Moderatation

I'm alive

2006-09-12T20:13:00.000-04:00

Praise to God, I am alive and well. My health is as good as ever alhamdulillah. Both of my parents are alive and generally in good health. My brothers are also in good health alhamdulillah. I'm going on about one post per every few months at this point.

As many of you might now, Softballers won the SASL championship a few days ago. I can't describe how great it fell to win it. It was special because this was the first time I was part of a team that won it all in an organized sport and league. It tops all those championships I saw the Yankees win, the Knicks runs into the playoffs. Those were all great, but being part of determining your own success gives one a totally different feeling. We played for a long 3 months on almost every Sunday so you can appreciate how it felt to win it. For vidoes... of the league and finals, go to http://www.southasiansoftball.com. Pathetic, I don't even know how to link it without writing it out.

Anyway, this softball stuff was just a very small accomplishment even in terms of this dunya. One can not even begin to imagine how happy a person would be upon hearing news that he been saved from the hellfire and granted heaven. Losing sucks in this world! May Allah save us from losing on the day of judgement.

Insha'Allah I'll try to post more often in the future. Take care, PEACE

SORRY

2006-04-05T21:46:00.000-04:00

I would like to apologize to all my fans who visit my site everyday hoping and praying that they find a new post. I have not been busy nor have I been lazy. I just forgot about this thing. I have noticed that I am on a few of my friends blogrolls thus it is only fair that I post once in a while. Life is beautiful and people are beautiful. These are just mere signs of ultimate beauty, which belongs to Allah, glorified he be, most high. For some reason, I get spam comments on my site. Can this be prevented in any way? OK. I'm done. Hope the wait was worth it. PEACE

P.S. I intend to update more often insha'allah.

.....

2005-10-10T14:14:00.000-04:00

I could not even think of a suitable title to describe what has happened in Northern Pakistan and its surrounding areas. Thousands, with estimates as high as 40,000 have been killed. 40,000 human beings. 40, 000 people who came into this world through the womb of there mothers. It is true that they all would have eventually died one day. Slowly but surely it would have occured. However, I guarantee you none of them wrote it up like this. Allah is the giver of life and indeed the taker of life. Death is inevitable and its timing is uncertain. Don't stop living life because of what happened in Pakistan. Rather, take heed from it by taking Allah's advice into account. - Oh You who believe, die not except in a state of submission (Islam) . Everyone make dua as these are days of dua. If you happen to have money, please donate to help such victims. PEACE

Tired of thinking about others

2005-09-30T22:13:00.000-04:00

Peace be upon all. I have had enough worrying about how others percieve me. I refuse to continue to live like this. I don't know how to start explaining the train of thoughts I've had these last few days. I am not angry at the world nor am I jealous of it. Well, maybe I subconsiously am. I'm tired of feeling sorry for people and I am tired of seeing other peoples success in certain respects and wondering why such success has escaped me. OK, let me try to further explain. I feel like I need to become more selfish. No, Im not falling into the "survival of the fittest." All I have realized is perhaps the most simple yet also most important thing. This being that I have to take care of myself. My life is trust to me from Allah. Its a trust to me and no one else. Well, my parents have a role to play, but that role decreases as the age of the child increases. School, I have to do what is best for me. Deen, I have to stop being fake in my approach to it. I have stop looking at brothers who are better connected to there deen and I have to stop looking at brothers and sisters who externally are less connected to the Deen. I have start doing what I have to do. Yea, screw all of you. No, you know I really don't mean that. Yea, I'm tired of seeing you and asking you to make dua for me. Do you really care about? Are you going to sleep thinking about me? No. You don't care. And no, I don't care about you either. Well, I do but please somehow try to understand me and the emotions I am going through. May Allah increase everyone in good, especially me, me, and me. Cuz there is no one in this world I care about more than me. Take care. PEACE

Deenz List Regular Season Over

2005-09-05T00:26:00.000-04:00

Alhamdulillah, the 18 game regualar season for the Deenz List has come to an end. Our record was 8-10 which is not bad for an expanison team. However, with all due respect to the competition, I felt we should have finished with a much better record. Either way, it is relieving to know that every team makes the playoffs. Speaking of the playoffs, they start next week and if I'm right, we will play the defending champions Dynasty in the first round. We've had more success against the Dynasty than any other team. Our team matches up very well against them. Anyway, the past is the past and we shall see what happens next Sunday. Insha'Allah we will win next Sunday and advance in the playoffs. Much respect to brother Ammad and the rest of the organizers of this leauge. Its been awsome and something fun to look forward to on Sunday's. I thank Allah for allowing me to not only play, but play well in most of the games. If anyone is interested, the league has a website with all the stats, records and other info. http://www.southasiansoftball.com One thing we have been lacking as a team is fan support. A few fans cheering us on would not hurt. If you can not come, which I am guessing you would not even if you could, at least make dua for us. Yes, dua. Do not pray and ask Allah to grant us victory over our opponents. Rather, pray that we remain humble in victory or defeat and that our hearts not become heedless of Allah. Haseeb, if you happen to read this, please come back for the playoffs. Wasalaamualaikum(Peace be upon) all.

Basketball and Brotherhood

2005-07-04T16:00:00.000-04:00

Basketball by many including myself is seen as a way to promote brotherhood. The goal is to get a bunch of friends/slash brothers together and have fun and at the same time increasing ones friendship with them. However, this understand of mine was highly put into question as a result of what occured in this last weekends ICNA convention. Their everybody was, all geared up for the much hyped midnight basketball tournament in the Connecticut Convention Center. Hundreds of brothers flocked the area to take part in this tournament. Six brothers and I were a part of this flock. We were team number 5 and very excited to get a chance to play in this tournament with other fellow brothers. However, all it took was about 5-10 seconds into the first game for me to realize that this tournament had absolutely nothing to do with brotherhood. It was all about proving to other teams and players that you were superior to them. It was about winning at all costs, even brotherhood. It was about pride. It was about showing those watching how skilled you were. And let us not forget, it was about YM raising money. After all, it was $8 per person for a single elimination game which lasted 15 minutes. The brothers we played against were nice brothers and indeed very loving. However, on the court, we were not brothers, but rather enemies. It was survival of the fittest. Hard intentioal fouls, cursing, disrespect, and lying was evident on both sides. I realized how negatively I was affected by this atmosphere when I accidently hit a brother or at that point enemy with a full swing in his mouth. I knew he was hurt, but I showed no compassion for a good ten seconds. Then it hit me. This is not combat and these brothers are not my enemies. I must'nt be reactionary like an animal. I must think and act beyond emotions. In the end, we lost the game 9-7 as the clock ran out. However, I am sure Shaytaan was fully confident and content in that we both lost. What did we lose? At least for the duration of the match, we lost our dignity, integrity, and mutual respect. As I spoke with the other team members after the game to wish him and his team success in the remainder of the tournament, he pointed to competition as the reason for such behavior. I say, "Lanat ho istaray kay competition hay upar." -Translation- "Disgrace be on such type of competition."

Humbled

2005-06-28T08:55:00.000-04:00

Last night I was on my way back from the local Indian store where I had picked up a couple of gallons of milk. A man unknown to me declared "Asalaamualaikum" as he walked by me. And me, being a Muslim, responded very happilly, "Walaikumsalaam." As we departed and went to our respective destinations, I heard a voice calling me back. The man approached me in a very humble manner. Before he even spoke, I could see the world of worries and difficulties in his eyes. He began speaking in Urdu and asked me for advice. It was obvious that he was not happy and felt disconnected from Allah. He said he had seen me before playing cricket with his younger brothers and had wanted to talk to for a while. He stated, "I see the Nur in your face." Nur = light. As he spoke, I reflected on my day and life and was convinced this man has mistaken. Although light is there, my life is constantly barraged with darkness. The man himself was 38 years old. I did not know what to tell him. I knew there was something else bothering him. After all, to approach someone 16 years younger than you takes a lot of courage. I told him all the general things. Spend time in the company of good people, continue praying... However, I knew it was not satisfying him. His pain was so deep, that he eventually opened his entire life for me to see. He told me that he has been in the country for 15 years. He said, Alhamdulillah, I never had a girlfriend, and in general I have stayed away from haraam things. I do my prayers, and cry to Allah for help, but all this worry in my life does not go away. As we kept speaking, I became aware that he does not have a green card and is still unmarried. In fact, he told me that he had borrowed money from his mother for a metrocard. He spend all day looking for work. He went as far a Long Island. And then, out of frustration, he began telling how he was a #1 student in Lahore back in the day. His father worked for PIA and brought his entire family here. His brothers are now legal and have green cards. He thanked Allah for this but you almost read his mind saying 'what have done to earn this?.' 'why me?' He was so disrought that he somewhat confessed to me that he drinks once in a while. He looked around. There I was, with the two gallons of milk in my hands. It was drizzling as it had been almost all day. He pointed to this rain as a blessing and sign that this could be the day that his life changed for the better. I tried my best to encourage him and tell him to hang in there. He requested that I do not speak about this talk with his younger brothers. He thanked me and apologized for taking my time. Rather, I should be the one who is thankful. Allah used him to humble me. Sure, my life will go on and will not be consumed by this man's worries. However, he like everyone is a precious soul. The least I can is pray for him and seek him once in a while to see how he's doing. It was obvious that he was lonely. And with a community of our size, no Muslim and further no New Yorker should be lonely. If you by chance read this post, I humbly request that you throw in a dua for myself and the brother I met. PEACE

Moderation in Eating

2005-06-18T02:25:00.000-04:00

We hear it all the time. One should be moderate when it comes to eating and drinking. However, very few of us practice moderation when it come to consumption of food. The concept most people generally have of eating is that it should be done until you are "full." The reality of eating until you are fill is even worse that in sounds. I am not adoctor, but I just happended to see the average sized stomach one day while watching Oprah. SubhannAllah, our stomach is actually very small compared to the size I had envisioned it. When we generally eat and often overeat, the stomach expands to make room for all that we consumed. Indeed, our stomachs do have a right over us, but "filling" it and forcing it to strenuously expand is cruelty. I am reminded what my grandfather told my uncle who eventually told me. Something to the extent, "Khana zinda ranay ki liay khatay ha, Marnay kay liay nai." Translation - "We eat stay alive, not to die." My grandfather greatly disliked the overconsumption of food. He died about 6-7 year ago after living a long and very healthy and prosperous life. May Allah grant him Jannah. The great Sahaba Umar (radiyallahhuanhu) advised the believers regarding the dangers of filling ones stomach. He said,
"Beware of filling your stomachs with food and drink, for it is harmful to the body and causes sickness laziness in prayers. Be moderate in both food and drink, for that is healthier for your bodies and furthest removed from extravagance. Allah will hate the fat man (one who revels in a life of luxury), and a man will not be connemned until he favours his desires over his religion. (Al-Kanz, 8/47) The laziness caused by overeating is something we can all attest. In fact, is was the very motivation for this write-up. I prayed maghrib at the Masjid, went to my cousins house, had a ton of Bhiryaani, followed by Ice cream cake and 2 glasses of Soda mixed in. I was so stuffed that I decided to lay down. Next thing I know it, its midnight. (I slept for 2-3 hours) The worst part was that I ended up sleeping through the time Salat was prayed in the masjid which just happened to be a few blocks away. Perhaps if I recalled Umar (radiyallahuanhu's) advice. I would have been more careful. Also, I recall Mufti Kamal mentioning that we keep eating because we don't realize the stomach is full. This is because our stomach has not properly communicated with the brain. He said if we eat moderately and wait 10-15 minutes, we will realize the stomachs hunger has been righyfully alleviated. Finally, most of us have heard the hadeeth in which the Prophet(salallah hu alay hi wa salam) advised us in regards to moderation in eating. "There is no worse vessel for the children of Adam to fill than his own stomach, but if he must fill it, then let him allow one third for food, one third for drink, and one third for air. " Before I continue, we must realize that when the Prophet (salallah hu alay hi wa salam) advises us with something, we should strive to implement it. Now please don't weigh your food and do foolish calculations seeking to attain the perfect 1/3 for everything. Just be smart about it. Practically follow the Prophet's (sallallah hu alay hi wa salam) advice when you are eating. Also, intention is very important. As my grandfather said, we eat to stay alive. Why do we want to stay alive? The obvious reason being we want to continue to worship and thank him for his many blessings and eating gives us the energy to do this. In conclusion, observe moderation in eating and avoid the ugliness and injustice of filling yourself up. Do not fool yourself by overeating once in a while. As muslims, we must strive for consistency. Another tip before I end, if you are a guest, do not be afraid to tell your host that you are content and do not wish to eat more. If you think I made sound too serious, that is good. The Prophet(salallah hu alay hi wa salam) and his inheritors (Ulama) are very serious about food and the importation of moderation in our approach to it. May Allah make us of those who follow moderation in eating and eat of the good and pure things. PEACE

John Wooden

2005-06-10T15:34:00.000-04:00

Coach John Wooden states, "Be eager to become the best that you have the ability to become." This quote is one of the most amazing and inspiring I have come across. Too often we make excuses and blame our lack of ability as the reason we did not perform well in a certain task. Granted, most people will never be able to shoot a jump-shot like me nor even come close for that matter. However, there goal should not be to shoot like me but rather to shoot to the best of there respective ability which God has granted them. Practical examples include Naveed Ahmad and Talha Ghumman. In all seriousness, if we really do reflect on the quote, we will see its wisdom and its benefit to our lives. After all, only Allah knows what is ahead of us. Our job is to see to it that we did the best we could to become the best that we could have become. PEACE

Definition for Moderation

2005-06-10T15:31:00.000-04:00

Moderation is the process of eliminating or lessening extremes. It is used to ensure normality throughout that on which it is being conducted. - Wikipedia

I'm a Blogger!

2005-06-10T01:53:00.000-04:00

As corny as I called the world of blogging and those who took part in it, I have caved in and joined this world. Why did I join? My intention for starting this blog is to have a place where I can reflect my thoughts and share it with other people. Also, I want to use it as a source to recall my past when I read it in the future. Does'nt sound too unique, does it. Whateva. Its all good.
Insha'Allah, Allah accepts this blog and makes it a source of good for me and others in this world and the next. Ya Allah, put barakah into my blogging and make me of the best of bloggers. Indeed, all praise is due to you alone and it you we ask to send peace and blessing upon your beloved servant, Muhammad ibn Abdallah, who you sent as a mercy for all of mankind and made the seal of all the prophets.