ummtaalib

Be more Concerned about the Opinion of Allah Ta’ala than the Opinions of People Once, a person addressed Hazrat Abu Zarr Ghifaari (Radiyallahu Anhu) in a rude manner and began hurling abuse at him. Hazrat Abu Zarr Ghifaari (Radiyallahu Anhu) replied by saying: “The only barrier between Jannat and I is a valley. If I am able to cross over that valley, then I take an oath by Allah that I am not concerned and troubled by what you have to say. However, if I am unable to cross over and I am left on the other side (i.e. the side of Jahannum) then really I am much worse than all what you have to say.” (Jawaahir Paare)

Q: I divorced my wife two years a go. I still have not paid her dowry. I can not afford it. Is it possible if I pay her whatever I can? A: The full amount is a debt upon you. Hence you should pay her the full amount unless she is prepared to forgive you and wave off the debt. And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best. وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ وَقَدْ فَرَضْتُمْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ إِلَّا أَن يَعْفُونَ أَوْ يَعْفُوَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ عُقْدَةُ النِّكَاحِ وَأَن تَعْفُوا أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ وَلَا تَنسَوُا الْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ﴿البقرة: ٢٣٧﴾ Answered by: Mufti Zakaria Makada Checked & Approved: Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

Duaa to Earn one Forgiveness of Sins and Safety from Jahannum One should Recite the Following Duaa in the Morning and Evening اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَصْبَحْتُ أُشْهِدُكَ وَأُشْهِدُ حَمَلَةَ عَرْشِكَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَكَ وَجَمِيعَ خَلْقِكَ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ وَحْدَكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُكَ وَرَسُولُكَ O Allah, I spend the morning while I call upon You, and I call upon the angels who are the bearers of Your throne, and I call upon Your (other) angels and I call upon Your entire creation to bear witness that You are Allah, none is worthy of worship except You. You are alone, You have no partner, and Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is Your messenger. عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من قال حين يصبح اللهم إنى أصبحت أشهدك وأشهد حملة عرشك وملائكتك وجميع خلقك أنك أنت الله لا إله إلا أنت وحدك لا شريك لك وأن محمدا عبدك ورسولك إلا غفر له ما أصاب فى يومه ذلك من ذنب وإن قالها حين يمسى غفر له ما أصاب تلك الليلة (ابو داود رقم 5080) Hadhrat Anas (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “The one who recites the following Duaa in the morning, then whatever sins he commits during that day will be forgiven. And whoever recites it in the evening, then whatever sins he commits during the night will be forgiven. اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَصْبَحْتُ أُشْهِدُكَ وَأُشْهِدُ حَمَلَةَ عَرْشِكَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَكَ وَجَمِيعَ خَلْقِكَ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ وَحْدَكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُكَ وَرَسُولُكَ عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال من قال حين يصبح أو يمسى اللهم إنى أصبحت أشهدك وأشهد حملة عرشك وملائكتك وجميع خلقك أنك أنت الله لا إله إلا أنت وأن محمدا عبدك ورسولك أعتق الله ربعه من النار فمن قالها مرتين أعتق الله نصفه ومن قالها ثلاثا أعتق الله ثلاثة أرباعه فإن قالها أربعا أعتقه الله من النار (ابو داود رقم 5071) Hadhrat Anas (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “The one who recites the following Duaa once in the morning or in the evening, then Allah Ta’ala will save one quarter of his body from the fire of Jahannum. Whoever recites it twice, Allah Ta’ala will save half of his body from the fire of Jahannum. Whoever recites it thrice, Allah Ta’ala will save two thirds of his body from the fire of Jahannum. Whoever recites it four times, Allah Ta’ala will save his entire body from the fire of Jahannum اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَصْبَحْتُ أُشْهِدُكَ وَأُشْهِدُ حَمَلَةَ عَرْشِكَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَكَ وَجَمِيعَ خَلْقِكَ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ وَحْدَكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُكَ وَرَسُولُكَ Note: When reciting the Duaa in the evening, one will recite the word إنى أمسيت instead of إنى أصبحت. One should not construe the above Duaa as a license to intentionally commit sins. However, one should regard this Duaa as a means of grace and blessings from the side of Allah Ta’ala. that if one mistakenly had fallen into sin, then Allah Ta’ala will forgive him through the blessing of this Duaa. Ihyaaud Deen

Question What is the correct way according to sunnah of drinking Zamzam water sitting or standing? Answer (Fatwa: 1220/1028/B=1433) Zamzam is very sacred and holy water. Hence it is better and mustahab to drink it while standing. However, if someone drank it sitting then it is also lawful. Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best Darul Ifta, Darul Uloom Deoband

Q: How to deal with a husband who regularly disobeys Allah and gets angry when wife reminds him to stop bad habits? A: Don’t approach him directly. However, commence ta`leem in the home in the mornings and evenings for at least ten to fifteen minutes and then beg Allah Ta`ala’s assistance and guidance for all. And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best. ادعُ إِلىٰ سَبيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالحِكمَةِ وَالمَوعِظَةِ الحَسَنَةِ وَجـٰدِلهُم بِالَّتى هِىَ أَحسَنُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعلَمُ بِالمُهتَدينَ ﴿١٢٥﴾ Answered by: Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

Easter Celebrations If anything is reminiscent of Easter, then it is of shops filled with chocolate bunnies, eggs and hot cross buns. For many of us it may simply be a time to indulge in goodies that only come around once a year. But what really is the meaning of all these things and should we be indulging? The BBC tells us the following: “Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar. It celebrates the resurrection from the dead of Jesus, three days after he was executed.” According to Christian belief, Good Friday commemorates the Friday on which Jesus was killed on the cross and the next Monday was the day he was resurrected. It is important for us and especially our children who may be exposed to such Christian beliefs at schools to know the true Islamic belief surrounding this issue. î Firstly, Allah is one, eternal and absolute. Neither does he have a son, nor does he die and subsequently be resurrected. î Secondly, Esa Alayhis Salaam (Jesus in English) was one of foremost prophets of Allah. His message, as was the message of all prophets before him, was to worship Allah alone and to submit to His will. î Thirdly, neither was Jesus killed or crucified. Allah Ta’ala divinely protected him and raised him to the heavens where he currently resides. Towards the end of this earthly life, Allah will once again send him to this world, where he will complete the rest of his earthly lifespan and will play his role in establishing Islam on the earth. These are integral beliefs of a Muslim. Ensuring that our children and ourselves are educated regarding the same are essential requirements of Imaan. Masjid Poster of this article can be downloaded here. Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians 223 Alpine Road, Overport,

Rayyan Institute Mercy. Inspiration. Relevance. Our VisionRayyan Institute aims to educate Muslims in their religion in a manner that is easy to comprehend and practical to implement in their lives. Realizing the importance of proper Islamic knowledge in the lives of all Muslims, we offer a commitment to seekers of knowledge to give them the tools to become better Muslims and role-models for their families and communities. With us, seekers of knowledge put themselves on a path through which they can acquire Divine Pleasure and Divine Mercy, which are both priceless. How we teach Rayyan Institute offers its classes in an online format, which means that all you need is an internet connection and a computer, tablet or phone (with speakers or headset) to attend a class from anywhere in the world. Our Approach One of the greatest challenges facing our communities today is that although people have the motivation to advance their Islamic knowledge, there is generally a lack of effort in seeing it through. This is due to a number of obstacles which we intend to remove. The first obstacle is that people think it is difficult to acquire sacred knowledge. They think that you have to be in a certain place, classroom, masjid, or seminary at a particular time. How many times have you desired to join a class you heard about online but were unable to attend due to distance or schedule conflicts. Now, you have access to interactive, live and pre-recorded, sessions from virtually anywhere in the world and learn from some of the best contemporary scholars. Another obstacle is the perceived difficulty in comprehending the subtleties and complexities of certain Islamic sciences. The aim at Rayyan Institute is to simplify our courses and make them easy to understand but without losing the nuances and subtleties of each science. Our teachers have experience in conveying their knowledge in a manner relevant to even the average Muslim.

Recite Durood From Wherever you May Be عن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لا تجعلوا بيوتكم قبورا ولا تجعلوا قبرى عيدا وصلوا على فإن صلاتكم تبلغنى حيث كنتم (ابو داود رقم 2044) Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Do not make your homes into graveyards (i.e. Recite Qur’an and perform salaah in your home so that the home does not be a place void of Aa’maal as is the case of the graveyard), and do not make my grave a place of festivity, and recite durood upon me, for certainly your durood reaches me from wherever you may be. يَا رَبِّ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّم دَائِمًا أَبَدًا عَلَى حَبِيبِكَ خَيرِ الخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ

Ikhlaas - Sincerity from “Good Character” by Shaykh Maseehullah Khan (Rahmatullaah) a well known Shaykh of Tasawwuf. Essence: The sole intention in one's obedience to Allah ta'ala should be to please Him and attain nearness to Him. The pleasure of others or their happiness for reasons other than the above, the satisfaction of desires, the acheivements of material gain or any ulterior motive should not enter one's mind. Ikhlaas has different degrees: a) Complete Ikhlaas where the intention is to please Allah ta'ala only b) Ikhlaas of a lower degree is where the intention is to please others without ant motive of personal benefit. c) The lowest degree is the absence of any intention , being "empty minded". This is also Ikhlaas but is very close to Riyaa. Acqusition: 1. Remove Riyaa 2. Concentrate on the quality of deeds and not on their quantity. Where a deed is performed with complete sincerity, the rewards are proportionately greater.

Adopting Ikhlaas for Forty Days عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم قال من أخلص لله أربعين يوما ظهرت ينابيع الحكمة من قلبه على لسانه )ذكره رزين العبدري في كتابه ولم أره في شيء من الأصول التي جمعها ولم أقف له على إسناد صحيح ولا حسن إنما ذكر في كتب الضعفاء كالكامل وغيره لكن رواه الحسين بن الحسين المروزي في زوائده في كتاب الزهد لعبد الله بن المبارك فقال حدثنا أبو معاوية أنبأنا حجاج عن مكحول عن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم فذكره مرسلا وكذا رواه أبو الشيخ ابن حبان وغيره عن مكحول مرسلا والله أعلم( (الترغيب و الترهيب 1/62) Hadhrat ibn Abbaas (Radhiyallahu Anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Whoever adopts the condition of ikhlaas in all his Aa’maal (i.e. bringing true faith in Allah Ta’ala alone and doing every action for His pleasure in accordance to the prescribed manner) for forty days, then springs of wisdom will flow from his heart upon his tongue Ihyaaud Deen

Sincerity Once ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul ‘Azîz (rahimahullâh) was advised, “O ‘Umar, beware of being the ally of Allâh in open,while being His enemy in secret. If one’s nature in open and secret do not equate, then he is a hypocrite, and the hypocrites occupy the lowest level in the Hellfire.” From amongst the most difficult things one can acquire is sincerity and because of this, the pious predecessors ( as-salah as-salih) would try to block off all their acts of worship from riyaa (showing off) by hiding their good deeds just as they would hide their evil deeds. They would advise each other with words such as “Do not be an enemy to Shaytaan in public and his friend in private”; or in other words, make sure you are the same person in public as you are when in seclusion. Because of this, they loved to be alone and busy in acts of worship wherein only Allah could see them. As for those deeds which were public, then the following story would suffice: a student of Abdullah bin Masoud once hosted a blind man for a meal and decorated his meal as if he could see. When the people inquired as to why he was decorating the food to for a man who couldn’t even see, he replied by saying “But Allah can see!” Because of this, one of the best definitions of sincerity is to forget about the creation by constantly looking at the Creator (in terms of gaining admiration for your deeds); thereby not caring whether or not the people see any single act of worship. So when a man gets up to worship, he does not think about the people’s thoughts and does not care whether they praise him, or if they criticize him because he only sees Allah in front of him, thereby reaching the level of ihsan Then he (the man) said,“Inform me about Ihsan.” He (the Messenger of Allah) answered, “It is that you should serve Allah as though you could see Him, and even though you cannot see Him yet He sees you.” - Muslim So when one reaches ihsan, he does not become like those who Ali bin Abi Talib said regarding the insincere:“The one who shows off has three characteristics: he is lazy when by himself, he is lively and energetic when with others and he increases in his actions when he is praised and decreases in them when he is criticised. ”Because of the difficulty of sincerity, they (as-salaf) considered themselves to be hypocrites as it was said that a Tabi’e met thirty companions of the Prophet and all of them feared hypocrisy for themselves. These were the companions of the Prophet , those men and women who Allah was pleased with and who were pleased with Allah, so how about someone lower than them, people like us who act as if we have been granted Paradise while living on earth. And what is even more astonishing than this is Umar bin al-Khattab’s asking Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman if he (Umar) were among the hypocrites! So one can never be sincere if he thinks himself to be sincere; since sincerity is to lose the vision of sincerity in oneself. And because of the greatness of sincerity, they (as-salaf) would say “whoever had a single instance in his lifetime which was purely and sincerely for the sake of Allah will be saved” since it has the capacity to purify you from all your sins. One of the salaf once remarked on how happy he would be if he only knew Allah accepted even two rakaat of salaah from him! Because of their sincerity they lived a pure life, free from anxiety and grief since it was to Allah that they turned to in both good and bad times. And perhaps ibn al-Qayyim rahimullah reflected on this when he said: Ikhlaas and Tawheed are a tree in the heart, its branches are good actions and its fruits are a good life in this world, and eternal comfort in the Hereafter; and just like in Paradise where the fruits whose supply is not cut off, nor are they out of reach, likewise are the fruits of Tawheed and Ikhlaas in this world. [ibn al-Qayyim – 'al-Fawaid' 292] So be sincere O servants of Allah and leave the inner cravings for attention for indeed the short-term pleasure attained from people’s admiration is not worth the anger and wrath of Allah and He is not unaware of what you do. And if you were to reflect on the people of insincerity, you would realize how pathetic their situation is, for indeed the one who is insincere cannot see anything except for what is in front of them, thereby unable to have high aspirations and unable to undergo hardship for anything worthy. (30:7} They know only the outside appearance of the life of the world (i.e. the matters of their livelihood, like irrigating or sowing or reaping, etc.), and they are heedless of the Hereafter.And if they could see beyond the outside appearance of this world, they would know with certainty that the only thing that separates them from looking up at the face of Allah is death; and they would never risk insincerity for a miserable gain such as fame in this world for how quick is the passing of this world and how forgetful do people become of each other and finally how useless is the deed that is bereft of sincerity; for indeed the only one Satan is able to lead astray is the one who is insincere. 82: [iblees] said, “By your might, I will surely mislead them all 83: Except, among them, Your sincere and chosen servants. muftisays

Abu Hurayra 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn Sakhr said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Allah does not look at your bodies nor your forms but He looks at your hearts and your actions." Riyad as-Salihin (The Meadows of the Righteous) by Imam Nawawi

Ikhlas In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful. Ikhlas has been interpreted as being upright, sincere, and pure; being distant from show in one’s intention and conduct. Every deed must be for Allah alone and for His pleasure. Sincerity is the spirit of all deeds. Without sincerity all deeds are useless. (Spiritual Discourses, Mufti Taqi Usmani, p.170 v.2) Sincerity is one of the most significant qualities of those most faithful or loyal to Allah. Faithfulness and sincerity were as intrinsic and essential to the Prophets as air and water are to the lives of those who communicate the Prophets’ message to others in every age. In addition, they were the Prophets’ most important sources of power. The Prophets were convinced that they could not take one step forward without sincerity, and the representatives of the cause of Prophethood must believe that they will be able to achieve nothing without it. Sincerity is an attitude of the heart, and God views an individual according to his or her heart’s inclination. I have mentioned a couple of hadiths in this regard below. (Extracted from Imam Nawawi’s Riyadhus Saliheen p.21 –p.22) The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam has said, “Verily Allah does not look to your faces and your wealth but He looks to your heart and to your deeds.” (Sahih Muslim) Saaiduna Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu said that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said in what he reported from his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, “Allah wrote good actions and bad actions and then made that clear. Whoever intends to do a good action and then does not do it, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, will write a full good action for him. If he intends to do it and then does it, Allah will write ten to seven hundred good actions multiplied many times over. If he intends an evil action and then does not do it, Allah will write a full good action for him. If he intends it and then does it, Allah will write one bad action for him.” (Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim) Only Allah Knows Best Mohammed Tosir Miah Darul Ifta Birmingham.

Intention: Validity And Sincerity Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani Question: I am confused about making an intention, a valid intention, and how to please Allah with my intention. Can you please help me? Answer: Assalamu alaikum, The place of the intention is the heart, such that one has the firm determination and resolve when one is about to start (or before it) such that if asked one could reply without hesitation, “I am praying, such and such…” As the fuqaha note, it is rare that one’s actions can be bereft of this minimal intention. Ibn `Abidin mentions that, linguistically, the intention is for the heart to resolve to do something. Formally, it is to firmly resolve to perform an action and to draw closer to Allāh, when initiating the action. [Radd al-Muhtar, Sunan al-Wudu, quoting Allama al-Quhustani and from al-Talwih of Imam al-Taftazani] It should be noted, then, that there are three aspects to the intention: 1) the minimum legally valid intention, which is to firmly resolve to perform an action; 2) intention needed for reward, which is to also intend to draw closer to Allāh; 3) the time: it is a condition that the intention be made as one initiated the action, or just before it. Ibn Abidin said: “Making one’s worship sincerely for Allah alone is obligatory, and showing off in good works (riya’), which is to desire from it other than Allah, is prohibited by scholarly consensus (ijma`) because of the decisive texts that have been transmitted about this. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) called showing off in good works (riya’) the lesser shirk (polytheism). This intention [of drawing closer to Allah] is for achieving reward, not mere validity, for validity related to fulfilling the conditions (shurut) and performing the integrals (arkan), and the intention that relates to validity is to know in one’s heart which prayer one is performing. In Mukhtarat al-Nawazil [a fatwa collection] is says, ‘As for reward, it is related to the soundness of one’s resolve, which is through ikhlas (making one’s worship sincerely for Allah alone).’” [Radd al-Muhtar, 6: 425-426, Kitab al-Hadhr wa'l Ibaha, Bab al-Bay`, abbreviated.] Sayyidi Ibn al-Arabi says in his What the Seeker Needs: “Do everything you do in order to come close to your Lord in your worship and prayers. Think that each deed may be your last act, each prayer your last prostration, that you may not have another chance. If you do this, it will be another motivation for becoming heedful and also for becoming sincere and truthful. Allah does not accept good deeds done unconsciously and insincerely as readily as deeds done in consciousness and sincerity.” Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak said, “How often it is that a small action is made great by its intention, and a great action is made small by its intention.” Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali mentioned that the great Sufi, Fudayl ibn al-`Iyad explained Allah’s words, “That He may test which of you is best in action” (Qur’an, 67:2) by saying, “That is, who is sincere in it and correct in it. And the action that is sincere but incorrect is not accepted. And if it is correct and insincere then it is also not accepted. It is only accepted when it is both sincere and correct. And it is only sincere when it is for the sake of Allah Most High, and correct when it is done according to the sunnah.” Ibn Rajab then said, “And the proof of what Fudayl said lies in the verse, “So whosoever hopes for the meeting with His Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of His Lord ” (Qur’an, 18:110) [ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, Jami` al-Ulum wa'l Hikam, Hadith al-Niyya] May Allah grant us the success to seek Him, and Him alone. To close, Mawlana Jalal al-Din al-Rumi said in his Mathnawi (6: 4302-3): Passion makes the old medicine new: Passion lops off the bough of weariness. Passion is the elixir that renews: how can there be weariness when passion is present? Oh, don’t sigh heavily from fatigue: seek passion, seek passion, seek passion! And Allah knows best. Wassalam, Faraz Rabbani. MMVIII © Faraz Rabbani and SunniPath.

Being Resurrected According to Intentions عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يغزو جيش الكعبة فإذا كانوا ببيداء من الأرض يخسف بأولهم وآخرهم قالت قلت يا رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم كيف يخسف بأولهم وآخرهم وفيهم أسواقهم ومن ليس منهم قال يخسف بأولهم وآخرهم ثم يبعثون على نياتهم رواه البخاري ومسلم وغيرهما (الترغيب و الترهيب 1/64) Hadhrat Aaisha (Radhiallahu Anha) relates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “An army will set out in order to demolish the Ka’bah. When they reach Baaydaa’ (a land on the outskirts of Madinah Tayyibah), the entire army (and all those around the area) will be sunken into the ground.” Hadhrat Aaisha (Radhiallahu Anha) thereupon asked: “O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), how is it that all of them will be sunken into the ground, whereas amongst them were those who merely joined them as tradesmen, as well as those who were not part of the army (i.e. they did not come out with the intention of war)?” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied: “All of them will be sunken into the ground, then on the Day of Qiyaamah they will be resurrected according to their intentions (i.e. those whose intentions were sinister will be punished, and the pious will be rewarded Ihyaaud Deen

“Indeed, actions only go by intentions. Everyone gets what they intend. Anyone, therefore, who emigrates for Allah and His Messenger, then his emigration is indeed for Allah and His Messenger. But anyone who emigrates to gain something of this world or to marry a woman, his emigration is for that for which he emigrated.”

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani Question: What is the relationship between Islam and Sufis? Answer: Assalamu alaikum, The Shari`ah is of fundamental importance to the Sufi path. This point is very strongly made by the great Naqshbandi Sufi, Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi (also known as Imam ar-Rabbani), in his letters. Here is a small excerpt from one of his letters, where he clarifies this topic: For those who may not have heard of Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi, he lived in India in about the 16th Century, and he reinvigorated and re-purified Islam in India, after the highly destructive anti-Islamic policies of the Moghul ruler Akbar. Most of the Naqshbandi lineages today stem from Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi — this is an indication of his great influence. I think there is a strong parallel between Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi’s time and the world today, and so I think we can learn very much from this great Shaykh’s life and writings. The Shari`ah is of fundamental importance to Tasawwuf. Therefore, if someone calls himself a “Shaykh,” yet does not practice the Shari`ah, all Muslims should avoid following him, and prefer to follow a Shaykh who does teach and practice Shari`ah. Wassalam, Fariduddien Rice qibla.com

Method of Reciting the Qur’an Allah Ta‘ala instructs that the Qur’aan should be recited with tarteel. With regards to tilaawat, there are two levels of recitation: (1) Preservation of what has been memorised. For this a haafiz is required to read at a swift pace to cover a good amount of recitation. Otherwise, by reciting slowly he will not be able to frequently complete a khatam. (2) General recitation with tarteel. This basically covers 3 aspects: (1) A melodious tone (2) Slow measured reading with the correct pronunciation. (3) Concentration and contemplation over the message of the Qur’aan. The third aspect is something which is greatly neglected nowadays. If we begin to recite the Qur’aan in this manner, then there will be no need for all these nasheeds and nazams. Moulana Thanwi (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) was very particular in this aspect that when any new mureed would come he would send him to learn the proper recitation of the Qur’aan with tajweed. The main thing is to get the basics right. You do not have to become like Shaikh Abdul Baasit and Shaikh Minshaawi etc. Presently our attention is only towards the display and show, whereas the more important thing is that how much effect is the Qur’an having on the heart. When we come across aayaat on Jannah and Jahannum we should cry and beg Allah Ta‘ala from our hearts. Source: Al-Haadi

HAD I BUT KNOWN '..."The doctor said cheerfully, "Congratulations my daughter!...' Anfal, a rich young girl, sat waiting impatiently at the doctor’s clinic to get the results of a medical test. She was in a hurry to attend a party and feared she might be late for her appointment with the hairdresser. She never thought the result would be anything important. It was just a precaution insisted upon by her family. She had never suffered any serious illness, apart from the odd ache in her limbs. Then, it was her turn to see the doctor. She hurried inside to get it over with as quickly as possible. She was surprised to see the doctor look sad and concerned as he asked, "Is this yours?" She answered, "No, it is my daughter’s." She wanted to know the truth and thought that perhaps he would hide the truth, if she told him it was her own. He asked her to have a seat, so she sat feeling somewhat afraid. She looked at him anxiously, as he said,"Why did not you send a man to get the results?" Anfal said, "It was on my way so there was no need to send someone else. "The doctor looked sadly at her and said, "You seem to be an educated girl. You understand the nature of life."He stopped talking, and she began to tremble. She asked, "What do you mean doctor?" The doctor said, "The result indicates that there is a blood disease." He looked down at his papers and remained silent. Anfal had to ask him to give her more information. She cried in fear, "Is it cancer?" He did not look at her, but a cloud of sadness covered his face. It was as if he was sentencing her to death. She said in a broken voice, "I am finished then." The doctor knew then that she had lied, but it was too late to hide the truth. He looked kindly at her and said, "I am sorry for you. Why did you lie? Anyway life and death are matters within Allah’s power. Many sick people live long and many healthy ones die."Anfal felt as if she were drowning, as if a hard fist was cruelly squeezing her heart. She tried hard to regain her strength and said, "I do apologize. Thank you doctor." The doctor encouraged her saying, "Be strong and optimistic. Medical science is constantly progressing. Some of today’s incurable sicknesses can be cured tomorrow I still have hope. Leave me your telephone number." She repeated the number automatically without knowing what she was saying. Feeling great shock and bitterness, she again thanked the doctor and left. At home she kept the truth to herself. She did not know how to share it. Anyway, everyone was busy, getting ready for the party. Her mother asked, "Have you been to the doctor? Why did not you go to the hairdresser?" It was just a by-the-way question, needing no answer. She briefly said, "I am not going to the party !". She went upstairs into her room and locked the door. She stretched out on her bed fully clothed and listened to her family’s voices, as if they were coming from a far away place. The wind seemed to her to be a funeral sad tune, lamenting her approaching death. The bedroom seemed strange to her as she would be leaving it soon. What about the house? It would not remember her. She was just a guest. Others would take her room and soon forget her. She tried to cry but tears did not help. She looked around her in pain. Those curtains that she had tried so hard to get, would stay after her. It would not have mattered if they had been made of the roughest fabric, she would leave them for others. She wished she had not troubled herself for such things. She wished she had saved her time and money for more useful things, which could have been helpful to her in her difficulty.She wondered, "What is useful to me?" She was young, beautiful and rich with everything her heart could desire. Could anything help her and save her from death? She had always longed for an official job with a good salary. She had it, but could it save her from death? An idea struck her. She hurried to the phone while everyone was away. She dialed the doctor’s number and asked eagerly, "If I travel abroad can I find a cure?" He said, "There is nothing new abroad. It is a waste of money."She put the phone down and sat on a nearby chair. Her salary would not change matters. She walked through the house’s rooms as if saying her farewells. She paced the small garden and looked at the trees. She whispered, "I wish these trees knew I am leaving them, those stones, walls…I wish these doors knew my hands will soon no longer open them. I wish those flowers, that I planted and watered knew. How often the thorns and hard stones tore my hands! How often I watered those dying flowers with my tears when there was no water. I wish they knew the meaning of my departure. These fruiting trees were tiny when I planted them. I did my best to help them flourish until they grew up healthy and fruitful. Will they know I am soon leaving? Will they remember my days in their company? What about these seats, I used to rest on. Will they miss my presence? Will they be ready for someone else to settle on them? My writing desk felt my writing in tears and in smiles, does it know I am leaving? Will it miss my pen and papers in its drawers? I wish they all knew I am leaving. I wish I had known I was leaving, then I would not have cared so much for this life. I would not have felt proud and arrogant…Had I known I were a guest in this world I would not have been cheated or tempted by its luxuries… Had I known this I would have been aware that leaving a simple life is easier than leaving a luxurious one… Had I lived a simple life, I would not have found it difficult to cross from this world to the next. My family is now enjoying the party…how often I longed for such parties, how much I cared for fashion and hairstyles! Can they help me now?" Anfal threw herself down on the nearest chair as if she had realized a truth previously unknown to her. She said, "What shall I take with me? Nothing but the coffin and my deeds. What kind of deeds will go with me on my long journey? Nothing! Yes, nothing!" She remembered her friend Sarah, who used to advise her and guide her to the right path of Allah. She used to remind her of the Qur’anic verse: …and make provision, for the provision is the guarding of oneself. (AI-Baqarah:239) She had never considered the importance of good deeds. Now she was in need of such deeds to present to Allah. She would stand to give her account, but what would she say? How could she expect Allah’s mercy when she disobeyed His orders? How could she ask for forgiveness when she never even thought of obeying Him in her life’s affairs? She wished she had read the Holy Qur’an instead of all those cheap novels. She wished she had gained some knowledge of her religion instead of reading film-star magazines. She continued wishing she had done few things, and not done other things. She wished she had not angered this person or that, and had never lied or gossiped about anyone. She wished she had not been proud and despised the poor. She said, "I wish I could start my life all over again to make-up for my errors and to obey Allah’s orders. I worshipped my desires and ignored my Creator. I wish I could live for a while to make up for my sins." She remembered a Qur’anic verse, her grandfather used to recite: Until when death overtakes one of them he says: Send me back, my Lord. Haply I may do good in that which I have left. By no means! It is a mere word that he speaks, and before them is a barrier until the day they are raised. (AI-Mominoon:99) Here she said, "Oh God, I do mean it…" Tears burst from her eyes. She cried bitterly in repentance, not pain. She decided to obey Allah in all His orders if she lived a bit longer. The phone rang and she walked towards it lazily. Tears in her eyes she said, "Yes?" Someone said, "Can I speak to Miss Anfal?" She knew the speaker. It was her doctor. She said, "Yes, speaking."The doctor said cheerfully, "Congratulations my daughter! There is nothing wrong with you. Thank God!" She was stunned with surprise. She did not know what to say. "No disease? How? You are joking, doctor!" The doctor said, "May Allah protect me I am not joking. I have just got an apology from the analyst. He explained that there was a mix-up with the names. Your name was written instead of someone else. I have your medical report here in front of me. You are quite well. Be thankful to Allah my daughter." Excitedly she said, "Thanks be to Allah, Thank you doctor." She put the phone down, feeling as if she was new born. She knew she was safe for a while, but death would certainly come one day. She had no time to waste. However long she lived she was a guest. The first thing she did was to perform her prayer, which she had neglected for a long time. She promised Allah to obey His orders to pray, fast, and stick to wearing decent clothes. She would also give up whatever Allah had forbidden. In order not to forget this, she wrote the Qur’anic verse on a placard and hung it on the wall. On the other side she wrote a wise saying: "Repent the day before you die. Because you do not know when you will die, then always be repentant." islaaminfo

Racial Tensions Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam describing the fate of the Muslim businessman portrays two vastly different scenarios. On the one hand, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam mentions, “The businessman who is truthful and trustworthy will be raised with the Prophets, the Truthful ones, and the martyrs.” On the other hand, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam states, “The businessmen will be raised as evil sinners, except he that is conscious of Allah, displays acts of piety and is charitable.” A person may well question the reason for the special status accorded to the business class of the Ummah. Why such lofty positioning for the proper businessman, that he will enjoy the privileged company of not only the martyrs and the pious, but he will even find himself amongst the exclusive company of the Prophets of Allah? Similarly, if he does not fulfil his obligations as a Muslim Businessman, why such strong condemnation? The answer to this could very well lie in the unique positioning of the businessman in society. When the world at large interacts with the Muslim world, then it is not in the Masjid or in our religious gatherings. It is rarely to be found in our social gatherings. No, the major point of interaction is in the business field. Whether it is the buyer or supplier in the commercial field or whether it is the consumer that walks into your shop, when the non-Muslim meets the man with the beard on his face, with a hat on his head or with a Muslim name, then this is his interaction with Islam. The integrity, honesty and courtesy that he experiences could well lead to the door of Islam either opening or closing upon him. Presently the Indian community in KwaZulu-Natal is facing a potential crisis situation with certain groups stirring up anti-Indian sentiment with a clearly racist agenda. The situation may blow away or it may escalate to dangerous proportions. How we react to this situation is vitally important. The first step we ought to take is to do some serious soul-searching. While racist sentiments can never be condoned, we should ask ourselves if our actions have contributed to this situation. And if so, how can that be remedied? Upon soul-searching even if we find that we have not contributed to this situation, then there is still a need to contribute towards reversing the situation. There is a duty upon every Muslim besides our Salaah, fasting and charity. That responsibility is to be an ambassador of Islam. Being an ambassador of Islam is not confined to actively giving Dawah, although that is the ideal. It also entails living as a Muslim and projecting Islam by being generous and kind-hearted, being courteous and accommodating. It includes working towards a better society for all and uplifting the down-trodden. It behoves us to step out of the comfort zone of our daily lives and play some role in uplifting the greater community. It starts with small projects of feeding and clothing, of basic charity and sacrificing some of our time. If individual families or individual Masjids and Musallas were to adopt a disadvantaged area not merely to feed its people but to create opportunities for them to become self-sufficient, then it is a huge step in the right direction. Then if we decide to continue walking down that path, the tides will surely turn and those who were once negative will become our greatest supporters, Insha Allah. Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Quran, “And the good deed and the bad are not equal. Repel (evil) by that which is better; and you will soon find the one whom between you and him is enmity (will become) as though he was the closest of friends.” Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

Whatever happened to manners? By Sister Jasmine Khan I was travelling in a bus one day; it was crowded with school children on their way home. As I tried to tune out the chattering of shrill young voices, I looked around and felt that there was something wrong. Then I noticed that the seats were occupied by children, some as young as six or seven, while adults battled to keep steady standing in the aisle. Many of us have forgotten some of the old school manners that our parents, grandparents, and teachers taught us. This is of course the key, manners or good conduct is instilled in us by our parents. After all, a child learns by watching, seeing and hearing what those around him do. In this increasingly frenetic world, making a good impression is vital, and good manners and respect for others can go a long way to ensuring that you do. There seems to be a lack of respect for what has been taught in the Quran and Sunnah when it comes to our behaviour. It is not that we do not know how we are supposed to behave; it seems more like a general carelessness in our conduct. "Good Manners” would appear to be a pet dinosaur, which is trotted out from time to time on very special occasions. In our daily life we seem to we care more for our possessions than for those around us. We are so focussed on the material, that we ignore the spiritual. In our drive for the outer trappings we contaminate our souls, and the souls of those around us. It is a basic human need to be acknowledged; when we fail to respect others, we are denying them their uniqueness as a fellow creation of Allah Ta’ala. All praise is due to Allah Ta’ala who created the universe and taught His greatest Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) the best of manners, purified his character and conduct and adopted him as His friend. This is our perfect example; in fact, we are commanded by Allah Ta’ala to follow the Sunnah, and if we do, we cannot go wrong. Allah Ta’ala says “Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind); If ye love Allah , follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. Allah Ta’ala is forgiving and Merciful. Say: Obey Allah and the messenger. But if they turn away, lo! Allah loveth not the disbelievers (in his guidance)”.Quran: Surah 3; Verse 31-32. Outer good manners are a reflection of inner good conduct. Our behaviour is a direct result of our thoughts, and good character and conduct is manifested in our actions. When we exert the power given to us by Allah Ta’ala as our Creator, we access the light of secret power within; with good manners this power is expressed outwardly as a rhyme of beauty; the beauty of the soul and that of actions. Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never behaved as if he was greater than others. Nor did He belittle people, or cause them embarrassment or humiliation. He always greeted people kindly, and showed respect to elders as well as to children. He once said: "The dearest of you to me are those who have good manners." (Al-Bukhari) However, when young people do not bother to greet elderly relatives living on their property, when they go to work and come back without checking up someone who lives a few steps from their back door, is it any wonder that the children do not bother to do so either. When parents shout at their children, address them without any respect for their feelings, are it any wonder that the youth of today are careless and have no respect for others? Almighty Allah Ta’ala says: “Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah Ta’ala an excellent exemplar for those who hope in Allah Ta’ala and the latter day and remember Allah Ta’ala much.”](Al-Ahzab 33:21) The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) practised what he preached; he showed how we should live as individuals and as members of the society. He disciplined himself by staying aloof from quarrels and quibbles. He never engaged in bad language. How refreshing when we consider how most of us cannot refrain from getting involved in the problems of others. His exemplary manners make him a model for us to follow. He stressed the importance of good manners. He said: “The best of you is the best among you in conduct: (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Also: “The heaviest thing to be placed in the balance of a believing slave on the Day of Judgement will be good behaviour. And Allah Ta’ala hates the one who uses bad language” (Hadith-AL Bayhaqi). Should we not take cognisance of this when next we feel like shouting of insulting those dear to us? When asked what one needs to get to Jannah, The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) answer was: “Piety and good conduct” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) went even further to declare that we will inhabit different levels in Jannah, based on good manners: “The dearest and nearest among you to me on the Day of Resurrection will be the one who is the best in conduct.” (Ibn An-Najjaar). Ethics in Islam is different from any other ethical system because it is derived from a Divine source; the revelation from Allah Ta’ala. It cannot be changed, or manipulated to fit our desires. It applies regardless of time or place. This system has not been changed for thousands of years. What was considered good morals in the past will remain as good morals throughout time. What was considered as bad morals in the past will also remain so forever, even if society accepts it as a norm. The system of ethics is not affected by cultural norms, because Allah Ta’ala is the One who determines what is acceptable and what is not. The Noble Quran is very detailed and clearly mentions the significance of good manners. No other ethical system can match it. It teaches humans how to deal with every aspect of their lives; it is not a man made system; it is the Deen of Allah Ta’ala. He made it complete and integrated. Unlike other ethical systems, Islam's moral system is a very detailed and complete package. Islam addresses every aspect of human life, no matter how minor. It does not lack anything that needs to be completed nor does it have any defects that need to be amended. The Deen of Islam guides our morals that deal with the individual, the community, and Muslims and non-Muslims alike. It also guides us on how to deal with rulers and how to honour and respect scholars. Islam even directs us on how to act during times of peace and war. Allah Ta’ala favoured us by sending us Rasulullah (peace be upon him), so that he may teach us wisdom. Let us reflect on Allah Ta’ala’s words, study the Sunnah; and resolve to follow it, Insha’Allah. If you want a successful and happy life, then simply apply Islam to it, and you will have wonderful results. Good manners, self respect and respect for others go hand in hand. What a lovely gift to give to our children. Imam Malik (RA) is reported to have said: The Sunnah is like the Ark, those who board will be saved, and those who don’t, will perish. e-islam

I thought these were very beneficial and will increase awareness...we can ask her inshaAllah, Whats ADHD?

If the finger feels the pain... By Abu Muhammad Yusuf Globally the Muslim Ummah is in crisis. From Australia in the south to Canada in the north, from China in east to USA in the west we find Islamophobia raising its venomous head. "War on Terror", persecution, oppression, discrimination, etc against innocent and peace loving Muslims has become the order of the day. The raining of missiles on families in Palestine-Gaza , the merciless killing of innocent civilians in Syria and Egypt, ethnic cleansing in Myanmar, torture and rape in Afghanistan and Iraq, war in Somalia, Chechnya etc. The list is extensive. As Muslims we should not turn a blind eye and be apathetic to the sufferings of millions of our fellow brothers and sisters globally. We should not only feel the pain in our hearts, but should constructively engage ourselves in physically assisting the Ummah with whatever means we have at our disposal. Allah Ta'ala says in the Noble Qur'aan: " Indeed, Muslims are brothers."(Qur'an: Al Hujurat:10) The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has emphatically stated that "No one of you becomes a true believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself".(Hadith-Bukhari & Muslims) We are ONE UMMAH, if the finger feels a pain the whole body feels the pain. It is our duty to share the pain, responsibilities, burdens and needs of our fellow brothers and sisters. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The example of Muslims in their mutual love, mercy and sympathy is like that of a body; if one of the organs is afflicted, the whole body responds with sleeplessness and fever."(Hadith-Muslim) Our ancestors in Islam, the esteemed Companions of Muhammad Salallaho alaihe wassallam demonstrated practically what was meant by true love for our brothers(sisters) in Islam. Hadhrat Abu-Jahm-bin-Huzaifah (Radhiyallaho anho) narrates:"During the battle of Yarmuk, I went out in search of my cousin, who was in the forefront of the fight. I also took some water with me for him. I found him in the very thick of battle in the last throes of death. I advanced to help him with the little water I had. But, soon, another sorely wounded soldier beside him gave a groan, and my cousin averted his face, and beckoned me to take the water to that person first. I went to this other person with the water. He turned out to be Hishaam bin Abil Aas (Radhiyallaho anho). But I had hardly reached him, when there was heard the groan of yet another person lying not very far off. Hisham (Radhiyallaho anho) too motioned me in his direction. Alas, before I could approach him, he had breathed his last. I made all haste back to Hishaam and found him dead as well. Thereupon, I hurried as fast as I could to my cousin, and, lo! in the meantime he had also joined the other two." Many an incident of such self-denial and heroic sacrifice is recorded in the books of Hadith. This is the last word in self-sacrifice, that each dying person should forego slaking his own thirst in favour of his other needy brother. May Allah bless their souls with His choicest favours for their sacrifice for others even at the time of death, when a person has seldom the sense to make a choice. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THE UMMAH? Every little bit of help counts! No single piece of assistance no matter how minute or what form it may take is insignificant. There was a King who had a festival. He asked everyone to bring a jug of milk that evening and pour it into a huge container so everyone, even the poor, could enjoy it the next day. A certain man thought that if he poured a jug of water instead of milk into the container it won't be noticed in the dark and he really thought that it won't make a significant difference. So he poured a jug of water. When he came the next day he surprisingly witnessed that the huge container was almost full of water. It was quite clear that in his community everyone thought the same. All we need as an Ummah is to play our "small" part. If we each do our "little" then combined it will Insha Allah be a lot! The "little" we do will Insha Allah go a long way. Here are some practical ways we can show our genuine love for the Allah Ta'ala, Muhammad (peace be upon him) and our fellow Muslims who are suffering. 1. DU'AA(SUPPLICATION): Indeed no condition or situation can ever improve without the Help of Allah. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said that; "Dua is a weapon of a believer." (Hadith-Al Hakim). Du'aa should be made individually and collectively. Do it at home with the family and also in the Masjid. Children should be encouraged to also join in. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) encouraged the Ummah to read Qunoot-e-Naazilah supplication (dua) at the time of distress and calamity. (Hadith- Abu Dawood). Imaams of Masjids should also read the Qunoot-e-Naazilah in the congregational prayers of Fajr and to ask the Almighty's Guidance and intervention to save and protect the Ummah. Also keep fast and perform optional prayer. 2. CONTRIBUTE: We should generously contribute in whatever way possible. The Messenger of Allah Ta'ala (peace be upon) said that: "Charity (Sadaqah) does not decrease the wealth" (Hadith-Muslim) and he (pbuh) also said that daily two angels offer Du'aa, "O Allah, compensate those who spend, and bring ruin to those who withhold". (Hadith- Bukhari). Encourage our children to contribute from their own savings even if it just a few cents. In this way the worry and concern for the Ummah will be inculcated in them. Search for credible Islamic relief organisations operating in areas where our funds are most needed. Be wary of bogus collectors. Be pro-active in raising funds. The Messenger of Allah Ta'ala (peace be upon) is reported to have said: "Indeed, Allah blesses certain people with special bounties for the benefit of other people. As long as they benefit others, Allah continues His bounties upon them but when they stop benefitting others, Allah takes these bounties back from them and transfers to others." (Hadith-Tabarani) 3. JOIN: We need to be as much as possible physically involved. The best is to be at your Muslim brother's or sister's side when they really need you the most. Distance, race, colour, social status etc should never be a barrier in assisting the Ummah. Join and engage ourselves in those activities that will support and bring genuine relief to the distressed Ummah. Be cautious that our activities are always in compliance with the Laws of Allah Ta'ala. 4. EDUCATE: Be pro-active and educate yourself. Be knowledgeable on the subject. Our families and communities should be educated about the plight of the Ummah. Masjids, media, schools etc should be used to for this purpose. Keep a vigilant eye on the news outlets; magazines etc. and respond timeously to their bias comments and views. Forward pertinent and relevant articles you come across to the International and local media outlets.Using the world atlas or internet, show our children where the affected part of the Ummah is. Do not support those that directly or indirectly assist the oppression and persecution of the Muslim Ummah. 5. HOPE: Always be hopeful and never be despondent. Allah Ta'ala will help even though it may be after some time. Often the media tries to create hopelessness and many Muslims are left in despair. It may seem that the death of millions of innocents is now inevitable, but we must continue to strive our utmost to defend them and to spread the truth about these immoral actions perpetrated against innocent Muslims. Above all, we must remember that Allah Most High has control over all things and can provide Help in ways we could never imagine. Not even the 'greatest' superpower can overpower Him! No falsehood is to remain forever. No oppression is to remain forever. After hardship comes ease. Insha Allah the difficulty of the Muslim nation will come to end and tomorrow will be definitely better than today. We should have HOPE in the ALL encompassing MERCY and HELP of Allah Most High under all circumstances, whether it be in victory, defeat, happiness or sadness. The Messenger of Allah(peace be upon him) has said that whosoever helps a Muslim at the time of loss of honour and humility; will receive Help from Allah when he is in need of help.(Hadith-Abu Dawood) Most importantly remember the Muslim Ummah is ONE! Let us not forget that behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining… EISLAM

I was diagnosed with autism as an adult – it's not just children who are affected Johnny Dean Adult autism is little understood and often goes undiagnosed. On World Autism Awareness Day the government's new strategy needs to tackle this. In 2009, MP Cheryl Gillan put forward a bill in parliament. The idea behind it was to ensure more support was available for adults with autistic conditions. Up to this point, children and their families were being given help, but children grow up. Even autistic children. What then? That same year the Autism Act became a reality, and I was diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum. I was 38 years old. As a child of the 70s, autism was practically unheard of. Any withdrawn or "difficult" behaviour on my part was generally seen as naughtiness. My lack of people skills was put down to me being antisocial, mean, or aloof. There must be a multitude of adults out there who have some form of autism but remain undiagnosed. Confused, isolated and quite often suicidal. I know, because for much of my life that is how I felt. Since the mid-90s, awareness of autistic conditions such as Asperger's syndrome, high-functioning autism and pervasive developmental disorder has grown, but not nearly enough to say they are fully understood. It has been disturbing for me, since being diagnosed, to discover how little people know. Adults seeking diagnosis are often faced with a struggle. Not being taken seriously seems to be a common occurrence. I experienced more than just a few quizzical looks and furrowed brows when I asked to be assessed. Many people simply give up at this point. I was even asked outright, by a consultant psychologist, why I was seeking diagnosis when I was an adult. Apparently, this happens a lot. It didn't help that much of the assessment process seemed designed specifically for children. This became even more exasperating when my mother's faded memories of my childhood were bought into the mix, creating a very confused picture. The team assessing me were concentrating solely on my childhood, the very distant past, rather than me in the here and now. Surely there is a better way to accommodate adults? It took well over a year to get diagnosed, partly because only one place in the southeast had the facilities to do it. But I am glad I persevered. It means that my GP is aware of my condition. It meant I was able to get cognitive behavioural therapy to cope with the challenges I face every day. It has enabled me to understand who I am. But more than anything, diagnosis was a massive relief. As far as support goes, where I live in south London, things are better compared with five years ago when I was first diagnosed. But at the same time I have never been contacted or approached by any of the services in my area – I had to make myself known. This can be a problem when it comes to people with autism. If you leave it to us, it might not happen. Since 2009, most local authorities have set up schemes for adults seeking a formal diagnosis. Which is fine, but then what? Will a freshly diagnosed adult get the support they need? And what about autistic children who have grown up? Has the Autism Act done anything to improve these people's lives? Here are some depressing statistics. Of all adults with autism, 70% feel they are not receiving the help they need; 36% said they need help to wash and dress, but only 7% get this support from social services; and 53% say they want help to find work, but only 10% get the support to do so. Last year the National Autistic Society started a campaign, Push for Action, to improve support for adults with autism. In October, I joined other campaigners in delivering a petition to 10 Downing Street demanding more action from the government, including money for new services, better training for staff such as GPs and care assessors, and more to be done to raise public awareness of autism. Things are slowly getting better, especially with regard to awareness, but solid support is still lacking. I hope that the government's revised autism strategy, which will be published today – World Autism Awareness Day – will tackle this and actually improve the lives of adults with autistic conditions as well as those of their families. In this day and age, I hate to think that anybody else would have to go through the time-consuming and frustrating process that I experienced. Autism is a real and serious condition, and adults have it too. Source