WorkingForOne

Did You See Him Talking To Her?

AbdelRahman — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:30:29 +0000

You’re walking from first period to your second class and you see one of the “religious” brothers in your school, Ahmed, giving a phone number to Ashley, the varsity cheerleading captain and that year’s homecoming queen.

Suspecting people, especially our own Muslim brothers and sisters, is a slippery slope that can lead to broken friendships or even torn families. One of the absolute hardest things I find myself falling into is not giving my brothers and sisters in Islam their due right of حسن الظن (pronounced “husn ath-thann”), or what is commonly known as “benefit of the doubt.” Whenever we may see any of a number of different scenarios, our minds may jump to the most negative explanation or conclusion about the people involved.

Why is that? Is there a reason why we may take pleasure in picking out people’s faults or thinking negatively about them?
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I Feel Bad For Peter King!

AbdelRahman — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:43:38 +0000

Because Azeem Khan just tore him up! Masha Allah, brothers and sisters, this is a testament to the power of articulate speech and being prepared in the public eye. Our brother Azeem sets an example for us all that coming from immigrant families and specializing in different subjects (medicine and engineering whaat?) shouldn’t deter us from being able to communicate our thoughts and feelings in a bold, strong, and effective manner. Takbeer! Allahuakbar, check out this video!

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Life Lessons About Death

Mehreen — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:20:36 +0000

Today’s jumuah khutbah dropped a realization upon my soul that nearly brought me to tears. While talking about death, the khateeb reminded us that this life is nothing compared to the hereafter, and that as a congregation we need to work on to achieving our greatest goal - pleasing Allah and being granted Jannah. Something that he had said that really stuck in my mind was, “real Taqwa is to be able to be prepared to leave this world by the will of Allah at any time.” During the salat, he recited Surah Takathur, further reminding us to be heedful of what we do in this life so that we are able to make it to Jannah in the next. Subhan Allah, the topic he had chosen would prove to fit the day very well.

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WorkingForOne Gets A New Author!

AbdelRahman — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:44:26 +0000

It’s with great pleasure that I announce WorkingForOne gets a new author, Mehreen Khan. After outgrowing her Xanga site, she decided to join WorkingForOne as her next step in blogging alhamdulilah.

Studying elementary education at the University of Memphis, she is currently the ameerah of the AlMaghrib Qabeelah there, as well as very active in other Islamic work such as MSA and the Memphis Muslims Youth Group. Masha Allah she has great insight into different topics, and can definitely shine a refreshing light on different areas for us to be reminded and learn about insha Allah.

She’s also my wife, but I wanted to write with her before we got married ;-). Keep an eye out for her articles, insha Allah, and keep us in your du’aa.

Two Months Later…

AbdelRahman — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 06:44:36 +0000

Looking at the date on my last post, I can see it’s been nearly 2 whole months since I’ve had the opportunity to update my site. A lot has happened in the past 2 months, let’s do a quick update.

Perhaps the main reason why I haven’t been able to write any more articles is because I got a summer job, alhamdulilah. I’m working at the Apple Store in Woodfield Mall in Chicago as a Mac Specialist (a fancy term for a sales guy). Alhamdulilah I’ve been working nearly 40 hours per week trying to make as much money as I can during the summer.

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The Real Reason To Vote For Barack Obama

AbdelRahman — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:39:03 +0000

I grabbed this video from Irfan Shuttari’s away message, it’s pretty funny to see what potential world leaders are doing.

Barack hit the courts at the Maple Crest Middle School for a pick up game of basketball with the winners of the 3-on-3 Challenge for Change voter registration drive. Game announced by Herbie Ziskend, Obama motorcade coordinator.

The guy commentating, Obama’s motorcade operator, doesn’t highlight any stats except for Obama’s, it’s hilarious.

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I Visited My Home Today

AbdelRahman — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:15:47 +0000

I visited my home today.
It was dark and dusty, I hadn’t been for a while.
There were tens of people gathered ’round, my neighbors.
All staring at a man who had finally gone home.

Why are there tears when we go home? or fears of going home?
Is it because home is where the heart is?…or is it?
Every time I visit my home, I promise myself it’s where my heart is

I know that it isn’t.

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Why I’m Not Going To The MAS Youth Outlandish Concert

AbdelRahman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:10:42 +0000

Disclaimer: This is not a post against MAS Youth, Shaykh Qaradawi, Imam Suhaib Webb, Outlandish or Sami Yusuf. It is a discussion about the environment and atmosphere of Muslim concerts. I love MAS and support them in all events that I feel comfortable with.

Outlandish, a European Muslim-pop band, is coming to Chicago on June 7th to perform a concert for MAS Youth. While I love MAS Youth and what they do in different areas of dawah, I’m going to have to question this event and it’s effects on the Muslim youth, particularly in the west. While there is a big issue of debate on the legitimacy of music, specifically musical instruments, being used during the concert, I find discomfort in a different aspect of the event: the environment and mindset it is encouraging.

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Is Your Heart Thirsty? Drink From The Qur’an

AbdelRahman — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:03:36 +0000

Okay so the title to this post sounds way smoother in Arabic. While we may stand in prayer and do our best to concentrate, there’s no way around the fact that it is hard to develop efficient concentration and focus on Allah without knowing the meaning of the words you are reciting, or are hearing the imam recite. Below is an excerpt from the Qur’an being recited. Underneath the clip is the translation, written in the plainest of English that I could find.

The part after Surat al-Fatiha is the ending of Surah Yasîn (chapter 36), verses 77-83. Click the play button to hear the clip, and read along with the amazingly beautiful recitation masha Allah.

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I’m Just Joking!

AbdelRahman — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:29:11 +0000

With the great American holiday of April Fool’s having just passed us, the permissibility of exaggeration and stretching the truth in joking has been a hot issue. Is it okay to be sarcastic? Why can’t we stretch the truth a bit? Isn’t it okay if we’re just joking?

In our efforts to follow the hadith of Muhammad [saw], some of us have become insta-scholars, proclaiming rulings on the issue without really thinking it through (trust me, myself included). Below, Shaykh Salman gives us another balanced view of the issue with his awesome wisdom, masha Allah. Reading this fatwa puts a whole new spin on what it means to be “just kidding.”

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