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A key characteristic of a muslim is a belief in the mercy of Allah, the belief in fate, that everything is written and predestined for a person.  The path you choose, whilst long and winding, will only result in one thing only, death.  What happened afterwards was where my I was fighting with myself.  I remember once in one of my more rebellious moments of my teens my mum actually said to me ‘turn to Allah’.  Do you wish to know my arrogant response?  ‘What has Allah ever done for me?!’  Astaghfirullah.

I will tell you what he has done for me. 

He has given me life and He will surely give me death.  He has given me sight, smell, touch, hearing, speech, breathing, walking, running.  The ability to know what is right and what is wrong.  The knowledge of this world, and the next.  The belief that He is the Supreme and we are indebted to Him as He has given us the blessings of this life and He will decide what our final destination is.
Now this is a very contrasting statement to the one from my teens.  And this comes from experie

nce of life.   So when I lecture my younger brothers they understand that I coming from a different angle.  Because when I say to you that Allah took me from the darkness to the light, I am not being poetic.  I’m telling you the truth because Allah chooses to guide whoever He wills, and I am part of that very privileged few.  Living in the western society of today I see everyday the traps the shaytaan has set for the people.  He is fulfilling his promise to Allah.  And whilst I know I am very far from attaining the high levels of iman, I know Allah has held His hand out to me and pulled me up when I could be no lower. 

Now as a parent, I recognise the need to prepare my children for that trap.  I see the importance of enforcing things upon them.  Because every man is a shepherd, and every shepherd is responsible for his flock.  The prophets of Allah Musa (as) and Muhammad (saws) were shepherds, and this was predestined for them by Allah to teach them key skills that could be transferred when they lead their respective nations.  It might sound offensive to liken people to that of sheep, but we have similar natures when we are children.  We require guidance and patience and to be safeguarded from potential harm.   

Now the question is what is it that harms us? 

The physical harm is quite self explanatory.  It is the spiritual harm that is most damaging though, and unfortunately we as humans do not service our soul as much as our body.  We eat, we sleep all to maintain the body, and it is unable to function without these actions.  But how are we to service our soul?  Is it not as important to treat as well as you treating your body?  Your soul will testify against you on the day of reckoning, probably even more so that your body, because the soul is the core of you.  When you die the Angel of Death ascends the heavens with your soul, and if you have a bad soul as he passes the angels will ask ‘whose is this disgusting soul?’ and they will curse you.  And if you have a good soul, the angels will gather to see it and assist its ascension to Allah.  So, how do you service the soul?  Well quite simply, through prayer, through remembrance of Allah and doing good deeds.  Real soul food…

So, I haven’t written in a very long time… and a lot has changed.  I last spoke about an introduction to fatherhood, now I am well into the next phase.  My son, has recently turned one and within this year that passed my priorities have shuffled somewhat.  A prominent scholar has tweeted recently that ‘if you wish to be successful in this world, you study the knowledge of this world.  If you wish to be successful in the hereafter, then you must seek knowledge of the hereafter.’  This isn’t a word for word quote, merely an interpretation from me.

I have in the last few months particular realised the importance of this very quote.  As a young ‘Muslim’ growing up I was told to do certain things, fast on this day, pray on this night, without anyone explaining the hikmah (wisdom) behind it.  Islam in particular within the Indian sub-continent has descended in priority and made way to cultural beliefs.  Now as a far from cultural person anyway, I would always rebel from certain expectations and I guess that’s how Islam fell further down my pecking order too.  I wrote ‘Muslim’ as it was purely by name and association only.  There was nothing very Muslim about my youth, I didn’t pray, I didn’t fast and I didn’t take heed of the obligation of eating halal food.  Well, you certainly are what you eat that’s for sure! 

Now I am by no means criticising my upbringing, my parents gave me everything I ever wanted rather than what I needed.  But that Islamic influence was lacking, and what a significant influence that is to lack.  My father in particular, whilst possessing sound knowledge, didn’t actually ever pray, not even jummah.  Nor fast, he is a smoker you see, and a hypochondriac.  Something I picked up from him (the former not the latter).  And the importance of strong role models is paramount to a young boy growing up.  If my father does this, it’s fine.  If my brother does this, why shouldn’t I?  This is the sort of thinking I had… Now as a ‘Muslim’ I would use Ramadan as a time to stay out all night when mum thought I was at the masjid, I had some friends who were the same but also some that would go pray the 8 rakats of Taraweeh at least.  I thought nothing of it really, any good action Islamically or otherwise was to please my mum, who whilst encouraged such things, never enforced it.  I have since researched about the hereafter.  And I fear Allah.  Because when He asks me what I did with my youth I will only be able to tell Him I wasted it, doing everything He commanded me not to do. 

Now I would not say (though sometimes I do) that I had no belief…

~ Honourable

Today, the European Court of Human Rights decided that Babar Ahmad and others may be extradited to the US. The court's decision is one of its most important since 9/11 because it approves of human rights in US maximum security prisons, making it easier for the UK to send suspects to its closest ally. Babar is a British citizen accused of a crime said to have been committed in the UK and all the evidence against him was gathered in this country. Nevertheless, British justice appears to have been subcontracted to the US. This should be immediately rectified by putting Babar on trial in the UK and ordering a full public inquiry into the matter.

Lessons learned from today’s verdict:

1.       Apparently, it is not a breach of your human rights to be held in solitary confinement at a Federal Supermax jail.

2.       Our Prime Minister is a bit dumb: Cameron said he was very pleased with the ruling for Babar Ahmad & others. “We have a proper legal process” -  Babar was imprisoned for 8 years without trial. Irony?

3.       If you start the headlines with Abu Hamza then most people will jump on the bandwagon and say it was a good decision.

4.       No matter what is going on in the world, 1Direction and Bieber will always trend on Twitter.

5.       The fight is not over.