What's in a NAME

My friend (Ajmal Bhopal) has written in his Urdu blog about 'name' and I read some comments but I cant write Urdu, so I am writing my own here for those who may feel interested
Yes, there is no doubt Rasoolullah SAWS did advise to choose good names for your children and it is true some people, usually out of ignorance, will name their children without some meaning and some will go to the extreme of "celebrating' something like one Sikh (I only heard about it, so dont quote me and this is not meant to be a joke or any demeaning statement about Sikhs either) named his son "Ike Singh" because child was born on the day of Ike's visit to Delhi.
However one thing about names in the West and especially US is that almost invariably the name is "shortened" (Like you see about General Eisenhour, shortened to Ike). So if Zakaria is changed to Zack and Maqsud is changed to Mack, it is not surprising.
Does that mean that we should start 'keeping American names" instead of our usual Muslim names?
I dont agree with that. I think we should continue following our Prophet's teaching, but not get'disappointed' on hearing its short version. I remember Moeen Akhter (the celebrated commediene of pakistan) saying something of that kind in a satirical fashion and I did not disagree with the satire (not in Pakistan). Here in USA name- shortening is "cultural norm" with high degree of approval (such expression is indicative of love rather than disrespect--like in England somebody tells you "you can call me by first name" which means he considers you a close friend)
My friend here tells me of his PhD degree which when he obtained his teacher told him that' now you can call me Bill' (not the true name), but being a Pakistani and well grounded in "eastern" tradition of respect for the teacher) my friend could not muster enough strength to say those words. When he repeated the "Doctor so and so" third time, the teacher got almost annoyed and demanded from my friend to call him Bill. An Englishman on the other hand would have continued to "enjoy the respect", indefinitely. (That is the cultural thing also)
Having lived in USA for so long now I feel that shortening the name does not necessarily mean "bigarrna". So you can now label me "Americanized"
I have much more to talk about the name because my own name is kind of 'rare' (very uncommon even in Pakistan) I do like my name a lot and salute my father who chose it.
It is only in the last few years of my life (and strangely, only in USA) that I have met two Wahaj-s, Of course one is "Siraj Wahaj" which is a 'double-barrel' name and not quite like my single barrrel. I could go on about my name but I still have not seen any "Wahajud-Din".
I must stop here because I have had so much more experience about my name during the last X number of years, that this blog will become an essay,( a sachchi kahani and lumbee).

Jum'ah Journal-ICR

Yes this is the way it looks today. Inside we can accomodate 2000 or more persons for congregation and also associated Gym opens up that increases the accomodation to More than 3000 (total),, that's my guess.
Alhamdulillah this is totally financed by us, very little from outside and I congratulate the community who opened up their hearts and wallets to see this day.
We have Muslims from many Arabic speaking and non-Arabic speaking countries, so it is a mixture of colors and cultures in addition to variety of Madzahib followers. No fightings or discussions although at the time of Eidain and Ramadhan there is always some but because all of us take our Imam's decision to be final, problems have subsided since last few years.
Hoping this will be just another milestone in the Muslim history of Raleigh-Durham Area (Also called Triangle area). I pray for our community to stay on the right path and remain together always- Ameen

Jum'ah Journal-Muslims in America

I wonder if you have ever stopped to think on this fact that America is a unique place where such a huge variety of Muslims have been gathered to gether byAllah SWT. (and there may be a higher purpose for it too)
"And among His signs is the creation of Heavens and the earth and the variations in your languages and colors: verily in that there are signs for those who know" (S.Room, Aya 22)
Reminders from our Creator of what He has accomplished in our creation and that of heavens and earth so that we can ponder over these things, know them and wonder and realize that only He could do it. About the Man two things mentioned here, languages and colors. Of course there are several other things common and different in us (and also all human beings), but let us just reflect on these two here, for now.
Rev. Jesse Jackson calls these different 'colors' as "rainbow" and I remember he was reminded of that in the ISNA annual conference he was invited to attend, long time ago. There was this variety of the Muslims from all over America but really representing all communities of the world, the Middle East, The far East, European peoples, Indian and Pakistani and Bangla Deshi peoples Indonasians and you name it, they all were there in the crowd he was facing.
Allah SWT, in this verse is referring to these 'colors' and these languages.
The structural apparatus of throat, larynx, pharynx, nose mouth teeth and tonge etc. are all the same and yet the words (that have meanings) come out so differently and make up a totally different language in each group. The face, head, neck body arms and legs being the same and yet they are clearly distinguishable from one another, each individual. In this particular situation all of them glorifying one and only Allah 'Azza wa Jalla, worshipping the one.
"We have indeed created man in the best of moulds" (S. XCV, Aya 4)
".......And has given you shapes, and made your shapes beautiful...." (S.LXIV, Aya 3)
Unity within the diversity and diversity within the unity. Marvel at the creation of the One and Only, the real Creator of all, folks
And of course the rainbow colors were also created by Him, from 'one light'. And lastly the reminder in the famous verse of S. Al-Hujurat, (49th), verse number 13
"O! mankind We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other, (and not that ye despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he , who is) the most righteous of you...."

Jum'ah Journal ---Sad news and Good news

The mother was walking with her children and at a crossing, her children rushed to cross, while the lights were red and were hit by a vehicle, a 9 year old and a 7 year old, both died (Inna lillah-i-wa inna ilaihi raaji-oon) The eye-witnesses say the mother could do nothing. I am just coming home after Janazah prayer.
Jum'ah (third shift) was heavy, must be more than 1000 persons (I had already prayed in the second shift, had to come home and returned) I dont know the Muslim family. There were quite a few non-Muslims too. Very sad indeed.

However, it so happens, that today we are to celebrate the opening of our new extension of our masjid and the programs begin after maghrib. Chief guest from abroad is Shaikh Jibril, the celebrated top most Qari of the present Muslim world (I guess I am not exaggerating). Perhaps some local officials are invited too etc.
I have seen this masjid--Islamic center develope from scratch, the total expenses now are over 5 miilion, but we do have a beautiful masjid masha-Allah now and yes frequented by Muslims regularly. Just to tell you the beginnings, when our President said we want to build Islamic center here in Raleigh for 200,000. dollars, I thought he was overstating (I was vice president and could have been happy with half that amount). The community has increased enormously.
The present completion of extension is a credit to our community indeed who raised the funds totally locally opening out their hearts along with their wallets and worked very hard, all the volunteers, chairpersons of various committees and of course the planning and construction committee. May Allah reward all of them richly in this as well as the world hereafter. Will give you a bit more and the photo tomorrow insha-Allah.