Your Prayer, Your neighbor and the Microphone

If there is one thing that causes me so much anguish anytime I enter into most mosques, it is their wanton use of the microphone and amplifiers. The reason given for this innovation (anything that is ultra vires Islamic Laws is called Bid'ah translated as such) is that to amplify the Imaam's verbal utterances during the prayers.

To say the use of the mic and the amplifiers is alien to the spirit of the prayer is an understatement. Islam is a religion of ease, peace and mutual respect. Most of the time you see these Imaams clinching to these microphones like it is a matter of life and death, shouting into them and making unwarranted noise. If the noise was limited to them alone, I'd not be worried. 

Most of these mosques are situated in areas not inhabited only by Muslims but also non-Muslims alike. Has it occurred to users of these needless noise making gadgets that they are making life unbearable for their neighbors? How can we reconcile disturbing others and saying we are praying at the same time? Our prayers should be a source of peace and tranquility not only to us but also to all those around us.

The moment our prayers begin to digress from that noble goal, then there is a problem. What makes matters worse is that most of the time these mosques have no more than 3 lines (Saff) of people praying on a typical day. What then is the justification for so much noise when everybody IN the mosque can hear the Imaan loud and clear without a gadget? 

The excuse that the microphone and amplifiers are used to summon people to prayer is also hogwash. Islam is 1431 years old, when were these gizmos invented? All that while what were our predecessors using to call people to prayer? The use of these gadgets that turn the mosques into noise factories are no doubt Haram (prohibited in no uncertain terms) and should be condemned by all of us.

Our prayers and entire existence should be in themselves callers to our Deen (way of Islam), not the other way round. If you pray in a mosque that has been turned into a noise factory, you owe it a duty to Islam and Allah, Exalted Be He to talk some reasoning into those who use it. Islam is peace, and making life needlessly uncomfortable for our neighbors should not be part of our culture.

Oh America, I Thought You Were Wiser Than That!

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Those are not my words but a verbatim reproduction of the religious aspects of the first amendment to the US constitution. If there is one thing that has become manifestly clear in the last couple of weeks, it is that the above dictum of the law is subject to the interpretation of the politicians.

You see for sometime, I always saw the American society as an advanced, knowledgeable society that has contributed a lot- especially in the technological realm- to the advancement of mankind. But alas, this perception has been proved to be mostly wrong in the light of the on going brouhaha over the sighting of a Muslim Cultural Center near the twin towers, or where they used to stand. Now I am beginning to believe it is the most intolerant, backward, marauding, hostile, antiquated society out there!

The only reason those opposing this project give is that it is an insensitivity to the victims of the September 11th attacks in 2001. Just that? Yes. You might want to ask Sarah Palin and a bunch from the Republican Party. This excuse alone is in itself an insult to the hundreds of thousands of mothers, brothers, sisters, fathers and sons who are still mourning their loved ones who have been killed because the USA illegally, immorally, criminally and unjustifiably invaded Iraq, at the behest of a war monger.

What is more insensitive than use false evidence to invade a whole country, disgrace and then murder its head of state, open a Pandora box of extremely violent sociopaths who distort religion for their political gains, and not even offer an apology? Those who were behind such incomprehensible crimes are actually talking about insensitivity? 

In as much as I vehemently condemn the evil acts of 9/11, I find it very insulting, personally as a Muslim for none other than people from the Republican Party to actually say the project is an insensitivity to others. If for anything at all, the very law that they seek to defend, guarantees Muslims in America the right to own property just as the next guy. 

Not only people from that party, but also some from the ruling Democratic party have voiced similarly hollow and foolish opposition. Some have even said Obama is a Muslim, which in itself has raised a hail storm of protests among some dumb Joes. My message to you America is simple.

Live by the very constitution and tenets you shove down the throats of other countries. Let there be a government that answers to the people, not some corporate run gang that answers to a few shareholders. Educate your mostly  Average Joes to know that Islam is not equal to Evil. Know that you cannot fight Islam. 

You have been trying for about 20 years now to fight Islam and you keep failing, and will forever fail. No person, group, organization, country, army or whatever can fight Islam. For the 1431 years that Islam has been in existence, there have been all sorts of attempts to "kill" it, all failed. Not you America, can extinguish the Light of Islam. You can kill all the 6 million Muslims in America and Islam will still persist there. Islam is nothing more than a civilization that has nothing against you. 

There are 1.3 billion of us who are mourning every single one of the innocent people that your marauding, hegemonic acts kill. Do not try to worsen our plight by making it glaringly clear that you want a war with us. Do not stupidly play into the hands of the so called "terrorists" that you have on your endless wanted list.

Oh America, should you nuke all of us Muslims on Earth, know that Islam will still not die for we are not its defenders. Its defender is the One Being that you spend billions of Dollars in your effort to deny His existence. Oh America, you cannot fight Islam, it is a war you cannot win. All you are doing is a declaration of war against Islam, telling the world Islam is not welcome in your country. Oh America, you cannot fight Islam, don't even waste your time.

[Series] How should Muslims respond to calamities?

Calamities keep befalling us every single day of our lives, both individually or collectively as an Umma (a nation). However, the greatest test of the faith, wisdom and fortitude of a Muslim is how he or she handles this calamity or misfortune.

This life is a place of trials and tribulations. A place where we as humans will necessarily have to go through difficulties at one point of our lives or the other. How then do we respond to these calamities as Muslims who profess to have believed in Allah, Exalted be He? 

Repentance

As Muslims, the moment we are afflicted by any calamity, the first thing we have to do is immediately turn to Allah, Exalted be He, in Repentance. Why you ask? Because He says

"And We shall cause them to taste of the small punishment before the greater one, in the hope that they return (to our Way)."

So when a calamity befalls us, it just might be that we are committing some sin that Allah, Exalted be He, wishes to jolt us into refraining from, so He sends a calamity our way. We as Muslims should never, ever go round complaining about how so and so has befallen us. No! 

We must reflect upon our lives, ask what we just might be doing wrong that might cause the Most High to send such a calamity down our way. And believe me, if you do an honest assessment of your life in times of calamity, you are sure to find some wrong doings that your heart will immediately tell you to not ever do again.

Patience

Reflecting upon our lives is just the first step. The next step is patience. In fact, patience should be the middle name of every Muslim out there. Allah, Exalted be He, has said 

"Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere"

The above verse should be enough to cure the anxiety disorder of many people out there. You have been told before hand that you will DEFINITELY be tested with all forms of calamities. But then the best of you are the patient. Why then would you fret and go out of your way to worry when that calamity you were promised befalls?

There are those who believe this life should be all rosy and any misfortune is from the devil. NO! Allah, Exalted be He, has never said anywhere that life is without trials. Even the Prophets were subjected to trials, how much more you and I in this day and age?

You must have patience and have full faith in Allah Exalted be He. Knowing with conviction that all that is befalling you is by the permission of Allah Exalted be He and are part of life to help you distinguish yourself from the rest.

You must have patience, patience and patience all your life as Muslim. You owe it to yourself for it is a great remedy for the heart. Most anxiety disorders, heart problems and other medical disorders can easily be avoided if we just have a little patience, fortitude and a firm conviction that Allah, Exalted be He is in control of every molecular atom on this Earth and for that matter, our lives.

In the next discussion, we are going to look at some very enchanting verses from the third Surah, Al-Imaran of the Quran that demonstrates, in very beautiful ways how we as Muslims should respond to a calamity Insha Allah.

For the mean time, do share with us how you handle calamities that befall you.