`EID MUBARAK | Have a blessed `Eid!

May Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) accept your fasts, your prayers and your supplications; and may the blessings of Ramadan continue throughout the year! Ameen. Enjoy this joyous occasion with your loved ones and keep the Ummah in your prayers!

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Merciful

On behalf of VirtualMosque.com, we wish you all a blessed Ramadan.

“When Ramadan comes, the doors of Paradise are opened and the doors of Hell are closed.” 

We ask Allah to grant us tawfiq (success) to make the most of this special time.

EID MUBARAK | Have a blessed Eid!

May Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) accept the hajj of those who were blessed to go this year and accept the fasts and prayers of those who took advantage of the blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah! Ameen. Enjoy this joyous occasion with your loved ones and keep the Ummah in your prayers!

Eyes shut, body still, mind calm, lights kill.

Deceleration of breath whilst proliferation of death

Rolling down the subconscious iceberg until

Gears and cogs and clock hands turn and I forget—

Stage one. You have arrived at the alpha.

Here what you hear is distorted in your ears

Mind is still well and alive but the site of an alfalfa

Is blind to the visible eye while it is near

Stage two. You have arrived at the theta.

Strange as it seems the fine line between reality and dreams

Are two in one, blended by the mind that runs data

Of past recollections into images in sections as it teems.

Stage three. You have arrived at the delta.

Processes have slowed, memories are stowed away to the subconscious bay

Whilst you enter a land stranded with sand without any shelter

And night is incumbent to veil the reasons of day.

Stage four. You have arrived at the gamma.

This is the part where everything changes.

Suddenly life emerges like a lightning striking the Panama

Canal of your ear and what you hope and fear ranges

Unlimitedly across the lands of imagination

Unknown and grown and stowed away in a strange place

Where whatever happens may precognize like inebriation

Or fantasize to realize what in wakefulness you vainly chase

Across the sky you fly in the sea you breathe

At the speed of sound on the ground and the world around

Fame and fortune and frolic, of fear your freed

Faeries and sprights and aeriform delights surround

Remnant memory in the form of reverie

Entering as thoughts manifest into reality’s reflection

Everyday nuances risen into the realm of the heavenly

Fettering like dots best described by science as brightened brain sections

Speaking of heavenly, let’s speak about that

Seeing that we’ve reached that fact as a matter of fact

And from twenty-seven to seventy thousand good deeds rack

Written with the pen of time on the fabric of fate in ink that is black

Of cosmic connectivity with such spiritual lucidity

From the black hole of the mind out of the soul synaptic ravine

Bridging the gap between the heavenly and the known reality

Despite what the heart desires to which it inclines

Here, a plane beyond this Earth is visualized

Fear is just a construct of illusiveness

Tears are irrelevant in a place you’ll never face ill-speech or lies

Peer into the telescope of the ethereal condusiveness

That which is divine is given as signs from above

Beyond wordly love higher than the flight of a dove

Somewhere near, somewhere close, somewhere you’ll never get enough

Because you’ll be fulfilled with ambrosian stuff

A home of messengers, martyrs, men alike

Who believed, perceived, and conceived the truth like the eye of the night

Never giving up hope or abandoning the fight

In dreams of an eternity that more than suffices their plight

Until you reach the high plane

Where the veil is lifted

Nothing is conceivable to the physical brain

And light upon light, upon you is gifted!!

Pleased with you, and you pleased with Him

This is the ultimate attainment!

Cups and chalices of silver filled to the brim

Of all your desires there is no containment!!!

Ethereal, surreal, this is a dream yet for real

You wish to reach such heights, you think and you feel

And the One you wish to impress knows what you conceal

So you do not digress, and before Him you kneel

Forty years you see what you once believed

In awe, in fear, in enlightenment, in exaltation

Compact into seconds, you have perceived

The recitation of an invocation for nations is now realization

Elated, pupils dilated and deeds are weighted

And if a feather is heavier it is stated

That you will reside and abide in a bode verily hated

By all like, so then why did you abate it?

Flames that purge, flames that scourge

A spark as large as a sallow fortress

Blame is dispersed, the blame is all yours

Why did you not stop when you had time to forfeit?

Screams, despair, dreams are now nightmares

Demons don’t care how painful it is there

Water is not shared, scalding it tears

Through the insides, so I declare, why aren’t you scared!?!?

In between there and a place you wish to go

You teeter between fear and hope of Him

What you deem fair is faced with the throes

Of reality’s truth and not to your judgment or whims

Memories of old, premonitions of new

Fantasies so bold, renditions of the true

Wishes so fantastic, goals you slew

Dreams bombastic, extolled by you

Pulse of the universe beats to the rhythm of nature

Convulse in synchronicity, slowing in tempo

Until the BPM of heart reverts to start place or

The mind sublimes to the rhyme it’s scribed in decrescendo

Shift down, shut down, lift up, hear sound

Gears slow, mind softens, time is rewound

Stage four, stage three, stage two, stage one rebound

Timelessness is bound yet again with the now you found

Rising up from an unconscious sea of still

Acceleration of breath clock hand turn and I forget

As cogs and gears calm the mind, the mind’s lights kill

Eyes open, body fills with life renascent from the iteration of death.

`EID MUBARAK | Have a blessed `Eid!

May Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala accept your fasts, your prayers and your supplications; and may the blessings of Ramadan continue throughout the year! Ameen. Enjoy this joyous occasion with your loved ones and keep the Ummah in your prayers!

In the darkest hour, your light arose.

When souls were lost, wandering aimlessly,

seeking that which they did not know,

Out came a Prophet, from Allah and Allah alone.

When truth was forgotten, mixed in with illusions,

In the depths of darkness, hearts hard and frozen

A honorable man from Quraysh was surely chosen.

Beauty and radiance brighter than the full moon,

Your character was that of the noble Quran,

Walking with a sense of purpose, ever reflecting

Your heart was purer than gold, most loved by Ar-Rahman ((the Merciful Lord))

Hair, neither curly nor straight, as black as they come

Medium in stature, neither tall nor short

Full of life and light, yours was an appearance that was compelling

To those blessed to set their gaze upon you

And to those yearning for a glimpse in their dreams.

They say your smile lit any space you entered,

Forcing eyes to be downcast because of its brilliance.

How much would we give, to see your smile!

A radiant smile that can only come from a radiant soul,

Kindness and mercy were part of your demeanor

Beloved of Allah, you dealt with people in an exalted manner,

Exemplifying the essence of piety

Always teaching, forever loving

Not a soul came to you, but was enriched and cherished

Never having left your side feeling unwanted.

Challenges came to you, as with your brothers, the prophets of before

with a smile you bore it with strength, your heart turned to the Source of Peace

From Mecca to Taif, an outcast did they make you

Hurtful words surrounded you, family abandoned you with no shame

Allah was your pillar; on Him was your unwavering trust

Pelted with stones, feet bleeding from your escape

Mourning the loss of your beloved Khadija, a woman like no other

Surely did an angel come to put power in your hand

Let the mountain collapse on those who transgressed against you!

Those persecuting you and your companions,

Killing and torturing them ruthlessly, for following His way.

The weight of belief in your hearts

Was too mighty of a power for them to contend

But surely you did not take your right, Rahmatan lil ‘Alamin ((Mercy of the Worlds))

Mercy and compassion did you choose, to guide to His Light

A honorable man indeeed, chosen by the Most High

Carrying the weight of a mighty task

Hearts and souls united, on a straightened path

You taught us love and submission, obedience to Allah Almighty

Praying till feet were swollen, ever mindful of your blessings

As the love of al Wadud ((the Affectionate Lord)) coursed through your veins,

Shall I not be ‘abdan shakura ((grateful servant)) you would humbly state.

Crying for the nation entrusted to you

My ummah! My ummah!, ((my community)) your tears and duas ((prayers)) reached the heavens

Surrounded by beloved companions, stars for us to follow

You would yearn to meet your brothers of generations to come

Those who believed in you, without seeing you

Who took your message and spread it just the same

Believers who love you, and stand for your honor till this very day

Values of piety did you teach mankind

To protect the orphans and guard their rights

Honor your neighbors and stand firmly for justice

Let no man cause enmity between you, you advised

Lower your wing of humility to the womb that bore you

For verily, Paradise is under her feet

Love your father and guard your tongues

Let no man pass you without giving a smile

For even a smile is considered an act of charity

Share your food, give of your wealth and pray tahajjud

Be neither extravagant nor miserly in your ways

A balanced and humble path is what you sought

Connecting softened hearts, brotherhood was what you taught

Preferring others over your nafs was surely your way

No man is better than another, except in piety you would exclaim

For Allah scans our heart, not the color of our skins

Spread the salaam ((peace, words of greeting)) and give women their rights

Strive for Jannah ((Paradise)) , be sincere indeed

And know that to Allah is your final return

Never could you imagine, the magnitude of our love

For the man whose love saved us from ourselves.

You are a gift from the King and you we emulate

Mighty was your reach, for it was hearts and minds you conquered

You were destined for greatness, though you were but a man

And to Allah you returned, at rest at last

Free from the turmoils and hardships you endured

The darkness has been lifted, the hearts warmed

For the path to Him has been illuminated

You completed your mission, on us is the burden now

We bear witness to your message, delivered in excellence

The Sahaba ((Companions)) wept for the Prophet who lived amongst them

We weep for the Beloved we never met

We weep for the Seal of Prophets, Muhammad ibn Abdullah

To be loved by a man whose loved by Ar Rahman,

Our eyes overflow with tears, our chest expands

Wait for us ya Rasullah, ((O Messenger of God)) wait for us Habibuna ya Khalil-ul-Allah ((Our Beloved, O Friend of God))

Salalahu ‘ala nabiyana Muhammad ((Blessings of God on our messenger Mohammad))

SALALAHU ‘ALAHI WA SALAM ((Blessings of God and Peace))

Salalahu ‘ala nabiyana Muhammad

SALALAHU ‘ALAHI WA SALAM

By Dua Aldasouqi

Have you ever
had your heart broken,
chest opened
reached in
pulled out
squeezed
until you bleed?

Have you ever
cried for a lost one?
Mother, brother, daughter, son,
tummy in a knot
and all you want to do is run?

Have you ever
struggled with the news?
Murder, massacre,
guns and demolition crews.
It’s like a game,
which tragedy do you choose?
Which tyrant
do you root for to lose?
Can you just turn off
or at least snooze?
Because you just.can’t.even.

So you, turn to a friend:
mentor, teacher, or anyone else
Because you feel absolutely hopeless

You ask them: What should I do?
And they say, make du’a’ ((supplication)) , you know pray
So you’re like, yeah yeah
But, no, what should I do or say?
You brush it off your shoulder cuff
Like du’a’ just, isn’t enough

You move on, not
recognizing what you’ve done
That you’ve left behind
The truly capable One

You forget – that Yahya ((`alayhi as-salaam—peace be upon him))
was the answer
to his father’s
constant prayer

You forget – that Yunes ((`alayhi as-salaam))
chose prayer
Over despair
inside the whale

You forget – that Ayoub’s ((`alayhi as-salaam))
affliction
was removed
through du`a’

You forget – that Badr
was nothing short of
intervention
from the heavens

You forget—that power
lies with Him alone
That strength comes
through His will

That He is the
Sustainer, the Maintainer,
the Provider, the Protector,
the Just, the Judge

You forget – that He is
the only capable One

Assalamu `alaykum wa rahmatullahi ta`ala wa barakatuh.

Dear Beloved Readers,

We have great news to share, alhamdulilLah. Starting today, SuhaibWebb.com has transitioned to VirtualMosque.com.

(c) Salman Jafri

For the last seven years,  SuhaibWebb.com has dedicated itself to enhancing the spiritual and religious development of Muslims by publishing sound, balanced and moderate Islamic writing. We have sought to bridge orthodox and contemporary knowledge, bringing to light issues of cultural, political and social relevance to Muslims in the West. We will continue to do just that at our new home, VirtualMosque.com, which is dedicated to building a vibrant community for Muslims online.

Why change now? This transition has been a long time coming; as the website has grown, it has no longer fit into the model it started with – the personal blog for Shaykh Suhaib Webb. As Shaykh Suhaib explains,

“I am excited about this transition. SuhaibWebb.com was never about a person, but a message. Since 2004 we have tried to provide cutting edge articles and lectures, that contribute to meaningful experiences, coupled with realistic applications; the site was a connection for the disconnected and a voice for the voiceless. I am happy to admit that the site has outgrown its original mission, and the Virtual Mosque is born.”

We hope transitioning to a broader platform will enable us to present a diverse range of voices on the important issues of the day. We believe this platform will help the website sustain itself for many years to come, with the help of an expanded community of writers, readers, and donors. We want to continue to pursue a wide range of ambitious projects—projects that take risks, which introduce new ideas, and which nurture emerging work.

We hope you will follow us in this transition. There will be many opportunities to engage with the website as it continues to grow, and we hope our readers can take on a more active role in directing what the 21st century online community for Western Muslims looks like.

To all those who have supported us in the past, we thank you and hope you’ll continue supporting this effort. To newcomers, we invite you to jump in and become involved in this important effort.

We are profoundly grateful for your support all these years. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

— The VirtualMosque.com Team

—

Prominent American-Muslim Websites Initiate Online Blackout
Internet Protest to Call Attention to Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

(7/18/2014) — Today, five of the largest American-Muslim websites are simultaneously participating in an online blackout to raise awareness about the ongoing Israeli incursion in Gaza that has claimed more than 200 Palestinian lives–most of them civilian according to the United Nations–and one Israeli life. The websites have shut down for 24 hours, and redirected viewers to a message prompting them to take action around the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

SEE: Four Out of Every Five Palestinians Killed in Gaza Have Been Civilians, UN Reports

The first-of-its-kind online protest organized by American-Muslims aims to mobilize community members to advocate for Palestinian human rights. The daily estimated audience of the websites is more than 80,000.

What: Onlineblackout to raise awareness about the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza
When: July 18, 2014
Participating Organizations(in alphabetical order):
HalalTube.com  | IdealMuslimah.com | MuslimMatters.org | QuranWeekly.com  | VirtualMosque.com

The group of websites is calling for an immediate ceasefire to prevent the further loss of innocent lives, and advocating for a just, comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It condemns the violence that has led to trauma on both sides. Visitors to the sites are being urged to contact their local representatives in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in order to express their concerns over the growing humanitarian crisis.

Photo: Jason Mrachina

By Zaheen Uddin

Sitting here, waiting, waiting for epiphany to strike.

Thinking in reflection, sinking in perplexion

Mind winds up, thoughts line up, time winds down understanding hikes

Sensation is in elation, reverberation in air particles’ perception

Suddenly everything is in slow motion.

Because logic, reasoning and problem-solving ability

Are clearer than a summer sky that knows no notion

Of a straggling cloud in the celestial sea of tranquility

Abstract materializes, realizes the vices

Of the hidden within that were veiled before

Synesthesia of the mind makes sounds dance in colorful silence

Violet vox, turquoise trills, lavender lore

Black and white are dark as the day, bright as the night

When shadows are cast behind and the eye of the night outshines the rest

And dark distinguishes danger from delight

With an inner eye that foresees beyond light of the West

Because the evanescent sun extracts the last tracks of day

In between gone and here it is a phantasmagoric sphere

Giving a clear criterion of what is on land and what remains at bay

Beyond which an unconscious ocean is near, so clear

Pristine it appears, but here, not a ray of light shines down

Complex in its contents, deep in darkness

Creatures deep within it are fatefully bound

By the confines of the abysmal harness

Deeper and deeper I plunge within

Pressure strengthens as complex composition concentrates

Steeper and steeper I delve into sin

Wetter, better yet more fettered as it palpitates

Blind now, deaf of sound and unable to comprehend

Light seems impossible in a place where hope dies

Empty, yet so heavy, there seems to be no end

To the evil, the deception, the ineptness, the lies

I crawl myself out with no known avail

It’s too damp and too dark to try

If only I had never set out to subconsciously sail!

At this point it’s so damp I can’t even cry

Too much thinking, too deep, abstract

The window of opportunity is long past gone

I’m lost, I lost black, I’m trapped

The perceptive lights that were once bright are no longer on.

I close my eyes to my impending doom.

I give up, forfeit, let the tides take me

Out of the ocean, out of the sky I zoom

Into the singularity of my soul, and it breaks me.

Silence, solitude, severance and sadness

Nothing, null, nada, naked

I’m left alone in the centroid of madness

Rotten, forgotten, hated, forsaken.

“Awaken,”  I hear a voiceless voice say

Within me, around me, surrounds me, intimately

Eyes flash open, body is frozen; I lay

On the bay. I once was in close proximity, infinitely

Ecstatic, erratic, emphatic tears wet my face

Once drier than the most monochromatic and mundane

Who brought me here, where was that place?

And how did I get back to the higher plane?

I knew the answer, yet I didn’t.

Closer to me than my jugular vein,

I felt my pulse, it beat to the rhythm

Of the universe’s call inside the walls of my brain.

Within me, about me, without me, intricately

Designing and planning a masterful plan

Refining and aligning, as I am so insolently

Denying, lying, and crying towards my hands

“Truth was made clear and falsification has left,”

Said once a noble amongst mankind

And the same I say after once being bereft

Of the blessing that was graced by the divine.

That man, that mercy, that messenger, that martyr,

Was a part of my heart, from end, from start

I remember his message, from a life that was harder

Than the toils upon which any one of us embark.

His message was this:  “Whatever is willed is never to miss

And whatever misses you was never to hit.”

And “Glad tidings to the righteous of perpetual bliss”,

And “Whatever wrong is against your soul, and good is merit.”

I remember this, and the ember’s hiss also known as desire

Dies down until the illumination of what surrounds

Stops flashing about and what was once furious fire

Is now doused by the waters to douse what’s aroused

Arise from the mist, determined, clenched fist

I realize my purpose in earnest and my wish

And the voice that was voiceless yet I so dearly missed…

Was one I always knew, true as the sea’s blue; I know this.

It wasn’t far, it was always near.

I just couldn’t hear, with my fingers in my ears

So close, so great, so compassionate, so dear

In my darkest moments, do You truly appear.

And so I want to remember You

Wherever I am, if I’m planning a plan You are planning too

With love unmatched I cry tears true

Because of fear, love, trust and weakness of man

You are the Friend I never knew

But always there, for eternity

No matter how dark it is, I can still see You

God, my God, you are always sought internally

Today though… everywhere…

will I look for You.