Posted on 2013-05-13
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali mentions in Lata’if al-Ma’arif: The month of Rajab is the key to the months of goodness and blessings that follow it. Abu Bakr b. al-Warraq al-Balkhi said: “Rajab is the month to sow the seeds; Sha’ban is the month to irrigate the crop; and Ramadan is the month to reap the harvest.” It has similarly been related from him: “Rajab is like the wind; Sha’ban is like the water-laden clouds; and Ramadan is like the rain.” Someone else mentioned: “The year in its entirety is like a tree: during Rajab its buds sprout; during Sha’ban it sends… Read More - All notesPosted on 2013-04-24
H-E-A-L to heal: to make sound or whole (heal a wound); to restore to health; to cause an undesirable condition to be overcome; to mend; to patch up (a breach or division); to restore to original purity or integrity. H is for Hearts In the aftermath of the tragic events in Boston, we should understand that meaningful and lasting healing will not start until we begin to strengthen and cleanse our hearts. This is the place where real religion dwells. In terrestrial terms, the revelation began in the heart of our Prophet, peace and blessings of Almighty God upon him.… Read More - All notesPosted on 2013-04-12
On March 6, 2013 Zaytuna College hosted the former United States Attorney General, Ramsey Clark. Clark, now 86 years old, brings a wealth of experience from both inside and outside of government to his presentations, which was one of the reasons for his invitation. Oftentimes, we are tempted to limit our exposure to those who currently or have always shared our views and approaches to the burning issues that define our lives or times. While such an approach may make us comfortable, it will not make us wise. Ramsey Clark is a wise man and we are thankful that he… Read More - All notesPosted on 2013-02-09
Black History Month should be of interest to every Muslim, especially in America. It is estimated that upwards to 20% of the Africans enslaved in the Americas were Muslim. [1] In some areas, such as the coast of the Carolinas, Georgia, and parts of Virginia, the percentages of Muslims in the slave population may have approached 40%. [2] The fact that the search of a random African American, Alex Haley, for his roots led him to a Muslim village in West Africa is indicative of the widespread Muslim presence among the enslaved population here in the Americas. At this critical… Read More - All notesPosted on 2012-11-17
In our world of increasing need the answer has to be found in relentless giving despite cultural discourse calling for an end to altruism. “Those who adopted the abode and faith before them love those who migrated to them, and they find no need in their souls for what the migrants were given. They give preference [to others] over themselves, even though they have serious needs. Whoever can ward off the stinginess within his soul, they will be the successful ones.” (55:59) A glance at the daily headlines alerts us to a number of crises, which… Read More - All notesPosted on 2012-10-26
The following excerpt is from “Lata’if al-Ma’arif” by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali concerning the virtue and some of the actions to be undertaken on the Day of Arafa (pp. 487-495) I wanted to get this out today for the benefit of the believers so I have not taken the time to edit and proofread it. Therefore, if you find some typos and a few glitches, I will tighten it up after ‘Id, Insha Allah. It is related in the sound compilation of al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of ‘Umar bin al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, that a Jewish… Read More - All notesPosted on 2012-09-26
During the event held on 9-17-12, Zaytuna College’s co-founders, Hatem Bazian, Zaid Shakir, and Hamza Yusuf spoke about the recent wave of unrest in Libya, Egypt and other parts of the Muslim world that was set off due to the posting of the video maligning the Prophet Mohammad (SAW). James A. Donahue (President, Graduate Theological Union) and Munir Jiwa (Assistant Professor, Graduate Theological Union) also spoke at this event which was moderated by Sandy Tolan, Associate Professor - Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at USC. http://www.zaytunacollege.org/ To view complete video go to: http://youtu.be/Jo1z_eSHdHE Read More - All newsPosted on 2012-08-29
United Against Poverty conference brings together diverse group of religious voices to tackle wealth inequality across the nation. Stamford, CT (PRWEB) August 29, 2012 On September 29th, the organization United for Change will hold a conference titled “United Against Poverty” to discuss the realities of poverty in the U.S and what role Muslim Americans should play in advocating for the poor and disenfranchised. The program will have various sessions throughout the day, including proper ways to respond to poverty; Muslim women shelters in America; the physical versus spiritual definitions of poverty; and the wisdom behind alms giving, a major… Read More - All newsPosted on 2012-07-28
Ill Fares the land, to hast’ning ill a prey; Where wealth accumulates, and men decay. Oliver Goldsmith British-Irish author (1730 - 1774) In his final book, Ill Fares the Land, Tony Judt laments the materialism and selfishness he saw destroying the very fabric of modern society. Were we to summarize the dire message that Judt is sending in the last published work before his death, it is that individual greed has devastating social and political consequences. In Judt’s assessment, if those consequences are not arrested soon, a meaningful and fair politics, one of the critical foundations… Read More - All notesPosted on 2012-07-15
There are many organizations out there trying to educate Americans about our religion, but they do not have an institution that’s engaging in ongoing research around the issues that affect our community. Our organizations and activists have to scramble when it’s time to put literature together to answer FAQs about Islam. They have to scramble when the latest attack on Islam comes—or even when Muslims call to ask: “What can I give my son? What can I give my daughter? What can I give my co-worker? What can I give my fellow student? What can I give my neighbor to… Read More - All newsPosted on 2012-07-03
She taught Ella and Billie Holliday how to sing. She made Miles Davis cool and taught Duke how to swing. She gave Malcolm his X and made Martin a king. Without her Michael Jordan wouldn’t have six rings! Will you marry my daughter? She gave Nat Turner his fire and gave birth to Denmark Vesey. She taught her children how to survive in the aftermath of Plessy. She put the soul in James Brown and taught every rhyme to Jesse. Without her we wouldn’t know how to enjoy a blessing. Will you marry my… Read More - All notesPosted on 2012-06-15
Death and destruction tend to be associated with Muslims, but the Prophet reminded, “God is Beautiful and He likes beauty.” For many people, including some Muslims, it has become difficult to associate Islam with beauty. The popular view of Islam is based largely on images conveyed by the mass media, and those images are usually repugnant. Such images may include the carnage wreaked by suicide bombers upon unsuspecting crowds of innocent people in mosques, bazaars and other public gathering places. They may include the faces of women that have been mutilated or disfigured by acid or blades owing to some… Read More - All notesPosted on 2012-05-21
Text of Imam Zaid’s Commencement Speech At Brighter Horizons Academy, Dallas, Texas (slightly edited for Publication) You are blessed to have your graduation occur on a memorable day that you should never forget. Today is May 19th. It is the date of your graduation and it is Malcolm X’s birthday. Before going any further, let me say that it is safe to talk about Malcolm X. He has the stamp of cultural approval, in that a movie has been made about his life. He also has the stamp of political approval, literally, in that the US Postal Service has issued… Read More - All notesPosted on 2012-04-30
War Chronicle How many babies will you kill? Before you realize, each time you kill an innocent that it’s your heart that dies. A way of life that’s steeped in blood from sea to shining sea. murder behind the veil of lies, proclaimed as liberty. The armies they go marching off across the hills and plains. destroying all before their path, ignoring screams and pain. Present the cause in noble words, thus assuaged we can ignore, atrocities, injustices, the carnage and the gore. Let’s drink to war, the… Read More - All notesPosted on 2012-03-24
When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you. Friedrich Nietzsche In the aftermath of the murderous spree in France, allegedly committed by a French “Jihadi,” Mohammed Merah, it should be clear to any observer that the so-called Jihad movement will never bring any good to Islam. Only a lunatic could believe that murdering school children in cold blood can somehow lead to a positive outcome for… Read More - All notes
New Islamic Directions is dedicated to bringing to our visitors a fair and balanced presentation of
Islam and its basic teachings. We are a balanced nation whose historical advance has only been possible
when that balance created the spiritual and intellectual space for some of the most brilliant minds
known to humanity to flourish.
