Pentagon warns of China's military might: The Pentagon is preparing to release a report on the Chinese military that warns the US that it should take more seriously the possibility that China might emerge as a strategic rival to the US, according to a senior government official. The report has generated controversy in the Bush administration because of earlier drafts that concerned National Security Council officials by painting what they saw as an overly antagonistic picture of China, according to two people with knowledge of the report. There were also concerns that the report could complicate US efforts to work with China to encourage North Korea to return to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme. Late on Tuesday a senior government official said the controversy did not concern content but only its "presentation". He said it was important to emphasise that the report presented a "range of outcomes" that could materialise along with China's economic growth. President George W. Bush came to office in 2001 calling China a "strategic competitor" rather than a "strategic partner", the term favoured by the Clinton administration. But US-China relations have improved markedly since the 2001 al-Qaeda attacks on the US as China has co-operated in the US "war on terror". Two sources said the report would mention "assassin's mace" strategies a term employed during China's warring-states period that referred to secret weapons and strategies used to deceive and defeat enemies quickly which the People's Liberation Army could be developing for use against Taiwan. The report is expected to emphasise "known unknowns" including the lack of US knowledge about the actual size of theChinese defence budget and its future military strategy. The language is an attempt to emphasise that the US should not acceptat face value China'sstatements that it intendsto emerge as a peaceful power. One source defended the original report, saying the Pentagon was simply responding to congressional pressure. He said Duncan Hunter, the chairman of the House armed services committee, and China hawks on the Senate armed services committee were concerned that previous reports had been too soft in assessing China's future strategies. In recent months, senior US officials, including Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary, and Porter Goss, the Central Intelligence Agency director, have voiced concerns about the rapidly expanding Chinese military. The administration has also criticised China's new anti-secession law, which compels the military to attack Taiwan if it appears to be moving towards independence. Copyright 2005 Financial Times Latest business news from MSNBC ------------------------------------------- Kyrgyzstan May Host 2nd Russia Army Base Tuesday May 24, 2005 8:46 AM By BAGILA BUKHARBAYEVA Associated Press Writer OSH, Kyrgyzstan (AP) - Russia has discussed opening a second military base in Kyrgyzstan to help fend off terrorist threats in the volatile region, a senior Kyrgyz official said Tuesday. Anvar Artykov, governor of the Osh region in southern Kyrgyzstan, said the Kyrgyz government had yet to make a final decision on the issue. ``There has been preliminary talk about a military base in Osh, about a Russian anti-terror unit here,'' Artykov said at a news conference. ``The issue is yet to be considered at the government level.'' Kyrgyzstan hosts both U.S. and Russian military bases, located about 20 miles apart. The Kremlin cautiously welcomed the U.S. military deployment in Kyrgyzstan and the neighboring ex-Soviet republic of Uzbekistan for operations in Afghanistan following the Sept. 11 attacks, but Moscow later grew uneasy about the U.S. presence, saying it should terminate with the end of fighting in Afghanistan. Russia's air base in Kyrgyzstan was broadly seen as an effort to reassert the Kremlin's influence in the strategic, resource-rich region. Kyrgyz officials fear that unrest could spill over from neighboring Uzbekistan, which has been shaken by the May 13 riots in Andijan, where troops fired on protesters. The borders of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan converge in the densely populated Fergana Valley, where poverty runs deep and radical Islamic groups are active, creating a hotbed of instability.

^ 13 its is for me too! I hope our ladder is leaning against the right wall!

Sayyed Hassan Al Banna Letter to a Muslim Student is the English translation of a letter that Hassan al Banna wrote to one of his students that was studying in the West. The sincere advice contained in this letter is drawn from the perennial values and ethos of Islam. It reminds the addressee and indeed all Muslims that the first and foremost goal in a Muslims life is to please God and live in accordance to His sacred law. Also, it brings home that studying ought not to be an end in itself or for seeking material gain. A Muslim ought to excel in his or her study in order to work for Islam and benefit humanity.] My brother in Islam (who may Allah guard and protect). I praise Allah for there is no god but Him. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, who was sent as a mercy to all of humanity, upon his family, companions and on all those who hold fast to the Shariah until the Day of Judgement. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you when you travel with a proper intention and a noble purpose, and when you return with a sound endeavor and to a dedicated cause. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you as you serve Islam with the finest fruits of science and the best of knowledge. Dearest brother, you will be amongst people you have not known before and characters you are not accustomed to. In you they will see the example of a Muslim. So make sure they see in you the best example and the finest image, in order for them to understand that the word 'Muslim' embodies virtue and nobility. With you is a precious trust, that is your righteous wife, appreciate this. Towards her be a trustworthy companion. Provide her with comfort and happiness. Share with her felicity, without being careless in acquiring your rights and negligent in performing your duties. Read these few words that are borne out of my love and sincerity for you, as an elder brother expressing for his brother and sister the best wishes and the happiest life. 1. O my brother, excel in your observance of Allah (swt) in all your dealings. Understand that He (swt) keeps watch over you, sees you and encompasses all that is of concern to you - wherever you are. He knows the treachery of your eyes and all that your heart conceals. Strive not to let Allah (swt) see you, except that He is pleased with you. Do not be unmindful in your observance of the One (glorified and exalted is He), otherwise Satan will infiltrate you and you will be overcome by the whispers of your whims and desires. Believe, my dearest brother, that whenever a heart is conscious of Allah's observance, it will never be approached by Satan. However, once it departs from Allah's awareness, evil will be attracted to it and it will be inhabited by whims and desires. So, consolidate your heart with the observance of Allah and in vigil seek refuge from your surroundings and do not be among the unmindful. 2. Perform the obligatory duties which Allah has enjoined upon you, at their appointed times. Do not neglect them by relying on performing them at a later time, because you are busy with work or resorting to other excuses for justification. This is a deception of your own self and of your own whims: And follow not desire that it beguile you from the way of Allah (Sad 38: 26). Understand also my dearest brother that no one draws nearer to Allah with anything more beloved to Him than performing the obligatory duties as stated in the hadith of al-Bukhari. So be aware not to neglect your obligatory duties or feel lazy in performing them; they are Allah's right over you. Be steadfast in prayer and perfect your fast. If you are in a state of complete inability to fast, then according to the saying of Allah (swt) you have a remission: ... For those who are capable of fasting (but still do not fast) there is a redemption: feeding a needy man for each day missed. Whoever, voluntarily, does more good than is required, will find it is better for him; and that you should fast is better for you, if you only know (al-Baqara 2: 184). But be aware not to take this verse as an excuse for falling short. Fasting with hardship in the homeland of the West will earn you a valuable reward and be an asset to your account; it is pleasing to your Lord and righteous to yourself. So do not attempt to break the fast, unless you are unable to complete it. I need not advise you, any further, towards your obligatory duties, after all they are your capital. Can you imagine one who has wasted his capital, what will his state be amongst tomorrow's profit makers? 3. Spend whatever time you can in performing supererogatory works as duties of obedience. Perform the sunna prayers. Increase your appeal for forgiveness and the praising of your Glorified Lord. Remember, that ones supplication, during travel or in expatriation, will be answered; hence, increase your supplication in secret and in humility. Continue your remembrance of Allah (swt). The Prophet (saw) advised Ali (ra) to continuously dampen his tongue in the remembrance of Allah. Do not abandon that path which leads you to nothing but duties and obedience, they are like an investment that multiply rewards. The remembrance of Allah amongst the unmindful nations is like a shining light. So make use of this time, for it is a season to harvest the rewards of the Hereafter, only for those who wish to seize the opportunities and benefit from such seasons. 4. Increase your recitation of the Glorious Quran with understanding and deliberation. It is a healing for the soul and a comfort to the heart. Designate from it a portion to read at the beginning of the day and a portion to read at the end of it, hence the best beginning and the best end. 5. In the delights of life and pleasures of the world, you will see that which inclines the heart, impresses the mind, attracts the eye and bewilders those whose spirits are weak. Do not let these seduce you away from virtue and cause you to forget the Hereafter: Do not turn your eyes covetously towards the embellishments of worldly life that We have bestowed upon various kinds of people to test them. But the clean provision bestowed upon you by your Lord is better and more enduring. Enjoin Prayer on your household, and do keep observing it. We do not ask you for any worldly provision; rather, it is We Who provide you. The ultimate end is for piety (Ta Ha 20: 131-2). Be aware my dearest brother that in the sight of Allah (swt) all these pleasures weigh not even the wing of a gnat and lead neither to honor nor virtue. They are nothing but the manifestations of whims and pitfalls of seduction. So be careful not to let Satan deceive you, otherwise you will plunge into the abyss of sin and corruption. Always remember the words of Allah (swt): Men are naturally tempted by the lure of women, children, treasures of gold and silver, horses of mark, cattle and plantations. These are the enjoyments in the life of this world; but with Allah lies a goodly abode to return to (Al Imran 3:14). The Book of Allah recites these facts day and night. So do not be amongst those who favor the worldly life over the Hereafter, or amongst those deceived by the outward appearance of things without considering their essence. All pleasures brought by contemporary civilization will result in nothing other than pain. A pain that will overwhelm their enticement and remove their sweetness. So avoid the worldly aspects of these people; do not let it take over your command and deceive you, if you are to be among the successors. 6. Dearest brother, what Allah has made Haram (unlawful) for us, those people consider it as Halal (lawful) for them. Hence, when they commit a Haram (unlawful) act, they will neither feel ashamed nor will they refrain from perpetrating it. You should neither agree with their whims nor mix with them in their sins. Otherwise, you will not be relieved from having to answer before Allah (swt) and it will not hold as an excuse on the Day of Judgment. 7. Do not take their girls for company, and do not let there develop between you and them, any special friendship or any emotional relationship. If this kind of socializing is a sin for those other than you, then it is a sin twice as great for you and you know well the meaning of this. Although you are known to us to be one that is trustworthy and decent, I have mentioned this to you, to caution you against the downfalls of sins so that your feet may never slip. And in your chastity let there be content and in your dignity let there be adequacy. 8. As for alcohol, do not approach it and do not use the climate as an excuse, because when Allah made it Haram (unlawful), He had full knowledge about all types of climate but did not exclude one country from another or one nation from another from this prohibition. Allah (swt) made it forbidden with neither doubt nor exception. So be aware not to let it occupy a part of your abdomen, otherwise it will remain as a black spot on its pure skin. Be determined as much as possible before the first drink. Because once your mind is concealed by it, you will follow it by the second and third drink, whereby you will have fallen into a pit, difficult to escape from and will have incriminated yourself and others. then, even if you expiated this sin with repentance, you would still not match your original purity and superb credibility. 9. Do not taste anything in those restaurants which serve Haram (unlawful) food, like pork and dead meat. In that which is Halal (lawful) you have a substitute and enough for contentment. So do not taste the Haram (unlawful) and do not let your flesh grow on it, otherwise fire is what it deserves. Allah (swt) has prohibited that which is impure: . . . He enjoins upon them what is good and forbids them what is evil... (al-Araf 7: 157). So leave that which is bad for that which is good. 10. As for casinos, night-clubs, and other such places of vanity, your time is far too precious to be wasted in them. I have looked into the saying, time is made of gold, and I do not approve of it. Time is far more precious than gold, for time is life. Is it not true that your life is nothing but a few hours and you never know when they will end? Dearest brother, be stringent with your time and do not spend it except in that which is significant, and acquire pleasure in that which is lawful. In the heavens there is calmness and on the earth there is beauty. In the gardens there is freshness and in you there is a sign. In the sea there is might and in the air there is nourishment. Take from all this comfort for your soul and recovery for your mind. And do not waste your time by being unmindful, this will shield you from good and lead you to evil. 11. Be critical, with insight, and be just and well acquainted with people. Do not let your goodness draw you to forget their bad, and their bad hurt you to forget their goodness. Rather study them as would a researcher and an examiner. Encompass with knowledge all of their affairs, and then with an eye of insight, scrutinize it all. Present back the good that you find to your people and nation, and return with it victorious and supported. Other than that, throw it back on them and do not come back until you have dusted off your hands and emptied your mind of it all. You will find there a group of people dishonoring your Prophet (saw), faulting your Quran and disgracing your people. Do not sit with such people, until they turn to a different theme, even if it is necessary for you to enter into a dialogue with them. Argue with them in the best manner. Explain to them the good that you know and avoid controversies that lead to hatred and sedition (fitnah). Lo! You (O Mohammed) guide not whom you love, but Allah guides whom he will. And He is best aware of those who walk aright (al-Qasas 28: 56). Dearest brother, be aware that calling the people through practical example is far better than calling them through speech. It is far more fruitful and beneficial to use your commendable character, the perfection of yourself and your straight manner to defend and call them to your religion and nation. Whenever an opportunity arises for you to deliver a speech or a lecture at one of their meeting places or societies, prepare yourself for it. Choose that which will not stir disorder and that which will not offend integrity. Do not be apprehended by their stance, because Allah's aid is with those who are sincere. Be positive and do not insult other people's beliefs instead, elucidate to them their innate goodness and reveal to them our beliefs. By doing so, you will have adequately promoted awareness and incentive. Finally, and there is still so much for me to say and I would have loved to continue this advice with you, yet my concern is that if I prolong this discourse any more, you may forget most of what I have said; for over speaking does distract one from what is being said. For both of you then, may Allah raise you to be the best of the successors and may His safety accompany you. May He protect both of you and return you in goodness, as is wishes by those who are sincere. I entrust to Allah your religion, your obligations and the outcome of your actions. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you. Ameen

Asalaamu Alaykum The Ten Principles of Hassan al-Banna 1.) The Unity of the Ummah. He considered it in itself a primary and important goal that we must strive for. "Do no disagree, then you fail and lose the wind (in your tail." 2.) The Agreement on Principal Matters. Such that we start by considering everyone who declares shahadah - La ilah illaAllah, Muhammad arrusulAllah - as our companion and part of the Muslim group. 3.) Assume First that You, Not Your Muslim Brother, May be Wrong. And see how you find the truth impartially. 4.) The Manners for Disagreement. That you should be as keen about listening to your brother's evidence and argument as you are about giving your evidence and argument, and be pleasant and smiling whether the result is for you or against you. 5.) Avoiding Arguing, Self-Righteousness, and Belittling of Others. Al Banna said: "No nation went astray after being guided, except after it fell to cursing and arguing." And: "He will have a place in Heaven that leaves arguing when he is wrong, and a higher place in Heaven if he leaves arguing when he is right." 6.) The Possibility of Mulitiple Correct Answers. He referred to the Prophet telling the sahabah to pray Asr in Bani Quraiza, how some of them prayed Asr when it's time came, while others prayed it when they reached Bani Quraiza after sundown, and how the Prophet praised both parties. 7.) The Group Participation in Agreed Upon Matters and to Excuse One Another in What is Disagreed Upon. He emphasized, "We all agree on prohibiting alcohol, adultery, and gambling, and we agree on the duty to govern according to Quran so let us invite governments to implement it; we agree that honor and respect are due to Muslims, so let us impart these ideals to Muslims, we agree that jihad is the means to accomplish honor so let us train the individual, and to raise children with the necessary spiritual and physical training." 8.) Thinking of the Danger of the Common Adversary. He reminded Muslims of the present external enemies who do not differentiate between Muslims or different views or different national origin. The enemy considers Muslims enemies of his religion, and their homelands a prize to be dominated for its resources. He emphasized the need for unity to deter aggression. 9.) Opening the Avenues for Work and Productivity. He recognized the duel purpose of working hard, to produce more and to stay free from the evil of idleness. He encouraged members to excel in schools and jobs, and to seek earning from lawful sources and to shun laziness and dependence on others. He encouraged them to fill in duties that others have not even identified, such as visiting brothers far and near, volunteerism, and to allow time each day for examining how they have done for the sake of Allah. 10.) Sympathy for Those Who Do Not See the Light. Rather than being angry with them or exposing their shortcomings. He never attacked his accusers or distractors on personal matter, but rather sought Allah's help in making His message clearer to those who were listening.

Originally posted by Rahima: I voted yes! I want to know exactly how many years I have left to reach that level. The older he is, the better I’ll feel . lol you must be a mind reader? Dr Baashi's age is just 1 piece of the formula that is needed inorder to perfect the secrets of wisdom.

a fine read, shukran bro XiinFaniin ps. how are the horses?

rayaana, walaal shukran, Salaxudiin Yusuf Al-Ayubi(ra) is also a hero of mine, he is a hero to All believing men and women. Insha'Allah I pray for the comming of another Saladin to prepare the ummah for the libration of the blessed Al-Aqsa from the New Crusades!

well i did little cyber googling and i've found it. It was actually a BBC's African Prospective: here it is enjoy: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/meta/tx/nb/africanperspective_au_nb.ram

It must have been another progrem, it is not in The World's Archive!

what do you regret in life? if you were to ask the common people on the streets this question, its very likely that the majority will list something they have missed in this dunya. now imagine if we were to question the people in the graves: O companion of the Grave, what do you regret today? their answers would be very different. indeed. listen to this khutbah, before you regret it: - Regret by Sheikh Muhammad alShareef Testify - La'Ilaha Ilallah Muhammadan Rasuulallah with the heart while your in this dunya before you regret it!

Pacifist hat America does America gets away with it but You will not get away from Allah. One of the Names of Allah that is not often said is, AL-MUNTAQIM, THE AVENGER. Allah is the Avenger!!

LONDON May 25, 2005 — Amnesty International castigated the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay as a failure Wednesday, calling it "the gulag of our time" in the human rights group's harshest rebuke yet of American detention policies. Amnesty urged Washington to shut down the prison at the U.S. Navy's base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where some 540 men are held on suspicion of links to Afghanistan's ousted Taliban regime or the al-Qaida terror network. Some have been jailed for more than three years without charge. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Amnesty's complaints were "ridiculous and unsupported by the facts." He said allegations of prisoner mistreatment are investigated. Top Stories "We hold people accountable when there's abuse. We take steps to prevent it from happening again. And we do so in a very public way for the world to see that we lead by example and that we do have values that we hold very dearly and believe in," McClellan told reporters. In its annual report, Amnesty accused governments around the world of abandoning human rights protections. It said Sudan failed to protect its people from one of the world's worst humanitarian crises and charged Haiti promoted human rights abusers. But one of the biggest disappointments in the human rights arena was with the United States, Amnesty said, "after evidence came to light that the U.S. administration had sanctioned interrogation techniques that violated the U.N. Convention against Torture." "Guantanamo has become the gulag of our time," Amnesty Secretary General Irene Khan said as the London-based group issued a 308-page annual report that accused the United States of shirking its responsibility to set the bar for human rights protections. The prison camp has been in the spotlight over the past year since the FBI cited cases of aggressive interrogation techniques and detainee mistreatment. The U.S. government has also been criticized for not charging or trying prisoners who are classified as enemy combatants, a vague distinction with fewer legal protections than prisoner of wars get under the Geneva Conventions. more.... full world coverege

wow..very interesting! a classic thank you Wiilo

The trouple here is another case of lost in the translation. Lets make it Clear: 1. Islam is Perfect - there is no trouple with Islam. 2. Muslims are not Perfect - there will always be trouples within the Ummah. 3. You can't be Islam - Islam is seperate from the People. so you can't claim to be Islam! Now the problem here is we are trying to find the answers to our solutions from a person whose intention is against Islam. Irshad Manji's has a problem with Islam, her evil desires are not permissible within Islam, thus she attacks it and turns it around into - 'The Trouple with Islam'. So Brother Ngonge, you see if we try to digest her works to find the answers to our problems, its like trying to find Halaal Meat in a Pigs Farm. but I agree with Baashi: I don’t doubt your intention for a second but I think your effort is misplaced. so if you want others to discuss the points you raised, you must wrap them carefully in a nice manner.

China military spending 40 to 70 pct higher than official figures - RAND 05.19.2005, 09:11 PM WASHINGTON (AFX) - China's military spending is 40 to 70 pct higher than it officially acknowledges, and is likely to exceed that of any US ally in two decades, according to a study by the RAND Corporation. The study estimated China's current annual defense spending at between 2.3 and 2.8 pct of its gross domestic product, or between 69 bln and 78 bln usd in 2001 dollars. That compares to US defense spending of nearly 430 billion dollars in 2004, which was 3.9 pct of GDP in 2004, it said. 'China's defense spending has more than doubled over the past six years, almost catching up with Great Britain and Japan,' said Keith Crane, the lead author of the study, 'Modernizing China's Military: Opportunities and Constraints.' 'Although the rate of increase has slowed, by 2025 China will be spending more on defense than any of our allies,' he said. The study said Chinese defense industries have grown more efficient; benefited from access to foreign military systems and technologies; and improved the quality and sophistication of domestically produced military goods in areas such as information technology, shipbuilding and defense electronics. RAND pointed out, however, that the study's estimates of Chinese military spending, although 40 to 70 pct higher than the official figures, were still considerably lower than other outside estimates. The report said military spending likely to grow over the next decade because of the sheer heft of the Chinese economy, which is expected to triple in size over the next two decades even as growth rates subside. On the other hand, the government's ability to continue increasing military spending will be constrained by rising demand for social services, combined with rising government debt, the report said. The study was conducted by RAND's Project Air Force, a federally funded research center that does research on subjects of interest to leaders of the US Air Force.

lol funny combination, Sun Tzu, Modern China, and yes Michael Moore. but I was reading this book, and i wanted to Bumb it ^! shukran Rahima!

Asalaamu Alaykum! IS XISAABI INTA AAN LAGU XISAABIN! I'll add this to the Afsomali Week! Ka Faa'iidaysta!

Originally posted by Muad: kor u bood! Insha'Allah, ka faa'iidaysta intaan laydiinku Tukan!

Originally posted by Baashi: Nuune, there is no such thing as an “objective†media. It is a common knowledge that media are owned and run by subjective and unsanctified men. Here in America, there are liberals, conservatives, libertarians, and religious right journalists. There are all kinds of special interests pushing their views in so many different ways. Ethics of journalism, the need of having more than one anonymous source, competition, public opinion, watchdog groups, and other checks and balances is what makes them look an objective media. Somalis are no different. Each website is run by interest group (sub-clans masquerading as city/region hence the name). Apart from the meager income they got from advertising, which is hardly enough to cover the expenses, they don’t make money at all. No one pays them. Therefore what these websites do is filter information through the sieve of their regions' caano miir and repackage it in a way that’s favorable to their audience. There are exceptions, of course. By and large though, they act as if they are spin masters operating from “war room†of one of the political contestants. For instance, Gedi’s participation in what is professional gathering (veterinary organs of all nations represented by low level departmental heads) is now depicted as state visit. The TFG's utter failure to implement the reconciliation agenda it supposed to jumpstart is totally ignored. What you read, depending on from which site, is which faction of TFG has legal legs to stand. The Mogadishu security problem and unilateral invitation of FTs by Nairobi faction despite the objections of most powerful warlords whose participation of the Nairobi conference was very critical to the formation of the TFG is lost in the cheerleading analysis. Ms. Edna’s personal trip (uninvited) to US is reported as being official trip. The highlight of that report is when she waves her “stamped passport†to jubilant crowd who can’t even see the authenticity of the said document. Yet, we have dedicated nomads that we can count on to post these “events†as they happen. The good thing about this is that no one has a monopoly over information. The days when SONNA, Ogaal, and Xidigta October dictated what is news and what is not are over. From what seems chaotic, biased, and sporadic media outlet, will become in due time a balanced, business minded and experienced media power houses constrained by public opinion and ethics of journalism. There will be money to be made, genuine public service to be advanced, public opinions to be considered, etc. All these will happen when the state reclaims its legitimacy, peace prevails, normalcy returns, and journalism becomes respected profession in which its practitioners are compelled to get their credentials from a respected accredited institution. Today, because of the nature of disunity, mistrust, political animosity between various groups, and fragmented Somali communities, there are people (majority) who find these spinner “makeshift freelancers†very useful and trustworthy. Therefore, these websites are popular and they do have sizable audiences. The only sensible to do is to try to distinguish national news from local, political from non-political, and commentary from facts. For instance, the Gedi’s trip is factual whereas the significance of this trip is subjective and depending what news outlet is reporting, one can know whether the site is pro-TFG Nairobi faction or pro-TFG Mogadishu faction! In other words, critical eye is what is needed here. excatly - that is what gives me hope! even tho i can't help but laugh at some of these sites, in due time, Insha'Allah, the more media the state has, the better the balance of power!

Jazakallah Khair; Akhi Nur Allow noo barakee waxaad na siisay, kana yeel waxaannu u adeegsanno hoggaansanaantaada, Amiin q__|___| |_.

Asalaamu Alaykum to succeed in this task, what we need most is a positive mental attitude - which we can only gain from Iman and Taqwa[trust in Allah(swt), his Qadr]. 'Allah will suffice for us; He is sufficient.'

Warsameh - enough with your deceats please! can you stick your questions/ on the Islam-Christianity Forum! Wa'Salaam!

a treasure - masha'allah! keep it raining BOB!

Asalaamu Alaykum, fellow Mumins, this weeks piece deals with : How to be free from anxiety Insha'Allah i hope it is helpful in your journey to self-purificatin! The Treatment To Be Given To Souls And The Reform of Vicious Characters Imam Ibn Hazm In Pursuit of Virtue (Al Akhlaq Was Siyar Fi Mudawat Al Nufus) M. Abu Laylah © 1990 Ta Ha Publishers In the name of Allah the most merciful and clement: [O Allah I implore your assistance, O Allah bless Muhammad and his family and grant them peace.] Abd Muhammad 'Ali Ibn Ahmad Ibn Sa'id Ibn Hazm [the Andalusian jurist]. Allah may be blessed with him has said: 1. Praise be to Allah for His great gifts. May Allah bless [our master] Muhammad, His servant, the seal of His Prophets and Messengers; may He grant them eternal blessings. I rely on Him for any ability and strength I may have, and I seek His aid and protection against all the various terrors and ills of this world. And may He deliver me from all horror and suffering in the next world. 2. Now, I have gathered together in this book numerous ideas which Allah, the provider of intellect, has enabled me to profit from as day succeeded day, [and year succeeded year] and circumstances altered, permitting me to understand the vicissitudes of fate and to control its fluctuations, to the extent that I have devoted the larger part of my life to it. I have chosen to master these problems by study and contemplation, rather than throw myself into the various sensual pleasures which attract most souls on this earth, and rather than amass unnecessary wealth. I have gathered together all my observations into this book in the hope that the Almighty may allow it to benefit whichever of His servants He wishes who has access to [is capable of understanding] my book, in the matters over which I have slaved, devoting all my efforts to them and reflecting at length upon them. I hope that it will be well received, and I present it with good intentions and blessings [with a good heart]. This book will benefit a person more than financial treasures and the possession of property, if he meditates upon it, and if Allah enables him to make good use of it. As for myself, my hope in this enterprise is to win the greatest reward from Allah, since my intention is to help His servants, to remedy whatever is corrupt in their character, and to heal the sickness of their souls. I beseech the assistance of Allah [Almighty, we wish only for God, the best of defenders]. Section dealing with the Treatment to be given to Souls, and the Reform of Vicious Characters. 3. The pleasure which a prudent man has from his own good sense, a scholar from his knowledge, a wise man from his wisdom, the pleasure of anyone who works hard in ways pleasing to Almighty God, is greater than the pleasure which a gourmet has from his food, a drinking man from his tipple, a lover from the act of love, a conqueror from his conquest, a reveller from his amusements [the player from his game] or a commander from giving orders. The proof of this is that the wise man, the prudent man, the scholar,' the practising Muslim and all those that we have mentioned are capable of enjoying these pleasures as much as the man who indulges in them. They have the same feelings, desires as those who hasten to satisfy them. But they have deliberately refrained and turned away from them, preferring to seek after moral excellence. None can judge these two [kinds of pleasure] except someone who has known both, not someone who has known one and not the other. 4. [As things happen one after the other] If you look deeply into worldly matters you will become melancholy and will end by reflecting upon the ephemeral nature of everything here below, and the fact that truth lies only in striving for the hereafter, since every ambition to which you might cling will end in tears; either the goal is snatched from you, or you have to give the attempt up before you reach it. One of these two endings is inevitable except in the search for God the Almighty and Powerful. Then the result is always joy, both immediate and eternal. The immediate joy is because you stop worrying about the things which usually worry people; this leads to an increase in the respect paid to you by friends and enemies alike. The eternal joy is the joy of Paradise. 5. I have tried to find one goal which everyone would agree to be excellent and worthy of being striven after. I have found one only: to be free from anxiety. When I reflected upon it, I realized that not only do all agree in valuing it and desiring it, but I also perceived that, despite their many different passions and aspirations and preoccupations and desires, they never make the slightest gesture unless it is to dispel anxiety, they never utter a single word unless it is designed to drive anxiety far away. One man loses his way, another comes close to going wrong, finally another is successful - but he is a rare man, and. success is rare, [O, all-knowing God]. Dispelling anxiety is a goal upon which all nations agree from the time when the Almighty created the world until the day when this world will pass away and be followed by the Day of Judgment - and their actions are directed to this goal alone. In the case of every other objective there will always be some people who do not desire it. For example, some people are not religious and do not take eternity into account. There are some who by nature and inclination prefer obscurity to fame [the obscurity of satisfied passion]. There are some people of evil nature who are not striving for good, for peace [loyalty] or for justice. There are some who have no interest in amassing a fortune, preferring abstinence to ownership; this was the case with many of the Prophets. God's peace be upon them - and those who followed their example, ascetics and philosophers. There are some who by nature dislike sensual pleasures and scorn those who seek after them, such as those men we have just mentioned, and who prefer to lose a fortune rather than gain one. Some prefer ignorance to knowledge, in fact most of the people that you see in the street are like this. These are the objectives of people who have no other aim in life. Nobody in the whole world, from the time of its creation until its end, would deliberately choose anxiety, and would not desire to drive it far away. 6. When I had arrived at this great piece of wisdom, when I had discovered this amazing secret, when Allah the Almighty had opened the eyes of my mind [spirit] to see this great treasure, I began to search for the way which would truly enable me to dispel anxiety, that precious goal desired by every kind of person, whether ignorant or scholarly, good or evil. I found it in one place alone, in the action of turning towards God the Almighty and powerful, in pious works performed with an eye to eternity. 7. Thus the only reason that someone chases after riches is to dispel the anguish of poverty. The only reason that someone seeks fame is to dispel the anxiety of seeing someone else outdo him. The only reason that someone chases after pleasures is to dispel the anxiety of missing them. The only reason that someone chases after knowledge is to dispel the anxiety of being ignorant about something. People enjoy listening to other people's conversation and gossip only because it dispels the anxiety of being alone and isolated. People eat, drink, make love, wear clothes, play games, build a shelter, mount a horse, go for a walk, only in order to avoid the reverse of all these actions and every other kind of anxiety. 8. In all the actions listed here, anyone who pauses to reflect will see that anxieties will inevitably occur, such as problems which arise in the course of the action, the impossibility of performing the impossible, the fleeting nature of any achievements, and the inability to enjoy something because of some difficulty. There are also bad consequences which arise from every success: fear of one's rival, attacks by the jealous, theft by the covetous, loss to an enemy, not to mention criticism, sin and such things. On the other hand, I have found that actions performed with an eye on eternity are free from every kind of fault, free from every stain, and a true means of dispelling anxiety. I have found that the man who is striving for eternity may be sorely tested by bad fortune on his way but does not worry; on the contrary, he is glad, because the trial to which he is subjected gives rise to hope, which aids him in his endeavour and sets him the more firmly on the path towards his true desire. I have found that, when he finds his way blocked by an obstacle, he does not worry, because it is not his fault, and he did not choose the actions that he will have to answer for. I have seen such a man be glad, when others have wished evil upon him, and be glad when he has undergone some trial, and be glad when he has suffered on his chosen path, and be glad, always [living] in a permanent state of joy while others are permanently the opposite. You should therefore understand that there is only one objective to strive for, it is to dispel anxiety; and only one path leads to this, and that is the service of the most high God. Everything else is misguided and absurd. 9. Do not use your energy except for a cause more noble than yourself. Such a cause cannot be found except in Almighty God Himself: to preach the truth, to defend womanhood, to repel humiliation which your creator has not imposed upon you, to help the oppressed. Anyone who uses his energy for the sake of the vanities of the world is like someone who exchanges gemstones for gravel. 10. There is no nobility in anyone who lacks faith. 11. The wise man knows that the only fitting price for his soul is a place in Paradise. 12. Satan sets his traps, under the cover of finding fault with hypocrisy. It can happen that someone refrains from doing a good deed for fear of being thought a hypocrite. [if Satan whispers such an idea in your ear, take no notice; that will frustrate him.]

Bro Nur, I'll not share much insight...but I'll post a over-view of my personal mission statement! Insha'Allah this my gave the nomads some picture - a road map. My Mission Statement My mission in life is to testify that their is no diety worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. To observe Salah, Give Alms, Fast, and Perform Hajj to the holy city of Makkah. To contribute to Humanity by enjoining good and forbiding wrong. To commite to Tazkiyah in all areas of my life, spritualy, mentaly, physicaly and emotionaly. My Ultimate Purpose My ultimate purpose is to submit all my beliefs, my values, my habbits and goals around Allah's Will. I want to create a life that is totaly aligned to the Source of Infinate knowledge, wisdom and power. To live: to live in the present, relax and enjoy every moment. To Love: to cultivate my relationship with others. to understand before I'm understood. To Learn: to commit to Tazkiyah, personal growth and self-knowledge. To Leave a Legacy: to contribute to the purification of the Ummah and humanity. My Principles, Roles and Values: My Faith - Islam My Identity: Muslim, Mumin, Muhsin My opligations: Shahadah, Salah, Sawm, Zakah, and Hajj. My Mission: Enjoin good, Forbid Wrong, Believe in Allah. My Family Name: Father: Mother: Brothers: Sisters: Family Mission: Family Obligations: My Career - Tazkiyah tul-Ummah House of Wisdom: To educate, to inform and to entertain. Power Virtues * Faith * Courage * Humility * Determination * Primary Question How can I find and appreciate - even more - the pleasures of Allah in this very moment? My Code Of Conduct: I will strive seeking the pleasure of Allah first and foremost I will commit to tazkiyah in all matters of life I will remember sincerity at all times I will increase my knowledge of Islam I will focus upon refinement of the heart and its cure I will seek reward from Allah for all my actions I will observe Salah on time I will give charity even a Smile I will not bargain and compromise with my Deen I will be Proactive, plan and write down my work for tomorrow I will strive to be orderly and well-organized as a person and in my work I will maintain priorities in all my duties I will concentrate all my abilities and efforts on the task in my hands I will focus on what concerns me and concentrate on my circle of influence I will not blame the situation I will not take responsibility for what I am not responsible for, and I will not squander what I am responsible for I will develop my physical and emotional strength I will be joyful, humorous and smiling I will always be positive and constructive I will consult others and defend those who are absent I will first seek to understand then to be understood I will desire success for others I will not take revenge for my own sake I will not get angry for my own sake I will not see for myself a right over others I will listen twice as much as I speak I will beware of errors and benefit from them when I fall in them I know that what befalls me could not have missed me and what missed me could not have befallen me; I will take my soul to account and be open with it; I view that retracting from error is from one's self-confidence and will work on correcting my errors I do not imagine that anyone is safe from harms of others, so I will save my energy and time from busying with others and their talks (when it doesn't benefit me), and their talk will not matter to me except what is beneficial or what deals with correction of shortcomings.