Boona Muhammad Poem about Shaytan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TolRru27HA

Whisperer Reflections: 8-14

From Sr. Shahin
Letter 8: Screwtape advises Wormwood not to rejoice upon the patient's wavering religious conviction because if a person comes out of their low phase triumphantly  he may actually become closer to God. The last paragraph of the letter was especially powerful, because it really sows dedication to Allah when a person continues to do good deeds, even when they are "undesirable."

It's interesting how much that bothers the devil and ties in nicely with the ayah in which Iblis tells Allah that he will lead everyone astray, except the chosen ones. 

"[Iblees] said, "My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all. Except, among them, Your chosen servants." (Al-Hijr 15:39-40)

Letter 9: In this letter, Screwtape advises Wormwood on how to play with the thought processes of a person who is feeling low. I thought it was really interesting how he emphasized on the word "phase" and the devastating connotations it can have, as if religion is a part-time amusement that you can put away when your heart is satisfied with the spiritual high it gives you, and then go back to when you "need" Allah, although you always need Him and are obligated to obey Him, even when you don't wish to do so.

Letter 10: I think the problem with bad friends and the personality crisis mentioned in this letter was so real and so common that it's scary to think about. I mean, there are loads of people who live double lives, being one way at home and another way outside, without reflecting on whether their lifestyle is pleasing to Allah or not. I also like the great detail that Screwtape went into to explain the thought processes of the person getting influenced by his skeptic and worldly friends. It's only a matter of time before he starts thinking and behaving like them. There's a hadith that explains this very accurately: 

"The likeness of a righteous friend and an evil friend is the likeness of a (musk) perfume seller and a blacksmith. As for the perfume seller, he may either bestow something on you, or you may purchase something from him, or you may benefit from his sweet smell. And as for the blacksmith, he may either burn your clothes, or you may be exposed to his awful smell."

Letter 11: This letter completely caught me off guard and kind of threw a whole new idea into my face like a flying soccer ball. It's so interesting how the misuse of humor can cause a person to do evil and then justify it by getting people to laugh. It's scary how often this happens and yet nobody notices nor talks about it. This letter gave me the realization of how many "small" evil things people do that go unnoticed just because we are too oblivious. These "small" deeds then have major consequences that are nearly impossible to ignore. One example of this may be of "Islamophobia." This tactic, coined by anti-Islamic people is designed and used to scare people and now radio and news stations sometimes use it as a "humorous" way to degrade Muslims. What's worse is that even Muslims find the word funny sometimes.

Whisperer Reflections: Chpts 1-7

References that will help us with some of the themes from the first chapters of Screwtape (there are many more and we look forward to hearing from the rest of you):

1. Dunya and Desires:  On the authority of Ibn ‘Umar, radiyallahu ‘anhuma, who said: The Messenger of Allah,sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, took me by the shoulder and said:
   “Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler/wayfarer.” 
   Ibn ‘Umar used to say: 
   “When evening comes, do not expect (to live till) morning, and when morning comes, do not expect (to live till) evening. Take from your health (a preparation) for your illness, and from your life for your death.”  [Al-Bukhari]
2. Arrogance:  “And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allaah likes not any arrogant boaster.
   And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the braying of the asses” [Luqmaan 31:18-19] 
   
   
3. Parents:  It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ascended the minbar and said: "Ameen, Ameen, Ameen." It was said to him,"O Messenger of Allaah, why did you do that?" He said, "Jibreel said to me, 'May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person who Ramadaan comes and his sins are not forgiven,' and I said, 'Ameen'. Then he said, 'May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person who lives to see his parents grow old, one or both of them, but he does not enter Paradise,' and I said, 'Ameen'. Then he said, 'May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person in whose presence you are mentioned and he does not send blessings upon you,' and I said, 'Ameen.'" 
4. Prayer:  “Seek Allah’s help with patient perseverance and prayer. It is indeed hard except for those who are humbly submissive.”[2:45]
5. Hardships/War:  “Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said, ‘When is the help of Allah?’ Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.” [Qur’an, 2:214]
6. Worry & Fear:  Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira:  The Prophet said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that." 
7. The Devil's Existence & Extremism:  "Thus We have made you [Muslims] a Wasat nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger Muhammad be a witness over you." (Soorat Al-Baqarah, Verse 143)

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