What has the new world order, the ‘savior’ of our time, done to eradicate poverty, protect children, honor women, distribute wealth fairly, eradicate corruption, stop war, or protect the planet?

Where are the voices of the strong and independent spirits of the world to step up and take a stand against the pollution that is threatening life on this planet? Where are the cries of dismay and resounding fists marking the words spoken against rampant violence, invasion, bloodshed, and genocide? Who will stand up and demand that drug abuse and all that leads to it, ceases altogether? Who will stand and insist that there be no more racism, that children are protected, that domestic violence stops, that the rights of the elderly are honored, and, and, and….

Yet in the midst of all this mess there are voices that seek to degrade the very person who taught mankind how to avoid all the evils that threaten to destroy us. Isn’t it more appropriate to lash out at greedy manipulating politicians or the nations that stubbornly refuse to stop emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, or the immoral behavior that leads to domestic violence, abuse, molestation, addiction, suicide and all the other horrors of our time?

The final Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), Muhammad, is the one who taught by example, how to serve all mankind, not to hold grudges, to wish for your brother what you wish for yourself, to struggle with your time, wealth, and blood, if necessary, to release people from tyranny and oppression, to treat women with kindness and dignity, to eradicate racism and slavery, to care for children and give them their rights, to seek knowledge and develop the individual and the nation, to not cut down trees or spoil nature, and so much more.

Since all that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) called for is good and beneficial to mankind and life on this planet, what then could be the reason behind someone denouncing him or casting him in an unfavorable light?

Regardless, the call of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the same as the call of all the prophets from the beginning of time: Adam, Moses, Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, Jesus and all the others (peace and blessings be upon them all), and this message belongs to the Creator and He, the Almighty will grant it success.

If the slander against Muhammad (peace be upon him) is due to ignorance, then knowledge can always be gained, but if this slander is due to hatred and malice then surely, the One who protected Jesus and all the other prophets, will protect His final prophet, Muhammad. The truth is not necessarily on the tongues of men, but it dwells in the hearts of the pious.

** Selma Cook is Managing Editor of the Youth Section and Volunteer Youth Resource Network at IslamOnline.net. She has written a number of books including: Buried Treasure (An Islamic novel for teenagers) and The Light of Submission (Islamic Poetry). She has also edited and revised many Islamic books. She can be contacted at youth_campaign@iolteam.com.

Wassalamualaikum.

this has been a rant by Syazwina Saw at 1:33 pm

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