Say something about Muslims ... and God

Muslims are a prayerful people. The following are 2 examples impromptu request of ALLAAH (a transliteration of an Arabic proper noun for God) that a Muslim may speak. Such request of ALLAAH may be from any of hundreds of supplications of Muhammad, Peace be upon him, or such requests may be Ad libitum. In any case, these requests (together with adoration spoken of ALLAAH) are called by the Arabic word Du3aa. 'Prayer' in English has similar meaning. This continually being conscious of ALLAAH is a suitable manner for a Muslim. In addition to impromptu speech to ALLAAH, there are 5 formal setting of worship each day that are called Salah. 'Connection' in English is similar to the literal meaning of Salah. Of course, the connection is to ALLAAH.

The Muslim observes "self", you (the reader) and our broader world by a Narrative of overwhelming continual domination by THE MANAGER of every atom of the universe. A glimpse to that viewpoint begins narrated as follows:

After making Adam, ALLAAH wiped Adam’s back, dropping from it all the souls [offspring of Adam] that ALLAAH would create until the Resurrection Day. ALLAAH placed the souls in the palms of HIS hands. HE then said about those in HIS right palm, “They will go to Paradise, and I am not disturbed by this.” And, HE said about those in HIS other right palm, “They will go to the Fire, and I am not disturbed by this.”

ALLAAH spoke to all the souls in the palms of HIS hands, saying “Am I not your Lord?” They answered, “Yes, indeed, we do bear witness to this.” For which ALLAAH explains “[Each of you made this covenant] lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘we were unaware [of ALLAAH being our Lord].’ After this, ALLAAH made the rest of known universe as a test for these souls to exemplify which souls were truthful and which souls were false in this testimony.

According to present observations in science, the known universe is 13.4 billion years old. Based on this assumption from science, our souls have been hanging out together in the palm of ALLAAH’s hand for such 13.4 billion years. Perhaps you and I knew each other while we were waiting for our test of this life to begin. Some 120 days after you were conceived, ALLAAH sent an angel to place your soul in your mother’s womb; and, your test began. Likewise, some 120 days after I was conceived, ALLAAH sent and angel to place my soul in my mother’s womb; and, my test began. “ad libitum Du3aa: Oh ALLAAH, Manager of all the Universe, grant that our soul is from YOUR first Right hand, and grant us to be guided to keep our testimony that YOU alone are Lord without any partners or helpers! aameen!”

As summarized in Qur'aan (Suurah 7, Ayah 180-181), a Muslim properly responds this test by continually asking only ALLAAH, keeping away from critics of ALLAAH, being guided by ALLAAH, and giving justice: “To ALLAAH belong the All-Beautiful Names, so call and pray to HIM by them. And, keep aloof from those that distort the meanings of HIS Names. They will be recompensed for what they are doing. And, of those who WE created, there are people guided by truth and dispense justice.”   “ad libitum Du3aa: Oh ALLAAH, please make us to not reject YOUR words that YOU gave to YOUR messengers – even when we see some Muslims failing to dispense justice! aameen!”

A Little Historical :)

Brother Adnan Jalali gave us the opening narrative for this story of the MSA: A pair of twin Muslim sisters arrived at Southwest Texas State University in 1992, and ALLAAH granted them the good deed of forming the Muslim Student Association (MSA) for the University. Overall, over the years, the running of the MSA has vacillated between Brothers and Sisters. Recently, since 2012, the Sisters again have been running the MSA -- Texas State University MSA may have the unique privilage of being the only all women MSA in America. Ya ALLAAH, grant success to the members of the MSA for good deeds that bring success in the here-after. aameen!

Recently, I bumped into the father of 'Imaam Islam Mosaad (one of the well-known students of knowledge in the greater Austin area). His father was a professor at Texas State University (then called Southwest Texas State) from 1990 to 1995. He reports that during those years, the students kept a Jumu3ah in the student union building. A Jumu3ah had as many as 20 people in those days. Additionally, in the last years of his tenure, the MSA operated a radio or TV program from the University Station.

One of our old time members, Brother Yusuf, who entered Islam in 1995, said that the students continued to meet on campus untill Brothers offered their Lindsay Oaks Apartments for the 5 Salaah and for the Jumu3ah. Little did anyone know, in another 8 years, ALLAAH would make the property across the street from their apartment become the San Marcos Masjid. We plan; ALLAAH plans better. al-hamduLILLAAH!

One of those Brothers, Shahed Zaman, returned recently to San Marcos, reporting their one bedroom apartment remaind the Musallaah (temporary Masjid) from 1999 to 2001.

The MSA moved the Musallaah to the North side of Campus in about 2004 (or possibly earlier), and for about the four years, from 2004 till 2008, the MSA reliably operated a Musallaah for the TSU students.

Beginning in about the fall of 2005 the MSA rented the property at 434 North Comanche Street to use both as a student residence and as a Musallaah. On 2008 March 7, the San Marco Masjid, a Texas not profit corporation, was formed with the intention to act as a Waqf to purchase and operate the 434 North Comanche Street property as a Masjid. Waqf is an Arabic word for a Trust for maintaining a Masjid in perpetuity. Since just after Ramadan 1429 (2008 October 6), the San Marco Masjid has owned and operated the 434 North Comanche Street property as a Masjid.

Get Organized:

Masjid is a transliteration from Arabic of a word meaning the place where prostration occurs. From the earliest days in Muslim history, the Masjid served also as the seat of governance and community life. “ad libitum Du3aa: Oh ALLAAH, Maker, and Manager of all that exists, grant that the San Marcos Masjid is such a place! aameen!”

A classical model of Muslim governance is to first, choose a leader by Shuuraa, and second, follow the leader. Toward that end, the Waqf follows this classical model, but also fulfills the fiduciary actions toward the City, County, State, and Federal governments.

'Imaam Nader Elmarhoumi is the 'Imaam [Arabic word for leader] of the San Marcos Masjid. Concurrently, he is also concurrently serving as 'Imaam of the Islamic Association of Allen Texas. 'Imaam Nader served as 'Imaam and Khatiib [Arabic word for speaker for the Jumu3ah service] of the San Marcos Masjid from 2007 till December 2010. 'Imaam Nader was born in Dallas, Texas, and later moved to Egypt to pursue his education. He studied the Sciences of Tafseer, Hadeeth, and Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) under Scholars including, Shaykh Yaseen Roushdy in Alexandria, Egypt. He achieved the Ijaazah in Qur’aan at the age of 17 and several other Ijazaat in those early years.

Brother Ahmad Jundi was the Khatiib and building Manager for the San Marcos Masjid, serving January 2011 till June 2012.

Various Brothers have been delivering the Khutbah since July 2012. "Oh ALLAAH, grant abundant reward for the Muslims that serve the San Marcos Muslim community. aameen."

Get Knowledge:

The first revelation to Muhammad (Peace be upon him) ordered knowledge.

Recite in the name of your Lord who created - Created man from a clinging substance. Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous - Who taught by the pen - Taught man that which he knew not. -- a link to Qur'aan translation by several translators (and originally revealed language: Arabic)

ALLAAH knows if our heart loves good intention or bad intention. In the following sign, ALLAAH says the Qur'aan ministers to both good and bad intention:

It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord." And no one will be reminded except those of understanding. -- a link to Qur'aan in its revealed language, which is Arabic -- a link to Qur'aan translation by several translators (Arabic again too)

Footnote

Be Peculiar:

For Muslims, distinctiveness and conviviality are two sides of the same coin: Muslims are ordered by ALLAAH toward both when HE ordered Muhammad (Peace be upon the messenger of ALLAAH) to say:

“Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion” Qur'aan 109:6.

"Oh ALLAAH, grant that the people of San Marcos see the Muslims of San Marcos as people loving YOUR religion and loving YOUR order to have convivial with our neighbors. aameen!"

Yet, keep your American treaty:

Muslims residing here in the USA are asked in our religion to treat USA as a "Land of Treaty". That is, as a Muslim, I am able to live here in USA and practice my religion of Islam; since I am able to practice my religion of Islam, I am therefore permitted in my religion to make the treaty of "citizenship" (or visa) with the Federal USA government. ALLAAH says in the Qur'aan that Muslims are ordered by ALLAAH to follow the “treaties” for which we have given our promise. The following is the sign where ALLAAH says to keep our "treaties":

“It is not Al-Birr [piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to ALLAAH] that you turn your faces towards east or west [in prayers]; but Al-Birr is the one who believes in ALLAAH, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets, and gives his wealth (for the sake of HIM), to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al-Masaakiin [the poor], and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs As-Salaat [formal prayer connecting to ALLAAH], and gives the Zakaat, and who fulfill their treaties when upon their promise, and who are As-Saabiriin [the patient (plural form)] in extreme poverty and ailment and in a time of war. Such are the people of the truth and they are Al-Muttaquun [pious]” Qur'aan 2:177.

And, Ambush is Prohibited:

Ambush is explicitly prohibited, as ALLAAH has said

“ ... Lo! ALLAAH loves not the ones who ambush” Qur'aan 8:58.

“Oh ALLAAH, grant that our neighbors hear our hope in YOU; and in that hope, that our wish for conviviality by our obeisance to YOU is pinnacle, for YOU are The Power and The Glory forever. aameen!”