“I’m Afraid To Have A Son”

Source: globalgrind.com

By: Basheer Jones

“I’m afraid to have a son.”

As I stood at the place where 18-year-old Michael Brown took his last breath, shot six times by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, despite being unarmed, these were the words said by a young African-American woman.

“I’m afraid to birth a son who could possibly be a victim of police brutality.”

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. All I could do was hug her. I couldn’t comfort her by saying that she doesn’t have to worry, because history doesn’t show that. According to a study conducted by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, an organization that promotes self-determination in our community, police officers, security guards or self-appointed vigilantes killed at least 313 African Americans in 2012.

Two Palestinians Injured In Jerusalem

By: Saed Bannoura

Source: http://imemc.org/

The sources said resident Mahmoud Khalil Abu al-Hawa was shot by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the abdomen from a close range, while resident Ali Mahmoud Abu al-Hawa suffered a broken arm after several soldiers assaulted him.

Eyewitnesses said the soldiers also fired gas bombs and rounds of live ammunition, while a number of settlement guards also fired rounds of live ammunition into the air.

Clashes have also been reported in the Shu’fat refugee camp, and Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, in addition to a number of neighborhoods.

In related news, the Jerusalem office of the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) said Israel decided to release 46 Jerusalemite Palestinians, among dozens kidnapped in the last two days, under the condition of limiting their movement, and having their families sign affidavits to guarantee their location, and appearance in court when needed.

The meaning of Taqwa

By Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen
Translated by Abu Aneesa Ahmad Shaw

All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad (saws), his family, his Companions and all those who follow him till the Last Day.

0h believing brothers!

Indeed the advice which Allah has given to His servants from the time of Adam up until now, has been to havetaqwaa (fear out of respect and love) of Him. Glorified and Exalted be He.

The Mighty the Majestic says,

And We have instructed those who were given the scripture before you and yourselves to havetaqwaa (fear) of Allah. But if you disbelieve then to Allah belongs whatever is in the Heavens and whatever is on the Earth. And ever is Allah free of need and praiseworthy. 1,2

It is also the advice of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to his nation:

Abee Umaamah Suddee Ibn ‘Ujlaan al-Baahilee (R.A.) reports: I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) giving a sermon in the farewell Hajj, saying, “Fear -your Lord, pray your five prayers, fast the month Of Ramadaan, pay your zakaah, and obey your leaders, in doing so, you will enter your Lord’s Paradise.”3

Whenever the Messenger of Allah sent a leader of a raiding party on a military expedition, he would advise him, to have a deep rooted taqwaa (fear) of Allah and he would also advise the rest of his military party likewise.

The Pious Predecessors (salat) did not stop giving mutual advice for having taqwaa (fear) of Allah in their sermons, their corresponding letters and their testaments after the Messenger of Allah passed away.

‘Umar Ibn al-Khattaab, radiyAllahu ‘anhu, wrote to his son ‘Abdullaah: “To proceed: Verily 1 advise you to havetaqwaa (fear) of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, for whoever fears Him, Allah will protect him, and whoever gives a loan to Him, Allah will reward him, and whoever thanks Him, Allah will increase him.”

‘Alee, radiyAllahu ‘anhu,, gave advice to a man, and he said: “I advise you to have taqwaa (fear) of Allah the Mighty, the Majestic. There is no escape in meeting Him and there is no other to meet you except Him when you reach the Hereafter, for verily Allah owns this world and the Hereafter.”

One of the righteous, wrote to his believing brother: “I advise you with taqwaa (fear) of Allah who knows your secrets and sees your open actions, so remember Allah at every time of the night and day, and fear Allah according to His nearness, and the power He has over you. And know that He always sees you. And do not leave His Rule for another rule, nor His Dominion, for another dominion, So glorify Him, by fearing Him immensely.”

The meaning of taqwaa is that the servant puts between himself and that which he fears, a guard that will protect him. 4

The meaning of taqwaa regarding Allah’s servants is “That the servant puts between him and that which he fears, i.e. gaining the anger and the wrath of his Lord, a guard which will protect him.” By obeying Him and abstaining from disobeying Him.

My noble brother, here are some sayings of our Pious Predecessors, in explaining the meaning of taqwaa (fear) of Allah:

Ibn Abbaas, radiyAllahu ‘anhu, said: “The ones who fear Allah, they are the ones who are wary of Allah and His Punishments.”

The taabi’ee Talq ibn Habeeb 5 said: “If an ordeal appears amongst you extinguish it with taqwaa. ” When asked what is taqwaa, he replied, “Taqwaa (piety) is that you act in obedience to Allah, and hope in His mercy, upon a light from Him; and taqwaa is leaving acts of disobedience to Allah out of fear of Him, upon a light from Him.”6

Ibn Mas’ood, radi Allahu ‘anh , said: “Speaking about the statement of Allah, the Most High,

0 you who believe, have taqwaa (fear) of Allah, as you should have of Him and do not die except as Muslims. 7

is that Allah is meant to b obeyed, and not disobeyed; remembered at all times, and not forgotten; and to be thanked, and we are not to be ungrateful to Him.”

So strive 0 my noble brother, in fearing, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, for He, glory be to Him, is entitled to he feared, revered and Glorified in your heart.

Here are some obvious benefits, which are the results of fearing Allah, in this world:

[1] Verily, fearing Allah causes the general affairs of mankind, to become easy.

Allah, the Most High, says,

And whosoever has taqwaa (fear) of Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him. 8

As for him, who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah, and has taqwaa (fear) of Him and believes in al-husnaa (a reward from Allah), we will make smooth for him, the path of ease. 9

[2] Taqwaa protects mankind from the harm of shaytaan.

Allah, the Most High, says,

Verily those who have taqwaa (fear) of Allah, when an evil thought comes to them from shaytaan, they remember (Allah), and indeed they then see (aright). 10