12 Rabi al-Awwal and The Last Sermon

Today is the Prophet's Birthday - Prophet Muhammad - may the peace and blessings of God be upon Him! He was born in Mecca in the year of the Elephant. Whenever a major event happened, the Arabs would refer to everything that happened in that year after that by the name of the event.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was sent as a mercy to all of mankind. All other Prophet's were sent at a specific time and to a specific people - but been the Seal and Final of the Prophet's - he was sent by God to everyone - and the Final Book was also revealed to him through the Archangel Gabriel.

The following is the Prophet's Last Sermon during his final pilgrimage. It is, once again, a reminder for all of mankind - remember Prophet Muhammad was sent to all of mankind - and i hope, firstly myself and all you who are reading it will reflect upon it, renew one's intentions and implement its teaching.

In the name of Allah most Gracious most Merciful.

This Sermon was delivered on the Ninth day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H. in the 'Uranah valley of Mount Arafat'.

"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY.
O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your LORD, and that HE will indeed reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (Interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived.
Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not Make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery.
O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat perform Hajj if you can afford to. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good action.
Remember, one day you will appear before ALLAH and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
O People, NO PROPHET OR APOSTLE WILL COME AFTER ME AND NO NEW FAITH WILL BE BORN. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example the SUNNA and if you follow these you will never go astray.
All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness O ALLAH, that I have conveyed your message to your people."

Live and Let Live!

Cool saying that is - 'live and let live' - you hear many people saying that, especially when someone is happy doing what they are doing and someone else does not agree with what they are doing. Let’s admit it – it’s a natural prejudice and we all have it/felt it/said it and done it!

But a crazy twist is taking place in the world right now - well I can say it’s happening in the UK. A certain group of law abiding citizens are getting labelled as, hmm let’s say, 'not law abiding'!

You haven't seen it in the news? Ok well you must've read it in the papers? No?! Ok let me tell you - British Muslims – law abiding citizens – on a daily are being accused of participating in terrorist attacks on fellow Brits or knowingly supporting those involved in such activities.

Proof people? Most of the ‘proof’ can be made up and we’ve all seen X-Files in our younger days as well as the CSI series – and they say ‘where there is a will there is a way’!

What is this new fascination with the Muslims? Haven’t the media got anything better to do? Yeah we all need to work and get paid and survive but maaan seriously get over it! Because negative articles and images of Muslims in the media are not making things better for community cohesion (whatever the crap that is – because I was cohesed as a young kid) and also the media are responsible for hyping many issues and misguiding the general community. Yes there is a minority who are disrupting the peace and I have a word for them (I won’t use it here) but there are such people in every community (and religion) and not only amongst the Muslims.

It’s not the fault of the majority of the British people who are not aware of the Islamic religion or who only find out about Muslims through the negative media articles. There are many Muslims and organisations who are doing their best to challenge this negativity and show everyone that Muslims are not an evil or bad people.

To the average Brit (or if you’re oversees) get to know Muslims and ask questions – also ask questions when you keep seeing that negative piece of media. To the Muslims working hard to promote their religion and combat this negativity – keep it up and keep your head up! And to the negative people out there who honestly haven’t got anything better to do in life – remember this life is a gift and one day it’ll all be over – for all of us, me and you, Live and Let Live!

Be Inspired...

Ever been in a rut and you feel sooo low that you need that instant 'pick-me-up' boost feeling thing? Well no fear as turBo is here - bringing you BE INSPIRED! on a local community radio station here in Brum (check link below) I presented and produced over 40 lives shows from 2006-2007 and then took early retirement and now i'm back again presenting and producing my new show! (yes i'm multi-talented a blessing from above!)

Be Inspired starting on Monday 9th Feb 2k9 on Unity FM 93.5FM or live streaming throughout the West Midlands, UK and Worldwide on www.unityfm.net. It will be a LIVE show from 7 til 9pm - bringing you all things inspirational and awe inspiring - with live interviews, discussions, stories about influential people from the past and oh ofcourse not forgetting a weekly competition with a prize!

If you're an artist and working in the community then leave a message as YOU could be the next live guest!

Your Monday nights will never be the same again - so don't forget to tune in wherever you are in the world and take part (you can also call in and text in during the show)

....see you on Be Inspired only on Unity FM - 93.5FM!

Time Is Not Money, Nor Gold – It Is Life & It Is Limited!

...He will say: “What number of years did you stay on earth?” They will say: “We stayed a day or part of a day, but ask those who keep account.” He will say: “You stayed not but a little, if you had only known!” (Surah 23, Verses 112 – 114).

I’m GUILTY! We’re all guilty of it at some point in life (sometimes – we’re always guilty of it!). “Aint got time!”, “Not enough hours in the day”, “The clock is ticking”, “If i’ve got time!”. Maaaan datz crazzzzzzzzzzy!

I’m snowed under alot of study at the moment – i’m the type who suffers from ‘delayed reactions’ in life (stop laughing it really isn’t funny!) I’ve just finally realised that i’m studying for a masters and I have alot to study and research – oh and then there’s the continuous ill health I suffer from, which doesn’t make it easy (BUT – illness is a purification, so I should in effect be happy and not complain).

But where does the time go, and what do we really do with our time? Do we use it wisely and make sure every moment is beneficial? Or is it wasted on idol stuff (here we can all choose which activities we spend wasting our time on).

So much happens in a short space of time – it only takes a moment for something to happen or not happen.

It is a reminder – when things happen, they remind us – we are but humans, and we need reminders and we need to remind each other.

Many people in the world see time as ‘money’ and ‘gold’. Why? Because they spend all their efforts and ‘time’ achieving a specific goal which usually involves money – because money can buy you ‘pretty’ things and make you feel good about oneself (as if!)

There is no certainty in this world or in our life but the certainty of death – think about it, once we’re 6ft under – well it’s all over isn’t it? (all over for us as in the connection in the living world – but here’s where the journey to the next world begins) – or does it begin in the ‘living world’? So we should work for the next world, in this world – make sense? Good!

This life and world is only a test – and it really will be over soon – those who are already 6ft under – its over for them – there’s no turning back!

Time really isn’t money, nor is it gold – it is life and it is limited – we can be taken at any moment – this moment could be our last. Let’s all work hard in this life, so we can reap the rewards in the next life. This life will be a tough and rough road, don’t let it hold you back – work on your dreams and your goals and remember at every point renew your intention – and remember the Almighty – He gave you life, He will take it back! Everything we do is for Him and Him alone!

Note to self: I shall not waste time! I will make the most of it and achieve all that I need to. Allah (swt) has blessed me with one life in this world only – and it is one which is limited – I shall live by Him and die by Him.

Ahhh writing is sooo sooo therapeutic!

Ceasefire or NO ceasefire – that is the Question! War On Gaza

“Day 15 – I woke up and smiled – looked around my room and it felt peaceful, then all of a sudden I heard a strange, loud sound – I got out of my bed and looked out the window and saw something big coming towards my house – it came right through my window – THE END!”

Is this how someone would be feeling right now in the Gaza strip? Or has this become a norm for them? Would there be such a scenario and then, ‘The End’? Well truth be known none of us can feel what the people in Gaza are feeling right now – or have felt since the War on Gaza started – its Day 15 now – and there seems to be no end to this violent massacre of innocent lives – among them many women, children and babies! (Yes little angels who came into this world and have no clue as to why they have been suddenly taken away in such a horrific way).

Have you watched all the different News Channels? Well i’m not going to mention any names – I don’t really need to, as you all would know which is which, and who is saying what – but some News Channels report the war as, ‘War In Gaza’ and some as ‘War On Gaza’ – I know it’s just two simple words – ‘in’ and ‘on’, but it’s amazing how it can change the meaning of the whole issue.

People around the globe, including here in the UK, have been demonstrating, protesting, writing to prominent figures, lobbying, boycotting and ensuring that the word is out and basically everyone is doing their part to create awareness.

This should all continue – the Security Council on Friday passed a resolution (despite USA not voting) to end the War and agree on an immediate Ceasefire – but this has not been accepted by either side involved in the war – so, continues the fighting, the bombs, the rockets and the loss of innocent lives.

What I would like to point out in this blog is that there should be more awareness on the legal side of what is happening – i.e what the role of the UN is and what the Security Council can do and how this issue can be resolved – why? Well i’m from a legal background and currently studying LLM International Human Rights at Uni and it wasn’t until I started attending my Public International Law lectures that the whole Human Rights, Genocide, UN and its members etc started to make sense.

I think people in the legal profession should hold workshops for ordinary people who are not familiar with this area and create awareness. I say this because when something like this happens (War/Genocide) many people become hot-headed and hot-tempered and say or do things which may actually make the situation worse. Ofcourse it’s not their fault! It would be like, urm, a medical issue, and i’m not from a medical background – but let’s say that some form of medical negligence has taken place – well my reaction to it is going to be different to those from a medical background – and once they have explained the situation to me, then I act accordingly.

Yes we should continue with demos, protests, lobbying, boycotting – but I think there should also be long term projects – which deal with community awareness and explaining how certain national/international legal factors work – which we could all get involved in – and we could all learn (that’s not to say that everyone has to read for a law degree and become barristers/solicitors) but so we know how to react and how to explain these issues to the wider community.

What do you all think?

In the meantime let’s all continue with our efforts to highlight the War On Gaza and continue praying also – remember the power of prayer – it can change everything. May Allah (swt) show us all a way to help those in need, may He accept everyone’s efforts to help bring an end to the war and may the suffering of the people of Gaza end soon – Ameen!

Justice...

Knock Knock!

Whoze there?

JUSTICE!

Justice?

JUSTICE - let me through i need a word wid u

But what have i done?! leave me be!

NO! i wanna make u free - don't u c?, contemplate, it aint too late, at dis rate u wont have a clean slate.

I want u 2 taste d sweetness of heaven, not run into you at the 7/11

JUSTICE - I'm all around u, i surround u - use me before hell astounds u

JUSTICE - in your words, in your dealings, with your kith n kin - it'll purify you from sin

JUSTICE - contemplate, u have a brain, don't play insane - let me through n i'll teach u

Look around and c, don't accuse each other falsely - it will lead u to hell, that everlasting cell - only u will be able to tell

JUSTICE - use me freely, i won't charge, i won't even barge - i ask your permission - enter into His submission

Play your cards right, stand up and fight - for me JUSTICE

I will be by your side, through every tide and roller coaster ride

JUSTICE - please don't hide

JUSTICE - now u see, i told you i was free - u used me

JUSTICE - look ahead the golden gate - now at dis rate u will have a clean slate

JUSTICE - contemplate, it aint 2 late

(Copyright (c) 2007 turBo mc)

turBo will be back in full flow soon...oh and Happy Muharram 1430 AH & Happy New Year 2k9

...to all stumbling across - welcome. Hope you enjoy reading the last two blogs, and yes they are 'sooo last year' but i really haven't been well at all which has affected my thinking capacity to - well - think really. Because when i think, i write, and when i write i endeavour to make sense (i try!).

But whilst i recover i would like to pass on my dua's (prayers) to all and hope the New Year (whichever you're celebrating) will bring you goodness and new challenges which will strengthen your souls and bring you closer to the Divine.

Remember "Allah Burdens not a person beyond his scope" Surah 2; V 285-286 - He knows we can handle it, and with the right faith and the right people in our lives we will truly succeed in this world and the next.

Do leave your feedback - and keep me in your prayers (i have soooo much study to catch up on!) and remember all those suffering hardship and oppression across the globe - and especially those in Gaza right now - may the war end soon, ameen!

I will be back!