A Greek Muslim lady from Ilioupolis, Athens
December 6, 2010
Miss Anna Stamou, public relations manager of the Muslim association of Greece, was awarded for her action by the European Muslim Professionals Network
Source: www.tovima.gr
By Achilles Hekimoglou 21st of November 2010
Anna Stamou
One of the leading international Muslim awards of Europe was recently given to a Greek lady. The public relations manager of the Muslim Association of Greece miss Anna Stamou is included in the 10 Muslim ladies with the greater and most positive influence in Europe, next to personages like the famous Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid! Miss Stamou found herself among the top 10 of the female aspect’s expression of the modern, moderate Islam, receiving a relevant award by the European Muslim Professionals Network (CEDAR), which is supported by the well known Institute of Strategic Dialogue, also known as the “Three Club”. The award ceremony , which took place three weeks ago in Madrid, is an important step for Greece so as to have a voice on the continuously widening circle of influence on the European Muslims, of the importance of whom has been stated over the last few years by numerous analysts of the international relations of our country.
Miss Stamou refers on the nowadays big issue that preoccupies the mind of thousands of Greeks and foreign Muslims, meaning the creation of an Islamic prayer site and cemetery in the capital. “We had suggested creating a simple, functional infrastructure that will be aesthetically compatible with the surrounding area. We do not imagine any luxuries just a functional prayer site.” And at the same time she criticizes the new phenomenon of islamophobia in Greece, characterising it as temporal and of ephemeral consuming. “In the past there were the communists, today are the Muslims. In a few time though, this will no longer have any effect and shall be forgotten” she underlines
In addition, she highlights that the lack of a Mosque is not the only deficiency, but there is also the lack of accredited officially appointed Imams in our country. “The imam –as well as the priest and the spiritual instructors-aids with his consultation people or couples who face problems, seek for psychological support or they confront moral dilemmas. Furthermore, we do have mixed weddings, where so many women ignore their rights. This is a tragedy.” She adds that it is necessary to create all the required institutions with Greek and not with foreign funds. “In such cases the financial contributor, has the upper hand. We have seen countries such as Holland and Great Britain to establish the state’s control.”
Miss Stamou became a Muslim six years ago, as she found answers for her inner philosophical quests. “My quest has been long, I was always seeking answers and I always had answered questions, not necessarily of theological nature. In my quest of truth, I could not get satisfactory answers. Thus, I consulted several philosophical schools; I dealt deeply with Pythagoras, through whom I found myself embracing Islam. “she states. During this quest she met her current husband, with whom they jointed as volunteers the organisation “Doctors of the World”, during the war in Iraq. Then was the time when she came into closer contact with Islam, and she started researching deeper to its teachings. “I thought due to the knowledge I have acquired from school that this is an inferior and distorted religion. Islam though had given me answers. I said then to myself that I should learn more about this religion. Many of the questions I had, started sorting themselves out with a simplicity that was really annoying!” she states. Miss Stamou underlines that due to the historical facts in our country many people confuse Muslims with Turkey, a thing she says it is wrong. “I have been a Muslim for so many years and I have learnt the word bayram last year! During my way to Islam, I have never met Turkey. The European citizen who becomes Muslim he does not obtain knowledge from the Turks, but from the Arabs, following Arab teachers” she underlines. “In Europe those who embrace Islam learn from English and French sources. Though there are thousands Greek Muslims, I do not understand why there are not any published book in Greek. Thankfully, we published five books.” She says.
She as well says that her transition from Christianity to Islam was escorted by acceptance from the side of family and her friends.”I have not met any negative reactions. Some people might have questions or they might not like it. But what could I do? Anyhow, they did not like yoga either! I did not change my social behaviour, I just wore a head scarf!” she narrates.
Miss Stamou is 37 years old and she was born in Athens, one month after the riot of Polytechneio. “My mother, being eight months pregnant to me, was watching the facts from the roof of our house.” She was born and bred in Ilioupolis, studied Business administration and Economics, though she professionally dealt with sign language but also with yoga, which she still teaches! The awarded Greek lady, is married with the chairman of the Muslim Association of Greece, Mr. Elgandhour , is a mother of two children , and she is the public relations manager of the previously referred association. “A few years ago, I had an office for the young Muslims, though I have translated from English language books relevant with Islam” she states. Though for many years, her main occupation was the family business, an old small factory of athletic wear that their parents had, which due to the recession shut down.
“Wearing hijab is a matter of choice”
The issue of hijab consists an important issue for many countries, for Miss Stamou though things are quite simple.
Miss Stamou holding a tray on her hands she treats guests during Ramadan
“Hijab is a part of the faith, a part you can choose to follow or not. It is your choice” she adds. Though, as she highlights, it has not only a social standing, as anyone who does an internal request, will also find other things. “The hijab is a matter of choice. But, anywhere where is enforced, is a wrongdoing. Certainly, in my opinion, when it is exposed as a symbol of oppression, is wrong. I have seen women who fight for their right to wear it” she states.
Miss Stamou refers on her award with satisfaction. “There were ten awards given, all of them equally given. I was awarded due to my actions through the Muslim Association to claim an Islamic prayer site and a cemetery but also for my positive contribution in society. The European Muslim Professionals Network (CEDAR) promotes education, progress, business, creativity, arts and sciences. It is not a religious institution” she highlights.
As she says, the basis of all the issues is the peaceful coexistence and tolerance. “During Ramadan, we eat together with our Christian friends; this is something that is not easily found in Europe. Furthermore, my daughter loves and is eager for Christmas. So they last approximately up… to Easter!” she concludes.
In an underground Mosque, during prayer time, in Athens
November 23, 2010
They have to put an effort to fit in the Greek society”
By Lina Giannarou
It does not take more than 10 minutes to walk between Stathmos Larisis to the underground, small Mosque of Attica square. Last Tuesday night, Naim Elghandour chairman of the Muslim Association of Greece, followed this route with us. He talks to himself “It’s the first time that they do not come here to harass me. Probably, they will feel tired from morning’s harassment.” At Attica square, tension took place during the morning’s public prayer of the Muslims. Habitants and followers of the party of “Chrisi Avgi” throwed eggs at them and other objects, they put very loud music in the radio to cover the imam’s voice and they were dishing out abusive brochures. “But they waste food at these time?” says humorously Mr. Elghandour. This is a way as well to banish the fear.
Walking around the area, you can easily see the fear and in the eyes of the other side. The side of the habitants. Changing pavements in case of “collision” with a company of Muslims is done by some habitants almost unconsciously. Certainly there are not only thickheads who live here. There are people who undergone dramatic changes in their environment, without any preparation. And the reluctance of the State to facilitate the creation of an official Islamic prayer site gave ground to extremities.
If someone does not try to find it, he cannot detect the toned down door next to the building’s entrance. Stickers of Chrisi Avgi and campaign brochures of N. Michaloliakos cover the door’s entire surface. The wall is black and smoked. These marks resemble with the crosses made by Easter candles on the doors, though these are the leftovers of the arson attack of the house by members of Chrisi Avgi in the evening of the 30th of October. The few worshippers, who were there, were literally saved by a miracle. There was no way out. The basement is “blind”.
The prayer site is shaky. In certain points tubes and wires are visible; the moisture has steeped the walls. In the entrance’s ladder –you have to bow to get in- there at about 10 pairs of shoes. The prayer has started. Mr. Elghandour will later explain to us, that when the Muslims lift their hand high during prayer, is to abolish their earthly problems. “All the problems that make us worried and anxious”, he says. And there are many issues, at least for the Muslims who are gathered here. Most of them are youngsters, jobless (they are washing cars’ window panes at the traffic lights), and they came to Greece by mistake. They were promised a better life in central Europe, but they have been dumped in our country. Now, they can neither leave the country nor return to their home countries. The eighteen year old Alamin was there the night of the Chrisi Avgi’s attack. “We do not disturb anybody, but we are treated worse than dogs”, he says. He is the only one of the group that speaks Greek. “This is an issue” Mr. Elghandour admits. “To be honest with you-they have to put a great effort in order to integrate in the Greek society”.
A few meters further down the street, policemen are permanently located. The verbal abuse is a daily phenomenon and the gathering of Muslims at the mosque for prayer is a red flag for the area’s thickheads. “These days, they send their wives to abuse me.”, Mr. Elghandour says. They are shouting at me “You are a fag” and I am answering back gently “My ladies I have 8 children! sometimes, even the policemen are laughing”
One hundred places like this are lying hidden in Athens, most of them similar to this one. Basement sheds. Though, according to statistical data in our capital there are about 700.000 Muslims of all different origins who currently live here. “A Mosque, an official prayer site, where we can gather. This is a request”, says Mr. Elghandour nodding with his head.
“Naim, I want to go over there” Alamin says to him while walking out of the mosque, showing the other side of Attica square. “Do not worry, I will check”, he answers back. “And you guys” Mr. Elghandour says to the rest of the group “Please stay all together. Not get into trouble…” He turns to us. “Whatever happens, do not feel scared”.
The banality of violence
November 23, 2010
Source : http://www.ekathimerini.com
By Nikos Xydakis
The peaceful prayer services held by Muslims in Athens as part of Eid al-Adha celebrations earlier this week were followed by protests and sporadic violence against Muslims, clashes between locals and foreigners, as well as skirmishes among Muslims. The neighborhood around Acharnon Street has recently witnessed attacks on makeshift mosques and the faithful who visit those sites to pray.
In Kotzia Square, an illegal street vendor from Egypt who was stopped by municipal police officers for an ID check, began to yell that they were desecrating the holy scripture of Islam that they found on him.
Some 300 Muslims from nearby streets immediately gathered on the spot, angry at the insult to the Quran. But the affront never really took place, as the confiscated items were not sacred – a fact acknowledged by the street seller’s fellow Muslims.
Both cases demonstrate the failure of the state to implement the law and protect the civic and human rights of Greeks as well as foreigners.
In both cases, the failure was interpreted as the lack of legal order, as the absence of the rule of law – and that vacuum was filled by crowds which sought to take the law in their own hands.
Seeing the state withdraw from the civic realm as the people begin to take the law in their own hands with increasing frequency is one of the most worrying signs of this difficult period in history in which politics, society and the democratic state are coming under great duress.
It is becoming an uneasy coexistence: In the gray neighborhoods, poor Greeks live next to thousands of impoverished immigrants – most of these without legal documents.
The recession is deepening, fueling mistrust and intolerance.
Everyone is threatening to take the law into their own hands. Violence is gradually becoming the rule in our daily existence. This threat against the moral and legal foundations of society is, in many ways, more frightening than the threat of financial bankruptcy.
US State Department religious freedom report on Greece
November 20, 2010
Source : www.athensnews.gr
by (ANA-MPA)
The burnt-out Jewish Synagogue in the old city of Chania, Crete, 25 January 2010. Two British men have been arrested and two Americans sought in connection with arson attacks on the medieval synagogue.
The Muslims are our friends
November 20, 2010
Source: www.protagon.com
Translation© Muslim Association of Greece
By Modestos Siotos
A week and a day after the election of a neo-Nazi in the city council of Athens, 13.000 Muslims prayed just to show their attitude in several areas of the city for the manifestation of Qurban Bayram or Eid Al Adha (our Islamic language is not that good yet but this will get better in time), the feast in other words for the sacrifice of Abraham’s son.
Only in the area of Propylaia over 1.000 gathered for the prayer, who laid sheets and took their shoes off, they prayed under the stare of an imam by the Islamic University of Egypt. The Athenians, astonished either enjoyed this cultural experience thinking “we are living in a beautiful city!” or they cursed reminiscing the years of 1821’s where the only Muslim is Athens, was the governor of the traditional village of that times.
In Attica square though, where fortunately there are still true Greeks, the Muslims prayed under the listening of “Greek popular music” (it has not been cleared out yet whether there were traditional Greek songs that were used for bullying or Natasha Theodoridou, who has a great carrier in Africa, so the music was a gift by a fellow Greek.) In the manifestation, members of the organisation Chrisi Augi tried to participate, but the fascist police forces did not allow so. Head of this group was the member of the city’s council N. Michaloliakos. By the way, he realises that the immigrants are the “earth’s damned people” and knowing that in Athens, the people are famished, the Leader volunteered to command his followers to throw poached eggs and bottles of waters so the Muslims would not feel any thirst or hunger during prayer.
A lady, who was staying in a building close by, woke up very early in the morning around 7 a.m. and holding a Greek flag she started dancing under the musical rhythms her neighbours. Due to this incident, the Mass Media, which as it is well known, they firmly defend the rights of the immigrants in the neighbourhoods of Athens, reminded to the Sate that at last, a Mosque in Athens has to be built. Otherwise –they threatened- the Christians will also start praying in public standing next to the Muslims though Ntinos Iliopoulos will saying from the Heaven’s “we are living in such a nice atmosphere”
Translation : Myrto Zacharof
Turks, Greeks and my journey to Islam
September 16, 2010
By Tina Stylianidou
My journey to Islam is a sensitive one since my Greek Orthodox family lived in Turkey for most of their lives. Although I was born in Athens, Greece, my father, who was born and raised in Istanbul to a wealthy and well educated family, was like others living in a Muslim country – he held on to his religious identity tightly.
A time came when the Turkish government decided to kick the majority of Greek citizens out of Turkey and confiscate their wealth, houses and businesses. So my father’s family had to return back to Greece, empty handed and basically poor. This is what they, the Turks –’Muslims’ – did to them and this validated (according to them) their hatred towards Islam.
My mother’s family lived on a Greek island just on the border between Greece and Turkey and during a Turkish attack the Turks occupied the island and burnt their houses. So they escaped to the Greek mainland in order to survive. Even more reason to hate the Turks –’Muslims’!
Greece was occupied by the Turks for over 400 years and we were taught to believe that for every crime committed towards the Greeks, Islam was responsible. That the Turks were Muslims and their crimes were reflecting their religious beliefs. So for hundreds of years we were taught in our history and religious books to hate and make fun of Islam. In our books, Islam was actually not a religion and Muhammad (pbuh) was not a prophet! He was just a very intelligent leader and politician who gathered rules and laws from the Jews and the Christians, added some of his own ideas and conquered the world.
We were taught at school how to make fun of him and of his wives or his companions. All the ‘caricatures’ and slander against him which is published in today’s media was actually part of our curriculum.
But God protected me so hatred against Islam had not entered my heart. Other Greeks have also succeeded to rid themselves of the burden of the Orthodox religious inheritance placed on their shoulders and they have opened their eyes, ears and hearts to see that Islam is a true religion sent by God and Muhammad (pbuh) is a true prophet, the last of all prophets after a long chain of messengers starting from Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ismael, Isaac, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them all), all sent to mankind to guide the people to the same message.
It was a great help to me that both of my parents were not very religious themselves, they rarely practised their religion and they used to take me to church only during weddings or funerals. What drove my father away from his religion was the corruption he was seeing daily among the priests and this led him to become an atheist.
As a teenager, I loved to read a lot and I wasn’t really satisfied or convinced with Christianity. I had belief in God, fear and love for Him, but everything else confused me. I started searching around but I never searched towards Islam (maybe due to the background I had against it). But in the end, God had mercy on my soul and guided me from darkness to light of the truth – Islam – submission only to One God.
He brought into my life my husband, a born Muslim, and we got married without us really paying attention to the religious differences. My husband was willing to answer any questions I had concerning his religion without humiliating my beliefs (no matter how wrong they were) and without ever putting any pressure on me or even asking me to change my religion. After three years of being married and having the chance to know more about Islam, to read the Holy Quran, as well as other religious books, I was convinced that there is no such thing as a trinity, nor was Jesus God.
I became a Muslim keeping it secret from my family and friends for many years. We lived with my husband in Greece trying to practise Islam but it was extremely difficult – almost impossible. In my home town there are no mosques, no access to Islamic studies, no people praying, fasting or women wearing hijab (the Islamic head cover).There are only some Muslim immigrants who came to Greece for a better financial future and who let the Western lifestyle attract them and eventually corrupted them. As a result, many do not follow their religious practices and are completely lost.
It was incredibly difficult to perform our Islamic duties, especially for me, as I wasn’t born Muslim and didn’t have an Islamic education. My husband and I had to pray and fast with the use of calendars instead of a Muslim call to prayer in our ears and no Muslim community to support us. We felt that with each passing day we were stepping backwards and our faith was decreasing as the wave was taking us in.
So when my daughter was born, we decided to migrate to a Muslim country. We didn’t want to raise her in a environment where she would struggle to maintain her identity where she could end up lost.
Now, after four years of our migration, I feel so homesick, so nostalgic and I wonder if it is time to return back to Greece, the beautiful country that I was born to and try to find a way to combine the wonderful identity and culture of my Greek ancestors as well as my Islamic identity and beliefs. I feel proud and thankful to God that I can be both Greek and Muslim.
Visiting Greece now as a Muslim – I was nervous and excited
August 20, 2010
By Stefanie Danopoulos, 28 years old
The last summer I visited Greece was in 1999. That time I was already reading about Islam and did a lot of thinking. When I came back to Holland I decided to convert to Islam. And after a few months I started to wear the veil, hijab.
I lost contact with my family for almost two years. When I had my first child the contact slowly became better.
My parents always told me that it was not possible to go back to Greece with my hijab. And my biggest problem was that I don’t speak Greek.
My father is from Greece (Korinthos) and my mother is from Holland. I was born and raised in Holland but we traveled to Greece every year in the summer. I think that it is really important that you can explain to the people in their language why you dress that way.
A few months ago we had a conference in Holland and then I met Anna, a Greek Muslim sister. I was so happy and I even took her to my mother’s house to show her that there are Muslims in Greece. My mother was very surprised.
A few months later, they had a meeting in Greece for the Muslims Association of Greece. My parents and sisters were all in Greece and Anna told me that I had to come. And I told my parents I had plans to come and they said that I was welcome. So I booked my ticket and finally after 11 years I came back to Greece.
I was very nervous but also very excited.
The first two days I spent at the conference in Athens meeting other Greek Muslims, alhamdulillah! I had a very nice time.
And I thought that everybody would look at me in a bad way but they did not even care.
Then I met my family in Ancient Korinthos. I was very, very nervous about the reactions. When I arrived some friends of my parents were waiting for me. They were very happy to see me and one friend of my father asked if I came from dancing because of my clothes. So my mother told him that it is a new fashion. I spoke to some relatives and nobody said crazy things.
I noticed that most of them speak English, so thank God, that was very nice. I didn’t really have the chance to tell them something about Islam because I was there only one day and my parents wanted to show me everything. They were so happy that I came.
I had a great time. And, God willing, next year I will go back to Greece with my husband and kids.
I spent my last day in the island of Andros. It was very beautiful and I even swam in the sea. Also the people there were very nice and I did not feel left out or something.
In Holland, people look at you in a different way, but I think that it is because of the negative media attention. So most people in Holland see Islam in a bad way and they feel threatened by veils and beards and long dresses. In Greece I felt very relaxed.
I had a great experience and I will go back again for holiday, God willing!
Taqwa-Piety
September 2, 2009
Darimi – Hadith Maoquf of Imaam Ali (ra) said ‘Taqwa is to fear from Allah (SWT) and to follow the revelation and satisfy with a little and to be ready for the day of departure’
This includes four pillars of Taqwa:
1. Al-Khawof min al-Jaleel – Fear from almighty Allah (SWT) exclusively
This talks about the ahkaam of Khawof. Fearing Allah (SWT) is one of the noblest forms of worship. Allah (SWT) says that the one who fears him (SWT) is the one who is eligible for Jannah. Those who have fear will have closer relationship to Allah (SWT). Some of the fear is haram, some recommended, some is shirk and some fard etc…everyone has a different angle on fear.
2. Al-A’mal bil-Tanzeel – Implementing the wahi
To act upon and fulfil all the revelation. The revelation could be Qur’anic or Prophetic. We must act upon the Qur’an and Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Sunnah (i.e. Sahabi understanding and sayings).
3. Al-Qana’ah bil-Qaleel – Satisfaction with the little
To have satisfaction. There is a saying that ‘conviction is a treasure which never finishes’. To accept whatever Allah (SWT) has kismet for you. The one who has no Qana’ah he will live all his life in confusion. The reason is to believe that Allah (SWT) is the provider. The fear from Allah (SWT) is manifested in the Qana’ah.
4. Al-Isti’daad Liyoum Al-Raheel – Preparing for the day of departure
To be ready to leave the country. When a person doesn’t know when his departure day is he should be ready all the time. When the Sahabah were asked if they were ready for the day of departure no one rose his hand, even though they have been promised Jannah – because they said to the Messenger Muhammad (saw) ‘you said that we are on the last action we do and we do not know when that will be. ’Abdullah Ibn Masoud (ra) talked about ‘O you who believe! Fear Allâh as He should be feared and die not except in a state of Islâm with complete submission to Allâh’ [EMQ 3: 102]
If you want to truly fear Allah (SWT) [he said three things] he spoke about ‘…Itaqillaha haqqa tu qaatihi…’
Abdullah Ibn Masoud (ra) said that the truthful Taqwa has the following:
(i) Al-Ta’ha – To be obeyed and never disobeyed
You must obey Allah (SWT) inner and outer by your heart, tongue and limbs.
(ii) Al-Zikr – To be remembered and never forgotten
To remember him, his names and commands in all matters. This is therefore to remember Allah (SWT)’s rights and commands in all spheres of life.
(iii) Al-Shukor – To be thanked and not to be ungrateful towards
We thank only Allah (SWT) and all the thanks are for him and there is no thanks to other than Allah (SWT). Even when we say Jazak Allah khair we mean may Allah (SWT) give you khair who facilitated your action towards me etc…
To thank Allah (SWT) in all spheres of life. Allah (SWT) gave us many ne’am and the biggest one is that he made us Muslim.
Tamaam ul-Taqwa – The complete Taqwa.
Abu Al-Darda gave us another Ilm.
He said this is for the servant:
To fear Allah (SWT) exclusively to the level of an atom’s weight of deed – whether good or bad (these being defined by what Allah (SWT) says is good or bad).
Ahl Ul-Taqwa – The pious people
He must obviously be Muslim to begin with.
So who is the Mutaqee – who is the man of Taqwa, i.e. has true, complete Taqwa. The Mutaqeen will always be in Jannah.
So he isn’t just the one who doesn’t do the haram but the one who fears from doing it when it comes and is facilitated for them and they reject it.
The Conditions of Tawheed
August 31, 2009
Source: I Love Allah (fb)
Tawheed is the mother of all obligations. Without it, you cannot be a Muslim and all of your good deeds are ineffective. It is vital for one to understand the pillars and conditions of Tawheed in order to ensure that he/she is a real Muslim. Failure to fulfil any condition or pillar of Tawheed will nullify a person’s Eemaan and Islam, and hence will either be a Mushrik or Murtad (apostate). The conditions of Tawheed are as follows:
1. Al-’Ilm – Knowledge
Allah (swt) says in the Qur’aan: “So know that Laa ilaaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)…” (EMQ Muhammad, 47: 19)
If you testify that there is no ilaah worthy of worship and obedience, you must also know and understand all of Allah’s (swt) attributes and functions or you will become Mushrik.
We are obliged to study, learn and know about Allah (swt); what He likes and dislikes, loves and hates, His names and attributes etc.
You can only testify that which you have knowledge about. Therefore, if someone claims to be a witness, and he is asked about what he has seen, and replies: “I’m not sure”, this person is completely daft as he testifies to something which he has no knowledge of. Similar to this person is the one who testifies the Kalimah, yet he does not understand what it means.
Allah (swt) says: “This (Qur’aan) is a Message for mankind (and a clear proof against them), in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is the only One Ilaah (God – Allah) – (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and that men of understanding may take heed.” (EMQ Ibraaheem, 14: 52)
2. Al-Yaqeen – Certainty
Knowledge is not enough, as many kuffaar know about Islam but they do not believe in it nor do they have certainty about it. Allah says: “Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and afterwarddoubt not but strive with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah…” (EMQ Hujaraat, 49: 15), and the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said: “Whoever testifies that there is no god worthy of worship and obedience but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah, without any doubt he will enter Jannah.” (Saheeh Muslim)
3. 3. Al-Qubool – Acceptance
After having knowledge and certainty, you MUST accept. Some people may believe, have knowledge, and have certainty, but may not accept, as it may be too difficult for him or he may not accept out of his own personal desires. Allah (swt) says: “Truly, when it was said to them: ‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)’ they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it).” (EMQ as-Saaffaat, 37: 35)
4. 4. Al-Inqiyaad – Submission
Allah (swt) says: “But nay, by your Lord, they can have no Eemaan, until they make you (Muhammad [saw]) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” (EMQ an-Nisaa’, 4: 65)
Allah (swt) describes those who do not submit to Him as disbelievers, and swears to this by Himself. Having knowledge, certainty and acceptance is not enough; you must also have submission with no haraj (discontent). You must submit to Allah, and all His names and attributes. Allah (swt) also says: “There is no compulsion in the religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taaghout and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break (i.e. he will have submission). And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.” (EMQ al-Baqarah, 2: 256)
5. As-Sidq – Believing
Allah says: “When the hypocrites come to you (saw), they say: ‘We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.’ Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed.” (EMQ al-Munaafiqoon, 63: 1)
Allah testifies that the Munaafiqoon are liars as they claim to be Muslims but they do not believe. Thus, believing is a condition of Tawheed
6. 6. Al-Ikhlaas – sincerity
Allah says: “And they were commanded not, but that they should sincerely (with Ikhlaas) worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salaat and give Zakaat: and that is the right religion.” (EMQ al-Bayyinah, 98: 5)The Messenger Muhammad (saw) said: “The one who says ‘there is none worthy of worship but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’ seeking sincerelyto see the face of Allah, Allah will forbid him from Hell-fire.” (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim
7. Al-Mahabbah – love
After having knowledge, certainty, acceptance, submission, belief and sincerity; you must also love those whom Allah (swt) tells you to love, and hate those whom He tells you to hate.
Greeks rethought and met each other!
August 29, 2009
Ramadan Timetable for Greece
Our next event: 6th September 2009
Greeks rethought and met each other!
Apprehensive, nervous, excited.
What was the matter? It was our first on line Paltalk gathering. After furious preparations with announcements, giving and receiving instructions of how to use Paltalk, and a lot more, the moment was here. Now we were actually going to hear and speak to our brothers and sisters who were to attend.
What was crossing my mind?
Is my Internet going to let me down? Am I going to overcome my apprehension and be clear and coherent? And am I going to choke and cough? This is the funny side. Sister Anna Stamou who hosted the event had a lot more to worry about. Being in Andros and having fires burning just across from where she was, was wondering if her power supply would be cut off. We all at the Greeks Rethink and Muslim Association of Greece team were holding our breath.
We were all so excited that the pre-gathering nerves and worries were forgotten. At last. Face to face and personal.
The gathering started with a short dua recited by Br. Naim Elghadour of MAG, then some simple instructions of the use of Paltalk by Br Amir, introductions and we were ready to start and get close and personal….
Sister Anna made everybody feel relaxed and the conversation was just like a river flowing. Also, sister Iman who was supposed to relax and did not, made everybody feel at ease with an amazing voice of a 17 year old (as she was complimented). Masha Allah.
We did not feel like strangers. We all (and I dare speak on behalf of everybody) felt that we knew each other so well.
We shared our stories and Ramadan experiences in our respective countries of residence. The Ramadan spirit and the relaxed mood made me share confidences and Br. Hayrullah was a marvelous shoulder to cry on and also loads of laugh. So much so that we asked him to host our next gathering coming soon.
I have to say that some of my fears became true. At the crucial point of introducing myself I got disconnected. But Alhamdulillah. It all went well. Till next time. Coming on the 6th September 2009. Please use the link for more information.
