Content about Al Islam

May 10, 2013

A well-known tradition of the Holy Last Messenger Muhammad ibn Abdullah, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, enjoins Muslims to ‘seek knowledge even unto China’ in their quest to acquire the knowledge to live enlightened lives as cultured and educated servants of the Almighty Creator, fulfilling their obligations to Him, society and family. Although China was considered a great distance from where Al Islam was originally established in Arabia, the Arabs had knowledge of China even before the advent of the Holy Last Messenger ( peace and blessing be upon him), as Arabia served as a major highway for commercial traffic between it, China and the countries of Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Cypress and parts of southern Turkey.

The historian Sir Arnold Thomas Walker, in his detailed work entitled The Preaching of Islam, describes the arrival and spread of Islam in China. At the start of the 7th century, a trade hub was established by Chinese merchants in Siraf, a town on the Persian Gulf, frequented by the traders of Arabia and Persia. Yet, the commercial contact also introduced the Chinese to the culture and mores of the Arabs, and eventually to the new way of life that was reforming the Arabian Peninsula - Al Islam.

Between the sixth and ninth centuries, C.E., during the Tang dynasty, the Arabs and Persians found the trade so lucrative that they took up residence in many of China’s port cities, where they conducted their business in perfect harmony with their host counterparts. Eventually, the numbers of immigrants increased dramatically, in a flow that seemed to inundate certain areas. Chinese historians of this period, Mr.Walker stated, mention the Arabs (Muslims) in their writings, in one instance describing them as ‘barbarians’ who arrived in their land ‘like a deluge (flood)’, coming from great distances and from “more than 100 kingdoms, bringing as tribute their sacred books, which were received and deposited in the hall set apart for translations of sacred and canonical books in the Imperial Palace.” It is stated that during this time, religious diversity was appreciated and respected.

The Annals of Kwangtung (Canton ), recount the first Muslims who came to China, describing them as ‘strangers’ who came from ‘Annan, Cambodia, Medina, and several other countries, who worshipped heaven (i.e. Almighty God) and had neither statue, idol nor image in their temples…They do not eat pork or drink wine and they regard as unclean the flesh of any animal not killed [by] themselves…” Muslim and Chinese historians as well, give an account of a delegation of emissaries of the third Khalifa of Islam, Umar ibn Al-Khattab, (may Allah be pleased with him). This entourage was led by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) , a maternal uncle of the Holy Last Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, and were well received by the emperor, who commissioned the building of the Memorial Mosque in Canton, the first mosque in the country. The Muslim enclave imported their way of life, i.e., their cultural trappings, language and dress, and lived apart from the Chinese population. Between the years 960 and 1279 C.E., Muslims had become very influential and prosperous in the import/export industry in China, and the numbers of Muslims continued to increase due to immigration of people from other lands, intermarriage, and conversion of native Chinese to Islam. During the era of the Yuan dynasty, the Mongol conquests carried Islam throughout distant places and resulted in the forced migration of vast numbers of Muslims from broadly diverse places and ethnicities (Arabs, Persians, Turks and others) with the intention by the government to use their skills and services to administer the expanding empire.

The vast influx of people constituted merchants, artisans, artists, architects, engineers, medical doctors and astronomers, as well as soldiers and prisoners of war, and settlers who, by the hundreds of thousands, became permanently settled, developing into flourishing and proliferating communities.

Over time, intermixing blended ethnicities and homogenized the population; through marriage, the Muslims passed down the Islamic religion and culture, which continued down generations.

As the Mongols ruled China, many Muslims held prominent positions within the government hierarchy , one such being Umar Shams al-Din (Sayyid Ajall of Bukhara) an accountant under Qubilay Khan, who reigned during the Yuan Dynasty from 1259 to 1368, who became financial manager of Imperial funds and governor of Yunnan, along with a number of other Muslims who were appointed to lofty positions. He was held in high esteem as a pious administrator who promoted religious fairness. Yet, the native Chinese, in time, began to resent that fact of immigrants (and particularly Muslims) holding such high offices, discontent that would fuel the desire to recover the control of China from the Mongols.

Marco Polo of Italy, close friend of Qubilay Khan, lived in China for nearly twenty years, and reported that Muslims lived throughout Yunnan, and noted that the entire capital city of Yunnan, Taifu, was inhabited by Muslims. The renowned Muslim traveler Ibn Battutah visited several Chinese coastal towns and expressed in his travelogue his elation at being shown such a ‘hearty welcome’ by his Muslim hosts, reporting that in each town, the Muslims resided in their own ‘quarter’ where their mosques were located and they freely practiced Islam.

With the decline and expulsion of the remnants of the Mongol dynasty in the latter years of the 14th century, and the isolationist policy adopted by China at that time, Muslim communities experienced lack of growth and expansion. Having been cut off from dealings with other Muslims outside of China, the Muslims in some parts of the country began to adopt many of the cultural and customary mores of their hosts and merged with the Chinese population, producing an amalgamation of the two cultures.

The new emperor of the Ming dynasty extended privilege upon these Muslims which promoted prosperity during the period between 1369 and the middle of the 16th century C.E., a sign of which was the construction of a great number of mosques. The emperors of the Ming dynasty developed amiable relations with the Muslim rulers to the west of their empire, and as Walker states, ‘there was frequent exchange of embassies between them.’ He continues to give an account of one Chinese Muslim ruler, Shah Rukh Bahadur, who sent an invitation to the Emperor to accept Islam when his ambassador arrived at Shah Rukh Bahadur’s court in Samarqand. He sent his envoy, who accompanied the Chinese ambassador back to China, with two letters, one of which was written in Arabic. The letter read as follows: “ In the name of God, The Merciful, The Compassionate. There is no god save God; Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Apostle of God. The apostle of God, Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “ There shall not cease to be in my community people abiding in the commandments of God: whosoever fails to help them or opposes them shall never prosper until the Commandment of the Lord cometh. When the Most High God proposed to create Adam and his race, He said ‘I was a Hidden Treasure, but it was My pleasure to become known; I therefore created man that I might be known.’ It is manifest from hence, that The Divine purpose (great is His Power and exalted is His Word!) in the creation of man was to make Himself known and uplift the banners of right guidance and faith. Wherefore, He sent His Apostle (peace be upon him) with guidance and the religion of Truth that it might prevail over all other faiths, though the polytheists turn away from it, that He might make known the laws and ordinances and the observances of what is lawful and unlawful, and He gave him the Holy Qur’an miraculously that thereby, he might put to silence the unbelievers and stop their mouths when they discussed and disputed with him, and by His Perfect Grace and His All-Pervading Guidance, He has caused it to remain even unto the Day of Judgment. By His Power He has established in all ages and times and in all parts of the world, in east and west, and in China, a mighty monarch, lord of great armies and authority, to administer justice and mercy and spread the wings of peace and security over the heads of men; to enjoin upon them righteousness and warn them against evil and disobedience and lift up among them the banners of the noble religion...The Most High God thus disposes our hearts by His past mercies and His ensuing Grace to strive for the establishing of the laws of pure religion and the continuance of the ordinances of the shining path. He also bids us administer justice to our subjects in all suits and cases in accordance with the religion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the ordinances of the Chosen One, and build mosques and colleges and monasteries and hermitages and places of worship, that the teaching of the sciences and school of learning may not cease nor the memorials and injunctions of religion be swept away. Seeing that the continuance of worldly prosperity and dominion, and the permanence of authority and rule depend upon the assistance given to Truth and Righteousness and the extirpation of the evils caused by idolatry and unbelief from the earth, in the expectation of blessing and reward, we, therefore, hope that your Majesty and the nobles of your realm will agree with us in these matters and join us in strengthening the foundation of the established law.”

The second letter, written in Persian, made a very direct, simple appeal: “ The Most High God, having in the depth of His Wisdom and the perfection of His Power, created Adam (peace be upon him),made some of his sons prophets and apostles and sent them among men to summon them to the Truth. To certain of these prophets, such as Abraham, Moses, David, and Muhammad (peace be upon them) He gave a Book and taught a Law, and He bade the people of their time follow the law and religion of each of them. All these apostles invited men to faith in the Unity and to the worship of [Almighty] God and forbade the adoration of the sun, moon, stars, of kings and idols; and though each one of these apostles had a separate law, yet, they were all agreed in the doctrine of the Unity of The Most High God. At length, when the apostolic and prophetic office devolved on the Apostle Muhammad Mustafa (peace and blessing be upon him) all other systems of law were abrogated. He was the apostle and the prophet of the latter age, and it behooves the whole world – lords and kings and ministers, rich and poor, small and great – to observe his law and forsake all past creeds and laws. This is the true and perfect faith and is called Islam.” The writer, the Muslim ruler Shah Rukh Bahadur, continued by relating the evolution of his ancesters , descendents of Ghengis Khan and relatives who came before him and how they had dispersed to varied lands where they assumed rule of the people of those places. He stated that some of them accepted Islam – Uzbek Khan, Chani Khan and Urus Khan. Hulaga Khan was given command over Khurasan, Iraq and the neighboring countries, and some of his sons who succeeded him received into their hearts the light of the law of Muhammad (peace be upon him) becoming Muslims and being honored with the blessedness of Al Islam, departed this world eventually. He continued by naming closer relatives of his – ‘the truthful king Ghazan and Ulyaytu Sultan and the fortunate king Abu Sa’id Bahadur, until my honored father, Amir Timur Gurgan, succeeded the throne. He too observed the law of Muhammad (peace be upon him)in all the countries under his rule, and throughout his reign the followers of the faith of Islam enjoyed prosperity. Now that by the goodness and favor of [Almighty] God , this kingdom of Khurasan, Iraq, Ma-wara’al nahr has passed into my hands, the administration is carried on throughout the whole kingdom in accordance with the pure law of the Prophet (peace be upon him)’ righteousness is enjoined and wrong forbidden, and the Yarghu and institutes of Chingiz (Ghengiz) Khan have been abolished... I hope that by the bounty and benevolence of God you too will observe the law of Muhammad, the Apostle of God (peace be upon him) and strengthen the religion of Islam so that you may exchange the transitory sovereignty of this world for the sovereignty of the world to come.”

A Muslim merchant named Sayyid Ali Akbar wrote that at the end of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth century he spent time in Peking and stated that in the city of Kenjanfu there were as many as 30,000 Muslim families settled there: “…they paid no taxes and enjoyed the favor of the Emperor, who gave them grants of land; they enjoyed complete toleration for the exercise of their religion, and in the capital itself there were four great mosques and about ninety more in the other provinces of the empire – all erected at the cost of the Emperor.” It is recorded that the Muslims in China lived there peacefully until the reign of the Manchu dynasty, when they were oppressed in the province of Kansu in 1648 and a revolt ensued. However, Walker states that not until the nineteenth century did any Muslim revolt in China result in seriously disrupting the good relations that the Muslims enjoyed with the Chinese Emperors, to the extent that the Emperor Yung Chen, in 1771, issued an edict stating that the Chinese Muslims were to be left alone, permitted full exercise of their religion and culture, which coincided with and respected the tradition and law of China - he stated, “ What more can be asked for?

May 9, 2013

Manufacturing Terrorists

Imagine a country in which the government pays convicted con artists and criminals to scour minority religious communities for disgruntled, financially desperate, or mentally ill patsies who can be talked into joining fake terrorist plots, even if only for money. Imagine that the country’s government then busts its patsies with great fanfare to justify ever-increasing authority and ever-increasing funding. According to journalist Trevor Aaronson’s The Terror Factory, this isn’t the premise for a Kafka novel; it’s reality in the post- 9/11 United States.

The Terror Factory is a well-researched and fast-paced exposé of the dubious tactics the FBI has used in targeting Muslim Americans with sting operations since 2001. The book updates and expands upon Aaronson’s award-winning 2011 Mother Jones cover story “The Informants.” Most readers likely have heard about several alleged conspiracies to attack skyscrapers, synagogues, or subway stations, involving either individuals whom the FBI calls “lone wolves” or small cells that a credulous press has tagged with such sinister appellations as the Newburgh 4 or the Liberty City 7. But they may be astonished to learn that many of these frightening plots were almost entirely concocted and engineered by the FBI itself, using corrupt agent provocateurs who often posed a far more serious criminal threat than the dimwitted saps the investigations ultimately netted.

In addition to offering leniency, if not forgiveness, for heinous crimes, the FBI pays these informants tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, creating a perverse incentive for them to ensnare dupes into terrorist plots. Aaronson quotes an FBI official defending this practice: “To catch the devil you have to go to hell.”

Such an analysis might make sense when police leverage one criminal to gain information about more-serious criminal conspiracies—in other words, to catch a real “devil.” But Aaronson’s research reveals that the targets in most of these sting operations posed little real threat. They may have had a history of angry anti-government rhetoric, but they took no steps toward terrorist acts until they received encouragement and resources from government agents.

Aaronson correctly takes pains to avoid portraying those caught in the stings as completely innocent of malice. But he demonstrates that they almost universally lack violent criminal histories or connections to real terrorist groups. Most important, while they may have talked about committing violent acts, they rarely had weapons of their own and, usually lacked the financial means to acquire them. Yet the government provided them with military hardware worth thousands of dollars that would be extremely difficult for even sophisticated criminal organizations to obtain, only to bust them in a staged finale.

This aspect of Aaronson’s narrative is most troubling to me, as a former FBI agent who worked undercover in domestic terrorism investigations before 9/11. Prior to September 11, 2001, if an agent had suggested opening a terrorism case against someone who was not a member of a terrorist group, who had not attempted to acquire weapons, and who didn’t have the means to obtain them, he would have been gently encouraged to look for a more serious threat. An agent who suggested giving such a person a stinger missile or a car full of military-grade plastic explosives would have been sent to counseling. Yet in Aaronson’s telling, such techniques are now becoming commonplace.

My concern is partly that the artificially inflated scale of the threats seem designed to overwhelm judges, jurors, and the general public, who might otherwise view such methods as illegal entrapment. The FBI often announces these arrests with great fanfare, highlighting the scope of the damage that could have been caused by weapons provided entirely by the government. Such pretrial publicity creates a climate of fear that is likely to influence judges and jurors.

Even more unsettling is the flawed reasoning that drives the use of these methods. FBI agents have been inundated with bigoted training materials that falsely portray Arabs and Muslims as inherently violent. The FBI also has embraced an unfounded theory of “radicalization” that alleges a direct progression from adopting certain beliefs, or expressing opposition to U.S. policies, to becoming a terrorist. With such a skewed and biased view of the American Muslim community, the FBI’s strategy of “preemption, prevention, and disruption” results in abusive surveillance, targeting, and exploitation of innocent people based simply on their exercise of their First Amendment rights.

Without reforms to FBI guidelines, anyone holding unorthodox views or challenging government policies could find himself targeted by overzealous federal agents using unscrupulous informants. The FBI should be investigating violent crime, not inventing it.

- Ecerpts from an article by Michael German of the ACLU

August 25, 2012

Mali: Reviving Al Islam, Remembering Their Allah

West Africa is rich with the heritage of the Sahabah Karam, the blessed companions of the Holy Last Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him), and Awliya and Sufiya - those who are loved by Almighty God due to their tireless worship, selfless service and spiritual purity. Mali is the home of Timbuktu, the city that was once the premier center of Islamic scholarship, knowledge, and learning in Africa. The people are warm and friendly; they welcomed us into their community.

The International Qur’anic Open University (IQOU) launched the Mali Health and Development Initiative in 2011, sending a team of American personnel to offer medical and educational assistance to the West African nation troubled with poverty, illiteracy, disease and high mortality rates. Upon arrival, the team opened the Qadri Islamic Centre in Kalaban Coura, Bamako with the goal of coming together with the Malian people to eradicate pre-Islamic practices of sorcery and paganism that have appeared in their customs by promoting Islamic education and following the best example of all creation, the Holy Last Messenger Muhammad, peace be upon him. A member of the delegation, Anisa Mahdi A. Sabur, blogs on their experiences:

Prior to my departure, one of my senior mentors said to me, “We donned the Gele, the Dashiki and embraced our African heritage, but it was not until His Eminence Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani came and taught us Al Islam and groomed us in its culture and decorum that we were ready to return!” Allah be praised!

However, after being in Bamako, the capital of Mali, for a month, and seeing beyond our happiness at being reunited with our culture and ancestry, we noticed the waning practice of Islam among the people. And now, we are humbled and privileged to be a part of reviving and strengthening true deen (Islamic way of life) among the descendants of our very own forebears.

Some of the women have come to visit the newly established Qadri Islamic Centre to learn their salaat- the prayers every Muslim must perform at five times during the day, in Arabic. They also request help in learning the Names of Allah, The Almighty Creator, learning Darood Sharif ( a special invocation asking The Almighty to send blessing upon the Holy Last Messenger, peace be upon him) and just to talk about Allah and His Nabi, peace be upon him, expressing love for him. Also, the Dalaa’il-- Khairaat (another famous invocation proclaiming the sublime status and laudable attributes of the Holy Last Messenger - peace be upon him) is available and is revered.

Allah has given Mali great abundance in natural resources: gold, valued in the billions of dollars, leaves the country daily. It is one of the biggest - if not the biggest - exporter of beef in the region, as well as of cotton. There is also cloth, known throughout the continent for its beauty and quality, that only can be found in Mali. I have seen the men making it by hand – the process is intriguing.

Despite these riches, many of the people live in squalor- the result of hundreds of years of colonialism, which robbed Mali of much of its autonomy, natural wealth, and ravaged their integrity and spirit.The tragic effects of material and psychological poverty, filth and trash are everywhere. Lack of self-esteem and apathy is sadly reflected in the deplorable conditions, which have apparently been accepted by some of the Malian people. The fact that many have lost or given up their true belief and faith in Almighty God (regardless of whether they had adopted Islam or Christianity) is apparent in their yoke of sociological oppression and absence of remembrance of Allah.

The average life expectancy of Malian people is 47 due to malaria and their inability to pay for mundane healthcare and the incapability of their government to care.

In the city, a few of the women cover themselves according to the Islamic code of dress, and for the most part, it is the older women that wear the large chaddar draped around them. The majority of the women do not cover properly and many of the youth sport western apparel, especially the males; the young women wear hair weaves (synthetic hair woven into the real hair, which is unlawful for Muslims), wigs, and heavy makeup. As our Holy Last Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) related, and our honorable and perfect Imam, El Sheikh Gilani , has taught us: when you dress like a people, you act like the people you emulate.

At the other end of the spectrum, we were shown pictures of the family village of Mahmoud, a member of the IQOU delegation, where Deen (Islam as a way of life) is practiced in letter and spirit. It is very clean and the women and men are covered. I imagined this is what things looked like during the days of the Sahabah Karam in Mali. The faces of the people are bright and healthy looking - a striking contrast to the condition and appearance of the city and its people.

Fridays and Mondays are honored days here in Mali, where the lovers dress up and fast - an act done for spiritual purification which augments the worshipper’s love for Almighty God. Friday is the day of special congregational prayers for Muslims, and before dispersing, more Muslims - in Mali and worldwide - are taking time to commemorate the immense blessing conferred upon mankind in the mission and message of Syedina Muhammad Mustapha, peace and blessings be upon him, called the ‘mercy to all the worlds’ by Allah in the Holy Qur’an.

As His Eminence El Sheikh Gilani has taught - when sending greetings of peace upon Nabi Muhammad on Fridays, he returns the greeting (felt by the heart); and loving him and his family is a means to obtain the love and mercy of Almighty God and a means for his benevolence and intercession. May Allah, The Most Exalted, revive the people of Mali for their love of HIS Beloved - endless peace and blessing be upon him! Amin.

August 25, 2012

Silver Jubilee Anniversary of Ladies Summer Program

The 25th Silver Jubilee Banaatun Noor Ladies Summer Program, held from June 2nd to July 8th, in the tranquil Muslim village of Holy Islamville, in York, South Carolina, was the culmination of the adventure of the rustic camping experience, the discovery of learning new,. practical and creative life arts and skills and the illuminating spiritual enlightenment that hundreds of ladies have been blessed to experience since the program’s establishment in summer of 1987.

Holy Islamville, South Carolina - The 25th Silver Jubilee Banaatun Noor Ladies Summer Program, held from June 2nd to July 8th, in the tranquil Muslim village of Holy Islamville, in York, South Carolina, was the culmination of the adventure of the rustic camping experience, the discovery of learning new,. practical and creative life arts and skills and the illuminating spiritual enlightenment that hundreds of ladies have been blessed to experience since the program’s establishment in summer of 1987.
Twenty-five years ago, on this very hallowed ground, 75 Muslim ladies of all ages anxiously stood in a semi-circle formation around the front porch of the home of Syeda Najah Qadria (Allah’s mercy be upon her) and Baba Ali Abdur Rasheed. The First Annual Banaatun Noor International (BNI) Ladies Retreat was nearing its close, and the participants excitedly awaited the highlight of that historic, exhilarating and enlightening two-weeks of intensive classes in Islamic religious studies, life of the Holy Last Messenger and the fine arts of Islamic homemaking.
Finally, the telephone signaled that the call that everyone awaited was coming through from the luminary founder of the BNI ladies’ educational programs, the beloved Murshid and “Abu” - His Eminence El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani.
The crystal clarity of the voice of the Imam of Muslims of the Americas and Vice Chancellor of the International Qur’anic Open University evoked the feeling that he was actually in our midst, though in reality being thousands of miles away. His vision to inculcate thorough knowledge of the Islamic way of life and its practical application was realized as the participants studied the Islamic manual of life – the Holy Qur’an, and learned how to benefit from its sublime teachings, and derive maximum guidance and blessing by following its instruction in letter and spirit, as demonstrated by the Holy Last Messenger, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him.
For twenty-five years, His Eminence El Sheikh Gilani has overseen and developed the programs of Banaatun Noor International (translated ‘Ladies of Light’), which has been instrumental in transforming the lives of hundreds of Muslim ladies by providing the keys to true success of this life and the next through comprehensive Islamic Education courses that focus not only on academics, but also on the etiquette and proper conduct expected in life as a daughter, mother, wife, and citizen.
As a direct descendant of the Holy Last Messenger Muhammad, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, El Sheikh Gilani always demonstrated the most distinguished of manners and decorum – that of the sublime character of Nabi Muhammad, peace be upon him, leading the participants of the educational programs for ladies - and the entire community as well- to form a bond of loving emulation of that most excellent example.
During the course of those twenty-five years, the gem-seeds planted by El Sheikh Gilani in this blessed village - the fourth-holiest place in the world - in the establishment of the Jamia Fatimah Mosque and School, and more recently, the Abdul Qadir Gilani Institute of Sufic Sciences, have been incessantly nurtured by his devoted, tireless and loving instruction, mentoring and guidance that has reformed two generations of American Muslims from a state of roughness and ignorance, to a polished, refined and enlightened existence.
His Eminence El Sheikh Gilani has always encouraged the ladies to follow the noble examples of the most blessed women of Islam, who all displayed exceptional courage, diligence in performing their duties, patient perseverance in difficulties, and abiding love and devotion to the Almighty Creator, urging each individual to study their lives and to choose a specific lady to emulate and to then strive to cultivate the honorable qualities she exhibited. .
Unique to this camp, the 70 Silver Jubilee participants were arranged into seven groups, as directed by His Eminence, in order for them to become more familiar with one another by preparing a daily meal and eating together, thereby fostering a cohesive group spirit in their studies and daily activities. Each group adopted the name of one of the pious ladies of our Islamic heritage, with 10 ladies under the banner of each of their respective names: Hazrati Fatimah, the most beloved daughter of the Holy Last Messenger, peace be upon him, Hazrati Khadijah, his first and much-adored wife, the very astute and scholarly Hazrati Aisha, his youngest wife, Hazrati Amina, the pure mother of Nabi Muhammad, peace be upon him, the most generous Hazrati Zainab, Hazrati ‘Asiya, the wife of the Pharoah of Egypt who suffered torture due to her belief in the One Almighty Creator, and Hazrati Maryam, the blessed mother of the Holy Messenger Jesus - may Allah’s peace be upon them all.
The groups remained together during classes, showing concern for the progress and welfare of each other. This fostered community spirit and love between the ladies, reinforced the virtue of self-sufficiency as they learned how to make soap and other toiletries, fruit preserves, clay pottery, and other practical skills; it was a daily reminder to each participant of their charge to choose one of the pious ladies, learn about her, and make her a role model for her own life.
Thus, by the end of this very special retreat, the fortunate ladies of the 25th Silver Jubilee Summer Program, like diamonds, brilliantly reflected the luminescent rays of true light which they gained through the compassionate attention, teaching, lectures and training of His Eminence El Sheikh Gilani throughout the camp’s 5-week duration.
As the participants entered the pavillion for the closing ceremonies, aligned in their groups behind colorful banners embroidered with the names of the most honored heroines of Al Islam, every heart present felt a rush of emotion - proud of their accomplishments, grateful that they were so honored, renewed and emblazoned with the resolve to fulfill their mission.
A ‘Ceremony of Thanks’ was conducted, with the Honorable Khadijah Begum K. Khalil and the Honorable Khadijah A. Raheem expressing, on behalf of Banaatun Noor International, heartfelt thanks to the most important person our lives - His Eminence El Sheikh Syed Mubarik ali Gilani; an exquisite plaque was also presented. The melodious voices of the participants, in songs of tribute to El Sheikh, echoed the love and gratitude of each participant, and the entire community, for the unwavering dedication, sacrifice, and decades of tireless work of His Eminence El Sheikh Gilani to revive the practice of Al Islam throughout the world and infuse love of Almighty Allah, The Exalted and His Holy Last Messenger, peace be upon him, into the hearts of all humanity.

Each participant of the auspicious 25th Silver Jubilee Ladies Program realized deeply their commitment and obligation to utilize and share their newly acquired and refreshed knowledge, and ultimate treasure of wisdom that each heart extracted from the amazing experiences. The tremendous spiritual energy generated by the abundant Mercy, Forgiveness, and absolving Grace our Almighty Creator showered upon them filled their innermost beings with the certitude of His Eternal Presence in the existence of His creatures; verified their understanding of how they must live the Islamic way of life - fully, passionately, joyfully, yet soberly aware that obedience to Almighty Allah, love and emulation of His beloved Holy Last Messenger, doing and enjoining of good, and forbidding and abstaining from evil are the unfailing components of the formula for success in this life of testing and the abiding .reward of the real life hereafter.

April 4, 2012

Al Azhar Islamic Studies Scholars Expose Dr. Tahir Qadri as Imposter, Fake Sheikh and Demand: Prove Your Claims

Of the titles bestowed upon an educated man in the Muslim world, “Sheikh al Islam” is the most respected. This title is neither given frequently nor without merit. In his book, Al-Jawāhir ad-Durar fī Tarjima Sheikh al-Islām Ibn Hajar, Sheikh Shams al-din al-Sakhawi commences with a section defining the terms Sheikh al-Islam, Al-Hafiz, and Al-Muhaddith for the intelligent reader, stating that “Sheikh al Islam, as inferred from its use as a term among the authorities, is a title attributed to that follower of the book of Allah Most High and the example of His Messenger, who possesses the knowledge of the principles of the Science (of Religion), has plunged deep into the different views of the scholars, has become able to extract the legal evidences from the texts, and has understood the rational and the transmitted proofs at a satisfactory level.”

Click here to read part 2: Al Azhar Scholars Continue to Expose Self-Proclaimed Shaykh-ul-Islam Tahir Qadri

We praise Allah, The Aliyy, The Azeem and all glorifications are for Him, Who has created the heavens, the Earth, and all that is in between, and continues to create! We send salawat and salamat upon the Holy Last Messenger, Sayyidina Muhammad Rasul-e-Akram, his family, blessed companions, his Ahli-Bayt, and his followers.The Holy Last Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.” It has been noted that in the history of Al-Islam, most Muslims studied the science of Holy Quran, the science of Hadith and jurisprudence solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and to spread Islam across the globe. They traveled great distances and sacrificed all worldly desires and gains to achieve their objective. Their diligence and persistence in the Islamic sciences only increased their iman (devout faith) and practice of Islam. The knowledge they obtained made them well known all over the ummah as those who were honorable, pious, dignified, humble and truthful.

On the contrary, these days there are those more interested in financial and political gain, so they attend Islamic universities, read a few books, give themselves an honorary title and associate with notable and respected figures in the Muslim world in hopes of gaining popularity and credibility in the eyes of the layperson. Their agendas are maintaining their fame and fortune. To realize this agenda, many tactics are put into motion overtly and covertly, such as funding and support from governments or groups whose mission and aim has nothing to do with Islam, or self-decoration—as mentioned earlier—with various titles and stations that are held dear to the hearts and minds of the Muslims at large.

Sheikh Al-Sakhawi also reports (in his Al-Jawahir ad-Durar) that Imam Al-Dhahabi reported in al-Kashif on the authority of Ibn al-Mubarak: “The only one to carry the title Sheikh al-Islam is Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, radyallahu anhu, who preserved the zakat and fought against the apostates. Know him very well!” Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, who is one of the four great mujtahid imams and a collector of hadith and Imam Burhan al-Din Ali ibn Abu Bakr al-Farghani, who wrote Al-Hidayah, both earned the title Sheikh al Islam. They were the epitome of such an esteemed title.

Al-Sakhawi added that, “At times, this title is given to those who have attained the level of friendship with Allah (Al-Wilāya), and from whom people derive blessings both when they are alive and when they are dead. Similarly, whoever has tread the true path of the People of Islam and has come out unscathed from the folly and ignorance of youth; and whoever has become a living apparatus for others in solving difficulties or winning a struggle, and a refuge in every difficulty: these are the meanings of the word as used by the general public.”

In the past, very few honorable men were given the distinguished title of Sheikh al Islam. With such stringent criterion, how is it possible that any man who sells his iman for worldly gain be allowed to travel the world claiming to be Sheikh al Islam?

We, the Ulema (Islamic scholars) at Al Azhar University, have conducted research on this matter due to the rise of false Imams and Sheikhs. They manipulate and prey on the weak and uneducated Muslims and therefore, we must warn you to keep away from them.

One such individual is Muhammad Tahir, a self-proclaimed Sheikh-ul-Islam and a self-proclaimed member of the Qādiri sufi order, operating under the name “Dr. Tahir ul-Qadri,” and now under the self-nominated title of “Sheikh-ul-Islam Tahir-ul-Qadri”. He is notorious for giving himself titles, and is well known in his country of Pakistan as a fraud. The Pakistani High Court of Lahore has declared him “a liar,” “dishonest,” “hungry and greedy,” and “a person responsible for making dramas”. A High Court verdict still stands against him for which he failed to plea in any court.

Added to his list of offenses, is the dishonor he has brought to the Qadiri Sufi order. He claims to be a member of this distinguished tariqa that enjoins right, forbids wrong and abstains from base and worldly desires. Yet, he violates Islamic Law by misguiding people, and selling his iman for fame and fortune. During Milad-un-Nabi (Peace and blessings of Allah upon him) celebrations in Pakistan, his picture was hanging in every corner of the capital, Islamabad. It has been noticed that he is currently planning a day-long Milad-un-Nabi event on June 3rd, at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York. If indeed, he is truly Sheikh al Islam and a Qadiri Sufi, then he should know using portraits of animate objects and living people as decoration is haram in Al-Islam. Any and every Sheikh (as well as student) of the Qadiri order knows very well that fame and prominence are a poison, the latter being a sign of an impure heart, as mentioned by the Chief of all Sheikhs, Sheikh Abdul-Qadir Al-Gilani (abundant blessings of Allah Ta’ala upon him).

In the article, A Charismatic Leader Transcending Borders of Nations and Religions: Dr. Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri by Mr. M. R. Malik and Mr. Raj Srinivasan, “Dr. Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri was given the title of Sheikh-ul-Islam by several major Islamic institutions and Islamic authorities of this time, because of his great contributions to Islam and the Muslim world.” With all the praise that has been written about him on his websites and in his literature, why have very important facts remained a mystery? Who made him Sheikh al Islam? What qualifications does he possess that warranted these unnamed institutions and authorities to confer upon him the title? Such praiseworthy credentials are worthy of being highlighted and elaborated for the general public to know, just as the case of a board certified surgeon who details his work- and academic-related background & credentials in order to substantiate his validity.

In his web-based biographical resources, we have seen that he has successfully penned nearly 1,000 literary works; however, his name has been assigned to books written by scholars that have spent their entire lifetimes to complete, with a so-called Sharh (explanation, commentary) given by him. Some of the scholars of Hadith, for example, include that of Sheikh-ul-Islam Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani, who compiled the Fath Al-Bari fi Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari, an extensive commentary of the Sahih Al-Bukhari Sharif that took 25 years to complete; that of Imam Abu Zakariya An-Nawawi, who compiled Al-Minhaj bi-Sharh Sahih Muslim, a likewise commentary of the Sahih Muslim; or that of Imam Ahmed ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal, also referred to as Sheikh-ul-Islam Ahmed ibn Hanbal, who compiled and greatly expounded upon his Musnad Ahmed ibn Hanbal. Each one of these blessed men spent a great portion of their life compiling, researching, contemplating, and perfecting these sanctified works, so know that we find it immensely offensive that one would simply assign his name to their hard work and effort, attributing a baseless “commentary” to it. What works has he written exclusively, without plagiarism?

If speaking out against terrorism, suicide bombers and calling for world peace makes one worthy of being called Sheikh al Islam, then millions of Muslims all over the world should hold such a rank. Furthermore, summer camps for Muslim youth and interfaith dialogues have been occurring for decades in other Muslim organizations. Millions of books have been penned by countless scholars, yet, these noble people do not hold the title of Sheikh al Islam, although they are indeed more deserving.

One must ponder a few things. With the heavy presence of anti-Islamic propaganda in the media, why has he remained unscathed and unmentioned? While the vast majority of imams, Sheikhs and charitable organizations are being targeted and labeled “terrorists” by the media, Tahir ul-Qadri is heralded as the advocate for world peace. Media agencies such as BBC News, CNN and CBC News have praised him for his fatwa against terrorism, while ignoring or discrediting the same—if not more detailed ones—from other, more qualified Sheikhs. It is a known fact that these news agencies are run by the Zionists, leading us to our next question: From whom does Tahir ul-Qadri get his funding?

As with all politicians, corrupt leaders and other such exploiters of the human race, one finds multiple flows of financing as a result of self-started organizations, political ties, and memberships. Tahir ul-Qadri is the founder of “Minhaj-ul-Quran,” a global movement—extending both hemispheres—with a large membership base and following. Centers can be found as far east as the Indo-Pakistan region and as far West as America and UK.

Muhammad Tahir is credited with being the founder and chairman of the Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT), founded in 1989. In 1991, PAT and the Tehreek-e-Nifas Fiqh-e-Jafria, a Shiite political group, now known as “Tehrik-e-Jafria” signed a “Communique of Unity” in order to promote social and religious harmony. While this appears to be in the right direction for parties to work together, the political agenda became more and more apparent over time. In the course of his political career, his established ties with Shi’a political groups in Pakistan became more for the sake of political fame and advancement.

To appear politically liberal, he made deals with the Shi’a masses and started giving lectures in their mosques, Islamic centers, and schools; giving speeches on the Ahlul-Bayt (radiyallahu anhum), declaring that Shi’a and Sunni are the same, with flowery speeches, etc. Yet in this period, he never gave a single speech in Shi’a gatherings—predominately Rawafid—refuting or addressing their objections and blasphemies against the Sahaba Ikram and the Ummahat-ul-Mu’mineen (radiyallahu anhum). During that era, he earned good financial support from the Shi’a community in Pakistan and enjoyed heavy funding from Iran, who directly supports the Shi’a political groups in Pakistan.

We wish to know what agreement, whether open or private, Tahir ul-Qadri, a Pakistani born in Jhang, has made with Iran, who is an enemy of Pakistan that has focused a lot of energy and funds in the spread of Shi’a doctrine to the Southeast Asian region? With the current sectarian violence that is exchanging in Pakistan, this will increase only to ultimately result in a disastrous civil war. As political fiascos are unfolding in relation to the country of Iran, we find it alarming that he is reaping benefit from world events.

Muslims are to take heed of this warning given concerning this individual, and should also demand substantiation for his claims to titles and positions amongst the Shuyukh of the Qadiri order—a very high-level spiritual order known not only for its staunch adherence to Islamic principles, but also as defenders and preservers of Al-Islam. From his organizations’ websites, we find his alignment made with that of the current Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Al-Sheikh Ahmed Muhammad Al-Tayyab, yet neither Jami’a Al-Azhar, nor the Shuyukh within here, have conferred upon him the prestigious title of Sheikh al-Islam. In addition, he has neither earned by way of scholastic accomplishment, nor been otherwise authorized to don the Azhari Emama (white turban upon the red tarbush) that signifies successful completion of the academic rigors of our illustrious university.

Since being exposed by the Pakistani High Courts for the fraud he is, Tahir ul-Qadri is attempting to transfer his operations across the Atlantic to North America where he hopes to prey upon unsuspecting Muslims who know very little or nothing at all about him. Since America is not an Islamic state, it has been riddled in the past with deviants who have launched efforts at the exploitation of Muslim masses, which could not have been successful in those countries where Muslims are the majority and some form of Islamic laws were in place. Furthermore, such deviant individuals have abused the freedoms granted by The United States of America to establish a platform for their perversions and other such self-centered agendas, knowing that no Islamic recourse for their corruption and criminal behavior can take place on American soil.

American-born Azhari scholars, Amir Mujahid and Hassan Ali Qadri, have stated, “We are determined to banish him from our beloved country and we also warn Muslims—and all other God-fearing Americans—not to be fooled by his rhetoric, highly-funded egotism, fraudulent credentials, and non-existent associations.” The descendants of Ghaus al-A’zam and shuyukh of the Qadiri order have disowned Tahir ul-Qadri and said, “American Muslims must stay away from him.”

We have found that he has aligned himself with that of the illustrious Shuyukh of the Qadiri Silsilah, implying being capable of accepting Bay’ah - an eternal allegiance; yet, the head of the Qadiri order and the Gilani family, Al-Sheikh Sayyid Mubarik Ali Al-Gilani, has rejected him as incapable of being a competent guide, and thus branded him as “a fake Sheikh,” whom Al-Sheikh Sultan Bahu (Allah bless him) deems, “a death to a Talib (student).” It is also demanded to know why Tahir-ul-Qadri is spending so much money and effort to project himself, especially via pictures of himself and other forms of image-building, all of which are heavily frowned upon by the Qadiri order, and all of the competent Shuyukh and students that connect themselves with Al-Sheikh Abdul-Qadir Al-Gilani (rahmatullahi alaih).

If his claim is valid, then we, the Ulema at Al Azhar, demand that his proof be produced to us and we will present it to our Sheikh at Jami’ah Al Azhar Sharif. Furthermore, we state directly to Mr. Tahir-ul-Qadri: “If your sincere intention is to educate the Muslims, extend charity to those in need, and uplift the condition of the humanity, you should more appropriately return to your homeland of Pakistan, for Islam has died there, and there are millions of people in need. We will neither allow you to come to North America and create a bad name for Al-Islam and Muslims, undermining their past efforts and sacrifices, nor bring your political strife that you have caused in Pakistan to our shores.”

February 6, 2011

Black Magic Responsible for Needles Found Inside Brazilian Toddler

Medical doctors in Brazil remain baffled as to how metal sewing needles were placed inside the body of another two-year old boy from Brazil, with zero evidence of digestion and no signs of an entry wound on the outside of his body. El Sheikh Syed Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, founder of the El Gilani Methodology (EGM), an innovative method of spiritual therapy and healing, said the rising cases all over the world are a clear sign of the practicing of occultism. “These needles were not swallowed. This is black magic and has become common now in villages of India, Columbia and Brazil”, says El Sheikh Gilani.

December 1, 2009

The Heart of Holy Quran

Sura Ya Seen is a very blessed, powerful, and effective Sura of Holy Quran, which reminds one of the goodness of this world and the Hereafter.

Anyone can pick up something and go through it, but very few people have paid attention to the way I will invite all of you toward Sura Ya Seen, elaborating on its background, its purpose, its message, guidance, warning, and the wisdom which is contained therein.