You are but a stranger on this strange land. A passer-by on this dusty piece of land.
Perhaps disillusioned about the shortness of your stay by your inexperience of living.
Surely one day the Sun will not be given permission to rise over this dusty piece of land, and the moon that you admired for its beauty will no longer float over you. And the stars that some among you were dazzled by will no longer shine, far away from you.
And the strange clout that you surrounded your self with. The long conversations you delved into. The great deception you pulled others into. And the false hopes you hid behind will surely all be sorted out. And I wonder where we will stand?
The heart is a strange thing for it forgets what the mind knows.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Irony of What They Utter With Their Tongues
The Quran is filled with meaningful recollections of past events and conversations; as well as conversations that will take place in the future (i.e. in the Hereafter). Through these stories God highlights to us the errors of past people and the greatness of those who stood by the side of truth.
In one of these recollections, in Surah Yasin, God tells us of a seemingly, highly arrogant people who scoffed at the one who reminds them:
"And when it is said to them: 'Spend of that with which Allah has provided you,'' those who disbelieve say to those who believe: 'Shall we feed those whom, if Allah willed, He would have fed Himself; you are only in a plain error.'" (36: 47)
But this isn't the height of their arrogance, look at what they ask next:
"When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are so truthful'' (36: 48)
SubhanAllah! The irony of what they utter from their mouths! The people who are blindly sticking to their forefather's way of life; unwilling to give up their lustful desires which are merely causing harm to the society overall; the people who make mockery of the messenger who only calls them to a peaceful submission; the people who have reached the climax of their stupidity and blindness and have now made a mockery of God (by putting forth the 'rhetorical' question of why He made some of His servants poor?), now challenge the honesty of a Messenger of God!
A Prophet sent to any people is generally known for his uprightness in character and honesty. This is why Ceaser - the ruler of the Byzentine empire at the time of the Prophet Muhammed - once asked Abu Sufyaan - when he was still a disbeliever - about the Porphet's honesty; and Abu Sufyaan told him that Muhammed was known for his honesty, to which Ceaser commented that, 'a man who doesn't lie in small matters, would surely not lie about such a great matter as the reality of God.' (quote paraphrased from memory)
The exact time of the Day of Judgement is known only to Allah, and no prophet could ever answer this question in exact terms, so it would be used as a point of jest and fun by the disbelievers.
It is amazing what the Prophets had to bear with from their people. The noble individuals who all their lives would be noted for their ikhlaaq would have to face times when the very foundations of their integrity would be challenged by weak minded and sharp-toungued people.
In one of these recollections, in Surah Yasin, God tells us of a seemingly, highly arrogant people who scoffed at the one who reminds them:
"And when it is said to them: 'Spend of that with which Allah has provided you,'' those who disbelieve say to those who believe: 'Shall we feed those whom, if Allah willed, He would have fed Himself; you are only in a plain error.'" (36: 47)
But this isn't the height of their arrogance, look at what they ask next:
"When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are so truthful'' (36: 48)
SubhanAllah! The irony of what they utter from their mouths! The people who are blindly sticking to their forefather's way of life; unwilling to give up their lustful desires which are merely causing harm to the society overall; the people who make mockery of the messenger who only calls them to a peaceful submission; the people who have reached the climax of their stupidity and blindness and have now made a mockery of God (by putting forth the 'rhetorical' question of why He made some of His servants poor?), now challenge the honesty of a Messenger of God!
A Prophet sent to any people is generally known for his uprightness in character and honesty. This is why Ceaser - the ruler of the Byzentine empire at the time of the Prophet Muhammed - once asked Abu Sufyaan - when he was still a disbeliever - about the Porphet's honesty; and Abu Sufyaan told him that Muhammed was known for his honesty, to which Ceaser commented that, 'a man who doesn't lie in small matters, would surely not lie about such a great matter as the reality of God.' (quote paraphrased from memory)
The exact time of the Day of Judgement is known only to Allah, and no prophet could ever answer this question in exact terms, so it would be used as a point of jest and fun by the disbelievers.
It is amazing what the Prophets had to bear with from their people. The noble individuals who all their lives would be noted for their ikhlaaq would have to face times when the very foundations of their integrity would be challenged by weak minded and sharp-toungued people.
Monday, February 23, 2009
RSS Feed Subsctibers to my Blog...
I think my stats program is busted ... it shows me a lower number of visitors than it should be.
The stats program doesn't record the info on RSS feed readers.
So if you read this blog normally, using some sort of an RSS reader (i.e. not directly from my website), can you please take a moment and just leave a random comment on this post saying so?
You don't have to mention your name or anything, and I don't receive the email address information that you may or may not enter ... so please just comment.
Could make a difference in how regularly i post here... thanks.
The stats program doesn't record the info on RSS feed readers.
So if you read this blog normally, using some sort of an RSS reader (i.e. not directly from my website), can you please take a moment and just leave a random comment on this post saying so?
You don't have to mention your name or anything, and I don't receive the email address information that you may or may not enter ... so please just comment.
Could make a difference in how regularly i post here... thanks.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Keep Going...
There used to be a brother I loved dearly for the sake of Allah.
Do you know why?
Because he was truly a modern day zahid (an individual who left the desires of this world for the desire of the hereafter). Every time met him or had any sort of interaction with him I learned something and benefited in some way.
However, for sometime now, I've seen him change, to the extent that his very personality has become a bit repulsive. And it all started with his desire (and further action upon that desire) of something from this world which was halal, but he had (in the past) kept himself away from.
And I mention this highly vague narration in hopes that the ones who needed a boost will get it here.
Some of you are amazing people who have set themselves apart from the rest, and I see you struggling to stay on this difficult road; but slipping every now and then. And I beg of you, to please .. just keep going.
Because I wish and hope that you and me can pass our tests. So that, on that day we will both see each other from far away, and wave our book of deeds, in our right hands, and come running towards each other in extreme joy ... and we could both be fortunate enough to thank Allah for allowing us to pass our tests.
Remember that the society that has such high demands of you to please it, will be of no aid to you on the Day of Judgment.
Just keep going...
May Allah make our hearts steadfast on this religion.
Do you know why?
Because he was truly a modern day zahid (an individual who left the desires of this world for the desire of the hereafter). Every time met him or had any sort of interaction with him I learned something and benefited in some way.
However, for sometime now, I've seen him change, to the extent that his very personality has become a bit repulsive. And it all started with his desire (and further action upon that desire) of something from this world which was halal, but he had (in the past) kept himself away from.
And I mention this highly vague narration in hopes that the ones who needed a boost will get it here.
Some of you are amazing people who have set themselves apart from the rest, and I see you struggling to stay on this difficult road; but slipping every now and then. And I beg of you, to please .. just keep going.
Because I wish and hope that you and me can pass our tests. So that, on that day we will both see each other from far away, and wave our book of deeds, in our right hands, and come running towards each other in extreme joy ... and we could both be fortunate enough to thank Allah for allowing us to pass our tests.
Remember that the society that has such high demands of you to please it, will be of no aid to you on the Day of Judgment.
Just keep going...
May Allah make our hearts steadfast on this religion.
Monday, November 17, 2008
History Repeats itself...
One brother I love dearly once remarked that history repeats itself...
I concur....
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Let the Quran be your drinking Fountain
While taking a shower, this hit me...
Many people criticise certain da'ees of our times and the recent past for writing materials that they were not qualified to write; like writing a 'tafseer' on the Quran when they had no understanding of how it was done in the scholarly community.
Many of the people who made such bold moves, you will find, have also done something significant in their own lives and contexts.
And so it hit me ... sure, maybe not everything in their commentary of the Quran might be agreeable (then again, which scholars' work is?) ... but it signifies something great...
Their connection with the Quran.
The only reason that many of these people had a burning desire to spend countless hours penning away a commentary, verse by verse of the entire Quran, could be their heartfelt emotional attachment to the beautiful verses contained their in.
For we are told that whom so ever Allah loves, He increases them in understanding.
And it is no secret that Allah gives certain slaves of His, who reach a certain level (in their connection with Him) certain insights that the rest of the world is blind to.
The real point of this post is not to defend these noble people, because their reputation is in the hands of Allah, and if they were sincere then Allah will raise their status as He does for all His beloved slaves.
The real point of this post is to bring to light the importance of taking the Quran as our source for enlightenment. The companions of the Prophet (pbuh) did not graduate from any prominent Islamic university, and they certainly were not aware of the Islamic sciences that exist today; but they had quenched their thirst from the Quran and the Prophet's Sunnah, which was there to elaborate and expound on the Quran.
May Allah allow us to drink from the Quran like the beloved companions of the Prophet.
Many people criticise certain da'ees of our times and the recent past for writing materials that they were not qualified to write; like writing a 'tafseer' on the Quran when they had no understanding of how it was done in the scholarly community.
Many of the people who made such bold moves, you will find, have also done something significant in their own lives and contexts.
And so it hit me ... sure, maybe not everything in their commentary of the Quran might be agreeable (then again, which scholars' work is?) ... but it signifies something great...
Their connection with the Quran.
The only reason that many of these people had a burning desire to spend countless hours penning away a commentary, verse by verse of the entire Quran, could be their heartfelt emotional attachment to the beautiful verses contained their in.
For we are told that whom so ever Allah loves, He increases them in understanding.
And it is no secret that Allah gives certain slaves of His, who reach a certain level (in their connection with Him) certain insights that the rest of the world is blind to.
The real point of this post is not to defend these noble people, because their reputation is in the hands of Allah, and if they were sincere then Allah will raise their status as He does for all His beloved slaves.
The real point of this post is to bring to light the importance of taking the Quran as our source for enlightenment. The companions of the Prophet (pbuh) did not graduate from any prominent Islamic university, and they certainly were not aware of the Islamic sciences that exist today; but they had quenched their thirst from the Quran and the Prophet's Sunnah, which was there to elaborate and expound on the Quran.
May Allah allow us to drink from the Quran like the beloved companions of the Prophet.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
In Everything there is Good
In everything there is good. A fundamental understanding in our religion.
Back in June my father had a heart attack, and alhamdulillah things have been very different around the house for me, but all in good ways.
As it's a norm for kids growing up here, I had a difficult time understanding my parents. I would struggle a lot in being obedient to them, and would often slip in my control of emotions in front of them.
It was during the months of taking extra care of my father, and spending unusually more time with him, that I started to discover newer sides to him. And in these few months I truly feel my love for him grew many fold.
It was also during this time, that my belief solidified in that parents are the best source to turn to for advice, as they are the most genuinely caring people to you.
We often do not realize it, because our fathers, in particular, do not reveal much of their emotions, but they have so much in them that you can gain from. So I hope that you will one day - before you and them depart from this world - get a chance to bond with your parents, and find out who they really are.
In deed, I have found very few people who practice excellence more at home than outside, and my father is one of them, alhamdulillah.
May Allah make our service to our parents a source of us entering Jannah. Aameen.
Back in June my father had a heart attack, and alhamdulillah things have been very different around the house for me, but all in good ways.
As it's a norm for kids growing up here, I had a difficult time understanding my parents. I would struggle a lot in being obedient to them, and would often slip in my control of emotions in front of them.
It was during the months of taking extra care of my father, and spending unusually more time with him, that I started to discover newer sides to him. And in these few months I truly feel my love for him grew many fold.
It was also during this time, that my belief solidified in that parents are the best source to turn to for advice, as they are the most genuinely caring people to you.
We often do not realize it, because our fathers, in particular, do not reveal much of their emotions, but they have so much in them that you can gain from. So I hope that you will one day - before you and them depart from this world - get a chance to bond with your parents, and find out who they really are.
In deed, I have found very few people who practice excellence more at home than outside, and my father is one of them, alhamdulillah.
May Allah make our service to our parents a source of us entering Jannah. Aameen.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Submission - a Universal Pattern
The one who submits comes into harmony with the rest of the universe.
Why do I make this statement?
Think about it, everything in the universe is submitting to Allah the Almighty. The stars, the trees, the rocks and of course the numerous angels covering the seven heavens.
It is only the soul that decides not to submit to His commands that is going against the natural order of the universe. There is no wonder, then, that the one who doesn't submit is unable to find peace; for peace can only occur when there is harmony with what surrounds you.
Why do I make this statement?
Think about it, everything in the universe is submitting to Allah the Almighty. The stars, the trees, the rocks and of course the numerous angels covering the seven heavens.
It is only the soul that decides not to submit to His commands that is going against the natural order of the universe. There is no wonder, then, that the one who doesn't submit is unable to find peace; for peace can only occur when there is harmony with what surrounds you.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Reflecting on the Quran
The Quran is a beautiful book and a wonderful point of reflection.
Many of us, when we read this great and noble book are probably not aware of how the Prophet and those who followed him would reflect on it's beautiful message...
Once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) got up from his bed, purified himself, and stood up for the night prayer, and started reciting one verse from the Quran and kept repeating it again, and again, and again ... he would not budge from that verse, and tears flowed excessively from his face. His weeping came to such a point that his lap became soaked with tears, and eventually the ground on which he stood became wet as well with his excessive weeping.
The time for Fajr came, and the prophet had not stopped crying from his khushu' when Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) came to notify him of the time for Prayer ... when he found the prophet in such a state he asked, out of amazement, "O Messenger of Allaah, you are weeping when Allaah has forgiven you all your past and future sins?"
And the Prophet's response, "Should I not be a grateful slave? Tonight some aayaat have been revealed to me; woe to the one who recites them and does not think about what is in them: 'Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the Earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.' [al' Imran 194]"
Another time the Prophet spent the whole night, again, simply repeating the verse "If you punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." [al-Maa'idah 5:118].
A beautiful report of a man of Qays who was known by the kunyah Abu 'Abd-Allaah said: "We stayed with al-Hasan one night, and he got up to pray qiyaam al-layl. He prayed and did not stop repeating this aayah until just before dawn: '… and if you count the Blessings of Allaah, never will you be able to count them…' [Ibraaheem 14:34]. When morning came, we said, 'O Abu Sa'eed, you did not recite any more than this one aayah all night.' He said, 'I learn a great deal from it: I do not glance at anything but I see a blessing in it, but what we do not know about Allaah's blessings is far greater.'" (Al-Tidhkaar li'l-Qurtubi, p. 125)
Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) once reported that he prayed with the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Prophet would interact with the verses he recited; he would say SubhanAllah when there was a mention of tasbeeh in the verse; and if it mentioned seeking refuge with Allah from something, he would seek refuge with Allah from it.
We know of the companion of the Prophet who the people complained to the Prophet about for he would always recite surah Ikhlas in every prayer that he led the people in, and upon enquiry the Sahabah stated that he loved surah Ikhlaas so much that he had a desire to recite it constantly ... it was for this love that the Prophet gave him glad tidings of Jannah.
And the stories of the Porphet, his companions, and the righteous early Muslims are many. Their connection with the Quran was profound and simply touching. Grown men would be moved to tears and the artificial standards of manhood were not present back then.
Abu Bakr was known for his excessive crying during the recitation of the Quran ... so much so that his own daughter advised the Prophet against choosing him to lead the people in prayer during the Prophet's last days.
Ibn Taymiyyah would say that he would read several different tafaseer on a particular verse of the Quran not getting a true and real meaning of the verse he was studying ... so he would then go out in a peaceful and calm place, stick his face in the sand, and remain in a state of sujood until a meaning became clear to him.
During the time of the migration from Makkah to Madinah, one companion of the prophet fell weak to the harassment of the Quraish and actually left Islam, while the rest of the Muslims migrated to Madinah. Umer (may Allah be pleased with him) sent him a letter stating only one verse, which was revealed later in Madinah, that mentioned Allah's willingness to forgive anyone if they turn in repentance .. this companion says that he would for days go to a retreat in some hill (or cave) and ask Allah to give him an understanding of what that verse meant, until he understood that it was a sign that he could still repent, revert back to Islam a second time, and leave for Madinah (which he did).
The Quran has ways of turning the heart, lifting the veils of blindness, and uplifting the soul. How many a stories have we heard of men and women jolting up to the reality from a verse they accidentally heard somewhere, somehow? How many people have changed their ways of living. How many souls have given up their wealth, livelihood, their comforts and even their own lives by hearing the beautiful words contained in the magnificent book.
May Allah allow us to truly interact with the Quran. May OUR hearts be shaken upon hearing the verses talking about the punishment of Hell. May our souls be uplifted upon reading about when Allah calls the people of Jannah to reveal to them, Himself, without a Vail of any sort.
O Allah soften our hearts. O Allah, we seek refuge in you from a hardened heart.
Many of us, when we read this great and noble book are probably not aware of how the Prophet and those who followed him would reflect on it's beautiful message...
Once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) got up from his bed, purified himself, and stood up for the night prayer, and started reciting one verse from the Quran and kept repeating it again, and again, and again ... he would not budge from that verse, and tears flowed excessively from his face. His weeping came to such a point that his lap became soaked with tears, and eventually the ground on which he stood became wet as well with his excessive weeping.
The time for Fajr came, and the prophet had not stopped crying from his khushu' when Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) came to notify him of the time for Prayer ... when he found the prophet in such a state he asked, out of amazement, "O Messenger of Allaah, you are weeping when Allaah has forgiven you all your past and future sins?"
And the Prophet's response, "Should I not be a grateful slave? Tonight some aayaat have been revealed to me; woe to the one who recites them and does not think about what is in them: 'Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the Earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.' [al' Imran 194]"
Another time the Prophet spent the whole night, again, simply repeating the verse "If you punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." [al-Maa'idah 5:118].
A beautiful report of a man of Qays who was known by the kunyah Abu 'Abd-Allaah said: "We stayed with al-Hasan one night, and he got up to pray qiyaam al-layl. He prayed and did not stop repeating this aayah until just before dawn: '… and if you count the Blessings of Allaah, never will you be able to count them…' [Ibraaheem 14:34]. When morning came, we said, 'O Abu Sa'eed, you did not recite any more than this one aayah all night.' He said, 'I learn a great deal from it: I do not glance at anything but I see a blessing in it, but what we do not know about Allaah's blessings is far greater.'" (Al-Tidhkaar li'l-Qurtubi, p. 125)
Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) once reported that he prayed with the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Prophet would interact with the verses he recited; he would say SubhanAllah when there was a mention of tasbeeh in the verse; and if it mentioned seeking refuge with Allah from something, he would seek refuge with Allah from it.
We know of the companion of the Prophet who the people complained to the Prophet about for he would always recite surah Ikhlas in every prayer that he led the people in, and upon enquiry the Sahabah stated that he loved surah Ikhlaas so much that he had a desire to recite it constantly ... it was for this love that the Prophet gave him glad tidings of Jannah.
And the stories of the Porphet, his companions, and the righteous early Muslims are many. Their connection with the Quran was profound and simply touching. Grown men would be moved to tears and the artificial standards of manhood were not present back then.
Abu Bakr was known for his excessive crying during the recitation of the Quran ... so much so that his own daughter advised the Prophet against choosing him to lead the people in prayer during the Prophet's last days.
Ibn Taymiyyah would say that he would read several different tafaseer on a particular verse of the Quran not getting a true and real meaning of the verse he was studying ... so he would then go out in a peaceful and calm place, stick his face in the sand, and remain in a state of sujood until a meaning became clear to him.
During the time of the migration from Makkah to Madinah, one companion of the prophet fell weak to the harassment of the Quraish and actually left Islam, while the rest of the Muslims migrated to Madinah. Umer (may Allah be pleased with him) sent him a letter stating only one verse, which was revealed later in Madinah, that mentioned Allah's willingness to forgive anyone if they turn in repentance .. this companion says that he would for days go to a retreat in some hill (or cave) and ask Allah to give him an understanding of what that verse meant, until he understood that it was a sign that he could still repent, revert back to Islam a second time, and leave for Madinah (which he did).
The Quran has ways of turning the heart, lifting the veils of blindness, and uplifting the soul. How many a stories have we heard of men and women jolting up to the reality from a verse they accidentally heard somewhere, somehow? How many people have changed their ways of living. How many souls have given up their wealth, livelihood, their comforts and even their own lives by hearing the beautiful words contained in the magnificent book.
May Allah allow us to truly interact with the Quran. May OUR hearts be shaken upon hearing the verses talking about the punishment of Hell. May our souls be uplifted upon reading about when Allah calls the people of Jannah to reveal to them, Himself, without a Vail of any sort.
O Allah soften our hearts. O Allah, we seek refuge in you from a hardened heart.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Us Kids...
Ever observed the children play with each other?
With 1 nephew and 2 nieces, I get a chance to observe kids quite a lot...
And you know what I've realized ... after the many years of growing up and maturing, us grownups don't change much.
Both the young and old fight due to miscommunication and misunderstandings....
Jealousy causes both the young and the old to do evil things ... things you would never expect them to do as their normal tendency ... while the child will pinch their younger sister; the old would try to bring social harm to the person they envy.
Both aspire for attention and are craving for a bit of appreciation ...
There are indeed many lessons to be gained by observing children as they learn and grow ... because the human-flaws within them that they fail to take notice of, are the same human-flaws we fail to observe within ourselves ...
I guess it's easier to laugh at the flaws of others...
With 1 nephew and 2 nieces, I get a chance to observe kids quite a lot...
And you know what I've realized ... after the many years of growing up and maturing, us grownups don't change much.
Both the young and old fight due to miscommunication and misunderstandings....
Jealousy causes both the young and the old to do evil things ... things you would never expect them to do as their normal tendency ... while the child will pinch their younger sister; the old would try to bring social harm to the person they envy.
Both aspire for attention and are craving for a bit of appreciation ...
There are indeed many lessons to be gained by observing children as they learn and grow ... because the human-flaws within them that they fail to take notice of, are the same human-flaws we fail to observe within ourselves ...
I guess it's easier to laugh at the flaws of others...
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