By Arshad Gamiet
“It’s in a crisis that we show what we’re really made of. When we face a personal calamity, do we panic? Do we resort to desperate actions? Do we throw aside our moral and ethical values? Or do we calmly accept that Allah is testing us. Do we show our complete faith and trust in Allah? Do we do the right thing, even though it may be painful or difficult? This is the acid test. ..”
By Arshad Gamiet
“We may never have reflected on the origins of these prayers. Perhaps we take them for granted. Our parents and our teache1rs told us to memorise them. That’s it! But how many of us know the beautiful and inspiring back-story of these popular duahs?”
By Arshad Gamiet
“Wars between Crusaders and Caliphates tell us more about the political rivalry for wealth and power between two civilizations. It tells us nothing about the spiritual connection that has always existed, very strongly, between believing Christians and believing Muslims…”
By Arshad Gamiet
“The whole world seems to be anxiously awaiting the outcome of the US Presidential elections. Will it be Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton? In 4 days’ time we’ll know the answer. And: What about Brexit? Will it be a hard or soft departure from the European Union? What does all this mean for Muslims?”
By Arshad Gamiet
“There are two kinds of unity, which we must try to understand and distinguish clearly:
There is a unity of purpose, and unity of opinion. As Muslims we should always be united in our purpose. That means, seeking to please Alláh, and serving the advancement of Islam. But we must not be distressed by minor differences of opinion. It is humanly impossible to always have unity of opinion. As long as we keep our purpose clearly in view, there can be many opinions as to the best ways of achieving our goal….”
By Arshad Gamiet
“As Ali was leaving the hospital, he found some very poor people waiting in the corridor. Ali pulled out his wallet and gave each one a $100 bill. In the 1960s, that was a lot of money. Ali thought nothing of it. He just gave the money and without waiting for thanks, he walked away. He never ignored the poor, the sick and the destitute. Ali must have known that he would find Allah there with them, just as the Hadith says…”
By Arshad Gamiet
“When we sell fruit, do we put the rotten ones under the good ones? When we sell our car, do we mention that the gears are faulty and the brake pads are worn? When we sell a house, do we cover up the damp walls and crumbling brickwork and we don’t tell the new buyer? When we write our exams, as some students are doing right now, do we cheat? Do we claim someone else’s hard work as our own? Do we bribe examiners or do buy our degrees and qualifications from dodgy institutions? Dear Brothers and Sisters, halaal isn’t only about the food we eat. Halaal is also about how we do business, and how we earn our livelihood…”
By Arshad Gamiet
“our national culture, our tribal and ethnic backgrounds are only tags and labels of convenience, but our core identity is Islam. This means that we must be virtuous people, primordially upright human beings. As Muslims first, we can also be British, Pakistani, Arab or Indian. Let’s get our priorities right. Let’s aspire to the noble position that Allah has decreed for us….”
