Identity

One should always examine one's character, beliefs, behavior, etc. An important part of any human being is their identity. We tend to indentify with others that we have the most in common. If you are infatuated about sports you will tend to associate with others of similar beliefs. if you are materialistic the majority of your friends will likely be materialistic. If you are of strong iman, most of your friends will be of strong iman. Over time your friends will tend to have influences over your behavior and you will tend to absorb and imitate them.

You should self examine yourself and your friends. Would the prophet prayers and peace be upon him approve of my friends? Are my friends too concerned about the dunya and not about Islam? Do we get together and talk about others? Are we constantly envying others with regards to their house, expensive cars, lifestyle, kids, etc? If the answer is yes then you need new friends.

Another way of looking at it is if you died today what would people say about you? Were you a person of strong iman, honesty, compassion, good alm, humbleness? Or were you a person that chased this dunya and made sure people noticed your successes while Islam was secondary? Remember in the end you do not take the material gains with you, only your good and bad deeds. On the day of judgement no degree, wealth, car, or position will be of benefit to you.

How is your Heart?

I was listening Hamza Yusuf explain Sidi Ahmad Zarruq The Poor Man's Book of Assistance. It deals with the diseased heart; that is, is your heart full of envy, arrogance, greed, miserliness, hatred, cruelty, etc. Or is full of love, patience, compassion, generosity, humbleness?

When you visit your successful friends, do you have envy? Do you look down on people that are less successful than you? Do you hardly forgive others for mistakes? Do you yell at others for mistakes? Do you always think that you are right? Do you backbite and gossip on others? Do you always delay your prayer? Reflect on this and write them down if you have these ailments. Look back on your past and closely examine your actions. Ask yourself what is the main focus everyday dunya or Allah. We all have to some degree a diseased heart, some worse than others.

The treatment first is to acknowledge the problem and then you can treat your heart. Ask for forgiveness from Allah and then try to increase your iman. Fast a few days out of the month. Pray extra rakkahs. Try to read the Quran daily. Do thikr. Increase your knowledge. Do your prayers on time for it lets you keep Allah as the center of your life not dunya. Associate with friends with strong iman and knowledge for over time you will tend to absorb and reflect their piety. Avoid friends that are caught up in dunya and of weak iman. You will notice eventually your heart will become pure and strong. You will make mistakes but this time you will feel guilty and remorse and your conscious will deeply bother you which is a reflection of your strong iman and pure heart.

At the end of your aisha prayer reflect on the day that just past and review your actions. Was I patient, calm, humble, compassionate? Did I do my prayers on time? Did I always say inshallah? Then after the fajr prayer prepare for the coming day and Seek guidance and mercy from Allah. These actions should be habitual to point that if you miss them then you feel bad and as if something is missing.

Extremism

We always hear in the media about Islamic extremist or Muslim extremist or Jihadist, etc. Next time you hear this remember the West's history in the 20th century.
Western civilization is the most barbaric of all civilizations in the 20th century. Remember WWI, WWII, Vietnam, colonization of Algeria, India, slave trade, slaughter of native americans, Holocaust, overthrowing elected governments of Iran, Chile, Guatamala. How about the death squads in El Salvador armed and trained by the US with over 70,000 dead or the support of the contras in Nicaragua. Recently, there was the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Palestine or apartheid in South Africa. If we add up all people killed by Western civilizations in the 20th century which is based on Judeo-Christian values the ratio is more than 60 to 1 compared to killings by Muslims. Is Western civilization so barbaric that you almost got rid of the Jews in WWII and killed at least 60 million people? Now look at Iraq and Palestine, add up the dead on both sides and ask yourself who is more inherently violent Islam or the West? It is amazing how people have such short term memory. Remember numbers do not lie.

So am I to characterize Western civilization as barbaric based on the actions of their democratically elected government or say that is the actions of the government but the people are not held responsible?


Are there acts of terrorism committed by Muslims? Of course and they should be condemned but terror committed by Muslims is so minuscule when compared to the West. The West simply uses newspeak to justify their actions.

Collateral damage--sorry we did not mean, we are being very careful next time and we do not target civilians

Democracy--really means that our guys rule not you elect

Economic reform--opening the markets so Western corporations can enter and rape your economy

Freedom--ability for us to infiltrate your country and do as we like

Fight terror--excuse to invade, occupy, control and rob your country

Love of this World

I just got back from vacation with one of my good friends who is very knowledgeable on Islam and well read. We were talking about Muslims today and their love of this world. The focus of many Muslims in the middle east, especially the middle class and above, is accumulation of material wealth over Islam. They desire that huge mansion and the latest Mercedes. Or they desire a ministerial position that comes with it a great deal of power, their own entourage, and constant praises by mindless advisors. They will rationalize selling alcohol or supporting the West to oppress and colonize Muslims. Some even put christmas trees in their houses during the winter. They become obsessed with the latest Hollywood movie or what so and so actor does. These are all distractions and worthless endeavors. On the Day of Judgement Allah will judge you on your actions, iman, intentions, and on the purity of your heart not on whether you have a Mercedes or BMV or eat at the most expensive restaurants and vacation in Europe.
Love of this dunya (world) and forgetting why we are here leads people astray. That is why many people steal, lie, spite others, connive, oppress, and kill. In my opinion obession and love with this world along with nationalism is what is keeping us so weak, fragmented and backward.
Any practicing muslim that has a strong Iman would not steal, connive, kill, oppress, connive, lie, for they fear God and the consequences on the Day of Judgement. People with a weak Iman and obsession of this world, will people steal, lie, spite others, connive, oppress, and kill to gain that extra advantage for more material gain, forgetting that al rizk min aand allah or our bounty is only from Allah. Why else do people in positions of power commit these acts?
There is nothing wrong with accumulation of material wealth as long as it is obtained via halal means and you pay zakat. But our primary goal should not be accumulation of wealth while we neglect our Islam or compromise on our Islam. We should also remain humble if we become wealthy for arrogance (kibar) is a bad trait and many wealthy people become arrogant.