[Video] Shaykh Sadullah Khan’s Khutbah at Claremont Main Road Masjid
The khutbah is available online, but sometimes it’s just easier to watch it online.
Archive for the ‘Reflections/Thoughts’ Category
Being in touch with the Nabi Muhammad (PBUH)
For the past couple of weeks, I’ve taken to reading Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings. One of the many touching incidents occurred in Madina.
The Prophet (PBUH) had to serve in multiple roles as the leader of the Muslims, governor of Madina, prophet, etc. At this time, he divided his day into three. 1/3 for family time, 1/3 for community affairs and a 1/3 to spent in worship and prayer.
Some of the companions felt as if they were losing touch with the Prophet, given his multiple roles, fixed time in them, and the large amount of people who were all vying for his attention.
In this regard, Allah revealed the verse:
Surely Allah and His Angels bless the Prophet. Oh you, who believe, call for blessings on him, and salute with (respectable) salutations. (Chapter 33: Verse 56)
This would be their (and our way) of staying connected with him!
The Prophet (PBUH) would also add: “Whoever invokes blessings on me once, Allah will invoke blessings upon him ten times”
Before you commit sin, ask yourself
Before you commit sin, ask yourself:
Do you know what day it is today?
Is it not perhaps Friday, the day of Jumuah?
Is it not perhaps Thursday, the day after Jumuah?
Is it not perhaps Saturday, the day after Jumuah?
Is it not perhaps Monday, the day the Prophet was born?
Would you like to commit sin on such a day?
Do you know what Islamic month it is?
Is it not perhaps the Holy month of Muharram, that start of the new year, where we resolve to rid ourselves of past bad ways?
Is it not perhaps the Holy month of Ramadaan, the month of fasting, where the Shaytaan is chained?
Is it not perhaps the Holy months of Hajj?
Whatever time it is, do you really have to commit that sin
Advice on Hajj and Old People
This year, I have the fortune to be on the Hajj or Muslim Pilgrimage. I am sharing this experience with many people, some of them double my age. Travelling with old people is both humbling and rewarding.
Humbling to note that despite their age and the accompanying reduced health and strength, they haven’t given up on undertaking this magnificent journey. Humbling because they are the ones who prevail calm, patience and sabr at long queues and bureacratic annoyances.
Rewarding because it provides us younger people with the opportunity to assist them in the holiest cities where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The best of people are those who are most beneficial and helpful to people”.
On my journey, I’ve compiled a list of a few short tips aimed at the children of old people, and what they can do to make their parent’s journey much easier.
Cellphones:
1) Provide them with a cellphone that has a distinct on/off button.
Cellphones need to be switched off on aeroplanes. To save space, some cellphones link the switching on/off button to an existing button, but this grouping confuses some old people
2) Disable the sim-card pin
Sim-card pin are there for protection, but it also means having to remember their number. Many are not aware this even exists, as they’ve needed to switch their phones on/off before.
3) Activate international roaming – even if just for sms
Some people have this activated, and they may not have. Explaining international roaming, and that it has to be done prior to leaving South Africa for it to be activated takes some effort.
4) Convert all essential contact numbers to an international dial out.
For example, a house number in Cape Town locally would be: 021 555 1234. Rather convert this to +27 21 555 1234. +27 is South Africa’s dialling code, 21 is for 021 minus the zero, and the rest is the number.
This way, older people do not have to remember to add the +27, and drop the one zero, etc.
5) If possible, provide them with a slide-out keyboard.
It’s painful to watch someone spend five minutes typing out an SMS
Bags:
It would be easier said that done, but encourage them to travel with as few bags as possible, and rather a bigger overnight bag, than multiple small bags. South Africans are usually provided with a shoe bag which gets used as an additional stuffed travel bag. Take into account that they will have with them:
a) overnight bag
b) Haj operator bag for carrying passport/documents
c) Chair for Salaah
d) Shoe bag
Quite a lot to not only carry, but also manage.
Camera:
Even one fitted to a cellphone will allow them to capture moments that are special to them. However, bare in mind they will probably have no place to download their photos to. My suggestion is to provide them with a large memory card or multiple memory cards so that they wouldn’t have to delete any photos they might have already taken.
Will Facebook exacerbate social issues in Mxit?
Recently, I’ve noticed more and more young people talking about and joining Facebook. In one instance, I’ve come to learn that practically a large majority of learners in a secondary school (we talking about 12-16 year olds) have joined Facebook.
In light of a recent incident where a girl met someone on Mxit and ran away from home, it raises some questions:
- Are such young people putting themselves at risk with personal info and details being shared on Facebook?
- What steps/advice can be taken/rendered to assist and protect young people who are on Facebook?
Understanding Mxit vs Facebook
Mxit is a popular cellphone application in South Africa. In a region and continent with high and excessive telecommunication costs, Mxit is a cheap alternative to SMS (Short Message Service). Whereas users pay a premium rate to send SMS’es, Mxit uses a form of instant messaging, where users only pay for the data cost of sending a message.
Being a cellphone-based social instant-messaging application, the only information really being made available is the cell phone number of the user, and possibly the name of the user if they dont use a pseudo-name.
Mxit (like Facebook) operates on a friend request-and-accept approach, but also offers a chatroom service, and it is seemingly here that ‘relationships’ (for want of a better word) fosters.
Given the ability to generate online friendship, being known for having a lot of online friends, and thus possibly popular, may be one reason why people allow such friendships and relationships to happen.
Enter Facebook
These young people are entering Facebook at a time where it has already reached spectacular growth, and some are even forsaking it for alternatives like Twitter. I’m unable to account for why they are switching to Facebook. Is it perhaps the next step after Mxit? Is it because Facebook offers more features than Mxit? Is it because of the popularity of Facebook and that adults are using it?
Oddly, Internet access is not an issue since many of them are accessing Facebook via there cell phones. Perhaps the fact that Facebook has a mobile version helps.
Facebook Features which could be considered dangerous from a Mxit perspective
- Facebook allows users to upload photos of themselves, providing a picture to the name
- So unlike Mxit, there is a picture to the person you are corresponding with
- Facebook allows users to be tagged in photographs
- Even if the user does not provide a photo of him/herself, others could do it for them
- Facebook allows users to enter a detailed profile, including contact details
- Compared to Mxit, this is much more comprehensive
- Facebook provides a history of past activity
- Mxit doesnt.
- Facebook’s add a Friend feature provides a risk where people blindly accept friendships.
- The more friends you have, the better it supposedly seems, as it makes you appear more popular. Mxit doesnt have the search feature of Facebook where users can search for friends.
If parents become concerned and paranoid about Mxit, it’s not difficult to see why they could possibly be more apprehensive of the dangers Facebook potentially provides at a greater risk than Mxit.
Facebook’s negative could also be positive
I recall an incident a few months ago where an older sister stepped in when her younger sister started receiving inappropriate comments on some of her photos. This is an advantage of an open system, and makes it easier for an adult/guardian to supervise. Needless to say, the intervention was a rebuke to the offenders who desisted from their actions.
What are your thoughts on the matter?
Focus Booster App
For the past couple of days, I’ve been experimenting with a tool called Focus Booster. It’s a simple app with an easy method to help you measure and increase your focus and concentration:
- Firstly, choose the amount of time you would like to complete a particular task. By default it is set to 25 minutes.
- Prepare to do the task, clear your PC desktop of any distractions, and start the timer.
- Continue working until you’ve completed the task or the timer runs out.
- Take a break
- Restart the process with your next task
Tiny app, simple process, but it works for me, and these are the benefits I believe are derived:
- Forces you to plan and think about a single task you would like to perform
- A quick glance at the timer helps you focus, there is something watching you!
- Helps you to persevere, (just another 8 more minutes to go, etc.)
- Provides some type of measurement of how long you can focus, and challenges you to better it. The next version will allow you to record your focus sessions.
Focus Booster is a free application and requires Adobe AIR to run. Download it at: http://www.focusboosterapp.com/ . Follow updates on twitter @focusboosterapp
Appreciating Mozilla Prism
When Mozilla Prism was first launched, I honestly never gave it much thought as to it’s usefulness, or why anyone would want to use it. Today, it is such an essential tool for me. Let me explain.
Buying a laptop off an auction site
My current laptop is a DELL d630 which I bought through an auction site Bidorbuy.co.za. Purchasing such a pricey product weighed heavily on mind. What happens if I’m conned? What happens if it is not up to spec as advertised? Fortunately, mine was a very pleasant experience, and went through quite smoothly. Here are a few tips I’ll share…
Ever wondered how the Kaaba looked inside
From an email I received recently, I decided to lookup some more information:
This what we usually get to see when the King of Saudi Arabia visits the Kaaba in Makkah
I'm a Web Developer living in Cape Town, South Africa. Interests include: PHP, JQuery, ExtJS, Adobe AIR, Linux, Ubuntu, WordPress, Human Rights, Usability, Multimedia