Free Islamic Wallpaper 12

Created by & Copyright: tsultan ; Jun 20th, 2009

Here’s another awesome desktop wallpaper that I created. Feel free to save it and use it as your desktop background or for non-commercial use only.
Any feedback is appreciated!

To think is so Hard – Yet to know is so Easy

We were created by Allah(swt) for the sole purpose to worship Him and Him alone. No other.

I have been thinking about this concept for some time just as I have been thinking about the words Brotherhood and Sisterhood in Islam.

We know what – ‘brotherhood/sisterhood in Islam’ and ‘to worship Allah(swt) -’ means. But do we really think about the depth of acts and meanings associated with these phrases in a way where we seek to find new grounds of understanding. It takes time to reflect. Thinking is so hard, believe me. If you’ve been wondering why I haven’t been posting in a while is because I’m so distracted by many things happening in my life that I haven’t had a chance to think. Just think. And when I try, its just so hard.

But alhamdullilah (’Praise to Allah(swt)’) there are times once in a while when you really understand something (because of the blessings of Allah(swt)) and you are one fraction of an inch less in ignorance. [Any reduction in ignorance, no matter how small, can make all the difference in how you perceive the world than the person standing next to you.]

Alhamdullilah, I’ve been blessed to be able to actually comprehend two recent experiences about ‘Brotherhood/Sisterhood in Islam’ and ‘worshiping Allah(swt), that have expanded my understanding, that I would like to share.

Note: Brotherhood/Sisterhood in Islam and ‘Worshiping Allah(swt) are two very diverse topics – while they have similiarities, at least for now I wish to share two ’separate’ experiences

Brotherhood/Sisterhood in Islam

So I was at Jummah at my university earlier this year  (at least I hope it was this year…time is flying so fast, its hard to remember if it wasn’t the end of last) and at the Khutbah I was listening to the Khateb talk about the topic of treating ones family (more specifically their wife well). It was an interesting topic but as I was sitting with my fellow muslims I starting thinking – and not too deeply, but reality sort of hit me on the spot. I was at jummah with my fellow sisters and brothers in Islam. The Khateb was an older man, probably in his 40s, at least to me he would of course be an uncle. I respected him not just because he was an older person but also because he is a person just like anyone of us. Define respect – what is behind respect. The reason why we respect older individuals is not because of their ‘age’, their ‘physical  age’ – it is actually because of the experiences that they have gained and the level of maturity that they have benefited from because they have lived out a longer life than we have. I realized for the first time, while I was sitting there for jummah prayer what it means to truly call someone a ‘brother’ or a ’sister’ in Islam. The khateb is not an uncle (he may be, but at least for me he is not), he is a brother, a brother who is older than me, a brother that I am connected to in the fold of Islam. I never brought these concepts to heart, until that moment when in that Jummah I realized that standing before me is my older brother, and around me are my actual sisters and brothers.

To go beyond conceptualizing and to bring bonds like these to your heart, to accept those around you as your family (remember we all came from Prophet Adam and Huwa) is the true essence of what it means to be of the greater creation of Allah(swt). That day I saw one of my older brothers give a beautiful khutbah.

And it made me realize in a broader sense that we need to start developing our relationships with others. This ummah needs to step up and connect with one another. We need to end stereotypes, fight discrimination within our hearts (we are unrightfully judgeful when we interact with people everyday), and embrace those around us. They are a part of us, they are our family; whether or not we grew up together. Imagine embracing everyday with this mindset. I feel that a lot of times, people don’t give one another a chance, a chance to understand and develop a relationship. Developing a relationship, I know, is hard work! And even I’m guilty of the fact that everyday I find at least one instance if not more where I don’t give someone the chance to either get to know me, or I take the intiative to know them or I don’t give them the chance to help our relationship grow and reach the next level. We need to stop playing with ourselves. Stop being selfish and feeding our own independence. At the end of the day, each one of us depends solely on the blessings and sustanance provided to us by Allah(swt). In order for us to connect and truly show pure love for our Lord, we must show love to all that is around us (people, animals, the earth, etc). We can’t ignore someone or something that is seeking to develop a relationship with us – someone with good intentions.

Are we scared of developing a relationship with those who don’t have good intentions? Is that why we find ourselves sometimes hiding from the world? Realize two things : 1) we are in no position to ever know what is truly in anothers heart or mind 2)  fight your inner voice that starts to whisper judgments about another person by rationalizing that it may be the act (or behavior) of that person that you disagree with, however it is not the person themselves that is in infinite error

When you see someone who is acting or behaving in a way that you disagree with, I’m not advising you to become their best friend, however if Allah(swt) will’s some sort of interaction between you and him/her – remember not to let your judgments affect your behavior towards them. Respect all, enjoin the good and forbid the evil.

Worshiping Allah(Swt)

To Be Continued

Light

Contemplate on this wonderful verse from the Quran Surat Al-Nur (34-35): Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah setteth forth for mankind similitudes, for Allah is Knower of all things. (35) (This lamp is found) in houses which Allah hath allowed to be exalted and that His name shall be remembered therein.

The Fortress of Iman

Wherever I listen to a speaker at an Islamic lecture talk about spirituality and in particular the heart I get this warm fuzzy feeling inside. I yearn for that connection with Allah (swt) and I think about the beauty of just imagining how strong the connection must be for someone with a pure heart. To reach the state of attaining a heart that is 100% pure, might be impossible, for we are always, whether we know it or not, engaging in something throughout our daily lives that can potentially hurt the pureness of our hearts and/or intentions. When I think of internalizing Islam to the degree of working towards purifying our hearts I start to grin inside because a thought that comes across my mind is sufism. I don’t know too much about Sufism except that I think its a way to internalize ones spirituality in order to strengthen their connection between themselves and there creator. If someone knows what it actually means to be Sufi, let me know, I’m quite curious. In all truth however, don’t think for a moment that I’m trying to divide up the muslim population into groups. I’m not. We’re all Muslim and we should all be one – united. But the rational behind making Islam One and making yourself One with Islam is the essential essence of the religion. Actually just calling Islam a religion is quite misleading because its more then that – its a ‘complete’ way of life. Tawheed (aka oneness) is the essential core of Islam.

I feel like I might be deviating, my intial intention of writing was to focus on the Heart itself. Many of the thoughts above just come along in my mind to reinforce the bigger picture. Anyways, imagine this – I want you to think of your heart as the capital of the Kingdom (your body). It is absolutely of utmost importance for us to take care of our hearts for it rules the very nature of our beings (if it is the one and only aspect of control – I can not say for I’m no scholar, the soul may be another aspect we can contemplate upon at another time).  Each time we sin, I have heard that a black spec (symbolic of uncleanliness) appears upon our hearts. As we purify our hearts through prayer and asking Allah(Swt) for forgiveness, slowly the black specs disappear.

The Heart is the Fortress of our Iman - we need to keep it strong because Shatan is always trying to whisper bad thoughts that affect our hearts and can weaken our Iman

There are Seven Gates to our Hearts

1. Tongue

2. Eyes

3. Ears

4. Stomach

5. Private Parts

6. Hands

7. Feet

Watch what you say, see, hear, eat, feel or walk towards because if it is something bad, no matter how small, it can have a direct impact on your heart and in turn your Iman. For example, if there is a t.v. show that you watch and you see something that is inappropriate figuratively it is like you are stabbing yourself in your heart because your eyes are literally one of the most direct paths to your heart. You may not feel any effects of watching something inappropriate, and you might just brush it off; however, you need to be aware that anything and everything, no matter how small has an effect upon our hearts. Protect your ‘Fortress of Iman’.

Free Islamic Wallpaper 11

Created by & Copyright: tsultan ; Mar 13th, 2009

Here’s another awesome desktop wallpaper that I created. Feel free to save it and use it as your desktop background or for non-commercial use only.
Any feedback is appreciated!

Visual Expression

So some of you may have been wondering what’s up with all the Islamic Wallpapers that I’ve been posting. I’ve actually been very interested in design. Inshallah, I still want to keep talking about Islamic Topics that I’m interested in through prose, but I find visual design another wonderful avenue to express Islam. For now, I might have several more designs coming – so keep checking back.

Being a Muslim; Being a Leader.

Our Ummah needs our generation to be visionary leaders, who adhere to the Quran and Sunnah, who uplift our sisters, brothers, families and the society around us to prosperity, and who stand up for justice everywhere. We are a generation that has grown up in the dot.com era. Through the abundance of resources such as the internet, we have a greater access to information 24/7 and a greater opportunity to connect with people all over the world. I strongly encourage you to be a prominent factor in defining our generation of muslims – physicians, politicians, businessmen/women, teachers, health professionals, engineers, computer programmers and so on– who will change this world for the better. We need to realize that we are here for a greater purpose – to serve Allah(swt) and in doing so to better ourselves and the society we live in.

Our economy, as all of you know, is in a recession; the darkness of greed, fraud and other unethical traits that led to this recession also permeated countries all over the world. Just by picking up a newspaper, the deception and injustice that has spread throughout the world we live in is blatantly obvious. But there is reason to be hopeful –Islam. As Muslims, we are the carriers of the message of Islam that has been passed onto us by past generations – we carry the light and high ethical standards because of the knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah that Allah(swt) has bestowed upon us.

We need to realize that we should not hesitate to become involved in standing for justice. And we should work towards being leaders who spread knowledge. I have begun to look into what it takes to be a leader in a world where it’s so easy for us to get distracted. Here is some insight to help you stay focused (some of which are from my own experiences or things that I have come across that I would like to share). What I have highlighted below are current things that you can do NOW that can help you define and/or work towards your vision and goals in your life.

1. Always be on the Lookout for Opportunities

• Find Freelance Work – http://guru.com/
• Non-Profit Work - http://www.idealist.org/
• Get involved with your Local Masjid
• Be in the moment so you don’t miss something

2 . Be Innovative – Ideas to Change the World

• Brainstorm a list your favorite hobbies – see if you can turn it into something bigger
• Blog about something you care about
• Write a book
  • Literature is powerful – it’s a part of our culture and it can move society
  • Self Publishing Made Easy – http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/sell/books.aspx & http://www.lulu.com/
• Create a Documentary
  • Start off small – For example participate in the Linktv Contest – http://www.linktv.org/onenation

We also shy away from sharing our aspirations. I see life as a dynamic setting where we can learn from one another. I believe that we are all leaders in our own unique ways. And leaders thrive not only on self-motivation but also by the inspiration they draw form those around them. Share your happiness with those around you, who knows, inshallah you might inspire the brother or sister next to you to reach new heights.

[I edited my original article in Al-Nur to reach out to all Muslims, not just my prior intended audience - college students]

Free Islamic Wallpaper 10

Created by & Copyright: tsultan ; Feb 28th, 2009

Here’s another awesome desktop wallpaper that I created. Feel free to save it and use it as your desktop background or for non-commercial use only.
Any feedback is appreciated!

Simplicity – Vision and Light

I feel that I’m searching for something in life. Something to fulfill who I am as a person. I want to achieve the pinnacle of success where I am intune with both my passions and my talents. However, its hard to get somewhere if you don’t know where you are going. I think the first several months of this year are going to be some of the most important in my life because I’m searching within myself to find where I belong in this world. I’m in the process of creating a vision inshallah. And in order for me to find out what that vision is and what my ultimate goals are, I need to first discover who I am as a person – my likes/dislikes. You think that this is something easy. At least for the longest time, I though the same as well. But its not. I was rather shocked last week to learn something new about my self (about my personality). You won’t come to these realizations until you go through an experience. If you don’t know what I’m talking about don’t worry – one day you will. Life is truly a journey of self-discovery and lifelong learning.

What I feel the Muslims of today are lacking is vision. We need to set goals and reach new heights. Of course nothings possible without Allah (swt); so be steadfast and firm in faith as you continue on your journey in life. Whether you are a working mother, a business traveler, a housewife, a teen or a college student, what I believe we all need to accomplish to make this Ummah the best it can be is 1) to be steadfast in our faith and 2) to have a vision. We need to have a vision that embraces the fact that Allah(swt) put us here on earth for a greater purpose. We need to have a vision where we are lifting society around us.

[Now I'm going to digress a little just to make a point and help you clarify what I mean.] For example, Oprah (I know you are probably like..what?.. read on to understand my point) is at the pinnacle of her career, she had the vision to become a top talk show host, she understood who she was and where she came from and she worked tirelessly to make it to the top. She isn’t self-made though. The term Self-made itself is deceptive. Don’t think for a moment that she was self-made or any one of us can be self made successful people. There are so many people around us that have helped us become who we are today. And as such, there were so many people in her life that helped her to reach her goals.

But as inspiring and remarkable as her story is, one sad truth that I took away from watching an interview she did in 2006 – she said that she does not feel ‘fulfilled’. Can you believe it?

The first thing that went through my mind when I heard this ‘is well – duh’! you’re not fulfilled because you don’t have Islam.You really don’t know what the future holds for you because you don’t know anything about the hereafter. Oprah is one of the most well known top 5 most powerful women in the world, and today she’s around 50ish, still wondering to herself – ‘Whats next for me?’. I’m not trying to be mean to her, as a person I thinks she’s wonderful – she has a great show where she tries to connect with people and help people watching her show lead better lives. (Don’t make the assumption that I watch her show – I don’t; I’ve only seen it a few times. =])

However, I think she needs to be honest with herself. One of the core themes of her long running talk show is trying to find Faith and hope. In all truth, many principles like how we should treat those around us, the concept of fulfillment and God, etc. that she mentions has striking similarities with Islam. For example, she said in one of her interviews that she believes that there is a greater purpose for her in life, she wants God (aka Allah) to ‘use her’ for a greater purpose. That is exactly what Islam is about! What is a Muslim? A muslim is a person who ’submits to the will of Allah(swt)’. We believe that Allah (swt) has a greater purpose for us. And no matter how much we achieve in this life, we know that we will meet our lord on the day of Judgment in the Hereafter.

So I think I got carried away, this post was actually suppose to be on simplicity. Whether or not anything I said above deals with this topic is your own judgment call (it probably doesn’t lol). Recently, I’ve been very interested in grasping an understanding of why I get so excited when I see light. Yes, light. The most basic blessing that is all around us. In my chaotic world with classes, papers, exams – ‘light’ has just seemed so beautiful – so peaceful. For now, it seems like the only elment around me that has an inner peace that I’m attracted to – the simplicty of blessing. Allahu Akbar!

Free Islamic Wallpaper 09

Created by & Copyright: tsultan ; Feb 20th, 2009

Here’s another awesome desktop wallpaper that I created. Feel free to save it and use it as your desktop background or for non-commercial use only.
Any feedback is appreciated!