Reflections Of A Muslimah

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

It is with great pleasure that I write this blog post. Although I'd heard this from various Islamic forums and Sites, it wasn't confirmed. But Alhamdulilah, Cageprisoners has confirmed the release of Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki. My heart jumped with joy when I first heard that he had been released from prison, but I was still unsure. However, now that Cageprisoners has confirmed the release of him, I can rejoice. Truly Allah azza wa jal is the all-hearer and the all-knower.

Imam Anwar wrote, in an email to Cageprisoners:

"The time I spent in detention was a great blessing from Allah. They were moments of contemplation and study which I was greatly in need of. Alhamdulillah, Allah has blessed me during that time of solitude with tranquility and peace to the extent that at most of the time I was preferring detention over freedom.

Now that I am free I ask Allah to enable me to thank Him for his blessings. "I am greatly moved to know that many of my brothers and sisters have been asking about my situation and praying for my release. I thank them all. May Allah reward all of you with Paradise."

For those of you who do not know, Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki has touched the hearts of many people around the World and changed peoples lives through his lectures. His series of talks on Muhammad Sallalahu alayhi wasallam and al-Khulafā’ur-Rāshidūn in English are simply beautiful. May Allah subhanna wa ta'ala reward him immensely for what he has done and for spreading knowledge. Ameen.

Although I've never been present physically in any of his talks or lectures or seen him, I held great love and respect for him in my heart. And I know for a fact, that People around the World who had listened to his lectures did the same. When we first heard of his imprisonment in Yemen, it filled me with great sorrow and grief. It was as if my own blood brother had been put behind bars. But, Allah subhanna wa ta'ala tests the believers in different ways and puts them through trials and tribulations to test if they are true believers or not. I know for a fact, that people all around the World were making dua for his release, and Alhamdulilah, Allah subhanna wa ta'ala heard the duas.

Imam Anwar is of Yemeni origin and he served as an Imam in California, United States. He migrated back to Yemen and was later banned from entering the United States. He was detained by the Yemeni secret police in Yemen and put behind bars for a year and a half.

There are some points that can be noted from the case of Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki:

1- Allah subhanna wa ta'ala tests the believers or those who claim to be Muslims. None of us will be exempted from trials and tribulations, especially if we rise to the call of Islam.

2- In a fight between Haq [Truth] and Baatil [Falsehood], the haq will always win in the end. Allah subhanna wa ta'ala is with the believers. As Muslims, we should be patient and have strength, especially in these times.

Allah subhanna wa ta'ala says in the Qur'an:

(8.19) (O disbelievers) if you ask for a judgement, now has the judgement come unto you and if you cease (to do wrong), it will be better for you, and if you return (to the attack), so shall We return, and your forces will be of no avail to you, however numerous it be, and verily, Allâh is with the believers.

3- No matter how much the Kuffar and the Mushrikeen try to tamp down on Islam, the spreading of Ilm and the call to Jihad, it will never happen. No one was in doubt that Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki was detained because of U.S pressure. He was open about taboo topics like Jihad and Hijra and criticised the West directly and indirectly. He was not afraid to speak for the truth.

The light of Islam can never be put out no matter how much the enemies of Islam might try to erase it. Alhamdulilah. We should learn from this, we should not be afraid either of anything or anyone except from Allah subhanna wa ta'3la. Unlike so many of our own Ulema and Shyookh, within Muslim Countries as well, who refrain from mentioning our 'current situation' because so many of them have been detained or put behind bars. Secondly, you do not know someone who has no fear of Allah, and is a spy is sitting in your halaqa. [Insha'Allah I'll post more on this topic later]

Allah subhanna wa ta'ala says in the Qur'an:

36. Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder (men) from the Path of Allâh, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be overcomed. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell.

4- As Muslims we should never give up doing du3a. People do not realise the importance of du3a and the power it holds.

Allah subhanna wa ta'ala says in the Qur'an in Surah Al-Baqarah:

And when my servants ask you about Me, then (say to them that) verily I am very near; I answer the prayers of the supplicant when he beseeches Me. So they should hear My call, and believe in Me, so that They may be led aright. [186]

Please remember all the other Prisoners Of Faith in your duas.

May Allah subhanna wa ta'ala free our Brothers and Sisters in Islam from the prisoners of the Kuffar, the Tawaghit and the Mushrikeen. Ameen.

Imam Anwar Al-Awlakis lectures can be found on the following sites:

• Halal Tube
• Back To Islam
• Kalamullah
• Islambase