This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1729

Al Magrib Institute director Muhammed Alshareef explains why "Jews were cursed" and offers courses on "Islam Invulnerable"

March 8, 2006

MIM: Muhammed Alshareef is a radical Islamist who was born and raised in Canada. According to his bio he studied in Canada and went on to the University of Medinah where he graduated in 1999. He is a poster boy for the fundamentalist "weltaanshauung" and proof that radical Islam is not the result of financial,or social circumstances. Alshareef is the epitome of the Islamist missionary, who majored in Wahhabism and went back to North America to establish an Islamist propagation organisation, using his nationality and familiarity with the language and culture to bring the Islamist message to young Muslims in Canada , and recruit new converts.

After graduating from Wahhabi U in Medina Alshareef founded the Al Magrib Institute whose vision is to :

"...become the largest and most beneficial learning system in the history of Ummat Muhammad, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam. We envision our learning system entering every nation of the world, and being accessible to all people who seek to gain a deeper understanding of Islam. In each place it enters, AlMaghrib Institute will build sincere, dedicated and brilliant students of knowledge who will go on to become leaders, bringing their communities to new heights. History will look back on AlMaghrib Institute's pioneering work as being the driving force that awakened the Ummah giant.http://www.almaghrib.org/vision.php

The courses which were created by Alshareef promote the idea that Islam is meant to be the ruling religion on earth and that Muslims will acheive global supremacy in the near future. One course is called :

Islam Invulnerable: The Making of the Modern Muslim World and reassures Muslims that:

"...Despite the fact that the Muslim Ummah has degenerated in relative material terms over the past several centuries, Islam is incorruptible and impossible to harm. In other words, Islam is invulnerable.

MIM: Excerpts from Alshareef's article "Why the Jews were cursed" which appeared under the heading 'Nothing can save the Jews from Islam'.

"...When I was in high school, studying in journalism class, our teacher
had placed on the wall a statement that I spent many days
contemplating. It simply said, "Freedom of the press (speech)
belongs to those that own the press!" Who owns the press? Well,
you can believe me when I say that it is not the god fearing beloved
of Allah.

It is this same press that molds and programs the aqeedah of a huge
section of our Ummah. Many of our brothers and sisters are illiterate
to the words of Allah and the guidance of Rasul Allah - sal Allahu
alayhi wa sallam, so it is with little doubt that their ideas are
subconsciously molded by what Seifeld tells them at 8 pm every
Wednesday evening.
It is this same brother or sister that asks the question, "I
don't understand why the Jews were cursed. Seinfeld is funny.
What did he do?"

This khutbah is our media and in sha' Allah we shall learn in
these few moments only samples of what carried the Jews to evoke
Allah's anger. ..."

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.islam/browse_frm/thread/4c8e138707dc3fbf/6068413b8e48ddb2?lnk=st&q=muhammed+alshareef&rnum=1&hl=en#6068413b8e48ddb2

http://www.almaghrib.org/moreinstructors.php#Faqih

"...Muhammad Alshareef

Muhammad Alshareef was born in 1975 and raised in Canada. In his youth, he memorized the Quran and later graduated with an Islamic Law degree from the Islamic University of Madinah, class of 1999. He is the founder of AlMaghrib Institute through which he teaches university-level seminars on Islam. AlMaghrib Institute seminars have been conducted across the USA and Canada, as well as in Australia.

While he continues to teach, Muhammad Alshareef now devotes much of his time to recruiting, training and advising other students of knowledge in becoming AlMaghrib Institute instructors. Being a true visionary with exceptional talents in motivating others, Muhammad Alshareef has also founded EmanRush Audio and Khutbah.com, and actively keeps in touch with the online community at the AlMaghrib Forums.

Currently Muhammad Alshareef lives with his family in Ottawa, Canada..."

-----------------------------------------------------

http://www.almaghrib.org/studenttribe.php

MIM: The Al Maghrib website offers "crash courses in Islam" and study networks known as tribes. One student came up with the quaint idea of having white 'Jihad' flags as awards:

How the Competition Works

The grades of all the students of a particular tribe are used to calculate which of the student tribes, as a whole, did the best on the exam. When an individual student misses the exam, they are not only hurting themselves, but they are also hurting the ENTIRE class average, because their absence counts as a zero and pulls everyone in their student tribal family down.

On the other side, the student who would normally be satisfied with a 90%, now has the drive to carry the average mark of their tribe to higher and higher percentages to ‘beat' the other student tribes for the sake of Allah!

The Prize

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On expeditions during the time of the Prophet, sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, leaders (key word: leaders) would carry a white flag. The flag would be inscribed with the statement, "Laa ilaaha illa Allah, Muhammadur Rasool Allah" in black lettering. In Arabic, this flag is called a Liwaa'.

It was the AlMaghrib student tribe of Durbah (the New Jersey student body) that came up with the idea of offering this leader's white flag, or Liwaa', to the student tribe that came out on top. (see information on the flags of Islam below)

MIM: The students as Al Maghrib Institute have given it 'rave reviews' one student says that it is even better then the 'schools overseas' and mentions that one instructor maybe 'leaving the USA for good'.

I've spent time studying overseas and I know: this was one of the most important and most informative classes I've ever had in comparison to what's available overseas."
- An AlMaghrib Student

AlMaghrib Rocks! When we heard the instructor might be leaving the USA for good, so many students were crying because he made such a difference in our lives and we don't know how to thank him nor do we want to lose him. May Allah bless AlMaghrib Institute."
- AlMaghrib Student

http://www.almaghrib.org/con.php

MIM: Al Maghrib director Muhammed Alshareef shows his romantic side with these 10 tips for woman on how to win the love of their husbands:

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.politics/browse_frm/thread/79992a31dc935c3b/22d5e85eadfaf2a7?lnk=st&q=muhammed+alshareef&rnum=5&hl=en#22d5e85eadfaf2a7

Read Now the 10 Tips to win the love of your husband by

Muhammad AlShareef

1. Make Dua to Allah to make your marriage and relationship
successful. All good things are from Allah.

Never forget to ask Allah ta'ala for the blessing of having a
successful marriage that begins in this Dunya and continues on - by
the Mercy of Allah ta'ala - into Jannah.

2. Listen and Obey! Obeying your husband is Fard! Your husband is the
Ameer of the household. Give him that right and respect..

3. Always seek to please your husband, for he is your key to Jannah.
Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - taught us that any women
who dies in a state where her husband is pleased with her, shall enter
Jannah. So .. please him..

4. An argument is a fire in the house. Extinguish it with a simple
'I'm sorry' even if it is not your fault. When you fight back, you are
only adding wood to the fire. Watch how sweetly an argument will end
when you just say sincerely, "Look, I'm sorry. Let's be friends.".

5. Thank your husband constantly for the nice things he does. Then
thank him again. This is one of the most important techniques, as the
opposite is a characteristic of the women of hellfire..

6. Joke and play games with your husband. A mans secret: they seek
women who are lighthearted and have a sense of humor. As Rasul Allah -
sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - told Jabir to marry someone who would
make him laugh and he would make her laugh..

7. Always wear jewelry and dress up in the house. From the early
years, little girls have adorned themselves with earrings and
bracelets and worn pretty dresses - as described in the Qur'an. As a
wife, continue to use the jewelry that you have and the pretty dresses
for your husband..

8. Review the characteristics of the Hoor Al-Ayn and try to imitate
them The Qur'an and Sunnah describe the women in Jannah with certain
characteristics. Such as the silk they wear, their large dark eyes,
their singing to their husband, etc. Try it, wear silk for your
husband, put Kohl in your eyes to 'enlarge' them, and sing to your
husband..

9. When your husband comes home, greet him with a wonderful greeting.
Imagine your husband coming home to a clean house, an exquisitely
dressed wife, a dinner prepared with care, children clean and sweet
smelling, a clean bedroom - what would this do to his love for you?
Now imagine what the opposite does to him..

10. Use your 'Fitnah' to win the heart of your husband All women have
the ornaments that Allah blessed them with. Use the beauty Allah -
Azza wa Jal - has bestowed you with to win the heart of your husband..

==

Why The Jews Were Cursed

By Muhammad Alshareef

Rasul Allah's wife, Umm Al-Mu'mineen Safiyyah bint Huyayy
- radi Allahu ‘anha - was the daughter of one of the Jewish
leaders of Madinah. After her Islam, she informed the Prophet - sal
Allahu alayhi wa sallam - when she had first felt the rays of Islam
enter her blessed heart.

It was the day that Anas - radi Allahu ‘anhu - describes as the
most radiant day to every come upon al-Madinah - the day Rasul Allah -
sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - entered it. All the Ansar men, women and
children gathered to greet him, cheers of praise to Allah filled the
air.

Amongst the gathering were 2 men; as much as the Ansar and Muhaajireen
revered the Prophet, they despised him. It was the father of Safiyyah
- radi Allahu ‘anha - and her uncle.

She was only a youngster as she looked into the darkness and gloom
that had enveloped their faces when they returned home that day. Her
Jewish uncle 1400 years ago asked, "Is it him? Is it the Prophet
that our scriptures speak of?" Huyayy lowered his head and said,
"Yes. It is him." "Then what shall we do?"
Safiyyah's uncle continued. Huyayy looked into his eyes,
"Till the final day we shall be his bitterest enemies!"

From the very first raka'ah of Taraweeh we read the verse in the
opening Surah: [Guide us to the straight path - The path of those upon
whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked (Your)
anger!..]

Adiyy ibn Hatim asked Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - who
it was that evoked Allah's anger? He said, "It was the
Jews." - Tafseer Ibn Katheer

When I was in high school, studying in journalism class, our teacher
had placed on the wall a statement that I spent many days
contemplating. It simply said, "Freedom of the press (speech)
belongs to those that own the press!" Who owns the press? Well,
you can believe me when I say that it is not the god fearing beloved
of Allah.

It is this same press that molds and programs the aqeedah of a huge
section of our Ummah. Many of our brothers and sisters are illiterate
to the words of Allah and the guidance of Rasul Allah - sal Allahu
alayhi wa sallam, so it is with little doubt that their ideas are
subconsciously molded by what Seifeld tells them at 8 pm every
Wednesday evening.
It is this same brother or sister that asks the question, "I
don't understand why the Jews were cursed. Seinfeld is funny.
What did he do?"

This khutbah is our media and in sha' Allah we shall learn in
these few moments only samples of what carried the Jews to evoke
Allah's anger.

In the opening verses of Surat Al-Baqarah, Allah invites the Children
of Isra'eel to come back - to remember the favor and blessing He
bestowed upon them - and to fulfill the promise that they would follow
the Prophet when he was sent to them.
[O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I bestowed upon you and
fulfill My covenant upon you that I will fulfill your convenant (from
Me) and fear only Me.]
- Surah al-Baqarah 2/40

Allah saved them of their slavery to Fir'own, he saved them from
sea and drowned Fir'own and his army. Allah selected them to
receive food from the sky. Allah sent them Prophet after Prophet from
amongst themselves, and sent the Holy scriptures - the Towrah and the
Injeel. Allah preferred them over all others at their time.
[...And that I preferred you over the worlds (i.e. people).]
- Surah al-Baqarah 2/47

How did they reply these Blessings of Allah?

(i) They Followed Only What They Wanted to
When a Prophet came to them, if what he taught did not appeal to them
they either rejected that truth or slit the throat of the Prophet and
followed what was to them appealing.
[We had already taken the covenant of the Children of Israel and had
sent to them messengers. Whenever there came to them a messenger with
what their souls did not desire, a groups (of the Messengers) they
denied and another party they killed.] - al Maa'idah 5/70

And we must remember here that this is not the commentary of some
human journalist who claims to be neutral. This is the Lord of the
Universe telling us - in verses to be read till the final day - the
deepest secrets that lie in the pits of Judaism. [And who is more
truthful than Allah in statement!] - al Nisaa' 4/87
(ii) They Changed the Words of Allah
There was groups of Jews that would change the words of Allah - adding
something here, deleting there - to pound the truth and keep the flock
in servitude to what they desired.
[And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with
their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not
from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allah,"
but it is not from Allah. And they speak untruth about Allah while
they know.] Ali-Imran 3/78
(iii) Their claim that they are the beloved children of God
Ibn Abbas narrates: Nu'maan ibn Aasaa, Bahr ibn ‘Amr and
Shaas ibn Adee (3 Jews) came to Allah's Messenger - sal Allahu
alayhi wa sallam. He sat with them and invited them to Allah and
warned them of Allah's anger. They replied, "Why are you
trying to scare us O Muhammad? By God, we are the children of God and
His beloved ones!" At that the verse was revealed:
[And the Jews and the Christians say, ‘We are the Children of
Allah and His beloved.' Say: ‘Then why does He punish you
for your sins?' Rather, you are humans from among (all the
others) that He created.]
Al-Maa'idah 5/18 ~ Ibn katheer 2/36

(iv) Their Blasphemous Statements
There came upon the Jews a time of poverty, so they went to Shaas ibn
Qays and questioned him. He said, "Your Lord is stingy, he never
provides." Allah revealed in the Qur'an:
[And the Jews say, "The hand of Allah is chained." Chained
are their hands and cursed are they for what they say. Rather, both
His hands are extended; He spends however He wills.] AlMaa'idah
5/64

(v) Their Murdering of the Prophets
One of the most horrific sins that they performed was the slaughtering
of their Prophets. This was one of the major reasons they were struck
with humiliation.
[And they were covered with humiliation and poverty and returned with
anger from Allah (upon them). That was because they (repeatedly)
disbelieved in the signs of Allah and killed the Prophets without
right. That was because they disobeyed and were (habitually)
transgressing.]
- Baqarah 2/61

Not only did they try to kill their Prophets, but they attempted to
assassinate Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - himself. Rasul
Allah went with some companions to meet with the Jews of Banu Nadheer.
While he waited for them at the side of a building, they climed the
roof with a boulder to crush down upon the head of Rasul Allah.
Jibreel warned Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - of their
plan. He stood up without saying anything, left for Madinah, and came
back with an army. This was the cause of Banu Nadheer's
expulsion from Madinah.
- Mukhtasar Seerat Ibn Hisham 159
And the list goes on - They did not command the good or forbid the
evil, they did not accept the ruling of what Allah revealed upon them,
they disbelieved their book, they received food from the heavens but
rejected it, they challenged their Prophet to show them Allah in this
life, they took Angel Jibreel as their sworn enemy, they took the
graves of their Prophets as symbols of worship ... and the list goes
on and on in the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Part II
There are some verses in the Qur'an that spoke about those that
do not judge by what Allah has decreed is a transgressor. Some
students of Ibn Abbas - radi Allahu ‘anhu - asked him,
"Were these not revealed for the Jews and Christians?" He
said, "Subhan Allah! Are all the glad tidings in the
Qur'an for us and all the admonitions for them? If our we do
what they did, our end will be their end."
Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - said, ""You will
follow the wrong ways, of your predecessors so completely and
literally that if they should go into the hole of a lizard, you too
will go there." We said, "O Allah's Apostle! Do you mean the Jews and
the Christians?" He replied, "Whom else?" - Bukhari
The Qur'an tells us of snakes in the grass that bit the Jews.
Allah tells us this so that we may take warning of what led them to
evoke Allah's anger and not be bitten by the same snake.
Let us take an example from the following verse:
[And there followed them successors who inherited the scripture
(while) taking the stock of this lower life (i.e. Haram gains and
whims), saying (regardless), "We will be forgiven."] -
A'raaf 7/169
So many Muslims take this Qur'an as something inherited, the
real power of Allah's word's has not penetrated the
hearts. How many of our young Muslim youth understand the language of
Cobolt and A++, spending years to understand, but do not comprehend a
single sentence in the Quran?
Have we desisted from the Riba that Allah made Haram upon us? In the
years of 1973 to 1976, when the Muslims went out to challenge Israel,
the entertainment armies were summoned. Female singers were brought,
belly dancers hired, and soap operas dedicated to the encouragement of
our fighting Muslims. The songs were drenched in nationalism and Arab
pride.
In conclusion, a fundamental part of our Deen is Al-Wala' and
Al-Bara' (wala' - love and loyalty / Bara' hatred
and disownment). It would be profitable for us to reflect on the
implementation of our Wala' and Bara' in regards to the
Jews:
Firstly: We should not take them as our close allies.
Allah commands us in the Qur'an: [O you who have belieded, do
not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are allies of one
another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is
one of them. Indeed Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.]
- Ma'idah 5/51

Secondly: We should not Imitate them
The forbiddance of imitating the Jews and the Christians applies to
those things that have become icons of their customs and falsehood. So
for example, if someone wore a white collar on his neck, everyone
would assume he was Christian. This is because the white collar has
become a symbol of theirs.
The ruling is more general than just clothes. Rasul Allah - sal Allahu
alayhi wa sallam - said: [Act differently then the Jews.] - Saheeh Abu
Dawood
Thirdly: A Muslimah may never marry a Jewish or Christian man that
remains on his beliefs.
Allah declares in the Qur'an: [They are not (i.e. the Muslim
women) lawful wives for them, nor are they lawful (husbands) for
them.] - Mumtahinah 60/10
Is all this a death sentence on the Jews? Nay, Allah's infinite
Mercy has left the gate open for ANYONE who wishes to come back to
him.
[And if only the People of the Scripture had believed and feared
Allah, We would have removed from them their misdeeds and admitted
them to joyful Gardens]
- Ma'idah 5/65

O Allah guide us to the straight path - the path of those who You have
bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked (Your) anger, nor of
those that went astray. Ameen.

-------------------------------------------------

MIM: Information on the flags of Islam :

http://www.fotw.net/flags/isl-khil.html


[Islamic Khilafah] by Glenn Stevens, 15 November 2000

Here is an image of the flags (there are two) of the Islamic Khilafah (state). One is the flag of jihad, and the other is the flag of the state.
Glenn Stevens, 15 November 2000

The image shows two flags bearing an Arabic inscription (which I believe is the Shahada), on one flag black on white, on the other white on black. What is the "Islamic Khilafah (state)" supposed to be? By saying "One is the flag of jihad, and the other is the flag of the state" he appears to identify one as the war flag and the other as state flag.
Santiago Dotor, 15 November 2000

Yes it contains the shehadeh (creed of Islam). The Islamic Khilafah was the state which existed from the time of prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) until 1924, when it was dismantled by Mustafa Kemal. It is more well known in English texts as "Caliphate", but the actual Arabic term is Khilafah. One was carried into battle, and the other was reserved for state purposes.
Glenn Stevens, 16 November 2000

Hitti (History of the Arabs, 1943) writes: 'Succession to Muhammad (khilafah) meant succession to the sovereignty of the state.'

The concise encyclopaedia of Arabic civilization, by Ronart, 1959: 'Abu-Bakr, Uthman and Ali, the so-called Khulafa'al-Rashidun (The well-directed Caliphs, 632-661) conceived the caliphate (al-khilafah) as a spiritual, political and military leadership.'

What does the flag of the caliphate mean today? It is probably connected with the Khilafat-movement, which wanted to restore the Ottoman Empire after the first world war (1919-1924).
Jarig Bakker, 16 November 2000

The "khalifate" refers to the succession of temporal rulers after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him), and is associated with the "Sunni" Islamic community. The khalif was technically the ruler of the Islamic world, and all other Islamic governments were supposed to be beholden unto his position. This is not how it worked out in real life, however, and the khalifs were often puppets of other regimes, especially once the invasions from central Asia began in earnest. The Shi'i have followed different successions of authority called Imamates, who (in brief) derive their power from a religious context, namely that they are direct descendants of 'Ali. The "true" khalifate lasted through the end of the Abbassid Empire when (in the 1270's, Gregorian, I believe) Hulegu Khan levelled Baghdad and had the last khalif rolled in a rug and trampled to death by honored mounted cavalrymen. The Ottomans originally referred to themselves as "sultans" and only a few hundred years into their dynastic succession did they begin also to call themselves khalifs.
So, it is unlikely those flags were "ottoman revivalist." More likely, they were flags possibly flown by the Abbasid (or previous) khalifate. The Prophet (pbuh) himself was said to have carried a black flag into battle, perhaps with the Shahaddah on it (as seen still on the Saudi, Iraqi, Iranian, and other flags), and to have flown a green standard at other times (per: for instance, Libyan and Saudi flags). I believe that the Abbassids were said to have similarly flown a black flag with a white Shahadda, as depicted.
As for the flag of "jihad," I am not certain what this could really mean beyond the obvious; but I'm unaware of any staple flag for the Holy War!
Osman Malik Khan, 22 January 2001

I have found in several "hard Islamic" websites the symbol of a white Taliban flag crossed with its inverted colour version (probably identified as Al-Qaeda flag): black background with shahada in white. I do not know if this flag is recognised by Al-Qaeda; but it is normally flying in pro-Al-Qaeda sites.
Santiago Tazon, 17 November 2001

Sultans

Osman Malik Khan noted "the Ottomans originally referred to themselves as "sultans" and only a few hundred years into their dynastic succession did they begin also to call themselves khalifs."
---
The term "Sultan" is also an Arabic word (not Turkish as many people think) and is used interchangeably in the Hadith with Khaleefah (and also with Imam), to mean leader of the worldwide Islamic community. Linguistically, "Sultan" is the Arabic word for "Authority", so it can mean any general authority, or specifically, the authority in charge of the Muslim community.
The Uthmaniyya (Ottomans) were given the bay'ah (pledge of allegiance) by the Muslim community in 1520 C.E when they finally conquered the Hejaz (Makkah and Madinah) and took custody of the two holy Mosques.

Glenn Stevens, 22 January 2002

----------------------

We gave the Book for an inheritance to those whom We chose from among Our servants; but of them is he who makes his soul to suffer a loss, and of them is he who takes a middle course, and of them is he who is foremost in deeds of goodness by Allah's permission; this is the great excellence. (35:32)

Imam Muhammad Mahdi (ATF)

Identifying al-Mahdi

The following is the list of traditions reported by Sunni and Shia sources about the identification of al-Mahdi (AS)

1. The imams are twelve in number, among whom the first is Ali b Abi Talib a.s and the last One of them is Mahdi a.s - 91 hadith.

2. The Imams are twelve, arid the last one is the Mahdi - 94 hadith

3. The Imams are twelve, nine among whom are the descendants of Husayn a.s, and the ninth is the Qa'im - 107 hadith.

4. Mahdi is from among the progeny of the Prophet - 389 hadith.

5. Mahdi is from among the descendants of Ali (AS) - 214 hadith.

6. Mahdi is from among the descendants of Fatimah (AS) - 192 hadith.

7. Mahdi is from among the descendants of Husayn (AS) - 185 hadith.

8. Mahdi is the ninth descendant of Husayn (AS) - 148 hadith.

9. Mahdi is among the descendants of Ali ibn al-Husayn (AS) - 185 hadith.

10. Mahdi is among the descendants of Imam Mohammad al-Baqir (AS) - 103 hadith.

11. Mahdi is among the descendants of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (AS) - 103 hadith.

12. Mahdi is the sixth descendant of Imam as-Sadiq (AS) - 99 hadith.

13. Mahdi is among the descendants of Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS) - 101 hadith.

14. Mahdi is the fifth descendant of Imam al-Kazim (AS) - 98 hadith.

15. Mahdi is the forth descendant of Imam Ali a-Reza (AS)) 95 hadith.

16. Mahdi is the third descendant of Imam Mohammad at-Taqi (AS) - 90 hadith.

17. Mahdi is among the descendants of Imam Ali al-Hadi (AS) - 90 hadith.

18. Mahdi is Imam Hasan al-Askari's son - 145 hadith.

19. The name of Mahdi's father is Hassan - 148 hadith.

20. The name and patronymic of the Mahdi will be that of the prophet's name arid patronymic - 47 hadith.

The Birth of Imam al-Mahdi in Sunni Books

A group of Sunni historians have related the event of the birth of Mahdi arid have recorded his and his father's history in their books

1- Mohammad ibn Taiha Shafi'ah writes: "Abu al-Qasim Mohammad ibn Hasan was born in the year 255 AH in Samara. His father's name was Hasan Khalis Among the titles (of this last imam) are: Hujjat, Khalaf Salih (the righteous offspring) arid Muntazar (the awaited one)."

Following this statement he has related several traditions on the subject of the Mahdi, with the concluding statement: "These hadith - reports confirm the existence of Imam Hasan al-Askari's son, who is in concealment and will appear later."(1)

2- Mohammad ibn Yusuf, following his entry on the death of Imam Hasan al-Askari, writes: "He did not have any child beside Mohammad- It is said that he is the same as the awaited Imam (Imam Muntazar)."(2)

3- Ibn Sabbagh Maliki writes: " Section Twelve on the life of Abu al-Qasim Mohammad, Hujjat, Khalaf Salih, the son of Abu Mohammad Hasan Khalis: He is the twelfth Imam of the Shi'ah.

Then he has recorded the history of the Imam and has related the traditions about the Mahdi. (3)

4- Yusuf ibn Qazughli, after writing his account of the life of Imam Hasan al-Askari, writes: "His son's name is Mohammad, and his patronymic is Abu Abd Allah and Abu al - Qasim. He is the proof of God's existence, the Master of the Age, the Qa'im and the Muntazar. The Imamate has come to an end with him." Then he reports traditions about the Mahdi. (4)

5- Shablanji in the book entitled Nur al-Absar, writes: "Mohammad is the son of Hasan al-Askari. His mother was a slave girl by the name of Narges or Sayqal or Sawsan. His patronymic is Abu al-Qasim. The Twelve Shiites know him as: Hujjat, Mahdi, Khalaf Salih, Qa'im, Muntazar, and Master of the Age." (5)

6- Ibn Hajar, in his al-Sawa'iq al-Muharriqah, following the biography of Imam Hasan al-Askari writes: "He has not left a son besides Abu al-Qasim, who is known as Mohammad and Hujjat. That boy was five years old when his father died." (6)

7- Mohammad Amin Baghdadi in the book entitled: Saba'ik al -Dhahab writes: "Mohammad, who is also known as Mahdi, was five years old at the time of his father's death."(7)

8- Ibn Khalikan relates in his biographical dictionary Wafayat al-A'yan: "Abu al Qasim Mohammad ibn al-Hasan al-Askari is the twelfth Imam of the lmamiyah, that is the Twelve Shiites. The Shiites believe that he is the one who is the awaited Qa'im and the Mahdi-"(8)

9-In Rawdat as-Safa Mir Khwand writes: "Mohammad was the son of Hasan. His patronymic is Abu al-Qasim. The lmamiyah acknowledge that he is the Hujjat, the Qa'im and the Mahdi."(9)

10. Sha'rani writes in his al-Yawaqit wa al-Jawahir: "Mahdi is the son of Imam Hasan al-Askari. He was born on the fifteenth night of Sha'ban, 255 AH. He is alive and will remain so until he will emerge with Jesus. Now it is 957 A.H. He is, thus, 703 years old."(1O)

11- Sha'rani, quoting Ibn Arabi's Futuhat Makiyya, section 366, writes: "when the earth will be filled with tyranny and injustice the Mahdi will rise and fill the earth with justice and equity. He will be among the descendants of the Prophet arid from the line of Fatimah. His grandfather will be Husayn, and his father will be Imam Hasan al-Askari, the son of Imam Ali an-Naqi, the son of Imam Mohammad at-Taqi, the son of Imam Ali ar-Reza, the son of Imam Musa al-Kazim, the son of Imam Jafar as-Sadiq, the son of Imam Mohammad al-Baqir, the son of Imam Zayn al-Abedin, the son of Imam Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib"(11)

12- Khwaja Parsa in his book Fasl as' khitab writes: "Mohammad, the son of Hasan al-Askari, was born on fifteenth night of Sha'ban, 255 AH / 870 CE. His mother's name was Narges. His father died when he was five years of age. From that time until now he is in occultation. He is the awaited Imam of Shia. His existence is well established among his companions, trusted associates and family. God will prolong his age as He has done in the case of Elijah and Eliash."(12)

13- Abu al-Falah Hanbali in his Shadharat al -Dhahb and Dhahabi in al-Ibr fi khabar min ghabar writes: "Mohammad is the son of Hasan al-Askari, the son of Ali Hadi, the son of Jawad, the son of Ali ar-Reza, the son of Musa al-Kazim, the son of Ja'far as-Sadiq, 'Alawi, Husayni. His patronymic is Abu as' Qasim arid the Shi'a know him as Khalaf Salih, Hujjat, Mahdi, Muntazar, and the Master of the Age (Sahib al-Zaman)."(13)

14- Mohammad ibn Ali Hamawi writes: "Abu as'- Qasim Mohammad Muntazar was born in Samarra."(14)

In short, besides all these above intentioned Sunni scholars there are numerous others who have recorded the birth of Imam Hasan al-Askari's son. (15).

Notes

Matalib al-Su'al (1287 AH edition), p.89.

Kitayat al-Talib, p.312.

Fusul al-Muhimmah (Second edition), p.273 and 286.

4. Tadlikirat Khawass al-Urninah, p.363.

5. Nur al-Absar (Cairo edition), p.342.

6. al-Sawa'iq al-Muhairiqah, p.206.

7. Saba'ik al-Dhahab, p.78.

8. Wafayat al-A'yan (1284 AH edition), Vol.2, p.24.

9. Rawdat al-Safa, Vol.3, p.143.

10. al-Yawaqit wa al-Jawahir (1351 AH edition), Vol.2 p.143.

11. Ibid. p.143.

12. As cited in Yanabi al-Mawaddah, Vol.2, p.126.

13. Shadlharat al-Dhabab (Beirut edition), Vol.2, p.141; al-"Ibar fi khabar min ghabar (Kuwait edition),Vol.2, p.31.

14. Ta'rikh Mansuri, microfilm copy of the Moscow manuscript, folio number 114.

15. See the references compiled in the volume Kashf al-astar, by Mohammad Taqi Nuri and Kifayat al-Inuwahhidin by Tabarsi, especially volume 2.

And may Allah bless His beloved Prophet, Muhammad (SA), and his holy progeny (AS).

Wa salaam aliakum,

Yusef

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Thursday, February 23, 2006

Say (O, Muhammad): I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives; and whoever earns good, We give him more of good therein; surely Allah is Forgiving, Grateful. (42:23)

Before

Now

Subhanallah!!! Where is the love that Allah told the Prophet Muhammad (SA) for us to have for his nearest of kin (relatives)?

"Everything that your eyes see, holds a lesson"

Imam Musa Kadhim (AS)

May endless blessings shower down from Allah on to His beloved Prophet Muhammad (SA), and his righteous, oppressed, pure progeny (AS).

Wa salaam aliakum,

Yusef

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Friday, February 17, 2006

O soul that art at rest! Return to your Lord, well-pleased (with him), well-pleasing (Him), So enter among My servants, And enter into My garden. (89:27-30)

Youths of Karbala

An excerpt from Tears and Tributes by Zakir

'The days of our youth are the days of our glory'. What hopes and feelings surge in young hearts during this time of life! How every nerve and sinew quivers with the joy of living! But there are some youths to whom the cup of life is dealt in another measure. There are some budding flowers that are destined to be swept away by the hot desert winds before they have the opportunity to bloom. Such was the destiny of Husain's three nephews who were gathered outside the tents on the eve of that eventful day of Muharram.

Qasim, Aun and Muhammad were gathered to discuss the part they would play on the following day in defense of their uncle. There was grim determination writ large on their young faces. They were watching the progress of the moon as it was marching slowly through that cloudless sky, anxiously waiting for the morrow to unfold its event. Each one of them had the desire to go first into the battlefield to shed his blood. Even the few words they exchanged amongst themselves pertained to their anxiety lest their uncle Hussain might hold them back. They were discussing among themselves how to secure the permission of the Imam to march off into the battlefield.

Their talks were interrupted by someone coming and informing Qasim that his mother Umme Farwa wanted him to see her. He hurried to the tent. As soon as he entered it, his mother put her arms round him and said: "Qasim my son, do you know why I called you? I want to remind you about your duty towards your uncle, Hussain. I want to tell you something about the unparalleled love and affection Hasan your father had for Hussain. The two of them were so much devoted to each other that they were always thinking and acting in unison. The slightest pain suffered by one was instantaneously felt by the other as if they were twins from the same embryo. With the unique love your father had for Hussain, I can well imagine how he, if alive, would have felt today! He would have been the first to sacrifice his life for his beloved younger brother."

She stopped for a few seconds and then, in a soft tone, as if reminiscing, added: "I am sure he wanted you to deputise for him on this day. My child, when he passed away, you were too young to understand life. On his death-bed his last words to me were: "Umme Farwa, I entrust you and my children to God and Hussain. When Qasim grows up, you tell him that my dying desire was that he should stand by Hussain through thick and thin. I can see the clouds of treachery gathering against Hussain. A day may come when he may need the unflinching devotion and sacrifice of his near and dear ones. Though I will not live to see that day, as my last wish I want you to prepare Qasim for it from his childhood." Her voice choked with emotion, as she continued: "My Qasim, since that day your father breathed his last, Hussain has looked after you as his own son. Nay, he has treated you on all occasions better than his own sons. You know how he has fulfilled your every wish so that you may not miss the love and affection of your father. Now it is your turn to show that you can repay, to some extent, your debt of gratitude by laying down your life for him before any of his sons, brothers and kinsmen. Now is your chance to reciprocate his love and affection, by demonstrating to the enemies that you are a scion of the House of Ali and can wield the sword in defense of truth."

Qasim listened to his mother with his head bowed in respect. He felt very much relieved by what his mother had said to him because he had felt very apprehensive as to how she would react when he approached her for her permission to go for the fight. He knew how his mother was attached to him after his father's death. He was well aware how restless she used to become, if she would not see him even for a few hours. He had thought that the very idea of her son marching out into the battlefield would make her demented. He felt as if his mother had taken a load off his head. He affectionately hugged her and said "My dearest mother, I know not how I can thank you for what you have said to me just now. My filial affection for my uncle Hussain is known to you. From my childhood I have not known what a father's love means but º know this for certain that even my father, if alive, would not have been so kind, so considerate, so affectionate to me as my uncle Hussain has been to me. He has not allowed me to feel even for a moment that I am an orphan. Thanks to him, in our house my every wish has been a command. How is it possible for me, the son of Hasan, to be oblivious of my obligations to him? For me death would be far better than life without him and my dear uncle Abbas, and my cousins Ali Akbar. Muhammad and others."

Umme Farwa felt elated at the brave reply of her brave son. A painful thought passed her mindùthe thought that this dear child who was so devoted to her and in whom she had reposed all her hopes, would perish on the fields of Karbala. With great efforts she controlled herself.

On the departure of Qasim, Aun and Muhammad waited for some time for him to return. Then both of them returned to their tent to console their mother, Zainab, whose grief and sorrow defied description. As they entered the tent they saw her sitting on the ground with a candle in her hand looking intently at Ali Akbar, their cousin, whom she had brought up as her own son and for whom her love and affection was without a parallel. When she saw both of them entering the tent, she beckoned to them to come and sit near Ali Akbar. Both of them did so according to her bidding. She turned towards them and said in a low tone: "My children, do you know what tomorrow has in store for us? It will be a day of trial; it will be a day when the blood of our family will flow like water; it will be a day on which all the vendetta nurtured by the enemies of the Prophet's house for all these years will be spilled out. I want both of you, my beloved sons, to defend your uncle Hussain and his children at the cost of your lives." After a pause she added: "When I was leaving Mecca, your father Abdullah asked me to take both of you with me so that, if an occasion arose you, Aun, could be the deputy of your father in seeking martyrdom, and you, Muhammad, could be my offering in the cause of Islam."

Hearing their mother talk in this vein touched both of them to the quick. How could they tell their mother Zainab that they were fully prepared for the doom that awaited them; that they were both coveting martyrdom in defense of the cause of Islam and its inviolable principles for which Hussain stood up so boldly and firmly in the face of odds! Aun was the first to speak. His voice was quivering with emotion when he said: "Mother, we both feel so elated to know that we have your permission to fight in defense of our uncle and his family. God willing, we both will show the army of Amr Saad that we are the grandsons of Jaafar-e-Tayyar whose prowess in battle had become legendary. We shall offer such fight tomorrow that, whenever you will remember us and mourn for us, your grief will be mingled with pride that we lived up to the reputation of our family."

Hardly had Aun concluded when Muhammad, the younger one, burst out saying, "My loving mother, do not think that we need any exhortation to fight valiantly tomorrow. I am itching to go out in defense of my uncle. From my childhood I have been . hearing about the valor of my maternal grandfather Ali, and paternal grandfather Jaafar-e-Tayyar. It is not for nothing that we both of us have learnt the art of single combat from our uncle Abbas. You may rest assured that, so long as we breathe, we shall not let the least harm come to our uncle Hussain or to any of his children."

With this reply of the brave youngsters Zainab felt reassured. It was not that she, for a moment, doubted their devotion or sense of duty. It was not that she considered it necessary to instill any courage in them, for she knew that both of them were brave and noble sons of a brave and noble father. Her love for her brave sons was surging within her. She was feeling as if her heart was getting squeezed when she was conjuring up the vision of these youths dying as martyrs.

Ali Akbar who was listening quietly to the talk between the mother and the two sons, looked at the face of the mother and then at the son's. With a faint smile playing on his lips he said: "We of the Prophet's family will go out to meet death as is our wont. In what order it will be, it is for God to determine." When he said this, perhaps he had the conviction that Hussain would never allow his nephews to die so long as he, Ali Akbar, was there. How rightly he had surmised, the events of Ashura would show!

Like all passing things, that night also passed away to become a chapter of history. The day dawned and with it began the gory events which make mankind, who have the vestiges of humanity, tremble with rage and grief. As Ali Akbar had surmised that night, when the turn of members of the family came, Hussain came over to him and, with his hand on his heart, said to him: "My son, go forward to fulfill your appointed task." Much as Zainab and Umme Farwa protested that, so long as their sons lived, they could not think of Ali Akbar laying down his life, much as Abbas pleaded to let him be the first among the Hashimites to die fighting, Hussain insisted that he would send Ali Akbar as his own representative to be the first among his kinsmen. Ali Akbar went to the battlefield never to return from it.

Zainab was disconsolate on Ali Akbar's death. Now Aun and Muhammad were hovering round Hussain with entreaties to let them go.

Qasim was no less vehement in his supplication for the Imam's permission to die on the battlefield. To Qasim's repeated requests his uncle's reply was: "My dear child, how can I permit you to go when I know for certain that death awaits those who venture out. Your father, my beloved Hasan, had entrusted you to my care on his death-bed. My heart trembles at the very thought of sending you into the jaws of death."

This reply of Hussain broke Qasim's heart. He thought that his uncle would not under any circumstances allow him to share the fate of the other martyrs. With tears in his eyes he stood there, not knowing what to do to secure Husain's permission.

At that moment Zainab came over to her brother. With folded hands she said to Hussain, "My dearest brother, in my whole life I have never asked you for a favor. Now, for the first time, I am requesting you to grant me one wish; let my sons follow in the footsteps of Ali Akbar."

Hussain looked at Zainab and then at her sons. With his head bent, he replied; "Zainab; my dearest sister, I find it impossible to deny your first and last request, though my granting it makes my heart sink within me." Turning to Aun and Muhammad he said: "My dear children, go forward and fulfill your heart's desire to die like heroes. I shall soon be joining you on your journey to eternity."

At this reply the two young heroes felt delighted in the midst of unbounded sorrows. They fell at their mother's feet and asked her for her blessings. Zainab's grief at the parting with these beloved children found its way through her tears which were now pouring from her eyes in torrents. She felt an urge to clasp her young sons to her bosom before they marched out on their last journey; but for fear that such display of emotion might unnerve them, she held back. She could not say anything to them in farewell. With suppressed sobs she whispered to them: "My beloved ones, may God be with you and may He grant you quick relief from the agonies that you

all the wounds inflicted on Qasim. He unsheathed his sword and, like an enraged lion, he rushed towards the battle-field. With sword in one hand he galloped his horse cutting through the enemy hordes. Such was the fury of his charge that the enemy were reminded of the charges of Ali, his father, in the battle of Siffin, when the dexterous Lion of God had singly scattered the enemy, running through them like a knife through butter, and killing hundreds with he powerful sweeps of his sword, while the remainder of the arrant towards ran helter-skelter to save their contemptible lives. The stampede of Yazid's soldiers was such that the body of Qasim was trampled under the feet of hundreds of minions who were a disgrace of their calling. When the battlefield was cleared of the cowards and Husain reached the body of Qasim, he found that it was torn to pieces. What feelings this gruesome sight evoked in Husain's heart can better be imagined than described. Husain stumbled down from his horse and fell to the ground exclaiming: "My God, what have these cowards done to my Qasim?" For some time he wept with such agony that his body convulsed. After a while he took off his robe and started picking up pieces of Qasim's body. One by one he put them all in his robe and, lifting the bundle, put it on his aged shoulders and mounted the horse. As he did so, he muttered: "My Qasim, your mother had sent you out dressed as a groom. Now you are returning to your mother with your body cut to pieces." As he was riding back towards his camp, Husain was disconsolately exclaiming: "My God, has there been an instance where an uncle had to carry his own nephew's body in such a state?"

On reaching the camp Husain put down the body on the ground. He called Abbas and asked him to bring Umme Farwa and his sisters Zainab and Kulsum to the morgue. He besought Fizza, his mother's devoted maid, to console Umme Farwa and Zainab, for he knew that the condition of Qasim's body might give them such a shock as would kill them.

Qasim's mother came with Zainab on one side and Umme Kulsum on the other. Fizza went over to the ladies and said: "I beseech you, in the name of my lady Fatima, to muster all the strength and courage you can to see Qasim's mortal remains. They may be torn and cut to pleces but remember his soul is now with my lady and Hasan, who must have welcomed him with open arms." Saying this, she opened the robe and unfolded the body. Zainab held her aching heart, Kulsum held her reeling head and Umme Farwa fell with a shriek and fainted.

What pen can narrate the grief of a mother who has lost her only son? What words can describe the agony of a mother's loving heart on seeing her son in such a state? The land of Karbala was echoing the cries of the ladies and the wailinWq of the children on Qasim's death. Can any one attempt to depict Husain's plivqht- at that time? Resting his head on Abbas's shoulders, Husain was sayinwq: "My God, my God, if my enemies wanted to kill me, they could do so; but what have my dear ones done that they slay them so mercilessly?"

Husain stood there for some time as if in a trance. He was brought back to the reality of the situation by Abbas who sofly said to him "My master, now let me go, as others have done. I am now the commander of soldiers who are no more." Husain for a moment did not reply. Then he equally softly said: "Verily we come from God and unto Him we shall return."

And may Allah shower blessing on Prophet Muhammad (SA), and his immaculate progeny (AS).

Masalaam,

Yusef

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Friday, February 10, 2006

And if they break their oaths after their agreement and (openly) revile your religion, then fight the leaders of unbelief-- surely their oaths are nothing-- so that they may desist. (9:12)

The "Caliph" Yazid Ibn Mawaiya

and the Christian

It is reported that Imam Zayn al-‘Abidín (AS) said, "When the head of al-Husayn was brought to Yazíd, he convened sessions for wine drinking and had the head of al-Husayn brought, placed before him and he would drink wine in front of it.

One day, a messenger from the king of Rum was present at one such session of Yazíd, and he was one of the nobles and greats of Rum. He said, "O King of the Arabs! Whose head is this?" Yazíd said to him, "What is this head to you?" He said, "When I return to our king, he will ask me about everything I saw. So, I would like to report to him about the story of this head and its owner so that our king may share in your joy and happiness." Yazíd said, "This is the head of al-Husayn ibn ‘Alí ibn Abu Tàlib." The man from Rum said, "Who is his mother?" He said, "Fàtimah the daughter of the Messenger of Allah."

The Christian said, "Fie on you and on your religion! I have a religion better than yours. Verily, my father is one of the descendents of David, and there are many generations between David and my father. But the Christians honor me and take some of the earth from beneath my feet as a blessing because of my father, as one of the descendents of David. But you kill the son of the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, while between them there is only one mother! What sort of religion do you have?" Then he said to Yazíd, "Have you heard the story of the Church of the Hoof?" He said to him, "Tell it to me so I can hear it." He said, "There is a sea between Oman and China that it takes a year to cross. Along the way there is no inhabited place except one city in the middle of the water. It is eighty by eighty farsangs. There is no city on the earth bigger than it, and camphor and emeralds are brought from it. Its trees are aloes wood and ambergris. It is in the hands of the Christians. No king has sovereignty over it except them. There are many churches in that city. The biggest of them is the Church of the Hoof. There is a small golden box in its sanctuary in which is hung a hoof. They think this is the hoof of a donkey that Jesus used to ride. They decorated the area around the box with gold and silk brocade. Every year many Christians make a pilgrimage to it and walk around it, kiss it, and offer their supplications to Allah, the Exalted.

This is their manner and habit regarding the hoof of the donkey they think Jesus, their prophet, used to ride. And you kill the son of your prophet's daughter!? Then Allah does not bless you and your religion." Yazíd said, "Kill this Christian so that he cannot expose me in his cities." When the Christian realized this, he said to him, "Do you want to kill me?" He said, "Yes." He said, "Know that I saw your prophet last night in my dreams. He said to me, ‘O Christian! You are of the people of heaven!' I was surprised by what he said to me. Now I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (‘s)." Then he jumped to the head of al-Husayn, embraced it, began to kiss it and cried until he was killed."

"Surely, there exists in the hearts of the Mu'mineen (believers), with respect

to the martyrdom of Husain (A.S.), a heat that never subsides."

Prophet Muhammad (SA)

And may Allah bless His greatest mercy to mankind, Prophet Muhammad (SA), and his righteous, pious progeny (AS).

Masalaam,

Yusef

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Wednesday, February 01, 2006

"And We ransomed him (Ishmeal) with a great sacrifice." (37:107)

"We are the household of the prophethood, the source of messengership, the descending-place of the angels, through us Allah had began (showering His favours) and with us He has perfected (His favours), whereas Yazid is a sinful person, a drunkard, the killer of innocent people and one who openly indulges in sinful acts. A person like me can never pledge allegiance to a person like him ... I am not rising (against Yazid) as an insolent or an arrogant person, or a mischief-monger or tyrant. I have risen (against Yazid) as I seek to reform the Ummah of my grandfather. I wish to bid the good and forbid the evil."

Imam Husain ibn Ali (AS) May Allah lighten the face of the chief of Martyrs.

As salaam aliakum ya aba Abdullah!!!!

And may Allah bless His beloved Prophet, Muhammad (SA), and his holy progeny (AS).

Masalaam,

Yusef

4:01 PM - 16 eprops - 8 comments - email

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/1729