Wulfruna Sufi Association

Hurricanes in Haiti

Posted on 29. September, 2008 by Paul Salahuddin Armstrong

Hurricane Ike was the fourth storm to hit Haiti in recent weeks. An estimated 650,000 people have been affected.
Haiti at breaking point

The situation

Hurricane Ike passed through Haiti on Sunday 7 September, just three days after Tropical Storm Hanna unloaded massive amounts of rain on the already water-saturated country. This was the fourth major storm to hit the country since mid-August.

Listen: Gonaives: “Water, mud and rubble everywhere” (BBC Radio 4)

REUTERS, courtesy of alertnet.org The UN estimates that some 650,000 people nationwide have been affected by the storm. More than 61 people are reported to have died, the majority in the town of Gonaïves, where more than 60,000 people have sought refuge in temporary shelters. Shelters are also filling up in the town of Ennery just north of Gonaïves.

Food, water, and basic supplies are scarce, and health and sanitation conditions are extremely concerning, as human waste is being disposed in the stagnant waters, already contaminated with carcasses of dead animals.

The town of Gonaïves has been completely devastated. The streets are lined with groups of people walking through the streets trying to find higher ground. Food supplies and water are scarce and the price of the food that’s left is rising. The morale of people staying in the shelters is so very low; I am afraid to tell them that another storm is on its way.

Mr. Parnell A. Denis, Oxfam’s contact on the ground in Gonaïves

Oxfam’s response

Oxfam Our team managed to get into Gonaives by boat a few days ago. As well as assessing needs, we managed to bring in basic relief items for immediate distribution (utensils, soap etc).

We are starting a fuller response in the Gonaives area (20,000 people), and in Nippes (3,000 people) with rapid water-sanitation support (drinking water, latrines, bathing stations), and clean-up and urgent repairs to housing. About half the population of Gonaives has been affected by flooding, sheltering in camps with no potable water and flooded latrines. We have another team currently assessing in Belle Anse, which is also only accessible by boat.

Update: 15 September 2008

Click here to donate to relief efforts…

Posted in charity, disaster, relief | Tagged charity, Haiti, hunger, hurricanes, sadaqah, starvation | Leave a comment

Why Am I Never Satisfied?

Posted on 27. September, 2008 by Paul Salahuddin Armstrong

ARIfilms

Posted in Kabbalah, philosophy, spirituality, video | Tagged desire, ego, Kabbalah, pleasure, satisfaction, spirituality | Leave a comment

Some Common Mistakes in Ramadaan

Posted on 24. September, 2008 by Paul Salahuddin Armstrong

By Asma bint Shameem

Taking Ramadaan as a ritual
For many of us Ramadaan has lost its spirituality and has become more of a ritual than a form of Ibaadah. We fast from morning to night like a zombie just because everyone around us is fasting too. We forget that its a time to purify our hearts and our souls from all evil….we forget to make dua, forget to beseech Allaah to forgive us and ask Him to save us from the Fire. Sure we stay away from food and drink but that’s about all.

Although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

“Jibreel said to me, ‘May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person to 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 (by not serving them) 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.'” (Tirmidhi, Ahmad, others. Saheeh by al-Albaani)

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Posted in faith, fasting, hypocrisy, Islam, Muslim, philosophy, prayer, reflection, spirituality, worship | Tagged fasting, Ramadan, spirituality, worship | Leave a comment

Always Be Ready!

Posted on 9. September, 2008 by Paul Salahuddin Armstrong

“No one knows the day or hour. The angels in heaven don’t know, and the Son himself doesn’t know. Only the Father knows. When the Son of Man appears, things will be just as they were when Noah lived. People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day that the flood came and Noah went into the big boat. They didn’t know anything was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man appears.

Two men will be in the same field, but only one will be taken. The other will be left.

Two women will be together grinding grain, but only one will be taken. The other will be left.

So be on your guard! You don’t know when your Lord will come. Homeowners never know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guard to keep one from breaking in. Always be ready! You don’t know when the Son of Man will come.

Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their food supplies at the proper time? Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job. You may be sure that a servant who is always faithful will be put in charge of everything the master owns.

But suppose one of the servants thinks that the master won’t return until late. Suppose that evil servant starts beating the other servants and eats and drinks with people who are drunk. If that happens, the master will surely come on a day and at a time when the servant least expects him. That servant will then be punished and thrown out with the ones who only pretended to serve their master. There they will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”

Matthew (24:36-51) CEV

“So, my disciples, always be ready! You don’t know the day or the time when all this will happen.”

Matthew (25:13) CEV

Posted in faith, Jesus, prophesy, religion, spirituality, truth, wisdom | Tagged Jesus, parable, scripture, wisdom | Leave a comment

A Sufi Ramadan

Posted on 8. September, 2008 by Paul Salahuddin Armstrong

Paul Salahuddin Armstrong

Paul of the Wulfruna Sufi Association tells about Ramadan in Sufism. Read about the significance of fasting, the symbolism of the rose and the importance of prayer and meditation.

Ramadan, the month when God revealed the Holy Qur’an, is a time of deep reflection and contemplation for Muslims. Considering past accomplishments and where our life’s journey is leading. Ramadan is a good time for us to make changes for the better, an excellent opportunity to turn over a new leaf, shedding any old bad habits.

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Posted in faith, Islam, Muslim, peace, prayer, reflection, spirituality, sufism | Tagged Ramadan, rose, spirituality, sufism | Leave a comment

What is Ramadan?

Posted on 7. September, 2008 by Paul Salahuddin Armstrong

A short talk given by M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen from Questions of Life, Answers of Wisdom Volume 2

Question: Can Bawa explain the true meaning of Ramadän (the Islamic month of fasting) and the revelations that came to Prophet Muhammad (Sal.)? And what is the relationship between the two?

Bawa Muhaiyaddeen: When His creations came into this world, Allähu ta’älä Näyan (Almighty God), who is the Benevolence for all the worlds (Rahmatul-‘älamïn), gave His benevolence to each. First He created the world, and then He provided the food, or rizq, for each creation. This food can be found in the trees, the flowers, in water, in air, in the earth, and in many other places. Seventy thousand years before He sent each creation into the world, Allähu ta’älä Näyan created the food for that creation. So, man comes here knowing that his food and water have already been provided for him. Everything he needs can be found here, and it is his job to take what is portioned out for him. He must understand which food is permissible (haläl) and which is impermissible (haräm) and eat only the food that was meant just for him. Anything he covets or steals from others is impermissible.

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