Know Your Deen

Islamic QA for North America

March 6, 2017
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Connecting the heart with the sacred

As people of faith, we agree to seek guidance from the Almighty in helping us stay focused on our goals and priorities. One way to keep focus is have less on our plates while moving towards our fullest potential while seeking greater and better outcomes. To create this focus is a challenge, because everyone is competing for our attention: be it children, spouses, social media and various advertisers, or just people in general. With maturity comes a point in which people start asking, am I living for myself, or am I living for others? Humans are filled with potential, and this is the last question that should be on our mind.
One way to keep on track and be the most productive human is to focus on our alliances. What are they and why am I with them? You will notice, most alliances/friendships do not take us towards a higher level of accomplishment. And if they do, it is generally one-sided. Most that we meet are just weighing us down. It is like we are winning in a rat race. A rat that wins, regardless of its talent, remains a rat! As humans, we have so much more we can offer humanity.
The Almighty states: By your Creator, they do not really believe unless they make you (the Prophet) a judge in all their disagreements/disputes/affairs. And then find no hesitation in their hearts in accepting your judgment, and submit with full submission.
This is a powerful phrase to keep a person on faith and keep a person encouraged and focused towards better and more productive outcomes. The next time you are asked to cheat on an exam, fudge the numbers on your taxes, scam the insurance, side with a spouse on a wrong, etc. merely ask: what does my Judge (Creator) expect of me? 2nd: when I do good, does my heart have a resistance towards it? One will notice, sometimes the good we do, we do not do it out of sincerity which later affects the outcome. Other times, good deeds are done with resentment or done as if it is a punishment or just to impress upon those around us. This in terms of the above Ayah (phrase) implies resistance, and this takes away the pleasure of the Almighty.
To be the best: Make your decision in line of your faith based values. Accepting it as a gift from the most Supreme will create peace and love and harmony for you and all those around you. This in turn will give you happiness and contentment. This helps us to move from a state of just living to having a life!
(The above was from our after fajr talk 3/06/17)

https://hbr.org/…/the-two-things-killing-your-ability-to-fo…

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February 27, 2017
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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was the media really for freedom of speech anyway?

CNN, New York times, Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed, the BBC! etc. are all now to be somewhat replaced by the ultra right Breitbart. Is this Trumps way of punishing agencies that do not agree with his agenda? Or is it his way of saying, he is against fake news? Better yet, with such an attempt to censorship, can we call WH news fake?!
Presidents have always had it rough with the media, but this is what made America great! We have always voiced out against autocratic regimes. Americans never thought a day would come when we would need to examine how we did things in comparison to regimes we happen to be so against.
In all fairness, CNN, NYT etc. have not been very fair in their representation on issues as it relates to Israel, Kashmir, or even fair on national issues such as the Dakota pipeline, native American concerns, or matters pertaining to blacks in inner cities, etc. etc. What media outlets have done to others, the same has now happened to them by the WH. The difference however is that these news organizations still have a voice due to their financial backing. So are we really to feel sorry for them? Where they even doing what journalist are called upon to do?

February 16, 2017
by Ml. Muhammed Shoayb
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Community Event

Salutations and greeting to all,
On Friday February 17th 2017 (tomorrow) at 5:45pm the Islamic Society will be hosting an event as part of Interfaith Roundtable month. It remains our goal to continue fostering while sharing our understanding of Islam and a common word between us all. Our friends and neighbors as well as those that differ from us are all welcome. Our current political climate requires that we all be part of this event. It is my hope and will be our societies great pleasure to meet each of you.

What: Interfaith get together
Where: 1019 w parkway ave. West Valley City
When 5:45 to 7:30
Topic: A Common Word between us
Guest of Honor: Dr Danial Hummel

While it is true that we can learn from books, talking to people that are part of the faith can transform your learning experience and contribute to a greater understanding of a given faith. Get to learn about what 1.6 billion people have in common with you. Trust me when our community tells you, we have more in common than we have ever imagined. Come join us for this great learning experience.
Wasalam

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January 30, 2017
by admin KyD
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Banned by Executive Order

The Muslim community is abuzz with the news coming from the White House on Friday with regards to the banning of refugees and possibly others from Muslim-majority countries. Now is not the time for us to perpetuate within ourselves and our communities the feelings of being victims. Now is also not the time for us to engage in irresponsible rhetoric that has no directly positive benefit. While many of us are consumed with understandable Continue Reading →

January 30, 2017
by admin KyD
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Tragedy in Quebec

What happened in Quebec is a great tragedy. All human beings need places of safety, and people of faith should be able to count on our synagogues, churches temples, mosques and other places of worship to be safe spaces.

It is our hope and prayer that this does not happen anywhere else again. People in Utah have continued to be great neighbors. They are extremely supportive and have volunteered to patrol our Islamic Society if needed; they have offered condolences, have made numerous phone calls and some have also come by in person to offer support at a time when all groups of people remain highly concerned. We appreciate the support offered to our community.

It is our sincere hope and prayer that president Trump will use words and phrases more cautiously and follow it up by action that will bridge gaps in our great society. This was an act of homegrown terrorism committed by a French Canadian (no, all French Canadians should not be reviled!), and it is unfortunate that our President would use this act of violence against Muslims in order to further his dubious bans upon Muslim refugees and legal permanent residents.

We pray for our Muslim brothers lost in the shooting, may Allah subhanahu wa Ta’ala grant them Jannah. We pray for their families, who have lost their fathers and husbands; may Allah Azza wa Jal give them sabr and reward them for their suffering. We pray for the community of Muslims in Quebec who lost cherished members of the faith; may Allah alleviate their pain and fear. Ameen, ya Rabb al ‘Alameen.

 

January 26, 2017
by admin KyD
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On the Occasion of the MLK events in Salt Lake City, UT

(Posted a week after the event)
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I regret being unable to attend this wonderful gathering, and it is my hope that you will excuse my absence. I have always been and will continue to be immensely grateful for the contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr to American society. As a member of the Muslim American community, and particularly as a member of the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake, I am humbled and grateful for the tremendous contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr and all civic leaders around the world. Martin Luther King, Jr is emblematic of the hard and inspiring work that it took to uplift the human dignity and honor of those who were dismissed, discarded and disenfranchised. It is through the mass movements motivated by Martin Luther King, Jr and Rosa Parks that we as modern-day Americans are able to stand proud of the vital laws that ensure human dignity, laws through which so many are able to pursue life, liberty and justice more fully. Continue Reading →