Category Archives: Sacramento

October 13, 2011   Arabic, Art, Article, Calligraphy, Culture, Education, English, Events, Farsi, Festivals, Food and Recipes, History, Intercultural Communication, Intercultural Communication, Language, Language, Music, Poetry, Report, Sacramento, Samaa/Qawwali, Stories, Subcontinent, Urdu, Virtues and Ethics   1 Comment

IECRC Exhibits the Islamic Culture at the Sacramento World Festival

To understand another’s custom, one must look at it from the perspective of the person practicing the custom. One must place themselves or attempt to place themselves in the shoes of the other. Sort of, look through the eyes of that person to feel what she feels. That is where understanding occurs. And that is why events such as the Sacramento Cultural Festival are so important. They allow for diverse expression of cultural values which keep the tree of community alive and vibrant in the fruitful production of ideas and its flowering creates beauty and attraction for all to enjoy.

—The Culture of Islam by IECRC

October 2, 2011

The Islamic Educational and Cultural Research Center (IECRC) participated in the Annual Sacramento World Festival in Old Sacramento (California) on October 2, 2011. The IECRC booth represented artifacts, books, clothing, music, Islamic poetry and many other Islamic cultural items from the various cultures in the Muslim world including that of Pakistan, Morroco, Saudi Arabia (Mecca and Medina), Egypt, Syria, India, Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey among other countries. Among the highlights at booth included free henna cultural designs on the hands of women, Arabic writing of the audience’s names, and an interactive poster of the text of the Holy Qur’an on one page viewed only by microscope.

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The goal of this exhibition and performance was to introduce to the American public a view of Islam through its beautiful and colorful cultural expression. The performance included a recital (dhikr) in Arabic by Lua Hightower and the IECRC Naat Group of Sacramento about the meanings of Allahu Akbar (God is Greater) Islamic Tawhid (Oneness of God), and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Farhad Yaqubi presented his own composition in Farsi on the Compassionate and Merciful attributes of God and a beautiful performance on harmonium of the famous Nami Daanam che manzil bood shab jaey ke man boodam a piece written by Amir Khusro (may God have mercy on him) about the spiritual state of Union with the One. All performances were translated in English along with the Roman transliteration so that the audience could experience some of the depth of the spiritual works being presented. Meher Faiq of Fusion Catering and Shemeem Khan offered free samoosas and pakoras (traditional Muslim food from the Subcontinent) prepared at location while the audience enjoyed the presentation.

Sharaaz Khan Qadri, Director of the Sacramento Chapter of IECRC presented two traditional stories from Kaleela Dimnah and Maulana Rumi’s Mathnawi (may God have mercy on him) to an audience of children and parents in Old Sacramento’s famous Eagle Theater.

This all-day event ended in a success as the event offered itself as a great opportunity to network with other cultures in an exchange of religious and cultural viewpoints within a friendly, open, and non-dogmatic atmosphere. A publication by IECRC named “The Culture of Islam” was published and handed out to the audience.

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July 30, 2011   Article, Chisti Silsila, English, English, Sacramento, Sacramento, Sharaaz Qadri, Tasawwuf, Translation   1 Comment

The Destruction of Cities – From the Malfuzat of Khwaja Uthman Haruni (ra)

The following is an excerpt taken from Session 3 of the Anees ul-Arwah–The Malfuzat of Khwaja Uthman Haruni (rehmatullahi alyhe)–as recorded by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (rehmatullahi alayhe):

In this session the discussion was about the destruction of cities and so he said that because of the excesses of people, in the last days cities will be destroyed. I heard from the Yusuf Chishti (may God have mercy on him) who heard it from Yahya Samarqandi from Ali (may God ennoble his face) that when the following verse was revealed:

وَإِن مَّن قَرْيَةٍ إِلاَّ نَحْنُ مُهْلِكُوهَا قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ أَوْ مُعَذِّبُوهَا عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا كَانَ ذَلِك فِي الْكِتَابِ مَسْطُورًا

There is not a population but We shall destroy it before the Day of Judgment or punish it with a dreadful Penalty: that is written in the (eternal) Record.

Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said that there will be excessive wrong doing in the last days. The city of Makkah will be made desolate by the hands of harsh people. The city of Medinah Munawwarah will be caught up in a famine; people will die there because of hunger. Basra and Mash-had will be destroyed because of drinking and the evil deeds of women. The ruler of Syria will be destroyed because of tyranny. Rome will become desolate because of widespread homosexuality. People will die as a result of a wind from the sky. Khurasan and Balkh will meet their end due to dishonest merchants  by whose evil actions Muslims will be consumed.

The master Maudud Chishti (may God have mercy on him) said that Khawarizm and its surrounding cities will be destroyed because of its excesses in certain kinds of music and materialism and people there will murder each other. Suistan will be destroyed by calamity and earthquakes. Egyptian women will be killed because they will be labeled as adulteresses.  Their actions will bring upon them the Wrath of God and these people would be consumed by the Earth and destroyed. India and Sind would be destroyed because of pervasive fornication and drunkenness of the people. I heard from the master Sharif Zindani (may God have mercy on him) that close to the Day of Judgment, years, months, weeks and days would become short in duration. Human beings will give birth to dogs instead of their own kind. People will be very far from the teachings from the Prophet (May peace and blessings be upon him).  O Disciple! Humanity needs to prepare for the hereafter after considering that such times are very close at hand.

After this, the master engrossed himself in the remembrance of God. This humble slave also left the gathering and thanks to God for that (lesson).

Translated by Sharaaz Khan
28 Shaban 1432 Hijri

 

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July 29, 2011   Advice, Article, Chisti Silsila, Dhul Hijjah, English, English, Islamic Months, Jamadi ul-Awwal, Jamadi uth-Thani, Kalaam, Muharram, Rabi ul-Awwal, Rabi ul-Awwal, Rabi uth-Thani, Rajab, Ramadan, Sacramento, Sacramento, Shaban, Sharaaz Qadri, Shawwal, Translation   No comments

On Lunar and Solar Eclipses – From the Malfuzat of Khwaja Uthman Haruni (ra)

The following is an excerpt taken from Session 2 of the Anees ul-Arwah–The Malfuzat of Khwaja Uthman Haruni (rehmatullahi alyhe)–as recorded by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (rehmatullahi alayhe):

Regarding the matter of eclipse of the Sun and Moon, their reality is so that the bondsmen of God inclines to prayer and piety out of fear of their Lord taking them to task. The master (may the mercy of God be upon him) said regarding the Sun and Moon eclipse that Ibn Abbass (may the mercy of God be upon him and his father) relates that during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) there occurred a Lunar Eclipse. So, someone asked the Final Messenger a question, upon which the Prophet (pace be upon him) responded that when humanity goes beyond its boundaries in wrong actions or sin then Lunar and Solar eclipses occur. The face of the Sun and that of the Moon are darkened so that creation may take heed (from the metaphor).

The Ilm Qiyaafah mentions that if a Lunar Eclipse occurs in the month of Muharram then in that that year there will be much bloodshed and corruption. If it occurs in the month of Rabi ul-Awwal then there will be increased famine, death and floods. If it occurs in the month of Rabi ul-Aakhir then change of leadership and anarchy will occur in the nation. If it occurs during the month of Jamadi ul-Awwal then there will be overflowing rain and unexpected death. In Jamadi ul-Aakhir there will be bumper crops , affordable prices, and people will have a higher quality of life. If it occurs in the month of Rajab on a Friday  then in that year there I will be hunger, calamity, along with darkness in the sky. If it occurs in the month of Shaban, then there will be treaties between people and relative calm. If it occurs during the month of Ramadan, on the first Friday, then there will be increased events of thunder from the sky. In the month of Shawwal men-related sicknesses will be inflicted. If it occurs during the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, then the rest of the year will be full of happiness and relative calm. If it occurs in the month of Muharram then the entire year will be in corruption, and humanity will find fault in others, people will destroy their hereafter and hypocritical wealthy people will be honored over others deserving of it.

After mentioning this, the master busied himself in worship and the people returned home and praise to God for that (lesson).

Translated by Sharaaz Khan
26 Shaban 1432 Hijri

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