Road to Jannah

So random topic….  Remember that story about the country mouse and the city mouse and how they one day exchange places and hate everything about the other’s life, then return home realizing they actually had it really good? That was a good story and a good lesson! I think I want to write a story about the poor mouse versus the rich mouse though!

Recently, I heard yet again someone tell me they want to “renounce the dunya and live ascetic lives like the sahaba”. Ohkayyyy… I still remember asking one young brother in our community what he was looking for in a spouse and he said “a sister that doesn’t want any dunya and wants to live a very poor simple life”. Hmmmm… ok. Mostly I hear this from young suburban kids whose parents are immigrants to this country and have worked very hard to provide better lives for their kids. Then these kids grow up and somehow get interested in the Deen, but for some reason these kids think it’s more “Islamic” to be poor!

Let me tell you something…being poor is really ugly. It’s a humiliation. It’s a fitnah and a huge test. It’s extremely destructive. I really do not think people should choose it. You are always fighting to survive, worried about tomorrow. It’s no joke that the no. 1 reason couples break up is because of money. And it’s not just about the money, a big part of it is the added stress of not having any! Not having healthcare, not having a decent home, not being able to provide for your kids. Not having a good quality of life. These are things people should think about before they “decide to be poor”.

There’s like a million benefits from being able to provide for yourself and your family well. Why would anyone not want that? Do they think being poor will be less corrupting? Will it make them stay good Muslims. Sorry, so not necessarily true. Being wealthy allows you to be generous, to help provide for others, to build Masjids and schools. To go to Hajj and travel to Islamic lands. Send your kids to Islamic schools. To create jobs and benefit others, to have the upper hand. Helps you avoid doing Haram even, like taking out mortgages or having to take interest loans.  Why not strive to be the one who gives instead of the one who takes.

I heard a story from a khutbah in Texas once. The Imam said ‘There once came a man who sat in the Masjid and waited for others to provide for him. A knowledgable wise man came and asked him why he did that. He said I saw two birds once and the one who had a broken wing was helped by the other one, so I know that Allah will send someone to help me as well. The knowledgeable man said ‘Why do you not strive to be the bird that helps the other one, instead of the broken-winged one?!’”

There is a reason why being a generous host to visitors and guests is a noble virtue in Islam, while being miserly and withholding money (like zakat) is a sin.

So really being a good Muslim is not about living a poor life. This does not make you a better Muslim. You can be a good Muslim that has moderate wealth or even be wildly wealthy. As long as the dunya does not live in your heart you can use it to gain more reward and become a better Muslim, iA.

Ok, the end.

Salams,

Update: I’m just going to re-post the article here in its entirety. Enjoy!

Yay I wrote an article for Sh. Suhaib Webb’s blog.  It’s basically about creating an Islamic website and some advice and guidelines regarding online Dawah. So check it out
http://www.suhaibwebb.com/society/da’wah-in-the-age-of-iphones/

Dawah in the Age of iPhones

by Jannah (jannah.org)

By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),

Verily Man is in loss, except such as have Faith,

and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching

of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy. (Quran, Chapter 103)

In the 103^rd chapter of the Quran, Allah (swt) gives us a blueprint for our lives:  Have faith, do righteous deeds, and join together to teach people truth, patience and constancy. Our first priority then is to have this faith and to do good deeds as individuals, families and a collective community. Secondly, we need to teach others.

Everyday, people interact and learn solely from the internet. The world is now so wired; people sleep with their iPhones under their pillows so they don’t miss anything. (Yes admit it! ) The statistics on how obsessed people are with things like Facebook are mind-boggling. The internet ‘cloud’ is now the living space of the world! Everyday, there are new and more sophisticated anti-Islamic websites, rants on Youtube and powerful bloggers that publish their latest Islamophobic tirades. Where are the Muslims?

Shaikh Hamza Yusuf once said, “Spend a little time on the Internet, and search for issues related to Islam, the way people who have little or no knowledge about Islam might do if they were curious about our religion. Try Google searches for terms like “jihad” or “women in Islam,” and see the top websites and links that appear. Compare some of the websites run by Muslims with the ones run by people attacking the Muslims, and note the difference.” Indeed, what we will find is that we still have a lot of work to do. Not just for non-Muslims but for Muslims as well.

We need to do something to counter this disinformation about Islam.

Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching;

and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious:

for thy Lord knows best who have strayed from His Path and who receive guidance.

(Quran 16:125)

My philosophy since the 90’s hasn’t been that we need to convert people. That is not our job. Faith is something that is between a person and Allah. Our job is to present the real, true, good Islam. It is up to people if they want to believe, understand, sympathize or hate. (There will always be people who won’t believe and we should accept that.) However, we should not accept when the Palin-Geller monsters of the world create a “terrorism-honor-killing-jeehad-shariah-izlam” and present that to the world as our faith. That is not fair, and it’s about time that each of participates in taking back our own narrative. The Quran asks us to join together in this mutual teaching. We need to step up, participate, represent and bring true Islam to the people.

You might ask at this point if one person/website/blog/video/tweet can make a difference. The way I look at it is, that if one person is affected positively by what you’ve created, it’s well worth the effort. (It can even be beneficial to you.)

So the typical image of an Islamic website you might have is of an elderly scholarly Shaikh (with a big beard) posting long religious edicts! Or perhaps a programmer in big glasses typing feverishly away in complex programming languages. But the websites of today are far more nuanced and don’t have to be in ‘traditional website’ form. Easy software, helpful guides and simple interfaces make everything accessible even to those not technically inclined. You also do not have to be a scholar or “perfect” in religiosity to show different aspects and positive sides of Islam.

A few great examples of non-traditional ‘Islamic websites’ that have popped up recently:

1. Muslim heroes/Muslims wearing things – blogs in response to Islamophobes showing the huge diversity of what Muslims are doing to serve the world and what Muslims actually look like and wear.
2. iPhone Islamic apps – now you can do everything from finding a Halal restaurant in a new city to memorizing online with a Tajweed master.
3. How-to-Hijab videos – Youtube videos showing girls how to pin their Hijabs.
4. Twitter’s Hadith-a-day – tweets a reflective Hadith a day to thousands of followers.
5. Halal food blog – all about creating great Halal recipes, good substitute ingredients and traditional foods from the Muslim world.
6. Muslim anime artists – creating anime and comics representing Muslims and their struggles.
7. Flickr collections – showing Muslim architecture, art and life throughout the Muslim world through photos.
8. Facebook fan pages – fan pages on such diverse topics as Salahuddin Ayyubi, Muslims & Science Fiction and Steampunk Shariah.
9. Youtube Muslim skits & parodies – cartoons, skits and entertainment for all, by funny people and MSAs.
10. Yahoo comments Muslims – Muslims who comment on Islam related articles to counter all the hate. (Hey, we have to start somewhere!)

These are all just ordinary, individual Muslims using their talent to educate and spread Islam online. They’re not perfect and I’m sure their diverse opinions will differ with other Muslim’s, along with the way they went about things, but the point is they are regular, normal, struggling Muslims expressing their own faith, interests and daily lives to others.

So what about the rest of us? There are so many Muslims that have such great talents and skills. Each of us can contribute to this mutual teaching. So how do we get started in making something beneficial? And what are some steps in the process?

But oars alone can ne’er prevail to reach the distant coast;

The breath of Heaven must swell the sail, or all the toil is lost. – William Cowper

Pre-Step 1 – Purify your intention. In the end anything we do should be for Allah so it’s important to keep in mind our goals and original intentions.

Step 1 – Find your niche. Do you have any special abilities or talents? Do you know how to program Islamic widgets, themes, apps, software? What are you interested in? Do you like politics? Art? Software? Poetry? History? Fashion? What kind of website do you want to create? Do you want to start a blog? Create some funny videos? Gather articles on a specific topic? Live stream local lectures and study circles? Start a forum for a certain hobby? Open a Yahoogroup for people similar to you or for your local community? Every Muslim can contribute in their own way, so think of the way you can best contribute, using your interests and skills.

Step 2 – Do some research. See what’s out there in the areas you’re interested in. Who is the audience you are targeting? Muslims, non-Muslims, both or a specific group? Do you think your website will be useful to them? How would it be different or needed? Does it add value to what is already out there? Analyze what works and what doesn’t. Seeing other things might spark some new ideas or help you find where you are most needed. If the idea is out there already, you could do something similar or a little different. If someone is already doing what you’re interested in, then you should definitely join and strengthen them. You might even want to contribute something or help an established site out there already instead of starting something new.

Step 3 – Get started. Create some content! You don’t have to buy your own domain and host your own site at this point which can be expensive and technically complicated. You can use free services like WordPress, Blogspot, Tumblr, Youtube, Vimeo, Flickr, Deviantart, Twitter, Facebook, etc. Find things you can use for your site, write to publishers and authors for permission. Write articles, create videos, and start tweeting. Be smart, innovative, creative and fresh.

Step 4 – Advertise and allow for feedback. Advertise in Google, post comments on other blogs, and list your site in Islam related search engines. Ask friends and those who might be interested to take a look and give you suggestions. Tweak and change where needed. Keep your goal in mind and don’t mind negative criticism. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the response you wanted. The internet is a big place, but know that you have contributed positively, inshaAllah.

Step 5 – Try to keep it up. This is actually the hardest step. There are so many outdated and orphaned Islamic sites out there. Or worse, good things that were completely deleted! Don’t destroy good work. Pass it on, delegate or encourage others to continue it. Keep updating and posting, be current and in touch.

The World is three days:

As for yesterday, it has vanished, along with all that was in it.

As for tomorrow, you may never see it.

As for today, it is yours, so work in it. – Hasan al-Basri

Some guidelines that can help keep your website Dawah friendly:

1. Keep sites small, simple, clear and organized. With more and more people accessing the web using their mobile and hand-held devices, a complex and maze-like site is near impossible to navigate.  Include what the site about, who it’s for, who’s behind it, what we can find and why. There’s no point to androgynous, nameless, anonymous Islamic sites. People crave a personal connection, so why not share who you are and what you’re about as a Muslim.

1. Share, collaborate and work with others that have the same goals and interests. What’s better? Having 10 tiny sites with a few articles here and there on ‘Women in Islam’ or having one collaborative site by ten people on women in Islam? Obviously, synergy is better. Let’s strengthen and grow what we have already. Then, strive to expand your site, recruit contributors and moderators, and make your website a collective effort. We can also work with non-Muslims in our shared goals as well. It’s of interest to note that in Surah al-Asr, Allah mentioned universal principals that we all share. So a site on Hijab can collaborate with those of other religions that talk about their covering traditions. A site on a Muslim soup kitchen should link with other charitable groups.

1. Avoid controversial Islamic issues and Fatwas; let’s leave those to the real Shaikhs. Some sites can easily degrade into fighting over five issues: Shia/Sunni, moonsighting, meat, music and Mawlid. It can get ugly. People also ask difficult complex Fiqh questions because they really need help. It’s easy to give them an answer, but we may not have the wisdom or knowledge to give them the best answer an Imam or Shaikh could. For example, we could give them a very strict, difficult opinion we know of, while there is an easier and just as Islamic way out there. We’re also unable to know all the details and conditions of a person’s problems or follow up on them. Leave it to the professionals.

1. Use wisdom and kindness when speaking to other Muslims and to non-Muslims. Follow the general Islamic guidelines of Adab (proper conduct relating to each other and with the opposite gender). It’s amazing what some people say online. I’m reminded of an old Dawud Wharnsby song, ‘We use so many words but have so little to relay/ as angels scribble down every letter that we say/ All the viral attachments sent and passionate insults we vent/ It’s easy to be arrogant behind user passwords we invent/ But on the day the scrolls are laid, with every word and deed displayed/ when we read our accounts, I know, for one, I’ll be afraid.’ People may think they’re anonymous, but guaranteed you are not. Remember that literally thousands of people are reading your words, including many many non-Muslims. (and gov’t agencies ) We forget that words have a powerful effect even through a computer screen. Arguing with your Muslim brother/sister to such an extent where hate starts to bloom is just wrong. A Golden Rule: Never post when you’re angry. Wait a day or two, and then respond calmly.

1. While ‘counter’ websites are needed, such those as dispelling myths, countering religious dogmas and refuting certain anti-Islamic sites, it’s better to create positive websites about Islam. We can talk all day about how X is wrong but it will not bring a person to Z. Any form of negativity also can keep people from learning more. Again, we’re not trying to forcibly convert anyone. We just want to show the truth about Islam and Muslims so people can understand it and us.

1. Allow some room for interactivity, so you’re not just sticking static pages out there. Imagine a very long lecture without any Q&A at the end! You can enable comments or have some kind of guestbook or even have an email address available. Rather than sending a one way dissemination of knowledge, you end up with ‘relationships’ and ‘conversations’. This brings a website to life. Don’t mind the haters. Feel free to censor them and keep your comments moderated. (There are so many Islamic videos/sites with disgusting comments. There’s no need to have them there.)

1. Stick mostly to English (or your main language) and explain concepts and words where possible. Too much of Arabic or a different language may cause people not to understand what you’re saying and may even make Islam seem like a ‘foreign religion only for foreigners’. Even if your site is for Muslims only, not everyone knows complex Islamic terminology, Arabic or Arabic script. It’s very difficult to learn about Islam when you also have to learn Arabic and learn all about Arab and Desi cultures! Also, keep things relatable to your audience. Using examples like going to the Souk is probably going to be foreign to westerners, just like ordering a pizza would be inexplicable to someone in Damascus.

1. Balance design versus content, form versus function. There are many beautifully designed and technically advanced sites with little value content wise, and there are some sites that are so rich with information and resources but have no infrastructure. People don’t know how to access the information available or even that it’s there. Try to keep both design and function in mind, as both are important.

1. Attribute, get permission and follow internet protocols and copyrights. It’s not cool to steal. This is because people spend time and energy to create something, just like you, and they want it to be out there a certain way. Most authors/artists have no problem with sharing as long as you ask their permission. To recreate or copy someone’s entire site is redundant. Why not join others or contribute something new instead?

1. Lastly, this may seem strange, but the most important concept for Islamic webmasters/app designers/admins/etc. to remember, is to be fair. Be fair to your users, to other people’s users, to other Muslims, to non-Muslims, to the greater internet sphere. Be fair to those who email you, write to you and even criticize you. Be just in how you present things, how you attribute things, and how you handle things. You might be the creator and administrator, but you’re more like a diplomat at the UN. Everyone has their rights and everything should be balanced. Give people time, response and help. Stick to what you know and can do. There’s an Arabic proverb that says ‘one cannot give what they do not have’. If we are not educated in an Islamic topic we should not talk about it, if we do not know the politics of a region we should not enter into a debate over it. In the same way, whatever we create should be something we have knowledge of and a love for.

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. – Rumi

I hope one day to find such diverse sites such as a comprehensive commentary on all those ‘controversial verses’ in the Quran, academic and interesting creative responses to current Islamic issues in the media, a detailing of the Muslim response to 9/11 (Yes, there were many!), Muslim bloggers and tweeters with thousands of dedicated followers, interactive live streaming of every Mosque and MSA event in North America, and of course, a site on how to make the perfect Ramadan cupcakes.

Jazakamullahu khairan. May Allah reward you all.

Jannah is the founder of Jannah.org, one of the first Islamic websites ever, and is also the founder and administrator of two discussion-board sites, themadina.com and halfmydeen.org. Jannah can be reached at jannahorg at yahoo.com.

These messages were posted as comments to my blog. Possibly a bot. But even if it is who would program such a thing to post messages like this? Doesn’t look like a bot to me as they were added to many different blog posts over a half hour period with different usernames but who knows. Same ip from Ireland btw.

Anyway, these are nothing new, I usually just delete these as spam, but I find it interesting that a person spent half an hour writing these intense messages so felt I should respond.

–

So this Tuesday I went out to vote. It was a nice cold Fall day so I bundled up with a sweater (I’m still trying to hold off on coats, in denial I know…) walked over the polling place which is at a local college’s athletic? building. Very pretty colored leaves all over the sidewalks made a nice crunch.  It was all very easy, gave her my name and she gave me the form. I filled it out like the SAT’s, clearly bubbling in the ones I wanted from the choices. (When in doubt, choose B… j/k ) Actually it reminded me A LOT of all those multiple-choice electronically scanned exams I’ve taken in my life lol. You even sit at a desk cubbyhole!

Anyhow what struck me in talking to Muslims is many of them don’t vote! And it’s not like they all don’t want to, they just have no idea how to go about it. They also don’t know why they should vote. “What difference does it make I’m one person blah blah blah.” Well you do know Muslims’ communities are getting larger and larger. We have thousands of people in most communities. And voting for the right person in the right position can make a difference in:

• -whether or not your Mosque gets built
• -whether or not the US works to retreat from war, or build more war (iran?!)
• -whether we have racial profiling as part of law or those ‘see you naked’ machines in our airports
• -whether school books can contain anti-Islam material or as some (stupid) people believe pro-Islam material! (called the truth)
• -whether muslim girls have to swim with guys in gym class
• - things like affirmative action may determine whether or not you get that job
• -what legislation against immigrants will be like
• -whether muslim girls are allowed to wear niqab/hijab in schools or in gov’t ids
• -”anti-shariah” laws??? so ridiculous!
• -there are so many issues on the local level and national that are important to us, and will end up affecting us directly one day in our own personal life. we NEED to vote.

…

So here’s my easy 5 step guide to voting for Muslims.

Sidways rant: (Someone once got upset that I add “for Muslims” when I write blogs. D’uh I want Muslims to find and read this and they’re usually specific to Muslim type issues. Yes I could write an Etiquette Guide for Everyone, but what’s the point when it’s tailored for Muslims. The other problem is people think “for Muslims” means this is a religious Fatwa. D’uh again. If you think voting/etiquette or whatever else I write about is Haram don’t read it! Ok Thanks.)

How to Vote for Muslims

1. The first thing you have to do is get registered. This is filling out a little form and mailing it in. These forms are usually available at your post office, library and various other places. You can also find them online by typing in “voter registration form” and your state. The only negative to ‘registering to vote’ is that you are placed in the jury pool. Now this might scare you, but first of all, employers are required to give you time off to go. Second your chances of getting picked to serve are like nil. They take one look at Muslims and send them home. If you do get picked, you do get compensated for every day you’re there. You can also file some kind of exemption thing if you’re anti being on a jury. If you ask me, they need intelligent Muslims to be on juries and it must be an interesting experience! I also heard you get put on the draft list for men, but we have two wars going on right now and they still haven’t gone that route. You can bet how unpopular that would be so doubt it’ll ever happen. (You can make sure you’re registered by checking online. For New York state use this:  https://voterlookup.elections.state.ny.us/votersearch.aspx )

2. Find your polling place. They try to spread out polling places throughout neighborhoods, usually in schools, colleges, office buildings to make it easier for people to vote. Just enter your address here and it will tell you exactly where your polling station is: http://maps.google.com/vote

3. OK. Now comes the fun part. Look up who is running (http://www.smartvoter.org) and will be on your ballot and then do some research on them. Don’t forget about the races for local school board, city council or judges. Check your local newspaper for more voter guides to what and who else will be on your ballot. Who is the least Islamophobic? :p Who is pro-religious freedom? Has anyone visited your local Mosque or been supportive when hate-crimes occur to us and so on.  What’s their stand on various issues important to us and you personally. Ask some media/political savvy Muslims their opinions. This usually ends up being the Muslim law students ! Decide who you want to vote for and write them down.

4. So now on election day, GO to your polling place. There are usually some people at various tables to greet you. And they’re VERY friendly about helping you usually. They must give these ppl free donuts and coffee or something! They usually direct you by your address to your table (usually your ward or something?). They ask for your name, look you up, and ask for id. A driver’s license will usually do it. Then they ask you to sign your signature. Then they give you the voting form.

5. Take the voting form to your cubbyhole and fill it out. (If you have electronic or manual booths, go ahead into those and vote. Follow the directions on how to do that.) Ask if you have any questions. When done, you feed your form into a machine that scans it and counts your votes.

That’s it you’ve voted!! Congrats. InshaAllah you’re making the world a better place for all of us!

So did you vote? Why or why not?