Tuesday, 3 June 2008
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
I feel I know you: when two souls meet
When we meet someone and are attracted to him or her, we may feel it is looks, humour, intelligence that attracts us. Whilst those attributes may influence our decision-making, it is the soul that becomes excited as it resonates with the other person’s soul.
Looks, intelligence, smell and sexual attraction play a part as these are naturally and culturally defined attributes that we are conditioned to seek. These attributes, however, are superficial when we consider what is happening at the level of the soul.
Our personality is an expression of the soul. The soul is attracted not by looks, physical appearance, wealth or intelligence. Rather, the soul resonates with the soul vibration (personality) of the other person and it is this that excites us. When two souls resonate together it is a powerful, unstoppable force. The soul carries the personality and the personality carries all our experiences and feelings gained in present and past lives.
It may be that two souls have been together in a previous life or lives, or maybe two souls that are destined to share life or part of the soul’s journey and gain experience together. In this case, the souls may have experienced and learnt to love each other over many years, or there may be karma to be balanced. When we meet someone and instantly feel that we have fallen in love, it may be a reunion of souls or a meeting of purpose.
Destiny is a real and living entity. How often do we hear about two people meeting and they say it was a coincidence how they met. One of them might say
'I wasn’t going to that café. I only went there because someone else cancelled, and that is how we met'.
Think about how two people meet and they experience love at first sight. Prior to that meeting, what would have happened if they were late and didn’t connect with each other, maybe turned left instead of right, taken the bus instead of a taxi, gone to café A instead of café B. Stayed home instead of going out. There are many, many reasons why two people might not meet. Therefore, it seems that it is not unrealistic to suggest that perhaps it was no coincidence, rather, it was a meeting that was always meant to happen.
When we look into the eyes of someone we are attracted to and we feel overwhelmed, joyful, feel that perhaps we are in love, in fact this is not just appreciation of the other’s physical appearance or characteristics, but two souls (the eyes are the windows of the soul) connecting and telling us this very strongly.
Of course, it is possible to have sexual attraction, but this is a physical sensation. When the soul is excited, it surpasses any physical feelings because the soul operates at a much deeper level. For example, many people have experienced intense sexual desire often for the sexual desire and interest to lessen over time. This is not love at the level of the soul, it is a physical desire.
Physical and sexual attraction should not be disregarded as unimportant as there are many lessons that can be learned from being in a relationship with another person. But when two souls resonate together they are operating way beyond the level of physical or sexual attraction and it is for this reason that when two souls resonate harmoniously, there is a much greater likelihood of ongoing love and sexual harmony.
We are attracted, therefore, not to physical characteristics, but to the personality and all the feelings and emotions that are contained within it. Therefore, we shouldn’t worry about whether or not we’ll meet someone special, or if a present partner is right for us.
The soul will very forcibly let us know if we have met our destiny.
We are attracted, therefore, not to physical characteristics, but to the personality and all the feelings and emotions that are contained within it. Therefore, we shouldn’t worry about whether or not we’ll meet someone special, or if a present partner is right for us.
The soul will very forcibly let us know if we have met our destiny.
An extract from 'I feel I know you: When two souls meet' by Martin Lever. Due for publication in 2008.
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
Fatawa: Smoking
Gulf Times
Friday, 16 March, 2007
Smoking
Smoking did not exist in the time of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) yet we know that Islam forbids all things that are harmful to the body in general, along with anything that harms one’s neighbours or wastes money. We put before you the following evidence regarding the ruling on smoking so that you can discern for yourself whether or not it is halaal (permissible) or haraam (forbidden).
We do not advocate each individual making Islamic rulings on their own. Our aim in taking this approach is to give the reader an opportunity toreflect and consider the evidence for themselves, especially if they are smokers, because nothing is more convincing at times than one’s ownrationale.
1. Allah Ta’ala states in Soorah Al-’Araaf Aayah 157: He has allowed forthem all good and lawful things [at-tayyibaat] and forbids for them all evil and unlawful things [al-khabaa-ith]... Smoking is of the harmful and evil and unlawful things.
2. Allah Ta’ala states in Soorah Al-Baqarah Aayah 195: And do not throw yourselves into destruction... Smoking causes or contributes to a host of illnesses such as throat, mouth and lung cancer, tuberculosis, emphysema,respiratory ailments, high blood pressure, heart disease, and the listgoes on...
3. Allah Ta’ala states in Soorah Al-Israa Aayah 26-27: But spend not wastefully of your wealth in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily, the spendthrifts are brothers of the shayaateen (devils). Smoking is a waste of money and of the deeds of Shaitaan (Satan).
4. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said in an authentic hadith: Laa darara wa laa diraar Let there be neither harm nor reciprocating harm. Smoking harms the smoker and the one who is next to him and it is a waste of money.
5. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said in a hadith (mutafaqun‘alaihi) agreed upon by both Al-Bukhari and Muslim: Allah hates that you squander wealth. Smoking is a waste of wealth that is hated by Allah.
6. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said in another hadith (mutafaqun ‘alaihi): The example of a righteous companion and the evil companion is analogous to the seller of perfumes and the blacksmith... The smoker is an evil companion who blows fire.
7. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said in a third hadith(mutafaqun ‘alaihi): My entire ummah (nation) is excused except the mujaahireen (open public sinner). The smoker is an open sinner whose sinis inexcusable unless he abandons his open sinful display.
8. If a person was to burn money we would say to him or her "Are you nuts!Haraam!" So how about the one who spends hundreds of riyals on smoking?!
9. Is it really a part of good religion or morals or plain sensitivity and good taste to disturb and harass people with your cigarette or pipe smoke and pollute their clean air?! You must know that polluting the air is as bad as polluting drinking water.
10. Have you ever asked yourself if smoking will be put on your scale of good deeds or the scale of wrong and evil deeds?!
So what do you think the ruling on smoking is? Halaal or haraam?
Brother or Sister Muslim Smoker...Ask Allah for help and be determined to quit smoking. Whatever someone drops for the sake of Allah, He will surely help him. Be patient and remember that Allah is with the patient. Make supplication (du’aa) to Allah with the utmost sincerity especially after the adhaan and the salaatand any other time.
Say: O Allah make it clear to me that smoking isuseless and wrong and give me the strength to shun it and make itloathsome and hateful to me, Aameen.
The Islamic Ruling
Smoking in all its forms [i.e. cigars, cigarettes, pipes, water pipes,etc.) is haraam (forbidden) and working in a factory that produces cigarsor cigarettes and the like is also forbidden and therefore any earnings from such work are also haraam and constitute unlawful provisions.
Buying,and selling cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc. is also forbidden as is renting retail space to someone who will sell cigarettes from that place is also forbidden (haraam). All of this is co-operation in sin and enmity which isexpressly forbidden in the Qur’an and the authentic sunnah. All forms of smoking are clearly filth and the one who is afflicted with it muststruggle to the utmost to rid themselves of this filthy habit.
The above is a summarisation of the Islamic ruling related by Shaykh AbdulAziz Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdur-Rahman Ibn Baz and Shaykh Muhammad As-Saaleh Al-’Uthaimeen (rahimahullah) and the Permanent Council of Fiqh in SaudiArabia and is agreed upon by the majority of Islamic scholars worldwide.
A small minority of scholars say that smoking is allowable while some haveruled it as detestable. The evidence of the harmfulness of smoking and theclear principles of Islam based upon the absolute proofs within the Qur’anand the authentic Sunnah, some of which was related above, clearly supportthe position of tahreem (being haraam) as the strongest and correctruling.
Source: Gulf Times
Friday, 16 March, 2007
Smoking
Smoking did not exist in the time of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) yet we know that Islam forbids all things that are harmful to the body in general, along with anything that harms one’s neighbours or wastes money. We put before you the following evidence regarding the ruling on smoking so that you can discern for yourself whether or not it is halaal (permissible) or haraam (forbidden).
We do not advocate each individual making Islamic rulings on their own. Our aim in taking this approach is to give the reader an opportunity toreflect and consider the evidence for themselves, especially if they are smokers, because nothing is more convincing at times than one’s ownrationale.
1. Allah Ta’ala states in Soorah Al-’Araaf Aayah 157: He has allowed forthem all good and lawful things [at-tayyibaat] and forbids for them all evil and unlawful things [al-khabaa-ith]... Smoking is of the harmful and evil and unlawful things.
2. Allah Ta’ala states in Soorah Al-Baqarah Aayah 195: And do not throw yourselves into destruction... Smoking causes or contributes to a host of illnesses such as throat, mouth and lung cancer, tuberculosis, emphysema,respiratory ailments, high blood pressure, heart disease, and the listgoes on...
3. Allah Ta’ala states in Soorah Al-Israa Aayah 26-27: But spend not wastefully of your wealth in the manner of a spendthrift. Verily, the spendthrifts are brothers of the shayaateen (devils). Smoking is a waste of money and of the deeds of Shaitaan (Satan).
4. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said in an authentic hadith: Laa darara wa laa diraar Let there be neither harm nor reciprocating harm. Smoking harms the smoker and the one who is next to him and it is a waste of money.
5. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said in a hadith (mutafaqun‘alaihi) agreed upon by both Al-Bukhari and Muslim: Allah hates that you squander wealth. Smoking is a waste of wealth that is hated by Allah.
6. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said in another hadith (mutafaqun ‘alaihi): The example of a righteous companion and the evil companion is analogous to the seller of perfumes and the blacksmith... The smoker is an evil companion who blows fire.
7. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said in a third hadith(mutafaqun ‘alaihi): My entire ummah (nation) is excused except the mujaahireen (open public sinner). The smoker is an open sinner whose sinis inexcusable unless he abandons his open sinful display.
8. If a person was to burn money we would say to him or her "Are you nuts!Haraam!" So how about the one who spends hundreds of riyals on smoking?!
9. Is it really a part of good religion or morals or plain sensitivity and good taste to disturb and harass people with your cigarette or pipe smoke and pollute their clean air?! You must know that polluting the air is as bad as polluting drinking water.
10. Have you ever asked yourself if smoking will be put on your scale of good deeds or the scale of wrong and evil deeds?!
So what do you think the ruling on smoking is? Halaal or haraam?
Brother or Sister Muslim Smoker...Ask Allah for help and be determined to quit smoking. Whatever someone drops for the sake of Allah, He will surely help him. Be patient and remember that Allah is with the patient. Make supplication (du’aa) to Allah with the utmost sincerity especially after the adhaan and the salaatand any other time.
Say: O Allah make it clear to me that smoking isuseless and wrong and give me the strength to shun it and make itloathsome and hateful to me, Aameen.
The Islamic Ruling
Smoking in all its forms [i.e. cigars, cigarettes, pipes, water pipes,etc.) is haraam (forbidden) and working in a factory that produces cigarsor cigarettes and the like is also forbidden and therefore any earnings from such work are also haraam and constitute unlawful provisions.
Buying,and selling cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc. is also forbidden as is renting retail space to someone who will sell cigarettes from that place is also forbidden (haraam). All of this is co-operation in sin and enmity which isexpressly forbidden in the Qur’an and the authentic sunnah. All forms of smoking are clearly filth and the one who is afflicted with it muststruggle to the utmost to rid themselves of this filthy habit.
The above is a summarisation of the Islamic ruling related by Shaykh AbdulAziz Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdur-Rahman Ibn Baz and Shaykh Muhammad As-Saaleh Al-’Uthaimeen (rahimahullah) and the Permanent Council of Fiqh in SaudiArabia and is agreed upon by the majority of Islamic scholars worldwide.
A small minority of scholars say that smoking is allowable while some haveruled it as detestable. The evidence of the harmfulness of smoking and theclear principles of Islam based upon the absolute proofs within the Qur’anand the authentic Sunnah, some of which was related above, clearly supportthe position of tahreem (being haraam) as the strongest and correctruling.
Source: Gulf Times
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