Why a Popular Uprising in Yemen is Unlikely- (for now)

No, it is not because everyone is chilling out at a qat chew.

Firstly we need to consider Yemen as three different areas, North, South and Sana'a. Popular uprising is already happening in the south with almost daily events, but it doesn't make much difference to life in Sana'a. If a popular uprising is to force the President out, it has to happen in Sana'a and all the people need to be unified in the effort.

It may seem suprising to many, but however unhappy people are with the government, they don't necessarily hate the President. He actually still has quite a lot of support from the general population. Even those who agree he is corrupt and at times acts contrary to Islam, they won't support an uprising against the President for two main reasons.

Firstly, the common sentiment is that there is no one else who could possibly replace him and do the job of Ra'is al-Jumhooriya (President of the Republic).

Secondly and rather interestingly, many believe that uprising against him is haram (Islamically illegal) because he is a Muslim leader who establishes the prayer.

In the hadith narrated by Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja'i:
The Messenger of Allah (sas) said "The best of your leaders are those whom you love and who love you and for whom you pray and who pray for you, and the worst of your leaders are those whom you hate and who hate you and to whom you curse and who curse you."

Then the sahaba asked the Messenger of Allah, "should we not rid ourselves of them?" the Messenger of Allah replied, "No, not so long as they establish prayer amongst you." (Muslim)

So from this hadith, a large number of Yemenis (in Sana'a) would not uprise against the President. This is also the official stance of the country's main respected scholars, including Shaikh Abdul-Majid Zindani, the Rector of Al-Eman University.

May Allah strengthen and guide the Yemeni people along His path - Whether their stance is right or wrong, they are a people who think about Allah before acting against their ruler.

Sugar Coated - First Impressions of Abu Dhabi

On arrival at Abu Dhabi airport, I immediately noticed people's dress. As I waited for my luggage, all the women were dressed head to toe in black with niqab and the men in long white dress (kandora) and head covering, as well as a beard of some description. I was very pleased at this sight.

I had to spend the first few weeks in a hotel as the company that hired me had not yet arranged accommodation for me. One evening I sat in the restaurant (which was supposed to be alcohol free with a bar serving alcohol upstairs away from public view), I saw a man in his long white dress and head covering, sporting a long beard sitting alone at an adjacent table. I didn't take much notice of him and ate my meal.

A waitress came to his table to serve him none other than tequila shooters. I was flabbergasted. It was a confusing sight for me because back in the States, anyone wearing this type of clothing is an Imam or a pious person, and here is one dressed as such sitting in a hotel restaurant alone drinking tequila shooters.

The sight made me feel the same odd confused but disgusted feeling I felt when I first saw a drag queen in New York.

My wife joined me once the accommodation was settled and started working at a school with a large local student body. I asked her about the mothers, how they were in their Deen, and my wife simply replied, "sugar coated".

It is easy for muhajireen to have big aspirations and expectations of the Muslims they encounter in the new country, and it is very common for them to become disappointed and disillusioned. Just be realistic, people who immigrate for the Sake of Allah are few and far between. We are strangers in the land. That however, is not a reason to not make hijrah, it is only one of the difficulties and it isn't meant to be easy. If it was easy, the rewards of hijrah would not be so huge.

Wiping Over Socks is Logical

Ali May Allah be pleased with him, once said, that if all of the Islamic rulings were logical, then we would wipe the underneath of our socks when making wudhoo, and not the top as is prescribed to us by Rasool Allah Peace and blessing be upon him.

I was thinking about this the other day, and not to disagree with Ali, al-Mu'mineen, but this example he gave concerning logic, is from his logic.

Think about this. Not everyone uses a sit down toilet. A lot of people squat to urinate, and may be wearing socks or khufs (leather socks) and so the wiping rule is applicable. Now if you are squatting to urinate, where might any splash go? On the top of your socks! While the bottom of your socks stay clean pressed hard against your bathroom shoes. So perhaps wiping the top of your socks is not so illogical afterall.

The Deen of Allah is true guidance for all of mankind.