بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

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Aug 26 The Gaza Memorial We Owe Our Children Jun 24 Transforming Your Reality Jun 17 A History of Muslim Americans’ Political Engagement Jun 17 My Brother is Gay: Navigating the Intersection of Religion and Family An interview with Imam Wesley Lebron Jun 10 Islam and the Romans: Early Muslim-Byzantine Interaction May 20 Reclaiming the Sunnah of Adoption and Foster Care: An Interview with Basmah Salam Apr 29 National Poetry Month: An Ode to Faith, Visibility, and the Conversations We Don’t Forget Apr 15 Beyond Ramadan: Taking Its Lessons Farther 

Author: Imam Daniel Abdullah Hernandez

  • Invertir en la juventud y enfrentar nuevos desafíos

    Invertir en la juventud y enfrentar nuevos desafíos

    Nuestra juventud es el futuro de la nación del Mensajero de Alá, la paz sea con él y, como tal, deseamos que se destaquen en obtener el conocimiento del Islam y en cumplir con sus obligaciones religiosas. Sin embargo, a veces desconocemos las dificultades que enfrentan, como los problemas emocionales, presiones académicas, el abuso sicológico, la alienación en la mezquita y la adicción a las redes sociales. Como musulmanes, nuestro objetivo en la vida, sin importar la edad que tengamos, es obtener el máximo éxito al adorar a Alá como se menciona en tantos versículos del Corán; y nuestra responsabilidad es ser vicegerentes en la Tierra. Alá dice en el Corán: “Él es Quien los ha hecho responsables de la Tierra, y ha agraciado a unos más que a otros para probarlos con ello. Tu Señor es rápido en castigar, pero también es Absolvedor, Misericordioso” (6: 165).

    Esta gran responsabilidad requiere que cuidemos de la Tierra y de los que residen en ella, comenzando con nuestras familias. Por lo tanto, debemos trabajar juntos para encontrar soluciones a los problemas de la juventud, y no solo ignorar asuntos aparentemente complejos o incómodos, u ocultarlos. Alá dice en el Corán: “Que siempre haya entre ustedes un grupo que invite al bien, ordenando lo bueno y prohibiendo lo malo. Ésos serán los bienaventurados” (3: 104). El mandamiento de ordenar el bien y prohibir el mal es un mensaje recurrente en el Corán. Cuando nuestros jóvenes se desvían, debemos encontrar la manera más eficaz para traerlos de vuelta a la fe. Debemos establecer medidas preventivas para protegerlos de las tentaciones. Muchas perversiones los atraen, incluyendo la cultura de los famosos, las ideologías falsas, la confusión de género y la “fluidez” (algo más allá de la homosexualidad), la pornografía, las drogas, etc.
    ¿Cómo se pueden resolver estos y otros problemas? ¿Qué están haciendo nuestras comunidades y mezquitas al respecto?

    Aunque sea solo una esquina dentro de la mezquita, ¿tienen nuestros jóvenes un lugar donde puedan desahogarse o incluso atreverse a hablar sobre los problemas que enfrentan?

    Y no debemos dejarnos engañar. Los desafíos que enfrentan nuestros hijos se encuentran tanto en las ciudades como en los suburbios. Estos serios problemas existen tanto en las escuelas públicas como en las escuelas islámicas. Además, también debemos tener en cuenta que nuestros hijos están creciendo en una cultura y época que puede ser completamente diferente a la nuestra. Los padres deben estar comprometidos con sus hijos y dejar las líneas de comunicación siempre abiertas. Durante los años de la adolescencia y la juventud especialmente, no debemos reaccionar de forma exagerada cuando nos dicen algo fuera del alcance de la fe, el buen comportamiento y la conciencia de Dios.

    No queremos que nos excluyan. Por eso es necesario escucharlos activamente e intentar entenderlos, de manera que podamos conversar con ellos y explicarles, desde nuestro punto de vista y desde un punto de vista islámico, lo que está bien y lo que está mal. Si hay alguna posibilidad de que nos escuchen, será porque asumimos una actitud y un comportamiento equilibrado y afectuoso. Si somos extremadamente estrictos o los criticamos la mayoría del tiempo, siempre gritando “¡haram!”, los perderemos. Debemos prestar atención a lo que dicen y guiarlos, con la esperanza de que se conviertan en individuos conscientes de Dios que eligen responsablemente lo bueno y rechacen lo malo o pecaminoso.
    Una solución práctica

    Nuestros centros islámicos necesitan imanes que estén capacitados en ciencias islámicas tradicionales, pero que también estén equipados profesionalmente para tratar asuntos de la juventud. Hay mucha investigación y experiencia de las iglesias cristianas sobre esta necesidad. Un pastor conocido dijo: “He estado sirviendo a los jóvenes durante 15 años y todavía recuerdo la importancia del ministerio juvenil”. En la iglesia, el pastor de jóvenes suele ser un joven o adulto, que tenga una educación religiosa sólida, una fuerte afinidad con la juventud y el conocimiento y la experiencia necesaria para enfrentar los problemas y desafíos de los jóvenes.

    En nuestras mezquitas, un líder o coordinador para la juventud podría tomar este papel con mayor efectividad si él o ella es joven, con una fuerte educación islámica y fe. Un líder joven es más identificable para la generación adolescente. Pueden mantener el estatus de modelo a seguir, sin dejar de ser lo suficientemente flexible y “buena onda” para que los jóvenes sientan que pueden ser ellos mismos. El líder juvenil puede actuar como un mentor para los niños y jóvenes de la comunidad. Él o ella debe ser alguien en quien confiar cuando los jóvenes sienten que no pueden acercarse a un padre o al imán con un problema personal. En su papel, pueden ayudar a los jóvenes que enfrentan dificultades entrando a la edad de madurez, en sus obligaciones religiosas o en su espiritualidad en general.

    Es importante que las generaciones mayores nunca minimicen o nieguen la importancia de los programas para nuestra juventud, ya que son los futuros adultos de la comunidad musulmana. Los jóvenes heredarán la Tierra después de nosotros, entonces debemos preguntarnos, ¿cómo les enseñamos y guiamos? ¿Cómo los alcanzamos en medio de todo el ruido cultural y la confusión en la sociedad que les rodea? ¿Cómo los protegemos de algunos de los problemas o tentaciones que enfrenten? Una solución viable es que, junto con el imán que se ocupa de los asuntos generales de la mezquita, el matrimonio, el divorcio, la educación del Corán, etc., la comunidad puede invertir en un líder o coordinador juvenil con las calificaciones y la capacitación necesarias para guiar, ayudar y apoyar a nuestra futura generación. Nunca debemos olvidar que nuestros hijos son una responsabilidad que Alá nos ha dado. Eso se aplica tanto a los padres como a las comunidades. Es nuestro deber amarlos, guiarlos y protegerlos. Nuevamente, nuestra juventud es el futuro de la nación del Mensajero de Alá, la paz sea con él.

    Daniel Abdullah Hernández tiene una Maestría en Educación Islámica de la Universidad Islámica de Minnesota.

    Un padre dedicado de cuatro hijos, el Imam Daniel reside actualmente en Dallas, Texas y ha servido en el Centro Islámico de Pearland, ISGH, durante 6 años (el Centro Islámico de Pearland es una extensión de la Sociedad Islámica del área metropolitana de Houston). Estableció su escuela dominical, desarrolló su plan de estudios y seleccionó a sus maestros. Es autor de tres libros.

  • Investing in the Youth and Addressing Their Challenges

    Investing in the Youth and Addressing Their Challenges

    Our youth are the future of the ummah of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and as such, we want them to excel in obtaining knowledge of Islam and discharging their religious obligations. However, at times we are unaware of the hardships they face such as internal struggles, challenges at school, bullying, alienation at the mosque, and social media addiction. As Muslims, our aim in life, no matter what age we are, is to obtain the ultimate success through worshipping Allah as stated in so many verses of the Qur’an; and our responsibility is to be vicegerents on the Earth, as the Qur’an tells us, “And it is He who has made you vicegerents upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful” (6:165).

    Vicegerency requires us to care for the Earth and those residing in it, beginning with our families. As such, we must work together to find solutions to the problems of the youth, and not just ignore seemingly complex or uncomfortable issues, or sweep them under the rug. Allah says in the Qur’an, “And let there be among you a people inviting to the good, enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong, and those are the successful ones” (3:104). The command to enjoin the good and forbid evil is a recurring message in the Qur’an. When our youth stray, we must find ways to bring them back into the faith. And we must establish preventive measures so as to protect them from temptations. Many corruptions pull at them including celebrity culture, faithless ideologies, gender confusion and “fluidity” (going way beyond homosexuality), pornography, drugs, etc.

    How is the community and the masjid we frequent addressing these and other important issues?

    Even if it is just a corner inside the masjid, do our youth have a place where they can vent or even dare to speak about the challenges they face?

    And we should not be fooled. The challenges our children are grappling with are both in the inner cities and the suburbs. And these serious issues exist both in public school settings and Islamic schools. Moreover, we should also keep in mind that our children are growing up in a culture and era that may be completely different from our own childhood experiences. Parents must be engaged with their children and lines of communication should always be open. During the teenage and young adult years especially, we must not overreact when they tell us something outside the scope of faith, good behavior, and God-consciousness. We do not want them to shut us out. We need to listen to them actively and hear them out. Then we can engage them in discussion and explain, from our point of view, from an Islamic point of view, what is right and what is wrong. If there is any chance that they will listen to us, it will be because we assume a mature and caring attitude and demeanor. If we come across as judgmental and harsh — always shouting “haram!” — we will lose them. We listen to them and guide them, with the hope that they might become God-conscious individuals who responsibly choose the good and reject what is wrong or sinful.

    A Practical Solution

    Our Islamic centers are in need of imams who are trained in traditional Islamic sciences, but who are also professionally equipped to deal with youth matters. There is a lot of research and experience from churches about this need. One pastor I know said: “I have been serving the youth for 15 years and I am still reminded of the importance of youth ministry.” A youth pastor in a church can be a young adult or older adult, needs a sound religious education, has a strong affinity for young people, and has the knowledge and experience to deal with the issues and challenges of youth. In our masjids, a leader or coordinator for the youth might best fit the role if he or she is a young adult, but they must have a solid Islamic education and strong eman. A young leader is more relatable for the younger generation. They can maintain the status of role model, while still being flexible and “cool” enough for the youth to feel like they can be themselves. The youth leader can act like a mentor for the community’s children and youth. He or she can be someone to confide in when the youth feel like they cannot approach a parent or the imam with a personal problem. In their role, they can aid the youth who is facing the challenges of emerging adulthood, religious obligations, and spirituality.

    It is important for the older generation to never minimize or negate the importance of programs for our youth, as they are the future adults of the Muslim ummah. The youth will inherit the Earth after us, so how do we teach and guide them? How do we reach them amidst all the cultural noise and confusion? How do we protect them from some of the issues and temptations they encounter? A viable solution is that alongside the imam who deals with the overall affairs of the masjid, marriage, divorce, Quran education, etc., the community can invest in a youth leader or coordinator with the qualifications and training necessary to mentor, aid, and support our future generation. We should never forget that our children are a trust, given to us by Allah. That applies to parents as well as communities. It is our duty to love them, to guide them, and to protect them. Again, our youth are the future of the ummah of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.

  • Un consejo para el nuevo musulmán –El equilibrio entre la vida y las responsabilidades

    Un consejo para el nuevo musulmán –El equilibrio entre la vida y las responsabilidades

    El Islam es una forma de vida que propone el equilibrio y la moderación. Es un modo de vida que llama a los creyentes a luchar por el cumplimiento de los derechos individuales, los derechos de la familia, los derechos comunitarios y los derechos generales de la sociedad. Nuestro dilema es que en los tiempos que vivimos actualmente nos encontramos intoxicados con nuestros propios deseos y descuidamos nuestras responsabilidades – con nuestra familia, comunidad y sociedad. Con el fin de analizar cómo mejorar y llevar una vida de equilibrio, me gustaría abordar cada uno de los cuatro puntos principales, insha’Allah.
    Los derechos del individuo

    Alá, el Exaltado, dice, “¡Oh, creyentes! Guardaos a vosotros…” (El Corán, 66:6). Y en otro verso, dice, “Diles: ‘¿Acaso podría adorar otro que no fuese Alá, cuando es Él el Creador de todo?’ Cualquier pecado que alguien cometa es en detrimento propio, y nadie cargará con los pecados de otro. Luego, volveréis a vuestro Señor y Él os informará acerca de vuestras discrepancias” (El Corán, 6:164).
    Alá, el Exaltado, nos llama a priorizar y concentrarnos en nosotros mismos, desarrollarnos y preocuparnos por nuestras vidas en preparación para el Día del Juicio y el Más Allá. Para prepararnos eficazmente debemos seguir las instrucciones de Alá y evitar los errores de las naciones anteriores ¡Lo primero que Alá ordenó en el Corán fue “Lee”! Por lo tanto, el primer y más fundamental aspecto de nuestro desarrollo personal es la búsqueda del conocimiento que alimente nuestra alma y nos acerque cada vez más a nuestro Señor. El texto primario, por supuesto, en nuestro aprendizaje es el Corán. Sheij Abdullah Shinqiti dijo, “Hazte amigo del Corán y nunca de desviarás”.
    He aquí cinco consejos para buscar el conocimiento de la manera más efectiva:
    1. Busca un mentor, una persona que te guíe, que analice tu nivel de conocimiento y te aconseje cómo comenzar tu proceso de aprendizaje – qué libro, qué asignatura, qué instituto, o con quién estudiar. El Corán dice, “No enviamos antes de ti sino hombres a quienes les transmitíamos Nuestra revelación. Preguntadle a la gente de conocimiento [de entre la Gente del Libro] si no lo sabéis” (El Corán, 16:43).

    2. Cuando compres un libro, enfócate en estudiar y en digerir toda la información que contiene. Luego intenta poner ese conocimiento en práctica. Aumenta tu aprendizaje de forma lenta y progresiva.

    3. Esfuérzate por aprender el idioma árabe. Es la llave para entrar a un mundo de conocimiento. Es una inversión de por vida. Alá dice en el Corán, “Y ciertamente lo hemos revelado en idioma árabe para que reflexionéis” (El Corán, 12:2).
    4. Perfecciona los requisitos básicos: Aprende Sura Al Fatiha, el capítulo La apertura del Corán. (Sheij Mamdouh Mahmoud tiene videos en YouTube que pueden ayudar). Aprende bien el wudu, la ablución, perfecciona la oración y haz que tus oraciones cuenten. Con respecto a Sura Al Fatiha, Ubadah bin As Samit relató que el Mensajero de Alá, que la paz sea con él, dijo, “Quien no recita la Sura Al Fatiha en su oración, su oración no es válida” (Bujari). Abu Sa’ad ibn Al-Mu’ala narró que el Profeta dijo, “’Yo les enseñaré una sura que es la más grandiosa del Corán antes de que salgan de la mezquita.’ Luego tomó mi mano y cuando tenía la intención de irse [de la mezquita], le pregunté: ‘¿No dijiste que me enseñarías una sura que es la mayor sura en el Corán?’ Él respondió: ‘Sí. Es [la sura que comienza con], Alabado sea Alá, Señor del Universo. Son los siete versículos más repetidos y el Grandioso Corán que se me ha dado’” (Ahmad).

    Acerca del wudu, Abu Huraira narró que el Profeta, que la paz sea con él, dijo:
    “Si el siervo musulmán (o creyente) hace la ablución y lava su rostro, salen de su rostro con el agua (o con la última gota de agua) todos los pecados que vio con sus ojos. Y cuando lava sus manos salen de ellas con el agua (o con la última gota de agua) todos los pecados que cometieron. Y cuando lava sus pies salen de ellos con el agua (o con la última gota de agua) todos los pecados hacia los que caminaron, hasta que queda libre de todos los pecados” (Muslim).

    Con respecto a hacer la oración significativa, considera el siguiente verso del Corán:
    “Recita (Oh Muhammad) lo que se te ha revelado del Libro [el Corán] y haz la oración, que ciertamente la oración preserva de cometer actos inmorales y reprobables. Y sabe que tener presente a Alá en el corazón durante la oración es lo importante, y Alá sabe lo que hacéis” (El Corán, 29:45). Esfuérzate por observar la oración a su debido tiempo, revisa los pasos de la oración, realiza cada paso en un estado de calma y cosecha los beneficios de cada paso esforzándote por aprender las frases de alabanzas y su significado. No memorices las frases en árabe sin entender lo que estás diciendo. Aprende cómo decirlas en árabe y también su traducción y significado, y hazlo paso a paso. La oración es una conexión permanente con el Señor, por lo tanto, también se debe esforzar por seguir aprendiendo en un proceso gradual sobre el fiqh (la jurisprudencia) de la oración en los libros recomendados por tu mentor.

    5. Encuentra un compañero que comparta contigo el proceso de aprendizaje; ya sea en la mezquita o en la comunidad local. Se pueden motivar mutuamente y disfrutar el camino del conocimiento juntos. Busca a alguien con una mente positiva y que este comprometido con el aprendizaje. Elija un compañero que sea humilde y respetuoso de la tradición académica en el Islam. Evita cualquier persona que se acerque a la búsqueda del conocimiento islámico con una actitud que transmita dudas o cinismo, o es propenso a cuestionar o refutar puntos simplemente por tener una naturaleza argumentativa. La vida es corta; y es importante esforzarse por alimentar el alma y no perder el tiempo.

    Los derechos de la familia

    Alá, el Altísimo, dice, “Adorad a Alá y no Le asociéis nada. Sed benevolentes con vuestros padres, parientes, con los huérfanos, pobres, vecinos parientes y no parientes, el compañero, el viajero insolvente y con vuestros esclavos. Alá no ama a todo arrogante jactancioso” (El Corán, 4:36). Alá nos instruye adorarlo y luego ser bueno con los padres y mantener los lazos familiares. El individuo tiene la responsabilidad como hijo (o hija) de ser el mejor que pueda por la causa de Alá. Como esposo, se debe esforzar por emular las hermosas enseñanzas del Profeta Muhammad, la paz sea con él, acerca del tratamiento entre los cónyuges. Como padre, se debe esforzar por ser el mejor padre, como lo fue el Mensajero de Alá; y nuestras madres deben esforzarse por ser las mejores madres, luchando por ser como las Madres de los Creyentes. Recuerda siempre el verso, “Temed a Alá cuanto podáis…” (El Corán, 64:16)

    También es el derecho de la esposa y los hijos que el esposo los apoye económicamente. Algunos hombres que se dedican a buscar el conocimiento islámico de manera seria y como una carrera, piensan que encontraran empleo como imam dentro de la comunidad musulmana. Lamentablemente, no siempre es así. Por lo tanto, un hombre debe esforzarse para obtener una carrera que le ofrezca una estabilidad económica para su familia. Una carrera estable también le permitirá donar por la causa de Alá a proyectos benéficos y a programas de divulgación. La búsqueda del conocimiento islámico es un esfuerzo de por vida; sin embargo, nunca debe ser la causa por el descuido de las demás responsabilidades.

    Los derechos de la comunidad

    Una comunidad de creyentes se esfuerza por poner la fe en acción. Se animan unos a otros a comprometerse a la verdad y se animan mutuamente en practicar la paciencia. Alá dice, “Juro por el transcurso del tiempo Que ciertamente los hombres están perdidos, salvo aquellos que creen, obran rectamente, se aconsejan mutuamente cumplir cabalmente [con los preceptos divinos] y ser pacientes y perseverantes” (El Corán, 103:1-3). Una comunidad de creyentes lucha desinteresadamente, en unidad, para complacer a Alá.

    Esta comunidad entiende la gravedad de la división dentro de las filas de los creyentes. Alá dice, “Aferraos todos a la religión de Alá y no os dividáis. Recordad la gracia de Alá al hermanaros uniendo vuestros corazones después de haber sido enemigos unos de otros, y cuando os encontrasteis al borde de un abismo de fuego, os salvó de caer en él. Así os explica Alá Sus signos para que sigáis la guía” (El Corán, 3:103). Dada la importancia de mantener la unión, un musulmán debe luchar para apoyar y promover esa unidad – a través de la participación en los asuntos de la mezquita y eventos, haciéndose voluntario, ofreciendo apoyo económico, siendo un buen ejemplo para otros en la comunidad, especialmente para los jóvenes, y en cualquier otra capacidad que pueda.

    Los derechos de la sociedad

    Un musulmán debe ser un beneficio para la sociedad, y debe preocuparse por el bienestar de todos. Esto incluye ser amable con los vecinos, saludarles cordialmente y ofrecerles su asistencia cuando sea necesario, sin esperar nada a cambio. Esto forma parte de la práctica del Islam y a través de la práctica, viene la enseñanza. El Corán dice, “Sois la mejor nación que haya surgido de la humanidad: Ordenáis el bien, prohibís el mal y creéis en Alá. Si la Gente del Libro creyera, sería mejor para ellos; algunos son creyentes pero la mayoría desviados” (El Corán, 3:110). Alá envió al Mensajero como una “misericordia a todos los mundos” (El Corán, 21:107). Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al Aas narró que el Mensajero de Alá, la paz sea con él, dijo: “Los misericordiosos recibirán la misericordia del Misericordioso. Sean misericordiosos con los que están en la tierra y el que está en los cielos tendrá misericordia de ustedes” (Sunan At Tirmidhi)

    En conclusión, mis queridos hermanos y hermanas, sean equilibrados en lo que respecta a su individualidad, su vida familiar, su comunidad y la sociedad. El Profeta Muhammad nos aconsejó, “Tú tienes un deber con tu Señor, tienes un deber con tu cuerpo, y tienes un deber con tu familia, así que debes darle a cada uno sus derechos” (Bujari). También nos enseño una súplica que debemos hacer constantemente: Allahumma inni as’alukal-huda wattuqa wal-‘afafa wal-ghina – “¡Oh Alá!, te pido guía, piedad, castidad y autosuficiencia” (Muslim).

  • An Advice to the New Muslim – Balancing Rights and Responsibilities

    An Advice to the New Muslim – Balancing Rights and Responsibilities

    Islam is a way of life which advocates balance and moderation. It is a way of life that calls the believers to strive for the fulfillment of individual rights, family rights, community rights, and general societal rights. Our dilemma is that in the current times, we find ourselves intoxicated with our individual selves and we neglect responsibilities — our family, community, and society rights. In order to shed some light on how to improve and lead a life of balance, I would like to address each of the four main points, insha’Allah.
    The Individual’s Rights
    Allah, the Exalted, says, “O you who have attained to faith, protect yourselves…” (Surah Tahreem, 66: 6). And in another verse, He (SWT) says, “Say: ‘Is it other than Allah I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things?’ And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ” (Surah Al Anam, 6: 164).
    Allah, the Exalted, calls us to prioritize and focus on ourselves, develop ourselves, and be concerned about ourselves in this life and in preparation for the Day of Judgement and the Hereafter. In order to effectively prepare, one must follow Allah’s instructions and avoid the mistakes of the previous nations. The first instruction of Allah in the Quran is “Read”! Therefore, the first and most fundamental aspect of our personal development is the seeking of knowledge that nourishes our souls and constantly brings us closer and closer to our Lord. The primary text, of course, in our seeking of knowledge is the Quran. Shaykh Abdullah Shinqiti has said, “Befriend the Quran you will never go astray.”
    Here are five tips for effectively seeking knowledge:
    1. Have a mentor, someone who will guide you, who will analyze your level of knowledge and advise you what to start with in your process of learning — what book, what subject, and what institute or individual to study with. The Quran says, “And before you [Muhammad], also the messengers We sent were but men, to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of the message if you do not know” (Surah Nahl, 16: 43).

    2. When you buy a book, focus on learning and digesting the knowledge it contains. And then strive to put that knowledge into practice. Build upon your knowledge base slowly and progressively.

    3. Strive to learn Arabic. It is the gateway to an endless domain of knowledge. It is a lifetime investment. Allah (SWT) says in the Quran, “Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran that you might understand” (Surah Yusuf, 12:2).

    4. Perfect the basic requirements: Learn surah Al-Fatihah (Shaykh Mamdouh Mahmoud has videos on YouTube). Learn to make wudu properly, perfect your prayer, and make your prayers meaningful. With regard to surah Al-Fatihah, Ubadah bin As-Samit reported Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) as saying, “Whoever does not recite surat Al-Fatihah in his prayer, his prayer is invalid” (Bukhari). Also, Abu Sa’ad ibn Al-Mu’alla narrated the Apostle (pbuh) of Allah as saying, “…I will teach a surah which is the greatest surah in the Quran before you leave the Masjid.” Then he took hold of my hand and when he intended to leave [the Masjid], I asked him, “Did you not say that you would teach me a surah which is the greatest surah in the Quran?” He replied, “Yes. It is [the surah commencing with], ‘All praise and thanks are due to Allah.’ It is the seven oft-repeated verses [surah Al-Fatihah] and the great Quran that has been given to me” (Ahmad).

    With regard to wudu, Abu Umamah narrates that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever stands up to perform his wudu, intending to offer salah, then cleans his hands, the sins of his two hands fall away with the first drop of water. Then, when he rinses his mouth, and draws water into his nose and expels it, the sins of his tongue and two lips fall away with the first drop of water. Then, as he cleans his face the sins of his hearing and seeing fall away with the first drop. Then, when he cleans his two arms including the elbows and his two feet including the ankles, he becomes free of all his offenses and sins, just as he was the day his mother gave birth to him.” He (then) said, “When he stands for salah Allah elevates his position and if he [merely] sits [without standing for salah] even then his sitting is free of sins” (Musnad Ahmad).
    As to making your prayer meaningful, consider the following Quranic verse: “Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do” (Al-Ankabut, 29: 45). Strive to observe the prayer in its proper time, review the steps of prayer, perform each step in a state of calmness, and reap the benefits of each step by striving to learn which phrases of praise are said and their meaning. Don’t just learn them in Arabic without understanding what you are saying. Learn both the Arabic as well as the translation/meaning, and do so step by step. The prayer is a lifelong connection with one’s Lord; therefore, one should strive to continue learning in a gradual process about the fiqh of salah from books recommended by one’s mentor.
    5. Find a companion who will partner with you in the process of learning, either in your local Masjid or neighborhood. One should look for someone who is positive-minded and intent on learning. Choose a partner who is humble, and respectful of the scholarly tradition in Islam. Avoid anyone who approaches the seeking of Islamic knowledge with an attitude that conveys doubt or cynicism, or is prone to questioning or refuting points simply because of him or her having an argumentative nature. Life is short; strive for that which nourishes your soul and don’t waste time.
    The Family’s Right
    Allah, the Most High, says, “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful” (Surah Nisa, 4:36). Allah instructs us to worship Him and then to be good
    to parents and to maintain family ties. One has a responsibility as a son to be the best son, for the sake of Allah. As a husband, one should strive to emulate the beautiful teachings of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, and his treatment of his wives. As a parent, one must strive to be the best father, striving to be like the Messenger of Allah; and our mothers should strive to be the best of mothers, striving to be like the Mothers of the Believers. Always remember this verse: “So be mindful of Allah as much as you are able” (Surah Taghabun, 64:16).
    It is also the right of the spouse and children to be supported financially by the husband. Some men who pursue Islamic knowledge in a serious way, think they will land a paying position, such as imam, within the Muslim community. That may or may not be the case, and therefore, a man should strive to pursue a career that provides financial stability for the family. A stable career also allows one to donate for the sake of Allah and to fund dawah and social justice projects. The pursuit of Islamic knowledge is a lifelong endeavor; it should, however, never be the cause for neglecting other responsibilities.
    The Community’s Right
    A community of believers strives to translate faith into action. They encourage one another in commitment to the truth and encourage one another to practice patience. Allah says, “By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds and advise each other to truth and advise each other to patience” (Surah Al Asr, 103:1-3). A community of believers strives selflessly, in unity, seeking to please Allah.
    This community understands the gravity of division within the ranks of the believers. Allah says, “And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided” (Surah Al Imran, 3:103). Given the importance of unity, a Muslim must strive to support and enhance that unity – through participation in masjid affairs and events, through volunteering, financial support, being a good role model for others in the community, especially the young people, and in every other way he can.
    The Society’s Rights
    A Muslim is meant to be beneficial to society, to be concerned about the well-being of all its members. This includes being friendly with neighbors, greeting them cheerfully, and being ready to assist them when needed, without expecting anything in return. This is part of practicing Islam, and by so practicing, one is teaching about Islam. The Quran says, “You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Book had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient” (Surah Al Imran 3:110). Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as a “mercy to all the worlds” (Quran, 21:107). Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Al A’as reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you” (Al-Tirmidhi).
    In conclusion, my dear brothers and sisters, be balanced in regards to your individuality, your family life, your community, and society. The Prophet (pbuh) advised, “You have a duty to your Lord, you have a duty to your body, and you have a duty to your family, so give each one its rights” (Bukhari). He also taught us this supplication which we should make often: Allahumma inni as’alukal-huda wat- tuqa wal-‘afafa wal-ghina — “O Allah! I ask you for guidance, piety, purity [bashfulness about doing anything that displeases Allah], and independence and richness of self [with total reliance on Allah SWT]” (Muslim).

  • Allah Rescues a “Boricua” through Islam

    Allah Rescues a “Boricua” through Islam

    In the name of Allah, the most Compassionate, the most Merciful — may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His last and final messenger, the seal of all the prophets, Muhammad. And may peace be upon those who follow in his footsteps until the Day of Judgment.

    I felt empowered each time I completed an act of obedience to Allah

    My Dear Family

    I was blessed with parents of Puerto Rican origin, which is what makes me a “Boricua” — a person of Puerto Rican heritage. I am the youngest of three sons, born in New York, and raised in both Puerto Rico and New Jersey. My mother, who was a nun before she married my dear father, taught more than fifty girls in a convent in New York. She had studied psychology at Fordham University and later during her years as a nun had many unanswered questions that led her to leave the convent. She later married my father. She taught us to always pray to God upon awakening and before going to sleep, and to thank Him for our food. In Puerto Rico, she established catechism classes in our home for the children in our neighborhood.

    I continued reading the Qur’an for nine consecutive months and through my reading and application I realized that I was gradually curing myself from the vices of smoking and drinking alcohol

    My father was hard-working and he would take us to work with him so we could learn a good work ethic and basic skills for survival. From a young age, I learned how to make pizza, scrambled eggs, and sandwiches. My father loved to be with his children and would play videogames and sports with us on his days off. My older brothers would always play with me or take me to the movies, and we had a great sense of camaraderie and a lot of fun together.

    Islam and Basketball

    During my growing-up years, I was a fan of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls team. The Bulls won three championships, and then in 1993 Jordan retired. I felt like a boy without a favorite sports hero. I began to search for a new favorite player and chose Chris Jackson from the Denver Nuggets, who later accepted Islam and changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul Rauf.

    During those days, there was not much access to watching games of out-of-state teams unless they were playing against the local team. The way I kept up with everything was through collecting trading cards. Once I was reading Mahmoud Abdul Rauf’s cards and I found information about Islam including what his Arabic name meant and about the pilgrimage to Mecca. Since I didn’t have a chance to watch many of Denver’s games, I had to pick another player from one of the two local teams, the New York Knicks or the New Jersey Nets. I chose the Knicks because I was born in New York; and as a favorite player, I picked John Starks.

    That year, the NY Knicks made it to the playoffs against the Houston Rockets. The Rockets had at that time the legendary Hakeem Olajuwon who was fasting during the championship games. Many of the Knicks players would trash-talk him, but he always responded with patience and grace. The Knicks had the opportunity to win the game with a shot from Starks, but it was blocked by Olajuwon and Houston won the NBA Championship. Here again, I was being exposed indirectly to Islam, but during this time period I was not interested in religion.

    The Challenges and Hardships of Youth

    While I was in Union Hill High School, in Union City, New Jersey, I began smoking cigarettes because all my friends were doing it. After school we would go play basketball and sometimes those who were waiting their turn to play would drink beer or smoke marijuana. So my teenage years were spent playing basketball, singing reggaeton (urban music rooted in Latin and Caribbean music with a fusion of Latin and reggae rhythms) in the clubs, drinking alcohol, and hanging out with friends. It is not surprising, given my lifestyle, but still a big loss, that a friend of mine drowned while he was drunk, at the age of 18. I was also involved with a gang and became friends with Carlos Hernandez, from Colombia, who lived in my house for a few weeks. Carlos loved to read a lot and one day we visited the public library and, given my lack of moral principles at that time, I stole a copy of the Qur’an. At one point, some members of my gang killed two of my friends with whom I had been the day before. That tragedy affected me tremendously. Day after day I thought of three things —death, illness, and my family’s well-being. During that time I lost trust in all human beings except my parents, but they lacked the experience to guide me and help me see beyond my narrow perspective. I decided to search for God.

    My Spiritual Journey

    My quest to find answers began in the year 1998 when I felt like I had no direction and lacked the ability or the willingness to confide in any other human being. I visited the churches in my area and acquired six different bibles. I began to read through all of them, comparing passages, and then I remembered the Qur’an that my friend Carlos had left at my house. I looked for it and began reading it daily, along with the bibles. Interestingly, I found that there was an assertion in the introduction of the New Revised Standard Version that the King James Bible contained grave errors. I began to think that if there are different versions of “the Word of God” then we can’t trust that the Bible has been kept intact and uncontaminated by man. Later I read in the introduction of the translation of the Qur’an by Abdullah Yusuf Ali that, “This Qur’an is a confirmation of the message of Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and all the prophets of God.” The introduction also stated that the Qur’an remain available in the original Arabic language, in its original form without having been changed for more than 1400 years; and that countless people have memorized the entire text. These things impressed me.

    Reading the Qur’an

    I continued my search and I became attached to reading the Qur’an. I wanted to apply everything I was reading. When I read a verse that said: “Establish regular prayers – at the sun’s decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony” (Qur’an 17:78). After reading this verse, I would wake up in the middle of the night secretly, to read the Qur’an while my family slept. I felt empowered each time I completed an act of obedience to Allah. Some time later I read a verse related to speaking well: “O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and (always) say a word directed to the Right: That He may make your conduct whole and sound and forgive you your sins: He that obeys Allah and His Messenger, has already attained the highest achievement” (Qur’an 33:70-71). Immediately after I read that verse, I began to put forth a lot of effort to control my speech. I would push myself to only speak well or maintain silence.

    I continued reading the Qur’an for nine consecutive months and through my reading and application I realized that I was gradually curing myself from the vices of smoking and drinking alcohol. That internal turning toward Allah made me trust the Holy Qur’an more and more. Finally, after those nine months of reading and applying what I learned, I decided on September 24, 1999 to accept Islam. I did so at the North Hudson Islamic Educational Center (NHIEC) in Union City with Sheikh Mohammed Al Hayek, who offered regular classes in English for new Muslim converts. Two years later, my dear mother and father also accepted Islam. All praise is to Allah.

    Efforts to Teach Islam

    In 2002, I established a Spanish class at NHIEC called, “Understanding Islam.” Later, during a Dawah Committee meeting, Imam Al Hayek asked me if I had any ideas for a dawah event directed at the Latino community. I suggested holding a Hispanic Muslim Day. Through the wonderful efforts of the Dawah Committee, the first event took place in 2002. I continued offering the weekly classes from 2002 to 2004.

    Path Towards Arabic and Islamic Studies

    In 2004, I was offered a scholarship to study in Egypt; Arabic language at Eqraa Institute and Islamic Studies at Al-Azhar University. I studied in Egypt form 2004 until 2007, completing five years of course material in three years at Al-Azhar. All praise is to Allah. I met many wonderful Latino brothers and sisters in Egypt who helped me to settle into my new life. Among them were Abdul Rahman Khairo from Colombia, Sheikh Uzman from Argentina, Dr. Juan Yahya Suquillo who visited and gave us good advice, and also a dear brother, Mujahid Fletcher, founder of IslamInSpanish. We spent nights talking about how we could serve our Latino/Hispanic community.

    IslamInSpanish: My New Family

    In the year 2010, my family and I relocated from New Jersey to Houston. It was my aim to work as a teacher for Iman Academy Islamic School and also work with IslamInSpanish. I joined IslamInSpanish because of their extraordinary mission of producing multimedia to educate Latinos about Islam. It has been a marvelous experience working with them to serve the Latino community, recording IslamInSpanish programs in the Andalucia Center Studios with “The Voice of IslamInSpanish” narrator Abu Mujahid Fletcher.

    Show: Entendiendo el Corán (Understanding the Qur’an)
    All praise is to Allah. IslamInSpanish has a lot to offer the Latino community:
    educational Islamic material at www.islaminspanish.org
    networking with the Latino community through Facebook on their page www.facebook.com/IslamEnSpanish
    material available for purchase at www.dar-us-salam.com
    national and international presentations; for more information, contact them through info@islaminspanish.org or www.facebook.com/IslamEnSpanish

    Opportunity to Become an Imam

    At the end of 2011, I received an offer to become an Imam in Beaumont, Texas. My first impulse was to refuse the offer as my family and I were happy living in Houston and I was very satisfied with my work at Iman Academy and IslamInSpanish. Yet, in my current circumstances, I was extremely busy and did not have much time for my family. My wonderful wife said to me: “We’ll go wherever we need to go.” I made the Istikhara prayer (for consultation), analyzed the offer, and said to myself, “With this offer, I could balance my family life and manage my time better. I could make dawah, continue my Islamic studies, spend more time with my family, and be a good example to them.” After praying Istikhara, I also consulted with my mother and trusted friends and advisors. I then made the decision to accept the offer as Imam of the Islamic Society of Triplex.

    On January of 2012, the Islamic Society of Triplex founded Al Hidaya School, a weekend school with the mission to “Develop in our youth a love for Allah as their God, Islam as their way of life, Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the seal of the prophets, and the Qur’an as the guide for humanity.” At Al Hidaya, students learn Arabic, Islamic Studies, Qur’an reading, basketball, and martial arts. Al Hidaya is comprised of wonderful students, teachers, and volunteers.

    Looking back on my journey, I never could have imagined the wonderful blessings I would receive as I took step after step in my determination to find truth. All praise is to Allah that I have found much more than I could ever have hoped for. Indeed, Allah rescued a young, lost soul — a “Boricua” — through Islam.