Feb 26, 2008

The Final Return

Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,
Insha'Allah you are well and in the best of states.

I would like to share a story with you. It is the true story of how a police officer in a Muslim country found his way back to Allah (SWT).

He recalls: Seeing accidents and crash victims was a normal part of my day, but one incident was different.

“My partner and I had parked on the shoulder of the highway and began to chat. In a random second, the scene shattered to the hideous sound of metal bodies becoming one. We threw our heads back to see what had happened: a head-on collision, the result of a vehicle slipping into the lane of the oncoming traffic. You couldn’t describe the carnage. Two young men sprawled in the first car, both in critical condition. We carried them gently away from the car and rested them on the ground. Quickly we returned to assist the owner of the second car. He was dead. Back we went to the two young men lying side by side on the pavement.
My partner began dictating the Shahadah to them. “Say: La iIaha illAllah (there is no god but Allah), La iIaha illAllah…”

… Their tongues wouldn’t acknowledge. They started humming the hypnotic lyrics of some song. I was terrified. My partner had experience however and he kept repeating his instruction. I stood watching, no movement, eyes locked. Never in my life had I seen anything similar to what was going on before me. In fact, I’ve never actually seen someone die, and never in such a satanic way. My partner continued to instruct them to say the Shahadah but there was no use. The hum of their song came to a slow silence, slowly. The first one stopped and then the other. Not a stir. Dead.

“We carried them to our patrol car, my partner made no effort to speak. Not a whisper between us two as we carried the corpses to the nearest hospital…”

The police officer fell back into routine, as he narrates, and started to drift from Allah. But another event happened to him that sealed the return.

“After some time, about six months, a strange accident took place. A young man was moving along the highway normally, but within one of the tunnels leading to the city, he was maimed by a flat tire. To the side of the tunnel he parked and stepped to the back to remove the spare tire. The whistle of a speeding car from behind. In a second, it collided with the crippled car, the young man in-between. He fell to the ground with critical injuries. I rushed to the scene, myself and another partner other than the first. Together we carried the young man’s body into our patrol car and phoned the hospital to prepare for his arrival.

He was a young adult in his blossom years. Religious, you could tell from his appearance. He was mumbling when we carried him, but in our rush, we had not paid attention to what he was saying. However, when we placed him on his back in the patrol car we could make it out. Through the pain his heart was reciting Qur’an! He was so immersed in the recitation…Subhan Allah; you would have never said that this person was in intense pain. Blood had soaked his clothes crimson red, his bones had clearly snapped in several places. To tell the truth, he looked like he was staring into the eyes of death. He continued to read in his unique, tender voice; reciting each verse in proper rhythm. In my entire life, I had never heard any recitation like it. I said to myself, I’m…I’m going to instruct him to say the Shahadah just like I saw my friend doing; especially since I had previous experience. My partner and I listened intently to that soft voice. I felt a shiver shock my back and up my arm, the hair stood. Suddenly, the hymn ceased. I watched silently as his hand rose softly. He had his index finger pointed upward to the heavens, saying the Shahadah (La ilaha illa Allah/There is no god but Allah). Then…his head slumped. Nothing. I jumped to the back seat, felt his hand, his heart, his breathing. He was dead!

I couldn’t stop staring at him. A tear fell but I hid it in shame. I turned back to my partner and told him that the boy’s life had ceased - he burst out loud crying. Seeing a man cry like that, I could not control myself and my partner faded away behind the fall of my own tears. The patrol car fogged from the emotions.

We arrived at the hospital. As we rushed through the corridors, we told all the doctors, nurses, and onlookers what had happened. So many people were affected by what we said, some stood there speechless and tearful. No one wanted to lose sight of the boy until they had been assured of the time and place he would be buried. One of the hospital staff phoned the boys home. His brother picked it up and was told of the accident.

His brother told us about him: He used to go out every Monday to visit his only grandmother outside of town. Whenever he visited her, he made sure to spend time with the poor and orphaned children idling in the streets.

The town knew him - he was the one that would bring them the Islamic books and tapes. His dusty Mazda would be filled with rice and sugar and even candies – couldn’t forget the candies – for those families who were in need.

He would not stand for anyone to discourage him from the long journey to that town. He would always politely reply that the long drive gave him time to review his Quran and listen to Islamic lectures on his cassette deck. And … and that with every step to the town he hoped for the reward he would find with Allah…”

It is true, brothers and sisters, that Allah is Merciful and forgives and forgives. [Yet I am quite Forgiving…] But to whom? […towards anyone who turns (in repentance) and believes and acts honourable; then he will be guided.] - Surah Taha 20:82

[O our people! Respond to Allah’s Caller (Muhammad - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) and believe in him, Allah will forgive you of your sins and will save your from a painful torment.]- Surah al-Ahqaf 46:31

Just like we reply someone’s call when they phone us - this is Allah and His Messenger calling us! Let us answer. There is a verse in the Qur’an that when Shaytaan read it he cried and felt regret. Read this verse, it is the door to our happiness in this life and the next:

[And those who, if they commit an immorality or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah? - and who do not persist in what they have done while they know.]

Allah then continues: [For those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow (in Jannah), wherein they shall abide eternally. Excellent is the reward of the (righteous) workers.] - Surah Al-Imraan 3:135,136

Allah sent the Prophets and the books; He sent the warners and glad tiders; and He sent the reminders. And atop all that, Allah comes down to Samaa’ ad-Dunya - in a way befitting of His Majesty - in the third portion of the night - every night - calling to every one of His servants: “Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?” (Al-Bukhari)

Dear brothers and sisters, let us make a pledge tonight to set our alarm clocks an hour or two earlier than Fajr prayer. Let’s wake up at this time to pary two rakats to Allah (SWT). And in Sajdah, recall just one sin and ask Allah (SWT) to forgive you for that sin, pledging that you shall never return to it.

May Allah (SWT) guide and keep us on the straight path and may He take us as Muslims and grant us Jannat-ul-firdaws. Ameen

Insha’Allah, keep me in your prayers!

ma'asalaam =)


source: qisas.com


Leia Mais

Feb 21, 2008

Significance of the lunar eclipse


Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh
Insha'Allah you are all doing well.

This is a picture I took last night during the total lunar eclipse. SubhanAllah, it was both beautiful and scary to stand there by the window and see the shadow of the earth creep over the moon. Beautiful because Allah (SWT) has created something so magnificent and scary because it makes me think of Youm Al-Qiyamah (The Day of Resurrection). If we think a lunar eclipse is breathtaking, what will the Day of Judgment be like?
This is one of the reasons why it is important for Muslims to be humble before Allah (SWT) during an eclipse. The lunar eclipse is very frightening and when we get scared, we turn to our Lord for patience and perseverance. Abu Bakr (radia’Allahuanhu) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah and they do not eclipse because of the death of someone, but Allah frightens His devotees with them."
Contrary to popular belief, Muslims pray during this time, not because of any superstition, but because we know that similar things will happen at the end of the world. We do not know when the end of the world will come, but when such signs appear, we pray to Allah (SWT) to remember Him and to seek His forgiveness.

He question: “When is the Day of Resurrection?”
At length when the sight is dazed
And the moon is buried in darkness
[eclipsed]
And the sun and the moon are joined together, that Day will man say;
“Where is the refuge?”

Surah al-Qiyamah (6-10)

When I offered my two rakats last night, I felt relaxed. SubhanAllah, it is all just so amazing. This was the first lunar eclipse that I actually took time to look at and think about and it opened my eyes a little wider. Insha'Allah, you have benefited from this and may Allah (SWT) keep you on the straight path. Ameen.

ma'asalaam =)

Leia Mais

Feb 19, 2008

The Importance of Being Thankful

Assalamualaikum.
Insha'Allah you are all doing well.
While searching up some inspirational stories (we all need to be inspired once in a while!) I came across this one. All I can say is...subhanAllah.

Being Thankful

It is said that once Hasan al-Basri had a very sharp headache, so he tied a bandana over his head. Rabia Basri saw him and inquired the cause for the bandana, to which Hasan al-Basri told her of the headache.

Rabia Basri asked him if this headache is something he gets often. Hasan al-Basri replied that Allah has blessed him with good health and it is after many years that he had a headache this severe.

“Is it not strange that Allah gave you good health for years, and then when He afflicts you with some pain, you wear a banner on your head to advertise your pain?”

Hasan al-Basri says that after that day he never ever complained of any harship he faced.

I don’t know the authenticity, but I often marvel at the lesson. How thankful are we in the times of ease and how quick we are to complain in the times of difficulty? We have to realise that it is only with the mercy of Allah (SWT) that we feel ease and comfort as well as pain and difficulty. We must also keep in mind that with pain comes ease because pain wipes away some of our sins. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No misfortune or disease befalls a Muslim, no worry or grief or harm or distress – not even a thorn that pricks him – but Allah will expiate for some of his sins because of that.” Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim.

May Allah (SWT) keep us on the straight path.

ma'salaam =)


Leia Mais

Feb 13, 2008

Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh
Insha'Allah you are all doing well.

I was searching some things up on the internet when I came across this story.

Once, a visitor was being shown around a leper colony in India. The colony was built to provide a shelter for those people who were poor and had various physical disabilities. At noon a gong sounded to gather the inhabitants for the midday meal. People came from all parts of the compound to the dining hall. Suddenly, everyone started laughing at seeing two young men; one riding on the other's back, pretending to be a horse and a rider. They were having lots of fun. As the visitor watched, he was told that the man who carried his friend was blind, and the man being carried was lame (who couldn't walk). The one who couldn't see used his feet; the one who couldn't walk used his eyes. Together they helped each other and reached their destination.

SubhanAllah, what a motivating story. This story should be a lesson. Let us use each other's strengths to make up for the weaknesses of others. Our strength is in unity, not in division. Allah (SWT) says to us:

"And hold fast,
All together, by the rope
Which Allah (stretches out for you),
and be not divided among yourselves;"
[Al-Qur’an 3:103]

It is a fact that Muslims are divided. The Glorious Qur’an is the rope of Allah which all Muslims should “hold fast together”. Islam believes in fostering unity amongst its followers. Insha’Allah, Allah (SWT) will give us the strength and ability to stay together.

Oh Allah, grant us good in this world and in the hereafter and save us from the punishment of the hellfire. Ameen.

ma’asalaam =)

Leia Mais

Feb 9, 2008

Increasing our love for Allah (SWT)

Assalamualaikum,

Insha'Allah, you are all in the best of states.

Mahabbah (love for Allah) is something a person is constantly striving for because we can never have enough of it.

Abu Bakr al-Kattaanee said :

A discussion about mahabbah took place in Makkah during the Pilgrimage month. The sheikhs who were present spoke about this matter and al-Junayd was the youngest of them. They said to him: O Iraqi, what do you have to say? He bowed his head; tears were flowing from his eyes as he said:

“A servant should overcome his soul;
And be continuous in the remembrance of his Lord;

Establishing the Rights of his Lord;

Focusing upon Him with his heart;

The late of fear setting a blaze upon his heart;

Whilst drinking from the vessel of true love;

And certain realities become unveiled to him;

So when he talks, it is due to Allah;

When he speaks, it is from Allah;

When he moves, it is by the command of Allah;

And when he is serene, then it is from Allah;
He belongs to Allah, is for Allah, and is with Allah.”


Here is a list of 10 ways to increase one's mahabbah:

First:
Reciting the Qur’an, reflecting upon it and understanding its meanings.

Second: Drawing closer to Allah through the performance of optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligatory deeds.

Third: Being continuous in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah - in all circumstances - with the tongue, the heart and the limbs. The more constant the dhikr, the more mahabbah intensifies.

Fourth: Giving precedence to what Allah loves - when being overcome with desires - over what one personally loves and desires.

Fifth: Causing the heart to contemplate over the Names and Attributes of Allah. Being a witness to what they necessitate and causing the heart to be enlightened in the garden of this realization.

Sixth: Witnessing the blessing and the favours of Allah; the apparent and the hidden.

Seventh: Subduing the heart and humbling it before Allah, causing it to be in awe of Him.

Eighth: Being in seclusion during the time in which Allah descends to the lowest Heaven; reciting the Qur’an, and finishing this recitation with seeking Allah’s forgiveness and sincerely repenting to Him.

Ninth: Sitting in the gatherings of the sincere and true lovers of Allah; reaping the benefits of their teachings, and not speaking except when you know there is benefit in doing so and that such speech will increase you in good and benefit others as well.

Tenth: Keeping clear from all those matters which will cause the heart to distance itself from Allah - the Mighty and Majestic.

So these are ten matters which cause the lover to reach the station of true love for Allah, so that he may then reach Allah - our Beloved. (so told by Sheikh Ibn
Qayyim al-Jawziyyah; taken from Islamicpsychology ).

Insha'Allah this material has been of use to you and May Allah (SWT) help us to implement the knowledge that we gain for the greater good.

Keep me in your prayers!
ma'asalaam =)

Leia Mais

Feb 7, 2008

The Beautiful Names of Allah (SWT)

Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,
Insha'Allah you are all doing well.

Allah loves to be glorified and praised by His Names when invoked . Allah says:
"The most beautiful names belong to Allah: so call on him by them" (Qur’an 7:180)

Insha'Allah at the beginning of each month, I will post one of His Most Glorious Names and describe it in detail using Samira Fayyad Khawaldeh's book entitled "The Most Beautiful Names of Allah".

This month's name: Allah (SWT)

"Truly, I am Allah; there is no god but I; therefore serve Me" (20:14). Allah is the most sacred Name that indicates the Being Most High, His oneness and His godly attributes. "Say: 'He is Allah, One; Allah, the Everlasting Refuge, who has not begotten, and who has not been begotten, and to whom there is no equal' " (112:1-4). No god is to be worshipped other than Allah. "And call not upon another god with Allah; there is no god but He. All things perish, except Himself" (28:88).

Things exist by the will of Allah. "When We decree a thing, We need only say: 'Be', and it is" (16:40). He supervises their affairs: "Surely your Lord is Allah, whom created the heavens and the earth in six days, then ascending His throne, ordaining all things," (10:3),...

"And He is God; there is no god but He. His is the praise in this world and in the hereafter; His too is the power supreme, and to Him you shall be recalled" (28:70).
While other Names are attributes, 'Allah' is the proper name of God, that has never been given to any other being in Islam or Jahiliyya (pre-islamic times).

Insha'Allah you have learned from this and I hope that we can implement what we learn for the greater good.

ma'asalaam =)



Leia Mais

Feb 6, 2008

Assalamualaikum!

Allhamdulillah you have reached my blog. Insha'Allah I will be updating it soon so be sure to visit often!

"The World is three days: As for yesterday, it has vanished, along with all that was in it. As for tomorrow, you may never see it. As for today, it is yours, so work on it."
- Hassan al-Basr

ma'asalaam =)

Leia Mais